[
{
"path": ".github/workflows/build.yml",
"content": "name: Build CI release\n\non:\n push:\n branches:\n - master\n # paths:\n # - 'Quelea/**'\n\n pull_request:\n branches:\n - master\n\nconcurrency:\n group: ${{ github.workflow }}-${{ github.ref }}\n cancel-in-progress: true\n\njobs:\n release:\n runs-on: ubuntu-24.04\n steps:\n - name: Checkout\n uses: actions/checkout@v4\n\n - name: Setup Java\n uses: actions/setup-java@v4\n with:\n java-version: '25'\n java-package: 'jdk'\n distribution: 'temurin'\n \n - name: Setup Gradle\n uses: gradle/actions/setup-gradle@v5\n \n - name: Install Wine and Flatpak\n run: |\n sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386\n sudo apt update\n sudo apt install wine wine32 wine64 flatpak flatpak-builder\n\n - name: Setup Inno Setup cache\n id: cache-innosetup\n uses: actions/cache@v4\n with:\n path: ~/.wine/drive_c/Program Files (x86)/Inno Setup 6\n key: ${{ runner.os }}-innosetup\n\n - name: Install InnoSetup\n if: ${{ ! steps.cache-innosetup.outputs.cache-hit }} # || true on Inno Setup update\n env:\n DISPLAY: :99\n WINEDEBUG: -all,err+all\n WINEARCH: win64\n run: |\n Xvfb $DISPLAY &\n curl -SL \"https://files.jrsoftware.org/is/6/innosetup-6.2.2.exe\" -o is.exe\n wine is.exe /SP- /VERYSILENT /ALLUSERS /SUPPRESSMSGBOXES\n\n - name: Build\n run: |\n cd Quelea\n gradle -Dnightly=true -Dversionsuffix=CI-UNSTABLE clean dist\n\n - name: Cache Flatpak\n uses: actions/cache@v4\n with:\n path: |\n flatpak/repo\n flatpak/builddir\n key: flatpak\n\n - name: Build Flatpak\n run: |\n flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists --user flathub https://dl.flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo\n cd flatpak\n flatpak-builder --force-clean --user --install-deps-from=flathub --repo=repo builddir org.quelea.Quelea.yml\n flatpak build-bundle repo/ ../Quelea/dist/standalone/quelea-CI-UNSTABLE.flatpak org.quelea.Quelea --runtime-repo=https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo\n\n - name: upload-unsigned-artifact\n if: ${{ github.event_name == 'push' }}\n id: upload-unsigned-artifact\n uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4\n with: \n path: Quelea/dist/standalone/quelea-CI-UNSTABLE-x64-windows-install.exe\n\n - name: Remove unsigned artifact\n if: ${{ github.event_name == 'push' }}\n run: |\n rm -f Quelea/dist/standalone/quelea-CI-UNSTABLE-x64-windows-install.exe\n \n - name: Sign windows installer\n if: ${{ github.event_name == 'push' }}\n uses: signpath/github-action-submit-signing-request@v1\n with:\n api-token: '${{ secrets.SIGNPATH_API_TOKEN }}'\n organization-id: '47d2e61b-2716-4b94-b15a-91240cb1d14c'\n project-slug: 'Quelea'\n signing-policy-slug: 'test-signing'\n github-artifact-id: '${{ steps.upload-unsigned-artifact.outputs.artifact-id }}'\n wait-for-completion: true\n output-artifact-directory: 'Quelea/dist/standalone/'\n\n - name: Upload binaries to release\n if: ${{ github.event_name == 'push' }}\n uses: softprops/action-gh-release@v2\n with:\n files: Quelea/dist/standalone/*\n tag_name: CI-RELEASE\n prerelease: true\n make_latest: false\n body: \"**This is a CI Build, built from the latest copy of the source code automatically. \n It's not an official release and we don't recommend using this in production.**
\n Quelea is also distributed as a Linux snap package. To install it, make \n sure snap is installed then run:\n sudo snap install --edge quelea
\"\n\n - name: Upload standalones as artifact of PR\n if: ${{ github.event_name == 'pull_request' }}\n uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4\n with:\n path: Quelea/dist/standalone/\n"
},
{
"path": ".github/workflows/label_update.yml",
"content": "name: Update missing labels\n\non:\n push:\n branches:\n - 'master'\n\njobs:\n update-labels:\n runs-on: ubuntu-24.04\n steps:\n - name: Checkout main source\n uses: actions/checkout@v4\n with:\n path: 'main'\n - name: Setup Java\n uses: actions/setup-java@v4\n with:\n java-version: '25'\n java-package: 'jdk'\n distribution: 'temurin'\n - name: Setup Gradle\n uses: gradle/actions/setup-gradle@v5\n - name: Checkout doc source\n env:\n QBOT_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.QBOT_TOKEN }}\n run: |\n git clone https://quelea-bot:${QBOT_TOKEN}@github.com/quelea-projection/quelea-projection.github.io.git ./doc\n - name: Find missing labels\n run: |\n cd main/Quelea\n chmod +x gradlew\n chmod +x build-install.sh\n ./gradlew -Dnightly=true -Dversionsuffix=CI-UNSTABLE labelcheck\n cd ../..\n cp main/Quelea/dist/missinglabels.js doc/lang/\n cd doc\n git add lang/missinglabels.js\n git config --local user.email \"github-actions[bot]@users.noreply.github.com\"\n git config --local user.name \"github-actions[bot]\"\n git commit -m \"Update missing labels file\" || true\n git push\n"
},
{
"path": ".gitignore",
"content": ".gradle\n\n# Compiled class file\n*.class\n\n# Log file\n*.log\n\n# Package Files #\n*.jar\n*.war\n*.nar\n*.ear\n\n# virtual machine crash logs, see http://www.java.com/en/download/help/error_hotspot.xml\nhs_err_pid*\n\nQuelea/bundlejre/*\nQuelea/build/*\nQuelea/out-mac/*\nQuelea/dist/*\nQuelea/nbproject/*\nQuelea/.idea/*\nQuelea/output/*\nQuelea/.gradle/*\nQuelea/.nb-gradle/*\nQuelea/bin/*\nQuelea/private/*\n\nflatpak/**/builddir\nflatpak/**/.flatpak-builder\nflatpak/**/repo\n\nThumbs.db\ngs.msi"
},
{
"path": "CONTRIBUTING.md",
"content": "# Contributing to Quelea\n\nContributions are always welcome! There's three main ways you can contribute to Quelea - you can report issues, [maintain and add translations](https://quelea.org/lang/), and contribute to the code directly.\n\n## Reporting issues\n\nNo qualms here - any issues you find, or anything you feel should be included, just create an issue and we'll get to it. Don't worry if you're not sure if it's something that's already been added, if so we'll just point it out to you and then close it off.\n\n## Translations\n\nIn brief, the guidelines for contributing to translations can be found here: https://quelea.org/lang/\n\nWe're always happy to receive pull requests containing missing labels, or corrections to existing labels - so long as these are in the correct format, there's no reason we'd reject these pull requests (and hey, if they're in the incorrect format somehow then we're always happy to work with you to fix it!)\n\nIt's also fantastic when someone contributes a new translation, and we gladly accept these too! The only caveat is that you must speak the language fluently, and most of the labels must be translated. We don't mind if the bulk are done and you aim to fill in the rest at a later point, but we won't accept new translations that just have a few lines translated.\n\n## Code\n\nIt's always fantastic when new code contributors come on board! We generally accept bug fixes, so long as the commit comments are clear, the fixes clearly won't introduce any new issues (or at least have a very low probability of doing so), and the code is well written and clearly documented. In the case where any of these aren't the case, then we won't accept right away, but where possible we'll happily work with you to bring your contribution to the point where we can accept it.\n\nHowever, please be aware the bar is set far higher for pull requests for new features out of the blue - especially if these haven't been discussed and agreed with the core team in advance. **There's a good chance these could just be closed if we don't agree that the feature(s) being added are a priority.** New features may seem great to have, but we have to make sure that they're implemented well, not rushed, and the core team agrees on any UX implications they may have. If you're thinking of a new feature, then talk to us first (feel free to create an issue for it if one doesn't exist already.) Additional features also present an ongoing maintenance burden to the core contributors, as they'd have to be supported & maintained long after the original PR author may have disappeared.\n\nIn short, please **only submit a PR for a new feature if you're prepared for the good possibility that PR is rejected.**\n\nMajor refactorings of the project, or a significant part of it, are very unlikely to be accepted unless specifically discussed and agreed in advance. (This is usually something that we'd leave to the core developers though.)\n\nPlease see the [Setup Guide](docs/SETUP.md) for information on setting up a local development environment.\n\n## Final notes\n\nPlease don't let any of the above put you off contributing! We love contributions, and we're always happy to work with you where we can. We just can't promise to accept everything - Quelea now has a reasonable user base and the decisions we make around the code have real world implications, so we have to be convinced that contributions are definitely going to have a positive effect on our users before we accept them.\n\nOf course, if you want to make changes you don't *have* to push them back to us - that's the beauty of open source! If you've got a bunch of changes you think would make Quelea better for your particular use case, then feel free to fork it, make all the changes you like and then use it how you please!\n"
},
{
"path": "LICENSE",
"content": " GNU GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE\n Version 3, 29 June 2007\n\n Copyright (C) 2007 Free Software Foundation, Inc. \n Everyone is permitted to copy and distribute verbatim copies\n of this license document, but changing it is not allowed.\n\n Preamble\n\n The GNU General Public License is a free, copyleft license for\nsoftware and other kinds of works.\n\n The licenses for most software and other practical works are designed\nto take away your freedom to share and change the works. By contrast,\nthe GNU General Public License is intended to guarantee your freedom to\nshare and change all versions of a program--to make sure it remains free\nsoftware for all its users. We, the Free Software Foundation, use the\nGNU General Public License for most of our software; it applies also to\nany other work released this way by its authors. You can apply it to\nyour programs, too.\n\n When we speak of free software, we are referring to freedom, not\nprice. 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You are not responsible\nfor enforcing compliance by third parties with this License.\n\n An \"entity transaction\" is a transaction transferring control of an\norganization, or substantially all assets of one, or subdividing an\norganization, or merging organizations. If propagation of a covered\nwork results from an entity transaction, each party to that\ntransaction who receives a copy of the work also receives whatever\nlicenses to the work the party's predecessor in interest had or could\ngive under the previous paragraph, plus a right to possession of the\nCorresponding Source of the work from the predecessor in interest, if\nthe predecessor has it or can get it with reasonable efforts.\n\n You may not impose any further restrictions on the exercise of the\nrights granted or affirmed under this License. For example, you may\nnot impose a license fee, royalty, or other charge for exercise of\nrights granted under this License, and you may not initiate litigation\n(including a cross-claim or counterclaim in a lawsuit) alleging that\nany patent claim is infringed by making, using, selling, offering for\nsale, or importing the Program or any portion of it.\n\n 11. Patents.\n\n A \"contributor\" is a copyright holder who authorizes use under this\nLicense of the Program or a work on which the Program is based. The\nwork thus licensed is called the contributor's \"contributor version\".\n\n A contributor's \"essential patent claims\" are all patent claims\nowned or controlled by the contributor, whether already acquired or\nhereafter acquired, that would be infringed by some manner, permitted\nby this License, of making, using, or selling its contributor version,\nbut do not include claims that would be infringed only as a\nconsequence of further modification of the contributor version. For\npurposes of this definition, \"control\" includes the right to grant\npatent sublicenses in a manner consistent with the requirements of\nthis License.\n\n Each contributor grants you a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free\npatent license under the contributor's essential patent claims, to\nmake, use, sell, offer for sale, import and otherwise run, modify and\npropagate the contents of its contributor version.\n\n In the following three paragraphs, a \"patent license\" is any express\nagreement or commitment, however denominated, not to enforce a patent\n(such as an express permission to practice a patent or covenant not to\nsue for patent infringement). To \"grant\" such a patent license to a\nparty means to make such an agreement or commitment not to enforce a\npatent against the party.\n\n If you convey a covered work, knowingly relying on a patent license,\nand the Corresponding Source of the work is not available for anyone\nto copy, free of charge and under the terms of this License, through a\npublicly available network server or other readily accessible means,\nthen you must either (1) cause the Corresponding Source to be so\navailable, or (2) arrange to deprive yourself of the benefit of the\npatent license for this particular work, or (3) arrange, in a manner\nconsistent with the requirements of this License, to extend the patent\nlicense to downstream recipients. \"Knowingly relying\" means you have\nactual knowledge that, but for the patent license, your conveying the\ncovered work in a country, or your recipient's use of the covered work\nin a country, would infringe one or more identifiable patents in that\ncountry that you have reason to believe are valid.\n\n If, pursuant to or in connection with a single transaction or\narrangement, you convey, or propagate by procuring conveyance of, a\ncovered work, and grant a patent license to some of the parties\nreceiving the covered work authorizing them to use, propagate, modify\nor convey a specific copy of the covered work, then the patent license\nyou grant is automatically extended to all recipients of the covered\nwork and works based on it.\n\n A patent license is \"discriminatory\" if it does not include within\nthe scope of its coverage, prohibits the exercise of, or is\nconditioned on the non-exercise of one or more of the rights that are\nspecifically granted under this License. You may not convey a covered\nwork if you are a party to an arrangement with a third party that is\nin the business of distributing software, under which you make payment\nto the third party based on the extent of your activity of conveying\nthe work, and under which the third party grants, to any of the\nparties who would receive the covered work from you, a discriminatory\npatent license (a) in connection with copies of the covered work\nconveyed by you (or copies made from those copies), or (b) primarily\nfor and in connection with specific products or compilations that\ncontain the covered work, unless you entered into that arrangement,\nor that patent license was granted, prior to 28 March 2007.\n\n Nothing in this License shall be construed as excluding or limiting\nany implied license or other defenses to infringement that may\notherwise be available to you under applicable patent law.\n\n 12. No Surrender of Others' Freedom.\n\n If conditions are imposed on you (whether by court order, agreement or\notherwise) that contradict the conditions of this License, they do not\nexcuse you from the conditions of this License. If you cannot convey a\ncovered work so as to satisfy simultaneously your obligations under this\nLicense and any other pertinent obligations, then as a consequence you may\nnot convey it at all. For example, if you agree to terms that obligate you\nto collect a royalty for further conveying from those to whom you convey\nthe Program, the only way you could satisfy both those terms and this\nLicense would be to refrain entirely from conveying the Program.\n\n 13. Use with the GNU Affero General Public License.\n\n Notwithstanding any other provision of this License, you have\npermission to link or combine any covered work with a work licensed\nunder version 3 of the GNU Affero General Public License into a single\ncombined work, and to convey the resulting work. The terms of this\nLicense will continue to apply to the part which is the covered work,\nbut the special requirements of the GNU Affero General Public License,\nsection 13, concerning interaction through a network will apply to the\ncombination as such.\n\n 14. Revised Versions of this License.\n\n The Free Software Foundation may publish revised and/or new versions of\nthe GNU General Public License from time to time. Such new versions will\nbe similar in spirit to the present version, but may differ in detail to\naddress new problems or concerns.\n\n Each version is given a distinguishing version number. If the\nProgram specifies that a certain numbered version of the GNU General\nPublic License \"or any later version\" applies to it, you have the\noption of following the terms and conditions either of that numbered\nversion or of any later version published by the Free Software\nFoundation. If the Program does not specify a version number of the\nGNU General Public License, you may choose any version ever published\nby the Free Software Foundation.\n\n If the Program specifies that a proxy can decide which future\nversions of the GNU General Public License can be used, that proxy's\npublic statement of acceptance of a version permanently authorizes you\nto choose that version for the Program.\n\n Later license versions may give you additional or different\npermissions. However, no additional obligations are imposed on any\nauthor or copyright holder as a result of your choosing to follow a\nlater version.\n\n 15. Disclaimer of Warranty.\n\n THERE IS NO WARRANTY FOR THE PROGRAM, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY\nAPPLICABLE LAW. EXCEPT WHEN OTHERWISE STATED IN WRITING THE COPYRIGHT\nHOLDERS AND/OR OTHER PARTIES PROVIDE THE PROGRAM \"AS IS\" WITHOUT WARRANTY\nOF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO,\nTHE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR\nPURPOSE. THE ENTIRE RISK AS TO THE QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE OF THE PROGRAM\nIS WITH YOU. SHOULD THE PROGRAM PROVE DEFECTIVE, YOU ASSUME THE COST OF\nALL NECESSARY SERVICING, REPAIR OR CORRECTION.\n\n 16. Limitation of Liability.\n\n IN NO EVENT UNLESS REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE LAW OR AGREED TO IN WRITING\nWILL ANY COPYRIGHT HOLDER, OR ANY OTHER PARTY WHO MODIFIES AND/OR CONVEYS\nTHE PROGRAM AS PERMITTED ABOVE, BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR DAMAGES, INCLUDING ANY\nGENERAL, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF THE\nUSE OR INABILITY TO USE THE PROGRAM (INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO LOSS OF\nDATA OR DATA BEING RENDERED INACCURATE OR LOSSES SUSTAINED BY YOU OR THIRD\nPARTIES OR A FAILURE OF THE PROGRAM TO OPERATE WITH ANY OTHER PROGRAMS),\nEVEN IF SUCH HOLDER OR OTHER PARTY HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF\nSUCH DAMAGES.\n\n 17. Interpretation of Sections 15 and 16.\n\n If the disclaimer of warranty and limitation of liability provided\nabove cannot be given local legal effect according to their terms,\nreviewing courts shall apply local law that most closely approximates\nan absolute waiver of all civil liability in connection with the\nProgram, unless a warranty or assumption of liability accompanies a\ncopy of the Program in return for a fee.\n\n END OF TERMS AND CONDITIONS\n\n How to Apply These Terms to Your New Programs\n\n If you develop a new program, and you want it to be of the greatest\npossible use to the public, the best way to achieve this is to make it\nfree software which everyone can redistribute and change under these terms.\n\n To do so, attach the following notices to the program. It is safest\nto attach them to the start of each source file to most effectively\nstate the exclusion of warranty; and each file should have at least\nthe \"copyright\" line and a pointer to where the full notice is found.\n\n \n Copyright (C) \n\n This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify\n it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by\n the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or\n (at your option) any later version.\n\n This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,\n but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of\n MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the\n GNU General Public License for more details.\n\n You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License\n along with this program. If not, see .\n\nAlso add information on how to contact you by electronic and paper mail.\n\n If the program does terminal interaction, make it output a short\nnotice like this when it starts in an interactive mode:\n\n Copyright (C) \n This program comes with ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY; for details type `show w'.\n This is free software, and you are welcome to redistribute it\n under certain conditions; type `show c' for details.\n\nThe hypothetical commands `show w' and `show c' should show the appropriate\nparts of the General Public License. Of course, your program's commands\nmight be different; for a GUI interface, you would use an \"about box\".\n\n You should also get your employer (if you work as a programmer) or school,\nif any, to sign a \"copyright disclaimer\" for the program, if necessary.\nFor more information on this, and how to apply and follow the GNU GPL, see\n.\n\n The GNU General Public License does not permit incorporating your program\ninto proprietary programs. If your program is a subroutine library, you\nmay consider it more useful to permit linking proprietary applications with\nthe library. If this is what you want to do, use the GNU Lesser General\nPublic License instead of this License. But first, please read\n.\n"
},
{
"path": "Quelea/.nb-gradle-properties",
"content": "\n\n \n j2se\n 1.8\n 1.8\n \n j2se\n 1.8\n \n\n"
},
{
"path": "Quelea/.vscode/launch.json",
"content": "{\n // Use IntelliSense to learn about possible attributes.\n // Hover to view descriptions of existing attributes.\n // For more information, visit: https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=830387\n \"version\": \"0.2.0\",\n \"configurations\": [\n {\n \"type\": \"java\",\n \"name\": \"Quelea MainStub\",\n \"request\": \"launch\",\n \"mainClass\": \"org.quelea.windows.main.MainStub\",\n \"projectName\": \"Quelea\",\n \"encoding\": \"UTF-8\",\n \"vmArgs\": [\"-Dfile.encoding=UTF-8\",\"-Dprism.dirtyopts=false\",\"-Dglass.accessible.force=false\",\"--add-exports=javafx.graphics/com.sun.javafx.css=ALL-UNNAMED\",\"--add-exports=javafx.base/com.sun.javafx.runtime=ALL-UNNAMED\",\"--add-exports=javafx.base/com.sun.javafx.event=ALL-UNNAMED\",\"--add-opens=java.base/java.lang=ALL-UNNAMED\",\"--add-opens=javafx.controls/javafx.scene.control=ALL-UNNAMED\"]\n },\n {\n \"type\": \"java\",\n \"name\": \"LabelChecker\",\n \"request\": \"launch\",\n \"mainClass\": \"org.quelea.services.languages.LabelChecker\",\n \"projectName\": \"Quelea\"\n },\n {\n \"type\": \"java\",\n \"name\": \"USEnglishConverter\",\n \"request\": \"launch\",\n \"mainClass\": \"org.quelea.services.languages.USEnglishConverter\",\n \"projectName\": \"Quelea\"\n },\n {\n \"type\": \"java\",\n \"name\": \"ImageChecker\",\n \"request\": \"launch\",\n \"mainClass\": \"org.quelea.services.utils.ImageChecker\",\n \"projectName\": \"Quelea\"\n },\n {\n \"type\": \"java\",\n \"name\": \"ReleaseSummaryGenerator\",\n \"request\": \"launch\",\n \"mainClass\": \"org.quelea.services.utils.ReleaseSummaryGenerator\",\n \"projectName\": \"Quelea\"\n },\n {\n \"type\": \"java\",\n \"name\": \"GZMaxFileCompressor\",\n \"request\": \"launch\",\n \"mainClass\": \"org.quelea.services.utils.GZMaxFileCompressor\",\n \"projectName\": \"Quelea\",\n \"args\": \"${command:SpecifyProgramArgs}\" //needs 2 args (an input file name, an output file name)\n },\n /*{\n \"type\": \"java\",\n \"name\": \"LineTypeChecker\",\n \"request\": \"launch\",\n \"mainClass\": \"org.quelea.services.utils.LineTypeChecker\",\n \"projectName\": \"Quelea\"\n },*/\n /*{\n \"type\": \"java\",\n \"name\": \"SongDuplicateChecker\",\n \"request\": \"launch\",\n \"mainClass\": \"org.quelea.services.utils.SongDuplicateChecker\",\n \"projectName\": \"Quelea\"\n },*/\n /*{\n \"type\": \"java\",\n \"name\": \"Main\",\n \"request\": \"launch\",\n \"mainClass\": \"org.quelea.windows.main.Main\",\n \"projectName\": \"Quelea\",\n \"vmArgs\": [\"Xmx2G\",\"XX:+UseParallelGC\"]\n },*/\n \n ]\n}"
},
{
"path": "Quelea/CHANGE VERSION",
"content": "When changing the version number, it needs to be changed in:\n\n1) Version constant in QueleaProperties.java (remember the minor version constant as the second argument if this is an Alpha / Beta / another dev release.)\n2) gradle.properties\n3) snap/snapcraft.yaml\n4) Add a tag to releases in flatpak/org.quelea.Quelea.metainfo.xml (Linux metainfo)\n\nEverything else should now be automated.\n\nWhen releasing, change links on http://quelea.org/download\n"
},
{
"path": "Quelea/Quelea.bat",
"content": "java --add-opens java.base/java.nio=ALL-UNNAMED --add-exports=javafx.graphics/com.sun.javafx.css=ALL-UNNAMED --add-exports=javafx.base/com.sun.javafx.runtime=ALL-UNNAMED --add-exports=javafx.base/com.sun.javafx.event=ALL-UNNAMED --add-opens java.base/java.lang=ALL-UNNAMED --add-opens javafx.controls/javafx.scene.control=ALL-UNNAMED -Dfile.encoding=UTF-8 -Dprism.dirtyopts=false -jar Quelea.jar\n"
},
{
"path": "Quelea/bibles/asv.xml",
"content": "\r\n\r\n \r\n \r\n In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.\r\n And the earth was waste and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep: and the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters\r\n And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.\r\n And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.\r\n And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, one day.\r\n And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.\r\n And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so.\r\n And God called the firmament Heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, a second day.\r\n And God said, Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so.\r\n And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good.\r\n And God said, Let the earth put forth grass, herbs yielding seed, [and] fruit-trees bearing fruit after their kind, wherein is the seed thereof, upon the earth: and it was so.\r\n And the earth brought forth grass, herbs yielding seed after their kind, and trees bearing fruit, wherein is the seed thereof, after their kind: and God saw that it was good.\r\n And there was evening and there was morning, a third day.\r\n And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days and years:\r\n and let them be for lights in the firmament of heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so.\r\n And God made the two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: [he made] the stars also.\r\n And God set them in the firmament of heaven to give light upon the earth,\r\n and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good.\r\n And there was evening and there was morning, a fourth day.\r\n And God said, Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.\r\n And God created the great sea-monsters, and every living creature that moveth, wherewith the waters swarmed, after their kind, and every winged bird after its kind: and God saw that it was good.\r\n And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.\r\n And there was evening and there was morning, a fifth day.\r\n And God said, Let the earth bring forth living creatures after their kind, cattle, and creeping things, and beasts of the earth after their kind: and it was so.\r\n And God made the beasts of the earth after their kind, and the cattle after their kind, and everything that creepeth upon the ground after its kind: and God saw that it was good.\r\n And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the heavens, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.\r\n And God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.\r\n And God blessed them: and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the heavens, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.\r\n And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb yielding seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for food:\r\n and to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the heavens, and to everything that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, [I have given] every green herb for food: and it was so.\r\n And God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.\r\n And on the seventh day God finished his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.\r\n And God blessed the seventh day, and hallowed it; because that in it he rested from all his work which God had created and made.\r\n These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that Jehovah God made earth and heaven.\r\n And no plant of the field was yet in the earth, and no herb of the field had yet sprung up; for Jehovah God had not caused it to rain upon the earth: and there was not a man to till the ground;\r\n but there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground.\r\n And Jehovah God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.\r\n And Jehovah God planted a garden eastward, in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.\r\n And out of the ground made Jehovah God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.\r\n And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became four heads.\r\n The name of the first is Pishon: that is it which compasseth the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold;\r\n and the gold of that land is good: there is bdellium and the onyx stone.\r\n And the name of the second river is Gihon: the same is it that compasseth the whole land of Cush.\r\n And the name of the third river is Hiddekel: that is it which goeth in front of Assyria. And the fourth river is the Euphrates.\r\n And Jehovah God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.\r\n And Jehovah God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:\r\n but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.\r\n And Jehovah God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a help meet for him.\r\n And out of the ground Jehovah God formed every beast of the field, and every bird of the heavens; and brought them unto the man to see what he would call them: and whatsoever the man called every living creature, that was the name thereof.\r\n And the man gave names to all cattle, and to the birds of the heavens, and to every beast of the field; but for man there was not found a help meet for him.\r\n And Jehovah God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof:\r\n and the rib, which Jehovah God had taken from the man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.\r\n And the man said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.\r\n Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.\r\n And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which Jehovah God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of any tree of the garden?\r\n And the woman said unto the serpent, Of the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat:\r\n but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.\r\n And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:\r\n for God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as God, knowing good and evil.\r\n And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat; and she gave also unto her husband with her, and he did eat.\r\n And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig-leaves together, and made themselves aprons.\r\n And they heard the voice of Jehovah God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of Jehovah God amongst the trees of the garden.\r\n And Jehovah God called unto the man, and said unto him, Where art thou?\r\n And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.\r\n And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?\r\n And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.\r\n And Jehovah God said unto the woman, What is this thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.\r\n And Jehovah God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, cursed art thou above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:\r\n and I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed: he shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.\r\n Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy pain and thy conception; in pain thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.\r\n And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in toil shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;\r\n thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;\r\n in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.\r\n And the man called his wife`s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.\r\n And Jehovah God made for Adam and for his wife coats of skins, and clothed them.\r\n And Jehovah God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil; and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever-\r\n therefore Jehovah God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.\r\n So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden the Cherubim, and the flame of a sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the man knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man with [the help of] Jehovah.\r\n And again she bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.\r\n And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto Jehovah.\r\n And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And Jehovah had respect unto Abel and to his offering:\r\n but unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.\r\n And Jehovah said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?\r\n If thou doest well, shall it not be lifted up? and if thou doest not well, sin coucheth at the door: and unto thee shall be its desire, but do thou rule over it.\r\n And Cain told Abel his brother. And it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.\r\n And Jehovah said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: am I my brother`s keeper?\r\n And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother`s blood crieth unto me from the ground.\r\n And now cursed art thou from the ground, which hath opened its mouth to receive thy brother`s blood from thy hand;\r\n when thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee its strength; a fugitive and a wanderer shalt thou be in the earth.\r\n And Cain said unto Jehovah, My punishment is greater than I can bear.\r\n Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the ground; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer in the earth; and it will come to pass, that whosoever findeth me will slay me.\r\n And Jehovah said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And Jehovah appointed a sign for Cain, lest any finding him should smite him.\r\n And Cain went out from the presence of Jehovah, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.\r\n And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch.\r\n And unto Enoch was born Irad: and Irad begat Mehujael: and Mehujael begat Methushael; and Methushael begat Lamech.\r\n And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.\r\n And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents and [have] cattle.\r\n And his brother`s name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and pipe.\r\n And Zillah, she also bare Tubal-cain, the forger of every cutting instrument of brass and iron: and the sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah.\r\n And Lamech said unto his wives: Adah and Zillah, hear my voice; Ye wives of Lamech, hearken unto my speech: For I have slain a man for wounding me, And a young man for bruising me:\r\n If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, Truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold.\r\n And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth. For, [said she], God hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel; for Cain slew him.\r\n And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enosh. Then began men to call upon the name of Jehovah.\r\n \r\n \r\n This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him;\r\n male and female created he them, and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.\r\n And Adam lived a hundred and thirty years, and begat [a son] in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth:\r\n and the days of Adam after he begat Seth were eight hundred years: and he begat sons and daughters.\r\n And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died.\r\n And Seth lived a hundred and five years, and begat Enosh:\r\n and Seth lived after he begat Enosh eight hundred and seven years, and begat sons and daughters:\r\n and all the days of Seth were nine hundred and twelve years: and he died.\r\n And Enosh lived ninety years, and begat Kenan.\r\n and Enosh lived after he begat Kenan eight hundred and fifteen years, and begat sons and daughters:\r\n and all the days of Enosh were nine hundred and five years: and he died.\r\n And Kenan lived seventy years, and begat Mahalalel:\r\n and Kenan lived after he begat Mahalalel eight hundred and forty years, and begat sons and daughters:\r\n and all the days of Kenan were nine hundred and ten years: and he died.\r\n And Mahalalel lived sixty and five years, and begat Jared:\r\n And Mahalalel lived after he begat Jared eight hundred and thirty years, and begat sons and daughters:\r\n and all the days of Mahalalel were eight hundred ninety and five years: and he died.\r\n And Jared lived a hundred sixty and two years, and begat Enoch:\r\n and Jared lived after he begat Enoch eight hundred years, and begat sons and daughters:\r\n And all the days of Jared were nine hundred sixty and two years: and he died.\r\n And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah:\r\n and Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters:\r\n and all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years:\r\n and Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.\r\n And Methuselah lived a hundred eighty and seven years, and begat Lamech:\r\n and Methuselah lived after he begat Lamech seven hundred eighty and two years, and begat sons and daughters.\r\n And all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty and nine years: and he died.\r\n And Lamech lived a hundred eighty and two years, and begat a son:\r\n and he called his name Noah, saying, This same shall comfort us in our work and in the toil of our hands, [which cometh] because of the ground which Jehovah hath cursed.\r\n And Lamech lived after he begat Noah five hundred ninety and five years, and begat sons and daughters:\r\n And all the days of Lamech were seven hundred seventy and seven years: and he died.\r\n And Noah was five hundred years old: And Noah begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the ground, and daughters were born unto them,\r\n that the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all that they chose.\r\n And Jehovah said, My spirit shall not strive with man for ever, for that he also is flesh: yet shall his days be a hundred and twenty years.\r\n The Nephilim were in the earth in those days, and also after that, when the sons of God came unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them: the same were the mighty men that were of old, the men of renown.\r\n And Jehovah saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.\r\n And it repented Jehovah that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.\r\n And Jehovah said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the ground; both man, and beast, and creeping things, and birds of the heavens; for it repenteth me that I have made them.\r\n But Noah found favor in the eyes of Jehovah.\r\n These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, [and] perfect in his generations: Noah walked with God.\r\n And Noah begat three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.\r\n And the earth was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.\r\n And God saw the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way upon the earth.\r\n And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.\r\n Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch.\r\n And this is how thou shalt make it: the length of the ark three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits.\r\n A light shalt thou make to the ark, and to a cubit shalt thou finish it upward; and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof; with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it.\r\n And I, behold, I do bring the flood of waters upon this earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; everything that is in the earth shall die.\r\n But I will establish my covenant with thee; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons` wives with thee.\r\n And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep them alive with thee; they shall be male and female.\r\n Of the birds after their kind, and of the cattle after their kind, of every creeping thing of the ground after its kind, two of every sort shall come unto thee, to keep them alive.\r\n And take thou unto thee of all food that is eaten, and gather it to thee; and it shall be for food for thee, and for them.\r\n Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Jehovah said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.\r\n Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee seven and seven, the male and his female; and of the beasts that are not clean two, the male and his female:\r\n of the birds also of the heavens, seven and seven, male and female, to keep seed alive upon the face of all the earth.\r\n For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living thing that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the ground.\r\n And Noah did according unto all that Jehovah commanded him.\r\n And Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters was upon the earth.\r\n And Noah went in, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons` wives with him, into the ark, because of the waters of the flood.\r\n Of clean beasts, and of beasts that are not clean, and of birds, and of everything that creepeth upon the ground,\r\n there went in two and two unto Noah into the ark, male and female, as God commanded Noah.\r\n And it came to pass after the seven days, that the waters of the flood were upon the earth.\r\n In the six hundredth year of Noah`s life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.\r\n And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights.\r\n In the selfsame day entered Noah, and Shem, and Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah`s wife, and the three wives of his sons with them, into the ark;\r\n they, and every beast after its kind, and all the cattle after their kind, and every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth after its kind, and every bird after its kind, every bird of every sort.\r\n And they went in unto Noah into the ark, two and two of all flesh wherein is the breath of life.\r\n And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God commanded him: and Jehovah shut him in.\r\n And the flood was forty days upon the earth; and the waters increased, and bare up the ark, and it was lifted up above the earth.\r\n And the waters prevailed, and increased greatly upon the earth; and the ark went upon the face of the waters.\r\n And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the high mountains that were under the whole heaven were covered.\r\n Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail; and the mountains were covered.\r\n And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both birds, and cattle, and beasts, and every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, and every man:\r\n all in whose nostrils was the breath of the spirit of life, of all that was on the dry land, died.\r\n And every living thing was destroyed that was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and creeping things, and birds of the heavens; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah only was left, and they that were with him in the ark.\r\n And the waters prevailed upon the earth a hundred and fifty days.\r\n \r\n \r\n And God remembered Noah, and all the beasts, and all the cattle that were with him in the ark: and God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters assuaged;\r\n the fountains also of the deep and the windows of heaven were stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained;\r\n and the waters returned from off the earth continually: and after the end of a hundred and fifty days the waters decreased.\r\n And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat.\r\n And the waters decreased continually until the tenth month: in the tenth month, on the first day of the month, were the tops of the mountains seen.\r\n And it came to pass at the end of forty days, that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made:\r\n and he sent forth a raven, and it went forth to and fro, until the waters were dried up from off the earth.\r\n And he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters were abated from off the face of the ground;\r\n but the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot, and she returned unto him to the ark; for the waters were on the face of the whole earth: and he put forth his hand, and took her, and brought her in unto him into the ark.\r\n And he stayed yet other seven days; and again he sent forth the dove out of the ark;\r\n and the dove came in to him at eventide; and, lo, in her mouth an olive-leaf plucked off: so Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth.\r\n And he stayed yet other seven days, and sent forth the dove; and she returned not again unto him any more.\r\n And it came to pass in the six hundred and first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were dried up from off the earth: and Noah removed the covering of the ark, and looked, and, behold, the face of the ground was dried.\r\n And in the second month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, was the earth dry.\r\n And God spake unto Noah, saying,\r\n Go forth from the ark, thou, and thy wife, and thy sons, and thy sons` wives with thee.\r\n Bring forth with thee every living thing that is with thee of all flesh, both birds, and cattle, and every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth; that they may breed abundantly in the earth, and be fruitful, and multiply upon the earth.\r\n And Noah went forth, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons` wives with him:\r\n every beast, every creeping thing, and every bird, whatsoever moveth upon the earth, after their families, went forth out of the ark.\r\n And Noah builded an altar unto Jehovah, and took of every clean beast, and of every clean bird, and offered burnt-offerings on the altar.\r\n And Jehovah smelled the sweet savor; and Jehovah said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man`s sake, for that the imagination of man`s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more everything living, as I have done.\r\n While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.\r\n \r\n \r\n And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.\r\n And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every bird of the heavens; With all wherewith the ground teemeth, and all the fishes of the sea, into your hand are they delivered.\r\n Every moving thing that liveth shall be food for you; As the green herb have I given you all.\r\n But flesh with the life thereof, [which is] the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.\r\n And surely your blood, [the blood] of your lives, will I require; At the hand of every beast will I require it. And at the hand of man, even at the hand of every man`s brother, will I require the life of man.\r\n Whoso sheddeth man`s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: For in the image of God made he man.\r\n And you, be ye fruitful, and multiply; Bring forth abundantly in the earth, and multiply therein.\r\n And God spake unto Noah, and to his sons with him, saying,\r\n And I, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you;\r\n and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the cattle, and every beast of the earth with you. Of all that go out of the ark, even every beast of the earth.\r\n And I will establish my covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of the flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth.\r\n And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations:\r\n I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.\r\n And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud,\r\n and I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.\r\n And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.\r\n And God said unto Noah, This is the token of the covenant which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth.\r\n And the sons of Noah, that went forth from the ark, were Shem, and Ham, and Japheth: and Ham is the father of Canaan.\r\n These three were the sons of Noah: and of these was the whole earth overspread.\r\n And Noah began to be a husbandman, and planted a vineyard:\r\n and he drank of the wine, and was drunken. And he was uncovered within his tent.\r\n And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without.\r\n And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father. And their faces were backward, and they saw not their father`s nakedness.\r\n And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his youngest son had done unto him.\r\n And he said, Cursed be Canaan; A servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren.\r\n And he said, Blessed be Jehovah, the God of Shem; And let Canaan be his servant.\r\n God enlarge Japheth, And let him dwell in the tents of Shem; And let Canaan be his servant.\r\n And Noah lived after the flood three hundred and fifty years.\r\n And all the days of Noah were nine hundred and fifty years: And he died.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now these are the generations of the sons of Noah, [namely], of Shem, Ham, and Japheth: and unto them were sons born after the flood.\r\n The sons of Japheth: Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras.\r\n And the sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz, and Riphath, and Togarmah.\r\n And the sons of Javan: Elishah, and Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim.\r\n Of these were the isles of the nations divided in their lands, every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations.\r\n And the sons of Ham: Cush, and Mizraim, and Put, and Canaan.\r\n And the sons of Cush: Seba, and Havilah, and Sabtah, and Raamah, and Sabteca; and the sons of Raamah: Sheba, and Dedan.\r\n And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth.\r\n He was a mighty hunter before Jehovah: wherefore it is said, Like Nimrod a mighty hunter before Jehovah.\r\n And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.\r\n Out of that land he went forth into Assyria, and builded Nineveh, and Rehoboth-ir, and Calah,\r\n and Resen between Nineveh and Calah (the same is the great city).\r\n And Mizraim begat Ludim, and Anamim, and Lehabim, and Naphtuhim,\r\n and Pathrusim, and Casluhim (whence went forth the Philistines), and Caphtorim.\r\n And Canaan begat Sidon his first-born, and Heth,\r\n and the Jebusite, and the Amorite, and the Girgashite,\r\n and the Hivite, and the Arkite, and the Sinite,\r\n and the Arvadite, and the Zemarite, and the Hamathite: and afterward were the families of the Canaanite spread abroad.\r\n And the border of the Canaanite was from Sidon, as thou goest toward Gerar, unto Gaza; as thou goest toward Sodom and Gomorrah and Admah and Zeboiim, unto Lasha.\r\n These are the sons of Ham, after their families, after their tongues, in their lands, in their nations.\r\n And unto Shem, the father of all the children of Eber, the elder brother of Japheth, to him also were children born.\r\n The sons of Shem: Elam, and Asshur, and Arpachshad, and Lud, and Aram.\r\n And the sons of Aram: Uz, and Hul, and Gether, and Mash.\r\n And Arpachshad begat Shelah; and Shelah begat Eber.\r\n And unto Eber were born two sons: The name of the one was Peleg. For in his days was the earth divided. And his brother`s name was Joktan.\r\n And Joktan begat Almodad, and Sheleph, and Hazarmaveth, and Jerah,\r\n and Hadoram, and Uzal, and Diklah,\r\n and Obal, and Abimael, and Sheba,\r\n and Ophir, and Havilah, and Jobab: all these were the sons of Joktan.\r\n And their dwelling was from Mesha, as thou goest toward Sephar, the mountain of the east.\r\n These are the sons of Shem, after their families, after their tongues, in their lands, after their nations.\r\n These are the families of the sons of Noah, after their generations, in their nations: and of these were the nations divided in the earth after the flood.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the whole earth was of one language and of one speech.\r\n And it came to pass, as they journeyed east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there.\r\n And they said one to another, Come, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for mortar.\r\n And they said, Come, let us build us a city, and a tower, whose top [may reach] unto heaven, and let us make us a name; lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.\r\n And Jehovah came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.\r\n And Jehovah said, Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language; and this is what they begin to do: and now nothing will be withholden from them, which they purpose to do.\r\n Come, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another`s speech.\r\n So Jehovah scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off building the city.\r\n Therefore was the name of it called Babel; because Jehovah did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did Jehovah scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.\r\n These are the generations of Shem. Shem was a hundred years old, and begat Arpachshad two years after the flood.\r\n and Shem lived after he begat Arpachshad five hundred years, and begat sons and daughters.\r\n And Arpachshad lived five and thirty years, and begat Shelah.\r\n and Arpachshad lived after he begat Shelah four hundred and three years, and begat sons and daughters.\r\n And Shelah lived thirty years, and begat Eber:\r\n and Shelah lived after he begat Eber four hundred and three years, and begat sons and daughters.\r\n And Eber lived four and thirty years, and begat Peleg:\r\n and Eber lived after he begat Peleg four hundred and thirty years, and begat sons and daughters.\r\n And Peleg lived thirty years, and begat Reu:\r\n and Peleg lived after he begat Reu two hundred and nine years, and begat sons and daughters.\r\n And Reu lived two and thirty years, and begat Serug:\r\n and Reu lived after he begat Serug two hundred and seven years, and begat sons and daughters.\r\n And Serug lived thirty years, and begat Nahor:\r\n and Serug lived after he begat Nahor two hundred years, and begat sons and daughters.\r\n And Nahor lived nine and twenty years, and begat Terah:\r\n and Nahor lived after he begat Terah a hundred and nineteen years, and begat sons and daughters.\r\n And Terah lived seventy years, and begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran.\r\n Now these are the generations of Terah. Terah begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran. And Haran begat Lot.\r\n And Haran died before his father Terah in the land of his nativity, in Ur of the Chaldees.\r\n And Abram and Nahor took them wives: The name of Abram`s wife was Sarai; and the name of Nahor`s wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah, and the father of Iscah.\r\n And Sarai was barren; She had no child.\r\n And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran, his son`s son, and Sarai his daughter-in-law, his son Abram`s wife; and they went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan; and they came unto Haran, and dwelt there.\r\n And the days of Terah were two hundred and five years: and Terah died in Haran.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now Jehovah said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father`s house, unto the land that I will show thee:\r\n and I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make they name great; and be thou a blessing;\r\n and I will bless them that bless thee, and him that curseth thee will I curse: and in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed.\r\n So Abram went, as Jehovah had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.\r\n And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother`s son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.\r\n And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Shechem, unto the oak of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land.\r\n And Jehovah appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto Jehovah, who appeared unto him.\r\n And he removed from thence unto the mountain on the east of Beth-el, and pitched his tent, having Beth-el on the west, and Ai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto Jehovah, and called upon the name of Jehovah.\r\n And Abram journeyed, going on still toward the South.\r\n And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was sore in the land.\r\n And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon:\r\n and it will come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they will say, This is his wife: and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive.\r\n Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister; that it may be well with me for thy sake, and that my soul may live because of thee.\r\n And it came to pass, that, when Abram was come into Egypt, the Egyptians beheld the woman that she was very fair.\r\n And the princes of Pharaoh saw her, and praised her to Pharaoh: and the woman was taken into Pharaoh`s house.\r\n And he dealt well with Abram for her sake: and he had sheep, and oxen, and he-asses, and men-servants, and maid-servants, and she-asses, and camels.\r\n And Jehovah plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram`s wife.\r\n And Pharaoh called Abram, and said, What is this that thou hast done unto me? why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife?\r\n why saidst thou, She is my sister, so that I took her to be my wife? now therefore behold thy wife, take her, and go thy way.\r\n And Pharaoh gave men charge concerning him: and they brought him on the way, and his wife, and all that he had.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the South.\r\n And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold.\r\n And he went on his journeys from the South even to Beth-el, unto the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Beth-el and Ai,\r\n unto the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first: and there Abram called on the name of Jehovah.\r\n And Lot also, who went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents.\r\n And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together.\r\n And there was a strife between the herdsmen of Abram`s cattle and the herdsmen of Lot`s cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelt then in the land.\r\n And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdsmen and thy herdsmen; for we are brethren.\r\n Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me. If [thou wilt take] the left hand, then I will go to the right. Or if [thou take] the right hand, then I will go to the left.\r\n And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the Plain of the Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before Jehovah destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, like the garden of Jehovah, like the land of Egypt, as thou goest unto Zoar.\r\n So Lot chose him all the Plain of the Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.\r\n Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelt in the cities of the Plain, and moved his tent as far as Sodom.\r\n Now the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners against Jehovah exceedingly.\r\n And Jehovah said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art, northward and southward and eastward and westward:\r\n for all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.\r\n And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: So that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then may thy seed also be numbered.\r\n Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for unto thee will I give it.\r\n And Abram moved his tent, and came and dwelt by the oaks of Mamre, which are in Hebron, and built there an altar unto Jehovah.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim,\r\n that they made war with Bera king of Sodom, and with Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, and Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (the same is Zoar).\r\n All these joined together in the vale of Siddim (the same is the Salt Sea).\r\n Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled.\r\n And in the fourteenth year came Chedorlaomer, and the kings that were with him, and smote the Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim, and the Zuzim in Ham, and the Emim in Shaveh-kiriathaim,\r\n and the Horites in their mount Seir, unto Elparan, which is by the wilderness.\r\n And they returned, and came to En-mishpat (the same is Kadesh), and smote all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites, that dwelt in Hazazon-tamar.\r\n And there went out the king of Sodom, and the king of Gomorrah, and the king of Admah, and the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (the same is Zoar); and they set the battle in array against them in the vale of Siddim;\r\n against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim, and Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar; four kings against the five.\r\n Now the vale of Siddim was full of slime pits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and they fell there, and they that remained fled to the mountain.\r\n And they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their victuals, and went their way.\r\n And they took Lot, Abram`s brother`s son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.\r\n And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew: now he dwelt by the oaks of Mamre, the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner; and these were confederate with Abram.\r\n And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he led forth his trained men, born in his house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued as far as Dan.\r\n And he divided himself against them by night, he and his servants, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus.\r\n And he brought back all the goods, and also brought back his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people.\r\n And the king of Sodom went out to meet him, after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer and the kings that were with him, at the vale of Shaveh (the same is the King`s Vale).\r\n And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was priest of God Most High.\r\n And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth:\r\n and blessed be God Most High, who hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him a tenth of all.\r\n And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself.\r\n And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lifted up my hand unto Jehovah, God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth,\r\n that I will not take a thread nor a shoe-latchet nor aught that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich:\r\n save only that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men that went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre. Let them take their portion.\r\n \r\n \r\n After these things the word of Jehovah came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, [and] thy exceeding great reward.\r\n And Abram said, O Lord Jehovah, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and he that shall be possessor of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?\r\n And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir.\r\n And, behold, the word of Jehovah came unto him, saying, This man shall not be thine heir; But he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.\r\n And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and number the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.\r\n And he believed in Jehovah; and he reckoned it to him for righteousness.\r\n And he said unto him, I am Jehovah that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it.\r\n And he said, O Lord Jehovah, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it?\r\n And he said unto him, Take me a heifer three years old, and a she-goat three years old, and a ram three years old, and a turtle-dove, and a young pigeon.\r\n And he took him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid each half over against the other: but the birds divided he not.\r\n And the birds of prey came down upon the carcasses, and Abram drove them away.\r\n And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, a horror of great darkness fell upon him.\r\n And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be sojourners in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;\r\n and also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance.\r\n But thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age.\r\n And in the fourth generation they shall come hither again; for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet full.\r\n And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold, a smoking furnace, and a flaming torch that passed between these pieces.\r\n In that day Jehovah made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:\r\n the Kenite, and the Kenizzite, and the Kadmonite,\r\n and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Rephaim,\r\n and the Amorite, and the Canaanite, and the Girgashite, and the Jebusite.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now Sarai, Abram`s wife, bare him no children: and she had a handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.\r\n And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, Jehovah hath restrained me from bearing; go in, I pray thee, unto my handmaid; it may be that I shall obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.\r\n And Sarai, Abram`s wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her handmaid, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to Abram her husband to be his wife.\r\n And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.\r\n And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I gave my handmaid into they bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: Jehovah judge between me and thee.\r\n But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid is in thy hand; do to her that which is good in thine eyes. And Sarai dealt hardly with her, and she fled from her face.\r\n And the angel of Jehovah found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur.\r\n And he said, Hagar, Sarai`s handmaid, whence camest thou? and whither goest thou? And she said, I am fleeing from the face of my mistress Sarai.\r\n And the angel of Jehovah said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.\r\n And the angel of Jehovah said unto her, I will greatly multiply thy seed, that it shall not be numbered for multitude.\r\n And the angel of Jehovah said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son; and thou shalt call his name Ishmael, because Jehovah hath heard thy affliction.\r\n And he shall be [as] a wild ass among men; his hand [shall be] against every man, and every man`s hand against him; and he shall dwell over against all his brethren.\r\n And she called the name of Jehovah that spake unto her, Thou art a God that seeth: for she said, Have I even here looked after him that seeth me?\r\n Wherefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi; behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered.\r\n And Hagar bare Abram a son: and Abram called the name of his son, whom Hagar bare, Ishmael.\r\n And Abram was fourscore and six years old, when Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram.\r\n \r\n \r\n And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, Jehovah appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be thou perfect.\r\n And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.\r\n And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying,\r\n As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be the father of a multitude of nations.\r\n Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for the father of a multitude of nations have I made thee.\r\n And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.\r\n And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee and to thy seed after thee.\r\n And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land of thy sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.\r\n And God said unto Abraham, And as for thee, thou shalt keep my covenant, thou, and thy seed after thee throughout their generations.\r\n This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee: every male among you shall be circumcised.\r\n And ye shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of a covenant betwixt me and you.\r\n And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every male throughout your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any foreigner that is not of thy seed.\r\n He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.\r\n And the uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant.\r\n And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be.\r\n And I will bless her, and moreover I will give thee a son of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be [a mother of] nations; kings of peoples shall be of her.\r\n Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is a hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?\r\n And Abraham said unto God, Oh that Ishmael might live before thee!\r\n And God said, Nay, but Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant for his seed after him.\r\n And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation.\r\n But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.\r\n And he left off talking with him, and God went up from Abraham.\r\n And Abraham took Ishmael his son, and all that were born in his house, and all that were bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham`s house, and circumcised the flesh of their foreskin in the selfsame day, as God had said unto him.\r\n And Abraham was ninety years old and nine, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.\r\n And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.\r\n In the selfsame day was Abraham circumcised, and Ishmael his son.\r\n And all the men of his house, those born in the house, and those bought with money of a foreigner, were circumcised with him.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Jehovah appeared unto him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day;\r\n and he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood over against him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself to the earth,\r\n and said, My lord, if now I have found favor in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant:\r\n let now a little water be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree:\r\n and I will fetch a morsel of bread, and strengthen ye your heart; after that ye shall pass on: forasmuch as ye are come to your servant. And they said, So do, as thou hast said.\r\n And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes.\r\n And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetched a calf tender and good, and gave it unto the servant; and he hasted to dress it.\r\n And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat.\r\n And they said unto him, Where is Sarah thy wife? And he said, Behold, in the tent.\r\n And he said, I will certainly return unto thee when the season cometh round; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard in the tent door, which was behind him.\r\n Now Abraham and Sarah were old, [and] well stricken in age; it had ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.\r\n And Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?\r\n And Jehovah said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, who am old?\r\n Is anything too hard for Jehovah? At the set time I will return unto thee, when the season cometh round, and Sarah shall have a son.\r\n Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And he said, Nay; but thou didst laugh.\r\n And the men rose up from thence, and looked toward Sodom: and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way.\r\n And Jehovah said, Shall I hide from Abraham that which I do;\r\n seeing that Abraham had surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?\r\n For I have known him, to the end that he may command his children and his household after him, that they may keep the way of Jehovah, to do righteousness and justice; to the end that Jehovah may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.\r\n And Jehovah said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;\r\n I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.\r\n And the men turned from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before Jehovah.\r\n And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou consume the righteous with the wicked?\r\n Peradventure there are fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou consume and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein?\r\n That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked, that so the righteous should be as the wicked; that be far from thee: shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?\r\n And Jehovah said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sake.\r\n And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, who am but dust and ashes:\r\n peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city for lack of five? And he said, I will not destroy it, if I find there forty and five.\r\n And he spake unto him yet again, and said, Peradventure there shall be forty found there. And he said, I will not do it for the forty`s sake.\r\n And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: peradventure there shall thirty be found there. And he said, I will not do it, if I find thirty there.\r\n And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord: peradventure there shall be twenty found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for the twenty`s sake.\r\n And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for the ten`s sake.\r\n And Jehovah went his way, as soon as he had left off communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the two angels came to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot saw them, and rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face to the earth;\r\n and he said, Behold now, my lords, turn aside, I pray you, into your servant`s house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your way. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night.\r\n And he urged them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat.\r\n But before they lay down, the men of the city, [even] the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both young and old, all the people from every quarter;\r\n and they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men that came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.\r\n And Lot went out unto them to the door, and shut the door after him.\r\n And he said, I pray you, my brethren, do not so wickedly.\r\n Behold now, I have two daughters that have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing, forasmuch as they are come under the shadow of my roof.\r\n And they said, Stand back. And they said, This one fellow came in to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge: now will we deal worse with thee, than with them. And they pressed sore upon the man, even Lot, and drew near to break the door.\r\n But the men put forth their hand, and brought Lot into the house to them, and shut to the door.\r\n And they smote the men that were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great, so that they wearied themselves to find the door.\r\n And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? son-in-law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whomsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of the place:\r\n for we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxed great before Jehovah: and Jehovah hath sent us to destroy it.\r\n And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons-in-law, who married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for Jehovah will destroy the city. But he seemed unto his sons-in-law as one that mocked.\r\n And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters that are here, lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city.\r\n But he lingered; and the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters, Jehovah being merciful unto him; and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.\r\n And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the Plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.\r\n And Lot said unto them, Oh, not so, my lord:\r\n behold now, thy servant hath found favor in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy lovingkindness, which thou hast showed unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest evil overtake me, and I die:\r\n behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one. Oh let me escape thither (is it not a little one?), and my soul shall live.\r\n And he said unto him, See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow the city of which thou hast spoken.\r\n Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do anything till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.\r\n The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot came unto Zoar.\r\n Then Jehovah rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from Jehovah out of heaven;\r\n and he overthrew those cities, and all the Plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground.\r\n But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.\r\n And Abraham gat up early in the morning to the place where he had stood before Jehovah:\r\n and he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the Plain, and beheld, and, lo, the smoke of the land went up as the smoke of a furnace.\r\n And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the Plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in which Lot dwelt.\r\n And Lot went up out of Zoar, and dwelt in the mountain, and his two daughters with him; for he feared to dwell in Zoar: and he dwelt in a cave, he and his two daughters.\r\n And the first-born said unto the younger, Our father is old, and there is not a man in the earth to come in unto us after the manner of all the earth:\r\n come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father.\r\n And they made their father drink wine that night: and the first-born went in, and lay with her father; and he knew not when she lay down, nor when she arose.\r\n And it came to pass on the morrow, that the first-born said unto the younger, Behold, I lay yesternight with my father: let us make him drink wine this night also; and go thou in, and lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father.\r\n And they made their father drink wine that night also: and the younger arose, and lay with him; and he knew not when she lay down, nor when she arose.\r\n Thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their father.\r\n And the first-born bare a son, and called his name Moab: the same is the father of the Moabites unto this day.\r\n And the younger, she also bare a son, and called his name Ben-ammi: the same is the father of the children of Ammon unto this day.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Abraham journeyed from thence toward the land of the South, and dwelt between Kadesh and Shur. And he sojourned in Gerar.\r\n And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister. And Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah.\r\n But God came to Abimelech in a dream of the night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man, because of the woman whom thou hast taken. For she is a man`s wife.\r\n Now Abimelech had not come near her. And he said, Lord, wilt thou slay even a righteous nation?\r\n Said he not himself unto me, She is my sister? And she, even she herself said, He is my brother. In the integrity of my heart and the innocency of my hands have I done this.\r\n And God said unto him in the dream, Yea, I know that in the integrity of thy heart thou has done this, and I also withheld thee from sinning against me. Therefore suffered I thee not to touch her.\r\n Now therefore restore the man`s wife. For he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live. And if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine.\r\n And Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ear. And the men were sore afraid.\r\n Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said unto him, What hast thou done unto us? And wherein have I sinned against thee, that thou hast brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? Thou hast done deeds unto me that ought not to be done.\r\n And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What sawest thou, that thou hast done this thing?\r\n And Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely the fear of God is not in this place. And they will slay me for my wife`s sake.\r\n And moreover she is indeed my sister, the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife:\r\n and it came to pass, when God caused me to wander from my father`s house, that I said unto her, This is thy kindness which thou shalt show unto me. At every place whither we shall come, say of me, He is my brother.\r\n And Abimelech took sheep and oxen, and men-servants and women-servants, and gave them unto Abraham, and restored him Sarah his wife.\r\n And Abimelech said, Behold, my land is before thee. Dwell where it pleaseth thee.\r\n And unto Sarah he said, Behold, I have given thy brother a thousand pieces of silver. Behold, it is for thee a covering of the eyes to all that are with thee. And in respect of all thou art righted.\r\n And Abraham prayed unto God. And God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maid-servants. And they bare children.\r\n For Jehovah had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah, Abraham`s wife.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Jehovah visited Sarah as he had said, and Jehovah did unto Sarah as he had spoken.\r\n And Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.\r\n And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac.\r\n And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him.\r\n And Abraham was a hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him.\r\n And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh. Every one that heareth will laugh with me.\r\n And she said, Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should give children suck? For I have borne him a son in his old age.\r\n And the child grew, and was weaned. And Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned.\r\n And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne unto Abraham, mocking.\r\n Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this handmaid and her son. For the son of this handmaid shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.\r\n And the thing was very grievous in Abraham`s sight on account of his son.\r\n And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy handmaid. In all that Sarah saith unto thee, hearken unto her voice. For in Isaac shall thy seed be called.\r\n And also of the son of the handmaid will I make a nation, because he is thy seed.\r\n And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and [gave her] the child, and sent her away. And she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beer-sheba.\r\n And the water in the bottle was spent, and she cast the child under one of the shrubs.\r\n And she went, and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it were a bowshot. For she said, Let me not look upon the death of the child. And she sat over against him, and lifted up her voice, and wept.\r\n And God heard the voice of the lad. And the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? Fear not. For God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is.\r\n Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thy hand. For I will make him a great nation.\r\n And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. And she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink.\r\n And God was with the lad, and he grew. And he dwelt in the wilderness, and became, as he grew up, an archer.\r\n And he dwelt in the wilderness of Paran. And his mother took him a wife out of the land of Egypt.\r\n And it came to pass at that time, that Abimelech and Phicol the captain of his host spake unto Abraham, saying, God is with thee in all that thou doest.\r\n Now therefore swear unto me here by God that thou wilt not deal falsely with me, nor with my son, nor with my son`s son. But according to the kindness that I have done unto thee, thou shalt do unto me, and to the land wherein thou hast sojourned.\r\n And Abraham said, I will swear.\r\n And Abraham reproved Abimelech because of the well of water, which Abimelech`s servants had violently taken away.\r\n And Abimelech said, I know not who hath done this thing. Neither didst thou tell me, neither yet heard I of it, but to-day.\r\n And Abraham took sheep and oxen, and gave them unto Abimelech. And they two made a covenant.\r\n And Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves.\r\n And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What mean these seven ewe lambs which thou hast set by themselves?\r\n And he said, These seven ewe lambs shalt thou take of my hand, that it may be a witness unto me, that I have digged this well.\r\n Wherefore he called that place Beer-sheba. Because there they sware both of them.\r\n So they made a covenant at Beer-sheba. And Abimelech rose up, and Phicol the captain of his host, and they returned into the land of the Philistines.\r\n And [Abraham] planted a tamarisk tree in Beer-sheba, and called there on the name of Jehovah, the Everlasting God.\r\n And Abraham sojourned in the land of the Philistines many days.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass after these things, that God did prove Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham. And he said, Here am I.\r\n And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son, whom thou lovest, even Isaac, and get thee into the land of Moriah. And offer him there for a burnt-offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.\r\n And Abraham rose early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son. And he clave the wood for the burnt-offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.\r\n On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off.\r\n And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass, and I and the lad will go yonder; and we will worship, and come again to you.\r\n And Abraham took the wood of the burnt-offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son. And he took in his hand the fire and the knife. And they went both of them together.\r\n And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father. And he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold, the fire and the wood. But where is the lamb for a burnt-offering?\r\n And Abraham said, God will provide himself the lamb for a burnt-offering, my son. So they went both of them together.\r\n And they came to the place which God had told him of. And Abraham built the altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar, upon the wood.\r\n And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.\r\n And the angel of Jehovah called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham. And he said, Here I am.\r\n And he said, Lay not thy hand upon the lad, neither do thou anything unto him. For now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son, from me.\r\n And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold, behind [him] a ram caught in the thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt-offering in the stead of his son.\r\n And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh. As it is said to this day, In the mount of Jehovah it shall be provided.\r\n And the angel of Jehovah called unto Abraham a second time out of heaven,\r\n and said, By myself have I sworn, saith Jehovah, because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son,\r\n that in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heavens, and as the sand which is upon the seashore. And thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies.\r\n And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed. Because thou hast obeyed my voice.\r\n So Abraham returned unto his young men, and they rose up and went together to Beer-sheba. And Abraham dwelt at Beer-sheba.\r\n And it came to pass after these things, that it was told Abraham, saying, Behold, Milcah, she also hath borne children unto they brother Nahor.\r\n Uz his first-born, and Buz his brother, and Kemuel the father of Aram.\r\n And Chesed, and Hazo, and Pildash, and Jidlaph, and Bethuel.\r\n And Bethuel begat Rebekah. These eight did Milcah bear to Nahor, Abraham`s brother.\r\n And his concubine, whose name was Reumah, she also bare Tebah, and Gaham, and Tahash, and Maacah.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the life of Sarah was a hundred and seven and twenty years. These were the years of the life of Sarah.\r\n And Sarah died in Kiriath-arba (the same is Hebron), in the land of Canaan. And Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her.\r\n And Abraham rose up from before his dead, and spake unto the children of Heth, saying,\r\n I am a stranger and a sojourner with you. Give me a possession of a burying-place with you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.\r\n And the children of Heth answered Abraham, saying unto him,\r\n Hear us, my lord. Thou art a prince of God among us. In the choice of our sepulchres bury thy dead. None of us shall withhold from thee his sepulchre, but that thou mayest bury thy dead.\r\n And Abraham rose up, and bowed himself to the people of the land, even to the children of Heth.\r\n And he communed with them, saying, If it be your mind that I should bury my dead out of my sight, hear me, and entreat for me to Ephron the son of Zohar,\r\n that he may give me the cave of Machpelah, which he hath, which is in the end of his field. For the full price let him give it to me in the midst of you for a possession of a burying-place.\r\n Now Ephron was sitting in the midst of the children of Heth. And Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the audience of the children of Heth, even of all that went in at the gate of his city, saying,\r\n Nay, my lord, hear me. The field give I thee, and the cave that is therein, I give it thee. In the presence of the children of my people give I it thee. Bury thy dead.\r\n And Abraham bowed himself down before the people of the land.\r\n And he spake unto Ephron in the audience of the people of the land, saying, But if thou wilt, I pray thee, hear me. I will give the price of the field. Take it of me, and I will bury my dead there.\r\n And Ephron answered Abraham, saying unto him,\r\n My lord, hearken unto me. A piece of land worth four hundred shekels of silver, what is that betwixt me and thee? Bury therefore thy dead.\r\n And Abraham hearkened unto Ephron. And Abraham weighed to Ephron the silver which he had named in the audience of the children of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, current [money] with the merchant.\r\n So the field of Ephron, which was in Machpelah, which was before Mamre, the field, and the cave which was therein, and all the trees that were in the field, that were in all the border thereof round about, were made sure\r\n unto Abraham for a possession in the presence of the children of Heth, before all that went in at the gate of his city.\r\n And after this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah before Mamre (the same is Hebron), in the land of Canaan.\r\n And the field, and the cave that is therein, were made sure unto Abraham for a possession of a burying-place by the children of Heth.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Abraham was old, [and] well stricken in age. And Jehovah had blessed Abraham in all things.\r\n And Abraham said unto his servant, the elder of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh.\r\n And I will make thee swear by Jehovah, the God of heaven and the God of the earth, that thou wilt not take a wife for my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell.\r\n But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife for my son Isaac.\r\n And the servant said unto him, Peradventure the woman will not be willing to follow me unto this land. Must I needs bring thy son again unto the land from whence thou camest?\r\n And Abraham said unto him, Beware thou that thou bring not my son thither again.\r\n Jehovah, the God of heaven, who took me from my father`s house, and from the land of my nativity, and who spake unto me, and who sware unto me, saying, Unto thy seed will I give this land. He will send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife for my son from thence.\r\n And if the woman be not willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be clear from this my oath. Only thou shalt not bring my son thither again.\r\n And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and sware to him concerning this matter.\r\n And the servant took ten camels, of the camels of his master, and departed, having all goodly things of his master`s in his hand. And he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor.\r\n And he made the camels to kneel down without the city by the well of water at the time of evening, the time that women go out to draw water.\r\n And he said, O Jehovah, the God of my master Abraham, send me, I pray thee, good speed this day, and show kindness unto my master Abraham.\r\n Behold, I am standing by the fountain of water. And the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water.\r\n And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink. And she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also. Let the same be she that thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac. And thereby shall I know that thou hast showed kindness unto my master.\r\n And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel the son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham`s brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder.\r\n And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her. And she went down to the fountain, and filled her pitcher, and came up.\r\n And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Give me to drink, I pray thee, a little water from thy pitcher.\r\n And she said, Drink, my lord. And she hasted, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him drink.\r\n And when she had done giving him drink, she said, I will draw for thy camels also, until they have done drinking.\r\n And she hasted, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again unto the well to draw, and drew for all his camels.\r\n And the man looked stedfastly on her, holding his peace, to know whether Jehovah had made his journey prosperous or not.\r\n And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden ring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold,\r\n and said, Whose daughter art thou? Tell me, I pray thee. Is there room in thy father`s house for us to lodge in?\r\n And she said unto him, I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, whom she bare unto Nahor.\r\n She said moreover unto him, We have both straw and provender enough, and room to lodge in.\r\n And the man bowed his head, and worshipped Jehovah.\r\n And he said, Blessed be Jehovah, the God of my master Abraham, who hath not forsaken his lovingkindness and his truth toward my master. As for me, Jehovah hath led me in the way to the house of my master`s brethren.\r\n And the damsel ran, and told her mother`s house according to these words.\r\n And Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban: and Laban ran out unto the man, unto the fountain.\r\n And it came to pass, when he saw the ring, and the bracelets upon his sister`s hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, Thus spake the man unto me. That he came unto the man. And, behold, he was standing by the camels at the fountain.\r\n And he said, Come in, thou blessed of Jehovah. Wherefore standest thou without? For I have prepared the house, and room for the camels.\r\n And the man came into the house, and he ungirded the camels. And he gave straw and provender for the camels, and water to wash his feet and the feet of the men that were with him.\r\n And there was set food before him to eat. But he said, I will not eat, until I have told mine errand. And he said, Speak on.\r\n And he said, I am Abraham`s servant.\r\n And Jehovah hath blessed my master greatly. And he is become great. And he hath given him flocks and herds, and silver and gold, and men-servants and maid-servants, and camels and asses.\r\n And Sarah my master`s wife bare a son to my master when she was old. And unto him hath he given all that he hath.\r\n And my master made me swear, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife for my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell.\r\n But thou shalt go unto my father`s house, and to my kindred, and take a wife for my son.\r\n And I said unto my master, Peradventure the woman will not follow me.\r\n And he said unto me, Jehovah, before whom I walk, will send his angel with thee, and prosper thy way. And thou shalt take a wife for my son of my kindred, and of my father`s house.\r\n Then shalt thou be clear from my oath, when thou comest to my kindred. And if they give her not to thee, thou shalt be clear from my oath.\r\n And I came this day unto the fountain, and said, O Jehovah, the God of my master Abraham, if now thou do prosper my way which I go.\r\n Behold, I am standing by the fountain of water. And let it come to pass, that the maiden that cometh forth to draw, to whom I shall say, Give me, I pray thee, a little water from thy pitcher to drink.\r\n And she shall say to me, Both drink thou, and I will also draw for thy camels. Let the same be the woman whom Jehovah hath appointed for my master`s son.\r\n And before I had done speaking in my heart, behold, Rebekah came forth with her pitcher on her shoulder. And she went down unto the fountain, and drew. And I said unto her, Let me drink, I pray thee.\r\n And she made haste, and let down her pitcher from her shoulder, and said, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also. So I drank, and she made the camels drink also.\r\n And I asked her, and said, Whose daughter art thou? And she said, The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor`s son, whom Milcah bare unto him. And I put the ring upon her nose, and the bracelets upon her hands.\r\n And I bowed my head, and worshipped Jehovah, and blessed Jehovah, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me in the right way to take my master`s brother`s daughter for his son.\r\n And now if ye will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me. And if not, tell me. That I may turn to the right hand, or to the left.\r\n Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, The thing proceedeth from Jehovah. We cannot speak unto thee bad or good.\r\n Behold, Rebekah is before thee, take her, and go, and let her be thy master`s son`s wife, as Jehovah hath spoken.\r\n And it came to pass, that, when Abraham`s servant heard their words, he bowed himself down to the earth unto Jehovah.\r\n And the servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment, and gave them to Rebekah. He gave also to her brother and to her mother precious things.\r\n And they did eat and drink, he and the men that were with him, and tarried all night. And they rose up in the morning, and he said, Send me away unto my master.\r\n And her brother and her mother said, Let the damsel abide with us [a few] days, at the least ten. After that she shall go.\r\n And he said unto them, Hinder me not, seeing Jehovah hath prospered my way. Send me away that I may go to my master.\r\n And they said, We will call the damsel, and inquire at her mouth.\r\n And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go.\r\n And they sent away Rebekah their sister, and her nurse, and Abraham`s servant, and his men.\r\n And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Our sister, be thou [the mother] of thousands of ten thousands, and let thy seed possess the gate of those that hate them.\r\n And Rebekah arose, and her damsels, and they rode upon the camels, and followed the man. And the servant took Rebekah, and went his way.\r\n And Isaac came from the way of Beer-lahai-roi. For he dwelt in the land of the South.\r\n And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide. And he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, there were camels coming.\r\n And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she alighted from the camel.\r\n And she said unto the servant, What man is this that walketh in the field to meet us? And the servant said, It is my master. And she took her veil, and covered herself.\r\n And the servant told Isaac all the things that he had done.\r\n And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah`s tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife. And he loved her. And Isaac was comforted after his mother`s death.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Abraham took another wife, and her name was Keturah.\r\n And she bare him Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah.\r\n And Jokshan begat Sheba, and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were Asshurim, and Letushim, and Leummim.\r\n And the sons of Midian: Ephah, and Epher, and Hanoch, and Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah.\r\n And Abraham gave all that he had unto Isaac.\r\n But unto the sons of the concubines, that Abraham had, Abraham gave gifts. And he sent them away from Isaac his son, while he yet lived, eastward, unto the east country.\r\n And these are the days of the years of Abraham`s life which he lived, a hundred threescore and fifteen years.\r\n And Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full [of years], and was gathered to his people.\r\n And Isaac and Ishmael his sons buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, which is before Mamre.\r\n The field which Abraham purchased of the children of Heth. There was Abraham buried, and Sarah his wife.\r\n And it came to pass after the death of Abraham, that God blessed Isaac his son. And Isaac dwelt by Beer-lahai-roi.\r\n Now these are the generations of Ishmael, Abraham`s son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah`s handmaid, bare unto Abraham.\r\n And these are the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, according to their generations: the first-born of Ishmael, Nebaioth, and Kedar, and Adbeel, and Mibsam,\r\n and Mishma, and Dumah, and Massa,\r\n Hadad, and Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah.\r\n These are the sons of Ishmael, and these are their names, by their villages, and by their encampments. Twelve princes according to their nations.\r\n And these are the years of the life of Ishmael, a hundred and thirty and seven years. And he gave up the ghost and died, and was gathered unto his people.\r\n And they dwelt from Havilah unto Shur that is before Egypt, as thou goest toward Assyria. He abode over against all his brethren.\r\n And these are the generations of Isaac, Abraham`s son. Abraham begat Isaac.\r\n And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Paddan-aram, the sister of Laban the Syrian, to be his wife.\r\n And Isaac entreated Jehovah for his wife, because she was barren. And Jehovah was entreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.\r\n And the children struggled together within her. And she said, If it be so, wherefore do I live? And she went to inquire of Jehovah.\r\n And Jehovah said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, And two peoples shall be separated from thy bowels. And the one people shall be stronger than the other people. And the elder shall serve the younger.\r\n And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb.\r\n And the first came forth red, all over like a hairy garment. And they called his name Esau.\r\n And after that came forth his brother, and his hand had hold on Esau`s heel. And his name was called Jacob. And Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them.\r\n And the boys grew. And Esau was a skilful hunter, a man of the field. And Jacob was a quiet man, dwelling in tents.\r\n Now Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison. And Rebekah loved Jacob.\r\n And Jacob boiled pottage. And Esau came in from the field, and he was faint.\r\n And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red [pottage]. For I am faint. Therefore was his name called Edom.\r\n And Jacob said, Sell me first thy birthright.\r\n And Esau said, Behold, I am about to die. And what profit shall the birthright do to me?\r\n And Jacob said, Swear to me first. And he sware unto him. And he sold his birthright unto Jacob.\r\n And Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentils. And he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way. So Esau despised his birthright.\r\n \r\n \r\n And there was a famine in the land, besides the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines, unto Gerar.\r\n And Jehovah appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt. Dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of.\r\n Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee. For unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father.\r\n And I will multiply thy seed as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these lands. And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.\r\n Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.\r\n And Isaac dwelt in Gerar.\r\n And the men of the place asked him of his wife. And he said, She is my sister. For he feared to say, My wife. Lest, [said he], the men of the place should kill me for Rebekah. Because she was fair to look upon.\r\n And it came to pass, when he had been there a long time, that Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out at a window, and saw, and, behold, Isaac was sporting with Rebekah his wife.\r\n And Abimelech called Isaac, and said, Behold, of a surety she is thy wife. And how saidst thou, She is my sister? And Isaac said unto him, Because I said, Lest I die because of her.\r\n And Abimelech said, What is this thou hast done unto us? One of the people might easily have lain with thy wife, and thou wouldest have brought guiltiness upon us.\r\n And Abimelech charged all the people, saying, He that toucheth this man or his wife shall surely be put to death.\r\n And Isaac sowed in that land, and found in the same year a hundredfold. And Jehovah blessed him.\r\n And the man waxed great, and grew more and more until he became very great.\r\n And he had possessions of flocks, and possessions of herds, and a great household. And the Philistines envied him.\r\n Now all the wells which his father`s servants had digged in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines had stopped, and filled with earth.\r\n And Abimelech said unto Isaac, Go from us. For thou art much mightier than we.\r\n And Isaac departed thence, and encamped in the valley of Gerar, and dwelt there.\r\n And Isaac digged again the wells of water, which they had digged in the days of Abraham his father. For the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham. And he called their names after the names by which his father had called them.\r\n And Isaac`s servants digged in the valley, and found there a well of springing water.\r\n And the herdsmen of Gerar strove with Isaac`s herdsmen, saying, The water is ours. And he called the name of the well Esek, because they contended with him.\r\n And they digged another well, and they strove for that also. And he called the name of it Sitnah.\r\n And he removed from thence, and digged another well. And for that they strove not. And he called the name of it Rehoboth. And he said, For now Jehovah hath made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.\r\n And he went up from thence to Beer-sheba.\r\n And Jehovah appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father. Fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham`s sake.\r\n And he builded an altar there, and called upon the name of Jehovah, and pitched his tent there. And there Isaac`s servants digged a well.\r\n Then Abimelech went to him from Gerar, and Ahuzzath his friend, and Phicol the captain of his host.\r\n And Isaac said unto them, Wherefore are ye come unto me, seeing ye hate me, and have sent me away from you?\r\n And they said, We saw plainly that Jehovah was with thee. And we said, Let there now be an oath betwixt us, even betwixt us and thee, and let us make a covenant with thee,\r\n that thou wilt do us no hurt, as we have not touched thee, and as we have done unto thee nothing but good, and have sent thee away in peace. Thou art now the blessed of Jehovah.\r\n And he made them a feast, and they did eat and drink.\r\n And they rose up betimes in the morning, and sware one to another. And Isaac sent them away, and they departed from him in peace.\r\n And it came to pass the same day, that Isaac`s servants came, and told him concerning the well which they had digged, and said unto him, We have found water.\r\n And he called it Shibah. Therefore the name of the city is Beer-sheba unto this day.\r\n And when Esau was forty years old he took to wife Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Basemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite.\r\n And they were a grief of mind unto Isaac and to Rebekah.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his elder son, and said unto him, My son. And he said unto him, Here am I.\r\n And he said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death.\r\n Now therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and take me venison.\r\n And make me savory food, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat. That my soul may bless thee before I die.\r\n And Rebekah heard when Isaac spake to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it.\r\n And Rebekah spake unto Jacob her son, saying, Behold, I heard thy father speak unto Esau thy brother, saying,\r\n Bring me venison, and make me savory food, that I may eat, and bless thee before Jehovah before my death.\r\n Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to that which I command thee.\r\n Go now to the flock, and fetch me from thence two good kids of the goats. And I will make them savory food for thy father, such as he loveth.\r\n And thou shalt bring it to thy father, that he may eat, so that he may bless thee before his death.\r\n And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man.\r\n My father peradventure will feel me, and I shall seem to him as a deceiver. And I shall bring a curse upon me, and not a blessing.\r\n And his mother said unto him, Upon me be thy curse, my son. Only obey my voice, and go fetch me them.\r\n And he went, and fetched, and brought them to his mother. And his mother made savory food, such as his father loved.\r\n And Rebekah took the goodly garments of Esau her elder son, which were with her in the house, and put them upon Jacob her younger son.\r\n And she put the skins of the kids of the goats upon his hands, and upon the smooth of his neck.\r\n And she gave the savory food and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob.\r\n And he came unto his father, and said, My father. And he said, Here am I. Who art thou, my son?\r\n And Jacob said unto his father, I am Esau thy first-born; I have done according as thou badest me: arise, I pray thee, sit and eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless me.\r\n And Isaac said unto his son, How is it that thou hast found it so quickly, my son? And he said, Because Jehovah thy God sent me good speed.\r\n And Isaac said unto Jacob, Come near, I pray thee, that I may feel thee, my son, whether thou be my very son Esau or not.\r\n And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father. And he felt him, and said, The voice is Jacob`s voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.\r\n And he discerned him not, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau`s hands. So he blessed him.\r\n And he said, Art thou my very son Esau? And he said, I am.\r\n And he said, Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son`s venison, that my soul may bless thee. And he brought it near to him, and he did eat. And he brought him wine, and he drank.\r\n And his father Isaac said unto him, Come near now, and kiss me, my son.\r\n And he came near, and kissed him. And he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said, See, the smell of my son Is as the smell of a field which Jehovah hath blessed.\r\n And God five thee of the dew of heaven, And of the fatness of the earth, And plenty of grain and new wine.\r\n Let peoples serve thee, And nations bow down to thee. Be lord over thy brethren, And let thy mother`s sons bow down to thee. Cursed be every one that curseth thee, And blessed be every one that blesseth thee.\r\n And it came to pass, as soon as Isaac had made an end of blessing Jacob, and Jacob was yet scarce gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in from his hunting.\r\n And he also made savory food, and brought it unto his father. And he said unto his father, Let my father arise, and eat of his son`s venison, that thy soul may bless me.\r\n And Isaac his father said unto him, Who art thou? And he said, I am thy son, thy first-born, Esau.\r\n And Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and said, Who then is he that hath taken venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before thou camest, and have blessed him? Yea, [and] he shall be blessed.\r\n When Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with an exceeding great and bitter cry, and said unto his father, Bless me, even me also, O my father.\r\n And he said, Thy brother came with guile, and hath taken away thy blessing.\r\n And he said, Is not he rightly name Jacob? for he hath supplanted me these two time. He took away my birthright. And, behold, now he hath taken away my blessing. And he said, Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me?\r\n And Isaac answered and said unto Esau, Behold, I have made him thy lord, and all his brethren have I given to him for servants. And with grain and new wine have I sustained him. And what then shall I do for thee, my son?\r\n And Esau said unto his father, Hast thou but one blessing, my father? Bless me, even me also, O my father. And Esau lifted up his voice, and wept.\r\n And Isaac his father answered and said unto him, Behold, of the fatness of the earth shall be thy dwelling, And of the dew of heaven from above.\r\n And by thy sword shalt thou live, and thou shalt serve thy brother. And it shall come to pass, when thou shalt break loose, That thou shalt shake his yoke from off thy neck.\r\n And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him. And Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand. Then will I slay my brother Jacob.\r\n And the words of Esau her elder son were told to Rebekah. And she sent and called Jacob her younger son, and said unto him, Behold, thy brother Esau, as touching thee, doth comfort himself, [purposing] to kill thee.\r\n Now therefore, my son, obey my voice. And arise, flee thou to Laban my brother to Haran.\r\n And tarry with him a few days, until thy brother`s fury turn away.\r\n Until thy brother`s anger turn away from thee, and he forget that which thou hast done to him. Then I will send, and fetch thee from thence. Why should I be bereaved of you both in one day?\r\n And Rebekah said to Isaac, I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth. If Jacob take a wife of the daughters of Heth, such as these, of the daughters of the land, what good shall my life do me?\r\n \r\n \r\n And Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and charged him, and said unto him, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan.\r\n Arise, go to Paddan-aram, to the house of Bethuel thy mother`s father. And take thee a wife from thence of the daughters of Laban thy mother`s brother.\r\n And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a company of peoples.\r\n And give thee the blessing of Abraham, to thee, and to thy seed with thee. That thou mayest inherit the land of thy sojournings, which God gave unto Abraham.\r\n And Isaac sent away Jacob. And he went to Paddan-aram unto Laban, son of Bethuel the Syrian, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob`s and Esau`s mother.\r\n Now Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob and sent him away to Paddan-aram, to take him a wife from thence. And that as he blessed him he gave him a charge, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan.\r\n And that Jacob obeyed his father and his mother, and was gone to Paddan-aram.\r\n And Esau saw that the daughters of Canaan pleased not Isaac his father.\r\n And Esau went unto Ishmael, and took, besides the wives that he had, Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael Abraham`s son, the sister of Nebaioth, to be his wife.\r\n And Jacob went out from Beer-sheba, and went toward Haran.\r\n And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set. And he took one of the stones of the place, and put it under his head, and lay down in that place to sleep.\r\n And he dreamed. And behold, a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. And behold, the angels of God ascending and descending on it.\r\n And, behold, Jehovah stood above it, and said, I am Jehovah, the God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac. The land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed.\r\n And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south. And in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.\r\n And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee, whithersoever thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land. For I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.\r\n And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely Jehovah is in this place. And I knew it not.\r\n And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.\r\n And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put under his head, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it.\r\n And he called the name of that place Beth-el. But the name of the city was Luz at the first.\r\n And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on,\r\n so that I come again to my father`s house in peace, and Jehovah will be my God,\r\n then this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God`s house. And of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then Jacob went on his journey, and came to the land of the children of the east.\r\n And he looked, and behold, a well in the field, and, lo, three flocks of sheep lying there by it. For out of that well they watered the flocks. And the stone upon the well`s mouth was great.\r\n And thither were all the flocks gathered. And they rolled the stone from the well`s mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the stone again upon the well`s mouth in its place.\r\n And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, whence are ye? And they said, Of Haran are we.\r\n And he said unto them, Know ye Laban the son of Nahor? And they said, We know him.\r\n And he said unto them, Is it well with him? And they said, It is well. And, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep.\r\n And he said, Lo, it is yet high day, neither is it time that the cattle should be gathered together. Water ye the sheep, and go and feed them.\r\n And they said, We cannot, until all the flocks be gathered together, and they roll the stone from the well`s mouth. Then we water the sheep.\r\n While he was yet speaking with them, Rachel came with her father`s sheep. For she kept them.\r\n And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother`s brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother`s brother, that Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well`s mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother`s brother.\r\n And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept.\r\n And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father`s brother, and that he was Rebekah`s son. And she ran and told her father.\r\n And it came to pass, when Laban heard the tidings of Jacob his sister`s son, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house. And he told Laban all these things.\r\n And Laban said to him, Surely thou art my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him the space of a month.\r\n And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? Tell me, what shall thy wages be?\r\n And Laban had two daughters. The name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.\r\n And Leah`s eyes were tender. But Rachel was beautiful and well favored.\r\n And Jacob loved Rachel. And he said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.\r\n And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man. Abide with me.\r\n And Jacob served seven years for Rachel. And they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.\r\n And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her.\r\n And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.\r\n And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him. And he went in unto her.\r\n And Laban gave Zilpah his handmaid unto his daughter Leah for a handmaid.\r\n And it came to pass in the morning that, behold, it was Leah. And he said to Laban, What is this thou hast done unto me? Did not I serve with thee for Rachel? Wherefore then hast thou beguiled me?\r\n And Laban said, It is not so done in our place, to give the younger before the first-born.\r\n Fulfil the week of this one, and we will give thee the other also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years.\r\n And jacob did so, and fulfilled her week. And he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife.\r\n And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her handmaid.\r\n And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.\r\n And Jehovah saw that Leah was hated, and he opened her womb. But Rachel was barren.\r\n And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben. For she said, Because Jehovah hath looked upon my affliction. For now my husband will love me.\r\n And she conceived again, and bare a son: and said, Because Jehovah hath heard that I am hated, he hath therefore given me this [son] also. And she called his name Simeon.\r\n And she conceived again, and bare a son. And said, Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have borne him three sons. Therefore was his name called Levi.\r\n And she conceived again, and bare a son. And she said, This time will I praise Jehovah. Therefore she called his name Judah. And she left off bearing.\r\n \r\n \r\n And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and she said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die.\r\n And Jacob`s anger was kindled against Rachel: and he said, Am I in God`s stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb?\r\n And she said, Behold, my maid Bilhah, go in unto her; that she may bear upon my knees, and I also may obtain children by her.\r\n And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid to wife: and Jacob went in unto her.\r\n And Bilhah conceived, and bare Jacob a son.\r\n And Rachel said, God hath judged me, and hath also heard my voice, and hath given me a son: therefore called she his name Dan.\r\n And Bilhah Rachel`s handmaid conceived again, and bare Jacob a second son.\r\n And Rachel said, With mighty wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister, and have prevailed: and she called his name Naphtali.\r\n When Leah saw that she had left off bearing, she took Zilpah her handmaid, and gave her to Jacob to wife.\r\n And Zilpah Leah`s handmaid bare Jacob a son.\r\n And Leah said, Fortunate! and she called his name Gad.\r\n And Zilpah Leah`s handmaid bare Jacob a second son.\r\n And Leah said, Happy am I! for the daughters will call me happy: and she called his name Asher.\r\n And Reuben went in the days of wheat harvest, and found mandrakes in the field, and brought them unto his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, Give me, I pray thee, of thy son`s mandrakes.\r\n And she said unto her, Is it a small matter that thou hast taken away my husband? and wouldest thou take away my son`s mandrakes also? And Rachel said, Therefore he shall lie with thee to-night for thy son`s mandrakes.\r\n And Jacob came from the field in the evening, and Leah went out to meet him, and said, Thou must come in unto me; for I have surely hired thee with my son`s mandrakes. And he lay with her that night.\r\n And God hearkened unto Leah, and she conceived, and bare Jacob a fifth son.\r\n And Leah said, God hath given me my hire, because I gave my handmaid to my husband: and she called his name Issachar.\r\n And Leah conceived again, and bare a sixth son to Jacob.\r\n And Leah said, God hath endowed me with a good dowry; now will my husband dwell with me, because I have borne him six sons: and she called his name Zebulun.\r\n And afterwards she bare a daughter, and called her name Dinah.\r\n And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb.\r\n And she conceived, and bare a son: and said, God hath taken away my reproach:\r\n and she called his name Joseph, saying, Jehovah add to me another son.\r\n And it came to pass, when Rachel had borne Joseph, that Jacob said unto Laban, Send me away, that I may go unto mine own place, and to my country.\r\n Give me my wives and my children for whom I have served thee, and let me go: for thou knowest my service wherewith I have served thee.\r\n And Laban said unto him, If now I have found favor in thine eyes, [tarry]: [for] I have divined that Jehovah hath blessed me for thy sake.\r\n And he said, Appoint me thy wages, and I will give it.\r\n And he said unto him, Thou knowest how I have served thee, and how thy cattle have fared with me.\r\n For it was little which thou hadst before I came, and it hath increased unto a multitude; and Jehovah hath blessed thee whithersoever I turned: and now when shall I provide for mine own house also?\r\n And he said, What shall I give thee? And Jacob said, Thou shalt not give me aught: if thou wilt do this thing for me, I will again feed thy flock and keep it.\r\n I will pass through all thy flock to-day, removing from thence every speckled and spotted one, and every black one among the sheep, and the spotted and speckled among the goats: and [of such] shall be my hire.\r\n So shall my righteousness answer for me hereafter, when thou shalt come concerning my hire that is before thee: every one that is not speckled and spotted among the goats, and black among the sheep, that [if found] with me, shall be counted stolen.\r\n And Laban said, Behold, I would it might be according to thy word.\r\n And he removed that day the he-goats that were ringstreaked and spotted, and all the she-goats that were speckled and spotted, every one that had white in it, and all the black ones among the sheep, and gave them into the hand of his sons;\r\n and he set three days` journey betwixt himself and Jacob: and Jacob fed the rest of Laban`s flocks.\r\n And Jacob took him rods of fresh poplar, and of the almond and of the plane-tree. And peeled white streaks in them, and made the white appear which was in the rods.\r\n And he set the rods which he had peeled over against the flocks in the gutters in the watering-troughs where the flocks came to drink; and they conceived when they came to drink.\r\n And the flocks conceived before the rods, and the flocks brought forth ringstreaked, speckled, and spotted.\r\n And Jacob separated the lambs, and set the faces of the flocks toward the ringstreaked and all the black in the flock of Laban: and he put his own droves apart, and put them not unto Laban`s flock.\r\n And it came to pass, whensoever the stronger of the flock did conceive, that Jacob laid the rods before the eyes of the flock in the gutters, that they might conceive among the rods;\r\n but when the flock were feeble, he put them not in: so the feebler were Laban`s, and the stronger Jacob`s.\r\n And the man increased exceedingly, and had large flocks, and maid-servants and men-servants, and camels and asses.\r\n \r\n \r\n And he heard the words of Laban`s sons, saying, Jacob hath taken away all that was our father`s; and of that which was our father`s hath he gotten all this glory.\r\n And Jacob beheld the countenance of Laban, and, behold, it was not toward him as beforetime.\r\n And Jehovah said unto Jacob, Return unto the land of thy fathers, and to thy kindred; and I will be with thee.\r\n And Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field unto his flock,\r\n and said unto them, I see your father`s countenance, that it is not toward me as beforetime; but the God of my father hath been with me.\r\n And ye know that will all my power I have served your father.\r\n And your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times; but God suffered him not to hurt me.\r\n If he said thus, The speckled shall be thy wages; then all the flock bare speckled: and if he said thus, The ringstreaked shall be thy wages; then bare all the flock ringstreaked.\r\n Thus God hath taken away the cattle of your father, and given them to me.\r\n And it came to pass at the time that the flock conceive, that I lifted up mine eyes, and saw in a dream, and, behold, the he-goats which leaped upon the flock were ringstreaked, speckled, and grizzled.\r\n And the angel of God said unto me in the dream, Jacob: and I said, Here am I.\r\n And he said, Lift up now thine eyes, and see, all the he-goats which leap upon the flock are ringstreaked, speckled, and grizzled: for I have seen all that Laban doeth unto thee.\r\n I am the God of Beth-el, where thou anointedst a pillar, where thou vowedst a vow unto me: now arise, get thee out from this land, and return unto the land of thy nativity.\r\n And Rachel and Leah answered and said unto him, Is there yet any portion or inheritance for us in our father`s house?\r\n Are we not accounted by him as foreigners? for he hath sold us, and hath also quite devoured our money.\r\n For all the riches which God hath taken away from our father, that is ours and our children`s: now then, whatsoever God hath said unto thee, do.\r\n Then Jacob rose up, and set his sons and his wives upon the camels;\r\n and he carried away all his cattle, and all his substance which he had gathered, the cattle of his getting, which he had gathered in Paddan-aram, to go to Isaac his father unto the land of Canaan.\r\n Now Laban was gone to shear his sheep: and Rachel stole the teraphim that were her father`s.\r\n And Jacob stole away unawares to Laban the Syrian, in that he told him not that he fled.\r\n So he fled with all that he had; and he rose up, and passed over the River, and set his face toward the mountain of Gilead.\r\n And it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob was fled.\r\n And he took his brethren with him, and pursued after him seven days` journey; and he overtook him in the mountain of Gilead.\r\n And God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream of the night, and said unto him, Take heed to thyself that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.\r\n And Laban came up with Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the mountain: and Laban with his brethren encamped in the mountain of Gilead.\r\n And Laban said to Jacob, What hast thou done, that thou hast stolen away unawares to me, and carried away my daughters as captives of the sword?\r\n Wherefore didst thou flee secretly, and steal away from me, and didst not tell me, that I might have sent thee away with mirth and with songs, with tabret and with harp;\r\n and didst not suffer me to kiss my sons and my daughters? now hast thou done foolishly.\r\n It is in the power of my hand to do you hurt: but the God of your father spake unto me yesternight, saying, Take heed to thyself that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.\r\n And now, [though] thou wouldest needs be gone, because thou sore longedst after thy father`s house, [yet] wherefore hast thou stolen my gods?\r\n And Jacob answered and said to Laban, Because I was afraid: for I said, Lest thou shouldest take thy daughters from me by force.\r\n With whomsoever thou findest thy gods, he shall not live: before our brethren discern thou what is thine with me, and take it to thee. For Jacob knew not that Rachel had stolen them.\r\n And Laban went into Jacob`s tent, and into Leah`s tent, and into the tent of the two maid-servants; but he found them not. And he went out of Leah`s tent, and entered into Rachel`s tent.\r\n Now Rachel had taken the teraphim, and put them in the camel`s saddle, and sat upon them. And Laban felt about all the tent, but found them not.\r\n And she said to her father, Let not my lord be angry that I cannot rise up before thee; for the manner of women is upon me. And he searched, but found not the teraphim.\r\n And Jacob was wroth, and chode with Laban: and Jacob answered and said to Laban, What is my trespass? what is my sin, that thou hast hotly pursued after me?\r\n Whereas thou hast felt about all my stuff, what hast thou found of all thy household stuff? Set it here before my brethren and thy brethren, that they may judge betwixt us two.\r\n These twenty years have I been with thee; thy ewes and thy she-goats have not cast their young, and the rams of thy flocks have I not eaten.\r\n That which was torn of beasts I brought not unto thee; I bare the loss of it; of my hand didst thou require it, whether stolen by day or stolen by night.\r\n Thus I was; in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep fled from mine eyes.\r\n These twenty years have I been in thy house; I served thee fourteen years for thy two daughters, and six years for thy flock: and thou hast changed my wages ten times.\r\n Except the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the Fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely now hadst thou sent me away empty. God hath seen mine affliction and the labor of my hands, and rebuked thee yesternight.\r\n And Laban answered and said unto Jacob, The daughters are my daughters, and the children are my children, and the flocks are my flocks, and all that thou seest is mine: and what can I do this day unto these my daughters, or unto their children whom they have borne?\r\n And now come, let us make a covenant, I and thou; and let it be for a witness between me and thee.\r\n And Jacob took a stone, and set it up for a pillar.\r\n And Jacob said unto his brethren, Gather stones; and they took stones, and made a heap: and they did eat there by the heap.\r\n And Laban called it Jegar-saha-dutha: but Jacob called it Galeed.\r\n And Laban said, This heap is witness between me and thee this day. Therefore was the name of it called Galeed:\r\n and Mizpah, for he said, Jehovah watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another.\r\n If thou shalt afflict my daughters, and if thou shalt take wives besides my daughters, no man is with us; see, God is witness betwixt me and thee.\r\n And Laban said to Jacob, Behold this heap, and behold the pillar, which I have set betwixt me and thee.\r\n This heap be witness, and the pillar be witness, that I will not pass over this heap to thee, and that thou shalt not pass over this heap and this pillar unto me, for harm.\r\n The God of Abraham, and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge betwixt us. And Jacob sware by the Fear of his father Isaac.\r\n And Jacob offered a sacrifice in the mountain, and called his brethren to eat bread: and they did eat bread, and tarried all night in the mountain.\r\n And early in the morning Laban rose up, and kissed his sons and his daughters, and blessed them: and Laban departed and returned unto his place.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him.\r\n And Jacob said when he saw them, This is God`s host: and he called the name of that place Mahanaim.\r\n And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother unto the land of Seir, the field of Edom.\r\n And he commanded them, saying, Thus shall ye say unto my lord Esau: Thus saith thy servant Jacob, I have sojourned with Laban, and stayed until now:\r\n and I have oxen, and asses, [and] flocks, and men-servants, and maid-servants: and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find favor in thy sight.\r\n And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, We came to thy brother Esau, and moreover he cometh to meet thee, and four hundred men with him.\r\n Then Jacob was greatly afraid and was distressed: and he divided the people that were with him, and the flocks, and the herds, and the camels, into two companies;\r\n and he said, If Esau come to the one company, and smite it, then the company which is left shall escape.\r\n And Jacob said, O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, O Jehovah, who saidst unto me, Return unto thy country, and to thy kindred, and I will do thee good:\r\n I am not worthy of the least of all the lovingkindnesses, and of all the truth, which thou hast showed unto thy servant; for with my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I am become two companies.\r\n Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he come and smite me, the mother with the children.\r\n And thou saidst, I will surely do thee good, and make thy seed as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.\r\n And he lodged there that night, and took of that which he had with him a present for Esau his brother:\r\n two hundred she-goats and twenty he-goats, two hundred ewes and twenty rams,\r\n thirty milch camels and their colts, forty cows and ten bulls, twenty she-asses and ten foals.\r\n And he delivered them into the hand of his servants, every drove by itself, and said unto his servants, Pass over before me, and put a space betwixt drove and drove.\r\n And he commanded the foremost, saying, When Esau my brother meeteth thee, and asketh thee, saying, Whose art thou? and whither goest thou? and whose are these before thee?\r\n then thou shalt say [They are] thy servant Jacob`s; it is a present sent unto my lord Esau: and, behold, he also is behind us.\r\n And he commanded also the second, and the third, and all that followed the droves, saying, On this manner shall ye speak unto Esau, when ye find him;\r\n and ye shall say, Moreover, behold, thy servant Jacob is behind us. For he said, I will appease him with the present that goeth before me, and afterward I will see his face; peradventure he will accept me.\r\n So the present passed over before him: and he himself lodged that night in the company.\r\n And he rose up that night, and took his two wives, and his two handmaids, and his eleven children, and passed over the ford of the Jabbok.\r\n And he took them, and sent them over the stream, and sent over that which he had.\r\n And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.\r\n And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob`s thigh was strained, as he wrestled with him.\r\n And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.\r\n And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob.\r\n And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for thou hast striven with God and with men, and hast prevailed.\r\n And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there.\r\n And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for, [said he], I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.\r\n And the sun rose upon him as he passed over Penuel, and he limped upon his thigh.\r\n Therefore the children of Israel eat not the sinew of the hip which is upon the hollow of the thigh, unto this day: because he touched the hollow of Jacob`s thigh in the sinew of the hip.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau was coming, and with him four hundred men. And he divided the children unto Leah, and unto Rachel, and unto the two handmaids.\r\n And he put the handmaids and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph hindermost.\r\n And he himself passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.\r\n And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept.\r\n And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said, Who are these with thee? And he said, The children whom God hath graciously given thy servant.\r\n Then the handmaids came near, they and their children, and they bowed themselves.\r\n And Leah also and her children came near, and bowed themselves: and after came Joseph near and Rachel, and they bowed themselves.\r\n And he said, What meanest thou by all this company which I met? And he said, To find favor in the sight of my lord.\r\n And Esau said, I have enough, my brother; let that which thou hast be thine.\r\n And Jacob said, Nay, I pray thee, if now I have found favor in thy sight, then receive my present at my hand; forasmuch as I have seen thy face, as one seeth the face of God, and thou wast pleased with me.\r\n Take, I pray thee, my gift that is brought to thee; because God hath dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough. And he urged him, and he took it.\r\n And he said, Let us take our journey, and let us go, and I will go before thee.\r\n And he said unto him, My lord knoweth that the children are tender, and that the flocks and herds with me have their young: and if they overdrive them one day, all the flocks will die.\r\n Let my lord, I pray thee, pass over before his servant: and I will lead on gently, according to the pace of the cattle that are before me and according to the pace of the children, until I come unto my lord unto Seir.\r\n And Esau said, Let me now leave with thee some of the folk that are with me. And he said, What needeth it? let me find favor in the sight of my lord.\r\n So Esau returned that day on his way unto Seir.\r\n And Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built him a house, and made booths for his cattle: therefore the name of the place is called Succoth.\r\n And Jacob came in peace to the city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Paddan-aram; and encamped before the city.\r\n And he bought the parcel of ground, where he had spread his tent, at the hand of the children of Hamor, Shechem`s father, for a hundred pieces of money.\r\n And he erected there an altar, and called it El-elohe-israel.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Dinah the daughter of Leah, whom she bare unto Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land.\r\n And Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, the prince of the land, saw her; And he took her, and lay with her, and humbled her.\r\n And his soul clave unto Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the damsel, and spake kindly unto the damsel.\r\n And Shechem spake unto his father Hamor, saying, Get me this damsel to wife.\r\n Now Jacob heard that he had defiled Dinah his daughter; and his sons were with his cattle in the field: and Jacob held his peace until they came.\r\n And Hamor the father of Shechem went out unto Jacob to commune with him.\r\n And the sons of Jacob came in from the field when they heard it: and the men were grieved, and they were very wroth, because he had wrought folly in Israel in lying with Jacob`s daughter; which thing ought not to be done.\r\n And Hamor communed with them, saying, The soul of my son Shechem longeth for your daughter: I pray you, give her unto him to wife.\r\n And make ye marriages with us; give your daughters unto us, and take our daughters unto you.\r\n And ye shall dwell with us: and the land shall be before you; dwell and trade ye therein, and get you possessions therein.\r\n And Shechem said unto her father and unto her brethren, Let me find favor in your eyes, and what ye shall say unto me I will give.\r\n Ask me never so much dowry and gift, and I will give according as ye shall say unto me: but give me the damsel to wife.\r\n And the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father with guile, and spake, because he had defiled Dinah their sister,\r\n and said unto them, We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one that is uncircumcised; for that were a reproach unto us.\r\n Only on this condition will we consent unto you: if ye will be as we are, that every male of you be circumcised;\r\n then will we give our daughters unto you, and we will take your daughters to us, and we will dwell with you, and we will become one people.\r\n But if ye will not hearken unto us, to be circumcised; then will we take our daughter, and we will be gone.\r\n And their words pleased Hamor, and Shechem Hamor`s son.\r\n And the young man deferred not to do the thing, because he had delight in Jacob`s daughter: and he was honored above all the house of his father.\r\n And Hamor and Shechem his son came unto the gate of their city, and communed with the men of their city, saying,\r\n These men are peaceable with us; therefore let them dwell in the land, and trade therein; for, behold, the land is large enough for them; let us take their daughters to us for wives, and let us give them our daughters.\r\n Only on this condition will the men consent unto us to dwell with us, to become one people, if every male among us be circumcised, as they are circumcised.\r\n Shall not their cattle and their substance and all their beasts be ours? only let us consent unto them, and they will dwell with us.\r\n And unto Hamor and unto Shechem his son hearkened all that went out of the gate of his city; and every male was circumcised, all that went out of the gate of his city.\r\n And it came to pass on the third day, when they were sore, that two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah`s brethren, took each man his sword, and came upon the city unawares, and slew all the males.\r\n And they slew Hamor and Shechem his son with the edge of the sword, and took Dinah out of Shechem`s house, and went forth.\r\n The sons of Jacob came upon the slain, and plundered the city, because they had defiled their sister.\r\n They took their flocks and their herds and their asses, and that which was in the city, and that which was in the field;\r\n and all their wealth, and all their little ones and their wives, took they captive and made a prey, even all that was in the house.\r\n And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, Ye have troubled me, to make me odious to the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites: and, I being few in number, they will gather themselves together against me and smite me; and I shall be destroyed, I and my house.\r\n And they said, Should he deal with our sister as with a harlot?\r\n \r\n \r\n And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Beth-el, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, who appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother.\r\n Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the foreign gods that are among you, and purify yourselves, and change your garments:\r\n and let us arise, and go up to Beth-el; and I will make there an altar unto God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way which I went.\r\n And they gave unto Jacob all the foreign gods which were in their hand, and the rings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem.\r\n And they journeyed: and a terror of God was upon the cities that were round about them, and they did not pursue after the sons of Jacob.\r\n So Jacob came to Luz, which is in the land of Canaan (the same is Beth-el), he and all the people that were with him.\r\n And he built there an altar, and called the place El-beth-el; because there God was revealed unto him, when he fled from the face of his brother.\r\n And Deborah Rebekah`s nurse died, and she was buried below Beth-el under the oak: and the name of it was called Allon-bacuth.\r\n And God appeared unto Jacob again, when he came from Paddan-aram, and blessed him.\r\n And God said unto him, Thy name is Jacob: thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name: and he called his name Israel.\r\n And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins;\r\n and the land which I gave unto Abraham and Isaac, to thee I will give it, and to thy seed after thee will I give the land.\r\n And God went up from him in the place where he spake with him.\r\n And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he spake with him, a pillar of stone: and he poured out a drink-offering thereon, and poured oil thereon.\r\n And Jacob called the name of the place where God spake with him, Beth-el.\r\n And they journeyed from Beth-el; and there was still some distance to come to Ephrath: and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labor.\r\n And it came to pass, when she was in hard labor, that the midwife said unto her, Fear not; for now thou shalt have another son.\r\n And it came to pass, as her soul was departing (for she died), that she called his name Ben-oni: but his father called him Benjamin.\r\n And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath (the same is Beth-lehem).\r\n And Jacob set up a pillar upon her grave: the same is the Pillar of Rachel`s grave unto this day.\r\n And Israel journeyed, and spread his tent beyond the tower of Eder.\r\n And it came to pass, while Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father`s concubine: and Israel heard of it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve:\r\n The sons of Leah: Reuben, Jacob`s first-born, and Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Zebulun;\r\n the sons of Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin;\r\n and the sons of Bilhah, Rachel`s handmaid: Dan and Naphtali;\r\n and the sons of Zilpah, Leah`s handmaid: Gad and Asher: these are the sons of Jacob, that were born to him in Paddan-aram.\r\n And Jacob came unto Isaac his father to Mamre, to Kiriath-arba (the same is Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac sojourned.\r\n And the days of Isaac were a hundred and fourscore years.\r\n And Isaac gave up the ghost, and died, and was gathered unto his people, old and full of days: and Esau and Jacob his sons buried him.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now these are the generations of Esau (the same is Edom).\r\n Esau took his wives of the daughters of Canaan: Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite, and Oholibamah the daughter of Anah, the daughter of Zibeon the Hivite,\r\n and Basemath Ishmael`s daughter, sister of Nebaioth.\r\n And Adah bare to Esau Eliphaz; and Basemath bare Reuel;\r\n and Oholibamah bare Jeush, and Jalam, and Korah: these are the sons of Esau, that were born unto him in the land of Canaan.\r\n And Esau took his wives, and his sons, and his daughters, and all the souls of his house, and his cattle, and all his beasts, and all his possessions, which he had gather in the land of Canaan; and went into a land away from his brother Jacob.\r\n For their substance was too great for them to dwell together; and the land of their sojournings could not bear them because of their cattle.\r\n And Esau dwelt in mount Seir: Esau is Edom.\r\n And these are the generations of Esau the father of the Edomites in mount Seir:\r\n these are the names of Esau`s sons: Eliphaz the son of Adah the wife of Esau, Reuel the son of Basemath the wife of Esau.\r\n And the sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho, and Gatam, and Kenaz.\r\n And Timna was concubine to Eliphaz Esau`s son; and she bare to Eliphaz Amalek: these are the sons of Adah, Esau`s wife.\r\n And these are the sons of Reuel: Nahath, and Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah: these were the sons of Basemath, Esau`s wife.\r\n And these were the sons of Oholibamah the daughter of Anah, the daughter of Zibeon, Esau`s wife: and she bare to Esau Jeush, and Jalam, and Korah.\r\n These are the chiefs of the sons of Esau: the sons of Eliphaz the first-born of Esau: chief Teman, chief Omar, chief Zepho, chief Kenaz,\r\n chief Korah, chief Gatam, chief Amalek: these are the chiefs that came of Eliphaz in the land of Edom; these are the sons of Adah.\r\n And these are the sons of Reuel, Esau`s son: chief Nahath, chief Zerah, chief Shammah, chief Mizzah: these are the chiefs that came of Reuel in the land of Edom; these are the sons of Basemath, Esau`s wife.\r\n And these are the sons of Oholibamah, Esau`s wife: chief Jeush, chief Jalam, chief Korah: these are the chiefs that came of Oholibamah the daughter of Anah, Esau`s wife.\r\n These are the sons of Esau, and these are their chiefs: the same is Edom.\r\n These are the sons of Seir the Horite, the inhabitants of the land: Lotan and Shobal and Zibeon and Anah,\r\n and Dishon and Ezer and Dishan: these are the chiefs that came of the Horites, the children of Seir in the land of Edom.\r\n And the children of Lotan were Hori and Heman. And Lotan`s sister was Timna.\r\n And these are the children of Shobal: Alvan and Manahath and Ebal, Shepho and Onam.\r\n And these are the children of Zibeon: Aiah and Anah; this is Anah who found the hot springs in the wilderness, as he fed the asses of Zibeon his father.\r\n And these are the children of Anah: Dishon and Oholibamah the daughter of Anah.\r\n And these are the children of Dishon: Hemdan and Eshban and Ithran and Cheran.\r\n These are the children of Ezer: Bilhan and Zaavan and Akan.\r\n These are the children of Dishan: Uz and Aran.\r\n These are the chiefs that came of the Horites: chief Lotan, chief Shobal, chief Zibeon, chief Anah,\r\n chief Dishon, chief Ezer, chief Dishan: these are the chiefs that came of the Horites, according to their chiefs in the land of Seir.\r\n And these are the kings that reigned in the land of Edom, before there reigned any king over the children of Israel.\r\n And Bela the son of Beor reigned in Edom; and the name of his city was Dinhabah.\r\n And Bela died, and Jobab the son of Zerah of Bozrah reigned in his stead.\r\n And Jobab died, and Husham of the land of the Temanites reigned in his stead.\r\n And Husham died, and Hadad the son of Bedad, who smote Midian in the field of Moab, reigned in his stead: and the name of his city was Avith.\r\n And Hadad died, and Samlah of Masrekah reigned in his stead.\r\n And Samlah died, and Shaul of Rehoboth by the River reigned in his stead.\r\n And Shaul died, and Baal-hanan the son of Achbor reigned in his stead.\r\n And Baal-hanan the son of Achbor died, and Hadar reigned in his stead: and the name of his city was Pau; and his wife`s name was Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, the daughter of Me-zahab.\r\n And these are the names of the chiefs that came of Esau, according to their families, after their places, by their names: chief Timna, chief Alvah, chief Jetheth,\r\n chief Oholibamah, chief Elah, chief Pinon,\r\n chief Kenaz, chief Teman, chief Mibzar,\r\n chief Magdiel, chief Iram: these are the chiefs of Edom, according to their habitations in the land of their possession. This is Esau, the father of the Edomites.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Jacob dwelt in the land of his father`s sojournings, in the land of Canaan.\r\n These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and he was a lad with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father`s wives: and Joseph brought the evil report of them unto their father.\r\n Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colors.\r\n And his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren; and they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.\r\n And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it to his brethren: and they hated him yet the more.\r\n And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed:\r\n for, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves came round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf.\r\n And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? Or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words.\r\n And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it to his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed yet a dream: and, behold, the sun and the moon and eleven stars made obeisance to me.\r\n And he told it to his father, and to his brethren; and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?\r\n And his brethren envied him; but his father kept the saying in mind.\r\n And his brethren went to feed their father`s flock in Shechem.\r\n And Israel said unto Joseph, Are not thy brethren feeding the flock in Shechem? Come, and I will send thee unto them. And he said to him, Here am I.\r\n And he said to him, Go now, see whether it is well with thy brethren, and well with the flock; and bring me word again. So he sent him out of the vale of Hebron, and he came to Shechem.\r\n And a certain man found him, and, behold, he was wandering in the field: and the man asked him, saying, What seekest thou?\r\n And he said, I am seeking my brethren: tell me, I pray thee, where they are feeding [the flock].\r\n And the man said, They are departed hence; for I heard them say, Let us go to Dothan. And Joseph went after his brethren, and found them in Dothan.\r\n And they saw him afar off, and before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him.\r\n And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer cometh.\r\n Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into one of the pits, and we will say, And evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams.\r\n And Reuben heard it, and delivered him out of their hand, and said, Let us not take his life.\r\n And Reuben said unto them, Shed no blood; cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness, but lay no hand upon him: that he might deliver him out of their hand, to restore him to his father.\r\n And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stripped Joseph of his coat, the coat of many colors that was on him;\r\n and they took him, and cast him into the pit: and the pit was empty, there was no water in it.\r\n And they sat down to eat bread: and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and, behold, a caravan of Ishmaelites was coming from Gilead, with their camels bearing spicery and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt.\r\n And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother and conceal his blood?\r\n Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother, our flesh. And his brethren hearkened unto him.\r\n And there passed by Midianites, merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver. And they brought Joseph into Egypt.\r\n And Reuben returned unto the pit; and, behold, Joseph was not in the pit; and he rent his clothes.\r\n And he returned unto his brethren, and said, The child is not; and I, whither shall I go?\r\n And they took Joseph`s coat, and killed a he-goat, and dipped the coat in the blood;\r\n and they sent the coat of many colors, and they brought it to their father, and said, This have we found: know now whether it is thy son`s coat or not.\r\n And he knew it, and said, It is my son`s coat: an evil beast hath devoured him; Joseph is without doubt torn in pieces.\r\n And Jacob rent his garments, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days.\r\n And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted; and he said, For I will go down to Sheol to my son mourning. And his father wept for him.\r\n And the Midianites sold him into Egypt unto Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh`s, the captain of the guard.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass at that time, that Judah went down from his brethren, and turned in to a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah.\r\n And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was Shua. And he took her, and went in unto her.\r\n And she conceived, and bare a son; and he called his name Er.\r\n And she conceived again, and bare a son; and she called his name Onan.\r\n And she yet again bare a son, and called his name Shelah: and he was at Chezib, when she bare him.\r\n And Judah took a wife for Er his first-born, and her name was Tamar.\r\n And Er, Judah`s first-born, was wicked in the sight of Jehovah. And Jehovah slew him.\r\n And Judah said unto Onan, Go in unto thy brother`s wife, and perform the duty of a husband`s brother unto her, and raise up seed to thy brother.\r\n And Onan knew that the seed would not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in unto his brother`s wife, that he spilled it on the ground, lest he should give seed to his brother.\r\n And the thing which he did was evil in the sight of Jehovah: and he slew him also.\r\n Then said Judah to Tamar his daughter-in-law, Remain a widow in thy father`s house, till Shelah my son be grown up; for he said, Lest he also die, like his brethren. And Tamar went and dwelt in her father`s house.\r\n And in process of time Shua`s daughter, the wife of Judah, died; and Judah was comforted, and went up unto his sheep-shearers to Timnah, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite.\r\n And it was told Tamar, saying, Behold, thy father-in-law goeth up to Timnah to shear his sheep.\r\n And she put off from her the garments of her widowhood, and covered herself with her veil, and wrapped herself, and sat in the gate of Enaim, which is by the way to Timnah; for she saw that Shelah was grown up, and she was not given unto him to wife.\r\n When Judah saw her, he thought her to be a harlot; for she had covered her face.\r\n And he turned unto her by the way, and said, Come, I pray thee, let me come in unto thee: for he knew not that she was his daughter-in-law. And she said, What wilt thou give me, that thou mayest come in unto me?\r\n And he said, I will send thee a kid of the goats from the flock. And she said, Wilt thou give me a pledge, till thou send it?\r\n And he said, What pledge shall I give thee? And she said, Thy signet and thy cord, and thy staff that is in thy hand. And he gave them to her, and came in unto her, and she conceived by him.\r\n And she arose, and went away, and put off her veil from her, and put on the garments of her widowhood.\r\n And Judah sent the kid of the goats by the hand of his friend the Adullamite, to receive the pledge from the woman`s hand: but he found her not.\r\n Then he asked the men of her place, saying, Where is the prostitute, that was at Enaim by the wayside? And they said, There hath been no prostitute here.\r\n And he returned to Judah, and said, I have not found her; and also the men of the place said, There hath been no prostitute here.\r\n And Judah said, Let her take it to her, lest we be put to shame: behold, I sent this kid, and thou hast not found her.\r\n And it came to pass about three months after, that it was told Judah, saying, Tamar thy daughter-in-law hath played the harlot; and moreover, behold, she is with child by whoredom. And Judah said, Bring her forth, and let her be burnt.\r\n When she was brought forth, she sent to her father-in-law, saying, By the man, whose these are, am I with child: and she said, Discern, I pray thee, whose are these, the signet, and the cords, and the staff.\r\n And Judah acknowledged them, and said, She is more righteous than I; forasmuch as I gave her not to Shelah my son. And he knew her again no more.\r\n And it came to pass in the time of her travail, that, behold, twins were in her womb.\r\n And it came to pass, when she travailed, that one put out a hand: and the midwife took and bound upon his hand a scarlet thread, saying, This came out first.\r\n And it came to pass, as he drew back his hand, that, behold, his brother came out: and she said, Wherefore hast thou made a breach for thyself? Therefore his name was called Perez.\r\n And afterward came out his brother, that had the scarlet thread upon his hand: and his name was called Zerah.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh`s, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hand of the Ishmaelites, that had brought him down thither.\r\n And Jehovah was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.\r\n And his master saw that Jehovah was with him, and that Jehovah made all that he did to prosper in his hand.\r\n And Joseph found favor in his sight, and he ministered unto him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.\r\n And it came to pass from the time that he made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that Jehovah blessed the Egyptian`s house for Joseph`s sake; and the blessing of Jehovah was upon all that he had, in the house and in the field.\r\n And he left all that he had in Joseph`s hand; and he knew not aught [that was] with him, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was comely, and well-favored.\r\n And it came to pass after these things, that his master`s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me.\r\n But he refused, and said unto his master`s wife, Behold, my master knoweth not what is with me in the house, and he hath put all that he hath into my hand:\r\n he is not greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back anything from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?\r\n And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, [or] to be with her.\r\n And it came to pass about this time, that he went into the house to do his work; and there was none of the men of the house there within.\r\n And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.\r\n And it came to pass, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and was fled forth,\r\n that she called unto the men of her house, and spake unto them, saying, See, he hath brought in a Hebrew unto us to mock us: he came in unto me to lie with me, and I cried with a loud voice:\r\n and it came to pass, when he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment by me, and fled, and got him out.\r\n And she laid up his garment by her, until his master came home.\r\n And she spake unto him according to these words, saying, The Hebrew servant, whom thou hast brought unto us, came in unto me to mock me:\r\n and it came to pass, as I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment by me, and fled out.\r\n And it came to pass, when his master heard the words of his wife, which she spake unto him, saying, After this manner did thy servant to me; that his wrath was kindled.\r\n And Joseph`s master took him, and put him into the prison, the place where the king`s prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison.\r\n But Jehovah was with Joseph, and showed kindness unto him, and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.\r\n And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph`s hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it.\r\n The keeper of the prison looked not to anything that was under his hand, because Jehovah was with him; and that which he did, Jehovah made it prosper.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass after these things, that the butler of the king of Egypt and his baker offended their lord the king of Egypt.\r\n And Pharaoh was wroth against his two officers, against the chief of the butlers, and against the chief of the bakers.\r\n And he put them in ward in the house of the captain of the guard, into the prison, the place where Joseph was bound.\r\n And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he ministered unto them: and they continued a season in ward.\r\n And they dreamed a dream both of them, each man his dream, in one night, each man according to the interpretation of his dream, the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were bound in the prison.\r\n And Joseph came in unto them in the morning, and saw them, and, behold, they were sad.\r\n And he asked Pharaoh`s officers that were with him in ward in his master`s house, saying, Wherefore look ye so sad to-day?\r\n And they said unto him, We have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it. And Joseph said unto them, Do not interpretations belong to God? tell it me, I pray you.\r\n And the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, In my dream, behold, a vine was before me;\r\n and in the vine were three branches: and it was as though it budded, [and] its blossoms shot forth; [and] the clusters thereof brought forth ripe grapes:\r\n and Pharaoh`s cup was in my hand; and I took the grapes, and pressed them into Pharaoh`s cup, and I gave the cup into Pharaoh`s hand.\r\n And Joseph said unto him, This is the interpretation of it: the three branches are three days;\r\n within yet three days shall Pharaoh lift up thy head, and restore thee unto thine office: and thou shalt give Pharaoh`s cup into his hand, after the former manner when thou wast his butler.\r\n But have me in thy remembrance when it shall be well with thee, and show kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house:\r\n for indeed I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews: and here also have I done nothing that they should put me into the dungeon.\r\n When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was good, he said unto Joseph, I also was in my dream, and, behold, three baskets of white bread were on my head:\r\n and in the uppermost basket there was of all manner of baked food for Pharaoh; and the birds did eat them out of the basket upon my head.\r\n And Joseph answered and said, This is the interpretation thereof: the three baskets are three days;\r\n within yet three days shall Pharaoh lift up thy head from off thee, and shall hang thee on a tree; and the birds shall eat thy flesh from off thee.\r\n And it came to pass the third day, which was Pharaoh`s birthday, that he made a feast unto all his servants: and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and the head of the chief baker among his servants.\r\n And he restored the chief butler unto his butlership again; and he gave the cup into Pharaoh`s hand:\r\n but he hanged the chief baker: as Joseph had interpreted to them.\r\n Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed: and, behold, he stood by the river.\r\n And, behold, there came up out of the river seven kine, well-favored and fat-fleshed; and they fed in the reed-grass.\r\n And, behold, seven other kine came up after them out of the river, ill-favored and lean-fleshed, and stood by the other kine upon the brink of the river.\r\n And the ill-favored and lean-fleshed kine did eat up the seven well-favored and fat kine. So Pharaoh awoke.\r\n And he slept and dreamed a second time: and, behold, seven ears of grain came up upon one stalk, rank and good.\r\n And, behold, seven ears, thin and blasted with the east wind, sprung up after them.\r\n And the thin ears swallowed up the seven rank and full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and, behold, it was a dream.\r\n And it came to pass in the morning that his spirit was troubled; and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt, and all the wise men thereof: and Pharaoh told them his dream; but there was none that could interpret them unto Pharaoh.\r\n Then spake the chief butler unto Pharaoh, saying, I do remember my faults this day:\r\n Pharaoh was wroth with his servants, and put me in ward in the house of the captain of the guard, me and the chief baker:\r\n and we dreamed a dream in one night, I and he; we dreamed each man according to the interpretation of his dream.\r\n And there was with us there a young man, a Hebrew, servant to the captain of the guard; and we told him, and he interpreted to us our dreams; to each man according to his dream he did interpret.\r\n And it came to pass, as he interpreted to us, so it was; me he restored unto mine office, and him he hanged.\r\n Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon: and he shaved himself, and changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh.\r\n And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it: and I have heard say of thee, that when thou hearest a dream thou canst interpret it.\r\n And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace.\r\n And Pharaoh spake unto Joseph, In my dream, behold, I stood upon the brink of the river:\r\n and, behold, there came up out of the river seven kine, fat-fleshed and well-favored: and they fed in the reed-grass:\r\n and, behold, seven other kine came up after them, poor and very ill-favored and lean-fleshed, such as I never saw in all the land of Egypt for badness:\r\n and the lean and ill-favored kine did eat up the first seven fat kine:\r\n and when they had eaten them up, it could not be known that they had eaten them; but they were still ill-favored, as at the beginning. So I awoke.\r\n And I saw in my dream, and, behold, seven ears came up upon one stalk, full and good:\r\n and, behold, seven ears, withered, thin, [and] blasted with the east wind, sprung up after them:\r\n and the thin ears swallowed up the seven good ears: and I told it unto the magicians; but there was none that could declare it to me.\r\n And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, The dream of Pharaoh is one: what God is about to do he hath declared unto Pharaoh.\r\n The seven good kine are seven years; and the seven good ears are seven years: the dream is one.\r\n And the seven lean and ill-favored kine that came up after them are seven years, and also the seven empty ears blasted with the east wind; they shall be seven years of famine.\r\n That is the thing which I spake unto Pharaoh: what God is about to do he hath showed unto Pharaoh.\r\n Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt:\r\n and there shall arise after them seven years of famine; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine shall consume the land;\r\n and the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of that famine which followeth; for it shall be very grievous.\r\n And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh, it is because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.\r\n Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt.\r\n Let Pharaoh do [this], and let him appoint overseers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years.\r\n And let them gather all the food of these good years that come, and lay up grain under the hand of Pharaoh for food in the cities, and let them keep it.\r\n And the food shall be for a store to the land against the seven years of famine, which shall be in the land of Egypt; that the land perish not through the famine.\r\n And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his servants.\r\n And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom the spirit of God is?\r\n And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath showed thee all of this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou:\r\n thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou.\r\n And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt.\r\n And Pharaoh took off his signet ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph`s hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck;\r\n and he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he set him over all the land of Egypt.\r\n And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or his foot in all the land of Egypt.\r\n And Pharaoh called Joseph`s name Zaphenath-paneah; and he gave him to wife Asenath, the daughter of Poti-phera priest of On. And Joseph went out over the land of Egypt.\r\n And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt.\r\n And in the seven plenteous years the earth brought forth by handfuls.\r\n And he gathered up all the food of the seven years which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities: the food of the field, which was round about every city, laid he up in the same.\r\n And Joseph laid up grain as the sand of the sea, very much, until he left off numbering; for it was without number.\r\n And unto Joseph were born two sons before the year of famine came, whom Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On, bare unto him.\r\n And Joseph called the name of the first-born Manasseh: For, [said he], God hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father`s house.\r\n And the name of the second called he Ephraim: For God hath made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.\r\n And the seven years of plenty, that was in the land of Egypt, came to an end.\r\n And the seven years of famine began to come, according as Joseph had said: and there was famine in all lands; but in all the land of Egypt there was bread.\r\n And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread: and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, Go unto Joseph; what he saith to you, do.\r\n And the famine was over all the face of the earth: and Joseph opened all the store-houses, and sold unto the Egyptians; and the famine was sore in the land of Egypt.\r\n And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph to buy grain, because the famine was sore in all the earth.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now Jacob saw that there was grain in Egypt, and Jacob said unto his sons, Why do ye look one upon another?\r\n And he said, Behold, I have heard that there is grain in Egypt: get you down thither, and buy for us from thence; that we may live, and not die.\r\n And Joseph`s ten brethren went down to buy grain from Egypt.\r\n But Benjamin, Joseph`s brother, Jacob sent not with his brethren; for he said, Lest Peradventure harm befall him.\r\n And the sons of Israel came to buy among those that came: for the famine was in the land of Canaan.\r\n And Joseph was the governor over the land; he it was that sold to all the people of the land. And Joseph`s brethren came, and bowed down themselves to him with their faces to the earth.\r\n And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them, but made himself strange unto them, and spake roughly with them; and he said unto them. Whence come ye? And they said, From the land of Canaan to buy food.\r\n And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him.\r\n And Joseph remembered the dreams which he dreamed of them, and said unto them, Ye are spies; to see the nakedness of the land ye are come.\r\n And they said unto him, Nay, my lord, but to buy food are thy servants come.\r\n We are all one man`s sons; we are true men, thy servants are no spies.\r\n And he said unto them, Nay, but to see the nakedness of the land ye are come.\r\n And they said, We thy servants are twelve brethren, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and, behold, the youngest is this day with our father, and one is not.\r\n And Joseph said unto them, That is it that I spake unto you, saying, Ye are spies:\r\n hereby ye shall be proved: by the life of Pharaoh ye shall not go forth hence, except your youngest brother come hither.\r\n Send one of you, and let him fetch your brother, and ye shall be bound, that your words may be proved, whether there be truth in you: or else by the life of Pharaoh surely ye are spies.\r\n And he put them all together into ward three days.\r\n And Joseph said unto them the third day, This do, and live: for I fear God:\r\n if ye be true men, let one of your brethren be bound in your prison-house; but go ye, carry grain for the famine of your houses:\r\n and bring your youngest brother unto me; so shall your words be verified, and ye shall not die. And they did so.\r\n And they said one to another, We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the distress of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us.\r\n And Reuben answered them, saying, Spake I not unto you, saying, Do not sin against the child; and ye would not hear? therefore also, behold, his blood is required.\r\n And they knew not that Joseph understood them; for there was an interpreter between them.\r\n And he turned himself about from them, and wept; and he returned to them, and spake to them, and took Simeon from among them, and bound him before their eyes.\r\n Then Joseph commanded to fill their vessels with grain, and to restore every man`s money into his sack, and to give them provisions for the way: and thus was it done unto them.\r\n And they laded their asses with their grain, and departed thence.\r\n And as one of them opened his sack to give his ass provender in the lodging-place, he espied his money; and, behold, it was in the mouth of his sack.\r\n And he said unto his brethren, My money is restored; and, lo, it is even in my sack: and their heart failed them, and they turned trembling one to another, saying, What is this that God hath done unto us?\r\n And they came unto Jacob their father unto the land of Canaan, and told him all that had befallen them, saying,\r\n The man, the lord of the land, spake roughly with us, and took us for spies of the country.\r\n And we said unto him, We are true men; and we are no spies:\r\n we are twelve brethren, sons of our father; one is not, and the youngest is this day with our father in the land of Canaan.\r\n And the man, the lord of the land, said unto us, Hereby shall I know that ye are true men: leave one of your brethren with me, and take [grain for] the famine of your houses, and go your way;\r\n and bring your youngest brother unto me: then shall I know that ye are no spies, but that ye are true men: so will I deliver you your brother, and ye shall traffic in the land.\r\n And it came to pass as they emptied their sacks, that, behold, every man`s bundle of money was in his sack: and when they and their father saw their bundles of money, they were afraid.\r\n And Jacob their father said unto them, Me have ye bereaved of my children: Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and ye will take Benjamin away: all these things are against me.\r\n And Reuben spake unto his father, saying, Slay my two sons, if I bring him not to thee: deliver him into my hand, and I will bring him to thee again.\r\n And he said, My son shall not go down with you; for his brother is dead, and he only is left: if harm befall him by the way in which ye go, then will ye bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to Sheol.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the famine was sore in the land.\r\n And it came to pass, when they had eaten up the grain which they had brought out of Egypt, their father said unto them, Go again, buy us a little food.\r\n And Judah spake unto him, saying, The man did solemnly protest unto us, saying, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you.\r\n If thou wilt send our brother with us, we will go down and buy thee food:\r\n but if thou wilt not send him, we will not go down; for the man said unto us, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you.\r\n And Israel said, Wherefore dealt ye so ill with me, as to tell the man whether ye had yet a brother?\r\n And they said, The man asked straitly concerning ourselves, and concerning our kindred, saying, Is your father yet alive? have ye [another] brother? and we told him according to the tenor of these words: could we in any wise know that he would say, Bring your brother down?\r\n And Judah said unto Israel his father, Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go; that we may live, and not die, both we, and thou, and also our little ones.\r\n I will be surety for him; of my hand shalt thou require him: if I bring him not unto thee, and set him before thee, then let me bear the blame for ever:\r\n for except we had lingered, surely we had now returned a second time.\r\n And their father Israel said unto them, If it be so now, do this: take of the choice fruits of the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spicery and myrrh, nuts, and almonds;\r\n and take double money in your hand; and the money that was returned in the mouth of your sacks carry again in your hand; peradventure it was an oversight:\r\n take also your brother, and arise, go again unto the man:\r\n and God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may release unto you your other brother and Benjamin. And if I be bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.\r\n And the men took that present, and they took double money in their hand, and Benjamin; and rose up, and went down to Egypt, and stood before Joseph.\r\n And when Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, Bring the men into the house, and slay, and make ready; for the men shall dine with me at noon.\r\n And the man did as Joseph bade; and the man brought the men to Joseph`s house.\r\n And the men were afraid, because they were brought to Joseph`s house; and they said, Because of the money that was returned in our sacks at the first time are we brought in; that he may seek occasion against us, and fall upon us, and take us for bondmen, and our asses.\r\n And they came near to the steward of Joseph`s house, and they spake unto him at the door of the house,\r\n and said, Oh, my lord, we came indeed down at the first time to buy food:\r\n and it came to pass, when we came to the lodging-place, that we opened our sacks, and, behold, every man`s money was in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight: and we have brought it again in our hand.\r\n And other money have we brought down in our hand to buy food: we know not who put our money in our sacks.\r\n And he said, Peace be to you, fear not: your God, and the God of your father, hath given you treasure in your sacks: I had your money. And he brought Simeon out unto them.\r\n And the man brought the men into Joseph`s house, and gave them water, and they washed their feet. And he gave their asses provender.\r\n And they made ready the present against Joseph`s coming at noon: for they heard that they should eat bread there.\r\n And when Joseph came home, they brought him the present which was in their hand into the house, and bowed down themselves to him to the earth.\r\n And he asked them of their welfare, and said, Is your father well, the old man of whom ye spake? Is he yet alive?\r\n And they said, Thy servant our father is well, he is yet alive. And they bowed the head, and made obeisance.\r\n And he lifted up his eyes, and saw Benjamin his brother, his mother`s son, and said, Is this your youngest brother, of whom ye spake unto me? And he said, God be gracious unto thee, my son.\r\n And Joseph made haste; for his heart yearned over his brother: and he sought where to weep; and he entered into his chamber, and wept there.\r\n And he washed his face, and came out; and he refrained himself, and said, Set on bread.\r\n And they set on for him by himself, and for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians, that did eat with him, by themselves: because the Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews; for that is an abomination unto the Egyptians.\r\n And they sat before him, the first-born according to his birthright, and the youngest according to his youth: and the men marvelled one with another.\r\n And he took [and sent] messes unto them from before him: but Benjamin`s mess was five times so much as any of theirs. And they drank, and were merry with him.\r\n \r\n \r\n And he commanded the steward of his house, saying, Fill the men`s sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put every man`s money in his sack`s mouth.\r\n And put my cup, the silver cup, in the sack`s mouth of the youngest, and his grain money. And he did according to the word that Joseph had spoken.\r\n As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away, they and their asses.\r\n [And] when they were gone out of the city, and were not yet far off, Joseph said unto his steward, Up, follow after the men; and when thou dost overtake them, say unto them, Wherefore have ye rewarded evil for good?\r\n Is not this that in which my lord drinketh, and whereby he indeed divineth? ye have done evil in so doing.\r\n And he overtook them, and he spake unto them these words.\r\n And they said unto him, Wherefore speaketh my lord such words as these? Far be it from thy servants that they should do such a thing.\r\n Behold, the money, which we found in our sacks` mouths, we brought again unto thee out of the land of Canaan: how then should we steal out of thy lord`s house silver or gold?\r\n With whomsoever of thy servants it be found, let him die, and we also will be my lord`s bondmen.\r\n And he said, Now also let it be according unto your words: he with whom it is found shall be my bondman; and ye shall be blameless.\r\n Then they hasted, and took down every man his sack to the ground, and opened every man his sack.\r\n And he searched, [and] began at the eldest, and left off at the youngest: and the cup was found in Benjamin`s sack.\r\n Then they rent their clothes, and laded every man his ass, and returned to the city.\r\n And Judah and his brethren came to Joseph`s house; and he was yet there: and they fell before him on the ground.\r\n And Joseph said unto them, What deed is this that ye have done? know ye not that such a man as I can indeed divine?\r\n And Judah said, What shall we say unto my lord? what shall we speak? or how shall we clear ourselves? God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants: behold, we are my lord`s bondmen, both we, and he also in whose hand the cup is found.\r\n And he said, Far be it from me that I should do so: the man in whose hand the cup is found, he shall be my bondman; but as for you, get you up in peace unto your father.\r\n Then Judah came near unto him, and said, Oh, my lord, let thy servant, I pray thee, speak a word in my lord`s ears, and let not thine anger burn against thy servant; for thou art even as Pharaoh.\r\n My lord asked his servants, saying, Have ye a father, or a brother?\r\n And we said unto my lord, We have a father, an old man, and a child of his old age, a little one; and his brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother; and his father loveth him.\r\n And thou saidst unto thy servants, Bring him down unto me, that I may set mine eyes upon him.\r\n And we said unto my lord, The lad cannot leave his father: for if he should leave his father, his father would die.\r\n And thou saidst unto thy servants, Except your youngest brother come down with you, ye shall see my face no more.\r\n And it came to pass when we came up unto thy servant my father, we told him the words of my lord.\r\n And our father said, Go again, buy us a little food.\r\n And we said, We cannot go down: if our youngest brother be with us, then will we go down: for we may not see the man`s face, expect our youngest brother be with us.\r\n And thy servant my father said unto us, Ye know that my wife bare me two sons:\r\n and the one went out from me, and I said, Surely he is torn in pieces; and I have not seen him since:\r\n and if ye take this one also from me, and harm befall him, ye will bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to Sheol.\r\n Now therefore when I come to thy servant my father, and the lad is not with us; seeing that his life is bound up in the lad`s life;\r\n it will come to pass, when he seeth that the lad is not [with us], that he will die: and thy servants will bring down the gray hairs of thy servant our father with sorrow to Sheol.\r\n For thy servant became surety for the lad unto my father, saying, If I bring him not unto thee, then shall I bear the blame to my father for ever.\r\n Now therefore, let thy servant, I pray thee, abide instead of the lad a bondman to my lord; and let the lad go up with his brethren.\r\n For how shall I go up to my father, if the lad be not with me? lest I see the evil that shall come on my father.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood before him; and he cried, Cause every man to go out from me. And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren.\r\n And he wept aloud: and the Egyptians heard, and the house of Pharaoh heard.\r\n And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph; doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him; for they were troubled at his presence.\r\n And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt.\r\n And now be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.\r\n For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and there are yet five years, in which there shall be neither plowing nor harvest.\r\n And God sent me before you to preserve you a remnant in the earth, and to save you alive by a great deliverance.\r\n So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and ruler over all the land of Egypt.\r\n Haste ye, and go up to my father, and say unto him, Thus saith thy son Joseph, God hath made me lord of all Egypt: come down unto me, tarry not;\r\n and thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen, and thou shalt be near unto me, thou, and thy children, and thy children`s children, and thy flocks, and thy herds, and all that thou hast:\r\n and there will I nourish thee; for there are yet five years of famine; lest thou come to poverty, thou, and thy household, and all that thou hast.\r\n And, behold, your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin, that it is my mouth that speaketh unto you.\r\n And ye shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that ye have seen: and ye shall haste and bring down my father hither.\r\n And he fell upon his brother Benjamin`s neck, and wept; and Benjamin wept upon his neck.\r\n And he kissed all his brethren, and wept upon them: and after that his brethren talked with him.\r\n And the report thereof was heard in Pharaoh`s house, saying, Joseph`s brethren are come: and it pleased Pharaoh well, and his servants.\r\n And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Say unto thy brethren, This do ye: lade your beasts, and go, get you unto the land of Canaan;\r\n and take your father and your households, and come unto me: and I will give you the good of the land of Egypt, and ye shall eat the fat of the land.\r\n Now thou art commanded, this do ye: take you wagons out of the land of Egypt for your little ones, and for your wives, and bring your father, and come.\r\n Also regard not your stuff; for the good of all the land of Egypt is yours.\r\n And the sons of Israel did so: and Joseph gave them wagons, according to the commandment of Pharaoh, and gave them provision for the way.\r\n To all of them he gave each man changes of raiment; but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver, and five changes of raiment.\r\n And to his father he sent after this manner: ten asses laden with the good things of Egypt, and ten she-asses laden with grain and bread and provision for his father by the way.\r\n So he sent his brethren away, and they departed: and he said unto them, See that ye fall not out by the way.\r\n And they went up out of Egypt, and came into the land of Canaan unto Jacob their father.\r\n And they told him, saying, Joseph is yet alive, and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt. And his heart fainted, for he believed them not.\r\n And they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said unto them: and when he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived:\r\n and Israel said, It is enough; Joseph my son is yet alive: I will go and see him before I die.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beer-sheba, and offered sacrifices unto the God of his father Isaac.\r\n And God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night, and said, Jacob, Jacob. And he said, Here am I.\r\n And he said, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation:\r\n I will go down with thee into Egypt; and I will also surely bring thee up again: and Joseph shall put his hand upon thine eyes.\r\n And Jacob rose up from Beer-sheba: and the sons of Israel carried Jacob their father, and their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons which Pharaoh had sent to carry him.\r\n And they took their cattle, and their goods, which they had gotten in the land of Canaan, and came into Egypt, Jacob, and all his seed with him:\r\n his sons, and his sons` sons with him, his daughters, and his sons`s daughters, and all his seed brought he with him into Egypt.\r\n And these are the names of the children of Israel, who came into Egypt, Jacob and his sons: Reuben, Jacob`s first-born.\r\n And the sons of Reuben: Hanoch, and Pallu, and Hezron, and Carmi.\r\n And the sons of Simeon: Jemuel, and Jamin, and Ohad, and Jachin, and Zohar, and Shaul the son of a Canaanitish woman.\r\n And the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.\r\n And the sons of Judah: Er, and Onan, and Shelah, and Perez, and Zerah; but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. And the sons of Perez were Hezron and Hamul.\r\n And the sons of Issachar: Tola, and Puvah, and Iob, and Shimron.\r\n And the sons of Zebulun: Sered, and Elon, and Jahleel.\r\n These are the sons of Leah, whom she bare unto Jacob in Paddan-aram, with his daughter Dinah: all the souls of his sons and his daughters were thirty and three.\r\n And the sons of Gad: Ziphion, and Haggi, Shuni, and Ezbon, Eri, and Arodi, and Areli.\r\n And the sons of Asher: Imnah, and Ishvah, and Ishvi, and Beriah, and Serah their sister; and the sons of Beriah: Heber, and Malchiel.\r\n These are the sons of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to Leah his daughter; and these she bare unto Jacob, even sixteen souls.\r\n The sons of Rachel Jacob`s wife: Joseph and Benjamin.\r\n And unto Joseph in the land of Egypt were born Manasseh and Ephraim, whom Asenath, the daughter of Poti-phera priest of On, bare unto him.\r\n And the sons of Benjamin: Bela, and Becher, and Ashbel, Gera, and Naaman, Ehi, and Rosh, Muppim, and Huppim, and Ard.\r\n These are the sons of Rachel, who were born to Jacob: all the souls were fourteen.\r\n And the sons of Dan: Hushim.\r\n And the sons of Naphtali: Jahzeel, and Guni, and Jezer, and Shillem.\r\n These are the sons of Bilhah, whom Laban gave unto Rachel his daughter, and these she bare unto Jacob: all the souls were seven.\r\n All the souls that came with Jacob into Egypt, that came out of his loins, besides Jacob`s sons` wives, all the souls were threescore and six;\r\n and the sons of Joseph, who were born to him in Egypt, were two souls: all the souls of the house of Jacob, that came into Egypt, were threescore and ten.\r\n And he sent Judah before him unto Joseph, to show the way before him unto Goshen; and they came into the land of Goshen.\r\n And Joseph made ready his chariot, and went up to meet Israel his father, to Goshen; and he presented himself unto him, and fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while.\r\n And Israel said unto Joseph, Now let me die, since I have seen thy face, that thou art yet alive.\r\n And Joseph said unto his brethren, and unto his father`s house, I will go up, and tell Pharaoh, and will say unto him, My brethren, and my father`s house, who were in the land of Canaan, are come unto me;\r\n and the men are shepherds, for they have been keepers of cattle; and they have brought their flocks, and their herds, and all that they have.\r\n And it shall come to pass, when Pharaoh shall call you, and shall say, What is your occupation?\r\n that ye shall say, Thy servants have been keepers of cattle from our youth even until now, both we, and our fathers: that ye may dwell in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is an abomination unto the Egyptians.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then Joseph went in and told Pharaoh, and said, My father and my brethren, and their flocks, and their herds, and all that they have, are come out of the land of Canaan; and, behold, they are in the land of Goshen.\r\n And from among his brethren he took five men, and presented them unto Pharaoh.\r\n And Pharaoh said unto his brethren, What is your occupation? And they said unto Pharaoh, Thy servants are shepherds, both we, and our fathers.\r\n And they said unto Pharaoh, To sojourn in the land are we come; for there is no pasture for thy servants` flocks; for the famine is sore in the land of Canaan: now therefore, we pray thee, let thy servants dwell in the land of Goshen.\r\n And Pharaoh spake unto Joseph, saying, Thy father and thy brethren are come unto thee:\r\n the land of Egypt is before thee; in the best of the land make thy father and thy brethren to dwell; in the land of Goshen let them dwell: and if thou knowest any able men among them, then make them rulers over my cattle.\r\n And Joseph brought in Jacob his father, and set him before Pharaoh: and Jacob blessed Pharaoh.\r\n And Pharaoh said unto Jacob, How many are the days of the years of thy life?\r\n And Jacob said unto Pharaoh, The days of the years of my pilgrimage are a hundred and thirty years: few and evil have been the days of the years of my life, and they have not attained unto the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage.\r\n And Jacob blessed Pharaoh, and went out from the presence of Pharaoh.\r\n And Joseph placed his father and his brethren, and gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land, in the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had commanded.\r\n And Joseph nourished his father, and his brethren, and all his father`s household, with bread, according to their families.\r\n And there was no bread in all the land; for the famine was very sore, so that the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan fainted by reason of the famine.\r\n And Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, for the grain which they bought: and Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh`s house.\r\n And when the money was all spent in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came unto Joseph, and said, Give us bread: for why should we die in thy presence? for [our] money faileth.\r\n And Joseph said, Give your cattle; and I will give you for your cattle, if money fail.\r\n And they brought their cattle unto Joseph; and Joseph gave them bread in exchange for the horses, and for the flocks, and for the herds, and for the asses: and he fed them with bread in exchange for all their cattle for that year.\r\n And when that year was ended, they came unto him the second year, and said unto him, We will not hide from my lord, how that our money is all spent; and the herds of cattle are my lord`s; there is nought left in the sight of my lord, but our bodies, and our lands:\r\n wherefore should we die before thine eyes, both we and our land? buy us and our land for bread, and we and our land will be servants unto Pharaoh: and give us seed, that we may live, and not die, and that the land be not desolate.\r\n So Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh; for the Egyptians sold every man his field, because the famine was sore upon them: and the land became Pharaoh`s.\r\n And as for the people, he removed them to the cities from one end of the border of Egypt even to the other end thereof.\r\n Only the land of the priests bought he not: for the priests had a portion from Pharaoh, and did eat their portion which Pharaoh gave them; wherefore they sold not their land.\r\n Then Joseph said unto the people, Behold, I have bought you this day and your land for Pharaoh: lo, here is seed for you, and ye shall sow the land.\r\n And it shall come to pass at the ingatherings, that ye shall give a fifth unto Pharaoh, and four parts shall be your own, for seed of the field, and for your food, and for them of your households, and for food for your little ones.\r\n And they said, Thou hast saved our lives: let us find favor in the sight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh`s servants.\r\n And Joseph made it a statute concerning the land of Egypt unto this day, that Pharaoh should have the fifth; only the land of the priests alone became not Pharaoh`s.\r\n And Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the land of Goshen; and they gat them possessions therein, and were fruitful, and multiplied exceedingly.\r\n And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years: so the days of Jacob, the years of his life, were a hundred forty and seven years.\r\n And the time drew near that Israel must die: and he called his son Joseph, and said unto him, If now I have found favor in thy sight, put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me: bury me not, I pray thee, in Egypt;\r\n but when I sleep with my fathers, thou shalt carry me out of Egypt, and bury me in their burying-place. And he said, I will do as thou hast said.\r\n And he said, Swear unto me: and he sware unto him. And Israel bowed himself upon the bed`s head.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass after these things, that one said to Joseph, Behold, thy father is sick: and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.\r\n And one told Jacob, and said, Behold, thy son Joseph cometh unto thee: and Israel strengthened himself, and sat upon the bed.\r\n And Jacob said unto Joseph, God Almighty appeared unto me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and blessed me,\r\n and said unto me, Behold, I will make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, and I will make of thee a company of peoples, and will give this land to thy seed after thee for an everlasting possession.\r\n And now thy two sons, who were born unto thee in the land of Egypt before I came unto thee into Egypt, are mine; Ephraim and Manasseh, even as Reuben and Simeon, shall be mine.\r\n And thy issue, that thou begettest after them, shall be thine; they shall be called after the name of their brethren in their inheritance.\r\n And as for me, when I came from Paddan, Rachel died by me in the land of Canaan in the way, when there was still some distance to come unto Ephrath: and I buried her there in the way to Ephrath (the same is Beth-lehem).\r\n And Israel beheld Joseph`s sons, and said, Who are these?\r\n And Joseph said unto his father, They are my sons, whom God hath given me here. And he said, Bring them, I pray thee, unto me, and I will bless them.\r\n Now the eyes of Israel were dim for age, so that he could not see. And he brought them near unto him; and he kissed them, and embraced them.\r\n And Israel said unto Joseph, I had not thought to see thy face: and, lo, God hath let me see thy seed also.\r\n And Joseph brought them out from between his knees; and he bowed himself with his face to the earth.\r\n And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel`s left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel`s right hand, and brought them near unto him.\r\n And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim`s head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh`s head, guiding his hands wittingly; for Manasseh was the first-born.\r\n And he blessed Joseph, and said, The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God who hath fed me all my life long unto this day,\r\n the angel who hath redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.\r\n And when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it displeased him: and he held up his father`s hand, to remove it from Ephraim`s head unto Manasseh`s head.\r\n And Joseph said unto his father, Not so, my father; for this is the first-born; put thy right hand upon his head.\r\n And his father refused, and said, I know [it], my son, I know [it]. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great: howbeit his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations.\r\n And he blessed them that day, saying, In thee will Israel bless, saying, God make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh: and he set Ephraim before Manasseh.\r\n And Israel said unto Joseph, Behold, I die: but God will be with you, and bring you again unto the land of your fathers.\r\n Moreover I have given to thee one portion above thy brethren, which I took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Jacob called unto his sons, and said: gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the latter days.\r\n Assemble yourselves, and hear, ye sons of Jacob; And hearken unto Israel your father.\r\n Reuben, thou art my first-born, my might, and the beginning of my strength; The pre-eminence of dignity, and the pre-eminence of power.\r\n Boiling over as water, thou shalt not have the pre-eminence; Because thou wentest up to thy father`s bed; Then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch.\r\n Simeon and Levi are brethren; Weapons of violence are their swords.\r\n O my soul, come not thou into their council; Unto their assembly, my glory, be not thou united; For in their anger they slew a man, And in their self-will they hocked an ox.\r\n Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; And their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, And scatter them in Israel.\r\n Judah, thee shall thy brethren praise: Thy hand shall be on the neck of thine enemies; Thy father`s sons shall bow down before thee.\r\n Judah is a lion`s whelp; From the prey, my son, thou art gone up: He stooped down, he couched as a lion, And as a lioness; who shall rouse him up?\r\n The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, Nor the ruler`s staff from between his feet, Until Shiloh come: And unto him shall the obedience of the peoples be.\r\n Binding his foal unto the vine, And his ass`s colt unto the choice vine; He hath washed his garments in wine, And his vesture in the blood of grapes:\r\n His eyes shall be red with wine, And his teeth white with milk.\r\n Zebulun shall dwell at the haven of the sea; And he shall be for a haven of ships; And his border shall be upon Sidon.\r\n Issachar is a strong ass, Couching down between the sheepfolds:\r\n And he saw a resting-place that it was good, And the land that it was pleasant; And he bowed his shoulder to bear, And became a servant under taskwork.\r\n Dan shall judge his people, As one of the tribes of Israel.\r\n Dan shall be a serpent in the way, An adder in the path, That biteth the horse`s heels, So that his rider falleth backward.\r\n I have waited for thy salvation, O Jehovah.\r\n Gad, a troop shall press upon him; But he shall press upon their heel.\r\n Out of the Asher his bread shall be fat, And he shall yield royal dainties.\r\n Naphtali is a hind let loose: He giveth goodly words.\r\n Joseph is a fruitful bough, A fruitful bough by a fountain; His branches run over the wall.\r\n The archers have sorely grieved him, And shot at him, and persecute him:\r\n But his bow abode in strength, And the arms of his hands were made strong, By the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob, (From thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel),\r\n Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee, And by the Almighty, who shall bless thee, With blessings of heaven above, Blessings of the deep that coucheth beneath, Blessings of the breasts, and of the womb.\r\n The blessings of thy father Have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors Unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: They shall be on the head of Joseph, And on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren.\r\n Benjamin is a wolf that raveneth: In the morning she shall devour the prey, And at even he shall divide the spoil.\r\n All these are the twelve tribes of Israel: and this is it that their father spake unto them and blessed them; every one according to his blessing he blessed them.\r\n And he charged them, and said unto them, I am to be gathered unto my people: bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite,\r\n in the cave that is in the field of Machpelah, which is before Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite for a possession of a burying-place.\r\n there they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife; there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife; and there I buried Leah:\r\n the field and the cave that is therein, which was purchased from the children of Heth.\r\n And when Jacob made an end of charging his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost, and was gathered unto his people.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Joseph fell upon his father`s face, and wept upon him, and kissed him.\r\n And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father: and the physicians embalmed Israel.\r\n And forty days were fulfilled for him; for so are fulfilled the days of embalming: and the Egyptians wept for him three-score and ten days.\r\n And when the days of weeping for him were past, Joseph spake unto the house of Pharaoh, saying, If now I have found favor in your eyes, speak, I pray you, in the ears of Pharaoh, saying,\r\n My father made me swear, saying, Lo, I die: in my grave which I have digged for me in the land of Canaan, there shalt thou bury me. Now therefore let me go up, I pray thee, and bury my father, and I will come again.\r\n And Pharaoh said, Go up, and bury thy father, according as he made thee swear.\r\n And Joseph went up to bury his father; and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his house, and all the elders of the land of Egypt,\r\n and all the house of Joseph, and his brethren, and his father`s house: only their little ones, and their flocks, and their herds, they left in the land of Goshen.\r\n And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen: and it was a very great company.\r\n And they came to the threshing-floor of Atad, which is beyond the Jordan, and there they lamented with a very great and sore lamentation: and he made a mourning for his father seven days.\r\n And when the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning in the floor of Atad, they said, This is a grievous mourning to the Egyptians: wherefore the name of it was called Abel-mizraim, which is beyond the Jordan.\r\n And his sons did unto him according as he commanded them:\r\n for his sons carried him into the land of Canaan, and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, which Abraham bought with the field, for a possession of a burying-place, of Ephron the Hittite, before Mamre.\r\n And Joseph returned into Egypt, he, and his brethren, and all that went up with him to bury his father, after he had buried his father.\r\n And when Joseph`s brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, It may be that Joseph will hate us, and will fully requite us all the evil which we did unto him.\r\n And they sent a message unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying,\r\n So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the transgression of thy brethren, and their sin, for that they did unto thee evil. And now, we pray thee, forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him.\r\n And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we are thy servants.\r\n And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?\r\n And as for you, ye meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.\r\n Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.\r\n And Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he, and his father`s house: and Joseph lived a hundred and ten years.\r\n And Joseph saw Ephraim`s children of the third generation: the children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were born upon Joseph`s knees.\r\n And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die; but God will surely visit you, and bring you up out of this land unto the land which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.\r\n And Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones from hence.\r\n So Joseph died, being a hundred and ten years old: and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n Now these are the names of the sons of Israel, who came into Egypt (every man and his household came with Jacob):\r\n Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah,\r\n Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin,\r\n Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher.\r\n And all the souls that came out of the loins of Jacob were seventy souls: and Joseph was in Egypt already.\r\n And Joseph died, and all his brethren, and all that generation.\r\n And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them.\r\n Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who knew not Joseph.\r\n And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we:\r\n come, let us deal wisely with them, lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they also join themselves unto our enemies, and fight against us, and get them up out of the land.\r\n Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh store-cities, Pithom and Raamses.\r\n But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and the more they spread abroad. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel.\r\n And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigor:\r\n and they made their lives bitter with hard service, in mortar and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field, all their service, wherein they made them serve with rigor.\r\n And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of whom the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah:\r\n and he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the birth-stool; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him; but if it be a daughter, then she shall live.\r\n But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men-children alive.\r\n And the king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said unto them, Why have ye done this thing, and have saved the men-children alive?\r\n And the midwives said unto Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are lively, and are delivered ere the midwife come unto them.\r\n And God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty.\r\n And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made them households.\r\n And Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye shall save alive.\r\n \r\n \r\n And there went a man of the house of Levi, and took to wife a daughter of Levi.\r\n And the woman conceived, and bare a son: and when she saw him that he was a goodly child, she hid him three months.\r\n And when she could not longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch; and she put the child therein, and laid it in the flags by the river`s brink.\r\n And his sister stood afar off, to know what would be done to him.\r\n And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river; and her maidens walked along by the river-side; and she saw the ark among the flags, and sent her handmaid to fetch it.\r\n And she opened it, and saw the child: and, behold, the babe wept. And she had compassion on him, and said, This is one of the Hebrews` children.\r\n Then said his sister to Pharaoh`s daughter, Shall I go and call thee a nurse of the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for thee?\r\n And Pharaoh`s daughter said to her, Go. And the maiden went and called the child`s mother.\r\n And Pharaoh`s daughter said unto her, Take this child away, and nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy wages. And the woman took the child, and nursed it.\r\n And the child grew, and she brought him unto Pharaoh`s daughter, and he became her son. And she called his name Moses, and said, Because I drew him out of the water.\r\n And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown up, that he went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens: and he saw an Egyptian smiting a Hebrew, one of his brethren.\r\n And he looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no man, he smote the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand.\r\n And he went out the second day, and, behold, two men of the Hebrews were striving together: and he said to him that did the wrong, Wherefore smitest thou thy fellow?\r\n And he said, Who made thee a prince and a judge over us? Thinkest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian? And Moses feared, and said, Surely the thing is known.\r\n Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian: and he sat down by a well.\r\n Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters: and they came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father`s flock.\r\n And the shepherds came and drove them away; but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock.\r\n And when they came to Reuel their father, he said, How is it that ye are come so soon to-day?\r\n And they said, An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds, and moreover he drew water for us, and watered the flock.\r\n And he said unto his daughters, And where is he? Why is it that ye have left the man? Call him, that he may eat bread.\r\n And Moses was content to dwell with the man: and he gave Moses Zipporah his daughter.\r\n And she bare a son, and he called his name Gershom; for he said, I have been a sojourner in a foreign land.\r\n And it came to pass in the course of those many days, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage.\r\n And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.\r\n And God saw the children of Israel, and God took knowledge [of them].\r\n \r\n \r\n Now Moses was keeping the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the back of the wilderness, and came to the mountain of God, unto Horeb.\r\n And the angel of Jehovah appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.\r\n And Moses said, I will turn aside now, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.\r\n And when Jehovah saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.\r\n And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.\r\n Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.\r\n And Jehovah said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people that are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;\r\n and I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Amorite, and the Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite.\r\n And now, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: moreover I have seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them.\r\n Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.\r\n And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?\r\n And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be the token unto thee, that I have sent thee: when thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain.\r\n And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? What shall I say unto them?\r\n And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.\r\n And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, Jehovah, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name forever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.\r\n Go, and gather the elders of Israel together, and say unto them, Jehovah, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, hath appeared unto me, saying, I have surely visited you, and [seen] that which is done to you in Egypt:\r\n and I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Amorite, and the Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite, unto a land flowing with milk and honey.\r\n And they shall hearken to thy voice: and thou shalt come, thou and the elders of Israel, unto the king of Egypt, and ye shall say unto him, Jehovah, the God of the Hebrews, hath met with us: and now let us go, we pray thee, three days` journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to Jehovah our God.\r\n And I know that the king of Egypt will not give you leave to go, no, not by a mighty hand.\r\n And I will put forth my hand, and smite Egypt with all my wonders which I will do in the midst thereof: and after that he will let you go.\r\n And I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians: and it shall come to pass, that, when ye go, ye shall not go empty.\r\n But every woman shall ask of her neighbor, and of her that sojourneth in her house, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: and ye shall put them upon your sons, and upon your daughters; and ye shall despoil the Egyptians.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice; for they will say, Jehovah hath not appeared unto thee.\r\n And Jehovah said unto him, What is that in thy hand? And he said, A rod.\r\n And he said, Cast in on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it.\r\n And Jehovah said unto Moses, Put forth thy hand, and take it by the tail: (and he put forth his hand, and laid hold of it, and it became a rod in his hand:)\r\n That they may believe that Jehovah, the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared unto thee.\r\n And Jehovah said furthermore unto him, Put now thy hand into thy bosom. And he put his hand into his bosom: and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous, as [white as] snow.\r\n And he said, Put thy hand into thy bosom again. (And he put his hand into his bosom again; and when he took it out of his bosom, behold, it was turned again as his [other] flesh.)\r\n And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe thee, neither hearken to the voice of the first sign, that they will believe the voice of the latter sign.\r\n And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe even these two signs, neither hearken unto thy voice, that thou shalt take of the water of the river, and pour it upon the dry land: and the water which thou takest out of the river shall become blood upon the dry land.\r\n And Moses said unto Jehovah, Oh, Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant; for I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.\r\n And Jehovah said unto him, Who hath made man`s mouth? Or who maketh [a man] dumb, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, Jehovah?\r\n Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt speak.\r\n And he said, Oh, Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send.\r\n And the anger of Jehovah was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is there not Aaron thy brother the Levite? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart.\r\n And thou shalt speak unto him, and put the words in his mouth: and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do.\r\n And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people; and it shall come to pass, that he shall be to thee a mouth, and thou shalt be to him as God.\r\n And thou shalt take in thy hand this rod, wherewith thou shalt do the signs.\r\n And Moses went and returned to Jethro his father-in-law, and said unto him, Let me go, I pray thee, and return unto my brethren that are in Egypt, and see whether they be yet alive. And Jethro said to Moses, Go in peace.\r\n And Jehovah said unto Moses in Midian, Go, return into Egypt; for all the men are dead that sought thy life.\r\n And Moses took his wife and his sons, and set them upon an ass, and he returned to the land of Egypt: and Moses took the rod of God in his hand.\r\n And Jehovah said unto Moses, When thou goest back into Egypt, see that thou do before Pharaoh all the wonders which I have put in thy hand: but I will harden his heart and he will not let the people go.\r\n And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith Jehovah, Israel is my son, my first-born:\r\n and I have said unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me; and thou hast refused to let him go: behold, I will slay thy son, thy first-born.\r\n And it came to pass on the way at the lodging-place, that Jehovah met him, and sought to kill him.\r\n Then Zipporah took a flint, and cut off the foreskin of her son, and cast it at his feet; and she said, Surely a bridegroom of blood art thou to me.\r\n So he let him alone. Then she said, A bridegroom of blood [art thou], because of the circumcision.\r\n And Jehovah said to Aaron, Go into the wilderness to meet Moses. And he went, and met him in the mountain of God, and kissed him.\r\n And Moses told Aaron all the words of Jehovah wherewith he had sent him, and all the signs wherewith he had charged him.\r\n And Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel:\r\n and Aaron spake all the words which Jehovah had spoken unto Moses, and did the signs in the sight of the people.\r\n And the people believed: and when they heard that Jehovah had visited the children of Israel, and that he had seen their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshipped.\r\n \r\n \r\n And afterward Moses and Aaron came, and said unto Pharaoh, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness.\r\n And Pharaoh said, Who is Jehovah, that I should hearken unto his voice to let Israel go? I know not Jehovah, and moreover I will not let Israel go.\r\n And they said, The God of the Hebrews hath met with us: let us go, we pray thee, three days` journey into the wilderness, and sacrifice unto Jehovah our God, lest he fall upon us with pestilence, or with the sword.\r\n And the king of Egypt said unto them, Wherefore do ye, Moses and Aaron, loose the people from their works? get you unto your burdens.\r\n And Pharaoh said, Behold, the people of the land are now many, and ye make them rest from their burdens.\r\n And the same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people, and their officers, saying,\r\n Ye shall no more give the people straw to make brick, as heretofore: let them go and gather straw for themselves.\r\n And the number of the bricks, which they did make heretofore, ye shall lay upon them; ye shall not diminish aught thereof: for they are idle; therefore they cry, saying, Let us go and sacrifice to our God.\r\n Let heavier work be laid upon the men, that they may labor therein; and let them not regard lying words.\r\n And the taskmasters of the people went out, and their officers, and they spake to the people, saying, Thus saith Pharaoh, I will not give you straw.\r\n Go yourselves, get you straw where ye can find it: for nought of your work shall be diminished.\r\n So the people were scattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw.\r\n And the taskmasters were urgent saying, Fulfil your works, [your] daily tasks, as when there was straw.\r\n And the officers of the children of Israel, whom Pharaoh`s taskmasters had set over them, were beaten, and demanded, Wherefore have ye not fulfilled your task both yesterday and to-day, in making brick as heretofore?\r\n Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried unto Pharaoh, saying, Wherefore dealest thou thus with thy servants?\r\n There is no straw given unto thy servants, and they say to us, Make brick: and, behold, thy servants are beaten; but the fault it in thine own people.\r\n But he said, Ye are idle, ye are idle: therefore ye say, Let us go and sacrifice to Jehovah.\r\n Go therefore now, and work; for there shall no straw be given you, yet shall ye deliver the number of bricks.\r\n And the officers of the children of Israel did see that they were in evil case, when it was said, Ye shall not diminish aught from your bricks, [your] daily tasks.\r\n And they met Moses and Aaron, who stood in the way, as they came forth from Pharaoh:\r\n and they said unto them, Jehovah look upon you, and judge: because ye have made our savor to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to slay us.\r\n And Moses returned unto Jehovah, and said, Lord, wherefore hast thou dealt ill with this people? why is it that thou hast sent me?\r\n For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in thy name, he hath dealt ill with this people; neither hast thou delivered thy people at all.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Jehovah said unto Moses, Now shalt thou see what I will do to Pharaoh: for by a strong hand shall he let them go, and by a strong hand shall he drive them out of his land.\r\n And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am Jehovah:\r\n and I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, as God Almighty; but by my name Jehovah I was not known to them.\r\n And I have also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their sojournings, wherein they sojourned.\r\n And moreover I have heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage; and I have remembered my covenant.\r\n Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am Jehovah, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm, and with great judgments:\r\n and I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God; and ye shall know that I am Jehovah your God, who bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.\r\n And I will bring you in unto the land which I sware to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it you for a heritage: I am Jehovah.\r\n And Moses spake so unto the children of Israel: but they hearkened not unto Moses for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage.\r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Go in, speak unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, that he let the children of Israel go out of his land.\r\n And Moses spake before Jehovah, saying, Behold, the children of Israel have not hearkened unto me; how then shall Pharaoh hear me, who am of uncircumcised lips?\r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, and gave them a charge unto the children of Israel, and unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt.\r\n These are the heads of their fathers` houses. The sons of Reuben the first-born of Israel: Hanoch, and Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi; these are the families of Reuben.\r\n And the sons of Simeon: Jemuel, and Jamin, and Ohad, and Jachin, and Zohar, and Shaul the son of a Canaanitish woman; these are the families of Simeon.\r\n And these are the names of the sons of Levi according to their generations: Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari; and the years of the life of Levi were a hundred thirty and seven years.\r\n The sons of Gershon: Libni and Shimei, according to their families.\r\n And the sons of Kohath: Amram, and Izhar, and Hebron, and Uzziel; and the years of the life of Kohath were a hundred thirty and three years.\r\n And the sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites according to their generations.\r\n And Amram took him Jochebed his father`s sister to wife; and she bare him Aaron and Moses: and the years of the life of Amram were a hundred and thirty and seven years.\r\n And the sons of Izhar: Korah, and Nepheg, and Zichri.\r\n And the sons of Uzziel: Mishael, and Elzaphan, and Sithri.\r\n And Aaron took him Elisheba, the daughter of Amminadab, the sister of Nahshon, to wife; and she bare him Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.\r\n And the sons of Korah: Assir, and Elkanah, and Abiasaph; these are the families of the Korahites.\r\n And Eleazar Aaron`s son took him one of the daughters of Putiel to wife; and she bare him Phinehas. These are the heads of the fathers` [houses] of the Levites according to their families.\r\n These are that Aaron and Moses, to whom Jehovah said, Bring out the children of Israel from the land of Egypt according to their hosts.\r\n These are they that spake to Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring out the children of Israel from Egypt: these are that Moses and Aaron.\r\n And it came to pass on the day when Jehovah spake unto Moses in the land of Egypt,\r\n that Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying, I am Jehovah: speak thou unto Pharaoh king of Egypt all that I speak unto thee.\r\n And Moses said before Jehovah, Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips, and how shall Pharaoh hearken unto me?\r\n \r\n \r\n And Jehovah said unto Moses, See, I have made thee as God to Pharaoh; and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet.\r\n Thou shalt speak all that I command thee; and Aaron thy brother shall speak unto Pharaoh, that he let the children of Israel go out of his land.\r\n And I will harden Pharaoh`s heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt.\r\n But Pharaoh will not hearken unto you, and I will lay my hand upon Egypt, and bring forth my hosts, my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments.\r\n And the Egyptians shall know that I am Jehovah, when I stretch forth my hand upon Egypt, and bring out the children of Israel from among them.\r\n And Moses and Aaron did so; as Jehovah commanded them, so did they.\r\n And Moses was fourscore years old, and Aaron fourscore and three years old, when they spake unto Pharaoh.\r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,\r\n When Pharaoh shall speak unto you, saying, Show a wonder for you; then thou shalt say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and cast it down before Pharaoh, that it become a serpent.\r\n And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and they did so, as Jehovah had commanded: and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh and before his servants, and it became a serpent.\r\n Then Pharaoh also called for the wise men and the sorcerers: and they also, the magicians of Egypt, did in like manner with their enchantments.\r\n For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron`s rod swallowed up their rods.\r\n And Pharaoh`s heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them; as Jehovah had spoken.\r\n And Jehovah said unto Moses, Pharaoh`s heart is stubborn, he refuseth to let the people go.\r\n Get thee unto Pharaoh in the morning; lo, he goeth out unto the water; and thou shalt stand by the river`s brink to meet him; and the rod which was turned to a serpent shalt thou take in thy hand.\r\n And thou shalt say unto him, Jehovah, the God of the Hebrews, hath sent me unto thee, saying, Let my people go, that they may serve me in the wilderness: and, behold, hitherto thou hast not hearkened.\r\n Thus saith Jehovah, In this thou shalt know that I am Jehovah: behold, I will smite with the rod that is in my hand upon the waters which are in the river, and they shall be turned to blood.\r\n And the fish that are in the river shall die, and the river shall become foul; and the Egyptians shall loathe to drink water from the river.\r\n And Jehovah said unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and stretch out thy hand over the waters of Egypt, over their rivers, over their streams, and over their pools, and over all their ponds of water, that they may become blood; and there shall be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in vessels of wood and in vessels of stone.\r\n And Moses and Aaron did so, as Jehovah commanded; and he lifted up the rod, and smote the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants; and all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood.\r\n And the fish that were in the river died; and the river became foul, and the Egyptians could not drink water from the river; and the blood was throughout all the land of Egypt.\r\n And the magicians of Egypt did in like manner with their enchantments: and Pharaoh`s heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them; as Jehovah had spoken.\r\n And Pharaoh turned and went into his house, neither did he lay even this to heart.\r\n And all the Egyptians digged round about the river for water to drink; for they could not drink of the water of the river.\r\n And seven days were fulfilled, after that Jehovah had smitten the river.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus saith Jehovah, Let my people go, that they may serve me.\r\n And if thou refuse to let them go, behold, I will smite all thy borders with frogs:\r\n and the river shall swarm with frogs, which shall go up and come into thy house, and into thy bedchamber, and upon thy bed, and into the house of thy servants, and upon thy people, and into thine ovens, and into thy kneading-troughs:\r\n and the frogs shall come up both upon thee, and upon thy people, and upon all thy servants.\r\n And Jehovah said unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch forth thy hand with thy rod over the rivers, over the streams, and over the pools, and cause frogs to come up upon the land of Egypt.\r\n And Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt; and the frogs came up, and covered the land of Egypt.\r\n And the magicians did in like manner with their enchantments, and brought up frogs upon the land of Egypt.\r\n Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, Entreat Jehovah, that he take away the frogs from me, and from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may sacrifice unto Jehovah.\r\n And Moses said unto Pharaoh, Have thou this glory over me: against what time shall I entreat for thee, and for thy servants, and for thy people, that the frogs be destroyed from thee and thy houses, and remain in the river only?\r\n And he said, Against to-morrow. And he said, Be it according to thy word; that thou mayest know that there is none like unto Jehovah our God.\r\n And the frogs shall depart from thee, and from thy houses, and from thy servants, and from thy people; they shall remain in the river only.\r\n And Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh: and Moses cried unto Jehovah concerning the frogs which he had brought upon Pharaoh.\r\n And Jehovah did according to the word of Moses; and the frogs died out of the houses, out of the courts, and out of the fields.\r\n And they gathered them together in heaps; and the land stank.\r\n But when Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he hardened his heart, and hearkened not unto them, as Jehovah had spoken.\r\n And Jehovah said unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch out thy rod, and smite the dust of the earth, that is may become lice throughout all the land of Egypt.\r\n And they did so; and Aaron stretched out his hand with his rod, and smote the dust of the earth, and there were lice upon man, and upon beast; all the dust of the earth became lice throughout all the land of Egypt.\r\n And the magicians did so with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not: and there were lice upon man, and upon beast.\r\n Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, This is the finger of God: and Pharaoh`s heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them; as Jehovah had spoken.\r\n And Jehovah said unto Moses, Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh; lo, he cometh forth to the water; and say unto him, Thus saith Jehovah, Let my people go, that they may serve me.\r\n Else, if thou wilt not let my people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies upon thee, and upon they servants, and upon thy people, and into thy houses: and the houses of the Egyptians shall be full of swarms of flies, and also the ground whereon they are.\r\n And I will set apart in that day the land of Goshen, in which my people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there; to the end thou mayest know that I am Jehovah in the midst of the earth.\r\n And I will put a division between my people and thy people: by to-morrow shall this sign be.\r\n And Jehovah did so; and there came grievous swarms of flies into the house of Pharaoh, and into his servants` houses: and in all the land of Egypt the land was corrupted by reason of the swarms of flies.\r\n And Pharaoh called for Moses and for Aaron, and said, Go ye, sacrifice to your God in the land.\r\n And Moses said, It is not meet so to do; for we shall sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians to Jehovah our God: lo, shall we sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians before their eyes, and will they not stone us?\r\n We will go three days` journey into the wilderness, and sacrifice to Jehovah our God, as he shall command us.\r\n And Pharaoh said, I will let you go, that ye may sacrifice to Jehovah your God in the wilderness; only ye shall not go very far away: entreat for me.\r\n And Moses said, Behold, I go out from thee, and I will entreat Jehovah that the swarms of flies may depart from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people, to-morrow: only let not Pharaoh deal deceitfully any more in not letting the people go to sacrifice to Jehovah.\r\n And Moses went out from Pharaoh, and entreated Jehovah.\r\n And Jehovah did according to the word of Moses; and he removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people; there remained not one.\r\n And Pharaoh hardened his heart this time also, and he did not let the people go.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then Jehovah said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh, and tell him, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of the Hebrews, Let my people go, that they may serve me.\r\n For if thou refuse to let them go, and wilt hold them still,\r\n behold, the hand of Jehovah is upon thy cattle which are in the field, upon the horses, upon the asses, upon the camels, upon the herds, and upon the flocks: [there shall be] a very grievous murrain.\r\n And Jehovah shall make a distinction between the cattle of Israel and the cattle of Egypt; and there shall nothing die of all that belongeth to the children of Israel.\r\n And Jehovah appointed a set time, saying, To-morrow Jehovah shall do this thing in the land.\r\n And Jehovah did that thing on the morrow; and all the cattle of Egypt died; but of the cattle of the children of Israel died not one.\r\n And Pharaoh sent, and, behold, there was not so much as one of the cattle of the Israelites dead. But the heart of Pharaoh was stubborn, and he did not let the people go.\r\n And Jehovah said unto Moses and unto Aaron, Take to you handfuls of ashes of the furnace, and let Moses sprinkle it toward heaven in the sight of Pharaoh.\r\n And it shall become small dust over all the land of Egypt, and shall be a boil breaking forth with blains upon man and upon beast, throughout all the land of Egypt.\r\n And they took ashes of the furnace, and stood before Pharaoh; and Moses sprinkled it up toward heaven; and it became a boil breaking forth with blains upon man and upon beast.\r\n And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils; for the boils were upon the magicians, and upon all the Egyptians.\r\n And Jehovah hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he hearkened not unto them, as Jehovah had spoken unto Moses.\r\n And Jehovah said unto Moses, Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of the Hebrews, Let my people go, that they may serve me.\r\n For I will this time send all my plagues upon thy heart, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people; that thou mayest know that there is none like me in all the earth.\r\n For now I had put forth my hand, and smitten thee and thy people with pestilence, and thou hadst been cut off from the earth:\r\n but in very deed for this cause have I made thee to stand, to show thee my power, and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth.\r\n As yet exaltest thou thyself against my people, that thou wilt not let them go?\r\n Behold, to-morrow about this time I will cause it to rain a very grievous hail, such as hath not been in Egypt since the day it was founded even until now.\r\n Now therefore send, hasten in thy cattle and all that thou hast in the field; [for] every man and beast that shall be found in the field, and shall not be brought home, the hail shall come down upon them, and they shall die.\r\n He that feared the word of Jehovah among the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his cattle flee into the houses.\r\n And he that regarded not the word of Jehovah left his servants and his cattle in the field.\r\n And Jehovah said unto Moses, Stretch forth thy hand toward heaven, that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt, upon man, and upon beast, and upon every herb of the field, throughout the land of Egypt.\r\n And Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven: and Jehovah sent thunder and hail, and fire ran down unto the earth; and Jehovah rained hail upon the land of Egypt.\r\n So there was hail, and fire mingled with the hail, very grievous, such as had not been in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation.\r\n And the hail smote throughout all the land of Egypt all that was in the field, both man and beast; and the hail smote every herb of the field, and brake every tree of the field.\r\n Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were, was there no hail.\r\n And Pharaoh sent, and called for Moses and Aaron, and said unto them, I have sinned this time: Jehovah is righteous, and I and my people are wicked.\r\n Entreat Jehovah; for there hath been enough of [these] mighty thunderings and hail; and I will let you go, and ye shall stay no longer.\r\n And Moses said unto him, As soon as I am gone out of the city, I will spread abroad my hands unto Jehovah; the thunders shall cease, neither shall there be any more hail; that thou mayest know that the earth is Jehovah`s.\r\n But as for thee and thy servants, I know that ye will not yet fear Jehovah God.\r\n And the flax and the barley were smitten: for the barley was in the ear, and the flax was in bloom.\r\n But the wheat and the spelt were not smitten: for they were not grown up.\r\n And Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh, and spread abroad his hands unto Jehovah: and the thunders and hail ceased, and the rain was not poured upon the earth.\r\n And when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunders were ceased, he sinned yet more, and hardened his heart, he and his servants.\r\n And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the children of Israel go, as Jehovah had spoken by Moses.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Jehovah said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh: for I have hardened his heart, and the heart of his servants, that I may show these my signs in the midst of them,\r\n and that thou mayest tell in the ears of thy son, and of thy son`s son, what things I have wrought upon Egypt, and my signs which I have done among them; that ye may know that I am Jehovah.\r\n And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and said unto him, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of the Hebrews, How long wilt thou refuse to humble thyself before me? let my people go, that they may serve me.\r\n Else, if thou refuse to let my people go, behold, to-morrow will I bring locusts into thy border:\r\n and they shall cover the face of the earth, so that one shall not be able to see the earth: and they shall eat the residue of that which is escaped, which remaineth unto you from the hail, and shall eat every tree which groweth for you out of the field:\r\n and thy houses shall be filled, and the houses of all thy servants, and the houses of all the Egyptians; as neither thy fathers nor thy fathers` fathers have seen, since the day that they were upon the earth unto this day. And he turned, and went out from Pharaoh.\r\n And Pharaoh`s servants said unto him, How long shall this man be a snare unto us? let the men go, that they may serve Jehovah their God: knowest thou not yet that Egypt is destroyed?\r\n And Moses and Aaron were brought again unto Pharaoh: and he said unto them, Go, serve Jehovah your God; but who are they that shall go?\r\n And Moses said, We will go with our young and with our old; with our sons and with our daughters, with our flocks and with our herds will we go; for we must hold a feast unto Jehovah.\r\n And he said unto them, So be Jehovah with you, as I will let you go, and your little ones: look to it; for evil is before you.\r\n Not so: go now ye that are men, and serve Jehovah; for that is what ye desire. And they were driven out from Pharaoh`s presence.\r\n And Jehovah said unto Moses, Stretch out thy hand over the land of Egypt for the locusts, that they may come up upon the land of Egypt, and eat every herb of the land, even all that the hail hath left.\r\n And Moses stretched forth his rod over the land of Egypt, and Jehovah brought an east wind upon the land all that day, and all the night; and when it was morning, the east wind brought the locusts.\r\n And the locusts went up over all the land of Egypt, and rested in all the borders of Egypt; very grievous were they; before them there were no such locusts as they, neither after them shall be such.\r\n For they covered the face of the whole earth, so that the land was darkened; and they did eat every herb of the land, and all the fruit of the trees which the hail had left: and there remained not any green thing, either tree or herb of the field, through all the land of Egypt.\r\n Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron in haste; and he said, I have sinned against Jehovah your God, and against you.\r\n Now therefore forgive, I pray thee, my sin only this once, and entreat Jehovah your God, that he may take away from me this death only.\r\n And he went out from Pharaoh, and entreated Jehovah.\r\n And Jehovah turned an exceeding strong west wind, which took up the locusts, and drove them into the Red Sea; there remained not one locust in all the border of Egypt.\r\n But Jehovah hardened Pharaoh`s heart, and he did not let the children of Israel go.\r\n And Jehovah said unto Moses, Stretch out thy hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt.\r\n And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days;\r\n they saw not one another, neither rose any one from his place for three days: but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.\r\n And Pharaoh called unto Moses, and said, Go ye, serve Jehovah; only let your flocks and your herds be stayed: let your little ones also go with you.\r\n And Moses said, Thou must also give into our hand sacrifices and burnt-offerings, that we may sacrifice unto Jehovah our God.\r\n Our cattle also shall go with us; there shall not a hoof be left behind: for thereof must we take to serve Jehovah our God; and we know not with what we must serve Jehovah, until we come thither.\r\n But Jehovah hardened Pharaoh`s heart, and he would not let them go.\r\n And Pharaoh said unto him, Get thee from me, take heed to thyself, see my face no more; for in the day thou seest my face thou shalt die.\r\n And Moses said, Thou hast spoken well. I will see thy face again no more.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Jehovah said unto Moses, Yet one plague more will I bring upon Pharaoh, and upon Egypt; afterwards he will let you go hence: when he shall let you go, he shall surely thrust you out hence altogether.\r\n Speak now in the ears of the people, and let them ask every man of his neighbor, and every woman of her neighbor, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold.\r\n And Jehovah gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh`s servants, and in the sight of the people.\r\n And Moses said, Thus saith Jehovah, About midnight will I go out into the midst of Egypt:\r\n and all the first-born in the land of Egypt shall die, from the first-born of Pharaoh that sitteth upon his throne, even unto the first-born of the maid-servant that is behind the mill; and all the first-born of cattle.\r\n And there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there hath not been, nor shall be any more.\r\n But against any of the children of Israel shall not a dog move his tongue, against man or beast: that ye may know how that Jehovah doth make a distinction between the Egyptians and Israel.\r\n And all these thy servants shall come down unto me, and bow down themselves unto me, saying, Get thee out, and all the people that follow thee: and after that I will go out. And he went out from Pharaoh in hot anger.\r\n And Jehovah said unto Moses, Pharaoh will not hearken unto you; that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.\r\n And Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh: and Jehovah hardened Pharaoh`s heart, and he did not let the children of Israel go out of his land.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying,\r\n This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you.\r\n Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth [day] of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to their fathers` houses, a lamb for a household:\r\n and if the household be too little for a lamb, then shall he and his neighbor next unto his house take one according to the number of the souls; according to every man`s eating ye shall make your count for the lamb.\r\n Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male a year old: ye shall take it from the sheep, or from the goats:\r\n and ye shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month; and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it at even.\r\n And they shall take of the blood, and put it on the two side-posts and on the lintel, upon the houses wherein they shall eat it.\r\n And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; with bitter herbs they shall eat it.\r\n Eat not of it raw, nor boiled at all with water, but roast with fire; its head with its legs and with the inwards thereof.\r\n And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; but that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire.\r\n And thus shall ye eat it: with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is Jehovah`s passover.\r\n For I will go through the land of Egypt in that night, and will smite all the first-born in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am Jehovah.\r\n And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and there shall no plague be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.\r\n And this day shall be unto you for a memorial, and ye shall keep it a feast to Jehovah: throughout your generations ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.\r\n Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel.\r\n And in the first day there shall be to you a holy convocation, and in the seventh day a holy convocation; no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done by you.\r\n And ye shall observe the [feast of] unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your hosts out of the land of Egypt: therefore shall ye observe this day throughout your generations by an ordinance for ever.\r\n In the first [month], on the fourteenth day of the month at even, ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at even.\r\n Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a sojourner, or one that is born in the land.\r\n Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread.\r\n Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out, and take you lambs according to your families, and kill the passover.\r\n And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two side-posts with the blood that is in the basin; and none of you shall go out of the door of his house until the morning.\r\n For Jehovah will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side-posts, Jehovah will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you.\r\n And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons for ever.\r\n And it shall come to pass, when ye are come to the land which Jehovah will give you, according as he hath promised, that ye shall keep this service.\r\n And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service?\r\n that ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of Jehovah`s passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped.\r\n And the children of Israel went and did so; as Jehovah had commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they.\r\n And it came to pass at midnight, that Jehovah smote all the first-born in the land of Egypt, from the first-born of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the first-born of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the first-born of cattle.\r\n And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was not a house where there was not one dead.\r\n And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve Jehovah, as ye have said.\r\n Take both your flocks and your herds, as ye have said, and be gone; and bless me also.\r\n And the Egyptians were urgent upon the people, to send them out of the land in haste; for they said, We are all dead men.\r\n And the people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneading-troughs being bound up in their clothes upon their shoulders.\r\n And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they asked of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment.\r\n And Jehovah gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have what they asked. And they despoiled the Egyptians.\r\n And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, besides children.\r\n And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle.\r\n And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they brought forth out of Egypt; for it was not leavened, because they were thrust out of Egypt, and could not tarry, neither had they prepared for themselves any victuals.\r\n Now the time that the children of Israel dwelt in Egypt was four hundred and thirty years.\r\n And it came to pass at the end of four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts of Jehovah went out from the land of Egypt.\r\n It is a night to be much observed unto Jehovah for bringing them out from the land of Egypt: this is that night of Jehovah, to be much observed of all the children of Israel throughout their generations.\r\n And Jehovah said unto Moses and Aaron, This is the ordinance of the passover: there shall no foreigner eat thereof;\r\n but every man`s servant that is bought for money, when thou hast circumcised him, then shall he eat thereof.\r\n A sojourner and a hired servant shall not eat thereof.\r\n In one house shall it be eaten; thou shalt not carry forth aught of the flesh abroad out of the house; neither shall ye break a bone thereof.\r\n All the congregation of Israel shall keep it.\r\n And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to Jehovah, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: but no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof.\r\n One law shall be to him that is home-born, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you.\r\n Thus did all the children of Israel; as Jehovah commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they.\r\n And it came to pass the selfsame day, that Jehovah did bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their hosts.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Sanctify unto me all the first-born, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine.\r\n And Moses said unto the people, Remember this day, in which ye came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand Jehovah brought you out from this place: there shall no leavened bread be eaten.\r\n This day ye go forth in the month Abib.\r\n And it shall be, when Jehovah shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Amorite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite, which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee, a land flowing with milk and honey, that thou shalt keep this service in this month.\r\n Seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread, and in the seventh day shall be a feast to Jehovah.\r\n Unleavened bread shall be eaten throughout the seven days; and there shall no leavened bread be seen with thee, neither shall there be leaven seen with thee, in all thy borders.\r\n And thou shalt tell thy son in that day, saying, It is because of that which Jehovah did for me when I came forth out of Egypt.\r\n And it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thy hand, and for a memorial between thine eyes, that the law of Jehovah may be in thy mouth: for with a strong hand hath Jehovah brought thee out of Egypt.\r\n Thou shalt therefore keep this ordinance in its season from year to year.\r\n And it shall be, when Jehovah shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanite, as he sware unto thee and to thy fathers, and shall give it thee,\r\n that thou shalt set apart unto Jehovah all that openeth the womb, and every firstling which thou hast that cometh of a beast; the males shall be Jehovah`s.\r\n And every firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb; and if thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break its neck: and all the first-born of man among thy sons shalt thou redeem.\r\n And it shall be, when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What is this? that thou shalt say unto him, By strength of hand Jehovah brought us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage:\r\n and it came to pass, when Pharaoh would hardly let us go, that Jehovah slew all the first-born in the land of Egypt, both the first-born of man, and the first-born of beast: therefore I sacrifice to Jehovah all that openeth the womb, being males; but all the first-born of my sons I redeem.\r\n And it shall be for a sign upon thy hand, and for frontlets between thine eyes: for by strength of hand Jehovah brought us forth out of Egypt.\r\n And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not by the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt:\r\n but God led the people about, by the way of the wilderness by the Red Sea: and the children of Israel went up armed out of the land of Egypt.\r\n And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him: for he had straitly sworn the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you; and ye shall carry up my bones away hence with you.\r\n And they took their journey from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, in the edge of the wilderness.\r\n And Jehovah went before them by day in a pillar of cloud, to lead them the way, and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light, that they might go by day and by night:\r\n the pillar of cloud by day, and the pillar of fire by night, departed not from before the people.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Speak unto the children of Israel, that they turn back and encamp before Pihahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, before Baal-zephon: over against it shall ye encamp by the sea.\r\n And Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, They are entangled in the land, the wilderness hath shut them in.\r\n And I will harden Pharaoh`s heart, and he shall follow after them; and I will get me honor upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host: and the Egyptians shall know that I am Jehovah. And they did so.\r\n And it was told the king of Egypt that the people were fled: and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was changed towards the people, and they said, What is this we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us?\r\n And he made ready his chariot, and took his people with him:\r\n and he took six hundred chosen chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt, and captains over all of them.\r\n And Jehovah hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued after the children of Israel: for the children of Israel went out with a high hand.\r\n And the Egyptians pursued after them, all the horses [and] chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army, and overtook them encamping by the sea, beside Pihahiroth, before Baal-zephon.\r\n And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians were marching after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto Jehovah.\r\n And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to bring us forth out of Egypt?\r\n Is not this the word that we spake unto thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it were better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.\r\n And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of Jehovah, which he will work for you to-day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to-day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.\r\n Jehovah will fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.\r\n And Jehovah said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward.\r\n And lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thy hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go into the midst of the sea on dry ground.\r\n And I, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall go in after them: and I will get me honor upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.\r\n And the Egyptians shall know that I am Jehovah, when I have gotten me honor upon Pharaoh, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.\r\n And the angel of God, who went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud removed from before them, and stood behind them:\r\n and it came between the camp of Egypt and the camp of Israel; and there was the cloud and the darkness, yet gave it light by night: and the one came not near the other all the night.\r\n And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and Jehovah caused the sea to go [back] by a strong east wind all the night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.\r\n And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.\r\n And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them into the midst of the sea, all Pharaoh`s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen.\r\n And it came to pass in the morning watch, that Jehovah looked forth upon the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of cloud, and discomfited the host of the Egyptians.\r\n And he took off their chariot wheels, and they drove them heavily; so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel; for Jehovah fighteth for them against the Egyptians.\r\n And Jehovah said unto Moses, Stretch out thy hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen.\r\n And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and Jehovah overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea.\r\n And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, even all the host of Pharaoh that went in after them into the sea; there remained not so much as one of them.\r\n But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.\r\n Thus Jehovah saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea-shore.\r\n And Israel saw the great work which Jehovah did upon the Egyptians, and the people feared Jehovah: and they believed in Jehovah, and in his servant Moses.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto Jehovah, and spake, saying, I will sing unto Jehovah, for he hath triumphed gloriously: The horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.\r\n Jehovah is my strength and song, And he is become my salvation: This is my God, and I will praise him; My father`s God, and I will exalt him.\r\n Jehovah is a man of war: Jehovah is his name.\r\n Pharaoh`s chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea; And his chosen captains are sunk in the Red Sea.\r\n The deeps cover them: They went down into the depths like a stone.\r\n Thy right hand, O Jehovah, is glorious in power, Thy right hand, O Jehovah, dasheth in pieces the enemy.\r\n And in the greatness of thine excellency thou overthrowest them that rise up against thee: Thou sendest forth thy wrath, it consumeth them as stubble.\r\n And with the blast of thy nostrils the waters were piled up, The floods stood upright as a heap; The deeps were congealed in the heart of the sea.\r\n The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; My desire shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them.\r\n Thou didst blow with thy wind, the sea covered them: They sank as lead in the mighty waters.\r\n Who is like unto thee, O Jehovah, among the gods? Who is like thee, glorious in holiness, Fearful in praises, doing wonders?\r\n Thou stretchedst out thy right hand, The earth swallowed them.\r\n Thou in thy lovingkindness hast led the people that thou hast redeemed: Thou hast guided them in thy strength to thy holy habitation.\r\n The peoples have heard, they tremble: Pangs have taken hold on the inhabitants of Philistia.\r\n Then were the chiefs of Edom dismayed; The mighty men of Moab, trembling taketh hold upon them: All the inhabitants of Canaan are melted away.\r\n Terror and dread falleth upon them; By the greatness of thine arm they are as still as a stone; Till thy people pass over, O Jehovah, Till the people pass over that thou hast purchased.\r\n Thou wilt bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of thine inheritance, The place, O Jehovah, which thou hast made for thee to dwell in, The sanctuary, O Lord, which thy hands have established.\r\n Jehovah shall reign for ever and ever.\r\n For the horses of Pharaoh went in with his chariots and with his horsemen into the sea, and Jehovah brought back the waters of the sea upon them; but the children of Israel walked on dry land in the midst of the sea.\r\n And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances.\r\n And Miriam answered them, Sing ye to Jehovah, for he hath triumphed gloriously; The horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.\r\n And Moses led Israel onward from the Red Sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water.\r\n And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah.\r\n And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?\r\n An he cried unto Jehovah; And Jehovah showed him a tree, and he cast it into the waters, and the waters were made sweet. There he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them;\r\n and he said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of Jehovah thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his eyes, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of the diseases upon thee, which I have put upon the Egyptians: for I am Jehovah that healeth thee.\r\n And they came to Elim, where were twelve springs of water, and threescore and ten palm-trees: and they encamped there by the waters.\r\n \r\n \r\n And they took their journey from Elim, and all the congregation of the children of Israel came unto the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departing out of the land of Egypt.\r\n And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron in the wilderness:\r\n and the children of Israel said unto them, Would that we had died by the hand of Jehovah in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh-pots, when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.\r\n Then said Jehovah unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a day`s portion every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or not.\r\n And it shall come to pass on the sixth day, that they shall prepare that which they bring in, and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily.\r\n And Moses and Aaron said unto all the children of Israel, At even, then ye shall know that Jehovah hath brought you out from the land of Egypt;\r\n and in the morning, then ye shall see the glory of Jehovah; for that he heareth your murmurings against Jehovah: and what are we, that ye murmur against us?\r\n And Moses said, [This shall be], when Jehovah shall give you in the evening flesh to eat, and in the morning bread to the full; for that Jehovah heareth your murmurings which ye murmur against him: and what are we? your murmurings are not against us, but against Jehovah.\r\n And Moses said unto Aaron, Say unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, Come near before Jehovah; for he hath heard your murmurings.\r\n And it came to pass, as Aaron spake unto the whole congregation of the children of Israel, that they looked toward the wilderness, and, behold, the glory of Jehovah appeared in the cloud.\r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel: speak unto them, saying, At even ye shall eat flesh, and in the morning ye shall be filled with bread: and ye shall know that I am Jehovah your God.\r\n And it came to pass at even, that the quails came up, and covered the camp: and in the morning the dew lay round about the camp.\r\n And when the dew that lay was gone up, behold, upon the face of the wilderness a small round thing, small as the hoar-frost on the ground.\r\n And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, What is it? For they knew not what it was. And Moses said unto them, It is the bread which Jehovah hath given you to eat.\r\n This is the thing which Jehovah hath commanded, Gather ye of it every man according to his eating; an omer a head, according to the number of your persons, shall ye take it, every man for them that are in his tent.\r\n And the children of Israel did so, and gathered some more, some less.\r\n And when they measured it with an omer, he that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack; they gathered every man according to his eating.\r\n And Moses said unto them, Let no man leave of it till the morning.\r\n Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto Moses; but some of them left of it until the morning, and it bred worms, and became foul: and Moses was wroth with them.\r\n And they gathered it morning by morning, every man according to his eating: and when the sun waxed hot, it melted.\r\n And it came to pass, that on the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, two omers for each one: and all the rulers of the congregation came and told Moses.\r\n And he said unto them, This is that which Jehovah hath spoken, Tomorrow is a solemn rest, a holy sabbath unto Jehovah: bake that which ye will bake, and boil that which ye will boil; and all that remaineth over lay up for you to be kept until the morning.\r\n And they laid it up till the morning, as Moses bade: and it did not become foul, neither was there any worm therein.\r\n And Moses said, Eat that to-day; for to-day is a sabbath unto Jehovah: to-day ye shall not find it in the field.\r\n Six days ye shall gather it; but on the seventh day is the sabbath, in it there shall be none.\r\n And it came to pass on the seventh day, that there went out some of the people to gather, and they found none.\r\n And Jehovah said unto Moses, How long refuse ye to keep my commandments and my laws?\r\n See, for that Jehovah hath given you the sabbath, therefore he giveth you on the sixth day the bread of two days; abide ye every man in his place, let no man go out of his place on the seventh day.\r\n So the people rested on the seventh day.\r\n And the house of Israel called the name thereof Manna: and it was like coriander seed, white; and the taste of it was like wafers [made] with honey.\r\n And Moses said, This is the thing which Jehovah hath commanded, Let an omerful of it be kept throughout your generations, that they may see the bread wherewith I fed you in the wilderness, when I brought you forth from the land of Egypt.\r\n And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a pot, and put an omerful of manna therein, and lay it up before Jehovah, to be kept throughout your generations.\r\n As Jehovah commanded Moses, so Aaron laid it up before the Testimony, to be kept.\r\n And the children of Israel did eat the manna forty years, until they came to a land inhabited; they did eat the manna, until they came unto the borders of the land of Canaan.\r\n Now an omer is the tenth part of an ephah.\r\n \r\n \r\n And all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, by their journeys, according to the commandment of Jehovah, and encamped in Rephidim: and there was no water for the people to drink.\r\n Wherefore the people stove with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said unto them, Why strive ye with me? Wherefore do ye tempt Jehovah?\r\n And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Wherefore hast thou brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst?\r\n And Moses cried unto Jehovah, saying, What shall I do unto this people? They are almost ready to stone me.\r\n And Jehovah said unto Moses, Pass on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel; and they rod, wherewith thou smotest the river, take in thy hand, and go.\r\n Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.\r\n And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the striving of the children of Israel, and because they tempted Jehovah, saying, Is Jehovah among us, or not?\r\n Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim.\r\n And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to-morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand.\r\n So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.\r\n And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.\r\n But Moses` hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; And his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.\r\n And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.\r\n And Jehovah said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: that I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.\r\n And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovah-nissi;\r\n And he said, Jehovah hath sworn: Jehovah will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses` father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses, and for Israel his people, how that Jehovah had brought Israel out of Egypt.\r\n And Jethro, Moses` father-in-law, took Zipporah, Moses` wife, after he had sent her away,\r\n and her two sons; of whom the name of the one was Gershom; for he said, I have been a sojourner in a foreign land:\r\n and the name of the other was Eliezer; for [he said], The God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh.\r\n And Jethro, Moses` father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife unto Moses into the wilderness where he was encamped, at the mount of God:\r\n and he said unto Moses, I, thy father-in-law Jethro, am come unto thee, and thy wife, and her two sons with her.\r\n And Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, and did obeisance, and kissed him: and they asked each other of their welfare; and they came into the tent.\r\n And Moses told his father-in-law all that Jehovah had done unto Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel`s sake, all the travail that had come upon them by the way, and how Jehovah delivered them.\r\n And Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which Jehovah had done to Israel, in that he had delivered them out of the hand of the Egyptians.\r\n And Jethro said, Blessed be Jehovah, who hath delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of Pharaoh; who hath delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians.\r\n Now I know that Jehovah is greater than all gods; yea, in the thing wherein they dealt proudly against them.\r\n And Jethro, Moses` father-in-law, took a burnt-offering and sacrifices for God: and Aaron came, and all the elders of Israel, to eat bread with Moses` father-in-law before God.\r\n And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses sat to judge the people: and the people stood about Moses from the morning unto the evening.\r\n And when Moses` father-in-law saw all that he did to the people, he said, What is this thing that thou doest to the people? why sittest thou thyself alone, and all the people stand about thee from morning unto even?\r\n And Moses said unto his father-in-law, Because the people come unto me to inquire of God:\r\n when they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between a man and his neighbor, and I make them know the statutes of God, and his laws.\r\n And Moses` father-in-law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good.\r\n Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for the thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone.\r\n Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God be with thee: be thou for the people to God-ward, and bring thou the causes unto God:\r\n and thou shalt teach them the statutes and the laws, and shalt show them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do.\r\n Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating unjust gain; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:\r\n and let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge themselves: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear [the burden] with thee.\r\n If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people also shall go to their place in peace.\r\n So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father-in-law, and did all that he had said.\r\n And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.\r\n And they judged the people at all seasons: the hard causes they brought unto Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves.\r\n And Moses let his father-in-law depart; and he went his way into his own land.\r\n \r\n \r\n In the third month after the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai.\r\n And when they were departed from Rephidim, and were come to the wilderness of Sinai, they encamped in the wilderness; and there Israel encamped before the mount.\r\n And Moses went up unto God, and Jehovah called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel:\r\n Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles` wings, and brought you unto myself.\r\n Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be mine own possession from among all peoples: for all the earth is mine:\r\n and ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.\r\n And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and set before them all these words which Jehovah commanded him.\r\n And all the people answered together, and said, All that Jehovah hath spoken we will do. And Moses reported the words of the people unto Jehovah.\r\n And Jehovah said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and may also believe thee for ever. And Moses told the words of the people unto Jehovah.\r\n And Jehovah said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to-day and to-morrow, and let them wash their garments,\r\n and be ready against the third day; for the third day Jehovah will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai.\r\n And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death:\r\n no hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; whether it be beast or man, he shall not live: when the trumpet soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount.\r\n And Moses went down from the mount unto the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their garments.\r\n And he said unto the people, Be ready against the third day: come not near a woman.\r\n And it came to pass on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of a trumpet exceeding loud; and all the people that were in the camp trembled.\r\n And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount.\r\n And mount Sinai, the whole of it, smoked, because Jehovah descended upon it in fire; and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.\r\n And when the voice of the trumpet waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice.\r\n And Jehovah came down upon mount Sinai, to the top of the mount: and Jehovah called Moses to the top of the mount; and Moses went up.\r\n And Jehovah said unto Moses, Go down, charge the people, lest they break through unto Jehovah to gaze, and many of them perish.\r\n And let the priests also, that come near to Jehovah, sanctify themselves, lest Jehovah break forth upon them.\r\n And Moses said unto Jehovah, The people cannot come up to mount Sinai: for thou didst charge us, saying, Set bounds about the mount, and sanctify it.\r\n And Jehovah said unto him, Go, get thee down; and thou shalt come up, thou, and Aaron with thee: but let not the priests and the people break through to come up unto Jehovah, lest he break forth upon them.\r\n So Moses went down unto the people, and told them.\r\n \r\n \r\n And God spake all these words, saying,\r\n I am Jehovah thy God, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.\r\n Thou shalt have no other gods before me.\r\n Thou shalt not make unto thee a graven image, nor any likeness [of any thing] that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.\r\n Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them, for I Jehovah thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, upon the third and upon the fourth generation of them that hate me,\r\n and showing lovingkindness unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.\r\n Thou shalt not take the name of Jehovah thy God in vain; for Jehovah will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.\r\n Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.\r\n Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work;\r\n but the seventh day is a sabbath unto Jehovah thy God: [in it] thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:\r\n for in six days Jehovah made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore Jehovah blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.\r\n Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long in the land which Jehovah thy God giveth thee.\r\n Thou shalt not kill.\r\n Thou shalt not commit adultery.\r\n Thou shalt not steal.\r\n Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.\r\n Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor`s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor`s wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is thy neighbor`s.\r\n And all the people perceived the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the voice of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they trembled, and stood afar off.\r\n And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die.\r\n And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before you, that ye sin not.\r\n And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was.\r\n And Jehovah said unto Moses, Thus thou shalt say unto the children of Israel, Ye yourselves have seen that I have talked with you from heaven.\r\n Ye shall not make [other gods] with me; gods of silver, or gods of gold, ye shall not make unto you.\r\n An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt-offerings, and thy peace-offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen: in every place where I record my name I will come unto thee and I will bless thee.\r\n And if thou make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stones; for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it.\r\n Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar, that thy nakedness be not uncovered thereon.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now these are the ordinances which thou shalt set before them.\r\n If thou buy a Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve: and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing.\r\n If he come in by himself, he shall go out by himself: if he be married, then his wife shall go out with him.\r\n If his master give him a wife and she bear him sons or daughters; the wife and her children shall be her master`s, and he shall go out by himself.\r\n But if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free:\r\n then his master shall bring him unto God, and shall bring him to the door, or unto the door-post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an awl; and he shall serve him for ever.\r\n And if a man sell his daughter to be a maid-servant, she shall not go out as the men-servants do.\r\n If she please not her master, who hath espoused her to himself, then shall he let her be redeemed: to sell her unto a foreign people he shall have no power, seeing he hath dealt deceitfully with her.\r\n And if he espouse her unto his son, he shall deal with her after the manner of daughters.\r\n If he take him another [wife]; her food, her raiment, and her duty of marriage, shall he not diminish.\r\n And if he do not these three things unto her, then shall she go out for nothing, without money.\r\n He that smiteth a man, so that he dieth, shall surely be put to death.\r\n And if a man lie not in wait, but God deliver [him] into his hand; then I will appoint thee a place whither he shall flee.\r\n And if a man come presumptuously upon his neighbor, to slay him with guile; thou shalt take him from mine altar, that he may die.\r\n And he that smiteth his father, or his mother, shall be surely put to death.\r\n And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.\r\n And he that curseth his father or his mother, shall surely be put to death.\r\n And if men contend, and one smite the other with a stone, or with his fist, and he die not, but keep his bed;\r\n if he rise again, and walk abroad upon his staff, then shall he that smote him be quit: only he shall pay for the loss of his time, and shall cause him to be thoroughly healed.\r\n And if a man smite his servant, or his maid, with a rod, and he die under his hand; he shall surely be punished.\r\n Notwithstanding, if he continue a day or two, he shall not be punished: for he is his money.\r\n And if men strive together, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart, and yet no harm follow; he shall be surely fined, according as the woman`s husband shall lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine.\r\n But if any harm follow, then thou shalt give life for life,\r\n eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,\r\n burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.\r\n And if a man smite the eye of his servant, or the eye of his maid, and destroy it; he shall let him go free for his eye`s sake.\r\n And if he smite out his man-servant`s tooth, or his maid-servant`s tooth, he shall let him go free for his tooth`s sake.\r\n And if an ox gore a man or a woman to death, the ox shall be surely stoned, and its flesh shall not be eaten; but the owner of the ox shall be quit.\r\n But if the ox was wont to gore in time past, and it hath been testified to its owner, and he hath not kept it in, but it hath killed a man or a woman, the ox shall be stoned, and its owner also shall be put to death.\r\n If there be laid on him a ransom, then he shall give for the redemption of his life whatsoever is laid upon him.\r\n Whether it have gored a son, or have gored a daughter, according to this judgment shall it be done unto him.\r\n If the ox gore a man-servant or a maid-servant, there shall be given unto their master thirty shekels of silver, and the ox shall be stoned.\r\n And if a man shall open a pit, or if a man shall dig a pit and not cover it, and an ox or an ass fall therein,\r\n the owner of the pit shall make it good; he shall give money unto the owner thereof, and the dead [beast] shall be his.\r\n And if one man`s ox hurt another`s, so that it dieth, then they shall sell the live ox, and divide the price of it: and the dead also they shall divide.\r\n Or if it be known that the ox was wont to gore in time past, and its owner hath not kept it in, he shall surely pay ox for ox, and the dead [beast] shall be his own.\r\n \r\n \r\n If a man shall steal an ox, or a sheep, and kill it, or sell it; he shall pay five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep.\r\n If the thief be found breaking in, and be smitten so that he dieth, there shall be no bloodguiltiness for him.\r\n If the sun be risen upon him, there shall be bloodguiltiness for him; he shall make restitution: if he have nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft.\r\n If the theft be found in his hand alive, whether it be ox, or ass, or sheep, he shall pay double.\r\n If a man shall cause a field or vineyard to be eaten, and shall let his beast loose, and it feed in another man`s field; of the best of his own field, and of the best of his own vineyard, shall he make restitution.\r\n If fire break out, and catch in thorns, so that the shocks of grain, or the standing grain, or the field are consumed; he that kindled the fire shall surely make restitution.\r\n If a man shall deliver unto his neighbor money or stuff to keep, and it be stolen out of the man`s house; if the thief be found, he shall pay double.\r\n If the thief be not found, then the master of the house shall come near unto God, [to see] whether he have not put his hand unto his neighbor`s goods.\r\n For every matter of trespass, whether it be for ox, for ass, for sheep, for raiment, [or] for any manner of lost thing, whereof one saith, This is it, the cause of both parties shall come before God; he whom God shall condemn shall pay double unto his neighbor.\r\n If a man deliver unto his neighbor an ass, or an ox, or a sheep, or any beast, to keep; and it die, or be hurt, or driven away, no man seeing it:\r\n the oath of Jehovah shall be between them both, whether he hath not put his hand unto his neighbor`s goods; and the owner thereof shall accept it, and he shall not make restitution.\r\n But if it be stolen from him, he shall make restitution unto the owner thereof.\r\n If it be torn in pieces, let him bring it for witness: he shall not make good that which was torn.\r\n And if a man borrow aught of his neighbor, and it be hurt, or die, the owner thereof not being with it, he shall surely make restitution.\r\n If the owner thereof be with it, he shall not make it good: if it be a hired thing, it came for its hire.\r\n And if a man entice a virgin that is not betrothed, and lie with her, he shall surely pay a dowry for her to be his wife.\r\n If her father utterly refuse to give her unto him, he shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins.\r\n Thou shalt not suffer a sorceress to live.\r\n Whosoever lieth with a beast shall surely be put to death.\r\n He that sacrificeth unto any god, save unto Jehovah only, shall be utterly destroyed.\r\n And a sojourner shalt thou not wrong, neither shalt thou oppress him: for ye were sojourners in the land of Egypt.\r\n Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child.\r\n If thou afflict them at all, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry;\r\n and my wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.\r\n If thou lend money to any of my people with thee that is poor, thou shalt not be to him as a creditor; neither shall ye lay upon him interest.\r\n If thou at all take thy neighbor`s garment to pledge, thou shalt restore it unto him before the sun goeth down:\r\n for that is his only covering, it is his garment for his skin: wherein shall he sleep? And it shall come to pass, when he crieth unto me, that I will hear; for I am gracious.\r\n Thou shalt not revile God, nor curse a ruler of thy people.\r\n Thou shalt not delay to offer of thy harvest, and of the outflow of thy presses. The first-born of thy sons shalt thou give unto me.\r\n Likewise shalt thou do with thine oxen, [and] with thy sheep: seven days it shall be with its dam; on the eighth day thou shalt give it me.\r\n And ye shall be holy men unto me: therefore ye shall not eat any flesh that is torn of beasts in the field; ye shall cast it to the dogs.\r\n \r\n \r\n Thou shalt not take up a false report: put not thy hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness.\r\n Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to turn aside after a multitude to wrest [justice]:\r\n neither shalt thou favor a poor man in his cause.\r\n If thou meet thine enemy`s ox or his ass going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back to him again.\r\n If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee lying under his burden, thou shalt forbear to leave him, thou shalt surely release [it] with him.\r\n Thou shalt not wrest the justice [due] to thy poor in his cause.\r\n Keep thee far from a false matter; and the innocent and righteous slay thou not: for I will not justify the wicked.\r\n And thou shalt take no bribe: for a bribe blindeth them that have sight, and perverteth the words of the righteous.\r\n And a sojourner shalt thou not oppress: for ye know the heart of a sojourner, seeing ye were sojourners in the land of Egypt.\r\n And six years thou shalt sow thy land, and shalt gather in the increase thereof:\r\n but the seventh year thou shalt let it rest and lie fallow; that the poor of thy people may eat: and what they leave the beast of the field shall eat. In like manner thou shalt deal with thy vineyard, [and] with thy oliveyard.\r\n Six days thou shalt do thy work, and on the seventh day thou shalt rest; that thine ox and thine ass may have rest, and the son of thy handmaid, and the sojourner, may be refreshed.\r\n And in all things that I have said unto you take ye heed: and make no mention of the name of other gods, neither let it be heard out of thy mouth.\r\n Three times thou shalt keep a feast unto me in the year.\r\n The feast of unleavened bread shalt thou keep: seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread, as I commanded thee, at the time appointed in the month Abib (for in it thou camest out from Egypt); and none shall appear before me empty:\r\n and the feast of harvest, the first-fruits of thy labors, which thou sowest in the field: and the feast of ingathering, at the end of the year, when thou gatherest in thy labors out of the field.\r\n Three times in the year all thy males shall appear before the Lord Jehovah.\r\n Thou shalt not offer the blood of my sacrifice with leavened bread; neither shall the fat of my feast remain all night until the morning.\r\n The first of the first-fruits of thy ground thou shalt bring into the house of Jehovah thy God. Thou shalt not boil a kid in it mother`s milk.\r\n Behold, I send an angel before thee, to keep thee by the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared.\r\n Take ye heed before him, and hearken unto his voice; provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgression: for my name is in him.\r\n But if thou shalt indeed hearken unto his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries.\r\n For mine angel shall go before thee, and bring thee in unto the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Canaanite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite: and I will cut them off.\r\n Thou shalt not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do after their works; but thou shalt utterly overthrow them, and break in pieces their pillars.\r\n And ye shall serve Jehovah your God, and he will bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee.\r\n There shall none cast her young, nor be barren, in thy land: the number of thy days I will fulfil.\r\n I will send my terror before thee, and will discomfit all the people to whom thou shalt come, and I will make all thine enemies turn their backs unto thee.\r\n And I will send the hornet before thee, which shall drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite, from before thee.\r\n I will not drive them out from before thee in one year, lest the land become desolate, and the beasts of the field multiply against thee.\r\n By little and little I will drive them out from before thee, until thou be increased, and inherit the land.\r\n And I will set thy border from the Red Sea even unto the sea of the Philistines, and from the wilderness unto the River: for I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand: and thou shalt drive them out before thee.\r\n Thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor with their gods.\r\n They shall not dwell in thy land, lest they make thee sin against me; for if thou serve their gods, it will surely be a snare unto thee.\r\n \r\n \r\n And he said unto Moses, Come up unto Jehovah, thou, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel; and worship ye afar off:\r\n and Moses alone shall come near unto Jehovah; but they shall not come near; neither shall the people go up with him.\r\n And Moses came and told the people all the words of Jehovah, and all the ordinances: and all the people answered with one voice, and said, All the words which Jehovah hath spoken will we do.\r\n And Moses wrote all the words of Jehovah, and rose up early in the morning, and builded an altar under the mount, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel.\r\n And he sent young men of the children of Israel, who offered burnt-offerings, and sacrificed peace-offerings of oxen unto Jehovah.\r\n And Moses took half of the blood, and put it in basins; and half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar.\r\n And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that Jehovah hath spoken will we do, and be obedient.\r\n And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which Jehovah hath made with you concerning all these words.\r\n Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel.\r\n And they saw the God of Israel; and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of sapphire stone, and as it were the very heaven for clearness.\r\n And upon the nobles of the children of Israel he laid not his hand: and they beheld God, and did eat and drink.\r\n And Jehovah said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee the tables of stone, and the law and the commandment, which I have written, that thou mayest teach them.\r\n And Moses rose up, and Joshua his minister: and Moses went up into the mount of God.\r\n And he said unto the elders, Tarry ye here for us, until we come again unto you: and, behold, Aaron and Hur are with you: whosoever hath a cause, let him come near unto them.\r\n And Moses went up into the mount, and the cloud covered the mount.\r\n And the glory of Jehovah abode upon mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days: and the seventh day he called unto Moses out of the midst of the cloud.\r\n And the appearance of the glory of Jehovah was like devouring fire on the top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel.\r\n And Moses entered into the midst of the cloud, and went up into the mount: and Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Speak unto the children of Israel, that they take for me an offering: of every man whose heart maketh him willing ye shall take my offering.\r\n And this is the offering which ye shall take of them: gold, and silver, and brass,\r\n and blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats` [hair],\r\n and rams` skins dyed red, and sealskins, and acacia wood,\r\n oil for the light, spices for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense,\r\n onyx stones, and stones to be set, for the ephod, and for the breastplate.\r\n And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them.\r\n According to all that I show thee, the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the furniture thereof, even so shall ye make it.\r\n And they shall make an ark of acacia wood: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof.\r\n And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, within and without shalt thou overlay it, and shalt make upon it a crown of gold round about.\r\n And thou shalt cast four rings of gold for it, and put them in the four feet thereof; and two rings shall be on the one side of it, and two rings on the other side of it.\r\n And thou shalt make staves of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold.\r\n And thou shalt put the staves into the rings on the sides of the ark, wherewith to bear the ark.\r\n The staves shall be in the rings of the ark: they shall not be taken from it.\r\n And thou shalt put into the ark the testimony which I shall give thee.\r\n And thou shalt make a mercy-seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half [shall be] the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof.\r\n And thou shalt make two cherubim of gold; of beaten work shalt thou make them, at the two ends of the mercy-seat.\r\n And make one cherub at the one end, and one cherub at the other end: of one piece with the mercy-seat shall ye make the cherubim on the two ends thereof.\r\n And the cherubim shall spread out their wings on high, covering the mercy-seat with their wings, with their faces one to another; toward the mercy-seat shall the faces of the cherubim be.\r\n And thou shalt put the mercy-seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee.\r\n And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy-seat, from between the two cherubim which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.\r\n And thou shalt make a table of acacia wood: two cubits [shall be] the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof.\r\n And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, and make thereto a crown of gold round about.\r\n And thou shalt make unto it a border of a handbreadth round about; and thou shalt make a golden crown to the border thereof round about.\r\n And thou shalt make for it four rings of gold, and put the rings in the four corners that are on the four feet thereof.\r\n Close by the border shall the rings be, for places for the staves to bear the table.\r\n And thou shalt make the staves of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold, that the table may be borne with them.\r\n And thou shalt make the dishes thereof, and the spoons thereof, and the flagons thereof, and the bowls thereof, wherewith to pour out: of pure gold shalt thou make them.\r\n And thou shalt set upon the table showbread before me alway.\r\n And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work shall the candlestick be made, even its base, and its shaft; its cups, its knops, and its flowers, shall be of one piece with it.\r\n And there shall be six branches going out of the sides thereof; three branches of the candlestick out of the one side thereof, and three branches of the candlestick out of the other side thereof:\r\n three cups made like almond-blossoms in one branch, a knop and a flower; and three cups made like almond-blossoms in the other branch, a knop and a flower: so for the six branches going out of the candlestick:\r\n and in the candlestick four cups made like almond-blossoms, the knops thereof, and the flowers thereof;\r\n and a knop under two branches of one piece with it, and a knop under two branches of one piece with it, and a knop under two branches of one piece with it, for the six branches going out of the candlestick.\r\n Their knops and their branches shall be of one piece with it; the whole of it one beaten work of pure gold.\r\n And thou shalt make the lamps thereof, seven: and they shall light the lamps thereof, to give light over against it.\r\n And the snuffers thereof, and the snuffdishes thereof, shall be of pure gold.\r\n Of a talent of pure gold shall it be made, with all these vessels.\r\n And see that thou make them after their pattern, which hath been showed thee in the mount.\r\n \r\n \r\n Moreover thou shalt make the tabernacle with ten curtains; of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, with cherubim the work of the skilful workman shalt thou make them.\r\n The length of each curtain shall be eight and twenty cubits, and the breadth of each curtain four cubits: all the curtains shall have one measure.\r\n Five curtains shall be coupled together one to another; and [the other] five curtains shall be coupled one to another.\r\n And thou shalt make loops of blue upon the edge of the one curtain from the selvedge in the coupling; and likewise shalt thou make in the edge of the curtain that is outmost in the second coupling.\r\n Fifty loops shalt thou make in the one curtain, and fifty loops shalt thou make in the edge of the curtain that is in the second coupling; the loops shall be opposite one to another.\r\n And thou shalt make fifty clasps of gold, and couple the curtains one to another with the clasps: and the tabernacle shall be one [whole].\r\n And thou shalt make curtains of goats` [hair] for a tent over the tabernacle: eleven curtains shalt thou make them.\r\n The length of each curtain shall be thirty cubits, and the breadth of each curtain four cubits: the eleven curtains shall have one measure.\r\n And thou shalt couple five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves, and shalt double over the sixth curtain in the forefront of the tent.\r\n And thou shalt make fifty loops on the edge of the one curtain that is outmost in the coupling, and fifty loops upon the edge of the curtain which is [outmost in] the second coupling.\r\n And thou shalt make fifty clasps of brass, and put the clasps into the loops, and couple the tent together, that it may be one.\r\n And the overhanging part that remaineth of the curtains of the tent, the half curtain that remaineth, shall hang over the back of the tabernacle.\r\n And the cubit on the one side, and the cubit on the other side, of that which remaineth in the length of the curtains of the tent, shall hang over the sides of the tabernacle on this side and on that side, to cover it.\r\n And thou shalt make a covering for the tent of rams` skins dyed red, and a covering of sealskins above.\r\n And thou shalt make the boards for the tabernacle of acacia wood, standing up.\r\n Ten cubits shall be the length of a board, and a cubit and a half the breadth of each board.\r\n Two tenons shall there be in each board, joined one to another: thus shalt thou make for all the boards of the tabernacle.\r\n And thou shalt make the boards for the tabernacle, twenty boards for the south side southward.\r\n And thou shalt make forty sockets of silver under the twenty boards; two sockets under one board for its two tenons, and two sockets under another board for its two tenons.\r\n And for the second side of the tabernacle, on the north side, twenty boards,\r\n and their forty sockets of silver; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.\r\n And for the hinder part of the tabernacle westward thou shalt make six boards.\r\n And two boards shalt thou make for the corners of the tabernacle in the hinder part.\r\n And they shall be double beneath, and in like manner they shall be entire unto the top thereof unto one ring: thus shall it be for them both; they shall be for the two corners.\r\n And there shall be eight boards, and their sockets of silver, sixteen sockets; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.\r\n And thou shalt make bars of acacia wood: five for the boards of the one side of the tabernacle,\r\n and five bars for the boards of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the side of the tabernacle, for the hinder part westward.\r\n And the middle bar in the midst of the boards shall pass through from end to end.\r\n And thou shalt overlay the boards with gold, and make their rings of gold for places for the bars: and thou shalt overlay the bars with gold.\r\n And thou shalt rear up the tabernacle according to the fashion thereof which hath been showed thee in the mount.\r\n And thou shalt make a veil of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen: with cherubim the work of the skilful workman shall it be made.\r\n And thou shalt hang it upon four pillars of acacia overlaid with gold; their hooks [shall be] of gold, upon four sockets of silver.\r\n And thou shalt hang up the veil under the clasps, and shalt bring in thither within the veil the ark of the testimony: and the veil shall separate unto you between the holy place and the most holy.\r\n And thou shalt put the mercy-seat upon the ark of the testimony in the most holy place.\r\n And thou shalt set the table without the veil, and the candlestick over against the table on the side of the tabernacle toward the south: and thou shalt put the table on the north side.\r\n And thou shalt make a screen for the door of the Tent, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of the embroiderer.\r\n And thou shalt make for the screen five pillars of acacia, and overlay them with gold: their hooks shall be of gold: and thou shalt cast five sockets of brass for them.\r\n \r\n \r\n And thou shalt make the altar of acacia wood, five cubits long, and five cubits broad; the altar shall be foursquare: and the height thereof shall be three cubits.\r\n And thou shalt make the horns of it upon the four corners thereof; the horns thereof shall be of one piece with it: and thou shalt overlay it with brass.\r\n And thou shalt make its pots to take away its ashes, and its shovels, and its basins, and its flesh-hooks, and its firepans: all the vessels thereof thou shalt make of brass.\r\n And thou shalt make for it a grating of network of brass: and upon the net shalt thou make four brazen rings in the four corners thereof.\r\n And thou shalt put it under the ledge round the altar beneath, that the net may reach halfway up the altar.\r\n And thou shalt make staves for the altar, staves of acacia wood, and overlay them with brass.\r\n And the staves thereof shall be put into the rings, and the staves shall be upon the two sides of the altar, in bearing it.\r\n Hollow with planks shalt thou make it: as it hath been showed thee in the mount, so shall they make it.\r\n And thou shalt make the court of the tabernacle: for the south side southward there shall be hangings for the court of fine twined linen a hundred cubits long for one side:\r\n and the pillars thereof shall be twenty, and their sockets twenty, of brass; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets [shall be] of silver.\r\n And likewise for the north side in length there shall be hangings a hundred cubits long, and the pillars thereof twenty, and their sockets twenty, of brass; the hooks of the pillars, and their fillets, of silver.\r\n And for the breadth of the court on the west side shall be hangings of fifty cubits; their pillars ten, and their sockets ten.\r\n And the breadth of the court on the east side eastward shall be fifty cubits.\r\n The hangings for the one side [of the gate] shall be fifteen cubits; their pillars three, and their sockets three.\r\n And for the other side shall be hangings of fifteen cubits; their pillars three, and their sockets three.\r\n And for the gate of the court shall be a screen of twenty cubits, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of the embroiderer; their pillars four, and their sockets four.\r\n All the pillars of the court round about shall be filleted with silver; their hooks of silver, and their sockets of brass.\r\n The length of the court shall be a hundred cubits, and the breadth fifty every where, and the height five cubits, of fine twined linen, and their sockets of brass.\r\n All the instruments of the tabernacle in all the service thereof, and all the pins thereof, and all the pins of the court, shall be of brass.\r\n And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring unto thee pure olive oil beaten for the light, to cause a lamp to burn continually.\r\n In the tent of meeting, without the veil which is before the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall keep it in order from evening to morning before Jehovah: it shall be a statue for ever throughout their generations on the behalf of the children of Israel.\r\n \r\n \r\n And bring thou near unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest`s office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron`s sons.\r\n And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother, for glory and for beauty.\r\n And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise-hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they make Aaron`s garments to sanctify him, that he may minister unto me in the priest`s office.\r\n And these are the garments which they shall make: a breastplate, and an ephod, and a robe, and a coat of checker work, a mitre, and a girdle: and they shall make holy garments for Aaron thy brother, and his sons, that he may minister unto me in the priest`s office.\r\n And they shall take the gold, and the blue, and the purple, and the scarlet, and the fine linen.\r\n And they shall make the ephod of gold, of blue, and purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of the skilful workman.\r\n It shall have two shoulder-pieces joined to the two ends thereof, that it may be joined together.\r\n And the skilfully woven band, which is upon it, wherewith to gird it on, shall be like the work thereof [and] of the same piece; of gold, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen.\r\n And thou shalt take two onyx stones, and grave on them the names of the children of Israel:\r\n six of their names on the one stone, and the names of the six that remain on the other stone, according to their birth.\r\n With the work of an engraver in stone, like the engravings of a signet, shalt thou engrave the two stones, according to the names of the children of Israel: thou shalt make them to be inclosed in settings of gold.\r\n And thou shalt put the two stones upon the shoulder-pieces of the ephod, to be stones of memorial for the children of Israel: and Aaron shall bear their names before Jehovah upon his two shoulders for a memorial.\r\n And thou shalt make settings of gold,\r\n and two chains of pure gold; like cords shalt thou make them, of wreathen work: and thou shalt put the wreathen chains on the settings.\r\n And thou shalt make a breastplate of judgment, the work of the skilful workman; like the work of the ephod thou shalt make it; of gold, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, shalt thou make it.\r\n Foursquare it shall be [and] double; a span shall be the length thereof, and a span the breadth thereof.\r\n And thou shalt set in it settings of stones, four rows of stones: a row of sardius, topaz, and carbuncle shall be the first row;\r\n and the second row an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond;\r\n and the third row a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst;\r\n and the fourth row a beryl, and an onyx, and a jasper: they shall be inclosed in gold in their settings.\r\n And the stones shall be according to the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names; like the engravings of a signet, every one according to his name, they shall be for the twelve tribes.\r\n And thou shalt make upon the breastplate chains like cords, of wreathen work of pure gold.\r\n And thou shalt make upon the breastplate two rings of gold, and shalt put the two rings on the two ends of the breastplate.\r\n And thou shalt put the two wreathen chains of gold in the two rings at the ends of the breastplate.\r\n And the [other] two ends of the two wreathen chains thou shalt put on the two settings, and put them on the shoulder-pieces of the ephod in the forepart thereof.\r\n And thou shalt make two rings of gold, and thou shalt put them upon the two ends of the breastplate, upon the edge thereof, which is toward the side of the ephod inward.\r\n And thou shalt make two rings of gold, and shalt put them on the two shoulder-pieces of the ephod underneath, in the forepart thereof, close by the coupling thereof, above the skilfully woven band of the ephod.\r\n And they shall bind the breastplate by the rings thereof unto the rings of the ephod with a lace of blue, that it may be upon the skilfully woven band of the ephod, and that the breastplate be not loosed from the ephod.\r\n And Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment upon his heart, when he goeth in unto the holy place, for a memorial before Jehovah continually.\r\n And thou shalt put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim; and they shall be upon Aaron`s heart, when he goeth in before Jehovah: and Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel upon his heart before Jehovah continually.\r\n And thou shalt make the robe of the ephod all of blue.\r\n And it shall have a hole for the head in the midst thereof: it shall have a binding of woven work round about the hole of it, as it were the hole of a coat of mail, that it be not rent.\r\n And upon the skirts of it thou shalt make pomegranates of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, round about the skirts thereof; and bells of gold between them round about:\r\n a golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, upon the skirts of the robe round about.\r\n And it shall be upon Aaron to minister: and the sound thereof shall be heard when he goeth in unto the holy place before Jehovah, and when he cometh out, that he die not.\r\n And thou shalt make a plate of pure gold, and grave upon it, like the engravings of a signet, HOLY TO JEHOVAH.\r\n And thou shalt put it on a lace of blue, and it shall be upon the mitre; upon the forefront of the mitre it shall be.\r\n And it shall be upon Aaron`s forehead, and Aaron shall bear the iniquity of the holy things, which the children of Israel shall hallow in all their holy gifts; and it shall be always upon his forehead, that they may be accepted before Jehovah.\r\n And thou shalt weave the coat in checker work of fine linen, and thou shalt make a mitre of fine linen, and thou shalt make a girdle, the work of the embroiderer.\r\n And for Aaron`s sons thou shalt make coats, and thou shalt make for them girdles, and head-tires shalt thou make for them, for glory and for beauty.\r\n And thou shalt put them upon Aaron thy brother, and upon his sons with him, and shalt anoint them, and consecrate them, and sanctify them, that they may minister unto me in the priest`s office.\r\n And thou shalt make them linen breeches to cover the flesh of their nakedness; from the loins even unto the thighs they shall reach:\r\n And they shall be upon Aaron, and upon his sons, when they go in unto the tent of meeting, or when they come near unto the altar to minister in the holy place; that they bear not iniquity, and die: it shall be a statute for ever unto him and unto his seed after him.\r\n \r\n \r\n And this is the thing that thou shalt do unto them to hallow them, to minister unto me in the priest`s office: take one young bullock and two rams without blemish,\r\n and unleavened bread, and cakes unleavened mingled with oil, and wafers unleavened anointed with oil: of fine wheaten flour shalt thou make them.\r\n And thou shalt put them into one basket, and bring them in the basket, with the bullock and the two rams.\r\n And Aaron and his sons thou shalt bring unto the door of the tent of meeting, and shalt wash them with water.\r\n And thou shalt take the garments, and put upon Aaron the coat, and the robe of the ephod, and the ephod, and the breastplate, and gird him with the skilfully woven band of the ephod;\r\n and thou shalt set the mitre upon his head, and put the holy crown upon the mitre.\r\n Then shalt thou take the anointing oil, and pour it upon his head, and anoint him.\r\n And thou shalt bring his sons, and put coats upon them.\r\n And thou shalt gird them with girdles, Aaron and his sons, and bind head-tires on them: and they shall have the priesthood by a perpetual statute: and thou shalt consecrate Aaron and his sons.\r\n And thou shalt bring the bullock before the tent of meeting: and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands upon the head of the bullock.\r\n And thou shalt kill the bullock before Jehovah, at the door of the tent of meeting.\r\n And thou shalt take of the blood of the bullock, and put it upon the horns of the altar with thy finger; and thou shalt pour out all the blood at the base of the altar.\r\n And thou shalt take all the fat that covereth the inwards, and the caul upon the liver, and the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, and burn them upon the altar.\r\n But the flesh of the bullock, and its skin, and it dung, shalt thou burn with fire without the camp: it is a sin-offering.\r\n Thou shalt also take the one ram; and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands upon the head of the ram.\r\n And thou shalt slay the ram, and thou shalt take its blood, and sprinkle it round about upon the altar.\r\n And thou shalt cut the ram into its pieces, and wash its inwards, and its legs, and put them with its pieces, and with its head.\r\n And thou shalt burn the whole ram upon the altar: it is a burnt-offering unto Jehovah; it is a sweet savor, an offering made by fire unto Jehovah.\r\n And thou shalt take the other ram; and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands upon the head of the ram.\r\n Then shalt thou kill the ram, and take of its blood, and put it upon the tip of the right ear of Aaron, and upon the tip of the right ear of his sons, and upon the thumb of their right hand, and upon the great toe of their right foot, and sprinkle the blood upon the altar round about.\r\n And thou shalt take of the blood that is upon the altar, and of the anointing oil, and sprinkle it upon Aaron, and upon his garments, and upon his sons, and upon the garments of his sons with him: and he shall be hallowed, and his garments, and his sons, and his sons` garments with him.\r\n Also thou shalt take of the ram the fat, and the fat tail, and the fat that covereth the inwards, and the caul of the liver, and the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, and the right thigh (for it is a ram of consecration),\r\n and one loaf of bread, and one cake of oiled bread, and one wafer, out of the basket of unleavened bread that is before Jehovah.\r\n And thou shalt put the whole upon the hands of Aaron, and upon the hands of his sons, and shalt wave them for a wave-offering before Jehovah.\r\n And thou shalt take them from their hands, and burn them on the altar upon the burnt-offering, for a sweet savor before Jehovah: it is an offering made by fire unto Jehovah.\r\n And thou shalt take the breast of Aaron`s ram of consecration, and wave it for a wave-offering before Jehovah: and it shall be thy portion.\r\n And thou shalt sanctify the breast of the wave-offering, and the thigh of the heave-offering, which is waved, and which is heaved up, of the ram of consecration, even of that which is for Aaron, and of that which is for his sons:\r\n and it shall be for Aaron and his sons as [their] portion for ever from the children of Israel; for it is a heave-offering: and it shall be a heave-offering from the children of Israel of the sacrifices of their peace-offerings, even their heave-offering unto Jehovah.\r\n And the holy garments of Aaron shall be for his sons after him, to be anointed in them, and to be consecrated in them.\r\n Seven days shall the son that is priest in his stead put them on, when he cometh into the tent of meeting to minister in the holy place.\r\n And thou shalt take the ram of consecration, and boil its flesh in a holy place.\r\n And Aaron and his sons shall eat the flesh of the ram, and the bread that is in the basket, at the door of the tent of meeting.\r\n And they shall eat those things wherewith atonement was made, to consecrate [and] to sanctify them: but a stranger shall not eat thereof, because they are holy.\r\n And if aught of the flesh of the consecration, or of the bread, remain unto the morning, then thou shalt burn the remainder with fire: it shall not be eaten, because it is holy.\r\n And thus shalt thou do unto Aaron, and to his sons, according to all that I have commanded thee: seven days shalt thou consecrate them.\r\n And every day shalt thou offer the bullock of sin-offering for atonement: and thou shalt cleanse the altar, when thou makest atonement for it; and thou shalt anoint it, to sanctify it.\r\n Seven days thou shalt make atonement for the altar, and sanctify it: and the altar shall be most holy; whatsoever toucheth the altar shall be holy.\r\n Now this is that which thou shalt offer upon the altar: two lambs a year old day by day continually.\r\n The one lamb thou shalt offer in the morning; and the other lamb thou shalt offer at even:\r\n and with the one lamb a tenth part [of an ephah] of fine flour mingled with the fourth part of a hin of beaten oil, and the fourth part of a hin of wine for a drink-offering.\r\n And the other lamb thou shalt offer at even, and shalt do thereto according to the meal-offering of the morning, and according to the drink-offering thereof, for a sweet savor, an offering made by fire unto Jehovah.\r\n It shall be a continual burnt-offering throughout your generations at the door of the tent of meeting before Jehovah, where I will meet with you, to speak there unto thee.\r\n And there I will meet with the children of Israel; and [the Tent] shall be sanctified by my glory.\r\n And I will sanctify the tent of meeting, and the altar: Aaron also and his sons will I sanctify, to minister to me in the priest`s office.\r\n And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will be their God.\r\n And they shall know that I am Jehovah their God, that brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, that I might dwell among them: I am Jehovah their God.\r\n \r\n \r\n And thou shalt make an altar to burn incense upon: of acacia wood shalt thou make it.\r\n A cubit shall be the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof; foursquare shall it be; and two cubits shall be the height thereof: the horns thereof shall be of one piece with it.\r\n And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, the top thereof, and the sides thereof round about, and the horns thereof; and thou shalt make unto it a crown of gold round about.\r\n And two golden rings shalt thou make for it under the crown thereof; upon the two ribs thereof, upon the two sides of it shalt thou make them; and they shall be for places for staves wherewith to bear it.\r\n And thou shalt make the staves of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold.\r\n And thou shalt put it before the veil that is by the ark of the testimony, before the mercy-seat that is over the testimony, where I will meet with thee.\r\n And Aaron shall burn thereon incense of sweet spices: every morning, when he dresseth the lamps, he shall burn it.\r\n And when Aaron lighteth the lamps at even, he shall burn it, a perpetual incense before Jehovah throughout your generations.\r\n Ye shall offer no strange incense thereon, nor burnt-offering, nor meal-offering; and ye shall pour no drink-offering thereon.\r\n And Aaron shall make atonement upon the horns of it once in the year; with the blood of the sin-offering of atonement once in the year shall he make atonement for it throughout your generations: it is most holy unto Jehovah.\r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n When thou takest the sum of the children of Israel, according to those that are numbered of them, then shall they give every man a ransom for his soul unto Jehovah, when thou numberest them; that there be no plague among them, when thou numberest them.\r\n This they shall give, every one that passeth over unto them that are numbered, half a shekel after the shekel of the sanctuary; (the shekel is twenty gerahs;) half a shekel for an offering to Jehovah.\r\n Every one that passeth over unto them that are numbered, from twenty years old and upward, shall give the offering of Jehovah.\r\n The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less, than the half shekel, when they give the offering of Jehovah, to make atonement for your souls.\r\n And thou shalt take the atonement money from the children of Israel, and shalt appoint it for the service of the tent of meeting; that it may be a memorial for the children of Israel before Jehovah, to make atonement for your souls.\r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Thou shalt also make a laver of brass, and the base thereof of brass, whereat to wash. And thou shalt put it between the tent of meeting and the altar, and thou shalt put water therein.\r\n And Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet thereat:\r\n when they go into the tent of meeting, they shall wash with water, that they die not; or when they come near to the altar to minister, to burn an offering made by fire unto Jehovah.\r\n So they shall wash their hands and their feet, that they die not: and it shall be a statute for ever to them, even to him and to his seed throughout their generations.\r\n Moreover Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Take thou also unto thee the chief spices: of flowing myrrh five hundred [shekels], and of sweet cinnamon half so much, even two hundred and fifty, and of sweet calamus two hundred and fifty,\r\n and of cassia five hundred, after the shekel of the sanctuary, and of olive oil a hin.\r\n And thou shalt make it a holy anointing oil, a perfume compounded after the art of the perfumer: it shall be a holy anointing oil.\r\n And thou shalt anoint therewith the tent of meeting, and the ark of the testimony,\r\n and the table and all the vessels thereof, and the candlestick and the vessels thereof, and the altar of incense,\r\n and the altar of burnt-offering with all the vessels thereof, and the laver and the base thereof.\r\n And thou shalt sanctify them, that they may be most holy: whatsoever toucheth them shall be holy.\r\n And thou shalt anoint Aaron and his sons, and sanctify them, that they may minister unto me in the priest`s office.\r\n And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, This shall be a holy anointing oil unto me throughout your generations.\r\n Upon the flesh of man shall it not be poured, neither shall ye make any like it, according to the composition thereof: it is holy, [and] it shall be holy unto you.\r\n Whosoever compoundeth any like it, or whosoever putteth any of it upon a stranger, he shall be cut off from his people.\r\n And Jehovah said unto Moses, Take unto thee sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum; sweet spices with pure frankincense: of each shall there be a like weight;\r\n and thou shalt make of it incense, a perfume after the art of the perfumer, seasoned with salt, pure [and] holy:\r\n and thou shalt beat some of it very small, and put of it before the testimony in the tent of meeting, where I will meet with thee: it shall be unto you most holy.\r\n And the incense which thou shalt make, according to the composition thereof ye shall not make for yourselves: it shall be unto thee holy for Jehovah.\r\n Whosoever shall make like unto that, to smell thereof, he shall be cut off from his people.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah:\r\n and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship,\r\n to devise skilful works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass,\r\n and in cutting of stones for setting, and in carving of wood, to work in all manner of workmanship.\r\n And I, behold, I have appointed with him Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan; and in the heart of all that are wise-hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded thee:\r\n the tent of meeting, and the ark of the testimony, and the mercy-seat that is thereupon, and all the furniture of the Tent,\r\n and the table and its vessels, and the pure candlestick with all its vessels, and the altar of incense,\r\n and the altar of burnt-offering with all its vessels, and the laver and its base,\r\n and the finely wrought garments, and the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, to minister in the priest`s office,\r\n and the anointing oil, and the incense of sweet spices for the holy place: according to all that I have commanded thee shall they do.\r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily ye shall keep my sabbaths: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am Jehovah who sanctifieth you.\r\n Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that profaneth it shall surely be put to death; for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people.\r\n Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day is a sabbath of solemn rest, holy to Jehovah: whosoever doeth any work on the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death.\r\n Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.\r\n It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days Jehovah made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.\r\n And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, the two tables of the testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.\r\n \r\n \r\n And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we know not what is become of him.\r\n And Aaron said unto them, Break off the golden rings, which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring them unto me.\r\n And all the people brake off the golden rings which were in their ears, and brought them unto Aaron.\r\n And he received it at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, and made it a molten calf: and they said, These are thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.\r\n And when Aaron saw [this], he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, To-morrow shall be a feast to Jehovah.\r\n And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt-offerings, and brought peace-offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.\r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses, Go, get thee down; for thy people, that thou broughtest up out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves:\r\n they have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them: they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed unto it, and said, These are thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.\r\n And Jehovah said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people:\r\n now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation.\r\n And Moses besought Jehovah his God, and said, Jehovah, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, that thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand?\r\n Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, saying, For evil did he bring them forth, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against thy people.\r\n Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit it for ever.\r\n And Jehovah repented of the evil which he said he would do unto his people.\r\n And Moses turned, and went down from the mount, with the two tables of the testimony in his hand; tables that were written on both their sides; on the one side and on the other were they written.\r\n And the tables were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, graven upon the tables.\r\n And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said unto Moses, There is a noise of war in the camp.\r\n And he said, It is not the voice of them that shout for mastery, neither is it the voice of them that cry for being overcome; but the noise of them that sing do I hear.\r\n And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf and the dancing: and Moses` anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and brake them beneath the mount.\r\n And he took the calf which they had made, and burnt it with fire, and ground it to powder, and strewed it upon the water, and made the children of Israel drink of it.\r\n And Moses said unto Aaron, What did this people unto thee, that thou hast brought a great sin upon them?\r\n And Aaron said, Let not the anger of my lord wax hot: thou knowest the people, that they are [set] on evil.\r\n For they said unto me, Make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we know not what is become of him.\r\n And I said unto them, Whosoever hath any gold, let them break it off: so they gave it me; and I cast it into the fire, and there came out this calf.\r\n And when Moses saw that the people were broken loose, (for Aaron had let them loose for a derision among their enemies,)\r\n then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Whoso is on Jehovah`s side, [let him come] unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him.\r\n And he said unto them, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, Put ye every man his sword upon his thigh, and go to and fro from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbor.\r\n And the sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men.\r\n And Moses said, Consecrate yourselves to-day to Jehovah, yea, every man against his son, and against his brother; that he may bestow upon you a blessing this day.\r\n And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses said unto the people, Ye have sinned a great sin: and now I will go up unto Jehovah; peradventure I shall make atonement for your sin.\r\n And Moses returned unto Jehovah, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold.\r\n Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin-; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.\r\n And Jehovah said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.\r\n And now go, lead the people unto [the place] of which I have spoken unto thee: behold, mine angel shall go before thee; nevertheless in the day when I visit, I will visit their sin upon them.\r\n And Jehovah smote the people, because they made the calf, which Aaron made.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses, Depart, go up hence, thou and the people that thou hast brought up out of the land of Egypt, unto the land of which I sware unto Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, Unto thy seed will I give it:\r\n and I will send an angel before thee; and I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite:\r\n unto a land flowing with milk and honey: for I will not go up in the midst of thee, for thou art a stiffnecked people, lest I consume thee in the way.\r\n And when the people heard these evil tidings, they mourned: and no man did put on him his ornaments.\r\n And Jehovah said unto Moses, Say unto the children of Israel, Ye are a stiffnecked people; if I go up into the midst of thee for one moment, I shall consume thee: therefore now put off thy ornaments from thee, that I may know what to do unto thee.\r\n And the children of Israel stripped themselves of their ornaments from mount Horeb onward.\r\n Now Moses used to take the tent and to pitch it without the camp, afar off from the camp; and he called it, The tent of meeting. And it came to pass, that every one that sought Jehovah went out unto the tent of meeting, which was without the camp.\r\n And it came to pass, when Moses went out unto the Tent, that all the people rose up, and stood, every man at his tent door, and looked after Moses, until he was gone into the Tent.\r\n And it came to pass, when Moses entered into the Tent, the pillar of cloud descended, and stood at the door of the Tent: and [Jehovah] spake with Moses.\r\n And all the people saw the pillar of cloud stand at the door of the Tent: and all the people rose up and worshipped, every man at his tent door.\r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his minister Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the Tent.\r\n And Moses said unto Jehovah, See, thou sayest unto me, Bring up this people: and thou hast not let me know whom thou wilt send with me. Yet thou hast said, I know thee by name, and thou hast also found favor in my sight.\r\n Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found favor in thy sight, show me now thy ways, that I may know thee, to the end that I may find favor in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people.\r\n And he said, My presence shall go [with thee], and I will give thee rest.\r\n And he said unto him, If thy presence go not [with me], carry us not up hence.\r\n For wherein now shall it be known that I have found favor in thy sight, I and thy people? is it not in that thou goest with us, so that we are separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth?\r\n And Jehovah said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken; for thou hast found favor in my sight, and I know thee by name.\r\n And he said, Show me, I pray thee, thy glory.\r\n And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and will proclaim the name of Jehovah before thee; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.\r\n And he said, Thou canst not see my face; for man shall not see me and live.\r\n and Jehovah said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon the rock:\r\n and it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a cleft of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand until I have passed by:\r\n and I will take away my hand, and thou shalt see my back; but my face shall not be seen.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Jehovah said unto Moses, Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first: and I will write upon the tables the words that were on the first tables, which thou brakest.\r\n And be ready by the morning, and come up in the morning unto mount Sinai, and present thyself there to me on the top of the mount.\r\n And no man shall come up with thee; neither let any man be seen throughout all the mount; neither let the flocks nor herds feed before that mount.\r\n And he hewed two tables of stone like unto the first; and Moses rose up early in the morning, and went up unto mount Sinai, as Jehovah had commanded him, and took in his hand two tables of stone.\r\n And Jehovah descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of Jehovah.\r\n And Jehovah passed by before him, and proclaimed, Jehovah, Jehovah, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness and truth,\r\n keeping lovingkindness for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin; and that will by no means clear [the guilty], visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children`s children, upon the third and upon the fourth generation.\r\n And Moses made haste, and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshipped.\r\n And he said, If now I have found favor in thy sight, O Lord, let the Lord, I pray thee, go in the midst of us; for it is a stiffnecked people; and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for thine inheritance.\r\n And he said, Behold, I make a covenant: before all thy people I will do marvels, such as have not been wrought in all the earth, nor in any nation; and all the people among which thou art shall see the work of Jehovah; for it is a terrible thing that I do with thee.\r\n Observe thou that which I command thee this day: behold, I drive out before thee the Amorite, and the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite.\r\n Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee:\r\n but ye shall break down their altars, and dash in pieces their pillars, and ye shall cut down their Asherim;\r\n for thou shalt worship no other god: for Jehovah, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:\r\n lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and they play the harlot after their gods, and sacrifice unto their gods, and one call thee and thou eat of his sacrifice;\r\n and thou take of their daughters unto thy sons, and their daughters play the harlot after their gods, and make thy sons play the harlot after their gods.\r\n Thou shalt make thee no molten gods.\r\n The feast of unleavened bread shalt thou keep. Seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread, as I commanded thee, at the time appointed in the month Abib; for in the month Abib thou camest out from Egypt.\r\n All that openeth the womb is mine; and all thy cattle that is male, the firstlings of cow and sheep.\r\n And the firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb: and if thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break its neck. All the first-born of thy sons thou shalt redeem. And none shall appear before me empty.\r\n Six days thou shalt work, but on the seventh day thou shalt rest: in plowing time and in harvest thou shalt rest.\r\n And thou shalt observe the feast of weeks, [even] of the first-fruits of wheat harvest, and the feast of ingathering at the year`s end.\r\n Three times in the year shall all thy males appear before the Lord Jehovah, the God of Israel.\r\n For I will cast out nations before thee, and enlarge thy borders: neither shall any man desire thy land, when thou goest up to appear before Jehovah thy God three times in the year.\r\n Thou shalt not offer the blood of my sacrifice with leavened bread; neither shall the sacrifice of the feast of the passover be left unto the morning.\r\n The first of the first-fruits of thy ground thou shalt bring unto the house of Jehovah thy God. Thou shalt not boil a kid in its mother`s milk.\r\n And Jehovah said unto Moses, Write thou these words: for after the tenor of these words I have made a covenant with thee and with Israel.\r\n And he was there with Jehovah forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments.\r\n And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of the testimony in Moses` hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses knew not that the skin of his face shone by reason of his speaking with him.\r\n And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come nigh him.\r\n And Moses called unto them; and Aaron and all the rulers of the congregation returned unto him: and Moses spake to them.\r\n And afterward all the children of Israel came nigh: and he gave them in commandment all that Jehovah had spoken with him in mount Sinai.\r\n And when Moses had done speaking with them, he put a veil on his face.\r\n But when Moses went in before Jehovah to speak with him, he took the veil off, until he came out; and he came out, and spake unto the children of Israel that which he was commanded.\r\n And the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses` face shone: and Moses put the veil upon his face again, until he went in to speak with him.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Moses assembled all the congregation of the children of Israel, and said unto them, These are the words which Jehovah hath commanded, that ye should do them.\r\n Six days shall work be done; but on the seventh day there shall be to you a holy day, a sabbath of solemn rest to Jehovah: whosoever doeth any work therein shall be put to death.\r\n Ye shall kindle no fire throughout your habitations upon the sabbath day.\r\n And Moses spake unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, This is the thing which Jehovah commanded, saying,\r\n Take ye from among you an offering unto Jehovah; whosoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it, Jehovah`s offering: gold, and silver, and brass,\r\n and blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats` [hair],\r\n and rams` skins dyed red, and sealskins, and acacia wood,\r\n and oil for the light, and spices for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense,\r\n and onyx stones, and stones to be set, for the ephod, and for the breastplate.\r\n And let every wise-hearted man among you come, and make all that Jehovah hath commanded:\r\n the tabernacle, its tent, and its covering, its clasps, and its boards, its bars, its pillars, and its sockets;\r\n the ark, and the staves thereof, the mercy-seat, and the veil of the screen;\r\n the table, and its staves, and all its vessels, and the showbread;\r\n the candlestick also for the light, and its vessels, and its lamps, and the oil for the light;\r\n and the altar of incense, and its staves, and the anointing oil, and the sweet incense, and the screen for the door, at the door of the tabernacle;\r\n the altar of burnt-offering, with its grating of brass, it staves, and all its vessels, the laver and its base;\r\n the hangings of the court, the pillars thereof, and their sockets, and the screen for the gate of the court;\r\n the pins of the tabernacle, and the pins of the court, and their cords;\r\n the finely wrought garments, for ministering in the holy place, the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, to minister in the priest`s office.\r\n And all the congregation of the children of Israel departed from the presence of Moses.\r\n And they came, every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing, [and] brought Jehovah`s offering, for the work of the tent of meeting, and for all the service thereof, and for the holy garments.\r\n And they came, both men and women, as many as were willing-hearted, [and] brought brooches, and ear-rings, and signet-rings, and armlets, all jewels of gold; even every man that offered an offering of gold unto Jehovah.\r\n And every man, with whom was found blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats` [hair], and rams` skins dyed red, and sealskins, brought them.\r\n Every one that did offer an offering of silver and brass brought Jehovah`s offering; and every man, with whom was found acacia wood for any work of the service, brought it.\r\n And all the women that were wise-hearted did spin with their hands, and brought that which they had spun, the blue, and the purple, the scarlet, and the fine linen.\r\n And all the women whose heart stirred them up in wisdom spun the goats` [hair].\r\n And the rulers brought the onyx stones, and the stones to be set, for the ephod, and for the breastplate;\r\n and the spice, and the oil; for the light, and for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense.\r\n The children of Israel brought a freewill-offering unto Jehovah; every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring for all the work, which Jehovah had commanded to be made by Moses.\r\n And Moses said unto the children of Israel, See, Jehovah hath called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah.\r\n And he hath filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship;\r\n and to devise skilful works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass,\r\n and in cutting of stones for setting, and in carving of wood, to work in all manner of skilful workmanship.\r\n And he hath put in his heart that he may teach, both he, and Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan.\r\n Them hath he filled with wisdom of heart, to work all manner of workmanship, of the engraver, and of the skilful workman, and of the embroiderer, in blue, and in purple, in scarlet, and in fine linen, and of the weaver, even of them that do any workmanship, and of those that devise skilful works.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Bezalel and Oholiab shall work, and every wise-hearted man, in whom Jehovah hath put wisdom and understanding to know how to work all the work for the service of the sanctuary, according to all that Jehovah hath commanded.\r\n And Moses called Bezalel and Oholiab, and every wise-hearted man, in whose heart Jehovah had put wisdom, even every one whose heart stirred him up to come unto the work to do it:\r\n and they received of Moses all the offering which the children of Israel had brought for the work of the service of the sanctuary, wherewith to make it. And they brought yet unto him freewill-offerings every morning.\r\n And all the wise men, that wrought all the work of the sanctuary, came every man from his work which they wrought.\r\n And they spake unto Moses, saying, The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work which Jehovah commanded to make.\r\n And Moses gave commandment, and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp, saying, Let neither man nor woman make any more work for the offering of the sanctuary. So the people were restrained from bringing.\r\n For the stuff they had was sufficient for all the work to make it, and too much.\r\n And all the wise-hearted men among them that wrought the work made the tabernacle with ten curtains; of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, with cherubim, the work of the skilful workman, [Bezalel] made them.\r\n The length of each curtain was eight and twenty cubits, and the breadth of each curtain four cubits: all the curtains had one measure.\r\n And he coupled five curtains one to another: and [the other] five curtains he coupled one to another.\r\n And he made loops of blue upon the edge of the one curtain from the selvedge in the coupling: likewise he made in the edge of the curtain that was outmost in the second coupling.\r\n Fifty loops made he in the one curtain, and fifty loops made he in the edge of the curtain that was in the second coupling: the loops were opposite one to another.\r\n And he made fifty clasps of gold, and coupled the curtains one to another with the clasps: so the tabernacle was one.\r\n And he made curtains of goats` [hair] for a tent over the tabernacle: eleven curtains he made them.\r\n The length of each curtain was thirty cubits, and four cubits the breadth of each curtain: the eleven curtains had one measure.\r\n And he coupled five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves.\r\n And he made fifty loops on the edge of the curtain that was outmost in the coupling, and fifty loops made he upon the edge of the curtain which was [outmost in] the second coupling.\r\n And he made fifty clasps of brass to couple the tent together, that it might be one.\r\n And he made a covering for the tent of rams` skins dyed red, and a covering of sealskins above.\r\n And he made the boards for the tabernacle, of acacia wood, standing up.\r\n Ten cubits was the length of a board, and a cubit and a half the breadth of each board.\r\n Each board had two tenons, joined one to another: thus did he make for all the boards of the tabernacle.\r\n And he made the boards for the tabernacle: twenty boards for the south side southward.\r\n And he made forty sockets of silver under the twenty boards; two sockets under one board for its two tenons, and two sockets under another board for its two tenons.\r\n And for the second side of the tabernacle, on the north side, he made twenty boards,\r\n and their forty sockets of silver; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.\r\n And for the hinder part of the tabernacle westward he made six boards.\r\n And two boards made he for the corners of the tabernacle in the hinder part.\r\n And they were double beneath; and in like manner they were entire unto the top thereof unto one ring: thus he did to both of them in the two corners.\r\n And there were eight boards, and their sockets of silver, sixteen sockets; under every board two sockets.\r\n And he made bars of acacia wood; five for the boards of the one side of the tabernacle,\r\n and five bars for the boards of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the tabernacle for the hinder part westward.\r\n And he made the middle bar to pass through in the midst of the boards from the one end to the other.\r\n And he overlaid the boards with gold, and made their rings of gold for places for the bars, and overlaid the bars with gold.\r\n And he made the veil of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen: with cherubim, the work of the skilful workman, made he it.\r\n And he made thereunto four pillars of acacia, and overlaid them with gold: their hooks were of gold; And he cast for them four sockets of silver.\r\n And he made a screen for the door of the Tent, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of the embroiderer;\r\n and the five pillars of it with their hooks: and he overlaid their capitals and their fillets with gold; and their five sockets were of brass.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood: two cubits and a half was the length of it, and a cubit and a half the breadth of it, and a cubit and a half the height of it:\r\n and he overlaid it with pure gold within and without, and made a crown of gold to it round about.\r\n And he cast for it four rings of gold, in the four feet thereof; even two rings on the one side of it, and two rings on the other side of it.\r\n And he made staves of acacia wood, and overlaid them with gold.\r\n And he put the staves into the rings on the sides of the ark, to bear the ark.\r\n And he made a mercy-seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half [was] the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof.\r\n And he made two cherubim of gold; of beaten work made he them, at the two ends of the mercy-seat;\r\n one cherub at the one end, and one cherub at the other end: of one piece with the mercy-seat made he the cherubim at the two ends thereof.\r\n And the cherubim spread out their wings on high, covering the mercy-seat with their wings, with their faces one to another; toward the mercy-seat were the faces of the cherubim.\r\n And he made the table of acacia wood: two cubits [was] the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof:\r\n and he overlaid it with pure gold, and made thereto a crown of gold round about.\r\n And he made unto it a border of a handbreadth round about, and made a golden crown to the border thereof round about.\r\n And he cast for it four rings of gold, and put the rings in the four corners that were on the four feet thereof.\r\n Close by the border were the rings, the places for the staves to bear the table.\r\n And he made the staves of acacia wood, and overlaid them with gold, to bear the table.\r\n And he made the vessels which were upon the table, the dishes thereof, and the spoons thereof, and the bowls thereof, and the flagons thereof, wherewith to pour out, of pure gold.\r\n And he made the candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work made he the candlestick, even its base, and its shaft; its cups, it knops, and its flowers, were of one piece with it:\r\n and there were six branches going out of the sides thereof; three branches of the candlestick out of the one side thereof, and three branches of the candlestick out of the other side thereof:\r\n three cups made like almond-blossoms in one branch, a knop and a flower, and three cups made like almond-blossoms in the other branch, a knop and a flower: so for the six branches going out of the candlestick.\r\n And in the candlestick were four cups made like almond-blossoms, the knops thereof, and the flowers thereof;\r\n and a knop under two branches of one piece with it, and a knop under two branches of one piece with it, and a knop under two branches of one piece with it, for the six branches going out of it.\r\n Their knops and their branches were of one piece with it: the whole of it was one beaten work of pure gold.\r\n And he made the lamps thereof, seven, and the snuffers thereof, and the snuffdishes thereof, of pure gold.\r\n Of a talent of pure gold made he it, and all the vessels thereof.\r\n And he made the altar of incense of acacia wood: a cubit was the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof, foursquare; and two cubits was the height thereof; the horns thereof were of one piece with it.\r\n And he overlaid it with pure gold, the top thereof, and the sides thereof round about, and the horns of it: and he made unto it a crown of gold round about.\r\n And he made for it two golden rings under the crown thereof, upon the two ribs thereof, upon the two sides of it, for places for staves wherewith to bear it.\r\n And he made the staves of acacia wood, and overlaid them with gold.\r\n And he made the holy anointing oil, and the pure incense of sweet spices, after the art of the perfumer.\r\n \r\n \r\n And he made the altar of burnt-offering of acacia wood: five cubits was the length thereof, and five cubits the breadth thereof, foursquare; and three cubits the height thereof.\r\n And he made the horns thereof upon the four corners of it; the horns thereof were of one piece with it: and he overlaid it with brass.\r\n And he made all the vessels of the altar, the pots, and the shovels, and the basins, the flesh-hooks, and the firepans: all the vessels thereof made he of brass.\r\n And he made for the altar a grating of network of brass, under the ledge round it beneath, reaching halfway up.\r\n And he cast four rings for the four ends of the grating of brass, to be places for the staves.\r\n And he made the staves of acacia wood, and overlaid them with brass.\r\n And he put the staves into the rings on the sides of the altar, wherewith to bear it; he made it hollow with planks.\r\n And he made the laver of brass, and the base thereof of brass, of the mirrors of the ministering women that ministered at the door of the tent of meeting.\r\n And he made the court: for the south side southward the hangings of the court were of fine twined linen, a hundred cubits;\r\n their pillars were twenty, and their sockets twenty, of brass; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets were of silver.\r\n And for the north side a hundred cubits, their pillars twenty, and their sockets twenty, of brass; the hooks of the pillars, and their fillets, of silver.\r\n And for the west side were hangings of fifty cubits, their pillars ten, and their sockets ten; the hooks of the pillars, and their fillets, of silver.\r\n And for the east side eastward fifty cubits.\r\n The hangings for the one side [of the gate] were fifteen cubits; their pillars three, and their sockets three;\r\n and so for the other side: on this hand and that hand by the gate of the court were hangings of fifteen cubits; their pillars three, and their sockets three.\r\n All the hangings of the court round about were of fine twined linen.\r\n And the sockets for the pillars were of brass; the hooks of the pillars, and their fillets, of silver; and the overlaying of their capitals, of silver; and all the pillars of the court were filleted with silver.\r\n And the screen for the gate of the court was the work of the embroiderer, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen: and twenty cubits was the length, and the height in the breadth was five cubits, answerable to the hangings of the court.\r\n And their pillars were four, and their sockets four, of brass; their hooks of silver, and the overlaying of their capitals, and their fillets, of silver.\r\n And all the pins of the tabernacle, and of the court round about, were of brass.\r\n This is the sum of [the things for] the tabernacle, even the tabernacle of the testimony, as they were counted, according to the commandment of Moses, for the service of the Levites, by the hand of Ithamar, the son of Aaron the priest.\r\n And Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, made all that Jehovah commanded Moses.\r\n And with him was Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, an engraver, and a skilful workman, and an embroiderer in blue, and in purple, and in scarlet, and in fine linen.\r\n All the gold that was used for the work in all the work of the sanctuary, even the gold of the offering, was twenty and nine talents, and seven hundred and thirty shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary.\r\n And the silver of them that were numbered of the congregation was a hundred talents, and a thousand seven hundred and threescore and fifteen shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary:\r\n a beka a head, [that is], half a shekel, after the shekel of the sanctuary, for every one that passed over to them that were numbered, from twenty years old and upward, for six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty men.\r\n And the hundred talents of silver were for casting the sockets of the sanctuary, and the sockets of the veil; a hundred sockets for the hundred talents, a talent for a socket.\r\n And of the thousand seven hundred seventy and five [shekels] he made hooks for the pillars, and overlaid their capitals, and made fillets for them.\r\n And the brass of the offering was seventy talents, and two thousand and four hundred shekels.\r\n And therewith he made the sockets to the door of the tent of meeting, and the brazen altar, and the brazen grating for it, and all the vessels of the altar,\r\n and the sockets of the court round about, and the sockets of the gate of the court, and all the pins of the tabernacle, and all the pins of the court round about.\r\n \r\n \r\n And of the blue, and purple, and scarlet, they made finely wrought garments, for ministering in the holy place, and made the holy garments for Aaron; as Jehovah commanded Moses.\r\n And he made the ephod of gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen.\r\n And they did beat the gold into thin plates, and cut it into wires, to work it in the blue, and in the purple, and in the scarlet, and in the fine linen, the work of the skilful workman.\r\n They made shoulder-pieces for it, joined together; at the two ends was it joined together.\r\n And the skilfully woven band, that was upon it, wherewith to gird it on, was of the same piece [and] like the work thereof; of gold, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen; as Jehovah commanded Moses.\r\n And they wrought the onyx stones, inclosed in settings of gold, graven with the engravings of a signet, according to the names of the children of Israel.\r\n And he put them on the shoulder-pieces of the ephod, to be stones of memorial for the children of Israel; as Jehovah commanded Moses.\r\n And he made the breastplate, the work of the skilful workman, like the work of the ephod; of gold, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen.\r\n It was foursquare; they made the breastplate double: a span was the length thereof, and a span the breadth thereof, being double.\r\n And they set in it four rows of stones. A row of sardius, topaz, and carbuncle was the first row;\r\n and the second row, an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond;\r\n and the third row, a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst;\r\n and the fourth row, a beryl, an onyx, and a jaspar: they were inclosed in inclosings of gold in their settings.\r\n And the stones were according to the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names; like the engravings of a signet, every one according to his name, for the twelve tribes.\r\n And they made upon the breastplate chains like cords, of wreathen work of pure gold.\r\n And they made two settings of gold, and two gold rings, and put the two rings on the two ends of the breastplate.\r\n And they put the two wreathen chains of gold in the two rings at the ends of the breastplate.\r\n And the [other] two ends of the two wreathen chains they put on the two settings, and put them on the shoulder-pieces of the ephod, in the forepart thereof.\r\n And they made two rings of gold, and put them upon the two ends of the breastplate, upon the edge thereof, which was toward the side of the ephod inward.\r\n And they made two rings of gold, and put them on the two shoulder-pieces of the ephod underneath, in the forepart thereof, close by the coupling thereof, above the skilfully woven band of the ephod.\r\n And they did bind the breastplate by the rings thereof unto the rings of the ephod with a lace of blue, that it might be upon the skilfully woven band of the ephod, and that the breastplate might not be loosed from the ephod; as Jehovah commanded Moses.\r\n And he made the robe of the ephod of woven work, all of blue.\r\n And the hole of the robe in the midst thereof, as the hole of a coat of mail, with a binding round about the hole of it, that it should not be rent.\r\n And they made upon the skirts of the robe pomegranates of blue, and purple, and scarlet, [and] twined [linen].\r\n And they made bells of pure gold, and put the bells between the pomegranates upon the skirts of the robe round about, between the pomegranates;\r\n a bell and a pomegranate, a bell and a pomegranate, upon the skirts of the robe round about, to minister in; as Jehovah commanded Moses.\r\n And they made the coats of fine linen of woven work for Aaron, and for his sons,\r\n and the mitre of fine linen, and the goodly head-tires of fine linen, and the linen breeches of fine twined linen,\r\n and the girdle of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, the work of the embroiderer; as Jehovah commanded Moses.\r\n And they made the plate of the holy crown of pure gold, and wrote upon it a writing, like the engravings of a signet, HOLY TO JEHOVAH.\r\n And they tied unto it a lace of blue, to fasten it upon the mitre above; as Jehovah commanded Moses.\r\n Thus was finished all the work of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting: and the children of Israel did according to all that Jehovah commanded Moses; so did they.\r\n And they brought the tabernacle unto Moses, the Tent, and all its furniture, its clasps, its boards, it bars, and its pillars, and it sockets;\r\n and the covering of rams` skins dyed red, and the covering of sealskins, and the veil of the screen;\r\n the ark of the testimony, and the staves thereof, and the mercy-seat;\r\n the table, all the vessels thereof, and the showbread;\r\n the pure candlestick, the lamps thereof, even the lamps to be set in order, and all the vessels thereof, and the oil for the light;\r\n and the golden altar, and the anointing oil, and the sweet incense, and the screen for the door of the Tent;\r\n the brazen altar, and its grating of brass, its staves, and all its vessels, the laver and its base;\r\n the hangings of the court, its pillars, and its sockets, and the screen for the gate of the court, the cords thereof, and the pins thereof, and all the instruments of the service of the tabernacle, for the tent of meeting;\r\n the finely wrought garments for ministering in the holy place, and the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, to minister in the priest`s office.\r\n According to all that Jehovah commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did all the work.\r\n And Moses saw all the work, and, behold, they had done it; as Jehovah had commanded, even so had they done it: and Moses blessed them.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n On the first day of the first month shalt thou rear up the tabernacle of the tent of meeting.\r\n And thou shalt put therein the ark of the testimony, and thou shalt screen the ark with the veil.\r\n And thou shalt bring in the table, and set in order the things that are upon it; and thou shalt bring in the candlestick, and light the lamps thereof.\r\n And thou shalt set the golden altar for incense before the ark of the testimony, and put the screen of the door to the tabernacle.\r\n And thou shalt set the altar of burnt-offering before the door of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting.\r\n And thou shalt set the laver between the tent of meeting and the altar, and shalt put water therein.\r\n And thou shalt set up the court round about, and hang up the screen of the gate of the court.\r\n And thou shalt take the anointing oil, and anoint the tabernacle, and all that is therein, and shalt hallow it, and all the furniture thereof: and it shall be holy.\r\n And thou shalt anoint the altar of burnt-offering, and all its vessels, and sanctify the altar: and the altar shall be most holy.\r\n And thou shalt anoint the laver and its base, and sanctify it.\r\n And thou shalt bring Aaron and his sons unto the door of the tent of meeting, and shalt wash them with water.\r\n And thou shalt put upon Aaron the holy garments; and thou shalt anoint him, and sanctify him, that he may minister unto me in the priest`s office.\r\n And thou shalt bring his sons, and put coats upon them;\r\n and thou shalt anoint them, as thou didst anoint their father, that they may minister unto me in the priest`s office: and their anointing shall be to them for an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations.\r\n Thus did Moses: according to all that Jehovah commanded him, so did he.\r\n And it came to pass in the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month, that the tabernacle was reared up.\r\n And Moses reared up the tabernacle, and laid its sockets, and set up the boards thereof, and put in the bars thereof, and reared up its pillars.\r\n And he spread the tent over the tabernacle, and put the covering of the tent above upon it; as Jehovah commanded Moses.\r\n And he took and put the testimony into the ark, and set the staves on the ark, and put the mercy-seat above upon the ark:\r\n and he brought the ark into the tabernacle, and set up the veil of the screen, and screened the ark of the testimony; as Jehovah commanded Moses.\r\n And he put the table in the tent of meeting, upon the side of the tabernacle northward, without the veil.\r\n And he set the bread in order upon it before Jehovah; as Jehovah commanded Moses.\r\n And he put the candlestick in the tent of meeting, over against the table, on the side of the tabernacle southward.\r\n And he lighted the lamps before Jehovah; as Jehovah commanded Moses.\r\n And he put the golden altar in the tent of meeting before the veil:\r\n and he burnt thereon incense of sweet spices; as Jehovah commanded Moses.\r\n And he put the screen of the door to the tabernacle.\r\n And he set the altar of burnt-offering at the door of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting, and offered upon it the burnt-offering and the meal-offering; as Jehovah commanded Moses.\r\n And he set the laver between the tent of meeting and the altar, and put water therein, wherewith to wash.\r\n And Moses and Aaron and his sons washed their hands and their feet thereat;\r\n when they went into the tent of meeting, and when they came near unto the altar, they washed; as Jehovah commanded Moses.\r\n And he reared up the court round about the tabernacle and the altar, and set up the screen of the gate of the court. So Moses finished the work.\r\n Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of Jehovah filled the tabernacle.\r\n And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of meeting, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of Jehovah filled the tabernacle.\r\n And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward, throughout all their journeys:\r\n but if the cloud was not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up.\r\n For the cloud of Jehovah was upon the tabernacle by day, and there was fire therein by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n And Jehovah called unto Moses, and spake unto him out of the tent of meeting, saying,\r\n Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When any man of you offereth an oblation unto Jehovah, ye shall offer your oblation of the cattle, [even] of the herd and of the flock.\r\n If his oblation be a burnt-offering of the herd, he shall offer it a male without blemish: he shall offer it at the door of the tent of meeting, that he may be accepted before Jehovah.\r\n And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the burnt-offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.\r\n And he shall kill the bullock before Jehovah: and Aaron`s sons, the priests, shall present the blood, and sprinkle the blood round about upon the altar that is at the door of the tent of meeting.\r\n And he shall flay the burnt-offering, and cut it into its pieces.\r\n And the sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire upon the altar, and lay wood in order upon the fire;\r\n and Aaron`s sons, the priests, shall lay the pieces, the head, and the fat, in order upon the wood that is on the fire which is upon the altar:\r\n but its inwards and its legs shall he wash with water: and the priest shall burn the whole on the altar, for a burnt-offering, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor unto Jehovah.\r\n And if his oblation be of the flock, of the sheep, or of the goats, for a burnt-offering; he shall offer it a male without blemish.\r\n And he shall kill it on the side of the altar northward before Jehovah: and Aaron`s sons, the priests, shall sprinkle its blood upon the altar round about.\r\n And he shall cut it into its pieces, with its head and its fat; and the priest shall lay them in order on the wood that is on the fire which is upon the altar:\r\n but the inwards and the legs shall he wash with water; and the priest shall offer the whole, and burn it upon the altar: it is a burnt-offering, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor unto Jehovah.\r\n And if his oblation to Jehovah be a burnt-offering of birds, then he shall offer his oblation of turtle-doves, or of young pigeons.\r\n And the priest shall bring it unto the altar, and wring off its head, and burn it on the altar; and the blood thereof shall be drained out on the side of the altar;\r\n and he shall take away its crop with the filth thereof, and cast it beside the altar on the east part, in the place of the ashes:\r\n and he shall rend it by the wings thereof, [but] shall not divide it asunder; and the priest shall burn it upon the altar, upon the wood that is upon the fire: it is a burnt-offering, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor unto Jehovah.\r\n \r\n \r\n And when any one offereth an oblation of a meal-offering unto Jehovah, his oblation shall be of fine flour; and he shall pour oil upon it, and put frankincense thereon:\r\n and he shall bring it to Aaron`s sons the priests; and he shall take thereout his handful of the fine flour thereof, and of the oil thereof, with all the frankincense thereof; and the priest shall burn [it as] the memorial thereof upon the altar, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor unto Jehovah:\r\n and that which is left of the meal-offering shall be Aaron`s and his sons`: it is a thing most holy of the offerings of Jehovah made by fire.\r\n And when thou offerest an oblation of a meal-offering baken in the oven, it shall be unleavened cakes of fine flour mingled with oil, or unleavened wafers anointed with oil.\r\n And if thy oblation be a meal-offering of the baking-pan, it shall be of fine flour unleavened, mingled with oil.\r\n Thou shalt part it in pieces, and pour oil thereon: it is a meal-offering.\r\n And if thy oblation be a meal-offering of the frying-pan, it shall be made of fine flour with oil.\r\n And thou shalt bring the meal-offering that is made of these things unto Jehovah: and it shall be presented unto the priest, and he shall bring it unto the altar.\r\n And the priest shall take up from the meal-offering the memorial thereof, and shall burn it upon the altar, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor unto Jehovah.\r\n And that which is left of the meal-offering shall be Aaron`s and his sons`: it is a thing most holy of the offerings of Jehovah made by fire.\r\n No meal-offering, which ye shall offer unto Jehovah, shall be made with leaven; for ye shall burn no leaven, nor any honey, as an offering made by fire unto Jehovah.\r\n As an oblation of first -[fruits] ye shall offer them unto Jehovah: but they shall not come up for a sweet savor on the altar.\r\n And every oblation of thy meal-offering shalt thou season with salt; neither shalt thou suffer the salt of the covenant of thy God to be lacking from thy meal-offering: with all thine oblations thou shalt offer salt.\r\n And if thou offer a meal-offering of first-fruits unto Jehovah, thou shalt offer for the meal-offering of thy first-fruits grain in the ear parched with fire, bruised grain of the fresh ear.\r\n And thou shalt put oil upon it, and lay frankincense thereon: it is a meal-offering.\r\n And the priest shall burn the memorial of it, part of the bruised grain thereof, and part of the oil thereof, with all the frankincense thereof: it is an offering made by fire unto Jehovah.\r\n \r\n \r\n And if his oblation be a sacrifice of peace-offerings; if he offer of the herd, whether male or female, he shall offer it without blemish before Jehovah.\r\n And he shall lay his hand upon the head of his oblation, and kill it at the door of the tent of meeting: and Aaron`s sons the priests shall sprinkle the blood upon the altar round about.\r\n And he shall offer of the sacrifice of peace-offerings an offering made by fire unto Jehovah; the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that is upon the inwards,\r\n and the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, which is by the loins, and the caul upon the liver, with the kidneys, shall he take away.\r\n And Aaron`s sons shall burn it on the altar upon the burnt-offering, which is upon the wood that is on the fire: it is an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor unto Jehovah.\r\n And if his oblation for a sacrifice of peace-offerings unto Jehovah be of the flock; male or female, he shall offer it without blemish.\r\n If he offer a lamb for his oblation, then shall he offer it before Jehovah;\r\n and he shall lay his hand upon the head of his oblation, and kill it before the tent of meeting: and Aaron`s sons shall sprinkle the blood thereof upon the altar round about.\r\n And he shall offer of the sacrifice of peace-offerings an offering made by fire unto Jehovah; the fat thereof, the fat tail entire, he shall take away hard by the backbone; and the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that is upon the inwards,\r\n and the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, which is by the loins, and the caul upon the liver, with the kidneys, shall he take away.\r\n And the priest shall burn it upon the altar: it is the food of the offering made by fire unto Jehovah.\r\n And if his oblation be a goat, then he shall offer it before Jehovah:\r\n and he shall lay his hand upon the head of it, and kill it before the tent of meeting; and the sons of Aaron shall sprinkle the blood thereof upon the altar round about.\r\n And he shall offer thereof his oblation, [even] an offering made by fire unto Jehovah; the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that is upon the inwards,\r\n and the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, which is by the loins, and the caul upon the liver, with the kidneys, shall he take away.\r\n And the priest shall burn them upon the altar: it is the food of the offering made by fire, for a sweet savor; all the fat is Jehovah`s.\r\n It shall be a perpetual statute throughout your generations in all your dwellings, that ye shall eat neither fat nor blood.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If any one shall sin unwittingly, in any of the things which Jehovah hath commanded not to be done, and shall do any one of them:\r\n if the anointed priest shall sin so as to bring guilt on the people, then let him offer for his sin, which he hath sinned, a young bullock without blemish unto Jehovah for a sin-offering.\r\n And he shall bring the bullock unto the door of the tent of meeting before Jehovah; and he shall lay his hand upon the head of the bullock, and kill the bullock before Jehovah.\r\n And the anointed priest shall take of the blood of the bullock, and bring it to the tent of meeting:\r\n and the priest shall dip his finger in the blood, and sprinkle of the blood seven times before Jehovah, before the veil of the sanctuary.\r\n And the priest shall put of the blood upon the horns of the altar of sweet incense before Jehovah, which is in the tent of meeting; and all the blood of the bullock shall he pour out at the base of the altar of burnt-offering, which is at the door of the tent of meeting.\r\n And all the fat of the bullock of the sin-offering he shall take off from it; the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that is upon the inwards,\r\n and the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, which is by the loins, and the caul upon the liver, with the kidneys, shall he take away,\r\n as it is taken off from the ox of the sacrifice of peace-offerings: and the priest shall burn them upon the altar of burnt-offering.\r\n And the skin of the bullock, and all its flesh, with its head, and with its legs, and its inwards, and its dung,\r\n even the whole bullock shall he carry forth without the camp unto a clean place, where the ashes are poured out, and burn it on wood with fire: where the ashes are poured out shall it be burnt.\r\n And if the whole congregation of Israel err, and the thing be hid from the eyes of the assembly, and they have done any of the things which Jehovah hath commanded not to be done, and are guilty;\r\n when the sin wherein they have sinned is known, then the assembly shall offer a young bullock for a sin-offering, and bring it before the tent of meeting.\r\n And the elders of the congregation shall lay their hands upon the head of the bullock before Jehovah; and the bullock shall be killed before Jehovah.\r\n And the anointed priest shall bring of the blood of the bullock to the tent of meeting:\r\n and the priest shall dip his finger in the blood, and sprinkle it seven times before Jehovah, before the veil.\r\n And he shall put of the blood upon the horns of the altar which is before Jehovah, that is in the tent of meeting; and all the blood shall he pour out at the base of the altar of burnt-offering, which is at the door of the tent of meeting.\r\n And all the fat thereof shall he take off from it, and burn it upon the altar.\r\n Thus shall he do with the bullock; as he did with the bullock of the sin-offering, so shall he do with this; and the priest shall make atonement for them, and they shall be forgiven.\r\n And he shall carry forth the bullock without the camp, and burn it as he burned the first bullock: it is the sin-offering for the assembly.\r\n When a ruler sinneth, and doeth unwittingly any one of all the things which Jehovah his God hath commanded not to be done, and is guilty;\r\n if his sin, wherein he hath sinned, be made known to him, he shall bring for his oblation a goat, a male without blemish.\r\n And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the goat, and kill it in the place where they kill the burnt-offering before Jehovah: it is a sin-offering.\r\n And the priest shall take of the blood of the sin-offering with his finger, and put it upon the horns of the altar of burnt-offering; and the blood thereof shall he pour out at the base of the altar of burnt-offering.\r\n And all the fat thereof shall he burn upon the altar, as the fat of the sacrifice of peace-offerings; and the priest shall make atonement for him as concerning his sin, and he shall be forgiven.\r\n And if any one of the common people sin unwittingly, in doing any of the things which Jehovah hath commanded not to be done, and be guilty;\r\n if his sin, which he hath sinned, be made known to him, then he shall bring for his oblation a goat, a female without blemish, for his sin which he hath sinned.\r\n And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the sin-offering, and kill the sin-offering in the place of burnt-offering.\r\n And the priest shall take of the blood thereof with his finger, and put it upon the horns of the altar of burnt-offering; and all the blood thereof shall he pour out at the base of the altar.\r\n And all the fat thereof shall he take away, as the fat is taken away from off the sacrifice of peace-offerings; and the priest shall burn it upon the altar for a sweet savor unto Jehovah; and the priest shall make atonement for him, and he shall be forgiven.\r\n And if he bring a lamb as his oblation for a sin-offering, he shall bring it a female without blemish.\r\n And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the sin-offering, and kill it for a sin-offering in the place where they kill the burnt-offering.\r\n And the priest shall take of the blood of the sin-offering with his finger, and put it upon the horns of the altar of burnt-offering; and all the blood thereof shall he pour out at the base of the altar:\r\n and all the fat thereof shall he take away, as the fat of the lamb is taken away from the sacrifice of peace-offerings; and the priest shall burn them on the altar, upon the offerings of Jehovah made by fire; and the priest shall make atonement for him as touching his sin that he hath sinned, and he shall be forgiven.\r\n \r\n \r\n And if any one sin, in that he heareth the voice of adjuration, he being a witness, whether he hath seen or known, if he do not utter [it], then he shall bear his iniquity.\r\n Or if any one touch any unclean thing, whether it be the carcass of an unclean beast, or the carcass of unclean cattle, or the carcass of unclean creeping things, and it be hidden from him, and he be unclean, then he shall be guilty.\r\n Or if he touch the uncleanness of man, whatsoever his uncleanness be wherewith he is unclean, and it be hid from him; when he knoweth of it, then he shall be guilty.\r\n Or if any one swear rashly with his lips to do evil, or to do good, whatsoever it be that a man shall utter rashly with an oath, and it be hid from him; when he knoweth of it, then he shall be guilty in one of these [things].\r\n And it shall be, when he shall be guilty in one of these [things], that he shall confess that wherein he hath sinned:\r\n and he shall bring his trespass-offering unto Jehovah for his sin which he hath sinned, a female from the flock, a lamb or a goat, for a sin-offering; and the priest shall make atonement for him as concerning his sin.\r\n And if his means suffice not for a lamb, then he shall bring his trespass-offering for that wherein he hath sinned, two turtle-doves, or two young pigeons, unto Jehovah; one for a sin-offering, and the other for a burnt-offering.\r\n And he shall bring them unto the priest, who shall offer that which is for the sin-offering first, and wring off its head from its neck, but shall not divide it asunder:\r\n and he shall sprinkle of the blood of the sin-offering upon the side of the altar; and the rest of the blood shall be drained out at the base of the altar: it is a sin-offering.\r\n And he shall offer the second for a burnt-offering, according to the ordinance; and the priest shall make atonement for him as concerning his sin which he hath sinned, and he shall be forgiven.\r\n But if his means suffice not for two turtle-doves, or two young pigeons, then he shall bring his oblation for that wherein he hath sinned, the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a sin-offering: he shall put no oil upon it, neither shall he put any frankincense thereon; for it is a sin-offering.\r\n And he shall bring it to the priest, and the priest shall take his handful of it as the memorial thereof, and burn it on the altar, upon the offerings of Jehovah made by fire: it is a sin-offering.\r\n And the priest shall make atonement for him as touching his sin that he hath sinned in any of these things, and he shall be forgiven: and [the remnant] shall be the priest`s, as the meal-offering.\r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n If any one commit a trespass, and sin unwittingly, in the holy things of Jehovah; then he shall bring his trespass-offering unto Jehovah, a ram without blemish out of the flock, according to thy estimation in silver by shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, for a trespass-offering:\r\n and he shall make restitution for that which he hath done amiss in the holy thing, and shall add the fifth part thereto, and give it unto the priest; and the priest shall make atonement for him with the ram of the trespass-offering, and he shall be forgiven.\r\n And if any one sin, and do any of the things which Jehovah hath commanded not to be done; though he knew it not, yet is he guilty, and shall bear his iniquity.\r\n And he shall bring a ram without blemish out of the flock, according to thy estimation, for a trespass-offering, unto the priest; and the priest shall make atonement for him concerning the thing wherein he erred unwittingly and knew it not, and he shall be forgiven.\r\n It is a trespass-offering: he is certainly guilty before Jehovah.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n If any one sin, and commit a trespass against Jehovah, and deal falsely with his neighbor in a matter of deposit, or of bargain, or of robbery, or have oppressed his neighbor,\r\n or have found that which was lost, and deal falsely therein, and swear to a lie; in any of all these things that a man doeth, sinning therein;\r\n then it shall be, if he hath sinned, and is guilty, that he shall restore that which he took by robbery, or the thing which he hath gotten by oppression, or the deposit which was committed to him, or the lost thing which he found,\r\n or any thing about which he hath sworn falsely; he shall even restore it in full, and shall add the fifth part more thereto: unto him to whom it appertaineth shall he give it, in the day of his being found guilty.\r\n And he shall bring his trespass-offering unto Jehovah, a ram without blemish out of the flock, according to thy estimation, for a trespass-offering, unto the priest:\r\n and the priest shall make atonement for him before Jehovah; and he shall be forgiven concerning whatsoever he doeth so as to be guilty thereby.\r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Command Aaron and his sons, saying, This is the law of the burnt-offering: the burnt-offering shall be on the hearth upon the altar all night unto the morning; and the fire of the altar shall be kept burning thereon.\r\n And the priest shall put on his linen garment, and his linen breeches shall he put upon his flesh; and he shall take up the ashes whereto the fire hath consumed the burnt-offering on the altar, and he shall put them beside the altar.\r\n And he shall put off his garments, and put on other garments, and carry forth the ashes without the camp unto a clean place.\r\n And the fire upon the altar shall be kept burning thereon, it shall not go out; and the priest shall burn wood on it every morning: and he shall lay the burnt-offering in order upon it, and shall burn thereon the fat of the peace-offerings.\r\n Fire shall be kept burning upon the altar continually; it shall not go out.\r\n And this is the law of the meal-offering: the sons of Aaron shall offer it before Jehovah, before the altar.\r\n And he shall take up therefrom his handful, of the fine flour of the meal-offering, and of the oil thereof, and all the frankincense which is upon the meal-offering, and shall burn it upon the altar for a sweet savor, as the memorial thereof, unto Jehovah.\r\n And that which is left thereof shall Aaron and his sons eat: it shall be eaten without leaven in a holy place; in the court of the tent of meeting they shall eat it.\r\n It shall not be baken with leaven. I have given it as their portion of my offerings made by fire; it is most holy, as the sin-offering, and as the trespass-offering.\r\n Every male among the children of Aaron shall eat of it, as [his] portion for ever throughout your generations, from the offerings of Jehovah made by fire: whosoever toucheth them shall be holy.\r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n This is the oblation of Aaron and of his sons, which they shall offer unto Jehovah in the day when he is anointed: the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a meal-offering perpetually, half of it in the morning, and half thereof in the evening.\r\n On a baking-pan it shall be made with oil; when it is soaked, thou shalt bring it in: in baken pieces shalt thou offer the meal-offering for a sweet savor unto Jehovah.\r\n And the anointed priest that shall be in his stead from among his sons shall offer it: by a statute for ever it shall be wholly burnt unto Jehovah.\r\n And every meal-offering of the priest shall be wholly burnt: it shall not be eaten.\r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Speak unto Aaron and to his sons, saying, This is the law of the sin-offering: in the place where the burnt-offering is killed shall the sin-offering be killed before Jehovah: it is most holy.\r\n The priest that offereth it for sin shall eat it: in a holy place shall it be eaten, in the court of the tent of meeting.\r\n Whatsoever shall touch the flesh thereof shall be holy; and when there is sprinkled of the blood thereof upon any garment, thou shalt wash that whereon it was sprinkled in a holy place.\r\n But the earthen vessel wherein it is boiled shall be broken; and if it be boiled in a brazen vessel, it shall be scoured, and rinsed in water.\r\n Every male among the priests shall eat thereof: it is most holy.\r\n And no sin-offering, whereof any of the blood is brought into the tent of meeting to make atonement in the holy place, shall be eaten: it shall be burnt with fire.\r\n \r\n \r\n And this is the law of the trespass-offering: it is most holy.\r\n In the place where they kill the burnt-offering shall they kill the trespass-offering; and the blood thereof shall he sprinkle upon the altar round about.\r\n And he shall offer of it all the fat thereof: the fat tail, and the fat that covereth the inwards,\r\n and the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, which is by the loins, and the caul upon the liver, with the kidneys, shall he take away;\r\n and the priest shall burn them upon the altar for an offering made by fire unto Jehovah: it is a trespass-offering.\r\n Every male among the priests shall eat thereof: it shall be eaten in a holy place: it is most holy.\r\n As is the sin-offering, so is the trespass-offering; there is one law for them: the priest that maketh atonement therewith, he shall have it.\r\n And the priest that offereth any man`s burnt-offering, even the priest shall have to himself the skin of the burnt-offering which he hath offered.\r\n And every meal-offering that is baken in the oven, and all that is dressed in the frying-pan, and on the baking-pan, shall be the priest`s that offereth it.\r\n And every meal-offering, mingled with oil, or dry, shall all the sons of Aaron have, one as well as another.\r\n And this is the law of the sacrifice of peace-offerings, which one shall offer unto Jehovah.\r\n If he offer it for a thanksgiving, then he shall offer with the sacrifice of thanksgiving unleavened cakes mingled with oil, and unleavened wafers anointed with oil, and cakes mingled with oil, of fine flour soaked.\r\n With cakes of leavened bread he shall offer his oblation with the sacrifice of his peace-offerings for thanksgiving.\r\n And of it he shall offer one out of each oblation for a heave-offering unto Jehovah; it shall be the priest`s that sprinkleth the blood of the peace-offerings.\r\n And the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace-offerings for thanksgiving shall be eaten on the day of his oblation; he shall not leave any of it until the morning.\r\n But if the sacrifice of his oblation be a vow, or a freewill-offering, it shall be eaten on the day that he offereth his sacrifice; and on the morrow that which remaineth of it shall be eaten:\r\n but that which remaineth of the flesh of the sacrifice on the third day shall be burnt with fire.\r\n And if any of the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace-offerings be eaten on the third day, it shall not be accepted, neither shall it be imputed unto him that offereth it: it shall be an abomination, and the soul that eateth of it shall bear his iniquity.\r\n And the flesh that toucheth any unclean thing shall not be eaten; it shall be burnt with fire. And as for the flesh, every one that is clean shall eat thereof:\r\n but the soul that eateth of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace-offerings, that pertain unto Jehovah, having his uncleanness upon him, that soul shall be cut off from his people.\r\n And when any one shall touch any unclean thing, the uncleanness of man, or an unclean beast, or any unclean abomination, and eat of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace-offerings, which pertain unto Jehovah, that soul shall be cut off from his people.\r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, Ye shall eat no fat, of ox, or sheep, or goat.\r\n And the fat of that which dieth of itself, and the fat of that which is torn of beasts, may be used for any other service; but ye shall in no wise eat of it.\r\n For whosoever eateth the fat of the beast, of which men offer an offering made by fire unto Jehovah, even the soul that eateth it shall be cut off from his people.\r\n And ye shall eat no manner of blood, whether it be of bird or of beast, in any of your dwellings.\r\n Whosoever it be that eateth any blood, that soul shall be cut off from his people.\r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, He that offereth the sacrifice of his peace-offerings unto Jehovah shall bring his oblation unto Jehovah out of the sacrifice of his peace-offerings:\r\n his own hands shall bring the offerings of Jehovah made by fire; the fat with the breast shall he bring, that the breast may be waved for a wave-offering before Jehovah.\r\n And the priest shall burn the fat upon the altar; but the breast shall be Aaron`s and his sons`.\r\n And the right thigh shall ye give unto the priest for a heave-offering out of the sacrifices of your peace-offerings.\r\n He among the sons of Aaron that offereth the blood of the peace-offerings, and the fat, shall have the right thigh for a portion.\r\n For the wave-breast and the heave-thigh have I taken of the children of Israel out of the sacrifices of their peace-offerings, and have given them unto Aaron the priest and unto his sons as [their] portion for ever from the children of Israel.\r\n This is the anointing-portion of Aaron, and the anointing-portion of his sons, out of the offerings of Jehovah made by fire, in the day when he presented them to minister unto Jehovah in the priest`s office;\r\n which Jehovah commanded to be given them of the children of Israel, in the day that he anointed them. It is [their] portion for ever throughout their generations.\r\n This is the law of the burnt-offering, of the meal-offering, and of the sin-offering, and of the trespass-offering, and of the consecration, and of the sacrifice of peace-offerings;\r\n which Jehovah commanded Moses in mount Sinai, in the day that he commanded the children of Israel to offer their oblations unto Jehovah, in the wilderness of Sinai.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Take Aaron and his sons with him, and the garments, and the anointing oil, and the bullock of the sin-offering, and the two rams, and the basket of unleavened bread;\r\n and assemble thou all the congregation at the door of the tent of meeting.\r\n And Moses did as Jehovah commanded him; and the congregation was assembled at the door of the tent of meeting.\r\n And Moses said unto the congregation, This is the thing which Jehovah hath commanded to be done.\r\n And Moses brought Aaron and his sons, and washed them with water.\r\n And he put upon him the coat, and girded him with the girdle, and clothed him with the robe, and put the ephod upon him, and he girded him with the skilfully woven band of the ephod, and bound it unto him therewith.\r\n And he placed the breastplate upon him: and in the breastplate he put the Urim and the Thummim.\r\n And he set the mitre upon his head; and upon the mitre, in front, did he set the golden plate, the holy crown; as Jehovah commanded Moses.\r\n And Moses took the anointing oil, and anointed the tabernacle and all that was therein, and sanctified them.\r\n And he sprinkled thereof upon the altar seven times, and anointed the altar and all its vessels, and the laver and its base, to sanctify them.\r\n And he poured of the anointing oil upon Aaron`s head, and anointed him, to sanctify him.\r\n And Moses brought Aaron`s sons, and clothed them with coats, and girded them with girdles, and bound head-tires upon them; as Jehovah commanded Moses.\r\n And he brought the bullock of the sin-offering: and Aaron and his sons laid their hands upon the head of the bullock of the sin-offering.\r\n And he slew it; and Moses took the blood, and put it upon the horns of the altar round about with his finger, and purified the altar, and poured out the blood at the base of the altar, and sanctified it, to make atonement for it.\r\n And he took all the fat that was upon the inwards, and the caul of the liver, and the two kidneys, and their fat; and Moses burned it upon the altar.\r\n But the bullock, and its skin, and its flesh, and its dung, he burnt with fire without the camp; as Jehovah commanded Moses.\r\n And he presented the ram of the burnt-offering: and Aaron and his sons laid their hands upon the head of the ram.\r\n And he killed it; and Moses sprinkled the blood upon the altar round about.\r\n And he cut the ram into its pieces; and Moses burnt the head, and the pieces, and the fat.\r\n And he washed the inwards and the legs with water; and Moses burnt the whole ram upon the altar: it was a burnt-offering for a sweet savor: it was an offering made by fire unto Jehovah; as Jehovah commanded Moses.\r\n And he presented the other ram, the ram of consecration: and Aaron and his sons laid their hands upon the head of the ram.\r\n And he slew it; and Moses took of the blood thereof, and put it upon the tip of Aaron`s right ear, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot.\r\n And he brought Aaron`s sons; and Moses put of the blood upon the tip of their right ear, and upon the thumb of their right hand, and upon the great toe of their right foot: and Moses sprinkled the blood upon the altar round about.\r\n And he took the fat, and the fat tail, and all the fat that was upon the inwards, and the caul of the liver, and the two kidneys, and their fat, and the right thigh:\r\n and out of the basket of unleavened bread, that was before Jehovah, he took one unleavened cake, and one cake of oiled bread, and one wafer, and placed them on the fat, and upon the right thigh:\r\n and he put the whole upon the hands of Aaron, and upon the hands of his sons, and waved them for a wave-offering before Jehovah.\r\n And Moses took them from off their hands, and burnt them on the altar upon the burnt-offering: they were a consecration for a sweet savor: it was an offering made by fire unto Jehovah.\r\n And Moses took the breast, and waved it for a wave-offering before Jehovah: it was Moses` portion of the ram of consecration; as Jehovah commanded Moses.\r\n And Moses took of the anointing oil, and of the blood which was upon the altar, and sprinkled it upon Aaron, upon his garments, and upon his sons, and upon his sons` garments with him, and sanctified Aaron, his garments, and his sons, and his sons` garments with him.\r\n And Moses said unto Aaron and to his sons, Boil the flesh at the door of the tent of meeting: and there eat it and the bread that is in the basket of consecration, as I commanded, saying, Aaron and his sons shall eat it.\r\n And that which remaineth of the flesh and of the bread shall ye burn with fire.\r\n And ye shall not go out from the door of the tent of meeting seven days, until the days of your consecration be fulfilled: for he shall consecrate you seven days.\r\n As hath been done this day, so Jehovah hath commanded to do, to make atonement for you.\r\n And at the door of the tent of meeting shall ye abide day and night seven days, and keep the charge of Jehovah, that ye die not: for so I am commanded.\r\n And Aaron and his sons did all the things which Jehovah commanded by Moses.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass on the eighth day, that Moses called Aaron and his sons, and the elders of Israel;\r\n and he said unto Aaron, Take thee a calf of the herd for a sin-offering, and a ram for a burnt-offering, without blemish, and offer them before Jehovah.\r\n And unto the children of Israel thou shalt speak, saying, Take ye a he-goat for a sin-offering; and a calf and a lamb, both a year old, without blemish, for a burnt-offering;\r\n and an ox and a ram for peace-offerings, to sacrifice before Jehovah; and a meal-offering mingled with oil: for to-day Jehovah appeareth unto you.\r\n And they brought that which Moses commanded before the tent of meeting: and all the congregation drew near and stood before Jehovah.\r\n And Moses said, This is the thing which Jehovah commanded that ye should do: and the glory of Jehovah shall appear unto you.\r\n And Moses said unto Aaron, Draw near unto the altar, and offer thy sin-offering, and thy burnt-offering, and make atonement for thyself, and for the people; and offer the oblation of the people, and make atonement for them; as Jehovah commanded.\r\n So Aaron drew near unto the altar, and slew the calf of the sin-offering, which was for himself.\r\n And the sons of Aaron presented the blood unto him; and he dipped his finger in the blood, and put it upon the horns of the altar, and poured out the blood at the base of the altar:\r\n but the fat, and the kidneys, and the caul from the liver of the sin-offering, he burnt upon the altar; as Jehovah commanded Moses.\r\n And the flesh and the skin he burnt with fire without the camp.\r\n And he slew the burnt-offering; and Aaron`s sons delivered unto him the blood, and he sprinkled it upon the altar round about.\r\n And they delivered the burnt-offering unto him, piece by piece, and the head: and he burnt them upon the altar.\r\n And he washed the inwards and the legs, and burnt them upon the burnt-offering on the altar.\r\n And he presented the people`s oblation, and took the goat of the sin-offering which was for the people, and slew it, and offered it for sin, as the first.\r\n And he presented the burnt-offering, and offered it according to the ordinance.\r\n And he presented the meal-offering, and filled his hand therefrom, and burnt it upon the altar, besides the burnt-offering of the morning.\r\n He slew also the ox and the ram, the sacrifice of peace-offerings, which was for the people: and Aaron`s sons delivered unto him the blood, which he sprinkled upon the altar round about,\r\n and the fat of the ox and of the ram, the fat tail, and that which covereth [the inwards], and the kidneys, and the caul of the liver:\r\n and they put the fat upon the breasts, and he burnt the fat upon the altar:\r\n and the breasts and the right thigh Aaron waved for a wave-offering before Jehovah; as Moses commanded.\r\n And Aaron lifted up his hands toward the people, and blessed them; and he came down from offering the sin-offering, and the burnt-offering, and the peace-offerings.\r\n And Moses and Aaron went into the tent of meeting, and came out, and blessed the people: and the glory of Jehovah appeared unto all the people.\r\n And there came forth fire from before Jehovah, and consumed upon the altar the burnt-offering and the fat: and when all the people saw it, they shouted, and fell on their faces.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took each of them his censer, and put fire therein, and laid incense thereon, and offered strange fire before Jehovah, which he had not commanded them.\r\n And there came forth fire from before Jehovah, and devoured them, and they died before Jehovah.\r\n Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that Jehovah spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace.\r\n And Moses called Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of Uzziel the uncle of Aaron, and said unto them, Draw near, carry your brethren from before the sanctuary out of the camp.\r\n So they drew near, and carried them in their coats out of the camp, as Moses had said.\r\n And Moses said unto Aaron, and unto Eleazar and unto Ithamar, his sons, Let not the hair of your heads go loose, neither rend your clothes; that ye die not, and that he be not wroth with all the congregation: but let your brethren, the whole house of Israel, bewail the burning which Jehovah hath kindled.\r\n And ye shall not go out from the door of the tent of meeting, lest ye die; for the anointing oil of Jehovah is upon you. And they did according to the word of Moses.\r\n And Jehovah spake unto Aaron, saying,\r\n Drink no wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tent of meeting, that ye die not: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations:\r\n and that ye may make a distinction between the holy and the common, and between the unclean and the clean;\r\n and that ye may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which Jehovah hath spoken unto them by Moses.\r\n And Moses spake unto Aaron, and unto Eleazar and unto Ithamar, his sons that were left, Take the meal-offering that remaineth of the offerings of Jehovah made by fire, and eat it without leaven beside the altar; for it is most holy;\r\n and ye shall eat it in a holy place, because it is thy portion, and thy sons` portion, of the offerings of Jehovah made by fire: for so I am commanded.\r\n And the wave-breast and the heave-thigh shall ye eat in a clean place, thou, and thy sons, and thy daughters with thee: for they are given as thy portion, and thy sons` portion, out of the sacrifices of the peace-offerings of the children of Israel.\r\n The heave-thigh and the wave-breast shall they bring with the offerings made by fire of the fat, to wave it for a wave-offering before Jehovah: and it shall be thine, and thy sons` with thee, as a portion for ever; as Jehovah hath commanded.\r\n And Moses diligently sought the goat of the sin-offering, and, behold, it was burnt: and he was angry with Eleazar and with Ithamar, the sons of Aaron that were left, saying,\r\n Wherefore have ye not eaten the sin-offering in the place of the sanctuary, seeing it is most holy, and he hath given it you to bear the iniquity of the congregation, to make atonement for them before Jehovah?\r\n Behold, the blood of it was not brought into the sanctuary within: ye should certainly have eaten it in the sanctuary, as I commanded.\r\n And Aaron spake unto Moses, Behold, this day have they offered their sin-offering and their burnt-offering before Jehovah; and there have befallen me such things as these: and if I had eaten the sin-offering to-day, would it have been well-pleasing in the sight of Jehovah?\r\n And when Moses heard [that], it was well-pleasing in his sight.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses and to Aaron, saying unto them,\r\n Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, These are the living things which ye may eat among all the beasts that are on the earth.\r\n Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is clovenfooted, [and] cheweth the cud, among the beasts, that may ye eat.\r\n Nevertheless these shall ye not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that part the hoof: the camel, because he cheweth the cud but parteth not the hoof, he is unclean unto you.\r\n And the coney, because he cheweth the cud but parteth not the hoof, he is unclean unto you.\r\n And the hare, because she cheweth the cud but parteth not the hoof, she is unclean unto you.\r\n And the swine, because he parteth the hoof, and is clovenfooted, but cheweth not the cud, he is unclean unto you.\r\n Of their flesh ye shall not eat, and their carcasses ye shall not touch; they are unclean unto you.\r\n These may ye eat of all that are in the waters: whatsoever hath fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, that may ye eat.\r\n And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of all the living creatures that are in the waters, they are an abomination unto you,\r\n and they shall be an abomination unto you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, and their carcasses ye shall have in abomination.\r\n Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that is an abomination unto you.\r\n And these ye shall have in abomination among the birds; they shall not be eaten, they are an abomination: the eagle, and the gier-eagle, and the ospray,\r\n and the kite, and the falcon after its kind,\r\n every raven after its kind,\r\n and the ostrich, and the night-hawk, and the seamew, and the hawk after its kind,\r\n and the little owl, and the cormorant, and the great owl,\r\n and the horned owl, and the pelican, and the vulture,\r\n and the stork, the heron after its kind, and the hoopoe, and the bat.\r\n All winged creeping things that go upon all fours are an abomination unto you.\r\n Yet these may ye eat of all winged creeping things that go upon all fours, which have legs above their feet, wherewith to leap upon the earth.\r\n Even these of them ye may eat: the locust after its kind, and the bald locust after its kind, and the cricket after its kind, and the grasshopper after its kind.\r\n But all winged creeping things, which have four feet, are an abomination unto you.\r\n And by these ye shall become unclean: whosoever toucheth the carcass of them shall be unclean until the even;\r\n And whosoever beareth [aught] of the carcass of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even.\r\n Every beast which parteth the hoof, and is not clovenfooted, nor cheweth the cud, is unclean unto you: every one that toucheth them shall be unclean.\r\n And whatsoever goeth upon its paws, among all beasts that go on all fours, they are unclean unto you: whoso toucheth their carcass shall be unclean until the even.\r\n And he that beareth the carcass of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even: they are unclean unto you.\r\n And these are they which are unclean unto you among the creeping things that creep upon the earth: the weasel, and the mouse, and the great lizard after its kind,\r\n and the gecko, and the land-crocodile, and the lizard, and the sand-lizard, and the chameleon.\r\n These are they which are unclean to you among all that creep: whosoever doth touch them, when they are dead, shall be unclean until the even.\r\n And upon whatsoever any of them, when they are dead, doth fall, it shall be unclean; whether it be any vessel of wood, or raiment, or skin, or sack, whatsoever vessel it be, wherewith any work is done, it must be put into water, and it shall be unclean until the even; then shall it be clean.\r\n And every earthen vessel, whereinto any of them falleth, whatsoever is in it shall be unclean, and it ye shall break.\r\n All food [therein] which may be eaten, that on which water cometh, shall be unclean; and all drink that may be drunk in every [such] vessel shall be unclean.\r\n And every thing whereupon [any part] of their carcass falleth shall be unclean; whether oven, or range for pots, it shall be broken in pieces: they are unclean, and shall be unclean unto you.\r\n Nevertheless a fountain or a pit wherein is a gathering of water shall be clean: but that which toucheth their carcass shall be unclean.\r\n And if [aught] of their carcass fall upon any sowing seed which is to be sown, it is clean.\r\n But if water be put upon the seed, and [aught] of their carcass fall thereon, it is unclean unto you.\r\n And if any beast, of which ye may eat, die; he that toucheth the carcass thereof shall be unclean until the even.\r\n And he that eateth of the carcass of it shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even: he also that beareth the carcass of it shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even.\r\n And every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth is an abomination; it shall not be eaten.\r\n Whatsoever goeth upon the belly, and whatsoever goeth upon all fours, or whatsoever hath many feet, even all creeping things that creep upon the earth, them ye shall not eat; for they are an abomination.\r\n Ye shall not make yourselves abominable with any creeping thing that creepeth, neither shall ye make yourselves unclean with them, that ye should be defiled thereby.\r\n For I am Jehovah your God: sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that moveth upon the earth.\r\n For I am Jehovah that brought you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.\r\n This is the law of the beast, and of the bird, and of every living creature that moveth in the waters, and of every creature that creepeth upon the earth;\r\n to make a distinction between the unclean and the clean, and between the living thing that may be eaten and the living thing that may not be eaten.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a woman conceive seed, and bear a man-child, then she shall be unclean seven days; as in the days of the impurity of her sickness shall she be unclean.\r\n And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.\r\n And she shall continue in the blood of [her] purifying three and thirty days; she shall touch no hallowed thing, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying be fulfilled.\r\n But if she bear a maid-child, then she shall be unclean two weeks, as in her impurity; and she shall continue in the blood of [her] purifying threescore and six days.\r\n And when the days of her purifying are fulfilled, for a son, or for a daughter, she shall bring a lamb a year old for a burnt-offering, and a young pigeon, or a turtle-dove, for a sin-offering, unto the door of the tent of meeting, unto the priest:\r\n and he shall offer it before Jehovah, and make atonement for her; and she shall be cleansed from the fountain of her blood. This is the law for her that beareth, whether a male or a female.\r\n And if her means suffice not for a lamb, then she shall take two turtle-doves, or two young pigeons; the one for a burnt-offering, and the other for a sin-offering: and the priest shall make atonement for her, and she shall be clean.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,\r\n When a man shall have in the skin of his flesh a rising, or a scab, or a bright spot, and it become in the skin of his flesh the plague of leprosy, then he shall be brought unto Aaron the priest, or unto one of his sons the priests:\r\n and the priest shall look on the plague in the skin of the flesh: and if the hair in the plague be turned white, and the appearance of the plague be deeper than the skin of his flesh, it is the plague of leprosy; and the priest shall look on him, and pronounce him unclean.\r\n And if the bright spot be white in the skin of his flesh, and the appearance thereof be not deeper than the skin, and the hair thereof be not turned white, then the priest shall shut up [him that hath] the plague seven days:\r\n and the priest shall look on him the seventh day: and, behold, if in his eyes the plague be at a stay, and the plague be not spread in the skin, then the priest shall shut him up seven days more:\r\n and the priest shall look on him again the seventh day; and, behold, if the plague be dim, and the plague be not spread in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him clean: it is a scab: and he shall wash his clothes, and be clean.\r\n But if the scab spread abroad in the skin, after that he hath showed himself to the priest for his cleansing, he shall show himself to the priest again:\r\n and the priest shall look; and, behold, if the scab be spread in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is leprosy.\r\n When the plague of leprosy is in a man, then he shall be brought unto the priest;\r\n and the priest shall look; and, behold, if there be a white rising in the skin, and it have turned the hair white, and there be quick raw flesh in the rising,\r\n it is an old leprosy in the skin of his flesh, and the priest shall pronounce him unclean: he shall not shut him up, for he is unclean.\r\n And if the leprosy break out abroad in the skin, and the leprosy cover all the skin of [him that hath] the plague from his head even to his feet, as far as appeareth to the priest;\r\n then the priest shall look; and, behold, if the leprosy have covered all his flesh, he shall pronounce [him] clean [that hath] the plague: it is all turned white: he is clean.\r\n But whensoever raw flesh appeareth in him, he shall be unclean.\r\n And the priest shall look on the raw flesh, and pronounce him unclean: the raw flesh is unclean: it is leprosy.\r\n Or if the raw flesh turn again, and be changed unto white, then he shall come unto the priest;\r\n and the priest shall look on him; and, behold, if the plague be turned into white, then the priest shall pronounce [him] clean [that hath] the plague: he is clean.\r\n And when the flesh hath in the skin thereof a boil, and it is healed,\r\n and in the place of the boil there is a white rising, or a bright spot, reddish-white, then is shall be showed to the priest;\r\n and the priest shall look; and, behold, if the appearance thereof be lower than the skin, and the hair thereof be turned white, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is the plague of leprosy, it hath broken out in the boil.\r\n But if the priest look on it, and, behold, there be no white hairs therein, and it be not lower than the skin, but be dim; then the priest shall shut him up seven days:\r\n And if it spread abroad in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is a plague.\r\n But if the bright spot stay in its place, and be not spread, it is the scar of the boil; and the priest shall pronounce him clean.\r\n Or when the flesh hath in the skin thereof a burning by fire, and the quick [flesh] of the burning become a bright spot, reddish-white, or white;\r\n then the priest shall look upon it; and, behold, if the hair in the bright spot be turned white, and the appearance thereof be deeper than the skin; it is leprosy, it hath broken out in the burning: and the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is the plague of leprosy.\r\n But if the priest look on it, and, behold, there be no white hair in the bright spot, and it be no lower than the skin, but be dim; then the priest shall shut him up seven days:\r\n and the priest shall look upon him the seventh day: if it spread abroad in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is the plague of leprosy.\r\n And if the bright spot stay in its place, and be not spread in the skin, but be dim; it is the rising of the burning, and the priest shall pronounce him clean: for it is the scar of the burning.\r\n And when a man or woman hath a plague upon the head or upon the beard,\r\n then the priest shall look on the plague; and, behold, if the appearance thereof be deeper than the skin, and there be in it yellow thin hair, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is a scall, it is leprosy of the head or of the beard.\r\n And if the priest look on the plague of the scall, and, behold, the appearance thereof be not deeper than the skin, and there be no black hair in it, then the priest shall shut up [him that hath] the plague of the scall seven days:\r\n And in the seventh day the priest shall look on the plague; and, behold, if the scall be not spread, and there be in it no yellow hair, and the appearance of the scall be not deeper than the skin,\r\n then he shall be shaven, but the scall shall he not shave; and the priest shall shut up [him that hath] the scall seven days more:\r\n and in the seventh day the priest shall look on the scall; and, behold, if the scall be not spread in the skin, and the appearance thereof be not deeper than the skin; then the priest shall pronounce him clean: and he shall wash his clothes, and be clean.\r\n But if the scall spread abroad in the skin after his cleansing,\r\n then the priest shall look on him; and, behold, if the scall be spread in the skin, the priest shall not seek for the yellow hair; he is unclean.\r\n But if in his eyes the scall be at a stay, and black hair be grown up therein; the scall is healed, he is clean: and the priest shall pronounce him clean.\r\n And when a man or a woman hath in the skin of the flesh bright spots, even white bright spots;\r\n then the priest shall look; and, behold, if the bright spots in the skin of their flesh be of a dull white, it is a tetter, it hath broken out in the skin; he is clean.\r\n And if a man`s hair be fallen off his head, he is bald; [yet] is he clean.\r\n And if his hair be fallen off from the front part of his head, he is forehead bald; [yet] is he clean.\r\n But if there be in the bald head, or the bald forehead, a reddish-white plague; it is leprosy breaking out in his bald head, or his bald forehead.\r\n Then the priest shall look upon him; and, behold, if the rising of the plague be reddish-white in his bald head, or in his bald forehead, as the appearance of leprosy in the skin of the flesh;\r\n he is a leprous man, he is unclean: the priest shall surely pronounce him unclean; his plague is in his head.\r\n And the leper in whom the plague is, his clothes shall be rent, and the hair of his head shall go loose, and he shall cover his upper lip, and shall cry, Unclean, unclean.\r\n All the days wherein the plague is in him he shall be unclean; he is unclean: he shall dwell alone; without the camp shall his dwelling be.\r\n The garment also that the plague of leprosy is in, whether it be a woollen garment, or a linen garment;\r\n whether it be in warp, or woof; of linen, or of woollen; whether in a skin, or in anything made of skin;\r\n if the plague be greenish or reddish in the garment, or in the skin, or in the warp, or in the woof, or in anything of skin; it is the plague of leprosy, and shall be showed unto the priest.\r\n And the priest shall look upon the plague, and shut up [that which hath] the plague seven days:\r\n and he shall look on the plague on the seventh day: if the plague be spread in the garment, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in the skin, whatever service skin is used for; the plague is a fretting leprosy; it is unclean.\r\n And he shall burn the garment, whether the warp or the woof, in woollen or in linen, or anything of skin, wherein the plague is: for it is a fretting leprosy; it shall be burnt in the fire.\r\n And if the priest shall look, and, behold, the plague be not spread in the garment, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in anything of skin;\r\n then the priest shall command that they wash the thing wherein the plague is, and he shall shut it up seven days more:\r\n and the priest shall look, after that the plague is washed; and, behold, if the plague have not changed its color, and the plague be not spread, it is unclean; thou shalt burn it in the fire: it is a fret, whether the bareness be within or without.\r\n And if the priest look, and, behold, the plague be dim after the washing thereof, then he shall rend it out of the garment, or out of the skin, or out of the warp, or out of the woof:\r\n and if it appear still in the garment, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in anything of skin, it is breaking out: thou shalt burn that wherein the plague is with fire.\r\n And the garment, either the warp, or the woof, or whatsoever thing of skin it be, which thou shalt wash, if the plague be departed from them, then it shall be washed the second time, and shall be clean.\r\n This is the law of the plague of leprosy in a garment of woollen or linen, either in the warp, or the woof, or anything of skin, to pronounce it clean, or to pronounce it unclean.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing: he shall be brought unto the priest:\r\n and the priest shall go forth out of the camp; and the priest shall look; and, behold, if the plague of leprosy be healed in the leper,\r\n then shall the priest command to take for him that is to be cleansed two living clean birds, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop:\r\n And the priest shall command to kill one of the birds in an earthen vessel over running water.\r\n As for the living bird, he shall take it, and the cedar wood, and the scarlet, and the hyssop, and shall dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water:\r\n And he shall sprinkle upon him that is to be cleansed from the leprosy seven times, and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let go the living bird into the open field.\r\n And he that is to be cleansed shall wash his clothes, and shave off all his hair, and bathe himself in water; and he shall be clean: and after that he shall come into the camp, but shall dwell outside his tent seven days.\r\n And it shall be on the seventh day, that he shall shave all his hair off his head and his beard and his eyebrows, even all his hair he shall shave off: and he shall wash his clothes, and he shall bathe his flesh in water, and he shall be clean.\r\n And on the eighth day he shall take two he-lambs without blemish, and one ewe-lamb a year old without blemish, and three tenth parts [of an ephah] of fine flour for a meal-offering, mingled with oil, and one log of oil.\r\n And the priest that cleanseth him shall set the man that is to be cleansed, and those things, before Jehovah, at the door of the tent of meeting.\r\n And the priest shall take one of the he-lambs, and offer him for a trespass-offering, and the log of oil, and wave them for a wave-offering before Jehovah:\r\n and he shall kill the he-lamb in the place where they kill the sin-offering and the burnt-offering, in the place of the sanctuary: for as the sin-offering is the priest`s, so is the trespass-offering: it is most holy:\r\n and the priest shall take of the blood of the trespass-offering, and the priest shall put it upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot.\r\n And the priest shall take of the log of oil, and pour it into the palm of his own left hand;\r\n and the priest shall dip his right finger in the oil that is in his left hand, and shall sprinkle of the oil with his finger seven times before Jehovah:\r\n and of the rest of the oil that is in his hand shall the priest put upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot, upon the blood of the trespass-offering:\r\n and the rest of the oil that is in the priest`s hand he shall put upon the head of him that is to be cleansed: and the priest shall make atonement for him before Jehovah.\r\n And the priest shall offer the sin-offering, and make atonement for him that is to be cleansed because of his uncleanness: and afterward he shall kill the burnt-offering;\r\n and the priest shall offer the burnt-offering and the meal-offering upon the altar: and the priest shall make atonement for him, and he shall be clean.\r\n And if he be poor, and cannot get so much, then he shall take one he-lamb for a trespass-offering to be waved, to make atonement for him, and one tenth part [of an ephah] of fine flour mingled with oil for a meal-offering, and a log of oil;\r\n and two turtle-doves, or two young pigeons, such as he is able to get; and the one shall be a sin-offering, and the other a burnt-offering.\r\n And on the eighth day he shall bring them for his cleansing unto the priest, unto the door of the tent of meeting, before Jehovah:\r\n and the priest shall take the lamb of the trespass-offering, and the log of oil, and the priest shall wave them for a wave-offering before Jehovah.\r\n And he shall kill the lamb of the trespass-offering; and the priest shall take of the blood of the trespass-offering, and put it upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot.\r\n And the priest shall pour of the oil into the palm of his own left hand;\r\n and the priest shall sprinkle with his right finger some of the oil that is in his left hand seven times before Jehovah:\r\n and the priest shall put of the oil that is in his hand upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot, upon the place of the blood of the trespass-offering:\r\n and the rest of the oil that is in the priest`s hand he shall put upon the head of him that is to be cleansed, to make atonement for him before Jehovah.\r\n And he shall offer one of the turtle-doves, or of the young pigeons, such as he is able to get,\r\n even such as he is able to get, the one for a sin-offering, and the other for a burnt-offering, with the meal-offering: and the priest shall make atonement for him that is to be cleansed before Jehovah.\r\n This is the law of him in whom is the plague of leprosy, who is not able to get [that which pertaineth] to his cleansing.\r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,\r\n When ye are come into the land of Canaan, which I give to you for a possession, and I put the plague of leprosy in a house of the land of your possession;\r\n then he that owneth the house shall come and tell the priest, saying, There seemeth to me to be as it were a plague in the house.\r\n And the priest shall command that they empty the house, before the priest goeth in to see the plague, that all that is in the house be not made unclean: and afterward the priest shall go in to see the house:\r\n and he shall look on the plague; and, behold, if the plague be in the walls of the house with hollow streaks, greenish or reddish, and the appearance thereof be lower than the wall;\r\n then the priest shall go out of the house to the door of the house, and shut up the house seven days.\r\n And the priest shall come again the seventh day, and shall look; and, behold, if the plague be spread in the walls of the house;\r\n then the priest shall command that they take out the stones in which the plague is, and cast them into an unclean place without the city:\r\n and he shall cause the house to be scraped within round about, and they shall pour out the mortar, that they scrape off, without the city into an unclean place:\r\n and they shall take other stones, and put them in the place of those stones; and he shall take other mortar, and shall plaster the house.\r\n And if the plague come again, and break out in the house, after that he hath taken out the stones, and after he hath scraped the house, and after it is plastered;\r\n then the priest shall come in and look; and, behold, if the plague be spread in the house, it is a fretting leprosy in the house: it is unclean.\r\n And he shall break down the house, the stones of it, and the timber thereof, and all the mortar of the house; and he shall carry them forth out of the city into an unclean place.\r\n Moreover he that goeth into the house all the while that it is shut up shall be unclean until the even.\r\n And he that lieth in the house shall wash his clothes; and he that eateth in the house shall wash his clothes.\r\n And if the priest shall come in, and look, and, behold, the plague hath not spread in the house, after the house was plastered; then the priest shall pronounce the house clean, because the plague is healed.\r\n And he shall take to cleanse the house two birds, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop:\r\n and he shall kill one of the birds in an earthen vessel over running water:\r\n and he shall take the cedar wood, and the hyssop, and the scarlet, and the living bird, and dip them in the blood of the slain bird, and in the running water, and sprinkle the house seven times:\r\n and he shall cleanse the house with the blood of the bird, and with the running water, and with the living bird, and with the cedar wood, and with the hyssop, and with the scarlet:\r\n but he shall let got the living bird out of the city into the open field: so shall he make atonement for the house; and it shall be clean.\r\n This is the law for all manner of plague of leprosy, and for a scall,\r\n and for the leprosy of a garment, and for a house,\r\n and for a rising, and for a scab, and for a bright spot;\r\n to teach when it is unclean, and when it is clean: this is the law of leprosy.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses and to Aaron, saying,\r\n Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When any man hath an issue out of his flesh, because of his issue he is unclean.\r\n And this shall be his uncleanness in his issue: whether his flesh run with his issue, or his flesh be stopped from his issue, it is his uncleanness.\r\n Every bed whereon he that hath the issue lieth shall be unclean; and everything whereon he sitteth shall be unclean.\r\n And whosoever toucheth his bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.\r\n And he that sitteth on anything whereon he that hath the issue sat shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.\r\n And he that toucheth the flesh of him that hath the issue shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.\r\n And if he that hath the issue spit upon him that is clean, then he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.\r\n And what saddle soever he that hath the issue rideth upon shall be unclean.\r\n And whosoever toucheth anything that was under him shall be unclean until the even: and he that beareth those things shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.\r\n And whomsoever he that hath the issue toucheth, without having rinsed his hands in water, he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.\r\n And the earthen vessel, which he that hath the issue toucheth, shall be broken; and every vessel of wood shall be rinsed in water.\r\n And when he that hath an issue is cleansed of his issue, then he shall number to himself seven days for his cleansing, and wash his clothes; and he shall bathe his flesh in running water, and shall be clean.\r\n And on the eighth day he shall take to him two turtle-doves, or two young pigeons, and come before Jehovah unto the door of the tent of meeting, and give them unto the priest:\r\n and the priest shall offer them, the one for a sin-offering, and the other for a burnt-offering; and the priest shall make atonement for him before Jehovah for his issue.\r\n And if any man`s seed of copulation go out from him, then he shall bathe all his flesh in water, and be unclean until the even.\r\n And every garment, and every skin, whereon is the seed of copulation, shall be washed with water, and be unclean until the even.\r\n The woman also with whom a man shall lie with seed of copulation, they shall both bathe themselves in water, and be unclean until the even.\r\n And if a woman have an issue, [and] her issue in her flesh be blood, she shall be in her impurity seven days: and whosoever toucheth her shall be unclean until the even.\r\n And everything that she lieth upon in her impurity shall be unclean: everything also that she sitteth upon shall be unclean.\r\n And whosoever toucheth her bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.\r\n And whosoever toucheth anything that she sitteth upon shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.\r\n And if it be on the bed, or on anything whereon she sitteth, when he toucheth it, he shall be unclean until the even.\r\n And if any man lie with her, and her impurity be upon him, he shall be unclean seven days; and every bed whereon he lieth shall be unclean.\r\n And if a woman have an issue of her blood many days not in the time of her impurity, or if she have an issue beyond the time of her impurity; all the days of the issue of her uncleanness she shall be as in the days of her impurity: she is unclean.\r\n Every bed whereon she lieth all the days of her issue shall be unto her as the bed of her impurity: and everything whereon she sitteth shall be unclean, as the uncleanness of her impurity.\r\n And whosoever toucheth those things shall be unclean, and shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.\r\n But if she be cleansed of her issue, then she shall number to herself seven days, and after that she shall be clean.\r\n And on the eighth day she shall take unto her two turtle-doves, or two young pigeons, and bring them unto the priest, to the door of the tent of meeting.\r\n And the priest shall offer the one for a sin-offering, and the other for a burnt-offering; and the priest shall make atonement for her before Jehovah for the issue of her uncleanness.\r\n Thus shall ye separate the children of Israel from their uncleanness, that they die not in their uncleanness, when they defile my tabernacle that is in the midst of them.\r\n This is the law of him that hath an issue, and of him whose seed of copulation goeth from him, so that he is unclean thereby;\r\n and of her that is sick with her impurity, and of him that hath an issue, of the man, and of the woman, and of him that lieth with her that is unclean.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses, after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they drew near before Jehovah, and died;\r\n and Jehovah said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the veil, before the mercy-seat which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy-seat.\r\n Herewith shall Aaron come into the holy place: with a young bullock for a sin-offering, and a ram for a burnt-offering.\r\n He shall put on the holy linen coat, and he shall have the linen breeches upon his flesh, and shall be girded with the linen girdle, and with the linen mitre shall he be attired: they are the holy garments; and he shall bathe his flesh in water, and put them on.\r\n And he shall take of the congregation of the children of Israel two he-goats for a sin-offering, and one ram for a burnt-offering.\r\n And Aaron shall present the bullock of the sin-offering, which is for himself, and make atonement for himself, and for his house.\r\n And he shall take the two goats, and set them before Jehovah at the door of the tent of meeting.\r\n And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for Jehovah, and the other lot for Azazel.\r\n And Aaron shall present the goat upon which the lot fell for Jehovah, and offer him for a sin-offering.\r\n But the goat, on which the lot fell for Azazel, shall be set alive before Jehovah, to make atonement for him, to send him away for Azazel into the wilderness.\r\n And Aaron shall present the bullock of the sin-offering, which is for himself, and shall make atonement for himself, and for his house, and shall kill the bullock of the sin-offering which is for himself:\r\n and he shall take a censer full of coals of fire from off the altar before Jehovah, and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small, and bring it within the veil:\r\n and he shall put the incense upon the fire before Jehovah, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy-seat that is upon the testimony, that he die not:\r\n and he shall take of the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it with his finger upon the mercy-seat on the east; and before the mercy-seat shall he sprinkle of the blood with his finger seven times.\r\n Then shall he kill the goat of the sin-offering, that is for the people, and bring his blood within the veil, and do with his blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the mercy-seat, and before the mercy-seat:\r\n and he shall make atonement for the holy place, because of the uncleannesses of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions, even all their sins: and so shall he do for the tent of meeting, that dwelleth with them in the midst of their uncleannesses.\r\n And there shall be no man in the tent of meeting when he goeth in to make atonement in the holy place, until he come out, and have made atonement for himself, and for his household, and for all the assembly of Israel.\r\n And he shall go out unto the altar that is before Jehovah, and make atonement for it, and shall take of the blood of the bullock, and of the blood of the goat, and put it upon the horns of the altar round about.\r\n And he shall sprinkle of the blood upon it with his finger seven times, and cleanse it, and hallow it from the uncleannesses of the children of Israel.\r\n And when he hath made an end of atoning for the holy place, and the tent of meeting, and the altar, he shall present the live goat:\r\n and Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions, even all their sins; and he shall put them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a man that is in readiness into the wilderness:\r\n and the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a solitary land: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness.\r\n And Aaron shall come into the tent of meeting, and shall put off the linen garments, which he put on when he went into the holy place, and shall leave them there:\r\n and he shall bathe his flesh in water in a holy place, and put on his garments, and come forth, and offer his burnt-offering and the burnt-offering of the people, and make atonement for himself and for the people.\r\n And the fat of the sin-offering shall he burn upon the altar.\r\n And he that letteth go the goat for Azazel shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp.\r\n And the bullock of the sin-offering, and the goat of the sin-offering, whose blood was brought in to make atonement in the holy place, shall be carried forth without the camp; and they shall burn in the fire their skins, and their flesh, and their dung.\r\n And he that burneth them shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp.\r\n And it shall be a statute for ever unto you: in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, ye shall afflict your souls, and shall do no manner of work, the home-born, or the stranger that sojourneth among you:\r\n for on this day shall atonement be made for you, to cleanse you; from all your sins shall ye be clean before Jehovah.\r\n It is a sabbath of solemn rest unto you, and ye shall afflict your souls; it is a statute for ever.\r\n And the priest, who shall be anointed and who shall be consecrated to be priest in his father`s stead, shall make the atonement, and shall put on the linen garments, even the holy garments:\r\n and he shall make atonement for the holy sanctuary; and he shall make atonement for the tent of meeting and for the altar; and he shall make atonement for the priests and for all the people of the assembly.\r\n And this shall be an everlasting statute unto you, to make atonement for the children of Israel because of all their sins once in the year. And he did as Jehovah commanded Moses.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Speak unto Aaron, and unto his sons, and unto all the children of Israel, and say unto them: This is the thing which Jehovah hath commanded, saying,\r\n What man soever there be of the house of Israel, that killeth an ox, or lamb, or goat, in the camp, or that killeth it without the camp,\r\n and hath not brought it unto the door of the tent of meeting, to offer it as an oblation unto Jehovah before the tabernacle of Jehovah: blood shall be imputed unto that man; he hath shed blood; and that man shall be cut off from among his people:\r\n To the end that the children of Israel may bring their sacrifices, which they sacrifice in the open field, even that they may bring them unto Jehovah, unto the door of the tent of meeting, unto the priest, and sacrifice them for sacrifices of peace-offerings unto Jehovah.\r\n And the priest shall sprinkle the blood upon the altar of Jehovah at the door of the tent of meeting, and burn the fat for a sweet savor unto Jehovah.\r\n And they shall no more sacrifice their sacrifices unto the he-goats, after which they play the harlot. This shall be a statute forever unto them throughout their generations.\r\n And thou shalt say unto them, Whatsoever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among them, that offereth a burnt-offering or sacrifice,\r\n and bringeth it not unto the door of the tent of meeting, to sacrifice it unto Jehovah; that man shall be cut off from his people.\r\n And whatsoever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among them, that eateth any manner of blood, I will set my face against that soul that eateth blood, and will cut him off from among his people.\r\n For the life of the flesh is in the blood; and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh atonement by reason of the life.\r\n Therefore I said unto the children of Israel, No soul of you shall eat blood, neither shall any stranger that sojourneth among you eat blood.\r\n And whatsoever man there be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among them, who taketh in hunting any beast or bird that may be eaten; he shall pour out the blood thereof, and cover it with dust.\r\n For as to the life of all flesh, the blood thereof is [all one] with the life thereof: therefore I said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh; for the life of all flesh is the blood thereof: whosoever eateth it shall be cut off.\r\n And every soul that eateth that which dieth of itself, or that which is torn of beasts, whether he be home-born or a sojourner, he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even: then shall he be clean.\r\n But if he wash them not, nor bathe his flesh, then he shall bear his iniquity.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, I am Jehovah your God.\r\n After the doings of the land of Egypt, wherein ye dwelt, shall ye not do: and after the doings of the land of Canaan, whither I bring you, shall ye not do; neither shall ye walk in their statutes.\r\n Mine ordinances shall ye do, and my statutes shall ye keep, to walk therein: I am Jehovah your God.\r\n Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and mine ordinances; which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am Jehovah.\r\n None of you shall approach to any that are near of kin to him, to uncover [their] nakedness: I am Jehovah.\r\n The nakedness of thy father, even the nakedness of thy mother, shalt thou not uncover: she is thy mother; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.\r\n The nakedness of thy father`s wife shalt thou not uncover: it is thy father`s nakedness.\r\n The nakedness of thy sister, the daughter of thy father, or the daughter of thy mother, whether born at home, or born abroad, even their nakedness thou shalt not uncover.\r\n The nakedness of thy son`s daughter, or of thy daughter`s daughter, even their nakedness thou shalt not uncover: for theirs is thine own nakedness.\r\n The nakedness of thy father`s wife`s daughter, begotten of thy father, she is thy sister, thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.\r\n Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father`s sister: she is thy father`s near kinswoman.\r\n Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother`s sister: for she is thy mother`s near kinswoman.\r\n Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father`s brother, thou shalt not approach to his wife: she is thine aunt.\r\n Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy daughter-in-law: she is thy son`s wife; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.\r\n Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy brother`s wife: it is thy brother`s nakedness.\r\n Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of a woman and her daughter; thou shalt not take her son`s daughter, or her daughter`s daughter, to uncover her nakedness; they are near kinswomen: it is wickedness.\r\n And thou shalt not take a wife to her sister, to be a rival [to her], to uncover her nakedness, besides the other in her life-time.\r\n And thou shalt not approach unto a woman to uncover her nakedness, as long as she is impure by her uncleanness.\r\n And thou shalt not lie carnally with thy neighbor`s wife, to defile thyself with her.\r\n And thou shalt not give any of thy seed to make them pass through [the fire] to Molech; neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am Jehovah.\r\n Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.\r\n And thou shalt not lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith; neither shall any woman stand before a beast, to lie down thereto: it is confusion.\r\n Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out from before you;\r\n And the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land vomiteth out her inhabitants.\r\n Ye therefore shall keep my statutes and mine ordinances, and shall not do any of these abominations; neither the home-born, nor the stranger that sojourneth among you;\r\n (for all these abominations have the men of the land done, that were before you, and the land is defiled);\r\n that the land vomit not you out also, when ye defile it, as it vomited out the nation that was before you.\r\n For whosoever shall do any of these abominations, even the souls that do them shall be cut off from among their people.\r\n Therefore shall ye keep my charge, that ye practise not any of these abominable customs, which were practised before you, and that ye defile not yourselves therein: I am Jehovah your God.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy; for I Jehovah your God am holy.\r\n Ye shall fear every man his mother, and his father; and ye shall keep my sabbaths: I am Jehovah your God.\r\n Turn ye not unto idols, nor make to yourselves molten gods: I am Jehovah your God.\r\n And when ye offer a sacrifice of peace-offerings unto Jehovah, ye shall offer it that ye may be accepted.\r\n It shall be eaten the same day ye offer it, and on the morrow: and if aught remain until the third day, it shall be burnt with fire.\r\n And if it be eaten at all on the third day, it is an abomination; it shall not be accepted:\r\n but every one that eateth it shall bear his iniquity, because he hath profaned the holy thing of Jehovah: and that soul shall be cut off from his people.\r\n And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field, neither shalt thou gather the gleaning of thy harvest.\r\n And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither shalt thou gather the fallen fruit of thy vineyard; thou shalt leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am Jehovah your God.\r\n Ye shall not steal; neither shall ye deal falsely, nor lie one to another.\r\n And ye shall not swear by my name falsely, and profane the name of thy God: I am Jehovah.\r\n Thou shalt not oppress thy neighbor, nor rob him: the wages of a hired servant shall not abide with thee all night until the morning.\r\n Thou shalt not curse the deaf, nor put a stumblingblock before the blind; but thou shalt fear thy God: I am Jehovah.\r\n Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty; but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbor.\r\n Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbor: I am Jehovah.\r\n Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thy heart: thou shalt surely rebuke thy neighbor, and not bear sin because of him.\r\n Thou shalt not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people; but thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself: I am Jehovah.\r\n Ye shall keep my statutes. Thou shalt not let thy cattle gender with a diverse kind: thou shalt not sow thy field with two kinds of seed: neither shall there come upon thee a garment of two kinds of stuff mingled together.\r\n And whosoever lieth carnally with a woman, that is a bondmaid, betrothed to a husband, and not at all redeemed, nor freedom given her; they shall be punished; they shall not be put to death, because she was not free.\r\n And he shall bring his trespass-offering unto Jehovah, unto the door of the tent of meeting, even a ram for a trespass-offering.\r\n And the priest shall make atonement for him with the ram of the trespass-offering before Jehovah for his sin which he hath sinned: and the sin which he hath sinned shall be forgiven him.\r\n And when ye shall come into the land, and shall have planted all manner of trees for food, then ye shall count the fruit thereof as their uncircumcision: three years shall they be as uncircumcised unto you; it shall not be eaten.\r\n But in the fourth year all the fruit thereof shall be holy, for giving praise unto Jehovah.\r\n And in the fifth year shall ye eat of the fruit thereof, that it may yield unto you the increase thereof: I am Jehovah your God.\r\n Ye shall not eat anything with the blood: neither shall ye use enchantments, nor practise augury.\r\n Ye shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard.\r\n Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am Jehovah.\r\n Profane not thy daughter, to make her a harlot; lest the land fall to whoredom, and the land become full of wickedness.\r\n Ye shall keep my sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary; I am Jehovah.\r\n Turn ye not unto them that have familiar spirits, nor unto the wizards; seek them not out, to be defiled by them: I am Jehovah your God.\r\n Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honor the face of the old man, and thou shalt fear thy God: I am Jehovah.\r\n And if a stranger sojourn with thee in your land, ye shall not do him wrong.\r\n The stranger that sojourneth with you shall be unto you as the home-born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were sojourners in the land of Egypt: I am Jehovah your God.\r\n Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment, in measures of length, of weight, or of quantity.\r\n Just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin, shall ye have: I am Jehovah your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt.\r\n And ye shall observe all my statutes, and all mine ordinances, and do them: I am Jehovah.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Moreover, thou shalt say to the children of Israel, Whosoever he be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn in Israel, that giveth of his seed unto Molech; he shall surely be put to death: the people of the land shall stone him with stones.\r\n I also will set my face against that man, and will cut him off from among his people; because he hath given of his seed unto Molech, to defile my sanctuary, and to profane my holy name.\r\n And if the people at the land do at all hide their eyes from that man, when he giveth of his seed unto Molech, and put him not to death;\r\n then I will set my face against that man, and against his family, and will cut him off, and all that play the harlot after him, to play the harlot with Molech, from among their people.\r\n And the soul that turneth unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto the wizards, to play the harlot after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people.\r\n Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy; for I am Jehovah your God.\r\n And ye shall keep my statutes, and do them: I am Jehovah who sanctifieth you.\r\n For every one that curseth his father or his mother shall surely be put to death: he hath cursed his father or his mother; his blood shall be upon him.\r\n And the man that committeth adultery with another man`s wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbor`s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.\r\n And the man that lieth with his father`s wife hath uncovered his father`s nakedness: both of them shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.\r\n And if a man lie with his daughter-in-law, both of them shall surely be put to death: they have wrought confusion; their blood shall be upon them.\r\n And if a man lie with mankind, as with womankind, both of them have committed abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.\r\n And if a man take a wife and her mother, it is wickedness: they shall be burnt with fire, both he and they; that there be no wickedness among you.\r\n And if a man lie with a beast, he shall surely be put to death: and ye shall slay the beast.\r\n And if a woman approach unto any beast, and lie down thereto, thou shalt kill the woman, and the beast: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.\r\n And if a man shall take his sister, his father`s daughter, or his mother`s daughter, and see her nakedness, and she see his nakedness; it is a shameful thing; and they shall be cut off in the sight of the children of their people: he hath uncovered his sister`s nakedness; he shall bear his iniquity.\r\n And if a man shall lie with a woman having her sickness, and shall uncover her nakedness; he hath made naked her fountain, and she hath uncovered the fountain of her blood: and both of them shall be cut off from among their people.\r\n And thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother`s sister, nor of thy father`s sister; for he hath made naked his near kin: they shall bear their iniquity.\r\n And if a man shall lie with his uncle`s wife, he hath uncovered his uncle`s nakedness: they shall bear their sin; they shall die childless.\r\n And if a man shall take his brother`s wife, it is impurity: he hath uncovered his brother`s nakedness; they shall be childless.\r\n Ye shall therefore keep all my statutes, and all mine ordinances, and do them; that the land, whither I bring you to dwell therein, vomit you not out.\r\n And ye shall not walk in the customs of the nation, which I cast out before you: for they did all these things, and therefore I abhorred them.\r\n But I have said unto you, Ye shall inherit their land, and I will give it unto you to possess it, a land flowing with milk and honey: I am Jehovah your God, who hath separated you from the peoples.\r\n Ye shall therefore make a distinction between the clean beast and the unclean, and between the unclean fowl and the clean: and ye shall not make your souls abominable by beast, or by bird, or by anything wherewith the ground teemeth, which I have separated from you as unclean.\r\n And ye shall be holy unto me: for I, Jehovah, am holy, and have set you apart from the peoples, that ye should be mine.\r\n A man also or a woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones; their blood shall be upon them.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Jehovah said unto Moses, Speak unto the priests, the sons of Aaron, and say unto them, There shall none defile himself for the dead among his people;\r\n except for his kin, that is near unto him, for his mother, and for his father, and for his son, and for his daughter, and for his brother,\r\n and for his sister a virgin, that is near unto him, that hath had no husband; for her may he defile himself.\r\n He shall not defile himself, [being] a chief man among his people, to profane himself.\r\n They shall not make baldness upon their head, neither shall they shave off the corner of their beard, nor make any cuttings in their flesh.\r\n They shall be holy unto their God, and not profane the name of their God; for the offerings of Jehovah made by fire, the bread of their God, they do offer: therefore they shall be holy.\r\n They shall not take a woman that is a harlot, or profane; neither shall they take a woman put away from her husband: for he is holy unto his God.\r\n Thou shalt sanctify him therefore; for he offereth the bread of thy God: he shall be holy unto thee: for I Jehovah, who sanctify you, am holy.\r\n And the daughter of any priest, if she profane herself by playing the harlot, she profaneth her father: she shall be burnt with fire.\r\n And he that is the high priest among his brethren, upon whose head the anointing oil is poured, and that is consecrated to put on the garments, shall not let the hair of his head go loose, nor rend his clothes;\r\n neither shall he go in to any dead body, nor defile himself for his father, or for his mother;\r\n neither shall he go out of the sanctuary, nor profane the sanctuary of his God; for the crown of the anointing oil of his God is upon him: I am Jehovah.\r\n And he shall take a wife in her virginity.\r\n A widow, or one divorced, or a profane woman, a harlot, these shall he not take: but a virgin of his own people shall he take to wife.\r\n And he shall not profane his seed among his people: for I am Jehovah who sanctifieth him.\r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Speak unto Aaron, saying, Whosoever he be of thy seed throughout their generations that hath a blemish, let him not approach to offer the bread of his God.\r\n For whatsoever man he be that hath a blemish, he shall not approach: a blind man, or a lame, or he that hath a flat nose, or anything superfluous,\r\n or a man that is broken-footed, or broken-handed,\r\n or crook-backed, or a dwarf, or that hath a blemish in his eye, or is scurvy, or scabbed, or hath his stones broken;\r\n no man of the seed of Aaron the priest, that hath a blemish, shall come nigh to offer the offerings of Jehovah made by fire: he hath a blemish; he shall not come nigh to offer the bread of his God.\r\n He shall eat the bread of his God, both of the most holy, and of the holy:\r\n only he shall not go in unto the veil, nor come nigh unto the altar, because he hath a blemish; that he profane not my sanctuaries: for I am Jehovah who sanctifieth them.\r\n So Moses spake unto Aaron, and to his sons, and unto all the children of Israel.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Speak unto Aaron and to his sons, that they separate themselves from the holy things of the children of Israel, which they hallow unto me, and that they profane not my holy name: I am Jehovah.\r\n Say unto them, Whosoever he be of all your seed throughout your generations, that approacheth unto the holy things, which the children of Israel hallow unto Jehovah, having his uncleanness upon him, that soul shall be cut off from before me: I am Jehovah.\r\n What man soever of the seed of Aaron is a leper, or hath an issue; he shall not eat of the holy things, until he be clean. And whoso toucheth anything that is unclean by the dead, or a man whose seed goeth from him;\r\n or whosoever toucheth any creeping thing, whereby he may be made unclean, or a man of whom he may take uncleanness, whatsoever uncleanness he hath;\r\n the soul that toucheth any such shall be unclean until the even, and shall not eat of the holy things, unless he bathe his flesh in water.\r\n And when the sun is down, he shall be clean; and afterward he shall eat of the holy things, because it is his bread.\r\n That which dieth of itself, or is torn of beasts, he shall not eat, to defile himself therewith: I am Jehovah.\r\n They shall therefore keep my charge, lest they bear sin for it, and die therein, if they profane it: I am Jehovah who sanctifieth them.\r\n There shall no stranger eat of the holy thing: a sojourner of the priest`s, or a hired servant, shall not eat of the holy thing.\r\n But if a priest buy any soul, the purchase of his money, he shall eat of it; and such as are born in his house, they shall eat of his bread.\r\n And if a priest`s daughter be married unto a stranger, she shall not eat of the heave-offering of the holy things.\r\n But if a priest`s daughter be a widow, or divorced, and have no child, and be returned unto her father`s house, as in her youth, she shall eat of her father`s bread: but there shall no stranger eat thereof.\r\n And if a man eat of the holy thing unwittingly, then he shall put the fifth part thereof unto it, and shall give unto the priest the holy thing.\r\n And they shall not profane the holy things of the children of Israel, which they offer unto Jehovah,\r\n and [so] cause them to bear the iniquity that bringeth guilt, when they eat their holy things: for I am Jehovah who sanctifieth them.\r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Speak unto Aaron, and to his sons, and unto all the children of Israel, and say unto them, Whosoever he be of the house of Israel, or of the sojourners in Israel, that offereth his oblation, whether it be any of their vows, or any of their freewill-offerings, which they offer unto Jehovah for a burnt-offering;\r\n that ye may be accepted, [ye shall offer] a male without blemish, of the bullocks, of the sheep, or of the goats.\r\n But whatsoever hath a blemish, that shall ye not offer: for it shall not be acceptable for you.\r\n And whosoever offereth a sacrifice of peace-offerings unto Jehovah to accomplish a vow, or for a freewill-offering, of the herd or of the flock, it shall be perfect to be accepted; there shall be no blemish therein.\r\n Blind, or broken, or maimed, or having a wen, or scurvy, or scabbed, ye shall not offer these unto Jehovah, nor make an offering by fire of them upon the altar unto Jehovah.\r\n Either a bullock or a lamb that hath anything superfluous or lacking in his parts, that mayest thou offer for a freewill-offering; but for a vow it shall not be accepted.\r\n That which hath its stones bruised, or crushed, or broken, or cut, ye shall not offer unto Jehovah; neither shall ye do [thus] in your land.\r\n Neither from the hand of a foreigner shall ye offer the bread of your God of any of these; because their corruption is in them, there is a blemish in them: they shall not be accepted for you.\r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n When a bullock, or a sheep, or a goat, is brought forth, then it shall be seven days under the dam; and from the eighth day and thenceforth it shall be accepted for the oblation of an offering made by fire unto Jehovah.\r\n And whether it be cow or ewe, ye shall not kill it and its young both in one day.\r\n And when ye sacrifice a sacrifice of thanksgiving unto Jehovah, ye shall sacrifice it that ye may be accepted.\r\n On the same day it shall be eaten; ye shall leave none of it until the morning: I am Jehovah.\r\n Therefore shall ye keep my commandments, and do them: I am Jehovah.\r\n And ye shall not profane my holy name; but I will be hallowed among the children of Israel: I am Jehovah who halloweth you,\r\n who brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am Jehovah.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, The set feasts of Jehovah, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my set feasts.\r\n Six days shall work be done: but on the seventh day is a sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation; ye shall do no manner of work: it is a sabbath unto Jehovah in all your dwellings.\r\n These are the set feasts of Jehovah, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their appointed season.\r\n In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at even, is Jehovah`s passover.\r\n And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto Jehovah: seven days ye shall eat unleavened bread.\r\n In the first day ye shall have a holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work.\r\n But ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto Jehovah seven days: in the seventh day is a holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work.\r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye are come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring the sheaf of the first-fruits of your harvest unto the priest:\r\n and he shall wave the sheaf before Jehovah, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it.\r\n And in the day when ye wave the sheaf, ye shall offer a he-lamb without blemish a year old for a burnt-offering unto Jehovah.\r\n And the meal-offering thereof shall be two tenth parts [of an ephah] of fine flour mingled with oil, an offering made by fire unto Jehovah for a sweet savor; and the drink-offering thereof shall be of wine, the fourth part of a hin.\r\n And ye shall eat neither bread, nor parched grain, nor fresh ears, until this selfsame day, until ye have brought the oblation of your God: it is a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.\r\n And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave-offering; seven sabbaths shall there be complete:\r\n even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meal-offering unto Jehovah.\r\n Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave-loaves of two tenth parts [of an ephah]: they shall be of fine flour, they shall be baken with leaven, for first-fruits unto Jehovah.\r\n And ye shall present with the bread seven lambs without blemish a year old, and one young bullock, and two rams: they shall be a burnt-offering unto Jehovah, with their meal-offering, and their drink-offerings, even an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor unto Jehovah.\r\n And ye shall offer one he-goat for a sin-offering, and two he-lambs a year old for a sacrifice of peace-offerings.\r\n And the priest shall wave them with the bread of the first-fruits for a wave-offering before Jehovah, with the two lambs: they shall be holy to Jehovah for the priest.\r\n And ye shall make proclamation on the selfsame day; there shall be a holy convocation unto you; ye shall do no servile work: it is a statute for ever in all your dwellings throughout your generations.\r\n And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field, neither shalt thou gather the gleaning of thy harvest: thou shalt leave them for the poor, and for the sojourner: I am Jehovah your God.\r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, shall be a solemn rest unto you, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation.\r\n Ye shall do no servile work; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto Jehovah.\r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Howbeit on the tenth day of this seventh month is the day of atonement: it shall be a holy convocation unto you, and ye shall afflict your souls; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto Jehovah.\r\n And ye shall do no manner of work in that same day; for it is a day of atonement, to make atonement for you before Jehovah your God.\r\n For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day; he shall be cut off from his people.\r\n And whatsoever soul it be that doeth any manner of work in that same day, that soul will I destroy from among his people.\r\n Ye shall do no manner of work: it is a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.\r\n It shall be unto you a sabbath of solemn rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye keep your sabbath.\r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, On the fifteenth day of this seventh month is the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto Jehovah.\r\n On the first day shall be a holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work.\r\n Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto Jehovah: on the eighth day shall be a holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto Jehovah: it is a solemn assembly; ye shall do no servile work.\r\n These are the set feasts of Jehovah, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire unto Jehovah, a burnt-offering, and a meal-offering, a sacrifice, and drink-offerings, each on its own day;\r\n besides the sabbaths of Jehovah, and besides your gifts, and besides all your vows, and besides all your freewill-offerings, which ye give unto Jehovah.\r\n Howbeit on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when ye have gathered in the fruits of the land, ye shall keep the feast of Jehovah seven days: on the first day shall be a solemn rest, and on the eighth day shall be a solemn rest.\r\n And ye shall take you on the first day the fruit of goodly trees, branches of palm-trees, and boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and ye shall rejoice before Jehovah your God seven days.\r\n And ye shall keep it a feast unto Jehovah seven days in the year: it is a statute for ever throughout your generations; ye shall keep it in the seventh month.\r\n Ye shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are home-born in Israel shall dwell in booths;\r\n that your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am Jehovah your God.\r\n And Moses declared unto the children of Israel the set feasts of Jehovah.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Command the children of Israel, that they bring unto thee pure olive oil beaten for the light, to cause a lamp to burn continually.\r\n Without the veil of the testimony, in the tent of meeting, shall Aaron keep it in order from evening to morning before Jehovah continually: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations.\r\n He shall keep in order the lamps upon the pure candlestick before Jehovah continually.\r\n And thou shalt take fine flour, and bake twelve cakes thereof: two tenth parts [of an ephah] shall be in one cake.\r\n And thou shalt set them in two rows, six on a row, upon the pure table before Jehovah.\r\n And thou shalt put pure frankincense upon each row, that it may be to the bread for a memorial, even an offering made by fire unto Jehovah.\r\n Every sabbath day he shall set it in order before Jehovah continually; it is on the behalf of the children of Israel, an everlasting covenant.\r\n And it shall be for Aaron and his sons; and they shall eat it in a holy place: for it is most holy unto him of the offerings of Jehovah made by fire by a perpetual statute.\r\n And the son of an Israelitish woman, whose father was an Egyptian, went out among the children of Israel; and the son of the Israelitish woman and a man of Israel strove together in the camp:\r\n and the son of the Israelitish woman blasphemed the Name, and cursed; and they brought him unto Moses. And his mother`s name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan.\r\n And they put him in ward, that it might be declared unto them at the mouth of Jehovah.\r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Bring forth him that hath cursed without the camp; and let all that heard him lay their hands upon his head, and let all the congregation stone him.\r\n And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, Whosoever curseth his God shall bear his sin.\r\n And he that blasphemeth the name of Jehovah, he shall surely be put to death; all the congregation shall certainly stone him: as well the sojourner, as the home-born, when he blasphemeth the name [of Jehovah], shall be put to death.\r\n And he that smiteth any man mortally shall surely be put to death.\r\n And he that smiteth a beast mortally shall make it good, life for life.\r\n And if a man cause a blemish in his neighbor; as he hath done, so shall it be done to him:\r\n breach for breach, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; as he hath caused a blemish in a man, so shall it be rendered unto him.\r\n And he that killeth a beast shall make it good: and he that killeth a man shall be put to death.\r\n Ye shall have one manner of law, as well for the sojourner, as for the home-born: for I am Jehovah your God.\r\n And Moses spake to the children of Israel; and they brought forth him that had cursed out of the camp, and stoned him with stones. And the children of Israel did as Jehovah commanded Moses.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses in mount Sinai, saying,\r\n Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye come into the land which I give you, then shall the land keep a sabbath unto Jehovah.\r\n Six years thou shalt sow thy field, and six years thou shalt prune thy vineyard, and gather in the fruits thereof;\r\n but in the seventh year shall be a sabbath of solemn rest for the land, a sabbath unto Jehovah: thou shalt neither sow thy field, nor prune thy vineyard.\r\n That which groweth of itself of thy harvest thou shalt not reap, and the grapes of thy undressed vine thou shalt not gather: it shall be a year of solemn rest for the land.\r\n And the sabbath of the land shall be for food for you; for thee, and for thy servant and for thy maid, and for thy hired servant and for thy stranger, who sojourn with thee.\r\n And for thy cattle, and for the beasts that are in thy land, shall all the increase thereof be for food.\r\n And thou shalt number seven sabbaths of years unto thee, seven times seven years; and there shall be unto thee the days of seven sabbaths of years, even forty and nine years.\r\n Then shalt thou send abroad the loud trumpet on the tenth day of the seventh month; in the day of atonement shall ye send abroad the trumpet throughout all your land.\r\n And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubilee unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family.\r\n A jubilee shall that fiftieth year be unto you: ye shall not sow, neither reap that which groweth of itself in it, nor gather [the grapes] in it of the undressed vines.\r\n For it is a jubilee; it shall be holy unto you: ye shall eat the increase thereof out of the field.\r\n In this year of jubilee ye shall return every man unto his possession.\r\n And if thou sell aught unto thy neighbor, or buy of thy neighbor`s hand, ye shall not wrong one another.\r\n According to the number of years after the jubilee thou shalt buy of thy neighbor, [and] according unto the number of years of the crops he shall sell unto thee.\r\n According to the multitude of the years thou shalt increase the price thereof, and according to the fewness of the years thou shalt diminish the price of it; for the number of the crops doth he sell unto thee.\r\n And ye shall not wrong one another; but thou shalt fear thy God: for I am Jehovah your God.\r\n Wherefore ye shall do my statutes, and keep mine ordinances and do them; and ye shall dwell in the land in safety.\r\n And the land shall yield its fruit, and ye shall eat your fill, and dwell therein in safety.\r\n And if ye shall say, What shall we eat the seventh year? Behold, we shall not sow, nor gather in our increase;\r\n then I will command my blessing upon you in the sixth year, and it shall bring forth fruit for the three years.\r\n And ye shall sow the eighth year, and eat of the fruits, the old store; until the ninth year, until its fruits come in, ye shall eat the old store.\r\n And the land shall not be sold in perpetuity; for the land is mine: for ye are strangers and sojourners with me.\r\n And in all the land of your possession ye shall grant a redemption for the land.\r\n If thy brother be waxed poor, and sell some of his possession, then shall his kinsman that is next unto him come, and shall redeem that which his brother hath sold.\r\n And if a man have no one to redeem it, and he be waxed rich and find sufficient to redeem it;\r\n then let him reckon the years of the sale thereof, and restore the overplus unto the man to whom he sold it; and he shall return unto his possession.\r\n But if he be not able to get it back for himself, then that which he hath sold shall remain in the hand of him that hath bought it until the year of jubilee: and in the jubilee it shall go out, and he shall return unto his possession.\r\n And if a man sell a dwelling-house in a walled city, then he may redeem it within a whole year after it is sold; for a full year shall he have the right of redemption.\r\n And if it be not redeemed within the space of a full year, then the house that is in the walled city shall be made sure in perpetuity to him that bought it, throughout his generations: it shall not go out in the jubilee.\r\n But the houses of the villages which have no wall round about them shall be reckoned with the fields of the country: they may be redeemed, and they shall go out in the jubilee.\r\n Nevertheless the cities of the Levites, the houses of the cities of their possession, may the Levites redeem at any time.\r\n And if one of the Levites redeem, then the house that was sold, and the city of his possession, shall go out in the jubilee; for the houses of the cities of the Levites are their possession among the children of Israel.\r\n But the field of the suburbs of their cities may not be sold; for it is their perpetual possession.\r\n And if thy brother be waxed poor, and his hand fail with thee; then thou shalt uphold him: [as] a stranger and a sojourner shall he live with thee.\r\n Take thou no interest of him or increase, but fear thy God; that thy brother may live with thee.\r\n Thou shalt not give him thy money upon interest, nor give him thy victuals for increase.\r\n I am Jehovah your God, who brought you forth out of the land of Egypt, to give you the land of Canaan, [and] to be your God.\r\n And if thy brother be waxed poor with thee, and sell himself unto thee; thou shalt not make him to serve as a bond-servant.\r\n As a hired servant, and as a sojourner, he shall be with thee; he shall serve with thee unto the year of jubilee:\r\n then shall he go out from thee, he and his children with him, and shall return unto his own family, and unto the possession of his fathers shall he return.\r\n For they are my servants, whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt: they shall not be sold as bondmen.\r\n Thou shalt not rule over him with rigor, but shalt fear thy God.\r\n And as for thy bondmen, and thy bondmaids, whom thou shalt have; of the nations that are round about you, of them shall ye buy bondmen and bondmaids.\r\n Moreover of the children of the strangers that sojourn among you, of them shall ye buy, and of their families that are with you, which they have begotten in your land: and they shall be your possession.\r\n And ye shall make them an inheritance for your children after you, to hold for a possession; of them shall ye take your bondmen for ever: but over your brethren the children of Israel ye shall not rule, one over another, with rigor.\r\n And if a stranger or sojourner with thee be waxed rich, and thy brother be waxed poor beside him, and sell himself unto the stranger [or] sojourner with thee, or to the stock of the stranger`s family;\r\n after that he is sold he may be redeemed: one of his brethren may redeem him;\r\n or his uncle, or his uncle`s son, may redeem him, or any that is nigh of kin unto him of his family may redeem him; or if he be waxed rich, he may redeem himself.\r\n And he shall reckon with him that bought him from the year that he sold himself to him unto the year of jubilee: and the price of his sale shall be according unto the number of years; according to the time of a hired servant shall he be with him.\r\n If there be yet many years, according unto them he shall give back the price of his redemption out of the money that he was bought for.\r\n And if there remain but few years unto the year of jubilee, then he shall reckon with him; according unto his years shall he give back the price of his redemption.\r\n As a servant hired year by year shall he be with him: he shall not rule with rigor over him in thy sight.\r\n And if he be not redeemed by these [means], then he shall go out in the year of jubilee, he, and his children with him.\r\n For unto me the children of Israel are servants; they are my servants whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt: I am Jehovah your God.\r\n \r\n \r\n Ye shall make you no idols, neither shall ye rear you up a graven image, or a pillar, neither shall ye place any figured stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I am Jehovah your God.\r\n Ye shall keep my sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary: I am Jehovah.\r\n If ye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them;\r\n then I will give your rains in their season, and the land shall yield its increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.\r\n And your threshing shall reach unto the vintage, and the vintage shall reach unto the sowing time; and ye shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely.\r\n And I will give peace in the land, and ye shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid: and I will cause evil beasts to cease out of the land, neither shall the sword go through your land.\r\n And ye shall chase your enemies, and they shall fall before you by the sword.\r\n And five of you shall chase a hundred, and a hundred of you shall chase ten thousand; and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword.\r\n And I will have respect unto you, and make you fruitful, and multiply you, and will establish my covenant with you.\r\n And ye shall eat old store long kept, and ye shall bring forth the old because of the new.\r\n And I will set my tabernacle among you: and my soul shall not abhor you.\r\n And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people.\r\n I am Jehovah your God, who brought you forth out of the land of Egypt, that ye should not be their bondmen; and I have broken the bars of your yoke, and made you go upright.\r\n But if ye will not hearken unto me, and will not do all these commandments;\r\n and if ye shall reject my statutes, and if your soul abhor mine ordinances, so that ye will not do all my commandments, but break my covenant;\r\n I also will do this unto you: I will appoint terror over you, even consumption and fever, that shall consume the eyes, and make the soul to pine away; and ye shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it.\r\n And I will set my face against you, and ye shall be smitten before your enemies: they that hate you shall rule over you; and ye shall flee when none pursueth you.\r\n And if ye will not yet for these things hearken unto me, then I will chastise you seven times more for your sins.\r\n And I will break the pride of your power: and I will make your heaven as iron, and your earth as brass;\r\n and your strength shall be spent in vain; for your land shall not yield its increase, neither shall the trees of the land yield their fruit.\r\n And if ye walk contrary unto me, and will not hearken unto me, I will bring seven times more plagues upon you according to your sins.\r\n And I will send the beast of the field among you, which shall rob you of your children, and destroy your cattle, and make you few in number; and your ways shall become desolate.\r\n And if by these things ye will not be reformed unto me, but will walk contrary unto me;\r\n then will I also walk contrary unto you; and I will smite you, even I, seven times for your sins.\r\n And I will bring a sword upon you, that shall execute the vengeance of the covenant; and ye shall be gathered together within your cities: and I will send the pestilence among you; and ye shall be delivered into the hand of the enemy.\r\n When I break your staff of bread, ten women shall bake your bread in one oven, and they shall deliver your bread again by weight: and ye shall eat, and not be satisfied.\r\n And if ye will not for all this hearken unto me, but walk contrary unto me;\r\n then I will walk contrary unto you in wrath; and I also will chastise you seven times for your sins.\r\n And ye shall eat the flesh of your sons, and the flesh of your daughters shall ye eat.\r\n And I will destroy your high places, and cut down your sun-images, and cast your dead bodies upon the bodies of your idols; and my soul shall abhor you.\r\n And I will make your cities a waste, and will bring your sanctuaries unto desolation, and I will not smell the savor of your sweet odors.\r\n And I will bring the land into desolation; and your enemies that dwell therein shall be astonished at it.\r\n And you will I scatter among the nations, and I will draw out the sword after you: and your land shall be a desolation, and your cities shall be a waste.\r\n Then shall the land enjoy its sabbaths, as long as it lieth desolate, and ye are in your enemies` land; even then shall the land rest, and enjoy its sabbaths.\r\n As long as it lieth desolate it shall have rest, even the rest which it had not in your sabbaths, when ye dwelt upon it.\r\n And as for them that are left of you, I will send a faintness into their heart in the lands of their enemies: and the sound of a driven leaf shall chase them; and they shall flee, as one fleeth from the sword; and they shall fall when none pursueth.\r\n And they shall stumble one upon another, as it were before the sword, when none pursueth: and ye shall have no power to stand before your enemies.\r\n And ye shall perish among the nations, and the land of your enemies shall eat you up.\r\n And they that are left of you shall pine away in their iniquity in your enemies` lands; and also in the iniquities of their fathers shall they pine away with them.\r\n And they shall confess their iniquity, and the iniquity of their fathers, in their trespass which they trespassed against me, and also that, because they walked contrary unto me,\r\n I also walked contrary unto them, and brought them into the land of their enemies: if then their uncircumcised heart be humbled, and they then accept of the punishment of their iniquity;\r\n then will I remember my covenant with Jacob; and also my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham will I remember; and I will remember the land.\r\n The land also shall be left by them, and shall enjoy its sabbaths, while it lieth desolate without them: and they shall accept of the punishment of their iniquity; because, even because they rejected mine ordinances, and their soul abhorred my statutes.\r\n And yet for all that, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not reject them, neither will I abhor them, to destroy them utterly, and to break my covenant with them; for I am Jehovah their God;\r\n but I will for their sakes remember the covenant of their ancestors, whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the nations, that I might be their God: I am Jehovah.\r\n These are the statutes and ordinances and laws, which Jehovah made between him and the children of Israel in mount Sinai by Moses.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When a man shall accomplish a vow, the persons shall be for Jehovah by thy estimation.\r\n And thy estimation shall be of the male from twenty years old even unto sixty years old, even thy estimation shall be fifty shekels of silver, after the shekel of the sanctuary.\r\n And if it be a female, then thy estimation shall be thirty shekels.\r\n And if it be from five years old even unto twenty years old, then thy estimation shall be of the male twenty shekels, and for the female ten shekels.\r\n And if it be from a month old even unto five years old, then thy estimation shall be of the male five shekels of silver, and for the female thy estimation shall be three shekels of silver.\r\n And if it be from sixty years old and upward; if it be a male, then thy estimation shall be fifteen shekels, and for the female ten shekels.\r\n But if he be poorer than thy estimation, then he shall be set before the priest, and the priest shall value him; according to the ability of him that vowed shall the priest value him.\r\n And if it be a beast, whereof men offer an oblation unto Jehovah, all that any man giveth of such unto Jehovah shall be holy.\r\n He shall not alter it, nor change it, a good for a bad, or a bad for a good: and if he shall at all change beast for beast, then both it and that for which it is changed shall be holy.\r\n And if it be any unclean beast, of which they do not offer an oblation unto Jehovah, then he shall set the beast before the priest;\r\n and the priest shall value it, whether it be good or bad: as thou the priest valuest it, so shall it be.\r\n But if he will indeed redeem it, then he shall add the fifth part thereof unto thy estimation.\r\n And when a man shall sanctify his house to be holy unto Jehovah, then the priest shall estimate it, whether it be good or bad: as the priest shall estimate it, so shall it stand.\r\n And if he that sanctified it will redeem his house, then he shall add the fifth part of the money of thy estimation unto it, and it shall be his.\r\n And if a man shall sanctify unto Jehovah part of the field of his possession, then thy estimation shall be according to the sowing thereof: the sowing of a homer of barley [shall be valued] at fifty shekels of silver.\r\n If he sanctify his field from the year of jubilee, according to thy estimation it shall stand.\r\n But if he sanctify his field after the jubilee, then the priest shall reckon unto him the money according to the years that remain unto the year of jubilee; and an abatement shall be made from thy estimation.\r\n And if he that sanctified the field will indeed redeem it, then he shall add the fifth part of the money of thy estimation unto it, and it shall be assured to him.\r\n And if he will not redeem the field, or if he have sold the field to another man, it shall not be redeemed any more:\r\n but the field, when it goeth out in the jubilee, shall be holy unto Jehovah, as a field devoted; the possession thereof shall be the priest`s.\r\n And if he sanctify unto Jehovah a field which he hath bought, which is not of the field of his possession;\r\n then the priest shall reckon unto him the worth of thy estimation unto the year of jubilee: and he shall give thine estimation in that day, as a holy thing unto Jehovah.\r\n In the year of jubilee the field shall return unto him of whom it was bought, even to him to whom the possession of the land belongeth.\r\n And all thy estimations shall be according to the shekel of the sanctuary: twenty gerahs shall be the shekel.\r\n Only the firstling among beasts, which is made a firstling to Jehovah, no man shall sanctify it; whether it be ox or sheep, it is Jehovah`s.\r\n And if it be of an unclean beast, then he shall ransom it according to thine estimation, and shall add unto it the fifth part thereof: or if it be not redeemed, then it shall be sold according to thy estimation.\r\n Notwithstanding, no devoted thing, that a man shall devote unto Jehovah of all that he hath, whether of man or beast, or of the field of his possession, shall be sold or redeemed: every devoted thing is most holy unto Jehovah.\r\n No one devoted, that shall be devoted from among men, shall be ransomed; he shall surely be put to death.\r\n And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is Jehovah`s: it is holy unto Jehovah.\r\n And if a man will redeem aught of his tithe, he shall add unto it the fifth part thereof.\r\n And all the tithe of the herd or the flock, whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto Jehovah.\r\n He shall not search whether it be good or bad, neither shall he change it: and if he change it at all, then both it and that for which it is changed shall be holy; it shall not be redeemed.\r\n These are the commandments, which Jehovah commanded Moses for the children of Israel in mount Sinai.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tent of meeting, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they were come out of the land of Egypt, saying,\r\n Take ye the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, by their families, by their fathers` houses, according to the number of the names, every male, by their polls;\r\n from twenty years old and upward, all that are able to go forth to war in Israel, thou and Aaron shall number them by their hosts.\r\n And with you there shall be a man of every tribe; every one head of his fathers` house.\r\n And these are the names of the men that shall stand with you. Of Reuben: Elizur the son of Shedeur.\r\n Of Simeon: Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.\r\n Of Judah: Nahshon the son of Amminadab.\r\n Of Issachar: Nethanel the son of Zuar.\r\n Of Zebulun: Eliab the son of Helon.\r\n Of the children of Joseph: Of Ephraim: Elishama the son of Ammihud. Of Manasseh: Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.\r\n Of Benjamin: Abidan the son of Gideoni.\r\n Of Dan: Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.\r\n Of Asher: Pagiel the son of Ochran.\r\n Of Gad: Eliasaph the son of Deuel.\r\n Of Naphtali: Ahira the son of Enan.\r\n These are they that were called of the congregation, the princes of the tribes of their fathers; they were the heads of the thousands of Israel.\r\n And Moses and Aaron took these men that are mentioned by name:\r\n And they assembled all the congregation together on the first day of the second month; and they declared their pedigrees after their families, by their fathers` houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, by their polls.\r\n As Jehovah commanded Moses, so he numbered them in the wilderness of Sinai.\r\n And the children of Reuben, Israel`s first-born, their generations, by their families, by their fathers` houses, according to the number of the names, by their polls, every male from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;\r\n those that were numbered of them, of the tribe of Reuben, were forty and six thousand and five hundred.\r\n Of the children of Simeon, their generations, by their families, by their fathers` houses, those that were numbered thereof, according to the number of the names, by their polls, every male from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;\r\n those that were numbered of them, of the tribe of Simeon, were fifty and nine thousand and three hundred.\r\n Of the children of Gad, their generations, by their families, by their fathers` houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;\r\n those that were numbered of them, of the tribe of Gad, were forty and five thousand six hundred and fifty.\r\n Of the children of Judah, their generations, by their families, by their fathers` houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;\r\n those that were numbered of them, of the tribe of Judah, were threescore and fourteen thousand and six hundred.\r\n Of the children of Issachar, their generations, by their families, by their fathers` houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;\r\n those that were numbered of them, of the tribe of Issachar, were fifty and four thousand and four hundred.\r\n Of the children of Zebulun, their generations, by their families, by their fathers` houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;\r\n those that were numbered of them, of the tribe of Zebulun, were fifty and seven thousand and four hundred.\r\n Of the children of Joseph, [namely], of the children of Ephraim, their generations, by their families, by their fathers` houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;\r\n those that were numbered of them, of the tribe of Ephraim, were forty thousand and five hundred.\r\n Of the children of Manasseh, their generations, by their families, by their fathers` houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;\r\n those that were numbered of them, of the tribe of Manasseh, were thirty and two thousand and two hundred.\r\n Of the children of Benjamin, their generations, by their families, by their fathers` houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;\r\n those that were numbered of them, of the tribe of Benjamin, were thirty and five thousand and four hundred.\r\n Of the children of Dan, their generations, by their families, by their fathers` houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;\r\n those that were numbered of them, of the tribe of Dan, were threescore and two thousand and seven hundred.\r\n Of the children of Asher, their generations, by their families, by their fathers` houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;\r\n those that were numbered of them, of the tribe of Asher, were forty and one thousand and five hundred.\r\n Of the children of Naphtali, their generations, by their families, by their fathers` houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;\r\n those that were numbered of them, of the tribe of Naphtali, were fifty and three thousand and four hundred.\r\n These are they that were numbered, whom Moses and Aaron numbered, and the princes of Israel, being twelve men: they were each one for his fathers` house.\r\n So all they that were numbered of the children of Israel by their fathers` houses, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war in Israel;\r\n even all they that were numbered were six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty.\r\n But the Levites after the tribe of their fathers were not numbered among them.\r\n For Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Only the tribe of Levi thou shalt not number, neither shalt thou take the sum of them among the children of Israel;\r\n but appoint thou the Levites over the tabernacle of the testimony, and over all the furniture thereof, and over all that belongeth to it: they shall bear the tabernacle, and all the furniture thereof; and they shall minister unto it, and shall encamp round about the tabernacle.\r\n And when the tabernacle setteth forward, the Levites shall take it down; and when the tabernacle is to be pitched, the Levites shall set it up: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.\r\n And the children of Israel shall pitch their tents, every man by his own camp, and every man by his own standard, according to their hosts.\r\n But the Levites shall encamp round about the tabernacle of the testimony, that there be no wrath upon the congregation of the children of Israel: and the Levites shall keep the charge of the tabernacle of the testimony.\r\n Thus did the children of Israel; according to all that Jehovah commanded Moses, so did they.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,\r\n The children of Israel shall encamp every man by his own standard, with the ensigns of their fathers` houses: over against the tent of meeting shall they encamp round about.\r\n And those that encamp on the east side toward the sunrising shall be they of the standard of the camp of Judah, according to their hosts: and the prince of the children of Judah shall be Nahshon the son of Amminadab.\r\n And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were threescore and fourteen thousand and six hundred.\r\n And those that encamp next unto him shall be the tribe of Issachar: and the prince of the children of Issachar shall be Nethanel the son of Zuar.\r\n And his host, and those that were numbered thereof, were fifty and four thousand and four hundred.\r\n [And] the tribe of Zebulun: and the prince of the children of Zebulun shall be Eliab the son of Helon.\r\n And his host, and those that were numbered thereof, were fifty and seven thousand and four hundred.\r\n All that were numbered of the camp of Judah were a hundred thousand and fourscore thousand and six thousand and four hundred, according to their hosts. They shall set forth first.\r\n On the south side shall be the standard of the camp of Reuben according to their hosts: and the prince of the children of Reuben shall be Elizur the son of Shedeur.\r\n And his host, and those that were numbered thereof, were forty and six thousand and five hundred.\r\n And those that encamp next unto him shall be the tribe of Simeon: and the prince of the children of Simeon shall be Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.\r\n And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were fifty and nine thousand and three hundred.\r\n And the tribe of Gad: and the prince of the children of Gad shall be Eliasaph the son of Reuel.\r\n And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were forty and five thousand and six hundred and fifty.\r\n All that were numbered of the camp of Reuben were a hundred thousand and fifty and one thousand and four hundred and fifty, according to their hosts. And they shall set forth second.\r\n Then the tent of meeting shall set forward, with the camp of the Levites in the midst of the camps: as they encamp, so shall they set forward, every man in his place, by their standards.\r\n On the west side shall be the standard of the camp of Ephraim according to their hosts: and the prince of the children of Ephraim shall be Elishama the son of Ammihud.\r\n And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were forty thousand and five hundred.\r\n And next unto him shall be the tribe of Manasseh: and the prince of the children of Manasseh shall be Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.\r\n And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were thirty and two thousand and two hundred.\r\n And the tribe of Benjamin: and the prince of the children of Benjamin shall be Abidan the son of Gideoni.\r\n And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were thirty and five thousand and four hundred.\r\n All that were numbered of the camp of Ephraim were a hundred thousand and eight thousand and a hundred, according to their hosts. And they shall set forth third.\r\n On the north side shall be the standard of the camp of Dan according to their hosts: and the prince of the children of Dan shall be Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.\r\n And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were threescore and two thousand and seven hundred.\r\n And those that encamp next unto him shall be the tribe of Asher: and the prince of the children of Asher shall be Pagiel the son of Ochran.\r\n And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were forty and one thousand and five hundred.\r\n And the tribe of Naphtali: and the prince of the children of Naphtali shall be Ahira the son of Enan.\r\n And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were fifty and three thousand and four hundred.\r\n All that were numbered of the camp of Dan were a hundred thousand and fifty and seven thousand and six hundred. They shall set forth hindmost by their standards.\r\n These are they that were numbered of the children of Israel by their fathers` houses: all that were numbered of the camps according to their hosts were six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty.\r\n But the Levites were not numbered among the children of Israel; as Jehovah commanded Moses.\r\n Thus did the children of Israel; according to all that Jehovah commanded Moses, so they encamped by their standards, and so they set forward, every one by their families, according to their fathers` houses.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now these are the generations of Aaron and Moses in the day that Jehovah spake with Moses in mount Sinai.\r\n And these are the names of the sons of Aaron: Nadab the first-born, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.\r\n These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the priests that were anointed, whom he consecrated to minister in the priest`s office.\r\n And Nadab and Abihu died before Jehovah, when they offered strange fire before Jehovah, in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children; and Eleazar and Ithamar ministered in the priest`s office in the presence of Aaron their father.\r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Bring the tribe of Levi near, and set them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister unto him.\r\n And they shall keep his charge, and the charge of the whole congregation before the tent of meeting, to do the service of the tabernacle.\r\n And they shall keep all the furniture of the tent of meeting, and the charge of the children of Israel, to do the service of the tabernacle.\r\n And thou shalt give the Levites unto Aaron and to his sons: they are wholly given unto him on the behalf of the children of Israel.\r\n And thou shalt appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall keep their priesthood: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.\r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the first-born that openeth the womb among the children of Israel; and the Levites shall be mine:\r\n for all the first-born are mine; on the day that I smote all the first-born in the land of Egypt I hallowed unto me all the first-born in Israel, both man and beast; mine they shall be: I am Jehovah.\r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, saying,\r\n Number the children of Levi by their fathers` houses, by their families: every male from a month old and upward shalt thou number them.\r\n And Moses numbered them according to the word of Jehovah, as he was commanded.\r\n And these were the sons of Levi by their names: Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari.\r\n And these are the names of the sons of Gershon by their families: Libni and Shimei.\r\n And the sons of Kohath by their families: Amram, and Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.\r\n And the sons of Merari by their families: Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites according to their fathers` houses.\r\n Of Gershon was the family of the Libnites, and the family of the Shimeites: these are the families of the Gershonites.\r\n Those that were numbered of them, according to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, even those that were numbered of them were seven thousand and five hundred.\r\n The families of the Gershonites shall encamp behind the tabernacle westward.\r\n And the prince of the fathers` house of the Gershonites shall be Eliasaph the son of Lael.\r\n And the charge of the sons of Gershon in the tent of meeting shall be the tabernacle, and the Tent, the covering thereof, and the screen for the door of the tent of meeting,\r\n and the hangings of the court, and the screen for the door of the court, which is by the tabernacle, and by the altar round about, and the cords of it for all the service thereof.\r\n And of Kohath was the family of the Amramites, and the family of the Izharites, and the family of the Hebronites, and the family of the Uzzielites: these are the families of the Kohathites.\r\n According to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, there were eight thousand and six hundred, keeping the charge of the sanctuary.\r\n The families of the sons of Kohath shall encamp on the side of the tabernacle southward.\r\n And the prince of the fathers` house of the families of the Kohathites shall be Elizaphan the son of Uzziel.\r\n And their charge shall be the ark, and the table, and the candlestick, and the altars, and the vessels of the sanctuary wherewith they minister, and the screen, and all the service thereof.\r\n And Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest shall be prince of the princes of the Levites, [and have] the oversight of them that keep the charge of the sanctuary.\r\n Of Merari was the family of the Mahlites, and the family of the Mushites: these are the families of Merari.\r\n And those that were numbered of them, according to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, were six thousand and two hundred.\r\n And the prince of the fathers` house of the families of Merari was Zuriel the son of Abihail: they shall encamp on the side of the tabernacle northward.\r\n And the appointed charge of the sons of Merari shall be the boards of the tabernacle, and the bars thereof, and the pillars thereof, and the sockets thereof, and all the instruments thereof, and all the service thereof,\r\n and the pillars of the court round about, and their sockets, and their pins, and their cords.\r\n And those that encamp before the tabernacle eastward, before the tent of meeting toward the sunrising, shall be Moses, and Aaron and his sons, keeping the charge of the sanctuary for the charge of the children of Israel; and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.\r\n All that were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron numbered at the commandment of Jehovah, by their families, all the males from a month old and upward, were twenty and two thousand.\r\n And Jehovah said unto Moses, Number all the first-born males of the children of Israel from a month old and upward, and take the number of their names.\r\n And thou shalt take the Levites for me (I am Jehovah) instead of all the first-born among the children of Israel; and the cattle of the Levites instead of all the firstlings among the cattle of the children of Israel:\r\n and Moses numbered, as Jehovah commanded him, all the first-born among the children of Israel.\r\n And all the first-born males according to the number of names, from a month old and upward, of those that were numbered of them, were twenty and two thousand two hundred and threescore and thirteen.\r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Take the Levites instead of all the first-born among the children of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle; and the Levites shall be mine: I am Jehovah.\r\n And for the redemption of the two hundred and threescore and thirteen of the first-born of the children of Israel, that are over and above [the number of] the Levites,\r\n thou shalt take five shekels apiece by the poll; after the shekel of the sanctuary shalt thou take them (the shekel is twenty gerahs):\r\n and thou shalt give the money, wherewith the odd number of them is redeemed, unto Aaron and to his sons.\r\n And Moses took the redemption-money from them that were over and above them that were redeemed by the Levites;\r\n from the first-born of the children of Israel took he the money, a thousand three hundred and threescore and five [shekels], after the shekel of the sanctuary:\r\n and Moses gave the redemption-money unto Aaron and to his sons, according to the word of Jehovah, as Jehovah commanded Moses.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,\r\n Take the sum of the sons of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, by their families, by their fathers` houses,\r\n from thirty years old and upward even until fifty years old, all that enter upon the service, to do the work in the tent of meeting.\r\n This is the service of the sons of Kohath in the tent of meeting, [about] the most holy things:\r\n when the camp setteth forward, Aaron shall go in, and his sons, and they shall take down the veil of the screen, and cover the ark of the testimony with it,\r\n and shall put thereon a covering of sealskin, and shall spread over it a cloth all of blue, and shall put in the staves thereof.\r\n And upon the table of showbread they shall spread a cloth of blue, and put thereon the dishes, and the spoons, and the bowls and the cups wherewith to pour out; and the continual bread shall be thereon:\r\n and they shall spread upon them a cloth of scarlet, and cover the same with a covering of sealskin, and shall put in the staves thereof.\r\n And they shall take a cloth of blue, and cover the candlestick of the light, and its lamps, and its snuffers, and its snuffdishes, and all the oil vessels thereof, wherewith they minister unto it:\r\n and they shall put it and all the vessels thereof within a covering of sealskin, and shall put it upon the frame.\r\n And upon the golden altar they shall spread a cloth of blue, and cover it with a covering of sealskin, and shall put in the staves thereof:\r\n and they shall take all the vessels of ministry, wherewith they minister in the sanctuary, and put them in a cloth of blue, and cover them with a covering of sealskin, and shall put them on the frame.\r\n And they shall take away the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple cloth thereon:\r\n and they shall put upon it all the vessels thereof, wherewith they minister about it, the firepans, the flesh-hooks, and the shovels, and the basins, all the vessels of the altar; and they shall spread upon it a covering of sealskin, and put in the staves thereof.\r\n And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the furniture of the sanctuary, as the camp is set forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear it: but they shall not touch the sanctuary, lest they die. These things are the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tent of meeting.\r\n And the charge of Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest shall be the oil for the light, and the sweet incense, and the continual meal-offering, and the anointing oil, the charge of all the tabernacle, and of all that therein is, the sanctuary, and the furniture thereof.\r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,\r\n Cut ye not off the tribe of the families of the Kohathites from among the Levites;\r\n but thus do unto them, that they may live, and not die, when they approach unto the most holy things: Aaron and his sons shall go in, and appoint them every one to his service and to his burden;\r\n but they shall not go in to see the sanctuary even for a moment, lest they die.\r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Take the sum of the sons of Gershon also, by their fathers` houses, by their families;\r\n from thirty years old and upward until fifty years old shalt thou number them; all that enter in to wait upon the service, to do the work in the tent of meeting.\r\n This is the service of the families of the Gershonites, in serving and in bearing burdens:\r\n they shall bear the curtains of the tabernacle, and the tent of meeting, its covering, and the covering of sealskin that is above upon it, and the screen for the door of the tent of meeting,\r\n and the hangings of the court, and the screen for the door of the gate of the court, which is by the tabernacle and by the altar round about, and their cords, and all the instruments of their service, and whatsoever shall be done with them: therein shall they serve.\r\n At the commandment of Aaron and his sons shall be all the service of the sons of the Gershonites, in all their burden, and in all their service; and ye shall appoint unto them in charge all their burden.\r\n This is the service of the families of the sons of the Gershonites in the tent of meeting: and their charge shall be under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.\r\n As for the sons of Merari, thou shalt number them by their families, by their fathers` houses;\r\n from thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old shalt thou number them, every one that entereth upon the service, to do the work of the tent of meeting.\r\n And this is the charge of their burden, according to all their service in the tent of meeting: the boards of the tabernacle, and the bars thereof, and the pillars thereof, and the sockets thereof,\r\n and the pillars of the court round about, and their sockets, and their pins, and their cords, with all their instruments, and with all their service: and by name ye shall appoint the instruments of the charge of their burden.\r\n This is the service of the families of the sons of Merari, according to all their service, in the tent of meeting, under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.\r\n And Moses and Aaron and the princes of the congregation numbered the sons of the Kohathites by their families, and by their fathers` houses,\r\n from thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one that entered upon the service, for work in the tent of meeting:\r\n and those that were numbered of them by their families were two thousand seven hundred and fifty.\r\n These are they that were numbered of the families of the Kohathites, all that did serve in the tent of meeting, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the commandment of Jehovah by Moses.\r\n And those that were numbered of the sons of Gershon, their families, and by their fathers` houses,\r\n from thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one that entered upon the service, for work in the tent of meeting,\r\n even those that were numbered of them, by their families, by their fathers` houses, were two thousand and six hundred and thirty.\r\n These are they that were numbered of the families of the sons of Gershon, all that did serve in the tent of meeting, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the commandment of Jehovah.\r\n And those that were numbered of the families of the sons of Merari, by their families, by their fathers` houses,\r\n from thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one that entered upon the service, for work in the tent of meeting,\r\n even those that were numbered of them by their families, were three thousand and two hundred.\r\n These are they that were numbered of the families of the sons of Merari, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the commandment of Jehovah by Moses.\r\n All those that were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron and the princes of Israel numbered, by their families, and by their fathers` houses,\r\n from thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one that entered in to do the work of service, and the work of bearing burdens in the tent of meeting,\r\n even those that were numbered of them, were eight thousand and five hundred and fourscore.\r\n According to the commandment of Jehovah they were numbered by Moses, every one according to his service, and according to his burden: thus were they numbered of him, as Jehovah commanded Moses.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Command the children of Israel, that they put out of the camp every leper, and every one that hath an issue, and whosoever is unclean by the dead:\r\n both male and female shall ye put out, without the camp shall ye put them; that they defile not their camp, in the midst whereof I dwell.\r\n And the children of Israel did so, and put them out without the camp; as Jehovah spake unto Moses, so did the children of Israel.\r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Speak unto the children of Israel, When a man or woman shall commit any sin that men commit, so as to trespass against Jehovah, and that soul shall be guilty;\r\n then he shall confess his sin which he hath done: and he shall make restitution for his guilt in full, and add unto it the fifth part thereof, and give it unto him in respect of whom he hath been guilty.\r\n But if the man have no kinsman to whom restitution may be made for the guilt, the restitution for guilt which is made unto Jehovah shall be the priest`s; besides the ram of the atonement, whereby atonement shall be made for him.\r\n And every heave-offering of all the holy things of the children of Israel, which they present unto the priest, shall be his.\r\n And every man`s hallowed things shall be his: whatsoever any man giveth the priest, it shall be his.\r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man`s wife go aside, and commit a trespass against him,\r\n and a man lie with her carnally, and it be hid from the eyes of her husband, and be kept close, and she be defiled, and there be no witness against her, and she be not taken in the act;\r\n and the spirit of jealousy come upon him, and he be jealous of his wife, and she be defiled: or if the spirit of jealousy come upon him, and he be jealous of his wife, and she be not defiled:\r\n then shall the man bring his wife unto the priest, and shall bring her oblation for her, the tenth part of an ephah of barley meal; he shall pour no oil upon it, nor put frankincense thereon; for it is a meal-offering of jealousy, a meal-offering of memorial, bringing iniquity to remembrance.\r\n And the priest shall bring her near, and set her before Jehovah:\r\n and the priest shall take holy water in an earthen vessel; and of the dust that is on the floor of the tabernacle the priest shall take, and put it into the water.\r\n And the priest shall set the woman before Jehovah, and let the hair of the woman`s head go loose, and put the meal-offering of memorial in her hands, which is the meal-offering of jealousy: and the priest shall have in his hand the water of bitterness that causeth the curse.\r\n And the priest shall cause her to swear, and shall say unto the woman, If no man have lain with thee, and if thou have not gone aside to uncleanness, being under thy husband, be thou free from this water of bitterness that causeth the curse.\r\n But if thou have gone aside, being under thy husband, and if thou be defiled, and some man have lain with thee besides thy husband:\r\n then the priest shall cause the woman to swear with the oath of cursing, and the priest shall say unto the woman, Jehovah make thee a curse and an oath among thy people, when Jehovah doth make thy thigh to fall away, and thy body to swell;\r\n and this water that causeth the curse shall go into thy bowels, and make thy body to swell, and thy thigh to fall away. And the woman shall say, Amen, Amen.\r\n And the priest shall write these curses in a book, and he shall blot them out into the water of bitterness:\r\n and he shall make the woman drink the water of bitterness that causeth the curse; and the water that causeth the curse shall enter into her [and become] bitter.\r\n And the priest shall take the meal-offering of jealousy out of the woman`s hand, and shall wave the meal-offering before Jehovah, and bring it unto the altar:\r\n and the priest shall take a handful of the meal-offering, as the memorial thereof, and burn it upon the altar, and afterward shall make the woman drink the water.\r\n And when he hath made her drink the water, then it shall come to pass, if she be defiled, and have committed a trespass against her husband, that the water that causeth the curse shall enter into her [and become] bitter, and her body shall swell, and her thigh shall fall away: and the woman shall be a curse among her people.\r\n And if the woman be not defiled, but be clean; then she shall be free, and shall conceive seed.\r\n This is the law of jealousy, when a wife, being under her husband, goeth aside, and is defiled;\r\n or when the spirit of jealousy cometh upon a man, and he is jealous of his wife; then shall he set the woman before Jehovah, and the priest shall execute upon her all this law.\r\n And the man shall be free from iniquity, and that woman shall bear her iniquity.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When either man or woman shall make a special vow, the vow of a Nazirite, to separate himself unto Jehovah,\r\n he shall separate himself from wine and strong drink; he shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any juice of grapes, nor eat fresh grapes or dried.\r\n All the days of his separation shall he eat nothing that is made of the grape-vine, from the kernels even to the husk.\r\n All the days of his vow of separation there shall no razor come upon his head: until the days be fulfilled, in which he separateth himself unto Jehovah, he shall be holy; he shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow long.\r\n All the days that he separateth himself unto Jehovah he shall not come near to a dead body.\r\n He shall not make himself unclean for his father, or for his mother, for his brother, or for his sister, when they die; because his separation unto God is upon his head.\r\n All the days of his separation he is holy unto Jehovah.\r\n And if any man die very suddenly beside him, and he defile the head of his separation; then he shall shave his head in the day of his cleansing, on the seventh day shall he shave it.\r\n And on the eighth day he shall bring two turtle-doves, or two young pigeons, to the priest, to the door of the tent of meeting:\r\n and the priest shall offer one for a sin-offering, and the other for a burnt-offering, and make atonement for him, for that he sinned by reason of the dead, and shall hallow his head that same day.\r\n And he shall separate unto Jehovah the days of his separation, and shall bring a he-lamb a year old for a trespass-offering; but the former days shall be void, because his separation was defiled.\r\n And this is the law of the Nazirite, when the days of his separation are fulfilled: he shall be brought unto the door of the tent of meeting:\r\n and he shall offer his oblation unto Jehovah, one he-lamb a year old without blemish for a burnt-offering, and one ewe-lamb a year old without blemish for a sin-offering, and one ram without blemish for peace-offerings,\r\n and a basket of unleavened bread, cakes of fine flour mingled with oil, and unleavened wafers anointed with oil, and their meal-offering, and their drink-offerings.\r\n And the priest shall present them before Jehovah, and shall offer his sin-offering, and his burnt-offering:\r\n and he shall offer the ram for a sacrifice of peace-offerings unto Jehovah, with the basket of unleavened bread: the priest shall offer also the meal-offering thereof, and the drink-offering thereof.\r\n And the Nazirite shall shave the head of his separation at the door of the tent of meeting, and shall take the hair of the head of his separation, and put it on the fire which is under the sacrifice of peace-offerings.\r\n And the priest shall take the boiled shoulder of the ram, and one unleavened cake out of the basket, and one unleavened wafer, and shall put them upon the hands of the Nazirite, after he hath shaven [the head of] his separation;\r\n and the priest shall wave them for a wave-offering before Jehovah; this is holy for the priest, together with the wave-breast and heave-thigh: and after that the Nazirite may drink wine.\r\n This is the law of the Nazirite who voweth, [and of] his oblation unto Jehovah for his separation, besides that which he is able to get: according to his vow which he voweth, so he must do after the law of his separation.\r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel: ye shall say unto them,\r\n Jehovah bless thee, and keep thee:\r\n Jehovah make his face to shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:\r\n Jehovah lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.\r\n So shall they put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass on the day that Moses had made an end of setting up the tabernacle, and had anointed it and sanctified it, and all the furniture thereof, and the altar and all the vessels thereof, and had anointed them and sanctified them;\r\n that the princes of Israel, the heads of their fathers` houses, offered. These were the princes of the tribes, these are they that were over them that were numbered:\r\n and they brought their oblation before Jehovah, six covered wagons, and twelve oxen; a wagon for every two of the princes, and for each one an ox: and they presented them before the tabernacle.\r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Take it of them, that they may be [used] in doing the service of the tent of meeting; and thou shalt give them unto the Levites, to every man according to his service.\r\n And Moses took the wagons and the oxen, and gave them unto the Levites.\r\n Two wagons and four oxen he gave unto the sons of Gershon, according to their service:\r\n and four wagons and eight oxen he gave unto the sons of Merari, according unto their service, under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.\r\n But unto the sons of Kohath he gave none, because the service of the sanctuary belonged unto them; they bare it upon their shoulders.\r\n And the princes offered for the dedication of the altar in the day that it was anointed, even the princes offered their oblation before the altar.\r\n And Jehovah said unto Moses, They shall offer their oblation, each prince on his day, for the dedication of the altar.\r\n And he that offered his oblation the first day was Nahshon the son of Amminadab, of the tribe of Judah:\r\n and his oblation was one silver platter, the weight whereof was a hundred and thirty [shekels], one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meal-offering;\r\n one golden spoon of ten [shekels], full of incense;\r\n one young bullock, one ram, one he-lamb a year old, for a burnt-offering;\r\n one male of the goats for a sin-offering;\r\n and for the sacrifice of peace-offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, five he-lambs a year old: this was the oblation of Nahshon the son of Amminadab.\r\n On the second day Nethanel the son of Zuar, prince of Issachar, did offer:\r\n he offered for his oblation one silver platter, the weight whereof was a hundred and thirty [shekels], one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meal-offering;\r\n one golden spoon of ten [shekels], full of incense;\r\n one young bullock, one ram, one he-lamb a year old, for a burnt-offering;\r\n one male of the goats for a sin-offering;\r\n and for the sacrifice of peace-offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, five he-lambs a year old: this was the oblation of Nethanel the son of Zuar.\r\n On the third day Eliab the son of Helon, prince of the children of Zebulun.:\r\n his oblation was one silver platter, the weight whereof was a hundred and thirty [shekels], one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meal-offering;\r\n one golden spoon of ten [shekels], full of incense;\r\n one young bullock, one ram, one he-lamb a year old, for a burnt-offering;\r\n one male of the goats for a sin-offering;\r\n and for the sacrifice of peace-offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, five he-lambs a year old: this was the oblation of Eliab the son of Helon.\r\n On the fourth day Elizur the son of Shedeur, prince of the children of Reuben:\r\n his oblation was one silver platter, the weight whereof was a hundred and thirty [shekels], one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meal-offering;\r\n one golden spoon of ten [shekels], full of incense;\r\n one young bullock, one ram, one he-lamb a year old, for a burnt-offering;\r\n one male of the goats for a sin-offering;\r\n and for the sacrifice of peace-offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, five he-lambs a year old: this was the oblation of Elizur the son of Shedeur.\r\n On the fifth day Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai, prince of the children of Simeon:\r\n his oblation was one silver platter, the weight whereof was a hundred and thirty [shekels], one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meal-offering;\r\n one golden spoon of ten [shekels], full of incense;\r\n one young bullock, one ram, one he-lamb a year old, for a burnt-offering;\r\n one male of the goats for a sin-offering;\r\n and for the sacrifice of peace-offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, five he-lambs a year old: this was the oblation of Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.\r\n On the sixth day Eliasaph the son of Deuel, prince of the children of Gad:\r\n his oblation was one silver platter, the weight whereof was a hundred and thirty [shekels], one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meal-offering;\r\n one golden spoon of ten [shekels], full of incense;\r\n one young bullock, one ram, one he-lamb a year old, for a burnt-offering;\r\n one male of the goats for a sin-offering;\r\n and for the sacrifice of peace-offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, five he-lambs a year old: this was the oblation of Eliasaph the son of Deuel.\r\n On the seventh day Elishama the son of Ammihud, prince of the children of Ephraim:\r\n his oblation was one silver platter, the weight whereof was a hundred and thirty [shekels], one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meal-offering;\r\n one golden spoon of ten [shekels], full of incense;\r\n one young bullock, one ram, one he-lamb a year old, for a burnt-offering;\r\n one male of the goats for a sin-offering;\r\n and for the sacrifice of peace-offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, five he-lambs a year old: this was the oblation of Elishama the son of Ammihud.\r\n On the eighth day Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur, prince of the children of Manasseh:\r\n his oblation was one silver platter, the weight whereof was a hundred and thirty [shekels], one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meal-offering;\r\n one golden spoon of ten [shekels], full of incense;\r\n one young bullock, one ram, one he-lamb a year old, for a burnt-offering;\r\n one male of the goats for a sin-offering;\r\n and for the sacrifice of peace-offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, five he-lambs a year old: this was the oblation of Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.\r\n On the ninth day Abidan the son of Gideoni, prince of the children of Benjamin:\r\n his oblation was one silver platter, the weight whereof was a hundred and thirty [shekels], one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meal-offering;\r\n one golden spoon of ten [shekels], full of incense;\r\n one young bullock, one ram, one he-lamb a year old, for a burnt-offering;\r\n one male of the goats for a sin-offering;\r\n and for the sacrifice of peace-offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, five he-lambs a year old: this was the oblation of Abidan the son of Gideoni.\r\n On the tenth day Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai, prince of the children of Dan:\r\n his oblation was one silver platter, the weight whereof was a hundred and thirty [shekels], one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meal-offering;\r\n one golden spoon of ten [shekels], full of incense;\r\n one young bullock, one ram, one he-lamb a year old, for a burnt-offering;\r\n one male of the goats for a sin-offering;\r\n and for the sacrifice of peace-offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, five he-lambs a year old: this was the oblation of Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.\r\n On the eleventh day Pagiel the son of Ochran, prince of the children of Asher:\r\n his oblation was one silver platter, the weight whereof was a hundred and thirty [shekels], one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meal-offering;\r\n one golden spoon of ten [shekels], full of incense;\r\n one young bullock, one ram, one he-lamb a year old, for a burnt-offering;\r\n one male of the goats for a sin-offering;\r\n and for the sacrifice of peace-offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, five he-lambs a year old: this was the oblation of Pagiel the son of Ochran.\r\n On the twelfth day Ahira the son of Enan, prince of the children of Naphtali:\r\n his oblation was one silver platter, the weight whereof was a hundred a thirty [shekels], one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meal-offering;\r\n one golden spoon of ten [shekels], full of incense;\r\n one young bullock, one ram, one he-lamb a year old, for a burnt-offering;\r\n one male of the goats for a sin-offering;\r\n and for the sacrifice of peace-offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, five he-lambs a year old: this was the oblation of Ahira the son of Enan.\r\n This was the dedication of the altar, in the day when it was anointed, by the princes of Israel: twelve silver platters, twelve silver bowls, twelve golden spoons;\r\n each silver platter [weighing] a hundred and thirty [shekels], and each bowl seventy; all the silver of the vessels two thousand and four hundred [shekels], after the shekel of the sanctuary;\r\n the twelve golden spoons, full of incense, [weighing] ten [shekels] apiece, after the shekel of the sanctuary; all the gold of the spoons a hundred and twenty [shekels];\r\n all the oxen for the burnt-offering twelve bullocks, the rams twelve, the he-lambs a year old twelve, and their meal-offering; and the males of the goats for a sin-offering twelve;\r\n and all the oxen for the sacrifice of peace-offerings twenty and four bullocks, the rams sixty, the he-goats sixty, the he-lambs a year old sixty. This was the dedication of the altar, after that it was anointed.\r\n And when Moses went into the tent of meeting to speak with him, then he heard the Voice speaking unto him from above the mercy-seat that was upon the ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubim: and he spake unto him.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Speak unto Aaron, and say unto him, When thou lightest the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light in front of the candlestick.\r\n And Aaron did so; he lighted the lamps thereof [so as to give light] in front of the candlestick, as Jehovah commanded Moses.\r\n And this was the work of the candlestick, beaten work of gold; unto the base thereof, [and] unto the flowers thereof, it was beaten work: according unto the pattern which Jehovah had showed Moses, so he made the candlestick.\r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Take the Levites from among the children of Israel, and cleanse them.\r\n And thus shalt thou do unto them, to cleanse them: sprinkle the water of expiation upon them, and let them cause a razor to pass over all their flesh, and let them wash their clothes, and cleanse themselves.\r\n Then let them take a young bullock, and its meal-offering, fine flour mingled with oil; and another young bullock shalt thou take for a sin-offering.\r\n And thou shalt present the Levites before the tent of meeting: and thou shalt assemble the whole congregation of the children of Israel:\r\n and thou shalt present the Levites before Jehovah. And the children of Israel shall lay their hands upon the Levites:\r\n and Aaron shall offer the Levites before Jehovah for a wave-offering, on the behalf of the children of Israel, that it may be theirs to do the service of Jehovah.\r\n And the Levites shall lay their hands upon the heads of the bullocks: and offer thou the one for a sin-offering, and the other for a burnt-offering, unto Jehovah, to make atonement for the Levites.\r\n And thou shalt set the Levites before Aaron, and before his sons, and offer them for a wave-offering unto Jehovah.\r\n Thus shalt thou separate the Levites from among the children of Israel; and the Levites shall be mine.\r\n And after that shall the Levites go in to do the service of the tent of meeting: and thou shalt cleanse them, and offer them for a wave-offering.\r\n For they are wholly given unto me from among the children of Israel; instead of all that openeth the womb, even the first-born of all the children of Israel, have I taken them unto me.\r\n For all the first-born among the children of Israel are mine, both man and beast: on the day that I smote all the first-born in the land of Egypt I sanctified them for myself.\r\n And I have taken the Levites instead of all the first-born among the children of Israel.\r\n And I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and to his sons from among the children of Israel, to do the service of the children of Israel in the tent of meeting, and to make atonement for the children of Israel; that there be no plague among the children of Israel, when the children of Israel come nigh unto the sanctuary.\r\n Thus did Moses, and Aaron, and all the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the Levites: according unto all that Jehovah commanded Moses touching the Levites, so did the children of Israel unto them.\r\n And the Levites purified themselves from sin, and they washed their clothes: and Aaron offered them for a wave-offering before Jehovah; and Aaron made atonement for them to cleanse them.\r\n And after that went the Levites in to do their service in the tent of meeting before Aaron, and before his sons: as Jehovah had commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so did they unto them.\r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n This is that which belongeth unto the Levites: from twenty and five years old and upward they shall go in to wait upon the service in the work of the tent of meeting:\r\n and from the age of fifty years they shall cease waiting upon the work, and shall serve no more,\r\n but shall minister with their brethren in the tent of meeting, to keep the charge, and shall do no service. Thus shalt thou do unto the Levites touching their charges.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the first month of the second year after they were come out of the land of Egypt, saying,\r\n Moreover let the children of Israel keep the passover in its appointed season.\r\n In the fourteenth day of this month, at even, ye shall keep it in its appointed season: according to all the statutes of it, and according to all the ordinances thereof, shall ye keep it.\r\n And Moses spake unto the children of Israel, that they should keep the passover.\r\n And they kept the passover in the first [month], on the fourteenth day of the month, at even, in the wilderness of Sinai: according to all that Jehovah commanded Moses, so did the children of Israel.\r\n And there were certain men, who were unclean by reason of the dead body of a man, so that they could not keep the passover on that day: and they came before Moses and before Aaron on that day:\r\n and those men said unto him, We are unclean by reason of the dead body of a man: wherefore are we kept back, that we may not offer the oblation of Jehovah in its appointed season among the children of Israel?\r\n And Moses said unto them, Stay ye, that I may hear what Jehovah will command concerning you.\r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If any man of you or of your generations shall be unclean by reason of a dead body, or be on a journey afar off, yet he shall keep the passover unto Jehovah.\r\n In the second month on the fourteenth day at even they shall keep it; they shall eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs:\r\n they shall leave none of it unto the morning, nor break a bone thereof: according to all the statute of the passover they shall keep it.\r\n But the man that is clean, and is not on a journey, and forbeareth to keep the passover, that soul shall be cut off from his people; because he offered not the oblation of Jehovah in its appointed season, that man shall bear his sin.\r\n And if a stranger shall sojourn among you, and will keep the passover unto Jehovah; according to the statute of the passover, and according to the ordinance thereof, so shall he do: ye shall have one statute, both for the sojourner, and for him that is born in the land.\r\n And on the day that the tabernacle was reared up the cloud covered the tabernacle, even the tent of the testimony: and at even it was upon the tabernacle as it were the appearance of fire, until morning.\r\n So it was alway: the cloud covered it, and the appearance of fire by night.\r\n And whenever the cloud was taken up from over the Tent, then after that the children of Israel journeyed: and in the place where the cloud abode, there the children of Israel encamped.\r\n At the commandment of Jehovah the children of Israel journeyed, and at the commandment of Jehovah they encamped: as long as the cloud abode upon the tabernacle they remained encamped.\r\n And when the cloud tarried upon the tabernacle many days, then the children of Israel kept the charge of Jehovah, and journeyed not.\r\n And sometimes the cloud was a few days upon the tabernacle; then according to the commandment of Jehovah they remained encamped, and according to the commandment of Jehovah they journeyed.\r\n And sometimes the cloud was from evening until morning; and when the cloud was taken up in the morning, they journeyed: or [if it continued] by day and by night, when the cloud was taken up, they journeyed.\r\n Whether it were two days, or a month, or a year, that the cloud tarried upon the tabernacle, abiding thereon, the children of Israel remained encamped, and journeyed not; but when it was taken up, they journeyed.\r\n At the commandment of Jehovah they encamped, and at the commandment of Jehovah they journeyed: they kept the charge of Jehovah, at the commandment of Jehovah by Moses.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Make thee two trumpets of silver; of beaten work shalt thou make them: and thou shalt use them for the calling of the congregation, and for the journeying of the camps.\r\n And when they shall blow them, all the congregation shall gather themselves unto thee at the door of the tent of meeting.\r\n And if they blow but one, then the princes, the heads of the thousands of Israel, shall gather themselves unto thee.\r\n And when ye blow an alarm, the camps that lie on the east side shall take their journey.\r\n And when ye blow an alarm the second time, the camps that lie on the south side shall take their journey: they shall blow an alarm for their journeys.\r\n But when the assembly is to be gathered together, ye shall blow, but ye shall not sound an alarm.\r\n And the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow the trumpets; and they shall be to you for a statute for ever throughout your generations.\r\n And when ye go to war in your land against the adversary that oppresseth you, then ye shall sound an alarm with the trumpets; and ye shall be remembered before Jehovah your God, and ye shall be saved from your enemies.\r\n Also in the day of your gladness, and in your set feasts, and in the beginnings of your months, ye shall blow the trumpets over your burnt-offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace-offerings; and they shall be to you for a memorial before your God: I am Jehovah your God.\r\n And it came to pass in the second year, in the second month, on the twentieth day of the month, that the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle of the testimony.\r\n And the children of Israel set forward according to their journeys out of the wilderness of Sinai; and the cloud abode in the wilderness of Paran.\r\n And they first took their journey according to the commandment of Jehovah by Moses.\r\n And in the first [place] the standard of the camp of the children of Judah set forward according to their hosts: and over his host was Nahshon the son of Amminadab.\r\n And over the host of the tribe of the children of Issachar was Nethanel the son of Zuar.\r\n And over the host of the tribe of the children of Zebulun was Eliab the son of Helon.\r\n And the tabernacle was taken down; and the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari, who bare the tabernacle, set forward.\r\n And the standard of the camp of Reuben set forward according to their hosts: and over his host was Elizur the son of Shedeur.\r\n And over the host of the tribe of the children of Simeon was Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.\r\n And over the host of the tribe of the children of Gad was Eliasaph the son of Deuel.\r\n And the Kohathites set forward, bearing the sanctuary: and [the others] did set up the tabernacle against their coming.\r\n And the standard of the camp of the children of Ephraim set forward according to their hosts: and over his host was Elishama the son of Ammihud.\r\n And over the host of the tribe of the children of Manasseh was Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.\r\n And over the host of the tribe of the children of Benjamin was Abidan the son of Gideoni.\r\n And the standard of the camp of the children of Dan, which was the rearward of all the camps, set forward according to their hosts: and over his host was Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.\r\n And over the host of the tribe of the children of Asher was Pagiel the son of Ochran.\r\n And over the host of the tribe of the children of Naphtali was Ahira the son of Enan.\r\n Thus were the journeyings of the children of Israel according to their hosts; and they set forward.\r\n And Moses said unto Hobab, the son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses` father-in-law, We are journeying unto the place of which Jehovah said, I will give it you: come thou with us, and we will do thee good; for Jehovah hath spoken good concerning Israel.\r\n And he said unto him, I will not go; but I will depart to mine own land, and to my kindred.\r\n And he said, Leave us not, I pray thee; forasmuch as thou knowest how we are to encamp in the wilderness, and thou shalt be to us instead of eyes.\r\n And it shall be, if thou go with us, yea, it shall be, that what good soever Jehovah shall do unto us, the same will we do unto thee.\r\n And they set forward from the mount of Jehovah three days` journey; and the ark of the covenant of Jehovah went before them three days` journey, to seek out a resting-place for them.\r\n And the cloud of Jehovah was over them by day, when they set forward from the camp.\r\n And it came to pass, when the ark set forward, that Moses said, Rise up, O Jehovah, and let thine enemies be scattered; and let them that hate thee flee before thee.\r\n And when it rested, he said, Return, O Jehovah, unto the ten thousands of the thousands of Israel.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the people were as murmurers, [speaking] evil in the ears of Jehovah: and when Jehovah heard it, his anger was kindled; and the fire of Jehovah burnt among them, and devoured in the uttermost part of the camp.\r\n And the people cried unto Moses; and Moses prayed unto Jehovah, and the fire abated.\r\n And the name of that place was called Taberah, because the fire of Jehovah burnt among them.\r\n And the mixed multitude that was among them lusted exceedingly: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat?\r\n We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt for nought; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlic:\r\n but now our soul is dried away; there is nothing at all save this manna to look upon.\r\n And the manna was like coriander seed, and the appearance thereof as the appearance of bdellium.\r\n The people went about, and gathered it, and ground it in mills, or beat it in mortars, and boiled it in pots, and made cakes of it: and the taste of it was as the taste of fresh oil.\r\n And when the dew fell upon the camp in the night, the manna fell upon it.\r\n And Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, every man at the door of his tent: and the anger of Jehovah was kindled greatly; and Moses was displeased.\r\n And Moses said unto Jehovah, Wherefore hast thou dealt ill with thy servant? and wherefore have I not found favor in thy sight, that thou layest the burden of all this people upon me?\r\n Have I conceived all this people? have I brought them forth, that thou shouldest say unto me, Carry them in thy bosom, as a nursing-father carrieth the sucking child, unto the land which thou swarest unto their fathers?\r\n Whence should I have flesh to give unto all this people? for they weep unto me, saying, Give us flesh, that we may eat.\r\n I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me.\r\n And if thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray thee, out of hand, if I have found favor in thy sight; and let me not see my wretchedness.\r\n And Jehovah said unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the elders of the people, and officers over them; and bring them unto the tent of meeting, that they may stand there with thee.\r\n And I will come down and talk with thee there: and I will take of the Spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone.\r\n And say thou unto the people, Sanctify yourselves against to-morrow, and ye shall eat flesh; for ye have wept in the ears of Jehovah, saying, Who shall give us flesh to eat? for it was well with us in Egypt: therefore Jehovah will give you flesh, and ye shall eat.\r\n Ye shall not eat one day, nor two days, nor five days, neither ten days, nor twenty days,\r\n but a whole month, until it come out at your nostrils, and it be loathsome unto you; because that ye have rejected Jehovah who is among you, and have wept before him, saying, Why came we forth out of Egypt?\r\n And Moses said, The people, among whom I am, are six hundred thousand footmen; and thou hast said, I will give them flesh, that they may eat a whole month.\r\n Shall flocks and herds be slain for them, to suffice them? or shall all the fish of the sea be gathered together for them, to suffice them?\r\n And Jehovah said unto Moses, Is Jehovah`s hand waxed short? now shalt thou see whether my word shall come to pass unto thee or not.\r\n And Moses went out, and told the people the words of Jehovah: and he gathered seventy men of the elders of the people, and set them round about the Tent.\r\n And Jehovah came down in the cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the Spirit that was upon him, and put it upon the seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when the Spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, but they did so no more.\r\n But there remained two men in the camp, the name of the one was Eldad, and the name of the other Medad: and the Spirit rested upon them; and they were of them that were written, but had not gone out unto the Tent; and they prophesied in the camp.\r\n And there ran a young man, and told Moses, and said, Eldad and Medad do prophesy in the camp.\r\n And Joshua the son of Nun, the minister of Moses, one of his chosen men, answered and said, My lord Moses, forbid them.\r\n And Moses said unto him, Art thou jealous for my sake? would that all Jehovah`s people were prophets, that Jehovah would put his Spirit upon them!\r\n And Moses gat him into the camp, he and the elders of Israel.\r\n And there went forth a wind from Jehovah, and brought quails from the sea, and let them fall by the camp, about a day`s journey on this side, and a day`s journey on the other side, round about the camp, and about two cubits above the face of the earth.\r\n And the people rose up all that day, and all the night, and all the next day, and gathered the quails: he that gathered least gathered ten homers: and they spread them all abroad for themselves round about the camp.\r\n While the flesh was yet between their teeth, ere it was chewed, the anger of Jehovah was kindled against the people, and Jehovah smote the people with a very great plague.\r\n And the name of that place was called Kibrothhattaavah, because there they buried the people that lusted.\r\n From Kibrothhattaavah the people journeyed unto Hazeroth; and they abode at Hazeroth.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married; for he had married a Cushite woman.\r\n And they said, Hath Jehovah indeed spoken only with Moses? hath he not spoken also with us? And Jehovah heard it.\r\n Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men that were upon the face of the earth.\r\n And Jehovah spake suddenly unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto Miriam, Come out ye three unto the tent of meeting. And they three came out.\r\n And Jehovah came down in a pillar of cloud, and stood at the door of the Tent, and called Aaron and Miriam; and they both came forth.\r\n And he said, Hear now my words: if there be a prophet among you, I Jehovah will make myself known unto him in a vision, I will speak with him in a dream.\r\n My servant Moses is not so; he is faithful in all my house:\r\n with him will I speak mouth to mouth, even manifestly, and not in dark speeches; and the form of Jehovah shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant, against Moses?\r\n And the anger of Jehovah was kindled against them; and he departed.\r\n And the cloud removed from over the Tent; and, behold, Miriam was leprous, as [white as] snow: and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous.\r\n And Aaron said unto Moses, Oh, my lord, lay not, I pray thee, sin upon us, for that we have done foolishly, and for that we have sinned.\r\n Let her not, I pray, be as one dead, of whom the flesh is half consumed when he cometh out of his mother`s womb.\r\n And Moses cried unto Jehovah, saying, Heal her, O God, I beseech thee.\r\n And Jehovah said unto Moses, If her father had but spit in her face, should she not be ashamed seven days? let her be shut up without the camp seven days, and after that she shall be brought in again.\r\n And Miriam was shut up without the camp seven days: and the people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in again.\r\n And afterward the people journeyed from Hazeroth, and encamped in the wilderness of Paran.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Send thou men, that they may spy out the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel: of every tribe of their fathers shall ye send a man, every one a prince among them.\r\n And Moses sent them from the wilderness of Paran according to the commandment of Jehovah: all of them men who were heads of the children of Israel.\r\n And these were their names: Of the tribe of Reuben, Shammua the son of Zaccur.\r\n Of the tribe of Simeon, Shaphat the son of Hori.\r\n Of the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephunneh.\r\n Of the tribe of Issachar, Igal the son of Joseph.\r\n Of the tribe of Ephraim, Hoshea the son of Nun.\r\n Of the tribe of Benjamin, Palti the son of Raphu.\r\n Of the tribe of Zebulun, Gaddiel the son of Sodi.\r\n Of the tribe of Joseph, [namely], of the tribe of Manasseh, Gaddi the son of Susi.\r\n Of the tribe of Dan, Ammiel the son of Gemalli.\r\n Of the tribe of Asher, Sethur the son of Michael.\r\n Of the tribe of Naphtali, Nahbi the son of Vophsi.\r\n Of the tribe of Gad, Geuel the son of Machi.\r\n These are the names of the men that Moses sent to spy out the land. And Moses called Hoshea the son of Nun Joshua.\r\n And Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said unto them, Get you up this way by the South, and go up into the hill-country:\r\n and see the land, what it is; and the people that dwell therein, whether they are strong or weak, whether they are few or many;\r\n and what the land is that they dwell in, whether it is good or bad; and what cities they are that they dwell in, whether in camps, or in strongholds;\r\n and what the land is, whether it is fat or lean, whether there is wood therein, or not. And be ye of good courage, and bring of the fruit of the land. Now the time was the time of the first-ripe grapes.\r\n So they went up, and spied out the land from the wilderness of Zin unto Rehob, to the entrance of Hamath.\r\n And they went up by the South, and came unto Hebron; and Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the children of Anak, were there. (Now Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.)\r\n And they came unto the valley of Eshcol, and cut down from thence a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bare it upon a staff between two; [they brought] also of the pomegranates, and of the figs.\r\n That place was called the valley of Eshcol, because of the cluster which the children of Israel cut down from thence.\r\n And they returned from spying out the land at the end of forty days.\r\n And they went and came to Moses, and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh; and brought back word unto them, and unto all the congregation, and showed them the fruit of the land.\r\n And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us; and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it.\r\n Howbeit the people that dwell in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified, [and] very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there.\r\n Amalek dwelleth in the land of the South: and the Hittite, and the Jebusite, and the Amorite, dwell in the hill-country; and the Canaanite dwelleth by the sea, and along by the side of the Jordan.\r\n And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.\r\n But the men that went up with him said, We are not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.\r\n And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had spied out unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to spy it out, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of great stature.\r\n And there we saw the Nephilim, the sons of Anak, who come of the Nephilim: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.\r\n \r\n \r\n And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night.\r\n And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would that we had died in this wilderness!\r\n And wherefore doth Jehovah bring us unto this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will be a prey: were it not better for us to return into Egypt?\r\n And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt.\r\n Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel.\r\n And Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were of them that spied out the land, rent their clothes:\r\n and they spake unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to spy it out, is an exceeding good land.\r\n If Jehovah delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it unto us; a land which floweth with milk and honey.\r\n Only rebel not against Jehovah, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is removed from over them, and Jehovah is with us: fear them not.\r\n But all the congregation bade stone them with stones. And the glory of Jehovah appeared in the tent of meeting unto all the children of Israel.\r\n And Jehovah said unto Moses, How long will this people despise me? and how long will they not believe in me, for all the signs which I have wrought among them?\r\n I will smite them with the pestilence, and disinherit them, and will make of thee a nation greater and mightier than they.\r\n And Moses said unto Jehovah, Then the Egyptians will hear it; for thou broughtest up this people in thy might from among them;\r\n and they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land. They have heard that thou Jehovah art in the midst of this people; for thou Jehovah art seen face to face, and thy cloud standeth over them, and thou goest before them, in a pillar of cloud by day, and in a pillar of fire by night.\r\n Now if thou shalt kill this people as one man, then the nations which have heard the fame of thee will speak, saying,\r\n Because Jehovah was not able to bring this people into the land which he sware unto them, therefore he hath slain them in the wilderness.\r\n And now, I pray thee, let the power of the Lord be great, according as thou hast spoken, saying,\r\n Jehovah is slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness, forgiving iniquity and transgression; and that will by no means clear [the guilty], visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, upon the third and upon the fourth generation.\r\n Pardon, I pray thee, the iniquity of this people according unto the greatness of thy lovingkindness, and according as thou hast forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now.\r\n And Jehovah said, I have pardoned according to thy word:\r\n but in very deed, as I live, and as all the earth shall be filled with the glory of Jehovah;\r\n because all those men that have seen my glory, and my signs, which I wrought in Egypt and in the wilderness, yet have tempted me these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice;\r\n surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that despised me see it:\r\n but my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it.\r\n Now the Amalekite and the Canaanite dwell in the valley: to-morrow turn ye, and get you into the wilderness by the way to the Red Sea.\r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,\r\n How long [shall I bear] with this evil congregation, that murmur against me? I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against me.\r\n Say unto them, As I live, saith Jehovah, surely as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you:\r\n your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, that have murmured against me,\r\n surely ye shall not come into the land, concerning which I sware that I would make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun.\r\n But your little ones, that ye said should be a prey, them will I bring in, and they shall know the land which ye have rejected.\r\n But as for you, your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness.\r\n And your children shall be wanderers in the wilderness forty years, and shall bear your whoredoms, until your dead bodies be consumed in the wilderness.\r\n After the number of the days in which ye spied out the land, even forty days, for every day a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my alienation.\r\n I, Jehovah, have spoken, surely this will I do unto all this evil congregation, that are gathered together against me: in this wilderness they shall be consumed, and there they shall die.\r\n And the men, whom Moses sent to spy out the land, who returned, and made all the congregation to murmur against him, by bringing up an evil report against the land,\r\n even those men that did bring up an evil report of the land, died by the plague before Jehovah.\r\n But Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, remained alive of those men that went to spy out the land.\r\n And Moses told these words unto all the children of Israel: and the people mourned greatly.\r\n And they rose up early in the morning, and gat them up to the top of the mountain, saying, Lo, we are here, and will go up unto the place which Jehovah hath promised: for we have sinned.\r\n And Moses said, Wherefore now do ye transgress the commandment of Jehovah, seeing it shall not prosper?\r\n Go not up, for Jehovah is not among you; that ye be not smitten down before your enemies.\r\n For there the Amalekite and the Canaanite are before you, and ye shall fall by the sword: because ye are turned back from following Jehovah, therefore Jehovah will not be with you.\r\n But they presumed to go up to the top of the mountain: nevertheless the ark of the covenant of Jehovah, and Moses, departed not out of the camp.\r\n Then the Amalekite came down, and the Canaanite who dwelt in that mountain, and smote them and beat them down, even unto Hormah.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye are come into the land of your habitations, which I give unto you,\r\n and will make an offering by fire unto Jehovah, a burnt-offering, or a sacrifice, to accomplish a vow, or as a freewill-offering, or in your set feasts, to make a sweet savor unto Jehovah, of the herd, or of the flock;\r\n then shall he that offereth his oblation offer unto Jehovah a meal-offering of a tenth part [of an ephah] of fine flour mingled with the fourth part of a hin of oil:\r\n and wine for the drink-offering, the fourth part of a hin, shalt thou prepare with the burnt-offering, or for the sacrifice, for each lamb.\r\n Or for a ram, thou shalt prepare for a meal-offering two tenth parts [of an ephah] of fine flour mingled with the third part of a hin of oil:\r\n and for the drink-offering thou shalt offer the third part of a hin of wine, of a sweet savor unto Jehovah.\r\n And when thou preparest a bullock for a burnt-offering, or for a sacrifice, to accomplish a vow, or for peace-offerings unto Jehovah;\r\n then shall he offer with the bullock a meal-offering of three tenth parts [of an ephah] of fine flour mingled with half a hin of oil:\r\n and thou shalt offer for the drink-offering half a hin of wine, for an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor unto Jehovah.\r\n Thus shall it be done for each bullock, or for each ram, or for each of the he-lambs, or of the kids.\r\n According to the number that ye shall prepare, so shall ye do to every one according to their number.\r\n All that are home-born shall do these things after this manner, in offering an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor unto Jehovah.\r\n And if a stranger sojourn with you, or whosoever may be among you throughout your generations, and will offer an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor unto Jehovah; as ye do, so he shall do.\r\n For the assembly, there shall be one statute for you, and for the stranger that sojourneth [with you], a statute for ever throughout your generations: as ye are, so shall the sojourner be before Jehovah.\r\n One law and one ordinance shall be for you, and for the stranger that sojourneth with you.\r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye come into the land whither I bring you,\r\n then it shall be, that, when ye eat of the bread of the land, ye shall offer up a heave-offering unto Jehovah.\r\n Of the first of your dough ye shall offer up a cake for a heave-offering: as the heave-offering of the threshing-floor, so shall ye heave it.\r\n Of the first of your dough ye shall give unto Jehovah a heave-offering throughout your generations.\r\n And when ye shall err, and not observe all these commandments, which Jehovah hath spoken unto Moses,\r\n even all that Jehovah hath commanded you by Moses, from the day that Jehovah gave commandment, and onward throughout your generations;\r\n then it shall be, if it be done unwittingly, without the knowledge of the congregation, that all the congregation shall offer one young bullock for a burnt-offering, for a sweet savor unto Jehovah, with the meal-offering thereof, and the drink-offering thereof, according to the ordinance, and one he-goat for a sin-offering.\r\n And the priest shall make atonement for all the congregation of the children of Israel, and they shall be forgiven; for it was an error, and they have brought their oblation, an offering made by fire unto Jehovah, and their sin-offering before Jehovah, for their error:\r\n and all the congregation of the children of Israel shall be forgiven, and the stranger that sojourneth among them; for in respect of all the people it was done unwittingly.\r\n And if one person sin unwittingly, then he shall offer a she-goat a year old for a sin-offering.\r\n And the priest shall make atonement for the soul that erreth, when he sinneth unwittingly, before Jehovah, to make atonement for him; and he shall be forgiven.\r\n Ye shall have one law for him that doeth aught unwittingly, for him that is home-born among the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them.\r\n But the soul that doeth aught with a high hand, whether he be home-born or a sojourner, the same blasphemeth Jehovah; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people.\r\n Because he hath despised the word of Jehovah, and hath broken his commandment, that soul shall utterly be cut off; his iniquity shall be upon him.\r\n And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man gathering sticks upon the sabbath day.\r\n And they that found him gathering sticks brought him unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation.\r\n And they put him in ward, because it had not been declared what should be done to him.\r\n And Jehovah said unto Moses, The man shall surely be put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp.\r\n And all the congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him to death with stones; as Jehovah commanded Moses.\r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of each border a cord of blue:\r\n and it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of Jehovah, and do them; and that ye follow not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to play the harlot;\r\n that ye may remember and do all my commandments, and be holy unto your God.\r\n I am Jehovah your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am Jehovah your God.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, with Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took [men]:\r\n and they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the congregation, called to the assembly, men of renown;\r\n and they assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and Jehovah is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the assembly of Jehovah?\r\n And when Moses heard it, he fell upon his face:\r\n and he spake unto Korah and unto all his company, saying, In the morning Jehovah will show who are his, and who is holy, and will cause him to come near unto him: even him whom he shall choose will he cause to come near unto him.\r\n This do: take you censers, Korah, and all his company;\r\n and put fire in them, and put incense upon them before Jehovah to-morrow: and it shall be that the man whom Jehovah doth choose, he [shall be] holy: ye take too much upon you, ye sons of Levi.\r\n And Moses said unto Korah, Hear now, ye sons of Levi:\r\n [seemeth it but] a small thing unto you, that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself, to do the service of the tabernacle of Jehovah, and to stand before the congregation to minister unto them;\r\n and that he hath brought thee near, and all thy brethren the sons of Levi with thee? and seek ye the priesthood also?\r\n Therefore thou and all thy company are gathered together against Jehovah: and Aaron, what is he that ye murmur against him?\r\n And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab; and they said, We will not come up:\r\n is it a small thing that thou hast brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, but thou must needs make thyself also a prince over us?\r\n Moreover thou hast not brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey, nor given us inheritance of fields and vineyards: wilt thou put out the eyes of these men? we will not come up.\r\n And Moses was very wroth, and said unto Jehovah, Respect not thou their offering: I have not taken one ass from them, neither have I hurt one of them.\r\n And Moses said unto Korah, Be thou and all thy company before Jehovah, thou, and they, and Aaron, to-morrow:\r\n and take ye every man his censer, and put incense upon them, and bring ye before Jehovah every man his censer, two hundred and fifty censers; thou also, and Aaron, each his censer.\r\n And they took every man his censer, and put fire in them, and laid incense thereon, and stood at the door of the tent of meeting with Moses and Aaron.\r\n And Korah assembled all the congregation against them unto the door of the tent of meeting: and the glory of Jehovah appeared unto all the congregation.\r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,\r\n Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.\r\n And they fell upon their faces, and said, O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and wilt thou be wroth with all the congregation?\r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Speak unto the congregation, saying, Get you up from about the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.\r\n And Moses rose up and went unto Dathan and Abiram; and the elders of Israel followed him.\r\n And he spake unto the congregation, saying, Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest ye be consumed in all their sins.\r\n So they gat them up from the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, on every side: and Dathan and Abiram came out, and stood at the door of their tents, and their wives, and their sons, and their little ones.\r\n And Moses said, Hereby ye shall know that Jehovah hath sent me to do all these works; for [I have] not [done them] of mine own mind.\r\n If these men die the common death of all men, or if they be visited after the visitation of all men; then Jehovah hath not sent me.\r\n But if Jehovah make a new thing, and the ground open its mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they go down alive into Sheol; then ye shall understand that these men have despised Jehovah.\r\n And it came to pass, as he made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them;\r\n and the earth opened its mouth, and swallowed them up, and their households, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods.\r\n So they, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into Sheol: and the earth closed upon them, and they perished from among the assembly.\r\n And all Israel that were round about them fled at the cry of them; for they said, Lest the earth swallow us up.\r\n And fire came forth from Jehovah, and devoured the two hundred and fifty men that offered the incense.\r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Speak unto Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, that he take up the censers out of the burning, and scatter thou the fire yonder; for they are holy,\r\n even the censers of these sinners against their own lives; and let them be made beaten plates for a covering of the altar: for they offered them before Jehovah; therefore they are holy; and they shall be a sign unto the children of Israel.\r\n And Eleazar the priest took the brazen censers, which they that were burnt had offered; and they beat them out for a covering of the altar,\r\n to be a memorial unto the children of Israel, to the end that no stranger, that is not of the seed of Aaron, come near to burn incense before Jehovah; that he be not as Korah, and as his company: as Jehovah spake unto him by Moses.\r\n But on the morrow all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron, saying, Ye have killed the people of Jehovah.\r\n And it came to pass, when the congregation was assembled against Moses and against Aaron, that they looked toward the tent of meeting: and, behold, the cloud covered it, and the glory of Jehovah appeared.\r\n And Moses and Aaron came to the front of the tent of meeting.\r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Get you up from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment. And they fell upon their faces.\r\n And Moses said unto Aaron, Take they censer, and put fire therein from off the altar, and lay incense thereon, and carry it quickly unto the congregation, and make atonement for them: for there is wrath gone out from Jehovah; the plague is begun.\r\n And Aaron took as Moses spake, and ran into the midst of the assembly; and, behold, the plague was begun among the people: and he put on the incense, and made atonement for the people.\r\n And he stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stayed.\r\n Now they that died by the plague were fourteen thousand and seven hundred, besides them that died about the matter of Korah.\r\n And Aaron returned unto Moses unto the door of the tent of meeting: and the plague was stayed.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Speak unto the children of Israel, and take of them rods, one for each fathers` house, of all their princes according to their fathers` houses, twelve rods: write thou every man`s name upon his rod.\r\n And thou shalt write Aaron`s name upon the rod of Levi; for there shall be one rod for each head of their fathers` houses.\r\n And thou shalt lay them up in the tent of meeting before the testimony, where I meet with you.\r\n And it shall come to pass, that the rod of the man whom I shall choose shall bud: and I will make to cease from me the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against you.\r\n And Moses spake unto the children of Israel; and all their princes gave him rods, for each prince one, according to their fathers` houses, even twelve rods: and the rod of Aaron was among their rods.\r\n And Moses laid up the rods before Jehovah in the tent of the testimony.\r\n And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses went into the tent of the testimony; and, behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and put forth buds, and produced blossoms, and bare ripe almonds.\r\n And Moses brought out all the rods from before Jehovah unto all the children of Israel: and they looked, and took every man his rod.\r\n And Jehovah said unto Moses, Put back the rod of Aaron before the testimony, to be kept for a token against the children of rebellion; that thou mayest make an end of their murmurings against me, that they die not.\r\n Thus did Moses: as Jehovah commanded him, so did he.\r\n And the children of Israel spake unto Moses, saying, Behold, we perish, we are undone, we are all undone.\r\n Every one that cometh near, that cometh near unto the tabernacle of Jehovah, dieth: shall we perish all of us?\r\n \r\n \r\n And Jehovah said unto Aaron, Thou and thy sons and thy fathers` house with thee shall bear the iniquity of the sanctuary; and thou and thy sons with thee shall bear the iniquity of your priesthood.\r\n And thy brethren also, the tribe of Levi, the tribe of thy father, bring thou near with thee, that they may be joined unto thee, and minister unto thee: but thou and thy sons with thee shall be before the tent of the testimony.\r\n And they shall keep thy charge, and the charge of all the Tent: only they shall not come nigh unto the vessels of the sanctuary and unto the altar, that they die not, neither they, nor ye.\r\n And they shall be joined unto thee, and keep the charge of the tent of meeting, for all the service of the Tent: and a stranger shall not come nigh unto you.\r\n And ye shall keep the charge of the sanctuary, and the charge of the altar; that there be wrath no more upon the children of Israel.\r\n And I, behold, I have taken your brethren the Levites from among the children of Israel: to you they are a gift, given unto Jehovah, to do the service of the tent of meeting.\r\n And thou and thy sons with thee shall keep your priesthood for everything of the altar, and for that within the veil; and ye shall serve: I give you the priesthood as a service of gift: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.\r\n And Jehovah spake unto Aaron, And I, behold, I have given thee the charge of my heave-offerings, even all the hallowed things of the children of Israel; unto thee have I given them by reason of the anointing, and to thy sons, as a portion for ever.\r\n This shall be thine of the most holy things, [reserved] from the fire: every oblation of theirs, even every meal-offering of theirs, and every sin-offering of theirs, and every trespass-offering of theirs, which they shall render unto me, shall be most holy for thee and for thy sons.\r\n As the most holy things shalt thou eat thereof; every male shall eat thereof: it shall be holy unto thee.\r\n And this is thine: the heave-offering of their gift, even all the wave-offerings of the children of Israel; I have given them unto thee, and to thy sons and to thy daughters with thee, as a portion for ever; every one that is clean in thy house shall eat thereof.\r\n All the best of the oil, and all the best of the vintage, and of the grain, the first-fruits of them which they give unto Jehovah, to thee have I given them.\r\n The first-ripe fruits of all that is in their land, which they bring unto Jehovah, shall be thine; every one that is clean in thy house shall eat thereof.\r\n Everything devoted in Israel shall be thine.\r\n Everything that openeth the womb, of all flesh which they offer unto Jehovah, both of man and beast shall be thine: nevertheless the first-born of man shalt thou surely redeem, and the firstling of unclean beasts shalt thou redeem.\r\n And those that are to be redeemed of them from a month old shalt thou redeem, according to thine estimation, for the money of five shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary (the same is twenty gerahs).\r\n But the firstling of a cow, or the firstling of a sheep, or the firstling of a goat, thou shalt not redeem; they are holy: thou shalt sprinkle their blood upon the altar, and shalt burn their fat for an offering made by fire, for a sweet savor unto Jehovah.\r\n And the flesh of them shall be thine, as the wave-breast and as the right thigh, it shall be thine.\r\n All the heave-offerings of the holy things, which the children of Israel offer unto Jehovah, have I given thee, and thy sons and thy daughters with thee, as a portion for ever: it is a covenant of salt for ever before Jehovah unto thee and to thy seed with thee.\r\n And Jehovah said unto Aaron, Thou shalt have no inheritance in their land, neither shalt thou have any portion among them: I am thy portion and thine inheritance among the children of Israel.\r\n And unto the children of Levi, behold, I have given all the tithe in Israel for an inheritance, in return for their service which they serve, even the service of the tent of meeting.\r\n And henceforth the children of Israel shall not come nigh the tent of meeting, lest they bear sin, and die.\r\n But the Levites shall do the service of the tent of meeting, and they shall bear their iniquity: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations; and among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance.\r\n For the tithe of the children of Israel, which they offer as a heave-offering unto Jehovah, I have given to the Levites for an inheritance: therefore I have said unto them, Among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance.\r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Moreover thou shalt speak unto the Levites, and say unto them, When ye take of the children of Israel the tithe which I have given you from them for your inheritance, then ye shall offer up a heave-offering of it for Jehovah, a tithe of the tithe.\r\n And your heave-offering shall be reckoned unto you, as though it were the grain of the threshing-floor, and as the fulness of the winepress.\r\n Thus ye also shall offer a heave-offering unto Jehovah of all your tithes, which ye receive of the children of Israel; and thereof ye shall give Jehovah`s heave-offering to Aaron the priest.\r\n Out of all your gifts ye shall offer every heave-offering of Jehovah, of all the best thereof, even the hallowed part thereof out of it.\r\n Therefore thou shalt say unto them, When ye heave the best thereof from it, then it shall be reckoned unto the Levites as the increase of the threshing-floor, and as the increase of the wine-press.\r\n And ye shall eat it in every place, ye and your households: for it is your reward in return for your service in the tent of meeting.\r\n And ye shall bear no sin by reason of it, when ye have heaved from it the best thereof: and ye shall not profane the holy things of the children of Israel, that ye die not.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,\r\n This is the statute of the law which Jehovah hath commanded, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring thee a red heifer without spot, wherein is no blemish, [and] upon which never came yoke.\r\n And ye shall give her unto Eleazar the priest, and he shall bring her forth without the camp, and one shall slay her before his face:\r\n and Eleazar the priest shall take of her blood with his finger, and sprinkle her blood toward the front of the tent of meeting seven times.\r\n And one shall burn the heifer in his sight; her skin, and her flesh, and her blood, with her dung, shall he burn:\r\n and the priest shall take cedar-wood, and hyssop, and scarlet, and cast it into the midst of the burning of the heifer.\r\n Then the priest shall wash his clothes, and he shall bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp, and the priest shall be unclean until the even.\r\n And he that burneth her shall wash his clothes in water, and bathe his flesh in water, and shall be unclean until the even.\r\n And a man that is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer, and lay them up without the camp in a clean place; and it shall be kept for the congregation of the children of Israel for a water for impurity: it is a sin-offering.\r\n And he that gathereth the ashes of the heifer shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even: and it shall be unto the children of Israel, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among them, for a statute for ever.\r\n He that toucheth the dead body of any man shall be unclean seven days:\r\n the same shall purify himself therewith on the third day, and on the seventh day he shall be clean: but if he purify not himself the third day, then the seventh day he shall not be clean.\r\n Whosoever toucheth a dead person, the body of a man that hath died, and purifieth not himself, defileth the tabernacle of Jehovah; and that soul shall be cut off from Israel: because the water for impurity was not sprinkled upon him, he shall be unclean; his uncleanness is yet upon him.\r\n This is the law when a man dieth in a tent: every one that cometh into the tent, and every one that is in the tent, shall be unclean seven days.\r\n And every open vessel, which hath no covering bound upon it, is unclean.\r\n And whosoever in the open field toucheth one that is slain with a sword, or a dead body, or a bone of a man, or a grave, shall be unclean seven days.\r\n And for the unclean they shall take of the ashes of the burning of the sin-offering; and running water shall be put thereto in a vessel:\r\n and a clean person shall take hyssop, and dip it in the water, and sprinkle it upon the tent, and upon all the vessels, and upon the persons that were there, and upon him that touched the bone, or the slain, or the dead, or the grave:\r\n and the clean person shall sprinkle upon the unclean on the third day, and on the seventh day: and on the seventh day he shall purify him; and he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and shall be clean at even.\r\n But the man that shall be unclean, and shall not purify himself, that soul shall be cut off from the midst of the assembly, because he hath defiled the sanctuary of Jehovah: the water for impurity hath not been sprinkled upon him; he is unclean.\r\n And it shall be a perpetual statute unto them: and he that sprinkleth the water for impurity shall wash his clothes, and he that toucheth the water for impurity shall be unclean until even.\r\n And whatsoever the unclean person toucheth shall be unclean; and the soul that toucheth it shall be unclean until even.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, came into the wilderness of Zin in the first month: and the people abode in Kadesh; and Miriam died there, and was buried there.\r\n And there was no water for the congregation: and they assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron.\r\n And the people strove with Moses, and spake, saying, Would that we had died when our brethren died before Jehovah!\r\n And why have ye brought the assembly of Jehovah into this wilderness, that we should die there, we and our beasts?\r\n And wherefore have ye made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in unto this evil place? it is no place of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates; neither is there any water to drink.\r\n And Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly unto the door of the tent of meeting, and fell upon their faces: and the glory of Jehovah appeared unto them.\r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Take the rod, and assemble the congregation, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes, that it give forth its water; and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock; so thou shalt give the congregation and their cattle drink.\r\n And Moses took the rod from before Jehovah, as he commanded him.\r\n And Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; shall we bring you forth water out of this rock?\r\n And Moses lifted up his hand, and smote the rock with his rod twice: and water came forth abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their cattle.\r\n And Jehovah said unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed not in me, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.\r\n These are the waters of Meribah; because the children of Israel strove with Jehovah, and he was sanctified in them.\r\n And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh unto the king of Edom, Thus saith thy brother Israel, Thou knowest all the travail that hath befallen us:\r\n how our fathers went down into Egypt, and we dwelt in Egypt a long time; and the Egyptians dealt ill with us, and our fathers:\r\n and when we cried unto Jehovah, he heard our voice, and sent an angel, and brought us forth out of Egypt: and, behold, we are in Kadesh, a city in the uttermost of thy border.\r\n Let us pass, I pray thee, through thy land: we will not pass through field or through vineyard, neither will we drink of the water of the wells: we will go along the king`s highway; we will not turn aside to the right hand nor to the left, until we have passed thy border.\r\n And Edom said unto him, Thou shalt not pass through me, lest I come out with the sword against thee.\r\n And the children of Israel said unto him, We will go up by the highway; and if we drink of thy water, I and my cattle, then will I give the price thereof: let me only, without [doing] anything [else], pass through on my feet.\r\n And he said, Thou shalt not pass through. And Edom came out against him with much people, and with a strong hand.\r\n Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border: wherefore Israel turned away from him.\r\n And they journeyed from Kadesh: and the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, came unto mount Hor.\r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses and Aaron in mount Hor, by the border of the land of Edom, saying,\r\n Aaron shall be gathered unto his people; for he shall not enter into the land which I have given unto the children of Israel, because ye rebelled against my word at the waters of Meribah.\r\n Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring them up unto mount Hor;\r\n and strip Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son: and Aaron shall be gathered [unto his people], and shall die there.\r\n And Moses did as Jehovah commanded: and they went up into mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation.\r\n And Moses stripped Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son; and Aaron died there on the top of the mount: and Moses and Eleazar came down from the mount.\r\n And when all the congregation saw that Aaron was dead, they wept for Aaron thirty days, even all the house of Israel.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the Canaanite, the king of Arad, who dwelt in the South, heard tell that Israel came by the way of Atharim; and he fought against Israel, and took some of them captive.\r\n And Israel vowed a vow unto Jehovah, and said, If thou wilt indeed deliver this people into my hand, then I will utterly destroy their cities.\r\n And Jehovah hearkened to the voice of Israel, and delivered up the Canaanites; and they utterly destroyed them and their cities: and the name of the place was called Hormah.\r\n And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way to the Red Sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way.\r\n And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, and there is no water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.\r\n And Jehovah sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.\r\n And the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, because we have spoken against Jehovah, and against thee; pray unto Jehovah, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people.\r\n And Jehovah said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a standard: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he seeth it, shall live.\r\n And Moses made a serpent of brass, and set it upon the standard: and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he looked unto the serpent of brass, he lived.\r\n And the children of Israel journeyed, and encamped in Oboth.\r\n And they journeyed from Oboth, and encamped at Iyeabarim, in the wilderness which is before Moab, toward the sunrising.\r\n From thence they journeyed, and encamped in the valley of Zered.\r\n From thence they journeyed, and encamped on the other side of the Arnon, which is in the wilderness, that cometh out of the border of the Amorites: for the Arnon is the border of Moab, between Moab and the Amorites.\r\n Wherefore it is said in the book of the Wars of Jehovah, Vaheb in Suphah, And the valleys of the Arnon,\r\n And the slope of the valleys That inclineth toward the dwelling of Ar, And leaneth upon the border of Moab.\r\n And from thence [they journeyed] to Beer: that is the well whereof Jehovah said unto Moses, Gather the people together, and I will give them water.\r\n Then sang Israel this song: Spring up, O well; sing ye unto it:\r\n The well, which the princes digged, Which the nobles of the people delved, With the sceptre, [and] with their staves. And from the wilderness [they journeyed] to Mattanah;\r\n and from Mattanah to Nahaliel; and from Nahaliel to Bamoth;\r\n and from Bamoth to the valley that is in the field of Moab, to the top of Pisgah, which looketh down upon the desert.\r\n And Israel sent messengers unto Sihon king of the Amorites, saying,\r\n Let me pass through thy land: we will not turn aside into field, or into vineyard; we will not drink of the water of the wells: we will go by the king`s highway, until we have passed thy border.\r\n And Sihon would not suffer Israel to pass through his border: but Sihon gathered all his people together, and went out against Israel into the wilderness, and came to Jahaz; and he fought against Israel.\r\n And Israel smote him with the edge of the sword, and possessed his land from the Arnon unto the Jabbok, even unto the children of Ammon; for the border of the children of Ammon was strong.\r\n And Israel took all these cities: and Israel dwelt in all the cities of the Amorites, in Heshbon, and in all the towns thereof.\r\n For Heshbon was the city of Sihon the king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab, and taken all his land out of his hand, even unto the Arnon.\r\n Wherefore they that speak in proverbs say, Come ye to Heshbon; Let the city of Sihon be built and established:\r\n For a fire is gone out of Heshbon, A flame from the city of Sihon: It hath devoured Ar of Moab, The lords of the high places of the Arnon.\r\n Woe to thee, Moab! Thou art undone, O people of Chemosh: He hath given his sons as fugitives, And his daughters into captivity, Unto Sihon king of the Amorites.\r\n We have shot at them; Heshbon is perished even unto Dibon, And we have laid waste even unto Nophah, Which [reacheth] unto Medeba.\r\n Thus Israel dwelt in the land of the Amorites.\r\n And Moses sent to spy out Jazer; and they took the towns thereof, and drove out the Amorites that were there.\r\n And they turned and went up by the way of Bashan: and Og the king of Bashan went out against them, he and all his people, to battle at Edrei.\r\n And Jehovah said unto Moses, Fear him not: for I have delivered him into thy hand, and all his people, and his land; and thou shalt do to him as thou didst unto Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt at Heshbon.\r\n So they smote him, and his sons and all his people, until there was none left him remaining: and they possessed his land.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the children of Israel journeyed, and encamped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan at Jericho.\r\n And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.\r\n And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they were many: and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel.\r\n And Moab said unto the elders of Midian, Now will this multitude lick up all that is round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time.\r\n And he sent messengers unto Balaam the son of Beor, to Pethor, which is by the River, to the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt: behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me.\r\n Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land; for I know that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed.\r\n And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak.\r\n And he said unto them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as Jehovah shall speak unto me: and the princes of Moab abode with Balaam.\r\n And God came unto Balaam, and said, What men are these with thee?\r\n And Balaam said unto God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me, [saying],\r\n Behold, the people that is come out of Egypt, it covereth the face of the earth: now, come curse me them; peradventure I shall be able to fight against them, and shall drive them out.\r\n And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people; for they are blessed.\r\n And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said unto the princes of Balak, Get you into your land; for Jehovah refuseth to give me leave to go with you.\r\n And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went unto Balak, and said, Balaam refuseth to come with us.\r\n And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honorable than they.\r\n And they came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus saith Balak the son of Zippor, Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from coming unto me:\r\n for I will promote thee unto very great honor, and whatsoever thou sayest unto me I will do: come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people.\r\n And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of Jehovah my God, to do less or more.\r\n Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may know what Jehovah will speak unto me more.\r\n And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the men are come to call thee, rise up, go with them; but only the word which I speak unto thee, that shalt thou do.\r\n And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab.\r\n And God`s anger was kindled because he went; and the angel of Jehovah placed himself in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him.\r\n And the ass saw the angel of Jehovah standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way.\r\n Then the angel of Jehovah stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side.\r\n And the ass saw the angel of Jehovah, and she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam`s foot against the wall: and he smote her again.\r\n And the angel of Jehovah went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.\r\n And the ass saw the angel of Jehovah, and she lay down under Balaam: and Balaam`s anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with his staff.\r\n And Jehovah opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?\r\n And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me, I would there were a sword in my hand, for now I had killed thee.\r\n And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden all thy life long unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? and he said, Nay.\r\n Then Jehovah opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of Jehovah standing in the way, with his sword drawn in his hand; and he bowed his head, and fell on his face.\r\n And the angel of Jehovah said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I am come forth for an adversary, because thy way is perverse before me:\r\n and the ass saw me, and turned aside before me these three times: unless she had turned aside from me, surely now I had even slain thee, and saved her alive.\r\n And Balaam said unto the angel of Jehovah, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again.\r\n And the angel of Jehovah said unto Balaam, Go with the men; but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.\r\n And when Balak heard that Balaam was come, he went out to meet him unto the City of Moab, which is on the border of the Arnon, which is in the utmost part of the border.\r\n And Balak said unto Balaam, Did I not earnestly send unto thee to call thee? wherefore camest thou not unto me? am I not able indeed to promote thee to honor?\r\n And Balaam said unto Balak, Lo, I am come unto thee: have I now any power at all to speak anything? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak.\r\n And Balaam went with Balak, and they came unto Kiriath-huzoth.\r\n And Balak sacrificed oxen and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes that were with him.\r\n And it came to pass in the morning, that Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal; and he saw from thence the utmost part of the people.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven bullocks and seven rams.\r\n And Balak did as Balaam had spoken; and Balak and Balaam offered on every altar a bullock and a ram.\r\n And Balaam said unto Balak, Stand by thy burnt-offering, and I will go: peradventure Jehovah will come to meet me; and whatsoever he showeth me I will tell thee. And he went to a bare height.\r\n And God met Balaam: and he said unto him, I have prepared the seven altars, and I have offered up a bullock and a ram on every altar.\r\n And Jehovah put a word in Balaam`s mouth, and said, Return unto Balak, and thus thou shalt speak.\r\n And he returned unto him, and, lo, he was standing by his burnt-offering, he, and all the princes of Moab.\r\n And he took up his parable, and said, From Aram hath Balak brought me, The king of Moab from the mountains of the East: Come, curse me Jacob, And come, defy Israel.\r\n How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? And how shall I defy, whom Jehovah hath not defied?\r\n For from the top of the rocks I see him, And from the hills I behold him: lo, it is a people that dwelleth alone, And shall not be reckoned among the nations.\r\n Who can count the dust of Jacob, Or number the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, And let my last end be like his!\r\n And Balak said unto Balaam, What hast thou done unto me? I took thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast blessed them altogether.\r\n And he answered and said, Must I not take heed to speak that which Jehovah putteth in my mouth?\r\n And Balak said unto him, Come, I pray thee, with me unto another place, from whence thou mayest see them; thou shalt see but the utmost part of them, and shalt not see them all: and curse me them from thence.\r\n And he took him into the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah, and built seven altars, and offered up a bullock and a ram on every altar.\r\n And he said unto Balak, Stand here by thy burnt-offering, while I meet [Jehovah] yonder.\r\n And Jehovah met Balaam, and put a word in his mouth, and said, Return unto Balak, and thus shalt thou speak.\r\n And he came to him, and, lo, he was standing by his burnt-offering, and the princes of Moab with him. And Balak said unto him, What hath Jehovah spoken?\r\n And he took up his parable, and said, Rise up, Balak, and hear; Hearken unto me, thou son of Zippor:\r\n God is not a man, that he should lie, Neither the son of man, that he should repent: Hath he said, and will he not do it? Or hath he spoken, and will he not make it good?\r\n Behold, I have received [commandment] to bless: And he hath blessed, and I cannot reverse it.\r\n He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob; Neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel: Jehovah his God is with him, And the shout of a king is among them.\r\n God bringeth them forth out of Egypt; He hath as it were the strength of the wild-ox.\r\n Surely there is no enchantment with Jacob; Neither is there any divination with Israel: Now shalt it be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought!\r\n Behold, the people riseth up as a lioness, And as a lion doth he lift himself up: He shall not lie down until he eat of the prey, And drink the blood of the slain.\r\n And Balak said unto Balaam, Neither curse them at all, nor bless them at all.\r\n But Balaam answered and said unto Balak, Told not I thee, saying, All that Jehovah speaketh, that I must do?\r\n And Balak said unto Balaam, Come now, I will take thee unto another place; peradventure it will please God that thou mayest curse me them from thence.\r\n And Balak took Balaam unto the top of Peor, that looketh down upon the desert.\r\n And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven bullocks and seven rams.\r\n And Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered up a bullock and a ram on every altar.\r\n \r\n \r\n And when Balaam saw that it pleased Jehovah to bless Israel, he went not, as at the other times, to meet with enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness.\r\n And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel dwelling according to their tribes; and the Spirit of God came upon him.\r\n And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor saith, And the man whose eye was closed saith;\r\n He saith, who heareth the words of God, Who seeth the vision of the Almighty, Falling down, and having his eyes open:\r\n How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, Thy tabernacles, O Israel!\r\n As valleys are they spread forth, As gardens by the river-side, As lign-aloes which Jehovah hath planted, As cedar-trees beside the waters.\r\n Water shall flow from his buckets, And his seed shall be in many waters, And his king shall be higher than Agag, And his kingdom shall be exalted.\r\n God bringeth him forth out of Egypt; He hath as it were the strength of the wild-ox: He shall eat up the nations his adversaries, And shall break their bones in pieces, And smite [them] through with his arrows.\r\n He couched, he lay down as a lion, And as a lioness; who shall rouse him up? Blessed be every one that blesseth thee, And cursed be every one that curseth thee.\r\n And Balak`s anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together; and Balak said unto Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times.\r\n Therefore now flee thou to thy place: I thought to promote thee unto great honor; but, lo, Jehovah hath kept thee back from honor.\r\n And Balaam said unto Balak, Spake I not also to thy messengers that thou sentest unto me, saying,\r\n If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of Jehovah, to do either good or bad of mine own mind; what Jehovah speaketh, that will I speak?\r\n And now, behold, I go unto my people: come, [and] I will advertise thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days.\r\n And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor saith, And the man whose eye was closed saith;\r\n He saith, who heareth the words of God, And knoweth the knowledge of the Most High, Who seeth the vision of the Almighty, Falling down, and having his eyes open:\r\n I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not nigh: There shall come forth a star out of Jacob, And a sceptre shall rise out of Israel, And shall smite through the corners of Moab, And break down all the sons of tumult.\r\n And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession, [who were] his enemies; While Israel doeth valiantly.\r\n And out of Jacob shall one have dominion, And shall destroy the remnant from the city.\r\n And he looked on Amalek, and took up his parable, and said, Amalek was the first of the nations; But his latter end shall come to destruction.\r\n And he looked on the Kenite, and took up his parable, and said, Strong is thy dwelling-place, And thy nest is set in the rock.\r\n Nevertheless Kain shall be wasted, Until Asshur shall carry thee away captive.\r\n And he took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God doeth this?\r\n But ships [shall come] from the coast of Kittim, And they shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber; And he also shall come to destruction.\r\n And Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place; and Balak also went his way.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Israel abode in Shittim; and the people began to play the harlot with the daughters of Moab:\r\n for they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods; and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods.\r\n And Israel joined himself unto Baal-peor: and the anger of Jehovah was kindled against Israel.\r\n And Jehovah said unto Moses, Take all the chiefs of the people, and hang them up unto Jehovah before the sun, that the fierce anger of Jehovah may turn away from Israel.\r\n And Moses said unto the judges of Israel, Slay ye every one his men that have joined themselves unto Baal-peor.\r\n And, behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought unto his brethren a Midianitish woman in the sight of Moses, and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, while they were weeping at the door of the tent of meeting.\r\n And when Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from the midst of the congregation, and took a spear in his hand;\r\n and he went after the man of Israel into the pavilion, and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her body. So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel.\r\n And those that died by the plague were twenty and four thousand.\r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, hath turned my wrath away from the children of Israel, in that he was jealous with my jealousy among them, so that I consumed not the children of Israel in my jealousy.\r\n Wherefore say, Behold, I give unto him my covenant of peace:\r\n and it shall be unto him, and to his seed after him, the covenant of an everlasting priesthood; because he was jealous for his God, and made atonement for the children of Israel.\r\n Now the name of the man of Israel that was slain, who was slain with the Midianitish woman, was Zimri, the son of Salu, a prince of a fathers` house among the Simeonites.\r\n And the name of the Midianitish woman that was slain was Cozbi, the daughter of Zur; he was head of the people of a fathers` house in Midian.\r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Vex the Midianites, and smite them;\r\n for they vex you with their wiles, wherewith they have beguiled you in the matter of Peor, and in the matter of Cozbi, the daughter of the prince of Midian, their sister, who was slain on the day of the plague in the matter of Peor.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass after the plague, that Jehovah spake unto Moses and unto Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, saying,\r\n Take the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, from twenty years old and upward, by their fathers` houses, all that are able to go forth to war in Israel.\r\n And Moses and Eleazar the priest spake with them in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho, saying,\r\n [Take the sum of the people], from twenty years old and upward; as Jehovah commanded Moses and the children of Israel, that came forth out of the land of Egypt.\r\n Reuben, the first-born of Israel; the sons of Reuben: [of] Hanoch, the family of the Hanochites; of Pallu, the family of the Palluites;\r\n of Hezron, the family of the Hezronites; of Carmi, the family of the Carmites.\r\n These are the families of the Reubenites; and they that were numbered of them were forty and three thousand and seven hundred and thirty.\r\n And the sons of Pallu: Eliab.\r\n And the sons of Eliab: Nemuel, and Dathan, and Abiram. These are that Dathan and Abiram, who were called of the congregation, who strove against Moses and against Aaron in the company of Korah, when they strove against Jehovah,\r\n and the earth opened its mouth, and swallowed them up together with Korah, when that company died; what time the fire devoured two hundred and fifty men, and they became a sign.\r\n Notwithstanding, the sons of Korah died not.\r\n The sons of Simeon after their families: of Nemuel, the family of the Nemuelites; of Jamin, the family of the Jaminites; of Jachin, the family of the Jachinites;\r\n of Zerah, the family of the Zerahites; of Shaul, the family of the Shaulites.\r\n These are the families of the Simeonites, twenty and two thousand and two hundred.\r\n The sons of Gad after their families: of Zephon, the family of the Zephonites; of Haggi, the family of the Haggites; of Shuni, the family of the Shunites;\r\n of Ozni, the family of the Oznites; of Eri, the family of the Erites;\r\n of Arod, the family of the Arodites; of Areli, the family of the Arelites.\r\n These are the families of the sons of Gad according to those that were numbered of them, forty thousand and five hundred.\r\n The sons of Judah: Er and Onan; and Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan.\r\n And the sons of Judah after their families were: of Shelah, the family of the Shelanites; of Perez, the family of the Perezites; of Zerah, the family of the Zerahites.\r\n And the sons of Perez were: of Hezron, the family of the Hezronites; of Hamul, the family of the Hamulites.\r\n These are the families of Judah according to those that were numbered of them, threescore and sixteen thousand and five hundred.\r\n The sons of Issachar after their families: [of] Tola, the family of the Tolaites; of Puvah, the family of the Punites;\r\n of Jashub, the family of the Jashubites; of Shimron, the family of the Shimronites.\r\n These are the families of Issachar according to those that were numbered of them, threescore and four thousand and three hundred.\r\n The sons of Zebulun after their families: of Sered, the family of the Seredites; of Elon, the family of the Elonites; of Jahleel, the family of the Jahleelites.\r\n These are the families of the Zebulunites according to those that were numbered of them, threescore thousand and five hundred.\r\n The sons of Joseph after their families: Manasseh and Ephraim.\r\n The sons of Manasseh: of Machir, the family of the Machirites; and Machir begat Gilead; of Gilead, the family of the Gileadites.\r\n These are the sons of Gilead: [of] Iezer, the family of the Iezerites; of Helek, the family of the Helekites;\r\n and [of] Asriel, the family of the Asrielites; and [of] Shechem, the family of the Shechemites;\r\n and [of] Shemida, the family of the Shemidaites; and [of] Hepher, the family of the Hepherites.\r\n And Zelophehad the son of Hepher had no sons, but daughters: and the names of the daughters of Zelophehad were Mahlah, and Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.\r\n These are the families of Manasseh; and they that were numbered of them were fifty and two thousand and seven hundred.\r\n These are the sons of Ephraim after their families: of Shuthelah, the family of the Shuthelahites; of Becher, the family of the Becherites; of Tahan, the family of the Tahanites.\r\n And these are the sons of Shuthelah: of Eran, the family of the Eranites.\r\n These are the families of the sons of Ephraim according to those that were numbered of them, thirty and two thousand and five hundred. These are the sons of Joseph after their families.\r\n The sons of Benjamin after their families: of Bela, the family of the Belaites; of Ashbel, the family of the Ashbelites; of Ahiram, the family of the Ahiramites;\r\n of Shephupham, the family of the Shuphamites; of Hupham, the family of the Huphamites.\r\n And the sons of Bela were Ard and Naaman: [of Ard], the family of the Ardites; of Naaman, the family of the Naamites.\r\n These are the sons of Benjamin after their families; and they that were numbered of them were forty and five thousand and six hundred.\r\n These are the sons of Dan after their families: of Shuham, the family of the Shuhamites. These are the families of Dan after their families.\r\n All the families of the Shuhamites, according to those that were numbered of them, were threescore and four thousand and four hundred.\r\n The sons of Asher after their families: of Imnah, the family of the Imnites; of Ishvi, the family of the Ishvites; of Beriah, the family of the Berites.\r\n Of the sons of Beriah: of Heber, the family of the Heberites; of Malchiel, the family of the Malchielites.\r\n And the name of the daughter of Asher was Serah.\r\n These are the families of the sons of Asher according to those that were numbered of them, fifty and three thousand and four hundred.\r\n The sons of Naphtali after their families: of Jahzeel, the family of the Jahzeelites; of Guni, the family of the Gunites;\r\n of Jezer, the family of the Jezerites; of Shillem, the family of the Shillemites.\r\n These are the families of Naphtali according to their families; and they that were numbered of them were forty and five thousand and four hundred.\r\n These are they that were numbered of the children of Israel, six hundred thousand and a thousand seven hundred and thirty.\r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Unto these the land shall be divided for an inheritance according to the number of names.\r\n To the more thou shalt give the more inheritance, and to the fewer thou shalt give the less inheritance: to every one according to those that were numbered of him shall his inheritance be given.\r\n Notwithstanding, the land shall be divided by lot: according to the names of the tribes of their fathers they shall inherit.\r\n According to the lot shall their inheritance be divided between the more and the fewer.\r\n And these are they that were numbered of the Levites after their families: of Gershon, the family of the Gershonites; of Kohath, the family of the Kohathites; of Merari, the family of the Merarites.\r\n These are the families of Levi: the family of the Libnites, the family of the Hebronites, the family of the Mahlites, the family of the Mushites, the family of the Korahites. And Kohath begat Amram.\r\n And the name of Amram`s wife was Jochebed, the daughter of Levi, who was born to Levi in Egypt: and she bare unto Amram Aaron and Moses, and Miriam their sister.\r\n And unto Aaron were born Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.\r\n And Nadab and Abihu died, when they offered strange fire before Jehovah.\r\n And they that were numbered of them were twenty and three thousand, every male from a month old and upward: for they were not numbered among the children of Israel, because there was no inheritance given them among the children of Israel.\r\n These are they that were numbered by Moses and Eleazar the priest, who numbered the children of Israel in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho.\r\n But among these there was not a man of them that were numbered by Moses and Aaron the priest, who numbered the children of Israel in the wilderness of Sinai.\r\n For Jehovah had said of them, They shall surely die in the wilderness. And there was not left a man of them, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then drew near the daughters of Zelophehad, the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, of the families of Manasseh the son of Joseph; and these are the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, and Hoglah, and Milcah, and Tirzah.\r\n And they stood before Moses, and before Eleazar the priest, and before the princes and all the congregation, at the door of the tent of meeting, saying,\r\n Our father died in the wilderness, and he was not among the company of them that gathered themselves together against Jehovah in the company of Korah: but he died in his own sin; and he had no sons.\r\n Why should the name of our father be taken away from among his family, because he had no son? Give unto us a possession among the brethren of our father.\r\n And Moses brought their cause before Jehovah.\r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n The daughters of Zelophehad speak right: thou shalt surely give them a possession of an inheritance among their father`s brethren; and thou shalt cause the inheritance of their father to pass unto them.\r\n And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a man die, and have no son, then ye shall cause his inheritance to pass unto his daughter.\r\n And if he have no daughter, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his brethren.\r\n And if he have no brethren, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his father`s brethren.\r\n And if his father have no brethren, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his kinsman that is next to him of his family, and he shall possess it: and it shall be unto the children of Israel a statute [and] ordinance, as Jehovah commanded Moses.\r\n And Jehovah said unto Moses, Get thee up into this mountain of Abarim, and behold the land which I have given unto the children of Israel.\r\n And when thou hast seen it, thou also shalt be gathered unto thy people, as Aaron thy brother was gathered;\r\n because ye rebelled against my word in the wilderness of Zin, in the strife of the congregation, to sanctify me at the waters before their eyes. (These are the waters of Meribah of Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.)\r\n And Moses spake unto Jehovah, saying,\r\n Let Jehovah, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation,\r\n who may go out before them, and who may come in before them, and who may lead them out, and who may bring them in; that the congregation of Jehovah be not as sheep which have no shepherd.\r\n And Jehovah said unto Moses, Take thee Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay thy hand upon him;\r\n and set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation; and give him a charge in their sight.\r\n And thou shalt put of thine honor upon him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may obey.\r\n And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire for him by the judgment of the Urim before Jehovah: at his word shall they go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he, and all the children of Israel with him, even all the congregation.\r\n And Moses did as Jehovah commanded him; and he took Joshua, and set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation:\r\n and he laid his hands upon him, and gave him a charge, as Jehovah spake by Moses.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Command the children of Israel, and say unto them, My oblation, my food for my offerings made by fire, of a sweet savor unto me, shall ye observe to offer unto me in their due season.\r\n And thou shalt say unto them, This is the offering made by fire which ye shall offer unto Jehovah: he-lambs a year old without blemish, two day by day, for a continual burnt-offering.\r\n The one lamb shalt thou offer in the morning, and the other lamb shalt thou offer at even;\r\n and the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a meal-offering, mingled with the fourth part of a hin of beaten oil.\r\n It is a continual burnt-offering, which was ordained in mount Sinai for a sweet savor, an offering made by fire unto Jehovah.\r\n And the drink-offering thereof shall be the fourth part of a hin for the one lamb: in the holy place shalt thou pour out a drink-offering of strong drink unto Jehovah.\r\n And the other lamb shalt thou offer at even: as the meal-offering of the morning, and as the drink-offering thereof, thou shalt offer it, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor unto Jehovah.\r\n And on the sabbath day two he-lambs a year old without blemish, and two tenth parts [of an ephah] of fine flour for a meal-offering, mingled with oil, and the drink-offering thereof:\r\n this is the burnt-offering of every sabbath, besides the continual burnt-offering, and the drink-offering thereof.\r\n And in the beginnings of your months ye shall offer a burnt-offering unto Jehovah: two young bullocks, and one ram, seven he-lambs a year old without blemish;\r\n and three tenth parts [of an ephah] of fine flour for a meal-offering, mingled with oil, for each bullock; and two tenth parts of fine flour for a meal-offering, mingled with oil, for the one ram;\r\n and a tenth part of fine flour mingled with oil for a meal-offering unto every lamb; for a burnt-offering of a sweet savor, an offering made by fire unto Jehovah.\r\n And their drink-offerings shall be half a hin of wine for a bullock, and the third part of a hin for the ram, and the fourth part of a hin for a lamb: this is the burnt-offering of every month throughout the months of the year.\r\n And one he-goat for a sin-offering unto Jehovah; it shall be offered besides the continual burnt-offering, and the drink-offering thereof.\r\n And in the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, is Jehovah`s passover.\r\n And on the fifteenth day of this month shall be a feast: seven days shall unleavened bread be eaten.\r\n In the first day shall be a holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work;\r\n but ye shall offer an offering made by fire, a burnt-offering unto Jehovah: two young bullocks, and one ram, and seven he-lambs a year old; they shall be unto you without blemish;\r\n and their meal-offering, fine flour mingled with oil: three tenth parts shall ye offer for a bullock, and two tenth parts for the ram;\r\n a tenth part shalt thou offer for every lamb of the seven lambs;\r\n and one he-goat for a sin-offering, to make atonement for you.\r\n Ye shall offer these besides the burnt-offering of the morning, which is for a continual burnt-offering.\r\n After this manner ye shall offer daily, for seven days, the food of the offering made by fire, of a sweet savor unto Jehovah: it shall be offered besides the continual burnt-offering, and the drink-offering thereof.\r\n And on the seventh day ye shall have a holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work.\r\n Also in the day of the first-fruits, when ye offer a new meal-offering unto Jehovah in your [feast of] weeks, ye shall have a holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work;\r\n but ye shall offer a burnt-offering for a sweet savor unto Jehovah: two young bullocks, one ram, seven he-lambs a year old;\r\n and their meal-offering, fine flour mingled with oil, three tenth parts for each bullock, two tenth parts for the one ram,\r\n a tenth part for every lamb of the seven lambs;\r\n one he-goat, to make atonement for you.\r\n Besides the continual burnt-offering, and the meal-offering thereof, ye shall offer them (they shall be unto you without blemish), and their drink-offerings.\r\n \r\n \r\n And in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, ye shall have a holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work: it is a day of blowing of trumpets unto you.\r\n And ye shall offer a burnt-offering for a sweet savor unto Jehovah: one young bullock, one ram, seven he-lambs a year old without blemish;\r\n and their meal-offering, fine flour mingled with oil, three tenth parts for the bullock, two tenth parts for the ram,\r\n and one tenth part for every lamb of the seven lambs;\r\n and one he-goat for a sin-offering, to make atonement for you;\r\n besides the burnt-offering of the new moon, and the meal-offering thereof, and the continual burnt-offering and the meal-offering thereof, and their drink-offerings, according unto their ordinance, for a sweet savor, an offering made by fire unto Jehovah.\r\n And on the tenth day of this seventh month ye shall have a holy convocation; and ye shall afflict your souls: ye shall do no manner of work;\r\n but ye shall offer a burnt-offering unto Jehovah for a sweet savor: one young bullock, one ram, seven he-lambs a year old; they shall be unto you without blemish;\r\n and their meal-offering, fine flour mingled with oil, three tenth parts for the bullock, two tenth parts for the one ram,\r\n a tenth part for every lamb of the seven lambs:\r\n one he-goat for a sin-offering; besides the sin-offering of atonement, and the continual burnt-offering, and the meal-offering thereof, and their drink-offerings.\r\n And on the fifteenth day of the seventh month ye shall have a holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work, and ye shall keep a feast unto Jehovah seven days:\r\n and ye shall offer a burnt-offering, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor unto Jehovah; thirteen young bullocks, two rams, fourteen he-lambs a year old; they shall be without blemish;\r\n and their meal-offering, fine flour mingled with oil, three tenth parts for every bullock of the thirteen bullocks, two tenth parts for each ram of the two rams,\r\n and a tenth part for every lamb of the fourteen lambs;\r\n and one he-goat for a sin-offering, besides the continual burnt-offering, the meal-offering thereof, and the drink-offering thereof.\r\n And on the second day [ye shall offer] twelve young bullocks, two rams, fourteen he-lambs a year old without blemish;\r\n and their meal-offering and their drink-offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance;\r\n and one he-goat for a sin-offering; besides the continual burnt-offering, and the meal-offering thereof, and their drink-offerings.\r\n And on the third day eleven bullocks, two rams, fourteen he-lambs a year old without blemish;\r\n and their meal-offering and their drink-offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance;\r\n and one he-goat for a sin-offering; besides the continual burnt-offering, and the meal-offering thereof, and the drink-offering thereof.\r\n And on the fourth day ten bullocks, two rams, fourteen he-lambs a year old without blemish;\r\n their meal-offering and their drink-offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance;\r\n and one he-goat for a sin-offering; besides the continual burnt-offering, the meal-offering thereof, and the drink-offering thereof.\r\n And on the fifth day nine bullocks, two rams, fourteen he-lambs a year old without blemish;\r\n and their meal-offering and their drink-offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance;\r\n and one he-goat for a sin-offering, besides the continual burnt-offering, and the meal-offering thereof, and the drink-offering thereof.\r\n And on the sixth day eight bullocks, two rams, fourteen he-lambs a year old without blemish;\r\n and their meal-offering and their drink-offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance;\r\n and one he-goat for a sin-offering; besides the continual burnt-offering, the meal-offering thereof, and the drink-offerings thereof.\r\n And on the seventh day seven bullocks, two rams, fourteen he-lambs a year old without blemish;\r\n and their meal-offering and their drink-offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance;\r\n and one he-goat for a sin-offering; besides the continual burnt-offering, the meal-offering thereof, and the drink-offering thereof.\r\n On the eighth day ye shall have a solemn assembly: ye shall do no servile work;\r\n but ye shall offer a burnt-offering, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor unto Jehovah: one bullock, one ram, seven he-lambs a year old without blemish;\r\n their meal-offering and their drink-offerings for the bullock, for the ram, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the ordinance:\r\n and one he-goat for a sin-offering, besides the continual burnt-offering, and the meal-offering thereof, and the drink-offering thereof.\r\n These ye shall offer unto Jehovah in your set feasts, besides your vows, and your freewill-offerings, for your burnt-offerings, and for your meal-offerings, and for your drink-offerings, and for your peace-offerings.\r\n And Moses told the children of Israel according to all that Jehovah commanded Moses.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Moses spake unto the heads of the tribes of the children of Israel, saying, This is the thing which Jehovah hath commanded.\r\n When a man voweth a vow unto Jehovah, or sweareth an oath to bind his soul with a bond, he shall not break his word; he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.\r\n Also when a woman voweth a vow unto Jehovah, and bindeth herself by a bond, being in her father`s house, in her youth,\r\n and her father heareth her vow, and her bond wherewith she hath bound her soul, and her father holdeth his peace at her; then all her vows shall stand, and every bond wherewith she hath bound her soul shall stand.\r\n But if her father disallow her in the day that he heareth, none of her vows, or of her bonds wherewith she hath bound her soul, shall stand: and Jehovah will forgive her, because her father disallowed her.\r\n And if she be [married] to a husband, while her vows are upon her, or the rash utterance of her lips, wherewith she hath bound her soul,\r\n and her husband hear it, and hold his peace at her in the day that he heareth it; then her vows shall stand, and her bonds wherewith she hath bound her soul shall stand.\r\n But if her husband disallow her in the day that he heareth it, then he shall make void her vow which is upon her, and the rash utterance of her lips, wherewith she hath bound her soul: and Jehovah will forgive her.\r\n But the vow of a widow, or of her that is divorced, [even] everything wherewith she hath bound her soul, shall stand against her.\r\n And if she vowed in her husband`s house, or bound her soul by a bond with an oath,\r\n and her husband heard it, and held his peace at her, and disallowed her not; then all her vows shall stand, and every bond wherewith she bound her soul shall stand.\r\n But if her husband made them null and void in the day that he heard them, then whatsoever proceeded out of her lips concerning her vows, or concerning the bond of her soul, shall not stand: her husband hath made them void; and Jehovah will forgive her.\r\n Every vow, and every binding oath to afflict the soul, her husband may establish it, or her husband may make it void.\r\n But if her husband altogether hold his peace at her from day to day, then he establisheth all her vows, or all her bonds, which are upon her: he hath established them, because he held his peace at her in the day that he heard them.\r\n But if he shall make them null and void after that he hath heard them, then he shall bear her iniquity.\r\n These are the statutes, which Jehovah commanded Moses, between a man and his wife, between a father and his daughter, being in her youth, in her father`s house.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Avenge the children of Israel of the Midianites: afterward shalt thou be gathered unto thy people.\r\n And Moses spake unto the people, saying, Arm ye men from among you for the war, that they may go against Midian, to execute Jehovah`s vengeance on Midian.\r\n Of every tribe a thousand, throughout all the tribes of Israel, shall ye send to the war.\r\n So there were delivered, out of the thousands of Israel, a thousand of every tribe, twelve thousand armed for war.\r\n And Moses sent them, a thousand of every tribe, to the war, them and Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, to the war, with the vessels of the sanctuary and the trumpets for the alarm in his hand.\r\n And they warred against Midian, as Jehovah commanded Moses; and they slew every male.\r\n And they slew the kings of Midian with the rest of their slain: Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, the five kings of Midian: Balaam also the son of Beor they slew with the sword.\r\n And the children of Israel took captive the women of Midian and their little ones; and all their cattle, and all their flocks, and all their goods, they took for a prey.\r\n And all their cities in the places wherein they dwelt, and all their encampments, they burnt with fire.\r\n And they took all the spoil, and all the prey, both of man and of beast.\r\n And they brought the captives, and the prey, and the spoil, unto Moses, and unto Eleazar the priest, and unto the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the camp at the plains of Moab, which are by the Jordan at Jericho.\r\n And Moses, and Eleazar the priest, and all the princes of the congregation, went forth to meet them without the camp.\r\n And Moses was wroth with the officers of the host, the captains of thousands and the captains of hundreds, who came from the service of the war.\r\n And Moses said unto them, Have ye saved all the women alive?\r\n Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against Jehovah in the matter of Peor, and so the plague was among the congregation of Jehovah.\r\n Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman that hath known man by lying with him.\r\n But all the women-children, that have not known man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves.\r\n And encamp ye without the camp seven days: whosoever hath killed any person, and whosoever hath touched any slain, purify yourselves on the third day and on the seventh day, ye and your captives.\r\n And as to every garment, and all that is made of skin, and all work of goats` [hair], and all things made of wood, ye shall purify yourselves.\r\n And Eleazar the priest said unto the men of war that went to the battle, This is the statute of the law which Jehovah hath commanded Moses:\r\n howbeit the gold, and the silver, the brass, the iron, the tin, and the lead,\r\n everything that may abide the fire, ye shall make to go through the fire, and it shall be clean; nevertheless it shall be purified with the water for impurity: and all that abideth not the fire ye shall make to go through the water.\r\n And ye shall wash your clothes on the seventh day, and ye shall be clean; and afterward ye shall come into the camp.\r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Take the sum of the prey that was taken, both of man and of beast, thou, and Eleazar the priest, and the heads of the fathers` [houses] of the congregation;\r\n and divide the prey into two parts: between the men skilled in war, that went out to battle, and all the congregation.\r\n And levy a tribute unto Jehovah of the men of war that went out to battle: one soul of five hundred, [both] of the persons, and of the oxen, and of the asses, and of the flocks:\r\n take it of their half, and give it unto Eleazar the priest, for Jehovah`s heave-offering.\r\n And of the children of Israel`s half, thou shalt take one drawn out of every fifty, of the persons, of the oxen, of the asses, and of the flocks, [even] of all the cattle, and give them unto the Levites, that keep the charge of the tabernacle of Jehovah.\r\n And Moses and Eleazar the priest did as Jehovah commanded Moses.\r\n Now the prey, over and above the booty which the men of war took, was six hundred thousand and seventy thousand and five thousand sheep,\r\n and threescore and twelve thousand oxen,\r\n and threescore and one thousand asses,\r\n and thirty and two thousand persons in all, of the women that had not known man by lying with him.\r\n And the half, which was the portion of them that went out to war, was in number three hundred thousand and thirty thousand and seven thousand and five hundred sheep:\r\n and Jehovah`s tribute of the sheep was six hundred and threescore and fifteen.\r\n And the oxen were thirty and six thousand; of which Jehovah`s tribute was threescore and twelve.\r\n And the asses were thirty thousand and five hundred; of which Jehovah`s tribute was threescore and one.\r\n And the persons were sixteen thousand; of whom Jehovah`s tribute was thirty and two persons.\r\n And Moses gave the tribute, which was Jehovah`s heave-offering, unto Eleazar the priest, as Jehovah commanded Moses.\r\n And of the children of Israel`s half, which Moses divided off from the men that warred\r\n (now the congregation`s half was three hundred thousand and thirty thousand, seven thousand and five hundred sheep,\r\n and thirty and six thousand oxen,\r\n and thirty thousand and five hundred asses,\r\n and sixteen thousand persons),\r\n even of the children of Israel`s half, Moses took one drawn out of every fifty, both of man and of beast, and gave them unto the Levites, that kept the charge of the tabernacle of Jehovah; as Jehovah commanded Moses.\r\n And the officers that were over the thousands of the host, the captains of thousands, and the captains of hundreds, came near unto Moses;\r\n and they said unto Moses, Thy servants have taken the sum of the men of war that are under our charge, and there lacketh not one man of us.\r\n And we have brought Jehovah`s oblation, what every man hath gotten, of jewels of gold, ankle-chains, and bracelets, signet-rings, ear-rings, and armlets, to make atonement for our souls before Jehovah.\r\n And Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold of them, even all wrought jewels.\r\n And all the gold of the heave-offering that they offered up to Jehovah, of the captains of thousands, and of the captains of hundreds, was sixteen thousand seven hundred and fifty shekels.\r\n ([For] the men of war had taken booty, every man for himself.)\r\n And Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold of the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and brought it into the tent of meeting, for a memorial for the children of Israel before Jehovah.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now the children of Reuben and the children of Gad had a very great multitude of cattle: and when they saw the land of Jazer, and the land of Gilead, that, behold, the place was a place for cattle;\r\n the children of Gad and the children of Reuben came and spake unto Moses, and to Eleazar the priest, and unto the princes of the congregation, saying,\r\n Ataroth, and Dibon, and Jazer, and Nimrah, and Heshbon, and Elealeh, and Sebam, and Nebo, and Beon,\r\n the land which Jehovah smote before the congregation of Israel, is a land for cattle; and thy servants have cattle.\r\n And they said, If we have found favor in thy sight, let this land be given unto thy servants for a possession; bring us not over the Jordan.\r\n And Moses said unto the children of Gad, and to the children of Reuben, Shall your brethren go to the war, and shall ye sit here?\r\n And wherefore discourage ye the heart of the children of Israel from going over into the land which Jehovah hath given them?\r\n Thus did your fathers, when I sent them from Kadesh-barnea to see the land.\r\n For when they went up unto the valley of Eshcol, and saw the land, they discouraged the heart of the children of Israel, that they should not go into the land which Jehovah had given them.\r\n And Jehovah`s anger was kindled in that day, and he sware, saying,\r\n Surely none of the men that came up out of Egypt, from twenty years old and upward, shall see the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob; because they have not wholly followed me:\r\n save Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite, and Joshua the son of Nun; because they have wholly followed Jehovah.\r\n And Jehovah`s anger was kindled against Israel, and he made them wander to and fro in the wilderness forty years, until all the generation, that had done evil in the sight of Jehovah, was consumed.\r\n And, behold, ye are risen up in your fathers` stead, an increase of sinful men, to augment yet the fierce anger of Jehovah toward Israel.\r\n For if ye turn away from after him, he will yet again leave them in the wilderness; and ye will destroy all this people.\r\n And they came near unto him, and said, We will build sheepfolds here for our cattle, and cities for our little ones:\r\n but we ourselves will be ready armed to go before the children of Israel, until we have brought them unto their place: and our little ones shall dwell in the fortified cities because of the inhabitants of the land.\r\n We will not return unto our houses, until the children of Israel have inherited every man his inheritance.\r\n For we will not inherit with them on the other side of the Jordan, and forward; because our inheritance is fallen to us on this side of the Jordan eastward.\r\n And Moses said unto them, If ye will do this thing, if ye will arm yourselves to go before Jehovah to the war,\r\n and every armed man of you will pass over the Jordan before Jehovah, until he hath driven out his enemies from before him,\r\n and the land is subdued before Jehovah; then afterward ye shall return, and be guiltless towards Jehovah, and towards Israel; and this land shall be unto you for a possession before Jehovah.\r\n But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against Jehovah; and be sure your sin will find you out.\r\n Build you cities for your little ones, and folds for your sheep; and do that which hath proceeded out of your mouth.\r\n And the children of Gad and the children of Reuben spake unto Moses, saying, Thy servants will do as my lord commandeth.\r\n Our little ones, our wives, our flocks, and all our cattle, shall be there in the cities of Gilead;\r\n but thy servants will pass over, every man that is armed for war, before Jehovah to battle, as my lord saith.\r\n So Moses gave charge concerning them to Eleazar the priest, and to Joshua the son of Nun, and to the heads of the fathers` [houses] of the tribes of the children of Israel.\r\n And Moses said unto them, If the children of Gad and the children of Reuben will pass with you over the Jordan, every man that is armed to battle, before Jehovah, and the land shall be subdued before you; then ye shall give them the land of Gilead for a possession:\r\n but if they will not pass over with you armed, they shall have possessions among you in the land of Canaan.\r\n And the children of Gad and the children of Reuben answered, saying, As Jehovah hath said unto thy servants, so will we do.\r\n We will pass over armed before Jehovah into the land of Canaan, and the possession of our inheritance [shall remain] with us beyond the Jordan.\r\n And Moses gave unto them, even to the children of Gad, and to the children of Reuben, and unto the half-tribe of Manasseh the son of Joseph, the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, and the kingdom of Og king of Bashan, the land, according to the cities thereof with [their] borders, even the cities of the land round about.\r\n And the children of Gad built Dibon, and Ataroth, and Aroer,\r\n and Atrothshophan, and Jazer, and Jogbehah,\r\n and Beth-nimrah, and Beth-haran: fortified cities, and folds for sheep.\r\n And the children of Reuben built Heshbon, and Elealeh, and Kiriathaim,\r\n and Nebo, and Baal-meon, (their names being changed,) and Sibmah: and they gave other names unto the cities which they builded.\r\n And the children of Machir the son of Manasseh went to Gilead, and took it, and dispossessed the Amorites that were therein.\r\n And Moses gave Gilead unto Machir the son of Manasseh; and he dwelt therein.\r\n And Jair the son of Manasseh went and took the towns thereof, and called them Havvoth-jair.\r\n And Nobah went and took Kenath, and the villages thereof, and called it Nobah, after his own name.\r\n \r\n \r\n These are the journeys of the children of Israel, when they went forth out of the land of Egypt by their hosts under the hand of Moses and Aaron.\r\n And Moses wrote their goings out according to their journeys by the commandment of Jehovah: and these are their journeys according to their goings out.\r\n And they journeyed from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month; on the morrow after the passover the children of Israel went out with a high hand in the sight of all the Egyptians,\r\n while the Egyptians were burying all their first-born, whom Jehovah had smitten among them: upon their gods also Jehovah executed judgments.\r\n And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses, and encamped in Succoth.\r\n And they journeyed from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, which is in the edge of the wilderness.\r\n And they journeyed from Etham, and turned back unto Pihahiroth, which is before Baal-zephon: and they encamped before Migdol.\r\n And they journeyed from before Hahiroth, and passed through the midst of the sea into the wilderness: and they went three days` journey in the wilderness of Etham, and encamped in Marah.\r\n And they journeyed from Marah, and came unto Elim: and in Elim were twelve springs of water, and threescore and ten palm-trees; and they encamped there.\r\n And they journeyed from Elim, and encamped by the Red Sea.\r\n And they journeyed from the Red Sea, and encamped in the wilderness of Sin.\r\n And they journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, and encamped in Dophkah.\r\n And they journeyed from Dophkah, and encamped in Alush.\r\n And they journeyed from Alush, and encamped in Rephidim, where was no water for the people to drink.\r\n And they journeyed from Rephidim, and encamped in the wilderness of Sinai.\r\n And they journeyed from the wilderness of Sinai, and encamped in Kibroth-hattaavah.\r\n And they journeyed from Kibroth-hattaavah, and encamped in Hazeroth.\r\n And they journeyed from Hazeroth, and encamped in Rithmah.\r\n And they journeyed from Rithmah, and encamped in Rimmon-perez.\r\n And they journeyed from Rimmon-perez, and encamped in Libnah.\r\n And they journeyed from Libnah, and encamped in Rissah.\r\n And they journeyed from Rissah, and encamped in Kehelathah.\r\n And they journeyed from Kehelathah, and encamped in mount Shepher.\r\n And they journeyed from mount Shepher, and encamped in Haradah.\r\n And they journeyed from Haradah, and encamped in Makheloth.\r\n And they journeyed from Makheloth, and encamped in Tahath.\r\n And they journeyed from Tahath, and encamped in Terah.\r\n And they journeyed from Terah, and encamped in Mithkah.\r\n And they journeyed from Mithkah, and encamped in Hashmonah.\r\n And they journeyed from Hashmonah, and encamped in Moseroth.\r\n And they journeyed from Moseroth, and encamped in Bene-jaakan.\r\n And they journeyed from Bene-jaakan, and encamped in Hor-haggidgad.\r\n And they journeyed from Hor-haggidgad, and encamped in Jotbathah.\r\n And they journeyed from Jotbathah, and encamped in Abronah.\r\n And they journeyed from Abronah, and encamped in Ezion-geber.\r\n And they journeyed from Ezion-geber, and encamped in the wilderness of Zin (the same is Kadesh).\r\n And they journeyed from Kadesh, and encamped in mount Hor, in the edge of the land of Edom.\r\n And Aaron the priest went up into mount Hor at the commandment of Jehovah, and died there, in the fortieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the fifth month, on the first day of the month.\r\n And Aaron was a hundred and twenty and three years old when he died in mount Hor.\r\n And the Canaanite, the king of Arad, who dwelt in the South in the land of Canaan, heard of the coming of the children of Israel.\r\n And they journeyed from mount Hor, and encamped in Zalmonah.\r\n And they journeyed from Zalmonah, and encamped in Punon.\r\n And they journeyed from Punon, and encamped in Oboth.\r\n And they journeyed from Oboth, and encamped in Iye-abarim, in the border of Moab.\r\n And they journeyed from Iyim, and encamped in Dibon-gad.\r\n And they journeyed from Dibon-gad, and encamped in Almon-diblathaim.\r\n And they journeyed from Almon-diblathaim, and encamped in the mountains of Abarim, before Nebo.\r\n And they journeyed from the mountains of Abarim, and encamped in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho.\r\n And they encamped by the Jordan, from Beth-jeshimoth even unto Abel-shittim in the plains of Moab.\r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho, saying,\r\n Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye pass over the Jordan into the land of Canaan,\r\n then ye shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, and destroy all their figured [stones], and destroy all their molten images, and demolish all their high places:\r\n and ye shall take possession of the land, and dwell therein; for unto you have I given the land to possess it.\r\n And ye shall inherit the land by lot according to your families; to the more ye shall give the more inheritance, and to the fewer thou shalt give the less inheritance: wheresoever the lot falleth to any man, that shall be his; according to the tribes of your fathers shall ye inherit.\r\n But if ye will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then shall those that ye let remain of them be as pricks in your eyes, and as thorns in your sides, and they shall vex you in the land wherein ye dwell.\r\n And it shall come to pass, that, as I thought to do unto them, so will I do unto you.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Command the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye come into the land of Canaan (this is the land that shall fall unto you for an inheritance, even the land of Canaan according to the borders thereof),\r\n then your south quarter shall be from the wilderness of Zin along by the side of Edom, and your south border shall be from the end of the Salt Sea eastward;\r\n and your border shall turn about southward of the ascent of Akrabbim, and pass along to Zin; and the goings out thereof shall be southward of Kadesh-barnea; and it shall go forth to Hazar-addar, and pass along to Azmon;\r\n and the border shall turn about from Azmon unto the brook of Egypt, and the goings out thereof shall be at the sea.\r\n And for the western border, ye shall have the great sea and the border [thereof]: this shall be your west border.\r\n And this shall be your north border: from the great sea ye shall mark out for you mount Hor;\r\n from mount Hor ye shall mark out unto the entrance of Hamath; and the goings out of the border shall be at Zedad;\r\n and the border shall go forth to Ziphron, and the goings out thereof shall be at Hazar-enan: this shall be your north border.\r\n And ye shall mark out your east border from Hazar-enan to Shepham;\r\n and the border shall go down from Shepham to Riblah, on the east side of Ain; and the border shall go down, and shall reach unto the side of the sea of Chinnereth eastward;\r\n and the border shall go down to the Jordan, and the goings out thereof shall be at the Salt Sea. This shall be your land according to the borders thereof round about.\r\n And Moses commanded the children of Israel, saying, This is the land which ye shall inherit by lot, which Jehovah hath commanded to give unto the nine tribes, and to the half-tribe;\r\n for the tribe of the children of Reuben according to their fathers` houses, and the tribe of the children of Gad according to their fathers` houses, have received, and the half-tribe of Manasseh have received, their inheritance:\r\n the two tribes and the half-tribe have received their inheritance beyond the Jordan at Jericho eastward, toward the sunrising.\r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n These are the names of the men that shall divide the land unto you for inheritance: Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun.\r\n And ye shall take one prince of every tribe, to divide the land for inheritance.\r\n And these are the names of the men: Of the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephunneh.\r\n And of the tribe of the children of Simeon, Shemuel the son of Ammihud.\r\n Of the tribe of Benjamin, Elidad the son of Chislon.\r\n And of the tribe of the children of Dan a prince, Bukki the son of Jogli.\r\n Of the children of Joseph: of the tribe of the children of Manasseh a prince, Hanniel the son of Ephod.\r\n And of the tribe of the children of Ephraim a prince, Kemuel the son of Shiphtan.\r\n And of the tribe of the children of Zebulun a prince, Elizaphan the son of Parnach.\r\n And of the tribe of the children of Issachar a prince, Paltiel the son of Azzan.\r\n And of the tribe of the children of Asher a prince, Ahihud the son of Shelomi.\r\n And of the tribe of the children of Naphtali a prince, Pedahel the son of Ammihud.\r\n These are they whom Jehovah commanded to divide the inheritance unto the children of Israel in the land of Canaan.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho, saying,\r\n Command the children of Israel, that they give unto the Levites of the inheritance of their possession cities to dwell in; and suburbs for the cities round about them shall ye give unto the Levites.\r\n And the cities shall they have to dwell in; and their suburbs shall be for their cattle, and for their substance, and for all their beasts.\r\n And the suburbs of the cities, which ye shall give unto the Levites, shall be from the wall of the city and outward a thousand cubits round about.\r\n And ye shall measure without the city for the east side two thousand cubits, and for the south side two thousand cubits, and for the west side two thousand cubits, and for the north side two thousand cubits, the city being in the midst. This shall be to them the suburbs of the cities.\r\n And the cities which ye shall give unto the Levites, they shall be the six cities of refuge, which ye shall give for the manslayer to flee unto: and besides them ye shall give forty and two cities.\r\n All the cities which ye shall give to the Levites shall be forty and eight cities; them [shall ye give] with their suburbs.\r\n And concerning the cities which ye shall give of the possession of the children of Israel, from the many ye shall take many; and from the few ye shall take few: every one according to his inheritance which he inheriteth shall give of his cities unto the Levites.\r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye pass over the Jordan into the land of Canaan,\r\n then ye shall appoint you cities to be cities of refuge for you, that the manslayer that killeth any person unwittingly may flee thither.\r\n And the cities shall be unto you for refuge from the avenger, that the manslayer die not, until he stand before the congregation for judgment.\r\n And the cities which ye shall give shall be for you six cities of refuge.\r\n Ye shall give three cities beyond the Jordan, and three cities shall ye give in the land of Canaan; they shall be cities of refuge.\r\n For the children of Israel, and for the stranger and for the sojourner among them, shall these six cities be for refuge; that every one that killeth any person unwittingly may flee thither.\r\n But if he smote him with an instrument of iron, so that he died, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.\r\n And if he smote him with a stone in the hand, whereby a man may die, and he died, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.\r\n Or if he smote him with a weapon of wood in the hand, whereby a man may die, and he died, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.\r\n The avenger of blood shall himself put the murderer to death: when he meeteth him, he shall put him to death.\r\n And if he thrust him of hatred, or hurled at him, lying in wait, so that he died,\r\n or in enmity smote him with his hand, so that he died; he that smote him shall surely be put to death; he is a murderer: the avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death, when he meeteth him.\r\n But if he thrust him suddenly without enmity, or hurled upon him anything without lying in wait,\r\n or with any stone, whereby a man may die, seeing him not, and cast it upon him, so that he died, and he was not his enemy, neither sought his harm;\r\n then the congregation shall judge between the smiter and the avenger of blood according to these ordinances;\r\n and the congregation shall deliver the manslayer out of the hand of the avenger of blood, and the congregation shall restore him to his city of refuge, whither he was fled: and he shall dwell therein until the death of the high priest, who was anointed with the holy oil.\r\n But if the manslayer shall at any time go beyond the border of his city of refuge, whither he fleeth,\r\n and the avenger of blood find him without the border of his city of refuge, and the avenger of blood slay the manslayer; he shall not be guilty of blood,\r\n because he should have remained in his city of refuge until the death of the high priest: but after the death of the high priest the manslayer shall return into the land of his possession.\r\n And these things shall be for a statute [and] ordinance unto you throughout your generations in all your dwellings.\r\n Whoso killeth any person, the murderer shall be slain at the mouth of witnesses: but one witness shall not testify against any person that he die.\r\n Moreover ye shall take no ransom for the life of a murderer, that is guilty of death; but he shall surely be put to death.\r\n And ye shall take no ransom for him that is fled to his city of refuge, that he may come again to dwell in the land, until the death of the priest.\r\n So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are: for blood, it polluteth the land; and no expiation can be made for the land for the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it.\r\n And thou shalt not defile the land which ye inhabit, in the midst of which I dwell: for I, Jehovah, dwell in the midst of the children of Israel.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the heads of the fathers` [houses] of the family of the children of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, of the families of the sons of Joseph, came near, and spake before Moses, and before the princes, the heads of the fathers` [houses] of the children of Israel:\r\n and they said, Jehovah commanded my lord to give the land for inheritance by lot to the children of Israel: and my lord was commanded by Jehovah to give the inheritance of Zelophehad our brother unto his daughters.\r\n And if they be married to any of the sons of the [other] tribes of the children of Israel, then will their inheritance be taken away from the inheritance of our fathers, and will be added to the inheritance of the tribe whereunto they shall belong: so will it be taken away from the lot of our inheritance.\r\n And when the jubilee of the children of Israel shall be, then will their inheritance be added unto the inheritance of the tribe whereunto they shall belong: so will their inheritance be taken away from the inheritance of the tribe of our fathers.\r\n And Moses commanded the children of Israel according to the word of Jehovah, saying, The tribe of the sons of Joseph speaketh right.\r\n This is the thing which Jehovah doth command concerning the daughters of Zelophehad, saying, Let them be married to whom they think best; only into the family of the tribe of their father shall they be married.\r\n So shall no inheritance of the children of Israel remove from tribe to tribe; for the children of Israel shall cleave every one to the inheritance of the tribe of his fathers.\r\n And every daughter, that possesseth an inheritance in any tribe of the children of Israel, shall be wife unto one of the family of the tribe of her father, that the children of Israel may possess every man the inheritance of his fathers.\r\n So shall no inheritance remove from one tribe to another tribe; for the tribes of the children of Israel shall cleave every one to his own inheritance.\r\n Even as Jehovah commanded Moses, so did the daughters of Zelophehad:\r\n for Mahlah, Tirzah, and Hoglah, and Milcah, and Noah, the daughters of Zelophehad, were married unto their father`s brothers` sons.\r\n They were married into the families of the sons of Manasseh the son of Joseph; and their inheritance remained in the tribe of the family of their father.\r\n These are the commandments and the ordinances which Jehovah commanded by Moses unto the children of Israel in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n These are the words which Moses spake unto all Israel beyond the Jordan in the wilderness, in the Arabah over against Suph, between Paran, and Tophel, and Laban, and Hazeroth, and Di-zahab.\r\n It is eleven days` [journey] from Horeb by the way of mount Seir unto Kadesh-barnea.\r\n And it came to pass in the fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the first day of the month, that Moses spake unto the children of Israel, according unto all that Jehovah had given him in commandment unto them;\r\n after he had smitten Sihon the king of the Amorites, who dwelt in Heshbon, and Og the king of Bashan, who dwelt in Ashtaroth, at Edrei.\r\n Beyond the Jordan, in the land of Moab, began Moses to declare this law, saying,\r\n Jehovah our God spake unto us in Horeb, saying, Ye have dwelt long enough in this mountain:\r\n turn you, and take your journey, and go to the hill-country of the Amorites, and unto all [the places] nigh thereunto, in the Arabah, in the hill-country, and in the lowland, and in the South, and by the sea-shore, the land of the Canaanites, and Lebanon, as far as the great river, the river Euphrates.\r\n Behold, I have set the land before you: go in and possess the land which Jehovah sware unto your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give unto them and to their seed after them.\r\n And I spake unto you at that time, saying, I am not able to bear you myself alone:\r\n Jehovah your God hath multiplied you, and, behold, ye are this day as the stars of heaven for multitude.\r\n Jehovah, the God of your fathers, make you a thousand times as many as ye are, and bless you, as he hath promised you!\r\n How can I myself alone bear your cumbrance, and your burden, and your strife?\r\n Take you wise men, and understanding, and known, according to your tribes, and I will make them heads over you.\r\n And ye answered me, and said, The thing which thou hast spoken is good [for us] to do.\r\n So I took the heads of your tribes, wise men, and known, and made them heads over you, captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds, and captains of fifties, and captains of tens, and officers, according to your tribes.\r\n And I charged your judges at that time, saying, Hear [the causes] between your brethren, and judge righteously between a man and his brother, and the sojourner that is with him.\r\n Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; ye shall hear the small and the great alike; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God`s: and the cause that is too hard for you ye shall bring unto me, and I will hear it.\r\n And I commanded you at that time all the things which ye should do.\r\n And we journeyed from Horeb, and went through all that great and terrible wilderness which ye saw, by the way to the hill-country of the Amorites, as Jehovah our God commanded us; and we came to Kadesh-barnea.\r\n And I said unto you, Ye are come unto the hill-country of the Amorites, which Jehovah our God giveth unto us.\r\n Behold, Jehovah thy God hath set the land before thee: go up, take possession, as Jehovah, the God of thy fathers, hath spoken unto thee; fear not, neither be dismayed.\r\n And ye came near unto me every one of you, and said, Let us send men before us, that they may search the land for us, and bring us word again of the way by which we must go up, and the cities unto which we shall come.\r\n And the thing pleased me well; and I took twelve men of you, one man for every tribe:\r\n and they turned and went up into the hill-country, and came unto the valley of Eshcol, and spied it out.\r\n And they took of the fruit of the land in their hands, and brought it down unto us, and brought us word again, and said, It is a good land which Jehovah our God giveth unto us.\r\n Yet ye would not go up, but rebelled against the commandment of Jehovah your God:\r\n and ye murmured in your tents, and said, Because Jehovah hated us, he hath brought us forth out of the land of Egypt, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us.\r\n Whither are we going up? our brethren have made our heart to melt, saying, The people are greater and taller than we; the cities are great and fortified up to heaven; and moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakim there.\r\n Then I said unto you, Dread not, neither be afraid of them.\r\n Jehovah your God who goeth before you, he will fight for you, according to all that he did for you in Egypt before your eyes,\r\n and in the wilderness, where thou hast seen how that Jehovah thy God bare thee, as a man doth bear his son, in all the way that ye went, until ye came unto this place.\r\n Yet in this thing ye did not believe Jehovah your God,\r\n who went before you in the way, to seek you out a place to pitch your tents in, in fire by night, to show you by what way ye should go, and in the cloud by day.\r\n And Jehovah heard the voice of your words, and was wroth, and sware, saying,\r\n Surely there shall not one of these men of this evil generation see the good land, which I sware to give unto your fathers,\r\n save Caleb the son of Jephunneh: he shall see it; and to him will I give the land that he hath trodden upon, and to his children, because he hath wholly followed Jehovah.\r\n Also Jehovah was angry with me for your sakes, saying, Thou also shalt not go in thither:\r\n Joshua the son of Nun, who standeth before thee, he shall go in thither: encourage thou him; for he shall cause Israel to inherit it.\r\n Moreover your little ones, that ye said should be a prey, and your children, that this day have no knowledge of good or evil, they shall go in thither, and unto them will I give it, and they shall possess it.\r\n But as for you, turn you, and take your journey into the wilderness by the way to the Red Sea.\r\n Then ye answered and said unto me, We have sinned against Jehovah, we will go up and fight, according to all that Jehovah our God commanded us. And ye girded on every man his weapons of war, and were forward to go up into the hill-country.\r\n And Jehovah said unto me, Say unto them, Go not up, neither fight; for I am not among you; lest ye be smitten before your enemies.\r\n So I spake unto you, and ye hearkened not; but ye rebelled against the commandment of Jehovah, and were presumptuous, and went up into the hill-country.\r\n And the Amorites, that dwelt in that hill-country, came out against you, and chased you, as bees do, and beat you down in Seir, even unto Hormah.\r\n And ye returned and wept before Jehovah; but Jehovah hearkened not to your voice, nor gave ear unto you.\r\n So ye abode in Kadesh many days, according unto the days that ye abode [there].\r\n \r\n \r\n Then we turned, and took our journey into the wilderness by the way to the Red Sea, as Jehovah spake unto me; and we compassed mount Seir many days.\r\n And Jehovah spake unto me, saying,\r\n Ye have compassed this mountain long enough: turn you northward.\r\n And command thou the people, saying, Ye are to pass through the border of your brethren the children of Esau, that dwell in Seir; and they will be afraid of you: take ye good heed unto yourselves therefore;\r\n contend not with them; for I will not give you of their land, no, not so much as for the sole of the foot to tread on; because I have given mount Seir unto Esau for a possession.\r\n Ye shall purchase food of them for money, that ye may eat; and ye shall also buy water of them for money, that ye may drink.\r\n For Jehovah thy God hath blessed thee in all the work of thy hand; he hath known thy walking through this great wilderness: these forty years Jehovah thy God hath been with thee; thou hast lacked nothing.\r\n So we passed by from our brethren the children of Esau, that dwell in Seir, from the way of the Arabah from Elath and from Ezion-geber. And we turned and passed by the way of the wilderness of Moab.\r\n And Jehovah said unto me, Vex not Moab, neither contend with them in battle; for I will not give thee of his land for a possession; because I have given Ar unto the children of Lot for a possession.\r\n (The Emim dwelt therein aforetime, a people great, and many, and tall, as the Anakim:\r\n these also are accounted Rephaim, as the Anakim; but the Moabites call them Emim.\r\n The Horites also dwelt in Seir aforetime, but the children of Esau succeeded them; and they destroyed them from before them, and dwelt in their stead; as Israel did unto the land of his possession, which Jehovah gave unto them.)\r\n Now rise up, and get you over the brook Zered. And we went over the brook Zered.\r\n And the days in which we came from Kadesh-barnea, until we were come over the brook Zered, were thirty and eight years; until all the generation of the men of war were consumed from the midst of the camp, as Jehovah sware unto them.\r\n Moreover the hand of Jehovah was against them, to destroy them from the midst of the camp, until they were consumed.\r\n So it came to pass, when all the men of war were consumed and dead from among the people,\r\n that Jehovah spake unto me, saying,\r\n Thou art this day to pass over Ar, the border of Moab:\r\n and when thou comest nigh over against the children of Ammon, vex them not, nor contend with them; for I will not give thee of the land of the children of Ammon for a possession; because I have given it unto the children of Lot for a possession.\r\n (That also is accounted a land of Rephaim: Rephaim dwelt therein aforetime; but the Ammonites call them Zamzummim,\r\n a people great, and many, and tall, as the Anakim; but Jehovah destroyed them before them; and they succeeded them, and dwelt in their stead;\r\n as he did for the children of Esau, that dwell in Seir, when he destroyed the Horites from before them; and they succeeded them, and dwelt in their stead even unto this day:\r\n and the Avvim, that dwelt in villages as far as Gaza, the Caphtorim, that came forth out of Caphtor, destroyed them, and dwelt in their stead.)\r\n Rise ye up, take your journey, and pass over the valley of the Arnon: behold, I have given into thy hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land; begin to possess it, and contend with him in battle.\r\n This day will I begin to put the dread of thee and the fear of thee upon the peoples that are under the whole heaven, who shall hear the report of thee, and shall tremble, and be in anguish because of thee.\r\n And I sent messengers out of the wilderness of Kedemoth unto Sihon king of Heshbon with words of peace, saying,\r\n Let me pass through thy land: I will go along by the highway, I will turn neither unto the right hand nor to the left.\r\n Thou shalt sell me food for money, that I may eat; and give me water for money, that I may drink: only let me pass through on my feet,\r\n as the children of Esau that dwell in Seir, and the Moabites that dwell in Ar, did unto me; until I shall pass over the Jordan into the land which Jehovah our God giveth us.\r\n But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him; for Jehovah thy God hardened his spirit, and made his heart obstinate, that he might deliver him into thy hand, as at this day.\r\n And Jehovah said unto me, Behold, I have begun to deliver up Sihon and his land before thee: begin to possess, that thou mayest inherit his land.\r\n Then Sihon came out against us, he and all his people, unto battle at Jahaz.\r\n And Jehovah our God delivered him up before us; and we smote him, and his sons, and all his people.\r\n And we took all his cities at that time, and utterly destroyed every inhabited city, with the women and the little ones; we left none remaining:\r\n only the cattle we took for a prey unto ourselves, with the spoil of the cities which we had taken.\r\n From Aroer, which is on the edge of the valley of the Arnon, and [from] the city that is in the valley, even unto Gilead, there was not a city too high for us; Jehovah our God delivered up all before us:\r\n only to the land of the children of Ammon thou camest not near; all the side of the river Jabbok, and the cities of the hill-country, and wheresoever Jehovah our God forbade us.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then we turned, and went up the way to Bashan: and Og the king of Bashan came out against us, he and all his people, unto battle at Edrei.\r\n And Jehovah said unto me, Fear him not; for I have delivered him, and all his people, and his land, into thy hand; and thou shalt do unto him as thou didst unto Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt at Heshbon.\r\n So Jehovah our God delivered into our hand Og also, the king of Bashan, and all his people: and we smote him until none was left to him remaining.\r\n And we took all his cities at that time; there was not a city which we took not from them; threescore cities, all the region of Argob, the kingdom of Og in Bashan.\r\n All these were cities fortified with high walls, gates, and bars; besides the unwalled towns a great many.\r\n And we utterly destroyed them, as we did unto Sihon king of Heshbon, utterly destroying every inhabited city, with the women and the little ones.\r\n But all the cattle, and the spoil of the cities, we took for a prey unto ourselves.\r\n And we took the land at that time out of the hand of the two kings of the Amorites that were beyond the Jordan, from the valley of the Arnon unto mount Hermon;\r\n ([which] Hermon the Sidonians call Sirion, and the Amorites call it Senir;)\r\n all the cities of the plain, and all Gilead, and all Bashan, unto Salecah and Edrei, cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan.\r\n (For only Og king of Bashan remained of the remnant of the Rephaim; behold, his bedstead was a bedstead of iron; is it not in Rabbah of the children of Ammon? nine cubits was the length thereof, and four cubits the breadth of it, after the cubit of a man.)\r\n And this land we took in possession at that time: from Aroer, which is by the valley of the Arnon, and half the hill-country of Gilead, and the cities thereof, gave I unto the Reubenites and to the Gadites:\r\n and the rest of Gilead, and all Bashan, the kingdom of Og, gave I unto the half-tribe of Manasseh; all the region of Argob, even all Bashan. (The same is called the land of Rephaim.\r\n Jair the son of Manasseh took all the region of Argob, unto the border of the Geshurites and the Maacathites, and called them, even Bashan, after his own name, Havvoth-jair, unto this day.)\r\n And I gave Gilead unto Machir.\r\n And unto the Reubenites and unto the Gadites I gave from Gilead even unto the valley of the Arnon, the middle of the valley, and the border [thereof], even unto the river Jabbok, which is the border of the children of Ammon;\r\n the Arabah also, and the Jordan and the border [thereof], from Chinnereth even unto the sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, under the slopes of Pisgah eastward.\r\n And I commanded you at that time, saying, Jehovah your God hath given you this land to possess it: ye shall pass over armed before your brethren the children of Israel, all the men of valor.\r\n But your wives, and your little ones, and your cattle, (I know that ye have much cattle,) shall abide in your cities which I have given you,\r\n until Jehovah give rest unto your brethren, as unto you, and they also possess the land which Jehovah your God giveth them beyond the Jordan: then shall ye return every man unto his possession, which I have given you.\r\n And I commanded Joshua at that time, saying, Thine eyes have seen all that Jehovah your God hath done unto these two kings: so shall Jehovah do unto all the kingdoms whither thou goest over.\r\n Ye shall not fear them; for Jehovah your God, he it is that fighteth for you.\r\n And I besought Jehovah at that time, saying,\r\n O Lord Jehovah, thou hast begun to show thy servant thy greatness, and thy strong hand: for what god is there in heaven or in earth, that can do according to thy works, and according to thy mighty acts?\r\n Let me go over, I pray thee, and see the good land that is beyond the Jordan, that goodly mountain, and Lebanon.\r\n But Jehovah was wroth with me for your sakes, and hearkened not unto me; and Jehovah said unto me, Let it suffice thee; speak no more unto me of this matter.\r\n Get thee up unto the top of Pisgah, and lift up thine eyes westward, and northward, and southward, and eastward, and behold with thine eyes: for thou shalt not go over this Jordan.\r\n But charge Joshua, and encourage him, and strengthen him; for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land which thou shalt see.\r\n So we abode in the valley over against Beth-peor.\r\n \r\n \r\n And now, O Israel, hearken unto the statutes and unto the ordinances, which I teach you, to do them; that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which Jehovah, the God of your fathers, giveth you.\r\n Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish from it, that ye may keep the commandments of Jehovah your God which I command you.\r\n Your eyes have seen what Jehovah did because of Baal-peor; for all the men that followed Baal-peor, Jehovah thy God hath destroyed them from the midst of thee.\r\n But ye that did cleave unto Jehovah your God are alive every one of you this day.\r\n Behold, I have taught you statutes and ordinances, even as Jehovah my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the midst of the land whither ye go in to possess it.\r\n Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, that shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.\r\n For what great nation is there, that hath a god so nigh unto them, as Jehovah our God is whensoever we call upon him?\r\n And what great nation is there, that hath statutes and ordinances so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?\r\n Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes saw, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life; but make them known unto thy children and thy children`s children;\r\n the day that thou stoodest before Jehovah thy God in Horeb, when Jehovah said unto me, Assemble me the people, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children.\r\n And ye came near and stood under the mountain; and the mountain burned with fire unto the heart of heaven, with darkness, cloud, and thick darkness.\r\n And Jehovah spake unto you out of the midst of the fire: ye heard the voice of words, but ye saw no form; only [ye heard] a voice.\r\n And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even the ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone.\r\n And Jehovah commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and ordinances, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go over to possess it.\r\n Take ye therefore good heed unto yourselves; for ye saw no manner of form on the day that Jehovah spake unto you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire.\r\n Lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image in the form of any figure, the likeness of male or female,\r\n the likeness of any beast that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged bird that flieth in the heavens,\r\n the likeness of anything that creepeth on the ground, the likeness of any fish that is in the water under the earth;\r\n and lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun and the moon and the stars, even all the host of heaven, thou be drawn away and worship them, and serve them, which Jehovah thy God hath allotted unto all the peoples under the whole heaven.\r\n But Jehovah hath taken you, and brought you forth out of the iron furnace, out of Egypt, to be unto him a people of inheritance, as at this day.\r\n Furthermore Jehovah was angry with me for your sakes, and sware that I should not go over the Jordan, and that I should not go in unto that good land, which Jehovah thy God giveth thee for an inheritance:\r\n but I must die in this land, I must not go over the Jordan; but ye shall go over, and possess that good land.\r\n Take heed unto yourselves, lest ye forget the covenant of Jehovah your God, which he made with you, and make you a graven image in the form of anything which Jehovah thy God hath forbidden thee.\r\n For Jehovah thy God is a devouring fire, a jealous God.\r\n When thou shalt beget children, and children`s children, and ye shall have been long in the land, and shall corrupt yourselves, and make a graven image in the form of anything, and shall do that which is evil in the sight of Jehovah thy God, to provoke him to anger;\r\n I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that ye shall soon utterly perish from off the land whereunto ye go over the Jordan to possess it; ye shall not prolong your days upon it, but shall utterly be destroyed.\r\n And Jehovah will scatter you among the peoples, and ye shall be left few in number among the nations, whither Jehovah shall lead you away.\r\n And there ye shall serve gods, the work of men`s hands, wood and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell.\r\n But from thence ye shall seek Jehovah thy God, and thou shalt find him, when thou searchest after him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.\r\n When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, in the latter days thou shalt return to Jehovah thy God, and hearken unto his voice:\r\n for Jehovah thy God is a merciful God; he will not fail thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them.\r\n For ask now of the days that are past, which were before thee, since the day that God created man upon the earth, and from the one end of heaven unto the other, whether there hath been [any such thing] as this great thing is, or hath been heard like it?\r\n Did ever a people hear the voice of God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as thou hast heard, and live?\r\n Or hath God assayed to go and take him a nation from the midst of [another] nation, by trials, by signs, and by wonders, and by war, and by a mighty hand, and by an outstretched arm, and by great terrors, according to all that Jehovah your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes?\r\n Unto thee it was showed, that thou mightest know that Jehovah he is God; there is none else besides him.\r\n Out of heaven he made thee to hear his voice, that he might instruct thee: and upon earth he made thee to see his great fire; and thou heardest his words out of the midst of the fire.\r\n And because he loved thy fathers, therefore he chose their seed after them, and brought thee out with his presence, with his great power, out of Egypt;\r\n to drive out nations from before thee greater and mightier than thou, to bring thee in, to give thee their land for an inheritance, as at this day.\r\n Know therefore this day, and lay it to thy heart, that Jehovah he is God in heaven above and upon the earth beneath; there is none else.\r\n And thou shalt keep his statutes, and his commandments, which I command thee this day, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days in the land, which Jehovah thy God giveth thee, for ever.\r\n Then Moses set apart three cities beyond the Jordan toward the sunrising;\r\n that the manslayer might flee thither, that slayeth his neighbor unawares, and hated him not in time past; and that fleeing unto one of these cities he might live:\r\n [namely], Bezer in the wilderness, in the plain country, for the Reubenites; and Ramoth in Gilead, for the Gadites; and Golan in Bashan, for the Manassites.\r\n And this is the law which Moses set before the children of Israel:\r\n these are the testimonies, and the statutes, and the ordinances, which Moses spake unto the children of Israel, when they came forth out of Egypt,\r\n beyond the Jordan, in the valley over against Beth-peor, in the land of Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt at Heshbon, whom Moses and the children of Israel smote, when they came forth out of Egypt.\r\n And they took his land in possession, and the land of Og king of Bashan, the two kings of the Amorites, who were beyond the Jordan toward the sunrising;\r\n from Aroer, which is on the edge of the valley of the Arnon, even unto mount Sion (the same is Hermon),\r\n and all the Arabah beyond the Jordan eastward, even unto the sea of the Arabah, under the slopes of Pisgah.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Moses called unto all Israel, and said unto them, Hear, O Israel, the statutes and the ordinances which I speak in your ears this day, that ye may learn them, and observe to do them.\r\n Jehovah our God made a covenant with us in Horeb.\r\n Jehovah made not this covenant with our fathers, but with us, even us, who are all of us here alive this day.\r\n Jehovah spake with you face to face in the mount out of the midst of the fire,\r\n (I stood between Jehovah and you at that time, to show you the word of Jehovah: for ye were afraid because of the fire, and went not up into the mount;) saying,\r\n I am Jehovah thy God, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.\r\n Thou shalt have no other gods before me.\r\n Thou shalt not make unto thee a graven image, [nor] any likeness [of anything] that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:\r\n thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them; for I, Jehovah, thy God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the third and upon the fourth generation of them that hate me;\r\n and showing lovingkindness unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.\r\n Thou shalt not take the name of Jehovah thy God in vain: for Jehovah will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.\r\n Observe the sabbath day, to keep it holy, as Jehovah thy God commanded thee.\r\n Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work;\r\n but the seventh day is a sabbath unto Jehovah thy God: [in it] thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thine ox, nor thine ass, nor any of thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates; that thy man-servant and thy maid-servant may rest as well as thou.\r\n And thou shalt remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and Jehovah thy God brought thee out thence by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm: therefore Jehovah thy God commanded thee to keep the sabbath day.\r\n Honor thy father and thy mother, as Jehovah thy God commanded thee; that thy days may be long, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which Jehovah thy God giveth thee.\r\n Thou shalt not kill.\r\n Neither shalt thou commit adultery.\r\n Neither shalt thou steal.\r\n Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbor.\r\n Neither shalt thou covet thy neighbor`s wife; neither shalt thou desire thy neighbor`s house, his field, or his man-servant, or his maid-servant, his ox, or his ass, or anything that is thy neighbor`s.\r\n These words Jehovah spake unto all your assembly in the mount out of the midst of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness, with a great voice: and he added no more. And he wrote them upon two tables of stone, and gave them unto me.\r\n And it came to pass, when ye heard the voice out of the midst of the darkness, while the mountain was burning with fire, that ye came near unto me, even all the heads of your tribes, and your elders;\r\n and ye said, Behold, Jehovah our God hath showed us his glory and his greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the midst of the fire: we have seen this day that God doth speak with man, and he liveth.\r\n Now therefore why should we die? for this great fire will consume us: if we hear the voice of Jehovah our God any more, then we shall die.\r\n For who is there of all flesh, that hath heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as we have, and lived?\r\n Go thou near, and hear all that Jehovah our God shall say: and speak thou unto us all that Jehovah our God shall speak unto thee; and we will hear it, and do it.\r\n And Jehovah heard the voice of your words, when ye spake unto me; and Jehovah said unto me, I have heard the voice of the words of this people, which they have spoken unto thee: they have well said all that they have spoken.\r\n Oh that there were such a heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!\r\n Go say to them, Return ye to your tents.\r\n But as for thee, stand thou here by me, and I will speak unto thee all the commandment, and the statutes, and the ordinances, which thou shalt teach them, that they may do them in the land which I give them to possess it.\r\n Ye shall observe to do therefore as Jehovah your God hath commanded you: ye shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.\r\n Ye shall walk in all the way which Jehovah your God hath commanded you, that ye may live, and that it may be well with you, and that ye may prolong your days in the land which ye shall possess.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now this is the commandment, the statutes, and the ordinances, which Jehovah your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go over to possess it;\r\n that thou mightest fear Jehovah thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son`s son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged.\r\n Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it; that it may be well with thee, and that ye may increase mightily, as Jehovah, the God of thy fathers, hath promised unto thee, in a land flowing with milk and honey.\r\n Hear, O Israel: Jehovah our God is one Jehovah:\r\n and thou shalt love Jehovah thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.\r\n And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be upon thy heart;\r\n and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thy house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.\r\n And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thy hand, and they shall be for frontlets between thine eyes.\r\n And thou shalt write them upon the door-posts of thy house, and upon thy gates.\r\n And it shall be, when Jehovah thy God shall bring thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee, great and goodly cities, which thou buildest not,\r\n and houses full of all good things, which thou filledst not, and cisterns hewn out, which thou hewedst not, vineyards and olive-trees, which thou plantedst not, and thou shalt eat and be full;\r\n then beware lest thou forget Jehovah, who brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.\r\n Thou shalt fear Jehovah thy God; and him shalt thou serve, and shalt swear by his name.\r\n Ye shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the peoples that are round about you;\r\n for Jehovah thy God in the midst of thee is a jealous God; lest the anger of Jehovah thy God be kindled against thee, and he destroy thee from off the face of the earth.\r\n Ye shall not tempt Jehovah your God, as ye tempted him in Massah.\r\n Ye shall diligently keep the commandments of Jehovah your God, and his testimonies, and his statutes, which he hath commanded thee.\r\n And thou shalt do that which is right and good in the sight of Jehovah; that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest go in and possess the good land which Jehovah sware unto thy fathers,\r\n to thrust out all thine enemies from before thee, as Jehovah hath spoken.\r\n When thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What mean the testimonies, and the statutes, and the ordinances, which Jehovah our God hath commanded you?\r\n then thou shalt say unto thy son, We were Pharaoh`s bondmen in Egypt: and Jehovah brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand;\r\n and Jehovah showed signs and wonders, great and sore, upon Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his house, before our eyes;\r\n and he brought us out from thence, that he might bring us in, to give us the land which he sware unto our fathers.\r\n And Jehovah commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear Jehovah our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as at this day.\r\n And it shall be righteousness unto us, if we observe to do all this commandment before Jehovah our God, as he hath commanded us.\r\n \r\n \r\n When Jehovah thy God shall bring thee into the land whither thou goest to possess it, and shall cast out many nations before thee, the Hittite, and the Girgashite, and the Amorite, and the Canaanite, and the Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite, seven nations greater and mightier than thou;\r\n and when Jehovah thy God shall deliver them up before thee, and thou shalt smite them; then thou shalt utterly destroy them: thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor show mercy unto them;\r\n neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son.\r\n For he will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of Jehovah be kindled against you, and he will destroy thee quickly.\r\n But thus shall ye deal with them: ye shall break down their altars, and dash in pieces their pillars, and hew down their Asherim, and burn their graven images with fire.\r\n For thou art a holy people unto Jehovah thy God: Jehovah thy God hath chosen thee to be a people for his own possession, above all peoples that are upon the face of the earth.\r\n Jehovah did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all peoples:\r\n but because Jehovah loveth you, and because he would keep the oath which he sware unto your fathers, hath Jehovah brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.\r\n Know therefore that Jehovah thy God, he is God, the faithful God, who keepeth covenant and lovingkindness with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations,\r\n and repayeth them that hate him to their face, to destroy them: he will not be slack to him that hateth him, he will repay him to his face.\r\n Thou shalt therefore keep the commandment, and the statutes, and the ordinances, which I command thee this day, to do them.\r\n And it shall come to pass, because ye hearken to these ordinances, and keep and do them, that Jehovah thy God will keep with thee the covenant and the lovingkindness which he sware unto thy fathers:\r\n and he will love thee, and bless thee, and multiply thee; he will also bless the fruit of thy body and the fruit of thy ground, thy grain and thy new wine and thine oil, the increase of thy cattle and the young of thy flock, in the land which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee.\r\n Thou shalt be blessed above all peoples: there shall not be male or female barren among you, or among your cattle.\r\n And Jehovah will take away from thee all sickness; and none of the evil diseases of Egypt, which thou knowest, will he put upon thee, but will lay them upon all them that hate thee.\r\n And thou shalt consume all the peoples that Jehovah thy God shall deliver unto thee; thine eye shall not pity them: neither shalt thou serve their gods; for that will be a snare unto thee.\r\n If thou shalt say in thy heart, These nations are more than I; how can I dispossess them?\r\n thou shalt not be afraid of them: thou shalt well remember what Jehovah thy God did unto Pharaoh, and unto all Egypt;\r\n the great trials which thine eyes saw, and the signs, and the wonders, and the mighty hand, and the outstretched arm, whereby Jehovah thy God brought thee out: so shall Jehovah thy God do unto all the peoples of whom thou art afraid.\r\n Moreover Jehovah thy God will send the hornet among them, until they that are left, and hide themselves, perish from before thee.\r\n Thou shalt not be affrighted at them; for Jehovah thy God is in the midst of thee, a great God and a terrible.\r\n And Jehovah thy God will cast out those nations before thee by little and little: thou mayest not consume them at once, lest the beasts of the field increase upon thee.\r\n But Jehovah thy God will deliver them up before thee, and will discomfit them with a great discomfiture, until they be destroyed.\r\n And he will deliver their kings into thy hand, and thou shalt make their name to perish from under heaven: there shall no man be able to stand before thee, until thou have destroyed them.\r\n The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with fire: thou shalt not covet the silver or the gold that is on them, nor take it unto thee, lest thou be snared therein; for it is an abomination to Jehovah thy God.\r\n And thou shalt not bring an abomination into thy house, and become a devoted thing like unto it: thou shalt utterly detest it, and thou shalt utterly abhor it; for it is a devoted thing.\r\n \r\n \r\n All the commandment which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do, that ye may live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land which Jehovah sware unto your fathers.\r\n And thou shalt remember all the way which Jehovah thy God hath led thee these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble thee, to prove thee, to know what was in thy heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or not.\r\n And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by everything that proceedeth out of the mouth of Jehovah doth man live.\r\n Thy raiment waxed not old upon thee, neither did thy foot swell, these forty years.\r\n And thou shalt consider in thy heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so Jehovah thy God chasteneth thee.\r\n And thou shalt keep the commandments of Jehovah thy God, to walk in his ways, and to fear him.\r\n For Jehovah thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, flowing forth in valleys and hills;\r\n a land of wheat and barley, and vines and fig-trees and pomegranates; a land of olive-trees and honey;\r\n a land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack anything in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest dig copper.\r\n And thou shalt eat and be full, and thou shalt bless Jehovah thy God for the good land which he hath given thee.\r\n Beware lest thou forget Jehovah thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his ordinances, and his statutes, which I command thee this day:\r\n lest, when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein;\r\n and when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied;\r\n then thy heart be lifted up, and thou forget Jehovah thy God, who brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage;\r\n who led thee through the great and terrible wilderness, [wherein were] fiery serpents and scorpions, and thirsty ground where was no water; who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint;\r\n who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not; that he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end:\r\n and [lest] thou say in thy heart, My power and the might of my hand hath gotten me this wealth.\r\n But thou shalt remember Jehovah thy God, for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth; that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as at this day.\r\n And it shall be, if thou shalt forget Jehovah thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish.\r\n As the nations that Jehovah maketh to perish before you, so shall ye perish; because ye would not hearken unto the voice of Jehovah your God.\r\n \r\n \r\n Hear, O Israel: thou art to pass over the Jordan this day, to go in to dispossess nations greater and mightier than thyself, cities great and fortified up to heaven,\r\n a people great and tall, the sons of the Anakim, whom thou knowest, and of whom thou hast heard say, Who can stand before the sons of Anak?\r\n Know therefore this day, that Jehovah thy God is he who goeth over before thee as a devouring fire; he will destroy them, and he will bring them down before thee: so shalt thou drive them out, and make them to perish quickly, as Jehovah hath spoken unto thee.\r\n Speak not thou in thy heart, after that Jehovah thy God hath thrust them out from before thee, saying, For my righteousness Jehovah hath brought me in to possess this land; whereas for the wickedness of these nations Jehovah doth drive them out from before thee.\r\n Not for thy righteousness, or for the uprightness of thy heart, dost thou go in to possess their land; but for the wickedness of these nations Jehovah thy God doth drive them out from before thee, and that he may establish the word which Jehovah sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.\r\n Know therefore, that Jehovah thy God giveth thee not this good land to possess it for thy righteousness; for thou art a stiffnecked people.\r\n Remember, forget thou not, how thou provokedst Jehovah thy God to wrath in the wilderness: from the day that thou wentest forth out of the land of Egypt, until ye came unto this place, ye have been rebellious against Jehovah.\r\n Also in Horeb ye provoked Jehovah to wrath, and Jehovah was angry with you to destroy you.\r\n When I was gone up into the mount to receive the tables of stone, even the tables of the covenant which Jehovah made with you, then I abode in the mount forty days and forty nights; I did neither eat bread nor drink water.\r\n And Jehovah delivered unto me the two tables of stone written with the finger of God; and on them [was written] according to all the words, which Jehovah speak with you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly.\r\n And it came to pass at the end of forty days and forty nights, that Jehovah gave me the two tables of stone, even the tables of the covenant.\r\n And Jehovah said unto me, Arise, get thee down quickly from hence; for thy people that thou hast brought forth out of Egypt have corrupted themselves; they are quickly turned aside out of the way which I commanded them; they have made them a molten image.\r\n Furthermore Jehovah spake unto me, saying, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people:\r\n let me alone, that I may destroy them, and blot out their name from under heaven; and I will make of thee a nation mightier and greater than they.\r\n So I turned and came down from the mount, and the mount was burning with fire: and the two tables of the covenant were in my two hands.\r\n And I looked, and, behold, ye had sinned against Jehovah your God; ye had made you a molten calf: ye had turned aside quickly out of the way which Jehovah had commanded you.\r\n And I took hold of the two tables, and cast them out of my two hands, and brake them before your eyes.\r\n And I fell down before Jehovah, as at the first, forty days and forty nights; I did neither eat bread nor drink water; because of all your sin which ye sinned, in doing that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, to provoke him to anger.\r\n For I was afraid of the anger and hot displeasure, wherewith Jehovah was wroth against you to destroy you. But Jehovah hearkened unto me that time also.\r\n And Jehovah was very angry with Aaron to destroy him: and I prayed for Aaron also at the same time.\r\n And I took your sin, the calf which ye had made, and burnt it with fire, and stamped it, grinding it very small, until it was as fine as dust: and I cast the dust thereof into the brook that descended out of the mount.\r\n And at Taberah, and at Massah, and at Kibroth-hattaavah, ye provoked Jehovah to wrath.\r\n And when Jehovah sent you from Kadesh-barnea, saying, Go up and possess the land which I have given you; then ye rebelled against the commandment of Jehovah your God, and ye believed him not, nor hearkened to his voice.\r\n Ye have been rebellious against Jehovah from the day that I knew you.\r\n So I fell down before Jehovah the forty days and forty nights that I fell down, because Jehovah had said he would destroy you.\r\n And I prayed unto Jehovah, and said, O Lord Jehovah, destroy not thy people and thine inheritance, that thou hast redeemed through thy greatness, that thou hast brought forth out of Egypt with a mighty hand.\r\n Remember thy servants, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; look not unto the stubbornness of this people, nor to their wickedness, nor to their sin,\r\n lest the land whence thou broughtest us out say, Because Jehovah was not able to bring them into the land which he promised unto them, and because he hated them, he hath brought them out to slay them in the wilderness.\r\n Yet they are thy people and thine inheritance, which thou broughtest out by thy great power and by thine outstretched arm.\r\n \r\n \r\n At that time Jehovah said unto me, Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first, and come up unto me into the mount, and make thee an ark of wood.\r\n And I will write on the tables the words that were on the first tables which thou brakest, and thou shalt put them in the ark.\r\n So I made an ark of acacia wood, and hewed two tables of stone like unto the first, and went up into the mount, having the two tables in my hand.\r\n And he wrote on the tables, according to the first writing, the ten commandments, which Jehovah spake unto you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly: and Jehovah gave them unto me.\r\n And I turned and came down from the mount, and put the tables in the ark which I had made; and there they are as Jehovah commanded me.\r\n (And the children of Israel journeyed from Beeroth Bene-jaakan to Moserah. There Aaron died, and there he was buried; and Eleazar his son ministered in the priest`s office in his stead.\r\n From thence they journeyed unto Gudgodah; and from Gudgodah to Jotbathah, a land of brooks of water.\r\n At that time Jehovah set apart the tribe of Levi, to bear the ark of the covenant of Jehovah, to stand before Jehovah to minister unto him, and to bless in his name, unto this day.\r\n Wherefore Levi hath no portion nor inheritance with his brethren; Jehovah is his inheritance, according as Jehovah thy God spake unto him.)\r\n And I stayed in the mount, as at the first time, forty days and forty nights: and Jehovah hearkened unto me that time also; Jehovah would not destroy thee.\r\n And Jehovah said unto me, Arise, take thy journey before the people; and they shall go in and possess the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give unto them.\r\n And now, Israel, what doth Jehovah thy God require of thee, but to fear Jehovah thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve Jehovah thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,\r\n to keep the commandments of Jehovah, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?\r\n Behold, unto Jehovah thy God belongeth heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth, with all that is therein.\r\n Only Jehovah had a delight in thy fathers to love them, and he chose their seed after them, even you above all peoples, as at this day.\r\n Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked.\r\n For Jehovah your God, he is God of gods, and Lord of lords, the great God, the mighty, and the terrible, who regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward.\r\n He doth execute justice for the fatherless and widow, and loveth the sojourner, in giving him food and raiment.\r\n Love ye therefore the sojourner; for ye were sojourners in the land of Egypt.\r\n Thou shalt fear Jehovah thy God; him shalt thou serve; and to him shalt thou cleave, and by his name shalt thou swear.\r\n He is thy praise, and he is thy God, that hath done for thee these great and terrible things, which thine eyes have seen.\r\n Thy fathers went down into Egypt with threescore and ten persons; and now Jehovah thy God hath made thee as the stars of heaven for multitude.\r\n \r\n \r\n Therefore thou shalt love Jehovah thy God, and keep his charge, and his statutes, and his ordinances, and his commandments, alway.\r\n And know ye this day: for [I speak] not with your children that have not known, and that have not seen the chastisement of Jehovah your God, his greatness, his mighty hand, and his outstretched arm,\r\n and his signs, and his works, which he did in the midst of Egypt unto Pharaoh the king of Egypt, and unto all his land;\r\n and what he did unto the army of Egypt, unto their horses, and to their chariots; how he made the water of the Red Sea to overflow them as they pursued after you, and how Jehovah hath destroyed them unto this day;\r\n and what he did unto you in the wilderness, until ye came unto this place;\r\n and what he did unto Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, the son of Reuben; how the earth opened its mouth, and swallowed them up, and their households, and their tents, and every living thing that followed them, in the midst of all Israel:\r\n but your eyes have seen all the great work of Jehovah which he did.\r\n Therefore shall ye keep all the commandment which I command thee this day, that ye may be strong, and go in and possess the land, whither ye go over to possess it;\r\n and that ye may prolong your days in the land, which Jehovah sware unto your fathers to give unto them and to their seed, a land flowing with milk and honey.\r\n For the land, whither thou goest in to possess it, is not as the land of Egypt, from whence ye came out, where thou sowedst thy seed, and wateredst it with thy foot, as a garden of herbs;\r\n but the land, whither ye go over to possess it, is a land of hills and valleys, [and] drinketh water of the rain of heaven,\r\n a land which Jehovah thy God careth for: the eyes of Jehovah thy God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year even unto the end of the year.\r\n And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love Jehovah your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul,\r\n that I will give the rain of your land in its season, the former rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy grain, and thy new wine, and thine oil.\r\n And I will give grass in thy fields for thy cattle, and thou shalt eat and be full.\r\n Take heed to yourselves, lest your heart be deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them;\r\n and the anger of Jehovah be kindled against you, and he shut up the heavens, so that there shall be no rain, and the land shall not yield its fruit; and ye perish quickly from off the good land which Jehovah giveth you.\r\n Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul; and ye shall bind them for a sign upon your hand, and they shall be for frontlets between your eyes.\r\n And ye shall teach them your children, talking of them, when thou sittest in thy house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.\r\n And thou shalt write them upon the door-posts of thy house, and upon thy gates;\r\n that your days may be multiplied, and the days of your children, in the land which Jehovah sware unto your fathers to give them, as the days of the heavens above the earth.\r\n For if ye shall diligently keep all this commandment which I command you, to do it, to love Jehovah your God, to walk in all his ways, and to cleave unto him;\r\n then will Jehovah drive out all these nations from before you, and ye shall dispossess nations greater and mightier than yourselves.\r\n Every place whereon the sole of your foot shall tread shall be yours: from the wilderness, and Lebanon, from the river, the river Euphrates, even unto the hinder sea shall be your border.\r\n There shall no man be able to stand before you: Jehovah your God shall lay the fear of you and the dread of you upon all the land that ye shall tread upon, as he hath spoken unto you.\r\n Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse:\r\n the blessing, if ye shall hearken unto the commandments of Jehovah your God, which I command you this day;\r\n and the curse, if ye shall not hearken unto the commandments of Jehovah your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known.\r\n And it shall come to pass, when Jehovah thy God shall bring thee into the land whither thou goest to possess it, that thou shalt set the blessing upon mount Gerizim, and the curse upon mount Ebal.\r\n Are they not beyond the Jordan, behind the way of the going down of the sun, in the land of the Canaanites that dwell in the Arabah, over against Gilgal, beside the oaks of Moreh?\r\n For ye are to pass over the Jordan to go in to possess the land which Jehovah your God giveth you, and ye shall possess it, and dwell therein.\r\n And ye shall observe to do all the statutes and the ordinances which I set before you this day.\r\n \r\n \r\n These are the statutes and the ordinances which ye shall observe to do in the land which Jehovah, the God of thy fathers, hath given thee to possess it, all the days that ye live upon the earth.\r\n Ye shall surely destroy all the places wherein the nations that ye shall dispossess served their gods, upon the high mountains, and upon the hills, and under every green tree:\r\n and ye shall break down their altars, and dash in pieces their pillars, and burn their Asherim with fire; and ye shall hew down the graven images of their gods; and ye shall destroy their name out of that place.\r\n Ye shall not do so unto Jehovah your God.\r\n But unto the place which Jehovah your God shall choose out of all your tribes, to put his name there, even unto his habitation shall ye seek, and thither thou shalt come;\r\n and thither ye shall bring your burnt-offerings, and your sacrifices, and your tithes, and the heave-offering of your hand, and your vows, and your freewill-offerings, and the firstlings of your herd and of your flock:\r\n and there ye shall eat before Jehovah your God, and ye shall rejoice in all that ye put your hand unto, ye and your households, wherein Jehovah thy God hath blessed thee.\r\n Ye shall not do after all the things that we do here this day, every man whatsoever is right in his own eyes;\r\n for ye are not as yet come to the rest and to the inheritance, which Jehovah thy God giveth thee.\r\n But when ye go over the Jordan, and dwell in the land which Jehovah your God causeth you to inherit, and he giveth you rest from all your enemies round about, so that ye dwell in safety;\r\n then it shall come to pass that to the place which Jehovah your God shall choose, to cause his name to dwell there, thither shall ye bring all that I command you: your burnt-offerings, and your sacrifices, your tithes, and the heave-offering of your hand, and all your choice vows which ye vow unto Jehovah.\r\n And ye shall rejoice before Jehovah your God, ye, and your sons, and your daughters, and your men-servants, and your maid-servants, and the Levite that is within your gates, forasmuch as he hath no portion nor inheritance with you.\r\n Take heed to thyself that thou offer not thy burnt-offerings in every place that thou seest;\r\n but in the place which Jehovah shall choose in one of thy tribes, there thou shalt offer thy burnt-offerings, and there thou shalt do all that I command thee.\r\n Notwithstanding, thou mayest kill and eat flesh within all thy gates, after all the desire of thy soul, according to the blessing of Jehovah thy God which he hath given thee: the unclean and the clean may eat thereof, as of the gazelle, and as of the hart.\r\n Only ye shall not eat the blood; thou shalt pour it out upon the earth as water.\r\n Thou mayest not eat within thy gates the tithe of thy grain, or of thy new wine, or of thine oil, or the firstlings of thy herd or of thy flock, nor any of thy vows which thou vowest, nor thy freewill-offerings, nor the heave-offering of thy hand;\r\n but thou shalt eat them before Jehovah thy God in the place which Jehovah thy God shall choose, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy man-servant, and thy maid-servant, and the Levite that is within thy gates: and thou shalt rejoice before Jehovah thy God in all that thou puttest thy hand unto.\r\n Take heed to thyself that thou forsake not the Levite as long as thou livest in thy land.\r\n When Jehovah thy God shall enlarge thy border, as he hath promised thee, and thou shalt say, I will eat flesh, because thy soul desireth to eat flesh; thou mayest eat flesh, after all the desire of thy soul.\r\n If the place which Jehovah thy God shall choose, to put his name there, be too far from thee, then thou shalt kill of thy herd and of thy flock, which Jehovah hath given thee, as I have commanded thee; and thou mayest eat within thy gates, after all the desire of thy soul.\r\n Even as the gazelle and as the hart is eaten, so thou shalt eat thereof: the unclean and the clean may eat thereof alike.\r\n Only be sure that thou eat not the blood: for the blood is the life; and thou shalt not eat the life with the flesh.\r\n Thou shalt not eat it; thou shalt pour it out upon the earth as water.\r\n Thou shalt not eat it; that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee, when thou shalt do that which is right in the eyes of Jehovah.\r\n Only thy holy things which thou hast, and thy vows, thou shalt take, and go unto the place which Jehovah shall choose:\r\n and thou shalt offer thy burnt-offerings, the flesh and the blood, upon the altar of Jehovah thy God; and the blood of thy sacrifices shall be poured out upon the altar of Jehovah thy God; and thou shalt eat the flesh.\r\n Observe and hear all these words which I command thee, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee for ever, when thou doest that which is good and right in the eyes of Jehovah thy God.\r\n When Jehovah thy God shall cut off the nations from before thee, whither thou goest in to dispossess them, and thou dispossessest them, and dwellest in their land;\r\n take heed to thyself that thou be not ensnared to follow them, after that they are destroyed from before thee; and that thou inquire not after their gods, saying, How do these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise.\r\n Thou shalt not do so unto Jehovah thy God: for every abomination to Jehovah, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters do they burn in the fire to their gods.\r\n What thing soever I command you, that shall ye observe to do: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.\r\n \r\n \r\n If there arise in the midst of thee a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and he give thee a sign or a wonder,\r\n and the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them;\r\n thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or unto that dreamer of dreams: for Jehovah your God proveth you, to know whether ye love Jehovah your God with all your heart and with all your soul.\r\n Ye shall walk after Jehovah your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him.\r\n And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death, because he hath spoken rebellion against Jehovah your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed thee out of the house of bondage, to draw thee aside out of the way which Jehovah thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put away the evil from the midst of thee.\r\n If thy brother, the son of thy mother, or thy son, or thy daughter, or the wife of thy bosom, or thy friend, that is as thine own soul, entice thee secretly, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which thou hast not known, thou, nor thy fathers;\r\n of the gods of the peoples that are round about you, nigh unto thee, or far off from thee, from the one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth;\r\n thou shalt not consent unto him, nor hearken unto him; neither shall thine eye pity him, neither shalt thou spare, neither shalt thou conceal him:\r\n but thou shalt surely kill him; thy hand shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people.\r\n And thou shalt stone him to death with stones, because he hath sought to draw thee away from Jehovah thy God, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.\r\n And all Israel shall hear, and fear, and shall do not more any such wickedness as this is in the midst of thee.\r\n If thou shalt hear tell concerning one of thy cities, which Jehovah thy God giveth thee to dwell there, saying,\r\n Certain base fellows are gone out from the midst of thee, and have drawn away the inhabitants of their city, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which ye have not known;\r\n then shalt thou inquire, and make search, and ask diligently; and, behold, if it be truth, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought in the midst of thee,\r\n thou shalt surely smite the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword, destroying it utterly, and all that is therein and the cattle thereof, with the edge of the sword.\r\n And thou shalt gather all the spoil of it into the midst of the street thereof, and shalt burn with fire the city, and all the spoil thereof every whit, unto Jehovah thy God: and it shall be a heap for ever; it shall not be built again.\r\n And there shall cleave nought of the devoted thing to thy hand; that Jehovah may turn from the fierceness of his anger, and show thee mercy, and have compassion upon thee, and multiply thee, as he hath sworn unto thy fathers;\r\n when thou shalt hearken to the voice of Jehovah thy God, to keep all his commandments which I command thee this day, to do that which is right in the eyes of Jehovah thy God.\r\n \r\n \r\n Ye are the children of Jehovah your God: ye shall not cut yourselves, nor make any baldness between your eyes for the dead.\r\n For thou art a holy people unto Jehovah thy God, and Jehovah hath chosen thee to be a people for his own possession, above all peoples that are upon the face of the earth.\r\n Thou shalt not eat any abominable thing.\r\n These are the beasts which ye may eat: the ox, the sheep, and the goat,\r\n the hart, and the gazelle, and the roebuck, and the wild goat, and the pygarg, and the antelope, and the chamois.\r\n And every beast that parteth the hoof, and hath the hoof cloven in two, [and] cheweth the cud, among the beasts, that may ye eat.\r\n Nevertheless these ye shall not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that have the hoof cloven: the camel, and the hare, and the coney; because they chew the cud but part not the hoof, they are unclean unto you.\r\n And the swine, because he parteth the hoof but cheweth not the cud, he is unclean unto you: of their flesh ye shall not eat, and their carcasses ye shall not touch.\r\n These ye may eat of all that are in the waters: whatsoever hath fins and scales may ye eat;\r\n and whatsoever hath not fins and scales ye shall not eat; it is unclean unto you.\r\n Of all clean birds ye may eat.\r\n But these are they of which ye shall not eat: the eagle, and the gier-eagle, and the ospray,\r\n and the glede, and the falcon, and the kite after its kind,\r\n and every raven after its kind,\r\n and the ostrich, and the night-hawk, and the sea-mew, and the hawk after its kind,\r\n the little owl, and the great owl, and the horned owl,\r\n and the pelican, and the vulture, and the cormorant,\r\n and the stork, and the heron after its kind, and the hoopoe, and the bat.\r\n And all winged creeping things are unclean unto you: they shall not be eaten.\r\n Of all clean birds ye may eat.\r\n Ye shall not eat of anything that dieth of itself: thou mayest give it unto the sojourner that is within thy gates, that he may eat it; or thou mayest sell it unto a foreigner: for thou art a holy people unto Jehovah thy God. Thou shalt not boil a kid in its mother`s milk.\r\n Thou shalt surely tithe all the increase of thy seed, that which cometh forth from the field year by year.\r\n And thou shalt eat before Jehovah thy God, in the place which he shall choose, to cause his name to dwell there, the tithe of thy grain, of thy new wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herd and of thy flock; that thou mayest learn to fear Jehovah thy God always.\r\n And if the way be too long for thee, so that thou art not able to carry it, because the place is too far from thee, which Jehovah thy God shall choose, to set his name there, when Jehovah thy God shall bless thee;\r\n then shalt thou turn it into money, and bind up the money in thy hand, and shalt go unto the place which Jehovah thy God shall choose:\r\n and thou shalt bestow the money for whatsoever thy soul desireth, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul asketh of thee; and thou shalt eat there before Jehovah thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou and thy household.\r\n And the Levite that is within thy gates, thou shalt not forsake him; for he hath no portion nor inheritance with thee.\r\n At the end of every three years thou shalt bring forth all the tithe of thine increase in the same year, and shalt lay it up within thy gates:\r\n and the Levite, because he hath no portion nor inheritance with thee, and the sojourner, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are within thy gates, shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied; that Jehovah thy God may bless thee in all the work of thy hand which thou doest.\r\n \r\n \r\n At the end of every seven years thou shalt make a release.\r\n And this is the manner of the release: every creditor shall release that which he hath lent unto his neighbor; he shall not exact it of his neighbor and his brother; because Jehovah`s release hath been proclaimed.\r\n Of a foreigner thou mayest exact it: but whatsoever of thine is with thy brother thy hand shall release.\r\n Howbeit there shall be no poor with thee; (for Jehovah will surely bless thee in the land which Jehovah thy God giveth thee for an inheritance to possess it;)\r\n if only thou diligently hearken unto the voice of Jehovah thy God, to observe to do all this commandment which I command thee this day.\r\n For Jehovah thy God will bless thee, as he promised thee: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, but thou shalt not borrow; and thou shalt rule over many nations, but they shall not rule over thee.\r\n If there be with thee a poor man, one of thy brethren, within any of thy gates in thy land which Jehovah thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thy heart, nor shut thy hand from thy poor brother;\r\n but thou shalt surely open thy hand unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need [in that] which he wanteth.\r\n Beware that there be not a base thought in thy heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand; and thine eye be evil against thy poor brother, and thou give him nought; and he cry unto Jehovah against thee, and it be sin unto thee.\r\n Thou shalt surely give him, and thy heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him; because that for this thing Jehovah thy God will bless thee in all thy work, and in all that thou puttest thy hand unto.\r\n For the poor will never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt surely open thy hand unto thy brother, to thy needy, and to thy poor, in thy land.\r\n If thy brother, a Hebrew man, or a Hebrew woman, be sold unto thee, and serve thee six years; then in the seventh year thou shalt let him go free from thee.\r\n And when thou lettest him go free from thee, thou shalt not let him go empty:\r\n thou shalt furnish him liberally out of thy flock, and out of thy threshing-floor, and out of thy winepress; as Jehovah thy God hath blessed thee thou shalt give unto him.\r\n And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt, and Jehovah thy God redeemed thee: therefore I command thee this thing to-day.\r\n And it shall be, if he say unto thee, I will not go out from thee; because he loveth thee and thy house, because he is well with thee;\r\n then thou shalt take an awl, and thrust it through his ear unto the door, and he shall be thy servant for ever. And also unto thy maid-servant thou shalt do likewise.\r\n It shall not seem hard unto thee, when thou lettest him go free from thee; for to the double of the hire of a hireling hath he served thee six years: and Jehovah thy God will bless thee in all that thou doest.\r\n All the firstling males that are born of thy herd and of thy flock thou shalt sanctify unto Jehovah thy God: thou shalt do no work with the firstling of thy herd, nor shear the firstling of thy flock.\r\n Thou shalt eat it before Jehovah thy God year by year in the place which Jehovah shall choose, thou and thy household.\r\n And if it have any blemish, [as if it be] lame or blind, any ill blemish whatsoever, thou shalt not sacrifice it unto Jehovah thy God.\r\n Thou shalt eat it within thy gates: the unclean and the clean [shall eat it] alike, as the gazelle, and as the hart.\r\n Only thou shalt not eat the blood thereof; thou shalt pour it out upon the ground as water.\r\n \r\n \r\n Observe the month of Abib, and keep the passover unto Jehovah thy God; for in the month of Abib Jehovah thy God brought thee forth out of Egypt by night.\r\n And thou shalt sacrifice the passover unto Jehovah thy God, of the flock and the herd, in the place which Jehovah shall choose, to cause his name to dwell there.\r\n Thou shalt eat no leavened bread with it; seven days shalt thou eat unleavened bread therewith, even the bread of affliction; for thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt in haste: that thou mayest remember the day when thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt all the days of thy life.\r\n And there shall be no leaven seen with thee in all thy borders seven days; neither shall any of the flesh, which thou sacrificest the first day at even, remain all night until the morning.\r\n Thou mayest not sacrifice the passover within any of thy gates, which Jehovah thy God giveth thee;\r\n but at the place which Jehovah thy God shall choose, to cause his name to dwell in, there thou shalt sacrifice the passover at even, at the going down of the sun, at the season that thou camest forth out of Egypt.\r\n And thou shalt roast and eat it in the place which Jehovah thy God shall choose: and thou shalt turn in the morning, and go unto thy tents.\r\n Six days thou shalt eat unleavened bread; and on the seventh day shall be a solemn assembly to Jehovah thy God; thou shalt do no work [therein].\r\n Seven weeks shalt thou number unto thee: from the time thou beginnest to put the sickle to the standing grain shalt thou begin to number seven weeks.\r\n And thou shalt keep the feast of weeks unto Jehovah thy God with a tribute of a freewill-offering of thy hand, which thou shalt give, according as Jehovah thy God blesseth thee:\r\n and thou shalt rejoice before Jehovah thy God, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy man-servant, and thy maid-servant, and the Levite that is within thy gates, and the sojourner, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are in the midst of thee, in the place which Jehovah thy God shall choose, to cause his name to dwell there.\r\n And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt: and thou shalt observe and do these statutes.\r\n Thou shalt keep the feast of tabernacles seven days, after that thou hast gathered in from thy threshing-floor and from thy winepress:\r\n and thou shalt rejoice in thy feast, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy man-servant, and thy maid-servant, and the Levite, and the sojourner, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are within thy gates.\r\n Seven days shalt thou keep a feast unto Jehovah thy God in the place which Jehovah shall choose; because Jehovah thy God will bless thee in all thine increase, and in all the work of thy hands, and thou shalt be altogether joyful.\r\n Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before Jehovah thy God in the place which he shall choose: in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles; and they shall not appear before Jehovah empty:\r\n every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of Jehovah thy God which he hath given thee.\r\n Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates, which Jehovah thy God giveth thee, according to thy tribes; and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment.\r\n Thou shalt not wrest justice: thou shalt not respect persons; neither shalt thou take a bribe; for a bribe doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous.\r\n That which is altogether just shalt thou follow, that thou mayest live, and inherit the land which Jehovah thy God giveth thee.\r\n Thou shalt not plant thee an Asherah of any kind of tree beside the altar of Jehovah thy God, which thou shalt make thee.\r\n Neither shalt thou set thee up a pillar; which Jehovah thy God hateth.\r\n \r\n \r\n Thou shalt not sacrifice unto Jehovah thy God an ox, or a sheep, wherein is a blemish, [or] anything evil; for that is an abomination unto Jehovah thy God.\r\n If there be found in the midst of thee, within any of thy gates which Jehovah thy God giveth thee, man or woman, that doeth that which is evil in the sight of Jehovah thy God, in transgressing his covenant,\r\n and hath gone and served other gods, and worshipped them, or the sun, or the moon, or any of the host of heaven, which I have not commanded;\r\n and it be told thee, and thou hast heard of it, then shalt thou inquire diligently; and, behold, if it be true, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought in Israel,\r\n then shalt thou bring forth that man or that woman, who hath done this evil thing, unto thy gates, even the man or the woman; and thou shalt stone them to death with stones.\r\n At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is to die be put to death; at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death.\r\n The hand of the witnesses shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterward the hand of all the people. So thou shalt put away the evil from the midst of thee.\r\n If there arise a matter too hard for thee in judgment, between blood and blood, between plea and plea, and between stroke and stroke, being matters of controversy within thy gates; then shalt thou arise, and get thee up unto the place which Jehovah thy God shall choose;\r\n and thou shalt come unto the priests the Levites, and unto the judge that shall be in those days: and thou shalt inquire; and they shall show thee the sentence of judgment.\r\n And thou shalt do according to the tenor of the sentence which they shall show thee from that place which Jehovah shall choose; and thou shalt observe to do according to all that they shall teach thee:\r\n according to the tenor of the law which they shall teach thee, and according to the judgment which they shall tell thee, thou shalt do; thou shalt not turn aside from the sentence which they shall show thee, to the right hand, nor to the left.\r\n And the man that doeth presumptuously, in not hearkening unto the priest that standeth to minister there before Jehovah thy God, or unto the judge, even that man shall die: and thou shalt put away the evil from Israel.\r\n And all the people shall hear, and fear, and do no more presumptuously.\r\n When thou art come unto the land which Jehovah thy God giveth thee, and shalt possess it, and shalt dwell therein, and shalt say, I will set a king over me, like all the nations that are round about me;\r\n thou shalt surely set him king over thee, whom Jehovah thy God shall choose: one from among thy brethren shalt thou set king over thee; thou mayest not put a foreigner over thee, who is not thy brother.\r\n Only he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he may multiply horses; forasmuch as Jehovah hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way.\r\n Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold.\r\n And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book, out of [that which is] before the priests the Levites:\r\n and it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life; that he may learn to fear Jehovah his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them;\r\n that his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, to the right hand, or to the left: to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he and his children, in the midst of Israel.\r\n \r\n \r\n The priests the Levites, [even] all the tribe of Levi, shall have no portion nor inheritance with Israel: they shall eat the offerings of Jehovah made by fire, and his inheritance.\r\n And they shall have no inheritance among their brethren: Jehovah is their inheritance, as he hath spoken unto them.\r\n And this shall be the priests` due from the people, from them that offer a sacrifice, whether it be ox or sheep, that they shall give unto the priest the shoulder, and the two cheeks, and the maw.\r\n The first-fruits of thy grain, of thy new wine, and of thine oil, and the first of the fleece of thy sheep, shalt thou give him.\r\n For Jehovah thy God hath chosen him out of all thy tribes, to stand to minister in the name of Jehovah, him and his sons for ever.\r\n And if a Levite come from any of thy gates out of all Israel, where he sojourneth, and come with all the desire of his soul unto the place which Jehovah shall choose;\r\n then he shall minister in the name of Jehovah his God, as all his brethren the Levites do, who stand there before Jehovah.\r\n They shall have like portions to eat, besides that which cometh of the sale of his patrimony.\r\n When thou art come into the land which Jehovah thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations.\r\n There shall not be found with thee any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, one that useth divination, one that practiseth augury, or an enchanter, or a sorcerer,\r\n or a charmer, or a consulter with a familiar spirit, or a wizard, or a necromancer.\r\n For whosoever doeth these things is an abomination unto Jehovah: and because of these abominations Jehovah thy God doth drive them out from before thee.\r\n Thou shalt be perfect with Jehovah thy God.\r\n For these nations, that thou shalt dispossess, hearken unto them that practise augury, and unto diviners; but as for thee, Jehovah thy God hath not suffered thee so to do.\r\n Jehovah thy God will raise up unto thee a prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;\r\n according to all that thou desiredst of Jehovah thy God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of Jehovah my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not.\r\n And Jehovah said unto me, They have well said that which they have spoken.\r\n I will raise them up a prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee; and I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.\r\n And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.\r\n But the prophet, that shall speak a word presumptuously in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.\r\n And if thou say in thy heart, How shall we know the word which Jehovah hath not spoken?\r\n when a prophet speaketh in the name of Jehovah, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which Jehovah hath not spoken: the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously, thou shalt not be afraid of him.\r\n \r\n \r\n When Jehovah thy God shall cut off the nations, whose land Jehovah thy God giveth thee, and thou succeedest them, and dwellest in their cities, and in their houses;\r\n thou shalt set apart three cities for thee in the midst of thy land, which Jehovah thy God giveth thee to possess it.\r\n Thou shalt prepare thee the way, and divide the borders of thy land, which Jehovah thy God causeth thee to inherit, into three parts, that every manslayer may flee thither.\r\n And this is the case of the manslayer, that shall flee thither and live: whoso killeth his neighbor unawares, and hated him not in time past;\r\n as when a man goeth into the forest with his neighbor to hew wood, and his hand fetcheth a stroke with the axe to cut down the tree, and the head slippeth from the helve, and lighteth upon his neighbor, so that he dieth; he shall flee unto one of these cities and live:\r\n lest the avenger of blood pursue the manslayer, while his heart is hot, and overtake him, because the way is long, and smite him mortally; whereas he was not worthy of death, inasmuch as he hated him not in time past.\r\n Wherefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt set apart three cities for thee.\r\n And if Jehovah thy God enlarge thy border, as he hath sworn unto thy fathers, and give thee all the land which he promised to give unto thy fathers;\r\n if thou shalt keep all this commandment to do it, which I command thee this day, to love Jehovah thy God, and to walk ever in his ways; then shalt thou add three cities more for thee, besides these three:\r\n that innocent blood be not shed in the midst of thy land, which Jehovah thy God giveth thee for an inheritance, and so blood be upon thee.\r\n But if any man hate his neighbor, and lie in wait for him, and rise up against him, and smite him mortally so that he dieth, and he flee into one of these cities;\r\n then the elders of his city shall send and fetch him thence, and deliver him into the hand of the avenger of blood, that he may die.\r\n Thine eye shall not pity him, but thou shalt put away the innocent blood from Israel, that it may go well with thee.\r\n Thou shalt not remove thy neighbor`s landmark, which they of old time have set, in thine inheritance which thou shalt inherit, in the land that Jehovah thy God giveth thee to possess it.\r\n One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall a matter be established.\r\n If an unrighteous witness rise up against any man to testify against him of wrong-doing,\r\n then both the men, between whom the controversy is, shall stand before Jehovah, before the priests and the judges that shall be in those days;\r\n and the judges shall make diligent inquisition: and, behold, if the witness be a false witness, and have testified falsely against his brother;\r\n then shall ye do unto him, as he had thought to do unto his brother: so shalt thou put away the evil from the midst of thee.\r\n And those that remain shall hear, and fear, and shall henceforth commit no more any such evil in the midst of thee.\r\n And thine eyes shall not pity; life [shall go] for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.\r\n \r\n \r\n When thou goest forth to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses, and chariots, [and] a people more than thou, thou shalt not be afraid of them; for Jehovah thy God is with thee, who brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.\r\n And it shall be, when ye draw nigh unto the battle, that the priest shall approach and speak unto the people,\r\n and shall say unto them, Hear, O Israel, ye draw nigh this day unto battle against your enemies: let not your heart faint; fear not, nor tremble, neither be ye affrighted at them;\r\n for Jehovah your God is he that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.\r\n And the officers shall speak unto the people, saying, What man is there that hath built a new house, and hath not dedicated it? let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man dedicate it.\r\n And what man is there that hath planted a vineyard, and hath not used the fruit thereof? let him go and return unto his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man use the fruit thereof.\r\n And what man is there that hath betrothed a wife, and hath not taken her? let him go and return unto his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man take her.\r\n And the officers shall speak further unto the people, and they shall say, What man is there that is fearful and faint-hearted? let him go and return unto his house, lest his brethren`s heart melt as his heart.\r\n And it shall be, when the officers have made an end of speaking unto the people, that they shall appoint captains of hosts at the head of the people.\r\n When thou drawest nigh unto a city to fight against it, then proclaim peace unto it.\r\n And it shall be, if it make thee answer of peace, and open unto thee, then it shall be, that all the people that are found therein shall become tributary unto thee, and shall serve thee.\r\n And if it will make no peace with thee, but will make war against thee, then thou shalt besiege it:\r\n and when Jehovah thy God delivereth it into thy hand, thou shalt smite every male thereof with the edge of the sword:\r\n but the women, and the little ones, and the cattle, and all that is in the city, even all the spoil thereof, shalt thou take for a prey unto thyself; and thou shalt eat the spoil of thine enemies, which Jehovah thy God hath given thee.\r\n Thus shalt thou do unto all the cities which are very far off from thee, which are not of the cities of these nations.\r\n But of the cities of these peoples, that Jehovah thy God giveth thee for an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth;\r\n but thou shalt utterly destroy them: the Hittite, and the Amorite, the Canaanite, and the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite; as Jehovah thy God hath commanded thee;\r\n that they teach you not to do after all their abominations, which they have done unto their gods; so would ye sin against Jehovah your God.\r\n When thou shalt besiege a city a long time, in making war against it to take it, thou shalt not destroy the trees thereof by wielding an axe against them; for thou mayest eat of them, and thou shalt not cut them down; for is the tree of the field man, that it should be besieged of thee?\r\n Only the trees of which thou knowest that they are not trees for food, thou shalt destroy and cut them down; and thou shalt build bulwarks against the city that maketh war with thee, until it fall.\r\n \r\n \r\n If one be found slain in the land which Jehovah thy God giveth thee to possess it, lying in the field, and it be not known who hath smitten him;\r\n then thy elders and thy judges shall come forth, and they shall measure unto the cities which are round about him that is slain:\r\n and it shall be, that the city which is nearest unto the slain man, even the elders of that city shall take a heifer of the herd, which hath not been wrought with, and which hath not drawn in the yoke;\r\n and the elders of that city shall bring down the heifer unto a valley with running water, which is neither plowed nor sown, and shall break the heifer`s neck there in the valley.\r\n And the priests the sons of Levi shall come near; for them Jehovah thy God hath chosen to minister unto him, and to bless in the name of Jehovah; and according to their word shall every controversy and every stroke be.\r\n And all the elders of that city, who are nearest unto the slain man, shall wash their hands over the heifer whose neck was broken in the valley;\r\n and they shall answer and say, Our hands have not shed this blood, neither have our eyes seen it.\r\n Forgive, O Jehovah, thy people Israel, whom thou hast redeemed, and suffer not innocent blood [to remain] in the midst of thy people Israel. And the blood shall be forgiven them.\r\n So shalt thou put away the innocent blood from the midst of thee, when thou shalt do that which is right in the eyes of Jehovah.\r\n When thou goest forth to battle against thine enemies, and Jehovah thy God delivereth them into thy hands, and thou carriest them away captive,\r\n and seest among the captives a beautiful woman, and thou hast a desire unto her, and wouldest take her to thee to wife;\r\n then thou shalt bring her home to thy house; and she shall shave her head, and pare her nails;\r\n and she shall put the raiment of her captivity from off her, and shall remain in thy house, and bewail her father and her mother a full month: and after that thou shalt go in unto her, and be her husband, and she shall be thy wife.\r\n And it shall be, if thou have no delight in her, then thou shalt let her go whither she will; but thou shalt not sell her at all for money, thou shalt not deal with her as a slave, because thou hast humbled her.\r\n If a man have two wives, the one beloved, and the other hated, and they have borne him children, both the beloved and the hated; and if the first-born son be hers that was hated;\r\n then it shall be, in the day that he causeth his sons to inherit that which he hath, that he may not make the son of the beloved the first-born before the son of the hated, who is the first-born:\r\n but he shall acknowledge the first-born, the son of the hated, by giving him a double portion of all that he hath; for he is the beginning of his strength; the right of the first-born is his.\r\n If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, that will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and, though they chasten him, will not hearken unto them;\r\n then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place;\r\n and they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard.\r\n And all the men of his city shall stone him to death with stones: so shalt thou put away the evil from the midst of thee; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.\r\n And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree;\r\n his body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt surely bury him the same day; for he that is hanged is accursed of God; that thou defile not thy land which Jehovah thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.\r\n \r\n \r\n Thou shalt not see thy brother`s ox or his sheep go astray, and hide thyself from them: thou shalt surely bring them again unto thy brother.\r\n And if thy brother be not nigh unto thee, or if thou know him not, then thou shalt bring it home to thy house, and it shall be with thee until thy brother seek after it, and thou shalt restore it to him.\r\n And so shalt thou do with his ass; and so shalt thou do with his garment; and so shalt thou do with every lost thing of thy brother`s, which he hath lost, and thou hast found: thou mayest not hide thyself.\r\n Thou shalt not see thy brother`s ass or his ox fallen down by the way, and hide thyself from them: thou shalt surely help him to lift them up again.\r\n A woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman`s garment; for whosoever doeth these things is an abomination unto Jehovah thy God.\r\n If a bird`s nest chance to be before thee in the way, in any tree or on the ground, with young ones or eggs, and the dam sitting upon the young, or upon the eggs, thou shalt not take the dam with the young:\r\n thou shalt surely let the dam go, but the young thou mayest take unto thyself; that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days.\r\n When thou buildest a new house, then thou shalt make a battlement for thy roof, that thou bring not blood upon thy house, if any man fall from thence.\r\n Thou shalt not sow thy vineyard with two kinds of seed, lest the whole fruit be forfeited, the seed which thou hast sown, and the increase of the vineyard.\r\n Thou shalt not plow with an ox and an ass together.\r\n Thou shalt not wear a mingled stuff, wool and linen together.\r\n Thou shalt make thee fringes upon the four borders of thy vesture, wherewith thou coverest thyself.\r\n If any man take a wife, and go in unto her, and hate her,\r\n and lay shameful things to her charge, and bring up an evil name upon her, and say, I took this woman, and when I came nigh to her, I found not in her the tokens of virginity;\r\n then shall the father of the damsel, and her mother, take and bring forth the tokens of the damsel`s virginity unto the elders of the city in the gate;\r\n and the damsel`s father shall say unto the elders, I gave my daughter unto this man to wife, and he hateth her;\r\n and, lo, he hath laid shameful things [to her charge], saying, I found not in thy daughter the tokens of virginity; and yet these are the tokens of my daughter`s virginity. And they shall spread the garment before the elders of the city.\r\n And the elders of that city shall take the man and chastise him;\r\n and they shall fine him a hundred [shekels] of silver, and give them unto the father of the damsel, because he hath brought up an evil name upon a virgin of Israel: and she shall be his wife; he may not put her away all his days.\r\n But if this thing be true, that the tokens of virginity were not found in the damsel;\r\n then they shall bring out the damsel to the door of her father`s house, and the men of her city shall stone her to death with stones, because she hath wrought folly in Israel, to play the harlot in her father`s house: so shalt thou put away the evil from the midst of thee.\r\n If a man be found lying with a woman married to a husband, then they shall both of them die, the man that lay with the woman, and the woman: so shalt thou put away the evil from Israel.\r\n If there be a damsel that is a virgin betrothed unto a husband, and a man find her in the city, and lie with her;\r\n then ye shall bring them both out unto the gate of that city, and ye shall stone them to death with stones; the damsel, because she cried not, being in the city; and the man, because he hath humbled his neighbor`s wife: so thou shalt put away the evil from the midst of thee.\r\n But if the man find the damsel that is betrothed in the field, and the man force her, and lie with her; then the man only that lay with her shall die:\r\n but unto the damsel thou shalt do nothing; there is in the damsel no sin worthy of death: for as when a man riseth against his neighbor, and slayeth him, even so is this matter;\r\n for he found her in the field, the betrothed damsel cried, and there was none to save her.\r\n If a man find a damsel that is a virgin, that is not betrothed, and lay hold on her, and lie with her, and they be found;\r\n then the man that lay with her shall give unto the damsel`s father fifty [shekels] of silver, and she shall be his wife, because he hath humbled her; he may not put her away all his days.\r\n A man shall not take his father`s wife, and shall not uncover his father`s skirt.\r\n \r\n \r\n He that is wounded in the stones, or hath his privy member cut off, shall not enter into the assembly of Jehovah.\r\n A bastard shall not enter into the assembly of Jehovah; even to the tenth generation shall none of his enter into the assembly of Jehovah.\r\n An Ammonite or a Moabite shall not enter into the assembly of Jehovah; even to the tenth generation shall none belonging to them enter into the assembly of Jehovah for ever:\r\n because they met you not with bread and with water in the way, when ye came forth out of Egypt, and because they hired against thee Balaam the son of Beor from Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse thee.\r\n Nevertheless Jehovah thy God would not hearken unto Balaam; but Jehovah thy God turned the curse into a blessing unto thee, because Jehovah thy God loved thee.\r\n Thou shalt not seek their peace nor their prosperity all thy days for ever.\r\n Thou shalt not abhor an Edomite; for he is thy brother: thou shalt not abhor an Egyptian, because thou wast a sojourner in his land.\r\n The children of the third generation that are born unto them shall enter into the assembly of Jehovah.\r\n When thou goest forth in camp against thine enemies, then thou shalt keep thee from every evil thing.\r\n If there be among you any man, that is not clean by reason of that which chanceth him by night, then shall he go abroad out of the camp, he shall not come within the camp:\r\n but it shall be, when evening cometh on, he shall bathe himself in water; and when the sun is down, he shall come within the camp.\r\n Thou shalt have a place also without the camp, whither thou shalt go forth abroad:\r\n and thou shalt have a paddle among thy weapons; and it shall be, when thou sittest down abroad, thou shalt dig therewith, and shalt turn back and cover that which cometh from thee:\r\n for Jehovah thy God walketh in the midst of thy camp, to deliver thee, and to give up thine enemies before thee; therefore shall thy camp be holy, that he may not see an unclean thing in thee, and turn away from thee.\r\n Thou shalt not deliver unto his master a servant that is escaped from his master unto thee:\r\n he shall dwell with thee, in the midst of thee, in the place which he shall choose within one of thy gates, where it pleaseth him best: thou shalt not oppress him.\r\n There shall be no prostitute of the daughters of Israel, neither shall there be a sodomite of the sons of Israel.\r\n Thou shalt not bring the hire of a harlot, or the wages of a dog, into the house of Jehovah thy God for any vow: for even both these are an abomination unto Jehovah thy God.\r\n Thou shalt not lend upon interest to thy brother; interest of money, interest of victuals, interest of anything that is lent upon interest:\r\n unto a foreigner thou mayest lend upon interest; but unto thy brother thou shalt not lend upon interest, that Jehovah thy God may bless thee in all that thou puttest thy hand unto, in the land whither thou goest in to possess it.\r\n When thou shalt vow a vow unto Jehovah thy God, thou shalt not be slack to pay it: for Jehovah thy God will surely require it of thee; and it would be sin in thee.\r\n But if thou shalt forbear to vow, it shall be no sin in thee.\r\n That which is gone out of thy lips thou shalt observe and do; according as thou hast vowed unto Jehovah thy God, a freewill-offering, which thou hast promised with thy mouth.\r\n When thou comest into thy neighbor`s vineyard, then thou mayest eat of grapes thy fill at thine own pleasure; but thou shalt not put any in thy vessel.\r\n When thou comest into thy neighbor`s standing grain, then thou mayest pluck the ears with thy hand; but thou shalt not move a sickle unto thy neighbor`s standing grain.\r\n \r\n \r\n When a man taketh a wife, and marrieth her, then it shall be, if she find no favor in his eyes, because he hath found some unseemly thing in her, that he shall write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house.\r\n And when she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man`s [wife].\r\n And if the latter husband hate her, and write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house; or if the latter husband die, who took her to be his wife;\r\n her former husband, who sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that is abomination before Jehovah: and thou shalt not cause the land to sin, which Jehovah thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.\r\n When a man taketh a new wife, he shall not go out in the host, neither shall he be charged with any business: he shall be free at home one year, and shall cheer his wife whom he hath taken.\r\n No man shall take the mill or the upper millstone to pledge; for he taketh [a man`s] life to pledge.\r\n If a man be found stealing any of his brethren of the children of Israel, and he deal with him as a slave, or sell him; then that thief shall die: so shalt thou put away the evil from the midst of thee.\r\n Take heed in the plague of leprosy, that thou observe diligently, and do according to all that the priests the Levites shall teach you: as I commanded them, so ye shall observe to do.\r\n Remember what Jehovah thy God did unto Miriam, by the way as ye came forth out of Egypt.\r\n When thou dost lend thy neighbor any manner of loan, thou shalt not go into his house to fetch his pledge.\r\n Thou shalt stand without, and the man to whom thou dost lend shall bring forth the pledge without unto thee.\r\n And if he be a poor man, thou shalt not sleep with his pledge;\r\n thou shalt surely restore to him the pledge when the sun goeth down, that he may sleep in his garment, and bless thee: and it shall be righteousness unto thee before Jehovah thy God.\r\n Thou shalt not oppress a hired servant that is poor and needy, whether he be of thy brethren, or of thy sojourners that are in thy land within thy gates:\r\n in his day thou shalt give him his hire, neither shall the sun go down upon it; for he is poor, and setteth his heart upon it: lest he cry against thee unto Jehovah, and it be sin unto thee.\r\n The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin.\r\n Thou shalt not wrest the justice [due] to the sojourner, [or] to the fatherless, nor take the widow`s raiment to pledge;\r\n but thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt, and Jehovah thy God redeemed thee thence: therefore I command thee to do this thing.\r\n When thou reapest thy harvest in thy field, and hast forgot a sheaf in the field, thou shalt not go again to fetch it: it shall be for the sojourner, for the fatherless, and for the widow; that Jehovah thy God may bless thee in all the work of thy hands.\r\n When thou beatest thine olive-tree, thou shalt not go over the boughs again: it shall be for the sojourner, for the fatherless, and for the widow.\r\n When thou gatherest [the grapes of] thy vineyard, thou shalt not glean it after thee: it shall be for the sojourner, for the fatherless, and for the widow.\r\n And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt: therefore I command thee to do this thing.\r\n \r\n \r\n If there be a controversy between men, and they come unto judgment, and [the judges] judge them; then they shall justify the righteous, and condemn the wicked;\r\n and it shall be, if the wicked man be worthy to be beaten, that the judge shall cause him to lie down, and to be beaten before his face, according to his wickedness, by number.\r\n Forty stripes he may give him, he shall not exceed; lest, if he should exceed, and beat him above these with many stripes, then thy brother should seem vile unto thee.\r\n Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out [the grain].\r\n If brethren dwell together, and one of them die, and have no son, the wife of the dead shall not be married without unto a stranger: her husband`s brother shall go in unto her, and take her to him to wife, and perform the duty of a husband`s brother unto her.\r\n And it shall be, that the first-born that she beareth shall succeed in the name of his brother that is dead, that his name be not blotted out of Israel.\r\n And if the man like not to take his brother`s wife, then his brother`s wife shall go up to the gate unto the elders, and say, My husband`s brother refuseth to raise up unto his brother a name in Israel; he will not perform the duty of a husband`s brother unto me.\r\n Then the elders of his city shall call him, and speak unto him: and if he stand, and say, I like not to take her;\r\n then shall his brother`s wife come unto him in the presence of the elders, and loose his shoe from off his foot, and spit in his face; and she shall answer and say, So shall it be done unto the man that doth not build up his brother`s house.\r\n And his name shall be called in Israel, The house of him that hath his shoe loosed.\r\n When men strive together one with another, and the wife of the one draweth near to deliver her husband out of the hand of him that smiteth him, and putteth forth her hand, and taketh him by the secrets;\r\n then thou shalt cut off her hand, thine eye shall have no pity.\r\n Thou shalt not have in thy bag diverse weights, a great and a small.\r\n Thou shalt not have in thy house diverse measures, a great and a small.\r\n A perfect and just weight shalt thou have; a perfect and just measure shalt thou have: that thy days may be long in the land which Jehovah thy God giveth thee.\r\n For all that do such things, [even] all that do unrighteously, are an abomination unto Jehovah thy God.\r\n Remember what Amalek did unto thee by the way as ye came forth out of Egypt;\r\n how he met thee by the way, and smote the hindmost of thee, all that were feeble behind thee, when thou wast faint and weary; and he feared not God.\r\n Therefore it shall be, when Jehovah thy God hath given thee rest from all thine enemies round about, in the land which Jehovah thy God giveth thee for an inheritance to possess it, that thou shalt blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven; thou shalt not forget.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it shall be, when thou art come in unto the land which Jehovah thy God giveth thee for an inheritance, and possessest it, and dwellest therein,\r\n that thou shalt take of the first of all the fruit of the ground, which thou shalt bring in from thy land that Jehovah thy God giveth thee; and thou shalt put it in a basket, and shalt go unto the place which Jehovah thy God shall choose, to cause his name to dwell there.\r\n And thou shalt come unto the priest that shall be in those days, and say unto him, I profess this day unto Jehovah thy God, that I am come unto the land which Jehovah sware unto our fathers to give us.\r\n And the priest shall take the basket out of thy hand, and set it down before the altar of Jehovah thy God.\r\n And thou shalt answer and say before Jehovah thy God, A Syrian ready to perish was my father; and he went down into Egypt, and sojourned there, few in number; and he became there a nation, great, mighty, and populous.\r\n And the Egyptians dealt ill with us, and afflicted us, and laid upon us hard bondage:\r\n and we cried unto Jehovah, the God of our fathers, and Jehovah heard our voice, and saw our affliction, and our toil, and our oppression;\r\n and Jehovah brought us forth out of Egypt with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with great terribleness, and with signs, and with wonders;\r\n and he hath brought us into this place, and hath given us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey.\r\n And now, behold, I have brought the first of the fruit of the ground, which thou, O Jehovah, hast given me. And thou shalt set it down before Jehovah thy God, and worship before Jehovah thy God:\r\n and thou shalt rejoice in all the good which Jehovah thy God hath given unto thee, and unto thy house, thou, and the Levite, and the sojourner that is in the midst of thee.\r\n When thou hast made an end of tithing all the tithe of thine increase in the third year, which is the year of tithing, then thou shalt give it unto the Levite, to the sojourner, to the fatherless, and to the widow, that they may eat within thy gates, and be filled.\r\n And thou shalt say before Jehovah thy God, I have put away the hallowed things out of my house, and also have given them unto the Levite, and unto the sojourner, to the fatherless, and to the widow, according to all thy commandment which thou hast commanded me: I have not transgressed any of thy commandments, neither have I forgotten them:\r\n I have not eaten thereof in my mourning, neither have I put away thereof, being unclean, nor given thereof for the dead: I have hearkened to the voice of Jehovah my God; I have done according to all that thou hast commanded me.\r\n Look down from thy holy habitation, from heaven, and bless thy people Israel, and the ground which thou hast given us, as thou swarest unto our fathers, a land flowing with milk and honey.\r\n This day Jehovah thy God commandeth thee to do these statutes and ordinances: thou shalt therefore keep and do them with all thy heart, and with all thy soul.\r\n Thou hast avouched Jehovah this day to be thy God, and that thou wouldest walk in his ways, and keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his ordinances, and hearken unto his voice:\r\n and Jehovah hath avouched thee this day to be a people for his own possession, as he hath promised thee, and that thou shouldest keep all his commandments;\r\n and to make thee high above all nations that he hath made, in praise, and in name, and in honor; and that thou mayest be a holy people unto Jehovah thy God, as he hath spoken.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people, saying, Keep all the commandment which I command you this day.\r\n And it shall be on the day when ye shall pass over the Jordan unto the land which Jehovah thy God giveth thee, that thou shalt set thee up great stones, and plaster them with plaster:\r\n and thou shalt write upon them all the words of this law, when thou art passed over; that thou mayest go in unto the land which Jehovah thy God giveth thee, a land flowing with milk and honey, as Jehovah, the God of thy fathers, hath promised thee.\r\n And it shall be, when ye are passed over the Jordan, that ye shall set up these stones, which I command you this day, in mount Ebal, and thou shalt plaster them with plaster.\r\n And there shalt thou build an altar unto Jehovah thy God, an altar of stones: thou shalt lift up no iron [tool] upon them.\r\n Thou shalt build the altar of Jehovah thy God of unhewn stones; and thou shalt offer burnt-offerings thereon unto Jehovah thy God:\r\n and thou shalt sacrifice peace-offerings, and shalt eat there; and thou shalt rejoice before Jehovah thy God.\r\n And thou shalt write upon the stones all the words of this law very plainly.\r\n And Moses and the priests the Levites spake unto all Israel, saying, Keep silence, and hearken, O Israel: this day thou art become the people of Jehovah thy God.\r\n Thou shalt therefore obey the voice of Jehovah thy God, and do his commandments and his statutes, which I command thee this day.\r\n And Moses charged the people the same day, saying,\r\n These shall stand upon mount Gerizim to bless the people, when ye are passed over the Jordan: Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Joseph, and Benjamin.\r\n And these shall stand upon mount Ebal for the curse: Reuben, Gad, and Asher, and Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.\r\n And the Levites shall answer, and say unto all the men of Israel with a loud voice,\r\n Cursed be the man that maketh a graven or molten image, an abomination unto Jehovah, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and setteth it up in secret. And all the people shall answer and say, Amen.\r\n Cursed be he that setteth light by his father or his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen.\r\n Cursed be he that removeth his neighbor`s landmark. And all the people shall say, Amen.\r\n Cursed be he that maketh the blind to wander out of the way. And all the people shall say, Amen.\r\n Cursed be he that wresteth the justice [due] to the sojourner, fatherless, and widow. And all the people shall say, Amen.\r\n Cursed be he that lieth with his father`s wife, because he hath uncovered his father`s skirt. And all the people shall say, Amen.\r\n Cursed be he that lieth with any manner of beast. And all the people shall say, Amen.\r\n Cursed be he that lieth with his sister, the daughter of his father, or the daughter of his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen.\r\n Cursed be he that lieth with his mother-in-law. And all the people shall say, Amen.\r\n Cursed be he that smiteth his neighbor in secret. And all the people shall say, Amen.\r\n Cursed be he that taketh a bribe to slay an innocent person. And all the people shall say, Amen.\r\n Cursed be he that confirmeth not the words of this law to do them. And all the people shall say, Amen.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of Jehovah thy God, to observe to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that Jehovah thy God will set thee on high above all the nations of the earth:\r\n and all these blessings shall come upon thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of Jehovah thy God.\r\n Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field.\r\n Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy beasts, the increase of thy cattle, and the young of thy flock.\r\n Blessed shall be thy basket and thy kneading-trough.\r\n Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out.\r\n Jehovah will cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thee: they shall come out against thee one way, and shall flee before thee seven ways.\r\n Jehovah will command the blessing upon thee in thy barns, and in all that thou puttest thy hand unto; and he will bless thee in the land which Jehovah thy God giveth thee.\r\n Jehovah will establish thee for a holy people unto himself, as he hath sworn unto thee; if thou shalt keep the commandments of Jehovah thy God, and walk in his ways.\r\n And all the peoples of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of Jehovah; and they shall be afraid of thee.\r\n And Jehovah will make thee plenteous for good, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which Jehovah sware unto thy fathers to give thee.\r\n Jehovah will open unto thee his good treasure the heavens, to give the rain of thy land in its season, and to bless all the work of thy hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow.\r\n And Jehovah will make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if thou shalt hearken unto the commandments of Jehovah thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do [them],\r\n and shalt not turn aside from any of the words which I command you this day, to the right hand, or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.\r\n But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of Jehovah thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day, that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee.\r\n Cursed shalt thou be in the city, and cursed shalt thou be in the field.\r\n Cursed shall be thy basket and thy kneading-trough.\r\n Cursed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, the increase of thy cattle, and the young of thy flock.\r\n Cursed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and cursed shalt thou be when thou goest out.\r\n Jehovah will send upon thee cursing, discomfiture, and rebuke, in all that thou puttest thy hand unto to do, until thou be destroyed, and until thou perish quickly; because of the evil of thy doings, whereby thou hast forsaken me.\r\n Jehovah will make the pestilence cleave unto thee, until he have consumed thee from off the land, whither thou goest in to possess it.\r\n Jehovah will smite thee with consumption, and with fever, and with inflammation, and with fiery heat, and with the sword, and with blasting, and with mildew; and they shall pursue thee until thou perish.\r\n And thy heaven that is over thy head shall be brass, and the earth that is under thee shall be iron.\r\n Jehovah will make the rain of thy land powder and dust: from heaven shall it come down upon thee, until thou be destroyed.\r\n Jehovah will cause thee to be smitten before thine enemies; thou shalt go out one way against them, and shalt flee seven ways before them: and thou shalt be tossed to and from among all the kingdoms of the earth.\r\n And thy dead body shall be food unto all birds of the heavens, and unto the beasts of the earth; and there shall be none to frighten them away.\r\n Jehovah will smite thee with the boil of Egypt, and with the emerods, and with the scurvy, and with the itch, whereof thou canst not be healed.\r\n Jehovah will smite thee with madness, and with blindness, and with astonishment of heart;\r\n and thou shalt grope at noonday, as the blind gropeth in darkness, and thou shalt not prosper in thy ways: and thou shalt be only oppressed and robbed alway, and there shall be none to save thee.\r\n Thou shalt betroth a wife, and another man shall lie with her: thou shalt build a house, and thou shalt not dwell therein: thou shalt plant a vineyard, and shalt not use the fruit thereof.\r\n Thine ox shall be slain before thine eyes, and thou shalt not eat thereof: thine ass shall be violently taken away from before thy face, and shall not be restored to thee: thy sheep shall be given unto thine enemies, and thou shalt have none to save thee.\r\n Thy sons and thy daughters shall be given unto another people; and thine eyes shall look, and fail with longing for them all the day: and there shall be nought in the power of thy hand.\r\n The fruit of thy ground, and all thy labors, shall a nation which thou knowest not eat up; and thou shalt be only oppressed and crushed alway;\r\n so that thou shalt be mad for the sight of thine eyes which thou shalt see.\r\n Jehovah will smite thee in the knees, and in the legs, with a sore boil, whereof thou canst not be healed, from the sole of thy foot unto the crown of thy head.\r\n Jehovah will bring thee, and thy king whom thou shalt set over thee, unto a nation that thou hast not known, thou nor thy fathers; and there shalt thou serve other gods, wood and stone.\r\n And thou shalt become an astonishment, a proverb, and a byword, among all the peoples whither Jehovah shall lead thee away.\r\n Thou shalt carry much seed out into the field, and shalt gather little in; for the locust shall consume it.\r\n Thou shalt plant vineyards and dress them, but thou shalt neither drink of the wine, nor gather [the grapes]; for the worm shall eat them.\r\n Thou shalt have olive-trees throughout all thy borders, but thou shalt not anoint thyself with the oil; for thine olive shall cast [its fruit].\r\n Thou shalt beget sons and daughters, but they shall not be thine; for they shall go into captivity.\r\n All thy trees and the fruit of thy ground shall the locust possess.\r\n The sojourner that is in the midst of thee shall mount up above thee higher and higher; and thou shalt come down lower and lower.\r\n He shall lend to thee, and thou shalt not lend to him: he shall be the head, and thou shalt be the tail.\r\n And all these curses shall come upon thee, and shall pursue thee, and overtake thee, till thou be destroyed; because thou hearkenedst not unto the voice of Jehovah thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which he commanded thee:\r\n and they shall be upon thee for a sign and for a wonder, and upon thy seed for ever.\r\n Because thou servedst not Jehovah thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, by reason of the abundance of all things;\r\n therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies that Jehovah shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things: and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he have destroyed thee.\r\n Jehovah will bring a nation against thee from far, from the end of the earth, as the eagle flieth; a nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand;\r\n a nation of fierce countenance, that shall not regard the person of the old, nor show favor to the young,\r\n and shall eat the fruit of thy cattle, and the fruit of thy ground, until thou be destroyed; that also shall not leave thee grain, new wine, or oil, the increase of thy cattle, or the young of thy flock, until they have caused thee to perish.\r\n And they shall besiege thee in all thy gates, until thy high and fortified walls come down, wherein thou trustedst, throughout all thy land; and they shall besiege thee in all thy gates throughout all thy land, which Jehovah thy God hath given thee.\r\n And thou shalt eat the fruit of thine own body, the flesh of thy sons and of thy daughters, whom Jehovah thy God hath given thee, in the siege and in the distress wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee.\r\n The man that is tender among you, and very delicate, his eye shall be evil toward his brother, and toward the wife of his bosom, and toward the remnant of his children whom he hath remaining;\r\n so that he will not give to any of them of the flesh of his children whom he shall eat, because he hath nothing left him, in the siege and in the distress wherewith thine enemy shall distress thee in all thy gates.\r\n The tender and delicate woman among you, who would not adventure to set the sole of her foot upon the ground for delicateness and tenderness, her eye shall be evil toward the husband of her bosom, and toward her son, and toward her daughter,\r\n and toward her young one that cometh out from between her feet, and toward her children whom she shall bear; for she shall eat them for want of all things secretly, in the siege and in the distress wherewith thine enemy shall distress thee in thy gates.\r\n If thou wilt not observe to do all the words of this law that are written in this book, that thou mayest fear this glorious and fearful name, JEHOVAH THY GOD;\r\n then Jehovah will make thy plagues wonderful, and the plagues of thy seed, even great plagues, and of long continuance, and sore sicknesses, and of long continuance.\r\n And he will bring upon thee again all the diseases of Egypt, which thou wast afraid of; and they shall cleave unto thee.\r\n Also every sickness, and every plague, which is not written in the book of this law, them will Jehovah bring upon thee, until thou be destroyed.\r\n And ye shall be left few in number, whereas ye were as the stars of heaven for multitude; because thou didst not hearken unto the voice of Jehovah thy God.\r\n And it shall come to pass, that, as Jehovah rejoiced over you to do you good, and to multiply you, so Jehovah will rejoice over you to cause you to perish, and to destroy you; and ye shall be plucked from off the land whither thou goest in to possess it.\r\n And Jehovah will scatter thee among all peoples, from the one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth; and there thou shalt serve other gods, which thou hast not known, thou nor thy fathers, even wood and stone.\r\n And among these nations shalt thou find no ease, and there shall be no rest for the sole of thy foot: but Jehovah will give thee there a trembling heart, and failing of eyes, and pining of soul;\r\n and thy life shall hang in doubt before thee; and thou shalt fear night and day, and shalt have no assurance of thy life.\r\n In the morning thou shalt say, Would it were even! and at even thou shalt say, Would it were morning! for the fear of thy heart which thou shalt fear, and for the sight of thine eyes which thou shalt see.\r\n And Jehovah will bring thee into Egypt again with ships, by the way whereof I said unto thee, Thou shalt see it no more again: and there ye shall sell yourselves unto your enemies for bondmen and for bondwomen, and no man shall buy you.\r\n \r\n \r\n These are the words of the covenant which Jehovah commanded Moses to make with the children of Israel in the land of Moab, besides the covenant which he made with them in Horeb.\r\n And Moses called unto all Israel, and said unto them, Ye have seen all that Jehovah did before your eyes in the land of Egypt unto Pharaoh, and unto all his servants, and unto all his land;\r\n the great trials which thine eyes saw, the signs, and those great wonders:\r\n but Jehovah hath not given you a heart to know, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day.\r\n And I have led you forty years in the wilderness: your clothes are not waxed old upon you, and thy shoe is not waxed old upon thy foot.\r\n Ye have not eaten bread, neither have ye drunk wine or strong drink; that ye may know that I am Jehovah your God.\r\n And when ye came unto this place, Sihon the king of Heshbon, and Og the king of Bashan, came out against us unto battle, and we smote them:\r\n and we took their land, and gave it for an inheritance unto the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to the half-tribe of the Manassites.\r\n Keep therefore the words of this covenant, and do them, that ye may prosper in all that ye do.\r\n Ye stand this day all of you before Jehovah your God; your heads, your tribes, your elders, and your officers, even all the men of Israel,\r\n your little ones, your wives, and thy sojourner that is in the midst of thy camps, from the hewer of thy wood unto the drawer of thy water;\r\n that thou mayest enter into the covenant of Jehovah thy God, and into his oath, which Jehovah thy God maketh with thee this day;\r\n that he may establish thee this day unto himself for a people, and that he may be unto thee a God, as he spake unto thee, and as he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.\r\n Neither with you only do I make this covenant and this oath,\r\n but with him that standeth here with us this day before Jehovah our God, and also with him that is not here with us this day\r\n (for ye know how we dwelt in the land of Egypt, and how we came through the midst of the nations through which ye passed;\r\n and ye have seen their abominations, and their idols, wood and stone, silver and gold, which were among them);\r\n lest there should be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turneth away this day from Jehovah our God, to go to serve the gods of those nations; lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood;\r\n and it come to pass, when he heareth the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the stubbornness of my heart, to destroy the moist with the dry.\r\n Jehovah will not pardon him, but then the anger of Jehovah and his jealousy will smoke against that man, and all the curse that is written in this book shall lie upon him, and Jehovah will blot out his name from under heaven.\r\n And Jehovah will set him apart unto evil out of all the tribes of Israel, according to all the curses of the covenant that is written in this book of the law.\r\n And the generation to come, your children that shall rise up after you, and the foreigner that shall come from a far land, shall say, when they see the plagues of that land, and the sicknesses wherewith Jehovah hath made it sick;\r\n [and that] the whole land thereof is brimstone, and salt, [and] a burning, [that] it is not sown, nor beareth, nor any grass groweth therein, like the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim, which Jehovah overthrew in his anger, and in his wrath:\r\n even all the nations shall say, Wherefore hath Jehovah done thus unto this land? what meaneth the heat of this great anger?\r\n Then men shall say, Because they forsook the covenant of Jehovah, the God of their fathers, which he made with them when he brought them forth out of the land of Egypt,\r\n and went and served other gods, and worshipped them, gods that they knew not, and that he had not given unto them:\r\n therefore the anger of Jehovah was kindled against this land, to bring upon it all the curse that is written in this book;\r\n and Jehovah rooted them out of their land in anger, and in wrath, and in great indignation, and cast them into another land, as at this day.\r\n The secret things belong unto Jehovah our God; but the things that are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shalt call them to mind among all the nations, whither Jehovah thy God hath driven thee,\r\n and shalt return unto Jehovah thy God, and shalt obey his voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thy heart, and with all thy soul;\r\n that then Jehovah thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the peoples, whither Jehovah thy God hath scattered thee.\r\n If [any of] thine outcasts be in the uttermost parts of heaven, from thence will Jehovah thy God gather thee, and from thence will he fetch thee:\r\n and Jehovah thy God will bring thee into the land which thy fathers possessed, and thou shalt possess it; and he will do thee good, and multiply thee above thy fathers.\r\n And Jehovah thy God will circumcise thy heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love Jehovah thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live.\r\n And Jehovah thy God will put all these curses upon thine enemies, and on them that hate thee, that persecuted thee.\r\n And thou shalt return and obey the voice of Jehovah, and do all his commandments which I command thee this day.\r\n And Jehovah thy God will make thee plenteous in all the work of thy hand, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, for good: for Jehovah will again rejoice over thee for good, as he rejoiced over thy fathers;\r\n if thou shalt obey the voice of Jehovah thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which are written in this book of the law; if thou turn unto Jehovah thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul.\r\n For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not too hard for thee, neither is it far off.\r\n It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, and make us to hear it, that we may do it?\r\n Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, and make us to hear it, that we may do it?\r\n But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.\r\n See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil;\r\n in that I command thee this day to love Jehovah thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his ordinances, that thou mayest live and multiply, and that Jehovah thy God may bless thee in the land whither thou goest in to possess it.\r\n But if thy heart turn away, and thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them;\r\n I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish; ye shall not prolong your days in the land, whither thou passest over the Jordan to go in to possess it.\r\n I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that I have set before thee life and death, the blessing and the curse: therefore choose life, that thou mayest live, thou and thy seed;\r\n to love Jehovah thy God, to obey his voice, and to cleave unto him; for he is thy life, and the length of thy days; that thou mayest dwell in the land which Jehovah sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Moses went and spake these words unto all Israel.\r\n And he said unto them, I am a hundred and twenty years old this day; I can no more go out and come in: and Jehovah hath said unto me, Thou shalt not go over this Jordan.\r\n Jehovah thy God, he will go over before thee; he will destroy these nations from before thee, and thou shalt dispossess them: [and] Joshua, he shall go over before thee, as Jehovah hath spoken.\r\n And Jehovah will do unto them as he did to Sihon and to Og, the kings of the Amorites, and unto their land; whom he destroyed.\r\n And Jehovah will deliver them up before you, and ye shall do unto them according unto all the commandment which I have commanded you.\r\n Be strong and of good courage, fear not, nor be affrighted at them: for Jehovah thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.\r\n And Moses called unto Joshua, and said unto him in the sight of all Israel, Be strong and of good courage: for thou shalt go with this people into the land which Jehovah hath sworn unto their fathers to give them; and thou shalt cause them to inherit it.\r\n And Jehovah, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.\r\n And Moses wrote this law, and delivered it unto the priests the sons of Levi, that bare the ark of the covenant of Jehovah, and unto all the elders of Israel.\r\n And Moses commanded them, saying, At the end of [every] seven years, in the set time of the year of release, in the feast of tabernacles,\r\n when all Israel is come to appear before Jehovah thy God in the place which he shall choose, thou shalt read this law before all Israel in their hearing.\r\n Assemble the people, the men and the women and the little ones, and thy sojourner that is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear Jehovah your God, and observe to do all the words of this law;\r\n and that their children, who have not known, may hear, and learn to fear Jehovah your God, as long as ye live in the land whither ye go over the Jordan to possess it.\r\n And Jehovah said unto Moses, Behold, thy days approach that thou must die: call Joshua, and present yourselves in the tent of meeting, that I may give him a charge. And Moses and Joshua went, and presented themselves in the tent of meeting.\r\n And Jehovah appeared in the Tent in a pillar of cloud: and the pillar of cloud stood over the door of the Tent.\r\n And Jehovah said unto Moses, Behold, thou shalt sleep with thy fathers; and this people will rise up, and play the harlot after the strange gods of the land, whither they go to be among them, and will forsake me, and break my covenant which I have made with them.\r\n Then my anger shall be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them, and I will hide my face from them, and they shall be devoured, and many evils and troubles shall come upon them; so that they will say in that day, Are not these evils come upon us because our God is not among us?\r\n And I will surely hide my face in that day for all the evil which they shall have wrought, in that they are turned unto other gods.\r\n Now therefore write ye this song for you, and teach thou it the children of Israel: put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel.\r\n For when I shall have brought them into the land which I sware unto their fathers, flowing with milk and honey, and they shall have eaten and filled themselves, and waxed fat; then will they turn unto other gods, and serve them, and despise me, and break my covenant.\r\n And it shall come to pass, when many evils and troubles are come upon them, that this song shall testify before them as a witness; for it shall not be forgotten out of the mouths of their seed: for I know their imagination which they frame this day, before I have brought them into the land which I sware.\r\n So Moses wrote this song the same day, and taught it the children of Israel.\r\n And he gave Joshua the son of Nun a charge, and said, Be strong and of good courage; for thou shalt bring the children of Israel into the land which I sware unto them: and I will be with thee.\r\n And it came to pass, when Moses had made an end of writing the words of this law in a book, until they were finished,\r\n that Moses commanded the Levites, that bare the ark of the covenant of Jehovah, saying,\r\n Take this book of the law, and put it by the side of the ark of the covenant of Jehovah your God, that it may be there for a witness against thee.\r\n For I know thy rebellion, and thy stiff neck: behold, while I am yet alive with you this day, ye have been rebellious against Jehovah; and how much more after my death?\r\n Assemble unto me all the elders of your tribes, and your officers, that I may speak these words in their ears, and call heaven and earth to witness against them.\r\n For I know that after my death ye will utterly corrupt yourselves, and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you; and evil will befall you in the latter days; because ye will do that which is evil in the sight of Jehovah, to provoke him to anger through the work of your hands.\r\n And Moses spake in the ears of all the assembly of Israel the words of this song, until they were finished.\r\n \r\n \r\n Give ear, ye heavens, and I will speak; And let the earth hear the words of my mouth.\r\n My doctrine shall drop as the rain; My speech shall distil as the dew, As the small rain upon the tender grass, And as the showers upon the herb.\r\n For I will proclaim the name of Jehovah: Ascribe ye greatness unto our God.\r\n The Rock, his work is perfect; For all his ways are justice: A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, Just and right is he.\r\n They have dealt corruptly with him, [they are] not his children, [it is] their blemish; [They are] a perverse and crooked generation.\r\n Do ye thus requite Jehovah, O foolish people and unwise? Is not he thy father that hath bought thee? He hath made thee, and established thee.\r\n Remember the days of old, Consider the years of many generations: Ask thy father, and he will show thee; Thine elders, and they will tell thee.\r\n When the Most High gave to the nations their inheritance, When he separated the children of men, He set the bounds of the peoples According to the number of the children of Israel.\r\n For Jehovah`s portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance.\r\n He found him in a desert land, And in the waste howling wilderness; He compassed him about, he cared for him, He kept him as the apple of his eye.\r\n As an eagle that stirreth up her nest, That fluttereth over her young, He spread abroad his wings, he took them, He bare them on his pinions.\r\n Jehovah alone did lead him, And there was no foreign god with him.\r\n He made him ride on the high places of the earth, And he did eat the increase of the field; And he made him to suck honey out of the rock, And oil out of the flinty rock;\r\n Butter of the herd, and milk of the flock, With fat of lambs, And rams of the breed of Bashan, and goats, With the finest of the wheat; And of the blood of the grape thou drankest wine.\r\n But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: Thou art waxed fat, thou art grown thick, thou art become sleek; Then he forsook God who made him, And lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation.\r\n They moved him to jealousy with strange [gods]; With abominations provoked they him to anger.\r\n They sacrificed unto demons, [which were] no God, To gods that they knew not, To new [gods] that came up of late, Which your fathers dreaded not.\r\n Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful, And hast forgotten God that gave thee birth.\r\n And Jehovah saw [it], and abhorred [them], Because of the provocation of his sons and his daughters.\r\n And he said, I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end shall be: For they are a very perverse generation, Children in whom is no faithfulness.\r\n They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God; They have provoked me to anger with their vanities: And I will move them to jealousy with those that are not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.\r\n For a fire is kindled in mine anger, And burneth unto the lowest Sheol, And devoureth the earth with its increase, And setteth on fire the foundations of the mountains.\r\n I will heap evils upon them; I will spend mine arrows upon them:\r\n [They shall be] wasted with hunger, and devoured with burning heat And bitter destruction; And the teeth of beasts will I send upon them, With the poison of crawling things of the dust.\r\n Without shall the sword bereave, And in the chambers terror; [It shall destroy] both young man and virgin, The suckling with the man of gray hairs.\r\n I said, I would scatter them afar, I would make the remembrance of them to cease from among men;\r\n Were it not that I feared the provocation of the enemy, Lest their adversaries should judge amiss, Lest they should say, Our hand is exalted, And Jehovah hath not done all this.\r\n For they are a nation void of counsel, And there is no understanding in them.\r\n Oh that they were wise, that they understood this, That they would consider their latter end!\r\n How should one chase a thousand, And two put ten thousand to flight, Except their Rock had sold them, And Jehovah had delivered them up?\r\n For their rock is not as our Rock, Even our enemies themselves being judges.\r\n For their vine is of the vine of Sodom, And of the fields of Gomorrah: Their grapes are grapes of gall, Their clusters are bitter:\r\n Their wine is the poison of serpents, And the cruel venom of asps.\r\n Is not this laid up in store with me, Sealed up among my treasures?\r\n Vengeance is mine, and recompense, At the time when their foot shall slide: For the day of their calamity is at hand, And the things that are to come upon them shall make haste.\r\n For Jehovah will judge his people, And repent himself for his servants; When he seeth that [their] power is gone, And there is none [remaining], shut up or left at large.\r\n And he will say, Where are their gods, The rock in which they took refuge;\r\n Which did eat the fat of their sacrifices, [And] drank the wine of their drink-offering? Let them rise up and help you, Let them be your protection.\r\n See now that I, even I, am he, And there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal; And there is none that can deliver out of my hand.\r\n For I lift up my hand to heaven, And say, As I live for ever,\r\n If I whet my glittering sword, And my hand take hold on judgment; I will render vengeance to mine adversaries, And will recompense them that hate me.\r\n I will make mine arrows drunk with blood, And my sword shall devour flesh; With the blood of the slain and the captives, From the head of the leaders of the enemy.\r\n Rejoice, O ye nations, [with] his people: For he will avenge the blood of his servants, And will render vengeance to his adversaries, And will make expiation for his land, for his people.\r\n And Moses came and spake all the words of this song in the ears of the people, he, and Hoshea the son of Nun.\r\n And Moses made an end of speaking all these words to all Israel;\r\n And he said unto them, Set your heart unto all the words which I testify unto you this day, which ye shall command your children to observe to do, [even] all the words of this law.\r\n For it is no vain thing for you; because it is your life, and through this thing ye shall prolong your days in the land, whither ye go over the Jordan to possess it.\r\n And Jehovah spake unto Moses that selfsame day, saying,\r\n Get thee up into this mountain of Abarim, unto mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, that is over against Jericho; and behold the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel for a possession;\r\n and die in the mount whither thou goest up, and be gathered unto thy people, as Aaron thy brother died in mount Hor, and was gathered unto his people:\r\n because ye trespassed against me in the midst of the children of Israel at the waters of Meribah of Kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin; because ye sanctified me not in the midst of the children of Israel.\r\n For thou shalt see the land before thee; but thou shalt not go thither into the land which I give the children of Israel.\r\n \r\n \r\n And this is the blessing, wherewith Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death.\r\n And he said, Jehovah came from Sinai, And rose from Seir unto them; He shined forth from mount Paran, And he came from the ten thousands of holy ones: At his right hand was a fiery law for them.\r\n Yea, he loveth the people; All his saints are in thy hand: And they sat down at thy feet; [Every one] shall receive of thy words.\r\n Moses commanded us a law, An inheritance for the assembly of Jacob.\r\n And he was king in Jeshurun, When the heads of the people were gathered, All the tribes of Israel together.\r\n Let Reuben live, and not die; Nor let his men be few.\r\n And this is [the blessing] of Judah: and he said, Hear, Jehovah, the voice of Judah, And bring him in unto his people. With his hands he contended for himself; And thou shalt be a help against his adversaries.\r\n And of Levi he said, Thy Thummim and thy Urim are with thy godly one, Whom thou didst prove at Massah, With whom thou didst strive at the waters of Meribah;\r\n Who said of his father, and of his mother, I have not seen him; Neither did he acknowledge his brethren, Nor knew he his own children: For they have observed thy word, And keep thy covenant.\r\n They shall teach Jacob thine ordinances, And Israel thy law: They shall put incense before thee, And whole burnt-offering upon thine altar.\r\n Bless, Jehovah, his substance, And accept the work of his hands: Smite through the loins of them that rise up against him, And of them that hate him, that they rise not again.\r\n Of Benjamin he said, The beloved of Jehovah shall dwell in safety by him; He covereth him all the day long, And he dwelleth between his shoulders.\r\n And of Joseph he said, Blessed of Jehovah be his land, For the precious things of heaven, for the dew, And for the deep that coucheth beneath,\r\n And for the precious things of the fruits of the sun, And for the precious things of the growth of the moons,\r\n And for the chief things of the ancient mountains, And for the precious things of the everlasting hills,\r\n And for the precious things of the earth and the fulness thereof, And the good will of him that dwelt in the bush. Let [the blessing] come upon the head of Joseph, And upon the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren.\r\n The firstling of his herd, majesty is his; And his horns are the horns of the wild-ox: With them he shall push the peoples all of them, [even] the ends of the earth: And they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, And they are the thousands of Manasseh.\r\n And of Zebulun he said, Rejoice, Zebulun, in thy going out; And, Issachar, in thy tents.\r\n They shall call the peoples unto the mountain; There shall they offer sacrifices of righteousness: For they shall suck the abundance of the seas, And the hidden treasures of the sand.\r\n And of Gad he said, Blessed be he that enlargeth Gad: He dwelleth as a lioness, And teareth the arm, yea, the crown of the head.\r\n And he provided the first part for himself, For there was the lawgiver`s portion reserved; And he came [with] the heads of the people; He executed the righteousness of Jehovah, And his ordinances with Israel.\r\n And of Dan he said, Dan is a lion`s whelp, That leapeth forth from Bashan.\r\n And of Naphtali he said, O Naphtali, satisfied with favor, And full with the blessing of Jehovah, Possess thou the west and the south.\r\n And of Asher he said, Blessed be Asher with children; Let him be acceptable unto his brethren, And let him dip his foot in oil.\r\n Thy bars shall be iron and brass; And as thy days, so shall thy strength be.\r\n There is none like unto God, O Jeshurun, Who rideth upon the heavens for thy help, And in his excellency on the skies.\r\n The eternal God is [thy] dwelling-place, And underneath are the everlasting arms. And he thrust out the enemy from before thee, And said, Destroy.\r\n And Israel dwelleth in safety, The fountain of Jacob alone, In a land of grain and new wine; Yea, his heavens drop down dew.\r\n Happy art thou, O Israel: Who is like unto thee, a people saved by Jehovah, The shield of thy help, And the sword of thy excellency! And thine enemies shall submit themselves unto thee; And thou shalt tread upon their high places.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Moses went up from the plains of Moab unto mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, that is over against Jericho. And Jehovah showed him all the land of Gilead, unto Dan,\r\n and all Naphtali, and the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, and all the land of Judah, unto the hinder sea,\r\n and the South, and the Plain of the valley of Jericho the city of palm-trees, unto Zoar.\r\n And Jehovah said unto him, This is the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, saying, I will give it unto thy seed: I have caused thee to see it with thine eyes, but thou shalt not go over thither.\r\n So Moses the servant of Jehovah died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of Jehovah.\r\n And he buried him in the valley in the land of Moab over against Beth-peor: but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day.\r\n And Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated.\r\n And the children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days: so the days of weeping in the mourning for Moses were ended.\r\n And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands upon him: and the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as Jehovah commanded Moses.\r\n And there hath not arisen a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom Jehovah knew face to face,\r\n in all the signs and the wonders, which Jehovah sent him to do in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh, and to all his servants, and to all his land,\r\n and in all the mighty hand, and in all the great terror, which Moses wrought in the sight of all Israel.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n Now it came to pass after the death of Moses the servant of Jehovah, that Jehovah spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses` minister, saying,\r\n Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.\r\n Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, to you have I given it, as I spake unto Moses.\r\n From the wilderness, and this Lebanon, even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your border.\r\n There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life. as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee; I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.\r\n Be strong and of good courage; for thou shalt cause this people to inherit the land which I sware unto their fathers to give them.\r\n Only be strong and very courageous, to observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest have good success whithersoever thou goest.\r\n This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate thereon day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.\r\n Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of good courage; be not affrighted, neither be thou dismayed: for Jehovah thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.\r\n Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying,\r\n Pass through the midst of the camp, and command the people, saying, Prepare you victuals; for within three days ye are to pass over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land, which Jehovah your God giveth you to possess it.\r\n And to the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh, spake Joshua, saying,\r\n Remember the word which Moses the servant of Jehovah commanded you, saying, Jehovah your God giveth you rest, and will give you this land.\r\n Your wives, your little ones, and your cattle, shall abide in the land which Moses gave you beyond the Jordan; but ye shall pass over before your brethren armed, all the mighty men of valor, and shall help them;\r\n until Jehovah have given your brethren rest, as [he hath given] you, and they also have possessed the land which Jehovah your God giveth them: then ye shall return unto the land of your possession, and possess it, which Moses the servant of Jehovah gave you beyond the Jordan toward the sunrising.\r\n And they answered Joshua, saying, All that thou hast commanded us we will do, and whithersoever thou sendest us we will go.\r\n According as we hearkened unto Moses in all things, so will we hearken unto thee: only Jehovah thy God be with thee, as he was with Moses.\r\n Whosoever he be that shall rebel against thy commandment, and shall not hearken unto thy words in all that thou commandest him, he shall be put to death: only be strong and of good courage.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men as spies secretly, saying, Go, view the land, and Jericho. And they went and came into the house of a harlot whose name was Rahab, and lay there.\r\n And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, Behold, there came men in hither to-night of the children of Israel to search out the land.\r\n And the king of Jericho sent unto Rahab, saying, Bring forth the men that are come to thee, that are entered into thy house; for they are come to search out all the land.\r\n And the woman took the two men, and hid them; and she said, Yea, the men came unto me, but I knew not whence they were:\r\n and it came to pass about the time of the shutting of the gate, when it was dark, that the men went out; whither the men went I know not: pursue after them quickly; for ye will overtake them.\r\n But she had brought them up to the roof, and hid them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order upon the roof.\r\n And the men pursued after them the way to the Jordan unto the fords: and as soon as they that pursued after them were gone out, they shut the gate.\r\n And before they were laid down, she came up unto them upon the roof;\r\n and she said unto the men, I know that Jehovah hath given you the land, and that the fear of you is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away before you.\r\n For we have heard how Jehovah dried up the water of the Red Sea before you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were beyond the Jordan, unto Sihon and to Og, whom ye utterly destroyed.\r\n And as soon as we had heard it, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more spirit in any man, because of you: for Jehovah your God, he is God in heaven above, and on earth beneath.\r\n Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by Jehovah, since I have dealt kindly with you, that ye also will deal kindly with my father`s house, and give me a true token;\r\n and that ye will save alive my father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters, and all that they have, and will deliver our lives from death.\r\n And the men said unto her, Our life for yours, if ye utter not this our business; and it shall be, when Jehovah giveth us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with thee.\r\n Then she let them down by a cord through the window: for her house was upon the side of the wall, and she dwelt upon the wall.\r\n And she said unto them, Get you to the mountain, lest the pursuers light upon you; and hide yourselves there three days, until the pursuers be returned: and afterward may ye go your way.\r\n And the men said unto her, We will be guiltless of this thine oath which thou hast made us to swear.\r\n Behold, when we come into the land, thou shalt bind this line of scarlet thread in the window which thou didst let us down by: and thou shalt gather unto thee into the house thy father, and thy mother, and thy brethren, and all thy father`s household.\r\n And it shall be, that whosoever shall go out of the doors of thy house into the street, his blood shall be upon his head, and we shall be guiltless: and whosoever shall be with thee in the house, his blood shall be on our head, if any hand be upon him.\r\n But if thou utter this our business, then we shall be guiltless of thine oath which thou hast made us to swear.\r\n And she said, According unto your words, so be it. And she sent them away, and they departed: and she bound the scarlet line in the window.\r\n And they went, and came unto the mountain, and abode there three days, until the pursuers were returned: and the pursuers sought them throughout all the way, but found them not.\r\n Then the two men returned, and descended from the mountain, and passed over, and came to Joshua the son of Nun; and they told him all that had befallen them.\r\n And they said unto Joshua, Truly Jehovah hath delivered into our hands all the land; and moreover all the inhabitants of the land do melt away before us.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Joshua rose up early in the morning; and they removed from Shittim, and came to the Jordan, he and all the children of Israel; and they lodged there before they passed over.\r\n And it came to pass after three days, that the officers went through the midst of the camp;\r\n and they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the ark of the covenant of Jehovah your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it.\r\n Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go; for ye have not passed this way heretofore.\r\n And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves; for tomorrow Jehovah will do wonders among you.\r\n And Joshua spake unto the priests, saying, Take up the ark of the covenant, and pass over before the people. And they took up the ark of the covenant, and went before the people.\r\n And Jehovah said unto Joshua, This day will I begin to magnify thee in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee.\r\n And thou shalt command the priests that bear the ark of the covenant, saying, When ye are come to the brink of the waters of the Jordan, ye shall stand still in the Jordan.\r\n And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, Come hither, and hear the words of Jehovah your God.\r\n And Joshua said, Hereby ye shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Hivite, and the Perizzite, and the Girgashite, and the Amorite, and the Jebusite.\r\n Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth passeth over before you into the Jordan.\r\n Now therefore take you twelve men out of the tribes of Israel, for every tribe a man.\r\n And it shall come to pass, when the soles of the feet of the priests that bear the ark of Jehovah, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, that the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off, even the waters that come down from above; and they shall stand in one heap.\r\n And it came to pass, when the people removed from their tents, to pass over the Jordan, the priests that bare the ark of the covenant being before the people;\r\n and when they that bare the ark were come unto the Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brink of the water (for the Jordan overfloweth all its banks all the time of harvest,)\r\n that the waters which came down from above stood, and rose up in one heap, a great way off, at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan; and those that went down toward the sea of the Arabah, even the Salt Sea, were wholly cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho.\r\n And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of Jehovah stood firm on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan; and all Israel passed over on dry ground, until all the nation were passed clean over the Jordan.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass, when all the nation were clean passed over the Jordan, that Jehovah spake unto Joshua, saying,\r\n Take you twelve men out of the people, out of every tribe a man,\r\n and command ye them, saying, Take you hence out of the midst of the Jordan, out of the place where the priests` feet stood firm, twelve stones, and carry them over with you, and lay them down in the lodging-place, where ye shall lodge this night.\r\n Then Joshua called the twelve men, whom he had prepared of the children of Israel, out of every tribe a man:\r\n and Joshua said unto them, Pass over before the ark of Jehovah your God into the midst of the Jordan, and take you up every man of you a stone upon his shoulder, according unto the number of the tribes of the children of Israel;\r\n that this may be a sign among you, that, when your children ask in time to come, saying, What mean ye by these stones?\r\n then ye shall say unto them, Because the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of Jehovah; when it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off: and these stones shall be for a memorial unto the children of Israel for ever.\r\n And the children of Israel did so as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones out of the midst of the Jordan, as Jehovah spake unto Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel; and they carried them over with them unto the place where they lodged, and laid them down there.\r\n And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of the Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests that bare the ark of the covenant stood: and they are there unto this day.\r\n For the priests that bare the ark stood in the midst of the Jordan, until everything was finished that Jehovah commanded Joshua to speak unto the people, according to all that Moses commanded Joshua: and the people hasted and passed over.\r\n And it came to pass, when all the people were clean passed over, that the ark of Jehovah passed over, and the priests, in the presence of the people.\r\n And the children of Reuben, and the children of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, passed over armed before the children of Israel, as Moses spake unto them:\r\n about forty thousand ready armed for war passed over before Jehovah unto battle, to the plains of Jericho.\r\n On that day Jehovah magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they feared Moses, all the days of his life.\r\n And Jehovah spake unto Joshua, saying,\r\n Command the priests that bear the ark of the testimony, that they come up out of the Jordan.\r\n Joshua therefore commanded the priests, saying, Come ye up out of the Jordan.\r\n And it came to pass, when the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of Jehovah were come up out of the midst of the Jordan, and the soles of the priests` feet were lifted up unto the dry ground, that the waters of the Jordan returned unto their place, and went over all its banks, as aforetime.\r\n And the people came up out of the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and encamped in Gilgal, on the east border of Jericho.\r\n And those twelve stones, which they took out of the Jordan, did Joshua set up in Gilgal.\r\n And he spake unto the children of Israel, saying, When your children shall ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean these stones?\r\n Then ye shall let your children know, saying, Israel came over this Jordan on dry land.\r\n For Jehovah your God dried up the waters of the Jordan from before you, until ye were passed over, as Jehovah your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up from before us, until we were passed over;\r\n that all the peoples of the earth may know the hand of Jehovah, that it is mighty; that ye may fear Jehovah your God for ever.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass, when all the kings of the Amorites, that were beyond the Jordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites, that were by the sea, heard how that Jehovah had dried up the waters of the Jordan from before the children of Israel, until we were passed over, that their heart melted, neither was there spirit in them any more, because of the children of Israel.\r\n At that time Jehovah said unto Joshua, Make thee knives of flint, and circumcise again the children of Israel the second time.\r\n And Joshua made him knives of lint, and circumcised the children of Israel at the hill of the foreskins.\r\n And this is the cause why Joshua did circumcise: all the people that came forth out of Egypt, that were males, even all the men of war, died in the wilderness by the way, after they came forth out of Egypt.\r\n For all the people that came out were circumcised; but all the people that were born in the wilderness by the way as they came forth out of Egypt, they had not circumcised.\r\n For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the nation, even the men of war that came forth out of Egypt, were consumed, because they hearkened not unto the voice of Jehovah: unto whom Jehovah sware that he would not let them see the land which Jehovah sware unto their fathers that he would give us, a land flowing with milk and honey.\r\n And their children, whom he raised up in their stead, them did Joshua circumcise: for they were uncircumcised, because they had not circumcised them by the way.\r\n And it came to pass, when they had done circumcising all the nation, that they abode in their places in the camp, till they were whole.\r\n And Jehovah said unto Joshua, This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you. Wherefore the name of that place was called Gilgal, unto this day.\r\n And the children of Israel encamped in Gilgal; and they kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the month at even in the plains of Jericho.\r\n And they did eat of the produce of the land on the morrow after the passover, unleavened cakes and parched grain, in the selfsame day.\r\n And the manna ceased on the morrow, after they had eaten of the produce of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna any more; but they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.\r\n And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?\r\n And he said, Nay; but [as] prince of the host of Jehovah am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant?\r\n And the prince of Jehovah`s host said unto Joshua, Put off thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in.\r\n And Jehovah said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thy hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valor.\r\n And ye shall compass the city, all the men of war, going about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days.\r\n And seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams` horns before the ark: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets.\r\n And it shall be, that, when they make a long blast with the ram`s horn, and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall go up every man straight before him.\r\n And Joshua the son of Nun called the priests, and said unto them, Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams` horns before the ark of Jehovah.\r\n And they said unto the people, Pass on, and compass the city, and let the armed men pass on before the ark of Jehovah.\r\n And it was so, that, when Joshua had spoken unto the people, the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams` horns before Jehovah passed on, and blew the trumpets: and the ark of the covenant of Jehovah followed them.\r\n And the armed men went before the priests that blew the trumpets, and the rearward went after the ark, [the priests] blowing the trumpets as they went.\r\n And Joshua commanded the people, saying, Ye shall not shout, nor let your voice be heard, neither shall any word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I bid you shout; then shall ye shout.\r\n So he caused the ark of Jehovah to compass the city, going about it once: and they came into the camp, and lodged in the camp.\r\n And Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of Jehovah.\r\n And the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams` horns before the ark of Jehovah went on continually, and blew the trumpets: and the armed men went before them; and the rearward came after the ark of Jehovah, [the priests] blowing the trumpets as they went.\r\n And the second day they compassed the city once, and returned into the camp: so they did six days.\r\n And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they rose early at the dawning of the day, and compassed the city after the same manner seven times: only on the day they compassed the city seven times.\r\n And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew the trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, Shout; for Jehovah hath given you the city.\r\n And the city shall be devoted, even it and all that is therein, to Jehovah: only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all that are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent.\r\n But as for you, only keep yourselves from the devoted thing, lest when ye have devoted it, ye take of the devoted thing; so would ye make the camp of Israel accursed, and trouble it.\r\n But all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, are holy unto Jehovah: they shall come into the treasury of Jehovah.\r\n So the people shouted, and [the priests] blew the trumpets; and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, that the people shouted with a great shout, and the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.\r\n And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, both young and old, and ox, and sheep, and ass, with the edge of the sword.\r\n And Joshua said unto the two men that had spied out the land, Go into the harlot`s house, and bring out thence the woman, and all that she hath, as ye sware unto her.\r\n And the young men the spies went in, and brought out Rahab, and her father, and her mother, and her brethren, and all that she had; all her kindred also they brought out; and they set them without the camp of Israel.\r\n And they burnt the city with fire, and all that was therein; only the silver, and the gold, and the vessels of brass and of iron, they put into the treasury of the house of Jehovah.\r\n But Rahab the harlot, and her father`s household, and all that she had, did Joshua save alive; and she dwelt in the midst of Israel unto this day, because she hid the messengers, whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.\r\n And Joshua charged them with an oath at that time, saying, Cursed be the man before Jehovah, that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho: with the loss of his first-born shall he lay the foundation thereof, and with the loss of his youngest son shall he set up the gates of it.\r\n So Jehovah was with Joshua; and his fame was in all the land.\r\n \r\n \r\n But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the devoted thing; for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the devoted thing: and the anger of Jehovah was kindled against the children of Israel.\r\n And Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Beth-aven, on the east side of Beth-el, and spake unto them, saying, Go up and spy out the land. And the men went up and spied out Ai.\r\n And they returned to Joshua, and said unto him, Let not all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai; make not all the people to toil thither; for they are but few.\r\n So there went up thither of the people about three thousand men: and they fled before the men of Ai.\r\n And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men; and they chased them [from] before the gate even unto Shebarim, and smote them at the descent; and the hearts of the people melted, and became as water.\r\n And Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of Jehovah until the evening, he and the elders of Israel; and they put dust upon their heads.\r\n And Joshua said, Alas, O Lord Jehovah, wherefore hast thou at all brought this people over the Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to cause us to perish? would that we had been content and dwelt beyond the Jordan!\r\n Oh, Lord, what shall I say, after that Israel hath turned their backs before their enemies!\r\n For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear of it, and will compass us round, and cut off our name from the earth: and what wilt thou do for thy great name?\r\n And Jehovah said unto Joshua, Get thee up; wherefore art thou thus fallen upon thy face?\r\n Israel hath sinned; yea, they have even transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: yea, they have even taken of the devoted thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also; and they have even put it among their own stuff.\r\n Therefore the children of Israel cannot stand before their enemies; they turn their backs before their enemies, because they are become accursed: I will not be with you any more, except ye destroy the devoted thing from among you.\r\n Up, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves against tomorrow: for thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, There is a devoted thing in the midst of thee, O Israel; thou canst not stand before thine enemies, until ye take away the devoted thing from among you.\r\n In the morning therefore ye shall be brought near by your tribes: and it shall be, that the tribe which Jehovah taketh shall come near by families; and the family which Jehovah shall take shall come near by households; and the household which Jehovah shall take shall come near man by man.\r\n And it shall be, that he that is taken with the devoted thing shall be burnt with fire, he and all that he hath; because he hath transgressed the covenant of Jehovah, and because he hath wrought folly in Israel.\r\n So Joshua rose up early in the morning, and brought Israel near by their tribes; and the tribe of Judah was taken:\r\n and he brought near the family of Judah; and he took the family of the Zerahites: and he brought near the family of the Zerahites man by man; and Zabdi was taken:\r\n and he brought near his household man by man; and Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was taken.\r\n And Joshua said unto Achan, My son, give, I pray thee, glory to Jehovah, the God of Israel, and make confession unto him; and tell me now what thou hast done; hide it not from me.\r\n And Achan answered Joshua, and said, Of a truth I have sinned against Jehovah, the God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done:\r\n when I saw among the spoil a goodly Babylonish mantle, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.\r\n So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran unto the tent; and, behold, it was hid in his tent, and the silver under it.\r\n And they took them from the midst of the tent, and brought them unto Joshua, and unto all the children of Israel; and they laid them down before Jehovah.\r\n And Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver, and the mantle, and the wedge of gold, and his sons, and his daughters, and his oxen, and his asses, and his sheep, and his tent, and all that he had: and they brought them up unto the valley of Achor.\r\n And Joshua said, Why hast thou troubled us? Jehovah shall trouble thee this day. And all Israel stoned him with stones; and they burned them with fire, and stoned them with stones.\r\n And they raised over him a great heap of stones, unto this day; and Jehovah turned from the fierceness of his anger. Wherefore the name of that place was called, The valley of Achor, unto this day.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Jehovah said unto Joshua, Fear not, neither be thou dismayed: take all the people of war with thee, and arise, go up to Ai; see, I have given into thy hand the king of Ai, and his people, and his city, and his land;\r\n And thou shalt do to Ai and her king as thou didst unto Jericho and her king: only the spoil thereof, and the cattle thereof, shall ye take for a prey unto yourselves: set thee an ambush for the city behind it.\r\n So Joshua arose, and all the people of war, to go up to Ai: and Joshua chose out thirty thousand men, the mighty men of valor, and sent them forth by night.\r\n And he commanded them, saying, Behold, ye shall lie in ambush against the city, behind the city; go not very far from the city, but be ye all ready:\r\n and I, and all the people that are with me, will approach unto the city. And it shall come to pass, when they come out against us, as at the first, that we will flee before them;\r\n and they will come out after us, till we have drawn them away from the city; for they will say, They flee before us, as at the first: so we will flee before them;\r\n and ye shall rise up from the ambush, and take possession of the city: for Jehovah your God will deliver it into your hand.\r\n And it shall be, when ye have seized upon the city, that ye shall set the city on fire; according to the word of Jehovah shall ye do: see, I have commanded you.\r\n And Joshua sent them forth; and they went to the ambushment, and abode between Beth-el and Ai, on the west side of Ai: but Joshua lodged that night among the people.\r\n And Joshua arose up early in the morning, and mustered the people, and went up, he and the elders of Israel, before the people to Ai.\r\n And all the people, [even] the [men of] war that were with him, went up, and drew nigh, and came before the city, and encamped on the north side of Ai: now there was a valley between him and Ai.\r\n And he took about five thousand men, and set them in ambush between Beth-el and Ai, on the west side of the city.\r\n So they set the people, even all the host that was on the north of the city, and their liers-in-wait that were on the west of the city; and Joshua went that night into the midst of the valley.\r\n And it came to pass, when the king of Ai saw it, that they hasted and rose up early, and the men of the city went out against Israel to battle, he and all his people, at the time appointed, before the Arabah; but he knew not that there was an ambush against him behind the city.\r\n And Joshua and all Israel made as if they were beaten before them, and fled by the way of the wilderness.\r\n And all the people that were in the city were called together to pursue after them: and they pursued after Joshua, and were drawn away from the city.\r\n And there was not a man left in Ai or Beth-el, that went not out after Israel: and they left the city open, and pursued after Israel.\r\n And Jehovah said unto Joshua, Stretch out the javelin that is in thy hand toward Ai; for I will give it into thy hand. And Joshua stretched out the javelin that was in his hand toward the city.\r\n And the ambush arose quickly out of their place, and they ran as soon as he had stretched out his hand, and entered into the city, and took it; and they hasted and set the city on fire.\r\n And when the men of Ai looked behind them, they saw, and, behold, the smoke of the city ascended up to heaven, and they had no power to flee this way or that way: and the people that fled to the wilderness turned back upon the pursuers.\r\n And when Joshua and all Israel saw that the ambush had taken the city, and that the smoke of the city ascended, then they turned again, and slew the men of Ai.\r\n And the others came forth out of the city against them; so they were in the midst of Israel, some on this side, and some on that side: and they smote them, so that they let none of them remain or escape.\r\n And the king of Ai they took alive, and brought him to Joshua.\r\n And it came to pass, when Israel had made an end of slaying all the inhabitants of Ai in the field, in the wilderness wherein they pursued them, and they were all fallen by the edge of the sword, until they were consumed, that all Israel returned unto Ai, and smote it with the edge of the sword.\r\n And all that fell that day, both of men and women, were twelve thousand, even all the men of Ai.\r\n For Joshua drew not back his hand, wherewith he stretched out the javelin, until he had utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai.\r\n Only the cattle and the spoil of that city Israel took for prey unto themselves, according unto the word of Jehovah which he commanded Joshua.\r\n So Joshua burnt Ai, and made it a heap for ever, even a desolation, unto this day.\r\n And the king of Ai he hanged on a tree until the eventide: and at the going down of the sun Joshua commanded, and they took his body down from the tree, and cast it at the entrance of the gate of the city, and raised thereon a great heap of stones, unto this day.\r\n Then Joshua built an altar unto Jehovah, the God of Israel, in mount Ebal,\r\n as Moses the servant of Jehovah commanded the children of Israel, as it is written in the book of the law of Moses, an altar of unhewn stones, upon which no man had lifted up any iron: and they offered thereon burnt-offerings unto Jehovah, and sacrificed peace-offerings.\r\n And he wrote there upon the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he wrote, in the presence of the children of Israel.\r\n And all Israel, and their elders and officers, and their judges, stood on this side of the ark and on that side before the priests the Levites, that bare the ark of the covenant of Jehovah, as well the sojourner as the homeborn; half of them in front of mount Gerizim, and half of them in front of mount Ebal; as Moses the servant of Jehovah had commanded at the first, that they should bless the people of Israel.\r\n And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessing and the curse, according to all that is written in the book of the law.\r\n There was not a word of all that Moses commanded, which Joshua read not before all the assembly of Israel, and the women, and the little ones, and the sojourners that were among them.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass, when all the kings that were beyond the Jordan, in the hill-country, and in the lowland, and on all the shore of the great sea in front of Lebanon, the Hittite, and the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, heard thereof;\r\n that they gathered themselves together, to fight with Joshua and with Israel, with one accord.\r\n But when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai,\r\n they also did work wilily, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine-skins, old and rent and bound up,\r\n and old and patched shoes upon their feet, and old garments upon them; and all the bread of their provision was dry and was become mouldy.\r\n And they went to Joshua unto the camp at Gilgal, and said unto him, and to the men of Israel, We are come from a far country: now therefore make ye a covenant with us.\r\n And the men of Israel said unto the Hivites, Peradventure ye dwell among us; and how shall we make a covenant with you?\r\n And they said unto Joshua, We are thy servants. And Joshua said unto them, Who are ye? and from whence come ye?\r\n And they said unto him, From a very far country thy servants are come because of the name of Jehovah thy God: for we have heard the fame of him, and all that he did in Egypt,\r\n and all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites, that were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan, who was at Ashtaroth.\r\n And our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spake to us, saying, Take provision in your hand for the journey, and go to meet them, and say unto them, We are your servants: and now make ye a covenant with us.\r\n This our bread we took hot for our provision out of our houses on the day we came forth to go unto you; but now, behold, it is dry, and is become mouldy:\r\n and these wine-skins, which we filled, were new; and, behold, they are rent: and these our garments and our shoes are become old by reason of the very long journey.\r\n And the men took of their provision, and asked not counsel at the mouth of Jehovah.\r\n And Joshua made peace with them, and made a covenant with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation sware unto them.\r\n And it came to pass at the end of three days after they had made a covenant with them, that they heard that they were their neighbors, and that they dwelt among them.\r\n And the children of Israel journeyed, and came unto their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, and Chephirah, and Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim.\r\n And the children of Israel smote them not, because the princes of the congregation had sworn unto them by Jehovah, the God of Israel. And all the congregation murmured against the princes.\r\n But all the princes said unto all the congregation, We have sworn unto them by Jehovah, the God of Israel: now therefore we may not touch them.\r\n This we will do to them, and let them live; lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath which we sware unto them.\r\n And the princes said unto them, Let them live: so they became hewers of wood and drawers of water unto all the congregation, as the princes had spoken unto them.\r\n And Joshua called for them, and he spake unto them, saying, Wherefore have ye beguiled us, saying, We are very far from you; when ye dwell among us?\r\n Now therefore ye are cursed, and there shall never fail to be of you bondmen, both hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.\r\n And they answered Joshua, and said, Because it was certainly told thy servants, how that Jehovah thy God commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you; therefore we were sore afraid for our lives because of you, and have done this thing.\r\n And now, behold, we are in thy hand: as it seemeth good and right unto thee to do unto us, do.\r\n And so did he unto them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, that they slew them not.\r\n And Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation, and for the altar of Jehovah, unto this day, in the place which he should choose.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now it came to pass, when Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem heard how Joshua had taken Ai, and had utterly destroyed it; as he had done to Jericho and her king, so he had done to Ai and her king; and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel, and were among them;\r\n that they feared greatly, because Gibeon was a great city, as one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all the men thereof were mighty.\r\n Wherefore Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem sent unto Hoham king of Hebron, and unto Piram king of Jarmuth, and unto Japhia king of Lachish, and unto Debir king of Eglon, saying,\r\n Come up unto me, and help me, and let us smite Gibeon; for it hath made peace with Joshua and with the children of Israel.\r\n Therefore the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, the king of Eglon, gathered themselves together, and went up, they and all their hosts, and encamped against Gibeon, and made war against it.\r\n And the men of Gibeon sent unto Joshua to the camp to Gilgal, saying, Slack not thy hand from thy servants; come up to us quickly, and save us, and help us: for all the kings of the Amorites that dwell in the hill-country are gathered together against us.\r\n So Joshua went up from Gilgal, he, and all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valor.\r\n And Jehovah said unto Joshua, Fear them not: for I have delivered them into thy hands; there shall not a man of them stand before thee.\r\n Joshua therefore came upon them suddenly; [for] he went up from Gilgal all the night.\r\n And Jehovah discomfited them before Israel, and he slew them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, and chased them by the way of the ascent of Beth-horon, and smote them to Azekah, and unto Makkedah.\r\n And it came to pass, as they fled from before Israel, while they were at the descent of Beth-horon, that Jehovah cast down great stones from heaven upon them unto Azekah, and they died: they were more who died with the hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword.\r\n Then spake Joshua to Jehovah in the day when Jehovah delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel; and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; And thou, Moon, in the valley of Aijalon.\r\n And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, Until the nation had avenged themselves of their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jashar? And the sun stayed in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day.\r\n And there was no day like that before it or after it, that Jehovah hearkened unto the voice of a man: for Jehovah fought for Israel.\r\n And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, unto the camp to Gilgal.\r\n And these five kings fled, and hid themselves in the cave at Makkedah.\r\n And it was told Joshua, saying, The five kings are found, hidden in the cave at Makkedah.\r\n And Joshua said, Roll great stones unto the mouth of the cave, and set men by it to keep them:\r\n but stay not ye; pursue after your enemies, and smite the hindmost of them; suffer them not to enter into their cities: for Jehovah your God hath delivered them into your hand.\r\n And it came to pass, when Joshua and the children of Israel had made an end of slaying them with a very great slaughter, till they were consumed, and the remnant which remained of them had entered into the fortified cities,\r\n that all the people returned to the camp to Joshua at Makkedah in peace: none moved his tongue against any of the children of Israel.\r\n Then said Joshua, Open the mouth of the cave, and bring forth those five kings unto me out of the cave.\r\n And they did so, and brought forth those five kings unto him out of the cave, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, the king of Eglon.\r\n And it came to pass, when they brought forth those kings unto Joshua, that Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and said unto the chiefs of the men of war that went with him, Come near, put your feet upon the necks of these kings. And they came near, and put their feet upon the necks of them.\r\n And Joshua said unto them, Fear not, nor be dismayed; be strong and of good courage: for thus shall Jehovah do to all your enemies against whom ye fight.\r\n And afterward Joshua smote them, and put them to death, and hanged them on five trees: and they were hanging upon the trees until the evening.\r\n And it came to pass at the time of the going down of the sun, that Joshua commanded, and they took them down off the trees, and cast them into the cave wherein they had hidden themselves, and laid great stones on the mouth of the cave, unto this very day.\r\n And Joshua took Makkedah on that day, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and the king thereof: he utterly destroyed them and all the souls that were therein; he left none remaining; and he did to the king of Makkedah as he had done unto the king of Jericho.\r\n And Joshua passed from Makkedah, and all Israel with him, unto Libnah, and fought against Libnah:\r\n and Jehovah delivered it also, and the king thereof, into the hand of Israel; and he smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that were therein; he left none remaining in it; and he did unto the king thereof as he had done unto the king of Jericho.\r\n And Joshua passed from Libnah, and all Israel with him, unto Lachish, and encamped against it, and fought against it:\r\n and Jehovah delivered Lachish into the hand of Israel; and he took it on the second day, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that were therein, according to all that he had done to Libnah.\r\n Then Horam king of Gezer came up to help Lachish; and Joshua smote him and his people, until he had left him none remaining.\r\n And Joshua passed from Lachish, and all Israel with him, unto Eglon; and they encamped against it, and fought against it;\r\n and they took it on that day, and smote it with the edge of the sword; and all the souls that were therein he utterly destroyed that day, according to all that he had done to Lachish.\r\n And Joshua went up from Eglon, and all Israel with him, unto Hebron; and they fought against it:\r\n and they took it, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and the king thereof, and all the cities thereof, and all the souls that were therein; he left none remaining, according to all that he had done to Eglon; but he utterly destroyed it, and all the souls that were therein.\r\n And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to Debir, and fought against it:\r\n and he took it, and the king thereof, and all the cities thereof; and they smote them with the edge of the sword, and utterly destroyed all the souls that were therein; he left none remaining: as he had done to Hebron, so he did to Debir, and to the king thereof; as he had done also to Libnah, and to the king thereof.\r\n So Joshua smote all the land, the hill-country, and the South, and the lowland, and the slopes, and all their kings: he left none remaining, but he utterly destroyed all that breathed, as Jehovah, the God of Israel, commanded.\r\n And Joshua smote them from Kadesh-barnea even unto Gaza, and all the country of Goshen, even unto Gibeon.\r\n And all these kings and their land did Joshua take at one time, because Jehovah, the God of Israel, fought for Israel.\r\n And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, unto the camp to Gilgal.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass, when Jabin king of Hazor heard thereof, that he sent to Jobab king of Madon, and to the king of Shimron, and to the king of Achshaph,\r\n and to the kings that were on the north, in the hill-country, and in the Arabah south of Chinneroth, and in the lowland, and in the heights of Dor on the west,\r\n to the Canaanite on the east and on the west, and the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Jebusite in the hill-country, and the Hivite under Hermon in the land of Mizpah.\r\n And they went out, they and all their hosts with them, much people, even as the sand that is upon the sea-shore in multitude, with horses and chariots very many.\r\n And all these kings met together; and they came and encamped together at the waters of Merom, to fight with Israel.\r\n And Jehovah said unto Joshua, Be not afraid because of them; for to-morrow at this time will I deliver them up all slain before Israel: thou shalt hock their horses, and burn their chariots with fire.\r\n So Joshua came, and all the people of war with him, against them by the waters of Merom suddenly, and fell upon them.\r\n And Jehovah delivered them into the hand of Israel, and they smote them, and chased them unto great Sidon, and unto Misrephoth-maim, and unto the valley of Mizpeh eastward; and they smote them, until they left them none remaining.\r\n And Joshua did unto them as Jehovah bade him: he hocked their horses, and burnt their chariots with fire.\r\n And Joshua turned back at that time, and took Hazor, and smote the king thereof with the sword: for Hazor beforetime was the head of all those kingdoms.\r\n And they smote all the souls that were therein with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying them; there was none left that breathed: and he burnt Hazor with fire.\r\n And all the cities of those kings, and all the kings of them, did Joshua take, and he smote them with the edge of the sword, and utterly destroyed them; as Moses the servant of Jehovah commanded.\r\n But as for the cities that stood on their mounds, Israel burned none of them, save Hazor only; that did Joshua burn.\r\n And all the spoil of these cities, and the cattle, the children of Israel took for a prey unto themselves; but every man they smote with the edge of the sword, until they had destroyed them, neither left they any that breathed.\r\n As Jehovah commanded Moses his servant, so did Moses command Joshua: and so did Joshua; he left nothing undone of all that Jehovah commanded Moses.\r\n So Joshua took all that land, the hill-country, and all the South, and all the land of Goshen, and the lowland, and the Arabah, and the hill-country of Israel, and the lowland of the same;\r\n from mount Halak, that goeth up to Seir, even unto Baal-gad in the valley of Lebanon under mount Hermon: and all their kings he took, and smote them, and put them to death.\r\n Joshua made war a long time with all those kings.\r\n There was not a city that made peace with the children of Israel, save the Hivites the inhabitants of Gibeon: they took all in battle.\r\n For it was of Jehovah to harden their hearts, to come against Israel in battle, that he might utterly destroy them, that they might have no favor, but that he might destroy them, as Jehovah commanded Moses.\r\n And Joshua came at that time, and cut off the Anakim from the hill-country, from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab, and from all the hill-country of Judah, and from all the hill-country of Israel: Joshua utterly destroyed them with their cities.\r\n There was none of the Anakim left in the land of the children of Israel: only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod, did some remain.\r\n So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that Jehovah spake unto Moses; and Joshua gave it for an inheritance unto Israel according to their divisions by their tribes. And the land had rest from war.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now these are the kings of the land, whom the children of Israel smote, and possessed their land beyond the Jordan toward the sunrising, from the valley of the Arnon unto mount Hermon, and all the Arabah eastward:\r\n Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt in Heshbon, and ruled from Aroer, which is on the edge of the valley of the Arnon, and [the city that is in] the middle of the valley, and half Gilead, even unto the river Jabbok, the border of the children of Ammon;\r\n and the Arabah unto the sea of Chinneroth, eastward, and unto the sea of the Arabah, even the Salt Sea, eastward, the way to Beth-jeshimoth; and on the south, under the slopes of Pisgah:\r\n and the border of Og king of Bashan, of the remnant of the Rephaim, who dwelt at Ashtaroth and at Edrei,\r\n and ruled in mount Hermon, and in Salecah, and in all Bashan, unto the border of the Geshurites and the Maacathites, and half Gilead, the border of Sihon king of Heshbon.\r\n Moses the servant of Jehovah and the children of Israel smote them: and Moses the servant of Jehovah gave it for a possession unto the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh.\r\n And these are the kings of the land whom Joshua and the children of Israel smote beyond the Jordan westward, from Baal-gad in the valley of Lebanon even unto mount Halak, that goeth up to Seir; and Joshua gave it unto the tribes of Israel for a possession according to their divisions;\r\n in the hill-country, and in the lowland, and in the Arabah, and in the slopes, and in the wilderness, and in the South; the Hittite, the Amorite, and the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite:\r\n the king of Jericho, one; the king of Ai, which is beside Bethel, one;\r\n the king of Jerusalem, one; the king of Hebron, one;\r\n the king of Jarmuth, one; the king of Lachish, one;\r\n the king of Eglon, one; the king of Gezer, one;\r\n the king of Debir, one; the king of Geder, one;\r\n the king of Hormah, one; the king of Arad, one;\r\n the king of Libnah, one; the king of Adullam, one;\r\n the king of Makkedah, one; the king of Bethel, one;\r\n the king of Tappuah, one; the king of Hepher, one;\r\n the king of Aphek, one; the king of Lassharon, one;\r\n the king of Madon, one; the king of Hazor, one;\r\n the king of Shimron-meron, one; the king of Achshaph, one;\r\n the king of Taanach, one; the king of Megiddo, one;\r\n the king of Kedesh, one; the king of Jokneam in Carmel, one;\r\n the king of Dor in the height of Dor, one; the king of Goiim in Gilgal, one;\r\n the king of Tirzah, one: all the kings thirty and one.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now Joshua was old and well stricken in years; and Jehovah said unto him, Thou art old and well stricken in years, and there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed.\r\n This is the land that yet remaineth: all the regions of the Philistines, and all the Geshurites;\r\n from the Shihor, which is before Egypt, even unto the border of Ekron northward, [which] is reckoned to the Canaanites; the five lords of the Philistines; the Gazites, and the Ashdodites, the Ashkelonites, the Gittites, and the Ekronites; also the Avvim,\r\n on the south; all the land of the Canaanites, and Mearah that belongeth to the Sidonians, unto Aphek, to the border of the Amorites;\r\n and the land of the Gebalites, and all Lebanon, toward the sunrising, from Baal-gad under mount Hermon unto the entrance of Hamath;\r\n all the inhabitants of the hill-country from Lebanon unto Misrephoth-maim, even all the Sidonians; them will I drive out from before the children of Israel: only allot thou it unto Israel for an inheritance, as I have commanded thee.\r\n Now therefore divide this land for an inheritance unto the nine tribes, and the half-tribe of Manasseh.\r\n With him the Reubenites and the Gadites received their inheritance, which Moses gave them, beyond the Jordan eastward, even as Moses the servant of Jehovah gave them:\r\n from Aroer, that is on the edge of the valley of the Arnon, and the city that is in the middle of the valley, and all the plain of Medeba unto Dibon;\r\n and all the cities of Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon, unto the border of the children of Ammon;\r\n and Gilead, and the border of the Geshurites and Maacathites, and all mount Hermon, and all Bashan unto Salecah;\r\n all the kingdom of Og in Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth and in Edrei (the same was left of the remnant of the Rephaim); for these did Moses smite, and drove them out.\r\n Nevertheless the children of Israel drove not out the Geshurites, nor the Maacathites: but Geshur and Maacath dwell in the midst of Israel unto this day.\r\n Only unto the tribe of Levi he gave no inheritance; the offerings of Jehovah, the God of Israel, made by fire are his inheritance, as he spake unto him.\r\n And Moses gave unto the tribe of the children of Reuben according to their families.\r\n And their border was from Aroer, that is on the edge of the valley of the Arnon, and the city that is in the middle of the valley, and all the plain by Medeba;\r\n Heshbon, and all its cities that are in the plain; Dibon, and Bamoth-baal, and Beth-baal-meon,\r\n and Jahaz, and Kedemoth, and Mephaath,\r\n and Kiriathaim, and Sibmah, and Zereth-shahar in the mount of the valley,\r\n and Beth-peor, and the slopes of Pisgah, and Beth-jeshimoth,\r\n and all the cities of the plain, and all the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon, whom Moses smote with the chiefs of Midian, Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, the princes of Sihon, that dwelt in the land.\r\n Balaam also the son of Beor, the soothsayer, did the children of Israel slay with the sword among the rest of their slain.\r\n And the border of the children of Reuben was the Jordan, and the border [thereof]. This was the inheritance of the children of Reuben according to their families, the cities and the villages thereof.\r\n And Moses gave unto the tribe of Gad, unto the children of Gad, according to their families.\r\n And their border was Jazer, and all the cities of Gilead, and half the land of the children of Ammon, unto Aroer that is before Rabbah;\r\n and from Heshbon unto Ramath-mizpeh, and Betonim; and from Mahanaim unto the border of Debir;\r\n and in the valley, Beth-haram, and Beth-nimrah, and Succoth, and Zaphon, the rest of the kingdom of Sihon king of Heshbon, the Jordan and the border [thereof], unto the uttermost part of the sea of Chinnereth beyond the Jordan eastward.\r\n This is the inheritance of the children of Gad according to their families, the cities and the villages thereof.\r\n And Moses gave [inheritance] unto the half-tribe of Manasseh: and it was for the half-tribe of the children of Manasseh according to their families.\r\n And their border was from Mahanaim, all Bashan, all the kingdom of Og king of Bashan, and all the towns of Jair, which are in Bashan, threescore cities:\r\n and half Gilead, and Ashtaroth, and Edrei, the cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan, were for the children of Machir the son of Manasseh, even for the half of the children of Machir according to their families.\r\n These are the inheritances which Moses distributed in the plains of Moab, beyond the Jordan at Jericho, eastward.\r\n But unto the tribe of Levi Moses gave no inheritance: Jehovah, the God of Israel, is their inheritance, as he spake unto them.\r\n \r\n \r\n And these are the inheritances which the children of Israel took in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers` [houses] of the tribes of the children of Israel, distributed unto them,\r\n by the lot of their inheritance, as Jehovah commanded by Moses, for the nine tribes, and for the half-tribe.\r\n For Moses had given the inheritance of the two tribes and the half-tribe beyond the Jordan: but unto the Levites he gave no inheritance among them.\r\n For the children of Joseph were two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim: and they gave no portion unto the Levites in the land, save cities to dwell in, with the suburbs thereof for their cattle and for their substance.\r\n As Jehovah commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did; and they divided the land.\r\n Then the children of Judah drew nigh unto Joshua in Gilgal: and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said unto him, Thou knowest the thing that Jehovah spake unto Moses the man of God concerning me and concerning thee in Kadesh-barnea.\r\n Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of Jehovah sent me from Kadesh-barnea to spy out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in my heart.\r\n Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt; but I wholly followed Jehovah my God.\r\n And Moses sware on that day, saying, Surely the land whereon thy foot hath trodden shall be an inheritance to thee and to thy children for ever, because thou hast wholly followed Jehovah my God.\r\n And now, behold, Jehovah hath kept me alive, as he spake, these forty and five years, from the time that Jehovah spake this word unto Moses, while Israel walked in the wilderness: and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old.\r\n As yet I am as strong this day as I as in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, and to go out and to come in.\r\n Now therefore give me this hill-country, whereof Jehovah spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakim were there, and cities great and fortified: it may be that Jehovah will be with me, and I shall drive them out, as Jehovah spake.\r\n And Joshua blessed him; and he gave Hebron unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh for an inheritance.\r\n Therefore Hebron became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite unto this day; because that he wholly followed Jehovah, the God of Israel.\r\n Now the name of Hebron beforetime was Kiriath-arba; [which Arba was] the greatest man among the Anakim. And the land had rest from war.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the lot for the tribe of the children of Judah according to their families was unto the border of Edom, even to the wilderness of Zin southward, at the uttermost part of the south.\r\n And their south border was from the uttermost part of the Salt Sea, from the bay that looketh southward;\r\n and it went out southward of the ascent of Akrabbim, and passed along to Zin, and went up by the south of Kadesh-barnea, and passed along by Hezron, and went up to Addar, and turned about to Karka;\r\n and it passed along to Azmon, and went out at the brook of Egypt; and the goings out of the border were at the sea: this shall be your south border.\r\n And the east border was the Salt Sea, even unto the end of the Jordan. And the border of the north quarter was from the bay of the sea at the end of the Jordan;\r\n and the border went up to Beth-hoglah, and passed along by the north of Beth-arabah; and the border went up to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben;\r\n and the border went up to Debir from the valley of Achor, and so northward, looking toward Gilgal, that is over against the ascent of Adummim, which is on the south side of the river; and the border passed along to the waters of En-shemesh, and the goings out thereof were at En-rogel;\r\n and the border went up by the valley of the son of Hinnom unto the side of the Jebusite southward (the same is Jerusalem); and the border went up to the top of the mountain that lieth before the valley of Hinnom westward, which is at the uttermost part of the vale of Rephaim northward;\r\n and the border extended from the top of the mountain unto the fountain of the waters of Nephtoah, and went out to the cities of mount Ephron; and the border extended to Baalah (the same is Kiriath-jearim);\r\n and the border turned about from Baalah westward unto mount Seir, and passed along unto the side of mount Jearim on the north (the same is Chesalon), and went down to Beth-shemesh, and passed along by Timnah;\r\n and the border went out unto the side of Ekron northward; and the border extended to Shikkeron, and passed along to mount Baalah, and went out at Jabneel; and the goings out of the border were at the sea.\r\n And the west border was to the great sea, and the border [thereof]. This is the border of the children of Judah round about according to their families.\r\n And unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh he gave a portion among the children of Judah, according to the commandment of Jehovah to Joshua, even Kiriath-arba, [which Arba was] the father of Anak (the same is Hebron).\r\n And Caleb drove out thence the three sons of Anak: Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai, the children of Anak.\r\n And he went up thence against the inhabitants of Debir: now the name of Debir beforetime was Kiriath-sepher.\r\n And Caleb said, He that smiteth Kiriath-sepher, and taketh it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter to wife.\r\n And Othniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, took it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife.\r\n And it came to pass, when she came [unto him], that she moved him to ask of her father a field: and she alighted from off her ass; and Caleb said, What wouldest thou?\r\n And she said, Give me a blessing; for that thou hast set me in the land of the South, give me also springs of water. And he gave her the upper springs and the nether springs.\r\n This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Judah according to their families.\r\n And the uttermost cities of the tribe of the children of Judah toward the border of Edom in the South were Kabzeel, and Eder, and Jagur,\r\n and Kinah, and Dimonah, and Adadah,\r\n and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Ithnan,\r\n Ziph, and Telem, and Bealoth,\r\n and Hazor-hadattah, and Kerioth-hezron (the same is Hazor),\r\n Amam, and Shema, and Moladah,\r\n and Hazar-gaddah, and Heshmon, and Beth-pelet,\r\n and Hazar-shual, and Beer-sheba, and Biziothiah,\r\n Baalah, and Iim, and Ezem,\r\n and Eltolad, and Chesil, and Hormah,\r\n and Ziklag, and Madmannah, and Sansannah,\r\n and Lebaoth, and Shilhim, and Ain, and Rimmon: all the cities are twenty and nine, with their villages.\r\n In the lowland, Eshtaol, and Zorah, and Ashnah,\r\n and Zanoah, and En-gannim, Tappuah, and Enam,\r\n Jarmuth, and Adullam, Socoh, and Azekah,\r\n and Shaaraim, and Adithaim, and Gederah, and Gederothaim; fourteen cities with their villages.\r\n Zenan, and Hadashah, and Migdal-gad,\r\n and Dilean, and Mizpeh, and Joktheel,\r\n Lachish, and Bozkath, and Eglon,\r\n and Cabbon, and Lahmam, and Chitlish,\r\n and Gederoth, Beth-dagon, and Naamah, and Makkedah; sixteen cities with their villages.\r\n Libnah, and Ether, and Ashan,\r\n and Iphtah, and Ashnah, and Nezib,\r\n and Keilah, and Achzib, and Mareshah; nine cities with their villages.\r\n Ekron, with its towns and its villages;\r\n from Ekron even unto the sea, all that were by the side of Ashdod, with their villages.\r\n Ashdod, its towns and its villages; Gaza, its towns and its villages; unto the brook of Egypt, and the great sea, and the border [thereof].\r\n And in the hill-country, Shamir, and Jattir, and Socoh,\r\n and Dannah, and Kiriath-sannah (the same is Debir),\r\n and Anab, and Eshtemoh, and Anim,\r\n and Goshen, and Holon, and Giloh; eleven cities with their villages.\r\n Arab, and Dumah, and Eshan,\r\n and Janim, and Beth-tappuah, and Aphekah,\r\n and Humtah, and Kiriath-arba (the same is Hebron), and Zior; nine cities with their villages.\r\n Maon, Carmel, and Ziph, and Jutah,\r\n and Jezreel, and Jokdeam, and Zanoah,\r\n Kain, Gibeah, and Timnah; ten cities with their villages.\r\n Halhul, Beth-zur, and Gedor,\r\n and Maarath, and Beth-anoth, and Eltekon; six cities with their villages.\r\n Kiriath-baal (the same is Kiriath-jearim), and Rabbah; two cities with their villages.\r\n In the wilderness, Beth-arabah, Middin, and Secacah,\r\n and Nibshan, and the City of Salt, and En-gedi; six cities with their villages.\r\n And as for the Jebusites, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the children of Judah could not drive them out: but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Judah at Jerusalem unto this day.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the lot came out for the children of Joseph from the Jordan at Jericho, at the waters of Jericho on the east, even the wilderness, going up from Jericho through the hill-country to Beth-el;\r\n and it went out from Beth-el to Luz, and passed along unto the border of the Archites to Ataroth;\r\n and it went down westward to the border of the Japhletites, unto the border of Beth-horon the nether, even unto Gezer; and the goings out thereof were at the sea.\r\n And the children of Joseph, Manasseh and Ephraim, took their inheritance.\r\n And the border of the children of Ephraim according to their families was [thus]: the border of their inheritance eastward was Ataroth-addar, unto Beth-horon the upper;\r\n and the border went out westward at Michmethath on the north; and the border turned about eastward unto Taanath-shiloh, and passed along it on the east of Janoah;\r\n and it went down from Janoah to Ataroth, and to Naarah, and reached unto Jericho, and went out at the Jordan.\r\n From Tappuah the border went along westward to the brook of Kanah; and the goings out thereof were at the sea. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Ephraim according to their families;\r\n together with the cities which were set apart for the children of Ephraim in the midst of the inheritance of the children of Manasseh, all the cities with their villages.\r\n And they drove not out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer: but the Canaanites dwell in the midst of Ephraim unto this day, and are become servants to do taskwork.\r\n \r\n \r\n And [this] was the lot for the tribe of Manasseh; for he was the first-born of Joseph. As for Machir the first-born of Manasseh, the father of Gilead, because he was a man of war, therefore he had Gilead and Bashan.\r\n So [the lot] was for the rest of the children of Manasseh according to their families: for the children of Abiezer, and for the children of Helek, and for the children of Asriel, and for the children of Shechem, and for the children of Hepher, and for the children of Shemida: these were the male children of Manasseh the son of Joseph according to their families.\r\n But Zelophehad, the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, had no sons, but daughters: and these are the names of his daughters: Mahlah, and Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.\r\n And they came near before Eleazar the priest, and before Joshua the son of Nun, and before the princes, saying, Jehovah commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our brethren: therefore according to the commandment of Jehovah he gave them an inheritance among the brethren of their father.\r\n And there fell ten parts to Manasseh, besides the land of Gilead and Bashan, which is beyond the Jordan;\r\n because the daughters of Manasseh had an inheritance among his sons. And the land of Gilead belonged unto the rest of the sons of Manasseh.\r\n And the border of Manasseh was from Asher to Michmethath, which is before Shechem; and the border went along to the right hand, unto the inhabitants of En-tappuah.\r\n The land of Tappuah belonged to Manasseh; but Tappuah on the border of Manasseh belonged to the children of Ephraim.\r\n And the border went down unto the brook of Kanah, southward of the brook: these cities belonged to Ephraim among the cities of Manasseh: and the border of Manasseh was on the north side of the brook, and the goings out thereof were at the sea:\r\n southward it was Ephraim`s, and northward it was Manasseh`s, and the sea was his border; and they reached to Asher on the north, and to Issachar on the east.\r\n And Manasseh had in Issachar and in Asher Beth-shean and its towns, and Ibleam and its towns, and the inhabitants of Dor and its towns, and the inhabitants of En-dor and its towns, and the inhabitants of Taanach and its towns, and the inhabitants of Megiddo and its towns, even the three heights.\r\n Yet the children of Manasseh could not drive out [the inhabitants of] those cities; but the Canaanites would dwell in that land.\r\n And it came to pass, when the children of Israel were waxed strong, that they put the Canaanites to taskwork, and did not utterly drive them out.\r\n And the children of Joseph spake unto Joshua, saying, Why hast thou given me but one lot and one part for an inheritance, seeing I am a great people, forasmuch as hitherto Jehovah hath blessed me?\r\n And Joshua said unto them, If thou be a great people, get thee up to the forest, and cut down for thyself there in the land of the Perizzites and of the Rephaim; since the hill-country of Ephraim is too narrow for thee.\r\n And the children of Joseph said, The hill-country is not enough for us: and all the Canaanites that dwell in the land of the valley have chariots of iron, both they who are in Beth-shean and its towns, and they who are in the valley of Jezreel.\r\n And Joshua spake unto the house of Joseph, even to Ephraim and to Manasseh, saying, Thou art a great people, and hast great power; thou shalt not have one lot only:\r\n but the hill-country shall be thine; for though it is a forest, thou shalt cut it down, and the goings out thereof shall be thine; for thou shalt drive out the Canaanites, though they have chariots of iron, and though they are strong.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled themselves together at Shiloh, and set up the tent of meeting there: and the land was subdued before them.\r\n And there remained among the children of Israel seven tribes, which had not yet divided their inheritance.\r\n And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, How long are ye slack to go in to possess the land, which Jehovah, the God of your fathers, hath given you?\r\n Appoint for you three men of each tribe: and I will send them, and they shall arise, and walk through the land, and describe it according to their inheritance; and they shall come unto me.\r\n And they shall divide it into seven portions: Judah shall abide in his border on the south, and the house of Joseph shall abide in their border on the north.\r\n And ye shall describe the land into seven portions, and bring [the description] hither to me; and I will cast lots for you here before Jehovah our God.\r\n For the Levites have no portion among you; for the priesthood of Jehovah is their inheritance: and Gad and Reuben and the half-tribe of Manasseh have received their inheritance beyond the Jordan eastward, which Moses the servant of Jehovah gave them.\r\n And the men arose, and went: and Joshua charged them that went to describe the land, saying, Go and walk through the land, and describe it, and come again to me; and I will cast lots for you here before Jehovah in Shiloh.\r\n And the men went and passed through the land, and described it by cities into seven portions in a book; and they came to Joshua unto the camp at Shiloh.\r\n And Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh before Jehovah: and there Joshua divided the land unto the children of Israel according to their divisions.\r\n And the lot of the tribe of the children of Benjamin came up according to their families: and the border of their lot went out between the children of Judah and the children of Joseph.\r\n And their border on the north quarter was from the Jordan; and the border went up to the side of Jericho on the north, and went up through the hill-country westward; and the goings out thereof were at the wilderness of Beth-aven.\r\n And the border passed along from thence to Luz, to the side of Luz (the same is Beth-el), southward; and the border went down to Ataroth-addar, by the mountain that lieth on the south of Beth-horon the nether.\r\n And the border extended [thence], and turned about on the west quarter southward, from the mountain that lieth before Beth-horon southward; and the goings out thereof were at Kiriath-baal (the same is Kiriath-jearim), a city of the children of Judah: this was the west quarter.\r\n And the south quarter was from the uttermost part of Kiriath-jearim; and the border went out westward, and went out to the fountain of the waters of Nephtoah;\r\n and the border went down to the uttermost part of the mountain that lieth before the valley of the son of Hinnom, which is in the vale of Rephaim northward; and it went down to the valley of Hinnom, to the side of the Jebusite southward, and went down to En-rogel;\r\n and it extended northward, and went out at En-shemesh, and went out to Geliloth, which is over against the ascent of Adummim; and it went down to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben;\r\n and it passed along to the side over against the Arabah northward, and went down unto the Arabah;\r\n and the border passed along to the side of Beth-hoglah northward; and the goings out of the border were at the north bay of the Salt Sea, at the south end of the Jordan: this was the south border.\r\n And the Jordan was the border of it on the east quarter. This was the inheritance of the children of Benjamin, by the borders thereof round about, according to their families.\r\n Now the cities of the tribe of the children of Benjamin according to their families were Jericho, and Beth-hoglah, and Emek-keziz,\r\n and Beth-arabah, and Zemaraim, and Beth-el,\r\n and Avvim, and Parah, and Ophrah,\r\n and Chephar-ammoni, and Ophni, and Geba; twelve cities with their villages:\r\n Gibeon, and Ramah, and Beeroth,\r\n and Mizpeh, and Chephirah, and Mozah,\r\n and Rekem, and Irpeel, and Taralah,\r\n and Zelah, Eleph, and the Jebusite (the same is Jerusalem), Gibeath, [and] Kiriath; fourteen cities with their villages. This is the inheritance of the children of Benjamin according to their families.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the second lot came out for Simeon, even for the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their families: and their inheritance was in the midst of the inheritance of the children of Judah.\r\n And they had for their inheritance Beer-sheba, or Sheba, and Moladah,\r\n and Hazar-shual, and Balah, and Ezem,\r\n and Eltolad, and Bethul, and Hormah,\r\n and Ziklag, and Beth-marcaboth, and Hazar-susah,\r\n and Beth-lebaoth, and Sharuhen; thirteen cities with their villages:\r\n Ain, Rimmon, and Ether, and Ashan; four cities with their villages:\r\n and all the villages that were round about these cities to Baalath-beer, Ramah of the South. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their families.\r\n Out of the part of the children of Judah was the inheritance of the children of Simeon; for the portion of the children of Judah was too much for them: therefore the children of Simeon had inheritance in the midst of their inheritance.\r\n And the third lot came up for the children of Zebulun according to their families; and the border of their inheritance was unto Sarid;\r\n and their border went up westward, even to Maralah, and reached to Dabbesheth; and it reached to the brook that is before Jokneam;\r\n and it turned from Sarid eastward toward the sunrising unto the border of Chisloth-tabor; and it went out to Daberath, and went up to Japhia;\r\n and from thence it passed along eastward to Gath-hepher, to Eth-kazin; and it went out at Rimmon which stretcheth unto Neah;\r\n and the border turned about it on the north to Hannathon; and the goings out thereof were at the valley of Iphtah-el;\r\n and Kattath, and Nahalal, and Shimron, and Idalah, and Bethlehem: twelve cities with their villages.\r\n This is the inheritance of the children of Zebulun according to their families, these cities with their villages.\r\n The fourth lot came out for Issachar, even for the children of Issachar according to their families.\r\n And their border was unto Jezreel, and Chesulloth, and Shunem,\r\n and Hapharaim, and Shion, and Anaharath,\r\n and Rabbith, and Kishion, and Ebez,\r\n and Remeth, and Engannim, and En-haddah, and Beth-pazzez,\r\n and the border reached to Tabor, and Shahazumah, and Beth-shemesh; and the goings out of their border were at the Jordan: sixteen cities with their villages.\r\n This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Issachar according to their families, the cities with their villages.\r\n And the fifth lot came out for the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families.\r\n And their border was Helkath, and Hali, and Beten, and Achshaph,\r\n and Allammelech, and Amad, and Mishal; and it reached to Carmel westward, and to Shihor-libnath;\r\n and it turned toward the sunrising to Beth-dagon, and reached to Zebulun, and to the valley of Iphtah-el northward to Beth-emek and Neiel; and it went out to Cabul on the left hand,\r\n and Ebron, and Rehob, and Hammon, and Kanah, even unto great Sidon;\r\n and the border turned to Ramah, and to the fortified city of Tyre; and the border turned to Hosah; and the goings out thereof were at the sea by the region of Achzib;\r\n Ummah also, and Aphek, and Rehob: twenty and two cities with their villages.\r\n This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families, these cities with their villages.\r\n The sixth lot came out for the children of Naphtali, even for the children of Naphtali according to their families.\r\n And their border was from Heleph, from the oak in Zaanannim, and Adaminekeb, and Jabneel, unto Lakkum; and the goings out thereof were at the Jordan;\r\n and the border turned westward to Aznoth-tabor, and went out from thence to Hukkok; and it reached to Zebulun on the south, and reached to Asher on the west, and to Judah at the Jordan toward the sunrising.\r\n And the fortified cities were Ziddim, Zer, and Hammath, Rakkath, and Chinnereth,\r\n and Adamah, and Ramah, and Hazor,\r\n and Kedesh, and Edrei, and En-hazor,\r\n And Iron, and Migdal-el, Horem, and Beth-anath, and Beth-shemesh; nineteen cities with their villages.\r\n This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Naphtali according to their families, the cities with their villages.\r\n The seventh lot came out for the tribe of the children of Dan according to their families.\r\n And the border of their inheritance was Zorah, and Eshtaol, and Ir-shemesh,\r\n and Shaalabbin, and Aijalon, and Ithlah,\r\n and Elon, and Timnah, and Ekron,\r\n and Eltekeh, and Gibbethon, and Baalath,\r\n and Jehud, and Bene-berak, and Gath-rimmon,\r\n and Me-jarkon, and Rakkon, with the border over against Joppa.\r\n And the border of the children of Dan went out beyond them; for the children of Dan went up and fought against Leshem, and took it, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and possessed it, and dwelt therein, and called Leshem, Dan, after the name of Dan their father.\r\n This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Dan according to their families, these cities with their villages.\r\n So they made an end of distributing the land for inheritance by the borders thereof; and the children of Israel gave an inheritance to Joshua the son of Nun in the midst of them:\r\n according to the commandment of Jehovah they gave him the city which he asked, even Timnath-serah in the hill-country of Ephraim; and he built the city, and dwelt therein.\r\n These are the inheritances, which Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers` [houses] of the tribes of the children of Israel, distributed for inheritance by lot in Shiloh before Jehovah, at the door of the tent of meeting. So they made an end of dividing the land.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Jehovah spake unto Joshua, saying,\r\n Speak to the children of Israel, saying, Assign you the cities of refuge, whereof I spake unto you by Moses,\r\n that the manslayer that killeth any person unwittingly [and] unawares may flee thither: and they shall be unto you for a refuge from the avenger of blood.\r\n And he shall flee unto one of those cities, and shall stand at the entrance of the gate of the city, and declare his cause in the ears of the elders of that city; and they shall take him into the city unto them, and give him a place, that he may dwell among them.\r\n And if the avenger of blood pursue after him, then they shall not deliver up the manslayer into his hand; because he smote his neighbor unawares, and hated him not beforetime.\r\n And he shall dwell in that city, until he stand before the congregation for judgment, until the death of the high priest that shall be in those days: then shall the manslayer return, and come unto his own city, and unto his own house, unto the city from whence he fled.\r\n And they set apart Kedesh in Galilee in the hill-country of Naphtali, and Shechem in the hill-country of Ephraim, and Kiriath-arba (the same is Hebron) in the hill-country of Judah.\r\n And beyond the Jordan at Jericho eastward, they assigned Bezer in the wilderness in the plain out of the tribe of Reuben, and Ramoth in Gilead out of the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan out of the tribe of Manasseh.\r\n These were the appointed cities for all the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them, that whosoever killeth any person unwittingly might flee thither, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, until he stood before the congregation.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then came near the heads of fathers` [houses] of the Levites unto Eleazar the priest, and unto Joshua the son of Nun, and unto the heads of fathers` [houses] of the tribes of the children of Israel;\r\n and they spake unto them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan, saying, Jehovah commanded Moses to give us cities to dwell in, with the suburbs thereof for our cattle.\r\n And the children of Israel gave unto the Levites out of their inheritance, according to the commandment of Jehovah, these cities with their suburbs.\r\n And the lot came out for the families of the Kohathites: and the children of Aaron the priest, who were of the Levites, had by lot out of the tribe of Judah, and out of the tribe of the Simeonites, and out of the tribe of Benjamin, thirteen cities.\r\n And the rest of the children of Kohath had by lot out of the families of the tribe of Ephraim, and out of the tribe of Dan, and out of the half-tribe of Manasseh, ten cities.\r\n And the children of Gershon had by lot out of the families of the tribe of Issachar, and out of the tribe of Asher, and out of the tribe of Naphtali, and out of the half-tribe of Manasseh in Bashan, thirteen cities.\r\n The children of Merari according to their families had out of the tribe of Reuben, and out of the tribe of Gad, and out of the tribe of Zebulun, twelve cities.\r\n And the children of Israel gave by lot unto the Levites these cities with their suburbs, as Jehovah commanded by Moses.\r\n And they gave out of the tribe of the children of Judah, and out of the tribe of the children of Simeon, these cities which are [here] mentioned by name:\r\n and they were for the children of Aaron, of the families of the Kohathites, who were of the children of Levi; for theirs was the first lot.\r\n And they gave them Kiriath-arba, [which Arba was] the father of Anak (the same is Hebron), in the hill-country of Judah, with the suburbs thereof round about it.\r\n But the fields of the city, and the villages thereof, gave they to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for his possession.\r\n And unto the children of Aaron the priest they gave Hebron with its suburbs, the city of refuge for the manslayer, and Libnah with its suburbs,\r\n and Jattir with its suburbs, and Eshtemoa with its suburbs,\r\n and Holon with its suburbs, and Debir with its suburbs,\r\n and Ain with its suburbs, and Juttah with its suburbs, [and] Beth-shemesh with its suburbs; nine cities out of those two tribes.\r\n And out of the tribe of Benjamin, Gibeon with its suburbs, Geba with its suburbs,\r\n Anathoth with its suburbs, and Almon with its suburbs; four cities.\r\n All the cities of the children of Aaron, the priests, were thirteen cities with their suburbs.\r\n And the families of the children of Kohath, the Levites, even the rest of the children of Kohath, they had the cities of their lot out of the tribe of Ephraim.\r\n And they gave them Shechem with its suburbs in the hill-country of Ephraim, the city of refuge for the manslayer, and Gezer with its suburbs,\r\n and Kibzaim with its suburbs, and Beth-horon with its suburbs; four cities.\r\n And out of the tribe of Dan, Elteke with its suburbs, Gibbethon with its suburbs,\r\n Aijalon with its suburbs, Gath-rimmon with its suburbs; four cities.\r\n And out of the half-tribe of Manasseh, Taanach with its suburbs, and Gath-rimmon with its suburbs; two cities.\r\n All the cities of the families of the rest of the children of Kohath were ten with their suburbs.\r\n And unto the children of Gershon, of the families of the Levites, out of the half-tribe of Manasseh [they gave] Golan in Bashan with its suburbs, the city of refuge for the manslayer, and Be-eshterah with its suburbs; two cities.\r\n And out of the tribe of Issachar, Kishion with its suburbs, Daberath with its suburbs,\r\n Jarmuth with its suburbs, En-gannim with its suburbs; four cities.\r\n And out of the tribe of Asher, Mishal with its suburbs, Abdon with its suburbs,\r\n Helkath with its suburbs, and Rehob with its suburbs; four cities.\r\n And out of the tribe of Naphtali, Kedesh in Galilee with its suburbs, the city of refuge for the manslayer, and Hammoth-dor with its suburbs, and Kartan with its suburbs; three cities.\r\n All the cities of the Gershonites according to their families were thirteen cities with their suburbs.\r\n And unto the families of the children of Merari, the rest of the Levites, out of the tribe of Zebulun, Jokneam with its suburbs, and Kartah with its suburbs,\r\n Dimnah with its suburbs, Nahalal with its suburbs; four cities.\r\n And out of the tribe of Reuben, Bezer with its suburbs, and Jahaz with its suburbs,\r\n Kedemoth with its suburbs, and Mephaath with its suburbs; four cities.\r\n And out of the tribe of Gad, Ramoth in Gilead with its suburbs, the city of refuge for the manslayer, and Mahanaim with its suburbs,\r\n Heshbon with its suburbs, Jazer with its suburbs; four cities in all.\r\n All [these were] the cities of the children of Merari according to their families, even the rest of the families of the Levites; and their lot was twelve cities.\r\n All the cities of the Levites in the midst of the possession of the children of Israel were forty and eight cities with their suburbs.\r\n These cities were every one with their suburbs round about them: thus it was with all these cities.\r\n So Jehovah gave unto Israel all the land which he sware to give unto their fathers; and they possessed it, and dwelt therein.\r\n And Jehovah gave them rest round about, according to all that he sware unto their fathers: and there stood not a man of all their enemies before them; Jehovah delivered all their enemies into their hand.\r\n There failed not aught of any good thing which Jehovah had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then Joshua called the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh,\r\n and said unto them, Ye have kept all that Moses the servant of Jehovah commanded you, and have hearkened unto my voice in all that I commanded you:\r\n ye have not left your brethren these many days unto this day, but have kept the charge of the commandment of Jehovah your God.\r\n And now Jehovah your God hath given rest unto your brethren, as he spake unto them: therefore now turn ye, and get you unto your tents, unto the land of your possession, which Moses the servant of Jehovah gave you beyond the Jordan.\r\n Only take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law which Moses the servant of Jehovah commanded you, to love Jehovah your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.\r\n So Joshua blessed them, and sent them away; and they went unto their tents.\r\n Now to the one half-tribe of Manasseh Moses had given [inheritance] in Bashan; but unto the other half gave Joshua among their brethren beyond the Jordan westward; moreover when Joshua sent them away unto their tents, he blessed them,\r\n and spake unto them, saying, Return with much wealth unto your tents, and with very much cattle, with silver, and with gold, and with brass, and with iron, and with very much raiment: divide the spoil of your enemies with your brethren.\r\n And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh returned, and departed from the children of Israel out of Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan, to go unto the land of Gilead, to the land of their possession, whereof they were possessed, according to the commandment of Jehovah by Moses.\r\n And when they came unto the region about the Jordan, that is in the land of Canaan, the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh built there an altar by the Jordan, a great altar to look upon.\r\n And the children of Israel heard say, Behold, the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh have built an altar in the forefront of the land of Canaan, in the region about the Jordan, on the side that pertaineth to the children of Israel.\r\n And when the children of Israel heard of it, the whole congregation of the children of Israel gathered themselves together at Shiloh, to go up against them to war.\r\n And the children of Israel sent unto the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh, into the land of Gilead, Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest,\r\n and with him ten princes, one prince of a fathers` house for each of the tribes of Israel; and they were every one of them head of their fathers` houses among the thousands of Israel.\r\n And they came unto the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh, unto the land of Gilead, and they spake with them, saying,\r\n Thus saith the whole congregation of Jehovah, What trespass is this that ye have committed against the God of Israel, to turn away this day from following Jehovah, in that ye have builded you an altar, to rebel this day against Jehovah?\r\n Is the iniquity of Peor too little for us, from which we have not cleansed ourselves unto this day, although there came a plague upon the congregation of Jehovah,\r\n that ye must turn away this day from following Jehovah? and it will be, seeing ye rebel to-day against Jehovah, that to-morrow he will be wroth with the whole congregation of Israel.\r\n Howbeit, if the land of your possession be unclean, then pass ye over unto the land of the possession of Jehovah, wherein Jehovah`s tabernacle dwelleth, and take possession among us: but rebel not against Jehovah, nor rebel against us, in building you an altar besides the altar of Jehovah our God.\r\n Did not Achan the son of Zerah commit a trespass in the devoted thing, and wrath fell upon all the congregation of Israel? and that man perished not alone in his iniquity.\r\n Then the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh answered, and spake unto the heads of the thousands of Israel,\r\n The Mighty One, God, Jehovah, the Mighty One, God, Jehovah, he knoweth; and Israel he shall know: if it be in rebellion, or if in trespass against Jehovah (save thou us not this day,)\r\n that we have built us an altar to turn away from following Jehovah; or if to offer thereon burnt-offering or meal-offering, or if to offer sacrifices of peace-offerings thereon, let Jehovah himself require it;\r\n and if we have not [rather] out of carefulness done this, [and] of purpose, saying, In time to come your children might speak unto our children, saying, What have ye to do with Jehovah, the God of Israel?\r\n for Jehovah hath made the Jordan a border between us and you, ye children of Reuben and children of Gad; ye have no portion in Jehovah: so might your children make our children cease from fearing Jehovah.\r\n Therefore we said, Let us now prepare to build us an altar, not for burnt-offering, nor for sacrifice:\r\n but it shall be a witness between us and you, and between our generations after us, that we may do the service of Jehovah before him with our burnt-offerings, and with our sacrifices, and with our peace-offerings; that your children may not say to our children in time to come, Ye have no portion in Jehovah.\r\n Therefore said we, It shall be, when they so say to us or to our generations in time to come, that we shall say, Behold the pattern of the altar of Jehovah, which our fathers made, not for burnt-offering, nor for sacrifice; but it is a witness between us and you.\r\n Far be it from us that we should rebel against Jehovah, and turn away this day from following Jehovah, to build an altar for burnt-offering, for meal-offering, or for sacrifice, besides the altar of Jehovah our God that is before his tabernacle.\r\n And when Phinehas the priest, and the princes of the congregation, even the heads of the thousands of Israel that were with him, heard the words that the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the children of Manasseh spake, it pleased them well.\r\n And Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest said unto the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the children of Manasseh, This day we know that Jehovah is in the midst of us, because ye have not committed this trespass against Jehovah: now have ye delivered the children of Israel out of the hand of Jehovah.\r\n And Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, and the princes, returned from the children of Reuben, and from the children of Gad, out of the land of Gilead, unto the land of Canaan, to the children of Israel, and brought them word again.\r\n And the thing pleased the children of Israel; and the children of Israel blessed God, and spake no more of going up against them to war, to destroy the land wherein the children of Reuben and the children of Gad dwelt.\r\n And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad called the altar [Ed]: For, [said they], it is a witness between us that Jehovah is God.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass after many days, when Jehovah had given rest unto Israel from all their enemies round about, and Joshua was old and well stricken in years;\r\n that Joshua called for all Israel, for their elders and for their heads, and for their judges and for their officers, and said unto them, I am old and well stricken in years:\r\n and ye have seen all that Jehovah your God hath done unto all these nations because of you; for Jehovah your God, he it is that hath fought for you.\r\n Behold, I have allotted unto you these nations that remain, to be an inheritance for your tribes, from the Jordan, with all the nations that I have cut off, even unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun.\r\n And Jehovah your God, he will thrust them out from before you, and drive them from out of your sight; and ye shall possess their land, as Jehovah your God spake unto you.\r\n Therefore be ye very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that ye turn not aside therefrom to the right hand or to the left;\r\n that ye come not among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear [by them], neither serve them, nor bow down yourselves unto them;\r\n but cleave unto Jehovah your God, as ye have done unto this day.\r\n For Jehovah hath driven out from before you great nations and strong: but as for you, no man hath stood before you unto this day.\r\n One man of you shall chase a thousand; for Jehovah your God, he it is that fighteth for you, as he spake unto you.\r\n Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love Jehovah your God.\r\n Else if ye do at all go back, and cleave unto the remnant of these nations, even these that remain among you, and make marriages with them, and go in unto them, and they to you;\r\n know for a certainty that Jehovah your God will no more drive these nations from out of your sight; but they shall be a snare and a trap unto you, and a scourge in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which Jehovah your God hath given you.\r\n And, behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth: and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which Jehovah your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, not one thing hath failed thereof.\r\n And it shall come to pass, that as all the good things are come upon you of which Jehovah your God spake unto you, so will Jehovah bring upon you all the evil things, until he have destroyed you from off this good land which Jehovah your God hath given you.\r\n When ye transgress the covenant of Jehovah your God, which he commanded you, and go and serve other gods, and bow down yourselves to them; then will the anger of Jehovah be kindled against you, and ye shall perish quickly from off the good land which he hath given unto you.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and called for the elders of Israel, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers; and they presented themselves before God.\r\n And Joshua said unto all the people, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, Your fathers dwelt of old time beyond the River, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nahor: and they served other gods.\r\n And I took your father Abraham from beyond the River, and led him throughout all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his seed, and gave him Isaac.\r\n And I gave unto Isaac Jacob and Esau: and I gave unto Esau mount Seir, to possess it: and Jacob and his children went down into Egypt.\r\n And I sent Moses and Aaron, and I plagued Egypt, according to that which I did in the midst thereof: and afterward I brought you out.\r\n And I brought your fathers out of Egypt: and ye came unto the sea; and the Egyptians pursued after your fathers with chariots and with horsemen unto the Red Sea.\r\n And when they cried out unto Jehovah, he put darkness between you and the Egyptians, and brought the sea upon them, and covered them; and your eyes saw what I did in Egypt: and ye dwelt in the wilderness many days.\r\n And I brought you into the land of the Amorites, that dwelt beyond the Jordan: and they fought with you; and I gave them into your hand, and ye possessed their land; and I destroyed them from before you.\r\n Then Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and fought against Israel: and he sent and called Balaam the son of Beor to curse you;\r\n but I would not hearken unto Balaam; therefore he blessed you still: so I delivered you out of his hand.\r\n And ye went over the Jordan, and came unto Jericho: and the men of Jericho fought against you, the Amorite, and the Perizzite, and the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Girgashite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite; and I delivered them into your hand.\r\n And I sent the hornet before you, which drove them out from before you, even the two kings of the Amorites; not with thy sword, nor with thy bow.\r\n And I gave you a land whereon thou hadst not labored, and cities which ye built not, and ye dwell therein; of vineyards and oliveyards which ye planted not do ye eat.\r\n Now therefore fear Jehovah, and serve him in sincerity and in truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River, and in Egypt; and serve ye Jehovah.\r\n And if it seem evil unto you to serve Jehovah, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve Jehovah.\r\n And the people answered and said, Far be it from us that we should forsake Jehovah, to serve other gods;\r\n for Jehovah our God, he it is that brought us and our fathers up out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, and that did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way wherein we went, and among all the peoples through the midst of whom we passed;\r\n and Jehovah drove out from before us all the peoples, even the Amorites that dwelt in the land: therefore we also will serve Jehovah; for he is our God.\r\n And Joshua said unto the people, Ye cannot serve Jehovah; for he is a holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgression nor your sins.\r\n If ye forsake Jehovah, and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you evil, and consume you, after that he hath done you good.\r\n And the people said unto Joshua, Nay; but we will serve Jehovah.\r\n And Joshua said unto the people, Ye are witnesses against yourselves that ye have chosen you Jehovah, to serve him. And they said, We are witnesses.\r\n Now therefore put away, [said he], the foreign gods which are among you, and incline your heart unto Jehovah, the God of Israel.\r\n And the people said unto Joshua, Jehovah our God will we serve, and unto his voice will we hearken.\r\n So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and set them a statute and an ordinance in Shechem.\r\n And Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God; and he took a great stone, and set it up there under the oak that was by the sanctuary of Jehovah.\r\n And Joshua said unto all the people, Behold, this stone shall be a witness against us; for it hath heard all the words of Jehovah which he spake unto us: it shall be therefore a witness against you, lest ye deny your God.\r\n So Joshua sent the people away, every man unto his inheritance.\r\n And it came to pass after these things, that Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Jehovah, died, being a hundred and ten years old.\r\n And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnathserah, which is in the hill-country of Ephraim, on the north of the mountain of Gaash.\r\n And Israel served Jehovah all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua, and had known all the work of Jehovah, that he had wrought for Israel.\r\n And the bones of Joseph, which the children of Israel brought up out of Egypt, buried they in Shechem, in the parcel of ground which Jacob bought of the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for a hundred pieces of money: and they became the inheritance of the children of Joseph.\r\n And Eleazar the son of Aaron died; and they buried him in the hill of Phinehas his son, which was given him in the hill-country of Ephraim.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass after the death of Joshua, that the children of Israel asked of Jehovah, saying, Who shall go up for us first against the Canaanites, to fight against them?\r\n And Jehovah said, Judah shall go up: behold, I have delivered the land into his hand.\r\n And Judah said unto Simeon his brother, Come up with me into my lot, that we may fight against the Canaanites; and I likewise will go with thee into thy lot. So Simeon went with him.\r\n And Judah went up; and Jehovah delivered the Canaanites and the Perizzites into their hand: and they smote of them in Bezek ten thousand men.\r\n And they found Adoni-bezek in Bezek; and they fought against him, and they smote the Canaanites and the Perizzites.\r\n But Adoni-bezek fled; and they pursued after him, and caught him, and cut off his thumbs and his great toes.\r\n And Adoni-bezek said, Threescore and ten kings, having their thumbs and their great toes cut off, gathered [their food] under my table: as I have done, so God hath requited me. And they brought him to Jerusalem, and he died there.\r\n And the children of Judah fought against Jerusalem, and took it, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and set the city on fire.\r\n And afterward the children of Judah went down to fight against the Canaanites that dwelt in the hill-country, and in the South, and in the lowland.\r\n And Judah went against the Canaanites that dwelt in Hebron (now the name of Hebron beforetime was Kiriath-arba); and they smote Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai.\r\n And from thence he went against the inhabitants of Debir. (Now the name of Debir beforetime was Kiriath-sepher.)\r\n And Caleb said, He that smiteth Kiriath-sepher, and taketh it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter to wife.\r\n And Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb`s younger brother, took it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife.\r\n And it came to pass, when she came [unto him], that she moved him to ask of her father a field: and she alighted from off her ass; and Caleb said unto her, What wouldest thou?\r\n And she said unto him, Give me a blessing; for that thou hast set me in the land of the South, give me also springs of water. And Caleb gave her the upper springs and the nether springs.\r\n And the children of the Kenite, Moses` brother-in-law, went up out of the city of palm-trees with the children of Judah into the wilderness of Judah, which is in the south of Arad; and they went and dwelt with the people.\r\n And Judah went with Simeon his brother, and they smote the Canaanites that inhabited Zephath, and utterly destroyed it. And the name of the city was called Hormah.\r\n Also Judah took Gaza with the border thereof, and Ashkelon with the border thereof, and Ekron with the border thereof.\r\n And Jehovah was with Judah; and drove out [the inhabitants of] the hill-country; for he could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because they had chariots of iron.\r\n And they gave Hebron unto Caleb, as Moses had spoken: and he drove out thence the three sons of Anak.\r\n And the children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites that inhabited Jerusalem; but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Benjamin in Jerusalem unto this day.\r\n And the house of Joseph, they also went up against Beth-el; and Jehovah was with them.\r\n And the house of Joseph sent to spy out Beth-el. (Now the name of the city beforetime was Luz.)\r\n And the watchers saw a man come forth out of the city, and they said unto him, Show us, we pray thee, the entrance into the city, and we will deal kindly with thee.\r\n And he showed them the entrance into the city; and they smote the city with the edge of the sword; but they let the man go and all his family.\r\n And the man went into the land of the Hittites, and built a city, and called the name thereof Luz, which is the name thereof unto this day.\r\n And Manasseh did not drive out [the inhabitants of] Beth-shean and its towns, nor [of] Taanach and its towns, nor the inhabitants of Dor and its towns, nor the inhabitants of Ibleam and its towns, nor the inhabitants of Megiddo and its towns; but the Canaanites would dwell in that land.\r\n And it came to pass, when Israel was waxed strong, that they put the Canaanites to taskwork, and did not utterly drive them out.\r\n And Ephraim drove not out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer; but the Canaanites dwelt in Gezer among them.\r\n Zebulun drove not out the inhabitants of Kitron, nor the inhabitants of Nahalol; but the Canaanites dwelt among them, and became subject to taskwork.\r\n Asher drove not out the inhabitants of Acco, nor the inhabitants of Sidon, nor of Ahlab, nor of Achzib, nor of Helbah, nor of Aphik, nor of Rehob;\r\n but the Asherites dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land; for they did not drive them out.\r\n Naphtali drove not out the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh, nor the inhabitants of Beth-anath; but he dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land: nevertheless the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh and of Beth-anath became subject to taskwork.\r\n And the Amorites forced the children of Dan into the hill-country; for they would not suffer them to come down to the valley;\r\n but the Amorites would dwell in mount Heres, in Aijalon, and in Shaalbim: yet the hand of the house of Joseph prevailed, so that they became subject to taskwork.\r\n And the border of the Amorites was from the ascent of Akrabbim, from the rock, and upward.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the angel of Jehovah came up from Gilgal to Bochim. And he said, I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the land which I sware unto your fathers; and I said, I will never break my covenant with you:\r\n and ye shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall break down their altars. But ye have not hearkened unto my voice: why have ye done this?\r\n Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be [as thorns] in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you.\r\n And it came to pass, when the angel of Jehovah spake these words unto all the children of Israel, that the people lifted up their voice, and wept.\r\n And they called the name of that place Bochim: and they sacrificed there unto Jehovah.\r\n Now when Joshua had sent the people away, the children of Israel went every man unto his inheritance to possess the land.\r\n And the people served Jehovah all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great work of Jehovah that he had wrought for Israel.\r\n And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Jehovah, died, being a hundred and ten years old.\r\n And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnath-heres, in the hill-country of Ephraim, on the north of the mountain of Gaash.\r\n And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, that knew not Jehovah, nor yet the work which he had wrought for Israel.\r\n And the children of Israel did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, and served the Baalim;\r\n and they forsook Jehovah, the God of their fathers, who brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the peoples that were round about them, and bowed themselves down unto them: and they provoked Jehovah to anger.\r\n And they forsook Jehovah, and served Baal and the Ashtaroth.\r\n And the anger of Jehovah was kindled against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that despoiled them; and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies.\r\n Whithersoever they went out, the hand of Jehovah was against them for evil, as Jehovah had spoken, and as Jehovah had sworn unto them: and they were sore distressed.\r\n And Jehovah raised up judges, who saved them out of the hand of those that despoiled them.\r\n And yet they hearkened not unto their judges; for they played the harlot after other gods, and bowed themselves down unto them: they turned aside quickly out of the way wherein their fathers walked, obeying the commandments of Jehovah; [but] they did not so.\r\n And when Jehovah raised them up judges, then Jehovah was with the judge, and saved them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge: for it repented Jehovah because of their groaning by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them.\r\n But it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that they turned back, and dealt more corruptly than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them, and to bow down unto them; they ceased not from their doings, nor from their stubborn way.\r\n And the anger of Jehovah was kindled against Israel; and he said, Because this nation have transgressed my covenant which I commanded their fathers, and have not hearkened unto my voice;\r\n I also will not henceforth drive out any from before them of the nations that Joshua left when he died;\r\n that by them I may prove Israel, whether they will keep the way of Jehovah to walk therein, as their fathers did keep it, or not.\r\n So Jehovah left those nations, without driving them out hastily; neither delivered he them into the hand of Joshua.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now these are the nations which Jehovah left, to prove Israel by them, even as many [of Israel] as had not known all the wars of Canaan;\r\n only that the generations of the children of Israel might know, to teach them war, at the least such as beforetime knew nothing thereof:\r\n [namely], the five lords of the Philistines, and all the Canaanites, and the Sidonians, and the Hivites that dwelt in mount Lebanon, from mount Baal-hermon unto the entrance of Hamath.\r\n And they were [left], to prove Israel by them, to know whether they would hearken unto the commandments of Jehovah, which he commanded their fathers by Moses.\r\n And the children of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites, the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites:\r\n and they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their own daughters to their sons and served their gods.\r\n And the children of Israel did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, and forgat Jehovah their God, and served the Baalim and the Asheroth.\r\n Therefore the anger of Jehovah was kindled against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia: and the children of Israel served Cushan-rishathaim eight years.\r\n And when the children of Israel cried unto Jehovah, Jehovah raised up a saviour to the children of Israel, who saved them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb`s younger brother.\r\n And the Spirit of Jehovah came upon him, and he judged Israel; and he went out to war, and Jehovah delivered Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand: and his hand prevailed against Cushan-rishathaim.\r\n And the land had rest forty years. And Othniel the son of Kenaz died.\r\n And the children of Israel again did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah: and Jehovah strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel, because they had done that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah.\r\n And he gathered unto him the children of Ammon and Amalek; and he went and smote Israel, and they possessed the city of palm-trees.\r\n And the children of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab eighteen years.\r\n But when the children of Israel cried unto Jehovah, Jehovah raised them up a saviour, Ehud the son of Gera, the Benjamite, a man left-handed. And the children of Israel sent tribute by him unto Eglon the king of Moab.\r\n And Ehud made him a sword which had two edges, a cubit in length; and he girded it under his raiment upon his right thigh.\r\n And he offered the tribute unto Eglon king of Moab: now Eglon was a very fat man.\r\n And when he had made an end of offering the tribute, he sent away the people that bare the tribute.\r\n But he himself turned back from the quarries that were by Gilgal, and said, I have a secret errand unto thee, O king. And he said, Keep silence. And all that stood by him went out from him.\r\n And Ehud came unto him; and he was sitting by himself alone in the cool upper room. And Ehud said, I have a message from God unto thee. And he arose out of his seat.\r\n And Ehud put forth his left hand, and took the sword from his right thigh, and thrust it into his body:\r\n and the haft also went in after the blade; and the fat closed upon the blade, for he drew not the sword out of his body; and it came out behind.\r\n Then Ehud went forth into the porch, and shut the doors of the upper room upon him, and locked them.\r\n Now when he was gone out, his servants came; and they saw, and, behold, the doors of the upper room were locked; and they said, Surely he is covering his feet in the upper chamber.\r\n And they tarried till they were ashamed; and, behold, he opened not the doors of the upper room: therefore they took the key, and opened [them], and, behold, their lord was fallen down dead on the earth.\r\n And Ehud escaped while they tarried, and passed beyond the quarries, and escaped unto Seirah.\r\n And it came to pass, when he was come, that he blew a trumpet in the hill-country of Ephraim; and the children of Israel went down with him from the hill-country, and he before them.\r\n And he said unto them, Follow after me; for Jehovah hath delivered your enemies the Moabites into your hand. And they went down after him, and took the fords of the Jordan against the Moabites, and suffered not a man to pass over.\r\n And they smote of Moab at that time about ten thousand men, every lusty man, and every man of valor; and there escaped not a man.\r\n So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the land had rest fourscore years.\r\n And after him was Shamgar the son of Anath, who smote of the Philistines six hundred men with an ox-goad: and he also saved Israel.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the children of Israel again did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, when Ehud was dead.\r\n And Jehovah sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, that reigned in Hazor; the captain of whose host was Sisera, who dwelt in Harosheth of the Gentiles.\r\n And the children of Israel cried unto Jehovah: for he had nine hundred chariots of iron; and twenty years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel.\r\n Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, she judged Israel at that time.\r\n And she dwelt under the palm-tree of Deborah between Ramah and Beth-el in the hill-country of Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment.\r\n And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedesh-naphtali, and said unto him, Hath not Jehovah, the God of Israel, commanded, [saying], Go and draw unto mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun?\r\n And I will draw unto thee, to the river Kishon, Sisera, the captain of Jabin`s army, with his chariots and his multitude; and I will deliver him into thy hand.\r\n And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with me, then I will go; but if thou wilt not go with me, I will not go.\r\n And she said, I will surely go with thee: notwithstanding, the journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honor; for Jehovah will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. And Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh.\r\n And Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali together to Kedesh; and there went up ten thousand men at his feet: and Deborah went up with him.\r\n Now Heber the Kenite had separated himself from the Kenites, even from the children of Hobab the brother-in-law of Moses, and had pitched his tent as far as the oak in Zaanannim, which is by Kedesh.\r\n And they told Sisera that Barak the son of Abinoam was gone up to mount Tabor.\r\n And Sisera gathered together all his chariots, even nine hundred chariots of iron, and all the people that were with him, from Harosheth of the Gentiles, unto the river Kishon.\r\n And Deborah said unto Barak, Up; for this is the day in which Jehovah hath delivered Sisera into thy hand; is not Jehovah gone out before thee? So Barak went down from mount Tabor, and ten thousand men after him.\r\n And Jehovah discomfited Sisera, and all his chariots, and all his host, with the edge of the sword before Barak; and Sisera alighted from his chariot, and fled away on his feet.\r\n But Barak pursued after the chariots, and after the host, unto Harosheth of the Gentiles: and all the host of Sisera fell by the edge of the sword; there was not a man left.\r\n Howbeit Sisera fled away on his feet to the tent of Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite; for there was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite.\r\n And Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said unto him, Turn in, my lord, turn in to me; fear not. And he turned in unto her into the tent, and she covered him with a rug.\r\n And he said unto her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water to drink; for I am thirsty. And she opened a bottle of milk, and gave him drink, and covered him.\r\n And he said unto her, Stand in the door of the tent, and it shall be, when any man doth come and inquire of thee, and say, Is there any man here? that thou shalt say, No.\r\n Then Jael Heber`s wife took a tent-pin, and took a hammer in her hand, and went softly unto him, and smote the pin into his temples, and it pierced through into the ground; for he was in a deep sleep; so he swooned and died.\r\n And, behold, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him, and said unto him, Come, and I will show thee the man whom thou seekest. And he came unto her; and, behold, Sisera lay dead, and the tent-pin was in his temples.\r\n So God subdued on that day Jabin the king of Canaan before the children of Israel.\r\n And the hand of the children of Israel prevailed more and more against Jabin the king of Canaan, until they had destroyed Jabin king of Canaan.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day, saying,\r\n For that the leaders took the lead in Israel, For that the people offered themselves willingly, Bless ye Jehovah.\r\n Hear, O ye kings; give ear, O ye princes; I, [even] I, will sing unto Jehovah; I will sing praise to Jehovah, the God of Israel.\r\n Jehovah, when thou wentest forth out of Seir, When thou marchedst out of the field of Edom, The earth trembled, the heavens also dropped, Yea, the clouds dropped water.\r\n The mountains quaked at the presence of Jehovah, Even yon Sinai at the presence of Jehovah, the God of Israel.\r\n In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, In the days of Jael, the highways were unoccupied, And the travellers walked through byways.\r\n The rulers ceased in Israel, they ceased, Until that I Deborah arose, That I arose a mother in Israel.\r\n They chose new gods; Then was war in the gates: Was there a shield or spear seen Among forty thousand in Israel?\r\n My heart is toward the governors of Israel, That offered themselves willingly among the people: Bless ye Jehovah.\r\n Tell [of it], ye that ride on white asses, Ye that sit on rich carpets, And ye that walk by the way.\r\n Far from the noise of archers, in the places of drawing water, There shall they rehearse the righteous acts of Jehovah, [Even] the righteous acts of his rule in Israel. Then the people of Jehovah went down to the gates.\r\n Awake, awake, Deborah; Awake, awake, utter a song: Arise, Barak, and lead away thy captives, thou son of Abinoam.\r\n Then came down a remnant of the nobles [and] the people; Jehovah came down for me against the mighty.\r\n Out of Ephraim [came down] they whose root is in Amalek; After thee, Benjamin, among thy peoples; Out of Machir came down governors, And out of Zebulun they that handle the marshal`s staff.\r\n And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah; As was Issachar, so was Barak; Into the valley they rushed forth at his feet. By the watercourses of Reuben There were great resolves of heart.\r\n Why sattest thou among the sheepfolds, To hear the pipings for the flocks? At the watercourses of Reuben There were great searchings of heart.\r\n Gilead abode beyond the Jordan: And Dan, why did he remain in ships? Asher sat still at the haven of the sea, And abode by his creeks.\r\n Zebulun was a people that jeoparded their lives unto the death, And Naphtali, upon the high places of the field.\r\n The kings came and fought; Then fought the kings of Canaan. In Taanach by the waters of Megiddo: They took no gain of money.\r\n From heaven fought the stars, From their courses they fought against Sisera.\r\n The river Kishon swept them away, That ancient river, the river Kishon. O my soul, march on with strength.\r\n Then did the horsehoofs stamp By reason of the prancings, the prancings of their strong ones.\r\n Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of Jehovah. Curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof, Because they came not to the help of Jehovah, To the help of Jehovah against the mighty.\r\n Blessed above women shall Jael be, The wife of Heber the Kenite; Blessed shall she be above women in the tent.\r\n He asked water, [and] she gave him milk; She brought him butter in a lordly dish.\r\n She put her hand to the tent-pin, And her right hand to the workmen`s hammer; And with the hammer she smote Sisera, she smote through his head; Yea, she pierced and struck through his temples.\r\n At her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay; At her feet he bowed, he fell; Where he bowed, there he fell down dead.\r\n Through the window she looked forth, and cried, The mother of Sisera [cried] through the lattice, Why is his chariot so long in coming? Why tarry the wheels of his chariots?\r\n Her wise ladies answered her, Yea, she returned answer to herself,\r\n Have they not found, have they not divided the spoil? A damsel, two damsels to every man; To Sisera a spoil of dyed garments, A spoil of dyed garments embroidered, Of dyed garments embroidered on both sides, on the necks of the spoil?\r\n So let all thine enemies perish, O Jehovah: But let them that love him be as the sun when he goeth forth in his might. And the land had rest forty years.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the children of Israel did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah: and Jehovah delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years.\r\n And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel; and because of Midian the children of Israel made them the dens which are in the mountains, and the caves, and the strongholds.\r\n And so it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites came up, and the Amalekites, and the children of the east; they came up against them;\r\n and they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, till thou come unto Gaza, and left no sustenance in Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass.\r\n For they came up with their cattle and their tents; they came in as locusts for multitude; both they and their camels were without number: and they came into the land to destroy it.\r\n And Israel was brought very low because of Midian; and the children of Israel cried unto Jehovah.\r\n And it came to pass, when the children of Israel cried unto Jehovah because of Midian,\r\n that Jehovah sent a prophet unto the children of Israel: and he said unto them, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, I brought you up from Egypt, and brought you forth out of the house of bondage;\r\n and I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all that oppressed you, and drove them out from before you, and gave you their land;\r\n and I said unto you, I am Jehovah your God; ye shall not fear the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell. But ye have not hearkened unto my voice.\r\n And the angel of Jehovah came, and sat under the oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon was beating out wheat in the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites.\r\n And the angel of Jehovah appeared unto him, and said unto him, Jehovah is with thee, thou mighty man of valor.\r\n And Gideon said unto him, Oh, my lord, if Jehovah is with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where are all his wondrous works which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not Jehovah bring us up from Egypt? but now Jehovah hath cast us off, and delivered us into the hand of Midian.\r\n And Jehovah looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and save Israel from the hand of Midian: have not I sent thee?\r\n And he said unto him, Oh, Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is the poorest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father`s house.\r\n And Jehovah said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.\r\n And he said unto him, If now I have found favor in thy sight, then show me a sign that it is thou that talkest with me.\r\n Depart not hence, I pray thee, until I come unto thee, and bring forth my present, and lay it before thee. And he said, I will tarry until thou come again.\r\n And Gideon went in, and made ready a kid, and unleavened cakes of an ephah of meal: the flesh he put in a basket, and he put the broth in a pot, and brought it out unto him under the oak, and presented it.\r\n And the angel of God said unto him, Take the flesh and the unleavened cakes, and lay them upon this rock, and pour out the broth. And he did so.\r\n Then the angel of Jehovah put forth the end of the staff that was in his hand, and touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes; and there went up fire out of the rock, and consumed the flesh and the unleavened cakes; and the angel of Jehovah departed out of his sight.\r\n And Gideon saw that he was the angel of Jehovah; and Gideon said, Alas, O Lord Jehovah! forasmuch as I have seen the angel of Jehovah face to face.\r\n And Jehovah said unto him, Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou shalt not die.\r\n Then Gideon built an altar there unto Jehovah, and called it Jehovah-shalom: unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.\r\n And it came to pass the same night, that Jehovah said unto him, Take thy father`s bullock, even the second bullock seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath, and cut down the Asherah that is by it;\r\n and build an altar unto Jehovah thy God upon the top of this stronghold, in the orderly manner, and take the second bullock, and offer a burnt-offering with the wood of the Asherah which thou shalt cut down.\r\n Then Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as Jehovah had spoken unto him: and it came to pass, because he feared his father`s household and the men of the city, so that he could not do it by day, that he did it by night.\r\n And when the men of the city arose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was broken down, and the Asherah was cut down that was by it, and the second bullock was offered upon the altar that was built.\r\n And they said one to another, Who hath done this thing? And when they inquired and asked, they said, Gideon the son of Joash hath done this thing.\r\n Then the men of the city said unto Joash, Bring out thy son, that he may die, because he hath broken down the altar of Baal, and because he hath cut down the Asherah that was by it.\r\n And Joash said unto all that stood against him, Will ye contend for Baal? Or will ye save him? he that will contend for him, let him be put to death whilst [it is yet] morning: if he be a god, let him contend for himself, because one hath broken down his altar.\r\n Therefore on that day he called him Jerubbaal, saying, Let Baal contend against him, because he hath broken down his altar.\r\n Then all the Midianites and the Amalekites and the children of the east assembled themselves together; and they passed over, and encamped in the valley of Jezreel.\r\n But the Spirit of Jehovah came upon Gideon; and he blew a trumpet; and Abiezer was gathered together after him.\r\n And he sent messengers throughout all Manasseh; and they also were gathered together after him: and he sent messengers unto Asher, and unto Zebulun, and unto Naphtali; and they came up to meet them.\r\n And Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel by my hand, as thou hast spoken,\r\n behold, I will put a fleece of wool on the threshing-floor; if there be dew on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the ground, then shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by my hand, as thou hast spoken.\r\n And it was so; for he rose up early on the morrow, and pressed the fleece together, and wrung the dew out of the fleece, a bowlful of water.\r\n And Gideon said unto God, Let not thine anger be kindled against me, and I will speak but this once: let me make trial, I pray thee, but this once with the fleece; let it now be dry only upon the fleece, and upon all the ground let there be dew.\r\n And God did so that night: for it was dry upon the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then Jerubbaal, who is Gideon, and all the people that were with him, rose up early, and encamped beside the spring of Harod: and the camp of Midian was on the north side of them, by the hill of Moreh, in the valley.\r\n And Jehovah said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me.\r\n Now therefore proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, Whosoever is fearful and trembling, let him return and depart from mount Gilead. And there returned of the people twenty and two thousand; and there remained ten thousand.\r\n And Jehovah said unto Gideon, The people are yet too many; bring them down unto the water, and I will try them for thee there: and it shall be, that of whom I say unto thee, This shall go with thee, the same shall go with thee; and of whomsoever I say unto thee, This shall not go with thee, the same shall not go.\r\n So he brought down the people unto the water: and Jehovah said unto Gideon, Every one that lappeth of the water with his tongue, as a dog lappeth, him shalt thou set by himself; likewise every one that boweth down upon his knees to drink.\r\n And the number of them that lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, was three hundred men: but all the rest of the people bowed down upon their knees to drink water.\r\n And Jehovah said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thy hand; and let all the people go every man unto his place.\r\n So the people took victuals in their hand, and their trumpets; and he sent all the men of Israel every man unto his tent, but retained the three hundred men: and the camp of Midian was beneath him in the valley.\r\n And it came to pass the same night, that Jehovah said unto him, Arise, get thee down into the camp; for I have delivered it into thy hand.\r\n But if thou fear to go down, go thou with Purah thy servant down to the camp:\r\n and thou shalt hear what they say; and afterward shall thy hands be strengthened to go down into the camp. Then went he down with Purah his servant unto the outermost part of the armed men that were in the camp.\r\n And the Midianites and the Amalekites and all the children of the east lay along in the valley like locusts for multitude; and their camels were without number, as the sand which is upon the sea-shore for multitude.\r\n And when Gideon was come, behold, there was a man telling a dream unto his fellow; and he said, Behold, I dreamed a dream; and, lo, a cake of barley bread tumbled into the camp of Midian, and came unto the tent, and smote it so that it fell, and turned it upside down, so that the tent lay flat.\r\n And his fellow answered and said, This is nothing else save the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel: into his hand God hath delivered Midian, and all the host.\r\n And it was so, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream, and the interpretation thereof, that he worshipped; and he returned into the camp of Israel, and said, Arise; for Jehovah hath delivered into your hand the host of Midian.\r\n And he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put into the hands of all of them trumpets, and empty pitchers, with torches within the pitchers.\r\n And he said unto them, Look on me, and do likewise: and, behold, when I come to the outermost part of the camp, it shall be that, as I do, so shall ye do.\r\n When I blow the trumpet, I and all that are with me, then blow ye the trumpets also on every side of all the camp, and say, For Jehovah and for Gideon.\r\n So Gideon, and the hundred men that were with him, came unto the outermost part of the camp in the beginning of the middle watch, when they had but newly set the watch: and they blew the trumpets, and brake in pieces the pitchers that were in their hands.\r\n And the three companies blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers, and held the torches in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands wherewith to blow; and they cried, The sword of Jehovah and of Gideon.\r\n And they stood every man in his place round about the camp; and all the host ran; and they shouted, and put [them] to flight.\r\n And they blew the three hundred trumpets, and Jehovah set every man`s sword against his fellow, and against all the host; and the host fled as far as Beth-shittah toward Zererah, as far as the border of Abel-meholah, by Tabbath.\r\n And the men of Israel were gathered together out of Naphtali, and out of Asher, and out of all Manasseh, and pursued after Midian.\r\n And Gideon sent messengers throughout all the hill-country of Ephraim, saying, Come down against Midian, and take before them the waters, as far as Beth-barah, even the Jordan. So all the men of Ephraim were gathered together, and took the waters as far as Beth-barah, even the Jordan.\r\n And they took the two princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb; and they slew Oreb at the rock of Oreb, and Zeeb they slew at the winepress of Zeeb, and pursued Midian: and they brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon beyond the Jordan.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the men of Ephraim said unto him, Why hast thou served us thus, that thou calledst us not, when thou wentest to fight with Midian? And they did chide with him sharply.\r\n And he said unto them, What have I now done in comparison with you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer?\r\n God hath delivered into your hand the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb: and what was I able to do in comparison with you? Then their anger was abated toward him, when he had said that.\r\n And Gideon came to the Jordan, [and] passed over, he, and the three hundred men that were with him, faint, yet pursuing.\r\n And he said unto the men of Succoth, Give, I pray you, loaves of bread unto the people that follow me; for they are faint, and I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian.\r\n And the princes of Succoth said, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thy hand, that we should give bread unto thine army?\r\n And Gideon said, Therefore when Jehovah hath delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, then I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers.\r\n And he went up thence to Penuel, and spake unto them in like manner; and the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered.\r\n And he spake also unto the men of Penuel, saying, When I come again in peace, I will break down this tower.\r\n Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor, and their hosts with them, about fifteen thousand men, all that were left of all the host of the children of the east; for there fell a hundred and twenty thousand men that drew sword.\r\n And Gideon went up by the way of them that dwelt in tents on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and smote the host; for the host was secure.\r\n And Zebah and Zalmunna fled; and he pursued after them; and he took the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and discomfited all the host.\r\n And Gideon the son of Joash returned from the battle from the ascent of Heres.\r\n And he caught a young man of the men of Succoth, and inquired of him: and he described for him the princes of Succoth, and the elders thereof, seventy and seven men.\r\n And he came unto the men of Succoth, and said, Behold Zebah and Zalmunna, concerning whom ye did taunt me, saying, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thy hand, that we should give bread unto thy men that are weary?\r\n And he took the elders of the city, and thorns of the wilderness and briers, and with them he taught the men of Succoth.\r\n And he brake down the tower of Penuel, and slew the men of the city.\r\n Then said he unto Zebah and Zalmunna, What manner of men were they whom ye slew at Tabor? And they answered, As thou art, so were they; each one resembled the children of a king.\r\n And he said, They were my brethren, the sons of my mother: as Jehovah liveth, if ye had saved them alive, I would not slay you.\r\n And he said unto Jether his first-born, Up, and slay them. But the youth drew not his sword; for he feared, because he was yet a youth.\r\n Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, Rise thou, and fall upon us; for as the man is, so is his strength. And Gideon arose, and slew Zebah and Zalmunna, and took the crescents that were on their camels` necks.\r\n Then the men of Israel said unto Gideon, Rule thou over us, both thou, and thy son, and thy son`s son also; for thou hast saved us out of the hand of Midian.\r\n And Gideon said unto them, I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: Jehovah shall rule over you.\r\n And Gideon said unto them, I would make a request of you, that ye would give me every man the ear-rings of his spoil. (For they had golden ear-rings, because they were Ishmaelites.)\r\n And they answered, We will willingly give them. And they spread a garment, and did cast therein every man the ear-rings of his spoil.\r\n And the weight of the golden ear-rings that he requested was a thousand and seven hundred [shekels] of gold, besides the crescents, and the pendants, and the purple raiment that was on the kings of Midian, and besides the chains that were about their camels` necks.\r\n And Gideon made an ephod thereof, and put it in his city, even in Ophrah: and all Israel played the harlot after it there; and it became a snare unto Gideon, and to his house.\r\n So Midian was subdued before the children of Israel, and they lifted up their heads no more. And the land had rest forty years in the days of Gideon.\r\n And Jerubbaal the son of Joash went and dwelt in his own house.\r\n And Gideon had threescore and ten sons of his body begotten; for he had many wives.\r\n And his concubine that was in Shechem, she also bare him a son, and he called his name Abimelech.\r\n And Gideon the son of Joash died in a good old age, and was buried in the sepulchre of Joash his father, in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.\r\n And it came to pass, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the children of Israel turned again, and played the harlot after the Baalim, and made Baal-berith their god.\r\n And the children of Israel remembered not Jehovah their God, who had delivered them out of the hand of all their enemies on every side;\r\n neither showed they kindness to the house of Jerubbaal, [who is] Gideon, according to all the goodness which he had showed unto Israel.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem unto his mother`s brethren, and spake with them, and with all the family of the house of his mother`s father, saying,\r\n Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the men of Shechem, Whether is better for you, that all the sons of Jerubbaal, who are threescore and ten persons, rule over you, or that one rule over you? remember also that I am your bone and your flesh.\r\n And his mother`s brethren spake of him in the ears of all the men of Shechem all these words: and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech; for they said, He is our brother.\r\n And they gave him threescore and ten [pieces] of silver out of the house of Baal-berith, wherewith Abimelech hired vain and light fellows, who followed him.\r\n And he went unto his father`s house at Ophrah, and slew his brethren the sons of Jerubbaal, being threescore and ten persons, upon one stone: but Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; for he hid himself.\r\n And all the men of Shechem assembled themselves together, and all the house of Millo, and went and made Abimelech king, by the oak of the pillar that was in Shechem.\r\n And when they told it to Jotham, he went and stood on the top of mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried, and said unto them, Hearken unto me, ye men of Shechem, that God may hearken unto you.\r\n The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive-tree, Reign thou over us.\r\n But the olive-tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honor God and man, and go to wave to and fro over the trees?\r\n And the trees said to the fig-tree, Come thou, and reign over us.\r\n But the fig-tree said unto them, Should I leave my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to wave to and fro over the trees?\r\n And the trees said unto the vine, Come thou, and reign over us.\r\n And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my new wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to wave to and fro over the trees?\r\n Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us.\r\n And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade; and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.\r\n Now therefore, if ye have dealt truly and uprightly, in that ye have made Abimelech king, and if ye have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done unto him according to the deserving of his hands\r\n (for my father fought for you, and adventured his life, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian:\r\n and ye are risen up against my father`s house this day, and have slain his sons, threescore and ten persons, upon one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his maid-servant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother);\r\n if ye then have dealt truly and uprightly with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice ye in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you:\r\n but if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the men of Shechem, and the house of Millo; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem, and from the house of Millo, and devour Abimelech.\r\n And Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.\r\n And Abimelech was prince over Israel three years.\r\n And God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech:\r\n that the violence done to the threescore and ten sons of Jerubbaal might come, and that their blood might be laid upon Abimelech their brother, who slew them, and upon the men of Shechem, who strengthened his hands to slay his brethren.\r\n And the men of Shechem set liers-in-wait for him on the tops of the mountains, and they robbed all that came along that way by them: and it was told Abimelech.\r\n And Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brethren, and went over to Shechem; and the men of Shechem put their trust in him.\r\n And they went out into the field, and gathered their vineyards, and trod [the grapes], and held festival, and went into the house of their god, and did eat and drink, and cursed Abimelech.\r\n And Gaal the son of Ebed said, Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? is not he the son of Jerubbaal? and Zebul his officer? serve ye the men of Hamor the father of Shechem: but why should we serve him?\r\n And would that this people were under my hand! then would I remove Abimelech. And he said to Abimelech, Increase thine army, and come out.\r\n And when Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled.\r\n And he sent messengers unto Abimelech craftily, saying, Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his brethren are come to Shechem; and, behold, they constrain the city [to take part] against thee.\r\n Now therefore, up by night, thou and the people that are with thee, and lie in wait in the field:\r\n and it shall be, that in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, thou shalt rise early, and rush upon the city; and, behold, when he and the people that are with him come out against thee, then mayest thou do to them as thou shalt find occasion.\r\n And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies.\r\n And Gaal the son of Ebed went out, and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city: and Abimelech rose up, and the people that were with him, from the ambushment.\r\n And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, Behold, there come people down from the tops of the mountains. And Zebul said unto him, Thou seest the shadow of the mountains as if they were men.\r\n And Gaal spake again and said, See, there come people down by the middle of the land, and one company cometh by the way of the oak of Meonenim.\r\n Then said Zebul unto him, Where is now thy mouth, that thou saidst, Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him? is not this the people that thou hast despised? go out now, I pray, and fight with them.\r\n And Gaal went out before the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech.\r\n And Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, and there fell many wounded, even unto the entrance of the gate.\r\n And Abimelech dwelt at Arumah: and Zebul drove out Gaal and his brethren, that they should not dwell in Shechem.\r\n And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people went out into the field; and they told Abimelech.\r\n And he took the people, and divided them into three companies, and laid wait in the field; and he looked, and, behold, the people came forth out of the city; And he rose up against them, and smote them.\r\n And Abimelech, and the companies that were with him, rushed forward, and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city: and the two companies rushed upon all that were in the field, and smote them.\r\n And Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the city, and slew the people that were therein: and he beat down the city, and sowed it with salt.\r\n And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard thereof, they entered into the stronghold of the house of Elberith.\r\n And it was told Abimelech that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together.\r\n And Abimelech gat him up to mount Zalmon, he and all the people that were with him; and Abimelech took an axe in his hand, and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it up, and laid it on his shoulder: and he said unto the people that were with him, What ye have seen me do, make haste, and do as I have done.\r\n And all the people likewise cut down every man his bough, and followed Abimelech, and put them to the stronghold, and set the stronghold on fire upon them; so that all the men of the tower of Shechem died also, about a thousand men and women.\r\n Then went Abimelech to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and took it.\r\n But there was a strong tower within the city, and thither fled all the men and women, and all they of the city, and shut themselves in, and gat them up to the roof of the tower.\r\n And Abimelech came unto the tower, and fought against it, and drew near unto the door of the tower to burn it with fire.\r\n And a certain woman cast an upper millstone upon Abimelech`s head, and brake his skull.\r\n Then he called hastily unto the young man his armorbearer, and said unto him, Draw thy sword, and kill me, that men say not of me, A woman slew him. And his young man thrust him through, and he died.\r\n And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed every man unto his place.\r\n Thus God requited the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did unto his father, in slaying his seventy brethren;\r\n and all the wickedness of the men of Shechem did God requite upon their heads: and upon them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.\r\n \r\n \r\n And after Abimelech there arose to save Israel Tola the son of Puah, the son of Dodo, a man of Issachar; and he dwelt in Shamir in the hill-country of Ephraim.\r\n And he judged Israel twenty and three years, and died, and was buried in Shamir.\r\n And after him arose Jair, the Gileadite; and he judged Israel twenty and two years.\r\n And he had thirty sons that rode on thirty ass colts, and they had thirty cities, which are called Havvoth-jair unto this day, which are in the land of Gilead.\r\n And Jair died, and was buried in Kamon.\r\n And the children of Israel again did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, and served the Baalim, and the Ashtaroth, and the gods of Syria, and the gods of Sidon, and the gods of Moab, and the gods of the children of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines; and they forsook Jehovah, and served him not.\r\n And the anger of Jehovah was kindled against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the children of Ammon.\r\n And they vexed and oppressed the children of Israel that year: eighteen years [oppressed they] all the children of Israel that were beyond the Jordan in the land of the Amorites, which is in Gilead.\r\n And the children of Ammon passed over the Jordan to fight also against Judah, and against Benjamin, and against the house of Ephraim; so that Israel was sore distressed.\r\n And the children of Israel cried unto Jehovah, saying, We have sinned against thee, even because we have forsaken our God, and have served the Baalim.\r\n And Jehovah said unto the children of Israel, [Did] not [I save you] from the Egyptians, and from the Amorites, from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines?\r\n The Sidonians also, and the Amalekites, and the Maonites, did oppress you; and ye cried unto me, and I saved you out of their hand.\r\n Yet ye have forsaken me, and served other gods: wherefore I will save you no more.\r\n Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them save you in the time of your distress.\r\n And the children of Israel said unto Jehovah, We have sinned: do thou unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto thee; only deliver us, we pray thee, this day.\r\n And they put away the foreign gods from among them, and served Jehovah; and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel.\r\n Then the children of Ammon were gathered together, and encamped in Gilead. And the children of Israel assembled themselves together, and encamped in Mizpah.\r\n And the people, the princes of Gilead, said one to another, What man is he that will begin to fight against the children of Ammon? he shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valor, and he was the son of a harlot: and Gilead begat Jephthah.\r\n And Gilead`s wife bare him sons; and when his wife`s sons grew up, they drove out Jephthah, and said unto him, Thou shalt not inherit in our father`s house; for thou art the son of another woman.\r\n Then Jephthah fled from his brethren, and dwelt in the land of Tob: and there were gathered vain fellows to Jephthah, and they went out with him.\r\n And it came to pass after a while, that the children of Ammon made war against Israel.\r\n And it was so, that, when the children of Ammon made war against Israel, the elders of Gilead went to fetch Jephthah out of the land of Tob;\r\n and they said unto Jephthah, Come and be our chief, that we may fight with the children of Ammon.\r\n And Jephthah said unto the elders of Gilead, Did not ye hate me, and drive me out of my father`s house? and why are ye come unto me now when ye are in distress?\r\n And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah, Therefore are we turned again to thee now, that thou mayest go with us, and fight with the children of Ammon; and thou shalt be our head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.\r\n And Jephthah said unto the elders of Gilead, If ye bring me home again to fight with the children of Ammon, and Jehovah deliver them before me, shall I be your head?\r\n And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah, Jehovah shall be witness between us; surely according to thy word so will we do.\r\n Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and chief over them: and Jephthah spake all his words before Jehovah in Mizpah.\r\n And Jephthah sent messengers unto the king of the children of Ammon, saying, What hast thou to do with me, that thou art come unto me to fight against my land?\r\n And the king of the children of Ammon answered unto the messengers of Jephthah, Because Israel took away my land, when he came up out of Egypt, from the Arnon even unto the Jabbok, and unto the Jordan: now therefore restore those [lands] again peaceably.\r\n And Jephthah sent messengers again unto the king of the children of Ammon;\r\n and he said unto him, Thus saith Jephthah: Israel took not away the land of Moab, nor the land of the children of Ammon,\r\n but when they came up from Egypt, and Israel went through the wilderness unto the Red Sea, and came to Kadesh;\r\n then Israel sent messengers unto the king of Edom, saying, Let me, I pray thee, pass through thy land; but the king of Edom hearkened not. And in like manner he sent unto the king of Moab; but he would not: and Israel abode in Kadesh.\r\n Then they went through the wilderness, and went around the land of Edom, and the land of Moab, and came by the east side of the land of Moab, and they encamped on the other side of the Arnon; but they came not within the border of Moab, for the Arnon was the border of Moab.\r\n And Israel sent messengers unto Sihon king of the Amorites, the king of Heshbon; and Israel said unto him, Let us pass, we pray thee, through thy land unto my place.\r\n But Sihon trusted not Israel to pass through his border; but Sihon gathered all his people together, and encamped in Jahaz, and fought against Israel.\r\n And Jehovah, the God of Israel, delivered Sihon and all his people into the hand of Israel, and they smote them: so Israel possessed all the land of the Amorites, the inhabitants of that country.\r\n And they possessed all the border of the Amorites, from the Arnon even unto the Jabbok, and from the wilderness even unto the Jordan.\r\n So now Jehovah, the God of Israel, hath dispossessed the Amorites from before his people Israel, and shouldest thou possess them?\r\n Wilt not thou possess that which Chemosh thy god giveth thee to possess? So whomsoever Jehovah our God hath dispossessed from before us, them will we possess.\r\n And now art thou anything better than Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab? did he ever strive against Israel, or did he ever fight against them?\r\n While Israel dwelt in Heshbon and its towns, and in Aroer and its towns, and in all the cities that are along by the side of the Arnon, three hundred years; wherefore did ye not recover them within that time?\r\n I therefore have not sinned against thee, but thou doest me wrong to war against me: Jehovah, the Judge, be judge this day between the children of Israel and the children of Ammon.\r\n Howbeit the king of the children of Ammon hearkened not unto the words of Jephthah which he sent him.\r\n Then the Spirit of Jehovah came upon Jephthah, and he passed over Gilead and Manasseh, and passed over Mizpeh of Gilead, and from Mizpeh of Gilead he passed over unto the children of Ammon.\r\n And Jephthah vowed a vow unto Jehovah, and said, If thou wilt indeed deliver the children of Ammon into my hand,\r\n then it shall be, that whatsoever cometh forth from the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, it shall be Jehovah`s, and I will offer it up for a burnt-offering.\r\n So Jephthah passed over unto the children of Ammon to fight against them; and Jehovah delivered them into his hand.\r\n And he smote them from Aroer until thou come to Minnith, even twenty cities, and unto Abelcheramim, with a very great slaughter. So the children of Ammon were subdued before the children of Israel.\r\n And Jephthah came to Mizpah unto his house; and, behold, his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances: and she was his only child; besides her he had neither son nor daughter.\r\n And it came to pass, when he saw her, that he rent his clothes, and said, Alas, my daughter! thou hast brought me very low, and thou art one of them that trouble me; for I have opened my mouth unto Jehovah, and I cannot go back.\r\n And she said unto him, My father, thou hast opened thy mouth unto Jehovah; do unto me according to that which hath proceeded out of thy mouth, forasmuch as Jehovah hath taken vengeance for thee on thine enemies, even on the children of Ammon.\r\n And she said unto her father, Let this thing be done for me: let me alone two months, that I may depart and go down upon the mountains, and bewail my virginity, I and my companions.\r\n And he said, Go. And he sent her away for two months: and she departed, she and her companions, and bewailed her virginity upon the mountains.\r\n And it came to pass at the end of two months, that she returned unto her father, who did with her according to his vow which he had vowed: and she knew not man. And it was a custom in Israel,\r\n that the daughters of Israel went yearly to celebrate the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite four days in a year.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the men of Ephraim were gathered together, and passed northward; and they said unto Jephthah, Wherefore passedst thou over to fight against the children of Ammon, and didst not call us to go with thee? we will burn thy house upon thee with fire.\r\n And Jephthah said unto them, I and my people were at great strife with the children of Ammon; and when I called you, ye saved me not out of their hand.\r\n And when I saw that ye saved me not, I put my life in my hand, and passed over against the children of Ammon, and Jehovah delivered them into my hand: wherefore then are ye come up unto me this day, to fight against me?\r\n Then Jephthah gathered together all the men of Gilead, and fought with Ephraim; and the men of Gilead smote Ephraim, because they said, Ye are fugitives of Ephraim, ye Gileadites, in the midst of Ephraim, [and] in the midst of Manasseh.\r\n And the Gileadites took the fords of the Jordan against the Ephraimites. And it was so, that, when [any of] the fugitives of Ephraim said, Let me go over, the men of Gilead said unto him, Art thou an Ephraimite? If he said, Nay;\r\n then said they unto him, Say now Shibboleth; and he said Sibboleth; for he could not frame to pronounce it right: then they laid hold on him, and slew him at the fords of the Jordan. And there fell at that time of Ephraim forty and two thousand.\r\n And Jephthah judged Israel six years. Then died Jephthah the Gileadite, and was buried in [one of] the cities of Gilead.\r\n And after him Ibzan of Beth-lehem judged Israel.\r\n And he had thirty sons; and thirty daughters he sent abroad, and thirty daughters he brought in from abroad for his sons. And he judged Israel seven years.\r\n And Ibzan died, and was buried at Beth-lehem.\r\n And after him Elon the Zebulunite judged Israel; and he judged Israel ten years.\r\n And Elon the Zebulunite died, and was buried in Aijalon in the land of Zebulun.\r\n And after him Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite judged Israel.\r\n And he had forty sons and thirty sons` sons, that rode on threescore and ten ass colts: and he judged Israel eight years.\r\n And Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite died, and was buried in Pirathon in the land of Ephraim, in the hill-country of the Amalekites.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the children of Israel again did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah; and Jehovah delivered them into the hand of the Philistines forty years.\r\n And there was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren, and bare not.\r\n And the angel of Jehovah appeared unto the woman, and said unto her, Behold now, thou art barren, and bearest not; but thou shalt conceive, and bear a son.\r\n Now therefore beware, I pray thee, and drink no wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing:\r\n for, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come upon his head; for the child shall be a Nazirite unto God from the womb: and he shall begin to save Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.\r\n Then the woman came and told her husband, saying, A man of God came unto me, and his countenance was like the countenance of the angel of God, very terrible; and I asked him not whence he was, neither told he me his name:\r\n but he said unto me, Behold, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and now drink no wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing; for the child shall be a Nazirite unto God from the womb to the day of his death.\r\n Then Manoah entreated Jehovah, and said, Oh, Lord, I pray thee, let the man of God whom thou didst send come again unto us, and teach us what we shall do unto the child that shall be born.\r\n And God hearkened to the voice of Manoah; and the angel of God came again unto the woman as she sat in the field: but Manoah her husband was not with her.\r\n And the woman made haste, and ran, and told her husband, and said unto him, Behold, the man hath appeared unto me, that came unto me the [other] day.\r\n And Manoah arose, and went after his wife, and came to the man, and said unto him, Art thou the man that spakest unto the woman? And he said, I am.\r\n And Manoah said, Now let thy words come to pass: what shall be the ordering of the child, and [how] shall we do unto him?\r\n And the angel of Jehovah said unto Manoah, Of all that I said unto the woman let her beware.\r\n She may not eat of anything that cometh of the vine, neither let her drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing; all that I commanded her let her observe.\r\n And Manoah said unto the angel of Jehovah, I pray thee, let us detain thee, that we may make ready a kid for thee.\r\n And the angel of Jehovah said unto Manoah, Though thou detain me, I will not eat of thy bread; and if thou wilt make ready a burnt-offering, thou must offer it unto Jehovah. For Manoah knew not that he was the angel of Jehovah.\r\n And Manoah said unto the angel of Jehovah, What is thy name, that, when thy words come to pass, we may do thee honor?\r\n And the angel of Jehovah said unto him, Wherefore askest thou after my name, seeing it is wonderful?\r\n So Manoah took the kid with the meal-offering, and offered it upon the rock unto Jehovah: and [the angel] did wondrously, and Manoah and his wife looked on.\r\n For it came to pass, when the flame went up toward heaven from off the altar, that the angel of Jehovah ascended in the flame of the altar: and Manoah and his wife looked on; and they fell on their faces to the ground.\r\n But the angel of Jehovah did no more appear to Manoah or to his wife. Then Manoah knew that he was the angel of Jehovah.\r\n And Manoah said unto his wife, We shall surely die, because we have seen God.\r\n But his wife said unto him, If Jehovah were pleased to kill us, he would not have received a burnt-offering and a meal-offering at our hand, neither would he have showed us all these things, nor would at this time have told such things as these.\r\n And the woman bare a son, and called his name Samson: and the child grew, and Jehovah blessed him.\r\n And the Spirit of Jehovah began to move him in Mahaneh-dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Samson went down to Timnah, and saw a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines.\r\n And he came up, and told his father and his mother, and said, I have seen a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines: now therefore get her for me to wife.\r\n Then his father and his mother said unto him, Is there never a woman among the daughters of thy brethren, or among all my people, that thou goest to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines? And Samson said unto his father, Get her for me; for she pleaseth me well.\r\n But his father and his mother knew not that it was of Jehovah; for he sought an occasion against the Philistines. Now at that time the Philistines had rule over Israel.\r\n Then went Samson down, and his father and his mother, to Timnah, and came to the vineyards of Timnah: and, behold, a young lion roared against him.\r\n And the Spirit of Jehovah came mightily upon him, and he rent him as he would have rent a kid; and he had nothing in his hand: but he told not his father or his mother what he had done.\r\n And he went down, and talked with the woman, and she pleased Samson well.\r\n And after a while he returned to take her; and he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion: and, behold, there was a swarm of bees in the body of the lion, and honey.\r\n And he took it into his hands, and went on, eating as he went; and he came to his father and mother, and gave unto them, and they did eat: but he told them not that he had taken the honey out of the body of the lion.\r\n And his father went down unto the woman: and Samson made there a feast; for so used the young men to do.\r\n And it came to pass, when they saw him, that they brought thirty companions to be with him.\r\n And Samson said unto them, Let me now put forth a riddle unto you: if ye can declare it unto me within the seven days of the feast, and find it out, then I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty changes of raiment;\r\n but if ye cannot declare it unto me, then shall ye give me thirty linen garments and thirty changes of raiment. And they said unto him, Put forth thy riddle, that we may hear it.\r\n And he said unto them, Out of the eater came forth food, And out of the strong came forth sweetness. And they could not in three days declare the riddle.\r\n And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they said unto Samson`s wife, Entice thy husband, that he may declare unto us the riddle, lest we burn thee and thy father`s house with fire: have ye called us to impoverish us? is it not [so]?\r\n And Samson`s wife wept before him, and said, Thou dost but hate me, and lovest me not: thou hast put forth a riddle unto the children of my people, and hast not told it me. And he said unto her, Behold, I have not told it my father nor my mother, and shall I tell thee?\r\n And she wept before him the seven days, while their feast lasted: and it came to pass on the seventh day, that he told her, because she pressed him sore; and she told the riddle to the children of her people.\r\n And the men of the city said unto him on the seventh day before the sun went down, What is sweeter than honey? and what is stronger than a lion? And he said unto them, If ye had not plowed with my heifer, Ye had not found out my riddle.\r\n And the Spirit of Jehovah came mightily upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon, and smote thirty men of them, and took their spoil, and gave the changes [of raiment] unto them that declared the riddle. And his anger was kindled, and he went up to his father`s house.\r\n But Samson`s wife was [given] to his companion, whom he had used as his friend.\r\n \r\n \r\n But it came to pass after a while, in the time of wheat harvest, that Samson visited his wife with a kid; and he said, I will go in to my wife into the chamber. But her father would not suffer him to go in.\r\n And her father said, I verily thought that thou hadst utterly hated her; therefore I gave her to thy companion: is not her younger sister fairer than she? take her, I pray thee, instead of her.\r\n And Samson said unto them, This time shall I be blameless in regard of the Philistines, when I do them a mischief.\r\n And Samson went and caught three hundred foxes, and took firebrands, and turned tail to tail, and put a firebrand in the midst between every two tails.\r\n And when he had set the brands on fire, he let them go into the standing grain of the Philistines, and burnt up both the shocks and the standing grain, and also the oliveyards.\r\n Then the Philistines said, Who hath done this? And they said, Samson, the son-in-law of the Timnite, because he hath taken his wife, and given her to his companion. And the Philistines came up, and burnt her and her father with fire.\r\n And Samson said unto them, If ye do after this manner, surely I will be avenged of you, and after that I will cease.\r\n And he smote them hip and thigh with a great slaughter: and he went down and dwelt in the cleft of the rock of Etam.\r\n Then the Philistines went up, and encamped in Judah, and spread themselves in Lehi.\r\n And the men of Judah said, Why are ye come up against us? And they said, To bind Samson are we come up, to do to him as he hath done to us.\r\n Then three thousand men of Judah went down to the cleft of the rock of Etam, and said to Samson, Knowest thou not that the Philistines are rulers over us? what then is this that thou hast done unto us? And he said unto them, As they did unto me, so have I done unto them.\r\n And they said unto him, We are come down to bind thee, that we may deliver thee into the hand of the Philistines. And Samson said unto them, Swear unto me, that ye will not fall upon me yourselves.\r\n And they spake unto him, saying, No; but we will bind thee fast, and deliver thee into their hand: but surely we will not kill thee. And they bound him with two new ropes, and brought him up from the rock.\r\n When he came unto Lehi, the Philistines shouted as they met him: and the Spirit of Jehovah came mightily upon him, and the ropes that were upon his arms became as flax that was burnt with fire, and his bands dropped from off his hands.\r\n And he found a fresh jawbone of an ass, and put forth his hand, and took it, and smote a thousand men therewith.\r\n And Samson said, With the jawbone of an ass, heaps upon heaps, With the jawbone of an ass have I smitten a thousand men.\r\n And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking, that he cast away the jawbone out of his hand; and that place was called Ramath-lehi.\r\n And he was sore athirst, and called on Jehovah, and said, Thou hast given this great deliverance by the hand of thy servant; and now shall I die for thirst, and fall into the hand of the uncircumcised.\r\n But God clave the hollow place that is in Lehi, and there came water thereout; and when he had drunk, his spirit came again, and he revived: wherefore the name thereof was called En-hakkore, which is in Lehi, unto this day.\r\n And he judged Israel in the days of the Philistines twenty years.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Samson went to Gaza, and saw there a harlot, and went in unto her.\r\n [And it was told] the Gazites, saying, Samson is come hither. And they compassed him in, and laid wait for him all night in the gate of the city, and were quiet all the night, saying, [Let be] till morning light, then we will kill him.\r\n And Samson lay till midnight, and arose at midnight, and laid hold of the doors of the gate of the city, and the two posts, and plucked them up, bar and all, and put them upon his shoulders, and carried them up to the top of the mountain that is before Hebron.\r\n And it came to pass afterward, that he loved a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah.\r\n And the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and said unto her, Entice him, and see wherein his great strength lieth, and by what means we may prevail against him, that we may bind him to afflict him: and we will give thee every one of us eleven hundred [pieces] of silver.\r\n And Delilah said to Samson, Tell me, I pray thee, wherein thy great strength lieth, and wherewith thou mightest be bound to afflict thee.\r\n And Samson said unto her, If they bind me with seven green withes that were never dried, then shall I become weak, and be as another man.\r\n Then the lords of the Philistines brought up to her seven green withes which had not been dried, and she bound him with them.\r\n Now she had liers-in-wait abiding in the inner chamber. And she said unto him, The Philistines are upon thee, Samson. And he brake the withes, as a string of tow is broken when it toucheth the fire. So his strength was not known.\r\n And Delilah said unto Samson, Behold, thou hast mocked me, and told me lies: now tell me, I pray thee, wherewith thou mightest be bound.\r\n And he said unto her, If they only bind me with new ropes wherewith no work hath been done, then shall I become weak, and be as another man.\r\n So Delilah took new ropes, and bound him therewith, and said unto him, The Philistines are upon thee, Samson. And the liers-in-wait were abiding in the inner chamber. And he brake them off his arms like a thread.\r\n And Delilah said unto Samson, Hitherto thou hast mocked me, and told me lies: tell me wherewith thou mightest be bound. And he said unto her, If thou weavest the seven locks of my head with the web.\r\n And she fastened it with the pin, and said unto him, The Philistines are upon thee, Samson. And he awaked out of his sleep, and plucked away the pin of the beam, and the web.\r\n And she said unto him, How canst thou say, I love thee, when thy heart is not with me? thou hast mocked me these three times, and hast not told me wherein thy great strength lieth.\r\n And it came to pass, when she pressed him daily with her words, and urged him, that his soul was vexed unto death.\r\n And he told her all his heart, and said unto her, There hath not come a razor upon my head; for I have been a Nazirite unto God from my mother`s womb: if I be shaven, then my strength will go from me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man.\r\n And when Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called for the lords of the Philistines, saying, Come up this once, for he hath told me all his heart. Then the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and brought the money in their hand.\r\n And she made him sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and shaved off the seven locks of his head; and she began to afflict him, and his strength went from him.\r\n And she said, The Philistines are upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times, and shake myself free. But he knew not that Jehovah was departed from him.\r\n And the Philistines laid hold on him, and put out his eyes; and they brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison-house.\r\n Howbeit the hair of his head began to grow again after he was shaven.\r\n And the lords of the Philistines gathered them together to offer a great sacrifice unto Dagon their god, and to rejoice; for they said, Our god hath delivered Samson our enemy into our hand.\r\n And when the people saw him, they praised their god; for they said, Our god hath delivered into our hand our enemy, and the destroyer of our country, who hath slain many of us.\r\n And it came to pass, when their hearts were merry, that they said, Call for Samson, that he may make us sport. And they called for Samson out of the prison-house; and he made sport before them. And they set him between the pillars:\r\n and Samson said unto the lad that held him by the hand, Suffer me that I may feel the pillars whereupon the house resteth, that I may lean upon them.\r\n Now the house was full of men and women; and all the lords of the Philistines were there; and there were upon the roof about three thousand men and women, that beheld while Samson made sport.\r\n And Samson called unto Jehovah, and said, O Lord Jehovah, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.\r\n And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars upon which the house rested, and leaned upon them, the one with his right hand, and the other with his left.\r\n And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead that he slew at his death were more than they that he slew in his life.\r\n Then his brethren and all the house of his father came down, and took him, and brought him up, and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the burying-place of Manoah his father. And he judged Israel twenty years.\r\n \r\n \r\n And there was a man of the hill-country of Ephraim, whose name was Micah.\r\n And he said unto his mother, The eleven hundred [pieces] of silver that were taken from thee, about which thou didst utter a curse, and didst also speak it in mine ears, behold, the silver is with me; I took it. And his mother said, Blessed be my son of Jehovah.\r\n And he restored the eleven hundred [pieces] of silver to his mother; and his mother said, I verily dedicate the silver unto Jehovah from my hand for my son, to make a graven image and a molten image: now therefore I will restore it unto thee.\r\n And when he restored the money unto his mother, his mother took two hundred [pieces] of silver, and gave them to the founder, who made thereof a graven image and a molten image: and it was in the house of Micah.\r\n And the man Micah had a house of gods, and he made an ephod, and teraphim, and consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest.\r\n In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.\r\n And there was a young man out of Beth-lehem-judah, of the family of Judah, who was a Levite; and he sojourned there.\r\n And the man departed out of the city, out of Beth-lehem-judah, to sojourn where he could find [a place], and he came to the hill-country of Ephraim to the house of Micah, as he journeyed.\r\n And Micah said unto him, Whence comest thou? And he said unto him, I am a Levite of Beth-lehem-judah, and I go to sojourn where I may find [a place].\r\n And Micah said unto him, Dwell with me, and be unto me a father and a priest, and I will give thee ten [pieces] of silver by the year, and a suit of apparel, and thy victuals. So the Levite went in.\r\n And the Levite was content to dwell with the man; and the young man was unto him as one of his sons.\r\n And Micah consecrated the Levite, and the young man became his priest, and was in the house of Micah.\r\n Then said Micah, Now know I that Jehovah will do me good, seeing I have a Levite to my priest.\r\n \r\n \r\n In those days there was no king in Israel: and in those days the tribe of the Danites sought them an inheritance to dwell in; for unto that day [their] inheritance had not fallen unto them among the tribes of Israel.\r\n And the children of Dan sent of their family five men from their whole number, men of valor, from Zorah, and from Eshtaol, to spy out the land, and to search it; and they said unto them, Go, search the land. And they came to the hill-country of Ephraim, unto the house of Micah, and lodged there.\r\n When they were by the house of Micah, they knew the voice of the young man the Levite; and they turned aside thither, and said unto him, Who brought thee hither? and what doest thou in this place? and what hast thou here?\r\n And he said unto them, Thus and thus hath Micah dealt with me, and he hath hired me, and I am become his priest.\r\n And they said unto him, Ask counsel, we pray thee, of God, that we may know whether our way which we go shall be prosperous.\r\n And the priest said unto them, Go in peace: before Jehovah is your way wherein ye go.\r\n Then the five men departed, and came to Laish, and saw the people that were therein, how they dwelt in security, after the manner of the Sidonians, quiet and secure; for there was none in the land, possessing authority, that might put [them] to shame in anything, and they were far from the Sidonians, and had no dealings with any man.\r\n And they came unto their brethren to Zorah and Eshtaol: and their brethren said unto them, What [say] ye?\r\n And they said, Arise, and let us go up against them; for we have seen the land, and, behold, it is very good: and are ye still? be not slothful to go and to enter in to possess the land.\r\n When ye go, ye shall come unto a people secure, and the land is large; for God hath given it into your hand, a place where there is no want of anything that is in the earth.\r\n And there set forth from thence of the family of the Danites, out of Zorah and out of Eshtaol, six hundred men girt with weapons of war.\r\n And they went up, and encamped in Kiriath-jearim, in Judah: wherefore they called that place Mahaneh-dan, unto this day; behold, it is behind Kiriath-jearim.\r\n And they passed thence unto the hill-country of Ephraim, and came unto the house of Micah.\r\n Then answered the five men that went to spy out the country of Laish, and said unto their brethren, Do ye know that there is in these houses an ephod, and teraphim, and a graven image, and a molten image? now therefore consider what ye have to do.\r\n And they turned aside thither, and came to the house of the young man the Levite, even unto the house of Micah, and asked him of his welfare.\r\n And the six hundred men girt with their weapons of war, who were of the children of Dan, stood by the entrance of the gate.\r\n And the five men that went to spy out the land went up, and came in thither, and took the graven image, and the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image: and the priest stood by the entrance of the gate with the six hundred men girt with weapons of war.\r\n And when these went into Micah`s house, and fetched the graven image, the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image, the priest said unto them, What do ye?\r\n And they said unto him, Hold thy peace, lay thy hand upon thy mouth, and go with us, and be to us a father and a priest: is it better for thee to be priest unto the house of one man, or to be priest unto a tribe and a family in Israel?\r\n And the priest`s heart was glad, and he took the ephod, and the teraphim, and the graven image, and went in the midst of the people.\r\n So they turned and departed, and put the little ones and the cattle and the goods before them.\r\n When they were a good way from the house of Micah, the men that were in the houses near to Micah`s house were gathered together, and overtook the children of Dan.\r\n And they cried unto the children of Dan. And they turned their faces, and said unto Micah, What aileth thee, that thou comest with such a company?\r\n And he said, ye have taken away my gods which I made, and the priest, and are gone away, and what have I more? and how then say ye unto me, What aileth thee?\r\n And the children of Dan said unto him, Let not thy voice be heard among us, lest angry fellows fall upon you, and thou lose thy life, with the lives of thy household.\r\n And the children of Dan went their way: and when Micah saw that they were too strong for him, he turned and went back unto his house.\r\n And they took that which Micah had made, and the priest whom he had, and came unto Laish, unto a people quiet and secure, and smote them with the edge of the sword; and they burnt the city with fire.\r\n And there was no deliverer, because it was far from Sidon, and they had no dealings with any man; and it was in the valley that lieth by Beth-rehob. And they built the city, and dwelt therein.\r\n And they called the name of the city Dan, after the name of Dan their father, who was born unto Israel: howbeit the name of the city was Laish at the first.\r\n And the children of Dan set up for themselves the graven image: and Jonathan, the son of Gershom, the son of Moses, he and his sons were priests to the tribe of the Danites until the day of the captivity of the land.\r\n So they set them up Micah`s graven image which he made, all the time that the house of God was in Shiloh.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass in those days, when there was no king in Israel, that there was a certain Levite sojourning on the farther side of the hill-country of Ephraim, who took to him a concubine out of Beth-lehem-judah.\r\n And his concubine played the harlot against him, and went away from him unto her father`s house to Beth-lehem-judah, and was there the space of four months.\r\n And her husband arose, and went after her, to speak kindly unto her, to bring her again, having his servant with him, and a couple of asses: and she brought him into her father`s house; and when the father of the damsel saw him, he rejoiced to meet him.\r\n And his father-in-law, the damsel`s father, retained him; and he abode with him three days: so they did eat and drink, and lodged there.\r\n And it came to pass on the fourth day, that they arose early in the morning, and he rose up to depart: and the damsel`s father said unto his son-in-law, Strengthen thy heart with a morsel of bread, and afterward ye shall go your way.\r\n So they sat down, and did eat and drink, both of them together: and the damsel`s father said unto the man, Be pleased, I pray thee, to tarry all night, and let thy heart be merry.\r\n And the man rose up to depart; but his father-in-law urged him, and he lodged there again.\r\n And he arose early in the morning on the fifth day to depart; and the damsel`s father said, Strengthen thy heart, I pray thee, and tarry ye until the day declineth; and they did eat, both of them.\r\n And when the man rose up to depart, he, and his concubine, and his servant, his father-in-law, the damsel`s father, said unto him, Behold, now the day draweth toward evening, I pray you tarry all night: behold, the day groweth to an end, lodge here, that thy heart may be merry; and to-morrow get you early on your way, that thou mayest go home.\r\n But the man would not tarry that night, but he rose up and departed, and came over against Jebus (the same is Jerusalem): and there were with him a couple of asses saddled; his concubine also was with him.\r\n When they were by Jebus, the day was far spent; and the servant said unto his master, Come, I pray thee, and let us turn aside into this city of the Jebusites, and lodge in it.\r\n And his master said unto him, We will not turn aside into the city of a foreigner, that is not of the children of Israel; but we will pass over to Gibeah.\r\n And he said unto his servant, Come and let us draw near to one of these places; and we will lodge in Gibeah, or in Ramah.\r\n So they passed on and went their way; and the sun went down upon them near to Gibeah, which belongeth to Benjamin.\r\n And they turned aside thither, to go in to lodge in Gibeah: and he went in, and sat him down in the street of the city; for there was no man that took them into his house to lodge.\r\n And, behold, there came an old man from his work out of the field at even: now the man was of the hill-country of Ephraim, and he sojourned in Gibeah; but the men of the place were Benjamites.\r\n And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the wayfaring man in the street of the city; and the old man said, Whither goest thou? and whence comest thou?\r\n And he said unto him, We are passing from Beth-lehem-judah unto the farther side of the hill-country of Ephraim; from thence am I, and I went to Beth-lehem-judah: and I am [now] going to the house of Jehovah; and there is no man that taketh me into his house.\r\n Yet there is both straw and provender for our asses; and there is bread and wine also for me, and for thy handmaid, and for the young man that is with thy servants: there is no want of anything.\r\n And the old man said, Peace be unto thee; howsoever let all thy wants lie upon me; only lodge not in the street.\r\n So he brought him into his house, and gave the asses fodder; and they washed their feet, and did eat and drink.\r\n As they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, certain base fellows, beset the house round about, beating at the door; and they spake to the master of the house, the old man, saying, Bring forth the man that came into thy house, that we may know him.\r\n And the man, the master of the house, went out unto them, and said unto them, Nay, my brethren, I pray you, do not so wickedly; seeing that this man is come into my house, do not this folly.\r\n Behold, here is my daughter a virgin, and his concubine; them I will bring out now, and humble ye them, and do with them what seemeth good unto you: but unto this man do not any such folly.\r\n But the men would not hearken to him: so the man laid hold on his concubine, and brought her forth unto them; and they knew her, and abused her all the night until the morning: and when the day began to spring, they let her go.\r\n Then came the woman in the dawning of the day, and fell down at the door of the man`s house where her lord was, till it was light.\r\n And her lord rose up in the morning, and opened the doors of the house, and went out to go his way; and, behold, the woman his concubine was fallen down at the door of the house, with her hands upon the threshold.\r\n And he said unto her, Up, and let us be going; but none answered: then he took her up upon the ass; and the man rose up, and gat him unto his place.\r\n And when he was come into his house, he took a knife, and laid hold on his concubine, and divided her, limb by limb, into twelve pieces, and sent her throughout all the borders of Israel.\r\n And it was so, that all that saw it said, There was no such deed done nor seen from the day that the children of Israel came up out of the land of Egypt unto this day: consider it, take counsel, and speak.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then all the children of Israel went out, and the congregation was assembled as one man, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, with the land of Gilead, unto Jehovah at Mizpah.\r\n And the chiefs of all the people, even of all the tribes of Israel, presented themselves in the assembly of the people of God, four hundred thousand footmen that drew sword.\r\n (Now the children of Benjamin heard that the children of Israel were gone up to Mizpah.) And the children of Israel said, Tell us, how was this wickedness brought to pass?\r\n And the Levite, the husband of the woman that was murdered, answered and said, I came into Gibeah that belongeth to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to lodge.\r\n And the men of Gibeah rose against me, and beset the house round about me by night; me they thought to have slain, and my concubine they forced, and she is dead.\r\n And I took my concubine, and cut her in pieces, and sent her throughout all the country of the inheritance of Israel; for they have committed lewdness and folly in Israel.\r\n Behold, ye children of Israel, all of you, give here your advice and counsel.\r\n And all the people arose as one man, saying, We will not any of us go to his tent, neither will we any of us turn unto his house.\r\n But now this is the thing which we will do to Gibeah: [we will go up] against it by lot;\r\n and we will take ten men of a hundred throughout all the tribes of Israel, and a hundred of a thousand, and a thousand out of ten thousand, to fetch victuals for the people, that they may do, when they come to Gibeah of Benjamin, according to all the folly that they have wrought in Israel.\r\n So all the men of Israel were gathered against the city, knit together as one man.\r\n And the tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin, saying, What wickedness is this that is come to pass among you?\r\n Now therefore deliver up the men, the base fellows, that are in Gibeah, that we may put them to death, and put away evil from Israel. But Benjamin would not hearken to the voice of their brethren the children of Israel.\r\n And the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together out of the cities unto Gibeah, to go out to battle against the children of Israel.\r\n And the children of Benjamin were numbered on that day out of the cities twenty and six thousand men that drew sword, besides the inhabitants of Gibeah, who were numbered seven hundred chosen men.\r\n Among all this people there were seven hundred chosen men lefthanded; every one could sling stones at a hair-breadth, and not miss.\r\n And the men of Israel, besides Benjamin, were numbered four hundred thousand men that drew sword: all these were men of war.\r\n And the children of Israel arose, and went up to Beth-el, and asked counsel of God; and they said, Who shall go up for us first to battle against the children of Benjamin? And Jehovah said, Judah [shall go up] first.\r\n And the children of Israel rose up in the morning, and encamped against Gibeah.\r\n And the men of Israel went out to battle against Benjamin; and the men of Israel set the battle in array against them at Gibeah.\r\n And the children of Benjamin came forth out of Gibeah, and destroyed down to the ground of the Israelites on that day twenty and two thousand men.\r\n And the people, the men of Israel, encouraged themselves, and set the battle again in array in the place where they set themselves in array the first day.\r\n And the children of Israel went up and wept before Jehovah until even; and they asked of Jehovah, saying, Shall I again draw nigh to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother? And Jehovah said, Go up against him.\r\n And the children of Israel came near against the children of Benjamin the second day.\r\n And Benjamin went forth against them out of Gibeah the second day, and destroyed down to the ground of the children of Israel again eighteen thousand men; all these drew the sword.\r\n Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came unto Beth-el, and wept, and sat there before Jehovah, and fasted that day until even; and they offered burnt-offerings and peace-offerings before Jehovah.\r\n And the children of Israel asked of Jehovah (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days,\r\n and Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, stood before it in those days), saying, Shall I yet again go out to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother, or shall I cease? And Jehovah said, Go up; for to-morrow I will deliver him into thy hand.\r\n And Israel set liers-in-wait against Gibeah round about.\r\n And the children of Israel went up against the children of Benjamin on the third day, and set themselves in array against Gibeah, as at other times.\r\n And the children of Benjamin went out against the people, and were drawn away from the city; and they began to smite and kill of the people, as at other times, in the highways, of which one goeth up to Beth-el, and the other to Gibeah, in the field, about thirty men of Israel.\r\n And the children of Benjamin said, They are smitten down before us, as at the first. But the children of Israel said, Let us flee, and draw them away from the city unto the highways.\r\n And all the men of Israel rose up out of their place, and set themselves in array at Baal-tamar: and the liers-in-wait of Israel brake forth out of their place, even out of Maareh-geba.\r\n And there came over against Gibeah ten thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and the battle was sore; but they knew not that evil was close upon them.\r\n And Jehovah smote Benjamin before Israel; and the children of Israel destroyed of Benjamin that day twenty and five thousand and a hundred men: all these drew the sword.\r\n So the children of Benjamin saw that they were smitten; for the men of Israel gave place to Benjamin, because they trusted unto the liers-in-wait whom they had set against Gibeah.\r\n And the liers-in-wait hasted, and rushed upon Gibeah; and the liers-in-wait drew themselves along, and smote all the city with the edge of the sword.\r\n Now the appointed sign between the men of Israel and the liers-in-wait was, that they should make a great cloud of smoke rise up out of the city.\r\n And the men of Israel turned in the battle, and Benjamin began to smite and kill of the men of Israel about thirty persons; for they said, Surely they are smitten down before us, as in the first battle.\r\n But when the cloud began to arise up out of the city in a pillar of smoke, the Benjamites looked behind them; and, behold, the whole of the city went up [in smoke] to heaven.\r\n And the men of Israel turned, and the men of Benjamin were dismayed; for they saw that evil was come upon them.\r\n Therefore they turned their backs before the men of Israel unto the way of the wilderness; but the battle followed hard after them; and they that came out of the cities destroyed them in the midst thereof.\r\n They inclosed the Benjamites round about, [and] chased them, [and] trod them down at [their] resting-place, as far as over against Gibeah toward the sunrising.\r\n And there fell of Benjamin eighteen thousand men; all these [were] men of valor.\r\n And they turned and fled toward the wilderness unto the rock of Rimmon: and they gleaned of them in the highways five thousand men, and followed hard after them unto Gidom, and smote of them two thousand men.\r\n So that all who fell that day of Benjamin were twenty and five thousand men that drew the sword; all these [were] men of valor.\r\n But six hundred men turned and fled toward the wilderness unto the rock of Rimmon, and abode in the rock of Rimmon four months.\r\n And the men of Israel turned again upon the children of Benjamin, and smote them with the edge of the sword, both the entire city, and the cattle, and all that they found: moreover all the cities which they found they set on fire.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now the men of Israel had sworn in Mizpah, saying, There shall not any of us give his daughter unto Benjamin to wife.\r\n And the people came to Beth-el, and sat there till even before God, and lifted up their voices, and wept sore.\r\n And they said, O Jehovah, the God of Israel, why is this come to pass in Israel, that there should be to-day one tribe lacking in Israel?\r\n And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people rose early, and built there an altar, and offered burnt-offerings and peace-offerings.\r\n And the children of Israel said, Who is there among all the tribes of Israel that came not up in the assembly unto Jehovah? For they had made a great oath concerning him that came not up unto Jehovah to Mizpah, saying, He shall surely be put to death.\r\n And the children of Israel repented them for Benjamin their brother, and said, There is one tribe cut off from Israel this day.\r\n How shall we do for wives for them that remain, seeing we have sworn by Jehovah that we will not give them of our daughters to wives?\r\n And they said, What one is there of the tribes of Israel that came not up unto Jehovah to Mizpah? And, behold, there came none to the camp from Jabesh-gilead to the assembly.\r\n For when the people were numbered, behold, there were none of the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead there.\r\n And the congregation sent thither twelve thousand men of the valiantest, and commanded them, saying, Go and smite the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead with the edge of the sword, with the women and the little ones.\r\n And this is the thing that ye shall do: ye shall utterly destroy every male, and every woman that hath lain by man.\r\n And they found among the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead four hundred young virgins, that had not known man by lying with him; and they brought them unto the camp to Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan.\r\n And the whole congregation sent and spake to the children of Benjamin that were in the rock of Rimmon, and proclaimed peace unto them.\r\n And Benjamin returned at that time; and they gave them the women whom they had saved alive of the women of Jabesh-gilead: and yet so they sufficed them not.\r\n And the people repented them for Benjamin, because that Jehovah had made a breach in the tribes of Israel.\r\n Then the elders of the congregation said, How shall we do for wives for them that remain, seeing the women are destroyed out of Benjamin?\r\n And they said, There must be an inheritance for them that are escaped of Benjamin, that a tribe be not blotted out from Israel.\r\n Howbeit we may not give them wives of our daughters, for the children of Israel had sworn, saying, Cursed be he that giveth a wife to Benjamin.\r\n And they said, Behold, there is a feast of Jehovah from year to year in Shiloh, which is on the north of Beth-el, on the east side of the highway that goeth up from Beth-el to Shechem, and on the south of Lebonah.\r\n And they commanded the children of Benjamin, saying, Go and lie in wait in the vineyards,\r\n and see, and, behold, if the daughters of Shiloh come out to dance in the dances, then come ye out of the vineyards, and catch you every man his wife of the daughters of Shiloh, and go to the land of Benjamin.\r\n And it shall be, when their fathers or their brethren come to complain unto us, that we will say unto them, Grant them graciously unto us, because we took not for each man [of them] his wife in battle, neither did ye give them unto them, else would ye now be guilty.\r\n And the children of Benjamin did so, and took them wives, according to their number, of them that danced, whom they carried off: and they went and returned unto their inheritance, and built the cities, and dwelt in them.\r\n And the children of Israel departed thence at that time, every man to his tribe and to his family, and they went out from thence every man to his inheritance.\r\n In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass in the days when the judges judged, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem-judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.\r\n And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehem-judah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there.\r\n And Elimelech, Naomi`s husband, died; and she was left, and her two sons.\r\n And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelt there about ten years.\r\n And Mahlon and Chilion died both of them; and the woman was left of her two children and of her husband.\r\n Then she arose with her daughters-in-law, that she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that Jehovah had visited his people in giving them bread.\r\n And she went forth out of the place where she was, and her two daughters-in-law with her; and they went on the way to return unto the land of Judah.\r\n And Naomi said unto her two daughters-in-law, Go, return each of you to her mother`s house: Jehovah deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me.\r\n Jehovah grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voice, and wept.\r\n And they said unto her, Nay, but we will return with thee unto thy people.\r\n And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? have I yet sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?\r\n Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should even have a husband to-night, and should also bear sons;\r\n would ye therefore tarry till they were grown? would ye therefore stay from having husbands? nay, my daughters, for it grieveth me much for your sakes, for the hand of Jehovah is gone forth against me.\r\n And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clave unto her.\r\n And she said, Behold, thy sister-in-law is gone back unto her people, and unto her god: return thou after thy sister-in-law.\r\n And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave thee, and to return from following after thee, for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge; thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God;\r\n where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: Jehovah do so to me, and more also, if aught but death part thee and me.\r\n And when she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, she left off speaking unto her.\r\n So they two went until they came to Bethlehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Bethlehem, that all the city was moved about them, and [the women] said, Is this Naomi?\r\n And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara; for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.\r\n I went out full, and Jehovah hath brought me home again empty; why call ye me Naomi, seeing Jehovah hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me?\r\n So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, with her, who returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband`s, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech, and his name was Boaz.\r\n And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean among the ears of grain after him in whose sight I shall find favor. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter.\r\n And she went, and came and gleaned in the field after the reapers: and her hap was to light on the portion of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech.\r\n And, behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said unto the reapers, Jehovah be with you. And they answered him, Jehovah bless thee.\r\n Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set over the reapers, Whose damsel is this?\r\n And the servant that was set over the reapers answered and said, It is the Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi out of the country of Moab:\r\n And she said, Let me glean, I pray you, and gather after the reapers among the sheaves. So she came, and hath continued even from the morning until now, save that she tarried a little in the house.\r\n Then said Boaz unto Ruth, Hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, neither pass from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens.\r\n Let thine eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go thou after them: have I not charged the young men that they shall not touch thee? and when thou art athirst, go unto the vessels, and drink of that which the young men have drawn.\r\n Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, Why have I found favor in thy sight, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a foreigner?\r\n And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been showed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother-in-law since the death of thy husband; and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people that thou knewest not heretofore.\r\n Jehovah recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of Jehovah, the God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to take refuge.\r\n Then she said, Let me find favor in thy sight, my lord, for that thou hast comforted me, and for that thou hast spoken kindly unto thy handmaid, though I be not as one of thy handmaidens.\r\n And at meal-time Boaz said unto her, Come hither, and eat of the bread, and dip thy morsel in the vinegar. And she sat beside the reapers, and they reached her parched grain, and she did eat, and was sufficed, and left thereof.\r\n And when she was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, Let her glean even among the sheaves, and reproach her not.\r\n And also pull out some for her from the bundles, and leave it, and let her glean, and rebuke her not.\r\n So she gleaned in the field until even; and she beat out that which she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley.\r\n And she took it up, and went into the city; and her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned: and she brought forth and gave to her that which she had left after she was sufficed.\r\n And her mother-in-law said unto her, Where hast thou gleaned to-day? and where hast thou wrought? blessed be he that did take knowledge of thee. And she showed her mother-in-law with whom she had wrought, and said, The man`s name with whom I wrought to-day is Boaz.\r\n And Naomi said unto her daughter-in-law, Blessed be he of Jehovah, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead. And Naomi said unto her, The man is nigh of kin unto us, one of our near kinsmen.\r\n And Ruth the Moabitess said, Yea, he said unto me, Thou shalt keep fast by my young men, until they have ended all my harvest.\r\n And Naomi said unto Ruth her daughter-in-law, It is good, my daughter, that thou go out with his maidens, and that they meet thee not in any other field.\r\n So she kept fast by the maidens of Boaz, to glean unto the end of barley harvest and of wheat harvest; and she dwelt with her mother-in-law.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Naomi her mother-in-law said unto her, My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee?\r\n And now is not Boaz our kinsman, with whose maidens thou wast? Behold, he winnoweth barley to-night in the threshing-floor.\r\n Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the threshing-floor, but make not thyself known unto the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking.\r\n And it shall be, when he lieth down, that thou shalt mark the place where he shall lie, and thou shalt go in, and uncover his feet, and lay thee down; and he will tell thee what thou shalt do.\r\n And she said unto her, All that thou sayest I will do.\r\n And she went down unto the threshing-floor, and did according to all that her mother-in-law bade her.\r\n And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain: and she came softly, and uncovered his feet, and laid her down.\r\n And it came to pass at midnight, that the man was afraid, and turned himself; and, behold, a woman lay at his feet.\r\n And he said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thy handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thy handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman.\r\n And he said, Blessed be thou of Jehovah, my daughter: thou hast showed more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, inasmuch as thou followedst not young men, whether poor or rich.\r\n And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou sayest; for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a worthy woman.\r\n And now it is true that I am a near kinsman; howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I.\r\n Tarry this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if he will perform unto thee the part of a kinsman, well; let him do the kinsman`s part: but if he will not do the part of a kinsman to thee, then will I do the part of a kinsman to thee, as Jehovah liveth: lie down until the morning.\r\n And she lay at his feet until the morning. And she rose up before one could discern another. For he said, Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing-floor.\r\n And he said, Bring the mantle that is upon thee, and hold it; and she held it; and he measured six [measures] of barley, and laid it on her: and he went into the city.\r\n And when she came to her mother-in-law, she said, Who art thou, my daughter? And she told her all that the man had done to her.\r\n And she said, These six [measures] of barley gave he me; for he said, Go not empty unto thy mother-in-law.\r\n Then said she, Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall; for the man will not rest, until he have finished the thing this day.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now Boaz went up to the gate, and sat him down there: and, behold, the near kinsman of whom Boaz spake came by; unto whom he said, Ho, such a one! turn aside, sit down here. And he turned aside, and sat down.\r\n And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit ye down here. And they sat down.\r\n And he said unto the near kinsman, Naomi, that is come again out of the country of Moab, selleth the parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech`s:\r\n And I thought to disclose it unto thee, saying, Buy it before them that sit here, and before the elders of my people. If thou wilt redeem it, redeem it: but if thou wilt not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know; for there is none to redeem it besides thee; and I am after thee. And he said, I will redeem it.\r\n Then said Boaz, What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance.\r\n And the near kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar mine own inheritance: take thou my right of redemption on thee; for I cannot redeem it.\r\n Now this was [the custom] in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning exchanging, to confirm all things: a man drew off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbor; and this was the [manner of] attestation in Israel.\r\n So the near kinsman said unto Boaz, Buy it for thyself. And he drew off his shoe.\r\n And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech`s, and all that was Chilion`s and Mahlon`s, of the hand of Naomi.\r\n Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day.\r\n And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. Jehovah make the woman that is come into thy house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephrathah, and be famous in Bethlehem:\r\n and let thy house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bare unto Judah, of the seed which Jehovah shall give thee of this young woman.\r\n So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife; and he went in unto her, and Jehovah gave her conception, and she bare a son.\r\n And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be Jehovah, who hath not left thee this day without a near kinsman; and let his name be famous in Israel.\r\n And he shall be unto thee a restorer of life, and a nourisher of thine old age, for thy daughter-in-law, who loveth thee, who is better to thee than seven sons, hath borne him.\r\n And Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom, and became nurse unto it.\r\n And the women her neighbors gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David.\r\n Now these are the generations of Perez: Perez begat Hezron,\r\n and Hezron begat Ram, and Ram begat Amminadab,\r\n and Amminadab begat Nahshon, and Nahshon begat Salmon,\r\n and Salmon begat Boaz, and Boaz begat Obed,\r\n and Obed begat Jesse, and Jesse begat David.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim, of the hill-country of Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite:\r\n and he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.\r\n And this man went up out of his city from year to year to worship and to sacrifice unto Jehovah of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, priests unto Jehovah, were there.\r\n And when the day came that Elkanah sacrificed, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions:\r\n but unto Hannah he gave a double portion; for he loved Hannah, but Jehovah had shut up her womb.\r\n And her rival provoked her sore, to make her fret, because Jehovah had shut up her womb.\r\n And [as] he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of Jehovah, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat.\r\n And Elkanah her husband said unto her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? am not I better to thee than ten sons?\r\n So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest was sitting upon his seat by the door-post of the temple of Jehovah.\r\n And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto Jehovah, and wept sore.\r\n And she vowed a vow, and said, O Jehovah of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thy handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thy handmaid, but wilt give unto thy handmaid a man-child, then I will give him unto Jehovah all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.\r\n And it came to pass, as she continued praying before Jehovah, that Eli marked her mouth.\r\n Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.\r\n And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.\r\n And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I poured out my soul before Jehovah.\r\n Count not thy handmaid for a wicked woman; for out of the abundance of my complaint and my provocation have I spoken hitherto.\r\n Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace; and the God of Israel grant thy petition that thou hast asked of him.\r\n And she said, Let thy handmaid find favor in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat; and her countenance was no more [sad].\r\n And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before Jehovah, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and Jehovah remembered her.\r\n And it came to pass, when the time was come about, that Hannah conceived, and bare a son; and she called his name Samuel, [saying], Because I have asked him of Jehovah.\r\n And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto Jehovah the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.\r\n But Hannah went not up; for she said unto her husband, [I will not go up] until the child be weaned; and then I will bring him, that he may appear before Jehovah, and there abide for ever.\r\n And Elkanah her husband said unto her, Do what seemeth thee good; tarry until thou have weaned him; only Jehovah establish his word. So the woman tarried and gave her son suck, until she weaned him.\r\n And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of meal, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of Jehovah in Shiloh: and the child was young.\r\n And they slew the bullock, and brought the child to Eli.\r\n And she said, Oh, my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto Jehovah.\r\n For this child I prayed; and Jehovah hath given me my petition which I asked of him:\r\n therefore also I have granted him to Jehovah; as long as he liveth he is granted to Jehovah. And he worshipped Jehovah there.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Hannah prayed, and said: My heart exulteth in Jehovah; My horn is exalted in Jehovah; My mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; Because I rejoice in thy salvation.\r\n There is none holy as Jehovah; For there is none besides thee, Neither is there any rock like our God.\r\n Talk no more so exceeding proudly; Let not arrogancy come out of your mouth; For Jehovah is a God of knowledge, And by him actions are weighed.\r\n The bows of the mighty men are broken; And they that stumbled are girded with strength.\r\n They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; And they that were hungry have ceased [to hunger]: Yea, the barren hath borne seven; And she that hath many children languisheth.\r\n Jehovah killeth, and maketh alive: He bringeth down to Sheol, and bringeth up.\r\n Jehovah maketh poor, and maketh rich: He bringeth low, he also lifteth up.\r\n He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, He lifteth up the needy from the dunghill, To make them sit with princes, And inherit the throne of glory: For the pillars of the earth are Jehovah`s, And he hath set the world upon them.\r\n He will keep the feet of his holy ones; But the wicked shall be put to silence in darkness; For by strength shall no man prevail.\r\n They that strive with Jehovah shall be broken to pieces; Against them will he thunder in heaven: Jehovah will judge the ends of the earth; And he will give strength unto his king, And exalt the horn of his anointed.\r\n And Elkanah went to Ramah to his house. And the child did minister unto Jehovah before Eli the priest.\r\n Now the sons of Eli were base men; they knew not Jehovah.\r\n And the custom of the priests with the people was, that, when any man offered sacrifice, the priest`s servant came, while the flesh was boiling, with a flesh-hook of three teeth in his hand;\r\n and he struck it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the flesh-hook brought up the priest took therewith. So they did in Shiloh unto all the Israelites that came thither.\r\n Yea, before they burnt the fat, the priest`s servant came, and said to the man that sacrificed, Give flesh to roast for the priest; for he will not have boiled flesh of thee, but raw.\r\n And if the man said unto him, They will surely burn the fat first, and then take as much as thy soul desireth; then he would say, Nay, but thou shalt give it me now: and if not, I will take it by force.\r\n And the sin of the young men was very great before Jehovah; for the men despised the offering of Jehovah.\r\n But Samuel ministered before Jehovah, being a child, girded with a linen ephod.\r\n Moreover his mother made him a little robe, and brought it to him from year to year, when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.\r\n And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, Jehovah give thee seed of this woman for the petition which was asked of Jehovah. And they went unto their own home.\r\n And Jehovah visited Hannah, and she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before Jehovah.\r\n Now Eli was very old; and he heard all that his sons did unto all Israel, and how that they lay with the women that did service at the door of the tent of meeting.\r\n And he said unto them, Why do ye such things? for I hear of your evil dealings from all this people.\r\n Nay, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear: ye make Jehovah`s people to transgress.\r\n If one man sin against another, God shall judge him; but if a man sin against Jehovah, who shall entreat for him? Notwithstanding, they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because Jehovah was minded to slay them.\r\n And the child Samuel grew on, and increased in favor both with Jehovah, and also with men.\r\n And there came a man of God unto Eli, and said unto him, Thus saith Jehovah, Did I reveal myself unto the house of thy father, when they were in Egypt [in bondage] to Pharaoh`s house?\r\n and did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to go up unto mine altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? and did I give unto the house of thy father all the offerings of the children of Israel made by fire?\r\n Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering, which I have commanded in [my] habitation, and honorest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people?\r\n Therefore Jehovah, the God of Israel, saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now Jehovah saith, Be it far from me; for them that honor me I will honor, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.\r\n Behold, the days come, that I will cut off thine arm, and the arm of thy father`s house, that there shall not be an old man in thy house.\r\n And thou shalt behold the affliction of [my] habitation, in all the wealth which [God] shall give Israel; and there shall not be an old man in thy house for ever.\r\n And the man of thine, [whom] I shall not cut off from mine altar, [shall be] to consume thine eyes, and to grieve thy heart; and all the increase of thy house shall die in the flower of their age.\r\n And this shall be the sign unto thee, that shall come upon thy two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas: in one day they shall die both of them.\r\n And I will raise me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in my heart and in my mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before mine anointed for ever.\r\n And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left in thy house shall come and bow down to him for a piece of silver and a loaf of bread, and shall say, Put me, I pray thee, into one of the priests` offices, that I may eat a morsel of bread.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the child Samuel ministered unto Jehovah before Eli. And the word of Jehovah was precious in those days; there was no frequent vision.\r\n And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place (now his eyes had begun to wax dim, so that he could not see),\r\n and the lamp of God was not yet gone out, and Samuel was laid down [to sleep], in the temple of Jehovah, where the ark of God was;\r\n that Jehovah called Samuel; and he said, Here am I.\r\n And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down.\r\n And Jehovah called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again.\r\n Now Samuel did not yet know Jehovah, neither was the word of Jehovah yet revealed unto him.\r\n And Jehovah called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And Eli perceived that Jehovah had called the child.\r\n Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, Jehovah; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place.\r\n And Jehovah came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel said, Speak; for thy servant heareth.\r\n And Jehovah said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle.\r\n In that day I will perform against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from the beginning even unto the end.\r\n For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever, for the iniquity which he knew, because his sons did bring a curse upon themselves, and he restrained them not.\r\n And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli`s house shall not be expiated with sacrifice nor offering for ever.\r\n And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of Jehovah. And Samuel feared to show Eli the vision.\r\n Then Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel, my son. And he said, Here am I.\r\n And he said, What is the thing that [Jehovah] hath spoken unto thee? I pray thee, hide it not from me: God do so to thee, and more also, if thou hide anything from me of all the things that he spake unto thee.\r\n And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, It is Jehovah: let him do what seemeth him good.\r\n And Samuel grew, and Jehovah was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground.\r\n And all Israel from Dan even to Beer-sheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of Jehovah.\r\n And Jehovah appeared again in Shiloh; for Jehovah revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of Jehovah.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out against the Philistines to battle, and encamped beside Eben-ezer: and the Philistines encamped in Aphek.\r\n And the Philistines put themselves in array against Israel: and when they joined battle, Israel was smitten before the Philistines; and they slew of the army in the field about four thousand men.\r\n And when the people were come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, Wherefore hath Jehovah smitten us to-day before the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of Jehovah out of Shiloh unto us, that it may come among us, and save us out of the hand of our enemies.\r\n So the people sent to Shiloh; and they brought from thence the ark of the covenant of Jehovah of hosts, who sitteth [above] the cherubim: and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.\r\n And when the ark of the covenant of Jehovah came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth rang again.\r\n And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, What meaneth the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews? And they understood that the ark of Jehovah was come into the camp.\r\n And the Philistines were afraid, for they said, God is come into the camp. And they said, Woe unto us! for there hath not been such a thing heretofore.\r\n Woe unto us! who shall deliver us out of the hand of these mighty gods? these are the gods that smote the Egyptians with all manner of plagues in the wilderness.\r\n Be strong, and quit yourselves like men, O ye Philistines, that ye be not servants unto the Hebrews, as they have been to you: quit yourselves like men, and fight.\r\n And the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten, and they fled every man to his tent: and there was a very great slaughter; for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen.\r\n And the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain.\r\n And there ran a man of Benjamin out of the army, and came to Shiloh the same day, with his clothes rent, and with earth upon his head.\r\n And when he came, lo, Eli was sitting upon his seat by the wayside watching; for his heart trembled for the ark of God. And when the man came into the city, and told it, all the city cried out.\r\n And when Eli heard the noise of the crying, he said, What meaneth the noise of this tumult? And the man hasted, and came and told Eli.\r\n Now Eli was ninety and eight years old; and his eyes were set, so that he could not see.\r\n And the man said unto Eli, I am he that came out of the army, and I fled to-day out of the army. And he said, How went the matter, my son?\r\n And he that brought the tidings answered and said, Israel is fled before the Philistines, and there hath been also a great slaughter among the people, and thy two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God is taken.\r\n And it came to pass, when he made mention of the ark of God, that [Eli] feel from off his seat backward by the side of the gate; and his neck brake, and he died: for he was an old man, and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years.\r\n And his daughter-in-law, Phinehas` wife, was with child, near to be delivered: and when she heard the tidings that the ark of God was taken, and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and brought forth; for her pains came upon her.\r\n And about the time of her death the women that stood by her said unto her, Fear not; for thou hast brought forth a son. But she answered not, neither did she regard it.\r\n And she named the child Ichabod, saying, The glory is departed from Israel; because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father-in-law and her husband.\r\n And she said, The glory is departed from Israel; for the ark of God is taken.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now the Philistines had taken the ark of God, and they brought it from Eben-ezer unto Ashdod.\r\n And the Philistines took the ark of God, and brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon.\r\n And when they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of Jehovah. And they took Dagon, and set him in his place again.\r\n And when they arose early on the morrow morning, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of Jehovah; and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands [lay] cut off upon the threshold; only [the stump of] Dagon was left to him.\r\n Therefore neither the priests of Dagon, nor any that come into Dagon`s house, tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod, unto this day.\r\n But the hand of Jehovah was heavy upon them of Ashdod, and he destroyed them, and smote them with tumors, even Ashdod and the borders thereof.\r\n And when the men of Ashdod saw that it was so, they said, The ark of the God of Israel shall not abide with us; for his hand is sore upon us, and upon Dagon our god.\r\n They sent therefore and gathered all the lords of the Philistines unto them, and said, What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel? And they answered, Let the ark of the God of Israel be carried about unto Gath. And they carried the ark of the God of Israel [thither].\r\n And it was so, that, after they had carried it about, the hand of Jehovah was against the city with a very great discomfiture: and he smote the men of the city, both small and great; and tumors brake out upon them.\r\n So they sent the ark of God to Ekron. And it came to pass, as the ark of God came to Ekron, that the Ekronites cried out, saying, They have brought about the ark of the God of Israel to us, to slay us and our people.\r\n They sent therefore and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and they said, Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it go again to its own place, that is slay us not, and our people. For there was a deadly discomfiture throughout all the city; the hand of God was very heavy there.\r\n And the men that died not were smitten with the tumors; and the cry of the city went up to heaven.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the ark of Jehovah was in the country of the Philistines seven months.\r\n And the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners, saying, What shall we do with the ark of Jehovah? show us wherewith we shall sent it to its place.\r\n And they said, If ye send away the ark of the God of Israel, send it not empty; but by all means return him a trespass-offering: then ye shall be healed, and it shall be known to you why his hand is not removed from you.\r\n Then said they, What shall be the trespass-offering which we shall return to him? And they said, Five golden tumors, and five golden mice, [according to] the number of the lords of the Philistines; for one plague was on you all, and on your lords.\r\n Wherefore ye shall make images of your tumors, and images of your mice that mar the land; and ye shall give glory unto the God of Israel: peradventure he will lighten his hand from off you, and from off your gods, and from off your land.\r\n Wherefore then do ye harden your hearts, as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? When he had wrought wonderfully among them, did they not let the people go, and they departed?\r\n Now therefore take and prepare you a new cart, and two milch kine, on which there hath come no yoke; and tie the kine to the cart, and bring their calves home from them;\r\n and take the ark of Jehovah, and lay it upon the cart; and put the jewels of gold, which ye return him for a trespass-offering, in a coffer by the side thereof; and send it away, that it may go.\r\n And see; if it goeth up by the way of its own border to Beth-shemesh, then he hath done us this great evil: but if not, then we shall know that it is not his hand that smote us; it was a chance that happened to us.\r\n And the men did so, and took two milch kine, and tied them to the cart, and shut up their calves at home;\r\n and they put the ark of Jehovah upon the cart, and the coffer with the mice of gold and the images of their tumors.\r\n And the kine took the straight way by the way to Beth-shemesh; they went along the highway, lowing as they went, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left; and the lords of the Philistines went after them unto the border of Beth-shemesh.\r\n And they of Beth-shemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley; and they lifted up their eyes, and saw the ark, and rejoiced to see it.\r\n And the cart came into the field of Joshua the Beth-shemite, and stood there, where there was a great stone: and they clave the wood of the cart, and offered up the kine for a burnt-offering unto Jehovah.\r\n And the Levites took down the ark of Jehovah, and the coffer that was with it, wherein the jewels of gold were, and put them on the great stone: and the men of Beth-shemesh offered burnt-offerings and sacrificed sacrifices the same day unto Jehovah.\r\n And when the five lords of the Philistines had seen it, they returned to Ekron the same day.\r\n And these are the golden tumors which the Philistines returned for a trespass-offering unto Jehovah: for Ashdod one, for Gaza one, for Ashkelon one, for Gath one, for Ekron one;\r\n and the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both of fortified cities and of country villages, even unto the great stone, whereon they set down the ark of Jehovah, [which stone remaineth] unto this day in the field of Joshua the Beth-shemite.\r\n And he smote of the men of Beth-shemesh, because they had looked into the ark of Jehovah, he smote of the people seventy men, [and] fifty thousand men; and the people mourned, because Jehovah had smitten the people with a great slaughter.\r\n And the men of Beth-shemesh said, Who is able to stand before Jehovah, this holy God? and to whom shall he go up from us?\r\n And they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kiriath-jearim, saying, The Philistines have brought back the ark of Jehovah; come ye down, and fetch it up to you.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the men of Kiriath-jearim came, and fetched up the ark of Jehovah, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill, and sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of Jehovah.\r\n And it came to pass, from the day that the ark abode in Kiriath-jearim, that the time was long; for it was twenty years: and all the house of Israel lamented after Jehovah.\r\n And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto Jehovah with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you, and direct your hearts unto Jehovah, and serve him only; and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.\r\n Then the children of Israel did put away the Baalim and the Ashtaroth, and served Jehovah only.\r\n And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray for you unto Jehovah.\r\n And they gathered together to Mizpah, and drew water, and poured it out before Jehovah, and fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against Jehovah. And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpah.\r\n And when the Philistines heard that the children of Israel were gathered together to Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the children of Israel heard it, they were afraid of the Philistines.\r\n And the children of Israel said to Samuel, Cease not to cry unto Jehovah our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines.\r\n And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a whole burnt-offering unto Jehovah: and Samuel cried unto Jehovah for Israel; and Jehovah answered him.\r\n And as Samuel was offering up the burnt-offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel; but Jehovah thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and discomfited them; and they were smitten down before Israel.\r\n And the men of Israel went out of Mizpah, and pursued the Philistines, and smote them, until they came under Beth-car.\r\n Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and called the name of it Eben-ezer, saying, Hitherto hath Jehovah helped us.\r\n So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more within the border of Israel: and the hand of Jehovah was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.\r\n And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even unto Gath; and the border thereof did Israel deliver out of the hand of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.\r\n And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.\r\n And he went from year to year in circuit to Beth-el and Gilgal, and Mizpah; and he judged Israel in all those places.\r\n And his return was to Ramah, for there was his house; and there he judged Israel: and he built there an altar unto Jehovah.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel.\r\n Now the name of his first-born was Joel; and the name of his second, Abijah: they were judges in Beer-sheba.\r\n And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted justice.\r\n Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah;\r\n and they said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.\r\n But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto Jehovah.\r\n And Jehovah said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee; for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not be king over them.\r\n According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, in that they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee.\r\n Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit thou shalt protest solemnly unto them, and shalt show them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.\r\n And Samuel told all the words of Jehovah unto the people that asked of him a king.\r\n And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: he will take your sons, and appoint them unto him, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and they shall run before his chariots;\r\n and he will appoint them unto him for captains of thousands, and captains of fifties; and [he will set some] to plow his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and the instruments of his chariots.\r\n And he will take your daughters to be perfumers, and to be cooks, and to be bakers.\r\n And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants.\r\n And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants.\r\n And he will take your men-servants, and your maid-servants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work.\r\n He will take the tenth of your flocks: and ye shall be his servants.\r\n And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king whom ye shall have chosen you; and Jehovah will not answer you in that day.\r\n But the people refused to hearken unto the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay: but we will have a king over us,\r\n that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.\r\n And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of Jehovah.\r\n And Jehovah said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye every man unto his city.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah, the son of a Benjamite, a mighty man of valor.\r\n And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a young man and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people.\r\n And the asses of Kish, Saul`s father, were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son, Take now one of the servants with thee, and arise, go seek the asses.\r\n And he passed through the hill-country of Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalishah, but they found them not: then they passed through the land of Shaalim, and there they were not: and he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they found them not.\r\n When they were come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant that was with him, Come, and let us return, lest my father leave off caring for the asses, and be anxious for us.\r\n And he said unto him, Behold now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is a man that is held in honor; all that he saith cometh surely to pass: now let us go thither; peradventure he can tell us concerning our journey whereon we go.\r\n Then said Saul to his servant, But, behold, if we go, what shall we bring the man? for the bread is spent in our vessels, and there is not a present to bring to the man of God: what have we?\r\n And the servant answered Saul again, and said, Behold, I have in my hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver: that will I give to the man of God, to tell us our way.\r\n (Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, thus he said, Come, and let us go to the seer; for he that is now called a Prophet was beforetime called a Seer.)\r\n Then said Saul to his servant, Well said; come, let us go. So they went unto the city where the man of God was.\r\n As they went up the ascent to the city, they found young maidens going out to draw water, and said unto them, Is the seer here?\r\n And they answered them, and said, He is; behold, [he is] before thee: make haste now, for he is come to-day into the city; for the people have a sacrifice to-day in the high place:\r\n as soon as ye are come into the city, ye shall straightway find him, before he goeth up to the high place to eat; for the people will not eat until he come, because he doth bless the sacrifice; [and] afterwards they eat that are bidden. Now therefore get you up; for at this time ye shall find him.\r\n And they went up to the city; [and] as they came within the city, behold, Samuel came out toward them, to go up to the high place.\r\n Now Jehovah had revealed unto Samuel a day before Saul came, saying,\r\n To-morrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin, and thou shalt anoint him to be prince over my people Israel; and he shall save my people out of the hand of the Philistines: for I have looked upon my people, because their cry is come unto me.\r\n And when Samuel saw Saul, Jehovah said unto him, Behold, the man of whom I spake to thee! this same shall have authority over my people.\r\n Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, where the seer`s house is.\r\n And Samuel answered Saul, and said, I am the seer; go up before me unto the high place, for ye shall eat with me to-day: and in the morning I will let thee go, and will tell thee all that is in thy heart.\r\n And as for thine asses that were lost three days ago, set not they mind on them; for they are found. And for whom is all that is desirable in Israel? Is it not for thee, and for all thy father`s house?\r\n And Saul answered and said, Am not I a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? wherefore then speakest thou to me after this manner?\r\n And Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them into the guest-chamber, and made them sit in the chiefest place among them that were bidden, who were about thirty persons.\r\n And Samuel said unto the cook, Bring the portion which I gave thee, of which I said unto thee, Set it by thee.\r\n And the cook took up the thigh, and that which was upon it, and set it before Saul. And [Samuel] said, Behold, that which hath been reserved! set it before thee and eat; because unto the appointed time hath it been kept for thee, for I said, I have invited the people. So Saul did eat with Samuel that day.\r\n And when they were come down from the high place into the city, he communed with Saul upon the housetop.\r\n And they arose early: and it came to pass about the spring of the day, that Samuel called to Saul on the housetop, saying, Up, that I may send thee away. And Saul arose, and they went out both of them, he and Samuel, abroad.\r\n As they were going down at the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Bid the servant pass on before us (and he passed on), but stand thou still first, that I may cause thee to hear the word of God.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then Samuel took the vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not that Jehovah hath anointed thee to be prince over his inheritance?\r\n When thou art departed from me to-day, then thou shalt find two men by Rachel`s sepulchre, in the border of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will say unto thee, The asses which thou wentest to seek are found; and, lo, thy father hath left off caring for the asses, and is anxious for you, saying, What shall I do for my son?\r\n Then shalt thou go on forward from thence, and thou shalt come to the oak of Tabor; and there shall meet thee there three men going up to God to Beth-el, one carrying three kids, and another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a bottle of wine:\r\n and they will salute thee, and give thee two loaves of bread, which thou shalt receive of their hand.\r\n After that thou shalt come to the hill of God, where is the garrison of the Philistines: and it shall come to pass, when thou art come thither to the city, that thou shalt meet a band of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and a timbrel, and a pipe, and a harp, before them; and they will be prophesying:\r\n and the Spirit of Jehovah will come mightily upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man.\r\n And let it be, when these signs are come unto thee, that thou do as occasion shall serve thee; for God is with thee.\r\n And thou shalt go down before me to Gilgal; and, behold, I will come down unto thee, to offer burnt-offerings, and to sacrifice sacrifices of peace-offerings: seven days shalt thou tarry, till I come unto thee, and show thee what thou shalt do.\r\n And it was so, that, when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart: and all those signs came to pass that day.\r\n And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a band of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came mightily upon him, and he prophesied among them.\r\n And it came to pass, when all that knew him beforetime saw that, behold, he prophesied with the prophets, then the people said one to another, What is this that is come unto the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?\r\n And one of the same place answered and said, And who is their father? Therefore it became a proverb, Is Saul also among the prophets?\r\n And when he had made an end of prophesying, he came to the high place.\r\n And Saul`s uncle said unto him and to his servant, Whither went ye? And he said, To seek the asses; and when we saw that they were not found, we came to Samuel.\r\n And Saul`s uncle said, Tell me, I pray thee, what Samuel said unto you.\r\n And Saul said unto his uncle, He told us plainly that the asses were found. But concerning the matter of the kingdom, whereof Samuel spake, he told him not.\r\n And Samuel called the people together unto Jehovah to Mizpah;\r\n and he said unto the children of Israel, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all the kingdoms that oppressed you:\r\n but ye have this day rejected your God, who himself saveth you out of all your calamities and your distresses; and ye have said unto him, [Nay], but set a king over us. Now therefore present yourselves before Jehovah by your tribes, and by your thousands.\r\n So Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near, and the tribe of Benjamin was taken.\r\n And he brought the tribe of Benjamin near by their families; and the family of the Matrites was taken; and Saul the son of Kish was taken: but when they sought him, he could not be found.\r\n Therefore they asked of Jehovah further, Is there yet a man to come hither? And Jehovah answered, Behold, he hath hid himself among the baggage.\r\n And they ran and fetched him thence; and when he stood among the people, he was higher than any of the people from his shoulders and upward.\r\n And Samuel said to all the people, See ye him whom Jehovah hath chosen, that there is none like him along all the people? And all the people shouted, and said, [Long] live the king.\r\n Then Samuel told the people the manner of the kingdom, and wrote it in a book, and laid it up before Jehovah. And Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house.\r\n And Saul also went to his house to Gibeah; and there went with him the host, whose hearts God had touched.\r\n But certain worthless fellows said, How shall this man save us? And they despised him, and brought him no present. But he held his peace.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against Jabesh-gilead: and all the men of Jabesh said unto Nahash, Make a covenant with us, and we will serve thee.\r\n And Nahash the Ammonite said unto them, On this condition will I make it with you, that all your right eyes be put out; and I will lay it for a reproach upon all Israel.\r\n And the elders of Jabesh said unto him, Give us seven days` respite, that we may send messengers unto all the borders of Israel; and then, if there be none to save us, we will come out to thee.\r\n Then came the messengers to Gibeah of Saul, and spake these words in the ears of the people: and all the people lifted up their voice, and wept.\r\n And, behold, Saul came following the oxen out of the field; and Saul said, What aileth the people that they weep? And they told him the words of the men of Jabesh.\r\n And the Spirit of God came mightily upon Saul when he heard those words, and his anger was kindled greatly.\r\n And he took a yoke of oxen, and cut them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the borders of Israel by the hand of messengers, saying, Whosoever cometh not forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done unto his oxen. And the dread of Jehovah fell on the people, and they came out as one man.\r\n And he numbered them in Bezek; and the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand.\r\n And they said unto the messengers that came, Thus shall ye say unto the men of Jabesh-gilead, To-morrow, by the time the sun is hot, ye shall have deliverance. And the messengers came and told the men of Jabesh; and they were glad.\r\n Therefore the men of Jabesh said, To-morrow we will come out unto you, and ye shall do with us all that seemeth good unto you.\r\n And it was so on the morrow, that Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the camp in the morning watch, and smote the Ammonites until the heat of the day: and it came to pass, that they that remained were scattered, so that not two of them were left together.\r\n And the people said unto Samuel, Who is he that said, Shall Saul reign over us? bring the men, that we may put them to death.\r\n And Saul said, There shall not a man be put to death this day; for to-day Jehovah hath wrought deliverance in Israel.\r\n Then said Samuel to the people, Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there.\r\n And all the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul king before Jehovah in Gilgal; and there they offered sacrifices of peace-offerings before Jehovah; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Samuel said unto all Israel, Behold, I have hearkened unto your voice in all that ye said unto me, and have made a king over you.\r\n And now, behold, the king walketh before you; and I am old and grayheaded; and, behold, my sons are with you: and I have walked before you from my youth unto this day.\r\n Here I am: witness against me before Jehovah, and before his anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or of whose hand have I taken a ransom to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it you.\r\n And they said, Thou hast not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither hast thou taken aught of any man`s hand.\r\n And he said unto them, Jehovah is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that ye have not found aught in my hand. And they said, He is witness.\r\n And Samuel said unto the people, It is Jehovah that appointed Moses and Aaron, and that brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt.\r\n Now therefore stand still, that I may plead with you before Jehovah concerning all the righteous acts of Jehovah, which he did to you and to your fathers.\r\n When Jacob was come into Egypt, and your fathers cried unto Jehovah, then Jehovah sent Moses and Aaron, who brought forth your fathers out of Egypt, and made them to dwell in this place.\r\n But they forgat Jehovah their God; and he sold them into the hand of Sisera, captain of the host of Hazor, and into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab; and they fought against them.\r\n And they cried unto Jehovah, and said, We have sinned, because we have forsaken Jehovah, and have served the Baalim and the Ashtaroth: but now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, and we will serve thee.\r\n And Jehovah sent Jerubbaal, and Bedan, and Jephthah, and Samuel, and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side; and ye dwelt in safety.\r\n And when ye saw that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon came against you, ye said unto me, Nay, but a king shall reign over us; when Jehovah your God was your king.\r\n Now therefore behold the king whom ye have chosen, and whom ye have asked for: and, behold, Jehovah hath set a king over you.\r\n If ye will fear Jehovah, and serve him, and hearken unto his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of Jehovah, and both ye and also the king that reigneth over you be followers of Jehovah your God, [well]:\r\n but if ye will not hearken unto the voice of Jehovah, but rebel against the commandment of Jehovah, then will the hand of Jehovah be against you, as it was against your fathers.\r\n Now therefore stand still and see this great thing, which Jehovah will do before your eyes.\r\n Is it not wheat harvest to-day? I will call unto Jehovah, that he may send thunder and rain; and ye shall know and see that your wickedness is great, which ye have done in the sight of Jehovah, in asking you a king.\r\n So Samuel called unto Jehovah; and Jehovah sent thunder and rain that day: and all the people greatly feared Jehovah and Samuel.\r\n And all the people said unto Samuel, Pray for thy servants unto Jehovah thy God, that we die not; for we have added unto all our sins [this] evil, to ask us a king.\r\n And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not; ye have indeed done all this evil; yet turn not aside from following Jehovah, but serve Jehovah with all your heart:\r\n and turn ye not aside; for [then would ye go] after vain things which cannot profit nor deliver, for they are vain.\r\n For Jehovah will not forsake his people for his great name`s sake, because it hath pleased Jehovah to make you a people unto himself.\r\n Moreover as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against Jehovah in ceasing to pray for you: but I will instruct you in the good and the right way.\r\n Only fear Jehovah, and serve him in truth with all your heart; for consider how great things he hath done for you.\r\n But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both ye and your king.\r\n \r\n \r\n Saul was [forty] years old when he began to reign; and when he had reigned two years over Israel,\r\n Saul chose him three thousand men of Israel, whereof two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and in the mount of Beth-el, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin: and the rest of the people he sent every man to his tent.\r\n And Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba: and the Philistines heard of it. And Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, Let the Hebrews hear.\r\n And all Israel heard say that Saul had smitten the garrison of the Philistines, and also that Israel was had in abomination with the Philistines. And the people were gathered together after Saul to Gilgal.\r\n And the Philistines assembled themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which is on the sea-shore in multitude: and they came up, and encamped in Michmash, eastward of Beth-aven.\r\n When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait (for the people were distressed), then the people did hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in coverts, and in pits.\r\n Now some of the Hebrews had gone over the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead; but as for Saul, he was yet in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.\r\n And he tarried seven days, according to the set time that Samuel [had appointed]: but Samuel came not to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him.\r\n And Saul said, Bring hither the burnt-offering to me, and the peace-offerings. And he offered the burnt-offering.\r\n And it came to pass that, as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt-offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might salute him.\r\n And Samuel said, What hast thou done? And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that thou camest not within the days appointed, and that the Philistines assembled themselves together at Michmash;\r\n therefore said I, Now will the Philistines come down upon me to Gilgal, and I have not entreated the favor of Jehovah: I forced myself therefore, and offered the burnt-offering.\r\n And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly; thou hast not kept the commandment of Jehovah thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would Jehovah have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever.\r\n But now thy kingdom shall not continue: Jehovah hath sought him a man after his own heart, and Jehovah hath appointed him to be prince over his people, because thou hast not kept that which Jehovah commanded thee.\r\n And Samuel arose, and gat him up from Gilgal unto Gibeah of Benjamin. And Saul numbered the people that were present with him, about six hundred men.\r\n And Saul, and Jonathan his son, and the people that were present with them, abode in Geba of Benjamin: but the Philistines encamped in Michmash.\r\n And the spoilers came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies: one company turned unto the way that leadeth to Ophrah, unto the land of Shual;\r\n and another company turned the way to Beth-horon; and another company turned the way of the border that looketh down upon the valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness.\r\n Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel; for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears:\r\n but all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his share, and his coulter, and his axe, and his mattock;\r\n yet they had a file for the mattocks, and for the coulters, and for the forks, and for the axes, and to set the goads.\r\n So it came to pass in the day of battle, that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people that were with Saul and Jonathan: but with Saul and with Jonathan his son was there found.\r\n And the garrison of the Philistines went out unto the pass of Michmash.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now it fell upon a day, that Jonathan the son of Saul said unto the young man that bare his armor, Come, and let us go over to the Philistines` garrison, that is on yonder side. But he told not his father.\r\n And Saul abode in the uttermost part of Gibeah under the pomegranate-tree which is in Migron: and the people that were with him were about six hundred men;\r\n and Ahijah, the son of Ahitub, Ichabod`s brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the priest of Jehovah in Shiloh, wearing an ephod. And the people knew not that Jonathan was gone.\r\n And between the passes, by which Jonathan sought to go over unto the Philistines` garrison, there was a rocky crag on the one side, and a rocky crag on the other side: and the name of the one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh.\r\n The one crag rose up on the north in front of Michmash, and the other on the south in front of Geba.\r\n And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armor, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that Jehovah will work for us; for there is no restraint to Jehovah to save by many or by few.\r\n And his armorbearer said unto him, Do all that is in thy heart: turn thee, behold, I am with thee according to thy heart.\r\n Then said Jonathan, Behold, we will pass over unto the men, and we will disclose ourselves unto them.\r\n If they say thus unto us, Tarry until we come to you; then we will stand still in our place, and will not go up unto them.\r\n But if they say thus, Come up unto us; then we will go up; for Jehovah hath delivered them into our hand: and this shall be the sign unto us.\r\n And both of them disclosed themselves unto the garrison of the Philistines: and the Philistines said, Behold, the Hebrews come forth out of the holes where they had hid themselves.\r\n And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armorbearer, and said, Come up to us, and we will show you a thing. And Jonathan said unto his armorbearer, Come up after me; for Jehovah hath delivered them into the hand of Israel.\r\n And Jonathan climbed up upon his hands and upon his feet, and his armorbearer after him: and they fell before Jonathan; and his armorbearer slew them after him.\r\n And that first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armorbearer made, was about twenty men, within as it were half a furrow`s length in an acre of land.\r\n And there was a trembling in the camp, in the field, and among all the people; the garrison, and the spoilers, they also trembled; and the earth quaked: so there was an exceeding great trembling.\r\n And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked; and, behold, the multitude melted away, and they went [hither] and thither.\r\n Then said Saul unto the people that were with him, Number now, and see who is gone from us. And when they had numbered, behold, Jonathan and his armorbearer were not there.\r\n And Saul said unto Ahijah, Bring hither the ark of God. For the ark of God was [there] at that time with the children of Israel.\r\n And it came to pass, while Saul talked unto the priest, that the tumult that was in the camp of the Philistines went on and increased: and Saul said unto the priest, Withdraw thy hand.\r\n And Saul and all the people that were with him were gathered together, and came to the battle: and, behold, every man`s sword was against his fellow, [and there was] a very great discomfiture.\r\n Now the Hebrews that were with the Philistines as beforetime, and that went up with them into the camp, [from the country] round about, even they also [turned] to be with the Israelites that were with Saul and Jonathan.\r\n Likewise all the men of Israel that had hid themselves in the hill-country of Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines fled, even they also followed hard after them in the battle.\r\n So Jehovah saved Israel that day: and the battle passed over by Beth-aven.\r\n And the men of Israel were distressed that day; for Saul had adjured the people, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food until it be evening, and I be avenged on mine enemies. So none of the people tasted food.\r\n And all the people came into the forest; and there was honey upon the ground.\r\n And when the people were come unto the forest, behold, the honey dropped: but no man put his hand to his mouth; for the people feared the oath.\r\n But Jonathan heard not when his father charged the people with the oath: wherefore he put forth the end of the rod that was in his hand, and dipped it in the honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes were enlightened.\r\n Then answered one of the people, and said, Thy father straitly charged the people with an oath, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth food this day. And the people were faint.\r\n Then said Jonathan, My father hath troubled the land: see, I pray you, how mine eyes have been enlightened, because I tasted a little of this honey.\r\n How much more, if haply the people had eaten freely to-day of the spoil of their enemies which they found? for now hath there been no great slaughter among the Philistines.\r\n And they smote of the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon. And the people were very faint;\r\n and the people flew upon the spoil, and took sheep, and oxen, and calves, and slew them on the ground; and the people did eat them with the blood.\r\n Then they told Saul, saying, Behold, the people sin against Jehovah, in that they eat with the blood. And he said, ye have dealt treacherously: roll a great stone unto me this day.\r\n And Saul said, Disperse yourselves among the people, and say unto them, Bring me hither every man his ox, and every man his sheep, and slay them here, and eat; and sin not against Jehovah in eating with the blood. And all the people brought every man his ox with him that night, and slew them there.\r\n And Saul built an altar unto Jehovah: the same was the first altar that he built unto Jehovah.\r\n And Saul said, Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and take spoil among them until the morning light, and let us not leave a man of them. And they said, Do whatsoever seemeth good unto thee. Then said the priest, Let us draw near hither unto God.\r\n And Saul asked counsel of God, Shall I go down after the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into the hand of Israel? But he answered him not that day.\r\n And Saul said, Draw nigh hither, all ye chiefs of the people; and know and see wherein this sin hath been this day.\r\n For, as Jehovah liveth, who saveth Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die. But there was not a man among all the people that answered him.\r\n Then said he unto all Israel, Be ye on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side. And the people said unto Saul, Do what seemeth good unto thee.\r\n Therefore Saul said unto Jehovah, the God of Israel, Show the right. And Jonathan and Saul were taken [by lot]; but the people escaped.\r\n And Saul said, Cast [lots] between me and Jonathan my son. And Jonathan was taken.\r\n Then Saul said to Jonathan, Tell me what thou hast done. And Jonathan told him, and said, I did certainly taste a little honey with the end of the rod that was in my hand; and, lo, I must die.\r\n And Saul said, God do so and more also; for thou shalt surely die, Jonathan.\r\n And the people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel? Far from it: as Jehovah liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he hath wrought with God this day. So the people rescued Jonathan, that he died not.\r\n Then Saul went up from following the Philistines; and the Philistines went to their own place.\r\n Now when Saul had taken the kingdom over Israel, he fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, and against the children of Ammon, and against Edom, and against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines: and whithersoever he turned himself, he put [them] to the worse.\r\n And he did valiantly, and smote the Amalekites, and delivered Israel out of the hands of them that despoiled them.\r\n Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, and Ishvi, and Malchishua; and the names of his two daughters were these: the name of the first-born Merab, and the name of the younger Michal:\r\n and the name of Saul`s wife was Ahinoam the daughter of Ahimaaz. And the name of the captain of his host was Abner the son of Ner, Saul`s uncle.\r\n And Kish was the father of Saul; and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel.\r\n And there was sore war against the Philistines all the days of Saul: and when Saul saw any mighty man, or any valiant man, he took him unto him.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Samuel said unto Saul, Jehovah sent me to anoint thee to be king over his people, over Israel: now therefore hearken thou unto the voice of the words of Jehovah.\r\n Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, I have marked that which Amalek did to Israel, how he set himself against him in the way, when he came up out of Egypt.\r\n Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.\r\n And Saul summoned the people, and numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand footmen, and ten thousand men of Judah.\r\n And Saul came to the city of Amalek, and laid wait in the valley.\r\n And Saul said unto the Kenites, Go, depart, get you down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them; for ye showed kindness to all the children of Israel, when they came up out of Egypt. So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites.\r\n And Saul smote the Amalekites, from Havilah as thou goest to Shur, that is before Egypt.\r\n And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword.\r\n But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but everything that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.\r\n Then came the word of Jehovah unto Samuel, saying,\r\n It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king; for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And Samuel was wroth; and he cried unto Jehovah all night.\r\n And Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning; and it was told Samuel, saying, Saul came to Carmel, and, behold, he set him up a monument, and turned, and passed on, and went down to Gilgal.\r\n And Samuel came to Saul; and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of Jehovah: I have performed the commandment of Jehovah.\r\n And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?\r\n And Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites: for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto Jehovah thy God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed.\r\n Then Samuel said unto Saul, Stay, and I will tell thee what Jehovah hath said to me this night. And he said unto him, Say on.\r\n And Samuel said, Though thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel? And Jehovah anointed thee king over Israel;\r\n and Jehovah sent thee on a journey, and said, Go, and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be consumed.\r\n Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of Jehovah, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah?\r\n And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of Jehovah, and have gone the way which Jehovah sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.\r\n But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the devoted things, to sacrifice unto Jehovah thy God in Gilgal.\r\n And Samuel said, Hath Jehovah as great delight in burnt-offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of Jehovah? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.\r\n For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as idolatry and teraphim. Because thou hast rejected the word of Jehovah, he hath also rejected thee from being king.\r\n And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned; for I have transgressed the commandment of Jehovah, and thy words, because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.\r\n Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship Jehovah.\r\n And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee; for thou hast rejected the word of Jehovah, and Jehovah hath rejected thee from being king over Israel.\r\n And as Samuel turned about to go away, [Saul] laid hold upon the skirt of his robe, and it rent.\r\n And Samuel said unto him, Jehovah hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbor of thine, that is better than thou.\r\n And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent; for he is not a man, that he should repent.\r\n Then he said, I have sinned: yet honor me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship Jehovah thy God.\r\n So Samuel turned again after Saul; and Saul worshipped Jehovah.\r\n Then said Samuel, Bring ye hither to me Agag the king of the Amalekites. And Agag came unto him cheerfully. And Agag said, Surely the bitterness of death is past.\r\n And Samuel said, As thy sword hath made women childless, so shall thy mother be childless among women. And Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before Jehovah in Gilgal.\r\n Then Samuel went to Ramah; and Saul went up to his house to Gibeah of Saul.\r\n And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death; for Samuel mourned for Saul: and Jehovah repented that he had made Saul king over Israel.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Jehovah said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from being king over Israel? fill thy horn with oil, and go: I will send thee to Jesse the Beth-lehemite; for I have provided me a king among his sons.\r\n And Samuel said, How can I go? if Saul hear it, he will kill me. And Jehovah said, Take a heifer with thee, and say, I am come to sacrifice to Jehovah.\r\n And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show thee what thou shalt do: and thou shalt anoint unto me him whom I name unto thee.\r\n And Samuel did that which Jehovah spake, and came to Beth-lehem. And the elders of the city came to meet him trembling, and said, Comest thou peaceably?\r\n And he said, Peaceably; I am come to sacrifice unto Jehovah: sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice.\r\n And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely Jehovah`s anointed is before him.\r\n But Jehovah said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have rejected him: for [Jehovah seeth] not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but Jehovah looketh on the heart.\r\n Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, Neither hath Jehovah chosen this.\r\n Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither hath Jehovah chosen this.\r\n And Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Jehovah hath not chosen these.\r\n And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he is keeping the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him; for we will not sit down till he come hither.\r\n And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look upon. And Jehovah said, Arise, anoint him; for this is he.\r\n Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of Jehovah came mightily upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.\r\n Now the Spirit of Jehovah departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from Jehovah troubled him.\r\n And Saul`s servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee.\r\n Let our lord now command thy servants, that are before thee, to seek out a man who is a skilful player on the harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well.\r\n And Saul said unto his servants, Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me.\r\n Then answered one of the young men, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Beth-lehemite, that is skilful in playing, and a mighty man of valor, and a man of war, and prudent in speech, and a comely person; and Jehovah is with him.\r\n Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said, Send me David thy son, who is with the sheep.\r\n And Jesse took an ass [laden] with bread, and a bottle of wine, and a kid, and sent them by David his son unto Saul.\r\n And David came to Saul, and stood before him: and he loved him greatly; and he became his armorbearer.\r\n And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David, I pray thee, stand before me; for he hath found favor in my sight.\r\n And it came to pass, when the [evil] spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took the harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.\r\n 17,0 And David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and took, and went, as Jesse had commanded him; and he came to the place of the wagons, as the host which was going forth to the fight shouted for the battle.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now the Philistines gathered together their armies to battle; and they were gathered together at Socoh, which belongeth to Judah, and encamped between Socoh and Azekah, in Ephes-dammim.\r\n And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and encamped in the vale of Elah, and set the battle in array against the Philistines.\r\n And the Philistines stood on the mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on the mountain on the other side: and there was a valley between them.\r\n And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.\r\n And he had a helmet of brass upon his head, and he was clad with a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass.\r\n And he had greaves of brass upon his legs, and a javelin of brass between his shoulders.\r\n And the staff of his spear was like a weaver`s beam; and his spear`s head [weighed] six hundred shekels of iron: and his shield-bearer went before him.\r\n And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them, Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me.\r\n If he be able to fight with me, and kill me, then will we be your servants; but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us.\r\n And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.\r\n And when Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.\r\n Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Beth-lehem-judah, whose name was Jesse; and he had eight sons: and the man was an old man in the days of Saul, stricken [in years] among men.\r\n And the three eldest sons of Jesse had gone after Saul to the battle: and the names of his three sons that went to the battle were Eliab the first-born, and next unto him Abinadab, and the third Shammah.\r\n And David was the youngest; and the three eldest followed Saul.\r\n Now David went to and fro from Saul to feed his father`s sheep at Beth-lehem.\r\n And the Philistine drew near morning and evening, and presented himself forty days.\r\n And Jesse said unto David his son, Take now for thy brethren an ephah of this parched grain, and these ten loaves, and carry [them] quickly to the camp to thy brethren;\r\n and bring these ten cheeses unto the captain of their thousand, and look how thy brethren fare, and take their pledge.\r\n Now Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel, were in the vale of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.\r\n dummy verses inserted by amos\r\n And Israel and the Philistines put the battle in array, army against army.\r\n And David left his baggage in the hand of the keeper of the baggage, and ran to the army, and came and saluted his brethren.\r\n And as he talked with them, behold, there came up the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, out of the ranks of the Philistines, and spake according to the same words: and David heard them.\r\n And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid.\r\n And the men of Israel said, Have ye seen this man that is come up? surely to defy Israel is he come up: and it shall be, that the man who killeth him, the king will enrich him with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father`s house free in Israel.\r\n And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?\r\n And the people answered him after this manner, saying, So shall it be done to the man that killeth him.\r\n And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab`s anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why art thou come down? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thy heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle.\r\n And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?\r\n And he turned away from him toward another, and spake after the same manner: and the people answered him again after the former manner.\r\n And when the words were heard which David spake, they rehearsed them before Saul; and he sent for him.\r\n And David said to Saul, Let no man`s heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.\r\n And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.\r\n And David said unto Saul, Thy servant was keeping his father`s sheep; and when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock,\r\n I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth; and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.\r\n Thy servant smote both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.\r\n And David said, Jehovah that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and Jehovah shall be with thee.\r\n And Saul clad David with his apparel, and he put a helmet of brass upon his head, and he clad him with a coat of mail.\r\n And David girded his sword upon his apparel, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him.\r\n And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in the shepherd`s bag which he had, even in his wallet; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine.\r\n And the Philistine came on and drew near unto David; and the man that bare the shield went before him.\r\n And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him; for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and withal of a fair countenance.\r\n And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.\r\n And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the birds of the heavens, and to the beasts of the field.\r\n Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a javelin: but I come to thee in the name of Jehovah of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.\r\n This day will Jehovah deliver thee into my hand; and I will smite thee, and take thy head from off thee; and I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day unto the birds of the heavens, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel,\r\n and that all this assembly may know that Jehovah saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is Jehovah`s, and he will give you into our hand.\r\n And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hastened, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.\r\n And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead; and the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell upon his face to the earth.\r\n So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David.\r\n Then David ran, and stood over the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled.\r\n And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted, and pursued the Philistines, until thou comest to Gai, and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell down by the way to Shaaraim, even unto Gath, and unto Ekron.\r\n And the children of Israel returned from chasing after the Philistines, and they plundered their camp.\r\n And David took the head of the Philistine, and brought it to Jerusalem; but he put his armor in his tent.\r\n And when Saul saw David go forth against the Philistine, he said unto Abner, the captain of the host, Abner, whose son is this youth? And Abner said, As thy soul liveth, O king, I cannot tell.\r\n And the king said, Inquire thou whose son the stripling is.\r\n And as David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, Abner took him, and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand.\r\n And Saul said to him, Whose son art thou, thou young man? And David answered, I am the son of thy servant Jesse the Beth-lehemite.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.\r\n And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father`s house.\r\n Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.\r\n And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his apparel, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.\r\n And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, [and] behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war, and it was good in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul`s servants.\r\n And it came to pass as they came, when David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with timbrels, with joy, and with instruments of music.\r\n And the women sang one to another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands.\r\n And Saul was very wroth, and this saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom?\r\n And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.\r\n And it came to pass on the morrow, that an evil spirit from God came mightily upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as he did day by day. And Saul had his spear in his hand;\r\n and Saul cast the spear; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall. And David avoided out of his presence twice.\r\n And Saul was afraid of David, because Jehovah was with him, and was departed from Saul.\r\n Therefore Saul removed him from him, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people.\r\n And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and Jehovah was with him.\r\n And when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he stood in awe of him.\r\n But all Israel and Judah loved David; for he went out and came in before them.\r\n And Saul said to David, Behold, my elder daughter Merab, her will I give thee to wife: only be thou valiant for me, and fight Jehovah`s battles. For Saul said, Let not my hand be upon him, but let the hand of the Philistines be upon him.\r\n And David said unto Saul, Who am I, and what is my life, [or] my father`s family in Israel, that I should be son-in-law to the king?\r\n But it came to pass at the time when Merab, Saul`s daughter, should have been given to David, that she was given unto Adriel the Meholathite to wife.\r\n And Michal, Saul`s daughter, loved David: and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him.\r\n And Saul said, I will give him her, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. Wherefore Saul said to David, Thou shalt this day be my son-in-law a second time.\r\n And Saul commanded his servants, [saying], Commune with David secretly, and say, Behold, the king hath delight in thee, and all his servants love thee: now therefore be the king`s son-in-law.\r\n And Saul`s servants spake those words in the ears of David. And David said, Seemeth it to you a light thing to be the king`s son-in-law, seeing that I am a poor man, and lightly esteemed?\r\n And the servants of Saul told him, saying, On this manner spake David.\r\n And Saul said, Thus shall ye say to David, The king desireth not any dowry, but a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king`s enemies. Now Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.\r\n And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king`s son-in-law. And the days were not expired;\r\n and David arose and went, he and his men, and slew of the Philistines two hundred men; and David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full number to the king, that he might be the king`s son-in-law. And Saul gave him Michal his daughter to wife.\r\n And Saul saw and knew that Jehovah was with David; and Michal, Saul`s daughter, loved him.\r\n And Saul was yet the more afraid of David; and Saul was David`s enemy continually.\r\n Then the princes of the Philistines went forth: and it came to pass, as often as they went forth, that David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul; so that his name was much set by.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Saul spake to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they should slay David. But Jonathan, Saul`s son, delighted much in David.\r\n And Jonathan told David, saying, Saul my father seeketh to slay thee: now therefore, I pray thee, take heed to thyself in the morning, and abide in a secret place, and hide thyself:\r\n and I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where thou art, and I will commune with my father of thee; and if I see aught, I will tell thee.\r\n And Jonathan spake good of David unto Saul his father, and said unto him, Let not the king sin against his servant, against David; because he hath not sinned against thee, and because his works have been to thee-ward very good:\r\n for he put his life in his hand, and smote the Philistine, and Jehovah wrought a great victory for all Israel: thou sawest it, and didst rejoice; wherefore then wilt thou sin against innocent blood, to slay David without a cause?\r\n And Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan: and Saul sware, As Jehovah liveth, he shall not be put to death.\r\n And Jonathan called David, and Jonathan showed him all those things. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence, as beforetime.\r\n And there was war again: and David went out, and fought with the Philistines, and slew them with a great slaughter; and they fled before him.\r\n And an evil spirit from Jehovah was upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his spear in his hand; and David was playing with his hand.\r\n And Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with the spear; but he slipped away out of Saul`s presence, and he smote the spear into the wall: and David fled, and escaped that night.\r\n And Saul sent messengers unto David`s house, to watch him, and to slay him in the morning: and Michal, David`s wife, told him, saying, If thou save not thy life to-night, to-morrow thou wilt be slain.\r\n So Michal let David down through the window: and he went, and fled, and escaped.\r\n And Michal took the teraphim, and laid it in the bed, and put a pillow of goats` [hair] at the head thereof, and covered it with the clothes.\r\n And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, He is sick.\r\n And Saul sent the messengers to see David, saying, Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may slay him.\r\n And when the messengers came in, behold, the teraphim was in the bed, with the pillow of goats` [hair] at the head thereof.\r\n And Saul said unto Michal, Why hast thou deceived me thus, and let mine enemy go, so that he is escaped? And Michal answered Saul, He said unto me, Let me go; why should I kill thee?\r\n Now David fled, and escaped, and came to Samuel to Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and dwelt in Naioth.\r\n And it was told Saul, saying, Behold, David is at Naioth in Ramah.\r\n And Saul sent messengers to take David: and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as head over them, the Spirit of God came upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied.\r\n And when it was told Saul, he sent other messengers, and they also prophesied. And Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they also prophesied.\r\n Then went he also to Ramah, and came to the great well that is in Secu: and he asked and said, Where are Samuel and David? And one said, Behold, they are at Naioth in Ramah.\r\n And he went thither to Naioth in Ramah: and the Spirit of God came upon him also, and he went on, and prophesied, until he came to Naioth in Ramah.\r\n And he also stripped off his clothes, and he also prophesied before Samuel, and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Wherefore they say, Is Saul also among the prophets?\r\n \r\n \r\n And David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and came and said before Jonathan, What have I done? what is mine iniquity? and what is my sin before thy father, that he seeketh my life?\r\n And he said unto him, Far from it; thou shalt not die: behold, my father doeth nothing either great or small, but that he discloseth it unto me; and why should my father hide this thing from me? it is not so.\r\n And David sware moreover, and said, Thy father knoweth well that I have found favor in thine eyes; and he saith, Let not Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved: but truly as Jehovah liveth, and as thy soul liveth, there is but a step between me and death.\r\n Then said Jonathan unto David, Whatsoever thy soul desireth, I will even do it for thee.\r\n And David said unto Jonathan, Behold, to-morrow is the new moon, and I should not fail to sit with the king at meat: but let me go, that I may hide myself in the field unto the third day at even.\r\n If thy father miss me at all, then say, David earnestly asked leave of me that he might run to Beth-lehem his city; for it is the yearly sacrifice there for all the family.\r\n If he say thus, It is well; thy servant shall have peace: but if he be wroth, then know that evil is determined by him.\r\n Therefore deal kindly with thy servant; for thou hast brought thy servant into a covenant of Jehovah with thee: but if there be in me iniquity, slay me thyself; for why shouldest thou bring me to thy father?\r\n And Jonathan said, Far be it from thee; for if I should at all know that evil were determined by my father to come upon thee, then would not I tell it thee?\r\n Then said David to Jonathan, Who shall tell me if perchance thy father answer thee roughly?\r\n And Jonathan said unto David, Come, and let us go out into the field. And they went out both of them into the field.\r\n And Jonathan said unto David, Jehovah, the God of Israel, [be witness]: when I have sounded my father about this time to-morrow, [or] the third day, behold, if there be good toward David, shall I not then send unto thee, and disclose it unto thee?\r\n Jehovah do so to Jonathan, and more also, should it please my father to do thee evil, if I disclose it not unto thee, and send thee away, that thou mayest go in peace: and Jehovah be with thee, as he hath been with my father.\r\n And thou shalt not only while yet I live show me the lovingkindness of Jehovah, that I die not;\r\n but also thou shalt not cut off thy kindness from my house for ever; no, not when Jehovah hath cut off the enemies of David every one from the face of the earth.\r\n So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, [saying], And Jehovah will require it at the hand of David`s enemies.\r\n And Jonathan caused David to swear again, for the love that he had to him; for he loved him as he loved his own soul.\r\n Then Jonathan said unto him, To-morrow is the new moon: and thou wilt be missed, because thy seat will be empty.\r\n And when thou hast stayed three days, thou shalt go down quickly, and come to the place where thou didst hide thyself when the business was in hand, and shalt remain by the stone Ezel.\r\n And I will shoot three arrows on the side thereof, as though I shot at a mark.\r\n And, behold, I will send the lad, [saying], Go, find the arrows. If I say unto the lad, Behold, the arrows are on this side of thee; take them, and come; for there is peace to thee and no hurt, as Jehovah liveth.\r\n But if I say thus unto the boy, Behold, the arrows are beyond thee; go thy way; for Jehovah hath sent thee away.\r\n And as touching the matter which thou and I have spoken of, behold, Jehovah is between thee and me for ever.\r\n So David hid himself in the field: and when the new moon was come, the king sat him down to eat food.\r\n And the king sat upon his seat, as at other times, even upon the seat by the wall; and Jonathan stood up, and Abner sat by Saul`s side: but David`s place was empty.\r\n Nevertheless Saul spake not anything that day: for he thought, Something hath befallen him, he is not clean; surely he is not clean.\r\n And it came to pass on the morrow after the new moon, [which was] the second [day], that David`s place was empty: and Saul said unto Jonathan his son, Wherefore cometh not the son of Jesse to meat, neither yesterday, nor to-day?\r\n And Jonathan answered Saul, David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Beth-lehem:\r\n and he said, Let me go, I pray thee; for our family hath a sacrifice in the city; and my brother, he hath commanded me [to be there]: and now, if I have found favor in thine eyes, let me get away, I pray thee, and see my brethren. Therefore he is not come unto the king`s table.\r\n Then Saul`s anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said unto him, Thou son of a perverse rebellious woman, do not I know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine own shame, and unto the shame of thy mother`s nakedness?\r\n For as long as the son of Jesse liveth upon the ground, thou shalt not be established, nor thy kingdom. Wherefore now send and fetch him unto me, for he shall surely die.\r\n And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said unto him, Wherefore should he be put to death? what hath he done?\r\n And Saul cast his spear at him to smite him; whereby Jonathan knew that is was determined of his father to put David to death.\r\n So Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger, and did eat no food the second day of the month; for he was grieved for David, because his father had done him shame.\r\n And it came to pass in the morning, that Jonathan went out into the field at the time appointed with David, and a little lad with him.\r\n And he said unto his lad, Run, find now the arrows which I shoot. And as the lad ran, he shot an arrow beyond him.\r\n And when the lad was come to the place of the arrow which Jonathan had shot, Jonathan cried after the lad, and said, Is not the arrow beyond thee?\r\n And Jonathan cried after the lad, Make speed, haste, stay not. And Jonathan`s lad gathered up the arrows, and came to his master.\r\n But the lad knew not anything: only Jonathan and David knew the matter.\r\n And Jonathan gave his weapons unto his lad, and said unto him, Go, carry them to the city.\r\n And as soon as the lad was gone, David arose out of [a place] toward the South, and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times: and they kissed one another, and wept one with another, until David exceeded.\r\n And Jonathan said to David, Go in peace, forasmuch as we have sworn both of us in the name of Jehovah, saying, Jehovah shall be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed, for ever. And he arose and departed: and Jonathan went into the city.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then came David to Nob to Ahimelech the priest: and Ahimelech came to meet David trembling, and said unto him, Why art thou alone, and no man with thee?\r\n And David said unto Ahimelech the priest, The king hath commanded me a business, and hath said unto me, Let no man know anything of the business whereabout I send thee, and what I have commanded thee: and I have appointed the young men to such and such a place.\r\n Now therefore what is under thy hand? give me five loaves of bread in my hand, or whatsoever there is present.\r\n And the priest answered David, and said, There is no common bread under my hand, but there is holy bread; if only the young men have kept themselves from women.\r\n And David answered the priest, and said unto him, Of a truth women have been kept from us about these three days; when I came out, the vessels of the young men were holy, though it was but a common journey; how much more then to-day shall their vessels be holy?\r\n So the priest gave him holy [bread]; for there was no bread there but the showbread, that was taken from before Jehovah, to put hot bread in the day when it was taken away.\r\n Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before Jehovah; and his name was Doeg the Edomite, the chiefest of the herdsmen that belonged to Saul.\r\n And David said unto Ahimelech, And is there not here under thy hand spear or sword? for I have neither brought my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king`s business required haste.\r\n And the priest said, The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom thou slewest in the vale of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod: if thou wilt take that, take it; for there is no other save that here. And David said, There is none like that; give it me.\r\n And David arose, and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath.\r\n And the servants of Achish said unto him, Is not this David the king of the land? did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying, Saul hath slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands?\r\n And David laid up these words in his heart, and was sore afraid of Achish the king of Gath.\r\n And he changed his behavior before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard.\r\n Then said Achish unto his servants, Lo, ye see the man is mad; wherefore then have ye brought him to me?\r\n Do I lack madmen, that ye have brought this fellow to play the madman in my presence? shall this fellow come into my house?\r\n \r\n \r\n David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave of Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father`s house heard it, they went down thither to him.\r\n And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.\r\n And David went thence to Mizpeh of Moab: and he said unto the king of Moab, Let my father and my mother, I pray thee, come forth, [and be] with you, till I know what God will do for me.\r\n And he brought them before the king of Moab: and they dwelt with him all the while that David was in the stronghold.\r\n And the prophet Gad said unto David, Abide not in the stronghold; depart, and get thee into the land of Judah. Then David departed, and came into the forest of Hereth.\r\n And Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men that were with him: now Saul was sitting in Gibeah, under the tamarisk-tree in Ramah, with his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing about him.\r\n And Saul said unto his servants that stood about him, Hear now, ye Benjamites; will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and vineyards, will he make you all captains of thousands and captains of hundreds,\r\n that all of you have conspired against me, and there is none that discloseth to me when my son maketh a league with the son of Jesse, and there is none of you that is sorry for me, or discloseth unto me that my son hath stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?\r\n Then answered Doeg the Edomite, who stood by the servants of Saul, and said, I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub.\r\n And he inquired of Jehovah for him, and gave him victuals, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.\r\n Then the king sent to call Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father`s house, the priests that were in Nob: and they came all of them to the king.\r\n And Saul said, Hear now, thou son of Ahitub. And he answered, Here I am, my lord.\r\n And Saul said unto him, Why have ye conspired against me, thou and the son of Jesse, in that thou hast given him bread, and a sword, and hast inquired of God for him, that he should rise against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?\r\n Then Ahimelech answered the king, and said, And who among all thy servants is so faithful as David, who is the king`s son-in-law, and is taken into thy council, and is honorable in thy house?\r\n Have I to-day begun to inquire of God for him? be it far from me: let not the king impute anything unto his servant, nor to all the house of my father; for thy servant knoweth nothing of all this, less or more.\r\n And the king said, Thou shalt surely die, Ahimelech, thou, and all thy father`s house.\r\n And the king said unto the guard that stood about him, Turn, and slay the priests of Jehovah; because their hand also is with David, and because they knew that he fled, and did not disclose it to me. But the servants of the king would not put forth their hand to fall upon the priests of Jehovah.\r\n And the king said to Doeg, Turn thou, and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell upon the priests, and he slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ephod.\r\n And Nob, the city of the priests, smote he with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and sucklings, and oxen and asses and sheep, with the edge of the sword.\r\n And one of the sons of Ahimelech, the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped, and fled after David.\r\n And Abiathar told David that Saul had slain Jehovah`s priests.\r\n And David said unto Abiathar, I knew on that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul: I have occasioned [the death] of all the persons of thy father`s house.\r\n Abide thou with me, fear not; for he that seeketh my life seeketh thy life: for with me thou shalt be in safeguard.\r\n \r\n \r\n And they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah, and are robbing the threshing-floors.\r\n Therefore David inquired of Jehovah, saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And Jehovah said unto David, Go, and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah.\r\n And David`s men said unto him, Behold, we are afraid here in Judah: how much more then if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?\r\n Then David inquired of Jehovah yet again. And Jehovah answered him, and said, Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will deliver the Philistines into thy hand.\r\n And David and his men went to Keilah, and fought with the Philistines, and brought away their cattle, and slew them with a great slaughter. So David save the inhabitants of Keilah.\r\n And it came to pass, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah, that he came down with an ephod in his hand.\r\n And it was told Saul that David was come to Keilah. And Saul said, God hath delivered him into my hand; for he is shut in, by entering into a town that hath gates and bars.\r\n And Saul summoned all the people to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men.\r\n And David knew that Saul was devising mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring hither the ephod.\r\n Then said David, O Jehovah, the God of Israel, thy servant hath surely heard that Saul seeketh to come to Keilah, to destroy the city for my sake.\r\n Will the men of Keilah deliver me up into his hand? will Saul come down, as thy servant hath heard? O Jehovah, the God of Israel, I beseech thee, tell thy servant. And Jehovah said, He will come down.\r\n Then said David, Will the men of Keilah deliver up to me and my men into the hand of Saul? And Jehovah said, They will deliver thee up.\r\n Then David and his men, who were about six hundred, arose and departed out of Keilah, and went whithersoever they could go. And it was told Saul that David was escaped from Keilah; and he forbare to go forth.\r\n And David abode in the wilderness in the strongholds, and remained in the hill-country in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God delivered him not into his hand.\r\n And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life: and David was in the wilderness of Ziph in the wood.\r\n And Jonathan, Saul`s son, arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God.\r\n And he said unto him, Fear not; for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee; and thou shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be next unto thee; and that also Saul my father knoweth.\r\n And they two made a covenant before Jehovah: and David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house.\r\n Then came up the Ziphites to Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself with us in the strongholds in the wood, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of the desert?\r\n Now therefore, O king, come down, according to all the desire of thy soul to come down; and our part shall be to deliver him up into the king`s hand.\r\n And Saul said, Blessed be ye of Jehovah; for ye have had compassion on me.\r\n Go, I pray you, make yet more sure, and know and see his place where his haunt is, [and] who hath seen him there; for it is told me that he dealeth very subtly.\r\n See therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking-places where he hideth himself, and come ye again to me of a certainty, and I will go with you: and it shall come to pass, if he be in the land, that I will search him out among all the thousands of Judah.\r\n And they arose, and went to Ziph before Saul: but David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the Arabah on the south of the desert.\r\n And Saul and his men went to seek him. And they told David: wherefore he came down to the rock, and abode in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard [that], he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon.\r\n And Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain: and David made haste to get away for fear of Saul; for Saul and his men compassed David and his men round about to take them.\r\n But there came a messenger unto Saul, saying, Haste thee, and come; for the Philistines have made a raid upon the land.\r\n So Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines: therefore they called that place Sela-hammahlekoth.\r\n And David went up from thence, and dwelt in the strongholds of En-gedi.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass, when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of En-gedi.\r\n Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats.\r\n And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet. Now David and his men were abiding in the innermost parts of the cave.\r\n And the men of David said unto him, Behold, the day of which Jehovah said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thy hand, and thou shalt do to him as it shall seem good unto thee. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul`s robe privily.\r\n And it came to pass afterward, that David`s heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul`s skirt.\r\n And he said unto his men, Jehovah forbid that I should do this thing unto my lord, Jehovah`s anointed, to put forth my hand against him, seeing he is Jehovah`s anointed.\r\n So David checked his men with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. And Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way.\r\n David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, My lord the king. And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth, and did obeisance.\r\n And David said to Saul, Wherefore hearkenest thou to men`s words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt?\r\n Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that Jehovah had delivered thee to-day into my hand in the cave: and some bade me kill thee; but [mine eye] spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth my hand against my lord; for he is Jehovah`s anointed.\r\n Moreover, my father, see, yea, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand; for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe, and killed thee not, know thou and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in my hand, and I have not sinned against thee, though thou huntest after my life to take it.\r\n Jehovah judge between me and thee, and Jehovah avenge me of thee; but my hand shall not be upon thee.\r\n As saith the proverb of the ancients, Out of the wicked cometh forth wickedness; but my hand shall not be upon thee.\r\n After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea.\r\n Jehovah therefore be judge, and give sentence between me and thee, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thy hand.\r\n And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.\r\n And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I; for thou hast rendered unto me good, whereas I have rendered unto thee evil.\r\n And thou hast declared this day how that thou hast dealt well with me, forasmuch as when Jehovah had delivered me up into thy hand, thou killedst me not.\r\n For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away? wherefore Jehovah reward thee good for that which thou hast done unto me this day.\r\n And now, behold, I know that thou shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thy hand.\r\n Swear now therefore unto me by Jehovah, that thou wilt not cut off my seed after me, and that thou wilt not destroy my name out of my father`s house.\r\n And David sware unto Saul. And Saul went home; but David and his men gat them up unto the stronghold.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Samuel died; and all Israel gathered themselves together, and lamented him, and buried him in his house at Ramah. And David arose, and went down to the wilderness of Paran.\r\n And there was a man in Maon, whose possessions were in Carmel; and the man was very great, and he had three thousand sheep, and a thousand goats: and he was shearing his sheep in Carmel.\r\n Now the name of the man was Nabal; and the name of his wife Abigail; and the woman was of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance: but the man was churlish and evil in his doings; and he was of the house of Caleb.\r\n And David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep.\r\n And David sent ten young men, and David said unto the young men, Get you up to Carmel, and go to Nabal, and greet him in my name:\r\n and thus shall ye say to him that liveth [in prosperity], Peace be unto thee, and peace be to thy house, and peace be unto all that thou hast.\r\n And now I have heard that thou hast shearers: thy shepherds have now been with us, and we did them no hurt, neither was there aught missing unto them, all the while they were in Carmel.\r\n Ask thy young men, and they will tell thee: wherefore let the young men find favor in thine eyes; for we come in a good day: give, I pray thee, whatsoever cometh to thy hand, unto thy servants, and to thy son David.\r\n And when David`s young men came, they spake to Nabal according to all those words in the name of David, and ceased.\r\n And Nabal answered David`s servants, and said, Who is David? and who is the son of Jesse? there are many servants now-a-days that break away every man from his master.\r\n Shall I then take my bread, and my water, and my flesh that I have killed for my shearers, and give it unto men of whom I know not whence they are?\r\n So David`s young men turned on their way, and went back, and came and told him according to all these words.\r\n And David said unto his men, Gird ye on every man his sword. And they girded on every man his sword; and David also girded on his sword: and there went up after David about four hundred men; and two hundred abode by the baggage.\r\n But one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal`s wife, saying, Behold, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to salute our master; and he railed at them.\r\n But the men were very good unto us, and we were not hurt, neither missed we anything, as long as we went with them, when we were in the fields:\r\n they were a wall unto us both by night and by day, all the while we were with them keeping the sheep.\r\n Now therefore know and consider what thou wilt do; for evil is determined against our master, and against all his house: for he is such a worthless fellow, that one cannot speak to him.\r\n Then Abigail made haste, and took two hundred loaves, and two bottles of wine, and five sheep ready dressed, and five measures of parched grain, and a hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on asses.\r\n And she said unto her young men, Go on before me; behold, I come after you. But she told not her husband Nabal.\r\n And it was so, as she rode on her ass, and came down by the covert of the mountain, that, behold, David and his men came down toward her; and she met them.\r\n Now David had said, Surely in vain have I kept all that this fellow hath in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that pertained unto him: and he hath returned me evil for good.\r\n God do so unto the enemies of David, and more also, if I leave of all that pertain to him by the morning light so much as one man-child.\r\n And when Abigail saw David, she hasted, and alighted from her ass, and fell before David on her face, and bowed herself to the ground.\r\n And she fell at his feet, and said, Upon me, my lord, upon me be the iniquity; and let thy handmaid, I pray thee, speak in thine ears, and hear thou the words of thy handmaid.\r\n Let not my lord, I pray thee, regard this worthless fellow, even Nabal; for as his name is, so is he; Nabal is his name, and folly is with him: but I thy handmaid saw not the young men of my lord, whom thou didst send.\r\n Now therefore, my lord, as Jehovah liveth, and as thy soul liveth, seeing Jehovah hath withholden thee from bloodguiltiness, and from avenging thyself with thine own hand, now therefore let thine enemies, and them that seek evil to my lord, be as Nabal.\r\n And now this present which thy servant hath brought unto my lord, let it be given unto the young men that follow my lord.\r\n Forgive, I pray thee, the trespass of thy handmaid: for Jehovah will certainly make my lord a sure house, because my lord fighteth the battles of Jehovah; and evil shall not be found in thee all thy days.\r\n And though men be risen up to pursue thee, and to seek thy soul, yet the soul of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of life with Jehovah thy God; and the souls of thine enemies, them shall he sling out, as from the hollow of a sling.\r\n And it shall come to pass, when Jehovah shall have done to my lord according to all the good that he hath spoken concerning thee, and shall have appointed thee prince over Israel,\r\n that this shall be no grief unto thee, nor offence of heart unto my lord, either that thou hast shed blood without cause, or that my lord hath avenged himself. And when Jehovah shall have dealt well with my lord, then remember thy handmaid.\r\n And David said to Abigail, Blessed be Jehovah, the God of Israel, who sent thee this day to meet me:\r\n and blessed be thy discretion, and blessed be thou, that hast kept me this day from bloodguiltiness, and from avenging myself with mine own hand.\r\n For in very deed, as Jehovah, the God of Israel, liveth, who hath withholden me from hurting thee, except thou hadst hasted and come to meet me, surely there had not been left unto Nabal by the morning light so much as one man-child.\r\n So David received of her hand that which she had brought him: and he said unto her, Go up in peace to thy house; see, I have hearkened to thy voice, and have accepted thy person.\r\n And Abigail came to Nabal; and, behold, he held a feast in his house, like the feast of a king; and Nabal`s heart was merry within him, for he was very drunken: wherefore she told him nothing, less or more, until the morning light.\r\n And it came to pass in the morning, when the wine was gone out of Nabal, that his wife told him these things, and his heart died within him, and he became as a stone.\r\n And it came to pass about ten days after, that Jehovah smote Nabal, so that he died.\r\n And when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, Blessed be Jehovah, that hath pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and hath kept back his servant from evil: and the evil-doing of Nabal hath Jehovah returned upon his own head. And David sent and spake concerning Abigail, to take her to him to wife.\r\n And when the servants of David were come to Abigail to Carmel, they spake unto her, saying, David hath sent us unto thee, to take thee to him to wife.\r\n And she arose, and bowed herself with her face to the earth, and said, Behold, thy handmaid is a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.\r\n And Abigail hasted, and arose, and rode upon an ass, with five damsels of hers that followed her; and she went after the messengers of David, and became his wife.\r\n David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel; and they became both of them his wives.\r\n Now Saul had given Michal his daughter, David`s wife, to Palti the son of Laish, who was of Gallim.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the Ziphites came unto Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, which is before the desert?\r\n Then Saul arose, and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph.\r\n And Saul encamped in the hill of Hachilah, which is before the desert, by the way. But David abode in the wilderness, and he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness.\r\n David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul was come of a certainty.\r\n And David arose, and came to the place where Saul had encamped; and David beheld the place where Saul lay, and Abner the son of Ner, the captain of his host: and Saul lay within the place of the wagons, and the people were encamped round about him.\r\n Then answered David and said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother to Joab, saying, Who will go down with me to Saul to the camp? And Abishai said, I will go down with thee.\r\n So David and Abishai came to the people by night: and, behold, Saul lay sleeping within the place of the wagons, with his spear stuck in the ground at his head; and Abner and the people lay round about him.\r\n Then said Abishai to David, God hath delivered up thine enemy into thy hand this day: now therefore let me smite him, I pray thee, with the spear to the earth at one stroke, and I will not smite him the second time.\r\n And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not; for who can put forth his hand against Jehovah`s anointed, and be guiltless?\r\n And David said, As Jehovah liveth, Jehovah will smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall go down into battle and perish.\r\n Jehovah forbid that I should put forth my hand against Jehovah`s anointed: but now take, I pray thee, the spear that is at his head, and the cruse of water, and let us go.\r\n So David took the spear and the cruse of water from Saul`s head; and they gat them away: and no man saw it, nor knew it, neither did any awake; for they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from Jehovah was fallen upon them.\r\n Then David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of the mountain afar off; a great space being between them;\r\n and David cried to the people, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, Answerest thou not, Abner? Then Abner answered and said, Who art thou that criest to the king?\r\n And David said to Abner, Art not thou a [valiant] man? and who is like to thee in Israel? wherefore then hast thou not kept watch over thy lord the king? for there came one of the people in to destroy the king thy lord.\r\n This thing is not good that thou hast done. As Jehovah liveth, ye are worthy to die, because ye have not kept watch over your lord, Jehovah`s anointed. And now see where the king`s spear is, and the cruse of water that was at his head.\r\n And Saul knew David`s voice, and said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And David said, It is my voice, my lord, O king.\r\n And he said, Wherefore doth my lord pursue after his servant? for what have I done? or what evil is in my hand?\r\n Now therefore, I pray thee, let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If it be Jehovah that hath stirred thee up against me, let him accept an offering: but if it be the children of men, cursed be they before Jehovah: for they have driven me out this day that I should not cleave unto the inheritance of Jehovah, saying, Go, serve other gods.\r\n Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth away from the presence of Jehovah: for the king of Israel is come out to seek a flea, as when one doth hunt a partridge in the mountains.\r\n Then said Saul, I have sinned: return, my son David; for I will no more do thee harm, because my life was precious in thine eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.\r\n And David answered and said, Behold the spear, O king! let then one of the young men come over and fetch it.\r\n And Jehovah will render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness; forasmuch as Jehovah delivered thee into my hand to-day, and I would not put forth my hand against Jehovah`s anointed.\r\n And, behold, as thy life was much set by this day in mine eyes, so let my life be much set by in the eyes of Jehovah, and let him deliver me out of all tribulation.\r\n Then Saul said to David, Blessed be thou, my son David: thou shalt both do mightily, and shalt surely prevail. So David went his way, and Saul returned to his place.\r\n \r\n \r\n And David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul: there is nothing better for me than that I should escape into the land of the Philistines; and Saul will despair of me, to seek me any more in all the borders of Israel: so shall I escape out of his hand.\r\n And David arose, and passed over, he and the six hundred men that were with him, unto Achish the son of Maoch, king of Gath.\r\n And David dwelt with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household, even David with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabal`s wife.\r\n And it was told Saul that David was fled to Gath: and he sought no more again for him.\r\n And David said unto Achish, If now I have found favor in thine eyes, let them give me a place in one of the cities in the country, that I may dwell there: for why should thy servant dwell in the royal city with thee?\r\n Then Achish gave him Ziklag that day: wherefore Ziklag pertaineth unto the kings of Judah unto this day.\r\n And the number of the days that David dwelt in the country of the Philistines was a full year and four months.\r\n And David and his men went up, and made a raid upon the Geshurites, and the Girzites, and the Amalekites; for those [nations] were the inhabitants of the land, who were of old, as thou goest to Shur, even unto the land of Egypt.\r\n And David smote the land, and saved neither man nor woman alive, and took away the sheep, and the oxen, and the asses, and the camels, and the apparel; and he returned, and came to Achish.\r\n And Achish said, Against whom have ye made a raid to-day? And David said, Against the South of Judah, and against the South of the Jerahmeelites, and against the South of the Kenites.\r\n And David saved neither man nor woman alive, to bring them to Gath, saying, Lest they should tell of us, saying, So did David, and so hath been his manner all the while he hath dwelt in the country of the Philistines.\r\n And Achish believed David, saying, He hath made his people Israel utterly to abhor him; therefore he shall be my servant for ever.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass in those days, that the Philistines gathered their hosts together for warfare, to fight with Israel. And Achish said unto David, Know thou assuredly, that thou shalt go out with me in the host, thou and thy men.\r\n And David said to Achish, Therefore thou shalt know what thy servant will do. And Achish said to David, Therefore will I make thee keeper of my head for ever.\r\n Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and buried him in Ramah, even in his own city. And Saul had put away those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land.\r\n And the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and encamped in Shunem: and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they encamped in Gilboa.\r\n And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly.\r\n And when Saul inquired of Jehovah, Jehovah answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.\r\n Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and inquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at En-dor.\r\n And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and went, he and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, Divine unto me, I pray thee, by the familiar spirit, and bring me up whomsoever I shall name unto thee.\r\n And the woman said unto him, Behold, thou knowest what Saul hath done, how he hath cut off those that have familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land: wherefore then layest thou a snare for my life, to cause me to die?\r\n And Saul sware to her by Jehovah, saying, As Jehovah liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing.\r\n Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto thee? And he said, Bring me up Samuel.\r\n And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice; and the woman spake to Saul, saying, Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Saul.\r\n And the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what seest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, I see a god coming up out of the earth.\r\n And he said unto her, What form is he of? And she said, An old man cometh up; and he is covered with a robe. And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground, and did obeisance.\r\n And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up? And Saul answered, I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest make known unto me what I shall do.\r\n And Samuel said, Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing Jehovah is departed from thee, and is become thine adversary?\r\n And Jehovah hath done unto thee, as he spake by me: and Jehovah hath rent the kingdom out of thy hand, and given it to thy neighbor, even to David.\r\n Because thou obeyedst not the voice of Jehovah, and didst not execute his fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore hath Jehovah done this thing unto thee this day.\r\n Moreover Jehovah will deliver Israel also with thee into the hand of the Philistines; and to-morrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me: Jehovah will deliver the host of Israel also into the hand of the Philistines.\r\n Then Saul fell straightway his full length upon the earth, and was sore afraid, because of the words of Samuel: and there was no strength in him; for he had eaten no bread all the day, nor all the night.\r\n And the woman came unto Saul, and saw that he was sore troubled, and said unto him, Behold, thy handmaid hath hearkened unto thy voice, and I have put my life in my hand, and have hearkened unto thy words which thou spakest unto me.\r\n Now therefore, I pray thee, hearken thou also unto the voice of thy handmaid, and let me set a morsel of bread before thee; and eat, that thou mayest have strength, when thou goest on thy way.\r\n But he refused, and said, I will not eat. But his servants, together with the woman, constrained him; and he hearkened unto their voice. So he arose from the earth, and sat upon the bed.\r\n And the woman had a fatted calf in the house; and she hasted, and killed it; and she took flour, and kneaded it, and did bake unleavened bread thereof:\r\n and she brought it before Saul, and before his servants; and they did eat. Then they rose up, and went away that night.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now the Philistines gathered together all their hosts to Aphek: and the Israelites encamped by the fountain which is in Jezreel.\r\n And the lords of the Philistines passed on by hundreds, and by thousands; and David and his men passed on in the rearward with Achish.\r\n Then said the princes of the Philistines, What [do] these Hebrews [here]? And Achish said unto the princes of the Philistines, Is not this David, the servant of Saul the king of Israel, who hath been with me these days, or [rather] these years, and I have found no fault in him since he fell away [unto me] unto this day?\r\n But he princes of the Philistines were wroth with him; and the princes of the Philistines said unto him, Make the man return, that he may go back to his place where thou hast appointed him, and let him not go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he become an adversary to us: for wherewith should this [fellow] reconcile himself unto his lord? should it not be with the heads of these men?\r\n Is not this David, of whom they sang one to another in dances, saying, Saul hath slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands?\r\n Then Achish called David, and said unto him, As Jehovah liveth, thou hast been upright, and thy going out and thy coming in with me in the host is good in my sight; for I have not found evil in thee since the day of thy coming unto me unto this day: nevertheless the lords favor thee not.\r\n Wherefore now return, and go in peace, that thou displease not the lords of the Philistines.\r\n And David said unto Achish, But what have I done? and what hast thou found in thy servant so long as I have been before thee unto this day, that I may not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?\r\n And Achish answered and said to David, I know that thou art good in my sight, as an angel of God: notwithstanding the princes of the Philistines have said, He shall not go up with us to the battle.\r\n Wherefore now rise up early in the morning with the servants of thy lord that are come with thee; and as soon as ye are up early in the morning, and have light, depart.\r\n So David rose up early, he and his men, to depart in the morning, to return into the land of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass, when David and his men were come to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had made a raid upon the South, and upon Ziklag, and had smitten Ziklag, and burned it with fire,\r\n and had taken captive the women [and all] that were therein, both small and great: they slew not any, but carried them off, and went their way.\r\n And when David and his men came to the city, behold, it was burned with fire; and their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, were taken captive.\r\n Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep.\r\n And David`s two wives were taken captive, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.\r\n And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David strengthened himself in Jehovah his God.\r\n And David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, I pray thee, bring me hither the ephod. And Abiathar brought thither the ephod to David.\r\n And David inquired of Jehovah, saying, If I pursue after this troop, shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue; for thou shalt surely overtake [them], and shalt without fail recover [all].\r\n So David went, he and the six hundred men that were with him, and came to the brook Besor, where those that were left behind stayed.\r\n But David pursued, he and four hundred men; for two hundred stayed behind, who were so faint that they could not go over the brook Besor.\r\n And they found an Egyptian in the field, and brought him to David, and gave him bread, and he did eat; and they gave him water to drink.\r\n And they gave him a piece of a cake of figs, and two clusters of raisins: and when he had eaten, his spirit came again to him; for he had eaten no bread, nor drunk any water, three days and three nights.\r\n And David said unto him, To whom belongest thou? and whence art thou? And he said, I am a young man of Egypt, servant to an Amalekite; and my master left me, because three days ago I fell sick.\r\n We made a raid upon the South of the Cherethites, and upon that which belongeth to Judah, and upon the South of Caleb; and we burned Ziklag with fire.\r\n And David said to him, Wilt thou bring me down to this troop? And he said, Swear unto me by God, that thou wilt neither kill me, nor deliver me up into the hands of my master, and I will bring thee down to this troop.\r\n And when he had brought him down, behold, they were spread abroad over all the ground, eating and drinking, and dancing, because of all the great spoil that they had taken out of the land of the Philistines, and out of the land of Judah.\r\n And David smote them from the twilight even unto the evening of the next day: and there escaped not a man of them, save four hundred young men, who rode upon camels and fled.\r\n And David recovered all that the Amalekites had taken; and David rescued his two wives.\r\n And there was nothing lacking to them, neither small nor great, neither sons nor daughters, neither spoil, nor anything that they had taken to them: David brought back all.\r\n And David took all the flocks and the herds, [which] they drove before those [other] cattle, and said, This is David`s spoil.\r\n And David came to the two hundred men, who were so faint that they could not follow David, whom also they had made to abide at the brook Besor; and they went forth to meet David, and to meet the people that were with him: and when David came near to the people, he saluted them.\r\n Then answered all the wicked men and base fellows, of those that went with David, and said, Because they went not with us, we will not give them aught of the spoil that we have recovered, save to every man his wife and his children, that he may lead them away, and depart.\r\n Then said David, Ye shall not do so, my brethren, with that which Jehovah hath given unto us, who hath preserved us, and delivered the troop that came against us into our hand.\r\n And who will hearken unto you in this matter? for as his share is that goeth down to the battle, so shall his share be that tarrieth by the baggage: they shall share alike.\r\n And it was so from that day forward, that he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel unto this day.\r\n And when David came to Ziklag, he sent of the spoil unto the elders of Judah, even to his friends, saying, Behold, a present for you of the spoil of the enemies of Jehovah:\r\n To them that were in Beth-el, and to them that were in Ramoth of the South, and to them that were in Jattir,\r\n and to them that were in Aroer, and to them that were in Siphmoth, and to them that were in Eshtemoa,\r\n and to them that were in Racal, and to them that were in the cities of the Jerahmeelites, and to them that were in the cities of the Kenites,\r\n and to them that were in Hormah, and to them that were in Bor-ashan, and to them that were in Athach,\r\n and to them that were in Hebron, and to all the places where David himself and his men were wont to haunt.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now the Philistines fought against Israel: and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in mount Gilboa.\r\n And the Philistines followed hard upon Saul and upon his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchishua, the sons of Saul.\r\n And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers overtook him; and he was greatly distressed by reason of the archers.\r\n Then said Saul to his armorbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith, lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me. But his armorbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took his sword, and fell upon it.\r\n And when his armorbearer saw that Saul was dead, he likewise fell upon his sword, and died with him.\r\n So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armorbearer, and all his men, that same day together.\r\n And when the men of Israel that were on the other side of the valley, and they that were beyond the Jordan, saw that the men of Israel fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook the cities, and fled; and the Philistines came and dwelt in them.\r\n And it came to pass on the morrow, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his three sons fallen in mount Gilboa.\r\n And they cut off his head, and stripped off his armor, and sent into the land of the Philistines round about, to carry the tidings unto the house of their idols, and to the people.\r\n And they put his armor in the house of the Ashtaroth; and they fastened his body to the wall of Beth-shan.\r\n And when the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead heard concerning him that which the Philistines had done to Saul,\r\n all the valiant men arose, and went all night, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth-shan; and they came to Jabesh, and burnt them there.\r\n And they took their bones, and buried them under the tamarisk-tree in Jabesh, and fasted seven days.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had abode two days in Ziklag;\r\n it came to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul, with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head: and so it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance.\r\n And David said unto him, From whence comest thou? And he said unto him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped.\r\n And David said unto him, How went the matter? I pray thee, tell me. And he answered, The people are fled from the battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.\r\n And David said unto the young man that told him, How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?\r\n And the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul was leaning upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and the horsemen followed hard after him.\r\n And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called unto me. And I answered, Here am I.\r\n And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite.\r\n And he said unto me, Stand, I pray thee, beside me, and slay me; for anguish hath taken hold of me, because my life is yet whole in me.\r\n So I stood beside him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen: and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my lord.\r\n Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him:\r\n and they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of Jehovah, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword.\r\n And David said unto the young man that told him, Whence art thou? And he answered, I am the son of a sojourner, an Amalekite.\r\n And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to put forth thy hand to destroy Jehovah`s anointed?\r\n And David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, and fall upon him. And he smote him, so that he died.\r\n And David said unto him, Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain Jehovah`s anointed.\r\n And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son\r\n (and he bade them teach the children of Judah [the song of] the bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jashar):\r\n Thy glory, O Israel, is slain upon thy high places! How are the mighty fallen!\r\n Tell it not in Gath, Publish it not in the streets of Ashkelon; Lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, Lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.\r\n Ye mountains of Gilboa, Let there be no dew nor rain upon you, neither fields of offerings: For there the shield of the mighty was vilely cast away, The shield of Saul, not anointed with oil.\r\n From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, The bow of Jonathan turned not back, And the sword of Saul returned not empty.\r\n Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, And in their death they were not divided: They were swifter than eagles, They were stronger than lions.\r\n Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, Who clothed you in scarlet delicately, Who put ornaments of gold upon your apparel.\r\n How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! Jonathan is slain upon thy high places.\r\n I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: Very pleasant hast thou been unto me: Thy love to me was wonderful, Passing the love of women.\r\n How are the mighty fallen, And the weapons of war perished!\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass after this, that David inquired of Jehovah, saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah? And Jehovah said unto him, Go up. And David said, Whither shall I go up? And he said, Unto Hebron.\r\n So David went up thither, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.\r\n And his men that were with him did David bring up, every man with his household: and they dwelt in the cities of Hebron.\r\n And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, The men of Jabesh-gilead were they that buried Saul.\r\n And David sent messengers unto the men of Jabesh-gilead, and said unto them, Blessed be ye of Jehovah, that ye have showed this kindness unto your lord, even unto Saul, and have buried him.\r\n And now Jehovah show lovingkindness and truth unto you: and I also will requite you this kindness, because ye have done this thing.\r\n Now therefore let your hands be strong, and be ye valiant; for Saul your lord is dead, and also the house of Judah have anointed me king over them.\r\n Now Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul`s host, had taken Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim;\r\n and he made him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel.\r\n Ish-bosheth, Saul`s son, was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David.\r\n And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.\r\n And Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.\r\n And Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went out, and met them by the pool of Gibeon; and they sat down, the one on the one side of the pool, and the other on the other side of the pool.\r\n And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men, I pray thee, arise and play before us. And Joab said, Let them arise.\r\n Then they arose and went over by number: twelve for Benjamin, and for Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David.\r\n And they caught every one his fellow by the head, and [thrust] his sword in his fellow`s side; so they fell down together: wherefore that place was called Helkath-hazzurim, which is in Gibeon.\r\n And the battle was very sore that day: and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David.\r\n And the three sons of Zeruiah were there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel was as light of foot as a wild roe.\r\n And Asahel pursued after Abner; and in going he turned not to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner.\r\n Then Abner looked behind him, and said, Is it thou, Asahel? And he answered, It is I.\r\n And Abner said to him, Turn thee aside to thy right hand or to thy left, and lay thee hold on one of the young men, and take thee his armor. But Asahel would not turn aside from following him.\r\n And Abner said again to Asahel, Turn thee aside from following me: wherefore should I smite thee to the ground? how then should I hold up my face to Joab thy brother?\r\n Howbeit he refused to turn aside: wherefore Abner with the hinder end of the spear smote him in the body, so that the spear came out behind him; and he fell down there, and died in the same place: and it came to pass, that as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died stood still.\r\n But Joab and Abishai pursued after Abner: and the sun went down when they were come to the hill of Ammah, that lieth before Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon.\r\n And the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together after Abner, and became one band, and stood on the top of a hill.\r\n Then Abner called to Joab, and said, Shall the sword devour for ever? knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in the latter end? how long shall it be then, ere thou bid the people return from following their brethren?\r\n And Joab said, As God liveth, if thou hadst not spoken, surely then in the morning the people had gone away, nor followed every one his brother.\r\n So Joab blew the trumpet; and all the people stood still, and pursued after Israel no more, neither fought they any more.\r\n And Abner and his men went all that night through the Arabah; and they passed over the Jordan, and went through all Bithron, and came to Mahanaim.\r\n And Joab returned from following Abner: and when he had gathered all the people together, there lacked of David`s servants nineteen men and Asahel.\r\n But the servants of David had smitten of Benjamin, and of Abner`s men, [so that] three hundred and threescore men died.\r\n And they took up Asahel, and buried him in the sepulchre of his father, which was in Beth-lehem. And Joab and his men went all night, and the day brake upon them at Hebron.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: and David waxed stronger and stronger, but the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker.\r\n And unto David were sons born in Hebron: and his first-born was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;\r\n and his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;\r\n and the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;\r\n and the sixth, Ithream, of Eglah, David`s wife. These were born to David in Hebron.\r\n And it came to pass, while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner made himself strong in the house of Saul.\r\n Now Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah: and [Ish-bosheth] said to Abner, Wherefore hast thou gone in unto my father`s concubine?\r\n Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ish-bosheth, and said, Am I a dog`s head that belongeth to Judah? This day do I show kindness unto the house of Saul thy father, to his brethren, and to his friends, and have not delivered thee into the hand of David; and yet thou chargest me this day with a fault concerning this woman.\r\n God do so to Abner, and more also, if, as Jehovah hath sworn to David, I do not even so to him;\r\n to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beer-sheba.\r\n And he could not answer Abner another word, because he feared him.\r\n And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, Whose is the land? saying [also], Make thy league with me, and, behold, my hand shall be with thee, to bring about all Israel unto thee.\r\n And he said, Well; I will make a league with thee; but one thing I require of thee: that is, thou shalt not see my face, except thou first bring Michal, Saul`s daughter, when thou comest to see my face.\r\n And David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth, Saul`s son, saying, Deliver me my wife Michal, whom I betrothed to me for a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.\r\n And Ish-bosheth sent, and took her from her husband, even from Paltiel the son of Laish.\r\n And her husband went with her, weeping as he went, and followed her to Bahurim. Then said Abner unto him, Go, return: and he returned.\r\n And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, In times past ye sought for David to be king over you:\r\n now then do it; for Jehovah hath spoken of David, saying, By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their enemies.\r\n And Abner also spake in the ears of Benjamin: and Abner went also to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel, and to the whole house of Benjamin.\r\n So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. And David made Abner and the men that were with him a feast.\r\n And Abner said unto David, I will arise and go, and will gather all Israel unto my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with thee, and that thou mayest reign over all that thy soul desireth. And David sent Abner away; and he went in peace.\r\n And, behold, the servants of David and Joab came from a foray, and brought in a great spoil with them: but Abner was not with David in Hebron; for he had sent him away, and he was gone in peace.\r\n When Joab and all the host that was with him were come, they told Joab, saying, Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he hath sent him away, and he is gone in peace.\r\n Then Joab came to the king, and said, What hast thou done? behold, Abner came unto thee; why is it that thou hast sent him away, and he is quite gone?\r\n Thou knowest Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive thee, and to know thy going out and thy coming in, and to know all that thou doest.\r\n And when Joab was come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the well of Sirah: but David knew it not.\r\n And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the midst of the gate to speak with him quietly, and smote him there in the body, so that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.\r\n And afterward, when David heard it, he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless before Jehovah for ever of the blood of Abner the son of Ner:\r\n let it fall upon the head of Joab, and upon all his father`s house; and let there not fail from the house of Joab one that hath an issue, or that is a leper, or that leaneth on a staff, or that falleth by the sword, or that lacketh bread.\r\n So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had killed their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.\r\n And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David followed the bier.\r\n And they buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept.\r\n And the king lamented for Abner, and said, Should Abner die as a fool dieth?\r\n Thy hands were not bound, nor thy feet put into fetters: As a man falleth before the children of iniquity, so didst thou fall. And all the people wept again over him.\r\n And all the people came to cause David to eat bread while it was yet day; but David sware, saying, God do so to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or aught else, till the sun be down.\r\n And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them; as whatsoever the king did pleased all the people.\r\n So all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to slay Abner the son of Ner.\r\n And the king said unto his servants, Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?\r\n And I am this day weak, though anointed king; and these men the sons of Zeruiah are too hard for me: Jehovah reward the evil-doer according to his wickedness.\r\n \r\n \r\n And when [Ish-bosheth], Saul`s son, heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands became feeble, and all the Israelites were troubled.\r\n And [Ish-bosheth], Saul`s son, [had] two men that were captains of bands: the name of the one was Baanah, and the name of the other Rechab, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, of the children of Benjamin (for Beeroth also is reckoned to Benjamin:\r\n and the Beerothites fled to Gittaim, and have been sojourners there until this day).\r\n Now Jonathan, Saul`s son, had a son that was lame of his feet. He was five years old when the tidings came of Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel; and his nurse took him up, and fled: and it came to pass, as she made haste to flee, that he fell, and became lame. And his name was Mephibosheth.\r\n And the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, went, and came about the heat of the day to the house of Ish-bosheth, as he took his rest at noon.\r\n And they came thither into the midst of the house, as though they would have fetched wheat; and they smote him in the body: and Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped.\r\n Now when they came into the house, as he lay on his bed in his bedchamber, they smote him, and slew him, and beheaded him, and took his head, and went by the way of the Arabah all night.\r\n And they brought the head of Ish-bosheth unto David to Hebron, and said to the king, Behold, the head of Ish-bosheth, the son of Saul, thine enemy, who sought thy life; and Jehovah hath avenged my lord the king this day of Saul, and of his seed.\r\n And David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said unto them, As Jehovah liveth, who hath redeemed my soul out of all adversity,\r\n when one told me, saying, Behold, Saul is dead, thinking to have brought good tidings, I took hold of him, and slew him in Ziklag, which was the reward I gave him for his tidings.\r\n How much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person in his own house upon his bed, shall I not now require his blood of your hand, and take you away from the earth?\r\n And David commanded his young men, and they slew them, and cut off their hands and their feet, and hanged them up beside the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ish-bosheth, and buried it in the grave of Abner in Hebron.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spake, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh.\r\n In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was thou that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and Jehovah said to thee, Thou shalt be shepherd of my people Israel, and thou shalt be prince over Israel.\r\n So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king David made a covenant with them in Hebron before Jehovah: and they anointed David king over Israel.\r\n David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.\r\n In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months; and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years over all Israel and Judah.\r\n And the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who spake unto David, saying, Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither; thinking, David cannot come in hither.\r\n Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion; the same is the city of David.\r\n And David said on that day, Whosoever smiteth the Jebusites, let him get up to the watercourse, and [smite] the lame and the blind, that are hated of David`s soul. Wherefore they say, There are the blind and the lame; he cannot come into the house.\r\n And David dwelt in the stronghold, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from Millo and inward.\r\n And David waxed greater and greater; for Jehovah, the God of hosts, was with him.\r\n And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar-trees, and carpenters, and masons; and they built David a house.\r\n And David perceived that Jehovah had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel`s sake.\r\n And David took him more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after he was come from Hebron; and there were yet sons and daughters born to David.\r\n And these are the names of those that were born unto him in Jerusalem: Shammua, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon,\r\n and Ibhar, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia,\r\n and Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphelet.\r\n And when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to seek David; and David heard of it, and went down to the stronghold.\r\n Now the Philistines had come and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.\r\n And David inquired of Jehovah, saying, Shall I go up against the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into my hand? And Jehovah said unto David, Go up; for I will certainly deliver the Philistines into thy hand.\r\n And David came to Baal-perazim, and David smote them there; and he said, Jehovah hath broken mine enemies before me, like the breach of waters. Therefore he called the name of that place Baal-perazim.\r\n And they left their images there; and David and his men took them away.\r\n And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.\r\n And when David inquired of Jehovah, he said, Thou shalt not go up: make a circuit behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry-trees.\r\n And it shall be, when thou hearest the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry-trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself; for then is Jehovah gone out before thee to smite the host of the Philistines.\r\n And David did so, as Jehovah commanded him, and smote the Philistines from Geba until thou come to Gezer.\r\n \r\n \r\n And David again gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand.\r\n And David arose, and went with all the people that were with him, from Baale-judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God, which is called by the Name, even the name of Jehovah of hosts that sitteth [above] the cherubim.\r\n And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in the hill: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drove the new cart.\r\n And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was in the hill, with the ark of God: and Ahio went before the ark.\r\n And David and all the house of Israel played before Jehovah with all manner of [instruments made of] fir-wood, and with harps, and with psalteries, and with timbrels, and with castanets, and with cymbals.\r\n And when they came to the threshing-floor of Nacon, Uzzah put forth [his hand] to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen stumbled.\r\n And the anger of Jehovah was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God.\r\n And David was displeased, because Jehovah had broken forth upon Uzzah; and he called that place Perez-uzzah, unto this day.\r\n And David was afraid of Jehovah that day; and he said, How shall the ark of Jehovah come unto me?\r\n So David would not remove the ark of Jehovah unto him into the city of David; but David carried it aside into the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.\r\n And the ark of Jehovah remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite three months: and Jehovah blessed Obed-edom, and all his house.\r\n And it was told king David, saying, Jehovah hath blessed the house of Obed-edom, and all that pertaineth unto him, because of the ark of God. And David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom into the city of David with joy.\r\n And it was so, that, when they that bare the ark of Jehovah had gone six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fatling.\r\n And David danced before Jehovah with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.\r\n So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of Jehovah with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.\r\n And it was so, as the ark of Jehovah came into the city of David, that Michal the daughter of Saul looked out at the window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before Jehovah; and she despised him in her heart.\r\n And they brought in the ark of Jehovah, and set it in its place, in the midst of the tent that David had pitched for it; and David offered burnt-offerings and peace-offerings before Jehovah.\r\n And when David had made an end of offering the burnt-offering and the peace-offerings, he blessed the people in the name of Jehovah of hosts.\r\n And he dealt among all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, both to men and women, to every one a cake of bread, and a portion [of flesh], and a cake of raisins. So all the people departed every one to his house.\r\n Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel to-day, who uncovered himself to-day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself!\r\n And David said unto Michal, [It was] before Jehovah, who chose me above thy father, and above all his house, to appoint me prince over the people of Jehovah, over Israel: therefore will I play before Jehovah.\r\n And I will be yet more vile than this, and will be base in mine own sight: but of the handmaids of whom thou hast spoken, of them shall I be had in honor.\r\n And Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass, when the king dwelt in his house, and Jehovah had given him rest from all his enemies round about,\r\n that the king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains.\r\n And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in thy heart; for Jehovah is with thee.\r\n And it came to pass the same night, that the word of Jehovah came unto Nathan, saying,\r\n Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith Jehovah, Shalt thou build me a house for me to dwell in?\r\n for I have not dwelt in a house since the day that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle.\r\n In all places wherein I have walked with all the children of Israel, spake I a word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to be shepherd of my people Israel, saying, Why have ye not built me a house of cedar?\r\n Now therefore thus shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, that thou shouldest be prince over my people, over Israel;\r\n and I have been with thee whithersoever thou wentest, and have cut off all thine enemies from before thee; and I will make thee a great name, like unto the name of the great ones that are in the earth.\r\n And I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in their own place, and be moved no more; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as at the first,\r\n and [as] from the day that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel; and I will cause thee to rest from all thine enemies. Moreover Jehovah telleth thee that Jehovah will make thee a house.\r\n When thy days are fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, that shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.\r\n He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever.\r\n I will be his father, and he shall be my son: if he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men;\r\n but my lovingkindness shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee.\r\n And thy house and thy kingdom shall be made sure for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.\r\n According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.\r\n Then David the king went in, and sat before Jehovah; and he said, Who am I, O Lord Jehovah, and what is my house, that thou hast brought me thus far?\r\n And this was yet a small thing in thine eyes, O Lord Jehovah; but thou hast spoken also of thy servant`s house for a great while to come; and this [too] after the manner of men, O Lord Jehovah!\r\n And what can David say more unto thee? for thou knowest thy servant, O Lord Jehovah.\r\n For thy word`s sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou wrought all this greatness, to make thy servant know it.\r\n Wherefore thou art great, O Jehovah God: for there is none like thee, neither is there any God besides thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.\r\n And what one nation in the earth is like thy people, even like Israel, whom God went to redeem unto himself for a people, and to make him a name, and to do great things for you, and terrible things for thy land, before thy people, whom thou redeemest to thee out of Egypt, [from] the nations and their gods?\r\n And thou didst establish to thyself thy people Israel to be a people unto thee for ever; and thou, Jehovah, becamest their God.\r\n And now, O Jehovah God, the word that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant, and concerning his house, confirm thou it for ever, and do as thou hast spoken.\r\n And let thy name be magnified for ever, saying, Jehovah of hosts is God over Israel; and the house of thy servant David shall be established before thee.\r\n For thou, O Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel, hast revealed to thy servant, saying, I will build thee a house: therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee.\r\n And now, O Lord Jehovah, thou art God, and thy words are truth, and thou hast promised this good thing unto thy servant:\r\n now therefore let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue for ever before thee; for thou, O Lord Jehovah, hast spoken it: and with thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed for ever.\r\n \r\n \r\n And after this it came to pass, that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them: and David took the bridle of the mother city out of the hand of the Philistines.\r\n And he smote Moab, and measured them with the line, making them to lie down on the ground; and he measured two lines to put to death, and one full line to keep alive. And the Moabites became servants to David, and brought tribute.\r\n David smote also Hadadezer the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his dominion at the River.\r\n And David took from him a thousand and seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen: and David hocked all the chariot horses, but reserved of them for a hundred chariots.\r\n And when the Syrians of Damascus came to succor Hadadezer king of Zobah, David smote of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men.\r\n Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus; and the Syrians became servants to David, and brought tribute. And Jehovah gave victory to David whithersoever he went.\r\n And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.\r\n And from Betah and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, king David took exceeding much brass.\r\n And when Toi king of Hamath heard that David had smitten all the host of Hadadezer,\r\n then Toi sent Joram his son unto king David, to salute him, and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer and smitten him: for Hadadezer had wars with Toi. And [Joram] brought with him vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and vessels of brass:\r\n These also did king David dedicate unto Jehovah, with the silver and gold that he dedicated of all the nations which he subdued;\r\n of Syria, and of Moab, and of the children of Ammon, and of the Philistines, and of Amalek, and of the spoil of Hadadezer, son of Rehob, king of Zobah.\r\n And David gat him a name when he returned from smiting the Syrians in the Valley of Salt, even eighteen thousand men.\r\n And he put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom put he garrisons, and all the Edomites became servants to David. And Jehovah gave victory to David whithersoever he went.\r\n And David reigned over all Israel; and David executed justice and righteousness unto all his people.\r\n And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder;\r\n and Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, were priests; and Seraiah was scribe;\r\n and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada [was over] the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David`s sons were chief ministers.\r\n \r\n \r\n And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan`s sake?\r\n And there was of the house of Saul a servant whose name was Ziba, and they called him unto David; and the king said unto him, Art thou Ziba? And he said, Thy servant is he.\r\n And the king said, Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may show the kindness of God unto him? And Ziba said unto the king, Jonathan hath yet a son, who is lame of his feet.\r\n And the king said unto him, Where is he? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, in Lo-debar.\r\n Then king David sent, and fetched him out of the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, from Lo-debar.\r\n And Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came unto David, and fell on his face, and did obeisance. And David said, Mephibosheth. And he answered, Behold, thy servant!\r\n And David said unto him, Fear not; for I will surely show thee kindness for Jonathan thy father`s sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually.\r\n And he did obeisance, and said, What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?\r\n Then the king called to Ziba, Saul`s servant, and said unto him, All that pertained to Saul and to all his house have I given unto thy master`s son.\r\n And thou shalt till the land for him, thou, and thy sons, and thy servants; and thou shalt bring in [the fruits], that thy master`s son may have bread to eat: but Mephibosheth thy master`s son shall eat bread alway at my table. Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.\r\n Then said Ziba unto the king, According to all that my lord the king commandeth his servant, so shall thy servant do. As for Mephibosheth, [said the king], he shall eat at my table, as one of the king`s sons.\r\n And Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Mica. And all that dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants unto Mephibosheth.\r\n So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem; for he did eat continually at the king`s table. And he was lame in both his feet.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass after this, that the king of the children of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his stead.\r\n And David said, I will show kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father showed kindness unto me. So David sent by his servants to comfort him concerning his father. And David`s servants came into the land of the children of Ammon.\r\n But the princes of the children of Ammon said unto Hanun their lord, Thinkest thou that David doth honor thy father, in that he hath sent comforters unto thee? hath not David sent his servants unto thee to search the city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow it?\r\n So Hanun took David`s servants, and shaved off the one half of their beards, and cut off their garments in the middle, even to their buttocks, and sent them away.\r\n When they told it unto David, he sent to meet them; for the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, Tarry at Jericho until your beards be grown, and then return.\r\n And when the children of Ammon saw that they were become odious to David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Beth-rehob, and the Syrians of Zobah, twenty thousand footmen, and the king of Maacah with a thousand men, and the men of Tob twelve thousand men.\r\n And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men.\r\n And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the entrance of the gate: and the Syrians of Zobah and of Rehob, and the men of Tob and Maacah, were by themselves in the field.\r\n Now when Joab saw that the battle was set against him before and behind, he chose of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians:\r\n And the rest of the people he committed into the hand of Abishai his brother; and he put them in array against the children of Ammon.\r\n And he said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then thou shalt help me; but if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, then I will come and help thee.\r\n Be of good courage, and let us play the man for our people, and for the cities of our God: and Jehovah do that which seemeth him good.\r\n So Joab and the people that were with him drew nigh unto the battle against the Syrians: and they fled before him.\r\n And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled, they likewise fled before Abishai, and entered into the city. Then Joab returned from the children of Ammon, and came to Jerusalem.\r\n And when the Syrians saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they gathered themselves together.\r\n And Hadarezer sent, and brought out the Syrians that were beyond the River: and they came to Helam, with Shobach the captain of the host of Hadarezer at their head.\r\n And it was told David; and he gathered all Israel together, and passed over the Jordan, and came to Helam. And the Syrians set themselves in array against David, and fought with him.\r\n And the Syrians fled before Israel; and David slew of the Syrians [the men of] seven hundred chariots, and forty thousand horsemen, and smote Shobach the captain of their host, so that he died there.\r\n And when all the kings that were servants to Hadarezer saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they made peace with Israel, and served them. So the Syrians feared to help the children of Ammon any more.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass, at the return of the year, at the time when kings go out [to battle], that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried at Jerusalem.\r\n And it came to pass at eventide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king`s house: and from the roof he saw a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.\r\n And David send and inquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bath-sheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?\r\n And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her (for she was purified from her uncleanness); and she returned unto her house.\r\n And the woman conceived; and she sent and told David, and said, I am with child.\r\n And David sent to Joab, [saying], Send me Uriah the Hittite. And Joab sent Uriah to David.\r\n And when Uriah was come unto him, David asked of him how Joab did, and how the people fared, and how the war prospered.\r\n And David said to Uriah, Go down to thy house, and wash thy feet. And Uriah departed out of the king`s house, and there followed him a mess [of food] from the king.\r\n But Uriah slept at the door of the king`s house with all the servants of his lord, and went not down to his house.\r\n And when they had told David, saying, Uriah went not down unto his house, David said unto Uriah, Art thou not come from a journey? wherefore didst thou not go down unto thy house?\r\n And Uriah said unto David, The ark, and Israel, and Judah, abide in booths; and my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the open field; shall I then go into my house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? as thou livest, and as thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing.\r\n And David said to Uriah, Tarry here to-day also, and to-morrow I will let thee depart. So Uriah abode in Jerusalem that day, and the morrow.\r\n And when David had called him, he did eat and drink before him; and he made him drunk: and at even he went out to lie on his bed with the servants of his lord, but went not down to his house.\r\n And it came to pass in the morning, that David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah.\r\n And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and die.\r\n And it came to pass, when Joab kept watch upon the city, that he assigned Uriah unto the place where he knew that valiant men were.\r\n And the men of the city went out, and fought with Joab: and there fell some of the people, even of the servants of David; and Uriah the Hittite died also.\r\n Then Joab sent and told David all the things concerning the war;\r\n and he charged the messenger, saying, When thou hast made an end of telling all the things concerning the war unto the king,\r\n it shall be that, if the king`s wrath arise, and he say unto thee, Wherefore went ye so nigh unto the city to fight? knew ye not that they would shoot from the wall?\r\n who smote Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? did not a woman cast an upper millstone upon him from the wall, so that he died at Thebez? why went ye so nigh the wall? then shalt thou say, Thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.\r\n So the messenger went, and came and showed David all that Joab had sent him for.\r\n And the messenger said unto David, The men prevailed against us, and came out unto us into the field, and we were upon them even unto the entrance of the gate.\r\n And the shooters shot at thy servants from off the wall; and some of the king`s servants are dead, and thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.\r\n Then David said unto the messenger, Thus shalt thou say unto Joab, Let not this thing displease thee, for the sword devoureth one as well as another; make thy battle more strong against the city, and overthrow it: and encourage thou him.\r\n And when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she made lamentation for her husband.\r\n And when the mourning was past, David sent and took her home to his house, and she became his wife, and bare him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased Jehovah.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Jehovah sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor.\r\n The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds;\r\n but the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own morsel, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter.\r\n And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him, but took the poor man`s lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him.\r\n And David`s anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As Jehovah liveth, the man that hath done this is worthy to die:\r\n and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.\r\n And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;\r\n and I gave thee thy master`s house, and thy master`s wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would have added unto thee such and such things.\r\n Wherefore hast thou despised the word of Jehovah, to do that which is evil in his sight? thou hast smitten Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.\r\n Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thy house, because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.\r\n Thus saith Jehovah, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house; and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbor, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun.\r\n For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.\r\n And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against Jehovah. And Nathan said unto David, Jehovah also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.\r\n Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of Jehovah to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.\r\n And Nathan departed unto his house. And Jehovah struck the child that Uriah`s wife bare unto David, and it was very sick.\r\n David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth.\r\n And the elders of his house arose, [and stood] beside him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them.\r\n And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died. And the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead; for they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spake unto him, and he hearkened not unto our voice: how will he then vex himself, if we tell him that the child is dead!\r\n But when David saw that his servants were whispering together, David perceived that the child was dead; and David said unto his servants, Is the child dead? And they said, He is dead.\r\n Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel; and he came into the house of Jehovah, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat.\r\n Then said his servants unto him, What thing is this that thou hast done? thou didst fast and weep for the child, while it was alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread.\r\n And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who knoweth whether Jehovah will not be gracious to me, that the child may live?\r\n But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.\r\n And David comforted Bath-sheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her: and she bare a son, and he called his name Solomon. And Jehovah loved him;\r\n and he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet; and he called his name Jedidiah, for Jehovah`s sake.\r\n Now Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and took the royal city.\r\n And Joab sent messengers to David, and said, I have fought against Rabbah; yea, I have taken the city of waters.\r\n Now therefore gather the rest of the people together, and encamp against the city, and take it; lest I take the city, and it be called after my name.\r\n And David gathered all the people together, and went to Rabbah, and fought against it, and took it.\r\n And he took the crown of their king from off his head; and the weight thereof was a talent of gold, and [in it were] precious stones; and it was set on David`s head. And he brought forth the spoil of the city, exceeding much.\r\n And he brought forth the people that were therein, and put them under saws, and under harrows of iron, and under axes of iron, and made them pass through the brickkiln: and thus did he unto all the cities of the children of Ammon. And David and all the people returned unto Jerusalem.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass after this, that Absalom the son of David had a fair sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her.\r\n And Amnon was so vexed that he fell sick because of his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin; and it seemed hard to Amnon to do anything unto her.\r\n But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David`s brother; and Jonadab was a very subtle man.\r\n And he said unto him, Why, O son of the king, art thou thus lean from day to day? wilt thou not tell me? And Amnon said unto him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom`s sister.\r\n And Jonadab said unto him, Lay thee down on thy bed, and feign thyself sick: and when thy father cometh to see thee, say unto him, Let my sister Tamar come, I pray thee, and give me bread to eat, and dress the food in my sight, that I may see it, and eat it from her hand.\r\n So Amnon lay down, and feigned himself sick: and when the king was come to see him, Amnon said unto the king, Let her sister Tamar come, I pray thee, and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat from her hand.\r\n Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, Go now to thy brother Amnon`s house, and dress him food.\r\n So Tamar went to her brother Amnon`s house; and he was laid down. And she took dough, and kneaded it, and made cakes in his sight, and did bake the cakes.\r\n And she took the pan, and poured them out before him; but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, Have out all men from me. And they went out every man from him.\r\n And Amnon said unto Tamar, Bring the food into the chamber, that I may eat from thy hand. And Tamar took the cakes which she had made, and brought them into the chamber to Amnon her brother.\r\n And when she had brought them near unto him to eat, he took hold of her, and said unto her, Come, lie with me, my sister.\r\n And she answered him, Nay, my brother, do not force me; for no such thing ought to be done in Israel: do not thou this folly.\r\n And I, whither shall I carry my shame? and as for thee, thou wilt be as one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, I pray thee, speak unto the king; for he will not withhold me from thee.\r\n Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice; but being stronger than she, he forced her, and lay with her.\r\n Then Amnon hated her with exceeding great hatred; for the hatred wherewith he hated her was greater than the love wherewith he had loved her. And Amnon said unto her, Arise, be gone.\r\n And she said unto him, Not so, because this great wrong in putting me forth is [worse] than the other that thou didst unto me. But he would not hearken unto her.\r\n Then he called his servant that ministered unto him, and said, Put now this woman out from me, and bolt the door after her.\r\n And she had a garment of divers colors upon her; for with such robes were the king`s daughters that were virgins apparelled. Then his servant brought her out, and bolted the door after her.\r\n And Tamar put ashes on her head, and rent her garment of divers colors that was on her; and she laid her hand on her head, and went her way, crying aloud as she went.\r\n And Absalom her brother said unto her, Hath Amnon thy brother been with thee? but now hold thy peace, my sister: he is thy brother; take not this thing to heart. So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom`s house.\r\n But when king David heard of all these things, he was very wroth.\r\n And Absalom spake unto Amnon neither good nor bad; for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.\r\n And it came to pass after two full years, that Absalom had sheep-shearers in Baal-hazor, which is beside Ephraim: and Absalom invited all the king`s sons.\r\n And Absalom came to the king, and said, Behold now, thy servant hath sheep-shearers; let the king, I pray thee, and his servants go with thy servant.\r\n And the king said to Absalom, Nay, my son, let us not all go, lest we be burdensome unto thee. And he pressed him: howbeit he would not go, but blessed him.\r\n Then said Absalom, If not, I pray thee, let my brother Amnon go with us. And the king said unto him, Why should he go with thee?\r\n But Absalom pressed him, and he let Amnon and all the king`s sons go with him.\r\n And Absalom commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now, when Amnon`s heart is merry with wine; and when I say unto you, Smite Amnon, then kill him; fear not; have not I commanded you? be courageous, and be valiant.\r\n And the servants of Absalom did unto Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king`s sons arose, and every man gat him up upon his mule, and fled.\r\n And it came to pass, while they were in the way, that the tidings came to David, saying, Absalom hath slain all the king`s sons, and there is not one of them left.\r\n Then the king arose, and rent his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes rent.\r\n And Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David`s brother, answered and said, Let not my lord suppose that they have killed all the young men the king`s sons; for Amnon only is dead; for by the appointment of Absalom this hath been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar.\r\n Now therefore let not my lord the king take the thing to his heart, to think that all the king`s sons are dead; for Amnon only is dead.\r\n But Absalom fled. And the young man that kept the watch lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came much people by the way of the hill-side behind him.\r\n And Jonadab said unto the king, Behold, the king`s sons are come: as thy servant said, so it is.\r\n And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of speaking, that, behold, the king`s sons came, and lifted up their voice, and wept: and the king also and all his servants wept very sore.\r\n But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai the son of Ammihur, king of Geshur. And [David] mourned for his son every day.\r\n So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three years.\r\n And [the soul of] king David longed to go forth unto Absalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king`s heart was toward Absalom.\r\n And Joab sent to Tekoa, and fetched thence a wise woman, and said unto her, I pray thee, feign thyself to be a mourner, and put on mourning apparel, I pray thee, and anoint not thyself with oil, but be as a woman that hath a long time mourned for the dead:\r\n and go in to the king, and speak on this manner unto him. So Joab put the words in her mouth.\r\n And when the woman of Tekoa spake to the king, she fell on her face to the ground, and did obeisance, and said, Help, O king.\r\n And the king said unto her, What aileth thee? And she answered, Of a truth I am a widow, and my husband is dead.\r\n And thy handmaid had two sons, and they two strove together in the field, and there was none to part them, but the one smote the other, and killed him.\r\n And, behold, the whole family is risen against thy handmaid, and they say, Deliver him that smote his brother, that we may kill him for the life of his brother whom he slew, and so destroy the heir also. Thus will they quench my coal which is left, and will leave to my husband neither name nor remainder upon the face of the earth.\r\n And the king said unto the woman, Go to thy house, and I will give charge concerning thee.\r\n And the woman of Tekoa said unto the king, My lord, O king, the iniquity be on me, and on my father`s house; and the king and his throne be guiltless.\r\n And the king said, Whosoever saith aught unto thee, bring him to me, and he shall not touch thee any more.\r\n Then said she, I pray thee, let the king remember Jehovah thy God, that the avenger of blood destroy not any more, lest they destroy my son. And he said, As Jehovah liveth, there shall not one hair of thy son fall to the earth.\r\n Then the woman said, Let thy handmaid, I pray thee, speak a word unto my lord the king. And he said, Say on.\r\n And the woman said, Wherefore then hast thou devised such a thing against the people of God? for in speaking this word the king is as one that is guilty, in that the king doth not fetch home again his banished one.\r\n For we must needs die, and are as water split on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; neither doth God take away life, but deviseth means, that he that is banished be not an outcast from him.\r\n Now therefore seeing that I am come to speak this word unto my lord the king, it is because the people have made me afraid: and thy handmaid said, I will now speak unto the king; it may be that the king will perform the request of his servant.\r\n For the king will hear, to deliver his servant out of the hand of the man that would destroy me and my son together out of the inheritance of God.\r\n Then thy handmaid said, Let, I pray thee, the word of my lord the king be comfortable; for as an angel of God, so is my lord the king to discern good and bad: and Jehovah thy God be with thee.\r\n Then the king answered and said unto the woman, Hide not from me, I pray thee, aught that I shall ask thee. And the woman said, Let my lord the king now speak.\r\n And the king said, Is the hand of Joab with thee in all this? And the woman answered and said, As thy soul liveth, my lord the king, none can turn to the right hand or to the left from aught that my lord the king hath spoken; for thy servant Joab, he bade me, and he put all these words in the mouth of thy handmaid;\r\n to change the face of the matter hath thy servant Joab done this thing: and my lord is wise, according to the wisdom of an angel of God, to know all things that are in the earth.\r\n And the king said unto Joab, Behold now, I have done this thing: go therefore, bring the young man Absalom back.\r\n And Joab fell to the ground on his face, and did obeisance, and blessed the king: and Joab said, To-day thy servant knoweth that I have found favor in thy sight, my lord, O king, in that the king hath performed the request of his servant.\r\n So Joab arose and went to Geshur, and brought Absalom to Jerusalem.\r\n And the king said, Let him turn to his own house, but let him not see my face. So Absalom turned to his own house, and saw not the king`s face.\r\n Now in all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty: from the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him.\r\n And when he cut the hair of his head (now it was at every year`s end that he cut it; because it was heavy on him, therefore he cut it); he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels, after the king`s weight.\r\n And unto Absalom there were born three sons, and one daughter, whose name was Tamar: she was a woman of a fair countenance.\r\n And Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem; and he saw not the king`s face.\r\n Then Absalom sent for Joab, to send him to the king; but he would not come to him: and he sent again a second time, but he would not come.\r\n Therefore he said unto his servants, See, Joab`s field is near mine, and he hath barley there; go and set it on fire. And Absalom`s servants set the field on fire.\r\n Then Joab arose, and came to Absalom unto his house, and said unto him, Wherefore have thy servants set my field on fire?\r\n And Absalom answered Joab, Behold, I sent unto thee, saying, Come hither, that I may send thee to the king, to say, Wherefore am I come from Geshur? it were better for me to be there still. Now therefore let me see the king`s face; and if there be iniquity in me, let him kill me.\r\n So Joab came to the king, and told him; and when he had called for Absalom, he came to the king, and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king: and the king kissed Absalom.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him a chariot and horses, and fifty men to run before him.\r\n And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that, when any man had a suit which should come to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel.\r\n And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee.\r\n Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man who hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice!\r\n And it was so, that, when any man came nigh to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took hold of him, and kissed him.\r\n And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.\r\n And it came to pass at the end of forty years, that Absalom said unto the king, I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed unto Jehovah, in Hebron.\r\n For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, If Jehovah shall indeed bring me again to Jerusalem, then I will serve Jehovah.\r\n And the king said unto him, Go in peace. So he arose, and went to Hebron.\r\n But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, As soon as ye hear the sound of the trumpet, then ye shall say, Absalom is king in Hebron.\r\n And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem, that were invited, and went in their simplicity; and they knew not anything.\r\n And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David`s counsellor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he was offering the sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom.\r\n And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom.\r\n And David said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for else none of us shall escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us quickly, and bring down evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword.\r\n And the king`s servants said unto the king, Behold, thy servants are ready to do whatsoever my lord the king shall choose.\r\n And the king went forth, and all his household after him. And the king left ten women, that were concubines, to keep the house.\r\n And the king went forth, and all the people after him; and they tarried in Beth-merhak.\r\n And all his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men that came after him from Gath, passed on before the king.\r\n Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, Wherefore goest thou also with us? return, and abide with the king: for thou art a foreigner, and also an exile; [return] to thine own place.\r\n Whereas thou camest but yesterday, should I this day make thee go up and down with us, seeing I go whither I may? return thou, and take back thy brethren; mercy and truth be with thee.\r\n And Ittai answered the king, and said, As Jehovah liveth, and as my lord the king liveth, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether for death or for life, even there also will thy servant be.\r\n And David said to Ittai, Go and pass over. And Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men, and all the little ones that were with him.\r\n And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over: the king also himself passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over, toward the way of the wilderness.\r\n And, lo, Zadok also [came], and all the Levites with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God; and they set down the ark of God; and Abiathar went up, until all the people had done passing out of the city.\r\n And the king said unto Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favor in the eyes of Jehovah, he will bring me again, and show me both it, and his habitation:\r\n but if he say thus, I have no delight in thee; behold, here am I, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him.\r\n The king said also unto Zadok the priest, Art thou [not] a seer? return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz thy son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.\r\n See, I will tarry at the fords of the wilderness, until there come word from you to certify me.\r\n Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God again to Jerusalem: and they abode there.\r\n And David went up by the ascent of the [mount of] Olives, and wept as he went up; and he had his head covered, and went barefoot: and all the people that were with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.\r\n And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O Jehovah, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.\r\n And it came to pass, that, when David was come to the top [of the ascent], where God was worshipped, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat rent, and earth upon his head.\r\n And David said unto him, If thou passest on with me, then thou wilt be a burden unto me:\r\n but if thou return to the city, and say unto Absalom, I will be thy servant, O king; as I have been thy father`s servant in time past, so will I now be thy servant; then wilt thou defeat for me the counsel of Ahithophel.\r\n And hast thou not there with thee Zadok and Abiathar the priests? therefore it shall be, that what thing soever thou shalt hear out of the king`s house, thou shalt tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.\r\n Behold, they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz, Zadok`s son, and Jonathan, Abiathar`s son; and by them ye shall send unto me everything that ye shall hear.\r\n So Hushai, David`s friend, came into the city; and Absalom came into Jerusalem.\r\n \r\n \r\n And when David was a little past the top [of the ascent], behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of asses saddled, and upon them two hundred loaves of bread, and a hundred clusters of raisins, and a hundred of summer fruits, and a bottle of wine.\r\n And the king said unto Ziba, What meanest thou by these? And Ziba said, The asses are for the king`s household to ride on; and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat; and the wine, that such as are faint in the wilderness may drink.\r\n And the king said, And where is thy master`s son? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he abideth at Jerusalem; for he said, To-day will the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father.\r\n Then said the king to Ziba, Behold, thine is all that pertaineth unto Mephibosheth. And Ziba said, I do obeisance; let me find favor in thy sight, my lord, O king.\r\n And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, there came out thence a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera; he came out, and cursed still as he came.\r\n And he cast stones at David, and at all the servants of king David: and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left.\r\n And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Begone, begone, thou man of blood, and base fellow:\r\n Jehovah hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned; and Jehovah hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son; and, behold, thou art [taken] in thine own mischief, because thou art a man of blood.\r\n Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah unto the king, Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his head.\r\n And the king said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? Because he curseth, and because Jehovah hath said unto him, Curse David; who then shall say, Wherefore hast thou done so?\r\n And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, who came forth from my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more [may] this Benjamite now [do it]? let him alone, and let him curse; for Jehovah hath bidden him.\r\n It may be that Jehovah will look on the wrong done unto me, and that Jehovah will requite me good for [his] cursing of me this day.\r\n So David and his men went by the way; and Shimei went along on the hill-side over against him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him, and cast dust.\r\n And the king, and all the people that were with him, came weary; and he refreshed himself there.\r\n And Absalom, and all the people, the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him.\r\n And it came to pass, when Hushai the Archite, David`s friend, was come unto Absalom, that Hushai said unto Absalom, [Long] live the king, [Long] live the king.\r\n And Absalom said to Hushai, Is this thy kindness to thy friend? why wentest thou not with thy friend?\r\n And Hushai said unto Absalom, Nay; but whom Jehovah, and this people, and all the men of Israel have chosen, his will I be, and with him will I abide.\r\n And again, whom should I serve? [should I] not [serve] in the presence of his son? as I have served in thy father`s presence, so will I be in thy presence.\r\n Then said Absalom to Ahithophel, Give your counsel what we shall do.\r\n And Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Go in unto thy father`s concubines, that he hath left to keep the house; and all Israel will hear that thou art abhorred of thy father: then will the hands of all that are with thee be strong.\r\n So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house; and Absalom went in unto his father`s concubines in the sight of all Israel.\r\n And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he gave in those days, was as if a man inquired at the oracle of God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.\r\n \r\n \r\n Moreover Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night:\r\n and I will come upon him while he is weary and weak-handed, and will make him afraid; and all the people that are with him shall flee; and I will smite the king only;\r\n and I will bring back all the people unto thee: the man whom thou seekest is as if all returned: [so] all the people shall be in peace.\r\n And the saying pleased Absalom well, and all the elders of Israel.\r\n Then said Absalom, Call now Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear likewise what he saith.\r\n And when Hushai was come to Absalom, Absalom spake unto him, saying, Ahithophel hath spoken after this manner: shall we do [after] his saying? if not, speak thou.\r\n And Hushai said unto Absalom, The counsel that Ahithophel hath given this time is not good.\r\n Hushai said moreover, Thou knowest thy father and his men, that they are mighty men, and they are chafed in their minds, as a bear robbed of her whelps in the field; and thy father is a man of war, and will not lodge with the people.\r\n Behold, he is hid now in some pit, or in some [other] place: and it will come to pass, when some of them are fallen at the first, that whosoever heareth it will say, There is a slaughter among the people that follow Absalom.\r\n And even he that is valiant, whose heart is as the heart of a lion, will utterly melt; for all Israel knoweth that thy father is a mighty man, and they that are with him are valiant men.\r\n But I counsel that all Israel be gathered together unto thee, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, as the sand that is by the sea for multitude; and that thou go to battle in thine own person.\r\n So shall we come upon him in some place where he shall be found, and we will light upon him as the dew falleth on the ground; and of him and of all the men that are with him we will not leave so much as one.\r\n Moreover, if he be gotten into a city, then shall all Israel bring ropes to that city, and we will draw it into the river, until there be not one small stone found there.\r\n And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel. For Jehovah had ordained to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that Jehovah might bring evil upon Absalom.\r\n Then said Hushai unto Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, Thus and thus did Ahithophel counsel Absalom and the elders of Israel; and thus and thus have I counselled.\r\n Now therefore send quickly, and tell David, saying, Lodge not this night at the fords of the wilderness, but by all means pass over; lest the king be swallowed up, and all the people that are with him.\r\n Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying by En-rogel; and a maid-servant used to go and tell them; and they went and told king David: for they might not be seen to come into the city.\r\n But a lad saw them, and told Absalom: and they went both of them away quickly, and came to the house of a man in Bahurim, who had a well in his court; and they went down thither.\r\n And the woman took and spread the covering over the well`s mouth, and strewed bruised grain thereon; and nothing was known.\r\n And Absalom`s servants came to the woman to the house; and they said, Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan? And the woman said unto them, They are gone over the brook of water. And when they had sought and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem.\r\n And it came to pass, after they were departed, that they came up out of the well, and went and told king David; and they said unto David, Arise ye, and pass quickly over the water; for thus hath Ahithophel counselled against you.\r\n Then David arose, and all the people that were with him, and they passed over the Jordan: by the morning light there lacked not one of them that was not gone over the Jordan.\r\n And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his ass, and arose, and gat him home, unto his city, and set his house in order, and hanged himself; and he died, and was buried in the sepulchre of his father.\r\n Then David came to Mahanaim. And Absalom passed over the Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him.\r\n And Absalom set Amasa over the host instead of Joab. Now Amasa was the son of a man, whose name was Ithra the Israelite, that went in to Abigal the daughter of Nahash, sister to Zeruiah, Joab`s mother.\r\n And Israel and Absalom encamped in the land of Gilead.\r\n And it came to pass, when David was come to Mahanaim, that Shobi the son of Nahash of Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and Machir the son of Ammiel of Lodebar, and Barzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim,\r\n brought beds, and basins, and earthen vessels, and wheat, and barley, and meal, and parched [grain], and beans, and lentils, and parched [pulse],\r\n and honey, and butter, and sheep, and cheese of the herd, for David, and for the people that were with him, to eat: for they said, The people are hungry, and weary, and thirsty, in the wilderness.\r\n \r\n \r\n And David numbered the people that were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.\r\n And David sent forth the people, a third part under the hand of Joab, and a third part under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab`s brother, and a third part under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said unto the people, I will surely go forth with you myself also.\r\n But the people said, Thou shalt not go forth: for if we flee away, they will not care for us; neither if half of us die, will they care for us: but thou art worth ten thousand of us; therefore now it is better that thou be ready to succor us out of the city.\r\n And the king said unto them, What seemeth you best I will do. And the king stood by the gate-side, and all the people went out by hundreds and by thousands.\r\n And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom.\r\n So the people went out into the field against Israel: and the battle was in the forest of Ephraim.\r\n And the people of Israel were smitten there before the servants of David, and there was a great slaughter there that day of twenty thousand men.\r\n For the battle was there spread over the face of all the country; and the forest devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.\r\n And Absalom chanced to meet the servants of David. And Absalom was riding upon his mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between heaven and earth; and the mule that was under him went on.\r\n And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak.\r\n And Joab said unto the man that told him, And, behold, thou sawest it, and why didst thou not smite him there to the ground? and I would have given thee ten [pieces of] silver, and a girdle.\r\n And the man said unto Joab, Though I should receive a thousand [pieces of] silver in my hand, yet would I not put forth my hand against the king`s son; for in our hearing the king charged thee and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Beware that none touch the young man Absalom.\r\n Otherwise if I had dealt falsely against his life (and there is no matter hid from the king), then thou thyself wouldest have set thyself against [me].\r\n Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee. And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak.\r\n And ten young men that bare Joab`s armor compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him.\r\n And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel; for Joab held back the people.\r\n And they took Absalom, and cast him into the great pit in the forest, and raised over him a very great heap of stones: and all Israel fled every one to his tent.\r\n Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself the pillar, which is in the king`s dale; for he said, I have no son to keep my name in remembrance: and he called the pillar after his own name; and it is called Absalom`s monument, unto this day.\r\n Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, Let me now run, and bear the king tidings, how that Jehovah hath avenged him of his enemies.\r\n And Joab said unto him, Thou shalt not be the bearer of tidings this day, but thou shalt bear tidings another day; but this day thou shalt bear no tidings, because the king`s son is dead.\r\n Then said Joab to the Cushite, Go, tell the king what thou hast seen. And the Cushite bowed himself unto Joab, and ran.\r\n Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok yet again to Joab, But come what may, let me, I pray thee, also run after the Cushite. And Joab said, Wherefore wilt thou run, my son, seeing that thou wilt have no reward for the tidings?\r\n But come what may, [said he], I will run. And he said unto him, Run. Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the Plain, and outran the Cushite.\r\n Now David was sitting between the two gates: and the watchman went up to the roof of the gate unto the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, a man running alone.\r\n And the watchman cried, and told the king. And the king said, If he be alone, there is tidings in his mouth. And he came apace, and drew near.\r\n And the watchman saw another man running; and the watchman called unto the porter, and said, Behold, [another] man running alone. And the king said, He also bringeth tidings.\r\n And the watchman said, I think the running of the foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok. And the king said, He is a good man, and cometh with good tidings.\r\n And Ahimaaz called, and said unto the king, All is well. And he bowed himself before the king with his face to the earth, and said, Blessed be Jehovah thy God, who hath delivered up the men that lifted up their hand against my lord the king.\r\n And the king said, Is it well with the young man Absalom? And Ahimaaz answered, When Joab sent the king`s servant, even me thy servant, I saw a great tumult, but I knew not what it was.\r\n And the king said, Turn aside, and stand here. And he turned aside, and stood still.\r\n And, behold, the Cushite came; and the Cushite said, Tidings for my lord the king; for Jehovah hath avenged thee this day of all them that rose up against thee.\r\n And the king said unto the Cushite, Is it well with the young man Absalom? And the Cushite answered, The enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise up against thee to do thee hurt, be as that young man is.\r\n And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!\r\n \r\n \r\n And it was told Joab, Behold, the king weepeth and mourneth for Absalom.\r\n And the victory that day was turned into mourning unto all the people; for the people heard say that day, The king grieveth for his son.\r\n And the people gat them by stealth that day into the city, as people that are ashamed steal away when they flee in battle.\r\n And the king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!\r\n And Joab came into the house to the king, and said, Thou hast shamed this day the faces of all thy servants, who this day have saved thy life, and the lives of thy sons and of thy daughters, and the lives of thy wives, and the lives of thy concubines;\r\n in that thou lovest them that hate thee, and hatest them that love thee. For thou hast declared this day, that princes and servants are nought unto thee: for this day I perceive, that if Absalom had lived, and all we had died this day, then it had pleased thee well.\r\n Now therefore arise, go forth, and speak comfortably unto thy servants; for I swear by Jehovah, if thou go not forth, there will not tarry a man with thee this night: and that will be worse unto thee than all the evil that hath befallen thee from thy youth until now.\r\n Then the king arose, and sat in the gate. And they told unto all the people, saying, Behold, the king is sitting in the gate: and all the people came before the king. Now Israel had fled every man to his tent.\r\n And all the people were at strife throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, The king delivered us out of the hand of our enemies, and he saved us out of the hand of the Philistines; and now he is fled out of the land from Absalom.\r\n And Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why speak ye not a word of bringing the king back?\r\n And king David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, saying, Speak unto the elders of Judah, saying, Why are ye the last to bring the king back to his house? seeing the speech of all Israel is come to the king, [to bring him] to his house.\r\n Ye are my brethren, ye are my bone and my flesh: wherefore then are ye the last to bring back the king?\r\n And say ye to Amasa, Art thou not my bone and my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if thou be not captain of the host before me continually in the room of Joab.\r\n And he bowed the heart of all the men of Judah, even as [the heart of] one man; so that they sent unto the king, [saying], Return thou, and all thy servants.\r\n So the king returned, and came to the Jordan. And Judah came to Gilgal, to go to meet the king, to bring the king over the Jordan.\r\n And Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjamite, who was of Bahurim, hasted and came down with the men of Judah to meet king David.\r\n And there were a thousand men of Benjamin with him, and Ziba the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with him; and they went through the Jordan in the presence of the king.\r\n And there went over a ferry-boat to bring over the king`s household, and to do what he thought good. And Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king, when he was come over the Jordan.\r\n And he said unto the king, Let not my lord impute iniquity unto me, neither do thou remember that which thy servant did perversely the day that my lord the king went out of Jerusalem, that the king should take it to his heart.\r\n For thy servant doth know that I have sinned: therefore, behold, I am come this day the first of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king.\r\n But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed Jehovah`s anointed?\r\n And David said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah, that ye should this day be adversaries unto me? shall there any man be put to death this day in Israel? for do not I know that I am this day king over Israel?\r\n And the king said unto Shimei, Thou shalt not die. And the king sware unto him.\r\n And Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king; and he had neither dressed his feet, nor trimmed his beard, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came home in peace.\r\n And it came to pass, when he was come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said unto him, Wherefore wentest not thou with me, Mephibosheth?\r\n And he answered, My lord, O king, my servant deceived me: for thy servant said, I will saddle me an ass, that I may ride thereon, and go with the king; because thy servant is lame.\r\n And he hath slandered thy servant unto my lord the king; but my lord the king is as an angel of God: do therefore what is good in thine eyes.\r\n For all my father`s house were but dead men before my lord the king; yet didst thou set thy servant among them that did eat at thine own table. What right therefore have I yet that I should cry any more unto the king?\r\n And the king said unto him, Why speakest thou any more of thy matters? I say, Thou and Ziba divide the land.\r\n And Mephibosheth said unto the king, yea, let him take all, forasmuch as my lord the king is come in peace unto his own house.\r\n And Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim; and he went over the Jordan with the king, to conduct him over the Jordan.\r\n Now Barzillai was a very aged man, even fourscore years old: and he had provided the king with sustenance while he lay at Mahanaim; for he was a very great man.\r\n And the king said unto Barzillai, Come thou over with me, and I will sustain thee with me in Jerusalem.\r\n And Barzillai said unto the king, How many are the days of the years of my life, that I should go up with the king unto Jerusalem?\r\n I am this day fourscore years old: can I discern between good and bad? can thy servant taste what I eat or what I drink? can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women? wherefore then should thy servant be yet a burden unto my lord the king?\r\n Thy servant would but just go over the Jordan with the king: and why should the king recompense it me with such a reward?\r\n Let thy servant, I pray thee, turn back again, that I may die in mine own city, by the grave of my father and my mother. But behold, thy servant Chimham; let him go over with my lord the king; and do to him what shall seem good unto thee.\r\n And the king answered, Chimham shall go over with me, and I will do to him that which shall seem good unto thee: and whatsoever thou shalt require of me, that will I do for thee.\r\n And all the people went over the Jordan, and the king went over: and the king kissed Barzillai, and blessed him; and he returned unto his own place.\r\n So the king went over to Gilgal, and Chimham went over with him: and all the people of Judah brought the king over, and also half the people of Israel.\r\n And, behold, all the men of Israel came to the king, and said unto the king, Why have our brethren the men of Judah stolen thee away, and brought the king, and his household, over the Jordan, and all David`s men with him?\r\n And all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, Because the king is near of kin to us: wherefore then are ye angry for this matter? have we eaten at all at the king`s cost? or hath he given us any gift?\r\n And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, and said, We have ten parts in the king, and we have also more [right] in David than ye: why then did ye despise us, that our advice should not be first had in bringing back our king? And the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel.\r\n \r\n \r\n And there happened to be there a base fellow, whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite: and he blew the trumpet, and said, We have no portion in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to his tents, O Israel.\r\n So all the men of Israel went up from following David, and followed Sheba the son of Bichri; but the men of Judah clave unto their king, from the Jordan even to Jerusalem.\r\n And David came to his house at Jerusalem; and the king took the ten women his concubines, whom he had left to keep the house, and put them in ward, and provided them with sustenance, but went not in unto them. So they were shut up unto the day of their death, living in widowhood.\r\n Then said the king to Amasa, Call me the men of Judah together within three days, and be thou here present.\r\n So Amasa went to call [the men of] Judah together; but he tarried longer than the set time which he had appointed him.\r\n And David said to Abishai, Now will Sheba the son of Bichri do us more harm than did Absalom: take thou thy lord`s servants, and pursue after him, lest he get him fortified cities, and escape out of our sight.\r\n And there went out after him Joab`s men, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites, and all the mighty men; and they went out of Jerusalem, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.\r\n When they were at the great stone which is in Gibeon, Amasa came to meet them. And Joab was girded with his apparel of war that he had put on, and thereon was a girdle with a sword fastened upon his loins in the sheath thereof; and as he went forth it fell out.\r\n And Joab said to Amasa, Is it well with thee, my brother? And Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him.\r\n But Amasa took no heed to the sword that was in Joab`s hand: so he smote him therewith in the body, and shed out his bowels to the ground, and struck him not again; and he died. And Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba the son of Bichri.\r\n And there stood by him one of Joab`s young men, and said, He that favoreth Joab, and he that is for David, let him follow Joab.\r\n And Amasa lay wallowing in his blood in the midst of the highway. And when the man saw that all the people stood still, he carried Amasa out of the highway into the field, and cast a garment over him, when he saw that every one that came by him stood still.\r\n When he was removed out of the highway, all the people went on after Joab, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.\r\n And he went through all the tribes of Israel unto Abel, and to Beth-maacah, and all the Berites: and they were gathered together, and went also after him.\r\n And they came and besieged him in Abel of Beth-maacah, and they cast up a mound against the city, and it stood against the rampart; and all the people that were with Joab battered the wall, to throw it down.\r\n Then cried a wise woman out of the city, Hear, hear; say, I pray you, unto Joab, Come near hither, that I may speak with thee.\r\n And he came near unto her; and the woman said, Art thou Joab? And he answered, I am. Then she said unto him, Hear the words of thy handmaid. And he answered, I do hear.\r\n Then she spake, saying, They were wont to speak in old time, saying, They shall surely ask [counsel] at Abel: and so they ended [the matter].\r\n I am of them that are peaceable and faithful in Israel: thou seekest to destroy a city and a mother in Israel: why wilt thou swallow up the inheritance of Jehovah?\r\n And Joab answered and said, Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy.\r\n The matter is not so: but a man of the hill-country of Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, hath lifted up his hand against the king, even against David; deliver him only, and I will depart from the city. And the woman said unto Joab, Behold, his head shall be thrown to thee over the wall.\r\n Then the woman went unto all the people in her wisdom. And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri, and threw it out to Joab. And he blew the trumpet, and they were dispersed from the city, every man to his tent. And Joab returned to Jerusalem unto the king.\r\n Now Joab was over all the host of Israel; and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites;\r\n and Adoram was over the men subject to taskwork; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was the recorder;\r\n and Sheva was scribe; and Zadok and Abiathar were priests;\r\n and also Ira the Jairite was chief minister unto David.\r\n \r\n \r\n And there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David sought the face of Jehovah. And Jehovah said, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he put to death the Gibeonites.\r\n And the king called the Gibeonites, and said unto them (now the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites; and the children of Israel had sworn unto them: and Saul sought to slay them in his zeal for the children of Israel and Judah);\r\n and David said unto the Gibeonites, What shall I do for you? and wherewith shall I make atonement, that ye may bless the inheritance of Jehovah?\r\n And the Gibeonites said unto him, It is no matter of silver or gold between us and Saul, or his house; neither is it for us to put any man to death in Israel. And he said, What ye shall say, that will I do for you.\r\n And they said unto the king, The man that consumed us, and that devised against us, [that] we should be destroyed from remaining in any of the borders of Israel,\r\n let seven men of his sons be delivered unto us, and we will hang them up unto Jehovah in Gibeah of Saul, the chosen of Jehovah. And the king said, I will give them.\r\n But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, because of Jehovah`s oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul.\r\n But the king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bare unto Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; and the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she bare to Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite:\r\n And he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them in the mountain before Jehovah, and they fell [all] seven together. And they were put to death in the days of harvest, in the first days, at the beginning of barley harvest.\r\n And Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth, and spread it for her upon the rock, from the beginning of harvest until water was poured upon them from heaven; and she suffered neither the birds of the heavens to rest on them by day, nor the beasts of the field by night.\r\n And it was told David what Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, the concubine of Saul, had done.\r\n And David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from the men of Jabesh-gilead, who had stolen them from the street of Beth-shan, where the Philistines had hanged them, in the day that the Philistines slew Saul in Gilboa;\r\n and he brought up from thence the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son: and they gathered the bones of them that were hanged.\r\n And they buried the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son in the country of Benjamin in Zela, in the sepulchre of Kish his father: and they performed all that the king commanded. And after that God was entreated for the land.\r\n And the Philistines had war again with Israel; and David went down, and his servants with him, and fought against the Philistines. And David waxed faint;\r\n and Ishbibenob, who was of the sons of the giant, the weight of whose spear was three hundred [shekels] of brass in weight, he being girded with a new [sword], thought to have slain David.\r\n But Abishai the son of Zeruiah succored him, and smote the Philistine, and killed him. Then the men of David sware unto him, saying, Thou shalt go no more out with us to battle, that thou quench not the lamp of Israel.\r\n And it came to pass after this, that there was again war with the Philistines at Gob: then Sibbecai the Hushathite slew Saph, who was of the sons of the giant.\r\n And there was again war with the Philistines at Gob; and Elhanan the son of Jaareoregim the Beth-lehemite slew Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver`s beam.\r\n And there was again war at Gath, where was a man of great stature, that had on every hand six fingers, and on every foot six toes, four and twenty in number; and he also was born to the giant.\r\n And when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimei, David`s brother, slew him.\r\n These four were born to the giant in Gath; and they fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.\r\n \r\n \r\n And David spake unto Jehovah the words of this song in the day that Jehovah delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul:\r\n and he said, Jehovah is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer, even mine;\r\n God, my rock, in him will I take refuge; My shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge; My saviour, thou savest me from violence.\r\n I will call upon Jehovah, who is worthy to be praised: So shall I be saved from mine enemies.\r\n For the waves of death compassed me; The floods of ungodliness made me afraid:\r\n The cords of Sheol were round about me; The snares of death came upon me.\r\n In my distress I called upon Jehovah; Yea, I called unto my God: And he heard my voice out of his temple, And my cry [came] into his ears.\r\n Then the earth shook and trembled, The foundations of heaven quaked And were shaken, because he was wroth.\r\n There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, And fire out of his mouth devoured: Coals were kindled by it.\r\n He bowed the heavens also, and came down; And thick darkness was under his feet.\r\n And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly; Yea, he was seen upon the wings of the wind.\r\n And he made darkness pavilions round about him, Gathering of waters, thick clouds of the skies.\r\n At the brightness before him Coals of fire were kindled.\r\n Jehovah thundered from heaven, And the Most High uttered his voice.\r\n And he sent out arrows, and scattered them; Lightning, and discomfited them.\r\n Then the channels of the sea appeared, The foundations of the world were laid bare, By the rebuke of Jehovah, At the blast of the breath of his nostrils.\r\n He sent from on high, he took me; He drew me out of many waters;\r\n He delivered me from my strong enemy, From them that hated me; for they were too mighty for me.\r\n They came upon me in the day of my calamity; But Jehovah was my stay.\r\n He brought me forth also into a large place; He delivered me, because he delighted in me.\r\n Jehovah rewarded me according to my righteousness; According to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.\r\n For I have kept the ways of Jehovah, And have not wickedly departed from my God.\r\n For all his ordinances were before me; And as for his statutes, I did not depart from them.\r\n I was also perfect toward him; And I kept myself from mine iniquity.\r\n Therefore hath Jehovah recompensed me according to my righteousness, According to my cleanness in his eyesight.\r\n With the merciful thou wilt show thyself merciful; With the perfect man thou wilt show thyself perfect;\r\n With the pure thou wilt show thyself pure; And with the perverse thou wilt show thyself froward.\r\n And the afflicted people thou wilt save; But thine eyes are upon the haughty, that thou mayest bring them down.\r\n For thou art my lamp, O Jehovah; And Jehovah will lighten my darkness.\r\n For by thee I run upon a troop; By my God do I leap over a wall.\r\n As for God, his way is perfect: The word of Jehovah is tried; He is a shield unto all them that take refuge in him.\r\n For who is God, save Jehovah? And who is a rock, save our God?\r\n God is my strong fortress; And he guideth the perfect in his way.\r\n He maketh his feet like hinds` [feet], And setteth me upon my high places.\r\n He teacheth my hands to war, So that mine arms do bend a bow of brass.\r\n Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation; And thy gentleness hath made me great.\r\n Thou hast enlarged my steps under me; And my feet have not slipped.\r\n I have pursued mine enemies, and destroyed them; Neither did I turn again till they were consumed.\r\n And I have consumed them, and smitten them through, so that they cannot arise: Yea, they are fallen under my feet.\r\n For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle; Thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me.\r\n Thou hast also made mine enemies turn their backs unto me, That I might cut off them that hate me.\r\n They looked, but there was none to save; Even unto Jehovah, but he answered them not.\r\n Then did I beat them small as the dust of the earth, I did crush them as the mire of the streets, and did spread them abroad.\r\n Thou also hast delivered me from the strivings of my people; Thou hast kept me to be the head of the nations: A people whom I have not known shall serve me.\r\n The foreigners shall submit themselves unto me: As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me.\r\n The foreigners shall fade away, And shall come trembling out of their close places.\r\n Jehovah liveth; And blessed be my rock; And exalted be God, the rock of my salvation,\r\n Even the God that executeth vengeance for me, And that bringeth down peoples under me,\r\n And that bringeth me forth from mine enemies: Yea, thou liftest me up above them that rise up against me; Thou deliverest me from the violent man.\r\n Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O Jehovah, among the nations, And will sing praises unto thy name.\r\n Great deliverance giveth he to his king, And showeth lovingkindness to his anointed, To David and to his seed, for evermore.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now these are the last words of David. David the son of Jesse saith, And the man who was raised on high saith, The anointed of the God of Jacob, And the sweet psalmist of Israel:\r\n The Spirit of Jehovah spake by me, And his word was upon my tongue.\r\n The God of Israel said, The Rock of Israel spake to me: One that ruleth over men righteously, That ruleth in the fear of God,\r\n [He shall be] as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, A morning without clouds, [When] the tender grass [springeth] out of the earth, Through clear shining after rain.\r\n Verily my house is not so with God; Yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, Ordered in all things, and sure: For it is all my salvation, and all [my] desire, Although he maketh it not to grow.\r\n But the ungodly shall be all of them as thorns to be thrust away, Because they cannot be taken with the hand\r\n But the man that toucheth them Must be armed with iron and the staff of a spear: And they shall be utterly burned with fire in [their] place\r\n These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: Josheb-basshebeth a Tahchemonite, chief of the captains; the same was Adino the Eznite, against eight hundred slain at one time.\r\n And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodai the son of an Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David, when they defied the Philistines that were there gathered together to battle, and the men of Israel were gone away.\r\n He arose, and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clave unto the sword; and Jehovah wrought a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to take spoil.\r\n And after him was Shammah the son of Agee a Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered together into a troop, where was a plot of ground full of lentils; and the people fled from the Philistines.\r\n But he stood in the midst of the plot, and defended it, and slew the Philistines; and Jehovah wrought a great victory.\r\n And three of the thirty chief men went down, and came to David in the harvest time unto the cave of Adullam; and the troop of the Philistines was encamped in the valley of Rephaim.\r\n And David was then in the stronghold; and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Beth-lehem.\r\n And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me water to drink of the well of Beth-lehem, which is by the gate!\r\n And the three mighty men brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Beth-lehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: but he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto Jehovah.\r\n And he said, Be it far from me, O Jehovah, that I should do this: [shall I drink] the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives? therefore he would not drink it. These things did the three mighty men.\r\n And Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief of the three. And he lifted up his spear against three hundred and slew them, and had a name among the three.\r\n Was he not most honorable of the three? therefore he was made their captain: howbeit he attained not unto the [first] three.\r\n And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, who had done mighty deeds, he slew the two [sons of] Ariel of Moab: he went down also and slew a lion in the midst of a pit in time of snow.\r\n And he slew an Egyptian, a goodly man: and the Egyptian had a spear in his hand; but he went down to him with a staff, and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian`s hand, and slew him with his own spear.\r\n These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and had a name among the three mighty men.\r\n He was more honorable than the thirty, but he attained not to the [first] three. And David set him over his guard.\r\n Asahel the brother of Joab was one of the thirty; Elhanan the son of Dodo of Beth-lehem,\r\n Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,\r\n Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite,\r\n Abiezer the Anathothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite,\r\n Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite,\r\n Heleb the son of Baanah the Netophathite, Ittai the son of Ribai of Gibeah of the children of Benjamin,\r\n Benaiah a Pirathonite, Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash.\r\n Abialbon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite,\r\n Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan,\r\n Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Ararite,\r\n Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maacathite, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,\r\n Hezro the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite,\r\n Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite,\r\n Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, armorbearers to Joab the son of Zeruiah,\r\n Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,\r\n Uriah the Hittite: thirty and seven in all.\r\n \r\n \r\n And again the anger of Jehovah was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them, saying, Go, number Israel and Judah.\r\n And the king said to Joab the captain of the host, who was with him, Go now to and fro through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, and number ye the people, that I may know the sum of the people.\r\n And Joab said unto the king, Now Jehovah thy God add unto the people, how many soever they may be, a hundredfold; and may the eyes of my lord the king see it: but why doth my lord the king delight in this thing?\r\n Notwithstanding, the king`s word prevailed against Joab, and against the captains of the host. And Joab and the captains of the host went out from the presence of the king, to number the people of Israel.\r\n And they passed over the Jordan, and encamped in Aroer, on the right side of the city that is in the middle of the valley of Gad, and unto Jazer:\r\n then they came to Gilead, and to the land of Tahtim-hodshi; and they came to Dan-jaan, and round about to Sidon,\r\n and came to the stronghold of Tyre, and to all the cities of the Hivites, and of the Canaanites; and they went out to the south of Judah, at Beer-sheba.\r\n So when they had gone to and from through all the land, they came to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days.\r\n And Joab gave up the sum of the numbering of the people unto the king: and there were in Israel eight hundred thousand valiant men that drew the sword; and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand men.\r\n And David`s heart smote him after that he had numbered the people. And David said unto Jehovah, I have sinned greatly in that which I have done: but now, O Jehovah, put away, I beseech thee, the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.\r\n And when David rose up in the morning, the word of Jehovah came unto the prophet Gad, David`s seer, saying,\r\n Go and speak unto David, Thus saith Jehovah, I offer thee three things: choose thee one of them, that I may do it unto thee.\r\n So Gad came to David, and told him, and said unto him, Shall seven years of famine come unto thee in thy land? or wilt thou flee three months before thy foes while they pursue thee? or shall there be three days` pestilence in thy land? now advise thee, and consider what answer I shall return to him that sent me.\r\n And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let us fall now into the hand of Jehovah; for his mercies are great; and let me not fall into the hand of man.\r\n So Jehovah sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning even to the time appointed; and there died of the people from Dan even to Beer-sheba seventy thousand men.\r\n And when the angel stretched out his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it, Jehovah repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed the people, It is enough; now stay thy hand. And the angel of Jehovah was by the threshing-floor of Araunah the Jebusite.\r\n And David spake unto Jehovah when he saw the angel that smote the people, and said, Lo, I have sinned, and I have done perversely; but these sheep, what have they done? let thy hand, I pray thee, be against me, and against my father`s house.\r\n And Gad came that day to David, and said unto him, Go up, rear an altar unto Jehovah in the threshing-floor of Araunah the Jebusite.\r\n And David went up according to the saying of Gad, as Jehovah commanded.\r\n And Araunah looked forth, and saw the king and his servants coming on toward him: and Araunah went out, and bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground.\r\n And Araunah said, Wherefore is my lord the king come to his servant? And David said, To buy the threshing-floor of thee, to build an altar unto Jehovah, that the plague may be stayed from the people.\r\n And Araunah said unto David, Let my lord the king take and offer up what seemeth good unto him: behold, the oxen for the burnt-offering, and the threshing instruments and the yokes of the oxen for the wood:\r\n all this, O king, doth Araunah give unto the king. And Araunah said unto the king, Jehovah thy God accept thee.\r\n And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will verily buy it of thee at a price. Neither will I offer burnt-offerings unto Jehovah my God which cost me nothing. So David bought the threshing-floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.\r\n And David built there an altar unto Jehovah, and offered burnt-offerings and peace-offerings. So Jehovah was entreated for the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n Now king David was old and stricken in years; and they covered him with clothes, but he gat no heat.\r\n Wherefore his servants said unto him, Let there be sought for my lord the king a young virgin: and let her stand before the king, and cherish him; and let her lie in thy bosom, that my lord the king may get heat.\r\n So they sought for a fair damsel throughout all the borders of Israel, and found Abishag the Shunammite, and brought her to the king.\r\n And the damsel was very fair; and she cherished the king, and ministered to him; but the king knew her not.\r\n Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king: and he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.\r\n And his father had not displeased him at any time in saying, Why hast thou done so? and he was also a very goodly man; and he was born after Absalom.\r\n And he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest: and they following Adonijah helped him.\r\n But Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the prophet, and Shimei, and Rei, and the mighty men that belonged to David, were not with Adonijah.\r\n And Adonijah slew sheep and oxen and fatlings by the stone of Zoheleth, which is beside En-rogel; and he called all his brethren, the king`s sons, and all the men of Judah, the king`s servants:\r\n but Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother, he called not.\r\n Then Nathan spake unto Bath-sheba the mother of Solomon, saying, Hast thou not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith doth reign, and David our lord knoweth it not?\r\n Now therefore come, let me, I pray thee, give thee counsel, that thou mayest save thine own life, and the life of thy son Solomon.\r\n Go and get thee in unto king David, and say unto him, Didst not thou, my lord, O king, swear unto thy handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne? why then doth Adonijah reign?\r\n Behold, while thou yet talkest there with the king, I also will come in after thee, and confirm thy words.\r\n And Bath-sheba went in unto the king into the chamber: and the king was very old; and Abishag the Shunammite was ministering unto the king.\r\n And Bath-sheba bowed, and did obeisance unto the king. And the king said, What wouldest thou?\r\n And she said unto him, My lord, thou swarest by Jehovah thy God unto thy handmaid, [saying], Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne.\r\n And now, behold, Adonijah reigneth; and thou, my lord the king, knowest it not:\r\n and he hath slain oxen and fatlings and sheep in abundance, and hath called all the sons of the king, and Abiathar the priest, and Joab the captain of the host; but Solomon thy servant hath he not called.\r\n And thou, my lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are upon thee, that thou shouldest tell them who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after him.\r\n Otherwise it will come to pass, when my lord the king shall sleep with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon shall be counted offenders.\r\n And, lo, while she yet talked with the king, Nathan the prophet came in.\r\n And they told the king, saying, Behold, Nathan the prophet. And when he was come in before the king, he bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground.\r\n And Nathan said, My lord, O king, hast thou said, Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne?\r\n For he is gone down this day, and hath slain oxen and fatlings and sheep in abundance, and hath called all the king`s sons, and the captains of the host, and Abiathar the priest; and, behold, they are eating and drinking before him, and say, [Long] live king Adonijah.\r\n But me, even me thy servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and thy servant Solomon, hath he not called.\r\n Is this thing done by my lord the king, and thou hast not showed unto thy servants who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?\r\n Then king David answered and said, Call to me Bath-sheba. And she came into the king`s presence, and stood before the king.\r\n And the king sware, and said, As Jehovah liveth, who hath redeemed my soul out of all adversity,\r\n verily as I sware unto thee by Jehovah, the God of Israel, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne in my stead; verily so will I do this day.\r\n Then Bath-sheba bowed with her face to the earth, and did obeisance to the king, and said, Let my lord king David live for ever.\r\n And king David said, Call to me Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada. And they came before the king.\r\n And the king said unto them, Take with you the servants of your lord, and cause Solomon my son to ride upon mine own mule, and bring him down to Gihon:\r\n and let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there king over Israel; and blow ye the trumpet, and say, [Long] live king Solomon.\r\n Then ye shall come up after him, and he shall come and sit upon my throne; for he shall be king in my stead; and I have appointed him to be prince over Israel and over Judah.\r\n And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king, and said, Amen: Jehovah, the God of my lord the king, say so [too].\r\n As Jehovah hath been with my lord the king, even so be he with Solomon, and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord king David.\r\n So Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites, went down, and caused Solomon to ride upon king David`s mule, and brought him to Gihon.\r\n And Zadok the priest took the horn of oil out of the Tent, and anointed Solomon. And they blew the trumpet; and all the people said, [Long] live king Solomon.\r\n And all the people came up after him, and the people piped with pipes, and rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth rent with the sound of them.\r\n And Adonijah and all the guests that were with him heard it as they had made an end of eating. And when Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he said, Wherefore is this noise of the city being in an uproar?\r\n While he yet spake, behold, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came: and Adonijah said, Come in; for thou art a worthy man, and bringest good tidings.\r\n And Jonathan answered and said to Adonijah, Verily our lord king David hath made Solomon king:\r\n and the king hath sent with him Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and they have caused him to ride upon the king`s mule;\r\n and Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king in Gihon; and they are come up from thence rejoicing, so that the city rang again. This is the noise that ye have heard.\r\n And also Solomon sitteth on the throne of the kingdom.\r\n And moreover the king`s servants came to bless our lord king David, saying, Thy God make the name of Solomon better than thy name, and make his throne greater than thy throne: and the king bowed himself upon the bed.\r\n And also thus said the king, Blessed be Jehovah, the God of Israel, who hath given one to sit on my throne this day, mine eyes even seeing it.\r\n And all the guests of Adonijah were afraid, and rose up, and went every man his way.\r\n And Adonijah feared because of Solomon; and he arose, and went, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.\r\n And it was told Solomon, saying, Behold, Adonijah feareth king Solomon; for, lo, he hath laid hold on the horns of the altar, saying, Let king Solomon swear unto me first that he will not slay his servant with the sword.\r\n And Solomon said, If he shall show himself a worthy man, there shall not a hair of him fall to the earth; but if wickedness be found in him, he shall die.\r\n So king Solomon sent, and they brought him down from the altar. And he came and did obeisance to king Solomon; and Solomon said unto him, Go to thy house.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now the days of David drew nigh that he should die; and he charged Solomon his son, saying,\r\n I am going the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and show thyself a man;\r\n and keep the charge of Jehovah thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, [and] his commandments, and his ordinances, and his testimonies, according to that which is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself.\r\n That Jehovah may establish his word which he spake concerning me, saying, If thy children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail thee (said he) a man on the throne of Israel.\r\n Moreover thou knowest also what Joab the son of Zeruiah did unto me, even what he did to the two captains of the hosts of Israel, unto Abner the son of Ner, and unto Amasa the son of Jether, whom he slew, and shed the blood of war in peace, and put the blood of war upon his girdle that was about his loins, and in his shoes that were on his feet.\r\n Do therefore according to thy wisdom, and let not his hoar head go down to Sheol in peace.\r\n But show kindness unto the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be of those that eat at thy table; for so they came to me when I fled from Absalom thy brother.\r\n And, behold, there is with thee Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjamite, of Bahurim, who cursed me with a grievous curse in the day when I went to Mahanaim; but he came down to meet me at the Jordan, and I sware to him by Jehovah, saying, I will not put thee to death with the sword.\r\n Now therefore hold him not guiltless, for thou art a wise man; and thou wilt know what thou oughtest to do unto him, and thou shalt bring his hoar head down to Sheol with blood.\r\n And David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David.\r\n And the days that David reigned over Israel were forty years; seven years reigned he in Hebron, and thirty and three years reigned he in Jerusalem.\r\n And Solomon sat upon the throne of David his father; and his kingdom was established greatly.\r\n Then Adonijah the son of Haggith came to Bath-sheba the mother of Solomon. And she said, Comest thou peaceably? And he said, Peaceably.\r\n He said moreover, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And she said, Say on.\r\n And he said, Thou knowest that the kingdom was mine, and that all Israel set their faces on me, that I should reign: howbeit the kingdom is turned about, and is become my brother`s; for it was his from Jehovah.\r\n And now I ask one petition of thee; deny me not. And she said unto him, Say on.\r\n And he said, Speak, I pray thee, unto Solomon the king (for he will not say thee nay), that he give me Abishag the Shunammite to wife.\r\n And Bath-sheba said, Well; I will speak for thee unto the king.\r\n Bath-sheba therefore went unto king Solomon, to speak unto him for Adonijah. And the king rose up to meet her, and bowed himself unto her, and sat down on his throne, and caused a throne to be set for the king`s mother; and she sat on his right hand.\r\n Then she said, I ask one small petition of thee; deny me not. And the king said unto her, Ask on, my mother; for I will not deny thee.\r\n And she said, Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah thy brother to wife.\r\n And king Solomon answered and said unto his mother, And why dost thou ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? ask for him the kingdom also; for he is mine elder brother; even for him, and for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah.\r\n Then king Solomon sware by Jehovah, saying, God do so to me, and more also, if Adonijah hath not spoken this word against his own life.\r\n Now therefore as Jehovah liveth, who hath established me, and set me on the throne of David my father, and who hath made me a house, as he promised, surely Adonijah shall be put to death this day.\r\n And king Solomon sent by Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he fell upon him, so that he died.\r\n And unto Abiathar the priest said the king, Get thee to Anathoth, unto thine own fields; for thou art worthy of death: but I will not at this time put thee to death, because thou barest the ark of the Lord Jehovah before David my father, and because thou wast afflicted in all wherein my father was afflicted.\r\n So Solomon thrust out Abiathar from being priest unto Jehovah, that he might fulfil the word of Jehovah, which he spake concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh.\r\n And the tidings came to Joab; for Joab had turned after Adonijah, though he turned not after Absalom. And Joab fled unto the Tent of Jehovah, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.\r\n And it was told king Solomon, Joab is fled unto the Tent of Jehovah, and, behold, he is by the altar. Then Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, Go, fall upon him.\r\n And Benaiah came to the Tent of Jehovah, and said unto him, Thus saith the king, Come forth. And he said, Nay; but I will die here. And Benaiah brought the king word again, saying, Thus said Joab, and thus he answered me.\r\n And the king said unto him, Do as he hath said, and fall upon him, and bury him; that thou mayest take away the blood, which Joab shed without cause, from me and from my father`s house.\r\n And Jehovah will return his blood upon his own head, because he fell upon two men more righteous and better than he, and slew them with the sword, and my father David knew it not, [to wit], Abner the son of Ner, captain of the host of Israel, and Amasa the son of Jether, captain of the host of Judah.\r\n So shall their blood return upon the head of Joab, and upon the head of his seed for ever: but unto David, and unto his seed, and unto his house, and unto his throne, shall there be peace for ever from Jehovah.\r\n Then Benaiah the son of Jehoiada went up, and fell upon him, and slew him; and he was buried in his own house in the wilderness.\r\n And the king put Benaiah the son of Jehoiada in his room over the host; and Zadok the priest did the king put in the room of Abiathar.\r\n And the king sent and called for Shimei, and said unto him, Build thee a house in Jerusalem, and dwell there, and go not forth thence any whither.\r\n For on the day thou goest out, and passest over the brook Kidron, know thou for certain that thou shalt surely die: thy blood shall be upon thine own head.\r\n And Shimei said unto the king, The saying is good: as my lord the king hath said, so will thy servant do. And Shimei dwelt in Jerusalem many days.\r\n And it came to pass at the end of three years, that two of the servants of Shimei ran away unto Achish, son of Maacah, king of Gath. And they told Shimei, saying, Behold, thy servants are in Gath.\r\n And Shimei arose, and saddled his ass, and went to Gath to Achish, to seek his servants; and Shimei went, and brought his servants from Gath.\r\n And it was told Solomon that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath, and was come again.\r\n And the king sent and called for Shimei, and said unto him, Did I not adjure thee by Jehovah, and protest unto thee, saying, Know for certain, that on the day thou goest out, and walkest abroad any whither, thou shalt surely die? and thou saidst unto me, The saying that I have heard is good.\r\n Why then hast thou not kept the oath of Jehovah, and the commandment that I have charged thee with?\r\n The king said moreover to Shimei, Thou knowest all the wickedness which thy heart is privy to, that thou didst to David my father: therefore Jehovah shall return thy wickedness upon thine own head.\r\n But king Solomon shall be blessed, and the throne of David shall be established before Jehovah for ever.\r\n So the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he went out, and fell upon him, so that he died. And the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took Pharaoh`s daughter, and brought her into the city of David, until he had made an end of building his own house, and the house of Jehovah, and the wall of Jerusalem round about.\r\n Only the people sacrificed in the high places, because there was no house built for the name of Jehovah until those days.\r\n And Solomon loved Jehovah, walking in the statutes of David his father: only he sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places.\r\n And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there; for that was the great high place: a thousand burnt-offerings did Solomon offer upon that altar.\r\n In Gibeon Jehovah appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.\r\n And Solomon said, Thou hast showed unto thy servant David my father great lovingkindness, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great lovingkindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.\r\n And now, O Jehovah my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child; I know not how to go out or come in.\r\n And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.\r\n Give thy servant therefore an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and evil; for who is able to judge this thy great people?\r\n And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.\r\n And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life, neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies, but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern justice;\r\n behold, I have done according to thy word: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there hath been none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.\r\n And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches and honor, so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee, all thy days.\r\n And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days.\r\n And Solomon awoke; and, behold, it was a dream: and he came to Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of the covenant of Jehovah, and offered up burnt-offerings, and offered peace-offerings, and made a feast to all his servants.\r\n Then there came two women that were harlots, unto the king, and stood before him.\r\n And the one woman said, Oh, my lord, I and this woman dwell in one house; and I was delivered of a child with her in the house.\r\n And it came to pass the third day after I was delivered, that this woman was delivered also; and we were together; there was no stranger with us in the house, save we two in the house.\r\n And this woman`s child died in the night, because she lay upon it.\r\n And she arose at midnight, and took my son from beside me, while thy handmaid slept, and laid it in her bosom, and laid her dead child in my bosom.\r\n And when I rose in the morning to give my child suck, behold, it was dead; but when I had looked at it in the morning, behold, it was not my son, whom I did bear.\r\n And the other woman said, Nay; but the living is my son, and the dead is thy son. And this said, No; but the dead is thy son, and the living is my son. Thus they spake before the king.\r\n Then said the king, The one saith, This is my son that liveth, and thy son is the dead: and the other saith, Nay; but thy son is the dead, and my son is the living.\r\n And the king said, Fetch me a sword. And they brought a sword before the king.\r\n And the king said, Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other.\r\n Then spake the woman whose the living child was unto the king, for her heart yearned over her son, and she said, Oh, my lord, give her the living child, and in no wise slay it. But the other said, It shall be neither mine nor thine; divide it.\r\n Then the king answered and said, Give her the living child, and in no wise slay it: she is the mother thereof.\r\n And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; and they feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do justice.\r\n \r\n \r\n And king Solomon was king over all Israel.\r\n And these were the princes whom he had: Azariah the son of Zadok, the priest;\r\n Elihoreph and Ahijah, the sons of Shisha, scribes; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud, the recorder;\r\n and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the host; and Zadok and Abiathar were priests;\r\n and Azariah the son of Nathan was over the officers; and Zabud the son of Nathan was chief minister, [and] the king`s friend;\r\n and Ahishar was over the household; and Adoniram the son of Abda was over the men subject to taskwork.\r\n And Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel, who provided victuals for the king and his household: each man had to make provision for a month in the year.\r\n And these are their names: Ben-hur, in the hill-country of Ephraim;\r\n Ben-deker, in Makaz, and in Shaalbim, and Beth-shemesh, and Elon-beth-hanan;\r\n Ben-hesed, in Arubboth (to him [pertained] Socoh, and all the land of Hepher);\r\n Ben-abinadab, in all the height of Dor (he had Taphath the daughter of Solomon to wife);\r\n Baana the son of Ahilud, in Taanach and Megiddo, and all Beth-shean which is beside Zarethan, beneath Jezreel, from Beth-shean to Abel-meholah, as far as beyond Jokmeam;\r\n Ben-geber, in Ramoth-gilead (to him [pertained] the towns of Jair the son of Manasseh, which are in Gilead; [even] to him [pertained] the region of Argob, which is in Bashan, threescore great cities with walls and brazen bars);\r\n Ahinadab the son of Iddo, in Mahanaim;\r\n Ahimaaz, in Naphtali (he also took Basemath the daughter of Solomon to wife);\r\n Baana the son of Hushai, in Asher and Bealoth;\r\n Jehoshaphat the son of Paruah, in Issachar;\r\n Shimei the son of Ela, in Benjamin;\r\n Geber the son of Uri, in the land of Gilead, the country of Sihon king of the Amorites and of Og king of Bashan; and [he was] the only officer that was in the land.\r\n Judah and Israel were many as the sand which is by the sea in multitude, eating and drinking and making merry.\r\n And Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the River unto the land of the Philistines, and unto the border of Egypt: they brought tribute, and served Solomon all the days of his life.\r\n And Solomon`s provision for one day was thirty measures of fine flour, and threescore measures of meal,\r\n ten fat oxen, and twenty oxen out of the pastures, and a hundred sheep, besides harts, and gazelles, and roebucks, and fatted fowl.\r\n For he had dominion over all [the region] on this side the River, from Tiphsah even to Gaza, over all the kings on this side the River: and he had peace on all sides round about him.\r\n And Judah and Israel dwelt safely, every man under his vine and under his fig-tree, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, all the days of Solomon.\r\n And Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen.\r\n And those officers provided victuals for king Solomon, and for all that came unto king Solomon`s table, every man in his month; they let nothing be lacking.\r\n Barley also and straw for the horses and swift steeds brought they unto the place where [the officers] were, every man according to his charge.\r\n And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea-shore.\r\n And Solomon`s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east, and all the wisdom of Egypt.\r\n For he was wiser than all men; than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Calcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol: and his fame was in all the nations round about.\r\n And he spake three thousand proverbs; and his songs were a thousand and five.\r\n And he spake of trees, from the cedar that is in Lebanon even unto the hyssop that springeth out of the wall; he spake also of beasts, and of birds, and of creeping things, and of fishes.\r\n And there came of all peoples to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, who had heard of his wisdom.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants unto Solomon; for he had heard that they had anointed him king in the room of his father: for Hiram was ever a lover of David.\r\n And Solomon sent to Hiram, saying,\r\n Thou knowest how that David my father could not build a house for the name of Jehovah his God for the wars which were about him on every side, until Jehovah put them under the soles of his feet.\r\n But now Jehovah my God hath given me rest on every side; there is neither adversary, nor evil occurrence.\r\n And, behold, I purpose to build a house for the name of Jehovah my God, as Jehovah spake unto David my father, saying, Thy son, whom I will set upon thy throne in thy room, he shall build the house for my name.\r\n Now therefore command thou that they cut me cedar-trees out of Lebanon; and my servants shall be with thy servants; and I will give thee hire for thy servants according to all that thou shalt say: for thou knowest that there is not among us any that knoweth how to cut timber like unto the Sidonians.\r\n And it came to pass, when Hiram heard the words of Solomon, that he rejoiced greatly, and said, Blessed be Jehovah this day, who hath given unto David a wise son over this great people.\r\n And Hiram sent to Solomon, saying, I have heard [the message] which thou hast sent unto me: I will do all thy desire concerning timber of cedar, and concerning timber of fir.\r\n My servants shall bring them down from Lebanon unto the sea; and I will make them into rafts to go by sea unto the place that thou shalt appoint me, and will cause them to be broken up there, and thou shalt receive them; and thou shalt accomplish my desire, in giving food for my household.\r\n So Hiram gave Solomon timber of cedar and timber of fir according to all his desire.\r\n And Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand measures of wheat for food to his household, and twenty measures of pure oil: thus gave Solomon to Hiram year by year.\r\n And Jehovah gave Solomon wisdom, as he promised him; and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon; and they two made a league together.\r\n And king Solomon raised a levy out of all Israel; and the levy was thirty thousand men.\r\n And he sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month by courses; a month they were in Lebanon, and two months at home; and Adoniram was over the men subject to taskwork.\r\n And Solomon had threescore and ten thousand that bare burdens, and fourscore thousand that were hewers in the mountains;\r\n besides Solomon`s chief officers that were over the work, three thousand and three hundred, who bare rule over the people that wrought in the work.\r\n And the king commanded, and they hewed out great stones, costly stones, to lay the foundation of the house with wrought stone.\r\n And Solomon`s builders and Hiram`s builders and the Gebalites did fashion them, and prepared the timber and the stones to build the house.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon`s reign over Israel, in the month Ziv, which is the second month, that he began to build the house of Jehovah.\r\n And the house which king Solomon built for Jehovah, the length thereof was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof twenty [cubits], and the height thereof thirty cubits.\r\n And the porch before the temple of the house, twenty cubits was the length thereof, according to the breadth of the house; [and] ten cubits was the breadth thereof before the house.\r\n And for the house he made windows of fixed lattice-work.\r\n And against the wall of the house he built stories round about, against the walls of the house round about, both of the temple and of the oracle; and he made side-chambers round about.\r\n The nethermost story was five cubits broad, and the middle was six cubits broad, and the third was seven cubits broad; for on the outside he made offsets [in the wall] of the house round about, that [the beams] should not have hold in the walls of the house.\r\n And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready at the quarry; and there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building.\r\n The door for the middle side-chambers was in the right side of the house: and they went up by winding stairs into the middle [story], and out of the middle into the third.\r\n So he built the house, and finished it; and he covered the house with beams and planks of cedar.\r\n And he built the stories against all the house, each five cubits high: and they rested on the house with timber of cedar.\r\n And the word of Jehovah came to Solomon, saying,\r\n Concerning this house which thou art building, if thou wilt walk in my statutes, and execute mine ordinances, and keep all my commandments to walk in them; then will I establish my word with thee, which I spake unto David thy father.\r\n And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake my people Israel.\r\n So Solomon built the house, and finished it.\r\n And he built the walls of the house within with boards of cedar: from the floor of the house unto the walls of the ceiling, he covered them on the inside with wood; and he covered the floor of the house with boards of fir.\r\n And he built twenty cubits on the hinder part of the house with boards of cedar from the floor unto the walls [of the ceiling]: he built [them] for it within, for an oracle, even for the most holy place.\r\n And the house, that is, the temple before [the oracle], was forty cubits [long].\r\n And there was cedar on the house within, carved with knops and open flowers: all was cedar; there was no stone seen.\r\n And he prepared an oracle in the midst of the house within, to set there the ark of the covenant of Jehovah.\r\n And within the oracle was [a space of] twenty cubits in length, and twenty cubits in breadth, and twenty cubits in the height thereof; and he overlaid it with pure gold: and he covered the altar with cedar.\r\n So Solomon overlaid the house within with pure gold: and he drew chains of gold across before the oracle; and he overlaid it with gold.\r\n And the whole house he overlaid with gold, until all the house was finished: also the whole altar that belonged to the oracle he overlaid with gold.\r\n And in the oracle he made two cherubim of olive-wood, each ten cubits high.\r\n And five cubits was the one wing of the cherub, and five cubits the other wing of the cherub: from the uttermost part of the one wing unto the uttermost part of the other were ten cubits.\r\n And the other cherub was ten cubits: both the cherubim were of one measure and one form.\r\n The height of the one cherub was ten cubits, and so was it of the other cherub.\r\n And he set the cherubim within the inner house; and the wings of the cherubim were stretched forth, so that the wing of the one touched the one wall, and the wing of the other cherub touched the other wall; and their wings touched one another in the midst of the house.\r\n And he overlaid the cherubim with gold.\r\n And he carved all the walls of the house round about with carved figures of cherubim and palm-trees and open flowers, within and without.\r\n And the floor of the house he overlaid with gold, within and without.\r\n And for the entrance of the oracle he made doors of olive-wood: the lintel [and] door-posts were a fifth part [of the wall].\r\n So [he made] two doors of olive-wood; and he carved upon them carvings of cherubim and palm-trees and open flowers, and overlaid them with gold; and he spread the gold upon the cherubim, and upon the palm-trees.\r\n So also made he for the entrance of the temple door-posts of olive-wood, out of a fourth part [of the wall];\r\n and two doors of fir-wood: the two leaves of the one door were folding, and the two leaves of the other door were folding.\r\n And he carved [thereon] cherubim and palm-trees and open flowers; and he overlaid them with gold fitted upon the graven work.\r\n And he built the inner court with three courses of hewn stone, and a course of cedar beams.\r\n In the fourth year was the foundation of the house of Jehovah laid, in the month Ziv.\r\n And in the eleventh year, in the month Bul, which is the eighth month, was the house finished throughout all the parts thereof, and according to all the fashion of it. So was he seven years in building it.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Solomon was building his own house thirteen years, and he finished all his house.\r\n For he built the house of the forest of Lebanon; the length thereof was a hundred cubits, and the breadth thereof fifty cubits, and the height thereof thirty cubits, upon four rows of cedar pillars, with cedar beams upon the pillars.\r\n And it was covered with cedar above over the forty and five beams, that were upon the pillars; fifteen in a row.\r\n And there were beams in three rows, and window was over against window in three ranks.\r\n And all the doors and posts were made square with beams: and window was over against window in three ranks.\r\n And he made the porch of pillars; the length thereof was fifty cubits, and the breadth thereof thirty cubits; and a porch before them; and pillars and a threshold before them.\r\n And he made the porch of the throne where he was to judge, even the porch of judgment: and it was covered with cedar from floor to floor.\r\n And his house where he was to dwell, the other court within the porch, was of the like work. He made also a house for Pharaoh`s daughter (whom Solomon had taken to wife), like unto this porch.\r\n All these were of costly stones, even of hewn stone, according to measure, sawed with saws, within and without, even from the foundation unto the coping, and so on the outside unto the great court.\r\n And the foundation was of costly stones, even great stones, stones of ten cubits, and stones of eight cubits.\r\n And above were costly stones, even hewn stone, according to measure, and cedar-wood.\r\n And the great court round about had three courses of hewn stone, and a course of cedar beams; like as the inner court of the house of Jehovah, and the porch of the house.\r\n And king Solomon sent and fetched Hiram out of Tyre.\r\n He was the son of a widow of the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a worker in brass; and he was filled with wisdom and understanding and skill, to work all works in brass. And he came to king Solomon, and wrought all his work.\r\n For he fashioned the two pillars of brass, eighteen cubits high apiece: and a line of twelve cubits compassed either of them about.\r\n And he made two capitals of molten brass, to set upon the tops of the pillars: the height of the one capital was five cubits, and the height of the other capital was five cubits.\r\n There were nets of checker-work, and wreaths of chain-work, for the capitals which were upon the top of the pillars; seven for the one capital, and seven for the other capital.\r\n So he made the pillars; and there were two rows round about upon the one network, to cover the capitals that were upon the top of the pillars: and so did he for the other capital.\r\n And the capitals that were upon the top of the pillars in the porch were of lily-work, four cubits.\r\n And there were capitals above also upon the two pillars, close by the belly which was beside the network: and the pomegranates were two hundred, in rows round about upon the other capital.\r\n And he set up the pillars at the porch of the temple: and he set up the right pillar, and called the name thereof Jachin; and he set up the left pillar, and called the name thereof Boaz.\r\n And upon the top of the pillars was lily-work: so was the work of the pillars finished.\r\n And he made the molten sea of ten cubits from brim to brim, round in compass, and the height thereof was five cubits; and a line of thirty cubits compassed it round about.\r\n And under the brim of it round about there were knops which did compass it, for ten cubits, compassing the sea round about: the knops were in two rows, cast when it was cast.\r\n It stood upon twelve oxen, three looking toward the north, and three looking toward the west, and three looking toward the south, and three looking toward the east; and the sea was set upon them above, and all their hinder parts were inward.\r\n And it was a handbreadth thick: and the brim thereof was wrought like the brim of a cup, like the flower of a lily: it held two thousand baths.\r\n And he made the ten bases of brass; four cubits was the length of one base, and four cubits the breadth thereof, and three cubits the height of it.\r\n And the work of the bases was on this manner: they had panels; and there were panels between the ledges;\r\n and on the panels that were between the ledges were lions, oxen, and cherubim; and upon the ledges there was a pedestal above; and beneath the lions and oxen were wreaths of hanging work.\r\n And every base had four brazen wheels, and axles of brass; and the four feet thereof had undersetters: beneath the laver were the undersetters molten, with wreaths at the side of each.\r\n And the mouth of it within the capital and above was a cubit: and the mouth thereof was round after the work of a pedestal, a cubit and a half; and also upon the mouth of it were gravings, and their panels were foursquare, not round.\r\n And the four wheels were underneath the panels; and the axletrees of the wheels were in the base: and the height of a wheel was a cubit and half a cubit.\r\n And the work of the wheels was like the work of a chariot wheel: their axletrees, and their felloes, and their spokes, and their naves, were all molten.\r\n And there were four undersetters at the four corners of each base: the undersetters thereof were of the base itself.\r\n And in the top of the base was there a round compass half a cubit high; and on the top of the base the stays thereof and the panels thereof were of the same.\r\n And on the plates of the stays thereof, and on the panels thereof, he graved cherubim, lions, and palm-trees, according to the space of each, with wreaths round about.\r\n After this manner he made the ten bases: all of them had one casting, one measure, and one form.\r\n And he made ten lavers of brass: one laver contained forty baths; and every laver was four cubits; and upon very one of the ten bases one laver.\r\n And he set the bases, five on the right side of the house, and five on the left side of the house: and he set the sea on the right side of the house eastward, toward the south.\r\n And Hiram made the lavers, and the shovels, and the basins. So Hiram made an end of doing all the work that he wrought for king Solomon in the house of Jehovah:\r\n the two pillars, and the two bowls of the capitals that were on the top of the pillars; and the two networks to cover the two bowls of the capitals that were on the top of the pillars;\r\n and the four hundred pomegranates for the two networks; two rows of pomegranates for each network, to cover the two bowls of the capitals that were upon the pillars;\r\n and the ten bases, and the ten lavers on the bases;\r\n and the one sea, and the twelve oxen under the sea;\r\n and the pots, and the shovels, and the basins: even all these vessels, which Hiram made for king Solomon, in the house of Jehovah, were of burnished brass.\r\n In the plain of the Jordan did the king cast them, in the clay ground between Succoth and Zarethan.\r\n And Solomon left all the vessels [unweighed], because they were exceeding many: the weight of the brass could not be found out.\r\n And Solomon made all the vessels that were in the house of Jehovah: the golden altar, and the table whereupon the showbread was, of gold;\r\n and the candlesticks, five on the right side, and five on the left, before the oracle, of pure gold; and the flowers, and the lamps, and the tongs, of gold;\r\n and the cups, and the snuffers, and the basins, and the spoons, and the firepans, of pure gold; and the hinges, both for the doors of the inner house, the most holy place, and for the doors of the house, [to wit], of the temple, of gold.\r\n Thus all the work that king Solomon wrought in the house of Jehovah was finished. And Solomon brought in the things which David his father had dedicated, [even] the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, and put them in the treasuries of the house of Jehovah.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the princes of the fathers` [houses] of the children of Israel, unto king Solomon in Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of Jehovah out of the city of David, which is Zion.\r\n And all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto king Solomon at the feast, in the month Ethanim, which is the seventh month.\r\n And all the elders of Israel came, and the priests took up the ark.\r\n And they brought up the ark of Jehovah, and the tent of meeting, and all the holy vessels that were in the Tent; even these did the priests and the Levites bring up.\r\n And king Solomon and all the congregation of Israel, that were assembled unto him, were with him before the ark, sacrificing sheep and oxen, that could not be counted nor numbered for multitude.\r\n And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of Jehovah unto its place, into the oracle of the house, to the most holy place, even under the wings of the cherubim.\r\n For the cherubim spread forth their wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubim covered the ark and the staves thereof above.\r\n And the staves were so long that the ends of the staves were seen from the holy place before the oracle; but they were not seen without: and there they are unto this day.\r\n There was nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone which Moses put there at Horeb, when Jehovah made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt.\r\n And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of Jehovah,\r\n so that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud; for the glory of Jehovah filled the house of Jehovah.\r\n Then spake Solomon, Jehovah hath said that he would dwell in the thick darkness.\r\n I have surely built thee a house of habitation, a place for thee to dwell in for ever.\r\n And the king turned his face about, and blessed all the assembly of Israel: and all the assembly of Israel stood.\r\n And he said, Blessed be Jehovah, the God of Israel, who spake with his mouth unto David thy father, and hath with his hand fulfilled it, saying,\r\n Since the day that I brought forth my people Israel out of Egypt, I chose no city out of all the tribes of Israel to build a house, that my name might be there; but I chose David to be over my people Israel.\r\n Now it was in the heart of David my father to build a house for the name of Jehovah, the God of Israel.\r\n But Jehovah said unto David my father, Whereas it was in thy heart to build a house for my name, thou didst well that it was in thy heart:\r\n nevertheless thou shalt not build the house; but thy son that shall come forth out of thy loins, he shall build the house for my name.\r\n And Jehovah hath established his word that he spake; for I am risen up in the room of David my father, and sit on the throne of Israel, as Jehovah promised, and have built the house for the name of Jehovah, the God of Israel.\r\n And there have I set a place for the ark, wherein is the covenant of Jehovah, which he made with our fathers, when he brought them out of the land of Egypt.\r\n And Solomon stood before the altar of Jehovah in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven;\r\n and he said, O Jehovah, the God of Israel, there is no God like thee, in heaven above, or on earth beneath; who keepest covenant and lovingkindness with thy servants, that walk before thee with all their heart;\r\n who hast kept with thy servant David my father that which thou didst promise him: yea, thou spakest with thy mouth, and hast fulfilled it with thy hand, as it is this day.\r\n Now therefore, O Jehovah, the God of Israel, keep with thy servant David my father that which thou hast promised him, saying, There shall not fail thee a man in my sight to sit on the throne of Israel, if only thy children take heed to their way, to walk before me as thou hast walked before me.\r\n Now therefore, O God of Israel, let thy word, I pray thee, be verified, which thou spakest unto thy servant David my father.\r\n But will God in very deed dwell on the earth? behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded!\r\n Yet have thou respect unto the prayer of thy servant, and to his supplication, O Jehovah my God, to hearken unto the cry and to the prayer which thy servant prayeth before thee this day;\r\n that thine eyes may be open toward this house night and day, even toward the place whereof thou hast said, My name shall be there; to hearken unto the prayer which thy servant shall pray toward this place.\r\n And hearken thou to the supplication of thy servant, and of thy people Israel, when they shall pray toward this place: yea, hear thou in heaven thy dwelling-place; and when thou hearest, forgive.\r\n If a man sin against his neighbor, and an oath be laid upon him to cause him to swear, and he come [and] swear before thine altar in this house;\r\n then hear thou in heaven, and do, and judge thy servants, condemning the wicked, to bring his way upon his own head, and justifying the righteous, to give him according to his righteousness.\r\n When thy people Israel are smitten down before the enemy, because they have sinned against thee; if they turn again to thee, and confess thy name, and pray and make supplication unto thee in this house:\r\n then hear thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of thy people Israel, and bring them again unto the land which thou gavest unto their fathers.\r\n When heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee; if they pray toward this place, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, when thou dost afflict them:\r\n then hear thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of thy servants, and of thy people Israel, when thou teachest them the good way wherein they should walk; and send rain upon thy land, which thou hast given to thy people for an inheritance.\r\n If there be in the land famine, if there be pestilence, if there be blasting [or] mildew, locust [or] caterpillar; if their enemy besiege them in the land of their cities; whatsoever plague, whatsoever sickness there be;\r\n what prayer and supplication soever be made by any man, [or] by all thy people Israel, who shall know every man the plague of his own heart, and spread forth his hands toward this house:\r\n then hear thou in heaven thy dwelling-place, and forgive, and do, and render unto every man according to all his ways, whose heart thou knowest; (for thou, even thou only, knowest the hearts of all the children of men;)\r\n that they may fear thee all the days that they live in the land which thou gavest unto our fathers.\r\n Moreover concerning the foreigner, that is not of thy people Israel, when he shall come out of a far country for thy name`s sake\r\n (for they shall hear of thy great name, and of thy mighty hand, and of thine outstretched arm); when he shall come and pray toward this house;\r\n hear thou in heaven thy dwelling-place, and do according to all that the foreigner calleth to thee for; that all the peoples of the earth may know thy name, to fear thee, as doth thy people Israel, and that they may know that this house which I have built is called by my name.\r\n If thy people go out to battle against their enemy, by whatsoever way thou shalt send them, and they pray unto Jehovah toward the city which thou hast chosen, and toward the house which I have built for thy name;\r\n then hear thou in heaven their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause.\r\n If they sin against thee (for there is no man that sinneth not), and thou be angry with them, and deliver them to the enemy, so that they carry them away captive unto the land of the enemy, far off or near;\r\n yet if they shall bethink themselves in the land whither they are carried captive, and turn again, and make supplication unto thee in the land of them that carried them captive, saying, We have sinned, and have done perversely, we have dealt wickedly;\r\n if they return unto thee with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their enemies, who carried them captive, and pray unto thee toward their land, which thou gavest unto their fathers, the city which thou hast chosen, and the house which I have built for thy name:\r\n then hear thou their prayer and their supplication in heaven thy dwelling-place, and maintain their cause;\r\n and forgive thy people who have sinned against thee, and all their transgressions wherein they have transgressed against thee; and give them compassion before those who carried them captive, that they may have compassion on them\r\n (for they are thy people, and thine inheritance, which thou broughtest forth out of Egypt, from the midst of the furnace of iron);\r\n that thine eyes may be open unto the supplication of thy servant, and unto the supplication of thy people Israel, to hearken unto them whensoever they cry unto thee.\r\n For thou didst separate them from among all the peoples of the earth, to be thine inheritance, as thou spakest by Moses thy servant, when thou broughtest our fathers out of Egypt, O Lord Jehovah.\r\n And it was so, that, when Solomon had made an end of praying all this prayer and supplication unto Jehovah, he arose from before the altar of Jehovah, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread forth toward heaven.\r\n And he stood, and blessed all the assembly of Israel with a loud voice, saying,\r\n Blessed be Jehovah, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised: there hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by Moses his servant.\r\n Jehovah our God be with us, as he was with our fathers: let him not leave us, nor forsake us;\r\n that he may incline our hearts unto him, to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and his statutes, and his ordinances, which he commanded our fathers.\r\n And let these my words, wherewith I have made supplication before Jehovah, be nigh unto Jehovah our God day and night, that he maintain the cause of his servant, and the cause of his people Israel, as every day shall require;\r\n that all the peoples of the earth may know that Jehovah, he is God; there is none else.\r\n Let your heart therefore be perfect with Jehovah our God, to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments, as at this day.\r\n And the king, and all Israel with him, offered sacrifice before Jehovah.\r\n And Solomon offered for the sacrifice of peace-offerings, which he offered unto Jehovah, two and twenty thousand oxen, and a hundred and twenty thousand sheep. So the king and all the children of Israel dedicated the house of Jehovah.\r\n The same day did the king hallow the middle of the court that was before the house of Jehovah; for there he offered the burnt-offering, and the meal-offering, and the fat of the peace-offerings, because the brazen altar that was before Jehovah was too little to receive the burnt-offering, and the meal-offering, and the fat of the peace-offerings.\r\n So Solomon held the feast at that time, and all Israel with him, a great assembly, from the entrance of Hamath unto the brook of Egypt, before Jehovah our God, seven days and seven days, even fourteen days.\r\n On the eighth day he sent the people away; and they blessed the king, and went unto their tents joyful and glad of heart for all the goodness that Jehovah had showed unto David his servant, and to Israel his people.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass, when Solomon had finished the building of the house of Jehovah, and the king`s house, and all Solomon`s desire which he was pleased to do,\r\n that Jehovah appeared to Solomon the second time, as he had appeared unto him at Gibeon.\r\n And Jehovah said unto him, I have heard thy prayer and thy supplication, that thou hast made before me: I have hallowed this house, which thou hast built, to put my name there for ever; and mine eyes and my heart shall be there perpetually.\r\n And as for thee, if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, in integrity of heart, and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded thee, and wilt keep my statutes and mine ordinances;\r\n then I will establish the throne of thy kingdom over Israel for ever, according as I promised to David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man upon the throne of Israel.\r\n But if ye shall turn away from following me, ye or your children, and not keep my commandments and my statutes which I have set before you, but shall go and serve other gods, and worship them;\r\n then will I cut off Israel out of the land which I have given them; and this house, which I have hallowed for my name, will I cast out of my sight; and Israel shall be a proverb and a byword among all peoples.\r\n And though this house is so high, yet shall every one that passeth by it be astonished, and shall hiss; and they shall say, Why hath Jehovah done thus unto this land, and to this house?\r\n and they shall answer, Because they forsook Jehovah their God, who brought forth their fathers out of the land of Egypt, and laid hold on other gods, and worshipped them, and served them: therefore hath Jehovah brought all this evil upon them.\r\n And it came to pass at the end of twenty years, wherein Solomon had built the two houses, the house of Jehovah and the king`s house\r\n (now Hiram the king of Tyre had furnished Solomon with cedar-trees and fir-trees, and with gold, according to all his desire), that then king Solomon gave Hiram twenty cities in the land of Galilee.\r\n And Hiram came out from Tyre to see the cities which Solomon had given him; and they pleased him not.\r\n And he said, What cities are these which thou hast given me, my brother? And he called them the land of Cabul unto this day.\r\n And Hiram sent to the king sixscore talents of gold.\r\n And this is the reason of the levy which king Solomon raised, to build the house of Jehovah, and his own house, and Millo, and the wall of Jerusalem, and Hazor, and Megiddo, and Gezer.\r\n Pharaoh king of Egypt had gone up, and taken Gezer, and burnt it with fire, and slain the Canaanites that dwelt in the city, and given it for a portion unto his daughter, Solomon`s wife.\r\n And Solomon built Gezer, and Beth-horon the nether,\r\n and Baalath, and Tamar in the wilderness, in the land,\r\n and all the store-cities that Solomon had, and the cities for his chariots, and the cities for his horsemen, and that which Solomon desired to build for his pleasure in Jerusalem, and in Lebanon, and in all the land of his dominion.\r\n As for all the people that were left of the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, who were not of the children of Israel;\r\n their children that were left after them in the land, whom the children of Israel were not able utterly to destroy, of them did Solomon raise a levy of bondservants unto this day.\r\n But of the children of Israel did Solomon make no bondservants; but they were the men of war, and his servants, and his princes, and his captains, and rulers of his chariots and of his horsemen.\r\n These were the chief officers that were over Solomon`s work, five hundred and fifty, who bare rule over the people that wrought in the work.\r\n But Pharaoh`s daughter came up out of the city of David unto her house which [Solomon] had built for her: then did he build Millo.\r\n And three times a year did Solomon offer burnt-offerings and peace-offerings upon the altar which he built unto Jehovah, burning incense therewith, [upon the altar] that was before Jehovah. So he finished the house.\r\n And king Solomon made a navy of ships in Ezion-geber, which is beside Eloth, on the shore of the Red Sea, in the land of Edom.\r\n And Hiram sent in the navy his servants, shipmen that had knowledge of the sea, with the servants of Solomon.\r\n And they came to Ophir, and fetched from thence gold, four hundred and twenty talents, and brought it to king Solomon.\r\n \r\n \r\n And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of Jehovah, she came to prove him with hard questions.\r\n And she came to Jerusalem with a very great train, with camels that bare spices, and very much gold, and precious stones; and when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart.\r\n And Solomon told her all her questions: there was not anything hid from the king which he told her not.\r\n And when the queen of Sheba had seen all the wisdom of Solomon, and the house that he had built,\r\n and the food of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel, and his cupbearers, and his ascent by which he went up unto the house of Jehovah; there was no more spirit in her.\r\n And she said to the king, It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of thine acts, and of thy wisdom.\r\n Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the half was not told me; thy wisdom and prosperity exceed the fame which I heard.\r\n Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, that stand continually before thee, [and] that hear thy wisdom.\r\n Blessed be Jehovah thy God, who delighted in thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel: because Jehovah loved Israel for ever, therefore made he thee king, to do justice and righteousness.\r\n And she gave the king a hundred and twenty talents of gold, and of spices very great store, and precious stones: there came no more such abundance of spices as these which the queen of Sheba gave to king Solomon.\r\n And the navy also of Hiram, that brought gold from Ophir, brought in from Ophir great plenty of almug-trees and precious stones.\r\n And the king made of the almug-trees pillars for the house of Jehovah, and for the king`s house, harps also and psalteries for the singers: there came no such almug-trees, nor were seen, unto this day.\r\n And king Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatsoever she asked, besides that which Solomon gave her of his royal bounty. So she turned, and went to her own land, she and her servants.\r\n Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred threescore and six talents of gold,\r\n besides [that which] the traders [brought], and the traffic of the merchants, and of all the kings of the mingled people, and of the governors of the country.\r\n And king Solomon made two hundred bucklers of beaten gold; six hundred [shekels] of gold went to one buckler.\r\n And [he made] three hundred shields of beaten gold; three pounds of gold went to one shield: and the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon.\r\n Moreover the king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with the finest gold.\r\n There were six steps to the throne, and the top of the throne was round behind; and there were stays on either side by the place of the seat, and two lions standing beside the stays.\r\n And twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other upon the six steps: there was not the like made in any kingdom.\r\n And all king Solomon`s drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold: none were of silver; it was nothing accounted of in the days of Solomon.\r\n For the king had at sea a navy of Tarshish with the navy of Hiram: once every three years came the navy of Tarshish, bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks.\r\n So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom.\r\n And all the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart.\r\n And they brought every man his tribute, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and raiment, and armor, and spices, horses, and mules, a rate year by year.\r\n And Solomon gathered together chariots and horsemen: and he had a thousand and four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, that he bestowed in the chariot cities, and with the king at Jerusalem.\r\n And the king made silver to be in Jerusalem as stones, and cedars made he to be as the sycomore-trees that are in the lowland, for abundance.\r\n And the horses which Solomon had were brought out of Egypt; and the king`s merchants received them in droves, each drove at a price.\r\n And a chariot came up and went out of Egypt for six hundred [shekels] of silver, and a horse for a hundred and fifty; and so for all the kings of the Hittites, and for the kings of Syria, did they bring them out by their means.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now king Solomon loved many foreign women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites;\r\n of the nations concerning which Jehovah said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go among them, neither shall they come among you; for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love.\r\n And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart.\r\n For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods; and his heart was not perfect with Jehovah his God, as was the heart of David his father.\r\n For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.\r\n And Solomon did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, and went not fully after Jehovah, as did David his father.\r\n Then did Solomon build a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, in the mount that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech the abomination of the children of Ammon.\r\n And so did he for all his foreign wives, who burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods.\r\n And Jehovah was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned away from Jehovah, the God of Israel, who had appeared unto him twice,\r\n and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which Jehovah commanded.\r\n Wherefore Jehovah said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant.\r\n Notwithstanding in thy days I will not do it, for David thy father`s sake: but I will rend it out of the hand of thy son.\r\n Howbeit I will not rend away all the kingdom; but I will give one tribe to thy son, for David my servant`s sake, and for Jerusalem`s sake which I have chosen.\r\n And Jehovah raised up an adversary unto Solomon, Hadad the Edomite: he was of the king`s seed in Edom.\r\n For it came to pass, when David was in Edom, and Joab the captain of the host was gone up to bury the slain, and had smitten every male in Edom\r\n (for Joab and all Israel remained there six months, until he had cut off every male in Edom);\r\n that Hadad fled, he and certain Edomites of his father`s servants with him, to go into Egypt, Hadad being yet a little child.\r\n And they arose out of Midian, and came to Paran; and they took men with them out of Paran, and they came to Egypt, unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, who gave him a house, and appointed him victuals, and gave him land.\r\n And Hadad found great favor in the sight of Pharaoh, so that he gave him to wife the sister of his own wife, the sister of Tahpenes the queen.\r\n And the sister of Tahpenes bare him Genubath his son, whom Tahpenes weaned in Pharaoh`s house; and Genubath was in Pharaoh`s house among the sons of Pharaoh.\r\n And when Hadad heard in Egypt that David slept with his fathers, and that Joab the captain of the host was dead, Hadad said to Pharaoh, Let me depart, that I may go to mine own country.\r\n Then Pharaoh said unto him, But what hast thou lacked with me, that, behold, thou seekest to go to thine own country? And he answered, Nothing: howbeit only let me depart.\r\n And God raised up [another] adversary unto him, Rezon the son of Eliada, who had fled from his lord Hadadezer king of Zobah.\r\n And he gathered men unto him, and became captain over a troop, when David slew them [of Zobah]: and they went to Damascus, and dwelt therein, and reigned in Damascus.\r\n And he was an adversary to Israel all the days of Solomon, besides the mischief that Hadad [did]: and he abhorred Israel, and reigned over Syria.\r\n And Jeroboam the son of Nebat, an Ephraimite of Zeredah, a servant of Solomon, whose mother`s name was Zeruah, a widow, he also lifted up his hand against the king.\r\n And this was the reason why he lifted up his hand against the king: Solomon built Millo, and repaired the breach of the city of David his father.\r\n And the man Jeroboam was a mighty man of valor; and Solomon saw the young man that he was industrious, and he gave him charge over all the labor of the house of Joseph.\r\n And it came to pass at that time, when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, that the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him in the way; now [Ahijah] had clad himself with a new garment; and they two were alone in the field.\r\n And Ahijah laid hold of the new garment that was on him, and rent it in twelve pieces.\r\n And he said to Jeroboam, Take thee ten pieces; for thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee\r\n (but he shall have one tribe, for my servant David`s sake and for Jerusalem`s sake, the city which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel);\r\n because that they have forsaken me, and have worshipped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, Chemosh the god of Moab, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon; and they have not walked in my ways, to do that which is right in mine eyes, and [to keep] my statutes and mine ordinances, as did David his father.\r\n Howbeit I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand; but I will make him prince all the days of his life, for David my servant`s sake whom I chose, who kept my commandments and my statutes;\r\n but I will take the kingdom out of his son`s hand, and will give it unto thee, even ten tribes.\r\n And unto his son will I give one tribe, that David my servant may have a lamp alway before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen me to put my name there.\r\n And I will take thee, and thou shalt reign according to all that thy soul desireth, and shalt be king over Israel.\r\n And it shall be, if thou wilt hearken unto all that I command thee, and wilt walk in my ways, and do that which is right in mine eyes, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did; that I will be with thee, and will build thee a sure house, as I built for David, and will give Israel unto thee.\r\n And I will for this afflict the seed of David, but not for ever.\r\n Solomon sought therefore to kill Jeroboam; but Jeroboam arose, and fled into Egypt, unto Shishak king of Egypt, and was in Egypt until the death of Solomon.\r\n Now the rest of the acts of Solomon, and all that he did, and his wisdom, are they not written in the book of the acts of Solomon?\r\n And the time that Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel was forty years.\r\n And Solomon slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David his father: and Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for all Israel were come to Shechem to make him king.\r\n And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard of it (for he was yet in Egypt, whither he had fled from the presence of king Solomon, and Jeroboam dwelt in Egypt,\r\n and they sent and called him), that Jeroboam and all the assembly of Israel came, and spake unto Rehoboam, saying,\r\n Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore make thou the grievous service of thy father, and his heavy yoke which he put upon us, lighter, and we will serve thee.\r\n And he said unto them, Depart yet for three days, then come again to me. And the people departed.\r\n And king Rehoboam took counsel with the old men, that had stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, saying, What counsel give ye me to return answer to this people?\r\n And they spake unto him, saying, If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants for ever.\r\n But he forsook the counsel of the old men which they had given him, and took counsel with the young men that were grown up with him, that stood before him.\r\n And he said unto them, What counsel give ye, that we may return answer to this people, who have spoken to me, saying, Make the yoke that thy father did put upon us lighter?\r\n And the young men that were grown up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou say unto this people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it lighter unto us; thus shalt thou speak unto them, My little finger is thicker than my father`s loins.\r\n And now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.\r\n So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king bade, saying, Come to me again the third day.\r\n And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the counsel of the old men which they had given him,\r\n and spake to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.\r\n So the king hearkened not unto the people; for it was a thing brought about of Jehovah, that he might establish his word, which Jehovah spake by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.\r\n And when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: to your tents, O Israel: now see to thine own house, David. So Israel departed unto their tents.\r\n But as for the children of Israel that dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them.\r\n Then king Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was over the men subject to taskwork; and all Israel stoned him to death with stones. And king Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem.\r\n So Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day.\r\n And it came to pass, when all Israel heard that Jeroboam was returned, that they sent and called him unto the congregation, and made him king over all Israel: there was none that followed the house of David, but the tribe of Judah only.\r\n And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of Judah, and the tribe of Benjamin, a hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men, that were warriors, to fight against the house of Israel, to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam the son of Solomon.\r\n But the word of God came unto Shemaiah the man of God, saying,\r\n Speak unto Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and unto all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the rest of the people, saying,\r\n Thus saith Jehovah, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel: return every man to his house; for this thing is of me. So they hearkened unto the word of Jehovah, and returned and went their way, according to the word of Jehovah.\r\n Then Jeroboam built Shechem in the hill-country of Ephraim, and dwelt therein; and he went out from thence, and built Penuel.\r\n And Jeroboam said in his heart, Now will the kingdom return to the house of David:\r\n if this people go up to offer sacrifices in the house of Jehovah at Jerusalem, then will the heart of this people turn again unto their lord, even unto Rehoboam king of Judah; and they will kill me, and return to Rehoboam king of Judah.\r\n Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold; and he said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.\r\n And he set the one in Beth-el, and the other put he in Dan.\r\n And this thing became a sin; for the people went [to worship] before the one, even unto Dan.\r\n And he made houses of high places, and made priests from among all the people, that were not of the sons of Levi.\r\n And Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like unto the feast that is in Judah, and he went up unto the altar; so did he in Beth-el, sacrificing unto the calves that he had made: and he placed in Beth-el the priests of the high places that he had made.\r\n And he went up unto the altar which he had made in Beth-el on the fifteenth day in the eighth month, even in the month which he had devised of his own heart: and he ordained a feast for the children of Israel, and went up unto the altar, to burn incense.\r\n \r\n \r\n And, behold, there came a man of God out of Judah by the word of Jehovah unto Beth-el: and Jeroboam was standing by the altar to burn incense.\r\n And he cried against the altar by the word of Jehovah, and said, O altar, altar, thus saith Jehovah: Behold, a son shall be born unto the house of David, Josiah by name; and upon thee shall he sacrifice the priests of the high places that burn incense upon thee, and men`s bones shall they burn upon thee.\r\n And he gave a sign the same day, saying, This is the sign which Jehovah hath spoken: Behold, the altar shall be rent, and the ashes that are upon it shall be poured out.\r\n And it came to pass, when the king heard the saying of the man of God, which he cried against the altar in Beth-el, that Jeroboam put forth his hand from the altar, saying, Lay hold on him. And his hand, which he put forth against him, dried up, so that he could not draw it back again to him.\r\n The altar also was rent, and the ashes poured out from the altar, according to the sign which the man of God had given by the word of Jehovah.\r\n And the king answered and said unto the man of God, Entreat now the favor of Jehovah thy God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored me again. And the man of God entreated Jehovah, and the king`s hand was restored him again, and became as it was before.\r\n And the king said unto the man of God, Come home with me, and refresh thyself, and I will give thee a reward.\r\n And the man of God said unto the king, If thou wilt give me half thy house, I will not go in with thee, neither will I eat bread nor drink water in this place;\r\n for so was it charged me by the word of Jehovah, saying, Thou shalt eat no bread, nor drink water, neither return by the way that thou camest.\r\n So he went another way, and returned not by the way that he came to Beth-el.\r\n Now there dwelt an old prophet in Beth-el; and one of his sons came and told him all the works that the man of God had done that day in Beth-el: the words which he had spoken unto the king, them also they told unto their father.\r\n And their father said unto them, What way went he? Now his sons had seen what way the man of God went, that came from Judah.\r\n And he said unto his sons, Saddle me the ass. So they saddled him the ass; and he rode thereon.\r\n And he went after the man of God, and found him sitting under an oak; and he said unto him, Art thou the man of God that camest from Judah? And he said, I am.\r\n Then he said unto him, Come home with me, and eat bread.\r\n And he said, I may not return with thee, nor go in with thee; neither will I eat bread nor drink water with thee in this place:\r\n for it was said to me by the word of Jehovah, Thou shalt eat no bread nor drink water there, nor turn again to go by the way that thou camest.\r\n And he said unto him, I also am a prophet as thou art; and an angel spake unto me by the word of Jehovah, saying, Bring him back with thee into thy house, that he may eat bread and drink water. [But] he lied unto him.\r\n So he went back with him, and did eat bread in his house, and drank water.\r\n And it came to pass, as they sat at the table, that the word of Jehovah came unto the prophet that brought him back;\r\n and he cried unto the man of God that came from Judah, saying, Thus saith Jehovah, Forasmuch as thou hast been disobedient unto the mouth of Jehovah, and hast not kept the commandment which Jehovah thy God commanded thee,\r\n but camest back, and hast eaten bread and drunk water in the place of which he said to thee, Eat no bread, and drink no water; thy body shall not come unto the sepulchre of thy fathers.\r\n And it came to pass, after he had eaten bread, and after he had drunk, that he saddled for him the ass, [to wit], for the prophet whom he had brought back.\r\n And when he was gone, a lion met him by the way, and slew him: and his body was cast in the way, and the ass stood by it; the lion also stood by the body.\r\n And, behold, men passed by, and saw the body cast in the way, and the lion standing by the body; and they came and told it in the city where the old prophet dwelt.\r\n And when the prophet that brought him back from the way heard thereof, he said, It is the man of God, who was disobedient unto the mouth of Jehovah: therefore Jehovah hath delivered him unto the lion, which hath torn him, and slain him, according to the word of Jehovah, which he spake unto him.\r\n And he spake to his sons, saying, Saddle me the ass. And they saddled it.\r\n And he went and found his body cast in the way, and the ass and the lion standing by the body: the lion had not eaten the body, nor torn the ass.\r\n And the prophet took up the body of the man of God, and laid it upon the ass, and brought it back; and he came to the city of the old prophet, to mourn, and to bury him.\r\n And he laid his body in his own grave; and they mourned over him, [saying], Alas, my brother!\r\n And it came to pass, after he had buried him, that he spake to his sons, saying, When I am dead, then bury me in the sepulchre wherein the man of God is buried; lay my bones beside his bones.\r\n For the saying which he cried by the word of Jehovah against the altar in Beth-el, and against all the houses of the high places which are in the cities of Samaria, shall surely come to pass.\r\n After this thing Jeroboam returned not from his evil way, but made again from among all the people priests of the high places: whosoever would, he consecrated him, that there might be priests of the high places.\r\n And this thing became sin unto the house of Jeroboam, even to cut it off, and to destroy it from off the face of the earth.\r\n \r\n \r\n At that time Abijah the son of Jeroboam fell sick.\r\n And Jeroboam said to his wife, Arise, I pray thee, and disguise thyself, that thou be not known to be the wife of Jeroboam; and get thee to Shiloh: behold, there is Ahijah the prophet, who spake concerning me that I should be king over this people.\r\n And take with thee ten loaves, and cakes, and a cruse of honey, and go to him: he will tell thee what shall become of the child.\r\n And Jeroboam`s wife did so, and arose, and went to Shiloh, and came to the house of Ahijah. Now Ahijah could not see; for his eyes were set by reason of his age.\r\n And Jehovah said unto Ahijah, Behold, the wife of Jeroboam cometh to inquire of thee concerning her son; for he is sick: thus and thus shalt thou say unto her; for it will be, when she cometh in, that she will feign herself to be another woman.\r\n And it was so, when Ahijah heard the sound of her feet, as she came in at the door, that he said, Come in, thou wife of Jeroboam; why feignest thou thyself to be another? for I am sent to thee with heavy tidings.\r\n Go, tell Jeroboam, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel: Forasmuch as I exalted thee from among the people, and made thee prince over my people Israel,\r\n and rent the kingdom away from the house of David, and gave it thee; and yet thou hast not been as my servant David, who kept my commandments, and who followed me with all his heart, to do that only which was right in mine eyes,\r\n but hast done evil above all that were before thee, and hast gone and made thee other gods, and molten images, to provoke me to anger, and hast cast me behind thy back:\r\n therefore, behold, I will bring evil upon the house of Jeroboam, and will cut off from Jeroboam every man-child, him that is shut up and him that is left at large in Israel, and will utterly sweep away the house of Jeroboam, as a man sweepeth away dung, till it be all gone.\r\n Him that dieth of Jeroboam in the city shall the dogs eat; and him that dieth in the field shall the birds of the heavens eat: for Jehovah hath spoken it.\r\n Arise thou therefore, get thee to thy house: [and] when thy feet enter into the city, the child shall die.\r\n And all Israel shall mourn for him, and bury him; for he only of Jeroboam shall come to the grave, because in him there is found some good thing toward Jehovah, the God of Israel, in the house of Jeroboam.\r\n Moreover Jehovah will raise him up a king over Israel, who shall cut off the house of Jeroboam that day: but what? even now.\r\n For Jehovah will smite Israel, as a reed is shaken in the water; and he will root up Israel out of this good land which he gave to their fathers, and will scatter them beyond the River, because they have made their Asherim, provoking Jehovah to anger.\r\n And he will give Israel up because of the sins of Jeroboam, which he hath sinned, and wherewith he hath made Israel to sin.\r\n And Jeroboam`s wife arose, and departed, and came to Tirzah: [and] as she came to the threshold of the house, the child died.\r\n And all Israel buried him, and mourned for him, according to the word of Jehovah, which he spake by his servant Ahijah the prophet.\r\n And the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, how he warred, and how he reigned, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.\r\n And the days which Jeroboam reigned were two and twenty years: and he slept with his fathers, and Nadab his son reigned in his stead.\r\n And Rehoboam the son of Solomon reigned in Judah. Rehoboam was forty and one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which Jehovah had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, to put his name there: and his mother`s name was Naamah the Ammonitess.\r\n And Judah did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, and they provoked him to jealousy with their sins which they committed, above all that their fathers had done.\r\n For they also built them high places, and pillars, and Asherim, on every high hill, and under every green tree;\r\n and there were also sodomites in the land: they did according to all the abominations of the nations which Jehovah drove out before the children of Israel.\r\n And it came to pass in the fifth year of king Rehoboam, that Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem;\r\n and he took away the treasures of the house of Jehovah, and the treasures of the king`s house; he even took away all: and he took away all the shields of gold which Solomon had made.\r\n And king Rehoboam made in their stead shields of brass, and committed them to the hands of the captains of the guard, who kept the door of the king`s house.\r\n And it was so, that, as oft as the king went into the house of Jehovah, the guard bare them, and brought them back into the guard-chamber.\r\n Now the rest of the acts of Rehoboam, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?\r\n And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam continually.\r\n And Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David: and his mother`s name was Naamah the Ammonitess. And Abijam his son reigned in his stead.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam the son of Nebat began Abijam to reign over Judah.\r\n Three years reigned he in Jerusalem: and his mother`s name was Maacah the daughter of Abishalom.\r\n And he walked in all the sins of his father, which he had done before him; and his heart was not perfect with Jehovah his God, as the heart of David his father.\r\n Nevertheless for David`s sake did Jehovah his God give him a lamp in Jerusalem, to set up his son after him, and to establish Jerusalem;\r\n because David did that which was right in the eyes of Jehovah, and turned not aside from anything that he commanded him all the days of his life, save only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.\r\n Now there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all the days of his life.\r\n And the rest of the acts of Abijam, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? And there was war between Abijam and Jeroboam.\r\n And Abijam slept with his fathers; and they buried him in the city of David: and Asa his son reigned in his stead.\r\n And in the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel began Asa to reign over Judah.\r\n And forty and one years reigned he in Jerusalem: and his mother`s name was Maacah the daughter of Abishalom.\r\n And Asa did that which was right in the eyes of Jehovah, as did David his father.\r\n And he put away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made.\r\n And also Maacah his mother he removed from being queen, because she had made an abominable image for an Asherah; and Asa cut down her image, and burnt it at the brook Kidron.\r\n But the high places were not taken away: nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect with Jehovah all his days.\r\n And he brought into the house of Jehovah the things that his father had dedicated, and the things that himself had dedicated, silver, and gold, and vessels.\r\n And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days.\r\n And Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah, and built Ramah, that he might not suffer any one to go out or come in to Asa king of Judah.\r\n Then Asa took all the silver and the gold that were left in the treasures of the house of Jehovah, and the treasures of the king`s house, and delivered them into the hand of his servants; and king Asa sent them to Ben-hadad, the son of Tabrimmon, the son of Hezion, king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying,\r\n [There is] a league between me and thee, between my father and thy father: behold, I have sent unto thee a present of silver and gold; go, break thy league with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me.\r\n And Ben-hadad hearkened unto king Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel, and smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abel-beth-maacah, and all Chinneroth, with all the land of Naphtali.\r\n And it came to pass, when Baasha heard thereof, that he left off building Ramah, and dwelt in Tirzah.\r\n Then king Asa made a proclamation unto all Judah; none was exempted: and they carried away the stones of Ramah, and the timber thereof, wherewith Baasha had builded; and king Asa built therewith Geba of Benjamin, and Mizpah.\r\n Now the rest of all the acts of Asa, and all his might, and all that he did, and the cities which he built, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? But in the time of his old age he was diseased in his feet.\r\n And Asa slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father; and Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead.\r\n And Nadab the son of Jeroboam began to reign over Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah; and he reigned over Israel two years.\r\n And he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, and walked in the way of his father, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin.\r\n And Baasha the son of Ahijah, of the house of Issachar, conspired against him; and Baasha smote him at Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines; for Nadab and all Israel were laying siege to Gibbethon.\r\n Even in the third year of Asa king of Judah did Baasha slay him, and reigned in his stead.\r\n And it came to pass that, as soon as he was king, he smote all the house of Jeroboam: he left not to Jeroboam any that breathed, until he had destroyed him; according unto the saying of Jehovah, which he spake by his servant Ahijah the Shilonite;\r\n for the sins of Jeroboam which he sinned, and wherewith he made Israel to sin, because of his provocation wherewith he provoked Jehovah, the God of Israel, to anger.\r\n Now the rest of the acts of Nadab, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?\r\n And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days.\r\n In the third year of Asa king of Judah began Baasha the son of Ahijah to reign over all Israel in Tirzah, [and reigned] twenty and four years.\r\n And he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, and walked in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the word of Jehovah came to Jehu the son of Hanani against Baasha, saying,\r\n Forasmuch as I exalted thee out of the dust, and made thee prince over my people Israel, and thou hast walked in the way of Jeroboam, and hast made my people Israel to sin, to provoke me to anger with their sins;\r\n behold, I will utterly sweep away Baasha and his house; and I will make thy house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat.\r\n Him that dieth of Baasha in the city shall the dogs eat; and him that dieth of his in the field shall the birds of the heavens eat.\r\n Now the rest of the acts of Baasha, and what he did, and his might, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?\r\n And Baasha slept with his fathers, and was buried in Tirzah; and Elah his son reigned in his stead.\r\n And moreover by the prophet Jehu the son of Hanani came the word of Jehovah against Baasha, and against his house, both because of all the evil that he did in the sight of Jehovah, to provoke him to anger with the work of his hands, in being like the house of Jeroboam, and because he smote him.\r\n In the twenty and sixth year of Asa king of Judah began Elah the son of Baasha to reign over Israel in Tirzah, [and reigned] two years.\r\n And his servant Zimri, captain of half his chariots, conspired against him. Now he was in Tirzah, drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza, who was over the household in Tirzah:\r\n and Zimri went in and smote him, and killed him, in the twenty and seventh year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned in his stead.\r\n And it came to pass, when he began to reign, as soon as he sat on his throne, that he smote all the house of Baasha: he left him not a single man-child, neither of his kinsfolks, nor of his friends.\r\n Thus did Zimri destroy all the house of Baasha, according to the word of Jehovah, which he spake against Baasha by Jehu the prophet,\r\n for all the sins of Baasha, and the sins of Elah his son, which they sinned, and wherewith they made Israel to sin, to provoke Jehovah, the God of Israel, to anger with their vanities.\r\n Now the rest of the acts of Elah, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?\r\n In the twenty and seventh year of Asa king of Judah did Zimri reign seven days in Tirzah. Now the people were encamped against Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines.\r\n And the people that were encamped heard say, Zimri hath conspired, and hath also smitten the king: wherefore all Israel made Omri, the captain of the host, king over Israel that day in the camp.\r\n And Omri went up from Gibbethon, and all Israel with him, and they besieged Tirzah.\r\n And it came to pass, when Zimri saw that the city was taken, that he went into the castle of the king`s house, and burnt the king`s house over him with fire, and died,\r\n for his sins which he sinned in doing that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, in walking in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin which he did, to make Israel to sin.\r\n Now the rest of the acts of Zimri, and his treason that he wrought, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?\r\n Then were the people of Israel divided into two parts: half of the people followed Tibni the son of Ginath, to make him king; and half followed Omri.\r\n But the people that followed Omri prevailed against the people that followed Tibni the son of Ginath: so Tibni died, and Omri reigned.\r\n In the thirty and first year of Asa king of Judah began Omri to reign over Israel, [and reigned] twelve years: six years reigned he in Tirzah.\r\n And he bought the hill Samaria of Shemer for two talents of silver; and he built on the hill, and called the name of the city which he built, after the name of Shemer, the owner of the hill, Samaria.\r\n And Omri did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, and dealt wickedly above all that were before him.\r\n For he walked in all the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and in his sins wherewith he made Israel to sin, to provoke Jehovah, the God of Israel, to anger with their vanities.\r\n Now the rest of the acts of Omri which he did, and his might that he showed, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?\r\n So Omri slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria; and Ahab his son reigned in his stead.\r\n And in the thirty and eighth year of Asa king of Judah began Ahab the son of Omri to reign over Israel: and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty and two years.\r\n And Ahab the son of Omri did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah above all that were before him.\r\n And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him.\r\n And he reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria.\r\n And Ahab made the Asherah; and Ahab did yet more to provoke Jehovah, the God of Israel, to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him.\r\n In his days did Hiel the Beth-elite build Jericho: he laid the foundation thereof with the loss of Abiram his first-born, and set up the gates thereof with the loss of his youngest son Segub, according to the word of Jehovah, which he spake by Joshua the son of Nun.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the sojourners of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As Jehovah, the God of Israel, liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.\r\n And the word of Jehovah came unto him, saying,\r\n Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before the Jordan.\r\n And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there.\r\n So he went and did according unto the word of Jehovah; for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before the Jordan.\r\n And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook.\r\n And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there was no rain in the land.\r\n And the word of Jehovah came unto him, saying,\r\n Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Sidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow there to sustain thee.\r\n So he arose and went to Zarephath; and when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.\r\n And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thy hand.\r\n And she said, As Jehovah thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but a handful of meal in the jar, and a little oil in the cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.\r\n And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said; but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it forth unto me, and afterward make for thee and for thy son.\r\n For thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, The jar of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that Jehovah sendeth rain upon the earth.\r\n And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat [many] days.\r\n The jar of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of Jehovah, which he spake by Elijah.\r\n And it came to pass after these things, that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, fell sick; and his sickness was so sore, that there was no breath left in him.\r\n And she said unto Elijah, What have I to do with thee, O thou man of God? thou art come unto me to bring my sin to remembrance, and to slay my son!\r\n And he said unto her, Give me thy son. And he took him out of her bosom, and carried him up into the chamber, where he abode, and laid him upon his own bed.\r\n And he cried unto Jehovah, and said, O Jehovah my God, hast thou also brought evil upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying her son?\r\n And he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried unto Jehovah, and said, O Jehovah my God, I pray thee, let this child`s soul come into him again.\r\n And Jehovah hearkened unto the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived.\r\n And Elijah took the child, and brought him down out of the chamber into the house, and delivered him unto his mother; and Elijah said, See, thy son liveth.\r\n And the woman said to Elijah, Now I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of Jehovah in thy mouth is truth.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass after many days, that the word of Jehovah came to Elijah, in the third year, saying, Go, show thyself unto Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth.\r\n And Elijah went to show himself unto Ahab. And the famine was sore in Samaria.\r\n And Ahab called Obadiah, who was over the household. (Now Obadiah feared Jehovah greatly:\r\n for it was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of Jehovah, that Obadiah took a hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water.)\r\n And Ahab said unto Obadiah, Go through the land, unto all the fountains of water, and unto all the brooks: peradventure we may find grass and save the horses and mules alive, that we lose not all the beasts.\r\n So they divided the land between them to pass throughout it: Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself.\r\n And as Obadiah was in the way, behold, Elijah met him: and he knew him, and fell on his face, and said, Is it thou, my lord Elijah?\r\n And he answered him, It is I: go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah [is here].\r\n And he said, Wherein have I sinned, that thou wouldest deliver thy servant into the hand of Ahab, to slay me?\r\n As Jehovah thy God liveth, there is no nation or kingdom, whither my lord hath not sent to seek thee: and when they said, He is not here, he took an oath of the kingdom and nation, that they found thee not.\r\n And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah [is here].\r\n And it will come to pass, as soon as I am gone from thee, that the Spirit of Jehovah will carry thee whither I know not; and so when I come and tell Ahab, and he cannot find thee, he will slay me: but I thy servant fear Jehovah from my youth.\r\n Was it not told my lord what I did when Jezebel slew the prophets of Jehovah, how I hid a hundred men of Jehovah`s prophets by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water?\r\n And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah [is here]; and he will slay me.\r\n And Elijah said, As Jehovah of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, I will surely show myself unto him to-day.\r\n So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him; and Ahab went to meet Elijah.\r\n And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Is it thou, thou troubler of Israel?\r\n And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father`s house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of Jehovah, and thou hast followed the Baalim.\r\n Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the Asherah four hundred, that eat at Jezebel`s table.\r\n So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel.\r\n And Elijah came near unto all the people, and said, How long go ye limping between the two sides? if Jehovah be God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.\r\n Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, am left a prophet of Jehovah; but Baal`s prophets are four hundred and fifty men.\r\n Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on the wood, and put no fire under; and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on the wood, and put no fire under.\r\n And call ye on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of Jehovah; and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken.\r\n And Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal, Choose you one bullock for yourselves, and dress it first; for ye are many; and call on the name of your god, but put no fire under.\r\n And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped about the altar which was made.\r\n And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud; for he is a god: either he is musing, or he is gone aside, or he is on a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth and must be awaked.\r\n And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lances, till the blood gushed out upon them.\r\n And it was so, when midday was past, that they prophesied until the time of the offering of the [evening] oblation; but there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded.\r\n And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me; and all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of Jehovah that was thrown down.\r\n And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of Jehovah came, saying, Israel shall be thy name.\r\n And with the stones he built an altar in the name of Jehovah; and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed.\r\n And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid it on the wood. And he said, Fill four jars with water, and pour it on the burnt-offering, and on the wood.\r\n And he said, Do it the second time; and they did it the second time. And he said, Do it the third time; and they did it the third time.\r\n And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water.\r\n And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the [evening] oblation, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, O Jehovah, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word.\r\n Hear me, O Jehovah, hear me, that this people may know that thou, Jehovah, art God, and [that] thou hast turned their heart back again.\r\n Then the fire of Jehovah fell, and consumed the burnt-offering, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.\r\n And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, Jehovah, he is God; Jehovah, he is God.\r\n and Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. And they took them; and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there.\r\n And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of abundance of rain.\r\n So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he bowed himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees.\r\n And he said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times.\r\n And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a cloud out of the sea, as small as a man`s hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Make ready [thy chariot], and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not.\r\n And it came to pass in a little while, that the heavens grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel:\r\n and the hand of Jehovah was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword.\r\n Then Jezebel send a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to-morrow about this time.\r\n And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beer-sheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there.\r\n But he himself went a day`s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper-tree: and he requested for himself that he might die, and said, It is enough; now, O Jehovah, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.\r\n And he lay down and slept under a juniper-tree; and, behold, an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat.\r\n And he looked, and, behold, there was at his head a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again.\r\n And the angel of Jehovah came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for thee.\r\n And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.\r\n And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of Jehovah came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?\r\n And he said, I have been very jealous for Jehovah, the God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword: and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.\r\n And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before Jehovah. And, behold, Jehovah passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before Jehovah; but Jehovah was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but Jehovah was not in the earthquake:\r\n and after the earthquake a fire; but Jehovah was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.\r\n And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entrance of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?\r\n And he said, I have been very jealous for Jehovah, the God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.\r\n And Jehovah said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, thou shalt anoint Hazael to be king over Syria;\r\n and Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel; and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room.\r\n And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth from the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay; and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay.\r\n Yet will I leave [me] seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.\r\n So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing, with twelve yoke [of oxen] before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed over unto him, and cast his mantle upon him.\r\n And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee. And he said unto him, Go back again; for what have I done to thee?\r\n And he returned from following him, and took the yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Ben-hadad the king of Syria gathered all his host together; and there were thirty and two kings with him, and horses and chariots: and he went up and besieged Samaria, and fought against it.\r\n And he sent messengers to Ahab king of Israel, into the city, and said unto him, Thus saith Ben-hadad,\r\n Thy silver and thy gold is mine; thy wives also and thy children, even the goodliest, are mine.\r\n And the king of Israel answered and said, It is according to thy saying, my lord, O king; I am thine, and all that I have.\r\n And the messengers came again, and said, Thus speaketh Ben-hadad, saying, I sent indeed unto thee, saying, Thou shalt deliver me thy silver, and thy gold, and thy wives, and thy children;\r\n but I will send my servants unto thee to-morrow about this time, and they shall search thy house, and the houses of thy servants; and it shall be, that whatsoever is pleasant in thine eyes, they shall put it in their hand, and take it away.\r\n Then the king of Israel called all the elders of the land, and said, Mark, I pray you, and see how this man seeketh mischief: for he sent unto me for my wives, and for my children, and for my silver, and for my gold; and I denied him not.\r\n And all the elders and all the people said unto him, Hearken thou not, neither consent.\r\n Wherefore he said unto the messengers of Ben-hadad, Tell my lord the king, All that thou didst send for to thy servant at the first I will do; but this thing I may not do. And the messengers departed, and brought him word again.\r\n And Ben-hadad sent unto him, and said, The gods do so unto me, and more also, if the dust of Samaria shall suffice for handfuls for all the people that follow me.\r\n And the king of Israel answered and said, Tell him, Let not him that girdeth on [his armor] boast himself as he that putteth it off.\r\n And it came to pass, when [Ben-hadad] heard this message, as he was drinking, he and the kings, in the pavilions, that he said unto his servants, Set [yourselves in array]. And they set [themselves in array] against the city.\r\n And, behold, a prophet came near unto Ahab king of Israel, and said, Thus saith Jehovah, Hast thou seen all this great multitude? behold, I will deliver it into thy hand this day; and thou shalt know that I am Jehovah.\r\n And Ahab said, By whom? And he said, Thus saith Jehovah, By the young men of the princes of the provinces. Then he said, Who shall begin the battle? And he answered, Thou.\r\n Then he mustered the young men of the princes of the provinces, and they were two hundred and thirty-two: and after them he mustered all the people, even all the children of Israel, being seven thousand.\r\n And they went out at noon. But Ben-hadad was drinking himself drunk in the pavilions, he and the kings, the thirty and two kings that helped him.\r\n And the young men of the princes of the provinces went out first; and Ben-hadad sent out, and they told him, saying, There are men come out from Samaria.\r\n And he said, Whether they are come out for peace, take them alive, or whether they are come out for war, taken them alive.\r\n So these went out of the city, the young men of the princes of the provinces, and the army which followed them.\r\n And they slew every one his man; and the Syrians fled, and Israel pursued them: and Ben-hadad the king of Syria escaped on a horse with horsemen.\r\n And the king of Israel went out, and smote the horses and chariots, and slew the Syrians with a great slaughter.\r\n And the prophet came near to the king of Israel, and said unto him, Go, strengthen thyself, and mark, and see what thou doest; for at the return of the year the king of Syria will come up against thee.\r\n And the servants of the king of Syria said unto him, Their god is a god of the hills; therefore they were stronger than we: but let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they.\r\n And do this thing: take the kings away, every man out of his place, and put captains in their room;\r\n and number thee an army, like the army that thou hast lost, horse for horse, and chariot for chariot; and we will fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they. And he hearkened unto their voice, and did so.\r\n And it came to pass at the return of the year, that Ben-hadad mustered the Syrians, and went up to Aphek, to fight against Israel.\r\n And the children of Israel were mustered, and were victualled, and went against them: and the children of Israel encamped before them like two little flocks of kids; but the Syrians filled the country.\r\n And a man of God came near and spake unto the king of Israel, and said, Thus saith Jehovah, Because the Syrians have said, Jehovah is a god of the hills, but he is not a god of the valleys; therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into thy hand, and ye shall know that I am Jehovah.\r\n And they encamped one over against the other seven days. And so it was, that in the seventh day the battle was joined; and the children of Israel slew of the Syrians a hundred thousand footmen in one day.\r\n But the rest fled to Aphek, into the city; and the wall fell upon twenty and seven thousand men that were left. And Ben-hadad fled, and came into the city, into an inner chamber.\r\n And his servants said unto him, Behold now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings: let us, we pray thee, put sackcloth on our loins, and ropes upon our heads, and go out to the king of Israel: peradventure he will save thy life.\r\n So they girded sackcloth on their loins, and [put] ropes on their heads, and came to the king of Israel, and said, Thy servant Ben-hadad saith, I pray thee, let me live. And he said, Is he yet alive? he is my brother.\r\n Now the men observed diligently, and hasted to catch whether it were his mind; and they said, Thy brother Ben-hadad. Then he said, Go ye, bring him. Then Ben-hadad came forth to him; and he caused him to come up into the chariot.\r\n And [Ben-hadad] said unto him, The cities which my father took from thy father I will restore; and thou shalt make streets for thee in Damascus, as my father made in Samaria. And I, [said Ahab], will let thee go with this covenant. So he made a covenant with him, and let him go.\r\n And a certain man of the sons of the prophets said unto his fellow by the word of Jehovah, Smite me, I pray thee. And the man refused to smite him.\r\n Then said he unto him, Because thou hast not obeyed the voice of Jehovah, behold, as soon as thou art departed from me, a lion shall slay thee. And as soon as he was departed from him, a lion found him, and slew him.\r\n Then he found another man, and said, Smite me, I pray thee. And the man smote him, smiting and wounding him.\r\n So the prophet departed, and waited for the king by the way, and disguised himself with his headband over his eyes.\r\n And as the king passed by, he cried unto the king; and he said, Thy servant went out into the midst of the battle; and, behold, a man turned aside, and brought a man unto me, and said, Keep this man: if by any means he be missing, then shall thy life be for his life, or else thou shalt pay a talent of silver.\r\n And as thy servant was busy here and there, he was gone. And the king of Israel said unto him, So shall thy judgment be; thyself hast decided it.\r\n And he hasted, and took the headband away from his eyes; and the king of israel discerned him that he was of the prophets.\r\n And he said unto him, Thus saith Jehovah, Because thou hast let go out of thy hand the man whom I had devoted to destruction, therefore thy life shall go for his life, and thy people for his people.\r\n And the king of Israel went to his house heavy and displeased, and came to Samaria.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass after these things, that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard, which was in Jezreel, hard by the palace of Ahab king of Samaria.\r\n And Ahab spake unto Naboth, saying, Give me thy vineyard, that I may have it for a garden of herbs, because it is near unto my house; and I will give thee for it a better vineyard than it: or, if it seem good to thee, I will give thee the worth of it in money.\r\n And Naboth said to Ahab, Jehovah forbid it me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers unto thee.\r\n And Ahab came into his house heavy and displeased because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him; for he had said, I will not give thee the inheritance of my fathers. And he laid him down upon his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no bread.\r\n But Jezebel his wife came to him, and said unto him, Why is thy spirit so sad, that thou eatest no bread?\r\n And he said unto her, Because I spake unto Naboth the Jezreelite, and said unto him, Give me thy vineyard for money; or else, if it please thee, I will give thee [another] vineyard for it: and he answered, I will not give thee my vineyard.\r\n And Jezebel his wife said unto him, Dost thou now govern the kingdom of Israel? arise, and eat bread, and let thy heart be merry: I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.\r\n So she wrote letters in Ahab`s name, and sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters unto the elders and to the nobles that were in his city, [and] that dwelt with Naboth.\r\n And she wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people:\r\n and set two men, base fellows, before him, and let them bear witness against him, saying, Thou didst curse God and the king. And then carry him out, and stone him to death.\r\n And the men of his city, even the elders and the nobles who dwelt in his city, did as Jezebel had sent unto them, according as it was written in the letters which she had sent unto them.\r\n They proclaimed a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people.\r\n And the two men, the base fellows, came in and sat before him: and the base fellows bare witness against him, even against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, Naboth did curse God and the king. Then they carried him forth out of the city, and stoned him to death with stones.\r\n Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, Naboth is stoned, and is dead.\r\n And it came to pass, when Jezebel heard that Naboth was stoned, and was dead, that Jezebel said to Ahab, Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give thee for money; for Naboth is not alive, but dead.\r\n And it came to pass, when Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, that Ahab rose up to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it.\r\n And the word of Jehovah came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying,\r\n Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, who dwelleth in Samaria: behold, he is in the vineyard of Naboth, whither he is gone down to take possession of it.\r\n And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith Jehovah, Hast thou killed and also taken possession? And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith Jehovah, In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick thy blood, even thine.\r\n And Ahab said to Elijah, Hast thou found me, O mine enemy? And he answered, I have found thee, because thou hast sold thyself to do that which is evil in the sight of Jehovah.\r\n Behold, I will bring evil upon thee, and will utterly sweep thee away and will cut off from Ahab every man-child, and him that is shut up and him that is left at large in Israel:\r\n and I will make thy house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah for the provocation wherewith thou hast provoked me to anger, and hast made Israel to sin.\r\n And of Jezebel also spake Jehovah, saying, The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the rampart of Jezreel.\r\n Him that dieth of Ahab in the city the dogs shall eat; and him that dieth in the field shall the birds of the heavens eat.\r\n (But there was none like unto Ahab, who did sell himself to do that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up.\r\n And he did very abominably in following idols, according to all that the Amorites did, whom Jehovah cast out before the children of Israel.)\r\n And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly.\r\n And the word of Jehovah came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying,\r\n Seest thou how Ahab humbleth himself before me? because he humbleth himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his days; but in his son`s days will I bring the evil upon his house.\r\n \r\n \r\n And they continued three years without war between Syria and Israel.\r\n And it came to pass in the third year, that Jehoshaphat the king of Judah came down to the king of Israel.\r\n And the king of Israel said unto his servants, Know ye that Ramoth-gilead is ours, and we are still, and take it not out of the hand of the king of Syria?\r\n And he said unto Jehoshaphat, Wilt thou go with me to battle to Ramoth-gilead? And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, I am as thou art, my people as thy people, my horses as thy horses.\r\n And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Inquire first, I pray thee, for the word of Jehovah.\r\n Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall I go against Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for the Lord will deliver it into the hand of the king.\r\n But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of Jehovah besides, that we may inquire of him?\r\n And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, there is yet one man by whom we may inquire of Jehovah, Micaiah the son of Imlah: but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.\r\n Then the king of Israel called an officer, and said, Fetch quickly Micaiah the son of Imlah.\r\n Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah were sitting each on his throne, arrayed in their robes, in an open place at the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets were prophesying before them.\r\n And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made him horns of iron, and said, Thus saith Jehovah, With these shalt thou push the Syrians, until they be consumed.\r\n And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramoth-gilead, and prosper; for Jehovah will deliver it into the hand of the king.\r\n And the messenger that went to call Micaiah spake unto him, saying, Behold now, the words of the prophets [declare] good unto the king with one mouth: let thy word, I pray thee, be like the word of one of them, and speak thou good.\r\n And Micaiah said, As Jehovah liveth, what Jehovah saith unto me, that will I speak.\r\n And when he was come to the king, the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall we forbear? And he answered him, Go up and prosper; and Jehovah will deliver it into the hand of the king.\r\n And the king said unto him, How many times shall I adjure thee that thou speak unto me nothing but the truth in the name of Jehovah?\r\n And he said, I saw all Israel scattered upon the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd: and Jehovah said, These have no master; let them return every man to his house in peace.\r\n And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?\r\n And [Micaiah] said, Therefore hear thou the word of Jehovah: I saw Jehovah sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left.\r\n And Jehovah said, Who shall entice Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead? And one said on this manner; and another said on that manner.\r\n And there came forth a spirit, and stood before Jehovah, and said, I will entice him.\r\n And Jehovah said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt entice him, and shalt prevail also: go forth, and do so.\r\n Now therefore, behold, Jehovah hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets; and Jehovah hath spoken evil concerning thee.\r\n Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near, and smote Micaiah on the cheek, and said, Which way went the Spirit of Jehovah from me to speak unto thee?\r\n And Micaiah said, Behold, thou shalt see on that day, when thou shalt go into an inner chamber to hide thyself.\r\n And the king of Israel said, Take Micaiah, and carry him back unto Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king`s son;\r\n and say, Thus saith the king, Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I come in peace.\r\n And Micaiah said, If thou return at all in peace, Jehovah hath not spoken by me. And he said, Hear, ye peoples, all of you.\r\n So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead.\r\n And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, and go into the battle; but put thou on thy robes. And the king of Israel disguised himself, and went into the battle.\r\n Now the king of Syria had commanded the thirty and two captains of his chariots, saying, Fight neither with small nor great, save only with the king of Israel.\r\n And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, Surely it is the king of Israel; and they turned aside to fight against him: and Jehoshaphat cried out.\r\n And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, that they turned back from pursuing him.\r\n And a certain man drew his bow at a venture, and smote the king of Israel between the joints of the armor: wherefore he said unto the driver of his chariot, Turn thy hand, and carry me out of the host; for I am sore wounded.\r\n And the battle increased that day: and the king was stayed up in his chariot against the Syrians, and died at even; and the blood ran out of the wound into the bottom of the chariot.\r\n And there went a cry throughout the host about the going down of the sun, saying, Every man to his city, and every man to his country.\r\n So the king died, and was brought to Samaria; and they buried the king in Samaria.\r\n And they washed the chariot by the pool of Samaria; and the dogs licked up his blood (now the harlots washed themselves [there]); according unto the word of Jehovah which he spake.\r\n Now the rest of the acts of Ahab, and all that he did, and the ivory house which he built, and all the cities that he built, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?\r\n So Ahab slept with his fathers; and Ahaziah his son reigned in his stead.\r\n And Jehoshaphat the son of Asa began to reign over Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel.\r\n Jehoshaphat was thirty and five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty and five years in Jerusalem. And his mother`s name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi.\r\n And he walked in all the way of Asa his father; He turned not aside from it, doing that which was right in the eyes of Jehovah: howbeit the high places were not taken away; the people still sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places.\r\n And Jehoshaphat made peace with the king of Israel.\r\n Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, and his might that he showed, and how he warred, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?\r\n And the remnant of the sodomites, that remained in the days of his father Asa, he put away out of the land.\r\n And there was no king in Edom: a deputy was king.\r\n Jehoshaphat made ships of Tarshish to go to Ophir for gold: but they went not; for the ships were broken at Ezion-geber.\r\n Then said Ahaziah the son of Ahab unto Jehoshaphat, Let my servants go with thy servants in the ships. But Jehoshaphat would not.\r\n And Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father; And Jehoram his son reigned in his stead.\r\n Ahaziah the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria in the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and he reigned two years over Israel.\r\n And he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, and walked in the way of his father, and in the way of his mother, and in the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, wherein he made Israel to sin.\r\n And he served Baal, and worshipped him, and provoked to anger Jehovah, the God of Israel, according to all that his father had done.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n And Moab rebelled against Israel after the death of Ahab.\r\n And Ahaziah fell down through the lattice in his upper chamber that was in Samaria, and was sick: and he sent messengers, and said unto them, Go, inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, whether I shall recover of this sickness.\r\n But the angel of Jehovah said to Elijah the Tishbite, Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say unto them, Is it because there is no God in Israel, that ye go to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron?\r\n Now therefore thus saith Jehovah, Thou shalt not come down from the bed whither thou art gone up, but shalt surely die. And Elijah departed.\r\n And the messengers returned unto him, and he said unto them, Why is it that ye are returned?\r\n And they said unto him, There came up a man to meet us, and said unto us, Go, turn again unto the king that sent you, and say unto him, Thus saith Jehovah, Is it because there is no God in Israel, that thou sendest to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron? therefore thou shalt not come down from the bed whither thou art gone up, but shalt surely die.\r\n And he said unto them, What manner of man was he that came up to meet you, and told you these words?\r\n And they answered him, He was a hairy man, and girt with a girdle of leather about his loins. And he said, It is Elijah the Tishbite.\r\n Then [the king] sent unto him a captain of fifty with his fifty. And he went up to him: and, behold, he was sitting on the top of the hill. And he spake unto him, O man of God, the king hath said, Come down.\r\n And Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, If I be a man of God, let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And there came down fire from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty.\r\n And again he sent unto him another captain of fifty and his fifty. And he answered and said unto him, O man of God, thus hath the king said, Come down quickly.\r\n And Elijah answered and said unto them, If I be a man of God, let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And the fire of God came down from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty.\r\n And again he sent the captain of a third fifty with his fifty. And the third captain of fifty went up, and came and fell on his knees before Elijah, and besought him, and said unto him, O man of God, I pray thee, let my life, and the life of these fifty thy servants, be precious in thy sight.\r\n Behold, there came fire down from heaven, and consumed the two former captains of fifty with their fifties; but now let my life be precious in thy sight.\r\n And the angel of Jehovah said unto Elijah, Go down with him: be not afraid of him. And he arose, and went down with him unto the king.\r\n And he said unto him, Thus saith Jehovah, Forasmuch as thou hast sent messengers to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, is it because there is no God in Israel to inquire of his word? therefore thou shalt not come down from the bed whither thou art gone up, but shalt surely die.\r\n So he died according to the word of Jehovah which Elijah had spoken. And Jehoram began to reign in his stead in the second year of Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah; because he had no son.\r\n Now the rest of the acts of Ahaziah which he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass, when Jehovah would take up Elijah by a whirlwind into heaven, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.\r\n And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for Jehovah hath sent me as far as Beth-el. And Elisha said, As Jehovah liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Beth-el.\r\n And the sons of the prophets that were at Beth-el came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that Jehovah will take away thy master from thy head to-day? And he said, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.\r\n And Elijah said unto him, Elisha, tarry here, I pray thee; for Jehovah hath sent me to Jericho. And he said, As Jehovah liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they came to Jericho.\r\n And the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho came near to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that Jehovah will take away thy master from thy head to-day? And he answered, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.\r\n And Elijah said unto him, Tarry here, I pray thee; for Jehovah hath sent me to the Jordan. And he said, As Jehovah liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And they two went on.\r\n And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood over against them afar off: and they two stood by the Jordan.\r\n And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground.\r\n And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I am taken from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.\r\n And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: [nevertheless], if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so.\r\n And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, [there appeared] a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, which parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.\r\n And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and the horsemen thereof! And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces.\r\n He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of the Jordan.\r\n And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is Jehovah, the God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they were divided hither and thither; and Elisha went over.\r\n And when the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho over against him saw him, they said, The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha. And they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him.\r\n And they said unto him, Behold now, there are with thy servants fifty strong men; let them go, we pray thee, and seek thy master, lest the Spirit of Jehovah hath taken him up, and cast him upon some mountain, or into some valley. And he said, Ye shall not send.\r\n And when they urged him till he was ashamed, he said, Send. They sent therefore fifty men; and they sought three days, but found him not.\r\n And they came back to him, while he tarried at Jericho; and he said unto them, Did I not say unto you, Go not?\r\n And the men of the city said unto Elisha, Behold, we pray thee, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord seeth: but the water is bad, and the land miscarrieth.\r\n And he said, Bring me a new cruse, and put salt therein. And they brought it to him.\r\n And he went forth unto the spring of the waters, and cast salt therein, and said, Thus saith Jehovah, I have healed these waters; there shall not be from thence any more death or miscarrying.\r\n So the waters were healed unto this day, according to the word of Elisha which he spake.\r\n And he went up from thence unto Beth-el; and as he was going up by the way, there came forth young lads out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou baldhead; go up, thou baldhead.\r\n And he looked behind him and saw them, and cursed them in the name of Jehovah. And there came forth two she-bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two lads of them.\r\n And he went from thence to mount Carmel, and from thence he returned to Samaria.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now Jehoram the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria in the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned twelve years.\r\n And he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, but not like his father, and like his mother; for he put away the pillar of Baal that his father had made.\r\n Nevertheless he cleaved unto the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, wherewith he made Israel to sin; he departed not therefrom.\r\n Now Mesha king of Moab was a sheep-master; and he rendered unto the king of Israel the wool of a hundred thousand lambs, and of a hundred thousand rams.\r\n But it came to pass, when Ahab was dead, that the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel.\r\n And king Jehoram went out of Samaria at that time, and mustered all Israel.\r\n And he went and sent to Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, saying, The king of Moab hath rebelled against me: wilt thou go with me against Moab to battle? And he said, I will go up: I am as thou art, my people as thy people, my horses as thy horses.\r\n And he said, Which way shall we go up? And he answered, The way of the wilderness of Edom.\r\n So the king of Israel went, and the king of Judah, and the king of Edom; and they made a circuit of seven days` journey: and there was no water for the host, nor for the beasts that followed them.\r\n And the king of Israel said, Alas! for Jehovah hath called these three kings together to deliver them into the hand of Moab.\r\n But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of Jehovah, that we may inquire of Jehovah by him? And one of the king of Israel`s servants answered and said, Elisha the son of Shaphat is here, who poured water on the hands of Elijah.\r\n And Jehoshaphat said, The word of Jehovah is with him. So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him.\r\n And Elisha said unto the king of Israel, What have I to do with thee? get thee to the prophets of thy father, and to the prophets of thy mother. And the king of Israel said unto him, Nay; for Jehovah hath called these three kings together to deliver them into the hand of Moab.\r\n And Elisha said, As Jehovah of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, surely, were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look toward thee, nor see thee.\r\n But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of Jehovah came upon him.\r\n And he said, Thus saith Jehovah, Make this valley full of trenches.\r\n For thus saith Jehovah, Ye shall not see wind, neither shall ye see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, and ye shall drink, both ye and your cattle and your beasts.\r\n And this is but a light thing in the sight of Jehovah: he will also deliver the Moabites into your hand.\r\n And ye shall smite every fortified city, and every choice city, and shall fell every good tree, and stop all fountains of water, and mar every good piece of land with stones.\r\n And it came to pass in the morning, about the time of offering the oblation, that, behold, there came water by the way of Edom, and the country was filled with water.\r\n Now when all the Moabites heard that the kings were come up to fight against them, they gathered themselves together, all that were able to put on armor, and upward, and stood on the border.\r\n And they rose up early in the morning, and the sun shone upon the water, and the Moabites saw the water over against them as red as blood:\r\n and they said, This is blood; the kings are surely destroyed, and they have smitten each man his fellow: now therefore, Moab, to the spoil.\r\n And when they came to the camp of Israel, the Israelites rose up and smote the Moabites, so that they fled before them; and they went forward into the land smiting the Moabites.\r\n And they beat down the cities; and on every good piece of land they cast every man his stone, and filled it; and they stopped all the fountains of water, and felled all the good trees, until in Kir-hareseth [only] they left the stones thereof; howbeit the slingers went about it, and smote it.\r\n And when the king of Moab saw that the battle was too sore for him, he took with him seven hundred men that drew sword, to break through unto the king of Edom; but they could not.\r\n Then he took his eldest son that should have reigned in his stead, and offered him for a burnt-offering upon the wall. And there was great wrath against Israel: and they departed from him, and returned to their own land.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear Jehovah: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two children to be bondmen.\r\n And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me; what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thy handmaid hath not anything in the house, save a pot of oil.\r\n Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbors, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.\r\n And thou shalt go in, and shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and pour out into all those vessels; and thou shalt set aside that which is full.\r\n So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons; they brought [the vessels] to her, and she poured out.\r\n And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed.\r\n Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy sons of the rest.\r\n And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. And so it was, that as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread.\r\n And she said unto her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this is a holy man of God, that passeth by us continually.\r\n Let us make, I pray thee, a little chamber on the wall; and let us set for him there a bed, and a table, and a seat, and a candlestick: and it shall be, when he cometh to us, that he shall turn in thither.\r\n And it fell on a day, that he came thither, and he turned into the chamber and lay there.\r\n And he said to Gehazi his servant, Call this Shunammite. And when he had called her, she stood before him.\r\n And he said unto him, Say now unto her, Behold, thou hast been careful for us with all this care; what is to be done for thee? wouldest thou be spoken for to the king, or to the captain of the host? And she answered, I dwell among mine own people.\r\n And he said, What then is to be done for her? And Gehazi answered, Verily she hath no son, and her husband is old.\r\n And he said, Call her. And when he had called her, she stood in the door.\r\n And he said, At this season, when the time cometh round, thou shalt embrace a son. And she said, Nay, my lord, thou man of God, do not lie unto thy handmaid.\r\n And the woman conceived, and bare a son at that season, when the time came round, as Elisha had said unto her.\r\n And when the child was grown, it fell on a day, that he went out to his father to the reapers.\r\n And he said unto his father, My head, my head. And he said to his servant, Carry him to his mother.\r\n And when he had taken him, and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees till noon, and then died.\r\n And she went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, and shut [the door] upon him, and went out.\r\n And she called unto her husband, and said, Send me, I pray thee, one of the servants, and one of the asses, that I may run to the man of God, and come again.\r\n And he said, Wherefore wilt thou go to him to-day? it is neither new moon nor sabbath. And she said, It shall be well.\r\n Then she saddled an ass, and said to her servant, Drive, and go forward; slacken me not the riding, except I bid thee.\r\n So she went, and came unto the man of God to mount Carmel. And it came to pass, when the man of God saw her afar off, that he said to Gehazi his servant, Behold, yonder is the Shunammite:\r\n run, I pray thee, now to meet her, and say unto her, Is it well with thee? is it well with thy husband? is it well with the child? And she answered, It is well.\r\n And when she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught hold of his feet. And Gehazi came near to thrust her away; but the man of God said, Let her alone: for her soul is vexed within her; and Jehovah hath hid it from me, and hath not told me.\r\n Then she said, Did I desire a son of my lord? did I not say, Do not deceive me?\r\n Then he said to Gehazi, Gird up thy loins, and take my staff in thy hand, and go thy way: if thou meet any man, salute him not; and if any salute thee, answer him not again: and lay my staff upon the face of the child.\r\n And the mother of the child said, As Jehovah liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And he arose, and followed her.\r\n And Gehazi passed on before them, and laid the staff upon the face of the child; but there was neither voice, nor hearing. Wherefore he returned to meet him, and told him, saying, The child is not awaked.\r\n And when Elisha was come into the house, behold, the child was dead, and laid upon his bed.\r\n He went in therefore, and shut the door upon them twain, and prayed unto Jehovah.\r\n And he went up, and lay upon the child, and put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands: and he stretched himself upon him; and the flesh of the child waxed warm.\r\n Then he returned, and walked in the house once to and fro; and went up, and stretched himself upon him: and the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes.\r\n And he called Gehazi, and said, Call this Shunammite. So he called her. And when she was come in unto him, he said, Take up thy son.\r\n Then she went in, and fell at his feet, and bowed herself to the ground; and she took up her son, and went out.\r\n And Elisha came again to Gilgal. And there was a dearth in the land; and the sons of the prophets were sitting before him; and he said unto his servant, Set on the great pot, and boil pottage for the sons of the prophets.\r\n And one went out into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild vine, and gathered thereof wild gourds his lap full, and came and shred them into the pot of pottage; for they knew them not.\r\n So they poured out for the men to eat. And it came to pass, as they were eating of the pottage, that they cried out, and said, O man of God, there is death in the pot. And they could not eat thereof.\r\n But he said, Then bring meal. And he cast it into the pot; and he said, Pour out for the people, that they may eat. And there was no harm in the pot.\r\n And there came a man from Baal-shalishah, and brought the man of God bread of the first-fruits, twenty loaves of barley, and fresh ears of grain in his sack. And he said, Give unto the people, that they may eat.\r\n And his servant said, What, should I set this before a hundred men? But he said, Give the people, that they may eat; for thus saith Jehovah, They shall eat, and shall leave thereof.\r\n So he set it before them, and they did eat, and left thereof, according to the word of Jehovah.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honorable, because by him Jehovah had given victory unto Syria: he was also a mighty man of valor, [but he was] a leper.\r\n And the Syrians had gone out in bands, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maiden; and she waited on Naaman`s wife.\r\n And she said unto her mistress, Would that my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! then would he recover him of his leprosy.\r\n And one went in, and told his lord, saying, Thus and thus said the maiden that is of the land of Israel.\r\n And the king of Syria said, Go now, and I will send a letter unto the king of Israel. And he departed, and took with him ten talents of silver, and six thousand [pieces] of gold, and ten changes of raiment.\r\n And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, saying, And now when this letter is come unto thee, behold, I have sent Naaman my servant to thee, that thou mayest recover him of his leprosy.\r\n And it came to pass, when the king of Israel had read the letter, that he rent his clothes, and said, Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man doth send unto me to recover a man of his leprosy? but consider, I pray you, and see how he seeketh a quarrel against me.\r\n And it was so, when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had rent his clothes, that he sent to the king, saying, Wherefore hast thou rent thy clothes? let him come now to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel.\r\n So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariots, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha.\r\n And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean.\r\n But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of Jehovah his God, and wave his hand over the place, and recover the leper.\r\n Are not Abanah and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage.\r\n And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean?\r\n Then went he down, and dipped [himself] seven times in the Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God; and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.\r\n And he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him; and he said, Behold now, I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel: now therefore, I pray thee, take a present of thy servant.\r\n But he said, As Jehovah liveth, before whom I stand, I will receive none. And he urged him to take it; but he refused.\r\n And Naaman said, If not, yet, I pray thee, let there be given to thy servant two mules` burden of earth; for thy servant will henceforth offer neither burnt-offering nor sacrifice unto other gods, but unto Jehovah.\r\n In this thing Jehovah pardon thy servant: when my master goeth into the house of Rimmon to worship there, and he leaneth on my hand, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, when I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, Jehovah pardon thy servant in this thing.\r\n And he said unto him, Go in peace. So he departed from him a little way.\r\n But Gehazi the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold, my master hath spared this Naaman the Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought: as Jehovah liveth, I will run after him, and take somewhat of him.\r\n So Gehazi followed after Naaman. And when Naaman saw one running after him, he alighted from the chariot to meet him, and said, Is all well?\r\n And he said, All is well. My master hath sent me, saying, Behold, even now there are come to me from the hill-country of Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets; give them, I pray thee, a talent of silver, and two changes of raiment.\r\n And Naaman said, Be pleased to take two talents. And he urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of raiment, and laid them upon two of his servants; and they bare them before him.\r\n And when he came to the hill, he took them from their hand, and bestowed them in the house; and he let the men go, and they departed.\r\n But he went in, and stood before his master. And Elisha said unto him, Whence comest thou, Gehazi? And he said, Thy servant went no whither.\r\n And he said unto him, Went not my heart [with thee], when the man turned from his chariot to meet thee? Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards and vineyards, and sheep and oxen, and men-servants and maid-servants?\r\n The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever. And he went out from his presence a leper [as white] as snow.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the sons of the prophets said unto Elisha, Behold now, the place where we dwell before thee is too strait for us.\r\n Let us go, we pray thee, unto the Jordan, and take thence every man a beam, and let us make us a place there, where we may dwell. And he answered, Go ye.\r\n And one said, Be pleased, I pray thee, to go with thy servants. And he answered, I will go.\r\n So he went with them. And when they came to the Jordan, they cut down wood.\r\n But as one was felling a beam, the axe-head fell into the water; and he cried, and said, Alas, my master! for it was borrowed.\r\n And the man of God said, Where fell it? And he showed him the place. And he cut down a stick, and cast it in thither, and made the iron to swim.\r\n And he said, Take it up to thee. So he put out his hand, and took it.\r\n Now the king of Syria was warring against Israel; and he took counsel with his servants, saying, In such and such a place shall be my camp.\r\n And the man of God sent unto the king of Israel, saying, Beware that thou pass not such a place; for thither the Syrians are coming down.\r\n And the king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God told him and warned him of; and he saved himself there, not once nor twice.\r\n And the heart of the king of Syria was sore troubled for this thing; and he called his servants, and said unto them, Will ye not show me which of us is for the king of Israel?\r\n And one of his servants said, Nay, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that thou speakest in thy bedchamber.\r\n And he said, Go and see where he is, that I may send and fetch him. And it was told him, saying, Behold, he is in Dothan.\r\n Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about.\r\n And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, a host with horses and chariots was round about the city. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?\r\n And he answered, Fear not; for they that are with us are more than they that are with them.\r\n And Elisha prayed, and said, Jehovah, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And Jehovah opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.\r\n And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto Jehovah, and said, Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness. And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.\r\n And Elisha said unto them, This is not the way, neither is this the city: follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom ye seek. And he led them to Samaria.\r\n And it came to pass, when they were come into Samaria, that Elisha said, Jehovah, open the eyes of these men, that they may see. And Jehovah opened their eyes, and they saw; and, behold, they were in the midst of Samaria.\r\n And the king of Israel said unto Elisha, when he saw them, My father, shall I smite them? shall I smite them?\r\n And he answered, Thou shalt not smite them: wouldest thou smite those whom thou hast taken captive with thy sword and with thy bow? set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink, and go to their master.\r\n And he prepared great provision for them; and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. And the bands of Syria came no more into the land of Israel.\r\n And it came to pass after this, that Benhadad king of Syria gathered all his host, and went up, and besieged Samaria.\r\n And there was a great famine in Samaria: and, behold, they besieged it, until an ass`s head was sold for fourscore [pieces] of silver, and the fourth part of a kab of dove`s dung for five [pieces] of silver.\r\n And as the king of Israel was passing by upon the wall, there cried a woman unto him, saying, Help, my lord, O king.\r\n And he said, If Jehovah do not help thee, whence shall I help thee? out of the threshing-floor, or out of the winepress?\r\n And the king said unto her, What aileth thee? And she answered, This woman said unto me, Give thy son, that we may eat him to-day, and we will eat my son to-morrow.\r\n So we boiled my son, and did eat him: and I said unto her on the next day, Give thy son, that we may eat him; and she hath hid her son.\r\n And it came to pass, when the king heard the words of the woman, that he rent his clothes (now he was passing by upon the wall); and the people looked, and, behold, he had sackcloth within upon his flesh.\r\n Then he said, God do so to me, and more also, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat shall stand on him this day.\r\n But Elisha was sitting in his house, and the elders were sitting with him; and [the king] sent a man from before him: but ere the messenger came to him, he said to the elders, See ye how this son of a murderer hath sent to take away my head? look, when the messenger cometh, shut the door, and hold the door fast against him: is not the sound of his master`s feet behind him?\r\n And while he was yet talking with them, behold, the messenger came down unto him: and he said, Behold, this evil is of Jehovah; why should I wait for Jehovah any longer?\r\n \r\n \r\n And Elisha said, Hear ye the word of Jehovah: thus saith Jehovah, To-morrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be [sold] for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria.\r\n Then the captain on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God, and said, Behold, if Jehovah should make windows in heaven, might this thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof.\r\n Now there were four leprous men at the entrance of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die?\r\n If we say, We will enter into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there; and if we sit still here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let us fall unto the host of the Syrians: if they save us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die.\r\n And they rose up in the twilight, to go unto the camp of the Syrians; and when they were come to the outermost part of the camp of the Syrians, behold, there was no man there.\r\n For the Lord had made the host of the Syrians to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, even the noise of a great host: and they said one to another, Lo, the king of Israel hath hired against us the kings of the Hittites, and the kings of the Egyptians, to come upon us.\r\n Wherefore they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their tents, and their horses, and their asses, even the camp as it was, and fled for their life.\r\n And when these lepers came to the outermost part of the camp, they went into one tent, and did eat and drink, and carried thence silver, and gold, and raiment, and went and hid it; and they came back, and entered into another tent, and carried thence also, and went and hid it.\r\n Then they said one to another, We do not well; this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace: if we tarry till the morning light, punishment will overtake us; now therefore come, let us go and tell the king`s household.\r\n So they came and called unto the porter of the city; and they told them, saying, We came to the camp of the Syrians, and, behold, there was no man there, neither voice of man, but the horses tied, and the asses tied, and the tents as they were.\r\n And he called the porters; and they told it to the king`s household within.\r\n And the king arose in the night, and said unto his servants, I will now show you what the Syrians have done to us. They know that we are hungry; therefore are they gone out of the camp to hide themselves in the field, saying, When they come out of the city, we shall take them alive, and get into the city.\r\n And one of his servants answered and said, Let some take, I pray thee, five of the horses that remain, which are left in the city (behold, they are as all the multitude of Israel that are left in it; behold, they are as all the multitude of Israel that are consumed); and let us send and see.\r\n They took therefore two chariots with horses; and the king sent after the host of the Syrians, saying, Go and see.\r\n And they went after them unto the Jordan: and, lo, all the way was full of garments and vessels, which the Syrians had cast away in their haste. And the messengers returned, and told the king.\r\n And the people went out, and plundered the camp of the Syrians. So a measure of fine flour was [sold] for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, according to the word of Jehovah.\r\n And the king appointed the captain on whose hand he leaned to have the charge of the gate: and the people trod upon him in the gate, and he died as the man of God had said, who spake when the king came down to him.\r\n And it came to pass, as the man of God had spoken to the king, saying, Two measures of barley for a shekel, and a measure of fine flour for a shekel, shall be to-morrow about this time in the gate of Samaria;\r\n and that captain answered the man of God, and said, Now, behold, if Jehovah should make windows in heaven, might such a thing be? and he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof:\r\n it came to pass even so unto him; for the people trod upon him in the gate, and he died.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now Elisha had spoken unto the woman, whose son he had restored to life, saying, Arise, and go thou and thy household, and sojourn wheresoever thou canst sojourn: for Jehovah hath called for a famine; and it shall also come upon the land seven years.\r\n And the woman arose, and did according to the word of the man of God; and she went with her household, and sojourned in the land of the Philistines seven years.\r\n And it came to pass at the seven years` end, that the woman returned out of the land of the Philistines: and she went forth to cry unto the king for her house and for her land.\r\n Now the king was talking with Gehazi the servant of the man of God, saying, Tell me, I pray thee, all the great things that Elisha hath done.\r\n And it came to pass, as he was telling the king how he had restored to life him that was dead, that, behold, the woman, whose son he had restored to life, cried to the king for her house and for her land. And Gehazi said, My lord, O king, this is the woman, and this is her son, whom Elisha restored to life.\r\n And when the king asked the woman, she told him. So the king appointed unto her a certain officer, saying, Restore all that was hers, and all the fruits of the field since the day that she left the land, even until now.\r\n And Elisha came to Damascus; and Benhadad the king of Syria was sick; and it was told him, saying, The man of God is come hither.\r\n And the king said unto Hazael, Take a present in thy hand, and go, meet the man of God, and inquire of Jehovah by him, saying, Shall I recover of this sickness?\r\n So Hazael went to meet him, and took a present with him, even of every good thing of Damascus, forty camels` burden, and came and stood before him, and said, Thy son Benhadad king of Syria hath sent me to thee, saying, Shall I recover of this sickness?\r\n And Elisha said unto him, Go, say unto him, Thou shalt surely recover; howbeit Jehovah hath showed me that he shall surely die.\r\n And he settled his countenance stedfastly [upon him], until he was ashamed: and the man of God wept.\r\n And Hazael said, Why weepeth my lord? And he answered, Because I know the evil that thou wilt do unto the children of Israel: their strongholds wilt thou set on fire, and their young men wilt thou slay with the sword, and wilt dash in pieces their little ones, and rip up their women with child.\r\n And Hazael said, But what is thy servant, who is but a dog, that he should do this great thing? And Elisha answered, Jehovah hath showed me that thou shalt be king over Syria.\r\n Then he departed from Elisha, and came to his master; who said to him, What said Elisha to thee? And he answered, He told me that thou wouldest surely recover.\r\n And it came to pass on the morrow, that he took the coverlet, and dipped it in water, and spread it on his face, so that he died: and Hazael reigned in his stead.\r\n And in the fifth year of Joram the son of Ahab king of Israel, Jehoshaphat being then king of Judah, Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah began to reign.\r\n Thirty and two years old was he when he began to reign; and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem.\r\n And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as did the house of Ahab: for he had the daughter of Ahab to wife; and he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah.\r\n Howbeit Jehovah would not destroy Judah, for David his servant`s sake, as he promised him to give unto him a lamp for his children alway.\r\n In his days Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah, and made a king over themselves.\r\n Then Joram passed over to Zair, and all his chariots with him: and he rose up by night, and smote the Edomites that compassed him about, and the captains of the chariots; and the people fled to their tents.\r\n So Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah unto this day. Then did Libnah revolt at the same time.\r\n And the rest of the acts of Joram, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?\r\n And Joram slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David; and Ahaziah his son reigned in his stead.\r\n In the twelfth year of Joram the son of Ahab king of Israel did Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah begin to reign.\r\n Two and twenty years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign; and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. And his mother`s name was Athaliah the daughter of Omri king of Israel.\r\n And he walked in the way of the house of Ahab, and did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, as did the house of Ahab; for he was the son-in-law of the house of Ahab.\r\n And he went with Joram the son of Ahab to war against Hazael king of Syria at Ramoth-gilead: and the Syrians wounded Joram.\r\n And king Joram returned to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds which the Syrians had given him at Ramah, when he fought against Hazael king of Syria. And Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to see Joram the son of Ahab in Jezreel, because he was sick.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Elisha the prophet called one of the sons of the prophets, and said unto him, Gird up thy loins, and take this vial of oil in thy hand, and go to Ramoth-gilead.\r\n And when thou comest thither, look out there Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi, and go in, and make him arise up from among his brethren, and carry him to an inner chamber.\r\n Then take the vial of oil, and pour it on his head, and say, Thus saith Jehovah, I have anointed thee king over Israel. Then open the door, and flee, and tarry not.\r\n So the young man, even the young man the prophet, went to Ramoth-gilead.\r\n And when he came, behold, the captains of the host were sitting; and he said, I have an errand to thee, O captain. And Jehu said, Unto which of us all? And he said, To thee, O captain.\r\n And he arose, and went into the house; and he poured the oil on his head, and said unto him, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, I have anointed thee king over the people of Jehovah, even over Israel.\r\n And thou shalt smite the house of Ahab thy master, that I may avenge the blood of my servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of Jehovah, at the hand of Jezebel.\r\n For the whole house of Ahab shall perish; and I will cut off from Ahab every man-child, and him that is shut up and him that is left at large in Israel.\r\n And I will make the house of Ahab like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah.\r\n And the dogs shall eat Jezebel in the portion of Jezreel, and there shall be none to bury her. And he opened the door, and fled.\r\n Then Jehu came forth to the servants of his lord: and one said unto him, Is all well? wherefore came this mad fellow to thee? And he said unto them, Ye know the man and what his talk was.\r\n And they said, It is false; tell us now. And he said, Thus and thus spake he to me, saying, Thus saith Jehovah, I have anointed thee king over Israel.\r\n Then they hasted, and took every man his garment, and put it under him on the top of the stairs, and blew the trumpet, saying, Jehu is king.\r\n So Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi conspired against Joram. (Now Joram was keeping Ramoth-gilead, he and all Israel, because of Hazael king of Syria;\r\n but king Joram was returned to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds which the Syrians had given him, when he fought with Hazael king of Syria.) And Jehu said, If this be your mind, then let none escape and go forth out of the city, to go to tell it in Jezreel.\r\n So Jehu rode in a chariot, and went to Jezreel; for Joram lay there. And Ahaziah king of Judah was come down to see Joram.\r\n Now the watchman was standing on the tower in Jezreel, and he spied the company of Jehu as he came, and said, I see a company. And Joram said, Take a horseman, and send to meet them, and let him say, Is it peace?\r\n So there went one on horseback to meet him, and said, Thus saith the king, Is it peace? And Jehu said, What hast thou to do with peace? turn thee behind me. And the watchman told, saying, The messenger came to them, but he cometh not back.\r\n Then he sent out a second on horseback, who came to them, and said, Thus saith the king, Is it peace? And Jehu answered, What hast thou to do with peace? turn thee behind me.\r\n And the watchman told, saying, He came even unto them, and cometh not back: and the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi; for he driveth furiously.\r\n And Joram said, Make ready. And they made ready his chariot. And Joram king of Israel and Ahaziah king of Judah went out, each in his chariot, and they went out to meet Jehu, and found him in the portion of Naboth the Jezreelite.\r\n And it came to pass, when Joram saw Jehu, that he said, Is it peace, Jehu? And he answered, What peace, so long as the whoredoms of thy mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many?\r\n And Joram turned his hands, and fled, and said to Ahaziah, There is treachery, O Ahaziah.\r\n And Jehu drew his bow with his full strength, and smote Joram between his arms; and the arrow went out at his heart, and he sunk down in his chariot.\r\n Then said [Jehu] to Bidkar his captain, Take up, and cast him in the portion of the field of Naboth the Jezreelite; for remember how that, when I and thou rode together after Ahab his father, Jehovah laid this burden upon him:\r\n Surely I have seen yesterday the blood of Naboth, and the blood of his sons, saith Jehovah; and I will requite thee in this plat, saith Jehovah. Now therefore take and cast him into the plat [of ground], according to the word of Jehovah.\r\n But when Ahaziah the king of Judah saw this, he fled by the way of the garden-house. And Jehu followed after him, and said, Smite him also in the chariot: [and they smote him] at the ascent of Gur, which is by Ibleam. And he fled to Megiddo, and died there.\r\n And his servants carried him in a chariot to Jerusalem, and buried him in his sepulchre with his fathers in the city of David.\r\n And in the eleventh year of Joram the son of Ahab began Ahaziah to reign over Judah.\r\n And when Jehu was come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; and she painted her eyes, and attired her head, and looked out at the window.\r\n And as Jehu entered in at the gate, she said, Is it peace, thou Zimri, thy master`s murderer?\r\n And he lifted up his face to the window, and said, Who is on my side? who? And there looked out to him two or three eunuchs.\r\n And he said, Throw her down. So they threw her down; and some of her blood was sprinkled on the wall, and on the horses: and he trod her under foot.\r\n And when he was come in, he did eat and drink; and he said, See now to this cursed woman, and bury her; for she is a king`s daughter.\r\n And they went to bury her; but they found no more of her than the skull, and the feet, and the palms of her hands.\r\n Wherefore they came back, and told him. And he said, This is the word of Jehovah, which he spake by his servant Elijah the Tishbite, saying, In the portion of Jezreel shall the dogs eat the flesh of Jezebel;\r\n and the body of Jezebel shall be as dung upon the face of the field in the portion of Jezreel, so that they shall not say, This is Jezebel.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. And Jehu wrote letters, and sent to Samaria, unto the rulers of Jezreel, even the elders, and unto them that brought up [the sons of] Ahab, saying,\r\n And now as soon as this letter cometh to you, seeing your master`s sons are with you, and there are with you chariots and horses, a fortified city also, and armor;\r\n look ye out the best and meetest of your master`s sons, and set him on his father`s throne, and fight for your master`s house.\r\n But they were exceedingly afraid, and said, Behold, the two kings stood not before him: how then shall we stand?\r\n And he that was over the household, and he that was over the city, the elders also, and they that brought up [the children], sent to Jehu, saying, We are thy servants, and will do all that thou shalt bid us; we will not make any man king: do thou that which is good in thine eyes.\r\n Then he wrote a letter the second time to them, saying, If ye be on my side, and if ye will hearken unto my voice, take ye the heads of the men your master`s sons, and come to me to Jezreel by to-morrow this time. Now the king`s sons, being seventy persons, were with the great men of the city, who brought them up.\r\n And it came to pass, when the letter came to them, that they took the king`s sons, and slew them, even seventy persons, and put their heads in baskets, and sent them unto him to Jezreel.\r\n And there came a messenger, and told him, saying, They have brought the heads of the king`s sons. And he said, Lay ye them in two heaps at the entrance of the gate until the morning.\r\n And it came to pass in the morning, that he went out, and stood, and said to all the people, Ye are righteous: behold, I conspired against my master, and slew him; but who smote all these?\r\n Know now that there shall fall unto the earth nothing of the word of Jehovah, which Jehovah spake concerning the house of Ahab: for Jehovah hath done that which he spake by his servant Elijah.\r\n So Jehu smote all that remained of the house of Ahab in Jezreel, and all his great men, and his familiar friends, and his priests, until he left him none remaining.\r\n And he arose and departed, and went to Samaria. And as he was at the shearing-house of the shepherds in the way,\r\n Jehu met with the brethren of Ahaziah king of Judah, and said, Who are ye? And they answered, We are the brethren of Ahaziah: and we go down to salute the children of the king and the children of the queen.\r\n And he said, Take them alive. And they took them alive, and slew them at the pit of the shearing-house, even two and forty men; neither left he any of them.\r\n And when he was departed thence, he lighted on Jehonadab the son of Rechab coming to meet him; and he saluted him, and said to him, Is thy heart right, as my heart is with thy heart? And Jehonadab answered, It is. If it be, give me thy hand. And he gave him his hand; and he took him up to him into the chariot.\r\n And he said, Come with me, and see my zeal for Jehovah. So they made him ride in his chariot.\r\n And when he came to Samaria, he smote all that remained unto Ahab in Samaria, till he had destroyed him, according to the word of Jehovah, which he spake to Elijah.\r\n And Jehu gathered all the people together, and said unto them, Ahab served Baal a little; but Jehu will serve him much.\r\n Now therefore call unto me all the prophets of Baal, all his worshippers, and all his priests; let none be wanting: for I have a great sacrifice [to do] to Baal; whosoever shall be wanting, he shall not live. But Jehu did it in subtlety, to the intent that he might destroy the worshippers of Baal.\r\n And Jehu said, Sanctify a solemn assembly for Baal. And they proclaimed it.\r\n And Jehu sent through all Israel: and all the worshippers of Baal came, so that there was not a man left that came not. And they came into the house of Baal; and the house of Baal was filled from one end to another.\r\n And he said unto him that was over the vestry, Bring forth vestments for all the worshippers of Baal. And he brought them forth vestments.\r\n And Jehu went, and Jehonadab the son of Rechab, into the house of Baal; and he said unto the worshippers of Baal, Search, and look that there be here with you none of the servants of Jehovah, but the worshippers of Baal only.\r\n And they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt-offerings. Now Jehu had appointed him fourscore men without, and said, If any of the men whom I bring into your hands escape, [he that letteth him go], his life shall be for the life of him.\r\n And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt-offering, that Jehu said to the guard and to the captains, Go in, and slay them; let none come forth. And they smote them with the edge of the sword; and the guard and the captains cast them out, and went to the city of the house of Baal.\r\n And they brought forth the pillars that were in the house of Baal, and burned them.\r\n And they brake down the pillar of Baal, and brake down the house of Baal, and made it a draught-house, unto this day.\r\n Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel.\r\n Howbeit from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, wherewith he made Israel to sin, Jehu departed not from after them, [to wit], the golden calves that were in Beth-el, and that were in Dan.\r\n And Jehovah said unto Jehu, Because thou hast done well in executing that which is right in mine eyes, [and] hast done unto the house of Ahab according to all that was in my heart, thy sons of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel.\r\n But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of Jehovah, the God of Israel, with all his heart: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam, wherewith he made Israel to sin.\r\n In those days Jehovah began to cut off from Israel: and Hazael smote them in all the borders of Israel;\r\n from the Jordan eastward, all the land of Gilead, the Gadites, and the Reubenites, and the Manassites, from Aroer, which is by the valley of the Arnon, even Gilead and Bashan.\r\n Now the rest of the acts of Jehu, and all that he did, and all his might, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?\r\n And Jehu slept with his fathers; and they buried him in Samaria. And Jehoahaz his son reigned in his stead.\r\n And the time that Jehu reigned over Israel in Samaria was twenty and eight years.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal.\r\n But Jehosheba, the daughter of king Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him away from among the king`s sons that were slain, even him and his nurse, [and put them] in the bedchamber; and they hid him from Athaliah, so that he was not slain;\r\n And he was with her hid in the house of Jehovah six years. And Athaliah reigned over the land.\r\n And in the seventh year Jehoiada sent and fetched the captains over hundreds of the Carites and of the guard, and brought them to him into the house of Jehovah; and he made a covenant with them, and took an oath of them in the house of Jehovah, and showed them the king`s son.\r\n And he commanded them, saying, This is the thing that ye shall do: a third part of you, that come in on the sabbath, shall be keepers of the watch of the king`s house;\r\n And a third part shall be at the gate Sur; and a third part at the gate behind the guard: so shall ye keep the watch of the house, and be a barrier.\r\n And the two companies of you, even all that go forth on the sabbath, shall keep the watch of the house of Jehovah about the king.\r\n And ye shall compass the king round about, every man with his weapons in his hand; and he that cometh within the ranks, let him be slain: and be ye with the king when he goeth out, and when he cometh in.\r\n And the captains over hundreds did according to all that Jehoiada the priest commanded; and they took every man his men, those that were to come in on the sabbath, with those that were to go out on the sabbath, and came to Jehoiada the priest.\r\n And the priest delivered to the captains over hundreds the spears and shields that had been king David`s, which were in the house of Jehovah.\r\n And the guard stood, every man with his weapons in his hand, from the right side of the house to the left side of the house, along by the altar and the house, by the king round about.\r\n Then he brought out the king`s son, and put the crown upon him, and [gave him] the testimony; and they made him king, and anointed him; and they clapped their hands, and said, [Long] live the king.\r\n And when Athaliah heard the noise of the guard [and of] the people, she came to the people into the house of Jehovah:\r\n and she looked, and, behold, the king stood by the pillar, as the manner was, and the captains and the trumpets by the king; and all the people of the land rejoiced, and blew trumpets. Then Athaliah rent her clothes, and cried, Treason! treason!\r\n And Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of hundreds that were set over the host, and said unto them, Have her forth between the ranks; and him that followeth her slay with the sword. For the priest said, Let her not be slain in the house of Jehovah.\r\n So they made way for her; and she went by the way of the horses` entry to the king`s house: and there was she slain.\r\n And Jehoiada made a covenant between Jehovah and the king and the people, that they should be Jehovah`s people; between the king also and the people.\r\n And all the people of the land went to the house of Baal, and brake it down; his altars and his images brake they in pieces thoroughly, and slew Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. And the priest appointed officers over the house of Jehovah.\r\n And he took the captains over hundreds, and the Carites, and the guard, and all the people of the land; and they brought down the king from the house of Jehovah, and came by the way of the gate of the guard unto the king`s house. And he sat on the throne of the kings.\r\n So all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet. And Athaliah they had slain with the sword at the king`s house.\r\n Jehoash was seven years old when he began to reign.\r\n \r\n \r\n In the seventh year of Jehu began Jehoash to reign; and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem: and his mother`s name was Zibiah of Beer-sheba.\r\n And Jehoash did that which was right in the eyes of Jehovah all his days wherein Jehoiada the priest instructed him.\r\n Howbeit the high places were not taken away; the people still sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places.\r\n And Jehoash said to the priests, All the money of the hallowed things that is brought into the house of Jehovah, in current money, the money of the persons for whom each man is rated, and all the money that it cometh into any man`s heart to bring into the house of Jehovah,\r\n let the priests take it to them, every man from his acquaintance; and they shall repair the breaches of the house, wheresoever any breach shall be found.\r\n But it was so, that in the three and twentieth year of king Jehoash the priests had not repaired the breaches of the house.\r\n Then king Jehoash called for Jehoiada the priest, and for the [other] priests, and said unto them, Why repair ye not the breaches of the house? now therefore take no [more] money from your acquaintance, but deliver it for the breaches of the house.\r\n And the priests consented that they should take no [more] money from the people, neither repair the breaches of the house.\r\n But Jehoiada the priest took a chest, and bored a hole in the lid of it, and set it beside the altar, on the right side as one cometh into the house of Jehovah: and the priests that kept the threshold put therein all the money that was brought into the house of Jehovah.\r\n And it was so, when they saw that there was much money in the chest, that the king`s scribe and the high priest came up, and they put up in bags and counted the money that was found in the house of Jehovah.\r\n And they gave the money that was weighed out into the hands of them that did the work, that had the oversight of the house of Jehovah: and they paid it out to the carpenters and the builders, that wrought upon the house of Jehovah,\r\n and to the masons and the hewers of stone, and for buying timber and hewn stone to repair the breaches of the house of Jehovah, and for all that was laid out for the house to repair it.\r\n But there were not made for the house of Jehovah cups of silver, snuffers, basins, trumpets, any vessels of gold, or vessels of silver, of the money that was brought into the house of Jehovah;\r\n for they gave that to them that did the work, and repaired therewith the house of Jehovah.\r\n Moreover they reckoned not with the men, into whose hand they delivered the money to give to them that did the work; for they dealt faithfully.\r\n The money for the trespass-offerings, and the money for the sin-offerings, was not brought into the house of Jehovah: it was the priests`.\r\n Then Hazael king of Syria went up, and fought against Gath, and took it; and Hazael set his face to go up to Jerusalem.\r\n And Jehoash king of Judah took all the hallowed things that Jehoshaphat and Jehoram and Ahaziah, his fathers, kings of Judah, had dedicated, and his own hallowed things, and all the gold that was found in the treasures of the house of Jehovah, and of the king`s house, and sent it to Hazael king of Syria: and he went away from Jerusalem.\r\n Now the rest of the acts of Joash, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?\r\n And his servants arose, and made a conspiracy, and smote Joash at the house of Millo, [on the way] that goeth down to Silla.\r\n For Jozacar the son of Shimeath, and Jehozabad the son of Shomer, his servants, smote him, and he died; and they buried him with his fathers in the city of David: and Amaziah his son reigned in his stead.\r\n \r\n \r\n In the three and twentieth year of Joash the son of Ahaziah, king of Judah, Jehoahaz the son of Jehu began to reign over Israel in Samaria, [and reigned] seventeen years.\r\n And he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, wherewith he made Israel to sin; he departed not therefrom.\r\n And the anger of Jehovah was kindled against Israel, and he delivered them into the hand of Hazael king of Syria, and into the hand of Benhadad the son of Hazael, continually.\r\n And Jehoahaz besought Jehovah, and Jehovah hearkened unto him; for he saw the oppression of Israel, how that the king of Syria oppressed them.\r\n (And Jehovah gave Israel a saviour, so that they went out from under the hand of the Syrians; and the children of Israel dwelt in their tents as beforetime.\r\n Nevertheless they departed not from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, wherewith he made Israel to sin, but walked therein: and there remained the Asherah also in Samaria.)\r\n For he left not to Jehoahaz of the people save fifty horsemen, and ten chariots, and ten thousand footmen; for the king of Syria destroyed them, and made them like the dust in threshing.\r\n Now the rest of the acts of Jehoahaz, and all that he did, and his might, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?\r\n And Jehoahaz slept with his fathers; and they buried him in Samaria: and Joash his son reigned in his stead.\r\n In the thirty and seventh year of Joash king of Judah began Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz to reign over Israel in Samaria, [and reigned] sixteen years.\r\n And he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah; he departed not from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, wherewith he made Israel to sin; but he walked therein.\r\n Now the rest of the acts of Joash, and all that he did, and his might wherewith he fought against Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?\r\n And Joash slept with his fathers; and Jeroboam sat upon his throne: and Joash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.\r\n Now Elisha was fallen sick of his sickness whereof he died: and Joash the king of Israel came down unto him, and wept over him, and said, My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and the horsemen thereof!\r\n And Elisha said unto him, Take bow and arrows; and he took unto him bow and arrows.\r\n And he said to the king of Israel, Put thy hand upon the bow; and he put his hand [upon it]. And Elisha laid his hands upon the king`s hands.\r\n And he said, Open the window eastward; and he opened it. Then Elisha said, Shoot; and he shot. And he said, Jehovah`s arrow of victory, even the arrow of victory over Syria; for thou shalt smite the Syrians in Aphek, till thou have consumed them.\r\n And he said, Take the arrows; and he took them. And he said unto the king of Israel, Smite upon the ground; and he smote thrice, and stayed.\r\n And the man of God was wroth with him, and said, Thou shouldest have smitten five or six times: then hadst thou smitten Syria till thou hadst consumed it, whereas now thou shalt smite Syria but thrice.\r\n And Elisha died, and they buried him. Now the bands of the Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year.\r\n And it came to pass, as they were burying a man, that, behold, they spied a band; and they cast the man into the sepulchre of Elisha: and as soon as the man touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his feet.\r\n And Hazael king of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz.\r\n But Jehovah was gracious unto them, and had compassion on them, and had respect unto them, because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them, neither cast he them from his presence as yet.\r\n And Hazael king of Syria died; and Benhadad his son reigned in his stead.\r\n And Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz took again out of the hand of Benhadad the son of Hazael the cities which he had taken out of the hand of Jehoahaz his father by war. Three times did Joash smite him, and recovered the cities of Israel.\r\n \r\n \r\n In the second year of Joash son of Joahaz king of Israel began Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah to reign.\r\n He was twenty and five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem: and his mother`s name was Jehoaddin of Jerusalem.\r\n And he did that which was right in the eyes of Jehovah, yet not like David his father: he did according to all that Joash his father had done.\r\n Howbeit the high places were not taken away: the people still sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places.\r\n And it came to pass, as soon as the kingdom was established in his hand, that he slew his servants who had slain the king his father:\r\n but the children of the murderers he put not to death; according to that which is written in the book of the law of Moses, as Jehovah commanded, saying, The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, nor the children be put to death for the fathers; but every man shall die for his own sin.\r\n He slew of Edom in the Valley of Salt ten thousand, and took Sela by war, and called the name of it Joktheel, unto this day.\r\n Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash, the son of Jehoahaz son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, Come, let us look one another in the face.\r\n And Jehoash the king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, Give thy daughter to my son to wife: and there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon, and trod down the thistle.\r\n Thou hast indeed smitten Edom, and thy heart hath lifted thee up: glory thereof, and abide at home; for why shouldest thou meddle to [thy] hurt, that thou shouldest fall, even thou, and Judah with thee?\r\n But Amaziah would not hear. So Jehoash king of Israel went up; and he and Amaziah king of Judah looked one another in the face at Beth-shemesh, which belongeth to Judah.\r\n And Judah was put to the worse before Israel; and they fled every man to his tent.\r\n And Jehoash king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Jehoash the son of Ahaziah, at Beth-shemesh, and came to Jerusalem, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim unto the corner gate, four hundred cubits.\r\n And he took all the gold and silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of Jehovah, and in the treasures of the king`s house, the hostages also, and returned to Samaria.\r\n Now the rest of the acts of Jehoash which he did, and his might, and how he fought with Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?\r\n And Jehoash slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel; and Jeroboam his son reigned in his stead.\r\n And Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah lived after the death of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel fifteen years.\r\n Now the rest of the acts of Amaziah, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?\r\n And they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem; and he fled to Lachish: but they sent after him to Lachish, and slew him there.\r\n And they brought him upon horses; and he was buried at Jerusalem with his fathers in the city of David.\r\n And all the people of Judah took Azariah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in the room of his father Amaziah.\r\n He built Elath, and restored it to Judah, after that the king slept with his fathers.\r\n In the fifteenth year of Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel began to reign in Samaria, [and reigned] forty and one years.\r\n And he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah: he departed not from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, wherewith he made Israel to sin.\r\n He restored the border of Israel from the entrance of Hamath unto the sea of the Arabah, according to the word of Jehovah, the God of Israel, which he spake by his servant Jonah the son of Amittai, the prophet, who was of Gath-hepher.\r\n For Jehovah saw the affliction of Israel, that it was very bitter; for there was none shut up nor left at large, neither was there any helper for Israel.\r\n And Jehovah said not that he would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven; but he saved them by the hand of Jeroboam the son of Joash.\r\n Now the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, and all that he did, and his might, how he warred, and how he recovered Damascus, and Hamath, [which had belonged] to Judah, for Israel, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?\r\n And Jeroboam slept with his fathers, even with the kings of Israel; and Zechariah his son reigned in his stead.\r\n \r\n \r\n In the twenty and seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel began Azariah son of Amaziah king of Judah to reign.\r\n Sixteen years old was he when he began to reign; and he reigned two and fifty years in Jerusalem: and his mother`s name was Jecoliah of Jerusalem.\r\n And he did that which was right in the eyes of Jehovah, according to all that his father Amaziah had done.\r\n Howbeit the high places were not taken away: the people still sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places.\r\n And Jehovah smote the king, so that he was a leper unto the day of his death, and dwelt in a separate house. And Jotham the king`s son was over the household, judging the people of the land.\r\n Now the rest of the acts of Azariah, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?\r\n And Azariah slept with his fathers; and they buried him with his fathers in the city of David: and Jotham his son reigned in his stead.\r\n In the thirty and eighth year of Azariah king of Judah did Zechariah the son of Jeroboam reign over Israel in Samaria six months.\r\n And he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, as his fathers had done: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, wherewith he made Israel to sin.\r\n And Shallum the son of Jabesh conspired against him, and smote him before the people, and slew him, and reigned in his stead.\r\n Now the rest of the acts of Zechariah, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.\r\n This was the word of Jehovah which he spake unto Jehu, saying, Thy sons to the fourth generation shall sit upon the throne of Israel. And so it came to pass.\r\n Shallum the son of Jabesh began to reign in the nine and thirtieth year of Uzziah king of Judah; and he reigned the space of a month in Samaria.\r\n And Menahem the son of Gadi went up from Tirzah, and came to Samaria, and smote Shallum the son of Jabesh in Samaria, and slew him, and reigned in his stead.\r\n Now the rest of the acts of Shallum, and his conspiracy which he made, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.\r\n Then Menahem smote Tiphsah, and all that were therein, and the borders thereof, from Tirzah: because they opened not to him, therefore he smote it; and all the women therein that were with child he ripped up.\r\n In the nine and thirtieth year of Azariah king of Judah began Menahem the son of Gadi to reign over Israel, [and reigned] ten years in Samaria.\r\n And he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah: he departed not all his days from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, wherewith he made Israel to sin.\r\n There came against the land Pul the king of Assyria; and Menahem gave Pul a thousand talents of silver, that his hand might be with him to confirm the kingdom in his hand.\r\n And Menahem exacted the money of Israel, even of all the mighty men of wealth, of each man fifty shekels of silver, to give to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria turned back, and stayed not there in the land.\r\n Now the rest of the acts of Menahem, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?\r\n And Menahem slept with his fathers; and Pekahiah his son reigned in his stead.\r\n In the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah Pekahiah the son of Menahem began to reign over Israel in Samaria, [and reigned] two years.\r\n And he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, wherewith he made Israel to sin.\r\n And Pekah the son of Remaliah, his captain, conspired against him, and smote him in Samaria, in the castle of the king`s house, with Argob and Arieh; and with him were fifty men of the Gileadites: and he slew him, and reigned in his stead.\r\n Now the rest of the acts of Pekahiah, and all that he did, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.\r\n In the two and fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah Pekah the son of Remaliah began to reign over Israel in Samaria, [and reigned] twenty years.\r\n And he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, wherewith he made Israel to sin.\r\n In the days of Pekah king of Israel came Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, and took Ijon, and Abel-beth-maacah, and Janoah, and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali; and he carried them captive to Assyria.\r\n And Hoshea the son of Elah made a conspiracy against Pekah the son of Remaliah, and smote him, and slew him, and reigned in his stead, in the twentieth year of Jotham the son of Uzziah.\r\n Now the rest of the acts of Pekah, and all that he did, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.\r\n In the second year of Pekah the son of Remaliah king of Israel began Jotham the son of Uzziah king of Judah to reign.\r\n Five and twenty years old was he when he began to reign; and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem: and his mother`s name was Jerusha the daughter of Zadok.\r\n And he did that which was right in the eyes of Jehovah; he did according to all that his father Uzziah had done.\r\n Howbeit the high places were not taken away: the people still sacrificed and burned incense in the high places. He built the upper gate of the house of Jehovah.\r\n Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?\r\n In those days Jehovah began to send against Judah Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah.\r\n And Jotham slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father: and Ahaz his son reigned in his stead.\r\n \r\n \r\n In the seventeenth year of Pekah the son of Remaliah Ahaz the son of Jotham king of Judah began to reign.\r\n Twenty years old was Ahaz when he began to reign; and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem: and he did not that which was right in the eyes of Jehovah his God, like David his father.\r\n But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, yea, and made his son to pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the nations, whom Jehovah cast out from before the children of Israel.\r\n And he sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree.\r\n Then Rezin king of Syria and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel came up to Jerusalem to war: and they besieged Ahaz, but could not overcome him.\r\n At that time Rezin king of Syria recovered Elath to Syria, and drove the Jews from Elath; and the Syrians came to Elath, and dwelt there, unto this day.\r\n So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, saying, I am thy servant and thy son: come up, and save me out of the hand of the king of Syria, and out of the hand of the king of Israel, who rise up against me.\r\n And Ahaz took the silver and gold that was found in the house of Jehovah, and in the treasures of the king`s house, and sent it for a present to the king of Assyria.\r\n And the king of Assyria hearkened unto him; and the king of Assyria went up against Damascus, and took it, and carried [the people of] it captive to Kir, and slew Rezin.\r\n And king Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, and saw the altar that was at Damascus; and king Ahaz sent to Urijah the priest the fashion of the altar, and the pattern of it, according to all the workmanship thereof.\r\n And Urijah the priest built an altar: according to all that king Ahaz had sent from Damascus, so did Urijah the priest make it against the coming of king Ahaz from Damascus.\r\n And when the king was come from Damascus, the king saw the altar: and the king drew near unto the altar, and offered thereon.\r\n And he burnt his burnt-offering and his meal-offering, and poured his drink-offering, and sprinkled the blood of his peace-offerings, upon the altar.\r\n And the brazen altar, which was before Jehovah, he brought from the forefront of the house, from between his altar and the house of Jehovah, and put it on the north side of his altar.\r\n And king Ahaz commanded Urijah the priest, saying, Upon the great altar burn the morning burnt-offering, and the evening meal-offering, and the king`s burnt-offering, and his meal-offering, with the burnt-offering of all the people of the land, and their meal-offering, and their drink-offerings; and sprinkle upon it all the blood of the burnt-offering, and all the blood of the sacrifice: but the brazen altar shall be for me to inquire by.\r\n Thus did Urijah the priest, according to all that king Ahaz commanded.\r\n And king Ahaz cut off the panels of the bases, and removed the laver from off them, and took down the sea from off the brazen oxen that were under it, and put it upon a pavement of stone.\r\n And the covered way for the sabbath that they had built in the house, and the king`s entry without, turned he unto the house of Jehovah, because of the king of Assyria.\r\n Now the rest of the acts of Ahaz which he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?\r\n And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David: and Hezekiah his son reigned in his stead.\r\n \r\n \r\n In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah began Hoshea the son of Elah to reign in Samaria over Israel, [and reigned] nine years.\r\n And he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, yet not as the kings of Israel that were before him.\r\n Against him came up Shalmaneser king of Assyria; and Hoshea became his servant, and brought him tribute.\r\n And the king of Assyria found conspiracy in Hoshea; for he had sent messengers to So king of Egypt, and offered no tribute to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year: therefore the king of Assyria shut him up, and bound him in prison.\r\n Then the king of Assyria came up throughout all the land, and went up to Samaria, and besieged it three years.\r\n In the ninth year of Hoshea the king of Assyria took Samaria, and carried Israel away unto Assyria, and placed them in Halah, and on the Habor, the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.\r\n And it was so, because the children of Israel had sinned against Jehovah their God, who brought them up out of the land of Egypt from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and had feared other gods,\r\n and walked in the statutes of the nations, whom Jehovah cast out from before the children of Israel, and of the kings of Israel, which they made.\r\n And the children of Israel did secretly things that were not right against Jehovah their God: and they built them high places in all their cities, from the tower of the watchmen to the fortified city;\r\n and they set them up pillars and Asherim upon every high hill, and under every green tree;\r\n and there they burnt incense in all the high places, as did the nations whom Jehovah carried away before them; and they wrought wicked things to provoke Jehovah to anger;\r\n and they served idols, whereof Jehovah had said unto them, Ye shall not do this thing.\r\n Yet Jehovah testified unto Israel, and unto Judah, by every prophet, and every seer, saying, Turn ye from your evil ways, and keep my commandments and my statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by my servants the prophets.\r\n Notwithstanding, they would not hear, but hardened their neck, like to the neck of their fathers, who believed not in Jehovah their God.\r\n And they rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he testified unto them; and they followed vanity, and became vain, and [went] after the nations that were round about them, concerning whom Jehovah had charged them that they should not do like them.\r\n And they forsook all the commandments of Jehovah their God, and made them molten images, even two calves, and made an Asherah, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served Baal.\r\n And they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire, and used divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, to provoke him to anger.\r\n Therefore Jehovah was very angry with Israel, and removed them out of his sight: there was none left but the tribe of Judah only.\r\n Also Judah kept not the commandments of Jehovah their God, but walked in the statutes of Israel which they made.\r\n And Jehovah rejected all the seed of Israel, and afflicted them, and delivered them into the hand of spoilers, until he had cast them out of his sight.\r\n For he rent Israel from the house of David; and they made Jeroboam the son of Nebat king: and Jeroboam drove Israel from following Jehovah, and made them sin a great sin.\r\n And the children of Israel walked in all the sins of Jeroboam which he did; they departed not from them;\r\n until Jehovah removed Israel out of his sight, as he spake by all his servants the prophets. So Israel was carried away out of their own land to Assyria unto this day.\r\n And the king of Assyria brought men from Babylon, and from Cuthah, and from Avva, and from Hamath and Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel; and they possessed Samaria, and dwelt in the cities thereof.\r\n And so it was, at the beginning of their dwelling there, that they feared not Jehovah: therefore Jehovah sent lions among them, which killed some of them.\r\n Wherefore they spake to the king of Assyria, saying, The nations which thou hast carried away, and placed in the cities of Samaria, know not the law of the god of the land: therefore he hath sent lions among them, and, behold, they slay them, because they know not the law of the god of the land.\r\n Then the king of Assyria commanded, saying, Carry thither one of the priests whom ye brought from thence; and let them go and dwell there, and let him teach them the law of the god of the land.\r\n So one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and dwelt in Beth-el, and taught them how they should fear Jehovah.\r\n Howbeit every nation made gods of their own, and put them in the houses of the high places which the Samaritans had made, every nation in their cities wherein they dwelt.\r\n And the men of Babylon made Succoth-benoth, and the men of Cuth made Nergal, and the men of Hamath made Ashima,\r\n and the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak; and the Sepharvites burnt their children in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim.\r\n So they feared Jehovah, and made unto them from among themselves priests of the high places, who sacrificed for them in the houses of the high places.\r\n They feared Jehovah, and served their own gods, after the manner of the nations from among whom they had been carried away.\r\n Unto this day they do after the former manner: they fear not Jehovah, neither do they after their statutes, or after their ordinances, or after the law or after the commandment which Jehovah commanded the children of Jacob, whom he named Israel;\r\n with whom Jehovah had made a covenant, and charged them, saying, Ye shall not fear other gods, nor bow yourselves to them, nor serve them, nor sacrifice to them:\r\n but Jehovah, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt with great power and with an outstretched arm, him shall ye fear, and unto him shall ye bow yourselves, and to him shall ye sacrifice:\r\n and the statutes and the ordinances, and the law and the commandment, which he wrote for you, ye shall observe to do for evermore; and ye shall not fear other gods:\r\n and the covenant that I have made with you ye shall not forget; neither shall ye fear other gods:\r\n but Jehovah your God shall ye fear; and he will deliver you out of the hand of all your enemies.\r\n Howbeit they did not hearken, but they did after their former manner.\r\n So these nations feared Jehovah, and served their graven images; their children likewise, and their children`s children, as did their fathers, so do they unto this day.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now it came to pass in the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, that Hezekiah the son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign.\r\n Twenty and five years old was he when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem: and his mother`s name was Abi the daughter of Zechariah.\r\n And he did that which was right in the eyes of Jehovah, according to all that David his father had done.\r\n He removed the high places, and brake the pillars, and cut down the Asherah: and he brake in pieces the brazen serpent that Moses had made; for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it; and he called it Nehushtan.\r\n He trusted in Jehovah, the God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor [among them] that were before him.\r\n For he clave to Jehovah; he departed not from following him, but kept his commandments, which Jehovah commanded Moses.\r\n And Jehovah was with him; whithersoever he went forth he prospered: and he rebelled against the king of Assyria, and served him not.\r\n He smote the Philistines unto Gaza and the borders thereof, from the tower of the watchmen to the fortified city.\r\n And it came to pass in the fourth year of king Hezekiah, which was the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, that Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against Samaria, and besieged it.\r\n And at the end of three years they took it: in the sixth year of Hezekiah, which was the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel, Samaria was taken.\r\n And the king of Assyria carried Israel away unto Assyria, and put them in Halah, and on the Habor, the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes,\r\n because they obeyed not the voice of Jehovah their God, but transgressed his covenant, even all that Moses the servant of Jehovah commanded, and would not hear it, nor do it.\r\n Now in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah did Sennacherib king of Assyria come up against all the fortified cities of Judah, and took them.\r\n And Hezekiah king of Judah sent to the king of Assyria to Lachish, saying, I have offended; return from me: that which thou puttest on me will I bear. And the king of Assyria appointed unto Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold.\r\n And Hezekiah gave [him] all the silver that was found in the house of Jehovah, and in the treasures of the king`s house.\r\n At that time did Hezekiah cut off [the gold from] the doors of the temple of Jehovah, and [from] the pillars which Hezekiah king of Judah had overlaid, and gave it to the king of Assyria.\r\n And the king of Assyria sent Tartan and Rab-saris and Rabshakeh from Lachish to king Hezekiah with a great army unto Jerusalem. And they went up and came to Jerusalem. And when they were come up, they came and stood by the conduit of the upper pool, which is in the highway of the fuller`s field.\r\n And when they had called to the king, there came out to them Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, and Shebnah the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder.\r\n And Rabshakeh said unto them, Say ye now to Hezekiah, Thus saith the great king, the king of Assyria, What confidence is this wherein thou trustest?\r\n Thou sayest (but they are but vain words), [There is] counsel and strength for the war. Now on whom dost thou trust, that thou hast rebelled against me?\r\n Now, behold, thou trustest upon the staff of this bruised reed, even upon Egypt; whereon if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so is Pharaoh king of Egypt unto all that trust on him.\r\n But if ye say unto me, We trust in Jehovah our God; is not that he, whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah hath taken away, and hath said to Judah and to Jerusalem, Ye shall worship before this altar in Jerusalem?\r\n Now therefore, I pray thee, give pledges to my master the king of Assyria, and I will give thee two thousand horses, if thou be able on thy part to set riders upon them.\r\n How then canst thou turn away the face of one captain of the least of my master`s servants, and put thy trust on Egypt for chariots and for horsemen?\r\n Am I now come up without Jehovah against this place to destroy it? Jehovah said unto me, Go up against this land, and destroy it.\r\n Then said Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and Shebnah, and Joah, unto Rabshakeh, Speak, I pray thee, to thy servants in the Syrian language; for we understand it: and speak not with us in the Jews` language, in the ears of the people that are on the wall.\r\n But Rabshakeh said unto them, Hath my master sent me to thy master, and to thee, to speak these words? [hath he] not [sent me] to the men that sit on the wall, to eat their own dung, and to drink their own water with you?\r\n Then Rabshakeh stood, and cried with a loud voice in the Jews` language, and spake, saying, Hear ye the word of the great king, the king of Assyria.\r\n Thus saith the king, Let not Hezekiah deceive you; for he will not be able to deliver you out of his hand:\r\n neither let Hezekiah make you trust in Jehovah, saying, Jehovah will surely deliver us, and this city shall not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.\r\n Hearken not to Hezekiah: for thus saith the king of Assyria, Make your peace with me, and come out to me; and eat ye every one of his vine, and every one of his fig-tree, and drink ye every one the waters of his own cistern;\r\n Until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of olive-trees and of honey, that ye may live, and not die: and hearken not unto Hezekiah, when he persuadeth you, saying, Jehovah will deliver us.\r\n Hath any of the gods of the nations ever delivered his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria?\r\n Where are the gods of Hamath, and of Arpad? where are the gods of Sepharvaim, of Hena, and Ivvah? have they delivered Samaria out of my hand?\r\n Who are they among all the gods of the countries, that have delivered their country out of my hand, that Jehovah should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?\r\n But the people held their peace, and answered him not a word; for the king`s commandment was, saying, Answer him not.\r\n Then came Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder, to Hezekiah with their clothes rent, and told him the words of Rabshakeh.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass, when king Hezekiah heard it, that he rent his clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of Jehovah.\r\n And he sent Eliakim, who was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, unto Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz.\r\n And they said unto him, Thus saith Hezekiah, This day is a day of trouble, and of rebuke, and of contumely; for the children are come to the birth, and there is not strength to bring forth.\r\n It may be Jehovah thy God will hear all the words of Rabshakeh, whom the king of Assyria his master hath sent to defy the living God, and will rebuke the words which Jehovah thy God hath heard: wherefore lift up thy prayer for the remnant that is left.\r\n So the servants of king Hezekiah came to Isaiah.\r\n And Isaiah said unto them, Thus shall ye say to your master, Thus saith Jehovah, Be not afraid of the words that thou hast heard, wherewith the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me.\r\n Behold, I will put a spirit in him, and he shall hear tidings, and shall return to his own land; and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land.\r\n So Rabshakeh returned, and found the king of Assyria warring against Libnah; for he had heard that he was departed from Lachish.\r\n And when he heard say of Tirhakah king of Ethiopia, Behold, he is come out to fight against thee, he sent messengers again unto Hezekiah, saying,\r\n Thus shall ye speak to Hezekiah king of Judah, saying, Let not thy God in whom thou trustest deceive thee, saying, Jerusalem shall not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.\r\n Behold, thou hast heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands, by destroying them utterly: and shalt thou be delivered?\r\n Have the gods of the nations delivered them, which my fathers have destroyed, Gozan, and Haran, and Rezeph, and the children of Eden that were in Telassar?\r\n Where is the king of Hamath, and the king of Arpad, and the king of the city of Sepharvaim, of Hena, and Ivvah?\r\n And Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it; and Hezekiah went up unto the house of Jehovah, and spread it before Jehovah.\r\n And Hezekiah prayed before Jehovah, and said, O Jehovah, the God of Israel, that sittest [above] the cherubim, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; thou hast made heaven and earth.\r\n Incline thine ear, O Jehovah, and hear; open thine eyes, O Jehovah, and see; and hear the words of Sennacherib, wherewith he hath sent him to defy the living God.\r\n Of a truth, Jehovah, the kings of Assyria have laid waste the nations and their lands,\r\n and have cast their gods into the fire; for they were no gods, but the work of men`s hands, wood and stone; therefore they have destroyed them.\r\n Now therefore, O Jehovah our God, save thou us, I beseech thee, out of his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou Jehovah art God alone.\r\n Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, Whereas thou hast prayed to me against Sennacherib king of Assyria, I have heard [thee].\r\n This is the word that Jehovah hath spoken concerning him: The virgin daughter of Zion hath despised thee and laughed thee to scorn; the daughter of Jerusalem hath shaken her head at thee.\r\n Whom hast thou defied and blasphemed? and against whom hast thou exalted thy voice and lifted up thine eyes on high? [even] against the Holy One of Israel.\r\n By thy messengers thou hast defied the Lord, and hast said, With the multitude of my chariots am I come up to the height of the mountains, to the innermost parts of Lebanon; and I will cut down the tall cedars thereof, and the choice fir-trees thereof; and I will enter into his farthest lodging-place, the forest of his fruitful field.\r\n I have digged and drunk strange waters, and with the sole of my feet will I dry up all the rivers of Egypt.\r\n Hast thou not heard how I have done it long ago, and formed it of ancient times? now have I brought it to pass, that it should be thine to lay waste fortified cities into ruinous heaps.\r\n Therefore their inhabitants were of small power, they were dismayed and confounded; they were as the grass of the field, and as the green herb, as the grass on the housetops, and as grain blasted before it is grown up.\r\n But I know thy sitting down, and thy going out, and thy coming in, and thy raging against me.\r\n Because of thy raging against me, and because thine arrogancy is come up into mine ears, therefore will I put my hook in thy nose, and my bridle in thy lips, and I will turn thee back by the way by which thou camest.\r\n And this shall be the sign unto thee: Ye shall eat this year that which groweth of itself, and in the second year that which springeth of the same; and in the third year sow ye, and reap, and plant vineyards, and eat the fruit thereof.\r\n And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall again take root downward, and bear fruit upward.\r\n For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and out of mount Zion they that shall escape: the zeal of Jehovah shall perform this.\r\n Therefore thus saith Jehovah concerning the king of Assyria, He shall not come unto this city, nor shoot an arrow there, neither shall he come before it with shield, nor cast up a mound against it.\r\n By the way that he came, by the same shall he return, and he shall not come unto this city, saith Jehovah.\r\n For I will defend this city to save it, for mine own sake, and for my servant David`s sake.\r\n And it came to pass that night, that the angel of Jehovah went forth, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when men arose early in the morning, behold, these were all dead bodies.\r\n So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned, and dwelt at Nineveh.\r\n And it came to pass, as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer smote him with the sword: and they escaped into the land of Ararat. And Esar-haddon his son reigned in his stead.\r\n \r\n \r\n In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith Jehovah, Set thy house in order: for thou shalt die, and not live.\r\n Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto Jehovah, saying,\r\n Remember now, O Jehovah, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.\r\n And it came to pass, before Isaiah was gone out into the middle part of the city, that the word of Jehovah came to him, saying,\r\n Turn back, and say to Hezekiah the prince of my people, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee; on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of Jehovah.\r\n And I will add unto thy days fifteen years; and I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for mine own sake, and for my servant David`s sake.\r\n And Isaiah said, Take a cake of figs. And they took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered.\r\n And Hezekiah said unto Isaiah, What shall be the sign that Jehovah will heal me, and that I shall go up unto the house of Jehovah the third day?\r\n And Isaiah said, This shall be the sign unto thee from Jehovah, that Jehovah will do the thing that he hath spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten steps, or go back ten steps?\r\n And Hezekiah answered, It is a light thing for the shadow to decline ten steps: nay, but let the shadow return backward ten steps.\r\n And Isaiah the prophet cried unto Jehovah; and he brought the shadow ten steps backward, by which it had gone down on the dial of Ahaz.\r\n At that time Berodach-baladan the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present unto Hezekiah; for he had heard that Hezekiah had been sick.\r\n And Hezekiah hearkened unto them, and showed them all the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious oil, and the house of his armor, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah showed them not.\r\n Then came Isaiah the prophet unto king Hezekiah, and said unto him, What said these men? and from whence came they unto thee? And Hezekiah said, They are come from a far country, even from Babylon.\r\n And he said, What have they seen in thy house? And Hezekiah answered, All that is in my house have they seen: there is nothing among my treasures that I have not showed them.\r\n And Isaiah said unto Hezekiah, Hear the word of Jehovah.\r\n Behold, the days come, that all that is in thy house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store unto this day, shall be carried to Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith Jehovah.\r\n And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, whom thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.\r\n Then said Hezekiah unto Isaiah, Good is the word of Jehovah which thou hast spoken. He said moreover, Is it not so, if peace and truth shall be in my days?\r\n Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and all his might, and how he made the pool, and the conduit, and brought water into the city, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?\r\n And Hezekiah slept with his fathers; and Manasseh his son reigned in his stead.\r\n \r\n \r\n Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign; and he reigned five and fifty years in Jerusalem: and his mother`s name was Hephzibah.\r\n And he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, after the abominations of the nations whom Jehovah cast out before the children of Israel.\r\n For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had destroyed; and he reared up altars for Baal, and made an Asherah, as did Ahab king of Israel, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them.\r\n And he built altars in the house of Jehovah, whereof Jehovah said, In Jerusalem will I put my name.\r\n And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of Jehovah.\r\n And he made his son to pass through the fire, and practised augury, and used enchantments, and dealt with them that had familiar spirits, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of Jehovah, to provoke him to anger.\r\n And he set the graven image of Asherah, that he had made, in the house of which Jehovah said to David and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever;\r\n neither will I cause the feet of Israel to wander any more out of the land which I gave their fathers, if only they will observe to do according to all that I have commanded them, and according to all the law that my servant Moses commanded them.\r\n But they hearkened not: and Manasseh seduced them to do that which is evil more than did the nations whom Jehovah destroyed before the children of Israel.\r\n And Jehovah spake by his servants the prophets, saying,\r\n Because Manasseh king of Judah hath done these abominations, and hath done wickedly above all that the Amorites did, that were before him, and hath made Judah also to sin with his idols;\r\n therefore thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, Behold, I bring such evil upon Jerusalem and Judah, that whosoever heareth of it, both his ears shall tingle.\r\n And I will stretch over Jerusalem the line of Samaria, and the plummet of the house of Ahab; and I will wipe Jerusalem as a man wipeth a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down.\r\n And I will cast off the remnant of mine inheritance, and deliver them into the hand of their enemies; and they shall become a prey and a spoil to all their enemies;\r\n because they have done that which is evil in my sight, and have provoked me to anger, since the day their fathers came forth out of Egypt, even unto this day.\r\n Moreover Manasseh shed innocent blood very much, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another; besides his sin wherewith he made Judah to sin, in doing that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah.\r\n Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and all that he did, and his sin that he sinned, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?\r\n And Manasseh slept with his fathers, and was buried in the garden of his own house, in the garden of Uzza: and Amon his son reigned in his stead.\r\n Amon was twenty and two years old when he began to reign; and he reigned two years in Jerusalem: and his mother`s name was Meshullemeth the daughter of Haruz of Jotbah.\r\n And he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, as did Manasseh his father.\r\n And he walked in all the way that his father walked in, and served the idols that his father served, and worshipped them:\r\n and he forsook Jehovah, the God of his fathers, and walked not in the way of Jehovah.\r\n And the servants of Amon conspired against him, and put the king to death in his own house.\r\n But the people of the land slew all them that had conspired against king Amon; and the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his stead.\r\n Now the rest of the acts of Amon which he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?\r\n And he was buried in his sepulchre in the garden of Uzza: and Josiah his son reigned in his stead.\r\n \r\n \r\n Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign; and he reigned thirty and one years in Jerusalem: and his mother`s name was Jedidah the daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath.\r\n And he did that which was right in the eyes of Jehovah, and walked in all the way of David his father, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left.\r\n And it came to pass in the eighteenth year of king Josiah, that the king sent Shaphan, the son of Azaliah the son of Meshullam, the scribe, to the house of Jehovah, saying,\r\n Go up to Hilkiah the high priest, that he may sum the money which is brought into the house of Jehovah, which the keepers of the threshold have gathered of the people:\r\n and let them deliver it into the hand of the workmen that have the oversight of the house of Jehovah; and let them give it to the workmen that are in the house of Jehovah, to repair the breaches of the house,\r\n unto the carpenters, and to the builders, and to the masons, and for buying timber and hewn stone to repair the house.\r\n Howbeit there was no reckoning made with them of the money that was delivered into their hand; for they dealt faithfully.\r\n And Hilkiah the high priest said unto Shaphan the scribe, I have found the book of the law in the house of Jehovah. And Hilkiah delivered the book to Shaphan, and he read it.\r\n And Shaphan the scribe came to the king, and brought the king word again, and said, Thy servants have emptied out the money that was found in the house, and have delivered it into the hand of the workmen that have the oversight of the house of Jehovah.\r\n And Shaphan the scribe told the king, saying, Hilkiah the priest hath delivered me a book. And Shaphan read it before the king.\r\n And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the book of the law, that he rent his clothes.\r\n And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Micaiah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the king`s servant, saying,\r\n Go ye, inquire of Jehovah for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that is found; for great is the wrath of Jehovah that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not hearkened unto the words of this book, to do according unto all that which is written concerning us.\r\n So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asaiah, went unto Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the second quarter); and they communed with her.\r\n And she said unto them, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel: Tell ye the man that sent you unto me,\r\n Thus saith Jehovah, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof, even all the words of the book which the king of Judah hath read.\r\n Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the work of their hands, therefore my wrath shall be kindled against this place, and it shall not be quenched.\r\n But unto the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of Jehovah, thus shall ye say to him, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel: As touching the words which thou hast heard,\r\n because thy heart was tender, and thou didst humble thyself before Jehovah, when thou heardest what I spake against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and hast rent thy clothes, and wept before me; I also have heard thee, saith Jehovah.\r\n Therefore, behold, I will gather thee to thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered to thy grave in peace, neither shall thine eyes see all the evil which I will bring upon this place. And they brought the king word again.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the king sent, and they gathered unto him all the elders of Judah and of Jerusalem.\r\n And the king went up to the house of Jehovah, and all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem with him, and the priests, and the prophets, and all the people, both small and great: and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant which was found in the house of Jehovah.\r\n And the king stood by the pillar, and made a covenant before Jehovah, to walk after Jehovah, and to keep his commandments, and his testimonies, and his statutes, with all [his] heart, and all [his] soul, to confirm the words of this covenant that were written in this book: and all the people stood to the covenant.\r\n And the king commanded Hilkiah the high priest, and the priests of the second order, and the keepers of the threshold, to bring forth out of the temple of Jehovah all the vessels that were made for Baal, and for the Asherah, and for all the host of heaven, and he burned them without Jerusalem in the fields of the Kidron, and carried the ashes of them unto Beth-el.\r\n And he put down the idolatrous priests, whom the kings of Judah had ordained to burn incense in the high places in the cities of Judah, and in the places round about Jerusalem; them also that burned incense unto Baal, to the sun, and to the moon, and to the planets, and to all the host of heaven.\r\n And he brought out the Asherah from the house of Jehovah, without Jerusalem, unto the brook Kidron, and burned it at the brook Kidron, and beat it to dust, and cast the dust thereof upon the graves of the common people.\r\n And he brake down the houses of the sodomites, that were in the house of Jehovah, where the women wove hangings for the Asherah.\r\n And he brought all the priests out of the cities of Judah, and defiled the high places where the priests had burned incense, from Geba to Beer-sheba; and he brake down the high places of the gates that were at the entrance of the gate of Joshua the governor of the city, which were on a man`s left hand at the gate of the city.\r\n Nevertheless the priests of the high places came not up to the altar of Jehovah in Jerusalem, but they did eat unleavened bread among their brethren.\r\n And he defiled Topheth, which is in the valley of the children of Hinnom, that no man might make his son or his daughter to pass through the fire to Molech.\r\n And he took away the horses that the kings of Judah had given to the sun, at the entrance of the house of Jehovah, by the chamber of Nathan-melech the chamberlain, which was in the precincts; and he burned the chariots of the sun with fire.\r\n And the altars that were on the roof of the upper chamber of Ahaz, which the kings of Judah had made, and the altars which Manasseh had made in the two courts of the house of Jehovah, did the king break down, and beat [them] down from thence, and cast the dust of them into the brook Kidron.\r\n And the high places that were before Jerusalem, which were on the right hand of the mount of corruption, which Solomon the king of Israel had builded for Ashtoreth the abomination of the Sidonians, and for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, and for Milcom the abomination of the children of Ammon, did the king defile.\r\n And he brake in pieces the pillars, and cut down the Asherim, and filled their places with the bones of men.\r\n Moreover the altar that was at Beth-el, and the high place which Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, had made, even that altar and the high place he brake down; and he burned the high place and beat it to dust, and burned the Asherah.\r\n And as Josiah turned himself, he spied the sepulchres that were there in the mount; and he sent, and took the bones out of the sepulchres, and burned them upon the altar, and defiled it, according to the word of Jehovah which the man of God proclaimed, who proclaimed these things.\r\n Then he said, What monument is that which I see? And the men of the city told him, It is the sepulchre of the man of God, who came from Judah, and proclaimed these things that thou hast done against the altar of Beth-el.\r\n And he said, Let him be; let no man move his bones. So they let his bones alone, with the bones of the prophet that came out of Samaria.\r\n And all the houses also of the high places that were in the cities of Samaria, which the kings of Israel had made to provoke [Jehovah] to anger, Josiah took away, and did to them according to all the acts that he had done in Beth-el.\r\n And he slew all the priests of the high places that were there, upon the altars, and burned men`s bones upon them; and he returned to Jerusalem.\r\n And the king commanded all the people, saying, Keep the passover unto Jehovah your God, as it is written in this book of the covenant.\r\n Surely there was not kept such a passover from the days of the judges that judged Israel, nor in all the days of the kings of Israel, nor of the kings of Judah;\r\n but in the eighteenth year of king Josiah was this passover kept to Jehovah in Jerusalem.\r\n Moreover them that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, and the teraphim, and the idols, and all the abominations that were seen in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, did Josiah put away, that he might confirm the words of the law which were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of Jehovah.\r\n And like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to Jehovah with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him.\r\n Notwithstanding, Jehovah turned not from the fierceness of his great wrath, wherewith his anger was kindled against Judah, because of all the provocations wherewith Manasseh had provoked him.\r\n And Jehovah said, I will remove Judah also out of my sight, as I have removed Israel, and I will cast off this city which I have chosen, even Jerusalem, and the house of which I said, My name shall be there.\r\n Now the rest of the acts of Josiah, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?\r\n In his days Pharaoh-necoh king of Egypt went up against the king of Assyria to the river Euphrates: and king Josiah went against him; and [Pharaoh-necoh] slew him at Megiddo, when he had seen him.\r\n And his servants carried him in a chariot dead from Megiddo, and brought him to Jerusalem, and buried him in his own sepulchre. And the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah, and anointed him, and made him king in his father`s stead.\r\n Jehoahaz was twenty and three years old when he began to reign; and he reigned three months in Jerusalem: and his mother`s name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.\r\n And he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, according to all that his fathers had done.\r\n And Pharaoh-necoh put him in bonds at Riblah in the land of Hamath, that he might not reign in Jerusalem; and put the land to a tribute of a hundred talents of silver, and a talent of gold.\r\n And Pharaoh-necoh made Eliakim the son of Josiah king in the room of Josiah his father, and changed his name to Jehoiakim: but he took Jehoahaz away; and he came to Egypt, and died there.\r\n And Jehoiakim gave the silver and the gold to Pharaoh; but he taxed the land to give the money according to the commandment of Pharaoh: he exacted the silver and the gold of the people of the land, of every one according to his taxation, to give it unto Pharaoh-necoh.\r\n Jehoiakim was twenty and five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem: and his mother`s name was Zebidah the daughter of Pedaiah of Rumah.\r\n And he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, according to all that his fathers had done.\r\n \r\n \r\n In his days Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up, and Jehoiakim became his servant three years: then he turned and rebelled against him.\r\n And Jehovah sent against him bands of the Chaldeans, and bands of the Syrians, and bands of the Moabites, and bands of the children of Ammon, and sent them against Judah to destroy it, according to the word of Jehovah, which he spake by his servants the prophets.\r\n Surely at the commandment of Jehovah came this upon Judah, to remove them out of his sight, for the sins of Manasseh, according to all that he did,\r\n and also for the innocent blood that he shed; for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood: and Jehovah would not pardon.\r\n Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?\r\n So Jehoiakim slept with his fathers; and Jehoiachin his son reigned in his stead.\r\n And the king of Egypt came not again any more out of his land; for the king of Babylon had taken, from the brook of Egypt unto the river Euphrates, all that pertained to the king of Egypt.\r\n Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he began to reign; and he reigned in Jerusalem three months: and his mother`s name was Nehushta the daughter of Elnathan of Jerusalem.\r\n And he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, according to all that his father had done.\r\n At that time the servants of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up to Jerusalem, and the city was besieged.\r\n And Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came unto the city, while his servants were besieging it;\r\n and Jehoiachin the king of Judah went out to the king of Babylon, he, and his mother, and his servants, and his princes, and his officers: and the king of Babylon took him in the eighth year of his reign.\r\n And he carried out thence all the treasures of the house of Jehovah, and the treasures of the king`s house, and cut in pieces all the vessels of gold, which Solomon king of Israel had made in the temple of Jehovah, as Jehovah had said.\r\n And he carried away all Jerusalem, and all the princes, and all the mighty men of valor, even ten thousand captives, and all the craftsmen and the smiths; none remained, save the poorest sort of the people of the land.\r\n And he carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon; and the king`s mother, and the king`s wives, and his officers, and the chief men of the land, carried he into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon.\r\n And all the men of might, even seven thousand, and the craftsmen and the smiths a thousand, all of them strong and apt for war, even them the king of Babylon brought captive to Babylon.\r\n And the king of Babylon made Mattaniah, [Jehoiachin`s] father`s brother, king is his stead, and changed his name to Zedekiah.\r\n Zedekiah was twenty and one years old when he began to reign; and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem: and his mother`s name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.\r\n And he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, according to all that Jehoiakim had done.\r\n For through the anger of Jehovah did it come to pass in Jerusalem and Judah, until he had cast them out from his presence. And Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came, he and all his army, against Jerusalem, and encamped against it; and they built forts against it round about.\r\n So the city was besieged unto the eleventh year of king Zedekiah.\r\n On the ninth day of the [fourth] month the famine was sore in the city, so that there was no bread for the people of the land.\r\n Then a breach was made in the city, and all the men of war [fled] by night by the way of the gate between the two walls, which was by the king`s garden (now the Chaldeans were against the city round about); and [the king] went by the way of the Arabah.\r\n But the army of the Chaldeans pursued after the king, and overtook him in the plains of Jericho; and all his army was scattered from him.\r\n Then they took the king, and carried him up unto the king of Babylon to Riblah; and they gave judgment upon him.\r\n And they slew the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and put out the eyes of Zedekiah, and bound him in fetters, and carried him to Babylon.\r\n Now in the fifth month, on the seventh day of the month, which was the nineteenth year of king Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, came Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, a servant of the king of Babylon, unto Jerusalem.\r\n And he burnt the house of Jehovah, and the king`s house; and all the houses of Jerusalem, even every great house, burnt he with fire.\r\n And all the army of the Chaldeans, that were [with] the captain of the guard, brake down the walls of Jerusalem round about.\r\n And the residue of the people that were left in the city, and those that fell away, that fell to the king of Babylon, and the residue of the multitude, did Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carry away captive.\r\n But the captain of the guard left of the poorest of the land to be vinedressers and husbandmen.\r\n And the pillars of brass that were in the house of Jehovah, and the bases and the brazen sea that were in the house of Jehovah, did the Chaldeans break in pieces, and carried the brass of them to Babylon.\r\n And the pots, and the shovels, and the snuffers, and the spoons, and all the vessels of brass wherewith they ministered, took they away.\r\n And the firepans, and the basins, that which was of gold, in gold, and that which was of silver, in silver, the captain of the guard took away.\r\n The two pillars, the one sea, and the bases, which Solomon had made for the house of Jehovah, the brass of all these vessels was without weight.\r\n The height of the one pillar was eighteen cubits, and a capital of brass was upon it; and the height of the capital was three cubits, with network and pomegranates upon the capital round about, all of brass: and like unto these had the second pillar with network.\r\n And the captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, and Zephaniah the second priest, and the three keepers of the threshold:\r\n and out of the city he took an officer that was set over the men of war; and five men of them that saw the king`s face, who were found in the city; and the scribe, the captain of the host, who mustered the people of the land; and threescore men of the people of the land, that were found in the city.\r\n And Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard took them, and brought them to the king of Babylon to Riblah.\r\n And the king of Babylon smote them, and put them to death at Riblah in the land of Hamath. So Judah was carried away captive out of his land.\r\n And as for the people that were left in the land of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had left, even over them he made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, governor.\r\n Now when all the captains of the forces, they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah governor, they came to Gedaliah to Mizpah, even Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, and Jaazaniah the son of the Maacathite, they and their men.\r\n And Gedaliah sware to them and to their men, and said unto them, Fear not because of the servants of the Chaldeans: dwell in the land, and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be well with you.\r\n But it came to pass in the seventh month, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, of the seed royal, came, and ten men with him, and smote Gedaliah, so that he died, and the Jews and the Chaldeans that were with him at Mizpah.\r\n And all the people, both small and great, and the captains of the forces, arose, and came to Egypt; for they were afraid of the Chaldeans.\r\n And it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, that Evil-merodach king of Babylon, in the year that he began to reign, did lift up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah out of prison;\r\n and he spake kindly to him, and set his throne above the throne of the kings that were with him in Babylon,\r\n and changed his prison garments. And [Jehoiachin] did eat bread before him continually all the days of his life:\r\n and for his allowance, there was a continual allowance given him of the king, every day a portion, all the days of his life.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n Adam, Seth, Enosh,\r\n Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared,\r\n Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech,\r\n Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.\r\n The sons of Japheth: Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras.\r\n And the sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz, and Diphath, and Togarmah.\r\n And the sons of Javan: Elishah, and Tarshish, Kittim, and Rodanim.\r\n The sons of Ham: Cush, and Mizraim, Put, and Canaan.\r\n And the sons of Cush: Seba, and Havilah, and Sabta, and Raama, and Sabteca. And the sons of Raamah: Sheba, and Dedan.\r\n And Cush begat Nimrod; he began to be a mighty one in the earth.\r\n And Mizraim begat Ludim, and Anamim, and Lehabim, and Naphtuhim,\r\n and Pathrusim, and Casluhim (from whence came the Philistines), and Caphtorim.\r\n And Canaan begat Sidon his first-born, and Heth,\r\n and the Jebusite, and the Amorite, and the Girgashite,\r\n and the Hivite, and the Arkite, and the Sinite,\r\n and the Arvadite, and the Zemarite, and the Hamathite.\r\n The sons of Shem: Elam, and Asshur, and Arpachshad, and Lud, and Aram, and Uz, and Hul, and Gether, and Meshech.\r\n And Arpachshad begat Shelah, and Shelah begat Eber.\r\n And unto Eber were born two sons: the name of the one was Peleg; for in his days the earth was divided; and his brother`s name was Joktan.\r\n And Joktan begat Almodad, and Sheleph, and Hazarmaveth, and Jerah,\r\n and Hadoram, and Uzal, and Diklah,\r\n and Ebal, and Abimael, and Sheba,\r\n and Ophir, and Havilah, and Jobab. All these were the sons of Joktan.\r\n Shem, Arpachshad, Shelah,\r\n Eber, Peleg, Reu,\r\n Serug, Nahor, Terah,\r\n Abram (the same is Abraham).\r\n The sons of Abraham: Isaac, and Ishmael.\r\n These are their generations: the first-born of Ishmael, Nebaioth; then Kedar, and Adbeel, and Mibsam,\r\n Mishma, and Dumah, Massa, Hadad, and Tema,\r\n Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. These are the sons of Ishmael.\r\n And the sons of Keturah, Abraham`s concubine: she bare Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah. And the sons of Jokshan: Sheba, and Dedan.\r\n And the sons of Midian: Ephah, and Epher, and Hanoch, and Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the sons of Keturah.\r\n And Abraham begat Isaac. The sons of Isaac: Esau, and Israel.\r\n The sons of Esau: Eliphaz, Reuel, and Jeush, and Jalam, and Korah.\r\n The sons of Eliphaz: Teman, and Omar, Zephi, and Gatam, Kenaz, and Timna, and Amalek.\r\n The sons of Reuel: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah.\r\n And the sons of Seir: Lotan, and Shobal, and Zibeon, and Anah, and Dishon, and Ezer, and Dishan.\r\n And the sons of Lotan: Hori, and Homam; and Timna was Lotan`s sister.\r\n The sons of Shobal: Alian, and Manahath, and Ebal, Shephi, and Onam. And the sons of Zibeon: Aiah, and Anah.\r\n The sons of Anah: Dishon. And the sons of Dishon: Hamran, and Eshban, and Ithran, and Cheran.\r\n The sons of Ezer: Bilhan, and Zaavan, Jaakan. The sons of Dishan: Uz, and Aran.\r\n Now these are the kings that reigned in the land of Edom, before there resigned any king over the children of Israel: Bela the son of Beor; and the name of his city was Dinhabah.\r\n And Bela died, and Jobab the son of Zerah of Bozrah reigned in his stead.\r\n And Jobab died, and Husham of the land of the Temanites reigned in his stead.\r\n And Husham died, and Hadad the son of Bedad, who smote Midian in the field of Moab, reigned in his stead; and the name of his city was Avith.\r\n And Hadad died, and Samlah of Masrekah reigned in his stead.\r\n And Samlah died, and Shaul of Rehoboth by the River reigned in his stead.\r\n And Shaul died, and Baal-hanan the son of Achbor reigned in his stead.\r\n And Baal-hanan died, and Hadad reigned in his stead; and the name of his city was Pai: and his wife`s name was Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, the daughter of Me-zahab.\r\n And Hadad died. And the chiefs of Edom were: chief Timna, chief Aliah, chief Jetheth,\r\n chief Oholibamah, chief Elah, chief Pinon,\r\n chief Kenaz, chief Teman, chief Mibzar,\r\n chief Magdiel, chief Iram. These are the chiefs of Edom.\r\n \r\n \r\n These are the sons of Israel: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun,\r\n Dan, Joseph, and Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.\r\n The sons of Judah: Er, and Onan, and Shelah; which three were born unto him of Shua`s daughter the Canaanitess. And Er, Judah`s first-born, was wicked in the sight of Jehovah; and he slew him.\r\n And Tamar his daughter-in-law bare him Perez and Zerah. All the sons of Judah were five.\r\n The sons of Perez: Hezron, and Hamul.\r\n And the sons of Zerah: Zimri, and Ethan, and Heman, and Calcol, and Dara; five of them in all.\r\n And the sons of Carmi: Achar, the troubler of Israel, who committed a trespass in the devoted thing.\r\n And the sons of Ethan: Azariah.\r\n The sons also of Hezron, that were born unto him: Jerahmeel, and Ram, and Chelubai.\r\n And Ram begat Amminadab, and Amminadab begat Nahshon, prince of the children of Judah;\r\n and Nahshon begat Salma, and Salma begat Boaz,\r\n and Boaz begat Obed, and Obed begat Jesse;\r\n and Jesse begat his first-born Eliab, and Abinadab the second, and Shimea the third,\r\n Nethanel the fourth, Raddai the fifth,\r\n Ozem the sixth, David the seventh;\r\n and their sisters were Zeruiah and Abigail. And the sons of Zeruiah: Abishai, and Joab, and Asahel, three.\r\n And Abigail bare Amasa; and the father of Amasa was Jether the Ishmaelite.\r\n And Caleb the son of Hezron begat [children] of Azubah [his] wife, and of Jerioth; and these were her sons: Jesher, and Shobab, and Ardon.\r\n And Azubah died, and Caleb took unto him Ephrath, who bare him Hur.\r\n And Hur begat Uri, and Uri begat Bezalel.\r\n And afterward Hezron went in to the daughter of Machir the father of Gilead, whom he took [to wife] when he was threescore years old; and she bare him Segub.\r\n And Segub begat Jair, who had three and twenty cities in the land of Gilead.\r\n And Geshur and Aram took the towns of Jair from them, with Kenath, and the villages thereof, even threescore cities. All these were the sons of Machir the father of Gilead.\r\n And after that Hezron was dead in Caleb-ephrathah, then Abijah Hezron`s wife bare him Ashhur the father of Tekoa.\r\n And the sons of Jerahmeel the first-born of Hezron were Ram the first-born, and Bunah, and Oren, and Ozem, Ahijah.\r\n And Jerahmeel had another wife, whose name was Atarah; she was the mother of Onam.\r\n And the sons of Ram the first-born of Jerahmeel were Maaz, and Jamin, and Eker.\r\n And the sons of Onam were Shammai, and Jada. And the sons of Shammai: Nadab, and Abishur.\r\n And the name of the wife of Abishur was Abihail; and she bare him Ahban, and Molid.\r\n And the sons of Nadab: Seled, and Appaim; but Seled died without children.\r\n And the sons of Appaim: Ishi. And the sons of Ishi: Sheshan. And the sons of Sheshan: Ahlai.\r\n And the sons of Jada the brother of Shammai: Jether, and Jonathan; and Jether died without children.\r\n And the sons of Jonathan: Peleth, and Zaza. These were the sons of Jerahmeel.\r\n Now Sheshan had no sons, but daughters. And Sheshan had a servant, an Egyptian, whose name was Jarha.\r\n And Sheshan gave his daughter to Jarha his servant to wife; and she bare him Attai.\r\n And Attai begat Nathan, and Nathan begat Zabad,\r\n and Zabad begat Ephlal, and Ephlal begat Obed,\r\n and Obed begat Jehu, and Jehu begat Azariah,\r\n and Azariah begat Helez, and Helez begat Eleasah,\r\n and Eleasah begat Sismai, and Sismai begat Shallum,\r\n and Shallum begat Jekamiah, and Jekamiah begat Elishama.\r\n And the sons of Caleb the brother of Jerahmeel were Mesha his first-born, who was the father of Ziph; and the sons of Mareshah the father of Hebron.\r\n And the sons of Hebron: Korah, and Tappuah, and Rekem, and Shema.\r\n And Shema begat Raham, the father of Jorkeam; and Rekem begat Shammai.\r\n And the son of Shammai was Maon; and Maon was the father of Beth-zur.\r\n And Ephah, Caleb`s concubine, bare Haran, and Moza, and Gazez; and Haran begat Gazez.\r\n And the sons of Jahdai: Regem, and Jothan, and Geshan, and Pelet, and Ephah, and Shaaph.\r\n Maacah, Caleb`s concubine, bare Sheber and Tirhanah.\r\n She bare also Shaaph the father of Madmannah, Sheva the father of Machbena, and the father of Gibea; and the daughter of Caleb was Achsah.\r\n These were the sons of Caleb, the son of Hur, the first-born of Ephrathah: Shobal the father of Kiriath-jearim,\r\n Salma the father of Beth-lehem, Hareph the father of Beth-gader.\r\n And Shobal the father of Kiriath-jearim had sons: Haroeh, half of the Menuhoth.\r\n And the families of Kiriath-jearim: The Ithrites, and the Puthites, and the Shumathites, and the Mishraites; of them came the Zorathites and the Eshtaolites.\r\n The sons of Salma: Beth-lehem, and the Netophathites, Atroth-beth-joab, and half of the Manahathites, the Zorites.\r\n And the families of scribes that dwelt at Jabez: the Tirathites, the Shimeathites, the Sucathites. These are the Kenites that came of Hammath, the father of the house of Rechab.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now these were the sons of David, that were born unto him in Hebron: the first-born, Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; the second, Daniel, of Abigail the Carmelitess;\r\n the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur; the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith;\r\n the fifth, Shephatiah of Abital; the sixth, Ithream by Eglah his wife:\r\n six were born unto him in Hebron; and there he reigned seven years and six months. And in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years;\r\n and these were born unto him in Jerusalem: Shimea, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon, four, of Bath-shua the daughter of Ammiel;\r\n and Ibhar, and Elishama, and Eliphelet,\r\n and Nogah, and Nepheg, and Japhia,\r\n and Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphelet, nine.\r\n All these were the sons of David, besides the sons of the concubines; and Tamar was their sister.\r\n And Solomon`s son was Rehoboam, Abijah his son, Asa his son, Jehoshaphat his son,\r\n Joram his son, Ahaziah his son, Joash his son,\r\n Amaziah his son, Azariah his son, Jotham his son,\r\n Ahaz his son, Hezekiah his son, Manasseh his son,\r\n Amon his son, Josiah his son.\r\n And the sons of Josiah: the first-born Johanan, the second Jehoiakim, the third Zedekiah, the fourth Shallum.\r\n And the sons of Jehoiakim: Jeconiah his son, Zedekiah his son.\r\n And the sons of Jeconiah, the captive: Shealtiel his son,\r\n and Malchiram, and Pedaiah, and Shenazzar, Jekamiah, Hoshama, and Nedabiah.\r\n And the sons of Pedaiah: Zerubbabel, and Shimei. And the sons of Zerubbabel: Meshullam, and Hananiah; and Shelomith was their sister;\r\n and Hashubah, and Ohel, and Berechiah, and Hasadiah, Jushab-hesed, five.\r\n And the sons of Hananiah: Pelatiah, and Jeshaiah; the sons of Rephaiah, the sons of Arnan, the sons of Obadiah, the sons of Shecaniah.\r\n And the sons of Shecaniah: Shemaiah. And the sons of Shemaiah: Hattush, and Igal, and Bariah, and Neariah, and Shaphat, six.\r\n And the sons of Neariah: Elioenai, and Hizkiah, and Azrikam, three.\r\n And the sons of Elioenai: Hodaviah, and Eliashib, and Pelaiah, and Akkub, and Johanan, and Delaiah, and Anani, seven.\r\n \r\n \r\n The sons of Judah: Perez, Hezron, and Carmi, and Hur, and Shobal.\r\n And Reaiah the son of Shobal begat Jahath; and Jahath begat Ahumai and Lahad. These are the families of the Zorathites.\r\n And these were [the sons of] the father of Etam: Jezreel, and Ishma, and Idbash; and the name of their sister was Hazzelelponi;\r\n and Penuel the father of Gedor, and Ezer the father of Hushah. These are the sons of Hur, the first-born of Ephrathah, the father of Beth-lehem.\r\n And Ashhur the father of Tekoa had two wives, Helah and Naarah.\r\n And Naarah bare him Ahuzzam, and Hepher, and Temeni, and Haahashtari. These were the sons of Naarah.\r\n And the sons of Helah were Zereth, Izhar, and Ethnan.\r\n And Hakkoz begat Anub, and Zobebah, and the families of Aharhel the son of Harum.\r\n And Jabez was more honorable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow.\r\n And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my border, and that thy hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it be not to my sorrow! And God granted him that which he requested.\r\n And Chelub the brother of Shuhah begat Mehir, who was the father of Eshton.\r\n And Eshton begat Beth-rapha, and Paseah, and Tehinnah the father of Ir-nahash. These are the men of Recah.\r\n And the sons of Kenaz: Othniel, and Seraiah. And the sons of Othniel: Hathath.\r\n And Meonothai begat Ophrah: and Seraiah begat Joab the father of Ge-harashim; for they were craftsmen.\r\n And the sons of Caleb the son of Jephunneh: Iru, Elah, and Naam; and the sons of Elah; and Kenaz.\r\n And the sons of Jehallelel: Ziph, and Ziphah, Tiria, and Asarel.\r\n And the sons of Ezrah: Jether, and Mered, and Epher, and Jalon; and she bare Miriam, and Shammai, and Ishbah the father of Eshtemoa.\r\n And his wife the Jewess bare Jered the father of Gedor, and Heber the father of Soco, and Jekuthiel the father of Zanoah. And these are the sons of Bithiah the daughter of Pharaoh, whom Mered took.\r\n And the sons of the wife of Hodiah, the sister of Naham, were the father of Keilah the Garmite, and Eshtemoa the Maacathite.\r\n And the sons of Shimon: Amnon, and Rinnah, Ben-hanan, and Tilon. And the sons of Ishi: Zoheth, and Ben-zoheth.\r\n The sons of Shelah the son of Judah: Er the father of Lecah, and Laadah the father of Mareshah, and the families of the house of them that wrought fine linen, of the house of Ashbea;\r\n and Jokim, and the men of Cozeba, and Joash, and Saraph, who had dominion in Moab, and Jashubilehem. And the records are ancient.\r\n These were the potters, and the inhabitants of Netaim and Gederah: there they dwelt with the king for his work.\r\n The sons of Simeon: Nemuel, and Jamin, Jarib, Zerah, Shaul;\r\n Shallum his son, Mibsam his son, Mishma his son.\r\n And the sons of Mishma: Hammuel his son, Zaccur his son, Shimei his son.\r\n And Shimei had sixteen sons and six daughters; but his brethren had not many children, neither did all their family multiply like to the children of Judah.\r\n And they dwelt at Beer-sheba, and Moladah, and Hazarshual,\r\n and at Bilhah, and at Ezem, and at Tolad,\r\n and at Bethuel, and at Hormah, and at Ziklag,\r\n and at Beth-marcaboth, and Hazar-susim, and at Beth-biri, and at Shaaraim. These were their cities unto the reign of David.\r\n And their villages were Etam, and Ain, Rimmon, and Tochen, and Ashan, five cities;\r\n and all their villages that were round about the same cities, unto Baal. These were their habitations, and they have their genealogy.\r\n And Meshobab, and Jamlech, and Joshah the son of Amaziah,\r\n and Joel, and Jehu the son of Joshibiah, the son of Seraiah, the son of Asiel,\r\n and Elioenai, and Jaakobah, and Jeshohaiah, and Asaiah, and Adiel, and Jesimiel, and Benaiah,\r\n and Ziza the son of Shiphi, the son of Allon, the son of Jedaiah, the son of Shimri, the son of Shemaiah-\r\n these mentioned by name were princes in their families: and their fathers` houses increased greatly.\r\n And they went to the entrance of Gedor, even unto the east side of the valley, to seek pasture for their flocks.\r\n And they found fat pasture and good, and the land was wide, and quiet, and peaceable; for they that dwelt there aforetime were of Ham.\r\n And these written by name came in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and smote their tents, and the Meunim that were found there, and destroyed them utterly unto this day, and dwelt in their stead; because there was pasture there for their flocks.\r\n And some of them, even of the sons of Simeon, five hundred men, went to mount Seir, having for their captains Pelatiah, and Neariah, and Rephaiah, and Uzziel, the sons of Ishi.\r\n And they smote the remnant of the Amalekites that escaped, and have dwelt there unto this day.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the sons of Reuben the first-born of Israel (for he was the first-born; but, forasmuch as he defiled his father`s couch, his birthright was given unto the sons of Joseph the son of Israel; and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birthright.\r\n For Judah prevailed above his brethren, and of him came the prince; but the birthright was Joseph`s:)\r\n the sons of Reuben the first-born of Israel: Hanoch, and Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.\r\n The sons of Joel: Shemaiah his son, Gog his son, Shimei his son,\r\n Micah his son, Reaiah his son, Baal his son,\r\n Beerah his son, whom Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria carried away captive: he was prince of the Reubenites.\r\n And his brethren by their families, when the genealogy of their generations was reckoned: the chief, Jeiel, and Zechariah,\r\n and Bela the son of Azaz, the son of Shema, the son of Joel, who dwelt in Aroer, even unto Nebo and Baal-meon:\r\n and eastward he dwelt even unto the entrance of the wilderness from the river Euphrates, because their cattle were multiplied in the land of Gilead.\r\n And in the days of Saul, they made war with the Hagrites, who fell by their hand; and they dwelt in their tents throughout all the [land] east of Gilead.\r\n And the sons of Gad dwelt over against them, in the land of Bashan unto Salecah:\r\n Joel the chief, and Shapham the second, and Janai, and Shaphat in Bashan.\r\n And their brethren of their fathers` houses: Michael, and Meshullam, and Sheba, and Jorai, and Jacan, and Zia, and Eber, seven.\r\n These were the sons of Abihail, the son of Huri, the son of Jaroah, the son of Gilead, the son of Michael, the son of Jeshishai, the son of Jahdo, the son of Buz;\r\n Ahi the son of Abdiel, the son of Guni, chief of their fathers` houses.\r\n And they dwelt in Gilead in Bashan, and in its towns, and in all the suburbs of Sharon, as far as their borders.\r\n All these were reckoned by genealogies in the days of Jotham king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam king of Israel.\r\n The sons of Reuben, and the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, of valiant men, men able to bear buckler and sword, and to shoot with bow, and skilful in war, were forty and four thousand seven hundred and threescore, that were able to go forth to war.\r\n And they made war with the Hagrites, with Jetur, and Naphish, and Nodab.\r\n And they were helped against them, and the Hagrites were delivered into their hand, and all that were with them; for they cried to God in the battle, and he was entreated of them, because they put their trust in him.\r\n And they took away their cattle; of their camels fifty thousand, and of sheep two hundred and fifty thousand, and of asses two thousand, and of men a hundred thousand.\r\n For there fell many slain, because the war was of God. And they dwelt in their stead until the captivity.\r\n And the children of the half-tribe of Manasseh dwelt in the land: they increased from Bashan unto Baal-hermon and Senir and mount Hermon.\r\n And these were the heads of their fathers` houses: even Epher, and Ishi, and Eliel, and Azriel, and Jeremiah, and Hodaviah, and Jahdiel, mighty men of valor, famous men, heads of their fathers` houses.\r\n And they trespassed against the God of their fathers, and played the harlot after the gods of the peoples of the land, whom God destroyed before them.\r\n And the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria, and the spirit of Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria, and he carried them away, even the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, and brought them unto Halah, and Habor, and Hara, and to the river of Gozan, unto this day.\r\n \r\n \r\n The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.\r\n And the sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, and Hebron, and Uzziel.\r\n And the children of Amram: Aaron, and Moses, and Miriam. And the sons of Aaron: Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.\r\n Eleazar begat Phinehas, Phinehas begat Abishua,\r\n and Abishua begat Bukki, and Bukki begat Uzzi,\r\n and Uzzi begat Zerahiah, and Zerahiah begat Meraioth,\r\n Meraioth begat Amariah, and Amariah begat Ahitub,\r\n and Ahitub begat Zadok, and Zadok begat Ahimaaz,\r\n and Ahimaaz begat Azariah, and Azariah begat Johanan,\r\n and Johanan begat Azariah, (he it is that executed the priest`s office in the house that Solomon built in Jerusalem),\r\n and Azariah begat Amariah, and Amariah begat Ahitub,\r\n and Ahitub begat Zadok, and Zadok begat Shallum,\r\n and Shallum begat Hilkiah, and Hilkiah begat Azariah,\r\n and Azariah begat Seraiah, and Seraiah begat Jehozadak;\r\n And Jehozadak went [into captivity], when Jehovah carried away Judah and Jerusalem by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar.\r\n The sons of Levi: Gershom, Kohath, and Merari.\r\n And these are the names of the sons of Gershom: Libni and Shimei.\r\n And the sons of Kohath were Amram, and Izhar, and Hebron, and Uzziel.\r\n The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. And these are the families of the Levites according to their fathers` [houses].\r\n Of Gershom: Libni his son, Jahath his son, Zimmah his son,\r\n Joah his son, Iddo his son, Zerah his son, Jeatherai his son.\r\n The sons of Kohath: Amminadab his son, Korah his son, Assir his son,\r\n Elkanah his son, and Ebiasaph his son, and Assir his son,\r\n Tahath his son, Uriel his son, Uzziah his son, and Shaul his son.\r\n And the sons of Elkanah: Amasai, and Ahimoth.\r\n As for Elkanah, the sons of Elkanah: Zophai his son, and Nahath his son,\r\n Eliab his son, Jeroham his son, Elkanah his son.\r\n And the sons of Samuel: the first-born [Joel], and the second Abijah.\r\n The sons of Merari: Mahli, Libni his son, Shimei his son, Uzzah his son,\r\n Shimea his son, Haggiah his son, Asaiah his son.\r\n And these are they whom David set over the service of song in the house of Jehovah, after that the ark had rest.\r\n And they ministered with song before the tabernacle of the tent of meeting, until Solomon had built the house of Jehovah in Jerusalem: and they waited on their office according to their order.\r\n And these are they that waited, and their sons. Of the sons of the Kohathites: Heman the singer, the son of Joel, the son of Samuel,\r\n the son of Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Eliel, the son of Toah,\r\n the son of Zuph, the son of Elkanah, the son of Mahath, the son of Amasai,\r\n the son of Elkanah, the son of Joel, the son of Azariah, the son of Zephaniah,\r\n the son of Tahath, the son of Assir, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah,\r\n the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, the son of Israel.\r\n And his brother Asaph, who stood on his right hand, even Asaph the son of Berechiah, the son of Shimea,\r\n the son of Michael, the son of Baaseiah, the son of Malchijah,\r\n the son of Ethni, the son of Zerah, the son of Adaiah,\r\n the son of Ethan, the son of Zimmah, the son of Shimei,\r\n the son of Jahath, the son of Gershom, the son of Levi.\r\n And on the left hand their brethren the sons of Merari: Ethan the son of Kishi, the son of Abdi, the son of Malluch,\r\n the son of Hashabiah, the son of Amaziah, the son of Hilkiah,\r\n the son of Amzi, the son of Bani, the son of Shemer,\r\n the son of Mahli, the son of Mushi, the son of Merari, the son of Levi.\r\n And their brethren the Levites were appointed for all the service of the tabernacle of the house of God.\r\n But Aaron and his sons offered upon the altar of burnt-offering, and upon the altar of incense, for all the work of the most holy place, and to make atonement for Israel, according to all that Moses the servant of God had commanded.\r\n And these are the sons of Aaron: Eleazar his son, Phinehas his son, Abishua his son,\r\n Bukki his son, Uzzi his son, Zerahiah his son,\r\n Meraioth his son, Amariah his son, Ahitub his son,\r\n Zadok his son, Ahimaaz his son.\r\n Now these are their dwelling-places according to their encampments in their borders: to the sons of Aaron, of the families of the Kohathites (for theirs was the [first] lot),\r\n to them they gave Hebron in the land of Judah, and the suburbs thereof round about it;\r\n but the fields of the city, and the villages thereof, they gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh.\r\n And to the sons of Aaron they gave the cities of refuge, Hebron; Libnah also with its suburbs, and Jattir, and Eshtemoa with its suburbs,\r\n and Hilen with its suburbs, Debir with its suburbs,\r\n and Ashan with its suburbs, and Beth-shemesh with its suburbs;\r\n and out of the tribe of Benjamin, Geba with its suburbs, and Allemeth with its suburbs, and Anathoth with its suburbs. All their cities throughout their families were thirteen cities.\r\n And unto the rest of the sons of Kohath [were given] by lot, out of the family of the tribe, out of the half-tribe, the half of Manasseh, ten cities.\r\n And to the sons of Gershom, according to their families, out of the tribe of Issachar, and out of the tribe of Asher, and out of the tribe of Naphtali, and out of the tribe of Manasseh in Bashan, thirteen cities.\r\n Unto the sons of Merari [were given] by lot, according to their families, out of the tribe of Reuben, and out of the tribe of Gad, and out of the tribe of Zebulun, twelve cities.\r\n And the children of Israel gave to the Levites the cities with their suburbs.\r\n And they gave by lot out of the tribe of the children of Judah, and out of the tribe of the children of Simeon, and out of the tribe of the children of Benjamin, these cities which are mentioned by name.\r\n And some of the families of the sons of Kohath had cities of their borders out of the tribe of Ephraim.\r\n And they gave unto them the cities of refuge, Shechem in the hill-country of Ephraim with its suburbs; Gezer also with its suburbs,\r\n and Jokmeam with its suburbs, and Beth-horon with its suburbs,\r\n and Aijalon with its suburbs, and Gath-rimmon with its suburbs;\r\n and out of the half-tribe of Manasseh, Aner with its suburbs, and Bileam with its suburbs, for the rest of the family of the sons of Kohath.\r\n Unto the sons of Gershom [were given], out of the family of the half-tribe of Manasseh, Golan in Bashan with its suburbs, and Ashtaroth with its suburbs;\r\n and out of the tribe of Issachar, Kedesh with its suburbs, Daberath with its suburbs,\r\n and Ramoth with its suburbs, and Anem with its suburbs;\r\n and out of the tribe of Asher, Mashal with its suburbs, and Abdon with its suburbs,\r\n and Hukok with its suburbs, and Rehob with its suburbs;\r\n and out of the tribe of Naphtali, Kedesh in Galilee with its suburbs, and Hammon with its suburbs, and Kiriathaim with its suburbs.\r\n Unto the rest of [the Levites], the sons of Merari, [were given], out of the tribe of Zebulun, Rimmono with its suburbs, Tabor with its suburbs;\r\n and beyond the Jordan at Jericho, on the east side of the Jordan, [were given them], out of the tribe of Reuben, Bezer in the wilderness with its suburbs, and Jahzah with its suburbs,\r\n and Kedemoth with its suburbs, and Mephaath with its suburbs;\r\n and out of the tribe of Gad, Ramoth in Gilead with its suburbs, and Mahanaim with its suburbs,\r\n and Heshbon with its suburbs, and Jazer with its suburbs.\r\n \r\n \r\n And of the sons of Issachar: Tola, and Puah, Jashub, and Shimron, four.\r\n And the sons of Tola: Uzzi, and Rephaiah, and Jeriel, and Jahmai, and Ibsam, and Shemuel, heads of their fathers` houses, [to wit], of Tola; mighty men of valor in their generations: their number in the days of David was two and twenty thousand and six hundred.\r\n And the sons of Uzzi: Izrahiah. And the sons of Izrahiah: Michael, and Obadiah, and Joel, Isshiah, five; all of them chief men.\r\n And with them, by their generations, after their fathers` houses, were bands of the host for war, six and thirty thousand; for they had many wives and sons.\r\n And their brethren among all the families of Issachar, mighty men of valor, reckoned in all by genealogy, were fourscore and seven thousand.\r\n [The sons of] Benjamin: Bela, and Becher, and Jediael, three.\r\n And the sons of Bela: Ezbon, and Uzzi, and Uzziel, and Jerimoth, and Iri, five; heads of fathers` houses, mighty men of valor; and they were reckoned by genealogy twenty and two thousand and thirty and four.\r\n And the sons of Becher: Zemirah, and Joash, and Eliezer, and Elioenai, and Omri, and Jeremoth, and Abijah, and Anathoth, and Alemeth. All these were the sons of Becher.\r\n And they were reckoned by genealogy, after their generations, heads of their fathers` houses, mighty men of valor, twenty thousand and two hundred.\r\n And the sons of Jediael: Bilhan. And the sons of Bilhan: Jeush, and Benjamin, and Ehud, and Chenaanah, and Zethan, and Tarshish, and Ahishahar.\r\n All these were sons of Jediael, according to the heads of their fathers` [houses], mighty men of valor, seventeen thousand and two hundred, that were able to go forth in the host for war.\r\n Shuppim also, and Huppim, the sons of Ir, Hushim, the sons of Aher.\r\n The sons of Naphtali: Jahziel, and Guni, and Jezer, and Shallum, the sons of Bilhah.\r\n The sons of Manasseh: Asriel, whom his concubine the Aramitess bare: she bare Machir the father of Gilead:\r\n and Machir took a wife of Huppim and Shuppim, whose sister`s name was Maacah; and the name of the second was Zelophehad: and Zelophehad had daughters.\r\n And Maacah the wife of Machir bare a son, and she called his name Peresh; and the name of his brother was Sheresh; and his sons were Ulam and Rakem.\r\n And the sons of Ulam: Bedan. These were the sons of Gilead the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh.\r\n And his sister Hammolecheth bare Ishhod, and Abiezer, and Mahlah.\r\n And the sons of Shemida were Ahian, and Shechem, and Likhi, and Aniam.\r\n And the sons of Ephraim: Shuthelah, and Bered his son, and Tahath his son, and Eleadah his son, and Tahath his son,\r\n and Zabad his son, and Shuthelah his son, and Ezer, and Elead, whom the men of Gath that were born in the land slew, because they came down to take away their cattle.\r\n And Ephraim their father mourned many days, and his brethren came to comfort him.\r\n And he went in to his wife, and she conceived, and bare a son, and he called his name Beriah, because it went evil with his house.\r\n And his daughter was Sheerah, who built Beth-horon the nether and the upper, and Uzzen-sheerah.\r\n And Rephah was his son, and Resheph, and Telah his son, and Tahan his son,\r\n Ladan his son, Ammihud his son, Elishama his son,\r\n Nun his son, Joshua his son.\r\n And their possessions and habitations were Beth-el and the towns thereof, and eastward Naaran, and westward Gezer, with the towns thereof; Shechem also and the towns thereof, unto Azzah and the towns thereof;\r\n and by the borders of the children of Manasseh, Beth-shean and its towns, Taanach and its towns, Megiddo and its towns, Dor and its towns. In these dwelt the children of Joseph the son of Israel.\r\n The sons of Asher: Imnah, and Ishvah, and Ishvi, and Beriah, and Serah their sister.\r\n And the sons of Beriah: Heber, and Malchiel, who was the father of Birzaith.\r\n And Heber begat Japhlet, and Shomer, and Hotham, and Shua their sister.\r\n And the sons of Japhlet: Pasach, and Bimhal, and Ashvath. These are the children of Japhlet.\r\n And the sons of Shemer: Ahi, and Rohgah, Jehubbah, and Aram.\r\n And the sons of Helem his brother: Zophah, and Imna, and Shelesh, and Amal.\r\n The sons of Zophah: Suah, and Harnepher, and Shual, and Beri, and Imrah,\r\n Bezer, and Hod, and Shamma, and Shilshah, and Ithran, and Beera.\r\n And the sons of Jether: Jephunneh, and Pispa, and Ara.\r\n And the sons of Ulla: Arah, and Hanniel, and Rizia.\r\n All these were the children of Asher, heads of the fathers` houses, choice and mighty men of valor, chief of the princes. And the number of them reckoned by genealogy for service in war was twenty and six thousand men.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Benjamin begat Bela his first-born, Ashbel the second, and Aharah the third,\r\n Nohah the fourth, and Rapha the fifth.\r\n And Bela had sons: Addar, and Gera, and Abihud,\r\n and Abishua, and Naaman, and Ahoah,\r\n and Gera, and Shephuphan, and Huram.\r\n And these are the sons of Ehud: these are the heads of fathers` [houses] of the inhabitants of Geba, and they carried them captive to Manahath:\r\n and Naaman, and Ahijah, and Gera, he carried them captive: and he begat Uzza and Ahihud.\r\n And Shaharaim begat children in the field of Moab, after he had sent them away; Hushim and Baara were his wives.\r\n And he begat of Hodesh his wife, Jobab, and Zibia, and Mesha, and Malcam,\r\n and Jeuz, and Shachia, and Mirmah. These were his sons, heads of fathers` [houses].\r\n And of Hushim he begat Abitub and Elpaal.\r\n And the sons of Elpaal: Eber, and Misham, and Shemed, who built Ono and Lod, with the towns thereof;\r\n and Beriah, and Shema, who were heads of fathers` [houses] of the inhabitants of Aijalon, who put to flight the inhabitants of Gath;\r\n and Ahio, Shashak, and Jeremoth,\r\n and Zebadiah, and Arad, and Eder,\r\n and Michael, and Ishpah, and Joha, the sons of Beriah,\r\n and Zebadiah, and Meshullam, and Hizki, and Heber,\r\n and Ishmerai, and Izliah, and Jobab, the sons of Elpaal,\r\n and Jakim, and Zichri, and Zabdi,\r\n and Elienai, and Zillethai, and Eliel,\r\n and Adaiah, and Beraiah, and Shimrath, the sons of Shimei,\r\n and Ishpan, and Eber, and Eliel,\r\n and Abdon, and Zichri, and Hanan,\r\n and Hananiah, and Elam, and Anthothijah,\r\n and Iphdeiah, and Penuel, the sons of Shashak,\r\n and Shamsherai, and Shehariah, and Athaliah,\r\n and Jaareshiah, and Elijah, and Zichri, the sons of Jeroham.\r\n These were heads of fathers` [houses] throughout their generations, chief men: these dwelt in Jerusalem.\r\n And in Gibeon there dwelt the father of Gibeon, [Jeiel], whose wife`s name was Maacah;\r\n and his first-born son Abdon, and Zur, and Kish, and Baal, and Nadab,\r\n and Gedor, and Ahio, and Zecher.\r\n And Mikloth begat Shimeah. And they also dwelt with their brethren in Jerusalem, over against their brethren.\r\n And Ner begat Kish; and Kish begat Saul; and Saul begat Jonathan, and Malchi-shua, and Abinadab, and Eshbaal.\r\n And the son of Jonathan was Merib-baal; and Merib-baal begat Micah.\r\n And the sons of Micah: Pithon, and Melech, and Tarea, and Ahaz.\r\n And Ahaz begat Jehoaddah; and Jehoaddah begat Alemeth, and Azmaveth, and Zimri; and Zimri begat Moza.\r\n And Moza begat Binea; Raphah was his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son.\r\n And Azel had six sons, whose names are these: Azrikam, Bocheru, and Ishmael, and Sheariah, and Obadiah, and Hanan. All these were the sons of Azel.\r\n And the sons of Eshek his brother: Ulam his first-born, Jeush the second, and Eliphelet the third.\r\n And the sons of Ulam were mighty men of valor, archers, and had many sons, and sons` sons, a hundred and fifty. All these were of the sons of Benjamin.\r\n \r\n \r\n So all Israel were reckoned by genealogies; and, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel: and Judah was carried away captive to Babylon for their transgression.\r\n Now the first inhabitants that dwelt in their possessions in their cities were Israel, the priests, the Levites, and the Nethinim.\r\n And in Jerusalem dwelt of the children of Judah, and of the children of Benjamin, and of the children of Ephraim and Manasseh:\r\n Uthai the son of Ammihud, the son of Omri, the son of Imri, the son of Bani, of the children of Perez the son of Judah.\r\n And of the Shilonites: Asaiah the first-born, and his sons.\r\n And of the sons of Zerah: Jeuel, and their brethren, six hundred and ninety.\r\n And of the sons of Benjamin: Sallu the son of Meshullam, the son of Hodaviah, the son of Hassenuah,\r\n and Ibneiah the son of Jeroham, and Elah the son of Uzzi, the son of Michri, and Meshullam the son of Shephatiah, the son of Reuel, the son of Ibnijah;\r\n and their brethren, according to their generations, nine hundred and fifty and six. All these men were heads of fathers` [houses] by their fathers` houses.\r\n And of the priests: Jedaiah, and Jehoiarib, Jachin,\r\n and Azariah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the ruler of the house of God;\r\n and Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son of Pashhur, the son of Malchijah, and Maasai the son of Adiel, the son of Jahzerah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Meshillemith, the son of Immer;\r\n and their brethren, heads of their fathers` houses, a thousand and seven hundred and threescore; very able men for the work of the service of the house of God.\r\n And of the Levites: Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, of the sons of Merari;\r\n and Bakbakkar, Heresh, and Galal, and Mattaniah the son of Mica, the son of Zichri, the son of Asaph,\r\n and Obadiah the son of Shemaiah, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun, and Berechiah the son of Asa, the son of Elkanah, that dwelt in the villages of the Netophathites.\r\n And the porters: Shallum, and Akkub, and Talmon, and Ahiman, and their brethren (Shallum was the chief),\r\n who hitherto [waited] in the king`s gate eastward: they were the porters for the camp of the children of Levi.\r\n And Shallum the son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, and his brethren, of his father`s house, the Korahites, were over the work of the service, keepers of the thresholds of the tent: and their fathers had been over the camp of Jehovah, keepers of the entry.\r\n And Phinehas the son of Eleazar was ruler over them in time past, [and] Jehovah was with him.\r\n Zechariah the son of Meshelemiah was porter of the door of the tent of meeting.\r\n All these that were chosen to be porters in the thresholds were two hundred and twelve. These were reckoned by genealogy in their villages, whom David and Samuel the seer did ordain in their office of trust.\r\n So they and their children had the oversight of the gates of the house of Jehovah, even the house of the tent, by wards.\r\n On the four sides were the porters, toward the east, west, north, and south.\r\n And their brethren, in their villages, were to come in every seven days from time to time to be with them:\r\n for the four chief porters, who were Levites, were in an office of trust, and were over the chambers and over the treasuries in the house of God.\r\n And they lodged round about the house of God, because the charge [thereof] was upon them; and to them pertained the opening thereof morning by morning.\r\n And certain of them had charge of the vessels of service; for by count were these brought in and by count were these taken out.\r\n Some of them also were appointed over the furniture, and over all the vessels of the sanctuary, and over the fine flour, and the wine, and the oil, and the frankincense, and the spices.\r\n And some of the sons of the priests prepared the confection of the spices.\r\n And Mattithiah, one of the Levites, who was the first-born of Shallum the Korahite, had the office of trust over the things that were baked in pans.\r\n And some of their brethren, of the sons of the Kohathites, were over the showbread, to prepare it every sabbath.\r\n And these are the singers, heads of fathers` [houses] of the Levites, [who dwelt] in the chambers [and were] free [from other service]; for they were employed in their work day and night.\r\n These were heads of fathers` [houses] of the Levites, throughout their generations, chief men: these dwelt at Jerusalem.\r\n And in Gibeon there dwelt the father of Gibeon, Jeiel, whose wife`s name was Maacah:\r\n and his first-born son Abdon, and Zur, and Kish, and Baal, and Ner, and Nadab,\r\n and Gedor, and Ahio, and Zechariah, and Mikloth.\r\n And Mikloth begat Shimeam. And they also dwelt with their brethren in Jerusalem, over against their brethren.\r\n And Ner begat Kish; and Kish begat Saul; and Saul begat Jonathan, and Malchishua, and Abinadab, and Eshbaal.\r\n And the son of Jonathan was Merib-baal; and Merib-baal begat Micah.\r\n And the sons of Micah: Pithon, and Melech, and Tahrea, [and Ahaz].\r\n And Ahaz begat Jarah; and Jarah begat Alemeth, and Azmaveth, and Zimri; and Zimri begat Moza;\r\n and Moza begat Binea; and Rephaiah his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son.\r\n And Azel had six sons, whose names are these: Azrikam, Bocheru, and Ishmael, and Sheariah, and Obadiah, and Hanan: these were the sons of Azel.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now the Philistines fought against Israel: and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in mount Gilboa.\r\n And the Philistines followed hard after Saul and after his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchi-shua, the sons of Saul.\r\n And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers overtook him; and he was distressed by reason of the archers.\r\n Then said Saul unto his armor-bearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith, lest these uncircumcised come and abuse me. But his armor-bearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took his sword, and fell upon it.\r\n And when his armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he likewise fell upon his sword, and died.\r\n So Saul died, and his three sons; and all his house died together.\r\n And when all the men of Israel that were in the valley saw that they fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook their cities, and fled; and the Philistines came and dwelt in them.\r\n And it came to pass on the morrow, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his sons fallen in mount Gilboa.\r\n And they stripped him, and took his head, and his armor, and sent into the land of the Philistines round about, to carry the tidings unto their idols, and to the people.\r\n And they put his armor in the house of their gods, and fastened his head in the house of Dagon.\r\n And when all Jabesh-gilead heard all that the Philistines had done to Saul,\r\n all the valiant men arose, and took away the body of Saul, and the bodies of his sons, and brought them to Jabesh, and buried their bones under the oak in Jabesh, and fasted seven days.\r\n So Saul died for his trespass which he committed against Jehovah, because of the word of Jehovah, which he kept not; and also for that he asked counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to inquire [thereby],\r\n and inquired not of Jehovah: therefore he slew him, and turned the kingdom unto David the son of Jesse.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then all Israel gathered themselves to David unto Hebron, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh.\r\n In times past, even when Saul was king, it was thou that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and Jehovah thy God said unto thee, Thou shalt be shepherd of my people Israel, and thou shalt be prince over my people Israel.\r\n So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and David made a covenant with them in Hebron before Jehovah; and they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of Jehovah by Samuel.\r\n And David and all Israel went to Jerusalem (the same is Jebus); and the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, were there.\r\n And the inhabitants of Jebus said to David, Thou shalt not come in hither. Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion; the same is the city of David.\r\n And David said, Whosoever smiteth the Jebusites first shall be chief and captain. And Joab the son of Zeruiah went up first, and was made chief.\r\n And David dwelt in the stronghold; therefore they called it the city of David.\r\n And he built the city round about, from Millo even round about; and Joab repaired the rest of the city.\r\n And David waxed greater and greater; for Jehovah of hosts was with him.\r\n Now these are the chief of the mighty men whom David had, who showed themselves strong with him in his kingdom, together with all Israel, to make him king, according to the word of Jehovah concerning Israel.\r\n And this is the number of the mighty men whom David had: Jashobeam, the son of a Hachmonite, the chief of the thirty; he lifted up his spear against three hundred and slew them at one time.\r\n And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo, the Ahohite, who was one of the three mighty men.\r\n He was with David at Pasdammim, and there the Philistines were gathered together to battle, where was a plot of ground full of barley; and the people fled from before the Philistines.\r\n And they stood in the midst of the plot, and defended it, and slew the Philistines; and Jehovah saved them by a great victory.\r\n And three of the thirty chief men went down to the rock to David, into the cave of Adullam; and the host of the Philistines were encamped in the valley of Rephaim.\r\n And David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Beth-lehem.\r\n And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me water to drink of the well of Beth-lehem, which is by the gate!\r\n And the three brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Beth-lehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: but David would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto Jehovah,\r\n and said, My God forbid it me, that I should do this: shall I drink the blood of these men that have put their lives in jeopardy? for with [the jeopardy of] their lives they brought it. Therefore he would not drink it. These things did the three mighty men.\r\n And Abishai, the brother of Joab, he was chief of the three; for he lifted up his spear against three hundred and slew them, and had a name among the three.\r\n Of the three, he was more honorable than the two, and was made their captain: howbeit he attained not to the [first] three.\r\n Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, who had done mighty deeds, he slew the two [sons of] Ariel of Moab: he went down also and slew a lion in the midst of a pit in time of snow.\r\n And he slew an Egyptian, a man of great stature, five cubits high; and in the Egyptian`s hand was a spear like a weaver`s beam; and he went down to him with a staff, and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian`s hand, and slew him with his own spear.\r\n These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and had a name among the three mighty men.\r\n Behold, he was more honorable than the thirty, but he attained not to the [first] three: and David set him over his guard.\r\n Also the mighty men of the armies: Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan the son of Dodo of Beth-lehem,\r\n Shammoth the Harorite, Helez the Pelonite,\r\n Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, Abiezer the Anathothite,\r\n Sibbecai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite,\r\n Maharai the Netophathite, Heled the son of Baanah the Netophathite,\r\n Ithai the son of Ribai of Gibeah of the children of Benjamin, Benaiah the Pirathonite,\r\n Hurai of the brooks of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite,\r\n Azmaveth the Baharumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite,\r\n the sons of Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan the son of Shagee the Hararite,\r\n Ahiam the son of Sacar the Hararite, Eliphal the son of Ur,\r\n Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite,\r\n Hezro the Carmelite, Naarai the son of Ezbai,\r\n Joel the brother of Nathan, Mibhar the son of Hagri,\r\n Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Berothite, the armorbearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah,\r\n Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,\r\n Uriah the Hittite, Zabad the son of Ahlai,\r\n Adina the son of Shiza the Reubenite, a chief of the Reubenites, and thirty with him,\r\n Hanan the son of Maacah, and Joshaphat the Mithnite,\r\n Uzzia the Ashterathite, Shama and Jeiel the sons of Hotham the Aroerite,\r\n Jediael the son of Shimri, and Joha his brother, the Tizite,\r\n Eliel the Mahavite, and Jeribai, and Joshaviah, the sons of Elnaam, and Ithmah the Moabite,\r\n Eliel, and Obed, and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now these are they that came to David to Ziklag, while he yet kept himself close because of Saul the son of Kish; and they were among the mighty men, his helpers in war.\r\n They were armed with bows, and could use both the right hand and the left in slinging stones and in shooting arrows from the bow: they were of Saul`s brethren of Benjamin.\r\n The chief was Ahiezer; then Joash, the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite, and Jeziel, and Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth, and Beracah, and Jehu the Anathothite,\r\n and Ishmaiah the Gibeonite, a mighty man among the thirty, and over the thirty, and Jeremiah, and Jahaziel, and Johanan, and Jozabad the Gederathite,\r\n Eluzai, and Jerimoth, and Bealiah, and Shemariah, and Shephatiah the Haruphite,\r\n Elkanah, and Isshiah, and Azarel, and Joezer, and Jashobeam, the Korahites,\r\n and Joelah, and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham of Gedor.\r\n And of the Gadites there separated themselves unto David to the stronghold in the wilderness, mighty men of valor, men trained for war, that could handle shield and spear; whose faces were like the faces of lions, and they were as swift as the roes upon the mountains;\r\n Ezer the chief, Obadiah the second, Eliab the third,\r\n Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the fifth,\r\n Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh,\r\n Johanan the eighth, Elzabad the ninth,\r\n Jeremiah the tenth, Machbannai the eleventh.\r\n These of the sons of Gad were captains of the host: he that was least was equal to a hundred, and the greatest to a thousand.\r\n These are they that went over the Jordan in the first month, when it had overflowed all its banks; and they put to flight all them of the valleys, both toward the east, and toward the west.\r\n And there came of the children of Benjamin and Judah to the stronghold unto David.\r\n And David went out to meet them, and answered and said unto them, If ye be come peaceably unto me to help me, my heart shall be knit unto you; but if [ye be come] to betray me to mine adversaries, seeing there is no wrong in my hands, the God of our fathers look thereon, and rebuke it.\r\n Then the Spirit came upon Amasai, who was chief of the thirty, [and he said], Thine are we, David, and on thy side, thou son of Jesse: peace, peace be unto thee, and peace be to thy helpers; for thy God helpeth thee. Then David received them, and made them captains of the band.\r\n Of Manasseh also there fell away some to David, when he came with the Philistines against Saul to battle: but they helped them not; for the lords of the Philistines upon advisement sent him away, saying, He will fall away to his master Saul to the jeopardy of our heads.\r\n As he went to Ziklag, there fell to him of Manasseh, Adnah, and Jozabad, and Jediael, and Michael, and Jozabad, and Elihu, and Zillethai, captains of thousands that were of Manasseh.\r\n And they helped David against the band of rovers: for they were all mighty men of valor, and were captains in the host.\r\n For from day to day men came to David to help him, until there was a great host, like the host of God.\r\n And these are the numbers of the heads of them that were armed for war, who came to David to Hebron, to turn the kingdom of Saul to him, according to the word of Jehovah.\r\n The children of Judah that bare shield and spear were six thousand and eight hundred, armed for war.\r\n Of the children of Simeon, mighty men of valor for the war, seven thousand and one hundred.\r\n Of the children of Levi four thousand and six hundred.\r\n And Jehoiada was the leader of [the house of] Aaron; and with him were three thousand and seven hundred,\r\n and Zadok, a young man mighty of valor, and of his father`s house twenty and two captains.\r\n And of the children of Benjamin, the brethren of Saul, three thousand: for hitherto the greatest part of them had kept their allegiance to the house of Saul.\r\n And of the children of Ephraim twenty thousand and eight hundred, mighty men of valor, famous men in their fathers` houses.\r\n And of the half-tribe of Manasseh eighteen thousand, who were mentioned by name, to come and make David king.\r\n And of the children of Issachar, men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their commandment.\r\n Of Zebulun, such as were able to go out in the host, that could set the battle in array, with all manner of instruments of war, fifty thousand, and that could order [the battle array, and were] not of double heart.\r\n And of Naphtali a thousand captains, and with them with shield and spear thirty and seven thousand.\r\n And of the Danites that could set the battle in array, twenty and eight thousand and six hundred.\r\n And of Asher, such as were able to go out in the host, that could set the battle in array, forty thousand.\r\n And on the other side of the Jordan, of the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and of the half-tribe of Manasseh, with all manner of instruments of war for the battle, a hundred and twenty thousand.\r\n All these being men of war, that could order the battle array, came with a perfect heart to Hebron, to make David king over all Israel: and all the rest also of Israel were of one heart to make David king.\r\n And they were there with David three days, eating and drinking; for their brethren had made preparation for them.\r\n Moreover they that were nigh unto them, [even] as far as Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, brought bread on asses, and on camels, and on mules, and on oxen, victuals of meal, cakes of figs, and clusters of raisins, and wine, and oil, and oxen, and sheep in abundance: for there was joy in Israel.\r\n \r\n \r\n And David consulted with the captains of thousands and of hundreds, even with every leader.\r\n And David said unto all the assembly of Israel, If it seem good unto you, and if it be of Jehovah our God, let us send abroad every where unto our brethren that are left in all the land of Israel, with whom the priests and Levites are in their cities that have suburbs, that they may gather themselves unto us;\r\n and let us bring again the ark of our God to us: for we sought not unto it in the days of Saul.\r\n And all the assembly said that they would do so; for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people.\r\n So David assembled all Israel together, from the Shihor [the brook] of Egypt even unto the entrance of Hamath, to bring the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim.\r\n And David went up, and all Israel, to Baalah, [that is], to Kiriath-jearim, which belonged to Judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God Jehovah that sitteth [above] the cherubim, that is called by the Name.\r\n And they carried the ark of God upon a new cart, [and brought it] out of the house of Abinadab: and Uzza and Ahio drove the cart.\r\n And David and all Israel played before God with all their might, even with songs, and with harps, and with psalteries, and with timbrels, and with cymbals, and with trumpets.\r\n And when they came unto the threshing-floor of Chidon, Uzza put forth his hand to hold the ark; for the oxen stumbled.\r\n And the anger of Jehovah was kindled against Uzza, and he smote him, because he put forth his hand to the ark; and there he died before God.\r\n And David was displeased, because Jehovah had broken forth upon Uzza; and he called that place Perez-uzza, unto this day.\r\n And David was afraid of God that day, saying, How shall I bring the ark of God home to me?\r\n So David removed not the ark unto him into the city of David, but carried it aside into the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.\r\n And the ark of God remained with the family of Obed-edom in his house three months: and Jehovah blessed the house of Obed-edom, and all that he had.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar-trees, and masons, and carpenters, to build him a house.\r\n And David perceived that Jehovah had established him king over Israel; for his kingdom was exalted on high, for his people Israel`s sake.\r\n And David took more wives at Jerusalem; and David begat more sons and daughters.\r\n And these are the names of the children whom he had in Jerusalem: Shammua, and Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon,\r\n and Ibhar, and Elishua, and Elpelet,\r\n and Nogah, and Nepheg, and Japhia,\r\n and Elishama, and Beeliada, and Eliphelet.\r\n And when the Philistines heard that David was anointed king over all Israel, all the Philistines went up to seek David: and David heard of it, and went out against them.\r\n Now the Philistines had come and made a raid in the valley of Rephaim.\r\n And David inquired of God, saying, Shall I go up against the Philistines? and wilt thou deliver them into my hand? And Jehovah said unto him, Go up; for I will deliver them into thy hand.\r\n So they came up to Baal-perazim, and David smote them there; and David said, God hath broken mine enemies by my hand, like the breach of waters. Therefore they called the name of that place Baal-perazim.\r\n And they left their gods there; and David gave commandment, and they were burned with fire.\r\n And the Philistines yet again made a raid in the valley.\r\n And David inquired again of God; and God said unto him, Thou shalt not go up after them: turn away from them, and come upon them over against the mulberry-trees.\r\n And it shall be, when thou hearest the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry-trees, that then thou shalt go out to battle; for God is gone out before thee to smite the host of the Philistines.\r\n And David did as God commanded him: and they smote the host of the Philistines from Gibeon even to Gezer.\r\n And the fame of David went out into all lands; and Jehovah brought the fear of him upon all nations.\r\n \r\n \r\n And [David] made him houses in the city of David; and he prepared a place for the ark of God, and pitched for it a tent.\r\n Then David said, None ought to carry the ark of God but the Levites: for them hath Jehovah chosen to carry the ark of God, and to minister unto him for ever.\r\n And David assembled all Israel at Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of Jehovah unto its place, which he had prepared for it.\r\n And David gathered together the sons of Aaron, and the Levites:\r\n of the sons of Kohath, Uriel the chief, and his brethren a hundred and twenty;\r\n of the sons of Merari, Asaiah the chief, and his brethren two hundred and twenty;\r\n of the sons of Gershom, Joel the chief, and his brethren a hundred and thirty;\r\n of the sons of Elizaphan, Shemaiah the chief, and his brethren two hundred;\r\n of the sons of Hebron, Eliel the chief, and his brethren fourscore;\r\n of the sons of Uzziel, Amminadab the chief, and his brethren a hundred and twelve.\r\n And David called for Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and for the Levites, for Uriel, Asaiah, and Joel, Shemaiah, and Eliel, and Amminadab,\r\n and said unto them, Ye are the heads of the fathers` [houses] of the Levites: sanctify yourselves, both ye and your brethren, that ye may bring up the ark of Jehovah, the God of Israel, unto [the place] that I have prepared for it.\r\n For because ye [bare it] not at the first, Jehovah our God made a breach upon us, for that we sought him not according to the ordinance.\r\n So the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of Jehovah, the God of Israel.\r\n And the children of the Levites bare the ark of God upon their shoulders with the staves thereon, as Moses commanded according to the word of Jehovah.\r\n And David spake to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brethren the singers, with instruments of music, psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding aloud and lifting up the voice with joy.\r\n So the Levites appointed Heman the son of Joel; and of his brethren, Asaph the son of Berechiah; and of the sons of Merari their brethren, Ethan the son of Kushaiah;\r\n and with them their brethren of the second degree, Zechariah, Ben, and Jaaziel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Unni, Eliab, and Benaiah, and Maaseiah, and Mattithiah, and Eliphelehu, and Mikneiah, and Obed-edom, and Jeiel, the doorkeepers.\r\n So the singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, [were appointed] with cymbals of brass to sound aloud;\r\n and Zechariah, and Aziel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Unni, and Eliab, and Maaseiah, and Benaiah, with psalteries set to Alamoth;\r\n and Mattithiah, and Eliphelehu, and Mikneiah, and Obed-edom, and Jeiel, and Azaziah, with harps set to the Sheminith, to lead.\r\n And Chenaniah, chief of the Levites, was over the song: he instructed about the song, because he was skilful.\r\n And Berechiah and Elkanah were doorkeepers for the ark.\r\n And Shebaniah, and Joshaphat, and Nethanel, and Amasai, and Zechariah, and Benaiah, and Eliezer, the priests, did blow the trumpets before the ark of God: and Obed-edom and Jehiah were doorkeepers for the ark.\r\n So David, and the elders of Israel, and the captains over thousands, went to bring up the ark of the covenant of Jehovah out of the house of Obed-edom with joy.\r\n And it came to pass, when God helped the Levites that bare the ark of the covenant of Jehovah, that they sacrificed seven bullocks and seven rams.\r\n And David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, and all the Levites that bare the ark, and the singers, and Chenaniah the master of the song [with] the singers: and David had upon him an ephod of linen.\r\n Thus all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of Jehovah with shouting, and with sound of the cornet, and with trumpets, and with cymbals, sounding aloud with psalteries and harps.\r\n And it came to pass, as the ark of the covenant of Jehovah came to the city of David, that Michal the daughter of Saul looked out at the window, and saw king David dancing and playing; and she despised him in her heart.\r\n \r\n \r\n And they brought in the ark of God, and set it in the midst of the tent that David had pitched for it: and they offered burnt-offerings and peace-offerings before God.\r\n And when David had made an end of offering the burnt-offering and the peace-offerings, he blessed the people in the name of Jehovah.\r\n And he dealt to every one of Israel, both man and woman, to every one a loaf of bread, and a portion [of flesh], and a cake of raisins.\r\n And he appointed certain of the Levites to minister before the ark of Jehovah, and to celebrate and to thank and praise Jehovah, the God of Israel:\r\n Asaph the chief, and second to him Zechariah, Jeiel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Mattithiah, and Eliab, and Benaiah, and Obed-edom, and Jeiel, with psalteries and with harps; and Asaph with cymbals, sounding aloud;\r\n and Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests with trumpets continually, before the ark of the covenant of God.\r\n Then on that day did David first ordain to give thanks unto Jehovah, by the hand of Asaph and his brethren.\r\n O give thanks unto Jehovah, call upon his name; Make known his doings among the peoples.\r\n Sing unto him, sing praises unto him; Talk ye of all his marvellous works.\r\n Glory ye in his holy name; Let the heart of them rejoice that seek Jehovah.\r\n Seek ye Jehovah and his strength; Seek his face evermore.\r\n Remember his marvellous works that he hath done, His wonders, and the judgments of his mouth,\r\n O ye seed of Israel his servant, Ye children of Jacob, his chosen ones.\r\n He is Jehovah our God; His judgments are in all the earth.\r\n Remember his covenant for ever, The word which he commanded to a thousand generations,\r\n [The covenant] which he made with Abraham, And his oath unto Isaac,\r\n And confirmed the same unto Jacob for a statute, To Israel for an everlasting covenant,\r\n Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, The lot of your inheritance;\r\n When ye were but a few men in number, Yea, very few, and sojourners in it;\r\n And they went about from nation to nation, And from one kingdom to another people.\r\n He suffered no man to do them wrong; Yea, he reproved kings for their sakes,\r\n [Saying], Touch not mine anointed ones, And do my prophets no harm.\r\n Sing unto Jehovah, all the earth; Show forth his salvation from day to day.\r\n Declare his glory among the nations, His marvellous works among all the peoples.\r\n For great is Jehovah, and greatly to be praised: He also is to be feared above all gods.\r\n For all the gods of the peoples are idols: But Jehovah made the heavens.\r\n Honor and majesty are before him: Strength and gladness are in his place.\r\n Ascribe unto Jehovah, ye kindreds of the peoples, Ascribe unto Jehovah glory and strength;\r\n Ascribe unto Jehovah the glory due unto his name: Bring an offering, and come before him: Worship Jehovah in holy array.\r\n Tremble before him, all the earth: The world also is established that it cannot be moved.\r\n Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; And let them say among the nations, Jehovah reigneth.\r\n Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; Let the field exult, and all that is therein;\r\n Then shall the trees of the wood sing for joy before Jehovah; For he cometh to judge the earth.\r\n O give thanks unto Jehovah; for he is good; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever.\r\n And say ye, Save us, O God of our salvation, And gather us together and deliver us from the nations, To give thanks unto thy holy name, And to triumph in thy praise.\r\n Blessed be Jehovah, the God of Israel, From everlasting even to everlasting. And all the people said, Amen, and praised Jehovah.\r\n So he left there, before the ark of the covenant of Jehovah, Asaph and his brethren, to minister before the ark continually, as every day`s work required;\r\n and Obed-edom with their brethren, threescore and eight; Obed-edom also the son of Jeduthun and Hosah to be doorkeepers;\r\n and Zadok the priest, and his brethren the priests, before the tabernacle of Jehovah in the high place that was at Gibeon,\r\n to offer burnt-offerings unto Jehovah upon the altar of burnt-offering continually morning and evening, even according to all that is written in the law of Jehovah, which he commanded unto Israel;\r\n and with them Heman and Jeduthun, and the rest that were chosen, who were mentioned by name, to give thanks to Jehovah, because his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever;\r\n and with them Heman and Jeduthun [with] trumpets and cymbals for those that should sound aloud, and [with] instruments for the songs of God; and the sons of Jeduthun to be at the gate.\r\n And all the people departed every man to his house: and David returned to bless his house.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass, when David dwelt in his house, that David said to Nathan the prophet, Lo, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of Jehovah [dwelleth] under curtains.\r\n And Nathan said unto David, Do all that is in thy heart; for God is with thee.\r\n And it came to pass the same night, that the word of God came to Nathan, saying,\r\n Go and tell David my servant, Thus saith Jehovah, Thou shalt not build me a house to dwell in:\r\n for I have not dwelt in a house since the day that I brought up Israel, unto this day, but have gone from tent to tent, and from [one] tabernacle [to another].\r\n In all places wherein I have walked with all Israel, spake I a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to be shepherd of my people, saying, Why have ye not built me a house of cedar?\r\n Now therefore thus shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, that thou shouldest be prince over my people Israel:\r\n and I have been with thee whithersoever thou hast gone, and have cut off all thine enemies from before thee; and I will make thee a name, like unto the name of the great ones that are in the earth.\r\n And I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in their own place, and be moved no more; neither shall the children of wickedness waste them any more, as at the first,\r\n and [as] from the day that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel; and I will subdue all thine enemies. Moreover I tell thee that Jehovah will build thee a house.\r\n And it shall come to pass, when thy days are fulfilled that thou must go to be with thy fathers, that I will set up thy seed after thee, who shall be of thy sons; and I will establish his kingdom.\r\n He shall build me a house, and I will establish his throne for ever.\r\n I will be his father, and he shall be my son: and I will not take my lovingkindness away from him, as I took it from him that was before thee;\r\n but I will settle him in my house and in my kingdom for ever; and his throne shall be established for ever.\r\n According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.\r\n Then David the king went in, and sat before Jehovah; and he said, Who am I, O Jehovah God, and what is my house, that thou hast brought me thus far?\r\n And this was a small thing in thine eyes, O God; but thou hast spoken of thy servant`s house for a great while to come, and hast regarded me according to the estate of a man of high degree, O Jehovah God.\r\n What can David [say] yet more unto thee concerning the honor which is done to thy servant? for thou knowest thy servant.\r\n O Jehovah, for thy servant`s sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou wrought all this greatness, to make known all [these] great things.\r\n O Jehovah, there is none like thee, neither is there any God besides thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.\r\n And what one nation in the earth is like thy people Israel, whom God went to redeem unto himself for a people, to make thee a name by great and terrible things, in driving out nations from before thy people, whom thou redeemest out of Egypt?\r\n For thy people Israel didst thou make thine own people for ever; and thou, Jehovah, becamest their God.\r\n And now, O Jehovah, let the word that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant, and concerning his house, be established for ever, and do as thou hast spoken.\r\n And let thy name be established and magnified for ever, saying, Jehovah of hosts is the God of Israel, even a God to Israel: and the house of David thy servant is established before thee.\r\n For thou, O my God, hast revealed to thy servant that thou wilt build him a house: therefore hath thy servant found [in his heart] to pray before thee.\r\n And now, O Jehovah, thou art God, and hast promised this good thing unto thy servant:\r\n and now it hath pleased thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue for ever before thee: for thou, O Jehovah, hast blessed, and it is blessed for ever.\r\n \r\n \r\n And after this it came to pass, that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them, and took Gath and its towns out of the hand of the Philistines.\r\n And he smote Moab; and the Moabites became servants to David, and brought tribute.\r\n And David smote Hadarezer king of Zobah unto Hamath, as he went to establish his dominion by the river Euphrates.\r\n And David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen; and David hocked all the chariot horses, but reserved of them for a hundred chariots.\r\n And when the Syrians of Damascus came to succor Hadarezer king of Zobah, David smote of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men.\r\n Then David put [garrisons] in Syria of Damascus; and the Syrians became servants to David, and brought tribute. And Jehovah gave victory to David whithersoever he went.\r\n And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadarezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.\r\n And from Tibhath and from Cun, cities of Hadarezer, David took very much brass, wherewith Solomon made the brazen sea, and the pillars, and the vessels of brass.\r\n And when Tou king of Hamath heard that David had smitten all the host of Hadarezer king of Zobah,\r\n he sent Hadoram his son to king David, to salute him, and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadarezer and smitten him; (for Hadarezer had wars with Tou;) and [he had with him] all manner of vessels of gold and silver and brass.\r\n These also did king David dedicate unto Jehovah, with the silver and the gold that he carried away from all the nations; from Edom, and from Moab, and from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines, and from Amalek.\r\n Moreover Abishai the son of Zeruiah smote of the Edomites in the Valley of Salt eighteen thousand.\r\n And he put garrisons in Edom; and all the Edomites became servants to David. And Jehovah gave victory to David whithersoever he went.\r\n And David reigned over all Israel; and he executed justice and righteousness unto all his people.\r\n And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder;\r\n and Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Abimelech the son of Abiathar, were priests; and Shavsha was scribe;\r\n and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and the sons of David were chief about the king.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass after this, that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon died, and his son reigned in his stead.\r\n And David said, I will show kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, because his father showed kindness to me. So David sent messengers to comfort him concerning his father. And David`s servants came into the land of the children of Ammon to Hanun, to comfort him.\r\n But the princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanun, Thinkest thou that David doth honor thy father, in that he hath sent comforters unto thee? are not his servants come unto thee to search, and to overthrow, and to spy out the land?\r\n So Hanun took David`s servants, and shaved them, and cut off their garments in the middle, even to their buttocks, and sent them away.\r\n Then there went certain persons, and told David how the men were served. And he sent to meet them; for the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, Tarry at Jericho until your beards be grown, and then return.\r\n And when the children of Ammon saw that they had made themselves odious to David, Hanun and the children of Ammon sent a thousand talents of silver to hire them chariots and horsemen out of Mesopotamia, and out of Arammaacah, and out of Zobah.\r\n So they hired them thirty and two thousand chariots, and the king of Maacah and his people, who came and encamped before Medeba. And the children of Ammon gathered themselves together from their cities, and came to battle.\r\n And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men.\r\n And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the gate of the city: and the kings that were come were by themselves in the field.\r\n Now when Joab saw that the battle was set against him before and behind, he chose of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians.\r\n And the rest of the people he committed into the hand of Abishai his brother; and they put themselves in array against the children of Ammon.\r\n And he said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then thou shalt help me; but if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, then I will help thee.\r\n Be of good courage, and let us play the man for our people, and for the cities of our God: and Jehovah do that which seemeth him good.\r\n So Joab and the people that were with him drew nigh before the Syrians unto the battle; and they fled before him.\r\n And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled, they likewise fled before Abishai his brother, and entered into the city. Then Joab came to Jerusalem.\r\n And when the Syrians saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they sent messengers, and drew forth the Syrians that were beyond the River, with Shophach the captain of the host of Hadarezer at their head.\r\n And it was told David; and he gathered all Israel together, and passed over the Jordan, and came upon them, and set the battle in array against them. So when David had put the battle in array against the Syrians, they fought with him.\r\n And the Syrians fled before Israel; and David slew of the Syrians [the men of] seven thousand chariots, and forty thousand footmen, and killed Shophach the captain of the host.\r\n And when the servants of Hadarezer saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they made peace with David, and served him: neither would the Syrians help the children of Ammon any more.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass, at the time of the return of the year, at the time when kings go out [to battle], that Joab led forth the army, and wasted the country of the children of Ammon, and came and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried at Jerusalem. And Joab smote Rabbah, and overthrew it.\r\n And David took the crown of their king from off his head, and found it to weigh a talent of gold, and there were precious stones in it; and it was set upon David`s head: and he brought forth the spoil of the city, exceeding much.\r\n And he brought forth the people that were therein, and cut [them] with saws, and with harrows of iron, and with axes. And thus did David unto all the cities of the children of Ammon. And David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.\r\n And it came to pass after this, that there arose war at Gezer with the Philistines: then Sibbecai the Hushathite slew Sippai, of the sons of the giant; and they were subdued.\r\n And there was again war with the Philistines; and Elhanan the son of Jair slew Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver`s beam.\r\n And there was again war at Gath, where was a man of great stature, whose fingers and toes were four and twenty, six [on each hand], and six [on each foot]; and he also was born unto the giant.\r\n And when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea David`s brother slew him.\r\n These were born unto the giant in Gath; and they fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel.\r\n And David said to Joab and to the princes of the people, Go, number Israel from Beer-sheba even to Dan; and bring me word, that I may know the sum of them.\r\n And Joab said, Jehovah make his people a hundred times as many as they are: but, my lord the king, are they not all my lord`s servants? why doth my lord require this thing? why will he be a cause of guilt unto Israel?\r\n Nevertheless the king`s word prevailed against Joab. Wherefore Joab departed, and went throughout all Israel, and came to Jerusalem.\r\n And Joab gave up the sum of the numbering of the people unto David. And all they of Israel were a thousand thousand and a hundred thousand men that drew sword: and Judah was four hundred threescore and ten thousand men that drew sword.\r\n But Levi and Benjamin counted he not among them; for the king`s word was abominable to Joab.\r\n And God was displeased with this thing; therefore he smote Israel.\r\n And David said unto God, I have sinned greatly, in that I have done this thing: but now, put away, I beseech thee, the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.\r\n And Jehovah spake unto Gad, David`s seer, saying,\r\n Go and speak unto David, saying, Thus saith Jehovah, I offer thee three things: choose thee one of them, that I may do it unto thee.\r\n So Gad came to David, and said unto him, Thus saith Jehovah, Take which thou wilt:\r\n either three years of famine; or three months to be consumed before thy foes, while the sword of thine enemies overtaketh thee; or else three days the sword of Jehovah, even pestilence in the land, and the angel of Jehovah destroying throughout all the borders of Israel. Now therefore consider what answer I shall return to him that sent me.\r\n And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let me fall, I pray, into the hand of Jehovah; for very great are his mercies: and let me not fall into the hand of man.\r\n So Jehovah sent a pestilence upon Israel; and there fell of Israel seventy thousand men.\r\n And God sent an angel unto Jerusalem to destroy it: and as he was about to destroy, Jehovah beheld, and he repented him of the evil, and said to the destroying angel, It is enough; now stay thy hand. And the angel of Jehovah was standing by the threshing-floor of Ornan the Jebusite.\r\n And David lifted up his eyes, and saw the angel of Jehovah standing between earth and heaven, having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces.\r\n And David said unto God, Is it not I that commanded the people to be numbered? even I it is that have sinned and done very wickedly; but these sheep, what have they done? let thy hand, I pray thee, O Jehovah my God, be against me, and against my father`s house; but not against thy people, that they should be plagued.\r\n Then the angel of Jehovah commanded Gad to say to David, that David should go up, and rear an altar unto Jehovah in the threshing-floor of Ornan the Jebusite.\r\n And David went up at the saying of Gad, which he spake in the name of Jehovah.\r\n And Ornan turned back, and saw the angel; and his four sons that were with him hid themselves. Now Ornan was threshing wheat.\r\n And as David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David, and went out of the threshing-floor, and bowed himself to David with his face to the ground.\r\n Then David said to Ornan, Give me the place of this threshing-floor, that I may build thereon an altar unto Jehovah: for the full price shalt thou give it me, that the plague may be stayed from the people.\r\n And Ornan said unto David, Take it to thee, and let my lord the king do that which is good in his eyes: lo, I give [thee] the oxen for burnt-offerings, and the threshing instruments for wood, and the wheat for the meal-offering; I give it all.\r\n And king David said to Ornan, Nay; but I will verily buy it for the full price: for I will not take that which is thine for Jehovah, nor offer a burnt-offering without cost.\r\n So David gave to Ornan for the place six hundred shekels of gold by weight.\r\n And David built there an altar unto Jehovah, and offered burnt-offerings and peace-offerings, and called upon Jehovah; and he answered him from heaven by fire upon the altar of burnt-offering.\r\n And Jehovah commanded the angel; and he put up his sword again into the sheath thereof.\r\n At that time, when David saw that Jehovah had answered him in the threshing-floor of Ornan the Jebusite, then he sacrificed there.\r\n For the tabernacle of Jehovah, which Moses made in the wilderness, and the altar of burnt-offering, were at that time in the high place at Gibeon.\r\n But David could not go before it to inquire of God; for he was afraid because of the sword of the angel of Jehovah.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then David said, This is the house of Jehovah God, and this is the altar of burnt-offering for Israel.\r\n And David commanded to gather together the sojourners that were in the land of Israel; and he set masons to hew wrought stones to build the house of God.\r\n And David prepared iron in abundance for the nails for the doors of the gates, and for the couplings; and brass in abundance without weight;\r\n and cedar-trees without number: for the Sidonians and they of Tyre brought cedar-trees in abundance to David.\r\n And David said, Solomon my son is young and tender, and the house that is to be builded for Jehovah must be exceeding magnificent, of fame and of glory throughout all countries: I will therefore make preparation for it. So David prepared abundantly before his death.\r\n Then he called for Solomon his son, and charged him to build a house for Jehovah, the God of Israel.\r\n And David said to Solomon his son, As for me, it was in my heart to build a house unto the name of Jehovah my God.\r\n But the word of Jehovah came to me, saying, Thou hast shed blood abundantly, and hast made great wars: thou shalt not build a house unto my name, because thou hast shed much blood upon the earth in my sight.\r\n Behold, a son shall be born to thee, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies round about; for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quietness unto Israel in his days:\r\n he shall build a house for my name; and he shall be my son, and I will be his father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel for ever.\r\n Now, my son, Jehovah be with thee; and prosper thou, and build the house of Jehovah thy God, as he hath spoken concerning thee.\r\n Only Jehovah give thee discretion and understanding, and give thee charge concerning Israel; that so thou mayest keep the law of Jehovah thy God.\r\n Then shalt thou prosper, if thou observe to do the statutes and the ordinances which Jehovah charged Moses with concerning Israel: be strong, and of good courage; fear not, neither be dismayed.\r\n Now, behold, in my affliction I have prepared for the house of Jehovah a hundred thousand talents of gold, and a thousand thousand talents of silver, and of brass and iron without weight; for it is in abundance: timber also and stone have I prepared; and thou mayest add thereto.\r\n Moreover there are workmen with thee in abundance, hewers and workers of stone and timber, and all men that are skilful in every manner of work:\r\n of the gold, the silver, and the brass, and the iron, there is no number. Arise and be doing, and Jehovah be with thee.\r\n David also commanded all the princes of Israel to help Solomon his son, [saying],\r\n Is not Jehovah your God with you? and hath he not given you rest on every side? for he hath delivered the inhabitants of the land into my hand; and the land is subdued before Jehovah, and before his people.\r\n Now set your heart and your soul to seek after Jehovah your God; arise therefore, and build ye the sanctuary of Jehovah God, to bring the ark of the covenant of Jehovah, and the holy vessels of God, into the house that is to be built to the name of Jehovah.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now David was old and full of days; and he made Solomon his son king over Israel.\r\n And he gathered together all the princes of Israel, with the priests and the Levites.\r\n And the Levites were numbered from thirty years old and upward: and their number by their polls, man by man, was thirty and eight thousand.\r\n Of these, twenty and four thousand were to oversee the work of the house of Jehovah; and six thousand were officers and judges;\r\n and four thousand were doorkeepers; and four thousand praised Jehovah with the instruments which I made, [said David], to praise therewith.\r\n And David divided them into courses according to the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.\r\n Of the Gershonites: Ladan and Shimei.\r\n The sons of Ladan: Jehiel the chief, and Zetham, and Joel, three.\r\n The sons of Shimei: Shelomoth, and Haziel, and Haran, three. These were the heads of the fathers` [houses] of Ladan.\r\n And the sons of Shimei: Jahath, Zina, and Jeush, and Beriah. These four were the sons of Shimei.\r\n And Jahath was the chief, and Zizah the second: but Jeush and Beriah had not many sons; therefore they became a fathers` house in one reckoning.\r\n The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, four.\r\n The sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses; and Aaron was separated, that he should sanctify the most holy things, he and his sons, for ever, to burn incense before Jehovah, to minister unto him, and to bless in his name, for ever.\r\n But as for Moses the man of God, his sons were named among the tribe of Levi.\r\n The sons of Moses: Gershom and Eliezer.\r\n The sons of Gershom: Shebuel the chief.\r\n And the sons of Eliezer were: Rehabiah the chief; and Eliezer had no other sons; but the sons of Rehabiah were very many.\r\n The sons of Izhar: Shelomith the chief.\r\n The sons of Hebron: Jeriah the chief, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth.\r\n The sons of Uzziel: Micah the chief, and Isshiah the second.\r\n The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. The sons of Mahli: Eleazar and Kish.\r\n And Eleazar died, and had no sons, but daughters only: and their brethren the sons of Kish took them [to wife].\r\n The sons of Mushi: Mahli, and Eder, and Jeremoth, three.\r\n These were the sons of Levi after their fathers` houses, even the heads of the fathers` [houses] of those of them that were counted, in the number of names by their polls, who did the work for the service of the house of Jehovah, from twenty years old and upward.\r\n For David said, Jehovah, the God of Israel, hath given rest unto his people; and he dwelleth in Jerusalem for ever:\r\n and also the Levites shall no more have need to carry the tabernacle and all the vessels of it for the service thereof.\r\n For by the last words of David the sons of Levi were numbered, from twenty years old and upward.\r\n For their office was to wait on the sons of Aaron for the service of the house of Jehovah, in the courts, and in the chambers, and in the purifying of all holy things, even the work of the service of the house of God;\r\n for the showbread also, and for the fine flour for a meal-offering, whether of unleavened wafers, or of that which is baked in the pan, or of that which is soaked, and for all manner of measure and size;\r\n and to stand every morning to thank and praise Jehovah, and likewise at even;\r\n and to offer all burnt-offerings unto Jehovah, on the sabbaths, on the new moons, and on the set feasts, in number according to the ordinance concerning them, continually before Jehovah;\r\n and that they should keep the charge of the tent of meeting, and the charge of the holy place, and the charge of the sons of Aaron their brethren, for the service of the house of Jehovah.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the courses of the sons of Aaron [were these]. The sons of Aaron: Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.\r\n But Nadab and Abihu died before their father, and had no children: therefore Eleazar and Ithamar executed the priest`s office.\r\n And David with Zadok of the sons of Eleazar, and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, divided them according to their ordering in their service.\r\n And there were more chief men found of the sons of Eleazar than of the sons of Ithamar; and [thus] were they divided: of the sons of Eleazar there were sixteen, heads of fathers` houses; and of the sons of Ithamar, according to their fathers` houses, eight.\r\n Thus were they divided by lot, one sort with another; for there were princes of the sanctuary, and princes of God, both of the sons of Eleazar, and of the sons of Ithamar.\r\n And Shemaiah the son of Nethanel the scribe, who was of the Levites, wrote them in the presence of the king, and the princes, and Zadok the priest, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, and the heads of the fathers` [houses] of the priests and of the Levites; one fathers` house being taken for Eleazar, and one taken for Ithamar.\r\n Now the first lot came forth to Jehoiarib, the second to Jedaiah,\r\n the third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim,\r\n the fifth to Malchijah, the sixth to Mijamin,\r\n the seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah,\r\n the ninth to Jeshua, the tenth to Shecaniah,\r\n the eleventh to Eliashib, the twelfth to Jakim,\r\n the thirteenth to Huppah, the fourteenth to Jeshebeab,\r\n the fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to Immer,\r\n the seventeenth to Hezir, the eighteenth to Happizzez,\r\n the nineteenth to Pethahiah, the twentieth to Jehezkel,\r\n the one and twentieth to Jachin, the two and twentieth to Gamul,\r\n the three and twentieth to Delaiah, the four and twentieth to Maaziah.\r\n This was the ordering of them in their service, to come into the house of Jehovah according to the ordinance [given] unto them by Aaron their father, as Jehovah, the God of Israel, had commanded him.\r\n And of the rest of the sons of Levi: of the sons of Amram, Shubael; of the sons of Shubael, Jehdeiah.\r\n Of Rehabiah: of the sons of Rehabiah, Isshiah the chief.\r\n Of the Izharites, Shelomoth; of the sons of Shelomoth, Jahath.\r\n And the sons [of Hebron]: Jeriah [the chief], Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, Jekameam the fourth.\r\n The sons of Uzziel, Micah; of the sons of Micah, Shamir.\r\n The brother of Micah, Isshiah; of the sons of Isshiah, Zechariah.\r\n The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi; the sons of Jaaziah: Beno.\r\n The sons of Merari: of Jaaziah, Beno, and Shoham, and Zaccur, and Ibri.\r\n Of Mahli: Eleazar, who had no sons.\r\n Of Kish; the sons of Kish: Jerahmeel.\r\n And the sons of Mushi: Mahli, and Eder, and Jerimoth. These were the sons of the Levites after their fathers` houses.\r\n These likewise cast lots even as their brethren the sons of Aaron in the presence of David the king, and Zadok, and Ahimelech, and the heads of the fathers` [houses] of the priests and of the Levites; the fathers` [houses] of the chief even as those of his younger brother.\r\n \r\n \r\n Moreover David and the captains of the host set apart for the service certain of the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals: and the number of them that did the work according to their service was:\r\n of the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, and Joseph, and Nethaniah, and Asharelah, the sons of Asaph, under the hand of Asaph, who prophesied after the order of the king.\r\n Of Jeduthun; the sons of Jeduthun: Gedaliah, and Zeri, and Jeshaiah, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, under the hands of their father Jeduthun with the harp, who prophesied in giving thanks and praising Jehovah.\r\n Of Heman; the sons of Heman: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, and Romamti-ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, Mahazioth.\r\n All these were the sons of Heman the king`s seer in the words of God, to lift up the horn. And God gave to Heman fourteen sons and three daughters.\r\n All these were under the hands of their father for song in the house of Jehovah, with cymbals, psalteries, and harps, for the service of the house of God; Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman being under the order of the king.\r\n And the number of them, with their brethren that were instructed in singing unto Jehovah, even all that were skilful, was two hundred fourscore and eight.\r\n And they cast lots for their offices, all alike, as well the small as the great, the teacher as the scholar.\r\n Now the first lot came forth for Asaph to Joseph: the second to Gedaliah; he and his brethren and sons were twelve:\r\n the third to Zaccur, his sons and his brethren, twelve:\r\n the fourth to Izri, his sons and his brethren, twelve:\r\n the fifth to Nethaniah, his sons and his brethren, twelve:\r\n the sixth to Bukkiah, his sons and his brethren, twelve:\r\n the seventh to Jesharelah, his sons and his brethren, twelve:\r\n the eighth to Jeshaiah, his sons and his brethren, twelve:\r\n the ninth to Mattaniah, his sons and his brethren, twelve:\r\n the tenth to Shimei, his sons and his brethren, twelve:\r\n the eleventh to Azarel, his sons and his brethren, twelve:\r\n the twelfth to Hashabiah, his sons and his brethren, twelve:\r\n for the thirteenth, Shubael, his sons and his brethren, twelve:\r\n for the fourteenth, Mattithiah, his sons and his brethren, twelve:\r\n for the fifteenth to Jeremoth, his sons and his brethren, twelve:\r\n for the sixteenth to Hananiah, his sons and his brethren, twelve:\r\n for the seventeenth to Joshbekashah, his sons and his brethren, twelve:\r\n for the eighteenth to Hanani, his sons and his brethren, twelve:\r\n for the nineteenth to Mallothi, his sons and his brethren, twelve:\r\n for the twentieth to Eliathah, his sons and his brethren, twelve:\r\n for the one and twentieth to Hothir, his sons and his brethren, twelve:\r\n for the two and twentieth to Giddalti, his sons and his brethren, twelve:\r\n for the three and twentieth to Mahazioth, his sons and his brethren, twelve:\r\n for the four and twentieth to Romamtiezer, his sons and his brethren, twelve.\r\n \r\n \r\n For the courses of the doorkeepers: of the Korahites, Meshelemiah the son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph.\r\n And Meshelemiah had sons: Zechariah the first-born, Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third, Jathniel the fourth,\r\n Elam the fifth, Jehohanan the sixth, Eliehoenai the seventh.\r\n And Obed-edom had sons: Shemaiah the first-born, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, and Sacar the fourth, and Nethanel the fifth,\r\n Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh, Peullethai the eighth; for God blessed him.\r\n Also unto Shemaiah his son were sons born, that ruled over the house of their father; for they were mighty men of valor.\r\n The sons of Shemaiah: Othni, and Rephael, and Obed, Elzabad, whose brethren were valiant men, Elihu, and Semachiah.\r\n All these were of the sons of Obed-edom: they and their sons and their brethren, able men in strength for the service; threescore and two of Obed-edom.\r\n And Meshelemiah had sons and brethren, valiant men, eighteen.\r\n Also Hosah, of the children of Merari, had sons: Shimri the chief, (for though he was not the first-born, yet his father made him chief),\r\n Hilkiah the second, Tebaliah the third, Zechariah the fourth: all the sons and brethren of Hosah were thirteen.\r\n Of these were the courses of the doorkeepers, even of the chief men, having offices like their brethren, to minister in the house of Jehovah.\r\n And they cast lots, as well the small as the great, according to their fathers` houses, for every gate.\r\n And the lot eastward fell to Shelemiah. Then for Zechariah his son, a discreet counsellor, they cast lots; and his lot came out northward.\r\n To Obed-edom southward; and to his sons the store-house.\r\n To Shuppim and Hosah westward, by the gate of Shallecheth, at the causeway that goeth up, watch against watch.\r\n Eastward were six Levites, northward four a day, southward four a day, and for the store-house two and two.\r\n For Parbar westward, four at the causeway, and two at Parbar.\r\n These were the courses of the doorkeepers; of the sons of the Korahites, and of the sons of Merari.\r\n And of the Levites, Ahijah was over the treasures of the house of God, and over the treasures of the dedicated things.\r\n The sons of Ladan, the sons of the Gershonites belonging to Ladan, the heads of the fathers` [houses] belonging to Ladan the Gershonite: Jehieli.\r\n The sons of Jehieli: Zetham, and Joel his brother, over the treasures of the house of Jehovah.\r\n Of the Amramites, of the Izharites, of the Hebronites, of the Uzzielites:\r\n and Shebuel the son of Gershom, the son of Moses, was ruler over the treasures.\r\n And his brethren: of Eliezer [came] Rehabiah his son, and Jeshaiah his son, and Joram his son, and Zichri his son, and Shelomoth his son.\r\n This Shelomoth and his brethren were over all the treasures of the dedicated things, which David the king, and the heads of the fathers` [houses], the captains over thousands and hundreds, and the captains of the host, had dedicated.\r\n Out of the spoil won in battles did they dedicate to repair the house of Jehovah.\r\n And all that Samuel the seer, and Saul the son of Kish, and Abner the son of Ner, and Joab the son of Zeruiah, had dedicated, whosoever had dedicated anything, it was under the hand of Shelomoth, and of his brethren.\r\n Of the Izharites, Chenaniah and his sons were for the outward business over Israel, for officers and judges.\r\n Of the Hebronites, Hashabiah and his brethren, men of valor, a thousand and seven hundred, had the oversight of Israel beyond the Jordan westward, for all the business of Jehovah, and for the service of the king.\r\n Of the Hebronites was Jerijah the chief, even of the Hebronites, according to their generations by fathers` [houses]. In the fortieth year of the reign of David they were sought for, and there were found among them mighty men of valor at Jazer of Gilead.\r\n And his brethren, men of valor, were two thousand and seven hundred, heads of fathers` [houses], whom king David made overseers over the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half-tribe of the Manassites, for every matter pertaining to God, and for the affairs of the king.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now the children of Israel after their number, [to wit], the heads of fathers` [houses] and the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and their officers that served the king, in any matter of the courses which came in and went out month by month throughout all the months of the year-of every course were twenty and four thousand.\r\n Over the first course for the first month was Jashobeam the son of Zabdiel: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.\r\n [He was] of the children of Perez, the chief of all the captains of the host for the first month.\r\n And over the course of the second month was Dodai the Ahohite, and his course; and Mikloth the ruler: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.\r\n The third captain of the host for the third month was Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada the priest, chief: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.\r\n This is that Benaiah, who was the mighty man of the thirty, and over the thirty: and [of] his course was Ammizabad his son.\r\n The fourth [captain] for the fourth month was Asahel the brother of Joab, and Zebadiah his son after him: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.\r\n The fifth captain for this fifth month was Shamhuth the Izrahite: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.\r\n The sixth [captain] for the sixth month was Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.\r\n The seventh [captain] for the seventh month was Helez the Pelonite, of the children of Ephraim: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.\r\n The eighth [captain] for the eighth month was Sibbecai the Hushathite, of the Zerahites: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.\r\n The ninth [captain] for the ninth month was Abiezer the Anathothite, of the Benjamites: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.\r\n The tenth [captain] for the tenth month was Maharai the Netophathite, of the Zerahites: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.\r\n The eleventh [captain] for the eleventh month was Benaiah the Pirathonite, of the children of Ephraim: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.\r\n The twelfth [captain] for the twelfth month was Heldai the Netophathite, of Othniel: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.\r\n Furthermore over the tribes of Israel: of the Reubenites was Eliezer the son of Zichri the ruler: of the Simeonites, Shephatiah the son of Maacah:\r\n of Levi, Hashabiah the son of Kemuel: of Aaron, Zadok:\r\n of Judah, Elihu, one of the brethren of David: of Issachar, Omri the son of Michael:\r\n of Zebulun, Ishmaiah the son of Obadiah: of Naphtali, Jeremoth the son of Azriel:\r\n of the children of Ephraim, Hoshea the son of Azaziah: of the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joel the son of Pedaiah:\r\n of the half -[tribe] of Manasseh in Gilead, Iddo the son of Zechariah: of Benjamin, Jaasiel the son of Abner:\r\n of Dan, Azarel the son of Jeroham. These were the captains of the tribes of Israel.\r\n But David took not the number of them from twenty years old and under, because Jehovah had said he would increase Israel like to the stars of heaven.\r\n Joab the son of Zeruiah began to number, but finished not; and there came wrath for this upon Israel; neither was the number put into the account in the chronicles of king David.\r\n And over the king`s treasures was Azmaveth the son of Adiel: and over the treasures in the fields, in the cities, and in the villages, and in the castles, was Jonathan the son of Uzziah:\r\n And over them that did the work of the field for tillage of the ground was Ezri the son of Chelub:\r\n and over the vineyards was Shimei the Ramathite: and over the increase of the vineyards for the wine-cellars was Zabdi the Shiphmite:\r\n and over the olive-trees and the sycomore-trees that were in the lowland was Baal-hanan the Gederite: and over the cellars of oil was Joash:\r\n and over the herds that fed in Sharon was Shitrai the Sharonite: and over the herds that were in the valleys was Shaphat the son of Adlai:\r\n and over the camels was Obil the Ishmaelite: and over the asses was Jehdeiah the Meronothite: and over the flocks was Jaziz the Hagrite.\r\n All these were the rulers of the substance which was king David`s.\r\n Also Jonathan, David`s uncle, was a counsellor, a man of understanding, and a scribe: and Jehiel the son of Hachmoni was with the king`s sons:\r\n And Ahithophel was the king`s counsellor: and Hushai the Archite was the king`s friend:\r\n and after Ahithophel was Jehoiada the son of Benaiah, and Abiathar: and the captain of the king`s host was Joab.\r\n \r\n \r\n And David assembled all the princes of Israel, the princes of the tribes, and the captains of the companies that served the king by course, and the captains of thousands, and the captains of hundreds, and the rulers over all the substance and possessions of the king and of his sons, with the officers, and the mighty men, even all the mighty men of valor, unto Jerusalem.\r\n Then David the king stood up upon his feet, and said, Hear me, my brethren, and my people: as for me, it was in my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of Jehovah, and for the footstool of our God; and I had made ready for the building.\r\n But God said unto me, Thou shalt not build a house for my name, because thou art a man of war, and hast shed blood.\r\n Howbeit Jehovah, the God of Israel, chose me out of all the house of my father to be king over Israel for ever: for he hath chosen Judah to be prince; and in the house of Judah, the house of my father; and among the sons of my father he took pleasure in me to make me king over all Israel;\r\n And of all my sons (for Jehovah hath given me many sons), he hath chosen Solomon my son to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of Jehovah over Israel.\r\n And he said unto me, Solomon thy son, he shall build my house and my courts; for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father.\r\n And I will establish his kingdom for ever, if he be constant to do my commandments and mine ordinances, as at this day.\r\n Now therefore, in the sight of all Israel, the assembly of Jehovah, and in the audience of our God, observe and seek out all the commandments of Jehovah your God; that ye may possess this good land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children after you for ever.\r\n And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind; for Jehovah searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.\r\n Take heed now; for Jehovah hath chosen thee to build a house for the sanctuary: be strong, and do it.\r\n Then David gave to Solomon his son the pattern of the porch [of the temple], and of the houses thereof, and of the treasuries thereof, and of the upper rooms thereof, and of the inner chambers thereof, and of the place of the mercy-seat;\r\n and the pattern of all that he had by the Spirit, for the courts of the house of Jehovah, and for all the chambers round about, for the treasuries of the house of God, and for the treasuries of the dedicated things;\r\n also for the courses of the priests and the Levites, and for all the work of the service of the house of Jehovah, and for all the vessels of service in the house of Jehovah;\r\n of gold by weight for the [vessels of] gold, for all vessels of every kind of service; [of silver] for all the vessels of silver by weight, for all vessels of every kind of service;\r\n by weight also for the candlesticks of gold, and for the lamps thereof, of gold, by weight for every candlestick and for the lamps thereof; and for the candlesticks of silver, [silver] by weight for [every] candlestick and for the lamps thereof, according to the use of every candlestick;\r\n and the gold by weight for the tables of showbread, for every table; and silver for the tables of silver;\r\n and the flesh-hooks, and the basins, and the cups, of pure gold; and for the golden bowls by weight for every bowl; and for the silver bowls by weight for every bowl;\r\n and for the altar of incense refined gold by weight; and gold for the pattern of the chariot, [even] the cherubim, that spread out [their wings], and covered the ark of the covenant of Jehovah.\r\n All this, [said David], have I been made to understand in writing from the hand of Jehovah, even all the works of this pattern.\r\n And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed; for Jehovah God, even my God, is with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until all the work for the service of the house of Jehovah be finished.\r\n And, behold, there are the courses of the priests and the Levites, for all the service of the house of God: and there shall be with thee in all manner of work every willing man that hath skill, for any manner of service: also the captains and all the people will be wholly at thy commandment.\r\n \r\n \r\n And David the king said unto all the assembly, Solomon my son, whom alone God hath chosen, is yet young and tender, and the work is great; for the palace is not for man, but for Jehovah God.\r\n Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God the gold for the [things of] gold, and the silver for the [things of] silver, and the brass for the [things of] brass, the iron for the [things of] iron, and wood for the [things of] wood; onyx stones, and [stones] to be set, stones for inlaid work, and of divers colors, and all manner of precious stones, and marble stones in abundance.\r\n Moreover also, because I have set my affection on the house of my God, seeing that I have a treasure of mine own of gold and silver, I give it unto the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house,\r\n even three thousand talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and seven thousand talents of refined silver, wherewith to overlay the walls of the houses;\r\n of gold for the [things of] gold, and of silver for the [things of] silver, and for all manner of work [to be made] by the hands of artificers. Who then offereth willingly to consecrate himself this day unto Jehovah?\r\n Then the princes of the fathers` [houses], and the princes of the tribes of Israel, and the captains of thousands and of hundreds, with the rulers over the king`s work, offered willingly;\r\n and they gave for the service of the house of God of gold five thousand talents and ten thousand darics, and of silver ten thousand talents, and of brass eighteen thousand talents, and of iron a hundred thousand talents.\r\n And they with whom [precious] stones were found gave them to the treasure of the house of Jehovah, under the hand of Jehiel the Gershonite.\r\n Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with a perfect heart they offered willingly to Jehovah: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy.\r\n Wherefore David blessed Jehovah before all the assembly; and David said, Blessed be thou, O Jehovah, the God of Israel our father, for ever and ever.\r\n Thine, O Jehovah, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heavens and in the earth [is thine]; thine is the kingdom, O Jehovah, and thou art exalted as head above all.\r\n Both riches and honor come of thee, and thou rulest over all; and in thy hand is power and might; and in thy hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all.\r\n Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name.\r\n But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.\r\n For we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as all our fathers were: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is no abiding.\r\n O Jehovah our God, all this store that we have prepared to build thee a house for thy holy name cometh of thy hand, and is all thine own.\r\n I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy thy people, that are present here, offer willingly unto thee.\r\n O Jehovah, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Israel, our fathers, keep this for ever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of thy people, and prepare their heart unto thee;\r\n and give unto Solomon my son a perfect heart, to keep thy commandments, thy testimonies, and thy statutes, and to do all these things, and to build the palace, for which I have made provision.\r\n And David said to all the assembly, Now bless Jehovah your God. And all the assembly blessed Jehovah, the God of their fathers, and bowed down their heads, and worshipped Jehovah, and the king.\r\n And they sacrificed sacrifices unto Jehovah, and offered burnt-offerings unto Jehovah, on the morrow after that day, even a thousand bullocks, a thousand rams, and a thousand lambs, with their drink-offerings, and sacrifices in abundance for all Israel,\r\n and did eat and drink before Jehovah on that day with great gladness. And they made Solomon the son of David king the second time, and anointed him unto Jehovah to be prince, and Zadok to be priest.\r\n Then Solomon sat on the throne of Jehovah as king instead of David his father, and prospered; and all Israel obeyed him.\r\n And all the princes, and the mighty men, and all the sons likewise of king David, submitted themselves unto Solomon the king.\r\n And Jehovah magnified Solomon exceedingly in the sight of all Israel, and bestowed upon him such royal majesty as had not been on any king before him in Israel.\r\n Now David the son of Jesse reigned over all Israel.\r\n And the time that he reigned over Israel was forty years; seven years reigned he in Hebron, and thirty and three [years] reigned he in Jerusalem.\r\n And he died in a good old age, full of days, riches, and honor: and Solomon his son reigned in his stead.\r\n Now the acts of David the king, first and last, behold, they are written in the history of Samuel the seer, and in the history of Nathan the prophet, and in the history of Gad the seer,\r\n with all his reign and his might, and the times that went over him, and over Israel, and over all the kingdoms of the countries.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n And Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom, and Jehovah his God was with him, and magnified him exceedingly.\r\n And Solomon spake unto all Israel, to the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and to the judges, and to every prince in all Israel, the heads of the fathers` [houses].\r\n So Solomon, and all the assembly with him, went to the high place that was at Gibeon; for there was the tent of meeting of God, which Moses the servant of Jehovah had made in the wilderness.\r\n But the ark of God had David brought up from Kiriath-jearim to [the place] that David had prepared for it; for he had pitched a tent for it at Jerusalem.\r\n Moreover the brazen altar, that Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made, was there before the tabernacle of Jehovah: and Solomon and the assembly sought unto it.\r\n And Solomon went up thither to the brazen altar before Jehovah, which was at the tent of meeting, and offered a thousand burnt-offerings upon it.\r\n In that night did God appear unto Solomon, and said unto him, Ask what I shall give thee.\r\n And Solomon said unto God, Thou hast showed great lovingkindness unto David my father, and hast made me king in his stead.\r\n Now, O Jehovah God, let thy promise unto David my father be established; for thou hast made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude.\r\n Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people; for who can judge this thy people, that is so great?\r\n And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thy heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honor, nor the life of them that hate thee, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge my people, over whom I have made thee king:\r\n wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honor, such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee; neither shall there any after thee have the like.\r\n So Solomon came from the high place that was at Gibeon, from before the tent of meeting, unto Jerusalem; and he reigned over Israel.\r\n And Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen: and he had a thousand and four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, that he placed in the chariot cities, and with the king at Jerusalem.\r\n And the king made silver and gold to be in Jerusalem as stones, and cedars made he to be as the sycomore-trees that are in the lowland, for abundance.\r\n And the horses which Solomon had were brought out of Egypt; the king`s merchants received them in droves, each drove at a price.\r\n And they fetched up and brought out of Egypt a chariot for six hundred [shekels] of silver, and a horse for a hundred and fifty: and so for all the kings of the Hittites, and the kings of Syria, did they bring them out by their means.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now Solomon purposed to build a house for the name of Jehovah, and a house for his kingdom.\r\n And Solomon counted out threescore and ten thousand men to bear burdens, and fourscore thousand men that were hewers in the mountains, and three thousand and six hundred to oversee them.\r\n And Solomon sent to Huram the king of Tyre, saying, As thou didst deal with David my father, and didst send him cedars to build him a house to dwell therein, [even so deal with me].\r\n Behold, I am about to build a house for the name of Jehovah my God, to dedicate it to him, and to burn before him incense of sweet spices, and for the continual showbread, and for the burnt-offerings morning and evening, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the set feasts of Jehovah our God. This is [an ordinance] for ever to Israel.\r\n And the house which I build is great; for great is our God above all gods.\r\n But who is able to build him a house, seeing heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain him? who am I then, that I should build him a house, save only to burn incense before him?\r\n Now therefore send me a man skilful to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in iron, and in purple, and crimson, and blue, and that knoweth how to grave [all manner of] gravings, [to be] with the skilful men that are with me in Judah and in Jerusalem, whom David my father did provide.\r\n Send me also cedar-trees, fir-trees, and algum-trees, out of Lebanon; for I know that thy servants know how to cut timber in Lebanon: and, behold, my servants shall be with thy servants,\r\n even to prepare me timber in abundance; for the house which I am about to build shall be great and wonderful.\r\n And, behold, I will give to thy servants, the hewers that cut timber, twenty thousand measures of beaten wheat, and twenty thousand measures of barley, and twenty thousand baths of wine, and twenty thousand baths of oil.\r\n Then Huram the king of Tyre answered in writing, which he sent to Solomon, Because Jehovah loveth his people, he hath made thee king over them.\r\n Huram said moreover, Blessed be Jehovah, the God of Israel, that made heaven and earth, who hath given to David the king a wise son, endued with discretion and understanding, that should build a house for Jehovah, and a house for his kingdom.\r\n And now I have sent a skilful man, endued with understanding, of Huram my father`s,\r\n the son of a woman of the daughters of Dan; and his father was a man of Tyre, skilful to work in gold, and in silver, in brass, in iron, in stone, and in timber, in purple, in blue, and in fine linen, and in crimson, also to grave any manner of graving, and to devise any device; that there may be [a place] appointed unto him with thy skilful men, and with the skilful men of my lord David thy father.\r\n Now therefore the wheat and the barley, the oil and the wine, which my lord hath spoken of, let him send unto his servants:\r\n and we will cut wood out of Lebanon, as much as thou shalt need; and we will bring it to thee in floats by sea to Joppa; and thou shalt carry it up to Jerusalem.\r\n And Solomon numbered all the sojourners that were in the land of Israel, after the numbering wherewith David his father had numbered them; and they were found a hundred and fifty thousand and three thousand and six hundred.\r\n And he set threescore and ten thousand of them to bear burdens, and fourscore thousand that were hewers in the mountains, and three thousand and six hundred overseers to set the people at work.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then Solomon began to build the house of Jehovah at Jerusalem on mount Moriah, where [Jehovah] appeared unto David his father, which he made ready in the place that David had appointed, in the threshing-floor of Ornan the Jebusite.\r\n And he began to build in the second [day] of the second month, in the fourth year of his reign.\r\n Now these are the foundations which Solomon laid for the building of the house of God. The length by cubits after the first measure was threescore cubits, and the breadth twenty cubits.\r\n And the porch that was before [the house], the length of it, according to the breadth of the house, was twenty cubits, and the height a hundred and twenty; and he overlaid it within with pure gold.\r\n And the greater house he ceiled with fir-wood, which he overlaid with fine gold, and wrought thereon palm-trees and chains.\r\n And he garnished the house with precious stones for beauty: and the gold was gold of Parvaim.\r\n He overlaid also the house, the beams, the thresholds, and the walls thereof, and the doors thereof, with gold; and graved cherubim on the walls.\r\n And he made the most holy house: the length thereof, according to the breadth of the house, was twenty cubits, and the breadth thereof twenty cubits; and he overlaid it with fine gold, amounting to six hundred talents.\r\n And the weight of the nails was fifty shekels of gold. And he overlaid the upper chambers with gold.\r\n And in the most holy house he made two cherubim of image work; and they overlaid them with gold.\r\n And the wings of the cherubim were twenty cubits long: the wing of the one [cherub] was five cubits, reaching to the wall of the house; and the other wing was [likewise] five cubits, reaching to the wing of the other cherub.\r\n And the wing of the other cherub was five cubits, reaching to the wall of the house; and the other wing was five cubits [also], joining to the wing of the other cherub.\r\n The wings of these cherubim spread themselves forth twenty cubits: and they stood on their feet, and their faces were toward the house.\r\n And he made the veil of blue, and purple, and crimson, and fine linen, and wrought cherubim thereon.\r\n Also he made before the house two pillars of thirty and five cubits high, and the capital that was on the top of each of them was five cubits.\r\n And he made chains in the oracle, and put [them] on the tops of the pillars; and he made a hundred pomegranates, and put them on the chains.\r\n And he set up the pillars before the temple, one on the right hand, and the other on the left; and called the name of that on the right hand Jachin, and the name of that on the left Boaz.\r\n \r\n \r\n Moreover he made an altar of brass, twenty cubits the length thereof, and twenty cubits the breadth thereof, and ten cubits the height thereof.\r\n Also he made the molten sea of ten cubits from brim to brim, round in compass; and the height thereof was five cubits; and a line of thirty cubits compassed it round about.\r\n And under it was the likeness of oxen, which did compass it round about, for ten cubits, compassing the sea round about. The oxen were in two rows, cast when it was cast.\r\n It stood upon twelve oxen, three looking toward the north, and three looking toward the west, and three looking toward the south, and three looking toward the east: and the sea was set upon them above, and all their hinder parts were inward.\r\n And it was a handbreadth thick; and the brim thereof was wrought like the brim of a cup, like the flower of a lily: it received and held three thousand baths.\r\n He made also ten lavers, and put five on the right hand, and five on the left, to wash in them; such things as belonged to the burnt-offering they washed in them; but the sea was for the priests to wash in.\r\n And he made the ten candlesticks of gold according to the ordinance concerning them; and he set them in the temple, five on the right hand, and five on the left.\r\n He made also ten tables, and placed them in the temple, five on the right side, and five on the left. And he made a hundred basins of gold.\r\n Furthermore he made the court of the priests, and the great court, and doors for the court, and overlaid the doors of them with brass.\r\n And he set the sea on the right side [of the house] eastward, toward the south.\r\n And Huram made the pots, and the shovels, and the basins. So Huram made an end of doing the work that he wrought for king Solomon in the house of God:\r\n the two pillars, and the bowls, and the two capitals which were on the top of the pillars, and the two networks to cover the two bowls of the capitals that were on the top of the pillars,\r\n and the four hundred pomegranates for the two networks; two rows of pomegranates for each network, to cover the two bowls of the capitals that were upon the pillars.\r\n He made also the bases, and the lavers made he upon the bases;\r\n one sea, and the twelve oxen under it.\r\n The pots also, and the shovels, and the flesh-hooks, and all the vessels thereof, did Huram his father make for king Solomon for the house of Jehovah of bright brass.\r\n In the plain of the Jordan did the king cast them, in the clay ground between Succoth and Zeredah.\r\n Thus Solomon made all these vessels in great abundance: for the weight of the brass could not be found out.\r\n And Solomon made all the vessels that were in the house of God, the golden altar also, and the tables whereon was the showbread;\r\n and the candlesticks with their lamps, to burn according to the ordinance before the oracle, of pure gold;\r\n and the flowers, and the lamps, and the tongs, of gold, and that perfect gold;\r\n and the snuffers, and the basins, and the spoons, and the firepans, of pure gold: and as for the entry of the house, the inner doors thereof for the most holy place, and the doors of the house, [to wit], of the temple, were of gold.\r\n \r\n \r\n Thus all the work that Solomon wrought for the house of Jehovah was finished. And Solomon brought in the things that David his father had dedicated, even the silver, and the gold, and all the vessels, and put them in the treasuries of the house of God.\r\n Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the princes of the fathers` [houses] of the children of Israel, unto Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of Jehovah out of the city of David, which is Zion.\r\n nd all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto the king at the feast, which was [in] the seventh month.\r\n And all the elders of Israel came: and the Levites took up the ark;\r\n and they brought up the ark, and the tent of meeting, and all the holy vessels that were in the Tent; these did the priests the Levites bring up.\r\n And king Solomon and all the congregation of Israel, that were assembled unto him, were before the ark, sacrificing sheep and oxen, that could not be counted nor numbered for multitude.\r\n And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of Jehovah unto its place, into the oracle of the house, to the most holy place, even under the wings of the cherubim.\r\n For the cherubim spread forth their wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubim covered the ark and the staves thereof above.\r\n And the staves were so long that the ends of the staves were seen from the ark before the oracle; but they were not seen without: and there it is unto this day.\r\n There was nothing in the ark save the two tables which Moses put [there] at Horeb, when Jehovah made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of Egypt.\r\n And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, (for all the priests that were present had sanctified themselves, and did not keep their courses;\r\n also the Levites who were the singers, all of them, even Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun, and their sons and their brethren, arrayed in fine linen, with cymbals and psalteries and harps, stood at the east end of the altar, and with them a hundred and twenty priests sounding with trumpets;)\r\n it came to pass, when the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking Jehovah; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised Jehovah, [saying], For he is good; for his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever; that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of Jehovah,\r\n so that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of Jehovah filled the house of God.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then spake Solomon, Jehovah hath said that he would dwell in the thick darkness.\r\n But I have built thee a house of habitation, and a place for thee to dwell in for ever.\r\n And the king turned his face, and blessed all the assembly of Israel: and all the assembly of Israel stood.\r\n And he said, Blessed be Jehovah, the God of Israel, who spake with his mouth unto David my father, and hath with his hands fulfilled it, saying,\r\n Since the day that I brought forth my people out of the land of Egypt, I chose no city out of all the tribes of Israel to build a house in, that my name might be there; neither chose I any man to be prince over my people Israel:\r\n but I have chosen Jerusalem, that my name might be there; and have chosen David to be over my people Israel.\r\n Now it was in the heart of David my father to build a house for the name of Jehovah, the God of Israel.\r\n But Jehovah said unto David my father, Whereas it was in thy heart to build a house for my name, thou didst well that it was in thy heart:\r\n nevertheless thou shalt not build the house; but thy son that shall come forth out of thy loins, he shall build the house for my name.\r\n And Jehovah hath performed his word that he spake; for I am risen up in the room of David my father, and sit on the throne of Israel, as Jehovah promised, and have built the house for the name of Jehovah, the God of Israel.\r\n And there have I set the ark, wherein is the covenant of Jehovah, which he made with the children of Israel.\r\n And he stood before the altar of Jehovah in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread forth his hands\r\n (for Solomon had made a brazen scaffold, five cubits long, and five cubits broad, and three cubits high, and had set it in the midst of the court; and upon it he stood, and kneeled down upon his knees before all the assembly of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven;)\r\n and he said, O Jehovah, the God of Israel, there is no God like thee, in heaven, or on earth; who keepest covenant and lovingkindness with thy servants, that walk before thee with all their heart;\r\n who hast kept with thy servant David my father that which thou didst promise him: yea, thou spakest with thy mouth, and hast fulfilled it with thy hand, as it is this day.\r\n Now therefore, O Jehovah, the God of Israel, keep with thy servant David my father that which thou hast promised him, saying, There shall not fail thee a man in my sight to sit on the throne of Israel, if only thy children take heed to their way, to walk in my law as thou hast walked before me.\r\n Now therefore, O Jehovah, the God of Israel, let thy word be verified, which thou spakest unto thy servant David.\r\n But will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth? behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house which I have builded!\r\n Yet have thou respect unto the prayer of thy servant, and to his supplication, O Jehovah my God, to hearken unto the cry and to the prayer which thy servant prayeth before thee;\r\n that thine eyes may be open toward this house day and night, even toward the place whereof thou hast said that thou wouldest put thy name there; to hearken unto the prayer which thy servant shall pray toward this place.\r\n And hearken thou to the supplications of thy servant, and of thy people Israel, when they shall pray toward this place: yea, hear thou from thy dwelling-place, even from heaven; and when thou hearest forgive.\r\n If a man sin against his neighbor, and an oath be laid upon him to cause him to swear, and he come [and] swear before thine altar in this house;\r\n then hear thou from heaven, and do, and judge thy servants, requiting the wicked, to bring his way upon his own head; and justifying the righteous, to give him according to his righteousness.\r\n And if thy people Israel be smitten down before the enemy, because they have sinned against thee, and shall turn again and confess thy name, and pray and make supplication before thee in this house;\r\n then hear thou from heaven, and forgive the sin of thy people Israel, and bring them again unto the land which thou gavest to them and to their fathers.\r\n When the heavens are shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee; if they pray toward this place, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, when thou dost afflict them:\r\n then hear thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of thy servants, and of thy people Israel, when thou teachest them the good way wherein they should walk; and send rain upon thy land, which thou hast given to thy people for an inheritance.\r\n If there be in the land famine, if there be pestilence, if there be blasting or mildew, locust or caterpillar; if their enemies besiege them in the land of their cities; whatsoever plague or whatsoever sickness there be;\r\n what prayer and supplication soever be made by any man, or by all thy people Israel, who shall know every man his own plague and his own sorrow, and shall spread forth his hands toward this house:\r\n then hear thou from heaven thy dwelling-place and forgive, and render unto every man according to all his ways, whose heart thou knowest; (for thou, even thou only, knowest the hearts of the children of men;)\r\n that they may fear thee, to walk in thy ways, so long as they live in the land which thou gavest unto our fathers.\r\n Moreover concerning the foreigner, that is not of thy people Israel, when he shall come from a far country for thy great name`s sake, and thy mighty hand, and thine outstretched arm; when they shall come and pray toward this house:\r\n then hear thou from heaven, even from thy dwelling-place, and do according to all that the foreigner calleth to thee for; that all the peoples of the earth may know thy name, and fear thee, as doth thy people Israel, and that they may know that this house which I have built is called by thy name.\r\n If thy people go out to battle against their enemies, by whatsoever way thou shalt send them, and they pray unto thee toward this city which thou hast chosen, and the house which I have built for thy name;\r\n then hear thou from heaven their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause.\r\n If they sin against thee (for there is no man that sinneth not), and thou be angry with them, and deliver them to the enemy, so that they carry them away captive unto a land far off or near;\r\n yet if they shall bethink themselves in the land whither they are carried captive, and turn again, and make supplication unto thee in the land of their captivity, saying, We have sinned, we have done perversely, and have dealt wickedly;\r\n if they return unto thee with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, whither they have carried them captive, and pray toward their land, which thou gavest unto their fathers, and the city which thou hast chosen, and toward the house which I have built for thy name:\r\n then hear thou from heaven, even from thy dwelling-place, their prayer and their supplications, and maintain their cause, and forgive thy people who have sinned against thee.\r\n Now, O my God, let, I beseech thee, thine eyes be open, and let thine ears be attent, unto the prayer that is made in this place.\r\n Now therefore arise, O Jehovah God, into thy resting-place, thou, and the ark of thy strength: let thy priests, O Jehovah God, be clothed with salvation, and let thy saints rejoice in goodness.\r\n O Jehovah God, turn not away the face of thine anointed: remember [thy] lovingkindnesses to David thy servant.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt-offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of Jehovah filled the house.\r\n And the priests could not enter into the house of Jehovah, because the glory of Jehovah filled Jehovah`s house.\r\n And all the children of Israel looked on, when the fire came down, and the glory of Jehovah was upon the house; and they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped, and gave thanks unto Jehovah, [saying], For he is good; for his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever.\r\n Then the king and all the people offered sacrifice before Jehovah.\r\n And king Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty and two thousand oxen, and a hundred and twenty thousand sheep. So the king and all the people dedicated the house of God.\r\n And the priests stood, according to their offices; the Levites also with instruments of music of Jehovah, which David the king had made to give thanks unto Jehovah, (for his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever,) when David praised by their ministry: and the priests sounded trumpets before them; and all Israel stood.\r\n Moreover Solomon hallowed the middle of the court that was before the house of Jehovah; for there he offered the burnt-offerings, and the fat of the peace-offerings, because the brazen altar which Solomon had made was not able to receive the burnt-offering, and the meal-offering, and the fat.\r\n So Solomon held the feast at that time seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great assembly, from the entrance of Hamath unto the brook of Egypt.\r\n And on the eighth day they held a solemn assembly: for they kept the dedication of the altar seven days, and the feast seven days.\r\n And on the three and twentieth day of the seventh month he sent the people away unto their tents, joyful and glad of heart for the goodness that Jehovah had showed unto David, and to Solomon, and to Israel his people.\r\n Thus Solomon finished the house of Jehovah, and the king`s house: and all that came into Solomon`s heart to make in the house of Jehovah, and in his own house, he prosperously effected.\r\n And Jehovah appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for a house of sacrifice.\r\n If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people;\r\n if my people, who are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.\r\n Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent, unto the prayer that is made in this place.\r\n For now have I chosen and hallowed this house, that my name may be there for ever; and mine eyes and my heart shall be there perpetually.\r\n And as for thee, if thou wilt walk before me as David thy father walked, and do according to all that I have commanded thee, and wilt keep my statutes and mine ordinances;\r\n then I will establish the throne of thy kingdom, according as I covenanted with David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man to be ruler in Israel.\r\n But if ye turn away, and forsake my statutes and my commandments which I have set before you, and shall go and serve other gods, and worship them;\r\n then will I pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I have given them; and this house, which I have hallowed for my name, will I cast out of my sight, and I will make it a proverb and a byword among all peoples.\r\n And this house, which is so high, every one that passeth by it shall be astonished, and shall say, Why hath Jehovah done thus unto this land, and to this house?\r\n And they shall answer, Because they forsook Jehovah, the God of their fathers, who brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, and laid hold on other gods, and worshipped them, and served them: therefore hath he brought all this evil upon them.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass at the end of twenty years, wherein Solomon had built the house of Jehovah, and his own house,\r\n that the cities which Huram had given to Solomon, Solomon built them, and caused the children of Israel to dwell there.\r\n And Solomon went to Hamath-zobah, and prevailed against it.\r\n And he built Tadmor in the wilderness, and all the store-cities, which he built in Hamath.\r\n Also he built Beth-horon the upper, and Beth-horon the nether, fortified cities, with walls, gates, and bars;\r\n and Baalath, and all the store-cities that Solomon had, and all the cities for his chariots, and the cities for his horsemen, and all that Solomon desired to build for his pleasure in Jerusalem, and in Lebanon, and in all the land of his dominion.\r\n As for all the people that were left of the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, that were not of Israel;\r\n of their children that were left after them in the land, whom the children of Israel consumed not, of them did Solomon raise a levy [of bondservants] unto this day.\r\n But of the children of Israel did Solomon make no servants for his work; but they were men of war, and chief of his captains, and rulers of his chariots and of his horsemen.\r\n And these were the chief officers of king Solomon, even two hundred and fifty, that bare rule over the people.\r\n And Solomon brought up the daughter of Pharaoh out of the city of David unto the house that he had built for her; for he said, My wife shall not dwell in the house of David king of Israel, because the places are holy, whereunto the ark of Jehovah hath come.\r\n Then Solomon offered burnt-offerings unto Jehovah on the altar of Jehovah, which he had built before the porch,\r\n even as the duty of every day required, offering according to the commandment of Moses, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the set feasts, three times in the year, [even] in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles.\r\n And he appointed, according to the ordinance of David his father, the courses of the priests to their service, and the Levites to their offices, to praise, and to minister before the priests, as the duty of every day required; the doorkeepers also by their courses at every gate: for so had David the man of God commanded.\r\n And they departed not from the commandment of the king unto the priests and Levites concerning any matter, or concerning the treasures.\r\n Now all the work of Solomon was prepared unto the day of the foundation of the house of Jehovah, and until it was finished. [So] the house of Jehovah was completed.\r\n Then went Solomon to Ezion-geber, and to Eloth, on the seashore in the land of Edom.\r\n And Huram sent him by the hands of his servants ships, and servants that had knowledge of the sea; and they came with the servants of Solomon to Ophir, and fetched from thence four hundred and fifty talents of gold, and brought them to king Solomon.\r\n \r\n \r\n And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to prove Solomon with hard questions at Jerusalem, with a very great train, and camels that bare spices, and gold in abundance, and precious stones: and when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart.\r\n And Solomon told her all her questions; and there was not anything hid from Solomon which he told her not.\r\n And when the queen of Sheba had seen the wisdom of Solomon, and the house that he had built,\r\n and the food of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel, his cupbearers also, and their apparel, and his ascent by which he went up unto the house of Jehovah; there was no more spirit in her.\r\n And she said to the king, It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of thine acts, and of thy wisdom.\r\n Howbeit I believed not their words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it; and, behold, the half of the greatness of thy wisdom was not told me: thou exceedest the fame that I heard.\r\n Happy are thy men, and happy are these thy servants, that stand continually before thee, and hear thy wisdom.\r\n Blessed be Jehovah thy God, who delighted in thee, to set thee on his throne, to be king for Jehovah thy God: because thy God loved Israel, to establish them for ever, therefore made he thee king over them, to do justice and righteousness.\r\n And she gave the king a hundred and twenty talents of gold, and spices in great abundance, and precious stones: neither was there any such spice as the queen of Sheba gave to king Solomon.\r\n And the servants also of Huram, and the servants of Solomon, that brought gold from Ophir, brought algum-trees and precious stones.\r\n And the king made of the algum-trees terraces for the house of Jehovah, and for the king`s house, and harps and psalteries for the singers: and there were none such seen before in the land of Judah.\r\n And king Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatsoever she asked, besides that which she had brought unto the king. So she turned, and went to her own land, she and her servants.\r\n Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred and threescore and six talents of gold,\r\n besides that which the traders and merchants brought: and all the kings of Arabia and the governors of the country brought gold and silver to Solomon.\r\n And king Solomon made two hundred bucklers of beaten gold; six hundred [shekels] of beaten gold went to one buckler.\r\n And [he made] three hundred shields of beaten gold; three hundred [shekels] of gold went to one shield: and the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon.\r\n Moreover the king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with pure gold.\r\n nd there were six steps to the throne, with a footstool of gold, which were fastened to the throne, and stays on either side by the place of the seat, and two lions standing beside the stays.\r\n And twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other upon the six steps: there was not the like made in any kingdom.\r\n And all king Solomon`s drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold: silver was nothing accounted of in the days of Solomon.\r\n For the king had ships that went to Tarshish with the servants of Huram; once every three years came the ships of Tarshish, bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks.\r\n So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom.\r\n And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart.\r\n And they brought every man his tribute, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and raiment, armor, and spices, horses, and mules, a rate year by year.\r\n And Solomon had four thousand stalls for horses and chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, that he bestowed in the chariot cities, and with the king at Jerusalem.\r\n And he ruled over all the kings from the River even unto the land of the Philistines, and to the border of Egypt.\r\n And the king made silver to be in Jerusalem as stones, and cedars made he to be as the sycomore-trees that are in the lowland, for abundance.\r\n And they brought horses for Solomon out of Egypt, and out of all lands.\r\n Now the rest of the acts of Solomon, first and last, are they not written in the history of Nathan the prophet, and in the prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and in the visions of Iddo the seer concerning Jeroboam the son of Nebat?\r\n And Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years.\r\n And Solomon slept with his fathers, and he was buried in the city of David his father: and Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Rehoboam went to Shechem; for all Israel were come to Shechem to make him king.\r\n And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard of it, (for he was in Egypt, whither he had fled from the presence of king Solomon,) that Jeroboam returned out of Egypt.\r\n And they sent and called him; and Jeroboam and all Israel came, and they spake to Rehoboam, saying,\r\n Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore make thou the grievous service of thy father, and his heavy yoke which he put upon us, lighter, and we will serve thee.\r\n And he said unto them, Come again unto me after three days. And the people departed.\r\n And king Rehoboam took counsel with the old men, that had stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, saying, What counsel give ye me to return answer to this people?\r\n And they spake unto him, saying, If thou be kind to this people, and please them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants for ever.\r\n But he forsook the counsel of the old men which they had given him, and took counsel with the young men that were grown up with him, that stood before him.\r\n And he said unto them, What counsel give ye, that we may return answer to this people, who have spoken to me, saying, Make the yoke that thy father did put upon us lighter?\r\n And the young men that were grown up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou say unto the people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it lighter unto us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger is thicker than my father`s loins.\r\n And now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but I [will chastise you] with scorpions.\r\n So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king bade, saying, Come to me again the third day.\r\n And the king answered them roughly; and king Rehoboam forsook the counsel of the old men,\r\n and spake to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add thereto: my father chastised you with whips, but I [will chastise you] with scorpions.\r\n So the king hearkened not unto the people; for it was brought about of God, that Jehovah might establish his word, which he spake by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.\r\n And when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to your tents, O Israel: now see to thine own house, David. So all Israel departed unto their tents.\r\n But as for the children of Israel that dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them.\r\n Then king Rehoboam sent Hadoram, who was over the men subject to taskwork; and the children of Israel stoned him to death with stones. And king Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem.\r\n So Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day.\r\n \r\n \r\n And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he assembled the house of Judah and Benjamin, a hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men, that were warriors, to fight against Israel, to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam.\r\n But the word of Jehovah came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying,\r\n Speak unto Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying,\r\n Thus saith Jehovah, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren: return every man to his house; for this thing is of me. So they hearkened unto the words of Jehovah, and returned from going against Jeroboam.\r\n And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defence in Judah.\r\n He built Beth-lehem, and Etam, and Tekoa,\r\n And Beth-zur, and Soco, and Adullam,\r\n and Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph,\r\n and Adoraim, and Lachish, and Azekah,\r\n and Zorah, and Aijalon, and Hebron, which are in Judah and in Benjamin, fortified cities.\r\n And he fortified the strongholds, and put captains in them, and stores of victuals, and oil and wine.\r\n And in every city [he put] shields and spears, and made them exceeding strong. And Judah and Benjamin belonged to him.\r\n And the priests and the Levites that were in all Israel resorted to him out of all their border.\r\n For the Levites left their suburbs and their possession, and came to Judah and Jerusalem: for Jeroboam and his sons cast them off, that they should not execute the priest`s office unto Jehovah;\r\n and he appointed him priests for the high places, and for the he-goats, and for the calves which he had made.\r\n And after them, out of all the tribes of Israel, such as set their hearts to seek Jehovah, the God of Israel, came to Jerusalem to sacrifice unto Jehovah, the God of their fathers.\r\n So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon strong, three years; for they walked three years in the way of David and Solomon.\r\n And Rehoboam took him a wife, Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David, [and of] Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse;\r\n and she bare him sons: Jeush, and Shemariah, and Zaham.\r\n And after her he took Maacah the daughter of Absalom; and she bare him Abijah, and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith.\r\n And Rehoboam loved Maacah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and his concubines: (for he took eighteen wives, and threescore concubines, and begat twenty and eight sons and threescore daughters.)\r\n And Rehoboam appointed Abijah the son of Maacah to be chief, [even] the prince among his brethren; for [he was minded] to make him king.\r\n And he dealt wisely, and dispersed of all his sons throughout all the lands of Judah and Benjamin, unto every fortified city: and he gave them victuals in abundance. And he sought [for them] many wives.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass, when the kingdom of Rehoboam was established, and he was strong, that he forsook the law of Jehovah, and all Israel with him.\r\n And it came to pass in the fifth year of king Rehoboam, that Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, because they had trespassed against Jehovah,\r\n with twelve hundred chariots, and threescore thousand horsemen. And the people were without number that came with him out of Egypt: the Lubim, the Sukkiim, and the Ethiopians.\r\n And he took the fortified cities which pertained to Judah, and came unto Jerusalem.\r\n Now Shemaiah the prophet came to Rehoboam, and to the princes of Judah, that were gathered together to Jerusalem because of Shishak, and said unto them, Thus saith Jehovah, Ye have forsaken me, therefore have I also left you in the hand of Shishak.\r\n Then the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves; and they said, Jehovah is righteous.\r\n And when Jehovah saw that they humbled themselves, the word of Jehovah came to Shemaiah, saying, They have humbled themselves: I will not destroy them; but I will grant them some deliverance, and my wrath shall not be poured out upon Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak.\r\n Nevertheless they shall be his servants, that they may know my service, and the service of the kingdoms of the countries.\r\n So Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, and took away the treasures of the house of Jehovah, and the treasures of the king`s house: he took all away: he took away also the shields of gold which Solomon had made.\r\n And king Rehoboam made in their stead shields of brass, and committed them to the hands of the captains of the guard, that kept the door of the king`s house.\r\n And it was so, that, as oft as the king entered into the house of Jehovah, the guard came and bare them, and brought them back into the guard-chamber.\r\n And when he humbled himself, the wrath of Jehovah turned from him, so as not to destroy him altogether: and moreover in Judah there were good things [found].\r\n So king Rehoboam strengthened himself in Jerusalem, and reigned: for Rehoboam was forty and one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which Jehovah had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, to put his name there: and his mother`s name was Naamah the Ammonitess.\r\n And he did that which was evil, because he set not his heart to seek Jehovah.\r\n Now the acts of Rehoboam, first and last, are they not written in the histories of Shemaiah the prophet and of Iddo the seer, after the manner of genealogies? And there were wars between Rehoboam and Jeroboam continually.\r\n And Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David: and Abijah his son reigned in his stead.\r\n \r\n \r\n In the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam began Abijah to reign over Judah.\r\n Three years reigned he in Jerusalem: and his mother`s name was Micaiah the daughter of Uriel of Gibeah. And there was war between Abijah and Jeroboam.\r\n And Abijah joined battle with an army of valiant men of war, even four hundred thousand chosen men: and Jeroboam set the battle in array against him with eight hundred thousand chosen men, who were mighty men of valor.\r\n And Abijah stood up upon mount Zemaraim, which is in the hill-country of Ephraim, and said, Hear me, O Jeroboam and all Israel:\r\n Ought ye not to know that Jehovah, the God of Israel, gave the kingdom over Israel to David for ever, even to him and to his sons by a covenant of salt?\r\n Yet Jeroboam the son of Nebat, the servant of Solomon the son of David, rose up, and rebelled against his lord.\r\n And there were gathered unto him worthless men, base fellows, that strengthened themselves against Rehoboam the son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was young and tender-hearted, and could not withstand them.\r\n And now ye think to withstand the kingdom of Jehovah in the hand of the sons of David; and ye are a great multitude, and there are with you the golden calves which Jeroboam made you for gods.\r\n Have ye not driven out the priests of Jehovah, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and made you priests after the manner of the peoples of [other] lands? so that whosoever cometh to consecrate himself with a young bullock and seven rams, the same may be a priest of [them that are] no gods.\r\n But as for us, Jehovah is our God, and we have not forsaken him; and [we have] priests ministering unto Jehovah, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites in their work:\r\n and they burn unto Jehovah every morning and every evening burnt-offerings and sweet incense: the showbread also [set they] in order upon the pure table; and the candlestick of gold with the lamps thereof, to burn every evening: for we keep the charge of Jehovah our God; but ye have forsaken him.\r\n And, behold, God is with us at our head, and his priests with the trumpets of alarm to sound an alarm against you. O children of Israel, fight ye not against Jehovah, the God of your fathers; for ye shall not prosper.\r\n But Jeroboam caused an ambushment to come about behind them: so they were before Judah, and the ambushment was behind them.\r\n And when Judah looked back, behold, the battle was before and behind them; and they cried unto Jehovah, and the priests sounded with the trumpets.\r\n Then the men of Judah gave a shout: and as the men of Judah shouted, it came to pass, that God smote Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah.\r\n And the children of Israel fled before Judah; and God delivered them into their hand.\r\n And Abijah and his people slew them with a great slaughter: so there fell down slain of Israel five hundred thousand chosen men.\r\n Thus the children of Israel were brought under at that time, and the children of Judah prevailed, because they relied upon Jehovah, the God of their fathers.\r\n And Abijah pursued after Jeroboam, and took cities from him, Beth-el with the towns thereof, and Jeshanah with the towns thereof, and Ephron with the towns thereof.\r\n Neither did Jeroboam recover strength again in the days of Abijah: and Jehovah smote him, and he died.\r\n But Abijah waxed mighty, and took unto himself fourteen wives, and begat twenty and two sons, and sixteen daughters.\r\n And the rest of the acts of Abijah, and his ways, and his sayings, are written in the commentary of the prophet Iddo.\r\n \r\n \r\n So Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David; and Asa his son reigned in his stead. In his days the land was quiet ten years.\r\n And Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of Jehovah his God:\r\n for he took away the foreign altars, and the high places, and brake down the pillars, and hewed down the Asherim,\r\n and commanded Judah to seek Jehovah, the God of their fathers, and to do the law and the commandment.\r\n Also he took away out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the sun-images: and the kingdom was quiet before him.\r\n And he built fortified cities in Judah; for the land was quiet, and he had no war in those years, because Jehovah had given him rest.\r\n For he said unto Judah, Let us build these cities, and make about them walls, and towers, gates, and bars; the land is yet before us, because we have sought Jehovah our God; we have sought him, and he hath given us rest on every side. So they built and prospered.\r\n And Asa had an army that bare bucklers and spears, out of Judah three hundred thousand; and out of Benjamin, that bare shields and drew bows, two hundred and fourscore thousand: all these were mighty men of valor.\r\n And there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with an army of a thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots; and he came unto Mareshah.\r\n Then Asa went out to meet him, and they set the battle in array in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.\r\n And Asa cried unto Jehovah his God, and said, Jehovah, there is none besides thee to help, between the mighty and him that hath no strength: help us, O Jehovah our God; for we rely on thee, and in thy name are we come against this multitude. O Jehovah, thou art our God; let not man prevail against thee.\r\n So Jehovah smote the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah; and the Ethiopians fled.\r\n And Asa and the people that were with him pursued them unto Gerar: and there fell of the Ethiopians so many that they could not recover themselves; for they were destroyed before Jehovah, and before his host; and they carried away very much booty.\r\n And they smote all the cities round about Gerar; for the fear of Jehovah came upon them: and they despoiled all the cities; for there was much spoil in them.\r\n They smote also the tents of cattle, and carried away sheep in abundance, and camels, and returned to Jerusalem.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the Spirit of God came upon Azariah the son of Oded:\r\n and he went out to meet Asa, and said unto him, Hear ye me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin: Jehovah is with you, while ye are with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you.\r\n Now for a long season Israel was without the true God, and without a teaching priest, and without law:\r\n But when in their distress they turned unto Jehovah, the God of Israel, and sought him, he was found of them.\r\n And in those times there was no peace to him that went out, nor to him that came in; but great vexations were upon all the inhabitants of the lands.\r\n And they were broken in pieces, nation against nation, and city against city; for God did vex them with all adversity.\r\n But be ye strong, and let not your hands be slack; for your work shall be rewarded.\r\n And when Asa heard these words, and the prophecy of Oded the prophet, he took courage, and put away the abominations out of all the land of Judah and Benjamin, and out of the cities which he had taken from the hill-country of Ephraim; and he renewed the altar of Jehovah, that was before the porch of Jehovah.\r\n And he gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and them that sojourned with them out of Ephraim and Manasseh, and out of Simeon: for they fell to him out of Israel in abundance, when they saw that Jehovah his God was with him.\r\n So they gathered themselves together at Jerusalem in the third month, in the fifteenth year of the reign of Asa.\r\n And they sacrificed unto Jehovah in that day, of the spoil which they had brought, seven hundred oxen and seven thousand sheep.\r\n And they entered into the covenant to seek Jehovah, the God of their fathers, with all their heart and with all their soul;\r\n and that whosoever would not seek Jehovah, the God of Israel, should be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman.\r\n And they sware unto Jehovah with a loud voice, and with shouting, and with trumpets, and with cornets.\r\n And all Judah rejoiced at the oath; for they had sworn with all their heart, and sought him with their whole desire; and he was found of them: and Jehovah gave them rest round about.\r\n And also Maacah, the mother of Asa the king, he removed from being queen, because she had made an abominable image for an Asherah; and Asa cut down her image, and made dust of it, and burnt it at the brook Kidron.\r\n But the high places were not taken away out of Israel: nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect all his days.\r\n And he brought into the house of God the things that his father had dedicated, and that he himself had dedicated, silver, and gold, and vessels.\r\n And there was no more war unto the five and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa.\r\n \r\n \r\n In the six and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa, Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah, and built Ramah, that he might not suffer any one to go out or come in to Asa king of Judah.\r\n Then Asa brought out silver and gold out of the treasures of the house of Jehovah and of the king`s house, and sent to Ben-hadad king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying,\r\n [There is] a league between me and thee, as [there was] between my father and thy father: behold, I have sent thee silver and gold; go, break thy league with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me.\r\n And Ben-hadad hearkened unto king Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel; and they smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abel-maim, and all the store-cities of Naphtali.\r\n And it came to pass, when Baasha heard thereof, that he left off building Ramah, and let his work cease.\r\n Then Asa the king took all Judah; and they carried away the stones of Ramah, and the timber thereof, wherewith Baasha had builded; and he built therewith Geba and Mizpah.\r\n And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said unto him, Because thou hast relied on the king of Syria, and hast not relied on Jehovah thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of thy hand.\r\n Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubim a huge host, with chariots and horsemen exceeding many? yet, because thou didst rely on Jehovah, he delivered them into thy hand.\r\n For the eyes of Jehovah run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly; for from henceforth thou shalt have wars.\r\n Then Asa was wroth with the seer, and put him in the prison-house; for he was in a rage with him because of this thing. And Asa oppressed some of the people at the same time.\r\n And, behold, the acts of Asa, first and last, lo, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.\r\n And in the thirty and ninth year of his reign Asa was diseased in his feet; his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he sought not to Jehovah, but to the physicians.\r\n And Asa slept with his fathers, and died in the one and fortieth year of his reign.\r\n And they buried him in his own sepulchres, which he had hewn out for himself in the city of David, and laid him in the bed which was filled with sweet odors and divers kinds [of spices] prepared by the perfumers` art: and they made a very great burning for him.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead, and strengthened himself against Israel.\r\n And he placed forces in all the fortified cities of Judah, and set garrisons in the land of Judah, and in the cities of Ephraim, which Asa his father had taken.\r\n And Jehovah was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and sought not unto the Baalim,\r\n but sought to the God of his father, and walked in his commandments, and not after the doings of Israel.\r\n Therefore Jehovah established the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat tribute; and he had riches and honor in abundance.\r\n And his heart was lifted up in the ways of Jehovah: and furthermore he took away the high places and the Asherim out of Judah.\r\n Also in the third year of his reign he sent his princes, even Ben-hail, and Obadiah, and Zechariah, and Nethanel, and Micaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah;\r\n and with them the Levites, even Shemaiah, and Nethaniah, and Zebadiah, and Asahel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehonathan, and Adonijah, and Tobijah, and Tob-adonijah, the Levites; and with them Elishama and Jehoram, the priests.\r\n And they taught in Judah, having the book of the law of Jehovah with them; and they went about throughout all the cities of Judah, and taught among the people.\r\n And the fear of Jehovah fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were round about Judah, so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat.\r\n And some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents, and silver for tribute; the Arabians also brought him flocks, seven thousand and seven hundred rams, and seven thousand and seven hundred he-goats.\r\n And Jehoshaphat waxed great exceedingly; and he built in Judah castles and cities of store.\r\n And he had many works in the cities of Judah; and men of war, mighty men of valor, in Jerusalem.\r\n And this was the numbering of them according to their fathers` houses: Of Judah, the captains of thousands: Adnah the captain, and with him mighty men of valor three hundred thousand;\r\n and next to him Jehohanan the captain, and with him two hundred and fourscore thousand;\r\n and next to him Amasiah the son of Zichri, who willingly offered himself unto Jehovah; and with him two hundred thousand mighty men of valor.\r\n And of Benjamin: Eliada a mighty man of valor, and with him two hundred thousand armed with bow and shield;\r\n and next to him Jehozabad and with him a hundred and fourscore thousand ready prepared for war.\r\n These were they that waited on the king, besides those whom the king put in the fortified cities throughout all Judah.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honor in abundance; and he joined affinity with Ahab.\r\n And after certain years he went down to Ahab to Samaria. And Ahab killed sheep and oxen for him in abundance, and for the people that were with him, and moved him to go up [with him] to Ramoth-gilead.\r\n And Ahab king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat king of Judah, Wilt thou go with me to Ramoth-gilead? And he answered him, I am as thou art, and my people as thy people; and [we will be] with thee in the war.\r\n And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Inquire first, I pray thee, for the word of Jehovah.\r\n Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for God will deliver it into the hand of the king.\r\n But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of Jehovah besides, that we may inquire of him?\r\n And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of Jehovah: but I hate him; for he never prophesieth good concerning me, but always evil: the same is Micaiah the son of Imla. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.\r\n Then the king of Israel called an officer, and said, Fetch quickly Micaiah the son of Imla.\r\n Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah sat each on his throne, arrayed in their robes, and they were sitting in an open place at the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets were prophesying before them.\r\n And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made him horns of iron, and said, Thus saith Jehovah, With these shalt thou push the Syrians, until they be consumed.\r\n And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramoth-gilead, and prosper; for Jehovah will deliver it into the hand of the king.\r\n And the messenger that went to call Micaiah spake to him, saying, Behold, the words of the prophets [declare] good to the king with one mouth: let thy word therefore, I pray thee, be like one of theirs, and speak thou good.\r\n And Micaiah said, As Jehovah liveth, what my God saith, that will I speak.\r\n And when he was come to the king, the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And he said, Go ye up, and prosper; and they shall be delivered into your hand.\r\n And the king said to him, How many times shall I adjure thee that thou speak unto me nothing but the truth in the name of Jehovah?\r\n And he said, I saw all Israel scattered upon the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd: and Jehovah said, These have no master; let them return every man to his house in peace.\r\n And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?\r\n And [Micaiah] said, Therefore hear ye the word of Jehovah: I saw Jehovah sitting upon his throne, and all the host of heaven standing on his right hand and on his left.\r\n And Jehovah said, Who shall entice Ahab king of Israel, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead? And one spake saying after this manner, and another saying after that manner.\r\n And there came forth a spirit, and stood before Jehovah, and said, I will entice him. And Jehovah said unto him, Wherewith?\r\n And he said, I will go forth, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt entice him, and shalt prevail also: go forth, and do so.\r\n Now therefore, behold, Jehovah hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of these thy prophets; and Jehovah hath spoken evil concerning thee.\r\n Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near, and smote Micaiah upon the cheek, and said, Which way went the Spirit of Jehovah from me to speak unto thee?\r\n And Micaiah said, Behold, thou shalt see on that day, when thou shalt go into an inner chamber to hide thyself.\r\n And the king of Israel said, Take ye Micaiah, and carry him back unto Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king`s son;\r\n and say, Thus saith the king, Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I return in peace.\r\n And Micaiah said, If thou return at all in peace, Jehovah hath not spoken by me. And he said, Hear, ye peoples, all of you.\r\n So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead.\r\n And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, and go into the battle; but put thou on thy robes. So the king of Israel disguised himself; and they went into the battle.\r\n Now the king of Syria had commanded the captains of his chariots, saying, Fight neither with small nor great, save only with the king of Israel.\r\n And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, It is the king of Israel. Therefore they turned about to fight against him: but Jehoshaphat cried out, and Jehovah helped him; and God moved them [to depart] from him.\r\n And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, that they turned back from pursuing him.\r\n And a certain man drew his bow at a venture, and smote the king of Israel between the joints of the armor: wherefore he said to the driver of the chariot, Turn thy hand, and carry me out of the host; for I am sore wounded.\r\n And the battle increased that day: howbeit the king of Israel stayed himself up in his chariot against the Syrians until the even; and about the time of the going down of the sun he died.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned to his house in peace to Jerusalem.\r\n And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the wicked, and love them that hate Jehovah? for this thing wrath is upon thee from before Jehovah.\r\n Nevertheless there are good things found in thee, in that thou hast put away the Asheroth out of the land, and hast set thy heart to seek God.\r\n And Jehoshaphat dwelt at Jerusalem: and he went out again among the people from Beer-sheba to the hill-country of Ephraim, and brought them back unto Jehovah, the God of their fathers.\r\n And he set judges in the land throughout all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city,\r\n and said to the judges, Consider what ye do: for ye judge not for man, but for Jehovah; and [he is] with you in the judgment.\r\n Now therefore let the fear of Jehovah be upon you; take heed and do it: for there is no iniquity with Jehovah our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of bribes.\r\n Moreover in Jerusalem did Jehoshaphat set of the Levites and the priests, and of the heads of the fathers` [houses] of Israel, for the judgment of Jehovah, and for controversies. And they returned to Jerusalem.\r\n And he charged them, saying, Thus shall ye do in the fear of Jehovah, faithfully, and with a perfect heart.\r\n And whensoever any controversy shall come to you from your brethren that dwell in their cities, between blood and blood, between law and commandment, statutes and ordinances, ye shall warn them, that they be not guilty towards Jehovah, and so wrath come upon you and upon your brethren: this do, and ye shall not be guilty.\r\n And, behold, Amariah the chief priest is over you in all matters of Jehovah; and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the ruler of the house of Judah, in all the king`s matters: also the Levites shall be officers before you. Deal courageously, and Jehovah be with the good.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass after this, that the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them some of the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle.\r\n Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying, There cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the sea from Syria; and, behold, they are in Hazazon-tamar (the same is En-gedi).\r\n And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek unto Jehovah; and he proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.\r\n And Judah gathered themselves together, to seek [help] of Jehovah: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek Jehovah.\r\n And Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of Jehovah, before the new court;\r\n and he said, O Jehovah, the God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and art not thou ruler over all the kingdoms of the nations? and in thy hand is power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee.\r\n Didst not thou, O our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and give it to the seed of Abraham thy friend for ever?\r\n And they dwelt therein, and have built thee a sanctuary therein for thy name, saying,\r\n If evil come upon us, the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house, and before thee, (for thy name is in this house,) and cry unto thee in our affliction, and thou wilt hear and save.\r\n And now, behold, the children of Ammon and Moab and mount Seir, whom thou wouldest not let Israel invade, when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned aside from them, and destroyed them not;\r\n behold, how they reward us, to come to cast us out of thy possession, which thou hast given us to inherit.\r\n O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but out eyes are upon thee.\r\n And all Judah stood before Jehovah, with their little ones, their wives, and their children.\r\n Then upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, the Levite, of the sons of Asaph, came the Spirit of Jehovah in the midst of the assembly;\r\n and he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat: Thus saith Jehovah unto you, Fear not ye, neither be dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God`s.\r\n To-morrow go ye down against them: behold, they come up by the ascent of Ziz; and ye shall find them at the end of the valley, before the wilderness of Jeruel.\r\n Ye shall not need to fight in this [battle]: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of Jehovah with you, O Judah and Jerusalem; fear not, nor be dismayed: to-morrow go out against them: for Jehovah is with you.\r\n And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground; and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before Jehovah, worshipping Jehovah.\r\n And the Levites, of the children of the Kohathites and of the children of the Korahites, stood up to praise Jehovah, the God of Israel, with an exceeding loud voice.\r\n And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem: believe in Jehovah your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.\r\n And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed them that should sing unto Jehovah, and give praise in holy array, as they went out before the army, and say, Give thanks unto Jehovah; for his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever.\r\n And when they began to sing and to praise, Jehovah set liers-in-wait against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, that were come against Judah; and they were smitten.\r\n For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to destroy another.\r\n And when Judah came to the watch-tower of the wilderness, they looked upon the multitude; and, behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and there were none that escaped.\r\n And when Jehoshaphat and his people came to take the spoil of them, they found among them in abundance both riches and dead bodies, and precious jewels, which they stripped off for themselves, more than they could carry away: and they were three days in taking the spoil, it was so much.\r\n And on the fourth day they assembled themselves in the valley of Beracah; for there they blessed Jehovah: therefore the name of that place was called The valley of Beracah unto this day.\r\n Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, and Jehoshaphat in the forefront of them, to go again to Jerusalem with joy; for Jehovah had made them to rejoice over their enemies.\r\n And they came to Jerusalem with psalteries and harps and trumpets unto the house of Jehovah.\r\n And the fear of God was on all the kingdoms of the countries, when they heard that Jehovah fought against the enemies of Israel.\r\n So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet; for his God gave him rest round about.\r\n And Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah: he was thirty and five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty and five years in Jerusalem: and his mother`s name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi.\r\n And he walked in the way of Asa his father, and turned not aside from it, doing that which was right in the eyes of Jehovah.\r\n Howbeit the high places were not taken away; neither as yet had the people set their hearts unto the God of their fathers.\r\n Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, first and last, behold, they are written in the history of Jehu the son of Hanani, which is inserted in the book of the kings of Israel.\r\n And after this did Jehoshaphat king of Judah join himself with Ahaziah king of Israel; the same did very wickedly:\r\n and he joined himself with him to make ships to go to Tarshish; and they made the ships in Ezion-geber.\r\n Then Eliezer the son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, Because thou hast joined thyself with Ahaziah, Jehovah hath destroyed thy works. And the ships were broken, so that they were not able to go to Tarshish.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David: and Jehoram his son reigned in his stead.\r\n And he had brethren, the sons of Jehoshaphat: Azariah, and Jehiel, and Zechariah, and Azariah, and Michael, and Shephatiah; all these were the sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel.\r\n And their father gave them great gifts, of silver, and of gold, and of precious things, with fortified cities in Judah: but the kingdom gave he to Jehoram, because he was the first-born.\r\n Now when Jehoram was risen up over the kingdom of his father, and had strengthened himself, he slew all his brethren with the sword, and divers also of the princes of Israel.\r\n Jehoram was thirty and two years old when he began to reign; and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem.\r\n And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as did the house of Ahab; for he had the daughter of Ahab to wife: and he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah.\r\n Howbeit Jehovah would not destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that he had made with David, and as he promised to give a lamp to him and to his children alway.\r\n In his days Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah, and made a king over themselves.\r\n Then Jehoram passed over with his captains, and all his chariots with him: and he rose up by night, and smote the Edomites that compassed him about, and the captains of the chariots.\r\n So Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah unto this day: then did Libnah revolt at the same time from under his hand, because he had forsaken Jehovah, the God of his fathers.\r\n Moreover he made high places in the mountains of Judah, and made the inhabitants of Jerusalem to play the harlot, and led Judah astray.\r\n And there came a writing to him from Elijah the prophet, saying, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of David thy father, Because thou hast not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat thy father, nor in the ways of Asa king of Judah,\r\n but hast walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and hast made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to play the harlot, like as the house of Ahab did, and also hast slain thy brethren of thy father`s house, who were better than thyself:\r\n behold, Jehovah will smite with a great plague thy people, and thy children, and thy wives, and all thy substance;\r\n and thou shalt have great sickness by disease of thy bowels, until thy bowels fall out by reason of the sickness, day by day.\r\n And Jehovah stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines, and of the Arabians that are beside the Ethiopians:\r\n and they came up against Judah, and brake into it, and carried away all the substance that was found in the king`s house, and his sons also, and his wives; so that there was never a son left him, save Jehoahaz, the youngest of his sons.\r\n And after all this Jehovah smote him in his bowels with an incurable disease.\r\n And it came to pass, in process of time, at the end of two years, that his bowels fell out by reason of his sickness, and he died of sore diseases. And his people made no burning for him, like the burning of his fathers.\r\n Thirty and two years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years: and he departed without being desired; and they buried him in the city of David, but not in the sepulchres of the kings.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the inhabitants of Jerusalem made Ahaziah his youngest son king in his stead; for the band of men that came with the Arabians to the camp had slain all the eldest. So Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah reigned.\r\n Forty and two years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign; and he reigned one year in Jerusalem: and his mother`s name was Athaliah the daughter of Omri.\r\n He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab; for his mother was his counsellor to do wickedly.\r\n And he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, as did the house of Ahab; for they were his counsellors after the death of his father, to his destruction.\r\n He walked also after their counsel, and went with Jehoram the son of Ahab king of Israel to war against Hazael king of Syria at Ramoth-gilead: and the Syrians wounded Joram.\r\n And he returned to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds which they had given him at Ramah, when he fought against Hazael king of Syria. And Azariah the son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to see Jehoram the son of Ahab in Jezreel, because he was sick.\r\n Now the destruction of Ahaziah was of God, in that he went unto Joram: for when he was come, he went out with Jehoram against Jehu the son of Nimshi, whom Jehovah had anointed to cut off the house of Ahab.\r\n And it came to pass, when Jehu was executing judgment upon the house of Ahab, that he found the princes of Judah, and the sons of the brethren of Ahaziah, ministering to Ahaziah, and slew them.\r\n And he sought Ahaziah, and they caught him (now he was hiding in Samaria), and they brought him to Jehu, and slew him; and they buried him, for they said, He is the son of Jehoshaphat, who sought Jehovah with all his heart. And the house of Ahaziah had no power to hold the kingdom.\r\n Now when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal of the house of Judah.\r\n But Jehoshabeath, the daughter of the king, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him away from among the king`s sons that were slain, and put him and his nurse in the bedchamber. So Jehoshabeath, the daughter of king Jehoram, the wife of Jehoiada the priest (for she was the sister of Ahaziah), hid him from Athaliah, so that she slew him not.\r\n And he was with them hid in the house of God six years: and Athaliah reigned over the land.\r\n \r\n \r\n And in the seventh year Jehoiada strengthened himself, and took the captains of hundreds, Azariah the son of Jeroham, and Ishmael the son of Jehohanan, and Azariah the son of Obed, and Maaseiah the son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat the son of Zichri, into covenant with him.\r\n And they went about in Judah, and gathered the Levites out of all the cities of Judah, and the heads of fathers` [houses] of Israel, and they came to Jerusalem.\r\n And all the assembly made a covenant with the king in the house of God. And he said unto them, Behold, the king`s son shall reign, as Jehovah hath spoken concerning the sons of David.\r\n This is the thing that ye shall do: a third part of you, that come in on the sabbath, of the priests and of the Levites, shall be porters of the thresholds;\r\n and a third part shall be at the king`s house; and a third part at the gate of the foundation: and all the people shall be in the courts of the house of Jehovah.\r\n But let none come into the house of Jehovah, save the priests, and they that minister of the Levites; they shall come in, for they are holy: but all the people shall keep the charge of Jehovah.\r\n And the Levites shall compass the king round about, every man with his weapons in his hand; and whosoever cometh into the house, let him be slain: and be ye with the king when he cometh in, and when he goeth out.\r\n So the Levites and all Judah did according to all that Jehoiada the priest commanded: and they took every man his men, those that were to come in on the sabbath; with those that were to go out on the sabbath; for Jehoiada the priest dismissed not the courses.\r\n And Jehoiada the priest delivered to the captains of hundreds the spears, and bucklers, and shields, that had been king David`s, which were in the house of God.\r\n And he set all the people, every man with his weapon in his hand, from the right side of the house to the left side of the house, along by the altar and the house, by the king round about.\r\n Then they brought out the king`s son, and put the crown upon him, and [gave him] the testimony, and made him king: and Jehoiada and his sons anointed him; and they said, [Long] live the king.\r\n And when Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and praising the king, she came to the people into the house of Jehovah:\r\n and she looked, and, behold, the king stood by his pillar at the entrance, and the captains and the trumpets by the king; and all the people of the land rejoiced, and blew trumpets; the singers also [played] on instruments of music, and led the singing of praise. Then Athaliah rent her clothes, and said, Treason! treason!\r\n And Jehoiada the priest brought out the captains of hundreds that were set over the host, and said unto them, Have her forth between the ranks; and whoso followeth her, let him be slain with the sword: for the priest said, Slay her not in the house of Jehovah.\r\n So they made way for her; and she went to the entrance of the horse gate to the king`s house: and they slew her there.\r\n And Jehoiada made a covenant between himself, and all the people, and the king, that they should be Jehovah`s people.\r\n And all the people went to the house of Baal, and brake it down, and brake his altars and his images in pieces, and slew Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars.\r\n And Jehoiada appointed the officers of the house of Jehovah under the hand of the priests the Levites, whom David had distributed in the house of Jehovah, to offer the burnt-offerings of Jehovah, as it is written in the law of Moses, with rejoicing and with singing, according to the order of David.\r\n And he set the porters at the gates of the house of Jehovah, that none that was unclean in anything should enter in.\r\n And he took the captains of hundreds, and the nobles, and the governors of the people, and all the people of the land, and brought down the king from the house of Jehovah: and they came through the upper gate unto the king`s house, and set the king upon the throne of the kingdom.\r\n So all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet. And Athaliah they had slain with the sword.\r\n \r\n \r\n Joash was seven years old when he began to reign; and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem: and his mother`s name was Zibiah, of Beer-sheba.\r\n And Joash did that which was right in the eyes of Jehovah all the days of Jehoiada the priest.\r\n And Jehoiada took for him two wives; and he begat sons and daughters.\r\n And it came to pass after this, that Joash was minded to restore the house of Jehovah.\r\n And he gathered together the priests and the Levites, and said to them, Go out unto the cities of Judah, and gather of all Israel money to repair the house of your God from year to year; and see that ye hasten the matter. Howbeit the Levites hastened it not.\r\n And the king called for Jehoiada the chief, and said unto him, Why hast thou not required of the Levites to bring in out of Judah and out of Jerusalem the tax of Moses the servant of Jehovah, and of the assembly of Israel, for the tent of the testimony?\r\n For the sons of Athaliah, that wicked woman, had broken up the house of God; and also all the dedicated things of the house of Jehovah did they bestow upon the Baalim.\r\n So the king commanded, and they made a chest, and set it without at the gate of the house of Jehovah.\r\n And they made a proclamation through Judah and Jerusalem, to bring in for Jehovah the tax that Moses the servant of God laid upon Israel in the wilderness.\r\n And all the princes and all the people rejoiced, and brought in, and cast into the chest, until they had made an end.\r\n And it was so, that, at what time the chest was brought unto the king`s officers by the hand of the Levites, and when they saw that there was much money, the king`s scribe and the chief priest`s officer came and emptied the chest, and took it, and carried it to its place again. Thus they did day by day, and gathered money in abundance.\r\n And the king and Jehoiada gave it to such as did the work of the service of the house of Jehovah; and they hired masons and carpenters to restore the house of Jehovah, and also such as wrought iron and brass to repair the house of Jehovah.\r\n So the workmen wrought, and the work of repairing went forward in their hands, and they set up the house of God in its state, and strengthened it.\r\n And when they had made an end, they brought the rest of the money before the king and Jehoiada, whereof were made vessels for the house of Jehovah, even vessels wherewith to minister and to offer, and spoons, and vessels of gold and silver. And they offered burnt-offerings in the house of Jehovah continually all the days of Jehoiada.\r\n But Jehoiada waxed old and was full of days, and he died; a hundred and thirty years old was he when he died.\r\n And they buried him in the city of David among the kings, because he had done good in Israel, and toward God and his house.\r\n Now after the death of Jehoiada came the princes of Judah, and made obeisance to the king. Then the king hearkened unto them.\r\n And they forsook the house of Jehovah, the God of their fathers, and served the Asherim and the idols: and wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this their guiltiness.\r\n Yet he sent prophets to them, to bring them again unto Jehovah; and they testified against them: but they would not give ear.\r\n And the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest; and he stood above the people, and said unto them, Thus saith God, Why transgress ye the commandments of Jehovah, so that ye cannot prosper? because ye have forsaken Jehovah, he hath also forsaken you.\r\n And they conspired against him, and stoned him with stones at the commandment of the king in the court of the house of Jehovah.\r\n Thus Joash the king remembered not the kindness which Jehoiada his father had done to him, but slew his son. And when he died, he said, Jehovah look upon it, and require it.\r\n And it came to pass at the end of the year, that the army of the Syrians came up against him: and they came to Judah and Jerusalem, and destroyed all the princes of the people from among the people, and sent all the spoil of them unto the king of Damascus.\r\n For the army of the Syrians came with a small company of men; and Jehovah delivered a very great host into their hand, because they had forsaken Jehovah, the God of their fathers. So they executed judgment upon Joash.\r\n And when they were departed for him (for they left him very sick), his own servants conspired against him for the blood of the sons of Jehoiada the priest, and slew him on his bed, and he died; and they buried him in the city of David, but they buried him not in the sepulchres of the kings.\r\n And these are they that conspired against him: Zabad the son of Shimeath the Ammonitess, and Jehozabad the son of Shimrith the Moabitess.\r\n Now concerning his sons, and the greatness of the burdens [laid] upon him, and the rebuilding of the house of God, behold, they are written in the commentary of the book of the kings. And Amaziah his son reigned in his stead.\r\n \r\n \r\n Amaziah was twenty and five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem: and his mother`s name was Jehoaddan, of Jerusalem.\r\n And he did that which was right in the eyes of Jehovah, but not with a perfect heart.\r\n Now it came to pass, when the kingdom was established unto him, that he slew his servants that had killed the king his father.\r\n But he put not their children to death, but did according to that which is written in the law in the book of Moses, as Jehovah commanded, saying, The fathers shall not die for the children, neither shall the children die for the fathers; but every man shall die for his own sin.\r\n Moreover Amaziah gathered Judah together, and ordered them according to their fathers` houses, under captains of thousands and captains of hundreds, even all Judah and Benjamin: and he numbered them from twenty years old and upward, and found them three hundred thousand chosen men, able to go forth to war, that could handle spear and shield.\r\n He hired also a hundred thousand mighty men of valor out of Israel for a hundred talents of silver.\r\n But there came a man of God to him, saying, O king, let not the army of Israel go with thee; for Jehovah is not with Israel, [to wit], with all the children of Ephraim.\r\n But if thou wilt go, do [valiantly], be strong for the battle: God will cast thee down before the enemy; for God hath power to help, and to cast down.\r\n And Amaziah said to the man of God, But what shall we do for the hundred talents which I have given to the army of Israel? And the man of God answered, Jehovah is able to give thee much more than this.\r\n Then Amaziah separated them, [to wit], the army that was come to him out of Ephraim, to go home again: wherefore their anger was greatly kindled against Judah, and they returned home in fierce anger.\r\n And Amaziah took courage, and led forth his people, and went to the Valley of Salt, and smote of the children of Seir ten thousand.\r\n And [other] ten thousand did the children of Judah carry away alive, and brought them unto the top of the rock, and cast them down from the top of the rock, so that they all were broken in pieces.\r\n But the men of the army whom Amaziah sent back, that they should not go with him to battle, fell upon the cities of Judah, from Samaria even unto Beth-horon, and smote of them three thousand, and took much spoil.\r\n Now it came to pass, after that Amaziah was come from the slaughter of the Edomites, that he brought the gods of the children of Seir, and set them up to be his gods, and bowed down himself before them, and burned incense unto them.\r\n Wherefore the anger of Jehovah was kindled against Amaziah, and he sent unto him a prophet, who said unto him, Why hast thou sought after the gods of the people, which have not delivered their own people out of thy hand?\r\n And it came to pass, as he talked with him, that [the king] said unto him, Have we made thee of the king`s counsel? forbear; why shouldest thou be smitten? Then the prophet forbare, and said, I know that God hath determined to destroy thee, because thou hast done this, and hast not hearkened unto my counsel.\r\n Then Amaziah king of Judah took advice, and sent to Joash, the son of Jehoahaz the son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, Come, let us look one another in the face.\r\n And Joash king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, Give thy daughter to my son to wife: and there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon, and trod down the thistle.\r\n Thou sayest, Lo, thou hast smitten Edom; and thy heart lifteth thee up to boast: abide now at home; why shouldest thou meddle to [thy] hurt, that thou shouldest fall, even thou, and Judah with thee?\r\n But Amaziah would not hear; for it was of God, that he might deliver them into the hand [of their enemies], because they had sought after the gods of Edom.\r\n So Joash king of Israel went up; and he and Amaziah king of Judah looked one another in the face at Beth-shemesh, which belongeth to Judah.\r\n And Judah was put to the worse before Israel; and they fled every man to his tent.\r\n And Joash king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash the son of Jehoahaz, at Beth-shemesh, and brought him to Jerusalem, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim unto the corner gate, four hundred cubits.\r\n And [he took] all the gold and silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of God with Obed-edom, and the treasures of the king`s house, the hostages also, and returned to Samaria.\r\n And Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah lived after the death of Joash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel fifteen years.\r\n Now the rest of the acts of Amaziah, first and last, behold, are they not written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel?\r\n Now from the time that Amaziah did turn away from following Jehovah they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem; and he fled to Lachish: but they sent after him to Lachish, and slew him there.\r\n And they brought him upon horses, and buried him with his fathers in the city of Judah.\r\n \r\n \r\n And all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in the room of his father Amaziah.\r\n He built Eloth, and restored it to Judah, after that the king slept with his fathers.\r\n Sixteen years old was Uzziah when he began to reign; and he reigned fifty and two years in Jerusalem: and his mother`s name was Jechiliah, of Jerusalem.\r\n And he did that which was right in the eyes of Jehovah, according to all that his father Amaziah had done.\r\n And he set himself to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the vision of God: and as long as he sought Jehovah, God made him to prosper.\r\n And he went forth and warred against the Philistines, and brake down the wall of Gath, and the wall of Jabneh, and the wall of Ashdod; and he built cities in [the country of] Ashdod, and among the Philistines.\r\n And God helped him against the Philistines, and against the Arabians that dwelt in Gur-baal, and the Meunim.\r\n And the Ammonites gave tribute to Uzziah: and his name spread abroad even to the entrance of Egypt; for he waxed exceeding strong.\r\n Moreover Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the corner gate, and at the valley gate, and at the turning [of the wall], and fortified them.\r\n And he built towers in the wilderness, and hewed out many cisterns, for he had much cattle; in the lowland also, and in the plain: [and he had] husbandmen and vinedressers in the mountains and in the fruitful fields; for he loved husbandry.\r\n Moreover Uzziah had an army of fighting men, that went out to war by bands, according to the number of their reckoning made by Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the officer, under the hand of Hananiah, one of the king`s captains.\r\n The whole number of the heads of fathers` [houses], even the mighty men of valor, was two thousand and six hundred.\r\n And under their hand was an army, three hundred thousand and seven thousand and five hundred, that made war with mighty power, to help the king against the enemy.\r\n And Uzziah prepared for them, even for all the host, shields, and spears, and helmets, and coats of mail, and bows, and stones for slinging.\r\n And he made in Jerusalem engines, invented by skilful men, to be on the towers and upon the battlements, wherewith to shoot arrows and great stones. And his name spread far abroad; for he was marvellously helped, till he was strong.\r\n But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up, so that he did corruptly, and he trespassed against Jehovah his God; for he went into the temple of Jehovah to burn incense upon the altar of incense.\r\n And Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him fourscore priests of Jehovah, that were valiant men:\r\n and they withstood Uzziah the king, and said unto him, It pertaineth not unto thee, Uzziah, to burn incense unto Jehovah, but to the priests the sons of Aaron, that are consecrated to burn incense: go out of the sanctuary; for thou hast trespassed; neither shall it be for thine honor from Jehovah God.\r\n Then Uzziah was wroth; and he had a censer in his hand to burn incense; and while he was wroth with the priests, the leprosy brake forth in his forehead before the priests in the house of Jehovah, beside the altar of incense.\r\n And Azariah the chief priest, and all the priests, looked upon him, and, behold, he was leprous in his forehead, and they thrust him out quickly from thence; yea, himself hasted also to go out, because Jehovah had smitten him.\r\n And Uzziah the king was a leper unto the day of his death, and dwelt in a separate house, being a leper; for he was cut off from the house of Jehovah: and Jotham his son was over the king`s house, judging the people of the land.\r\n Now the rest of the acts of Uzziah, first and last, did Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, write.\r\n So Uzziah slept with his fathers; and they buried him with his fathers in the field of burial which belonged to the kings; for they said, He is a leper: and Jotham his son reigned in his stead.\r\n \r\n \r\n Jotham was twenty and five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem: and his mother`s name was Jerushah the daughter of Zadok.\r\n And he did that which was right in the eyes of Jehovah, according to all that his father Uzziah had done: howbeit he entered not into the temple of Jehovah. And the people did yet corruptly.\r\n He built the upper gate of the house of Jehovah, and on the wall of Ophel he built much.\r\n Moreover he built cities in the hill-country of Judah, and in the forests he built castles and towers.\r\n He fought also with the king of the children of Ammon, and prevailed against them. And the children of Ammon gave him the same year a hundred talents of silver, and ten thousand measures of wheat, and ten thousand of barley. So much did the children of Ammon render unto him, in the second year also, and in the third.\r\n So Jotham became mighty, because he ordered his ways before Jehovah his God.\r\n Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all his wars, and his ways, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.\r\n He was five and twenty years old when he began to reign, and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem.\r\n And Jotham slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David: and Ahaz his son reigned in his stead.\r\n \r\n \r\n Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign; and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem: and he did not that which was right in the eyes of Jehovah, like David his father;\r\n but he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made also molten images for the Baalim.\r\n Moreover he burnt incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and burnt his children in the fire, according to the abominations of the nations whom Jehovah cast out before the children of Israel.\r\n And he sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree.\r\n Wherefore Jehovah his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria; and they smote him, and carried away of his a great multitude of captives, and brought them to Damascus. And he was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who smote him with a great slaughter.\r\n For Pekah the son of Remaliah slew in Judah a hundred and twenty thousand in one day, all of them valiant men; because they had forsaken Jehovah, the God of their fathers.\r\n And Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, slew Maaseiah the king`s son, and Azrikam the ruler of the house, and Elkanah that was next to the king.\r\n And the children of Israel carried away captive of their brethren two hundred thousand, women, sons, and daughters, and took also away much spoil from them, and brought the spoil to Samaria.\r\n But a prophet of Jehovah was there, whose name was Oded: and he went out to meet the host that came to Samaria, and said unto them, Behold, because Jehovah, the God of your fathers, was wroth with Judah, he hath delivered them into your hand, and ye have slain them in a rage which hath reached up to heaven.\r\n And now ye purpose to keep under the children of Judah and Jerusalem for bondmen and bondwomen unto you: [but] are there not even with you trespasses of your own against Jehovah your God?\r\n Now hear me therefore, and send back the captives, that ye have taken captive of your brethren; for the fierce wrath of Jehovah is upon you.\r\n Then certain of the heads of the children of Ephraim, Azariah the son of Johanan, Berechiah the son of Meshillemoth, and Jehizkiah the son of Shallum, and Amasa the son of Hadlai, stood up against them that came from the war,\r\n and said unto them, Ye shall not bring in the captives hither: for ye purpose that which will bring upon us a trespass against Jehovah, to add unto our sins and to our trespass; for our trespass is great, and there is fierce wrath against Israel.\r\n So the armed men left the captives and the spoil before the princes and all the assembly.\r\n And the men that have been mentioned by name rose up, and took the captives, and with the spoil clothed all that were naked among them, and arrayed them, and shod them, and gave them to eat and to drink, and anointed them, and carried all the feeble of them upon asses, and brought them to Jericho, the city of palm-trees, unto their brethren: then they returned to Samaria.\r\n At that time did king Ahaz send unto the kings of Assyria to help him.\r\n For again the Edomites had come and smitten Judah, and carried away captives.\r\n The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the lowland, and of the South of Judah, and had taken Beth-shemesh, and Aijalon, and Gederoth, and Soco with the towns thereof, and Timnah with the towns thereof, Gimzo also and the towns thereof: and they dwelt there.\r\n For Jehovah brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel; for he had dealt wantonly in Judah, and trespassed sore against Jehovah.\r\n And Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria came unto him, and distressed him, but strengthened him not.\r\n For Ahaz took away a portion out of the house of Jehovah, and out of the house of the king and of the princes, and gave it unto the king of Assyria: but it helped him not.\r\n And in the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against Jehovah, this same king Ahaz.\r\n For he sacrificed unto the gods of Damascus, which smote him; and he said, Because the gods of the kings of Syria helped them, [therefore] will I sacrifice to them, that they may help me. But they were the ruin of him, and of all Israel.\r\n And Ahaz gathered together the vessels of the house of God, and cut in pieces the vessels of the house of God, and shut up the doors of the house of Jehovah; and he made him altars in every corner of Jerusalem.\r\n And in every city of Judah he made high places to burn incense unto other gods, and provoked to anger Jehovah, the God of his fathers.\r\n Now the rest of his acts, and all his ways, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.\r\n And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city, even in Jerusalem; for they brought him not into the sepulchres of the kings of Israel: and Hezekiah his son reigned in his stead.\r\n \r\n \r\n Hezekiah began to reign when he was five and twenty years old; and he reigned nine and twenty years in Jerusalem: and his mother`s name was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah.\r\n And he did that which was right in the eyes of Jehovah, according to all that David his father had done.\r\n He in the first year of his reign, in the first month, opened the doors of the house of Jehovah, and repaired them.\r\n And he brought in the priests and the Levites, and gathered them together into the broad place on the east,\r\n and said unto them, Hear me, ye Levites; now sanctify yourselves, and sanctify the house of Jehovah, the God of your fathers, and carry forth the filthiness out of the holy place.\r\n For our fathers have trespassed, and done that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah our God, and have forsaken him, and have turned away their faces from the habitation of Jehovah, and turned their backs.\r\n Also they have shut up the doors of the porch, and put out the lamps, and have not burned incense nor offered burnt-offerings in the holy place unto the God of Israel.\r\n Wherefore the wrath of Jehovah was upon Judah and Jerusalem, and he hath delivered them to be tossed to and fro, to be an astonishment, and a hissing, as ye see with your eyes.\r\n For, lo, our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons and our daughters and our wives are in captivity for this.\r\n Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with Jehovah, the God of Israel, that his fierce anger may turn away from us.\r\n My sons, be not now negligent; for Jehovah hath chosen you to stand before him, to minister unto him, and that ye should be his ministers, and burn incense.\r\n Then the Levites arose, Mahath, the son of Amasai, and Joel the son of Azariah, of the sons of the Kohathites; and of the sons of Merari, Kish the son of Abdi, and Azariah the son of Jehallelel; and of the Gershonites, Joah the son of Zimmah, and Eden the son of Joah;\r\n and of the sons of Elizaphan, Shimri and Jeuel; and of the sons of Asaph, Zechariah and Mattaniah;\r\n and of the sons of Heman, Jehuel and Shimei; and of the sons of Jeduthun, Shemaiah and Uzziel.\r\n And they gathered their brethren, and sanctified themselves, and went in, according to the commandment of the king by the words of Jehovah, to cleanse the house of Jehovah.\r\n And the priests went in unto the inner part of the house of Jehovah, to cleanse it, and brought out all the uncleanness that they found in the temple of Jehovah into the court of the house of Jehovah. And the Levites took it, to carry it out abroad to the brook Kidron.\r\n Now they began on the first [day] of the first month to sanctify, and on the eighth day of the month came they to the porch of Jehovah; and they sanctified the house of Jehovah in eight days: and on the sixteenth day of the first month they made an end.\r\n Then they went in to Hezekiah the king within [the palace], and said, We have cleansed all the house of Jehovah, and the altar of burnt-offering, with all the vessels thereof, and the table of showbread, with all the vessels thereof.\r\n Moreover all the vessels, which king Ahaz in his reign did cast away when he trespassed, have we prepared and sanctified; and, behold, they are before the altar of Jehovah.\r\n Then Hezekiah the king arose early, and gathered the princes of the city, and went up to the house of Jehovah.\r\n And they brought seven bullocks, and seven rams, and seven lambs, and seven he-goats, for a sin-offering for the kingdom and for the sanctuary and for Judah. And he commanded the priests the sons of Aaron to offer them on the altar of Jehovah.\r\n So they killed the bullocks, and the priests received the blood, and sprinkled it on the altar: and they killed the rams, and sprinkled the blood upon the altar: they killed also the lambs, and sprinkled the blood upon the altar.\r\n And they brought near the he-goats for the sin-offering before the king and the assembly; and they laid their hands upon them:\r\n and the priests killed them, and they made a sin-offering with their blood upon the altar, to make atonement for all Israel; for the king commanded [that] the burnt-offering and the sin-offering [should be made] for all Israel.\r\n And he set the Levites in the house of Jehovah with cymbals, with psalteries, and with harps, according to the commandment of David, and of Gad the king`s seer, and Nathan the prophet; for the commandment was of Jehovah by his prophets.\r\n And the Levites stood with the instruments of David, and the priests with the trumpets.\r\n And Hezekiah commanded to offer the burnt-offering upon the altar. And when the burnt-offering began, the song of Jehovah began also, and the trumpets, together with the instruments of David king of Israel.\r\n And all the assembly worshipped, and the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded; all this [continued] until the burnt-offering was finished.\r\n And when they had made an end of offering, the king and all that were present with him bowed themselves and worshipped.\r\n Moreover Hezekiah the king and the princes commanded the Levites to sing praises unto Jehovah with the words of David, and of Asaph the seer. And they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed their heads and worshipped.\r\n Then Hezekiah answered and said, Now ye have consecrated yourselves unto Jehovah; come near and bring sacrifices and thank-offerings into the house of Jehovah. And the assembly brought in sacrifices and thank-offerings; and as many as were of a willing heart [brought] burnt-offerings.\r\n And the number of the burnt-offerings which the assembly brought was threescore and ten bullocks, a hundred rams, and two hundred lambs: all these were for a burnt-offering to Jehovah.\r\n And the consecrated things were six hundred oxen and three thousand sheep.\r\n But the priests were too few, so that they could not flay all the burnt-offerings: wherefore their brethren the Levites did help them, till the work was ended, and until the priests had sanctified themselves; for the Levites were more upright in heart to sanctify themselves than the priests.\r\n And also the burnt-offerings were in abundance, with the fat of the peace-offerings, and with the drink-offerings for every burnt-offering. So the service of the house of Jehovah was set in order.\r\n And Hezekiah rejoiced, and all the people, because of that which God had prepared for the people: for the thing was done suddenly.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of Jehovah at Jerusalem, to keep the passover unto Jehovah, the God of Israel.\r\n For the king had taken counsel, and his princes, and all the assembly in Jerusalem, to keep the passover in the second month.\r\n For they could not keep it at that time, because the priests had not sanctified themselves in sufficient number, neither had the people gathered themselves together to Jerusalem.\r\n And the thing was right in the eyes of the king and of all the assembly.\r\n So they established a decree to make proclamation throughout all Israel, from Beer-sheba even to Dan, that they should come to keep the passover unto Jehovah, the God of Israel, at Jerusalem: for they had not kept it in great numbers in such sort as it is written.\r\n So the posts went with the letters from the king and his princes throughout all Israel and Judah, and according to the commandment of the king, saying, Ye children of Israel, turn again unto Jehovah, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, that he may return to the remnant that are escaped of you out of the hand of the kings of Assyria.\r\n And be not ye like your fathers, and like your brethren, who trespassed against Jehovah, the God of their fathers, so that he gave them up to desolation, as ye see.\r\n Now be ye not stiffnecked, as your fathers were; but yield yourselves unto Jehovah, and enter into his sanctuary, which he hath sanctified for ever, and serve Jehovah your God, that his fierce anger may turn away from you.\r\n For if ye turn again unto Jehovah, your brethren and your children shall find compassion before them that led them captive, and shall come again into this land: for Jehovah your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if ye return unto him.\r\n So the posts passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh, even unto Zebulun: but they laughed them to scorn, and mocked them.\r\n Nevertheless certain men of Asher and Manasseh and of Zebulun humbled themselves, and came to Jerusalem.\r\n Also upon Judah came the hand of God to give them one heart, to do the commandment of the king and of the princes by the word of Jehovah.\r\n And there assembled at Jerusalem much people to keep the feast of unleavened bread in the second month, a very great assembly.\r\n And they arose and took away the altars that were in Jerusalem, and all the altars for incense took they away, and cast them into the brook Kidron.\r\n Then they killed the passover on the fourteenth [day] of the second month: and the priests and the Levites were ashamed, and sanctified themselves, and brought burnt-offerings into the house of Jehovah.\r\n And they stood in their place after their order, according to the law of Moses the man of God: the priests sprinkled the blood [which they received] of the hand of the Levites.\r\n For there were many in the assembly that had not sanctified themselves: therefore the Levites had the charge of killing the passovers for every one that was not clean, to sanctify them unto Jehovah.\r\n For a multitude of the people, even many of Ephraim and Manasseh, Issachar and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet did they eat the passover otherwise than it is written. For Hezekiah had prayed for them, saying, The good Jehovah pardon every one\r\n that setteth his heart to seek God, Jehovah, the God of his fathers, though [he be] not [cleansed] according to the purification of the sanctuary.\r\n And Jehovah hearkened to Hezekiah, and healed the people.\r\n And the children of Israel that were present at Jerusalem kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with great gladness; and the Levites and the priests praised Jehovah day by day, [singing] with loud instruments unto Jehovah.\r\n And Hezekiah spake comfortably unto all the Levites that had good understanding [in the service] of Jehovah. So they did eat throughout the feast for the seven days, offering sacrifices of peace-offerings, and making confession to Jehovah, the God of their fathers.\r\n And the whole assembly took counsel to keep other seven days; and they kept [other] seven days with gladness.\r\n For Hezekiah king of Judah did give to the assembly for offerings a thousand bullocks and seven thousand sheep; and the princes gave to the assembly a thousand bullocks and ten thousand sheep: and a great number of priests sanctified themselves.\r\n And all the assembly of Judah, with the priests and the Levites, and all the assembly that came out of Israel, and the sojourners that came out of the land of Israel, and that dwelt in Judah, rejoiced.\r\n So there was great joy in Jerusalem; for since the time of Solomon the son of David king of Israel there was not the like in Jerusalem.\r\n Then the priests the Levites arose and blessed the people: and their voice was heard, and their prayer came up to his holy habitation, even unto heaven.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now when all this was finished, all Israel that were present went out to the cities of Judah, and brake in pieces the pillars, and hewed down the Asherim, and brake down the high places and the altars out of all Judah and Benjamin, in Ephraim also and Manasseh, until they had destroyed them all. Then all the children of Israel returned, every man to his possession, into their own cities.\r\n And Hezekiah appointed the courses of the priests and the Levites after their courses, every man according to his service, both the priests and the Levites, for burnt-offerings and for peace-offerings, to minister, and to give thanks, and to praise in the gates of the camp of Jehovah.\r\n [He appointed] also the king`s portion of his substance for the burnt-offerings, [to wit], for the morning and evening burnt-offerings, and the burnt-offerings for the sabbaths, and for the new moons, and for the set feasts, as it is written in the law of Jehovah.\r\n Moreover he commanded the people that dwelt in Jerusalem to give the portion of the priests and the Levites, that they might give themselves to the law of Jehovah.\r\n And as soon as the commandment came abroad, the children of Israel gave in abundance the first-fruits of grain, new wine, and oil, and honey, and of all the increase of the field; and the tithe of all things brought they in abundantly.\r\n And the children of Israel and Judah, that dwelt in the cities of Judah, they also brought in the tithe of oxen and sheep, and the tithe of dedicated things which were consecrated unto Jehovah their God, and laid them by heaps.\r\n In the third month they began to lay the foundation of the heaps, and finished them in the seventh month.\r\n And when Hezekiah and the princes came and saw the heaps, they blessed Jehovah, and his people Israel.\r\n Then Hezekiah questioned the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps.\r\n And Azariah the chief priest, of the house of Zadok, answered him and said, Since [the people] began to bring the oblations into the house of Jehovah, we have eaten and had enough, and have left plenty: for Jehovah hath blessed his people; and that which is left is this great store.\r\n Then Hezekiah commanded to prepare chambers in the house of Jehovah; and they prepared them.\r\n And they brought in the oblations and the tithes and the dedicated things faithfully: and over them Conaniah the Levite was ruler, and Shimei his brother was second.\r\n And Jehiel, and Azaziah, and Nahath, and Asahel, and Jerimoth, and Jozabad, and Eliel, and Ismachiah, and Mahath, and Benaiah, were overseers under the hand of Conaniah and Shimei his brother, by the appointment of Hezekiah the king, and Azariah the ruler of the house of God.\r\n And Kore the son of Imnah the Levite, the porter at the east [gate], was over the freewill-offerings of God, to distribute the oblations of Jehovah, and the most holy things.\r\n And under him were Eden, and Miniamin, and Jeshua, and Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah, in the cities of the priests, in their office of trust, to give to their brethren by courses, as well to the great as to the small:\r\n besides them that were reckoned by genealogy of males, from three years old and upward, even every one that entered into the house of Jehovah, as the duty of every day required, for their service in their offices according to their courses;\r\n and them that were reckoned by genealogy of the priests by their fathers` houses, and the Levites from twenty years old and upward, in their offices by their courses;\r\n and them that were reckoned by genealogy of all their little ones, their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, through all the congregation: for in their office of trust they sanctified themselves in holiness.\r\n Also for the sons of Aaron the priests, that were in the fields of the suburbs of their cities, in every city, there were men that were mentioned by name, to give portions to all the males among the priests, and to all that were reckoned by genealogy among the Levites.\r\n And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah; and he wrought that which was good and right and faithful before Jehovah his God.\r\n And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered.\r\n \r\n \r\n After these things, and this faithfulness, Sennacherib king of Assyria came, and entered into Judah, and encamped against the fortified cities, and thought to win them for himself.\r\n And when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib was come, and that he was purposed to fight against Jerusalem,\r\n he took counsel with his princes and his mighty men to stop the waters of the fountains which were without the city; and they helped him.\r\n So there was gathered much people together, and they stopped all the fountains, and the brook that flowed through the midst of the land, saying, Why should the kings of Assyria come, and find much water?\r\n And he took courage, and built up all the wall that was broken down, and raised [it] up to the towers, and the other wall without, and strengthened Millo [in] the city of David, and made weapons and shields in abundance.\r\n And he set captains of war over the people, and gathered them together to him in the broad place at the gate of the city, and spake comfortably to them, saying,\r\n Be strong and of good courage, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him; for there is a greater with us than with him:\r\n with him is an arm of flesh; but with us is Jehovah our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.\r\n After this did Sennacherib king of Assyria send his servants to Jerusalem, (now he was before Lachish, and all his power with him,) unto Hezekiah king of Judah, and unto all Judah that were at Jerusalem, saying,\r\n Thus saith Sennacherib king of Assyria, Whereon do ye trust, that ye abide the siege in Jerusalem?\r\n Doth not Hezekiah persuade you, to give you over to die by famine and by thirst, saying, Jehovah our God will deliver us out of the hand of the king of Assyria?\r\n Hath not the same Hezekiah taken away his high places and his altars, and commanded Judah and Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall worship before one altar, and upon it shall ye burn incense?\r\n Know ye not what I and my fathers have done unto all the peoples of the lands? Were the gods of the nations of the lands in any wise able to deliver their land out of my hand?\r\n Who was there among all the gods of those nations which my fathers utterly destroyed, that could deliver his people out of my hand, that your God should be able to deliver you out of my hand?\r\n Now therefore let not Hezekiah deceive you, nor persuade you after this manner, neither believe ye him; for no god of any nation or kingdom was able to deliver his people out of my hand, and out of the hand of my fathers: how much less shall your God deliver you out of my hand?\r\n And his servants spake yet more against Jehovah God, and against his servant Hezekiah.\r\n He wrote also letters, to rail on Jehovah, the God of Israel, and to speak against him, saying, As the gods of the nations of the lands, which have not delivered their people out of my hand, so shall not the God of Hezekiah deliver his people out of my hand.\r\n And they cried with a loud voice in the Jews` language unto the people of Jerusalem that were on the wall, to affright them, and to trouble them; that they might take the city.\r\n And they spake of the God of Jerusalem, as of the gods of the peoples of the earth, which are the work of men`s hands.\r\n And Hezekiah the king, and Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz, prayed because of this, and cried to heaven.\r\n And Jehovah sent an angel, who cut off all the mighty men of valor, and the leaders and captains, in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he was come into the house of his god, they that came forth from his own bowels slew him there with the sword.\r\n Thus Jehovah saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria, and from the hand of all [others], and guided them on every side.\r\n And many brought gifts unto Jehovah to Jerusalem, and precious things to Hezekiah king of Judah; so that he was exalted in the sight of all nations from thenceforth.\r\n In those days Hezekiah was sick even unto death: and he prayed unto Jehovah; and he spake unto him, and gave him a sign.\r\n But Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit done unto him; for his heart was lifted up: therefore there was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem.\r\n Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of Jehovah came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah.\r\n And Hezekiah had exceeding much riches and honor: and he provided him treasuries for silver, and for gold, and for precious stones, and for spices, and for shields, and for all manner of goodly vessels;\r\n store-houses also for the increase of grain and new wine and oil; and stalls for all manner of beasts, and flocks in folds.\r\n Moreover he provided him cities, and possessions of flocks and herds in abundance; for God had given him very much substance.\r\n This same Hezekiah also stopped the upper spring of the waters of Gihon, and brought them straight down on the west side of the city of David. And Hezekiah prospered in all his works.\r\n Howbeit in [the business of] the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to inquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him, to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart.\r\n Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and his good deeds, behold, they are written in the vision of Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz, in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.\r\n And Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the ascent of the sepulchres of the sons of David: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did him honor at his death. And Manasseh his son reigned in his stead.\r\n \r\n \r\n Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign; and he reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem.\r\n And he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, after the abominations of the nations whom Jehovah cast out before the children of Israel.\r\n For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down; and he reared up altars for the Baalim, and made Asheroth, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them.\r\n And he built altars in the house of Jehovah, whereof Jehovah said, In Jerusalem shall my name be for ever.\r\n And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of Jehovah.\r\n He also made his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom; and he practised augury, and used enchantments, and practised sorcery, and dealt with them that had familiar spirits, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of Jehovah, to provoke him to anger.\r\n And he set the graven image of the idol, which he had made, in the house of God, of which God said to David and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever:\r\n neither will I any more remove the foot of Israel from off the land which I have appointed for your fathers, if only they will observe to do all that I have commanded them, even all the law and the statutes and the ordinances [given] by Moses.\r\n And Manasseh seduced Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that they did evil more than did the nations whom Jehovah destroyed before the children of Israel.\r\n And Jehovah spake to Manasseh, and to his people; but they gave no heed.\r\n Wherefore Jehovah brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh in chains, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon.\r\n And when he was in distress, he besought Jehovah his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers.\r\n And he prayed unto him; and he was entreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that Jehovah he was God.\r\n Now after this he built an outer wall to the city of David, on the west side of Gihon, in the valley, even to the entrance at the fish gate; and he compassed Ophel about [with it], and raised it up to a very great height: and he put valiant captains in all the fortified cities of Judah.\r\n And he took away the foreign gods, and the idol out of the house of Jehovah, and all the altars that he had built in the mount of the house of Jehovah, and in Jerusalem, and cast them out of the city.\r\n And he built up the altar of Jehovah, and offered thereon sacrifices of peace-offerings and of thanksgiving, and commanded Judah to serve Jehovah, the God of Israel.\r\n Nevertheless the people sacrificed still in the high places, but only unto Jehovah their God.\r\n Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and his prayer unto his God, and the words of the seers that spake to him in the name of Jehovah, the God of Israel, behold, they are written among the acts of the kings of Israel.\r\n His prayer also, and how [God] was entreated of him, and all his sin and his trespass, and the places wherein he built high places, and set up the Asherim and the graven images, before he humbled himself: behold, they are written in the history of Hozai.\r\n So Manasseh slept with his fathers, and they buried him in his own house: and Amon his son reigned in his stead.\r\n Amon was twenty and two years old when he began to reign; and he reigned two years in Jerusalem.\r\n And he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, as did Manasseh his father; and Amon sacrificed unto all the graven images which Manasseh his father had made, and served them.\r\n And he humbled not himself before Jehovah, as Manasseh his father had humbled himself; but this same Amon trespassed more and more.\r\n And his servants conspired against him, and put him to death in his own house.\r\n But the people of the land slew all them that had conspired against king Amon; and the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his stead.\r\n \r\n \r\n Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign; and he reigned thirty and one years in Jerusalem.\r\n And he did that which was right in the eyes of Jehovah, and walked in the ways of David his father, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left.\r\n For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet young, he began to seek after the God of David his father; and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places, and the Asherim, and the graven images, and the molten images.\r\n And they brake down the altars of the Baalim in his presence; and the sun-images that were on high above them he hewed down; and the Asherim, and the graven images, and the molten images, he brake in pieces, and made dust of them, and strewed it upon the graves [of them] that had sacrificed unto them.\r\n And he burnt the bones of the priests upon their altars, and purged Judah and Jerusalem.\r\n And [so did he] in the cities of Manasseh and Ephraim and Simeon, even unto Naphtali, in their ruins round about.\r\n And he brake down the altars, and beat the Asherim and the graven images into powder, and hewed down all the sun-images throughout all the land of Israel, and returned to Jerusalem.\r\n Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, when he had purged the land and the house, he sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, and Maaseiah the governor of the city, and Joah the son of Joahaz the recorder, to repair the house of Jehovah his God.\r\n And they came to Hilkiah the high priest, and delivered the money that was brought into the house of God, which the Levites, the keepers of the threshold, had gathered of the hand of Manasseh and Ephraim, and of all the remnant of Israel, and of all Judah and Benjamin, and of the inhabitants of Jerusalem.\r\n And they delivered it into the hand of the workmen that had the oversight of the house of Jehovah; and the workmen that wrought in the house of Jehovah gave it to mend and repair the house;\r\n even to the carpenters and to the builders gave they it, to buy hewn stone, and timber for couplings, and to make beams for the houses which the kings of Judah had destroyed.\r\n And the men did the work faithfully: and the overseers of them were Jahath and Obadiah, the Levites, of the sons of Merari; and Zechariah and Meshullam, of the sons of the Kohathites, to set it forward; and [others of] the Levites, all that were skilful with instruments of music.\r\n Also they were over the bearers of burdens, and set forward all that did the work in every manner of service: and of the Levites there were scribes, and officers, and porters.\r\n And when they brought out the money that was brought into the house of Jehovah, Hilkiah the priest found the book of the law of Jehovah [given] by Moses.\r\n And Hilkiah answered and said to Shaphan the scribe, I have found the book of the law in the house of Jehovah. And Hilkiah delivered the book to Shaphan.\r\n And Shaphan carried the book to the king, and moreover brought back word to the king, saying, All that was committed to thy servants, they are doing.\r\n And they have emptied out the money that was found in the house of Jehovah, and have delivered it into the hand of the overseers, and into the hand of the workmen.\r\n And Shaphan the scribe told the king, saying, Hilkiah the priest hath delivered me a book. And Shaphan read therein before the king.\r\n And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the law, that he rent his clothes.\r\n And the king commanded Hilkiah, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Abdon the son of Micah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the king`s servant, saying,\r\n Go ye, inquire of Jehovah for me, and for them that are left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book that is found; for great is the wrath of Jehovah that is poured out upon us, because our fathers have not kept the word of Jehovah, to do according unto all that is written in this book.\r\n So Hilkiah, and they whom the king [had commanded], went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tokhath, the son of Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe; (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the second quarter;) and they spake to her to that effect.\r\n And she said unto them, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel: Tell ye the man that sent you unto me,\r\n Thus saith Jehovah, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof, even all the curses that are written in the book which they have read before the king of Judah.\r\n Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore is my wrath poured out upon this place, and it shall not be quenched.\r\n But unto the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of Jehovah, thus shall ye say to him, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel: As touching the words which thou hast heard,\r\n because thy heart was tender, and thou didst humble thyself before God, when thou heardest his words against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, and hast humbled thyself before me, and hast rent thy clothes, and wept before me; I also have heard thee, saith Jehovah.\r\n Behold, I will gather thee to thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered to thy grave in peace, neither shall thine eyes see all the evil that I will bring upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof. And they brought back word to the king.\r\n Then the king sent and gathered together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem.\r\n And the king went up to the house of Jehovah, and all the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the priests, and the Levites, and all the people, both great and small: and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant that was found in the house of Jehovah.\r\n And the king stood in his place, and made a covenant before Jehovah, to walk after Jehovah, and to keep his commandments, and his testimonies, and his statutes, with all his heart, and with all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant that were written in this book.\r\n And he caused all that were found in Jerusalem and Benjamin to stand [to it]. And the inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of God, the God of their fathers.\r\n And Josiah took away all the abominations out of all the countries that pertained to the children of Israel, and made all that were found in Israel to serve, even to serve Jehovah their God. All his days they departed not from following Jehovah, the God of their fathers.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Josiah kept a passover unto Jehovah in Jerusalem: and they killed the passover on the fourteenth [day] of the first month.\r\n And he set the priests in their offices, and encouraged them to the service of the house of Jehovah.\r\n And he said unto the Levites that taught all Israel, that were holy unto Jehovah, Put the holy ark in the house which Solomon the son of David king of Israel did build; there shall no more be a burden upon your shoulders: now serve Jehovah your God, and his people Israel.\r\n And prepare yourselves after your fathers` houses by your courses, according to the writing of David king of Israel, and according to the writing of Solomon his son.\r\n And stand in the holy place according to the divisions of the fathers` houses of your brethren the children of the people, and [let there be for each] a portion of a fathers` house of the Levites.\r\n And kill the passover, and sanctify yourselves, and prepare for your brethren, to do according to the word of Jehovah by Moses.\r\n And Josiah gave to the children of the people, of the flock, lambs and kids, all of them for the passover-offerings, unto all that were present, to the number of thirty thousand, and three thousand bullocks: these were of the king`s substance.\r\n And his princes gave for a freewill-offering unto the people, to the priests, and to the Levites. Hilkiah and Zechariah and Jehiel, the rulers of the house of God, gave unto the priests for the passover-offerings two thousand and six hundred [small cattle], and three hundred oxen.\r\n Conaniah also, and Shemaiah and Nethanel, his brethren, and Hashabiah and Jeiel and Jozabad, the chiefs of the Levites, gave unto the Levites for the passover-offerings five thousand [small cattle], and five hundred oxen.\r\n So the service was prepared, and the priests stood in their place, and the Levites by their courses, according to the king`s commandment.\r\n And they killed the passover, and the priests sprinkled [the blood which they received] of their hand, and the Levites flayed them.\r\n And they removed the burnt-offerings, that they might give them according to the divisions of the fathers` houses of the children of the people, to offer unto Jehovah, as it is written in the book of Moses. And so did they with the oxen.\r\n And they roasted the passover with fire according to the ordinance: and the holy offerings boiled they in pots, and in caldrons, and in pans, and carried them quickly to all the children of the people.\r\n And afterward they prepared for themselves, and for the priests, because the priests the sons of Aaron [were busied] in offering the burnt-offerings and the fat until night: therefore the Levites prepared for themselves, and for the priests the sons of Aaron.\r\n And the singers the sons of Asaph were in their place, according to the commandment of David, and Asaph, and Heman, and Jeduthun the king`s seer; and the porters were at every gate: they needed not to depart from their service; for their brethren the Levites prepared for them.\r\n So all the service of Jehovah was prepared the same day, to keep the passover, and to offer burnt-offerings upon the altar of Jehovah, according to the commandment of king Josiah.\r\n And the children of Israel that were present kept the passover at that time, and the feast of unleavened bread seven days.\r\n And there was no passover like to that kept in Israel from the days of Samuel the prophet; neither did any of the kings of Israel keep such a passover as Josiah kept, and the priests, and the Levites, and all Judah and Israel that were present, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.\r\n In the eighteenth year of the reign of Josiah was this passover kept.\r\n After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Neco king of Egypt went up to fight against Carchemish by the Euphrates: and Josiah went out against him.\r\n But he sent ambassadors to him, saying, What have I to do with thee, thou king of Judah? [I come] not against thee this day, but against the house wherewith I have war; and God hath commanded me to make haste: forbear thee from [meddling with] God, who is with me, that he destroy thee not.\r\n Nevertheless Josiah would not turn his face from him, but disguised himself, that he might fight with him, and hearkened not unto the words of Neco from the mouth of God, and came to fight in the valley of Megiddo.\r\n And the archers shot at king Josiah; and the king said to his servants, Have me away; for I am sore wounded.\r\n So his servants took him out of the chariot, and put him in the second chariot that he had, and brought him to Jerusalem; and he died, and was buried in the sepulchres of his fathers. And all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah.\r\n And Jeremiah lamented for Josiah: and all the singing men and singing women spake of Josiah in their lamentations unto this day; and they made them an ordinance in Israel: and, behold, they are written in the lamentations.\r\n Now the rest of the acts of Josiah, and his good deeds, according to that which is written in the law of Jehovah,\r\n and his acts, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah, and made him king in his father`s stead in Jerusalem.\r\n Joahaz was twenty and three years old when he began to reign; and he reigned three months in Jerusalem.\r\n And the king of Egypt deposed him at Jerusalem, and fined the land a hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold.\r\n And the king of Egypt made Eliakim his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem, and changed his name to Jehoiakim. And Neco took Joahaz his brother, and carried him to Egypt.\r\n Jehoiakim was twenty and five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem: and he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah his God.\r\n Against him came up Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and bound him in fetters, to carry him to Babylon.\r\n Nebuchadnezzar also carried of the vessels of the house of Jehovah to Babylon, and put them in his temple at Babylon.\r\n Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, and his abominations which he did, and that which was found in him, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah: and Jehoiachin his son reigned in his stead.\r\n Jehoiachin was eight years old when he began to reign; and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem: and he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah.\r\n And at the return of the year king Nebuchadnezzar sent, and brought him to Babylon, with the goodly vessels of the house of Jehovah, and made Zedekiah his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem.\r\n Zedekiah was twenty and one years old when he began to reign; and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem:\r\n and he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah his God; he humbled not himself before Jeremiah the prophet [speaking] from the mouth of Jehovah.\r\n And he also rebelled against king Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God: but he stiffened his neck, and hardened his heart against turning unto Jehovah, the God of Israel.\r\n Moreover all the chiefs of the priests, and the people, trespassed very greatly after all the abominations of the nations; and they polluted the house of Jehovah which he had hallowed in Jerusalem.\r\n And Jehovah, the God of their fathers, sent to them by his messengers, rising up early and sending, because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling-place:\r\n but they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and scoffed at his prophets, until the wrath of Jehovah arose against his people, till there was no remedy.\r\n Therefore he brought upon them the king of the Chaldeans, who slew their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion upon young man or virgin, old man or hoary-headed: he gave them all into his hand.\r\n And all the vessels of the house of God, great and small, and the treasures of the house of Jehovah, and the treasures of the king, and of his princes, all these he brought to Babylon.\r\n And they burnt the house of God, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem, and burnt all the palaces thereof with fire, and destroyed all the goodly vessels thereof.\r\n And them that had escaped from the sword carried he away to Babylon; and they were servants to him and his sons until the reign of the kingdom of Persia:\r\n to fulfil the word of Jehovah by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed its sabbaths: [for] as long as it lay desolate it kept sabbath, to fulfil threescore and ten years.\r\n Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of Jehovah by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, Jehovah stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and [put it] also in writing, saying,\r\n Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth hath Jehovah, the God of heaven, given me; and he hath charged me to build him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whosoever there is among you of all his people, Jehovah his God be with him, and let him go up.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of Jehovah by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, Jehovah stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and [put it] also in writing, saying,\r\n Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth hath Jehovah, the God of heaven, given me; and he hath charged me to build him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah.\r\n Whosoever there is among you of all his people, his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of Jehovah, the God of Israel (he is God), which is in Jerusalem.\r\n And whosoever is left, in any place where he sojourneth, let the men of his place help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beasts, besides the freewill-offering for the house of God which is in Jerusalem.\r\n Then rose up the heads of fathers` [houses] of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests, and the Levites, even all whose spirit God had stirred to go up to build the house of Jehovah which is in Jerusalem.\r\n And all they that were round about them strengthened their hands with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, and with beasts, and with precious things, besides all that was willingly offered.\r\n Also Cyrus the king brought forth the vessels of the house of Jehovah, which Nebuchadnezzar had brought forth out of Jerusalem, and had put in the house of his gods;\r\n even those did Cyrus king of Persia bring forth by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer, and numbered them unto Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah.\r\n And this is the number of them: thirty platters of gold, a thousand platters of silver, nine and twenty knives,\r\n thirty bowls of gold, silver bowls of a second sort four hundred and ten, and other vessels a thousand.\r\n All the vessels of gold and of silver were five thousand and four hundred. All these did Sheshbazzar bring up, when they of the captivity were brought up from Babylon unto Jerusalem.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now these are the children of the province, that went up out of the captivity of those that had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away unto Babylon, and that returned unto Jerusalem and Judah, every one unto his city;\r\n who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel:\r\n The children of Parosh, two thousand a hundred seventy and two.\r\n The children of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy and two.\r\n The children of Arah, seven hundred seventy and five.\r\n The children of Pahath-moab, of the children of Jeshua [and] Joab, two thousand eight hundred and twelve.\r\n The children of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four.\r\n The children of Zattu, nine hundred forty and five.\r\n The children of Zaccai, seven hundred and threescore.\r\n The children of Bani, six hundred forty and two.\r\n The children of Bebai, six hundred twenty and three.\r\n The children of Azgad, a thousand two hundred twenty and two.\r\n The children of Adonikam, six hundred sixty and six.\r\n The children of Bigvai, two thousand fifty and six.\r\n The children of Adin, four hundred fifty and four.\r\n The children of Ater, of Hezekiah, ninety and eight.\r\n The children of Bezai, three hundred twenty and three.\r\n The children of Jorah, a hundred and twelve.\r\n The children of Hashum, two hundred twenty and three.\r\n The children of Gibbar, ninety and five.\r\n The children of Beth-lehem, a hundred twenty and three.\r\n The men of Netophah, fifty and six.\r\n The men of Anathoth, a hundred twenty and eight.\r\n The children of Azmaveth, forty and two.\r\n The children of Kiriath-arim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred and forty and three.\r\n The children of Ramah and Geba, six hundred twenty and one.\r\n The men of Michmas, a hundred twenty and two.\r\n The men of Beth-el and Ai, two hundred twenty and three.\r\n The children of Nebo, fifty and two.\r\n The children of Magbish, a hundred fifty and six.\r\n The children of the other Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four.\r\n The children of Harim, three hundred and twenty.\r\n The children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred twenty and five.\r\n The children of Jericho, three hundred forty and five.\r\n The children of Senaah, three thousand and six hundred and thirty.\r\n The priests: the children of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred seventy and three.\r\n The children of Immer, a thousand fifty and two.\r\n The children of Pashhur, a thousand two hundred forty and seven.\r\n The children of Harim, a thousand and seventeen.\r\n The Levites: the children of Jeshua and Kadmiel, of the children of Hodaviah, seventy and four.\r\n The singers: the children of Asaph, a hundred twenty and eight.\r\n The children of the porters: the children of Shallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the children of Shobai, in all a hundred thirty and nine.\r\n The Nethinim: the children of Ziha, the children of Hasupha, the children of Tabbaoth,\r\n the children of Keros, the children of Siaha, the children of Padon,\r\n the children of Lebanah, the children of Hagabah, the children of Akkub,\r\n the children of Hagab, the children of Shamlai, the children of Hanan,\r\n the children of Giddel, the children of Gahar, the children of Reaiah,\r\n the children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda, the children of Gazzam,\r\n the children of Uzza, the children of Paseah, the children of Besai,\r\n the children of Asnah, the children of Meunim, the children of Nephisim,\r\n the children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the children of Harhur,\r\n the children of Bazluth, the children of Mehida, the children of Harsha,\r\n the children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children of Temah,\r\n the children of Neziah, the children of Hatipha.\r\n The children of Solomon`s servants: the children of Sotai, the children of Hassophereth, the children of Peruda,\r\n the children of Jaalah, the children of Darkon, the children of Giddel,\r\n the children of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth-hazzebaim, the children of Ami.\r\n All the Nethinim, and the children of Solomon`s servants, were three hundred ninety and two.\r\n And these were they that went up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addan, [and] Immer; but they could not show their fathers` houses, and their seed, whether they were of Israel:\r\n the children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda, six hundred fifty and two.\r\n And of the children of the priests: the children of Habaiah, the children of Hakkoz, the children of Barzillai, who took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called after their name.\r\n These sought their register [among] those that were reckoned by genealogy, but they were not found: therefore were they deemed polluted and put from the priesthood.\r\n And the governor said unto them, that they should not eat of the most holy things, till there stood up a priest with Urim and with Thummim.\r\n The whole assembly together was forty and two thousand three hundred and threescore,\r\n besides their men-servants and their maid-servants, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty and seven: and they had two hundred singing men and singing women.\r\n Their horses were seven hundred thirty and six; their mules, two hundred forty and five;\r\n their camels, four hundred thirty and five; [their] asses, six thousand seven hundred and twenty.\r\n And some of the heads of fathers` [houses], when they came to the house of Jehovah which is in Jerusalem, offered willingly for the house of God to set it up in its place:\r\n they gave after their ability into the treasury of the work threescore and one thousand darics of gold, and five thousand pounds of silver, and one hundred priests` garments.\r\n So the priests, and the Levites, and some of the people, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinim, dwelt in their cities, and all Israel in their cities.\r\n \r\n \r\n And when the seventh month was come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered themselves together as one man to Jerusalem.\r\n Then stood up Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and his brethren, and builded the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt-offerings thereon, as it is written in the law of Moses the man of God.\r\n And they set the altar upon its base; for fear was upon them because of the peoples of the countries: and they offered burnt-offerings thereon unto Jehovah, even burnt-offerings morning and evening.\r\n And they kept the feast of tabernacles, as it is written, and [offered] the daily burnt-offerings by number, according to the ordinance, as the duty of every day required;\r\n and afterward the continual burnt-offering, and [the offerings] of the new moons, and of all the set feasts of Jehovah that were consecrated, and of every one that willingly offered a freewill-offering unto Jehovah.\r\n From the first day of the seventh month began they to offer burnt-offerings unto Jehovah: but the foundation of the temple of Jehovah was not yet laid.\r\n They gave money also unto the masons, and to the carpenters; and food, and drink, and oil, unto them of Sidon, and to them of Tyre, to bring cedar-trees from Lebanon to the sea, unto Joppa, according to the grant that they had of Cyrus king of Persia.\r\n Now in the second year of their coming unto the house of God at Jerusalem, in the second month, began Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and the rest of their brethren the priests and the Levites, and all they that were come out of the captivity unto Jerusalem, and appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to have the oversight of the work of the house of Jehovah.\r\n Then stood Jeshua with his sons and his brethren, Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah, together, to have the oversight of the workmen in the house of God: the sons of Henadad, with their sons and their brethren the Levites.\r\n And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of Jehovah, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise Jehovah, after the order of David king of Israel.\r\n And they sang one to another in praising and giving thanks unto Jehovah, [saying], For he is good, for his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised Jehovah, because the foundation of the house of Jehovah was laid.\r\n But many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers` [houses], the old men that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy:\r\n so that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people; for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity were building a temple unto Jehovah, the God of Israel;\r\n then they drew near to Zerubbabel, and to the heads of fathers` [houses], and said unto them, Let us build with you; for we seek your God, as ye do; and we sacrifice unto him since the days of Esar-haddon king of Assyria, who brought us up hither.\r\n But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the heads of fathers` [houses] of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us in building a house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto Jehovah, the God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded us.\r\n Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building,\r\n and hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.\r\n And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, wrote they an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.\r\n And in the days of Artaxerxes wrote Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of his companions, unto Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the writing of the letter was written in the Syrian [character], and set forth in the Syrian [tongue].\r\n Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this sort:\r\n then [wrote] Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions, the Dinaites, and the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Shushanchites, the Dehaites, the Elamites,\r\n and the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Osnappar brought over, and set in the city of Samaria, and in the rest [of the country] beyond the River, and so forth.\r\n This is the copy of the letter that they sent unto Artaxerxes the king: Thy servants the men beyond the River, and so forth.\r\n Be it known unto the king, that the Jews that came up from thee are come to us unto Jerusalem; they are building the rebellious and the bad city, and have finished the walls, and repaired the foundations.\r\n Be it known now unto the king, that, if this city be builded, and the walls finished, they will not pay tribute, custom, or toll, and in the end it will be hurtful unto the kings.\r\n Now because we eat the salt of the palace, and it is not meet for us to see the king`s dishonor, therefore have we sent and certified the king;\r\n that search may be made in the book of the records of thy fathers: so shalt thou find in the book of the records, and know that this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful unto kings and provinces, and that they have moved sedition within the same of old time; for which cause was this city laid waste.\r\n We certify the king that, if this city be builded, and the walls finished, by this means thou shalt have no portion beyond the River.\r\n [Then] sent the king an answer unto Rehum the chancellor, and to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their companions that dwell in Samaria, and in the rest [of the country] beyond the River: Peace, and so forth.\r\n The letter which ye sent unto us hath been plainly read before me.\r\n And I decreed, and search hath been made, and it is found that this city of old time hath made insurrection against kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been made therein.\r\n There have been mighty kings also over Jerusalem, who have ruled over all [the country] beyond the River; and tribute, custom, and toll, was paid unto them.\r\n Make ye now a decree to cause these men to cease, and that this city be not builded, until a decree shall be made by me.\r\n And take heed that ye be not slack herein: why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings?\r\n Then when the copy of king Artaxerxes` letter was read before Rehum, and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went in haste to Jerusalem unto the Jews, and made them to cease by force and power.\r\n Then ceased the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem; and it ceased until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem; in the name of the God of Israel [prophesied they] unto them.\r\n Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem; and with them were the prophets of God, helping them.\r\n At the same time came to them Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, and Shethar-bozenai, and their companions, and said thus unto them, Who gave you a decree to build this house, and to finish this wall?\r\n Then we told them after this manner, what the names of the men were that were making this building.\r\n But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, and they did not make them cease, till the matter should come to Darius, and then answer should be returned by letter concerning it.\r\n The copy of the letter that Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, and Shethar-bozenai, and his companions the Apharsachites, who were beyond the River, sent unto Darius the king;\r\n they sent a letter unto him, wherein was written thus: Unto Darius the king, all peace.\r\n Be it known unto the king, that we went into the province of Judah, to the house of the great God, which is builded with great stones, and timber is laid in the walls; and this work goeth on with diligence and prospereth in their hands.\r\n Then asked we those elders, and said unto them thus, Who gave you a decree to build this house, and to finish this wall?\r\n We asked them their names also, to certify thee, that we might write the names of the men that were at the head of them.\r\n And thus they returned us answer, saying, We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and are building the house that was builded these many years ago, which a great king of Israel builded and finished.\r\n But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven unto wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house, and carried the people away into Babylon.\r\n But in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, Cyrus the king made a decree to build this house of God.\r\n And the gold and silver vessels also of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was in Jerusalem, and brought into the temple of Babylon, those did Cyrus the king take out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered unto one whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor;\r\n and he said unto him, Take these vessels, go, put them in the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be builded in its place.\r\n Then came the same Sheshbazzar, and laid the foundations of the house of God which is in Jerusalem: and since that time even until now hath it been in building, and yet it is not completed.\r\n Now therefore, if it seem good to the king, let there be search made in the king`s treasure-house, which is there at Babylon, whether it be so, that a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem; and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the house of the archives, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon.\r\n And there was found at Achmetha, in the palace that is in the province of Media, a roll, and therein was thus written for a record:\r\n In the first year of Cyrus the king, Cyrus the king made a decree: Concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, let the house be builded, the place where they offer sacrifices, and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid; the height thereof threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof threescore cubits;\r\n with three courses of great stones, and a course of new timber: and let the expenses be given out of the king`s house.\r\n And also let the gold and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple which is at Jerusalem, and brought unto Babylon, be restored, and brought again unto the temple which is at Jerusalem, every one to its place; and thou shalt put them in the house of God.\r\n Now therefore, Tattenai, governor beyond the River, Shethar-bozenai, and your companions the Apharsachites, who are beyond the River, be ye far from thence:\r\n let the work of this house of God alone; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of God in its place.\r\n Moreover I make a decree what ye shall do to these elders of the Jews for the building of this house of God: that of the king`s goods, even of the tribute beyond the River, expenses be given with all diligence unto these men, that they be not hindered.\r\n And that which they have need of, both young bullocks, and rams, and lambs, for burnt-offerings to the God of heaven; [also] wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the word of the priests that are at Jerusalem, let it be given them day by day without fail;\r\n that they may offer sacrifices of sweet savor unto the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons.\r\n Also I have made a decree, that whosoever shall alter this word, let a beam be pulled out from his house, and let him be lifted up and fastened thereon; and let his house be made a dunghill for this:\r\n and the God that hath caused his name to dwell there overthrow all kings and peoples that shall put forth their hand to alter [the same], to destroy this house of God which is at Jerusalem. I Darius have made a decree; let it be done with all diligence.\r\n Then Tattenai, the governor beyond the River, Shethar-bozenai, and their companions, because that Darius the king had sent, did accordingly with all diligence.\r\n And the elders of the Jews builded and prospered, through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they builded and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the decree of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.\r\n And this house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king.\r\n And the children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God with joy.\r\n And they offered at the dedication of this house of God a hundred bullocks, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs; and for a sin-offering for all Israel, twelve he-goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel.\r\n And they set the priests in their divisions, and the Levites in their courses, for the service of God, which is at Jerusalem; as it is written in the book of Moses.\r\n And the children of the captivity kept the passover upon the fourteenth [day] of the first month.\r\n For the priests and the Levites had purified themselves together; all of them were pure: and they killed the passover for all the children of the captivity, and for their brethren the priests, and for themselves.\r\n And the children of Israel that were come again out of the captivity, and all such as had separated themselves unto them from the filthiness of the nations of the land, to seek Jehovah, the God of Israel, did eat,\r\n and kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy: for Jehovah had made them joyful, and had turned the heart of the king of Assyria unto them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,\r\n the son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub,\r\n the son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth,\r\n the son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki,\r\n the son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest;\r\n this Ezra went up from Babylon: and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which Jehovah, the God of Israel, had given; and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of Jehovah his God upon him.\r\n And there went up some of the children of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinim, unto Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.\r\n And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king.\r\n For upon the first [day] of the first month began he to go up from Babylon; and on the first [day] of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him.\r\n For Ezra had set his heart to seek the law of Jehovah, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and ordinances.\r\n Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave unto Ezra the priest, the scribe, even the scribe of the words of the commandments of Jehovah, and of his statutes to Israel:\r\n Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect and so forth.\r\n I make a decree, that all they of the people of Israel, and their priests and the Levites, in my realm, that are minded of their own free will to go to Jerusalem, go with thee.\r\n Forasmuch as thou art sent of the king and his seven counsellors, to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of thy God which is in thy hand,\r\n and to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counsellors have freely offered unto the God of Israel, whose habitation is in Jerusalem,\r\n and all the silver and gold that thou shalt find in all the province of Babylon, with the freewill-offering of the people, and of the priests, offering willingly for the house of their God which is in Jerusalem;\r\n therefore thou shalt with all diligence buy with this money bullocks, rams, lambs, with their meal-offerings and their drink-offerings, and shalt offer them upon the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem.\r\n And whatsoever shall seem good to thee and to thy brethren to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, that do ye after the will of your God.\r\n And the vessels that are given thee for the service of the house of thy God, deliver thou before the God of Jerusalem.\r\n And whatsoever more shall be needful for the house of thy God, which thou shalt have occasion to bestow, bestow it out of the king`s treasure-house.\r\n And I, even I Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all the treasurers that are beyond the River, that whatsoever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shall require of you, it be done with all diligence,\r\n unto a hundred talents of silver, and to a hundred measures of wheat, and to a hundred baths of wine, and to a hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much.\r\n Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be done exactly for the house of the God of heaven; for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons?\r\n Also we certify you, that touching any of the priests and Levites, the singers, porters, Nethinim, or servants of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose tribute, custom, or toll, upon them.\r\n And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God that is in thy hand, appoint magistrates and judges, who may judge all the people that are beyond the River, all such as know the laws of thy God; and teach ye him that knoweth them not.\r\n And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed upon him with all diligence, whether it be unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.\r\n Blessed be Jehovah, the God of our fathers, who hath put such a thing as this in the king`s heart, to beautify the house of Jehovah which is in Jerusalem;\r\n and hath extended lovingkindness unto me before the king, and his counsellors, and before all the king`s mighty princes. And I was strengthened according to the hand of Jehovah my God upon me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now these are the heads of their fathers` [houses], and this is the genealogy of them that went up with me from Babylon, in the reign of Artaxerxes the king:\r\n Of the sons of Phinehas, Gershom. Of the sons of Ithamar, Daniel. Of the sons of David, Hattush.\r\n Of the sons of Shecaniah, of the sons of Parosh, Zechariah; and with him were reckoned by genealogy of the males a hundred and fifty.\r\n Of the sons of Pahath-moab, Eliehoenai the son of Zerahiah; and with him two hundred males.\r\n Of the sons of Shecaniah, the son of Jahaziel; and with him three hundred males.\r\n And of the sons of Adin, Ebed the son of Jonathan; and with him fifty males.\r\n And of the sons of Elam, Jeshaiah the son of Athaliah; and with him seventy males.\r\n And of the sons of Shephatiah, Zebadiah the son of Michael; and with him fourscore males.\r\n Of the sons of Joab, Obadiah the son of Jehiel; and with him two hundred and eighteen males.\r\n And of the sons of Shelomith, the son of Josiphiah; and with him a hundred and threescore males.\r\n And of the sons of Bebai, Zechariah the son of Bebai; and with him twenty and eight males.\r\n And of the sons of Azgad, Johanan the son of Hakkatan; and with him a hundred and ten males.\r\n And of the sons of Adonikam, [that were] the last; and these are their names: Eliphelet, Jeuel, and Shemaiah; and with them threescore males.\r\n And of the sons of Bigvai, Uthai and Zabbud; and with them seventy males.\r\n And I gathered them together to the river that runneth to Ahava; and there we encamped three days: and I viewed the people, and the priests, and found there none of the sons of Levi.\r\n Then sent I for Eliezer, for Ariel, for Shemaiah, and for Elnathan, and for Jarib, and for Elnathan, and for Nathan, and for Zechariah, and for Meshullam, chief men; also for Joiarib, and for Elnathan, who were teachers.\r\n And I sent them forth unto Iddo the chief at the place Casiphia; and I told them what they should say unto Iddo, [and] his brethren the Nethinim, at the place Casiphia, that they should bring unto us ministers for the house of our God.\r\n And according to the good hand of our God upon us they brought us a man of discretion, of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel; and Sherebiah, with his sons and his brethren, eighteen;\r\n and Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, his brethren and their sons, twenty;\r\n and of the Nethinim, whom David and the princes had given for the service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty Nethinim: all of them were mentioned by name.\r\n Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek of him a straight way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance.\r\n For I was ashamed to ask of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way, because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them that seek him, for good; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him.\r\n So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was entreated of us.\r\n Then I set apart twelve of the chiefs of the priests, even Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their brethren with them,\r\n and weighed unto them the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, even the offering for the house of our God, which the king, and his counsellors, and his princes, and all Israel there present, had offered:\r\n I weighed into their hand six hundred and fifty talents of silver, and silver vessels a hundred talents; of gold a hundred talents;\r\n and twenty bowls of gold, of a thousand darics; and two vessels of fine bright brass, precious as gold.\r\n And I said unto them, Ye are holy unto Jehovah, and the vessels are holy; and the silver and the gold are a freewill-offering unto Jehovah, the God of your fathers.\r\n Watch ye, and keep them, until ye weigh them before the chiefs of the priests and the Levites, and the princes of the fathers` [houses] of Israel, at Jerusalem, in the chambers of the house of Jehovah.\r\n So the priests and the Levites received the weight of the silver and the gold, and the vessels, to bring them to Jerusalem unto the house of our God.\r\n Then we departed from the river Ahava on the twelfth [day] of the first month, to go unto Jerusalem: and the hand of our God was upon us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy and the lier-in-wait by the way.\r\n And we came to Jerusalem, and abode there three days.\r\n And on the fourth day the silver and the gold and the vessels were weighed in the house of our God into the hand of Meremoth the son of Uriah the priest; and with him was Eleazar the son of Phinehas; and with them was Jozabad the son of Jeshua, and Noadiah the son of Binnui, the Levite;\r\n the whole by number and by weight: and all the weight was written at that time.\r\n The children of the captivity, that were come out of exile, offered burnt-offerings unto the God of Israel, twelve bullocks for all Israel, ninety and six rams, seventy and seven lambs, twelve he-goats for a sin-offering: all this was a burnt-offering unto Jehovah.\r\n And they delivered the king`s commissions unto the king`s satraps, and to the governors beyond the River: and they furthered the people and the house of God.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now when these things were done, the princes drew near unto me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands, [doing] according to their abominations, even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.\r\n For they have taken of their daughters for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the peoples of the lands: yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in this trespass.\r\n And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my robe, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down confounded.\r\n Then were assembled unto me every one that trembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of the trespass of them of the captivity; and I sat confounded until the evening oblation.\r\n And at the evening oblation I arose up from my humiliation, even with my garment and my robe rent; and I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands unto Jehovah my God;\r\n and I said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God; for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our guiltiness is grown up unto the heavens.\r\n Since the days of our fathers we have been exceeding guilty unto this day; and for our iniquities have we, our kings, and our priests, been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, and to plunder, and to confusion of face, as it is this day.\r\n And now for a little moment grace hath been showed from Jehovah our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage.\r\n For we are bondmen; yet our God hath not forsaken us in our bondage, but hath extended lovingkindness unto us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving, to set up the house of our God, and to repair the ruins thereof, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem.\r\n And now, O our God, what shall we say after this? for we have forsaken thy commandments,\r\n which thou hast commanded by thy servants the prophets, saying, The land, unto which ye go to possess it, is an unclean land through the uncleanness of the peoples of the lands, through their abominations, which have filled it from one end to another with their filthiness:\r\n now therefore give not your daughters unto their sons, neither take their daughters unto your sons, nor seek their peace or their prosperity for ever; that ye may be strong, and eat the good of the land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children for ever.\r\n And after all that is come upon us for our evil deeds, and for our great guilt, seeing that thou our God hast punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and hast given us such a remnant,\r\n shall we again break thy commandments, and join in affinity with the peoples that do these abominations? wouldest not thou be angry with us till thou hadst consumed us, so that there should be no remnant, nor any to escape?\r\n O Jehovah, the God of Israel, thou art righteous; for we are left a remnant that is escaped, as it is this day: behold, we are before thee in our guiltiness; for none can stand before thee because of this.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now while Ezra prayed and made confession, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, there was gathered together unto him out of Israel a very great assembly of men and women and children; for the people wept very sore.\r\n And Shecaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered and said unto Ezra, We have trespassed against our God, and have married foreign women of the peoples of the land: yet now there is hope for Israel concerning this thing.\r\n Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the wives, and such as are born of them, according to the counsel of my lord, and of those that tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the law.\r\n Arise; for the matter belongeth unto thee, and we are with thee: be of good courage, and do it.\r\n Then arose Ezra, and made the chiefs of the priests, the Levites, and all Israel, to swear that they would do according to this word. So they sware.\r\n Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God, and went into the chamber of Jehohanan the son of Eliashib: and [when] he came thither, he did eat no bread, nor drink water; for he mourned because of the trespass of them of the captivity.\r\n And they made proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem unto all the children of the captivity, that they should gather themselves together unto Jerusalem;\r\n and that whosoever came not within three days, according to the counsel of the princes and the elders, all his substance should be forfeited, and himself separated from the assembly of the captivity.\r\n Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered themselves together unto Jerusalem within the three days; it was the ninth month, on the twentieth [day] of the month: and all the people sat in the broad place before the house of God, trembling because of this matter, and for the great rain.\r\n And Ezra the priest stood up, and said unto them, Ye have trespassed, and have married foreign women, to increase the guilt of Israel.\r\n Now therefore make confession unto Jehovah, the God of your fathers, and do his pleasure; and separate yourselves from the peoples of the land, and from the foreign women.\r\n Then all the assembly answered and said with a loud voice, As thou hast said concerning us, so must we do.\r\n But the people are many, and it is a time of much rain, and we are not able to stand without: neither is this a work of one day or two; for we have greatly transgressed in this matter.\r\n Let now our princes be appointed for all the assembly, and let all them that are in our cities that have married foreign women come at appointed times, and with them the elders of every city, and the judges thereof, until the fierce wrath of our God be turned from us, until this matter be despatched.\r\n Only Jonathan the son of Asahel and Jahzeiah the son of Tikvah stood up against this [matter]: and Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite helped them.\r\n And the children of the captivity did so. And Ezra the priest, [with] certain heads of fathers` [houses], after their fathers` houses, and all of them by their names, were set apart; and they sat down in the first day of the tenth month to examine the matter.\r\n And they made an end with all the men that had married foreign women by the first day of the first month.\r\n And among the sons of the priests there were found that had married foreign women: [namely], of the sons of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and his brethren, Maaseiah, and Eliezer, and Jarib, and Gedaliah.\r\n And they gave their hand that they would put away their wives; and being guilty, [they offered] a ram of the flock for their guilt.\r\n And of the sons of Immer: Hanani and Zebadiah.\r\n And of the sons of Harim: Maaseiah, and Elijah, and Shemaiah, and Jehiel, and Uzziah.\r\n And of the sons of Pashhur: Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad, and Elasah.\r\n And of the Levites: Jozabad, and Shimei, and Kelaiah (the same is Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.\r\n And of the singers: Eliashib. And of the porters: Shallum, and Telem, and Uri.\r\n And of Israel: Of the sons of Parosh: Ramiah, and Izziah, and Malchijah, and Mijamin, and Eleazar, and Malchijah, and Benaiah.\r\n And of the sons of Elam: Mattaniah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, and Abdi, and Jeremoth, and Elijah.\r\n And of the sons of Zattu: Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, and Jeremoth, and Zabad, and Aziza.\r\n And of the sons of Bebai: Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, Athlai.\r\n And of the sons of Bani: Meshullam, Malluch, and Adaiah, Jashub, and Sheal, Jeremoth.\r\n And of the sons of Pahath-moab: Adna, and Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, and Binnui, and Manasseh.\r\n And [of] the sons of Harim: Eliezer, Isshijah, Malchijah, Shemaiah, Shimeon,\r\n Benjamin, Malluch, Shemariah.\r\n Of the sons of Hashum: Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, Shimei.\r\n Of the sons of Bani: Maadai, Amram, and Uel,\r\n Benaiah, Bedeiah, Cheluhi,\r\n Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib,\r\n Mattaniah, Mattenai, and Jaasu,\r\n and Bani, and Binnui, Shimei,\r\n and Shelemiah, and Nathan, and Adaiah,\r\n Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai,\r\n Azarel, and Shelemiah, Shemariah,\r\n Shallum, Amariah, Joseph.\r\n Of the sons of Nebo: Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Iddo, and Joel, Benaiah.\r\n All these had taken foreign wives; and some of them had wives by whom they had children.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah. Now it came to pass in the month Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace,\r\n that Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men out of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, that were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.\r\n And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire.\r\n And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days; and I fasted and prayed before the God of heaven,\r\n and said, I beseech thee, O Jehovah, the God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and lovingkindness with them that love him and keep his commandments:\r\n Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hearken unto the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee at this time, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants while I confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee. Yea, I and my father`s house have sinned:\r\n we have dealt very corruptly against thee, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the ordinances, which thou commandedst thy servant Moses.\r\n Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst thy servant Moses, saying, If ye trespass, I will scatter you abroad among the peoples:\r\n but if ye return unto me, and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts were in the uttermost part of the heavens, yet will I gather them from thence, and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen, to cause my name to dwell there.\r\n Now these are thy servants and thy people, whom thou hast redeemed by thy great power, and by thy strong hand.\r\n O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who delight to fear thy name; and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. Now I was cupbearer to the king.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, when wine was before him, that I took up the wine, and gave it unto the king. Now I had not been [beforetime] sad in his presence.\r\n And the king said unto me, Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? this is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was very sore afraid.\r\n And I said unto the king, Let the king live for ever: why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers` sepulchres, lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire?\r\n Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven.\r\n And I said unto the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favor in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers` sepulchres, that I may build it.\r\n And the king said unto me (the queen also sitting by him,) For how long shall thy journey be? and when wilt thou return? So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time.\r\n Moreover I said unto the king, If it please the king, let letters be given me to the governors beyond the River, that they may let me pass through till I come unto Judah;\r\n and a letter unto Asaph the keeper of the king`s forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the castle which appertaineth to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall enter into. And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me.\r\n Then I came to the governors beyond the River, and gave them the king`s letters. Now the king had sent with me captains of the army and horsemen.\r\n And when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly, for that there was come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel.\r\n So I came to Jerusalem, and was there three days.\r\n And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me; neither told I any man what my God put into my heart to do for Jerusalem; neither was there any beast with me, save the beast that I rode upon.\r\n And I went out by night by the valley gate, even toward the jackal`s well, and to the dung gate, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem, which were broken down, and the gates thereof were consumed with fire.\r\n Then I went on to the fountain gate and to the king`s pool: but there was no place for the beast that was under me to pass.\r\n Then went I up in the night by the brook, and viewed the wall; and I turned back, and entered by the valley gate, and so returned.\r\n And the rulers knew not whither I went, or what I did; neither had I as yet told it to the Jews, nor to the priests, nor to the nobles, nor to the rulers, nor to the rest that did the work.\r\n Then said I unto them, Ye see the evil case that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach.\r\n And I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me, as also of the king`s words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for the good [work].\r\n But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king?\r\n Then answered I them, and said unto them, The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build: but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brethren the priests, and they builded the sheep gate; they sanctified it, and set up the doors of it; even unto the tower of Hammeah they sanctified it, unto the tower of Hananel.\r\n And next unto him builded the men of Jericho. And next to them builded Zaccur the son of Imri.\r\n And the fish gate did the sons of Hassenaah build; they laid the beams thereof, and set up the doors thereof, the bolts thereof, and the bars thereof.\r\n And next unto them repaired Meremoth the son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz. And next unto them repaired Meshullam the son of Berechiah, the son of Meshezabel. And next unto them repaired Zadok the son of Baana.\r\n And next unto them the Tekoites repaired; but their nobles put not their necks to the work of their lord.\r\n And the old gate repaired Joiada the son of Paseah and Meshullam the son of Besodeiah; they laid the beams thereof, and set up the doors thereof, and the bolts thereof, and the bars thereof.\r\n And next unto them repaired Melatiah the Gibeonite, and Jadon the Meronothite, the men of Gibeon, and of Mizpah, [that appertained] to the throne of the governor beyond the River.\r\n Next unto him repaired Uzziel the son of Harhaiah, goldsmiths. And next unto him repaired Hananiah one of the perfumers, and they fortified Jerusalem even unto the broad wall.\r\n And next unto them repaired Rephaiah the son of Hur, the ruler of half the district of Jerusalem.\r\n And next unto them repaired Jedaiah the son of Harumaph, over against his house. And next unto him repaired Hattush the son of Hashabneiah.\r\n Malchijah the son of Harim, and Hasshub the son of Pahath-moab, repaired another portion, and the tower of the furnaces.\r\n And next unto him repaired Shallum the son of Hallohesh, the ruler of half the district of Jerusalem, he and his daughters.\r\n The valley gate repaired Hanun, and the inhabitants of Zanoah; they built it, and set up the doors thereof, the bolts thereof, and the bars thereof, and a thousand cubits of the wall unto the dung gate.\r\n And the dung gate repaired Malchijah the son of Rechab, the ruler of the district of Beth-haccherem; he built it, and set up the doors thereof, the bolts thereof, and the bars thereof.\r\n And the fountain gate repaired Shallun the son of Colhozeh, the ruler of the district of Mizpah; he built it, and covered it, and set up the doors thereof, the bolts thereof, and the bars thereof, and the wall of the pool of Shelah by the king`s garden, even unto the stairs that go down from the city of David.\r\n After him repaired Nehemiah the son of Azbuk, the ruler of half the district of Beth-zur, unto the place over against the sepulchres of David, and unto the pool that was made, and unto the house of the mighty men.\r\n After him repaired the Levites, Rehum the son of Bani. Next unto him repaired Hashabiah, the ruler of half the district of Keilah, for his district.\r\n After him repaired their brethren, Bavvai the son of Henadad, the ruler of half the district of Keilah.\r\n And next to him repaired Ezer the son of Jeshua, the ruler of Mizpah, another portion, over against the ascent to the armory at the turning [of the wall].\r\n After him Baruch the son of Zabbai earnestly repaired another portion, from the turning [of the wall] unto the door of the house of Eliashib the high priest.\r\n After him repaired Meremoth the son of Uriah the son of Hakkoz another portion, from the door of the house of Eliashib even to the end of the house of Eliashib.\r\n And after him repaired the priests, the men of the Plain.\r\n After them repaired Benjamin and Hasshub over against their house. After them repaired Azariah the son of Maaseiah the son of Ananiah beside his own house.\r\n After him repaired Binnui the son of Henadad another portion, from the house of Azariah unto the turning [of the wall], and unto the corner.\r\n Palal the son of Uzai [repaired] over against the turning [of the wall], and the tower that standeth out from the upper house of the king, which is by the court of the guard. After him Pedaiah the son of Parosh [repaired].\r\n (Now the Nethinim dwelt in Ophel, unto the place over against the water gate toward the east, and the tower that standeth out.)\r\n After him the Tekoites repaired another portion, over against the great tower that standeth out, and unto the wall of Ophel.\r\n Above the horse gate repaired the priests, every one over against his own house.\r\n After them repaired Zadok the son of Immer over against his own house. And after him repaired Shemaiah the son of Shecaniah, the keeper of the east gate.\r\n After him repaired Hananiah the son of Shelemiah, and Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph, another portion. After him repaired Meshullam the son of Berechiah over against his chamber.\r\n After him repaired Malchijah one of the goldsmiths unto the house of the Nethinim, and of the merchants, over against the gate of Hammiphkad, and to the ascent of the corner.\r\n And between the ascent of the corner and the sheep gate repaired the goldsmiths and the merchants.\r\n \r\n \r\n But it came to pass that, when Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he was wroth, and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews.\r\n And he spake before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, What are these feeble Jews doing? will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice? will they make an end in a day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps of rubbish, seeing they are burned?\r\n Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they are building, if a fox go up, he shall break down their stone wall.\r\n Hear, O our God; for we are despised: and turn back their reproach upon their own head, and give them up for a spoil in a land of captivity;\r\n and cover not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from before thee; for they have provoked [thee] to anger before the builders.\r\n So we built the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto half [the height] thereof: for the people had a mind to work.\r\n But it came to pass that, when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the repairing of the walls of Jerusalem went forward, [and] that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth;\r\n and they conspired all of them together to come and fight against Jerusalem, and to cause confusion therein.\r\n But we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.\r\n And Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and there is much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall.\r\n And our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, till we come into the midst of them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease.\r\n And it came to pass that, when the Jews that dwelt by them came, they said unto us ten times from all places, Ye must return unto us.\r\n Therefore set I in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, in the open places, I set [there] the people after their families with their swords, their spears, and their bows.\r\n And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, who is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.\r\n And it came to pass, when our enemies heard that it was known unto us, and God had brought their counsel to nought, that we returned all of us to the wall, every one unto his work.\r\n And it came to pass from that time forth, that half of my servants wrought in the work, and half of them held the spears, the shields, and the bows, and the coats of mail; and the rulers were behind all the house of Judah.\r\n They all builded the wall and they that bare burdens laded themselves; every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other held his weapon;\r\n and the builders, every one had his sword girded by his side, and so builded. And he that sounded the trumpet was by me.\r\n And I said unto the nobles, and to the rulers and to the rest of the people, The work is great and large, and we are separated upon the wall, one far from another:\r\n in what place soever ye hear the sound of the trumpet, resort ye thither unto us; our God will fight for us.\r\n So we wrought in the work: and half of them held the spears from the rising of the morning till the stars appeared.\r\n Likewise at the same time said I unto the people, Let every one with his servant lodge within Jerusalem, that in the night they may be a guard to us, and may labor in the day.\r\n So neither I, nor my brethren, nor my servants, nor the men of the guard that followed me, none of us put off our clothes, every one [went with] his weapon [to] the water.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then there arose a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews.\r\n For there were that said, We, our sons and our daughters, are many: let us get grain, that we may eat and live.\r\n Some also there were that said, We are mortgaging our fields, and our vineyards, and our houses: let us get grain, because of the dearth.\r\n There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king`s tribute [upon] our fields and our vineyards.\r\n Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children: and, lo, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters are brought into bondage [already]: neither is it in our power to help it; for other men have our fields and our vineyards.\r\n And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.\r\n Then I consulted with myself, and contended with the nobles and the rulers, and said unto them, Ye exact usury, every one of his brother. And I held a great assembly against them.\r\n And I said unto them, We after our ability have redeemed our brethren the Jews, that were sold unto the nations; and would ye even sell your brethren, and should they be sold unto us? Then held they their peace, and found never a word.\r\n Also I said, The thing that ye do is not good: ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God, because of the reproach of the nations our enemies?\r\n And I likewise, my brethren and my servants, do lend them money and grain. I pray you, let us leave off this usury.\r\n Restore, I pray you, to them, even this day, their fields, their vineyards, their oliveyards, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money, and of the grain, the new wine, and the oil, that ye exact of them.\r\n Then said they, We will restore them, and will require nothing of them; so will we do, even as thou sayest. Then I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they would do according to this promise.\r\n Also I shook out my lap, and said, So God shake out every man from his house, and from his labor, that performeth not this promise; even thus be he shaken out, and emptied. And all the assembly said, Amen, and praised Jehovah. And the people did according to this promise.\r\n Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even unto the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes the king, [that is], twelve years, I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor.\r\n But the former governors that were before me were chargeable unto the people, and took of them bread and wine, besides forty shekels of silver; yea, even their servants bare rule over the people: but so did not I, because of the fear of God.\r\n Yea, also I continued in the work of this wall, neither bought we any land: and all my servants were gathered thither unto the work.\r\n Moreover there were at my table, of the Jews and the rulers, a hundred and fifty men, besides those that came unto us from among the nations that were round about us.\r\n Now that which was prepared for one day was one ox and six choice sheep; also fowls were prepared for me, and once in ten days store of all sorts of wine: yet for all this I demanded not the bread of the governor, because the bondage was heavy upon this people.\r\n Remember unto me, O my God, for good, all that I have done for this people.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now it came to pass, when it was reported to Sanballat and Tobiah, and to Geshem the Arabian, and unto the rest of our enemies, that I had builded the wall, and that there was no breach left therein; (though even unto that time I had not set up the doors in the gates;)\r\n that Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying, Come, let us meet together in [one of] the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief.\r\n And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?\r\n And they sent unto me four times after this sort; and I answered them after the same manner.\r\n Then sent Sanballat his servant unto me in like manner the fifth time with an open letter in his hand,\r\n wherein was written, It is reported among the nations, and Gashmu saith it, that thou and the Jews think to rebel; for which cause thou art building the wall: and thou wouldest be their king, according to these words.\r\n And thou hast also appointed prophets to preach of thee at Jerusalem, saying, There is a king in Judah: and now shall it be reported to the king according to these words. Come now therefore, and let us take counsel together.\r\n Then I sent unto him, saying, There are no such things done as thou sayest, but thou feignest them out of thine own heart.\r\n For they all would have made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done. But now, [O God], strengthen thou my hands.\r\n And I went unto the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabel, who was shut up; and he said, Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple: for they will come to slay thee; yea, in the night will they come to slay thee.\r\n And I said, Should such a man as I flee? and who is there, that, being such as I, would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in.\r\n And I discerned, and, lo, God had not sent him; but he pronounced this prophecy against me: and Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.\r\n For this cause was he hired, that I should be afraid, and do so, and sin, and that they might have matter for an evil report, that they might reproach me.\r\n Remember, O my God, Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works, and also the prophetess Noadiah, and the rest of the prophets, that would have put me in fear.\r\n So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth [day] of [the month] Elul, in fifty and two days.\r\n And it came to pass, when all our enemies heard [thereof], that all the nations that were about us feared, and were much cast down in their own eyes; for they perceived that this work was wrought of our God.\r\n Moreover in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters unto Tobiah, and [the letters] of Tobiah came unto them.\r\n For there were many in Judah sworn unto him, because he was the son-in-law of Shecaniah the son of Arah; and his son Jehohanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah to wife.\r\n Also they spake of his good deeds before me, and reported my words to him. [And] Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now it came to pass, when the wall was built, and I had set up the doors, and the porters and the singers and the Levites were appointed,\r\n that I gave my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the governor of the castle, charge over Jerusalem; for he was a faithful man, and feared God above many.\r\n And I said unto them, Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun be hot; and while they stand [on guard], let them shut the doors, and bar ye them: and appoint watches of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, every one in his watch, and every one [to be] over against his house.\r\n Now the city was wide and large; but the people were few therein, and the houses were not builded.\r\n And my God put into my heart to gather together the nobles, and the rulers, and the people, that they might be reckoned by genealogy. And I found the book of the genealogy of them that came up at the first, and I found written therein:\r\n These are the children of the province, that went up out of the captivity of those that had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away, and that returned unto Jerusalem and to Judah, every one unto his city;\r\n who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel:\r\n The children of Parosh, two thousand a hundred and seventy and two.\r\n The children of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy and two.\r\n The children of Arah, six hundred fifty and two.\r\n The children of Pahath-moab, of the children of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand and eight hundred [and] eighteen.\r\n The children of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four.\r\n The children of Zattu, eight hundred forty and five.\r\n The children of Zaccai, seven hundred and threescore.\r\n The children of Binnui, six hundred forty and eight.\r\n The children of Bebai, six hundred twenty and eight.\r\n The children of Azgad, two thousand three hundred twenty and two.\r\n The children of Adonikam, six hundred threescore and seven.\r\n The children of Bigvai, two thousand threescore and seven.\r\n The children of Adin, six hundred fifty and five.\r\n The children of Ater, of Hezekiah, ninety and eight.\r\n The children of Hashum, three hundred twenty and eight.\r\n The children of Bezai, three hundred twenty and four.\r\n The children of Hariph, a hundred and twelve.\r\n The children of Gibeon, ninety and five.\r\n The men of Bethlehem and Netophah, a hundred fourscore and eight.\r\n The men of Anathoth, a hundred twenty and eight.\r\n The men of Beth-azmaveth, forty and two.\r\n The men of Kiriath-jearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred forty and three.\r\n The men of Ramah and Geba, six hundred twenty and one.\r\n The men of Michmas, a hundred and twenty and two.\r\n The men of Beth-el and Ai, a hundred twenty and three.\r\n The men of the other Nebo, fifty and two.\r\n The children of the other Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four.\r\n The children of Harim, three hundred and twenty.\r\n The children of Jericho, three hundred forty and five.\r\n The children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred twenty and one.\r\n The children of Senaah, three thousand nine hundred and thirty.\r\n The priests: The children of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred seventy and three.\r\n The children of Immer, a thousand fifty and two.\r\n The children of Pashhur, a thousand two hundred forty and seven.\r\n The children of Harim, a thousand [and] seventeen.\r\n The Levites: the children of Jeshua, of Kadmiel, of the children of Hodevah, seventy and four.\r\n The singers: the children of Asaph, a hundred forty and eight.\r\n The porters: the children of Shallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the children of Shobai, a hundred thirty and eight.\r\n The Nethinim: the children of Ziha, the children of Hasupha, the children of Tabbaoth,\r\n the children of Keros, the children of Sia, the children of Padon,\r\n the children of Lebana, the children of Hagaba, the children of Salmai,\r\n the children of Hanan, the children of Giddel, the children of Gahar,\r\n the children of Reaiah, the children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda,\r\n the children of Gazzam, the children of Uzza, the children of Paseah.\r\n The children of Besai, the children of Meunim, the children of Nephushesim,\r\n the children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the children of Harhur,\r\n the children of Bazlith, the children of Mehida, the children of Harsha,\r\n the children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children of Temah,\r\n the children of Neziah, the children of Hatipha.\r\n The children of Solomon`s servants: the children of Sotai, the children of Sophereth, the children of Perida,\r\n the children of Jaala, the children of Darkon, the children of Giddel,\r\n the children of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth-hazzebaim, the children of Amon.\r\n All the Nethinim, and the children of Solomon`s servants, were three hundred ninety and two.\r\n And these were they that went up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer; but they could not show their fathers` houses, nor their seed, whether they were of Israel:\r\n The children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda, six hundred forty and two.\r\n And of the priests: the children of Hobaiah, the children of Hakkoz, the children of Barzillai, who took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called after their name.\r\n These sought their register [among] those that were reckoned by genealogy, but it was not found: therefore were they deemed polluted and put from the priesthood.\r\n And the governor said unto them, that they should not eat of the most holy things, till there stood up a priest with Urim and Thummim.\r\n The whole assembly together was forty and two thousand three hundred and threescore,\r\n besides their men-servants and their maid-servants, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty and seven: and they had two hundred forty and five singing men and singing women.\r\n Their horses were seven hundred thirty and six; their mules, two hundred forty and five;\r\n [their] camels, four hundred thirty and five; [their] asses, six thousand seven hundred and twenty.\r\n And some from among the heads of fathers` [houses] gave unto the work. The governor gave to the treasury a thousand darics of gold, fifty basins, five hundred and thirty priests` garments.\r\n And some of the heads of fathers` [houses] gave into the treasury of the work twenty thousand darics of gold, and two thousand and two hundred pounds of silver.\r\n And that which the rest of the people gave was twenty thousand darics of gold, and two thousand pounds of silver, and threescore and seven priests` garments.\r\n So the priests, and the Levites, and the porters, and the singers, and some of the people, and the Nethinim, and all Israel, dwelt in their cities. And when the seventh month was come, the children of Israel were in their cities.\r\n \r\n \r\n And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the broad place that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which Jehovah had commanded to Israel.\r\n And Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly, both men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month.\r\n And he read therein before the broad place that was before the water gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women, and of those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were [attentive] unto the book of the law.\r\n And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Uriah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchijah, and Hashum, and Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, [and] Meshullam.\r\n And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people; (for he was above all the people;) and when he opened it, all the people stood up:\r\n and Ezra blessed Jehovah, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with the lifting up of their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped Jehovah with their faces to the ground.\r\n Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law: and the people [stood] in their place.\r\n And they read in the book, in the law of God, distinctly; and they gave the sense, so that they understood the reading.\r\n And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto Jehovah your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law.\r\n Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto him for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye grieved; for the joy of Jehovah is your strength.\r\n So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, Hold your peace, for the day is holy; neither be ye grieved.\r\n And all the people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared unto them.\r\n And on the second day were gathered together the heads of fathers` [houses] of all the people, the priests, and the Levites, unto Ezra the scribe, even to give attention to the words of the law.\r\n And they found written in the law, how that Jehovah had commanded by Moses, that the children of Israel should dwell in booths in the feast of the seventh month;\r\n and that they should publish and proclaim in all their cities, and in Jerusalem, saying, Go forth unto the mount, and fetch olive branches, and branches of wild olive, and myrtle branches, and palm branches, and branches of thick trees, to make booths, as it is written.\r\n So the people went forth, and brought them, and made themselves booths, every one upon the roof of his house, and in their courts, and in the courts of the house of God, and in the broad place of the water gate, and in the broad place of the gate of Ephraim.\r\n And all the assembly of them that were come again out of the captivity made booths, and dwelt in the booths; for since the days of Jeshua the son of Nun unto that day had not the children of Israel done so. And there was very great gladness.\r\n Also day by day, from the first day unto the last day, he read in the book of the law of God. And they kept the feast seven days; and on the eighth day was a solemn assembly, according unto the ordinance.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now in the twenty and fourth day of this month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, and with sackcloth, and earth upon them.\r\n And the seed of Israel separated themselves from all foreigners, and stood and confessed their sins, and the iniquities of their fathers.\r\n And they stood up in their place, and read in the book of the law of Jehovah their God a fourth part of the day; and [another] fourth part they confessed, and worshipped Jehovah their God.\r\n Then stood up upon the stairs of the Levites, Jeshua, and Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, [and] Chenani, and cried with a loud voice unto Jehovah their God.\r\n Then the Levites, Jeshua, and Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, [and] Pethahiah, said, Stand up and bless Jehovah your God from everlasting to everlasting; and blessed be thy glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise.\r\n Thou art Jehovah, even thou alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all things that are thereon, the seas and all that is in them, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee.\r\n Thou art Jehovah the God, who didst choose Abram, and broughtest him forth out of Ur of the Chaldees, and gavest him the name of Abraham,\r\n and foundest his heart faithful before thee, and madest a covenant with him to give the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, and the Perizzite, and the Jebusite, and the Girgashite, to give it unto his seed, and hast performed thy words; for thou art righteous.\r\n And thou sawest the affliction of our fathers in Egypt, and heardest their cry by the Red Sea,\r\n and showedst signs and wonders upon Pharaoh, and on all his servants, and on all the people of his land; for thou knewest that they dealt proudly against them, and didst get thee a name, as it is this day.\r\n And thou didst divide the sea before them, so that they went through the midst of the sea on the dry land; and their pursuers thou didst cast into the depths, as a stone into the mighty waters.\r\n Moreover in a pillar of cloud thou leddest them by day; and in a pillar of fire by night, to give them light in the way wherein they should go.\r\n Thou camest down also upon mount Sinai, and spakest with them from heaven, and gavest them right ordinances and true laws, good statutes and commandments,\r\n and madest known unto them thy holy sabbath, and commandedst them commandments, and statutes, and a law, by Moses thy servant,\r\n and gavest them bread from heaven for their hunger, and broughtest forth water for them out of the rock for their thirst, and commandedst them that they should go in to possess the land which thou hadst sworn to give them.\r\n But they and our fathers dealt proudly and hardened their neck, and hearkened not to thy commandments,\r\n and refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them, but hardened their neck, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage. But thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness, and forsookest them not.\r\n Yea, when they had made them a molten calf, and said, This is thy God that brought thee up out of Egypt, and had wrought great provocations;\r\n yet thou in thy manifold mercies forsookest them not in the wilderness: the pillar of cloud departed not from over them by day, to lead them in the way; neither the pillar of fire by night, to show them light, and the way wherein they should go.\r\n Thou gavest also thy good Spirit to instruct them, and withheldest not thy manna from their mouth, and gavest them water for their thirst.\r\n Yea, forty years didst thou sustain them in the wilderness, [and] they lacked nothing; their clothes waxed not old, and their feet swelled not.\r\n Moreover thou gavest them kingdoms and peoples, which thou didst allot after their portions: so they possessed the land of Sihon, even the land of the king of Heshbon, and the land of Og king of Bashan.\r\n Their children also multipliedst thou as the stars of heaven, and broughtest them into the land concerning which thou didst say to their fathers, that they should go in to possess it.\r\n So the children went in and possessed the land, and thou subduedst before them the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, and gavest them into their hands, with their kings, and the peoples of the land, that they might do with them as they would.\r\n And they took fortified cities, and a fat land, and possessed houses full of all good things, cisterns hewn out, vineyards, and oliveyards, and fruit-trees in abundance: so they did eat, and were filled, and became fat, and delighted themselves in thy great goodness.\r\n Nevertheless they were disobedient, and rebelled against thee, and cast thy law behind their back, and slew thy prophets that testified against them to turn them again unto thee, and they wrought great provocations.\r\n Therefore thou deliveredst them into the hand of their adversaries, who distressed them: and in the time of their trouble, when they cried unto thee, thou heardest from heaven; and according to thy manifold mercies thou gavest them saviours who saved them out of the hand of their adversaries.\r\n But after they had rest, they did evil again before thee; therefore leftest thou them in the hand of their enemies, so that they had the dominion over them: yet when they returned, and cried unto thee, thou heardest from heaven; and many times didst thou deliver them according to thy mercies,\r\n and testifiedst against them, that thou mightest bring them again unto thy law. Yet they dealt proudly, and hearkened not unto thy commandments, but sinned against thine ordinances, (which if a man do, he shall live in them,) and withdrew the shoulder, and hardened their neck, and would not hear.\r\n Yet many years didst thou bear with them, and testifiedst against them by thy Spirit through thy prophets: yet would they not give ear: therefore gavest thou them into the hand of the peoples of the lands.\r\n Nevertheless in thy manifold mercies thou didst not make a full end of them, nor forsake them; for thou art a gracious and merciful God.\r\n Now therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the terrible God, who keepest covenant and lovingkindness, let not all the travail seem little before thee, that hath come upon us, on our kings, on our princes, and on our priests, and on our prophets, and on our fathers, and on all thy people, since the time of the kings of Assyria unto this day.\r\n Howbeit thou art just in all that is come upon us; for thou hast dealt truly, but we have done wickedly;\r\n neither have our kings, our princes, our priests, nor our fathers, kept thy law, nor hearkened unto thy commandments and thy testimonies wherewith thou didst testify against them.\r\n For they have not served thee in their kingdom, and in thy great goodness that thou gavest them, and in the large and fat land which thou gavest before them, neither turned they from their wicked works.\r\n Behold, we are servants this day, and as for the land that thou gavest unto our fathers to eat the fruit thereof and the good thereof, behold, we are servants in it.\r\n And it yieldeth much increase unto the kings whom thou hast set over us because of our sins: also they have power over our bodies, and over our cattle, at their pleasure, and we are in great distress.\r\n And yet for all this we make a sure covenant, and write it; and our princes, our Levites, [and] our priests, seal unto it.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now those that sealed were: Nehemiah the governor, the son of Hacaliah, and Zedekiah,\r\n Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah,\r\n Pashhur, Amariah, Malchijah,\r\n Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch,\r\n Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah,\r\n Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch,\r\n Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin,\r\n Maaziah, Bilgai, Shemaiah; these were the priests.\r\n And the Levites: namely, Jeshua the son of Azaniah, Binnui of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel;\r\n and their brethren, Shebaniah, Hodiah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan,\r\n Mica, Rehob, Hashabiah,\r\n Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah,\r\n Hodiah, Bani, Beninu.\r\n The chiefs of the people: Parosh, Pahath-moab, Elam, Zattu, Bani,\r\n Bunni, Azgad, Bebai,\r\n Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin,\r\n Ater, Hezekiah, Azzur,\r\n Hodiah, Hashum, Bezai,\r\n Hariph, Anathoth, Nobai,\r\n Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir,\r\n Meshezabel, Zadok, Jaddua,\r\n Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah,\r\n Hoshea, Hananiah, Hasshub,\r\n Hallohesh, Pilha, Shobek,\r\n Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah,\r\n and Ahiah, Hanan, Anan,\r\n Malluch, Harim, Baanah.\r\n And the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the porters, the singers, the Nethinim, and all they that had separated themselves from the peoples of the lands unto the law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, every one that had knowledge, and understanding;\r\n They clave to their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God`s law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of Jehovah our Lord, and his ordinances and his statutes;\r\n and that we would not give our daughters unto the peoples of the land, nor take their daughters for our sons;\r\n and if the peoples of the land bring wares or any grain on the sabbath day to sell, that we would not buy of them on the sabbath, or on a holy day; and that we would forego the seventh year, and the exaction of every debt.\r\n Also we made ordinances for us, to charge ourselves yearly with the third part of a shekel for the service of the house of our God;\r\n for the showbread, and for the continual meal-offering, and for the continual burnt-offering, for the sabbaths, for the new moons, for the set feasts, and for the holy things, and for the sin-offerings to make atonement for Israel, and for all the work of the house of our God.\r\n And we cast lots, the priests, the Levites, and the people, for the wood-offering, to bring it into the house of our God, according to our fathers` houses, at times appointed, year by year, to burn upon the altar of Jehovah our God, as it is written in the law;\r\n and to bring the first-fruits of our ground, and the first-fruits of all fruit of all manner of trees, year by year, unto the house of Jehovah;\r\n also the first-born of our sons, and of our cattle, as it is written in the law, and the firstlings of our herds and of our flocks, to bring to the house of our God, unto the priests that minister in the house of our God;\r\n and that we should bring the first-fruits of our dough, and our heave-offerings, and the fruit of all manner of trees, the new wine and the oil, unto the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God; and the tithes of our ground unto the Levites; for they, the Levites, take the tithes in all the cities of our tillage.\r\n And the priest the son of Aaron shall be with the Levites, when the Levites take tithes: and the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes unto the house of our God, to the chambers, into the treasure-house.\r\n For the children of Israel and the children of Levi shall bring the heave-offering of the grain, of the new wine, and of the oil, unto the chambers, where are the vessels of the sanctuary, and the priests that minister, and the porters, and the singers: and we will not forsake the house of our God.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the princes of the people dwelt in Jerusalem: the rest of the people also cast lots, to bring one of ten to dwell in Jerusalem the holy city, and nine parts in the [other] cities.\r\n And the people blessed all the men that willingly offered themselves to dwell in Jerusalem.\r\n Now these are the chiefs of the province that dwelt in Jerusalem: but in the cities of Judah dwelt every one in his possession in their cities, [to wit], Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the Nethinim, and the children of Solomon`s servants.\r\n And in Jerusalem dwelt certain of the children of Judah, and of the children of Benjamin. Of the children of Judah: Athaiah the son of Uzziah, the son of Zechariah, the son of Amariah, the son of Shephatiah, the son of Mahalalel, of the children of Perez;\r\n and Maaseiah the son of Baruch, the son of Colhozeh, the son of Hazaiah, the son of Adaiah, the son of Joiarib, the son of Zechariah, the son of the Shilonite.\r\n All the sons of Perez that dwelt in Jerusalem were four hundred threescore and eight valiant men.\r\n And these are the sons of Benjamin: Sallu the son of Meshullam, the son of Joed, the son of Pedaiah, the son of Kolaiah, the son of Maaseiah, the son of Ithiel, the son of Jeshaiah.\r\n And after him Gabbai, Sallai, nine hundred twenty and eight.\r\n And Joel the son of Zichri was their overseer; and Judah the son of Hassenuah was second over the city.\r\n Of the priests: Jedaiah the son of Joiarib, Jachin,\r\n Seraiah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the ruler of the house of God,\r\n and their brethren that did the work of the house, eight hundred twenty and two; and Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son of Pelaliah, the son of Amzi, the son of Zechariah, the son of Pashhur, the son of Malchijah,\r\n and his brethren, chiefs of fathers` [houses], two hundred forty and two; and Amashsai the son of Azarel, the son of Ahzai, the son of Meshillemoth, the son of Immer,\r\n and their brethren, mighty men of valor, a hundred twenty and eight; and their overseer was Zabdiel, the son of Haggedolim.\r\n And of the Levites: Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Bunni;\r\n and Shabbethai and Jozabad, of the chiefs of the Levites, who had the oversight of the outward business of the house of God;\r\n and Mattaniah the son of Mica, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, who was the chief to begin the thanksgiving in prayer, and Bakbukiah, the second among his brethren; and Abda the son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun.\r\n All the Levites in the holy city were two hundred fourscore and four.\r\n Moreover the porters, Akkub, Talmon, and their brethren, that kept watch at the gates, were a hundred seventy and two.\r\n And the residue of Israel, of the priests, the Levites, were in all the cities of Judah, every one in his inheritance.\r\n But the Nethinim dwelt in Ophel: and Ziha and Gishpa were over the Nethinim.\r\n The overseer also of the Levites at Jerusalem was Uzzi the son of Bani, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Mica, of the sons of Asaph, the singers, over the business of the house of God.\r\n For there was a commandment from the king concerning them, and a settled provision for the singers, as every day required.\r\n And Pethahiah the son of Meshezabel, of the children of Zerah the son of Judah, was at the king`s hand in all matters concerning the people.\r\n And as for the villages, with their fields, some of the children of Judah dwelt in Kiriath-arba and the towns thereof, and in Dibon and the towns thereof, and in Jekabzeel and the villages thereof,\r\n and in Jeshua, and in Moladah, and Beth-pelet,\r\n and in Hazar-shual, and in Beer-sheba and the towns thereof,\r\n and in Ziklag, and in Meconah and in the towns thereof,\r\n and in En-rimmon, and in Zorah, and in Jarmuth,\r\n Zanoah, Adullam, and their villages, Lachish and the fields thereof, Azekah and the towns thereof. So they encamped from Beer-sheba unto the valley of Hinnom.\r\n The children of Benjamin also [dwelt] from Geba [onward], at Michmash and Aija, and at Beth-el and the towns thereof,\r\n at Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah,\r\n Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim,\r\n Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat,\r\n Lod, and Ono, the valley of craftsmen.\r\n And of the Levites, certain courses in Judah [were joined] to Benjamin.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now these are the priests and the Levites that went up with Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra,\r\n Amariah, Malluch, Hattush,\r\n Shecaniah, Rehum, Meremoth,\r\n Iddo, Ginnethoi, Abijah,\r\n Mijamin, Maadiah, Bilgah,\r\n Shemaiah, and Joiarib, Jedaiah.\r\n Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, Jedaiah. These were the chiefs of the priests and of their brethren in the days of Jeshua.\r\n Moreover the Levites: Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, [and] Mattaniah, who was over the thanksgiving, he and his brethren.\r\n Also Bakbukiah and Unno, their brethren, were over against them according to their offices.\r\n And Jeshua begat Joiakim, and Joiakim begat Eliashib, and Eliashib begat Joiada,\r\n and Joiada begat Jonathan, and Jonathan begat Jaddua.\r\n And in the days of Joiakim were priests, heads of fathers` [houses]: of Seraiah, Meraiah; of Jeremiah, Hananiah;\r\n of Ezra, Meshullam; of Amariah, Jehohanan;\r\n of Malluchi, Jonathan; of Shebaniah, Joseph;\r\n of Harim, Adna; of Meraioth, Helkai;\r\n of Iddo, Zechariah; of Ginnethon, Meshullam;\r\n of Abijah, Zichri; of Miniamin, of Moadiah, Piltai;\r\n of Bilgah, Shammua; of Shemaiah, Jehonathan;\r\n and of Joiarib, Mattenai; of Jedaiah, Uzzi;\r\n of Sallai, Kallai; of Amok, Eber;\r\n of Hilkiah, Hashabiah; of Jedaiah, Nethanel.\r\n As for the Levites, in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, and Johanan, and Jaddua, there were recorded the heads of fathers` [houses]; also the priests, in the reign of Darius the Persian.\r\n The sons of Levi, heads of fathers` [houses], were written in the book of the chronicles, even until the days of Johanan the son of Eliashib.\r\n And the chiefs of the Levites: Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua the son of Kadmiel, with their brethren over against them, to praise and give thanks, according to the commandment of David the man of God, watch next to watch.\r\n Mattaniah, and Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, Akkub, were porters keeping the watch at the store-houses of the gates.\r\n These were in the days of Joiakim the son of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor, and of Ezra the priest the scribe.\r\n And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites out of all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem, to keep the dedication with gladness, both with thanksgivings, and with singing, with cymbals, psalteries, and with harps.\r\n And the sons of the singers gathered themselves together, both out of the plain round about Jerusalem, and from the villages of the Netophathites;\r\n also from Beth-gilgal, and out of the fields of Geba and Azmaveth: for the singers had builded them villages round about Jerusalem.\r\n And the priests and the Levites purified themselves; and they purified the people, and the gates, and the wall.\r\n Then I brought up the princes of Judah upon the wall, and appointed two great companies that gave thanks and went in procession; [whereof one went] on the right hand upon the wall toward the dung gate:\r\n and after them went Hoshaiah, and half of the princes of Judah,\r\n and Azariah, Ezra, and Meshullam,\r\n Judah, and Benjamin, and Shemaiah, and Jeremiah,\r\n and certain of the priests` sons with trumpets: Zechariah the son of Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Micaiah, the son of Zaccur, the son of Asaph;\r\n and his brethren, Shemaiah, and Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, and Judah, Hanani, with the musical instruments of David the man of God; and Ezra the scribe was before them.\r\n And by the fountain gate, and straight before them, they went up by the stairs of the city of David, at the ascent of the wall, above the house of David, even unto the water gate eastward.\r\n And the other company of them that gave thanks went to meet them, and I after them, with the half of the people, upon the wall, above the tower of the furnaces, even unto the broad wall,\r\n and above the gate of Ephraim, and by the old gate, and by the fish gate, and the tower of Hananel, and the tower of Hammeah, even unto the sheep gate: and they stood still in the gate of the guard.\r\n So stood the two companies of them that gave thanks in the house of God, and I, and the half of the rulers with me;\r\n and the priests, Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah, with trumpets;\r\n and Maaseiah, and Shemaiah, and Eleazar, and Uzzi, and Jehohanan, and Malchijah, and Elam, and Ezer. And the singers sang loud, with Jezrahiah their overseer.\r\n And they offered great sacrifices that day, and rejoiced; for God had made them rejoice with great joy; and the women also and the children rejoiced: so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off.\r\n And on that day were men appointed over the chambers for the treasures, for the heave-offerings, for the first-fruits, and for the tithes, to gather into them, according to the fields of the cities, the portions appointed by the law for the priests and Levites: for Judah rejoiced for the priests and for the Levites that waited.\r\n And they kept the charge of their God, and the charge of the purification, and [so did] the singers and the porters, according to the commandment of David, and of Solomon his son.\r\n For in the days of David and Asaph of old there was a chief of the singers, and songs of praise and thanksgiving unto God.\r\n And all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel, and in the days of Nehemiah, gave the portions of the singers and the porters, as every day required: and they set apart [that which was] for the Levites; and the Levites set apart [that which was] for the sons of Aaron.\r\n \r\n \r\n On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people; and therein was found written, that an Ammonite and a Moabite should not enter into the assembly of God for ever,\r\n because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, to curse them: howbeit our God turned the curse into a blessing.\r\n And it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude.\r\n Now before this, Eliashib the priest, who was appointed over the chambers of the house of our God, being allied unto Tobiah,\r\n had prepared for him a great chamber, where aforetime they laid the meal-offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the grain, the new wine, and the oil, which were given by commandment to the Levites, and the singers, and the porters; and the heave-offerings for the priests.\r\n But in all this [time] I was not at Jerusalem; for in the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I went unto the king: and after certain days asked I leave of the king,\r\n and I came to Jerusalem, and understood the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God.\r\n And it grieved me sore: therefore I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber.\r\n Then I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers: and thither brought I again the vessels of the house of God, with the meal-offerings and the frankincense.\r\n And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them; so that the Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled every one to his field.\r\n Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place.\r\n Then brought all Judah the tithe of the grain and the new wine and the oil unto the treasuries.\r\n And I made treasurers over the treasuries, Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah: and next to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah; for they were counted faithful, and their business was to distribute unto their brethren.\r\n Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and wipe not out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God, and for the observances thereof.\r\n In those days saw I in Judah some men treading wine-presses on the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses [therewith]; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day: and I testified [against them] in the day wherein they sold victuals.\r\n There dwelt men of Tyre also therein, who brought in fish, and all manner of wares, and sold on the sabbath unto the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem.\r\n Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day?\r\n Did not your fathers thus, and did not our God bring all this evil upon us, and upon this city? yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the sabbath.\r\n And it came to pass that, when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the sabbath, I commanded that the doors should be shut, and commanded that they should not be opened till after the sabbath: and some of my servants set I over the gates, that there should no burden be brought in on the sabbath day.\r\n So the merchants and sellers of all kind of wares lodged without Jerusalem once or twice.\r\n Then I testified against them, and said unto them, Why lodge ye about the wall? if ye do so again, I will lay hands on you. From that time forth came they no more on the sabbath.\r\n And I commanded the Levites that they should purify themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the sabbath day. Remember unto me, O my God, this also, and spare me according to the greatness of thy lovingkindness.\r\n In those days also saw I the Jews that had married women of Ashdod, of Ammon, [and] of Moab:\r\n and their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews` language, but according to the language of each people.\r\n And I contended with them, and cursed them, and smote certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, [saying], Ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters for your sons, or for yourselves.\r\n Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him, and he was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did foreign women cause to sin.\r\n Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to trespass against our God in marrying foreign women?\r\n And one of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was son-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite: therefore I chased him from me.\r\n Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites.\r\n Thus cleansed I them from all foreigners, and appointed charges for the priests and for the Levites, every one in his work;\r\n and for the wood-offering, at times appointed, and for the first-fruits. Remember me, O my God, for good.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus (this is Ahasuerus who reigned from India even unto Ethiopia, over a hundred and seven and twenty provinces),\r\n that in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the palace,\r\n in the third year of his reign, he made a feast unto all his princes and his servants; the power of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces, being before him;\r\n when he showed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honor of his excellent majesty many days, even a hundred and fourscore days.\r\n And when these days were fulfilled, the king made a feast unto all the people that were present in Shushan the palace, both great and small, seven days, in the court of the garden of the king`s palace.\r\n [There were hangings of] white [cloth], [of] green, and [of] blue, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble: the couches were of gold and silver, upon a pavement of red, and white, and yellow, and black marble.\r\n And they gave them drink in vessels of gold (the vessels being diverse one from another), and royal wine in abundance, according to the bounty of the king.\r\n And the drinking was according to the law; none could compel: for so the king had appointed to all the officers of his house, that they should do according to every man`s pleasure.\r\n Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the royal house which belonged to king Ahasuerus.\r\n On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven chamberlains that ministered in the presence of Ahasuerus the king,\r\n to bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to show the peoples and the princes her beauty; for she was fair to look on.\r\n But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king`s commandment by the chamberlains: therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in him.\r\n Then the king said to the wise men, who knew the times, (for so was the king`s manner toward all that knew law and judgment;\r\n and the next unto him were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, who saw the king`s face, and sat first in the kingdom),\r\n What shall we do unto the queen Vashti according to law, because she hath not done the bidding of the king Ahasuerus by the chamberlains?\r\n And Memucan answered before the king and the princes, Vashti the queen hath not done wrong to the king only, but also to all the princes, and to all the peoples that are in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus.\r\n For this deed of the queen will come abroad unto all women, to make their husbands contemptible in their eyes, when it shall be reported, The king Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she came not.\r\n And this day will the princesses of Persia and Media who have heard of the deed of the queen say [the like] unto all the king`s princes. So [will there arise] much contempt and wrath.\r\n If it please the king, let there go forth a royal commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it be not altered, that Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she.\r\n And when the king`s decree which he shall make shall be published throughout all his kingdom (for it is great), all the wives will give to their husbands honor, both to great and small.\r\n And the saying pleased the king and the princes; and the king did according to the word of Memucan:\r\n for he sent letters into all the king`s provinces, into every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language, that every man should bear rule in his own house, and should speak according to the language of his people.\r\n \r\n \r\n After these things, when the wrath of king Ahasuerus was pacified, he remembered Vashti, and what she had done, and what was decreed against her.\r\n Then said the king`s servants that ministered unto him, Let there be fair young virgins sought for the king:\r\n and let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the fair young virgins unto Shushan the palace, to the house of the women, unto the custody of Hegai the king`s chamberlain, keeper of the women; and let their things for purification be given them;\r\n and let the maiden that pleaseth the king be queen instead of Vashti. And the thing pleased the king; and he did so.\r\n There was a certain Jew in Shushan the palace, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite,\r\n who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captives that had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away.\r\n And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle`s daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maiden was fair and beautiful; and when her father and mother were dead, Mordecai took her for his own daughter.\r\n So it came to pass, when the king`s commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together unto Shushan the palace, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was taken into the king`s house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women.\r\n And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him; and he speedily gave her her things for purification, with her portions, and the seven maidens who were meet to be given her out of the king`s house: and he removed her and her maidens to the best place of the house of the women.\r\n Esther had not made known her people nor her kindred; for Mordecai had charged her that she should not make it known.\r\n And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women`s house, to know how Esther did, and what would become of her.\r\n Now when the turn of every maiden was come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after that it had been done to her according to the law for the women twelve months (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, [to wit], six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odors and with the things for the purifying of the women),\r\n then in this wise came the maiden unto the king: whatsoever she desired was given her to go with her out of the house of the women unto the king`s house.\r\n In the evening she went, and on the morrow she returned into the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king`s chamberlain, who kept the concubines: she came in unto the king no more, except the king delighted in her, and she were called by name.\r\n Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in unto the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king`s chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. And Esther obtained favor in the sight of all them that looked upon her.\r\n So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.\r\n And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained favor and kindness in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.\r\n Then the king made a great feast unto all his princes and his servants, even Esther`s feast; and he made a release to the provinces, and gave gifts, according to the bounty of the king.\r\n And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, then Mordecai was sitting in the king`s gate.\r\n Esther had not yet made known her kindred nor her people; as Mordecai had charged her: for Esther did the commandment of Mordecai, like as when she was brought up with him.\r\n In those days, while Mordecai was sitting in the king`s gate, two of the king`s chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those that kept the threshold, were wroth, and sought to lay hands on the king Ahasuerus.\r\n And the thing became known to Mordecai, who showed it unto Esther the queen; and Esther told the king [thereof] in Mordecai`s name.\r\n And when inquisition was made of the matter, and it was found to be so, they were both hanged on a tree: and it was written in the book of the chronicles before the king.\r\n \r\n \r\n After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him.\r\n And all the king`s servants, that were in the king`s gate, bowed down, and did reverence to Haman; for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not down, nor did him reverence.\r\n Then the king`s servants, that were in the king`s gate, said unto Mordecai, Why transgressest thou the king`s commandment?\r\n Now it came to pass, when they spake daily unto him, and he hearkened not unto them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai`s matters would stand: for he had told them that he was a Jew.\r\n And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not down, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath.\r\n But he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had made known to him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai.\r\n In the first month, which is the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, [to] the twelfth [month], which is the month Adar.\r\n And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from [those of] every people; neither keep they the king`s laws: therefore it is not for the king`s profit to suffer them.\r\n If it please the king, let it be written that they be destroyed: and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those that have the charge of the [king`s] business, to bring it into the king`s treasuries.\r\n And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews` enemy.\r\n And the king said unto Haman, The silver is given to thee, the people also, to do with them as it seemeth good to thee.\r\n Then were the king`s scribes called in the first month, on the thirteenth day thereof; and there was written according to all that Haman commanded unto the king`s satraps, and to the governors that were over every province, and to the princes of every people, to every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language; in the name of king Ahasuerus was it written, and it was sealed with the king`s ring.\r\n And letters were sent by posts into all the king`s provinces, to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even upon the thirteenth [day] of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them for a prey.\r\n A copy of the writing, that the decree should be given out in every province, was published unto all the peoples, that they should be ready against that day.\r\n The posts went forth in haste by the king`s commandment, and the decree was given out in Shushan the palace. And the king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city of Shushan was perplexed.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now when Mordecai knew all that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry;\r\n and he came even before the king`s gate: for none might enter within the king`s gate clothed with sackcloth.\r\n And in every province, whithersoever the king`s commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.\r\n And Esther`s maidens and her chamberlains came and told it her; and the queen was exceedingly grieved: and she sent raiment to clothe Mordecai, and to take his sackcloth from off him; but he received it not.\r\n Then called Esther for Hathach, one of the king`s chamberlains, whom he had appointed to attend upon her, and charged him to go to Mordecai, to know what this was, and why it was.\r\n So Hathach went forth to Mordecai unto the broad place of the city, which was before the king`s gate.\r\n And Mordecai told him of all that had happened unto him, and the exact sum of the money that Haman had promised to pay to the king`s treasuries for the Jews, to destroy them.\r\n Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given out in Shushan to destroy them, to show it unto Esther, and to declare it unto her, and to charge her that she should go in unto the king, to make supplication unto him, and to make request before him, for her people.\r\n And Hathach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai.\r\n Then Esther spake unto Hathach, and gave him a message unto Mordecai [saying]:\r\n All the king`s servants, and the people of the king`s provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, shall come unto the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law for him, that he be put to death, except those to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days.\r\n And they told to Mordecai Esther`s words.\r\n Then Mordecai bade them return answer unto Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king`s house, more than all the Jews.\r\n For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then will relief and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place, but thou and thy father`s house will perish: and who knoweth whether thou art not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?\r\n Then Esther bade them return answer unto Mordecai,\r\n Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast in like manner; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.\r\n So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king`s house, over against the king`s house: and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the entrance of the house.\r\n And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favor in his sight; and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre.\r\n Then said the king unto her, What wilt thou, queen Esther? and what is thy request? it shall be given thee even to the half of the kingdom.\r\n And Esther said, If it seem good unto the king, let the king and Haman come this day unto the banquet that I have prepared for him.\r\n Then the king said, Cause Haman to make haste, that it may be done as Esther hath said. So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared.\r\n And the king said unto Esther at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed.\r\n Then answered Esther, and said, My petition and my request is:\r\n if I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to grant my petition, and to perform my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them, and I will do to-morrow as the king hath said.\r\n Then went Haman forth that day joyful and glad of heart: but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king`s gate, that he stood not up nor moved for him, he was filled with wrath against Mordecai.\r\n Nevertheless Haman refrained himself, and went home; and he sent and fetched his friends and Zeresh his wife.\r\n And Haman recounted unto them the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and all the things wherein the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king.\r\n Haman said moreover, Yea, Esther the queen did let no man come in with the king unto the banquet that she had prepared but myself; and to-morrow also am I invited by her together with the king.\r\n Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king`s gate.\r\n Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him, Let a gallows be made fifty cubits high, and in the morning speak thou unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon: then go thou in merrily with the king unto the banquet. And the thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made.\r\n \r\n \r\n On that night could not the king sleep; and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles, and they were read before the king.\r\n And it was found written, that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king`s chamberlains, of those that kept the threshold, who had sought to lay hands on the king Ahasuerus.\r\n And the king said, What honor and dignity hath been bestowed on Mordecai for this? Then said the king`s servants that ministered unto him, There is nothing done for him.\r\n And the king said, Who is in the court? Now Haman was come into the outward court of the king`s house, to speak unto the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him.\r\n And the king`s servants said unto him, Behold, Haman standeth in the court. And the king said, Let him come in.\r\n So Haman came in. And the king said unto him, What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honor? Now Haman said in his heart, To whom would the king delight to do honor more than to myself?\r\n And Haman said unto the king, For the man whom the king delighteth to honor,\r\n let royal apparel be brought which the king useth to wear, and the horse that the king rideth upon, and on the head of which a crown royal is set:\r\n and let the apparel and the horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king`s most noble princes, that they may array the man therewith whom the king delighteth to honor, and cause him to ride on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaim before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delighteth to honor.\r\n Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, and take the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, that sitteth at the king`s gate: let nothing fail of all that thou hast spoken.\r\n Then took Haman the apparel and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and caused him to ride through the street of the city, and proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honor.\r\n And Mordecai came again to the king`s gate. But Haman hasted to his house, mourning and having his head covered.\r\n And Haman recounted unto Zeresh his wife and all his friends everything that had befallen him. Then said his wise men and Zeresh his wife unto him, If Mordecai, before whom thou hast begun to fall, be of the seed of the Jews, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt surely fall before him.\r\n While they were yet talking with him, came the king`s chamberlains, and hasted to bring Haman unto the banquet that Esther had prepared.\r\n \r\n \r\n So the king and Haman came to banquet with Esther the queen.\r\n And the king said again unto Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition, queen Esther? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed.\r\n Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favor in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request:\r\n for we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my peace, although the adversary could not have compensated for the king`s damage.\r\n Then spake the king Ahasuerus and said unto Esther the queen, Who is he, and where is he, that durst presume in his heart to do so?\r\n And Esther said, An adversary and an enemy, even this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen.\r\n And the king arose in his wrath from the banquet of wine [and went] into the palace garden: and Haman stood up to make request for his life to Esther the queen; for he saw that there was evil determined against him by the king.\r\n Then the king returned out of the palace garden into the place of the banquet of wine; and Haman was fallen upon the couch whereon Esther was. Then said the king, Will he even force the queen before me in the house? As the word went out of the king`s mouth, they covered Haman`s face.\r\n Then said Harbonah, one of the chamberlains that were before the king, Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman hath made for Mordecai, who spake good for the king, standeth in the house of Haman. And the king said, Hang him thereon.\r\n So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king`s wrath pacified.\r\n \r\n \r\n On that day did the king Ahasuerus give the house of Haman the Jews` enemy unto Esther the queen. And Mordecai came before the king; for Esther had told what he was unto her.\r\n And the king took off his ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it unto Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.\r\n And Esther spake yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet, and besought him with tears to put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he had devised against the Jews.\r\n Then the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre. So Esther arose, and stood before the king.\r\n And she said, If it please the king, and if I have found favor in his sight, and the thing seem right before the king, and I be pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to reverse the letters devised by Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews that are in all the king`s provinces:\r\n for how can I endure to see the evil that shall come unto my people? or how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred?\r\n Then the king Ahasuerus said unto Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and him they have hanged upon the gallows, because he laid his hand upon the Jews.\r\n Write ye also to the Jews, as it pleaseth you, in the king`s name, and seal it with the king`s ring; for the writing which is written in the king`s name, and sealed with the king`s ring, may no man reverse.\r\n Then were the king`s scribes called at that time, in the third month Sivan, on the three and twentieth [day] thereof; and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded unto the Jews, and to the satraps, and the governors and princes of the provinces which are from India unto Ethiopia, a hundred twenty and seven provinces, unto every province according to the writing thereof, and unto every people after their language, and to the Jews according to their writing, and according to their language.\r\n And he wrote the name of king Ahasuerus, and sealed it with the king`s ring, and sent letters by post on horseback, riding on swift steeds that were used in the king`s service, bred of the stud:\r\n wherein the king granted the Jews that were in every city to gather themselves together, and to stand for their life, to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault them, [their] little ones and women, and to take the spoil of them for a prey,\r\n upon one day in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus, [namely], upon the thirteenth [day] of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar.\r\n A copy of the writing, that the decree should be given out in every province, was published unto all the peoples, and that the Jews should be ready against that day to avenge themselves on their enemies.\r\n So the posts that rode upon swift steeds that were used in the king`s service went out, being hastened and pressed on by the king`s commandment; and the decree was given out in Shushan the palace.\r\n And Mordecai went forth from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a robe of fine linen and purple: and the city of Shushan shouted and was glad.\r\n The Jews had light and gladness, and joy and honor.\r\n And in every province, and in every city, whithersoever the king`s commandment and his decree came, the Jews had gladness and joy, a feast and a good day. And many from among the peoples of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews was fallen upon them.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now in the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king`s commandment and his decree drew near to be put in execution, on the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to have rule over them, (whereas it was turned to the contrary, that the Jews had rule over them that hated them,)\r\n the Jews gathered themselves together in their cities throughout all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, to lay hand on such as sought their hurt: and no man could withstand them; for the fear of them was fallen upon all the peoples.\r\n And all the princes of the provinces, and the satraps, and the governors, and they that did the king`s business, helped the Jews; because the fear of Mordecai was fallen upon them.\r\n For Mordecai was great in the king`s house, and his fame went forth throughout all the provinces; for the man Mordecai waxed greater and greater.\r\n And the Jews smote all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, and with slaughter and destruction, and did what they would unto them that hated them.\r\n And in Shushan the palace the Jews slew and destroyed five hundred men.\r\n And Parshandatha, and Dalphon, and Aspatha,\r\n and Poratha, and Adalia, and Aridatha,\r\n and Parmashta, and Arisai, and Aridai, and Vaizatha,\r\n the ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Jew`s enemy, slew they; but on the spoil they laid not their hand.\r\n On that day the number of those that were slain in Shushan the palace was brought before the king.\r\n And the king said unto Esther the queen, The Jews have slain and destroyed five hundred men in Shushan the palace, and the ten sons of Haman; what then have they done in the rest of the king`s provinces! Now what is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: or what is thy request further? and it shall be done.\r\n Then said Esther, If it please the king, let it be granted to the Jews that are in Shushan to do to-morrow also according unto this day`s decree, and let Haman`s ten sons be hanged upon the gallows.\r\n And the king commanded it so to be done: and a decree was given out in Shushan; and they hanged Haman`s ten sons.\r\n And the Jews that were in Shushan gathered themselves together on the fourteenth day also of the month Adar, and slew three hundred men in Shushan; but on the spoil they laid not their hand.\r\n And the other Jews that were in the king`s provinces gathered themselves together, and stood for their lives, and had rest from their enemies, and slew of them that hated them seventy and five thousand; but on the spoil they laid not their hand.\r\n [This was done] on the thirteenth day of the month Adar; and on the fourteenth day of the same they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.\r\n But the Jews that were in Shushan assembled together on the thirteenth [day] thereof, and on the fourteenth thereof; and on the fifteenth [day] of the same they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.\r\n Therefore do the Jews of the villages, that dwell in the unwalled towns, make the fourteenth day of the month Adar [a day of] gladness and feasting, and a good day, and of sending portions one to another.\r\n And Mordecai wrote these things, and sent letters unto all the Jews that were in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, both nigh and far,\r\n to enjoin them that they should keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same, yearly,\r\n as the days wherein the Jews had rest from their enemies, and the month which was turned unto them from sorrow to gladness, and from mourning into a good day; that they should make them days of feasting and gladness, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor.\r\n And the Jews undertook to do as they had begun, and as Mordecai had written unto them;\r\n because Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had plotted against the Jews to destroy them, and had cast Pur, that is the lot, to consume them, and to destroy them;\r\n but when [the matter] came before the king, he commanded by letters that his wicked device, which he had devised against the Jews, should return upon his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows.\r\n Wherefore they called these days Purim, after the name of Pur. Therefore because of all the words of this letter, and of that which they had seen concerning this matter, and that which had come unto them,\r\n the Jews ordained, and took upon them, and upon their seed, and upon all such as joined themselves unto them, so that it should not fail, that they would keep these two days according to the writing thereof, and according to the appointed time thereof, every year;\r\n and that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, every family, every province, and every city; and that these days of Purim should not fail from among the Jews, nor the remembrance of them perish from their seed.\r\n Then Esther the queen, the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew, wrote with all authority to confirm this second letter of Purim.\r\n And he sent letters unto all the Jews, to the hundred twenty and seven provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, [with] words of peace and truth,\r\n to confirm these days of Purim in their appointed times, according as Mordecai the Jew and Esther the queen had enjoined them, and as they had ordained for themselves and for their seed, in the matter of the fastings and their cry.\r\n And the commandment of Esther confirmed these matters of Purim; and it was written in the book.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the king Ahasuerus laid a tribute upon the land, and upon the isles of the sea.\r\n And all the acts of his power and of his might, and the full account of the greatness of Mordecai, whereunto the king advanced him, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia?\r\n For Mordecai the Jew was next unto king Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and accepted of the multitude of his brethren, seeking the good of his people, and speaking peace to all his seed.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and turned away from evil.\r\n And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters.\r\n His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she-asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the children of the east.\r\n And his sons went and held a feast in the house of each one upon his day; and they sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.\r\n And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt-offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and renounced God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.\r\n Now it came to pass on the day when the sons of God came to present themselves before Jehovah, that Satan also came among them.\r\n And Jehovah said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered Jehovah, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.\r\n And Jehovah said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job? for there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and turneth away from evil.\r\n Then Satan answered Jehovah, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?\r\n Hast not thou made a hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath, on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.\r\n But put forth thy hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will renounce thee to thy face.\r\n And Jehovah said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thy hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of Jehovah.\r\n And it fell on a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother`s house,\r\n that there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them;\r\n and the Sabeans fell [upon them], and took them away: yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.\r\n While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.\r\n While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have taken them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.\r\n While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother`s house;\r\n and, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.\r\n Then Job arose, and rent his robe, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped;\r\n and he said, Naked came I out of my mother`s womb, and naked shall I return thither: Jehovah gave, and Jehovah hath taken away; blessed be the name of Jehovah.\r\n In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.\r\n \r\n \r\n Again it came to pass on the day when the sons of God came to present themselves before Jehovah, that Satan came also among them to present himself before Jehovah.\r\n And Jehovah said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered Jehovah, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.\r\n And Jehovah said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job? for there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and turneth away from evil: and he still holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.\r\n And Satan answered Jehovah, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.\r\n But put forth thy hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will renounce thee to thy face.\r\n And Jehovah said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thy hand; only spare his life.\r\n So Satan went forth from the presence of Jehovah, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown.\r\n And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself therewith; and he sat among the ashes.\r\n Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still hold fast thine integrity? renounce God, and die.\r\n But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.\r\n Now when Job`s three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place: Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite, and they made an appointment together to come to bemoan him and to comfort him.\r\n And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice, and wept; and they rent every one his robe, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven.\r\n So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spake a word unto him: for they saw that his grief was very great.\r\n \r\n \r\n After this opened Job his mouth, and cursed his day.\r\n And Job answered and said:\r\n Let the day perish wherein I was born, And the night which said, There is a man-child conceived.\r\n Let that day be darkness; Let not God from above seek for it, Neither let the light shine upon it.\r\n Let darkness and the shadow of death claim it for their own; Let a cloud dwell upon it; Let all that maketh black the day terrify it.\r\n As for that night, let thick darkness seize upon it: Let it not rejoice among the days of the year; Let it not come into the number of the months.\r\n Lo, let that night be barren; Let no joyful voice come therein.\r\n Let them curse it that curse the day, Who are ready to rouse up leviathan.\r\n Let the stars of the twilight thereof be dark: Let it look for light, but have none; Neither let it behold the eyelids of the morning:\r\n Because it shut not up the doors of my [mother`s] womb, Nor hid trouble from mine eyes.\r\n Why died I not from the womb? Why did I not give up the ghost when my mother bare me?\r\n Why did the knees receive me? Or why the breast, that I should suck?\r\n For now should I have lain down and been quiet; I should have slept; then had I been at rest,\r\n With kings and counsellors of the earth, Who built up waste places for themselves;\r\n Or with princes that had gold, Who filled their houses with silver:\r\n Or as a hidden untimely birth I had not been, As infants that never saw light.\r\n There the wicked cease from troubling; And there the weary are at rest.\r\n There the prisoners are at ease together; They hear not the voice of the taskmaster.\r\n The small and the great are there: And the servant is free from his master.\r\n Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, And life unto the bitter in soul;\r\n Who long for death, but it cometh not, And dig for it more than for hid treasures;\r\n Who rejoice exceedingly, And are glad, when they can find the grave?\r\n [Why is light given] to a man whose way is hid, And whom God hath hedged in?\r\n For my sighing cometh before I eat, And my groanings are poured out like water.\r\n For the thing which I fear cometh upon me, And that which I am afraid of cometh unto me.\r\n I am not at ease, neither am I quiet, neither have I rest; But trouble cometh.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said,\r\n If one assay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieved? But who can withhold himself from speaking?\r\n Behold, thou hast instructed many, And thou hast strengthened the weak hands.\r\n Thy words have upholden him that was falling, And thou hast made firm the feeble knees.\r\n But now it is come unto thee, and thou faintest; It toucheth thee, and thou art troubled.\r\n Is not thy fear [of God] thy confidence, [And] the integrity of thy ways thy hope?\r\n Remember, I pray thee, who [ever] perished, being innocent? Or where were the upright cut off?\r\n According as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, And sow trouble, reap the same.\r\n By the breath of God they perish, And by the blast of his anger are they consumed.\r\n The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, And the teeth of the young lions, are broken.\r\n The old lion perisheth for lack of prey, And the whelps of the lioness are scattered abroad.\r\n Now a thing was secretly brought to me, And mine ear received a whisper thereof.\r\n In thoughts from the visions of the night, When deep sleep falleth on men,\r\n Fear came upon me, and trembling, Which made all my bones to shake.\r\n Then a spirit passed before my face; The hair of my flesh stood up.\r\n It stood still, but I could not discern the appearance thereof; A form was before mine eyes: [There was] silence, and I heard a voice, [saying],\r\n Shall mortal man be more just than God? Shall a man be more pure than his Maker?\r\n Behold, he putteth no trust in his servants; And his angels he chargeth with folly:\r\n How much more them that dwell in houses of clay, Whose foundation is in the dust, Who are crushed before the moth!\r\n Betwixt morning and evening they are destroyed: They perish for ever without any regarding it.\r\n Is not their tent-cord plucked up within them? They die, and that without wisdom.\r\n \r\n \r\n Call now; is there any that will answer thee? And to which of the holy ones wilt thou turn?\r\n For vexation killeth the foolish man, And jealousy slayeth the silly one.\r\n I have seen the foolish taking root: But suddenly I cursed his habitation.\r\n His children are far from safety, And they are crushed in the gate, Neither is there any to deliver them:\r\n Whose harvest the hungry eateth up, And taketh it even out of the thorns; And the snare gapeth for their substance.\r\n For affliction cometh not forth from the dust, Neither doth trouble spring out of the ground;\r\n But man is born unto trouble, As the sparks fly upward.\r\n But as for me, I would seek unto God, And unto God would I commit my cause;\r\n Who doeth great things and unsearchable, Marvellous things without number:\r\n Who giveth rain upon the earth, And sendeth waters upon the fields;\r\n So that he setteth up on high those that are low, And those that mourn are exalted to safety.\r\n He frustrateth the devices of the crafty, So that their hands cannot perform their enterprise.\r\n He taketh the wise in their own craftiness; And the counsel of the cunning is carried headlong.\r\n They meet with darkness in the day-time, And grope at noonday as in the night.\r\n But he saveth from the sword of their mouth, Even the needy from the hand of the mighty.\r\n So the poor hath hope, And iniquity stoppeth her mouth.\r\n Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: Therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty.\r\n For he maketh sore, and bindeth up; He woundeth, and his hands make whole.\r\n He will deliver thee in six troubles; Yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee.\r\n In famine he will redeem thee from death; And in war from the power of the sword.\r\n Thou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue; Neither shalt thou be afraid of destruction when it cometh.\r\n At destruction and dearth thou shalt laugh; Neither shalt thou be afraid of the beasts of the earth.\r\n For thou shalt be in league with the stones of the field; And the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee.\r\n And thou shalt know that thy tent is in peace; And thou shalt visit thy fold, and shalt miss nothing.\r\n Thou shalt know also that thy seed shall be great, And thine offspring as the grass of the earth.\r\n Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age, Like as a shock of grain cometh in in its season.\r\n Lo this, we have searched it, so it is; Hear it, and know thou it for thy good.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then Job answered and said,\r\n Oh that my vexation were but weighed, And all my calamity laid in the balances!\r\n For now it would be heavier than the sand of the seas: Therefore have my words been rash.\r\n For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, The poison whereof my spirit drinketh up: The terrors of God do set themselves in array against me.\r\n Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? Or loweth the ox over his fodder?\r\n Can that which hath no savor be eaten without salt? Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?\r\n My soul refuseth to touch [them]; They are as loathsome food to me.\r\n Oh that I might have my request; And that God would grant [me] the thing that I long for!\r\n Even that it would please God to crush me; That he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!\r\n And be it still my consolation, Yea, let me exult in pain that spareth not, That I have not denied the words of the Holy One.\r\n What is my strength, that I should wait? And what is mine end, that I should be patient?\r\n Is my strength the strength of stones? Or is my flesh of brass?\r\n Is it not that I have no help in me, And that wisdom is driven quite from me?\r\n To him that is ready to faint kindness [should be showed] from his friend; Even to him that forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.\r\n My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, As the channel of brooks that pass away;\r\n Which are black by reason of the ice, [And] wherein the snow hideth itself:\r\n What time they wax warm, they vanish; When it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.\r\n The caravans [that travel] by the way of them turn aside; They go up into the waste, and perish.\r\n The caravans of Tema looked, The companies of Sheba waited for them.\r\n They were put to shame because they had hoped; They came thither, and were confounded.\r\n For now ye are nothing; Ye see a terror, and are afraid.\r\n Did I say, Give unto me? Or, Offer a present for me of your substance?\r\n Or, Deliver me from the adversary`s hand? Or, Redeem me from the hand of the oppressors?\r\n Teach me, and I will hold my peace; And cause me to understand wherein I have erred.\r\n How forcible are words of uprightness! But your reproof, what doth it reprove?\r\n Do ye think to reprove words, Seeing that the speeches of one that is desperate are as wind?\r\n Yea, ye would cast [lots] upon the fatherless, And make merchandise of your friend.\r\n Now therefore be pleased to look upon me; For surely I shall not lie to your face.\r\n Return, I pray you, let there be no injustice; Yea, return again, my cause is righteous.\r\n Is there injustice on my tongue? Cannot my taste discern mischievous things?\r\n \r\n \r\n Is there not a warfare to man upon earth? And are not his days like the days of a hireling?\r\n As a servant that earnestly desireth the shadow, And as a hireling that looketh for his wages:\r\n So am I made to possess months of misery, And wearisome nights are appointed to me.\r\n When I lie down, I say, When shall I arise, and the night be gone? And I am full of tossings to and fro unto the dawning of the day.\r\n My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; My skin closeth up, and breaketh out afresh.\r\n My days are swifter than a weaver`s shuttle, And are spent without hope.\r\n Oh remember that my life is a breath: Mine eye shall no more see good.\r\n The eye of him that seeth me shall behold me no more; Thine eyes shall be upon me, but I shall not be.\r\n As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away, So he that goeth down to Sheol shall come up no more.\r\n He shall return no more to his house, Neither shall his place know him any more.\r\n Therefore I will not refrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.\r\n Am I a sea, or a sea-monster, That thou settest a watch over me?\r\n When I say, My bed shall comfort me, My couch shall ease my complaint;\r\n Then thou scarest me with dreams, And terrifiest me through visions:\r\n So that my soul chooseth strangling, And death rather than [these] my bones.\r\n I loathe [my life]; I would not live alway: Let me alone; for my days are vanity.\r\n What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him, And that thou shouldest set thy mind upon him,\r\n And that thou shouldest visit him every morning, And try him every moment?\r\n How long wilt thou not look away from me, Nor let me alone till I swallow down my spittle?\r\n If I have sinned, what do I unto thee, O thou watcher of men? Why hast thou set me as a mark for thee, So that I am a burden to myself?\r\n And why dost thou not pardon my transgression, and take away mine iniquity? For now shall I lie down in the dust; And thou wilt seek me diligently, but I shall not be.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,\r\n How long wilt thou speak these things? And [how long] shall the words of thy mouth be [like] a mighty wind?\r\n Doth God pervert justice? Or doth the Almighty pervert righteousness?\r\n If thy children have sinned against him, And he hath delivered them into the hand of their transgression;\r\n If thou wouldest seek diligently unto God, And make thy supplication to the Almighty;\r\n If thou wert pure and upright: Surely now he would awake for thee, And make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous.\r\n And though thy beginning was small, Yet thy latter end would greatly increase.\r\n For inquire, I pray thee, of the former age, And apply thyself to that which their fathers have searched out:\r\n (For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, Because our days upon earth are a shadow);\r\n Shall not they teach thee, and tell thee, And utter words out of their heart?\r\n Can the rush grow up without mire? Can the flag grow without water?\r\n Whilst it is yet in its greenness, [and] not cut down, It withereth before any [other] herb.\r\n So are the paths of all that forget God; And the hope of the godless man shall perish:\r\n Whose confidence shall break in sunder, And whose trust is a spider`s web.\r\n He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand: He shall hold fast thereby, but it shall not endure.\r\n He is green before the sun, And his shoots go forth over his garden.\r\n His roots are wrapped about the [stone] -heap, He beholdeth the place of stones.\r\n If he be destroyed from his place, Then it shall deny him, [saying], I have not seen thee.\r\n Behold, this is the joy of his way; And out of the earth shall others spring.\r\n Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, Neither will he uphold the evil-doers.\r\n He will yet fill thy mouth with laughter, And thy lips with shouting.\r\n They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame; And the tent of the wicked shall be no more.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then Job answered and said,\r\n Of a truth I know that it is so: But how can man be just with God?\r\n If he be pleased to contend with him, He cannot answer him one of a thousand.\r\n [He is] wise in heart, and mighty in strength: Who hath hardened himself against him, and prospered?-\r\n [Him] that removeth the mountains, and they know it not, When he overturneth them in his anger;\r\n That shaketh the earth out of its place, And the pillars thereof tremble;\r\n That commandeth the sun, and it riseth not, And sealeth up the stars;\r\n That alone stretcheth out the heavens, And treadeth upon the waves of the sea;\r\n That maketh the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, And the chambers of the south;\r\n That doeth great things past finding out, Yea, marvellous things without number.\r\n Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: He passeth on also, but I perceive him not.\r\n Behold, he seizeth [the prey], who can hinder him? Who will say unto him, What doest thou?\r\n God will not withdraw his anger; The helpers of Rahab do stoop under him.\r\n How much less shall I answer him, And choose out my words [to reason] with him?\r\n Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer; I would make supplication to my judge.\r\n If I had called, and he had answered me, Yet would I not believe that he hearkened unto my voice.\r\n For he breaketh me with a tempest, And multiplieth my wounds without cause.\r\n He will not suffer me to take my breath, But filleth me with bitterness.\r\n If [we speak] of strength, lo, [he is] mighty! And if of justice, Who, [saith he], will summon me?\r\n Though I be righteous, mine own mouth shall condemn me: Though I be perfect, it shall prove me perverse.\r\n I am perfect; I regard not myself; I despise my life.\r\n It is all one; therefore I say, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.\r\n If the scourge slay suddenly, He will mock at the trial of the innocent.\r\n The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; He covereth the faces of the judges thereof: If [it be] not [he], who then is it?\r\n Now my days are swifter than a post: They flee away, they see no good,\r\n They are passed away as the swift ships; As the eagle that swoopeth on the prey.\r\n If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will put off my [sad] countenance, and be of good cheer;\r\n I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.\r\n I shall be condemned; Why then do I labor in vain?\r\n If I wash myself with snow water, And make my hands never so clean;\r\n Yet wilt thou plunge me in the ditch, And mine own clothes shall abhor me.\r\n For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, That we should come together in judgment.\r\n There is no umpire betwixt us, That might lay his hand upon us both.\r\n Let him take his rod away from me, And let not his terror make me afraid:\r\n Then would I speak, and not fear him; For I am not so in myself.\r\n \r\n \r\n My soul is weary of my life; I will give free course to my complaint; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.\r\n I will say unto God, Do not condemn me; Show me wherefore thou contendest with me.\r\n Is it good unto thee that thou shouldest oppress, That thou shouldest despise the work of thy hands, And shine upon the counsel of the wicked?\r\n Hast thou eyes of flesh? Or seest thou as man seeth?\r\n Are thy days as the days of man, Or thy years as man`s days,\r\n That thou inquirest after mine iniquity, And searchest after my sin,\r\n Although thou knowest that I am not wicked, And there is none that can deliver out of thy hand?\r\n Thy hands have framed me and fashioned me Together round about; yet thou dost destroy me.\r\n Remember, I beseech thee, that thou hast fashioned me as clay; And wilt thou bring me into dust again?\r\n Hast thou not poured me out as milk, And curdled me like cheese?\r\n Thou hast clothed me with skin and flesh, And knit me together with bones and sinews.\r\n Thou hast granted me life and lovingkindness; And thy visitation hath preserved my spirit.\r\n Yet these things thou didst hide in thy heart; I know that this is with thee:\r\n If I sin, then thou markest me, And thou wilt not acquit me from mine iniquity.\r\n If I be wicked, woe unto me; And if I be righteous, yet shall I not lift up my head; Being filled with ignominy, And looking upon mine affliction.\r\n And if [my head] exalt itself, thou huntest me as a lion; And again thou showest thyself marvellous upon me.\r\n Thou renewest thy witnesses against me, And increasest thine indignation upon me: Changes and warfare are with me.\r\n Wherefore then hast thou brought me forth out of the womb? I had given up the ghost, and no eye had seen me.\r\n I should have been as though I had not been; I should have been carried from the womb to the grave.\r\n Are not my days few? cease then, And let me alone, that I may take comfort a little,\r\n Before I go whence I shall not return, [Even] to the land of darkness and of the shadow of death;\r\n The land dark as midnight, [The land] of the shadow of death, without any order, And where the light is as midnight.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,\r\n Should not the multitude of words be answered? And should a man full of talk be justified?\r\n Should thy boastings make men hold their peace? And when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed?\r\n For thou sayest, My doctrine is pure, And I am clean in thine eyes.\r\n But oh that God would speak, And open his lips against thee,\r\n And that he would show thee the secrets of wisdom! For he is manifold in understanding. Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth.\r\n Canst thou by searching find out God? Canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?\r\n It is high as heaven; what canst thou do? Deeper than Sheol; what canst thou know?\r\n The measure thereof is longer than the earth, And broader than the sea.\r\n If he pass through, and shut up, And all unto judgment, then who can hinder him?\r\n For he knoweth false men: He seeth iniquity also, even though he consider it not.\r\n But vain man is void of understanding, Yea, man is born [as] a wild ass`s colt.\r\n If thou set thy heart aright, And stretch out thy hands toward him;\r\n If iniquity be in thy hand, put it far away, And let not unrighteousness dwell in thy tents.\r\n Surely then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; Yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear:\r\n For thou shalt forget thy misery; Thou shalt remember it as waters that are passed away,\r\n And [thy] life shall be clearer than the noonday; Though there be darkness, it shall be as the morning.\r\n And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; Yea, thou shalt search [about thee], and shalt take thy rest in safety.\r\n Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid; Yea, many shall make suit unto thee.\r\n But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, And they shall have no way to flee; And their hope shall be the giving up of the ghost.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then Job answered and said,\r\n No doubt but ye are the people, And wisdom shall die with you.\r\n But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you: Yea, who knoweth not such things as these?\r\n I am as one that is a laughing-stock to his neighbor, I who called upon God, and he answered: The just, the perfect man is a laughing-stock.\r\n In the thought of him that is at ease there is contempt for misfortune; It is ready for them whose foot slippeth.\r\n The tents of robbers prosper, And they that provoke God are secure; Into whose hand God bringeth [abundantly].\r\n But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; And the birds of the heavens, and they shall tell thee:\r\n Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee; And the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee.\r\n Who knoweth not in all these, That the hand of Jehovah hath wrought this,\r\n In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, And the breath of all mankind?\r\n Doth not the ear try words, Even as the palate tasteth its food?\r\n With aged men is wisdom, And in length of days understanding.\r\n With [God] is wisdom and might; He hath counsel and understanding.\r\n Behold, he breaketh down, and it cannot be built again; He shutteth up a man, and there can be no opening.\r\n Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up; Again, he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth.\r\n With him is strength and wisdom; The deceived and the deceiver are his.\r\n He leadeth counsellors away stripped, And judges maketh he fools.\r\n He looseth the bond of kings, And he bindeth their loins with a girdle.\r\n He leadeth priests away stripped, And overthroweth the mighty.\r\n He removeth the speech of the trusty, And taketh away the understanding of the elders.\r\n He poureth contempt upon princes, And looseth the belt of the strong.\r\n He uncovereth deep things out of darkness, And bringeth out to light the shadow of death.\r\n He increaseth the nations, and he destroyeth them: He enlargeth the nations, and he leadeth them captive.\r\n He taketh away understanding from the chiefs of the people of the earth, And causeth them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way.\r\n They grope in the dark without light; And he maketh them to stagger like a drunken man.\r\n \r\n \r\n Lo, mine eye hath seen all [this], Mine ear hath heard and understood it.\r\n What ye know, [the same] do I know also: I am not inferior unto you.\r\n Surely I would speak to the Almighty, And I desire to reason with God.\r\n But ye are forgers of lies; Ye are all physicians of no value.\r\n Oh that ye would altogether hold your peace! And it would be your wisdom.\r\n Hear now my reasoning, And hearken to the pleadings of my lips.\r\n Will ye speak unrighteously for God, And talk deceitfully for him?\r\n Will ye show partiality to him? Will ye contend for God?\r\n Is it good that he should search you out? Or as one deceiveth a man, will ye deceive him?\r\n He will surely reprove you If ye do secretly show partiality.\r\n Shall not his majesty make you afraid, And his dread fall upon you?\r\n Your memorable sayings are proverbs of ashes, Your defences are defences of clay.\r\n Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak; And let come on me what will.\r\n Wherefore should I take my flesh in my teeth, And put my life in my hand?\r\n Behold, he will slay me; I have no hope: Nevertheless I will maintain my ways before him.\r\n This also shall be my salvation, That a godless man shall not come before him.\r\n Hear diligently my speech, And let my declaration be in your ears.\r\n Behold now, I have set my cause in order; I know that I am righteous.\r\n Who is he that will contend with me? For then would I hold my peace and give up the ghost.\r\n Only do not two things unto me; Then will I not hide myself from thy face:\r\n Withdraw thy hand far from me; And let not thy terror make me afraid.\r\n Then call thou, and I will answer; Or let me speak, and answer thou me.\r\n How many are mine iniquities and sins? Make me to know my transgression and my sin.\r\n Wherefore hidest thou thy face, And holdest me for thine enemy?\r\n Wilt thou harass a driven leaf? And wilt thou pursue the dry stubble?\r\n For thou writest bitter things against me, And makest me to inherit the iniquities of my youth:\r\n Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks, And markest all my paths; Thou settest a bound to the soles of my feet:\r\n Though I am like a rotten thing that consumeth, Like a garment that is moth-eaten.\r\n \r\n \r\n Man, that is born of a woman, Is of few days, and full of trouble.\r\n He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: He fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.\r\n And dost thou open thine eyes upon such a one, And bringest me into judgment with thee?\r\n Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.\r\n Seeing his days are determined, The number of his months is with thee, And thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass;\r\n Look away from him, that he may rest, Till he shall accomplish, as a hireling, his day.\r\n For there is hope of a tree, If it be cut down, that it will sprout again, And that the tender branch thereof will not cease.\r\n Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, And the stock thereof die in the ground;\r\n Yet through the scent of water it will bud, And put forth boughs like a plant.\r\n But man dieth, and is laid low: Yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he?\r\n [As] the waters fail from the sea, And the river wasteth and drieth up;\r\n So man lieth down and riseth not: Till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, Nor be roused out of their sleep.\r\n Oh that thou wouldest hide me in Sheol, That thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, That thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me!\r\n If a man die, shall he live [again]? All the days of my warfare would I wait, Till my release should come.\r\n Thou wouldest call, and I would answer thee: Thou wouldest have a desire to the work of thy hands.\r\n But now thou numberest my steps: Dost thou not watch over my sin?\r\n My transgression is sealed up in a bag, And thou fastenest up mine iniquity.\r\n But the mountain falling cometh to nought; And the rock is removed out of its place;\r\n The waters wear the stones; The overflowings thereof wash away the dust of the earth: So thou destroyest the hope of man.\r\n Thou prevailest for ever against him, and he passeth; Thou changest his countenance, and sendest him away.\r\n His sons come to honor, and he knoweth it not; And they are brought low, but he perceiveth it not of them.\r\n But his flesh upon him hath pain, And his soul within him mourneth.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said,\r\n Should a wise man make answer with vain knowledge, And fill himself with the east wind?\r\n Should he reason with unprofitable talk, Or with speeches wherewith he can do no good?\r\n Yea, thou doest away with fear, And hinderest devotion before God.\r\n For thine iniquity teacheth thy mouth, And thou choosest the tongue of the crafty.\r\n Thine own mouth condemneth thee, and not I; Yea, thine own lips testify against thee.\r\n Art thou the first man that was born? Or wast thou brought forth before the hills?\r\n Hast thou heard the secret counsel of God? And dost thou limit wisdom to thyself?\r\n What knowest thou, that we know not? What understandest thou, which is not in us?\r\n With us are both the gray-headed and the very aged men, Much elder than thy father.\r\n Are the consolations of God too small for thee, Even the word that is gentle toward thee?\r\n Why doth thy heart carry thee away? And why do thine eyes flash,\r\n That against God thou turnest thy spirit, And lettest words go out of thy mouth?\r\n What is man, that he should be clean? And he that is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?\r\n Behold, he putteth no trust in his holy ones; Yea, the heavens are not clean in his sight:\r\n How much less one that is abominable and corrupt, A man that drinketh iniquity like water!\r\n I will show thee, hear thou me; And that which I have seen I will declare:\r\n (Which wise men have told From their fathers, and have not hid it;\r\n Unto whom alone the land was given, And no stranger passed among them):\r\n The wicked man travaileth with pain all his days, Even the number of years that are laid up for the oppressor.\r\n A sound of terrors is in his ears; In prosperity the destroyer shall come upon him.\r\n He believeth not that he shall return out of darkness, And he is waited for of the sword.\r\n He wandereth abroad for bread, [saying], Where is it? He knoweth that the day of darkness is ready at his hand.\r\n Distress and anguish make him afraid; They prevail against him, as a king ready to the battle.\r\n Because he hath stretched out his hand against God, And behaveth himself proudly against the Almighty;\r\n He runneth upon him with a [stiff] neck, With the thick bosses of his bucklers;\r\n Because he hath covered his face with his fatness, And gathered fat upon his loins;\r\n And he hath dwelt in desolate cities, In houses which no man inhabited, Which were ready to become heaps;\r\n He shall not be rich, neither shall his substance continue, Neither shall their possessions be extended on the earth.\r\n He shall not depart out of darkness; The flame shall dry up his branches, And by the breath of [God`s] mouth shall he go away.\r\n Let him not trust in vanity, deceiving himself; For vanity shall be his recompense.\r\n It shall be accomplished before his time, And his branch shall not be green.\r\n He shall shake off his unripe grape as the vine, And shall cast off his flower as the olive-tree.\r\n For the company of the godless shall be barren, And fire shall consume the tents of bribery.\r\n They conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity, And their heart prepareth deceit.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then Job answered and said,\r\n I have heard many such things: Miserable comforters are ye all.\r\n Shall vain words have an end? Or what provoketh thee that thou answerest?\r\n I also could speak as ye do; If your soul were in my soul`s stead, I could join words together against you, And shake my head at you.\r\n [But] I would strengthen you with my mouth, And the solace of my lips would assuage [your grief].\r\n Though I speak, my grief is not assuaged; And though I forbear, what am I eased?\r\n But now he hath made me weary: Thou hast made desolate all my company.\r\n And thou hast laid fast hold on me, [which] is a witness [against me]: And my leanness riseth up against me, It testifieth to my face.\r\n He hath torn me in his wrath, and persecuted me; He hath gnashed upon me with his teeth: Mine adversary sharpeneth his eyes upon me.\r\n They have gaped upon me with their mouth; They have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully: They gather themselves together against me.\r\n God delivereth me to the ungodly, And casteth me into the hands of the wicked.\r\n I was at ease, and he brake me asunder; Yea, he hath taken me by the neck, and dashed me to pieces: He hath also set me up for his mark.\r\n His archers compass me round about; He cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare; He poureth out my gall upon the ground.\r\n He breaketh me with breach upon breach; He runneth upon me like a giant.\r\n I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, And have laid my horn in the dust.\r\n My face is red with weeping, And on my eyelids is the shadow of death;\r\n Although there is no violence in my hands, And my prayer is pure.\r\n O earth, cover not thou my blood, And let my cry have no [resting] -place.\r\n Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven, And he that voucheth for me is on high.\r\n My friends scoff at me: [But] mine eye poureth out tears unto God,\r\n That he would maintain the right of a man with God, And of a son of man with his neighbor!\r\n For when a few years are come, I shall go the way whence I shall not return.\r\n \r\n \r\n My spirit is consumed, my days are extinct, The grave is [ready] for me.\r\n Surely there are mockers with me, And mine eye dwelleth upon their provocation.\r\n Give now a pledge, be surety for me with thyself; Who is there that will strike hands with me?\r\n For thou hast hid their heart from understanding: Therefore shalt thou not exalt [them].\r\n He that denounceth his friends for a prey, Even the eyes of his children shall fail.\r\n But he hath made me a byword of the people; And they spit in my face.\r\n Mine eye also is dim by reason of sorrow, And all my members are as a shadow.\r\n Upright men shall be astonished at this, And the innocent shall stir up himself against the godless.\r\n Yet shall the righteous hold on his way, And he that hath clean hands shall wax stronger and stronger.\r\n But as for you all, come on now again; And I shall not find a wise man among you.\r\n My days are past, my purposes are broken off, Even the thoughts of my heart.\r\n They change the night into day: The light, [say they], is near unto the darkness.\r\n If I look for Sheol as my house; If I have spread my couch in the darkness;\r\n If I have said to corruption, Thou art my father; To the worm, [Thou art] my mother, and my sister;\r\n Where then is my hope? And as for my hope, who shall see it?\r\n It shall go down to the bars of Sheol, When once there is rest in the dust.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,\r\n How long will ye hunt for words? Consider, and afterwards we will speak.\r\n Wherefore are we counted as beasts, [And] are become unclean in your sight?\r\n Thou that tearest thyself in thine anger, Shall the earth be forsaken for thee? Or shall the rock be removed out of its place?\r\n Yea, the light of the wicked shall be put out, And the spark of his fire shall not shine.\r\n The light shall be dark in his tent, And his lamp above him shall be put out.\r\n The steps of his strength shall be straitened, And his own counsel shall cast him down.\r\n For he is cast into a net by his own feet, And he walketh upon the toils.\r\n A gin shall take [him] by the heel, [And] a snare shall lay hold on him.\r\n A noose is hid for him in the ground, And a trap for him in the way.\r\n Terrors shall make him afraid on every side, And shall chase him at his heels.\r\n His strength shall be hunger-bitten, And calamity shall be ready at his side.\r\n The members of his body shall be devoured, [Yea], the first-born of death shall devour his members.\r\n He shall be rooted out of his tent where he trusteth; And he shall be brought to the king of terrors.\r\n There shall dwell in his tent that which is none of his: Brimstone shall be scattered upon his habitation.\r\n His roots shall be dried up beneath, And above shall his branch be cut off.\r\n His remembrance shall perish from the earth, And he shall have no name in the street.\r\n He shall be driven from light into darkness, And chased out of the world.\r\n He shall have neither son nor son`s son among his people, Nor any remaining where he sojourned.\r\n They that come after shall be astonished at his day, As they that went before were affrighted.\r\n Surely such are the dwellings of the unrighteous, And this is the place of him that knoweth not God.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then Job answered and said,\r\n How long will ye vex my soul, And break me in pieces with words?\r\n These ten times have ye reproached me: Ye are not ashamed that ye deal hardly with me.\r\n And be it indeed that I have erred, Mine error remaineth with myself.\r\n If indeed ye will magnify yourselves against me, And plead against me my reproach;\r\n Know now that God hath subverted me [in my cause], And hath compassed me with his net.\r\n Behold, I cry out of wrong, but I am not heard: I cry for help, but there is no justice.\r\n He hath walled up my way that I cannot pass, And hath set darkness in my paths.\r\n He hath stripped me of my glory, And taken the crown from my head.\r\n He hath broken me down on every side, and I am gone; And my hope hath he plucked up like a tree.\r\n He hath also kindled his wrath against me, And he counteth me unto him as [one of] his adversaries.\r\n His troops come on together, And cast up their way against me, And encamp round about my tent.\r\n He hath put my brethren far from me, And mine acquaintance are wholly estranged from me.\r\n My kinsfolk have failed, And my familiar friends have forgotten me.\r\n They that dwell in my house, and my maids, count me for a stranger; I am an alien in their sight.\r\n I call unto my servant, and he giveth me no answer, [Though] I entreat him with my mouth.\r\n My breath is strange to my wife, And my supplication to the children of mine own mother.\r\n Even young children despise me; If I arise, they speak against me.\r\n All my familiar friends abhor me, And they whom I loved are turned against me.\r\n My bone cleaveth to my skin and to my flesh, And I am escaped with the skin of my teeth.\r\n Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, O ye my friends; For the hand of God hath touched me.\r\n Why do ye persecute me as God, And are not satisfied with my flesh?\r\n Oh that my words were now written! Oh that they were inscribed in a book!\r\n That with an iron pen and lead They were graven in the rock for ever!\r\n But as for me I know that my Redeemer liveth, And at last he will stand up upon the earth:\r\n And after my skin, [even] this [body], is destroyed, Then without my flesh shall I see God;\r\n Whom I, even I, shall see, on my side, And mine eyes shall behold, and not as a stranger. My heart is consumed within me.\r\n If ye say, How we will persecute him! And that the root of the matter is found in me;\r\n Be ye afraid of the sword: For wrath [bringeth] the punishments of the sword, That ye may know there is a judgment.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,\r\n Therefore do my thoughts give answer to me, Even by reason of my haste that is in me.\r\n I have heard the reproof which putteth me to shame; And the spirit of my understanding answereth me.\r\n Knowest thou [not] this of old time, Since man was placed upon earth,\r\n That the triumphing of the wicked is short, And the joy of the godless but for a moment?\r\n Though his height mount up to the heavens, And his head reach unto the clouds;\r\n Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung: They that have seen him shall say, Where is he?\r\n He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found: Yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night.\r\n The eye which saw him shall see him no more; Neither shall his place any more behold him.\r\n His children shall seek the favor of the poor, And his hands shall give back his wealth.\r\n His bones are full of his youth, But it shall lie down with him in the dust.\r\n Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, Though he hide it under his tongue,\r\n Though he spare it, and will not let it go, But keep it still within his mouth;\r\n Yet his food in his bowels is turned, It is the gall of asps within him.\r\n He hath swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again; God will cast them out of his belly.\r\n He shall suck the poison of asps: The viper`s tongue shall slay him.\r\n He shall not look upon the rivers, The flowing streams of honey and butter.\r\n That which he labored for shall he restore, and shall not swallow it down; According to the substance that he hath gotten, he shall not rejoice.\r\n For he hath oppressed and forsaken the poor; He hath violently taken away a house, and he shall not build it up.\r\n Because he knew no quietness within him, He shall not save aught of that wherein he delighteth.\r\n There was nothing left that he devoured not; Therefore his prosperity shall not endure.\r\n In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits: The hand of every one that is in misery shall come upon him.\r\n When he is about to fill his belly, [God] will cast the fierceness of his wrath upon him, And will rain it upon him while he is eating.\r\n He shall flee from the iron weapon, And the bow of brass shall strike him through.\r\n He draweth it forth, and it cometh out of his body; Yea, the glittering point cometh out of his gall: Terrors are upon him.\r\n All darkness is laid up for his treasures: A fire not blown [by man] shall devour him; It shall consume that which is left in his tent.\r\n The heavens shall reveal his iniquity, And the earth shall rise up against him.\r\n The increase of his house shall depart; [His goods] shall flow away in the day of his wrath.\r\n This is the portion of a wicked man from God, And the heritage appointed unto him by God.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then Job answered and said,\r\n Hear diligently my speech; And let this be your consolations.\r\n Suffer me, and I also will speak; And after that I have spoken, mock on.\r\n As for me, is my complaint to man? And why should I not be impatient?\r\n Mark me, and be astonished, And lay your hand upon your mouth.\r\n Even when I remember I am troubled, And horror taketh hold on my flesh.\r\n Wherefore do the wicked live, Become old, yea, wax mighty in power?\r\n Their seed is established with them in their sight, And their offspring before their eyes.\r\n Their houses are safe from fear, Neither is the rod of God upon them.\r\n Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; Their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.\r\n They send forth their little ones like a flock, And their children dance.\r\n They sing to the timbrel and harp, And rejoice at the sound of the pipe.\r\n They spend their days in prosperity, And in a moment they go down to Sheol.\r\n And they say unto God, Depart from us; For we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.\r\n What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? And what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?\r\n Lo, their prosperity is not in their hand: The counsel of the wicked is far from me.\r\n How oft is it that the lamp of the wicked is put out? That their calamity cometh upon them? That [God] distributeth sorrows in his anger?\r\n That they are as stubble before the wind, And as chaff that the storm carrieth away?\r\n [Ye say], God layeth up his iniquity for his children. Let him recompense it unto himself, that he may know it:\r\n Let his own eyes see his destruction, And let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty.\r\n For what careth he for his house after him, When the number of his months is cut off?\r\n Shall any teach God knowledge, Seeing he judgeth those that are high?\r\n One dieth in his full strength, Being wholly at ease and quiet:\r\n His pails are full of milk, And the marrow of his bones is moistened.\r\n And another dieth in bitterness of soul, And never tasteth of good.\r\n They lie down alike in the dust, And the worm covereth them.\r\n Behold, I know your thoughts, And the devices wherewith ye would wrong me.\r\n For ye say, Where is the house of the prince? And where is the tent wherein the wicked dwelt?\r\n Have ye not asked wayfaring men? And do ye not know their evidences,\r\n That the evil man is reserved to the day of calamity? That they are led forth to the day of wrath?\r\n Who shall declare his way to his face? And who shall repay him what he hath done?\r\n Yet shall he be borne to the grave, And men shall keep watch over the tomb.\r\n The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, And all men shall draw after him, As there were innumerable before him.\r\n How then comfort ye me in vain, Seeing in your answers there remaineth [only] falsehood?\r\n \r\n \r\n Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said,\r\n Can a man be profitable unto God? Surely he that is wise is profitable unto himself.\r\n Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that thou art righteous? Or is it gain [to him], that thou makest thy ways perfect?\r\n Is it for thy fear [of him] that he reproveth thee, That he entereth with thee into judgment?\r\n Is not thy wickedness great? Neither is there any end to thine iniquities.\r\n For thou hast taken pledges of thy brother for nought, And stripped the naked of their clothing.\r\n Thou hast not given water to the weary to drink, And thou hast withholden bread from the hungry.\r\n But as for the mighty man, he had the earth; And the honorable man, he dwelt in it.\r\n Thou hast sent widows away empty, And the arms of the fatherless have been broken.\r\n Therefore snares are round about thee, And sudden fear troubleth thee,\r\n Or darkness, so that thou canst not see, And abundance of waters cover thee.\r\n Is not God in the height of heaven? And behold the height of the stars, how high they are!\r\n And thou sayest, What doth God know? Can he judge through the thick darkness?\r\n Thick clouds are a covering to him, so that he seeth not; And he walketh on the vault of heaven.\r\n Wilt thou keep the old way Which wicked men have trodden?\r\n Who were snatched away before their time, Whose foundation was poured out as a stream,\r\n Who said unto God, Depart from us; And, What can the Almighty do for us?\r\n Yet he filled their houses with good things: But the counsel of the wicked is far from me.\r\n The righteous see it, and are glad; And the innocent laugh them to scorn,\r\n [Saying], Surely they that did rise up against us are cut off, And the remnant of them the fire hath consumed.\r\n Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: Thereby good shall come unto thee.\r\n Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, And lay up his words in thy heart.\r\n If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, If thou put away unrighteousness far from thy tents.\r\n And lay thou [thy] treasure in the dust, And [the gold of] Ophir among the stones of the brooks;\r\n And the Almighty will be thy treasure, And precious silver unto thee.\r\n For then shalt thou delight thyself in the Almighty, And shalt lift up thy face unto God.\r\n Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he will hear thee; And thou shalt pay thy vows.\r\n Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee; And light shall shine upon thy ways.\r\n When they cast [thee] down, thou shalt say, [There is] lifting up; And the humble person he will save.\r\n He will deliver [even] him that is not innocent: Yea, he shall be delivered through the cleanness of thy hands.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then Job answered and said,\r\n Even to-day is my complaint rebellious: My stroke is heavier than my groaning.\r\n Oh that I knew where I might find him! That I might come even to his seat!\r\n I would set my cause in order before him, And fill my mouth with arguments.\r\n I would know the words which he would answer me, And understand what he would say unto me.\r\n Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power? Nay; but he would give heed unto me.\r\n There the upright might reason with him; So should I be delivered for ever from my judge.\r\n Behold, I go forward, but he is not [there]; And backward, but I cannot perceive him;\r\n On the left hand, when he doth work, but I cannot behold him; He hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him.\r\n But he knoweth the way that I take; When he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.\r\n My foot hath held fast to his steps; His way have I kept, and turned not aside.\r\n I have not gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have treasured up the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.\r\n But he is in one [mind], and who can turn him? And what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.\r\n For he performeth that which is appointed for me: And many such things are with him.\r\n Therefore am I terrified at his presence; When I consider, I am afraid of him.\r\n For God hath made my heart faint, And the Almighty hath terrified me;\r\n Because I was not cut off before the darkness, Neither did he cover the thick darkness from my face.\r\n \r\n \r\n Why are times not laid up by the Almighty? And why do not they that know him see his days?\r\n There are that remove the landmarks; They violently take away flocks, and feed them.\r\n They drive away the ass of the fatherless; They take the widow`s ox for a pledge.\r\n They turn the needy out of the way: The poor of the earth all hide themselves.\r\n Behold, as wild asses in the desert They go forth to their work, seeking diligently for food; The wilderness [yieldeth] them bread for their children.\r\n They cut their provender in the field; And they glean the vintage of the wicked.\r\n They lie all night naked without clothing, And have no covering in the cold.\r\n They are wet with the showers of the mountains, And embrace the rock for want of a shelter.\r\n There are that pluck the fatherless from the breast, And take a pledge of the poor;\r\n [So that] they go about naked without clothing, And being hungry they carry the sheaves.\r\n They make oil within the walls of these men; They tread [their] winepresses, and suffer thirst.\r\n From out of the populous city men groan, And the soul of the wounded crieth out: Yet God regardeth not the folly.\r\n These are of them that rebel against the light; They know not the ways thereof, Nor abide in the paths thereof.\r\n The murderer riseth with the light; He killeth the poor and needy; And in the night he is as a thief.\r\n The eye also of the adulterer waiteth for the twilight, Saying, No eye shall see me: And he disguiseth his face.\r\n In the dark they dig through houses: They shut themselves up in the day-time; They know not the light.\r\n For the morning is to all of them as thick darkness; For they know the terrors of the thick darkness.\r\n Swiftly they [pass away] upon the face of the waters; Their portion is cursed in the earth: They turn not into the way of the vineyards.\r\n Drought and heat consume the snow waters: [So doth] Sheol [those that] have sinned.\r\n The womb shall forget him; The worm shall feed sweetly on him; He shall be no more remembered; And unrighteousness shall be broken as a tree.\r\n He devoureth the barren that beareth not, And doeth not good to the widow.\r\n Yet [God] preserveth the mighty by his power: He riseth up that hath no assurance of life.\r\n [God] giveth them to be in security, and they rest thereon; And his eyes are upon their ways.\r\n They are exalted; yet a little while, and they are gone; Yea, they are brought low, they are taken out of the way as all others, And are cut off as the tops of the ears of grain.\r\n And if it be not so now, who will prove me a liar, And make my speech nothing worth?\r\n \r\n \r\n Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,\r\n Dominion and fear are with him; He maketh peace in his high places.\r\n Is there any number of his armies? And upon whom doth not his light arise?\r\n How then can man be just with God? Or how can he be clean that is born of a woman?\r\n Behold, even the moon hath no brightness, And the stars are not pure in his sight:\r\n How much less man, that is a worm! And the son of man, that is a worm!\r\n \r\n \r\n Then Job answered and said,\r\n How hast thou helped him that is without power! How hast thou saved the arm that hath no strength!\r\n How hast thou counselled him that hath no wisdom, And plentifully declared sound knowledge!\r\n To whom hast thou uttered words? And whose spirit came forth from thee?\r\n They that are deceased tremble Beneath the waters and the inhabitants thereof.\r\n Sheol is naked before [God], And Abaddon hath no covering.\r\n He stretcheth out the north over empty space, And hangeth the earth upon nothing.\r\n He bindeth up the waters in his thick clouds; And the cloud is not rent under them.\r\n He incloseth the face of his throne, And spreadeth his cloud upon it.\r\n He hath described a boundary upon the face of the waters, Unto the confines of light and darkness.\r\n The pillars of heaven tremble And are astonished at his rebuke.\r\n He stirreth up the sea with his power, And by his understanding he smiteth through Rahab.\r\n By his Spirit the heavens are garnished; His hand hath pierced the swift serpent.\r\n Lo, these are but the outskirts of his ways: And how small a whisper do we hear of him! But the thunder of his power who can understand?\r\n \r\n \r\n And Job again took up his parable, and said,\r\n As God liveth, who hath taken away my right, And the Almighty, who hath vexed my soul:\r\n (For my life is yet whole in me, And the spirit of God is in my nostrils);\r\n Surely my lips shall not speak unrighteousness, Neither shall my tongue utter deceit.\r\n Far be it from me that I should justify you: Till I die I will not put away mine integrity from me.\r\n My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: My heart shall not reproach [me] so long as I live.\r\n Let mine enemy be as the wicked, And let him that riseth up against me be as the unrighteous.\r\n For what is the hope of the godless, though he get him gain, When God taketh away his soul?\r\n Will God hear his cry, When trouble cometh upon him?\r\n Will he delight himself in the Almighty, And call upon God at all times?\r\n I will teach you concerning the hand of God; That which is with the Almighty will I not conceal.\r\n Behold, all ye yourselves have seen it; Why then are ye become altogether vain?\r\n This is the portion of a wicked man with God, And the heritage of oppressors, which they receive from the Almighty:\r\n If his children be multiplied, it is for the sword; And his offspring shall not be satisfied with bread.\r\n Those that remain of him shall be buried in death, And his widows shall make no lamentation.\r\n Though he heap up silver as the dust, And prepare raiment as the clay;\r\n He may prepare it, but the just shall put it on, And the innocent shall divide the silver.\r\n He buildeth his house as the moth, And as a booth which the keeper maketh.\r\n He lieth down rich, but he shall not be gathered [to his fathers]; He openeth his eyes, and he is not.\r\n Terrors overtake him like waters; A tempest stealeth him away in the night.\r\n The east wind carrieth him away, and he departeth; And it sweepeth him out of his place.\r\n For [God] shall hurl at him, and not spare: He would fain flee out of his hand.\r\n Men shall clap their hands at him, And shall hiss him out of his place.\r\n \r\n \r\n Surely there is a mine for silver, And a place for gold which they refine.\r\n Iron is taken out of the earth, And copper is molten out of the stone.\r\n [Man] setteth an end to darkness, And searcheth out, to the furthest bound, The stones of obscurity and of thick darkness.\r\n He breaketh open a shaft away from where men sojourn; They are forgotten of the foot; They hang afar from men, they swing to and fro.\r\n As for the earth, out of it cometh bread; And underneath it is turned up as it were by fire.\r\n The stones thereof are the place of sapphires, And it hath dust of gold.\r\n That path no bird of prey knoweth, Neither hath the falcon`s eye seen it:\r\n The proud beasts have not trodden it, Nor hath the fierce lion passed thereby.\r\n He putteth forth his hand upon the flinty rock; He overturneth the mountains by the roots.\r\n He cutteth out channels among the rocks; And his eye seeth every precious thing.\r\n He bindeth the streams that they trickle not; And the thing that is hid bringeth he forth to light.\r\n But where shall wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?\r\n Man knoweth not the price thereof; Neither is it found in the land of the living.\r\n The deep saith, It is not in me; And the sea saith, It is not with me.\r\n It cannot be gotten for gold, Neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof.\r\n It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, With the precious onyx, or the sapphire.\r\n Gold and glass cannot equal it, Neither shall it be exchanged for jewels of fine gold.\r\n No mention shall be made of coral or of crystal: Yea, the price of wisdom is above rubies.\r\n The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it, Neither shall it be valued with pure gold.\r\n Whence then cometh wisdom? And where is the place of understanding?\r\n Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living, And kept close from the birds of the heavens.\r\n Destruction and Death say, We have heard a rumor thereof with our ears.\r\n God understandeth the way thereof, And he knoweth the place thereof.\r\n For he looketh to the ends of the earth, And seeth under the whole heaven;\r\n To make a weight for the wind: Yea, he meteth out the waters by measure.\r\n When he made a decree for the rain, And a way for the lightning of the thunder;\r\n Then did he see it, and declare it; He established it, yea, and searched it out.\r\n And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; And to depart from evil is understanding.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Job again took up his parable, and said,\r\n Oh that I were as in the months of old, As in the days when God watched over me;\r\n When his lamp shined upon my head, And by his light I walked through darkness;\r\n As I was in the ripeness of my days, When the friendship of God was upon my tent;\r\n When the Almighty was yet with me, And my children were about me;\r\n When my steps were washed with butter, And the rock poured me out streams of oil!\r\n When I went forth to the gate unto the city, When I prepared my seat in the street,\r\n The young men saw me and hid themselves, And the aged rose up and stood;\r\n The princes refrained from talking, And laid their hand on their mouth;\r\n The voice of the nobles was hushed, And their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.\r\n For when the ear heard [me], then it blessed me; And when the eye saw [me], it gave witness unto me:\r\n Because I delivered the poor that cried, The fatherless also, that had none to help him.\r\n The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me; And I caused the widow`s heart to sing for joy.\r\n I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: My justice was as a robe and a diadem.\r\n I was eyes to the blind, And feet was I to the lame.\r\n I was a father to the needy: And the cause of him that I knew not I searched out.\r\n And I brake the jaws of the unrighteous, And plucked the prey out of his teeth.\r\n Then I said, I shall die in my nest, And I shall multiply my days as the sand:\r\n My root is spread out to the waters, And the dew lieth all night upon my branch;\r\n My glory is fresh in me, And my bow is renewed in my hand.\r\n Unto me men gave ear, and waited, And kept silence for my counsel.\r\n After my words they spake not again; And my speech distilled upon them.\r\n And they waited for me as for the rain; And they opened their mouth wide [as] for the latter rain.\r\n I smiled on them, when they had no confidence; And the light of my countenance they cast not down.\r\n I chose out their way, and sat [as] chief, And dwelt as a king in the army, As one that comforteth the mourners.\r\n \r\n \r\n But now they that are younger than I have me in derision, Whose fathers I disdained to set with the dogs of my flock.\r\n Yea, the strength of their hands, whereto should it profit me? Men in whom ripe age is perished.\r\n They are gaunt with want and famine; They gnaw the dry ground, in the gloom of wasteness and desolation.\r\n They pluck salt-wort by the bushes; And the roots of the broom are their food.\r\n They are driven forth from the midst [of men]; They cry after them as after a thief;\r\n So that they dwell in frightful valleys, In holes of the earth and of the rocks.\r\n Among the bushes they bray; Under the nettles they are gathered together.\r\n [They are] children of fools, yea, children of base men; They were scourged out of the land.\r\n And now I am become their song, Yea, I am a byword unto them.\r\n They abhor me, they stand aloof from me, And spare not to spit in my face.\r\n For he hath loosed his cord, and afflicted me; And they have cast off the bridle before me.\r\n Upon my right hand rise the rabble; They thrust aside my feet, And they cast up against me their ways of destruction.\r\n They mar my path, They set forward my calamity, [Even] men that have no helper.\r\n As through a wide breach they come: In the midst of the ruin they roll themselves [upon me].\r\n Terrors are turned upon me; They chase mine honor as the wind; And my welfare is passed away as a cloud.\r\n And now my soul is poured out within me; Days of affliction have taken hold upon me.\r\n In the night season my bones are pierced in me, And the [pains] that gnaw me take no rest.\r\n By [God`s] great force is my garment disfigured; It bindeth me about as the collar of my coat.\r\n He hath cast me into the mire, And I am become like dust and ashes.\r\n I cry unto thee, and thou dost not answer me: I stand up, and thou gazest at me.\r\n Thou art turned to be cruel to me; With the might of thy hand thou persecutest me.\r\n Thou liftest me up to the wind, thou causest me to ride [upon it]; And thou dissolvest me in the storm.\r\n For I know that thou wilt bring me to death, And to the house appointed for all living.\r\n Howbeit doth not one stretch out the hand in his fall? Or in his calamity therefore cry for help?\r\n Did not I weep for him that was in trouble? Was not my soul grieved for the needy?\r\n When I looked for good, then evil came; And when I waited for light, there came darkness.\r\n My heart is troubled, and resteth not; Days of affliction are come upon me.\r\n I go mourning without the sun: I stand up in the assembly, and cry for help.\r\n I am a brother to jackals, And a companion to ostriches.\r\n My skin is black, [and falleth] from me, And my bones are burned with heat.\r\n Therefore is my harp [turned] to mourning, And my pipe into the voice of them that weep.\r\n \r\n \r\n I made a covenant with mine eyes; How then should I look upon a virgin?\r\n For what is the portion from God above, And the heritage from the Almighty on high?\r\n Is it not calamity to the unrighteous, And disaster to the workers of iniquity?\r\n Doth not he see my ways, And number all my steps?\r\n If I have walked with falsehood, And my foot hath hasted to deceit\r\n (Let me be weighed in an even balance, That God may know mine integrity);\r\n If my step hath turned out of the way, And my heart walked after mine eyes, And if any spot hath cleaved to my hands:\r\n Then let me sow, and let another eat; Yea, let the produce of my field be rooted out.\r\n If my heart hath been enticed unto a woman, And I have laid wait at my neighbor`s door;\r\n Then let my wife grind unto another, And let others bow down upon her.\r\n For that were a heinous crime; Yea, it were an iniquity to be punished by the judges:\r\n For it is a fire that consumeth unto Destruction, And would root out all mine increase.\r\n If I have despised the cause of my man-servant or of my maid-servant, When they contended with me;\r\n What then shall I do when God riseth up? And when he visiteth, what shall I answer him?\r\n Did not he that made me in the womb make him? And did not one fashion us in the womb?\r\n If I have withheld the poor from [their] desire, Or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail,\r\n Or have eaten my morsel alone, And the fatherless hath not eaten thereof\r\n (Nay, from my youth he grew up with me as with a father, And her have I guided from my mother`s womb);\r\n If I have seen any perish for want of clothing, Or that the needy had no covering;\r\n If his loins have not blessed me, And if he hath not been warmed with the fleece of my sheep;\r\n If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, Because I saw my help in the gate:\r\n Then let my shoulder fall from the shoulder-blade, And mine arm be broken from the bone.\r\n For calamity from God is a terror to me, And by reason of his majesty I can do nothing.\r\n If I have made gold my hope, And have said to the fine gold, [Thou art] my confidence;\r\n If I have rejoiced because my wealth was great, And because my hand had gotten much;\r\n If I have beheld the sun when it shined, Or the moon walking in brightness,\r\n And my heart hath been secretly enticed, And my mouth hath kissed my hand:\r\n This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judges; For I should have denied the God that is above.\r\n If I have rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, Or lifted up myself when evil found him;\r\n (Yea, I have not suffered by mouth to sin By asking his life with a curse);\r\n If the men of my tent have not said, Who can find one that hath not been filled with his meat?\r\n (The sojourner hath not lodged in the street; But I have opened my doors to the traveller);\r\n If like Adam I have covered my transgressions, By hiding mine iniquity in my bosom,\r\n Because I feared the great multitude, And the contempt of families terrified me, So that I kept silence, and went not out of the door-\r\n Oh that I had one to hear me! (Lo, here is my signature, let the Almighty answer me); And [that I had] the indictment which mine adversary hath written!\r\n Surely I would carry it upon my shoulder; I would bind it unto me as a crown:\r\n I would declare unto him the number of my steps; As a prince would I go near unto him.\r\n If my land crieth out against me, And the furrows thereof weep together;\r\n If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, Or have caused the owners thereof to lose their life:\r\n Let thistles grow instead of wheat, And cockle instead of barley. The words of Job are ended.\r\n \r\n \r\n So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.\r\n Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram: against Job was his wrath kindled, because he justified himself rather than God.\r\n Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.\r\n Now Elihu had waited to speak unto Job, because they were elder than he.\r\n And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, his wrath was kindled.\r\n And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said, I am young, and ye are very old; Wherefore I held back, and durst not show you mine opinion.\r\n I said, Days should speak, And multitude of years should teach wisdom.\r\n But there is a spirit in man, And the breath of the Almighty giveth them understanding.\r\n It is not the great that are wise, Nor the aged that understand justice.\r\n Therefore I said, Hearken to me; I also will show mine opinion.\r\n Behold, I waited for your words, I listened for your reasonings, Whilst ye searched out what to say.\r\n Yea, I attended unto you, And, behold, there was none that convinced Job, Or that answered his words, among you.\r\n Beware lest ye say, We have found wisdom; God may vanquish him, not man:\r\n For he hath not directed his words against me; Neither will I answer him with your speeches.\r\n They are amazed, they answer no more: They have not a word to say.\r\n And shall I wait, because they speak not, Because they stand still, and answer no more?\r\n I also will answer my part, I also will show mine opinion.\r\n For I am full of words; The spirit within me constraineth me.\r\n Behold, my breast is as wine which hath no vent; Like new wine-skins it is ready to burst.\r\n I will speak, that I may be refreshed; I will open my lips and answer.\r\n Let me not, I pray you, respect any man`s person; Neither will I give flattering titles unto any man.\r\n For I know not to give flattering titles; [Else] would my Maker soon take me away.\r\n \r\n \r\n Howbeit, Job, I pray thee, hear my speech, And hearken to all my words.\r\n Behold now, I have opened my mouth; My tongue hath spoken in my mouth.\r\n My words [shall utter] the uprightness of my heart; And that which my lips know they shall speak sincerely.\r\n The Spirit of God hath made me, And the breath of the Almighty giveth me life.\r\n If thou canst, answer thou me; Set [thy words] in order before me, stand forth.\r\n Behold, I am toward God even as thou art: I also am formed out of the clay.\r\n Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, Neither shall my pressure be heavy upon thee.\r\n Surely thou hast spoken in my hearing, And I have heard the voice of [thy] words, [saying],\r\n I am clean, without transgression; I am innocent, neither is there iniquity in me:\r\n Behold, he findeth occasions against me, He counteth me for his enemy:\r\n He putteth my feet in the stocks, He marketh all my paths.\r\n Behold, I will answer thee, in this thou art not just; For God is greater than man.\r\n Why dost thou strive against him, For that he giveth not account of any of his matters?\r\n For God speaketh once, Yea twice, [though man] regardeth it not.\r\n In a dream, in a vision of the night, When deep sleep falleth upon men, In slumberings upon the bed;\r\n Then he openeth the ears of men, And sealeth their instruction,\r\n That he may withdraw man [from his] purpose, And hide pride from man;\r\n He keepeth back his soul from the pit, And his life from perishing by the sword.\r\n He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, And with continual strife in his bones;\r\n So that his life abhorreth bread, And his soul dainty food.\r\n His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; And his bones that were not seen stick out.\r\n Yea, his soul draweth near unto the pit, And his life to the destroyers.\r\n If there be with him an angel, An interpreter, one among a thousand, To show unto man what is right for him;\r\n Then [God] is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom.\r\n His flesh shall be fresher than a child`s; He returneth to the days of his youth.\r\n He prayeth unto God, and he is favorable unto him, So that he seeth his face with joy: And he restoreth unto man his righteousness.\r\n He singeth before men, and saith, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, And it profited me not:\r\n He hath redeemed my soul from going into the pit, And my life shall behold the light.\r\n Lo, all these things doth God work, Twice, [yea] thrice, with a man,\r\n To bring back his soul from the pit, That he may be enlightened with the light of the living.\r\n Mark well, O Job, hearken unto me: Hold thy peace, and I will speak.\r\n If thou hast anything to say, answer me: Speak, for I desire to justify thee.\r\n If not, hearken thou unto me: Hold thy peace, and I will teach thee wisdom.\r\n \r\n \r\n Moreover Elihu answered and said,\r\n Hear my words, ye wise men; And give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.\r\n For the ear trieth words, As the palate tasteth food.\r\n Let us choose for us that which is right: Let us know among ourselves what is good.\r\n For Job hath said, I am righteous, And God hath taken away my right:\r\n Notwithstanding my right I am [accounted] a liar; My wound is incurable, [though I am] without transgression.\r\n What man is like Job, Who drinketh up scoffing like water,\r\n Who goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, And walketh with wicked men?\r\n For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing That he should delight himself with God.\r\n Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding: Far be it from God, that he should do wickedness, And from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.\r\n For the work of a man will he render unto him, And cause every man to find according to his ways.\r\n Yea, of a surety, God will not do wickedly, Neither will the Almighty pervert justice.\r\n Who gave him a charge over the earth? Or who hath disposed the whole world?\r\n If he set his heart upon himself, [If] he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath;\r\n All flesh shall perish together, And man shall turn again unto dust.\r\n If now [thou hast] understanding, hear this: Hearken to the voice of my words.\r\n Shall even one that hateth justice govern? And wilt thou condemn him that is righteous [and] mighty?-\r\n [Him] that saith to a king, [Thou art] vile, [Or] to nobles, [Ye are] wicked;\r\n That respecteth not the persons of princes, Nor regardeth the rich more than the poor; For they all are the work of his hands.\r\n In a moment they die, even at midnight; The people are shaken and pass away, And the mighty are taken away without hand.\r\n For his eyes are upon the ways of a man, And he seeth all his goings.\r\n There is no darkness, nor thick gloom, Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.\r\n For he needeth not further to consider a man, That he should go before God in judgment.\r\n He breaketh in pieces mighty men [in ways] past finding out, And setteth others in their stead.\r\n Therefore he taketh knowledge of their works; And he overturneth them in the night, so that they are destroyed.\r\n He striketh them as wicked men In the open sight of others;\r\n Because they turned aside from following him, And would not have regard in any of his ways:\r\n So that they caused the cry of the poor to come unto him, And he heard the cry of the afflicted.\r\n When he giveth quietness, who then can condemn? And when he hideth his face, who then can behold him? Alike whether [it be done] unto a nation, or unto a man:\r\n That the godless man reign not, That there be none to ensnare the people.\r\n For hath any said unto God, I have borne [chastisement], I will not offend [any more]:\r\n That which I see not teach thou me: If I have done iniquity, I will do it no more?\r\n Shall his recompense be as thou wilt, that thou refusest it? For thou must choose, and not I: Therefore speak what thou knowest.\r\n Men of understanding will say unto me, Yea, every wise man that heareth me:\r\n Job speaketh without knowledge, And his words are without wisdom.\r\n Would that Job were tried unto the end, Because of his answering like wicked men.\r\n For he addeth rebellion unto his sin; He clappeth his hands among us, And multiplieth his words against God.\r\n \r\n \r\n Moreover Elihu answered and said,\r\n Thinkest thou this to be [thy] right, [Or] sayest thou, My righteousness is more than God`s,\r\n That thou sayest, What advantage will it be unto thee? [And], What profit shall I have, more than if I had sinned?\r\n I will answer thee, And thy companions with thee.\r\n Look unto the heavens, and see; And behold the skies, which are higher than thou.\r\n If thou hast sinned, what effectest thou against him? And if thy transgressions be multiplied, what doest thou unto him?\r\n If thou be righteous, what givest thou him? Or what receiveth he of thy hand?\r\n Thy wickedness [may hurt] a man as thou art; And thy righteousness [may profit] a son of man.\r\n By reason of the multitude of oppressions they cry out; They cry for help by reason of the arm of the mighty.\r\n But none saith, Where is God my Maker, Who giveth songs in the night,\r\n Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, And maketh us wiser than the birds of the heavens?\r\n There they cry, but none giveth answer, Because of the pride of evil men.\r\n Surely God will not hear an empty [cry], Neither will the Almighty regard it.\r\n How much less when thou sayest thou beholdest him not, The cause is before him, and thou waitest for him!\r\n But now, because he hath not visited in his anger, Neither doth he greatly regard arrogance;\r\n Therefore doth Job open his mouth in vanity; He multiplieth words without knowledge.\r\n \r\n \r\n Elihu also proceeded, and said,\r\n Suffer me a little, and I will show thee; For I have yet somewhat to say on God`s behalf.\r\n I will fetch my knowledge from afar, And will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.\r\n For truly my words are not false: One that is perfect in knowledge is with thee.\r\n Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: He is mighty in strength of understanding.\r\n He preserveth not the life of the wicked, But giveth to the afflicted [their] right.\r\n He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: But with kings upon the throne He setteth them for ever, and they are exalted.\r\n And if they be bound in fetters, And be taken in the cords of afflictions;\r\n Then he showeth them their work, And their transgressions, that they have behaved themselves proudly.\r\n He openeth also their ear to instruction, And commandeth that they return from iniquity.\r\n If they hearken and serve [him], They shall spend their days in prosperity, And their years in pleasures.\r\n But if they hearken not, they shall perish by the sword, And they shall die without knowledge.\r\n But they that are godless in heart lay up anger: They cry not for help when he bindeth them.\r\n They die in youth, And their life [perisheth] among the unclean.\r\n He delivereth the afflicted by their affliction, And openeth their ear in oppression.\r\n Yea, he would have allured thee out of distress Into a broad place, where there is no straitness; And that which is set on thy table would be full of fatness.\r\n But thou art full of the judgment of the wicked: Judgment and justice take hold [on thee].\r\n For let not wrath stir thee up against chastisements; Neither let the greatness of the ransom turn thee aside.\r\n Will thy cry avail, [that thou be] not in distress, Or all the forces of [thy] strength?\r\n Desire not the night, When peoples are cut off in their place.\r\n Take heed, regard not iniquity: For this hast thou chosen rather than affliction.\r\n Behold, God doeth loftily in his power: Who is a teacher like unto him?\r\n Who hath enjoined him his way? Or who can say, Thou hast wrought unrighteousness?\r\n Remember that thou magnify his work, Whereof men have sung.\r\n All men have looked thereon; Man beholdeth it afar off.\r\n Behold, God is great, and we know him not; The number of his years is unsearchable.\r\n For he draweth up the drops of water, Which distil in rain from his vapor,\r\n Which the skies pour down And drop upon man abundantly.\r\n Yea, can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, The thunderings of his pavilion?\r\n Behold, he spreadeth his light around him; And he covereth the bottom of the sea.\r\n For by these he judgeth the peoples; He giveth food in abundance.\r\n He covereth his hands with the lightning, And giveth it a charge that it strike the mark.\r\n The noise thereof telleth concerning him, The cattle also concerning [the storm] that cometh up.\r\n \r\n \r\n Yea, at this my heart trembleth, And is moved out of its place.\r\n Hear, oh, hear the noise of his voice, And the sound that goeth out of his mouth.\r\n He sendeth it forth under the whole heaven, And his lightening unto the ends of the earth.\r\n After it a voice roareth; He thundereth with the voice of his majesty; And he restraineth not [the lightnings] when his voice is heard.\r\n God thundereth marvellously with his voice; Great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend.\r\n For he saith to the snow, Fall thou on the earth; Likewise to the shower of rain, And to the showers of his mighty rain.\r\n He sealeth up the hand of every man, That all men whom he hath made may know [it].\r\n Then the beasts go into coverts, And remain in their dens.\r\n Out of the chamber [of the south] cometh the storm, And cold out of the north.\r\n By the breath of God ice is given; And the breadth of the waters is straitened.\r\n Yea, he ladeth the thick cloud with moisture; He spreadeth abroad the cloud of his lightning:\r\n And it is turned round about by his guidance, That they may do whatsoever he commandeth them Upon the face of the habitable world,\r\n Whether it be for correction, or for his land, Or for lovingkindness, that he cause it to come.\r\n Hearken unto this, O Job: Stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.\r\n Dost thou know how God layeth [his charge] upon them, And causeth the lightning of his cloud to shine?\r\n Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, The wondrous works of him who is perfect in knowledge?\r\n How thy garments are warm, When the earth is still by reason of the south [wind]?\r\n Canst thou with him spread out the sky, Which is strong as a molten mirror?\r\n Teach us what we shall say unto him; [For] we cannot set [our speech] in order by reason of darkness.\r\n Shall it be told him that I would speak? Or should a man wish that he were swallowed up?\r\n And now men see not the light which is bright in the skies; But the wind passeth, and cleareth them.\r\n Out of the north cometh golden splendor: God hath upon him terrible majesty.\r\n [Touching] the Almighty, we cannot find him out He is excellent in power; And in justice and plenteous righteousness he will not afflict.\r\n Men do therefore fear him: He regardeth not any that are wise of heart.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then Jehovah answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,\r\n Who is this that darkeneth counsel By words without knowledge?\r\n Gird up now thy loins like a man; For I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.\r\n Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if thou hast understanding.\r\n Who determined the measures thereof, if thou knowest? Or who stretched the line upon it?\r\n Whereupon were the foundations thereof fastened? Or who laid the corner-stone thereof,\r\n When the morning stars sang together, And all the sons of God shouted for joy?\r\n Or [who] shut up the sea with doors, When it brake forth, [as if] it had issued out of the womb;\r\n When I made clouds the garment thereof, And thick darkness a swaddling-band for it,\r\n And marked out for it my bound, And set bars and doors,\r\n And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further; And here shall thy proud waves be stayed?\r\n Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days [began], [And] caused the dayspring to know its place;\r\n That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, And the wicked be shaken out of it?\r\n It is changed as clay under the seal; And [all things] stand forth as a garment:\r\n And from the wicked their light is withholden, And the high arm is broken.\r\n Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? Or hast thou walked in the recesses of the deep?\r\n Have the gates of death been revealed unto thee? Or hast thou seen the gates of the shadow of death?\r\n Hast thou comprehended the earth in its breadth? Declare, if thou knowest it all.\r\n Where is the way to the dwelling of light? And as for darkness, where is the place thereof,\r\n That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, And that thou shouldest discern the paths to the house thereof?\r\n [Doubtless], thou knowest, for thou wast then born, And the number of thy days is great!\r\n Hast thou entered the treasuries of the snow, Or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail,\r\n Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, Against the day of battle and war?\r\n By what way is the light parted, Or the east wind scattered upon the earth?\r\n Who hath cleft a channel for the waterflood, Or the way for the lightning of the thunder;\r\n To cause it to rain on a land where no man is; On the wilderness, wherein there is no man;\r\n To satisfy the waste and desolate [ground], And to cause the tender grass to spring forth?\r\n Hath the rain a father? Or who hath begotten the drops of dew?\r\n Out of whose womb came the ice? And the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it?\r\n The waters hide themselves [and become] like stone, And the face of the deep is frozen.\r\n Canst thou bind the cluster of the Pleiades, Or loose the bands of Orion?\r\n Canst thou lead forth the Mazzaroth in their season? Or canst thou guide the Bear with her train?\r\n Knowest thou the ordinances of the heavens? Canst thou establish the dominion thereof in the earth?\r\n Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, That abundance of waters may cover thee?\r\n Canst thou send forth lightnings, that they may go, And say unto thee, Here we are?\r\n Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? Or who hath given understanding to the mind?\r\n Who can number the clouds by wisdom? Or who can pour out the bottles of heaven,\r\n When the dust runneth into a mass, And the clods cleave fast together?\r\n Canst thou hunt the prey for the lioness, Or satisfy the appetite of the young lions,\r\n When they couch in their dens, [And] abide in the covert to lie in wait?\r\n Who provideth for the raven his prey, When his young ones cry unto God, [And] wander for lack of food?\r\n \r\n \r\n Knowest thou the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth? [Or] canst thou mark when the hinds do calve?\r\n Canst thou number the months that they fulfil? Or knowest thou the time when they bring forth?\r\n They bow themselves, they bring forth their young, They cast out their pains.\r\n Their young ones become strong, they grow up in the open field; They go forth, and return not again.\r\n Who hath sent out the wild ass free? Or who hath loosed the bonds of the swift ass,\r\n Whose home I have made the wilderness, And the salt land his dwelling-place?\r\n He scorneth the tumult of the city, Neither heareth he the shoutings of the driver.\r\n The range of the mountains is his pasture, And he searcheth after every green thing.\r\n Will the wild-ox be content to serve thee? Or will he abide by thy crib?\r\n Canst thou bind the wild-ox with his band in the furrow? Or will he harrow the valleys after thee?\r\n Wilt thou trust him, because his strength is great? Or wilt thou leave to him thy labor?\r\n Wilt thou confide in him, that he will bring home thy seed, And gather [the grain] of thy threshing-floor?\r\n The wings of the ostrich wave proudly; [But] are they the pinions and plumage of love?\r\n For she leaveth her eggs on the earth, And warmeth them in the dust,\r\n And forgetteth that the foot may crush them, Or that the wild beast may trample them.\r\n She dealeth hardly with her young ones, as if they were not hers: Though her labor be in vain, [she is] without fear;\r\n Because God hath deprived her of wisdom, Neither hath he imparted to her understanding.\r\n What time she lifteth up herself on high, She scorneth the horse and his rider.\r\n Hast thou given the horse [his] might? Hast thou clothed his neck with the quivering mane?\r\n Hast thou made him to leap as a locust? The glory of his snorting is terrible.\r\n He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength: He goeth out to meet the armed men.\r\n He mocketh at fear, and is not dismayed; Neither turneth he back from the sword.\r\n The quiver rattleth against him, The flashing spear and the javelin.\r\n He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage; Neither believeth he that it is the voice of the trumpet.\r\n As oft as the trumpet [soundeth] he saith, Aha! And he smelleth the battle afar off, The thunder of the captains, and the shouting.\r\n Is it by thy wisdom that the hawk soareth, (And) stretcheth her wings toward the south?\r\n Is it at thy command that the eagle mounteth up, And maketh her nest on high?\r\n On the cliff she dwelleth, and maketh her home, Upon the point of the cliff, and the stronghold.\r\n From thence she spieth out the prey; Her eyes behold it afar off.\r\n Her young ones also suck up blood: And where the slain are, there is she.\r\n \r\n \r\n Moreover Jehovah answered Job, and said,\r\n Shall he that cavilleth contend with the Almighty? He that argueth with God, let him answer it.\r\n Then Job answered Jehovah, and said,\r\n Behold, I am of small account; What shall I answer thee? I lay my hand upon my mouth.\r\n Once have I spoken, and I will not answer; Yea, twice, but I will proceed no further.\r\n Then Jehovah answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,\r\n Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.\r\n Wilt thou even annul my judgment? Wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be justified?\r\n Or hast thou an arm like God? And canst thou thunder with a voice like him?\r\n Deck thyself now with excellency and dignity; And array thyself with honor and majesty.\r\n Pour forth the overflowings of thine anger; And look upon every one that is proud, and abase him.\r\n Look on every one that is proud, [and] bring him low; And tread down the wicked where they stand.\r\n Hide them in the dust together; Bind their faces in the hidden [place].\r\n Then will I also confess of thee That thine own right hand can save thee.\r\n Behold now, behemoth, which I made as well as thee; He eateth grass as an ox.\r\n Lo now, his strength is in his loins, And his force is in the muscles of his belly.\r\n He moveth his tail like a cedar: The sinews of his thighs are knit together.\r\n His bones are [as] tubes of brass; His limbs are like bars of iron.\r\n He is the chief of the ways of God: He [only] that made him giveth him his sword.\r\n Surely the mountains bring him forth food, Where all the beasts of the field do play.\r\n He lieth under the lotus-trees, In the covert of the reed, and the fen.\r\n The lotus-trees cover him with their shade; The willows of the brook compass him about.\r\n Behold, if a river overflow, he trembleth not; He is confident, though a Jordan swell even to his mouth.\r\n Shall any take him when he is on the watch, Or pierce through his nose with a snare?\r\n \r\n \r\n Canst thou draw out leviathan with a fishhook? Or press down his tongue with a cord?\r\n Canst thou put a rope into his nose? Or pierce his jaw through with a hook?\r\n Will he make many supplications unto thee? Or will he speak soft words unto thee?\r\n Will he make a covenant with thee, That thou shouldest take him for a servant for ever?\r\n Wilt thou play with him as with a bird? Or wilt thou bind him for thy maidens?\r\n Will the bands [of fishermen] make traffic of him? Will they part him among the merchants?\r\n Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons, Or his head with fish-spears?\r\n Lay thy hand upon him; Remember the battle, and do so no more.\r\n Behold, the hope of him is in vain: Will not one be cast down even at the sight of him?\r\n None is so fierce that he dare stir him up; Who then is he that can stand before me?\r\n Who hath first given unto me, that I should repay him? [Whatsoever is] under the whole heaven is mine.\r\n I will not keep silence concerning his limbs, Nor his mighty strength, nor his goodly frame.\r\n Who can strip off his outer garment? Who shall come within his jaws?\r\n Who can open the doors of his face? Round about his teeth is terror.\r\n [His] strong scales are [his] pride, Shut up together [as with] a close seal.\r\n One is so near to another, That no air can come between them.\r\n They are joined one to another; They stick together, so that they cannot be sundered.\r\n His sneezings flash forth light, And his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning.\r\n Out of his mouth go burning torches, And sparks of fire leap forth.\r\n Out of his nostrils a smoke goeth, As of a boiling pot and [burning] rushes.\r\n His breath kindleth coals, And a flame goeth forth from his mouth.\r\n In his neck abideth strength, And terror danceth before him.\r\n The flakes of his flesh are joined together: They are firm upon him; they cannot be moved.\r\n His heart is as firm as a stone; Yea, firm as the nether millstone.\r\n When he raiseth himself up, the mighty are afraid: By reason of consternation they are beside themselves.\r\n If one lay at him with the sword, it cannot avail; Nor the spear, the dart, nor the pointed shaft.\r\n He counteth iron as straw, [And] brass as rotten wood.\r\n The arrow cannot make him flee: Sling-stones are turned with him into stubble.\r\n Clubs are counted as stubble: He laugheth at the rushing of the javelin.\r\n His underparts are [like] sharp potsherds: He spreadeth [as it were] a threshing-wain upon the mire.\r\n He maketh the deep to boil like a pot: He maketh the sea like a pot of ointment.\r\n He maketh a path to shine after him; One would think the deep to be hoary.\r\n Upon earth there is not his like, That is made without fear.\r\n He beholdeth everything that is high: He is king over all the sons of pride.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then Job answered Jehovah, and said,\r\n I know that thou canst do all things, And that no purpose of thine can be restrained.\r\n Who is this that hideth counsel without knowledge? Therefore have I uttered that which I understood not, Things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.\r\n Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak; I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.\r\n I had heard of thee by the hearing of the ear; But now mine eye seeth thee:\r\n Wherefore I abhor [myself], And repent in dust and ashes.\r\n And it was so, that, after Jehovah had spoken these words unto Job, Jehovah said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends; for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath.\r\n Now therefore, take unto you seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt-offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you; for him will I accept, that I deal not with you after your folly; for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath.\r\n So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went, and did according as Jehovah commanded them: and Jehovah accepted Job.\r\n And Jehovah turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: and Jehovah gave Job twice as much as he had before.\r\n Then came there unto him all his brethren, and all his sisters, and all they that had been of his acquaintance before, and did eat bread with him in his house: and they bemoaned him, and comforted him concerning all the evil that Jehovah had brought upon him: every man also gave him a piece of money, and every one a ring of gold.\r\n So Jehovah blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: And he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she-asses.\r\n He had also seven sons and three daughters.\r\n And he called the name of the first, Jemimah: and the name of the second, Keziah; and the name of the third, Keren-happuch.\r\n And in all the land were no women found so fair as the daughters of Job: and their father gave them inheritance among their brethren.\r\n And after this Job lived a hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons` sons, [even] four generations.\r\n So Job died, being old and full of days. Book I Psalm 1\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the wicked, Nor standeth in the way of sinners, Nor sitteth in the seat of scoffers:\r\n But his delight is in the law of Jehovah; And on his law doth he meditate day and night.\r\n And he shall be like a tree planted by the streams of water, That bringeth forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also doth not wither; And whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.\r\n The wicked are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.\r\n Therefore the wicked shall not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.\r\n For Jehovah knoweth the way of the righteous; But the way of the wicked shall perish. Psalm 2\r\n \r\n \r\n Why do the nations rage, And the peoples meditate a vain thing?\r\n The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against Jehovah, and against his anointed, [saying],\r\n Let us break their bonds asunder, And cast away their cords from us.\r\n He that sitteth in the heavens will laugh: The Lord will have them in derision.\r\n Then will he speak unto them in his wrath, And vex them in his sore displeasure:\r\n Yet I have set my king Upon my holy hill of Zion.\r\n I will tell of the decree: Jehovah said unto me, Thou art my son; This day have I begotten thee.\r\n Ask of me, and I will give [thee] the nations for thine inheritance, And the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.\r\n Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; Thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter`s vessel.\r\n Now therefore be wise, O ye kings: Be instructed, ye judges of the earth.\r\n Serve Jehovah with fear, And rejoice with trembling.\r\n Kiss the son, lest he be angry, and ye perish in the way, For his wrath will soon be kindled. Blessed are all they that take refuge in him. Psalm 3 A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son.\r\n \r\n \r\n Jehovah, how are mine adversaries increased! Many are they that rise up against me.\r\n Many there are that say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah\r\n But thou, O Jehovah, art a shield about me; My glory and the lifter up of my head.\r\n I cry unto Jehovah with my voice, And he answereth me out of his holy hill. Selah\r\n I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for Jehovah sustaineth me.\r\n I will not be afraid of ten thousands of the people That have set themselves against me round about.\r\n Arise, O Jehovah; save me, O my God: For thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; Thou hast broken the teeth of the wicked.\r\n Salvation belongeth unto Jehovah: Thy blessing be upon thy people. Selah Psalm 4 For the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments. A Psalm of David.\r\n \r\n \r\n Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness; Thou hast set me at large [when I was] in distress: Have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.\r\n O ye sons of men, how long shall my glory be turned into dishonor? [How long] will ye love vanity, and seek after falsehood? Selah\r\n But know that Jehovah hath set apart for himself him that is godly: Jehovah will hear when I call unto him.\r\n Stand in awe, and sin not: Commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah\r\n Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, And put your trust in Jehovah.\r\n Many there are that say, Who will show us [any] good? Jehovah, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.\r\n Thou hast put gladness in my heart, More than [they have] when their grain and their new wine are increased.\r\n In peace will I both lay me down and sleep; For thou, Jehovah, alone makest me dwell in safety. Psalm 5 For the Chief Musician; with the Nehiloth. A Psalm of David.\r\n \r\n \r\n Give ear to my words, O Jehovah, Consider my meditation.\r\n Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God; For unto thee do I pray.\r\n O Jehovah, in the morning shalt thou hear my voice; In the morning will I order [my prayer] unto thee, and will keep watch.\r\n For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: Evil shall not sojourn with thee.\r\n The arrogant shall not stand in thy sight: Thou hatest all workers of iniquity.\r\n Thou wilt destroy them that speak lies: Jehovah abhorreth the blood-thirsty and deceitful man.\r\n But as for me, in the abundance of thy lovingkindness will I come into thy house: In thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.\r\n Lead me, O Jehovah, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; Make thy way straight before my face.\r\n For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; Their inward part is very wickedness; Their throat is an open sepulchre; They flatter with their tongue.\r\n Hold them guilty, O God; Let them fall by their own counsels; Thrust them out in the multitude of their transgressions; For they have rebelled against thee.\r\n But let all those that take refuge in thee rejoice, Let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: Let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.\r\n For thou wilt bless the righteous; O Jehovah, thou wilt compass him with favor as with a shield. Psalm 6 For the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments, set to the Sheminith. A Psalm of David.\r\n \r\n \r\n O Jehovah, rebuke me not in thine anger, Neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.\r\n Have mercy upon me, O Jehovah; for I am withered away: O Jehovah, heal me; for my bones are troubled.\r\n My soul also is sore troubled: And thou, O Jehovah, how long?\r\n Return, O Jehovah, deliver my soul: Save me for thy lovingkindness` sake.\r\n For in death there is no remembrance of thee: In Sheol who shall give thee thanks?\r\n I am weary with my groaning; Every night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears.\r\n Mine eye wasteth away because of grief; It waxeth old because of all mine adversaries.\r\n Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity; For Jehovah hath heard the voice of my weeping.\r\n Jehovah hath heard my supplication; Jehovah will receive my prayer.\r\n All mine enemies shall be put to shame and sore troubled: They shall turn back, they shall be put to shame suddenly. Psalm 7 Shiggaion of David, which he sang unto Jehova, concerning the words of Cush a Benjamite.\r\n \r\n \r\n O Jehovah my God, in thee do I take refuge: Save me from all them that pursue me, and deliver me,\r\n Lest they tear my soul like a lion, Rending it in pieces, while there is none to deliver.\r\n O Jehovah my God, if I have done this; If there be iniquity in my hands;\r\n If I have rewarded evil unto him that was at peace with me; (Yea, I have delivered him that without cause was mine adversary;)\r\n Let the enemy pursue my soul, and overtake it; Yea, let him tread my life down to the earth, And lay my glory in the dust. Selah\r\n Arise, O Jehovah, in thine anger; Lift up thyself against the rage of mine adversaries, And awake for me; thou hast commanded judgment.\r\n And let the congregation of the peoples compass thee about; And over them return thou on high.\r\n Jehovah ministereth judgment to the peoples: Judge me, O Jehovah, according to my righteousness, and to mine integrity that is in me.\r\n O let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, but establish thou the righteous: For the righteous God trieth the minds and hearts.\r\n My shield is with God, Who saveth the upright in heart.\r\n God is a righteous judge, Yea, a God that hath indignation every day.\r\n If a man turn not, he will whet his sword; He hath bent his bow, and made it ready.\r\n He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; He maketh his arrows fiery [shafts].\r\n Behold, he travaileth with iniquity; Yea, he hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood.\r\n He hath made a pit, and digged it, And is fallen into the ditch which he made.\r\n His mischief shall return upon his own head, And his violence shall come down upon his own pate.\r\n I will give thanks unto Jehovah according to his righteousness, And will sing praise to the name of Jehovah Most High. Psalm 8 For the Chief Musician; set to the Gittith. A Psalm of David.\r\n \r\n \r\n O Jehovah, our Lord, How excellent is thy name in all the earth, Who hast set thy glory upon the heavens!\r\n Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou established strength, Because of thine adversaries, That thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.\r\n When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, The moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;\r\n What is man, that thou art mindful of him? And the son of man, that thou visitest him?\r\n For thou hast made him but little lower than God, And crownest him with glory and honor.\r\n Thou makest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; Thou hast put all things under his feet:\r\n All sheep and oxen, Yea, and the beasts of the field,\r\n The birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, Whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.\r\n O Jehovah, our Lord, How excellent is thy name in all the earth! Psalm 9 For the Chief Musician; set to Muthlabben. A Psalm of David.\r\n \r\n \r\n I will give thanks unto Jehovah with my whole heart; I will show forth all thy marvellous works.\r\n I will be glad and exult in thee; I will sing praise to thy name, O thou Most High.\r\n When mine enemies turn back, They stumble and perish at thy presence.\r\n For thou hast maintained my right and my cause; Thou sittest in the throne judging righteously.\r\n Thou hast rebuked the nations, thou hast destroyed the wicked; Thou hast blotted out their name for ever and ever.\r\n The enemy are come to an end, they are desolate for ever; And the cities which thou hast overthrown, The very remembrance of them is perished.\r\n But Jehovah sitteth [as king] for ever: He hath prepared his throne for judgment;\r\n And he will judge the world in righteousness, He will minister judgment to the peoples in uprightness.\r\n Jehovah also will be a high tower for the oppressed, A high tower in times of trouble;\r\n And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee; For thou, Jehovah, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.\r\n Sing praises to Jehovah, who dwelleth in Zion: Declare among the people his doings.\r\n For he that maketh inquisition for blood remembereth them; He forgetteth not the cry of the poor.\r\n Have mercy upon me, O Jehovah; Behold my affliction [which I suffer] of them that hate me, Thou that liftest me up from the gates of death;\r\n That I may show forth all thy praise. In the gates of the daughter of Zion I will rejoice in thy salvation.\r\n The nations are sunk down in the pit that they made: In the net which they hid is their own foot taken.\r\n Jehovah hath made himself known, he hath executed judgment: The wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion. Selah\r\n The wicked shall be turned back unto Sheol, Even all the nations that forget God.\r\n For the needy shall not alway be forgotten, Nor the expectation of the poor perish for ever.\r\n Arise, O Jehovah; let not man prevail: Let the nations be judged in thy sight.\r\n Put them in fear, O Jehovah: Let the nations know themselves to be but men. Selah Psalm 10\r\n \r\n \r\n Why standest thou afar off, O Jehovah? Why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?\r\n In the pride of the wicked the poor is hotly pursued; Let them be taken in the devices that they have conceived.\r\n For the wicked boasteth of his heart`s desire, And the covetous renounceth, [yea], contemneth Jehovah.\r\n The wicked, in the pride of his countenance, [saith], He will not require [it]. All his thoughts are, There is no God.\r\n His ways are firm at all times; Thy judgments are far above out of his sight: As for all his adversaries, he puffeth at them.\r\n He saith in his heart, I shall not be moved; To all generations I shall not be in adversity.\r\n His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and oppression: Under his tongue is mischief and iniquity.\r\n He sitteth in the lurking-places of the villages; In the secret places doth he murder the innocent; His eyes are privily set against the helpless.\r\n He lurketh in secret as a lion in his covert; He lieth in wait to catch the poor: He doth catch the poor, when he draweth him in his net.\r\n He croucheth, he boweth down, And the helpless fall by his strong ones.\r\n He saith in his heart, God hath forgotten; He hideth his face; he will never see it.\r\n Arise, O Jehovah; O God, lift up thy hand: Forget not the poor.\r\n Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God, And say in his heart, Thou wilt not require [it]?\r\n Thou hast seen [it]; for thou beholdest mischief and spite, to requite it with thy hand: The helpless committeth [himself] unto thee; Thou hast been the helper of the fatherless.\r\n Break thou the arm of the wicked; And as for the evil man, seek out his wickedness till thou find none.\r\n Jehovah is King for ever and ever: The nations are perished out of his land.\r\n Jehovah, thou hast heard the desire of the meek: Thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear;\r\n To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, That man who is of the earth may be terrible no more. Psalm 11 For the Chief Musician. [A Psalm] of David.\r\n \r\n \r\n In Jehovah do I take refuge: How say ye to my soul, Flee [as] a bird to your mountain;\r\n For, lo, the wicked bend the bow, They make ready their arrow upon the string, That they may shoot in darkness at the upright in heart;\r\n If the foundations be destroyed, What can the righteous do?\r\n Jehovah is in his holy temple; Jehovah, his throne is in heaven; His eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men.\r\n Jehovah trieth the righteous; But the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.\r\n Upon the wicked he will rain snares; Fire and brimstone and burning wind shall be the portion of their cup.\r\n For Jehovah is righteous; he loveth righteousness: The upright shall behold his face. Psalm 12 For the Chief Musician; set to the Sheminith. A Psalm of David.\r\n \r\n \r\n Help, Jehovah; for the godly man ceaseth; For the faithful fail from among the children of men.\r\n They speak falsehood every one with his neighbor: With flattering lip, and with a double heart, do they speak.\r\n Jehovah will cut off all flattering lips, The tongue that speaketh great things;\r\n Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; Our lips are our own: who is lord over us?\r\n Because of the oppression of the poor, because of the sighing of the needy, Now will I arise, saith Jehovah; I will set him in the safety he panteth for.\r\n The words of Jehovah are pure words; As silver tried in a furnace on the earth, Purified seven times.\r\n Thou wilt keep them, O Jehovah, Thou wilt preserve them from this generation for ever.\r\n The wicked walk on every side, When vileness is exalted among the sons of men. Psalm 13 For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.\r\n \r\n \r\n How long, O Jehovah? wilt thou forget me for ever? How long wilt thou hide thy face from me?\r\n How long shall I take counsel in my soul, Having sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?\r\n Consider [and] answer me, O Jehovah my God: Lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the [sleep of] death;\r\n Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; [Lest] mine adversaries rejoice when I am moved.\r\n But I have trusted in thy lovingkindness; My heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.\r\n I will sing unto Jehovah, Because he hath dealt bountifully with me. Psalm 14 For the Chief Musician. [A Psalm] of David.\r\n \r\n \r\n The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works; There is none that doeth good.\r\n Jehovah looked down from heaven upon the children of men, To see if there were any that did understand, That did seek after God.\r\n They are all gone aside; they are together become filthy; There is none that doeth good, no, not one.\r\n Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge, Who eat up my people [as] they eat bread, And call not upon Jehovah?\r\n There were they in great fear; For God is in the generation of the righteous.\r\n Ye put to shame the counsel of the poor, Because Jehovah is his refuge.\r\n Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! When Jehovah bringeth back the captivity of his people, Then shall Jacob rejoice, [and] Israel shall be glad. Psalm 15 A Psalm of David.\r\n \r\n \r\n Jehovah, who shall sojourn in thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in thy holy hill?\r\n He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, And speaketh truth in his heart;\r\n He that slandereth not with his tongue, Nor doeth evil to his friend, Nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbor;\r\n In whose eyes a reprobate is despised, But who honoreth them that fear Jehovah; He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not;\r\n He that putteth not out his money to interest, Nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved. Psalm 16 Michtam of David.\r\n \r\n \r\n Preserve me, O God; for in thee do I take refuge.\r\n [O my soul], thou hast said unto Jehovah, Thou art my Lord: I have no good beyond thee.\r\n As for the saints that are in the earth, They are the excellent in whom is all my delight.\r\n Their sorrows shall be multiplied that give gifts for another [god]: Their drink-offerings of blood will I not offer, Nor take their names upon my lips.\r\n Jehovah is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: Thou maintainest my lot.\r\n The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; Yea, I have a goodly heritage.\r\n I will bless Jehovah, who hath given me counsel; Yea, my heart instructeth me in the night seasons.\r\n I have set Jehovah always before me: Because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.\r\n Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth; My flesh also shall dwell in safety.\r\n For thou wilt not leave my soul to Sheol; Neither wilt thou suffer thy holy one to see corruption.\r\n Thou wilt show me the path of life: In thy presence is fulness of joy; In thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. Psalm 17 A Prayer of David.\r\n \r\n \r\n Hear the right, O Jehovah, attend unto my cry; Give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips.\r\n Let my sentence come forth from thy presence; Let thine eyes look upon equity.\r\n Thou hast proved my heart; thou hast visited me in the night; Thou hast tried me, and findest nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.\r\n As for the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the ways of the violent.\r\n My steps have held fast to thy paths, My feet have not slipped.\r\n I have called upon thee, for thou wilt answer me, O God: Incline thine ear unto me, [and] hear my speech.\r\n Show thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them that take refuge [in thee ]From those that rise up [against them].\r\n Keep me as the apple of the eye; Hide me under the shadow of thy wings,\r\n From the wicked that oppress me, My deadly enemies, that compass me about.\r\n They are inclosed in their own fat: With their mouth they speak proudly.\r\n They have now compassed us in our steps; They set their eyes to cast [us] down to the earth.\r\n He is like a lion that is greedy of his prey, And as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.\r\n Arise, O Jehovah, Confront him, cast him down: Deliver my soul from the wicked by thy sword;\r\n From men by thy hand, O Jehovah, From men of the world, whose portion is in [this] life, And whose belly thou fillest with thy treasure: They are satisfied with children, And leave the rest of their substance to their babes.\r\n As for me, I shall behold thy face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with [beholding] thy form. Psalm 18 For the Chief Musician. [A Psalm] of David the servant of Jehovah, who spake unto Jehovah the words of this song in the day that Jehovah delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul: and he said,\r\n \r\n \r\n I love thee, O Jehovah, my strength.\r\n Jehovah is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; My God, my rock, in whom I will take refuge; My shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower.\r\n I will call upon Jehovah, who is worthy to be praised: So shall I be saved from mine enemies.\r\n The cords of death compassed me, And the floods of ungodliness made me afraid.\r\n The cords of Sheol were round about me; The snares of death came upon me.\r\n In my distress I called upon Jehovah, And cried unto my God: He heard my voice out of his temple, And my cry before him came into his ears.\r\n Then the earth shook and trembled; The foundations also of the mountains quaked And were shaken, because he was wroth.\r\n There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, And fire out of his mouth devoured: Coals were kindled by it.\r\n He bowed the heavens also, and came down; And thick darkness was under his feet.\r\n And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly; Yea, he soared upon the wings of the wind.\r\n He made darkness his hiding-place, his pavilion round about him, Darkness of waters, thick clouds of the skies.\r\n At the brightness before him his thick clouds passed, Hailstones and coals of fire.\r\n Jehovah also thundered in the heavens, And the Most High uttered his voice, Hailstones and coals of fire.\r\n And he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; Yea, lightnings manifold, and discomfited them.\r\n Then the channels of waters appeared, And the foundations of the world were laid bare, At thy rebuke, O Jehovah, At the blast of the breath of thy nostrils.\r\n He sent from on high, he took me; He drew me out of many waters.\r\n He delivered me from my strong enemy, And from them that hated me; for they were too mighty for me.\r\n They came upon me in the day of my calamity; But Jehovah was my stay.\r\n He brought me forth also into a large place; He delivered me, because he delighted in me.\r\n Jehovah hath rewarded me according to my righteousness; According to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.\r\n For I have kept the ways of Jehovah, And have not wickedly departed from my God.\r\n For all his ordinances were before me, And I put not away his statutes from me.\r\n I was also perfect with him, And I kept myself from mine iniquity.\r\n Therefore hath Jehovah recompensed me according to my righteousness, According to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight.\r\n With the merciful thou wilt show thyself merciful; With the perfect man thou wilt show thyself perfect;\r\n With the pure thou wilt show thyself pure; And with the perverse thou wilt show thyself froward.\r\n For thou wilt save the afflicted people; But the haughty eyes thou wilt bring down.\r\n For thou wilt light my lamp: Jehovah my God will lighten my darkness.\r\n For by thee I run upon a troop; And by my God do I leap over a wall.\r\n As for God, his way is perfect: The word of Jehovah is tried; He is a shield unto all them that take refuge in him.\r\n For who is God, save Jehovah? And who is a rock, besides our God,\r\n The God that girdeth me with strength, And maketh my way perfect?\r\n He maketh my feet like hinds` [feet]: And setteth me upon my high places.\r\n He teacheth my hands to war; So that mine arms do bend a bow of brass.\r\n Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation; And thy right hand hath holden me up, And thy gentleness hath made me great.\r\n Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, And my feet have not slipped.\r\n I will pursue mine enemies, and overtake them; Neither will I turn again till they are consumed.\r\n I will smite them through, so that they shall not be able to rise: They shall fall under my feet.\r\n For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: Thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me.\r\n Thou hast also made mine enemies turn their backs unto me, That I might cut off them that hate me.\r\n They cried, but there was none to save; Even unto Jehovah, but he answered them not.\r\n Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind; I did cast them out as the mire of the streets.\r\n Thou hast delivered me from the strivings of the people; Thou hast made me the head of the nations: A people whom I have not known shall serve me.\r\n As soon as they hear of me they shall obey me; The foreigners shall submit themselves unto me.\r\n The foreigners shall fade away, And shall come trembling out of their close places.\r\n Jehovah liveth; and blessed be my rock; And exalted be the God of my salvation,\r\n Even the God that executeth vengeance for me, And subdueth peoples under me.\r\n He rescueth me from mine enemies; Yea, thou liftest me up above them that rise up against me; Thou deliverest me from the violent man.\r\n Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O Jehovah, among the nations, And will sing praises unto thy name.\r\n Great deliverance giveth he to his king, And showeth lovingkindness to his anointed, To David and to his seed, for evermore. Psalm 19 For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.\r\n \r\n \r\n The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament showeth his handiwork.\r\n Day unto day uttereth speech, And night unto night showeth knowledge.\r\n There is no speech nor language; Their voice is not heard.\r\n Their line is gone out through all the earth, And their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,\r\n Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, And rejoiceth as a strong man to run his course.\r\n His going forth is from the end of the heavens, And his circuit unto the ends of it; And there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.\r\n The law of Jehovah is perfect, restoring the soul: The testimony of Jehovah is sure, making wise the simple.\r\n The precepts of Jehovah are right, rejoicing the heart: The commandment of Jehovah is pure, enlightening the eyes.\r\n The fear of Jehovah is clean, enduring for ever: The ordinances of Jehovah are true, [and] righteous altogether.\r\n More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the droppings of the honeycomb.\r\n Moreover by them is thy servant warned: In keeping them there is great reward.\r\n Who can discern [his] errors? Clear thou me from hidden [faults].\r\n Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous [sins]; Let them not have dominion over me: Then shall I be upright, And I shall be clear from great transgression.\r\n Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in thy sight, O Jehovah, my rock, and my redeemer. Psalm 20 For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.\r\n \r\n \r\n Jehovah answer thee in the day of trouble; The name of the God of Jacob set thee up on high;\r\n Send thee help from the sanctuary, And strengthen thee out of Zion;\r\n Remember all thy offerings, And accept thy burnt-sacrifice; Selah\r\n Grant thee thy heart`s desire, And fulfil all thy counsel.\r\n We will triumph in thy salvation, And in the name of our God we will set up our banners: Jehovah fulfil all thy petitions.\r\n Now know I that Jehovah saveth his anointed; He will answer him from his holy heaven With the saving strength of his right hand.\r\n Some [trust] in chariots, and some in horses; But we will make mention of the name of Jehovah our God.\r\n They are bowed down and fallen; But we are risen, and stand upright.\r\n Save, Jehovah: Let the King answer us when we call. Psalm 21 For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.\r\n \r\n \r\n The king shall joy in thy strength, O Jehovah; And in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!\r\n Thou hast given him his heart`s desire, And hast not withholden the request of his lips. Selah\r\n For thou meetest him with the blessings of goodness: Thou settest a crown of fine gold on his head.\r\n He asked life of thee, thou gavest it him, Even length of days for ever and ever.\r\n His glory is great in thy salvation: Honor and majesty dost thou lay upon him.\r\n For thou makest him most blessed for ever: Thou makest him glad with joy in thy presence.\r\n For the king trusteth in Jehovah; And through the lovingkindness of the Most High he shall not be moved.\r\n Thy hand will find out all thine enemies; Thy right hand will find out those that hate thee.\r\n Thou wilt make them as a fiery furnace in the time of thine anger: Jehovah will swallow them up in his wrath, And the fire shall devour them.\r\n Their fruit wilt thou destroy from the earth, And their seed from among the children of men.\r\n For they intended evil against thee; They conceived a device which they are not able to perform.\r\n For thou wilt make them turn their back; Thou wilt make ready with thy bowstrings against their face.\r\n Be thou exalted, O Jehovah, in thy strength: So will we sing and praise thy power. Psalm 22 For the Chief Musician; set to Aijaleth hash-Shahar. A Psalm of David.\r\n \r\n \r\n My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? [Why art thou so] far from helping me, [and from] the words of my groaning?\r\n O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou answerest not; And in the night season, and am not silent.\r\n But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.\r\n Our fathers trusted in thee: They trusted, and thou didst deliver them.\r\n They cried unto thee, and were delivered: They trusted in thee, and were not put to shame.\r\n But I am a worm, and no man; A reproach of men, and despised of the people.\r\n All they that see me laugh me to scorn: They shoot out the lip, they shake the head, [saying],\r\n Commit [thyself] unto Jehovah; Let him deliver him: Let him rescue him, seeing he delighteth in him.\r\n But thou art he that took me out of the womb; Thou didst make me trust [when I was] upon my mother`s breasts.\r\n I was cast upon thee from the womb; Thou art my God since my mother bare me.\r\n Be not far from me; for trouble is near; For there is none to help.\r\n Many bulls have compassed me; Strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.\r\n They gape upon me with their mouth, [As] a ravening and a roaring lion.\r\n I am poured out like water, And all my bones are out of joint: My heart is like wax; It is melted within me.\r\n My strength is dried up like a potsherd; And my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; And thou hast brought me into the dust of death.\r\n For dogs have compassed me: A company of evil-doers have inclosed me; They pierced my hands and my feet.\r\n I may count all my bones; They look and stare upon me.\r\n They part my garments among them, And upon my vesture do they cast lots.\r\n But be not thou far off, O Jehovah: O thou my succor, haste thee to help me.\r\n Deliver my soul from the sword, My darling from the power of the dog.\r\n Save me from the lion`s mouth; Yea, from the horns of the wild-oxen thou hast answered me.\r\n I will declare thy name unto my brethren: In the midst of the assembly will I praise thee.\r\n Ye that fear Jehovah, praise him; All ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; And stand in awe of him, all ye the seed of Israel.\r\n For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; Neither hath he hid his face from him; But when he cried unto him, he heard.\r\n Of thee cometh my praise in the great assembly: I will pay my vows before them that fear him.\r\n The meek shall eat and be satisfied; They shall praise Jehovah that seek after him: Let your heart live for ever.\r\n All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn unto Jehovah; And all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.\r\n For the kingdom is Jehovah`s; And he is the ruler over the nations.\r\n All the fat ones of the earth shall eat and worship: All they that go down to the dust shall bow before him, Even he that cannot keep his soul alive.\r\n A seed shall serve him; It shall be told of the Lord unto the [next] generation.\r\n They shall come and shall declare his righteousness Unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done it. Psalm 23 A Psalm of David.\r\n \r\n \r\n Jehovah is my shepherd; I shall not want.\r\n He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; He leadeth me beside still waters.\r\n He restoreth my soul: He guideth me in the paths of righteousness for his name`s sake.\r\n Yea, thou I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me; Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.\r\n Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou hast anointed my head with oil; My cup runneth over.\r\n Surely goodness and lovingkindness shall follow me all the days of my life; And I shall dwell in the house of Jehovah for ever. Psalm 24 A Psalm of David.\r\n \r\n \r\n The earth is Jehovah`s, and the fulness thereof; The world, and they that dwell therein.\r\n For he hath founded it upon the seas, And established it upon the floods.\r\n Who shall ascend into the hill of Jehovah? And who shall stand in his holy place?\r\n He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; Who hath not lifted up his soul unto falsehood, And hath not sworn deceitfully.\r\n He shall receive a blessing from Jehovah, And righteousness from the God of his salvation.\r\n This is the generation of them that seek after him, That seek thy face, [even] Jacob. Selah\r\n Lift up your heads, O ye gates; And be ye lifted up, ye everlasting doors: And the King of glory will come in.\r\n Who is the King of glory? Jehovah strong and mighty, Jehovah mighty in battle.\r\n Lift up your heads, O ye gates; Yea, lift them up, ye everlasting doors: And the King of glory will come in.\r\n Who is this King of glory? Jehovah of hosts, He is the King of glory. Selah Psalm 25 [A Psalm] of David.\r\n \r\n \r\n Unto thee, O Jehovah, do I lift up my soul.\r\n O my God, in thee have I trusted, Let me not be put to shame; Let not mine enemies triumph over me.\r\n Yea, none that wait for thee shall be put to shame: They shall be put to shame that deal treacherously without cause.\r\n Show me thy ways, O Jehovah; Teach me thy paths.\r\n Guide me in thy truth, and teach me; For thou art the God of my salvation; For thee do I wait all the day.\r\n Remember, O Jehovah, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindness; For they have been ever of old.\r\n Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: According to thy lovingkindness remember thou me, For thy goodness` sake, O Jehovah.\r\n Good and upright is Jehovah: Therefore will he instruct sinners in the way.\r\n The meek will he guide in justice; And the meek will he teach his way.\r\n All the paths of Jehovah are lovingkindness and truth Unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.\r\n For thy name`s sake, O Jehovah, Pardon mine iniquity, for it is great.\r\n What man is he that feareth Jehovah? Him shall he instruct in the way that he shall choose.\r\n His soul shall dwell at ease; And his seed shall inherit the land.\r\n The friendship of Jehovah is with them that fear him; And he will show them his covenant.\r\n Mine eyes are ever toward Jehovah; For he will pluck my feet out of the net.\r\n Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; For I am desolate and afflicted.\r\n The troubles of my heart are enlarged: Oh bring thou me out of my distresses.\r\n Consider mine affliction and my travail; And forgive all my sins.\r\n Consider mine enemies, for they are many; And they hate me with cruel hatred.\r\n Oh keep my soul, and deliver me: Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in thee.\r\n Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, For I wait for thee.\r\n Redeem Israel, O God, Out all of his troubles. Psalm 26 [A Psalm] of David.\r\n \r\n \r\n Judge me, O Jehovah, for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in Jehovah without wavering.\r\n Examine me, O Jehovah, and prove me; Try my heart and my mind.\r\n For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes; And I have walked in thy truth.\r\n I have not sat with men of falsehood; Neither will I go in with dissemblers.\r\n I hate the assembly of evil-doers, And will not sit with the wicked.\r\n I will wash my hands in innocency: So will I compass thine altar, O Jehovah;\r\n That I may make the voice of thanksgiving to be heard, And tell of all thy wondrous works.\r\n Jehovah, I love the habitation of thy house, And the place where thy glory dwelleth.\r\n Gather not my soul with sinners, Nor my life with men of blood;\r\n In whose hands is wickedness, And their right hand is full of bribes.\r\n But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity: Redeem me, and be merciful unto me.\r\n My foot standeth in an even place: In the congregations will I bless Jehovah. Psalm 27 [A Psalm] of David.\r\n \r\n \r\n Jehovah is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? Jehovah is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?\r\n When evil-doers came upon me to eat up my flesh, [Even] mine adversaries and my foes, they stumbled and fell.\r\n Though a host should encamp against me, My heart shall not fear: Though war should rise against me, Even then will I be confident.\r\n One thing have I asked of Jehovah, that will I seek after; That I may dwell in the house of Jehovah all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of Jehovah, And to inquire in his temple.\r\n For in the day of trouble he will keep me secretly in his pavilion: In the covert of his tabernacle will he hide me; He will lift me up upon a rock.\r\n And now shall my head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me. And I will offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto Jehovah.\r\n Hear, O Jehovah, when I cry with my voice: Have mercy also upon me, and answer me.\r\n [When thou saidst], Seek ye my face; My heart said unto thee, Thy face, Jehovah, will I seek.\r\n Hide not thy face from me; Put not thy servant away in anger: Thou hast been my help; Cast me not off, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.\r\n When my father and my mother forsake me, Then Jehovah will take me up.\r\n Teach me thy way, O Jehovah; And lead me in a plain path, Because of mine enemies.\r\n Deliver me not over unto the will of mine adversaries: For false witnesses are risen up against me, And such as breathe out cruelty.\r\n [I had fainted], unless I had believed to see the goodness of Jehovah In the land of the living.\r\n Wait for Jehovah: Be strong, and let thy heart take courage; Yea, wait thou for Jehovah. Psalm 28 [A Psalm] of David.\r\n \r\n \r\n Unto thee, O Jehovah, will I call: My rock, be not thou deaf unto me; Lest, if thou be silent unto me, I become like them that go down into the pit.\r\n Hear the voice of my supplications, when I cry unto thee, When I lift up my hands toward thy holy oracle.\r\n Draw me not away with the wicked, And with the workers of iniquity; That speak peace with their neighbors, But mischief is in their hearts.\r\n Give them according to their work, and according to the wickedness of their doings: Give them after the operation of their hands; Render to them their desert.\r\n Because they regard not the works of Jehovah, Nor the operation of his hands, He will break them down and not build them up.\r\n Blessed be Jehovah, Because he hath heard the voice of my supplications.\r\n Jehovah is my strength and my shield; My heart hath trusted in him, and I am helped: Therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; And with my song will I praise him.\r\n Jehovah is their strength, And he is a stronghold of salvation to his anointed.\r\n Save thy people, and bless thine inheritance: Be their shepherd also, and bear them up for ever. Psalm 29 A Psalm of David.\r\n \r\n \r\n Ascribe unto Jehovah, O ye sons of the mighty, Ascribe unto Jehovah glory and strength.\r\n Ascribe unto Jehovah the glory due unto his name; Worship Jehovah in holy array.\r\n The voice of Jehovah is upon the waters: The God of glory thundereth, Even Jehovah upon many waters.\r\n The voice of Jehovah is powerful; The voice of Jehovah is full of majesty.\r\n The voice of Jehovah breaketh the cedars; Yea, Jehovah breaketh in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.\r\n He maketh them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young wild-ox.\r\n The voice of Jehovah cleaveth the flames of fire.\r\n The voice of Jehovah shaketh the wilderness; Jehovah shaketh the wilderness of Kadesh.\r\n The voice of Jehovah maketh the hinds to calve, And strippeth the forests bare: And in his temple everything saith, Glory.\r\n Jehovah sat [as King] at the Flood; Yea, Jehovah sitteth as King for ever.\r\n Jehovah will give strength unto his people; Jehovah will bless his people with peace. Psalm 30 A Psalm; a Song at the Dedication of the House. [A Psalm] of David.\r\n \r\n \r\n I will extol thee, O Jehovah; for thou hast raised me up, And hast not made my foes to rejoice over me.\r\n O Jehovah my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me.\r\n O Jehovah, thou hast brought up my soul from Sheol; Thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.\r\n Sing praise unto Jehovah, O ye saints of his, And give thanks to his holy memorial [name].\r\n For his anger is but for a moment; His favor is for a life-time: Weeping may tarry for the night, But joy [cometh] in the morning.\r\n As for me, I said in my prosperity, I shall never be moved.\r\n Thou, Jehovah, of thy favor hadst made my mountain to stand strong: Thou didst hide thy face; I was troubled.\r\n I cried to thee, O Jehovah; And unto Jehovah I made supplication:\r\n What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise thee? shall it declare thy truth?\r\n Hear, O Jehovah, and have mercy upon me: Jehovah, be thou my helper.\r\n Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing; Thou hast loosed my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;\r\n To the end that [my] glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O Jehovah my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever. Psalm 31 For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.\r\n \r\n \r\n In thee, O Jehovah, do I take refuge; Let me never be put to shame: Deliver me in thy righteousness.\r\n Bow down thine ear unto me; deliver me speedily: Be thou to me a strong rock, A house of defence to save me.\r\n For thou art my rock and my fortress; Therefore for thy name`s sake lead me and guide me.\r\n Pluck me out of the net that they have laid privily for me; For thou art my stronghold.\r\n Into thy hand I commend my spirit: Thou hast redeemed me, O Jehovah, thou God of truth.\r\n I hate them that regard lying vanities; But I trust in Jehovah.\r\n I will be glad and rejoice in thy lovingkindness; For thou hast seen my affliction: Thou hast known my soul in adversities;\r\n And thou hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy; Thou hast set my feet in a large place.\r\n Have mercy upon me, O Jehovah, for I am in distress: Mine eye wasteth away with grief, [yea], my soul and my body.\r\n For my life is spent with sorrow, And my years with sighing: My strength faileth because of mine iniquity, And my bones are wasted away.\r\n Because of all mine adversaries I am become a reproach, Yea, unto my neighbors exceedingly, And a fear to mine acquaintance: They that did see me without fled from me.\r\n I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel.\r\n For I have heard the defaming of many, Terror on every side: While they took counsel together against me, They devised to take away my life.\r\n But I trusted in thee, O Jehovah: I said, Thou art my God.\r\n My times are in thy hand: Deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.\r\n Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: Save me in thy lovingkindness.\r\n Let me not be put to shame, O Jehovah; for I have called upon thee: Let the wicked be put to shame, let them be silent in Sheol.\r\n Let the lying lips be dumb, Which speak against the righteous insolently, With pride and contempt.\r\n Oh how great is thy goodness, Which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee, Which thou hast wrought for them that take refuge in thee, Before the sons of men!\r\n In the covert of thy presence wilt thou hide them from the plottings of man: Thou wilt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.\r\n Blessed be Jehovah; For he hath showed me his marvellous lovingkindness in a strong city.\r\n As for me, I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes: Nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications When I cried unto thee.\r\n Oh love Jehovah, all ye his saints: Jehovah preserveth the faithful, And plentifully rewardeth him that dealeth proudly.\r\n Be strong, and let your heart take courage, All ye that hope in Jehovah. Psalm 32 [A Psalm] of David. Maschil.\r\n \r\n \r\n Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered.\r\n Blessed is the man unto whom Jehovah imputeth not iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no guile.\r\n When I kept silence, my bones wasted away Through my groaning all the day long.\r\n For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: My moisture was changed [as] with the drought of summer. Selah\r\n I acknowledged my sin unto thee, And mine iniquity did I not hide: I said, I will confess my transgressions unto Jehovah; And thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah\r\n For this let every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: Surely when the great waters overflow they shall not reach unto him.\r\n Thou art my hiding-place; thou wilt preserve me from trouble; Thou wilt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah\r\n I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will counsel thee with mine eye upon thee.\r\n Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding; Whose trappings must be bit and bridle to hold them in, [Else] they will not come near unto thee.\r\n Many sorrows shall be to the wicked; But he that trusteth in Jehovah, lovingkindness shall compass him about.\r\n Be glad in Jehovah, and rejoice, ye righteous; And shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart. Psalm 33\r\n \r\n \r\n Rejoice in Jehovah, O ye righteous: Praise is comely for the upright.\r\n Give thanks unto Jehovah with the harp: Sing praises unto him with the psaltery of ten strings.\r\n Sing unto him a new song; Play skilfully with a loud noise.\r\n For the word of Jehovah is right; And all his work is [done] in faithfulness.\r\n He loveth righteousness and justice: The earth is full of the lovingkindness of Jehovah.\r\n By the word of Jehovah were the heavens made, And all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.\r\n He gathereth the waters of the sea together as a heap: He layeth up the deeps in store-houses.\r\n Let all the earth fear Jehovah: Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.\r\n For he spake, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast.\r\n Jehovah bringeth the counsel of the nations to nought; He maketh the thoughts of the peoples to be of no effect.\r\n The counsel of Jehovah standeth fast for ever, The thoughts of his heart to all generations.\r\n Blessed is the nation whose God is Jehovah, The people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.\r\n Jehovah looketh from heaven; He beholdeth all the sons of men;\r\n From the place of his habitation he looketh forth Upon all the inhabitants of the earth,\r\n He that fashioneth the hearts of them all, That considereth all their works.\r\n There is no king saved by the multitude of a host: A mighty man is not delivered by great strength.\r\n A horse is a vain thing for safety; Neither doth he deliver any by his great power.\r\n Behold, the eye of Jehovah is upon them that fear him, Upon them that hope in his lovingkindness;\r\n To deliver their soul from death, And to keep them alive in famine.\r\n Our soul hath waited for Jehovah: He is our help and our shield.\r\n For our heart shall rejoice in him, Because we have trusted in his holy name.\r\n Let thy lovingkindness, O Jehovah, be upon us, According as we have hoped in thee. Psalm 34 A Psalm of David; when he changed his behavior before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he departed.\r\n \r\n \r\n I will bless Jehovah at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth.\r\n My soul shall make her boast in Jehovah: The meek shall hear thereof, and be glad.\r\n Oh magnify Jehovah with me, And let us exalt his name together.\r\n I sought Jehovah, and he answered me, And delivered me from all my fears.\r\n They looked unto him, and were radiant; And their faces shall never be confounded.\r\n This poor man cried, and Jehovah heard him, And saved him out of all his troubles.\r\n The angel of Jehovah encampeth round about them that fear him, And delivereth them.\r\n Oh taste and see that Jehovah is good: Blessed is the man that taketh refuge in him.\r\n Oh fear Jehovah, ye his saints; For there is no want to them that fear him.\r\n The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger; But they that seek Jehovah shall not want any good thing.\r\n Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of Jehovah.\r\n What man is he that desireth life, And loveth [many] days, that he may see good?\r\n Keep thy tongue from evil, And thy lips from speaking guile.\r\n Depart from evil, and do good; Seek peace, and pursue it.\r\n The eyes of Jehovah are toward the righteous, And his ears are [open] unto their cry.\r\n The face of Jehovah is against them that do evil, To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.\r\n [The righteous] cried, and Jehovah heard, And delivered them out of all their troubles.\r\n Jehovah is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart, And saveth such as are of a contrite spirit.\r\n Many are the afflictions of the righteous; But Jehovah delivereth him out of them all.\r\n He keepeth all his bones: Not one of them is broken.\r\n Evil shall slay the wicked; And they that hate the righteous shall be condemned.\r\n Jehovah redeemeth the soul of his servants; And none of them that take refuge in him shall be condemned. Psalm 35 [A Psalm] of David.\r\n \r\n \r\n Strive thou, O Jehovah, with them that strive with me: Fight thou against them that fight against me.\r\n Take hold of shield and buckler, And stand up for my help.\r\n Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that pursue me: Say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.\r\n Let them be put to shame and brought to dishonor that seek after my soul: Let them be turned back and confounded that devise my hurt.\r\n Let them be as chaff before the wind, And the angel of Jehovah driving [them] on.\r\n Let their way be dark and slippery, And the angel of Jehovah pursuing them.\r\n For without cause have they hid for me their net [in] a pit; Without cause have they digged [a pit] for my soul.\r\n Let destruction come upon him unawares; And let his net that he hath hid catch himself: With destruction let him fall therein.\r\n And my soul shall be joyful in Jehovah: It shall rejoice in his salvation.\r\n All my bones shall say, Jehovah, who is like unto thee, Who deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, Yea, the poor and the needy from him that robbeth him?\r\n Unrighteous witnesses rise up; They ask me of things that I know not.\r\n They reward me evil for good, [To] the bereaving of my soul.\r\n But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I afflicted my soul with fasting; And my prayer returned into mine own bosom.\r\n I behaved myself as though it had been my friend or my brother: I bowed down mourning, as one that bewaileth his mother.\r\n But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: The abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knew [it] not; They did tear me, and ceased not:\r\n Like the profane mockers in feasts, They gnashed upon me with their teeth.\r\n Lord, how long wilt thou look on? Rescue my soul from their destructions, My darling from the lions.\r\n I will give thee thanks in the great assembly: I will praise thee among much people.\r\n Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me; Neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause.\r\n For they speak not peace; But they devise deceitful words against them that are quiet in the land.\r\n Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me; They said, Aha, aha, our eye hath seen it.\r\n Thou hast seen it, O Jehovah; keep not silence: O Lord, be not far from me.\r\n Stir up thyself, and awake to the justice [due] unto me, [Even] unto my cause, my God and my Lord.\r\n Judge me, O Jehovah my God, according to thy righteousness; And let them not rejoice over me.\r\n Let them not say in their heart, Aha, so would we have it: Let them not say, We have swallowed him up.\r\n Let them be put to shame and confounded together that rejoice at my hurt: Let them be clothed with shame and dishonor that magnify themselves against me.\r\n Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favor my righteous cause: Yea, let them say continually, Jehovah be magnified, Who hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.\r\n And my tongue shall talk of thy righteousness [And] of thy praise all the day long. Psalm 36 For the Chief Musician. [A Psalm] of David the servant of Jehovah.\r\n \r\n \r\n The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, There is no fear of God before his eyes.\r\n For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, That his iniquity will not be found out and be hated.\r\n The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: He hath ceased to be wise [and] to do good.\r\n He deviseth iniquity upon his bed; He setteth himself in a way that is not good; He abhorreth not evil.\r\n Thy lovingkindness, O Jehovah, is in the heavens; Thy faithfulness [reacheth] unto the skies.\r\n Thy righteousness is like the mountains of God; Thy judgments are a great deep: O Jehovah, thou preservest man and beast.\r\n How precious is thy lovingkindness, O God! And the children of men take refuge under the shadow of thy wings.\r\n They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; And thou wilt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures.\r\n For with thee is the fountain of life: In thy light shall we see light.\r\n Oh continue thy lovingkindness unto them that know thee, And thy righteousness to the upright in heart.\r\n Let not the foot of pride come against me, And let not the hand of the wicked drive me away.\r\n There are the workers of iniquity fallen: They are thrust down, and shall not be able to rise. Psalm 37 [A Psalm] of David.\r\n \r\n \r\n Fret not thyself because of evil-doers, Neither be thou envious against them that work unrighteousness.\r\n For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, And wither as the green herb.\r\n Trust in Jehovah, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on [his] faithfulness.\r\n Delight thyself also in Jehovah; And he will give thee the desires of thy heart.\r\n Commit thy way unto Jehovah; Trust also in him, and he will bring it to pass.\r\n And he will make thy righteousness to go forth as the light, And thy justice as the noon-day.\r\n Rest in Jehovah, and wait patiently for him: Fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, Because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.\r\n Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: Fret not thyself, [it tendeth] only to evil-doing.\r\n For evil-doers shall be cut off; But those that wait for Jehovah, they shall inherit the land.\r\n For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: Yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and he shall not be.\r\n But the meek shall inherit the land, And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.\r\n The wicked plotteth against the just, And gnasheth upon him with his teeth.\r\n The Lord will laugh at him; For he seeth that his day is coming.\r\n The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, To cast down the poor and needy, To slay such as are upright in the way.\r\n Their sword shall enter into their own heart, And their bows shall be broken.\r\n Better is a little that the righteous hath Than the abundance of many wicked.\r\n For the arms of the wicked shall be broken; But Jehovah upholdeth the righteous.\r\n Jehovah knoweth the days of the perfect; And their inheritance shall be for ever.\r\n They shall not be put to shame in the time of evil; And in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.\r\n But the wicked shall perish, And the enemies of Jehovah shall be as the fat of lambs: They shall consume; In smoke shall they consume away.\r\n The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again; But the righteous dealeth graciously, and giveth.\r\n For such as are blessed of him shall inherit the land; And they that are cursed of him shall be cut off.\r\n A man`s goings are established of Jehovah; And he delighteth in his way.\r\n Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For Jehovah upholdeth him with his hand.\r\n I have been young, and now am old; Yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his seed begging bread.\r\n All the day long he dealeth graciously, and lendeth; And his seed is blessed.\r\n Depart from evil, and do good; And dwell for evermore.\r\n For Jehovah loveth justice, And forsaketh not his saints; They are preserved for ever: But the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.\r\n The righteous shall inherit the land, And dwell therein for ever.\r\n The mouth of the righteous talketh of wisdom, And his tongue speaketh justice.\r\n The law of his God is in his heart; None of his steps shall slide.\r\n The wicked watcheth the righteous, And seeketh to slay him.\r\n Jehovah will not leave him in his hand, Nor condemn him when he is judged.\r\n Wait for Jehovah, and keep his way, And he will exalt thee to inherit the land: When the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.\r\n I have seen the wicked in great power, And spreading himself like a green tree in its native soil.\r\n But one passed by, and, lo, he was not: Yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.\r\n Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright; For there is a [happy] end to the man of peace.\r\n As for transgressors, they shall be destroyed together; The end of the wicked shall be cut off.\r\n But the salvation of the righteous is of Jehovah; He is their stronghold in the time of trouble.\r\n And Jehovah helpeth them, and rescueth them; He rescueth them from the wicked, and saveth them, Because they have taken refuge in him. Psalm 38 A Psalm of David, to bring to remembrance.\r\n \r\n \r\n O Jehovah, rebuke me not in thy wrath; Neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.\r\n For thine arrows stick fast in me, And thy hand presseth me sore.\r\n There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine indignation; Neither is there any health in my bones because of my sin.\r\n For mine iniquities are gone over my head: As a heavy burden they are too heavy for me.\r\n My wounds are loathsome and corrupt, Because of my foolishness.\r\n I am pained and bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long.\r\n For my loins are filled with burning; And there is no soundness in my flesh.\r\n I am faint and sore bruised: I have groaned by reason of the disquietness of my heart.\r\n Lord, all my desire is before thee; And my groaning is not hid from thee.\r\n My heart throbbeth, my strength faileth me: As for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me.\r\n My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my plague; And my kinsmen stand afar off.\r\n They also that seek after my life lay snares [for me]; And they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things, And meditate deceits all the day long.\r\n But I, as a deaf man, hear not; And I am as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth.\r\n Yea, I am as a man that heareth not, And in whose mouth are no reproofs.\r\n For in thee, O Jehovah, do I hope: Thou wilt answer, O Lord my God.\r\n For I said, Lest they rejoice over me: When my foot slippeth, they magnify themselves against me.\r\n For I am ready to fall, And my sorrow is continually before me.\r\n For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.\r\n But mine enemies are lively, [and] are strong; And they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied.\r\n They also that render evil for good Are adversaries unto me, because I follow the thing that is good.\r\n Forsake me not, O Jehovah: O my God, be not far from me.\r\n Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation. Psalm 39 For the Chief Musician, Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.\r\n \r\n \r\n I said, I will take heed to my ways, That I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, While the wicked is before me.\r\n I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; And my sorrow was stirred.\r\n My heart was hot within me; While I was musing the fire burned: [Then] spake I with my tongue:\r\n Jehovah, make me to know mine end, And the measure of my days, what it is; Let me know how frail I am.\r\n Behold, thou hast made my days [as] handbreadths; And my life-time is as nothing before thee: Surely every man at his best estate is altogether vanity. Selah\r\n Surely every man walketh in a vain show; Surely they are disquieted in vain: He heapeth up [riches], and knoweth not who shall gather them.\r\n And now, Lord, what wait I for? My hope is in thee.\r\n Deliver me from all my transgressions: Make me not the reproach of the foolish.\r\n I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; Because thou didst it.\r\n Remove thy stroke away from me: I am consumed by the blow of thy hand.\r\n When thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity, Thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth: Surely every man is vanity. Selah\r\n Hear my prayer, O Jehovah, and give ear unto my cry; Hold not thy peace at my tears: For I am a stranger with thee, A sojourner, as all my fathers were.\r\n Oh spare me, that I may recover strength, Before I go hence, and be no more. Psalm 40 For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.\r\n \r\n \r\n I waited patiently for Jehovah; And he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.\r\n He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay; And he set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.\r\n And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: Many shall see it, and fear, And shall trust in Jehovah.\r\n Blessed is the man that maketh Jehovah his trust, And respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.\r\n Many, O Jehovah my God, are the wonderful works which thou hast done, And thy thoughts which are to us-ward; They cannot be set in order unto thee; If I would declare and speak of them, They are more than can be numbered.\r\n Sacrifice and offering thou hast no delight in; Mine ears hast thou opened: Burnt-offering and sin-offering hast thou not required.\r\n Then said I, Lo, I am come; In the roll of the book it is written of me:\r\n I delight to do thy will, O my God; Yea, thy law is within my heart.\r\n I have proclaimed glad tidings of righteousness in the great assembly; Lo, I will not refrain my lips, O Jehovah, thou knowest.\r\n I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation; I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great assembly.\r\n Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O Jehovah; Let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me.\r\n For innumerable evils have compassed me about; Mine iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to look up; They are more than the hairs of my head; And my heart hath failed me.\r\n Be pleased, O Jehovah, to deliver me: Make haste to help me, O Jehovah.\r\n Let them be put to shame and confounded together That seek after my soul to destroy it: Let them be turned backward and brought to dishonor That delight in my hurt.\r\n Let them be desolate by reason of their shame That say unto me, Aha, aha.\r\n Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: Let such as love thy salvation say continually, Jehovah be magnified.\r\n But I am poor and needy; [Yet] the Lord thinketh upon me: Thou art my help and my deliverer; Make no tarrying, O my God. Psalm 41 For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.\r\n \r\n \r\n Blessed is he that considereth the poor: Jehovah will deliver him in the day of evil.\r\n Jehovah will preserve him, and keep him alive, And he shall be blessed upon the earth; And deliver not thou him unto the will of his enemies.\r\n Jehovah will support him upon the couch of languishing: Thou makest all his bed in his sickness.\r\n I said, O Jehovah, have mercy upon me: Heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee.\r\n Mine enemies speak evil against me, [saying], When will he die, and his name perish?\r\n And if he come to see [me], he speaketh falsehood; His heart gathereth iniquity to itself: When he goeth abroad, he telleth it.\r\n All that hate me whisper together against me; Against me do they devise my hurt.\r\n An evil disease, [say they], cleaveth fast unto him; And now that he lieth he shall rise up no more.\r\n Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, Who did eat of my bread, Hath lifted up his heel against me.\r\n But thou, O Jehovah, have mercy upon me, and raise me up, That I may requite them.\r\n By this I know that thou delightest in me, Because mine enemy doth not triumph over me.\r\n And as for me, thou upholdest me in mine integrity, And settest me before thy face for ever.\r\n Blessed be Jehovah, the God of Israel, From everlasting and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen. Book II Psalm 42 For the Chief Musician. Maschil of the sons of Korah.\r\n \r\n \r\n As the hart panteth after the water brooks, So panteth my soul after thee, O God.\r\n My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: When shall I come and appear before God?\r\n My tears have been my food day and night, While they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?\r\n These things I remember, and pour out my soul within me, How I went with the throng, and led them to the house of God, With the voice of joy and praise, a multitude keeping holyday.\r\n Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And [why] art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God; for I shall yet praise him [For] the help of his countenance.\r\n O my God, my soul is cast down within me: Therefore do I remember thee from the land of the Jordan, And the Hermons, from the hill Mizar.\r\n Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterfalls: All thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.\r\n [Yet] Jehovah will command his lovingkindness in the day-time; And in the night his song shall be with me, [Even] a prayer unto the God of my life.\r\n I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? Why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?\r\n As with a sword in my bones, mine adversaries reproach me, While they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?\r\n Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God; for I shall yet praise him, [Who is] the help of my countenance, and my God. Psalm 43\r\n \r\n \r\n Judge me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation: Oh deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man.\r\n For thou art the God of my strength; why hast thou cast me off? Why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?\r\n Oh send out thy light and thy truth; let them lead me: Let them bring me unto thy holy hill, And to thy tabernacles.\r\n Then will I go unto the altar of God, Unto God my exceeding joy; And upon the harp will I praise thee, O God, my God.\r\n Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God; for I shall yet praise him, [Who is] the help of my countenance, and my God. Psalm 44 For the Chief Musician. [A Psalm] of the sons of Korah. Maschil.\r\n \r\n \r\n We have heard with our ears, O God, Our fathers have told us, What work thou didst in their days, In the days of old.\r\n Thou didst drive out the nations with thy hand; But them thou didst plant: Thou didst afflict the peoples; But them thou didst spread abroad.\r\n For they gat not the land in possession by their own sword, Neither did their own arm save them; But thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, Because thou wast favorable unto them.\r\n Thou art my King, O God: Command deliverance for Jacob.\r\n Through thee will we push down our adversaries: Through thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us.\r\n For I will not trust in my bow, Neither shall my sword save me.\r\n But thou hast saved us from our adversaries, And hast put them to shame that hate us.\r\n In God have we made our boast all the day long, And we will give thanks unto thy name for ever. Selah\r\n But now thou hast cast [us] off, and brought us to dishonor, And goest not forth with our hosts.\r\n Thou makest us to turn back from the adversary; And they that hate us take spoil for themselves.\r\n Thou hast made us like sheep [appointed] for food, And hast scattered us among the nations.\r\n Thou sellest thy people for nought, And hast not increased [thy wealth] by their price.\r\n Thou makest us a reproach to our neighbors, A scoffing and a derision to them that are round about us.\r\n Thou makest us a byword among the nations, A shaking of the head among the peoples.\r\n All the day long is my dishonor before me, And the shame of my face hath covered me,\r\n For the voice of him that reproacheth and blasphemeth, By reason of the enemy and the avenger.\r\n All this is come upon us; Yet have we not forgotten thee, Neither have we dealt falsely in thy covenant.\r\n Our heart is not turned back, Neither have our steps declined from thy way,\r\n That thou hast sore broken us in the place of jackals, And covered us with the shadow of death.\r\n If we have forgotten the name of our God, Or spread forth our hands to a strange god;\r\n Will not God search this out? For he knoweth the secrets of the heart.\r\n Yea, for thy sake are we killed all the day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.\r\n Awake, why sleepest thou, O Lord? Arise, cast [us] not off for ever.\r\n Wherefore hidest thou thy face, And forgettest our affliction and our oppression?\r\n For our soul is bowed down to the dust: Our body cleaveth unto the earth.\r\n Rise up for our help, And redeem us for thy lovingkindness` sake. Psalm 45 For the Chief Musician; set to Shoshannim. [A Psalm] of the sons of Korah. Maschil. A Song of loves.\r\n \r\n \r\n My heart overfloweth with a goodly matter; I speak the things which I have made touching the king: My tongue is the pen of a ready writer.\r\n Thou art fairer than the children of men; Grace is poured into thy lips: Therefore God hath blessed thee for ever.\r\n Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O mighty one, Thy glory and thy majesty.\r\n And in thy majesty ride on prosperously, Because of truth and meekness [and] righteousness: And thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things.\r\n Thine arrows are sharp; The peoples fall under thee; [They are] in the heart of the king`s enemies.\r\n Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: A sceptre of equity is the sceptre of thy kingdom.\r\n Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated wickedness: Therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee With the oil of gladness above thy fellows.\r\n All thy garments [smell of] myrrh, and aloes, [and] cassia; Out of ivory palaces stringed instruments have made thee glad.\r\n Kings` daughters are among thy honorable women: At thy right hand doth stand the queen in gold of Ophir.\r\n Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; Forget also thine own people, and thy father`s house:\r\n So will the king desire thy beauty; For he is thy lord; and reverence thou him.\r\n And the daughter of Tyre [shall be there] with a gift; The rich among the people shall entreat thy favor.\r\n The king`s daughter within [the palace] is all glorious: Her clothing is inwrought with gold.\r\n She shall be led unto the king in broidered work: The virgins her companions that follow her Shall be brought unto thee.\r\n With gladness and rejoicing shall they be led: They shall enter into the king`s palace.\r\n Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children, Whom thou shalt make princes in all the earth.\r\n I will make thy name to be remembered in all generations: Therefore shall the peoples give thee thanks for ever and ever. Psalm 46 For the Chief Musician. [A Psalm] of the sons of Korah; set to Alamoth. A Song.\r\n \r\n \r\n God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.\r\n Therefore will we not fear, though the earth do change, And though the mountains be shaken into the heart of the seas;\r\n Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, Though the mountains tremble with the swelling thereof. Selah\r\n There is a river, the streams whereof make glad the city of God, The holy place of the tabernacles of the Most High.\r\n God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God will help her, and that right early.\r\n The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved: He uttered his voice, the earth melted.\r\n Jehovah of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah\r\n Come, behold the works of Jehovah, What desolations he hath made in the earth.\r\n He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; He breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; He burneth the chariots in the fire.\r\n Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.\r\n Jehovah of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah Psalm 47 For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah.\r\n \r\n \r\n Oh clap your hands, all ye peoples; Shout unto God with the voice of triumph.\r\n For Jehovah Most High is terrible; He is a great King over all the earth.\r\n He subdueth peoples under us, And nations under our feet.\r\n He chooseth our inheritance for us, The glory of Jacob whom he loved. Selah\r\n God is gone up with a shout, Jehovah with the sound of a trumpet.\r\n Sing praise to God, sing praises: Sing praises unto our King, sing praises.\r\n For God is the King of all the earth: Sing ye praises with understanding.\r\n God reigneth over the nations: God sitteth upon his holy throne.\r\n The princes of the peoples are gathered together [To be] the people of the God of Abraham: For the shields of the earth belong unto God; He is greatly exalted. Psalm 48 A Song; a Psalm of the sons of Korah.\r\n \r\n \r\n Great is Jehovah, and greatly to be praised, In the city of our God, in his holy mountain.\r\n Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, Is mount Zion, [on] the sides of the north, The city of the great King.\r\n God hath made himself known in her palaces for a refuge.\r\n For, lo, the kings assembled themselves, They passed by together.\r\n They saw it, then were they amazed; They were dismayed, they hasted away.\r\n Trembling took hold of them there, Pain, as of a woman in travail.\r\n With the east wind Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish.\r\n As we have heard, so have we seen In the city of Jehovah of hosts, in the city of our God: God will establish it for ever. Selah\r\n We have thought on thy lovingkindness, O God, In the midst of thy temple.\r\n As is thy name, O God, So is thy praise unto the ends of the earth: Thy right hand is full of righteousness.\r\n Let mount Zion be glad, Let the daughters of Judah rejoice, Because of thy judgments.\r\n Walk about Zion, and go round about her; Number the towers thereof;\r\n Mark ye well her bulwarks; Consider her palaces: That ye may tell it to the generation following.\r\n For this God is our God for ever and ever: He will be our guide [even] unto death. Psalm 49 For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah.\r\n \r\n \r\n Hear this, all ye peoples; Give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world,\r\n Both low and high, Rich and poor together.\r\n My mouth shall speak wisdom; And the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.\r\n I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp.\r\n Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, When iniquity at my heels compasseth me about?\r\n They that trust in their wealth, And boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;\r\n None [of them] can by any means redeem his brother, Nor give to God a ransom for him;\r\n (For the redemption of their life is costly, And it faileth for ever;)\r\n That he should still live alway, That he should not see corruption.\r\n For he shall see it. Wise men die; The fool and the brutish alike perish, And leave their wealth to others.\r\n Their inward thought is, [that] their houses [shall continue] for ever, [And] their dwelling-places to all generations; They call their lands after their own names.\r\n But man [being] in honor abideth not: He is like the beasts that perish.\r\n This their way is their folly: Yet after them men approve their sayings. Selah\r\n They are appointed as a flock for Sheol; Death shall be their shepherd; And the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; And their beauty shall be for Sheol to consume, That there be no habitation for it.\r\n But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol; For he will receive me. Selah\r\n Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, When the glory of his house is increased.\r\n For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away; His glory shall not descend after him.\r\n Though while he lived he blessed his soul (And men praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself,)\r\n He shall go to the generation of his fathers; They shall never see the light.\r\n Man that is in honor, and understandeth not, Is like the beasts that perish. Psalm 50 A Psalm of Asaph.\r\n \r\n \r\n The Mighty One, God, Jehovah, hath spoken, And called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof.\r\n Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined forth.\r\n Our God cometh, and doth not keep silence: A fire devoureth before him, And it is very tempestuous round about him.\r\n He calleth to the heavens above, And to the earth, that he may judge his people:\r\n Gather my saints together unto me, Those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.\r\n And the heavens shall declare his righteousness; For God is judge himself. Selah\r\n Hear, O my people, and I will speak; O Israel, and I will testify unto thee: I am God, [even] thy God.\r\n I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices; And thy burnt-offerings are continually before me.\r\n I will take no bullock out of thy house, Nor he-goats out of thy folds.\r\n For every beast of the forest is mine, And the cattle upon a thousand hills.\r\n I know all the birds of the mountains; And the wild beasts of the field are mine.\r\n If I were hungry, I would not tell thee; For the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.\r\n Will I eat the flesh of bulls, Or drink the blood of goats?\r\n Offer unto God the sacrifice of thanksgiving; And pay thy vows unto the Most High:\r\n And call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.\r\n But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, And that thou hast taken my covenant in thy mouth,\r\n Seeing thou hatest instruction, And castest my words behind thee?\r\n When thou sawest a thief, thou consentedst with him, And hast been partaker with adulterers.\r\n Thou givest thy mouth to evil, And thy tongue frameth deceit.\r\n Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother; Thou slanderest thine own mother`s son.\r\n These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; Thou thoughtest that I was altogether such a one as thyself: [But] I will reprove thee, and set [them] in order before thine eyes.\r\n Now consider this, ye that forget God, Lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver:\r\n Whoso offereth the sacrifice of thanksgiving glorifieth me; And to him that ordereth his way [aright] Will I show the salvation of God. Psalm 51 For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David; when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.\r\n \r\n \r\n Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: According to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.\r\n Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin.\r\n For I know my transgressions; And my sin is ever before me.\r\n Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, And done that which is evil in thy sight; That thou mayest be justified when thou speakest, And be clear when thou judgest.\r\n Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity; And in sin did my mother conceive me.\r\n Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts; And in the hidden part thou wilt make me to know wisdom.\r\n Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.\r\n Make me to hear joy and gladness, That the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.\r\n Hide thy face from my sins, And blot out all mine iniquities.\r\n Create in me a clean heart, O God; And renew a right spirit within me.\r\n Cast me not away from thy presence; And take not thy holy Spirit from me.\r\n Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; And uphold me with a willing spirit.\r\n Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; And sinners shall be converted unto thee.\r\n Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation; [And] my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.\r\n O Lord, open thou my lips; And my mouth shall show forth thy praise.\r\n For thou delightest not in sacrifice; else would I give it: Thou hast no pleasure in burnt-offering.\r\n The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: A broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.\r\n Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: Build thou the walls of Jerusalem.\r\n Then will thou delight in the sacrifices of righteousness, In burnt-offering and in whole burnt-offering: Then will they offer bullocks upon thine altar. Psalm 52 For the Chief Musician. Maschil of David; when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul, and said unto him, David is come to the house of Abimelech.\r\n \r\n \r\n Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? The lovingkindness of God [endureth] continually.\r\n Thy tongue deviseth very wickedness, Like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.\r\n Thou lovest evil more than good, And lying rather than to speak righteousness. Selah\r\n Thou lovest all devouring words, thou deceitful tongue.\r\n God will likewise destroy thee for ever; He will take thee up, and pluck thee out of thy tent, And root thee out of the land of the living. Selah\r\n The righteous also shall see [it], and fear, And shall laugh at him, [saying],\r\n Lo, this is the man that made not God his strength, But trusted in the abundance of his riches, And strengthened himself in his wickedness.\r\n But as for me, I am like a green olive-tree in the house of God: I trust in the lovingkindness of God for ever and ever.\r\n I will give thee thanks for ever, because thou hast done it; And I will hope in thy name, for it is good, in the presence of thy saints. Psalm 53 For the Chief Musician; set to Mahalath. Maschil of David.\r\n \r\n \r\n The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity; There is none that doeth good.\r\n God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, To see if there were any that did understand, That did seek after God.\r\n Every one of them is gone back; they are together become filthy; There is none that doeth good, no, not one.\r\n Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge, Who eat up my people [as] they eat bread, And call not upon God?\r\n There were they in great fear, where no fear was; For God hath scattered the bones of him that encampeth against thee: Thou hast put them to shame, because of God hath rejected them.\r\n Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! When God bringeth back the captivity of his people, Then shall Jacob rejoice, [and] Israel shall be glad. Psalm 54 For the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments. Maschil of David; when the Ziphites came and said to Saul, Doth not David hide himself with us?\r\n \r\n \r\n Save me, O God, by thy name, And judge me in thy might.\r\n Hear my prayer, O God; Give ear to the words of my mouth.\r\n For strangers are risen up against me, And violent men have sought after my soul: They have not set God before them. Selah\r\n Behold, God is my helper: The Lord is of them that uphold my soul.\r\n He will requite the evil unto mine enemies: Destroy thou them in thy truth.\r\n With a freewill-offering will I sacrifice unto thee: I will give thanks unto thy name, O Jehovah, for it is good.\r\n For he hath delivered me out of all trouble; And mine eye hath seen [my desire] upon mine enemies. Psalm 55 For the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments. Maschil of David.\r\n \r\n \r\n Give ear to my prayer, O God; And hide not thyself from my supplication.\r\n Attend unto me, and answer me: I am restless in my complaint, and moan,\r\n Because of the voice of the enemy, Because of the oppression of the wicked; For they cast iniquity upon me, And in anger they persecute me.\r\n My heart is sore pained within me: And the terrors of death are fallen upon me.\r\n Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, And horror hath overwhelmed me.\r\n And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! Then would I fly away, and be at rest.\r\n Lo, then would I wander far off, I would lodge in the wilderness. Selah\r\n I would haste me to a shelter From the stormy wind and tempest.\r\n Destroy, O Lord, [and] divide their tongue; For I have seen violence and strife in the city.\r\n Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof: Iniquity also and mischief are in the midst of it.\r\n Wickedness is in the midst thereof: Oppression and guile depart not from its streets.\r\n For it was not an enemy that reproached me; Then I could have borne it: Neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; Then I would have hid myself from him:\r\n But it was thou, a man mine equal, My companion, and my familiar friend.\r\n We took sweet counsel together; We walked in the house of God with the throng.\r\n Let death come suddenly upon them, Let them go down alive into Sheol; For wickedness is in their dwelling, in the midst of them.\r\n As for me, I will call upon God; And Jehovah will save me.\r\n Evening, and morning, and at noonday, will I complain, and moan; And he will hear my voice.\r\n He hath redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me; For they were many [that strove] with me.\r\n God will hear, and answer them, Even he that abideth of old, Selah [The men] who have no changes, And who fear not God.\r\n He hath put forth his hands against such as were at peace with him: He hath profaned his covenant.\r\n His mouth was smooth as butter, But his heart was war: His words were softer than oil, Yet were they drawn swords.\r\n Cast thy burden upon Jehovah, and he will sustain thee: He will never suffer the righteous to be moved.\r\n But thou, O God, wilt bring them down into the pit of destruction: Bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; But I will trust in thee. Psalm 56 For the Chief Musician; set to Jonath elem rehokim. [A Psalm] of David. Michtam: when the Philistines took him in Gath.\r\n \r\n \r\n Be merciful unto me, O God; for man would swallow me up: All the day long he fighting oppresseth me.\r\n Mine enemies would swallow me up all the day long; For they are many that fight proudly against me.\r\n What time I am afraid, I will put my trust in thee.\r\n In God (I will praise his word), In God have I put my trust, I will not be afraid; What can flesh do unto me?\r\n All the day long they wrest my words: All their thoughts are against me for evil.\r\n They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, They mark my steps, Even as they have waited for my soul.\r\n Shall they escape by iniquity? In anger cast down the peoples, O God.\r\n Thou numberest my wanderings: Put thou my tears into thy bottle; Are they not in thy book?\r\n Then shall mine enemies turn back in the day that I call: This I know, that God is for me.\r\n In God (I will praise [his] word), In Jehovah (I will praise [his] word),\r\n In God have I put my trust, I will not be afraid; What can man do unto me?\r\n Thy vows are upon me, O God: I will render thank-offerings unto thee.\r\n For thou hast delivered my soul from death: [Hast thou] not [delivered] my feet from falling, That I may walk before God In the light of the living? Psalm 57 For the Chief Musician; [set to] Al-tash-heth. [A Psalm] of David. Michtam; when he fled from Saul, in the cave.\r\n \r\n \r\n Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me; For my soul taketh refuge in thee: Yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I take refuge, Until [these] calamities be overpast.\r\n I will cry unto God Most High, Unto God that performeth [all things] for me.\r\n He will send from heaven, and save me, [When] he that would swallow me up reproacheth; Selah God will send forth his lovingkindness and his truth.\r\n My soul is among lions; I lie among them that are set on fire, Even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, And their tongue a sharp sword.\r\n Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; [Let] thy glory [be] above all the earth.\r\n They have prepared a net for my steps; My soul is bowed down: They have digged a pit before me; They are fallen into the midst thereof themselves. Selah\r\n My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing, yea, I will sing praises.\r\n Awake up, my glory; awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake right early.\r\n I will give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the peoples: I will sing praises unto thee among the nations.\r\n For thy lovingkindness is great unto the heavens, And thy truth unto the skies.\r\n Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; [Let] thy glory [be] above all the earth. Psalm 58 For the Chief Musician; [set to] Al-tashheth. [A Psalm] of David. Michtam.\r\n \r\n \r\n Do ye indeed in silence speak righteousness? Do ye judge uprightly, O ye sons of men?\r\n Nay, in heart ye work wickedness; Ye weigh out the violence of your hands in the earth.\r\n The wicked are estranged from the womb: They go astray as soon as they are born, speaking lies.\r\n Their poison is like the poison of a serpent: [They are] like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear,\r\n Which hearkeneth not to the voice of charmers, Charming never so wisely.\r\n Break their teeth, O God, in their mouth: Break out the great teeth of the young lions, O Jehovah.\r\n Let them melt away as water that runneth apace: When he aimeth his arrows, let them be as though they were cut off.\r\n [Let them be] as a snail which melteth and passeth away, [Like] the untimely birth of a woman, that hath not seen the sun.\r\n Before your pots can feel the thorns, He will take them away with a whirlwind, the green and the burning alike.\r\n The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance: He shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked;\r\n So that men shall say, Verily there is a reward for the righteous: Verily there is a God that judgeth in the earth. Psalm 59 For the Chief Musician; [set to] Al-tashheth. [A Psalm] of David. Michtam; when Saul sent, and they watched the house to kill him.\r\n \r\n \r\n Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God: Set me on high from them that rise up against me.\r\n Deliver me from the workers of iniquity, And save me from the bloodthirsty men.\r\n For, lo, they lie in wait for my soul; The mighty gather themselves together against me: Not for my transgression, nor for my sin, O Jehovah.\r\n They run and prepare themselves without [my] fault: Awake thou to help me, and behold.\r\n Even thou, O Jehovah God of hosts, the God of Israel, Arise to visit all the nations: Be not merciful to any wicked transgressors. Selah\r\n They return at evening, they howl like a dog, And go round about the city.\r\n Behold, they belch out with their mouth; Swords are in their lips: For who, [say they], doth hear?\r\n But thou, O Jehovah, wilt laugh at them; Thou wilt have all the nations in derision.\r\n [Because of] his strength I will give heed unto thee; For God is my high tower.\r\n My God with his lovingkindness will meet me: God will let me see [my desire] upon mine enemies.\r\n Slay them not, lest my people forget: Scatter them by thy power, and bring them down, O Lord our shield.\r\n [For] the sin of their mouth, [and] the words of their lips, Let them even be taken in their pride, And for cursing and lying which they speak.\r\n Consume them in wrath, consume them, so that they shall be no more: And let them know that God ruleth in Jacob, Unto the ends of the earth. Selah\r\n And at evening let them return, let them howl like a dog, And go round about the city.\r\n They shall wander up and down for food, And tarry all night if they be not satisfied.\r\n But I will sing of thy strength; Yea, I will sing aloud of thy lovingkindness in the morning: For thou hast been my high tower, And a refuge in the day of my distress.\r\n Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing praises: For God is my high tower, the God of my mercy. Psalm 60 For the Chief Musician; [set to] Shushan Eduth. Michtam of David, to teach; and when he strove with Aram-naharaim and with Aram-zobah, and Joab returned, and smote of Edom in the Valley of Salt twelve thousand.\r\n \r\n \r\n O God thou hast cast us off, thou hast broken us down; Thou hast been angry; oh restore us again.\r\n Thou hast made the land to tremble; thou hast rent it: Heal the breaches thereof; for it shaketh.\r\n Thou hast showed thy people hard things: Thou hast made us to drink the wine of staggering.\r\n Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, That it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah\r\n That thy beloved may be delivered, Save with thy right hand, and answer us.\r\n God hath spoken in his holiness: I will exult; I will divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth.\r\n Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine; Ephraim also is the defence of my head; Judah is my sceptre.\r\n Moab is my washpot; Upon Edom will I cast my shoe: Philistia, shout thou because of me.\r\n Who will bring me into the strong city? Who hath led me unto Edom?\r\n Hast not thou, O God, cast us off? And thou goest not forth, O God, with our hosts.\r\n Give us help against the adversary; For vain is the help of man.\r\n Through God we shall do valiantly; For he it is that will tread down our adversaries. Psalm 61 For the Chief Musician; on a stringed instrument. [A Psalm] of David.\r\n \r\n \r\n Hear my cry, O God; Attend unto my prayer.\r\n From the end of the earth will I call unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.\r\n For thou hast been a refuge for me, A strong tower from the enemy.\r\n I will dwell in thy tabernacle for ever: I will take refuge in the covert of thy wings. Selah\r\n For thou, O God, hast heard my vows: Thou hast given [me] the heritage of those that fear thy name.\r\n Thou wilt prolong the king`s life; His years shall be as many generations.\r\n He shall abide before God for ever: Oh prepare lovingkindness and truth, that they may preserve him.\r\n So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, That I may daily perform my vows. Psalm 62 For the Chief Musician; after the manner of Jeduthan. A Psalm of David.\r\n \r\n \r\n My soul waiteth in silence for God only: From him [cometh] my salvation.\r\n He only is my rock and my salvation: [He is] my high tower; I shall not be greatly moved.\r\n How long will ye set upon a man, That ye may slay [him], all of you, Like a leaning wall, like a tottering fence?\r\n They only consult to thrust him down from his dignity; They delight in lies; They bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. Selah\r\n My soul, wait thou in silence for God only; For my expectation is from him.\r\n He only is my rock and my salvation: [He is] my high tower; I shall not be moved.\r\n With God is my salvation and my glory: The rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.\r\n Trust in him at all times, ye people; Pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah\r\n Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie: In the balances they will go up; They are together lighter than vanity.\r\n Trust not in oppression, And become not vain in robbery: If riches increase, set not your heart [thereon].\r\n God hath spoken once, Twice have I heard this, That power belongeth unto God.\r\n Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth lovingkindness; For thou renderest to every man according to his work. Psalm 63 A Psalm of David when he was in the wilderness of Judah.\r\n \r\n \r\n O God, thou art my God; earnestly will I seek thee: My soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee, In a dry and weary land, where no water is.\r\n So have I looked upon thee in the sanctuary, To see thy power and thy glory.\r\n Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, My lips shall praise thee.\r\n So will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.\r\n My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; And my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips;\r\n When I remember thee upon my bed, [And] meditate on thee in the night-watches.\r\n For thou hast been my help, And in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.\r\n My soul followeth hard after thee: Thy right hand upholdeth me.\r\n But those that seek my soul, to destroy it, Shall go into the lower parts of the earth.\r\n They shall be given over to the power of the sword: They shall be a portion for foxes.\r\n But the king shall rejoice in God: Every one that sweareth by him shall glory; For the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped. Psalm 64 For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.\r\n \r\n \r\n Hear my voice, O God, in my complaint: Preserve my life from fear of the enemy.\r\n Hide me from the secret counsel of evil-doers, From the tumult of the workers of iniquity;\r\n Who have whet their tongue like a sword, And have aimed their arrows, even bitter words,\r\n That they may shoot in secret places at the perfect: Suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not.\r\n They encourage themselves in an evil purpose; They commune of laying snares privily; They say, Who will see them?\r\n They search out iniquities; We have accomplished, [say they], a diligent search: And the inward thought and the heart of every one is deep.\r\n But God will shoot at them; With an arrow suddenly shall they be wounded.\r\n So they shall be made to stumble, their own tongue being against them: All that see them shall wag the head.\r\n And all men shall fear; And they shall declare the work of God, And shall wisely consider of his doing.\r\n The righteous shall be glad in Jehovah, and shall take refuge in him; And all the upright in heart shall glory. Psalm 65 For the Chief Musician. A Psalm. A song of David.\r\n \r\n \r\n Praise waiteth for thee, O God, in Zion; And unto thee shall the vow be performed.\r\n O thou that hearest prayer, Unto thee shall all flesh come.\r\n Iniquities prevail against me: As for our transgressions, thou wilt forgive them.\r\n Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach [unto thee], That he may dwell in thy courts: We shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, Thy holy temple.\r\n By terrible things thou wilt answer us in righteousness, Oh God of our salvation, Thou that art the confidence of all the ends of the earth, And of them that are afar off upon the sea:\r\n Who by his strength setteth fast the mountains, Being girded about with might;\r\n Who stilleth the roaring of the seas, The roaring of their waves, And the tumult of the peoples.\r\n They also that dwell in the uttermost parts are afraid at thy tokens: Thou makest the outgoings of the morning and evening to rejoice.\r\n Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it, Thou greatly enrichest it; The river of God is full of water: Thou providest them grain, when thou hast so prepared the earth.\r\n Thou waterest its furrows abundantly; Thou settlest the ridges thereof: Thou makest it soft with showers; Thou blessest the springing thereof.\r\n Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; And thy paths drop fatness.\r\n They drop upon the pastures of the wilderness; And the hills are girded with joy.\r\n The pastures are clothed with flocks; The valleys also are covered over with grain; They shout for joy, they also sing. Psalm 66 For the Chief Musician. A song, a Psalm.\r\n \r\n \r\n Make a joyful noise unto God, all the earth:\r\n Sing forth the glory of his name: Make his praise glorious.\r\n Say unto God, How terrible are thy works! Through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee.\r\n All the earth shall worship thee, And shall sing unto thee; They shall sing to thy name. Selah\r\n Come, and see the works of God; [He is] terrible in his doing toward the children of men.\r\n He turned the sea into dry land; They went through the river on foot: There did we rejoice in him.\r\n He ruleth by his might for ever; His eyes observe the nations: Let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah\r\n Oh bless our God, ye peoples, And make the voice of his praise to be heard;\r\n Who holdeth our soul in life, And suffereth not our feet to be moved.\r\n For thou, O God, hast proved us: Thou hast tried us, as silver is tried.\r\n Thou broughtest us into the net; Thou layedst a sore burden upon our loins.\r\n Thou didst cause men to ride over our heads; We went through fire and through water; But thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place.\r\n I will come into thy house with burnt-offerings; I will pay thee my vows,\r\n Which my lips uttered, And my mouth spake, when I was in distress.\r\n I will offer unto thee burnt-offerings of fatlings, With the incense of rams; I will offer bullocks with goats. Selah\r\n Come, and hear, all ye that fear God, And I will declare what he hath done for my soul.\r\n I cried unto him with my mouth, And he was extolled with my tongue.\r\n If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear:\r\n But verily God hath heard; He hath attended to the voice of my prayer.\r\n Blessed be God, Who hath not turned away my prayer, Nor his lovingkindness from me. Psalm 67 For the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments. A Psalm, a song.\r\n \r\n \r\n God be merciful unto us, and bless us, [And] cause his face to shine upon us; Selah\r\n That thy way may be known upon earth, Thy salvation among all nations.\r\n Let the peoples praise thee, O God; Let all the peoples praise thee.\r\n Oh let the nations be glad and sing for joy; For thou wilt judge the peoples with equity, And govern the nations upon earth. Selah\r\n Let the peoples praise thee, O God; Let all the peoples praise thee.\r\n The earth hath yielded its increase: God, even our own God, will bless us.\r\n God will bless us; And all the ends of the earth shall fear him. Psalm 68 For the Chief Musician; A Psalm of David, a song.\r\n \r\n \r\n Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered; Let them also that hate him flee before him.\r\n As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: As wax melteth before the fire, So let the wicked perish at the presence of God.\r\n But let the righteous be glad; let them exult before God: Yea, let them rejoice with gladness.\r\n Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: Cast up a highway for him that rideth through the deserts; His name is Jehovah; and exult ye before him.\r\n A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, Is God in his holy habitation.\r\n God setteth the solitary in families: He bringeth out the prisoners into prosperity; But the rebellious dwell in a parched land.\r\n O God, when thou wentest forth before thy people, When thou didst march through the wilderness; Selah\r\n The earth trembled, The heavens also dropped [rain] at the presence of God: Yon Sinai [trembled] at the presence of God, the God of Israel.\r\n Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain, Thou didst confirm thine inheritance, when it was weary.\r\n Thy congregation dwelt therein: Thou, O God, didst prepare of thy goodness for the poor.\r\n The Lord giveth the word: The women that publish the tidings are a great host.\r\n Kings of armies flee, they flee; And she that tarrieth at home divideth the spoil.\r\n When ye lie among the sheepfolds, [It is as] the wings of a dove covered with silver, And her pinions with yellow gold.\r\n When the Almighty scattered kings therein, [It was as when] it snoweth in Zalmon.\r\n A mountain of God is the mountain of Bashan; A high mountain is the mountain of Bashan.\r\n Why look ye askance, ye high mountains, At the mountain which God hath desired for his abode? Yea, Jehovah will dwell [in it] for ever.\r\n The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands upon thousands; The Lord is among them, [as in] Sinai, in the sanctuary.\r\n Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led away captives; Thou hast received gifts among men, Yea, [among] the rebellious also, that Jehovah God might dwell [with them].\r\n Blessed be the Lord, who daily beareth our burden, Even the God who is our salvation. Selah\r\n God is unto us a God of deliverances; And unto Jehovah the Lord belongeth escape from death.\r\n But God will smite through the head of his enemies, The hairy scalp of such a one as goeth on still in his guiltiness.\r\n The Lord said, I will bring again from Bashan, I will bring [them] again from the depths of the sea;\r\n That thou mayest crush [them], [dipping] thy foot in blood, That the tongue of thy dogs may have its portion from [thine] enemies.\r\n They have seen thy goings, O God, Even the goings of my God, my King, into the sanctuary.\r\n The singers went before, the minstrels followed after, In the midst of the damsels playing with timbrels.\r\n Bless ye God in the congregations, Even the Lord, [ye that are] of the fountain of Israel.\r\n There is little Benjamin their ruler, The princes of Judah [and] their council, The princes of Zebulun, the princes of Naphtali.\r\n Thy God hath commanded thy strength: Strengthen, O God, that which thou hast wrought for us.\r\n Because of thy temple at Jerusalem Kings shall bring presents unto thee.\r\n Rebuke the wild beast of the reeds, The multitude of the bulls, with the calves of the peoples, Trampling under foot the pieces of silver: He hath scattered the peoples that delight in war.\r\n Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall haste to stretch out her hands unto God.\r\n Sing unto God, ye kingdoms of the earth; Oh sing praises unto the Lord; Selah\r\n To him that rideth upon the heaven of heavens, which are of old; Lo, he uttereth his voice, a mighty voice.\r\n Ascribe ye strength unto God: His excellency is over Israel, And his strength is in the skies.\r\n O God, [thou art] terrible out of thy holy places: The God of Israel, he giveth strength and power unto [his] people. Blessed be God. Psalm 69 For the Chief Musician; set to Shoshanim. [A Psalm] of David.\r\n \r\n \r\n Save me, O God; For the waters are come in unto my soul.\r\n I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me.\r\n I am weary with my crying; my throat is dried: Mine eyes fail while I wait for my God.\r\n They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head: They that would cut me off, being mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty: That which I took not away I have to restore.\r\n O God, thou knowest my foolishness; And my sins are not hid from thee.\r\n Let not them that wait for thee be put to shame through me, O Lord Jehovah of hosts: Let not those that seek thee be brought to dishonor through me, O God of Israel.\r\n Because for thy sake I have borne reproach; Shame hath covered my face.\r\n I am become a stranger unto my brethren, And an alien unto my mother`s children.\r\n For the zeal of thy house hath eaten me up; And the reproaches of them that reproach thee are fallen upon me.\r\n When I wept, [and chastened] my soul with fasting, That was to my reproach.\r\n When I made sackcloth my clothing, I became a byword unto them.\r\n They that sit in the gate talk of me; And [I am] the song of the drunkards.\r\n But as for me, my prayer is unto thee, O Jehovah, in an acceptable time: O God, in the abundance of thy lovingkindness, Answer me in the truth of thy salvation.\r\n Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink: Let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters.\r\n Let not the waterflood overwhelm me, Neither let the deep shallow me up; And let not the pit shut its mouth upon me.\r\n Answer me, O Jehovah; for thy lovingkindness is good: According to the multitude of thy tender mercies turn thou unto me.\r\n And hide not thy face from thy servant; For I am in distress; answer me speedily.\r\n Draw nigh unto my soul, and redeem it: Ransom me because of mine enemies.\r\n Thou knowest my reproach, and my shame, and my dishonor: Mine adversaries are all before thee.\r\n Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: And I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; And for comforters, but I found none.\r\n They gave me also gall for my food; And in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.\r\n Let their table before them become a snare; And when they are in peace, [let it become] a trap.\r\n Let their eyes be darkened, so that they cannot see; And make their loins continually to shake.\r\n Pour out thine indignation upon them, And let the fierceness of thine anger overtake them.\r\n Let their habitation be desolate; Let none dwell in their tents.\r\n For they persecute him whom thou hast smitten; And they tell of the sorrow of those whom thou hast wounded.\r\n Add iniquity unto their iniquity; And let them not come into thy righteousness.\r\n Let them be blotted out of the book of life, And not be written with the righteous.\r\n But I am poor and sorrowful: Let thy salvation, O God, set me up on high.\r\n I will praise the name of God with a song, And will magnify him with thanksgiving.\r\n And it will please Jehovah better than an ox, [Or] a bullock that hath horns and hoofs.\r\n The meek have seen it, and are glad: Ye that seek after God, let your heart live.\r\n For Jehovah heareth the needy, And despiseth not his prisoners.\r\n Let heaven and earth praise him, The seas, and everything that moveth therein.\r\n For God will save Zion, and build the cities of Judah; And they shall abide there, and have it in possession.\r\n The seed also of his servants shall inherit it; And they that love his name shall dwell therein. Psalm 70 For the Chief Musician. [A Psalm] of David; to bring to remembrance.\r\n \r\n \r\n [Make haste], O God, to deliver me; Make haste to help me, O Jehovah.\r\n Let them be put to shame and confounded That seek after my soul: Let them be turned backward and brought to dishonor That delight in my hurt.\r\n Let them be turned back by reason of their shame That say, Aha, aha.\r\n Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee; And let such as love thy salvation say continually, Let God be magnified.\r\n But I am poor and needy; Make haste unto me, O God: Thou art my help and my deliverer; O Jehovah, make no tarrying. Psalm 71\r\n \r\n \r\n In thee, O Jehovah, do I take refuge: Let me never be put to shame.\r\n Deliver me in thy righteousness, and rescue me: Bow down thine ear unto me, and save me.\r\n Be thou to me a rock of habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: Thou hast given commandment to save me; For thou art my rock and my fortress.\r\n Rescue me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, Out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man.\r\n For thou art my hope, O Lord Jehovah: [Thou art] my trust from my youth.\r\n By thee have I been holden up from the womb; Thou art he that took me out of my mother`s bowels: My praise shall be continually of thee.\r\n I am as a wonder unto many; But thou art my strong refuge.\r\n My mouth shall be filled with thy praise, And with thy honor all the day.\r\n Cast me not off in the time of old age; Forsake me not when my strength faileth.\r\n For mine enemies speak concerning me; And they that watch for my soul take counsel together,\r\n Saying, God hath forsaken him: Pursue and take him; for there is none to deliver.\r\n O God, be not far from me; O my God, make haste to help me.\r\n Let them be put to shame [and] consumed that are adversaries to my soul; Let them be covered with reproach and dishonor that seek my hurt.\r\n But I will hope continually, And will praise thee yet more and more.\r\n My mouth shall tell of thy righteousness, [And] of thy salvation all the day; For I know not the numbers [thereof].\r\n I will come with the mighty acts of the Lord Jehovah: I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only.\r\n O God, thou hast taught me from my youth; And hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works.\r\n Yea, even when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not, Until I have declared thy strength unto [the next] generation, Thy might to every one that is to come.\r\n Thy righteousness also, O God, is very high; Thou who hast done great things, O God, who is like unto thee?\r\n Thou, who hast showed us many and sore troubles, Wilt quicken us again, And wilt bring us up again from the depths of the earth.\r\n Increase thou my greatness, And turn again and comfort me.\r\n I will also praise thee with the psaltery, [Even] thy truth, O my God: Unto thee will I sing praises with the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel.\r\n My lips shall shout for joy when I sing praises unto thee; And my soul, which thou hast redeemed.\r\n My tongue also shall talk of thy righteousness all the day long; For they are put to shame, for they are confounded, that seek my hurt. Psalm 72 [A Psalm] of Solomon.\r\n \r\n \r\n Give the king thy judgments, O God, And thy righteousness unto the king`s son.\r\n He will judge thy people with righteousness, And thy poor with justice.\r\n The mountains shall bring peace to the people, And the hills, in righteousness.\r\n He will judge the poor of the people, He will save the children of the needy, And will break in pieces the oppressor.\r\n They shall fear thee while the sun endureth, And so long as the moon, throughout all generations.\r\n He will come down like rain upon the mown grass, As showers that water the earth.\r\n In his days shall the righteous flourish, And abundance of peace, till the moon be no more.\r\n He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, And from the River unto the ends of the earth.\r\n They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him; And his enemies shall lick the dust.\r\n The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall render tribute: The kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts.\r\n Yea, all kings shall fall down before him; All nations shall serve him.\r\n For he will deliver the needy when he crieth, And the poor, that hath no helper.\r\n He will have pity on the poor and needy, And the souls of the needy he will save.\r\n He will redeem their soul from oppression and violence; And precious will their blood be in his sight:\r\n And they shall live; and to him shall be given of the gold of Sheba: And men shall pray for him continually; They shall bless him all the day long.\r\n There shall be abundance of grain in the earth upon the top of the mountains; The fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon: And they of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth.\r\n His name shall endure for ever; His name shall be continued as long as the sun: And men shall be blessed in him; All nations shall call him happy.\r\n Blessed be Jehovah God, the God of Israel, Who only doeth wondrous things:\r\n And blessed be his glorious name for ever; And let the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen, and Amen.\r\n The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended. BOOK III Psalm 73 A Psalm of Asaph.\r\n \r\n \r\n Surely God is good to Israel, [Even] to such as are pure in heart.\r\n But as for me, my feet were almost gone; My steps had well nigh slipped.\r\n For I was envious at the arrogant, When I saw the prosperity of the wicked.\r\n For there are no pangs in their death; But their strength is firm.\r\n They are not in trouble as [other] men; Neither are they plagued like [other] men.\r\n Therefore pride is as a chain about their neck; Violence covereth them as a garment.\r\n Their eyes stand out with fatness: They have more than heart could wish.\r\n They scoff, and in wickedness utter oppression: They speak loftily.\r\n They have set their mouth in the heavens, And their tongue walketh through the earth.\r\n Therefore his people return hither: And waters of a full [cup] are drained by them.\r\n And they say, How doth God know? And is there knowledge in the Most High?\r\n Behold, these are the wicked; And, being alway at ease, they increase in riches.\r\n Surely in vain have I cleansed my heart, And washed my hands in innocency;\r\n For all the day long have I been plagued, And chastened every morning.\r\n If I had said, I will speak thus; Behold, I had dealt treacherously with the generation of thy children.\r\n When I thought how I might know this, It was too painful for me;\r\n Until I went into the sanctuary of God, And considered their latter end.\r\n Surely thou settest them in slippery places: Thou castest them down to destruction.\r\n How are they become a desolation in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors.\r\n As a dream when one awaketh, So, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou wilt despise their image.\r\n For my soul was grieved, And I was pricked in my heart:\r\n So brutish was I, and ignorant; I was [as] a beast before thee.\r\n Nevertheless I am continually with thee: Thou hast holden my right hand.\r\n Thou wilt guide me with thy counsel, And afterward receive me to glory.\r\n Whom have I in heaven [but thee]? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee.\r\n My flesh and my heart faileth; [But] God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever.\r\n For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: Thou hast destroyed all them that play the harlot, [departing] from thee.\r\n But it is good for me to draw near unto God: I have made the Lord Jehovah my refuge, That I may tell of all thy works. Psalm 74 Maschil of Asaph.\r\n \r\n \r\n O God, why hast thou cast [us] off for ever? Why doth thine anger smoke against the sheep of thy pasture?\r\n Remember thy congregation, which thou hast gotten of old, Which thou hast redeemed to be the tribe of thine inheritance; [And] mount Zion, wherein thou hast dwelt.\r\n Lift up thy feet unto the perpetual ruins, All the evil that the enemy hath done in the sanctuary.\r\n Thine adversaries have roared in the midst of thine assembly; They have set up their ensigns for signs.\r\n They seemed as men that lifted up Axes upon a thicket of trees.\r\n And now all the carved work thereof They break down with hatchet and hammers.\r\n They have set thy sanctuary on fire; They have profaned the dwelling-place of thy name [by casting it] to the ground.\r\n They said in their heart, Let us make havoc of them altogether: They have burned up all the synagogues of God in the land.\r\n We see not our signs: There is no more any prophet; Neither is there among us any that knoweth how long.\r\n How long, O God, shall the adversary reproach? Shall the enemy blaspheme thy name for ever?\r\n Why drawest thou back thy hand, even thy right hand? [Pluck it] out of thy bosom [and] consume [them].\r\n Yet God is my King of old, Working salvation in the midst of the earth.\r\n Thou didst divide the sea by thy strength: Thou brakest the heads of the sea-monsters in the waters.\r\n Thou brakest the heads of leviathan in pieces; Thou gavest him to be food to the people inhabiting the wilderness.\r\n Thou didst cleave fountain and flood: Thou driedst up mighty rivers.\r\n The day is thine, the night also is thine: Thou hast prepared the light and the sun.\r\n Thou hast set all the borders of the earth: Thou hast made summer and winter.\r\n Remember this, that the enemy hath reproached, O Jehovah, And that a foolish people hath blasphemed thy name.\r\n Oh deliver not the soul of thy turtle-dove unto the wild beast: Forget not the life of thy poor for ever.\r\n Have respect unto the covenant; For the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of violence.\r\n Oh let not the oppressed return ashamed: Let the poor and needy praise thy name.\r\n Arise, O God, plead thine own cause: Remember how the foolish man reproacheth thee all the day.\r\n Forget not the voice of thine adversaries: The tumult of those that rise up against thee ascendeth continually. Psalm 75 For the Chief Musician; [set to] Al-tash-heth. A Psalm of Asaph; a song.\r\n \r\n \r\n We give thanks unto thee, O God; We give thanks, for thy name is near: Men tell of thy wondrous works.\r\n When I shall find the set time, I will judge uprightly.\r\n The earth and all the inhabitants thereof are dissolved: I have set up the pillars of it. Selah\r\n I said unto the arrogant, Deal not arrogantly; And to the wicked, Lift not up the horn:\r\n Lift not up your horn on high; Speak not with a stiff neck.\r\n For neither from the east, nor from the west, Nor yet from the south, [cometh] lifting up.\r\n But God is the judge: He putteth down one, and lifteth up another.\r\n For in the hand of Jehovah there is a cup, and the wine foameth; It is full of mixture, and he poureth out of the same: Surely the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall drain them, and drink them.\r\n But I will declare for ever, I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.\r\n All the horns of the wicked also will I cut off; But the horns of the righteous shall be lifted up. Psalm 76 For the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments. A Psalm of Asaph, a song.\r\n \r\n \r\n In Judah is God known: His name is great in Israel.\r\n In Salem also is his tabernacle, And his dwelling-place in Zion.\r\n There he brake the arrows of the bow; The shield, and the sword, and the battle. Selah\r\n Glorious art thou [and] excellent, From the mountains of prey.\r\n The stouthearted are made a spoil, They have slept their sleep; And none of the men of might have found their hands.\r\n At thy rebuke, O God of Jacob, Both chariot and horse are cast into a deep sleep.\r\n Thou, even thou, art to be feared; And who may stand in thy sight when once thou art angry?\r\n Thou didst cause sentence to be heard from heaven; The earth feared, and was still,\r\n When God arose to judgment, To save all the meek of the earth. Selah\r\n Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: The residue of wrath shalt thou gird upon thee.\r\n Vow, and pay unto Jehovah your God: Let all that are round about him bring presents unto him that ought to be feared.\r\n He will cut off the spirit of princes: He is terrible to the kings of the earth. Psalm 77 For the Chief Musician; after the manner of Jeduthan. A Psalm of Asaph.\r\n \r\n \r\n I will cry unto God with my voice, Even unto God with my voice; and he will give ear unto me.\r\n In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: My hand was stretched out in the night, and slacked not; My soul refused to be comforted.\r\n I remember God, and am disquieted: I complain, and my spirit is overwhelmed. Selah\r\n Thou holdest mine eyes watching: I am so troubled that I cannot speak.\r\n I have considered the days of old, The years of ancient times.\r\n I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart; And my spirit maketh diligent search.\r\n Will the Lord cast off for ever? And will he be favorable no more?\r\n Is his lovingkindness clean gone for ever? Doth his promise fail for evermore?\r\n Hath God forgotten to be gracious? Hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah\r\n And I said, This is my infirmity; [But I will remember] the years of the right hand of the Most High.\r\n I will make mention of the deeds of Jehovah; For I will remember thy wonders of old.\r\n I will meditate also upon all thy work, And muse on thy doings.\r\n Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: Who is a great god like unto God?\r\n Thou art the God that doest wonders: Thou hast made known thy strength among the peoples.\r\n Thou hast with thine arm redeemed thy people, The sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah\r\n The waters saw thee, O God; The waters saw thee, they were afraid: The depths also trembled.\r\n The clouds poured out water; The skies sent out a sound: Thine arrows also went abroad.\r\n The voice of thy thunder was in the whirlwind; The lightnings lightened the world: The earth trembled and shook.\r\n Thy way was in the sea, And thy paths in the great waters, And thy footsteps were not known.\r\n Thou leddest thy people like a flock, By the hand of Moses and Aaron. Psalm 78 Maschil of Asaph.\r\n \r\n \r\n Give ear, O my people, to my law: Incline your ears to the words of my mouth.\r\n I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old,\r\n Which we have heard and known, And our fathers have told us.\r\n We will not hide them from their children, Telling to the generation to come the praises of Jehovah, And his strength, and his wondrous works that he hath done.\r\n For he established a testimony in Jacob, And appointed a law in Israel, Which he commanded our fathers, That they should make them known to their children;\r\n That the generation to come might know [them], even the children that should be born; Who should arise and tell [them] to their children,\r\n That they might set their hope in God, And not forget the works of God, But keep his commandments,\r\n And might not be as their fathers, A stubborn and rebellious generation, A generation that set not their heart aright, And whose spirit was not stedfast with God.\r\n The children of Ephraim, being armed and carrying bows, Turned back in the day of battle.\r\n They kept not the covenant of God, And refused to walk in his law;\r\n And they forgat his doings, And his wondrous works that he had showed them.\r\n Marvellous things did he in the sight of their fathers, In the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.\r\n He clave the sea, and caused them to pass through; And he made the waters to stand as a heap.\r\n In the day-time also he led them with a cloud, And all the night with a light of fire.\r\n He clave rocks in the wilderness, And gave them drink abundantly as out of the depths.\r\n He brought streams also out of the rock, And caused waters to run down like rivers.\r\n Yet went they on still to sin against him, To rebel against the Most High in the desert.\r\n And they tempted God in their heart By asking food according to their desire.\r\n Yea, they spake against God; They said, Can God prepare a table in the wilderness?\r\n Behold, he smote the rock, so that waters gushed out, And streams overflowed; Can he give bread also? Will he provide flesh for his people?\r\n Therefore Jehovah heard, and was wroth; And a fire was kindled against Jacob, And anger also went up against Israel;\r\n Because they believed not in God, And trusted not in his salvation.\r\n Yet he commanded the skies above, And opened the doors of heaven;\r\n And he rained down manna upon them to eat, And gave them food from heaven.\r\n Man did eat the bread of the mighty: He sent them food to the full.\r\n He caused the east wind to blow in the heavens; And by his power he guided the south wind.\r\n He rained flesh also upon them as the dust, And winged birds as the sand of the seas:\r\n And he let it fall in the midst of their camp, Round about their habitations.\r\n So they did eat, and were well filled; And he gave them their own desire.\r\n They were not estranged from that which they desired, Their food was yet in their mouths,\r\n When the anger of God went up against them, And slew of the fattest of them, And smote down the young men of Israel.\r\n For all this they sinned still, And believed not in his wondrous works.\r\n Therefore their days did he consume in vanity, And their years in terror.\r\n When he slew them, then they inquired after him; And they returned and sought God earnestly.\r\n And they remembered that God was their rock, And the Most High God their redeemer.\r\n But they flattered him with their mouth, And lied unto him with their tongue.\r\n For their heart was not right with him, Neither were they faithful in his covenant.\r\n But he, being merciful, forgave [their] iniquity, and destroyed [them] not: Yea, many a time turned he his anger away, And did not stir up all his wrath.\r\n And he remembered that they were but flesh, A wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.\r\n How oft did they rebel against him in the wilderness, And grieve him in the desert!\r\n And they turned again and tempted God, And provoked the Holy One of Israel.\r\n They remember not his hand, Nor the day when he redeemed them from the adversary;\r\n How he set his signs in Egypt, And his wonders in the field of Zoan,\r\n And turned their rivers into blood, And their streams, so that they could not drink.\r\n He sent among them swarms of flies, which devoured them; And frogs, which destroyed them.\r\n He gave also their increase unto the caterpillar, And their labor unto the locust.\r\n He destroyed their vines with hail, And their sycomore-trees with frost.\r\n He gave over their cattle also to the hail, And their flocks to hot thunderbolts.\r\n He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger, Wrath, and indignation, and trouble, A band of angels of evil.\r\n He made a path for his anger; He spared not their soul from death, But gave their life over to the pestilence,\r\n And smote all the first-born in Egypt, The chief of their strength in the tents of Ham.\r\n But he led forth his own people like sheep, And guided them in the wilderness like a flock.\r\n And he led them safely, so that they feared not; But the sea overwhelmed their enemies.\r\n And he brought them to the border of his sanctuary, To this mountain, which his right hand had gotten.\r\n He drove out the nations also before them, And allotted them for an inheritance by line, And made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.\r\n Yet they tempted and rebelled against the Most High God, And kept not his testimonies;\r\n But turned back, and dealt treacherously like their fathers: They were turned aside like a deceitful bow.\r\n For they provoked him to anger with their high places, And moved him to jealousy with their graven images.\r\n When God heard [this], he was wroth, And greatly abhorred Israel;\r\n So that he forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, The tent which he placed among men;\r\n And delivered his strength into captivity, And his glory into the adversary`s hand.\r\n He gave his people over also unto the sword, And was wroth with his inheritance.\r\n Fire devoured their young men; And their virgins had no marriage-song.\r\n Their priests fell by the sword; And their widows made no lamentation.\r\n Then the Lord awaked as one out of sleep, Like a mighty man that shouteth by reason of wine.\r\n And he smote his adversaries backward: He put them to a perpetual reproach.\r\n Moreover he refused the tent of Joseph, And chose not the tribe of Ephraim,\r\n But chose the tribe of Judah, The mount Zion which he loved.\r\n And he built his sanctuary like the heights, Like the earth which he hath established for ever.\r\n He chose David also his servant, And took him from the sheepfolds:\r\n From following the ewes that have their young he brought him, To be the shepherd of Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance.\r\n So he was their shepherd according to the integrity of his heart, And guided them by the skilfulness of his hands. Psalm 79 A Psalm of Asaph.\r\n \r\n \r\n O God, the nations are come into thine inheritance; Thy holy temple have they defiled; They have laid Jerusalem in heaps.\r\n The dead bodies of thy servants have they given to be food unto the birds of the heavens, The flesh of thy saints unto the beasts of the earth.\r\n Their blood have they shed like water round about Jerusalem; And there was none to bury them.\r\n We are become a reproach to our neighbors, A scoffing and derision to them that are round about us.\r\n How long, O Jehovah? wilt thou be angry for ever? Shall thy jealousy burn like fire?\r\n Pour out thy wrath upon the nations that know thee not, And upon the kingdoms that call not upon thy name.\r\n For they have devoured Jacob, And laid waste his habitation.\r\n Remember not against us the iniquities of our forefathers: Let thy tender mercies speedily meet us; For we are brought very low.\r\n Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name; And deliver us, and forgive our sins, for thy name`s sake.\r\n Wherefore should the nations say, Where is their God? Let the avenging of the blood of thy servants which is shed Be known among the nations in our sight.\r\n Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee: According to the greatness of thy power preserve thou those that are appointed to death;\r\n And render unto our neighbors sevenfold into their bosom Their reproach, wherewith they have reproached thee, O Lord.\r\n So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture Will give thee thanks for ever: We will show forth thy praise to all generations. Psalm 80 For the Chief Musician, set to Shoshanim Eduth.. A Psalm of Asaph.\r\n \r\n \r\n Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, Thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; Thou that sittest [above] the cherubim, shine forth.\r\n Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh, stir up thy might, And come to save us.\r\n Turn us again, O God; And cause thy face to shine, and we shall be saved.\r\n O Jehovah God of hosts, How long wilt thou be angry against the prayer of thy people?\r\n Thou hast fed them with the bread of tears, And given them tears to drink in large measure.\r\n Thou makest us a strife unto our neighbors; And our enemies laugh among themselves.\r\n Turn us again, O God of hosts; And cause thy face to shine, and we shall be saved.\r\n Thou broughtest a vine out of Egypt: Thou didst drive out the nations, and plantedst it.\r\n Thou preparedst [room] before it, And it took deep root, and filled the land.\r\n The mountains were covered with the shadow of it, And the boughs thereof were [like] cedars of God.\r\n It sent out its branches unto the sea, And its shoots unto the River.\r\n Why hast thou broken down its walls, So that all they that pass by the way do pluck it?\r\n The boar out of the wood doth ravage it, And the wild beasts of the field feed on it.\r\n Turn again, we beseech thee, O God of hosts: Look down from heaven, and behold, and visit this vine,\r\n And the stock which thy right hand planted, And the branch that thou madest strong for thyself.\r\n It is burned with fire, it is cut down: They perish at the rebuke of thy countenance.\r\n Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand, Upon the son of man whom thou madest strong for thyself.\r\n So shall we not go back from thee: Quicken thou us, and we will call upon thy name.\r\n Turn us again, O Jehovah God of hosts; Cause thy face to shine, and we shall be saved. Psalm 81 For the Chief Musician; set to the Gittith. [A Psalm] of Asaph.\r\n \r\n \r\n Sing aloud unto God our strength: Make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.\r\n Raise a song, and bring hither the timbrel, The pleasant harp with the psaltery.\r\n Blow the trumpet at the new moon, At the full moon, on our feast-day.\r\n For it is a statute for Israel, An ordinance of the God of Jacob.\r\n He appointed it in Joseph for a testimony, When he went out over the land of Egypt, [Where] I heard a language that I knew not.\r\n I removed his shoulder from the burden: His hands were freed from the basket.\r\n Thou calledst in trouble, and I delivered thee; I answered thee in the secret place of thunder; I proved thee at the waters of Meribah. Selah\r\n Hear, O my people, and I will testify unto thee: O Israel, if thou wouldest hearken unto me!\r\n There shall no strange god be in thee; Neither shalt thou worship any foreign god.\r\n I am Jehovah thy God, Who brought thee up out of the land of Egypt: Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.\r\n But my people hearkened not to my voice; And Israel would none of me.\r\n So I let them go after the stubbornness of their heart, That they might walk in their own counsels.\r\n Oh that my people would hearken unto me, That Israel would walk in my ways!\r\n I would soon subdue their enemies, And turn my hand against their adversaries.\r\n The haters of Jehovah should submit themselves unto him: But their time should endure for ever.\r\n He would feed them also with the finest of the wheat; And with honey out of the rock would I satisfy thee. Psalm 82 A Psalm of Asaph.\r\n \r\n \r\n God standeth in the congregation of God; He judgeth among the gods.\r\n How long will ye judge unjustly, And respect the persons of the wicked? Selah\r\n Judge the poor and fatherless: Do justice to the afflicted and destitute.\r\n Rescue the poor and needy: Deliver them out of the hand of the wicked.\r\n They know not, neither do they understand; They walk to and fro in darkness: All the foundations of the earth are shaken.\r\n I said, Ye are gods, And all of you sons of the Most High.\r\n Nevertheless ye shall die like men, And fall like one of the princes.\r\n Arise, O God, judge the earth; For thou shalt inherit all the nations. Psalm 83 A song. A Psalm of Asaph.\r\n \r\n \r\n O God, keep not thou silence: Hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God.\r\n For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult; And they that hate thee have lifted up the head.\r\n Thy take crafty counsel against thy people, And consult together against thy hidden ones.\r\n They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; That the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.\r\n For they have consulted together with one consent; Against thee do they make a covenant:\r\n The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites; Moab, and the Hagarenes;\r\n Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre:\r\n Assyria also is joined with them; They have helped the children of Lot. Selah\r\n Do thou unto them as unto Midian, As to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the river Kishon;\r\n Who perished at Endor, Who became as dung for the earth.\r\n Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb; Yea, all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna;\r\n Who said, Let us take to ourselves in possession The habitations of God.\r\n O my God, make them like the whirling dust; As stubble before the wind.\r\n As the fire that burneth the forest, And as the flame that setteth the mountains on fire,\r\n So pursue them with thy tempest, And terrify them with thy storm.\r\n Fill their faces with confusion, That they may seek thy name, O Jehovah.\r\n Let them be put to shame and dismayed for ever; Yea, let them be confounded and perish;\r\n That they may know that thou alone, whose name is Jehovah, Art the Most High over all the earth. Psalm 84 For the Chief Musician; set to the Gittith. A Psalm of the sons of Korah.\r\n \r\n \r\n How amiable are thy tabernacles, O Jehovah of hosts!\r\n My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of Jehovah; My heart and my flesh cry out unto the living God.\r\n Yea, the sparrow hath found her a house, And the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, Even thine altars, O Jehovah of hosts, My King, and my God.\r\n Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: They will be still praising thee. Selah\r\n Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; In whose heart are the highways [to Zion].\r\n Passing through the valley of Weeping they make it a place of springs; Yea, the early rain covereth it with blessings.\r\n They go from strength to strength; Every one of them appeareth before God in Zion.\r\n O Jehovah God of hosts, hear my prayer; Give ear, O God of Jacob. Selah\r\n Behold, O God our shield, And look upon the face of thine anointed.\r\n For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, Than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.\r\n For Jehovah God is a sun and a shield: Jehovah will give grace and glory; No good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.\r\n O Jehovah of hosts, Blessed is the man that trusteth in thee. Psalm 85 For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah.\r\n \r\n \r\n Jehovah, thou hast been favorable unto thy land; Thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob.\r\n Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people; Thou hast covered all their sin. Selah\r\n Thou hast taken away all thy wrath; Thou hast turned [thyself] from the fierceness of thine anger.\r\n Turn us, O God of our salvation, And cause thine indignation toward us to cease.\r\n Wilt thou be angry with us for ever? Wilt thou draw out thine anger to all generations?\r\n Wilt thou not quicken us again, That thy people may rejoice in thee?\r\n Show us thy lovingkindness, O Jehovah, And grant us thy salvation.\r\n I will hear what God Jehovah will speak; For he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: But let them not turn again to folly.\r\n Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him, That glory may dwell in our land.\r\n Mercy and truth are met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed each other.\r\n Truth springeth out of the earth; And righteousness hath looked down from heaven.\r\n Yea, Jehovah will give that which is good; And our land shall yield its increase.\r\n Righteousness shall go before him, And shall make his footsteps a way [to walk in]. Psalm 86 A Prayer of David\r\n \r\n \r\n Bow down thine ear, O Jehovah, and answer me; For I am poor and needy.\r\n Preserve my soul; for I am godly: O thou my God, save thy servant that trusteth in thee.\r\n Be merciful unto me, O Lord; For unto thee do I cry all the day long.\r\n Rejoice the soul of thy servant; For unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.\r\n For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive, And abundant in lovingkindness unto all them that call upon thee.\r\n Give ear, O Jehovah, unto my prayer; And hearken unto the voice of my supplications.\r\n In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee; For thou wilt answer me.\r\n There is none like unto thee among the gods, O Lord; Neither [are there any works] like unto thy works.\r\n All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; And they shall glorify thy name.\r\n For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: Thou art God alone.\r\n Teach me thy way, O Jehovah; I will walk in thy truth: Unite my heart to fear thy name.\r\n I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with my whole heart; And I will glorify thy name for evermore.\r\n For great is thy lovingkindness toward me; And thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest Sheol.\r\n O God, the proud are risen up against me, And a company of violent men have sought after my soul, And have not set thee before them.\r\n But thou, O Lord, art a God merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness and truth.\r\n Oh turn unto me, and have mercy upon me; Give thy strength unto thy servant, And save the son of thy handmaid.\r\n Show me a token for good, That they who hate me may see it, and be put to shame, Because thou, Jehovah, hast helped me, and comforted me. Psalm 87 A Psalm of the sons of Korah; a Song.\r\n \r\n \r\n His foundation is in the holy mountains.\r\n Jehovah loveth the gates of Zion More than all the dwellings of Jacob.\r\n Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. Selah\r\n I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon as among them that know me: Behold, Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia: This one was born there.\r\n Yea, of Zion it shall be said, This one and that one was born in her; And the Most High himself will establish her.\r\n Jehovah will count, when he writeth up the peoples, This one was born there. Selah\r\n They that sing as well as they that dance [shall say], All my fountains are in thee. Psalm 88 A Song, a Psalm of the sons of Korah; for the Chief Musician; set to Mahalath Leannoth. Maschil of Heman the Ezrahite.\r\n \r\n \r\n O Jehovah, the God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before thee.\r\n Let my prayer enter into thy presence; Incline thine ear unto my cry.\r\n For my soul is full of troubles, And my life draweth nigh unto Sheol.\r\n I am reckoned with them that go down into the pit; I am as a man that hath no help,\r\n Cast off among the dead, Like the slain that lie in the grave, Whom thou rememberest no more, And they are cut off from thy hand.\r\n Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, In dark places, in the deeps.\r\n Thy wrath lieth hard upon me, And thou hast afflicted me with all thy waves. Selah\r\n Thou hast put mine acquaintance far from me; Thou hast made me an abomination unto them: I am shut up, and I cannot come forth.\r\n Mine eye wasteth away by reason of affliction: I have called daily upon thee, O Jehovah; I have spread forth my hands unto thee.\r\n Wilt thou show wonders to the dead? Shall they that are decreased arise and praise thee? Selah\r\n Shall thy lovingkindness be declared in the grave? Or thy faithfulness in Destruction?\r\n Shall thy wonders be known in the dark? And thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?\r\n But unto thee, O Jehovah, have I cried; And in the morning shall my prayer come before thee.\r\n Jehovah, why castest thou off my soul? Why hidest thou thy face from me?\r\n I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up: While I suffer thy terrors I am distracted.\r\n Thy fierce wrath is gone over me; Thy terrors have cut me off.\r\n They came round about me like water all the day long; They compassed me about together.\r\n Lover and friend hast thou put far from me, And mine acquaintance into darkness. Psalm 89 Maschil of Ethan the Ezrahite.\r\n \r\n \r\n I will sing of the lovingkindness of Jehovah for ever: With my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.\r\n For I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever; Thy faithfulness wilt thou establish in the very heavens.\r\n I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant:\r\n Thy seed will I establish for ever, And build up thy throne to all generations. Selah\r\n And the heavens shall praise thy wonders, O Jehovah; Thy faithfulness also in the assembly of the holy ones.\r\n For who in the skies can be compared unto Jehovah? Who among the sons of the mighty is like unto Jehovah,\r\n A God very terrible in the council of the holy ones, And to be feared above all them that are round about him?\r\n O Jehovah God of hosts, Who is a mighty one, like unto thee, O Jehovah? And thy faithfulness is round about thee.\r\n Thou rulest the pride of the sea: When the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them.\r\n Thou hast broken Rahab in pieces, as one that is slain; Thou hast scattered thine enemies with the arm of thy strength.\r\n The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine: The world and the fulness thereof, thou hast founded them.\r\n The north and the south, thou hast created them: Tabor and Hermon rejoice in thy name.\r\n Thou hast a mighty arm; Strong is thy hand, and high is thy right hand.\r\n Righteousness and justice are the foundation of thy throne: Lovingkindness and truth go before thy face.\r\n Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: They walk, O Jehovah, in the light of thy countenance.\r\n In thy name do they rejoice all the day; And in thy righteousness are they exalted.\r\n For thou art the glory of their strength; And in thy favor our horn shall be exalted.\r\n For our shield belongeth unto Jehovah; And our king to the Holy One of Israel.\r\n Then thou spakest in vision to thy saints, And saidst, I have laid help upon one that is mighty; I have exalted one chosen out of the people.\r\n I have found David my servant; With my holy oil have I anointed him:\r\n With whom my hand shall be established; Mine arm also shall strengthen him.\r\n The enemy shall not exact from him, Nor the son of wickedness afflict him.\r\n And I will beat down his adversaries before him, And smite them that hate him.\r\n But my faithfulness and my lovingkindness shall be with him; And in my name shall his horn be exalted.\r\n I will set his hand also on the sea, And his right hand on the rivers.\r\n He shall cry unto me, Thou art my Father, My God, and the rock of my salvation.\r\n I also will make him [my] first-born, The highest of the kings of the earth.\r\n My lovingkindness will I keep for him for evermore; And my covenant shall stand fast with him.\r\n His seed also will I make to endure for ever, And his throne as the days of heaven.\r\n If his children forsake my law, And walk not in mine ordinances;\r\n If they break my statutes, And keep not my commandments;\r\n Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, And their iniquity with stripes.\r\n But my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, Nor suffer my faithfulness to fail.\r\n My covenant will I not break, Nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.\r\n Once have I sworn by my holiness: I will not lie unto David:\r\n His seed shall endure for ever, And his throne as the sun before me.\r\n It shall be established for ever as the moon, And [as] the faithful witness in the sky. Selah\r\n But thou hast cast off and rejected, Thou hast been wroth with thine anointed.\r\n Thou hast abhorred the covenant of thy servant: Thou hast profaned his crown [by casting it] to the ground.\r\n Thou hast broken down all his hedges; Thou hast brought his strongholds to ruin.\r\n All that pass by the way rob him: He is become a reproach to his neighbors.\r\n Thou hast exalted the right hand of his adversaries; Thou hast made all his enemies to rejoice.\r\n Yea, thou turnest back the edge of his sword, And hast not made him to stand in the battle.\r\n Thou hast made his brightness to cease, And cast his throne down to the ground.\r\n The days of his youth hast thou shortened: Thou hast covered him with shame. Selah\r\n How long, O Jehovah? wilt thou hide thyself for ever? [How long] shall thy wrath burn like fire?\r\n Oh remember how short my time is: For what vanity hast thou created all the children of men!\r\n What man is he that shall live and not see death, That shall deliver his soul from the power of Sheol? Selah\r\n Lord, where are thy former lovingkindnesses, Which thou swarest unto David in thy faithfulness?\r\n Remember, Lord, the reproach of thy servants; How I do bear in my bosom [the reproach of] all the mighty peoples,\r\n Wherewith thine enemies have reproached, O Jehovah, Wherewith they have reproached the footsteps of thine anointed.\r\n Blessed be Jehovah for evermore. Amen, and Amen. BOOK IV Psalm 90 A Prayer of Moses the man of God.\r\n \r\n \r\n Lord, thou hast been our dwelling-place In all generations.\r\n Before the mountains were brought forth, Or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.\r\n Thou turnest man to destruction, And sayest, Return, ye children of men.\r\n For a thousand years in thy sight Are but as yesterday when it is past, And as a watch in the night.\r\n Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: In the morning they are like grass which groweth up.\r\n In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; In the evening it is cut down, and withereth.\r\n For we are consumed in thine anger, And in thy wrath are we troubled.\r\n Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, Our secret sins in the light of thy countenance.\r\n For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: We bring our years to an end as a sigh.\r\n The days of our years are threescore years and ten, Or even by reason of strength fourscore years; Yet is their pride but labor and sorrow; For it is soon gone, and we fly away.\r\n Who knoweth the power of thine anger, And thy wrath according to the fear that is due unto thee?\r\n So teach us to number our days, That we may get us a heart of wisdom.\r\n Return, O Jehovah; how long? And let it repent thee concerning thy servants.\r\n Oh satisfy us in the morning with thy lovingkindness, That we may rejoice and be glad all our days.\r\n Make us glad according to the days wherein thou hast afflicted us, And the years wherein we have seen evil.\r\n Let thy work appear unto thy servants, And thy glory upon their children.\r\n And let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us; And establish thou the work of our hands upon us; Yea, the work of our hands establish thou it. Psalm 91\r\n \r\n \r\n He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.\r\n I will say of Jehovah, He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in whom I trust.\r\n For he will deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, And from the deadly pestilence.\r\n He will cover thee with his pinions, And under his wings shalt thou take refuge: His truth is a shield and a buckler.\r\n Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night, Nor for the arrow that flieth by day;\r\n For the pestilence that walketh in darkness, Nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.\r\n A thousand shall fall at thy side, And ten thousand at thy right hand; [But] it shall not come nigh thee.\r\n Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold, And see the reward of the wicked.\r\n For thou, O Jehovah, art my refuge! Thou hast made the Most High thy habitation;\r\n There shall no evil befall thee, Neither shall any plague come nigh thy tent.\r\n For he will give his angels charge over thee, To keep thee in all thy ways.\r\n They shall bear thee up in their hands, Lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.\r\n Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: The young lion and the serpent shalt thou trample under foot.\r\n Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.\r\n He shall call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble: I will deliver him, and honor him.\r\n With long life will I satisfy him, And show him my salvation. Psalm 92 A Psalm, a Song for the sabbath day.\r\n \r\n \r\n It is a good thing to give thanks unto Jehovah, And to sing praises unto thy name, O Most High;\r\n To show forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, And thy faithfulness every night,\r\n With an instrument of ten strings, and with the psaltery; With a solemn sound upon the harp.\r\n For thou, Jehovah, hast made me glad through thy work: I will triumph in the works of thy hands.\r\n How great are thy works, O Jehovah! Thy thoughts are very deep.\r\n A brutish man knoweth not; Neither doth a fool understand this:\r\n When the wicked spring as the grass, And when all the workers of iniquity do flourish; It is that they shall be destroyed for ever.\r\n But thou, O Jehovah, art on high for evermore.\r\n For, lo, thine enemies, O Jehovah, For, lo, thine enemies shall perish; All the workers of iniquity shall be scattered.\r\n But my horn hast thou exalted like [the horn of] the wild-ox: I am anointed with fresh oil.\r\n Mine eye also hath seen [my desire] on mine enemies, Mine ears have heard [my desire] of the evil-doers that rise up against me.\r\n The righteous shall flourish like the palm-tree: He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.\r\n They are planted in the house of Jehovah; They shall flourish in the courts of our God.\r\n They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; They shall be full of sap and green:\r\n To show that Jehovah is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him. Psalm 93\r\n \r\n \r\n Jehovah reigneth; he is clothed with majesty; Jehovah is clothed with strength; he hath girded himself therewith: The world also is established, that it cannot be moved.\r\n Thy throne is established of old: Thou art from everlasting.\r\n The floods have lifted up, O Jehovah, The floods have lifted up their voice; The floods lift up their waves.\r\n Above the voices of many waters, The mighty breakers of the sea, Jehovah on high is mighty.\r\n Thy testimonies are very sure: Holiness becometh thy house, O Jehovah, for evermore. Psalm 94\r\n \r\n \r\n O Jehovah, thou God to whom vengeance belongeth, Thou God to whom vengeance belongeth, shine forth.\r\n Lift up thyself, thou judge of the earth: Render to the proud [their] desert.\r\n Jehovah, how long shall the wicked, How long shall the wicked triumph?\r\n They prate, they speak arrogantly: All the workers of iniquity boast themselves.\r\n They break in pieces thy people, O Jehovah, And afflict thy heritage.\r\n They slay the widow and the sojourner, And murder the fatherless.\r\n And they say, Jehovah will not see, Neither will the God of Jacob consider.\r\n Consider, ye brutish among the people; And ye fools, when will ye be wise?\r\n He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? He that formed the eye, shall he not see?\r\n He that chastiseth the nations, shall not he correct, [Even] he that teacheth man knowledge?\r\n Jehovah knoweth the thoughts of man, That they are vanity.\r\n Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O Jehovah, And teachest out of thy law;\r\n That thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity, Until the pit be digged for the wicked.\r\n For Jehovah will not cast off his people, Neither will he forsake his inheritance.\r\n For judgment shall return unto righteousness; And all the upright in heart shall follow it.\r\n Who will rise up for me against the evil-doers? Who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?\r\n Unless Jehovah had been my help, My soul had soon dwelt in silence.\r\n When I said, My foot slippeth; Thy lovingkindness, O Jehovah, held me up.\r\n In the multitude of my thoughts within me Thy comforts delight my soul.\r\n Shall the throne of wickedness have fellowship with thee, Which frameth mischief by statute?\r\n They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, And condemn the innocent blood.\r\n But Jehovah hath been my high tower, And my God the rock of my refuge.\r\n And he hath brought upon them their own iniquity, And will cut them off in their own wickedness; Jehovah our God will cut them off. Psalm 95\r\n \r\n \r\n Oh come, let us sing unto Jehovah; Let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.\r\n Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving; Let us make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.\r\n For Jehovah is a great God, And a great King above all gods.\r\n In his hand are the deep places of the earth; The heights of the mountains are his also.\r\n The sea is his, and he made it; And his hands formed the dry land.\r\n Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before Jehovah our Maker:\r\n For he is our God, And we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To-day, oh that ye would hear his voice!\r\n Harden not your heart, as at Meribah, As in the day of Massah in the wilderness;\r\n When your fathers tempted me, Proved me, and saw my work.\r\n Forty years long was I grieved with [that] generation, And said, It is a people that do err in their heart, And they have not known my ways:\r\n Wherefore I sware in my wrath, That they should not enter into my rest. Psalm 96\r\n \r\n \r\n Oh sing unto Jehovah a new song: Sing unto Jehovah, all the earth.\r\n Sing unto Jehovah, bless his name; Show forth his salvation from day to day.\r\n Declare his glory among the nations, His marvellous works among all the peoples.\r\n For great is Jehovah, and greatly to be praised: He is to be feared above all gods.\r\n For all the gods of the peoples are idols; But Jehovah made the heavens.\r\n Honor and majesty are before him: Strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.\r\n Ascribe unto Jehovah, ye kindreds of the peoples, Ascribe unto Jehovah glory and strength.\r\n Ascribe unto Jehovah the glory due unto his name: Bring an offering, and come into his courts.\r\n Oh worship Jehovah in holy array: Tremble before him, all the earth.\r\n Say among the nations, Jehovah reigneth: The world also is established that it cannot be moved: He will judge the peoples with equity.\r\n Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof;\r\n Let the field exult, and all that is therein; Then shall all the trees of the wood sing for joy\r\n Before Jehovah; for he cometh, For he cometh to judge the earth: He will judge the world with righteousness, And the peoples with his truth. Psalm 97\r\n \r\n \r\n Jehovah reigneth; let the earth rejoice; Let the multitude of isles be glad.\r\n Clouds and darkness are round about him: Righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.\r\n A fire goeth before him, And burneth up his adversaries round about.\r\n His lightnings lightened the world: The earth saw, and trembled.\r\n The mountains melted like wax at the presence of Jehovah, At the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.\r\n The heavens declare his righteousness, And all the peoples have seen his glory.\r\n Let all them be put to shame that serve graven images, That boast themselves of idols: Worship him, all ye gods.\r\n Zion heard and was glad, And the daughters of Judah rejoiced, Because of thy judgments, O Jehovah.\r\n For thou, Jehovah, art most high above all the earth: Thou art exalted far above all gods.\r\n O ye that love Jehovah, hate evil: He preserveth the souls of his saints; He delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.\r\n Light is sown for the righteous, And gladness for the upright in heart.\r\n Be glad in Jehovah, ye righteous; And give thanks to his holy memorial [name]. Psalm 98 A Psalm.\r\n \r\n \r\n Oh sing unto Jehovah a new song; For he hath done marvellous things: His right hand, and his holy arm, hath wrought salvation for him.\r\n Jehovah hath made known his salvation: His righteousness hath he openly showed in the sight of the nations.\r\n He hath remembered his lovingkindness and his faithfulness toward the house of Israel: All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.\r\n Make a joyful noise unto Jehovah, all the earth: Break forth and sing for joy, yea, sing praises.\r\n Sing praises unto Jehovah with the harp; With the harp and the voice of melody.\r\n With trumpets and sound of cornet Make a joyful noise before the King, Jehovah.\r\n Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; The world, and they that dwell therein;\r\n Let the floods clap their hands; Let the hills sing for joy together\r\n Before Jehovah; for he cometh to judge the earth: He will judge the world with righteousness, And the peoples with equity. Psalm 99\r\n \r\n \r\n Jehovah reigneth; let the peoples tremble: He sitteth [above] the cherubim; let the earth be moved.\r\n Jehovah is great in Zion; And he is high above all the peoples.\r\n Let them praise thy great and terrible name: Holy is he.\r\n The king`s strength also loveth justice; Thou dost establish equity; Thou executest justice and righteousness in Jacob.\r\n Exalt ye Jehovah our God, And worship at his footstool: Holy is he.\r\n Moses and Aaron among his priests, And Samuel among them that call upon his name; They called upon Jehovah, and he answered them.\r\n He spake unto them in the pillar of cloud: They kept his testimonies, And the statute that he gave them.\r\n Thou answeredst them, O Jehovah our God: Thou wast a God that forgavest them, Though thou tookest vengeance of their doings.\r\n Exalt ye Jehovah our God, And worship at his holy hill; For Jehovah our God is holy. Psalm 100 A Psalm of thanksgiving.\r\n \r\n \r\n Make a joyful noise unto Jehovah, all ye lands.\r\n Serve Jehovah with gladness: Come before his presence with singing.\r\n Know ye that Jehovah, he is God: It is he that hath made us, and we are his; We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.\r\n Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, And into his courts with praise: Give thanks unto him, and bless his name.\r\n For Jehovah is good; his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever, And his faithfulness unto all generations. Psalm 101 A Psalm of David.\r\n \r\n \r\n I will sing of lovingkindness and justice: Unto thee, O Jehovah, will I sing praises.\r\n I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way: Oh when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.\r\n I will set no base thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; It shall not cleave unto me.\r\n A perverse heart shall depart from me: I will know no evil thing.\r\n Whoso privily slandereth his neighbor, him will I destroy: Him that hath a high look and a proud heart will I not suffer.\r\n Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: He that walketh in a perfect way, he shall minister unto me.\r\n He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: He that speaketh falsehood shall not be established before mine eyes.\r\n Morning by morning will I destroy all the wicked of the land; To cut off all the workers of iniquity from the city of Jehovah. Psalm 102 A Prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed, and poureth out his complaint before Jehovah.\r\n \r\n \r\n Hear my prayer, O Jehovah, And let my cry come unto thee.\r\n Hide not thy face from me in the day of my distress: Incline thine ear unto me; In the day when I call answer me speedily.\r\n For my days consume away like smoke, And my bones are burned as a firebrand.\r\n My heart is smitten like grass, and withered; For I forget to eat my bread.\r\n By reason of the voice of my groaning My bones cleave to my flesh.\r\n I am like a pelican of the wilderness; I am become as an owl of the waste places.\r\n I watch, and am become like a sparrow That is alone upon the house-top.\r\n Mine enemies reproach me all the day; They that are mad against me do curse by me.\r\n For I have eaten ashes like bread, And mingled my drink with weeping,\r\n Because of thine indignation and thy wrath: For thou hast taken me up, and cast me away.\r\n My days are like a shadow that declineth; And I am withered like grass.\r\n But thou, O Jehovah, wilt abide for ever; And thy memorial [name] unto all generations.\r\n Thou wilt arise, and have mercy upon Zion; For it is time to have pity upon her, Yea, the set time is come.\r\n For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, And have pity upon her dust.\r\n So the nations shall fear the name of Jehovah, And all the kings of the earth thy glory.\r\n For Jehovah hath built up Zion; He hath appeared in his glory.\r\n He hath regarded the prayer of the destitute, And hath not despised their prayer.\r\n This shall be written for the generation to come; And a people which shall be created shall praise Jehovah.\r\n For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; From heaven did Jehovah behold the earth;\r\n To hear the sighing of the prisoner; To loose those that are appointed to death;\r\n That men may declare the name of Jehovah in Zion, And his praise in Jerusalem;\r\n When the peoples are gathered together, And the kingdoms, to serve Jehovah.\r\n He weakened my strength in the way; He shortened my days.\r\n I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days: Thy years are throughout all generations.\r\n Of old didst thou lay the foundation of the earth; And the heavens are the work of thy hands.\r\n They shall perish, but thou shalt endure; Yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; As a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed:\r\n But thou art the same, And thy years shall have no end.\r\n The children of thy servants shall continue, And their seed shall be established before thee. Psalm 103 [A Psalm] of David.\r\n \r\n \r\n Bless Jehovah, O my soul; And all that is within me, [bless] his holy name.\r\n Bless Jehovah, O my soul, And forget not all his benefits:\r\n Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; Who healeth all thy diseases;\r\n Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; Who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;\r\n Who satisfieth thy desire with good things, [So that] thy youth is renewed like the eagle.\r\n Jehovah executeth righteous acts, And judgments for all that are oppressed.\r\n He made known his ways unto Moses, His doings unto the children of Israel.\r\n Jehovah is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness.\r\n He will not always chide; Neither will he keep [his anger] for ever.\r\n He hath not dealt with us after our sins, Nor rewarded us after our iniquities.\r\n For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is his lovingkindness toward them that fear him.\r\n As far as the east is from the west, So far hath he removed our transgressions from us.\r\n Like as a father pitieth his children, So Jehovah pitieth them that fear him.\r\n For he knoweth our frame; He remembereth that we are dust.\r\n As for man, his days are as grass; As a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.\r\n For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; And the place thereof shall know it no more.\r\n But the lovingkindness of Jehovah is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, And his righteousness unto children`s children;\r\n To such as keep his covenant, And to those that remember his precepts to do them.\r\n Jehovah hath established his throne in the heavens; And his kingdom ruleth over all.\r\n Bless Jehovah, ye his angels, That are mighty in strength, that fulfil his word, Hearkening unto the voice of his word.\r\n Bless Jehovah, all ye his hosts, Ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.\r\n Bless Jehovah, all ye his works, In all places of his dominion: Bless Jehovah, O my soul. Psalm 104\r\n \r\n \r\n Bless Jehovah, O my soul. O Jehovah my God, thou art very great; Thou art clothed with honor and majesty:\r\n Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment; Who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain;\r\n Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters; Who maketh the clouds his chariot; Who walketh upon the wings of the wind;\r\n Who maketh winds his messengers; Flames of fire his ministers;\r\n Who laid the foundations of the earth, That it should not be moved for ever.\r\n Thou coveredst it with the deep as with a vesture; The waters stood above the mountains.\r\n At thy rebuke they fled; At the voice of thy thunder they hasted away\r\n (The mountains rose, the valleys sank down) Unto the place which thou hadst founded for them.\r\n Thou hast set a bound that they may not pass over; That they turn not again to cover the earth.\r\n He sendeth forth springs into the valleys; They run among the mountains;\r\n They give drink to every beast of the field; The wild asses quench their thirst.\r\n By them the birds of the heavens have their habitation; They sing among the branches.\r\n He watereth the mountains from his chambers: The earth is filled with the fruit of thy works.\r\n He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, And herb for the service of man; That he may bring forth food out of the earth,\r\n And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, [And] oil to make his face to shine, And bread that strengtheneth man`s heart.\r\n The trees of Jehovah are filled [with moisture], The cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted;\r\n Where the birds make their nests: As for the stork, the fir-trees are her house.\r\n The high mountains are for the wild goats; The rocks are a refuge for the conies.\r\n He appointed the moon for seasons: The sun knoweth his going down.\r\n Thou makest darkness, and it is night, Wherein all the beasts of the forest creep forth.\r\n The young lions roar after their prey, And seek their food from God.\r\n The sun ariseth, they get them away, And lay them down in their dens.\r\n Man goeth forth unto his work And to his labor until the evening.\r\n O Jehovah, how manifold are thy works! In wisdom hast thou made them all: The earth is full of thy riches.\r\n Yonder is the sea, great and wide, Wherein are things creeping innumerable, Both small and great beasts.\r\n There go the ships; There is leviathan, whom thou hast formed to play therein.\r\n These wait all for thee, That thou mayest give them their food in due season.\r\n Thou givest unto them, they gather; Thou openest thy hand, they are satisfied with good.\r\n Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled; Thou takest away their breath, they die, And return to their dust.\r\n Thou sendest forth thy Spirit, they are created; And thou renewest the face of the ground.\r\n Let the glory of Jehovah endure for ever; Let Jehovah rejoice in his works:\r\n Who looketh on the earth, and it trembleth; He toucheth the mountains, and they smoke.\r\n I will sing unto Jehovah as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have any being.\r\n Let thy meditation be sweet unto him: I will rejoice in Jehovah.\r\n Let sinners be consumed out of the earth. And let the wicked be no more. Bless Jehovah, O my soul. Praise ye Jehovah. Psalm 105\r\n \r\n \r\n Oh give thanks unto Jehovah, call upon his name; Make known among the peoples his doings.\r\n Sing unto him, sing praises unto him; Talk ye of all his marvelous works.\r\n Glory ye in his holy name: Let the heart of them rejoice that seek Jehovah.\r\n Seek ye Jehovah and his strength; Seek his face evermore.\r\n Remember his marvellous works that he hath done, His wonders, and the judgments of his mouth,\r\n O ye seed of Abraham his servant, Ye children of Jacob, his chosen ones.\r\n He is Jehovah our God: His judgments are in all the earth.\r\n He hath remembered his covenant for ever, The word which he commanded to a thousand generations,\r\n [The covenant] which he made with Abraham, And his oath unto Isaac,\r\n And confirmed the same unto Jacob for a statute, To Israel for an everlasting covenant,\r\n Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, The lot of your inheritance;\r\n When they were but a few men in number, Yea, very few, and sojourners in it.\r\n And they went about from nation to nation, From one kingdom to another people.\r\n He suffered no man to do them wrong; Yea, he reproved kings for their sakes,\r\n [Saying], Touch not mine anointed ones, And do my prophets no harm.\r\n And he called for a famine upon the land; He brake the whole staff of bread.\r\n He sent a man before them; Joseph was sold for a servant:\r\n His feet they hurt with fetters: He was laid in [chains of] iron,\r\n Until the time that his word came to pass, The word of Jehovah tried him.\r\n The king sent and loosed him; Even the ruler of peoples, and let him go free.\r\n He made him lord of his house, And ruler of all his substance;\r\n To bind his princes at his pleasure, And teach his elders wisdom.\r\n Israel also came into Egypt; And Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham.\r\n And he increased his people greatly, And made them stronger than their adversaries.\r\n He turned their heart to hate his people, To deal subtly with his servants.\r\n He sent Moses his servant, [And] Aaron whom he had chosen.\r\n They set among them his signs, And wonders in the land of Ham.\r\n He sent darkness, and made it dark; And they rebelled not against his words.\r\n He turned their waters into blood, And slew their fish.\r\n Their land swarmed with frogs In the chambers of their kings.\r\n He spake, and there came swarms of flies, And lice in all their borders.\r\n He gave them hail for rain, [And] flaming fire in their land.\r\n He smote their vines also and their fig-trees, And brake the trees of their borders.\r\n He spake, and the locust came, And the grasshopper, and that without number,\r\n And did eat up every herb in their land, And did eat up the fruit of their ground.\r\n He smote also all the first-born in their land, The chief of all their strength.\r\n And he brought them forth with silver and gold; And there was not one feeble person among his tribes.\r\n Egypt was glad when they departed; For the fear of them had fallen upon them.\r\n He spread a cloud for a covering, And fire to give light in the night.\r\n They asked, and he brought quails, And satisfied them with the bread of heaven.\r\n He opened the rock, and waters gushed out; They ran in the dry places [like] a river.\r\n For he remembered his holy word, [And] Abraham his servant.\r\n And he brought forth his people with joy, [And] his chosen with singing.\r\n And he gave them the lands of the nations; And they took the labor of the peoples in possession:\r\n That they might keep his statutes, And observe his laws. Praise ye Jehovah. Psalm 106\r\n \r\n \r\n Praise ye Jehovah. Oh give thanks unto Jehovah; for he is good; For his lovingkindness [endureth] forever.\r\n Who can utter the mighty acts of Jehovah, Or show forth all his praise?\r\n Blessed are they that keep justice, And he that doeth righteousness at all times.\r\n Remember me, O Jehovah, with the favor that thou bearest unto thy people; Oh visit me with thy salvation,\r\n That I may see the prosperity of thy chosen, That I may rejoice in the gladness of thy nation, That I may glory with thine inheritance.\r\n We have sinned with our fathers, We have committed iniquity, we have done wickedly.\r\n Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt; They remembered not the multitude of thy lovingkindnesses, But were rebellious at the sea, even at the Red Sea.\r\n Nevertheless he saved them for his name`s sake, That he might make his mighty power to be known.\r\n He rebuked the Red Sea also, and it was dried up: So he led them through the depths, as through a wilderness.\r\n And he saved them from the hand of him that hated them, And redeemed them from the hand of the enemy.\r\n And the waters covered their adversaries; There was not one of them left.\r\n Then believed they his words; They sang his praise.\r\n They soon forgat his works; They waited not for his counsel,\r\n But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, And tempted God in the desert.\r\n And he gave them their request, But sent leanness into their soul.\r\n They envied Moses also in the camp, [And] Aaron the saint of Jehovah.\r\n The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan, And covered the company of Abiram.\r\n And a fire was kindled in their company; The flame burned up the wicked.\r\n They made a calf in Horeb, And worshipped a molten image.\r\n Thus they changed their glory For the likeness of an ox that eateth grass.\r\n They forgat God their Saviour, Who had done great things in Egypt,\r\n Wondrous works in the land of Ham, [And] terrible things by the Red Sea.\r\n Therefore he said that he would destroy them, Had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach, To turn away his wrath, lest he should destroy [them].\r\n Yea, they despised the pleasant land, They believed not his word,\r\n But murmured in their tents, And hearkened not unto the voice of Jehovah.\r\n Therefore he sware unto them, That he would overthrow them in the wilderness,\r\n And that he would overthrow their seed among the nations, And scatter them in the lands.\r\n They joined themselves also unto Baal-peor, And ate the sacrifices of the dead.\r\n Thus they provoked him to anger with their doings; And the plague brake in upon them.\r\n Then stood up Phinehas, and executed judgment; And so the plague was stayed.\r\n And that was reckoned unto him for righteousness, Unto all generations for evermore.\r\n They angered him also at the waters of Meribah, So that it went ill with Moses for their sakes;\r\n Because they were rebellious against his spirit, And he spake unadvisedly with his lips.\r\n They did not destroy the peoples, As Jehovah commanded them,\r\n But mingled themselves with the nations, And learned their works,\r\n And served their idols, Which became a snare unto them.\r\n Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto demons,\r\n And shed innocent blood, Even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, Whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan; And the land was polluted with blood.\r\n Thus were they defiled with their works, And played the harlot in their doings.\r\n Therefore was the wrath of Jehovah kindled against his people, And he abhorred his inheritance.\r\n And he gave them into the hand of the nations; And they that hated them ruled over them.\r\n Their enemies also oppressed them, And they were brought into subjection under their hand.\r\n Many times did he deliver them; But they were rebellious in their counsel, And were brought low in their iniquity.\r\n Nevertheless he regarded their distress, When he heard their cry:\r\n And he remembered for them his covenant, And repented according to the multitude of his lovingkindnesses.\r\n He made them also to be pitied Of all those that carried them captive.\r\n Save us, O Jehovah our God, And gather us from among the nations, To give thanks unto thy holy name, And to triumph in thy praise.\r\n Blessed be Jehovah, the God of Israel, From everlasting even to everlasting. And let all the people say, Amen. Praise ye Jehovah. BOOK V Psalm 107\r\n \r\n \r\n O give thanks unto Jehovah; For he is good; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever.\r\n Let the redeemed of Jehovah say [so], Whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the adversary,\r\n And gathered out of the lands, From the east and from the west, From the north and from the south.\r\n They wandered in the wilderness in a desert way; They found no city of habitation.\r\n Hungry and thirsty, Their soul fainted in them.\r\n Then they cried unto Jehovah in their trouble, And he delivered them out of their distresses,\r\n He led them also by a straight way, That they might go to a city of habitation.\r\n Oh that men would praise Jehovah for his lovingkindness, And for his wonderful works to the children of men!\r\n For he satisfieth the longing soul, And the hungry soul he filleth with good.\r\n Such as sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, Being bound in affliction and iron,\r\n Because they rebelled against the words of God, And contemned the counsel of the Most High:\r\n Therefore he brought down their heart with labor; They fell down, and there was none to help.\r\n Then they cried unto Jehovah in their trouble, And he saved them out of their distresses.\r\n He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, And brake their bonds in sunder.\r\n Oh that men would praise Jehovah for his lovingkindness, And for his wonderful works to the children of men!\r\n For he hath broken the gates of brass, And cut the bars of iron in sunder.\r\n Fools because of their transgression, And because of their iniquities, are afflicted.\r\n Their soul abhorreth all manner of food; And they draw near unto the gates of death.\r\n Then they cry unto Jehovah in their trouble, And he saveth them out of their distresses.\r\n He sendeth his word, and healeth them, And delivereth [them] from their destructions.\r\n Oh that men would praise Jehovah for his lovingkindness, And for his wonderful works to the children of men!\r\n And let them offer the sacrifices of thanksgiving, And declare his works with singing.\r\n They that go down to the sea in ships, That do business in great waters;\r\n These see the works of Jehovah, And his wonders in the deep.\r\n For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, Which lifteth up the waves thereof.\r\n They mount up to the heavens, they go down again to the depths: Their soul melteth away because of trouble.\r\n They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, And are at their wits` end.\r\n Then they cry unto Jehovah in their trouble, And he bringeth them out of their distresses.\r\n He maketh the storm a calm, So that the waves thereof are still.\r\n Then are they glad because they are quiet; So he bringeth them unto their desired haven.\r\n Oh that men would praise Jehovah for his lovingkindness, And for his wonderful works to the children of men!\r\n Let them exalt him also in the assembly of the people, And praise him in the seat of the elders.\r\n He turneth rivers into a wilderness, And watersprings into a thirsty ground;\r\n A fruitful land into a salt desert, For the wickedness of them that dwell therein.\r\n He turneth a wilderness into a pool of water, And a dry land into watersprings.\r\n And there he maketh the hungry to dwell, That they may prepare a city of habitation,\r\n And sow fields, and plant vineyards, And get them fruits of increase.\r\n He blesseth them also, so that they are multiplied greatly; And he suffereth not their cattle to decrease.\r\n Again, they are diminished and bowed down Through oppression, trouble, and sorrow.\r\n He poureth contempt upon princes, And causeth them to wander in the waste, where there is no way.\r\n Yet setteth he the needy on high from affliction, And maketh [him] families like a flock.\r\n The upright shall see it, and be glad; And all iniquity shall stop her mouth.\r\n Whoso is wise will give heed to these things; And they will consider the lovingkindnesses of Jehovah. Psalm 108 A Song, A Psalm of David.\r\n \r\n \r\n My heart is fixed, O God; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises, even with my glory.\r\n Awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake right early.\r\n I will give thanks unto thee, O Jehovah, among the peoples; And I will sing praises unto thee among the nations.\r\n For thy lovingkindness is great above the heavens; And thy truth [reacheth] unto the skies.\r\n Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens, And thy glory above all the earth.\r\n That thy beloved may be delivered, Save with thy right hand, and answer us.\r\n God hath spoken in his holiness: I will exult; I will divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth.\r\n Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine; Ephraim also is the defence of my head; Judah is my sceptre.\r\n Moab is my washpot; Upon Edom will I cast my shoe; Over Philistia will I shout.\r\n Who will bring me into the fortified city? Who hath led me unto Edom?\r\n Hast not thou cast us off, O God? And thou goest not forth, O God, with our hosts.\r\n Give us help against the adversary; For vain is the help of man.\r\n Through God we shall do valiantly: For he it is that will tread down our adversaries. Psalm 109 For the Chief Musicion. A Psalm of David.\r\n \r\n \r\n Hold not thy peace, O God of my praise;\r\n For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of deceit have they opened against me: They have spoken unto me with a lying tongue.\r\n They have compassed me about also with words of hatred, And fought against me without a cause.\r\n For my love they are my adversaries: But I [give myself unto] prayer.\r\n And they have rewarded me evil for good, And hatred for my love.\r\n Set thou a wicked man over him; And let an adversary stand at his right hand.\r\n When he is judged, let him come forth guilty; And let his prayer be turned into sin.\r\n Let his days be few; [And] let another take his office.\r\n Let his children be fatherless, And his wife a widow.\r\n Let his children be vagabonds, and beg; And let them seek [their bread] out of their desolate places.\r\n Let the extortioner catch all that he hath; And let strangers make spoil of his labor.\r\n Let there be none to extend kindness unto him; Neither let there be any to have pity on his fatherless children.\r\n Let his posterity be cut off; In the generation following let their name be blotted out.\r\n Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered with Jehovah; And let not the sin of his mother be blotted out.\r\n Let them be before Jehovah continually, That he may cut off the memory of them from the earth;\r\n Because he remembered not to show kindness, But persecuted the poor and needy man, And the broken in heart, to slay [them].\r\n Yea, he loved cursing, and it came unto him; And he delighted not in blessing, and it was far from him.\r\n He clothed himself also with cursing as with his garment, And it came into his inward parts like water, And like oil into his bones.\r\n Let it be unto him as the raiment wherewith he covereth himself, And for the girdle wherewith he is girded continually.\r\n This is the reward of mine adversaries from Jehovah, And of them that speak evil against my soul.\r\n But deal thou with me, O Jehovah the Lord, for thy name`s sake: Because thy lovingkindness is good, deliver thou me;\r\n For I am poor and needy, And my heart is wounded within me.\r\n I am gone like the shadow when it declineth: I am tossed up and down as the locust.\r\n My knees are weak through fasting; And my flesh faileth of fatness.\r\n I am become also a reproach unto them: When they see me, they shake their head.\r\n Help me, O Jehovah my God; Oh save me according to thy lovingkindness:\r\n That they may know that this is thy hand; [That] thou, Jehovah, hast done it.\r\n Let them curse, but bless thou: When they arise, they shall be put to shame, But thy servant shall rejoice.\r\n Let mine adversaries be clothed with dishonor, And let them cover themselves with their own shame as with a robe.\r\n I will give great thanks unto Jehovah with my mouth; Yea, I will praise him among the multitude.\r\n For he will stand at the right hand of the needy, To save him from them that judge his soul. Psalm 110 A Psalm of David.\r\n \r\n \r\n Jehovah saith unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, Until I make thine enemies thy footstool.\r\n Jehovah will send forth the rod of thy strength out of Zion: Rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.\r\n Thy people offer themselves willingly In the day of thy power, in holy array: Out of the womb of the morning Thou hast the dew of thy youth.\r\n Jehovah hath sworn, and will not repent: Thou art a priest for ever After the order of Melchizedek.\r\n The Lord at thy right hand Will strike through kings in the day of his wrath.\r\n He will judge among the nations, He will fill [the places] with dead bodies; He will strike through the head in many countries.\r\n He will drink of the brook in the way: Therefore will he lift up the head. Psalm 111\r\n \r\n \r\n Praise ye Jehovah. I will give thanks unto Jehovah with my whole heart, In the council of the upright, and in the congregation.\r\n The works of Jehovah are great, Sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.\r\n His work is honor and majesty; And his righteousness endureth for ever.\r\n He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: Jehovah is gracious and merciful.\r\n He hath given food unto them that fear him: He will ever be mindful of his covenant.\r\n He hath showed his people the power of his works, In giving them the heritage of the nations.\r\n The works of his hands are truth and justice; All his precepts are sure.\r\n They are established for ever and ever; They are done in truth and uprightness.\r\n He hath sent redemption unto his people; He hath commanded his covenant for ever: Holy and reverend is his name.\r\n The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all they that do [his commandments]: His praise endureth for ever. Psalm 112\r\n \r\n \r\n Praise ye Jehovah. Blessed is the man that feareth Jehovah, That delighteth greatly in his commandments.\r\n His seed shall be mighty upon earth: The generation of the upright shall be blessed.\r\n Wealth and riches are in his house; And his righteousness endureth for ever.\r\n Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: [He is] gracious, and merciful, and righteous.\r\n Well is it with the man that dealeth graciously and lendeth; He shall maintain his cause in judgment.\r\n For he shall never be moved; The righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance.\r\n He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: His heart is fixed, trusting in Jehovah.\r\n His heart is established, he shall not be afraid, Until he see [his desire] upon his adversaries.\r\n He hath dispersed, he hath given to the needy; His righteousness endureth for ever: His horn shall be exalted with honor.\r\n The wicked shall see it, and be grieved; He shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away: The desire of the wicked shall perish. Psalm 113\r\n \r\n \r\n Praise ye Jehovah. Praise, O ye servants of Jehovah, Praise the name of Jehovah.\r\n Blessed be the name of Jehovah From this time forth and for evermore.\r\n From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same Jehovah`s name is to be praised.\r\n Jehovah is high above all nations, And his glory above the heavens.\r\n Who is like unto Jehovah our God, That hath his seat on high,\r\n That humbleth himself to behold [The things that are] in heaven and in the earth?\r\n He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, And lifteth up the needy from the dunghill;\r\n That he may set him with princes, Even with the princes of his people.\r\n He maketh the barren woman to keep house, [And to be] a joyful mother of children. Praise ye Jehovah. Psalm 114\r\n \r\n \r\n When Israel went forth out of Egypt, The house of Jacob from a people of strange language;\r\n Judah became his sanctuary, Israel his dominion.\r\n The sea saw it, and fled; The Jordan was driven back.\r\n The mountains skipped like rams, The little hills like lambs.\r\n What aileth thee, O thou sea, that thou fleest? Thou Jordan, that thou turnest back?\r\n Ye mountains, that ye skip like rams; Ye little hills, like lambs?\r\n Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of the Lord, At the presence of the God of Jacob,\r\n Who turned the rock into a pool of water, The flint into a fountain of waters. Psalm 115\r\n \r\n \r\n Not unto us, O Jehovah, not unto us, But unto thy name give glory, For thy lovingkindness, and for thy truth`s sake.\r\n Wherefore should the nations say, Where is now their God?\r\n But our God is in the heavens: He hath done whatsoever he pleased.\r\n Their idols are silver and gold, The work of men`s hands.\r\n They have mouths, but they speak not; Eyes have they, but they see not;\r\n They have ears, but they hear not; Noses have they, but they smell not;\r\n They have hands, but they handle not; Feet have they, but they walk not; Neither speak they through their throat.\r\n They that make them shall be like unto them; Yea, every one that trusteth in them.\r\n O Israel, trust thou in Jehovah: He is their help and their shield.\r\n O house of Aaron, trust ye in Jehovah: He is their help and their shield.\r\n Ye that fear Jehovah, trust in Jehovah: He is their help and their shield.\r\n Jehovah hath been mindful of us; he will bless [us]: He will bless the house of Israel; He will bless the house of Aaron.\r\n He will bless them that fear Jehovah, Both small and great.\r\n Jehovah increase you more and more, You and your children.\r\n Blessed are ye of Jehovah, Who made heaven and earth.\r\n The heavens are the heavens of Jehovah; But the earth hath he given to the children of men.\r\n The dead praise not Jehovah, Neither any that go down into silence;\r\n But we will bless Jehovah From this time forth and for evermore. Praise ye Jehovah. Psalm 116\r\n \r\n \r\n I love Jehovah, because he heareth My voice and my supplications.\r\n Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, Therefore will I call [upon him] as long as I live.\r\n The cords of death compassed me, And the pains of Sheol gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow.\r\n Then called I upon the name of Jehovah: O Jehovah, I beseech thee, deliver my soul.\r\n Gracious is Jehovah, and righteous; Yea, our God is merciful.\r\n Jehovah preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and he saved me.\r\n Return unto thy rest, O my soul; For Jehovah hath dealt bountifully with thee.\r\n For thou hast delivered my soul from death, Mine eyes from tears, [And] my feet from falling.\r\n I will walk before Jehovah In the land of the living.\r\n I believe, for I will speak: I was greatly afflicted:\r\n I said in my haste, All men are liars.\r\n What shall I render unto Jehovah For all his benefits toward me?\r\n I will take the cup of salvation, And call upon the name of Jehovah.\r\n I will pay my vows unto Jehovah, Yea, in the presence of all his people.\r\n Precious in the sight of Jehovah Is the death of his saints.\r\n O Jehovah, truly I am thy servant: I am thy servant, the son of thy handmaid; Thou hast loosed my bonds.\r\n I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, And will call upon the name of Jehovah.\r\n I will pay my vows unto Jehovah, Yea, in the presence of all his people,\r\n In the courts of Jehovah`s house, In the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Praise ye Jehovah. Psalm 117\r\n \r\n \r\n O praise Jehovah, all ye nations; Laud him, all ye peoples.\r\n For his lovingkindness is great toward us; And the truth of Jehovah [endureth] for ever. Praise ye Jehovah. Psalm 118\r\n \r\n \r\n Oh give thanks unto Jehovah; for he is good; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever.\r\n Let Israel now say, That his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever.\r\n Let the house of Aaron now say, That his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever.\r\n Let them now that fear Jehovah say, That his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever.\r\n Out of my distress I called upon Jehovah: Jehovah answered me [and set me] in a large place.\r\n Jehovah is on my side; I will not fear: What can man do unto me?\r\n Jehovah is on my side among them that help me: Therefore shall I see [my desire] upon them that hate me.\r\n It is better to take refuge in Jehovah Than to put confidence in man.\r\n It is better to take refuge in Jehovah Than to put confidence in princes.\r\n All nations compassed me about: In the name of Jehovah I will cut them off.\r\n They compassed me about; yea, they compassed me about: In the name of Jehovah I will cut them off.\r\n They compassed me about like bees; They are quenched as the fire of thorns: In the name of Jehovah I will cut them off.\r\n Thou didst thrust sore at me that I might fall; But Jehovah helped me.\r\n Jehovah is my strength and song; And he is become my salvation.\r\n The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tents of the righteous: The right hand of Jehovah doeth valiantly.\r\n The right hand of Jehovah is exalted: The right hand of Jehovah doeth valiantly.\r\n I shall not die, but live, And declare the works of Jehovah.\r\n Jehovah hath chastened me sore; But he hath not given me over unto death.\r\n Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will enter into them, I will give thanks unto Jehovah.\r\n This is the gate of Jehovah; The righteous shall enter into it.\r\n I will give thanks unto thee; for thou hast answered me, And art become my salvation.\r\n The stone which the builders rejected Is become the head of the corner.\r\n This is Jehovah`s doing; It is marvellous in our eyes.\r\n This is the day which Jehovah hath made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.\r\n Save now, we beseech thee, O Jehovah: O Jehovah, we beseech thee, send now prosperity.\r\n Blessed be he that cometh in the name of Jehovah: We have blessed you out of the house of Jehovah.\r\n Jehovah is God, and he hath given us light: Bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.\r\n Thou art my God, and I will give thanks unto thee: Thou art my God, I will exalt thee.\r\n Oh give thanks unto Jehovah; for he is good; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever. Psalm 119 ALEPH.\r\n \r\n \r\n Blessed are they that are perfect in the way, Who walk in the law of Jehovah.\r\n Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, That seek him with the whole heart.\r\n Yea, they do no unrighteousness; They walk in his ways.\r\n Thou hast commanded [us] thy precepts, That we should observe them diligently.\r\n Oh that my ways were established To observe thy statutes!\r\n Then shall I not be put to shame, When I have respect unto all thy commandments.\r\n I will give thanks unto thee with uprightness of heart, When I learn thy righteous judgments.\r\n I will observe thy statutes: Oh forsake me not utterly. BETH.\r\n Wherewith shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed [thereto] according to thy word.\r\n With my whole heart have I sought thee: Oh let me not wander from thy commandments.\r\n Thy word have I laid up in my heart, That I might not sin against thee.\r\n Blessed art thou, O Jehovah: Teach me thy statutes.\r\n With my lips have I declared All the ordinances of thy mouth.\r\n I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, As much as in all riches.\r\n I will meditate on thy precepts, And have respect unto thy ways.\r\n I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word. GIMEL.\r\n Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live; So will I observe thy word.\r\n Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold Wondrous things out of thy law.\r\n I am a sojourner in the earth: Hide not thy commandments from me.\r\n My soul breaketh for the longing That it hath unto thine ordinances at all times.\r\n Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed, That do wander from thy commandments.\r\n Take away from me reproach and contempt; For I have kept thy testimonies.\r\n Princes also sat and talked against me; [But] thy servant did meditate on thy statutes.\r\n Thy testimonies also are my delight [And] my counsellors. DALETH.\r\n My soul cleaveth unto the dust: Quicken thou me according to thy word.\r\n I declared my ways, and thou answeredst me: Teach me thy statutes.\r\n Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: So shall I meditate on thy wondrous works.\r\n My soul melteth for heaviness: Strengthen thou me according unto thy word.\r\n Remove from me the way of falsehood; And grant me thy law graciously.\r\n I have chosen the way of faithfulness: Thine ordinances have I set [before me].\r\n I cleave unto thy testimonies: O Jehovah, put me not to shame.\r\n I will run the way of thy commandments, When thou shalt enlarge my heart. HE.\r\n Teach me, O Jehovah, the way of thy statutes; And I shall keep it unto the end.\r\n Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; Yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.\r\n Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; For therein do I delight.\r\n Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, And not to covetousness.\r\n Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity, And quicken me in thy ways.\r\n Confirm unto thy servant thy word, Which [is in order] unto the fear of thee.\r\n Turn away my reproach whereof I am afraid; For thine ordinances are good.\r\n Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: Quicken me in thy righteousness. VAV.\r\n Let thy lovingkindnesses also come unto me, O Jehovah, Even thy salvation, according to thy word.\r\n So shall I have an answer for him that reproacheth me; For I trust in thy word.\r\n And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; For I have hoped in thine ordinances.\r\n So shall I observe thy law continually For ever and ever.\r\n And I shall walk at liberty; For I have sought thy precepts.\r\n I will also speak of thy testimonies before kings, And shall not be put to shame.\r\n And I will delight myself in thy commandments, Which I have loved.\r\n I will lift up my hands also unto thy commandments, which I have loved; And I will meditate on thy statutes. ZAYIN.\r\n Remember the word unto thy servant, Because thou hast made me to hope.\r\n This is my comfort in my affliction; For thy word hath quickened me.\r\n The proud have had me greatly in derision: [Yet] have I not swerved from thy law.\r\n I have remembered thine ordinances of old, O Jehovah, And have comforted myself.\r\n Hot indignation hath taken hold upon me, Because of the wicked that forsake thy law.\r\n Thy statutes have been my songs In the house of my pilgrimage.\r\n I have remembered thy name, O Jehovah, in the night, And have observed thy law.\r\n This I have had, Because I have kept thy precepts. HHETH.\r\n Jehovah is my portion: I have said that I would observe thy words.\r\n I entreated thy favor with my whole heart: Be merciful unto me according to thy word.\r\n I thought on my ways, And turned my feet unto thy testimonies.\r\n I made haste, and delayed not, To observe thy commandments.\r\n The cords of the wicked have wrapped me round; [But] I have not forgotten thy law.\r\n At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee Because of thy righteous ordinances.\r\n I am a companion of all them that fear thee, And of them that observe thy precepts.\r\n The earth, O Jehovah, is full of thy lovingkindness: Teach me thy statutes. TETH.\r\n Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O Jehovah, according unto thy word.\r\n Teach me good judgment and knowledge; For I have believed in thy commandments.\r\n Before I was afflicted I went astray; But now I observe thy word.\r\n Thou art good, and doest good; Teach me thy statutes.\r\n The proud have forged a lie against me: With my whole heart will I keep thy precepts.\r\n Their heart is as fat as grease; But I delight in thy law.\r\n It is good for me that I have been afflicted; That I may learn thy statutes.\r\n The law of thy mouth is better unto me Than thousands of gold and silver. YODH.\r\n Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: Give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments.\r\n They that fear thee shall see me and be glad, Because I have hoped in thy word.\r\n I know, O Jehovah, that thy judgments are righteous, And that in faithfulness thou hast afflicted me.\r\n Let, I pray thee, thy lovingkindness be for my comfort, According to thy word unto thy servant.\r\n Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live; For thy law is my delight.\r\n Let the proud be put to shame; For they have overthrown me wrongfully: [But] I will meditate on thy precepts.\r\n Let those that fear thee turn unto me; And they shall know thy testimonies.\r\n Let my heart be perfect in thy statutes, That I be not put to shame. KAPH.\r\n My soul fainteth for thy salvation; [But] I hope in thy word.\r\n Mine eyes fail for thy word, While I say, When wilt thou comfort me?\r\n For I am become like a wine-skin in the smoke; Yet do I not forget thy statutes.\r\n How many are the days of thy servant? When wilt thou execute judgment on them that persecute me?\r\n The proud have digged pits for me, Who are not according to thy law.\r\n All thy commandments are faithful: They persecute me wrongfully; help thou me.\r\n They had almost consumed me upon earth; But I forsook not thy precepts. LAMEDH.\r\n Quicken me after thy lovingkindness; So shall I observe the testimony of thy mouth.\r\n For ever, O Jehovah, Thy word is settled in heaven.\r\n Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: Thou hast established the earth, and it abideth.\r\n They abide this day according to thine ordinances; For all things are thy servants.\r\n Unless thy law had been my delight, I should then have perished in mine affliction.\r\n I will never forget thy precepts; For with them thou hast quickened me.\r\n I am thine, save me; For I have sought thy precepts.\r\n The wicked have waited for me, to destroy me; [But] I will consider thy testimonies. MEM.\r\n I have seen an end of all perfection; [But] thy commandment is exceeding broad.\r\n Oh how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.\r\n Thy commandments make me wiser than mine enemies; For they are ever with me.\r\n I have more understanding than all my teachers; For thy testimonies are my meditation.\r\n I understand more than the aged, Because I have kept thy precepts.\r\n I have refrained my feet from every evil way, That I might observe thy word.\r\n I have not turned aside from thine ordinances; For thou hast taught me.\r\n How sweet are thy words unto my taste! [Yea, sweeter] than honey to my mouth!\r\n Through thy precepts I get understanding: Therefore I hate every false way. NUN.\r\n Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, And light unto my path.\r\n I have sworn, and have confirmed it, That I will observe thy righteous ordinances.\r\n I am afflicted very much: Quicken me, O Jehovah, according unto thy word.\r\n Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill-offerings of my mouth, O Jehovah, And teach me thine ordinances.\r\n My soul is continually in my hand; Yet do I not forget thy law.\r\n The wicked have laid a snare for me; Yet have I not gone astray from thy precepts.\r\n Thy testimonies have I taken as a heritage for ever; For they are the rejoicing of my heart.\r\n I have inclined my heart to perform thy statutes For ever, even unto the end. SAMEKH.\r\n I hate them that are of a double mind; But thy law do I love.\r\n Thou art my hiding-place and my shield: I hope in thy word.\r\n Depart from me, ye evil-doers, That I may keep the commandments of my God.\r\n Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live; And let me not be ashamed of my hope.\r\n Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe, And shall have respect unto thy statutes continually.\r\n Thou hast set at nought all them that err from thy statutes; For their deceit is falsehood.\r\n Thou puttest away all the wicked of the earth like dross: Therefore I love thy testimonies.\r\n My flesh trembleth for fear of thee; And I am afraid of thy judgments. AYIN.\r\n I have done justice and righteousness: Leave me not to mine oppressors.\r\n Be surety for thy servant for good: Let not the proud oppress me.\r\n Mine eyes fail for thy salvation, And for thy righteous word.\r\n Deal with thy servant according unto thy lovingkindness, And teach me thy statutes.\r\n I am thy servant; give me understanding, That I may know thy testimonies.\r\n It is time for Jehovah to work; [For] they have made void thy law.\r\n Therefore I love thy commandments Above gold, yea, above fine gold.\r\n Therefore I esteem all [thy] precepts concerning all [things] to be right; [And] I hate every false way. PE.\r\n Thy testimonies are wonderful; Therefore doth my soul keep them.\r\n The opening of thy words giveth light; It giveth understanding unto the simple.\r\n I opened wide my mouth, and panted; For I longed for thy commandments.\r\n Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me, As thou usest to do unto those that love thy name.\r\n Establish my footsteps in thy word; And let not any iniquity have dominion over me.\r\n Redeem me from the oppression of man: So will I observe thy precepts.\r\n Make thy face to shine upon thy servant; And teach me thy statutes.\r\n Streams of water run down mine eyes, Because they observe not thy law. TSADHE.\r\n Righteous art thou, O Jehovah, And upright are thy judgments.\r\n Thou hast commanded thy testimonies in righteousness And very faithfulness.\r\n My zeal hath consumed me, Because mine adversaries have forgotten thy words.\r\n Thy word is very pure; Therefore thy servant loveth it.\r\n I am small and despised; [Yet] do I not forget thy precepts.\r\n Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, And thy law is truth.\r\n Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me; [Yet] thy commandments are my delight.\r\n Thy testimonies are righteous for ever: Give me understanding, and I shall live. QOPH.\r\n I have called with my whole heart; answer me, O Jehovah: I will keep thy statutes.\r\n I have called unto thee; save me, And I shall observe thy testimonies.\r\n I anticipated the dawning of the morning, and cried: I hoped in thy words.\r\n Mine eyes anticipated the night-watches, That I might meditate on thy word.\r\n Hear my voice according unto thy lovingkindness: Quicken me, O Jehovah, according to thine ordinances.\r\n They draw nigh that follow after wickedness; They are far from thy law.\r\n Thou art nigh, O Jehovah; And all thy commandments are truth.\r\n Of old have I known from thy testimonies, That thou hast founded them for ever. RESH.\r\n Consider mine affliction, and deliver me; For I do not forget thy law.\r\n Plead thou my cause, and redeem me: Quicken me according to thy word.\r\n Salvation is far from the wicked; For they seek not thy statutes.\r\n Great are thy tender mercies, O Jehovah: Quicken me according to thine ordinances.\r\n Many are my persecutors and mine adversaries; [Yet] have I not swerved from thy testimonies.\r\n I beheld the treacherous, and was grieved, Because they observe not thy word.\r\n Consider how I love thy precepts: Quicken me, O Jehovah, according to thy lovingkindness.\r\n The sum of thy word is truth; And every one of thy righteous ordinances [endureth] for ever. SHIN.\r\n Princes have persecuted me without a cause; But my heart standeth in awe of thy words.\r\n I rejoice at thy word, As one that findeth great spoil.\r\n I hate and abhor falsehood; [But] thy law do I love.\r\n Seven times a day do I praise thee, Because of thy righteous ordinances.\r\n Great peace have they that love thy law; And they have no occasion of stumbling.\r\n I have hoped for thy salvation, O Jehovah, And have done thy commandments.\r\n My soul hath observed thy testimonies; And I love them exceedingly.\r\n I have observed thy precepts and thy testimonies; For all my ways are before thee. TAV.\r\n Let my cry come near before thee, O Jehovah: Give me understanding according to thy word.\r\n Let my supplication come before thee: Deliver me according to thy word.\r\n Let my lips utter praise; For thou teachest me thy statutes.\r\n Let my tongue sing of thy word; For all thy commandments are righteousness.\r\n Let thy hand be ready to help me; For I have chosen thy precepts.\r\n I have longed for thy salvation, O Jehovah; And thy law is my delight.\r\n Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee; And let thine ordinances help me.\r\n I have gone astray like a lost sheep; Seek thy servant; For I do not forget thy commandments. Psalm 120 A Song of Ascents.\r\n \r\n \r\n In my distress I cried unto Jehovah, And he answered me.\r\n Deliver my soul, O Jehovah, from lying lips, [And] from a deceitful tongue.\r\n What shall be given unto thee, and what shall be done more unto thee, Thou deceitful tongue?\r\n Sharp arrows of the mighty, With coals of juniper.\r\n Woe is me, that I sojourn in Meshech, That I dwell among the tents of Kedar!\r\n My soul hath long had her dwelling With him that hateth peace.\r\n I am [for] peace: But when I speak, they are for war. Psalm 121 A Song of Ascents.\r\n \r\n \r\n I will lift up mine eyes unto the mountains: From whence shall my help come?\r\n My help [cometh] from Jehovah, Who made heaven and earth.\r\n He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: He that keepeth thee will not slumber.\r\n Behold, he that keepeth Israel Will neither slumber nor sleep.\r\n Jehovah is thy keeper: Jehovah is thy shade upon thy right hand.\r\n The sun shall not smite thee by day, Nor the moon by night.\r\n Jehovah will keep thee from all evil; He will keep thy soul.\r\n Jehovah will keep thy going out and thy coming in From this time forth and for evermore. Psalm 122 A Song of Ascents; of David.\r\n \r\n \r\n I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go unto the house of Jehovah.\r\n Our feet are standing Within thy gates, O Jerusalem,\r\n Jerusalem, that art builded As a city that is compact together;\r\n Whither the tribes go up, even the tribes of Jehovah, [For] an ordinance for Israel, To give thanks unto the name of Jehovah.\r\n For there are set thrones for judgment, The thrones of the house of David.\r\n Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: They shall prosper that love thee.\r\n Peace be within thy walls, And prosperity within thy palaces.\r\n For my brethren and companions` sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee.\r\n For the sake of the house of Jehovah our God I will seek thy good. Psalm 123 A Song of Ascents.\r\n \r\n \r\n Unto thee do I lift up mine eyes, O thou that sittest in the heavens.\r\n Behold, as the eyes of servants [look] unto the hand of their master, As the eyes of a maid unto the hand of her mistress; So our eyes [look] unto Jehovah our God, Until he have mercy upon us.\r\n Have mercy upon us, O Jehovah, have mercy upon us; For we are exceedingly filled with contempt.\r\n Our soul is exceedingly filled With the scoffing of those that are at ease, And with the contempt of the proud. Psalm 124 A Song of Ascents; of David.\r\n \r\n \r\n If it had not been Jehovah who was on our side, Let Israel now say,\r\n If it had not been Jehovah who was on our side, When men rose up against us;\r\n Then they had swallowed us up alive, When their wrath was kindled against us;\r\n Then the waters had overwhelmed us, The stream had gone over our soul;\r\n Then the proud waters had gone over our soul.\r\n Blessed be Jehovah, Who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth.\r\n Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: The snare is broken, and we are escaped.\r\n Our help is in the name of Jehovah, Who made heaven and earth. Psalm 125 A Song of Ascents.\r\n \r\n \r\n They that trust in Jehovah Are as mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abideth for ever.\r\n As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, So Jehovah is round about his people From this time forth and for evermore.\r\n For the sceptre of wickedness shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous; That the righteous put not forth their hands unto iniquity.\r\n Do good, O Jehovah, unto those that are good, And to them that are upright in their hearts.\r\n But as for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, Jehovah will lead them forth with the workers of iniquity. Peace be upon Israel. Psalm 126 A Song of Ascents.\r\n \r\n \r\n When Jehovah brought back those that returned to Zion, We were like unto them that dream.\r\n Then was our mouth filled with laughter, And our tongue with singing: Then said they among the nations, Jehovah hath done great things for them.\r\n Jehovah hath done great things for us, [Whereof] we are glad.\r\n Turn again our captivity, O Jehovah, As the streams in the South.\r\n They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.\r\n He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing seed for sowing, Shall doubtless come again with joy, bringing his sheaves [with him]. Psalm 127 A Song of Ascents; of Solomon.\r\n \r\n \r\n Except Jehovah build the house, They labor in vain that build it: Except Jehovah keep the city, The watchman waketh but in vain.\r\n It is vain for you to rise up early, To take rest late, To eat the bread of toil; [For] so he giveth unto his beloved sleep.\r\n Lo, children are a heritage of Jehovah; [And] the fruit of the womb is [his] reward.\r\n As arrows in the hand of a mighty man, So are the children of youth.\r\n Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: They shall not be put to shame, When they speak with their enemies in the gate. Psalm 128 A Song of Ascents.\r\n \r\n \r\n Blessed is every one that feareth Jehovah, That walketh in his ways.\r\n For thou shalt eat the labor of thy hands: Happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.\r\n Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine, In the innermost parts of thy house; Thy children like olive plants, Round about thy table.\r\n Behold, thus shall the man be blessed That feareth Jehovah.\r\n Jehovah bless thee out of Zion: And see thou the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life.\r\n Yea, see thou thy children`s children. Peace be upon Israel. Psalm 129 A Song of Ascents.\r\n \r\n \r\n Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth up, Let Israel now say,\r\n Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth up: Yet they have not prevailed against me.\r\n The plowers plowed upon my back; They made long their furrows.\r\n Jehovah is righteous: He hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked.\r\n Let them be put to shame and turned backward, All they that hate Zion.\r\n Let them be as the grass upon the housetops, Which withereth before it groweth up;\r\n Wherewith the reaper filleth not his hand, Nor he that bindeth sheaves his bosom.\r\n Neither do they that go by say, The blessing of Jehovah be upon you; We bless you in the name of Jehovah. Psalm 130 A Song of Ascents.\r\n \r\n \r\n Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O Jehovah.\r\n Lord, hear my voice: Let thine ears be attentive To the voice of my supplications.\r\n If thou, Jehovah, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?\r\n But there is forgiveness with thee, That thou mayest be feared.\r\n I wait for Jehovah, my soul doth wait, And in his word do I hope.\r\n My soul [waiteth] for the Lord More than watchmen [wait] for the morning; [Yea, more than] watchmen for the morning.\r\n O Israel, hope in Jehovah; For with Jehovah there is lovingkindness, And with him is plenteous redemption.\r\n And he will redeem Israel From all his iniquities. Psalm 131 A Song of Ascents; of David.\r\n \r\n \r\n Jehovah, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty; Neither do I exercise myself in great matters, Or in things too wonderful for me.\r\n Surely I have stilled and quieted my soul; Like a weaned child with his mother, Like a weaned child is my soul within me.\r\n O Israel, hope in Jehovah From this time forth and for evermore. Psalm 132 A Song of Ascents.\r\n \r\n \r\n Jehovah, remember for David All his affliction;\r\n How he sware unto Jehovah, And vowed unto the Mighty One of Jacob:\r\n Surely I will not come into the tabernacle of my house, Nor go up into my bed;\r\n I will not give sleep to mine eyes, Or slumber to mine eyelids;\r\n Until I find out a place for Jehovah, A tabernacle for the Mighty One of Jacob.\r\n Lo, we heard of it in Ephrathah: We found it in the field of the wood.\r\n We will go into his tabernacles; We will worship at his footstool.\r\n Arise, O Jehovah, into thy resting-place; Thou, and the ark of thy strength.\r\n Let thy priest be clothed with righteousness; And let thy saints shout for joy.\r\n For thy servant David`s sake Turn not away the face of thine anointed.\r\n Jehovah hath sworn unto David in truth; He will not turn from it: Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne.\r\n If thy children will keep my covenant And my testimony that I shall teach them, Their children also shall sit upon thy throne for evermore.\r\n For Jehovah hath chosen Zion; He hath desired it for his habitation.\r\n This is my resting-place for ever: Here will I dwell; for I have desired it.\r\n I will abundantly bless her provision: I will satisfy her poor with bread.\r\n Her priests also will I clothe with salvation; And her saints shall shout aloud for joy.\r\n There will I make the horn of David to bud: I have ordained a lamp for mine anointed.\r\n His enemies will I clothe with shame; But upon himself shall his crown flourish. Psalm 133 A Song of Ascents; of David.\r\n \r\n \r\n Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity!\r\n It is like the precious oil upon the head, That ran down upon the beard, Even Aaron`s beard; That came down upon the skirt of his garments;\r\n Like the dew of Hermon, That cometh down upon the mountains of Zion: For there Jehovah commanded the blessing, Even life for evermore. Psalm 134 A Song of Ascents.\r\n \r\n \r\n Behold, bless ye Jehovah, all ye servants of Jehovah, That by night stand in the house of Jehovah.\r\n Lift up your hands to the sanctuary, And bless ye Jehovah.\r\n Jehovah bless thee out of Zion; Even he that made heaven and earth. Psalm 135\r\n \r\n \r\n Praise ye Jehovah. Praise ye the name of Jehovah; Praise [him], O ye servants of Jehovah,\r\n Ye that stand in the house of Jehovah, In the courts of the house of our God.\r\n Praise ye Jehovah; for Jehovah is good: Sing praises unto his name; for it is pleasant.\r\n For Jehovah hath chosen Jacob unto himself, [And] Israel for his own possession.\r\n For I know that Jehovah is great, And that our Lord is above all gods.\r\n Whatsoever Jehovah pleased, that hath he done, In heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps;\r\n Who causeth the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth; Who maketh lightnings for the rain; Who bringeth forth the wind out of his treasuries;\r\n Who smote the first-born of Egypt, Both of man and beast;\r\n Who sent signs and wonders into the midst of thee, O Egypt, Upon Pharaoh, and upon all his servants;\r\n Who smote many nations, And slew mighty kings,\r\n Sihon king of the Amorites, And Og king of Bashan, And all the kingdoms of Canaan,\r\n And gave their land for a heritage, A heritage unto Israel his people.\r\n Thy name, O Jehovah, [endureth] for ever; Thy memorial [name], O Jehovah, throughout all generations.\r\n For Jehovah will judge his people, And repent himself concerning his servants.\r\n The idols of the nations are silver and gold, The work of men`s hands.\r\n They have mouths, but they speak not; Eyes have they, but they see not;\r\n They have ears, but they hear not; Neither is there any breath in their mouths.\r\n They that make them shall be like unto them; Yea, every one that trusteth in them.\r\n O house of Israel, bless ye Jehovah: O house of Aaron, bless ye Jehovah:\r\n O house of Levi, bless ye Jehovah: Ye that fear Jehovah, bless ye Jehovah.\r\n Blessed be Jehovah out of Zion, Who dwelleth at Jerusalem. Praise ye Jehovah. Psalm 136\r\n \r\n \r\n Oh give thanks unto Jehovah; for he is good; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever.\r\n Oh give thanks unto the God of gods; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever.\r\n Oh give thanks unto the Lord of lords; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever:\r\n To him who alone doeth great wonders; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever:\r\n To him that by understanding made the heavens; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever:\r\n To him that spread forth the earth above the waters; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever:\r\n To him that made great lights; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever:\r\n The sun to rule by day; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever;\r\n The moon and stars to rule by night; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever:\r\n To him that smote Egypt in their first-born; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever;\r\n And brought out Israel from among them; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever;\r\n With a strong hand, and with an outstretched arm; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever:\r\n To him that divided the Red Sea in sunder; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever;\r\n And made Israel to pass through the midst of it; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever;\r\n But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever:\r\n To him that led his people through the wilderness; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever:\r\n To him that smote great kings; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever;\r\n And slew famous kings; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever:\r\n Sihon king of the Amorites; For his lovingkindness [endureth] forever;\r\n And Og king of Bashan; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever;\r\n And gave their land for a heritage; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever;\r\n Even a heritage unto Israel his servant; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever:\r\n Who remembered us in our low estate; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever;\r\n And hath delivered us from our adversaries; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever:\r\n Who giveth food to all flesh; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever.\r\n Oh give thanks unto the God of heaven; For his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever. Psalm 137\r\n \r\n \r\n By the rivers of Babylon, There we sat down, yea, we wept, When we remembered Zion.\r\n Upon the willows in the midst thereof We hanged up our harps.\r\n For there they that led us captive required of us songs, And they that wasted us [required of us] mirth, [saying], Sing us one of the songs of Zion.\r\n How shall we sing Jehovah`s song In a foreign land?\r\n If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, Let my right hand forget [her skill].\r\n Let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth, If I remember thee not; If I prefer not Jerusalem Above my chief joy.\r\n Remember, O Jehovah, against the children of Edom The day of Jerusalem; Who said, Rase it, rase it, Even to the foundation thereof.\r\n O daughter of Babylon, that art to be destroyed, Happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee As thou hast served us.\r\n Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones Against the rock. Psalm 138 A [Psalm] of David.\r\n \r\n \r\n I will give thee thanks with my whole heart: Before the gods will I sing praises unto thee.\r\n I will worship toward thy holy temple, And give thanks unto thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: For thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.\r\n In the day that I called thou answeredst me, Thou didst encourage me with strength in my soul.\r\n All the kings of the earth shall give thee thanks, O Jehovah, For they have heard the words of thy mouth.\r\n Yea, they shall sing of the ways of Jehovah; For great is the glory of Jehovah.\r\n For though Jehovah is high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly; But the haughty he knoweth from afar.\r\n Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me; Thou wilt stretch forth thy hand against the wrath of mine enemies, And thy right hand will save me.\r\n Jehovah will perfect that which concerneth me: Thy lovingkindness, O Jehovah, [endureth] for ever; Forsake not the works of thine own hands. Psalm 139 For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.\r\n \r\n \r\n O Jehovah, thou hast searched me, and known [me].\r\n Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising; Thou understandest my thought afar off.\r\n Thou searchest out my path and my lying down, And art acquainted with all my ways.\r\n For there is not a word in my tongue, But, lo, O Jehovah, thou knowest it altogether.\r\n Thou hast beset me behind and before, And laid thy hand upon me.\r\n [Such] knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain unto it.\r\n Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence?\r\n If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, thou art there.\r\n If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;\r\n Even there shall thy hand lead me, And thy right hand shall hold me.\r\n If I say, Surely the darkness shall overwhelm me, And the light about me shall be night;\r\n Even the darkness hideth not from thee, But the night shineth as the day: The darkness and the light are both alike [to thee].\r\n For thou didst form my inward parts: Thou didst cover me in my mother`s womb.\r\n I will give thanks unto thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: Wonderful are thy works; And that my soul knoweth right well.\r\n My frame was not hidden from thee, When I was made in secret, [And] curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.\r\n Thine eyes did see mine unformed substance; And in thy book they were all written, [Even] the days that were ordained [for me], When as yet there was none of them.\r\n How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! How great is the sum of them!\r\n If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: When I awake, I am still with thee.\r\n Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: Depart from me therefore, ye bloodthirsty men.\r\n For they speak against thee wickedly, And thine enemies take [thy name] in vain.\r\n Do not I hate them, O Jehovah, that hate thee? And am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?\r\n I hate them with perfect hatred: They are become mine enemies.\r\n Search me, O God, and know my heart: Try me, and know my thoughts;\r\n And see if there be any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 140 For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.\r\n \r\n \r\n Deliver me, O Jehovah, from the evil man; Preserve me from the violent man:\r\n Who devise mischiefs in their heart; Continually do they gather themselves together for war.\r\n They have sharpened their tongue like a serpent; Adders` poison is under their lips. Selah\r\n Keep me, O Jehovah, from the hands of the wicked; Preserve me from the violent man: Who have purposed to thrust aside my steps.\r\n The proud have hid a snare for me, and cords; They have spread a net by the wayside; They have set gins for me. Selah\r\n I said unto Jehovah, Thou art my God: Give ear unto the voice of my supplications, O Jehovah.\r\n O Jehovah the Lord, the strength of my salvation, Thou hast covered my head in the day of battle.\r\n Grant not, O Jehovah, the desires of the wicked; Further not his evil device, [lest] they exalt themselves. Selah\r\n As for the head of those that compass me about, Let the mischief of their own lips cover them.\r\n Let burning coals fall upon them: Let them be cast into the fire, Into deep pits, whence they shall not rise.\r\n An evil speaker shall not be established in the earth: Evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him.\r\n I know that Jehovah will maintain the cause of the afflicted, And justice for the needy.\r\n Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: The upright shall dwell in thy presence. Psalm 141 A Psalm of David.\r\n \r\n \r\n Jehovah, I have called upon thee; make haste unto me: Give ear unto my voice, when I call unto thee.\r\n Let my prayer be set forth as incense before thee; The lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.\r\n Set a watch, O Jehovah, before my mouth; Keep the door of my lips.\r\n Incline not my heart to any evil thing, To practise deeds of wickedness With men that work iniquity: And let me not eat of their dainties.\r\n Let the righteous smite me, [it shall be] a kindness; And let him reprove me, [it shall be as] oil upon the head; Let not my head refuse it: For even in their wickedness shall my prayer continue.\r\n Their judges are thrown down by the sides of the rock; And they shall hear my words; for they are sweet.\r\n As when one ploweth and cleaveth the earth, Our bones are scattered at the mouth of Sheol.\r\n For mine eyes are unto thee, O Jehovah the Lord: In thee do I take refuge; leave not my soul destitute.\r\n Keep me from the snare which they have laid for me, And from the gins of the workers of iniquity.\r\n Let the wicked fall into their own nets, Whilst that I withal escape. Psalm 142 Maschil of David, when he was in the cave; a Prayer.\r\n \r\n \r\n I cry with my voice unto Jehovah; With my voice unto Jehovah do I make supplication.\r\n I pour out my complaint before him; I show before him my trouble.\r\n When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, Thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walk Have they hidden a snare for me.\r\n Look on [my] right hand, and see; For there is no man that knoweth me: Refuge hath failed me; No man careth for my soul.\r\n I cried unto thee, O Jehovah; I said, Thou art my refuge, My portion in the land of the living.\r\n Attend unto my cry; For I am brought very low: Deliver me from my persecutors; For they are stronger than I.\r\n Bring my soul out of prison, That I may give thanks unto thy name: The righteous shall compass me about; For thou wilt deal bountifully with me. Psalm 143 A Psalm of David.\r\n \r\n \r\n Hear my prayer, O Jehovah; give ear to my supplications: In thy faithfulness answer me, [and] in thy righteousness.\r\n And enter not into judgment with thy servant; For in thy sight no man living is righteous.\r\n For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; He hath smitten my life down to the ground: He hath made me to dwell in dark places, as those that have been long dead.\r\n Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; My heart within me is desolate.\r\n I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy doings; I muse on the work of thy hands.\r\n I spread forth my hands unto thee: My soul [thirsteth] after thee, as a weary land. Selah\r\n Make haste to answer me, O Jehovah; my spirit faileth: Hide not thy face from me, Lest I become like them that go down into the pit.\r\n Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; For in thee do I trust: Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; For I lift up my soul unto thee.\r\n Deliver me, O Jehovah, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me.\r\n Teach me to do thy will; For thou art my God: Thy Spirit is good; Lead me in the land of uprightness.\r\n Quicken me, O Jehovah, for thy name`s sake: In thy righteousness bring my soul out of trouble.\r\n And in thy lovingkindness cut off mine enemies, And destroy all them that afflict my soul; For I am thy servant. Psalm 144 [A Psalm] of David.\r\n \r\n \r\n Blessed be Jehovah my rock, Who teacheth my hands to war, [And] my fingers to fight:\r\n My lovingkindness, and my fortress, My high tower, and my deliverer; My shield, and he in whom I take refuge; Who subdueth my people under me.\r\n Jehovah, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him? Or the son of man, that thou makest account of him?\r\n Man is like to vanity: His days are as a shadow that passeth away.\r\n Bow thy heavens, O Jehovah, and come down: Touch the mountains, and they shall smoke.\r\n Cast forth lightning, and scatter them; Send out thine arrows, and discomfit them.\r\n Stretch forth thy hand from above; Rescue me, and deliver me out of great waters, Out of the hand of aliens;\r\n Whose mouth speaketh deceit, And whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.\r\n I will sing a new song unto thee, O God: Upon a psaltery of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee.\r\n Thou art he that giveth salvation unto kings; Who rescueth David his servant from the hurtful sword.\r\n Rescue me, and deliver me out of the hand of aliens, Whose mouth speaketh deceit, And whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.\r\n When our sons shall be as plants grown up in their youth, And our daughters as corner-stones hewn after the fashion of a palace;\r\n [When] our garners are full, affording all manner of store, [And] our sheep bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our fields;\r\n [When] our oxen are well laden; [When there is] no breaking in, and no going forth, And no outcry in our streets:\r\n Happy is the people that is in such a case; [Yea], happy is the people whose God is Jehovah. Psalm 145 [A] [Psalm] [of] praise; of David.\r\n \r\n \r\n I will extol thee, my God, O King; And I will bless thy name for ever and ever.\r\n Every day will I bless thee; And I will praise thy name for ever and ever.\r\n Great is Jehovah, and greatly to be praised; And his greatness is unsearchable.\r\n One generation shall laud thy works to another, And shall declare thy mighty acts.\r\n Of the glorious majesty of thine honor, And of thy wondrous works, will I meditate.\r\n And men shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts; And I will declare thy greatness.\r\n They shall utter the memory of thy great goodness, And shall sing of thy righteousness.\r\n Jehovah is gracious, and merciful; Slow to anger, and of great lovingkindness.\r\n Jehovah is good to all; And his tender mercies are over all his works.\r\n All thy works shall give thanks unto thee, O Jehovah; And thy saints shall bless thee.\r\n They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, And talk of thy power;\r\n To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, And the glory of the majesty of his kingdom.\r\n Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And thy dominion [endureth] throughout all generations.\r\n Jehovah upholdeth all that fall, And raiseth up all those that are bowed down.\r\n The eyes of all wait for thee; And thou givest them their food in due season.\r\n Thou openest thy hand, And satisfiest the desire of every living thing.\r\n Jehovah is righteous in all his ways, And gracious in all his works.\r\n Jehovah is nigh unto all them that call upon him, To all that call upon him in truth.\r\n He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him; He also will hear their cry and will save them.\r\n Jehovah preserveth all them that love him; But all the wicked will he destroy.\r\n My mouth shall speak the praise of Jehovah; And let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever. Psalm 146\r\n \r\n \r\n Praise ye Jehovah. Praise Jehovah, O my soul.\r\n While I live will I praise Jehovah: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being.\r\n Put not your trust in princes, Nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.\r\n His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; In that very day his thoughts perish.\r\n Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, Whose hope is in Jehovah his God:\r\n Who made heaven and earth, The sea, and all that in them is; Who keepeth truth for ever;\r\n Who executeth justice for the oppressed; Who giveth food to the hungry. Jehovah looseth the prisoners;\r\n Jehovah openeth [the eyes of] the blind; Jehovah raiseth up them that are bowed down; Jehovah loveth the righteous;\r\n Jehovah preserveth the sojourners; He upholdeth the fatherless and widow; But the way of the wicked he turneth upside down.\r\n Jehovah will reign for ever, Thy God, O Zion, unto all generations. Praise ye Jehovah. Psalm 147\r\n \r\n \r\n Praise ye Jehovah; For it is good to sing praises unto our God; For it is pleasant, [and] praise is comely.\r\n Jehovah doth build up Jerusalem; He gathereth together the outcasts of Israel.\r\n He healeth the broken in heart, And bindeth up their wounds.\r\n He counteth the number of the stars; He calleth them all by [their] names.\r\n Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite.\r\n Jehovah upholdeth the meek: He bringeth the wicked down to the ground.\r\n Sing unto Jehovah with thanksgiving; Sing praises upon the harp unto our God,\r\n Who covereth the heavens with clouds, Who prepareth rain for the earth, Who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains.\r\n He giveth to the beast his food, [And] to the young ravens which cry.\r\n He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: He taketh no pleasure in the legs of a man.\r\n Jehovah taketh pleasure in them that fear him, In those that hope in his lovingkindness.\r\n Praise Jehovah, O Jerusalem; Praise thy God, O Zion.\r\n For he hath strengthened the bars of thy gates; He hath blessed thy children within thee.\r\n He maketh peace in thy borders; He filleth thee with the finest of the wheat.\r\n He sendeth out his commandment upon earth; His word runneth very swiftly.\r\n He giveth snow like wool; He scattereth the hoar-frost like ashes.\r\n He casteth forth his ice like morsels: Who can stand before his cold?\r\n He sendeth out his word, and melteth them: He causeth his wind to blow, and the waters flow.\r\n He showeth his word unto Jacob, His statutes and his ordinances unto Israel.\r\n He hath not dealt so with any nation; And as for his ordinances, they have not known them. Praise ye Jehovah. Psalm 148\r\n \r\n \r\n Praise ye Jehovah. Praise ye Jehovah from the heavens: Praise him in the heights.\r\n Praise ye him, all his angels: Praise ye him, all his host.\r\n Praise ye him, sun and moon: Praise him, all ye stars of light.\r\n Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, And ye waters that are above the heavens.\r\n Let them praise the name of Jehovah; For he commanded, and they were created.\r\n He hath also established them for ever and ever: He hath made a decree which shall not pass away.\r\n Praise Jehovah from the earth, Ye sea-monsters, and all deeps.\r\n Fire and hail, snow and vapor; Stormy wind, fulfilling his word;\r\n Mountains and all hills; Fruitful trees and all cedars;\r\n Beasts and all cattle; Creeping things and flying birds;\r\n Kings of the earth and all peoples; Princes and all judges of the earth;\r\n Both young men and virgins; Old men and children:\r\n Let them praise the name of Jehovah; For his name alone is exalted; His glory is above the earth and the heavens.\r\n And he hath lifted up the horn of his people, The praise of all his saints; Even of the children of Israel, a people near unto him. Praise ye Jehovah. Psalm 149\r\n \r\n \r\n Praise ye Jehovah. Sing unto Jehovah a new song, And his praise in the assembly of the saints.\r\n Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.\r\n Let them praise his name in the dance: Let them sing praises unto him with timbrel and harp.\r\n For Jehovah taketh pleasure in his people: He will beautify the meek with salvation.\r\n Let the saints exult in glory: Let them sing for joy upon their beds.\r\n [Let] the high praises of God [be] in their mouth, And a two-edged sword in their hand;\r\n To execute vengeance upon the nations, And punishments upon the peoples;\r\n To bind their kings with chains, And their nobles with fetters of iron;\r\n To execute upon them the judgment written: This honor have all his saints. Praise ye Jehovah. Psalm 150\r\n \r\n \r\n Praise ye Jehovah. Praise God in his sanctuary: Praise him in the firmament of his power.\r\n Praise him for his mighty acts: Praise him according to his excellent greatness.\r\n Praise him with trumpet sound: Praise him with psaltery and harp.\r\n Praise him with timbrel and dance: Praise him with stringed instruments and pipe.\r\n Praise him with loud cymbals: Praise him with high sounding cymbals.\r\n Let everything that hath breath praise Jehovah. Praise ye Jehovah.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel:\r\n To know wisdom and instruction; To discern the words of understanding;\r\n To receive instruction in wise dealing, In righteousness and justice and equity;\r\n To give prudence to the simple, To the young man knowledge and discretion:\r\n That the wise man may hear, and increase in learning; And that the man of understanding may attain unto sound counsels:\r\n To understand a proverb, and a figure, The words of the wise, and their dark sayings.\r\n The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of knowledge; [But] the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.\r\n My son, hear the instruction of thy father, And forsake not the law of thy mother:\r\n For they shall be a chaplet of grace unto thy head, And chains about thy neck.\r\n My son, if sinners entice thee, Consent thou not.\r\n If they say, Come with us, Let us lay wait for blood; Let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause;\r\n Let us swallow them up alive as Sheol, And whole, as those that go down into the pit;\r\n We shall find all precious substance; We shall fill our houses with spoil;\r\n Thou shalt cast thy lot among us; We will all have one purse:\r\n My son, walk not thou in the way with them; Refrain thy foot from their path:\r\n For their feet run to evil, And they make haste to shed blood.\r\n For in vain is the net spread In the sight of any bird:\r\n And these lay wait for their own blood; They lurk privily for their own lives.\r\n So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; It taketh away the life of the owners thereof.\r\n Wisdom crieth aloud in the street; She uttereth her voice in the broad places;\r\n She crieth in the chief place of concourse; At the entrance of the gates, In the city, she uttereth her words:\r\n How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? And scoffers delight them in scoffing, And fools hate knowledge?\r\n Turn you at my reproof: Behold, I will pour out my spirit upon you; I will make known my words unto you.\r\n Because I have called, and ye have refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man hath regarded;\r\n But ye have set at nought all my counsel, And would none of my reproof:\r\n I also will laugh in [the day of] your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;\r\n When your fear cometh as a storm, And your calamity cometh on as a whirlwind; When distress and anguish come upon you.\r\n Then will they call upon me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently, but they shall not find me:\r\n For that they hated knowledge, And did not choose the fear of Jehovah:\r\n They would none of my counsel; They despised all my reproof.\r\n Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, And be filled with their own devices.\r\n For the backsliding of the simple shall slay them, And the careless ease of fools shall destroy them.\r\n But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell securely, And shall be quiet without fear of evil.\r\n \r\n \r\n My son, if thou wilt receive my words, And lay up my commandments with thee;\r\n So as to incline thine ear unto wisdom, And apply thy heart to understanding;\r\n Yea, if thou cry after discernment, And lift up thy voice for understanding;\r\n If thou seek her as silver, And search for her as for hid treasures:\r\n Then shalt thou understand the fear of Jehovah, And find the knowledge of God.\r\n For Jehovah giveth wisdom; Out of his mouth [cometh] knowledge and understanding:\r\n He layeth up sound wisdom for the upright; [He is] a shield to them that walk in integrity;\r\n That he may guard the paths of justice, And preserve the way of his saints.\r\n Then shalt thou understand righteousness and justice, And equity, [yea], every good path.\r\n For wisdom shall enter into thy heart, And knowledge shall be pleasant unto thy soul;\r\n Discretion shall watch over thee; Understanding shall keep thee:\r\n To deliver thee from the way of evil, From the men that speak perverse things;\r\n Who forsake the paths of uprightness, To walk in the ways of darkness;\r\n Who rejoice to do evil, And delight in the perverseness of evil;\r\n Who are crooked in their ways, And wayward in their paths:\r\n To deliver thee from the strange woman, Even from the foreigner that flattereth with her words;\r\n That forsaketh the friend of her youth, And forgetteth the covenant of her God:\r\n For her house inclineth unto death, And her paths unto the dead;\r\n None that go unto her return again, Neither do they attain unto the paths of life:\r\n That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, And keep the paths of the righteous.\r\n For the upright shall dwell in the land, And the perfect shall remain in it.\r\n But the wicked shall be cut off from the land, And the treacherous shall be rooted out of it.\r\n \r\n \r\n My son, forget not my law; But let thy heart keep my commandments:\r\n For length of days, and years of life, And peace, will they add to thee.\r\n Let not kindness and truth forsake thee: Bind them about thy neck; Write them upon the tablet of thy heart:\r\n So shalt thou find favor and good understanding In the sight of God and man.\r\n Trust in Jehovah with all thy heart, And lean not upon thine own understanding:\r\n In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he will direct thy paths.\r\n Be not wise in thine own eyes; Fear Jehovah, and depart from evil:\r\n It will be health to thy navel, And marrow to thy bones.\r\n Honor Jehovah with thy substance, And with the first-fruits of all thine increase:\r\n So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, And thy vats shall overflow with new wine.\r\n My son, despise not the chastening of Jehovah; Neither be weary of his reproof:\r\n For whom Jehovah loveth he reproveth; Even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.\r\n Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, And the man that getteth understanding.\r\n For the gaining of it is better than the gaining of silver, And the profit thereof than fine gold.\r\n She is more precious than rubies: And none of the things thou canst desire are to be compared unto her.\r\n Length of days is in her right hand; In her left hand are riches and honor.\r\n Her ways are ways of pleasantness, And all her paths are peace.\r\n She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: And happy is every one that retaineth her.\r\n Jehovah by wisdom founded the earth; By understanding he established the heavens.\r\n By his knowledge the depths were broken up, And the skies drop down the dew.\r\n My son, let them not depart from thine eyes; Keep sound wisdom and discretion:\r\n So shall they be life unto thy soul, And grace to thy neck.\r\n Then shalt thou walk in thy way securely, And thy foot shall not stumble.\r\n When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: Yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.\r\n Be not afraid of sudden fear, Neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh:\r\n For Jehovah will be thy confidence, And will keep thy foot from being taken.\r\n Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, When it is in the power of thy hand to do it.\r\n Say not unto thy neighbor, Go, and come again, And to-morrow I will give; When thou hast it by thee.\r\n Devise not evil against thy neighbor, Seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.\r\n Strive not with a man without cause, If he have done thee no harm.\r\n Envy thou not the man of violence, And choose none of his ways.\r\n For the perverse is an abomination to Jehovah; But his friendship is with the upright.\r\n The curse of Jehovah is in the house of the wicked; But he blesseth the habitation of the righteous.\r\n Surely he scoffeth at the scoffers; But he giveth grace unto the lowly.\r\n The wise shall inherit glory; But shame shall be the promotion of fools.\r\n \r\n \r\n Hear, [my] sons, the instruction of a father, And attend to know understanding:\r\n For I give you good doctrine; Forsake ye not my law.\r\n For I was a son unto my father, Tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.\r\n And he taught me, and said unto me: Let thy heart retain my words; Keep my commandments, and live;\r\n Get wisdom, get understanding; Forget not, neither decline from the words of my mouth;\r\n Forsake her not, and she will preserve thee; Love her, and she will keep thee.\r\n Wisdom [is] the principal thing; [therefore] get wisdom; Yea, with all thy getting get understanding.\r\n Exalt her, and she will promote thee; She will bring thee to honor, when thou dost embrace her.\r\n She will give to thy head a chaplet of grace; A crown of beauty will she deliver to thee.\r\n Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; And the years of thy life shall be many.\r\n I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in paths of uprightness.\r\n When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; And if thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.\r\n Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: Keep her; for she is thy life.\r\n Enter not into the path of the wicked, And walk not in the way of evil men.\r\n Avoid it, pass not by it; Turn from it, and pass on.\r\n For they sleep not, except they do evil; And their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.\r\n For they eat the bread of wickedness, And drink the wine of violence.\r\n But the path of the righteous is as the dawning light, That shineth more and more unto the perfect day.\r\n The way of the wicked is as darkness: They know not at what they stumble.\r\n My son, attend to my words; Incline thine ear unto my sayings.\r\n Let them not depart from thine eyes; Keep them in the midst of thy heart.\r\n For they are life unto those that find them, And health to all their flesh.\r\n Keep thy heart with all diligence; For out of it are the issues of life.\r\n Put away from thee a wayward mouth, And perverse lips put far from thee.\r\n Let thine eyes look right on, And let thine eyelids look straight before thee.\r\n Make level the path of thy feet, And let all thy ways be established.\r\n Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: Remove thy foot from evil.\r\n \r\n \r\n My son, attend unto my wisdom; Incline thine ear to my understanding:\r\n That thou mayest preserve discretion, And that thy lips may keep knowledge.\r\n For the lips of a strange woman drop honey, And her mouth is smoother than oil:\r\n But in the end she is bitter as wormwood, Sharp as a two-edged sword.\r\n Her feet go down to death; Her steps take hold on Sheol;\r\n So that she findeth not the level path of life: Her ways are unstable, [and] she knoweth [it] not.\r\n Now therefore, [my] sons, hearken unto me, And depart not from the words of my mouth.\r\n Remove thy way far from her, And come not nigh the door of her house;\r\n Lest thou give thine honor unto others, And thy years unto the cruel;\r\n Lest strangers be filled with thy strength, And thy labors [be] in the house of an alien,\r\n And thou mourn at thy latter end, When thy flesh and thy body are consumed,\r\n And say, How have I hated instruction, And my heart despised reproof;\r\n Neither have I obeyed the voice of my teachers, Nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me!\r\n I was well-nigh in all evil In the midst of the assembly and congregation.\r\n Drink waters out of thine own cistern, And running waters out of thine own well.\r\n Should thy springs be dispersed abroad, And streams of water in the streets?\r\n Let them be for thyself alone, And not for strangers with thee.\r\n Let thy fountain be blessed; And rejoice in the wife of thy youth.\r\n [As] a loving hind and a pleasant doe, Let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; And be thou ravished always with her love.\r\n For why shouldest thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, And embrace the bosom of a foreigner?\r\n For the ways of man are before the eyes of Jehovah; And he maketh level all his paths.\r\n His own iniquities shall take the wicked, And he shall be holden with the cords of his sin.\r\n He shall die for lack of instruction; And in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.\r\n \r\n \r\n My son, if thou art become surety for thy neighbor, If thou hast stricken thy hands for a stranger;\r\n Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, Thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.\r\n Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself, Seeing thou art come into the hand of thy neighbor: Go, humble thyself, and importune thy neighbor;\r\n Give not sleep to thine eyes, Nor slumber to thine eyelids;\r\n Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand [of the hunter], And as a bird from the hand of the fowler.\r\n Go to the ant, thou sluggard; Consider her ways, and be wise:\r\n Which having no chief, Overseer, or ruler,\r\n Provideth her bread in the summer, And gathereth her food in the harvest.\r\n How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? When wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?\r\n [Yet] a little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep:\r\n So shall thy poverty come as a robber, And thy want as an armed man.\r\n A worthless person, a man of iniquity, Is he that walketh with a perverse mouth;\r\n That winketh with his eyes, that speaketh with his feet, That maketh signs with his fingers;\r\n In whose heart is perverseness, Who deviseth evil continually, Who soweth discord.\r\n Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; On a sudden shall he be broken, and that without remedy.\r\n There are six things which Jehovah hateth; Yea, seven which are an abomination unto him:\r\n Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood;\r\n A heart that deviseth wicked purposes, Feet that are swift in running to mischief,\r\n A false witness that uttereth lies, And he that soweth discord among brethren.\r\n My son, keep the commandment of thy father, And forsake not the law of thy mother:\r\n Bind them continually upon thy heart; Tie them about thy neck.\r\n When thou walkest, it shall lead thee; When thou sleepest, it shall watch over thee; And when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.\r\n For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; And reproofs of instruction are the way of life:\r\n To keep thee from the evil woman, From the flattery of the foreigner`s tongue.\r\n Lust not after her beauty in thy heart; Neither let her take thee with her eyelids.\r\n For on account of a harlot [a man is brought] to a piece of bread; And the adulteress hunteth for the precious life.\r\n Can a man take fire in his bosom, And his clothes not be burned?\r\n Or can one walk upon hot coals, And his feet not be scorched?\r\n So he that goeth in to his neighbor`s wife; Whosoever toucheth her shall not be unpunished.\r\n Men do not despise a thief, if he steal To satisfy himself when he is hungry:\r\n But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; He shall give all the substance of his house.\r\n He that committeth adultery with a woman is void of understanding: He doeth it who would destroy his own soul.\r\n Wounds and dishonor shall he get; And his reproach shall not be wiped away.\r\n For jealousy is the rage of a man; And he will not spare in the day of vengeance.\r\n He will not regard any ransom; Neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts.\r\n \r\n \r\n My son, keep my words, And lay up my commandments with thee.\r\n Keep my commandments and live; And my law as the apple of thine eye.\r\n Bind them upon thy fingers; Write them upon the tablet of thy heart.\r\n Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; And call understanding [thy] kinswoman:\r\n That they may keep thee from the strange woman, From the foreigner that flattereth with her words.\r\n For at the window of my house I looked forth through my lattice;\r\n And I beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, A young man void of understanding,\r\n Passing through the street near her corner; And he went the way to her house,\r\n In the twilight, in the evening of the day, In the middle of the night and in the darkness.\r\n And, behold, there met him a woman With the attire of a harlot, and wily of heart.\r\n She is clamorous and wilful; Her feet abide not in her house:\r\n Now she is in the streets, now in the broad places, And lieth in wait at every corner.\r\n So she caught him, and kissed him, [And] with an impudent face she said unto him:\r\n Sacrifices of peace-offerings are with me; This day have I paid my vows.\r\n Therefore came I forth to meet thee, Diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.\r\n I have spread my couch with carpets of tapestry, With striped cloths of the yarn of Egypt.\r\n I have perfumed my bed With myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.\r\n Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning; Let us solace ourselves with loves.\r\n For the man is not at home; He is gone a long journey:\r\n He hath taken a bag of money with him; He will come home at the full moon.\r\n With her much fair speech she causeth him to yield; With the flattering of her lips she forceth him along.\r\n He goeth after her straightway, As an ox goeth to the slaughter, Or as [one in] fetters to the correction of the fool;\r\n Till an arrow strike through his liver; As a bird hasteth to the snare, And knoweth not that it is for his life.\r\n Now therefore, [my] sons, hearken unto me, And attend to the words of my mouth.\r\n Let not thy heart decline to her ways; Go not astray in her paths.\r\n For she hath cast down many wounded: Yea, all her slain are a mighty host.\r\n Her house is the way to Sheol, Going down to the chambers of death.\r\n \r\n \r\n Doth not wisdom cry, And understanding put forth her voice?\r\n On the top of high places by the way, Where the paths meet, she standeth;\r\n Beside the gates, at the entry of the city, At the coming in at the doors, she crieth aloud:\r\n Unto you, O men, I call; And my voice is to the sons of men.\r\n O ye simple, understand prudence; And, ye fools, be of an understanding heart.\r\n Hear, for I will speak excellent things; And the opening of my lips shall be right things.\r\n For my mouth shall utter truth; And wickedness is an abomination to my lips.\r\n All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; There is nothing crooked or perverse in them.\r\n They are all plain to him that understandeth, And right to them that find knowledge.\r\n Receive my instruction, and not silver; And knowledge rather than choice gold.\r\n For wisdom is better than rubies; And all the things that may be desired are not to be compared unto it.\r\n I wisdom have made prudence my dwelling, And find out knowledge [and] discretion.\r\n The fear of Jehovah is to hate evil: Pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, And the perverse mouth, do I hate.\r\n Counsel is mine, and sound knowledge: I am understanding; I have might.\r\n By me kings reign, And princes decree justice.\r\n By me princes rule, And nobles, [even] all the judges of the earth.\r\n I love them that love me; And those that seek me diligently shall find me.\r\n Riches and honor are with me; [Yea], durable wealth and righteousness.\r\n My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; And my revenue than choice silver.\r\n I walk in the way of righteousness, In the midst of the paths of justice;\r\n That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance, And that I may fill their treasuries.\r\n Jehovah possessed me in the beginning of his way, Before his works of old.\r\n I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, Before the earth was.\r\n When there were no depths, I was brought forth, When there were no fountains abounding with water.\r\n Before the mountains were settled, Before the hills was I brought forth;\r\n While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, Nor the beginning of the dust of the world.\r\n When he established the heavens, I was there: When he set a circle upon the face of the deep,\r\n When he made firm the skies above, When the fountains of the deep became strong,\r\n When he gave to the sea its bound, That the waters should not transgress his commandment, When he marked out the foundations of the earth;\r\n Then I was by him, [as] a master workman; And I was daily [his] delight, Rejoicing always before him,\r\n Rejoicing in his habitable earth; And my delight was with the sons of men.\r\n Now therefore, [my] sons, hearken unto me; For blessed are they that keep my ways.\r\n Hear instruction, and be wise, And refuse it not.\r\n Blessed is the man that heareth me, Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at the posts of my doors.\r\n For whoso findeth me findeth life, And shall obtain favor of Jehovah.\r\n But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: All they that hate me love death.\r\n \r\n \r\n Wisdom hath builded her house; She hath hewn out her seven pillars:\r\n She hath killed her beasts; She hath mingled her wine; She hath also furnished her table:\r\n She hath sent forth her maidens; She crieth upon the highest places of the city:\r\n Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: As for him that is void of understanding, she saith to him,\r\n Come, eat ye of my bread, And drink of the wine which I have mingled.\r\n Leave off, ye simple ones, and live; And walk in the way of understanding.\r\n He that correcteth a scoffer getteth to himself reviling; And he that reproveth a wicked man [getteth] himself a blot.\r\n Reprove not a scoffer, lest he hate thee: Reprove a wise man, and he will love thee.\r\n Give [instruction] to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: Teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.\r\n The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom; And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.\r\n For by me thy days shall be multiplied, And the years of thy life shall be increased.\r\n If thou art wise, thou art wise for thyself; And if thou scoffest, thou alone shalt bear it.\r\n The foolish woman is clamorous; [She is] simple, and knoweth nothing.\r\n And she sitteth at the door of her house, On a seat in the high places of the city,\r\n To call to them that pass by, Who go right on their ways:\r\n Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither; And as for him that is void of understanding, she saith to him,\r\n Stolen waters are sweet, And bread [eaten] in secret is pleasant.\r\n But he knoweth not that the dead are there; That her guests are in the depths of Sheol.\r\n \r\n \r\n The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father; But a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.\r\n Treasures of wickedness profit nothing; But righteousness delivereth from death.\r\n Jehovah will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish; But he thrusteth away the desire of the wicked.\r\n He becometh poor that worketh with a slack hand; But the hand of the diligent maketh rich.\r\n He that gathereth in summer is a wise son; [But] he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame.\r\n Blessings are upon the head of the righteous; But violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.\r\n The memory of the righteous is blessed; But the name of the wicked shall rot.\r\n The wise in heart will receive commandments; But a prating fool shall fall.\r\n He that walketh uprightly walketh surely; But he that perverteth his ways shall be known.\r\n He that winketh with the eye causeth sorrow; But a prating fool shall fall.\r\n The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life; But violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.\r\n Hatred stirreth up strifes; But love covereth all transgressions.\r\n In the lips of him that hath discernment wisdom is found; But a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding.\r\n Wise men lay up knowledge; But the mouth of the foolish is a present destruction.\r\n The rich man`s wealth is his strong city: The destruction of the poor is their poverty.\r\n The labor of the righteous [tendeth] to life; The increase of the wicked, to sin.\r\n He is in the way of life that heedeth correction; But he that forsaketh reproof erreth.\r\n He that hideth hatred is of lying lips; And he that uttereth a slander is a fool.\r\n In the multitude of words there wanteth not transgression; But he that refraineth his lips doeth wisely.\r\n The tongue of the righteous is [as] choice silver: The heart of the wicked is little worth.\r\n The lips of the righteous feed many; But the foolish die for lack of understanding.\r\n The blessing of Jehovah, it maketh rich; And he addeth no sorrow therewith.\r\n It is as sport to a fool to do wickedness; And [so is] wisdom to a man of understanding.\r\n The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him; And the desire of the righteous shall be granted.\r\n When the whirlwind passeth, the wicked is no more; But the righteous is an everlasting foundation.\r\n As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, So is the sluggard to them that send him.\r\n The fear of Jehovah prolongeth days; But the years of the wicked shall be shortened.\r\n The hope of the righteous [shall be] gladness; But the expectation of the wicked shall perish.\r\n The way of Jehovah is a stronghold to the upright; But it is a destruction to the workers of iniquity.\r\n The righteous shall never be removed; But the wicked shall not dwell in the land.\r\n The mouth of the righteous bringeth forth wisdom; But the perverse tongue shall be cut off.\r\n The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable; But the mouth of the wicked [speaketh] perverseness.\r\n \r\n \r\n A false balance is an abomination to Jehovah; But a just weight is his delight.\r\n When pride cometh, then cometh shame; But with the lowly is wisdom.\r\n The integrity of the upright shall guide them; But the perverseness of the treacherous shall destroy them.\r\n Riches profit not in the day of wrath; But righteousness delivereth from death.\r\n The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way; But the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.\r\n The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them; But the treacherous shall be taken in their own iniquity.\r\n When a wicked man dieth, [his] expectation shall perish; And the hope of iniquity perisheth.\r\n The righteous is delivered out of trouble, And the wicked cometh in his stead.\r\n With his mouth the godless man destroyeth his neighbor; But through knowledge shall the righteous be delivered.\r\n When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth; And when the wicked perish, there is shouting.\r\n By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted; But it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.\r\n He that despiseth his neighbor is void of wisdom; But a man of understanding holdeth his peace.\r\n He that goeth about as a tale-bearer revealeth secrets; But he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth a matter.\r\n Where no wise guidance is, the people falleth; But in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.\r\n He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it; But he that hateth suretyship is secure.\r\n A gracious woman obtaineth honor; And violent men obtain riches.\r\n The merciful man doeth good to his own soul; But he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.\r\n The wicked earneth deceitful wages; But he that soweth righteousness [hath] a sure reward.\r\n He that is stedfast in righteousness [shall attain] unto life; And he that pursueth evil [doeth it] to his own death.\r\n They that are perverse in heart are an abomination to Jehovah; But such as are perfect in [their] way are his delight.\r\n [Though] hand [join] in hand, the evil man shall not be unpunished; But the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.\r\n [As] a ring of gold in a swine`s snout, [So is] a fair woman that is without discretion.\r\n The desire of the righteous is only good; [But] the expectation of the wicked is wrath.\r\n There is that scattereth, and increaseth yet more; And there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but [it tendeth] only to want.\r\n The liberal soul shall be made fat; And he that watereth shall be watered also himself.\r\n He that withholdeth grain, the people shall curse him; But blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it.\r\n He that diligently seeketh good seeketh favor; But he that searcheth after evil, it shall come unto him.\r\n He that trusteth in his riches shall fall; But the righteous shall flourish as the green leaf.\r\n He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind; And the foolish shall be servant to the wise of heart.\r\n The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; And he that is wise winneth souls.\r\n Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: How much more the wicked and the sinner!\r\n \r\n \r\n Whoso loveth correction loveth knowledge; But he that hateth reproof is brutish.\r\n A good man shall obtain favor of Jehovah; But a man of wicked devices will he condemn.\r\n A man shall not be established by wickedness; But the root of the righteous shall not be moved.\r\n A worthy woman is the crown of her husband; But she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.\r\n The thoughts of the righteous are just; [But] the counsels of the wicked are deceit.\r\n The words of the wicked are of lying in wait for blood; But the mouth of the upright shall deliver them.\r\n The wicked are overthrown, and are not; But the house of the righteous shall stand.\r\n A man shall be commended according to his wisdom; But he that is of a perverse heart shall be despised.\r\n Better is he that is lightly esteemed, and hath a servant, Than he that honoreth himself, and lacketh bread.\r\n A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast; But the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.\r\n He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread; But he that followeth after vain [persons] is void of understanding.\r\n The wicked desireth the net of evil men; But the root of the righteous yieldeth [fruit].\r\n In the transgression of the lips is a snare to the evil man; But the righteous shall come out of trouble.\r\n A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth; And the doings of a man`s hands shall be rendered unto him.\r\n The way of a fool is right in his own eyes; But he that is wise hearkeneth unto counsel.\r\n A fool`s vexation is presently known; But a prudent man concealeth shame.\r\n He that uttereth truth showeth forth righteousness; But a false witness, deceit.\r\n There is that speaketh rashly like the piercings of a sword; But the tongue of the wise is health.\r\n The lip of truth shall be established for ever; But a lying tongue is but for a moment.\r\n Deceit is in the heart of them that devise evil; But to the counsellors of peace is joy.\r\n There shall no mischief happen to the righteous; But the wicked shall be filled with evil.\r\n Lying lips are an abomination to Jehovah; But they that deal truly are his delight.\r\n A prudent man concealeth knowledge; But the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness.\r\n The hand of the diligent shall bear rule; But the slothful shall be put under taskwork.\r\n Heaviness in the heart of a man maketh it stoop; But a good word maketh it glad.\r\n The righteous is a guide to his neighbor; But the way of the wicked causeth them to err.\r\n The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting; But the precious substance of men [is to] the diligent.\r\n In the way of righteousness is life; And in the pathway thereof there is no death.\r\n \r\n \r\n A wise son [heareth] his father`s instruction; But a scoffer heareth not rebuke.\r\n A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth; But the soul of the treacherous [shall eat] violence.\r\n He that guardeth his mouth keepeth his life; [But] he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.\r\n The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing; But the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.\r\n A righteous man hateth lying; But a wicked man is loathsome, and cometh to shame.\r\n Righteousness guardeth him that is upright in the way; But wickedness overthroweth the sinner.\r\n There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: There is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great wealth.\r\n The ransom of a man`s life is his riches; But the poor heareth no threatening.\r\n The light of the righteous rejoiceth; But the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.\r\n By pride cometh only contention; But with the well-advised is wisdom.\r\n Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished; But he that gathereth by labor shall have increase.\r\n Hope deferred maketh the heart sick; But when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.\r\n Whoso despiseth the word bringeth destruction on himself; But he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.\r\n The law of the wise is a fountain of life, That one may depart from the snares of death.\r\n Good understanding giveth favor; But the way of the transgressor is hard.\r\n Every prudent man worketh with knowledge; But a fool flaunteth [his] folly.\r\n A wicked messenger falleth into evil; But a faithful ambassador is health.\r\n Poverty and shame [shall be to] him that refuseth correction; But he that regardeth reproof shall be honored.\r\n The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul; But it is an abomination to fools to depart from evil.\r\n Walk with wise men, and thou shalt be wise; But the companion of fools shall smart for it.\r\n Evil pursueth sinners; But the righteous shall be recompensed with good.\r\n A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children`s children; And the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the righteous.\r\n Much food [is in] the tillage of the poor; But there is that is destroyed by reason of injustice.\r\n He that spareth his rod hateth his son; But he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.\r\n The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul; But the belly of the wicked shall want.\r\n \r\n \r\n Every wise woman buildeth her house; But the foolish plucketh it down with her own hands.\r\n He that walketh in his uprightness feareth Jehovah; But he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him.\r\n In the mouth of the foolish is a rod for [his] pride; But the lips of the wise shall preserve them.\r\n Where no oxen are, the crib is clean; But much increase is by the strength of the ox.\r\n A faithful witness will not lie; But a false witness uttereth lies.\r\n A scoffer seeketh wisdom, and [findeth it] not; But knowledge is easy unto him that hath understanding.\r\n Go into the presence of a foolish man, And thou shalt not perceive [in him] the lips of knowledge.\r\n The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way; But the folly of fools is deceit.\r\n A trespass-offering mocketh fools; But among the upright there is good will.\r\n The heart knoweth its own bitterness; And a stranger doth not intermeddle with its joy.\r\n The house of the wicked shall be overthrown; But the tent of the upright shall flourish.\r\n There is a way which seemeth right unto a man; But the end thereof are the ways of death.\r\n Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; And the end of mirth is heaviness.\r\n The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways; And a good man [shall be satisfied] from himself.\r\n The simple believeth every word; But the prudent man looketh well to his going.\r\n A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil; But the fool beareth himself insolently, and is confident.\r\n He that is soon angry will deal foolishly; And a man of wicked devices is hated.\r\n The simple inherit folly; But the prudent are crowned with knowledge.\r\n The evil bow down before the good; And the wicked, at the gates of the righteous.\r\n The poor is hated even of his own neighbor; But the rich hath many friends.\r\n He that despiseth his neighbor sinneth; But he that hath pity on the poor, happy is he.\r\n Do they not err that devise evil? But mercy and truth [shall be to] them that devise good.\r\n In all labor there is profit; But the talk of the lips [tendeth] only to penury.\r\n The crown of the wise is their riches; [But] the folly of fools is [only] folly.\r\n A true witness delivereth souls; But he that uttereth lies [causeth] deceit.\r\n In the fear of Jehovah is strong confidence; And his children shall have a place of refuge.\r\n The fear of Jehovah is a fountain of life, That one may depart from the snares of death.\r\n In the multitude of people is the king`s glory; But in the want of people is the destruction of the prince.\r\n He that is slow to anger is of great understanding; But he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.\r\n A tranquil heart is the life of the flesh; But envy is the rottenness of the bones.\r\n He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker; But he that hath mercy on the needy honoreth him.\r\n The wicked is thrust down in his evil-doing; But the righteous hath a refuge in his death.\r\n Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding; But [that which is] in the inward part of fools is made known.\r\n Righteousness exalteth a nation; But sin is a reproach to any people.\r\n The king`s favor is toward a servant that dealeth wisely; But his wrath will be [against] him that causeth shame.\r\n \r\n \r\n A soft answer turneth away wrath; But a grievous word stirreth up anger.\r\n The tongue of the wise uttereth knowledge aright; But the mouth of fools poureth out folly.\r\n The eyes of Jehovah are in every place, Keeping watch upon the evil and the good.\r\n A gentle tongue is a tree of life; But perverseness therein is a breaking of the spirit.\r\n A fool despiseth his father`s correction; But he that regardeth reproof getteth prudence.\r\n In the house of the righteous is much treasure; But in the revenues of the wicked is trouble.\r\n The lips of the wise disperse knowledge; But the heart of the foolish [doeth] not so.\r\n The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to Jehovah; But the prayer of the upright is his delight.\r\n The way of the wicked is an abomination to Jehovah; But he loveth him that followeth after righteousness.\r\n There is grievous correction for him that forsaketh the way; [And] he that hateth reproof shall die.\r\n Sheol and Abaddon are before Jehovah: How much more then the hearts of the children of men!\r\n A scoffer loveth not to be reproved; He will not go unto the wise.\r\n A glad heart maketh a cheerful countenance; But by sorrow of heart the spirit is broken.\r\n The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge; But the mouth of fools feedeth on folly.\r\n All the days of the afflicted are evil; But he that is of a cheerful heart [hath] a continual feast.\r\n Better is little, with the fear of Jehovah, Than great treasure and trouble therewith.\r\n Better is a dinner of herbs, where love is, Than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.\r\n A wrathful man stirreth up contention; But he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.\r\n The way of the sluggard is as a hedge of thorns; But the path of the upright is made a highway.\r\n A wise son maketh a glad father; But a foolish man despiseth his mother.\r\n Folly is joy to him that is void of wisdom; But a man of understanding maketh straight his going.\r\n Where there is no counsel, purposes are disappointed; But in the multitude of counsellors they are established.\r\n A man hath joy in the answer of his mouth; And a word in due season, how good is it!\r\n To the wise the way of life [goeth] upward, That he may depart from Sheol beneath.\r\n Jehovah will root up the house of the proud; But he will establish the border of the widow.\r\n Evil devices are an abomination to Jehovah; But pleasant words [are] pure.\r\n He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; But he that hateth bribes shall live.\r\n The heart of the righteous studieth to answer; But the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.\r\n Jehovah is far from the wicked; But he heareth the prayer of the righteous.\r\n The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart; [And] good tidings make the bones fat.\r\n The ear that hearkeneth to the reproof of life Shall abide among the wise.\r\n He that refuseth correction despiseth his own soul; But he that hearkeneth to reproof getteth understanding.\r\n The fear of Jehovah is the instruction of wisdom; And before honor [goeth] humility.\r\n \r\n \r\n The plans of the heart belong to man; But the answer of the tongue is from Jehovah.\r\n All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; But Jehovah weigheth the spirits.\r\n Commit thy works unto Jehovah, And thy purposes shall be established.\r\n Jehovah hath made everything for its own end; Yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.\r\n Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to Jehovah: [Though] hand [join] in hand, he shall not be unpunished.\r\n By mercy and truth iniquity is atoned for; And by the fear of Jehovah men depart from evil.\r\n When a man`s ways please Jehovah, He maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.\r\n Better is a little, with righteousness, Than great revenues with injustice.\r\n A man`s heart deviseth his way; But Jehovah directeth his steps.\r\n A divine sentence is in the lips of the king; His mouth shall not transgress in judgment.\r\n A just balance and scales are Jehovah`s; All the weights of the bag are his work.\r\n It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness; For the throne is established by righteousness.\r\n Righteous lips are the delight of kings; And they love him that speaketh right.\r\n The wrath of a king is [as] messengers of death; But a wise man will pacify it.\r\n In the light of the king`s countenance is life; And his favor is as a cloud of the latter rain.\r\n How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! Yea, to get understanding is rather to be chosen than silver.\r\n The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: He that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.\r\n Pride [goeth] before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.\r\n Better it is to be of a lowly spirit with the poor, Than to divide the spoil with the proud.\r\n He that giveth heed unto the word shall find good; And whoso trusteth in Jehovah, happy is he.\r\n The wise in heart shall be called prudent; And the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.\r\n Understanding is a well-spring of life unto him that hath it; But the correction of fools is [their] folly.\r\n The heart of the wise instructeth his mouth, And addeth learning to his lips.\r\n Pleasant words are [as] a honeycomb, Sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.\r\n There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, But the end thereof are the ways of death.\r\n The appetite of the laboring man laboreth for him; For his mouth urgeth him [thereto].\r\n A worthless man deviseth mischief; And in his lips there is as a scorching fire.\r\n A perverse man scattereth abroad strife; And a whisperer separateth chief friends.\r\n A man of violence enticeth his neighbor, And leadeth him in a way that is not good.\r\n He that shutteth his eyes, [it is] to devise perverse things: He that compresseth his lips bringeth evil to pass.\r\n The hoary head is a crown of glory; It shall be found in the way of righteousness.\r\n He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; And he that ruleth his spirit, than he that taketh a city.\r\n The lot is cast into the lap; But the whole disposing thereof is of Jehovah.\r\n \r\n \r\n Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, Than a house full of feasting with strife.\r\n A servant that dealeth wisely shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, And shall have part in the inheritance among the brethren.\r\n The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; But Jehovah trieth the hearts.\r\n An evil-doer giveth heed to wicked lips; [And] a liar giveth ear to a mischievous tongue.\r\n Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker; [And] he that is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished.\r\n Children`s children are the crown of old men; And the glory of children are their fathers.\r\n Excellent speech becometh not a fool; Much less do lying lips a prince.\r\n A bribe is [as] a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it; Whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.\r\n He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; But he that harpeth on a matter separateth chief friends.\r\n A rebuke entereth deeper into one that hath understanding Than a hundred stripes into a fool.\r\n An evil man seeketh only rebellion; Therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.\r\n Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, Rather than a fool in his folly.\r\n Whoso rewardeth evil for good, Evil shall not depart from his house.\r\n The beginning of strife is [as] when one letteth out water: Therefore leave off contention, before there is quarrelling.\r\n He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the righteous, Both of them alike are an abomination to Jehovah.\r\n Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, Seeing he hath no understanding?\r\n A friend loveth at all times; And a brother is born for adversity.\r\n A man void of understanding striketh hands, And becometh surety in the presence of his neighbor.\r\n He loveth transgression that loveth strife: He that raiseth high his gate seeketh destruction.\r\n He that hath a wayward heart findeth no good; And he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.\r\n He that begetteth a fool [doeth it] to his sorrow; And the father of a fool hath no joy.\r\n A cheerful heart is a good medicine; But a broken spirit drieth up the bones.\r\n A wicked man receiveth a bribe out of the bosom, To pervert the ways of justice.\r\n Wisdom is before the face of him that hath understanding; But the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.\r\n A foolish son is a grief to his father, And bitterness to her that bare him.\r\n Also to punish the righteous is not good, [Nor] to smite the noble for [their] uprightness.\r\n He that spareth his words hath knowledge; And he that is of a cool spirit is a man of understanding.\r\n Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise; When he shutteth his lips, he is [esteemed as] prudent.\r\n \r\n \r\n He that separateth himself seeketh [his own] desire, And rageth against all sound wisdom.\r\n A fool hath no delight in understanding, But only that his heart may reveal itself.\r\n When the wicked cometh, there cometh also contempt, And with ignominy [cometh] reproach.\r\n The words of a man`s mouth are [as] deep waters; The wellspring of wisdom is [as] a flowing brook.\r\n To respect the person of the wicked is not good, [Nor] to turn aside the righteous in judgment.\r\n A fool`s lips enter into contention, And his mouth calleth for stripes.\r\n A fool`s mouth is his destruction, And his lips are the snare of his soul.\r\n The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts.\r\n He also that is slack in his work Is brother to him that is a destroyer.\r\n The name of Jehovah is a strong tower; The righteous runneth into it, and is safe.\r\n The rich man`s wealth is his strong city, And as a high wall in his own imagination.\r\n Before destruction the heart of man is haughty; And before honor [goeth] humility.\r\n He that giveth answer before he heareth, It is folly and shame unto him.\r\n The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; But a broken spirit who can bear?\r\n The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; And the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.\r\n A man`s gift maketh room for him, And bringeth him before great men.\r\n He that pleadeth his cause first [seemeth] just; But his neighbor cometh and searcheth him out.\r\n The lot causeth contentions to cease, And parteth between the mighty.\r\n A brother offended [is harder to be won] than a strong city; And [such] contentions are like the bars of a castle.\r\n A man`s belly shall be filled with the fruit of his mouth; With the increase of his lips shall he be satisfied.\r\n Death and life are in the power of the tongue; And they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.\r\n Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, And obtaineth favor of Jehovah.\r\n The poor useth entreaties; But the rich answereth roughly.\r\n He that maketh many friends [doeth it] to his own destruction; But there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.\r\n \r\n \r\n Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity Than he that is perverse in his lips and is a fool.\r\n Also, that the soul be without knowledge is not good; And he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.\r\n The foolishness of man subverteth his way; And his heart fretteth against Jehovah.\r\n Wealth addeth many friends; But the poor is separated from his friend.\r\n A false witness shall not be unpunished; And he that uttereth lies shall not escape.\r\n Many will entreat the favor of the liberal man; And every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts.\r\n All the brethren of the poor do hate him: How much more do his friends go far from him! He pursueth [them with] words, [but] they are gone.\r\n He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: He that keepeth understanding shall find good.\r\n A false witness shall not be unpunished; And he that uttereth lies shall perish.\r\n Delicate living is not seemly for a fool; Much less for a servant to have rule over princes.\r\n The discretion of a man maketh him slow to anger; And it is his glory to pass over a transgression.\r\n The king`s wrath is as the roaring of a lion; But his favor is as dew upon the grass.\r\n A foolish son is the calamity of his father; And the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping.\r\n House and riches are an inheritance from fathers; But a prudent wife is from Jehovah.\r\n Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; And the idle soul shall suffer hunger.\r\n He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his soul; [But] he that is careless of his ways shall die.\r\n He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto Jehovah, And his good deed will he pay him again.\r\n Chasten thy son, seeing there is hope; nd set not thy heart on his destruction.\r\n A man of great wrath shall bear the penalty; For if thou deliver [him], thou must do it yet again.\r\n Hear counsel, and receive instruction, That thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.\r\n There are many devices in a man`s heart; But the counsel of Jehovah, that shall stand.\r\n That which maketh a man to be desired is his kindness; And a poor man is better than a liar.\r\n The fear of Jehovah [tendeth] to life; And he [that hath it] shall abide satisfied; He shall not be visited with evil.\r\n The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish, And will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.\r\n Smite a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; And reprove one that hath understanding, [and] he will understand knowledge.\r\n He that doeth violence to his father, and chaseth away his mother, Is a son that causeth shame and bringeth reproach.\r\n Cease, my son, to hear instruction [Only] to err from the words of knowledge.\r\n A worthless witness mocketh at justice; And the mouth of the wicked swalloweth iniquity.\r\n Judgments are prepared for scoffers, And stripes for the back of fools.\r\n \r\n \r\n Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler; And whosoever erreth thereby is not wise.\r\n The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion: He that provoketh him to anger sinneth [against] his own life.\r\n It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife; But every fool will be quarrelling.\r\n The sluggard will not plow by reason of the winter; Therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.\r\n Counsel in the heart of man is [like] deep water; But a man of understanding will draw it out.\r\n Most men will proclaim every one his own kindness; But a faithful man who can find?\r\n A righteous man that walketh in his integrity, Blessed are his children after him.\r\n A king that sitteth on the throne of judgment Scattereth away all evil with his eyes.\r\n Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?\r\n Diverse weights, and diverse measures, Both of them alike are an abomination to Jehovah.\r\n Even a child maketh himself known by his doings, Whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.\r\n The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Jehovah hath made even both of them.\r\n Love not sleep, let thou come to poverty; Open thine eyes, [and] thou shalt be satisfied with bread.\r\n It is bad, it is bad, saith the buyer; But when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.\r\n There is gold, and abundance of rubies; But the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.\r\n Take his garment that is surety for a stranger; And hold him in pledge [that is surety] for foreigners.\r\n Bread of falsehood is sweet to a man; But afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.\r\n Every purpose is established by counsel; And by wise guidance make thou war.\r\n He that goeth about as a tale-bearer revealeth secrets; Therefore company not with him that openeth wide his lips.\r\n Whoso curseth his father or his mother, His lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.\r\n An inheritance [may be] gotten hastily at the beginning; But the end thereof shall not be blessed.\r\n Say not thou, I will recompense evil: Wait for Jehovah, and he will save thee.\r\n Diverse weights are an abomination to Jehovah; And a false balance is not good.\r\n A man`s goings are of Jehovah; How then can man understand his way?\r\n It is a snare to a man rashly to say, [It is] holy, And after vows to make inquiry.\r\n A wise king winnoweth the wicked, And bringeth the [threshing] -wheel over them.\r\n The spirit of man is the lamp of Jehovah, Searching all his innermost parts.\r\n Kindness and truth preserve the king; And his throne is upholden by kindness.\r\n The glory of young men is their strength; And the beauty of old men is the hoary head.\r\n Stripes that wound cleanse away evil; And strokes [reach] the innermost parts.\r\n \r\n \r\n The king`s heart is in the hand of Jehovah as the watercourses: He turneth it whithersoever he will.\r\n Every way of a man is right in his own eyes; But Jehovah weigheth the hearts.\r\n To do righteousness and justice Is more acceptable to Jehovah than sacrifice.\r\n A high look, and a proud heart, [Even] the lamp of the wicked, is sin.\r\n The thoughts of the diligent [tend] only to plenteousness; But every one that is hasty [hasteth] only to want.\r\n The getting of treasures by a lying tongue Is a vapor driven to and fro by them that seek death.\r\n The violence of the wicked shall sweep them away, Because they refuse to do justice.\r\n The way of him that is laden with guilt is exceeding crooked; But as for the pure, his work is right.\r\n It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, Than with a contentious woman in a wide house.\r\n The soul of the wicked desireth evil: His neighbor findeth no favor in his eyes.\r\n When the scoffer is punished, the simple is made wise; And when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.\r\n The righteous man considereth the house of the wicked, [How] the wicked are overthrown to [their] ruin.\r\n Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, He also shall cry, but shall not be heard.\r\n A gift in secret pacifieth anger; And a present in the bosom, strong wrath.\r\n It is joy to the righteous to do justice; But it is a destruction to the workers of iniquity.\r\n The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding Shall rest in the assembly of the dead.\r\n He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: He that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.\r\n The wicked is a ransom for the righteous; And the treacherous [cometh] in the stead of the upright.\r\n It is better to dwell in a desert land, Than with a contentious and fretful woman.\r\n There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise; But a foolish man swalloweth it up.\r\n He that followeth after righteousness and kindness Findeth life, righteousness, and honor.\r\n A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, And bringeth down the strength of the confidence thereof.\r\n Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue Keepeth his soul from troubles.\r\n The proud and haughty man, scoffer is his name; He worketh in the arrogance of pride.\r\n The desire of the sluggard killeth him; For his hands refuse to labor.\r\n There is that coveteth greedily all the day long; But the righteous giveth and withholdeth not.\r\n The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination: How much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind!\r\n A false witness shall perish; But the man that heareth shall speak so as to endure.\r\n A wicked man hardeneth his face; But as for the upright, he establisheth his ways.\r\n There is no wisdom nor understanding Nor counsel against Jehovah.\r\n The horse is prepared against the day of battle; But victory is of Jehovah.\r\n \r\n \r\n A [good] name is rather to be chosen than great riches, [And] loving favor rather than silver and gold.\r\n The rich and the poor meet together: Jehovah is the maker of them all.\r\n A prudent man seeth the evil, and hideth himself; But the simple pass on, and suffer for it.\r\n The reward of humility [and] the fear of Jehovah [Is] riches, and honor, and life.\r\n Thorns [and] snares are in the way of the perverse: He that keepeth his soul shall be far from them.\r\n Train up a child in the way he should go, And even when he is old he will not depart from it.\r\n The rich ruleth over the poor; And the borrower is servant to the lender.\r\n He that soweth iniquity shall reap calamity; And the rod of his wrath shall fail.\r\n He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; For he giveth of his bread to the poor.\r\n Cast out the scoffer, and contention will go out; Yea, strife and ignominy will cease.\r\n He that loveth pureness of heart, [For] the grace of his lips the king will be his friend.\r\n The eyes of Jehovah preserve [him that hath] knowledge; But he overthroweth the words of the treacherous man.\r\n The sluggard saith, There is a lion without: I shall be slain in the streets.\r\n The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: He that is abhorred of Jehovah shall fall therein.\r\n Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; [But] the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.\r\n He that oppresseth the poor to increase his [gain], [And] he that giveth to the rich, [shall come] only to want.\r\n Incline thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, And apply thy heart unto my knowledge.\r\n For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee, If they be established together upon thy lips.\r\n That thy trust may be in Jehovah, I have made [them] known to thee this day, even to thee.\r\n Have not I written unto thee excellent things Of counsels and knowledge,\r\n To make thee know the certainty of the words of truth, That thou mayest carry back words of truth to them that send thee?\r\n Rob not the poor, because he is poor; Neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:\r\n For Jehovah will plead their cause, And despoil of life those that despoil them.\r\n Make no friendship with a man that is given to anger; And with a wrathful man thou shalt not go:\r\n Lest thou learn this ways, And get a snare to thy soul.\r\n Be thou not one of them that strike hands, [Or] of them that are sureties for debts.\r\n If thou hast not wherewith to pay, Why should he take away thy bed from under thee?\r\n Remove not the ancient landmark, Which thy fathers have set.\r\n Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; He shall not stand before mean men.\r\n \r\n \r\n When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, Consider diligently him that is before thee;\r\n And put a knife to thy throat, If thou be a man given to appetite.\r\n Be not desirous of his dainties; Seeing they are deceitful food.\r\n Weary not thyself to be rich; Cease from thine own wisdom.\r\n Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? For [riches] certainly make themselves wings, Like an eagle that flieth toward heaven.\r\n Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, Neither desire thou his dainties:\r\n For as he thinketh within himself, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; But his heart is not with thee.\r\n The morsel which thou hast eaten shalt thou vomit up, And lose thy sweet words.\r\n Speak not in the hearing of a fool; For he will despise the wisdom of thy words.\r\n Remove not the ancient landmark; And enter not into the fields of the fatherless:\r\n For their Redeemer is strong; He will plead their cause against thee.\r\n Apply thy heart unto instruction, And thine ears to the words of knowledge.\r\n Withhold not correction from the child; [For] if thou beat him with the rod, he will not die.\r\n Thou shalt beat him with the rod, And shalt deliver his soul from Sheol.\r\n My son, if thy heart be wise, My heart will be glad, even mine:\r\n Yea, my heart will rejoice, When thy lips speak right things.\r\n Let not thy heart envy sinners; But [be thou] in the fear of Jehovah all the day long:\r\n For surely there is a reward; And thy hope shall not be cut off.\r\n Hear thou, my son, and be wise, And guide thy heart in the way.\r\n Be not among winebibbers, Among gluttonous eaters of flesh:\r\n For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty; And drowsiness will clothe [a man] with rags.\r\n Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, And despise not thy mother when she is old.\r\n Buy the truth, and sell it not; [Yea], wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.\r\n The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice; And he that begetteth a wise child will have joy of him.\r\n Let thy father and thy mother be glad, And let her that bare thee rejoice.\r\n My son, give me thy heart; And let thine eyes delight in my ways.\r\n For a harlot is a deep ditch; And a foreign woman is a narrow pit.\r\n Yea, she lieth in wait as a robber, And increaseth the treacherous among men.\r\n Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? Who hath complaining? who hath wounds without cause? Who hath redness of eyes?\r\n They that tarry long at the wine; They that go to seek out mixed wine.\r\n Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, When it sparkleth in the cup, When it goeth down smoothly:\r\n At the last it biteth like a serpent, And stingeth like an adder.\r\n Thine eyes shall behold strange things, And thy heart shall utter perverse things.\r\n Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, Or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast.\r\n They have stricken me, [shalt thou say], and I was not hurt; They have beaten me, and I felt it not: When shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.\r\n \r\n \r\n Be not thou envious against evil men; Neither desire to be with them:\r\n For their heart studieth oppression, And their lips talk of mischief.\r\n Through wisdom is a house builded; And by understanding it is established;\r\n And by knowledge are the chambers filled With all precious and pleasant riches.\r\n A wise man is strong; Yea, a man of knowledge increaseth might\r\n For by wise guidance thou shalt make thy war; And in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.\r\n Wisdom is too high for a fool: He openeth not his mouth in the gate.\r\n He that deviseth to do evil, Men shall call him a mischief-maker.\r\n The thought of foolishness is sin; And the scoffer is an abomination to men.\r\n If thou faint in the day of adversity, Thy strength is small.\r\n Deliver them that are carried away unto death, And those that are ready to be slain see that thou hold back.\r\n If thou sayest, Behold, we knew not this; Doth not he that weigheth the hearts consider it? And he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? And shall not he render to every man according to his work?\r\n My son, eat thou honey, for it is good; And the droppings of the honeycomb, which are sweet to thy taste:\r\n So shalt thou know wisdom to be unto thy soul; If thou hast found it, then shall there be a reward, And thy hope shall not be cut off.\r\n Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the habitation of the righteous; Destroy not his resting-place:\r\n For a righteous man falleth seven times, and riseth up again; But the wicked are overthrown by calamity.\r\n Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, And let not thy heart be glad when he is overthrown;\r\n Lest Jehovah see it, and it displease him, And he turn away his wrath from him.\r\n Fret not thyself because of evil-doers; Neither be thou envious at the wicked:\r\n For there shall be no reward to the evil man; The lamp of the wicked shall be put out.\r\n My son, fear thou Jehovah and the king; [And] company not with them that are given to change:\r\n For their calamity shall rise suddenly; And the destruction from them both, who knoweth it?\r\n These also are [sayings] of the wise. To have respect of persons in judgment is not good.\r\n He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous; Peoples shall curse him, nations shall abhor him:\r\n But to them that rebuke [him] shall be delight, And a good blessing shall come upon them.\r\n He kisseth the lips Who giveth a right answer.\r\n Prepare thy work without, And make it ready for thee in the field; And afterwards build thy house.\r\n Be not a witness against thy neighbor without cause; And deceive not with thy lips.\r\n Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me; I will render to the man according to his work.\r\n I went by the field of the sluggard, And by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;\r\n And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, The face thereof was covered with nettles, And the stone wall thereof was broken down.\r\n Then I beheld, and considered well; I saw, and received instruction:\r\n [Yet] a little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep;\r\n So shall thy poverty come as a robber, And thy want as an armed man.\r\n \r\n \r\n These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.\r\n It is the glory of God to conceal a thing; But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.\r\n As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, So the heart of kings is unsearchable.\r\n Take away the dross from the silver, And there cometh forth a vessel for the refiner:\r\n Take away the wicked [from] before the king, And his throne shall be established in righteousness.\r\n Put not thyself forward in the presence of the king, And stand not in the place of great men:\r\n For better is it that it be said unto thee, Come up hither, Than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince, Whom thine eyes have seen.\r\n Go not forth hastily to strive, Lest [thou know not] what to do in the end thereof, When thy neighbor hath put thee to shame.\r\n Debate thy cause with thy neighbor [himself], And disclose not the secret of another;\r\n Lest he that heareth it revile thee, And thine infamy turn not away.\r\n A word fitly spoken Is [like] apples of gold in network of silver.\r\n [As] an ear-ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, [So is] a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.\r\n As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, [So is] a faithful messenger to them that send him; For he refresheth the soul of his masters.\r\n [As] clouds and wind without rain, [So is] he that boasteth himself of his gifts falsely.\r\n By long forbearing is a ruler persuaded, And a soft tongue breaketh the bone.\r\n Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, Lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.\r\n Let thy foot be seldom in thy neighbor`s house, Lest he be weary of thee, and hate thee.\r\n A man that beareth false witness against his neighbor Is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.\r\n Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble Is [like] a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.\r\n [As] one that taketh off a garment in cold weather, [and as] vinegar upon soda, So is he that singeth songs to a heavy heart.\r\n If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:\r\n For thou wilt heap coals of fire upon his head, And Jehovah will reward thee.\r\n The north wind bringeth forth rain: So doth a backbiting tongue an angry countenance.\r\n It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, Than with a contentious woman in a wide house.\r\n [As] cold waters to a thirsty soul, So is good news from a far country.\r\n [As] a troubled fountain, and a corrupted spring, [So is] a righteous man that giveth way before the wicked.\r\n It is not good to eat much honey: So [for men] to search out their own glory is grievous.\r\n He whose spirit is without restraint Is [like] a city that is broken down and without walls.\r\n \r\n \r\n As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, So honor is not seemly for a fool.\r\n As the sparrow in her wandering, as the swallow in her flying, So the curse that is causeless alighteth not.\r\n A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, And a rod for the back of fools.\r\n Answer not a fool according to his folly, Lest thou also be like unto him.\r\n Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own conceit.\r\n He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool Cutteth off [his own] feet, [and] drinketh in damage.\r\n The legs of the lame hang loose: So is a parable in the mouth of fools.\r\n As one that bindeth a stone in a sling, So is he that giveth honor to a fool.\r\n [As] a thorn that goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, So is a parable in the mouth of fools.\r\n [As] an archer that woundeth all, So is he that hireth a fool and he that hireth them that pass by.\r\n As a dog that returneth to his vomit, [So is] a fool that repeateth his folly.\r\n Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? There is more hope of a fool than of him.\r\n The sluggard saith, There is a lion in the way; A lion is in the streets.\r\n [As] the door turneth upon its hinges, So doth the sluggard upon his bed.\r\n The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish; It wearieth him to bring it again to his mouth.\r\n The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit Than seven men that can render a reason.\r\n He that passeth by, [and] vexeth himself with strife belonging not to him, Is [like] one that taketh a dog by the ears.\r\n As a madman who casteth firebrands, Arrows, and death,\r\n So is the man that deceiveth his neighbor, And saith, Am not I in sport?\r\n For lack of wood the fire goeth out; And where there is no whisperer, contention ceaseth.\r\n [As] coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire, So is a contentious man to inflame strife.\r\n The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts.\r\n Fervent lips and a wicked heart Are [like] an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross.\r\n He that hateth dissembleth with his lips; But he layeth up deceit within him:\r\n When he speaketh fair, believe him not; For there are seven abominations in his heart:\r\n Though [his] hatred cover itself with guile, His wickedness shall be openly showed before the assembly.\r\n Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein; And he that rolleth a stone, it shall return upon him.\r\n A lying tongue hateth those whom it hath wounded; And a flattering mouth worketh ruin.\r\n \r\n \r\n Boast not thyself of tomorrow; For thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.\r\n Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; A stranger, and not thine own lips.\r\n A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; But a fool`s vexation is heavier than they both.\r\n Wrath is cruel, and anger is overwhelming; But who is able to stand before jealousy?\r\n Better is open rebuke Than love that is hidden.\r\n Faithful are the wounds of a friend; But the kisses of an enemy are profuse.\r\n The full soul loatheth a honeycomb; But to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.\r\n As a bird that wandereth from her nest, So is a man that wandereth from his place.\r\n Oil and perfume rejoice the heart; So doth the sweetness of a man`s friend [that cometh] of hearty counsel.\r\n Thine own friend, and thy father`s friend, forsake not; And go not to thy brother`s house in the day of thy calamity: Better is a neighbor that is near than a brother far off.\r\n My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, That I may answer him that reproacheth me.\r\n A prudent man seeth the evil, [and] hideth himself; [But] the simple pass on, [and] suffer for it.\r\n Take his garment that is surety for a stranger; And hold him in pledge [that is surety] for a foreign woman.\r\n He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, It shall be counted a curse to him.\r\n A continual dropping in a very rainy day And a contentious woman are alike:\r\n He that would restrain her restraineth the wind; And his right hand encountereth oil.\r\n Iron sharpeneth iron; So a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.\r\n Whoso keepeth the fig-tree shall eat the fruit thereof; And he that regardeth his master shall be honored.\r\n As in water face [answereth] to face, So the heart of man to man.\r\n Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied; And the eyes of man are never satisfied.\r\n The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; And a man is [tried] by his praise.\r\n Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with bruised grain, Yet will not his foolishness depart from him.\r\n Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, [And] look well to thy herds:\r\n For riches are not for ever: And doth the crown endure unto all generations?\r\n The hay is carried, and the tender grass showeth itself, And the herbs of the mountains are gathered in.\r\n The lambs are for thy clothing, And the goats are the price of the field;\r\n And [there will be] goats` milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household, And maintenance for thy maidens.\r\n \r\n \r\n The wicked flee when no man pursueth; But the righteous are bold as a lion.\r\n For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof; But by men of understanding [and] knowledge the state [thereof] shall be prolonged.\r\n A needy man that oppresseth the poor Is [like] a sweeping rain which leaveth no food.\r\n They that forsake the law praise the wicked; But such as keep the law contend with them.\r\n Evil men understand not justice; But they that seek Jehovah understand all things.\r\n Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, Than he that is perverse in [his] ways, though he be rich.\r\n Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son; But he that is a companion of gluttons shameth his father.\r\n He that augmenteth his substance by interest and increase, Gathereth it for him that hath pity on the poor.\r\n He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, Even his prayer is an abomination.\r\n Whoso causeth the upright to go astray in an evil way, He shall fall himself into his own pit; But the perfect shall inherit good.\r\n The rich man is wise in his own conceit; But the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out.\r\n When the righteous triumph, there is great glory; But when the wicked rise, men hide themselves.\r\n He that covereth his transgressions shall not prosper: But whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall obtain mercy.\r\n Happy is the man that feareth alway; But he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.\r\n [As] a roaring lion, and a ranging bear, [So is] a wicked ruler over a poor people.\r\n The prince that lacketh understanding is also a great oppressor; [But] he that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days.\r\n A man that is laden with the blood of any person Shall flee unto the pit; let no man stay him.\r\n Whoso walketh uprightly shall be delivered; But he that is perverse in [his] ways shall fall at once.\r\n He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread; But he that followeth after vain [persons] shall have poverty enough.\r\n A faithful man shall abound with blessings; But he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be unpunished.\r\n To have respect of persons is not good; Neither that a man should transgress for a piece of bread.\r\n he that hath an evil eye hasteth after riches, And knoweth not that want shall come upon him.\r\n He that rebuketh a man shall afterward find more favor Than he that flattereth with the tongue.\r\n Whoso robbeth his father or his mother, and saith, It is no transgression, The same is the companion of a destroyer.\r\n He that is of a greedy spirit stirreth up strife; But he that putteth his trust in Jehovah shall be made fat.\r\n He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool; But whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.\r\n He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack; But he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.\r\n When the wicked rise, men hide themselves; But when they perish, the righteous increase.\r\n \r\n \r\n He that being often reproved hardeneth his neck Shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.\r\n When the righteous are increased, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man beareth rule, the people sigh.\r\n Whoso loveth wisdom rejoiceth his father; But he that keepeth company with harlots wasteth [his] substance.\r\n The king by justice establisheth the land; But he that exacteth gifts overthroweth it.\r\n A man that flattereth his neighbor Spreadeth a net for his steps.\r\n In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare; But the righteous doth sing and rejoice.\r\n The righteous taketh knowledge of the cause of the poor; The wicked hath not understanding to know [it].\r\n Scoffers set a city in a flame; But wise men turn away wrath.\r\n If a wise man hath a controversy with a foolish man, Whether he be angry or laugh, there will be no rest.\r\n The bloodthirsty hate him that is perfect; And as for the upright, they seek his life.\r\n A fool uttereth all his anger; But a wise man keepeth it back and stilleth it.\r\n If a ruler hearkeneth to falsehood, All his servants are wicked.\r\n The poor man and the oppressor meet together; Jehovah lighteneth the eyes of them both.\r\n The king that faithfully judgeth the poor, His throne shall be established for ever.\r\n The rod and reproof give wisdom; But a child left to himself causeth shame to his mother.\r\n When the wicked are increased, transgression increaseth; But the righteous shall look upon their fall.\r\n Correct thy son, and he will give thee rest; Yea, he will give delight unto thy soul.\r\n Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint; But he that keepeth the law, happy is he.\r\n A servant will not be corrected by words; For though he understand, he will not give heed.\r\n Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? There is more hope of a fool than of him.\r\n He that delicately bringeth up his servant from a child Shall have him become a son at the last.\r\n An angry man stirreth up strife, And a wrathful man aboundeth in transgression.\r\n A man`s pride shall bring him low; But he that is of a lowly spirit shall obtain honor.\r\n Whoso is partner with a thief hateth his own soul; He heareth the adjuration and uttereth nothing.\r\n The fear of man bringeth a snare; But whoso putteth his trust in Jehovah shall be safe.\r\n Many seek the ruler`s favor; But a man`s judgment [cometh] from Jehovah.\r\n An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous; And he that is upright in the way is an abomination to the wicked.\r\n \r\n \r\n The words of Agur the son of Jakeh; The oracle. The man saith unto Ithiel, unto Ithiel and Ucal:\r\n Surely I am more brutish than any man, And have not the understanding of a man;\r\n And I have not learned wisdom, Neither have I the knowledge of the Holy One.\r\n Who hath ascended up into heaven, and descended? Who hath gathered the wind in his fists? Who hath bound the waters in his garment? Who hath established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son`s name, if thou knowest?\r\n Every word of God is tried: He is a shield unto them that take refuge in him.\r\n Add thou not unto his words, Lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.\r\n Two things have I asked of thee; Deny me [them] not before I die:\r\n Remove far from me falsehood and lies; Give me neither poverty nor riches; Feed me with the food that is needful for me:\r\n Lest I be full, and deny [thee], and say, Who is Jehovah? Or lest I be poor, and steal, And use profanely the name of my God.\r\n Slander not a servant unto his master, Lest he curse thee, and thou be held guilty.\r\n There is a generation that curse their father, And bless not their mother.\r\n There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, And [yet] are not washed from their filthiness.\r\n There is a generation, oh how lofty are their eyes! And their eyelids are lifted up.\r\n There is a generation whose teeth are [as] swords, and their jaw teeth [as] knives, To devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.\r\n The horseleach hath two daughters, [crying], Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, [Yea], four that say not, Enough:\r\n Sheol; and the barren womb; The earth that is not satisfied with water; And the fire that saith not, Enough.\r\n The eye that mocketh at his father, And despiseth to obey his mother, The ravens of the valley shall pick it out, And the young eagles shall eat it.\r\n There are three things which are too wonderful for me, Yea, four which I know not:\r\n The way of an eagle in the air; The way of a serpent upon a rock; The way of a ship in the midst of the sea; And the way of a man with a maiden.\r\n So is the way of an adulterous woman; She eateth, and wipeth her mouth, And saith, I have done no wickedness.\r\n For three things the earth doth tremble, And for four, [which] it cannot bear:\r\n For a servant when he is king; And a fool when he is filled with food;\r\n For an odious woman when she is married; And a handmaid that is heir to her mistress.\r\n There are four things which are little upon the earth, But they are exceeding wise:\r\n The ants are a people not strong, Yet they provide their food in the summer;\r\n The conies are but a feeble folk, Yet make they their houses in the rocks;\r\n The locusts have no king, Yet go they forth all of them by bands;\r\n The lizard taketh hold with her hands, Yet is she in kings` palaces.\r\n There are three things which are stately in their march, Yea, four which are stately in going:\r\n The lion, which is mightiest among beasts, And turneth not away for any;\r\n The greyhound; the he-goat also; And the king against whom there is no rising up.\r\n If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, Or if thou hast thought evil, [Lay] thy hand upon thy mouth.\r\n For the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, And the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood; So the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife.\r\n \r\n \r\n The words of king Lemuel; the oracle which his mother taught him.\r\n What, my son? and what, O son of my womb? And what, O son of my vows?\r\n Give not thy strength unto women, Nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.\r\n It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; Nor for princes [to say], Where is strong drink?\r\n Lest they drink, and forget the law, And pervert the justice [due] to any that is afflicted.\r\n Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, And wine unto the bitter in soul:\r\n Let him drink, and forget his poverty, And remember his misery no more.\r\n Open thy mouth for the dumb, In the cause of all such as are left desolate.\r\n Open thy mouth, judge righteously, And minister justice to the poor and needy.\r\n A worthy woman who can find? For her price is far above rubies.\r\n The heart of her husband trusteth in her, And he shall have no lack of gain.\r\n She doeth him good and not evil All the days of her life.\r\n She seeketh wool and flax, And worketh willingly with her hands.\r\n She is like the merchant-ships; She bringeth her bread from afar.\r\n She riseth also while it is yet night, And giveth food to her household, And their task to her maidens.\r\n She considereth a field, and buyeth it; With the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.\r\n She girdeth her loins with strength, And maketh strong her arms.\r\n She perceiveth that her merchandise is profitable: Her lamp goeth not out by night.\r\n She layeth her hands to the distaff, And her hands hold the spindle.\r\n She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; Yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.\r\n She is not afraid of the snow for her household; For all her household are clothed with scarlet.\r\n She maketh for herself carpets of tapestry; Her clothing is fine linen and purple.\r\n Her husband is known in the gates, When he sitteth among the elders of the land.\r\n She maketh linen garments and selleth them, And delivereth girdles unto the merchant.\r\n Strength and dignity are her clothing; And she laugheth at the time to come.\r\n She openeth her mouth with wisdom; And the law of kindness is on her tongue.\r\n She looketh well to the ways of her household, And eateth not the bread of idleness.\r\n Her children rise up, and call her blessed; Her husband [also], and he praiseth her, [saying]:\r\n Many daughters have done worthily, But thou excellest them all.\r\n Grace is deceitful, and beauty is vain; [But] a woman that feareth Jehovah, she shall be praised.\r\n Give her of the fruit of her hands; And let her works praise her in the gates.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.\r\n Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher; vanity of vanities, all is vanity.\r\n What profit hath man of all his labor wherein he laboreth under the sun?\r\n One generation goeth, and another generation cometh; but the earth abideth for ever.\r\n The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to its place where it ariseth.\r\n The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it turneth about continually in its course, and the wind returneth again to its circuits.\r\n All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full; unto the place whither the rivers go, thither they go again.\r\n All things are full of weariness; man cannot utter [it]: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.\r\n That which hath been is that which shall be; and that which hath been done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.\r\n Is there a thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been long ago, in the ages which were before us.\r\n There is no remembrance of the former [generations]; neither shall there be any remembrance of the latter [generations] that are to come, among those that shall come after.\r\n I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.\r\n And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven: it is a sore travail that God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised therewith.\r\n I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.\r\n That which is crooked cannot be made straight; and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.\r\n I communed with mine own hear, saying, Lo, I have gotten me great wisdom above all that were before me in Jerusalem; yea, my heart hath had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.\r\n And I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also was a striving after wind.\r\n For in much wisdom is much grief; and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.\r\n \r\n \r\n I said in my heart, Come now, I will prove thee with mirth; therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also was vanity.\r\n I said of laughter, It is mad; and of mirth, What doeth it?\r\n I searched in my heart how to cheer my flesh with wine, my heart yet guiding [me] with wisdom, and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what it was good for the sons of men that they should do under heaven all the days of their life.\r\n I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards;\r\n I made me gardens and parks, and I planted trees in them of all kinds of fruit;\r\n I made me pools of water, to water therefrom the forest where trees were reared;\r\n I bought men-servants and maid-servants, and had servants born in my house; also I had great possessions of herds and flocks, above all that were before me in Jerusalem;\r\n I gathered me also silver and gold, and the treasure of kings and of the provinces; I gat me men-singers and women-singers, and the delights of the sons of men, musical instruments, and that of all sorts.\r\n So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me.\r\n And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them; I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced because of all my labor; and this was my portion from all my labor.\r\n Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labor that I had labored to do; and, behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was no profit under the sun.\r\n And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: for what [can] the man [do] that cometh after the king? [even] that which hath been done long ago.\r\n Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.\r\n The wise man`s eyes are in his head, and the fool walketh in darkness: and yet I perceived that one event happeneth to them all.\r\n Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so will it happen even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then said I in my heart, that this also is vanity.\r\n For of the wise man, even as of the fool, there is no remembrance for ever; seeing that in the days to come all will have been long forgotten. And how doth the wise man die even as the fool!\r\n So I hated life, because the work that is wrought under the sun was grievous unto me; for all is vanity and a striving after wind.\r\n And I hated all my labor wherein I labored under the sun, seeing that I must leave it unto the man that shall be after me.\r\n And who knoweth whether he will be a wise man or a fool? yet will he have rule over all my labor wherein I have labored, and wherein I have showed myself wise under the sun. This also is vanity.\r\n Therefore I turned about to cause my heart to despair concerning all the labor wherein I had labored under the sun.\r\n For there is a man whose labor is with wisdom, and with knowledge, and with skilfulness; yet to a man that hath not labored therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.\r\n For what hath a man of all his labor, and of the striving of his heart, wherein he laboreth under the sun?\r\n For all his days are [but] sorrows, and his travail is grief; yea, even in the night his heart taketh no rest. This also is vanity.\r\n There is nothing better for a man [than] that he should eat and drink, and make his soul enjoy good in his labor. This also I saw, that it is from the hand of God.\r\n For who can eat, or who can have enjoyment, more than I?\r\n For to the man that pleaseth him [God] giveth wisdom, and knowledge, and joy; but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that pleaseth God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.\r\n \r\n \r\n For everything there is a season, and a time for very purpose under heaven:\r\n a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;\r\n a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;\r\n a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;\r\n a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;\r\n a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;\r\n a time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;\r\n a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.\r\n What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboreth?\r\n I have seen the travail which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised therewith.\r\n He hath made everything beautiful in its time: also he hath set eternity in their heart, yet so that man cannot find out the work that God hath done from the beginning even to the end.\r\n I know that there is nothing better for them, than to rejoice, and to do good so long as they live.\r\n And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy good in all his labor, is the gift of God.\r\n I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor anything taken from it; and God hath done it, that men should fear before him.\r\n That which is hath been long ago; and that which is to be hath long ago been: and God seeketh again that which is passed away.\r\n And moreover I saw under the sun, in the place of justice, that wickedness was there; and in the place of righteousness, that wickedness was there.\r\n I said in my heart, God will judge the righteous and the wicked; for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.\r\n I said in my heart, [It is] because of the sons of men, that God may prove them, and that they may see that they themselves are [but as] beasts.\r\n For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; and man hath no preeminence above the beasts: for all is vanity.\r\n All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.\r\n Who knoweth the spirit of man, whether it goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast, whether it goeth downward to the earth?\r\n Wherefore I saw that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him [back] to see what shall be after him?\r\n \r\n \r\n Then I returned and saw all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and, behold, the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter.\r\n Wherefore I praised the dead that have been long dead more than the living that are yet alive;\r\n yea, better than them both [did I esteem] him that hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.\r\n Then I saw all labor and every skilful work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.\r\n The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.\r\n Better is a handful, with quietness, than two handfuls with labor and striving after wind.\r\n Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun.\r\n There is one that is alone, and he hath not a second; yea, he hath neither son nor brother; yet is there no end of all his labor, neither are his eyes satisfied with riches. For whom then, [saith he], do I labor, and deprive my soul of good? This also is vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.\r\n Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor.\r\n For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him that is alone when he falleth, and hath not another to lift him up.\r\n Again, if two lie together, then they have warmth; but how can one be warm [alone]?\r\n And if a man prevail against him that is alone, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.\r\n Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king, who knoweth not how to receive admonition any more.\r\n For out of prison he came forth to be king; yea, even in his kingdom he was born poor.\r\n I saw all the living that walk under the sun, that they were with the youth, the second, that stood up in his stead.\r\n There was no end of all the people, even of all them over whom he was: yet they that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a striving after wind.\r\n \r\n \r\n Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God; for to draw nigh to hear is better than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they know not that they do evil.\r\n Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thy heart be hasty to utter anything before God; for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.\r\n For a dream cometh with a multitude of business, and a fool`s voice with a multitude of words.\r\n When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou vowest.\r\n Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.\r\n Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that is was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thy hands?\r\n For in the multitude of dreams there are vanities, and in many words: but fear thou God.\r\n If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and the violent taking away of justice and righteousness in a province, marvel not at the matter: for one higher than the high regardeth; and there are higher than they.\r\n Moreover the profit of the earth is for all: the king [himself] is served by the field.\r\n He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance, with increase: this also is vanity.\r\n When goods increase, they are increased that eat them; and what advantage is there to the owner thereof, save the beholding [of them] with his eyes?\r\n The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much; but the fulness of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.\r\n There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun, [namely], riches kept by the owner thereof to his hurt:\r\n and those riches perish by evil adventure; and if he hath begotten a son, there is nothing in his hand.\r\n As he came forth from his mother`s womb, naked shall he go again as he came, and shall take nothing for his labor, which he may carry away in his hand.\r\n And this also is a grievous evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that he laboreth for the wind?\r\n All his days also he eateth in darkness, and he is sore vexed, and hath sickness and wrath.\r\n Behold, that which I have seen to be good and to be comely is for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy good in all his labor, wherein he laboreth under the sun, all the days of his life which God hath given him: for this is his portion.\r\n Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labor-this is the gift of God.\r\n For he shall not much remember the days of his life; because God answereth [him] in the joy of his heart.\r\n \r\n \r\n There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is heavy upon men:\r\n a man to whom God giveth riches, wealth, and honor, so that he lacketh nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but an alien eateth it; this is vanity, and it is an evil disease.\r\n If a man beget a hundred children, and live many years, so that the days of his years are many, but his soul be not filled with good, and moreover he have no burial; I say, that an untimely birth is better than he:\r\n for it cometh in vanity, and departeth in darkness, and the name thereof is covered with darkness;\r\n moreover it hath not seen the sun nor known it; this hath rest rather than the other:\r\n yea, though he live a thousand years twice told, and yet enjoy no good, do not all go to one place?\r\n All the labor of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled.\r\n For what advantage hath the wise more than the fool? [or] what hath the poor man, that knoweth how to walk before the living?\r\n Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this also is vanity and a striving after wind.\r\n Whatsoever hath been, the name thereof was given long ago; and it is know what man is; neither can he contend with him that is mightier than he.\r\n Seeing there are many things that increase vanity, what is man the better?\r\n For who knoweth what is good for man in [his] life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?\r\n \r\n \r\n A [good] name is better than precious oil; and the day of death, than the day of one`s birth.\r\n It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart.\r\n Sorrow is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made glad.\r\n The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.\r\n It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.\r\n For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity.\r\n Surely extortion maketh the wise man foolish; and a bribe destroyeth the understanding.\r\n Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof; [and] the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.\r\n Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry; for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.\r\n Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this.\r\n Wisdom is as good as an inheritance; yea, more excellent is it for them that see the sun.\r\n For wisdom is a defence, even as money is a defence; but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom preserveth the life of him that hath it.\r\n Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?\r\n In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider; yea, God hath made the one side by side with the other, to the end that man should not find out anything [that shall be] after him.\r\n All this have I seen in my days of vanity: there is a righteous man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth [his life] in his evil-doing.\r\n Be not righteous overmuch; neither make thyself overwise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?\r\n Be not overmuch wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?\r\n It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from that withdraw not thy hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth from them all.\r\n Wisdom is a strength to the wise man more than ten rulers that are in a city.\r\n Surely there is not a righteous man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.\r\n Also take not heed unto all words that are spoken, lest thou hear thy servant curse thee;\r\n for oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.\r\n All this have I proved in wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.\r\n That which is, is far off and exceeding deep; who can find it out?\r\n I turned about, and my heart [was set] to know and to search out, and to seek wisdom and the reason [of things], and to know that wickedness is folly, and that foolishness is madness.\r\n And I find more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and nets, [and] whose hands are bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her.\r\n Behold, this have I found, saith the Preacher, [laying] one thing to another, to find out the account;\r\n which my soul still seeketh, but I have not found: one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found.\r\n Behold, this only have I found: that God made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.\r\n \r\n \r\n Who is as the wise man? and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? A man`s wisdom maketh his face to shine, and the hardness of his face is changed.\r\n I [counsel thee], Keep the king`s command, and that in regard of the oath of God.\r\n Be not hasty to go out of his presence; persist not in an evil thing: for he doeth whatsoever pleaseth him.\r\n For the king`s word [hath] power; and who may say unto him, What doest thou?\r\n Whoso keepeth the commandment shall know no evil thing; and a wise man`s heart discerneth time and judgment:\r\n for to every purpose there is a time and judgment; because the misery of man is great upon him:\r\n for he knoweth not that which shall be; for who can tell him how it shall be?\r\n There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power over the day of death; and there is no discharge in war: neither shall wickedness deliver him that is given to it.\r\n All this have I seen, and applied my heart unto every work that is done under the sun: [there is] a time wherein one man hath power over another to his hurt.\r\n So I saw the wicked buried, and they came [to the grave]; and they that had done right went away from the holy place, and were forgotten in the city: this also is vanity.\r\n Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.\r\n Though a sinner do evil a hundred times, and prolong his [days], yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, that fear before him:\r\n but it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong [his] days, [which are] as a shadow; because he feareth not before God.\r\n There is a vanity which is done upon the earth, that there are righteous men unto whom it happeneth according to the work of the wicked; again, there are wicked men to whom it happeneth according to the work of the righteous: I said that this also is vanity.\r\n Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be joyful: for that shall abide with him in his labor [all] the days of his life which God hath given him under the sun.\r\n When I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done upon the earth (for also there is that neither day nor night seeth sleep with his eyes),\r\n then I beheld all the work of God, that man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun: because however much a man labor to seek it out, yet he shall not find it; yea moreover, though a wise man think to know it, yet shall he not be able to find it.\r\n \r\n \r\n For all this I laid to my heart, even to explore all this: that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God; whether it be love or hatred, man knoweth it not; all is before them.\r\n All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth and to him that sacrificeth not; as is the good, so is the sinner; [and] he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath.\r\n This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that there is one event unto all: yea also, the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that [they go] to the dead.\r\n For to him that is joined with all the living there is hope; for a living dog is better than a dead lion.\r\n For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not anything, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.\r\n As well their love, as their hatred and their envy, is perished long ago; neither have they any more a portion for ever in anything that is done under the sun.\r\n Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God hath already accepted thy works.\r\n Let thy garments be always white; and let not thy head lack oil.\r\n Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of thy life of vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all thy days of vanity: for that is thy portion in life, and in thy labor wherein thou laborest under the sun.\r\n Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do [it] with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in Sheol, whither thou goest.\r\n I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favor to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.\r\n For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare, even so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them.\r\n I have also seen wisdom under the sun on this wise, and it seemed great unto me:\r\n There was a little city, and few men within it; and there came a great king against it, and besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it.\r\n Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man.\r\n Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man`s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.\r\n The words of the wise heard in quiet are better than the cry of him that ruleth among fools.\r\n Wisdom is better than weapons of war; but one sinner destroyeth much good.\r\n \r\n \r\n Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to send forth an evil odor; [so] doth a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor.\r\n A wise man`s heart is at his right hand; but a fool`s heart at his left.\r\n Yea also, when the fool walketh by the way, his understanding faileth him, and he saith to every one [that] he is a fool.\r\n If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for gentleness allayeth great offences.\r\n There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as it were an error which proceedeth from the ruler:\r\n folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in a low place.\r\n I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking like servants upon the earth.\r\n He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh through a wall, a serpent shall bite him.\r\n Whoso heweth out stones shall be hurt therewith; [and] he that cleaveth wood is endangered thereby.\r\n If the iron be blunt, and one do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.\r\n If the serpent bite before it is charmed, then is there no advantage in the charmer.\r\n The words of a wise man`s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.\r\n The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.\r\n A fool also multiplieth words: [yet] man knoweth not what shall be; and that which shall be after him, who can tell him?\r\n The labor of fools wearieth every one of them; for he knoweth not how to go to the city.\r\n Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!\r\n Happy art thou, O land, when thy king is the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!\r\n By slothfulness the roof sinketh in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaketh.\r\n A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh glad the life; and money answereth all things.\r\n Revile not the king, no, not in thy thought; and revile not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the heavens shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.\r\n \r\n \r\n Cast thy bread upon the waters; for thou shalt find it after many days.\r\n Give a portion to seven, yea, even unto eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.\r\n If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth; and if a tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there shall it be.\r\n He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.\r\n As thou knowest not what is the way of the wind, [nor] how the bones [do grow] in the womb of her that is with child; even so thou knowest not the work of God who doeth all.\r\n In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thy hand; for thou knowest not which shall prosper, whether this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.\r\n Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun.\r\n Yea, if a man live many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember the days of darkness, for they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity.\r\n Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth, and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thy heart, and in the sight of thine eyes; but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.\r\n Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh; for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.\r\n \r\n \r\n Remember also thy Creator in the days of thy youth, before the evil days come, and the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;\r\n before the sun, and the light, and the moon, and the stars, are darkened, and the clouds return after the rain;\r\n in the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows shall be darkened,\r\n and the doors shall be shut in the street; when the sound of the grinding is low, and one shall rise up at the voice of a bird, and all the daughters of music shall be brought low;\r\n yea, they shall be afraid of [that which is] high, and terrors [shall be] in the way; and the almond-tree shall blossom, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail; because man goeth to his everlasting home, and the mourners go about the streets:\r\n before the silver cord is loosed, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern,\r\n and the dust returneth to the earth as it was, and the spirit returneth unto God who gave it.\r\n Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher; all is vanity.\r\n And further, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he pondered, and sought out, [and] set in order many proverbs.\r\n The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words, and that which was written uprightly, [even] words of truth.\r\n The words of the wise are as goads; and as nails well fastened are [the words of] the masters of assemblies, [which] are given from one shepherd.\r\n And furthermore, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.\r\n [This is] the end of the matter; all hath been heard: fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole [duty] of man.\r\n For God will bring every work into judgment, with every hidden thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n The Song of songs, which is Solomon`s.\r\n Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth; For thy love is better than wine.\r\n Thine oils have a goodly fragrance; Thy name is [as] oil poured forth; Therefore do the virgins love thee.\r\n Draw me; we will run after thee: The king hath brought me into his chambers; We will be glad and rejoice in thee; We will make mention of thy love more than of wine: Rightly do they love thee.\r\n I am black, but comely, Oh ye daughters of Jerusalem, As the tents of Kedar, As the curtains of Solomon.\r\n Look not upon me, because I am swarthy, Because the sun hath scorched me. My mother`s sons were incensed against me; They made me keeper of the vineyards; [But] mine own vineyard have I not kept.\r\n Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, Where thou feedest [thy flock], Where thou makest [it] to rest at noon: For why should I be as one that is veiled Beside the flocks of thy companions?\r\n If thou know not, O thou fairest among women, Go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock, And feed thy kids beside the shepherds` tents.\r\n I have compared thee, O my love, To a steed in Pharaoh`s chariots.\r\n Thy cheeks are comely with plaits [of hair], Thy neck with strings of jewels.\r\n We will make thee plaits of gold With studs of silver.\r\n While the king sat at his table, My spikenard sent forth its fragrance.\r\n My beloved is unto me [as] a bundle of myrrh, That lieth betwixt my breasts.\r\n My beloved is unto me [as] a cluster of henna-flowers In the vineyards of En-gedi.\r\n Behold, thou art fair, my love; Behold thou art fair; Thine eyes are [as] doves.\r\n Behold, thou art fair, my beloved, yea, pleasant: Also our couch is green.\r\n The beams of our house are cedars, [And] our rafters are firs.\r\n \r\n \r\n I am a rose of Sharon, A lily of the valleys.\r\n As a lily among thorns, So is my love among the daughters.\r\n As the apple-tree among the trees of the wood, So is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, And his fruit was sweet to my taste.\r\n He brought me to the banqueting-house, And his banner over me was love.\r\n Stay ye me with raisins, refresh me with apples; For I am sick from love.\r\n His left hand [is] under my head, And his right hand doth embrace me.\r\n I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, By the roes, or by the hinds of the field, That ye stir not up, nor awake [my] love, Until he please.\r\n The voice of my beloved! behold, he cometh, Leaping upon the mountains, Skipping upon the hills.\r\n My beloved is like a roe or a young hart: Behold, he standeth behind our wall; He looketh in at the windows; He glanceth through the lattice.\r\n My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.\r\n For, lo, the winter is past; The rain is over and gone;\r\n The flowers appear on the earth; The time of the singing [of birds] is come, And the voice of the turtle-dove is heard in our land;\r\n The fig-tree ripeneth her green figs, And the vines are in blossom; They give forth their fragrance. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.\r\n O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, In the covert of the steep place, Let me see thy countenance, Let me hear thy voice; For sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely.\r\n Take us the foxes, the little foxes, That spoil the vineyards; For our vineyards are in blossom.\r\n My beloved is mine, and I am his: He feedeth [his flock] among the lilies.\r\n Until the day be cool, and the shadows flee away, Turn, my beloved, and be thou like a roe or a young hart Upon the mountains of Bether.\r\n \r\n \r\n By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not.\r\n [I said], I will rise now, and go about the city; In the streets and in the broad ways I will seek him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not.\r\n The watchmen that go about the city found me; [To whom I said], Saw ye him whom my soul loveth?\r\n It was but a little that I passed from them, When I found him whom my soul loveth: I held him, and would not let him go, Until I had brought him into my mother`s house, And into the chamber of her that conceived me.\r\n I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, By the roes, or by the hinds of the field, That ye stir not up, nor awake [my] love, Until he please.\r\n Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness Like pillars of smoke, Perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, With all powders of the merchant?\r\n Behold, it is the litter of Solomon; Threescore mighty men are about it, Of the mighty men of Israel.\r\n They all handle the sword, [and] are expert in war: Every man hath his sword upon his thigh, Because of fear in the night.\r\n King Solomon made himself a palanquin Of the wood of Lebanon.\r\n He made the pillars thereof of silver, The bottom thereof of gold, the seat of it of purple, The midst thereof being paved with love, From the daughters of Jerusalem.\r\n Go forth, O ye daughters of Zion, and behold king Solomon, With the crown wherewith his mother hath crowned him In the day of his espousals, And in the day of the gladness of his heart.\r\n \r\n \r\n Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; Thine eyes are [as] doves behind thy veil. Thy hair is as a flock of goats, That lie along the side of mount Gilead.\r\n Thy teeth are like a flock [of ewes] that are [newly] shorn, Which are come up from the washing, Whereof every one hath twins, And none is bereaved among them.\r\n Thy lips are like a thread of scarlet, And thy mouth is comely. Thy temples are like a piece of a pomegranate Behind thy veil.\r\n Thy neck is like the tower of David builded for an armory, Whereon there hang a thousand bucklers, All the shields of the mighty men.\r\n Thy two breasts are like two fawns That are twins of a roe, Which feed among the lilies.\r\n Until the day be cool, and the shadows flee away, I will get me to the mountain of myrrh, And to the hill of frankincense.\r\n Thou art all fair, my love; And there is no spot in thee.\r\n Come with me from Lebanon, [my] bride, With me from Lebanon: Look from the top of Amana, From the top of Senir and Hermon, From the lions` dens, From the mountains of the leopards.\r\n Thou hast ravished my heart, my sister, [my] bride; Thou hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes, With one chain of thy neck.\r\n How fair is thy love, my sister, [my] bride! How much better is thy love than wine! And the fragrance of thine oils than all manner of spices!\r\n Thy lips, O [my] bride, drop [as] the honeycomb: Honey and milk are under thy tongue; And the smell of thy garments is like the smell of Lebanon.\r\n A garden shut up is my sister, [my] bride; A spring shut up, a fountain sealed.\r\n Thy shoots are an orchard of pomegranates, with precious fruits; Henna with spikenard plants,\r\n Spikenard and saffron, Calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; Myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices.\r\n [Thou art] a fountain of gardens, A well of living waters, And flowing streams from Lebanon.\r\n Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south; Blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out. Let my beloved come into his garden, And eat his precious fruits.\r\n \r\n \r\n I am come into my garden, my sister, [my] bride: I have gathered my myrrh with my spice; I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk. Eat, O friends; Drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved.\r\n I was asleep, but my heart waked: It is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, [saying], Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled; For my head is filled with dew, My locks with the drops of the night.\r\n I have put off my garment; how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet; how shall I defile them?\r\n My beloved put in his hand by the hole [of the door], And my heart was moved for him.\r\n I rose up to open to my beloved; And my hands droppeth with myrrh, And my fingers with liquid myrrh, Upon the handles of the bolt.\r\n I opened to my beloved; But my beloved had withdrawn himself, [and] was gone. My soul had failed me when he spake: I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer.\r\n The watchmen that go about the city found me, They smote me, they wounded me; The keepers of the walls took away my mantle from me.\r\n I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, If ye find my beloved, That ye tell him, that I am sick from love.\r\n What is thy beloved more than [another] beloved, O thou fairest among women? What is thy beloved more than [another] beloved, That thou dost so adjure us?\r\n My beloved is white and ruddy, The chiefest among ten thousand.\r\n His head is [as] the most fine gold; His locks are bushy, [and] black as a raven.\r\n His eyes are like doves beside the water-brooks, Washed with milk, [and] fitly set.\r\n His cheeks are as a bed of spices, [As] banks of sweet herbs: His lips are [as] lilies, dropping liquid myrrh.\r\n His hands are [as] rings of gold set with beryl: His body is [as] ivory work overlaid [with] sapphires.\r\n His legs are [as] pillars of marble, set upon sockets of fine gold: His aspect is like Lebanon, excellent as the cedars.\r\n His mouth is most sweet; Yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.\r\n \r\n \r\n Whither is thy beloved gone, O thou fairest among women? Whither hath thy beloved turned him, That we may seek him with thee?\r\n My beloved is gone down to his garden, To the beds of spices, To feed in the gardens, and to gather lilies.\r\n I am my beloved`s, and my beloved is mine; He feedeth [his flock] among the lilies,\r\n Thou art fair, O my love, as Tirzah, Comely as Jerusalem, Terrible as an army with banners.\r\n Turn away thine eyes from me, For they have overcome me. Thy hair is as a flock of goats, That lie along the side of Gilead.\r\n Thy teeth are like a flock of ewes, Which are come up from the washing; Whereof every one hath twins, And none is bereaved among them.\r\n Thy temples are like a piece of a pomegranate Behind thy veil.\r\n There are threescore queens, and fourscore concubines, And virgins without number.\r\n My dove, my undefiled, is [but] one; She is the only one of her mother; She is the choice one of her that bare her. The daughters saw her, and called her blessed; [Yea], the queens and the concubines, and they praised her.\r\n Who is she that looketh forth as the morning, Fair as the moon, Clear as the sun, Terrible as an army with banners?\r\n I went down into the garden of nuts, To see the green plants of the valley, To see whether the vine budded, [And] the pomegranates were in flower.\r\n Before I was aware, my soul set me [Among] the chariots of my princely people.\r\n Return, return, O Shulammite; Return, return, that we may look upon thee. Why will ye look upon the Shulammite, As upon the dance of Mahanaim?\r\n \r\n \r\n How beautiful are thy feet in sandals, O prince`s daughter! Thy rounded thighs are like jewels, The work of the hands of a skilful workman.\r\n Thy body is [like] a round goblet, [Wherein] no mingled wine is wanting: Thy waist is [like] a heap of wheat Set about with lilies.\r\n Thy two breasts are like two fawns That are twins of a roe.\r\n Thy neck is like the tower of ivory; Thine eyes [as] the pools in Heshbon, By the gate of Bath-rabbim; Thy nose is like the tower of Lebanon Which looketh toward Damascus.\r\n Thy head upon thee is like Carmel, And the hair of thy head like purple; The king is held captive in the tresses [thereof].\r\n How fair and how pleasant art thou, O love, for delights!\r\n This thy stature is like to a palm-tree, And thy breasts to its clusters.\r\n I said, I will climb up into the palm-tree, I will take hold of the branches thereof: Let thy breasts be as clusters of the vine, And the smell of thy breath like apples,\r\n And thy mouth like the best wine, That goeth down smoothly for my beloved, Gliding through the lips of those that are asleep.\r\n I am my beloved`s; And his desire is toward me.\r\n Come, my beloved, let us go forth into the field; Let us lodge in the villages.\r\n Let us get up early to the vineyards; Let us see whether the vine hath budded, [And] its blossom is open, [And] the pomegranates are in flower: There will I give thee my love.\r\n The mandrakes give forth fragrance; And at our doors are all manner of precious fruits, new and old, Which I have laid up for thee, O my beloved.\r\n \r\n \r\n Oh that thou wert as my brother, That sucked the breasts of my mother! [When] I should find thee without, I would kiss thee; Yea, and none would despise me.\r\n I would lead thee, [and] bring thee into my mother`s house, Who would instruct me; I would cause thee to drink of spiced wine, Of the juice of my pomegranate.\r\n His left hand [should be] under my head, And his right hand should embrace me.\r\n I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, That ye stir not up, nor awake [my] love, Until he please.\r\n Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, Leaning upon her beloved? Under the apple-tree I awakened thee: There thy mother was in travail with thee, There was she in travail that brought thee forth.\r\n Set me as a seal upon thy heart, As a seal upon thine arm: For love is strong as death; Jealousy is cruel as Sheol; The flashes thereof are flashes of fire, A very flame of Jehovah.\r\n Many waters cannot quench love, Neither can floods drown it: If a man would give all the substance of his house for love, He would utterly be contemned.\r\n We have a little sister, And she hath no breasts: What shall we do for our sister In the day when she shall be spoken for?\r\n If she be a wall, We will build upon her a turret of silver: And if she be a door, We will inclose her with boards of cedar.\r\n I am a wall, and my breasts like the towers [thereof] Then was I in his eyes as one that found peace.\r\n Solomon had a vineyard at Baal-hamon; He let out the vineyard unto keepers; Every one for the fruit thereof was to bring a thousand [pieces] of silver.\r\n My vineyard, which is mine, is before me: Thou, O Solomon, shalt have the thousand, And those that keep the fruit thereof two hundred.\r\n Thou that dwellest in the gardens, The companions hearken for thy voice: Cause me to hear it.\r\n Make haste, my beloved, And be thou like to a roe or to a young hart Upon the mountains of spices.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.\r\n Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth; for Jehovah hath spoken: I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.\r\n The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master`s crib; [but] Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider.\r\n Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evil-doers, children that deal corruptly! they have forsaken Jehovah, they have despised the Holy One of Israel, they are estranged [and gone] backward.\r\n Why will ye be still stricken, that ye revolt more and more? the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.\r\n From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; [but] wounds, and bruises, and fresh stripes: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with oil.\r\n Your country is desolate; your cities are burned with fire; your land, strangers devour it in your presence, and it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers.\r\n And the daughter of Zion is left as a booth in a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city.\r\n Except Jehovah of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, we should have been like unto Gomorrah.\r\n Hear the word of Jehovah, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah.\r\n What unto me is the multitude of your sacrifices? saith Jehovah: I have had enough of the burnt-offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he-goats.\r\n When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to trample my courts?\r\n Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; new moon and sabbath, the calling of assemblies,- I cannot away with iniquity and the solemn meeting.\r\n Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth; they are a trouble unto me; I am weary of bearing them.\r\n And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you; yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.\r\n Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;\r\n learn to do well; seek justice, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.\r\n Come now, and let us reason together, saith Jehovah: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.\r\n If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:\r\n but if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword; for the mouth of Jehovah hath spoken it.\r\n How is the faithful city become a harlot! she that was full of justice! righteousness lodged in her, but now murderers.\r\n Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mixed with water.\r\n Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves; every one loveth bribes, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them.\r\n Therefore saith the Lord, Jehovah of hosts, the Mighty One of Israel, Ah, I will ease me of mine adversaries, and avenge me of mine enemies;\r\n and I will turn my hand upon thee, and thoroughly purge away thy dross, and will take away all thy tin;\r\n and I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counsellors as at the beginning: afterward thou shalt be called The city of righteousness, a faithful town.\r\n Zion shall be redeemed with justice, and her converts with righteousness.\r\n But the destruction of transgressors and sinners shall be together, and they that forsake Jehovah shall be consumed.\r\n For they shall be ashamed of the oaks which ye have desired, and ye shall be confounded for the gardens that ye have chosen.\r\n For ye shall be as an oak whose leaf fadeth, and as a garden that hath no water.\r\n And the strong shall be as tow, and his work as a spark; and they shall both burn together, and none shall quench them.\r\n \r\n \r\n The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.\r\n And it shall come to pass in the latter days, that the mountain of Jehovah`s house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.\r\n And many peoples shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of Jehovah, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of Jehovah from Jerusalem.\r\n And he will judge between the nations, and will decide concerning many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.\r\n O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of Jehovah.\r\n For thou hast forsaken thy people the house of Jacob, because they are filled [with customs] from the east, and [are] soothsayers like the Philistines, and they strike hands with the children of foreigners.\r\n And their land is full of silver and gold, neither is there any end of their treasures; their land also is full of horses, neither is there any end of their chariots.\r\n Their land also is full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made.\r\n And the mean man is bowed down, and the great man is brought low: therefore forgive them not.\r\n Enter into the rock, and hide thee in the dust, from before the terror of Jehovah, and from the glory of his majesty.\r\n The lofty looks of man shall be brought low, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and Jehovah alone shall be exalted in that day.\r\n For there shall be a day of Jehovah of hosts upon all that is proud and haughty, and upon all that is lifted up; and it shall be brought low;\r\n and upon all the cedars of Lebanon, that are high and lifted up, and upon all the oaks of Bashan,\r\n and upon all the high mountains, and upon all the hills that are lifted up,\r\n and upon every lofty tower, and upon every fortified wall,\r\n and upon all the ships of Tarshish, and upon all pleasant imagery.\r\n And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be brought low; and Jehovah alone shall be exalted in that day.\r\n And the idols shall utterly pass away.\r\n And men shall go into the caves of the rocks, and into the holes of the earth, from before the terror of Jehovah, and from the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake mightily the earth.\r\n In that day men shall cast away their idols of silver, and their idols of gold, which have been made for them to worship, to the moles and to the bats;\r\n to go into the caverns of the rocks, and into the clefts of the ragged rocks, from before the terror of Jehovah, and from the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake mightily the earth.\r\n Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils; for wherein is he to be accounted of?\r\n \r\n \r\n For, behold, the Lord, Jehovah of hosts, doth take away from Jerusalem and from Judah stay and staff, the whole stay of bread, and the whole stay of water;\r\n the mighty man, and the man of war; the judge, and the prophet, and the diviner, and the elder;\r\n the captain of fifty, and the honorable man, and the counsellor, and the expert artificer, and the skilful enchanter.\r\n And I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over them.\r\n And the people shall be oppressed, every one by another, and every one by his neighbor: the child shall behave himself proudly against the old man, and the base against the honorable.\r\n When a man shall take hold of his brother in the house of his father, [saying], Thou hast clothing, be thou our ruler, and let this ruin be under thy hand;\r\n in that day shall he lift up [his voice], saying, I will not be a healer; for in my house is neither bread nor clothing: ye shall not make me ruler of the people.\r\n For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen; because their tongue and their doings are against Jehovah, to provoke the eyes of his glory.\r\n The show of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have done evil unto themselves.\r\n Say ye of the righteous, that [it shall be] well [with him]; for they shall eat the fruit of their doings.\r\n Woe unto the wicked! [it shall be] ill [with him]; for what his hands have done shall be done unto him.\r\n As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they that lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.\r\n Jehovah standeth up to contend, and standeth to judge the peoples.\r\n Jehovah will enter into judgment with the elders of his people, and the princes thereof: It is ye that have eaten up the vineyard; the spoil of the poor is in your houses:\r\n what mean ye that ye crush my people, and grind the face of the poor? saith the Lord, Jehovah of hosts.\r\n Moreover Jehovah said, Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with outstretched necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go, and making a tinkling with their feet;\r\n therefore the Lord will smite with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, and Jehovah will lay bare their secret parts.\r\n In that day the Lord will take away the beauty of their anklets, and the cauls, and the crescents;\r\n the pendants, and the bracelets, and the mufflers;\r\n the headtires, and the ankle chains, and the sashes, and the perfume-boxes, and the amulets;\r\n the rings, and the nose-jewels;\r\n the festival robes, and the mantles, and the shawls, and the satchels;\r\n the hand-mirrors, and the fine linen, and the turbans, and the veils.\r\n And it shall come to pass, that instead of sweet spices there shall be rottenness; and instead of a girdle, a rope; and instead of well set hair, baldness; and instead of a robe, a girding of sackcloth; branding instead of beauty.\r\n Thy men shall fall by the sword, and thy mighty in the war.\r\n And her gates shall lament and mourn; and she shall be desolate and sit upon the ground.\r\n \r\n \r\n And seven women shall take hold of one man in that day, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name; take thou away our reproach.\r\n In that day shall the branch of Jehovah be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel.\r\n And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem;\r\n when the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof, by the spirit of justice, and by the spirit of burning.\r\n And Jehovah will create over the whole habitation of mount Zion, and over her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night; for over all the glory [shall be spread] a covering.\r\n And there shall be a pavilion for a shade in the day-time from the heat, and for a refuge and for a covert from storm and from rain.\r\n \r\n \r\n Let me sing for my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My wellbeloved had a vineyard in a very fruitful hill:\r\n and he digged it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also hewed out a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes.\r\n And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard.\r\n What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes?\r\n And now I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; I will break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down:\r\n and I will lay it waste; it shall not be pruned nor hoed; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it.\r\n For the vineyard of Jehovah of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for justice, but, behold, oppression; for righteousness, but, behold, a cry.\r\n Woe unto them that join house to house, that lay field to field, till there be no room, and ye be made to dwell alone in the midst of the land!\r\n In mine ears [saith] Jehovah of hosts, Of a truth many houses shall be desolate, even great and fair, without inhabitant.\r\n For ten acres of vineyard shall yield one bath, and a homer of seed shall yield [but] an ephah.\r\n Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that tarry late into the night, till wine inflame them!\r\n And the harp and the lute, the tabret and the pipe, and wine, are [in] their feasts; but they regard not the work of Jehovah, neither have they considered the operation of his hands.\r\n Therefore my people are gone into captivity for lack of knowledge; and their honorable men are famished, and their multitude are parched with thirst.\r\n Therefore Sheol hath enlarged its desire, and opened its mouth without measure; and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth among them, descend [into it].\r\n And the mean man is bowed down, and the great man is humbled, and the eyes of the lofty are humbled:\r\n but Jehovah of hosts is exalted in justice, and God the Holy One is sanctified in righteousness.\r\n Then shall the lambs feed as in their pasture, and the waste places of the fat ones shall wanderers eat.\r\n Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of falsehood, and sin as it were with a cart rope;\r\n that say, Let him make speed, let him hasten his work, that we may see it; and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw nigh and come, that we may know it!\r\n Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!\r\n Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!\r\n Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink;\r\n that justify the wicked for a bribe, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!\r\n Therefore as the tongue of fire devoureth the stubble, and as the dry grass sinketh down in the flame, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust; because they have rejected the law of Jehovah of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.\r\n Therefore is the anger of Jehovah kindled against his people, and he hath stretched forth his hand against them, and hath smitten them; and the mountains tremble, and their dead bodies are as refuse in the midst of the streets. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.\r\n And he will lift up an ensign to the nations from far, and will hiss for them from the end of the earth; and, behold, they shall come with speed swiftly.\r\n None shall be weary nor stumble among them; none shall slumber nor sleep; neither shall the girdle of their loins be loosed, nor the latchet of their shoes be broken:\r\n whose arrows are sharp, and all their bows bent; their horses` hoofs shall be accounted as flint, and their wheels as a whirlwind:\r\n their roaring shall be like a lioness, they shall roar like young lions; yea, they shall roar, and lay hold of the prey, and carry it away safe, and there shall be none to deliver.\r\n And they shall roar against them in that day like the roaring of the sea: and if one look unto the land, behold, darkness [and] distress; and the light is darkened in the clouds thereof.\r\n \r\n \r\n In the year that king Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and his train filled the temple.\r\n Above him stood the seraphim: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.\r\n And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is Jehovah of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.\r\n And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.\r\n Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, Jehovah of hosts.\r\n Then flew one of the seraphim unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar:\r\n and he touched my mouth with it, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin forgiven.\r\n And I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then I said, Here am I; send me.\r\n And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.\r\n Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they sea with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and turn again, and be healed.\r\n Then said I, Lord, how long? And he answered, Until cities be waste without inhabitant, and houses without man, and the land become utterly waste,\r\n and Jehovah have removed men far away, and the forsaken places be many in the midst of the land.\r\n And if there be yet a tenth in it, it also shall in turn be eaten up: as a terebinth, and as an oak, whose stock remaineth, when they are felled; so the holy seed is the stock thereof.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass in the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, that Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up to Jerusalem to war against it, but could not prevail against it.\r\n And it was told the house of David, saying, Syria is confederate with Ephraim. And his heart trembled, and the heart of his people, as the trees of the forest tremble with the wind.\r\n Then said Jehovah unto Isaiah, Go forth now to meet Ahaz, thou, and Shear-jashub thy son, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool, in the highway of the fuller`s field;\r\n and say unto him, Take heed, and be quiet; fear not, neither let thy heart be faint, because of these two tails of smoking firebrands, for the fierce anger of Rezin and Syria, and of the son of Remaliah.\r\n Because Syria, Ephraim, and the son of Remaliah, have purposed evil against thee, saying,\r\n Let us go up against Judah, and vex it, and let us make a breach therein for us, and set up a king in the midst of it, even the son of Tabeel;\r\n thus saith the Lord Jehovah, It shall not stand, neither shall it come to pass.\r\n For the head of Syria is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin; and within threescore and five years shall Ephraim be broken in pieces, so that is shall not be a people:\r\n and the head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is Remaliah`s son. If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established.\r\n And Jehovah spake again unto Ahaz, saying,\r\n Ask thee a sign of Jehovah thy God; ask it either in the depth, or in the height above.\r\n But Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt Jehovah.\r\n And he said, Hear ye now, O house of David: Is it a small thing for you to weary men, that ye will weary my God also?\r\n Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.\r\n Butter and honey shall he eat, when he knoweth to refuse the evil, and choose the good.\r\n For before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land whose two kings thou abhorrest shall be forsaken.\r\n Jehovah will bring upon thee, and upon thy people, and upon thy father`s house, days that have not come, from the day that Ephraim departed from Judah-[even] the king of Assyria.\r\n And it shall come to pass in that day, that Jehovah will hiss for the fly that is in the uttermost part of the rivers of Egypt, and for the bee that is in the land of Assyria.\r\n And they shall come, and shall rest all of them in the desolate valleys, and in the clefts of the rocks, and upon all thorn-hedges, and upon all pastures.\r\n In that day will the Lord shave with a razor that is hired in the parts beyond the River, [even] with the king of Assyria, the head and the hair of the feet; and it shall also consume the beard.\r\n And it shall come to pass in that day, that a man shall keep alive a young cow, and two sheep;\r\n and it shall come to pass, that because of the abundance of milk which they shall give he shall eat butter: for butter and honey shall every one eat that is left in the midst of the land.\r\n And it shall come to pass in that day, that every place, where there were a thousand vines at a thousand silverlings, shall be for briers and thorns.\r\n With arrows and with bow shall one come thither, because all the land shall be briers and thorns.\r\n And all the hills that were digged with the mattock, thou shalt not come thither for fear of briers and thorns; but it shall be for the sending forth of oxen, and for the treading of sheep.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Jehovah said unto me, Take thee a great tablet, and write upon it with the pen of a man, For Maher-shalal-hash-baz;\r\n and I will take unto me faithful witnesses to record, Uriah the priest, and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah.\r\n And I went unto the prophetess; and she conceived, and bare a son. Then said Jehovah unto me, Call his name Maher-shalal-hash-baz.\r\n For before the child shall have knowledge to cry, My father, and, My mother, the riches of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria shall be carried away before the king of Assyria.\r\n And Jehovah spake unto me yet again, saying,\r\n Forasmuch as this people have refused the waters of Shiloah that go softly, and rejoice in Rezin and Remaliah`s son;\r\n now therefore, behold, the Lord bringeth up upon them the waters of the River, strong and many, [even] the king of Assyria and all his glory: and it shall come up over all its channels, and go over all its banks;\r\n and it shall sweep onward into Judah; it shall overflow and pass through; it shall reach even to the neck; and the stretching out of its wings shall fill the breadth of thy land, O Immanuel.\r\n Make an uproar, O ye peoples, and be broken in pieces; and give ear, all ye of far countries: gird yourselves, and be broken in pieces; gird yourselves, and be broken in pieces.\r\n Take counsel together, and it shall be brought to nought; speak the word, and it shall not stand: for God is with us.\r\n For Jehovah spake thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me not to walk in the way of this people, saying,\r\n Say ye not, A conspiracy, concerning all whereof this people shall say, A conspiracy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be in dread [thereof].\r\n Jehovah of hosts, him shall ye sanctify; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.\r\n And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.\r\n And many shall stumble thereon, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken.\r\n Bind thou up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.\r\n And I will wait for Jehovah, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him.\r\n Behold, I and the children whom Jehovah hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from Jehovah of hosts, who dwelleth in mount Zion.\r\n And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits and unto the wizards, that chirp and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? on behalf of the living [should they seek] unto the dead?\r\n To the law and to the testimony! if they speak not according to this word, surely there is no morning for them.\r\n And they shall pass through it, sore distressed and hungry; and it shall come to pass that, when they shall be hungry, they shall fret themselves, and curse by their king and by their God, and turn their faces upward:\r\n and they shall look unto the earth, and behold, distress and darkness, the gloom of anguish; and into thick darkness [they shall be] driven away.\r\n \r\n \r\n But there shall be no gloom to her that was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali; but in the latter time hath he made it glorious, by the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.\r\n The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.\r\n Thou hast multiplied the nation, thou hast increased their joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.\r\n For the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, thou hast broken as in the day of Midian.\r\n For all the armor of the armed man in the tumult, and the garments rolled in blood, shall be for burning, for fuel of fire.\r\n For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.\r\n Of the increase of his government and of peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of Jehovah of hosts will perform this.\r\n The Lord sent a word into Jacob, and it hath lighted upon Israel.\r\n And all the people shall know, [even] Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria, that say in pride and in stoutness of heart,\r\n The bricks are fallen, but we will build with hewn stone; the sycomores are cut down, but we will put cedars in their place.\r\n Therefore Jehovah will set up on high against him the adversaries of Rezin, and will stir up his enemies,\r\n the Syrians before, and the Philistines behind; and they shall devour Israel with open mouth. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.\r\n Yet the people have not turned unto him that smote them, neither have they sought Jehovah of hosts.\r\n Therefore Jehovah will cut off from Israel head and tail, palm-branch and rush, in one day.\r\n The elder and the honorable man, he is the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail.\r\n For they that lead this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed.\r\n Therefore the Lord will not rejoice over their young men, neither will he have compassion on their fatherless and widows; for every one is profane and an evil-doer, and every mouth speaketh folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.\r\n For wickedness burneth as the fire; it devoureth the briers and thorns; yea, it kindleth in the thickets of the forest, and they roll upward in a column of smoke.\r\n Through the wrath of Jehovah of hosts is the land burnt up; and the people are as the fuel of fire: no man spareth his brother.\r\n And one shall snatch on the right hand, and be hungry; and he shall eat on the left hand, and they shall not be satisfied: they shall eat every man the flesh of his own arm:\r\n Manasseh, Ephraim; and Ephraim, Manasseh; and they together shall be against Judah. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.\r\n \r\n \r\n Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and to the writers that write perverseness;\r\n to turn aside the needy from justice, and to rob the poor of my people of their right, that widows may be their spoil, and that they may make the fatherless their prey!\r\n And what will ye do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation which shall come from far? to whom will ye flee for help? and where will ye leave your glory?\r\n They shall only bow down under the prisoners, and shall fall under the slain. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.\r\n Ho Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, the staff in whose hand is mine indignation!\r\n I will send him against a profane nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.\r\n Howbeit he meaneth not so, neither doth his heart think so; but it is in his heart to destroy, and to cut off nations not a few.\r\n For he saith, Are not my princes all of them kings?\r\n Is not Calno as Carchemish? is not Hamath as Arpad? is not Samaria as Damascus?\r\n As my hand hath found the kingdoms of the idols, whose graven images did excel them of Jerusalem and of Samaria;\r\n shall I not, as I have done unto Samaria and her idols, so do to Jerusalem and her idols?\r\n Wherefore it shall come to pass, that, when the Lord hath performed his whole work upon mount Zion and on Jerusalem, I will punish the fruit of the stout heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his high looks.\r\n For he hath said, By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom; for I have understanding: and I have removed the bounds of the peoples, and have robbed their treasures, and like a valiant man I have brought down them that sit [on thrones]:\r\n and my hand hath found as a nest the riches of the peoples; and as one gathereth eggs that are forsaken, have I gathered all the earth: and there was none that moved the wing, or that opened the mouth, or chirped.\r\n Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth therewith? shall the saw magnify itself against him that wieldeth it? as if a rod should wield them that lift it up, [or] as if a staff should lift up [him that is] not wood.\r\n Therefore will the Lord, Jehovah of hosts, send among his fat ones leanness; and under his glory there shall be kindled a burning like the burning of fire.\r\n And the light of Israel will be for a fire, and his Holy One for a flame; and it will burn and devour his thorns and his briers in one day.\r\n And he will consume the glory of his forest, and of his fruitful field, both soul and body: and it shall be as when a standard-bearer fainteth.\r\n And the remnant of the trees of his forest shall be few, so that a child may write them.\r\n And it shall come to pass in that day, that the remnant of Israel, and they that are escaped of the house of Jacob, shall no more again lean upon him that smote them, but shall lean upon Jehovah, the Holy One of Israel, in truth.\r\n A remnant shall return, [even] the remnant of Jacob, unto the mighty God.\r\n For though thy people, Israel, be as the sand of the sea, [only] a remnant of them shall return: a destruction [is] determined, overflowing with righteousness.\r\n For a full end, and that determined, will the Lord, Jehovah of hosts, make in the midst of all the earth.\r\n Therefore thus saith the Lord, Jehovah of hosts, O my people that dwellest in Zion, be not afraid of the Assyrian, though he smite thee with the rod, and lift up his staff against thee, after the manner of Egypt.\r\n For yet a very little while, and the indignation [against thee] shall be accomplished, and mine anger [shall be directed] to his destruction.\r\n And Jehovah of hosts will stir up against him a scourge, as in the slaughter of Midian at the rock of Oreb: and his rod will be over the sea, and he will lift it up after the manner of Egypt.\r\n And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall depart from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed by reason of fatness.\r\n He is come to Aiath, he is passed through Migron; at Michmash he layeth up his baggage;\r\n they are gone over the pass; they have taken up their lodging at Geba; Ramah trembleth; Gibeah of Saul is fled.\r\n Cry aloud with thy voice, O daughter of Gallim! hearken, O Laishah! O thou poor Anathoth!\r\n Madmenah is a fugitive; the inhabitants of Gebim flee for safety.\r\n This very day shall he halt at Nob: he shaketh his hand at the mount of the daughter of Zion, the hill of Jerusalem.\r\n Behold, the Lord, Jehovah of hosts, will lop the boughs with terror: and the high of stature shall be hewn down, and the lofty shall be brought low.\r\n And he will cut down the thickets of the forest with iron, and Lebanon shall fall by a mighty one.\r\n \r\n \r\n And there shall come forth a shoot out of the stock of Jesse, and a branch out of his roots shall bear fruit.\r\n And the Spirit of Jehovah shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of Jehovah.\r\n And his delight shall be in the fear of Jehovah; and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither decide after the hearing of his ears;\r\n but with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth; and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.\r\n And righteousness shall be the girdle of his waist, and faithfulness the girdle of his loins.\r\n And the wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.\r\n And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.\r\n And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder`s den.\r\n They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of Jehovah, as the waters cover the sea.\r\n And it shall come to pass in that day, that the root of Jesse, that standeth for an ensign of the peoples, unto him shall the nations seek; and his resting-place shall be glorious.\r\n And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord will set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, that shall remain, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.\r\n And he will set up an ensign for the nations, and will assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.\r\n The envy also of Ephraim shall depart, and they that vex Judah shall be cut off: Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim.\r\n And they shall fly down upon the shoulder of the Philistines on the west; together shall they despoil the children of the east: they shall put forth their hand upon Edom and Moab; and the children of Ammon shall obey them.\r\n And Jehovah will utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea; and with his scorching wind will he wave his hand over the River, and will smite it into seven streams, and cause men to march over dryshod.\r\n And there shall be a highway for the remnant of his people, that shall remain, from Assyria; like as there was for Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt.\r\n \r\n \r\n And in that day thou shalt say, I will give thanks unto thee, O Jehovah; for though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away and thou comfortest me.\r\n Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for Jehovah, [even] Jehovah, is my strength and song; and he is become my salvation.\r\n Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.\r\n And in that day shall ye say, Give thanks unto Jehovah, call upon his name, declare his doings among the peoples, make mention that his name is exalted.\r\n Sing unto Jehovah; for he hath done excellent things: let this be known in all the earth.\r\n Cry aloud and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion; for great in the midst of thee is the Holy One of Israel.\r\n \r\n \r\n The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz did see.\r\n Set ye up an ensign upon the bare mountain, lift up the voice unto them, wave the hand, that they may go into the gates of the nobles.\r\n I have commanded my consecrated ones, yea, I have called my mighty men for mine anger, even my proudly exulting ones.\r\n The noise of a multitude in the mountains, as of a great people! the noise of a tumult of the kingdoms of the nations gathered together! Jehovah of hosts is mustering the host for the battle.\r\n They come from a far country, from the uttermost part of heaven, even Jehovah, and the weapons of his indignation, to destroy the whole land.\r\n Wail ye; for the day of Jehovah is at hand; as destruction from the Almighty shall it come.\r\n Therefore shall all hands be feeble, and every heart of man shall melt:\r\n and they shall be dismayed; pangs and sorrows shall take hold [of them]; they shall be in pain as a woman in travail: they shall look in amazement one at another; their faces [shall be] faces of flame.\r\n Behold, the day of Jehovah cometh, cruel, with wrath and fierce anger; to make the land a desolation, and to destroy the sinners thereof out of it.\r\n For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light; the sun shall be darkened in its going forth, and the moon shall not cause its light to shine.\r\n And I will punish the world for [their] evil, and the wicked for their iniquity: and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.\r\n I will make a man more rare than fine gold, even a man than the pure gold of Ophir.\r\n Therefore I will make the heavens to tremble, and the earth shall be shaken out of its place, in the wrath of Jehovah of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger.\r\n And it shall come to pass, that as the chased roe, and as sheep that no man gathereth, they shall turn every man to his own people, and shall flee every man to his own land.\r\n Every one that is found shall be thrust through; and every one that is taken shall fall by the sword.\r\n Their infants also shall be dashed in pieces before their eyes; their houses shall be rifled, and their wives ravished.\r\n Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them, who shall not regard silver, and as for gold, they shall not delight in it.\r\n And [their] bows shall dash the young men in pieces; and they shall have no pity on the fruit of the womb; their eye shall not spare children.\r\n And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldeans` pride, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.\r\n It shall never be inhabited, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation: neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there; neither shall shepherds make their flocks to lie down there.\r\n But wild beasts of the desert shall lie there; and their houses shall be full of doleful creatures; and ostriches shall dwell there, and wild goats shall dance there.\r\n And wolves shall cry in their castles, and jackals in the pleasant palaces: and her time is near to come, and her days shall not be prolonged.\r\n \r\n \r\n For Jehovah will have compassion on Jacob, and will yet choose Israel, and set them in their own land: and the sojourner shall join himself with them, and they shall cleave to the house of Jacob.\r\n And the peoples shall take them, and bring them to their place; and the house of Israel shall possess them in the land of Jehovah for servants and for handmaids: and they shall take them captive whose captives they were; and they shall rule over their oppressors.\r\n And it shall come to pass in the day that Jehovah shall give thee rest from thy sorrow, and from thy trouble, and from the hard service wherein thou wast made to serve,\r\n that thou shalt take up this parable against the king of Babylon, and say, How hath the oppressor ceased! the golden city ceased!\r\n Jehovah hath broken the staff of the wicked, the sceptre of the rulers;\r\n that smote the peoples in wrath with a continual stroke, that ruled the nations in anger, with a persecution that none restrained.\r\n The whole earth is at rest, [and] is quiet: they break forth into singing.\r\n Yea, the fir-trees rejoice at thee, [and] the cedars of Lebanon, [saying], Since thou art laid low, no hewer is come up against us.\r\n Sheol from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming; it stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth; it hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations.\r\n All they shall answer and say unto thee, Art thou also become weak as we? art thou become like unto us?\r\n Thy pomp is brought down to Sheol, [and] the noise of thy viols: the worm is spread under thee, and worms cover thee.\r\n How art thou fallen from heaven, O day-star, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, that didst lay low the nations!\r\n And thou saidst in thy heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; and I will sit upon the mount of congregation, in the uttermost parts of the north;\r\n I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.\r\n Yet thou shalt be brought down to Sheol, to the uttermost parts of the pit.\r\n They that see thee shall gaze at thee, they shall consider thee, [saying], Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms;\r\n that made the world as a wilderness, and overthrew the cities thereof; that let not loose his prisoners to their home?\r\n All the kings of the nations, all of them, sleep in glory, every one in his own house.\r\n But thou art cast forth away from thy sepulchre like an abominable branch, clothed with the slain, that are thrust through with the sword, that go down to the stones of the pit; as a dead body trodden under foot.\r\n Thou shalt not be joined with them in burial, because thou hast destroyed thy land, thou hast slain thy people; the seed of evil-doers shall not be named for ever.\r\n Prepare ye slaughter for his children for the iniquity of their fathers, that they rise not up, and possess the earth, and fill the face of the world with cities.\r\n And I will rise up against them, saith Jehovah of hosts, and cut off from Babylon name and remnant, and son and son`s son, saith Jehovah.\r\n I will also make it a possession for the porcupine, and pools of water: and I will sweep it with the besom of destruction, saith Jehovah of hosts.\r\n Jehovah of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely, as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand:\r\n that I will break the Assyrian in my land, and upon my mountains tread him under foot: then shall his yoke depart from off them, and his burden depart from off their shoulder.\r\n This is the purpose that is purposed upon the whole earth; and this is the hand that is stretched out upon all the nations.\r\n For Jehovah of hosts hath purposed, and who shall annul it? and his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?\r\n In the year that king Ahaz died was this burden.\r\n Rejoice not, O Philistia, all of thee, because the rod that smote thee is broken; for out of the serpent`s root shall come forth an adder, and his fruit shall be a fiery flying serpent.\r\n And the first-born of the poor shall feed, and the needy shall lie down in safety; and I will kill thy root with famine, and thy remnant shall be slain.\r\n Howl, O gate; cry, O city; thou art melted away, O Philistia, all of thee; for there cometh a smoke out of the north, and there is no straggler in his ranks.\r\n What then shall one answer the messengers of the nation? That Jehovah hath founded Zion, and in her shall the afflicted of his people take refuge.\r\n \r\n \r\n The burden of Moab. For in a night Ar of Moab is laid waste, [and] brought to nought; for in a night Kir of Moab is laid waste, [and] brought to nought.\r\n They are gone up to Bayith, and to Dibon, to the high places, to weep: Moab waileth over Nebo, and over Medeba; on all their heads is baldness, every beard is cut off.\r\n In their streets they gird themselves with sackcloth; on their housetops, and in their broad places, every one waileth, weeping abundantly.\r\n And Heshbon crieth out, and Elealeh; their voice is heard even unto Jahaz: therefore the armed men of Moab cry aloud; his soul trembleth within him.\r\n My heart crieth out for Moab; her nobles [flee] unto Zoar, to Eglath-shelishi-yah: for by the ascent of Luhith with weeping they go up; for in the way of Horonaim they raise up a cry of destruction.\r\n For the waters of Nimrim shall be desolate; for the grass is withered away, the tender grass faileth, there is no green thing.\r\n Therefore the abundance they have gotten, and that which they have laid up, shall they carry away over the brook of the willows.\r\n For the cry is gone round about the borders of Moab; the wailing thereof unto Eglaim, and the wailing thereof unto Beer-elim.\r\n For the waters of Dimon are full of blood; for I will bring yet more upon Dimon, a lion upon them of Moab that escape, and upon the remnant of the land.\r\n \r\n \r\n Send ye the lambs for the ruler of the land from Selah to the wilderness, unto the mount of the daughter of Zion.\r\n For it shall be that, as wandering birds, as a scattered nest, so shall the daughters of Moab be at the fords of the Arnon.\r\n Give counsel, execute justice; make thy shade as the night in the midst of the noonday; hide the outcasts; betray not the fugitive.\r\n Let mine outcasts dwell with thee; as for Moab, be thou a covert to him from the face of the destroyer. For the extortioner is brought to nought, destruction ceaseth, the oppressors are consumed out of the land.\r\n And a throne shall be established in lovingkindness; and one shall sit thereon in truth, in the tent of David, judging, and seeking justice, and swift to do righteousness.\r\n We have heard of the pride of Moab, [that] he is very proud; even of his arrogancy, and his pride, and his wrath; his boastings are nought.\r\n Therefore shall Moab wail for Moab, every one shall wail: for the raisin-cakes of Kir-hareseth shall ye mourn, utterly stricken.\r\n For the fields of Heshbon languish, [and] the vine of Sibmah; the lords of the nations have broken down the choice branches thereof, which reached even unto Jazer, which wandered into the wilderness; its shoots were spread abroad, they passed over the sea.\r\n Therefore I will weep with the weeping of Jazer for the vine of Sibmah; I will water thee with my tears, O Heshbon, and Elealeh: for upon thy summer fruits and upon thy harvest the [battle] shout is fallen.\r\n And gladness is taken away, and joy out of the fruitful field; and in the vineyards there shall be no singing, neither joyful noise: no treader shall tread out wine in the presses; I have made the [vintage] shout to cease.\r\n Wherefore my heart soundeth like a harp for Moab, and mine inward parts for Kir-heres.\r\n And it shall come to pass, when Moab presenteth himself, when he wearieth himself upon the high place, and shall come to his sanctuary to pray, that he shall not prevail.\r\n This is the word that Jehovah spake concerning Moab in time past.\r\n But now Jehovah hath spoken, saying, Within three years, as the years of a hireling, the glory of Moab shall be brought into contempt, with all his great multitude; and the remnant shall be very small and of no account.\r\n \r\n \r\n The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap.\r\n The cities of Aroer are forsaken; they shall be for flocks, which shall lie down, and none shall make them afraid.\r\n And the fortress shall cease from Ephraim, and the kingdom from Damascus, and the remnant of Syria; they shall be as the glory of the children of Israel, saith Jehovah of hosts.\r\n And it shall come to pass in that day, that the glory of Jacob shall be made thin, and the fatness of his flesh shall wax lean.\r\n And it shall be as when the harvestman gathereth the standing grain, and his arm reapeth the ears; yea, it shall be as when one gleaneth ears in the valley of Rephaim.\r\n Yet there shall be left therein gleanings, as the shaking of an olive-tree, two or three berries in the top of the uppermost bough, four or five in the outmost branches of a fruitful tree, saith Jehovah, the God of Israel.\r\n In that day shall men look unto their Maker, and their eyes shall have respect to the Holy One of Israel.\r\n And they shall not look to the altars, the work of their hands; neither shall they have respect to that which their fingers have made, either the Asherim, or the sun-images.\r\n In that day shall their strong cities be as the forsaken places in the wood and on the mountain top, which were forsaken from before the children of Israel; and it shall be a desolation.\r\n For thou hast forgotten the God of thy salvation, and hast not been mindful of the rock of thy strength; therefore thou plantest pleasant plants, and settest it with strange slips.\r\n In the day of thy planting thou hedgest it in, and in the morning thou makest thy seed to blossom; but the harvest fleeth away in the day of grief and of desperate sorrow.\r\n Ah, the uproar of many peoples, that roar like the roaring of the seas; and the rushing of nations, that rush like the rushing of mighty waters!\r\n The nations shall rush like the rushing of many waters: but he shall rebuke them, and they shall flee far off, and shall be chased as the chaff of the mountains before the wind, and like the whirling dust before the storm.\r\n At eventide, behold, terror; [and] before the morning they are not. This is the portion of them that despoil us, and the lot of them that rob us.\r\n \r\n \r\n Ah, the land of the rustling of wings, which is beyond the rivers of Ethiopia;\r\n that sendeth ambassadors by the sea, even in vessels of papyrus upon the waters, [saying], Go, ye swift messengers, to a nation tall and smooth, to a people terrible from their beginning onward, a nation that meteth out and treadeth down, whose land the rivers divide!\r\n All ye inhabitants of the world, and ye dwellers on the earth, when an ensign is lifted up on the mountains, see ye; and when the trumpet is blown, hear ye.\r\n For thus hath Jehovah said unto me, I will be still, and I will behold in my dwelling-place, like clear heat in sunshine, like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest.\r\n For before the harvest, when the blossom is over, and the flower becometh a ripening grape, he will cut off the sprigs with pruning-hooks, and the spreading branches will he take away [and] cut down.\r\n They shall be left together unto the ravenous birds of the mountains, and to the beasts of the earth; and the ravenous birds shall summer upon them, and all the beasts of the earth shall winter upon them.\r\n In that time shall a present be brought unto Jehovah of hosts [from] a people tall and smooth, even from a people terrible from their beginning onward, a nation that meteth out and treadeth down, whose land the rivers divide, to the place of the name of Jehovah of hosts, the mount Zion.\r\n \r\n \r\n The burden of Egypt. Behold, Jehovah rideth upon a swift cloud, and cometh unto Egypt: and the idols of Egypt shall tremble at his presence; and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it.\r\n And I will stir up the Egyptians against the Egyptians: and they shall fight every one against his brother, and every one against his neighbor; city against city, [and] kingdom against kingdom.\r\n And the spirit of Egypt shall fail in the midst of it; and I will destroy the counsel thereof: and they shall seek unto the idols, and to the charmers, and to them that have familiar spirits, and to the wizards.\r\n And I will give over the Egyptians into the hand of a cruel lord; and a fierce king shall rule over them, saith the Lord, Jehovah of hosts.\r\n And the waters shall fail from the sea, and the river shall be wasted and become dry.\r\n And the rivers shall become foul; the streams of Egypt shall be diminished and dried up; the reeds and flags shall wither away.\r\n The meadows by the Nile, by the brink of the Nile, and all the sown fields of the Nile, shall become dry, be driven away, and be no more.\r\n And the fishers shall lament, and all they that cast angle into the Nile shall mourn, and they that spread nets upon the waters shall languish.\r\n Moreover they that work in combed flax, and they that weave white cloth, shall be confounded.\r\n And the pillars [of Egypt] shall be broken in pieces; all they that work for hire [shall be] grieved in soul.\r\n The princes of Zoan are utterly foolish; the counsel of the wisest counsellors of Pharaoh is become brutish: how say ye unto Pharaoh, I am the son of the wise, the son of ancient kings?\r\n Where then are thy wise men? and let them tell thee now; and let them know what Jehovah of hosts hath purposed concerning Egypt.\r\n The princes of Zoan are become fools, the princes of Memphis are deceived; they have caused Egypt to go astray, that are the corner-stone of her tribes.\r\n Jehovah hath mingled a spirit of perverseness in the midst of her; and they have caused Egypt to go astray in every work thereof, as a drunken man staggereth in his vomit.\r\n Neither shall there be for Egypt any work, which head or tail, palm-branch or rush, may do.\r\n In that day shall the Egyptians be like unto women; and they shall tremble and fear because of the shaking of the hand of Jehovah of hosts, which he shaketh over them.\r\n And the land of Judah shall become a terror unto Egypt; every one to whom mention is made thereof shall be afraid, because of the purpose of Jehovah of hosts, which he purposeth against it.\r\n In that day there shall be five cities in the land of Egypt that speak the language of Canaan, and swear to Jehovah of hosts; one shall be called The city of destruction.\r\n In that day shall there be an altar to Jehovah in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar at the border thereof to Jehovah.\r\n And it shall be for a sign and for a witness unto Jehovah of hosts in the land of Egypt; for they shall cry unto Jehovah because of oppressors, and he will send them a saviour, and a defender, and he will deliver them.\r\n And Jehovah shall be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know Jehovah in that day; yea, they shall worship with sacrifice and oblation, and shall vow a vow unto Jehovah, and shall perform it.\r\n And Jehovah will smite Egypt, smiting and healing; and they shall return unto Jehovah, and he will be entreated of them, and will heal them.\r\n In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria; and the Egyptians shall worship with the Assyrians.\r\n In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth;\r\n for that Jehovah of hosts hath blessed them, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance.\r\n \r\n \r\n In the year that Tartan came unto Ashdod, when Sargon the king of Assyria sent him, and he fought against Ashdod and took it;\r\n at that time Jehovah spake by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, Go, and loose the sackcloth from off thy loins, and put thy shoe from off thy foot. And he did so, walking naked and barefoot.\r\n And Jehovah said, Like as my servant Isaiah hath walked naked and barefoot three years for a sign and a wonder concerning Egypt and concerning Ethiopia;\r\n so shall the king of Assyria lead away the captives of Egypt, and the exiles of Ethiopia, young and old, naked and barefoot, and with buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt.\r\n And they shall be dismayed and confounded, because of Ethiopia their expectation, and of Egypt their glory.\r\n And the inhabitant of this coast-land shall say in that day, Behold, such is our expectation, whither we fled for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria: and we, how shall we escape?\r\n \r\n \r\n The burden of the wilderness of the sea. As whirlwinds in the South sweep through, it cometh from the wilderness, from a terrible land.\r\n A grievous vision is declared unto me; the treacherous man dealeth treacherously, and the destroyer destroyeth. Go up, O Elam; besiege, O Media; all the sighing thereof have I made to cease.\r\n Therefore are my loins filled with anguish; pangs have taken hold upon me, as the pangs of a woman in travail: I am pained so that I cannot hear; I am dismayed so that I cannot see.\r\n My heart fluttereth, horror hath affrighted me; the twilight that I desired hath been turned into trembling unto me.\r\n They prepare the table, they set the watch, they eat, they drink: rise up, ye princes, anoint the shield.\r\n For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Go, set a watchman: let him declare what he seeth:\r\n and when he seeth a troop, horsemen in pairs, a troop of asses, a troop of camels, he shall hearken diligently with much heed.\r\n And he cried as a lion: O Lord, I stand continually upon the watch-tower in the day-time, and am set in my ward whole nights;\r\n and, behold, here cometh a troop of men, horsemen in pairs. And he answered and said, Fallen, fallen is Babylon; and all the graven images of her gods are broken unto the ground.\r\n O thou my threshing, and the grain of my floor! that which I have heard from Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel, have I declared unto you.\r\n The burden of Dumah. One calleth unto me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?\r\n The watchman said, The morning cometh, and also the night: if ye will inquire, inquire ye: turn ye, come.\r\n The burden upon Arabia. In the forest in Arabia shall ye lodge, O ye caravans of Dedanites.\r\n Unto him that was thirsty they brought water; the inhabitants of the land of Tema did meet the fugitives with their bread.\r\n For they fled away from the swords, from the drawn sword, and from the bent bow, and from the grievousness of war.\r\n For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Within a year, according to the years of a hireling, all the glory of Kedar shall fail;\r\n and the residue of the number of the archers, the mighty men of the children of Kedar, shall be few; for Jehovah, the God of Israel, hath spoken it.\r\n \r\n \r\n The burden of the valley of vision. What aileth thee now, that thou art wholly gone up to the housetops?\r\n O thou that art full of shoutings, a tumultuous city, a joyous town; thy slain are not slain with the sword, neither are they dead in battle.\r\n All thy rulers fled away together, they were bound by the archers; all that were found of thee were bound together; they fled afar off.\r\n Therefore said I, Look away from me, I will weep bitterly; labor not to comfort me for the destruction of the daughter of my people.\r\n For it is a day of discomfiture, and of treading down, and of perplexity, from the Lord, Jehovah of hosts, in the valley of vision; a breaking down of the walls, and a crying to the mountains.\r\n And Elam bare the quiver, with chariots of men [and] horsemen; and Kir uncovered the shield.\r\n And it came to pass, that thy choicest valleys were full of chariots, and the horsemen set themselves in array at the gate.\r\n And he took away the covering of Judah; and thou didst look in that day to the armor in the house of the forest.\r\n And ye saw the breaches of the city of David, that they were many; and ye gathered together the waters of the lower pool;\r\n and ye numbered the houses of Jerusalem, and ye brake down the houses to fortify the wall;\r\n ye made also a reservoir between the two walls for the water of the old pool. But ye looked not unto him that had done this, neither had ye respect unto him that purposed it long ago.\r\n And in that day did the Lord, Jehovah of hosts, call to weeping, and to mourning, and to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth:\r\n and behold, joy and gladness, slaying oxen and killing sheep, eating flesh and drinking wine: let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we shall die.\r\n And Jehovah of hosts revealed himself in mine ears, Surely this iniquity shall not be forgiven you till ye die, saith the Lord, Jehovah of hosts.\r\n Thus saith the Lord, Jehovah of hosts, Go, get thee unto this treasurer, even unto Shebna, who is over the house, [and say],\r\n What doest thou here? and whom has thou here, that thou hast hewed thee out here a sepulchre? hewing him out a sepulchre on high, graving a habitation for himself in the rock!\r\n Behold, Jehovah, like a [strong] man, will hurl thee away violently; yea, he will wrap thee up closely.\r\n He will surely wind thee round and round, [and toss thee] like a ball into a large country; there shalt thou die, and there shall be the chariots of thy glory, thou shame of thy lord`s house.\r\n And I will thrust thee from thine office; and from thy station shalt thou be pulled down.\r\n And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will call my servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah:\r\n and I will cloth him with thy robe, and strengthen him with thy girdle, and I will commit thy government into his hand; and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah.\r\n And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; and he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.\r\n And I will fasten him as a nail in a sure place; and he shall be for a throne of glory to his father`s house.\r\n And they shall hang upon him all the glory of his father`s house, the offspring and the issue, every small vessel, from the cups even to all the flagons.\r\n In that day, saith Jehovah of hosts, shall the nail that was fastened in a sure place give way; and it shall be hewn down, and fall; and the burden that was upon it shall be cut off; for Jehovah hath spoken it.\r\n \r\n \r\n The burden of Tyre. Howl, ye ships of Tarshish; for it is laid waste, so that there is no house, no entering in: from the land of Kittim it is revealed to them.\r\n Be still, ye inhabitants of the coast, thou whom the merchants of Sidon, that pass over the sea, have replenished.\r\n And on great waters the seed of the Shihor, the harvest of the Nile, was her revenue; and she was the mart of nations.\r\n Be thou ashamed, O Sidon; for the sea hath spoken, the stronghold of the sea, saying, I have not travailed, nor brought forth, neither have I nourished young men, nor brought up virgins.\r\n When the report cometh to Egypt, they shall be sorely pained at the report of Tyre.\r\n Pass ye over to Tarshish; wail, ye inhabitants of the coast.\r\n Is this your joyous [city], whose antiquity is of ancient days, whose feet carried her afar off to sojourn?\r\n Who hath purposed this against Tyre, the bestower of crowns, whose merchants are princes, whose traffickers are the honorable of the earth?\r\n Jehovah of hosts hath purposed it, to stain the pride of all glory, to bring into contempt all the honorable of the earth.\r\n Pass through thy land as the Nile, O daughter of Tarshish; there is no restraint any more.\r\n He hath stretched out his hand over the sea, he hath shaken the kingdoms: Jehovah hath given commandment concerning Canaan, to destroy the strongholds thereof.\r\n And he said, Thou shalt no more rejoice, O thou oppressed virgin daughter of Sidon: arise, pass over to Kittim; even there shalt thou have no rest.\r\n Behold, the land of the Chaldeans: this people was not; the Assyrian founded it for them that dwell in the wilderness; they set up their towers; they overthrew the palaces thereof; they made it a ruin.\r\n Howl, ye ships of Tarshish; for your stronghold is laid waste.\r\n And it shall come to pass in that day, that Tyre shall be forgotten seventy years, according to the days of one king: after the end of seventy years it shall be unto Tyre as in the song of the harlot.\r\n Take a harp, go about the city, thou harlot that hast been forgotten; make sweet melody, sing many songs, that thou mayest be remembered.\r\n And it shall come to pass after the end of seventy years, that Jehovah will visit Tyre, and she shall return to her hire, and shall play the harlot with all the kingdoms of the world upon the face of the earth.\r\n And her merchandise and her hire shall be holiness to Jehovah: it shall not be treasured nor laid up; for her merchandise shall be for them that dwell before Jehovah, to eat sufficiently, and for durable clothing.\r\n \r\n \r\n Behold, Jehovah maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof.\r\n And it shall be, as with the people, so with the priest; as with the servant, so with his master; as with the maid, so with her mistress; as with the buyer, so with the seller; as with the creditor, so with the debtor; as with the taker of interest, so with the giver of interest to him.\r\n The earth shall be utterly emptied, and utterly laid waste; for Jehovah hath spoken this word.\r\n The earth mourneth and fadeth away, the world languisheth and fadeth away, the lofty people of the earth do languish.\r\n The earth also is polluted under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, violated the statutes, broken the everlasting covenant.\r\n Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are found guilty: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left.\r\n The new wine mourneth, the vine languisheth, all the merry-hearted do sigh.\r\n The mirth of tabrets ceaseth, the noise of them that rejoice endeth, the joy of the harp ceaseth.\r\n They shall not drink wine with a song; strong drink shall be bitter to them that drink it.\r\n The waste city is broken down; every house is shut up, that no man may come in.\r\n There is a crying in the streets because of the wine; all joy is darkened, the mirth of the land is gone.\r\n In the city is left desolation, and the gate is smitten with destruction.\r\n For thus shall it be in the midst of the earth among the peoples, as the shaking of an olive-tree, as the gleanings when the vintage is done.\r\n These shall lift up their voice, they shall shout; for the majesty of Jehovah they cry aloud from the sea.\r\n Wherefore glorify ye Jehovah in the east, even the name of Jehovah, the God of Israel, in the isles of the sea.\r\n From the uttermost part of the earth have we heard songs: Glory to the righteous. But I said, I pine away, I pine away, woe is me! the treacherous have dealt treacherously; yea, the treacherous have dealt very treacherously.\r\n Fear, and the pit, and the snare, are upon thee, O inhabitant of the earth.\r\n And it shall come to pass, that he who fleeth from the noise of the fear shall fall into the pit; and he that cometh up out of the midst of the pit shall be taken in the snare: for the windows on high are opened, and the foundations of the earth tremble.\r\n The earth is utterly broken, the earth is rent asunder, the earth is shaken violently.\r\n The earth shall stagger like a drunken man, and shall sway to and fro like a hammock; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it, and it shall fall, and not rise again.\r\n And it shall come to pass in that day, that Jehovah will punish the host of the high ones on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth.\r\n And they shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison; and after many days shall they be visited.\r\n Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed; for Jehovah of hosts will reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem; and before his elders shall be glory.\r\n \r\n \r\n O Jehovah, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things, [even] counsels of old, in faithfulness [and] truth.\r\n For thou hast made of a city a heap, of a fortified city a ruin, a palace of strangers to be no city; it shall never be built.\r\n Therefore shall a strong people glorify thee; a city of terrible nations shall fear thee.\r\n For thou hast been a stronghold to the poor, a stronghold to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall.\r\n As the heat in a dry place wilt thou bring down the noise of strangers; as the heat by the shade of a cloud, the song of the terrible ones shall be brought low.\r\n And in this mountain will Jehovah of hosts make unto all peoples a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined.\r\n And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering that covereth all peoples, and the veil that is spread over all nations.\r\n He hath swallowed up death for ever; and the Lord Jehovah will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the reproach of his people will he take away from off all the earth: for Jehovah hath spoken it.\r\n And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is Jehovah; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.\r\n For in this mountain will the hand of Jehovah rest; and Moab shall be trodden down in his place, even as straw is trodden down in the water of the dung-hill.\r\n And he shall spread forth his hands in the midst thereof, as he that swimmeth spreadeth forth [his hands] to swim; but [Jehovah] will lay low his pride together with the craft of his hands.\r\n And the high fortress of thy walls hath he brought down, laid low, and brought to the ground, even to the dust.\r\n \r\n \r\n In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah: we have a strong city; salvation will he appoint for walls and bulwarks.\r\n Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth faith may enter in.\r\n Thou wilt keep [him] in perfect peace, [whose] mind [is] stayed [on thee]; because he trusteth in thee.\r\n Trust ye in Jehovah for ever; for in Jehovah, [even] Jehovah, is an everlasting rock.\r\n For he hath brought down them that dwell on high, the lofty city: he layeth it low, he layeth it low even to the ground; he bringeth it even to the dust.\r\n The foot shall tread it down; even the feet of the poor, and the steps of the needy.\r\n The way of the just is uprightness: thou that art upright dost direct the path of the just.\r\n Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O Jehovah, have we waited for thee; to thy name, even to thy memorial [name], is the desire of our soul.\r\n With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee earnestly: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.\r\n Let favor be showed to the wicked, yet will he not learn righteousness; in the land of uprightness will he deal wrongfully, and will not behold the majesty of Jehovah.\r\n Jehovah, thy hand is lifted up, yet they see not: but they shall see [thy] zeal for the people, and be put to shame; yea, fire shall devour thine adversaries.\r\n Jehovah, thou wilt ordain peace for us; for thou hast also wrought all our works for us.\r\n O Jehovah our God, other lords besides thee have had dominion over us; but by thee only will we make mention of thy name.\r\n [They are] dead, they shall not live; [they are] deceased, they shall not rise: therefore hast thou visited and destroyed them, and made all remembrance of them to perish.\r\n Thou hast increased the nation, O Jehovah, thou hast increased the nation; thou art glorified; thou hast enlarged all the borders of the land.\r\n Jehovah, in trouble have they visited thee; they poured out a prayer [when] thy chastening was upon them.\r\n Like as a woman with child, that draweth near the time of her delivery, is in pain and crieth out in her pangs; so we have been before thee, O Jehovah.\r\n We have been with child, we have been in pain, we have as it were brought forth wind; we have not wrought any deliverance in the earth; neither have the inhabitants of the world fallen.\r\n Thy dead shall live; my dead bodies shall arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in the dust; for thy dew is [as] the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast forth the dead.\r\n Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.\r\n For, behold, Jehovah cometh forth out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.\r\n \r\n \r\n In that day Jehovah with his hard and great and strong sword will punish leviathan the swift serpent, and leviathan the crooked serpent; and he will slay the monster that is in the sea.\r\n In that day: A vineyard of wine, sing ye unto it.\r\n I Jehovah am its keeper; I will water it every moment: lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day.\r\n Wrath is not in me: would that the briers and thorns were against me in battle! I would march upon them, I would burn them together.\r\n Or else let him take hold of my strength, that he may make peace with me; [yea], let him make peace with me.\r\n In days to come shall Jacob take root; Israel shall blossom and bud; and they shall fill the face of the world with fruit.\r\n Hath he smitten them as he smote those that smote them? or are they slain according to the slaughter of them that were slain by them?\r\n In measure, when thou sendest them away, thou dost contend with them; he hath removed [them] with his rough blast in the day of the east wind.\r\n Therefore by this shall the iniquity of Jacob be forgiven, and this is all the fruit of taking away his sin: that he maketh all the stones of the altar as chalkstones that are beaten in sunder, [so that] the Asherim and the sun-images shall rise no more.\r\n For the fortified city is solitary, a habitation deserted and forsaken, like the wilderness: there shall the calf feed, and there shall he lie down, and consume the branches thereof.\r\n When the boughs thereof are withered, they shall be broken off; the women shall come, and set them on fire; for it is a people of no understanding: therefore he that made them will not have compassion upon them, and he that formed them will show them no favor.\r\n And it shall come to pass in that day, that Jehovah will beat off [his fruit] from the flood of the River unto the brook of Egypt; and ye shall be gathered one by one, O ye children of Israel.\r\n And it shall come to pass in that day, that a great trumpet shall be blown; and they shall come that were ready to perish in the land of Assyria, and they that were outcasts in the land of Egypt; and they shall worship Jehovah in the holy mountain at Jerusalem.\r\n \r\n \r\n Woe to the crown of pride of the drunkards of Ephraim, and to the fading flower of his glorious beauty, which is on the head of the fat valley of them that are overcome with wine!\r\n Behold, the Lord hath a mighty and strong one; as a tempest of hail, a destroying storm, as a tempest of mighty waters overflowing, will he cast down to the earth with the hand.\r\n The crown of pride of the drunkards of Ephraim shall be trodden under foot:\r\n and the fading flower of his glorious beauty, which is on the head of the fat valley, shall be as the first-ripe fig before the summer; which when he that looketh upon it seeth, while it is yet in his hand he eateth it up.\r\n In that day will Jehovah of hosts become a crown of glory, and a diadem of beauty, unto the residue of his people;\r\n and a spirit of justice to him that sitteth in judgment, and strength to them that turn back the battle at the gate.\r\n And even these reel with wine, and stagger with strong drink; the priest and the prophet reel with strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they stagger with strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment.\r\n For all tables are full of vomit [and] filthiness, [so that there is] no place [clean].\r\n Whom will he teach knowledge? and whom will he make to understand the message? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts?\r\n For it is precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, there a little.\r\n Nay, but by [men of] strange lips and with another tongue will he speak to this people;\r\n to whom he said, This is the rest, give ye rest to him that is weary; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.\r\n Therefore shall the word of Jehovah be unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, there a little; that they may go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.\r\n Wherefore hear the word of Jehovah, ye scoffers, that rule this people that is in Jerusalem:\r\n Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with Sheol are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us; for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves:\r\n therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner -[stone] of sure foundation: he that believeth shall not be in haste.\r\n And I will make justice the line, and righteousness the plummet; and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding-place.\r\n And your covenant with death shall be annulled, and your agreement with Sheol shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it.\r\n As often as it passeth though, it shall take you; for morning by morning shall it pass through, by day and by night: and it shall be nought but terror to understand the message.\r\n For the bed is shorter than that a man can stretch himself on it; and the covering narrower than that he can wrap himself in it.\r\n For Jehovah will rise up as in mount Perazim, he will be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon; that he may do his work, his strange work, and bring to pass his act, his strange act.\r\n Now therefore be ye not scoffers, lest your bonds be made strong; for a decree of destruction have I heard from the Lord, Jehovah of hosts, upon the whole earth.\r\n Give ye ear, and hear my voice; hearken, and hear my speech.\r\n Doth he that ploweth to sow plow continually? doth he [continually] open and harrow his ground?\r\n When he hath levelled the face thereof, doth he not cast abroad the fitches, and scatter the cummin, and put in the wheat in rows, and the barley in the appointed place, and the spelt in the border thereof?\r\n For his God doth instruct him aright, [and] doth teach him.\r\n For the fitches are not threshed with a sharp [threshing] instrument, neither is a cart wheel turned about upon the cummin; but the fitches are beaten out with a staff, and the cummin with a rod.\r\n Bread [grain] is ground; for he will not be always threshing it: and though the wheel of his cart and his horses scatter it, he doth not grind it.\r\n This also cometh forth from Jehovah of hosts, who is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in wisdom.\r\n \r\n \r\n Ho Ariel, Ariel, the city where David encamped! add ye year to year; let the feasts come round:\r\n then will I distress Ariel, and there shall be mourning and lamentation; and she shall be unto me as Ariel.\r\n And I will encamp against thee round about, and will lay siege against thee with posted troops, and I will raise siege works against thee.\r\n And thou shalt be brought down, and shalt speak out of the ground, and thy speech shall be low out of the dust; and thy voice shall be as of one that hath a familiar spirit, out of the ground, and thy speech shall whisper out of the dust.\r\n But the multitude of thy foes shall be like small dust, and the multitude of the terrible ones as chaff that passeth away: yea, it shall be in an instant suddenly.\r\n She shall be visited of Jehovah of hosts with thunder, and with earthquake, and great noise, with whirlwind and tempest, and the flame of a devouring fire.\r\n And the multitude of all the nations that fight against Ariel, even all that fight against her and her stronghold, and that distress her, shall be as a dream, a vision of the night.\r\n And it shall be as when a hungry man dreameth, and, behold, he eateth; but he awaketh, and his soul is empty: or as when a thirsty man dreameth, and, behold, he drinketh; but he awaketh, and, behold, he is faint, and his soul hath appetite: so shall the multitude of all the nations be, that fight against mount Zion.\r\n Tarry ye and wonder; take your pleasure and be blind: they are drunken, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink.\r\n For Jehovah hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes, the prophets; and your heads, the seers, hath he covered.\r\n And all vision is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee; and he saith, I cannot, for it is sealed:\r\n and the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee; and he saith, I am not learned.\r\n And the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw nigh [unto me], and with their mouth and with their lips to honor me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment of men which hath been taught [them];\r\n therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder; and the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.\r\n Woe unto them that hide deep their counsel from Jehovah, and whose works are in the dark, and that say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us?\r\n Ye turn things upside down! Shall the potter be esteemed as clay; that the thing made should say of him that made it, He made me not; or the thing formed say of him that formed it, He hath no understanding?\r\n Is it not yet a very little while, and Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field shall be esteemed as a forest?\r\n And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and out of darkness.\r\n The meek also shall increase their joy in Jehovah, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.\r\n For the terrible one is brought to nought, and the scoffer ceaseth, and all they that watch for iniquity are cut off;\r\n that make a man an offender in [his] cause, and lay a snare for him that reproveth in the gate, and turn aside the just with a thing of nought.\r\n Therefore thus saith Jehovah, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob: Jacob shall not now be ashamed, neither shall his face now wax pale.\r\n But when he seeth his children, the work of my hands, in the midst of him, they shall sanctify my name; yea, they shall sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and shall stand in awe of the God of Israel.\r\n They also that err in spirit shall come to understanding, and they that murmur shall receive instruction.\r\n \r\n \r\n Woe to the rebellious children, saith Jehovah, that take counsel, but not of me; and that make a league, but not of my Spirit, that they may add sin to sin,\r\n that set out to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to take refuge in the shadow of Egypt!\r\n Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh be your shame, and the refuge in the shadow of Egypt your confusion.\r\n For their princes are at Zoan, and their ambassadors are come to Hanes.\r\n They shall all be ashamed because of a people that cannot profit them, that are not a help nor profit, but a shame, and also a reproach.\r\n The burden of the beasts of the South. Through the land of trouble and anguish, from whence come the lioness and the lion, the viper and fiery flying serpent, they carry their riches upon the shoulders of young asses, and their treasures upon the humps of camels, to a people that shall not profit [them].\r\n For Egypt helpeth in vain, and to no purpose: therefore have I called her Rahab that sitteth still.\r\n Now go, write it before them on a tablet, and inscribe it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever.\r\n For it is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of Jehovah;\r\n that say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits,\r\n get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us.\r\n Wherefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel, Because ye despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and rely thereon;\r\n therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly in an instant.\r\n And he shall break it as a potter`s vessel is broken, breaking it in pieces without sparing; so that there shall not be found among the pieces thereof a sherd wherewith to take fire from the hearth, or to dip up water out of the cistern.\r\n For thus said the Lord Jehovah, the Holy One of Israel, In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength. And ye would not:\r\n but ye said, No, for we will flee upon horses; therefore shall ye flee: and, We will ride upon the swift; therefore shall they that pursue you be swift.\r\n One thousand [shall flee] at the threat of one; at the threat of five shall ye flee: till ye be left as a beacon upon the top of a mountain, and as an ensign on a hill.\r\n And therefore will Jehovah wait, that he may be gracious unto you; and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for Jehovah is a God of justice; blessed are all they that wait for him.\r\n For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem; thou shalt weep no more; he will surely be gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when he shall hear, he will answer thee.\r\n And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be hidden anymore, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers;\r\n and thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it; when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.\r\n And ye shall defile the overlaying of thy graven images of silver, and the plating of thy molten images of gold: thou shalt cast them away as an unclean thing; thou shalt say unto it, Get thee hence.\r\n And he will give the rain for thy seed, wherewith thou shalt sow the ground; and bread of the increase of the ground, and it shall be fat and plenteous. In that day shall thy cattle feed in large pastures;\r\n the oxen likewise and the young asses that till the ground shall eat savory provender, which hath been winnowed with the shovel and with the fork.\r\n And there shall be upon every lofty mountain, and upon every high hill, brooks [and] streams of waters, in the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall.\r\n Moreover the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day that Jehovah bindeth up the hurt of his people, and healeth the stroke of their wound.\r\n Behold, the name of Jehovah cometh from far, burning with his anger, and in thick rising smoke: his lips are full of indignation, and his tongue is as a devouring fire;\r\n and his breath is as an overflowing stream, that reacheth even unto the neck, to sift the nations with the sieve of destruction: and a bridle that causeth to err [shall be] in the jaws of the peoples.\r\n Ye shall have a song as in the night when a holy feast is kept; and gladness of heart, as when one goeth with a pipe to come unto the mountain of Jehovah, to the Rock of Israel.\r\n And Jehovah will cause his glorious voice to be heard, and will show the lighting down of his arm, with the indignation of [his] anger, and the flame of a devouring fire, with a blast, and tempest, and hailstones.\r\n For through the voice of Jehovah shall the Assyrian be dismayed; with his rod will he smite [him].\r\n And every stroke of the appointed staff, which Jehovah shall lay upon him, shall be with [the sound of] tabrets and harps; and in battles with the brandishing [of his arm] will he fight with them.\r\n For a Topheth is prepared of old; yea, for the king it is made ready; he hath made it deep and large; the pile thereof is fire and much wood; the breath of Jehovah, like a stream of brimstone, doth kindle it.\r\n \r\n \r\n Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help, and rely on horses, and trust in chariots because they are many, and in horsemen because they are very strong, but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek Jehovah!\r\n Yet he also is wise, and will bring evil, and will not call back his words, but will arise against the house of the evil-doers, and against the help of them that work iniquity.\r\n Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses flesh, and not spirit: and when Jehovah shall stretch out his hand, both he that helpeth shall stumble, and he that is helped shall fall, and they all shall be consumed together.\r\n For thus saith Jehovah unto me, As the lion and the young lion growling over his prey, if a multitude of shepherds be called forth against him, will not be dismayed at their voice, nor abase himself for the noise of them: so will Jehovah of hosts come down to fight upon mount Zion, and upon the hill thereof.\r\n As birds hovering, so will Jehovah of hosts protect Jerusalem; he will protect and deliver [it], he will pass over and preserve [it].\r\n Turn ye unto him from whom ye have deeply revolted, O children of Israel.\r\n For in that day they shall cast away every man his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which your own hands have made unto you for a sin.\r\n And the Assyrian shall fall by the sword, not of man; and the sword, not of men, shall devour him; and he shall flee from the sword, and his young men shall become subject to taskwork.\r\n And his rock shall pass away by reason of terror, and his princes shall be dismayed at the ensign, saith Jehovah, whose fire is in Zion, and his furnace in Jerusalem.\r\n \r\n \r\n Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in justice.\r\n And a man shall be as a hiding-place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest, as streams of water in a dry place, as the shade of a great rock in a weary land.\r\n And the eyes of them that see shall not be dim, and the ears of them that hear shall hearken.\r\n And the heart of the rash shall understand knowledge, and the tongue of the stammerers shall be ready to speak plainly.\r\n The fool shall be no more called noble, nor the churl said to be bountiful.\r\n For the fool will speak folly, and his heart will work iniquity, to practise profaneness, and to utter error against Jehovah, to make empty the soul of the hungry, and to cause the drink of the thirsty to fail.\r\n And the instruments of the churl are evil: he deviseth wicked devices to destroy the meek with lying words, even when the needy speaketh right.\r\n But the noble deviseth noble things; and in noble things shall he continue.\r\n Rise up, ye women that are at ease, [and] hear my voice; ye careless daughters, give ear unto my speech.\r\n For days beyond a year shall ye be troubled, ye careless women; for the vintage shall fail, the ingathering shall not come.\r\n Tremble, ye women that are at ease; be troubled, ye careless ones; strip you, and make you bare, and gird [sackcloth] upon your loins.\r\n They shall smite upon the breasts for the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vine.\r\n Upon the land of my people shall come up thorns and briers; yea, upon all the houses of joy in the joyous city.\r\n For the palace shall be forsaken; the populous city shall be deserted; the hill and the watch-tower shall be for dens for ever, a joy of wild asses, a pasture of flocks;\r\n until the Spirit be poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness become a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be esteemed as a forest.\r\n Then justice shall dwell in the wilderness; and righteousness shall abide in the fruitful field.\r\n And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness, quietness and confidence for ever.\r\n And my people shall abide in a peaceable habitation, and in safe dwellings, and in quiet resting-places.\r\n But it shall hail in the downfall of the forest; and the city shall be utterly laid low.\r\n Blessed are yet that sow beside all waters, that send forth the feet of the ox and the ass.\r\n \r\n \r\n Woe to thee that destroyest, and thou wast not destroyed; and dealest treacherously, and they dealt not treacherously with thee! When thou hast ceased to destroy, thou shalt be destroyed; and when thou hast made an end of dealing treacherously, they shall deal treacherously with thee.\r\n O Jehovah, be gracious unto us; we have waited for thee: be thou our arm every morning, our salvation also in the time of trouble.\r\n At the noise of the tumult the peoples are fled; at the lifting up of thyself the nations are scattered.\r\n And your spoil shall be gathered as the caterpillar gathereth: as locusts leap shall men leap upon it.\r\n Jehovah is exalted; for he dwelleth on high: he hath filled Zion with justice and righteousness.\r\n And there shall be stability in thy times, abundance of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge: the fear of Jehovah is thy treasure.\r\n Behold, their valiant ones cry without; the ambassadors of peace weep bitterly.\r\n The highways lie waste, the wayfaring man ceaseth: [the enemy] hath broken the covenant, he hath despised the cities, he regardeth not man.\r\n The land mourneth and languisheth; Lebanon is confounded and withereth away; Sharon is like a desert; and Bashan and Carmel shake off [their leaves].\r\n Now will I arise, saith Jehovah; now will I lift up myself; now will I be exalted.\r\n Ye shall conceive chaff, ye shall bring forth stubble: your breath is a fire that shall devour you.\r\n And the peoples shall be as the burnings of lime, as thorns cut down, that are burned in the fire.\r\n Hear, ye that are far off, what I have done; and, ye that are near, acknowledge my might.\r\n The sinners in Zion are afraid; trembling hath seized the godless ones: Who among us can dwell with the devouring fire? who among us can dwell with everlasting burnings?\r\n He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from taking a bribe, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from looking upon evil:\r\n He shall dwell on high; his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks; his bread shall be given [him]; his waters shall be sure.\r\n Thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty: they shall behold a land that reacheth afar.\r\n Thy heart shall muse on the terror: Where is he that counted, where is he that weighed [the tribute]? where is he that counted the towers?\r\n Thou shalt not see the fierce people, a people of a deep speech that thou canst not comprehend, of a strange tongue that thou canst not understand.\r\n Look upon Zion, the city of our solemnities: thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation, a tent that shall not be removed, the stakes whereof shall never be plucked up, neither shall any of the cords thereof be broken.\r\n But there Jehovah will be with us in majesty, a place of broad rivers and streams, wherein shall go no galley with oars, neither shall gallant ship pass thereby.\r\n For Jehovah is our judge, Jehovah is our lawgiver, Jehovah is our king; he will save us.\r\n Thy tacklings are loosed; they could not strengthen the foot of their mast, they could not spread the sail: then was the prey of a great spoil divided; the lame took the prey.\r\n And the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick: the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity.\r\n \r\n \r\n Come near, ye nations, to hear; and hearken, ye peoples: let the earth hear, and the fulness thereof; the world, and all things that come forth from it.\r\n For Jehovah hath indignation against all the nations, and wrath against all their host: he hath utterly destroyed them, he hath delivered them to the slaughter.\r\n Their slain also shall be cast out, and the stench of their dead bodies shall come up; and the mountains shall be melted with their blood.\r\n And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll; and all their host shall fade away, as the leaf fadeth from off the vine, and as a fading [leaf] from the fig-tree.\r\n For my sword hath drunk its fill in heaven: behold, it shall come down upon Edom, and upon the people of my curse, to judgment.\r\n The sword of Jehovah is filled with blood, it is made fat with fatness, with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams; for Jehovah hath a sacrifice in Bozrah, and a great slaughter in the land of Edom.\r\n And the wild-oxen shall come down with them, and the bullocks with the bulls: and their land shall be drunken with blood, and their dust made fat with fatness.\r\n For Jehovah hath a day of vengeance, a year of recompense for the cause of Zion.\r\n And the streams of [Edom] shall be turned into pitch, and the dust thereof into brimstone, and the land thereof shall become burning pitch.\r\n It shall not be quenched night nor day; the smoke thereof shall go up for ever; from generation to generation it shall lie waste; none shall pass through it for ever and ever.\r\n But the pelican and the porcupine shall possess it; and the owl and the raven shall dwell therein: and he will stretch over it the line of confusion, and the plummet of emptiness.\r\n They shall call the nobles thereof to the kingdom, but none shall be there; and all its princes shall be nothing.\r\n And thorns shall come up in its palaces, nettles and thistles in the fortresses thereof; and it shall be a habitation of jackals, a court for ostriches.\r\n And the wild beasts of the desert shall meet with the wolves, and the wild goat shall cry to his fellow; yea, the night-monster shall settle there, and shall find her a place of rest.\r\n There shall the dart-snake make her nest, and lay, and hatch, and gather under her shade; yea, there shall the kites be gathered, every one with her mate.\r\n Seek ye out of the book of Jehovah, and read: no one of these shall be missing, none shall want her mate; for my mouth, it hath commanded, and his Spirit, it hath gathered them.\r\n And he hath cast the lot for them, and his hand hath divided it unto them by line: they shall possess it for ever; from generation to generation shall they dwell therein.\r\n \r\n \r\n The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.\r\n It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing; the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon: they shall see the glory of Jehovah, the excellency of our God.\r\n Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.\r\n Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come [with] vengeance, [with] the recompense of God; he will come and save you.\r\n Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.\r\n Then shall the lame man leap as a hart, and the tongue of the dumb shall sing; for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.\r\n And the glowing sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water: in the habitation of jackals, where they lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes.\r\n And a highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but is shall be for [the redeemed]: the wayfaring men, yea fools, shall not err [therein].\r\n No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast go up thereon; they shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk [there]:\r\n and the ransomed of Jehovah shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their heads: they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now it came to pass in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah, that Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the fortified cities of Judah, and took them.\r\n And the king of Assyria sent Rabshakeh from Lachish to Jerusalem unto king Hezekiah with a great army. And he stood by the conduit of the upper pool in the highway of the fuller`s field.\r\n Then came forth unto him Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah, the son of Asaph, the recorder.\r\n And Rabshakeh said unto them, Say ye now to Hezekiah, Thus saith the great king, the king of Assyria, What confidence is this wherein thou trustest?\r\n I say, [thy] counsel and strength for the war are but vain words: now on whom dost thou trust, that thou hast rebelled against me?\r\n Behold, thou trustest upon the staff of this bruised reed, even upon Egypt, whereon if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all that trust on him.\r\n But if thou say unto me, We trust in Jehovah our God: is not that he, whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah hath taken away, and hath said to Judah and to Jerusalem, Ye shall worship before this altar?\r\n Now therefore, I pray thee, give pledges to my master the king of Assyria, and I will give thee two thousand horses, if thou be able on thy part to set riders upon them.\r\n How then canst thou turn away the face of one captain of the least of my master`s servants, and put thy trust on Egypt for chariots and for horsemen?\r\n And am I now come up without Jehovah against this land to destroy it? Jehovah said unto me, Go up against this land, and destroy it.\r\n Then said Eliakim and Shebna and Joah unto Rabshakeh, Speak, I pray thee, unto thy servants in the Syrian language; for we understand it: and speak not to us in the Jews` language, in the ears of the people that are on the wall.\r\n But Rabshakeh said, Hath my master sent me to thy master, and to thee, to speak these words? [hath he] not [sent me] to the men that sit upon the wall, to eat their own dung, and to drink their own water with you?\r\n Then Rabshakeh stood, and cried with a loud voice in the Jews` language, and said, Hear ye the words of the great king, the king of Assyria.\r\n Thus saith the king, Let not Hezekiah deceive you; for he will not be able to deliver you:\r\n neither let Hezekiah make you trust in Jehovah, saying, Jehovah will surely deliver us; this city shall not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.\r\n Hearken not to Hezekiah: for thus saith the king of Assyria, Make your peace with me, and come out to me; and eat ye every one of his vine, and every one of his fig-tree, and drink ye every one the waters of his own cistern;\r\n until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards.\r\n Beware lest Hezekiah persuade you, saying, Jehovah will deliver us. Hath any of the gods of the nations delivered his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria?\r\n Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? where are the gods of Sepharvaim? and have they delivered Samaria out of my hand?\r\n Who are they among all the gods of these countries, that have delivered their country out of my hand, that Jehovah should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?\r\n But they held their peace, and answered him not a word; for the king`s commandment was, saying, Answer him not.\r\n Then came Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, that was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah, the son of Asaph, the recorder, to Hezekiah with their clothes rent, and told him the words of Rabshakeh.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass, when king Hezekiah heard it, that he rent his clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of Jehovah.\r\n And he sent Eliakim, who was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, unto Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz.\r\n And they said unto him, Thus saith Hezekiah, This day is a day of trouble, and of rebuke, and of contumely; for the children are come to the birth, and there is not strength to bring forth.\r\n It may be Jehovah thy God will hear the words of Rabshakeh, whom the king of Assyria his master hath sent to defy the living God, and will rebuke the words which Jehovah thy God hath heard: wherefore lift up thy prayer for the remnant that is left.\r\n So the servants of king Hezekiah came to Isaiah.\r\n And Isaiah said unto them, Thus shall ye say to your master, Thus saith Jehovah, Be not afraid of the words that thou hast heard, wherewith the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me.\r\n Behold, I will put a spirit in him, and he shall hear tidings, and shall return unto his own land; and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land.\r\n So Rabshakeh returned, and found the king of Assyria warring against Libnah; for he had heard that he was departed from Lachish.\r\n And he heard say concerning Tirhakah king of Ethiopia, He is come out to fight against thee. And when he heard it, he sent messengers to Hezekiah, saying,\r\n Thus shall ye speak to Hezekiah king of Judah, saying, Let not thy God in whom thou trustest deceive thee, saying, Jerusalem shall not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.\r\n Behold, thou hast heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands, by destroying them utterly: and shalt thou be delivered?\r\n Have the gods of the nations delivered them, which my fathers have destroyed, Gozan, and Haran, and Rezeph, and the children of Eden that were in Telassar?\r\n Where is the king of Hamath, and the king of Arpad, and the king of the city of Sepharvaim, of Hena, and Ivvah?\r\n And Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it; and Hezekiah went up unto the house of Jehovah, and spread it before Jehovah.\r\n And Hezekiah prayed unto Jehovah, saying,\r\n O Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel, that sittest [above] the cherubim, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; thou hast made heaven and earth.\r\n Incline thine ear, O Jehovah, and hear; open thine eyes, O Jehovah, and see; and hear all the words of Sennacherib, who hath sent to defy the living God.\r\n Of a truth, Jehovah, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the countries, and their land,\r\n and have cast their gods into the fire: for they were no gods, but the work of men`s hands, wood and stone; therefore they have destroyed them.\r\n Now therefore, O Jehovah our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art Jehovah, even thou only.\r\n Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent unto Hezekiah, saying, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, Whereas thou hast prayed to me against Sennacherib king of Assyria,\r\n this is the word which Jehovah hath spoken concerning him: The virgin daughter of Zion hath despised thee and laughed thee to scorn; the daughter of Jerusalem hath shaken her head at thee.\r\n Whom hast thou defied and blasphemed? and against whom hast thou exalted thy voice and lifted up thine eyes on high? [even] against the Holy One of Israel.\r\n By thy servants hast thou defied the Lord, and hast said, With the multitude of my chariots am I come up to the height of the mountains, to the innermost parts of Lebanon; and I will cut down the tall cedars thereof, and the choice fir-trees thereof; and I will enter into its farthest height, the forest of its fruitful field;\r\n I have digged and drunk water, and with the sole of my feet will I dry up all the rivers of Egypt.\r\n Hast thou not heard how I have done it long ago, and formed it of ancient times? now have I brought it to pass, that it should be thine to lay waste fortified cities into ruinous heaps.\r\n Therefore their inhabitants were of small power, they were dismayed and confounded; they were as the grass of the field, and as the green herb, as the grass on the housetops, and as a field [of grain] before it is grown up.\r\n But I know thy sitting down, and thy going out, and thy coming in, and thy raging against me.\r\n Because of thy raging against me, and because thine arrogancy is come up into mine ears, therefore will I put my hook in thy nose, and my bridle in thy lips, and I will turn thee back by the way by which thou camest.\r\n And this shall be the sign unto thee: ye shall eat this year that which groweth of itself, and in the second year that which springeth of the same; and in the third year sow ye, and reap, and plant vineyards, and eat the fruit thereof.\r\n And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall again take root downward, and bear fruit upward.\r\n For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and out of mount Zion they that shall escape. The zeal of Jehovah of hosts will perform this.\r\n Therefore thus saith Jehovah concerning the king of Assyria, He shall not come unto this city, nor shoot an arrow there, neither shall he come before it with shield, nor cast up a mound against it.\r\n By the way that he came, by the same shall he return, and he shall not come unto this city, saith Jehovah.\r\n For I will defend this city to save it, for mine own sake, and for my servant David`s sake.\r\n And the angel of Jehovah went forth, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and fourscore and five thousand; and when men arose early in the morning, behold, these were all dead bodies.\r\n So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned, and dwelt at Nineveh.\r\n And it came to pass, as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons smote him with the sword; and they escaped into the land of Ararat. And Esar-haddon his son reigned in his stead.\r\n \r\n \r\n In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith Jehovah, Set thy house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live.\r\n Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto Jehovah,\r\n and said, Remember now, O Jehovah, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.\r\n Then came the word of Jehovah to Isaiah, saying,\r\n Go, and say to Hezekiah, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years.\r\n And I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city.\r\n And this shall be the sign unto thee from Jehovah, that Jehovah will do this thing that he hath spoken:\r\n behold, I will cause the shadow on the steps, which is gone down on the dial of Ahaz with the sun, to return backward ten steps. So the sun returned ten steps on the dial whereon it was gone down.\r\n The writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, when he had been sick, and was recovered of his sickness.\r\n I said, In the noontide of my days I shall go into the gates of Sheol: I am deprived of the residue of my years.\r\n I said, I shall not see Jehovah, [even] Jehovah in the land of the living: I shall behold man no more with the inhabitants of the world.\r\n My dwelling is removed, and is carried away from me as a shepherd`s tent: I have rolled up, like a weaver, my life; he will cut me off from the loom: From day even to night wilt thou make an end of me.\r\n I quieted [myself] until morning; as a lion, so he breaketh all my bones: From day even to night wilt thou make an end of me.\r\n Like a swallow [or] a crane, so did I chatter; I did moan as a dove; mine eyes fail [with looking] upward: O Lord, I am oppressed, be thou my surety.\r\n What shall I say? he hath both spoken unto me, and himself hath done it: I shall go softly all my years because of the bitterness of my soul.\r\n O Lord, by these things men live; And wholly therein is the life of my spirit: Wherefore recover thou me, and make me to live.\r\n Behold, [it was] for [my] peace [that] I had great bitterness: But thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption; For thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back.\r\n For Sheol cannot praise thee, death cannot celebrate thee: They that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth.\r\n The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do this day: The father to the children shall make known thy truth.\r\n Jehovah is [ready] to save me: Therefore we will sing my songs with stringed instruments All the days of our life in the house of Jehovah.\r\n Now Isaiah had said, Let them take a cake of figs, and lay it for a plaster upon the boil, and he shall recover.\r\n Hezekiah also had said, What is the sign that I shall go up to the house of Jehovah?\r\n \r\n \r\n At that time Merodach-baladan the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah; for he heard that he had been sick, and was recovered.\r\n And Hezekiah was glad of them, and showed them the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious oil, and all the house of his armor, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah showed them not.\r\n Then came Isaiah the prophet unto king Hezekiah, and said unto him, What said these men? and from whence came they unto thee? And Hezekiah said, They are come from a far country unto me, even from Babylon.\r\n Then said he, What have they seen in thy house? And Hezekiah answered, All that is in my house have they seen: there is nothing among my treasures that I have not showed them.\r\n Then said Isaiah to Hezekiah, Hear the word of Jehovah of hosts:\r\n Behold, the days are coming, when all that is in thy house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store until this day, shall be carried to Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith Jehovah.\r\n And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, whom thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.\r\n Then said Hezekiah unto Isaiah, Good is the word of Jehovah which thou hast spoken. He said moreover, For there shall be peace and truth in my days.\r\n \r\n \r\n Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.\r\n Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem; and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she hath received of Jehovah`s hand double for all her sins.\r\n The voice of one that crieth, Prepare ye in the wilderness the way of Jehovah; make level in the desert a highway for our God.\r\n Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low; and the uneven shall be made level, and the rough places a plain:\r\n and the glory of Jehovah shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of Jehovah hath spoken it.\r\n The voice of one saying, Cry. And one said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field.\r\n The grass withereth, the flower fadeth, because the breath of Jehovah bloweth upon it; surely the people is grass.\r\n The grass withereth, the flower fadeth; but the word of our God shall stand forever.\r\n O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion, get thee up on a high mountain; O thou that tellest good tidings to Jerusalem, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold, your God!\r\n Behold, the Lord Jehovah will come as a mighty one, and his arm will rule for him: Behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him.\r\n He will feed his flock like a shepherd, he will gather the lambs in his arm, and carry them in his bosom, [and] will gently lead those that have their young.\r\n Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?\r\n Who hath directed the Spirit of Jehovah, or being his counsellor hath taught him?\r\n With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of justice, and taught him knowledge, and showed to him the way of understanding?\r\n Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are accounted as the small dust of the balance: Behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing.\r\n And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn, nor the beasts thereof sufficient for a burnt-offering.\r\n All the nations are as nothing before him; they are accounted by him as less than nothing, and vanity.\r\n To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him?\r\n The image, a workman hath cast [it], and the goldsmith overlayeth it with gold, and casteth [for it] silver chains.\r\n He that is too impoverished for [such] an oblation chooseth a tree that will not rot; he seeketh unto him a skilful workman to set up a graven image, that shall not be moved.\r\n Have ye not known? have yet not heard? hath it not been told you from the beginning? have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth?\r\n [It is] he that sitteth above the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in;\r\n that bringeth princes to nothing; that maketh the judges of the earth as vanity.\r\n Yea, they have not been planted; yea, they have not been sown; yea, their stock hath not taken root in the earth: moreover he bloweth upon them, and they wither, and the whirlwind taketh them away as stubble.\r\n To whom then will ye liken me, that I should be equal [to him]? saith the Holy One.\r\n Lift up your eyes on high, and see who hath created these, that bringeth out their host by number; he calleth them all by name; by the greatness of his might, and for that he is strong in power, not one is lacking.\r\n Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from Jehovah, and the justice [due] to me is passed away from my God?\r\n Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard? The everlasting God, Jehovah, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary; there is no searching of his understanding.\r\n He giveth power to the faint; and to him that hath no might he increaseth strength.\r\n Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:\r\n but they that wait for Jehovah shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; they shall walk, and not faint.\r\n \r\n \r\n Keep silence before me, O islands; and let the peoples renew their strength: let them come near; then let them speak; let us come near together to judgment.\r\n Who hath raised up one from the east, whom he calleth in righteousness to his foot? he giveth nations before him, and maketh him rule over kings; he giveth them as the dust to his sword, as the driven stubble to his bow.\r\n He pursueth them, and passeth on safely, even by a way that he had not gone with his feet.\r\n Who hath wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I, Jehovah, the first, and with the last, I am he.\r\n The isles have seen, and fear; the ends of the earth tremble; they draw near, and come.\r\n They help every one his neighbor; and [every one] saith to his brother, Be of good courage.\r\n So the carpenter encourageth the goldsmith, [and] he that smootheth with the hammer him that smiteth the anvil, saying of the soldering, It is good; and he fasteneth it with nails, that is should not be moved.\r\n But thou, Israel, my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend,\r\n thou whom I have taken hold of from the ends of the earth, and called from the corners thereof, and said unto thee, Thou art my servant, I have chosen thee and not cast thee away;\r\n Fear thou not, for I am with thee; be not dismayed, for I am thy God; I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.\r\n Behold, all they that are incensed against thee shall be put to shame and confounded: they that strive with thee shall be as nothing, and shall perish.\r\n Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contend with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought.\r\n For I, Jehovah thy God, will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.\r\n Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith Jehovah, and thy Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.\r\n Behold, I have made thee [to be] a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth; thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and shalt make the hills as chaff.\r\n Thou shalt winnow them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the whirlwind shall scatter them; and thou shalt rejoice in Jehovah, thou shalt glory in the Holy One of Israel.\r\n The poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst; I, Jehovah, will answer them, I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.\r\n I will open rivers on the bare heights, and fountains in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.\r\n I will put in the wilderness the cedar, the acacia, and the myrtle, and the oil-tree; I will set in the desert the fir-tree, the pine, and the box-tree together:\r\n that they may see, and know, and consider, and understand together, that the hand of Jehovah hath done this, and the Holy One of Israel hath created it.\r\n Produce your cause, saith Jehovah; bring forth your strong reasons, saith the King of Jacob.\r\n Let them bring forth, and declare unto us what shall happen: declare ye the former things, what they are, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or show us things to come.\r\n Declare the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods: yea, do good, or do evil, that we may be dismayed, and behold it together.\r\n Behold, ye are of nothing, and your work is of nought; an abomination is he that chooseth you.\r\n I have raised up one from the north, and he is come; from the rising of the sun one that calleth upon my name: and he shall come upon rulers as upon mortar, and as the potter treadeth clay.\r\n Who hath declared it from the beginning, that we may know? and beforetime, that we may say, [He is] right? yea, there is none that declareth, yea, there is none that showeth, yea, there is none that heareth your words.\r\n [I am the] first [that saith] unto Zion, Behold, behold them; and I will give to Jerusalem one that bringeth good tidings.\r\n And when I look, there is no man: even among them there is no counsellor, that, when I ask of them, can answer a word.\r\n Behold, all of them, their works are vanity [and] nought; their molten images are wind and confusion.\r\n \r\n \r\n Behold, my servant, whom I uphold; my chosen, in whom my soul delighteth: I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the Gentiles.\r\n He will not cry, nor lift up his voice, nor cause it to be heard in the street.\r\n A bruised reed will he not break, and a dimly burning wick will he not quench: he will bring forth justice in truth.\r\n He will not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set justice in the earth; and the isles shall wait for his law.\r\n Thus saith God Jehovah, he that created the heavens, and stretched them forth; he that spread abroad the earth and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:\r\n I, Jehovah, have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thy hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;\r\n to open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison-house.\r\n I am Jehovah, that is my name; and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise unto graven images.\r\n Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them.\r\n Sing unto Jehovah a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth; ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein, the isles, and the inhabitants thereof.\r\n Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up [their voice], the villages that Kedar doth inhabit; let the inhabitants of Sela sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains.\r\n Let them give glory unto Jehovah, and declare his praise in the islands.\r\n Jehovah will go forth as a mighty man; he will stir up [his] zeal like a man of war: he will cry, yea, he will shout aloud; he will do mightily against his enemies.\r\n I have long time holden my peace; I have been still, and refrained myself: [now] will I cry out like a travailing woman; I will gasp and pant together.\r\n I will lay waste mountains and hills, and dry up all their herbs; and I will make the rivers islands, and will dry up the pools.\r\n And I will bring the blind by a way that they know not; in paths that they know not will I lead them; I will make darkness light before them, and crooked places straight. These things will I do, and I will not forsake them.\r\n They shall be turned back, they shall be utterly put to shame, that trust in graven images, that say unto molten images, Ye are our gods.\r\n Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see.\r\n Who is blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger that I send? who is blind as he that is at peace [with me], and blind as Jehovah`s servant?\r\n Thou seest many things, but thou observest not; his ears are open, but he heareth not.\r\n It pleased Jehovah, for his righteousness` sake, to magnify the law, and make it honorable.\r\n But this is a people robbed and plundered; they are all of them snared in holes, and they are hid in prison-houses: they are for a prey, and none delivereth; for a spoil, and none saith, Restore.\r\n Who is there among you that will give ear to this? that will hearken and hear for the time to come?\r\n Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers? did not Jehovah? he against whom we have sinned, and in whose ways they would not walk, neither were they obedient unto his law.\r\n Therefore he poured upon him the fierceness of his anger, and the strength of battle; and it set him on fire round about, yet he knew not; and it burned him, yet he laid it not to heart.\r\n \r\n \r\n But now thus saith Jehovah that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel: Fear not, for I have redeemed thee; I have called thee by thy name, thou art mine.\r\n When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned, neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.\r\n For I am Jehovah thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour; I have given Egypt as thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in thy stead.\r\n Since thou hast been precious in my sight, [and] honorable, and I have loved thee; therefore will I give men in thy stead, and peoples instead of thy life.\r\n Fear not; for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west;\r\n I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back; bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the end of the earth;\r\n every one that is called by my name, and whom I have created for my glory, whom I have formed, yea, whom I have made.\r\n Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears.\r\n Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the peoples be assembled: who among them can declare this, and show us former things? let them bring their witnesses, that they may be justified; or let them hear, and say, It is truth.\r\n Ye are my witnesses, saith Jehovah, and my servant whom I have chosen; that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.\r\n I, even I, am Jehovah; and besides me there is no saviour.\r\n I have declared, and I have saved, and I have showed; and there was no strange [god] among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith Jehovah, and I am God.\r\n Yea, since the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who can hinder it?\r\n Thus saith Jehovah, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: For your sake I have sent to Babylon, and I will bring down all of them as fugitives, even the Chaldeans, in the ships of their rejoicing.\r\n I am Jehovah, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King.\r\n Thus saith Jehovah, who maketh a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters;\r\n who bringeth forth the chariot and horse, the army and the mighty man (they lie down together, they shall not rise; they are extinct, they are quenched as a wick):\r\n Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.\r\n Behold, I will do a new thing; now shall it spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.\r\n The beasts of the field shall honor me, the jackals and the ostriches; because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen,\r\n the people which I formed for myself, that they might set forth my praise.\r\n Yet thou hast not called upon me, O Jacob; but thou hast been weary of me, O Israel.\r\n Thou hast not brought me of thy sheep for burnt-offerings; neither hast thou honored me with thy sacrifices. I have not burdened thee with offerings, nor wearied thee with frankincense.\r\n Thou hast bought me no sweet cane with money, neither hast thou filled me with the fat of thy sacrifices; but thou hast burdened me with thy sins, thou hast wearied me with thine iniquities.\r\n I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake; and I will not remember thy sins.\r\n Put me in remembrance; let us plead together: set thou forth [thy cause], that thou mayest be justified.\r\n Thy first father sinned, and thy teachers have transgressed against me.\r\n Therefore I will profane the princes of the sanctuary; and I will make Jacob a curse, and Israel a reviling.\r\n \r\n \r\n Yet now hear, O Jacob my servant, and Israel, who I have chosen:\r\n Thus saith Jehovah that made thee, and formed thee from the womb, who will help thee: Fear not, O Jacob my servant; and thou, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.\r\n For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and streams upon the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:\r\n and they shall spring up among the grass, as willows by the watercourses.\r\n One shall say, I am Jehovah`s; and another shall call [himself] by the name of Jacob; and another shall subscribe with his hand unto Jehovah, and surname [himself] by the name of Israel.\r\n Thus saith Jehovah, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, Jehovah of hosts: I am the first, and I am the last; and besides me there is no God.\r\n And who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in order for me, since I established the ancient people? and the things that are coming, and that shall come to pass, let them declare.\r\n Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have I not declared unto thee of old, and showed it? and ye are my witnesses. Is there a God besides me? yea, there is no Rock; I know not any.\r\n They that fashion a graven image are all of them vanity; and the things that they delight in shall not profit; and their own witnesses see not, nor know: that they may be put to shame.\r\n Who hath fashioned a god, or molten an image that is profitable for nothing?\r\n Behold, all his fellows shall be put to shame; and the workmen, they are of men: let them all be gathered together, let them stand up; they shall fear, they shall be put to shame together.\r\n The smith [maketh] an axe, and worketh in the coals, and fashioneth it with hammers, and worketh it with his strong arm: yea, he is hungry, and his strength faileth; he drinketh no water, and is faint.\r\n The carpenter stretcheth out a line; he marketh it out with a pencil; he shapeth it with planes, and he marketh it out with the compasses, and shapeth it after the figure of a man, according to the beauty of a man, to dwell in a house.\r\n He heweth him down cedars, and taketh the holm-tree and the oak, and strengtheneth for himself one among the trees of the forest: he planteth a fir-tree, and the rain doth nourish it.\r\n Then shall it be for a man to burn; and he taketh thereof, and warmeth himself; yea, he kindleth it, and baketh bread: yea, he maketh a god, and worshippeth it; he maketh it a graven image, and falleth down thereto.\r\n He burneth part thereof in the fire; with part thereof he eateth flesh; he roasteth roast, and is satisfied; yea, he warmeth himself, and saith, Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire.\r\n And the residue thereof he maketh a god, even his graven image; he falleth down unto it and worshippeth, and prayeth unto it, and saith, Deliver me; for thou art my god.\r\n They know not, neither do they consider: for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand.\r\n And none calleth to mind, neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say, I have burned part of it in the fire; yea, also I have baked bread upon the coals thereof; I have roasted flesh and eaten it: and shall I make the residue thereof an abomination? shall I fall down to the stock of a tree?\r\n He feedeth on ashes; a deceived heart hath turned him aside; and he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?\r\n Remember these things, O Jacob, and Israel; for thou art my servant: I have formed thee; thou art my servant: O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of me.\r\n I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.\r\n Sing, O ye heavens, for Jehovah hath done it; shout, ye lower parts of the earth; break forth into singing, ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein: for Jehovah hath redeemed Jacob, and will glorify himself in Israel.\r\n Thus saith Jehovah, thy Redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb: I am Jehovah, that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth (who is with me?);\r\n that frustrateth the signs of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish;\r\n that confirmeth the word of his servant, and performeth the counsel of his messengers; that saith of Jerusalem, She shall be inhabited; and of the cities of Judah, They shall be built, and I will raise up the waste places thereof;\r\n that saith to the deep, Be dry, and I will dry up thy rivers;\r\n That saith of Cyrus, [He is] my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure, even saying of Jerusalem, She shall be built; and of the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.\r\n \r\n \r\n Thus saith Jehovah to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him, and I will loose the loins of kings; to open the doors before him, and the gates shall not be shut:\r\n I will go before thee, and make the rough places smooth; I will break in pieces the doors of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron;\r\n and I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that it is I, Jehovah, who call thee by thy name, even the God of Israel.\r\n For Jacob my servant`s sake, and Israel my chosen, I have called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me.\r\n I am Jehovah, and there is none else; besides me there is no God. I will gird thee, though thou hast not known me;\r\n that they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none besides me: I am Jehovah, and there is none else.\r\n I form the light, and create darkness; I make peace, and create evil. I am Jehovah, that doeth all these things.\r\n Distil, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, that it may bring forth salvation, and let it cause righteousness to spring up together; I, Jehovah, have created it.\r\n Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! a potsherd among the potsherds of the earth! Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands?\r\n Woe unto him that saith unto a father, What begettest thou? or to a woman, With what travailest thou?\r\n Thus saith Jehovah, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker: Ask me of the things that are to come; concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands, command ye me.\r\n I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens; and all their host have I commanded.\r\n I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will make straight all his ways: he shall build my city, and he shall let my exiles go free, not for price nor reward, saith Jehovah of hosts.\r\n Thus saith Jehovah, The labor of Egypt, and the merchandise of Ethiopia, and the Sabeans, men of stature, shall come over unto thee, and they shall be thine: they shall go after thee, in chains they shall come over; and they shall fall down unto thee, they shall make supplication unto thee, [saying], Surely God is in thee; and there is none else, there is no God.\r\n Verily thou art a God that hidest thyself, O God of Israel, the Saviour.\r\n They shall be put to shame, yea, confounded, all of them; they shall go into confusion together that are makers of idols.\r\n [But] Israel shall be saved by Jehovah with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be put to shame nor confounded world without end.\r\n For thus saith Jehovah that created the heavens, the God that formed the earth and made it, that established it and created it not a waste, that formed it to be inhabited: I am Jehovah; and there is none else.\r\n I have not spoken in secret, in a place of the land of darkness; I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I, Jehovah, speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.\r\n Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, ye that are escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge that carry the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god that cannot save.\r\n Declare ye, and bring [it] forth; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath showed this from ancient time? who hath declared it of old? have not I, Jehovah? and there is no God else besides me, a just God and a Saviour; there is none besides me.\r\n Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is none else.\r\n By myself have I sworn, the word is gone forth from my mouth [in] righteousness, and shall not return, that unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.\r\n Only in Jehovah, it is said of me, is righteousness and strength; even to him shall men come; and all they that were incensed against him shall be put to shame.\r\n In Jehovah shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory.\r\n \r\n \r\n Bel boweth down, Nebo stoopeth; their idols are upon the beasts, and upon the cattle: the things that ye carried about are made a load, a burden to the weary [beast].\r\n They stoop, they bow down together; they could not deliver the burden, but themselves are gone into captivity.\r\n Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, that have been borne [by me] from their birth, that have been carried from the womb;\r\n and even to old age I am he, and even to hoar hairs will I carry [you]; I have made, and I will bear; yea, I will carry, and will deliver.\r\n To whom will ye like me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like?\r\n Such as lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance, they hire a goldsmith, and he maketh it a god; they fall down, yea, they worship.\r\n They bear it upon the shoulder, they carry it, and set it in its place, and it standeth, from its place shall it not remove: yea, one may cry unto it, yet can it not answer, nor save him out of his trouble.\r\n Remember this, and show yourselves men; bring it again to mind, O ye transgressors.\r\n Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; [I am] God, and there is none like me;\r\n declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not [yet] done; saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure;\r\n calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country; yea, I have spoken, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed, I will also do it.\r\n Hearken unto me, ye stout-hearted, that are far from righteousness:\r\n I bring near my righteousness, it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry; and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory.\r\n \r\n \r\n Come down, and sit in the dust, O virgin daughter of Babylon; sit on the ground without a throne, O daughter of the Chaldeans: for thou shalt no more be called tender and delicate.\r\n Take the millstones, and grind meal; remove thy veil, strip off the train, uncover the leg, pass through the rivers.\r\n Thy nakedness shall be uncovered, yea, thy shame shall be seen: I will take vengeance, and will spare no man.\r\n Our Redeemer, Jehovah of hosts is his name, the Holy One of Israel.\r\n Sit thou silent, and get thee into darkness, O daughter of the Chaldeans; for thou shalt no more be called The mistress of kingdoms.\r\n I was wroth with my people, I profaned mine inheritance, and gave them into thy hand: thou didst show them no mercy; upon the aged hast thou very heavily laid thy yoke.\r\n And thou saidst, I shall be mistress for ever; so that thou didst not lay these things to thy heart, neither didst remember the latter end thereof.\r\n Now therefore hear this, thou that art given to pleasures, that sittest securely, that sayest in thy heart, I am, and there is none else besides me; I shall not sit as a widow, neither shall I know the loss of children:\r\n but these two things shall come to thee in a moment in one day, the loss of children, and widowhood; in their full measure shall they come upon thee, in the multitude of thy sorceries, and the great abundance of thine enchantments.\r\n For thou hast trusted in thy wickedness; thou hast said, None seeth me; thy wisdom and thy knowledge, it hath perverted thee, and thou hast said in thy heart, I am, and there is none else besides me.\r\n Therefore shall evil come upon thee; thou shalt not know the dawning thereof: and mischief shall fall upon thee; thou shalt not be able to put it away: and desolation shall come upon thee suddenly, which thou knowest not.\r\n Stand now with thine enchantments, and with the multitude of thy sorceries, wherein thou hast labored from thy youth; if so be thou shalt be able to profit, if so be thou mayest prevail.\r\n Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy counsels: let now the astrologers, the star-gazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save thee from the things that shall come upon thee.\r\n Behold, they shall be as stubble; the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame: it shall not be a coal to warm at, nor a fire to sit before.\r\n Thus shall the things be unto thee wherein thou hast labored: they that have trafficked with thee from thy youth shall wander every one to his quarter; there shall be none to save thee.\r\n \r\n \r\n Hear ye this, O house of Jacob, who are called by the name of Israel, and are come forth out of the waters of Judah; who swear by the name of Jehovah, and make mention of the God of Israel, but not in truth, nor in righteousness\r\n (for they call themselves of the holy city, and stay themselves upon the God of Israel; Jehovah of hosts is his name):\r\n I have declared the former things from of old; yea, they went forth out of my mouth, and I showed them: suddenly I did them, and they came to pass.\r\n Because I knew that thou art obstinate, and thy neck is an iron sinew, and thy brow brass;\r\n therefore I have declared it to thee from of old; before it came to pass I showed it thee; lest thou shouldest say, Mine idol hath done them, and my graven image, and my molten image, hath commanded them.\r\n Thou hast heard it; behold all this; and ye, will ye not declare it? I have showed thee new things from this time, even hidden things, which thou hast not known.\r\n They are created now, and not from of old; and before this day thou heardest them not; lest thou shouldest say, Behold, I knew them.\r\n Yea, thou heardest not; yea, thou knewest not; yea, from of old thine ear was not opened: for I knew that thou didst deal very treacherously, and wast called a transgressor from the womb.\r\n For my name`s sake will I defer mine anger, and for my praise will I refrain for thee, that I cut thee not off.\r\n Behold, I have refined thee, but not as silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.\r\n For mine own sake, for mine own sake, will I do it; for how should [my name] be profaned? and my glory will I not give to another.\r\n Hearken unto me, O Jacob, and Israel my called: I am he; I am the first, I also am the last.\r\n Yea, my hand hath laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand hath spread out the heavens: when I call unto them, they stand up together.\r\n Assemble yourselves, all ye, and hear; who among them hath declared these things? He whom Jehovah loveth shall perform his pleasure on Babylon, and his arm [shall be on] the Chaldeans.\r\n I, even I, have spoken; yea, I have called him; I have brought him, and he shall make his way prosperous.\r\n Come ye near unto me, hear ye this; from the beginning I have not spoken in secret; from the time that it was, there am I: and now the Lord Jehovah hath sent me, and his Spirit.\r\n Thus saith Jehovah, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: I am Jehovah thy God, who teacheth thee to profit, who leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go.\r\n Oh that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea:\r\n thy seed also had been as the sand, and the offspring of thy bowels like the grains thereof: his name would not be cut off nor destroyed from before me.\r\n Go ye forth from Babylon, flee ye from the Chaldeans; with a voice of singing declare ye, tell this, utter it even to the end of the earth: say ye, Jehovah hath redeemed his servant Jacob.\r\n And they thirsted not when he led them through the deserts; he caused the waters to flow out of the rock for them; he clave the rock also, and the waters gushed out.\r\n There is no peace, saith Jehovah, to the wicked.\r\n \r\n \r\n Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye peoples, from far: Jehovah hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name:\r\n and he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me: and he hath made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he kept me close:\r\n and he said unto me, Thou art my servant; Israel, in whom I will be glorified.\r\n But I said, I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nought and vanity; yet surely the justice [due] to me is with Jehovah, and my recompense with my God.\r\n And now saith Jehovah that formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, and that Israel be gathered unto him (for I am honorable in the eyes of Jehovah, and my God is become my strength);\r\n yea, he saith, It is too light a thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.\r\n Thus saith Jehovah, the Redeemer of Israel, [and] his Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nation abhorreth, to a servant of rulers: Kings shall see and arise; princes, and they shall worship; because of Jehovah that is faithful, [even] the Holy One of Israel, who hath chosen thee.\r\n Thus saith Jehovah, In an acceptable time have I answered thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee; and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to raise up the land, to make them inherit the desolate heritages:\r\n saying to them that are bound, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Show yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and on all bare heights shall be their pasture.\r\n They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them will lead them, even by springs of water will he guide them.\r\n And I will make all my mountains a way, and my highways shall be exalted.\r\n Lo, these shall come from far; and, lo, these from the north and from the west; and these from the land of Sinim.\r\n Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for Jehovah hath comforted his people, and will have compassion upon his afflicted.\r\n But Zion said, Jehovah hath forsaken me, and the Lord hath forgotten me.\r\n Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, these may forget, yet will not I forget thee.\r\n Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.\r\n Thy children make haste; thy destroyers and they that made thee waste shall go forth from thee.\r\n Lift up thine eyes round about, and behold: all these gather themselves together, and come to thee. As I live, saith Jehovah, thou shalt surely clothe thee with them all as with an ornament, and gird thyself with them, like a bride.\r\n For, as for thy waste and thy desolate places, and thy land that hath been destroyed, surely now shalt thou be too strait for the inhabitants, and they that swallowed thee up shall be far away.\r\n The children of thy bereavement shall yet say in thine ears, The place is too strait for me; give place to me that I may dwell.\r\n Then shalt thou say in thy heart, Who hath begotten me these, seeing I have been bereaved of my children, and am solitary, an exile, and wandering to and fro? and who hath brought up these? Behold, I was left alone; these, where were they?\r\n Thus saith the Lord Jehovah, Behold, I will lift up my hand to the nations, and set up my ensign to the peoples; and they shall bring thy sons in their bosom, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders.\r\n And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers: they shall bow down to thee with their faces to the earth, and lick the dust of thy feet; and thou shalt know that I am Jehovah; and they that wait for me shall not be put to shame.\r\n Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captives be delivered?\r\n But thus saith Jehovah, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered; for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children.\r\n And I will feed them that oppress thee with their own flesh; and they shall be drunken with their own blood, as with sweet wine: and all flesh shall know that I, Jehovah, am thy Saviour, and thy Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.\r\n \r\n \r\n Thus saith Jehovah, Where is the bill of your mother`s divorcement, wherewith I have put her away? or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities were ye sold, and for your transgressions was your mother put away.\r\n Wherefore, when I came, was there no man? when I called, was there none to answer? Is my hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem? or have I no power to deliver? Behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness: their fish stink, because there is no water, and die for thirst.\r\n I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I make sackcloth their covering.\r\n The Lord Jehovah hath given me the tongue of them that are taught, that I may know how to sustain with words him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as they that are taught.\r\n The Lord Jehovah hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away backward.\r\n I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair; I hid not my face from shame and spitting.\r\n For the Lord Jehovah will help me; therefore have I not been confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame.\r\n He is near that justifieth me; who will content with me? let us stand up together: who is mine adversary? let him come near to me.\r\n Behold, the Lord Jehovah will help me; who is he that shall condemn me? behold, all they shall wax old as a garment, the moth shall eat them up.\r\n Who is among you that feareth Jehovah, that obeyeth the voice of his servant? he that walketh in darkness, and hath no light, let him trust in the name of Jehovah, and rely upon his God.\r\n Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that gird yourselves about with firebrands; walk ye in the flame of your fire, and among the brands that ye have kindled. This shall ye have of my hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow.\r\n \r\n \r\n Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek Jehovah: look unto the rock whence ye were hewn, and to the hold of the pit whence ye were digged.\r\n Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare you; for when he was but one I called him, and I blessed him, and made him many.\r\n For Jehovah hath comforted Zion; he hath comforted all her waste places, and hath made her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of Jehovah; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.\r\n Attend unto me, O my people; and give ear unto me, O my nation: for a law shall go forth from me, and I will establish my justice for a light of the peoples.\r\n My righteousness is near, my salvation is gone forth, and mine arms shall judge the peoples; the isles shall wait for me, and on mine arm shall they trust.\r\n Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath; for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment; and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished.\r\n Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye dismayed at their revilings.\r\n For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool; but my righteousness shall be for ever, and my salvation unto all generations.\r\n Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of Jehovah; awake, as in the days of old, the generations of ancient times. Is it not thou that didst cut Rahab in pieces, that didst pierce the monster?\r\n Is it not thou that driedst up the sea, the waters of the great deep; that madest the depths of the sea a way for the redeemed to pass over?\r\n And the ransomed of Jehovah shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their heads: they shall obtain gladness and joy; [and] sorrow and sighing shall flee away.\r\n I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou art afraid of man that shall die, and of the son of man that shall be made as grass;\r\n and hast forgotten Jehovah thy Maker, that stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth; and fearest continually all the day because of the fury of the oppressor, when he maketh ready to destroy? and where is the fury of the oppressor?\r\n The captive exile shall speedily be loosed; and he shall not die [and go down] into the pit, neither shall his bread fail.\r\n For I am Jehovah thy God, who stirreth up the sea, so that the waves thereof roar: Jehovah of hosts is his name.\r\n And I have put my words in thy mouth, and have covered thee in the shadow of my hand, that I may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say unto Zion, Thou art my people.\r\n Awake, awake, stand up, O Jerusalem, that hast drunk at the hand of Jehovah the cup of his wrath; thou hast drunken the bowl of the cup of staggering, and drained it.\r\n There is none to guide her among all the sons whom she hath brought forth; neither is there any that taketh her by the hand among all the sons that she hath brought up.\r\n These two things are befallen thee, who shall bemoan thee? desolation and destruction, and the famine and the sword; how shall I comfort thee?\r\n Thy sons have fainted, they lie at the head of all the streets, as an antelope in a net; they are full of the wrath of Jehovah, the rebuke of thy God.\r\n Therefore hear now this, thou afflicted, and drunken, but now with wine:\r\n Thus saith thy Lord Jehovah, and thy God that pleadeth the cause of his people, Behold, I have taken out of thy hand the cup of staggering, even the bowl of the cup of my wrath; thou shalt no more drink it again:\r\n and I will put it into the hand of them that afflict thee, that have said to thy soul, Bow down, that we may go over; and thou hast laid thy back as the ground, and as the street, to them that go over.\r\n \r\n \r\n Awake, awake, put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean.\r\n Shake thyself from the dust; arise, sit [on thy throne], O Jerusalem: loose thyself from the bonds of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion.\r\n For thus saith Jehovah, Ye were sold for nought; and ye shall be redeemed without money.\r\n For thus saith the Lord Jehovah, My people went down at the first into Egypt to sojourn there: and the Assyrian hath oppressed them without cause.\r\n Now therefore, what do I here, saith Jehovah, seeing that my people is taken away for nought? they that rule over them do howl, saith Jehovah, and my name continually all the day is blasphemed.\r\n Therefore my people shall know my name: therefore [they shall know] in that day that I am he that doth speak; behold, it is I.\r\n How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace, that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation, that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!\r\n The voice of thy watchmen! they lift up the voice, together do they sing; for they shall see eye to eye, when Jehovah returneth to Zion.\r\n Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem; for Jehovah hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem.\r\n Jehovah hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.\r\n Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; cleanse yourselves, ye that bear the vessels of Jehovah.\r\n For ye shall not go out in haste, neither shall ye go by flight: for Jehovah will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your rearward.\r\n Behold, my servant shall deal wisely, he shall be exalted and lifted up, and shall be very high.\r\n Like as many were astonished at thee (his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men),\r\n so shall he sprinkle many nations; kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they understand.\r\n \r\n \r\n Who hath believed our message? and to whom hath the arm of Jehovah been revealed?\r\n For he grew up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.\r\n He was despised, and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and as one from whom men hide their face he was despised; and we esteemed him not.\r\n Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.\r\n But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.\r\n All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and Jehovah hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.\r\n He was oppressed, yet when he was afflicted he opened not his mouth; as a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and as a sheep that before its shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth.\r\n By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who [among them] considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living for the transgression of my people to whom the stroke [was due]?\r\n And they made his grave with the wicked, and with a rich man in his death; although he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.\r\n Yet it pleased Jehovah to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see [his] seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of Jehovah shall prosper in his hand.\r\n He shall see of the travail of his soul, [and] shall be satisfied: by the knowledge of himself shall my righteous servant justify many; and he shall bear their iniquities.\r\n Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he poured out his soul unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors: yet he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.\r\n \r\n \r\n Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith Jehovah.\r\n Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thy habitations; spare not: lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes.\r\n For thou shalt spread aboard on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall possess the nations, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited.\r\n Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth; and the reproach of thy widowhood shalt thou remember no more.\r\n For thy Maker is thy husband; Jehovah of hosts is his name: and the Holy One of Israel is thy Redeemer; the God of the whole earth shall he be called.\r\n For Jehovah hath called thee as a wife forsaken and grieved in spirit, even a wife of youth, when she is cast off, saith thy God.\r\n For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee.\r\n In overflowing wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting lovingkindness will I have mercy on thee, saith Jehovah thy Redeemer.\r\n For this is [as] the waters of Noah unto me; for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah shall no more go over the earth, so have I sworn that I will not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee.\r\n For the mountains may depart, and the hills be removed; but my lovingkindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall my covenant of peace be removed, saith Jehovah that hath mercy on thee.\r\n O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will set thy stones in fair colors, and lay thy foundations with sapphires.\r\n And I will make thy pinnacles of rubies, and thy gates of carbuncles, and all thy border of precious stones.\r\n And all thy children shall be taught of Jehovah; and great shall be the peace of thy children.\r\n In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression, for thou shalt not fear; and from terror, for it shall not come near thee.\r\n Behold, they may gather together, but not by me: whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall because of thee.\r\n Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the fire of coals, and bringeth forth a weapon for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy.\r\n No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of Jehovah, and their righteousness which is of me, saith Jehovah.\r\n \r\n \r\n Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.\r\n Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labor for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.\r\n Incline your ear, and come unto me; hear, and your soul shall live: and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.\r\n Behold, I have given him for a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander to the peoples.\r\n Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not; and a nation that knew not thee shall run unto thee, because of Jehovah thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee.\r\n Seek ye Jehovah while he may be found; call ye upon him while he is near:\r\n let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return unto Jehovah, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.\r\n For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith Jehovah.\r\n For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.\r\n For as the rain cometh down and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, and giveth seed to the sower and bread to the eater;\r\n so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.\r\n For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing; and all the trees of the fields shall clap their hands.\r\n Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir-tree; and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle-tree: and it shall be to Jehovah for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.\r\n \r\n \r\n Thus saith Jehovah, Keep ye justice, and do righteousness; for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed.\r\n Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that holdeth it fast; that keepeth the sabbath from profaning it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil.\r\n Neither let the foreigner, that hath joined himself to Jehovah, speak, saying, Jehovah will surely separate me from his people; neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree.\r\n For thus saith Jehovah of the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and hold fast my covenant:\r\n Unto them will I give in my house and within my walls a memorial and a name better than of sons and of daughters; I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.\r\n Also the foreigners that join themselves to Jehovah, to minister unto him, and to love the name of Jehovah, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from profaning it, and holdeth fast my covenant;\r\n even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt-offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.\r\n The Lord Jehovah, who gathereth the outcasts of Israel, saith, Yet will I gather [others] to him, besides his own that are gathered.\r\n All ye beasts of the field, come to devour, [yea], all ye beasts in the forest.\r\n His watchmen are blind, they are all without knowledge; they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; dreaming, lying down, loving to slumber.\r\n Yea, the dogs are greedy, they can never have enough; and these are shepherds that cannot understand: they have all turned to their own way, each one to his gain, from every quarter.\r\n Come ye, [say they], I will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink; and to-morrow shall be as this day, [a day] great beyond measure.\r\n \r\n \r\n The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart; and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil [to come].\r\n He entereth into peace; they rest in their beds, each one that walketh in his uprightness.\r\n But draw near hither, ye sons of the sorceress, the seed of the adulterer and the harlot.\r\n Against whom do ye sport yourselves? against whom make ye a wide mouth, and put out the tongue? are ye not children of transgression, a seed of falsehood,\r\n ye that inflame yourselves among the oaks, under every green tree; that slay the children in the valleys, under the clefts of the rocks?\r\n Among the smooth [stones] of the valley is thy portion; they, they are thy lot; even to them hast thou poured a drink-offering, thou hast offered an oblation. Shall I be appeased for these things?\r\n Upon a high and lofty mountain hast thou set thy bed; thither also wentest thou up to offer sacrifice.\r\n And behind the doors and the posts hast thou set up thy memorial: for thou hast uncovered [thyself] to another than me, and art gone up; thou hast enlarged thy bed, and made thee a covenant with them: thou lovedst their bed where thou sawest it.\r\n And thou wentest to the king with oil, and didst increase thy perfumes, and didst send thine ambassadors far off, and didst debase thyself even unto Sheol.\r\n Thou wast wearied with the length of thy way; yet saidst thou not, It is in vain: thou didst find a quickening of thy strength; therefore thou wast not faint.\r\n And of whom hast thou been afraid and in fear, that thou liest, and hast not remembered me, nor laid it to thy heart? have not I held my peace even of long time, and thou fearest me not?\r\n I will declare thy righteousness; and as for thy works, they shall not profit thee.\r\n When thou criest, let them that thou hast gathered deliver thee; but the wind shall take them, a breath shall carry them all away: but he that taketh refuge in me shall possess the land, and shall inherit my holy mountain.\r\n And he will say, Cast ye up, cast ye up, prepare the way, take up the stumbling-block out of the way of my people.\r\n For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite.\r\n For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth; for the spirit would faint before me, and the souls that I have made.\r\n For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him; I hid [my face] and was wroth; and he went on backsliding in the way of his heart.\r\n I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners.\r\n I create the fruit of the lips: Peace, peace, to him that is far off and to him that is near, saith Jehovah; and I will heal him.\r\n But the wicked are like the troubled sea; for it cannot rest, and its waters cast up mire and dirt.\r\n There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.\r\n \r\n \r\n Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and declare unto my people their transgression, and to the house of Jacob their sins.\r\n Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways: as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God, they ask of me righteous judgments; they delight to draw near unto God.\r\n Wherefore have we fasted, [say they], and thou seest not? [wherefore] have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find [your own] pleasure, and exact all your labors.\r\n Behold, ye fast for strife and contention, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye fast not this day so as to make your voice to be heard on high.\r\n Is such the fast that I have chosen? the day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head as a rush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to Jehovah?\r\n Is not this the fast that I have chosen: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?\r\n Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?\r\n Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thy healing shall spring forth speedily; and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of Jehovah shall by thy rearward.\r\n Then shalt thou call, and Jehovah will answer; thou shalt cry, and he will say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking wickedly;\r\n and if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul: then shall thy light rise in darkness, and thine obscurity be as the noonday;\r\n and Jehovah will guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in dry places, and make strong thy bones; and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.\r\n And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places; thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.\r\n If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, [and] the holy of Jehovah honorable; and shalt honor it, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking [thine own] words:\r\n then shalt thou delight thyself in Jehovah; and I will make thee to ride upon the high places of the earth; and I will feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of Jehovah hath spoken it.\r\n \r\n \r\n Behold, Jehovah`s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:\r\n but your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, so that he will not hear.\r\n For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue muttereth wickedness.\r\n None sueth in righteousness, and none pleadeth in truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity.\r\n They hatch adders` eggs, and weave the spider`s web: he that eateth of their eggs dieth; and that which is crushed breaketh out into a viper.\r\n Their webs shall not become garments, neither shall they cover themselves with their works: their works are works of iniquity, and the act of violence is in their hands.\r\n Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; desolation and destruction are in their paths.\r\n The way of peace they know not; and there is no justice in their goings: they have made them crooked paths; whosoever goeth therein doth not know peace.\r\n Therefore is justice far from us, neither doth righteousness overtake us: we look for light, but, behold, darkness; for brightness, but we walk in obscurity.\r\n We grope for the wall like the blind; yea, we grope as they that have no eyes: we stumble at noonday as in the twilight; among them that are lusty we are as dead men.\r\n We roar all like bears, and moan sore like doves: we look for justice, but there is none; for salvation, but it is far off from us.\r\n For our transgressions are multiplied before thee, and our sins testify against us; for our transgressions are with us, and as for our iniquities, we know them:\r\n transgressing and denying Jehovah, and turning away from following our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood.\r\n And justice is turned away backward, and righteousness standeth afar off; for truth is fallen in the street, and uprightness cannot enter.\r\n Yea, truth is lacking; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey. And Jehovah saw it, and it displeased him that there was no justice.\r\n And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his own arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it upheld him.\r\n And he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a mantle.\r\n According to their deeds, accordingly he will repay, wrath to his adversaries, recompense to his enemies; to the islands he will repay recompense.\r\n So shall they fear the name of Jehovah from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun; for he will come as a rushing stream, which the breath of Jehovah driveth.\r\n And a Redeemer will come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith Jehovah.\r\n And as for me, this is my covenant with them, saith Jehovah: my Spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed`s seed, saith Jehovah, from henceforth and for ever.\r\n \r\n \r\n Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of Jehovah is risen upon thee.\r\n For, behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the peoples; but Jehovah will arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.\r\n And nations shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.\r\n Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: they all gather themselves together, they come to thee; thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be carried in the arms.\r\n Then thou shalt see and be radiant, and thy heart shall thrill and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be turned unto thee, the wealth of the nations shall come unto thee.\r\n The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come; they shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall proclaim the praises of Jehovah.\r\n All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together unto thee, the rams of Nebaioth shall minister unto thee; they shall come up with acceptance on mine altar; and I will glorify the house of my glory.\r\n Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows?\r\n Surely the isles shall wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring thy sons from far, their silver and their gold with them, for the name of Jehovah thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel, because he hath glorified thee.\r\n And foreigners shall build up thy walls, and their kings shall minister unto thee: for in my wrath I smote thee, but in my favor have I had mercy on thee.\r\n Thy gates also shall be open continually; they shall not be shut day nor night; that men may bring unto thee the wealth of the nations, and their kings led captive.\r\n For that nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish; yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted.\r\n The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, the fir-tree, the pine, and the box-tree together, to beautify the place of my sanctuary; and I will make the place of my feet glorious.\r\n And the sons of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee; and all they that despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet; and they shall call thee The city of Jehovah, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel.\r\n Whereas thou hast been forsaken and hated, so that no man passed through thee, I will make thee an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations.\r\n Thou shalt also suck the milk of the nations, and shalt suck the breast of kings; and thou shalt know that I, Jehovah, am thy Saviour, and thy Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.\r\n For brass I will bring gold, and for iron I will bring silver, and for wood brass, and for stones iron. I will also make thy officers peace, and thine exactors righteousness.\r\n Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, desolation nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise.\r\n The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but Jehovah will be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory.\r\n Thy sun shall no more go down, neither shall thy moon withdraw itself; for Jehovah will be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended.\r\n Thy people also shall be all righteous; they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified.\r\n The little one shall become a thousand, and the small one a strong nation; I, Jehovah, will hasten it in its time.\r\n \r\n \r\n The Spirit of the Lord Jehovah is upon me; because Jehovah hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening [of the prison] to them that are bound;\r\n to proclaim the year of Jehovah`s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;\r\n to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them a garland for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of Jehovah, that he may be glorified.\r\n And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations.\r\n And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and foreigners shall be your plowmen and your vine-dressers.\r\n But ye shall be named the priests of Jehovah; men shall call you the ministers of our God: ye shall eat the wealth of the nations, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.\r\n Instead of your shame [ye shall have] double; and instead of dishonor they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess double; everlasting joy shall be unto them.\r\n For I, Jehovah, love justice, I hate robbery with iniquity; and I will give them their recompense in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.\r\n And their seed shall be known among the nations, and their offspring among the peoples; all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which Jehovah hath blessed.\r\n I will greatly rejoice in Jehovah, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with a garland, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.\r\n For as the earth bringeth forth its bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord Jehovah will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.\r\n \r\n \r\n For Zion`s sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem`s sake I will not rest, until her righteousness go forth as brightness, and her salvation as a lamp that burneth.\r\n And the nations shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory, and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of Jehovah shall name.\r\n Thou shalt also be a crown of beauty in the hand of Jehovah, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God.\r\n Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzi-bah, and thy land Beulah; for Jehovah delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married.\r\n For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee; and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.\r\n I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem; they shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that are Jehovah`s remembrancers, take ye no rest,\r\n and give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.\r\n Jehovah hath sworn by his right hand, and by the arm of his strength, Surely I will no more give thy grain to be food for thine enemies; and foreigners shall not drink thy new wine, for which thou hast labored:\r\n but they that have garnered it shall eat it, and praise Jehovah; and they that have gathered it shall drink it in the courts of my sanctuary.\r\n Go through, go through the gates; prepare ye the way of the people; cast up, cast up the highway; gather out the stones; lift up an ensign for the peoples.\r\n Behold, Jehovah hath proclaimed unto the end of the earth, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him.\r\n And they shall call them The holy people, The redeemed of Jehovah: and thou shalt be called Sought out, A city not forsaken.\r\n \r\n \r\n Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, marching in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save.\r\n Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winevat?\r\n I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the peoples there was no man with me: yea, I trod them in mine anger, and trampled them in my wrath; and their lifeblood is sprinkled upon my garments, and I have stained all my raiment.\r\n For the day of vengeance was in my heart, and the year of my redeemed is come.\r\n And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my wrath, it upheld me.\r\n And I trod down the peoples in mine anger, and made them drunk in my wrath, and I poured out their lifeblood on the earth.\r\n I will make mention of the lovingkindnesses of Jehovah, [and] the praises of Jehovah, according to all that Jehovah hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he hath bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his lovingkindnesses.\r\n For he said, Surely, they are my people, children that will not deal falsely: so he was their Saviour.\r\n In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.\r\n But they rebelled, and grieved his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, [and] himself fought against them.\r\n Then he remembered the days of old, Moses [and] his people, [saying], Where is he that brought them up out of the sea with the shepherds of his flock? where is he that put his holy Spirit in the midst of them?\r\n that caused his glorious arm to go at the right hand of Moses? that divided the waters before them, to make himself an everlasting name?\r\n that led them through the depths, as a horse in the wilderness, so that they stumbled not?\r\n As the cattle that go down into the valley, the Spirit of Jehovah caused them to rest; so didst thou lead thy people, to make thyself a glorious name.\r\n Look down from heaven, and behold from the habitation of thy holiness and of thy glory: where are thy zeal and thy mighty acts? the yearning of thy heart and thy compassions are restrained toward me.\r\n For thou art our Father, though Abraham knoweth us not, and Israel doth not acknowledge us: thou, O Jehovah, art our Father; our Redeemer from everlasting is thy name.\r\n O Jehovah, why dost thou make us to err from thy ways, and hardenest our heart from thy fear? Return for thy servants` sake, the tribes of thine inheritance.\r\n Thy holy people possessed [it] but a little while: our adversaries have trodden down thy sanctuary.\r\n We are become as they over whom thou never barest rule, as they that were not called by thy name.\r\n \r\n \r\n Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might quake at thy presence,\r\n as when fire kindleth the brushwood, [and] the fire causeth the waters to boil; to make thy name known to thine adversaries, that the nations may tremble at thy presence!\r\n When thou didst terrible things which we looked not for, thou camest down, the mountains quaked at thy presence.\r\n For from of old men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen a God besides thee, who worketh for him that waiteth for him.\r\n Thou meetest him that rejoiceth and worketh righteousness, those that remember thee in thy ways: behold, thou wast wroth, and we sinned: in them [have we been] of long time; and shall we be saved?\r\n For we are all become as one that is unclean, and all our righteousnesses are as a polluted garment: and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.\r\n And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee; for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us by means of our iniquities.\r\n But now, O Jehovah, thou art our Father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.\r\n Be not wroth very sore, O Jehovah, neither remember iniquity for ever: behold, look, we beseech thee, we are all thy people.\r\n Thy holy cities are become a wilderness, Zion is become a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation.\r\n Our holy and our beautiful house, where our fathers praised thee, is burned with fire; and all our pleasant places are laid waste.\r\n Wilt thou refrain thyself for these things, O Jehovah? wilt thou hold thy peace, and afflict us very sore?\r\n \r\n \r\n I am inquired of by them that asked not [for me]; I am found of them that sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name.\r\n I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, that walk in a way that is not good, after their own thoughts;\r\n a people that provoke me to my face continually, sacrificing in gardens, and burning incense upon bricks;\r\n that sit among the graves, and lodge in the secret places; that eat swine`s flesh, and broth of abominable things is in their vessels;\r\n that say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me, for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day.\r\n Behold, it is written before me: I will not keep silence, but will recompense, yea, I will recompense into their bosom,\r\n your own iniquities, and the iniquities of your fathers together, saith Jehovah, that have burned incense upon the mountains, and blasphemed me upon the hills; therefore will I first measure their work into their bosom.\r\n Thus saith Jehovah, As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one saith, Destroy it not, for a blessing is in it: so will I do for my servants` sake, that I may not destroy them all.\r\n And I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob, and out of Judah an inheritor of my mountains; and my chosen shall inherit it, and my servants shall dwell there.\r\n And Sharon shall be a fold of flocks, and the valley of Achor a place for herds to lie down in, for my people that have sought me.\r\n But ye that forsake Jehovah, that forget my holy mountain, that prepare a table for Fortune, and that fill up mingled wine unto Destiny;\r\n I will destine you to the sword, and ye shall all bow down to the slaughter; because when I called, ye did not answer; when I spake, ye did not hear; but ye did that which was evil in mine eyes, and chose that wherein I delighted not.\r\n Therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah, Behold, my servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry; behold, my servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty; behold, my servants shall rejoice, but ye shall be put to shame;\r\n behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall wail for vexation of spirit.\r\n And ye shall leave your name for a curse unto my chosen; and the Lord Jehovah will slay thee; and he will call his servants by another name:\r\n so that he who blesseth himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth; and he that sweareth in the earth shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hid from mine eyes.\r\n For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former things shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.\r\n But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create; for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.\r\n And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people; and there shall be heard in her no more the voice of weeping and the voice of crying.\r\n There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days; for the child shall die a hundred years old, and the sinner being a hundred years old shall be accursed.\r\n And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.\r\n They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree shall be the days of my people, and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands.\r\n They shall not labor in vain, nor bring forth for calamity; for they are the seed of the blessed of Jehovah, and their offspring with them.\r\n And it shall come to pass that, before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.\r\n The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the ox; and dust shall be the serpent`s food. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith Jehovah.\r\n \r\n \r\n Thus saith Jehovah, Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: what manner of house will ye build unto me? and what place shall be my rest?\r\n For all these things hath my hand made, and [so] all these things came to be, saith Jehovah: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and that trembleth at my word.\r\n He that killeth an ox is as he that slayeth a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, as he that breaketh a dog`s neck; he that offereth an oblation, [as he that offereth] swine`s blood; he that burneth frankincense, as he that blesseth an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations:\r\n I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did that which was evil in mine eyes, and chose that wherein I delighted not.\r\n Hear the word of Jehovah, ye that tremble at his word: Your brethren that hate you, that cast you out for my name`s sake, have said, Let Jehovah be glorified, that we may see your joy; but it is they that shall be put to shame.\r\n A voice of tumult from the city, a voice from the temple, a voice of Jehovah that rendereth recompense to his enemies.\r\n Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man-child.\r\n Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall a land be born in one day? shall a nation be brought forth at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.\r\n Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith Jehovah: shall I that cause to bring forth shut [the womb]? saith thy God.\r\n Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad for her, all ye that love her: rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn over her;\r\n that ye may suck and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations; that ye may milk out, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory.\r\n For thus saith Jehovah, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream: and ye shall suck [thereof]; ye shall be borne upon the side, and shall be dandled upon the knees.\r\n As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem.\r\n And ye shall see [it], and your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like the tender grass: and the hand of Jehovah shall be known toward his servants; and he will have indignation against his enemies.\r\n For, behold, Jehovah will come with fire, and his chariots shall be like the whirlwind; to render his anger with fierceness, and his rebuke with flames of fire.\r\n For by fire will Jehovah execute judgment, and by his sword, upon all flesh; and the slain of Jehovah shall be many.\r\n They that sanctify themselves and purify themselves [to go] unto the gardens, behind one in the midst, eating swine`s flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, they shall come to an end together, saith Jehovah.\r\n For I [know] their works and their thoughts: [the time] cometh, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and shall see my glory.\r\n And I will set a sign among them, and I will send such as escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the nations.\r\n And they shall bring all your brethren out of all the nations for an oblation unto Jehovah, upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon dromedaries, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith Jehovah, as the children of Israel bring their oblation in a clean vessel into the house of Jehovah.\r\n And of them also will I take for priests [and] for Levites, saith Jehovah.\r\n For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith Jehovah, so shall your seed and your name remain.\r\n And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith Jehovah.\r\n And they shall go forth, and look upon the dead bodies of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, of the priests that were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin:\r\n to whom the word of Jehovah came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign.\r\n It came also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, unto the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah, the son of Josiah, king of Judah, unto the carrying away of Jerusalem captive in the fifth month.\r\n Now the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,\r\n Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee, and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee; I have appointed thee a prophet unto the nations.\r\n Then said I, Ah, Lord Jehovah! behold, I know not how to speak; for I am a child.\r\n But Jehovah said unto me, Say not, I am a child; for to whomsoever I shall send thee thou shalt go, and whatsoever I shall command thee thou shalt speak.\r\n Be not afraid because of them; for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith Jehovah.\r\n Then Jehovah put forth his hand, and touched my mouth; and Jehovah said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth:\r\n see, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down and to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.\r\n Moreover the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying, Jeremiah, what seest thou? And I said, I see a rod of an almond-tree.\r\n Then said Jehovah unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I watch over my word to perform it.\r\n And the word of Jehovah came unto me the second time, saying, What seest thou? And I said, I see a boiling caldron; and the face thereof is from the north.\r\n Then Jehovah said unto me, Out of the north evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land.\r\n For, lo, I will call all the families of the kingdoms of the north, saith Jehovah; and they shall come, and they shall set every one his throne at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem, and against all the walls thereof round about, and against all the cities of Judah.\r\n And I will utter my judgments against them touching all their wickedness, in that they have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, and worshipped the works of their own hands.\r\n Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee: be not dismayed at them, lest I dismay thee before them.\r\n For, behold, I have made thee this day a fortified city, and an iron pillar, and brazen walls, against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, against the princes thereof, against the priests thereof, and against the people of the land.\r\n And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee: for I am with thee, saith Jehovah, to deliver thee.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the word of Jehovah came to me, saying,\r\n Go, and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith Jehovah, I remember for thee the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals; how thou wentest after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown.\r\n Israel [was] holiness unto Jehovah, the first-fruits of his increase: all that devour him shall be held guilty; evil shall come upon them, saith Jehovah.\r\n Hear ye the word of Jehovah, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel:\r\n thus saith Jehovah, What unrighteousness have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?\r\n Neither said they, Where is Jehovah that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, that led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and of pits, through a land of drought and of the shadow of death, through a land that none passed through, and where no man dwelt?\r\n And I brought you into a plentiful land, to eat the fruit thereof and the goodness thereof; but when ye entered, ye defiled my land, and made my heritage an abomination.\r\n The priests said not, Where is Jehovah? and they that handle the law knew me not: the rulers also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.\r\n Wherefore I will yet contend with you, saith Jehovah, and with your children`s children will I contend.\r\n For pass over to the isles of Kittim, and see; and send unto Kedar, and consider diligently; and see if there hath been such a thing.\r\n Hath a nation changed [its] gods, which yet are no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit.\r\n Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith Jehovah.\r\n For my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.\r\n Is Israel a servant? is he a home-born [slave]? why is he become a prey?\r\n The young lions have roared upon him, and yelled; and they have made his land waste: his cities are burned up, without inhabitant.\r\n The children also of Memphis and Tahpanhes have broken the crown of thy head.\r\n Hast thou not procured this unto thyself, in that thou hast forsaken Jehovah thy God, when he led thee by the way?\r\n And now what hast thou to do in the way to Egypt, to drink the waters of the Shihor? or what hast thou to do in the way to Assyria, to drink the waters of the River?\r\n Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and a bitter, that thou hast forsaken Jehovah thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord, Jehovah of hosts.\r\n For of old time I have broken thy yoke, and burst thy bonds; and thou saidst, I will not serve; for upon every high hill and under every green tree thou didst bow thyself, playing the harlot.\r\n Yet I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed: how then art thou turned into the degenerate branches of a foreign vine unto me?\r\n For though thou wash thee with lye, and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity is marked before me, saith the Lord Jehovah.\r\n How canst thou say, I am not defiled, I have not gone after the Baalim? see thy way in the valley, know what thou hast done: [thou art] a swift dromedary traversing her ways;\r\n a wild ass used to the wilderness, that snuffeth up the wind in her desire; in her occasion who can turn her away? all they that seek her will not weary themselves; in her month they shall find her.\r\n Withhold thy foot from being unshod, and thy throat from thirst: but thou saidst, It is in vain; no, for I have loved strangers, and after them will I go.\r\n As the thief is ashamed when he is found, so is the house of Israel ashamed; they, their kings, their princes, and their priests, and their prophets;\r\n who say to a stock, Thou art my father; and to a stone, Thou hast brought me forth: for they have turned their back unto me, and not their face; but in the time of their trouble they will say, Arise, and save us.\r\n But where are thy gods that thou hast made thee? let them arise, if they can save thee in the time of thy trouble: for according to the number of thy cities are thy gods, O Judah.\r\n Wherefore will ye contend with me? ye all have transgressed against me, saith Jehovah.\r\n In vain have I smitten your children; they received no correction: your own sword hath devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.\r\n O generation, see ye the word of Jehovah. Have I been a wilderness unto Israel? or a land of thick darkness? wherefore say my people, We are broken loose; we will come no more unto thee?\r\n Can a virgin forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? yet my people have forgotten me days without number.\r\n How trimmest thou thy way to seek love! therefore even the wicked women hast thou taught thy ways.\r\n Also in thy skirts is found the blood of the souls of the innocent poor: thou didst not find them breaking in; but it is because of all these things.\r\n Yet thou saidst, I am innocent; surely his anger is turned away from me. Behold, I will enter into judgment with thee, because thou sayest, I have not sinned.\r\n Why gaddest thou about so much to change thy way? thou shalt be ashamed of Egypt also, as thou wast ashamed of Assyria.\r\n From thence also shalt thou go forth, with thy hands upon thy head: for Jehovah hath rejected those in whom thou trustest, and thou shalt not prosper with them.\r\n \r\n \r\n They say, If a man put away his wife, and she go from him, and become another man`s, will he return unto her again? will not that land be greatly polluted? But thou hast played the harlot with many lovers; yet return again to me, saith Jehovah.\r\n Lift up thine eyes unto the bare heights, and see; where hast thou not been lain with? By the ways hast thou sat for them, as an Arabian in the wilderness; and thou hast polluted the land with thy whoredoms and with thy wickedness.\r\n Therefore the showers have been withholden, and there hath been no latter rain; yet thou hast a harlot`s forehead, thou refusedst to be ashamed.\r\n Wilt thou not from this time cry unto me, My Father, thou art the guide of my youth?\r\n Will he retain [his anger] for ever? will he keep it to the end? Behold, thou hast spoken and hast done evil things, and hast had thy way.\r\n Moreover Jehovah said unto me in the days of Josiah the king, Hast thou seen that which backsliding Israel hath done? she is gone up upon every high mountain and under every green tree, and there hath played the harlot.\r\n And I said after she had done all these things, She will return unto me; but she returned not: and her treacherous sister Judah saw it.\r\n And I saw, when, for this very cause that backsliding Israel had committed adultery, I had put her away and given her a bill of divorcement, yet treacherous Judah her sister feared not; but she also went and played the harlot.\r\n And it came to pass through the lightness of her whoredom, that the land was polluted, and she committed adultery with stones and with stocks.\r\n And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah hath not returned unto me with her whole heart, but feignedly, saith Jehovah.\r\n And Jehovah said unto me, Backsliding Israel hath showed herself more righteous than treacherous Judah.\r\n Go, and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith Jehovah; I will not look in anger upon you; for I am merciful, saith Jehovah, I will not keep [anger] for ever.\r\n Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against Jehovah thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith Jehovah.\r\n Return, O backsliding children, saith Jehovah; for I am a husband unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion:\r\n and I will give you shepherds according to my heart, who shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.\r\n And it shall come to pass, when ye are multiplied and increased in the land, in those days, saith Jehovah, they shall say no more, The ark of the covenant of Jehovah; neither shall it come to mind; neither shall they remember it; neither shall they miss it; neither shall it be made any more.\r\n At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of Jehovah; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of Jehovah, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the stubbornness of their evil heart.\r\n In those days the house of Judah shall walk with the house of Israel, and they shall come together out of the land of the north to the land that I gave for an inheritance unto your fathers.\r\n But I said, How I will put thee among the children, and give thee a pleasant land, a goodly heritage of the hosts of the nations! and I said, Ye shall call me My Father, and shall not turn away from following me.\r\n Surely as a wife treacherously departeth from her husband, so have ye dealt treacherously with me, O house of Israel, saith Jehovah.\r\n A voice is heard upon the bare heights, the weeping [and] the supplications of the children of Israel; because they have perverted their way, they have forgotten Jehovah their God.\r\n Return, ye backsliding children, I will heal your backslidings. Behold, we are come unto thee; for thou art Jehovah our God.\r\n Truly in vain is [the help that is looked for] from the hills, the tumult on the mountains: truly in Jehovah our God is the salvation of Israel.\r\n But the shameful thing hath devoured the labor of our fathers from our youth, their flocks and their herds, their sons and their daughters.\r\n Let us lie down in our shame, and let our confusion cover us; for we have sinned against Jehovah our God, we and our fathers, from our youth even unto this day; and we have not obeyed the voice of Jehovah our God.\r\n \r\n \r\n If thou wilt return, O Israel, saith Jehovah, if thou wilt return unto me, and if thou wilt put away thine abominations out of my sight; then shalt thou not be removed;\r\n and thou shalt swear, As Jehovah liveth, in truth, in justice, and in righteousness; and the nations shall bless themselves in him, and in him shall they glory.\r\n For thus saith Jehovah to the men of Judah and to Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns.\r\n Circumcise yourselves to Jehovah, and take away the foreskins of your heart, ye men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem; lest my wrath go forth like fire, and burn so that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings.\r\n Declare ye in Judah, and publish in Jerusalem; and say, Blow ye the trumpet in the land: cry aloud and say, Assemble yourselves, and let us go into the fortified cities.\r\n Set up a standard toward Zion: flee for safety, stay not; for I will bring evil from the north, and a great destruction.\r\n A lion is gone up from his thicket, and a destroyer of nations; he is on his way, he is gone forth from his place, to make thy land desolate, that thy cities be laid waste, without inhabitant.\r\n For this gird you with sackcloth, lament and wail; for the fierce anger of Jehovah is not turned back from us.\r\n And it shall come to pass at that day, saith Jehovah, that the heart of the king shall perish, and the heart of the princes; and the priests shall be astonished, and the prophets shall wonder.\r\n Then said I, Ah, Lord Jehovah! surely thou hast greatly deceived this people and Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall have peace; whereas the sword reacheth unto the life.\r\n At that time shall it be said to this people and to Jerusalem, A hot wind from the bare heights in the wilderness toward the daughter of my people, not to winnow, nor to cleanse;\r\n a full wind from these shall come for me: now will I also utter judgments against them.\r\n Behold, he shall come up as clouds, and his chariots [shall be] as the whirlwind: his horses are swifter than eagles. Woe unto us! for we are ruined.\r\n O Jerusalem, wash thy heart from wickedness, that thou mayest be saved. How long shall thine evil thoughts lodge within thee?\r\n For a voice declareth from Dan, and publisheth evil from the hills of Ephraim:\r\n make ye mention to the nations; behold, publish against Jerusalem, [that] watchers come from a far country, and give out their voice against the cities of Judah.\r\n As keepers of a field are they against her round about, because she hath been rebellious against me, saith Jehovah.\r\n Thy way and thy doings have procured these things unto thee; this is thy wickedness; for it is bitter, for it reacheth unto thy heart.\r\n My anguish, my anguish! I am pained at my very heart; my heart is disquieted in me; I cannot hold my peace; because thou hast heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war.\r\n Destruction upon destruction is cried; for the whole land is laid waste: suddenly are my tents destroyed, [and] my curtains in a moment.\r\n How long shall I see the standard, and hear the sound of the trumpet?\r\n For my people are foolish, they know me not; they are sottish children, and they have no understanding; they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.\r\n I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was waste and void; and the heavens, and they had no light.\r\n I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved to and fro.\r\n I beheld, and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled.\r\n I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful field was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of Jehovah, [and] before his fierce anger.\r\n For thus saith Jehovah, The whole land shall be a desolation; yet will I not make a full end.\r\n For this shall the earth mourn, and the heavens above be black; because I have spoken it, I have purposed it, and I have not repented, neither will I turn back from it.\r\n Every city fleeth for the noise of the horsemen and bowmen; they go into the thickets, and climb up upon the rocks: every city is forsaken, and not a man dwelleth therein.\r\n And thou, when thou art made desolate, what wilt thou do? Though thou clothest thyself with scarlet, though thou deckest thee with ornaments of gold, though thou enlargest thine eyes with paint, in vain dost thou make thyself fair; [thy] lovers despise thee, they seek thy life.\r\n For I have heard a voice as of a woman in travail, the anguish as of her that bringeth forth her first child, the voice of the daughter of Zion, that gaspeth for breath, that spreadeth her hands, [saying], Woe is me now! for my soul fainteth before the murderers.\r\n \r\n \r\n Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that doeth justly, that seeketh truth; and I will pardon her.\r\n And though they say, As Jehovah liveth; surely they swear falsely.\r\n O Jehovah, do not thine eyes look upon truth? thou hast stricken them, but they were not grieved; thou hast consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction: they have made their faces harder than a rock; they have refused to return.\r\n Then I said, Surely these are poor; they are foolish; for they know not the way of Jehovah, nor the law of their God:\r\n I will get me unto the great men, and will speak unto them; for they know the way of Jehovah, and the law of their God. But these with one accord have broken the yoke, and burst the bonds.\r\n Wherefore a lion out of the forest shall slay them, a wolf of the evenings shall destroy them, a leopard shall watch against their cities; every one that goeth out thence shall be torn in pieces; because their transgressions are many, [and] their backslidings are increased.\r\n How can I pardon thee? thy children have forsaken me, and sworn by them that are no gods: when I had fed them to the full, they committed adultery, and assembled themselves in troops at the harlots` houses.\r\n They were as fed horses roaming at large; every one neighed after his neighbor`s wife.\r\n Shall I not visit for these things? saith Jehovah; and shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?\r\n Go ye up upon her walls, and destroy; but make not a full end: take away her branches; for they are not Jehovah`s.\r\n For the house of Israel and the house of Judah have dealt very treacherously against me, saith Jehovah.\r\n They have denied Jehovah, and said, It is not he; neither shall evil come upon us; neither shall we see sword nor famine:\r\n and the prophets shall become wind, and the word is not in them: thus shall it be done unto them.\r\n Wherefore thus saith Jehovah, the God of hosts, Because ye speak this word, behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them.\r\n Lo, I will bring a nation upon you from far, O house of Israel, saith Jehovah: it is a mighty nation, it is an ancient nation, a nation whose language thou knowest not, neither understandest what they say.\r\n Their quiver is an open sepulchre, they are all mighty men.\r\n And they shall eat up thy harvest, and thy bread, [which] thy sons and thy daughters should eat; they shall eat up thy flocks and thy herds; they shall eat up thy vines and thy fig-trees; they shall beat down thy fortified cities, wherein thou trustest, with the sword.\r\n But even in those days, saith Jehovah, I will not make a full end with you.\r\n And it shall come to pass, when ye shall say, Wherefore hath Jehovah our God done all these things unto us? then shalt thou say unto them, Like as ye have forsaken me, and served foreign gods in your land, so shall ye serve strangers in a land that is not yours.\r\n Declare ye this in the house of Jacob, and publish it in Judah, saying,\r\n Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; that have eyes, and see not; that have ears, and hear not:\r\n Fear ye not me? saith Jehovah: will ye not tremble at my presence, who have placed the sand for the bound of the sea, by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it? and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it.\r\n But this people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone.\r\n Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear Jehovah our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in its season; that preserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest.\r\n Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good from you.\r\n For among my people are found wicked men: they watch, as fowlers lie in wait; they set a trap, they catch men.\r\n As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become great, and waxed rich.\r\n They are waxed fat, they shine: yea, they overpass in deeds of wickedness; they plead not the cause, the cause of the fatherless, that they may prosper; and the right of the needy do they not judge.\r\n Shall I not visit for these things? saith Jehovah; shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?\r\n A wonderful and horrible thing is come to pass in the land:\r\n the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?\r\n \r\n \r\n Flee for safety, ye children of Benjamin, out of the midst of Jerusalem, and blow the trumpet in Tekoa, and raise up a signal on Beth-haccherem; for evil looketh forth from the north, and a great destruction.\r\n The comely and delicate one, the daughter of Zion, will I cut off.\r\n Shepherds with their flocks shall come unto her; they shall pitch their tents against her round about; they shall feed every one in his place.\r\n Prepare ye war against her; arise, and let us go up at noon. Woe unto us! for the day declineth, for the shadows of the evening are stretched out.\r\n Arise, and let us go up by night, and let us destroy her palaces.\r\n For thus hath Jehovah of hosts said, Hew ye down trees, and cast up a mound against Jerusalem: this is the city to be visited; she is wholly oppression in the midst of her.\r\n As a well casteth forth its waters, so she casteth forth her wickedness: violence and destruction is heard in her; before me continually is sickness and wounds.\r\n Be thou instructed, O Jerusalem, lest my soul be alienated from thee; lest I make thee a desolation, a land not inhabited.\r\n Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, They shall thoroughly glean the remnant of Israel as a vine: turn again thy hand as a grape-gatherer into the baskets.\r\n To whom shall I speak and testify, that they may hear? behold, their ear is uncircumcised, and they cannot hearken: behold, the word of Jehovah is become unto them a reproach; they have no delight in it.\r\n Therefore I am full of the wrath of Jehovah; I am weary with holding in: pour it out upon the children in the street, and upon the assembly of young men together; for even the husband with the wife shall be taken, the aged with him that is full of days.\r\n And their houses shall be turned unto others, their fields and their wives together; for I will stretch out my hand upon the inhabitants of the land, saith Jehovah.\r\n For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely.\r\n They have healed also the hurt of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.\r\n Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall; at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, saith Jehovah.\r\n Thus saith Jehovah, Stand ye in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way; and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls: but they said, We will not walk [therein].\r\n And I set watchmen over you, [saying], Hearken to the sound of the trumpet; but they said, We will not hearken.\r\n Therefore hear, ye nations, and know, O congregation, what is among them.\r\n Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto my words; and as for my law, they have rejected it.\r\n To what purpose cometh there to me frankincense from Sheba, and the sweet cane from a far country? your burnt-offerings are not acceptable, nor your sacrifices pleasing unto me.\r\n Therefore thus saith Jehovah, Behold, I will lay stumbling-blocks before this people; and the fathers and the sons together shall stumble against them; the neighbor and his friend shall perish.\r\n Thus saith Jehovah, Behold, a people cometh from the north country; and a great nation shall be stirred up from the uttermost parts of the earth.\r\n They lay hold on bow and spear; they are cruel, and have no mercy; their voice roareth like the sea, and they ride upon horses, every one set in array, as a man to the battle, against thee, O daughter of Zion.\r\n We have heard the report thereof; our hands wax feeble: anguish hath taken hold of us, [and] pangs as of a woman in travail.\r\n Go not forth into the field, nor walk by the way; for the sword of the enemy, [and] terror, are on every side.\r\n O daughter of my people, gird thee with sackcloth, and wallow thyself in ashes: make thee mourning, as for an only son, most bitter lamentation; for the destroyer shall suddenly come upon us.\r\n I have made thee a trier [and] a fortress among my people; that thou mayest know and try their way.\r\n They are all grievous revolters, going about with slanders; they are brass and iron: they all of them deal corruptly.\r\n The bellows blow fiercely; the lead is consumed of the fire: in vain do they go on refining; for the wicked are not plucked away.\r\n Refuse silver shall men them, because Jehovah hath rejected them.\r\n \r\n \r\n The word that came to Jeremiah from Jehovah, saying,\r\n Stand in the gate of Jehovah`s house, and proclaim there this word, and say, Hear the word of Jehovah, all ye of Judah, that enter in at these gates to worship Jehovah.\r\n Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel, Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place.\r\n Trust ye not in lying words, saying, The temple of Jehovah, the temple of Jehovah, the temple of Jehovah, are these.\r\n For if ye thoroughly amend your ways and your doings; if ye thoroughly execute justice between a man and his neighbor;\r\n if ye oppress not the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, and shed not innocent blood in this place, neither walk after other gods to your own hurt:\r\n then will I cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers, from of old even for evermore.\r\n Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit.\r\n Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods that ye have not known,\r\n and come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, We are delivered; that ye may do all these abominations?\r\n Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, I, even I, have seen it, saith Jehovah.\r\n But go ye now unto my place which was in Shiloh, where I caused my name to dwell at the first, and see what I did to it for the wickedness of my people Israel.\r\n And now, because ye have done all these works, saith Jehovah, and I spake unto you, rising up early and speaking, but ye heard not; and I called you, but ye answered not:\r\n therefore will I do unto the house which is called by my name, wherein ye trust, and unto the place which I gave to you and to your fathers, as I did to Shiloh.\r\n And I will cast you out of my sight, as I have cast out all your brethren, even the whole seed of Ephraim.\r\n Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them, neither make intercession to me; for I will not hear thee.\r\n Seest thou not what they do in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem?\r\n The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead the dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink-offerings unto other gods, that they may provoke me to anger.\r\n Do they provoke me to anger? saith Jehovah; [do they] not [provoke] themselves, to the confusion of their own faces?\r\n Therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Behold, mine anger and my wrath shall be poured out upon this place, upon man, and upon beast, and upon the trees of the field, and upon the fruit of the ground; and it shall burn, and shall not be quenched.\r\n Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel: Add your burnt-offerings unto your sacrifices, and eat ye flesh.\r\n For I spake not unto your fathers, nor commanded them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt-offerings or sacrifices:\r\n but this thing I commanded them, saying, Hearken unto my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people; and walk ye in all the way that I command you, that it may be well with you.\r\n But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in [their own] counsels [and] in the stubbornness of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward.\r\n Since the day that your fathers came forth out of the land of Egypt unto this day, I have sent unto you all my servants the prophets, daily rising up early and sending them:\r\n yet they hearkened not unto me, nor inclined their ear, but made their neck stiff: they did worse than their fathers.\r\n And thou shalt speak all these words unto them; but they will not hearken to thee: thou shalt also call unto them; but they will not answer thee.\r\n And thou shalt say unto them, This is the nation that hath not hearkened to the voice of Jehovah their God, nor received instruction: truth is perished, and is cut off from their mouth.\r\n Cut off thy hair, [O Jerusalem], and cast it away, and take up a lamentation on the bare heights; for Jehovah hath rejected and forsaken the generation of his wrath.\r\n For the children of Judah have done that which is evil in my sight, saith Jehovah: they have set their abominations in the house which is called by my name, to defile it.\r\n And they have built the high places of Topheth, which is in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire; which I commanded not, neither came it into my mind.\r\n Therefore, behold, the days come, saith Jehovah, that it shall no more be called Topheth, nor The valley of the son of Hinnom, but The valley of Slaughter: for they shall bury in Topheth, till there be no place [to bury].\r\n And the dead bodies of this people shall be food for the birds of the heavens, and for the beasts of the earth; and none shall frighten them away.\r\n Then will I cause to cease from the cities of Judah, and from the streets of Jerusalem, the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride; for the land shall become a waste.\r\n \r\n \r\n At that time, saith Jehovah, they shall bring out the bones of the kings of Judah, and the bones of his princes, and the bones of the priests, and the bones of the prophets, and the bones of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, out of their graves;\r\n and they shall spread them before the sun, and the moon, and all the host of heaven, which they have loved, and which they have served, and after which they have walked, and which they have sought, and which they have worshipped: they shall not be gathered, nor be buried, they shall be for dung upon the face of the earth.\r\n And death shall be chosen rather than life by all the residue that remain of this evil family, that remain in all the places whither I have driven them, saith Jehovah of hosts.\r\n Moreover thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith Jehovah: Shall men fall, and not rise up again? Shall one turn away, and not return?\r\n Why then is this people of Jerusalem slidden back by a perpetual backsliding? they hold fast deceit, they refuse to return.\r\n I hearkened and heard, but they spake not aright: no man repenteth him of his wickedness, saying, What have I done? every one turneth to his course, as a horse that rusheth headlong in the battle.\r\n Yea, the stork in the heavens knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle-dove and the swallow and the crane observe the time of their coming; but my people know not the law of Jehovah.\r\n How do ye say, We are wise, and the law of Jehovah is with us? But, behold, the false pen of the scribes hath wrought falsely.\r\n The wise men are put to shame, they are dismayed and taken: lo, they have rejected the word of Jehovah; and what manner of wisdom is in them?\r\n Therefore will I give their wives unto others, and their fields to them that shall possess them: for every one from the least even unto the greatest is given to covetousness; from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely.\r\n And they have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.\r\n Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore shall they fall among them that fall; in the time of their visitation they shall be cast down, saith Jehovah.\r\n I will utterly consume them, saith Jehovah: there shall be no grapes on the vine, nor figs on the fig-tree, and the leaf shall fade; and [the things that] I have given them shall pass away from them.\r\n Why do we sit still? assemble yourselves, and let us enter into the fortified cities, and let us be silent there; for Jehovah our God hath put us to silence, and given us water of gall to drink, because we have sinned against Jehovah.\r\n We looked for peace, but no good came; [and] for a time of healing, and, behold, dismay!\r\n The snorting of his horses is heard from Dan: at the sound of the neighing of his strong ones the whole land trembleth; for they are come, and have devoured the land and all that is in it; the city and those that dwell therein.\r\n For, behold, I will send serpents, adders, among you, which will not be charmed; and they shall bite you, saith Jehovah.\r\n Oh that I could comfort myself against sorrow! my heart is faint within me.\r\n Behold, the voice of the cry of the daughter of my people from a land that is very far off: is not Jehovah in Zion? is not her King in her? Why have they provoked me to anger with their graven images, and with foreign vanities?\r\n The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.\r\n For the hurt of the daughter of my people am I hurt: I mourn; dismay hath taken hold on me.\r\n Is there no balm in Gilead? is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?\r\n \r\n \r\n Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!\r\n Oh that I had in the wilderness a lodging-place of wayfaring men; that I might leave my people, and go from them! for they are all adulterers, an assembly of treacherous men.\r\n And they bend their tongue, [as it were] their bow, for falsehood; and they are grown strong in the land, but not for truth: for they proceed from evil to evil, and they know not me, saith Jehovah.\r\n Take ye heed every one of his neighbor, and trust ye not in any brother; for every brother will utterly supplant, and every neighbor will go about with slanders.\r\n And they will deceive every one his neighbor, and will not speak the truth: they have taught their tongue to speak lies; they weary themselves to commit iniquity.\r\n Thy habitation is in the midst of deceit; through deceit they refuse to know me, saith Jehovah.\r\n Therefore thus saith Jehovah of hosts, Behold, I will melt them, and try them; for how [else] should I do, because of the daughter of my people?\r\n Their tongue is a deadly arrow; it speaketh deceit: one speaketh peaceably to his neighbor with his mouth, but in his heart he layeth wait for him.\r\n Shall I not visit them for these things? saith Jehovah; shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?\r\n For the mountains will I take up a weeping and wailing, and for the pastures of the wilderness a lamentation, because they are burned up, so that none passeth through; neither can men hear the voice of the cattle; both the birds of the heavens and the beasts are fled, they are gone.\r\n And I will make Jerusalem heaps, a dwelling-place of jackals; and I will make the cities of Judah a desolation, without inhabitant.\r\n Who is the wise man, that may understand this? and [who is] he to whom the mouth of Jehovah hath spoken, that he may declare it? wherefore is the land perished and burned up like a wilderness, so that none passeth through?\r\n And Jehovah saith, Because they have forsaken my law which I set before them, and have not obeyed my voice, neither walked therein,\r\n but have walked after the stubbornness of their own heart, and after the Baalim, which their fathers taught them;\r\n therefore thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel, Behold, I will feed them, even this people, with wormwood, and give them water of gall to drink.\r\n I will scatter them also among the nations, whom neither they nor their fathers have known; and I will send the sword after them, till I have consumed them.\r\n Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, Consider ye, and call for the mourning women, that they may come; and send for the skilful women, that they may come:\r\n and let them make haste, and take up a wailing for us, that our eyes may run down with tears, and our eyelids gush out with waters.\r\n For a voice of wailing is heard out of Zion, How are we ruined! we are greatly confounded, because we have forsaken the land, because they have cast down our dwellings.\r\n Yet hear the word of Jehovah, O ye women, and let your ear receive the word of his mouth; and teach your daughters wailing, and every one her neighbor lamentation.\r\n For death is come up into our windows, it is entered into our palaces; to cut off the children from without, [and] the young men from the streets.\r\n Speak, Thus saith Jehovah, The dead bodies of men shall fall as dung upon the open field, and as the handful after the harvestman; and none shall gather [them].\r\n Thus saith Jehovah, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches;\r\n but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he hath understanding, and knoweth me, that I am Jehovah who exerciseth lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith Jehovah.\r\n Behold, the days come, saith Jehovah, that I will punish all them that are circumcised in [their] uncircumcision:\r\n Egypt, and Judah, and Edom, and the children of Ammon, and Moab, and all that have the corners [of their hair] cut off, that dwell in the wilderness; for all the nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in heart.\r\n \r\n \r\n Hear ye the word which Jehovah speaketh unto you, O house of Israel:\r\n thus saith Jehovah, Learn not the way of the nations, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the nations are dismayed at them.\r\n For the customs of the peoples are vanity; for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman with the axe.\r\n They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.\r\n They are like a palm-tree, of turned work, and speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither is it in them to do good.\r\n There is none like unto thee, O Jehovah; thou art great, and thy name is great in might.\r\n Who should not fear thee, O King of the nations? for to thee doth it appertain; forasmuch as among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their royal estate, there is none like unto thee.\r\n But they are together brutish and foolish: the instruction of idols! it is but a stock.\r\n There is silver beaten into plates, which is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz, the work of the artificer and of the hands of the goldsmith; blue and purple for their clothing; they are all the work of skilful men.\r\n But Jehovah is the true God; he is the living God, and an everlasting King: at his wrath the earth trembleth, and the nations are not able to abide his indignation.\r\n Thus shall ye say unto them, The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, these shall perish from the earth, and from under the heavens.\r\n He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding hath he stretched out the heavens:\r\n when he uttereth his voice, there is a tumult of waters in the heavens, and he causeth the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings for the rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasuries.\r\n Every man is become brutish [and is] without knowledge; every goldsmith is put to shame by his graven image; for his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them.\r\n They are vanity, a work of delusion: in the time of their visitation they shall perish.\r\n The portion of Jacob is not like these; for he is the former of all things; and Israel is the tribe of his inheritance: Jehovah of hosts is his name.\r\n Gather up thy wares out of the land, O thou that abidest in the siege.\r\n For thus saith Jehovah, Behold, I will sling out the inhabitants of the land at this time, and will distress them, that they may feel [it].\r\n Woe is me because of my hurt! my wound is grievous: but I said, Truly this is [my] grief, and I must bear it.\r\n My tent is destroyed, and all my cords are broken: my children are gone forth from me, and they are not: there is none to spread my tent any more, and to set up my curtains.\r\n For the shepherds are become brutish, and have not inquired of Jehovah: therefore they have not prospered, and all their flocks are scattered.\r\n The voice of tidings, behold, it cometh, and a great commotion out of the north country, to make the cities of Judah a desolation, a dwelling-place of jackals.\r\n O Jehovah, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.\r\n O Jehovah, correct me, but in measure: not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing.\r\n Pour out thy wrath upon the nations that know thee not, and upon the families that call not on thy name: for they have devoured Jacob, yea, they have devoured him and consumed him, and have laid waste his habitation.\r\n \r\n \r\n The word that came to Jeremiah from Jehovah, saying,\r\n Hear ye the words of this covenant, and speak unto the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem;\r\n and say thou unto them, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel: Cursed be the man that heareth not the words of this covenant,\r\n which I commanded your fathers in the day that I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, out of the iron furnace, saying, Obey my voice, and do them, according to all which I command you: so shall ye be my people, and I will be your God;\r\n that I may establish the oath which I sware unto your fathers, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey, as at this day. Then answered I, and said, Amen, O Jehovah.\r\n And Jehovah said unto me, Proclaim all these words in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, saying, Hear ye the words of this covenant, and do them.\r\n For I earnestly protested unto your fathers in the day that I brought them up out of the land of Egypt, even unto this day, rising early and protesting, saying, Obey my voice.\r\n Yet they obeyed not, nor inclined their ear, but walked every one in the stubbornness of their evil heart: therefore I brought upon them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do, but they did them not.\r\n And Jehovah said unto me, A conspiracy is found among the men of Judah, and among the inhabitants of Jerusalem.\r\n They are turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers, who refused to hear my words; and they are gone after other gods to serve them: the house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken my covenant which I made with their fathers.\r\n Therefore thus saith Jehovah, Behold, I will bring evil upon them, which they shall not be able to escape; and they shall cry unto me, but I will not hearken unto them.\r\n Then shall the cities of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem go and cry unto the gods unto which they offer incense: but they will not save them at all in the time of their trouble.\r\n For according to the number of thy cities are thy gods, O Judah; and according to the number of the streets of Jerusalem have ye set up altars to the shameful thing, even altars to burn incense unto Baal.\r\n Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them; for I will not hear them in the time that they cry unto me because of their trouble.\r\n What hath my beloved to do in my house, seeing she hath wrought lewdness [with] many, and the holy flesh is passed from thee? when thou doest evil, then thou rejoicest.\r\n Jehovah called thy name, A green olive-tree, fair with goodly fruit: with the noise of a great tumult he hath kindled fire upon it, and the branches of it are broken.\r\n For Jehovah of hosts, who planted thee, hath pronounced evil against thee, because of the evil of the house of Israel and of the house of Judah, which they have wrought for themselves in provoking me to anger by offering incense unto Baal.\r\n And Jehovah gave me knowledge of it, and I knew it: then thou showedst me their doings.\r\n But I was like a gentle lamb that is led to the slaughter; and I knew not that they had devised devices against me, [saying], Let us destroy the tree with the fruit thereof, and let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name may be no more remembered.\r\n But, O Jehovah of hosts, who judgest righteously, who triest the heart and the mind, I shall see thy vengeance on them; for unto thee have I revealed my cause.\r\n Therefore thus saith Jehovah concerning the men of Anathoth, that seek thy life, saying, Thou shalt not prophesy in the name of Jehovah, that thou die not by our hand;\r\n therefore thus saith Jehovah of hosts, Behold, I will punish them: the young men shall die by the sword; their sons and their daughters shall die by famine;\r\n and there shall be no remnant unto them: for I will bring evil upon the men of Anathoth, even the year of their visitation.\r\n \r\n \r\n Righteous art thou, O Jehovah, when I contend with thee; yet would I reason the cause with thee: wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper? wherefore are all they at ease that deal very treacherously?\r\n Thou hast planted them, yea, they have taken root; they grow, yea, they bring forth fruit: thou art near in their mouth, and far from their heart.\r\n But thou, O Jehovah, knowest me; thou seest me, and triest my heart toward thee: pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and prepare them for the day of slaughter.\r\n How long shall the land mourn, and the herbs of the whole country wither? for the wickedness of them that dwell therein, the beasts are consumed, and the birds; because they said, He shall not see our latter end.\r\n If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and though in a land of peace thou art secure, yet how wilt thou do in the pride of the Jordan?\r\n For even thy brethren, and the house of thy father, even they have dealt treacherously with thee; even they have cried aloud after thee: believe them not, though they speak fair words unto thee.\r\n I have forsaken my house, I have cast off my heritage; I have given the dearly beloved of my soul into the hand of her enemies.\r\n My heritage is become unto me as a lion in the forest: she hath uttered her voice against me; therefore I have hated her.\r\n Is my heritage unto me as a speckled bird of prey? are the birds of prey against her round about? go ye, assemble all the beasts of the field, bring them to devour.\r\n Many shepherds have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness.\r\n They have made it a desolation; it mourneth unto me, being desolate; the whole land is made desolate, because no man layeth it to heart.\r\n Destroyers are come upon all the bare heights in the wilderness; for the sword of Jehovah devoureth from the one end of the land even to the other end of the land: no flesh hath peace.\r\n They have sown wheat, and have reaped thorns; they have put themselves to pain, and profit nothing: and ye shall be ashamed of your fruits, because of the fierce anger of Jehovah.\r\n Thus saith Jehovah against all mine evil neighbors, that touch the inheritance which I have caused my people Israel to inherit: behold, I will pluck them up from off their land, and will pluck up the house of Judah from among them.\r\n And it shall come to pass, after that I have plucked them up, I will return and have compassion on them; and I will bring them again, every man to his heritage, and every man to his land.\r\n And it shall come to pass, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name, As Jehovah liveth; even as they taught my people to swear by Baal; then shall they be built up in the midst of my people.\r\n But if they will not hear, then will I pluck up that nation, plucking up and destroying it, saith Jehovah.\r\n \r\n \r\n Thus saith Jehovah unto me, Go, and buy thee a linen girdle, and put it upon thy loins, and put it not in water.\r\n So I bought a girdle according to the word of Jehovah, and put it upon my loins.\r\n And the word of Jehovah came unto me the second time, saying,\r\n Take the girdle that thou hast bought, which is upon thy loins, and arise, go to the Euphrates, and hide it there in a cleft of the rock.\r\n So I went, and hid it by the Euphrates, as Jehovah commanded me.\r\n And it came to pass after many days, that Jehovah said unto me, Arise, go to the Euphrates, and take the girdle from thence, which I commanded thee to hide there.\r\n Then I went to the Euphrates, and digged, and took the girdle from the place where I had hid it; and, behold, the girdle was marred, it was profitable for nothing.\r\n Then the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,\r\n Thus saith Jehovah, After this manner will I mar the pride of Judah, and the great pride of Jerusalem.\r\n This evil people, that refuse to hear my words, that walk in the stubbornness of their heart, and are gone after other gods to serve them, and to worship them, shall even be as this girdle, which is profitable for nothing.\r\n For as the girdle cleaveth to the loins of a man, so have I caused to cleave unto me the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah, saith Jehovah; that they may be unto me for a people, and for a name, and for a praise, and for a glory: but they would not hear.\r\n Therefore thou shalt speak unto them this word: Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, Every bottle shall be filled with wine: and they shall say unto thee, Do we not certainly know that every bottle shall be filled with wine?\r\n Then shalt thou say unto them, Thus saith Jehovah, Behold, I will fill all the inhabitants of this land, even the kings that sit upon David`s throne, and the priests, and the prophets, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, with drunkenness.\r\n And I will dash them one against another, even the fathers and the sons together, saith Jehovah: I will not pity, nor spare, nor have compassion, that I should not destroy them.\r\n Hear ye, and give ear; be not proud; for Jehovah hath spoken.\r\n Give glory to Jehovah your God, before he cause darkness, and before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains, and, while ye look for light, he turn it into the shadow of death, and make it gross darkness.\r\n But if ye will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret for [your] pride; and mine eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because Jehovah`s flock is taken captive.\r\n Say thou unto the king and to the queen-mother, Humble yourselves, sit down; for your headtires are come down, even the crown of your glory.\r\n The cities of the South are shut up, and there is none to open them: Judah is carried away captive, all of it; it is wholly carried away captive.\r\n Lift up your eyes, and behold them that come from the north: where is the flock that was given thee, thy beautiful flock?\r\n What wilt thou say, when he shall set over thee as head those whom thou hast thyself taught to be friends to thee? shall not sorrows take hold of thee, as of a woman in travail?\r\n And if thou say in thy heart, Wherefore are these things come upon me? for the greatness of thine iniquity are thy skirts uncovered, and thy heels suffer violence.\r\n Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.\r\n Therefore will I scatter them, as the stubble that passeth away, by the wind of the wilderness.\r\n This is thy lot, the portion measured unto thee from me, saith Jehovah; because thou hast forgotten me, and trusted in falsehood.\r\n Therefore will I also uncover thy skirts upon thy face, and thy shame shall appear.\r\n I have seen thine abominations, even thine adulteries, and thy neighings, the lewdness of thy whoredom, on the hills in the field. Woe unto thee, O Jerusalem! thou wilt not be made clean; how long shall it yet be?\r\n \r\n \r\n The word of Jehovah that came to Jeremiah concerning the drought.\r\n Judah mourneth, and the gates thereof languish, they sit in black upon the ground; and the cry of Jerusalem is gone up.\r\n And their nobles send their little ones to the waters: they come to the cisterns, and find no water; they return with their vessels empty; they are put to shame and confounded, and cover their heads.\r\n Because of the ground which is cracked, for that no rain hath been in the land, the plowmen are put to shame, they cover their heads.\r\n Yea, the hind also in the field calveth, and forsaketh [her young], because there is no grass.\r\n And the wild asses stand on the bare heights, they pant for air like jackals; their eyes fail, because there is no herbage.\r\n Though our iniquities testify against us, work thou for thy name`s sake, O Jehovah; for our backslidings are many; we have sinned against thee.\r\n O thou hope of Israel, the Saviour thereof in the time of trouble, why shouldest thou be as a sojourner in the land, and as a wayfaring man that turneth aside to tarry for a night?\r\n Why shouldest thou be as a man affrighted, as a mighty man that cannot save? yet thou, O Jehovah, art in the midst of us, and we are called by thy name; leave us not.\r\n Thus saith Jehovah unto this people, Even so have they loved to wander; they have not refrained their feet: therefore Jehovah doth not accept them; now will he remember their iniquity, and visit their sins.\r\n And Jehovah said unto me, Pray not for this people for [their] good.\r\n When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and when they offer burnt-offering and meal-offering, I will not accept them; but I will consume them by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence.\r\n Then said I, Ah, Lord Jehovah! behold, the prophets say unto them, Ye shall not see the sword, neither shall ye have famine; but I will give you assured peace in this place.\r\n Then Jehovah said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name; I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake I unto them: they prophesy unto you a lying vision, and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their own heart.\r\n Therefore thus saith Jehovah concerning the prophets that prophesy in my name, and I sent them not, yet they say, Sword and famine shall not be in this land: By sword and famine shall those prophets be consumed.\r\n And the people to whom they prophesy shall be cast out in the streets of Jerusalem because of the famine and the sword; and they shall have none to bury them-them, their wives, nor their sons, nor their daughters: for I will pour their wickedness upon them.\r\n And thou shalt say this word unto them, Let mine eyes run down with tears night and day, and let them not cease; for the virgin daughter of my people is broken with a great breach, with a very grievous wound.\r\n If I go forth into the field, then, behold, the slain with the sword! and if I enter into the city, then, behold, they that are sick with famine! for both the prophet and the priest go about in the land, and have no knowledge.\r\n Hast thou utterly rejected Judah? hath thy soul loathed Zion? why hast thou smitten us, and there is no healing for us? We looked for peace, but no good came; and for a time of healing, and, behold, dismay!\r\n We acknowledge, O Jehovah, our wickedness, and the iniquity of our fathers; for we have sinned against thee.\r\n Do not abhor [us], for thy name`s sake; do not disgrace the throne of thy glory: remember, break not thy covenant with us.\r\n Are there any among the vanities of the nations that can cause rain? or can the heavens give showers? art not thou he, O Jehovah our God? therefore we will wait for thee; for thou hast made all these things.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then said Jehovah unto me, Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet my mind would not be toward this people: cast them out of my sight, and let them go forth.\r\n And it shall come to pass, when they say unto thee, Whither shall we go forth? then thou shalt tell them, Thus saith Jehovah: Such as are for death, to death; and such as are for the sword, to the sword; and such as are for the famine, to the famine; and such as are for captivity, to captivity.\r\n And I will appoint over them four kinds, saith Jehovah: the sword to slay, and the dogs to tear, and the birds of the heavens, and the beasts of the earth, to devour and to destroy.\r\n And I will cause them to be tossed to and fro among all the kingdoms of the earth, because of Manasseh, the son of Hezekiah, king of Judah, for that which he did in Jerusalem.\r\n For who will have pity upon thee, O Jerusalem? or who will bemoan thee? or who will turn aside to ask of thy welfare?\r\n Thou hast rejected me, saith Jehovah, thou art gone backward: therefore have I stretched out my hand against thee, and destroyed thee; I am weary with repenting.\r\n And I have winnowed them with a fan in the gates of the land; I have bereaved [them] of children, I have destroyed my people; they returned not from their ways.\r\n Their widows are increased to me above the sand of the seas; I have brought upon them against the mother of the young men a destroyer at noonday: I have caused anguish and terrors to fall upon her suddenly.\r\n She that hath borne seven languisheth; she hath given up the ghost; her sun is gone down while it was yet day; she hath been put to shame and confounded: and the residue of them will I deliver to the sword before their enemies, saith Jehovah.\r\n Woe is me, my mother, that thou hast borne me a man of strife and a man of contention to the whole earth! I have not lent, neither have men lent to me; [yet] every one of them doth curse me.\r\n Jehovah said, Verily I will strengthen thee for good; verily I will cause the enemy to make supplication unto thee in the time of evil and in the time of affliction.\r\n Can one break iron, even iron from the north, and brass?\r\n Thy substance and thy treasures will I give for a spoil without price, and that for all thy sins, even in all thy borders.\r\n And I will make [them] to pass with thine enemies into a land which thou knowest not; for a fire is kindled in mine anger, which shall burn upon you.\r\n O Jehovah, thou knowest; remember me, and visit me, and avenge me of my persecutors; take me not away in thy longsuffering: know that for thy sake I have suffered reproach.\r\n Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy words were unto me a joy and the rejoicing of my heart: for I am called by thy name, O Jehovah, God of hosts.\r\n I sat not in the assembly of them that make merry, nor rejoiced; I sat alone because of thy hand; for thou hast filled me with indignation.\r\n Why is my pain perpetual, and my wound incurable, which refuseth to be healed? wilt thou indeed be unto me as a deceitful [brook], as waters that fail?\r\n Therefore thus saith Jehovah, If thou return, then will I bring thee again, that thou mayest stand before me; and if thou take forth the precious from the vile, thou shalt be as my mouth: they shall return unto thee, but thou shalt not return unto them.\r\n And I will make thee unto this people a fortified brazen wall; and they shall fight against thee, but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee to save thee and to deliver thee, saith Jehovah.\r\n And I will deliver thee out of the hand of the wicked, and I will redeem thee out of the hand of the terrible.\r\n \r\n \r\n The word of Jehovah came also unto me, saying,\r\n Thou shalt not take thee a wife, neither shalt thou have sons or daughters, in this place.\r\n For thus saith Jehovah concerning the sons and concerning the daughters that are born in this place, and concerning their mothers that bare them, and concerning their fathers that begat them in this land:\r\n They shall die grievous deaths: they shall not be lamented, neither shall they be buried; they shall be as dung upon the face of the ground; and they shall be consumed by the sword, and by famine; and their dead bodies shall be food for the birds of the heavens, and for the beasts of the earth.\r\n For thus saith Jehovah, Enter not into the house of mourning, neither go to lament, neither bemoan them; for I have taken away my peace from this people, saith Jehovah, even lovingkindness and tender mercies.\r\n Both great and small shall die in this land; they shall not be buried, neither shall men lament for them, nor cut themselves, nor make themselves bald for them;\r\n neither shall men break [bread] for them in mourning, to comfort them for the dead; neither shall men give them the cup of consolation to drink for their father or for their mother.\r\n And thou shalt not go into the house of feasting to sit with them, to eat and to drink.\r\n For thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I will cause to cease out of this place, before your eyes and in your days, the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride.\r\n And it shall come to pass, when thou shalt show this people all these words, and they shall say unto thee, Wherefore hath Jehovah pronounced all this great evil against us? or what is our iniquity? or what is our sin that we have committed against Jehovah our God?\r\n Then shalt thou say unto them, Because your fathers have forsaken me, saith Jehovah, and have walked after other gods, and have served them, and have worshipped them, and have forsaken me, and have not kept my law;\r\n and ye have done evil more than your fathers; for, behold, ye walk every one after the stubbornness of his evil heart, so that ye hearken not unto me:\r\n therefore will I cast you forth out of this land into the land that ye have not known, neither ye nor your fathers; and there shall ye serve other gods day and night; for I will show you no favor.\r\n Therefore, behold, the days come, saith Jehovah, that it shall no more be said, As Jehovah liveth, that brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt;\r\n but, As Jehovah liveth, that brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north, and from all the countries whither he had driven them. And I will bring them again into their land that I gave unto their fathers.\r\n Behold, I will send for many fishers, saith Jehovah, and they shall fish them up; and afterward I will send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the clefts of the rocks.\r\n For mine eyes are upon all their ways; they are not hid from my face, neither is their iniquity concealed from mine eyes.\r\n And first I will recompense their iniquity and their sin double, because they have polluted my land with the carcasses of their detestable things, and have filled mine inheritance with their abominations.\r\n O Jehovah, my strength, and my stronghold, and my refuge in the day of affliction, unto thee shall the nations come from the ends of the earth, and shall say, Our fathers have inherited nought but lies, [even] vanity and things wherein there is no profit.\r\n Shall a man make unto himself gods, which yet are no gods?\r\n Therefore, behold, I will cause them to know, this once will I cause them to know my hand and my might; and they shall know that my name is Jehovah.\r\n \r\n \r\n The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron, [and] with the point of a diamond: it is graven upon the tablet of their heart, and upon the horns of your altars;\r\n whilst their children remember their altars and their Asherim by the green trees upon the high hills.\r\n O my mountain in the field, I will give thy substance and all thy treasures for a spoil, [and] thy high places, because of sin, throughout all thy borders.\r\n And thou, even of thyself, shalt discontinue from thy heritage that I gave thee; and I will cause thee to serve thine enemies in the land which thou knowest not: for ye have kindled a fire in mine anger which shall burn for ever.\r\n Thus saith Jehovah: Cursed is the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from Jehovah.\r\n For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh, but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, a salt land and not inhabited.\r\n Blessed is the man that trusteth in Jehovah, and whose trust Jehovah is.\r\n For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, that spreadeth out its roots by the river, and shall not fear when heat cometh, but its leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.\r\n The heart is deceitful above all things, and it is exceedingly corrupt: who can know it?\r\n I, Jehovah, search the mind, I try the heart, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.\r\n As the partridge that sitteth on [eggs] which she hath not laid, so is he that getteth riches, and not by right; in the midst of his days they shall leave him, and at his end he shall be a fool.\r\n A glorious throne, [set] on high from the beginning, is the place of our sanctuary.\r\n O Jehovah, the hope of Israel, all that forsake thee shall be put to shame. They that depart from me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken Jehovah, the fountain of living waters.\r\n Heal me, O Jehovah, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise.\r\n Behold, they say unto me, Where is the word of Jehovah? let it come now.\r\n As for me, I have not hastened from being a shepherd after thee; neither have I desired the woeful day; thou knowest: that which came out of my lips was before thy face.\r\n Be not a terror unto me: thou art my refuge in the day of evil.\r\n Let them be put to shame that persecute me, but let not me be put to shame; let them be dismayed, but let not me be dismayed; bring upon them the day of evil, and destroy them with double destruction.\r\n Thus said Jehovah unto me: Go, and stand in the gate of the children of the people, whereby the kings of Judah come in, and by which they go out, and in all the gates of Jerusalem;\r\n and say unto them, Hear ye the word of Jehovah, ye kings of Judah, and all Judah, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, that enter in by these gates:\r\n Thus saith Jehovah, Take heed to yourselves, and bear no burden on the sabbath day, nor bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem;\r\n neither carry forth a burden out of your houses on the sabbath day, neither do ye any work: but hallow ye the sabbath day, as I commanded your fathers.\r\n But they hearkened not, neither inclined their ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not hear, and might not receive instruction.\r\n And it shall come to pass, if ye diligently hearken unto me, saith Jehovah, to bring in no burden through the gates of this city on the sabbath day, but to hallow the sabbath day, to do no work therein;\r\n then shall there enter in by the gates of this city kings and princes sitting upon the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, they, and their princes, the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and this city shall remain for ever.\r\n And they shall come from the cities of Judah, and from the places round about Jerusalem, and from the land of Benjamin, and from the lowland, and from the hill-country, and from the South, bringing burnt-offerings, and sacrifices, and meal-offerings, and frankincense, and bringing [sacrifices of] thanksgiving, unto the house of Jehovah.\r\n But if ye will not hearken unto me to hallow the sabbath day, and not to bear a burden and enter in at the gates of Jerusalem on the sabbath day; then will I kindle a fire in the gates thereof, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched.\r\n \r\n \r\n The word which came to Jeremiah from Jehovah, saying,\r\n Arise, and go down to the potter`s house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words.\r\n Then I went down to the potter`s house, and, behold, he was making a work on the wheels.\r\n And when the vessel that he made of the clay was marred in the hand of the potter, he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.\r\n Then the word of Jehovah came to me, saying,\r\n O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith Jehovah. Behold, as the clay in the potter`s hand, so are ye in my hand, O house of Israel.\r\n At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up and to break down and to destroy it;\r\n if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.\r\n And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it;\r\n if they do that which is evil in my sight, that they obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them.\r\n Now therefore, speak to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith Jehovah: Behold, I frame evil against you, and devise a device against you: return ye now every one from his evil way, and amend your ways and your doings.\r\n But they say, It is in vain; for we will walk after our own devices, and we will do every one after the stubbornness of his evil heart.\r\n Therefore thus saith Jehovah: Ask ye now among the nations, who hath heard such things; the virgin of Israel hath done a very horrible thing.\r\n Shall the snow of Lebanon fail from the rock of the field? [or] shall the cold waters that flow down from afar be dried up?\r\n For my people have forgotten me, they have burned incense to false [gods]; and they have been made to stumble in their ways, in the ancient paths, to walk in bypaths, in a way not cast up;\r\n to make their land an astonishment, and a perpetual hissing; every one that passeth thereby shall be astonished, and shake his head.\r\n I will scatter them as with an east wind before the enemy; I will show them the back, and not the face, in the day of their calamity.\r\n Then said they, Come, and let us devise devices against Jeremiah; for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, and let us smite him with the tongue, and let us not give heed to any of his words.\r\n Give heed to me, O Jehovah, and hearken to the voice of them that contend with me.\r\n Shall evil be recompensed for good? for they have digged a pit for my soul. Remember how I stood before thee to speak good for them, to turn away thy wrath from them.\r\n Therefore deliver up their children to the famine, and give them over to the power of the sword; and let their wives become childless, and widows; and let their men be slain of death, [and] their young men smitten of the sword in battle.\r\n Let a cry be heard from their houses, when thou shalt bring a troop suddenly upon them; for they have digged a pit to take me, and hid snares for my feet.\r\n Yet, Jehovah, thou knowest all their counsel against me to slay me; forgive not their iniquity, neither blot out their sin from thy sight; but let them be overthrown before thee; deal thou with them in the time of thine anger.\r\n \r\n \r\n Thus said Jehovah, Go, and buy a potter`s earthen bottle, and [take] of the elders of the people, and of the elders of the priests;\r\n and go forth unto the valley of the son of Hinnom, which is by the entry of the gate Harsith, and proclaim there the words that I shall tell thee;\r\n and say, Hear ye the word of Jehovah, O kings of Judah, and inhabitants of Jerusalem: thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, which whosoever heareth, his ears shall tingle.\r\n Because they have forsaken me, and have estranged this place, and have burned incense in it unto other gods, that they knew not, they and their fathers and the kings of Judah; and have filled this place with the blood of innocents,\r\n and have built the high places of Baal, to burn their sons in the fire for burnt-offerings unto Baal; which I commanded not, nor spake it, neither came it into my mind:\r\n therefore, behold, the days come, saith Jehovah, that this place shall no more be called Topheth, nor The valley of the son of Hinnom, but The valley of Slaughter.\r\n And I will make void the counsel of Judah and Jerusalem in this place; and I will cause them to fall by the sword before their enemies, and by the hand of them that seek their life: and their dead bodies will I give to be food for the birds of the heavens, and for the beasts of the earth.\r\n And I will make this city an astonishment, and a hissing; every one that passeth thereby shall be astonished and hiss because of all the plagues thereof.\r\n And I will cause them to eat the flesh of their sons and the flesh of their daughters; and they shall eat every one the flesh of his friend, in the siege and in the distress, wherewith their enemies, and they that seek their life, shall distress them.\r\n Then shalt thou break the bottle in the sight of the men that go with thee,\r\n and shalt say unto them, Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: Even so will I break this people and this city, as one breaketh a potter`s vessel, that cannot be made whole again; and they shall bury in Topheth, till there be no place to bury.\r\n Thus will I do unto this place, saith Jehovah, and to the inhabitants thereof, even making this city as Topheth:\r\n and the houses of Jerusalem, and the houses of the kings of Judah, which are defiled, shall be as the place of Topheth, even all the houses upon whose roofs they have burned incense unto all the host of heaven, and have poured out drink-offerings unto other gods.\r\n Then came Jeremiah from Topheth, whither Jehovah had sent him to prophesy; and he stood in the court of Jehovah`s house, and said to all the people:\r\n Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel, Behold, I will bring upon this city and upon all its towns all the evil that I have pronounced against it; because they have made their neck stiff, that they may not hear my words.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now Pashhur, the son of Immer the priest, who was chief officer in the house of Jehovah, heard Jeremiah prophesying these things.\r\n Then Pashhur smote Jeremiah the prophet, and put him in the stocks that were in the upper gate of Benjamin, which was in the house of Jehovah.\r\n And it came to pass on the morrow, that Pashhur brought forth Jeremiah out of the stocks. Then said Jeremiah unto him, Jehovah hath not called thy name Pashhur, but Magor-missabib.\r\n For thus saith Jehovah, Behold, I will make thee a terror to thyself, and to all thy friends; and they shall fall by the sword of their enemies, and thine eyes shall behold it; and I will give all Judah into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall carry them captive to Babylon, and shall slay them with the sword.\r\n Moreover I will give all the riches of this city, and all the gains thereof, and all the precious things thereof, yea, all the treasures of the kings of Judah will I give into the hand of their enemies; and they shall make them a prey, and take them, and carry them to Babylon.\r\n And thou, Pashhur, and all that dwell in thy house shall go into captivity; and thou shalt come to Babylon, and there thou shalt die, and there shalt thou be buried, thou, and all thy friends, to whom thou hast prophesied falsely.\r\n O Jehovah, thou hast persuaded me, and I was persuaded; thou art stronger than I, and hast prevailed: I am become a laughing-stock all the day, every one mocketh me.\r\n For as often as I speak, I cry out; I cry, Violence and destruction! because the word of Jehovah is made a reproach unto me, and a derision, all the day.\r\n And if I say, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name, then there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with forbearing, and I cannot [contain].\r\n For I have heard the defaming of many, terror on every side. Denounce, and we will denounce him, [say] all my familiar friends, they that watch for my fall; peradventure he will be persuaded, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him.\r\n But Jehovah is with me as a mighty one [and] a terrible: therefore my persecutors shall stumble, and they shall not prevail; they shall be utterly put to shame, because they have not dealt wisely, even with an everlasting dishonor which shall never be forgotten.\r\n But, O Jehovah of hosts, that triest the righteous, that seest the heart and the mind, let me see thy vengeance on them; for unto thee have I revealed my cause.\r\n Sing unto Jehovah, praise ye Jehovah; for he hath delivered the soul of the needy from the hand of evil-doers.\r\n Cursed be the day wherein I was born: let not the day wherein my mother bare me be blessed.\r\n Cursed be the man who brought tidings to my father, saying, A man-child is born unto thee; making him very glad.\r\n And let that man be as the cities which Jehovah overthrew, and repented not: and let him hear a cry in the morning, and shouting at noontime;\r\n because he slew me not from the womb; and so my mother would have been my grave, and her womb always great.\r\n Wherefore came I forth out of the womb to see labor and sorrow, that my days should be consumed with shame?\r\n \r\n \r\n The word which came unto Jeremiah from Jehovah, when king Zedekiah sent unto him Pashhur the son of Malchijah, and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah, the priest, saying,\r\n Inquire, I pray thee, of Jehovah for us; for Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon maketh war against us: peradventure Jehovah will deal with us according to all his wondrous works, that he may go up from us.\r\n Then said Jeremiah unto them, Thus shall ye say to Zedekiah:\r\n Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, Behold, I will turn back the weapons of war that are in your hands, wherewith ye fight against the king of Babylon, and against the Chaldeans that besiege you, without the walls; and I will gather them into the midst of this city.\r\n And I myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and with a strong arm, even in anger, and in wrath, and in great indignation.\r\n And I will smite the inhabitants of this city, both man and beast: they shall die of a great pestilence.\r\n And afterward, saith Jehovah, I will deliver Zedekiah king of Judah, and his servants, and the people, even such as are left in this city from the pestilence, from the sword, and from the famine, into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of those that seek their life: and he shall smite them with the edge of the sword; he shall not spare them, neither have pity, nor have mercy.\r\n And unto this people thou shalt say, Thus saith Jehovah: Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death.\r\n He that abideth in this city shall die by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence; but he that goeth out, and passeth over to the Chaldeans that besiege you, he shall live, and his life shall be unto him for a prey.\r\n For I have set my face upon this city for evil, and not for good, saith Jehovah: it shall be given into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall burn it with fire.\r\n And touching the house of the king of Judah, hear ye the word of Jehovah:\r\n O house of David, thus saith Jehovah, Execute justice in the morning, and deliver him that is robbed out of the hand of the oppressor, lest my wrath go forth like fire, and burn so that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings.\r\n Behold, I am against thee, O inhabitant of the valley, [and] of the rock of the plain, saith Jehovah; you that say, Who shall come down against us? or who shall enter into our habitations?\r\n And I will punish you according to the fruit of your doings, saith Jehovah; and I will kindle a fire in her forest, and it shall devour all that is round about her.\r\n \r\n \r\n Thus said Jehovah: Go down to the house of the king of Judah, and speak there this word,\r\n And say, Hear the word of Jehovah, O king of Judah, that sittest upon the throne of David, thou, and thy servants, and thy people that enter in by these gates.\r\n Thus saith Jehovah: Execute ye justice and righteousness, and deliver him that is robbed out of the hand of the oppressor: and do no wrong, do no violence, to the sojourner, the fatherless, nor the widow; neither shed innocent blood in this place.\r\n For if ye do this thing indeed, then shall there enter in by the gates of this house kings sitting upon the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, he, and his servants, and his people.\r\n But if ye will not hear these words, I swear by myself, saith Jehovah, that this house shall become a desolation.\r\n For thus saith Jehovah concerning the house of the king of Judah: Thou art Gilead unto me, [and] the head of Lebanon; [yet] surely I will make thee a wilderness, [and] cities which are not inhabited.\r\n And I will prepare destroyers against thee, every one with his weapons; and they shall cut down thy choice cedars, and cast them into the fire.\r\n And many nations shall pass by this city, and they shall say every man to his neighbor, Wherefore hath Jehovah done thus unto this great city?\r\n Then they shall answer, Because they forsook the covenant of Jehovah their God, and worshipped other gods, and served them.\r\n Weep ye not for the dead, neither bemoan him; but weep sore for him that goeth away; for he shall return no more, nor see his native country.\r\n For thus saith Jehovah touching Shallum the son of Josiah, king of Judah, who reigned instead of Josiah his father, [and] who went forth out of this place: He shall not return thither any more.\r\n But in the place whither they have led him captive, there shall he die, and he shall see this land no more.\r\n Woe unto him that buildeth his house by unrighteousness, and his chambers by injustice; that useth his neighbor`s service without wages, and giveth him not his hire;\r\n that saith, I will build me a wide house and spacious chambers, and cutteth him out windows; and it is ceiled with cedar, and painted with vermilion.\r\n Shalt thou reign, because thou strivest to excel in cedar? Did not thy father eat and drink, and do justice and righteousness? then it was well with him.\r\n He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well. Was not this to know me? saith Jehovah.\r\n But thine eyes and thy heart are not but for thy covetousness, and for shedding innocent blood, and for oppression, and for violence, to do it.\r\n Therefore thus saith Jehovah concerning Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah: they shall not lament for him, [saying], Ah my brother! or, Ah sister! They shall not lament for him, [saying] Ah lord! or, Ah his glory!\r\n He shall be buried with the burial of an ass, drawn and cast forth beyond the gates of Jerusalem.\r\n Go up to Lebanon, and cry; and lift up thy voice in Bashan, and cry from Abarim; for all thy lovers are destroyed.\r\n I spake unto thee in thy prosperity; but thou saidst, I will not hear. This hath been thy manner from thy youth, that thou obeyedst not my voice.\r\n The wind shall feed all thy shepherds, and thy lovers shall go into captivity: surely then shalt thou be ashamed and confounded for all thy wickedness.\r\n O inhabitant of Lebanon, that makest thy nest in the cedars, how greatly to be pitied shalt thou be when pangs come upon thee, the pain as of a woman in travail!\r\n As I live, saith Jehovah, though Coniah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah were the signet upon my right hand, yet would I pluck thee thence;\r\n and I will give thee into the hand of them that seek thy life, and into the hand of them of whom thou art afraid, even into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of the Chaldeans.\r\n And I will cast thee out, and thy mother that bare thee, into another country, where ye were not born; and there shall ye die.\r\n But to the land whereunto their soul longeth to return, thither shall they not return.\r\n Is this man Coniah a despised broken vessel? is he a vessel wherein none delighteth? wherefore are they cast out, he and his seed, and are cast into the land which they know not?\r\n O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of Jehovah.\r\n Thus saith Jehovah, Write ye this man childless, a man that shall not prosper in his days; for no more shall a man of his seed prosper, sitting upon the throne of David, and ruling in Judah.\r\n \r\n \r\n Woe unto the shepherds that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith Jehovah.\r\n Therefore thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, against the shepherds that feed my people: Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them; behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith Jehovah.\r\n And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and multiply.\r\n And I will set up shepherds over them, who shall feed them; and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall any be lacking, saith Jehovah.\r\n Behold, the days come, saith Jehovah, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.\r\n In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely; and this is his name whereby he shall be called: Jehovah our righteousness.\r\n Therefore, behold, the days come, saith Jehovah, that they shall no more say, As Jehovah liveth, who brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt;\r\n but, As Jehovah liveth, who brought up and who led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all the countries whither I had driven them. And they shall dwell in their own land.\r\n Concerning the prophets. My heart within me is broken, all my bones shake; I am like a drunken man, and like a man whom wine hath overcome, because of Jehovah, and because of his holy words.\r\n For the land is full of adulterers; for because of swearing the land mourneth; the pastures of the wilderness are dried up. And their course is evil, and their might is not right;\r\n for both prophet and priest are profane; yea, in my house have I found their wickedness, saith Jehovah.\r\n Wherefore their way shall be unto them as slippery places in the darkness: they shall be driven on, and fall therein; for I will bring evil upon them, even the year of their visitation, saith Jehovah.\r\n And I have seen folly in the prophets of Samaria; they prophesied by Baal, and caused my people Israel to err.\r\n In the prophets of Jerusalem also I have seen a horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies; and they strengthen the hands of evil-doers, so that none doth return from his wickedness: they are all of them become unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah.\r\n Therefore thus saith Jehovah of hosts concerning the prophets: Behold, I will feed them with wormwood, and make them drink the water of gall; for from the prophets of Jerusalem is ungodliness gone forth into all the land.\r\n Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they teach you vanity; they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of Jehovah.\r\n They say continually unto them that despise me, Jehovah hath said, Ye shall have peace; and unto every one that walketh in the stubbornness of his own heart they say, No evil shall come upon you.\r\n For who hath stood in the council of Jehovah, that he should perceive and hear his word? who hath marked my word, and heard it?\r\n Behold, the tempest of Jehovah, [even his] wrath, is gone forth, yea, a whirling tempest: it shall burst upon the head of the wicked.\r\n The anger of Jehovah shall not return, until he have executed, and till he have performed the intents of his heart: in the latter days ye shall understand it perfectly.\r\n I sent not these prophets, yet they ran: I spake not unto them, yet they prophesied.\r\n But if they had stood in my council, then had they caused my people to hear my words, and had turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings.\r\n Am I a God at hand, saith Jehovah, and not a God afar off?\r\n Can any hide himself in secret places so that I shall not see him? saith Jehovah. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith Jehovah.\r\n I have heard what the prophets have said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed.\r\n How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies, even the prophets of the deceit of their own heart?\r\n that think to cause my people to forget my name by their dreams which they tell every man to his neighbor, as their fathers forgat my name for Baal.\r\n The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the straw to the wheat? saith Jehovah.\r\n Is not my word like fire? saith Jehovah; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?\r\n Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, saith Jehovah, that steal my words every one from his neighbor.\r\n Behold, I am against the prophets, saith Jehovah, that use their tongues, and say, He saith.\r\n Behold, I am against them that prophesy lying dreams, saith Jehovah, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their vain boasting: yet I sent them not, nor commanded them; neither do they profit this people at all, saith Jehovah.\r\n And when this people, or the prophet, or a priest, shall ask thee, saying, What is the burden of Jehovah? then shalt thou say unto them, What burden! I will cast you off, saith Jehovah.\r\n And as for the prophet, and the priest, and the people, that shall say, The burden of Jehovah, I will even punish that man and his house.\r\n Thus shall ye say every one to his neighbor, and every one to his brother, What hath Jehovah answered? and, What hath Jehovah spoken?\r\n And the burden of Jehovah shall ye mention no more: for every man`s own word shall be his burden; for ye have perverted the words of the living God, of Jehovah of hosts our God.\r\n Thus shalt thou say to the prophet, What hath Jehovah answered thee? and, What hath Jehovah spoken?\r\n But if ye say, The burden of Jehovah; therefore thus saith Jehovah: Because ye say this word, The burden of Jehovah, and I have sent unto you, saying, Ye shall not say, The burden of Jehovah;\r\n therefore, behold, I will utterly forget you, and I will cast you off, and the city that I gave unto you and to your fathers, away from my presence:\r\n and I will bring an everlasting reproach upon you, and a perpetual shame, which shall not be forgotten.\r\n \r\n \r\n Jehovah showed me, and, behold, two baskets of figs set before the temple of Jehovah, after that Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon had carried away captive Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, and the princes of Judah, with the craftsmen and smiths, from Jerusalem, and had brought them to Babylon.\r\n One basket had very good figs, like the figs that are first-ripe; and the other basket had very bad figs, which could not be eaten, they were so bad.\r\n Then said Jehovah unto me, What seest thou, Jeremiah? And I said, Figs; the good figs, very good; and the bad, very bad, that cannot be eaten, they are so bad.\r\n And the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,\r\n Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel: Like these good figs, so will I regard the captives of Judah, whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans, for good.\r\n For I will set mine eyes upon them for good, and I will bring them again to this land: and I will build them, and not pull them down; and I will plant them, and not pluck them up.\r\n And I will give them a heart to know me, that I am Jehovah: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God; for they shall return unto me with their whole heart.\r\n And as the bad figs, which cannot be eaten, they are so bad, surely thus saith Jehovah, So will I give up Zedekiah the king of Judah, and his princes, and the residue of Jerusalem, that remain in this land, and them that dwell in the land of Egypt,\r\n I will even give them up to be tossed to and fro among all the kingdoms of the earth for evil; to be a reproach and a proverb, a taunt and a curse, in all places whither I shall drive them.\r\n And I will send the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, among them, till they be consumed from off the land that I gave unto them and to their fathers.\r\n \r\n \r\n The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah (the same was the first year of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon,)\r\n which Jeremiah the prophet spake unto all the people of Judah, and to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying:\r\n From the thirteenth year of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, even unto this day, these three and twenty years, the word of Jehovah hath come unto me, and I have spoken unto you, rising up early and speaking; but ye have not hearkened.\r\n And Jehovah hath sent unto you all his servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, (but ye have not hearkened, nor inclined your ear to hear,)\r\n saying, Return ye now every one from his evil way, and from the evil of your doings, and dwell in the land that Jehovah hath given unto you and to your fathers, from of old and even for evermore;\r\n and go not after other gods to serve them, and to worship them, and provoke me not to anger with the work of your hands; and I will do you no hurt.\r\n Yet ye have not hearkened unto me, saith Jehovah; that ye may provoke me to anger with the work of your hands to your own hurt.\r\n Therefore thus saith Jehovah of hosts: Because ye have not heard my words,\r\n behold, I will send and take all the families of the north, saith Jehovah, and [I will send] unto Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will bring them against this land, and against the inhabitants thereof, and against all these nations round about; and I will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, and a hissing, and perpetual desolations.\r\n Moreover I will take from them the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the sound of the millstones, and the light of the lamp.\r\n And this whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.\r\n And it shall come to pass, when seventy years are accomplished, that I will punish the king of Babylon, and that nation, saith Jehovah, for their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans; and I will make it desolate for ever.\r\n And I will bring upon that land all my words which I have pronounced against it, even all that is written in this book, which Jeremiah hath prophesied against all the nations.\r\n For many nations and great kings shall make bondmen of them, even of them; and I will recompense them according to their deeds, and according to the work of their hands.\r\n For thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, unto me: take this cup of the wine of wrath at my hand, and cause all the nations, to whom I send thee, to drink it.\r\n And they shall drink, and reel to and fro, and be mad, because of the sword that I will send among them.\r\n Then took I the cup at Jehovah`s hand, and made all the nations to drink, unto whom Jehovah had sent me:\r\n [to wit], Jerusalem, and the cities of Judah, and the kings thereof, and the princes thereof, to make them a desolation, an astonishment, a hissing, and a curse, as it is this day;\r\n Pharaoh king of Egypt, and his servants, and his princes, and all his people;\r\n and all the mingled people, and all the kings of the land of the Uz, and all the kings of the Philistines, and Ashkelon, and Gaza, and Ekron, and the remnant of Ashdod;\r\n Edom, and Moab, and the children of Ammon;\r\n and all the kings of Tyre, and all the kings of Sidon, and the kings of the isle which is beyond the sea;\r\n Dedan, and Tema, and Buz, and all that have the corners [of their hair] cut off;\r\n and all the kings of Arabia, and all the kings of the mingled people that dwell in the wilderness;\r\n and all the kings of Zimri, and all the kings of Elam, and all the kings of the Medes;\r\n and all the kings of the north, far and near, one with another; and all the kingdoms of the world, which are upon the face of the earth: and the king of Sheshach shall drink after them.\r\n And thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel: Drink ye, and be drunken, and spew, and fall, and rise no more, because of the sword which I will send among you.\r\n And it shall be, if they refuse to take the cup at thy hand to drink, then shalt thou say unto them, Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: Ye shall surely drink.\r\n For, lo, I begin to work evil at the city which is called by my name; and should ye be utterly unpunished? Ye shall not be unpunished; for I will call for a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth, saith Jehovah of hosts.\r\n Therefore prophesy thou against them all these words, and say unto them, Jehovah will roar from on high, and utter his voice from his holy habitation; he will mightily roar against his fold; he will give a shout, as they that tread [the grapes], against all the inhabitants of the earth.\r\n A noise shall come even to the end of the earth; for Jehovah hath a controversy with the nations; he will enter into judgment with all flesh: as for the wicked, he will give them to the sword, saith Jehovah.\r\n Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, Behold, evil shall go forth from nation to nation, and a great tempest shall be raised up from the uttermost parts of the earth.\r\n And the slain of Jehovah shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth: they shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried; they shall be dung upon the face of the ground.\r\n Wail, ye shepherds, and cry; and wallow [in ashes], ye principal of the flock; for the days of your slaughter and of your dispersions are fully come, and ye shall fall like a goodly vessel.\r\n And the shepherds shall have no way to flee, nor the principal of the flock to escape.\r\n A voice of the cry of the shepherds, and the wailing of the principal of the flock! for Jehovah layeth waste their pasture.\r\n And the peaceable folds are brought to silence because of the fierce anger of Jehovah.\r\n He hath left his covert, as the lion; for their land is become an astonishment because of the fierceness of the oppressing [sword], and because of his fierce anger.\r\n \r\n \r\n In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, came this word from Jehovah, saying,\r\n Thus saith Jehovah: Stand in the court of Jehovah`s house, and speak unto all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in Jehovah`s house, all the words that I command thee to speak unto them; diminish not a word.\r\n It may be they will hearken, and turn every man from his evil way; that I may repent me of the evil which I purpose to do unto them because of the evil of their doings.\r\n And thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith Jehovah: If ye will not hearken to me, to walk in my law, which I have set before you,\r\n to hearken to the words of my servants the prophets, whom I send unto you, even rising up early and sending them, but ye have not hearkened;\r\n then will I make this house like Shiloh, and will make this city a curse to all the nations of the earth.\r\n And the priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of Jehovah.\r\n And it came to pass, when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking all that Jehovah had commanded him to speak unto all the people, that the priests and the prophets and all the people laid hold on him, saying, Thou shalt surely die.\r\n Why hast thou prophesied in the name of Jehovah, saying, This house shall be like Shiloh, and this city shall be desolate, without inhabitant? And all the people were gathered unto Jeremiah in the house of Jehovah.\r\n And when the princes of Judah heard these things, they came up from the king`s house unto the house of Jehovah; and they sat in the entry of the new gate of Jehovah`s [house].\r\n Then spake the priests and the prophets unto the princes and to all the people, saying, This man is worthy of death; for he hath prophesied against this city, as ye have heard with your ears.\r\n Then spake Jeremiah unto all the princes and to all the people, saying, Jehovah sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city all the words that ye have heard.\r\n Now therefore amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of Jehovah your God; and Jehovah will repent him of the evil that he hath pronounced against you.\r\n But as for me, behold, I am in your hand: do with me as is good and right in your eyes.\r\n Only know ye for certain that, if ye put me to death, ye will bring innocent blood upon yourselves, and upon this city, and upon the inhabitants thereof; for of a truth Jehovah hath sent me unto you to speak all these words in your ears.\r\n Then said the princes and all the people unto the priests and to the prophets: This man is not worthy of death; for he hath spoken to us in the name of Jehovah our God.\r\n Then rose up certain of the elders of the land, and spake to all the assembly of the people, saying,\r\n Micah the Morashtite prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah; and he spake to all the people of Judah, saying, Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: Zion shall be plowed as a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of a forest.\r\n Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah put him to death? did he not fear Jehovah, and entreat the favor of Jehovah, and Jehovah repented him of the evil which he had pronounced against them? Thus should we commit great evil against our own souls.\r\n And there was also a man that prophesied in the name of Jehovah, Uriah the son of Shemaiah of Kiriath-jearim; and he prophesied against this city and against this land according to all the words of Jeremiah:\r\n and when Jehoiakim the king, with all his mighty-men, and all the princes, heard his words, the king sought to put him to death; but when Uriah heard it, he was afraid, and fled, and went into Egypt:\r\n and Jehoiakim the king sent men into Egypt, [namely], Elnathan the son of Achbor, and certain men with him, into Egypt;\r\n and they fetched forth Uriah out of Egypt, and brought him unto Jehoiakim the king, who slew him with the sword, and cast his dead body into the graves of the common people.\r\n But the hand of Ahikam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah, that they should not give him into the hand of the people to put him to death.\r\n \r\n \r\n In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, came this word unto Jeremiah from Jehovah, saying,\r\n Thus saith Jehovah to me: Make thee bonds and bars, and put them upon thy neck;\r\n and send them to the king of Edom, and to the king of Moab, and to the king of the children of Ammon, and to the king of Tyre, and to the king of Sidon, by the hand of the messengers that come to Jerusalem unto Zedekiah king of Judah;\r\n and give them a charge unto their masters, saying, Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel, Thus shall ye say unto your masters:\r\n I have made the earth, the men and the beasts that are upon the face of the earth, by my great power and by my outstretched arm; and I give it unto whom it seemeth right unto me.\r\n And now have I given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant; and the beasts of the field also have I given him to serve him.\r\n And all the nations shall serve him, and his son, and his son`s son, until the time of his own land come: and then many nations and great kings shall make him their bondman.\r\n And it shall come to pass, that the nation and the kingdom which will not serve the same Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and that will not put their neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, that nation will I punish, saith Jehovah, with the sword, and with the famine, and with the pestilence, until I have consumed them by his hand.\r\n But as for you, hearken ye not to your prophets, nor to your diviners, nor to your dreams, nor to your soothsayers, nor to your sorcerers, that speak unto you, saying, Ye shall not serve the king of Babylon:\r\n for they prophesy a lie unto you, to remove you far from your land, and that I should drive you out, and ye should perish.\r\n But the nation that shall bring their neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him, that [nation] will I let remain in their own land, saith Jehovah; and they shall till it, and dwell therein.\r\n And I spake to Zedekiah king of Judah according to all these words, saying, Bring your necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him and his people, and live.\r\n Why will ye die, thou and thy people, by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence, as Jehovah hath spoken concerning the nation that will not serve the king of Babylon?\r\n And hearken not unto the words of the prophets that speak unto you, saying, Ye shall not serve the king of Babylon; for they prophesy a lie unto you.\r\n For I have not sent them, saith Jehovah, but they prophesy falsely in my name; that I may drive you out, and that ye may perish, ye, and the prophets that prophesy unto you.\r\n Also I spake to the priests and to all this people, saying, Thus saith Jehovah: Hearken not to the words of your prophets that prophesy unto you, saying, Behold, the vessels of Jehovah`s house shall now shortly be brought again from Babylon; for they prophesy a lie unto you.\r\n Hearken not unto them; serve the king of Babylon, and live: wherefore should this city become a desolation?\r\n But if they be prophets, and if the word of Jehovah be with them, let them now make intercession to Jehovah of hosts, that the vessels which are left in the house of Jehovah, and in the house of the king of Judah, and at Jerusalem, go not to Babylon.\r\n For thus saith Jehovah of hosts concerning the pillars, and concerning the sea, and concerning the bases, and concerning the residue of the vessels that are left in this city,\r\n which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took not, when he carried away captive Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, from Jerusalem to Babylon, and all the nobles of Judah and Jerusalem;\r\n yea, thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel, concerning the vessels that are left in the house of Jehovah, and in the house of the king of Judah, and at Jerusalem:\r\n They shall be carried to Babylon, and there shall they be, until the day that I visit them, saith Jehovah; then will I bring them up, and restore them to this place.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass the same year, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fourth year, in the fifth month, that Hananiah the son of Azzur, the prophet, who was of Gibeon, spake unto me in the house of Jehovah, in the presence of the priests and of all the people, saying,\r\n Thus speaketh Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel, saying, I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon.\r\n Within two full years will I bring again into this place all the vessels of Jehovah`s house, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took away from this place, and carried to Babylon:\r\n and I will bring again to this place Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, with all the captives of Judah, that went to Babylon, saith Jehovah; for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.\r\n Then the prophet Jeremiah said unto the prophet Hananiah in the presence of the priests, and in the presence of all the people that stood in the house of Jehovah,\r\n even the prophet Jeremiah said, Amen: Jehovah do so; Jehovah perform thy words which thou hast prophesied, to bring again the vessels of Jehovah`s house, and all them of the captivity, from Babylon unto this place.\r\n Nevertheless hear thou now this word that I speak in thine ears, and in the ears of all the people:\r\n The prophets that have been before me and before thee of old prophesied against many countries, and against great kingdoms, of war, and of evil, and of pestilence.\r\n The prophet that prophesieth of peace, when the word of the prophet shall come to pass, then shall the prophet be known, that Jehovah hath truly sent him.\r\n Then Hananiah the prophet took the bar from off the prophet Jeremiah`s neck, and brake it.\r\n And Hananiah spake in the presence of all the people, saying, Thus saith Jehovah: Even so will I break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon within two full years from off the neck of all the nations. And the prophet Jeremiah went his way.\r\n Then the word of Jehovah came unto Jeremiah, after that Hananiah the prophet had broken the bar from off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah, saying,\r\n Go, and tell Hananiah, saying, Thus saith Jehovah: Thou hast broken the bars of wood; but thou hast made in their stead bars of iron.\r\n For thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel: I have put a yoke of iron upon the neck of all these nations, that they may served Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and they shall serve him: and I have given him the beasts of the field also.\r\n Then said the prophet Jeremiah unto Hananiah the prophet, Hear now, Hananiah: Jehovah hath not sent thee; but thou makest this people to trust in a lie.\r\n Therefore thus saith Jehovah, Behold, I will send thee away from off the face of the earth: this year thou shalt die, because thou hast spoken rebellion against Jehovah.\r\n So Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the seventh month.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now these are the words of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem unto the residue of the elders of the captivity, and to the priests, and to the prophets, and to all the people, whom Nebuchadnezzar had carried away captive from Jerusalem to Babylon,\r\n (after that Jeconiah the king, and the queen-mother, and the eunuchs, [and] the princes of Judah and Jerusalem, and the craftsmen, and the smiths, were departed from Jerusalem,)\r\n by the hand of Elasah the son of Shaphan, and Gemariah the son of Hilkiah, (whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent unto Babylon to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon,) saying,\r\n Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel, unto all the captivity, whom I have caused to be carried away captive from Jerusalem unto Babylon:\r\n Build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them.\r\n Take ye wives, and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; and multiply ye there, and be not diminished.\r\n And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray unto Jehovah for it; for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace.\r\n For thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel: Let not your prophets that are in the midst of you, and your diviners, deceive you; neither hearken ye to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed.\r\n For they prophesy falsely unto you in my name: I have not sent them, saith Jehovah.\r\n For thus saith Jehovah, After seventy years are accomplished for Babylon, I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place.\r\n For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith Jehovah, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you hope in your latter end.\r\n And ye shall call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.\r\n And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.\r\n And I will be found of you, saith Jehovah, and I will turn again your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places wither I have driven you, saith Jehovah; and I will bring you again unto the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.\r\n Because ye have said, Jehovah hath raised us up prophets in Babylon;\r\n thus saith Jehovah concerning the king that sitteth upon the throne of David, and concerning all the people that dwell in this city, your brethren that are not gone forth with you into captivity;\r\n thus saith Jehovah of hosts; Behold, I will send upon them the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, and will make them like vile figs, that cannot be eaten, they are so bad.\r\n And I will pursue after them with the sword, with the famine, and with the pestilence, and will deliver them to be tossed to and fro among all the kingdoms of the earth, to be an execration, and an astonishment, and a hissing, and a reproach, among all the nations whither I have driven them;\r\n because they have not hearkened to my words, saith Jehovah, wherewith I sent unto them my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them; but ye would not hear, saith Jehovah.\r\n Hear ye therefore the word of Jehovah, all ye of the captivity, whom I have sent away from Jerusalem to Babylon.\r\n Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel, concerning Ahab the son of Kolaiah, and concerning Zedekiah the son of Maaseiah, who prophesy a lie unto you in my name: Behold, I will deliver them into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon; and he shall slay them before your eyes;\r\n and of them shall be taken up a curse by all the captives of Judah that are in Babylon, saying, Jehovah make thee like Zedekiah and like Ahab, whom the king of Babylon roasted in the fire;\r\n because they have wrought folly in Israel, and have committed adultery with their neighbors` wives, and have spoken words in my name falsely, which I commanded them not; and I am he that knoweth, and am witness, saith Jehovah.\r\n And concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite thou shalt speak, saying,\r\n Thus speaketh Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel, saying, Because thou hast sent letters in thine own name unto all the people that are at Jerusalem, and to Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah, the priest, and to all the priests, saying,\r\n Jehovah hath made thee priest in the stead of Jehoiada the priest, that there may be officers in the house of Jehovah, for every man that is mad, and maketh himself a prophet, that thou shouldest put him in the stocks and in shackles.\r\n Now therefore, why hast thou not rebuked Jeremiah of Anathoth, who maketh himself a prophet to you,\r\n forasmuch as he hath sent unto us in Babylon, saying, [The captivity] is long: build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them?\r\n And Zephaniah the priest read this letter in the ears of Jeremiah the prophet.\r\n Then came the word of Jehovah unto Jeremiah, saying,\r\n Send to all them of the captivity, saying, Thus saith Jehovah concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite: Because that Shemaiah hath prophesied unto you, and I sent him not, and he hath caused you to trust in a lie;\r\n therefore thus saith Jehovah, Behold, I will punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite, and his seed; he shall not have a man to dwell among this people, neither shall he behold the good that I will do unto my people, saith Jehovah, because he hath spoken rebellion against Jehovah.\r\n \r\n \r\n The word that came to Jeremiah from Jehovah, saying,\r\n Thus speaketh Jehovah, the God of Israel, saying, Write thee all the words that I have spoken unto thee in a book.\r\n For, lo, the days come, saith Jehovah, that I will turn again the captivity of my people Israel and Judah, saith Jehovah; and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.\r\n And these are the words that Jehovah spake concerning Israel and concerning Judah.\r\n For thus saith Jehovah: We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace.\r\n Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child: wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness?\r\n Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob`s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.\r\n And it shall come to pass in that day, saith Jehovah of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds; and strangers shall no more make him their bondman;\r\n but they shall serve Jehovah their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them.\r\n Therefore fear thou not, O Jacob my servant, saith Jehovah; neither be dismayed, O Israel: for, lo, I will save thee from afar, and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and shall be quiet and at ease, and none shall make him afraid.\r\n For I am with thee, saith Jehovah, to save thee: for I will make a full end of all the nations whither I have scattered thee, but I will not make a full end of thee; but I will correct thee in measure, and will in no wise leave thee unpunished.\r\n For thus saith Jehovah, Thy hurt is incurable, and thy wound grievous.\r\n There is none to plead thy cause, that thou mayest be bound up: thou hast no healing medicines.\r\n All thy lovers have forgotten thee; they seek thee not: for I have wounded thee with the wound of an enemy, with the chastisement of a cruel one, for the greatness of thine iniquity, because thy sins were increased.\r\n Why criest thou for thy hurt? thy pain is incurable: for the greatness of thine iniquity, because thy sins were increased, I have done these things unto thee.\r\n Therefore all they that devour thee shall be devoured; and all thine adversaries, every one of them, shall go into captivity; and they that despoil thee shall be a spoil, and all that prey upon thee will I give for a prey.\r\n For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith Jehovah; because they have called thee an outcast, [saying], It is Zion, whom no man seeketh after.\r\n Thus saith Jehovah: Behold, I will turn again the captivity of Jacob`s tents, and have compassion on his dwelling-places; and the city shall be builded upon its own hill, and the palace shall be inhabited after its own manner.\r\n And out of them shall proceed thanksgiving and the voice of them that make merry: and I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small.\r\n Their children also shall be as aforetime, and their congregation shall be established before me; and I will punish all that oppress them.\r\n And their prince shall be of themselves, and their ruler shall proceed from the midst of them; and I will cause him to draw near, and he shall approach unto me: for who is he that hath had boldness to approach unto me? saith Jehovah.\r\n And ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.\r\n Behold, the tempest of Jehovah, [even his] wrath, is gone forth, a sweeping tempest: it shall burst upon the head of the wicked.\r\n The fierce anger of Jehovah shall not return, until he have executed, and till he have performed the intents of his heart: in the latter days ye shall understand it.\r\n \r\n \r\n At that time, saith Jehovah, will I be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people.\r\n Thus saith Jehovah, The people that were left of the sword found favor in the wilderness; even Israel, when I went to cause him to rest.\r\n Jehovah appeared of old unto me, [saying], Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.\r\n Again will I build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of Israel: again shalt thou be adorned with thy tabrets, and shalt go forth in the dances of them that make merry.\r\n Again shalt thou plant vineyards upon the mountains of Samaria; the planters shall plant, and shall enjoy [the fruit thereof].\r\n For there shall be a day, that the watchmen upon the hills of Ephraim shall cry, Arise ye, and let us go up to Zion unto Jehovah our God.\r\n For thus saith Jehovah, Sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout for the chief of the nations: publish ye, praise ye, and say, O Jehovah, save thy people, the remnant of Israel.\r\n Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the uttermost parts of the earth, [and] with them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and her that travaileth with child together: a great company shall they return hither.\r\n They shall come with weeping; and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by rivers of waters, in a straight way wherein they shall not stumble; for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my first-born.\r\n Hear the word of Jehovah, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off; and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as shepherd doth his flock.\r\n For Jehovah hath ransomed Jacob, and redeemed him from the hand of him that was stronger than he.\r\n And they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow unto the goodness of Jehovah, to the grain, and to the new wine, and to the oil, and to the young of the flock and of the herd: and their soul shall be as a watered garden; and they shall not sorrow any more at all.\r\n Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, and the young men and the old together; for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow.\r\n And I will satiate the soul of the priests with fatness, and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness, saith Jehovah.\r\n Thus saith Jehovah: A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping, Rachel weeping for her children; she refuseth to be comforted for her children, because they are not.\r\n Thus saith Jehovah: Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears; for thy work shall be rewarded, saith Jehovah; and they shall come again from the land of the enemy.\r\n And there is hope for thy latter end, saith Jehovah; and [thy] children shall come again to their own border.\r\n I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself [thus], Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a calf unaccustomed [to the yoke]: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art Jehovah my God.\r\n Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after that I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh: I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth.\r\n Is Ephraim my dear son? is he a darling child? for as often as I speak against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my heart yearneth for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith Jehovah.\r\n Set thee up waymarks, make thee guide-posts; set thy heart toward the highway, even the way by which thou wentest: turn again, O virgin of Israel, turn again to these thy cities.\r\n How long wilt thou go hither and thither, O thou backsliding daughter? for Jehovah hath created a new thing in the earth: a woman shall encompass a man.\r\n Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel, Yet again shall they use this speech in the land of Judah and in the cities thereof, when I shall bring again their captivity: Jehovah bless thee, O habitation of righteousness, O mountain of holiness.\r\n And Judah and all the cities thereof shall dwell therein together, the husbandmen, and they that go about with flocks.\r\n For I have satiated the weary soul, and every sorrowful soul have I replenished.\r\n Upon this I awaked, and beheld; and my sleep was sweet unto me.\r\n Behold, the days come, saith Jehovah, that I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man, and with the seed of beast.\r\n And it shall come to pass that, like as I have watched over them to pluck up and to break down and to overthrow and to destroy and to afflict, so will I watch over them to build and to plant, saith Jehovah.\r\n In those days they shall say no more, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children`s teeth are set on edge.\r\n But every one shall die for his own iniquity: every man that eateth the sour grapes, his teeth shall be set on edge.\r\n Behold, the days come, saith Jehovah, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:\r\n not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was a husband unto them, saith Jehovah.\r\n But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith Jehovah: I will put my law in their inward parts, and in their heart will I write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people:\r\n and they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know Jehovah; for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith Jehovah: for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin will I remember no more.\r\n Thus saith Jehovah, who giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, who stirreth up the sea, so that the waves thereof roar; Jehovah of hosts is his name:\r\n If these ordinances depart from before me, saith Jehovah, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me for ever.\r\n Thus saith Jehovah: If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, then will I also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, saith Jehovah.\r\n Behold, the days come, saith Jehovah, that the city shall be built to Jehovah from the tower of Hananel unto the gate of the corner.\r\n And the measuring line shall go out further straight onward unto the hill Gareb, and shall turn about unto Goah.\r\n And the whole valley of the dead bodies and of the ashes, and all the fields unto the brook Kidron, unto the corner of the horse gate toward the east, shall be holy unto Jehovah; it shall not be plucked up, nor thrown down any more for ever.\r\n \r\n \r\n The word that came to Jeremiah from Jehovah in the tenth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, which was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadrezzar.\r\n Now at that time the king of Babylon`s army was besieging Jerusalem; and Jeremiah the prophet was shut up in the court of the guard, which was in the king of Judah`s house.\r\n For Zedekiah king of Judah had shut him up, saying, Wherefore dost thou prophesy, and say, Thus saith Jehovah, Behold, I will give this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall take it;\r\n and Zedekiah king of Judah shall not escape out of the hand of the Chaldeans, but shall surely be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon, and shall speak with him mouth to mouth, and his eyes shall behold his eyes;\r\n and he shall bring Zedekiah to Babylon, and there shall he be until I visit him, saith Jehovah: though ye fight with the Chaldeans, ye shall not prosper?\r\n And Jeremiah said, The word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,\r\n Behold, Hanamel the son of Shallum thine uncle shall come unto thee, saying, Buy thee my field that is in Anathoth; for the right of redemption is thine to buy it.\r\n So Hanamel mine uncle`s son came to me in the court of the guard according to the word of Jehovah, and said unto me, Buy my field, I pray thee, that is in Anathoth, which is in the land of Benjamin; for the right of inheritance is thine, and the redemption is thine; buy it for thyself. Then I knew that this was the word of Jehovah.\r\n And I bought the field that was in Anathoth of Hanamel mine uncle`s son, and weighed him the money, even seventeen shekels of silver.\r\n And I subscribed the deed, and sealed it, and called witnesses, and weighed him the money in the balances.\r\n So I took the deed of the purchase, both that which was sealed, [according to] the law and custom, and that which was open:\r\n and I delivered the deed of the purchase unto Baruch the son of Neriah, the son of Mahseiah, in the presence of Hanamel mine uncle`s [son], and in the presence of the witnesses that subscribed the deed of the purchase, before all the Jews that sat in the court of the guard.\r\n And I charged Baruch before them, saying,\r\n Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel: Take these deeds, this deed of the purchase which is sealed, and this deed which is open, and put them in an earthen vessel; that they may continue many days.\r\n For thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel: Houses and fields and vineyards shall yet again be bought in this land.\r\n Now after I had delivered the deed of the purchase unto Baruch the son of Neriah, I prayed unto Jehovah, saying,\r\n Ah Lord Jehovah! behold, thou hast made the heavens and the earth by thy great power and by thine outstretched arm; there is nothing too hard for thee,\r\n who showest lovingkindness unto thousands, and recompensest the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them; the great, the mighty God, Jehovah of hosts is his name;\r\n great in counsel, and mighty in work; whose eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men, to give every one according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings:\r\n who didst set signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, even unto this day, both in Israel and among [other] men; and madest thee a name, as at this day;\r\n and didst bring forth thy people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs, and with wonders, and with a strong hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with great terror;\r\n and gavest them this land, which thou didst swear to their fathers to give them, a land flowing with milk and honey;\r\n and they came in, and possessed it, but they obeyed not thy voice, neither walked in thy law; they have done nothing of all that thou commandedst them to do: therefore thou hast caused all this evil to come upon them.\r\n Behold, the mounds, they are come unto the city to take it; and the city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans that fight against it, because of the sword, and of the famine, and of the pestilence; and what thou hast spoken is come to pass; and, behold, thou seest it.\r\n And thou hast said unto me, O Lord Jehovah, Buy thee the field for money, and call witnesses; whereas the city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans.\r\n Then came the word of Jehovah unto Jeremiah, saying,\r\n Behold, I am Jehovah, the God of all flesh: is there anything too hard for me?\r\n Therefore thus saith Jehovah: Behold, I will give this city into the hand of the Chaldeans, and into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and he shall take it:\r\n and the Chaldeans, that fight against this city, shall come and set this city on fire, and burn it, with the houses, upon whose roofs they have offered incense unto Baal, and poured out drink-offerings unto other gods, to provoke me to anger.\r\n For the children of Israel and the children of Judah have done only that which was evil in my sight from their youth; for the children of Israel have only provoked me to anger with the work of their hands, saith Jehovah.\r\n For this city hath been to me a provocation of mine anger and of my wrath from the day that they built it even unto this day; that I should remove it from before my face,\r\n because of all the evil of the children of Israel and of the children of Judah, which they have done to provoke me to anger, they, their kings, their princes, their priests, and their prophets, and the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.\r\n And they have turned unto me the back, and not the face: and though I taught them, rising up early and teaching them, yet they have not hearkened to receive instruction.\r\n But they set their abominations in the house which is called by my name, to defile it.\r\n And they built the high places of Baal, which are in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to cause their sons and their daughters to pass through [the fire] unto Molech; which I commanded them not, neither came it into my mind, that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin.\r\n And now therefore thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, concerning this city, whereof ye say, It is given into the hand of the king of Babylon by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence:\r\n Behold, I will gather them out of all the countries, whither I have driven them in mine anger, and in my wrath, and in great indignation; and I will bring them again unto this place, and I will cause them to dwell safely:\r\n and they shall be my people, and I will be their God:\r\n and I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children after them:\r\n and I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from following them, to do them good; and I will put my fear in their hearts, that they may not depart from me.\r\n Yea, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will plant them in this land assuredly with my whole heart and with my whole soul.\r\n For thus saith Jehovah: Like as I have brought all this great evil upon this people, so will I bring upon them all the good that I have promised them.\r\n And fields shall be bought in this land, whereof ye say, It is desolate, without man or beast; it is given into the hand of the Chaldeans.\r\n Men shall buy fields for money, and subscribe the deeds, and seal them, and call witnesses, in the land of Benjamin, and in the places about Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, and in the cities of the hill-country, and in the cities of the lowland, and in the cities of the South: for I will cause their captivity to return, saith Jehovah.\r\n \r\n \r\n Moreover the word of Jehovah came unto Jeremiah the second time, while he was yet shut up in the court of the guard, saying,\r\n Thus saith Jehovah that doeth it, Jehovah that formeth it to establish it; Jehovah is his name:\r\n Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and will show thee great things, and difficult, which thou knowest not.\r\n For thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, concerning the houses of this city, and concerning the houses of the kings of Judah, which are broken down [to make a defence] against the mounds and against the sword;\r\n while [men] come to fight with the Chaldeans, and to fill them with the dead bodies of men, whom I have slain in mine anger and in my wrath, and for all whose wickedness I have hid my face from this city:\r\n Behold, I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them; and I will reveal unto them abundance of peace and truth.\r\n And I will cause the captivity of Judah and the captivity of Israel to return, and will build them, as at the first.\r\n And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against me; and I will pardon all their iniquities, whereby they have sinned against me, and whereby they have transgressed against me.\r\n And [this city] shall be to me for a name of joy, for a praise and for a glory, before all the nations of the earth, which shall hear all the good that I do unto them, and shall fear and tremble for all the good and for all the peace that I procure unto it.\r\n Thus saith Jehovah: Yet again there shall be heard in this place, whereof ye say, It is waste, without man and without beast, even in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, that are desolate, without man and without inhabitant and without beast,\r\n the voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voice of them that say, Give thanks to Jehovah of hosts, for Jehovah is good, for his lovingkindness [endureth] for ever; [and of them] that bring [sacrifices of] thanksgiving into the house of Jehovah. For I will cause the captivity of the land to return as at the first, saith Jehovah.\r\n Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: Yet again shall there be in this place, which is waste, without man and without beast, and in all the cities thereof, a habitation of shepherds causing their flocks to lie down.\r\n In the cities of the hill-country, in the cities of the lowland, and in the cities of the South, and in the land of Benjamin, and in the places about Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, shall the flocks again pass under the hands of him that numbereth them, saith Jehovah.\r\n Behold, the days come, saith Jehovah, that I will perform that good word which I have spoken concerning the house of Israel and concerning the house of Judah.\r\n In those days, and at that time, will I cause a Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.\r\n In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely; and this is [the name] whereby she shall be called: Jehovah our righteousness.\r\n For thus saith Jehovah: David shall never want a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel;\r\n neither shall the priests the Levites want a man before me to offer burnt-offerings, and to burn meal-offerings, and to do sacrifice continually.\r\n And the word of Jehovah came unto Jeremiah, saying,\r\n Thus saith Jehovah: If ye can break my covenant of the day, and my covenant of the night, so that there shall not be day and night in their season;\r\n then may also my covenant be broken with David my servant, that he shall not have a son to reign upon his throne; and with the Levites the priests, my ministers.\r\n As the host of heaven cannot be numbered, neither the sand of the sea measured; so will I multiply the seed of David my servant, and the Levites that minister unto me.\r\n And the word of Jehovah came to Jeremiah, saying,\r\n Considerest thou not what this people have spoken, saying, The two families which Jehovah did choose, he hath cast them off? thus do they despise my people, that they should be no more a nation before them.\r\n Thus saith Jehovah: If my covenant of day and night [stand] not, if I have not appointed the ordinances of heaven and earth;\r\n then will I also cast away the seed of Jacob, and of David my servant, so that I will not take of his seed to be rulers over the seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: for I will cause their captivity to return, and will have mercy on them.\r\n \r\n \r\n The word which came unto Jeremiah from Jehovah, when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and all his army, and all the kingdoms of the earth that were under his dominion, and all the peoples, were fighting against Jerusalem, and against all the cities thereof, saying:\r\n Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, Go, and speak to Zedekiah king of Judah, and tell him, Thus saith Jehovah, Behold, I will give this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall burn it with fire:\r\n and thou shalt not escape out of his hand, but shalt surely be taken, and delivered into his hand; and thine eyes shall behold the eyes of the king of Babylon, and he shall speak with thee mouth to mouth, and thou shalt go to Babylon.\r\n Yet hear the word of Jehovah, O Zedekiah king of Judah: thus saith Jehovah concerning thee, Thou shalt not die by the sword;\r\n thou shalt die in peace; and with the burnings of thy fathers, the former kings that were before thee, so shall they make a burning for thee; and they shall lament thee, [saying], Ah Lord! for I have spoken the word, saith Jehovah.\r\n Then Jeremiah the prophet spake all these words unto Zedekiah king of Judah in Jerusalem,\r\n when the king of Babylon`s army was fighting against Jerusalem, and against all the cities of Judah that were left, against Lachish and against Azekah; for these [alone] remained of the cities of Judah [as] fortified cities.\r\n The word that came unto Jeremiah from Jehovah, after that the king Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people that were at Jerusalem, to proclaim liberty unto them;\r\n that every man should let his man-servant, and every man his maid-servant, that is a Hebrew or a Hebrewess, go free; that none should make bondmen of them, [to wit], of a Jew his brother.\r\n And all the princes and all the people obeyed, that had entered into the covenant, that every one should let his man-servant, and every one his maid-servant, go free, that none should make bondmen of them any more; they obeyed, and let them go:\r\n but afterwards they turned, and caused the servants and the handmaids, whom they had let go free, to return, and brought them into subjection for servants and for handmaids.\r\n Therefore the word of Jehovah came to Jeremiah from Jehovah, saying,\r\n Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel: I made a covenant with your fathers in the day that I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage, saying,\r\n At the end of seven years ye shall let go every man his brother that is a Hebrew, that hath been sold unto thee, and hath served thee six years, thou shalt let him go free from thee: but your fathers hearkened not unto me, neither inclined their ear.\r\n And ye were now turned, and had done that which is right in mine eyes, in proclaiming liberty every man to his neighbor; and ye had made a covenant before me in the house which is called by my name:\r\n but ye turned and profaned my name, and caused every man his servant, and every man his handmaid, whom ye had let go free at their pleasure, to return; and ye brought them into subjection, to be unto you for servants and for handmaids.\r\n Therefore thus saith Jehovah: ye have not hearkened unto me, to proclaim liberty, every man to his brother, and every man to his neighbor: behold, I proclaim unto you a liberty, saith Jehovah, to the sword, to the pestilence, and to the famine; and I will make you to be tossed to and fro among all the kingdoms of the earth.\r\n And I will give the men that have transgressed my covenant, that have not performed the words of the covenant which they made before me, when they cut the calf in twain and passed between the parts thereof;\r\n the princes of Judah, and the princes of Jerusalem, the eunuchs, and the priests, and all the people of the land, that passed between the parts of the calf;\r\n I will even give them into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of them that seek their life; and their dead bodies shall be for food unto the birds of the heavens, and to the beasts of the earth.\r\n And Zedekiah king of Judah and his princes will I give into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of them that seek their life, and into the hand of the king of Babylon`s army, that are gone away from you.\r\n Behold, I will command, saith Jehovah, and cause them to return to this city; and they shall fight against it, and take it, and burn it with fire: and I will make the cities of Judah a desolation, without inhabitant.\r\n \r\n \r\n The word which came unto Jeremiah from Jehovah in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, saying,\r\n Go unto the house of the Rechabites, and speak unto them, and bring them into the house of Jehovah, into one of the chambers, and give them wine to drink.\r\n Then I took Jaazaniah the son of Jeremiah, the son of Habazziniah, and his brethren, and all his sons, and the whole house of the Rechabites;\r\n and I brought them into the house of Jehovah, into the chamber of the sons of Hanan the son of Igdaliah, the man of God, which was by the chamber of the princes, which was above the chamber of Maaseiah the son of Shallum, the keeper of the threshold.\r\n And I set before the sons of the house of the Rechabites bowls full of wine, and cups; and I said unto them, Drink ye wine.\r\n But they said, We will drink no wine; for Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, commanded us, saying, Ye shall drink no wine, neither ye, nor your sons, for ever:\r\n neither shall ye build house, nor sow seed, nor plant vineyard, nor have any; but all your days ye shall dwell in tents; that ye may live many days in the land wherein ye sojourn.\r\n And we have obeyed the voice of Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, in all that he charged us, to drink no wine all our days, we, our wives, our sons, or our daughters;\r\n nor to build houses for us to dwell in; neither have we vineyard, nor field, nor seed:\r\n but we have dwelt in tents, and have obeyed, and done according to all that Jonadab our father commanded us.\r\n But it came to pass, when Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon came up into the land, that we said, Come, and let us go to Jerusalem for fear of the army of the Chaldeans, and for fear of the army of the Syrians; so we dwell at Jerusalem.\r\n Then came the word of Jehovah unto Jeremiah, saying,\r\n Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel: Go, and say to the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Will ye not receive instruction to hearken to my words? saith Jehovah.\r\n The words of Jonadab the son of Rechab, that he commanded his sons, not to drink wine, are performed; and unto this day they drink none, for they obey their father`s commandment: but I have spoken unto you, rising up early and speaking; and ye have not hearkened unto me.\r\n I have sent also unto you all my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, Return ye now every man from his evil way, and amend your doings, and go not after other gods to serve them, and ye shall dwell in the land which I have given to you and to your fathers: but ye have not inclined your ear, nor hearkened unto me.\r\n Forasmuch as the sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab have performed the commandment of their father which he commanded them, but this people hath not hearkened unto me;\r\n therefore thus saith Jehovah, the God of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I will bring upon Judah and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem all the evil that I have pronounced against them; because I have spoken unto them, but they have not heard; and I have called unto them, but they have not answered.\r\n And Jeremiah said unto the house of the Rechabites, Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel: Because ye have obeyed the commandment of Jonadab your father, and kept all his precepts, and done according unto all that he commanded you;\r\n therefore thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel: Jonadab the son of Rechab shall not want a man to stand before me for ever.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, that this word came unto Jeremiah from Jehovah, saying,\r\n Take thee a roll of a book, and write therein all the words that I have spoken unto thee against Israel, and against Judah, and against all the nations, from the day I spake unto thee, from the days of Josiah, even unto this day.\r\n It may be that the house of Judah will hear all the evil which I purpose to do unto them; that they may return every man from his evil way; that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin.\r\n Then Jeremiah called Baruch the son of Neriah; and Baruch wrote from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of Jehovah, which he had spoken unto him, upon a roll of a book.\r\n And Jeremiah commanded Baruch, saying, I am shut up; I cannot go into the house of Jehovah:\r\n therefore go thou, and read in the roll, which thou hast written from my mouth, the words of Jehovah in the ears of the people in Jehovah`s house upon the fast-day; and also thou shalt read them in the ears of all Judah that come out of their cities.\r\n It may be they will present their supplication before Jehovah, and will return every one from his evil way; for great is the anger and the wrath that Jehovah hath pronounced against this people.\r\n And Baruch the son of Neriah did according to all that Jeremiah the prophet commanded him, reading in the book the words of Jehovah in Jehovah`s house.\r\n Now it came to pass in the fifth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, in the ninth month, that all the people in Jerusalem, and all the people that came from the cities of Judah unto Jerusalem, proclaimed a fast before Jehovah.\r\n Then read Baruch in the book the words of Jeremiah in the house of Jehovah, in the chamber of Gemariah the son of Shaphan, the scribe, in the upper court, at the entry of the new gate of Jehovah`s house, in the ears of all the people.\r\n And when Micaiah the son of Gemariah, the son of Shaphan, had heard out of the book all the words of Jehovah,\r\n he went down into the king`s house, into the scribe`s chamber: and, lo, all the princes were sitting there, [to wit], Elishama the scribe, and Delaiah the son of Shemaiah, and Elnathan the son of Achbor, and Gemariah the son of Shaphan, and Zedekiah the son of Hananiah, and all the princes.\r\n Then Micaiah declared unto them all the words that he had heard, when Baruch read the book in the ears of the people.\r\n Therefore all the princes sent Jehudi the son of Nethaniah, the son of Shelemiah, the son of Cushi, unto Baruch, saying, Take in thy hand the roll wherein thou hast read in the ears of the people, and come. So Baruch the son of Neriah took the roll in his hand, and came unto them.\r\n And they said unto him, Sit down now, and read it in our ears. So Baruch read it in their ears.\r\n Now it came to pass, when they had heard all the words, they turned in fear one toward another, and said unto Baruch, We will surely tell the king of all these words.\r\n And they asked Baruch, saying, Tell us now, How didst thou write all these words at his mouth?\r\n Then Baruch answered them, He pronounced all these words unto me with his mouth, and I wrote them with ink in the book.\r\n Then said the princes unto Baruch, Go, hide thee, thou and Jeremiah; and let no man know where ye are.\r\n And they went in to the king into the court; but they had laid up the roll in the chamber of Elishama the scribe; and they told all the words in the ears of the king.\r\n So the king sent Jehudi to fetch the roll; and he took it out of the chamber of Elishama the scribe. And Jehudi read it in the ears of the king, and in the ears of all the princes that stood beside the king.\r\n Now the king was sitting in the winter-house in the ninth month: and [there was a fire in] the brazier burning before him.\r\n And it came to pass, when Jehudi had read three or four leaves, that [the king] cut it with the penknife, and cast it into the fire that was in the brazier, until all the roll was consumed in the fire that was in the brazier.\r\n And they were not afraid, nor rent their garments, neither the king, nor any of his servants that heard all these words.\r\n Moreover Elnathan and Delaiah and Gemariah had made intercession to the king that he would not burn the roll; but he would not hear them.\r\n And the king commanded Jerahmeel the king`s son, and Seraiah the son of Azriel, and Shelemiah the son of Abdeel, to take Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet; but Jehovah hid them.\r\n Then the word of Jehovah came to Jeremiah, after that the king had burned the roll, and the words which Baruch wrote at the mouth of Jeremiah, saying,\r\n Take thee again another roll, and write in it all the former words that were in the first roll, which Jehoiakim the king of Judah hath burned.\r\n And concerning Jehoiakim king of Judah thou shalt say, Thus saith Jehovah: Thou hast burned this roll, saying, Why hast thou written therein, saying, The king of Babylon shall certainly come and destroy this land, and shall cause to cease from thence man and beast?\r\n Therefore thus saith Jehovah concerning Jehoiakim king of Judah: He shall have none to sit upon the throne of David; and his dead body shall be cast out in the day to the heat, and in the night to the frost.\r\n And I will punish him and his seed and his servants for their iniquity; and I will bring upon them, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and upon the men of Judah, all the evil that I have pronounced against them, but they hearkened not.\r\n Then took Jeremiah another roll, and gave it to Baruch the scribe, the son of Neriah, who wrote therein from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the book which Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned in the fire; and there were added besides unto them many like words.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Zedekiah the son of Josiah reigned as king, instead of Coniah the son of Jehoiakim, whom Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon made king in the land of Judah.\r\n But neither he, nor his servants, nor the people of the land, did hearken unto the words of Jehovah, which he spake by the prophet Jeremiah.\r\n And Zedekiah the king sent Jehucal the son of Shelemiah, and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah, the priest, to the prophet Jeremiah, saying, Pray now unto Jehovah our God for us.\r\n Now Jeremiah came in and went out among the people; for they had not put him into prison.\r\n And Pharaoh`s army was come forth out of Egypt; and when the Chaldeans that were besieging Jerusalem heard tidings of them, they brake up from Jerusalem.\r\n Then came the word of Jehovah unto the prophet Jeremiah, saying,\r\n Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, Thus shall ye say to the king of Judah, that sent you unto me to inquire of me: Behold, Pharaoh`s army, which is come forth to help you, shall return to Egypt into their own land.\r\n And the Chaldeans shall come again, and fight against this city; and they shall take it, and burn it with fire.\r\n Thus saith Jehovah, Deceive not yourselves, saying, The Chaldeans shall surely depart from us; for they shall not depart.\r\n For though ye had smitten the whole army of the Chaldeans that fight against you, and there remained but wounded men among them, yea would they rise up every man in his tent, and burn this city with fire.\r\n And it came to pass that, when the army of the Chaldeans was broken up from Jerusalem for fear of Pharaoh`s army,\r\n then Jeremiah went forth out of Jerusalem to go into the land of Benjamin, to receive his portion there, in the midst of the people.\r\n And when he was in the gate of Benjamin, a captain of the ward was there, whose name was Irijah, the son of Shelemiah, the son of Hananiah; and he laid hold on Jeremiah the prophet, saying, Thou art falling away to the Chaldeans.\r\n Then said Jeremiah, It is false; I am not falling away to the Chaldeans. But he hearkened not to him; so Irijah laid hold on Jeremiah, and brought him to the princes.\r\n And the princes were wroth with Jeremiah, and smote him, and put him in prison in the house of Jonathan the scribe; for they had made that the prison.\r\n When Jeremiah was come into the dungeon-house, and into the cells, and Jeremiah had remained there many days;\r\n Then Zedekiah the king sent, and fetched him: and the king asked him secretly in his house, and said, Is there any word from Jehovah? And Jeremiah said, There is. He said also, Thou shalt be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon.\r\n Moreover Jeremiah said unto king Zedekiah, Wherein have I sinned against thee, or against thy servants, or against this people, that ye have put me in prison?\r\n Where now are your prophets that prophesied unto you, saying, The king of Babylon shall not come against you, nor against this land?\r\n And now hear, I pray thee, O my lord the king: let my supplication, I pray thee, be presented before thee, that thou cause me not to return to the house of Jonathan the scribe, lest I die there.\r\n Then Zedekiah the king commanded, and they committed Jeremiah into the court of the guard; and they gave him daily a loaf of bread out of the bakers` street, until all the bread in the city was spent. Thus Jeremiah remained in the court of the guard.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Shephatiah the son of Mattan, and Gedaliah the son of Pashhur, and Jucal the son of Shelemiah, and Pashhur the son of Malchijah, heard the words that Jeremiah spake unto all the people, saying,\r\n Thus saith Jehovah, He that abideth in this city shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence; but he that goeth forth to the Chaldeans shall live, and his life shall be unto him for a prey, and he shall live.\r\n Thus saith Jehovah, This city shall surely be given into the hand of the army of the king of Babylon, and he shall take it.\r\n Then the princes said unto the king, Let this man, we pray thee, be put to death; forasmuch as he weakeneth the hands of the men of war that remain in this city, and the hands of all the people, in speaking such words unto them: for this man seeketh not the welfare of this people, but the hurt.\r\n And Zedekiah the king said, Behold, he is in your hand; for the king is not he that can do anything against you.\r\n Then took they Jeremiah, and cast him into the dungeon of Malchijah the king`s son, that was in the court of the guard: and they let down Jeremiah with cords. And in the dungeon there was no water, but mire; and Jeremiah sank in the mire.\r\n Now when Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, a eunuch, who was in the king`s house, heard that they had put Jeremiah in the dungeon (the king then sitting in the gate of Benjamin,)\r\n Ebed-melech went forth out of the king`s house, and spake to the king, saying,\r\n My lord the king, these men have done evil in all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet, whom they have cast into the dungeon; and he is like to die in the place where he is, because of the famine; for there is no more bread in the city.\r\n Then the king commanded Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, saying, Take from hence thirty men with thee, and take up Jeremiah the prophet out of the dungeon, before he die.\r\n So Ebed-melech took the men with him, and went into the house of the king under the treasury, and took thence rags and worn-out garments, and let them down by cords into the dungeon to Jeremiah.\r\n And Ebed-melech the Ethiopian said unto Jeremiah, Put now these rags and worn-out garments under thine armholes under the cords. And Jeremiah did so.\r\n So they drew up Jeremiah with the cords, and took him up out of the dungeon: and Jeremiah remained in the court of the guard.\r\n Then Zedekiah the king sent, and took Jeremiah the prophet unto him into the third entry that is in the house of Jehovah: and the king said unto Jeremiah, I will ask thee a thing; hide nothing from me.\r\n Then Jeremiah said unto Zedekiah, If I declare it unto thee, wilt thou not surely put me to death? and if I give thee counsel, thou wilt not hearken unto me.\r\n So Zedekiah the king sware secretly unto Jeremiah, saying, As Jehovah liveth, that made us this soul, I will not put thee to death, neither will I give thee into the hand of these men that seek thy life.\r\n Then said Jeremiah unto Zedekiah, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of hosts, the God of Israel: If thou wilt go forth unto the king of Babylon`s princes, then thy soul shall live, and this city shall not be burned with fire; and thou shalt live, and thy house.\r\n But if thou wilt not go forth to the king of Babylon`s princes, then shall this city be given into the hand of the Chaldeans, and they shall burn it with fire, and thou shalt not escape out of their hand.\r\n And Zedekiah the king said unto Jeremiah, I am afraid of the Jews that are fallen away to the Chaldeans, lest they deliver me into their hand, and they mock me.\r\n But Jeremiah said, They shall not deliver thee. Obey, I beseech thee, the voice of Jehovah, in that which I speak unto thee: so it shall be well with thee, and thy soul shall live.\r\n But if thou refuse to go forth, this is the word that Jehovah hath showed me:\r\n behold, all the women that are left in the king of Judah`s house shall be brought forth to the king of Babylon`s princes, and those women shall say, Thy familiar friends have set thee on, and have prevailed over thee: [now that] thy feet are sunk in the mire, they are turned away back.\r\n And they shall bring out all thy wives and thy children to the Chaldeans; and thou shalt not escape out of their hand, but shalt be taken by the hand of the king of Babylon: and thou shalt cause this city to be burned with fire.\r\n Then said Zedekiah unto Jeremiah, Let no man know of these words, and thou shalt not die.\r\n But if the princes hear that I have talked with thee, and they come unto thee, and say unto thee, Declare unto us now what thou hast said unto the king; hide it not from us, and we will not put thee to death; also what the king said unto thee:\r\n then thou shalt say unto them, I presented my supplication before the king, that he would not cause me to return to Jonathan`s house, to die there.\r\n Then came all the princes unto Jeremiah, and asked him; and he told them according to all these words that the king had commanded. So they left off speaking with him; for the matter was not perceived.\r\n So Jeremiah abode in the court of the guard until the day that Jerusalem was taken.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass when Jerusalem was taken, (in the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, came Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon and all his army against Jerusalem, and besieged it;\r\n in the eleventh year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month, the ninth day of the month, a breach was made in the city,)\r\n that all the princes of the king of Babylon came in, and sat in the middle gate, [to wit], Nergal-sharezer, Samgar-nebo, Sarsechim, Rab-saris, Nergal-sharezer, Rab-mag, with all the rest of the princes of the king of Babylon.\r\n And it came to pass that, when Zedekiah the king of Judah and all the men of war saw them, then they fled, and went forth out of the city by night, by the way of the king`s garden, through the gate betwixt the two walls; and he went out toward the Arabah.\r\n But the army of the Chaldeans pursued after them, and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho: and when they had taken him, they brought him up to Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon to Riblah in the land of Hamath; and he gave judgment upon him.\r\n Then the king of Babylon slew the sons of Zedekiah in Riblah before his eyes: also the king of Babylon slew all the nobles of Judah.\r\n Moreover he put out Zedekiah`s eyes, and bound him in fetters, to carry him to Babylon.\r\n And the Chaldeans burned the king`s house, and the houses of the people, with fire, and brake down the walls of Jerusalem.\r\n Then Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive into Babylon the residue of the people that remained in the city, the deserters also that fell away to him, and the residue of the people that remained.\r\n But Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard left of the poor of the people, that had nothing, in the land of Judah, and gave them vineyards and fields at the same time.\r\n Now Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon gave charge concerning Jeremiah to Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, saying,\r\n Take him, and look well to him, and do him no harm; but do unto him even as he shall say unto thee.\r\n So Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard sent, and Nebushazban, Rab-saris, and Nergal-sharezer, Rab-mag, and all the chief officers of the king of Babylon;\r\n they sent, and took Jeremiah out of the court of the guard, and committed him unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, that he should carry him home: so he dwelt among the people.\r\n Now the word of Jehovah came unto Jeremiah, while he was shut up in the court of the guard, saying,\r\n Go, and speak to Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, saying, Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I will bring my words upon this city for evil, and not for good; and they shall be accomplished before thee in that day.\r\n But I will deliver thee in that day, saith Jehovah; and thou shalt not be given into the hand of the men of whom thou art afraid.\r\n For I will surely save thee, and thou shalt not fall by the sword, but thy life shall be for a prey unto thee; because thou hast put thy trust in me, saith Jehovah.\r\n \r\n \r\n The word which came to Jeremiah from Jehovah, after that Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had let him go from Ramah, when he had taken him being bound in chains among all the captives of Jerusalem and Judah, that were carried away captive unto Babylon.\r\n And the captain of the guard took Jeremiah, and said unto him, Jehovah thy God pronounced this evil upon this place;\r\n and Jehovah hath brought it, and done according as he spake: because ye have sinned against Jehovah, and have not obeyed his voice, therefore this thing is come upon you.\r\n And now, behold, I loose thee this day from the chains which are upon thy hand. If it seem good unto thee to come with me into Babylon, come, and I will look well unto thee; but if it seem ill unto thee to come with me into Babylon, forbear: behold, all the land is before thee; whither it seemeth good and right unto thee to go, thither go.\r\n Now while he was not yet gone back, Go back then, [said he], to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon hath made governor over the cities of Judah, and dwell with him among the people; or go wheresoever it seemeth right unto thee to go. So the captain of the guard gave him victuals and a present, and let him go.\r\n Then went Jeremiah unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah, and dwelt with him among the people that were left in the land.\r\n Now when all the captains of the forces that were in the fields, even they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam governor in the land, and had committed unto him men, and women, and children, and of the poorest of the land, of them that were not carried away captive to Babylon;\r\n then they came to Gedaliah to Mizpah, [to wit], Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and Johanan and Jonathan the sons of Kareah, and Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth, and the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, and Jezaniah the son of the Maacathite, they and their men.\r\n And Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan sware unto them and to their men, saying, Fear not to serve the Chaldeans: dwell in the land, and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be well with you.\r\n As for me, behold, I will dwell at Mizpah, to stand before the Chaldeans that shall come unto us: but ye, gather ye wine and summer fruits and oil, and put them in your vessels, and dwell in your cities that ye have taken.\r\n Likewise when all the Jews that were in Moab, and among the children of Ammon, and in Edom, and that were in all the countries, heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant of Judah, and that he had set over them Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan;\r\n then all the Jews returned out of all places whither they were driven, and came to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah, unto Mizpah, and gathered wine and summer fruits very much.\r\n Moreover Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were in the fields, came to Gedaliah to Mizpah,\r\n and said unto him, Dost thou know that Baalis the king of the children of Ammon hath sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to take thy life? But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam believed them not.\r\n Then Johanan the son of Kareah spake to Gedaliah in Mizpah secretly, saying, Let me go, I pray thee, and I will slay Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and no man shall know it: wherefore should he take thy life, that all the Jews that are gathered unto thee should be scattered, and the remnant of Judah perish?\r\n But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam said unto Johanan the son of Kareah, Thou shalt not do this thing; for thou speakest falsely of Ishmael.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now it came to pass in the seventh month, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, of the seed royal and [one of] the chief officers of the king, and ten men with him, came unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah; and there they did eat bread together in Mizpah.\r\n Then arose Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and the ten men that were with him, and smote Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan with the sword, and slew him, whom the king of Babylon had made governor over the land.\r\n Ishmael also slew all the Jews that were with him, [to wit], with Gedaliah, at Mizpah, and the Chaldeans that were found there, the men of war.\r\n And it came to pass the second day after he had slain Gedaliah, and no man knew it,\r\n that there came men from Shechem, from Shiloh, and from Samaria, even fourscore men, having their beards shaven and their clothes rent, and having cut themselves, with meal-offerings and frankincense in their hand, to bring them to the house of Jehovah.\r\n And Ishmael the son of Nethaniah went forth from Mizpah to meet them, weeping all along as he went: and it came to pass, as he met them, he said unto them, Come to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam.\r\n And it was so, when they came into the midst of the city, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah slew them, [and cast them] into the midst of the pit, he, and the men that were with him.\r\n But ten men were found among them that said unto Ishmael, Slay us not; for we have stores hidden in the field, of wheat, and of barley, and of oil, and of honey. So he forbare, and slew them not among their brethren.\r\n Now the pit wherein Ishmael cast all the dead bodies of the men whom he had slain, by the side of Gedaliah (the same was that which Asa the king had made for fear of Baasha king of Israel,) Ishmael the son of Nethaniah filled it with them that were slain.\r\n Then Ishmael carried away captive all the residue of the people that were in Mizpah, even the king`s daughters, and all the people that remained in Mizpah, whom Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had committed to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam; Ishmael the son of Nethaniah carried them away captive, and departed to go over to the children of Ammon.\r\n But when Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were with him, heard of all the evil that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah had done,\r\n then they took all the men, and went to fight with Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and found him by the great waters that are in Gibeon.\r\n Now it came to pass that, when all the people that were with Ishmael saw Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were with him, then they were glad.\r\n So all the people that Ishmael had carried away captive from Mizpah turned about and came back, and went unto Johanan the son of Kareah.\r\n But Ishmael the son of Nethaniah escaped from Johanan with eight men, and went to the children of Ammon.\r\n Then took Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were with him, all the remnant of the people whom he had recovered from Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, from Mizpah, after that he had slain Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, [to wit], the men of war, and the women, and the children, and the eunuchs, whom he had brought back from Gibeon:\r\n and they departed, and dwelt in Geruth Chimham, which is by Beth-lehem, to go to enter into Egypt,\r\n because of the Chaldeans; for they were afraid of them, because Ishmael the son of Nethaniah had slain Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, whom the king of Babylon made governor over the land.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then all the captains of the forces, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and Jezaniah the son of Hoshaiah, and all the people from the least even unto the greatest, came near,\r\n and said unto Jeremiah the prophet, Let, we pray thee, our supplication be presented before thee, and pray for us unto Jehovah thy God, even for all this remnant; for we are left but a few of many, as thine eyes do behold us:\r\n that Jehovah thy God may show us the way wherein we should walk, and the thing that we should do.\r\n Then Jeremiah the prophet said unto them, I have heard you; behold, I will pray unto Jehovah your God according to your words; and it shall come to pass that whatsoever thing Jehovah shall answer you, I will declare it unto you; I will keep nothing back from you.\r\n Then they said to Jeremiah, Jehovah be a true and faithful witness amongst us, if we do not according to all the word wherewith Jehovah thy God shall send thee to us.\r\n Whether it be good, or whether it be evil, we will obey the voice of Jehovah our God, to whom we send thee; that it may be well with us, when we obey the voice of Jehovah our God.\r\n And it came to pass after ten days, that the word of Jehovah came unto Jeremiah.\r\n Then called he Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were with him, and all the people from the least even to the greatest,\r\n and said unto them, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, unto whom ye sent me to present your supplication before him:\r\n If ye will still abide in this land, then will I build you, and not pull you down, and I will plant you, and not pluck you up; for I repent me of the evil that I have done unto you.\r\n Be not afraid of the king of Babylon, of whom ye are afraid; be not afraid of him, saith Jehovah: for I am with you to save you, and to deliver you from his hand.\r\n And I will grant you mercy, that he may have mercy upon you, and cause you to return to your own land.\r\n But if ye say, We will not dwell in this land; so that ye obey not the voice of Jehovah your God,\r\n saying, No; but we will go into the land of Egypt, where we shall see no war, nor hear the sound of the trumpet, nor have hunger of bread; and there will we dwell:\r\n now therefore hear ye the word of Jehovah, O remnant of Judah: Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel, If ye indeed set your faces to enter into Egypt, and go to sojourn there;\r\n then it shall come to pass, that the sword, which ye fear, shall overtake you there in the land of Egypt; and the famine, whereof ye are afraid, shall follow hard after you there in Egypt; and there ye shall die.\r\n So shall it be with all the men that set their faces to go into Egypt to sojourn there: they shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence; and none of them shall remain or escape from the evil that I will bring upon them.\r\n For thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel: As mine anger and my wrath hath been poured forth upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so shall my wrath be poured forth upon you, when ye shall enter into Egypt; and ye shall be an execration, and an astonishment, and a curse, and a reproach; and ye shall see this place no more.\r\n Jehovah hath spoken concerning you, O remnant of Judah, Go ye not into Egypt: know certainly that I have testified unto you this day.\r\n For ye have dealt deceitfully against your own souls; for ye sent me unto Jehovah your God, saying, Pray for us unto Jehovah our God; and according unto all that Jehovah our God shall say, so declare unto us, and we will do it:\r\n and I have this day declared it to you; but ye have not obeyed the voice of Jehovah your God in anything for which he hath sent me unto you.\r\n Now therefore know certainly that ye shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence, in the place whither ye desire to go to sojourn there.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass that, when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking unto all the people all the words of Jehovah their God, wherewith Jehovah their God had sent him to them, even all these words,\r\n then spake Azariah the son of Hoshaiah, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the proud men, saying unto Jeremiah, Thou speakest falsely: Jehovah our God hath not sent thee to say, Ye shall not go into Egypt to sojourn there;\r\n but Baruch the son of Neriah setteth thee on against us, to deliver us into the hand of the Chaldeans, that they may put us to death, and carry us away captive to Babylon.\r\n So Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces, and all the people, obeyed not the voice of Jehovah, to dwell in the land of Judah.\r\n But Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces, took all the remnant of Judah, that were returned from all the nations whither they had been driven, to sojourn in the land of Judah;\r\n the men, and the women, and the children, and the king`s daughters, and every person that Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had left with Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan; and Jeremiah the prophet, and Baruch the son of Neriah;\r\n and they came into the land of Egypt; for they obeyed not the voice of Jehovah: and they came unto Tahpanhes.\r\n Then came the word of Jehovah unto Jeremiah in Tahpanhes, saying,\r\n Take great stones in thy hand, and hide them in mortar in the brickwork, which is at the entry of Pharaoh`s house in Tahpanhes, in the sight of the men of Judah;\r\n and say unto them, Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I will send and take Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will set his throne upon these stones that I have hid; and he shall spread his royal pavilion over them.\r\n And he shall come, and shall smite the land of Egypt; such as are for death [shall be given] to death, and such as are for captivity to captivity, and such as are for the sword to the sword.\r\n And I will kindle a fire in the houses of the gods of Egypt; and he shall burn them, and carry them away captive: and he shall array himself with the land of Egypt, as a shepherd putteth on his garment; and he shall go forth from thence in peace.\r\n He shall also break the pillars of Beth-shemesh, that is in the land of Egypt; and the houses of the gods of Egypt shall he burn with fire.\r\n \r\n \r\n The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the Jews that dwelt in the land of Egypt, that dwelt at Migdol, and at Tahpanhes, and at Memphis, and in the country of Pathros, saying,\r\n Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel: Ye have seen all the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem, and upon all the cities of Judah; and, behold, this day they are a desolation, and no man dwelleth therein,\r\n because of their wickedness which they have committed to provoke me to anger, in that they went to burn incense, [and] to serve other gods, that they knew not, neither they, nor ye, nor your fathers.\r\n Howbeit I sent unto you all my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, Oh, do not this abominable thing that I hate.\r\n But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear to turn from their wickedness, to burn no incense unto other gods.\r\n Wherefore my wrath and mine anger was poured forth, and was kindled in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem; and they are wasted and desolate, as it is this day.\r\n Therefore now thus saith Jehovah, the God of hosts, the God of Israel: Wherefore commit ye [this] great evil against your own souls, to cut off from you man and woman, infant and suckling, out of the midst of Judah, to leave you none remaining;\r\n in that ye provoke me unto anger with the works of your hands, burning incense unto other gods in the land of Egypt, whither ye are gone to sojourn; that ye may be cut off, and that ye may be a curse and a reproach among all the nations of the earth?\r\n Have ye forgotten the wickedness of your fathers, and the wickedness of the kings of Judah, and the wickedness of their wives, and your own wickedness, and the wickedness of your wives which they committed in the land of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem?\r\n They are not humbled even unto this day, neither have they feared, nor walked in my law, nor in my statutes, that I set before you and before your fathers.\r\n Therefore thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I will set my face against you for evil, even to cut off all Judah.\r\n And I will take the remnant of Judah, that have set their faces to go into the land of Egypt to sojourn there, and they shall all be consumed; in the land of Egypt shall they fall; they shall be consumed by the sword and by the famine; they shall die, from the least even unto the greatest, by the sword and by the famine; and they shall be an execration, [and] an astonishment, and a curse, and a reproach.\r\n For I will punish them that dwell in the land of Egypt, as I have punished Jerusalem, by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence;\r\n so that none of the remnant of Judah, that are gone into the land of Egypt to sojourn there, shall escape or be left, to return into the land of Judah, to which they have a desire to return to dwell there: for none shall return save such as shall escape.\r\n Then all the men who knew that their wives burned incense unto other gods, and all the women that stood by, a great assembly, even all the people that dwelt in the land of Egypt, in Pathros, answered Jeremiah, saying,\r\n As for the word that thou hast spoken unto us in the name of Jehovah, we will not hearken unto thee.\r\n But we will certainly perform every word that is gone forth out of our mouth, to burn incense unto the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink-offerings unto her, as we have done, we and our fathers, our kings and our princes, in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem; for then had we plenty of victuals, and were well, and saw no evil.\r\n But since we left off burning incense to the queen of heaven, and pouring out drink-offerings unto her, we have wanted all things, and have been consumed by the sword and by the famine.\r\n And when we burned incense to the queen of heaven, and poured out drink-offerings unto her, did we make her cakes to worship her, and pour out drink-offerings unto her, without our husbands?\r\n Then Jeremiah said unto all the people, to the men, and to the women, even to all the people that had given him that answer, saying,\r\n The incense that ye burned in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, ye and your fathers, your kings and your princes, and the people of the land, did not Jehovah remember them, and came it not into his mind?\r\n so that Jehovah could not longer bear, because of the evil of your doings, and because of the abominations which ye have committed; therefore is your land become a desolation, and an astonishment, and a curse, without inhabitant, as it is this day.\r\n Because ye have burned incense, and because ye have sinned against Jehovah, and have not obeyed the voice of Jehovah, nor walked in his law, nor in his statutes, nor in his testimonies; therefore this evil is happened unto you, as it is this day.\r\n Moreover Jeremiah said unto all the people, and to all the women, Hear the word of Jehovah, all Judah that are in the land of Egypt:\r\n Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel, saying, Ye and your wives have both spoken with your mouths, and with your hands have fulfilled it, saying, We will surely perform our vows that we have vowed, to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink-offerings unto her: establish then your vows, and perform your vows.\r\n Therefore hear ye the word of Jehovah, all Judah that dwell in the land of Egypt: Behold, I have sworn by my great name, saith Jehovah, that my name shall no more be named in the mouth of any man of Judah in all the land of Egypt, saying, As the Lord Jehovah liveth.\r\n Behold, I watch over them for evil, and not for good; and all the men of Judah that are in the land of Egypt shall be consumed by the sword and by the famine, until there be an end of them.\r\n And they that escape the sword shall return out of the land of Egypt into the land of Judah, few in number; and all the remnant of Judah, that are gone into the land of Egypt to sojourn there, shall know whose word shall stand, mine, or theirs.\r\n And this shall be the sign unto you, saith Jehovah, that I will punish you in this place, that ye may know that my words shall surely stand against you for evil:\r\n Thus saith Jehovah, Behold, I will give Pharaoh Hophra king of Egypt into the hand of his enemies, and into the hand of them that seek his life; as I gave Zedekiah king of Judah into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, who was his enemy, and sought his life.\r\n \r\n \r\n The word that Jeremiah the prophet spake unto Baruch the son of Neriah, when he wrote these word in a book at the mouth of Jeremiah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, saying,\r\n Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, unto thee, O Baruch:\r\n Thou didst say, Woe is me now! for Jehovah hath added sorrow to my pain; I am weary with my groaning, and I find no rest.\r\n Thus shalt thou say unto him, Thus saith Jehovah: Behold, that which I have built will I break down, and that which I have planted I will pluck up; and this in the whole land.\r\n And seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not; for, behold, I will bring evil upon all flesh, saith Jehovah; but thy life will I give unto thee for a prey in all places whither thou goest.\r\n \r\n \r\n The word of Jehovah which came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the nations.\r\n Of Egypt: concerning the army of Pharaoh-neco king of Egypt, which was by the river Euphrates in Carchemish, which Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon smote in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah.\r\n Prepare ye the buckler and shield, and draw near to battle.\r\n Harness the horses, and get up, ye horsemen, and stand forth with your helmets; furbish the spears, put on the coats of mail.\r\n Wherefore have I seen it? they are dismayed and are turned backward; and their mighty ones are beaten down, and are fled apace, and look not back: terror is on every side, saith Jehovah.\r\n Let not the swift flee away, nor the mighty man escape; in the north by the river Euphrates have they stumbled and fallen.\r\n Who is this that riseth up like the Nile, whose waters toss themselves like the rivers?\r\n Egypt riseth up like the Nile, and his waters toss themselves like the rivers: and he saith, I will rise up, I will cover the earth; I will destroy cities and the inhabitants thereof.\r\n Go up, ye horses; and rage, ye chariots; and let the mighty men go forth: Cush and Put, that handle the shield; and the Ludim, that handle and bend the bow.\r\n For that day is [a day] of the Lord, Jehovah of hosts, a day of vengeance, that he may avenge him of his adversaries: and the sword shall devour and be satiate, and shall drink its fill of their blood; for the Lord, Jehovah of hosts, hath a sacrifice in the north country by the river Euphrates.\r\n Go up into Gilead, and take balm, O virgin daughter of Egypt: in vain dost thou use many medicines; there is no healing for thee.\r\n The nations have heard of thy shame, and the earth is full of thy cry; for the mighty man hath stumbled against the mighty, they are fallen both of them together.\r\n The word that Jehovah spake to Jeremiah the prophet, how that Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon should come and smite the land of Egypt.\r\n Declare ye in Egypt, and publish in Migdol, and publish in Memphis and in Tahpanhes: say ye, Stand forth, and prepare thee; for the sword hath devoured round about thee.\r\n Why are thy strong ones swept away? they stood not, because Jehovah did drive them.\r\n He made many to stumble, yea, they fell one upon another: and they said, Arise, and let us go again to our own people, and to the land of our nativity, from the oppressing sword.\r\n They cried there, Pharaoh king of Egypt is but a noise; he hath let the appointed time pass by.\r\n As I live, saith the King, whose name is Jehovah of hosts, surely like Tabor among the mountains, and like Carmel by the sea, so shall he come.\r\n O thou daughter that dwellest in Egypt, furnish thyself to go into captivity; for Memphis shall become a desolation, and shall be burnt up, without inhabitant.\r\n Egypt is a very fair heifer; [but] destruction out of the north is come, it is come.\r\n Also her hired men in the midst of her are like calves of the stall; for they also are turned back, they are fled away together, they did not stand: for the day of their calamity is come upon them, the time of their visitation.\r\n The sound thereof shall go like the serpent; for they shall march with an army, and come against her with axes, as hewers of wood.\r\n They shall cut down her forest, saith Jehovah, though it cannot be searched; because they are more than the locusts, and are innumerable.\r\n The daughter of Egypt shall be put to shame; she shall be delivered into the hand of the people of the north.\r\n Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel, saith: Behold, I will punish Amon of No, and Pharaoh, and Egypt, with her gods, and her kings; even Pharaoh, and them that trust in him:\r\n and I will deliver them into the hand of those that seek their lives, and into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of his servants; and afterwards it shall be inhabited, as in the days of old, saith Jehovah.\r\n But fear not thou, O Jacob my servant, neither be dismayed, O Israel: for, lo, I will save thee from afar, and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and shall be quiet and at ease, and none shall make him afraid.\r\n Fear not thou, O Jacob my servant, saith Jehovah; for I am with thee: for I will make a full end of all the nations whither I have driven thee; but I will not make a full end of thee, but I will correct thee in measure, and will in no wise leave thee unpunished.\r\n \r\n \r\n The word of Jehovah that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the Philistines, before that Pharaoh smote Gaza.\r\n Thus saith Jehovah: Behold, waters rise up out of the north, and shall become an overflowing stream, and shall overflow the land and all that is therein, the city and them that dwell therein; and the men shall cry, and all the inhabitants of the land shall wail.\r\n At the noise of the stamping of the hoofs of his strong ones, at the rushing of his chariots, at the rumbling of his wheels, the fathers look not back to their children for feebleness of hands;\r\n because of the day that cometh to destroy all the Philistines, to cut off from Tyre and Sidon every helper that remaineth: for Jehovah will destroy the Philistines, the remnant of the isle of Caphtor.\r\n Baldness is come upon Gaza; Ashkelon is brought to nought, the remnant of their valley: how long wilt thou cut thyself?\r\n O thou sword of Jehovah, how long will it be ere thou be quiet? put up thyself into thy scabbard; rest, and be still.\r\n How canst thou be quiet, seeing Jehovah hath given thee a charge? Against Ashkelon, and against the sea-shore, there hath he appointed it.\r\n \r\n \r\n Of Moab. Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel: Woe unto Nebo! for it is laid waste; Kiriathaim is put to shame, it is taken; Misgab is put to shame and broken down.\r\n The praise of Moab is no more; in Heshbon they have devised evil against her: Come, and let us cut her off from being a nation. Thou also, O Madmen, shalt be brought to silence: the sword shall pursue thee.\r\n The sound of a cry from Horonaim, desolation and great destruction!\r\n Moab is destroyed; her little ones have caused a cry to be heard.\r\n For by the ascent of Luhith with continual weeping shall they go up; for at the descent of Horonaim they have heard the distress of the cry of destruction.\r\n Flee, save your lives, and be like the heath in the wilderness.\r\n For, because thou hast trusted in thy works and in thy treasures, thou also shalt be taken: and Chemosh shall go forth into captivity, his priests and his princes together.\r\n And the destroyer shall come upon every city, and no city shall escape; the valley also shall perish, and the plain shall be destroyed; as Jehovah hath spoken.\r\n Give wings unto Moab, that she may fly and get her away: and her cities shall become a desolation, without any to dwell therein.\r\n Cursed be he that doeth the work of Jehovah negligently; and cursed be he that keepeth back his sword from blood.\r\n Moab hath been at ease from his youth, and he hath settled on his lees, and hath not been emptied from vessel to vessel, neither hath he gone into captivity: therefore his taste remaineth in him, and his scent is not changed.\r\n Therefore, behold, the days come, saith Jehovah, that I will send unto him them that pour off, and they shall pour him off; and they shall empty his vessels, and break their bottles in pieces.\r\n And Moab shall be ashamed of Chemosh, as the house of Israel was ashamed of Beth-el their confidence.\r\n How say ye, We are mighty men, and valiant men for the war?\r\n Moab is laid waste, and they are gone up into his cities, and his chosen young men are gone down to the slaughter, saith the King, whose name is Jehovah of hosts.\r\n The calamity of Moab is near to come, and his affliction hasteth fast.\r\n All ye that are round about him, bemoan him, and all ye that know his name; say, How is the strong staff broken, the beautiful rod!\r\n O thou daughter that dwellest in Dibon, come down from thy glory, and sit in thirst; for the destroyer of Moab is come up against thee, he hath destroyed thy strongholds.\r\n O inhabitant of Aroer, stand by the way, and watch: ask him that fleeth, and her that escapeth; say, What hath been done?\r\n Moab is put to shame; for it is broken down: wail and cry; tell ye it by the Arnon, that Moab is laid waste.\r\n And judgment is come upon the plain country, upon Holon, and upon Jahzah, and upon Mephaath,\r\n and upon Dibon, and upon Nebo, and upon Beth-diblathaim,\r\n and upon Kiriathaim, and upon Beth-gamul, and upon Beth-meon,\r\n and upon Kerioth, and upon Bozrah, and upon all the cities of the land of Moab, far or near.\r\n The horn of Moab is cut off, and his arm is broken, saith Jehovah.\r\n Make ye him drunken; for he magnified himself against Jehovah: and Moab shall wallow in his vomit, and he also shall be in derision.\r\n For was not Israel a derision unto thee? was he found among thieves? for as often as thou speakest of him, thou waggest the head.\r\n O ye inhabitants of Moab, leave the cities, and dwell in the rock; and be like the dove that maketh her nest over the mouth of the abyss.\r\n We have heard of the pride of Moab, [that] he is very proud; his loftiness, and his pride, and his arrogancy, and the haughtiness of his heart.\r\n I know his wrath, saith Jehovah, that it is nought; his boastings have wrought nothing.\r\n Therefore will I wail for Moab; yea, I will cry out for all Moab: for the men of Kir-heres shall they mourn.\r\n With more than the weeping of Jazer will I weep for thee, O vine of Sibmah: thy branches passed over the sea, they reached even to the sea of Jazer: upon thy summer fruits and upon thy vintage the destroyer is fallen.\r\n And gladness and joy is taken away from the fruitful field and from the land of Moab; and I have caused wine to cease from the winepresses: none shall tread with shouting; the shouting shall be no shouting.\r\n From the cry of Heshbon even unto Elealeh, even unto Jahaz have they uttered their voice, from Zoar even unto Horonaim, to Eglath-shelishiyah: for the waters of Nimrim also shall become desolate.\r\n Moreover I will cause to cease in Moab, saith Jehovah, him that offereth in the high place, and him that burneth incense to his gods.\r\n Therefore my heart soundeth for Moab like pipes, and my heart soundeth like pipes for the men of Kir-heres: therefore the abundance that he hath gotten is perished.\r\n For every head is bald, and every beard clipped: upon all the hands are cuttings, and upon the loins sackcloth.\r\n On all the housetops of Moab and in the streets thereof there is lamentation every where; for I have broken Moab like a vessel wherein none delighteth, saith Jehovah.\r\n How is it broken down! [how] do they wail! how hath Moab turned the back with shame! so shall Moab become a derision and a terror to all that are round about him.\r\n For thus saith Jehovah: Behold, he shall fly as an eagle, and shall spread out his wings against Moab.\r\n Kerioth is taken, and the strongholds are seized, and the heart of the mighty men of Moab at that day shall be as the heart of a woman in her pangs.\r\n And Moab shall be destroyed from being a people, because he hath magnified himself against Jehovah.\r\n Fear, and the pit, and the snare, are upon thee, O inhabitant of Moab, saith Jehovah.\r\n He that fleeth from the fear shall fall into the pit; and he that getteth up out of the pit shall be taken in the snare: for I will bring upon him, even upon Moab, the year of their visitation, saith Jehovah.\r\n They that fled stand without strength under the shadow of Heshbon; for a fire is gone forth out of Heshbon, and a flame from the midst of Sihon, and hath devoured the corner of Moab, and the crown of the head of the tumultuous ones.\r\n Woe unto thee, O Moab! the people of Chemosh is undone; for thy sons are taken away captive, and thy daughters into captivity.\r\n Yet will I bring back the captivity of Moab in the latter days, saith Jehovah. Thus far is the judgment of Moab.\r\n \r\n \r\n Of the children of Ammon. Thus saith Jehovah: Hath Israel no sons? hath he no heir? why then doth Malcam possess Gad, and his people well in the cities thereof?\r\n Therefore, behold, the days come, saith Jehovah, that I will cause an alarm of war to be heard against Rabbah of the children of Ammon; and it shall become a desolate heap, and her daughters shall be burned with fire: then shall Israel possess them that did possess him, saith Jehovah.\r\n Wail, O Heshbon, for Ai is laid waste; cry, ye daughters of Rabbah, gird you with sackcloth: lament, and run to and fro among the fences; for Malcam shall go into captivity, his priests and his princes together.\r\n Wherefore gloriest thou in the valleys, thy flowing valley, O backsliding daughter? that trusted in her treasures, [saying], Who shall come unto me?\r\n Behold, I will bring a fear upon thee, saith the Lord, Jehovah of hosts, from all that are round about thee; and ye shall be driven out every man right forth, and there shall be none to gather together the fugitives.\r\n But afterward I will bring back the captivity of the children of Ammon, saith Jehovah.\r\n Of Edom. Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: Is wisdom no more in Teman? is counsel perished from the prudent? is their wisdom vanished?\r\n Flee ye, turn back, dwell in the depths, O inhabitants of Dedan; for I will bring the calamity of Esau upon him, the time that I shall visit him.\r\n If grape-gatherers came to thee, would they not leave some gleaning grapes? if thieves by night, would they not destroy till they had enough?\r\n But I have made Esau bare, I have uncovered his secret places, and he shall not be able to hide himself: his seed is destroyed, and his brethren, and his neighbors; and he is not.\r\n Leave thy fatherless children, I will preserve them alive; and let thy widows trust in me.\r\n For thus saith Jehovah: Behold, they to whom it pertained not to drink of the cup shall assuredly drink; and art thou he that shall altogether go unpunished? thou shalt not go unpunished, but thou shalt surely drink.\r\n For I have sworn by myself, saith Jehovah, that Bozrah shall become an astonishment, a reproach, a waste, and a curse; and all the cities thereof shall be perpetual wastes.\r\n I have heard tidings from Jehovah, and an ambassador is sent among the nations, [saying], Gather yourselves together, and come against her, and rise up to the battle.\r\n For, behold, I have made thee small among the nations, and despised among men.\r\n As for thy terribleness, the pride of thy heart hath deceived thee, O thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, that holdest the height of the hill: though thou shouldest make thy nest as high as the eagle, I will bring thee down from thence, saith Jehovah.\r\n And Edom shall become an astonishment: every one that passeth by it shall be astonished, and shall hiss at all the plagues thereof.\r\n As in the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighbor cities thereof, saith Jehovah, no man shall dwell there, neither shall any son of man sojourn therein.\r\n Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the pride of the Jordan against the strong habitation: for I will suddenly make them run away from it; and whoso is chosen, him will I appoint over it: for who is like me? and who will appoint me a time? and who is the shepherd that will stand before me?\r\n Therefore hear ye the counsel of Jehovah, that he hath taken against Edom; and his purposes, that he hath purposed against the inhabitants of Teman: Surely they shall drag them away, [even] the little ones of the flock; surely he shall make their habitation desolate over them.\r\n The earth trembleth at the noise of their fall; there is a cry, the noise whereof is heard in the Red Sea.\r\n Behold, he shall come up and fly as the eagle, and spread out his wings against Bozrah: and the heart of the mighty men of Edom at that day shall be as the heart of a woman in her pangs.\r\n Of Damascus. Hamath is confounded, and Arpad; for they have heard evil tidings, they are melted away: there is sorrow on the sea; it cannot be quiet.\r\n Damascus is waxed feeble, she turneth herself to flee, and trembling hath seized on her: anguish and sorrows have taken hold of her, as of a woman in travail.\r\n How is the city of praise not forsaken, the city of my joy?\r\n Therefore her young men shall fall in her streets, and all the men of war shall be brought to silence in that day, saith Jehovah of hosts.\r\n And I will kindle a fire in the wall of Damascus, and it shall devour the palaces of Ben-hadad.\r\n Of Kedar, and of the kingdoms of Hazor, which Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon smote. Thus saith Jehovah: Arise ye, go up to Kedar, and destroy the children of the east.\r\n Their tents and their flocks shall they take; they shall carry away for themselves their curtains, and all their vessels, and their camels; and they shall cry unto them, Terror on every side!\r\n Flee ye, wander far off, dwell in the depths, O ye inhabitants of Hazor, saith Jehovah; for Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath taken counsel against you, and hath conceived a purpose against you.\r\n Arise, get you up unto a nation that is at ease, that dwelleth without care, saith Jehovah; that have neither gates nor bars, that dwell alone.\r\n And their camels shall be a booty, and the multitude of their cattle a spoil: and I will scatter unto all winds them that have the corners [of their hair] cut off; and I will bring their calamity from every side of them, saith Jehovah.\r\n And Hazor shall be a dwelling-place of jackals, a desolation for ever: no man shall dwell there, neither shall any son of man sojourn therein.\r\n The word of Jehovah that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning Elam, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, saying,\r\n Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: Behold, I will break the bow of Elam, the chief of their might.\r\n And upon Elam will I bring the four winds from the four quarters of heaven, and will scatter them toward all those winds; and there shall be no nation whither the outcasts of Elam shall not come.\r\n And I will cause Elam to be dismayed before their enemies, and before them that seek their life; and I will bring evil upon them, even my fierce anger, saith Jehovah; and I will send the sword after them, till I have consumed them;\r\n and I will set my throne in Elam, and will destroy from thence king and princes, saith Jehovah.\r\n But it shall come to pass in the latter days, that I will bring back the captivity of Elam, saith Jehovah.\r\n \r\n \r\n The word that Jehovah spake concerning Babylon, concerning the land of the Chaldeans, by Jeremiah the prophet.\r\n Declare ye among the nations and publish, and set up a standard; publish, and conceal not: say, Babylon is taken, Bel is put to shame, Merodach is dismayed; her images are put to shame, her idols are dismayed.\r\n For out of the north there cometh up a nation against her, which shall make her land desolate, and none shall dwell therein: they are fled, they are gone, both man and beast.\r\n In those days, and in that time, saith Jehovah, the children of Israel shall come, they and the children of Judah together; they shall go on their way weeping, and shall seek Jehovah their God.\r\n They shall inquire concerning Zion with their faces thitherward, [saying], Come ye, and join yourselves to Jehovah in an everlasting covenant that shall not be forgotten.\r\n My people have been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray; they have turned them away on the mountains; they have gone from mountain to hill; they have forgotten their resting-place.\r\n All that found them have devoured them; and their adversaries said, We are not guilty, because they have sinned against Jehovah, the habitation of righteousness, even Jehovah, the hope of their fathers.\r\n Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and go forth out of the land of the Chaldeans, and be as the he-goats before the flocks.\r\n For, lo, I will stir up and cause to come up against Babylon a company of great nations from the north country; and they shall set themselves in array against her; from thence she shall be taken: their arrows shall be as of an expert mighty man; none shall return in vain.\r\n And Chaldea shall be a prey: all that prey upon her shall be satisfied, saith Jehovah.\r\n Because ye are glad, because ye rejoice, O ye that plunder my heritage, because ye are wanton as a heifer that treadeth out [the grain], and neigh as strong horses;\r\n your mother shall be utterly put to shame; she that bare you shall be confounded: behold, she shall be the hindermost of the nations, a wilderness, a dry land, and a desert.\r\n Because of the wrath of Jehovah she shall not be inhabited, but she shall be wholly desolate: every one that goeth by Babylon shall be astonished, and hiss at all her plagues.\r\n Set yourselves in array against Babylon round about, all ye that bend the bow; shoot at her, spare no arrows: for she hath sinned against Jehovah.\r\n Shout against her round about: she hath submitted herself; her bulwarks are fallen, her walls are thrown down; for it is the vengeance of Jehovah: take vengeance upon her; as she hath done, do unto her.\r\n Cut off the sower from Babylon, and him that handleth the sickle in the time of harvest: for fear of the oppressing sword they shall turn every one to his people, and they shall flee every one to his own land.\r\n Israel is a hunted sheep; the lions have driven him away: first, the king of Assyria devoured him; and now at last Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath broken his bones.\r\n Therefore thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I will punish the king of Babylon and his land, as I have punished the king of Assyria.\r\n And I will bring Israel again to his pasture, and he shall feed on Carmel and Bashan, and his soul shall be satisfied upon the hills of Ephraim and in Gilead.\r\n In those days, and in that time, saith Jehovah, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found: for I will pardon them whom I leave as a remnant.\r\n Go up against the land of Merathaim, even against it, and against the inhabitants of Pekod: slay and utterly destroy after them, saith Jehovah, and do according to all that I have commanded thee.\r\n A sound of battle is in the land, and of great destruction.\r\n How is the hammer of the whole earth cut asunder and broken! how is Babylon become a desolation among the nations!\r\n I have laid a snare for thee, and thou art also taken, O Babylon, and thou wast not aware: thou art found, and also caught, because thou hast striven against Jehovah.\r\n Jehovah hath opened his armory, and hath brought forth the weapons of his indignation; for the Lord, Jehovah of hosts, hath a work [to do] in the land of the Chaldeans.\r\n Come against her from the utmost border; open her store-houses; cast her up as heaps, and destroy her utterly; let nothing of her be left.\r\n Slay all her bullocks; let them go down to the slaughter: woe unto them! for their day is come, the time of their visitation.\r\n The voice of them that flee and escape out of the land of Babylon, to declare in Zion the vengeance of Jehovah our God, the vengeance of his temple.\r\n Call together the archers against Babylon, all them that bend the bow; encamp against her round about; let none thereof escape: recompense her according to her work; according to all that she hath done, do unto her; for she hath been proud against Jehovah, against the Holy One of Israel.\r\n Therefore shall her young men fall in her streets, and all her men of war shall be brought to silence in that day, saith Jehovah.\r\n Behold, I am against thee, O thou proud one, saith the Lord, Jehovah of hosts; for thy day is come, the time that I will visit thee.\r\n And the proud one shall stumble and fall, and none shall raise him up; and I will kindle a fire in his cities, and it shall devour all that are round about him.\r\n Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: The children of Israel and the children of Judah are oppressed together; and all that took them captive hold them fast; they refuse to let them go.\r\n Their Redeemer is strong; Jehovah of hosts is his name: he will thoroughly plead their cause, that he may give rest to the earth, and disquiet the inhabitants of Babylon.\r\n A sword is upon the Chaldeans, saith Jehovah, and upon the inhabitants of Babylon, and upon her princes, and upon her wise men.\r\n A sword is upon the boasters, and they shall become fools; a sword is upon her mighty men, and they shall be dismayed.\r\n A sword is upon their horses, and upon their chariots, and upon all the mingled people that are in the midst of her; and they shall become as women: a sword is upon her treasures, and they shall be robbed.\r\n A drought is upon her waters, and they shall be dried up; for it is a land of graven images, and they are mad over idols.\r\n Therefore the wild beasts of the desert with the wolves shall dwell there, and the ostriches shall dwell therein: and it shall be no more inhabited for ever; neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation.\r\n As when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighbor cities thereof, saith Jehovah, so shall no man dwell there, neither shall any son of man sojourn therein.\r\n Behold, a people cometh from the north; and a great nation and many kings shall be stirred up from the uttermost parts of the earth.\r\n They lay hold on bow and spear; they are cruel, and have no mercy; their voice roareth like the sea; and they ride upon horses, every one set in array, as a man to the battle, against thee, O daughter of Babylon.\r\n The king of Babylon hath heard the tidings of them, and his hands wax feeble: anguish hath taken hold of him, [and] pangs as of a woman in travail.\r\n Behold, [the enemy] shall come up like a lion from the pride of the Jordan against the strong habitation: for I will suddenly make them run away from it; and whoso is chosen, him will I appoint over it: for who is like me? and who will appoint me a time? and who is the shepherd that can stand before me?\r\n Therefore hear ye the counsel of Jehovah, that he hath taken against Babylon; and his purposes, that he hath purposed against the land of the Chaldeans: Surely they shall drag them away, [even] the little ones of the flock; surely he shall make their habitation desolate over them.\r\n At the noise of the taking of Babylon the earth trembleth, and the cry is heard among the nations.\r\n \r\n \r\n Thus saith Jehovah: Behold, I will raise up against Babylon, and against them that dwell in Leb-kamai, a destroying wind.\r\n And I will send unto Babylon strangers, that shall winnow her; and they shall empty her land: for in the day of trouble they shall be against her round about.\r\n Against [him that] bendeth let the archer bend his bow, and against [him that] lifteth himself up in his coat of mail: and spare ye not her young men; destroy ye utterly all her host.\r\n And they shall fall down slain in the land of the Chaldeans, and thrust through in her streets.\r\n For Israel is not forsaken, nor Judah, of his God, of Jehovah of hosts; though their land is full of guilt against the Holy One of Israel.\r\n Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and save every man his life; be not cut off in her iniquity: for it is the time of Jehovah`s vengeance; he will render unto her a recompense.\r\n Babylon hath been a golden cup in Jehovah`s hand, that made all the earth drunken: the nations have drunk of her wine; therefore the nations are mad.\r\n Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed: wail for her; take balm for her pain, if so be she may be healed.\r\n We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed: forsake her, and let us go every one into his own country; for her judgment reacheth unto heaven, and is lifted up even to the skies.\r\n Jehovah hath brought forth our righteousness: come, and let us declare in Zion the work of Jehovah our God.\r\n Make sharp the arrows; hold firm the shields: Jehovah hath stirred up the spirit of the kings of the Medes; because his purpose is against Babylon, to destroy it: for it is the vengeance of Jehovah, the vengeance of his temple.\r\n Set up a standard against the walls of Babylon, make the watch strong, set the watchmen, prepare the ambushes; for Jehovah hath both purposed and done that which he spake concerning the inhabitants of Babylon.\r\n O thou that dwellest upon many waters, abundant in treasures, thine end is come, the measure of thy covetousness.\r\n Jehovah of hosts hath sworn by himself, [saying], Surely I will fill thee with men, as with the canker-worm; and they shall lift up a shout against thee.\r\n He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding hath he stretched out the heavens:\r\n when he uttereth his voice, there is a tumult of waters in the heavens, and he causeth the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings for the rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasuries.\r\n Every man is become brutish [and is] without knowledge; every goldsmith is put to shame by his image; for his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them.\r\n They are vanity, a work of delusion: in the time of their visitation they shall perish.\r\n The portion of Jacob is not like these; for he is the former of all things; and [Israel] is the tribe of his inheritance: Jehovah of hosts is his name.\r\n Thou art my battle-axe and weapons of war: and with thee will I break in pieces the nations; and with thee will I destroy kingdoms;\r\n and with thee will I break in pieces the horse and his rider;\r\n and with thee will I break in pieces the chariot and him that rideth therein; and with thee will I break in pieces man and woman; and with thee will I break in pieces the old man and the youth; and with thee will I break in pieces the young man and the virgin;\r\n and with thee will I break in pieces the shepherd and his flock; and with thee will I break in pieces the husbandman and his yoke [of oxen]; and with thee will I break in pieces governors and deputies.\r\n And I will render unto Babylon and to all the inhabitants of Chaldea all their evil that they have done in Zion in your sight, saith Jehovah.\r\n Behold, I am against thee, O destroying mountain, saith Jehovah, which destroyest all the earth; and I will stretch out my hand upon thee, and roll thee down from the rocks, and will make thee a burnt mountain.\r\n And they shall not take of thee a stone for a corner, nor a stone for foundations; but thou shalt be desolate for ever, saith Jehovah.\r\n Set ye up a standard in the land, blow the trumpet among the nations, prepare the nations against her, call together against her the kingdoms of Ararat, Minni, and Ashkenaz: appoint a marshal against her; cause the horses to come up as the rough canker-worm.\r\n Prepare against her the nations, the kings of the Medes, the governors thereof, and all the deputies thereof, and all the land of their dominion.\r\n And the land trembleth and is in pain; for the purposes of Jehovah against Babylon do stand, to make the land of Babylon a desolation, without inhabitant.\r\n The mighty men of Babylon have forborne to fight, they remain in their strongholds; their might hath failed; they are become as women: her dwelling-places are set on fire; her bars are broken.\r\n One post shall run to meet another, and one messenger to met another, to show the king of Babylon that his city is taken on every quarter:\r\n and the passages are seized, and the reeds they have burned with fire, and the men of war are affrighted.\r\n For thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel: The daughter of Babylon is like a threshing-floor at the time when it is trodden; yet a little while, and the time of harvest shall come for her.\r\n Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon hath devoured me, he hath crushed me, he hath made me an empty vessel, he hath, like a monster, swallowed me up, he hath filled his maw with my delicacies; he hath cast me out.\r\n The violence done to me and to my flesh be upon Babylon, shall the inhabitant of Zion say; and, My blood be upon the inhabitants of Chaldea, shall Jerusalem say.\r\n Therefore thus saith Jehovah: Behold, I will plead thy cause, and take vengeance for thee; and I will dry up her sea, and make her fountain dry.\r\n And Babylon shall become heaps, a dwelling-place for jackals, an astonishment, and a hissing, without inhabitant.\r\n They shall roar together like young lions; they shall growl as lions` whelps.\r\n When they are heated, I will make their feast, and I will make them drunken, that they may rejoice, and sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake, saith Jehovah.\r\n I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter, like rams with he-goats.\r\n How is Sheshach taken! and the praise of the whole earth seized! how is Babylon become a desolation among the nations!\r\n The sea is come up upon Babylon; she is covered with the multitude of the waves thereof.\r\n Her cities are become a desolation, a dry land, and a desert, a land wherein no man dwelleth, neither doth any son of man pass thereby.\r\n And I will execute judgment upon Bel in Babylon, and I will bring forth out of his mouth that which he hath swallowed up; and the nations shall not flow any more unto him: yea, the wall of Babylon shall fall.\r\n My people, go ye out of the midst of her, and save yourselves every man from the fierce anger of Jehovah.\r\n And let not your heart faint, neither fear ye for the tidings that shall be heard in the land; for tidings shall come one year, and after that in another year [shall come] tidings, and violence in the land, ruler against ruler.\r\n Therefore, behold, the days come, that I will execute judgment upon the graven images of Babylon; and her whole land shall be confounded; and all her slain shall fall in the midst of her.\r\n Then the heavens and the earth, and all that is therein, shall sing for joy over Babylon; for the destroyers shall come unto her from the north, saith Jehovah.\r\n As Babylon hath caused the slain of Israel to fall, so at Babylon shall fall the slain of all the land.\r\n Ye that have escaped the sword, go ye, stand not still; remember Jehovah from afar, and let Jerusalem come into your mind.\r\n We are confounded, because we have heard reproach; confusion hath covered our faces: for strangers are come into the sanctuaries of Jehovah`s house.\r\n Wherefore, behold, the days come, saith Jehovah, that I will execute judgment upon her graven images; and through all her land the wounded shall groan.\r\n Though Babylon should mount up to heaven, and though she should fortify the height of her strength, yet from me shall destroyers come unto her, saith Jehovah.\r\n The sound of a cry from Babylon, and of great destruction from the land of the Chaldeans!\r\n For Jehovah layeth Babylon waste, and destroyeth out of her the great voice; and their waves roar like many waters; the noise of their voice is uttered:\r\n for the destroyer is come upon her, even upon Babylon, and her mighty men are taken, their bows are broken in pieces; for Jehovah is a God of recompenses, he will surely requite.\r\n And I will make drunk her princes and her wise men, her governors and her deputies, and her mighty men; and they shall sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake, saith the King, whose name is Jehovah of hosts.\r\n Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: The broad walls of Babylon shall be utterly overthrown, and her high gates shall be burned with fire; and the peoples shall labor for vanity, and the nations for the fire; and they shall be weary.\r\n The word which Jeremiah the prophet commanded Seraiah the son of Neriah, the son of Mahseiah, when he went with Zedekiah the king of Judah to Babylon in the fourth year of his reign. Now Seraiah was chief chamberlain.\r\n And Jeremiah wrote in a book all the evil that should come upon Babylon, even all these words that are written concerning Babylon.\r\n And Jeremiah said to Seraiah, When thou comest to Babylon, then see that thou read all these words,\r\n and say, O Jehovah, thou hast spoken concerning this place, to cut it off, that none shall dwell therein, neither man nor beast, but that it shall be desolate for ever.\r\n And it shall be, when thou hast made an end of reading this book, that thou shalt bind a stone to it, and cast it into the midst of the Euphrates:\r\n and thou shalt say, Thus shall Babylon sink, and shall not rise again because of the evil that I will bring upon her; and they shall be weary. Thus far are the words of Jeremiah.\r\n \r\n \r\n Zedekiah was one and twenty years old when he began to reign; and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem: and his mother`s name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.\r\n And he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, according to all that Jehoiakim had done.\r\n For through the anger of Jehovah did it come to pass in Jerusalem and Judah, until he had cast them out from his presence. And Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.\r\n And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon came, he and all his army, against Jerusalem, and encamped against it; and they built forts against it round about.\r\n So the city was besieged unto the eleventh year of king Zedekiah.\r\n In the fourth month, in the ninth day of the month, the famine was sore in the city, so that there was no bread for the people of the land.\r\n Then a breach was made in the city, and all the men of war fled, and went forth out of the city by night by the way of the gate between the two walls, which was by the king`s garden; (now the Chaldeans were against the city round about;) and they went toward the Arabah.\r\n But the army of the Chaldeans pursued after the king, and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho; and all his army was scattered from him.\r\n Then they took the king, and carried him up unto the king of Babylon to Riblah in the land of Hamath; and he gave judgment upon him.\r\n And the king of Babylon slew the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes: he slew also all the princes of Judah in Riblah.\r\n And he put out the eyes of Zedekiah; and the king of Babylon bound him in fetters, and carried him to Babylon, and put him in prison till the day of his death.\r\n Now in the fifth month, in the tenth day of the month, which was the nineteenth year of king Nebuchadrezzar, king of Babylon, came Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, who stood before the king of Babylon, into Jerusalem:\r\n and he burned the house of Jehovah, and the king`s house; and all the houses of Jerusalem, even every great house, burned he with fire.\r\n And all the army of the Chaldeans, that were with the captain of the guard, brake down all the walls of Jerusalem round about.\r\n Then Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive of the poorest of the people, and the residue of the people that were left in the city, and those that fell away, that fell to the king of Babylon, and the residue of the multitude.\r\n But Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard left of the poorest of the land to be vinedressers and husbandmen.\r\n And the pillars of brass that were in the house of Jehovah, and the bases and the brazen sea that were in the house of Jehovah, did the Chaldeans break in pieces, and carried all the brass of them to Babylon.\r\n The pots also, and the shovels, and the snuffers, and the basins, and the spoons, and all the vessels of brass wherewith they ministered, took they away.\r\n And the cups, and the firepans, and the basins, and the pots, and the candlesticks, and the spoons, and the bowls-that which was of gold, in gold, and that which was of silver, in silver,- the captain of the guard took away.\r\n The two pillars, the one sea, and the twelve brazen bulls that were under the bases, which king Solomon had made for the house of Jehovah-the brass of all these vessels was without weight.\r\n And as for the pillars, the height of the one pillar was eighteen cubits; and a line of twelve cubits did compass it; and the thickness thereof was four fingers: it was hollow.\r\n And a capital of brass was upon it; and the height of the one capital was five cubits, with network and pomegranates upon the capital round about, all of brass: and the second pillar also had like unto these, and pomegranates.\r\n And there were ninety and six pomegranates on the sides; all the pomegranates were a hundred upon the network round about.\r\n And the captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, and Zephaniah the second priest, and the three keepers of the threshold:\r\n and out of the city he took an officer that was set over the men of war; and seven men of them that saw the king`s face, that were found in the city; and the scribe of the captain of the host, who mustered the people of the land; and threescore men of the people of the land, that were found in the midst of the city.\r\n And Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard took them, and brought them to the king of Babylon to Riblah.\r\n And the king of Babylon smote them, and put them to death at Riblah in the land of Hamath. So Judah was carried away captive out of his land.\r\n This is the people whom Nebuchadrezzar carried away captive: in the seventh year three thousand Jews and three and twenty;\r\n in the eighteenth year of Nebuchadrezzar he carried away captive from Jerusalem eight hundred thirty and two persons;\r\n in the three and twentieth year of Nebuchadrezzar Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive of the Jews seven hundred forty and five persons: all the persons were four thousand and six hundred.\r\n And it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, in the five and twentieth day of the month, that Evil-merodach king of Babylon, in the [first] year of his reign, lifted up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah, and brought him forth out of prison;\r\n and he spake kindly to him, and set his throne above the throne of the kings that were with him in Babylon,\r\n and changed his prison garments. And [Jehoiachin] did eat bread before him continually all the days of his life:\r\n and for his allowance, there was a continual allowance given him by the king of Babylon, every day a portion until the day of his death, all the days of his life.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n How doth the city sit solitary, that was full of people! She is become as a widow, that was great among the nations! She that was a princess among the provinces is become tributary!\r\n She weepeth sore in the night, and her tears are on her cheeks; Among all her lovers she hath none to comfort her: All her friends have dealt treacherously with her; they are become her enemies.\r\n Judah is gone into captivity because of affliction, and because of great servitude; She dwelleth among the nations, she findeth no rest: All her persecutors overtook her within the straits.\r\n The ways of Zion do mourn, because none come to the solemn assembly; All her gates are desolate, her priests do sigh: Her virgins are afflicted, and she herself is in bitterness.\r\n Her adversaries are become the head, her enemies prosper; For Jehovah hath afflicted her for the multitude of her transgressions: Her young children are gone into captivity before the adversary.\r\n And from the daughter of Zion all her majesty is departed: Her princes are become like harts that find no pasture, And they are gone without strength before the pursuer.\r\n Jerusalem remembereth in the days of her affliction and of her miseries all her pleasant things that were from the days of old: When her people fell into the hand of the adversary, and none did help her, The adversaries saw her, they did mock at her desolations.\r\n Jerusalem hath grievously sinned; therefore she is become as an unclean thing; All that honored her despise her, because they have seen her nakedness: Yea, she sigheth, and turneth backward.\r\n Her filthiness was in her skirts; she remembered not her latter end; Therefore is she come down wonderfully; she hath no comforter: Behold, O Jehovah, my affliction; for the enemy hath magnified himself.\r\n The adversary hath spread out his hand upon all her pleasant things: For she hath seen that the nations are entered into her sanctuary, Concerning whom thou didst command that they should not enter into thine assembly.\r\n All her people sigh, they seek bread; They have given their pleasant things for food to refresh the soul: See, O Jehovah, and behold; for I am become abject.\r\n Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? Behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is brought upon me, Wherewith Jehovah hath afflicted [me] in the day of his fierce anger.\r\n From on high hath he sent fire into my bones, and it prevaileth against them; He hath spread a net for my feet, he hath turned me back: He hath made me desolate and faint all the day.\r\n The yoke of my transgressions is bound by his hand; They are knit together, they are come up upon my neck; he hath made my strength to fail: The Lord hath delivered me into their hands, against whom I am not able to stand.\r\n The Lord hath set at nought all my mighty men in the midst of me; He hath called a solemn assembly against me to crush my young men: The Lord hath trodden as in a winepress the virgin daughter of Judah.\r\n For these things I weep; mine eye, mine eye runneth down with water; Because the comforter that should refresh my soul is far from me: My children are desolate, because the enemy hath prevailed.\r\n Zion spreadeth forth her hands; there is none to comfort her; Jehovah hath commanded concerning Jacob, that they that are round about him should be his adversaries: Jerusalem is among them as an unclean thing.\r\n Jehovah is righteous; for I have rebelled against his commandment: Hear, I pray you, all ye peoples, and behold my sorrow: My virgins and my young men are gone into captivity.\r\n I called for my lovers, [but] they deceived me: My priests and mine elders gave up the ghost in the city, While they sought them food to refresh their souls.\r\n Behold, O Jehovah; for I am in distress; my heart is troubled; My heart is turned within me; for I have grievously rebelled: Abroad the sword bereaveth, at home there is as death.\r\n They have heard that I sigh; there is none to comfort me; All mine enemies have heard of my trouble; they are glad that thou hast done it: Thou wilt bring the day that thou hast proclaimed, and they shall be like unto me.\r\n Let all their wickedness come before thee; And do unto them, as thou hast done unto me for all my transgressions: For my sighs are many, and my heart is faint.\r\n \r\n \r\n How hath the Lord covered the daughter of Zion with a cloud in his anger! He hath cast down from heaven unto the earth the beauty of Israel, And hath not remembered his footstool in the day of his anger.\r\n The Lord hath swallowed up all the habitations of Jacob, and hath not pitied: He hath thrown down in his wrath the strongholds of the daughter of Judah; He hath brought them down to the ground; he hath profaned the kingdom and the princes thereof.\r\n He hath cut off in fierce anger all the horn of Israel; He hath drawn back his right hand from before the enemy: And he hath burned up Jacob like a flaming fire, which devoureth round about.\r\n He hath bent his bow like an enemy, he hath stood with his right hand as an adversary, And hath slain all that were pleasant to the eye: In the tent of the daughter of Zion he hath poured out his wrath like fire.\r\n The Lord is become as an enemy, he hath swallowed up Israel; He hath swallowed up all her palaces, he hath destroyed his strongholds; And he hath multiplied in the daughter of Judah mourning and lamentation.\r\n And he hath violently taken away his tabernacle, as if it were of a garden; he hath destroyed his place of assembly: Jehovah hath caused solemn assembly and sabbath to be forgotten in Zion, And hath despised in the indignation of his anger the king and the priest.\r\n The Lord hath cast off his altar, he hath abhorred his sanctuary; He hath given up into the hand of the enemy the walls of her palaces: They have made a noise in the house of Jehovah, as in the day of a solemn assembly.\r\n Jehovah hath purposed to destroy the wall of the daughter of Zion; He hath stretched out the line, he hath not withdrawn his hand from destroying; And he hath made the rampart and wall to lament; they languish together.\r\n Her gates are sunk into the ground; he hath destroyed and broken her bars: Her king and her princes are among the nations where the law is not; Yea, her prophets find no vision from Jehovah.\r\n The elders of the daughter of Zion sit upon the ground, they keep silence; They have cast up dust upon their heads; they have girded themselves with sackcloth: The virgins of Jerusalem hang down their heads to the ground.\r\n Mine eyes do fail with tears, my heart is troubled; My liver is poured upon the earth, because of the destruction of the daughter of my people, Because the young children and the sucklings swoon in the streets of the city.\r\n They say to their mothers, Where is grain and wine? When they swoon as the wounded in the streets of the city, When their soul is poured out into their mothers` bosom.\r\n What shall I testify unto thee? what shall I liken to thee, O daughter of Jerusalem? What shall I compare to thee, that I may comfort thee, O virgin daughter of Zion? For thy breach is great like the sea: who can heal thee?\r\n Thy prophets have seen for thee false and foolish visions; And they have not uncovered thine iniquity, to bring back thy captivity, But have seen for thee false oracles and causes of banishment.\r\n All that pass by clap their hands at thee; They hiss and wag their head at the daughter of Jerusalem, [saying], Is this the city that men called The perfection of beauty, The joy of the whole earth?\r\n All thine enemies have opened their mouth wide against thee; They hiss and gnash the teeth; they say, We have swallowed her up; Certainly this is the day that we looked for; we have found, we have seen it.\r\n Jehovah hath done that which he purposed; he hath fulfilled his word that he commanded in the days of old; He hath thrown down, and hath not pitied: And he hath caused the enemy to rejoice over thee; he hath exalted the horn of thine adversaries.\r\n Their heart cried unto the Lord: O wall of the daughter of Zion, let tears run down like a river day and night; Give thyself no respite; let not the apple of thine eye cease.\r\n Arise, cry out in the night, at the beginning of the watches; Pour out thy heart like water before the face of the Lord: Lift up thy hands toward him for the life of thy young children, that faint for hunger at the head of every street.\r\n See, O Jehovah, and behold to whom thou hast done thus! Shall the women eat their fruit, the children that are dandled in the hands? Shall the priest and the prophet be slain in the sanctuary of the Lord?\r\n The youth and the old man lie on the ground in the streets; My virgins and my young men are fallen by the sword: Thou hast slain them in the day of thine anger; thou hast slaughtered, [and] not pitied.\r\n Thou hast called, as in the day of a solemn assembly, my terrors on every side; And there was none that escaped or remained in the day of Jehovah`s anger: Those that I have dandled and brought up hath mine enemy consumed.\r\n \r\n \r\n I am the man that hath seen affliction by the rod of his wrath.\r\n He hath led me and caused me to walk in darkness, and not in light.\r\n Surely against me he turneth his hand again and again all the day.\r\n My flesh and my skin hath he made old; he hath broken my bones.\r\n He hath builded against me, and compassed me with gall and travail.\r\n He hath made me to dwell in dark places, as those that have been long dead.\r\n He hath walled me about, that I cannot go forth; he hath made my chain heavy.\r\n Yea, when I cry, and call for help, he shutteth out my prayer.\r\n He hath walled up my ways with hewn stone; he hath made my paths crooked.\r\n He is unto me as a bear lying in wait, as a lion in secret places.\r\n He hath turned aside my ways, and pulled me in pieces; he hath made me desolate.\r\n He hath bent his bow, and set me as a mark for the arrow.\r\n He hath caused the shafts of his quiver to enter into my reins.\r\n I am become a derision to all my people, and their song all the day.\r\n He hath filled me with bitterness, he hath sated me with wormwood.\r\n He hath also broken my teeth with gravel stones; he hath covered me with ashes.\r\n And thou hast removed my soul far off from peace; I forgat prosperity.\r\n And I said, My strength is perished, and mine expectation from Jehovah.\r\n Remember mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall.\r\n My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is bowed down within me.\r\n This I recall to my mind; therefore have I hope.\r\n [It is of] Jehovah`s lovingkindnesses that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.\r\n They are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness.\r\n Jehovah is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.\r\n Jehovah is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.\r\n It is good that a man should hope and quietly wait for the salvation of Jehovah.\r\n It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.\r\n Let him sit alone and keep silence, because he hath laid it upon him.\r\n Let him put his mouth in the dust, if so be there may be hope.\r\n Let him give his cheek to him that smiteth him; let him be filled full with reproach.\r\n For the Lord will not cast off for ever.\r\n For though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his lovingkindnesses.\r\n For he doth not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men.\r\n To crush under foot all the prisoners of the earth,\r\n To turn aside the right of a man before the face of the Most High,\r\n To subvert a man in his cause, the Lord approveth not.\r\n Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not?\r\n Out of the mouth of the Most High cometh there not evil and good?\r\n Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins?\r\n Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to Jehovah.\r\n Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens.\r\n We have transgressed and have rebelled; thou hast not pardoned.\r\n Thou hast covered with anger and pursued us; thou hast slain, thou hast not pitied.\r\n Thou hast covered thyself with a cloud, so that no prayer can pass through.\r\n Thou hast made us an off-scouring and refuse in the midst of the peoples.\r\n All our enemies have opened their mouth wide against us.\r\n Fear and the pit are come upon us, devastation and destruction.\r\n Mine eye runneth down with streams of water, for the destruction of the daughter of my people.\r\n Mine eye poureth down, and ceaseth not, without any intermission,\r\n Till Jehovah look down, and behold from heaven.\r\n Mine eye affecteth my soul, because of all the daughters of my city.\r\n They have chased me sore like a bird, they that are mine enemies without cause.\r\n They have cut off my life in the dungeon, and have cast a stone upon me.\r\n Waters flowed over my head; I said, I am cut off.\r\n I called upon thy name, O Jehovah, out of the lowest dungeon.\r\n Thou heardest my voice; hide not thine ear at my breathing, at my cry.\r\n Thou drewest near in the day that I called upon thee; thou saidst, Fear not.\r\n O Lord, thou hast pleaded the causes of my soul; thou hast redeemed my life.\r\n O Jehovah, thou hast seen my wrong; judge thou my cause.\r\n Thou hast seen all their vengeance and all their devices against me.\r\n Thou hast heard their reproach, O Jehovah, and all their devices against me,\r\n The lips of those that rose up against me, and their device against me all the day.\r\n Behold thou their sitting down, and their rising up; I am their song.\r\n Thou wilt render unto them a recompense, O Jehovah, according to the work of their hands.\r\n Thou wilt give them hardness of heart, thy curse unto them.\r\n Thou wilt pursue them in anger, and destroy them from under the heavens of Jehovah.\r\n \r\n \r\n How is the gold become dim! [how] is the most pure gold changed! The stones of the sanctuary are poured out at the head of every street.\r\n The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, How are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter!\r\n Even the jackals draw out the breast, they give suck to their young ones: The daughter of my people is become cruel, like the ostriches in the wilderness.\r\n The tongue of the sucking child cleaveth to the roof of his mouth for thirst: The young children ask bread, and no man breaketh it unto them.\r\n They that did feed delicately are desolate in the streets: They that were brought up in scarlet embrace dunghills.\r\n For the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the sin of Sodom, That was overthrown as in a moment, and no hands were laid upon her.\r\n Her nobles were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk; They were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing was as of sapphire.\r\n Their visage is blacker than a coal; they are not known in the streets: Their skin cleaveth to their bones; it is withered, it is become like a stick.\r\n They that are slain with the sword are better than they that are slain with hunger; For these pine away, stricken through, for want of the fruits of the field.\r\n The hands of the pitiful women have boiled their own children; They were their food in the destruction of the daughter of my people.\r\n Jehovah hath accomplished his wrath, he hath poured out his fierce anger; And he hath kindled a fire in Zion, which hath devoured the foundations thereof.\r\n The kings of the earth believed not, neither all the inhabitants of the world, That the adversary and the enemy would enter into the gates of Jerusalem.\r\n [It is] because of the sins of her prophets, [and] the iniquities of her priests, That have shed the blood of the just in the midst of her.\r\n They wander as blind men in the streets, they are polluted with blood, So that men cannot touch their garments.\r\n Depart ye, they cried unto them, Unclean! depart, depart, touch not! When they fled away and wandered, men said among the nations, They shall no more sojourn [here].\r\n The anger of Jehovah hath scattered them; he will no more regard them: They respected not the persons of the priests, they favored not the elders.\r\n Our eyes do yet fail [in looking] for our vain help: In our watching we have watched for a nation that could not save.\r\n They hunt our steps, so that we cannot go in our streets: Our end is near, our days are fulfilled; for our end is come.\r\n Our pursuers were swifter than the eagles of the heavens: They chased us upon the mountains, they laid wait for us in the wilderness.\r\n The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of Jehovah, was taken in their pits; Of whom we said, Under his shadow we shall live among the nations.\r\n Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Edom, that dwellest in the land of Uz: The cup shall pass through unto thee also; thou shalt be drunken, and shalt make thyself naked.\r\n The punishment of thine iniquity is accomplished, O daughter of Zion; he will no more carry thee away into captivity: He will visit thine iniquity, O daughter of Edom; he will uncover thy sins.\r\n \r\n \r\n Remember, O Jehovah, what is come upon us: Behold, and see our reproach.\r\n Our inheritance is turned unto strangers, Our houses unto aliens.\r\n We are orphans and fatherless; Our mothers are as widows.\r\n We have drunken our water for money; Our wood is sold unto us.\r\n Our pursuers are upon our necks: We are weary, and have no rest.\r\n We have given the hand to the Egyptians, And to the Assyrians, to be satisfied with bread.\r\n Our fathers sinned, and are not; And we have borne their iniquities.\r\n Servants rule over us: There is none to deliver us out of their hand.\r\n We get our bread at the peril of our lives, Because of the sword of the wilderness.\r\n Our skin is black like an oven, Because of the burning heat of famine.\r\n They ravished the women in Zion, The virgins in the cities of Judah.\r\n Princes were hanged up by their hand: The faces of elders were not honored.\r\n The young men bare the mill; And the children stumbled under the wood.\r\n The elders have ceased from the gate, The young men from their music.\r\n The joy of our heart is ceased; Our dance is turned into mourning.\r\n The crown is fallen from our head: Woe unto us! for we have sinned.\r\n For this our heart is faint; For these things our eyes are dim;\r\n For the mountain of Zion, which is desolate: The foxes walk upon it.\r\n Thou, O Jehovah, abidest for ever; Thy throne is from generation to generation.\r\n Wherefore dost thou forget us for ever, [And] forsake us so long time?\r\n Turn thou us unto thee, O Jehovah, and we shall be turned; Renew our days as of old.\r\n But thou hast utterly rejected us; Thou art very wroth against us.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth [month], in the fifth [day] of the month, as I was among the captives by the river Chebar, that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God.\r\n In the fifth [day] of the month, which was the fifth year of king Jehoiachin`s captivity,\r\n the word of Jehovah came expressly unto Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of Jehovah was there upon him.\r\n And I looked, and, behold, a stormy wind came out of the north, a great cloud, with a fire infolding itself, and a brightness round about it, and out of the midst thereof as it were glowing metal, out of the midst of the fire.\r\n And out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance: they had the likeness of a man.\r\n And every one had four faces, and every one of them had four wings.\r\n And their feet were straight feet; and the sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf`s foot; and they sparkled like burnished brass.\r\n And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and they four had their faces and their wings [thus]:\r\n their wings were joined one to another; they turned not when they went; they went every one straight forward.\r\n As for the likeness of their faces, they had the face of a man; and they four had the face of a lion on the right side; and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four had also the face of an eagle.\r\n And their faces and their wings were separate above; two [wings] of every one were joined one to another, and two covered their bodies.\r\n And they went every one straight forward: whither the spirit was to go, they went; they turned not when they went.\r\n As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches: [the fire] went up and down among the living creatures; and the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning.\r\n And the living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning.\r\n Now as I beheld the living creatures, behold, one wheel upon the earth beside the living creatures, for each of the four faces thereof.\r\n The appearance of the wheels and their work was like unto a beryl: and they four had one likeness; and their appearance and their work was as it were a wheel within a wheel.\r\n When they went, they went in their four directions: they turned not when they went.\r\n As for their rims, they were high and dreadful; and they four had their rims full of eyes round about.\r\n And when the living creatures went, the wheels went beside them; and when the living creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up.\r\n Whithersoever the spirit was to go, they went; thither was the spirit to go: and the wheels were lifted up beside them; for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.\r\n When those went, these went; and when those stood, these stood; and when those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up beside them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.\r\n And over the head of the living creature there was the likeness of a firmament, like the terrible crystal to look upon, stretched forth over their heads above.\r\n And under the firmament were their wings straight, the one toward the other: every one had two which covered on this side, and every one had two which covered on that side, their bodies.\r\n And when they went, I heard the noise of their wings like the noise of great waters, like the voice of the Almighty, a noise of tumult like the noise of a host: when they stood, they let down their wings.\r\n And there was a voice above the firmament that was over their heads: when they stood, they let down their wings.\r\n And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone; and upon the likeness of the throne was a likeness as the appearance of a man upon it above.\r\n And I saw as it were glowing metal, as the appearance of fire within it round about, from the appearance of his loins and upward; and from the appearance of his loins and downward I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and there was brightness round about him.\r\n As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of Jehovah. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake.\r\n \r\n \r\n And he said unto me, Son of man, stand upon thy feet, and I will speak with thee.\r\n And the Spirit entered into me when he spake unto me, and set me upon my feet; and I heard him that spake unto me.\r\n And he said unto me, Son of man, I send thee to the children of Israel, to nations that are rebellious, which have rebelled against me: they and their fathers have transgressed against me even unto this very day.\r\n And the children are impudent and stiffhearted: I do sent thee unto them; and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah.\r\n And they, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear, (for they are a rebellious house,) yet shall know that there hath been a prophet among them.\r\n And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they are a rebellious house.\r\n And thou shalt speak my words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear; for they are most rebellious.\r\n But thou, son of man, hear what I say unto thee; be not thou rebellious like that rebellious house: open thy mouth, and eat that which I give thee.\r\n And when I looked, behold, a hand was put forth unto me; and, lo, a roll of a book was therein;\r\n And he spread it before me: and it was written within and without; and there were written therein lamentations, and mourning, and woe.\r\n \r\n \r\n And he said unto me, Son of man, eat that which thou findest; eat this roll, and go, speak unto the house of Israel.\r\n So I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat the roll.\r\n And he said unto me, Son of man, cause thy belly to eat, and fill thy bowels with this roll that I give thee. Then did I eat it; and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness.\r\n And he said unto me, Son of man, go, get thee unto the house of Israel, and speak with my words unto them.\r\n For thou art not sent to a people of a strange speech and of a hard language, but to the house of Israel;\r\n not to many peoples of a strange speech and of a hard language, whose words thou canst not understand. Surely, if I sent thee to them, they would hearken unto thee.\r\n But the house of Israel will not hearken unto thee; for they will not hearken unto me: for all the house of Israel are of hard forehead and of a stiff heart.\r\n Behold, I have made thy face hard against their faces, and thy forehead hard against their foreheads.\r\n As an adamant harder than flint have I made thy forehead: fear them not, neither be dismayed at their looks, though they are a rebellious house.\r\n Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, all my words that I shall speak unto thee receive in thy heart, and hear with thine ears.\r\n And go, get thee to them of the captivity, unto the children of thy people, and speak unto them, and tell them, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah; whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear.\r\n Then the Spirit lifted me up, and I heard behind me the voice of a great rushing, [saying], Blessed be the glory of Jehovah from his place.\r\n And [I heard] the noise of the wings of the living creatures as they touched one another, and the noise of the wheels beside them, even the noise of a great rushing.\r\n So the Spirit lifted me up, and took me away; and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; and the hand of Jehovah was strong upon me.\r\n Then I came to them of the captivity at Tel-abib, that dwelt by the river Chebar, and to where they dwelt; and I sat there overwhelmed among them seven days.\r\n And it came to pass at the end of seven days, that the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,\r\n Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.\r\n When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thy hand.\r\n Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.\r\n Again, when a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteous deeds which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thy hand.\r\n Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he took warning; and thou hast delivered thy soul.\r\n And the hand of Jehovah was there upon me; and he said unto me, Arise, go forth into the plain, and I will there talk with thee.\r\n Then I arose, and went forth into the plain: and, behold, the glory of Jehovah stood there, as the glory which I saw by the river Chebar; and I fell on my face.\r\n Then the Spirit entered into me, and set me upon my feet; and he spake with me, and said unto me, Go, shut thyself within thy house.\r\n But thou, son of man, behold, they shall lay bands upon thee, and shall bind thee with them, and thou shalt not go out among them:\r\n and I will make thy tongue cleave to the roof of thy mouth, that thou shalt be dumb, and shalt not be to them a reprover; for they are a rebellious house.\r\n But when I speak with thee, I will open thy mouth, and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: He that heareth, let him hear; and he that forbeareth, let him forbear: for they are a rebellious house.\r\n \r\n \r\n Thou also, son of man, take thee a tile, and lay it before thee, and portray upon it a city, even Jerusalem:\r\n and lay siege against it, and build forts against it, and cast up a mound against it; set camps also against it, and plant battering rams against it round about.\r\n And take thou unto thee an iron pan, and set it for a wall of iron between thee and the city: and set thy face toward it, and it shall be besieged, and thou shalt lay siege against it. This shall be a sign to the house of Israel.\r\n Moreover lie thou upon thy left side, and lay the iniquity of the house of Israel upon it; [according to] the number of the days that thou shalt lie upon it, thou shalt bear their iniquity.\r\n For I have appointed the years of their iniquity to be unto thee a number of days, even three hundred and ninety days: so shalt thou bear the iniquity of the house of Israel.\r\n And again, when thou hast accomplished these, thou shalt lie on thy right side, and shalt bear the iniquity of the house of Judah: forty days, each day for a year, have I appointed it unto thee.\r\n And thou shalt set thy face toward the siege of Jerusalem, with thine arm uncovered; and thou shalt prophesy against it.\r\n And, behold, I lay bands upon thee, and thou shalt not turn thee from one side to the other, till thou hast accomplished the days of thy siege.\r\n Take thou also unto thee wheat, and barley, and beans, and lentils, and millet, and spelt, and put them in one vessel, and make thee bread thereof; [according to] the number of the days that thou shalt lie upon thy side, even three hundred and ninety days, shalt thou eat thereof.\r\n And thy food which thou shalt eat shall be by weight, twenty shekels a day: from time to time shalt thou eat it.\r\n And thou shalt drink water by measure, the sixth part of a hin: from time to time shalt thou drink.\r\n And thou shalt eat it as barley cakes, and thou shalt bake it in their sight with dung that cometh out of man.\r\n And Jehovah said, Even thus shall the children of Israel eat their bread unclean, among the nations whither I will drive them.\r\n Then said I, Ah Lord Jehovah! behold, my soul hath not been polluted; for from my youth up even till now have I not eaten of that which dieth of itself, or is torn of beasts; neither came there abominable flesh into my mouth.\r\n Then he said unto me, See, I have given thee cow`s dung for man`s dung, and thou shalt prepare thy bread thereon.\r\n Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, behold, I will break the staff of bread in Jerusalem: and they shall eat bread by weight, and with fearfulness; and they shall drink water by measure, and in dismay:\r\n that they may want bread and water, and be dismayed one with another, and pine away in their iniquity.\r\n \r\n \r\n And thou, son of man, take thee a sharp sword; [as] a barber`s razor shalt thou take it unto thee, and shalt cause it to pass upon thy head and upon thy beard: then take thee balances to weigh, and divide the hair.\r\n A third part shalt thou burn in the fire in the midst of the city, when the days of the siege are fulfilled; and thou shalt take a third part, and smite with the sword round about it; and a third part thou shalt scatter to the wind, and I will draw out a sword after them.\r\n And thou shalt take thereof a few in number, and bind them in thy skirts.\r\n And of these again shalt thou take, and cast them into the midst of the fire, and burn them in the fire; therefrom shall a fire come forth into all the house of Israel.\r\n Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: This is Jerusalem; I have set her in the midst of the nations, and countries are round about her.\r\n And she hath rebelled against mine ordinances in doing wickedness more than the nations, and against my statutes more than the countries that are round about her; for they have rejected mine ordinances, and as for my statutes, they have not walked in them.\r\n Therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Because ye are turbulent more than the nations that are round about you, and have not walked in my statutes, neither have kept mine ordinances, neither have done after the ordinances of the nations that are round about you;\r\n therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Behold, I, even I, am against thee; and I will execute judgments in the midst of thee in the sight of the nations.\r\n And I will do in thee that which I have not done, and whereunto I will not do any more the like, because of all thine abominations.\r\n Therefore the fathers shall eat the sons in the midst of thee, and the sons shall eat their fathers; and I will execute judgments on thee; and the whole remnant of thee will I scatter unto all the winds.\r\n Wherefore, as I live, saith the Lord Jehovah, surely, because thou hast defiled my sanctuary with all thy detestable things, and with all thine abominations, therefore will I also diminish [thee]; neither shall mine eye spare, and I also will have no pity.\r\n A third part of thee shall die with the pestilence, and with famine shall they be consumed in the midst of thee; and a third part shall fall by the sword round about thee; and a third part I will scatter unto all the winds, and will draw out a sword after them.\r\n Thus shall mine anger be accomplished, and I will cause my wrath toward them to rest, and I shall be comforted; and they shall know that I, Jehovah, have spoken in my zeal, when I have accomplished my wrath upon them.\r\n Moreover I will make thee a desolation and a reproach among the nations that are round about thee, in the sight of all that pass by.\r\n So it shall be a reproach and a taunt, an instruction and an astonishment, unto the nations that are round about thee, when I shall execute judgments on thee in anger and in wrath, and in wrathful rebukes; (I, Jehovah, have spoken it;)\r\n when I shall send upon them the evil arrows of famine, that are for destruction, which I will send to destroy you: and I will increase the famine upon you, and will break your staff of bread;\r\n and I will send upon you famine and evil beasts, and they shall bereave thee; and pestilence and blood shall pass through thee; and I will bring the sword upon thee: I, Jehovah, have spoken it.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,\r\n Son of man, set thy face toward the mountains of Israel, and prophesy unto them,\r\n and say, Ye mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord Jehovah: Thus saith the Lord Jehovah to the mountains and to the hills, to the watercourses and to the valleys: Behold, I, even I, will bring a sword upon you, and I will destroy your high places.\r\n And your altars shall become desolate, and your sun-images shall be broken; and I will cast down your slain men before your idols.\r\n And I will lay the dead bodies of the children of Israel before their idols; and I will scatter your bones round about your altars.\r\n In all your dwelling-places the cities shall be laid waste, and the high places shall be desolate; that your altars may be laid waste and made desolate, and your idols may be broken and cease, and your sun-images may be hewn down, and your works may be abolished.\r\n And the slain shall fall in the midst of you, and ye shall know that I am Jehovah.\r\n Yet will I leave a remnant, in that ye shall have some that escape the sword among the nations, when ye shall be scattered through the countries.\r\n And those of you that escape shall remember me among the nations whither they shall be carried captive, how that I have been broken with their lewd heart, which hath departed from me, and with they eyes, which play the harlot after their idols: and they shall loathe themselves in their own sight for the evils which they have committed in all their abominations.\r\n And they shall know that I am Jehovah: I have not said in vain that I would do this evil unto them.\r\n Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Smite with thy hand, and stamp with thy foot, and say, Alas! because of all the evil abominations of the house of Israel; for they shall fall by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence.\r\n He that is far off shall die of the pestilence; and he that is near shall fall by the sword; and he that remaineth and is besieged shall die by the famine: thus will I accomplish my wrath upon them.\r\n And ye shall know that I am Jehovah, when their slain men shall be among their idols round about their altars, upon every high hill, on all the tops of the mountains, and under every green tree, and under every thick oak, the places where they offered sweet savor to all their idols.\r\n And I will stretch out my hand upon them, and make the land desolate and waste, from the wilderness toward Diblah, throughout all their habitations: and they shall know that I am Jehovah.\r\n \r\n \r\n Moreover the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,\r\n And thou, son of man, thus saith the Lord Jehovah unto the land of Israel, An end: the end is come upon the four corners of the land.\r\n Now is the end upon thee, and I will send mine anger upon thee, and will judge thee according to thy ways; and I will bring upon thee all thine abominations.\r\n And mine eye shall not spare thee, neither will I have pity; but I will bring thy ways upon thee, and thine abominations shall be in the midst of thee: and ye shall know that I am Jehovah.\r\n Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: An evil, an only evil; behold, it cometh.\r\n An end is come, the end is come; it awaketh against thee; behold, it cometh.\r\n Thy doom is come unto thee, O inhabitant of the land: the time is come, the day is near, [a day of] tumult, and not [of] joyful shouting, upon the mountains.\r\n Now will I shortly pour out my wrath upon thee, and accomplish mine anger against thee, and will judge thee according to thy ways; and I will bring upon thee all thine abominations.\r\n And mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: I will bring upon thee according to thy ways; and thine abominations shall be in the midst of thee; and ye shall know that I, Jehovah, do smite.\r\n Behold, the day, behold, it cometh: thy doom is gone forth; the rod hath blossomed, pride hath budded.\r\n Violence is risen up into a rod of wickedness; none of them [shall remain], nor of their multitude, nor of their wealth: neither shall there be eminency among them.\r\n The time is come, the day draweth near: let not the buyer rejoice, nor the seller mourn; for wrath is upon all the multitude thereof.\r\n For the seller shall not return to that which is sold, although they be yet alive: for the vision is touching the whole multitude thereof, none shall return; neither shall any strengthen himself in the iniquity of his life.\r\n They have blown the trumpet, and have made all ready; but none goeth to the battle; for my wrath is upon all the multitude thereof.\r\n The sword is without, and the pestilence and the famine within: he that is in the field shall die with the sword: and he that is in the city, famine and pestilence shall devour him.\r\n But those of them that escape shall escape, and shall be on the mountains like doves of the valleys, all of them moaning, every one in his iniquity.\r\n All hands shall be feeble, and all knees shall be weak as water.\r\n They shall also gird themselves with sackcloth, and horror shall cover them; and shame shall be upon all faces, and baldness upon all their heads.\r\n They shall cast their silver in the streets, and their gold shall be as an unclean thing; their silver and their gold shall not be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of Jehovah: they shall not satisfy their souls, neither fill their bowels; because it hath been the stumblingblock of their iniquity.\r\n As for the beauty of his ornament, he set it in majesty; but they made the images of their abominations [and] their detestable things therein: therefore have I made it unto them as an unclean thing.\r\n And I will give it into the hands of the strangers for a prey, and to the wicked of the earth for a spoil; and they shall profane it.\r\n My face will I turn also from them, and they shall profane my secret [place]; and robbers shall enter into it, and profane it.\r\n Make the chain; for the land is full of bloody crimes, and the city is full of violence.\r\n Wherefore I will bring the worst of the nations, and they shall possess their houses: I will also make the pride of the strong to cease; and their holy places shall be profaned.\r\n Destruction cometh; and they shall seek peace, and there shall be none.\r\n Mischief shall come upon mischief, and rumor shall be upon rumor; and they shall seek a vision of the prophet; but the law shall perish from the priest, and counsel from the elders.\r\n The king shall mourn, and the prince shall be clothed with desolation, and the hands of the people of the land shall be troubled: I will do unto them after their way, and according to their deserts will I judge them; and they shall know that I am Jehovah.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass in the sixth year, in the sixth [month], in the fifth [day] of the month, as I sat in my house, and the elders of Judah sat before me, that the hand of the Lord Jehovah fell there upon me.\r\n Then I beheld, and, lo, a likeness as the appearance of fire; from the appearance of his loins and downward, fire; and from his loins and upward, as the appearance of brightness, as it were glowing metal.\r\n And he put forth the form of a hand, and took me by a lock of my head; and the Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven, and brought me in the visions of God to Jerusalem, to the door of the gate of the inner [court] that looketh toward the north; where was the seat of the image of jealousy, which provoketh to jealousy.\r\n And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel was there, according to the appearance that I saw in the plain.\r\n Then said he unto me, Son of man, lift up thine eyes now the way toward the north. So I lifted up mine eyes the way toward the north, and behold, northward of the gate of the altar this image of jealousy in the entry.\r\n And he said unto me, Son of man, seest thou what they do? even the great abominations that the house of Israel do commit here, that I should go far off from my sanctuary? but thou shalt again see yet other great abominations.\r\n And he brought me to the door of the court; and when I looked, behold, a hole in the wall.\r\n Then said he unto me, Son of man, dig now in the wall: and when I had digged in the wall, behold, a door.\r\n And he said unto me, Go in, and see the wicked abominations that they do here.\r\n So I went in and saw; and behold, every form of creeping things, and abominable beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel, portrayed upon the wall round about.\r\n And there stood before them seventy men of the elders of the house of Israel; and in the midst of them stood Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan, every man with his censer in his hand; and the odor of the cloud of incense went up.\r\n Then said he unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the elders of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in his chambers of imagery? for they say, Jehovah seeth us not; Jehovah hath forsaken the land.\r\n He said also unto me, Thou shalt again see yet other great abominations which they do.\r\n Then he brought me to the door of the gate of Jehovah`s house which was toward the north; and behold, there sat the women weeping for Tammuz.\r\n Then said he unto me, Hast thou seen [this], O son of man? thou shalt again see yet greater abominations than these.\r\n And he brought me into the inner court of Jehovah`s house; and behold, at the door of the temple of Jehovah, between the porch and the altar, were about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of Jehovah, and their faces toward the east; and they were worshipping the sun toward the east.\r\n Then he said unto me, Hast thou seen [this], O son of man? Is it a light thing to the house of Judah that they commit the abominations which they commit here? for they have filled the land with violence, and have turned again to provoke me to anger: and, lo, they put the branch to their nose.\r\n Therefore will I also deal in wrath; mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity; and though they cry in mine ears with a loud voice, yet will I not hear them.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then he cried in mine ears with a loud voice, saying, Cause ye them that have charge over the city to draw near, every man with his destroying weapon in his hand.\r\n And behold, six men came from the way of the upper gate, which lieth toward the north, every man with his slaughter weapon in his hand; and one man in the midst of them clothed in linen, with a writer`s inkhorn by his side. And they went in, and stood beside the brazen altar.\r\n And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon it was, to the threshold of the house: and he called to the man clothed in linen, who had the writer`s inkhorn by his side.\r\n And Jehovah said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry over all the abominations that are done in the midst thereof.\r\n And to the others he said in my hearing, Go ye through the city after him, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity;\r\n slay utterly the old man, the young man and the virgin, and little children and women; but come not near any man upon whom is the mark: and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the old men that were before the house.\r\n And he said unto them, Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain: go ye forth. And they went forth, and smote in the city.\r\n And it came to pass, while they were smiting, and I was left, that I fell upon my face, and cried, and said, Ah Lord Jehovah! wilt thou destroy all the residue of Israel in thy pouring out of thy wrath upon Jerusalem?\r\n Then said he unto me, The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceeding great, and the land is full of blood, and the city full of wrestling [of judgment]: for they say, Jehovah hath forsaken the land, and Jehovah seeth not.\r\n And as for me also, mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity, but I will bring their way upon their head.\r\n And behold, the man clothed in linen, who had the inkhorn by his side, reported the matter, saying, I have done as thou hast commanded me.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then I looked, and behold, in the firmament that was over the head of the cherubim there appeared above them as it were a sapphire stone, as the appearance of the likeness of a throne.\r\n And he spake unto the man clothed in linen, and said, Go in between the whirling [wheels], even under the cherub, and fill both thy hands with coals of fire from between the cherubim, and scatter them over the city. And he went in in my sight.\r\n Now the cherubim stood on the right side of the house, when the man went in; and the cloud filled the inner court.\r\n And the glory of Jehovah mounted up from the cherub, [and stood] over the threshold of the house; and the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was full of the brightness of Jehovah`s glory.\r\n And the sound of the wings of the cherubim was heard even to the outer court, as the voice of God Almighty when he speaketh.\r\n And it came to pass, when he commanded the man clothed in linen, saying, Take fire from between the whirling wheels, from between the cherubim, that he went in, and stood beside a wheel.\r\n And the cherub stretched forth his hand from between the cherubim unto the fire that was between the cherubim, and took [thereof], and put it into the hands of him that was clothed in linen, who took it and went out.\r\n And there appeared in the cherubim the form of a man`s hand under their wings.\r\n And I looked, and behold, four wheels beside the cherubim, one wheel beside one cherub, and another wheel beside another cherub; and the appearance of the wheels was like unto a beryl stone.\r\n And as for their appearance, they four had one likeness, as if a wheel have been within a wheel.\r\n When they went, they went in their four directions: they turned not as they went, but to the place whither the head looked they followed it; they turned not as they went.\r\n And their whole body, and their backs, and their hands, and their wings, and the wheels, were full of eyes round about, [even] the wheels that they four had.\r\n As for the wheels, they were called in my hearing, the whirling [wheels].\r\n And every one had four faces: the first face was the face of the cherub, and the second face was the face of a man, and the third face the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle.\r\n And the cherubim mounted up: this is the living creature that I saw by the river Chebar.\r\n And when the cherubim went, the wheels went beside them; and when the cherubim lifted up their wings to mount up from the earth, the wheels also turned not from beside them.\r\n When they stood, these stood; and when they mounted up, these mounted up with them: for the spirit of the living creature was in them.\r\n And the glory of Jehovah went forth from over the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubim.\r\n And the cherubim lifted up their wings, and mounted up from the earth in my sight when they went forth, and the wheels beside them: and they stood at the door of the east gate of Jehovah`s house; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above.\r\n This is the living creature that I saw under the God of Israel by the river Chebar; and I knew that they were cherubim.\r\n Every one had four faces, and every one four wings; and the likeness of the hands of a man was under their wings.\r\n And as for the likeness of their faces, they were the faces which I saw by the river Chebar, their appearances and themselves; they went every one straight forward.\r\n \r\n \r\n Moreover the Spirit lifted me up, and brought me unto the east gate of Jehovah`s house, which looketh eastward: and behold, at the door of the gate five and twenty men; and I saw in the midst of them Jaazaniah the son of Azzur, and Pelatiah the son of Benaiah, princes of the people.\r\n And he said unto me, Son of man, these are the men that devise iniquity, and that give wicked counsel in this city;\r\n that say, [The time] is not near to build houses: this [city] is the caldron, and we are the flesh.\r\n Therefore prophesy against them, prophesy, O son of man.\r\n And the Spirit of Jehovah fell upon me, and he said unto me, Speak, Thus saith Jehovah: Thus have ye said, O house of Israel; for I know the things that come into your mind.\r\n Ye have multiplied your slain in this city, and ye have filled the streets thereof with the slain.\r\n Therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Your slain whom ye have laid in the midst of it, they are the flesh, and this [city] is the caldron; but ye shall be brought forth out of the midst of it.\r\n Ye have feared the sword; and I will bring the sword upon you, saith the Lord Jehovah.\r\n And I will bring you forth out of the midst thereof, and deliver you into the hands of strangers, and will execute judgments among you.\r\n Ye shall fall by the sword; I will judge you in the border of Israel; and ye shall know that I am Jehovah.\r\n This [city] shall not be your caldron, neither shall ye be the flesh in the midst thereof; I will judge you in the border of Israel;\r\n and ye shall know that I am Jehovah: for ye have not walked in my statutes, neither have ye executed mine ordinances, but have done after the ordinances of the nations that are round about you.\r\n And it came to pass, when I prophesied, that Pelatiah the son of Benaiah died. Then fell I down upon my face, and cried with a loud voice, and said, Ah Lord Jehovah! wilt thou make a full end of the remnant of Israel?\r\n And the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,\r\n Son of man, thy brethren, even thy brethren, the men of thy kindred, and all the house of Israel, all of them, [are they] unto whom the inhabitants of Jerusalem have said, Get you far from Jehovah; unto us is this land given for a possession.\r\n Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Whereas I have removed them far off among the nations, and whereas I have scattered them among the countries, yet will I be to them a sanctuary for a little while in the countries where they are come.\r\n Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: I will gather you from the peoples, and assemble you out of the countries where ye have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.\r\n And they shall come thither, and they shall take away all the detestable things thereof and all the abominations thereof from thence.\r\n And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them a heart of flesh;\r\n that they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.\r\n But as for them whose heart walketh after the heart of their detestable things and their abominations, I will bring their way upon their own heads, saith the Lord Jehovah.\r\n Then did the cherubim lift up their wings, and the wheels were beside them; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above.\r\n And the glory of Jehovah went up from the midst of the city, and stood upon the mountain which is on the east side of the city.\r\n And the Spirit lifted me up, and brought me in the vision by the Spirit of God into Chaldea, to them of the captivity. So the vision that I had seen went up from me.\r\n Then I spake unto them of the captivity all the things that Jehovah had showed me.\r\n \r\n \r\n The word of Jehovah also came unto me, saying,\r\n Son of man, thou dwellest in the midst of the rebellious house, that have eyes to see, and see not, that have ears to hear, and hear not; for they are a rebellious house.\r\n Therefore, thou son of man, prepare thee stuff for removing, and remove by day in their sight; and thou shalt remove from thy place to another place in their sight: it may be they will consider, though they are a rebellious house.\r\n And thou shalt bring forth thy stuff by day in their sight, as stuff for removing; and thou shalt go forth thyself at even in their sight, as when men go forth into exile.\r\n Dig thou through the wall in their sight, and carry out thereby.\r\n In their sight shalt thou bear it upon thy shoulder, and carry it forth in the dark; thou shalt cover thy face, that thou see not the land: for I have set thee for a sign unto the house of Israel.\r\n And I did so as I was commanded: I brought forth my stuff by day, as stuff for removing, and in the even I digged through the wall with my hand; I brought it forth in the dark, and bare it upon my shoulder in their sight.\r\n And in the morning came the word of Jehovah unto me, saying,\r\n Son of man, hath not the house of Israel, the rebellious house, said unto thee, What doest thou?\r\n Say thou unto them, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: This burden [concerneth] the prince in Jerusalem, and all the house of Israel among whom they are.\r\n Say, I am your sign: like as I have done, so shall it be done unto them; they shall go into exile, into captivity.\r\n And the prince that is among them shall bear upon his shoulder in the dark, and shall go forth: they shall dig through the wall to carry out thereby: he shall cover his face, because he shall not see the land with his eyes.\r\n My net also will I spread upon him, and he shall be taken in my snare; and I will bring him to Babylon to the land of the Chaldeans; yet shall he not see it, though he shall die there.\r\n And I will scatter toward every wind all that are round about him to help him, and all his bands; and I will draw out the sword after them.\r\n And they shall know that I am Jehovah, when I shall disperse them among the nations, and scatter them through the countries.\r\n But I will leave a few men of them from the sword, from the famine, and from the pestilence; that they may declare all their abominations among the nations whither they come; and they shall know that I am Jehovah.\r\n Moreover the word of Jehovah came to me, saying,\r\n Son of man, eat thy bread with quaking, and drink thy water with trembling and with fearfulness;\r\n and say unto the people of the land, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah concerning the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the land of Israel: They shall eat their bread with fearfulness, and drink their water in dismay, that her land may be desolate, [and despoiled] of all that is therein, because of the violence of all them that dwell therein.\r\n And the cities that are inhabited shall be laid waste, and the land shall be a desolation; and ye shall know that I am Jehovah.\r\n And the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,\r\n Son of man, what is this proverb that ye have in the land of Israel, saying, The days are prolonged, and every vision faileth?\r\n Tell them therefore, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: I will make this proverb to cease, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel; but say unto them, The days are at hand, and the fulfilment of every vision.\r\n For there shall be no more any false vision nor flattering divination within the house of Israel.\r\n For I am Jehovah; I will speak, and the word that I shall speak shall be performed; it shall be no more deferred: for in your days, O rebellious house, will I speak the word, and will perform it, saith the Lord Jehovah.\r\n Again the word of Jehovah came to me, saying,\r\n Son of man, behold, they of the house of Israel say, The vision that he seeth is for many day to come, and he prophesieth of times that are far off.\r\n Therefore say unto them, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: There shall none of my words be deferred any more, but the word which I shall speak shall be performed, saith the Lord Jehovah.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,\r\n Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel that prophesy, and say thou unto them that prophesy out of their own heart, Hear ye the word of Jehovah:\r\n Thus saith the Lord Jehovah, Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!\r\n O Israel, thy prophets have been like foxes in the waste places.\r\n Ye have not gone up into the gaps, neither built up the wall for the house of Israel, to stand in the battle in the day of Jehovah.\r\n They have seen falsehood and lying divination, that say, Jehovah saith; but Jehovah hath not sent them: and they have made men to hope that the word would be confirmed.\r\n Have ye not seen a false vision, and have ye not spoken a lying divination, in that ye say, Jehovah saith; albeit I have not spoken?\r\n Therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Because ye have spoken falsehood, and seen lies, therefore, behold, I am against you, saith the Lord Jehovah.\r\n And my hand shall be against the prophets that see false visions, and that divine lies: they shall not be in the council of my people, neither shall they be written in the writing of the house of Israel, neither shall they enter into the land of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the Lord Jehovah.\r\n Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying, Peace; and there is no peace; and when one buildeth up a wall, behold, they daub it with untempered [mortar]:\r\n say unto them that daub it with untempered [mortar], that it shall fall: there shall be an overflowing shower; and ye, O great hailstones, shall fall; and a stormy wind shall rend it.\r\n Lo, when the wall is fallen, shall it not be said unto you, Where is the daubing wherewith ye have daubed it?\r\n Therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah: I will even rend it with a stormy wind in my wrath; and there shall be an overflowing shower in mine anger, and great hailstones in wrath to consume it.\r\n So will I break down the wall that ye have daubed with untempered [mortar], and bring it down to the ground, so that the foundation thereof shall be uncovered; and it shall fall, and ye shall be consumed in the midst thereof: and ye shall know that I am Jehovah.\r\n Thus will I accomplish my wrath upon the wall, and upon them that have daubed it with untempered [mortar]; and I will say unto you, The wall is no more, neither they that daubed it;\r\n [to wit], the prophets of Israel that prophesy concerning Jerusalem, and that see visions of peace for her, and there is no peace, saith the Lord Jehovah.\r\n And thou, son of man, set thy face against the daughters of thy people, that prophesy out of their own heart; and prophesy thou against them,\r\n and say, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Woe to the women that sew pillows upon all elbows, and make kerchiefs for the head of [persons of] every stature to hunt souls! Will ye hunt the souls of my people, and save souls alive for yourselves?\r\n And ye have profaned me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, to slay the souls that should not die, and to save the souls alive that should not live, by your lying to my people that hearken unto lies.\r\n Wherefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Behold, I am against your pillows, wherewith ye there hunt the souls to make [them] fly, and I will tear them from your arms; and I will let the souls go, even the souls that ye hunt to make [them] fly.\r\n Your kerchiefs also will I tear, and deliver my people out of your hand, and they shall be no more in your hand to be hunted; and ye shall know that I am Jehovah.\r\n Because with lies ye have grieved the heart of the righteous, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, and be saved alive:\r\n Therefore ye shall no more see false visions, nor divine divinations: and I will deliver my people out of your hand; and ye shall know that I am Jehovah.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then came certain of the elders of Israel unto me, and sat before me.\r\n And the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,\r\n Son of man, these men have taken their idols into their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be inquired of at all by them?\r\n Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Every man of the house of Israel that taketh his idols into his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I Jehovah will answer him therein according to the multitude of his idols;\r\n that I may take the house of Israel in their own heart, because they are all estranged from me through their idols.\r\n Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Return ye, and turn yourselves from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations.\r\n For every one of the house of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn in Israel, that separateth himself from me, and taketh his idols into his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet to inquire for himself of me; I Jehovah will answer him by myself:\r\n and I will set my face against that man, and will make him an astonishment, for a sign and a proverb, and I will cut him off from the midst of my people; and ye shall know that I am Jehovah.\r\n And if the prophet be deceived and speak a word, I, Jehovah, have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel.\r\n And they shall bear their iniquity: the iniquity of the prophet shall be even as the iniquity of him that seeketh [unto him];\r\n that the house of Israel may go no more astray from me, neither defile themselves any more with all their transgressions; but that they may be my people, and I may be their God, saith the Lord Jehovah.\r\n And the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,\r\n Son of man, when a land sinneth against me by committing a trespass, and I stretch out my hand upon it, and break the staff of the bread thereof, and send famine upon it, and cut off from it man and beast;\r\n though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord Jehovah.\r\n If I cause evil beasts to pass through the land, and they ravage it, and it be made desolate, so that no man may pass through because of the beasts;\r\n though these three men were in it, as I live, saith the Lord Jehovah, they should deliver neither sons nor daughters; they only should be delivered, but the land should be desolate.\r\n Or if I bring a sword upon that land, and say, Sword, go through the land; so that I cut off from it man and beast;\r\n though these three men were in it, as I live, saith the Lord Jehovah, they should deliver neither sons nor daughters, but they only should be delivered themselves.\r\n Or if I send a pestilence into that land, and pour out my wrath upon it in blood, to cut off from it man and beast;\r\n though Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, as I live, saith the Lord Jehovah, they should deliver neither son nor daughter; they should but deliver their own souls by their righteousness.\r\n For thus saith the Lord Jehovah: How much more when I send my four sore judgments upon Jerusalem, the sword, and the famine, and the evil beasts, and the pestilence, to cut off from it man and beast!\r\n Yet, behold, therein shall be left a remnant that shall be carried forth, both sons and daughters: behold, they shall come forth unto you, and ye shall see their way and their doings; and ye shall be comforted concerning the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem, even concerning all that I have brought upon it.\r\n And they shall comfort you, when ye see their way and their doings; and ye shall know that I have not done without cause all that I have done in it, saith the Lord Jehovah.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,\r\n Son of man, what is the vine-tree more than any tree, the vine-branch which is among the trees of the forest?\r\n Shall wood be taken thereof to make any work? or will men take a pin of it to hang any vessel thereon?\r\n Behold, it is cast into the fire for fuel; the fire hath devoured both the ends of it, and the midst of it is burned: is it profitable for any work?\r\n Behold, when it was whole, it was meet for no work: how much less, when the fire hath devoured it, and it is burned, shall it yet be meet for any work!\r\n Therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah: As the vine-tree among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so will I give the inhabitants of Jerusalem.\r\n And I will set my face against them; they shall go forth from the fire, but the fire shall devour them; and ye shall know that I am Jehovah, when I set my face against them.\r\n And I will make the land desolate, because they have committed a trespass, saith the Lord Jehovah.\r\n \r\n \r\n Again the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,\r\n Son of man, cause Jerusalem to know her abominations;\r\n and say, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah unto Jerusalem: Thy birth and thy nativity is of the land of the Canaanite; the Amorite was thy father, and thy mother was a Hittite.\r\n And as for thy nativity, in the day thou wast born thy navel was not cut, neither wast thou washed in water to cleanse thee; thou wast not salted at all, nor swaddled at all.\r\n No eye pitied thee, to do any of these things unto thee, to have compassion upon thee; but thou wast cast out in the open field, for that thy person was abhorred, in the day that thou wast born.\r\n And when I passed by thee, and saw thee weltering in thy blood, I said unto thee, [Though thou art] in thy blood, live; yea, I said unto thee, [Though thou art] in thy blood, live.\r\n I caused thee to multiply as that which groweth in the field, and thou didst increase and wax great, and thou attainedst to excellent ornament; thy breasts were fashioned, and thy hair was grown; yet thou wast naked and bare.\r\n Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness: yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord Jehovah, and thou becamest mine.\r\n Then washed I thee with water; yea, I thoroughly washed away thy blood from thee, and I anointed thee with oil.\r\n I clothed thee also with broidered work, and shod thee with sealskin, and I girded thee about with fine linen, and covered thee with silk.\r\n And I decked thee with ornaments, and I put bracelets upon thy hands, and a chain on thy neck.\r\n And I put a ring upon thy nose, and ear-rings in thine ears, and a beautiful crown upon thy head.\r\n Thus wast thou decked with gold and silver; and thy raiment was of fine linen, and silk, and broidered work; thou didst eat fine flour, and honey, and oil; and thou wast exceeding beautiful, and thou didst prosper unto royal estate.\r\n And thy renown went forth among the nations for thy beauty; for it was perfect, through my majesty which I had put upon thee, saith the Lord Jehovah.\r\n But thou didst trust in thy beauty, and playedst the harlot because of thy renown, and pouredst out thy whoredoms on every one that passed by; his it was.\r\n And thou didst take of thy garments, and madest for thee high places decked with divers colors, and playedst the harlot upon them: [the like things] shall not come, neither shall it be [so].\r\n Thou didst also take thy fair jewels of my gold and of my silver, which I had given thee, and madest for thee images of men, and didst play the harlot with them;\r\n and thou tookest thy broidered garments, and coveredst them, and didst set mine oil and mine incense before them.\r\n My bread also which I gave thee, fine flour, and oil, and honey, wherewith I fed thee, thou didst even set it before them for a sweet savor; and [thus] it was, saith the Lord Jehovah.\r\n Moreover thou hast taken thy sons and thy daughters, whom thou hast borne unto me, and these hast thou sacrificed unto them to be devoured. Were thy whoredoms a small matter,\r\n that thou hast slain my children, and delivered them up, in causing them to pass through [the fire] unto them?\r\n And in all thine abominations and thy whoredoms thou hast not remembered the days of thy youth, when thou wast naked and bare, and wast weltering in thy blood.\r\n And it is come to pass after all thy wickedness, (woe, woe unto thee! saith the Lord Jehovah,)\r\n that thou hast built unto thee a vaulted place, and hast made thee a lofty place in every street.\r\n Thou hast built thy lofty place at the head of every way, and hast made thy beauty an abomination, and hast opened thy feet to every one that passed by, and multiplied thy whoredom.\r\n Thou hast also committed fornication with the Egyptians, thy neighbors, great of flesh; and hast multiplied thy whoredom, to provoke me to anger.\r\n Behold therefore, I have stretched out my hand over thee, and have diminished thine ordinary [food], and delivered thee unto the will of them that hate thee, the daughters of the Philistines, that are ashamed of thy lewd way.\r\n Thou hast played the harlot also with the Assyrians, because thou wast insatiable; yea, thou hast played the harlot with them, and yet thou wast not satisfied.\r\n Thou hast moreover multiplied thy whoredom unto the land of traffic, unto Chaldea; and yet thou wast not satisfied herewith.\r\n How weak is thy heart, saith the Lord Jehovah, seeing thou doest all these things, the work of an impudent harlot;\r\n in that thou buildest thy vaulted place at the head of every way, and makest thy lofty place in every street, and hast not been as a harlot, in that thou scornest hire.\r\n A wife that committeth adultery! that taketh strangers instead of her husband!\r\n They give gifts to all harlots; but thou givest thy gifts to all thy lovers, and bribest them, that they may come unto thee on every side for thy whoredoms.\r\n And thou art different from [other] women in thy whoredoms, in that none followeth thee to play the harlot; and whereas thou givest hire, and no hire is given unto thee, therefore thou art different.\r\n Wherefore, O harlot, hear the word of Jehovah:\r\n Thus saith the Lord Jehovah, Because thy filthiness was poured out, and thy nakedness uncovered through thy whoredoms with thy lovers; and because of all the idols of thy abominations, and for the blood of thy children, that thou didst give unto them;\r\n therefore behold, I will gather all thy lovers, with whom thou hast taken pleasure, and all them that thou hast loved, with all them that thou hast hated; I will even gather them against thee on every side, and will uncover thy nakedness unto them, that they may see all thy nakedness.\r\n And I will judge thee, as women that break wedlock and shed blood are judged; and I will bring upon thee the blood of wrath and jealousy.\r\n I will also give thee into their hand, and they shall throw down thy vaulted place, and break down thy lofty places; and they shall strip thee of thy clothes, and take thy fair jewels; and they shall leave thee naked and bare.\r\n They shall also bring up a company against thee, and they shall stone thee with stones, and thrust thee through with their swords.\r\n And they shall burn thy houses with fire, and execute judgments upon thee in the sight of many women; and I will cause thee to cease from playing the harlot, and thou shalt also give no hire any more.\r\n So will I cause my wrath toward thee to rest, and my jealousy shall depart from thee, and I will be quiet, and will be no more angry.\r\n Because thou hast not remembered the days of thy youth, but hast raged against me in all these things; therefore, behold, I also will bring thy way upon thy head, saith the Lord Jehovah: and thou shalt not commit this lewdness with all thine abominations.\r\n Behold, every one that useth proverbs shall use [this] proverb against thee, saying, As is the mother, so is her daughter.\r\n Thou art the daughter of thy mother, that loatheth her husband and her children; and thou art the sister of thy sisters, who loathed their husbands and their children: your mother was a Hittite, and your father an Amorite.\r\n And thine elder sister is Samaria, that dwelleth at thy left hand, she and her daughters; and thy younger sister, that dwelleth at thy right hand, is Sodom and her daughters.\r\n Yet hast thou not walked in their ways, nor done after their abominations; but, as [if that were] a very little [thing], thou wast more corrupt than they in all thy ways.\r\n As I live, saith the Lord Jehovah, Sodom thy sister hath not done, she nor her daughters, as thou hast done, thou and thy daughters.\r\n Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom: pride, fulness of bread, and prosperous ease was in her and in her daughters; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.\r\n And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw [good].\r\n Neither hath Samaria committed half of thy sins; but thou hast multiplied thine abominations more than they, and hast justified thy sisters by all thine abominations which thou hast done.\r\n Thou also, bear thou thine own shame, in that thou hast given judgment for thy sisters; through thy sins that thou hast committed more abominable than they, they are more righteous that thou: yea, be thou also confounded, and bear thy shame, in that thou hast justified thy sisters.\r\n And I will turn again their captivity, the captivity of Sodom and her daughters, and the captivity of Samaria and her daughters, and the captivity of thy captives in the midst of them;\r\n that thou mayest bear thine own shame, and mayest be ashamed because of all that thou hast done, in that thou art a comfort unto them.\r\n And thy sisters, Sodom and her daughters, shall return to their former estate; and Samaria and her daughters shall return to their former estate; and thou and thy daughters shall return to your former estate.\r\n For thy sister Sodom was not mentioned by thy mouth in the day of thy pride,\r\n before thy wickedness was uncovered, as at the time of the reproach of the daughters of Syria, and of all that are round about her, the daughters of the Philistines, that do despite unto thee round about.\r\n Thou hast borne thy lewdness and thine abominations, saith Jehovah.\r\n For thus saith the Lord Jehovah: I will also deal with thee as thou hast done, who hast despised the oath in breaking the covenant.\r\n Nevertheless I will remember my covenant with thee in the days of thy youth, and I will establish unto thee an everlasting covenant.\r\n Then shalt thou remember thy ways, and be ashamed, when thou shalt receive thy sisters, thine elder [sisters] and thy younger; and I will give them unto thee for daughters, but not by thy covenant.\r\n And I will establish my covenant with thee; and thou shalt know that I am Jehovah;\r\n that thou mayest remember, and be confounded, and never open thy mouth any more, because of thy shame, when I have forgiven thee all that thou hast done, saith the Lord Jehovah.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,\r\n Son of man, put forth a riddle, and speak a parable unto the house of Israel;\r\n and say, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: A great eagle with great wings and long pinions, full of feathers, which had divers colors, came unto Lebanon, and took the top of the cedar:\r\n he cropped off the topmost of the young twigs thereof, and carried it unto a land of traffic; he set it in a city of merchants.\r\n He took also of the seed of the land, and planted it in a fruitful soil; he placed it beside many waters; he set it as a willow-tree.\r\n And it grew, and became a spreading vine of low stature, whose branches turned toward him, and the roots thereof were under him: so it became a vine, and brought forth branches, and shot forth sprigs.\r\n There was also another great eagle with great wings and many feathers: and, behold, this vine did bend its roots toward him, and shot forth its branches toward him, from the beds of its plantation, that he might water it.\r\n It was planted in a good soil by many waters, that it might bring forth branches, and that it might bear fruit, that it might be a goodly vine.\r\n Say thou, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Shall it prosper? shall he not pull up the roots thereof, and cut off the fruit thereof, that it may wither; that all its fresh springing leaves may wither? and not by a strong arm or much people can it be raised from the roots thereof.\r\n Yea, behold, being planted, shall it prosper? shall it not utterly wither, when the east wind toucheth it? it shall wither in the beds where it grew.\r\n Moreover the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,\r\n Say now to the rebellious house, Know ye not what these things mean? tell them, Behold, the king of Babylon came to Jerusalem, and took the king thereof, and the princes thereof, and brought them to him to Babylon:\r\n and he took of the seed royal, and made a covenant with him; he also brought him under an oath, and took away the mighty of the land;\r\n that the kingdom might be base, that it might not lift itself up, but that by keeping his covenant it might stand.\r\n But he rebelled against him in sending his ambassadors into Egypt, that they might give him horses and much people. Shall he prosper? shall he escape that doeth such things? shall he break the covenant, and yet escape?\r\n As I live, saith the Lord Jehovah, surely in the place where the king dwelleth that made him king, whose oath he despised, and whose covenant he brake, even with him in the midst of Babylon he shall die.\r\n Neither shall Pharaoh with his mighty army and great company help him in the war, when they cast up mounds and build forts, to cut off many persons.\r\n For he hath despised the oath by breaking the covenant; and behold, he had given his hand, and yet hath done all these things; he shall not escape.\r\n Therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah: As I live, surely mine oath that he hath despised, and my covenant that he hath broken, I will even bring it upon his own head.\r\n And I will spread my net upon him, and he shall be taken in my snare, and I will bring him to Babylon, and will enter into judgment with him there for his trespass that he hath trespassed against me.\r\n And all his fugitives in all his bands shall fall by the sword, and they that remain shall be scattered toward every wind: and ye shall know that I, Jehovah, have spoken it.\r\n Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: I will also take of the lofty top of the cedar, and will set it; I will crop off from the topmost of its young twigs a tender one, and I will plant it upon a high and lofty mountain:\r\n in the mountain of the height of Israel will I plant it; and it shall bring forth boughs, and bear fruit, and be a goodly cedar: and under it shall dwell all birds of every wing; in the shade of the branches thereof shall they dwell.\r\n And all the trees of the field shall know that I, Jehovah, have brought down the high tree, have exalted the low tree, have dried up the green tree, and have made the dry tree to flourish; I, Jehovah, have spoken and have done it.\r\n \r\n \r\n The word of Jehovah came unto me again, saying,\r\n What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children`s teeth are set on edge?\r\n As I live, saith the Lord Jehovah, ye shall not have [occasion] any more to use this proverb in Israel.\r\n Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.\r\n But if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right,\r\n and hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, neither hath defiled his neighbor`s wife, neither hath come near to a woman in her impurity,\r\n and hath not wronged any, but hath restored to the debtor his pledge, hath taken nought by robbery, hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment;\r\n he that hath not given forth upon interest, neither hath taken any increase, that hath withdrawn his hand from iniquity, hath executed true justice between man and man,\r\n hath walked in my statutes, and hath kept mine ordinances, to deal truly; he is just, he shall surely live, saith the Lord Jehovah.\r\n If he beget a son that is a robber, a shedder of blood, and that doeth any one of these things,\r\n and that doeth not any of those [duties], but even hath eaten upon the mountains, and defiled his neighbor`s wife,\r\n hath wronged the poor and needy, hath taken by robbery, hath not restored the pledge, and hath lifted up his eyes to the idols, hath committed abomination,\r\n hath given forth upon interest, and hath taken increase; shall he then live? he shall not live: he hath done all these abominations; he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon him.\r\n Now, lo, if he beget a son, that seeth all his father`s sins, which he hath done, and feareth, and doeth not such like;\r\n that hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, hath not defiled his neighbor`s wife,\r\n neither hath wronged any, hath not taken aught to pledge, neither hath taken by robbery, but hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment;\r\n that hath withdrawn his hand from the poor, that hath not received interest nor increase, hath executed mine ordinances, hath walked in my statutes; he shall not die for the iniquity of his father, he shall surely live.\r\n As for his father, because he cruelly oppressed, robbed his brother, and did that which is not good among his people, behold, he shall die in his iniquity.\r\n Yet say ye, Wherefore doth not the son bear the iniquity of the father? when the son hath done that which is lawful and right, and hath kept all my statutes, and hath done them, he shall surely live.\r\n The soul that sinneth, it shall die: the son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son; the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.\r\n But if the wicked turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.\r\n None of his transgressions that he hath committed shall be remembered against him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live.\r\n Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked? saith the Lord Jehovah; and not rather that he should return from his way, and live?\r\n But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? None of his righteous deeds that he hath done shall be remembered: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.\r\n Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel: Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal?\r\n When the righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth therein; in his iniquity that he hath done shall he die.\r\n Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive.\r\n Because he considereth, and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.\r\n Yet saith the house of Israel, The way of the Lord is not equal. O house of Israel, are not my ways equal? are not your ways unequal?\r\n Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord Jehovah. Return ye, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.\r\n Cast away from you all your transgressions, wherein ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?\r\n For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord Jehovah: wherefore turn yourselves, and live.\r\n \r\n \r\n Moreover, take thou up a lamentation for the princes of Israel,\r\n and say, What was thy mother? A lioness: she couched among lions, in the midst of the young lions she nourished her whelps.\r\n And she brought up one of her whelps: he became a young lion, and he learned to catch the prey; he devoured men.\r\n The nations also heard of him; he was taken in their pit; and they brought him with hooks unto the land of Egypt.\r\n Now when she saw that she had waited, and her hope was lost, then she took another of her whelps, and made him a young lion.\r\n And he went up and down among the lions; he became a young lion, and he learned to catch the prey; he devoured men.\r\n And he knew their palaces, and laid waste their cities; and the land was desolate, and the fulness thereof, because of the noise of his roaring.\r\n Then the nations set against him on every side from the provinces; and they spread their net over him; he was taken in their pit.\r\n And they put him in a cage with hooks, and brought him to the king of Babylon; they brought him into strongholds, that his voice should no more be heard upon the mountains of Israel.\r\n Thy mother was like a vine, in thy blood, planted by the waters: it was fruitful and full of branches by reason of many waters.\r\n And it had strong rods for the sceptres of them that bare rule, and their stature was exalted among the thick boughs, and they were seen in their height with the multitude of their branches.\r\n But it was plucked up in fury, it was cast down to the ground, and the east wind dried up its fruit: its strong rods were broken off and withered; the fire consumed them.\r\n And now it is planted in the wilderness, in a dry and thirsty land.\r\n And fire is gone out of the rods of its branches, it hath devoured its fruit, so that there is in it no strong rod to be a sceptre to rule. This is a lamentation, and shall be for a lamentation.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass in the seventh year, in the fifth [month], the tenth [day] of the month, that certain of the elders of Israel came to inquire of Jehovah, and sat before me.\r\n And the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,\r\n Son of man, speak unto the elders of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Is it to inquire of me that ye are come? As I live, saith the Lord Jehovah, I will not be inquired of by you.\r\n Wilt thou judge them, son of man, wilt thou judge them? Cause them to know the abominations of their fathers;\r\n and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: In the day when I chose Israel, and sware unto the seed of the house of Jacob, and made myself known unto them in the land of Egypt, when I sware unto them, saying, I am Jehovah your God;\r\n in that day I sware unto them, to bring them forth out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had searched out for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands.\r\n And I said unto them, Cast ye away every man the abominations of his eyes, and defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt; I am Jehovah your God.\r\n But they rebelled against me, and would not hearken unto me; they did not every man cast away the abominations of their eyes, neither did they forsake the idols of Egypt. Then I said I would pour out my wrath upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.\r\n But I wrought for my name`s sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, among which they were, in whose sight I made myself known unto them, in bringing them forth out of the land of Egypt.\r\n So I caused them to go forth out of the land of Egypt, and brought them into the wilderness.\r\n And I gave them my statutes, and showed them mine ordinances, which if a man do, he shall live in them.\r\n Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am Jehovah that sanctifieth them.\r\n But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness: they walked not in my statutes, and they rejected mine ordinances, which if a man keep, he shall live in them; and my sabbaths they greatly profaned. Then I said I would pour out my wrath upon them in the wilderness, to consume them.\r\n But I wrought for my name`s sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I brought them out.\r\n Moreover also I sware unto them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands;\r\n because they rejected mine ordinances, and walked not in my statutes, and profaned my sabbaths: for their heart went after their idols.\r\n Nevertheless mine eye spared them, and I destroyed them not, neither did I make a full end of them in the wilderness.\r\n And I said unto their children in the wilderness, Walk ye not in the statutes of your fathers, neither observe their ordinances, nor defile yourselves with their idols.\r\n I am Jehovah your God: walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them;\r\n and hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am Jehovah your God.\r\n But the children rebelled against me; they walked not in my statutes, neither kept mine ordinances to do them, which if a man do, he shall live in them; they profaned my sabbaths. Then I said I would pour out my wrath upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the wilderness.\r\n Nevertheless I withdrew my hand, and wrought for my name`s sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I brought them forth.\r\n Moreover I sware unto them in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the nations, and disperse them through the countries;\r\n because they had not executed mine ordinances, but had rejected my statutes, and had profaned my sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers` idols.\r\n Moreover also I gave them statutes that were not good, and ordinances wherein they should not live;\r\n and I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused to pass through [the fire] all that openeth the womb, that I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know that I am Jehovah.\r\n Therefore, son of man, speak unto the house of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: In this moreover have your fathers blasphemed me, in that they have committed a trespass against me.\r\n For when I had brought them into the land, which I sware to give unto them, then they saw every high hill, and every thick tree, and they offered there their sacrifices, and there they presented the provocation of their offering; there also they made their sweet savor, and they poured out there their drink-offerings.\r\n Then I said unto them, What meaneth the high place whereunto ye go? So the name thereof is called Bamah unto this day.\r\n Wherefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Do ye pollute yourselves after the manner of your fathers? and play ye the harlot after their abominations?\r\n and when ye offer your gifts, when ye make your sons to pass through the fire, do ye pollute yourselves with all your idols unto this day? and shall I be inquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live, saith the Lord Jehovah, I will not be inquired of by you;\r\n and that which cometh into your mind shall not be at all, in that ye say, We will be as the nations, as the families of the countries, to serve wood and stone.\r\n As I live, saith the Lord Jehovah, surely with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with wrath poured out, will I be king over you:\r\n and I will bring you out from the peoples, and will gather you out of the countries wherein ye are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with wrath poured out;\r\n and I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there will I enter into judgment with you face to face.\r\n Like as I entered into judgment with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I enter into judgment with you, saith the Lord Jehovah.\r\n And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant;\r\n and I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me; I will bring them forth out of the land where they sojourn, but they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and ye shall know that I am Jehovah.\r\n As for you, O house of Israel, thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Go ye, serve every one his idols, and hereafter also, if ye will not hearken unto me; but my holy name shall ye no more profane with your gifts, and with your idols.\r\n For in my holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel, saith the Lord Jehovah, there shall all the house of Israel, all of them, serve me in the land: there will I accept them, and there will I require your offerings, and the first-fruits of your oblations, with all your holy things.\r\n As a sweet savor will I accept you, when I bring you out from the peoples, and gather you out of the countries wherein ye have been scattered; and I will be sanctified in you in the sight of the nations.\r\n And ye shall know that I am Jehovah, when I shall bring you into the land of Israel, into the country which I sware to give unto your fathers.\r\n And there shall ye remember your ways, and all your doings, wherein ye have polluted yourselves; and ye shall loathe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that ye have committed.\r\n And ye shall know that I am Jehovah, when I have dealt with you for my name`s sake, not according to your evil ways, nor according to your corrupt doings, O ye house of Israel, saith the Lord Jehovah.\r\n And the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,\r\n Son of man, set thy face toward the south, and drop [thy word] toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the field in the South;\r\n and say to the forest of the South, Hear the word of Jehovah: Thus saith the Lord Jehovah, Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall devour every green tree in thee, and every dry tree: the flaming flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be burnt thereby.\r\n And all flesh shall see that I, Jehovah, have kindled it; it shall not be quenched.\r\n Then said I, Ah Lord Jehovah! they say of me, Is he not a speaker of parables?\r\n \r\n \r\n And the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,\r\n Son of man, set thy face toward Jerusalem, and drop [thy word] toward the sanctuaries, and prophesy against the land of Israel;\r\n and say to the land of Israel, Thus saith Jehovah: Behold, I am against thee, and will draw forth my sword out of its sheath, and will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked.\r\n Seeing then that I will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked, therefore shall my sword go forth out of its sheath against all flesh from the south to the north:\r\n and all flesh shall know that I, Jehovah, have drawn forth my sword out of its sheath; it shall not return any more.\r\n Sigh therefore, thou son of man; with the breaking of thy loins and with bitterness shalt thou sigh before their eyes.\r\n And it shall be, when they say unto thee, Wherefore sighest thou? that thou shalt say, Because of the tidings, for it cometh; and every heart shall melt, and all hands shall be feeble, and every spirit shall faint, and all knees shall be weak as water: behold, it cometh, and it shall be done, saith the Lord Jehovah.\r\n And the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,\r\n Son of man, prophesy, and say, Thus saith Jehovah: Say, A sword, a sword, it is sharpened, and also furbished;\r\n it is sharpened that it may make a slaughter; it is furbished that it may be as lightning: shall we then make mirth? the rod of my son, it contemneth every tree.\r\n And it is given to be furbished, that it may be handled: the sword, it is sharpened, yea, it is furbished, to give it into the hand of the slayer.\r\n Cry and wail, son of man; for it is upon my people, it is upon all the princes of Israel: they are delivered over to the sword with my people; smite therefore upon thy thigh.\r\n For there is a trial; and what if even the rod that contemneth shall be no more? saith the Lord Jehovah.\r\n Thou therefore, son of man, prophesy, and smite thy hands together; and let the sword be doubled the third time, the sword of the deadly wounded: it is the sword of the great one that is deadly wounded, which entereth into their chambers.\r\n I have set the threatening sword against all their gates, that their heart may melt, and their stumblings be multiplied: ah! it is made as lightning, it is pointed for slaughter.\r\n Gather thee together, go to the right, set thyself in array, go to the left, whithersoever thy face is set.\r\n I will also smite my hands together, and I will cause my wrath to rest: I, Jehovah, have spoken it.\r\n The word of Jehovah came unto me again, saying,\r\n Also, thou son of man, appoint thee two ways, that the sword of the king of Babylon may come; they twain shall come forth out of one land: and mark out a place, mark it out at the head of the way to the city.\r\n Thou shalt appoint a way for the sword to come to Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and to Judah in Jerusalem the fortified.\r\n For the king of Babylon stood at the parting of the way, at the head of the two ways, to use divination: he shook the arrows to and fro, he consulted the teraphim, he looked in the liver.\r\n In his right hand was the divination [for] Jerusalem, to set battering rams, to open the mouth in the slaughter, to lift up the voice with shouting, to set battering rams against the gates, to cast up mounds, to build forts.\r\n And it shall be unto them as a false divination in their sight, who have sworn oaths unto them; but he bringeth iniquity to remembrance, that they may be taken.\r\n Therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Because ye have made your iniquity to be remembered, in that your transgressions are uncovered, so that in all your doings your sins do appear; because that ye are come to remembrance, ye shall be taken with the hand.\r\n And thou, O deadly wounded wicked one, the prince of Israel, whose day is come, in the time of the iniquity of the end,\r\n thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Remove the mitre, and take off the crown; this [shall be] no more the same; exalt that which is low, and abase that which is high.\r\n I will overturn, overturn, overturn it: this also shall be no more, until he come whose right it is; and I will give it [him].\r\n And thou, son of man, prophesy, and say, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah concerning the children of Ammon, and concerning their reproach; and say thou, A sword, a sword is drawn, for the slaughter it is furbished, to cause it to devour, that it may be as lightning;\r\n while they see for thee false visions, while they divine lies unto thee, to lay thee upon the necks of the wicked that are deadly wounded, whose day is come in the time of the iniquity of the end.\r\n Cause it to return into its sheath. In the place where thou wast created, in the land of thy birth, will I judge thee.\r\n And I will pour out mine indignation upon thee; I will blow upon thee with the fire of my wrath; and I will deliver thee into the hand of brutish men, skilful to destroy.\r\n Thou shalt be for fuel to the fire; thy blood shall be in the midst of the land; thou shalt be no more remembered: for I, Jehovah, have spoken it.\r\n \r\n \r\n Moreover the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,\r\n And thou, son of man, wilt thou judge, wilt thou judge the bloody city? then cause her to know all her abominations.\r\n And thou shalt say, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: A city that sheddeth blood in the midst of her, that her time may come, and that maketh idols against herself to defile her!\r\n Thou art become guilty in thy blood that thou hast shed, and art defiled in thine idols which thou hast made; and thou hast caused thy days to draw near, and art come even unto thy years: therefore have I made thee a reproach unto the nations, and a mocking to all the countries.\r\n Those that are near, and those that are far from thee, shall mock thee, thou infamous one [and] full of tumult.\r\n Behold, the princes of Israel, every one according to his power, have been in thee to shed blood.\r\n In thee have they set light by father and mother; in the midst of thee have they dealt by oppression with the sojourner; in thee have they wronged the fatherless and the widow.\r\n Thou hast despised my holy things, and hast profaned my sabbaths.\r\n Slanderous men have been in thee to shed blood; and in thee they have eaten upon the mountains: in the midst of thee they have committed lewdness.\r\n In thee have they uncovered their fathers` nakedness; in thee have they humbled her that was unclean in her impurity.\r\n And one hath committed abomination with his neighbor`s wife; and another hath lewdly defiled his daughter-in-law; and another in thee hath humbled his sister, his father`s daughter.\r\n In thee have they taken bribes to shed blood; thou hast taken interest and increase, and thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbors by oppression, and hast forgotten me, saith the Lord Jehovah.\r\n Behold, therefore, I have smitten my hand at thy dishonest gain which thou hast made, and at thy blood which hath been in the midst of thee.\r\n Can thy heart endure, or can thy hands be strong, in the days that I shall deal with thee? I, Jehovah, have spoken it, and will do it.\r\n And I will scatter thee among the nations, and disperse thee through the countries; and I will consume thy filthiness out of thee.\r\n And thou shalt be profaned in thyself, in the sight of the nations; and thou shalt know that I am Jehovah.\r\n And the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,\r\n Son of man, the house of Israel is become dross unto me: all of them are brass and tin and iron and lead, in the midst of the furnace; they are the dross of silver.\r\n Therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Because ye are all become dross, therefore, behold, I will gather you into the midst of Jerusalem.\r\n As they gather silver and brass and iron and lead and tin into the midst of the furnace, to blow the fire upon it, to melt it; so will I gather you in mine anger and in my wrath, and I will lay you there, and melt you.\r\n Yea, I will gather you, and blow upon you with the fire of my wrath, and ye shall be melted in the midst thereof.\r\n As silver is melted in the midst of the furnace, so shall ye be melted in the midst thereof; and ye shall know that I, Jehovah, have poured out my wrath upon you.\r\n And the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,\r\n Son of man, say unto her, Thou art a land that is not cleansed, nor rained upon in the day of indignation.\r\n There is a conspiracy of her prophets in the midst thereof, like a roaring lion ravening the prey: they have devoured souls; they take treasure and precious things; they have made her widows many in the midst thereof.\r\n Her priests have done violence to my law, and have profaned my holy things: they have made no distinction between the holy and the common, neither have they caused men to discern between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them.\r\n Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, [and] to destroy souls, that they may get dishonest gain.\r\n And her prophets have daubed for them with untempered [mortar], seeing false visions, and divining lies unto them, saying, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah, when Jehovah hath not spoken.\r\n The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery; yea, they have vexed the poor and needy, and have oppressed the sojourner wrongfully.\r\n And I sought for a man among them, that should build up the wall, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found none.\r\n Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath: their own way have I brought upon their heads, saith the Lord Jehovah.\r\n \r\n \r\n The word of Jehovah came again unto me, saying,\r\n Son of man, there were two women, the daughters of one mother:\r\n and they played the harlot in Egypt; they played the harlot in their youth; there were their breasts pressed, and there was handled the bosom of their virginity.\r\n And the names of them were Oholah the elder, and Oholibah her sister: and they became mine, and they bare sons and daughters. And as for their names, Samaria is Oholah, and Jerusalem Oholibah.\r\n And Oholah played the harlot when she was mine; and she doted on her lovers, on the Assyrians [her] neighbors,\r\n who were clothed with blue, governors and rulers, all of them desirable young men, horsemen riding upon horses.\r\n And she bestowed her whoredoms upon them, the choicest men of Assyria all of them; and on whomsoever she doted, with all their idols she defiled herself.\r\n Neither hath she left her whoredoms since [the days of] Egypt; for in her youth they lay with her, and they handled the bosom of her virginity; and they poured out their whoredom upon her.\r\n Wherefore I delivered her into the hand of her lovers, into the hand of the Assyrians, upon whom she doted.\r\n These uncovered her nakedness; they took her sons and her daughters; and her they slew with the sword: and she became a byword among women; for they executed judgments upon her.\r\n And her sister Oholibah saw this, yet was she more corrupt in her doting than she, and in her whoredoms which were more than the whoredoms of her sister.\r\n She doted upon the Assyrians, governors and rulers, [her] neighbors, clothed most gorgeously, horsemen riding upon horses, all of them desirable young men.\r\n And I saw that she was defiled; they both took one way.\r\n And she increased her whoredoms; for she saw men portrayed upon the wall, the images of the Chaldeans portrayed with vermilion,\r\n girded with girdles upon their loins, with flowing turbans upon their heads, all of them princes to look upon, after the likeness of the Babylonians in Chaldea, the land of their nativity.\r\n And as soon as she saw them she doted upon them, and sent messengers unto them into Chaldea.\r\n And the Babylonians came to her into the bed of love, and they defiled her with their whoredom, and she was polluted with them, and her soul was alienated from them.\r\n So she uncovered her whoredoms, and uncovered her nakedness: then my soul was alienated from her, like as my soul was alienated from her sister.\r\n Yet she multiplied her whoredoms, remembering the days of her youth, wherein she had played the harlot in the land of Egypt.\r\n And she doted upon their paramours, whose flesh is as the flesh of asses, and whose issue is like the issue of horses.\r\n Thus thou calledst to remembrance the lewdness of thy youth, in the handling of thy bosom by the Egyptians for the breasts of thy youth.\r\n Therefore, O Oholibah, thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Behold, I will raise up thy lovers against thee, from whom thy soul is alienated, and I will bring them against thee on every side:\r\n the Babylonians and all the Chaldeans, Pekod and Shoa and Koa, [and] all the Assyrians with them; desirable young men, governors and rulers all of them, princes and men of renown, all of them riding upon horses.\r\n And they shall come against thee with weapons, chariots, and wagons, and with a company of peoples; they shall set themselves against thee with buckler and shield and helmet round about; and I will commit the judgment unto them, and they shall judge thee according to their judgments.\r\n And I will set my jealousy against thee, and they shall deal with thee in fury; they shall take away thy nose and thine ears; and thy residue shall fall by the sword: they shall take thy sons and thy daughters; and thy residue shall be devoured by the fire.\r\n They shall also strip thee of thy clothes, and take away thy fair jewels.\r\n Thus will I make thy lewdness to cease from thee, and thy whoredom [brought] from the land of Egypt; so that thou shalt not lift up thine eyes unto them, nor remember Egypt any more.\r\n For thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Behold, I will deliver thee into the hand of them whom thou hatest, into the hand of them from whom thy soul is alienated;\r\n and they shall deal with thee in hatred, and shall take away all thy labor, and shall leave thee naked and bare; and the nakedness of thy whoredoms shall be uncovered, both thy lewdness and thy whoredoms.\r\n These things shall be done unto thee, for that thou hast played the harlot after the nations, and because thou art polluted with their idols.\r\n Thou hast walked in the way of thy sister; therefore will I give her cup into thy hand.\r\n Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Thou shalt drink of thy sister`s cup, which is deep and large; thou shalt be laughed to scorn and had in derision; it containeth much.\r\n Thou shalt be filled with drunkenness and sorrow, with the cup of astonishment and desolation, with the cup of thy sister Samaria.\r\n Thou shalt even drink it and drain it out, and thou shalt gnaw the sherds thereof, and shalt tear thy breasts; for I have spoken it, saith the Lord Jehovah.\r\n Therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Because thou hast forgotten me, and cast me behind thy back, therefore bear thou also thy lewdness and thy whoredoms.\r\n Jehovah said moreover unto me: Son of man, wilt thou judge Oholah and Oholibah? then declare unto them their abominations.\r\n For they have committed adultery, and blood is in their hands; and with their idols have they committed adultery; and they have also caused their sons, whom they bare unto me, to pass through [the fire] unto them to be devoured.\r\n Moreover this they have done unto me: they have defiled my sanctuary in the same day, and have profaned my sabbaths.\r\n For when they had slain their children to their idols, then they came the same day into my sanctuary to profane it; and, lo, thus have they done in the midst of my house.\r\n And furthermore ye have sent for men that come from far, unto whom a messenger was sent, and, lo, they came; for whom thou didst wash thyself, paint thine eyes, and deck thyself with ornaments,\r\n and sit upon a stately bed, with a table prepared before it, whereupon thou didst set mine incense and mine oil.\r\n And the voice of a multitude being at ease was with her: and with men of the common sort were brought drunkards from the wilderness; and they put bracelets upon the hands of them [twain], and beautiful crowns upon their heads.\r\n Then said I of her that was old in adulteries, Now will they play the harlot with her, and she [with them].\r\n And they went in unto her, as they go in unto a harlot: so went they in unto Oholah and unto Oholibah, the lewd women.\r\n And righteous men, they shall judge them with the judgment of adulteresses, and with the judgment of women that shed blood; because they are adulteresses, and blood is in their hands.\r\n For thus saith the Lord Jehovah: I will bring up a company against them, and will give them to be tossed to and fro and robbed.\r\n And the company shall stone them with stones, and despatch them with their swords; they shall slay their sons and their daughters, and burn up their houses with fire.\r\n Thus will I cause lewdness to cease out of the land, that all women may be taught not to do after your lewdness.\r\n And they shall recompense your lewdness upon you, and ye shall bear the sins of your idols; and ye shall know that I am the Lord Jehovah.\r\n \r\n \r\n Again, in the ninth year, in the tenth month, in the tenth [day] of the month, the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,\r\n Son of man, write thee the name of the day, [even] of this selfsame day: the king of Babylon drew close unto Jerusalem this selfsame day.\r\n And utter a parable unto the rebellious house, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah, Set on the caldron, set it on, and also pour water into it:\r\n gather the pieces thereof into it, even every good piece, the thigh, and the shoulder; fill it with the choice bones.\r\n Take the choice of the flock, and also a pile [of wood] for the bones under [the caldron]; make it boil well; yea, let the bones thereof be boiled in the midst of it.\r\n Wherefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Woe to the bloody city, to the caldron whose rust is therein, and whose rust is not gone out of it! take out of it piece after piece; No lot is fallen upon it.\r\n For her blood is in the midst of her; she set it upon the bare rock; she poured it not upon the ground, to cover it with dust.\r\n That it may cause wrath to come up to take vengeance, I have set her blood upon the bare rock, that it should not be covered.\r\n Therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Woe to the bloody city! I also will make the pile great.\r\n Heap on the wood, make the fire hot, boil well the flesh, and make thick the broth, and let the bones be burned.\r\n Then set it empty upon the coals thereof, that it may be hot, and the brass thereof may burn, and that the filthiness of it may be molten in it, that the rust of it may be consumed.\r\n She hath wearied [herself] with toil; yet her great rust goeth not forth out of her; her rust [goeth not forth] by fire.\r\n In thy filthiness is lewdness: because I have cleansed thee and thou wast not cleansed, thou shalt not be cleansed from thy filthiness any more, till I have caused my wrath toward thee to rest.\r\n I, Jehovah, have spoken it: it shall come to pass, and I will do it: I will not go back, neither will I spare, neither will I repent; according to thy ways, and according to thy doings, shall they judge thee, saith the Lord Jehovah.\r\n Also the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,\r\n Son of man, behold, I take away from thee the desire of thine eyes with a stroke: yet thou shalt neither mourn nor weep, neither shall thy tears run down.\r\n Sigh, but not aloud, make no mourning for the dead; bind thy headtire upon thee, and put thy shoes upon thy feet, and cover not thy lips, and eat not the bread of men.\r\n So I spake unto the people in the morning; and at even my wife died; and I did in the morning as I was commanded.\r\n And the people said unto me, Wilt thou not tell us what these things are to us, that thou doest so?\r\n Then I said unto them, The word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,\r\n Speak unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Behold, I will profane my sanctuary, the pride of your power, the desire of your eyes, and that which your soul pitieth; and your sons and your daughters whom ye have left behind shall fall by the sword.\r\n And ye shall do as I have done: ye shall not cover your lips, nor eat the bread of men.\r\n And your tires shall be upon your heads, and your shoes upon your feet: ye shall not mourn nor weep; but ye shall pine away in your iniquities, and moan one toward another.\r\n Thus shall Ezekiel be unto you a sign; according to all that he hath done shall ye do: when this cometh, then shall ye know that I am the Lord Jehovah.\r\n And thou, son of man, shall it not be in the day when I take from them their strength, the joy of their glory, the desire of their eyes, and that whereupon they set their heart, their sons and their daughters,\r\n that in that day he that escapeth shall come unto thee, to cause thee to hear it with thine ears?\r\n In that day shall thy mouth be opened to him that is escaped, and thou shalt speak, and be no more dumb: so shalt thou be a sign unto them; and they shall know that I am Jehovah.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,\r\n Son of man, set thy face toward the children of Ammon, and prophesy against them:\r\n and say unto the children of Ammon, Hear the word of the Lord Jehovah: Thus saith the Lord Jehovah, Because thou saidst, Aha, against my sanctuary, when it was profaned; and against the land of Israel, when it was made desolate; and against the house of Judah, when they went into captivity:\r\n therefore, behold, I will deliver thee to the children of the east for a possession, and they shall set their encampments in thee, and make their dwellings in thee; they shall eat thy fruit, and they shall drink thy milk.\r\n And I will make Rabbah a stable for camels, and the children of Ammon a couching-place for flocks: and ye shall know that I am Jehovah.\r\n For thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Because thou hast clapped thy hands, and stamped with the feet, and rejoiced with all the despite of thy soul against the land of Israel;\r\n therefore, behold, I have stretched out my hand upon thee, and will deliver thee for a spoil to the nations; and I will cut thee off from the peoples, and I will cause thee to perish out of the countries: I will destroy thee; and thou shalt know that I am Jehovah.\r\n Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Because that Moab and Seir do say, Behold, the house of Judah is like unto all the nations;\r\n therefore, behold, I will open the side of Moab from the cities, from his cities which are on his frontiers, the glory of the country, Beth-jeshimoth, Baal-meon, and Kiriathaim,\r\n unto the children of the east, [to go] against the children of Ammon; and I will give them for a possession, that the children of Ammon may not be remembered among the nations.\r\n and I will execute judgments upon Moab; and they shall know that I am Jehovah.\r\n Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Because that Edom hath dealt against the house of Judah by taking vengeance, and hath greatly offended, and revenged himself upon them;\r\n therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah, I will stretch out my hand upon Edom, and will cut off man and beast from it; and I will make it desolate from Teman; even unto Dedan shall they fall by the sword.\r\n And I will lay my vengeance upon Edom by the hand of my people Israel; and they shall do in Edom according to mine anger and according to my wrath; and they shall know my vengeance, saith the Lord Jehovah.\r\n Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Because the Philistines have dealt by revenge, and have taken vengeance with despite of soul to destroy with perpetual enmity;\r\n therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah, Behold, I will stretch out my hand upon the Philistines, and I will cut off the Cherethites, and destroy the remnant of the sea coast.\r\n And I will execute great vengeance upon them with wrathful rebukes; and they shall know that I am Jehovah, when I shall lay my vengeance upon them.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the first [day] of the month, that the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,\r\n Son of man, because that Tyre hath said against Jerusalem, Aha, she is broken [that was] the gate of the peoples; she is turned unto me; I shall be replenished, now that she is laid waste:\r\n therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah, Behold, I am against thee, O Tyre, and will cause many nations to come up against thee, as the sea causeth its waves to come up.\r\n And they shall destroy the walls of Tyre, and break down her towers: I will also scrape her dust from her, and make her a bare rock.\r\n She shall be a place for the spreading of nets in the midst of the sea; for I have spoken it, saith the Lord Jehovah; and she shall become a spoil to the nations.\r\n And her daughters that are in the field shall be slain with the sword: and they shall know that I am Jehovah.\r\n For thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Behold, I will bring upon Tyre Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, king of kings, from the north, with horses, and with chariots, and with horsemen, and a company, and much people.\r\n He shall slay with the sword thy daughters in the field; and he shall make forts against thee, and cast up a mound against thee, and raise up the buckler against thee.\r\n And he shall set his battering engines against thy walls, and with his axes he shall break down thy towers.\r\n By reason of the abundance of his horses their dust shall cover thee: thy walls shall shake at the noise of the horsemen, and of the wagons, and of the chariots, when he shall enter into thy gates, as men enter into a city wherein is made a breach.\r\n With the hoofs of his horses shall he tread down all thy streets; he shall slay thy people with the sword; and the pillars of thy strength shall go down to the ground.\r\n And they shall make a spoil of thy riches, and make a prey of thy merchandise; and they shall break down thy walls, and destroy thy pleasant houses; and they shall lay thy stones and thy timber and thy dust in the midst of the waters.\r\n And I will cause the noise of thy songs to cease; and the sound of thy harps shall be no more heard.\r\n And I will make thee a bare rock; thou shalt be a place for the spreading of nets; thou shalt be built no more: for I Jehovah have spoken it, saith the Lord Jehovah.\r\n Thus saith the Lord Jehovah to Tyre: shall not the isles shake at the sound of thy fall, when the wounded groan, when the slaughter is made in the midst of thee?\r\n Then all the princes of the sea shall come down from their thrones, and lay aside their robes, and strip off their broidered garments: they shall clothe themselves with trembling; they shall sit upon the ground, and shall tremble every moment, and be astonished at thee.\r\n And they shall take up a lamentation over thee, and say to thee, How art thou destroyed, that wast inhabited by seafaring men, the renowned city, that was strong in the sea, she and her inhabitants, that caused their terror to be on all that dwelt there!\r\n Now shall the isles tremble in the day of thy fall; yea, the isles that are in the sea shall be dismayed at thy departure.\r\n For thus saith the Lord Jehovah: When I shall make thee a desolate city, like the cities that are not inhabited; when I shall bring up the deep upon thee, and the great waters shall cover thee;\r\n then will I bring thee down with them that descend into the pit, to the people of old time, and will make thee to dwell in the nether parts of the earth, in the places that are desolate of old, with them that go down to the pit, that thou be not inhabited; and I will set glory in the land of the living:\r\n I will make thee a terror, and thou shalt no more have any being; though thou be sought for, yet shalt thou never be found again, saith the Lord Jehovah.\r\n \r\n \r\n The word of Jehovah came again unto me, saying,\r\n And thou, son of man, take up a lamentation over Tyre;\r\n and say unto Tyre, O thou that dwellest at the entry of the sea, that art the merchant of the peoples unto many isles, thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Thou, O Tyre, hast said, I am perfect in beauty.\r\n Thy borders are in the heart of the seas; thy builders have perfected thy beauty.\r\n They have made all thy planks of fir-trees from Senir; they have taken a cedar from Lebanon to make a mast for thee.\r\n Of the oaks of Bashan have they made thine oars; they have made thy benches of ivory inlaid in boxwood, from the isles of Kittim.\r\n Of fine linen with broidered work from Egypt was thy sail, that it might be to thee for an ensign; blue and purple from the isles of Elishah was thine awning.\r\n The inhabitants of Sidon and Arvad were thy rowers: thy wise men, O Tyre, were in thee, they were thy pilots.\r\n The old men of Gebal and the wise men thereof were in thee thy calkers: all the ships of the sea with their mariners were in thee to deal in thy merchandise.\r\n Persia and Lud and Put were in thine army, thy men of war: they hanged the shield and helmet in thee; they set forth thy comeliness.\r\n The men of Arvad with thine army were upon thy walls round about, and valorous men were in thy towers; they hanged their shields upon thy walls round about; they have perfected thy beauty.\r\n Tarshish was thy merchant by reason of the multitude of all kinds of riches; with silver, iron, tin, and lead, they traded for thy wares.\r\n Javan, Tubal, and Meshech, they were thy traffickers; they traded the persons of men and vessels of brass for thy merchandise.\r\n They of the house of Togarmah traded for thy wares with horses and war-horses and mules.\r\n The men of Dedan were thy traffickers; many isles were the mart of thy hand: they brought thee in exchange horns of ivory and ebony.\r\n Syria was thy merchant by reason of the multitude of thy handiworks: they traded for thy wares with emeralds, purple, and broidered work, and fine linen, and coral, and rubies.\r\n Judah, and the land of Israel, they were thy traffickers: they traded for thy merchandise wheat of Minnith, and pannag, and honey, and oil, and balm.\r\n Damascus was thy merchant for the multitude of thy handiworks, by reason of the multitude of all kinds of riches, with the wine of Helbon, and white wool.\r\n Vedan and Javan traded with yarn for thy wares: bright iron, cassia, and calamus, were among thy merchandise.\r\n Dedan was thy trafficker in precious cloths for riding.\r\n Arabia, and all the princes of Kedar, they were the merchants of thy hand; in lambs, and rams, and goats, in these were they thy merchants.\r\n The traffickers of Sheba and Raamah, they were thy traffickers; they traded for thy wares with the chief of all spices, and with all precious stones, and gold.\r\n Haran and Canneh and Eden, the traffickers of Sheba, Asshur [and] Chilmad, were thy traffickers.\r\n These were thy traffickers in choice wares, in wrappings of blue and broidered work, and in chests of rich apparel, bound with cords and made of cedar, among thy merchandise.\r\n The ships of Tarshish were thy caravans for thy merchandise: and thou wast replenished, and made very glorious in the heart of the seas.\r\n Thy rowers have brought thee into great waters: the east wind hath broken thee in the heart of the seas.\r\n Thy riches, and thy wares, thy merchandise, thy mariners, and thy pilots, thy calkers, and the dealers in thy merchandise, and all thy men of war, that are in thee, with all thy company which is in the midst of thee, shall fall into the heart of the seas in the day of thy ruin.\r\n At the sound of the cry of thy pilots the suburbs shall shake.\r\n And all that handled the oar, the mariners, [and] all the pilots of the sea, shall come down from their ships; they shall stand upon the land,\r\n and shall cause their voice to be heard over thee, and shall cry bitterly, and shall cast up dust upon their heads, they shall wallow themselves in the ashes:\r\n and they shall make themselves bald for thee, and gird them with sackcloth, and they shall weep for thee in bitterness of soul with bitter mourning.\r\n And in their wailing they shall take up a lamentation for thee, and lament over thee, [saying], Who is there like Tyre, like her that is brought to silence in the midst of the sea?\r\n When thy wares went forth out of the seas, thou filledst many peoples; thou didst enrich the kings of the earth with the multitude of thy riches and of thy merchandise.\r\n In the time that thou wast broken by the seas in the depths of the waters, thy merchandise and all thy company did fall in the midst of thee.\r\n All the inhabitants of the isles are astonished at thee, and their kings are horribly afraid; they are troubled in their countenance.\r\n The merchants among the peoples hiss at thee; thou art become a terror, and thou shalt nevermore have any being.\r\n \r\n \r\n The word of Jehovah came again unto me, saying,\r\n Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyre, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Because thy heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a god, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou art man, and not God, though thou didst set thy heart as the heart of God;-\r\n behold, thou art wiser than Daniel; there is no secret that is hidden from thee;\r\n by thy wisdom and by thine understanding thou hast gotten thee riches, and hast gotten gold and silver into thy treasures;\r\n by thy great wisdom [and] by thy traffic hast thou increased thy riches, and thy heart is lifted up because of thy riches;-\r\n therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Because thou hast set thy heart as the heart of God,\r\n therefore, behold, I will bring strangers upon thee, the terrible of the nations; and they shall draw their swords against the beauty of thy wisdom, and they shall defile thy brightness.\r\n They shall bring thee down to the pit; and thou shalt die the death of them that are slain, in the heart of the seas.\r\n Wilt thou yet say before him that slayeth thee, I am God? but thou art man, and not God, in the hand of him that woundeth thee.\r\n Thou shalt die the death of the uncircumcised by the hand of strangers: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord Jehovah.\r\n Moreover the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,\r\n Son of man, take up a lamentation over the king of Tyre, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty.\r\n Thou wast in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, the topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was in thee; in the day that thou wast created they were prepared.\r\n Thou wast the anointed cherub that covereth: and I set thee, [so that] thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.\r\n Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till unrighteousness was found in thee.\r\n By the abundance of thy traffic they filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore have I cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God; and I have destroyed thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.\r\n Thy heart was lifted up because of thy beauty; thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I have cast thee to the ground; I have laid thee before kings, that they may behold thee.\r\n By the multitude of thine iniquities, in the unrighteousness of thy traffic, thou hast profaned thy sanctuaries; therefore have I brought forth a fire from the midst of thee; it hath devoured thee, and I have turned thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee.\r\n All they that know thee among the peoples shall be astonished at thee: thou art become a terror, and thou shalt nevermore have any being.\r\n And the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,\r\n Son of man, set thy face toward Sidon, and prophesy against it,\r\n and say, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Behold, I am against thee, O Sidon; and I will be glorified in the midst of thee; and they shall know that I am Jehovah, when I shall have executed judgments in her, and shall be sanctified in her.\r\n For I will send pestilence into her, and blood into her streets; and the wounded shall fall in the midst of her, with the sword upon her on every side; and they shall know that I am Jehovah.\r\n And there shall be no more a pricking brier unto the house of Israel, nor a hurting thorn of any that are round about them, that did despite unto them; and they shall know that I am the Lord Jehovah.\r\n Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: When I shall have gathered the house of Israel from the peoples among whom they are scattered, and shall be sanctified in them in the sight of the nations, then shall they dwell in their own land which I gave to my servant Jacob.\r\n And they shall dwell securely therein; yea, they shall build houses, and plant vineyards, and shall dwell securely, when I have executed judgments upon all those that do them despite round about them; and they shall know that I am Jehovah their God.\r\n \r\n \r\n In the tenth year, in the tenth [month], in the twelfth [day] of the month, the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,\r\n Son of man, set thy face against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and prophesy against him, and against all Egypt;\r\n speak, and say, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Behold, I am against thee, Pharaoh king of Egypt, the great monster that lieth in the midst of his rivers, that hath said, My river is mine own, and I have made it for myself.\r\n And I will put hooks in thy jaws, and I will cause the fish of thy rivers to stick unto thy scales; and I will bring thee up out of the midst of thy rivers, with all the fish of thy rivers which stick unto thy scales.\r\n And I will cast thee forth into the wilderness, thee and all the fish of thy rivers: thou shalt fall upon the open field; thou shalt not be brought together, nor gathered; I have given thee for food to the beasts of the earth and to the birds of the heavens.\r\n And all the inhabitants of Egypt shall know that I am Jehovah, because they have been a staff of reed to the house of Israel.\r\n When they took hold of thee by thy hand, thou didst break, and didst rend all their shoulders; and when they leaned upon thee, thou brakest, and madest all their loins to be at a stand.\r\n Therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Behold, I will bring a sword upon thee, and will cut off from thee man and beast.\r\n And the land of Egypt shall be a desolation and a waste; and they shall know that I am Jehovah. Because he hath said, The river is mine, and I have made it;\r\n therefore, behold, I am against thee, and against thy rivers, and I will make the land of Egypt an utter waste and desolation, from the tower of Seveneh even unto the border of Ethiopia.\r\n No foot of man shall pass through it, nor foot of beast shall pass through it, neither shall it be inhabited forty years.\r\n And I will make the land of Egypt a desolation in the midst of the countries that are desolate; and her cities among the cities that are laid waste shall be a desolation forty years; and I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and will disperse them through the countries.\r\n For thus saith the Lord Jehovah: At the end of forty years will I gather the Egyptians from the peoples whither they were scattered;\r\n and I will bring back the captivity of Egypt, and will cause them to return into the land of Pathros, into the land of their birth; and they shall be there a base kingdom.\r\n It shall be the basest of the kingdoms; neither shall it any more lift itself up above the nations: and I will diminish them, that they shall no more rule over the nations.\r\n And it shall be no more the confidence of the house of Israel, bringing iniquity to remembrance, when they turn to look after them: and they shall know that I am the Lord Jehovah.\r\n And it came to pass in the seven and twentieth year, in the first [month], in the first [day] of the month, the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,\r\n Son of man, Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon caused his army to serve a great service against Tyre: every head was made bald, and every shoulder was worn; yet had he no wages, nor his army, from Tyre, for the service that he had served against it.\r\n Therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Behold, I will give the land of Egypt unto Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon; and he shall carry off her multitude, and take her spoil, and take her prey; and it shall be the wages for his army.\r\n I have given him the land of Egypt as his recompense for which he served, because they wrought for me, saith the Lord Jehovah.\r\n In that day will I cause a horn to bud forth unto the house of Israel, and I will give thee the opening of the mouth in the midst of them; and they shall know that I am Jehovah.\r\n \r\n \r\n The word of Jehovah came again unto me, saying,\r\n Son of man, prophesy, and say, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Wail ye, Alas for the day!\r\n For the day is near, even the day of Jehovah is near; it shall be a day of clouds, a time of the nations.\r\n And a sword shall come upon Egypt, and anguish shall be in Ethiopia, when the slain shall fall in Egypt; and they shall take away her multitude, and her foundations shall be broken down.\r\n Ethiopia, and Put, and Lud, and all the mingled people, and Cub, and the children of the land that is in league, shall fall with them by the sword.\r\n Thus saith Jehovah: They also that uphold Egypt shall fall; and the pride of her power shall come down: from the tower of Seveneh shall they fall in it by the sword, saith the Lord Jehovah.\r\n And they shall be desolate in the midst of the countries that are desolate; and her cities shall be in the midst of the cities that are wasted.\r\n And they shall know at I am Jehovah, when I have set a fire in Egypt, and all her helpers are destroyed.\r\n In that day shall messengers go forth from before me in ships to make the careless Ethiopians afraid; and there shall be anguish upon them, as in the day of Egypt; for, lo, it cometh.\r\n Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: I will also make the multitude of Egypt to cease, by the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon.\r\n He and his people with him, the terrible of the nations, shall be brought in to destroy the land; and they shall draw their swords against Egypt, and fill the land with the slain.\r\n And I will make the rivers dry, and will sell the land into the hand of evil men; and I will make the land desolate, and all that is therein, by the hand of strangers: I, Jehovah, have spoken it.\r\n Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: I will also destroy the idols, and I will cause the images to cease from Memphis; and there shall be no more a prince from the land of Egypt: and I will put a fear in the land of Egypt.\r\n And I will make Pathros desolate, and will set a fire in Zoan, and will execute judgments upon No.\r\n And I will pour my wrath upon Sin, the stronghold of Egypt; and I will cut off the multitude of No.\r\n And I will set a fire in Egypt: Sin shall be in great anguish, and No shall be broken up; and Memphis [shall have] adversaries in the day-time.\r\n The young men of Aven and of Pibeseth shall fall by the sword; and these [cities] shall go into captivity.\r\n At Tehaphnehes also the day shall withdraw itself, when I shall break there the yokes of Egypt, and the pride of her power shall cease in her: as for her, a cloud shall cover her, and her daughters shall go into captivity.\r\n Thus will I execute judgments upon Egypt; and they shall know that I am Jehovah.\r\n And it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the first [month], in the seventh [day] of the month, that the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,\r\n Son of man, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and, lo, it hath not been bound up, to apply [healing] medicines, to put a bandage to bind it, that it be strong to hold the sword.\r\n Therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Behold, I am against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and will break his arms, the strong [arm], and that which was broken; and I will cause the sword to fall out of his hand.\r\n And I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and will disperse them through the countries.\r\n And I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, and put my sword in his hand: but I will break the arms of Pharaoh, and he shall groan before him with the groanings of a deadly wounded man.\r\n And I will hold up the arms of the king of Babylon; and the arms of Pharaoh shall fall down; and they shall know that I am Jehovah, when I shall put my sword into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall stretch it out upon the land of Egypt.\r\n And I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and disperse them through the countries; and they shall know that I am Jehovah.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the third [month], in the first [day] of the month, that the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,\r\n Son of man, say unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, and to his multitude: Whom art thou like in thy greatness?\r\n Behold, the Assyrian was a cedar in Lebanon with fair branches, and with a forest-like shade, and of high stature; and its top was among the thick boughs.\r\n The waters nourished it, the deep made it to grow: the rivers thereof ran round about its plantation; and it sent out its channels unto all the trees of the field.\r\n Therefore its stature was exalted above all the trees of the field; and its boughs were multiplied, and its branches became long by reason of many waters, when it shot [them] forth.\r\n All the birds of the heavens made their nests in its boughs; and under its branches did all the beasts of the field bring forth their young; and under its shadow dwelt all great nations.\r\n Thus was it fair in its greatness, in the length of its branches; for its root was by many waters.\r\n The cedars in the garden of God could not hide it; the fir-trees were not like its boughs, and the plane-trees were not as its branches; nor was any tree in the garden of God like unto it in its beauty.\r\n I made it fair by the multitude of its branches, so that all the trees of Eden, that were in the garden of God, envied it.\r\n Therefore thus said the Lord Jehovah: Because thou art exalted in stature, and he hath set his top among the thick boughs, and his heart is lifted up in his height;\r\n I will even deliver him into the hand of the mighty one of the nations; he shall surely deal with him; I have driven him out for his wickedness.\r\n And strangers, the terrible of the nations, have cut him off, and have left him: upon the mountains and in all the valleys his branches are fallen, and his boughs are broken by all the watercourses of the land; and all the peoples of the earth are gone down from his shadow, and have left him.\r\n Upon his ruin all the birds of the heavens shall dwell, and all the beasts of the field shall be upon his branches;\r\n to the end that none of all the trees by the waters exalt themselves in their stature, neither set their top among the thick boughs, nor that their mighty ones stand up on their height, [even] all that drink water: for they are all delivered unto death, to the nether parts of the earth, in the midst of the children of men, with them that go down to the pit.\r\n Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: In the day when he went down to Sheol I caused a mourning: I covered the deep for him, and I restrained the rivers thereof; and the great waters were stayed; and I caused Lebanon to mourn for him, and all the trees of the field fainted for him.\r\n I made the nations to shake at the sound of his fall, when I cast him down to Sheol with them that descend into the pit; and all the trees of Eden, the choice and best of Lebanon, all that drink water, were comforted in the nether parts of the earth.\r\n They also went down into Sheol with him unto them that are slain by the sword; yea, they that were his arm, [that] dwelt under his shadow in the midst of the nations.\r\n To whom art thou thus like in glory and in greatness among the trees of Eden? yet shalt thou be brought down with the trees of Eden unto the nether parts of the earth: thou shalt lie in the midst of the uncircumcised, with them that are slain by the sword. This is Pharaoh and all his multitude, saith the Lord Jehovah.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass in the twelfth year, in the twelfth month, in the first [day] of the month, that the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,\r\n Son of man, take up a lamentation over Pharaoh king of Egypt, and say unto him, Thou wast likened unto a young lion of the nations: yet art thou as a monster in the seas; and thou didst break forth with thy rivers, and troubledst the waters with thy feet, and fouledst their rivers.\r\n Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: I will spread out my net upon thee with a company of many peoples; and they shall bring thee up in my net.\r\n And I will leave thee upon the land, I will cast thee forth upon the open field, and will cause all the birds of the heavens to settle upon thee, and I will satisfy the beasts of the whole earth with thee.\r\n And I will lay thy flesh upon the mountains, and fill the valleys with thy height.\r\n I will also water with thy blood the land wherein thou swimmest, even to the mountains; and the watercourses shall be full of thee.\r\n And when I shall extinguish thee, I will cover the heavens, and make the stars thereof dark; I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon shall not give its light.\r\n All the bright lights of heaven will I make dark over thee, and set darkness upon thy land, saith the Lord Jehovah.\r\n I will also vex the hearts of many peoples, when I shall bring thy destruction among the nations, into the countries which thou hast not known.\r\n Yea, I will make many peoples amazed at thee, and their kings shall be horribly afraid for thee, when I shall brandish my sword before them; and they shall tremble at every moment, every man for his own life, in the day of thy fall.\r\n For thus saith the Lord Jehovah: The sword of the king of Babylon shall come upon thee.\r\n By the swords of the mighty will I cause thy multitude to fall; the terrible of the nations are they all: and they shall bring to nought the pride of Egypt, and all the multitude thereof shall be destroyed.\r\n I will destroy also all the beasts thereof from beside many waters; neither shall the foot of man trouble them any more, nor the hoofs of beasts trouble them.\r\n Then will I make their waters clear, and cause their rivers to run like oil, saith the Lord Jehovah.\r\n When I shall make the land of Egypt desolate and waste, a land destitute of that whereof it was full, when I shall smite all them that dwell therein, then shall they know that I am Jehovah.\r\n This is the lamentation wherewith they shall lament; the daughters of the nations shall lament therewith; over Egypt, and over all her multitude, shall they lament therewith, saith the Lord Jehovah.\r\n It came to pass also in the twelfth year, in the fifteenth [day] of the month, that the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,\r\n Son of man, wail for the multitude of Egypt, and cast them down, even her, and the daughters of the famous nations, unto the nether parts of the earth, with them that go down into the pit.\r\n Whom dost thou pass in beauty? go down, and be thou laid with the uncircumcised.\r\n They shall fall in the midst of them that are slain by the sword: she is delivered to the sword; draw her away and all her multitudes.\r\n The strong among the mighty shall speak to him out of the midst of Sheol with them that help him: they are gone down, they lie still, even the uncircumcised, slain by the sword.\r\n Asshur is there and all her company; her graves are round about her; all of them slain, fallen by the sword;\r\n whose graves are set in the uttermost parts of the pit, and her company is round about her grave; all of them slain, fallen by the sword, who caused terror in the land of the living.\r\n There is Elam and all her multitude round about her grave; all of them slain, fallen by the sword, who are gone down uncircumcised into the nether parts of the earth, who caused their terror in the land of the living, and have borne their shame with them that go down to the pit.\r\n They have set her a bed in the midst of the slain with all her multitude; her graves are round about her; all of them uncircumcised, slain by the sword; for their terror was caused in the land of the living, and they have borne their shame with them that go down to the pit: he is put in the midst of them that are slain.\r\n There is Meshech, Tubal, and all their multitude; their graves are round about them; all of them uncircumcised, slain by the sword; for they caused their terror in the land of the living.\r\n And they shall not lie with the mighty that are fallen of the uncircumcised, that are gone down to Sheol with their weapons of war, and have laid their swords under their heads, and their iniquities are upon their bones; for [they were] the terror of the mighty in the land of the living.\r\n But thou shalt be broken in the midst of the uncircumcised, and shalt lie with them that are slain by the sword.\r\n There is Edom, her kings and all her princes, who in their might are laid with them that are slain by the sword: they shall lie with the uncircumcised, and with them that go down to the pit.\r\n There are the princes of the north, all of them, and all the Sidonians, who are gone down with the slain; in the terror which they caused by their might they are put to shame; and they lie uncircumcised with them that are slain by the sword, and bear their shame with them that go down to the pit.\r\n Pharaoh shall see them, and shall be comforted over all his multitude, even Pharaoh and all his army, slain by the sword, saith the Lord Jehovah.\r\n For I have put his terror in the land of the living; and he shall be laid in the midst of the uncircumcised, with them that are slain by the sword, even Pharaoh and all his multitude, saith the Lord Jehovah.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,\r\n Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take a man from among them, and set him for their watchman;\r\n if, when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people;\r\n then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning, if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head.\r\n He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him; whereas if he had taken warning, he would have delivered his soul.\r\n But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned, and the sword come, and take any person from among them; he is taken away in his iniquity, but his blood will I require at the watchman`s hand.\r\n So thou, son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.\r\n When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die, and thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way; that wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood will I require at thy hand.\r\n Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it, and he turn not from his way; he shall die in his iniquity, but thou hast delivered thy soul.\r\n And thou, son of man, say unto the house of Israel: Thus ye speak, saying, Our transgressions and our sins are upon us, and we pine away in them; how then can we live?\r\n Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord Jehovah, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?\r\n And thou, son of man, say unto the children of thy people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression; and as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall thereby in the day that he turneth from his wickedness; neither shall he that is righteous be able to live thereby in the day that he sinneth.\r\n When I say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his righteousness, and commit iniquity, none of his righteous deeds shall be remembered; but in his iniquity that he hath committed, therein shall he die.\r\n Again, when I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right;\r\n if the wicked restore the pledge, give again that which he had taken by robbery, walk in the statutes of life, committing no iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die.\r\n None of his sins that he hath committed shall be remembered against him: he hath done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live.\r\n Yet the children of thy people say, The way of the Lord is not equal: but as for them, their way is not equal.\r\n When the righteous turneth from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, he shall even die therein.\r\n And when the wicked turneth from his wickedness, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall live thereby.\r\n Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. O house of Israel, I will judge you every one after his ways.\r\n And it came to pass in the twelfth year of our captivity, in the tenth [month], in the fifth [day] of the month, that one that had escaped out of Jerusalem came unto me, saying, The city is smitten.\r\n Now the hand of Jehovah had been upon me in the evening, before he that was escaped came; and he had opened my mouth, until he came to me in the morning; and my mouth was opened, and I was no more dumb.\r\n And the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,\r\n Son of man, they that inhabit those waste places in the land of Israel speak, saying, Abraham was one, and he inherited the land: but we are many; the land is given us for inheritance.\r\n Wherefore say unto them, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Ye eat with the blood, and lift up your eyes unto your idols, and shed blood: and shall ye possess the land?\r\n Ye stand upon your sword, ye work abomination, and ye defile every one his neighbor`s wife: and shall ye possess the land?\r\n Thus shalt thou say unto them, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: As I live, surely they that are in the waste places shall fall by the sword; and him that is in the open field will I give to the beasts to be devoured; and they that are in the strongholds and in the caves shall die of the pestilence.\r\n And I will make the land a desolation and an astonishment; and the pride of her power shall cease; and the mountains of Israel shall be desolate, so that none shall pass through.\r\n Then shall they know that I am Jehovah, when I have made the land a desolation and an astonishment, because of all their abominations which they have committed.\r\n And as for thee, son of man, the children of thy people talk of thee by the walls and in the doors of the houses, and speak one to another, every one to his brother, saying, Come, I pray you, and hear what is the word that cometh forth from Jehovah.\r\n And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but do them not; for with their mouth they show much love, but their heart goeth after their gain.\r\n And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument; for they hear thy words, but they do them not.\r\n And when this cometh to pass, (behold, it cometh,) then shall they know that a prophet hath been among them.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,\r\n Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, even to the shepherds, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Woe unto the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the sheep?\r\n Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill the fatlings; but ye feed not the sheep.\r\n The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought back that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with rigor have ye ruled over them.\r\n And they were scattered, because there was no shepherd; and they became food to all the beasts of the field, and were scattered.\r\n My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my sheep were scattered upon all the face of the earth; and there was none that did search or seek [after them].\r\n Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of Jehovah:\r\n As I live, saith the Lord Jehovah, surely forasmuch as my sheep became a prey, and my sheep became food to all the beasts of the field, because there was no shepherd, neither did my shepherds search for my sheep, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my sheep;\r\n therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of Jehovah:\r\n Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Behold, I am against the shepherds; and I will require my sheep at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the sheep; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more; and I will deliver my sheep from their mouth, that they may not be food for them.\r\n For thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Behold, I myself, even I, will search for my sheep, and will seek them out.\r\n As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered abroad, so will I seek out my sheep; and I will deliver them out of all places whither they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.\r\n And I will bring them out from the peoples, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land; and I will feed them upon the mountains of Israel, by the watercourses, and in all the inhabited places of the country.\r\n I will feed them with good pasture; and upon the mountains of the height of Israel shall their fold be: there shall they lie down in a good fold; and on fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel.\r\n I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord Jehovah.\r\n I will seek that which was lost, and will bring back that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but the fat and the strong I will destroy; I will feed them in justice.\r\n And as for you, O my flock, thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Behold, I judge between sheep and sheep, the rams and the he-goats.\r\n Seemeth it a small thing unto you to have fed upon the good pasture, but ye must tread down with your feet the residue of your pasture? and to have drunk of the clear waters, but ye must foul the residue with your feet?\r\n And as for my sheep, they eat that which ye have trodden with your feet, and they drink that which ye have fouled with your feet.\r\n Therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah unto them: Behold, I, even I, will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep.\r\n Because ye thrust with side and with shoulder, and push all the diseased with your horns, till ye have scattered them abroad;\r\n therefore will I save my flock, and they shall no more be a prey; and I will judge between sheep and sheep.\r\n And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd.\r\n And I, Jehovah, will be their God, and my servant David prince among them; I, Jehovah, have spoken it.\r\n And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause evil beasts to cease out of the land; and they shall dwell securely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods.\r\n And I will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing; and I will cause the shower to come down in its season; there shall be showers of blessing.\r\n And the tree of the field shall yield its fruit, and the earth shall yield its increase, and they shall be secure in their land; and they shall know that I am Jehovah, when I have broken the bars of their yoke, and have delivered them out of the hand of those that made bondmen of them.\r\n And they shall no more be a prey to the nations, neither shall the beasts of the earth devour them; but they shall dwell securely, and none shall make them afraid.\r\n And I will raise up unto them a plantation for renown, and they shall be no more consumed with famine in the land, neither bear the shame of the nations any more.\r\n And they shall know that I, Jehovah, their God am with them, and that they, the house of Israel, are my people, saith the Lord Jehovah.\r\n And ye my sheep, the sheep of my pasture, are men, and I am your God, saith the Lord Jehovah.\r\n \r\n \r\n Moreover the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,\r\n Son of man, set thy face against mount Seir, and prophesy against it,\r\n and say unto it, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Behold, I am against thee, O mount Seir, and I will stretch out my hand against thee, and I will make thee a desolation and an astonishment.\r\n I will lay thy cities waste, and thou shalt be desolate; and thou shalt know that I am Jehovah.\r\n Because thou hast had a perpetual enmity, and hast given over the children of Israel to the power of the sword in the time of their calamity, in the time of the iniquity of the end;\r\n therefore, as I live, saith the Lord Jehovah, I will prepare thee unto blood, and blood shall pursue thee: since thou hast not hated blood, therefore blood shall pursue thee.\r\n Thus will I make mount Seir an astonishment and a desolation; and I will cut off from it him that passeth through and him that returneth.\r\n And I will fill its mountains with its slain: in thy hills and in thy valleys and in all thy watercourses shall they fall that are slain with the sword.\r\n I will make thee a perpetual desolation, and thy cities shall not be inhabited; and ye shall know that I am Jehovah.\r\n Because thou hast said, These two nations and these two countries shall be mine, and we will possess it; whereas Jehovah was there:\r\n therefore, as I live, saith the Lord Jehovah, I will do according to thine anger, and according to thine envy which thou hast showed out of thy hatred against them; and I will make myself known among them, when I shall judge thee.\r\n And thou shalt know that I, Jehovah, have heard all thy revilings which thou hast spoken against the mountains of Israel, saying, They are laid desolate, they are given us to devour.\r\n And ye have magnified yourselves against me with your mouth, and have multiplied your words against me: I have heard it.\r\n Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: When the whole earth rejoiceth, I will make thee desolate.\r\n As thou didst rejoice over the inheritance of the house of Israel, because it was desolate, so will I do unto thee: thou shalt be desolate, O mount Seir, and all Edom, even all of it; and they shall know that I am Jehovah.\r\n \r\n \r\n And thou, son of man, prophesy unto the mountains of Israel, and say, Ye mountains of Israel, hear the word of Jehovah.\r\n Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Because the enemy hath said against you, Aha! and, The ancient high places are ours in possession;\r\n therefore prophesy, and say, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Because, even because they have made you desolate, and swallowed you up on every side, that ye might be a possession unto the residue of the nations, and ye are taken up in the lips of talkers, and the evil report of the people;\r\n therefore, ye mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord Jehovah: Thus saith the Lord Jehovah to the mountains and to the hills, to the watercourses and to the valleys, to the desolate wastes and to the cities that are forsaken, which are become a prey and derision to the residue of the nations that are round about;\r\n therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Surely in the fire of my jealousy have I spoken against the residue of the nations, and against all Edom, that have appointed my land unto themselves for a possession with the joy of all their heart, with despite of soul, to cast it out for a prey.\r\n Therefore prophesy concerning the land of Israel, and say unto the mountains and to the hills, to the watercourses and to the valleys, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Behold, I have spoken in my jealousy and in my wrath, because ye have borne the shame of the nations:\r\n therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah: I have sworn, [saying], Surely the nations that are round about you, they shall bear their shame.\r\n But ye, O mountains of Israel, ye shall shoot forth your branches, and yield your fruit to my people Israel; for they are at hand to come.\r\n For, behold, I am for you, and I will turn into you, and ye shall be tilled and sown;\r\n and I will multiply men upon you, all the house of Israel, even all of it; and the cities shall be inhabited, and the waste places shall be builded;\r\n and I will multiply upon you man and beast; and they shall increase and be fruitful; and I will cause you to be inhabited after your former estate, and will do better [unto you] than at your beginnings: and ye shall know that I am Jehovah.\r\n Yea, I will cause men to walk upon you, even my people Israel; and they shall possess thee, and thou shalt be their inheritance, and thou shalt no more henceforth bereave them of children.\r\n Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Because they say unto you, Thou [land] art a devourer of men, and hast been a bereaver of thy nation;\r\n therefore thou shalt devour men no more, neither bereave thy nation any more, saith the Lord Jehovah;\r\n neither will I let thee hear any more the shame of the nations, neither shalt thou bear the reproach of the peoples any more, neither shalt thou cause thy nation to stumble any more, saith the Lord Jehovah.\r\n Moreover the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,\r\n Son of man, when the house of Israel dwelt in their own land, they defiled it by their way and by their doings: their way before me was as the uncleanness of a woman in her impurity.\r\n Wherefore I poured out my wrath upon them for the blood which they had poured out upon the land, and because they had defiled it with their idols;\r\n and I scattered them among the nations, and they were dispersed through the countries: according to their way and according to their doings I judged them.\r\n And when they came unto the nations, whither they went, they profaned my holy name; in that men said of them, These are the people of Jehovah, and are gone forth out of his land.\r\n But I had regard for my holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations, whither they went.\r\n Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: I do not [this] for your sake, O house of Israel, but for my holy name, which ye have profaned among the nations, whither ye went.\r\n And I will sanctify my great name, which hath been profaned among the nations, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the nations shall know that I am Jehovah, saith the Lord Jehovah, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.\r\n For I will take you from among the nations, and gather you out of all the countries, and will bring you into your own land.\r\n And I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.\r\n A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh.\r\n And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep mine ordinances, and do them.\r\n And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.\r\n And I will save you from all your uncleannesses: and I will call for the grain, and will multiply it, and lay no famine upon you.\r\n And I will multiply the fruit of the tree, and the increase of the field, that ye may receive no more the reproach of famine among the nations.\r\n Then shall ye remember your evil ways, and your doings that were not good; and ye shall loathe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations.\r\n Nor for your sake do I [this], saith the Lord Jehovah, be it known unto you: be ashamed and confounded for your ways, O house of Israel.\r\n Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: In the day that I cleanse you from all your iniquities, I will cause the cities to be inhabited, and the waste places shall be builded.\r\n And the land that was desolate shall be tilled, whereas it was a desolation in the sight of all that passed by.\r\n And they shall say, This land that was desolate is become like the garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are fortified and inhabited.\r\n Then the nations that are left round about you shall know that I, Jehovah, have builded the ruined places, and planted that which was desolate: I, Jehovah, have spoken it, and I will do it.\r\n Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: For this, moreover, will I be inquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them: I will increase them with men like a flock.\r\n As the flock for sacrifice, as the flock of Jerusalem in her appointed feasts, so shall the waste cities be filled with flocks of men; and they shall know that I am Jehovah.\r\n \r\n \r\n The hand of Jehovah was upon me, and he brought me out in the Spirit of Jehovah, and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones.\r\n And he caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry.\r\n And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord Jehovah, thou knowest.\r\n Again he said unto me, Prophesy over these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of Jehovah.\r\n Thus saith the Lord Jehovah unto these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live.\r\n And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am Jehovah.\r\n So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and, behold, an earthquake; and the bones came together, bone to its bone.\r\n And I beheld, and, lo, there were sinews upon them, and flesh came up, and skin covered them above; but there was no breath in them.\r\n Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.\r\n So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army.\r\n Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are clean cut off.\r\n Therefore prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Behold, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, O my people; and I will bring you into the land of Israel.\r\n And ye shall know that I am Jehovah, when I have opened your graves, and caused you to come up out of your graves, O my people.\r\n And I will put my Spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I will place you in your own land: and ye shall know that I, Jehovah, have spoken it and performed it, saith Jehovah.\r\n The word of Jehovah came again unto me, saying,\r\n And thou, son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and [for] all the house of Israel his companions:\r\n and join them for thee one to another into one stick, that they may become one in thy hand.\r\n And when the children of thy people shall speak unto thee, saying, Wilt thou not show us what thou meanest by these?\r\n say unto them, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his companions; and I will put them with it, [even] with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in my hand.\r\n And the sticks whereon thou writest shall be in thy hand before their eyes.\r\n And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the nations, whither they are gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land:\r\n and I will make them one nation in the land, upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all; and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all;\r\n neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions; but I will save them out of all their dwelling-places, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them: so shall they be my people, and I will be their God.\r\n And my servant David shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in mine ordinances, and observe my statutes, and do them.\r\n And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, they, and their children, and their children`s children, for ever: and David my servant shall be their prince for ever.\r\n Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them; and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore.\r\n My tabernacle also shall be with them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.\r\n And the nations shall know that I am Jehovah that sanctifieth Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,\r\n Son of man, set thy face toward Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, and prophesy against him,\r\n and say, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal:\r\n and I will turn thee about, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed in full armor, a great company with buckler and shield, all of them handling swords;\r\n Persia, Cush, and Put with them, all of them with shield and helmet;\r\n Gomer, and all his hordes; the house of Togarmah in the uttermost parts of the north, and all his hordes; even many peoples with thee.\r\n Be thou prepared, yea, prepare thyself, thou, and all thy companies that are assembled unto thee, and be thou a guard unto them.\r\n After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, that is gathered out of many peoples, upon the mountains of Israel, which have been a continual waste; but it is brought forth out of the peoples, and they shall dwell securely, all of them.\r\n And thou shalt ascend, thou shalt come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy hordes, and many peoples with thee.\r\n Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: It shall come to pass in that day, that things shall come into thy mind, and thou shalt devise an evil device:\r\n and thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell securely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates;\r\n to take the spoil and to take the prey; to turn thy hand against the waste places that are [now] inhabited, and against the people that are gathered out of the nations, that have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the middle of the earth.\r\n Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take the spoil? hast thou assembled thy company to take the prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take great spoil?\r\n Therefore, son of man, prophesy, and say unto Gog, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: In that day when my people Israel dwelleth securely, shalt thou not know it?\r\n And thou shalt come from thy place out of the uttermost parts of the north, thou, and many peoples with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company and a mighty army;\r\n and thou shalt come up against my people Israel, as a cloud to cover the land: it shall come to pass in the latter days, that I will bring thee against my land, that the nations may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes.\r\n Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Art thou he of whom I spake in old time by my servants the prophets of Israel, that prophesied in those days for [many] years that I would bring thee against them?\r\n And it shall come to pass in that day, when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, saith the Lord Jehovah, that my wrath shall come up into my nostrils.\r\n For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel;\r\n so that the fishes of the sea, and the birds of the heavens, and the beasts of the field, and all creeping things that creep upon the earth, and all the men that are upon the face of the earth, shall shake at my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground.\r\n And I will call for a sword against him unto all my mountains, saith the Lord Jehovah: every man`s sword shall be against his brother.\r\n And with pestilence and with blood will I enter into judgment with him; and I will rain upon him, and upon his hordes, and upon the many peoples that are with him, an overflowing shower, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone.\r\n And I will magnify myself, and sanctify myself, and I will make myself known in the eyes of many nations; and they shall know that I am Jehovah.\r\n \r\n \r\n And thou, son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal:\r\n and I will turn thee about, and will lead thee on, and will cause thee to come up from the uttermost parts of the north; and I will bring thee upon the mountains of Israel;\r\n and I will smite thy bow out of thy left hand, and will cause thine arrows to fall out of thy right hand.\r\n Thou shalt fall upon the mountains of Israel, thou, and all thy hordes, and the peoples that are with thee: I will give thee unto the ravenous birds of every sort, and to the beasts of the field to be devoured.\r\n Thou shalt fall upon the open field; for I have spoken it, saith the Lord Jehovah.\r\n And I will send a fire on Magog, and on them that dwell securely in the isles; and they shall know that I am Jehovah.\r\n And my holy name will I make known in the midst of my people Israel; neither will I suffer my holy name to be profaned any more: and the nations shall know that I am Jehovah, the Holy One in Israel.\r\n Behold, it cometh, and it shall be done, saith the Lord Jehovah; this is the day whereof I have spoken.\r\n And they that dwell in the cities of Israel shall go forth, and shall make fires of the weapons and burn them, both the shields and the bucklers, the bows and the arrows, and the handstaves, and the spears, and they shall make fires of them seven years;\r\n so that they shall take no wood out of the field, neither cut down any out of the forests; for they shall make fires of the weapons; and they shall plunder those that plundered them, and rob those that robbed them, saith the Lord Jehovah.\r\n And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will give unto Gog a place for burial in Israel, the valley of them that pass through on the east of the sea; and it shall stop them that pass through: and there shall they bury Gog and all his multitude; and they shall call it The valley of Hamon-gog.\r\n And seven months shall the house of Israel be burying them, that they may cleanse the land.\r\n Yea, all the people of the land shall bury them; and it shall be to them a renown in the day that I shall be glorified, saith the Lord Jehovah.\r\n And they shall set apart men of continual employment, that shall pass through the land, and, with them that pass through, those that bury them that remain upon the face of the land, to cleanse it: after the end of seven months shall they search.\r\n And they that pass through the land shall pass through; and when any seeth a man`s bone, then shall he set up a sign by it, till the buriers have buried it in the valley of Hamon-gog.\r\n And Hamonah shall also be the name of a city. Thus shall they cleanse the land.\r\n And thou, son of man, thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Speak unto the birds of every sort, and to every beast of the field, Assemble yourselves, and come; gather yourselves on every side to my sacrifice that I do sacrifice for you, even a great sacrifice upon the mountains of Israel, that ye may eat flesh and drink blood.\r\n Ye shall eat the flesh of the mighty, and drink the blood of the princes of the earth, of rams, of lambs, and of goats, of bullocks, all of them fatlings of Bashan.\r\n And ye shall eat fat till ye be full, and drink blood till ye be drunken, of my sacrifice which I have sacrificed for you.\r\n And ye shall be filled at my table with horses and chariots, with mighty men, and with all men of war, saith the Lord Jehovah.\r\n And I will set my glory among the nations; and all the nations shall see my judgment that I have executed, and my hand that I have laid upon them.\r\n So the house of Israel shall know that I am Jehovah their God, from that day and forward.\r\n And the nations shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity; because they trespassed against me, and I hid my face from them: so I gave them into the hand of their adversaries, and they fell all of them by the sword.\r\n According to their uncleanness and according to their transgressions did I unto them; and I hid my face from them.\r\n Therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Now will I bring back the captivity of Jacob, and have mercy upon the whole house of Israel; and I will be jealous for my holy name.\r\n And they shall bear their shame, and all their trespasses whereby they have trespassed against me, when they shall dwell securely in their land, and none shall make them afraid;\r\n when I have brought them back from the peoples, and gathered them out of their enemies` lands, and am sanctified in them in the sight of many nations.\r\n And they shall know that I am Jehovah their God, in that I caused them to go into captivity among the nations, and have gathered them unto their own land; and I will leave none of them any more there;\r\n neither will I hide my face any more from them; for I have poured out my Spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord Jehovah.\r\n \r\n \r\n In the five and twentieth year of our captivity, in the beginning of the year, in the tenth [day] of the month, in the fourteenth year after that the city was smitten, in the selfsame day, the hand of Jehovah was upon me, and he brought me thither.\r\n In the visions of God brought he me into the land of Israel, and set me down upon a very high mountain, whereon was as it were the frame of a city on the south.\r\n And he brought me thither; and, behold, there was a man, whose appearance was like the appearance of brass, with a line of flax in his hand, and a measuring reed; and he stood in the gate.\r\n And the man said unto me, Son of man, behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears, and set thy heart upon all that I shall show thee; for, to the intent that I may show them unto thee, art thou brought hither: declare all that thou seest to the house of Israel.\r\n And, behold, a wall on the outside of the house round about, and in the man`s hand a measuring reed six cubits long, of a cubit and a handbreadth each: so he measured the thickness of the building, one reed; and the height, one reed.\r\n Then came he unto the gate which looketh toward the east, and went up the steps thereof: and he measured the threshold of the gate, one reed broad; and the other threshold, one reed broad.\r\n And every lodge was one reed long, and one reed broad; and [the space] between the lodges was five cubits; and the threshold of the gate by the porch of the gate toward the house was one reed.\r\n He measured also the porch of the gate toward the house, one reed.\r\n Then measured he the porch of the gate, eight cubits; and the posts thereof, two cubits; and the porch of the gate was toward the house.\r\n And the lodges of the gate eastward were three on this side, and three on that side; they three were of one measure: and the posts had one measure on this side and on that side.\r\n And he measured the breadth of the opening of the gate, ten cubits; and the length of the gate, thirteen cubits;\r\n and a border before the lodges, one cubit [on this side], and a border, one cubit on that side; and the lodges, six cubits on this side, and six cubits on that side.\r\n And he measured the gate from the roof of the one lodge to the roof of the other, a breadth of five and twenty cubits; door against door.\r\n He made also posts, threescore cubits; and the court [reached] unto the posts, round about the gate.\r\n And [from] the forefront of the gate at the entrance unto the forefront of the inner porch of the gate were fifty cubits.\r\n And there were closed windows to the lodges, and to their posts within the gate round about, and likewise to the arches; and windows were round about inward; and upon [each] post were palm-trees.\r\n Then brought he me into the outer court; and, lo, there were chambers and a pavement, made for the court round about: thirty chambers were upon the pavement.\r\n And the pavement was by the side of the gates, answerable unto the length of the gates, even the lower pavement.\r\n Then he measured the breadth from the forefront of the lower gate unto the forefront of the inner court without, a hundred cubits, [both] on the east and on the north.\r\n And the gate of the outer court whose prospect is toward the north, he measured the length thereof and the breadth thereof.\r\n And the lodges thereof were three on this side and three on that side; and the posts thereof and the arches thereof were after the measure of the first gate: the length thereof was fifty cubits, and the breadth five and twenty cubits.\r\n And the windows thereof, and the arches thereof, and the palm-trees thereof, were after the measure of the gate whose prospect is toward the east; and they went up unto it by seven steps; and the arches thereof were before them.\r\n And there was a gate to the inner court over against the [other] gate, [both] on the north and on the east; and he measured from gate to gate a hundred cubits.\r\n And he led me toward the south; and, behold, a gate toward the south: and he measured the posts thereof and the arches thereof according to these measures.\r\n And there were windows in it and in the arches thereof round about, like those windows: the length was fifty cubits, and the breadth five and twenty cubits.\r\n And there were seven steps to go up to it, and the arches thereof were before them; and it had palm-trees, one on this side, and another on that side, upon the posts thereof.\r\n And there was a gate to the inner court toward the south: and he measured from gate to gate toward the south a hundred cubits.\r\n Then he brought me to the inner court by the south gate: and he measured the south gate according to these measures;\r\n and the lodges thereof, and the posts thereof, and the arches thereof, according to these measures: and there were windows in it and in the arches thereof round about; it was fifty cubits long, and five and twenty cubits broad.\r\n And there were arches round about, five and twenty cubits long, and five cubits broad.\r\n And the arches thereof were toward the outer court; and palm-trees were upon the posts thereof: and the ascent to it had eight steps.\r\n And he brought me into the inner court toward the east: and he measured the gate according to these measures;\r\n and the lodges thereof, and the posts thereof, and the arches thereof, according to these measures: and there were windows therein and in the arches thereof round about; it was fifty cubits long, and five and twenty cubits broad.\r\n And the arches thereof were toward the outer court; and palm-trees were upon the posts thereof, on this side, and on that side: and the ascent to it had eight steps.\r\n And he brought me to the north gate: and he measured [it] according to these measures;\r\n the lodges thereof, the posts thereof, and the arches thereof: and there were windows therein round about; the length was fifty cubits, and the breadth five and twenty cubits.\r\n And the posts thereof were toward the outer court; and palm-trees were upon the posts thereof, on this side, and on that side: and the ascent to it had eight steps.\r\n And a chamber with the door thereof was by the posts at the gates; there they washed the burnt-offering.\r\n And in the porch of the gate were two tables on this side, and two tables on that side, to slay thereon the burnt-offering and the sin-offering and the trespass-offering.\r\n And on the [one] side without, as one goeth up to the entry of the gate toward the north, were two tables; and on the other side, which belonged to the porch of the gate, were two tables.\r\n Four tables were on this side, and four tables on that side, by the side of the gate; eight tables, whereupon they slew [the sacrifices].\r\n And there were four tables for the burnt-offering, of hewn stone, a cubit and a half long, and a cubit and a half broad, and one cubit high; whereupon they laid the instruments wherewith they slew the burnt-offering and the sacrifice.\r\n And the hooks, a handbreadth long, were fastened within round about: and upon the tables was the flesh of the oblation.\r\n And without the inner gate were chambers for the singers in the inner court, which was at the side of the north gate; and their prospect was toward the south; one at the side of the east gate having the prospect toward the north.\r\n And he said unto me, This chamber, whose prospect is toward the south, is for the priests, the keepers of the charge of the house;\r\n and the chamber whose prospect is toward the north is for the priests, the keepers of the charge of the altar: these are the sons of Zadok, who from among the sons of Levi come near to Jehovah to minister unto him.\r\n And he measured the court, a hundred cubits long, and a hundred cubits broad, foursquare; and the altar was before the house.\r\n Then he brought me to the porch of the house, and measured each post of the porch, five cubits on this side, and five cubits on that side: and the breadth of the gate was three cubits on this side, and three cubits on that side.\r\n The length of the porch was twenty cubits, and the breadth eleven cubits; even by the steps whereby they went up to it: and there were pillars by the posts, one on this side, and another on that side.\r\n \r\n \r\n And he brought me to the temple, and measured the posts, six cubits broad on the one side, and six cubits broad on the other side, which was the breadth of the tabernacle.\r\n And the breadth of the entrance was ten cubits; and the sides of the entrance were five cubits on the one side, and five cubits on the other side: and he measured the length thereof, forty cubits, and the breadth, twenty cubits.\r\n Then went he inward, and measured each post of the entrance, two cubits; and the entrance, six cubits; and the breadth of the entrance, seven cubits.\r\n And he measured the length thereof, twenty cubits, and the breadth, twenty cubits, before the temple: and he said unto me, This is the most holy place.\r\n Then he measured the wall of the house, six cubits; and the breadth of every side-chamber, four cubits, round about the house on every side.\r\n And the side-chambers were in three stories, one over another, and thirty in order; and they entered into the wall which belonged to the house for the side-chambers round about, that they might have hold [therein], and not have hold in the wall of the house.\r\n And the side-chambers were broader as they encompassed [the house] higher and higher; for the encompassing of the house went higher and higher round about the house: therefore the breadth of the house [continued] upward; and so one went up [from] the lowest [chamber] to the highest by the middle [chamber].\r\n I saw also that the house had a raised basement round about: the foundations of the side-chambers were a full reed of six great cubits.\r\n The thickness of the wall, which was for the side-chambers, on the outside, was five cubits: and that which was left was the place of the side-chambers that belonged to the house.\r\n And between the chambers was a breadth of twenty cubits round about the house on every side.\r\n And the doors of the side-chambers were toward [the place] that was left, one door toward the north, and another door toward the south: and the breadth of the place that was left was five cubits round about.\r\n And the building that was before the separate place at the side toward the west was seventy cubits broad; and the wall of the building was five cubits thick round about, and the length thereof ninety cubits.\r\n So he measured the house, a hundred cubits long; and the separate place, and the building, with the walls thereof, a hundred cubits long;\r\n also the breadth of the face of the house, and of the separate place toward the east, a hundred cubits.\r\n And he measured the length of the building before the separate place which was at the back thereof, and the galleries thereof on the one side and on the other side, a hundred cubits; and the inner temple, and the porches of the court;\r\n the thresholds, and the closed windows, and the galleries round about on their three stories, over against the threshold, ceiled with wood round about, and [from] the ground up to the windows, (now the windows were covered),\r\n to [the space] above the door, even unto the inner house, and without, and by all the wall round about within and without, by measure.\r\n And it was made with cherubim and palm-trees; and a palm-tree was between cherub and cherub, and every cherub had two faces;\r\n so that there was the face of a man toward the palm-tree on the one side, and the face of a young lion toward the palm-tree on the other side. [thus was it] made through all the house round about:\r\n from the ground unto above the door were cherubim and palm-trees made: thus was the wall of the temple.\r\n As for the temple, the door-posts were squared; and as for the face of the sanctuary, the appearance [thereof] was as the appearance [of the temple].\r\n The altar was of wood, three cubits high, and the length thereof two cubits; and the corners thereof, and the length thereof, and the walls thereof, were of wood: and he said unto me, This is the table that is before Jehovah.\r\n And the temple and the sanctuary had two doors.\r\n And the doors had two leaves [apiece], two turning leaves: two [leaves] for the one door, and two leaves for the other.\r\n And there were made on them, on the doors of the temple, cherubim and palm-trees, like as were made upon the walls; and there was a threshold of wood upon the face of the porch without.\r\n And there were closed windows and palm-trees on the one side and on the other side, on the sides of the porch: thus were the side-chambers of the house, and the thresholds.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then he brought me forth into the outer court, the way toward the north: and he brought me into the chamber that was over against the separate place, and which was over against the building toward the north.\r\n Before the length of a hundred cubits was the north door, and the breadth was fifty cubits.\r\n Over against the twenty [cubits] which belonged to the inner court, and over against the pavement which belonged to the outer court, was gallery against gallery in the third story.\r\n And before the chambers was a walk of ten cubits` breadth inward, a way of one cubit; and their doors were toward the north.\r\n Now the upper chambers were shorter; for the galleries took away from these, more than from the lower and the middlemost, in the building.\r\n For they were in three stories, and they had not pillars as the pillars of the courts: therefore [the uppermost] was straitened more than the lowest and the middlemost from the ground.\r\n And the wall that was without by the side of the chambers, toward the outer court before the chambers, the length thereof was fifty cubits.\r\n For the length of the chambers that were in the outer court was fifty cubits: and, lo, before the temple were a hundred cubits.\r\n And from under these chambers was the entry on the east side, as one goeth into them from the outer court.\r\n In the thickness of the wall of the court toward the east, before the separate place, and before the building, there were chambers.\r\n And the way before them was like the appearance of [the way of] the chambers which were toward the north; according to their length so was their breadth: and all their egresses were both according to their fashions, and according to their doors.\r\n And according to the doors of the chambers that were toward the south was a door at the head of the way, even the way directly before the wall toward the east, as one entereth into them.\r\n Then said he unto me, The north chambers and the south chambers, which are before the separate place, they are the holy chambers, where the priests that are near unto Jehovah shall eat the most holy things: there shall they lay the most holy things, and the meal-offering, and the sin-offering, and the trespass-offering; for the place is holy.\r\n When the priests enter in, then shall they not go out of the holy place into the outer court, but there they shall lay their garments wherein they minister; for they are holy: and they shall put on other garments, and shall approach to that which pertaineth to the people.\r\n Now when he had made an end of measuring the inner house, he brought me forth by the way of the gate whose prospect is toward the east, and measured it round about.\r\n He measured on the east side with the measuring reed five hundred reeds, with the measuring reed round about.\r\n He measured on the north side five hundred reeds with the measuring reed round about.\r\n He measured on the south side five hundred reeds with the measuring reed.\r\n He turned about to the west side, and measured five hundred reeds with the measuring reed.\r\n He measured it on the four sides: it had a wall round about, the length five hundred, and the breadth five hundred, to make a separation between that which was holy and that which was common.\r\n \r\n \r\n Afterward he brought me to the gate, even the gate that looketh toward the east.\r\n And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east: and his voice was like the sound of many waters; and the earth shined with his glory.\r\n And it was according to the appearance of the vision which I saw, even according to the vision that I saw when I came to destroy the city; and the visions were like the vision that I saw by the river Chebar; and I fell upon my face.\r\n And the glory of Jehovah came into the house by the way of the gate whose prospect is toward the east.\r\n And the Spirit took me up, and brought me into the inner court; and, behold, the glory of Jehovah filled the house.\r\n And I heard one speaking unto me out of the house; and a man stood by me.\r\n And he said unto me, Son of man, [this is] the place of my throne, and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel for ever. And the house of Israel shall no more defile my holy name, neither they, nor their kings, by their whoredom, and by the dead bodies of their kings [in] their high places;\r\n in their setting of their threshold by my threshold, and their door-post beside my door-post, and there was [but] the wall between me and them; and they have defiled my holy name by their abominations which they have committed: wherefore I have consumed them in mine anger.\r\n Now let them put away their whoredom, and the dead bodies of their kings, far from me; and I will dwell in the midst of them for ever.\r\n Thou, son of man, show the house to the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities; and let them measure the pattern.\r\n And if they be ashamed of all that they have done, make known unto them the form of the house, and the fashion thereof, and the egresses thereof, and the entrances thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the laws thereof; and write it in their sight; that they may keep the whole form thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and do them.\r\n This is the law of the house: upon the top of the mountain the whole limit thereof round about shall be most holy. Behold, this is the law of the house.\r\n And these are the measures of the altar by cubits (the cubit is a cubit and a handbreadth): the bottom shall be a cubit, and the breadth a cubit, and the border thereof by the edge thereof round about a span; and this shall be the base of the altar.\r\n And from the bottom upon the ground to the lower ledge shall be two cubits, and the breadth one cubit; and from the lesser ledge to the greater ledge shall be four cubits, and the breadth a cubit.\r\n And the upper altar shall be four cubits; and from the altar hearth and upward there shall be four horns.\r\n And the altar hearth shall be twelve [cubits] long by twelve broad, square in the four sides thereof.\r\n And the ledge shall be fourteen [cubits] long by fourteen broad in the four sides thereof; and the border about it shall be half a cubit; and the bottom thereof shall be a cubit round about; and the steps thereof shall look toward the east.\r\n And he said unto me, Son of man, thus saith the Lord Jehovah: These are the ordinances of the altar in the day when they shall make it, to offer burnt-offerings thereon, and to sprinkle blood thereon.\r\n Thou shalt give to the priests the Levites that are of the seed of Zadok, who are near unto me, to minister unto me, saith the Lord Jehovah, a young bullock for a sin-offering.\r\n And thou shalt take of the blood thereof, and put it on the four horns of it, and on the four corners of the ledge, and upon the border round about: thus shalt thou cleanse it and make atonement for it.\r\n Thou shalt also take the bullock of the sin-offering, and it shall be burnt in the appointed place of the house, without the sanctuary.\r\n And on the second day thou shalt offer a he-goat without blemish for a sin-offering; and they shall cleanse the altar, as they did cleanse it with the bullock.\r\n When thou hast made an end of cleansing it, thou shalt offer a young bullock without blemish, and a ram out of the flock without blemish.\r\n And thou shalt bring them near before Jehovah, and the priests shall cast salt upon them, and they shall offer them up for a burnt-offering unto Jehovah.\r\n Seven days shalt thou prepare every day a goat for a sin-offering: they shall also prepare a young bullock, and a ram out of the flock, without blemish.\r\n Seven days shall they make atonement for the altar and purify it; so shall they consecrate it.\r\n And when they have accomplished the days, it shall be that upon the eighth day, and forward, the priests shall make your burnt-offerings upon the altar, and your peace-offerings; and I will accept you, saith the Lord Jehovah.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then he brought me back by the way of the outer gate of the sanctuary, which looketh toward the east; and it was shut.\r\n And Jehovah said unto me, This gate shall be shut; it shall not be opened, neither shall any man enter in by it; for Jehovah, the God of Israel, hath entered in by it; therefore it shall be shut.\r\n As for the prince, he shall sit therein as prince to eat bread before Jehovah; he shall enter by the way of the porch of the gate, and shall go out by the way of the same.\r\n Then he brought me by the way of the north gate before the house; and I looked, and, behold, the glory of Jehovah filled the house of Jehovah: and I fell upon my face.\r\n And Jehovah said unto me, Son of man, mark well, and behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears all that I say unto thee concerning all the ordinances of the house of Jehovah, and all the laws thereof; and mark well the entrance of the house, with every egress of the sanctuary.\r\n And thou shalt say to the rebellious, even to the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: O ye house of Israel, let it suffice you of all your abominations,\r\n in that ye have brought in foreigners, uncircumcised in heart and uncircumcised in flesh, to be in my sanctuary, to profane it, even my house, when ye offer my bread, the fat and the blood, and they have broken my covenant, [to add] unto all your abominations.\r\n And ye have not kept the charge of my holy things; but ye have set keepers of my charge in my sanctuary for yourselves.\r\n Thus saith the Lord Jehovah, No foreigner, uncircumcised in heart and uncircumcised in flesh, shall enter into my sanctuary, of any foreigners that are among the children of Israel.\r\n But the Levites that went far from me, when Israel went astray, that went astray from me after their idols, they shall bear their iniquity.\r\n Yet they shall be ministers in my sanctuary, having oversight at the gates of the house, and ministering in the house: they shall slay the burnt-offering and the sacrifice for the people, and they shall stand before them to minister unto them.\r\n Because they ministered unto them before their idols, and became a stumblingblock of iniquity unto the house of Israel; therefore have I lifted up my hand against them, saith the Lord Jehovah, and they shall bear their iniquity.\r\n And they shall not come near unto me, to execute the office of priest unto me, nor to come near to any of my holy things, unto the things that are most holy; but they shall bear their shame, and their abominations which they have committed.\r\n Yet will I make them keepers of the charge of the house, for all the service thereof, and for all that shall be done therein.\r\n But the priests the Levites, the sons of Zadok, that kept the charge of my sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from me, they shall come near to me to minister unto me; and they shall stand before me to offer unto me the fat and the blood, saith the Lord Jehovah:\r\n they shall enter into my sanctuary, and they shall come near to my table, to minister unto me, and they shall keep my charge.\r\n And it shall be that, when they enter in at the gates of the inner court, they shall be clothed with linen garments; and no wool shall come upon them, while they minister in the gates of the inner court, and within.\r\n They shall have linen tires upon their heads, and shall have linen breeches upon their loins; they shall not gird themselves with [anything that causeth] sweat.\r\n And when they go forth into the outer court, even into the outer court to the people, they shall put off their garments wherein they minister, and lay them in the holy chambers; and they shall put on other garments, that they sanctify not the people with their garments.\r\n Neither shall they shave their heads, nor suffer their locks to grow long; they shall only cut off the hair of their heads.\r\n Neither shall any of the priests drink wine, when they enter into the inner court.\r\n Neither shall they take for their wives a widow, nor her that is put away; but they shall take virgins of the seed of the house of Israel, or a widow that is the widow of a priest.\r\n And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and the common, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.\r\n And in a controversy they shall stand to judge; according to mine ordinances shall they judge it: and they shall keep my laws and my statutes in all my appointed feasts; and they shall hallow my sabbaths.\r\n And they shall go in to no dead person to defile themselves; but for father, or for mother, or for son, or for daughter, for brother, or for sister that hath had no husband, they may defile themselves.\r\n And after he is cleansed, they shall reckon unto him seven days.\r\n And in the day that he goeth into the sanctuary, into the inner court, to minister in the sanctuary, he shall offer his sin-offering, saith the Lord Jehovah.\r\n And they shall have an inheritance: I am their inheritance; and ye shall give them no possession in Israel; I am their possession.\r\n They shall eat the meal-offering, and the sin-offering, and the trespass-offering; and every devoted thing in Israel shall be theirs.\r\n And the first of all the first-fruits of every thing, and every oblation of everything, of all your oblations, shall be for the priest: ye shall also give unto the priests the first of your dough, to cause a blessing to rest on thy house.\r\n The priests shall not eat of anything that dieth of itself, or is torn, whether it be bird or beast.\r\n \r\n \r\n Moreover, when ye shall divide by lot the land for inheritance, ye shall offer an oblation unto Jehovah, a holy portion of the land; the length shall be the length of five and twenty thousand [reeds], and the breadth shall be ten thousand: it shall be holy in all the border thereof round about.\r\n Of this there shall be for the holy place five hundred [in length] by five hundred [in breadth], square round about; and fifty cubits for the suburbs thereof round about.\r\n And of this measure shalt thou measure a length of five and twenty thousand, and a breadth of ten thousand: and in it shall be the sanctuary, which is most holy.\r\n It is a holy portion of the land; it shall be for the priests, the ministers of the sanctuary, that come near to minister unto Jehovah; and it shall be a place for their houses, and a holy place for the sanctuary.\r\n And five and twenty thousand in length, and ten thousand in breadth, shall be unto the Levites, the ministers of the house, for a possession unto themselves, [for] twenty chambers.\r\n And ye shall appoint the possession of the city five thousand broad, and five and twenty thousand long, side by side with the oblation of the holy portion: it shall be for the whole house of Israel.\r\n And [whatsoever is] for the prince [shall be] on the one side and on the other side of the holy oblation and of the possession of the city, in front of the holy oblation and in front of the possession of the city, on the west side westward, and on the east side eastward; and in length answerable unto one of the portions, from the west border unto the east border.\r\n In the land it shall be to him for a possession in Israel: and my princes shall no more oppress my people; but they shall give the land to the house of Israel according to their tribes.\r\n Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Let it suffice you, O princes of Israel: remove violence and spoil, and execute justice and righteousness; take away your exactions from my people, saith the Lord Jehovah.\r\n Ye shall have just balances, and a just ephah, and a just bath.\r\n The ephah and the bath shall be of one measure, that the bath may contain the tenth part of a homer, and the ephah the tenth part of a homer: the measure thereof shall be after the homer.\r\n And the shekel shall be twenty gerahs; twenty shekels, five and twenty shekels, fifteen shekels, shall be your maneh.\r\n This is the oblation that ye shall offer: the sixth part of an ephah from a homer of wheat; and ye shall give the sixth part of an ephah from a homer of barley;\r\n and the set portion of oil, of the bath of oil, the tenth part of a bath out of the cor, [which is] ten baths, even a homer; (for ten baths are a homer;)\r\n and one lamb of the flock, out of two hundred, from the well-watered pastures of Israel; -for a meal-offering, and for a burnt-offering, and for peace-offerings, to make atonement for them, saith the Lord Jehovah.\r\n All the people of the land shall give unto this oblation for the prince in Israel.\r\n And it shall be the prince`s part to give the burnt-offerings, and the meal-offerings, and the drink-offerings, in the feasts, and on the new moons, and on the sabbaths, in all the appointed feasts of the house of Israel: he shall prepare the sin-offering, and the meal-offering, and the burnt-offering, and the peace-offerings, to make atonement for the house of Israel.\r\n Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: In the first [month], in the first [day] of the month, thou shalt take a young bullock without blemish; and thou shalt cleanse the sanctuary.\r\n And the priest shall take of the blood of the sin-offering, and put it upon the door-posts of the house, and upon the four corners of the ledge of the altar, and upon the posts of the gate of the inner court.\r\n And so thou shalt do on the seventh [day] of the month for every one that erreth, and for him that is simple: so shall ye make atonement for the house.\r\n In the first [month], in the fourteenth day of the month, ye shall have the passover, a feast of seven days; unleavened bread shall be eaten.\r\n And upon that day shall the prince prepare for himself and for all the people of the land a bullock for a sin-offering.\r\n And the seven days of the feast he shall prepare a burnt-offering to Jehovah, seven bullocks and seven rams without blemish daily the seven days; and a he-goat daily for a sin-offering.\r\n And he shall prepare a meal-offering, an ephah for a bullock, and an ephah for a ram, and a hin of oil to an ephah.\r\n In the seventh [month], in the fifteenth day of the month, in the feast, shall he do the like the seven days; according to the sin-offering, according to the burnt-offering, and according to the meal-offering, and according to the oil.\r\n \r\n \r\n Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: The gate of the inner court that looketh toward the east shall be shut the six working days; but on the sabbath day it shall be opened, and on the day of the new moon it shall be opened.\r\n And the prince shall enter by the way of the porch of the gate without, and shall stand by the post of the gate; and the priests shall prepare his burnt-offering and his peace-offerings, and he shall worship at the threshold of the gate: then he shall go forth; but the gate shall not be shut until the evening.\r\n And the people of the land shall worship at the door of that gate before Jehovah on the sabbaths and on the new moons.\r\n And the burnt-offering that the prince shall offer unto Jehovah shall be on the sabbath day six lambs without blemish and a ram without blemish;\r\n and the meal-offering shall be an ephah for the ram, and the meal-offering for the lambs as he is able to give, and a hin of oil to an ephah.\r\n And on the day of the new moon it shall be a young bullock without blemish, and six lambs, and a ram; they shall be without blemish:\r\n and he shall prepare a meal-offering, an ephah for the bullock, and an ephah for the ram, and for the lambs according as he is able, and a hin of oil to an ephah.\r\n And when the prince shall enter, he shall go in by the way of the porch of the gate, and he shall go forth by the way thereof.\r\n But when the people of the land shall come before Jehovah in the appointed feasts, he that entereth by the way of the north gate to worship shall go forth by the way of the south gate; and he that entereth by the way of the south gate shall go forth by the way of the north gate: he shall not return by the way of the gate whereby he came in, but shall go forth straight before him.\r\n And the prince, when they go in, shall go in in the midst of them; and when they go forth, they shall go forth [together].\r\n And in the feasts and in the solemnities the meal-offering shall be an ephah for a bullock, and an ephah for a ram, and for the lambs as he is able to give, and a hin of oil to an ephah.\r\n And when the prince shall prepare a freewill-offering, a burnt-offering or peace-offerings as a freewill-offering unto Jehovah, one shall open for him the gate that looketh toward the east; and he shall prepare his burnt-offering and his peace-offerings, as he doth on the sabbath day: then he shall go forth; and after his going forth one shall shut the gate.\r\n And thou shalt prepare a lamb a year old without blemish for a burnt-offering unto Jehovah daily: morning by morning shalt thou prepare it.\r\n And thou shalt prepare a meal-offering with it morning by morning, the sixth part of an ephah, and the third part of a hin of oil, to moisten the fine flour; a meal-offering unto Jehovah continually by a perpetual ordinance.\r\n Thus shall they prepare the lamb, and the meal-offering, and the oil, morning by morning, for a continual burnt-offering.\r\n Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: If the prince give a gift unto any of his sons, it is his inheritance, it shall belong to his sons; it is their possession by inheritance.\r\n But if he give of his inheritance a gift to one of his servants, it shall be his to the year of liberty; then it shall return to the prince; but as for his inheritance, it shall be for his sons.\r\n Moreover the prince shall not take of the people`s inheritance, to thrust them out of their possession; he shall give inheritance to his sons out of his own possession, that my people be not scattered every man from his possession.\r\n Then he brought me through the entry, which was at the side of the gate, into the holy chambers for the priests, which looked toward the north: and, behold, there was a place on the hinder part westward.\r\n And he said unto me, This is the place where the priests shall boil the trespass-offering and the sin-offering, [and] where they shall bake the meal-offering; that they bring them not forth into the outer court, to sanctify the people.\r\n Then he brought me forth into the outer court, and caused me to pass by the four corners of the court; and, behold, in every corner of the court there was a court.\r\n In the four corners of the court there were courts inclosed, forty [cubits] long and thirty broad: these four in the corners were of one measure.\r\n And there was a wall round about in them, round about the four, and boiling-places were made under the walls round about.\r\n Then said he unto me, These are the boiling-houses, where the ministers of the house shall boil the sacrifice of the people.\r\n \r\n \r\n And he brought me back unto the door of the house; and, behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward; (for the forefront of the house was toward the east;) and the waters came down from under, from the right side of the house, on the south of the altar.\r\n Then he brought me out by the way of the gate northward, and led me round by the way without unto the outer gate, by the way of [the gate] that looketh toward the east; and, behold, there ran out waters on the right side.\r\n When the man went forth eastward with the line in his hand, he measured a thousand cubits, and he caused me to pass through the waters, waters that were to the ankles.\r\n Again he measured a thousand, and caused me to pass through the waters, waters that were to the knees. Again he measured a thousand, and caused me to pass through [the waters], waters that were to the loins.\r\n Afterward he measured a thousand; [and it was] a river that I could not pass through; for the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed through.\r\n And he said unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen [this]? Then he brought me, and caused me to return to the bank of the river.\r\n Now when I had returned, behold, upon the bank of the river were very many trees on the one side and on the other.\r\n Then said he unto me, These waters issue forth toward the eastern region, and shall go down into the Arabah; and they shall go toward the sea; into the sea [shall the waters go] which were made to issue forth; and the waters shall be healed.\r\n And it shall come to pass, that every living creature which swarmeth, in every place whither the rivers come, shall live; and there shall be a very great multitude of fish; for these waters are come thither, and [the waters of the sea] shall be healed, and everything shall live whithersoever the river cometh.\r\n And it shall come to pass, that fishers shall stand by it: from En-gedi even unto En-eglaim shall be a place for the spreading of nets; their fish shall be after their kinds, as the fish of the great sea, exceeding many.\r\n But the miry places thereof, and the marshes thereof, shall not be healed; they shall be given up to salt.\r\n And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow every tree for food, whose leaf shall not whither, neither shall the fruit thereof fail: it shall bring forth new fruit every month, because the waters thereof issue out of the sanctuary; and the fruit thereof shall be for food, and the leaf thereof for healing.\r\n Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: This shall be the border, whereby ye shall divide the land for inheritance according to the twelve tribes of Israel: Joseph [shall have two] portions.\r\n And ye shall inherit it, one as well as another; for I sware to give it unto your fathers: and this land shall fall unto you for inheritance.\r\n And this shall be the border of the land: On the north side, from the great sea, by the way of Hethlon, unto the entrance of Zedad;\r\n Hamath, Berothah, Sibraim, which is between the border of Damascus and the border of Hamath; Hazer-hatticon, which is by the border of Hauran.\r\n And the border from the sea, shall be Hazar-enon at the border of Damascus; and on the north northward is the border of Hamath. This is the north side.\r\n And the east side, between Hauran and Damascus and Gilead, and the land of Israel, shall be the Jordan; from the [north] border unto the east sea shall ye measure. This is the east side.\r\n And the south side southward shall be from Tamar as far as the waters of Meriboth-kadesh, to the brook [of Egypt], unto the great sea. This is the south side southward.\r\n And the west side shall be the great sea, from the [south] border as far as over against the entrance of Hamath. This is the west side.\r\n So shall ye divide this land unto you according to the tribes of Israel.\r\n And it shall come to pass, that ye shall divide it by lot for an inheritance unto you and to the strangers that sojourn among you, who shall beget children among you; and they shall be unto you as the home-born among the children of Israel; they shall have inheritance with you among the tribes of Israel.\r\n And it shall come to pass, that in what tribe the stranger sojourneth, there shall ye give him his inheritance, saith the Lord Jehovah.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now these are the names of the tribes: From the north end, beside the way of Hethlon to the entrance of Hamath, Hazar-enan at the border of Damascus, northward beside Hamath, (and they shall have their sides east [and] west,) Dan, one [portion].\r\n And by the border of Dan, from the east side unto the west side, Asher, one [portion].\r\n And by the border of Asher, from the east side even unto the west side, Naphtali, one [portion].\r\n And by the border of Naphtali, from the east side unto the west side, Manasseh, one [portion].\r\n And by the border of Manasseh, from the east side unto the west side, Ephraim, one [portion].\r\n And by the border of Ephraim, from the east side even unto the west side, Reuben, one [portion].\r\n And by the border of Reuben, from the east side unto the west side, Judah, one [portion].\r\n And by the border of Judah, from the east side unto the west side, shall be the oblation which ye shall offer, five and twenty thousand [reeds] in breadth, and in length as one of the portions, from the east side unto the west side: and the sanctuary shall be in the midst of it.\r\n The oblation that ye shall offer unto Jehovah shall be five and twenty thousand [reeds] in length, and ten thousand in breadth.\r\n And for these, even for the priests, shall be the holy oblation: toward the north five and twenty thousand [in length], and toward the west ten thousand in breadth, and toward the east ten thousand in breadth, and toward the south five and twenty thousand in length: and the sanctuary of Jehovah shall be in the midst thereof.\r\n [It shall be] for the priests that are sanctified of the sons of Zadok, that have kept my charge, that went not astray when the children of Israel went astray, as the Levites went astray.\r\n And it shall be unto them an oblation from the oblation of the land, a thing most holy, by the border of the Levites.\r\n And answerable unto the border of the priests, the Levites shall have five and twenty thousand in length, and ten thousand in breadth: all the length shall be five and twenty thousand, and the breadth ten thousand.\r\n And they shall sell none of it, nor exchange it, nor shall the first-fruits of the land be alienated; for it is holy unto Jehovah.\r\n And the five thousand that are left in the breadth, in front of the five and twenty thousand, shall be for common use, for the city, for dwelling and for suburbs; and the city shall be in the midst thereof.\r\n And these shall be the measures thereof: the north side four thousand and five hundred, and the south side four thousand and five hundred, and on the east side four thousand and five hundred, and the west side four thousand and five hundred.\r\n And the city shall have suburbs: toward the north two hundred and fifty, and toward the south two hundred and fifty, and toward the east two hundred and fifty, and toward the west two hundred and fifty.\r\n And the residue in the length, answerable unto the holy oblation, shall be ten thousand eastward, and ten thousand westward; and it shall be answerable unto the holy oblation; and the increase thereof shall be for food unto them that labor in the city.\r\n And they that labor in the city, out of all the tribes of Israel, shall till it.\r\n All the oblation shall be five and twenty thousand by five and twenty thousand: ye shall offer the holy oblation four-square, with the possession of the city.\r\n And the residue shall be for the prince, on the one side and on the other of the holy oblation and of the possession of the city; in front of the five and twenty thousand of the oblation toward the east border, and westward in front of the five and twenty thousand toward the west border, answerable unto the portions, it shall be for the prince: and the holy oblation and the sanctuary of the house shall be in the midst thereof.\r\n Moreover from the possession of the Levites, and from the possession of the city, being in the midst of that which is the prince`s, between the border of Judah and the border of Benjamin, it shall be for the prince.\r\n And as for the rest of the tribes: from the east side unto the west side, Benjamin, one [portion].\r\n And by the border of Benjamin, from the east side unto the west side, Simeon, one [portion].\r\n And by the border of Simeon, from the east side unto the west side, Issachar, one [portion].\r\n And by the border of Issachar, from the east side unto the west side, Zebulun, one [portion].\r\n And by the border of Zebulun, from the east side unto the west side, Gad, one [portion].\r\n And by the border of Gad, at the south side southward, the border shall be even from Tamar unto the waters of Meribath-kadesh, to the brook [of Egypt], unto the great sea.\r\n This is the land which ye shall divide by lot unto the tribes of Israel for inheritance, and these are their several portions, saith the Lord Jehovah.\r\n And these are the egresses of the city: On the north side four thousand and five hundred [reeds] by measure;\r\n and the gates of the city shall be after the names of the tribes of Israel, three gates northward: the gate of Reuben, one; the gate of Judah, one; the gate of Levi, one.\r\n And at the east side four thousand and five hundred [reeds], and three gates: even the gate of Joseph, one; the gate of Benjamin, one; the gate of Dan, one.\r\n And at the south side four thousand and five hundred [reeds] by measure, and three gates: the gate of Simeon, one; the gate of Issachar, one; the gate of Zebulun, one.\r\n At the west side four thousand and five hundred [reeds], with their three gates: the gate of Gad, one; the gate of Asher, one; the gate of Naphtali, one.\r\n It shall be eighteen thousand [reeds] round about: and the name of the city from that day shall be, Jehovah is there.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it.\r\n And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God; and he carried them into the land of Shinar to the house of his god: and he brought the vessels into the treasure-house of his god.\r\n And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring in [certain] of the children of Israel, even of the seed royal and of the nobles;\r\n youths in whom was no blemish, but well-favored, and skilful in all wisdom, and endued with knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability to stand in the king`s palace; and that he should teach them the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.\r\n And the king appointed for them a daily portion of the king`s dainties, and of the wine which he drank, and that they should be nourished three years; that at the end thereof they should stand before the king.\r\n Now among these were, of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.\r\n And the prince of the eunuchs gave names unto them: unto Daniel he gave [the name of] Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, [of] Shadrach; and to Mishael, [of] Meshach; and to Azariah, [of] Abed-nego.\r\n But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the king`s dainties, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.\r\n Now God made Daniel to find kindness and compassion in the sight of the prince of the eunuchs.\r\n And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your food and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse looking than the youths that are of your own age? so would ye endanger my head with the king.\r\n Then said Daniel to the steward whom the prince of the eunuchs had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:\r\n Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.\r\n Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the youths that eat of the king`s dainties; and as thou seest, deal with thy servants.\r\n So he hearkened unto them in this matter, and proved them ten days.\r\n And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer, and they were fatter in flesh, than all the youths that did eat of the king`s dainties.\r\n So the steward took away their dainties, and the wine that they should drink, and gave them pulse.\r\n Now as for these four youths, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.\r\n And at the end of the days which the king had appointed for bringing them in, the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.\r\n And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king.\r\n And in every matter of wisdom and understanding, concerning which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters that were in all his realm.\r\n And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus.\r\n \r\n \r\n And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams; and his spirit was troubled, and his sleep went from him.\r\n Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the enchanters, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, to tell the king his dreams. So they came in and stood before the king.\r\n And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit is troubled to know the dream.\r\n Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in the Syrian language, O king, live for ever: tell thy servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation.\r\n The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me: if ye make not known unto me the dream and the interpretation thereof, ye shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill.\r\n But if ye show the dream and the interpretation thereof, ye shall receive of me gifts and rewards and great honor: therefore show me the dream and the interpretation thereof.\r\n They answered the second time and said, Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation.\r\n The king answered and said, I know of a certainty that ye would gain time, because ye see the thing is gone from me.\r\n But if ye make not known unto me the dream, there is but one law for you; for ye have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, till the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that ye can show me the interpretation thereof.\r\n The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth that can show the king`s matter, forasmuch as no king, lord, or ruler, hath asked such a thing of any magician, or enchanter, or Chaldean.\r\n And it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is no other that can show it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.\r\n For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.\r\n So the decree went forth, and the wise men were to be slain; and they sought Daniel and his companions to be slain.\r\n Then Daniel returned answer with counsel and prudence to Arioch the captain of the king`s guard, who was gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon;\r\n he answered and said to Arioch the king`s captain, Wherefore is the decree so urgent from the king? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel.\r\n And Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would appoint him a time, and he would show the king the interpretation.\r\n Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions:\r\n that they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his companions should nor perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.\r\n Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a vision of the night. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.\r\n Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever; for wisdom and might are his.\r\n And he changeth the times and the seasons; he removeth kings, and setteth up kings; he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that have understanding;\r\n he revealeth the deep and secret things; he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.\r\n I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast now made known unto me what we desired of thee; for thou hast made known unto us the king`s matter.\r\n Therefore Daniel went in unto Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon; he went and said thus unto him: Destroy not the wise men of Babylon; bring me in before the king, and I will show unto the king the interpretation.\r\n Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste, and said thus unto him, I have found a man of the children of the captivity of Judah, that will make known unto the king the interpretation.\r\n The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, Art thou able to make known unto me the dream which I have seen, and the interpretation thereof?\r\n Daniel answered before the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded can neither wise men, enchanters, magicians, nor soothsayers, show unto the king;\r\n but there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and he hath made known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these:\r\n as for thee, O king, thy thoughts came [into thy mind] upon thy bed, what should come to pass hereafter; and he that revealeth secrets hath made known to thee what shall come to pass.\r\n But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living, but to the intent that the interpretation may be made known to the king, and that thou mayest know the thoughts of thy heart.\r\n Thou, O king, sawest, and, behold, a great image. This image, which was mighty, and whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the aspect thereof was terrible.\r\n As for this image, its head was of fine gold, its breast and its arms of silver, its belly and its thighs of brass,\r\n its legs of iron, its feet part of iron, and part of clay.\r\n Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon its feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them in pieces.\r\n Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken in pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing-floors; and the wind carried them away, so that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.\r\n This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king.\r\n Thou, O king, art king of kings, unto whom the God of heaven hath given the kingdom, the power, and the strength, and the glory;\r\n and wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the birds of the heavens hath he given into thy hand, and hath made thee to rule over them all: thou art the head of gold.\r\n And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee; and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth.\r\n And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron, forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things; and as iron that crusheth all these, shall it break in pieces and crush.\r\n And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters` clay, and part of iron, it shall be a divided kingdom; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay.\r\n And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken.\r\n And whereas thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men; but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron doth not mingle with clay.\r\n And in the days of those kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed, nor shall the sovereignty thereof be left to another people; but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.\r\n Forasmuch as thou sawest that a stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.\r\n Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, and worshipped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an oblation and sweet odors unto him.\r\n The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth your God is the God of gods, and the Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou hast been able to reveal this secret.\r\n Then the king made Daniel great, and gave him many great gifts, and made him to rule over the whole province of Babylon, and to be chief governor over all the wise men of Babylon.\r\n And Daniel requested of the king, and he appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon: but Daniel was in the gate of the king.\r\n \r\n \r\n Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.\r\n Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the satraps, the deputies, and the governors, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.\r\n Then the satraps, the deputies, and the governors, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.\r\n Then the herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages,\r\n that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up;\r\n and whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.\r\n Therefore at that time, when all the peoples heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of music, all the peoples, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.\r\n Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and brought accusation against the Jews.\r\n They answered and said to Nebuchadnezzar the king, O king, live for ever.\r\n Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of music, shall fall down and worship the golden image;\r\n and whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, shall be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.\r\n There are certain Jews whom thou hast appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.\r\n Then Nebuchadnezzar in [his] rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. Then they brought these men before the king.\r\n Nebuchadnezzar answered and said unto them, Is it of purpose, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, that ye serve not my god, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?\r\n Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made, [well]: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that god that shall deliver you out of my hands?\r\n Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer thee in this matter.\r\n If it be [so], our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace; and he will deliver us out of thy hand, O king.\r\n But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.\r\n Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego: [therefore] he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace seven times more than it was wont to be heated.\r\n And he commanded certain mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, [and] to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.\r\n Then these men were bound in their hosen, their tunics, and their mantles, and their [other] garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.\r\n Therefore because the king`s commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego.\r\n And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.\r\n Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished, and rose up in haste: he spake and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.\r\n He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the aspect of the fourth is like a son of the gods.\r\n Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace: he spake and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, ye servants of the Most High God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego came forth out of the midst of the fire.\r\n And the satraps, the deputies, and the governors, and the king`s counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, that the fire had no power upon their bodies, nor was the hair of their head singed, neither were their hosen changed, nor had the smell of fire passed on them.\r\n Nebuchadnezzar spake and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king`s word, and have yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.\r\n Therefore I make a decree, that every people, nation, and language, which speak anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill; because there is no other god that is able to deliver after this sort.\r\n Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego in the province of Babylon.\r\n \r\n \r\n Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all the peoples, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied unto you.\r\n It hath seemed good unto me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God hath wrought toward me.\r\n How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation.\r\n I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at rest in my house, and flourishing in my palace.\r\n I saw a dream which made me afraid; and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.\r\n Therefore made I a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known unto me the interpretation of the dream.\r\n Then came in the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers; and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof.\r\n But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name was Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods: and I told the dream before him, [saying],\r\n O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof.\r\n Thus were the visions of my head upon my bed: I saw, and, behold, a tree in the midst of the earth; and the height thereof was great.\r\n The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth.\r\n The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was food for all: the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the birds of the heavens dwelt in the branches thereof, and all flesh was fed from it.\r\n I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and a holy one came down from heaven.\r\n He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off its branches, shake off its leaves, and scatter its fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from its branches.\r\n Nevertheless leave the stump of its roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven: and let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth:\r\n let his heart be changed from man`s, and let a beast`s heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him.\r\n The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones; to the intent that the living may know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the lowest of men.\r\n This dream I, king Nebuchadnezzar, have seen; and thou, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation, forasmuch as all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known unto me the interpretation; but thou art able; for the spirit of the holy gods is in thee.\r\n Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was stricken dumb for a while, and his thoughts troubled him. The king answered and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpretation, trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, the dream be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine adversaries.\r\n The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth;\r\n whose leaves were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was food for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the birds of the heavens had their habitation:\r\n it is thou, O king, that art grown and become strong; for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion to the end of the earth.\r\n And whereas the king saw a watcher and a holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew down the tree, and destroy it; nevertheless leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field, and let it be wet with the dew of heaven: and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him;\r\n this is the interpretation, O king, and it is the decree of the Most High, which is come upon my lord the king:\r\n that thou shalt be driven from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and thou shalt be made to eat grass as oxen, and shalt be wet with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee; till thou know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.\r\n And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule.\r\n Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by showing mercy to the poor; if there may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.\r\n All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar.\r\n At the end of twelve months he was walking in the royal palace of Babylon.\r\n The king spake and said, Is not this great Babylon, which I have built for the royal dwelling-place, by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?\r\n While the word was in the king`s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, [saying], O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken: The kingdom is departed from thee:\r\n and thou shalt be driven from men; and they dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field; thou shalt be made to eat grass as oxen; and seven times shall pass over thee; until thou know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.\r\n The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hair was grown like eagles` [feathers], and his nails like birds` [claws].\r\n And at the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the Most High, and I praised and honored him that liveth for ever; for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom from generation to generation.\r\n And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?\r\n At the same time mine understanding returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent greatness was added unto me.\r\n Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven; for all his works are truth, and his ways justice; and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.\r\n \r\n \r\n Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand.\r\n Belshazzar, while he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king and his lords, his wives and his concubines, might drink therefrom.\r\n Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem; and the king and his lords, his wives and his concubines, drank from them.\r\n They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.\r\n In the same hour came forth the fingers of a man`s hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaster of the wall of the king`s palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote.\r\n Then the king`s countenance was changed in him, and his thoughts troubled him; and the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another.\r\n The king cried aloud to bring in the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. The king spake and said to the wise men of Babylon, Whosoever shall read this writing, and show me the interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with purple, and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.\r\n Then came in all the king`s wise men; but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation.\r\n Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his countenance was changed in him, and his lords were perplexed.\r\n [Now] the queen by reason of the words of the king and his lords came into the banquet house: the queen spake and said, O king, live forever; let not thy thoughts trouble thee, nor let thy countenance be changed.\r\n There is a man in thy kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of thy father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, were found in him; and the king Nebuchadnezzar thy father, the king, [I say], thy father, made him master of the magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans, and soothsayers;\r\n forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and showing of dark sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar. Now let Daniel be called, and he will show the interpretation.\r\n Then was Daniel brought in before the king. The king spake and said unto Daniel, Art thou that Daniel, who art of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Judah?\r\n I have heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods is in thee, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in thee.\r\n And now the wise men, the enchanters, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing, and make known unto me the interpretation thereof; but they could not show the interpretation of the thing.\r\n But I have heard of thee, that thou canst give interpretations, and dissolve doubts; now if thou canst read the writing, and make known to me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with purple, and have a chain of gold about thy neck, and shalt be the third ruler in the kingdom.\r\n Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another; nevertheless I will read the writing unto the king, and make known to him the interpretation.\r\n O thou king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father the kingdom, and greatness, and glory, and majesty:\r\n and because of the greatness that he gave him, all the peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew, and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he raised up, and whom he would he put down.\r\n But when his heart was lifted up, and his spirit was hardened so that he dealt proudly, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him:\r\n and he was driven from the sons of men, and his heart was made like the beasts`, and his dwelling was with the wild asses; he was fed with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; until he knew that the Most High God ruleth in the kingdom of men, and that he setteth up over it whomsoever he will.\r\n And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thy heart, though thou knewest all this,\r\n but hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou and thy lords, thy wives and thy concubines, have drunk wine from them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know; and the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified.\r\n Then was the part of the hand sent from before him, and this writing was inscribed.\r\n And this is the writing that was inscribed: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.\r\n This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and brought it to an end;\r\n TEKEL; thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.\r\n PERES; thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.\r\n Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with purple, and put a chain of gold about his neck, and made proclamation concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom.\r\n In that night Belshazzar the Chaldean King was slain.\r\n And Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about threescore and two years old.\r\n \r\n \r\n It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom a hundred and twenty satraps, who should be throughout the whole kingdom;\r\n and over them three presidents, of whom Daniel was one; that these satraps might give account unto them, and that the king should have no damage.\r\n Then this Daniel was distinguished above the presidents and the satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.\r\n Then the presidents and the satraps sought to find occasion against Daniel as touching the kingdom; but they could find no occasion nor fault, forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.\r\n Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.\r\n Then these presidents and satraps assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever.\r\n All the presidents of the kingdom, the deputies and the satraps, the counsellors and the governors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a strong interdict, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any god or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.\r\n Now, O king, establish the interdict, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.\r\n Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the interdict.\r\n And when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house (now his windows were open in his chamber toward Jerusalem) and he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.\r\n Then these men assembled together, and found Daniel making petition and supplication before his God.\r\n Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king`s interdict: Hast thou not signed an interdict, that every man that shall make petition unto any god or man within thirty days, save unto thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.\r\n Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, who is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the interdict that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day.\r\n Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he labored till the going down of the sun to rescue him.\r\n Then these men assembled together unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians, that no interdict nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed.\r\n Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. [Now] the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.\r\n And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel.\r\n Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting; neither were instruments of music brought before him: and his sleep fled from him.\r\n Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions.\r\n And when he came near unto the den to Daniel, he cried with a lamentable voice; the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?\r\n Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.\r\n My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions` mouths, and they have not hurt me; forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.\r\n Then was the king exceeding glad, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he had trusted in his God.\r\n And the king commanded, and they brought those men that had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces, before they came to the bottom of the den.\r\n Then king Darius wrote unto all the peoples, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied unto you.\r\n I make a decree, that in all the dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel; for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, And his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed; and his dominion shall be even unto the end.\r\n He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.\r\n So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.\r\n \r\n \r\n In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream and told the sum of the matters.\r\n Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of heaven brake forth upon the great sea.\r\n And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.\r\n The first was like a lion, and had eagle`s wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made to stand upon two feet as a man; and a man`s heart was given to it.\r\n And, behold, another beast, a second, like to a bear; and it was raised up on one side, and three ribs were in its mouth between its teeth: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh.\r\n After this I beheld, and, lo, another, like a leopard, which had upon its back four wings of a bird; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it.\r\n After this I saw in the night-visions, and, behold, a fourth beast, terrible and powerful, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth; it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with its feet: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns.\r\n I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things.\r\n I beheld till thrones were placed, and one that was ancient of days did sit: his raiment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames, [and] the wheels thereof burning fire.\r\n A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousands of thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.\r\n I beheld at that time because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake; I beheld even till the beast was slain, and its body destroyed, and it was given to be burned with fire.\r\n And as for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.\r\n I saw in the night-visions, and, behold, there came with the clouds of heaven one like unto a son of man, and he came even to the ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.\r\n And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations, and languages should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.\r\n As for me, Daniel, my spirit was grieved in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me.\r\n I came near unto one of them that stood by, and asked him the truth concerning all this. So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things.\r\n These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, that shall arise out of the earth.\r\n But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.\r\n Then I desired to know the truth concerning the fourth beast, which was diverse from all of them, exceeding terrible, whose teeth were of iron, and its nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with its feet;\r\n and concerning the ten horns that were on its head, and the other [horn] which came up, and before which three fell, even that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake great things, whose look was more stout than its fellows.\r\n I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;\r\n until the ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the Most High, and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.\r\n Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be a fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all the kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.\r\n And as for the ten horns, out of this kingdom shall ten kings arise: and another shall arise after them; and he shall be diverse from the former, and he shall put down three kings.\r\n And he shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High; and he shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and half a time.\r\n But the judgment shall be set, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end.\r\n And the kingdom and the dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High: his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.\r\n Here is the end of the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts much troubled me, and my countenance was changed in me: but I kept the matter in my heart.\r\n \r\n \r\n In the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar a vision appeared unto me, even unto me, Daniel, after that which appeared unto me at the first.\r\n And I saw in the vision; now it was so, that when I saw, I was in Shushan the palace, which is in the province of Elam; and I saw in the vision, and I was by the river Ulai.\r\n Then I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, there stood before the river a ram which had two horns: and the two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last.\r\n I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward; and no beasts could stand before him, neither was there any that could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will, and magnified himself.\r\n And as I was considering, behold, a he-goat came from the west over the face of the whole earth, and touched not the ground: and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes.\r\n And he came to the ram that had the two horns, which I saw standing before the river, and ran upon him in the fury of his power.\r\n And I saw him come close unto the ram, and he was moved with anger against him, and smote the ram, and brake his two horns; and there was no power in the ram to stand before him; but he cast him down to the ground, and trampled upon him; and there was none that could deliver the ram out of his hand.\r\n And the he-goat magnified himself exceedingly: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and instead of it there came up four notable [horns] toward the four winds of heaven.\r\n And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the glorious [land].\r\n And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and some of the host and of the stars it cast down to the ground, and trampled upon them.\r\n Yea, it magnified itself, even to the prince of the host; and it took away from him the continual [burnt-offering], and the place of his sanctuary was cast down.\r\n And the host was given over [to it] together with the continual [burnt-offering] through transgression; and it cast down truth to the ground, and it did [its pleasure] and prospered.\r\n Then I heard a holy one speaking; and another holy one said unto that certain one who spake, How long shall be the vision [concerning] the continual [burnt-offering], and the transgression that maketh desolate, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?\r\n And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred evenings [and] mornings; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.\r\n And it came to pass, when I, even I Daniel, had seen the vision, that I sought to understand it; and, behold, there stood before me as the appearance of a man.\r\n And I heard a man`s voice between [the banks of] the Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision.\r\n So he came near where I stood; and when he came, I was affrighted, and fell upon my face: but he said unto me, Understand, O son of man; for the vision belongeth to the time of the end.\r\n Now as he was speaking with me, I fell into a deep sleep with my face toward the ground; but he touched me, and set me upright.\r\n And he said, Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the latter time of the indignation; for it belongeth to the appointed time of the end.\r\n The ram which thou sawest, that had the two horns, they are the kings of Media and Persia.\r\n And the rough he-goat is the king of Greece: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king.\r\n And as for that which was broken, in the place whereof four stood up, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not with his power.\r\n And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up.\r\n And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power; and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper and do [his pleasure]; and he shall destroy the mighty ones and the holy people.\r\n And through his policy he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and in [their] security shall he destroy many: he shall also stand up against the prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.\r\n And the vision of the evenings and mornings which hath been told is true: but shut thou up the vision; for it belongeth to many days [to come].\r\n And I, Daniel, fainted, and was sick certain days; then I rose up, and did the king`s business: and I wondered at the vision, but none understood it.\r\n \r\n \r\n In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans,\r\n in the first year of his reign I, Daniel, understood by the books the number of the years whereof the word of Jehovah came to Jeremiah the prophet, for the accomplishing of the desolations of Jerusalem, even seventy years.\r\n And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting and sackcloth and ashes.\r\n And I prayed unto Jehovah my God, and made confession, and said, Oh, Lord, the great and dreadful God, who keepeth covenant and lovingkindness with them that love him and keep his commandments,\r\n we have sinned, and have dealt perversely, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even turning aside from thy precepts and from thine ordinances;\r\n neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the prophets, that spake in thy name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land.\r\n O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion of face, as at this day; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, that are near, and that are far off, through all the countries whither thou hast driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against thee.\r\n O Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against thee.\r\n To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgiveness; for we have rebelled against him;\r\n neither have we obeyed the voice of Jehovah our God, to walk in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets.\r\n Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even turning aside, that they should not obey thy voice: therefore hath the curse been poured out upon us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God; for we have sinned against him.\r\n And he hath confirmed his words, which he spake against us, and against our judges that judged us, by bringing upon us a great evil; for under the whole heaven hath not been done as hath been done upon Jerusalem.\r\n As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us: yet have we not entreated the favor of Jehovah our God, that we should turn from our iniquities, and have discernment in thy truth.\r\n Therefore hath Jehovah watched over the evil, and brought it upon us; for Jehovah our God is righteous in all his works which he doeth, and we have not obeyed his voice.\r\n And now, O Lord our God, that hast brought thy people forth out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and hast gotten thee renown, as at this day; we have sinned, we have done wickedly.\r\n O Lord, according to all thy righteousness, let thine anger and thy wrath, I pray thee, be turned away from thy city Jerusalem, thy holy mountain; because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and thy people are become a reproach to all that are round about us.\r\n Now therefore, O our God, hearken unto the prayer of thy servant, and to his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord`s sake.\r\n O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousness, but for thy great mercies` sake.\r\n O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God, because thy city and thy people are called by thy name.\r\n And while I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before Jehovah my God for the holy mountain of my God;\r\n yea, while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation.\r\n And he instructed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee wisdom and understanding.\r\n At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment went forth, and I am come to tell thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore consider the matter, and understand the vision.\r\n Seventy weeks are decreed upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most holy.\r\n Know therefore and discern, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the anointed one, the prince, shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: it shall be built again, with street and moat, even in troublous times.\r\n And after the threescore and two weeks shall the anointed one be cut off, and shall have nothing: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and even unto the end shall be war; desolations are determined.\r\n And he shall make a firm covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease; and upon the wing of abominations [shall come] one that maketh desolate; and even unto the full end, and that determined, shall [wrath] be poured out upon the desolate.\r\n \r\n \r\n In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a thing was revealed unto Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar; and the thing was true, even a great warfare: and he understood the thing, and had understanding of the vision.\r\n In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three whole weeks.\r\n I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine into my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.\r\n And in the four and twentieth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which is Hiddekel,\r\n I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, a man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with pure gold of Uphaz:\r\n his body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as flaming torches, and his arms and his feet like unto burnished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude.\r\n And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision; for the men that were with me saw not the vision; but a great quaking fell upon them, and they fled to hide themselves.\r\n So I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me; for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength.\r\n Yet heard I the voice of his words; and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I fallen into a deep sleep on my face, with my face toward the ground.\r\n And, behold, a hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands.\r\n And he said unto me, O Daniel, thou man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright; for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling.\r\n Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel; for from the first day that thou didst set thy heart to understand, and to humble thyself before thy God, thy words were heard: and I am come for thy words` sake.\r\n But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days; but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me: and I remained there with the kings of Persia.\r\n Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days; for the vision is yet for [many] days:\r\n and when he had spoken unto me according to these words, I set my face toward the ground, and was dumb.\r\n And, behold, one in the likeness of the sons of men touched my lips: then I opened my mouth, and spake and said unto him that stood before me, O my lord, by reason of the vision my sorrows are turned upon me, and I retain no strength.\r\n For how can the servant of this my lord talk with this my lord? for as for me, straightway there remained no strength in me, neither was there breath left in me.\r\n Then there touched me again one like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me.\r\n And he said, O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. And when he spake unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for thou hast strengthened me.\r\n Then said he, Knowest thou wherefore I am come unto thee? and now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia: and when I go forth, lo, the prince of Greece shall come.\r\n But I will tell thee that which is inscribed in the writing of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me against these, but Michael your prince.\r\n \r\n \r\n And as for me, in the first year of Darius the Mede, I stood up to confirm and strengthen him.\r\n And now will I show thee the truth. Behold, there shall stand up yet three kings in Persia; and the fourth shall be far richer than they all: and when he is waxed strong through his riches, he shall stir up all against the realm of Greece.\r\n And a mighty king shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will.\r\n And when he shall stand up, his kingdom shall be broken, and shall be divided toward the four winds of heaven, but not to his posterity, nor according to his dominion wherewith he ruled; for his kingdom shall be plucked up, even for others besides these.\r\n And the king of the south shall be strong, and [one] of his princes; and he shall be strong above him, and have dominion; his dominion shall be a great dominion.\r\n And at the end of years they shall join themselves together; and the daughter of the king of the south shall come to the king of the north to make an agreement: but she shall not retain the strength of her arm; neither shall he stand, nor his arm; but she shall be given up, and they that brought her, and he that begat her, and he that strengthened her in those times.\r\n But out of a shoot from her roots shall one stand up in his place, who shall come unto the army, and shall enter into the fortress of the king of the north, and shall deal against them, and shall prevail.\r\n And also their gods, with their molten images, [and] with their goodly vessels of silver and of gold, shall he carry captive into Egypt; and he shall refrain some years from the king of the north.\r\n And he shall come into the realm of the king of the south, but he shall return into his own land.\r\n And his sons shall war, and shall assemble a multitude of great forces, which shall come on, and overflow, and pass through; and they shall return and war, even to his fortress.\r\n And the king of the south shall be moved with anger, and shall come forth and fight with him, even with the king of the north; and he shall set forth a great multitude, and the multitude shall be given into his hand.\r\n And the multitude shall be lifted up, and his heart shall be exalted; and he shall cast down tens of thousands, but he shall not prevail.\r\n And the king of the north shall return, and shall set forth a multitude greater than the former; and he shall come on at the end of the times, [even of] years, with a great army and with much substance.\r\n And in those times there shall many stand up against the king of the south: also the children of the violent among thy people shall lift themselves up to establish the vision; but they shall fall.\r\n So the king of the north shall come, and cast up a mound, and take a well-fortified city: and the forces of the south shall not stand, neither his chosen people, neither shall there be any strength to stand.\r\n But he that cometh against him shall do according to his own will, and none shall stand before him; and he shall stand in the glorious land, and in his hand shall be destruction.\r\n And he shall set his face to come with the strength of his whole kingdom, and with him equitable conditions; and he shall perform them: and he shall give him the daughter of women, to corrupt her; but she shall not stand, neither be for him.\r\n After this shall he turn his face unto the isles, and shall take many: but a prince shall cause the reproach offered by him to cease; yea, moreover, he shall cause his reproach to turn upon him.\r\n Then he shall turn his face toward the fortresses of his own land; but he shall stumble and fall, and shall not be found.\r\n Then shall stand up in his place one that shall cause an exactor to pass through the glory of the kingdom; but within few days he shall be destroyed, neither in anger, nor in battle.\r\n And in his place shall stand up a contemptible person, to whom they had not given the honor of the kingdom: but he shall come in time of security, and shall obtain the kingdom by flatteries.\r\n And the overwhelming forces shall be overwhelmed from before him, and shall be broken; yea, also the prince of the covenant.\r\n And after the league made with him he shall work deceitfully; for he shall come up, and shall become strong, with a small people.\r\n In time of security shall he come even upon the fattest places of the province; and he shall do that which his fathers have not done, nor his fathers` fathers; he shall scatter among them prey, and spoil, and substance: yea, he shall devise his devices against the strongholds, even for a time.\r\n And he shall stir up his power and his courage against the king of the south with a great army; and the king of the south shall war in battle with an exceeding great and mighty army; but he shall not stand; for they shall devise devices against him.\r\n Yea, they that eat of his dainties shall destroy him, and his army shall overflow; and many shall fall down slain.\r\n And as for both these kings, their hearts shall be to do mischief, and they shall speak lies at one table: but it shall not prosper; for yet the end shall be at the time appointed.\r\n Then shall he return into his land with great substance; and his heart [shall be] against the holy covenant; and he shall do [his pleasure], and return to his own land.\r\n At the time appointed he shall return, and come into the south; but it shall not be in the latter time as it was in the former.\r\n For ships of Kittim shall come against him; therefore he shall be grieved, and shall return, and have indignation against the holy covenant, and shall do [his pleasure]: he shall even return, and have regard unto them that forsake the holy covenant.\r\n And forces shall stand on his part, and they shall profane the sanctuary, even the fortress, and shall take away the continual [burnt-offering], and they shall set up the abomination that maketh desolate.\r\n And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he pervert by flatteries; but the people that know their God shall be strong, and do [exploits].\r\n And they that are wise among the people shall instruct many; yet they shall fall by the sword and by flame, by captivity and by spoil, [many] days.\r\n Now when they shall fall, they shall be helped with a little help; but many shall join themselves unto them with flatteries.\r\n And some of them that are wise shall fall, to refine them, and to purify, and to make them white, even to the time of the end; because it is yet for the time appointed.\r\n And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods; and he shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished; for that which is determined shall be done.\r\n Neither shall he regard the gods of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god; for he shall magnify himself above all.\r\n But in his place shall he honor the god of fortresses; and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honor with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things.\r\n And he shall deal with the strongest fortresses by the help of a foreign god: whosoever acknowledgeth [him] he will increase with glory; and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for a price.\r\n And at the time of the end shall the king of the south contend with him; and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass through.\r\n He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many [countries] shall be overthrown; but these shall be delivered out of his hand: Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon.\r\n He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries; and the land of Egypt shall not escape.\r\n But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt; and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps.\r\n But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him; and he shall go forth with great fury to destroy and utterly to sweep away many.\r\n And he shall plant the tents of his palace between the sea and the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.\r\n \r\n \r\n And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince who standeth for the children of thy people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.\r\n And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.\r\n And they that are wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.\r\n But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.\r\n Then I, Daniel, looked, and, behold, there stood other two, the one on the brink of the river on this side, and the other on the brink of the river on that side.\r\n And one said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?\r\n And I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and a half; and when they have made an end of breaking in pieces the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.\r\n And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my lord, what shall be the issue of these things?\r\n And he said, Go thy way, Daniel; for the words are shut up and sealed till the time of the end.\r\n Many shall purify themselves, and make themselves white, and be refined; but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand; but they that are wise shall understand.\r\n And from the time that the continual [burnt-offering] shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand and two hundred and ninety days.\r\n Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.\r\n But go thou thy way till the end be; for thou shalt rest, and shalt stand in thy lot, at the end of the days.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n The word of Jehovah that came unto Hosea the son of Beeri, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel.\r\n When Jehovah spake at the first by Hosea, Jehovah said unto Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredom and children of whoredom; for the land doth commit great whoredom, [departing] from Jehovah.\r\n So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim; and she conceived, and bare him a son.\r\n And Jehovah said unto him, Call his name Jezreel; for yet a little while, and I will avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu, and will cause the kingdom of the house of Israel to cease.\r\n And it shall come to pass at that day, that I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel.\r\n And she conceived again, and bare a daughter. And [Jehovah] said unto him, Call her name Lo-ruhamah; for I will no more have mercy upon the house of Israel, that I should in any wise pardon them.\r\n But I will have mercy upon the house of Judah, and will save them by Jehovah their God, and will not save them by bow, nor by sword, nor by battle, by horses, nor by horsemen.\r\n Now when she had weaned Lo-ruhamah, she conceived, and bare a son.\r\n And [Jehovah] said, Call his name Lo-ammi; for ye are not my people, and I will not be your [God].\r\n Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass that, in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, it shall be said unto them, [Ye are] the sons of the living God.\r\n And the children of Judah and the children of Israel shall be gathered together, and they shall appoint themselves one head, and shall go up from the land; for great shall be the day of Jezreel.\r\n \r\n \r\n Say ye unto your brethren, Ammi; and to your sisters, Ruhamah.\r\n Contend with your mother, contend; for she is not my wife, neither am I her husband; and let her put away her whoredoms from her face, and her adulteries from between her breasts;\r\n lest I strip her naked, and set her as in the day that she was born, and make her as a wilderness, and set her like a dry land, and slay her with thirst.\r\n Yea, upon her children will I have no mercy; for they are children of whoredom;\r\n for their mother hath played the harlot; she that conceived them hath done shamefully; for she said, I will go after my lovers, that give me my bread and my water, my wool and my flax, mine oil and my drink.\r\n Therefore, behold, I will hedge up thy way with thorns, and I will build a wall against her, that she shall not find her paths.\r\n And she shall follow after her lovers, but she shall not overtake them; and she shall seek them, but shall not find them: then shall she say, I will go and return to my first husband; for then was it better with me than now.\r\n For she did not know that I gave her the grain, and the new wine, and the oil, and multiplied unto her silver and gold, which they used for Baal.\r\n Therefore will I take back my grain in the time thereof, and my new wine in the season thereof, and will pluck away my wool and my flax which should have covered her nakedness.\r\n And now will I uncover her lewdness in the sight of her lovers, and none shall deliver her out of my hand.\r\n I will also cause all her mirth to cease, her feasts, her new moons, and her sabbaths, and all her solemn assemblies.\r\n And I will lay waste her vines and her fig-trees, whereof she hath said, These are my hire that my lovers have given me; and I will make them a forest, and the beasts of the field shall eat them.\r\n And I will visit upon her the days of the Baalim, unto which she burned incense, when she decked herself with her earrings and her jewels, and went after her lovers, and forgat me, saith Jehovah.\r\n Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her.\r\n And I will give her her vineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope; and she shall make answer there, as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt.\r\n And it shall be at that day, saith Jehovah, that thou shalt call me Ishi, and shalt call me no more Baali.\r\n For I will take away the names of the Baalim out of her mouth, and they shall no more be mentioned by their name.\r\n And in that day will I make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, and with the birds of the heavens, and with the creeping things of the ground: and I will break the bow and the sword and the battle out of the land, and will make them to lie down safely.\r\n And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in justice, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies.\r\n I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness; and thou shalt know Jehovah.\r\n And it shall come to pass in that day, I will answer, saith Jehovah, I will answer the heavens, and they shall answer the earth;\r\n and the earth shall answer the grain, and the new wine, and the oil; and they shall answer Jezreel.\r\n And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them that were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, [Thou art] my God.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Jehovah said unto me, Go again, love a woman beloved of [her] friend, and an adulteress, even as Jehovah loveth the children of Israel, though they turn unto other gods, and love cakes of raisins.\r\n So I bought her to me for fifteen [pieces] of silver, and a homer of barley, and a half-homer of barley;\r\n and I said unto her, Thou shalt abide for me many days; thou shalt not play the harlot, and thou shalt not be any man`s wife: so will I also be toward thee.\r\n For the children of Israel shall abide many days without king, and without prince, and without sacrifice, and without pillar, and without ephod or teraphim:\r\n afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek Jehovah their God, and David their king, and shall come with fear unto Jehovah and to his goodness in the latter days.\r\n \r\n \r\n Hear the word of Jehovah, ye children of Israel; for Jehovah hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor goodness, nor knowledge of God in the land.\r\n There is nought but swearing and breaking faith, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery; they break out, and blood toucheth blood.\r\n Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field and the birds of the heavens; yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away.\r\n Yet let no man strive, neither let any man reprove; for thy people are as they that strive with the priest.\r\n And thou shalt stumble in the day, and the prophet also shall stumble with thee in the night; and I will destroy thy mother.\r\n My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I also will forget thy children.\r\n As they were multiplied, so they sinned against me: I will change their glory into shame.\r\n They feed on the sin of my people, and set their heart on their iniquity.\r\n And it shall be, like people, like priest; and I will punish them for their ways, and will requite them their doings.\r\n And they shall eat, and not have enough; they shall play the harlot, and shall not increase; because they have left off taking heed to Jehovah.\r\n Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the understanding.\r\n My people ask counsel at their stock, and their staff declareth unto them; for the spirit of whoredom hath caused them to err, and they have played the harlot, [departing] from under their God.\r\n They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and burn incense upon the hills, under oaks and poplars and terebinths, because the shadow thereof is good: therefore your daughters play the harlot, and your brides commit adultery.\r\n I will not punish your daughters when they play the harlot, nor your brides when they commit adultery; for [the men] themselves go apart with harlots, and they sacrifice with the prostitutes; and the people that doth not understand shall be overthrown.\r\n Though thou, Israel, play the harlot, yet let not Judah offend; and come not ye unto Gilgal, neither go ye up to Beth-aven, nor swear, As Jehovah liveth.\r\n For Israel hath behaved himself stubbornly, like a stubborn heifer: now will Jehovah feed them as a lamb in a large place.\r\n Ephraim is joined to idols; let him alone.\r\n Their drink is become sour; they play the harlot continually; her rulers dearly love shame.\r\n The wind hath wrapped her up in its wings; and they shall be put to shame because of their sacrifices.\r\n \r\n \r\n Hear this, O ye priests, and hearken, O house of Israel, and give ear, O house of the king; for unto you pertaineth the judgment; for ye have been a snare at Mizpah, and a net spread upon Tabor.\r\n And the revolters are gone deep in making slaughter; but I am a rebuker of them all.\r\n I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hid from me; for now, O Ephraim, thou hast played the harlot, Israel is defiled.\r\n Their doings will not suffer them to turn unto their God; for the spirit of whoredom is within them, and they know not Jehovah.\r\n And the pride of Israel doth testify to his face: therefore Israel and Ephraim shall stumble in their iniquity; Judah also shall stumble with them.\r\n They shall go with their flocks and with their herds to seek Jehovah; but they shall not find him: he hath withdrawn himself from them.\r\n They have dealt treacherously against Jehovah; for they have borne strange children: now shall the new moon devour them with their fields.\r\n Blow ye the cornet in Gibeah, and the trumpet in Ramah: sound an alarm at Beth-aven; behind thee, O Benjamin.\r\n Ephraim shall become a desolation in the day of rebuke: among the tribes of Israel have I made known that which shall surely be.\r\n The princes of Judah are like them that remove the landmark: I will pour out my wrath upon them like water.\r\n Ephraim is oppressed, he is crushed in judgment; because he was content to walk after [man`s] command.\r\n Therefore am I unto Ephraim as a moth, and to the house of Judah as rottenness.\r\n When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah [saw] his wound, then went Ephraim to Assyria, and sent to king Jareb: but he is not able to heal you, neither will he cure you of your wound.\r\n For I will be unto Ephraim as a lion, and as a young lion to the house of Judah: I, even I, will tear and go away; I will carry off, and there shall be none to deliver.\r\n I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me earnestly.\r\n \r\n \r\n Come, and let us return unto Jehovah; for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.\r\n After two days will he revive us: on the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live before him.\r\n And let us know, let us follow on to know Jehovah: his going forth is sure as the morning; and he will come unto us as the rain, as the latter rain that watereth the earth.\r\n O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? for your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the dew that goeth early away.\r\n Therefore have I hewed them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth: and thy judgments are [as] the light that goeth forth.\r\n For I desire goodness, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt-offerings.\r\n But they like Adam have transgressed the covenant: there have they dealt treacherously against me.\r\n Gilead is a city of them that work iniquity; it is stained with blood.\r\n And as troops of robbers wait for a man, so the company of priests murder in the way toward Shechem; yea, they have committed lewdness.\r\n In the house of Israel I have seen a horrible thing: there whoredom is [found] in Ephraim, Israel is defiled.\r\n Also, O Judah, there is a harvest appointed for thee, when I bring back the captivity of my people.\r\n \r\n \r\n When I would heal Israel, then is the iniquity of Ephraim uncovered, and the wickedness of Samaria; for they commit falsehood, and the thief entereth in, and the troop of robbers ravageth without.\r\n And they consider not in their hearts that I remember all their wickedness: now have their own doings beset them about; they are before my face.\r\n They make the king glad with their wickedness, and the princes with their lies.\r\n They are all adulterers; they are as an oven heated by the baker; he ceaseth to stir [the fire], from the kneading of the dough, until it be leavened.\r\n On the day of our king the princes made themselves sick with the heat of wine; he stretched out his hand with scoffers.\r\n For they have made ready their heart like an oven, while they lie in wait: their baker sleepeth all the night; in the morning it burneth as a flaming fire.\r\n They are all hot as an oven, and devour their judges; all their kings are fallen: there is none among them that calleth unto me.\r\n Ephraim, he mixeth himself among the peoples; Ephraim is a cake not turned.\r\n Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knoweth [it] not: yea, gray hairs are here and there upon him, and he knoweth [it] not.\r\n And the pride of Israel doth testify to his face: yet they have not returned unto Jehovah their God, nor sought him, for all this.\r\n And Ephraim is like a silly dove, without understanding: they call unto Egypt, they go to Assyria.\r\n When they shall go, I will spread my net upon them; I will bring them down as the birds of the heavens; I will chastise them, as their congregation hath heard.\r\n Woe unto them! for they have wandered from me; destruction unto them! for they have trespassed against me: though I would redeem them, yet they have spoken lies against me.\r\n And they have not cried unto me with their heart, but they howl upon their beds: they assemble themselves for grain and new wine; they rebel against me.\r\n Though I have taught and strengthened their arms, yet do they devise mischief against me.\r\n They return, but not to [him that is] on high; they are like a deceitful bow; their princes shall fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue: this shall be their derision in the land of Egypt.\r\n \r\n \r\n [Set] the trumpet to thy mouth. As an eagle [he cometh] against the house of Jehovah, because they have transgressed my covenant, and trespassed against my law.\r\n They shall cry unto me, My God, we Israel know thee.\r\n Israel hath cast off that which is good: the enemy shall pursue him.\r\n They have set up kings, but not by me; they have made princes, and I knew it not: of their silver and their gold have they made them idols, that they may be cut off.\r\n He hath cast off thy calf, O Samaria; mine anger is kindled against them: how long will it be ere they attain to innocency?\r\n For from Israel is even this; the workman made it, and it is no God; yea, the calf of Samaria shall be broken in pieces.\r\n For they sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: he hath no standing grain; the blade shall yield no meal; if so be it yield, strangers shall swallow it up.\r\n Israel is swallowed up: now are they among the nations as a vessel wherein none delighteth.\r\n For they are gone up to Assyria, [like] a wild ass alone by himself: Ephraim hath hired lovers.\r\n Yea, though they hire among the nations, now will I gather them; and they begin to be diminished by reason of the burden of the king of princes.\r\n Because Ephraim hath multiplied altars for sinning, altars have been unto him for sinning.\r\n I wrote for him the ten thousand things of my law; but they are counted as a strange thing.\r\n As for the sacrifices of mine offerings, they sacrifice flesh and eat it; but Jehovah accepteth them not: now will he remember their iniquity, and visit their sins; they shall return to Egypt.\r\n For Israel hath forgotten his Maker, and builded palaces; and Judah hath multiplied fortified cities: but I will send a fire upon his cities, and it shall devour the castles thereof.\r\n \r\n \r\n Rejoice not, O Israel, for joy, like the peoples; for thou hast played the harlot, [departing] from thy God; thou hast loved hire upon every grain-floor.\r\n The threshing-floor and the winepress shall not feed them, and the new wine shall fail her.\r\n They shall not dwell in Jehovah`s land; but Ephraim shall return to Egypt, and they shall eat unclean food in Assyria.\r\n They shall not pour out wine-offerings to Jehovah, neither shall they be pleasing unto him: their sacrifices shall be unto them as the bread of mourners; all that eat thereof shall be polluted; for their bread shall be for their appetite; it shall not come into the house of Jehovah.\r\n What will ye do in the day of solemn assembly, and in the day of the feast of Jehovah?\r\n For, lo, they are gone away from destruction; [yet] Egypt shall gather them up, Memphis shall bury them; their pleasant things of silver, nettles shall possess them; thorns shall be in their tents.\r\n The days of visitation are come, the days of recompense are come; Israel shall know it: the prophet is a fool, the man that hath the spirit is mad, for the abundance of thine iniquity, and because the enmity is great.\r\n Ephraim [was] a watchman with my God: as for the prophet, a fowler`s snare is in all his ways, [and] enmity in the house of his God.\r\n They have deeply corrupted themselves, as in the days of Gibeah: he will remember their iniquity, he will visit their sins.\r\n I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers as the first-ripe in the fig-tree at its first season: but they came to Baal-peor, and consecrated themselves unto the shameful thing, and became abominable like that which they loved.\r\n As for Ephraim, their glory shall fly away like a bird: there shall be no birth, and none with child, and no conception.\r\n Though they bring up their children, yet will I bereave them, so that not a man shall be left: yea, woe also to them when I depart from them!\r\n Ephraim, like as I have seen Tyre, is planted in a pleasant place: but Ephraim shall bring out his children to the slayer.\r\n Give them, O Jehovah-what wilt thou give? give them a miscarrying womb and dry breasts.\r\n All their wickedness is in Gilgal; for there I hated them: because of the wickedness of their doings I will drive them out of my house; I will love them no more; all their princes are revolters.\r\n Ephraim is smitten, their root is dried up, they shall bear no fruit: yea, though they bring forth, yet will I slay the beloved fruit of their womb.\r\n My God will cast them away, because they did not hearken unto him; and they shall be wanderers among the nations.\r\n \r\n \r\n Israel is a luxuriant vine, that putteth forth his fruit: according to the abundance of his fruit he hath multiplied his altars; according to the goodness of their land they have made goodly pillars.\r\n Their heart is divided; now shall they be found guilty: he will smite their altars, he will destroy their pillars.\r\n Surely now shall they say, We have no king; for we fear not Jehovah; and the king, what can he do for us?\r\n They speak [vain] words, swearing falsely in making covenants: therefore judgment springeth up as hemlock in the furrows of the field.\r\n The inhabitants of Samaria shall be in terror for the calves of Beth-aven; for the people thereof shall mourn over it, and the priests thereof that rejoiced over it, for the glory thereof, because it is departed from it.\r\n It also shall be carried unto Assyria for a present to king Jareb: Ephraim shall receive shame, and Israel shall be ashamed of his own counsel.\r\n [As for] Samaria, her king is cut off, as foam upon the water.\r\n The high places also of Aven, the sin of Israel, shall be destroyed: the thorn and the thistle shall come up on their altars; and they shall say to the mountains, Cover us; and to the hills, Fall on us.\r\n O Israel, thou hast sinned from the days of Gibeah: there they stood; the battle against the children of iniquity doth not overtake them in Gibeah.\r\n When it is my desire, I will chastise them; and the peoples shall be gathered against them, when they are bound to their two transgressions.\r\n And Ephraim is a heifer that is taught, that loveth to tread out [the grain]; but I have passed over upon her fair neck: I will set a rider on Ephraim; Judah shall plow, Jacob shall break his clods.\r\n Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap according to kindness; break up your fallow ground; for it is time to seek Jehovah, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.\r\n Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies; for thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men.\r\n Therefore shall a tumult arise among thy people, and all thy fortresses shall be destroyed, as Shalman destroyed Beth-arbel in the day of battle: the mother was dashed in pieces with her children.\r\n So shall Beth-el do unto you because of your great wickedness: at daybreak shall the king of Israel be utterly cut off.\r\n \r\n \r\n When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.\r\n The more [the prophets] called them, the more they went from them: they sacrificed unto the Baalim, and burned incense to graven images.\r\n Yet I taught Ephraim to walk; I took them on my arms; but they knew not that I healed them.\r\n I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love; and I was to them as they that lift up the yoke on their jaws; and I laid food before them.\r\n They shall not return into the land of Egypt; but the Assyrian shall be their king, because they refused to return [to me].\r\n And the sword shall fall upon their cities, and shall consume their bars, and devour [them], because of their own counsels.\r\n And my people are bent on backsliding from me: though they call them to [him that is] on high, none at all will exalt [him].\r\n How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? [how] shall I cast thee off, Israel? how shall I make thee as Admah? [how] shall I set thee as Zeboiim? my heart is turned within me, my compassions are kindled together.\r\n I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee; and I will not come in wrath.\r\n They shall walk after Jehovah, who will roar like a lion; for he will roar, and the children shall come trembling from the west.\r\n They shall come trembling as a bird out of Egypt, and as a dove out of the land of Assyria; and I will make them to dwell in their houses, saith Jehovah.\r\n Ephraim compasseth me about with falsehood, and the house of Israel with deceit; but Judah yet ruleth with God, and is faithful with the Holy One.\r\n \r\n \r\n Ephraim feedeth on wind, and followeth after the east wind: he continually multiplieth lies and desolation; and they make a covenant with Assyria, and oil is carried into Egypt.\r\n Jehovah hath also a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his doings will he recompense him.\r\n In the womb he took his brother by the heel; and in his manhood he had power with God:\r\n yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed; he wept, and made supplication unto him: he found him at Beth-el, and there he spake with us,\r\n even Jehovah, the God of hosts; Jehovah is his memorial [name].\r\n Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep kindness and justice, and wait for thy God continually.\r\n [He is] a trafficker, the balances of deceit are in his hand: he loveth to oppress.\r\n And Ephraim said, Surely I am become rich, I have found me wealth: in all my labors they shall find in me no iniquity that were sin.\r\n But I am Jehovah thy God from the land of Egypt; I will yet again make thee to dwell in tents, as in the days of the solemn feast.\r\n I have also spoken unto the prophets, and I have multiplied visions; and by the ministry of the prophets have I used similitudes.\r\n Is Gilead iniquity? they are altogether false; in Gilgal they sacrifice bullocks; yea, their altars are as heaps in the furrows of the field.\r\n And Jacob fled into the field of Aram, and Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he kept [sheep].\r\n And by a prophet Jehovah brought Israel up out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he preserved.\r\n Ephraim hath provoked to anger most bitterly: therefore shall his blood be left upon him, and his reproach shall his Lord return unto him.\r\n \r\n \r\n When Ephraim spake, there was trembling; he exalted himself in Israel; but when he offended in Baal, he died.\r\n And now they sin more and more, and have made them molten images of their silver, even idols according to their own understanding, all of them the work of the craftsmen: they say of them, Let the men that sacrifice kiss the calves.\r\n Therefore they shall be as the morning cloud, and as the dew that passeth early away, as the chaff that is driven with the whirlwind out of the threshing-floor, and as the smoke out of the chimney.\r\n Yet I am Jehovah thy God from the land of Egypt; and thou shalt know no god but me, and besides me there is no saviour.\r\n I did know thee in the wilderness, in the land of great drought.\r\n According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted: therefore have they forgotten me.\r\n Therefore am I unto them as a lion; as a leopard will I watch by the way;\r\n I will meet them as a bear that is bereaved of her whelps, and will rend the caul of their heart; and there will I devour them like a lioness; the wild beast shall tear them.\r\n It is thy destruction, O Israel, that [thou art] against me, against thy help.\r\n Where now is thy king, that he may save thee in all thy cities? and thy judges, of whom thou saidst, Give me a king and princes?\r\n I have given thee a king in mine anger, and have taken him away in my wrath.\r\n The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up; his sin is laid up in store.\r\n The sorrows of a travailing woman shall come upon him: he is an unwise son; for it is time he should not tarry in the place of the breaking forth of children.\r\n I will ransom them from the power of Sheol; I will redeem them from death: O death, where are thy plagues? O Sheol, where is thy destruction? repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.\r\n Though he be fruitful among his brethren, an east wind shall come, the breath of Jehovah coming up from the wilderness; and his spring shall become dry, and his fountain shall be dried up: he shall make spoil of the treasure of all goodly vessels.\r\n Samaria shall bear her guilt; for she hath rebelled against her God: they shall fall by the sword; their infants shall be dashed in pieces, and their women with child shall be ripped up.\r\n \r\n \r\n O Israel, return unto Jehovah thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.\r\n Take with you words, and return unto Jehovah: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and accept that which is good: so will we render [as] bullocks [the offering of] our lips.\r\n Assyria shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses; neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, [Ye are] our gods; for in thee the fatherless findeth mercy.\r\n I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely; for mine anger is turned away from him.\r\n I will be as the dew unto Israel; he shall blossom as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon.\r\n His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive-tree, and his smell as Lebanon.\r\n They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive [as] the grain, and blossom as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon.\r\n Ephraim [shall say], What have I to do any more with idols? I have answered, and will regard him: I am like a green fir-tree; from me is thy fruit found.\r\n Who is wise, that he may understand these things? prudent, that he may know them? for the ways of Jehovah are right, and the just shall walk in them; but transgressors shall fall therein.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n The word of Jehovah that came to Joel the son of Pethuel.\r\n Hear this, ye old men, and give ear, all ye inhabitants of the land. Hath this been in your days, or in the days of your fathers?\r\n Tell ye your children of it, and [let] your children [tell] their children, and their children another generation.\r\n That which the palmer-worm hath left hath the locust eaten; and that which the locust hath left hath the canker-worm eaten; and that which the canker-worm hath left hath the caterpillar eaten.\r\n Awake, ye drunkards, and weep; and wail, all ye drinkers of wine, because of the sweet wine; for it is cut off from your mouth.\r\n For a nation is come up upon my land, strong, and without number; his teeth are the teeth of a lion, and he hath the jaw-teeth of a lioness.\r\n He hath laid my vine waste, and barked my fig-tree: he hath made it clean bare, and cast it away; the branches thereof are made white.\r\n Lament like a virgin girded with sackcloth for the husband of her youth.\r\n The meal-offering and the drink-offering are cut off from the house of Jehovah; the priests, Jehovah`s ministers, mourn.\r\n The field is laid waste, the land mourneth; for the grain is destroyed, the new wine is dried up, the oil languisheth.\r\n Be confounded, O ye husbandmen, wail, O ye vinedressers, for the wheat and for the barley; for the harvest of the field is perished.\r\n The vine is withered, and the fig-tree languisheth; the pomegranate-tree, the palm-tree also, and the apple-tree, even all the trees of the field are withered: for joy is withered away from the sons of men.\r\n Gird yourselves [with sackcloth], and lament, ye priests; wail, ye ministers of the altar; come, lie all night in sackcloth, ye ministers of my God: for the meal-offering and the drink-offering are withholden from the house of your God.\r\n Sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the old men [and] all the inhabitants of the land unto the house of Jehovah your God, and cry unto Jehovah.\r\n Alas for the day! for the day of Jehovah is at hand, and as destruction from the Almighty shall it come.\r\n Is not the food cut off before our eyes, [yea], joy and gladness from the house of our God?\r\n The seeds rot under their clods; the garners are laid desolate, the barns are broken down; for the grain is withered.\r\n How do the beasts groan! the herds of cattle are perplexed, because they have no pasture; yea, the flocks of sheep are made desolate.\r\n O Jehovah, to thee do I cry; for the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness, and the flame hath burned all the trees of the field.\r\n Yea, the beasts of the field pant unto thee; for the water brooks are dried up, and the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness.\r\n \r\n \r\n Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain; let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of Jehovah cometh, for it is nigh at hand;\r\n a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, as the dawn spread upon the mountains; a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after them, even to the years of many generations.\r\n A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and none hath escaped them.\r\n The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so do they run.\r\n Like the noise of chariots on the tops of the mountains do they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array.\r\n At their presence the peoples are in anguish; all faces are waxed pale.\r\n They run like mighty men; they climb the wall like men of war; and they march every one on his ways, and they break not their ranks.\r\n Neither doth one thrust another; they march every one in his path; and they burst through the weapons, and break not off [their course].\r\n They leap upon the city; they run upon the wall; they climb up into the houses; they enter in at the windows like a thief.\r\n The earth quaketh before them; the heavens tremble; the sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining.\r\n And Jehovah uttereth his voice before his army; for his camp is very great; for he is strong that executeth his word; for the day of Jehovah is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?\r\n Yet even now, saith Jehovah, turn ye unto me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:\r\n and rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto Jehovah your God; for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness, and repenteth him of the evil.\r\n Who knoweth whether he will not turn and repent, and leave a blessing behind him, even a meal-offering and a drink-offering unto Jehovah your God?\r\n Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly;\r\n gather the people, sanctify the assembly, assemble the old men, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts; let the bridegroom go forth from his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.\r\n Let the priests, the ministers of Jehovah, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O Jehovah, and give not thy heritage to reproach, that the nations should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the peoples, Where is their God?\r\n Then was Jehovah jealous for his land, and had pity on his people.\r\n And Jehovah answered and said unto his people, Behold, I will send you grain, and new wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith; and I will no more make you a reproach among the nations;\r\n but I will remove far off from you the northern [army], and will drive it into a land barren and desolate, its forepart into the eastern sea, and its hinder part into the western sea; and its stench shall come up, and its ill savor shall come up, because it hath done great things.\r\n Fear not, O land, be glad and rejoice; for Jehovah hath done great things.\r\n Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field; for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree beareth its fruit, the fig-tree and the vine do yield their strength.\r\n Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in Jehovah your God; for he giveth you the former rain in just measure, and he causeth to come down for you the rain, the former rain and the latter rain, in the first [month].\r\n And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the vats shall overflow with new wine and oil.\r\n And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the canker-worm, and the caterpillar, and the palmer-worm, my great army which I sent among you.\r\n And ye shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and shall praise the name of Jehovah your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you; and my people shall never be put to shame.\r\n And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am Jehovah your God, and there is none else; and my people shall never be put to shame.\r\n And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:\r\n and also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my Spirit.\r\n And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.\r\n The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of Jehovah cometh.\r\n And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of Jehovah shall be delivered; for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those that escape, as Jehovah hath said, and among the remnant those whom Jehovah doth call.\r\n \r\n \r\n For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring back the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem,\r\n I will gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat; and I will execute judgment upon them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations: and they have parted my land,\r\n and have cast lots for my people, and have given a boy for a harlot, and sold a girl for wine, that they may drink.\r\n Yea, and what are ye to me, O Tyre, and Sidon, and all the regions of Philistia? will ye render me a recompense? and if ye recompense me, swiftly and speedily will I return your recompense upon your own head.\r\n Forasmuch as ye have taken my silver and my gold, and have carried into your temples my goodly precious things,\r\n and have sold the children of Judah and the children of Jerusalem unto the sons of the Grecians, that ye may remove them far from their border;\r\n behold, I will stir them up out of the place whither ye have sold them, and will return your recompense upon your own head;\r\n and I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the children of Judah, and they shall sell them to the men of Sheba, to a nation far off: for Jehovah hath spoken it.\r\n Proclaim ye this among the nations; prepare war; stir up the mighty men; let all the men of war draw near, let them come up.\r\n Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning-hooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong.\r\n Haste ye, and come, all ye nations round about, and gather yourselves together: thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O Jehovah.\r\n Let the nations bestir themselves, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat; for there will I sit to judge all the nations round about.\r\n Put ye in the sickle; for the harvest is ripe: come, tread ye; for the winepress is full, the vats overflow; for their wickedness is great.\r\n Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! for the day of Jehovah is near in the valley of decision.\r\n The sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining.\r\n And Jehovah will roar from Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but Jehovah will be a refuge unto his people, and a stronghold to the children of Israel.\r\n So shall ye know that I am Jehovah your God, dwelling in Zion my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more.\r\n And it shall come to pass in that day, that the mountains shall drop down sweet wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the brooks of Judah shall flow with waters; and a fountain shall come forth from the house of Jehovah, and shall water the valley of Shittim.\r\n Egypt shall be a desolation, and Edom shall be a desolate wilderness, for the violence done to the children of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land.\r\n But Judah shall abide for ever, and Jerusalem from generation to generation.\r\n And I will cleanse their blood, that I have not cleansed: for Jehovah dwelleth in Zion.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n The words of Amos, who was among the herdsmen of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel, two years before the earthquake.\r\n And he said, Jehovah will roar from Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the pastures of the shepherds shall mourn, and the top of Carmel shall wither.\r\n Thus saith Jehovah: For three transgressions of Damascus, yea, for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have threshed Gilead with threshing instruments of iron:\r\n but I will send a fire into the house of Hazael, and it shall devour the palaces of Ben-hadad.\r\n And I will break the bar of Damascus, and cut off the inhabitant from the valley of Aven, and him that holdeth the sceptre from the house of Eden; and the people of Syria shall go into captivity unto Kir, saith Jehovah.\r\n Thus saith Jehovah: For three transgressions of Gaza, yea, for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they carried away captive the whole people, to deliver them up to Edom:\r\n but I will send a fire on the wall of Gaza, and it shall devour the palaces thereof.\r\n And I will cut off the inhabitant from Ashdod, and him that holdeth the sceptre from Ashkelon; and I will turn my hand against Ekron; and the remnant of the Philistines shall perish, saith the Lord Jehovah.\r\n Thus saith Jehovah: For three transgressions of Tyre, yea, for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they delivered up the whole people to Edom, and remembered not the brotherly covenant:\r\n but I will send a fire on the wall of Tyre, and it shall devour the palaces thereof.\r\n Thus saith Jehovah: For three transgressions of Edom, yea, for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because he did pursue his brother with the sword, and did cast off all pity, and his anger did tear perpetually, and he kept his wrath for ever:\r\n but I will send a fire upon Teman, and it shall devour the palaces of Bozrah.\r\n Thus saith Jehovah: For three transgressions of the children of Ammon, yea, for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have ripped up the women with child of Gilead, that they may enlarge their border.\r\n But I will kindle a fire in the wall of Rabbah, and it shall devour the palaces thereof, with shouting in the day of battle, with a tempest in the day of the whirlwind;\r\n and their king shall go into captivity, he and his princes together, saith Jehovah.\r\n \r\n \r\n Thus saith Jehovah: For three transgressions of Moab, yea, for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because he burned the bones of the king of Edom into lime:\r\n but I will send a fire upon Moab, and it shall devour the palaces of Kerioth; and Moab shall die with tumult, with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet;\r\n and I will cut off the judge from the midst thereof, and will slay all the princes thereof with him, saith Jehovah.\r\n Thus saith Jehovah: For three transgressions of Judah, yea, for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have rejected the law of Jehovah, and have not kept his statutes, and their lies have caused them to err, after which their fathers did walk:\r\n but I will send a fire upon Judah, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem.\r\n Thus saith Jehovah: For three transgressions of Israel, yea, for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have sold the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes-\r\n they that pant after the dust of the earth on the head of the poor, and turn aside the way of the meek: and a man and his father go unto the [same] maiden, to profane my holy name:\r\n and they lay themselves down beside every altar upon clothes taken in pledge; and in the house of their God they drink the wine of such as have been fined.\r\n Yet destroyed I the Amorite before them, whose height was like the height of the cedars, and he was strong as the oaks; yet I destroyed his fruit from above, and his roots from beneath.\r\n Also I brought you up out of the land of Egypt, and led you forty years in the wilderness, to possess the land of the Amorite.\r\n And I raised up of your sons for prophets, and of your young men for Nazirites. Is it not even thus, O ye children of Israel? saith Jehovah.\r\n But ye gave the Nazirites wine to drink, and commanded the prophets, saying, Prophesy not.\r\n Behold, I will press [you] in your place, as a cart presseth that is full of sheaves.\r\n And flight shall perish from the swift; and the strong shall not strengthen his force; neither shall the mighty deliver himself;\r\n neither shall he stand that handleth the bow; and he that is swift of foot shall not deliver [himself]; neither shall he that rideth the horse deliver himself;\r\n and he that is courageous among the mighty shall flee away naked in that day, saith Jehovah.\r\n \r\n \r\n Hear this word that Jehovah hath spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up out of the land of Egypt, saying,\r\n You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will visit upon you all your iniquities.\r\n Shall two walk together, except they have agreed?\r\n Will a lion roar in the forest, when he hath no prey? will a young lion cry out of his den, if he have taken nothing?\r\n Can a bird fall in a snare upon the earth, where no gin is [set] for him? shall a snare spring up from the ground, and have taken nothing at all?\r\n Shall the trumpet be blown in a city, and the people not be afraid? shall evil befall a city, and Jehovah hath not done it?\r\n Surely the Lord Jehovah will do nothing, except he reveal his secret unto his servants the prophets.\r\n The lion hath roared; who will not fear? The Lord Jehovah hath spoken; who can but prophesy?\r\n Publish ye in the palaces at Ashdod, and in the palaces in the land of Egypt, and say, Assemble yourselves upon the mountains of Samaria, and behold what great tumults are therein, and what oppressions in the midst thereof.\r\n For they know not to do right, saith Jehovah, who store up violence and robbery in their palaces.\r\n Therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah: An adversary [there shall be], even round about the land; and he shall bring down thy strength from thee, and thy palaces shall be plundered.\r\n Thus saith Jehovah: As the shepherd rescueth out of the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear, so shall the children of Israel be rescued that sit in Samaria in the corner of a couch, and on the silken cushions of a bed.\r\n Hear ye, and testify against the house of Jacob, saith the Lord Jehovah, the God of hosts.\r\n For in the day that I shall visit the transgressions of Israel upon him, I will also visit the altars of Beth-el; and the horns of the altar shall be cut off, and fall to the ground.\r\n And I will smite the winter-house with the summer-house; and the houses of ivory shall perish, and the great houses shall have an end, saith Jehovah.\r\n \r\n \r\n Hear this word, ye kine of Bashan, that are in the mountain of Samaria, that oppress the poor, that crush the needy, that say unto their lords, Bring, and let us drink.\r\n The Lord Jehovah hath sworn by his holiness, that, lo, the days shall come upon you, that they shall take you away with hooks, and your residue with fish-hooks.\r\n And ye shall go out at the breaches, every one straight before her; and ye shall cast [yourselves] into Harmon, saith Jehovah.\r\n Come to Beth-el, and transgress; to Gilgal, [and] multiply transgression; and bring your sacrifices every morning, [and] your tithes every three days;\r\n and offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving of that which is leavened, and proclaim freewill-offerings and publish them: for this pleaseth you, O ye children of Israel, saith the Lord Jehovah.\r\n And I also have given you cleanness of teeth in all your cities, and want of bread in all your places; yet have ye not returned unto me, saith Jehovah.\r\n And I also have withholden the rain from you, when there were yet three months to the harvest; and I caused it to rain upon one city, and caused it not to rain upon another city: one piece was rained upon, and the piece whereupon it rained not withered.\r\n So two or three cities wandered unto one city to drink water, and were not satisfied: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith Jehovah.\r\n I have smitten you with blasting and mildew: the multitude of your gardens and your vineyards and your fig-trees and your olive-trees hath the palmer-worm devoured: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith Jehovah.\r\n I have sent among you the pestilence after the manner of Egypt: your young men have I slain with the sword, and have carried away your horses; and I have made the stench of your camp to come up even into your nostrils: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith Jehovah.\r\n I have overthrown [cities] among you, as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and ye were as a brand plucked out of the burning: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith Jehovah.\r\n Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel; [and] because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.\r\n For, lo, he that formeth the mountains, and createth the wind, and declareth unto man what is his thought; that maketh the morning darkness, and treadeth upon the high places of the Earth-jehovah, the God of hosts, is his name.\r\n \r\n \r\n Hear ye this word which I take up for a lamentation over you, O house of Israel.\r\n The virgin of Israel is fallen; she shall no more rise: she is cast down upon her land; there is none to raise her up.\r\n For thus saith the Lord Jehovah: The city that went forth a thousand shall have a hundred left, and that which went forth a hundred shall have ten left, to the house of Israel.\r\n For thus saith Jehovah unto the house of Israel, Seek ye me, and ye shall live;\r\n but seek not Beth-el, nor enter into Gilgal, and pass not to Beer-sheba: for Gilgal shall surely go into captivity, and Beth-el shall come to nought.\r\n Seek Jehovah, and ye shall live; lest he break out like fire in the house of Joseph, and it devour, and there be none to quench it in Beth-el.\r\n Ye who turn justice to wormwood, and cast down righteousness to the earth,\r\n [seek him] that maketh the Pleiades and Orion, and turneth the shadow of death into the morning, and maketh the day dark with night; that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth (Jehovah is his name);\r\n that bringeth sudden destruction upon the strong, so that destruction cometh upon the fortress.\r\n They hate him that reproveth in the gate, and they abhor him that speaketh uprightly.\r\n Forasmuch therefore as ye trample upon the poor, and take exactions from him of wheat: ye have built houses of hewn stone, but ye shall not dwell in them; ye have planted pleasant vineyards, but ye shall not drink the wine thereof.\r\n For I know how manifold are your transgressions, and how mighty are your sins-ye that afflict the just, that take a bribe, and that turn aside the needy in the gate [from their right].\r\n Therefore he that is prudent shall keep silence in such a time; for it is an evil time.\r\n Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live; and so Jehovah, the God of hosts, will be with you, as ye say.\r\n Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish justice in the gate: it may be that Jehovah, the God of hosts, will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph.\r\n Therefore thus saith Jehovah, the God of hosts, the Lord: Wailing shall be in all the broad ways; and they shall say in all the streets, Alas! Alas! and they shall call the husbandman to mourning, and such as are skilful in lamentation to wailing.\r\n And in all vineyards shall be wailing; for I will pass through the midst of thee, saith Jehovah.\r\n Woe unto you that desire the day of Jehovah! Wherefore would ye have the day of Jehovah? It is darkness, and not light.\r\n As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him.\r\n Shall not the day of Jehovah be darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it?\r\n I hate, I despise your feasts, and I will take no delight in your solemn assemblies.\r\n Yea, though ye offer me your burnt-offerings and meal-offerings, I will not accept them; neither will I regard the peace-offerings of your fat beasts.\r\n Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols.\r\n But let justice roll down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream.\r\n Did ye bring unto me sacrifices and offerings in the wilderness forty years, O house of Israel?\r\n Yea, ye have borne the tabernacle of your king and the shrine of your images, the star of your god, which ye made to yourselves.\r\n Therefore will I cause you to go into captivity beyond Damascus, saith Jehovah, whose name is the God of hosts.\r\n \r\n \r\n Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and to them that are secure in the mountain of Samaria, the notable men of the chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel come!\r\n Pass ye unto Calneh, and see; and from thence go ye to Hamath the great; then go down to Gath of the Philistines: are they better than these kingdoms? or is their border greater than your border?\r\n -ye that put far away the evil day, and cause the seat of violence to come near;\r\n that lie upon beds of ivory, and stretch themselves upon their couches, and eat the lambs out of the flock, and the calves out of the midst of the stall;\r\n that sing idle songs to the sound of the viol; that invent for themselves instruments of music, like David;\r\n that drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the chief oils; but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph.\r\n Therefore shall they now go captive with the first that go captive; and the revelry of them that stretched themselves shall pass away.\r\n The Lord Jehovah hath sworn by himself, saith Jehovah, the God of hosts: I abhor the excellency of Jacob, and hate his palaces; therefore will I deliver up the city with all that is therein.\r\n And it shall come to pass, if there remain ten men in one house, that they shall die.\r\n And when a man`s uncle shall take him up, even he that burneth him, to bring out the bones out of the house, and shall say unto him that is in the innermost parts of the house, Is there yet any with thee? and he shall say, No; then shall he say, Hold thy peace; for we may not make mention of the name of Jehovah.\r\n For, behold, Jehovah commandeth, and the great house shall be smitten with breaches, and the little house with clefts.\r\n Shall horses run upon the rock? will one plow [there] with oxen? that ye have turned justice into gall, and the fruit of righteousness into wormwood;\r\n ye that rejoice in a thing of nought, that say, Have we not taken to us horns by our own strength?\r\n For, behold, I will raise up against you a nation, O house of Israel, saith Jehovah, the God of hosts; and they shall afflict you from the entrance of Hamath unto the brook of the Arabah.\r\n \r\n \r\n Thus the Lord Jehovah showed me: and, behold, he formed locusts in the beginning of the shooting up of the latter growth; and, lo, it was the latter growth after the king`s mowings.\r\n And it came to pass that, when they made an end of eating the grass of the land, then I said, O Lord Jehovah, forgive, I beseech thee: how shall Jacob stand? for he is small.\r\n Jehovah repented concerning this: It shall not be, saith Jehovah.\r\n Thus the Lord Jehovah showed me: and, behold, the Lord Jehovah called to content by fire; and it devoured the great deep, and would have eaten up the land.\r\n Then said I, O Lord Jehovah, cease, I beseech thee: how shall Jacob stand? for he is small.\r\n Jehovah repented concerning this: this also shall not be, saith the Lord Jehovah.\r\n Thus he showed me: and, behold, the Lord stood beside a wall made by a plumb-line, with a plumb-line in his hand.\r\n And Jehovah said unto me, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A plumb-line. Then said the Lord, Behold, I will set a plumb-line in the midst of my people Israel; I will not again pass by them any more;\r\n and the high places of Isaac shall be desolate, and the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste; and I will rise against the house of Jeroboam with the sword.\r\n Then Amaziah the priest of Beth-el sent to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying, Amos hath conspired against thee in the midst of the house of Israel: the land is not able to bear all his words.\r\n For thus Amos saith, Jeroboam shall die by the sword, and Israel shall surely be led away captive out of his land.\r\n Also Amaziah said unto Amos, O thou seer, go, flee thou away into the land of Judah, and there eat bread, and prophesy there:\r\n but prophesy not again any more at Beth-el; for it is the king`s sanctuary, and it is a royal house.\r\n Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet`s son; but I was a herdsman, and a dresser of sycomore-trees:\r\n and Jehovah took me from following the flock, and Jehovah said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel.\r\n Now therefore hear thou the word of Jehovah: Thou sayest, Prophesy not against Israel, and drop not [thy word] against the house of Isaac;\r\n therefore thus saith Jehovah: Thy wife shall be a harlot in the city, and thy sons and thy daughters shall fall by the sword, and thy land shall be divided by line; and thou thyself shalt die in a land that is unclean, and Israel shall surely be led away captive out of his land.\r\n \r\n \r\n Thus the Lord Jehovah showed me: and, behold, a basket of summer fruit.\r\n And he said, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A basket of summer fruit. Then said Jehovah unto me, The end is come upon my people Israel; I will not again pass by them any more.\r\n And the songs of the temple shall be wailings in that day, saith the Lord Jehovah: the dead bodies shall be many: in every place shall they cast them forth with silence.\r\n Hear this, O ye that would swallow up the needy, and cause the poor of the land to fail,\r\n saying, When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell grain? and the sabbath, that we may set forth wheat, making the ephah small, and the shekel great, and dealing falsely with balances of deceit;\r\n that we may buy the poor for silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes, and sell the refuse of the wheat?\r\n Jehovah hath sworn by the excellency of Jacob, Surely I will never forget any of their works.\r\n Shall not the land tremble for this, and every one mourn that dwelleth therein? yea, it shall rise up wholly like the River; and it shall be troubled and sink again, like the River of Egypt.\r\n And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord Jehovah, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day.\r\n And I will turn your feasts into mourning, and all your songs into lamentation; and I will bring sackcloth upon all loins, and baldness upon every head; and I will make it as the mourning for an only son, and the end thereof as a bitter day.\r\n Behold, the days come, saith the Lord Jehovah, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of Jehovah.\r\n And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east; they shall run to and fro to seek the word of Jehovah, and shall not find it.\r\n In that day shall the fair virgins and the young men faint for thirst.\r\n They that swear by the sin of Samaria, and say, As thy god, O Dan, liveth; and, As the way of Beer-sheba liveth; they shall fall, and never rise up again.\r\n \r\n \r\n I saw the Lord standing beside the altar: and he said, Smite the capitals, that the thresholds may shake; and break them in pieces on the head of all of them; and I will slay the last of them with the sword: there shall not one of them flee away, and there shall not one of them escape.\r\n Though they dig into Sheol, thence shall my hand take them; and though they climb up to heaven, thence will I bring them down.\r\n And though they hide themselves in the top of Carmel, I will search and take them out thence; and though they be hid from my sight in the bottom of the sea, thence will I command the serpent, and it shall bite them.\r\n And though they go into captivity before their enemies, thence will I command the sword, and it shall slay them: and I will set mine eyes upon them for evil, and not for good.\r\n For the Lord, Jehovah of hosts, [is] he that toucheth the land and it melteth, and all that dwell therein shall mourn; and it shall rise up wholly like the River, and shall sink again, like the River of Egypt;\r\n [it is] he that buildeth his chambers in the heavens, and hath founded his vault upon the earth; he that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth; Jehovah is his name.\r\n Are ye not as the children of the Ethiopians unto me, O children of Israel? saith Jehovah. Have not I brought up Israel out of the land of Egypt, and the Philistines from Caphtor, and the Syrians from Kir?\r\n Behold, the eyes of the Lord Jehovah are upon the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from off the face of the earth; save that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob, saith Jehovah.\r\n For, lo, I will command, and I will sift the house of Israel among all the nations, like as [grain] is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least kernel fall upon the earth.\r\n All the sinners of my people shall die by the sword, who say, The evil shall not overtake nor meet us.\r\n In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up its ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old;\r\n that they may possess the remnant of Edom, and all the nations that are called by my name, saith Jehovah that doeth this.\r\n Behold, the days come, saith Jehovah, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed; and the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt.\r\n And I will bring back the captivity of my people Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them.\r\n And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be plucked up out of their land which I have given them, saith Jehovah thy God.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n The vision of Obadiah. Thus saith the Lord Jehovah concerning Edom: We have heard tidings from Jehovah, and an ambassador is sent among the nations, [saying], Arise ye, and let us rise up against her in battle.\r\n Behold, I have made thee small among the nations: thou art greatly despised.\r\n The pride of thy heart hath deceived thee, O thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high; that saith in his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground?\r\n Though thou mount on high as the eagle, and though thy nest be set among the stars, I will bring thee down from thence, saith Jehovah.\r\n If thieves came to thee, if robbers by night (how art thou cut off!), would they not steal [only] till they had enough? if grape-gatherers came to thee, would they not leave some gleaning grapes?\r\n How are [the things of] Esau searched! how are his hidden treasures sought out!\r\n All the men of thy confederacy have brought thee on thy way, even to the border: the men that were at peace with thee have deceived thee, and prevailed against thee; [they that eat] thy bread lay a snare under thee: there is no understanding in him.\r\n Shall I not in that day, saith Jehovah, destroy the wise men out of Edom, and understanding out of the mount of Esau?\r\n And thy mighty men, O Teman, shall be dismayed, to the end that every one may be cut off from the mount of Esau by slaughter.\r\n For the violence done to thy brother Jacob, shame shall cover thee, and thou shalt be cut off for ever.\r\n In the day that thou stoodest on the other side, in the day that strangers carried away his substance, and foreigners entered into his gates, and cast lots upon Jerusalem, even thou wast as one of them.\r\n But look not thou on the day of thy brother in the day of his disaster, and rejoice not over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction; neither speak proudly in the day of distress.\r\n Enter not into the gate of my people in the day of their calamity; yea, look not thou on their affliction in the day of their calamity, neither lay ye [hands] on their substance in the day of their calamity.\r\n And stand thou not in the crossway, to cut off those of his that escape; and deliver not up those of his that remain in the day of distress.\r\n For the day of Jehovah is near upon all the nations: as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee; thy dealing shall return upon thine own head.\r\n For as ye have drunk upon my holy mountain, so shall all the nations drink continually; yea, they shall drink, and swallow down, and shall be as though they had not been.\r\n But in mount Zion there shall be those that escape, and it shall be holy; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions.\r\n And the house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for stubble, and they shall burn among them, and devour them; and there shall not be any remaining to the house of Esau; for Jehovah hath spoken it.\r\n And they of the South shall possess the mount of Esau, and they of the lowland the Philistines; and they shall possess the field of Ephraim, and the field of Samaria; and Benjamin [shall possess] Gilead.\r\n And the captives of this host of the children of Israel, that are [among] the Canaanites, [shall possess] even unto Zarephath; and the captives of Jerusalem, that are in Sepharad, shall possess the cities of the South.\r\n And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be Jehovah`s.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n Now the word of Jehovah came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,\r\n Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.\r\n But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of Jehovah; and he went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of Jehovah.\r\n But Jehovah sent out a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken.\r\n Then the mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his god; and they cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it unto them. But Jonah was gone down into the innermost parts of the ship; and he lay, and was fast asleep.\r\n So the shipmaster came to him, and said unto him, What meanest thou, O sleeper? arise, call upon thy God, if so be that God will think upon us, that we perish not.\r\n And they said every one to his fellow, Come, and let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this evil is upon us. So they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonah.\r\n Then said they unto him, Tell us, we pray thee, for whose cause this evil is upon us; what is thine occupation? and whence comest thou? what is thy country? and of what people art thou?\r\n And he said unto them, I am a Hebrew; and I fear Jehovah, the God of heaven, who hath made the sea and the dry land.\r\n Then were the men exceedingly afraid, and said unto him, What is this that thou hast done? For the men knew that he was fleeing from the presence of Jehovah, because he had told them.\r\n Then said they unto him, What shall we do unto thee, that the sea may be calm unto us? for the sea grew more and more tempestuous.\r\n And he said unto them, Take me up, and cast me forth into the sea; so shall the sea be calm unto you: for I know that for my sake this great tempest is upon you.\r\n Nevertheless the men rowed hard to get them back to the land; but they could not: for the sea grew more and more tempestuous against them.\r\n Wherefore they cried unto Jehovah, and said, We beseech thee, O Jehovah, we beseech thee, let us not perish for this man`s life, and lay not upon us innocent blood; for thou, O Jehovah, hast done as it pleased thee.\r\n So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea; and the sea ceased from its raging.\r\n Then the men feared Jehovah exceedingly; and they offered a sacrifice unto Jehovah, and made vows.\r\n And Jehovah prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah; and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then Jonah prayed unto Jehovah his God out of the fish`s belly.\r\n And he said, I called by reason of mine affliction unto Jehovah, And he answered me; Out of the belly of Sheol cried I, [And] thou heardest my voice.\r\n For thou didst cast me into the depth, in the heart of the seas, And the flood was round about me; All thy waves and thy billows passed over me.\r\n And I said, I am cast out from before thine eyes; Yet I will look again toward thy holy temple.\r\n The waters compassed me about, even to the soul; The deep was round about me; The weeds were wrapped about my head.\r\n I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; The earth with its bars [closed] upon me for ever: Yet hast thou brought up my life from the pit, O Jehovah my God.\r\n When my soul fainted within me, I remembered Jehovah; And my prayer came in unto thee, into thy holy temple.\r\n They that regard lying vanities Forsake their own mercy.\r\n But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that which I have vowed. Salvation is of Jehovah.\r\n And Jehovah spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the word of Jehovah came unto Jonah the second time, saying,\r\n Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee.\r\n So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of Jehovah. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city, of three days` journey.\r\n And Jonah began to enter into the city a day`s journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.\r\n And the people of Nineveh believed God; and they proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.\r\n And the tidings reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.\r\n And he made proclamation and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything; let them not feed, nor drink water;\r\n but let them be covered with sackcloth, both man and beast, and let them cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in his hands.\r\n Who knoweth whether God will not turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?\r\n And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil which he said he would do unto them; and he did it not.\r\n \r\n \r\n But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry.\r\n And he prayed unto Jehovah, and said, I pray thee, O Jehovah, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I hasted to flee unto Tarshish; for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness, and repentest thee of the evil.\r\n Therefore now, O Jehovah, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live.\r\n And Jehovah said, Doest thou well to be angry?\r\n Then Jonah went out of the city, and sat on the east side of the city, and there made him a booth, and sat under it in the shade, till he might see what would become of the city.\r\n And Jehovah God prepared a gourd, and made it to come up over Jonah, that it might be a shade over his head, to deliver him from his evil case. So Jonah was exceeding glad because of the gourd.\r\n But God prepared a worm when the morning rose the next day, and it smote the gourd, that it withered.\r\n And it came to pass, when the sun arose, that God prepared a sultry east wind; and the sun beat upon the head of Jonah, that he fainted, and requested for himself that he might die, and said, It is better for me to die than to live.\r\n And God said to Jonah, Doest thou well to be angry for the gourd? And he said, I do well to be angry, even unto death.\r\n And Jehovah said, Thou hast had regard for the gourd, for which thou hast not labored, neither madest it grow; which came up in a night, and perished in a night:\r\n and should not I have regard for Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n The word of Jehovah that came to Micah the Morashtite in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem.\r\n Hear, ye peoples, all of you: hearken, O earth, and all that therein is: and let the Lord Jehovah be witness against you, the Lord from his holy temple.\r\n For, behold, Jehovah cometh forth out of his place, and will come down, and tread upon the high places of the earth.\r\n And the mountains shall be melted under him, and the valleys shall be cleft, as wax before the fire, as waters that are poured down a steep place.\r\n For the transgression of Jacob is all this, and for the sins of the house of Israel. What is the transgression of Jacob? is it not Samaria? and what are the high places of Judah? are they not Jerusalem?\r\n Therefore I will make Samaria as a heap of the field, [and] as places for planting vineyards; and I will pour down the stones thereof into the valley, and I will uncover the foundations thereof.\r\n And all her graven images shall be beaten to pieces, and all her hires shall be burned with fire, and all her idols will I lay desolate; for of the hire of a harlot hath she gathered them, and unto the hire of a harlot shall they return.\r\n For this will I lament and wail; I will go stripped and naked; I will make a wailing like the jackals, and a lamentation like the ostriches.\r\n For her wounds are incurable; for it is come even unto Judah; it reacheth unto the gate of my people, even to Jerusalem.\r\n Tell it not in Gath, weep not at all: at Beth-le-aphrah have I rolled myself in the dust.\r\n Pass away, O inhabitant of Shaphir, in nakedness and shame: the inhabitant of Zaanan is not come forth; the wailing of Beth-ezel shall take from you the stay thereof.\r\n For the inhabitant of Maroth waiteth anxiously for good, because evil is come down from Jehovah unto the gate of Jerusalem.\r\n Bind the chariot to the swift steed, O inhabitant of Lachish: she was the beginning of sin to the daughter of Zion; for the transgressions of Israel were found in thee.\r\n Therefore shalt thou give a parting gift to Moresheth-gath: the houses of Achzib shall be a deceitful thing unto the kings of Israel.\r\n I will yet bring unto thee, O inhabitant of Mareshah, him that shall possess thee: the glory of Israel shall come even unto Adullam.\r\n Make thee bald, and cut off thy hair for the children of thy delight: enlarge thy baldness as the eagle; for they are gone into captivity from thee.\r\n \r\n \r\n Woe to them that devise iniquity and work evil upon their beds! when the morning is light, they practise it, because it is in the power of their hand.\r\n And they covet fields, and seize them; and houses, and take them away: and they oppress a man and his house, even a man and his heritage.\r\n Therefore thus saith Jehovah: Behold, against this family do I devise an evil, from which ye shall not remove your necks, neither shall ye walk haughtily; for it is an evil time.\r\n In that day shall they take up a parable against you, and lament with a doleful lamentation, [and] say, We are utterly ruined: he changeth the portion of my people: how doth he remove [it] from me! to the rebellious he divideth our fields.\r\n Therefore thou shalt have none that shall cast the line by lot in the assembly of Jehovah.\r\n Prophesy ye not, [thus] they prophesy. They shall not prophesy to these: reproaches shall not depart.\r\n Shall it be said, O house of Jacob, Is the Spirit of Jehovah straitened? are these his doings? Do not my words do good to him that walketh uprightly?\r\n But of late my people is risen up as an enemy: ye strip the robe from off the garment from them that pass by securely [as men] averse from war.\r\n The women of my people ye cast out from their pleasant houses; from their young children ye take away my glory for ever.\r\n Arise ye, and depart; for this is not your resting-place; because of uncleanness that destroyeth, even with a grievous destruction.\r\n If a man walking in a spirit of falsehood do lie, [saying], I will prophesy unto thee of wine and of strong drink; he shall even be the prophet of this people.\r\n I will surely assemble, O Jacob, all of thee; I will surely gather the remnant of Israel; I will put them together as the sheep of Bozrah, as a flock in the midst of their pasture; they shall make great noise by reason of [the multitude of] men.\r\n The breaker is gone up before them: they have broken forth and passed on to the gate, and are gone out thereat; and their king is passed on before them, and Jehovah at the head of them.\r\n \r\n \r\n And I said, Hear, I pray you, ye heads of Jacob, and rulers of the house of Israel: is it not for you to know justice?\r\n ye who hate the good, and love the evil; who pluck off their skin from off them, and their flesh from off their bones;\r\n who also eat the flesh of my people, and flay their skin from off them, and break their bones, and chop them in pieces, as for the pot, and as flesh within the caldron.\r\n Then shall they cry unto Jehovah, but he will not answer them; yea, he will hide his face from them at that time, according as they have wrought evil in their doings.\r\n Thus saith Jehovah concerning the prophets that make my people to err; that bite with their teeth, and cry, Peace; and whoso putteth not into their mouths, they even prepare war against him:\r\n Therefore it shall be night unto you, that ye shall have no vision; and it shall be dark unto you, that ye shall not divine; and the sun shall go down upon the prophets, and the day shall be black over them.\r\n And the seers shall be put to shame, and the diviners confounded; yea, they shall all cover their lips; for there is no answer of God.\r\n But as for me, I am full of power by the Spirit of Jehovah, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin.\r\n Hear this, I pray you, ye heads of the house of Jacob, and rulers of the house of Israel, that abhor justice, and pervert all equity.\r\n They build up Zion with blood, and Jerusalem with iniquity.\r\n The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet they lean upon Jehovah, and say, Is not Jehovah in the midst of us? no evil shall come upon us.\r\n Therefore shall Zion for your sake be plowed as a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of a forest.\r\n \r\n \r\n But in the latter days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of Jehovah`s house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and peoples shall flow unto it.\r\n And many nations shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of Jehovah, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths. For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of Jehovah from Jerusalem;\r\n and he will judge between many peoples, and will decide concerning strong nations afar off: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.\r\n But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig-tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of Jehovah of hosts hath spoken it.\r\n For all the peoples walk every one in the name of his god; and we will walk in the name of Jehovah our God for ever and ever.\r\n In that day, saith Jehovah, will I assemble that which is lame, and I will gather that which is driven away, and that which I have afflicted;\r\n and I will make that which was lame a remnant, and that which was cast far off a strong nation: and Jehovah will reign over them in mount Zion from henceforth even for ever.\r\n And thou, O tower of the flock, the hill of the daughter of Zion, unto thee shall it come, yea, the former dominion shall come, the kingdom of the daughter of Jerusalem.\r\n Now why dost thou cry out aloud? Is there no king in thee, is thy counsellor perished, that pangs have taken hold of thee as of a woman in travail?\r\n Be in pain, and labor to bring forth, O daughter of Zion, like a woman in travail; for now shalt thou go forth out of the city, and shalt dwell in the field, and shalt come even unto Babylon: there shalt thou be rescued; there will Jehovah redeem thee from the hand of thine enemies.\r\n And now many nations are assembled against thee, that say, Let her be defiled, and let our eye see [our desire] upon Zion.\r\n But they know not the thoughts of Jehovah, neither understand they his counsel; for he hath gathered them as the sheaves to the threshing-floor.\r\n Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion; for I will make thy horn iron, and I will make thy hoofs brass; and thou shalt beat in pieces many peoples: and I will devote their gain unto Jehovah, and their substance unto the Lord of the whole earth.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now shalt thou gather thyself in troops, O daughter of troops: he hath laid siege against us; they shall smite the judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek.\r\n But thou, Beth-lehem Ephrathah, which art little to be among the thousands of Judah, out of thee shall one come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.\r\n Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she who travaileth hath brought forth: then the residue of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel.\r\n And he shall stand, and shall feed [his flock] in the strength of Jehovah, in the majesty of the name of Jehovah his God: and they shall abide; for now shall he be great unto the ends of the earth.\r\n And this [man] shall be [our] peace. When the Assyrian shall come into our land, and when he shall tread in our palaces, then shall we raise against him seven shepherds, and eight principal men.\r\n And they shall waste the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod in the entrances thereof: and he shall deliver us from the Assyrian, when he cometh into our land, and when he treadeth within our border.\r\n And the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many peoples as dew from Jehovah, as showers upon the grass, that tarry not for man, nor wait for the sons of men.\r\n And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the nations, in the midst of many peoples, as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep; who, if he go through, treadeth down and teareth in pieces, and there is none to deliver.\r\n Let thy hand be lifted up above thine adversaries, and let all thine enemies be cut off.\r\n And it shall come to pass in that day, saith Jehovah, that I will cut off thy horses out of the midst of thee, and will destroy thy chariots:\r\n and I will cut off the cities of thy land, and will throw down all thy strongholds.\r\n And I will cut off witchcrafts out of thy hand; and thou shalt have no [more] soothsayers:\r\n and I will cut off thy graven images and thy pillars out of the midst of thee; and thou shalt no more worship the work of thy hands;\r\n and I will pluck up thine Asherim out of the midst of thee; and I will destroy thy cities.\r\n And I will execute vengeance in anger and wrath upon the nations which hearkened not.\r\n \r\n \r\n Hear ye now what Jehovah saith: Arise, contend thou before the mountains, and let the hills hear thy voice.\r\n Hear, O ye mountains, Jehovah`s controversy, and ye enduring foundations of the earth; for Jehovah hath a controversy with his people, and he will contend with Israel.\r\n O my people, what have I done unto thee? and wherein have I wearied thee? testify against me.\r\n For I brought thee up out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed thee out of the house of bondage; and I sent before thee Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.\r\n O my people, remember now what Balak king of Moab devised, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him; [remember] from Shittim unto Gilgal, that ye may know the righteous acts of Jehovah.\r\n Wherewith shall I come before Jehovah, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt-offerings, with calves a year old?\r\n will Jehovah be pleased with thousands of rams, [or] with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my first-born for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?\r\n He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth Jehovah require of thee, but to do justly, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with thy God?\r\n The voice of Jehovah crieth unto the city, and [the man of] wisdom will see thy name: hear ye the rod, and who hath appointed it.\r\n Are there yet treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and a scant measure that is abominable?\r\n Shall I be pure with wicked balances, and with a bag of deceitful weights?\r\n For the rich men thereof are full of violence, and the inhabitants thereof have spoken lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth.\r\n Therefore I also have smitten thee with a grievous wound; I have made thee desolate because of thy sins.\r\n Thou shalt eat, but not be satisfied; and thy humiliation shall be in the midst of thee: and thou shalt put away, but shalt not save; and that which thou savest will I give up to the sword.\r\n Thou shalt sow, but shalt not reap; thou shalt tread the olives, but shalt not anoint thee with oil; and the vintage, but shalt not drink the wine.\r\n For the statutes of Omri are kept, and all the works of the house of Ahab, and ye walk in their counsels; that I may make thee a desolation, and the inhabitants thereof a hissing: and ye shall bear the reproach of my people.\r\n \r\n \r\n Woe is me! for I am as when they have gathered the summer fruits, as the grape gleanings of the vintage: there is no cluster to eat; my soul desireth the first-ripe fig.\r\n The godly man is perished out of the earth, and there is none upright among men: they all lie in wait for blood; they hunt every man his brother with a net.\r\n Their hands are upon that which is evil to do it diligently; the prince asketh, and the judge [is ready] for a reward; and the great man, he uttereth the evil desire of his soul: thus they weave it together.\r\n The best of them is as a brier; the most upright is [worse] than a thorn hedge: the day of thy watchmen, even thy visitation, is come; now shall be their perplexity.\r\n Trust ye not in a neighbor; put ye not confidence in a friend; keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom.\r\n For the son dishonoreth the father, the daughter riseth up against her mother, the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; a man`s enemies are the men of his own house.\r\n But as for me, I will look unto Jehovah; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me.\r\n Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, Jehovah will be a light unto me.\r\n I will bear the indignation of Jehovah, because I have sinned against him, until he plead my cause, and execute judgment for me: he will bring me forth to the light, [and] I shall behold his righteousness.\r\n Then mine enemy shall see it, and shame shall cover her who said unto me, Where is Jehovah thy God? Mine eyes shall see [my desire] upon her; now shall she be trodden down as the mire of the streets.\r\n A day for building thy walls! in that day shall the decree be far removed.\r\n In that day shall they come unto thee from Assyria and the cities of Egypt, and from Egypt even to the River, and from sea to sea, and [from] mountain to mountain.\r\n Yet shall the land be desolate because of them that dwell therein, for the fruit of their doings.\r\n Feed thy people with thy rod, the flock of thy heritage, which dwell solitarily, in the forest in the midst of Carmel: let them feed in Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old.\r\n As in the days of thy coming forth out of the land of Egypt will I show unto them marvellous things.\r\n The nations shall see and be ashamed of all their might; they shall lay their hand upon their mouth; their ears shall be deaf.\r\n They shall lick the dust like a serpent; like crawling things of the earth they shall come trembling out of their close places; they shall come with fear unto Jehovah our God, and shall be afraid because of thee.\r\n Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth over the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in lovingkindness.\r\n He will again have compassion upon us; he will tread our iniquities under foot; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.\r\n Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, [and] the lovingkindness to Abraham, which thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n The burden of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.\r\n Jehovah is a jealous God and avengeth; Jehovah avengeth and is full of wrath; Jehovah taketh vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth [wrath] for his enemies.\r\n Jehovah is slow to anger, and great in power, and will by no means clear [the guilty]: Jehovah hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.\r\n He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers: Bashan languisheth, and Carmel; and the flower of Lebanon languisheth.\r\n The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt; and the earth is upheaved at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein.\r\n Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his wrath is poured out like fire, and the rocks are broken asunder by him.\r\n Jehovah is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that take refuge in him.\r\n But with an over-running flood he will make a full end of her place, and will pursue his enemies into darkness.\r\n What do ye devise against Jehovah? he will make a full end; affliction shall not rise up the second time.\r\n For entangled like thorns, and drunken as with their drink, they are consumed utterly as dry stubble.\r\n There is one gone forth out of thee, that deviseth evil against Jehovah, that counselleth wickedness.\r\n Thus saith Jehovah: Though they be in full strength, and likewise many, even so shall they be cut down, and he shall pass away. Though I have afflicted thee, I will afflict thee no more.\r\n And now will I break his yoke from off thee, and will burst thy bonds in sunder.\r\n And Jehovah hath given commandment concerning thee, that no more of thy name be sown: out of the house of thy gods will I cut off the graven image and the molten image; I will make thy grave; for thou art vile.\r\n Behold, upon the mountains the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace! Keep thy feasts, O Judah, perform thy vows; for the wicked one shall no more pass through thee; he is utterly cut off.\r\n \r\n \r\n He that dasheth in pieces is come up against thee: keep the fortress, watch the way, make thy loins strong, fortify thy power mightily.\r\n For Jehovah restoreth the excellency of Jacob, as the excellency of Israel; for the emptiers have emptied them out, and destroyed their vine-branches.\r\n The shield of his mighty men is made red, the valiant men are in scarlet: the chariots flash with steel in the day of his preparation, and the cypress [spears] are brandished.\r\n The chariots rage in the streets; they rush to and fro in the broad ways: the appearance of them is like torches; they run like the lightnings.\r\n He remembereth his nobles: they stumble in their march; they make haste to the wall thereof, and the mantelet is prepared.\r\n The gates of the rivers are opened, and the palace is dissolved.\r\n And it is decreed: she is uncovered, she is carried away; and her handmaids moan as with the voice of doves, beating upon their breasts.\r\n But Nineveh hath been from of old like a pool of water: yet they flee away. Stand, stand, [they cry]; but none looketh back.\r\n Take ye the spoil of silver, take the spoil of gold; for there is no end of the store, the glory of all goodly furniture.\r\n She is empty, and void, and waste; and the heart melteth, and the knees smite together, and anguish is in all loins, and the faces of them all are waxed pale.\r\n Where is the den of the lions, and the feeding-place of the young lions, where the lion [and] the lioness walked, the lion`s whelp, and none made them afraid?\r\n The lion did tear in pieces enough for his whelps, and strangled for his lionesses, and filled his caves with prey, and his dens with ravin.\r\n Behold, I am against thee, saith Jehovah of hosts, and I will burn her chariots in the smoke, and the sword shall devour thy young lions; and I will cut off thy prey from the earth, and the voice of thy messengers shall no more be heard.\r\n \r\n \r\n Woe to the bloody city! it is all full of lies and rapine; the prey departeth not.\r\n The noise of the whip, and the noise of the rattling of wheels, and prancing horses, and bounding chariots,\r\n the horseman mounting, and the flashing sword, and the glittering spear, and a multitude of slain, and a great heap of corpses, and there is no end of the bodies; they stumble upon their bodies;-\r\n because of the multitude of the whoredoms of the well-favored harlot, the mistress of witchcrafts, that selleth nations through her whoredoms, and families through her witchcrafts.\r\n Behold, I am against thee, saith Jehovah of hosts, and I will uncover thy skirts upon thy face; and I will show the nations thy nakedness, and the kingdoms thy shame.\r\n And I will cast abominable filth upon thee, and make thee vile, and will set thee as a gazing-stock.\r\n And it shall come to pass, that all they that look upon thee shall flee from thee, and say, Nineveh is laid waste: who will bemoan her? whence shall I seek comforters for thee?\r\n Art thou better than No-amon, that was situate among the rivers, that had the waters round about her; whose rampart was the sea, [and] her wall was of the sea?\r\n Ethiopia and Egypt were her strength, and it was infinite; Put and Lubim were thy helpers.\r\n Yet was she carried away, she went into captivity; her young children also were dashed in pieces at the head of all the streets; and they cast lots for her honorable men, and all her great men were bound in chains.\r\n Thou also shalt be drunken; thou shalt be hid; thou also shalt seek a stronghold because of the enemy.\r\n All thy fortresses shall be [like] fig-trees with the first-ripe figs: if they be shaken, they fall into the mouth of the eater.\r\n Behold, thy people in the midst of thee are women; the gates of thy land are set wide open unto thine enemies: the fire hath devoured thy bars.\r\n Draw thee water for the siege; strengthen thy fortresses; go into the clay, and tread the mortar; make strong the brickkiln.\r\n There shall the fire devour thee; the sword shall cut thee off; it shall devour thee like the canker-worm: make thyself many as the canker-worm; make thyself many as the locust.\r\n Thou hast multiplied thy merchants above the stars of heaven: the canker-worm ravageth, and fleeth away.\r\n Thy princes are as the locusts, and thy marshals as the swarms of grasshoppers, which encamp in the hedges in the cold day, but when the sun ariseth they flee away, and their place is not known where they are.\r\n Thy shepherds slumber, O king of Assyria; thy nobles are at rest; thy people are scattered upon the mountains, and there is none to gather them.\r\n There is no assuaging of thy hurt: thy wound is grievous: all that hear the report of thee clap their hands over thee; for upon whom hath not thy wickedness passed continually?\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n The burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see.\r\n O Jehovah, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear? I cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save.\r\n Why dost thou show me iniquity, and look upon perverseness? for destruction and violence are before me; and there is strife, and contention riseth up.\r\n Therefore the law is slacked, and justice doth never go forth; for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore justice goeth forth perverted.\r\n Behold ye among the nations, and look, and wonder marvellously; for I am working a work in your days, which ye will not believe though it be told you.\r\n For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, that march through the breadth of the earth, to possess dwelling-places that are not theirs.\r\n They are terrible and dreadful; their judgment and their dignity proceed from themselves.\r\n Their horses also are swifter than leopards, and are more fierce than the evening wolves; and their horsemen press proudly on: yea, their horsemen come from far; they fly as an eagle that hasteth to devour.\r\n They come all of them for violence; the set of their faces is forwards; and they gather captives as the sand.\r\n Yea, he scoffeth at kings, and princes are a derision unto him; he derideth every stronghold; for he heapeth up dust, and taketh it.\r\n Then shall he sweep by [as] a wind, and shall pass over, and be guilty, [even] he whose might is his god.\r\n Art not thou from everlasting, O Jehovah my God, my Holy One? we shall not die. O Jehovah, thou hast ordained him for judgment; and thou, O Rock, hast established him for correction.\r\n Thou that art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and that canst not look on perverseness, wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy peace when the wicked swalloweth up the man that is more righteous than he;\r\n and makest men as the fishes of the sea, as the creeping things, that have no ruler over them?\r\n He taketh up all of them with the angle, he catcheth them in his net, and gathereth them in his drag: therefore he rejoiceth and is glad.\r\n Therefore he sacrificeth unto his net, and burneth incense unto his drag; because by them his portion is fat, and his food plenteous.\r\n Shall he therefore empty his net, and spare not to slay the nations continually?\r\n \r\n \r\n I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will look forth to see what he will speak with me, and what I shall answer concerning my complaint.\r\n And Jehovah answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tablets, that he may run that readeth it.\r\n For the vision is yet for the appointed time, and it hasteth toward the end, and shall not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not delay.\r\n Behold, his soul is puffed up, it is not upright in him; but the righteous shall live by his faith.\r\n Yea, moreover, wine is treacherous, a haughty man, that keepeth not at home; who enlargeth his desire as Sheol, and he is as death, and cannot be satisfied, but gathereth unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all peoples.\r\n Shall not all these take up a parable against him, and a taunting proverb against him, and say, Woe to him that increaseth that which is not his! how long? and that ladeth himself with pledges!\r\n Shall they not rise up suddenly that shall bite thee, and awake that shall vex thee, and thou shalt be for booty unto them?\r\n Because thou hast plundered many nations, all the remnant of the peoples shall plunder thee, because of men`s blood, and for the violence done to the land, to the city and to all that dwell therein.\r\n Woe to him that getteth an evil gain for his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the hand of evil!\r\n Thou hast devised shame to thy house, by cutting off many peoples, and hast sinned against thy soul.\r\n For the stone shall cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the timber shall answer it.\r\n Woe to him that buildeth a town with blood, and establisheth a city by iniquity!\r\n Behold, is it not of Jehovah of hosts that the peoples labor for the fire, and the nations weary themselves for vanity?\r\n For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of Jehovah, as the waters cover the sea.\r\n Woe unto him that giveth his neighbor drink, [to thee] that addest thy venom, and makest him drunken also, that thou mayest look on their nakedness!\r\n Thou art filled with shame, and not glory: drink thou also, and be as one uncircumcised; the cup of Jehovah`s right hand shall come round unto thee, and foul shame shall be upon thy glory.\r\n For the violence done to Lebanon shall cover thee, and the destruction of the beasts, which made them afraid; because of men`s blood, and for the violence done to the land, to the city and to all that dwell therein.\r\n What profiteth the graven image, that the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image, even the teacher of lies, that he that fashioneth its form trusteth therein, to make dumb idols?\r\n Woe unto him that saith to the wood, Awake; to the dumb stone, Arise! Shall this teach? Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in the midst of it.\r\n But Jehovah is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him.\r\n \r\n \r\n A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet, set to Shigionoth.\r\n O Jehovah, I have heard the report of thee, and am afraid: O Jehovah, revive thy work in the midst of the years; In the midst of the years make it known; In wrath remember mercy.\r\n God came from Teman, And the Holy One from mount Paran. Selah. His glory covered the heavens, And the earth was full of his praise.\r\n And [his] brightness was as the light; He had rays [coming forth] from his hand; And there was the hiding of his power.\r\n Before him went the pestilence, And fiery bolts went forth at his feet.\r\n He stood, and measured the earth; He beheld, and drove asunder the nations; And the eternal mountains were scattered; The everlasting hills did bow; His goings were [as] of old.\r\n I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction; The curtains of the land of Midian did tremble.\r\n Was Jehovah displeased with the rivers? Was thine anger against the rivers, Or thy wrath against the sea, That thou didst ride upon thy horses, Upon thy chariots of salvation?\r\n Thy bow was made quite bare; The oaths to the tribes were a [sure] word. Selah. Thou didst cleave the earth with rivers.\r\n The mountains saw thee, and were afraid; The tempest of waters passed by; The deep uttered its voice, And lifted up its hands on high.\r\n The sun and moon stood still in their habitation, At the light of thine arrows as they went, At the shining of thy glittering spear.\r\n Thou didst march though the land in indignation; Thou didst thresh the nations in anger.\r\n Thou wentest forth for the salvation of thy people, For the salvation of thine anointed; Thou woundest the head out of the house of the wicked man, Laying bare the foundation even unto the neck. Selah.\r\n Thou didst pierce with his own staves the head of his warriors: They came as a whirlwind to scatter me; Their rejoicing was as to devour the poor secretly.\r\n Thou didst tread the sea with thy horses, The heap of mighty waters.\r\n I heard, and my body trembled, My lips quivered at the voice; Rottenness entereth into my bones, and I tremble in my place; Because I must wait quietly for the day of trouble, For the coming up of the people that invadeth us.\r\n For though the fig-tree shall not flourish, Neither shall fruit be in the vines; The labor of the olive shall fail, And the fields shall yield no food; The flock shall be cut off from the fold, And there shall be no herd in the stalls:\r\n Yet I will rejoice in Jehovah, I will joy in the God of my salvation.\r\n Jehovah, the Lord, is my strength; And he maketh my feet like hinds` [feet], And will make me to walk upon my high places.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n The word of Jehovah which came unto Zephaniah the son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hezekiah, in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah.\r\n I will utterly consume all things from off the face of the ground, saith Jehovah.\r\n I will consume man and beast; I will consume the birds of the heavens, and the fishes of the sea, and the stumblingblocks with the wicked; and I will cut off man from off the face of the ground, saith Jehovah.\r\n And I will stretch out my hand upon Judah, and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and I will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place, [and] the name of the Chemarim with the priests;\r\n and them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops; and them that worship, that swear to Jehovah and swear by Malcam;\r\n and them that are turned back from following Jehovah; and those that have not sought Jehovah, nor inquired after him.\r\n Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord Jehovah; for the day of Jehovah is at hand: for Jehovah hath prepared a sacrifice, he hath consecrated his guests.\r\n And it shall come to pass in the day of Jehovah`s sacrifice, that I will punish the princes, and the king`s sons, and all such as are clothed with foreign apparel.\r\n And in that day I will punish all those that leap over the threshold, that fill their master`s house with violence and deceit.\r\n And in that day, saith Jehovah, there shall be the noise of a cry from the fish gate, and a wailing from the second quarter, and a great crashing from the hills.\r\n Wail, ye inhabitants of Maktesh; for all the people of Canaan are undone; all they that were laden with silver are cut off.\r\n And it shall come to pass at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with lamps; and I will punish the men that are settled on their lees, that say in their heart, Jehovah will not do good, neither will he do evil.\r\n And their wealth shall become a spoil, and their houses a desolation: yea, they shall build houses, but shall not inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, but shall not drink the wine thereof.\r\n The great day of Jehovah is near, it is near and hasteth greatly, [even] the voice of the day of Jehovah; the mighty man crieth there bitterly.\r\n That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness,\r\n a day of the trumpet and alarm, against the fortified cities, and against the high battlements.\r\n And I will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against Jehovah; and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as dung.\r\n Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of Jehovah`s wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he will make an end, yea, a terrible end, of all them that dwell in the land.\r\n \r\n \r\n Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together, O nation that hath no shame;\r\n before the decree bring forth, [before] the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of Jehovah come upon you, before the day of Jehovah`s anger come upon you.\r\n Seek ye Jehovah, all ye meek of the earth, that have kept his ordinances; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye will be hid in the day of Jehovah`s anger.\r\n For Gaza shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation; they shall drive out Ashdod at noonday, and Ekron shall be rooted up.\r\n Woe unto the inhabitants of the sea-coast, the nation of the Cherethites! The word of Jehovah is against you, O Canaan, the land of the Philistines; I will destroy thee, that there shall be no inhabitant.\r\n And the sea-coast shall be pastures, with cottages for shepherds and folds for flocks.\r\n And the coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah; they shall feed [their flocks] thereupon; in the houses of Ashkelon shall they lie down in the evening; for Jehovah their God will visit them, and bring back their captivity.\r\n I have heard the reproach of Moab, and the revilings of the children of Ammon, wherewith they have reproached my people, and magnified themselves against their border.\r\n Therefore as I live, saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel, Surely Moab shall be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah, a possession of nettles, and saltpits, and a perpetual desolation: the residue of my people shall make a prey of them, and the remnant of my nation shall inherit them.\r\n This shall they have for their pride, because they have reproached and magnified themselves against the people of Jehovah of hosts.\r\n Jehovah will be terrible unto them; for he will famish all the gods of the earth; and men shall worship him, every one from his place, even all the isles of the nations.\r\n Ye Ethiopians also, ye shall be slain by my sword.\r\n And he will stretch out his hand against the north, and destroy Assyria, and will make Nineveh a desolation, and dry like the wilderness.\r\n And herds shall lie down in the midst of her, all the beasts of the nations: both the pelican and the porcupine shall lodge in the capitals thereof; [their] voice shall sing in the windows; desolation shall be in the thresholds: for he hath laid bare the cedar-work.\r\n This is the joyous city that dwelt carelessly, that said in her heart, I am, and there is none besides me: how is she become a desolation, a place for beasts to lie down in! every one that passeth by her shall hiss, and wag his hand.\r\n \r\n \r\n Woe to her that is rebellious and polluted! to the oppressing city!\r\n She obeyed not the voice; she received not correction; she trusted not in Jehovah; she drew not near to her God.\r\n Her princes in the midst of her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves; they leave nothing till the morrow.\r\n Her prophets are light and treacherous persons; her priests have profaned the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law.\r\n Jehovah in the midst of her is righteous; he will not do iniquity; every morning doth he bring his justice to light, he faileth not; but the unjust knoweth no shame.\r\n I have cut off nations; their battlements are desolate; I have made their streets waste, so that none passeth by; their cities are destroyed, so that there is no man, so that there is no inhabitant.\r\n I said, Only fear thou me; receive correction; so her dwelling shall not be cut off, [according to] all that I have appointed concerning her: but they rose early and corrupted all their doings.\r\n Therefore wait ye for me, saith Jehovah, until the day that I rise up to the prey; for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger; for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.\r\n For then will I turn to the peoples of a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of Jehovah, to serve him with one consent.\r\n From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants, even the daughter of my dispersed, shall bring mine offering.\r\n In that day shalt thou not be put to shame for all thy doings, wherein thou hast transgressed against me; for then I will take away out of the midst of thee thy proudly exulting ones, and thou shalt no more be haughty in my holy mountain.\r\n But I will leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall take refuge in the name of Jehovah.\r\n The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth; for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid.\r\n Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem.\r\n Jehovah hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy: the King of Israel, even Jehovah, is in the midst of thee; thou shalt not fear evil any more.\r\n In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not; O Zion, let not thy hands be slack.\r\n Jehovah thy God is in the midst of thee, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love; he will joy over thee with singing.\r\n I will gather them that sorrow for the solemn assembly, who were of thee; [to whom] the burden upon her was a reproach.\r\n Behold, at that time I will deal with all them that afflict thee; and I will save that which is lame, and gather that which was driven away; and I will make them a praise and a name, whose shame hath been in all the earth.\r\n At that time will I bring you in, and at that time will I gather you; for I will make you a name and a praise among all the peoples of the earth, when I bring back your captivity before your eyes, saith Jehovah.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, in the first day of the month, came the word of Jehovah by Haggai the prophet unto Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, saying,\r\n Thus speaketh Jehovah of hosts, saying, This people say, It is not the time [for us] to come, the time for Jehovah`s house to be built.\r\n Then came the word of Jehovah by Haggai the prophet, saying,\r\n Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your ceiled houses, while this house lieth waste?\r\n Now therefore thus saith Jehovah of hosts: Consider your ways.\r\n Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages [to put it] into a bag with holes.\r\n Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: Consider your ways.\r\n Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith Jehovah.\r\n Ye looked for much, and, lo, it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it. Why? saith Jehovah of hosts. Because of my house that lieth waste, while ye run every man to his own house.\r\n Therefore for your sake the heavens withhold the dew, and the earth withholdeth its fruit.\r\n And I called for a drought upon the land, and upon the mountains, and upon the grain, and upon the new wine, and upon the oil, and upon that which the ground bringeth forth, and upon men, and upon cattle, and upon all the labor of the hands.\r\n Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of Jehovah their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as Jehovah their God had sent him; and the people did fear before Jehovah.\r\n Then spake Haggai Jehovah`s messenger in Jehovah`s message unto the people, saying, I am with you, saith Jehovah.\r\n And Jehovah stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and did work on the house of Jehovah of hosts, their God,\r\n in the four and twentieth day of the month, in the sixth [month], in the second year of Darius the king.\r\n \r\n \r\n In the seventh [month], in the one and twentieth [day] of the month, came the word of Jehovah by Haggai the prophet, saying,\r\n Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people, saying,\r\n Who is left among you that saw this house in its former glory? and how do ye see it now? is it not in your eyes as nothing?\r\n Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith Jehovah; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest; and be strong, all ye people of the land, saith Jehovah, and work: for I am with you, saith Jehovah of hosts,\r\n [according to] the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt, and my Spirit abode among you: fear ye not.\r\n For thus saith Jehovah of hosts: Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land;\r\n and I will shake all nations; and the precious things of all nations shall come; and I will fill this house with glory, saith Jehovah of hosts.\r\n The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith Jehovah of hosts.\r\n The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, saith Jehovah of hosts; and in this place will I give peace, saith Jehovah of hosts.\r\n In the four and twentieth [day] of the ninth [month], in the second year of Darius, came the word of Jehovah by Haggai the prophet, saying,\r\n Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: Ask now the priests concerning the law, saying,\r\n If one bear holy flesh in the skirt of his garment, and with his skirt do touch bread, or pottage, or wine, or oil, or any food, shall it become holy? And the priests answered and said, No.\r\n Then said Haggai, If one that is unclean by reason of a dead body touch any of these, shall it be unclean? And the priests answered and said, It shall be unclean.\r\n Then answered Haggai and said, So is this people, and so is this nation before me, saith Jehovah; and so is every work of their hands; and that which they offer there is unclean.\r\n And now, I pray you, consider from this day and backward, before a stone was laid upon a stone in the temple of Jehovah.\r\n Through all that time, when one came to a heap of twenty [measures], there were but ten; when one came to the winevat to draw out fifty [vessels], there were but twenty.\r\n I smote you with blasting and with mildew and with hail in all the work of your hands; yet ye [turned] not to me, saith Jehovah.\r\n Consider, I pray you, from this day and backward, from the four and twentieth day of the ninth [month], since the day that the foundation of Jehovah`s temple was laid, consider it.\r\n Is the seed yet in the barn? yea, the vine, and the fig-tree, and the pomegranate, and the olive-tree have not brought forth; from this day will I bless [you].\r\n And the word of Jehovah came the second time unto Haggai in the four and twentieth [day] of the month, saying,\r\n Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I will shake the heavens and the earth;\r\n and I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms; and I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the nations; and I will overthrow the chariots, and those that ride in them; and the horses and their riders shall come down, every one by the sword of his brother.\r\n In that day, saith Jehovah of hosts, will I take thee, O Zerubbabel, my servant, the son of Shealtiel, saith Jehovah, and will make thee as a signet; for I have chosen thee, saith Jehovah of hosts.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of Jehovah unto Zechariah the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo, the prophet, saying,\r\n Jehovah was sore displeased with your fathers.\r\n Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: Return unto me, saith Jehovah of hosts, and I will return unto you, saith Jehovah of hosts.\r\n Be ye not as your fathers, unto whom the former prophets cried, saying, Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, Return ye now from your evil ways, and from your evil doings: but they did not hear, nor hearken unto me, saith Jehovah.\r\n Your fathers, where are they? and the prophets, do they live for ever?\r\n But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not overtake your fathers? and they turned and said, Like as Jehovah of hosts thought to do unto us, according to our ways, and according to our doings, so hath he dealt with us.\r\n Upon the four and twentieth day of the eleventh month, which is the month Shebat, in the second year of Darius, came the word of Jehovah unto Zechariah the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo, the prophet, saying,\r\n I saw in the night, and, behold, a man riding upon a red horse, and he stood among the myrtle-trees that were in the bottom; and behind him there were horses, red, sorrel, and white.\r\n Then said I, O my lord, what are these? And the angel that talked with me said unto me, I will show thee what these are.\r\n And the man that stood among the myrtle-trees answered and said, These are they whom Jehovah hath sent to walk to and fro through the earth.\r\n And they answered the angel of Jehovah that stood among the myrtle-trees, and said, We have walked to and fro through the earth, and, behold, all the earth sitteth still, and is at rest.\r\n Then the angel of Jehovah answered and said, O Jehovah of hosts, how long wilt thou not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which thou hast had indignation these threescore and ten years?\r\n And Jehovah answered the angel that talked with me with good words, [even] comfortable words.\r\n So the angel that talked with me said unto me, Cry thou, saying, Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy.\r\n And I am very sore displeased with the nations that are at ease; for I was but a little displeased, and they helped forward the affliction.\r\n Therefore thus saith Jehovah: I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies; my house shall be built in it, saith Jehovah of hosts, and a line shall be stretched forth over Jerusalem.\r\n Cry yet again, saying, Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: My cities shall yet overflow with prosperity; and Jehovah shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem.\r\n And I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, four horns.\r\n And I said unto the angel that talked with me, What are these? And he answered me, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.\r\n And Jehovah showed me four smiths.\r\n Then said I, What come these to do? And he spake, saying, These are the horns which scattered Judah, so that no man did lift up his head; but these are come to terrify them, to cast down the horns of the nations, which lifted up their horn against the land of Judah to scatter it.\r\n \r\n \r\n And I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, a man with a measuring line in his hand.\r\n Then said I, Whither goest thou? And he said unto me, To measure Jerusalem, to see what is the breadth thereof, and what is the length thereof.\r\n And, behold, the angel that talked with me went forth, and another angel went out to meet him,\r\n and said unto him, Run, speak to this young man, saying, Jerusalem shall be inhabited as villages without walls, by reason of the multitude of men and cattle therein.\r\n For I, saith Jehovah, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and I will be the glory in the midst of her.\r\n Ho, ho, flee from the land of the north, saith Jehovah; for I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heavens, saith Jehovah.\r\n Ho Zion, escape, thou that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon.\r\n For thus saith Jehovah of hosts: After glory hath he sent me unto the nations which plundered you; for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye.\r\n For, behold, I will shake my hand over them, and they shall be a spoil to those that served them; and ye shall know that Jehovah of hosts hath sent me.\r\n Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion; for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith Jehovah.\r\n And many nations shall join themselves to Jehovah in that day, and shall be my people; and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that Jehovah of hosts has sent me unto thee.\r\n And Jehovah shall inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land, and shall yet choose Jerusalem.\r\n Be silent, all flesh, before Jehovah; for he is waked up out of his holy habitation.\r\n \r\n \r\n And he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of Jehovah, and Satan standing at his right hand to be his adversary.\r\n And Jehovah said unto Satan, Jehovah rebuke thee, O Satan; yea, Jehovah that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?\r\n Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and was standing before the angel.\r\n And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take the filthy garments from off him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with rich apparel.\r\n And I said, Let them set a clean mitre upon his head. So they set a clean mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments; and the angel of Jehovah was standing by.\r\n And the angel of Jehovah protested unto Joshua, saying,\r\n Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: If thou wilt walk in my ways, and if thou wilt keep my charge, then thou also shalt judge my house, and shalt also keep my courts, and I will give thee a place of access among these that stand by.\r\n Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou and thy fellows that sit before thee; for they are men that are a sign: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the Branch.\r\n For, behold, the stone that I have set before Joshua; upon one stone are seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the graving thereof, saith Jehovah of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.\r\n In that day, saith Jehovah of hosts, shall ye invite every man his neighbor under the vine and under the fig-tree.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the angel that talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep.\r\n And he said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have seen, and, behold, a candlestick all of gold, with its bowl upon the top of it, and its seven lamps thereon; there are seven pipes to each of the lamps, which are upon the top thereof;\r\n and two olive-trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof.\r\n And I answered and spake to the angel that talked with me, saying, What are these, my lord?\r\n Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these are? And I said, No, my lord.\r\n Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of Jehovah unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith Jehovah of hosts.\r\n Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel [thou shalt become] a plain; and he shall bring forth the top stone with shoutings of Grace, grace, unto it.\r\n Moreover the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,\r\n The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that Jehovah of hosts hath sent me unto you.\r\n For who hath despised the day of small things? for these seven shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel; [these are] the eyes of Jehovah, which run to and fro through the whole earth.\r\n Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive-trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof?\r\n And I answered the second time, and said unto him, What are these two olive-branches, which are beside the two golden spouts, that empty the golden [oil] out of themselves?\r\n And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these are? And I said, No, my lord.\r\n Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then again I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, a flying roll.\r\n And he said unto me, What seest thou? And I answered, I see a flying roll; the length thereof is twenty cubits, and the breadth thereof ten cubits.\r\n Then said he unto me, This is the curse that goeth forth over the face of the whole land: for every one that stealeth shall be cut off on the one side according to it; and every one that sweareth shall be cut off on the other side according to it.\r\n I will cause it to go forth, saith Jehovah of hosts, and it shall enter into the house of the thief, and into the house of him that sweareth falsely by my name; and it shall abide in the midst of his house, and shall consume it with the timber thereof and the stones thereof.\r\n Then the angel that talked with me went forth, and said unto me, Lift up now thine eyes, and see what is this that goeth forth.\r\n And I said, What is it? And he said, This is the ephah that goeth forth. He said moreover, This is their appearance in all the land\r\n (and, behold, there was lifted up a talent of lead); and this is a woman sitting in the midst of the ephah.\r\n And he said, This is Wickedness: and he cast her down into the midst of the ephah; and he cast the weight of lead upon the mouth thereof.\r\n Then lifted I up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, there came forth two women, and the wind was in their wings; now they had wings like the wings of a stork; and they lifted up the ephah between earth and heaven.\r\n Then said I to the angel that talked with me, Whither do these bear the ephah?\r\n And he said unto me, To build her a house in the land of Shinar: and when it is prepared, she shall be set there in her own place.\r\n \r\n \r\n And again I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, there came four chariots out from between two mountains; and the mountains were mountains of brass.\r\n In the first chariot were red horses; and in the second chariot black horses;\r\n and in the third chariot white horses; and in the fourth chariot grizzled strong horses.\r\n Then I answered and said unto the angel that talked with me, What are these, my lord?\r\n And the angel answered and said unto me, These are the four winds of heaven, which go forth from standing before the Lord of all the earth.\r\n [The chariot] wherein are the black horses goeth forth toward the north country; and the white went forth after them; and the grizzled went forth toward the south country.\r\n And the strong went forth, and sought to go that they might walk to and fro through the earth: and he said, Get you hence, walk to and fro through the earth. So they walked to and fro through the earth.\r\n Then cried he to me, and spake unto me, saying, Behold, they that go toward the north country have quieted my spirit in the north country.\r\n And the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,\r\n Take of them of the captivity, even of Heldai, of Tobijah, and of Jedaiah; and come thou the same day, and go into the house of Josiah the son of Zephaniah, whither they are come from Babylon;\r\n yea, take [of them] silver and gold, and make crowns, and set them upon the head of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest;\r\n and speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh Jehovah of hosts, saying, Behold, the man whose name is the Branch: and he shall grow up out of his place; and he shall build the temple of Jehovah;\r\n even he shall build the temple of Jehovah; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne; and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.\r\n And the crowns shall be to Helem, and to Tobijah, and to Jedaiah, and to Hen the son of Zephaniah, for a memorial in the temple of Jehovah.\r\n And they that are far off shall come and build in the temple of Jehovah; and ye shall know that Jehovah of hosts hath sent me unto you. And [this] shall come to pass, if ye will diligently obey the voice of Jehovah your God.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass in the fourth year of king Darius, that the word of Jehovah came unto Zechariah in the fourth [day] of the ninth month, even in Chislev.\r\n Now [they of] Beth-el had sent Sharezer and Regem-melech, and their men, to entreat the favor of Jehovah,\r\n [and] to speak unto the priests of the house of Jehovah of hosts, and to the prophets, saying, Should I weep in the fifth month, separating myself, as I have done these so many years?\r\n Then came the word of Jehovah of hosts unto me, saying,\r\n Speak unto all the people of the land, and to the priests, saying, When ye fasted and mourned in the fifth and in the seventh [month], even these seventy years, did ye at all fast unto me, even to me?\r\n And when ye eat, and when ye drink, do not ye eat for yourselves, and drink for yourselves?\r\n [Should ye] not [hear] the words which Jehovah cried by the former prophets, when Jerusalem was inhabited and in prosperity, and the cities thereof round about her, and the South and the lowland were inhabited?\r\n And the word of Jehovah came unto Zechariah, saying,\r\n Thus hath Jehovah of hosts spoken, saying, Execute true judgment, and show kindness and compassion every man to his brother;\r\n and oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the sojourner, nor the poor; and let none of you devise evil against his brother in your heart.\r\n But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they might not hear.\r\n Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which Jehovah of hosts had sent by his Spirit by the former prophets: therefore there came great wrath from Jehovah of hosts.\r\n And it is come to pass that, as he cried, and they would not hear, so they shall cry, and I will not hear, said Jehovah of hosts;\r\n but I will scatter them with a whirlwind among all the nations which they have not known. Thus the land was desolate after them, so that no man passed through nor returned: for they laid the pleasant land desolate.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the word of Jehovah of hosts came [to me], saying,\r\n Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: I am jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I am jealous for her with great wrath.\r\n Thus saith Jehovah: I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called The city of truth; and the mountain of Jehovah of hosts, The holy mountain.\r\n Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: There shall yet old men and old women dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, every man with his staff in his hand for very age.\r\n And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof.\r\n Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: If it be marvellous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in those days, should it also be marvellous in mine eyes? saith Jehovah of hosts.\r\n Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: Behold, I will save my people from the east country, and from the west country;\r\n and I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem; and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness.\r\n Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: Let your hands be strong, ye that hear in these days these words from the mouth of the prophets that were in the day that the foundation of the house of Jehovah of hosts was laid, even the temple, that it might be built.\r\n For before those days there was no hire for man, nor any hire for beast; neither was there any peace to him that went out or came in, because of the adversary: for I set all men every one against his neighbor.\r\n But now I will not be unto the remnant of this people as in the former days, saith Jehovah of hosts.\r\n For [there shall be] the seed of peace; the vine shall give its fruit, and the ground shall give its increase, and the heavens shall give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to inherit all these things.\r\n And it shall come to pass that, as ye were a curse among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so will I save you, and ye shall be a blessing. Fear not, [but] let your hands be strong.\r\n For thus saith Jehovah of hosts: As I thought to do evil unto you, when your fathers provoked me to wrath, saith Jehovah of hosts, and I repented not;\r\n so again have I thought in these days to do good unto Jerusalem and to the house of Judah: fear ye not.\r\n These are the things that ye shall do: speak ye every man the truth with his neighbor; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates;\r\n and let none of you devise evil in your hearts against his neighbor; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith Jehovah.\r\n And the word of Jehovah of hosts came unto me, saying,\r\n Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: The fast of the fourth [month], and the fast of the fifth, and the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth, shall be to the house of Judah joy and gladness, and cheerful feasts; therefore love truth and peace.\r\n Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: [It shall] yet [come to pass], that there shall come peoples, and the inhabitants of many cities;\r\n and the inhabitants of one [city] shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to entreat the favor of Jehovah, and to seek Jehovah of hosts: I will go also.\r\n Yea, many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek Jehovah of hosts in Jerusalem, and to entreat the favor of Jehovah.\r\n Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: In those days [it shall come to pass], that ten men shall take hold, out of all the languages of the nations, they shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.\r\n \r\n \r\n The burden of the word of Jehovah upon the land of Hadrach, and Damascus [shall be] its resting-place (for the eye of man and of all the tribes of Israel is toward Jehovah);\r\n and Hamath, also, which bordereth thereon; Tyre and Sidon, because they are very wise.\r\n And Tyre did build herself a stronghold, and heaped up silver as the dust, and fine gold as the mire of the streets.\r\n Behold, the Lord will dispossess her, and he will smite her power in the sea; and she shall be devoured with fire.\r\n Ashkelon shall see it, and fear; Gaza also, and shall be sore pained; and Ekron, for her expectation shall be put to shame; and the king shall perish from Gaza, and Ashkelon shall not be inhabited.\r\n And a bastard shall dwell in Ashdod, and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines.\r\n And I will take away his blood out of his mouth, and his abominations from between his teeth; and he also shall be a remnant for our God; and he shall be as a chieftain in Judah, and Ekron as a Jebusite.\r\n And I will encamp about my house against the army, that none pass through or return; and no oppressor shall pass through them any more: for now have I seen with mine eyes.\r\n Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy king cometh unto thee; he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, even upon a colt the foal of an ass.\r\n And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem; and the battle bow shall be cut off; and he shall speak peace unto the nations: and his dominion shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth.\r\n As for thee also, because of the blood of thy covenant I have set free thy prisoners from the pit wherein is no water.\r\n Turn you to the stronghold, ye prisoners of hope: even to-day do I declare that I will render double unto thee.\r\n For I have bent Judah for me, I have filled the bow with Ephraim; and I will stir up thy sons, O Zion, against thy sons, O Greece, and will make thee as the sword of a mighty man.\r\n And Jehovah shall be seen over them; and his arrow shall go forth as the lightning; and the Lord Jehovah will blow the trumpet, and will go with whirlwinds of the south.\r\n Jehovah of hosts will defend them; and they shall devour, and shall tread down the sling-stones; and they shall drink, and make a noise as through wine; and they shall be filled like bowls, like the corners of the altar.\r\n And Jehovah their God will save them in that day as the flock of his people; for [they shall be as] the stones of a crown, lifted on high over his land.\r\n For how great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty! grain shall make the young men flourish, and new wine the virgins.\r\n \r\n \r\n Ask ye of Jehovah rain in the time of the latter rain, [even of] Jehovah that maketh lightnings; and he will give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field.\r\n For the teraphim have spoken vanity, and the diviners have seen a lie; and they have told false dreams, they comfort in vain: therefore they go their way like sheep, they are afflicted, because there is no shepherd.\r\n Mine anger is kindled against the shepherds, and I will punish the he-goats; for Jehovah of hosts hath visited his flock, the house of Judah, and will make them as his goodly horse in the battle.\r\n From him shall come forth the corner-stone, from him the nail, from him the battle bow, from him every ruler together.\r\n And they shall be as mighty men, treading down [their enemies] in the mire of the streets in the battle; and they shall fight, because Jehovah is with them; and the riders on horses shall be confounded.\r\n And I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph, and I will bring them back; for I have mercy upon them; and they shall be as though I had not cast them off: for I am Jehovah their God, and I will hear them.\r\n And [they of] Ephraim shall be like a mighty man, and their heart shall rejoice as through wine; yea, their children shall see it, and rejoice; their heart shall be glad in Jehovah.\r\n I will hiss for them, and gather them; for I have redeemed them; and they shall increase as they have increased.\r\n And I will sow them among the peoples; and they shall remember me in far countries; and they shall live with their children, and shall return.\r\n I will bring them again also out of the land of Egypt, and gather them out of Assyria; and I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon; and [place] shall not be found for them.\r\n And he will pass through the sea of affliction, and will smite the waves in the sea, and all the depths of the Nile shall dry up; and the pride of Assyria shall be brought down, and the sceptre of Egypt shall depart.\r\n And I will strengthen them in Jehovah; and they shall walk up and down in his name, saith Jehovah.\r\n \r\n \r\n Open thy doors, O Lebanon, that the fire may devour thy cedars.\r\n Wail, O fir-tree, for the cedar is fallen, because the goodly ones are destroyed: wail, O ye oaks of Bashan, for the strong forest is come down.\r\n A voice of the wailing of the shepherds! for their glory is destroyed: a voice of the roaring of young lions! for the pride of the Jordan is laid waste.\r\n Thus said Jehovah my God: Feed the flock of slaughter;\r\n whose possessors slay them, and hold themselves not guilty; and they that sell them say, Blessed be Jehovah, for I am rich; and their own shepherds pity them not.\r\n For I will no more pity the inhabitants of the land, saith Jehovah; but, lo, I will deliver the men every one into his neighbor`s hand, and into the hand of his king; and they shall smite the land, and out of their hand I will not deliver them.\r\n So I fed the flock of slaughter, verily the poor of the flock. And I took unto me two staves; the one I called Beauty, and the other I called Bands; and I fed the flock.\r\n And I cut off the three shepherds in one month; for my soul was weary of them, and their soul also loathed me.\r\n Then said I, I will not feed you: that which dieth, let it die; and that which is to be cut off, let it be cut off; and let them that are left eat every one the flesh of another.\r\n And I took my staff Beauty, and cut it asunder, that I might break my covenant which I had made with all the peoples.\r\n And it was broken in that day; and thus the poor of the flock that gave heed unto me knew that it was the word of Jehovah.\r\n And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my hire; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my hire thirty [pieces] of silver.\r\n And Jehovah said unto me, Cast it unto the potter, the goodly price that I was prized at by them. And I took the thirty [pieces] of silver, and cast them unto the potter, in the house of Jehovah.\r\n Then I cut asunder mine other staff, even Bands, that I might break the brotherhood between Judah and Israel.\r\n And Jehovah said unto me, Take unto thee yet again the instruments of a foolish shepherd.\r\n For, lo, I will raise up a shepherd in the land, who will not visit those that are cut off, neither will seek those that are scattered, nor heal that which is broken, nor feed that which is sound; but he will eat the flesh of the fat [sheep], and will tear their hoofs in pieces.\r\n Woe to the worthless shepherd that leaveth the flock! the sword shall be upon his arm, and upon his right eye: his arm shall be clean dried up, and his right eye shall be utterly darkened.\r\n \r\n \r\n The burden of the word of Jehovah concerning Israel. [Thus] saith Jehovah, who stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him:\r\n behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of reeling unto all the peoples round about, and upon Judah also shall it be in the siege against Jerusalem.\r\n And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all the peoples; all that burden themselves with it shall be sore wounded; and all the nations of the earth shall be gathered together against it.\r\n In that day, saith Jehovah, I will smite every horse with terror, and his rider with madness; and I will open mine eyes upon the house of Judah, and will smite every horse of the peoples with blindness.\r\n And the chieftains of Judah shall say in their heart, The inhabitants of Jerusalem are my strength in Jehovah of hosts their God.\r\n In that day will I make the chieftains of Judah like a pan of fire among wood, and like a flaming torch among sheaves; and they shall devour all the peoples round about, on the right hand and on the left; and [they of] Jerusalem shall yet again dwell in their own place, even in Jerusalem.\r\n Jehovah also shall save the tents of Judah first, that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem be not magnified above Judah.\r\n In that day shall Jehovah defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem: and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of Jehovah before them.\r\n And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.\r\n And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplication; and they shall look unto me whom they have pierced; and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his first-born.\r\n In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon.\r\n And the land shall mourn, every family apart; the family of the house of David apart, and their wives apart; the family of the house of Nathan apart, and their wives apart;\r\n the family of the house of Levi apart, and their wives apart; the family of the Shimeites apart, and their wives apart;\r\n all the families that remain, every family apart, and their wives apart.\r\n \r\n \r\n In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness.\r\n And it shall come to pass in that day, saith Jehovah of hosts, that I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and they shall no more be remembered; and also I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land.\r\n And it shall come to pass that, when any shall yet prophesy, then his father and his mother that begat him shall say unto him, Thou shalt not live; for thou speakest lies in the name of Jehovah; and his father and his mother that begat him shall thrust him through when he prophesieth.\r\n And it shall come to pass in that day, that the prophets shall be ashamed every one of his vision, when he prophesieth; neither shall they wear a hairy mantle to deceive:\r\n but he shall say, I am no prophet, I am a tiller of the ground; for I have been made a bondman from my youth.\r\n And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds between thine arms? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.\r\n Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith Jehovah of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered; and I will turn my hand upon the little ones.\r\n And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith Jehovah, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein.\r\n And I will bring the third part into the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried. They shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people; and they shall say, Jehovah is my God.\r\n \r\n \r\n Behold, a day of Jehovah cometh, when thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee.\r\n For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.\r\n Then shall Jehovah go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.\r\n And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east; and the mount of Olives shall be cleft in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, [and there shall be] a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.\r\n And ye shall flee by the valley of my mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azel; yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah; and Jehovah my God shall come, and all the holy ones with thee.\r\n And it shall come to pass in that day, that there shall not be light; the bright ones shall withdraw themselves:\r\n but it shall be one day which is known unto Jehovah; not day, and not night; but it shall come to pass, that at evening time there shall be light.\r\n And it shall come to pass in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the eastern sea, and half of them toward the western sea: in summer and in winter shall it be.\r\n And Jehovah shall be King over all the earth: in that day shall Jehovah be one, and his name one.\r\n All the land shall be made like the Arabah, from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem; and she shall be lifted up, and shall dwell in her place, from Benjamin`s gate unto the place of the first gate, unto the corner gate, and from the tower of Hananel unto the king`s wine-presses.\r\n And men shall dwell therein, and there shall be no more curse; but Jerusalem shall dwell safely.\r\n And this shall be the plague wherewith Jehovah will smite all the peoples that have warred against Jerusalem: their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their sockets, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth.\r\n And it shall come to pass in that day, that a great tumult from Jehovah shall be among them; and they shall lay hold every one on the hand of his neighbor, and his hand shall rise up against the hand of his neighbor.\r\n And Judah also shall fight at Jerusalem; and the wealth of all the nations round about shall be gathered together, gold, and silver, and apparel, in great abundance.\r\n And so shall be the plague of the horse, of the mule, of the camel, and of the ass, and of all the beasts that shall be in those camps, as that plague.\r\n And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations that came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, Jehovah of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles.\r\n And it shall be, that whoso of [all] the families of the earth goeth not up unto Jerusalem to worship the King, Jehovah of hosts, upon them there shall be no rain.\r\n And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, neither [shall it be] upon them; there shall be the plague wherewith Jehovah will smite the nations that go not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.\r\n This shall be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all the nations that go not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.\r\n In that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses, HOLY UNTO JEHOVAH; and the pots in Jehovah`s house shall be like the bowls before the altar.\r\n Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holy unto Jehovah of hosts; and all they that sacrifice shall come and take of them, and boil therein: and in that day there shall be no more a Canaanite in the house of Jehovah of hosts.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n The burden of the word of Jehovah to Israel by Malachi.\r\n I have loved you, saith Jehovah. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob`s brother, saith Jehovah: yet I loved Jacob;\r\n but Esau I hated, and made his mountains a desolation, and [gave] his heritage to the jackals of the wilderness.\r\n Whereas Edom saith, We are beaten down, but we will return and build the waste places; thus saith Jehovah of hosts, They shall build, but I will throw down; and men shall call them The border of wickedness, and The people against whom Jehovah hath indignation for ever.\r\n And your eyes shall see, and ye shall say, Jehovah be magnified beyond the border of Israel.\r\n A son honoreth his father, and a servant his master: if then I am a father, where is mine honor? and if I am a master, where is my fear? saith Jehovah of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?\r\n Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar. And ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of Jehovah is contemptible.\r\n And when ye offer the blind for sacrifice, it is no evil! and when ye offer the lame and sick, it is no evil! Present it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee? or will he accept thy person? saith Jehovah of hosts.\r\n And now, I pray you, entreat the favor of God, that he may be gracious unto us: this hath been by your means: will he accept any of your persons? saith Jehovah of hosts.\r\n Oh that there were one among you that would shut the doors, that ye might not kindle [fire on] mine altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you, saith Jehovah of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand.\r\n For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name [shall be] great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense [shall be] offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name [shall be] great among the Gentiles, saith Jehovah of hosts.\r\n But ye profane it, in that ye say, The table of Jehovah is polluted, and the fruit thereof, even its food, is contemptible.\r\n Ye say also, Behold, what a weariness is it! and ye have snuffed at it, saith Jehovah of hosts; and ye have brought that which was taken by violence, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye bring the offering: should I accept this at your hand? saith Jehovah.\r\n But cursed be the deceiver, who hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the Lord a blemished thing; for I am a great King, saith Jehovah of hosts, and my name is terrible among the Gentiles.\r\n \r\n \r\n And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you.\r\n If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith Jehovah of hosts, then will I send the curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings; yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart.\r\n Behold, I will rebuke your seed, and will spread dung upon your faces, even the dung of your feasts; and ye shall be taken away with it.\r\n And ye shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you, that my covenant may be with Levi, saith Jehovah of hosts.\r\n My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him that he might fear; and he feared me, and stood in awe of my name.\r\n The law of truth was in his mouth, and unrighteousness was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and uprightness, and turned many away from iniquity.\r\n For the priest`s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth; for he is the messenger of Jehovah of hosts.\r\n But ye are turned aside out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble in the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith Jehovah of hosts.\r\n Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as ye have not kept my ways, but have had respect of persons in the law.\r\n Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, profaning the covenant of our fathers?\r\n Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the holiness of Jehovah which he loveth, and hath married the daughter of a foreign god.\r\n Jehovah will cut off, to the man that doeth this, him that waketh and him that answereth, out of the tents of Jacob, and him that offereth an offering unto Jehovah of hosts.\r\n And this again ye do: ye cover the altar of Jehovah with tears, with weeping, and with sighing, insomuch that he regardeth not the offering any more, neither receiveth it with good will at your hand.\r\n Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because Jehovah hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously, though she is thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant.\r\n And did he not make one, although he had the residue of the Spirit? And wherefore one? He sought a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.\r\n For I hate putting away, saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, and him that covereth his garment with violence, saith Jehovah of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.\r\n Ye have wearied Jehovah with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? In that ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of Jehovah, and he delighteth in them; or where is the God of justice?\r\n \r\n \r\n Behold, I send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant, whom ye desire, behold, he cometh, saith Jehovah of hosts.\r\n But who can abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner`s fire, and like fuller`s soap:\r\n and he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi, and refine them as gold and silver; and they shall offer unto Jehovah offerings in righteousness.\r\n Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto Jehovah, as in the days of old, and as in ancient years.\r\n And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against the false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the sojourner [from his right], and fear not me, saith Jehovah of hosts.\r\n For I, Jehovah, change not; therefore ye, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed.\r\n From the days of your fathers ye have turned aside from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith Jehovah of hosts. But ye say, Wherein shall we return?\r\n Will a man rob God? yet ye rob me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.\r\n Ye are cursed with the curse; for ye rob me, even this whole nation.\r\n Bring ye the whole tithe into the store-house, that there may be food in my house, and prove me now herewith, saith Jehovah of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough [to receive it].\r\n And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast its fruit before the time in the field, saith Jehovah of hosts.\r\n And all nations shall call you happy; for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith Jehovah of hosts.\r\n Your words have been stout against me, saith Jehovah. Yet ye say, What have we spoken against thee?\r\n Ye have said, It is vain to serve God; and what profit is it that we have kept his charge, and that we have walked mournfully before Jehovah of hosts?\r\n And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are built up; yea, they tempt God, and escape.\r\n Then they that feared Jehovah spake one with another; and Jehovah hearkened, and heard, and a book of remembrance was written before him, for them that feared Jehovah, and that thought upon his name.\r\n And they shall be mine, saith Jehovah of hosts, [even] mine own possession, in the day that I make; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.\r\n Then shall ye return and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.\r\n \r\n \r\n For, behold, the day cometh, it burneth as a furnace; and all the proud, and all that work wickedness, shall be stubble; and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith Jehovah of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.\r\n But unto you that fear my name shall the sun of righteousness arise with healing in its wings; and ye shall go forth, and gambol as calves of the stall.\r\n And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I make, saith Jehovah of hosts.\r\n Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, even statutes and ordinances.\r\n Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and terrible day of Jehovah come.\r\n And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers; lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.\r\n Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judah and his brethren;\r\n and Judah begat Perez and Zerah of Tamar; and Perez begat Hezron; and Hezron begat Ram;\r\n and Ram begat Amminadab; and Amminadab begat Nahshon; and Nahshon begat Salmon;\r\n and Salmon begat Boaz of Rahab; and Boaz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse;\r\n and Jesse begat David the king. And David begat Solomon of her [that had been the wife] of Uriah;\r\n and Solomon begat Rehoboam; and Rehoboam begat Abijah; and Abijah begat Asa;\r\n and Asa begat Jehoshaphat; and Jehoshaphat begat Joram; and Joram begat Uzziah;\r\n and Uzziah begat Jotham; and Jotham begat Ahaz; and Ahaz begat Hezekiah;\r\n and Hezekiah begat Manasseh; and Manasseh begat Amon; and Amon begat Josiah;\r\n and Josiah begat Jechoniah and his brethren, at the time of the carrying away to Babylon.\r\n And after the carrying away to Babylon, Jechoniah begat Shealtiel; and Shealtiel begat Zerubbabel;\r\n and Zerubbabel begat Abiud; and Abiud begat Eliakim; and Eliakim begat Azor;\r\n and Azor begat Sadoc; and Sadoc begat Achim; and Achim begat Eliud;\r\n and Eliud begat Eleazar; and Eleazar begat Matthan; and Matthan begat Jacob;\r\n and Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.\r\n So all the generations from Abraham unto David are fourteen generations; and from David unto the carrying away to Babylon fourteen generations; and from the carrying away to Babylon unto the Christ fourteen generations.\r\n Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found with child of the Holy Spirit.\r\n And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.\r\n But when he thought on these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.\r\n And she shall bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name JESUS; for it is he that shall save his people from their sins.\r\n Now all this is come to pass, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying,\r\n Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, And they shall call his name Immanuel; which is, being interpreted, God with us.\r\n And Joseph arose from his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took unto him his wife;\r\n and knew her not till she had brought forth a son: and he called his name JESUS.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, Wise-men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying,\r\n Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we saw his star in the east, and are come to worship him.\r\n And when Herod the king heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.\r\n And gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ should be born.\r\n And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written through the prophet,\r\n And thou Bethlehem, land of Judah, Art in no wise least among the princes of Judah: For out of thee shall come forth a governor, Who shall be shepherd of my people Israel.\r\n Then Herod privily called the Wise-men, and learned of them exactly what time the star appeared.\r\n And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search out exactly concerning the young child; and when ye have found [him,] bring me word, that I also may come and worship him.\r\n And they, having heard the king, went their way; and lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.\r\n And when they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.\r\n And they came into the house and saw the young child with Mary his mother; and they fell down and worshipped him; and opening their treasures they offered unto him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.\r\n And being warned [of God] in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.\r\n Now when they were departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I tell thee: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.\r\n And he arose and took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt;\r\n and was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt did I call my son.\r\n Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the Wise-men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the male children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the borders thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had exactly learned of the Wise-men.\r\n Then was fulfilled that which was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet, saying,\r\n A voice was heard in Ramah, Weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children; And she would not be comforted, because they are not.\r\n But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying,\r\n Arise and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead that sought the young child`s life.\r\n And he arose and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.\r\n But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither; and being warned [of God] in a dream, he withdrew into the parts of Galilee,\r\n and came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophets, that he should be called a Nazarene.\r\n \r\n \r\n And in those days cometh John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, saying,\r\n Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.\r\n For this is he that was spoken of through Isaiah the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make ye ready the way of the Lord, Make his paths straight.\r\n Now John himself had his raiment of camel`s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his food was locusts and wild honey.\r\n Then went out unto him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about the Jordan;\r\n and they were baptized of him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.\r\n But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said unto them, Ye offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?\r\n Bring forth therefore fruit worthy of repentance:\r\n and think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.\r\n And even now the axe lieth at the root of the trees: every tree therefore that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.\r\n I indeed baptize you in water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you in the Holy Spirit and [in] fire:\r\n whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing-floor; and he will gather his wheat into the garner, but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire.\r\n Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to the Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.\r\n But John would have hindered him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?\r\n But Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer [it] now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffereth him.\r\n And Jesus when he was baptized, went up straightway from the water: and lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon him;\r\n and lo, a voice out of the heavens, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.\r\n And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he afterward hungered.\r\n And the tempter came and said unto him, If thou art the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.\r\n But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.\r\n Then the devil taketh him into the holy city; and he set him on the pinnacle of the temple,\r\n and saith unto him, If thou art the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and, On their hands they shall bear thee up, Lest haply thou dash thy foot against a stone.\r\n Jesus said unto him, Again it is written, Thou shalt not make trial of the Lord thy God.\r\n Again, the devil taketh him unto an exceeding high mountain, and showeth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;\r\n and he said unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.\r\n Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.\r\n Then the devil leaveth him; and behold, angels came and ministered unto him.\r\n Now when he heard that John was delivered up, he withdrew into Galilee;\r\n and leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the borders of Zebulun and Naphtali:\r\n that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying,\r\n The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, Toward the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles,\r\n The people that sat in darkness Saw a great light, And to them that sat in the region and shadow of death, To them did light spring up.\r\n From that time began Jesus to preach, and to say, Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.\r\n And walking by the sea of Galilee, he saw two brethren, Simon who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishers.\r\n And he saith unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you fishers of men.\r\n And they straightway left the nets, and followed him.\r\n And going on from thence he saw two other brethren, James the [son] of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.\r\n And they straightway left the boat and their father, and followed him.\r\n And Jesus went about in all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of disease and all manner of sickness among the people.\r\n And the report of him went forth into all Syria: and they brought unto him all that were sick, holden with divers diseases and torments, possessed with demons, and epileptic, and palsied; and he healed them.\r\n And there followed him great multitudes from Galilee and Decapolis and Jerusalem and Judaea and [from] beyond the Jordan.\r\n \r\n \r\n And seeing the multitudes, he went up into the mountain: and when he had sat down, his disciples came unto him:\r\n and he opened his mouth and taught them, saying,\r\n Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.\r\n Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.\r\n Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.\r\n Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.\r\n Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.\r\n Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.\r\n Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called sons of God.\r\n Blessed are they that have been persecuted for righteousness` sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.\r\n Blessed are ye when [men] shall reproach you, and persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.\r\n Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets that were before you.\r\n Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost its savor, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out and trodden under foot of men.\r\n Ye are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid.\r\n Neither do [men] light a lamp, and put it under the bushel, but on the stand; and it shineth unto all that are in the house.\r\n Even so let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.\r\n Think not that I came to destroy the law or the prophets: I came not to destroy, but to fulfil.\r\n For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass away from the law, till all things be accomplished.\r\n Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.\r\n For I say unto you, that except your righteousness shall exceed [the righteousness] of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven.\r\n Ye have heard that it was said to them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:\r\n but I say unto you, that every one who is angry with his brother shall be in danger of the judgment; and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council; and whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of the hell of fire.\r\n If therefore thou art offering thy gift at the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath aught against thee,\r\n leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way, first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.\r\n Agree with thine adversary quickly, while thou art with him in the way; lest haply the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.\r\n Verily I say unto thee, thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou have paid the last farthing.\r\n Ye have heard that it was said, Thou shalt not commit adultery:\r\n but I say unto you, that every one that looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.\r\n And if thy right eye causeth thee to stumble, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not thy whole body be cast into hell.\r\n And if thy right hand causeth thee to stumble, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not thy whole body go into hell.\r\n It was said also, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:\r\n but I say unto you, that every one that putteth away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, maketh her an adulteress: and whosoever shall marry her when she is put away committeth adultery.\r\n Again, ye have heard that it was said to them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:\r\n but I say unto you, swear not at all; neither by the heaven, for it is the throne of God;\r\n nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of his feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.\r\n Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, for thou canst not make one hair white or black.\r\n But let your speech be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: and whatsoever is more than these is of the evil [one].\r\n Ye have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:\r\n but I say unto you, resist not him that is evil: but whosoever smiteth thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.\r\n And if any man would go to law with thee, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also.\r\n And whosoever shall compel thee to go one mile, go with him two.\r\n Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.\r\n Ye have heard that it was said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy:\r\n but I say unto you, love your enemies, and pray for them that persecute you;\r\n that ye may be sons of your Father who is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sendeth rain on the just and the unjust.\r\n For if ye love them that love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?\r\n And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more [than others?] do not even the Gentiles the same?\r\n Ye therefore shall be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.\r\n \r\n \r\n Take heed that ye do not your righteousness before men, to be seen of them: else ye have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.\r\n When therefore thou doest alms, sound not a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have received their reward.\r\n But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:\r\n that thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father who seeth in secret shall recompense thee.\r\n And when ye pray, ye shall not be as the hypocrites: for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have received their reward.\r\n But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thine inner chamber, and having shut thy door, pray to thy Father who is in secret, and thy Father who seeth in secret shall recompense thee.\r\n And in praying use not vain repetitions, as the Gentiles do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.\r\n Be not therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.\r\n After this manner therefore pray ye. Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.\r\n Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so on earth.\r\n Give us this day our daily bread.\r\n And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.\r\n And bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil [one.]\r\n For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.\r\n But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.\r\n Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may be seen of men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have received their reward.\r\n But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thy head, and wash thy face;\r\n that thou be not seen of men to fast, but of thy Father who is in secret: and thy Father, who seeth in secret, shall recompense thee.\r\n Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal:\r\n but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth consume, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:\r\n for where thy treasure is, there will thy heart be also.\r\n The lamp of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.\r\n But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is the darkness!\r\n No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.\r\n Therefore I say unto you, be not anxious for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than the food, and the body than the raiment?\r\n Behold the birds of the heaven, that they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; and your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are not ye of much more value then they?\r\n And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit unto the measure of his life?\r\n And why are ye anxious concerning raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:\r\n yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.\r\n But if God doth so clothe the grass of the field, which to-day is, and to-morrow is cast into the oven, [shall he] not much more [clothe] you, O ye of little faith?\r\n Be not therefore anxious, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?\r\n For after all these things do the Gentiles seek; for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.\r\n But seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.\r\n Be not therefore anxious for the morrow: for the morrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.\r\n \r\n \r\n Judge not, that ye be not judged.\r\n For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured unto you.\r\n And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother`s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?\r\n Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me cast out the mote out of thine eye; and lo, the beam is in thine own eye?\r\n Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother`s eye.\r\n Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast your pearls before the swine, lest haply they trample them under their feet, and turn and rend you.\r\n Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:\r\n for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.\r\n Or what man is there of you, who, if his son shall ask him for a loaf, will give him a stone;\r\n or if he shall ask for a fish, will give him a serpent?\r\n If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?\r\n All things therefore whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, even so do ye also unto them: for this is the law and the prophets.\r\n Enter ye in by the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many are they that enter in thereby.\r\n For narrow is the gate, and straitened the way, that leadeth unto life, and few are they that find it.\r\n Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep`s clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves.\r\n By their fruits ye shall know them. Do [men] gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?\r\n Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but the corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.\r\n A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.\r\n Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.\r\n Therefore by their fruits ye shall know them.\r\n Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven.\r\n Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy by thy name, and by thy name cast out demons, and by thy name do many mighty works?\r\n And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.\r\n Every one therefore that heareth these words of mine, and doeth them, shall be likened unto a wise man, who built his house upon the rock:\r\n and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and if fell not: for it was founded upon the rock.\r\n And every one that heareth these words of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand:\r\n and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and smote upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall thereof.\r\n And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these words, the multitudes were astonished at his teaching:\r\n for he taught them as [one] having authority, and not as their scribes.\r\n \r\n \r\n And when he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him.\r\n And behold, there came to him a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.\r\n And he stretched forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou made clean. And straightway his leprosy was cleansed.\r\n And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go, show thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.\r\n And when he was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him,\r\n and saying, Lord, my servant lieth in the house sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.\r\n And he saith unto him, I will come and heal him.\r\n And the centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof; but only say the word, and my servant shall be healed.\r\n For I also am a man under authority, having under myself soldiers: and I say to this one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.\r\n And when Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.\r\n And I say unto you, that many shall come from the east and the west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven:\r\n but the sons of the kingdom shall be cast forth into the outer darkness: there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.\r\n And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; as thou hast believed, [so] be it done unto thee. And the servant was healed in that hour.\r\n And when Jesus was come into Peter`s house, he saw his wife`s mother lying sick of a fever.\r\n And he touched her hand, and the fever left her; and she arose, and ministered unto him.\r\n And when even was come, they brought unto him many possessed with demons: and he cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all that were sick:\r\n that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying: Himself took our infirmities, and bare our diseases.\r\n Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he gave commandments to depart unto the other side.\r\n And there came a scribe, and said unto him, Teacher, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.\r\n And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the heaven [have] nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.\r\n And another of the disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.\r\n But Jesus saith unto him, Follow me; and leave the dead to bury their own dead.\r\n And when he was entered into a boat, his disciples followed him.\r\n And behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the boat was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.\r\n And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Save, Lord; we perish.\r\n And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.\r\n And the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?\r\n And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gadarenes, there met him two possessed with demons, coming forth out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man could pass by that way.\r\n And behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?\r\n Now there was afar off from them a herd of many swine feeding.\r\n And the demons besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, send us away into the herd of swine.\r\n And he said unto them, Go. And they came out, and went into the swine: and behold, the whole herd rushed down the steep into the sea, and perished in the waters.\r\n And they that fed them fled, and went away into the city, and told everything, and what was befallen to them that were possessed with demons.\r\n And behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw him, they besought [him] that he would depart from their borders.\r\n \r\n \r\n And he entered into a boat, and crossed over, and came into his own city.\r\n And behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, be of good cheer; thy sins are forgiven.\r\n And behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.\r\n And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?\r\n For which is easier, to say, Thy sins are forgiven; or to say, Arise, and walk?\r\n But that ye may know that the Son of man hath authority on earth to forgive sins (then saith he to the sick of the palsy), Arise, and take up thy bed, and go up unto thy house.\r\n And he arose, and departed to his house.\r\n But when the multitudes saw it, they were afraid, and glorified God, who had given such authority unto men.\r\n And as Jesus passed by from thence, he saw a man, called Matthew, sitting at the place of toll: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.\r\n And it came to pass, as he sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with Jesus and his disciples.\r\n And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Teacher with the publicans and sinners?\r\n But when he heard it, he said, They that are whole have no need of a physician, but they that are sick.\r\n But go ye and learn what [this] meaneth, I desire mercy, and not sacrifice, for I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.\r\n Then come to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?\r\n And Jesus said unto them, Can the sons of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then will they fast.\r\n And no man putteth a piece of undressed cloth upon an old garment; for that which should fill it up taketh from the garment, and a worse rent is made.\r\n Neither do [men] put new wine into old wine-skins: else the skins burst, and the wine is spilled, and the skins perish: but they put new wine into fresh wine-skins, and both are preserved.\r\n While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live.\r\n And Jesus arose, and followed him, and [so did] his disciples.\r\n And behold, a woman, who had an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the border of his garment:\r\n for she said within herself, If I do but touch his garment, I shall be made whole.\r\n But Jesus turning and seeing her said, Daughter, be of good cheer; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.\r\n And when Jesus came into the ruler`s house, and saw the flute-players, and the crowd making a tumult,\r\n he said, Give place: for the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn.\r\n But when the crowd was put forth, he entered in, and took her by the hand; and the damsel arose.\r\n And the fame hereof went forth into all that land.\r\n And as Jesus passed by from thence, two blind men followed him, crying out, and saying, Have mercy on us, thou son of David.\r\n And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They say unto him, Yea, Lord.\r\n Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it done unto you.\r\n And their eyes were opened. And Jesus strictly charged them, saying, See that no man know it.\r\n But they went forth, and spread abroad his fame in all that land.\r\n And as they went forth, behold, there was brought to him a dumb man possessed with a demon.\r\n And when the demon was cast out, the dumb man spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel.\r\n But the Pharisees said, By the prince of the demons casteth he out demons.\r\n And Jesus went about all the cities and the villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of disease and all manner of sickness.\r\n But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion for them, because they were distressed and scattered, as sheep not having a shepherd.\r\n Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest indeed is plenteous, but the laborers are few.\r\n Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he send forth laborers into his harvest.\r\n \r\n \r\n And he called unto him his twelve disciples, and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of disease and all manner of sickness.\r\n Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the [son] of Zebedee, and John his brother;\r\n Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the [son] of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;\r\n Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.\r\n These twelve Jesus sent forth, and charged them, saying, Go not into [any] way of the Gentiles, and enter not into any city of the Samaritans:\r\n but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.\r\n And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.\r\n Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons: freely ye received, freely give.\r\n Get you no gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses;\r\n no wallet for [your] journey, neither two coats, nor shoes, nor staff: for the laborer is worthy of his food.\r\n And into whatsoever city or village ye shall enter, search out who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go forth.\r\n And as ye enter into the house, salute it.\r\n And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you.\r\n And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, as ye go forth out of that house or that city, shake off the dust of your feet.\r\n Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for that city.\r\n Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.\r\n But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to councils, and in theirs synagogues they will scourge you;\r\n yea and before governors and kings shall ye be brought for my sake, for a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.\r\n But when they deliver you up, be not anxious how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that hour what ye shall speak.\r\n For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father that speaketh in you.\r\n And brother shall deliver up brother to death, and the father his child: and children shall rise up against parents, and cause them to be put to death.\r\n And ye shall be hated of all men for my name`s sake: but he that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved.\r\n But when they persecute you in this city, flee into the next: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone through the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.\r\n A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his lord.\r\n It is enough for the disciple that he be as his teacher, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more them of his household!\r\n Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.\r\n What I tell you in the darkness, speak ye in the light; and what ye hear in the ear, proclaim upon the house-tops.\r\n And be not afraid of them that kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.\r\n Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? and not one of them shall fall on the ground without your Father:\r\n but the very hairs of your head are all numbered.\r\n Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.\r\n Every one therefore who shall confess me before men, him will I also confess before my Father who is in heaven.\r\n But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father who is in heaven.\r\n Think not that I came to send peace on the earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.\r\n For I came to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law:\r\n and a man`s foes [shall be] they of his own household.\r\n He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.\r\n And he that doth not take his cross and follow after me, is not worthy of me.\r\n He that findeth his life shall lose it; and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.\r\n He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.\r\n He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet`s reward: and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man`s reward.\r\n And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only, in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you he shall in no wise lose his reward.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass when Jesus had finished commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and preach in their cities.\r\n Now when John heard in the prison the works of the Christ, he sent by his disciples\r\n and said unto him, Art thou he that cometh, or look we for another?\r\n And Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and tell John the things which ye hear and see:\r\n the blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good tidings preached to them.\r\n And blessed is he, whosoever shall find no occasion of stumbling in me.\r\n And as these went their way, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to behold? a reed shaken with the wind?\r\n But what went ye out to see? a man clothed in soft [raiment]? Behold, they that wear soft [raiment] are in king`s houses.\r\n But wherefore went ye out? to see a prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet.\r\n This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, Who shall prepare thy way before thee.\r\n Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not arisen a greater than John the Baptist: yet he that is but little in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.\r\n And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and men of violence take it by force.\r\n For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.\r\n And if ye are willing to receive [it,] this is Elijah, that is to come.\r\n He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.\r\n But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the marketplaces, who call unto their fellows\r\n and say, We piped unto you, and ye did not dance; we wailed, and ye did not mourn.\r\n For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a demon.\r\n The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold, a gluttonous man and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners! And wisdom is justified by her works.\r\n Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not.\r\n Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon which were done in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.\r\n But I say unto you, it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you.\r\n And thou, Capernaum, shalt thou be exalted unto heaven? thou shalt go down unto Hades: for if the mighty works had been done in Sodom which were done in thee, it would have remained until this day.\r\n But I say unto you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.\r\n At that season Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou didst hide these things from the wise and understanding, and didst reveal them unto babes:\r\n yea, Father, for so it was well-pleasing in thy sight.\r\n All things have been delivered unto me of my Father: and no one knoweth the Son, save the Father; neither doth any know the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son willeth to reveal [him.]\r\n Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.\r\n Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.\r\n For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.\r\n \r\n \r\n At that season Jesus went on the sabbath day through the grainfields; and his disciples were hungry and began to pluck ears and to eat.\r\n But the Pharisees, when they saw it, said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which it is not lawful to do upon the sabbath.\r\n But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was hungry, and they that were with him;\r\n how he entered into the house of God, and ate the showbread, which it was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them that were with him, but only for the priests?\r\n Or have ye not read in the law, that on the sabbath day the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are guiltless?\r\n But I say unto you, that one greater than the temple is here.\r\n But if ye had known what this meaneth, I desire mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.\r\n For the Son of man is lord of the sabbath.\r\n And he departed thence, and went into their synagogue:\r\n and behold, a man having a withered hand. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day? that they might accuse him.\r\n And he said unto them, What man shall there be of you, that shall have one sheep, and if this fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out?\r\n How much then is a man of more value than a sheep! Wherefore it is lawful to do good on the sabbath day.\r\n Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, as the other.\r\n But the Pharisees went out, and took counsel against him, how they might destroy him.\r\n And Jesus perceiving [it] withdrew from thence: and many followed him; and he healed them all,\r\n and charged them that they should not make him known:\r\n that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying,\r\n Behold, my servant whom I have chosen; My beloved in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my Spirit upon him, And he shall declare judgment to the Gentiles.\r\n He shall not strive, nor cry aloud; Neither shall any one hear his voice in the streets.\r\n A bruised reed shall he not break, And smoking flax shall he not quench, Till he send forth judgment unto victory.\r\n And in his name shall the Gentiles hope.\r\n Then was brought unto him one possessed with a demon, blind and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the dumb man spake and saw.\r\n And all the multitudes were amazed, and said, Can this be the son of David?\r\n But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This man doth not cast out demons, but by Beelzebub the prince of the demons.\r\n And knowing their thoughts he said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:\r\n and if Satan casteth out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then shall his kingdom stand?\r\n And if I by Beelzebub cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges.\r\n But if I by the Spirit of God cast out demons, then is the kingdom of God come upon you.\r\n Or how can one enter into the house of the strong [man,] and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong [man]? and then he will spoil his house.\r\n He that is not with me is against me, and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.\r\n Therefore I say unto you, Every sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men; but the blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven.\r\n And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him; but whosoever shall speak against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, nor in that which is to come.\r\n Either make the tree good, and its fruit good; or make the tree corrupt, and its fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by its fruit.\r\n Ye offspring of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.\r\n The good man out of his good treasure bringeth forth good things: and the evil man out of his evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.\r\n And I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.\r\n For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.\r\n Then certain of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, Teacher, we would see a sign from thee.\r\n But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given it but the sign of Jonah the prophet:\r\n for as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the whale; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.\r\n The men of Nineveh shall stand up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, a greater than Jonah is here.\r\n The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, a greater than Solomon is here.\r\n But the unclean spirit, when he is gone out of the man, passeth through waterless places, seeking rest, and findeth it not.\r\n Then he saith, I will return into my house whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.\r\n Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more evil than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man becometh worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this evil generation.\r\n While he was yet speaking to the multitudes, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, seeking to speak to him.\r\n And one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, seeking to speak to thee.\r\n But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?\r\n And he stretched forth his hand towards his disciples, and said, Behold, my mother and my brethren!\r\n For whosoever shall do the will of my Father who is in heaven, he is my brother, and sister, and mother.\r\n \r\n \r\n On that day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side.\r\n And there were gathered unto him great multitudes, so that he entered into a boat, and sat; and all the multitude stood on the beach.\r\n And he spake to them many things in parables, saying, Behold, the sower went forth to sow;\r\n and as he sowed, some [seeds] fell by the way side, and the birds came and devoured them:\r\n and others fell upon the rocky places, where they had not much earth: and straightway they sprang up, because they had no deepness of earth:\r\n and when the sun was risen, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.\r\n And others fell upon the thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked them:\r\n and others fell upon the good ground, and yielded fruit, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.\r\n He that hath ears, let him hear.\r\n And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?\r\n And he answered and said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.\r\n For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that which he hath.\r\n Therefore speak I to them in parables; because seeing they see not, and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.\r\n And unto them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall in no wise understand; And seeing ye shall see, and shall in no wise perceive:\r\n For this people`s heart is waxed gross, And their ears are dull of hearing, And their eyes they have closed; Lest haply they should perceive with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart, And should turn again, And I should heal them.\r\n But blessed are your eyes, for they see; and your ears, for they hear.\r\n For verily I say unto you, that many prophets and righteous men desired to see the things which ye see, and saw them not; and to hear the things which ye hear, and heard them not.\r\n Hear then ye the parable of the sower.\r\n When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, [then] cometh the evil [one], and snatcheth away that which hath been sown in his heart. This is he that was sown by the way side.\r\n And he that was sown upon the rocky places, this is he that heareth the word, and straightway with joy receiveth it;\r\n yet hath he not root in himself, but endureth for a while; and when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, straightway he stumbleth.\r\n And he that was sown among the thorns, this is he that heareth the word; and the care of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.\r\n And he that was sown upon the good ground, this is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; who verily beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.\r\n Another parable set he before them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man that sowed good seed in his field:\r\n but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares also among the wheat, and went away.\r\n But when the blade sprang up and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.\r\n And the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst thou not sow good seed in thy field? whence then hath it tares?\r\n And he said unto them, An enemy hath done this. And the servants say unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?\r\n But he saith, Nay; lest haply while ye gather up the tares, ye root up the wheat with them.\r\n Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather up first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into my barn.\r\n Another parable set he before them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like unto a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:\r\n which indeed is less than all seeds; but when it is grown, it is greater than the herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the heaven come and lodge in the branches thereof.\r\n Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till it was all leavened.\r\n All these things spake Jesus in parables unto the multitudes; and without a parable spake he nothing unto them:\r\n that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden from the foundation of the world.\r\n Then he left the multitudes, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Explain unto us the parable of the tares of the field.\r\n And he answered and said, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;\r\n and the field is the world; and the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; and the tares are the sons of the evil [one];\r\n and the enemy that sowed them is the devil: and the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are angels.\r\n As therefore the tares are gathered up and burned with fire; so shall it be in the end of the world.\r\n The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that cause stumbling, and them that do iniquity,\r\n and shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.\r\n Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He that hath ears, let him hear.\r\n The kingdom of heaven is like unto a treasure hidden in the field; which a man found, and hid; and in his joy he goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.\r\n Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is a merchant seeking goodly pearls:\r\n and having found one pearl of great price, he went and sold all that he had, and bought it.\r\n Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:\r\n which, when it was filled, they drew up on the beach; and they sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but the bad they cast away.\r\n So shall it be in the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the righteous,\r\n and shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.\r\n Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea.\r\n And he said unto them, Therefore every scribe who hath been made a disciple to the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is a householder, who bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.\r\n And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed thence.\r\n And coming into his own country he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?\r\n Is not this the carpenter`s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joseph, and Simon, and Judas?\r\n And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?\r\n And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honor, save in his own country, and in his own house.\r\n And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.\r\n \r\n \r\n At that season Herod the tetrarch heard the report concerning Jesus,\r\n and said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore do these powers work in him.\r\n For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip`s wife.\r\n For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her.\r\n And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.\r\n But when Herod`s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced in the midst, and pleased Herod.\r\n Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she should ask.\r\n And she, being put forward by her mother, saith, Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.\r\n And the king was grieved; but for the sake of his oaths, and of them that sat at meat with him, he commanded it to be given;\r\n and he sent and beheaded John in the prison.\r\n And his head was brought on a platter, and given to the damsel: and she brought it to her mother.\r\n And his disciples came, and took up the corpse, and buried him; and they went and told Jesus.\r\n Now when Jesus heard [it], he withdrew from thence in a boat, to a desert place apart: and when the multitudes heard [thereof,] they followed him on foot from the cities.\r\n And he came forth, and saw a great multitude, and he had compassion on them, and healed their sick.\r\n And when even was come, the disciples came to him, saying, The place is desert, and the time is already past; send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves food.\r\n But Jesus said unto them, They have no need to go away; give ye them to eat.\r\n And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes.\r\n And he said, Bring them hither to me.\r\n And he commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass; and he took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake and gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disciples to the multitudes.\r\n And they all ate, and were filled: and they took up that which remained over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full.\r\n And they that did eat were about five thousand men, besides women and children.\r\n And straightway he constrained the disciples to enter into the boat, and to go before him unto the other side, till he should send the multitudes away.\r\n And after he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into the mountain apart to pray: and when even was come, he was there alone.\r\n But the boat was now in the midst of the sea, distressed by the waves; for the wind was contrary.\r\n And in the fourth watch of the night he came unto them, walking upon the sea.\r\n And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a ghost; and they cried out for fear.\r\n But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.\r\n And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto the upon the waters.\r\n And he said, Come. And Peter went down from the boat, and walked upon the waters to come to Jesus.\r\n But when he saw the wind, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, Lord, save me.\r\n And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and took hold of him, and saith unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?\r\n And when they were gone up into the boat, the wind ceased.\r\n And they that were in the boat worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.\r\n And when they had crossed over, they came to the land, unto Gennesaret.\r\n And when the men of that place knew him, they sent into all that region round about, and brought unto him all that were sick,\r\n and they besought him that they might only touch the border of his garment: and as many as touched were made whole.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then there come to Jesus from Jerusalem Pharisees and scribes, saying,\r\n Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.\r\n And he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?\r\n For God said, Honor thy father and thy mother: and, He that speaketh evil of father or mother, let him die the death.\r\n But ye say, whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, That wherewith thou mightest have been profited by me is given [to God];\r\n he shall not honor his father. And ye have made void the word of God because of your tradition.\r\n Ye hypocrites, well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying,\r\n This people honoreth me with their lips; But their heart is far from me.\r\n But in vain do they worship me, Teaching [as their] doctrines the precepts of men.\r\n And he called to him the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand:\r\n Not that which entereth into the mouth defileth the man; but that which proceedeth out of the mouth, this defileth the man.\r\n Then came the disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, when they heard this saying?\r\n But he answered and said, Every plant which my heavenly Father planted not, shall be rooted up.\r\n Let them alone: they are blind guides. And if the blind guide the blind, both shall fall into a pit.\r\n And Peter answered and said unto him, Declare unto us the parable.\r\n And he said, Are ye also even yet without understanding?\r\n Perceive ye not, that whatsoever goeth into the mouth passeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?\r\n But the things which proceed out of the mouth come forth out of the heart; and they defile the man.\r\n For out of the heart come forth evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, railings:\r\n these are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not the man.\r\n And Jesus went out thence, and withdrew into the parts of Tyre and Sidon.\r\n And behold, a Canaanitish woman came out from those borders, and cried, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a demon.\r\n But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.\r\n But he answered and said, I was not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.\r\n But she came and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.\r\n And he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children`s bread and cast it to the dogs.\r\n But she said, Yea, Lord: for even the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters` table.\r\n Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it done unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was healed from that hour.\r\n And Jesus departed thence, and came nigh unto the sea of Galilee; and he went up into the mountain, and sat there.\r\n And there came unto him great multitudes, having with them the lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and they cast them down at this feet; and he healed them:\r\n insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb speaking, the maimed whole, and lame walking, and the blind seeing: and they glorified the God of Israel.\r\n And Jesus called unto him his disciples, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days and have nothing to eat: and I would not send them away fasting, lest haply they faint on the way.\r\n And the disciples say unto him, Whence should we have so many loaves in a desert place as to fill so great a multitude?\r\n And Jesus said unto them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven, and a few small fishes.\r\n And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground;\r\n and he took the seven loaves and the fishes; and he gave thanks and brake, and gave to the disciples, and the disciples to the multitudes.\r\n And they all ate, and were filled: and they took up that which remained over of the broken pieces, seven baskets full.\r\n And they that did eat were four thousand men, besides women and children.\r\n And he sent away the multitudes, and entered into the boat, and came into the borders of Magadan.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and trying him asked him to show them a sign from heaven.\r\n But he answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, [It will be] fair weather: for the heaven is red.\r\n And in the morning, [It will be] foul weather to-day: for the heaven is red and lowering. Ye know how to discern the face of the heaven; but ye cannot [discern] the signs of the times.\r\n An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of Jonah. And he left them, and departed.\r\n And the disciples came to the other side and forgot to take bread.\r\n And Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.\r\n And they reasoned among themselves, saying, We took no bread.\r\n And Jesus perceiving it said, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have no bread?\r\n Do ye not yet perceive, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?\r\n Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?\r\n How is it that ye do not perceive that I spake not to you concerning bread? But beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.\r\n Then understood they that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.\r\n Now when Jesus came into the parts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Who do men say that the Son of man is?\r\n And they said, Some [say] John the Baptist; some, Elijah; and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.\r\n He saith unto them, But who say ye that I am?\r\n And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.\r\n And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jonah: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father who is in heaven.\r\n And I also say unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.\r\n I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.\r\n Then charged he the disciples that they should tell no man that he was the Christ.\r\n From that time began Jesus to show unto his disciples, that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and the third day be raised up.\r\n And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall never be unto thee.\r\n But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art a stumbling-block unto me: for thou mindest not the things of God, but the things of men.\r\n Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.\r\n For whosoever would save his life shall lose it: and whosoever shall lose his life for my sake shall find it.\r\n For what shall a man be profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and forfeit his life? or what shall a man give in exchange for his life?\r\n For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then shall he render unto every man according to his deeds.\r\n Verily I say unto you, there are some of them that stand here, who shall in no wise taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.\r\n \r\n \r\n And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into a high mountain apart:\r\n and he was transfigured before them; and his face did shine as the sun, and his garments became white as the light.\r\n And behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elijah talking with him.\r\n And Peter answered, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, I will make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.\r\n While he was yet speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold, a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.\r\n And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.\r\n And Jesus came and touched them and said, Arise, and be not afraid.\r\n And lifting up their eyes, they saw no one, save Jesus only.\r\n And as they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen from the dead.\r\n And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elijah must first come?\r\n And he answered and said, Elijah indeed cometh, and shall restore all things:\r\n but I say into you, that Elijah is come already, and they knew him not, but did unto him whatsoever they would. Even so shall the Son of man also suffer of them.\r\n Then understood the disciples that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.\r\n And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a man, kneeling to him, saying,\r\n Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is epileptic, and suffereth grievously; for oft-times he falleth into the fire, and off-times into the water.\r\n And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.\r\n And Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I bear with you? bring him hither to me.\r\n And Jesus rebuked him; and the demon went out of him: and the boy was cured from that hour.\r\n Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast it out?\r\n And he saith unto them, Because of your little faith: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.\r\n [But this kind goeth not out save by prayer and fasting.]\r\n And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be delivered up into the hands of men;\r\n and they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised up. And they were exceeding sorry.\r\n And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received the half-shekel came to Peter, and said, Doth not your teacher pay the half-shekel?\r\n He saith, Yea. And when he came into the house, Jesus spake first to him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? the kings of the earth, from whom do they receive toll or tribute? from their sons, or from strangers?\r\n And when he said, From strangers, Jesus said unto him, Therefore the sons are free.\r\n But, lest we cause them to stumble, go thou to the sea, and cast a hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a shekel: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.\r\n \r\n \r\n In that hour came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?\r\n And he called to him a little child, and set him in the midst of them,\r\n and said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye turn, and become as little children, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven.\r\n Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.\r\n And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me:\r\n But whoso shall cause one of these little ones that believe on me to stumble, it is profitable for him that a great millstone should be hanged about his neck, and [that] he should be sunk in the depth of the sea.\r\n Woe unto the world because of occasions of stumbling! for it must needs be that the occasions come; but woe to that man through whom the occasion cometh!\r\n And if thy hand or thy foot causeth thee to stumble, cut it off, and cast it from thee: it is good for thee to enter into life maimed or halt, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into the eternal fire.\r\n And if thine eye causeth thee to stumble, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is good for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into the hell of fire.\r\n See that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, that in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven.\r\n [For the Son of man came to save that which was lost.]\r\n How think ye? if any man have a hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and go unto the mountains, and seek that which goeth astray?\r\n And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth over it more than over the ninety and nine which have not gone astray.\r\n Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.\r\n And if thy brother sin against thee, go, show him his fault between thee and him alone: if he hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.\r\n But if he hear [thee] not, take with thee one or two more, that at the mouth of two witnesses or three every word may be established.\r\n And if he refuse to hear them, tell it unto the church: and if he refuse to hear the church also, let him be unto thee as the Gentile and the publican.\r\n Verily I say unto you, what things soever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and what things soever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.\r\n Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father who is in heaven.\r\n For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.\r\n Then came Peter and said to him, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? until seven times?\r\n Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times; but, Until seventy times seven.\r\n Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, who would make a reckoning with his servants.\r\n And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, that owed him ten thousand talents.\r\n But forasmuch as he had not [wherewith] to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.\r\n The servant therefore fell down and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.\r\n And the lord of that servant, being moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.\r\n But that servant went out, and found one of his fellow-servants, who owed him a hundred shillings: and he laid hold on him, and took [him] by the throat, saying, Pay what thou owest.\r\n So his fellow-servant fell down and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee.\r\n And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay that which was due.\r\n So when his fellow-servants saw what was done, they were exceeding sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.\r\n Then his lord called him unto him, and saith to him, Thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou besoughtest me:\r\n shouldest not thou also have had mercy on thy fellow-servant, even as I had mercy on thee?\r\n And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due.\r\n So shall also my heavenly Father do unto you, if ye forgive not every one his brother from your hearts.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass when Jesus had finished these words, he departed from Galilee, and came into the borders of Judaea beyond the Jordan;\r\n and great multitudes followed him; and he healed them there.\r\n And there came unto him Pharisees, trying him, and saying, Is it lawful [for a man] to put away his wife for every cause?\r\n And he answered and said, Have ye not read, that he who made [them] from the beginning made them male and female,\r\n and said, For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh?\r\n So that they are no more two, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.\r\n They say unto him, Why then did Moses command to give a bill of divorcement, and to put [her] away?\r\n He saith unto them, Moses for your hardness of heart suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it hath not been so.\r\n And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and he that marrieth her when she is put away committeth adultery.\r\n The disciples say unto him, If the case of the man is so with his wife, it is not expedient to marry.\r\n But he said unto them, Not all men can receive this saying, but they to whom it is given.\r\n For there are eunuchs, that were so born from their mother`s womb: and there are eunuchs, that were made eunuchs by men: and there are eunuchs, that made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven`s sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.\r\n Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should lay his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them.\r\n But Jesus said, Suffer the little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for to such belongeth the kingdom of heaven.\r\n And he laid his hands on them, and departed thence.\r\n And behold, one came to him and said, Teacher, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?\r\n And he said unto him, Why askest thou me concerning that which is good? One there is who is good: but if thou wouldest enter into life, keep the commandments.\r\n He saith unto him, Which? And Jesus said, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,\r\n Honor thy father and mother; and, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.\r\n The young man saith unto him, All these things have I observed: what lack I yet?\r\n Jesus said unto him, If thou wouldest be perfect, go, sell that which thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.\r\n But when the young man heard the saying, he went away sorrowful; for he was one that had great possessions.\r\n And Jesus said unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, It is hard for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven.\r\n And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through a needle`s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.\r\n And when the disciples heard it, they were astonished exceedingly, saying, Who then can be saved?\r\n And Jesus looking upon [them] said to them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.\r\n Then answered Peter and said unto him, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee; what then shall we have?\r\n And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, that ye who have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit on the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.\r\n And every one that hath left houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or children, or lands, for my name`s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and shall inherit eternal life.\r\n But many shall be last [that are] first; and first [that are] last.\r\n \r\n \r\n For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that was a householder, who went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard.\r\n And when he had agreed with the laborers for a shilling a day, he sent them into his vineyard.\r\n And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing in the marketplace idle;\r\n and to them he said, Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.\r\n Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise.\r\n And about the eleventh [hour] he went out, and found others standing; and he saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?\r\n They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard.\r\n And when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the laborers, and pay them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.\r\n And when they came that [were hired] about the eleventh hour, they received every man a shilling.\r\n And when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received every man a shilling.\r\n And when they received it, they murmured against the householder,\r\n saying, These last have spent [but] one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.\r\n But he answered and said to one of them, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a shilling?\r\n Take up that which is thine, and go thy way; it is my will to give unto this last, even as unto thee.\r\n Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? or is thine eye evil, because I am good?\r\n So the last shall be first, and the first last.\r\n And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples apart, and on the way he said unto them,\r\n Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests and scribes; and they shall condemn him to death,\r\n and shall deliver him unto the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify: and the third day he shall be raised up.\r\n Then came to him the mother of the sons of Zebedee with her sons, worshipping [him], and asking a certain thing of him.\r\n And he said unto her, What wouldest thou? She saith unto him, Command that these my two sons may sit, one on thy right hand, and one on thy left hand, in thy kingdom.\r\n But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink the cup that I am about to drink? They say unto him, We are able.\r\n He saith unto them, My cup indeed ye shall drink: but to sit on my right hand, and on [my] left hand, is not mine to give; but [it is for them] for whom it hath been prepared of my Father.\r\n And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation concerning the two brethren.\r\n But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.\r\n Not so shall it be among you: but whosoever would become great among you shall be your minister;\r\n and whosoever would be first among you shall be your servant:\r\n even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.\r\n And as they went out from Jericho, a great multitude followed him.\r\n And behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, saying, Lord, have mercy on us, thou son of David.\r\n And the multitude rebuked them, that they should hold their peace: but they cried out the more, saying, Lord, have mercy on us, thou son of David.\r\n And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I should do unto you?\r\n They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened.\r\n And Jesus, being moved with compassion, touched their eyes; and straightway they received their sight, and followed him.\r\n \r\n \r\n And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and came unto Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples,\r\n saying unto them, Go into the village that is over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose [them], and bring [them] unto me.\r\n And if any one say aught unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them.\r\n Now this is come to pass, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophet, saying,\r\n Tell ye the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, Meek, and riding upon an ass, And upon a colt the foal of an ass.\r\n And the disciples went, and did even as Jesus appointed them,\r\n and brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their garments; and he sat thereon.\r\n And the most part of the multitude spread their garments in the way; and others cut branches from the trees, and spread them in the way.\r\n And the multitudes that went before him, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed [is] he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.\r\n And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was stirred, saying, Who is this?\r\n And the multitudes said, This is the prophet, Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.\r\n And Jesus entered into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of he money-changers, and the seats of them that sold the doves;\r\n and he saith unto them, It is written, My house shall be called a house of prayer: but ye make it a den of robbers.\r\n And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them.\r\n But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children that were crying in the temple and saying, Hosanna to the son of David; they were moved with indignation,\r\n and said unto him, Hearest thou what these are saying? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea: did ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou has perfected praise?\r\n And he left them, and went forth out of the city to Bethany, and lodged there.\r\n Now in the morning as he returned to the city, he hungered.\r\n And seeing a fig tree by the way side, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only; and he saith unto it, Let there be no fruit from thee henceforward for ever. And immediately the fig tree withered away.\r\n And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How did the fig tree immediately wither away?\r\n And Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do what is done to the fig tree, but even if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou taken up and cast into the sea, it shall be done.\r\n And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.\r\n And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?\r\n And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one question, which if ye tell me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things.\r\n The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven or from men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why then did ye not believe him?\r\n But if we shall say, From men; we fear the multitude; for all hold John as a prophet.\r\n And they answered Jesus, and said, We know not. He also said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.\r\n But what think ye? A man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to-day in the vineyard.\r\n And he answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented himself, and went.\r\n And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I [go], sir: and went not.\r\n Which of the two did the will of his father? They say, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, that the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.\r\n For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not; but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye saw it, did not even repent yourselves afterward, that ye might believe him.\r\n Hear another parable: There was a man that was a householder, who planted a vineyard, and set a hedge about it, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into another country.\r\n And when the season of the fruits drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, to receive his fruits.\r\n And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another.\r\n Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them in like manner.\r\n But afterward he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son.\r\n But the husbandmen, when they saw the son, said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and take his inheritance.\r\n And they took him, and cast him forth out of the vineyard, and killed him.\r\n When therefore the lord of the vineyard shall come, what will he do unto those husbandmen?\r\n They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those miserable men, and will let out the vineyard unto other husbandmen, who shall render him the fruits in their seasons.\r\n Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, The same was made the head of the corner; This was from the Lord, And it is marvelous in our eyes?\r\n Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken away from you, and shall be given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.\r\n And he that falleth on this stone shall be broken to pieces: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will scatter him as dust.\r\n And when the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them.\r\n And when they sought to lay hold on him, they feared the multitudes, because they took him for a prophet.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Jesus answered and spake again in parables unto them, saying,\r\n The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a certain king, who made a marriage feast for his son,\r\n and sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the marriage feast: and they would not come.\r\n Again he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them that are bidden, Behold, I have made ready my dinner; my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come to the marriage feast.\r\n But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his merchandise;\r\n and the rest laid hold on his servants, and treated them shamefully, and killed them.\r\n But the king was wroth; and he sent his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned their city.\r\n Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they that were bidden were not worthy.\r\n Go ye therefore unto the partings of the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage feast.\r\n And those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was filled with guests.\r\n But when the king came in to behold the guests, he saw there a man who had not on a wedding-garment:\r\n and he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding-garment? And he was speechless.\r\n Then the king said to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and cast him out into the outer darkness; there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.\r\n For many are called, but few chosen.\r\n Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might ensnare him in [his] talk.\r\n And they send to him their disciples, with the Herodians, saying, Teacher, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, and carest not for any one: for thou regardest not the person of men.\r\n Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?\r\n But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why make ye trial of me, ye hypocrites?\r\n Show me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a denarius.\r\n And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?\r\n They say unto him, Caesar`s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things that are Caesar`s; and unto God the things that are God`s.\r\n And when they heard it, they marvelled, and left him, and went away.\r\n On that day there came to him Sadducees, they that say that there is no resurrection: and they asked him,\r\n saying, Teacher, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.\r\n Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first married and deceased, and having no seed left his wife unto his brother;\r\n in like manner the second also, and the third, unto the seventh.\r\n And after them all, the woman died.\r\n In the resurrection therefore whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her.\r\n But Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.\r\n For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as angels in heaven.\r\n But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying,\r\n I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not [the God] of the dead, but of the living.\r\n And when the multitudes heard it, they were astonished at his teaching.\r\n But the Pharisees, when they heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, gathered themselves together.\r\n And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question, trying him:\r\n Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?\r\n And he said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.\r\n This is the great and first commandment.\r\n And a second like [unto it] is this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.\r\n On these two commandments the whole law hangeth, and the prophets.\r\n Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question,\r\n saying, What think ye of the Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, [The son] of David.\r\n He saith unto them, How then doth David in the Spirit call him Lord, saying,\r\n The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Till I put thine enemies underneath thy feet?\r\n If David then calleth him Lord, how is he his son?\r\n And no one was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then spake Jesus to the multitudes and to his disciples,\r\n saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses seat:\r\n all things therefore whatsoever they bid you, [these] do and observe: but do not ye after their works; for they say, and do not.\r\n Yea, they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men`s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with their finger.\r\n But all their works they do to be seen of men: for they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders [of their garments],\r\n and love the chief place at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,\r\n and the salutations in the marketplaces, and to be called of men, Rabbi.\r\n But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your teacher, and all ye are brethren.\r\n And call no man your father on the earth: for one is your Father, [even] he who is in heaven.\r\n Neither be ye called masters: for one is your master, [even] the Christ.\r\n But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.\r\n And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be humbled; and whosoever shall humble himself shall be exalted.\r\n But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye shut the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye enter not in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering in to enter[.]\r\n Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows` houses, even while for a pretence ye make long prayers: therefore ye shall receive greater condemnation.\r\n Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he is become so, ye make him twofold more a son of hell than yourselves.\r\n Woe unto you, ye blind guides, that say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor.\r\n Ye fools and blind: for which is greater, the gold, or the temple that hath sanctified the gold?\r\n And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gift that is upon it, he is a debtor.\r\n Ye blind: for which is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?\r\n He therefore that sweareth by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon.\r\n And he that sweareth by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein.\r\n And he that sweareth by the heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon.\r\n Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye tithe mint and anise and cummin, and have left undone the weightier matters of the law, justice, and mercy, and faith: but these ye ought to have done, and not to have left the other undone.\r\n Ye blind guides, that strain out the gnat, and swallow the camel!\r\n Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye cleanse the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full from extortion and excess.\r\n Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first the inside of the cup and of the platter, that the outside thereof may become clean also.\r\n Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which outwardly appear beautiful, but inwardly are full of dead men`s bones, and of all uncleanness.\r\n Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but inwardly ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.\r\n Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye build the sepulchres of the prophets, and garnish the tombs of the righteous,\r\n and say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we should not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.\r\n Wherefore ye witness to yourselves, that ye are sons of them that slew the prophets.\r\n Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.\r\n Ye serpents, ye offspring of vipers, how shall ye escape the judgment of hell?\r\n Therefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: some of them shall ye kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city:\r\n that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of Abel the righteous unto the blood of Zachariah son of Barachiah, whom ye slew between the sanctuary and the altar.\r\n Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.\r\n O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, that killeth the prophets, and stoneth them that are sent unto her! how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!\r\n Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.\r\n For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed [is] he that cometh in the name of the Lord.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Jesus went out from the temple, and was going on his way; and his disciples came to him to show him the buildings of the temple.\r\n But he answered and said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.\r\n And as he sat on the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what [shall be] the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?\r\n And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man lead you astray.\r\n For many shall come in my name, saying, I am the Christ; and shall lead many astray.\r\n And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that ye be not troubled: for [these things] must needs come to pass; but the end is not yet.\r\n For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there shall be famines and earthquakes in divers places.\r\n But all these things are the beginning of travail.\r\n Then shall they deliver you up unto tribulation, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all the nations for my name`s sake.\r\n And then shall many stumble, and shall deliver up one another, and shall hate one another.\r\n And many false prophets shall arise, and shall lead many astray.\r\n And because iniquity shall be multiplied, the love of the many shall wax cold.\r\n But he that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved.\r\n And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a testimony unto all the nations; and then shall the end come.\r\n When therefore ye see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let him that readeth understand),\r\n then let them that are in Judaea flee unto the mountains:\r\n let him that is on the housetop not go down to take out things that are in his house:\r\n and let him that is in the field not return back to take his cloak.\r\n But woe unto them that are with child and to them that give suck in those days!\r\n And pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on a sabbath:\r\n for then shall be great tribulation, such as hath not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, nor ever shall be.\r\n And except those days had been shortened, no flesh would have been saved: but for the elect`s sake those days shall be shortened.\r\n Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is the Christ, or, Here; believe [it] not.\r\n For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.\r\n Behold, I have told you beforehand.\r\n If therefore they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the wilderness; go not forth: Behold, he is in the inner chambers; believe [it] not.\r\n For as the lightning cometh forth from the east, and is seen even unto the west; so shall be the coming of the Son of man.\r\n Wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.\r\n But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:\r\n and then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.\r\n And he shall send forth his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.\r\n Now from the fig tree learn her parable: when her branch is now become tender, and putteth forth its leaves, ye know that the summer is nigh;\r\n even so ye also, when ye see all these things, know ye that he is nigh, [even] at the doors.\r\n Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all these things be accomplished.\r\n Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.\r\n But of that day and hour knoweth no one, not even the angels of heaven, neither the Son, but the Father only.\r\n And as [were] the days of Noah, so shall be the coming of the Son of man.\r\n For as in those days which were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark,\r\n and they knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall be the coming of the Son of man.\r\n Then shall two man be in the field; one is taken, and one is left:\r\n two women [shall be] grinding at the mill; one is taken, and one is left.\r\n Watch therefore: for ye know not on what day your Lord cometh.\r\n But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what watch the thief was coming, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken through.\r\n Therefore be ye also ready; for in an hour that ye think not the Son of man cometh.\r\n Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath set over his household, to give them their food in due season?\r\n Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.\r\n Verily I say unto you, that he will set him over all that he hath.\r\n But if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord tarrieth;\r\n and shall begin to beat his fellow-servants, and shall eat and drink with the drunken;\r\n the lord of that servant shall come in a day when he expecteth not, and in an hour when he knoweth not,\r\n and shall cut him asunder, and appoint his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, who took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.\r\n And five of them were foolish, and five were wise.\r\n For the foolish, when they took their lamps, took no oil with them:\r\n but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.\r\n Now while the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.\r\n But at midnight there is a cry, Behold, the bridegroom! Come ye forth to meet him.\r\n Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.\r\n And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are going out.\r\n But the wise answered, saying, Peradventure there will not be enough for us and you: go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.\r\n And while they went away to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage feast: and the door was shut.\r\n Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.\r\n But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.\r\n Watch therefore, for ye know not the day nor the hour.\r\n For [it is] as [when] a man, going into another country, called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.\r\n And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one; to each according to his several ability; and he went on his journey.\r\n Straightway he that received the five talents went and traded with them, and made other five talents.\r\n In like manner he also that [received] the two gained other two.\r\n But he that received the one went away and digged in the earth, and hid his lord`s money.\r\n Now after a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and maketh a reckoning with them.\r\n And he that received the five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: lo, I have gained other five talents.\r\n His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will set thee over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy lord.\r\n And he also that [received] the two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: lo, I have gained other two talents.\r\n His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will set thee over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy lord.\r\n And he also that had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art a hard man, reaping where thou didst not sow, and gathering where thou didst not scatter;\r\n and I was afraid, and went away and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, thou hast thine own.\r\n But his lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I did not scatter;\r\n thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the bankers, and at my coming I should have received back mine own with interest.\r\n Take ye away therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him that hath the ten talents.\r\n For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not, even that which he hath shall be taken away.\r\n And cast ye out the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness: there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.\r\n But when the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the angels with him, then shall he sit on the throne of his glory:\r\n and before him shall be gathered all the nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as the shepherd separateth the sheep from the goats;\r\n and he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.\r\n Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:\r\n for I was hungry, and ye gave me to eat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me in;\r\n naked, and ye clothed me; I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye came unto me.\r\n Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and fed thee? or athirst, and gave thee drink?\r\n And when saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?\r\n And when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?\r\n And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of these my brethren, [even] these least, ye did it unto me.\r\n Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels:\r\n for I was hungry, and ye did not give me to eat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink;\r\n I was a stranger, and ye took me not in; naked, and ye clothed me not; sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.\r\n Then shall they also answer, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?\r\n Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not unto one of these least, ye did it not unto me.\r\n And these shall go away into eternal punishment: but the righteous into eternal life.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these words, he said unto his disciples,\r\n Ye know that after two days the passover cometh, and the Son of man is delivered up to be crucified.\r\n Then were gathered together the chief priests, and the elders of the people, unto the court of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas;\r\n and they took counsel together that they might take Jesus by subtlety, and kill him.\r\n But they said, Not during the feast, lest a tumult arise among people.\r\n Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper,\r\n there came unto him a woman having an alabaster cruse of exceeding precious ointment, and she poured it upon his head, as he sat at meat.\r\n But when the disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste?\r\n For this [ointment] might have been sold for much, and given to the poor.\r\n But Jesus perceiving it said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me.\r\n For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always.\r\n For in that she poured this ointment upon my body, she did it to prepare me for burial.\r\n Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, that also which this woman hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.\r\n Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests,\r\n and said, What are ye willing to give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they weighed unto him thirty pieces of silver.\r\n And from that time he sought opportunity to deliver him [unto them.]\r\n Now on the first [day] of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, Where wilt thou that we make ready for thee to eat the passover?\r\n And he said, Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him, The Teacher saith, My time is at hand; I keep the passover at thy house with my disciples.\r\n And the disciples did as Jesus appointed them; and they made ready the passover.\r\n Now when even was come, he was sitting at meat with the twelve disciples;\r\n and as they were eating, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.\r\n And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began to say unto him every one, Is it I, Lord?\r\n And he answered and said, He that dipped his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me.\r\n The Son of man goeth, even as it is written of him: but woe unto that man through whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had not been born.\r\n And Judas, who betrayed him, answered and said, Is it I, Rabbi? He saith unto him, Thou hast said.\r\n And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it; and he gave to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.\r\n And he took a cup, and gave thanks, and gave to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;\r\n for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many unto remission of sins.\r\n But I say unto you, I shall not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father`s kingdom.\r\n And when they had sung a hymn, they went out unto the mount of Olives.\r\n Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended in me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.\r\n But after I am raised up, I will go before you into Galilee.\r\n But Peter answered and said unto him, If all shall be offended in thee, I will never be offended.\r\n Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, that this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.\r\n Peter saith unto him, Even if I must die with thee, [yet] will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.\r\n Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto his disciples, Sit ye here, while I go yonder and pray.\r\n And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and sore troubled.\r\n Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: abide ye here, and watch with me.\r\n And he went forward a little, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass away from me: nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt.\r\n And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?\r\n Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.\r\n Again a second time he went away, and prayed, saying, My Father, if this cannot pass away, except I drink it, thy will be done.\r\n And he came again and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy.\r\n And he left them again, and went away, and prayed a third time, saying again the same words.\r\n Then cometh he to the disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.\r\n Arise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that betrayeth me.\r\n And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priest and elders of the people.\r\n Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that is he: take him.\r\n And straightway he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, Rabbi; and kissed him.\r\n And Jesus said unto him, Friend, [do] that for which thou art come. Then they came and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.\r\n And behold, one of them that were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and smote the servant of the high priest, and struck off his ear.\r\n Then saith Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into its place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.\r\n Or thinkest thou that I cannot beseech my Father, and he shall even now send me more than twelve legions of angels?\r\n How then should the scriptures be fulfilled that thus it must be?\r\n In that hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a robber with swords and staves to seize me? I sat daily in the temple teaching, and ye took me not.\r\n But all this is come to pass, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples left him, and fled.\r\n And they that had taken Jesus led him away to [the house of] Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were gathered together.\r\n But Peter followed him afar off, unto the court of the high priest, and entered in, and sat with the officers, to see the end.\r\n Now the chief priests and the whole council sought false witness against Jesus, that they might put him to death;\r\n and they found it not, though many false witnesses came. But afterward came two,\r\n and said, This man said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.\r\n And the high priest stood up, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?\r\n But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou art the Christ, the Son of God.\r\n Jesus said unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Henceforth ye shall see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.\r\n Then the high priest rent his garments, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy: what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard the blasphemy:\r\n what think ye? They answered and said, He is worthy of death.\r\n Then did they spit in his face and buffet him: and some smote him with the palms of their hands,\r\n saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ: who is he that struck thee?\r\n Now Peter was sitting without in the court: and a maid came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus the Galilaean.\r\n But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest.\r\n And when he was gone out into the porch, another [maid] saw him, and saith unto them that were there, This man also was with Jesus of Nazareth.\r\n And again he denied with an oath, I know not the man.\r\n And after a little while they that stood by came and said to Peter, Of a truth thou also art [one] of them; for thy speech maketh thee known.\r\n Then began he to curse and to swear, I know not the man. And straightway the cock crew.\r\n And Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now when morning was come, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death:\r\n and they bound him, and led him away, and delivered him up to Pilate the governor.\r\n Then Judas, who betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,\r\n saying, I have sinned in that I betrayed innocent blood. But they said, What is that to us? see thou [to it].\r\n And he cast down the pieces of silver into the sanctuary, and departed; and he went away and hanged himself.\r\n And the chief priests took the pieces of silver, and said, It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since it is the price of blood.\r\n And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter`s field, to bury strangers in.\r\n Wherefore that field was called, the field of blood, unto this day.\r\n Then was fulfilled that which was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was priced, whom [certain] of the children of Israel did price;\r\n and they gave them for the potter`s field, as the Lord appointed me.\r\n Now Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest.\r\n And when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing.\r\n Then saith Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee?\r\n And he gave him no answer, not even to one word: insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly.\r\n Now at the feast the governor was wont to release unto the multitude one prisoner, whom they would.\r\n And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas.\r\n When therefore they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?\r\n For he knew that for envy they had delivered him up.\r\n And while he was sitting on the judgment-seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that righteous man; for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.\r\n Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.\r\n But the governor answered and said unto them, Which of the two will ye that I release unto you? And they said, Barabbas.\r\n Pilate saith unto them, What then shall I do unto Jesus who is called Christ? They all say, Let him be crucified.\r\n And he said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out exceedingly, saying, Let him be crucified.\r\n So when Pilate saw that he prevailed nothing, but rather that a tumult was arising, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this righteous man; see ye [to it].\r\n And all the people answered and said, His blood [be] on us, and on our children.\r\n Then released he unto them Barabbas; but Jesus he scourged and delivered to be crucified.\r\n Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium, and gathered unto him the whole band.\r\n And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe.\r\n And they platted a crown of thorns and put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand; and they kneeled down before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!\r\n And they spat upon him, and took the reed and smote him on the head.\r\n And when they had mocked him, they took off from him the robe, and put on him his garments, and led him away to crucify him.\r\n And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to go [with them], that he might bear his cross.\r\n And they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, The place of a skull,\r\n they gave him wine to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted it, he would not drink.\r\n And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments among them, casting lots;\r\n and they sat and watched him there.\r\n And they set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.\r\n Then are there crucified with him two robbers, one on the right hand and one on the left.\r\n And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads,\r\n and saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself: if thou art the Son of God, come down from the cross.\r\n In like manner also the chief priests mocking [him], with the scribes and elders, said,\r\n He saved others; himself he cannot save. He is the King of Israel; let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe on him.\r\n He trusteth on God; let him deliver him now, if he desireth him: for he said, I am the Son of God.\r\n And the robbers also that were crucified with him cast upon him the same reproach.\r\n Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour.\r\n And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?\r\n And some of them stood there, when they heard it, said, This man calleth Elijah.\r\n And straightway one of them ran, and took a sponge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink.\r\n And the rest said, Let be; let us see whether Elijah cometh to save him.\r\n And Jesus cried again with a loud voice, and yielded up his spirit.\r\n And behold, the veil of the temple was rent in two from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake; and the rocks were rent;\r\n and the tombs were opened; and many bodies of the saints that had fallen asleep were raised;\r\n and coming forth out of the tombs after his resurrection they entered into the holy city and appeared unto many.\r\n Now the centurion, and they that were with him watching Jesus, when they saw the earthquake, and the things that were done, feared exceedingly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.\r\n And many women were there beholding from afar, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him:\r\n among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.\r\n And when even was come, there came a rich man from Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus` disciple:\r\n this man went to Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded it to be given up.\r\n And Joseph took the body, and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,\r\n and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb, and departed.\r\n And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre.\r\n Now on the morrow, which is [the day] after the Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees were gathered together unto Pilate,\r\n saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said while he was yet alive, After three days I rise again.\r\n Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest haply his disciples come and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: and the last error will be worse than the first.\r\n Pilate said unto them, Ye have a guard: go, make it [as] sure as ye can.\r\n So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, the guard being with them.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now late on the sabbath day, as it began to dawn toward the first [day] of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.\r\n And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled away the stone, and sat upon it.\r\n His appearance was as lightning, and his raiment white as snow:\r\n and for fear of him the watchers did quake, and became as dead men.\r\n And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye; for I know that ye seek Jesus, who hath been crucified.\r\n He is not here; for he is risen, even as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.\r\n And go quickly, and tell his disciples, He is risen from the dead; and lo, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.\r\n And they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring his disciples word.\r\n And behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and took hold of his feet, and worshipped him.\r\n Then saith Jesus unto them, Fear not: go tell my brethren that they depart into Galilee, and there shall they see me.\r\n Now while they were going, behold, some of the guard came into the city, and told unto the chief priests all the things that were come to pass.\r\n And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave much money unto the soldiers,\r\n saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept.\r\n And if this come to the governor`s ears, we will persuade him, and rid you of care.\r\n So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying was spread abroad among the Jews, [and continueth] until this day.\r\n But the eleven disciples went into Galilee, unto the mountain where Jesus had appointed them.\r\n And when they saw him, they worshipped [him]; but some doubted.\r\n And Jesus came to them and spake unto them, saying, All authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth.\r\n Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit:\r\n teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.\r\n Even as it is written in Isaiah the prophet, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, Who shall prepare thy way.\r\n The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make ye ready the way of the Lord, Make his paths straight;\r\n John came, who baptized in the wilderness and preached the baptism of repentance unto remission of sins.\r\n And there went out unto him all the country of Judaea, and all they of Jerusalem; And they were baptized of him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.\r\n And John was clothed with camel`s hair, and [had] a leathern girdle about his loins, and did eat locusts and wild honey.\r\n And he preached, saying, There cometh after me he that is mightier than I, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose.\r\n I baptized you in water; But he shall baptize you in the Holy Spirit.\r\n And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in the Jordan.\r\n And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens rent asunder, and the Spirit as a dove descending upon him:\r\n And a voice came out of the heavens, Thou art my beloved Son, in thee I am well pleased.\r\n And straightway the Spirit driveth him forth into the wilderness.\r\n And he was in the wilderness forty days tempted of Satan; And he was with the wild beasts; And the angels ministered unto him.\r\n Now after John was delivered up, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God,\r\n and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe in the gospel.\r\n And passing along by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net in the sea; for they were fishers.\r\n And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.\r\n And straightway they left the nets, and followed him.\r\n And going on a little further, he saw James the [son] of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the boat mending the nets.\r\n And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went after him.\r\n And they go into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue and taught.\r\n And they were astonished at his teaching: For he taught them as having authority, and not as the scribes.\r\n And straightway there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out,\r\n saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus thou Nazarene? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.\r\n And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him.\r\n And the unclean spirit, tearing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him.\r\n And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What is this? a new teaching! with authority he commandeth even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.\r\n And the report of him went out straightway everywhere into all the region of Galilee round about.\r\n And straightway, when they were come out of the synagogue, they came into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.\r\n Now Simon`s wife`s mother lay sick of a fever; and straightway they tell him of her:\r\n and he came and took her by the hand, and raised her up; and the fever left her, and she ministered unto them.\r\n And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were sick, and them that were possessed with demons.\r\n And all the city was gathered together at the door.\r\n And he healed many that were sick with divers diseases, and cast out many demons; and he suffered not the demons to speak, because they knew him.\r\n And in the morning, a great while before day, he rose up and went out, and departed into a desert place, and there prayed.\r\n And Simon and they that were with him followed after him;\r\n and they found him, and say unto him, All are seeking thee.\r\n And he saith unto them, Let us go elsewhere into the next towns, that I may preach there also; for to this end came I forth.\r\n And he went into their synagogues throughout all Galilee, preaching and casting out demons.\r\n And there cometh to him a leper, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.\r\n And being moved with compassion, he stretched forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou made clean.\r\n And straightway the leprosy departed from him, and he was made clean.\r\n And he strictly charged him, and straightway sent him out,\r\n and saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: but go show thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing the things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.\r\n But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to spread abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into a city, but was without in desert places: and they came to him from every quarter.\r\n \r\n \r\n And when he entered again into Capernaum after some days, it was noised that he was in the house.\r\n And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room [for them], no, not even about the door: and he spake the word unto them.\r\n And they come, bringing unto him a man sick of the palsy, borne of four.\r\n And when they could not come nigh unto him for the crowd, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed whereon the sick of the palsy lay.\r\n And Jesus seeing their faith saith unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins are forgiven.\r\n But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,\r\n Why doth this man thus speak? he blasphemeth: who can forgive sins but one, [even] God?\r\n And straightway Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, saith unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?\r\n Which is easier, to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins are forgiven; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?\r\n But that ye may know that the Son of man hath authority on earth to forgive sins (he saith to the sick of the palsy),\r\n I say unto thee, Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thy house.\r\n And he arose, and straightway took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.\r\n And he went forth again by the sea side; and all the multitude resorted unto him, and he taught them.\r\n And as he passed by, he saw Levi the [son] of Alphaeus sitting at the place of toll, and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him.\r\n And it came to pass, that he was sitting at meat in his house, and many publicans and sinners sat down with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him.\r\n And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with the sinners and publicans, said unto his disciples, [How is it] that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners?\r\n And when Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of a physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.\r\n And John`s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting: and they come and say unto him, Why do John`s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but thy disciples fast not?\r\n And Jesus said unto them, Can the sons of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? as long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.\r\n But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then will they fast in that day.\r\n No man seweth a piece of undressed cloth on an old garment: else that which should fill it up taketh from it, the new from the old, and a worse rent is made.\r\n And no man putteth new wine into old wineskins; else the wine will burst the skins, and the wine perisheth, and the skins: but [they put] new wine into fresh wine-skins.\r\n And it came to pass, that he was going on the sabbath day through the grainfields; and his disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears.\r\n And the Pharisees said unto him, Behold, why do they on the sabbath day that which is not lawful?\r\n And he said unto them, Did ye never read what David did, when he had need, and was hungry, he, and they that were with him?\r\n How he entered into the house of God when Abiathar was high priest, and ate the showbread, which it is not lawful to eat save for the priests, and gave also to them that were with him?\r\n And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:\r\n so that the Son of man is lord even of the sabbath.\r\n \r\n \r\n And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there who had his hand withered.\r\n And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him.\r\n And he saith unto the man that had his hand withered, Stand forth.\r\n And he saith unto them, Is it lawful on the sabbath day to do good, or to do harm? to save a life, or to kill? But they held their peace.\r\n And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved at the hardening of their heart, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he stretched it forth; and his hand was restored.\r\n And the Pharisees went out, and straightway with the Herodians took counsel against him, how they might destroy him.\r\n And Jesus with his disciples withdrew to the sea: and a great multitude from Galilee followed; and from Judaea,\r\n and from Jerusalem, and from Idumaea, and beyond the Jordan, and about Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, hearing what great things he did, came unto him.\r\n And he spake to his disciples, that a little boat should wait on him because of the crowd, lest they should throng him:\r\n for he had healed many; insomuch that as many as had plagues pressed upon him that they might touch him.\r\n And the unclean spirits, whensoever they beheld him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God.\r\n And he charged them much that they should not make him known.\r\n And he goeth up into the mountain, and calleth unto him whom he himself would; and they went unto him.\r\n And he appointed twelve, that they might be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach,\r\n and to have authority to cast out demons:\r\n and Simon he surnamed Peter;\r\n and James the [son] of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and them he surnamed Boanerges, which is, Sons of thunder:\r\n and Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the [son] of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Cananaean,\r\n and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him. And he cometh into a house.\r\n And the multitude cometh together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread.\r\n And when his friends heard it, they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself.\r\n And the scribes that came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and, By the prince of the demons casteth he out the demons.\r\n And he called them unto him, and said unto them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan?\r\n And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.\r\n And if a house be divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.\r\n And if Satan hath rise up against himself, and is divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end.\r\n But no one can enter into the house of the strong [man], and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong [man]; and then he will spoil his house.\r\n Verily I say unto you, All their sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and their blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme:\r\n but whosoever shall blaspheme against the Holy Spirit hath never forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin:\r\n because they said, He hath an unclean spirit.\r\n And there come his mother and his brethren; and, standing without, they sent unto him, calling him.\r\n And a multitude was sitting about him; and they say unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee.\r\n And he answereth them, and saith, Who is my mother and my brethren?\r\n And looking round on them that sat round about him, he saith, Behold, my mother and my brethren!\r\n For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.\r\n \r\n \r\n And again he began to teach by the sea side. And there is gathered unto him a very great multitude, so that he entered into a boat, and sat in the sea; and all the multitude were by the sea on the land.\r\n And he taught them many things in parables, and said unto them in his teaching,\r\n Hearken: Behold, the sower went forth to sow:\r\n and it came to pass, as he sowed, some [seed] fell by the way side, and the birds came and devoured it.\r\n And other fell on the rocky [ground], where it had not much earth; and straightway it sprang up, because it had no deepness of earth:\r\n and when the sun was risen, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.\r\n And other fell among the thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.\r\n And others fell into the good ground, and yielded fruit, growing up and increasing; and brought forth, thirtyfold, and sixtyfold, and a hundredfold.\r\n And he said, Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.\r\n And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parables.\r\n And he said unto them, Unto you is given the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all things are done in parables:\r\n that seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest haply they should turn again, and it should be forgiven them.\r\n And he saith unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how shall ye know all the parables?\r\n The sower soweth the word.\r\n And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; and when they have heard, straightway cometh Satan, and taketh away the word which hath been sown in them.\r\n And these in like manner are they that are sown upon the rocky [places], who, when they have heard the word, straightway receive it with joy;\r\n and they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, straightway they stumble.\r\n And others are they that are sown among the thorns; these are they that have heard the word,\r\n and the cares of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.\r\n And those are they that were sown upon the good ground; such as hear the word, and accept it, and bear fruit, thirtyfold, and sixtyfold, and a hundredfold.\r\n And he said unto them, Is the lamp brought to be put under the bushel, or under the bed, [and] not to be put on the stand?\r\n For there is nothing hid, save that it should be manifested; neither was [anything] made secret, but that it should come to light.\r\n If any man hath ears to hear, let him hear.\r\n And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete it shall be measured unto you; and more shall be given unto you.\r\n For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken away even that which he hath.\r\n And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed upon the earth;\r\n and should sleep and rise night and day, and the seed should spring up and grow, he knoweth not how.\r\n The earth beareth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.\r\n But when the fruit is ripe, straightway he putteth forth the sickle, because the harvest is come.\r\n And he said, How shall we liken the kingdom of God? or in what parable shall we set it forth?\r\n It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown upon the earth, though it be less than all the seeds that are upon the earth,\r\n yet when it is sown, groweth up, and becometh greater than all the herbs, and putteth out great branches; so that the birds of the heaven can lodge under the shadow thereof.\r\n And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it;\r\n and without a parable spake he not unto them: but privately to his own disciples he expounded all things.\r\n And on that day, when even was come, he saith unto them, Let us go over unto the other side.\r\n And leaving the multitude, they take him with them, even as he was, in the boat. And other boats were with him.\r\n And there ariseth a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the boat, insomuch that the boat was now filling.\r\n And he himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion: and they awake him, and say unto him, Teacher, carest thou not that we perish?\r\n And he awoke, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.\r\n And he said unto them, Why are ye fearful? have ye not yet faith?\r\n And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?\r\n \r\n \r\n And they came to the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gerasenes.\r\n And when he was come out of the boat, straightway there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,\r\n who had his dwelling in the tombs: and no man could any more bind him, no, not with a chain;\r\n because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been rent asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: and no man had strength to tame him.\r\n And always, night and day, in the tombs and in the mountains, he was crying out, and cutting himself with stones.\r\n And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshipped him;\r\n and crying out with a loud voice, he saith, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the Most High God? I adjure thee by God, torment me not.\r\n For he said unto him, Come forth, thou unclean spirit, out of the man.\r\n And he asked him, What is thy name? And he saith unto him, My name is Legion; for we are many.\r\n And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country.\r\n Now there was there on the mountain side a great herd of swine feeding.\r\n And they besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them.\r\n And he gave them leave. And the unclean spirits came out, and entered into the swine: and the herd rushed down the steep into the sea, [in number] about two thousand; and they were drowned in the sea.\r\n And they that fed them fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they came to see what it was that had come to pass.\r\n And they come to Jesus, and behold him that was possessed with demons sitting, clothed and in his right mind, [even] him that had the legion: and they were afraid.\r\n And they that saw it declared unto them how it befell him that was possessed with demons, and concerning the swine.\r\n And they began to beseech him to depart from their borders.\r\n And as he was entering into the boat, he that had been possessed with demons besought him that he might be with him.\r\n And he suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go to thy house unto thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and [how] he had mercy on thee.\r\n And he went his way, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men marvelled.\r\n And when Jesus had crossed over again in the boat unto the other side, a great multitude was gathered unto him; and he was by the sea.\r\n And there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and seeing him, he falleth at his feet,\r\n and beseecheth him much, saying, My little daughter is at the point of death: [I pray thee], that thou come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be made whole, and live.\r\n And he went with him; and a great multitude followed him, and they thronged him.\r\n And a woman, who had an issue of blood twelve years,\r\n and had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,\r\n having heard the things concerning Jesus, came in the crowd behind, and touched his garment.\r\n For she said, If I touch but his garments, I shall be made whole.\r\n And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her plague.\r\n And straightway Jesus, perceiving in himself that the power [proceeding] from him had gone forth, turned him about in the crowd, and said, Who touched my garments?\r\n And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?\r\n And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing.\r\n But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what had been done to her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.\r\n And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.\r\n While he yet spake, they come from the ruler of the synagogue`s [house] saying, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Teacher any further?\r\n But Jesus, not heeding the word spoken, saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Fear not, only believe.\r\n And he suffered no man to follow with him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James.\r\n And they come to the house of the ruler of the synagogue; and he beholdeth a tumult, and [many] weeping and wailing greatly.\r\n And when he was entered in, he saith unto them, Why make ye a tumult, and weep? the child is not dead, but sleepeth.\r\n And they laughed him to scorn. But he, having put them all forth, taketh the father of the child and her mother and them that were with him, and goeth in where the child was.\r\n And taking the child by the hand, he saith unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, Arise.\r\n And straightway the damsel rose up, and walked; for she was twelve years old. And they were amazed straightway with a great amazement.\r\n And he charged them much that no man should know this: and he commanded that [something] should be given her to eat.\r\n \r\n \r\n And he went out from thence; and he cometh into his own country; and his disciples follow him.\r\n And when the sabbath was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, Whence hath this man these things? and, What is the wisdom that is given unto this man, and [what mean] such mighty works wrought by his hands?\r\n Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James, and Joses, and Judas, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended in him.\r\n And Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honor, save in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.\r\n And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.\r\n And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages teaching.\r\n And he calleth unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and he gave them authority over the unclean spirits;\r\n and he charged them that they should take nothing for [their] journey, save a staff only; no bread, no wallet, now money in their purse;\r\n but [to go] shod with sandals: and, [said he], put not on two coats.\r\n And he said unto them, Wheresoever ye enter into a house, there abide till ye depart thence.\r\n And whatsoever place shall not receive you, and they hear you not, as ye go forth thence, shake off the dust that is under your feet for a testimony unto them.\r\n And they went out, and preached that [men] should repent.\r\n And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.\r\n And king Herod heard [thereof]; for his name had become known: and he said, John the Baptizer is risen from the dead, and therefore do these powers work in him.\r\n But others said, It is Elijah. And others said, [It is] a prophet, [even] as one of the prophets.\r\n But Herod, when he heard [thereof], said, John, whom I beheaded, he is risen.\r\n For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip`s wife; for he had married her.\r\n For John said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother`s wife.\r\n And Herodias set herself against him, and desired to kill him; and she could not;\r\n for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and kept him safe. And when he heard him, he was much perplexed; and he heard him gladly.\r\n And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, and the high captains, and the chief men of Galilee;\r\n and when the daughter of Herodias herself came in and danced, she pleased Herod and them that sat at meat with him; and the king said unto the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee.\r\n And he sware unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom.\r\n And she went out, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptizer.\r\n And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that thou forthwith give me on a platter the head of John the Baptist.\r\n And the king was exceeding sorry; but for the sake of his oaths, and of them that sat at meat, he would not reject her.\r\n And straightway the king sent forth a soldier of his guard, and commanded to bring his head: and he went and beheaded him in the prison,\r\n and brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the damsel; and the damsel gave it to her mother.\r\n And when his disciples heard [thereof], they came and took up his corpse, and laid it in a tomb.\r\n And the apostles gather themselves together unto Jesus; and they told him all things, whatsoever they had done, and whatsoever they had taught.\r\n And he saith unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while. For there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.\r\n And they went away in the boat to a desert place apart.\r\n And [the people] saw them going, and many knew [them], and they ran together there on foot from all the cities, and outwent them.\r\n And he came forth and saw a great multitude, and he had compassion on them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.\r\n And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came unto him, and said, The place is desert, and the day is now far spent;\r\n send them away, that they may go into the country and villages round about, and buy themselves somewhat to eat.\r\n But he answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, Shall we go and buy two hundred shillings` worth of bread, and give them to eat?\r\n And he saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go [and] see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes.\r\n And he commanded them that all should sit down by companies upon the green grass.\r\n And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties.\r\n And he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake the loaves; and he gave to the disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all.\r\n And they all ate, and were filled.\r\n And they took up broken pieces, twelve basketfuls, and also of the fishes.\r\n And they that ate the loaves were five thousand men.\r\n And straightway he constrained his disciples to enter into the boat, and to go before [him] unto the other side to Bethsaida, while he himself sendeth the multitude away.\r\n And after he had taken leave of them, he departed into the mountain to pray.\r\n And when even was come, the boat was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land.\r\n And seeing them distressed in rowing, for the wind was contrary unto them, about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking on the sea; and he would have passed by them:\r\n but they, when they saw him walking on the sea, supposed that it was a ghost, and cried out;\r\n for they all saw him, and were troubled. But he straightway spake with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid.\r\n And he went up unto them into the boat; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves;\r\n for they understood not concerning the loaves, but their heart was hardened.\r\n And when they had crossed over, they came to the land unto Gennesaret, and moored to the shore.\r\n And when they were come out of the boat, straightway [the people] knew him,\r\n and ran round about that whole region, and began to carry about on their beds those that were sick, where they heard he was.\r\n And wheresoever he entered, into villages, or into cities, or into the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole.\r\n \r\n \r\n And there are gathered together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, who had come from Jerusalem,\r\n and had seen that some of his disciples ate their bread with defiled, that is, unwashen, hands.\r\n (For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands diligently, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders;\r\n and [when they come] from the market-place, except they bathe themselves, they eat not; and many other things there are, which they have received to hold, washings of cups, and pots, and brasen vessels.)\r\n And the Pharisees and the scribes ask him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with defiled hands?\r\n And he said unto them, Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoreth me with their lips, But their heart is far from me.\r\n But in vain do they worship me, Teaching [as their] doctrines the precepts of men.\r\n Ye leave the commandment of God, and hold fast the tradition of men.\r\n And he said unto them, Full well do ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your tradition.\r\n For Moses said, Honor thy father and thy mother; and, He that speaketh evil of father or mother, let him die the death:\r\n but ye say, If a man shall say to his father or his mother, That wherewith thou mightest have been profited by me is Corban, that is to say, Given [to God];\r\n ye no longer suffer him to do aught for his father or his mother;\r\n making void the word of God by your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things ye do.\r\n And he called to him the multitude again, and said unto them, Hear me all of you, and understand:\r\n there is nothing from without the man, that going into him can defile him; but the things which proceed out of the man are those that defile the man.\r\n [If any man hath ears to hear, let him hear.]\r\n And when he was entered into the house from the multitude, his disciples asked of him the parable.\r\n And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Perceive ye not, that whatsoever from without goeth into the man, [it] cannot defile him;\r\n because it goeth not into his heart, but into his belly, and goeth out into the draught? [This he said], making all meats clean.\r\n And he said, That which proceedeth out of the man, that defileth the man.\r\n For from within, out of the heart of men, evil thoughts proceed, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries,\r\n covetings, wickednesses, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, railing, pride, foolishness:\r\n all these evil things proceed from within, and defile the man.\r\n And from thence he arose, and went away into the borders of Tyre and Sidon. And he entered into a house, and would have no man know it; and he could not be hid.\r\n But straightway a woman, whose little daughter had an unclean spirit, having heard of him, came and fell down at his feet.\r\n Now the woman was a Greek, a Syrophoenician by race. And she besought him that he would cast forth the demon out of her daughter.\r\n And he said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children`s bread and cast it to the dogs.\r\n But she answered and saith unto him, Yea, Lord; even the dogs under the table eat of the children`s crumbs.\r\n And he said unto her, For this saying go thy way; the demon is gone out of thy daughter.\r\n And she went away unto her house, and found the child laid upon the bed, and the demon gone out.\r\n And again he went out from the borders of Tyre, and came through Sidon unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the borders of Decapolis.\r\n And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to lay his hand upon him.\r\n And he took him aside from the multitude privately, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat, and touched his tongue;\r\n and looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened.\r\n And his ears were opened, and the bond of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain.\r\n And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it.\r\n And they were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well; he maketh even the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.\r\n \r\n \r\n In those days, when there was again a great multitude, and they had nothing to eat, he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them,\r\n I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat:\r\n and if I send them away fasting to their home, they will faint on the way; and some of them are come from far.\r\n And his disciples answered him, Whence shall one be able to fill these men with bread here in a desert place?\r\n And he asked them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven.\r\n And he commandeth the multitude to sit down on the ground: and he took the seven loaves, and having given thanks, he brake, and gave to his disciples, to set before them; and they set them before the multitude.\r\n And they had a few small fishes: and having blessed them, he commanded to set these also before them.\r\n And they ate, and were filled: and they took up, of broken pieces that remained over, seven baskets.\r\n And they were about four thousand: and he sent them away.\r\n And straightway he entered into the boat with his disciples, and came into the parts of Dalmanutha.\r\n And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, trying him.\r\n And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation.\r\n And he left them, and again entering into [the boat] departed to the other side.\r\n And they forgot to take bread; and they had not in the boat with them more than one loaf.\r\n And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.\r\n And they reasoned one with another, saying, We have no bread.\r\n And Jesus perceiving it saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? do ye not yet perceive, neither understand? have ye your heart hardened?\r\n Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember?\r\n When I brake the five loaves among the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces took ye up? They say unto him, Twelve.\r\n And when the seven among the four thousand, how many basketfuls of broken pieces took ye up? And they say unto him, Seven.\r\n And he said unto them, Do ye not yet understand?\r\n And they come unto Bethsaida. And they bring to him a blind man, and beseech him to touch him.\r\n And he took hold of the blind man by the hand, and brought him out of the village; and when he had spit on his eyes, and laid his hands upon him, he asked him, Seest thou aught?\r\n And he looked up, and said, I see men; for I behold [them] as trees, walking.\r\n Then again he laid his hands upon his eyes; and he looked stedfastly, and was restored, and saw all things clearly.\r\n And he sent him away to his home, saying, Do not even enter into the village.\r\n And Jesus went forth, and his disciples, into the villages of Caesarea Philippi: and on the way he asked his disciples, saying unto them, Who do men say that I am?\r\n And they told him, saying, John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but others, One of the prophets.\r\n And he asked them, But who say ye that I am? Peter answereth and saith unto him, Thou art the Christ.\r\n And he charged them that they should tell no man of him.\r\n And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, and the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.\r\n And he spake the saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him.\r\n But he turning about, and seeing his disciples, rebuked Peter, and saith, Get thee behind me, Satan; for thou mindest not the things of God, but the things of men.\r\n And he called unto him the multitude with his disciples, and said unto them, If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.\r\n For whosoever would save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel`s shall save it.\r\n For what doth it profit a man, to gain the whole world, and forfeit his life?\r\n For what should a man give in exchange for his life?\r\n For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of man also shall be ashamed of him, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.\r\n \r\n \r\n And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There are some here of them that stand [by], who shall in no wise taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God come with power.\r\n And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and bringeth them up into a high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them;\r\n and his garments became glistering, exceeding white, so as no fuller on earth can whiten them.\r\n And there appeared unto them Elijah with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus.\r\n And Peter answereth and saith to Jesus, Rabbi, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.\r\n For he knew not what to answer; for they became sore afraid.\r\n And there came a cloud overshadowing them: and there came a voice out of the cloud, This is my beloved Son: hear ye him.\r\n And suddenly looking round about, they saw no one any more, save Jesus only with themselves.\r\n And as they were coming down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, save when the Son of man should have risen again from the dead.\r\n And they kept the saying, questioning among themselves what the rising again from the dead should mean.\r\n And they asked him, saying, [How is it] that the scribes say that Elijah must first come?\r\n And he said unto them, Elijah indeed cometh first, and restoreth all things: and how is it written of the Son of man, that he should suffer many things and be set at nought?\r\n But I say unto you, that Elijah is come, and they have also done unto him whatsoever they would, even as it is written of him.\r\n And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great multitude about them, and scribes questioning with them.\r\n And straightway all the multitude, when they saw him, were greatly amazed, and running to him saluted him.\r\n And he asked them, What question ye with them?\r\n And one of the multitude answered him, Teacher, I brought unto thee my son, who hath a dumb spirit;\r\n and wheresoever it taketh him, it dasheth him down: and he foameth, and grindeth his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast it out; and they were not able.\r\n And he answereth them and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I bear with you? bring him unto me.\r\n And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him grievously; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.\r\n And he asked his father, How long time is it since this hath come unto him? And he said, From a child.\r\n And oft-times it hath cast him both into the fire and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do anything, have compassion on us, and help us.\r\n And Jesus said unto him, If thou canst! All things are possible to him that believeth.\r\n Straightway the father of the child cried out, and said, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.\r\n And when Jesus saw that a multitude came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I command thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.\r\n And having cried out, and torn him much, he came out: and [the boy] became as one dead; insomuch that the more part said, He is dead.\r\n But Jesus took him by the hand, and raised him up; and he arose.\r\n And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, [How is it] that we could not cast it out?\r\n And he said unto them, This kind can come out by nothing, save by prayer.\r\n And they went forth from thence, and passed through Galilee; and he would not that any man should know it.\r\n For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered up into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and when he is killed, after three days he shall rise again.\r\n But they understood not the saying, and were afraid to ask him.\r\n And they came to Capernaum: and when he was in the house he asked them, What were ye reasoning on the way?\r\n But they held their peace: for they had disputed one with another on the way, who [was] the greatest.\r\n And he sat down, and called the twelve; and he saith unto them, If any man would be first, he shall be last of all, and servant of all.\r\n And he took a little child, and set him in the midst of them: and taking him in his arms, he said unto them,\r\n Whosoever shall receive one of such little children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever receiveth me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.\r\n John said unto him, Teacher, we saw one casting out demons in thy name; and we forbade him, because he followed not us.\r\n But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man who shall do a mighty work in my name, and be able quickly to speak evil of me.\r\n For he that is not against us is for us.\r\n For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink, because ye are Christ`s, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.\r\n And whosoever shall cause one of these little ones that believe on me to stumble, it were better for him if a great millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.\r\n And if thy hand cause thee to stumble, cut it off: it is good for thee to enter into life maimed, rather than having thy two hands to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire.\r\n [where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.]\r\n And if thy foot cause thee to stumble, cut it off: it is good for thee to enter into life halt, rather than having thy two feet to be cast into hell.\r\n [where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.]\r\n And if thine eye cause thee to stumble, cast it out: it is good for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell;\r\n where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.\r\n For every one shall be salted with fire.\r\n Salt is good: but if the salt have lost its saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace one with another.\r\n \r\n \r\n And he arose from thence and cometh into the borders of Judaea and beyond the Jordan: and multitudes come together unto him again; and, as he was wont, he taught them again.\r\n And there came unto him Pharisees, and asked him, Is it lawful for a man to put away [his] wife? trying him.\r\n And he answered and said unto them, What did Moses command you?\r\n And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away.\r\n But Jesus said unto them, For your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment.\r\n But from the beginning of the creation, Male and female made he them.\r\n For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife;\r\n and the two shall become one flesh: so that they are no more two, but one flesh.\r\n What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.\r\n And in the house the disciples asked him again of this matter.\r\n And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her:\r\n and if she herself shall put away her husband, and marry another, she committeth adultery.\r\n And they were bringing unto him little children, that he should touch them: and the disciples rebuked them.\r\n But when Jesus saw it, he was moved with indignation, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me; forbid them not: for to such belongeth the kingdom of God.\r\n Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall in no wise enter therein.\r\n And he took them in his arms, and blessed them, laying his hands upon them.\r\n And as he was going forth into the way, there ran one to him, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?\r\n And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good save one, [even] God.\r\n Thou knowest the commandments, Do not kill, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor thy father and mother.\r\n And he said unto him, Teacher, all these things have I observed from my youth.\r\n And Jesus looking upon him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.\r\n But his countenance fell at the saying, and he went away sorrowful: for he was one that had great possessions.\r\n And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!\r\n And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!\r\n It is easier for a camel to go through a needle`s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.\r\n And they were astonished exceedingly, saying unto him, Then who can be saved?\r\n Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for all things are possible with God.\r\n Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.\r\n Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or mother, or father, or children, or lands, for my sake, and for the gospel`s sake,\r\n but he shall receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.\r\n But many [that are] first shall be last; and the last first.\r\n And they were on the way, going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus was going before them: and they were amazed; and they that followed were afraid. And he took again the twelve, and began to tell them the things that were to happen unto him,\r\n [saying], Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests and the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him unto the Gentiles:\r\n and they shall mock him, and shall spit upon him, and shall scourge him, and shall kill him; and after three days he shall rise again.\r\n And there come near unto him James and John, the sons of Zebedee, saying unto him, Teacher, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall ask of thee.\r\n And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you?\r\n And they said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and one on [thy] left hand, in thy glory.\r\n But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink the cup that I drink? or to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?\r\n And they said unto him, We are able. And Jesus said unto them, The cup that I drink ye shall drink; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized:\r\n but to sit on my right hand or on [my] left hand is not mine to give; but [it is for them] for whom it hath been prepared.\r\n And when the ten heard it, they began to be moved with indignation concerning James and John.\r\n And Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they who are accounted to rule over the Gentiles lord it over them; and their great ones exercise authority over them.\r\n But it is not so among you: but whosoever would become great among you, shall be your minister;\r\n and whosoever would be first among you, shall be servant of all.\r\n For the Son of man also came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.\r\n And they come to Jericho: and as he went out from Jericho, with his disciples and a great multitude, the son of Timaeus, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the way side.\r\n And when he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me.\r\n And many rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried out the more a great deal, Thou son of David, have mercy on me.\r\n And Jesus stood still, and said, Call ye him. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good cheer: rise, he calleth thee.\r\n And he, casting away his garment, sprang up, and came to Jesus.\r\n And Jesus answered him, and said, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? And the blind man said unto him, Rabboni, that I may receive my sight.\r\n And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And straightway he received his sight, and followed him in the way.\r\n \r\n \r\n And when they draw nigh unto Jerusalem, unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount of Olives, he sendeth two of his disciples,\r\n and saith unto them, Go your way into the village that is over against you: and straightway as ye enter into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon no man ever yet sat; loose him, and bring him.\r\n And if any one say unto you, Why do ye this? say ye, The Lord hath need of him; and straightway he will send him back hither.\r\n And they went away, and found a colt tied at the door without in the open street; and they loose him.\r\n And certain of them that stood there said unto them, What do ye, loosing the colt?\r\n And they said unto them even as Jesus had said: and they let them go.\r\n And they bring the colt unto Jesus, and cast on him their garments; and he sat upon him.\r\n And many spread their garments upon the way; and others branches, which they had cut from the fields.\r\n And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, Hosanna; Blessed [is] he that cometh in the name of the Lord:\r\n Blessed [is] the kingdom that cometh, [the kingdom] of our father David: Hosanna in the highest.\r\n And he entered into Jerusalem, into the temple; and when he had looked round about upon all things, it being now eventide, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve.\r\n And on the morrow, when they were come out from Bethany, he hungered.\r\n And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find anything thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for it was not the season of figs.\r\n And he answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit from thee henceforward for ever. And his disciples heard it.\r\n And they come to Jerusalem: and he entered into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and them that bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the money-changers, and the seats of them that sold the doves;\r\n and he would not suffer that any man should carry a vessel through the temple.\r\n And he taught, and said unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations? but ye have made it a den of robbers.\r\n And the chief priests and the scribes heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, for all the multitude was astonished at his teaching.\r\n And every evening he went forth out of the city.\r\n And as they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away from the roots.\r\n And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Rabbi, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away.\r\n And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.\r\n Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou taken up and cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that what he saith cometh to pass; he shall have it.\r\n Therefore I say unto you, All things whatsoever ye pray and ask for, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.\r\n And whensoever ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have aught against any one; that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.\r\n [But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your trespasses.]\r\n And they come again to Jerusalem: and as he was walking in the temple, there come to him the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders;\r\n and they said unto him, By what authority doest thou these things? or who gave thee this authority to do these things?\r\n And Jesus said unto them, I will ask of you one question, and answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things.\r\n The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or from men? answer me.\r\n And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; He will say, Why then did ye not believe him?\r\n But should we say, From men--they feared the people: for all verily held John to be a prophet.\r\n And they answered Jesus and say, We know not. And Jesus saith unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.\r\n \r\n \r\n And he began to speak unto them in parables. A man planted a vineyard, and set a hedge about it, and digged a pit for the winepress, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into another country.\r\n And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that he might receive from the husbandmen of the fruits of the vineyard.\r\n And they took him, and beat him, and sent him away empty.\r\n And again he sent unto them another servant; and him they wounded in the head, and handled shamefully.\r\n And he sent another; and him they killed: and many others; beating some, and killing some.\r\n He had yet one, a beloved son: he sent him last unto them, saying, They will reverence my son.\r\n But those husbandmen said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be ours.\r\n And they took him, and killed him, and cast him forth out of the vineyard.\r\n What therefore will the lord of the vineyard do? he will come and destroy the husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others.\r\n Have ye not read even this scripture: The stone which the builders rejected, The same was made the head of the corner;\r\n This was from the Lord, And it is marvellous in our eyes?\r\n And they sought to lay hold on him; and they feared the multitude; for they perceived that he spake the parable against them: and they left him, and went away.\r\n And they send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, that they might catch him in talk.\r\n And when they were come, they say unto him, Teacher, we know that thou art true, and carest not for any one; for thou regardest not the person of men, but of a truth teachest the way of God: Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?\r\n Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why make ye trial of me? bring me a denarius, that I may see it.\r\n And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Caesar`s.\r\n And Jesus said unto them, Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar`s, and unto God the things that are God`s. And they marvelled greatly at him.\r\n And there come unto him Sadducees, who say that there is no resurrection; and they asked him, saying,\r\n Teacher, Moses wrote unto us, If a man`s brother die, and leave a wife behind him, and leave no child, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.\r\n There were seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and dying left no seed;\r\n and the second took her, and died, leaving no seed behind him; and the third likewise:\r\n and the seven left no seed. Last of all the woman also died.\r\n In the resurrection whose wife shall she be of them? for the seven had her to wife.\r\n Jesus said unto them, Is it not for this cause that ye err, that ye know not the scriptures, nor the power of God?\r\n For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as angels in heaven.\r\n But as touching the dead, that they are raised; have ye not read in the book of Moses, in [the place concerning] the Bush, how God spake unto him, saying, I [am] the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?\r\n He is not the God of the dead, but of the living: ye do greatly err.\r\n And one of the scribes came, and heard them questioning together, and knowing that he had answered them well, asked him, What commandment is the first of all?\r\n Jesus answered, The first is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God, the Lord is one:\r\n and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength.\r\n The second is this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.\r\n And the scribe said unto him, Of a truth, Teacher, thou hast well said that he is one; and there is none other but he:\r\n and to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is much more than all whole burnt-offerings and sacrifices.\r\n And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.\r\n And Jesus answered and said, as he taught in the temple, How say the scribes that the Christ is the son of David?\r\n David himself said in the Holy Spirit, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Till I make thine enemies the footstool of thy feet.\r\n David himself calleth him Lord; and whence is he his son? And the common people heard him gladly.\r\n And in his teaching he said, Beware of the scribes, who desire to walk in long robes, and [to have] salutations in the marketplaces,\r\n and chief seats in the synagogues, and chief places at feasts:\r\n they that devour widows` houses, and for a pretence make long prayers; these shall receive greater condemnation.\r\n And he sat down over against the treasury, and beheld how the multitude cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.\r\n And there came a poor widow, and she cast in two mites, which make a farthing.\r\n And he called unto him his disciples, and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, This poor widow cast in more than all they that are casting into the treasury:\r\n for they all did cast in of their superfluity; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, [even] all her living.\r\n \r\n \r\n And as he went forth out of the temple, one of his disciples saith unto him, Teacher, behold, what manner of stones and what manner of buildings!\r\n And Jesus said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left here one stone upon another, which shall not be thrown down.\r\n And as he sat on the mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately,\r\n Tell us, when shall these things be? and what [shall be] the sign when these things are all about to be accomplished?\r\n And Jesus began to say unto them, Take heed that no man lead you astray.\r\n Many shall come in my name, saying, I am [he]; and shall lead many astray.\r\n And when ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars, be not troubled: [these things] must needs come to pass; but the end is not yet.\r\n For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there shall be earthquakes in divers places; there shall be famines: these things are the beginning of travail.\r\n But take ye heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in synagogues shall ye be beaten; and before governors and kings shall ye stand for my sake, for a testimony unto them.\r\n And the gospel must first be preached unto all the nations.\r\n And when they lead you [to judgment], and deliver you up, be not anxious beforehand what ye shall speak: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye; for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Spirit.\r\n And brother shall deliver up brother to death, and the father his child; and children shall rise up against parents, and cause them to be put to death.\r\n And ye shall be hated of all men for my name`s sake: but he that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved.\r\n But when ye see the abomination of desolation standing where he ought not (let him that readeth understand), then let them that are in Judaea flee unto the mountains:\r\n and let him that is on the housetop not go down, nor enter in, to take anything out his house:\r\n and let him that is in the field not return back to take his cloak.\r\n But woe unto them that are with child and to them that give suck in those days!\r\n And pray ye that it be not in the winter.\r\n For those days shall be tribulation, such as there hath not been the like from the beginning of the creation which God created until now, and never shall be.\r\n And except the Lord had shortened the days, no flesh would have been saved; but for the elect`s sake, whom he chose, he shortened the days.\r\n And then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is the Christ; or, Lo, there; believe [it] not:\r\n for there shall arise false Christs and false prophets, and shall show signs and wonders, that they may lead astray, if possible, the elect.\r\n But take ye heed: behold, I have told you all things beforehand.\r\n But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,\r\n and the stars shall be falling from heaven, and the powers that are in the heavens shall be shaken.\r\n And then shall they see the Son of man coming in clouds with great power and glory.\r\n And then shall he send forth the angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.\r\n Now from the fig tree learn her parable: when her branch is now become tender, and putteth forth its leaves, ye know that the summer is nigh;\r\n even so ye also, when ye see these things coming to pass, know ye that he is nigh, [even] at the doors.\r\n Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, until all these things be accomplished.\r\n Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.\r\n But of that day or that hour knoweth no one, not even the angels in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.\r\n Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.\r\n [It is] as [when] a man, sojourning in another country, having left his house, and given authority to his servants, to each one his work, commanded also the porter to watch.\r\n Watch therefore: for ye know not when the lord of the house cometh, whether at even, or at midnight, or at cockcrowing, or in the morning;\r\n lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.\r\n And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now after two days was [the feast of] the passover and the unleavened bread: and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take him with subtlety, and kill him:\r\n for they said, Not during the feast, lest haply there shall be a tumult of the people.\r\n And while he was in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster cruse of ointment of pure nard very costly; [and] she brake the cruse, and poured it over his head.\r\n But there were some that had indignation among themselves, [saying], To what purpose hath this waste of the ointment been made?\r\n For this ointment might have been sold for above three hundred shillings, and given to the poor. And they murmured against her.\r\n But Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me.\r\n For ye have the poor always with you, and whensoever ye will ye can do them good: but me ye have not always.\r\n She hath done what she could; she hath anointed my body beforehand for the burying.\r\n And verily I say unto you, Wheresoever the gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, that also which this woman hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.\r\n And Judas Iscariot, he that was one of the twelve, went away unto the chief priests, that he might deliver him unto them.\r\n And they, when they heard it, were glad, and promised to give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently deliver him [unto them].\r\n And on the first day of unleavened bread, when they sacrificed the passover, his disciples say unto him, Where wilt thou that we go and make ready that thou mayest eat the passover?\r\n And he sendeth two of his disciples, and saith unto them, Go into the city, and there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water: follow him;\r\n and wheresoever he shall enter in, say to the master of the house, The Teacher saith, Where is my guest-chamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?\r\n And he will himself show you a large upper room furnished [and] ready: and there make ready for us.\r\n And the disciples went forth, and came into the city, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover.\r\n And when it was evening he cometh with the twelve.\r\n And as they sat and were eating, Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, One of you shall betray me, [even] he that eateth with me.\r\n They began to be sorrowful, and to say unto him one by one, Is it I?\r\n And he said unto them, [It is] one of the twelve, he that dippeth with me in the dish.\r\n For the Son of man goeth, even as it is written of him: but woe unto that man through whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had not been born.\r\n And as they were eating, he took bread, and when he had blessed, he brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take ye: this is my body.\r\n And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave to them: and they all drank of it.\r\n And he said unto them, This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.\r\n Verily I say unto you, I shall no more drink of the fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.\r\n And when they had sung a hymn, they went out unto the mount of Olives.\r\n And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered abroad.\r\n Howbeit, after I am raised up, I will go before you into Galilee.\r\n But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I.\r\n And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, that thou to-day, [even] this night, before the cock crow twice, shalt deny me thrice.\r\n But he spake exceedingly vehemently, If I must die with thee, I will not deny thee. And in like manner also said they all.\r\n And they come unto a place which was named Gethsemane: and he saith unto his disciples, Sit ye here, while I pray.\r\n And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly amazed, and sore troubled.\r\n And he saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful even unto death: abide ye here, and watch.\r\n And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass away from him.\r\n And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; remove this cup from me: howbeit not what I will, but what thou wilt.\r\n And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldest thou not watch one hour?\r\n Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.\r\n And again he went away, and prayed, saying the same words.\r\n And again he came, and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy; and they knew not what to answer him.\r\n And he cometh the third time, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: it is enough; the hour is come; behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.\r\n Arise, let us be going: behold, he that betrayeth me is at hand.\r\n And straightway, while he yet spake, cometh Judas, one of the twelve, and with him a multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders.\r\n Now he that betrayed him had given them a token, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that is he; take him, and lead him away safely.\r\n And when he was come, straightway he came to him, and saith, Rabbi; and kissed him.\r\n And they laid hands on him, and took him.\r\n But a certain one of them that stood by drew his sword, and smote the servant of the high priest, and struck off his ear.\r\n And Jesus answered and said unto them, Are ye come out, as against a robber, with swords and staves to seize me?\r\n I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and ye took me not: but [this is done] that the scriptures might be fulfilled.\r\n And they all left him, and fled.\r\n And a certain young man followed with him, having a linen cloth cast about him, over [his] naked [body]: and they lay hold on him;\r\n but he left the linen cloth, and fled naked.\r\n And they led Jesus away to the high priest: and there come together with him all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes.\r\n And Peter had followed him afar off, even within, into the court of the high priest; and he was sitting with the officers, and warming himself in the light [of the fire].\r\n Now the chief priests and the whole council sought witness against Jesus to put him to death; and found it not.\r\n For many bare false witness against him, and their witness agreed not together.\r\n And there stood up certain, and bare false witness against him, saying,\r\n We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another made without hands.\r\n And not even so did their witness agree together.\r\n And the high priest stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, saying, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?\r\n But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and saith unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?\r\n And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.\r\n And the high priest rent his clothes, and saith, What further need have we of witnesses?\r\n Ye have heard the blasphemy: what think ye? And they all condemned him to be worthy of death.\r\n And some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to buffet him, and to say unto him, Prophesy: and the officers received him with blows of their hands.\r\n And as Peter was beneath in the court, there cometh one of the maids of the high priest;\r\n and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked upon him, and saith, Thou also wast with the Nazarene, [even] Jesus.\r\n But he denied, saying, I neither know, nor understand what thou sayest: and he went out into the porch; and the cock crew.\r\n And the maid saw him, and began again to say to them that stood by, This is [one] of them.\r\n But he again denied it. And after a little while again they that stood by said to Peter, of a truth thou art [one] of them; for thou art a Galilaean.\r\n But he began to curse, and to swear, I know not this man of whom ye speak.\r\n And straightway the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the word, how that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept.\r\n \r\n \r\n And straightway in the morning the chief priests with the elders and scribes, and the whole council, held a consultation, and bound Jesus, and carried him away, and delivered him up to Pilate.\r\n And Pilate asked him, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answering saith unto him, Thou sayest.\r\n And the chief priests accused him of many things.\r\n And Pilate again asked him, saying, Answerest thou nothing? behold how many things they accuse thee of.\r\n But Jesus no more answered anything; insomuch that Pilate marvelled.\r\n Now at the feast he used to release unto them one prisoner, whom they asked of him.\r\n And there was one called Barabbas, [lying] bound with them that had made insurrection, men who in the insurrection had committed murder.\r\n And the multitude went up and began to ask him [to do] as he was wont to do unto them.\r\n And Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews?\r\n For he perceived that for envy the chief priests had delivered him up.\r\n But the chief priests stirred up the multitude, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them.\r\n And Pilate again answered and said unto them, What then shall I do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews?\r\n And they cried out again, Crucify him.\r\n And Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out exceedingly, Crucify him.\r\n And Pilate, wishing to content the multitude, released unto them Barabbas, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified.\r\n And the soldiers led him away within the court, which is the Praetorium; and they call together the whole band.\r\n And they clothe him with purple, and platting a crown of thorns, they put it on him;\r\n and they began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews!\r\n And they smote his head with a reed, and spat upon him, and bowing their knees worshipped him.\r\n And when they had mocked him, they took off from him the purple, and put on him his garments. And they lead him out to crucify him.\r\n And they compel one passing by, Simon of Cyrene, coming from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to go [with them], that he might bear his cross.\r\n And they bring him unto the place Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, The place of a skull.\r\n And they offered him wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not.\r\n And they crucify him, and part his garments among them, casting lots upon them, what each should take.\r\n And it was the third hour, and they crucified him.\r\n And the superscription of his accusation was written over, THE KING OF THE JEWS.\r\n And with him they crucify two robbers; one on his right hand, and one on his left.\r\n [And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was reckoned with transgressors.]\r\n And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ha! Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days,\r\n save thyself, and come down from the cross.\r\n In like manner also the chief priests mocking [him] among themselves with the scribes said, He saved others; himself he cannot save.\r\n Let the Christ, the King of Israel, now come down from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him reproached him.\r\n And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.\r\n And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?\r\n And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, Behold, he calleth Elijah.\r\n And one ran, and filling a sponge full of vinegar, put it on a reed, and gave him to drink, saying, Let be; let us see whether Elijah cometh to take him down.\r\n And Jesus uttered a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.\r\n And the veil of the temple was rent in two from the top to the bottom.\r\n And when the centurion, who stood by over against him, saw that he so gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God.\r\n And there were also women beholding from afar: among whom [were] both Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome;\r\n who, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered unto him; and many other women that came up with him unto Jerusalem.\r\n And when even was now come, because it was the Preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath,\r\n there came Joseph of Arimathaea, a councillor of honorable estate, who also himself was looking for the kingdom of God; and he boldly went in unto Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus.\r\n And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead.\r\n And when he learned it of the centurion, he granted the corpse to Joseph.\r\n And he bought a linen cloth, and taking him down, wound him in the linen cloth, and laid him in a tomb which had been hewn out of a rock; and he rolled a stone against the door of the tomb.\r\n And Mary Magdalene and Mary the [mother] of Joses beheld where he was laid.\r\n \r\n \r\n And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the [mother] of James, and Salome, bought spices, that they might come and anoint him.\r\n And very early on the first day of the week, they come to the tomb when the sun was risen.\r\n And they were saying among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the tomb?\r\n and looking up, they see that the stone is rolled back: for it was exceeding great.\r\n And entering into the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, arrayed in a white robe; and they were amazed.\r\n And he saith unto them, Be not amazed: ye seek Jesus, the Nazarene, who hath been crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold, the place where they laid him!\r\n But go, tell his disciples and Peter, He goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.\r\n And they went out, and fled from the tomb; for trembling and astonishment had come upon them: and they said nothing to any one; for they were afraid.\r\n Now when he was risen early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons.\r\n She went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept.\r\n And they, when they heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, disbelieved.\r\n And after these things he was manifested in another form unto two of them, as they walked, on their way into the country.\r\n And they went away and told it unto the rest: neither believed they them.\r\n And afterward he was manifested unto the eleven themselves as they sat at meat; and he upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them that had seen him after he was risen.\r\n And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation.\r\n He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned.\r\n And these signs shall accompany them that believe: in my name shall they cast out demons; they shall speak with new tongues;\r\n they shall take up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall in no wise hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.\r\n So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken unto them, was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.\r\n And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word by the signs that followed. Amen.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to draw up a narrative concerning those matters which have been fulfilled among us,\r\n even as they delivered them unto us, who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word,\r\n it seemed good to me also, having traced the course of all things accurately from the first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus;\r\n that thou mightest know the certainty concerning the things wherein thou wast instructed.\r\n There was in the days of Herod, king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abijah: and he had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.\r\n And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.\r\n And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were [now] well stricken in years.\r\n Now it came to pass, while he executed the priest`s office before God in the order of his course,\r\n according to the custom of the priest`s office, his lot was to enter into the temple of the Lord and burn incense.\r\n And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the hour of incense.\r\n And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of altar of incense.\r\n And Zacharias was troubled when he saw [him], and fear fell upon him.\r\n But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: because thy supplication is heard, and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.\r\n And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.\r\n For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and he shall drink no wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother`s womb.\r\n And many of the children of Israel shall be turn unto the Lord their God.\r\n And he shall go before his face in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient [to walk] in the wisdom of the just; to make ready for the Lord a people prepared [for him].\r\n And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.\r\n And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and I was sent to speak unto thee, and to bring thee these good tidings.\r\n And behold, thou shalt be silent and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall come to pass, because thou believedst not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.\r\n And the people were waiting for Zacharias, and they marvelled while he tarried in the temple.\r\n And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: and he continued making signs unto them, and remained dumb.\r\n And it came to pass, when the days of his ministration were fulfilled, he departed unto his house.\r\n And after these days Elisabeth his wife conceived; and she hid herself five months, saying,\r\n Thus hath the Lord done unto me in the days wherein he looked upon [me], to take away my reproach among men.\r\n Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,\r\n to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin`s name was Mary.\r\n And he came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord [is] with thee.\r\n But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this might be.\r\n And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God.\r\n And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.\r\n He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Most High: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:\r\n and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.\r\n And Mary said unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?\r\n And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee: wherefore also the holy thing which is begotten shall be called the Son of God.\r\n And behold, Elisabeth thy kinswoman, she also hath conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her that was called barren.\r\n For no word from God shall be void of power.\r\n And Mary said, Behold, the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.\r\n And Mary arose in these days and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah;\r\n and entered into the house of Zacharias and saluted Elisabeth.\r\n And it came to pass, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit;\r\n and she lifted up her voice with a loud cry, and said, Blessed [art] thou among women, and blessed [is] the fruit of thy womb.\r\n And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come unto me?\r\n For behold, when the voice of thy salutation came into mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.\r\n And blessed [is] she that believed; for there shall be a fulfilment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord.\r\n And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,\r\n And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.\r\n For he hath looked upon the low estate of his handmaid: For behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.\r\n For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; And holy is his name.\r\n And his mercy is unto generations and generations On them that fear him.\r\n He hath showed strength with his arm; He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their heart.\r\n He hath put down princes from [their] thrones, And hath exalted them of low degree.\r\n The hungry he hath filled with good things; And the rich he hath sent empty away.\r\n He hath given help to Israel his servant, That he might remember mercy\r\n (As he spake unto our fathers) Toward Abraham and his seed for ever.\r\n And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned unto her house.\r\n Now Elisabeth`s time was fulfilled that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.\r\n And her neighbors and her kinsfolk heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy towards her; and they rejoiced with her.\r\n And it came to pass on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him Zacharias, after the name of the father.\r\n And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John.\r\n And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.\r\n And they made signs to his father, what he would have him called.\r\n And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all.\r\n And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue [loosed], and he spake, blessing God.\r\n And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea.\r\n And all that heard them laid them up in their heart, saying, What then shall this child be? For the hand of the Lord was with him.\r\n And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying,\r\n Blessed [be] the Lord, the God of Israel; For he hath visited and wrought redemption for his people,\r\n And hath raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of his servant David\r\n (As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets that have been from of old),\r\n Salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;\r\n To show mercy towards, our fathers, And to remember his holy covenant;\r\n The oath which he spake unto Abraham our father,\r\n To grant unto us that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies Should serve him without fear,\r\n In holiness and righteousness before him all our days.\r\n Yea and thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Most High: For thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to make ready his ways;\r\n To give knowledge of salvation unto his people In the remission of their sins,\r\n Because of the tender mercy of our God, Whereby the dayspring from on high shall visit us,\r\n To shine upon them that sit in darkness and the shadow of death; To guide our feet into the way of peace.\r\n And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his showing unto Israel.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now it came to pass in those days, there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be enrolled.\r\n This was the first enrolment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria.\r\n And all went to enrol themselves, every one to his own city.\r\n And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David;\r\n to enrol himself with Mary, who was betrothed to him, being great with child.\r\n And it came to pass, while they were there, the days were fulfilled that she should be delivered.\r\n And she brought forth her firstborn son; and she wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.\r\n And there were shepherds in the same country abiding in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock.\r\n And an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.\r\n And the angel said unto them, Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all the people:\r\n for there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord.\r\n And this [is] the sign unto you: Ye shall find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, and lying in a manger.\r\n And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,\r\n Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men in whom he is well pleased.\r\n And it came to pass, when the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing that is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.\r\n And they came with haste, and found both Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in the manger.\r\n And when they saw it, they made known concerning the saying which was spoken to them about this child.\r\n And all that heard it wondered at the things which were spoken unto them by the shepherds.\r\n But Mary kept all these sayings, pondering them in her heart.\r\n And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, even as it was spoken unto them.\r\n And when eight days were fulfilled for circumcising him, his name was called JESUS, which was so called by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.\r\n And when the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were fulfilled, they brought him up to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord\r\n (as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord),\r\n and to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.\r\n And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Spirit was upon him.\r\n And it had been revealed unto him by the Holy Spirit, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord`s Christ.\r\n And he came in the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, that they might do concerning him after the custom of the law,\r\n then he received him into his arms, and blessed God, and said,\r\n Now lettest thou thy servant depart, Lord, According to thy word, in peace;\r\n For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,\r\n Which thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples;\r\n A light for revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of thy people Israel.\r\n And his father and his mother were marvelling at the things which were spoken concerning him;\r\n and Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this [child] is set for the falling and the rising of many in Israel; and for a sign which is spoken against;\r\n yea and a sword shall pierce through thine own soul; that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed.\r\n And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher (she was of a great age, having lived with a husband seven years from her virginity,\r\n and she had been a widow even unto fourscore and four years), who departed not from the temple, worshipping with fastings and supplications night and day.\r\n And coming up at that very hour she gave thanks unto God, and spake of him to all them that were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.\r\n And when they had accomplished all things that were according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.\r\n And the child grew, and waxed strong, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.\r\n And his parents went every year to Jerusalem at the feast of the passover.\r\n And when he was twelve years old, they went up after the custom of the feast;\r\n and when they had fulfilled the days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and his parents knew it not;\r\n but supposing him to be in the company, they went a day`s journey; and they sought for him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance:\r\n and when they found him not, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking for him.\r\n And it came to pass, after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both hearing them, and asking them questions:\r\n and all that heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.\r\n And when they saw him, they were astonished; and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I sought thee sorrowing.\r\n And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? knew ye not that I must be in my Father`s house?\r\n And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them.\r\n And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth; and he was subject unto them: and his mother kept all [these] sayings in her heart.\r\n And Jesus advanced in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene,\r\n in the highpriesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.\r\n And he came into all the region round about the Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance unto remission of sins;\r\n as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make ye ready the way of the Lord, Make his paths straight.\r\n Every valley shall be filled, And every mountain and hill shall be brought low; And the crooked shall become straight, And the rough ways smooth;\r\n And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.\r\n He said therefore to the multitudes that went out to be baptized of him, Ye offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?\r\n Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.\r\n And even now the axe also lieth at the root of the trees: every tree therefore that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.\r\n And the multitudes asked him, saying, What then must we do?\r\n And he answered and said unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath food, let him do likewise.\r\n And there came also publicans to be baptized, and they said unto him, Teacher, what must we do?\r\n And he said unto them, Extort no more than that which is appointed you.\r\n And soldiers also asked him, saying, And we, what must we do? And he said unto them, Extort from no man by violence, neither accuse [any one] wrongfully; and be content with your wages.\r\n And as the people were in expectation, and all men reasoned in their hearts concerning John, whether haply he were the Christ;\r\n John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but there cometh he that is mightier than I, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you in the Holy Spirit and [in] fire:\r\n whose fan is in his hand, thoroughly to cleanse his threshing-floor, and to gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire.\r\n With many other exhortations therefore preached he good tidings unto the people;\r\n but Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias his brother`s wife, and for all the evil things which Herod had done,\r\n added this also to them all, that he shut up John in prison.\r\n Now it came to pass, when all the people were baptized, that, Jesus also having been baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened,\r\n and the Holy Spirit descended in a bodily form, as a dove, upon him, and a voice came out of heaven, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.\r\n And Jesus himself, when he began [to teach], was about thirty years of age, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the [son] of Heli,\r\n the [son] of Matthat, the [son] of Levi, the [son] of Melchi, the [son] of Jannai, the [son] of Joseph,\r\n the [son] of Mattathias, the [son] of Amos, the [son] of Nahum, the [son] of Esli, the [son] of Naggai,\r\n the [son] of Maath, the [son] of Mattathias, the [son] of Semein, the [son] of Josech, the [son] of Joda,\r\n the [son] of Joanan, the [son] of Rhesa, the [son] of Zerubbabel, the [son] of Shealtiel, the [son] of Neri,\r\n the [son] of Melchi, the [son] of Addi, the [son] of Cosam, the [son] of Elmadam, the [son] of Er,\r\n the [son] of Jesus, the [son] of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the [son] of Matthat, the [son] of Levi,\r\n the [son] of Symeon, the [son] of Judas, the [son] of Joseph, the [son] of Jonam, the [son] of Eliakim,\r\n the [son] of Melea, the [son] of Menna, the [son] of Mattatha, the [son] of Nathan, the [son] of David,\r\n the [son] of Jesse, the [son] of Obed, the [son] of Boaz, the [son] of Salmon, the [son] of Nahshon,\r\n the [son] of Amminadab, the [son] of Arni, the [son] of Hezron, the [son] of Perez, the [son] of Judah,\r\n the [son] of Jacob, the [son] of Isaac, the [son] of Abraham, the [son] of Terah, the [son] of Nahor,\r\n the [son] of Serug, the [son] of Reu, the [son] of Peleg, the [son] of Eber, the [son] of Shelah\r\n the [son] of Cainan, the [son] of Arphaxad, the [son] of Shem, the [son] of Noah, the [son] of Lamech,\r\n the [son] of Methuselah, the [son] of Enoch, the [son] of Jared, the [son] of Mahalaleel, the [son] of Cainan,\r\n the [son] of Enos, the [son] of Seth, the [son] of Adam, the [son] of God.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan, and was led in the Spirit in the wilderness\r\n during forty days, being tempted of the devil. And he did eat nothing in those days: and when they were completed, he hungered.\r\n And the devil said unto him, if thou art the Son of God, command this stone that it become bread.\r\n And Jesus answered unto him, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone.\r\n And he led him up, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.\r\n And the devil said unto him, To thee will I give all this authority, and the glory of them: for it hath been delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.\r\n If thou therefore wilt worship before me, it shall all be thine.\r\n And Jesus answered and said unto him, It is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.\r\n And he led him to Jerusalem, and set him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou art the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence:\r\n for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee, to guard thee:\r\n and, On their hands they shall bear thee up, Lest haply thou dash thy foot against a stone.\r\n And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not make trial of the Lord thy God.\r\n And when the devil had completed every temptation, he departed from him for a season.\r\n And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and a fame went out concerning him through all the region round about.\r\n And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all.\r\n And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and he entered, as his custom was, into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up to read.\r\n And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Isaiah. And he opened the book, and found the place where it was written,\r\n The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, Because he anointed me to preach good tidings to the poor: He hath sent me to proclaim release to the captives, And recovering of sight to the blind, To set at liberty them that are bruised,\r\n To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.\r\n And he closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant, and sat down: and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fastened on him.\r\n And he began to say unto them, To-day hath this scripture been fulfilled in your ears.\r\n And all bare him witness, and wondered at the words of grace which proceeded out of his mouth: and they said, Is not this Joseph`s son?\r\n And he said unto them, Doubtless ye will say unto me this parable, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done at Capernaum, do also here in thine own country.\r\n And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is acceptable in his own country.\r\n But of a truth I say unto you, There were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when there came a great famine over all the land;\r\n and unto none of them was Elijah sent, but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow.\r\n And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.\r\n And they were all filled with wrath in the synagogue, as they heard these things;\r\n and they rose up, and cast him forth out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might throw him down headlong.\r\n But he passing through the midst of them went his way.\r\n And he came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee. And he was teaching them on the sabbath day:\r\n and they were astonished at his teaching; for his word was with authority.\r\n And in the synagogue there was a man, that had a spirit of an unclean demon; and he cried out with a loud voice,\r\n Ah! what have we to do with thee, Jesus thou Nazarene? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.\r\n And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the demon had thrown him down in the midst, he came out of him, having done him no hurt.\r\n And amazement came upon all, and they spake together, one with another, saying, What is this word? for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out.\r\n And there went forth a rumor concerning him into every place of the region round about.\r\n And he rose up from the synagogue, and entered into the house of Simon. And Simon`s wife`s mother was holden with a great fever; and they besought him for her.\r\n And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her: and immediately she rose up and ministered unto them.\r\n And when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them.\r\n And demons also came out from many, crying out, and saying, Thou art the Son of God. And rebuking them, he suffered them not to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ.\r\n And when it was day, he came out and went into a desert place: and the multitudes sought after him, and came unto him, and would have stayed him, that he should not go from them.\r\n But he said unto them, I must preach the good tidings of the kingdom of God to the other cities also: for therefore was I sent.\r\n And he was preaching in the synagogues of Galilee.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now it came to pass, while the multitude pressed upon him and heard the word of God, that he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret;\r\n and he saw two boats standing by the lake: but the fishermen had gone out of them, and were washing their nets.\r\n And he entered into one of the boats, which was Simon`s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the multitudes out of the boat.\r\n And when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Put out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.\r\n And Simon answered and said, Master, we toiled all night, and took nothing: but at thy word I will let down the nets.\r\n And when they had done this, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes; and their nets were breaking;\r\n and they beckoned unto their partners in the other boat, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.\r\n But Simon Peter, when he saw it, fell down at Jesus` knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.\r\n For he was amazed, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken;\r\n and so were also James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.\r\n And when they had brought their boats to land, they left all, and followed him.\r\n And it came to pass, while he was in one of the cities, behold, a man full of leprosy: and when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.\r\n And he stretched forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou made clean. And straightway the leprosy departed from him.\r\n And he charged him to tell no man: but go thy way, and show thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing, according as Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.\r\n But so much the more went abroad the report concerning him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed of their infirmities.\r\n But he withdrew himself in the deserts, and prayed.\r\n And it came to pass on one of those days, that he was teaching; and there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, who were come out of every village of Galilee and Judaea and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was with him to heal.\r\n And behold, men bring on a bed a man that was palsied: and they sought to bring him in, and to lay him before him.\r\n And not finding by what [way] they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went up to the housetop, and let him down through the tiles with his couch into the midst before Jesus.\r\n And seeing their faith, he said, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.\r\n And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this that speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?\r\n But Jesus perceiving their reasonings, answered and said unto them, Why reason ye in your hearts?\r\n Which is easier, to say, Thy sins are forgiven thee; or to say, Arise and walk?\r\n But that ye may know that the Son of man hath authority on earth to forgive sins (he said unto him that was palsied), I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go unto thy house.\r\n And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his house, glorifying God.\r\n And amazement took hold on all, and they glorified God; and they were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to-day.\r\n And after these things he went forth, and beheld a publican, named Levi, sitting at the place of toll, and said unto him, Follow me.\r\n And he forsook all, and rose up and followed him.\r\n And Levi made him a great feast in his house: and there was a great multitude of publicans and of others that were sitting at meat with them.\r\n And the Pharisees and their scribes murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with the publicans and sinners?\r\n And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are in health have no need of a physician; but they that are sick.\r\n I am not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.\r\n And they said unto him, The disciples of John fast often, and make supplications; likewise also the [disciples] of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink.\r\n And Jesus said unto them, Can ye make the sons of the bride-chamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them?\r\n But the days will come; and when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, then will they fast in those days.\r\n And he spake also a parable unto them: No man rendeth a piece from a new garment and putteth it upon an old garment; else he will rend the new, and also the piece from the new will not agree with the old.\r\n And no man putteth new wine into old wine-skins; else the new wine will burst the skins, and itself will be spilled, and the skins will perish.\r\n But new wine must be put into fresh wine-skins.\r\n And no man having drunk old [wine] desireth new; for he saith, The old is good.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now it came to pass on a sabbath, that he was going through the grainfields; and his disciples plucked the ears, and did eat, rubbing them in their hands.\r\n But certain of the Pharisees said, Why do ye that which it is not lawful to do on the sabbath day?\r\n And Jesus answering them said, Have ye not read even this, what David did, when he was hungry, he, and they that were with him;\r\n how he entered into the house of God, and took and ate the showbread, and gave also to them that were with him; which it is not lawful to eat save for the priests alone?\r\n And he said unto them, The Son of man is lord of the sabbath.\r\n And it came to pass on another sabbath, that he entered into the synagogue and taught: and there was a man there, and his right hand was withered.\r\n And the scribes and the Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the sabbath; that they might find how to accuse him.\r\n But he knew their thoughts; and he said to the man that had his hand withered, Rise up, and stand forth in the midst. And he arose and stood forth.\r\n And Jesus said unto them, I ask you, Is it lawful on the sabbath to do good, or to do harm? to save a life, or to destroy it?\r\n And he looked round about on them all, and said unto him, Stretch forth thy hand. And he did [so]: and his hand was restored.\r\n But they were filled with madness; and communed one with another what they might do to Jesus.\r\n And it came to pass in these days, that he went out into the mountain to pray; and he continued all night in prayer to God.\r\n And when it was day, he called his disciples; and he chose from them twelve, whom also he named apostles:\r\n Simon, whom he also named Peter, and Andrew his brother, and James and John, and Philip and Bartholomew,\r\n and Matthew and Thomas, and James [the son] of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot,\r\n and Judas [the son] of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor;\r\n and he came down with them, and stood on a level place, and a great multitude of his disciples, and a great number of the people from all Judaea and Jerusalem, and the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases;\r\n and they that were troubled with unclean spirits were healed.\r\n And all the multitude sought to touch him; for power came forth from him, and healed [them] all.\r\n And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed [are] ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.\r\n Blessed [are] ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed [are] ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh.\r\n Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you [from their company], and reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man`s sake.\r\n Rejoice in that day, and leap [for joy]: for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for in the same manner did their fathers unto the prophets.\r\n But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation.\r\n Woe unto you, ye that are full now! for ye shall hunger. Woe [unto you], ye that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.\r\n Woe [unto you], when all men shall speak well of you! for in the same manner did their fathers to the false prophets.\r\n But I say unto you that hear, Love your enemies, do good to them that hate you,\r\n bless them that curse you, pray for them that despitefully use you.\r\n To him that smiteth thee on the [one] cheek offer also the other; and from him that taketh away thy cloak withhold not thy coat also.\r\n Give to every one that asketh thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.\r\n And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.\r\n And if ye love them that love you, what thank have ye? for even sinners love those that love them.\r\n And if ye do good to them that do good to you, what thank have ye? for even sinners do the same.\r\n And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? even sinners lend to sinners, to receive again as much.\r\n But love your enemies, and do [them] good, and lend, never despairing; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be sons of the Most High: for he is kind toward the unthankful and evil.\r\n Be ye merciful, even as your Father is merciful.\r\n And judge not, and ye shall not be judged: and condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: release, and ye shall be released:\r\n give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, shall they give into your bosom. For with what measure ye mete it shall be measured to you again.\r\n And he spake also a parable unto them, Can the blind guide the blind? shall they not both fall into a pit?\r\n The disciple is not above his teacher: but every one when he is perfected shall be as his teacher.\r\n And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother`s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?\r\n Or how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me cast out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote that is in thy brother`s eye.\r\n For there is no good tree that bringeth forth corrupt fruit; nor again a corrupt tree that bringeth forth good fruit.\r\n For each tree is known by its own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.\r\n The good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and the evil [man] out of the evil [treasure] bringeth forth that which is evil: for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.\r\n And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?\r\n Every one that cometh unto me, and heareth my words, and doeth them, I will show you to whom he is like:\r\n he is like a man building a house, who digged and went deep, and laid a foundation upon the rock: and when a flood arose, the stream brake against that house, and could not shake it: because it had been well builded.\r\n But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that built a house upon the earth without a foundation; against which the stream brake, and straightway it fell in; and the ruin of that house was great.\r\n \r\n \r\n After he had ended all his sayings in the ears of the people, he entered into Capernaum.\r\n And a certain centurion`s servant, who was dear unto him, was sick and at the point of death.\r\n And when he heard concerning Jesus, he sent unto him elders of the Jews, asking him that he would come and save his servant.\r\n And they, when they came to Jesus, besought him earnestly, saying, He is worthy that thou shouldest do this for him;\r\n for he loveth our nation, and himself built us our synagogue.\r\n And Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself; for I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof:\r\n wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say the word, and my servant shall be healed.\r\n For I also am a man set under authority, having under myself soldiers: and I say to this one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.\r\n And when Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned and said unto the multitude that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.\r\n And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole.\r\n And it came to pass soon afterwards, that he went to a city called Nain; and his disciples went with him, and a great multitude.\r\n Now when he drew near to the gate of the city, behold, there was carried out one that was dead, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her.\r\n And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.\r\n And he came nigh and touched the bier: and the bearers stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.\r\n And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he gave him to his mother.\r\n And fear took hold on all: and they glorified God, saying, A great prophet is arisen among us: and, God hath visited his people.\r\n And this report went forth concerning him in the whole of Judaea, and all the region round about.\r\n And the disciples of John told him of all these things.\r\n And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to the Lord, saying, Art thou he that cometh, or look we for another?\r\n And when the men were come unto him, they said, John the Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that cometh, or look we for another?\r\n In that hour he cured many of diseases and plagues and evil spirits; and on many that were blind he bestowed sight.\r\n And he answered and said unto them, Go and tell John the things which ye have seen and heard; the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good tidings preached to them.\r\n And blessed is he, whosoever shall find no occasion of stumbling in me.\r\n And when the messengers of John were departed, he began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to behold? a reed shaken with the wind?\r\n But what went ye out to see? a man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they that are gorgeously apparelled, and live delicately, are in kings` courts.\r\n But what went ye out to see? a prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet.\r\n This is he of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, Who shall prepare thy way before thee.\r\n I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there is none greater than John: yet he that is but little in the kingdom of God is greater than he.\r\n And all the people when they heard, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John.\r\n But the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected for themselves the counsel of God, being not baptized of him.\r\n Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation, and to what are they like?\r\n They are like unto children that sit in the marketplace, and call one to another; who say, We piped unto you, and ye did not dance; we wailed, and ye did not weep.\r\n For John the Baptist is come eating no bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a demon.\r\n The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold, a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!\r\n And wisdom is justified of all her children.\r\n And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he entered into the Pharisee`s house, and sat down to meat.\r\n And behold, a woman who was in the city, a sinner; and when she knew that he was sitting at meat in the Pharisee`s house, she brought an alabaster cruse of ointment,\r\n and standing behind at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.\r\n Now when the Pharisee that had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have perceived who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him, that she is a sinner.\r\n And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Teacher, say on.\r\n A certain lender had two debtors: the one owed five hundred shillings, and the other fifty.\r\n When they had not [wherewith] to pay, he forgave them both. Which of them therefore will love him most?\r\n Simon answered and said, He, I suppose, to whom he forgave the most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.\r\n And turning to the woman, he said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thy house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath wetted my feet with her tears, and wiped them with her hair.\r\n Thou gavest me no kiss: but she, since the time I came in, hath not ceased to kiss my feet.\r\n My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but she hath anointed my feet with ointment.\r\n Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, [the same] loveth little.\r\n And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.\r\n And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that even forgiveth sins?\r\n And he said unto the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass soon afterwards, that he went about through cities and villages, preaching and bringing the good tidings of the kingdom of God, and with him the twelve,\r\n and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary that was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out,\r\n and Joanna the wife of Chuzas Herod`s steward, and Susanna, and many others, who ministered unto them of their substance.\r\n And when a great multitude came together, and they of every city resorted unto him, he spake by a parable:\r\n The sower went forth to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden under foot, and the birds of the heaven devoured it.\r\n And other fell on the rock; and as soon as it grew, it withered away, because it had no moisture.\r\n And other fell amidst the thorns; and the thorns grew with it, and choked it.\r\n And other fell into the good ground, and grew, and brought forth fruit a hundredfold. As he said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.\r\n And his disciples asked him what this parable might be.\r\n And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to the rest in parables; that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.\r\n Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.\r\n And those by the way side are they that have heard; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word from their heart, that they may not believe and be saved.\r\n And those on the rock [are] they who, when they have heard, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.\r\n And that which fell among the thorns, these are they that have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of [this] life, and bring no fruit to perfection.\r\n And that in the good ground, these are such as in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, hold it fast, and bring forth fruit with patience.\r\n And no man, when he hath lighted a lamp, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but putteth it on a stand, that they that enter in may see the light.\r\n For nothing is hid, that shall not be made manifest; nor [anything] secret, that shall not be known and come to light.\r\n Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that which he thinketh he hath.\r\n And there came to him his mother and brethren, and they could not come at him for the crowd.\r\n And it was told him, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee.\r\n But he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these that hear the word of God, and do it.\r\n Now it came to pass on one of those days, that he entered into a boat, himself and his disciples; and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake: and they launched forth.\r\n But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filling [with water], and were in jeopardy.\r\n And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. And he awoke, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm.\r\n And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And being afraid they marvelled, saying one to another, Who then is this, that he commandeth even the winds and the water, and they obey him?\r\n And they arrived at the country of the Gerasenes, which is over against Galilee.\r\n And when he was come forth upon the land, there met him a certain man out of the city, who had demons; and for a long time he had worn no clothes, and abode not in [any] house, but in the tombs.\r\n And when he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the Most High God? I beseech thee, torment me not.\r\n For he was commanding the unclean spirit to come out from the man. For oftentimes it had seized him: and he was kept under guard, and bound with chains and fetters; and breaking the bands asunder, he was driven of the demon into the deserts.\r\n And Jesus asked him, What is thy name? And he said, Legion; for many demons were entered into him.\r\n And they entreated him that he would not command them to depart into the abyss.\r\n Now there was there a herd of many swine feeding on the mountain: and they entreated him that he would give them leave to enter into them. And he gave them leave.\r\n And the demons came out from the man, and entered into the swine: and the herd rushed down the steep into the lake, and were drowned.\r\n And when they that fed them saw what had come to pass, they fled, and told it in the city and in the country.\r\n And they went out to see what had come to pass; and they came to Jesus, and found the man, from whom the demons were gone out, sitting, clothed and in his right mind, at the feet of Jesus: and they were afraid.\r\n And they that saw it told them how he that was possessed with demons was made whole.\r\n And all the people of the country of the Gerasenes round about asked him to depart from them, for they were holden with great fear: and he entered into a boat, and returned.\r\n But the man from whom the demons were gone out prayed him that he might be with him: but he sent him away, saying,\r\n Return to thy house, and declare how great things God hath done for thee. And he went his way, publishing throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done for him.\r\n And as Jesus returned, the multitude welcomed him; for they were all waiting for him.\r\n And behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue: and he fell down at Jesus` feet, and besought him to come into his house;\r\n for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying. But as he went the multitudes thronged him.\r\n And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, who had spent all her living upon physicians, and could not be healed of any,\r\n came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately the issue of her blood stanched.\r\n And Jesus said, Who is it that touched me? And when all denied, Peter said, and they that were with him, Master, the multitudes press thee and crush [thee].\r\n But Jesus said, Some one did touch me; for I perceived that power had gone forth from me.\r\n And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people for what cause she touched him, and how she was healed immediately.\r\n And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.\r\n While he yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue`s [house], saying, Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Teacher.\r\n But Jesus hearing it, answered him, Fear not: only believe, and she shall be made whole.\r\n And when he came to the house, he suffered not any man to enter in with him, save Peter, and John, and James, and the father of the maiden and her mother.\r\n And all were weeping, and bewailing her: but he said, Weep not; for she is not dead, but sleepeth.\r\n And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead.\r\n But he, taking her by the hand, called, saying, Maiden, arise.\r\n And her spirit returned, and she rose up immediately: and he commanded that [something] be given her to eat.\r\n And her parents were amazed: but he charged them to tell no man what had been done.\r\n \r\n \r\n And he called the twelve together, and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases.\r\n And he sent them forth to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.\r\n And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey, neither staff, nor wallet, nor bread, nor money; neither have two coats.\r\n And into whatsoever house ye enter, there abide, and thence depart.\r\n And as many as receive you not, when ye depart from that city, shake off the dust from your feet for a testimony against them.\r\n And they departed, and went throughout the villages, preaching the gospel, and healing everywhere.\r\n Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done: and he was much perplexed, because that it was said by some, that John was risen from the dead;\r\n and by some, that Elijah had appeared; and by others, that one of the old prophets was risen again.\r\n And Herod said, John I beheaded: but who is this, about whom I hear such things? And he sought to see him.\r\n And the apostles, when they were returned, declared unto him what things they had done. And he took them, and withdrew apart to a city called Bethsaida.\r\n But the multitudes perceiving it followed him: and he welcomed them, and spake to them of the kingdom of God, and them that had need of healing he cured.\r\n And the day began to wear away; and the twelve came, and said unto him, Send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages and country round about, and lodge, and get provisions: for we are here in a desert place.\r\n But he said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they said, We have no more than five loaves and two fishes; except we should go and buy food for all this people.\r\n For they were about five thousand men. And he said unto his disciples, Make them sit down in companies, about fifty each.\r\n And they did so, and made them all sit down.\r\n And he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and brake; and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude.\r\n And they ate, and were all filled: and there was taken up that which remained over to them of broken pieces, twelve baskets.\r\n And it came to pass, as he was praying apart, the disciples were with him: and he asked them, saying, Who do the multitudes say that I am?\r\n And they answering said, John the Baptist; but others [say], Elijah; and others, that one of the old prophets is risen again.\r\n And he said unto them, But who say ye that I am? And Peter answering said, The Christ of God.\r\n But he charged them, and commanded [them] to tell this to no man;\r\n saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and the third day be raised up.\r\n And he said unto all, If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.\r\n For whosoever would save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.\r\n For what is a man profited, if he gain the whole world, and lose or forfeit his own self?\r\n For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in his own glory, and [the glory] of the Father, and of the holy angels.\r\n But I tell you of a truth, There are some of them that stand here, who shall in no wise taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God.\r\n And it came to pass about eight days after these sayings, that he took with him Peter and John and James, and went up into the mountain to pray.\r\n And as he was praying, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment [became] white [and] dazzling.\r\n And behold, there talked with him two men, who were Moses and Elijah;\r\n who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.\r\n Now Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: but when they were fully awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him.\r\n And it came to pass, as they were parting from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah: not knowing what he said.\r\n And while he said these things, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud.\r\n And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my Son, my chosen: hear ye him.\r\n And when the voice came, Jesus was found alone. And they held their peace, and told no man in those days any of the things which they had seen.\r\n And it came to pass, on the next day, when they were come down from the mountain, a great multitude met him.\r\n And behold, a man from the multitude cried, saying, Teacher, I beseech thee to look upon my son; for he is mine only child:\r\n and behold, a spirit taketh him, and he suddenly crieth out; and it teareth him that he foameth, and it hardly departeth from him, bruising him sorely.\r\n And I besought thy disciples to cast it out; and they could not.\r\n And Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you, and bear with you? bring hither thy son.\r\n And as he was yet a coming, the demon dashed him down, and tare [him] grievously. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the boy, and gave him back to his father.\r\n And they were all astonished at the majesty of God. But while all were marvelling at all the things which he did, he said unto his disciples,\r\n Let these words sink into your ears: for the Son of man shall be delivered up into the hands of men.\r\n But they understood not this saying, and it was concealed from them, that they should not perceive it; and they were afraid to ask him about this saying.\r\n And there arose a reasoning among them, which of them was the greatest.\r\n But when Jesus saw the reasoning of their heart, he took a little child, and set him by his side,\r\n and said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this little child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same is great.\r\n And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out demons in thy name; and we forbade him, because he followeth not with us.\r\n But Jesus said unto him, Forbid [him] not: for he that is not against you is for you.\r\n And it came to pass, when the days were well-nigh come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,\r\n and sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him.\r\n And they did not receive him, because his face was [as though he were] going to Jerusalem.\r\n And when his disciples James and John saw [this], they said, Lord, wilt thou that we bid fire to come down from heaven, and consume them?\r\n But he turned, and rebuked them.\r\n And they went to another village.\r\n And as they went on the way, a certain man said unto him, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.\r\n And Jesus said unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the heaven [have] nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.\r\n And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.\r\n But he said unto him, Leave the dead to bury their own dead; but go thou and publish abroad the kingdom of God.\r\n And another also said, I will follow thee, Lord; but first suffer me to bid farewell to them that are at my house.\r\n But Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now after these things the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself was about to come.\r\n And he said unto them, The harvest indeed is plenteous, but the laborers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he send forth laborers into his harvest.\r\n Go your ways; behold, I send you forth as lambs in the midst of wolves.\r\n Carry no purse, no wallet, no shoes; and salute no man on the way.\r\n And into whatsoever house ye shall enter, first say, Peace [be] to this house.\r\n And if a son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon him: but if not, it shall turn to you again.\r\n And in that same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the laborer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house.\r\n And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you:\r\n and heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.\r\n But into whatsoever city ye shall enter, and they receive you not, go out into the streets thereof and say,\r\n Even the dust from your city, that cleaveth to our feet, we wipe off against you: nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh.\r\n I say unto you, it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city.\r\n Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which were done in you, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.\r\n But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the judgment, than for you.\r\n And thou, Capernaum, shalt thou be exalted unto heaven? thou shalt be brought down unto Hades.\r\n He that heareth you heareth me; and he that rejecteth you rejecteth me; and he that rejecteth me rejecteth him that sent me.\r\n And the seventy returned with joy, saying, Lord, even the demons are subject unto us in thy name.\r\n And he said unto them, I beheld Satan fallen as lightning from heaven.\r\n Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall in any wise hurt you.\r\n Nevertheless in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.\r\n In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou didst hide these things from the wise and understanding, and didst reveal them unto babes: yea, Father; for so it was well-pleasing in thy sight.\r\n All things have been delivered unto me of my Father: and no one knoweth who the Son is, save the Father; and who the Father is, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son willeth to reveal [him].\r\n And turning to the disciples, he said privately, Blessed [are] the eyes which see the things that ye see:\r\n for I say unto you, that many prophets and kings desired to see the things which ye see, and saw them not; and to hear the things which ye hear, and heard them not.\r\n And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and made trial of him, saying, Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?\r\n And he said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?\r\n And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself.\r\n And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.\r\n But he, desiring to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbor?\r\n Jesus made answer and said, A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho; and he fell among robbers, who both stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead.\r\n And by chance a certain priest was going down that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.\r\n And in like manner a Levite also, when he came to the place, and saw him, passed by on the other side.\r\n But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he was moved with compassion,\r\n and came to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring on [them] oil and wine; and he set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.\r\n And on the morrow he took out two shillings, and gave them to the host, and said, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, I, when I come back again, will repay thee.\r\n Which of these three, thinkest thou, proved neighbor unto him that fell among the robbers?\r\n And he said, He that showed mercy on him. And Jesus said unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.\r\n Now as they went on their way, he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.\r\n And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at the Lord`s feet, and heard his word.\r\n But Martha was cumbered about much serving; and she came up to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister did leave me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.\r\n But the Lord answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art anxious and troubled about many things:\r\n but one thing is needful: for Mary hath chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass, as he was praying in a certain place, that when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, even as John also taught his disciples.\r\n And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Father, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come.\r\n Give us day by day our daily bread.\r\n And forgive us our sins; for we ourselves also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And bring us not into temptation.\r\n And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say to him, Friend, lend me three loaves;\r\n for a friend of mine is come to me from a journey, and I have nothing to set before him;\r\n and he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee?\r\n I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will arise and give him as many as he needeth.\r\n And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.\r\n For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.\r\n And of which of you that is a father shall his son ask a loaf, and he give him a stone? or a fish, and he for a fish give him a serpent?\r\n Or [if] he shall ask an egg, will he give him a scorpion?\r\n If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall [your] heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?\r\n And he was casting out a demon [that was] dumb. And it came to pass, when the demon was gone out, the dumb man spake; and the multitudes marvelled.\r\n But some of them said, By Beelzebub the prince of the demons casteth he out demons.\r\n And others, trying [him], sought of him a sign from heaven.\r\n But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house [divided] against a house falleth.\r\n And if Satan also is divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because ye say that I cast out demons by Beelzebub.\r\n And if I by Beelzebub cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges.\r\n But if I by the finger of God cast out demons, then is the kingdom of God come upon you.\r\n When the strong [man] fully armed guardeth his own court, his goods are in peace:\r\n but when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him his whole armor wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils.\r\n He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.\r\n The unclean spirit when he is gone out of the man, passeth through waterless places, seeking rest, and finding none, he saith, I will turn back unto my house whence I came out.\r\n And when he is come, he findeth it swept and garnished.\r\n Then goeth he, and taketh [to him] seven other spirits more evil than himself; and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man becometh worse than the first.\r\n And it came to pass, as he said these things, a certain woman out of the multitude lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the breasts which thou didst suck.\r\n But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.\r\n And when the multitudes were gathering together unto him, he began to say, This generation is an evil generation: it seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it but the sign of Jonah.\r\n For even as Jonah became a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to this generation.\r\n The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation, and shall condemn them: for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, a greater than Solomon is here.\r\n The men of Nineveh shall stand up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, a greater than Jonah is here.\r\n No man, when he hath lighted a lamp, putteth it in a cellar, neither under the bushel, but on the stand, that they which enter in may see the light.\r\n The lamp of thy body is thine eye: when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when it is evil, thy body also is full of darkness.\r\n Look therefore whether the light that is in thee be not darkness.\r\n If therefore thy whole body be full of light, having no part dark, it shall be wholly full of light, as when the lamp with its bright shining doth give thee light.\r\n Now as he spake, a Pharisee asketh him to dine with him: and he went in, and sat down to meat.\r\n And when the Pharisee saw it, he marvelled that he had not first bathed himself before dinner.\r\n And the Lord said unto him, Now ye the Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the platter; but your inward part is full of extortion and wickedness.\r\n Ye foolish ones, did not he that made the outside make the inside also?\r\n But give for alms those things which are within; and behold, all things are clean unto you.\r\n But woe unto you Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and every herb, and pass over justice and the love of God: but these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.\r\n Woe unto you Pharisees! for ye love the chief seats in the synagogues, and the salutations in the marketplaces.\r\n Woe unto you! for ye are as the tombs which appear not, and the men that walk over [them] know it not.\r\n And one of the lawyers answering saith unto him, Teacher, in saying this thou reproachest us also.\r\n And he said, Woe unto you lawyers also! for ye load men with burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers.\r\n Woe unto you! for ye build the tombs of the prophets, and your fathers killed them.\r\n So ye are witnesses and consent unto the works of your fathers: for they killed them, and ye build [their tombs].\r\n Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send unto them prophets and apostles; and [some] of them they shall kill and persecute;\r\n that the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation;\r\n from the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zachariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary: yea, I say unto you, it shall be required of this generation.\r\n Woe unto you lawyers! for ye took away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.\r\n And when he was come out from thence, the scribes and the Pharisees began to press upon [him] vehemently, and to provoke him to speak of many things;\r\n laying wait for him, to catch something out of his mouth.\r\n \r\n \r\n In the mean time, when the many thousands of the multitude were gathered together, insomuch that they trod one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.\r\n But there is nothing covered up, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.\r\n Wherefore whatsoever ye have said in the darkness shall be heard in the light; and what ye have spoken in the ear in the inner chambers shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.\r\n And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.\r\n But I will warn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, who after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.\r\n Are not five sparrows sold for two pence? and not one of them is forgotten in the sight of God.\r\n But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not: ye are of more value than many sparrows.\r\n And I say unto you, Every one who shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:\r\n but he that denieth me in the presence of men shall be denied in the presence of the angels of God.\r\n And every one who shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Spirit it shall not be forgiven.\r\n And when they bring you before the synagogues, and the rulers, and the authorities, be not anxious how or what ye shall answer, or what ye shall say:\r\n for the Holy Spirit shall teach you in that very hour what ye ought to say.\r\n And one out of the multitude said unto him, Teacher, bid my brother divide the inheritance with me.\r\n But he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?\r\n And he said unto them, Take heed, and keep yourselves from all covetousness: for a man`s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.\r\n And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:\r\n and he reasoned within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have not where to bestow my fruits?\r\n And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my grain and my goods.\r\n And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, be merry.\r\n But God said unto him, Thou foolish one, this night is thy soul required of thee; and the things which thou hast prepared, whose shall they be?\r\n So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.\r\n And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Be not anxious for [your] life, what ye shall eat; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on.\r\n For the life is more than the food, and the body than the raiment.\r\n Consider the ravens, that they sow not, neither reap; which have no store-chamber nor barn; and God feedeth them: of how much more value are ye than the birds!\r\n And which of you by being anxious can add a cubit unto the measure of his life?\r\n If then ye are not able to do even that which is least, why are ye anxious concerning the rest?\r\n Consider the lilies, how they grow: they toil not, neither do they spin; yet I say unto you, Even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.\r\n But if God doth so clothe the grass in the field, which to-day is, and to-morrow is cast into the oven; how much more [shall he clothe] you, O ye of little faith?\r\n And seek not ye what ye shall eat, and what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.\r\n For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: but your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.\r\n Yet seek ye his kingdom, and these things shall be added unto you.\r\n Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father`s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.\r\n Sell that which ye have, and give alms; make for yourselves purses which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief draweth near, neither moth destroyeth.\r\n For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.\r\n Let your loins be girded about, and your lamps burning;\r\n and be ye yourselves like unto men looking for their lord, when he shall return from the marriage feast; that, when he cometh and knocketh, they may straightway open unto him.\r\n Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them sit down to meat, and shall come and serve them.\r\n And if he shall come in the second watch, and if in the third, and find [them] so blessed are those [servants].\r\n But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what hour the thief was coming, he would have watched, and not have left his house to be broken through.\r\n Be ye also ready: for in an hour that ye think not the Son of man cometh.\r\n And Peter said, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even unto all?\r\n And the Lord said, Who then is the faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall set over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season?\r\n Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.\r\n Of a truth I say unto you, that he will set him over all that he hath.\r\n But if that servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and the maidservants, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;\r\n the lord of that servant shall come in a day when he expecteth not, and in an hour when he knoweth not, and shall cut him asunder, and appoint his portion with the unfaithful.\r\n And that servant, who knew his lord`s will, and made not ready, nor did according to his will, shall be beaten with many [stripes];\r\n but he that knew not, and did things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few [stripes]. And to whomsoever much is given, of him shall much be required: and to whom they commit much, of him will they ask the more.\r\n I came to cast fire upon the earth; and what do I desire, if it is already kindled?\r\n But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!\r\n Think ye that I am come to give peace in the earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:\r\n for there shall be from henceforth five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.\r\n They shall be divided, father against son, and son against father; mother against daughter, and daughter against her mother; mother in law against her daughter in law, and daughter in law against her mother in law.\r\n And he said to the multitudes also, When ye see a cloud rising in the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it cometh to pass.\r\n And when [ye see] a south wind blowing, ye say, There will be a scorching heat; and it cometh to pass.\r\n Ye hypocrites, ye know how to interpret the face of the earth and the heaven; but how is it that ye know not how to interpret this time?\r\n And why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?\r\n For as thou art going with thine adversary before the magistrate, on the way give diligence to be quit of him; lest haply he drag thee unto the judge, and the judge shall deliver thee to the officer, and the officer shall cast thee into prison.\r\n I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou have paid the very last mite.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now there were some present at that very season who told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.\r\n And he answered and said unto them, Think ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they have suffered these things?\r\n I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all in like manner perish.\r\n Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and killed them, think ye that they were offenders above all the men that dwell in Jerusalem?\r\n I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.\r\n And he spake this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came seeking fruit thereon, and found none.\r\n And he said unto the vinedresser, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why doth it also cumber the ground?\r\n And he answering saith unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:\r\n and if it bear fruit thenceforth, [well]; but if not, thou shalt cut it down.\r\n And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath day.\r\n And behold, a woman that had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years; and she was bowed together, and could in no wise lift herself up.\r\n And when Jesus saw her, he called her, and said to her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.\r\n And he laid his hands upon her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.\r\n And the ruler of the synagogue, being moved with indignation because Jesus had healed on the sabbath, answered and said to the multitude, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the day of the sabbath.\r\n But the Lord answered him, and said, Ye hypocrites, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering?\r\n And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan had bound, lo, [these] eighteen years, to have been loosed from this bond on the day of the sabbath?\r\n And as he said these things, all his adversaries were put to shame: and all the multitude rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him.\r\n He said therefore, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I liken it?\r\n It is like unto a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his own garden; and it grew, and became a tree; and the birds of the heaven lodged in the branches thereof.\r\n And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God?\r\n It is like unto leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till it was all leavened.\r\n And he went on his way through cities and villages, teaching, and journeying on unto Jerusalem.\r\n And one said unto him, Lord, are they few that are saved? And he said unto them,\r\n Strive to enter in by the narrow door: for many, I say unto you, shall seek to enter in, and shall not be able.\r\n When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, open to us; and he shall answer and say to you, I know you not whence ye are;\r\n then shall ye begin to say, We did eat and drink in thy presence, and thou didst teach in our streets;\r\n and he shall say, I tell you, I know not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.\r\n There shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and yourselves cast forth without.\r\n And they shall come from the east and west, and from the north and south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.\r\n And behold, there are last who shall be first, and there are first who shall be last.\r\n In that very hour there came certain Pharisees, saying to him, Get thee out, and go hence: for Herod would fain kill thee.\r\n And he said unto them, Go and say to that fox, Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures to-day and to-morrow, and the third [day] I am perfected.\r\n Nevertheless I must go on my way to-day and to-morrow and the [day] following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem.\r\n O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, that killeth the prophets, and stoneth them that are sent unto her! how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen [gathereth] her own brood under her wings, and ye would not!\r\n Behold, your house is left unto you [desolate]: and I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass, when he went into the house of one of the rulers of the Pharisees on a sabbath to eat bread, that they were watching him.\r\n And behold, there was before him a certain man that had the dropsy.\r\n And Jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath, or not?\r\n But they held their peace. And he took him, and healed him, and let him go.\r\n And he said unto them, Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fallen into a well, and will not straightway draw him up on a sabbath day?\r\n And they could not answer again unto these things.\r\n And he spake a parable unto those that were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief seats; saying unto them,\r\n When thou art bidden of any man to a marriage feast, sit not down in the chief seat; lest haply a more honorable man than thou be bidden of him,\r\n and he that bade thee and him shall come and say to thee, Give this man place; and then thou shalt begin with shame to take the lowest place.\r\n But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest place; that when he that hath bidden thee cometh, he may say to thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have glory in the presence of all that sit at meat with thee.\r\n For everyone that exalteth himself shall be humbled; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.\r\n And he said to him also that had bidden him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, nor thy kinsmen, nor rich neighbors; lest haply they also bid thee again, and a recompense be made thee.\r\n But when thou makest a feast, bid the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind:\r\n and thou shalt be blessed; because they have not [wherewith] to recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed in the resurrection of the just.\r\n And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.\r\n But he said unto him, A certain man made a great supper; and he bade many:\r\n and he sent forth his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for [all] things are now ready.\r\n And they all with one [consent] began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a field, and I must needs go out and see it; I pray thee have me excused.\r\n And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them; I pray thee have me excused.\r\n And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.\r\n And the servant came, and told his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor and maimed and blind and lame.\r\n And the servant said, Lord, what thou didst command is done, and yet there is room.\r\n And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and constrain [them] to come in, that my house may be filled.\r\n For I say unto you, that none of those men that were bidden shall taste of my supper.\r\n Now there went with him great multitudes: and he turned, and said unto them,\r\n If any man cometh unto me, and hateth not his own father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.\r\n Whosoever doth not bear his own cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.\r\n For which of you, desiring to build a tower, doth not first sit down and count the cost, whether he have [wherewith] to complete it?\r\n Lest haply, when he hath laid a foundation, and is not able to finish, all that behold begin to mock him,\r\n saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.\r\n Or what king, as he goeth to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and take counsel whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?\r\n Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and asketh conditions of peace.\r\n So therefore whosoever he be of you that renounceth not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.\r\n Salt therefore is good: but if even the salt have lost its savor, wherewith shall it be seasoned?\r\n It is fit neither for the land nor for the dunghill: [men] cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now all the publicans and sinners were drawing near unto him to hear him.\r\n And both the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.\r\n And he spake unto them this parable, saying,\r\n What man of you, having a hundred sheep, and having lost one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?\r\n And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.\r\n And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and his neighbors, saying unto them, Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.\r\n I say unto you, that even so there shall be joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, [more] than over ninety and nine righteous persons, who need no repentance.\r\n Or what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a lamp, and sweep the house, and seek diligently until she find it?\r\n And when she hath found it, she calleth together her friends and neighbors, saying, Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I had lost.\r\n Even so, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.\r\n And he said, A certain man had two sons:\r\n and the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of [thy] substance that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.\r\n And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together and took his journey into a far country; and there he wasted his substance with riotous living.\r\n And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that country; and he began to be in want.\r\n And he went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.\r\n And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.\r\n But when he came to himself he said, How many hired servants of my father`s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish here with hunger!\r\n I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight:\r\n I am no more worthy to be called your son: make me as one of thy hired servants.\r\n And he arose, and came to his father. But while he was yet afar off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.\r\n And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight: I am no more worthy to be called thy son.\r\n But the father said to his servants, Bring forth quickly the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:\r\n and bring the fatted calf, [and] kill it, and let us eat, and make merry:\r\n for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.\r\n Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing.\r\n And he called to him one of the servants, and inquired what these things might be.\r\n And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.\r\n But he was angry, and would not go in: and his father came out, and entreated him.\r\n But he answered and said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, and I never transgressed a commandment of thine; and [yet] thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:\r\n but when this thy son came, who hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou killedst for him the fatted calf.\r\n And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that is mine is thine.\r\n But it was meet to make merry and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive [again]; and [was] lost, and is found.\r\n \r\n \r\n And he said also unto the disciples, There was a certain rich man, who had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he was wasting his goods.\r\n And he called him, and said unto him, What is this that I hear of thee? render the account of thy stewardship; for thou canst be no longer steward.\r\n And the steward said within himself, What shall I do, seeing that my lord taketh away the stewardship from me? I have not strength to dig; to beg I am ashamed.\r\n I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.\r\n And calling to him each one of his lord`s debtors, he said to the first, How much owest thou unto my lord?\r\n And he said, A hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bond, and sit down quickly and write fifty.\r\n Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, A hundred measures of wheat. He saith unto him, Take thy bond, and write fourscore.\r\n And his lord commended the unrighteous steward because he had done wisely: for the sons of this world are for their own generation wiser than the sons of the light.\r\n And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends by means of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when it shall fail, they may receive you into the eternal tabernacles.\r\n He that is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much: and he that is unrighteous in a very little is unrighteous also in much.\r\n If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true [riches]?\r\n And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another`s, who will give you that which is your own?\r\n No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.\r\n And the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things; and they scoffed at him.\r\n And he said unto them, Ye are they that justify yourselves in the sight of men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.\r\n The law and the prophets [were] until John: from that time the gospel of the kingdom of God is preached, and every man entereth violently into it.\r\n But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away, than for one tittle of the law to fall.\r\n Every one that putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and he that marrieth one that is put away from a husband committeth adultery.\r\n Now there was a certain rich man, and he was clothed in purple and fine linen, faring sumptuously every day:\r\n and a certain beggar named Lazarus was laid at his gate, full of sores,\r\n and desiring to be fed with the [crumbs] that fell from the rich man`s table; yea, even the dogs come and licked his sores.\r\n And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and that he was carried away by the angels into Abraham`s bosom: and the rich man also died, and was buried.\r\n And in Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.\r\n And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am in anguish in this flame.\r\n But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things: but now here he is comforted and thou art in anguish.\r\n And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, that they that would pass from hence to you may not be able, and that none may cross over from thence to us.\r\n And he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father`s house;\r\n for I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.\r\n But Abraham saith, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.\r\n And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one go to them from the dead, they will repent.\r\n And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, if one rise from the dead.\r\n \r\n \r\n And he said unto his disciples, It is impossible but that occasions of stumbling should come; but woe unto him, through whom they come!\r\n It were well for him if a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, rather than that he should cause one of these little ones to stumble.\r\n Take heed to yourselves: if thy brother sin, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.\r\n And if he sin against thee seven times in the day, and seven times turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.\r\n And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.\r\n And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye would say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou rooted up, and be thou planted in the sea; and it would obey you.\r\n But who is there of you, having a servant plowing or keeping sheep, that will say unto him, when he is come in from the field, Come straightway and sit down to meat;\r\n and will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink?\r\n Doth he thank the servant because he did the things that were commanded?\r\n Even so ye also, when ye shall have done all the things that are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants; we have done that which it was our duty to do.\r\n And it came to pass, as they were on their way to Jerusalem, that he was passing along the borders of Samaria and Galilee.\r\n And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, who stood afar off:\r\n and they lifted up their voices, saying, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.\r\n And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go and show yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, as they went, they were cleansed.\r\n And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, with a loud voice glorifying God;\r\n and he fell upon his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.\r\n And Jesus answering said, Were not the ten cleansed? but where are the nine?\r\n Were there none found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger?\r\n And he said unto him, Arise, and go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.\r\n And being asked by the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God cometh, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:\r\n neither shall they say, Lo, here! or, There! for lo, the kingdom of God is within you.\r\n And he said unto the disciples, The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it.\r\n And they shall say to you, Lo, there! Lo, here! go not away, nor follow after [them]:\r\n for as the lightning, when it lighteneth out of the one part under the heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall the Son of man be in his day.\r\n But first must he suffer many things and be rejected of this generation.\r\n And as it came to pass in the days of Noah, even so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.\r\n They ate, they drank, they married, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.\r\n Likewise even as it came to pass in the days of Lot; they ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;\r\n but in the day that Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all:\r\n after the same manner shall it be in the day that the Son of man is revealed.\r\n In that day, he that shall be on the housetop, and his goods in the house, let him not go down to take them away: and let him that is in the field likewise not return back.\r\n Remember Lot`s wife.\r\n Whosoever shall seek to gain his life shall lose it: but whosoever shall lose [his life] shall preserve it.\r\n I say unto you, In that night there shall be two men on one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left.\r\n There shall be two women grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left.\r\n [There shall be two men in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left.]\r\n And they answering say unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Where the body [is], thither will the eagles also be gathered together.\r\n \r\n \r\n And he spake a parable unto them to the end that they ought always to pray, and not to faint;\r\n saying, There was in a city a judge, who feared not God, and regarded not man:\r\n and there was a widow in that city; and she came oft unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.\r\n And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;\r\n yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest she wear me out by her continual coming.\r\n And the Lord said, Hear what the unrighteous judge saith.\r\n And shall not God avenge his elect, that cry to him day and night, and [yet] he is longsuffering over them?\r\n I say unto you, that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?\r\n And he spake also this parable unto certain who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and set all others at nought:\r\n Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.\r\n The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as the rest of men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.\r\n I fast twice in the week; I give tithes of all that I get.\r\n But the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote his breast, saying, God, be thou merciful to me a sinner.\r\n I say unto you, This man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be humbled; but he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.\r\n And they were bringing unto him also their babes, that he should touch them: but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them.\r\n But Jesus called them unto him, saying, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for to such belongeth the kingdom of God.\r\n Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall in no wise enter therein.\r\n And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?\r\n And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, [even] God.\r\n Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor thy father and mother.\r\n And he said, All these things have I observed from my youth up.\r\n And when Jesus heard it, he said unto him, One thing thou lackest yet: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.\r\n But when he heard these things, he became exceeding sorrowful; for he was very rich.\r\n And Jesus seeing him said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!\r\n For it is easier for a camel to enter in through a needle`s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.\r\n And they that heard it said, Then who can be saved?\r\n But he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.\r\n And Peter said, Lo, we have left our own, and followed thee.\r\n And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or wife, or brethren, or parents, or children, for the kingdom of God`s sake,\r\n who shall not receive manifold more in this time, and in the world to come eternal life.\r\n And he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all the things that are written through the prophets shall be accomplished unto the Son of man.\r\n For he shall be delivered up unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and shamefully treated, and spit upon:\r\n and they shall scourge and kill him: and the third day he shall rise again.\r\n And they understood none of these things; and this saying was hid from them, and they perceived not the things that were said.\r\n And it came to pass, as he drew nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging:\r\n and hearing a multitude going by, he inquired what this meant.\r\n And they told him that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by.\r\n And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me.\r\n And they that went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried out the more a great deal, Thou son of David, have mercy on me.\r\n And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him,\r\n What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight.\r\n And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight; thy faith hath made thee whole.\r\n And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.\r\n \r\n \r\n And he entered and was passing through Jericho.\r\n And behold, a man called by name Zacchaeus; and he was a chief publican, and he was rich.\r\n And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the crowd, because he was little of stature.\r\n And he ran on before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.\r\n And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to-day I must abide at thy house.\r\n And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.\r\n And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, He is gone in to lodge with a man that is a sinner.\r\n And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord, Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have wrongfully exacted aught of any man, I restore fourfold.\r\n And Jesus said unto him, To-day is salvation come to this house, forasmuch as he also is a son of Abraham.\r\n For the Son of man came to seek and to save that which was lost.\r\n And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and [because] they supposed that the kingdom of God was immediately to appear.\r\n He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country, to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.\r\n And he called ten servants of his, and gave them ten pounds, and said unto them, Trade ye [herewith] till I come.\r\n But his citizens hated him, and sent an ambassage after him, saying, We will not that this man reign over us.\r\n And it came to pass, when he was come back again, having received the kingdom, that he commanded these servants, unto whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by trading.\r\n And the first came before him, saying, Lord, thy pound hath made ten pounds more.\r\n And he said unto him, Well done, thou good servant: because thou wast found faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.\r\n And the second came, saying, Thy pound, Lord, hath made five pounds.\r\n And he said unto him also, Be thou also over five cities.\r\n And another came, saying, Lord, behold, [here is] thy pound, which I kept laid up in a napkin:\r\n for I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that which thou layedst not down, and reapest that which thou didst not sow.\r\n He saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I am an austere man, taking up that which I laid not down, and reaping that which I did not sow;\r\n then wherefore gavest thou not my money into the bank, and I at my coming should have required it with interest?\r\n And he said unto them that stood by, Take away from him the pound, and give it unto him that hath the ten pounds.\r\n And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.\r\n I say unto you, that unto every one that hath shall be given; but from him that hath not, even that which he hath shall be taken away from him.\r\n But these mine enemies, that would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.\r\n And when he had thus spoken, he went on before, going up to Jerusalem.\r\n And it came to pass, when he drew nigh unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount that is called Olivet, he sent two of the disciples,\r\n saying, Go your way into the village over against [you]; in which as ye enter ye shall find a colt tied, whereon no man ever yet sat: loose him, and bring him.\r\n And if any one ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say, The Lord hath need of him.\r\n And they that were sent went away, and found even as he had said unto them.\r\n And as they were loosing the colt, the owners thereof said unto them, Why loose ye the colt?\r\n And they said, The Lord hath need of him.\r\n And they brought him to Jesus: and they threw their garments upon the colt, and set Jesus thereon.\r\n And as he went, they spread their garments in the way.\r\n And as he was now drawing nigh, [even] at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works which they had seen;\r\n saying, Blessed [is] the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.\r\n And some of the Pharisees from the multitude said unto him, Teacher, rebuke thy disciples.\r\n And he answered and said, I tell you that, if these shall hold their peace, the stones will cry out.\r\n And when he drew nigh, he saw the city and wept over it,\r\n saying, If thou hadst known in this day, even thou, the things which belong unto peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.\r\n For the days shall come upon thee, when thine enemies shall cast up a bank about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side,\r\n and shall dash thee to the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.\r\n And he entered into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold,\r\n saying unto them, It is written, And my house shall be a house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of robbers.\r\n And he was teaching daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the principal men of the people sought to destroy him:\r\n and they could not find what they might do; for the people all hung upon him, listening.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass, on one of the days, as he was teaching the people in the temple, and preaching the gospel, there came upon him the chief priests and the scribes with the elders;\r\n and they spake, saying unto him, Tell us: By what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority?\r\n And he answered and said unto them, I also will ask you a question; and tell me:\r\n The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or from men?\r\n And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why did ye not believe him?\r\n But if we shall say, From men; all the people will stone us: for they are persuaded that John was a prophet.\r\n And they answered, that they knew not whence [it was].\r\n And Jesus said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.\r\n And he began to speak unto the people this parable: A man planted a vineyard, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into another country for a long time.\r\n And at the season he sent unto the husbandmen a servant, that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard: but the husbandmen beat him, and sent him away empty.\r\n And he sent yet another servant: and him also they beat, and handled him shamefully, and sent him away empty.\r\n And he sent yet a third: and him also they wounded, and cast him forth.\r\n And the lord of the vineyard said, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son; it may be they will reverence him.\r\n But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned one with another, saying, This is the heir; let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.\r\n And they cast him forth out of the vineyard, and killed him. What therefore will the lord of the vineyard do unto them?\r\n He will come and destroy these husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others. And when they heard it, they said, God forbid.\r\n But he looked upon them, and said, What then is this that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, The same was made the head of the corner?\r\n Every one that falleth on that stone shall be broken to pieces; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will scatter him as dust.\r\n And the scribes and the chief priests sought to lay hands on him in that very hour; and they feared the people: for they perceived that he spake this parable against them.\r\n And they watched him, and sent forth spies, who feigned themselves to be righteous, that they might take hold of his speech, so as to deliver him up to the rule and to the authority of the governor.\r\n And they asked him, saying, Teacher, we know that thou sayest and teachest rightly, and acceptest not the person [of any], but of a truth teachest the way of God:\r\n Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?\r\n But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them,\r\n Show me a denarius. Whose image and superscription hath it? And they said, Caesar`s.\r\n And he said unto them, Then render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar`s, and unto God the things that are God`s.\r\n And they were not able to take hold of the saying before the people: and they marvelled at his answer, and held their peace.\r\n And there came to him certain of the Sadducees, they that say that there is no resurrection;\r\n and they asked him, saying, Teacher, Moses wrote unto us, that if a man`s brother die, having a wife, and he be childless, his brother should take the wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.\r\n There were therefore seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and died childless;\r\n and the second:\r\n and the third took her; and likewise the seven also left no children, and died.\r\n Afterward the woman also died.\r\n In the resurrection therefore whose wife of them shall she be? for the seven had her to wife.\r\n And Jesus said unto them, The sons of this world marry, and are given in marriage:\r\n but they that are accounted worthy to attain to that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage:\r\n for neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.\r\n But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed, in [the place concerning] the Bush, when he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.\r\n Now he is not the God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him.\r\n And certain of the scribes answering said, Teacher, thou hast well said.\r\n For they durst not any more ask him any question.\r\n And he said unto them, How say they that the Christ is David`s son?\r\n For David himself saith in the book of Psalms, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,\r\n Till I make thine enemies the footstool of thy feet.\r\n David therefore calleth him Lord, and how is he his son?\r\n And in the hearing of all the people he said unto his disciples,\r\n Beware of the scribes, who desire to walk in long robes, and love salutations in the marketplaces, and chief seats in the synagogues, and chief places at feasts;\r\n who devour widows` houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater condemnation.\r\n \r\n \r\n And he looked up, and saw the rich men that were casting their gifts into the treasury.\r\n And he saw a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.\r\n And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, This poor widow cast in more than they all:\r\n for all these did of their superfluity cast in unto the gifts; but she of her want did cast in all the living that she had.\r\n And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and offerings, he said,\r\n As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in which there shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.\r\n And they asked him, saying, Teacher, when therefore shall these things be? and what [shall be] the sign when these things are about to come to pass?\r\n And he said, Take heed that ye be not led astray: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am [he]; and, The time is at hand: go ye not after them.\r\n And when ye shall hear of wars and tumults, be not terrified: for these things must needs come to pass first; but the end is not immediately.\r\n Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom;\r\n and there shall be great earthquakes, and in divers places famines and pestilences; and there shall be terrors and great signs from heaven.\r\n But before all these things, they shall lay their hands on you, and shall persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for my name`s sake.\r\n It shall turn out unto you for a testimony.\r\n Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate beforehand how to answer:\r\n for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to withstand or to gainsay.\r\n But ye shall be delivered up even by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolk, and friends; and [some] of you shall they cause to be put to death.\r\n And ye shall be hated of all men for my name`s sake.\r\n And not a hair of your head shall perish.\r\n In your patience ye shall win your souls.\r\n But when ye see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that her desolation is at hand.\r\n Then let them that are in Judaea flee unto the mountains; and let them that are in the midst of her depart out; and let not them that are in the country enter therein.\r\n For these are days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.\r\n Woe unto them that are with child and to them that give suck in those days! for there shall be great distress upon the land, and wrath unto this people.\r\n And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led captive into all the nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.\r\n And there shall be signs in sun and moon and stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, in perplexity for the roaring of the sea and the billows;\r\n men fainting for fear, and for expectation of the things which are coming on the world: for the powers of the heavens shall be shaken.\r\n And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.\r\n But when these things begin to come to pass, look up, and lift up your heads; because your redemption draweth nigh.\r\n And he spake to them a parable: Behold the fig tree, and all the trees:\r\n when they now shoot forth, ye see it and know of your own selves that the summer is now nigh.\r\n Even so ye also, when ye see these things coming to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh.\r\n Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all things be accomplished.\r\n Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.\r\n But take heed to yourselves, lest haply your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day come on you suddenly as a snare:\r\n for [so] shall it come upon all them that dwell on the face of all the earth.\r\n But watch ye at every season, making supplication, that ye may prevail to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.\r\n And every day he was teaching in the temple; and every night he went out, and lodged in the mount that is called Olivet.\r\n And all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple, to hear him.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover.\r\n And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might put him to death; for they feared the people.\r\n And Satan entered into Judas who was called Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve.\r\n And he went away, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might deliver him unto them.\r\n And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money.\r\n And he consented, and sought opportunity to deliver him unto them in the absence of the multitude.\r\n And the day of unleavened bread came, on which the passover must be sacrificed.\r\n And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and make ready for us the passover, that we may eat.\r\n And they said unto him, Where wilt thou that we make ready?\r\n And he said unto them, Behold, when ye are entered into the city, there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house whereinto he goeth.\r\n And ye shall say unto the master of the house, The Teacher saith unto thee, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?\r\n And he will show you a large upper room furnished: there make ready.\r\n And they went, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover.\r\n And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the apostles with him.\r\n And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer:\r\n for I say unto you, I shall not eat it, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.\r\n And he received a cup, and when he had given thanks, he said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves:\r\n for I say unto you, I shall not drink from henceforth of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.\r\n And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and gave to them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.\r\n And the cup in like manner after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood, [even] that which is poured out for you.\r\n But behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table.\r\n For the Son of man indeed goeth, as it hath been determined: but woe unto that man through whom he is betrayed!\r\n And they began to question among themselves, which of them it was that should do this thing.\r\n And there arose also a contention among them, which of them was accounted to be greatest.\r\n And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles have lordship over them; and they that have authority over them are called Benefactors.\r\n But ye [shall] not [be] so: but he that is the greater among you, let him become as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.\r\n For which is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am in the midst of you as he that serveth.\r\n But ye are they that have continued with me in my temptations;\r\n and I appoint unto you a kingdom, even as my Father appointed unto me,\r\n that ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom; and ye shall sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.\r\n Simon, Simon, behold, Satan asked to have you, that he might sift you as wheat:\r\n but I made supplication for thee, that thy faith fail not; and do thou, when once thou hast turned again, establish thy brethren.\r\n And he said unto him, Lord, with thee I am ready to go both to prison and to death.\r\n And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, until thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.\r\n And he said unto them, When I sent you forth without purse, and wallet, and shoes, lacked ye anything? And they said, Nothing.\r\n And he said unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise a wallet; and he that hath none, let him sell his cloak, and buy a sword.\r\n For I say unto you, that this which is written must be fulfilled in me, And he was reckoned with transgressors: for that which concerneth me hath fulfilment.\r\n And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough.\r\n And he came out, and went, as his custom was, unto the mount of Olives; and the disciples also followed him.\r\n And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.\r\n And he was parted from them about a stone`s cast; and he kneeled down and prayed,\r\n saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.\r\n And there appeared unto him an angel from heaven, strengthening him.\r\n And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became as it were great drops of blood falling down upon the ground.\r\n And when he rose up from his prayer, he came unto the disciples, and found them sleeping for sorrow,\r\n and said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, that ye enter not into temptation.\r\n While he yet spake, behold, a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them; and he drew near unto Jesus to kiss him.\r\n But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?\r\n And when they that were about him saw what would follow, they said, Lord, shall we smite with the sword?\r\n And a certain one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and struck off his right ear.\r\n But Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye [them] thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him.\r\n And Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and elders, that were come against him, Are ye come out, as against a robber, with swords and staves?\r\n When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched not forth your hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness.\r\n And they seized him, and led him [away], and brought him into the high priest`s house. But Peter followed afar off.\r\n And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the court, and had sat down together, Peter sat in the midst of them.\r\n And a certain maid seeing him as he sat in the light [of the fire], and looking stedfastly upon him, said, This man also was with him.\r\n But he denied, saying, Woman, I know him not.\r\n And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou also art [one] of them. But Peter said, Man, I am not.\r\n And after the space of about one hour another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this man also was with him; for he is a Galilaean.\r\n But Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew.\r\n And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how that he said unto him, Before the cock crow this day thou shalt deny me thrice.\r\n And he went out, and wept bitterly.\r\n And the men that held [Jesus] mocked him, and beat him.\r\n And they blindfolded him, and asked him, saying, Prophesy: who is he that struck thee?\r\n And many other things spake they against him, reviling him.\r\n And as soon as it was day, the assembly of the elders of the people was gathered together, both chief priests and scribes; and they led him away into their council, saying,\r\n If thou art the Christ, tell us. But he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe:\r\n and if I ask [you], ye will not answer.\r\n But from henceforth shall the Son of man be seated at the right hand of the power of God.\r\n And they all said, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, Ye say that I am.\r\n And they said, What further need have we of witness? for we ourselves have heard from his own mouth.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the whole company of them rose up, and brought him before Pilate.\r\n And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this man perverting our nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ a king.\r\n And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest.\r\n And Pilate said unto the chief priests and the multitudes, I find no fault in this man.\r\n But they were the more urgent, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Judaea, and beginning from Galilee even unto this place.\r\n But when Pilate heard it, he asked whether the man were a Galilaean.\r\n And when he knew that he was of Herod`s jurisdiction, he sent him unto Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem in these days.\r\n Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was of a long time desirous to see him, because he had heard concerning him; and he hoped to see some miracle done by him.\r\n And he questioned him in many words; but he answered him nothing.\r\n And the chief priests and the scribes stood, vehemently accusing him.\r\n And Herod with his soldiers set him at nought, and mocked him, and arraying him in gorgeous apparel sent him back to Pilate.\r\n And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day: for before they were at enmity between themselves.\r\n And Pilate called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people,\r\n and said unto them, Ye brought unto me this man, as one that perverteth the people: and behold, I having examined him before you, found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him:\r\n no, nor yet Herod: for he sent him back unto us; and behold, nothing worthy of death hath been done by him.\r\n I will therefore chastise him, and release him.\r\n [Now he must needs release unto them at the feast one prisoner.]\r\n But they cried out all together, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas: --\r\n one who for a certain insurrection made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.\r\n And Pilate spake unto them again, desiring to release Jesus;\r\n but they shouted, saying, Crucify, crucify him.\r\n And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath this man done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him and release him.\r\n But they were urgent with loud voices, asking that he might be crucified. And their voices prevailed.\r\n And Pilate gave sentence that what they asked for should be done.\r\n And he released him that for insurrection and murder had been cast into prison, whom they asked for; but Jesus he delivered up to their will.\r\n And when they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon of Cyrene, coming from the country, and laid on him the cross, to bear it after Jesus.\r\n And there followed him a great multitude of the people, and of women who bewailed and lamented him.\r\n But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.\r\n For behold, the days are coming, in which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the breasts that never gave suck.\r\n Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us.\r\n For if they do these things in the green tree, what shall be done in the dry?\r\n And there were also two others, malefactors, led with him to be put to death.\r\n And when they came unto the place which is called The skull, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand and the other on the left.\r\n And Jesus said, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And parting his garments among them, they cast lots.\r\n And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also scoffed at him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if this is the Christ of God, his chosen.\r\n And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, offering him vinegar,\r\n and saying, If thou art the King of the Jews, save thyself.\r\n And there was also a superscription over him, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.\r\n And one of the malefactors that were hanged railed on him, saying, Art not thou the Christ? save thyself and us.\r\n But the other answered, and rebuking him said, Dost thou not even fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?\r\n And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.\r\n And he said, Jesus, remember me when thou comest in thy kingdom.\r\n And he said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To-day shalt thou be with me in Paradise.\r\n And it was now about the sixth hour, and a darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour,\r\n the sun`s light failing: and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.\r\n And Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said this, he gave up the ghost.\r\n And when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.\r\n And all the multitudes that came together to this sight, when they beheld the things that were done, returned smiting their breasts.\r\n And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed with him from Galilee, stood afar off, seeing these things.\r\n And behold, a man named Joseph, who was a councillor, a good and righteous man\r\n (he had not consented to their counsel and deed), [a man] of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews, who was looking for the kingdom of God:\r\n this man went to Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus.\r\n And he took it down, and wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid him in a tomb that was hewn in stone, where never man had yet lain.\r\n And it was the day of the Preparation, and the sabbath drew on.\r\n And the women, who had come with him out of Galilee, followed after, and beheld the tomb, and how his body was laid.\r\n And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments. And on the sabbath they rested according to the commandment.\r\n \r\n \r\n But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came unto the tomb, bringing the spices which they had prepared.\r\n And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb.\r\n And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.\r\n And it came to pass, while they were perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel:\r\n and as they were affrighted and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?\r\n He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,\r\n saying that the Son of man must be delivered up into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.\r\n And they remembered his words,\r\n and returned from the tomb, and told all these things to the eleven, and to all the rest.\r\n Now they were Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the [mother] of James: and the other women with them told these things unto the apostles.\r\n And these words appeared in their sight as idle talk; and they disbelieved them.\r\n But Peter arose, and ran unto the tomb; and stooping and looking in, he seeth the linen cloths by themselves; and he departed to his home, wondering at that which was come to pass.\r\n And behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was threescore furlongs from Jerusalem.\r\n And they communed with each other of all these things which had happened.\r\n And it came to pass, while they communed and questioned together, that Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.\r\n But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.\r\n And he said unto them, What communications are these that ye have one with another, as ye walk? And they stood still, looking sad.\r\n And one of them, named Cleopas, answering said unto him, Dost thou alone sojourn in Jerusalem and not know the things which are come to pass there in these days?\r\n And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, The things concerning Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:\r\n and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him.\r\n But we hoped that it was he who should redeem Israel. Yea and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things came to pass.\r\n Moreover certain women of our company amazed us, having been early at the tomb;\r\n and when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive.\r\n And certain of them that were with us went to the tomb, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.\r\n And he said unto them, O foolish men, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!\r\n Behooved it not the Christ to suffer these things, and to enter into his glory?\r\n And beginning from Moses and from all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.\r\n And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they were going: and he made as though he would go further.\r\n And they constrained him, saying, Abide with us; for it is toward evening, and the day is now far spent. And he went in to abide with them.\r\n And it came to pass, when he had sat down with them to meat, he took the bread and blessed; and breaking [it] he gave to them.\r\n And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.\r\n And they said one to another, Was not our heart burning within us, while he spake to us in the way, while he opened to us the scriptures?\r\n And they rose up that very hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them,\r\n saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.\r\n And they rehearsed the things [that happened] in the way, and how he was known of them in the breaking of the bread.\r\n And as they spake these things, he himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace [be] unto you.\r\n But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they beheld a spirit.\r\n And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and wherefore do questionings arise in your heart?\r\n See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye behold me having.\r\n And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.\r\n And while they still disbelieved for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here anything to eat?\r\n And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish.\r\n And he took it, and ate before them.\r\n And he said unto them, These are my words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must needs be fulfilled, which are written in the law of Moses, and the prophets, and the psalms, concerning me.\r\n Then opened he their mind, that they might understand the scriptures;\r\n and he said unto them, Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer, and rise again from the dead the third day;\r\n and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name unto all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.\r\n Ye are witnesses of these things.\r\n And behold, I send forth the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city, until ye be clothed with power from on high.\r\n And he led them out until [they were] over against Bethany: and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.\r\n And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he parted from them, and was carried up into heaven.\r\n And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy:\r\n and were continually in the temple, blessing God.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.\r\n The same was in the beginning with God.\r\n All things were made through him; and without him was not anything made that hath been made.\r\n In him was life; and the life was the light of men.\r\n And the light shineth in the darkness; and the darkness apprehended it not.\r\n There came a man, sent from God, whose name was John.\r\n The same came for witness, that he might bear witness of the light, that all might believe through him.\r\n He was not the light, but [came] that he might bear witness of the light.\r\n There was the true light, [even the light] which lighteth every man, coming into the world.\r\n He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world knew him not.\r\n He came unto his own, and they that were his own received him not.\r\n But as many as received him, to them gave he the right to become children of God, [even] to them that believe on his name:\r\n who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.\r\n And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father), full of grace and truth.\r\n John beareth witness of him, and crieth, saying, This was he of whom I said, He that cometh after me is become before me: for he was before me.\r\n For of his fulness we all received, and grace for grace.\r\n For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.\r\n No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared [him].\r\n And this is the witness of John, when the Jews sent unto him from Jerusalem priests and Levites to ask him, Who art thou?\r\n And he confessed, and denied not; and he confessed, I am not the Christ.\r\n And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elijah? And he saith, I am not. Art thou the prophet? And he answered, No.\r\n They said therefore unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?\r\n He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said Isaiah the prophet.\r\n And they had been sent from the Pharisees.\r\n And they asked him, and said unto him, Why then baptizest thou, if thou art not the Christ, neither Elijah, neither the prophet?\r\n John answered them, saying, I baptize in water: in the midst of you standeth one whom ye know not,\r\n [even] he that cometh after me, the latchet of whose shoe I am not worthy to unloose.\r\n These things were done in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.\r\n On the morrow he seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold, the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world!\r\n This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man who is become before me: for he was before me.\r\n And I knew him not; but that he should be made manifest to Israel, for this cause came I baptizing in water.\r\n And John bare witness, saying, I have beheld the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven; and it abode upon him.\r\n And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize in water, he said unto me, Upon whomsoever thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and abiding upon him, the same is he that baptizeth in the Holy Spirit.\r\n And I have seen, and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.\r\n Again on the morrow John was standing, and two of his disciples;\r\n and he looked upon Jesus as he walked, and saith, Behold, the Lamb of God!\r\n And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.\r\n And Jesus turned, and beheld them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? And they said unto him, Rabbi (which is to say, being interpreted, Teacher), where abideth thou?\r\n He saith unto them, Come, and ye shall see. They came therefore and saw where he abode; and they abode with him that day: it was about the tenth hour.\r\n One of the two that heard John [speak], and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter`s brother.\r\n He findeth first his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messiah (which is, being interpreted, Christ).\r\n He brought him unto Jesus. Jesus looked upon him, and said, Thou art Simon the son of John: thou shalt be called Cephas (which is by interpretation, Peter).\r\n On the morrow he was minded to go forth into Galilee, and he findeth Philip: and Jesus saith unto him, Follow me.\r\n Now Philip was from Bethsaida, of the city of Andrew and Peter.\r\n Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.\r\n And Nathanael said unto him, Can any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.\r\n Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!\r\n Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.\r\n Nathanael answered him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art King of Israel.\r\n Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee underneath the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these.\r\n And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye shall see the heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there:\r\n and Jesus also was bidden, and his disciples, to the marriage.\r\n And when the wine failed, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine.\r\n And Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.\r\n His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.\r\n Now there were six waterpots of stone set there after the Jews` manner of purifying, containing two or three firkins apiece.\r\n Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.\r\n And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the ruler of the feast. And they bare it.\r\n And when the ruler of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and knew not whence it was (but the servants that had drawn the water knew), the ruler of the feast calleth the bridegroom,\r\n and saith unto him, Every man setteth on first the good wine; and when [men] have drunk freely, [then] that which is worse: thou hast kept the good wine until now.\r\n This beginning of his signs did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested his glory; and his disciples believed on him.\r\n After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, and [his] brethren, and his disciples; and there they abode not many days.\r\n And the passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.\r\n And he found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:\r\n and he made a scourge of cords, and cast all out of the temple, both the sheep and the oxen; and he poured out the changers` money, and overthrew their tables;\r\n and to them that sold the doves he said, Take these things hence; make not my Father`s house a house of merchandise.\r\n His disciples remembered that it was written, Zeal for thy house shall eat me up.\r\n The Jews therefore answered and said unto him, What sign showest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?\r\n Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.\r\n The Jews therefore said, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou raise it up in three days?\r\n But he spake of the temple of his body.\r\n When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he spake this; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.\r\n Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, during the feast, many believed on his name, beholding his signs which he did.\r\n But Jesus did not trust himself unto them, for that he knew all men,\r\n and because he needed not that any one should bear witness concerning man; for he himself knew what was in man.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:\r\n the same came unto him by night, and said to him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that thou doest, except God be with him.\r\n Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except one be born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God.\r\n Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter a second time into his mother`s womb, and be born?\r\n Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except one be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God!\r\n That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.\r\n Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born anew.\r\n The wind bloweth where it will, and thou hearest the voice thereof, but knowest not whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.\r\n Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?\r\n Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou the teacher of Israel, and understandest not these things?\r\n Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that which we know, and bear witness of that which we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.\r\n If I told you earthly things and ye believe not, how shall ye believe if I tell you heavenly things?\r\n And no one hath ascended into heaven, but he that descended out of heaven, [even] the Son of man, who is in heaven.\r\n And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up;\r\n that whosoever believeth may in him have eternal life.\r\n For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life.\r\n For God sent not the Son into the world to judge the world; but that the world should be saved through him.\r\n He that believeth on him is not judged: he that believeth not hath been judged already, because he hath not believed on the name of the only begotten Son of God.\r\n And this is the judgment, that the light is come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their works were evil.\r\n For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, and cometh not to the light, lest his works should be reproved.\r\n But he that doeth the truth cometh to the light, that his works may be made manifest, that they have been wrought in God.\r\n After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized.\r\n And John also was baptizing in Enon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.\r\n For John was not yet cast into prison.\r\n There arose therefore a questioning on the part of John`s disciples with a Jew about purifying.\r\n And they came unto John, and said to him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond the Jordan, to whom thou hast borne witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him.\r\n John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it have been given him from heaven.\r\n Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but, that I am sent before him.\r\n He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, that standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom`s voice: this my joy therefore is made full.\r\n He must increase, but I must decrease.\r\n He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is of the earth, and of the earth he speaketh: he that cometh from heaven is above all.\r\n What he hath seen and heard, of that he beareth witness; and no man receiveth his witness.\r\n He that hath received his witness hath set his seal to [this], that God is true.\r\n For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for he giveth not the Spirit by measure.\r\n The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.\r\n He that believeth on the Son hath eternal life; but he that obeyeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him.\r\n \r\n \r\n When therefore the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John\r\n (although Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples),\r\n he left Judea, and departed again into Galilee.\r\n And he must needs pass through Samaria.\r\n So he cometh to a city of Samaria, called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph:\r\n and Jacob`s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour.\r\n There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink.\r\n For his disciples were gone away into the city to buy food.\r\n The Samaritan woman therefore saith unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, who am a Samaritan woman? (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.)\r\n Jesus answered and said unto unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.\r\n The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: whence then hast thou that living water?\r\n Art thou greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his sons, and his cattle?\r\n Jesus answered and said unto her, Every one that drinketh of this water shall thirst again:\r\n but whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall become in him a well of water springing up unto eternal life.\r\n The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come all the way hither to draw.\r\n Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither.\r\n The woman answered and said unto him, I have no husband. Jesus saith unto her, Thou saidst well, I have no husband:\r\n for thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: this hast thou said truly.\r\n The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.\r\n Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.\r\n Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when neither in this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, shall ye worship the Father.\r\n Ye worship that which ye know not: we worship that which we know; for salvation is from the Jews.\r\n But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth: for such doth the Father seek to be his worshippers.\r\n God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship in spirit and truth.\r\n The woman saith unto him, I know that Messiah cometh (he that is called Christ): when he is come, he will declare unto us all things.\r\n Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am [he].\r\n And upon this came his disciples; and they marvelled that he was speaking with a woman; yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why speakest thou with her?\r\n So the woman left her waterpot, and went away into the city, and saith to the people,\r\n Come, see a man, who told me all things that [ever] I did: can this be the Christ?\r\n They went out of the city, and were coming to him.\r\n In the mean while the disciples prayed him, saying, Rabbi, eat.\r\n But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not.\r\n The disciples therefore said one to another, Hath any man brought him [aught] to eat?\r\n Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to accomplish his work.\r\n Say not ye, There are yet four months, and [then] cometh the harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields, that they are white already unto harvest.\r\n He that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal; that he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.\r\n For herein is the saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth.\r\n I sent you to reap that whereon ye have not labored: others have labored, and ye are entered into their labor.\r\n And from that city many of the Samaritans believed on him because of the word of the woman, who testified, He told me all things that [ever] I did.\r\n So when the Samaritans came unto him, they besought him to abide with them: and he abode there two days.\r\n And many more believed because of his word;\r\n and they said to the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy speaking: for we have heard for ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Saviour of the world.\r\n And after the two days he went forth from thence into Galilee.\r\n For Jesus himself testified, that a prophet hath no honor in his own country.\r\n So when he came into Galilee, the Galilaeans received him, having seen all the things that he did in Jerusalem at the feast: for they also went unto the feast.\r\n He came therefore again unto Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum.\r\n When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judaea into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought [him] that he would come down, and heal his son; for he was at the point of death.\r\n Jesus therefore said unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will in no wise believe.\r\n The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die.\r\n Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. The man believed the word that Jesus spake unto him, and he went his way.\r\n And as he was now going down, his servants met him, saying, that his son lived.\r\n So he inquired of them the hour when he began to amend. They said therefore unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.\r\n So the father knew that [it was] at that hour in which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house.\r\n This is again the second sign that Jesus did, having come out of Judaea into Galilee.\r\n \r\n \r\n After these things there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.\r\n Now there is in Jerusalem by the sheep [gate] a pool, which is called in Hebrew Bethesda, having five porches.\r\n In these lay a multitude of them that were sick, blind, halt, withered, [waiting for the moving of the water.]\r\n [for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the waters stepped in was made whole, with whatsoever disease he was holden.]\r\n And a certain man was there, who had been thirty and eight years in his infirmity.\r\n When Jesus saw him lying, and knew that he had been now a long time [in that case], he saith unto him, Wouldest thou be made whole?\r\n The sick man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.\r\n Jesus saith unto him, Arise, take up thy bed, and walk.\r\n And straightway the man was made whole, and took up his bed and walked. Now it was the sabbath on that day.\r\n So the Jews said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath, and it is not lawful for thee to take up thy bed.\r\n But he answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk.\r\n They asked him, Who is the man that said unto thee, Take up [thy bed], and walk?\r\n But he that was healed knew not who it was; for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in the place.\r\n Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing befall thee.\r\n The man went away, and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him whole.\r\n And for this cause the Jews persecuted Jesus, because he did these things on the sabbath.\r\n But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh even until now, and I work.\r\n For this cause therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only brake the sabbath, but also called God his own Father, making himself equal with God.\r\n Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father doing: for what things soever he doeth, these the Son also doeth in like manner.\r\n For the Father loveth the Son, and showeth him all things that himself doeth: and greater works than these will he show him, that ye may marvel.\r\n For as the Father raiseth the dead and giveth them life, even so the Son also giveth life to whom he will.\r\n For neither doth the Father judge any man, but he hath given all judgment unto the Son;\r\n that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He that honoreth not the Son honoreth not the Father that sent him.\r\n Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth him that sent me, hath eternal life, and cometh not into judgment, but hath passed out of death into life.\r\n Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour cometh, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God; and they that hear shall live.\r\n For as the Father hath life in himself, even so gave he to the Son also to have life in himself:\r\n and he gave him authority to execute judgment, because he is a son of man.\r\n Marvel not at this: for the hour cometh, in which all that are in the tombs shall hear his voice,\r\n and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of judgment.\r\n I can of myself do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is righteous; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.\r\n If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.\r\n It is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true.\r\n Ye have sent unto John, and he hath borne witness unto the truth.\r\n But the witness which I receive is not from man: howbeit I say these things, that ye may be saved.\r\n He was the lamp that burneth and shineth; and ye were willing to rejoice for a season in his light.\r\n But the witness which I have is greater than [that of] John; for the works which the Father hath given me to accomplish, the very works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.\r\n And the Father that sent me, he hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his form.\r\n And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he sent, him ye believe not.\r\n Ye search the scriptures, because ye think that in them ye have eternal life; and these are they which bear witness of me;\r\n and ye will not come to me, that ye may have life.\r\n I receive not glory from men.\r\n But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in yourselves.\r\n I am come in my Father`s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.\r\n How can ye believe, who receive glory one of another, and the glory that [cometh] from the only God ye seek not?\r\n Think not that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, [even] Moses, on whom ye have set your hope.\r\n For if ye believed Moses, ye would believe me; for he wrote of me.\r\n But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?\r\n \r\n \r\n After these things Jesus went away to the other side of the sea of Galilee, which is [the sea] of Tiberias.\r\n And a great multitude followed him, because they beheld the signs which he did on them that were sick.\r\n And Jesus went up into the mountain, and there he sat with his disciples.\r\n Now the passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand.\r\n Jesus therefore lifting up his eyes, and seeing that a great multitude cometh unto him, saith unto Philip, Whence are we to buy bread, that these may eat?\r\n And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.\r\n Philip answered him, Two hundred shillings` worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one may take a little.\r\n One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter`s brother, saith unto him,\r\n There is a lad here, who hath five barley loaves, and two fishes: but what are these among so many?\r\n Jesus said, Make the people sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.\r\n Jesus therefore took the loaves; and having given thanks, he distributed to them that were set down; likewise also of the fishes as much as they would.\r\n And when they were filled, he saith unto his disciples, Gather up the broken pieces which remain over, that nothing be lost.\r\n So they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with broken pieces from the five barley loaves, which remained over unto them that had eaten.\r\n When therefore the people saw the sign which he did, they said, This is of a truth the prophet that cometh into the world.\r\n Jesus therefore perceiving that they were about to come and take him by force, to make him king, withdrew again into the mountain himself alone.\r\n And when evening came, his disciples went down unto the sea;\r\n and they entered into a boat, and were going over the sea unto Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them.\r\n And the sea was rising by reason of a great wind that blew.\r\n When therefore they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they behold Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the boat: and they were afraid.\r\n But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid.\r\n They were willing therefore to receive him into the boat: and straightway the boat was at the land whither they were going.\r\n On the morrow the multitude that stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other boat there, save one, and that Jesus entered not with his disciples into the boat, but [that] his disciples went away alone\r\n (howbeit there came boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they ate the bread after the Lord had given thanks):\r\n when the multitude therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they themselves got into the boats, and came to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.\r\n And when they found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither?\r\n Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw signs, but because ye ate of the loaves, and were filled.\r\n Work not for the food which perisheth, but for the food which abideth unto eternal life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him the Father, even God, hath sealed.\r\n They said therefore unto him, What must we do, that we may work the works of God?\r\n Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.\r\n They said therefore unto him, What then doest thou for a sign, that we may see, and believe thee? what workest thou?\r\n Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, He gave them bread out of heaven to eat.\r\n Jesus therefore said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, It was not Moses that gave you the bread out of heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread out of heaven.\r\n For the bread of God is that which cometh down out of heaven, and giveth life unto the world.\r\n They said therefore unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.\r\n Jesus said unto them. I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall not hunger, and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.\r\n But I said unto you, that ye have seen me, and yet believe not.\r\n All that which the Father giveth me shall come unto me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.\r\n For I am come down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.\r\n And this is the will of him that sent me, that of all that which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day.\r\n For this is the will of my Father, that every one that beholdeth the Son, and believeth on him, should have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.\r\n The Jews therefore murmured concerning him, because he said, I am the bread which came down out of heaven.\r\n And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how doth he now say, I am come down out of heaven?\r\n Jesus answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves.\r\n No man can come to me, except the Father that sent me draw him: and I will raise him up in the last day.\r\n It is written in the prophets, And they shall all be taught of God. Every one that hath heard from the Father, and hath learned, cometh unto me.\r\n Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he that is from God, he hath seen the Father.\r\n Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth hath eternal life.\r\n I am the bread of life.\r\n Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died.\r\n This is the bread which cometh down out of heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.\r\n I am the living bread which came down out of heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: yea and the bread which I will give is my flesh, for the life of the world.\r\n The Jews therefore strove one with another, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat?\r\n Jesus therefore said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, ye have not life in yourselves.\r\n He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood hath eternal life: and I will raise him up at the last day.\r\n For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.\r\n He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood abideth in me, and I in him.\r\n As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father; so he that eateth me, he also shall live because of me.\r\n This is the bread which came down out of heaven: not as the fathers ate, and died; he that eateth this bread shall live for ever.\r\n These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.\r\n Many therefore of his disciples, when the heard [this], said, This is a hard saying; who can hear it?\r\n But Jesus knowing in himself that his disciples murmured at this, said unto them, Doth this cause you to stumble?\r\n [What] then if ye should behold the Son of man ascending where he was before?\r\n It is the spirit that giveth life; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I have spoken unto you are spirit, are are life.\r\n But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who it was that should betray him.\r\n And he said, For this cause have I said unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it be given unto him of the Father.\r\n Upon this many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.\r\n Jesus said therefore unto the twelve, Would ye also go away?\r\n Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.\r\n And we have believed and know that thou art the Holy One of God.\r\n Jesus answered them, Did not I choose you the twelve, and one of you is a devil?\r\n Now he spake of Judas [the son] of Simon Iscariot, for he it was that should betray him, [being] one of the twelve.\r\n \r\n \r\n And after these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Judaea, because the Jews sought to kill him.\r\n Now the feast of the Jews, the feast of tabernacles, was at hand.\r\n His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may behold thy works which thou doest.\r\n For no man doeth anything in secret, and himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou doest these things, manifest thyself to the world.\r\n For even his brethren did not believe on him.\r\n Jesus therefore saith unto them, My time is not yet come; but your time is always ready.\r\n The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that its works are evil.\r\n Go ye up unto the feast: I go not up unto this feast; because my time is not yet fulfilled.\r\n And having said these things unto them, he abode [still] in Galilee.\r\n But when his brethren were gone up unto the feast, then went he also up, not publicly, but as it were in secret.\r\n The Jews therefore sought him at the feast, and said, Where is he?\r\n And there was much murmuring among the multitudes concerning him: some said, He is a good man; others said, Not so, but he leadeth the multitude astray.\r\n Yet no man spake openly of him for fear of the Jews.\r\n But when it was now the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught.\r\n The Jews therefore marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?\r\n Jesus therefore answered them and said, My teaching is not mine, but his that sent me.\r\n If any man willeth to do his will, he shall know of the teaching, whether it is of God, or [whether] I speak from myself.\r\n He that speaketh from himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh the glory of him that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.\r\n Did not Moses give you the law, and [yet] none of you doeth the law? Why seek ye to kill me?\r\n The multitude answered, Thou hast a demon: who seeketh to kill thee?\r\n Jesus answered and said unto them, I did one work, and ye all marvel because thereof.\r\n Moses hath given you circumcision (not that it is of Moses, but of the fathers); and on the sabbath ye circumcise a man.\r\n If a man receiveth circumcision on the sabbath, that the law of Moses may not be broken; are ye wroth with me, because I made a man every whit whole on the sabbath?\r\n Judge not according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment.\r\n Some therefore of them of Jerusalem said, Is not this he whom they seek to kill?\r\n And lo, he speaketh openly, and they say nothing unto him. Can it be that the rulers indeed know that this is the Christ?\r\n Howbeit we know this man whence he is: but when the Christ cometh, no one knoweth whence he is.\r\n Jesus therefore cried in the temple, teaching and saying, Ye both know me, and know whence I am; and I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom ye know not.\r\n I know him; because I am from him, and he sent me.\r\n They sought therefore to take him: and no man laid his hand on him, because his hour was not yet come.\r\n But of the multitude many believed on him; and they said, When the Christ shall come, will he do more signs than those which this man hath done?\r\n The Pharisees heard the multitude murmuring these things concerning him; and the chief priests and the Pharisees sent officers to take him.\r\n Jesus therefore said, Yet a little while am I with you, and I go unto him that sent me.\r\n Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where I am, ye cannot come.\r\n The Jews therefore said among themselves, Whither will this man go that we shall not find him? will he go unto the Dispersion among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks?\r\n What is this word that he said, Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me; and where I am, ye cannot come?\r\n Now on the last day, the great [day] of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink.\r\n He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, from within him shall flow rivers of living water.\r\n But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believed on him were to receive: for the Spirit was not yet [given]; because Jesus was not yet glorified.\r\n [Some] of the multitude therefore, when they heard these words, said, This is of a truth the prophet.\r\n Others said, This is the Christ. But some said, What, doth the Christ come out of Galilee?\r\n Hath not the scripture said that the Christ cometh of the seed of David, and from Bethlehem, the village where David was?\r\n So there arose a division in the multitude because of him.\r\n And some of them would have taken him; but no man laid hands on him.\r\n The officers therefore came to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they said unto them, Why did ye not bring him?\r\n The officers answered, Never man so spake.\r\n The Pharisees therefore answered them, Are ye also led astray?\r\n Hath any of the rulers believed on him, or of the Pharisees?\r\n But this multitude that knoweth not the law are accursed.\r\n Nicodemus saith unto them (he that came to him before, being one of them),\r\n Doth our law judge a man, except it first hear from himself and know what he doeth?\r\n They answered and said unto him, Art thou also of Galilee? Search, and see that out of Galilee ariseth no prophet.\r\n And they went every man unto his own house:\r\n \r\n \r\n but Jesus went unto the mount of Olives.\r\n And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.\r\n And the scribes and the Pharisees bring a woman taken in adultery; and having set her in the midst,\r\n they say unto him, Teacher, this woman hath been taken in adultery, in the very act.\r\n Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such: what then sayest thou of her?\r\n And this they said, trying him, that they might have [whereof] to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground.\r\n But when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.\r\n And again he stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground.\r\n And they, when they heard it, went out one by one, beginning from the eldest, [even] unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman, where she was, in the midst.\r\n And Jesus lifted up himself, and said unto her, Woman, where are they? did no man condemn thee?\r\n And she said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said, Neither do I condemn thee: go thy way; from henceforth sin no more.\r\n Again therefore Jesus spake unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life.\r\n The Pharisees therefore said unto him, Thou bearest witness of thyself; thy witness is not true.\r\n Jesus answered and said unto them, Even if I bear witness of myself, my witness is true; for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye know not whence I come, or whither I go.\r\n Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man.\r\n Yea and if I judge, my judgment is true; for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me.\r\n Yea and in your law it is written, that the witness of two men is true.\r\n I am he that beareth witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.\r\n They said therefore unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye know neither me, nor my Father: if ye knew me, ye would know my Father also.\r\n These words spake he in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man took him; because his hour was not yet come.\r\n He said therefore again unto them, I go away, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sin: whither I go, ye cannot come.\r\n The Jews therefore said, Will he kill himself, that he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come?\r\n And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.\r\n I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for except ye believe that I am [he], ye shall die in your sins.\r\n They said therefore unto him, Who art thou? Jesus said unto them, Even that which I have also spoken unto you from the beginning.\r\n I have many things to speak and to judge concerning you: howbeit he that sent me is true; and the things which I heard from him, these speak I unto the world.\r\n They perceived not that he spake to them of the Father.\r\n Jesus therefore said, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am [he], and [that] I do nothing of myself, but as the Father taught me, I speak these things.\r\n And he that sent me is with me; he hath not left me alone; for I do always the things that are pleasing to him.\r\n As he spake these things, many believed on him.\r\n Jesus therefore said to those Jews that had believed him, If ye abide in my word, [then] are ye truly my disciples;\r\n and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.\r\n They answered unto him, We are Abraham`s seed, and have never yet been in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?\r\n Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Every one that committeth sin is the bondservant of sin.\r\n And the bondservant abideth not in the house for ever: the son abideth for ever.\r\n If therefore the Son shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.\r\n I know that ye are Abraham`s seed: yet ye seek to kill me, because my word hath not free course in you.\r\n I speak the things which I have seen with [my] Father: and ye also do the things which ye heard from [your] father.\r\n They answered and said unto him, Our father is Abraham. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham`s children, ye would do the works of Abraham.\r\n But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I heard from God: this did not Abraham.\r\n Ye do the works of your father. They said unto him, We were not born of fornication; we have one Father, [even] God.\r\n Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I came forth and am come from God; for neither have I come of myself, but he sent me.\r\n Why do ye not understand my speech? [Even] because ye cannot hear my word.\r\n Ye are of [your] father the devil, and the lusts of your father it is your will to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and standeth not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father thereof.\r\n But because I say the truth, ye believe me not.\r\n Which of you convicteth me of sin? If I say truth, why do ye not believe me?\r\n He that is of God heareth the words of God: for this cause ye hear [them] not, because ye are not of God.\r\n The Jews answered and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a demon?\r\n Jesus answered, I have not a demon; but I honor my Father, and ye dishonor me.\r\n But I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth.\r\n Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my word, he shall never see death.\r\n The Jews said unto him, Now we know that thou hast a demon. Abraham died, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my word, he shall never taste of death.\r\n Art thou greater than our father Abraham, who died? and the prophets died: whom makest thou thyself?\r\n Jesus answered, If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing: it is my Father that glorifieth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God;\r\n and ye have not known him: but I know him; and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be like unto you, a liar: but I know him, and keep his word.\r\n Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day; and he saw it, and was glad.\r\n The Jews therefore said unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?\r\n Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was born, I am.\r\n They took up stones therefore to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple.\r\n \r\n \r\n And as he passed by, he saw a man blind from his birth.\r\n And his disciples asked him, saying, Rabbi, who sinned, this man, or his parents, that he should be born blind?\r\n Jesus answered, Neither did this man sin, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.\r\n We must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.\r\n When I am in the world, I am the light of the world.\r\n When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and anointed his eyes with the clay,\r\n and said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam (which is by interpretation, Sent). He went away therefore, and washed, and came seeing.\r\n The neighbors therefore, and they that saw him aforetime, that he was a beggar, said, Is not this he that sat and begged?\r\n Others said, It is he: others said, No, but he is like him. He said, I am [he].\r\n They said therefore unto him, How then were thine eyes opened?\r\n He answered, The man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to Siloam, and wash: so I went away and washed, and I received sight.\r\n And they said unto him, Where is he? He saith, I know not.\r\n They bring to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind.\r\n Now it was the sabbath on the day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes.\r\n Again therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he received his sight. And he said unto them, He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and I see.\r\n Some therefore of the Pharisees said, This man is not from God, because he keepeth not the sabbath. But others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such signs? And there was division among them.\r\n They say therefore unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, in that he opened thine eyes? And he said, He is a prophet.\r\n The Jews therefore did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and had received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight,\r\n and asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? How then doth he now see?\r\n His parents answered and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind:\r\n but how he now seeth, we know not; or who opened his eyes, we know not: ask him; he is of age; he shall speak for himself.\r\n These things said his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man should confess him [to be] Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.\r\n Therefore said his parents, He is of age; ask him.\r\n So they called a second time the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give glory to God: we know that this man is a sinner.\r\n He therefore answered, Whether he is a sinner, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.\r\n They said therefore unto him, What did he to thee? How opened he thine eyes?\r\n He answered them, I told you even now, and ye did not hear; wherefore would ye hear it again? would ye also become his disciples?\r\n And they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are disciples of Moses.\r\n We know that God hath spoken unto Moses: but as for this man, we know not whence he is.\r\n The man answered and said unto them, Why, herein is the marvel, that ye know not whence he is, and [yet] he opened mine eyes.\r\n We know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and do his will, him he heareth.\r\n Since the world began it was never heard that any one opened the eyes of a man born blind.\r\n If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.\r\n They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out.\r\n Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and finding him, he said, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?\r\n He answered and said, And who is he, Lord, that I may believe on him?\r\n Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and he it is that speaketh with thee.\r\n And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.\r\n And Jesus said, For judgment came I into this world, that they that see not may see; and that they that see may become blind.\r\n Those of the Pharisees who were with him heard these things, and said unto him, Are we also blind?\r\n Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye would have no sin: but now ye say, We see: your sin remaineth.\r\n \r\n \r\n Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.\r\n But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.\r\n To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.\r\n When he hath put forth all his own, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.\r\n And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.\r\n This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.\r\n Jesus therefore said unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.\r\n All that came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.\r\n I am the door; by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and go out, and shall find pasture.\r\n The thief cometh not, but that he may steal, and kill, and destroy: I came that they may have life, and may have [it] abundantly.\r\n I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd layeth down his life for the sheep.\r\n He that is a hireling, and not a shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, beholdeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth, and the wolf snatcheth them, and scattereth [them]:\r\n [he fleeth] because he is a hireling, and careth not for the sheep.\r\n I am the good shepherd; and I know mine own, and mine own know me,\r\n even as the Father knoweth me, and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.\r\n And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice: and they shall become one flock, one shepherd.\r\n Therefore doth the Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I may take it again.\r\n No one taketh it away from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment received I from my Father.\r\n There arose a division again among the Jews because of these words.\r\n And many of them said, He hath a demon, and is mad; why hear ye him?\r\n Others said, These are not the sayings of one possessed with a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?\r\n And it was the feast of the dedication at Jerusalem:\r\n it was winter; and Jesus was walking in the temple in Solomon`s porch.\r\n The Jews therefore came round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou hold us in suspense? If thou art the Christ, tell us plainly.\r\n Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believe not: the works that I do in my Father`s name, these bear witness of me.\r\n But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep.\r\n My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:\r\n and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand.\r\n My Father, who hath given [them] unto me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch [them] out of the Father`s hand.\r\n I and the Father are one.\r\n The Jews took up stones again to stone him.\r\n Jesus answered them, Many good works have I showed you from the Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?\r\n The Jews answered him, For a good work we stone thee not, but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.\r\n Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, ye are gods?\r\n If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came (and the scripture cannot be broken),\r\n say ye of him, whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am [the] Son of God?\r\n If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.\r\n But if I do them, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.\r\n They sought again to take him: and he went forth out of their hand.\r\n And he went away again beyond the Jordan into the place where John was at the first baptizing; and there be abode.\r\n And many came unto him; and they said, John indeed did no sign: but all things whatsoever John spake of this man were true.\r\n And many believed on him there.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, of the village of Mary and her sister Martha.\r\n And it was that Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.\r\n The sisters therefore sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.\r\n But when Jesus heard it, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified thereby.\r\n Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.\r\n When therefore he heard that he was sick, he abode at that time two days in the place where he was.\r\n Then after this he saith to the disciples, Let us go into Judaea again.\r\n The disciples say unto him, Rabbi, the Jews were but now seeking to stone thee; and goest thou thither again?\r\n Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If a man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world.\r\n But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because the light is not in him.\r\n These things spake he: and after this he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus is fallen asleep; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.\r\n The disciples therefore said unto him, Lord, if he is fallen asleep, he will recover.\r\n Now Jesus had spoken of his death: but they thought that he spake of taking rest in sleep.\r\n Then Jesus therefore said unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.\r\n And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.\r\n Thomas therefore, who is called Didymus, said unto his fellow-disciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him.\r\n So when Jesus came, he found that he had been in the tomb four days already.\r\n Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off;\r\n and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary, to console them concerning their brother.\r\n Martha therefore, when she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary still sat in the house.\r\n Martha therefore said unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.\r\n And even now I know that, whatsoever thou shalt ask of God, God will give thee.\r\n Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.\r\n Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.\r\n Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth on me, though he die, yet shall he live;\r\n and whosoever liveth and believeth on me shall never die. Believest thou this?\r\n She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I have believed that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, [even] he that cometh into the world.\r\n And when she had said this, she went away, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Teacher is her, and calleth thee.\r\n And she, when she heard it, arose quickly, and went unto him.\r\n (Now Jesus was not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha met him.)\r\n The Jews then who were with her in the house, and were consoling her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up quickly and went out, followed her, supposing that she was going unto the tomb to weep there.\r\n Mary therefore, when she came where Jesus was, and saw him, fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.\r\n When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews [also] weeping who came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled,\r\n and said, Where have ye laid him? They say unto him, Lord, come and see.\r\n Jesus wept.\r\n The Jews therefore said, Behold how he loved him!\r\n But some of them said, Could not this man, who opened the eyes of him that was blind, have caused that this man also should not die?\r\n Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the tomb. Now it was a cave, and a stone lay against it.\r\n Jesus saith, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time the body decayeth; for he hath been [dead] four days.\r\n Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou believedst, thou shouldest see the glory of God?\r\n So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou heardest me.\r\n And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the multitude that standeth around I said it, that they may believe that thou didst send me.\r\n And when he had thus spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.\r\n He that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with grave-clothes; and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.\r\n Many therefore of the Jews, who came to Mary and beheld that which he did, believed on him.\r\n But some of them went away to the Pharisees, and told them the things which Jesus had done.\r\n The chief priests therefore and the Pharisees gathered a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many signs.\r\n If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.\r\n But a certain one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all,\r\n nor do ye take account that it is expedient for you that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.\r\n Now this he said not of himself: but, being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for the nation;\r\n and not for the nation only, but that he might also gather together into one the children of God that are scattered abroad.\r\n So from that day forth they took counsel that they might put him to death.\r\n Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews, but departed thence into the country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim; and there he tarried with the disciples.\r\n Now the passover of the Jews was at hand: and many went up to Jerusalem out of the country before the passover, to purify themselves.\r\n They sought therefore for Jesus, and spake one with another, as they stood in the temple, What think ye? That he will not come to the feast?\r\n Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given commandment, that, if any man knew where he was, he should show it, that they might take him.\r\n \r\n \r\n Jesus therefore six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus raised from the dead.\r\n So they made him a supper there: and Martha served; but Lazarus was one of them that sat at meat with him.\r\n Mary therefore took a pound of ointment of pure nard, very precious, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment.\r\n But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples, that should betray him, saith,\r\n Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred shillings, and given to the poor?\r\n Now this he said, not because he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and having the bag took away what was put therein.\r\n Jesus therefore said, Suffer her to keep it against the day of my burying.\r\n For the poor ye have always with you; but me ye have not always.\r\n The common people therefore of the Jews learned that he was there: and they came, not for Jesus` sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead.\r\n But the chief priests took counsel that they might put Lazarus also to death;\r\n because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus.\r\n On the morrow a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,\r\n took the branches of the palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried out, Hosanna: Blessed [is] he that cometh in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel.\r\n And Jesus, having found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written,\r\n Fear not, daughter of Zion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass`s colt.\r\n These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him.\r\n The multitude therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb, and raised him from the dead, bare witness.\r\n For this cause also the multitude went and met him, for that they heard that he had done this sign.\r\n The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Behold how ye prevail nothing: lo, the world is gone after him.\r\n Now there were certain Greeks among those that went up to worship at the feast:\r\n these therefore came to Philip, who was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.\r\n Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: Andrew cometh, and Philip, and they tell Jesus.\r\n And Jesus answereth them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.\r\n Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a grain of wheat fall into the earth and die, it abideth by itself alone; but if it die, it beareth much fruit.\r\n He that loveth his life loseth it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.\r\n If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will the Father honor.\r\n Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour. But for this cause came I unto this hour.\r\n Father, glorify thy name. There came therefore a voice out of heaven, [saying], I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.\r\n The multitude therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it had thundered: others said, An angel hath spoken to him.\r\n Jesus answered and said, This voice hath not come for my sake, but for your sakes.\r\n Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.\r\n And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto myself.\r\n But this he said, signifying by what manner of death he should die.\r\n The multitude therefore answered him, We have heard out of the law that the Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man?\r\n Jesus therefore said unto them, Yet a little while is the light among you. Walk while ye have the light, that darkness overtake you not: and he that walketh in the darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.\r\n While ye have the light, believe on the light, that ye may become sons of light. These things spake Jesus, and he departed and hid himself from them.\r\n But though he had done so many signs before them, yet they believed not on him:\r\n that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? And to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?\r\n For this cause they could not believe, for that Isaiah said again,\r\n He hath blinded their eyes, and he hardened their heart; Lest they should see with their eyes, and perceive with their heart, And should turn, And I should heal them.\r\n These things said Isaiah, because he saw his glory; and he spake of him.\r\n Nevertheless even of the rulers many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess [it], lest they should be put out of the synagogue:\r\n for they loved the glory [that is] of men more than the glory [that is] of God.\r\n And Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me.\r\n And he that beholdeth me beholdeth him that sent me.\r\n I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me may not abide in the darkness.\r\n And if any man hear my sayings, and keep them not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.\r\n He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my sayings, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I spake, the same shall judge him in the last day.\r\n For I spake not from myself; but the Father that sent me, he hath given me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.\r\n And I know that his commandment is life eternal: the things therefore which I speak, even as the Father hath said unto me, so I speak.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now before the feast of the passover, Jesus knowing that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto his Father, having loved his own that were in the world, he loved them unto the end.\r\n And during supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon`s [son], to betray him,\r\n [Jesus], knowing that the Father had given all the things into his hands, and that he came forth from God, and goeth unto God,\r\n riseth from supper, and layeth aside his garments; and he took a towel, and girded himself.\r\n Then he poureth water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples` feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.\r\n So he cometh to Simon Peter. He saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?\r\n Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt understand hereafter.\r\n Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.\r\n Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.\r\n Jesus saith to him, He that is bathed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.\r\n For he knew him that should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.\r\n So when he had washed their feet, and taken his garments, and sat down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?\r\n Ye call me, Teacher, and, Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.\r\n If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, have washed your feet, ye also ought to wash one another`s feet.\r\n For I have given you an example, that ye also should do as I have done to you.\r\n Verily, verily, I say unto you, a servant is not greater than his lord; neither one that is sent greater than he that sent him.\r\n If ye know these things, blessed are ye if ye do them.\r\n I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled: He that eateth my bread lifted up his heel against me.\r\n From henceforth I tell you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am [he].\r\n Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.\r\n When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in the spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.\r\n The disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake.\r\n There was at the table reclining in Jesus` bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.\r\n Simon Peter therefore beckoneth to him, and saith unto him, Tell [us] who it is of whom he speaketh.\r\n He leaning back, as he was, on Jesus` breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it?\r\n Jesus therefore answereth, He it is, for whom I shall dip the sop, and give it him. So when he had dipped the sop, he taketh and giveth it to Judas, [the son] of Simon Iscariot.\r\n And after the sop, then entered Satan into him. Jesus therefore saith unto him, What thou doest, do quickly.\r\n Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him.\r\n For some thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus said unto him, Buy what things we have need of for the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor.\r\n He then having received the sop went out straightway: and it was night.\r\n When therefore he was gone out, Jesus saith, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him;\r\n and God shall glorify him in himself, and straightway shall he glorify him.\r\n Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say unto you.\r\n A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; even as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.\r\n By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.\r\n Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered, Whither I go, thou canst not follow now; but thou shalt follow afterwards.\r\n Peter saith unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee even now? I will lay down my life for thee.\r\n Jesus answereth, Wilt thou lay down thy life for me? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice.\r\n \r\n \r\n Let not your heart be troubled: believe in God, believe also in me.\r\n In my Father`s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.\r\n And if I go and prepare a place for you, I come again, and will receive you unto myself; that where I am, [there] ye may be also.\r\n And whither I go, ye know the way.\r\n Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; how know we the way?\r\n Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no one cometh unto the Father, but by me.\r\n If ye had known me, ye would have known my Father also: from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.\r\n Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us.\r\n Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and dost thou not know me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; how sayest thou, Show us the Father?\r\n Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I say unto you I speak not from myself: but the Father abiding in me doeth his works.\r\n Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works` sake.\r\n Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater [works] than these shall he do; because I go unto the Father.\r\n And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.\r\n If ye shall ask anything in my name, that will I do.\r\n If ye love me, ye will keep my commandments.\r\n And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may be with you for ever,\r\n [even] the Spirit of truth: whom the world cannot receive; for it beholdeth him not, neither knoweth him: ye know him; for he abideth with you, and shall be in you.\r\n I will not leave you desolate: I come unto you.\r\n Yet a little while, and the world beholdeth me no more; but ye behold me: because I live, ye shall live also.\r\n In that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.\r\n He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself unto him.\r\n Judas (not Iscariot) saith unto him, Lord, what is come to pass that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?\r\n Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my word: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.\r\n He that loveth me not keepeth not my words: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father`s who sent me.\r\n These things have I spoken unto you, while [yet] abiding with you.\r\n But the Comforter, [even] the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said unto you.\r\n Peace I leave with you; my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful.\r\n Ye heard how I said to you, I go away, and I come unto you. If ye loved me, ye would have rejoiced, because I go unto the Father: for the Father is greater than I.\r\n And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe.\r\n I will no more speak much with you, for the prince of the world cometh: and he hath nothing in me;\r\n but that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.\r\n \r\n \r\n I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.\r\n Every branch in me that beareth not fruit, he taketh it away: and every [branch] that beareth fruit, he cleanseth it, that it may bear more fruit.\r\n Already ye are clean because of the word which I have spoken unto you.\r\n Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; so neither can ye, except ye abide in me.\r\n I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same beareth much fruit: for apart from me ye can do nothing.\r\n If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.\r\n If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatsoever ye will, and it shall be done unto you.\r\n Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; and [so] shall ye be my disciples.\r\n Even as the Father hath loved me, I also have loved you: abide ye in my love.\r\n If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father`s commandments, and abide in his love.\r\n These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy may be in you, and [that] your joy may be made full.\r\n This is my commandment, that ye love one another, even as I have loved you.\r\n Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.\r\n Ye are my friends, if ye do the things which I command you.\r\n No longer do I call you servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I heard from my Father, I have made known unto you.\r\n Ye did not choose me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that ye should go and bear fruit, and [that] your fruit should abide: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.\r\n These things I command you, that ye may love one another.\r\n If the world hateth you, ye know that it hath hated me before [it hated] you.\r\n If ye were of the world, the world would love its own: but because ye are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.\r\n Remember the word that I said unto you, A servant is not greater than his lord. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also.\r\n But all these things will they do unto you for my name`s sake, because they know not him that sent me.\r\n If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no excuse for their sin.\r\n He that hateth me hateth my Father also.\r\n If I had not done among them the works which none other did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.\r\n But [this cometh to pass], that the word may be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.\r\n But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, [even] the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall bear witness of me:\r\n and ye also bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.\r\n \r\n \r\n These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be caused to stumble.\r\n They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the hour cometh, that whosoever killeth you shall think that he offereth service unto God.\r\n And these things will they do, because they have not known the Father, nor me.\r\n But these things have I spoken unto you, that when their hour is come, ye may remember them, how that I told you. And these things I said not unto you from the beginning, because I was with you.\r\n But now I go unto him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou?\r\n But because I have spoken these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart.\r\n Nevertheless I tell you the truth: It is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I go, I will send him unto you.\r\n And he, when he is come, will convict the world in respect of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:\r\n of sin, because they believe not on me;\r\n of righteousness, because I go to the Father, and ye behold me no more;\r\n of judgment, because the prince of this world hath been judged.\r\n I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.\r\n Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he shall guide you into all the truth: for he shall not speak from himself; but what things soever he shall hear, [these] shall he speak: and he shall declare unto you the things that are to come.\r\n He shall glorify me: for he shall take of mine, and shall declare [it] unto you.\r\n All things whatsoever the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he taketh of mine, and shall declare [it] unto you.\r\n A little while, and ye behold me no more; and again a little while, and ye shall see me.\r\n [Some] of his disciples therefore said one to another, What is this that he saith unto us, A little while, and ye behold me not; and again a little while, and ye shall see me: and, Because I go to the Father?\r\n They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A little while? We know not what he saith.\r\n Jesus perceived that they were desirous to ask him, and he said unto them, Do ye inquire among yourselves concerning this, that I said, A little while, and ye behold me not, and again a little while, and ye shall see me?\r\n Verily, verily, I say unto you, that ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.\r\n A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but when she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for the joy that a man is born into the world.\r\n And ye therefore now have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no one taketh away from you.\r\n And in that day ye shall ask me no question. Verily, verily, I say unto you, if ye shall ask anything of the Father, he will give it you in my name.\r\n Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be made full.\r\n These things have I spoken unto you in dark sayings: the hour cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in dark sayings, but shall tell you plainly of the Father.\r\n In that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you;\r\n for the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came forth from the Father.\r\n I came out from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go unto the Father.\r\n His disciples say, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no dark saying.\r\n Now know we that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God.\r\n Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe?\r\n Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and [yet] I am not alone, because the Father is with me.\r\n These things have I spoken unto you, that in me ye may have peace. In the world ye have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.\r\n \r\n \r\n These things spake Jesus; and lifting up his eyes to heaven, he said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that the son may glorify thee:\r\n even as thou gavest him authority over all flesh, that to all whom thou hast given him, he should give eternal life.\r\n And this is life eternal, that they should know thee the only true God, and him whom thou didst send, [even] Jesus Christ.\r\n I glorified thee on the earth, having accomplished the work which thou hast given me to do.\r\n And now, Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.\r\n I manifested thy name unto the men whom thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them to me; and they have kept thy word.\r\n Now they know that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are from thee:\r\n for the words which thou gavest me I have given unto them; and they received [them], and knew of a truth that I came forth from thee, and they believed that thou didst send me.\r\n I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for those whom thou hast given me; for they are thine:\r\n and all things that are mine are thine, and thine are mine: and I am glorified in them.\r\n And I am no more in the world, and these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep them in thy name which thou hast given me, that they may be one, even as we [are].\r\n While I was with them, I kept them in thy name which thou hast given me: and I guarded them, and not one of them perished, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.\r\n But now I come to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy made full in themselves.\r\n I have given them thy word; and the world hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.\r\n I pray not that thou shouldest take them from the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil [one].\r\n They are not of the world even as I am not of the world.\r\n Sanctify them in the truth: thy word is truth.\r\n As thou didst send me into the world, even so sent I them into the world.\r\n And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth.\r\n Neither for these only do I pray, but for them also that believe on me through their word;\r\n that they may all be one; even as thou, Father, [art] in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us: that the world may believe that thou didst send me.\r\n And the glory which thou hast given me I have given unto them; that they may be one, even as we [are] one;\r\n I in them, and thou in me, that they may be perfected into one; that the world may know that thou didst send me, and lovedst them, even as thou lovedst me.\r\n Father, I desire that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.\r\n O righteous Father, the world knew thee not, but I knew thee; and these knew that thou didst send me;\r\n and I made known unto them thy name, and will make it known; that the love wherewith thou lovedst me may be in them, and I in them.\r\n \r\n \r\n When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Kidron, where was a garden, into which he entered, himself and his disciples.\r\n Now Judas also, who betrayed him, knew the place: for Jesus oft-times resorted thither with his disciples.\r\n Judas then, having received the band [of soldiers], and officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons.\r\n Jesus therefore, knowing all the things that were coming upon him, went forth, and saith unto them, Whom seek ye?\r\n They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am [he]. And Judas also, who betrayed him, was standing with them.\r\n When therefore he said unto them, I am [he], they went backward, and fell to the ground.\r\n Again therefore he asked them, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth.\r\n Jesus answered, I told you that I am [he]; if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way:\r\n that the word might be fulfilled which he spake, Of those whom thou hast given me I lost not one.\r\n Simon Peter therefore having a sword drew it, and struck the high priest`s servant, and cut off his right ear. Now the servant`s name was Malchus.\r\n Jesus therefore said unto Peter, Put up the sword into the sheath: the cup which the Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?\r\n So the band and the chief captain, and the officers of the Jews, seized Jesus and bound him,\r\n and led him to Annas first; for he was father in law to Caiaphas, who was high priest that year.\r\n Now Caiaphas was he that gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.\r\n And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and [so did] another disciple. Now that disciple was known unto the high priest, and entered in with Jesus into the court of the high priest;\r\n but Peter was standing at the door without. So the other disciple, who was known unto the high priest, went out and spake unto her that kept the door, and brought in Peter.\r\n The maid therefore that kept the door saith unto Peter, Art thou also [one] of this man`s disciples? He saith, I am not.\r\n Now the servants and the officers were standing [there], having made a fire of coals; for it was cold; and they were warming themselves: and Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself.\r\n The high priest therefore asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his teaching.\r\n Jesus answered him, I have spoken openly to the world; I ever taught in synagogues, and in the temple, where all the Jews come together; and in secret spake I nothing.\r\n Why askest thou me? Ask them that have heard [me], what I spake unto them: behold, these know the things which I said.\r\n And when he had said this, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, Answerest thou the high priest so?\r\n Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me?\r\n Annas therefore sent him bound unto Caiaphas the high priest.\r\n Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They said therefore unto him, Art thou also [one] of his disciples? He denied, and said, I am not.\r\n One of the servants of the high priest, being a kinsman of him whose ear Peter cut off, saith, Did not I see thee in the garden with him?\r\n Peter therefore denied again: and straightway the cock crew.\r\n They lead Jesus therefore from Caiaphas into the Praetorium: and it was early; and they themselves entered not into the Praetorium, that they might not be defiled, but might eat the passover.\r\n Pilate therefore went out unto them, and saith, What accusation bring ye against this man?\r\n They answered and said unto him, If this man were not an evildoer, we should not have delivered him up unto thee.\r\n Pilate therefore said unto them, Take him yourselves, and judge him according to your law. The Jews said unto him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death:\r\n that the word of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spake, signifying by what manner of death he should die.\r\n Pilate therefore entered again into the Praetorium, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews?\r\n Jesus answered, Sayest thou this of thyself, or did others tell it thee concerning me?\r\n Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done?\r\n Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.\r\n Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end have I been born, and to this end am I come into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.\r\n Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find no crime in him.\r\n But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the passover: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews?\r\n They cried out therefore again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.)\r\n \r\n \r\n Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him.\r\n And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and arrayed him in a purple garment;\r\n and they came unto him, and said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they struck him with their hands.\r\n And Pilate went out again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him out to you, that ye may know that I find no crime in him.\r\n Jesus therefore came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple garment. And [Pilate] saith unto them, Behold, the man!\r\n When therefore the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify [him], crucify [him]! Pilate saith unto them, Take him yourselves, and crucify him: for I find no crime in him.\r\n The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by that law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.\r\n When Pilate therefore heard this saying, he was the more afraid;\r\n and he entered into the Praetorium again, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer.\r\n Pilate therefore saith unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? Knowest thou not that I have power to release thee, and have power to crucify thee?\r\n Jesus answered him, Thou wouldest have no power against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath greater sin.\r\n Upon this Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou release this man, thou art not Caesar`s friend: every one that maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar.\r\n When Pilate therefore heard these words, he brought Jesus out, and sat down on the judgment-seat at a place called The Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha.\r\n Now it was the Preparation of the passover: it was about the sixth hour. And he saith unto the Jews, Behold, your King!\r\n They therefore cried out, Away with [him], away with [him], crucify him! Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar.\r\n Then therefore he delivered him unto them to be crucified.\r\n They took Jesus therefore: and he went out, bearing the cross for himself, unto the place called The place of a skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha:\r\n where they crucified him, and with him two others, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst.\r\n And Pilate wrote a title also, and put it on the cross. And there was written, JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.\r\n This title therefore read many of the Jews, for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city; and it was written in Hebrew, [and] in Latin, [and] in Greek.\r\n The chief priests of the Jews therefore said to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am King of the Jews.\r\n Pilate answered, What I have written I have written.\r\n The soldiers therefore, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also the coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout.\r\n They said therefore one to another, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my garments among them, And upon my vesture did they cast lots.\r\n These things therefore the soldiers did. But there were standing by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother`s sister, Mary the [wife] of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.\r\n When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!\r\n Then saith he to the disciple, Behold, thy mother! And from that hour the disciple took her unto his own [home].\r\n After this Jesus, knowing that all things are now finished, that the scripture might be accomplished, saith, I thirst.\r\n There was set there a vessel full of vinegar: so they put a sponge full of the vinegar upon hyssop, and brought it to his mouth.\r\n When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up his spirit.\r\n The Jews therefore, because it was the Preparation, that the bodies should not remain on the cross upon the sabbath (for the day of that sabbath was a high [day]), asked of Pilate that their legs might be broken, and [that] they might be taken away.\r\n The soldiers therefore came, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other that was crucified with him:\r\n but when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs:\r\n howbeit one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and straightway there came out blood and water.\r\n And he that hath seen hath borne witness, and his witness is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye also may believe.\r\n For these things came to pass, that the scripture might be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.\r\n And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced.\r\n And after these things Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked of Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave [him] leave. He came therefore, and took away his body.\r\n And there came also Nicodemus, he who at the first came to him by night, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds.\r\n So they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury.\r\n Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new tomb wherein was never man yet laid.\r\n There then because of the Jews` Preparation (for the tomb was nigh at hand) they laid Jesus.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now on the first [day] of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, while it was yet dark, unto the tomb, and seeth the stone taken away from the tomb.\r\n She runneth therefore, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we know not where they have laid him.\r\n Peter therefore went forth, and the other disciple, and they went toward the tomb.\r\n And they ran both together: and the other disciple outran Peter, and came first to the tomb;\r\n and stooping and looking in, he seeth the linen cloths lying; yet entered he not in.\r\n Simon Peter therefore also cometh, following him, and entered into the tomb; and he beholdeth the linen cloths lying,\r\n and the napkin, that was upon his head, not lying with the linen cloths, but rolled up in a place by itself.\r\n Then entered in therefore the other disciple also, who came first to the tomb, and he saw, and believed.\r\n For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise from the dead.\r\n So the disciples went away again unto their own home.\r\n But Mary was standing without at the tomb weeping: so, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb;\r\n and she beholdeth two angels in white sitting, one at the head, and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.\r\n And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.\r\n When she had thus said, she turned herself back, and beholdeth Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.\r\n Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou hast borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.\r\n Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turneth herself, and saith unto him in Hebrew, Rabboni; which is to say, Teacher.\r\n Jesus saith to her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended unto the Father: but go unto my brethren, and say to them, I ascend unto my Father and your Father, and my God and your God.\r\n Mary Magdalene cometh and telleth the disciples, I have seen the Lord; and [that] he had said these things unto her.\r\n When therefore it was evening, on that day, the first [day] of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace [be] unto you.\r\n And when he had said this, he showed unto them his hands and his side. The disciples therefore were glad, when they saw the Lord.\r\n Jesus therefore said to them again, Peace [be] unto you: as the Father hath sent me, even so send I you.\r\n And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Spirit:\r\n whose soever sins ye forgive, they are forgiven unto them; whose soever [sins] ye retain, they are retained.\r\n But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.\r\n The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.\r\n And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them. Jesus cometh, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace [be] unto you.\r\n Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and see my hands; and reach [hither] thy hand, and put it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.\r\n Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.\r\n Jesus saith unto him, Because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed [are] they that have not seen, and [yet] have believed.\r\n Many other signs therefore did Jesus in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book:\r\n but these are written, that ye may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye may have life in his name.\r\n \r\n \r\n After these things Jesus manifested himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and he manifested [himself] on this wise.\r\n There was together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the [sons] of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples.\r\n Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also come with thee. They went forth, and entered into the boat; and that night they took nothing.\r\n But when day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach: yet the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.\r\n Jesus therefore saith unto them, Children, have ye aught to eat? They answered him, No.\r\n And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.\r\n That disciple therefore whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his coat about him (for he was naked), and cast himself into the sea.\r\n But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from the land, but about two hundred cubits off), dragging the net [full] of fishes.\r\n So when they got out upon the land, they see a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.\r\n Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now taken.\r\n Simon Peter therefore went up, and drew the net to land, full of great fishes, a hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, the net was not rent.\r\n Jesus saith unto them, Come [and] break your fast. And none of the disciples durst inquire of him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.\r\n Jesus cometh, and taketh the bread, and giveth them, and the fish likewise.\r\n This is now the third time that Jesus was manifested to the disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.\r\n So when they had broken their fast, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, [son] of John, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.\r\n He saith to him again a second time, Simon, [son] of John, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Tend my sheep.\r\n He saith unto him the third time, Simon, [son] of John, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.\r\n Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.\r\n Now this he spake, signifying by what manner of death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.\r\n Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; who also leaned back on his breast at the supper, and said, Lord, who is he that betrayeth thee?\r\n Peter therefore seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?\r\n Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what [is that] to thee? Follow thou me.\r\n This saying therefore went forth among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, that he should not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what [is that] to thee?\r\n This is the disciple that beareth witness of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his witness is true.\r\n And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself would not contain the books that should be written.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n The former treatise I made, O Theophilus, concerning all that Jesus began both to do and to teach,\r\n until the day in which he was received up, after that he had given commandment through the Holy Spirit unto the apostles whom he had chosen:\r\n To whom he also showed himself alive after his passion by many proofs, appearing unto them by the space of forty days, and speaking the things concerning the kingdom of God:\r\n and, being assembled together with them, he charged them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, [said he], ye heard from me:\r\n For John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized in the Holy Spirit not many days hence.\r\n They therefore, when they were come together, asked him, saying, Lord, dost thou at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?\r\n And he said unto them, It is not for you to know times or seasons, which the Father hath set within His own authority.\r\n But ye shall receive power, when the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and ye shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea and Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.\r\n And when he had said these things, as they were looking, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.\r\n And while they were looking stedfastly into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;\r\n who also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye looking into heaven? this Jesus, who was received up from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as ye beheld him going into heaven.\r\n Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is nigh unto Jerusalem, a Sabbath day`s journey off.\r\n And when they were come in, they went up into the upper chamber, where they were abiding; both Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James [the son] of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas [the son] of James.\r\n These all with one accord continued stedfastly in prayer, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.\r\n And in these days Peter stood up in the midst of the brethren, and said (and there was a multitude of persons [gathered] together, about a hundred and twenty),\r\n Brethren, it was needful that the Scripture should be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spake before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who was guide to them that took Jesus.\r\n For he was numbered among us, and received his portion in this ministry.\r\n (Now this man obtained a field with the reward of his iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.\r\n And it became known to all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch that in their language that field was called Akeldama, that is, The field of blood.)\r\n For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be made desolate, And let no man dwell therein: and, His office let another take.\r\n Of the men therefore that have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and went out among us,\r\n beginning from the baptism of John, unto the day that he was received up from us, of these must one become a witness with us of his resurrection.\r\n And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.\r\n And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men, show of these two the one whom thou hast chosen,\r\n to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas fell away, that he might go to his own place.\r\n And they gave lots for them; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.\r\n \r\n \r\n And when the day of Pentecost was now come, they were all together in one place.\r\n And suddenly there came from heaven a sound as of the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.\r\n And there appeared unto them tongues parting asunder, like as of fire; and it sat upon each one of them.\r\n And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.\r\n Now there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven.\r\n And when this sound was heard, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speaking in his own language.\r\n And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying, Behold, are not all these that speak Galilaeans?\r\n And how hear we, every man in our own language wherein we were born?\r\n Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, in Judaea and Cappadocia, in Pontus and Asia,\r\n in Phrygia and Pamphylia, in Egypt and the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and sojourners from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,\r\n Cretans and Arabians, we hear them speaking in our tongues the mighty works of God.\r\n And they were all amazed, and were perplexed, saying one to another, What meaneth this?\r\n But others mocking said, They are filled with new wine.\r\n But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and spake forth unto them, [saying], Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and give ear unto my words.\r\n For these are not drunken, as ye suppose; seeing it is [but] the third hour of the day.\r\n but this is that which hath been spoken through the prophet Joel:\r\n And it shall be in the last days, saith God, I will pour forth of my Spirit upon all flesh: And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, And your young men shall see visions, And your old men shall dream dreams:\r\n Yea and on my servants and on my handmaidens in those days Will I pour forth of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy.\r\n And I will show wonders in the heaven above, And signs on the earth beneath; Blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke:\r\n The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the day of the Lord come, That great and notable [day].\r\n And it shall be, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.\r\n Ye men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God unto you by mighty works and wonders and signs which God did by him in the midst of you, even as ye yourselves know;\r\n him, being delivered up by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye by the hand of lawless men did crucify and slay:\r\n whom God raised up, having loosed the pangs of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.\r\n For David saith concerning him, I beheld the Lord always before my face; For he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:\r\n Therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; Moreover my flesh also shall dwell in hope:\r\n Because thou wilt not leave my soul unto Hades, Neither wilt thou give thy Holy One to see corruption.\r\n Thou madest known unto me the ways of life; Thou shalt make me full of gladness with thy countenance.\r\n Brethren, I may say unto you freely of the patriarch David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us unto this day.\r\n Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins he would set [one] upon his throne;\r\n he foreseeing [this] spake of the resurrection of the Christ, that neither was he left unto Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption.\r\n This Jesus did God raise up, whereof we all are witnesses.\r\n Being therefore by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he hath poured forth this, which ye see and hear.\r\n For David ascended not into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,\r\n Till I make thine enemies the footstool of thy feet.\r\n Let all the house of Israel therefore know assuredly, that God hath made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom ye crucified.\r\n Now when they heard [this,] they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and the rest of the apostles, Brethren, what shall we do?\r\n And Peter [said] unto them, Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.\r\n For to you is the promise, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, [even] as many as the Lord our God shall call unto him.\r\n And with many other words he testified, and exhorted them, saying, Save yourselves from this crooked generation.\r\n They then that received his word were baptized: and there were added [unto them] in that day about three thousand souls.\r\n And they continued stedfastly in the apostles` teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and the prayers.\r\n And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.\r\n And all that believed were together, and had all things common;\r\n and they sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all, according as any man had need.\r\n And day by day, continuing stedfastly with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread at home, they took their food with gladness and singleness of heart,\r\n praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to them day by day those that were saved.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now Peter and John were going up into the temple at the hour of prayer, [being] the ninth [hour].\r\n And a certain man that was lame from his mother`s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the door of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;\r\n who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked to receive an alms.\r\n And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him, with John, said, Look on us.\r\n And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something from them.\r\n But Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but what I have, that give I thee. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.\r\n And he took him by the right hand, and raised him up: and immediately his feet and his ankle-bones received strength.\r\n And leaping up, he stood, and began to walk; and he entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.\r\n And all the people saw him walking and praising God:\r\n and they took knowledge of him, that it was he that sat for alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.\r\n And as he held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon`s, greatly wondering.\r\n And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this man? or why fasten ye your eyes on us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made him to walk?\r\n The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Servant Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied before the face of Pilate, when he had determined to release him.\r\n But ye denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted unto you,\r\n and killed the Prince of life; whom God raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.\r\n And by faith in his name hath his name made this man strong, whom ye behold and know: yea, the faith which is through him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.\r\n And now, brethren, I know that in ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.\r\n But the things which God foreshowed by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ should suffer, he thus fulfilled.\r\n Repent ye therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that so there may come seasons of refreshing from the presence of the Lord;\r\n and that he may send the Christ who hath been appointed for you, [even] Jesus:\r\n whom the heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, whereof God spake by the mouth of His holy prophets that have been from of old.\r\n Moses indeed said, A prophet shall the Lord God raise up unto you from among your brethren, like unto me. To him shall ye hearken in all things whatsoever he shall speak unto you.\r\n And it shall be, that every soul that shall not hearken to that prophet, shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.\r\n Yea and all the prophets from Samuel and them that followed after, as many as have spoken, they also told of these days.\r\n Ye are the sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with your fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.\r\n Unto you first God, having raised up his Servant, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities.\r\n \r\n \r\n And as they spake unto the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them,\r\n being sore troubled because they taught the people, and proclaimed in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.\r\n And they laid hands on them, and put them in ward unto the morrow: for it was now eventide.\r\n But many of them that heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.\r\n And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem;\r\n and Annas the high priest [was there], and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest.\r\n And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, By what power, or in what name, have ye done this?\r\n Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders,\r\n if we this day are examined concerning a good deed done to an impotent man, by what means this man is made whole;\r\n be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, [even] in him doth this man stand here before you whole.\r\n He is the stone which was set at nought of you the builders, which was made the head of the corner.\r\n And in none other is there salvation: for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, wherein we must be saved.\r\n Now when they beheld the boldness of Peter and John, and had perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.\r\n And seeing the man that was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.\r\n But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves,\r\n saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been wrought through them, is manifest to all that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it.\r\n But that it spread no further among the people, let us threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name.\r\n And they called them, and charged them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.\r\n But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it is right in the sight of God to hearken unto you rather than unto God, judge ye:\r\n for we cannot but speak the things which we saw and heard.\r\n And they, when they had further threatened them, let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people; for all men glorified God for that which was done.\r\n For the man was more than forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was wrought.\r\n And being let go, they came to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said unto them.\r\n And they, when they heard it, lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, O Lord, thou that didst make the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that in them is:\r\n who by the Holy Spirit, [by] the mouth of our father David thy servant, didst say, Why did the Gentiles rage, And the peoples imagine vain things?\r\n The kings of the earth set themselves in array, And the rulers were gathered together, Against the Lord, and against his Anointed:\r\n for of a truth in this city against thy holy Servant Jesus, whom thou didst anoint, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, were gathered together,\r\n to do whatsoever thy hand and thy council foreordained to come to pass.\r\n And now, Lord, look upon their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants to speak thy word with all boldness,\r\n while thy stretchest forth thy hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of thy holy Servant Jesus.\r\n And when they had prayed, the place was shaken wherein they were gathered together; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spake the word of God with boldness.\r\n And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and soul: and not one [of them] said that aught of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.\r\n And with great power gave the apostles their witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.\r\n For neither was there among them any that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,\r\n and laid them at the apostles` feet: and distribution was made unto each, according as any one had need.\r\n And Joseph, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas (which is, being interpreted, Son of exhortation), a Levite, a man of Cyprus by race,\r\n having a field, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles` feet.\r\n \r\n \r\n But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,\r\n and kept back [part] of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles` feet.\r\n But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thy heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back [part] of the price of the land?\r\n While it remained, did it not remain thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thy power? How is it that thou hast conceived this thing in thy heart? thou has not lied unto men, but unto God.\r\n And Ananias hearing these words fell down and gave up the ghost: and great fear came upon all that heard it.\r\n And the young men arose and wrapped him round, and they carried him out and buried him.\r\n And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.\r\n And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much. And she said, Yea, for so much.\r\n But Peter [said] unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to try the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them that have buried thy husband are at the door, and they shall carry thee out.\r\n And she fell down immediately at his feet, and gave up the ghost: and the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her by her husband.\r\n And great fear came upon the whole church, and upon all that heard these things.\r\n And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; and they were all with one accord in Solomon`s porch.\r\n But of the rest durst no man join himself to them: howbeit the people magnified them;\r\n and believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of them and women;\r\n insomuch that they even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that, as Peter came by, at the least his shadow might overshadow some one of them.\r\n And there also came together the multitudes from the cities round about Jerusalem, bring sick folk, and them that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.\r\n But the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy,\r\n and laid hands on the apostles, and put them in public ward.\r\n But an angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them out, and said,\r\n Go ye, and stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this Life.\r\n And when they heard [this], they entered into the temple about daybreak, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison-house to have them brought.\r\n But the officers that came found them not in the prison; and they returned, and told,\r\n saying, The prison-house we found shut in all safety, and the keepers standing at the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within.\r\n Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were much perplexed concerning them whereunto this would grow.\r\n And there came one and told them, Behold, the men whom ye put in the prison are in the temple standing and teaching the people.\r\n Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them, [but] without violence; for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned.\r\n And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them,\r\n saying, We strictly charged you not to teach in this name: and behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and intend to bring this man`s blood upon us.\r\n But Peter and the apostles answered and said, We must obey God rather than men.\r\n The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew, hanging him on a tree.\r\n Him did God exalt with his right hand [to be] a Prince and a Saviour, to give repentance to Israel, and remission of sins.\r\n And we are witnesses of these things; and [so is] the Holy Spirit, whom God hath given to them that obey him.\r\n But they, when they heard this, were cut to the heart, and minded to slay them.\r\n But there stood up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in honor of all the people, and commanded to put the men forth a little while.\r\n And he said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves as touching these men, what ye are about to do.\r\n For before these days rose up Theudas, giving himself out to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were dispersed, and came to nought.\r\n After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the enrolment, and drew away [some of the] people after him: he also perished; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered abroad.\r\n And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will be overthrown:\r\n but if it is of God, ye will not be able to overthrow them; lest haply ye be found even to be fighting against God.\r\n And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles unto them, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.\r\n They therefore departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the Name.\r\n And every day, in the temple and at home, they ceased not to teach and to preach Jesus [as] the Christ.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now in these days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a murmuring of the Grecian Jews against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.\r\n And the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not fit that we should forsake the word of God, and serve tables.\r\n Look ye out therefore, brethren, from among you seven men of good report, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.\r\n But we will continue stedfastly in prayer, and in the ministry of the word.\r\n And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus a proselyte of Antioch;\r\n whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands upon them.\r\n And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem exceedingly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.\r\n And Stephen, full of grace and power, wrought great wonders and signs among the people.\r\n But there arose certain of them that were of the synagogue called [the synagogue] of the Libertines, and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and Asia, disputing with Stephen.\r\n And they were not able to withstand the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spake.\r\n Then they suborned men, who said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and [against] God.\r\n And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and seized him, and brought him into the council,\r\n and set up false witnesses, who said, This man ceaseth not to speak words against this holy place, and the law:\r\n for we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered unto us.\r\n And all that sat in the council, fastening their eyes on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the high priest said, Are these things so?\r\n And he said, Brethren and fathers, hearken: The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran,\r\n and said unto him, Get thee out of thy land, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall show thee.\r\n Then came he out of the land of the Chaldaeans, and dwelt in Haran: and from thence, when his father was dead, [God] removed him into this land, wherein ye now dwell:\r\n and he gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: and he promised that he would give it to him in possession, and to his seed after him, when [as yet] he had no child.\r\n And God spake on this wise, that his seed should sojourn in a strange land, and that they should bring them into bondage, and treat them ill, four hundred years.\r\n And the nation to which they shall be in bondage will I judge, said God: and after that shall they come forth, and serve me in this place.\r\n And he gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so [Abraham] begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac [begat] Jacob, and Jacob the twelve patriarchs.\r\n And the patriarchs, moved with jealousy against Joseph, sold him into Egypt: and God was with him,\r\n and delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favor and wisdom before Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house.\r\n Now there came a famine over all Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction: and our fathers found no sustenance.\r\n But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent forth our fathers the first time.\r\n And at the second time Joseph was made known to his brethren; and Joseph`s race became manifest unto Pharaoh.\r\n And Joseph sent, and called to him Jacob his father, and all his kindred, threescore and fifteen souls.\r\n And Jacob went down into Egypt; and he died, himself and our fathers;\r\n and they were carried over unto Shechem, and laid in the tomb that Abraham bought for a price in silver of the sons of Hamor in Shechem.\r\n But as the time of the promise drew nigh which God vouchsafed unto Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt,\r\n till there arose another king over Egypt, who knew not Joseph.\r\n The same dealt craftily with our race, and ill-treated our fathers, that they should cast out their babes to the end they might not live.\r\n At which season Moses was born, and was exceeding fair; and he was nourished three months in his father`s house.\r\n and when he was cast out, Pharaoh`s daughter took him up, and nourished him for her own son.\r\n And Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians; and he was mighty in his words and works.\r\n But when he was well-nigh forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel.\r\n And seeing one [of them] suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, smiting the Egyptian:\r\n and he supposed that his brethren understood that God by his hand was giving them deliverance; but they understood not.\r\n And the day following he appeared unto them as they strove, and would have set them at one again, saying, Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye wrong one to another?\r\n But he that did his neighbor wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us?\r\n Wouldest thou kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian yesterday?\r\n And Moses fled at this saying, and became a sojourner in the land of Midian, where he begat two sons.\r\n And when forty years were fulfilled, an angel appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in a flame of fire in a bush.\r\n And when Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight: and as he drew near to behold, there came a voice of the Lord,\r\n I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob. And Moses trembled, and durst not behold.\r\n And the Lord said unto him, Loose the shoes from thy feet: for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.\r\n I have surely seen the affliction of my people that is in Egypt, and have heard their groaning, and I am come down to deliver them: and now come, I will send thee into Egypt.\r\n This Moses whom they refused, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge? him hath God sent [to be] both a ruler and a deliverer with the hand of the angel that appeared to him in the bush.\r\n This man led them forth, having wrought wonders and signs in Egypt, and in the Red Sea, and in the wilderness forty years.\r\n This is that Moses, who said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall God raise up unto you from among your brethren, like unto me.\r\n This is he that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel that spake to him in the Mount Sinai, and with our fathers: who received living oracles to give unto us:\r\n to whom our fathers would not be obedient, but thrust him from them, and turned back in their hearts unto Egypt,\r\n saying unto Aaron, Make us gods that shall go before us: for as for this Moses, who led us forth out of the land of Egypt, we know not what is become of him.\r\n And they made a calf in those days, and brought a sacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their hands.\r\n But God turned, and gave them up to serve the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, Did ye offer unto me slain beasts and sacrifices Forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel?\r\n And ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, And the star of the god Rephan, The figures which ye made to worship them: And I will carry you away beyond Babylon.\r\n Our fathers had the tabernacle of the testimony in the wilderness, even as he appointed who spake unto Moses, that he should make it according to the figure that he had seen.\r\n Which also our fathers, in their turn, brought in with Joshua when they entered on the possession of the nations, that God thrust out before the face of our fathers, unto the days of David;\r\n who found favor in the sight of God, and asked to find a habitation for the God of Jacob.\r\n But Solomon built him a house.\r\n Howbeit the Most High dwelleth not in [houses] made with hands; as saith the prophet,\r\n The heaven is my throne, And the earth the footstool of my feet: What manner of house will ye build me? saith the Lord: Or what is the place of my rest?\r\n Did not my hand make all these things?\r\n Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Spirit: as your fathers did, so do ye.\r\n Which of the prophets did not your fathers persecute? and they killed them that showed before of the coming of the Righteous One; of whom ye have now become betrayers and murderers;\r\n ye who received the law as it was ordained by angels, and kept it not.\r\n Now when they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.\r\n But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,\r\n and said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing on the right hand of God.\r\n But they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and rushed upon him with one accord;\r\n and they cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.\r\n And they stoned Stephen, calling upon [the Lord], and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.\r\n And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Saul was consenting unto his death. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church which was in Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.\r\n And devout men buried Stephen, and made great lamentation over him.\r\n But Saul laid waste the church, entering into every house, and dragging men and women committed them to prison.\r\n They therefore that were scattered abroad, went about preaching the word.\r\n And Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and proclaimed unto them the Christ.\r\n And the multitudes gave heed with one accord unto the things that were spoken by Philip, when they heard, and saw the signs which he did.\r\n For [from] many of those that had unclean spirits, they came out, crying with a loud voice: and many that were palsied, and that were lame, were healed.\r\n And there was much joy in that city.\r\n But there was a certain man, Simon by name, who beforetime in the city used sorcery, and amazed the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:\r\n to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is that power of God which is called Great.\r\n And they gave heed to him, because that of long time he had amazed them with his sorceries.\r\n But when they believed Philip preaching good tidings concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.\r\n And Simon also himself believed: and being baptized, he continued with Philip; and beholding signs and great miracles wrought, he was amazed.\r\n Now when the apostles that were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:\r\n who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit:\r\n for as yet it was fallen upon none of them: only they had been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.\r\n Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.\r\n Now when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles` hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money,\r\n saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay my hands, he may receive the Holy Spirit.\r\n But Peter said unto him, Thy silver perish with thee, because thou hast thought to obtain the gift of God with money.\r\n Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right before God.\r\n Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray the Lord, if perhaps the thought of thy heart shall be forgiven thee.\r\n For I see that thou art in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.\r\n And Simon answered and said, Pray ye for me to the Lord, that none of the things which ye have spoken come upon me.\r\n They therefore, when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.\r\n But an angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza: the same is desert.\r\n And he arose and went: and behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all her treasure, who had come to Jerusalem to worship;\r\n and he was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah.\r\n And the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.\r\n And Philip ran to him, and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?\r\n And he said, How can I, except some one shall guide me? And he besought Philip to come up and sit with him.\r\n Now the passage of the Scripture which he was reading was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; And as a lamb before his shearer is dumb, So he openeth not his mouth:\r\n In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: His generation who shall declare? For his life is taken from the earth.\r\n And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other?\r\n And Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture, preached unto him Jesus.\r\n And as they went on the way, they came unto a certain water; and the eunuch saith, Behold, [here is] water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?\r\n [And Philip said, If thou believest with all thy heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.]\r\n And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.\r\n And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip; and the eunuch saw him no more, for he went on his way rejoicing.\r\n But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached the gospel to all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.\r\n \r\n \r\n But Saul, yet breathing threatening and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,\r\n and asked of him letters to Damascus unto the synagogues, that if he found any that were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.\r\n And as he journeyed, it came to pass that he drew nigh unto Damascus: and suddenly there shone round about him a light out of heaven:\r\n and he fell upon the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?\r\n And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And he [said], I am Jesus whom thou persecutest:\r\n but rise, and enter into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.\r\n And the men that journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing the voice, but beholding no man.\r\n And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw nothing; and they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.\r\n And he was three days without sight, and did neither eat nor drink.\r\n Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and the Lord said unto him in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I [am here], Lord.\r\n And the Lord [said] unto him, Arise, and go to the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one named Saul, a man of Tarsus: for behold, he prayeth;\r\n and he hath seen a man named Ananias coming in, and laying his hands on him, that he might receive his sight.\r\n But Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard from many of this man, how much evil he did to thy saints at Jerusalem:\r\n and here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call upon thy name.\r\n But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles and kings, and the children of Israel:\r\n for I will show him how many things he must suffer for my name`s sake.\r\n And Ananias departed, and entered into the house; and laying his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, [even] Jesus, who appeared unto thee in the way which thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mayest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit.\r\n And straightway there fell from his eyes as it were scales, and he received his sight; and he arose and was baptized;\r\n and he took food and was strengthened. And he was certain days with the disciples that were at Damascus.\r\n And straightway in the synagogues he proclaimed Jesus, that he is the Son of God.\r\n And all that heard him were amazed, and said, Is not this he that in Jerusalem made havoc of them that called on this name? and he had come hither for this intent, that he might bring them bound before the chief priests.\r\n But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews that dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is the Christ.\r\n And when many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel together to kill him:\r\n but their plot became known to Saul. And they watched the gates also day and night that they might kill him:\r\n but his disciples took him by night, and let him down through the wall, lowering him in a basket.\r\n And when he was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: and they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple.\r\n But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus.\r\n And he was with them going in and going out at Jerusalem,\r\n preaching boldly in the name of the Lord: and he spake and disputed against the Grecian Jews; but they were seeking to kill him.\r\n And when the brethren knew it, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.\r\n So the church throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria had peace, being edified; and, walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, was multiplied.\r\n And it came to pass, as Peter went throughout all parts, he came down also to the saints that dwelt at Lydda.\r\n And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had kept his bed eight years; for he was palsied.\r\n And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ healeth thee: arise and make thy bed. And straightway he arose.\r\n And all that dwelt at Lydda and in Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.\r\n Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.\r\n And it came to pass in those days, that she fell sick, and died: and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper chamber.\r\n And as Lydda was nigh unto Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men unto him, entreating him, Delay not to come on unto us.\r\n And Peter arose and went with them. And when he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and showing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.\r\n But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down and prayed; and turning to the body, he said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes; and when she saw Peter, she sat up.\r\n And he gave her his hand, and raised her up; and calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive.\r\n And it became known throughout all Joppa: and many believed on the Lord.\r\n And it came to pass, that he abode many days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now [there was] a certain man in Caesarea, Cornelius by name, a centurion of the band called the Italian [band],\r\n a devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, who gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always.\r\n He saw in a vision openly, as it were about the ninth hour of the day, an angel of God coming in unto him, and saying to him, Cornelius.\r\n And he, fastening his eyes upon him, and being affrighted, said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are gone up for a memorial before God.\r\n And now send men to Joppa, and fetch one Simon, who is surnamed Peter:\r\n he lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side.\r\n And when the angel that spake unto him was departed, he called two of his household-servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually;\r\n and having rehearsed all things unto them, he sent them to Joppa.\r\n Now on the morrow, as they were on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour:\r\n and he became hungry, and desired to eat: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance;\r\n and he beholdeth the heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending, as it were a great sheet, let down by four corners upon the earth:\r\n wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts and creeping things of the earth and birds of the heaven.\r\n And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill and eat.\r\n But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common and unclean.\r\n And a voice [came] unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, make not thou common.\r\n And this was done thrice: and straightway the vessel was received up into heaven.\r\n Now while Peter was much perplexed in himself what the vision which he had seen might mean, behold, the men that were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon`s house, stood before the gate,\r\n and called and asked whether Simon, who was surnamed Peter, were lodging there.\r\n And while Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.\r\n But arise, and get thee down, and go with them, nothing doubting: for I have sent them.\r\n And Peter went down to the men, and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come?\r\n And they said, Cornelius a centurion, a righteous man and one that feareth God, and well reported of by all the nation of the Jews, was warned [of God] by a holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words from thee.\r\n So he called them in and lodged them. And on the morrow he arose and went forth with them, and certain of the brethren from Joppa accompanied him.\r\n And on the morrow they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius was waiting for them, having called together his kinsmen and his near friends.\r\n And when it came to pass that Peter entered, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.\r\n But Peter raised him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.\r\n And as he talked with him, he went in, and findeth many come together:\r\n and he said unto them, Ye yourselves know how it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to join himself or come unto one of another nation; and [yet] unto me hath God showed that I should not call any man common or unclean:\r\n wherefore also I came without gainsaying, when I was sent for. I ask therefore with what intent ye sent for me.\r\n And Cornelius said, Four days ago, until this hour, I was keeping the ninth hour of prayer in my house; and behold, a man stood before me in bright apparel,\r\n and saith, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.\r\n Send therefore to Joppa, and call unto thee Simon, who is surnamed Peter; he lodgeth in the house of Simon a tanner, by the sea side.\r\n Forthwith therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore we are all here present in the sight of God, to hear all things that have been commanded thee of the Lord.\r\n And Peter opened his mouth and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:\r\n but in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is acceptable to him.\r\n The word which he sent unto the children of Israel, preaching good tidings of peace by Jesus Christ (He is Lord of all.) --\r\n that saying ye yourselves know, which was published throughout all Judaea, beginning from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;\r\n [even] Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.\r\n And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the country of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom also they slew, hanging him on a tree.\r\n Him God raised up the third day, and gave him to be made manifest,\r\n not to all the people, but unto witnesses that were chosen before of God, [even] to us, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.\r\n And he charged us to preach unto the people, and to testify that this is he who is ordained of God [to be] the Judge of the living and the dead.\r\n To him bear all the prophets witness, that through his name every one that believeth on him shall receive remission of sins.\r\n While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all them that heard the word.\r\n And they of the circumcision that believed were amazed, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Spirit.\r\n For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,\r\n Can any man forbid the water, that these should not be baptized, who have received the Holy Spirit as well as we?\r\n And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now the apostles and the brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God.\r\n And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him,\r\n saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them.\r\n But Peter began, and expounded [the matter] unto them in order, saying,\r\n I was in the city of Joppa praying: and in a trance I saw a vision, a certain vessel descending, as it were a great sheet let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even unto me:\r\n upon which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, and saw the fourfooted beasts of the earth and wild beasts and creeping things and birds of the heaven.\r\n And I heard also a voice saying unto me, Rise, Peter; kill and eat.\r\n But I said, Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath ever entered into my mouth.\r\n But a voice answered the second time out of heaven, What God hath cleansed, make not thou common.\r\n And this was done thrice: and all were drawn up again into heaven.\r\n And behold, forthwith three men stood before the house in which we were, having been sent from Caesarea unto me.\r\n And the Spirit bade me go with them, making no distinction. And these six brethren also accompanied me; and we entered into the man`s house:\r\n and he told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house, and saying, Send to Joppa, and fetch Simon, whose surname is Peter;\r\n who shall speak unto thee words, whereby thou shalt be saved, thou and all thy house.\r\n And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them, even as on us at the beginning.\r\n And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized in the Holy Spirit.\r\n If then God gave unto them the like gift as [he did] also unto us, when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I, that I could withstand God?\r\n And when they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then to the Gentiles also hath God granted repentance unto life.\r\n They therefore that were scattered abroad upon the tribulation that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phoenicia, and Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word to none save only to Jews.\r\n But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Greeks also, preaching the Lord Jesus.\r\n And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number that believed turned unto the Lord.\r\n And the report concerning them came to the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas as far as Antioch:\r\n who, when he was come, and had seen the grace of God, was glad; and he exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord:\r\n for he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.\r\n And he went forth to Tarsus to seek for Saul;\r\n and when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that even for a whole year they were gathered together with the church, and taught much people, and that the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.\r\n Now in these days there came down prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch.\r\n And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be a great famine over all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius.\r\n And the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren that dwelt in Judea:\r\n which also they did, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now about that time Herod the king put forth his hands to afflict certain of the church.\r\n And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.\r\n And when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. And [those] were the days of unleavened bread.\r\n And when he had taken him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to guard him; intending after the Passover to bring him forth to the people.\r\n Peter therefore was kept in the prison: but prayer was made earnestly of the church unto God for him.\r\n And when Herod was about to bring him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and guards before the door kept the prison.\r\n And behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shined in the cell: and he smote Peter on the side, and awoke him, saying, Rise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.\r\n And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And he did so. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.\r\n And he went out, and followed; and he knew not that it was true which was done by the angel, but thought he saw a vision.\r\n And when they were past the first and the second guard, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth into the city; which opened to them of its own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and straightway the angel departed from him.\r\n And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a truth, that the Lord hath sent forth his angel and delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.\r\n And when he had considered [the thing], he came to the house of Mary the mother of John whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together and were praying.\r\n And when he knocked at the door of the gate, a maid came to answer, named Rhoda.\r\n And when she knew Peter`s voice, she opened not the gate for joy, but ran in, and told that Peter stood before the gate.\r\n And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she confidently affirmed that it was even so. And they said, It is his angel.\r\n But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened, they saw him, and were amazed.\r\n But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him forth out of the prison. And he said, Tell these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went to another place.\r\n Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what was become of Peter.\r\n And when Herod had sought for him, and found him not, he examined the guards, and commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judaea to Caesarea, and tarried there.\r\n Now he was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon: and they came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus the king`s chamberlain their friend, they asked for peace, because their country was fed from the king`s country.\r\n And upon a set day Herod arrayed himself in royal apparel, and sat on the throne, and made an oration unto them.\r\n And the people shouted, [saying], The voice of a god, and not of a man.\r\n And immediately an angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.\r\n But the word of God grew and multiplied.\r\n And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministration, taking with them John whose surname was Mark.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now there were at Antioch, in the church that was [there], prophets and teachers, Barnabas, and Symeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen the foster-brother of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.\r\n And as they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.\r\n Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.\r\n So they, being sent forth by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.\r\n And when they were at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John as their attendant.\r\n And when they had gone through the whole island unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar-jesus;\r\n who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of understanding. The same called unto him Barnabas and Saul, and sought to hear the word of God.\r\n But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn aside the proconsul from the faith.\r\n But Saul, who is also [called] Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, fastened his eyes on him,\r\n and said, O full of all guile and all villany, thou son of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?\r\n And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.\r\n Then the proconsul, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.\r\n Now Paul and his company set sail from Paphos, and came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John departed from them and returned to Jerusalem.\r\n But they, passing through from Perga, came to Antioch of Pisidia; and they went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down.\r\n And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.\r\n And Paul stood up, and beckoning with the hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, hearken:\r\n The God of this people Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they sojourned in the land of Egypt, and with a high arm led he them forth out of it.\r\n And for about the time of forty years as a nursing-father bare he them in the wilderness.\r\n And when he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave [them] their land for an inheritance, for about four hundred and fifty years:\r\n and after these things he gave [them] judges until Samuel the prophet.\r\n And afterward they asked for a king: and God gave unto them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for the space of forty years.\r\n And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king; to whom also he bare witness and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My heart, who shall do all My will.\r\n Of this man`s seed hath God according to promise brought unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus;\r\n when John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.\r\n And as John was fulfilling his course, he said, What suppose ye that I am? I am not [he]. But behold, there cometh one after me the shoes of whose feet I am not worthy to unloose.\r\n Brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and those among you that fear God, to us is the word of this salvation sent forth.\r\n For they that dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath, fulfilled [them] by condemning [him].\r\n And though they found no cause of death [in him], yet asked they of Pilate that he should be slain.\r\n And when they had fulfilled all things that were written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a tomb.\r\n But God raised him from the dead:\r\n and he was seen for many days of them that came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses unto the people.\r\n And we bring you good tidings of the promise made unto the fathers,\r\n that God hath fulfilled the same unto our children, in that he raised up Jesus; as also it is written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.\r\n And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he hath spoken on this wise, I will give you the holy and sure [blessings] of David.\r\n Because he saith also in another [psalm], Thou wilt not give Thy Holy One to see corruption.\r\n For David, after he had in his own generation served the counsel of God, fell asleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption:\r\n but he whom God raised up saw no corruption.\r\n Be it known unto you therefore, brethren, that through this man is proclaimed unto you remission of sins:\r\n and by him every one that believeth is justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.\r\n Beware therefore, lest that come upon [you] which is spoken in the prophets:\r\n Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish; For I work a work in your days, A work which ye shall in no wise believe, if one declare it unto you.\r\n And as they went out, they besought that these words might be spoken to them the next sabbath.\r\n Now when the synagogue broke up, many of the Jews and of the devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas; who, speaking to them, urged them to continue in the grace of God.\r\n And the next sabbath almost the whole city was gathered together to hear the word of God.\r\n But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with jealousy, and contradicted the things which were spoken by Paul, and blasphemed.\r\n And Paul and Barnabas spake out boldly, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first be spoken to you. Seeing ye thrust it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.\r\n For so hath the Lord commanded us, [saying], I have set thee for a light of the Gentiles, That thou shouldest be for salvation unto the uttermost part of the earth.\r\n And as the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of God: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.\r\n And the word of the Lord was spread abroad throughout all the region.\r\n But the Jews urged on the devout women of honorable estate, and the chief men of the city, and stirred up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and cast them out of their borders.\r\n But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium.\r\n And the disciples were filled with joy with the Holy Spirit.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass in Iconium that they entered together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake that a great multitude both of Jews and of Greeks believed.\r\n But the Jews that were disobedient stirred up the souls of the Gentiles, and made them evil affected against the brethren.\r\n Long time therefore they tarried [there] speaking boldly in the Lord, who bare witness unto the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.\r\n But the multitude of the city was divided; and part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles.\r\n And when there was made an onset both of the Gentiles and of the Jews with their rulers, to treat them shamefully and to stone them,\r\n they became aware of it, and fled unto the cities of Lycaonia, Lystra and Derbe, and the region round about:\r\n and there they preached the gospel.\r\n And at Lystra there sat a certain man, impotent in his feet, a cripple from his mother`s womb, who never had walked.\r\n The same heard Paul speaking, who, fastening eyes upon him, and seeing that he had faith to be made whole,\r\n said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped up and walked.\r\n And when the multitude saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voice, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men.\r\n And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercury, because he was the chief speaker.\r\n And the priest of Jupiter whose [temple] was before the city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the multitudes.\r\n But when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of it, they rent their garments, and sprang forth among the multitude, crying out\r\n and saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and bring you good tidings, that ye should turn from these vain things unto a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that in them is:\r\n who in the generations gone by suffered all the nations to walk in their own ways.\r\n And yet He left not himself without witness, in that he did good and gave you from heaven rains and fruitful seasons, filling your hearts with food and gladness.\r\n And with these sayings scarce restrained they the multitudes from doing sacrifice unto them.\r\n But there came Jews thither from Antioch and Iconium: and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul, and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead.\r\n But as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and entered into the city: and on the morrow he went forth with Barnabas to Derbe.\r\n And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, and to Iconium, and to Antioch,\r\n confirming the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that through many tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of God.\r\n And when they had appointed for them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they had believed.\r\n And they passed through Pisidia, and came to Pamphylia.\r\n And when they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia;\r\n and thence they sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been committed to the grace of God for the work which they had fulfilled.\r\n And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all things that God had done with them, and that he had opened a door of faith unto the Gentiles.\r\n And they tarried no little time with the disciples.\r\n \r\n \r\n And certain men came down from Judaea and taught the brethren, [saying], Except ye be circumcised after the custom of Moses, ye cannot be saved.\r\n And when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and questioning with them, [the brethren] appointed that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.\r\n They therefore, being brought on their way by the church, passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.\r\n And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church and the apostles and the elders, and they rehearsed all things that God had done with them.\r\n But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees who believed, saying, It is needful to circumcise them, and to charge them to keep the law of Moses.\r\n And the apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider of this matter.\r\n And when there had been much questioning, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Brethren, ye know that a good while ago God made choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.\r\n And God, who knoweth the heart, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Spirit, even as he did unto us;\r\n and he made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.\r\n Now therefore why make ye trial of God, that ye should put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?\r\n But we believe that we shall be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in like manner as they.\r\n And all the multitude kept silence; and they hearkened unto Barnabas and Paul rehearsing what signs and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles through them.\r\n And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Brethren, hearken unto me:\r\n Symeon hath rehearsed how first God visited the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.\r\n And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,\r\n After these things I will return, And I will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen; And I will build again the ruins thereof, And I will set it up:\r\n That the residue of men may seek after the Lord, And all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called,\r\n Saith the Lord, who maketh these things known from of old.\r\n Wherefore my judgment is, that we trouble not them that from among the Gentiles turn to God;\r\n but that we write unto them, that they abstain from the pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from what is strangled, and from blood.\r\n For Moses from generations of old hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath.\r\n Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men out of their company, and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; [namely], Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren:\r\n and they wrote [thus] by them, The apostles and the elders, brethren, unto the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greeting:\r\n Forasmuch as we have heard that certain who went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls; to whom we gave no commandment;\r\n it seemed good unto us, having come to one accord, to choose out men and send them unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,\r\n men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.\r\n We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who themselves also shall tell you the same things by word of mouth.\r\n For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things:\r\n that ye abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication; from which if ye keep yourselves, it shall be well with you. Fare ye well.\r\n So they, when they were dismissed, came down to Antioch; and having gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle.\r\n And when they had read it, they rejoiced for the consolation.\r\n And Judas and Silas, being themselves also prophets, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them.\r\n And after they had spent some time [there], they were dismissed in peace from the brethren unto those that had sent them forth.\r\n [But it seemed good unto Silas to abide there.]\r\n But Paul and Barnabas tarried in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.\r\n And after some days Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us return now and visit the brethren in every city wherein we proclaimed the word of the Lord, [and see] how they fare.\r\n And Barnabas was minded to take with them John also, who was called Mark.\r\n But Paul thought not good to take with them him who withdrew from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.\r\n And there arose a sharp contention, so that they parted asunder one from the other, and Barnabas took Mark with him, and sailed away unto Cyprus;\r\n but Paul choose Silas, and went forth, being commended by the brethren to the grace of the Lord.\r\n And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.\r\n \r\n \r\n And he came also to Derbe and to Lystra: and behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewess that believed; but his father was a Greek.\r\n The same was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium.\r\n Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and he took and circumcised him because of the Jews that were in those parts: for they all knew that his father was a Greek.\r\n And as they went on their way through the cities, they delivered them the decrees to keep which had been ordained of the apostles and elders that were at Jerusalem.\r\n So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.\r\n And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden of the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia;\r\n and when they were come over against Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia; and the Spirit of Jesus suffered them not;\r\n and passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas.\r\n And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: There was a man of Macedonia standing, beseeching him, and saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.\r\n And when he had seen the vision, straightway we sought to go forth into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.\r\n Setting sail therefore from Troas, we made a straight course to Samothrace, and the day following to Neapolis;\r\n and from thence to Philippi, which is a city of Macedonia, the first of the district, a [Roman] colony: and we were in this city tarrying certain days.\r\n And on the sabbath day we went forth without the gate by a river side, where we supposed there was a place of prayer; and we sat down, and spake unto the women that were come together.\r\n And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple of the city of Thyatira, one that worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened to give heed unto the things which were spoken by Paul.\r\n And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide [there]. And she constrained us.\r\n And it came to pass, as we were going to the place of prayer, that a certain maid having a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much gain by soothsaying.\r\n The same following after Paul and us cried out, saying, These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim unto you the way of salvation.\r\n And this she did for many days. But Paul, being sore troubled, turned and said to the spirit, I charge thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And it came out that very hour.\r\n But when her masters saw that the hope of their gain was gone, they laid hold on Paul and Silas, and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers,\r\n and when they had brought them unto the magistrates, they said, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,\r\n and set forth customs which it is not lawful for us to receive, or to observe, being Romans.\r\n And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent their garments off them, and commanded to beat them with rods.\r\n And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:\r\n who, having received such a charge, cast them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.\r\n But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns unto God, and the prisoners were listening to them;\r\n and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison-house were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one`s bands were loosed.\r\n And the jailor, being roused out of sleep and seeing the prison doors open, drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped.\r\n But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.\r\n And he called for lights and sprang in, and, trembling for fear, fell down before Paul and Silas,\r\n and brought them out and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?\r\n And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus, and thou shalt be saved, thou and thy house.\r\n And they spake the word of the Lord unto him, with all that were in his house.\r\n And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, immediately.\r\n And he brought them up into his house, and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, with all his house, having believed in God.\r\n But when it was day, the magistrates sent the sergeants, saying, Let those men go.\r\n And the jailor reported the words to Paul, [saying], The magistrates have sent to let you go: now therefore come forth, and go in peace.\r\n But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned, men that are Romans, and have cast us into prison; and do they now cast us out privily? Nay verily; but let them come themselves and bring us out.\r\n And the sergeants reported these words unto the magistrates: and they feared when they heard that they were Romans;\r\n and they came and besought them; and when they had brought them out, they asked them to go away from the city.\r\n And they went out of the prison, and entered into [the house] of Lydia: and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews:\r\n and Paul, as his custom was, went in unto them, and for three sabbath days reasoned with them from the Scriptures,\r\n opening and alleging that it behooved the Christ to suffer, and to rise again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom, [said he,] I proclaim unto you, is the Christ.\r\n And some of them were persuaded, and consorted with Paul and Silas, and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.\r\n But the Jews, being moved with jealousy, took unto them certain vile fellows of the rabble, and gathering a crowd, set the city on an uproar; and assaulting the house of Jason, they sought to bring them forth to the people.\r\n And when they found them not, they dragged Jason and certain brethren before the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;\r\n whom Jason hath received: and these all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, [one] Jesus.\r\n And they troubled the multitude and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things.\r\n And when they had taken security from Jason and the rest, they let them go.\r\n And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Beroea: who when they were come thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.\r\n Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of the mind, examining the Scriptures daily, whether these things were so.\r\n Many of them therefore believed; also of the Greek women of honorable estate, and of men, not a few.\r\n But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was proclaimed of Paul at Beroea also, they came thither likewise, stirring up and troubling the multitudes.\r\n And then immediately the brethren sent forth Paul to go as far as to the sea: and Silas and Timothy abode there still.\r\n But they that conducted Paul brought him as far as Athens: and receiving a commandment unto Silas and Timothy that they should come to him with all speed, they departed.\r\n Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he beheld the city full of idols.\r\n So he reasoned in the synagogue with Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with them that met him.\r\n And certain also of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him. And some said, What would this babbler say? others, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached Jesus and the resurrection.\r\n And they took hold of him, and brought him unto the Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new teaching is, which is spoken by thee?\r\n For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean.\r\n (Now all the Athenians and the strangers sojourning there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell or to hear some new thing.)\r\n And Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus, and said, Ye men of Athens, in all things, I perceive that ye are very religious.\r\n For as I passed along, and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. What therefore ye worship in ignorance, this I set forth unto you.\r\n The God that made the world and all things therein, he, being Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;\r\n neither is he served by men`s hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he himself giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;\r\n and he made of one every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, having determined [their] appointed seasons, and the bounds of their habitation;\r\n that they should seek God, if haply they might feel after him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us:\r\n for in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain even of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.\r\n Being then the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and device of man.\r\n The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked; but now he commandeth men that they should all everywhere repent:\r\n inasmuch as he hath appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by the man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.\r\n Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked; but others said, We will hear thee concerning this yet again.\r\n Thus Paul went out from among them.\r\n But certain men clave unto him, and believed: among whom also was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.\r\n \r\n \r\n After these things he departed from Athens, and came to Corinth.\r\n And he found a certain Jew named Aquila, a man of Pontus by race, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome: and he came unto them;\r\n and because he was of the same trade, he abode with them, and they wrought, for by their trade they were tentmakers.\r\n And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded Jews and Greeks.\r\n But when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul was constrained by the word, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.\r\n And when they opposed themselves and blasphemed, he shook out his raiment and said unto them, Your blood [be] upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.\r\n And he departed thence, and went into the house of a certain man named Titus Justus, one that worshipped God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue.\r\n And Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.\r\n And the Lord said unto Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak and hold not thy peace:\r\n for I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to harm thee: for I have much people in this city.\r\n And he dwelt [there] a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.\r\n But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with one accord rose up against Paul and brought him before the judgment-seat,\r\n saying, This man persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law.\r\n But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said unto the Jews, If indeed it were a matter of wrong or of wicked villany, O ye Jews, reason would that I should bear with you:\r\n but if they are questions about words and names and your own law, look to it yourselves; I am not minded to be a judge of these matters.\r\n And he drove them from the judgment-seat.\r\n And they all laid hold on Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment-seat. And Gallio cared for none of these things.\r\n And Paul, having tarried after this yet many days, took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence for Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila: having shorn his head in Cenchreae; for he had a vow.\r\n And they came to Ephesus, and he left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews.\r\n And when they asked him to abide a longer time, he consented not;\r\n but taking his leave of them, and saying, I will return again unto you if God will, he set sail from Ephesus.\r\n And when he had landed at Caesarea, he went up and saluted the church, and went down to Antioch.\r\n And having spent some time [there], he departed, and went through the region of Galatia, and Phrygia, in order, establishing all the disciples.\r\n Now a certain Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by race, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus; and he was mighty in the scriptures.\r\n This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spake and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, knowing only the baptism of John:\r\n and he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more accurately.\r\n And when he was minded to pass over into Achaia, the brethren encouraged him, and wrote to the disciples to receive him: and when he was come, he helped them much that had believed through grace;\r\n for he powerfully confuted the Jews, [and that] publicly, showing by the scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper country came to Ephesus, and found certain disciples:\r\n and he said unto them, Did ye receive the Holy Spirit when ye believed? And they [said] unto him, Nay, we did not so much as hear whether the Holy Spirit was [given].\r\n And he said, Into what then were ye baptized? And they said, Into John`s baptism.\r\n And Paul said, John baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people that they should believe on him that should come after him, that is, on Jesus.\r\n And when they heard this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.\r\n And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.\r\n And they were in all about twelve men.\r\n And he entered into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, reasoning and persuading [as to] the things concerning the kingdom of God.\r\n But when some were hardened and disobedient, speaking evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus.\r\n And this continued for the space of two years; so that all they that dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.\r\n And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:\r\n insomuch that unto the sick were carried away from his body handkerchiefs or aprons, and the evil spirits went out.\r\n But certain also of the strolling Jews, exorcists, took upon them to name over them that had the evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, I adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.\r\n And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, a chief priest, who did this.\r\n And the evil spirit answered and said unto them, Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are ye?\r\n And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and mastered both of them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.\r\n And this became known to all, both Jews and Greeks, that dwelt at Ephesus; and fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.\r\n Many also of them that had believed came, confessing, and declaring their deeds.\r\n And not a few of them that practised magical arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all; and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.\r\n So mightily grew the word of the Lord and prevailed.\r\n Now after these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome.\r\n And having sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while.\r\n And about that time there arose no small stir concerning the Way.\r\n For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Diana, brought no little business unto the craftsmen;\r\n whom he gathered together, with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this business we have our wealth.\r\n And ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they are no gods, that are made with hands:\r\n and not only is there danger that this our trade come into disrepute; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana be made of no account, and that she should even be deposed from her magnificence whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.\r\n And when they heard this they were filled with wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesus.\r\n And the city was filled with the confusion: and they rushed with one accord into the theatre, having seized Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul`s companions in travel.\r\n And when Paul was minded to enter in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not.\r\n And certain also of the Asiarchs, being his friends, sent unto him and besought him not to adventure himself into the theatre.\r\n Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was in confusion; and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together.\r\n And they brought Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made a defense unto the people.\r\n But when they perceived that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.\r\n And when the townclerk had quieted the multitude, he saith, Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there who knoweth not that the city of the Ephesians is temple-keeper of the great Diana, and of the [image] which fell down from Jupiter?\r\n Seeing then that these things cannot be gainsaid, ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rash.\r\n For ye have brought [hither] these men, who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of our goddess.\r\n If therefore Demetrius, and the craftsmen that are with him, have a matter against any man, the courts are open, and there are proconsuls: let them accuse one another.\r\n But if ye seek anything about other matters, it shall be settled in the regular assembly.\r\n For indeed we are in danger to be accused concerning this day`s riot, there being no cause [for it]: and as touching it we shall not be able to give account of this concourse.\r\n And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly.\r\n \r\n \r\n And after the uproar ceased, Paul having sent for the disciples and exhorted them, took leave of them, and departed to go into Macedonia.\r\n And when he had gone through those parts, and had given them much exhortation, he came into Greece.\r\n And when he had spent three months [there,] and a plot was laid against him by Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he determined to return through Macedonia.\r\n And there accompanied him as far as Asia, Sopater of Beroea, [the son] of Pyrrhus; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus.\r\n But these had gone before, and were waiting for us at Troas.\r\n And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days, where we tarried seven days.\r\n And upon the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul discoursed with them, intending to depart on the morrow; and prolonged his speech until midnight.\r\n And there were many lights in the upper chamber where we were gathered together.\r\n And there sat in the window a certain young man named Eutychus, borne down with deep sleep; and as Paul discoursed yet longer, being borne down by his sleep he fell down from the third story, and was taken up dead.\r\n And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said, Make ye no ado; for his life is in him.\r\n And when he was gone up, and had broken the bread, and eaten, and had talked with them a long while, even till break of day, so he departed.\r\n And they brought the lad alive, and were not a little comforted.\r\n But we going before to the ship set sail for Assos, there intending to take in Paul: for so had he appointed, intending himself to go by land.\r\n And when he met us at Assos, we took him in, and came to Mitylene.\r\n And sailing from thence, we came the following day over against Chios; and the next day we touched at Samos; and the day after we came to Miletus.\r\n For Paul had determined to sail past Ephesus, that he might not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hastening, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost.\r\n And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called to him the elders of the church.\r\n And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye yourselves know, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, after what manner I was with you all the time,\r\n serving the Lord with all lowliness of mind, and with tears, and with trials which befell me by the plots of the Jews;\r\n how I shrank not from declaring unto you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly, and from house to house,\r\n testifying both to Jews and to Greeks repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.\r\n And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:\r\n save that the Holy Spirit testifieth unto me in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.\r\n But I hold not my life of any account as dear unto myself, so that I may accomplish my course, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.\r\n And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I went about preaching the kingdom, shall see my face no more.\r\n Wherefore I testify unto you this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.\r\n For I shrank not from declaring unto you the whole counsel of God.\r\n Take heed unto yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit hath made you bishops, to feed the church of the Lord which he purchased with his own blood.\r\n I know that after my departing grievous wolves shall enter in among you, not sparing the flock;\r\n and from among your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.\r\n Wherefore watch ye, remembering that by the space of three years I ceased not to admonish every one night and day with tears.\r\n And now I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build [you] up, and to give [you] the inheritance among all them that are sanctified.\r\n I coveted no man`s silver, or gold, or apparel.\r\n Ye yourselves know that these hands ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.\r\n In all things I gave you an example, that so laboring ye ought to help the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he himself said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.\r\n And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down and prayed with them all.\r\n And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul`s neck and kissed him,\r\n sorrowing most of all for the word which he had spoken, that they should behold his face no more. And they brought him on his way unto the ship.\r\n \r\n \r\n And when it came to pass that were parted from them and had set sail, we came with a straight course unto Cos, and the next day unto Rhodes, and from thence unto Patara:\r\n and having found a ship crossing over unto Phoenicia, we went aboard, and set sail.\r\n And when we had come in sight of Cyprus, leaving it on the left hand, we sailed unto Syria, and landed at Tyre; for there the ship was to unlade her burden.\r\n And having found the disciples, we tarried there seven days: and these said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not set foot in Jerusalem.\r\n And when it came to pass that we had accomplished the days, we departed and went on our journey; and they all, with wives and children, brought us on our way till we were out of the city: and kneeling down on the beach, we prayed, and bade each other farewell;\r\n and we went on board the ship, but they returned home again.\r\n And when we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais; and we saluted the brethren, and abode with them one day.\r\n And on the morrow we departed, and came unto Caesarea: and entering into the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, we abode with him.\r\n Now this man had four virgin daughters, who prophesied.\r\n And as we tarried there some days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus.\r\n And coming to us, and taking Paul`s girdle, he bound his own feet and hands, and said, Thus saith the Holy Spirit, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.\r\n And when we heard these things, both we and they of that place besought him not to go up to Jerusalem.\r\n Then Paul answered, What do ye, weeping and breaking my heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.\r\n And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.\r\n And after these days we took up our baggage and went up to Jerusalem.\r\n And there went with us also [certain] of the disciples from Caesarea, bringing [with them] one Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we should lodge.\r\n And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly.\r\n And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present.\r\n And when he had saluted them, he rehearsed one by one the things which God had wrought among the Gentiles through his ministry.\r\n And they, when they heard it, glorified God; and they said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of them that have believed; and they are all zealous for the law:\r\n and they have been informed concerning thee, that thou teachest all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children neither to walk after the customs.\r\n What is it therefore? They will certainly hear that thou art come.\r\n Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men that have a vow on them;\r\n these take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges for them, that they may shave their heads: and all shall know that there is no truth in the things whereof they have been informed concerning thee; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, keeping the law.\r\n But as touching the Gentiles that have believed, we wrote, giving judgment that they should keep themselves from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what is strangled, and from fornication.\r\n Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them went into the temple, declaring the fulfilment of the days of purification, until the offering was offered for every one of them.\r\n And when the seven days were almost completed, the Jews from Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the multitude and laid hands on him,\r\n crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man that teacheth all men everywhere against the people, and the law, and this place; and moreover he brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath defiled this holy place.\r\n For they had before seen with him in the city Trophimus the Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.\r\n And all the city was moved, and the people ran together; and they laid hold on Paul, and dragged him out of the temple: and straightway the doors were shut.\r\n And as they were seeking to kill him, tidings came up to the chief captain of the band, that all Jerusalem was in confusion.\r\n And forthwith he took soldiers and centurions, and ran down upon them: and they, when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, left off beating Paul.\r\n Then the chief captain came near, and laid hold on him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains; and inquired who he was, and what he had done.\r\n And some shouted one thing, some another, among the crowd: and when he could not know the certainty for the uproar, he commanded him to be brought into the castle.\r\n And when he came upon the stairs, so it was that he was borne of the soldiers for the violence of the crowd;\r\n for the multitude of the people followed after, crying out, Away with him.\r\n And as Paul was about to be brought into the castle, he saith unto the chief captain, May I say something unto thee? And he said, Dost thou know Greek?\r\n Art thou not then the Egyptian, who before these days stirred up to sedition and led out into the wilderness the four thousand men of the Assassins?\r\n But Paul said, I am a Jew, of Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city: and I beseech thee, give me leave to speak unto the people.\r\n And when he had given him leave, Paul, standing on the stairs, beckoned with the hand unto the people; and when there was made a great silence, he spake unto them in the Hebrew language, saying,\r\n \r\n \r\n Brethren and fathers, hear ye the defence which I now make unto you.\r\n And when they heard that he spake unto them in the Hebrew language, they were the more quiet: and he saith,\r\n I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city, at the feet of Gamaliel, instructed according to the strict manner of the law of our fathers, being zealous for God, even as ye all are this day:\r\n and I persecuted this Way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.\r\n As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and journeyed to Damascus to bring them also that were there unto Jerusalem in bonds to be punished.\r\n And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and drew nigh unto Damascus, about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me.\r\n And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?\r\n And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.\r\n And they that were with me beheld indeed the light, but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me.\r\n And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do.\r\n And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them that were with me I came into Damascus.\r\n And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well reported of by all the Jews that dwelt there,\r\n came unto me, and standing by me said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And in that very hour I looked up on him.\r\n And he said, The God of our fathers hath appointed thee to know his will, and to see the Righteous One, and to hear a voice from his mouth.\r\n For thou shalt be a witness for him unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard.\r\n And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on his name.\r\n And it came to pass, that, when I had returned to Jerusalem, and while I prayed in the temple, I fell into a trance,\r\n and saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem; because they will not receive of thee testimony concerning me.\r\n And I said, Lord, they themselves know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee:\r\n and when the blood of Stephen thy witness was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting, and keeping the garments of them that slew him.\r\n And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee forth far hence unto the Gentiles.\r\n And they gave him audience unto this word; and they lifted up their voice, and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live.\r\n And as they cried out, and threw off their garments, and cast dust into the air,\r\n the chief captain commanded him be brought into the castle, bidding that he should be examined by scourging, that he might know for what cause they so shouted against him.\r\n And when they had tied him up with the thongs, Paul said unto the centurion that stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned?\r\n And when the centurion heard it, he went to the chief captain and told him, saying, What art thou about to do? for this man is a Roman.\r\n And the chief captain came and said unto him, Tell me, art thou a Roman? And he said, Yea.\r\n And the chief captain answered, With a great sum obtained I this citizenship. And Paul said, But I am [a Roman] born.\r\n They then that were about to examine him straightway departed from him: and the chief captain also was afraid when he knew that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him.\r\n But on the morrow, desiring to know the certainty wherefore he was accused of the Jews, he loosed him, and commanded the chief priests and all the council to come together, and brought Paul down and set him before them.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Paul, looking stedfastly on the council, said, Brethren, I have lived before God in all good conscience until this day.\r\n And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth.\r\n Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: and sittest thou to judge me according to the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?\r\n And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God`s high priest?\r\n And Paul said, I knew not, brethren, that he was high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of a ruler of thy people.\r\n But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Brethren, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees: touching the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.\r\n And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and Sadducees; and the assembly was divided.\r\n For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit; but the Pharisees confess both.\r\n And there arose a great clamor: and some of the scribes of the Pharisees part stood up, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: and what if a spirit hath spoken to him, or an angel?\r\n And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should be torn in pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force from among them, and bring him into the castle.\r\n And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer: for as thou hast testified concerning me at Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.\r\n And when it was day, the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.\r\n And they were more than forty that made this conspiracy.\r\n And they came to the chief priests and the elders, and said, We have bound ourselves under a great curse, to taste nothing until we have killed Paul.\r\n Now therefore do ye with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you, as though ye would judge of his case more exactly: and we, before he comes near, are ready to slay him.\r\n But Paul`s sister`s son heard of their lying in wait, and he came and entered into the castle and told Paul.\r\n And Paul called unto him one of the centurions, and said, Bring this young man unto the chief captain; for he hath something to tell him.\r\n So he took him, and brought him to the chief captain, and saith, Paul the prisoner called me unto him, and asked me to bring this young man unto thee, who hath something to say to thee.\r\n And the chief captain took him by the hand, and going aside asked him privately, What is it that thou hast to tell me?\r\n And he said, The Jews have agreed to ask thee to bring down Paul tomorrow unto the council, as though thou wouldest inquire somewhat more exactly concerning him.\r\n Do not thou therefore yield unto them: for there lie in wait for him of them more than forty men, who have bound themselves under a curse, neither to eat nor to drink till they have slain him: and now are they ready, looking for the promise from thee.\r\n So the chief captain let the young man go, charging him, Tell no man that thou hast signified these things to me.\r\n And he called unto him two of the centurions, and said, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go as far as Caesarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night:\r\n and [he bade them] provide beasts, that they might set Paul thereon, and bring him safe unto Felix the governor.\r\n And he wrote a letter after this form:\r\n Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix, greeting.\r\n This man was seized by the Jews, and was about to be slain of them, when I came upon them with the soldiers and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman.\r\n And desiring to know the cause wherefore they accused him, I brought him down unto their council:\r\n whom I found to be accused about questions of their law, but to have nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of bonds.\r\n And when it was shown to me that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to thee forthwith, charging his accusers also to speak against him before thee.\r\n So the soldiers, as it was commanded them, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris.\r\n But on the morrow they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the castle:\r\n and they, when they came to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, presented Paul also before him.\r\n And when he had read it, he asked of what province he was; and when he understood that he was of Cilicia,\r\n I will hear thee fully, said he, when thine accusers also are come: and he commanded him to be kept in Herod`s palace.\r\n \r\n \r\n And after five days the high priest Ananias came down with certain elders, and [with] an orator, one Tertullus; and they informed the governor against Paul.\r\n And when he was called, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, Seeing that by thee we enjoy much peace, and that by the providence evils are corrected for this nation,\r\n we accept it in all ways and in all places, most excellent Felix, with all thankfulness.\r\n But, that I be not further tedious unto thee, I entreat thee to hear us of thy clemency a few words.\r\n For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of insurrections among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes:\r\n who moreover assayed to profane the temple: on whom also we laid hold: [and we would have judged him according to our law.]\r\n [But the chief captain Lysias came, and with great violence took him away out of our hands,]\r\n [commanding his accusers to come before thee.] from whom thou wilt be able, by examining him thyself, to take knowledge of all these things whereof we accuse him.\r\n And the Jews also joined in the charge, affirming that these things were so.\r\n And when the governor had beckoned unto him to speak, Paul answered, Forasmuch as I know that thou hast been of many years a judge unto this nation, I cheerfully make my defense:\r\n Seeing that thou canst take knowledge that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship at Jerusalem:\r\n and neither in the temple did they find me disputing with any man or stirring up a crowd, nor in the synagogues, nor in the city.\r\n Neither can they prove to thee the things whereof they now accuse me.\r\n But this I confess unto thee, that after the Way which they call a sect, so serve I the God of our fathers, believing all things which are according to the law, and which are written in the prophets;\r\n having hope toward God, which these also themselves look for, that there shall be a resurrection both of the just and unjust.\r\n Herein I also exercise myself to have a conscience void of offence toward God and men always.\r\n Now after some years I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings:\r\n amidst which they found me purified in the temple, with no crowd, nor yet with tumult: but [there were] certain Jews from Asia--\r\n who ought to have been here before thee, and to make accusation, if they had aught against me.\r\n Or else let these men themselves say what wrong-doing they found when I stood before the council,\r\n except it be for this one voice, that I cried standing among them, Touching the resurrection of the dead I am called in question before you this day.\r\n But Felix, having more exact knowledge concerning the Way, deferred them, saying, When Lysias the chief captain shall come down, I will determine your matter.\r\n And he gave order to the centurion that he should be kept in charge, and should have indulgence; and not to forbid any of his friends to minister unto him.\r\n But after certain days, Felix came with Drusilla, his wife, who was a Jewess, and sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ Jesus.\r\n And as he reasoned of righteousness, and self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was terrified, and answered, Go thy way for this time; and when I have a convenient season, I will call thee unto me.\r\n He hoped withal that money would be given him of Paul: wherefore also he sent for him the oftener, and communed with him.\r\n But when two years were fulfilled, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus; and desiring to gain favor with the Jews, Felix left Paul in bonds.\r\n \r\n \r\n Festus therefore, having come into the province, after three days went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea.\r\n And the chief priests and the principal men of the Jews informed him against Paul; and they besought him,\r\n asking a favor against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem; laying a plot to kill him on the way.\r\n Howbeit Festus answered, that Paul was kept in charge at Caesarea, and that he himself was about to depart [thither] shortly.\r\n Let them therefore, saith he, that are of power among you go down with me, and if there is anything amiss in the man, let them accuse him.\r\n And when he had tarried among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down unto Caesarea; and on the morrow he sat on the judgment-seat, and commanded Paul to be brought.\r\n And when he was come, the Jews that had come down from Jerusalem stood round about him, bringing against him many and grievous charges which they could not prove;\r\n while Paul said in his defense, Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar, have I sinned at all.\r\n But Festus, desiring to gain favor with the Jews, answered Paul and said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me?\r\n But Paul said, I am standing before Caesar`s judgment-seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou also very well knowest.\r\n If then I am a wrong-doer, and have committed anything worthy of death, I refuse not to die; but if none of those things is [true] whereof these accuse me, no man can give me up unto them. I appeal unto Caesar.\r\n Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Thou hast appealed unto Caesar: unto Caesar shalt thou go.\r\n Now when certain days were passed, Agrippa the King and Bernice arrived at Caesarea, and saluted Festus.\r\n And as they tarried there many days, Festus laid Paul`s case before the King, saying, There is a certain man left a prisoner by Felix;\r\n about whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed [me], asking for sentence against him.\r\n To whom I answered, that it is not the custom of the Romans to give up any man, before that the accused have the accusers face to face, and have had opportunity to make his defense concerning the matter laid against him.\r\n When therefore they were come together here, I made no delay, but on the next day sat on the judgment-seat, and commanded the man to be brought.\r\n Concerning whom, when the accusers stood up, they brought no charge of such evil things as I supposed;\r\n but had certain questions against him of their own religion, and of one Jesus, who was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.\r\n And I, being perplexed how to inquire concerning these things, asked whether he would go to Jerusalem and there be judged of these matters.\r\n But when Paul had appealed to be kept for the decision of the emperor, I commanded him to be kept till I should send him to Caesar.\r\n And Agrippa [said] unto Festus, I also could wish to hear the man myself. To-morrow, saith he, thou shalt hear him.\r\n So on the morrow, when Agrippa was come, and Bernice, with great pomp, and they were entered into the place of hearing with the chief captains and principal men of the city, at the command of Festus Paul was brought in.\r\n And Festus saith, King Agrippa, and all men who are here present with us, ye behold this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews made suit to me, both at Jerusalem and here, crying that he ought not to live any longer.\r\n But I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death: and as he himself appealed to the emperor I determined to send him.\r\n Of whom I have no certain thing to write unto my lord. Wherefore I have brought him forth before you, and specially before thee, king Agrippa, that, after examination had, I may have somewhat to write.\r\n For it seemeth to me unreasonable, in sending a prisoner, not withal to signify the charges against him.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth his hand, and made his defence:\r\n I think myself happy, king Agrippa, that I am to make my defense before thee this day touching all the things whereof I am accused by the Jews:\r\n especially because thou art expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently.\r\n My manner of life then from my youth up, which was from the beginning among mine own nation and at Jerusalem, know all the Jews;\r\n having knowledge of me from the first, if they be willing to testify, that after the straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.\r\n And now I stand [here] to be judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers;\r\n unto which [promise] our twelve tribes, earnestly serving [God] night and day, hope to attain. And concerning this hope I am accused by the Jews, O king!\r\n Why is it judged incredible with you, if God doth raise the dead?\r\n I verily thought with myself that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.\r\n And this I also did in Jerusalem: and I both shut up many of the saints in prisons, having received authority from the chief priests, and when they were put to death I gave my vote against them.\r\n And punishing them oftentimes in all the synagogues, I strove to make them blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto foreign cities.\r\n Whereupon as I journeyed to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests,\r\n at midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them that journeyed with me.\r\n And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice saying unto me in the Hebrew language, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the goad.\r\n And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.\r\n But arise, and stand upon thy feet: for to this end have I appeared unto thee, to appoint thee a minister and a witness both of the things wherein thou hast seen me, and of the things wherein I will appear unto thee;\r\n delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom I send thee,\r\n to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive remission of sins and an inheritance among them that are sanctified by faith in me.\r\n Wherefore, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:\r\n but declared both to them of Damascus first and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the country of Judaea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, doing works worthy of repentance.\r\n For this cause the Jews seized me in the temple, and assayed to kill me.\r\n Having therefore obtained the help that is from God, I stand unto this day testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses did say should come;\r\n how that the Christ must suffer, [and] how that he first by the resurrection of the dead should proclaim light both to the people and to the Gentiles.\r\n And as he thus made his defense, Festus saith with a loud voice, Paul, thou art mad; thy much learning is turning thee mad.\r\n But Paul saith, I am not mad, most excellent Festus; but speak forth words of truth and soberness.\r\n For the king knoweth of these things, unto whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things is hidden from him; for this hath not been done in a corner.\r\n King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.\r\n And Agrippa [said] unto Paul, With but little persuasion thou wouldest fain make me a Christian.\r\n And Paul [said], I would to God, that whether with little or with much, not thou only, but also all that hear me this day, might become such as I am, except these bonds.\r\n And the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them:\r\n and when they had withdrawn, they spake one to another, saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds.\r\n And Agrippa said unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Caesar.\r\n \r\n \r\n And when it was determined that we should sail for Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners to a centurion named Julius, of the Augustan band.\r\n And embarking in a ship of Adramyttium, which was about to sail unto the places on the coast of Asia, we put to sea, Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us.\r\n And the next day we touched at Sidon: and Julius treated Paul kindly, and gave him leave to go unto his friends and refresh himself.\r\n And putting to sea from thence, we sailed under the lee of Cyprus, because the winds were contrary.\r\n And when we had sailed across the sea which is off Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, [a city] of Lycia.\r\n And there the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing for Italy; and he put us therein.\r\n And when we had sailed slowly many days, and were come with difficulty over against Cnidus, the wind not further suffering us, we sailed under the lee of Crete, over against Salmone;\r\n and with difficulty coasting along it we came unto a certain place called Fair Havens; nigh whereunto was the city of Lasea.\r\n And when much time was spent, and the voyage was now dangerous, because the Fast was now already gone by, Paul admonished them,\r\n and said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that the voyage will be with injury and much loss, not only of the lading and the ship, but also of our lives.\r\n But the centurion gave more heed to the master and to the owner of the ship, than to those things which were spoken by Paul.\r\n And because the haven was not commodious to winter in, the more part advised to put to sea from thence, if by any means they could reach Phoenix, and winter [there; which is] a haven of Crete, looking northeast and south-east.\r\n And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, they weighed anchor and sailed along Crete, close in shore.\r\n But after no long time there beat down from it a tempestuous wind, which is called Euraquilo:\r\n and when the ship was caught, and could not face the wind, we gave way [to it,] and were driven.\r\n And running under the lee of a small island called Cauda, we were able, with difficulty, to secure the boat:\r\n and when they had hoisted it up, they used helps, under-girding the ship; and, fearing lest they should be cast upon the Syrtis, they lowered the gear, and so were driven.\r\n And as we labored exceedingly with the storm, the next day they began to throw the [the freight] overboard;\r\n and the third day they cast out with their own hands the tackling of the ship.\r\n And when neither sun nor stars shone upon [us] for many days, and no small tempest lay on [us,] all hope that we should be saved was now taken away.\r\n And when they had been long without food, then Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have set sail from Crete, and have gotten this injury and loss.\r\n And now I exhort you to be of good cheer; for there shall be no loss of life among you, but [only] of the ship.\r\n For there stood by me this night an angel of the God whose I am, whom also I serve,\r\n saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must stand before Caesar: and lo, God hath granted thee all them that sail with thee.\r\n Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even so as it hath been spoken unto me.\r\n But we must be cast upon a certain island.\r\n But when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven to and fro in the [sea of] Adria, about midnight the sailors surmised that they were drawing near to some country:\r\n and they sounded, and found twenty fathoms; and after a little space, they sounded again, and found fifteen fathoms.\r\n And fearing lest haply we should be cast ashore on rocky ground, they let go four anchors from the stern, and wished for the day.\r\n And as the sailors were seeking to flee out of the ship, and had lowered the boat into the sea, under color as though they would lay out anchors from the foreship,\r\n Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.\r\n Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off.\r\n And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take some food, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye wait and continue fasting, having taken nothing.\r\n Wherefore I beseech you to take some food: for this is for your safety: for there shall not a hair perish from the head of any of you.\r\n And when he had said this, and had taken bread, he gave thanks to God in the presence of all; and he brake it, and began to eat.\r\n Then were they all of good cheer, and themselves also took food.\r\n And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls.\r\n And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, throwing out the wheat into the sea.\r\n And when it was day, they knew not the land: but they perceived a certain bay with a beach, and they took counsel whether they could drive the ship upon it.\r\n And casting off the anchors, they left them in the sea, at the same time loosing the bands of the rudders; and hoisting up the foresail to the wind, they made for the beach.\r\n But lighting upon a place where two seas met, they ran the vessel aground; and the foreship struck and remained unmoveable, but the stern began to break up by the violence [of the waves].\r\n And the soldiers` counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any [of them] should swim out, and escape.\r\n But the centurion, desiring to save Paul, stayed them from their purpose; and commanded that they who could swim should cast themselves overboard, and get first to the land;\r\n and the rest, some on planks, and some on [other] things from the ship. And so it came to pass, that they all escaped safe to the land.\r\n \r\n \r\n And when we were escaped, then we knew that the island was called Melita.\r\n And the barbarians showed us no common kindness; for they kindled a fire, and received us all, because of the present rain, and because of the cold.\r\n But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out by reason of the heat, and fastened on his hand.\r\n And when the barbarians saw the [venomous] creature hanging from his hand, they said one to another, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped from the sea, yet Justice hath not suffered to live.\r\n Howbeit he shook off the creature into the fire, and took no harm.\r\n But they expected that he would have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but when they were long in expectation and beheld nothing amiss came to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.\r\n Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the chief man of the island, named Publius, who received us, and entertained us three days courteously.\r\n And it was so, that the father of Publius lay sick of fever and dysentery: unto whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laying his hands on him healed him.\r\n And when this was done, the rest also that had diseases in the island came, and were cured:\r\n who also honored us with many honors; and when we sailed, they put on board such things as we needed.\r\n And after three months we set sail in a ship of Alexandria which had wintered in the island, whose sign was The Twin Brothers.\r\n And touching at Syracuse, we tarried there three days.\r\n And from thence we made a circuit, and arrived at Rhegium: and after one day a south wind sprang up, and on the second day we came to Puteoli;\r\n where we found brethren, and were entreated to tarry with them seven days: and so we came to Rome.\r\n And from thence the brethren, when they heard of us, came to meet us as far as The Market of Appius and The Three Taverns; whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage.\r\n And when we entered into Rome, Paul was suffered to abide by himself with the soldier that guarded him.\r\n And it came to pass, that after three days he called together those that were the chief of the Jews: and when they were come together, he said unto them, I, brethren, though I had done nothing against the people, or the customs of our fathers, yet was delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans:\r\n who, when they had examined me, desired to set me at liberty, because there was no cause of death in me.\r\n But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar; not that I had aught whereof to accuse my nation.\r\n For this cause therefore did I entreat you to see and to speak with [me]: for because of the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.\r\n And they said unto him, We neither received letters from Judaea concerning thee, nor did any of the brethren come hither and report or speak any harm of thee.\r\n But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, it is known to us that everywhere it is spoken against.\r\n And when they had appointed him a day, they came to him into his lodging in great number; to whom he expounded [the matter,] testifying the kingdom of God, and persuading them concerning Jesus, both from the law of Moses and from the prophets, from morning till evening.\r\n And some believed the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved.\r\n And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Spirit through Isaiah the prophet unto your fathers,\r\n saying, Go thou unto this people, and say, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall in no wise understand; And seeing ye shall see, and shall in no wise perceive:\r\n For this people`s heart is waxed gross, And their ears are dull of hearing, And their eyes they have closed; Lest, haply they should perceive with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart, And should turn again, And I should heal them.\r\n Be it known therefore unto you, that this salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles: they will also hear.\r\n [And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, having much disputing among themselves.]\r\n And he abode two whole years in his own hired dwelling, and received all that went in unto him,\r\n preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, none forbidding him.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called [to be] an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,\r\n which he promised afore through his prophets in the holy scriptures,\r\n concerning his Son, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh,\r\n who was declared [to be] the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead; [even] Jesus Christ our Lord,\r\n through whom we received grace and apostleship, unto obedience of faith among all the nations, for his name`s sake;\r\n among whom are ye also called [to be] Jesus Christ`s:\r\n To all that are in Rome, beloved of God, called [to be] saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.\r\n First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is proclaimed throughout the whole world.\r\n For God is my witness, whom I serve in my spirit in the gospel of his Son, how unceasingly I make mention of you, always in my prayers\r\n making request, if by any means now at length I may be prospered by the will of God to come unto you.\r\n For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;\r\n that is, that I with you may be comforted in you, each of us by the other`s faith, both yours and mine.\r\n And I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you (and was hindered hitherto), that I might have some fruit in you also, even as in the rest of the Gentiles.\r\n I am debtor both to Greeks and to Barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish.\r\n So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you also that are in Rome.\r\n For I am not ashamed of the gospel: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.\r\n For therein is revealed a righteousness of God from faith unto faith: as it is written, But the righteous shall live by faith.\r\n For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hinder the truth in unrighteousness;\r\n because that which is known of God is manifest in them; for God manifested it unto them.\r\n For the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, [even] his everlasting power and divinity; that they may be without excuse:\r\n because that, knowing God, they glorified him not as God, neither gave thanks; but became vain in their reasonings, and their senseless heart was darkened.\r\n Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,\r\n and changed the glory of the incorruptible God for the likeness of an image of corruptible man, and of birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things.\r\n Wherefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts unto uncleanness, that their bodies should be dishonored among themselves:\r\n for that they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.\r\n For this cause God gave them up unto vile passions: for their women changed the natural use into that which is against nature:\r\n and likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another, men with men working unseemliness, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was due.\r\n And even as they refused to have God in [their] knowledge, God gave them up unto a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not fitting;\r\n being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malignity; whisperers,\r\n backbiters, hateful to God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,\r\n without understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, unmerciful:\r\n who, knowing the ordinance of God, that they that practise such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but also consent with them that practise them.\r\n \r\n \r\n Wherefore thou art without excuse, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judges another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest dost practise the same things.\r\n And we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against them that practise such things.\r\n And reckonest thou this, O man, who judgest them that practise such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?\r\n Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?\r\n but after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up for thyself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;\r\n who will render to every man according to his works:\r\n to them that by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and incorruption, eternal life:\r\n but unto them that are factious, and obey not the truth, but obey unrighteousness, [shall be] wrath and indignation,\r\n tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that worketh evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Greek;\r\n but glory and honor and peace to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek:\r\n for there is no respect of persons with God.\r\n For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without the law: and as many as have sinned under the law shall be judged by the law;\r\n for not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified:\r\n (for when Gentiles that have not the law do by nature the things of the law, these, not having the law, are the law unto themselves;\r\n in that they show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness therewith, and their thoughts one with another accusing or else excusing [them]);\r\n in the day when God shall judge the secrets of men, according to my gospel, by Jesus Christ.\r\n But if thou bearest the name of a Jew, and restest upon the law, and gloriest in God,\r\n and knowest his will, and approvest the things that are excellent, being instructed out of the law,\r\n and art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them that are in darkness,\r\n a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of babes, having in the law the form of knowledge and of the truth;\r\n thou therefore that teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?\r\n thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou rob temples?\r\n thou who gloriest in the law, through thy transgression of the law dishonorest thou God?\r\n For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you, even as it is written.\r\n For circumcision indeed profiteth, if thou be a doer of the law: but if thou be a transgressor of the law, thy circumcision is become uncircumcision.\r\n If therefore the uncircumcision keep the ordinances of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be reckoned for circumcision?\r\n and shall not the uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who with the letter and circumcision art a transgressor of the law?\r\n For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh:\r\n but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.\r\n \r\n \r\n What advantage then hath the Jew? or what is the profit of circumcision?\r\n Much every way: first of all, that they were intrusted with the oracles of God.\r\n For what if some were without faith? shall their want of faith make of none effect the faithfulness of God?\r\n God forbid: yea, let God be found true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy words, And mightest prevail when thou comest into judgment.\r\n But if our righteousness commendeth the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who visiteth with wrath? (I speak after the manner of men.)\r\n God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world?\r\n But if the truth of God through my lie abounded unto his glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner?\r\n and why not (as we are slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say), Let us do evil, that good may come? whose condemnation is just.\r\n What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we before laid to the charge both of Jews and Greeks, that they are all under sin;\r\n as it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one;\r\n There is none that understandeth, There is none that seeketh after God;\r\n They have all turned aside, they are together become unprofitable; There is none that doeth good, no, not, so much as one:\r\n Their throat is an open sepulchre; With their tongues they have used deceit: The poison of asps is under their lips:\r\n Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:\r\n Their feet are swift to shed blood;\r\n Destruction and misery are in their ways;\r\n And the way of peace have they not known:\r\n There is no fear of God before their eyes.\r\n Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it speaketh to them that are under the law; that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may be brought under the judgment of God:\r\n because by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified in his sight; for through the law [cometh] the knowledge of sin.\r\n But now apart from the law a righteousness of God hath been manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;\r\n even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ unto all them that believe; for there is no distinction;\r\n for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;\r\n being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:\r\n whom God set forth [to be] a propitiation, through faith, in his blood, to show his righteousness because of the passing over of the sins done aforetime, in the forbearance of God;\r\n for the showing, [I say], of his righteousness at this present season: that he might himself be just, and the justifier of him that hath faith in Jesus.\r\n Where then is the glorying? It is excluded. By what manner of law? of works? Nay: but by a law of faith.\r\n We reckon therefore that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.\r\n Or is God [the God] of Jews only? is he not [the God] of Gentiles also? Yea, of Gentiles also:\r\n if so be that God is one, and he shall justify the circumcision by faith, and the uncircumcision through faith.\r\n Do we then make the law of none effect through faith? God forbid: nay, we establish the law.\r\n \r\n \r\n What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, hath found according to the flesh?\r\n For if Abraham was justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not toward God.\r\n For what saith the scripture? And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned unto him for righteousness.\r\n Now to him that worketh, the reward is not reckoned as of grace, but as of debt.\r\n But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is reckoned for righteousness.\r\n Even as David also pronounceth blessing upon the man, unto whom God reckoneth righteousness apart from works,\r\n [saying], Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, And whose sins are covered.\r\n Blessed is the man to whom, the Lord will not reckon sin.\r\n Is this blessing then pronounced upon the circumcision, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say, To Abraham his faith was reckoned for righteousness.\r\n How then was it reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision:\r\n and he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while he was in uncircumcision; that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be in uncircumcision, that righteousness might be reckoned unto them;\r\n and the father of circumcision to them who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham which he had in uncircumcision.\r\n For not through the law was the promise to Abraham or to his seed that he should be heir of the world, but through the righteousness of faith.\r\n For if they that are of the law are heirs, faith is made void, and the promise is made of none effect:\r\n for the law worketh wrath; but where there is no law, neither is there transgression.\r\n For this cause [it is] of faith, that [it may be] according to grace; to the end that the promise may be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all\r\n (as it is written, A father of many nations have I made thee) before him whom he believed, [even] God, who giveth life to the dead, and calleth the things that are not, as though they were.\r\n Who in hope believed against hope, to the end that he might become a father of many nations, according to that which had been spoken, So shall thy seed be.\r\n And without being weakened in faith he considered his own body now as good as dead (he being about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah`s womb;\r\n yet, looking unto the promise of God, he wavered not through unbelief, but waxed strong through faith, giving glory to God,\r\n and being fully assured that what he had promised, he was able also to perform.\r\n Wherefore also it was reckoned unto him for righteousness.\r\n Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was reckoned unto him;\r\n but for our sake also, unto whom it shall be reckoned, who believe on him that raised Jesus our Lord from the dead,\r\n who was delivered up for our trespasses, and was raised for our justification.\r\n \r\n \r\n Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ;\r\n through whom also we have had our access by faith into this grace wherein we stand; and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.\r\n And not only so, but we also rejoice in our tribulations: knowing that tribulation worketh stedfastness;\r\n and stedfastness, approvedness; and approvedness, hope:\r\n and hope putteth not to shame; because the love of God hath been shed abroad in our hearts through the Holy Spirit which was given unto us.\r\n For while we were yet weak, in due season Christ died for the ungodly.\r\n For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: for peradventure for the good man some one would even dare to die.\r\n But God commendeth his own love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.\r\n Much more then, being now justified by his blood, shall we be saved from the wrath [of God] through him.\r\n For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, shall we be saved by his life;\r\n and not only so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.\r\n Therefore, as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin; and so death passed unto all men, for that all sinned:--\r\n for until the law sin was in the world; but sin is not imputed when there is no law.\r\n Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the likeness of Adam`s transgression, who is a figure of him that was to come.\r\n But not as the trespass, so also [is] the free gift. For if by the trespass of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God, and the gift by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abound unto the many.\r\n And not as through one that sinned, [so] is the gift: for the judgment [came] of one unto condemnation, but the free gift [came] of many trespasses unto justification.\r\n For if, by the trespass of the one, death reigned through the one; much more shall they that receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, [even] Jesus Christ.\r\n So then as through one trespass [the judgment came] unto all men to condemnation; even so through one act of righteousness [the free gift came] unto all men to justification of life.\r\n For as through the one man`s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the one shall the many be made righteous.\r\n And the law came in besides, that the trespass might abound; but where sin abounded, grace did abound more exceedingly:\r\n that, as sin reigned in death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.\r\n \r\n \r\n What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?\r\n God forbid. We who died to sin, how shall we any longer live therein?\r\n Or are ye ignorant that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?\r\n We were buried therefore with him through baptism unto death: that like as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life.\r\n For if we have become united with [him] in the likeness of his death, we shall be also [in the likeness] of his resurrection;\r\n knowing this, that our old man was crucified with [him], that the body of sin might be done away, that so we should no longer be in bondage to sin;\r\n for he that hath died is justified from sin.\r\n But if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him;\r\n knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death no more hath dominion over him.\r\n For the death that he died, he died unto sin once: but the life that he liveth, he liveth unto God.\r\n Even so reckon ye also yourselves to be dead unto sin, but alive unto God in Christ Jesus.\r\n Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey the lusts thereof:\r\n neither present your members unto sin [as] instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves unto God, as alive from the dead, and your members [as] instruments of righteousness unto God.\r\n For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under law, but under grace.\r\n What then? shall we sin, because we are not under law, but under grace? God forbid.\r\n Know ye not, that to whom ye present yourselves [as] servants unto obedience, his servants ye are whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?\r\n But thanks be to God, that, whereas ye were servants of sin, ye became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching whereunto ye were delivered;\r\n and being made free from sin, ye became servants of righteousness.\r\n I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye presented your members [as] servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity, even so now present your members [as] servants to righteousness unto sanctification.\r\n For when ye were servants of sin, ye were free in regard of righteousness.\r\n What fruit then had ye at that time in the things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.\r\n But now being made free from sin and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto sanctification, and the end eternal life.\r\n For the wages of sin is death; but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.\r\n \r\n \r\n Or are ye ignorant, brethren (for I speak to men who know the law), that the law hath dominion over a man for so long time as he liveth?\r\n For the woman that hath a husband is bound by law to the husband while he liveth; but if the husband die, she is discharged from the law of the husband.\r\n So then if, while the husband liveth, she be joined to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if the husband die, she is free from the law, so that she is no adulteress, though she be joined to another man.\r\n Wherefore, my brethren, ye also were made dead to the law through the body of Christ; that ye should be joined to another, [even] to him who was raised from the dead, that we might bring forth fruit unto God.\r\n For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were through the law, wrought in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.\r\n But now we have been discharged from the law, having died to that wherein we were held; so that we serve in newness of the spirit, and not in oldness of the letter.\r\n What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Howbeit, I had not known sin, except through the law: for I had not known coveting, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet:\r\n but sin, finding occasion, wrought in me through the commandment all manner of coveting: for apart from the law sin [is] dead.\r\n And I was alive apart from the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died;\r\n and the commandment, which [was] unto life, this I found [to be] unto death:\r\n for sin, finding occasion, through the commandment beguiled me, and through it slew me.\r\n So that the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and righteous, and good.\r\n Did then that which is good become death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might be shown to be sin, by working death to me through that which is good; --that through the commandment sin might become exceeding sinful.\r\n For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.\r\n For that which I do I know not: for not what I would, that do I practise; but what I hate, that I do.\r\n But if what I would not, that I do, I consent unto the law that it is good.\r\n So now it is no more I that do it, but sin which dwelleth in me.\r\n For I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me, but to do that which is good [is] not.\r\n For the good which I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I practise.\r\n But if what I would not, that I do, it is no more I that do it, but sin which dwelleth in me.\r\n I find then the law, that, to me who would do good, evil is present.\r\n For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:\r\n but I see a different law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity under the law of sin which is in my members.\r\n Wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me out of the body of this death?\r\n I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then I of myself with the mind, indeed, serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.\r\n \r\n \r\n There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus.\r\n For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and of death.\r\n For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:\r\n that the ordinance of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.\r\n For they that are after the flesh mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.\r\n For the mind of the flesh is death; but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace:\r\n because the mind of the flesh is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can it be:\r\n and they that are in the flesh cannot please God.\r\n But ye are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you. But if any man hath not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.\r\n And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the spirit is life because of righteousness.\r\n But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwelleth in you, he that raised up Christ Jesus from the dead shall give life also to your mortal bodies through his Spirit that dwelleth in you.\r\n So then, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh:\r\n for if ye live after the flesh, ye must die; but if by the Spirit ye put to death the deeds of the body, ye shall live.\r\n For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.\r\n For ye received not the spirit of bondage again unto fear; but ye received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.\r\n The Spirit himself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are children of God:\r\n and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with [him], that we may be also glorified with [him].\r\n For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed to us-ward.\r\n For the earnest expectation of the creation waiteth for the revealing of the sons of God.\r\n For the creation was subjected to vanity, not of its own will, but by reason of him who subjected it, in hope\r\n that the creation itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the liberty of the glory of the children of God.\r\n For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.\r\n And not only so, but ourselves also, who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for [our] adoption, [to wit], the redemption of our body.\r\n For in hope were we saved: but hope that is seen is not hope: for who hopeth for that which he seeth?\r\n But if we hope for that which we see not, [then] do we with patience wait for it.\r\n And in like manner the Spirit also helpeth our infirmity: for we know not how to pray as we ought; but the Spirit himself maketh intercession for [us] with groanings which cannot be uttered;\r\n and he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to [the will of] God.\r\n And we know that to them that love God all things work together for good, [even] to them that are called according to [his] purpose.\r\n For whom he foreknew, he also foreordained [to be] conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren:\r\n and whom he foreordained, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.\r\n What then shall we say to these things? If God [is] for us, who [is] against us?\r\n He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not also with him freely give us all things?\r\n Who shall lay anything to the charge of God`s elect? It is God that justifieth;\r\n who is he that condemneth? It is Christ Jesus that died, yea rather, that was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.\r\n Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or anguish, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?\r\n Even as it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; We were accounted as sheep for the slaughter.\r\n Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.\r\n For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,\r\n nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.\r\n \r\n \r\n I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience bearing witness with me in the Holy Spirit,\r\n that I have great sorrow and unceasing pain in my heart.\r\n For I could wish that I myself were anathema from Christ for my brethren`s sake, my kinsmen according to the flesh:\r\n who are Israelites; whose is the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service [of God], and the promises;\r\n whose are the fathers, and of whom is Christ as concerning the flesh, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.\r\n But [it is] not as though the word of God hath come to nought. For they are not all Israel, that are of Israel:\r\n neither, because they are Abraham`s seed, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.\r\n That is, it is not the children of the flesh that are children of God; but the children of the promise are reckoned for a seed.\r\n For this is a word of promise, According to this season will I come, and Sarah shall have a son.\r\n And not only so; but Rebecca also having conceived by one, [even] by our father Isaac--\r\n for [the children] being not yet born, neither having done anything good or bad, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth,\r\n it was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.\r\n Even as it is written, Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.\r\n What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.\r\n For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.\r\n So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that hath mercy.\r\n For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, For this very purpose did I raise thee up, that I might show in thee my power, and that my name might be published abroad in all the earth.\r\n So then he hath mercy on whom he will, and whom he will be hardeneth.\r\n Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he still find fault? For who withstandeth his will?\r\n Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why didst thou make me thus?\r\n Or hath not the potter a right over the clay, from the same lump to make one part a vessel unto honor, and another unto dishonor?\r\n What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering vessels of wrath fitted unto destruction:\r\n and that he might make known the riches of his glory upon vessels of mercy, which he afore prepared unto glory,\r\n [even] us, whom he also called, not from the Jews only, but also from the Gentiles?\r\n As he saith also in Hosea, I will call that my people, which was not my people; And her beloved, that was not beloved.\r\n And it shall be, [that] in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, There shall they be called sons of the living God.\r\n And Isaiah crieth concerning Israel, If the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, it is the remnant that shall be saved:\r\n for the Lord will execute [his] word upon the earth, finishing it and cutting it short.\r\n And, as Isaiah hath said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, We had become as Sodom, and had been made like unto Gomorrah.\r\n What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, who followed not after righteousness, attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith:\r\n but Israel, following after a law of righteousness, did not arrive at [that] law.\r\n Wherefore? Because [they sought it] not by faith, but as it were by works. They stumbled at the stone of stumbling;\r\n even as it is written, Behold, I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence: And he that believeth on him shall not be put to shame.\r\n \r\n \r\n Brethren, my heart`s desire and my supplication to God is for them, that they may be saved.\r\n For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.\r\n For being ignorant of God`s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.\r\n For Christ is the end of the law unto righteousness to every one that believeth.\r\n For Moses writeth that the man that doeth the righteousness which is of the law shall live thereby.\r\n But the righteousness which is of faith saith thus, Say not in thy heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down:)\r\n or, Who shall descend into the abyss? (That is, to bring Christ up from the dead.)\r\n But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach:\r\n because if thou shalt confess with thy mouth Jesus [as] Lord, and shalt believe in thy heart that God raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved:\r\n for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.\r\n For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be put to shame.\r\n For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek: for the same [Lord] is Lord of all, and is rich unto all that call upon him:\r\n for, Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.\r\n How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?\r\n and how shall they preach, except they be sent? even as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that bring glad tidings of good things!\r\n But they did not all hearken to the glad tidings. For Isaiah saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?\r\n So belief [cometh] of hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.\r\n But I say, Did they not hear? Yea, verily, Their sound went out into all the earth, And their words unto the ends of the world.\r\n But I say, Did Israel not know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy with that which is no nation, With a nation void of understanding will I anger you.\r\n And Isaiah is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I became manifest unto them that asked not of me.\r\n But as to Israel he saith, All the day long did I spread out my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.\r\n \r\n \r\n I say then, Did God cast off his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.\r\n God did not cast off his people which he foreknew. Or know ye not what the scripture saith of Elijah? how he pleadeth with God against Israel:\r\n Lord, they have killed thy prophets, they have digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.\r\n But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have left for myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to Baal.\r\n Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.\r\n But if it is by grace, it is no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace.\r\n What then? that which Israel seeketh for, that he obtained not; but the election obtained it, and the rest were hardened:\r\n according as it is written, God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear, unto this very day.\r\n And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, And a stumblingblock, and a recompense unto them:\r\n Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, And bow thou down their back always.\r\n I say then, Did they stumble that they might fall? God forbid: but by their fall salvation [is come] unto the Gentiles, to provoke them to jealousy.\r\n Now if their fall, is the riches of the world, and their loss the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?\r\n But I speak to you that are Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle of Gentiles, I glorify my ministry;\r\n if by any means I may provoke to jealousy [them that are] my flesh, and may save some of them.\r\n For if the casting away of them [is] the reconciling of the world, what [shall] the receiving [of them be], but life from the dead?\r\n And if the firstfruit is holy, so is the lump: and if the root is holy, so are the branches.\r\n But if some of the branches were broken off, and thou, being a wild olive, wast grafted in among them, and didst become partaker with them of the root of the fatness of the olive tree;\r\n glory not over the branches: but if thou gloriest, it is not thou that bearest the root, but the root thee.\r\n Thou wilt say then, Branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in.\r\n Well; by their unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by thy faith. Be not highminded, but fear:\r\n for if God spared not the natural branches, neither will he spare thee.\r\n Behold then the goodness and severity of God: toward them that fell, severity; but toward thee, God`s goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.\r\n And they also, if they continue not in their unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again.\r\n For if thou wast cut out of that which is by nature a wild olive tree, and wast grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree; how much more shall these, which are the natural [branches], be grafted into their own olive tree?\r\n For I would not, brethren, have you ignorant of this mystery, lest ye be wise in your own conceits, that a hardening in part hath befallen Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in;\r\n and so all Israel shall be saved: even as it is written, There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer; He shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:\r\n And this is my covenant unto them, When I shall take away their sins.\r\n As touching the gospel, they are enemies for your sake: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers` sake.\r\n For the gifts and the calling of God are not repented of.\r\n For as ye in time past were disobedient to God, but now have obtained mercy by their disobedience,\r\n even so have these also now been disobedient, that by the mercy shown to you they also may now obtain mercy.\r\n For God hath shut up all unto disobedience, that he might have mercy upon all.\r\n O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past tracing out!\r\n For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?\r\n or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?\r\n For of him, and through him, and unto him, are all things. To him [be] the glory for ever. Amen.\r\n \r\n \r\n I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, [which is] your spiritual service.\r\n And be not fashioned according to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, and ye may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.\r\n For I say, through the grace that was given me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think as to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to each man a measure of faith.\r\n For even as we have many members in one body, and all the members have not the same office:\r\n so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and severally members one of another.\r\n And having gifts differing according to the grace that was given to us, whether prophecy, [let us prophesy] according to the proportion of our faith;\r\n or ministry, [let us give ourselves] to our ministry; or he that teacheth, to his teaching;\r\n or he that exhorteth, to his exhorting: he that giveth, [let him do it] with liberality; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that showeth mercy, with cheerfulness.\r\n Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.\r\n In love of the brethren be tenderly affectioned one to another; in honor preferring one another;\r\n in diligence not slothful; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;\r\n rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing stedfastly in prayer;\r\n communicating to the necessities of the saints; given to hospitality.\r\n Bless them that persecute you; bless, and curse not.\r\n Rejoice with them that rejoice; weep with them that weep.\r\n Be of the same mind one toward another. Set not your mind on high things, but condescend to things that are lowly. Be not wise in your own conceits.\r\n Render to no man evil for evil. Take thought for things honorable in the sight of all men.\r\n If it be possible, as much as in you lieth, be at peace with all men.\r\n Avenge not yourselves, beloved, but give place unto the wrath [of God]: for it is written, Vengeance belongeth unto me; I will recompense, saith the Lord.\r\n But if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him to drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head.\r\n Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.\r\n \r\n \r\n Let every soul be in subjection to the higher powers: for there is no power but of God; and the [powers] that be are ordained of God.\r\n Therefore he that resisteth the power, withstandeth the ordinance of God: and they that withstand shall receive to themselves judgment.\r\n For rulers are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil. And wouldest thou have no fear of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise from the same:\r\n for he is a minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is a minister of God, an avenger for wrath to him that doeth evil.\r\n Wherefore [ye] must needs be in subjection, not only because of the wrath, but also for conscience` sake.\r\n For this cause ye pay tribute also; for they are ministers of God`s service, attending continually upon this very thing.\r\n Render to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute [is due]; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.\r\n Owe no man anything, save to love one another: for he that loveth his neighbor hath fulfilled the law.\r\n For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not covet, and if there be any other commandment, it is summed up in this word, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.\r\n Love worketh no ill to his neighbor: love therefore is the fulfilment of the law.\r\n And this, knowing the season, that already it is time for you to awake out of sleep: for now is salvation nearer to us than when we [first] believed.\r\n The night is far spent, and the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.\r\n Let us walk becomingly, as in the day; not in revelling and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and jealousy.\r\n But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to [fulfil] the lusts [thereof].\r\n \r\n \r\n But him that is weak in faith receive ye, [yet] not for decision of scruples.\r\n One man hath faith to eat all things: but he that is weak eateth herbs.\r\n Let not him that eateth set at nought him that eateth not; and let not him that eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.\r\n Who art thou that judgest the servant of another? to his own lord he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be made to stand; for the Lord hath power to make him stand.\r\n One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day [alike]. Let each man be fully assured in his own mind.\r\n He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord: and he that eateth, eateth unto the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, unto the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.\r\n For none of us liveth to himself, and none dieth to himself.\r\n For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; or whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord`s.\r\n For to this end Christ died and lived [again], that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living.\r\n But thou, why dost thou judge thy brother? or thou again, why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment-seat of God.\r\n For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, to me every knee shall bow, And every tongue shall confess to God.\r\n So then each one of us shall give account of himself to God.\r\n Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge ye this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock in his brother`s way, or an occasion of falling.\r\n I know, and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean of itself: save that to him who accounteth anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.\r\n For if because of meat thy brother is grieved, thou walkest no longer in love. Destroy not with thy meat him for whom Christ died.\r\n Let not then your good be evil spoken of:\r\n for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.\r\n For he that herein serveth Christ is well-pleasing to God, and approved of men.\r\n So then let us follow after things which make for peace, and things whereby we may edify one another.\r\n Overthrow not for meat`s sake the work of God. All things indeed are clean; howbeit it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.\r\n It is good not to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor [to do anything] whereby thy brother stumbleth.\r\n The faith which thou hast, have thou to thyself before God. Happy is he that judgeth not himself in that which he approveth.\r\n But he that doubteth is condemned if he eat, because [he eateth] not of faith; and whatsoever is not of faith is sin.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now we that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.\r\n Let each one of us please his neighbor for that which is good, unto edifying.\r\n For Christ also pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell upon me.\r\n For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that through patience and through comfort of the scriptures we might have hope.\r\n Now the God of patience and of comfort grant you to be of the same mind one with another according to Christ Jesus:\r\n that with one accord ye may with one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.\r\n Wherefore receive ye one another, even as Christ also received you, to the glory of God.\r\n For I say that Christ hath been made a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, that he might confirm the promises [given] unto the fathers,\r\n and that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, Therefore will I give praise unto thee among the Gentiles, And sing unto thy name.\r\n And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people.\r\n And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; And let all the peoples praise him.\r\n And again, Isaiah saith, There shall be the root of Jesse, And he that ariseth to rule over the Gentiles; On him shall the Gentiles hope.\r\n Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, in the power of the Holy Spirit.\r\n And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.\r\n But I write the more boldly unto you in some measure, as putting you again in remembrance, because of the grace that was given me of God,\r\n that I should be a minister of Christ Jesus unto the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be made acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Spirit.\r\n I have therefore my glorifying in Christ Jesus in things pertaining to God.\r\n For I will not dare to speak of any things save those which Christ wrought through me, for the obedience of the Gentiles, by word and deed,\r\n in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Holy Spirit; so that from Jerusalem, and round about even unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ;\r\n yea, making it my aim so to preach the gospel, not where Christ was [already] named, that I might not build upon another man`s foundation;\r\n but, as it is written, They shall see, to whom no tidings of him came, And they who have not heard shall understand.\r\n Wherefore also I was hindered these many times from coming to you:\r\n but now, having no more any place in these regions, and having these many years a longing to come unto you,\r\n whensoever I go unto Spain (for I hope to see you in my journey, and to be brought on my way thitherward by you, if first in some measure I shall have been satisfied with your company)--\r\n but now, I [say], I go unto Jerusalem, ministering unto the saints.\r\n For it hath been the good pleasure of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints that are at Jerusalem.\r\n Yea, it hath been their good pleasure; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, they owe it [to them] also to minister unto them in carnal things.\r\n When therefore I have accomplished this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will go on by you unto Spain.\r\n And I know that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of Christ.\r\n Now I beseech you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ, and by the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me;\r\n that I may be delivered from them that are disobedient in Judaea, and [that] my ministration which [I have] for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints;\r\n that I may come unto you in joy through the will of God, and together with you find rest.\r\n Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.\r\n \r\n \r\n I commend unto you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church that is at Cenchreae:\r\n that ye receive her in the Lord, worthily of the saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever matter she may have need of you: for she herself also hath been a helper of many, and of mine own self.\r\n Salute Prisca and Aquila my fellow-workers in Christ Jesus,\r\n who for my life laid down their own necks; unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles:\r\n and [salute] the church that is in their house. Salute Epaenetus my beloved, who is the first-fruits of Asia unto Christ.\r\n Salute Mary, who bestowed much labor on you.\r\n Salute Andronicus and Junias, my kinsmen, and my fellow-prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also have been in Christ before me.\r\n Salute Ampliatus my beloved in the Lord.\r\n Salute Urbanus our fellow-worker in Christ, and Stachys my beloved.\r\n Salute Apelles the approved in Christ. Salute them that are of the [household] of Aristobulus.\r\n Salute Herodion my kinsman. Salute them of the [household] of Narcissus, that are in the Lord.\r\n Salute Tryphaena and Tryphosa, who labor in the Lord. Salute Persis the beloved, who labored much in the Lord.\r\n Salute Rufus the chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.\r\n Salute Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brethren that are with them.\r\n Salute Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints that are with them.\r\n Salute one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ salute you.\r\n Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them that are causing the divisions and occasions of stumbling, contrary to the doctrine which ye learned: and turn away from them.\r\n For they that are such serve not our Lord Christ, but their own belly; and by their smooth and fair speech they beguile the hearts of the innocent.\r\n For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I rejoice therefore over you: but I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple unto that which is evil.\r\n And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.\r\n Timothy my fellow-worker saluteth you; and Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my kinsmen.\r\n I Tertius, who write the epistle, salute you in the Lord.\r\n Gaius my host, and of the whole church, saluteth you. Erastus the treasurer of the city saluteth you, and Quartus the brother.\r\n [The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.]\r\n Now to him that is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which hath been kept in silence through times eternal,\r\n but now is manifested, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, is made known unto all the nations unto obedience of faith:\r\n to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory for ever. Amen.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n Paul, called [to be] an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,\r\n unto the church of God which is at Corinth, [even] them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called [to be] saints, with all that call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in every place, their [Lord] and ours:\r\n Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.\r\n I thank my God always concerning you, for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus;\r\n that in everything ye were enriched in him, in all utterance and all knowledge;\r\n even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you:\r\n so that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ;\r\n who shall also confirm you unto the end, [that ye be] unreproveable in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.\r\n God is faithful, through whom ye were called into the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.\r\n Now I beseech you, brethren, through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing and [that] there be no divisions among you; but [that] ye be perfected together in the same mind and in the same judgment.\r\n For it hath been signified unto me concerning you, my brethren, by them [that are of the household] of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.\r\n Now this I mean, that each one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos: and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.\r\n Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized into the name of Paul?\r\n I thank God that I baptized none of you, save Crispus and Gaius;\r\n lest any man should say that ye were baptized into my name.\r\n And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.\r\n For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not in wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made void.\r\n For the word of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us who are saved it is the power of God.\r\n For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And the discernment of the discerning will I bring to nought.\r\n Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?\r\n For seeing that in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom knew not God, it was God`s good pleasure through the foolishness of the preaching to save them that believe.\r\n Seeing that Jews ask for signs, and Greeks seek after wisdom:\r\n but we preach Christ crucified, unto Jews a stumblingblock, and unto Gentiles foolishness;\r\n but unto them that are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.\r\n Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.\r\n For behold your calling, brethren, that not many wise after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, [are called]:\r\n but God chose the foolish things of the world, that he might put to shame them that are wise; and God chose the weak things of the world, that he might put to shame the things that are strong;\r\n and the base things of the world, and the things that are despised, did God choose, [yea] and the things that are not, that he might bring to nought the things that are:\r\n that no flesh should glory before God.\r\n But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who was made unto us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption:\r\n that, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.\r\n \r\n \r\n And I, brethren, when I came unto you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God.\r\n For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.\r\n And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.\r\n And my speech and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:\r\n that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.\r\n We speak wisdom, however, among them that are fullgrown: yet a wisdom not of this world, nor of the rulers of this world, who are coming to nought:\r\n but we speak God`s wisdom in a mystery, [even] the [wisdom] that hath been hidden, which God foreordained before the worlds unto our glory:\r\n which none of the rulers of this world hath known: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory:\r\n but as it is written, Things which eye saw not, and ear heard not, And [which] entered not into the heart of man, Whatsoever things God prepared for them that love him.\r\n But unto us God revealed [them] through the Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.\r\n For who among men knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of the man, which is in him? even so the things of God none knoweth, save the Spirit of God.\r\n But we received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is from God; that we might know the things that were freely given to us of God.\r\n Which things also we speak, not in words which man`s wisdom teacheth, but which the Spirit teacheth; combining spiritual things with spiritual [words].\r\n Now the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him; and he cannot know them, because they are spiritually judged.\r\n But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, and he himself is judged of no man.\r\n For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he should instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.\r\n \r\n \r\n And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, as unto babes in Christ.\r\n I fed you with milk, not with meat; for ye were not yet able [to bear it]: nay, not even now are ye able;\r\n for ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you jealousy and strife, are ye not carnal, and do ye not walk after the manner of men?\r\n For when one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not men?\r\n What then is Apollos? and what is Paul? Ministers through whom ye believed; and each as the Lord gave to him.\r\n I planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.\r\n So then neither is he that planteth anything, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.\r\n Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: but each shall receive his own reward according to his own labor.\r\n For we are God`s fellow-workers: ye are God`s husbandry, God`s building.\r\n According to the grace of God which was given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder I laid a foundation; and another buildeth thereon. But let each man take heed how he buildeth thereon.\r\n For other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.\r\n But if any man buildeth on the foundation gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, stubble;\r\n each man`s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it is revealed in fire; and the fire itself shall prove each man`s work of what sort it is.\r\n If any man`s work shall abide which he built thereon, he shall receive a reward.\r\n If any man`s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as through fire.\r\n Know ye not that ye are a temple of God, and [that] the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?\r\n If any man destroyeth the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, and such are ye.\r\n Let no man deceive himself. If any man thinketh that he is wise among you in this world, let him become a fool, that he may become wise.\r\n For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He that taketh the wise in their craftiness:\r\n and again, The Lord knoweth the reasonings of the wise that they are vain.\r\n Wherefore let no one glory in men. For all things are yours;\r\n whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;\r\n and ye are Christ`s; and Christ is God`s.\r\n \r\n \r\n Let a man so account of us, as of ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.\r\n Here, moreover, it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.\r\n But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man`s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self.\r\n For I know nothing against myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.\r\n Wherefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and make manifest the counsels of the hearts; and then shall each man have his praise from God.\r\n Now these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes; that in us ye might learn not [to go] beyond the things which are written; that no one of you be puffed up for the one against the other.\r\n For who maketh thee to differ? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? but if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory as if thou hadst not received it?\r\n Already are ye filled, already ye are become rich, ye have come to reign without us: yea and I would that ye did reign, that we also might reign with you.\r\n For, I think, God hath set forth us the apostles last of all, as men doomed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, both to angels and men.\r\n We are fools for Christ`s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye have glory, but we have dishonor.\r\n Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling-place;\r\n and we toil, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure;\r\n being defamed, we entreat: we are made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things, even until now.\r\n I write not these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children.\r\n For though ye have ten thousand tutors in Christ, yet [have ye] not many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I begat you through the gospel.\r\n I beseech you therefore, be ye imitators of me.\r\n For this cause have I sent unto you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, who shall put you in remembrance of my ways which are in Christ, even as I teach everywhere in every church.\r\n Now some are puffed up, as though I were not coming to you.\r\n But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will; and I will know, not the word of them that are puffed up, but the power.\r\n For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.\r\n What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?\r\n \r\n \r\n It is actually reported that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not even among the Gentiles, that one [of you] hath his father`s wife.\r\n And ye are puffed up, and did not rather mourn, that he that had done this deed might be taken away from among you.\r\n For I verily, being absent in body but present in spirit, have already as though I were present judged him that hath so wrought this thing,\r\n in the name of our Lord Jesus, ye being gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus,\r\n to deliver such a one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.\r\n Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?\r\n Purge out the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, even as ye are unleavened. For our passover also hath been sacrificed, [even] Christ:\r\n wherefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.\r\n I wrote unto you in my epistle to have no company with fornicators;\r\n not at all [meaning] with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous and extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world:\r\n but as it is, I wrote unto you not to keep company, if any man that is named a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such a one no, not to eat.\r\n For what have I to do with judging them that are without? Do not ye judge them that are within?\r\n But them that are without God judgeth. Put away the wicked man from among yourselves.\r\n \r\n \r\n Dare any of you, having a matter against his neighbor, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints?\r\n Or know ye not that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world is judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?\r\n Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more, things that pertain to this life?\r\n If then ye have to judge things pertaining to this life, do ye set them to judge who are of no account in the church?\r\n I say [this] to move you to shame. What, cannot there be [found] among you one wise man who shall be able to decide between his brethren,\r\n but brother goeth to law with brother, and that before unbelievers?\r\n Nay, already it is altogether a defect in you, that ye have lawsuits one with another. Why not rather take wrong? why not rather be defrauded?\r\n Nay, but ye yourselves do wrong, and defraud, and that [your] brethren.\r\n Or know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with men,\r\n nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.\r\n And such were some of you: but ye were washed, but ye were sanctified, but ye were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God.\r\n All things are lawful for me; but not all things are expedient. All things are lawful for me; but I will not be brought under the power of any.\r\n Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall bring to nought both it and them. But the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body:\r\n and God both raised the Lord, and will raise up as through his power.\r\n Know ye not that your bodies are members of Christ? shall I then take away the members of Christ, and make them members of a harlot? God forbid.\r\n Or know ye not that he that is joined to a harlot is one body? for, The twain, saith he, shall become one flesh.\r\n But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.\r\n Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.\r\n Or know ye not that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which ye have from God? and ye are not your own;\r\n for ye were bought with a price: glorify God therefore in your body.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.\r\n But, because of fornications, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.\r\n Let the husband render unto the wife her due: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.\r\n The wife hath not power over her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power over his own body, but the wife.\r\n Defraud ye not one the other, except it be by consent for a season, that ye may give yourselves unto prayer, and may be together again, that Satan tempt you not because of your incontinency.\r\n But this I say by way of concession, not of commandment.\r\n Yet I would that all men were even as I myself. Howbeit each man hath his own gift from God, one after this manner, and another after that.\r\n But I say to the unmarried and to widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.\r\n But if they have not continency, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.\r\n But unto the married I give charge, [yea] not I, but the Lord, That the wife depart not from her husband\r\n (but should she depart, let her remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband); and that the husband leave not his wife.\r\n But to the rest say I, not the Lord: If any brother hath an unbelieving wife, and she is content to dwell with him, let him not leave her.\r\n And the woman that hath an unbelieving husband, and he is content to dwell with her, let her not leave her husband.\r\n For the unbelieving husband is sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified in the brother: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.\r\n Yet if the unbelieving departeth, let him depart: the brother or the sister is not under bondage in such [cases]: but God hath called us in peace.\r\n For how knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? Or how knowest thou, O husband, whether thou shalt save thy wife?\r\n Only, as the Lord hath distributed to each man, as God hath called each, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all the churches.\r\n Was any man called being circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Hath any been called in uncircumcision? Let him not be circumcised.\r\n Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing; but the keeping of the commandments of God.\r\n Let each man abide in that calling wherein he was called.\r\n Wast thou called being a bondservant? Care not for it: nay, even if thou canst become free, use [it] rather.\r\n For he that was called in the Lord being a bondservant, is the Lord`s freedman: likewise he that was called being free, is Christ`s bondservant.\r\n Ye were bought with a price; become not bondservants of men.\r\n Brethren, let each man, wherein he was called, therein abide with God.\r\n Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: but I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be trustworthy.\r\n I think therefore that this is good by reason of the distress that is upon us, [namely,] that it is good for a man to be as he is.\r\n Art thou bound unto a wife? Seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? Seek not a wife.\r\n But shouldest thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Yet such shall have tribulation in the flesh: and I would spare you.\r\n But this I say, brethren, the time is shortened, that henceforth both those that have wives may be as though they had none;\r\n and those that weep, as though they wept not; and those that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and those that buy, as though they possessed not;\r\n and those that use the world, as not using it to the full: for the fashion of this world passeth away.\r\n But I would have you to be free from cares. He that is unmarried is careful for the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord:\r\n but he that is married is careful for the things of the world, how he may please his wife,\r\n and is divided. [So] also the woman that is unmarried and the virgin is careful for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married is careful for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.\r\n And this I say for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is seemly, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.\r\n But if any man thinketh that he behaveth himself unseemly toward his virgin [daughter], if she be past the flower of her age, and if need so requireth, let him do what he will; he sinneth not; let them marry.\r\n But he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power as touching in his own heart, to keep his own virgin [daughter], shall do well.\r\n So then both he that giveth his own virgin [daughter] in marriage doeth well; and he that giveth her not in marriage shall do better.\r\n A wife is bound for so long time as her husband liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is free to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.\r\n But she is happier if she abide as she is, after my judgment: and I think that I also have the Spirit of God.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now concerning things sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but love edifieth.\r\n If any man thinketh that he knoweth anything, he knoweth not yet as he ought to know;\r\n but if any man loveth God, the same is known by him.\r\n Concerning therefore the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that no idol is [anything] in the world, and that there is no God but one.\r\n For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or on earth; as there are gods many, and lords many;\r\n yet to us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we unto him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we through him.\r\n Howbeit there is not in all men that knowledge: but some, being used until now to the idol, eat as [of] a thing sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.\r\n But food will not commend us to God: neither, if we eat not, are we the worse; nor, if we eat, are we the better.\r\n But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to the weak.\r\n For if a man see thee who hast knowledge sitting at meat in an idol`s temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be emboldened to eat things sacrificed to idols?\r\n For through thy knowledge he that is weak perisheth, the brother for whose sake Christ died.\r\n And thus, sinning against the brethren, and wounding their conscience when it is weak, ye sin against Christ.\r\n Wherefore, if meat causeth my brother to stumble, I will eat no flesh for evermore, that I cause not my brother to stumble.\r\n \r\n \r\n Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not ye my work in the Lord?\r\n If to others I am not an apostle, yet at least I am to you; for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.\r\n My defence to them that examine me is this.\r\n Have we no right to eat and to drink?\r\n Have we no right to lead about a wife that is a believer, even as the rest of the apostles, and the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?\r\n Or I only and Barnabas, have we not a right to forbear working?\r\n What soldier ever serveth at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not the fruit thereof? Or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?\r\n Do I speak these things after the manner of men? or saith not the law also the same?\r\n For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn. Is it for the oxen that God careth,\r\n or saith he it assuredly for our sake? Yea, for our sake it was written: because he that ploweth ought to plow in hope, and he that thresheth, [to thresh] in hope of partaking.\r\n If we sowed unto you spiritual things, is it a great matter if we shall reap your carnal things?\r\n If others partake of [this] right over you, do not we yet more? Nevertheless we did not use this right; but we bear all things, that we may cause no hindrance to the gospel of Christ.\r\n Know ye not that they that minister about sacred things eat [of] the things of the temple, [and] they that wait upon the altar have their portion with the altar?\r\n Even so did the Lord ordain that they that proclaim the gospel should live of the gospel.\r\n But I have used none of these things: and I write not these things that it may be so done in my case; for [it were] good for me rather to die, than that any man should make my glorifying void.\r\n For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of; for necessity is laid upon me; for woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel.\r\n For if I do this of mine own will, I have a reward: but if not of mine own will, I have a stewardship intrusted to me.\r\n What then is my reward? That, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel without charge, so as not to use to the full my right in the gospel.\r\n For though I was free from all [men,] I brought myself under bondage to all, that I might gain the more.\r\n And to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, not being myself under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;\r\n to them that are without law, as without law, not being without law to God, but under law to Christ, that I might gain them that are without law.\r\n To the weak I became weak, that I might gain the weak: I am become all things to all men, that I may by all means save some.\r\n And I do all things for the gospel`s sake, that I may be a joint partaker thereof.\r\n Know ye not that they that run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? Even so run; that ye may attain.\r\n And every man that striveth in the games exerciseth self-control in all things. Now they [do it] to receive a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.\r\n I therefore so run, as not uncertainly; so fight I, as not beating the air:\r\n but I buffet my body, and bring it into bondage: lest by any means, after that I have preached to others, I myself should be rejected.\r\n \r\n \r\n For I would not, brethren, have you ignorant, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;\r\n and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;\r\n and did all eat the same spiritual food;\r\n and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of a spiritual rock that followed them: and the rock was Christ.\r\n Howbeit with most of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.\r\n Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.\r\n Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.\r\n Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.\r\n Neither let us make trial of the Lord, as some of them made trial, and perished by the serpents.\r\n Neither murmur ye, as some of them murmured, and perished by the destroyer.\r\n Now these things happened unto them by way of example; and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages are come.\r\n Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.\r\n There hath no temptation taken you but such as man can bear: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation make also the way of escape, that ye may be able to endure it.\r\n Wherefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.\r\n I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.\r\n The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a communion of the body of Christ?\r\n seeing that we, who are many, are one bread, one body: for we are all partake of the one bread.\r\n Behold Israel after the flesh: have not they that eat the sacrifices communion with the altar?\r\n What say I then? that a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything?\r\n But [I say], that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have communion with demons.\r\n Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of demons: ye cannot partake of the table of the Lord, and of the table of demons.\r\n Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?\r\n All things are lawful; but not all things are expedient. All things are lawful; but not all things edify.\r\n Let no man seek his own, but [each] his neighbor`s [good].\r\n Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, eat, asking no question for conscience` sake,\r\n for the earth is the Lord`s, and the fulness thereof.\r\n If one of them that believe not biddeth you [to a feast], and ye are disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience` sake.\r\n But if any man say unto you, This hath been offered in sacrifice, eat not, for his sake that showed it, and for conscience sake:\r\n conscience, I say, not thine own, but the other`s; for why is my liberty judged by another conscience?\r\n If I partake with thankfulness, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?\r\n Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.\r\n Give no occasions of stumbling, either to Jews, or to Greeks, or to the church of God:\r\n even as I also please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the [profit] of the many, that they may be saved.\r\n \r\n \r\n Be ye imitators of me, even as I also am of Christ.\r\n Now I praise you that ye remember me in all things, and hold fast the traditions, even as I delivered them to you.\r\n But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.\r\n Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoreth his head.\r\n But every woman praying or prophesying with her head unveiled dishonoreth her head; for it is one and the same thing as if she were shaven.\r\n For if a woman is not veiled, let her also be shorn: but if it is a shame to a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be veiled.\r\n For a man indeed ought not to have his head veiled, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.\r\n For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man:\r\n for neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man:\r\n for this cause ought the woman to have [a sign of] authority on her head, because of the angels.\r\n Nevertheless, neither is the woman without the man, nor the man without the woman, in the Lord.\r\n For as the woman is of the man, so is the man also by the woman; but all things are of God.\r\n Judge ye in yourselves: is it seemly that a woman pray unto God unveiled?\r\n Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a dishonor to him?\r\n But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.\r\n But if any man seemeth to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.\r\n But in giving you this charge, I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better but for the worse.\r\n For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that divisions exist among you; and I partly believe it.\r\n For there must be also factions among you, that they that are approved may be made manifest among you.\r\n When therefore ye assemble yourselves together, it is not possible to eat the Lord`s supper:\r\n for in your eating each one taketh before [other] his own supper; and one is hungry, and another is drunken.\r\n What, have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and put them to shame that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you? In this I praise you not.\r\n For I received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which he was betrayed took bread;\r\n and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, This is my body, which is for you: this do in remembrance of me.\r\n In like manner also the cup, after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood: this do, as often as ye drink [it], in remembrance of me.\r\n For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink the cup, ye proclaim the Lord`s death till he come.\r\n Wherefore whosoever shall eat the bread or drink the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord.\r\n But let a man prove himself, and so let him eat of the bread, and drink of the cup.\r\n For he that eateth and drinketh, eateth and drinketh judgment unto himself, if he discern not the body.\r\n For this cause many among you are weak and sickly, and not a few sleep.\r\n But if we discerned ourselves, we should not be judged.\r\n But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.\r\n Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, wait one for another.\r\n If any man is hungry, let him eat at home; that your coming together be not unto judgment. And the rest will I set in order whensoever I come.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now concerning spiritual [gifts], brethren, I would not have you ignorant.\r\n Ye know that when ye were Gentiles [ye were] led away unto those dumb idols, howsoever ye might led.\r\n Wherefore I make known unto you, that no man speaking in the Spirit of God saith, Jesus is anathema; and no man can say, Jesus is Lord, but in the Holy Spirit.\r\n Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.\r\n And there are diversities of ministrations, and the same Lord.\r\n And there are diversities of workings, but the same God, who worketh all things in all.\r\n But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit to profit withal.\r\n For to one is given through the Spirit the word of wisdom; and to another the word of knowledge, according to the same Spirit:\r\n to another faith, in the same Spirit; and to another gifts of healings, in the one Spirit;\r\n and to another workings of miracles; and to another prophecy; and to another discernings of spirits; to another [divers] kinds of tongues; and to another the interpretation of tongues:\r\n but all these worketh the one and the same Spirit, dividing to each one severally even as he will.\r\n For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of the body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ.\r\n For in one Spirit were we all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and were all made to drink of one Spirit.\r\n For the body is not one member, but many.\r\n If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; it is not therefore not of the body.\r\n And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; it is not therefore not of the body.\r\n If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?\r\n But now hath God set the members each one of them in the body, even as it pleased him.\r\n And if they were all one member, where were the body?\r\n But now they are many members, but one body.\r\n And the eye cannot say to the hand, I have no need of thee: or again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.\r\n Nay, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be more feeble are necessary:\r\n and those [parts] of the body, which we think to be less honorable, upon these we bestow more abundant honor; and our uncomely [parts] have more abundant comeliness;\r\n whereas our comely [parts] have no need: but God tempered the body together, giving more abundant honor to that [part] which lacked;\r\n that there should be no schism in the body; but [that] the members should have the same care one for another.\r\n And whether one member suffereth, all the members suffer with it; or [one] member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.\r\n Now ye are the body of Christ, and severally members thereof.\r\n And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondly prophets, thirdly teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, [divers] kinds of tongues.\r\n Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all [workers of] miracles?\r\n have all gifts of healings? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?\r\n But desire earnestly the greater gifts. And moreover a most excellent way show I unto you.\r\n \r\n \r\n If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal.\r\n And if I have [the gift of] prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.\r\n And if I bestow all my goods to feed [the poor], and if I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profiteth me nothing.\r\n Love suffereth long, [and] is kind; love envieth not; love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,\r\n doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not its own, is not provoked, taketh not account of evil;\r\n rejoiceth not in unrighteousness, but rejoiceth with the truth;\r\n beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.\r\n Love never faileth: but whether [there be] prophecies, they shall be done away; whether [there be] tongues, they shall cease; whether [there be] knowledge, it shall be done away.\r\n For we know in part, and we prophesy in part;\r\n but when that which is perfect is come, that which is in part shall be done away.\r\n When I was a child, I spake as a child, I felt as a child, I thought as a child: now that I am become a man, I have put away childish things.\r\n For now we see in a mirror, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know fully even as also I was fully known.\r\n But now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; and the greatest of these is love.\r\n \r\n \r\n Follow after love; yet desire earnestly spiritual [gifts], but rather that ye may prophesy.\r\n For he that speaketh in a tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God; for no man understandeth; but in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.\r\n But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men edification, and exhortation, and consolation.\r\n He that speaketh in a tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.\r\n Now I would have you all speak with tongues, but rather that ye should prophesy: and greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.\r\n But now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, unless I speak to you either by way of revelation, or of knowledge, or of prophesying, or of teaching?\r\n Even things without life, giving a voice, whether pipe or harp, if they give not a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?\r\n For if the trumpet give an uncertain voice, who shall prepare himself for war?\r\n So also ye, unless ye utter by the tongue speech easy to understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye will be speaking into the air.\r\n There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and no [kind] is without signification.\r\n If then I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be to him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh will be a barbarian unto me.\r\n So also ye, since ye are zealous of spiritual [gifts], seek that ye may abound unto the edifying of the church.\r\n Wherefore let him that speaketh in a tongue pray that he may interpret.\r\n For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.\r\n What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.\r\n Else if thou bless with the spirit, how shall he that filleth the place of the unlearned say the Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he knoweth not what thou sayest?\r\n For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.\r\n I thank God, I speak with tongues more than you all:\r\n howbeit in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that I might instruct others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.\r\n Brethren, be not children in mind: yet in malice be ye babes, but in mind be men.\r\n In the law it is written, By men of strange tongues and by the lips of strangers will I speak unto this people; and not even thus will they hear me, saith the Lord.\r\n Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to the unbelieving: but prophesying [is for a sign], not to the unbelieving, but to them that believe.\r\n If therefore the whole church be assembled together and all speak with tongues, and there come in men unlearned or unbelieving, will they not say that ye are mad?\r\n But if all prophesy, and there come in one unbelieving or unlearned, he is reproved by all, he is judged by all;\r\n the secrets of his heart are made manifest; and so he will fall down on his face and worship God, declaring that God is among you indeed.\r\n What is it then, brethren? When ye come together, each one hath a psalm, hath a teaching, hath a revelation, hath a tongue, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.\r\n If any man speaketh in a tongue, [let it be] by two, or at the most three, and [that] in turn; and let one interpret:\r\n but if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.\r\n And let the prophets speak [by] two or three, and let the others discern.\r\n But if a revelation be made to another sitting by, let the first keep silence.\r\n For ye all can prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be exhorted;\r\n and the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets;\r\n for God is not [a God] of confusion, but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints,\r\n let the women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but let them be in subjection, as also saith the law.\r\n And if they would learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home: for it is shameful for a woman to speak in the church.\r\n What? was it from you that the word of God went forth? or came it unto you alone?\r\n If any man thinketh himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him take knowledge of the things which I write unto you, that they are the commandment of the Lord.\r\n But if any man is ignorant, let him be ignorant.\r\n Wherefore, my brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.\r\n But let all things be done decently and in order.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now I make known unto you brethren, the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye received, wherein also ye stand,\r\n by which also ye are saved, if ye hold fast the word which I preached unto you, except ye believed in vain.\r\n For I delivered unto you first of all that which also I received: that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;\r\n and that he was buried; and that he hath been raised on the third day according to the scriptures;\r\n and that he appeared to Cephas; then to the twelve;\r\n then he appeared to above five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain until now, but some are fallen asleep;\r\n then he appeared to James; then to all the apostles;\r\n and last of all, as to the [child] untimely born, he appeared to me also.\r\n For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.\r\n But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not found vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.\r\n Whether then [it be] I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.\r\n Now if Christ is preached that he hath been raised from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?\r\n But if there is no resurrection of the dead, neither hath Christ been raised:\r\n and if Christ hath not been raised, then is our preaching vain, your faith also is vain.\r\n Yea, we are found false witnesses of God; because we witnessed of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead are not raised.\r\n For if the dead are not raised, neither hath Christ been raised:\r\n and if Christ hath not been raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.\r\n Then they also that are fallen asleep in Christ have perished.\r\n If we have only hoped in Christ in this life, we are of all men most pitiable.\r\n But now hath Christ been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of them that are asleep.\r\n For since by man [came] death, by man [came] also the resurrection of the dead.\r\n For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.\r\n But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; then they that are Christ`s, at his coming.\r\n Then [cometh] the end, when he shall deliver up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have abolished all rule and all authority and power.\r\n For he must reign, till he hath put all his enemies under his feet.\r\n The last enemy that shall be abolished is death.\r\n For, He put all things in subjection under his feet. But when he saith, All things are put in subjection, it is evident that he is excepted who did subject all things unto him.\r\n And when all things have been subjected unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subjected to him that did subject all things unto him, that God may be all in all.\r\n Else what shall they do that are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why then are they baptized for them?\r\n Why do we also stand in jeopardy every hour?\r\n I protest by that glorifying in you, brethren, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.\r\n If after the manner of men I fought with beasts at Ephesus, what doth it profit me? If the dead are not raised, let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we die.\r\n Be not deceived: Evil companionships corrupt good morals.\r\n Awake to soberness righteously, and sin not; for some have no knowledge of God: I speak [this] to move you to shame.\r\n But some one will say, How are the dead raised? and with what manner of body do they come?\r\n Thou foolish one, that which thou thyself sowest is not quickened except it die:\r\n and that which thou sowest, thou sowest not the body that shall be, but a bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other kind;\r\n but God giveth it a body even as it pleased him, and to each seed a body of its own.\r\n All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one [flesh] of men, and another flesh of beasts, and another flesh of birds, and another of fishes.\r\n There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the [glory] of the terrestrial is another.\r\n There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differeth from another star in glory.\r\n So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:\r\n it is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:\r\n it is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual [body].\r\n So also it is written, The first man Adam became a living soul. The last Adam [became] a life-giving spirit.\r\n Howbeit that is not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; then that which is spiritual.\r\n The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is of heaven.\r\n As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.\r\n And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.\r\n Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.\r\n Behold, I tell you a mystery: We all shall not sleep, but we shall all be changed,\r\n in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.\r\n For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.\r\n But when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.\r\n O death, where is thy victory? O death, where is thy sting?\r\n The sting of death is sin; and the power of sin is the law:\r\n but thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.\r\n Wherefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not vain in the Lord.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I gave order to the churches of Galatia, so also do ye.\r\n Upon the first day of the week let each one of you lay by him in store, as he may prosper, that no collections be made when I come.\r\n And when I arrive, whomsoever ye shall approve, them will I send with letters to carry your bounty unto Jerusalem:\r\n and if it be meet for me to go also, they shall go with me.\r\n But I will come unto you, when I shall have passed through Macedonia; for I pass through Macedonia;\r\n but with you it may be that I shall abide, or even winter, that ye may set me forward on my journey whithersoever I go.\r\n For I do not wish to see you now by the way; for I hope to tarry a while with you, if the Lord permit.\r\n But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost;\r\n for a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.\r\n Now if Timothy come, see that he be with you without fear; for he worketh the work of the Lord, as I also do:\r\n let no man therefore despise him. But set him forward on his journey in peace, that he may come unto me: for I expect him with the brethren.\r\n But as touching Apollos the brother, I besought him much to come unto you with the brethren: and it was not all [his] will to come now; but he will come when he shall have opportunity.\r\n Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.\r\n Let all that ye do be done in love.\r\n Now I beseech you, brethren (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have set themselves to minister unto the saints),\r\n that ye also be in subjection unto such, and to every one that helpeth in the work and laboreth.\r\n And I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus: for that which was lacking on your part they supplied.\r\n For they refreshed my spirit and yours: acknowledge ye therefore them that are such.\r\n The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Prisca salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.\r\n All the brethren salute you. Salute one another with a holy kiss.\r\n The salutation of me Paul with mine own hand.\r\n If any man loveth not the Lord, let him be anathema. Maranatha.\r\n The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you.\r\n My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints that are in the whole of Achaia:\r\n Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.\r\n Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort;\r\n who comforteth us in all our affliction, that we may be able to comfort them that are in any affliction, through the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.\r\n For as the sufferings of Christ abound unto us, even so our comfort also aboundeth through Christ.\r\n But whether we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or whether we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which worketh in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer:\r\n and our hope for you is stedfast; knowing that, as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so also are ye of the comfort.\r\n For we would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning our affliction which befell [us] in Asia, that we were weighed down exceedingly, beyond our power, insomuch that we despaired even of life:\r\n yea, we ourselves have had the sentence of death within ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raiseth the dead:\r\n who delivered us out of so great a death, and will deliver: on whom we have set our hope that he will also still deliver us;\r\n ye also helping together on our behalf by your supplication; that, for the gift bestowed upon us by means of many, thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf.\r\n For our glorifying is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and sincerity of God, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, we behaved ourselves in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.\r\n For we write no other things unto you, than what ye read or even acknowledge, and I hope ye will acknowledge unto the end:\r\n as also ye did acknowledge us in part, that we are your glorying, even as ye also are ours, in the day of our Lord Jesus.\r\n And in this confidence I was minded to come first unto you, that ye might have a second benefit;\r\n and by you to pass into Macedonia, and again from Macedonia to come unto you, and of you to be set forward on my journey unto Judaea.\r\n When I therefore was thus minded, did I show fickleness? or the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be the yea yea and the nay nay?\r\n But as God is faithful, our word toward you is not yea and nay.\r\n For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, [even] by me and Silvanus and Timothy, was not yea and nay, but in him is yea.\r\n For how many soever be the promises of God, in him is the yea: wherefore also through him is the Amen, unto the glory of God through us.\r\n Now he that establisheth us with you in Christ, and anointed us, is God;\r\n who also sealed us, and gave [us] the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.\r\n But I call God for a witness upon my soul, that to spare you I forbare to come unto Corinth.\r\n Not that we have lordship over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for in faith ye stand fast.\r\n \r\n \r\n But I determined this for myself, that I would not come again to you with sorrow.\r\n For if I make you sorry, who then is he that maketh me glad but he that is made sorry by me?\r\n And I wrote this very thing, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is [the joy] of you all.\r\n For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be made sorry, but that ye might know the love that I have more abundantly unto you.\r\n But if any hath caused sorrow, he hath caused sorrow, not to me, but in part (that I press not too heavily) to you all.\r\n Sufficient to such a one is this punishment which was [inflicted] by the many;\r\n so that contrariwise ye should rather forgive him and comfort him, lest by any means such a one should be swallowed up with his overmuch sorrow.\r\n Wherefore I beseech you to confirm [your] love toward him.\r\n For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye are obedient in all things.\r\n But to whom ye forgive anything, I [forgive] also: for what I also have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, for your sakes [have I forgiven it] in the presence of Christ;\r\n that no advantage may be gained over us by Satan: for we are not ignorant of his devices.\r\n Now when I came to Troas for the gospel of Christ, and when a door was opened unto me in the Lord,\r\n I had no relief for my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother: but taking my leave of them, I went forth into Macedonia.\r\n But thanks be unto God, who always leadeth us in triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest through us the savor of his knowledge in every place.\r\n For we are a sweet savor of Christ unto God, in them that are saved, and in them that perish;\r\n to the one a savor from death unto death; to the other a savor from life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?\r\n For we are not as the many, corrupting the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God, speak we in Christ.\r\n \r\n \r\n Are we beginning again to commend ourselves? or need we, as do some, epistles of commendation to you or from you?\r\n Ye are our epistle, written in our hearts, known and read of all men;\r\n being made manifest that ye are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in tables [that are] hearts of flesh.\r\n And such confidence have we through Christ to God-ward:\r\n not that we are sufficient of ourselves, to account anything as from ourselves; but our sufficiency is from God;\r\n who also made us sufficient as ministers of a new covenant; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.\r\n But if the ministration of death, written, [and] engraven on stones, came with glory, so that the children of Israel could not look stedfastly upon the face of Moses for the glory of his face; which [glory] was passing away:\r\n how shall not rather the ministration of the spirit be with glory?\r\n For if the ministration of condemnation hath glory, much rather doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.\r\n For verily that which hath been made glorious hath not been made glorious in this respect, by reason of the glory that surpasseth.\r\n For if that which passeth away [was] with glory, much more that which remaineth [is] in glory.\r\n Having therefore such a hope, we use great boldness of speech,\r\n and [are] not as Moses, [who] put a veil upon his face, that the children of Israel should not look stedfastly on the end of that which was passing away:\r\n but their minds were hardened: for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remaineth, it not being revealed [to them] that it is done away in Christ.\r\n But unto this day, whensoever Moses is read, a veil lieth upon their heart.\r\n But whensoever it shall turn to the Lord, the veil is taken away.\r\n Now the Lord is the Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, [there] is liberty.\r\n But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit.\r\n \r\n \r\n Therefore seeing we have this ministry, even as we obtained mercy, we faint not:\r\n but we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by the manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man`s conscience in the sight of God.\r\n And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled in them that perish:\r\n in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn [upon them].\r\n For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus` sake.\r\n Seeing it is God, that said, Light shall shine out of darkness, who shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.\r\n But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the exceeding greatness of the power may be of God, and not from ourselves;\r\n [we are] pressed on every side, yet not straitened; perplexed, yet not unto despair;\r\n pursued, yet not forsaken; smitten down, yet not destroyed;\r\n always bearing about in the body the dying of Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our body.\r\n For we who live are always delivered unto death for Jesus` sake, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh.\r\n So then death worketh in us, but life in you.\r\n But having the same spirit of faith, according to that which is written, I believed, and therefore did I speak; we also believe, and therefore also we speak;\r\n knowing that he that raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also with Jesus, and shall present us with you.\r\n For all things [are] for your sakes, that the grace, being multiplied through the many, may cause the thanksgiving to abound unto the glory of God.\r\n Wherefore we faint not; but though our outward man is decaying, yet our inward man is renewed day by day.\r\n For our light affliction, which is for the moment, worketh for us more and more exceedingly an eternal weight of glory;\r\n while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.\r\n \r\n \r\n For we know that if the earthly house of our tabernacle be dissolved, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal, in the heavens.\r\n For verily in this we groan, longing to be clothed upon with our habitation which is from heaven:\r\n if so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.\r\n For indeed we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened; not for that we would be unclothed, but that we would be clothed upon, that what is mortal may be swallowed up of life.\r\n Now he that wrought us for this very thing is God, who gave unto us the earnest of the Spirit.\r\n Being therefore always of good courage, and knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord\r\n (for we walk by faith, not by sight);\r\n we are of good courage, I say, and are willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be at home with the Lord.\r\n Wherefore also we make it our aim, whether at home or absent, to be well-pleasing unto him.\r\n For we must all be made manifest before the judgment-seat of Christ; that each one may receive the things [done] in the body, according to what he hath done, whether [it be] good or bad.\r\n Knowing therefore the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are made manifest unto God; and I hope that we are made manifest also in your consciences.\r\n We are not again commending ourselves unto you, but [speak] as giving you occasion of glorying on our behalf, that ye may have wherewith to answer them that glory in appearance, and not in heart.\r\n For whether we are beside ourselves, it is unto God; or whether we are of sober mind, it is unto you.\r\n For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that one died for all, therefore all died;\r\n and he died for all, that they that live should no longer live unto themselves, but unto him who for their sakes died and rose again.\r\n Wherefore we henceforth know no man after the flesh: even though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now we know [him so] no more.\r\n Wherefore if any man is in Christ, [he is] a new creature: the old things are passed away; behold, they are become new.\r\n But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and gave unto us the ministry of reconciliation;\r\n to wit, that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not reckoning unto them their trespasses, and having committed unto us the word of reconciliation.\r\n We are ambassadors therefore on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating by us: we beseech [you] on behalf of Christ, be ye reconciled to God.\r\n Him who knew no sin he made [to be] sin on our behalf; that we might become the righteousness of God in him.\r\n \r\n \r\n And working together [with him] we entreat also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain\r\n (for he saith, At an acceptable time I hearkened unto thee, And in a day of salvation did I succor thee: behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation):\r\n giving no occasion of stumbling in anything, that our ministration be not blamed;\r\n but in everything commending ourselves, as ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,\r\n in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in watchings, in fastings;\r\n in pureness, in knowledge, in long suffering, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in love unfeigned,\r\n in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,\r\n by glory and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and [yet] true;\r\n as unknown, and [yet] well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;\r\n as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and [yet] possessing all things.\r\n Our mouth is open unto you, O Corinthians, our heart is enlarged.\r\n Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own affections.\r\n Now for a recompense in like kind (I speak as unto [my] children), be ye also enlarged.\r\n Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers: for what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? or what communion hath light with darkness?\r\n And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what portion hath a believer with an unbeliever?\r\n And what agreement hath a temple of God with idols? for we are a temple of the living God; even as God said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.\r\n Wherefore Come ye out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, And touch no unclean thing; And I will receive you,\r\n And will be to you a Father, And ye shall be to me sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.\r\n \r\n \r\n Having therefore these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.\r\n Open your hearts to us: we wronged no man, we corrupted no man, we took advantage of no man.\r\n I say it not to condemn [you]: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die together and live together.\r\n Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying on your behalf: I am filled with comfort, I overflow with joy in all our affliction.\r\n For even when we were come into Macedonia our flesh had no relief, but [we were] afflicted on every side; without [were] fightings, within [were] fears.\r\n Nevertheless he that comforteth the lowly, [even] God, comforted us by the coming of Titus;\r\n and not by his coming only, but also by the comfort wherewith he was comforted in you, while he told us your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me; so that I rejoiced yet more.\r\n For though I made you sorry with my epistle, I do not regret it: though I did regret [it] (for I see that that epistle made you sorry, though but for a season),\r\n I now rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye were made sorry unto repentance; for ye were made sorry after a godly sort, that ye might suffer loss by us in nothing.\r\n For godly sorrow worketh repentance unto salvation, [a repentance] which bringeth no regret: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.\r\n For behold, this selfsame thing, that ye were made sorry after a godly sort, what earnest care it wrought in you, yea what clearing of yourselves, yea what indignation, yea what fear, yea what longing, yea what zeal, yea what avenging! In everything ye approved yourselves to be pure in the matter.\r\n So although I wrote unto you, I [wrote] not for his cause that did the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered the wrong, but that your earnest care for us might be made manifest unto you in the sight of God.\r\n Therefore we have been comforted: And in our comfort we joyed the more exceedingly for the joy of Titus, because his spirit hath been refreshed by you all.\r\n For if in anything I have gloried to him on your behalf, I was not put to shame; but as we spake all things to you in truth, so our glorying also which I made before Titus was found to be truth.\r\n And his affection is more abundantly toward you, while he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him.\r\n I rejoice that in everything I am of good courage concerning you.\r\n \r\n \r\n Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God which hath been given in the churches of Macedonia;\r\n how that in much proof of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.\r\n For according to their power, I bear witness, yea and beyond their power, [they gave] of their own accord,\r\n beseeching us with much entreaty in regard of this grace and the fellowship in the ministering to the saints:\r\n and [this], not as we had hoped, but first they gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us through the will of God.\r\n Insomuch that we exhorted Titus, that as he made a beginning before, so he would also complete in you this grace also.\r\n But as ye abound in everything, [in] faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and [in] all earnestness, and [in] your love to us, [see] that ye abound in this grace also.\r\n I speak not by way of commandment, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity also of your love.\r\n For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might become rich.\r\n And herein I give [my] judgment: for this is expedient for you, who were the first to make a beginning a year ago, not only to do, but also to will.\r\n But now complete the doing also; that as [there was] the readiness to will, so [there may be] the completion also out of your ability.\r\n For if the readiness is there, [it is] acceptable according as [a man] hath, not according as [he] hath not.\r\n For [I say] not [this] that others may be eased [and] ye distressed;\r\n but by equality: your abundance [being a supply] at this present time for their want, that their abundance also may become [a supply] for your want; that there may be equality:\r\n as it is written, He that [gathered] much had nothing over; and he that [gathered] little had no lack.\r\n But thanks be to God, who putteth the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus.\r\n For he accepted indeed our exhortation; but being himself very earnest, he went forth unto you of his own accord.\r\n And we have sent together with him the brother whose praise in the gospel [is spread] through all the churches;\r\n and not only so, but who was also appointed by the churches to travel with us in [the matter of] this grace, which is ministered by us to the glory of the Lord, and [to show] our readiness:\r\n Avoiding this, that any man should blame us in [the matter of] this bounty which is ministered by us:\r\n for we take thought for things honorable, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.\r\n and we have sent with them our brother, whom we have many times proved earnest in many things, but now much more earnest, by reason of the great confidence which [he hath] in you.\r\n Whether [any inquire] about Titus, [he is] my partner and [my] fellow-worker to you-ward, or our brethren, [they are] the messengers of the churches, [they are] the glory of Christ.\r\n Show ye therefore unto them in the face of the churches the proof of your love, and of our glorying on your behalf.\r\n \r\n \r\n For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you:\r\n for I know your readiness, of which I glory on your behalf to them of Macedonia, that Achaia hath been prepared for a year past; and your zeal hath stirred up very many of them.\r\n But I have sent the brethren, that our glorying on your behalf may not be made void in this respect; that, even as I said, ye may be prepared:\r\n lest by any means, if there come with me any of Macedonia and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be put to shame in this confidence.\r\n I thought it necessary therefore to entreat the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your aforepromised bounty, that the same might be ready as a matter of bounty, and not of extortion.\r\n But this [I say,] He that soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he that soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.\r\n [Let] each man [do] according as he hath purposed in his heart: not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.\r\n And God is able to make all grace abound unto you; that ye, having always all sufficiency in everything, may abound unto every good work:\r\n as it is written, He hath scattered abroad, he hath given to the poor; His righteousness abideth for ever.\r\n And he that supplieth seed to the sower and bread for food, shall supply and multiply your seed for sowing, and increase the fruits of your righteousness:\r\n ye being enriched in everything unto all liberality, which worketh through us thanksgiving to God.\r\n For the ministration of this service not only filleth up the measure of the wants of the saints, but aboundeth also through many thanksgivings unto God;\r\n seeing that through the proving [of you] by this ministration they glorify God for the obedience of your confession unto the gospel of Christ, and for the liberality of [your] contribution unto them and unto all;\r\n while they themselves also, with supplication on your behalf, long after you by reason of the exceeding grace of God in you.\r\n Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now I Paul myself entreat you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I who in your presence am lowly among you, but being absent am of good courage toward you:\r\n yea, I beseech you, that I may not when present show courage with the confidence wherewith I count to be bold against some, who count of us as if we walked according to the flesh.\r\n For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh\r\n (for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the casting down of strongholds),\r\n casting down imaginations, and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ;\r\n and being in readiness to avenge all disobedience, when your obedience shall be made full.\r\n Ye look at the things that are before your face. If any man trusteth in himself that he is Christ`s, let him consider this again with himself, that, even as he is Christ`s, so also are we.\r\n For though I should glory somewhat abundantly concerning our authority (which the Lord gave for building you up, and not for casting you down), I shall not be put to shame:\r\n that I may not seem as if I would terrify you by my letters.\r\n For, His letters, they say, are weighty and strong; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account.\r\n Let such a one reckon this, that, what we are in word by letters when we are absent, such [are we] also in deed when we are present.\r\n For we are not bold to number or compare ourselves with certain of them that commend themselves: but they themselves, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves with themselves, are without understanding.\r\n But we will not glory beyond [our] measure, but according to the measure of the province which God apportioned to us as a measure, to reach even unto you.\r\n For we stretch not ourselves overmuch, as though we reached not unto you: for we came even as far as unto you in the gospel of Christ:\r\n not glorying beyond [our] measure, [that is,] in other men`s labors; but having hope that, as your faith groweth, we shall be magnified in you according to our province unto [further] abundance,\r\n so as to preach the gospel even unto the parts beyond you, [and] not to glory in another`s province in regard of things ready to our hand.\r\n But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.\r\n For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.\r\n \r\n \r\n Would that ye could bear with me in a little foolishness: but indeed ye do bear with me.\r\n For I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy: for I espoused you to one husband, that I might present you [as] a pure virgin to Christ.\r\n But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve in his craftiness, your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity and the purity that is toward Christ.\r\n For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we did not preach, or [if] ye receive a different spirit, which ye did not receive, or a different gospel, which ye did not accept, ye do well to bear with [him].\r\n For I reckon that I am not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles.\r\n But though [I be] rude in speech, yet [am I] not in knowledge; nay, in every way have we made [this] manifest unto you in all things.\r\n Or did I commit a sin in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I preached to you the gospel of God for nought?\r\n I robbed other churches, taking wages [of them] that I might minister unto you;\r\n and when I was present with you and was in want, I was not a burden on any man; for the brethren, when they came from Macedonia, supplied the measure of my want; and in everything I kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and [so] will I keep [myself].\r\n As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this glorying in the regions of Achaia.\r\n Wherefore? because I love you not? God knoweth.\r\n But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them that desire an occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we.\r\n For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, fashioning themselves into apostles of Christ.\r\n And no marvel; for even Satan fashioneth himself into an angel of light.\r\n It is no great thing therefore if his ministers also fashion themselves as ministers of righteousness, whose end shall be according to their works.\r\n I say again, let no man think me foolish; but if [ye do], yet as foolish receive me, that I also may glory a little.\r\n That which I speak, I speak not after the Lord, but as in foolishness, in this confidence of glorying.\r\n Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also.\r\n For ye bear with the foolish gladly, being wise [yourselves].\r\n For ye bear with a man, if he bringeth you into bondage, if he devoureth you, if he taketh you [captive], if he exalteth himself, if he smiteth you on the face.\r\n I speak by way of disparagement, as though we had been weak. Yet whereinsoever any is bold (I speak in foolishness), I am bold also.\r\n Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.\r\n Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as one beside himself) I more; in labors more abundantly, in prisons more abundantly, in stripes above measure, in deaths oft.\r\n Of the Jews five times received I forty [stripes] save one.\r\n Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day have I been in the deep;\r\n [in] journeyings often, [in] perils of rivers, [in] perils of robbers, [in] perils from [my] countrymen, [in] perils from the Gentiles, [in] perils in the city, [in] perils in the wilderness, [in] perils in the sea, [in] perils among false brethren;\r\n [in] labor and travail, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.\r\n Besides those things that are without, there is that which presseth upon me daily, anxiety for all the churches.\r\n Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is caused to stumble, and I burn not?\r\n If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things that concern my weakness.\r\n The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, he who is blessed for evermore knoweth that I lie not.\r\n In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king guarded the city of the Damascenes in order to take me:\r\n and through a window was I let down in a basket by the wall, and escaped his hands.\r\n \r\n \r\n I must needs glory, though it is not expedient; but I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.\r\n I know a man in Christ, fourteen years ago (whether in the body, I know not; or whether out of the body, I know not; God knoweth), such a one caught up even to the third heaven.\r\n And I know such a man (whether in the body, or apart from the body, I know not; God knoweth),\r\n how that he was caught up into Paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.\r\n On behalf of such a one will I glory: but on mine own behalf I will not glory, save in [my] weaknesses.\r\n For if I should desire to glory, I shall not be foolish; for I shall speak the truth: but I forbear, lest any man should account of me above that which he seeth me [to be], or heareth from me.\r\n And by reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations, that I should not be exalted overmuch, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, that I should not be exalted overmuch.\r\n Concerning this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.\r\n And he hath said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for [my] power is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.\r\n Wherefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ`s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.\r\n I am become foolish: ye compelled me; for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing was I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I am nothing.\r\n Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, by signs and wonders and mighty works.\r\n For what is there wherein ye were made inferior to the rest of the churches, except [it be] that I myself was not a burden to you? forgive me this wrong.\r\n Behold, this is the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be a burden to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.\r\n And I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more abundantly, am I loved the less?\r\n But be it so, I did not myself burden you; but, being crafty, I caught you with guile.\r\n Did I take advantage of you by any one of them whom I have sent unto you?\r\n I exhorted Titus, and I sent the brother with him. Did Titus take any advantage of you? walked we not in the same spirit? [walked we] not in the same steps?\r\n Ye think all this time that we are excusing ourselves unto you. In the sight of God speak we in Christ. But all things, beloved, [are] for your edifying.\r\n For I fear, lest by any means, when I come, I should find you not such as I would, and should myself be found of you such as ye would not; lest by any means [there should be] strife, jealousy, wraths, factions, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults;\r\n lest again when I come my God should humble me before you, and I should mourn for many of them that have sinned heretofore, and repented not of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they committed.\r\n \r\n \r\n This is the third time I am coming to you. At the mouth of two witnesses or three shall every word established.\r\n I have said beforehand, and I do say beforehand, as when I was present the second time, so now, being absent, to them that have sinned heretofore, and to all the rest, that, if I come again, I will not spare;\r\n seeing that ye seek a proof of Christ that speaketh in me; who to you-ward is not weak, but is powerful in you:\r\n for he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth through the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him through the power of God toward you.\r\n Try your own selves, whether ye are in the faith; prove your own selves. Or know ye not as to your own selves, that Jesus Christ is in you? unless indeed ye be reprobate.\r\n But I hope that ye shall know that we are not reprobate.\r\n Now we pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we may appear approved, but that ye may do that which is honorable, though we be as reprobate.\r\n For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.\r\n For we rejoice, when we are weak, and ye are strong: this we also pray for, even your perfecting.\r\n For this cause I write these things while absent, that I may not when present deal sharply, according to the authority which the Lord gave me for building up, and not for casting down.\r\n Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfected; be comforted; be of the same mind; live in peace: and the God of love and peace shall be with you.\r\n Salute one another with a holy kiss.\r\n All the saints salute you.\r\n The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n Paul, an apostle (not from men, neither through man, but through Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead),\r\n and all the brethren that are with me, unto the churches of Galatia:\r\n Grace to you and peace from God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ,\r\n who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us out of this present evil world, according to the will of our God and Father:\r\n to whom [be] the glory for ever and ever. Amen.\r\n I marvel that ye are so quickly removing from him that called you in the grace of Christ unto a different gospel;\r\n which is not another [gospel] only there are some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.\r\n But though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach unto you any gospel other than that which we preached unto you, let him be anathema.\r\n As we have said before, so say I now again, if any man preacheth unto you any gospel other than that which ye received, let him be anathema.\r\n For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? or am I striving to please men? if I were still pleasing men, I should not be a servant of Christ.\r\n For I make known to you, brethren, as touching the gospel which was preached by me, that it is not after man.\r\n For neither did I receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but [it came to me] through revelation of Jesus Christ.\r\n For ye have heard of my manner of life in time past in the Jews` religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and made havoc of it:\r\n and I advanced in the Jews` religion beyond many of mine own age among my countrymen, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.\r\n But when it was the good pleasure of God, who separated me, [even] from my mother`s womb, and called me through his grace,\r\n to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the Gentiles; straightway I conferred not with flesh and blood:\r\n neither went I up to Jerusalem to them that were apostles before me: but I went away into Arabia; and again I returned unto Damascus.\r\n Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas, and tarried with him fifteen days.\r\n But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord`s brother.\r\n Now touching the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not.\r\n Then I came unto the regions of Syria and Cilicia.\r\n And I was still unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ:\r\n but they only heard say, He that once persecuted us now preacheth the faith of which he once made havoc;\r\n and they glorified God in me.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then after the space of fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus also with me.\r\n And I went up by revelation; and I laid before them the gospel which I preach among the Gentiles but privately before them who were of repute, lest by any means I should be running, or had run, in vain.\r\n But not even Titus who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised:\r\n and that because of the false brethren privily brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:\r\n to whom we gave place in the way of subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.\r\n But from those who were reputed to be somewhat (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth not man`s person)-- they, I say, who were of repute imparted nothing to me:\r\n but contrariwise, when they saw that I had been intrusted with the gospel of the uncircumcision, even as Peter with [the gospel] of the circumcision\r\n (for he that wrought for Peter unto the apostleship of the circumcision wrought for me also unto the Gentiles);\r\n and when they perceived the grace that was given unto me, James and Cephas and John, they who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship, that we should go unto the Gentiles, and they unto the circumcision;\r\n only [they would] that we should remember the poor; which very thing I was also zealous to do.\r\n But when Cephas came to Antioch, I resisted him to the face, because he stood condemned.\r\n For before that certain came from James, he ate with the Gentiles; but when they came, he drew back and separated himself, fearing them that were of the circumcision.\r\n And the rest of the Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that even Barnabas was carried away with their dissimulation.\r\n But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Cephas before [them] all, If thou, being a Jew, livest as do the Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, how compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?\r\n We being Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles,\r\n yet knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we believed on Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the law: because by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.\r\n But if, while we sought to be justified in Christ, we ourselves also were found sinners, is Christ a minister of sin? God forbid.\r\n For if I build up again those things which I destroyed, I prove myself a transgressor.\r\n For I through the law died unto the law, that I might live unto God.\r\n I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that live, but Christ living in me: and that [life] which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, [the faith] which is in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me.\r\n I do not make void the grace of God: for if righteousness is through the law, then Christ died for nought.\r\n \r\n \r\n O foolish Galatians, who did bewitch you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was openly set forth crucified?\r\n This only would I learn from you. Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?\r\n Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now perfected in the flesh?\r\n Did ye suffer so many things in vain? if it be indeed in vain.\r\n He therefore that supplieth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, [doeth he it] by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?\r\n Even as Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned unto him for righteousness.\r\n Know therefore that they that are of faith, the same are sons of Abraham.\r\n And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand unto Abraham, [saying,] In thee shall all the nations be blessed.\r\n So then they that are of faith are blessed with the faithful Abraham.\r\n For as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one who continueth not in all things that are written in the book of the law, to do them.\r\n Now that no man is justified by the law before God, is evident: for, The righteous shall live by faith;\r\n and the law is not of faith; but, He that doeth them shall live in them.\r\n Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us; for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:\r\n that upon the Gentiles might come the blessing of Abraham in Christ Jesus; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.\r\n Brethren, I speak after the manner of men: Though it be but a man`s covenant, yet when it hath been confirmed, no one maketh it void, or addeth thereto.\r\n Now to Abraham were the promises spoken, and to his seed. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.\r\n Now this I say: A covenant confirmed beforehand by God, the law, which came four hundred and thirty years after, doth not disannul, so as to make the promise of none effect.\r\n For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no more of promise: but God hath granted it to Abraham by promise.\r\n What then is the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise hath been made; [and it was] ordained through angels by the hand of a mediator.\r\n Now a mediator is not [a mediator] of one; but God is one.\r\n Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could make alive, verily righteousness would have been of the law.\r\n But the scriptures shut up all things under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.\r\n But before faith came, we were kept in ward under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.\r\n So that the law is become our tutor [to bring us] unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.\r\n But now faith that is come, we are no longer under a tutor.\r\n For ye are all sons of God, through faith, in Christ Jesus.\r\n For as many of you as were baptized into Christ did put on Christ.\r\n There can be neither Jew nor Greek, there can be neither bond nor free, there can be no male and female; for ye all are one [man] in Christ Jesus.\r\n And if ye are Christ`s, then are ye Abraham`s seed, heirs according to promise.\r\n \r\n \r\n But I say that so long as the heir is a child, he differeth nothing from a bondservant though he is lord of all;\r\n but is under guardians and stewards until the day appointed of the father.\r\n So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the rudiments of the world:\r\n but when the fulness of the time came, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,\r\n that he might redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.\r\n And because ye are sons, God sent forth the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father.\r\n So that thou art no longer a bondservant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.\r\n Howbeit at that time, not knowing God, ye were in bondage to them that by nature are no gods:\r\n but now that ye have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how turn ye back again to the weak and beggarly rudiments, whereunto ye desire to be in bondage over again?\r\n Ye observe days, and months, and seasons, and years.\r\n I am afraid of you, lest by any means I have bestowed labor upon you in vain.\r\n I beseech you, brethren, become as I [am], for I also [am become] as ye [are]. Ye did me no wrong:\r\n but ye know that because of an infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you the first time:\r\n and that which was a temptation to you in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but ye received me as an angel of God, [even] as Christ Jesus.\r\n Where then is that gratulation of yourselves? for I bear you witness, that, if possible, ye would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me.\r\n So then am I become your enemy, by telling you the truth?\r\n They zealously seek you in no good way; nay, they desire to shut you out, that ye may seek them.\r\n But it is good to be zealously sought in a good matter at all times, and not only when I am present with you.\r\n My little children, of whom I am again in travail until Christ be formed in you--\r\n but I could wish to be present with you now, and to change my tone; for I am perplexed about you.\r\n Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?\r\n For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, one by the handmaid, and one by the freewoman.\r\n Howbeit the [son] by the handmaid is born after the flesh; but the [son] by the freewoman [is born] through promise.\r\n Which things contain an allegory: for these [women] are two covenants; one from mount Sinai, bearing children unto bondage, which is Hagar.\r\n Now this Hagar is mount Sinai in Arabia and answereth to the Jerusalem that now is: for she is in bondage with her children.\r\n But the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is our mother.\r\n For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; Break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: For more are the children of the desolate than of her that hath the husband.\r\n Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise.\r\n But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him [that was born] after the Spirit, so also it is now.\r\n Howbeit what saith the scripture? Cast out the handmaid and her son: for the son of the handmaid shall not inherit with the son of the freewoman.\r\n Wherefore, brethren, we are not children of a handmaid, but of the freewoman.\r\n \r\n \r\n For freedom did Christ set us free: stand fast therefore, and be not entangled again in a yoke of bondage.\r\n Behold, I Paul say unto you, that, if ye receive circumcision, Christ will profit you nothing.\r\n Yea, I testify again to every man that receiveth circumcision, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.\r\n Ye are severed from Christ, ye would be justified by the law; ye are fallen away from grace.\r\n For we through the Spirit by faith wait for the hope of righteousness.\r\n For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith working through love.\r\n Ye were running well; who hindered you that ye should not obey the truth?\r\n This persuasion [came] not of him that calleth you.\r\n A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.\r\n I have confidence to you-ward in the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be.\r\n But I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? then hath the stumbling-block of the cross been done away.\r\n I would that they that unsettle you would even go beyond circumcision.\r\n For ye, brethren, were called for freedom; only [use] not your freedom for an occasion to the flesh, but through love be servants one to another.\r\n For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, [even] in this: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.\r\n But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.\r\n But I say, walk by the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.\r\n For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are contrary the one to the other; that ye may not do the things that ye would.\r\n But if ye are led by the Spirit, ye are not under the law.\r\n Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are [these]: fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,\r\n idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousies, wraths, factions, divisions, parties,\r\n envyings, drunkenness, revellings, and such like; of which I forewarn you, even as I did forewarn you, that they who practise such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.\r\n But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,\r\n meekness, self-control; against such there is no law.\r\n And they that are of Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with the passions and the lusts thereof.\r\n If we live by the Spirit, by the Spirit let us also walk.\r\n Let us not become vainglorious, provoking one another, envying one another.\r\n \r\n \r\n Brethren, even if a man be overtaken in any trespass, ye who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; looking to thyself, lest thou also be tempted.\r\n Bear ye one another`s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.\r\n For if a man thinketh himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.\r\n But let each man prove his own work, and then shall he have his glorying in regard of himself alone, and not of his neighbor.\r\n For each man shall bear his own burden.\r\n But let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.\r\n Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.\r\n For he that soweth unto his own flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth unto the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap eternal life.\r\n And let us not be weary in well-doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.\r\n So then, as we have opportunity, let us work that which is good toward all men, and especially toward them that are of the household of the faith.\r\n See with how large letters I write unto you with mine own hand.\r\n As many as desire to make a fair show in the flesh, they compel you to be circumcised; only that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.\r\n For not even they who receive circumcision do themselves keep the law; but they desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.\r\n But far be it from me to glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world hath been crucified unto me, and I unto the world.\r\n For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.\r\n And as many as shall walk by this rule, peace [be] upon them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.\r\n Henceforth, let no man trouble me; for I bear branded on my body the marks of Jesus.\r\n The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, to the saints that are at Ephesus, and the faithful in Christ Jesus:\r\n Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.\r\n Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly [places] in Christ:\r\n even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blemish before him in love:\r\n having foreordained us unto adoption as sons through Jesus Christ unto himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,\r\n to the praise of the glory of his grace, which he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved:\r\n in whom we have our redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,\r\n which he made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence,\r\n making known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he purposed in him\r\n unto a dispensation of the fulness of the times, to sum up all things in Christ, the things in the heavens, and the things upon the earth; in him, [I say,]\r\n in whom also we were made a heritage, having been foreordained according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his will;\r\n to the end that we should be unto the praise of his glory, we who had before hoped in Christ:\r\n in whom ye also, having heard the word of the truth, the gospel of your salvation,-- in whom, having also believed, ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,\r\n which is an earnest of our inheritance, unto the redemption of [God`s] own possession, unto the praise of his glory.\r\n For this cause I also, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which is among you, and the love which [ye show] toward all the saints,\r\n cease not to give thanks for you, making mention [of you] in my prayers;\r\n that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him;\r\n having the eyes of your heart enlightened, that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,\r\n and what the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to that working of the strength of his might\r\n which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and made him to sit at his right hand in the heavenly [places],\r\n far above all rule, and authority, and power, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:\r\n and he put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things to the church,\r\n which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.\r\n \r\n \r\n And you [did he make alive,] when ye were dead through your trespasses and sins,\r\n wherein ye once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the powers of the air, of the spirit that now worketh in the sons of disobedience;\r\n among whom we also all once lived in the lust of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest:--\r\n but God, being rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,\r\n even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace have ye been saved),\r\n and raised us up with him, and made us to sit with him in the heavenly [places], in Christ Jesus:\r\n that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus:\r\n for by grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, [it is] the gift of God;\r\n not of works, that no man should glory.\r\n For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God afore prepared that we should walk in them.\r\n Wherefore remember, that once ye, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called Circumcision, in the flesh, made by hands;\r\n that ye were at that time separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of the promise, having no hope and without God in the world.\r\n But now in Christ Jesus ye that once were far off are made nigh in the blood of Christ.\r\n For he is our peace, who made both one, and brake down the middle wall of partition,\r\n having abolished in the flesh the enmity, [even] the law of commandments [contained] in ordinances; that he might create in himself of the two one new man, [so] making peace;\r\n and might reconcile them both in one body unto God through the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:\r\n and he came and preached peace to you that were far off, and peace to them that were nigh:\r\n for through him we both have our access in one Spirit unto the Father.\r\n So then ye are no more strangers and sojourners, but ye are fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God,\r\n being built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief corner stone;\r\n in whom each several building, fitly framed together, groweth into a holy temple in the Lord;\r\n in whom ye also are builded together for a habitation of God in the Spirit.\r\n \r\n \r\n For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus in behalf of you Gentiles,--\r\n if so be that ye have heard of the dispensation of that grace of God which was given me to you-ward;\r\n how that by revelation was made known unto me the mystery, as I wrote before in few words,\r\n whereby, when ye read, ye can perceive my understanding in the mystery of Christ;\r\n which in other generation was not made known unto the sons of men, as it hath now been revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit;\r\n [to wit], that the Gentiles are fellow-heirs, and fellow-members of the body, and fellow-partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel,\r\n whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of that grace of God which was given me according to the working of his power.\r\n Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, was this grace given, to preach unto the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;\r\n and to make all men see what is the dispensation of the mystery which for ages hath been hid in God who created all things;\r\n to the intent that now unto the principalities and the powers in the heavenly [places] might be made known through the church the manifold wisdom of God,\r\n according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:\r\n in whom we have boldness and access in confidence through our faith in him.\r\n Wherefore I ask that ye may not faint at my tribulations for you, which are your glory.\r\n For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father,\r\n from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,\r\n that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, that ye may be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inward man;\r\n that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; to the end that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,\r\n may be strong to apprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,\r\n and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge, that ye may be filled unto all the fulness of God.\r\n Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,\r\n unto him [be] the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus unto all generations for ever and ever. Amen.\r\n \r\n \r\n I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beseech you to walk worthily of the calling wherewith ye were called,\r\n with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;\r\n giving diligence to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.\r\n [There is] one body, and one Spirit, even as also ye were called in one hope of your calling;\r\n one Lord, one faith, one baptism,\r\n one God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in all.\r\n But unto each one of us was the grace given according to the measure of the gift of Christ.\r\n Wherefore he saith, When he ascended on high, he led captivity captive, And gave gifts unto men.\r\n (Now this, He ascended, what is it but that he also descended into the lower parts of the earth?\r\n He that descended is the same also that ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)\r\n And he gave some [to be] apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;\r\n for the perfecting of the saints, unto the work of ministering, unto the building up of the body of Christ:\r\n till we all attain unto the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a fullgrown man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:\r\n that we may be no longer children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error;\r\n but speaking truth in love, we may grow up in all things into him, who is the head, [even] Christ;\r\n from whom all the body fitly framed and knit together through that which every joint supplieth, according to the working in [due] measure of each several part, maketh the increase of the body unto the building up of itself in love.\r\n This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye no longer walk as the Gentiles also walk, in the vanity of their mind,\r\n being darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardening of their heart;\r\n who being past feeling gave themselves up to lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.\r\n But ye did not so learn Christ;\r\n if so be that ye heard him, and were taught in him, even as truth is in Jesus:\r\n that ye put away, as concerning your former manner of life, the old man, that waxeth corrupt after the lusts of deceit;\r\n and that ye be renewed in the spirit of your mind,\r\n and put on the new man, that after God hath been created in righteousness and holiness of truth.\r\n Wherefore, putting away falsehood, speak ye truth each one with his neighbor: for we are members one of another.\r\n Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:\r\n neither give place to the devil.\r\n Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing that is good, that he may have whereof to give to him that hath need.\r\n Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but such as is good for edifying as the need may be, that it may give grace to them that hear.\r\n And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, in whom ye were sealed unto the day of redemption.\r\n Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and railing, be put away from you, with all malice:\r\n and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, even as God also in Christ forgave you.\r\n \r\n \r\n Be ye therefore imitators of God, as beloved children;\r\n and walk in love, even as Christ also loved you, and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for an odor of a sweet smell.\r\n But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as becometh saints;\r\n nor filthiness, nor foolish talking, or jesting, which are not befitting: but rather giving of thanks.\r\n For this ye know of a surety, that no fornicator, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.\r\n Let no man deceive you with empty words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the sons of disobedience.\r\n Be not ye therefore partakers with them;\r\n For ye were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord: walk as children of light\r\n (for the fruit of the light is in all goodness and righteousness and truth),\r\n proving what is well-pleasing unto the Lord;\r\n and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather even reprove them;\r\n for the things which are done by them in secret it is a shame even to speak of.\r\n But all things when they are reproved are made manifest by the light: for everything that is made manifest is light.\r\n Wherefore [he] saith, Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall shine upon thee.\r\n Look therefore carefully how ye walk, not as unwise, but as wise;\r\n redeeming the time, because the days are evil.\r\n Wherefore be ye not foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.\r\n And be not drunken with wine, wherein is riot, but be filled with the Spirit;\r\n speaking one to another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;\r\n giving thanks always for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;\r\n subjecting yourselves one to another in the fear of Christ.\r\n Wives, [be in subjection] unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.\r\n For the husband is the head of the wife, and Christ also is the head of the church, [being] himself the saviour of the body.\r\n But as the church is subject to Christ, so [let] the wives also [be] to their husbands in everything.\r\n Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself up for it;\r\n that he might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word,\r\n that he might present the church to himself a glorious [church], not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.\r\n Even so ought husbands also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his own wife loveth himself:\r\n for no man ever hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as Christ also the church;\r\n because we are members of his body.\r\n For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh.\r\n This mystery is great: but I speak in regard of Christ and of the church.\r\n Nevertheless do ye also severally love each one his own wife even as himself; and [let] the wife [see] that she fear her husband.\r\n \r\n \r\n Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.\r\n Honor thy father and mother (which is the first commandment with promise),\r\n that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.\r\n And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but nurture them in the chastening and admonition of the Lord.\r\n Servants, be obedient unto them that according to the flesh are your masters, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;\r\n not in the way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers; but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;\r\n with good will doing service, as unto the Lord, and not unto men:\r\n knowing that whatsoever good thing each one doeth, the same shall he receive again from the Lord, whether [he be] bond or free.\r\n And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, and forbear threatening: knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no respect of persons with him.\r\n Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might.\r\n Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.\r\n For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual [hosts] of wickedness in the heavenly [places].\r\n Wherefore take up the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand.\r\n Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,\r\n and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;\r\n withal taking up the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil [one].\r\n And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:\r\n with all prayer and supplication praying at all seasons in the Spirit, and watching thereunto in all perseverance and supplication for all the saints,\r\n And on my behalf, that utterance may be given unto me in opening my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel,\r\n for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.\r\n But that ye also may know my affairs, how I do, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things:\r\n whom I have sent unto you for this very purpose, that ye may know our state, and that he may comfort your hearts.\r\n Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.\r\n Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ with [a love] incorruptible.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus that are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:\r\n Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.\r\n I thank my God upon all my remembrance of you,\r\n always in every supplication of mine on behalf of you all making my supplication with joy,\r\n for your fellowship in furtherance of the gospel from the first day until now;\r\n being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ:\r\n even as it is right for me to be thus minded on behalf of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as, both in my bonds and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers with me of grace.\r\n For God is my witness, how I long after you all in the tender mercies of Christ Jesus.\r\n And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all discernment;\r\n so that ye may approve the things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and void of offence unto the day of Christ;\r\n being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are through Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.\r\n Now I would have you know, brethren, that the things [which happened] unto me have fallen out rather unto the progress of the gospel;\r\n so that my bonds became manifest in Christ throughout the whole praetorian guard, and to all the rest;\r\n and that most of the brethren in the Lord, being confident through my bonds, are more abundantly bold to speak the word of God without fear.\r\n Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:\r\n the one [do it] of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel;\r\n but the other proclaim Christ of faction, not sincerely, thinking to raise up affliction for me in my bonds.\r\n What then? only that in every way, whether in pretence or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and therein I rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.\r\n For I know that this shall turn out to my salvation, through your supplication and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,\r\n according to my earnest expectation and hope, that in nothing shall I be put to shame, but [that] with all boldness, as always, [so] now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether by life, or by death.\r\n For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.\r\n But if to live in the flesh, --[if] this shall bring fruit from my work, then what I shall choose I know not.\r\n But I am in a strait betwixt the two, having the desire to depart and be with Christ; for it is very far better:\r\n yet to abide in the flesh is more needful for your sake.\r\n And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide, yea, and abide with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith;\r\n that your glorying may abound in Christ Jesus in me through my presence with you again.\r\n Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ: that, whether I come and see you and be absent, I may hear of your state, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one soul striving for the faith of the gospel;\r\n and in nothing affrighted by the adversaries: which is for them an evident token of perdition, but of your salvation, and that from God;\r\n because to you it hath been granted in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer in his behalf:\r\n having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.\r\n \r\n \r\n If there is therefore any exhortation in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any tender mercies and compassions,\r\n make full my joy, that ye be of the same mind, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind;\r\n [doing] nothing through faction or through vainglory, but in lowliness of mind each counting other better than himself;\r\n not looking each of you to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others.\r\n Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:\r\n who, existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped,\r\n but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men;\r\n and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient [even] unto death, yea, the death of the cross.\r\n Wherefore also God highly exalted him, and gave unto him the name which is above every name;\r\n that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of [things] in heaven and [things] on earth and [things] under the earth,\r\n and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.\r\n So then, my beloved, even as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;\r\n for it is God who worketh in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure.\r\n Do all things without murmurings and questionings:\r\n that ye may become blameless and harmless, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom ye are seen as lights in the world,\r\n holding forth the word of life; that I may have whereof to glory in the day of Christ, that I did not run in vain neither labor in vain.\r\n Yea, and if I am offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all:\r\n and in the same manner do ye also joy, and rejoice with me.\r\n But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state.\r\n For I have no man likeminded, who will care truly for your state.\r\n For they all seek their own, not the things of Jesus Christ.\r\n But ye know the proof of him, that, as a child [serveth] a father, [so] he served with me in furtherance of the gospel.\r\n Him therefore I hope to send forthwith, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me:\r\n but I trust in the Lord that I myself also shall come shortly.\r\n But I counted it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow-worker and fellow-soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need;\r\n since he longed after you all, and was sore troubled, because ye had heard that he was sick:\r\n for indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, that I might not have sorrow upon sorrow.\r\n I have sent him therefore the more diligently, that, when ye see him again, ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful.\r\n Receive him therefore in the Lord with all joy; and hold such in honor:\r\n because for the work of Christ he came nigh unto death, hazarding his life to supply that which was lacking in your service toward me.\r\n \r\n \r\n Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not irksome, but for you it is safe.\r\n Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the concision:\r\n for we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God, and glory in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh:\r\n though I myself might have confidence even in the flesh: if any other man thinketh to have confidence in the flesh, I yet more:\r\n circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;\r\n as touching zeal, persecuting the church; as touching the righteousness which is in the law, found blameless.\r\n Howbeit what things were gain to me, these have I counted loss for Christ.\r\n Yea verily, and I count all things to be loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but refuse, that I may gain Christ,\r\n and be found in him, not having a righteousness of mine own, [even] that which is of the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith:\r\n that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, becoming conformed unto his death;\r\n if by any means I may attain unto the resurrection from the dead.\r\n Not that I have already obtained, or am already made perfect: but I press on, if so be that I may lay hold on that for which also I was laid hold on by Christ Jesus.\r\n Brethren, I could not myself yet to have laid hold: but one thing [I do], forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things which are before,\r\n I press on toward the goal unto the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.\r\n Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, be thus minded: and if in anything ye are otherwise minded, this also shall God reveal unto you:\r\n only, whereunto we have attained, by that same [rule] let us walk.\r\n Brethren, be ye imitators together of me, and mark them that so walk even as ye have us for an ensample.\r\n For many walk, of whom I told you often, and now tell you even weeping, [that they are] the enemies of the cross of Christ:\r\n whose end is perdition, whose god is the belly, and [whose] glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.\r\n For our citizenship is in heaven; whence also we wait for a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:\r\n who shall fashion anew the body of our humiliation, [that it may be] conformed to the body of his glory, according to the working whereby he is able even to subject all things unto himself.\r\n \r\n \r\n Wherefore, my brethren beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my beloved.\r\n I exhort Euodia, and I exhort Syntyche, to be of the same mind in the Lord.\r\n Yea, I beseech thee also, true yokefellow, help these women, for they labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow-workers, whose names are in the book of life.\r\n Rejoice in the Lord always: again I will say, Rejoice.\r\n Let your forbearance be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.\r\n In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.\r\n And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.\r\n Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honorable, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.\r\n The things which ye both learned and received and heard and saw in me, these things do: and the God of peace shall be with you.\r\n But I rejoice in the Lord greatly, that now at length ye have revived your thought for me; wherein ye did indeed take thought, but ye lacked opportunity.\r\n Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therein to be content.\r\n I know how to be abased, and I know also how to abound: in everything and in all things have I learned the secret both to be filled and to be hungry, both to abound and to be in want.\r\n I can do all things in him that strengtheneth me.\r\n Howbeit ye did well that ye had fellowship with my affliction.\r\n And ye yourselves also know, ye Philippians, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church had fellowship with me in the matter of giving and receiving but ye only;\r\n for even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my need.\r\n Not that I seek for the gift; but I seek for the fruit that increaseth to your account.\r\n But I have all things, and abound: I am filled, having received from Epaphroditus the things [that came] from you, and odor of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well-pleasing to God.\r\n And my God shall supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.\r\n Now unto our God and Father [be] the glory for ever and ever. Amen.\r\n Salute every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren that are with me salute you.\r\n All the saints salute you, especially they that are of Caesar`s household.\r\n The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, and Timothy our brother,\r\n To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ [that are] at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.\r\n We give thanks to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,\r\n having heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have toward all the saints,\r\n because of the hope which is laid up for you in the heavens, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel,\r\n which is come unto you; even as it is also in all the world bearing fruit and increasing, as [it doth] in you also, since the day ye heard and knew the grace of God in truth;\r\n even as ye learned of Epaphras our beloved fellow-servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf,\r\n who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.\r\n For this cause we also, since the day we heard [it], do not cease to pray and make request for you, that ye may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,\r\n to walk worthily of the Lord unto all pleasing, bearing fruit in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;\r\n strengthened with all power, according to the might of his glory, unto all patience and longsuffering with joy;\r\n giving thanks unto the Father, who made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light;\r\n who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love;\r\n in whom we have our redemption, the forgiveness of our sins:\r\n who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation;\r\n for in him were all things created, in the heavens and upon the earth, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things have been created through him, and unto him;\r\n and he is before all things, and in him all things consist.\r\n And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.\r\n For it was the good pleasure [of the Father] that in him should all the fulness dwell;\r\n and through him to reconcile all things unto himself, having made peace through the blood of his cross; through him, [I say], whether things upon the earth, or things in the heavens.\r\n And you, being in time past alienated and enemies in your mind in your evil works,\r\n yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and without blemish and unreproveable before him:\r\n if so be that ye continue in the faith, grounded and stedfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel which ye heard, which was preached in all creation under heaven; whereof I Paul was made a minister.\r\n Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and fill up on my part that which is lacking of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body`s sake, which is the church;\r\n whereof I was made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which was given me to you-ward, to fulfil the word of God,\r\n [even] the mystery which hath been hid for ages and generations: but now hath it been manifested to his saints,\r\n to whom God was pleased to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:\r\n whom we proclaim, admonishing every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ;\r\n whereunto I labor also, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.\r\n \r\n \r\n For I would have you know how greatly I strive for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;\r\n that their hearts may be comforted, they being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, that they may know the mystery of God, [even] Christ,\r\n in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden.\r\n This I say, that no one may delude you with persuasiveness of speech.\r\n For though I am absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.\r\n As therefore ye received Christ Jesus the Lord, [so] walk in him,\r\n rooted and builded up in him, and established in your faith, even as ye were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.\r\n Take heed lest there shall be any one that maketh spoil of you through his philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ:\r\n for in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily,\r\n and in him ye are made full, who is the head of all principality and power:\r\n in whom ye were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the flesh, in the circumcision of Christ;\r\n having been buried with him in baptism, wherein ye were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.\r\n And you, being dead through your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, you, [I say], did he make alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses;\r\n having blotted out the bond written in ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us: and he hath taken it out that way, nailing it to the cross;\r\n having despoiled the principalities and the powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.\r\n Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a feast day or a new moon or a sabbath day:\r\n which are a shadow of the things to come; but the body is Christ`s.\r\n Let no man rob you of your prize by a voluntary humility and worshipping of the angels, dwelling in the things which he hath seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,\r\n and not holding fast the Head, from whom all the body, being supplied and knit together through the joints and bands, increasing with the increase of God.\r\n If ye died with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, do ye subject yourselves to ordinances,\r\n Handle not, nor taste, nor touch\r\n (all which things are to perish with the using), after the precepts and doctrines of men?\r\n Which things have indeed a show of wisdom in will-worship, and humility, and severity to the body; [but are] not of any value against the indulgence of the flesh.\r\n \r\n \r\n If then ye were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God.\r\n Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are upon the earth.\r\n For ye died, and your life is hid with Christ in God.\r\n When Christ, [who is] our life, shall be manifested, then shall ye also with him be manifested in glory.\r\n Put to death therefore your members which are upon the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry;\r\n for which things` sake cometh the wrath of God upon the sons of disobedience:\r\n wherein ye also once walked, when ye lived in these things;\r\n but now do ye also put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, railing, shameful speaking out of your mouth:\r\n lie not one to another; seeing that ye have put off the old man with his doings,\r\n and have put on the new man, that is being renewed unto knowledge after the image of him that created him:\r\n where there cannot be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bondman, freeman; but Christ is all, and in all.\r\n Put on therefore, as God`s elect, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, longsuffering;\r\n forbearing one another, and forgiving each other, if any man have a complaint against any; even as the Lord forgave you, so also do ye:\r\n and above all these things [put on] love, which is the bond of perfectness.\r\n And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to the which also ye were called in one body; and be ye thankful.\r\n Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms [and] hymns [and] spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts unto God.\r\n And whatsoever ye do, in word or in deed, [do] all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.\r\n Wives, be in subjection to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.\r\n Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.\r\n Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing in the Lord.\r\n Fathers, provoke not your children, that they be not discouraged.\r\n Servants, obey in all things them that are your masters according to the flesh; not with eye-service, as men-pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing the Lord:\r\n whatsoever ye do, work heartily, as unto the Lord, and not unto men;\r\n knowing that from the Lord ye shall receive the recompense of the inheritance: ye serve the Lord Christ.\r\n For he that doeth wrong shall receive again for the wrong that he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.\r\n \r\n \r\n Masters, render unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.\r\n Continue stedfastly in prayer, watching therein with thanksgiving;\r\n withal praying for us also, that God may open unto us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds;\r\n that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.\r\n Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.\r\n Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer each one.\r\n All my affairs shall Tychicus make known unto you, the beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow-servant in the Lord:\r\n whom I have sent you for this very purpose, that ye may know our state, and that he may comfort your hearts;\r\n together with Onesimus, the faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things that [are done] here.\r\n Aristarchus my fellow-prisoner saluteth you, and Mark, the cousin of Barnabas (touching whom ye received commandments; if he come unto you, receive him),\r\n and Jesus that is called Justus, who are of the circumcision: these only [are my] fellow-workers unto the kingdom of God, men that have been a comfort unto me.\r\n Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, saluteth you, always striving for you in his prayers, that ye may stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God.\r\n For I bear him witness, that he hath much labor for you, and for them in Laodicea, and for them in Hierapolis.\r\n Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas salute you.\r\n Salute the brethren that are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church that is in their house.\r\n And when this epistle hath been read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye also read the epistle from Laodicea.\r\n And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.\r\n The salutation of me Paul with mine own hand. Remember my bonds. Grace be with you.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n Paul, and Silvanus, and Timothy, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.\r\n We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention [of you] in our prayers;\r\n remembering without ceasing your work of faith and labor of love and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father;\r\n knowing, brethren beloved of God, your election,\r\n how that our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and [in] much assurance; even as ye know what manner of men we showed ourselves toward you for your sake.\r\n And ye became imitators of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit;\r\n so that ye became an ensample to all that believe in Macedonia and in Achaia.\r\n For from you hath sounded forth the word of the Lord, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith to God-ward is gone forth; so that we need not to speak anything.\r\n For they themselves report concerning us what manner of entering in we had unto you; and how ye turned unto God from idols, to serve a living and true God,\r\n and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, [even] Jesus, who delivereth us from the wrath to come.\r\n \r\n \r\n For yourselves, brethren, know our entering in unto you, that it hath not been found vain:\r\n but having suffered before and been shamefully treated, as ye know, at Philippi, we waxed bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God in much conflict.\r\n For our exhortation [is] not of error, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile:\r\n but even as we have been approved of God to be intrusted with the gospel, so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God who proveth our hearts.\r\n For neither at any time were we found using words of flattery, as ye know, nor a cloak of covetousness, God is witness;\r\n nor seeking glory of men, neither from you nor from others, when we might have claimed authority as apostles of Christ.\r\n But we were gentle in the midst of you, as when a nurse cherisheth her own children:\r\n even so, being affectionately desirous of you, we were well pleased to impart unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were become very dear to us.\r\n For ye remember, brethren, our labor and travail: working night and day, that we might not burden any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.\r\n Ye are witnesses, and God [also], how holily and righteously and unblameably we behaved ourselves toward you that believe:\r\n as ye know how we [dealt with] each one of you, as a father with his own children, exhorting you, and encouraging [you], and testifying,\r\n to the end that ye should walk worthily of God, who calleth you into his own kingdom and glory.\r\n And for this cause we also thank God without ceasing, that, when ye received from us the word of the message, [even the word] of God, ye accepted [it] not [as] the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the word of God, which also worketh in you that believe.\r\n For ye, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judaea in Christ Jesus: for ye also suffered the same things of your own countrymen, even as they did of the Jews;\r\n who both killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove out us, and pleased not God, and are contrary to all men;\r\n forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved; to fill up their sins always: but the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.\r\n But we, brethren, being bereaved of you for a short season, in presence not in heart, endeavored the more exceedingly to see your face with great desire:\r\n because we would fain have come unto you, I Paul once and again; and Satan hindered us.\r\n For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of glorying? Are not even ye, before our Lord Jesus at his coming?\r\n For ye are our glory and our joy.\r\n \r\n \r\n Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left behind at Athens alone;\r\n and sent Timothy, our brother and God`s minister in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort [you] concerning your faith;\r\n that no man be moved by these afflictions; for yourselves know that hereunto we are appointed.\r\n For verily, when we were with you, we told you beforehand that we are to suffer affliction; even as it came to pass, and ye know.\r\n For this cause I also, when I could no longer forbear, sent that I might know your faith, lest by any means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor should be in vain.\r\n But when Timothy came even now unto us from you, and brought us glad tidings of your faith and love, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, longing to see us, even as we also [to see] you;\r\n for this cause, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our distress and affliction through your faith:\r\n for now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.\r\n For what thanksgiving can we render again unto God for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God;\r\n night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face, and may perfect that which is lacking in your faith?\r\n Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way unto you:\r\n and the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we also [do] toward you;\r\n to the end he may establish your hearts unblameable in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.\r\n \r\n \r\n Finally then, brethren, we beseech and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that, as ye received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, even as ye do walk, --that ye abound more and more.\r\n For ye know what charge we gave you through the Lord Jesus.\r\n For this is the will of God, [even] your sanctification, that ye abstain from fornication;\r\n that each one of you know how to possess himself of his own vessel in sanctification and honor,\r\n not in the passion of lust, even as the Gentiles who know not God;\r\n that no man transgress, and wrong his brother in the matter: because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as also we forewarned you and testified.\r\n For God called us not for uncleanness, but in sanctification.\r\n Therefore he that rejecteth, rejecteth not man, but God, who giveth his Holy Spirit unto you.\r\n But concerning love of the brethren ye have no need that one write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another;\r\n for indeed ye do it toward all the brethren that are in all Macedonia. But we exhort you, brethren, that ye abound more and more;\r\n and that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your hands, even as we charged you;\r\n that ye may walk becomingly toward them that are without, and may have need of nothing.\r\n But we would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning them that fall asleep; that ye sorrow not, even as the rest, who have no hope.\r\n For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also that are fallen asleep in Jesus will God bring with him.\r\n For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we that are alive, that are left unto the coming of the Lord, shall in no wise precede them that are fallen asleep.\r\n For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven, with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first;\r\n then we that are alive, that are left, shall together with them be caught up in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.\r\n Wherefore comfort one another with these words.\r\n \r\n \r\n But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that aught be written unto you.\r\n For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.\r\n When they are saying, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall in no wise escape.\r\n But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief:\r\n for ye are all sons of light, and sons of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness;\r\n so then let us not sleep, as do the rest, but let us watch and be sober.\r\n For they that sleep sleep in the night: and they that are drunken are drunken in the night.\r\n But let us, since we are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation.\r\n For God appointed us not into wrath, but unto the obtaining of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,\r\n who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.\r\n Wherefore exhort one another, and build each other up, even as also ye do.\r\n But we beseech you, brethren, to know them that labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;\r\n and to esteem them exceeding highly in love for their work`s sake. Be at peace among yourselves.\r\n And we exhort you, brethren, admonish the disorderly, encourage the fainthearted, support the weak, be longsuffering toward all.\r\n See that none render unto any one evil for evil; but always follow after that which is good, one toward another, and toward all.\r\n Rejoice always;\r\n pray without ceasing;\r\n in everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus to you-ward.\r\n Quench not the Spirit;\r\n despise not prophesyings;\r\n prove all things; hold fast that which is good;\r\n abstain from every form of evil.\r\n And the God of peace himself sanctify you wholly; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved entire, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.\r\n Faithful is he that calleth you, who will also do it.\r\n Brethren, pray for us.\r\n Salute all the brethren with a holy kiss.\r\n I adjure you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the brethren.\r\n The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n Paul, and Silvanus, and Timothy, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ;\r\n Grace to you and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.\r\n We are bound to give thanks to God always to you, brethren, even as it is meet, for that your faith growth exceedingly, and the love of each one of you all toward one another aboundeth;\r\n so that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions which ye endure;\r\n [which is] a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God; to the end that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:\r\n if so be that it is righteous thing with God to recompense affliction to them that afflict you,\r\n and to you that are afflicted rest with us, at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with the angels of his power in flaming fire,\r\n rendering vengeance to them that know not God, and to them that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus:\r\n who shall suffer punishment, [even] eternal destruction from the face of the Lord and from the glory of his might,\r\n when he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be marvelled at in all them that believed (because our testimony unto you was believed) in that day.\r\n To which end we also pray always for you, that our God may count you worthy of your calling, and fulfil every desire of goodness and [every] work of faith, with power;\r\n that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now we beseech you, brethren, touching the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering together unto him;\r\n to the end that ye be not quickly shaken from your mind, nor yet be troubled, either by spirit, or by word, or by epistle as from us, as that the day of the Lord is just at hand;\r\n let no man beguile you in any wise: for [it will not be,] except the falling away come first, and the man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition,\r\n he that opposeth and exalteth himself against all that is called God or that is worshipped; so that he sitteth in the temple of God, setting himself forth as God.\r\n Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?\r\n And now ye know that which restraineth, to the end that he may be revealed in his own season.\r\n For the mystery of lawlessness doth already work: only [there is] one that restraineth now, until he be taken out of the way.\r\n And then shall be revealed the lawless one, whom the Lord Jesus shall slay with the breath of his mouth, and bring to nought by the manifestation of his coming;\r\n [even he], whose coming is according to the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,\r\n and with all deceit of unrighteousness for them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.\r\n And for this cause God sendeth them a working of error, that they should believe a lie:\r\n that they all might be judged who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.\r\n But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, for that God chose you from the beginning unto salvation in sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:\r\n whereunto he called you through our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.\r\n So then, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye were taught, whether by word, or by epistle of ours.\r\n Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace,\r\n comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.\r\n \r\n \r\n Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run and be glorified, even as also [it is] with you;\r\n and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and evil men; for all have not faith.\r\n But the Lord is faithful, who shall establish you, and guard you from the evil [one].\r\n And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which we command.\r\n And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patience of Christ.\r\n Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which they received of us.\r\n For yourselves know how ye ought to imitate us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;\r\n neither did we eat bread for nought at any man`s hand, but in labor and travail, working night and day, that we might not burden any of you:\r\n not because we have not the right, but to make ourselves and ensample unto you, that ye should imitate us.\r\n For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, If any will not work, neither let him eat.\r\n For we hear of some that walk among you disorderly, that work not at all, but are busybodies.\r\n Now them that are such we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.\r\n But ye, brethren, be not weary in well-doing.\r\n And if any man obeyeth not our word by this epistle, note that man, that ye have no company with him, to the end that he may be ashamed.\r\n And [yet] count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.\r\n Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways. The Lord be with you all.\r\n The salutation of me Paul with mine own hand, which is the token in every epistle: so I write.\r\n The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus according to the commandment of God our Saviour, and Christ Jesus our hope;\r\n unto Timothy, my true child in faith: Grace, mercy, peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.\r\n As I exhorted thee to tarry at Ephesus, when I was going into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge certain men not to teach a different doctrine,\r\n neither to give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questionings, rather than a dispensation of God which is in faith; [so do I now].\r\n But the end of the charge is love out of a pure heart and a good conscience and faith unfeigned:\r\n from which things some having swerved have turned aside unto vain talking;\r\n desiring to be teachers of the law, though they understand neither what they say, nor whereof they confidently affirm.\r\n But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully,\r\n as knowing this, that law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and unruly, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,\r\n for fornicators, for abusers of themselves with men, for menstealers, for liars, for false swearers, and if there be any other thing contrary to the sound doctrine;\r\n according to the gospel of the glory of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.\r\n I thank him that enabled me, [even] Christ Jesus our Lord, for that he counted me faithful, appointing me to [his] service;\r\n though I was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: howbeit I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief;\r\n and the grace of our Lord abounded exceedingly with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.\r\n Faithful is the saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief:\r\n howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me as chief might Jesus Christ show forth all his longsuffering, for an ensample of them that should thereafter believe on him unto eternal life.\r\n Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, [be] honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.\r\n This charge I commit unto thee, my child Timothy, according to the prophecies which led the way to thee, that by them thou mayest war the good warfare;\r\n holding faith and a good conscience; which some having thrust from them made shipwreck concerning the faith:\r\n of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I delivered unto Satan, that they might be taught not to blaspheme.\r\n \r\n \r\n I exhort therefore, first of all, that supplications, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings, be made for all men;\r\n for kings and all that are in high place; that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and gravity.\r\n This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;\r\n who would have all men to be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth.\r\n For there is one God, one mediator also between God and men, [himself] man, Christ Jesus,\r\n who gave himself a ransom for all; the testimony [to be borne] in its own times;\r\n whereunto I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I speak the truth, I lie not), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.\r\n I desire therefore that the men pray in every place, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and disputing.\r\n In like manner, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefastness and sobriety; not with braided hair, and gold or pearls or costly raiment;\r\n but (which becometh women professing godliness) through good works.\r\n Let a woman learn in quietness with all subjection.\r\n But I permit not a woman to teach, nor to have dominion over a man, but to be in quietness.\r\n For Adam was first formed, then Eve;\r\n and Adam was not beguiled, but the woman being beguiled hath fallen into transgression:\r\n but she shall be saved through her child-bearing, if they continue in faith and love and sanctification with sobriety.\r\n \r\n \r\n Faithful is the saying, If a man seeketh the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.\r\n The bishop therefore must be without reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, orderly, given to hospitality, apt to teach;\r\n no brawler, no striker; but gentle, not contentious, no lover of money;\r\n one that ruleth well his own house, having [his] children in subjection with all gravity;\r\n (but if a man knoweth not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)\r\n not a novice, lest being puffed up he fall into the condemnation of the devil.\r\n Moreover he must have good testimony from them that are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.\r\n Deacons in like manner [must be] grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;\r\n holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.\r\n And let these also first be proved; then let them serve as deacons, if they be blameless.\r\n Women in like manner [must be] grave, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things.\r\n Let deacons be husbands of one wife, ruling [their] children and their own houses well.\r\n For they that have served well as deacons gain to themselves a good standing, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.\r\n These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly;\r\n but if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how men ought to behave themselves in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.\r\n And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness; He who was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the spirit, Seen of angels, Preached among the nations, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.\r\n \r\n \r\n But the Spirit saith expressly, that in later times some shall fall away from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons,\r\n through the hypocrisy of men that speak lies, branded in their own conscience as with a hot iron;\r\n forbidding to marry, [and commanding] to abstain from meats, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by them that believe and know the truth.\r\n For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, if it be received with thanksgiving:\r\n for it is sanctified through the word of God and prayer.\r\n If thou put the brethren in mind of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished in the words of the faith, and of the good doctrine which thou hast followed [until now]:\r\n but refuse profane and old wives` fables. And exercise thyself unto godliness:\r\n for bodily exercise is profitable for a little; but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life which now is, and of that which is to come.\r\n Faithful is the saying, and worthy of all acceptation.\r\n For to this end we labor and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of them that believe.\r\n These things command and teach.\r\n Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an ensample to them that believe, in word, in manner of life, in love, in faith, in purity.\r\n Till I come, give heed to reading, to exhortation, to teaching.\r\n Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.\r\n Be diligent in these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy progress may be manifest unto all.\r\n Take heed to thyself, and to thy teaching. Continue in these things; for in doing this thou shalt save both thyself and them that hear thee.\r\n \r\n \r\n Rebuke not an elder, but exhort him as a father; the younger men as brethren:\r\n the elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, in all purity.\r\n Honor widows that are widows indeed.\r\n But if any widow hath children or grandchildren, let them learn first to show piety towards their own family, and to requite their parents: for this is acceptable in the sight of God.\r\n Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, hath her hope set on God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.\r\n But she that giveth herself to pleasure is dead while she liveth.\r\n These things also command, that they may be without reproach.\r\n But if any provideth not for his own, and specially his own household, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever.\r\n Let none be enrolled as a widow under threescore years old, [having been] the wife of one man,\r\n well reported of for good works; if she hath brought up children, if she hath used hospitality to strangers, if she hath washed the saints` feet, if she hath relieved the afflicted, if she hath diligently followed every good work.\r\n But younger widows refuse: for when they have waxed wanton against Christ, they desire to marry;\r\n having condemnation, because they have rejected their first pledge.\r\n And withal they learn also [to be] idle, going about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.\r\n I desire therefore that the younger [widows] marry, bear children, rule the household, give no occasion to the adversary for reviling:\r\n for already some are turned aside after Satan.\r\n If any woman that believeth hath widows, let her relieve them, and let not the church be burdened; that it mat relieve them that are widows indeed.\r\n Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and in teaching.\r\n For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn. And, The laborer is worthy of his hire.\r\n Against an elder receive not an accusation, except at [the mouth of] two or three witnesses.\r\n Them that sin reprove in the sight of all, that the rest also may be in fear.\r\n I charge [thee] in the sight of God, and Christ Jesus, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing by partiality.\r\n Lay hands hastily on no man, neither be partaker of other men`s sins: keep thyself pure.\r\n Be no longer a drinker of water, but use a little wine for thy stomach`s sake and thine often infirmities.\r\n Some men`s sins are evident, going before unto judgment; and some men also they follow after.\r\n In like manner also there are good works that are evident; and such as are otherwise cannot be hid.\r\n \r\n \r\n Let as many as are servants under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, that the name of God and the doctrine be not blasphemed.\r\n And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but let them serve them the rather, because they that partake of the benefit are believing and beloved. These things teach and exhort.\r\n If any man teacheth a different doctrine, and consenteth not to sound words, [even] the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;\r\n he is puffed up, knowing nothing, but doting about questionings and disputes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,\r\n wranglings of men corrupted in mind and bereft of the truth, supposing that godliness is a way of gain.\r\n But godliness with contentment is great gain:\r\n for we brought nothing into the world, for neither can we carry anything out;\r\n but having food and covering we shall be therewith content.\r\n But they that are minded to be rich fall into a temptation and a snare and many foolish and hurtful lusts, such as drown men in destruction and perdition.\r\n For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil: which some reaching after have been led astray from the faith, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows.\r\n But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.\r\n Fight the good fight of the faith, lay hold on the life eternal, whereunto thou wast called, and didst confess the good confession in the sight of many witnesses.\r\n I charge thee in the sight of God, who giveth life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed the good confession;\r\n that thou keep the commandment, without spot, without reproach, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:\r\n which in its own times he shall show, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;\r\n who only hath immortality, dwelling in light unapproachable; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom [be] honor and power eternal. Amen.\r\n Charge them that are rich in this present world, that they be not highminded, nor have their hope set on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;\r\n that they do good, that they be rich in good works, that they be ready to distribute, willing to communicate;\r\n laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on the life which is [life] indeed.\r\n O Timothy, guard that which is committed unto [thee], turning away from the profane babblings and oppositions of the knowledge which is falsely so called;\r\n which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with you.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, according to the promise of the life which is in Christ Jesus,\r\n to Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.\r\n I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers in a pure conscience, how unceasing is my remembrance of thee in my supplications, night and day\r\n longing to see thee, remembering thy tears, that I may be filled with joy;\r\n having been reminded of the unfeigned faith that is in thee; which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and, I am persuaded, in thee also.\r\n For which cause I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee through the laying on of my hands.\r\n For God gave us not a spirit of fearfulness; but of power and love and discipline.\r\n Be not ashamed therefore of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but suffer hardship with the gospel according to the power of God;\r\n who saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before times eternal,\r\n but hath now been manifested by the appearing of our Saviour Christ Jesus, who abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,\r\n whereunto I was appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher.\r\n For which cause I suffer also these things: yet I am not ashamed; for I know him whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he is able to guard that which I have committed unto him against that day.\r\n Hold the pattern of sound words which thou hast heard from me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.\r\n That good thing which was committed unto [thee] guard through the Holy Spirit which dwelleth in us.\r\n This thou knowest, that all that are in Asia turned away from me; of whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes.\r\n The Lord grant mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus: for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain;\r\n but, when he was in Rome, he sought me diligently, and found me\r\n (the Lord grant unto him to find mercy of the Lord in that day); and in how many things he ministered at Ephesus, thou knowest very well.\r\n \r\n \r\n Thou therefore, my child, be strengthened in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.\r\n And the things which thou hast heard from me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.\r\n Suffer hardship with [me], as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.\r\n No soldier on service entangleth himself in the affairs of [this] life; that he may please him who enrolled him as a soldier.\r\n And if also a man contend in the games, he is not crowded, except he have contended lawfully.\r\n The husbandmen that laboreth must be the first to partake of the fruits.\r\n Consider what I say; for the Lord shall give thee understanding in all things.\r\n Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, of the seed of David, according to my gospel:\r\n wherein I suffer hardship unto bonds, as a malefactor; but the word of God is not bound.\r\n Therefore I endure all things for the elect`s sake, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.\r\n Faithful is the saying: For if we died with him, we shall also live with him:\r\n if we endure, we shall also reign with him: if we shall deny him, he also will deny us:\r\n if we are faithless, he abideth faithful; for he cannot deny himself.\r\n Of these things put them in remembrance, charging [them] in the sight of the Lord, that they strive not about words, to no profit, to the subverting of them that hear.\r\n Give diligence to present thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, handling aright the word of truth.\r\n But shun profane babblings: for they will proceed further in ungodliness,\r\n and their word will eat as doth a gangrene: or whom is Hymenaeus an Philetus;\r\n men who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already, and overthrow the faith of some.\r\n Howbeit the firm foundation of God standeth, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his: and, Let every one that nameth the name of the Lord depart from unrighteousness.\r\n Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some unto honor, and some unto dishonor.\r\n If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, meet for the master`s use, prepared unto every good work.\r\n after righteousness, faith, love, pace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.\r\n But foolish and ignorant questionings refuse, knowing that they gender strifes.\r\n And the Lord`s servant must not strive, but be gentle towards all, apt to teach, forbearing,\r\n in meekness correcting them that oppose themselves; if peradventure God may give them repentance unto the knowledge of the truth,\r\n and they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him unto his will.\r\n \r\n \r\n But know this, that in the last days grievous times shall come.\r\n For men shall be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, haughty, railers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,\r\n without natural affection, implacable, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, no lovers of good,\r\n traitors, headstrong, puffed up, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God;\r\n holding a form of godliness, but having denied the power therefore. From these also turn away.\r\n For of these are they that creep into houses, and take captive silly women laden with sins, led away by divers lusts,\r\n ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.\r\n And even as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also withstand the truth. Men corrupted in mind, reprobate concerning the faith.\r\n But they shall proceed no further. For their folly shall be evident unto all men, as theirs also came to be.\r\n But thou didst follow my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, patience,\r\n persecutions, sufferings. What things befell me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me.\r\n Yea, and all that would live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.\r\n But evil men and impostors shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.\r\n But abide thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them.\r\n And that from a babe thou hast known the sacred writings which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.\r\n Every scripture inspired of God [is] also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness.\r\n That the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work.\r\n \r\n \r\n I charge [thee] in the sight of God, and of Christ Jesus, who shall judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom:\r\n preach the word; be urgent in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.\r\n For the time will come when they will not endure the sound doctrine; but, having itching ears, will heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts;\r\n and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn aside unto fables.\r\n But be thou sober in all things, suffer hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfil thy ministry.\r\n For I am already being offered, and the time of my departure is come.\r\n I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith:\r\n henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give to me at that day; and not to me only, but also to all them that have loved his appearing.\r\n Give diligence to come shortly unto me:\r\n for Demas forsook me, having loved this present world, and went to Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.\r\n Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee; for he is useful to me for ministering.\r\n But Tychicus I sent to Ephesus.\r\n The cloak that I left at Troas with Carpus, bring when thou comest, and the books, especially the parchments.\r\n Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord will render to him according to his works:\r\n of whom do thou also beware; for he greatly withstood our words.\r\n At my first defence no one took my part, but all forsook me: may it not be laid to their account.\r\n But the Lord stood by me, and strengthened me; that through me the message might me fully proclaimed, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.\r\n The Lord will deliver me from every evil work, and will save me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom [be] the glory forever and ever. Amen.\r\n Salute Prisca and Aquila, and the house of Onesiphorus.\r\n Erastus remained at Corinth: but Trophimus I left at Miletus sick.\r\n Give diligence to come before winter. Eubulus saluteth thee, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brethren.\r\n The Lord be with thy spirit. Grace be with you.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God`s elect, and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness,\r\n in hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before times eternal;\r\n but in his own seasons manifested his word in the message, wherewith I was intrusted according to the commandment of God our Saviour;\r\n to Titus, my true child after a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Saviour.\r\n For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that were wanting, and appoint elders in every city, as I gave thee charge;\r\n if any man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having children that believe, who are not accused of riot or unruly.\r\n For the bishop must be blameless, as God`s steward; not self-willed, not soon angry, no brawler, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre;\r\n but given to hospitality, as lover of good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled;\r\n holding to the faithful word which is according to the teaching, that he may be able to exhort in the sound doctrine, and to convict the gainsayers.\r\n For there are many unruly men, vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision,\r\n whose mouths must be stopped; men who overthrow whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre`s sake.\r\n One of themselves, a prophet of their own, said, Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, idle gluttons.\r\n This testimony is true. For which cause reprove them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith,\r\n not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men who turn away from the truth.\r\n To the pure all things are pure: but to them that are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but both their mind and their conscience are defiled.\r\n They profess that they know God; but by their works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.\r\n \r\n \r\n But speak thou the things which befit the sound doctrine:\r\n that aged men be temperate, grave, sober-minded, sound in faith, in love, in patience:\r\n that aged women likewise be reverent in demeanor, not slanderers nor enslaved to much wine, teachers of that which is good;\r\n that they may train the young women to love their husbands, to love their children,\r\n [to be] sober-minded, chaste, workers at home, kind, being in subjection to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed:\r\n the younger men likewise exhort to be sober-minded:\r\n in all things showing thyself an ensample of good works; in thy doctrine [showing] uncorruptness, gravity,\r\n sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of us.\r\n [Exhort] servants to be in subjection to their own masters, [and] to be well-pleasing [to them] in all things; not gainsaying;\r\n not purloining, but showing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.\r\n For the grace of God hath appeared, bringing salvation to all men,\r\n instructing us, to the intent that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly and righteously and godly in this present world;\r\n looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;\r\n who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a people for his own possession, zealous of good works.\r\n These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no man despise thee.\r\n \r\n \r\n Put them in mind to be in subjection to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready unto every good work,\r\n to speak evil of no man, not to be contentious, to be gentle, showing all meekness toward all men.\r\n For we also once were foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.\r\n But when the kindness of God our Saviour, and his love toward man, appeared,\r\n not by works [done] in righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,\r\n which he poured out upon us richly, through Jesus Christ our Saviour;\r\n that, being justified by his grace, we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.\r\n Faithful is the saying, and concerning these things I desire that thou affirm confidently, to the end that they who have believed God may be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men:\r\n but shun foolish questionings, and genealogies, and strifes, and fightings about law; for they are unprofitable and vain.\r\n A factious man after a first and second admonition refuse;\r\n knowing that such a one is perverted, and sinneth, being self-condemned.\r\n When I shall send Artemas unto thee, or Tychicus, give diligence to come unto me to Nicopolis: for there I have determined to winter.\r\n Set forward Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey diligently, that nothing be wanting unto them.\r\n And let our [people] also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.\r\n All that are with me salute thee. Salute them that love us in faith. Grace be with you all.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon our beloved and fellow-worker,\r\n and to Apphia our sister, and to Archippus our fellow-soldier, and to the church in thy house:\r\n Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.\r\n I thank my God always, making mention of thee in my prayers,\r\n hearing of thy love, and of the faith which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all the saints;\r\n that the fellowship of thy faith may become effectual, in the knowledge of every good thing which is in you, unto Christ.\r\n For I had much joy and comfort in thy love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through thee, brother.\r\n Wherefore, though I have all boldness in Christ to enjoin thee that which is befitting,\r\n yet for love`s sake I rather beseech, being such a one as Paul the aged, and now a prisoner also of Christ Jesus:\r\n I beseech thee for my child, whom I have begotten in my bonds, Onesimus,\r\n who once was unprofitable to thee, but now is profitable to thee and to me:\r\n whom I have sent back to thee in his own person, that is, my very heart:\r\n whom I would fain have kept with me, that in thy behalf he might minister unto me in the bonds of the gospel:\r\n but without thy mind I would do nothing; that thy goodness should not be as of necessity, but of free will.\r\n For perhaps he was therefore parted [from thee] for a season, that thou shouldest have him for ever;\r\n no longer as a servant, but more than a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much rather to thee, both in the flesh and in the Lord.\r\n If then thou countest me a partner, receive him as myself.\r\n But if he hath wronged the at all, or oweth [thee] aught, put that to mine account;\r\n I Paul write it with mine own hand, I will repay it: that I say not unto thee that thou owest to me even thine own self besides.\r\n Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my heart in Christ.\r\n Having confidence in thine obedience I write unto thee, knowing that thou wilt do even beyond what I say.\r\n But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I hope that through your prayers I shall be granted unto you.\r\n Epaphras, my fellow-prisoner in Christ Jesus, saluteth thee;\r\n [and so do] Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow-workers.\r\n The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n God, having of old time spoken unto the fathers in the prophets by divers portions and in divers manners,\r\n hath at the end of these days spoken unto us in [his] Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the worlds;\r\n who being the effulgence of his glory, and the very image of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had made purification of sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;\r\n having become by so much better than the angels, as he hath inherited a more excellent name than they.\r\n For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, This day have I begotten thee? and again, I will be to him a Father, And he shall be to me a Son?\r\n And when he again bringeth in the firstborn into the world he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.\r\n And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels winds, And his ministers a flame a fire:\r\n but of the Son [he saith,] Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever; And the sceptre of uprightness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.\r\n Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; Therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee With the oil of gladness above thy fellows.\r\n And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning didst lay the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the works of thy hands:\r\n They shall perish; but thou continuest: And they all shall wax old as doth a garment;\r\n And as a mantle shalt thou roll them up, As a garment, and they shall be changed: But thou art the same, And thy years shall not fail.\r\n But of which of the angels hath he said at any time, Sit thou on my right hand, Till I make thine enemies the footstool of thy feet?\r\n Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to do service for the sake of them that shall inherit salvation?\r\n \r\n \r\n Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things that were heard, lest haply we drift away [from them].\r\n For if the word spoken through angels proved stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward;\r\n how shall we escape, if we neglect so great a salvation? which having at the first been spoken through the Lord, was confirmed unto us by them that heard;\r\n God also bearing witness with them, both by signs and wonders, and by manifold powers, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to his own will.\r\n For not unto angels did he subject the world to come, whereof we speak.\r\n But one hath somewhere testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? Or the son of man, that thou visitest him?\r\n Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; Thou crownedst him with glory and honor, And didst set him over the works of thy hands:\r\n Thou didst put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he subjected all things unto him, he left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we see not yet all things subjected to him.\r\n But we behold him who hath been made a little lower than the angels, [even] Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that by the grace of God he should taste of death for every [man].\r\n For it became him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the author of their salvation perfect through sufferings.\r\n For both he that sanctifieth and they that are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,\r\n saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, In the midst of the congregation will I sing thy praise.\r\n And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold, I and the children whom God hath given me.\r\n Since then the children are sharers in flesh and blood, he also himself in like manner partook of the same; that through death he might bring to nought him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;\r\n and might deliver all them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.\r\n For verily not to angels doth he give help, but he giveth help to the seed of Abraham.\r\n Wherefore it behooved him in all things to be made like unto his brethren, that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.\r\n For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted.\r\n \r\n \r\n Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, [even] Jesus;\r\n who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also was Moses in all his house.\r\n For he hath been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, by so much as he that built the house hath more honor than the house.\r\n For every house is builded by some one; but he that built all things is God.\r\n And Moses indeed was faithful in all his house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were afterward to be spoken;\r\n but Christ as a son, over his house; whose house are we, if we hold fast our boldness and the glorying of our hope firm unto the end.\r\n Wherefore, even as the Holy Spirit saith, To-day if ye shall hear his voice,\r\n Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, Like as in the day of the trial in the wilderness,\r\n Where your fathers tried [me] by proving [me,] And saw my works forty years.\r\n Wherefore I was displeased with this generation, And said, They do always err in their heart: But they did not know my ways;\r\n As I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.\r\n Take heed, brethren, lest haply there shall be in any one of you an evil heart of unbelief, in falling away from the living God:\r\n but exhort one another day by day, so long as it is called To-day; lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin:\r\n for we are become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our confidence firm unto the end:\r\n while it is said, To-day if ye shall hear his voice, Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.\r\n For who, when they heard, did provoke? nay, did not all they that came out of Egypt by Moses?\r\n And with whom was he displeased forty years? was it not with them that sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness?\r\n And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that were disobedient?\r\n And we see that they were not able to enter in because of unbelief.\r\n \r\n \r\n Let us fear therefore, lest haply, a promise being left of entering into his rest, any one of you should seem to have come short of it.\r\n For indeed we have had good tidings preached unto us, even as also they: but the word of hearing did not profit them, because it was not united by faith with them that heard.\r\n For we who have believed do enter into that rest; even as he hath said, As I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.\r\n For he hath said somewhere of the seventh [day] on this wise, And God rested on the seventh day from all his works;\r\n and in this [place] again, They shall not enter into my rest.\r\n Seeing therefore it remaineth that some should enter thereinto, and they to whom the good tidings were before preached failed to enter in because of disobedience,\r\n he again defineth a certain day, To-day, saying in David so long a time afterward (even as hath been said before), To-day if ye shall hear his voice, Harden not your hearts.\r\n For if Joshua had given them rest, he would not have spoken afterward of another day.\r\n There remaineth therefore a sabbath rest for the people of God.\r\n For he that is entered into his rest hath himself also rested from his works, as God did from his.\r\n Let us therefore give diligence to enter into that rest, that no man fall after the same example of disobedience.\r\n For the word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and quick to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart.\r\n And there is no creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and laid open before the eyes of him with whom we have to do.\r\n Having then a great high priest, who hath passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.\r\n For we have not a high priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but one that hath been in all points tempted like as [we are, yet] without sin.\r\n Let us therefore draw near with boldness unto the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and may find grace to help [us] in time of need.\r\n \r\n \r\n For every high priest, being taken from among men, is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:\r\n who can bear gently with the ignorant and erring, for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity;\r\n and by reason thereof is bound, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.\r\n And no man taketh the honor unto himself, but when he is called of God, even as was Aaron.\r\n So Christ also glorified not himself to be made a high priest, but he that spake unto him, Thou art my Son, This day have I begotten thee:\r\n as he saith also in another [place,] Thou art a priest for ever After the order of Melchizedek.\r\n Who in the days of his flesh, having offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and having been heard for his godly fear,\r\n though he was a Son, yet learned obedience by the things which he suffered;\r\n and having been made perfect, he became unto all them that obey him the author of eternal salvation;\r\n named of God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.\r\n Of whom we have many things to say, and hard of interpretation, seeing ye are become dull of hearing.\r\n For when by reason of the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need again that some one teach you the rudiments of the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of solid food.\r\n For every one that partaketh of milk is without experience of the word of righteousness; for he is a babe.\r\n But solid food is for fullgrown men, [even] those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern good and evil.\r\n \r\n \r\n Wherefore leaving the doctrine of the first principles of Christ, let us press on unto perfection; not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,\r\n of the teaching of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.\r\n And this will we do, if God permit.\r\n For as touching those who were once enlightened and tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit,\r\n and tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the age to come,\r\n and [then] fell away, it is impossible to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.\r\n For the land which hath drunk the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them for whose sake it is also tilled, receiveth blessing from God:\r\n but if it beareth thorns and thistles, it is rejected and nigh unto a curse; whose end is to be burned.\r\n But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak:\r\n for God is not unrighteous to forget your work and the love which ye showed toward his name, in that ye ministered unto the saints, and still do minister.\r\n And we desire that each one of you may show the same diligence unto the fulness of hope even to the end:\r\n that ye be not sluggish, but imitators of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.\r\n For when God made promise to Abraham, since he could swear by none greater, he sware by himself,\r\n saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.\r\n And thus, having patiently endured, he obtained the promise.\r\n For men swear by the greater: and in every dispute of theirs the oath is final for confirmation.\r\n Wherein God, being minded to show more abundantly unto the heirs of the promise the immutability of his counsel, interposed with an oath;\r\n that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have a strong encouragement, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us:\r\n which we have as an anchor of the soul, [a hope] both sure and stedfast and entering into that which is within the veil;\r\n whither as a forerunner Jesus entered for us, having become a high priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.\r\n \r\n \r\n For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of God Most High, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,\r\n to whom also Abraham divided a tenth part of all (being first, by interpretation, King of righteousness, and then also King of Salem, which is King of peace;\r\n without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like unto the Son of God), abideth a priest continually.\r\n Now consider how great this man was, unto whom Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth out of the chief spoils.\r\n And they indeed of the sons of Levi that receive the priest`s office have commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though these have come out of the loins of Abraham:\r\n but he whose genealogy is not counted from them hath taken tithes of Abraham, and hath blessed him that hath the promises.\r\n But without any dispute the less is blessed of the better.\r\n And here men that die receive tithes; but there one, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.\r\n And, so to say, through Abraham even Levi, who receiveth tithes, hath paid tithes;\r\n for he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchizedek met him.\r\n Now if there was perfection through the Levitical priesthood (for under it hath the people received the law), what further need [was there] that another priest should arise after the order of Melchizedek, and not be reckoned after the order of Aaron?\r\n For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.\r\n For he of whom these things are said belongeth to another tribe, from which no man hath given attendance at the altar.\r\n For it is evident that our Lord hath sprung out of Judah; as to which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priests.\r\n And [what we say] is yet more abundantly evident, if after the likeness of Melchizedek there ariseth another priest,\r\n who hath been made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life:\r\n for it is witnessed [of him,] Thou art a priest for ever After the order of Melchizedek.\r\n For there is a disannulling of a foregoing commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness\r\n (for the law made nothing perfect), and a bringing in thereupon of a better hope, through which we draw nigh unto God.\r\n And inasmuch as [it is] not without the taking of an oath\r\n (for they indeed have been made priests without an oath; but he with an oath by him that saith of him, The Lord sware and will not repent himself, Thou art a priest for ever);\r\n by so much also hath Jesus become the surety of a better covenant.\r\n And they indeed have been made priests many in number, because that by death they are hindered from continuing:\r\n but he, because he abideth for ever, hath his priesthood unchangeable.\r\n Wherefore also he is able to save to the uttermost them that draw near unto God through him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.\r\n For such a high priest became us, holy, guileless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;\r\n who needeth not daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for his own sins, and then for the [sins] of the people: for this he did once for all, when he offered up himself.\r\n For the law appointeth men high priests, having infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was after the law, [appointeth] a Son, perfected for evermore.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now in the things which we are saying the chief point [is this]: We have such a high priest, who sat down on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens,\r\n a minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, not man.\r\n For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is necessary that this [high priest] also have somewhat to offer.\r\n Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, seeing there are those who offer the gifts according to the law;\r\n who serve [that which is] a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, even as Moses is warned [of God] when he is about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern that was showed thee in the mount.\r\n But now hath he obtained a ministry the more excellent, by so much as he is also the mediator of a better covenant, which hath been enacted upon better promises.\r\n For if that first [covenant] had been faultless, then would no place have been sought for a second.\r\n For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, That I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah;\r\n Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers In the day that I took them by the hand to lead them forth out of the land of Egypt; For they continued not in my covenant, And I regarded them not, saith the Lord.\r\n For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel After those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, And on their heart also will I write them: And I will be to them a God, And they shall be to me a people:\r\n And they shall not teach every man his fellow-citizen, And every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: For all shall know me, From the least to the greatest of them.\r\n For I will be merciful to their iniquities, And their sins will I remember no more.\r\n In that he saith, A new [covenant] he hath made the first old. But that which is becoming old and waxeth aged is nigh unto vanishing away.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now even a first [covenant] had ordinances of divine service, and its sanctuary, [a sanctuary] of this world.\r\n For there was a tabernacle prepared, the first, wherein [were] the candlestick, and the table, and the showbread; which is called the Holy place.\r\n And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holy of holies;\r\n having a golden altar of incense, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein [was] a golden pot holding the manna, and Aaron`s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;\r\n and above it cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy-seat; of which things we cannot now speak severally.\r\n Now these things having been thus prepared, the priests go in continually into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the services;\r\n but into the second the high priest alone, once in the year, not without blood, which he offereth for himself, and for the errors of the people:\r\n the Holy Spirit this signifying, that the way into the holy place hath not yet been made manifest, while the first tabernacle is yet standing;\r\n which [is] a figure for the time present; according to which are offered both gifts and sacrifices that cannot, as touching the conscience, make the worshipper perfect,\r\n [being] only (with meats and drinks and divers washings) carnal ordinances, imposed until a time of reformation.\r\n But Christ having come a high priest of the good things to come, through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation,\r\n nor yet through the blood of goats and calves, but through his own blood, entered in once for all into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption.\r\n For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling them that have been defiled, sanctify unto the cleanness of the flesh:\r\n how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish unto God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?\r\n And for this cause he is the mediator of a new covenant, that a death having taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first covenant, they that have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.\r\n For where a testament is, there must of necessity be the death of him that made it.\r\n For a testament is of force where there hath been death: for it doth never avail while he that made it liveth.\r\n Wherefore even the first [covenant] hath not been dedicated without blood.\r\n For when every commandment had been spoken by Moses unto all the people according to the law, he took the blood of the calves and the goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people,\r\n saying, This is the blood of the covenant which God commanded to you-ward.\r\n Moreover the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry he sprinkled in like manner with the blood.\r\n And according to the law, I may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and apart from shedding of blood there is no remission.\r\n It was necessary therefore that the copies of the things in the heavens should be cleansed with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.\r\n For Christ entered not into a holy place made with hands, like in pattern to the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear before the face of God for us:\r\n nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place year by year with blood not his own;\r\n else must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once at the end of the ages hath he been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.\r\n And inasmuch as it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this [cometh] judgment;\r\n so Christ also, having been once offered to bear the sins of many, shall appear a second time, apart from sin, to them that wait for him, unto salvation.\r\n \r\n \r\n For the law having a shadow of the good [things] to come, not the very image of the things, can never with the same sacrifices year by year, which they offer continually, make perfect them that draw nigh.\r\n Else would they not have ceased to be offered? because the worshippers, having been once cleansed, would have had no more consciousness of sins.\r\n But in those [sacrifices] there is a remembrance made of sins year by year.\r\n For it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins.\r\n Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, But a body didst thou prepare for me;\r\n In whole burnt offerings and [sacrifices] for sin thou hadst no pleasure:\r\n Then said I, Lo, I am come (In the roll of the book it is written of me) To do thy will, O God.\r\n Saying above, Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and [sacrifices] for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein (the which are offered according to the law),\r\n then hath he said, Lo, I am come to do thy will. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.\r\n By which will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.\r\n And every priest indeed standeth day by day ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, the which can never take away sins:\r\n but he, when he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;\r\n henceforth expecting till his enemies be made the footstool of his feet.\r\n For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.\r\n And the Holy Spirit also beareth witness to us; for after he hath said,\r\n This is the covenant that I will make with them After those days, saith the Lord: I will put my laws on their heart, And upon their mind also will I write them; [then saith he,]\r\n And their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.\r\n Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.\r\n Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holy place by the blood of Jesus,\r\n by the way which he dedicated for us, a new and living way, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;\r\n and [having] a great priest over the house of God;\r\n let us draw near with a true heart in fulness of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience: and having our body washed with pure water,\r\n let us hold fast the confession of our hope that it waver not; for he is faithful that promised:\r\n and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works;\r\n not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting [one another]; and so much the more, as ye see the day drawing nigh.\r\n For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more a sacrifice for sins,\r\n but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and a fierceness of fire which shall devour the adversaries.\r\n A man that hath set at nought Moses law dieth without compassion on [the word of] two or three witnesses:\r\n of how much sorer punishment, think ye, shall he be judged worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant wherewith he was sanctified an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?\r\n For we know him that said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.\r\n It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.\r\n But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were enlightened, ye endured a great conflict of sufferings;\r\n partly, being made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, becoming partakers with them that were so used.\r\n For ye both had compassion on them that were in bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of you possessions, knowing that ye have for yourselves a better possession and an abiding one.\r\n Cast not away therefore your boldness, which hath great recompense of reward.\r\n For ye have need of patience, that, having done the will of God, ye may receive the promise.\r\n For yet a very little while, He that cometh shall come, and shall not tarry.\r\n But my righteous one shall live by faith: And if he shrink back, my soul hath no pleasure in him.\r\n But we are not of them that shrink back unto perdition; but of them that have faith unto the saving of the soul.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now faith is assurance of [things] hoped for, a conviction of things not seen.\r\n For therein the elders had witness borne to them.\r\n By faith we understand that the worlds have been framed by the word of God, so that what is seen hath not been made out of things which appear.\r\n By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he had witness borne to him that he was righteous, God bearing witness in respect of his gifts: and through it he being dead yet speaketh.\r\n By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and he was not found, because God translated him: for he hath had witness borne to him that before his translation he had been well-pleasing unto God:\r\n And without faith it is impossible to be well-pleasing [unto him]; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of them that seek after him.\r\n By faith Noah, being warned [of God] concerning things not seen as yet, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; through which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.\r\n By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out unto a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.\r\n By faith he became a sojourner in the land of promise, as in a [land] not his own, dwelling in tents, with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:\r\n for he looked for the city which hath the foundations, whose builder and maker is God.\r\n By faith even Sarah herself received power to conceive seed when she was past age, since she counted him faithful who had promised:\r\n wherefore also there sprang of one, and him as good as dead, [so many] as the stars of heaven in multitude, and as the sand, which is by the sea-shore, innumerable.\r\n These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.\r\n For they that say such things make it manifest that they are seeking after a country of their own.\r\n And if indeed they had been mindful of that [country] from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return.\r\n But now they desire a better [country], that is, a heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God; for he hath prepared for them a city.\r\n By faith Abraham, being tried, offered up Isaac: yea, he that had gladly received the promises was offering up his only begotten [son];\r\n even he to whom it was said, In Isaac shall thy seed be called:\r\n accounting that God [is] able to raise up, even from the dead; from whence he did also in a figure receive him back.\r\n By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even concerning things to come.\r\n By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, [leaning] upon the top of his staff.\r\n By faith Joseph, when his end was nigh, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.\r\n By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months by his parents, because they saw he was a goodly child; and they were not afraid of the king`s commandment.\r\n By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh`s daughter;\r\n choosing rather to share ill treatment with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;\r\n accounting the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt: for he looked unto the recompense of reward.\r\n By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.\r\n By faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of the blood, that the destroyer of the firstborn should not touch them.\r\n By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were swallowed up.\r\n By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they had been compassed about for seven days.\r\n By faith Rahab the harlot perished not with them that were disobedient, having received the spies with peace.\r\n And what shall I more say? for the time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah; of David and Samuel and the prophets:\r\n who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,\r\n quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, waxed mighty in war, turned to flight armies of aliens.\r\n Women received their dead by a resurrection: and others were tortured, not accepting their deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:\r\n and others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:\r\n they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, they were tempted, they were slain with the sword: they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated\r\n (of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves, and the holes of the earth.\r\n And these all, having had witness borne to them through their faith, received not the promise,\r\n God having provided some better thing concerning us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.\r\n \r\n \r\n Therefore let us also, seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,\r\n looking unto Jesus the author and perfecter of [our] faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising shame, and hath sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.\r\n For consider him that hath endured such gainsaying of sinners against himself, that ye wax not weary, fainting in your souls.\r\n Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin:\r\n and ye have forgotten the exhortation which reasoneth with you as with sons, My son, regard not lightly the chastening of the Lord, Nor faint when thou art reproved of him;\r\n For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, And scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.\r\n It is for chastening that ye endure; God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is there whom [his] father chasteneth not?\r\n But if ye are without chastening, whereof all have been made partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.\r\n Furthermore, we had the fathers of our flesh to chasten us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?\r\n For they indeed for a few days chastened [us] as seemed good to them; but he for [our] profit, that [we] may be partakers of his holiness.\r\n All chastening seemeth for the present to be not joyous but grievous; yet afterward it yieldeth peaceable fruit unto them that have been exercised thereby, [even the fruit] of righteousness.\r\n Wherefore lift up the hands that hang down, and the palsied knees;\r\n and make straight paths for your feet, that that which is lame be not turned out of the way, but rather be healed.\r\n Follow after peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no man shall see the Lord:\r\n looking carefully lest [there be] any man that falleth short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble [you], and thereby the many be defiled;\r\n lest [there be] any fornication, or profane person, as Esau, who for one mess of meat sold his own birthright.\r\n For ye know that even when he afterward desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected; for he found no place for a change of mind [in his father,] though he sought is diligently with tears.\r\n For ye are not come unto [a mount] that might be touched, and that burned with fire, and unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,\r\n and the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which [voice] they that heard entreated that no word more should be spoken unto them;\r\n for they could not endure that which was enjoined, If even a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned;\r\n and so fearful was the appearance, [that] Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:\r\n but ye are come unto mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable hosts of angels,\r\n to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,\r\n and to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better than [that of] Abel.\r\n See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not when they refused him that warned [them] on earth, much more [shall not] we [escape] who turn away from him that [warneth] from heaven:\r\n whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more will I make to tremble not the earth only, but also the heaven.\r\n And this [word], Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that have been made, that those things which are not shaken may remain.\r\n Wherefore, receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us have grace, whereby we may offer service well-pleasing to God with reverence and awe:\r\n for our God is a consuming fire.\r\n \r\n \r\n Let love of the brethren continue.\r\n Forget not to show love unto strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.\r\n Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; them that are illtreated, as being yourselves also in the body.\r\n [Let] marriage [be] had in honor among all, and [let] the bed [be] undefiled: for fornicators and adulterers God will judge.\r\n Be ye free from the love of money; content with such things as ye have: for himself hath said, I will in no wise fail thee, neither will I in any wise forsake thee.\r\n So that with good courage we say, The Lord is my helper; I will not fear: What shall man do unto me?\r\n Remember them that had the rule over you, men that spake unto you the word of God; and considering the issue of their life, imitate their faith.\r\n Jesus Christ [is] the same yesterday and to-day, [yea] and for ever.\r\n Be not carried away by divers and strange teachings: for it is good that the heart be established by grace; not by meats, wherein they that occupied themselves were not profited.\r\n We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat that serve the tabernacle.\r\n For the bodies of those beasts whose blood is brought into the holy place by the high priest [as an offering] for sin, are burned without the camp.\r\n Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people through his own blood, suffered without the gate.\r\n Let us therefore go forth unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.\r\n For we have not here an abiding city, but we seek after [the city] which is to come.\r\n Through him then let us offer up a sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of lips which make confession to his name.\r\n But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.\r\n Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit [to them]: for they watch in behalf of your souls, as they that shall give account; that they may do this with joy, and not with grief: for this [were] unprofitable for you.\r\n Pray for us: for we are persuaded that we have a good conscience, desiring to live honorably in all things.\r\n And I exhort [you] the more exceedingly to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.\r\n Now the God of peace, who brought again from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep with the blood of an eternal covenant, [even] our Lord Jesus,\r\n make you perfect in every good thing to do his will, working in us that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom [be] the glory for ever and ever. Amen.\r\n But I exhort you, brethren, bear with the word of exhortation, for I have written unto you in few words.\r\n Know ye that our brother Timothy hath been set at liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you.\r\n Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you.\r\n Grace be with you all. Amen.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are of the Dispersion, greeting.\r\n Count it all joy, my brethren, when ye fall into manifold temptations;\r\n Knowing that the proving of your faith worketh patience.\r\n And let patience have [its] perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, lacking in nothing.\r\n But if any of you lacketh wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.\r\n But let him ask in faith, nothing doubting: for he that doubteth is like the surge of the sea driven by the wind and tossed.\r\n For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord;\r\n a doubleminded man, unstable in all his ways.\r\n But let the brother of low degree glory in his high estate:\r\n and the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.\r\n For the sun ariseth with the scorching wind, and withereth the grass: and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his goings.\r\n Blessed is the man that endureth temptation; for when he hath been approved, he shall receive the crown of life, which [the Lord] promised to them that love him.\r\n Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God; for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempteth no man:\r\n but each man is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed.\r\n Then the lust, when it hath conceived, beareth sin: and the sin, when it is fullgrown, bringeth forth death.\r\n Be not deceived, my beloved brethren.\r\n Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation, neither shadow that is cast by turning.\r\n Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.\r\n Ye know [this], my beloved brethren. But let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:\r\n for the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.\r\n Wherefore putting away all filthiness and overflowing of wickedness, receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.\r\n But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deluding your own selves.\r\n For if any one is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a mirror:\r\n for he beholdeth himself, and goeth away, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.\r\n But he that looketh into the perfect law, the [law] of liberty, and [so] continueth, being not a hearer that forgetteth but a doer that worketh, this man shall be blessed in his doing.\r\n If any man thinketh himself to be religious, while he bridleth not his tongue but deceiveth his heart, this man`s religion is vain.\r\n Pure religion and undefiled before our God and Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, [and] to keep oneself unspotted from the world.\r\n \r\n \r\n My brethren, hold not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, [the Lord] of glory, with respect of persons.\r\n For if there come into your synagogue a man with a gold ring, in fine clothing, and there come in also a poor man in vile clothing;\r\n and ye have regard to him that weareth the fine clothing, and say, Sit thou here in a good place; and ye say to the poor man, Stand thou there, or sit under my footstool;\r\n Do ye not make distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?\r\n Hearken, my beloved brethren; did not God choose them that are poor as to the world [to be] rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he promised to them that love him?\r\n But ye have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you, and themselves drag you before the judgment-seats?\r\n Do not they blaspheme the honorable name by which ye are called?\r\n Howbeit if ye fulfil the royal law, according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well:\r\n but if ye have respect of persons, ye commit sin, being convicted by the law as transgressors.\r\n For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one [point], he is become guilty of all.\r\n For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou dost not commit adultery, but killest, thou art become a transgressor of the law.\r\n So speak ye, and so do, as men that are to be judged by a law of liberty.\r\n For judgment [is] without mercy to him that hath showed no mercy: mercy glorieth against judgment.\r\n What doth it profit, my brethren, if a man say he hath faith, but have not works? can that faith save him?\r\n If a brother or sister be naked and in lack of daily food,\r\n and one of you say unto them, Go in peace, be ye warmed and filled; and yet ye give them not the things needful to the body; what doth it profit?\r\n Even so faith, if it have not works, is dead in itself.\r\n Yea, a man will say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith apart from [thy] works, and I by my works will show thee [my] faith.\r\n Thou believest that God is one; thou doest well: the demons also believe, and shudder.\r\n But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith apart from works is barren?\r\n Was not Abraham our father justified by works, in that he offered up Isaac his son upon the altar?\r\n Thou seest that faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect;\r\n and the scripture was fulfilled which saith, And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned unto him for righteousness; and he was called the friend of God.\r\n Ye see that by works a man is justified, and not only by faith.\r\n And in like manner was not also Rahab the harlot justified by works, in that she received the messengers, and sent them out another way?\r\n For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, even so faith apart from works is dead.\r\n \r\n \r\n Be not many [of you] teachers, my brethren, knowing that we shall receive heavier judgment.\r\n For in many things we all stumble. If any stumbleth not in word, the same is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also.\r\n Now if we put the horses` bridles into their mouths that they may obey us, we turn about their whole body also.\r\n Behold, the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by rough winds, are yet turned about by a very small rudder, whither the impulse of the steersman willeth.\r\n So the tongue also is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how much wood is kindled by how small a fire!\r\n And the tongue is a fire: the world of iniquity among our members is the tongue, which defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the wheel of nature, and is set on fire by hell.\r\n For every kind of beasts and birds, of creeping things and things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed by mankind.\r\n But the tongue can no man tame; [it is] a restless evil, [it is] full of deadly poison.\r\n Therewith bless we the Lord and Father; and therewith curse we men, who are made after the likeness of God:\r\n out of the same mouth cometh forth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.\r\n Doth the fountain send forth from the same opening sweet [water] and bitter?\r\n Can a fig tree, my brethren, yield olives, or a vine figs? Neither [can] salt water yield sweet.\r\n Who is wise and understanding among you? let him show by his good life his works in meekness of wisdom.\r\n But if ye have bitter jealousy and faction in your heart, glory not and lie not against the truth.\r\n This wisdom is not [a wisdom] that cometh down from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.\r\n For where jealousy and faction are, there is confusion and every vile deed.\r\n But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without variance, without hypocrisy.\r\n And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for them that make peace.\r\n \r\n \r\n Whence [come] wars and whence [come] fightings among you? [come they] not hence, [even] of your pleasures that war in your members?\r\n Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and covet, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war; ye have not, because ye ask not.\r\n Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may spend [it] in your pleasures.\r\n Ye adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore would be a friend of the world maketh himself an enemy of God.\r\n Or think ye that the scripture speaketh in vain? Doth the spirit which he made to dwell in us long unto envying?\r\n But he giveth more grace. Wherefore [the scripture] saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble.\r\n Be subject therefore unto God; but resist the devil, and he will flee from you.\r\n Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye doubleminded.\r\n Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.\r\n Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall exalt you.\r\n Speak not one against another, brethren. He that speaketh against a brother, or judgeth his brother, speaketh against the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judgest the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.\r\n One [only] is the lawgiver and judge, [even] he who is able to save and to destroy: but who art thou that judgest thy neighbor?\r\n Come now, ye that say, To-day or to-morrow we will go into this city, and spend a year there, and trade, and get gain:\r\n whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. What is your life? For ye are a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.\r\n For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall both live, and do this or that.\r\n But now ye glory in your vauntings: all such glorying is evil.\r\n To him therefore that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.\r\n \r\n \r\n Come now, ye rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you.\r\n Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten.\r\n Your gold and your silver are rusted; and their rust shall be for a testimony against you, and shall eat your flesh as fire. Ye have laid up your treasure in the last days.\r\n Behold, the hire of the laborers who mowed your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth out: and the cries of them that reaped have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.\r\n Ye have lived delicately on the earth, and taken your pleasure; ye have nourished your hearts in a day of slaughter.\r\n Ye have condemned, ye have killed the righteous [one]; he doth not resist you.\r\n Be patient therefore, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient over it, until it receive the early and latter rain.\r\n Be ye also patient; establish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord is at hand.\r\n Murmur not, brethren, one against another, that ye be not judged: behold, the judge standeth before the doors.\r\n Take, brethren, for an example of suffering and of patience, the prophets who spake in the name of the Lord.\r\n Behold, we call them blessed that endured: ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord, how that the Lord is full of pity, and merciful.\r\n But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by the heaven, nor by the earth, nor by any other oath: but let your yea be yea, and your nay, nay; that ye fall not under judgment.\r\n Is any among you suffering? Let him pray. Is any cheerful? Let him sing praise.\r\n Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:\r\n and the prayer of faith shall save him that is sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, it shall be forgiven him.\r\n Confess therefore your sins one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The supplication of a righteous man availeth much in its working.\r\n Elijah was a man of like passions with us, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain; and it rained not on the earth for three years and six months.\r\n And he prayed again; and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.\r\n My brethren, if any among you err from the truth, and one convert him;\r\n let him know, that he who converteth a sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall cover a multitude of sins.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the elect who are sojourners of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,\r\n according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.\r\n Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy begat us again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,\r\n unto an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,\r\n who by the power of God are guarded through faith unto a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.\r\n Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, ye have been put to grief in manifold trials,\r\n that the proof of your faith, [being] more precious than gold that perisheth though it is proved by fire, may be found unto praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ:\r\n whom not having seen ye love; on whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice greatly with joy unspeakable and full of glory:\r\n receiving the end of your faith, [even] the salvation of [your] souls.\r\n Concerning which salvation the prophets sought and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that [should come] unto you:\r\n searching what [time] or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did point unto, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glories that should follow them.\r\n To whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto you, did they minister these things, which now have been announced unto you through them that preached the gospel unto you by the Holy Spirit sent forth from heaven; which things angel desire to look into.\r\n Wherefore girding up the loins of your mind, be sober and set your hope perfectly on the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;\r\n as children of obedience, not fashioning yourselves according to your former lusts in [the time of] your ignorance:\r\n but like as he who called you is holy, be ye yourselves also holy in all manner of living;\r\n because it is written, Ye shall be holy; for I am holy.\r\n And if ye call on him as Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to each man`s work, pass the time of your sojourning in fear:\r\n knowing that ye were redeemed, not with corruptible things, with silver or gold, from your vain manner of life handed down from your fathers;\r\n but with precious blood, as of a lamb without spot, [even the blood] of Christ:\r\n who was foreknown indeed before the foundation of the world, but was manifested at the end of times for your sake,\r\n who through him are believers in God, that raised him from the dead, and gave him glory; so that your faith and hope might be in God.\r\n Seeing ye have purified your souls in your obedience to the truth unto unfeigned love of the brethren, love one another from the heart fervently:\r\n having been begotten again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, through the word of God, which liveth and abideth.\r\n For, All flesh is as grass, And all the glory thereof as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower falleth:\r\n But the word of the Lord abideth for ever. And this is the word of good tidings which was preached unto you.\r\n \r\n \r\n Putting away therefore all wickedness, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,\r\n as newborn babes, long for the spiritual milk which is without guile, that ye may grow thereby unto salvation;\r\n if ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious:\r\n unto whom coming, a living stone, rejected indeed of men, but with God elect, precious,\r\n ye also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.\r\n Because it is contained in scripture, Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: And he that believeth on him shall not be put to shame.\r\n For you therefore that believe is the preciousness: but for such as disbelieve, The stone which the builders rejected, The same was made the head of the corner;\r\n and, A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence; for they stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.\r\n But ye are a elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for [God`s] own possession, that ye may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:\r\n who in time past were no people, but now are the people of God: who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.\r\n Beloved, I beseech you as sojourners and pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly lust, which war against the soul;\r\n having your behavior seemly among the Gentiles; that, wherein they speak against you as evil-doers, they may by your good works, which they behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.\r\n Be subject to every ordinance of man for the Lord`s sake: whether to the king, as supreme;\r\n or unto governors, as sent by him for vengeance on evil-doers and for praise to them that do well.\r\n For so is the will of God, that by well-doing ye should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:\r\n as free, and not using your freedom for a cloak of wickedness, but as bondservants of God.\r\n Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.\r\n Servants, [be] in subjection to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.\r\n For this is acceptable, if for conscience toward God a man endureth griefs, suffering wrongfully.\r\n For what glory is it, if, when ye sin, and are buffeted [for it], ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer [for it], ye shall take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.\r\n For hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that ye should follow his steps:\r\n who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:\r\n who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered threatened not; but committed [himself] to him that judgeth righteously:\r\n who his own self bare our sins in his body upon the tree, that we, having died unto sins, might live unto righteousness; by whose stripes ye were healed.\r\n For ye were going astray like sheep; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.\r\n \r\n \r\n In like manner, ye wives, [be] in subjection to your won husbands; that, even if any obey not the word, they may without the word be gained by the behavior of their wives;\r\n beholding your chaste behavior [coupled] with fear.\r\n Whose [adorning] let it not be the outward adorning of braiding the hair, and of wearing jewels of gold, or of putting on apparel;\r\n but [let it be] the hidden man of the heart, in the incorruptible [apparel] of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.\r\n For after this manner aforetime the holy women also, who hoped in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection to their own husbands:\r\n as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose children ye now are, if ye do well, and are not put in fear by any terror.\r\n Ye husbands, in like manner, dwell with [your wives] according to knowledge, giving honor unto the woman, as unto the weaker vessel, as being also joint-heirs of the grace of life; to the end that your prayers be not hindered.\r\n Finally, [be] ye all likeminded, compassionate, loving as brethren, tenderhearted, humbleminded:\r\n not rendering evil for evil, or reviling for reviling; but contrariwise blessing; for hereunto were ye called, that ye should inherit a blessing.\r\n For, He that would love life, And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips that they speak no guile:\r\n And let him turn away from evil, and do good; Let him seek peace, and pursue it.\r\n For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, And his ears unto their supplication: But the face of the Lord is upon them that do evil.\r\n And who is he that will harm you, if ye be zealous of that which is good?\r\n But even if ye should suffer for righteousness` sake, blessed [are ye:] and fear not their fear, neither be troubled;\r\n but sanctify in your hearts Christ as Lord: [being] ready always to give answer to every man that asketh you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, yet with meekness and fear:\r\n having a good conscience; that, wherein ye are spoken against, they may be put to shame who revile your good manner of life in Christ.\r\n For it is better, if the will of God should so will, that ye suffer for well-doing than for evil-doing.\r\n Because Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God; being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;\r\n in which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison,\r\n that aforetime were disobedient, when the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water:\r\n which also after a true likeness doth now save you, [even] baptism, not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the interrogation of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ;\r\n who is one the right hand of God, having gone into heaven; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.\r\n \r\n \r\n Forasmuch then as Christ suffered in the flesh, arm ye yourselves also with the same mind; for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;\r\n that ye no longer should live the rest of your time in flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.\r\n For the time past may suffice to have wrought the desire of the Gentiles, and to have walked in lasciviousness, lusts, winebibbings, revellings, carousings, and abominable idolatries:\r\n wherein they think strange that ye run not with [them] into the same excess of riot, speaking evil of [of]:\r\n who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the living and the dead.\r\n For unto this end was the gospel preached even to the dead, that they might be judged indeed according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.\r\n But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore of sound mind, and be sober unto prayer:\r\n above all things being fervent in your love among yourselves; for love covereth a multitude of sins:\r\n using hospitality one to another without murmuring:\r\n according as each hath received a gift, ministering it among yourselves, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God;\r\n if any man speaketh, [speaking] as it were oracles of God; is any man ministereth, [ministering] as of the strength which God supplieth: that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, whose is the glory and the dominion for ever and ever. Amen.\r\n Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial among you, which cometh upon you to prove you, as though a strange thing happened unto you:\r\n but insomuch as ye are partakers of Christ`s sufferings, rejoice; that at the revelation of his glory also ye may rejoice with exceeding joy.\r\n If ye are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed [are ye]; because the [Spirit] of glory and the Spirit of God resteth upon you.\r\n For let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or an evil-doer, or as a meddler in other men`s matters:\r\n but if [a man suffer] as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God in this name.\r\n For the time [is come] for judgment to begin at the house of God: and if [it begin] first at us, what [shall be] the end of them that obey not the gospel of God?\r\n And if the righteous is scarcely saved, where shall the ungodly and sinner appear?\r\n Wherefore let them also that suffer according to the will of God commit their souls in well-doing unto a faithful Creator.\r\n \r\n \r\n The elders among you I exhort, who am a fellow-elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, who am also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:\r\n Tend the flock of God which is among you, exercising the oversight, not of constraint, but willingly, according to [the will of] God; nor yet for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;\r\n neither as lording it over the charge allotted to you, but making yourselves ensamples to the flock.\r\n And when the chief Shepherd shall be manifested, ye shall receive the crown of glory that fadeth not away.\r\n Likewise, ye younger, be subject unto the elder. Yea, all of you gird yourselves with humility, to serve one another: for God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble.\r\n Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time;\r\n casting all your anxiety upon him, because he careth for you.\r\n Be sober, be watchful: your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour,\r\n whom withstand stedfast in your faith, knowing that the same sufferings are accomplished in your brethren who are in the world.\r\n And the God of all grace, who called you unto his eternal glory in Christ, after that ye have suffered a little while, shall himself perfect, establish, strengthen you.\r\n To him [be] the dominion for ever and ever. Amen.\r\n By Silvanus, our faithful brother, as I account [him], I have written unto you briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand ye fast therein.\r\n She that is in Babylon, elect together with [you], saluteth you; and [so doth] Mark my son.\r\n Salute one another with a kiss of love. Peace be unto you all that are in Christ.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained a like precious faith with us in the righteousness of our God and [the] Saviour Jesus Christ:\r\n Grace to you and peace be multiplied in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord;\r\n seeing that his divine power hath granted unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that called us by his own glory and virtue;\r\n whereby he hath granted unto us his precious and exceeding great promises; that through these ye may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in that world by lust.\r\n Yea, and for this very cause adding on your part all diligence, in your faith supply virtue; and in [your] virtue knowledge;\r\n and in [your] knowledge self-control; and in [your] self-control patience; and in [your] patience godliness;\r\n and in [your] godliness brotherly kindness; and in [your] brotherly kindness love.\r\n For if these things are yours and abound, they make you to be not idle nor unfruitful unto the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.\r\n For he that lacketh these things is blind, seeing only what is near, having forgotten the cleansing from his old sins.\r\n Wherefore, brethren, give the more diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never stumble:\r\n for thus shall be richly supplied unto you the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.\r\n Wherefore I shall be ready always to put you in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and are established in the truth which is with [you].\r\n And I think it right, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance;\r\n knowing that the putting off of my tabernacle cometh swiftly, even as our Lord Jesus Christ signified unto me.\r\n Yea, I will give diligence that at every time ye may be able after my decease to call these things to remembrance.\r\n For we did not follow cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.\r\n For he received from God the Father honor and glory, when there was borne such a voice to him by the Majestic Glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased:\r\n and this voice we [ourselves] heard borne out of heaven, when we were with him in the holy mount.\r\n And we have the word of prophecy [made] more sure; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-star arise in your hearts:\r\n knowing this first, that no prophecy of scripture is of private interpretation.\r\n For no prophecy ever came by the will of man: but men spake from God, being moved by the Holy Spirit.\r\n \r\n \r\n But there arose false prophets also among the people, as among you also there shall be false teachers, who shall privily bring in destructive heresies, denying even the Master that bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.\r\n And many shall follow their lascivious doings; by reason of whom the way of the truth shall be evil spoken of.\r\n And in covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose sentence now from of old lingereth not, and their destruction slumbereth not.\r\n For if God spared not angels when they sinned, but cast them down to hell, and committed them to pits of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;\r\n and spared not the ancient world, but preserved Noah with seven others, a preacher of righteousness, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly;\r\n and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, having made them an example unto those that should live ungodly;\r\n and delivered righteous Lot, sore distressed by the lascivious life of the wicked\r\n (for that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed [his] righteous soul from day to day with [their] lawless deeds):\r\n the Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment unto the day of judgment;\r\n but chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of defilement, and despise dominion. Daring, self-willed, they tremble not to rail at dignities:\r\n whereas angels, though greater in might and power, bring not a railing judgment against them before the Lord.\r\n But these, as creatures without reason, born mere animals to be taken and destroyed, railing in matters whereof they are ignorant, shall in their destroying surely be destroyed,\r\n suffering wrong as the hire of wrong-doing; [men] that count it pleasure to revel in the day-time, spots and blemishes, revelling in their deceivings while they feast with you;\r\n having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; enticing unstedfast souls; having a heart exercised in covetousness; children of cursing;\r\n forsaking the right way, they went astray, having followed the way of Balaam the [son] of Beor, who loved the hire of wrong-doing;\r\n but he was rebuked for his own transgression: a dumb ass spake with man`s voice and stayed the madness of the prophet.\r\n These are springs without water, and mists driven by a storm; for whom the blackness of darkness hath been reserved.\r\n For, uttering great swelling [words] of vanity, they entice in the lusts of the flesh, by lasciviousness, those who are just escaping from them that live in error;\r\n promising them liberty, while they themselves are bondservants of corruption; for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he also brought into bondage.\r\n For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein and overcome, the last state is become worse with them than the first.\r\n For it were better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after knowing it, to turn back from the holy commandment delivered unto them.\r\n It has happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog turning to his own vomit again, and the sow that had washed to wallowing in the mire.\r\n \r\n \r\n This is now, beloved, the second epistle that I write unto you; and in both of them I stir up your sincere mind by putting you in remembrance;\r\n that ye should remember the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and the commandments of the Lord and Saviour through your apostles:\r\n knowing this first, that in the last days mockers shall come with mockery, walking after their own lusts,\r\n and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for, from the day that the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.\r\n For this they willfully forget, that there were heavens from of old, and an earth compacted out of water and amidst water, by the word of God;\r\n by which means the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:\r\n but the heavens that now are, and the earth, by the same word have been stored up for fire, being reserved against the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.\r\n But forget not this one thing, beloved, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.\r\n The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some count slackness; but is longsuffering to you-ward, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.\r\n But the day of the Lord will come as a thief; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall be dissolved with fervent heat, and the earth and the works that are therein shall be burned up.\r\n Seeing that these things are thus all to be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in [all] holy living and godliness,\r\n looking for and earnestly desiring the coming of the day of God, by reason of which the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?\r\n But, according to his promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.\r\n Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for these things, give diligence that ye may be found in peace, without spot and blameless in his sight.\r\n And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also, according to the wisdom given to him, wrote unto you;\r\n as also in all [his] epistles, speaking in them of these things; wherein are some things hard to be understood, which the ignorant and unstedfast wrest, as [they do] also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.\r\n Ye therefore, beloved, knowing [these things] beforehand, beware lest, being carried away with the error of the wicked, ye fall from your own stedfastness.\r\n But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him [be] the glory both now and for ever. Amen.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n That which was from the beginning, that which we have heard, that which we have seen with our eyes, that which we beheld, and our hands handled, concerning the Word of life\r\n (and the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare unto you the life, the eternal [life], which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us);\r\n that which we have seen and heard declare we unto you also, that ye also may have fellowship with us: yea, and our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ:\r\n and these things we write, that our joy may be made full.\r\n And this is the message which we have heard from him and announce unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.\r\n If we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in the darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:\r\n but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanseth us from all sin.\r\n If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.\r\n If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.\r\n If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.\r\n \r\n \r\n My little children, these things write I unto you that ye may not sin. And if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:\r\n and he is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the whole world.\r\n And hereby we know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.\r\n He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him;\r\n but whoso keepeth his word, in him verily hath the love of God been perfected. Hereby we know that we are in him:\r\n he that saith he abideth in him ought himself also to walk even as he walked.\r\n Beloved, no new commandment write I unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning: the old commandment is the word which ye heard.\r\n Again, a new commandment write I unto you, which thing is true in him and in you; because the darkness is passing away, and the true light already shineth.\r\n He that saith he is in the light and hateth his brother, is in the darkness even until now.\r\n He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is no occasion of stumbling in him.\r\n But he that hateth his brother is in the darkness, and walketh in the darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because the darkness hath blinded his eyes.\r\n I write unto you, [my] little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name`s sake.\r\n I write unto you, fathers, because ye know him who is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the evil one. I have written unto you, little children, because ye know the Father.\r\n I have written unto you, fathers, because ye know him who is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the evil one.\r\n Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.\r\n For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the vain glory of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.\r\n And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.\r\n Little children, it is the last hour: and as ye heard that antichrist cometh, even now have there arisen many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last hour.\r\n They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us: but [they went out], that they might be made manifest that they all are not of us.\r\n And ye have an anointing from the Holy One, and ye know all the things.\r\n I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and because no lie is of the truth.\r\n Who is the liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, [even] he that denieth the Father and the Son.\r\n Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: he that confesseth the Son hath the Father also.\r\n As for you, let that abide in you which ye heard from the beginning. If that which ye heard from the beginning abide in you, ye also shall abide in the Son, and in the Father.\r\n And this is the promise which he promised us, [even] the life eternal.\r\n These things have I written unto you concerning them that would lead you astray.\r\n And as for you, the anointing which ye received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any one teach you; but as his anointing teacheth you; concerning all things, and is true, and is no lie, and even as it taught you, ye abide in him.\r\n And now, [my] little children, abide in him; that, if he shall be manifested, we may have boldness, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.\r\n If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one also that doeth righteousness is begotten of him.\r\n \r\n \r\n Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God; and [such] we are. For this cause the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.\r\n Beloved, now are we children of God, and it is not yet made manifest what we shall be. We know that, if he shall be manifested, we shall be like him; for we shall see him even as he is.\r\n And every one that hath this hope [set] on him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.\r\n Every one that doeth sin doeth also lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness.\r\n And ye know that he was manifested to take away sins; and in him is no sin.\r\n Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither knoweth him.\r\n [My] little children, let no man lead you astray: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous:\r\n he that doeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. To this end was the Son of God manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.\r\n Whosoever is begotten of God doeth no sin, because his seed abideth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is begotten of God.\r\n In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.\r\n For this is the message which ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another:\r\n not as Cain was of the evil one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his works were evil, and his brother`s righteous.\r\n Marvel not, brethren, if the world hateth you.\r\n We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not abideth in death.\r\n Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.\r\n Hereby know we love, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.\r\n But whoso hath the world`s goods, and beholdeth his brother in need, and shutteth up his compassion from him, how doth the love of God abide in him?\r\n [My] Little children, let us not love in word, neither with the tongue; but in deed and truth.\r\n Hereby shall we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our heart before him:\r\n because if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.\r\n Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, we have boldness toward God;\r\n and whatsoever we ask we receive of him, because we keep his commandments and do the things that are pleasing in his sight.\r\n And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, even as he gave us commandment.\r\n And he that keepeth his commandments abideth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he gave us.\r\n \r\n \r\n Beloved, believe not every spirit, but prove the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world.\r\n Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:\r\n and every spirit that confesseth not Jesus is not of God: and this is the [spirit] of the antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it cometh; and now it is in the world already.\r\n Ye are of God, [my] little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world.\r\n They are of the world: therefore speak they [as] of the world, and the world heareth them.\r\n We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he who is not of God heareth us not. By this we know the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.\r\n Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is begotten of God, and knoweth God.\r\n He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.\r\n Herein was the love of God manifested in us, that God hath sent his only begotten Son into the world that we might live through him.\r\n Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son [to be] the propitiation for our sins.\r\n Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.\r\n No man hath beheld God at any time: if we love one another, God abideth in us, and his love is perfected in us:\r\n hereby we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.\r\n And we have beheld and bear witness that the Father hath sent the Son [to be] the Saviour of the world.\r\n Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God abideth in him, and he in God.\r\n And we know and have believed the love which God hath in us. God is love; and he that abideth in love abideth in God, and God abideth in him.\r\n Herein is love made perfect with us, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as he is, even so are we in this world.\r\n There is no fear in love: but perfect love casteth out fear, because fear hath punishment; and he that feareth is not made perfect in love.\r\n We love, because he first loved us.\r\n If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, cannot love God whom he hath not seen.\r\n And this commandment have we from him, that he who loveth God love his brother also.\r\n \r\n \r\n Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is begotten of God: and whosoever loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.\r\n Hereby we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and do his commandments.\r\n For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.\r\n For whatsoever is begotten of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that hath overcome the world, [even] our faith.\r\n And who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?\r\n This is he that came by water and blood, [even] Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood.\r\n And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is the truth.\r\n For there are three who bear witness, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and the three agree in one.\r\n If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for the witness of God is this, that he hath borne witness concerning his Son.\r\n He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in him: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he hath not believed in the witness that God hath borne concerning his Son.\r\n And the witness is this, that God gave unto us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.\r\n He that hath the Son hath the life; he that hath not the Son of God hath not the life.\r\n These things have I written unto you, that ye may know that ye have eternal life, [even] unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God.\r\n And this is the boldness which we have toward him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us:\r\n and if we know that he heareth us whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions which we have asked of him.\r\n If any man see his brother sinning a sin not unto death, he shall ask, and [God] will give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: not concerning this do I say that he should make request.\r\n All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.\r\n We know that whosoever is begotten of God sinneth not; but he that was begotten of God keepeth himself, and the evil one toucheth him not.\r\n We know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in the evil one.\r\n And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, [even] in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.\r\n [My] little children, guard yourselves from idols.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth; and not I only, but also all they that know the truth;\r\n for the truth`s sake which abideth in us, and it shall be with us for ever:\r\n Grace, mercy, peace shall be with us, from God the Father, and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.\r\n I rejoice greatly that I have found [certain] of thy children walking in truth, even as we received commandment from the Father.\r\n And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote to thee a new commandment, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.\r\n And this is love, that we should walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, even as ye heard from the beginning, that ye should walk in it.\r\n For many deceivers are gone forth into the world, [even] they that confess not that Jesus Christ cometh in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist.\r\n Look to yourselves, that ye lose not the things which we have wrought, but that ye receive a full reward.\r\n Whosoever goeth onward and abideth not in the teaching of Christ, hath not God: he that abideth in the teaching, the same hath both the Father and the Son.\r\n If any one cometh unto you, and bringeth not this teaching, receive him not into [your] house, and give him no greeting:\r\n for he that giveth him greeting partaketh in his evil works.\r\n Having many things to write unto you, I would not [write them] with paper and ink: but I hope to come unto you, and to speak face to face, that your joy may be made full.\r\n The children of thine elect sister salute thee.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n The elder unto Gaius the beloved, whom I love in truth.\r\n Beloved, I pray that in all things thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.\r\n For I rejoiced greatly, when brethren came and bare witness unto thy truth, even as thou walkest in truth.\r\n Greater joy have I none than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.\r\n Beloved, thou doest a faithful work in whatsoever thou doest toward them that are brethren and strangers withal;\r\n who bare witness to thy love before the church: whom thou wilt do well to set forward on their journey worthily of God:\r\n because that for the sake of the Name they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles.\r\n We therefore ought to welcome such, that we may be fellow-workers for the truth.\r\n I wrote somewhat unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.\r\n Therefore, if I come, I will bring to remembrance his works which he doeth, prating against us with wicked words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and them that would he forbiddeth and casteth [them] out of the church.\r\n Beloved, imitate not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: he that doeth evil hath not seen God.\r\n Demetrius hath the witness of all [men], and of the truth itself: yea, we also bear witness: and thou knowest that our witness is true.\r\n I had many things to write unto thee, but I am unwilling to write [them] to thee with ink and pen:\r\n but I hope shortly to see thee, and we shall speak face to face. Peace [be] unto thee. The friends salute thee. Salute the friends by name.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are called, beloved in God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ:\r\n Mercy unto you and peace and love be multiplied.\r\n Beloved, while I was giving all diligence to write unto you of our common salvation, I was constrained to write unto you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered unto the saints.\r\n For there are certain men crept in privily, [even] they who were of old written of beforehand unto this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.\r\n Now I desire to put you in remembrance, though ye know all things once for all, that the Lord, having saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.\r\n And angels that kept not their own principality, but left their proper habitation, he hath kept in everlasting bonds under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.\r\n Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them, having in like manner with these given themselves over to fornication and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the punishment of eternal fire.\r\n Yet in like manner these also in their dreamings defile the flesh, and set at nought dominion, and rail at dignities.\r\n But Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing judgment, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.\r\n But these rail at whatsoever things they know not: and what they understand naturally, like the creatures without reason, in these things are they destroyed.\r\n Woe unto them! For they went in the way of Cain, and ran riotously in the error of Balaam for hire, and perished in the gainsaying of Korah.\r\n These are they who are hidden rocks in your love-feasts when they feast with you, shepherds that without fear feed themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn leaves without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;\r\n Wild waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the blackness of darkness hath been reserved forever.\r\n And to these also Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, Behold, the Lord came with ten thousands of his holy ones,\r\n to execute judgment upon all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their works of ungodliness which they have ungodly wrought, and of all the hard things which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.\r\n These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their lusts (and their mouth speaketh great swelling [words]), showing respect of persons for the sake of advantage.\r\n But ye, beloved, remember ye the words which have been spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;\r\n That they said to you, In the last time there shall be mockers, walking after their own ungodly lusts.\r\n These are they who make separations, sensual, having not the Spirit.\r\n But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,\r\n keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.\r\n And on some have mercy, who are in doubt;\r\n and some save, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.\r\n Now unto him that is able to guard you from stumbling, and to set you before the presence of his glory without blemish in exceeding joy,\r\n to the only God our Saviour, through Jesus Christ our Lord, [be] glory, majesty, dominion and power, before all time, and now, and for evermore. Amen.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show unto his servants, [even] the things which must shortly come to pass: and he sent and signified [it] by his angel unto his servant John;\r\n who bare witness of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, [even] of all things that he saw.\r\n Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of the prophecy, and keep the things that are written therein: for the time is at hand.\r\n John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace, from him who is and who was and who is to come; and from the seven Spirits that are before his throne;\r\n and from Jesus Christ, [who is] the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loveth us, and loosed us from our sins by his blood;\r\n and he made us [to be] a kingdom, [to be] priests unto his God and Father; to him [be] the glory and the dominion for ever and ever. Amen.\r\n Behold, he cometh with the clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they that pierced him; and all the tribes of the earth shall mourn over him. Even so, Amen.\r\n I am the Alpha and the Omega, saith the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.\r\n I John, your brother and partaker with you in tribulation and kingdom and patience [which are] in Jesus, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.\r\n I was in the Spirit on the Lord`s day, and I heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet\r\n saying, What thou seest, write in a book and send [it] to the seven churches: unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamum, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.\r\n And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And having turned I saw seven golden candlesticks;\r\n and in the midst of the candlesticks one like unto a son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about at the breasts with a golden girdle.\r\n And his head and his hair were white as white wool, [white] as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;\r\n and his feet like unto burnished brass, as if it had been refined in a furnace; and his voice as the voice of many waters.\r\n And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth proceeded a sharp two-edged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.\r\n And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as one dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying, Fear not; I am the first and the last,\r\n and the Living one; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive for evermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.\r\n Write therefore the things which thou sawest, and the things which are, and the things which shall come to pass hereafter;\r\n the mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks are seven churches.\r\n \r\n \r\n To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, he that walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks:\r\n I know thy works, and thy toil and patience, and that thou canst not bear evil men, and didst try them that call themselves apostles, and they are not, and didst find them false;\r\n and thou hast patience and didst bear for my name`s sake, and hast not grown weary.\r\n But I have [this] against thee, that thou didst leave thy first love.\r\n Remember therefore whence thou art fallen, and repent and do the first works; or else I come to thee, and will move thy candlestick out of its place, except thou repent.\r\n But this thou hast, that thou hatest the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.\r\n He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. To him that overcometh, to him will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God.\r\n And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These things saith the first and the last, who was dead, and lived [again]:\r\n I know thy tribulation, and thy poverty (but thou art rich), and the blasphemy of them that say they are Jews, and they art not, but are a synagogue of Satan.\r\n Fear not the things which thou art about to suffer: behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days. Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee the crown of life.\r\n He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.\r\n and to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These things saith he that hath the sharp two-edged sword:\r\n I know where thou dwellest, [even] where Satan`s throne is; and thou holdest fast my name, and didst not deny my faith, even in the days of Antipas my witness, my faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwelleth.\r\n But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there some that hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit fornication.\r\n So hast thou also some that hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans in like manner.\r\n Repent therefore; or else I come to thee quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of my mouth.\r\n He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. To him that overcometh, to him will I give of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and upon the stone a new name written, which no one knoweth but he that receiveth it.\r\n And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like a flame of fire, and his feet are like unto burnished brass:\r\n I know thy works, and thy love and faith and ministry and patience, and that thy last works are more than the first.\r\n But I have [this] against thee, that thou sufferest the woman Jezebel, who calleth herself a prophetess; and she teacheth and seduceth my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed to idols.\r\n And I gave her time that she should repent; and she willeth not to repent of her fornication.\r\n Behold, I cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of her works.\r\n And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he that searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto each one of you according to your works.\r\n But to you I say, to the rest that are in Thyatira, as many as have not this teaching, who know not the deep things of Satan, as they are wont to say; I cast upon you none other burden.\r\n Nevertheless that which ye have, hold fast till I come.\r\n And he that overcometh, and he that keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give authority over the nations:\r\n and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as the vessels of the potter are broken to shivers; as I also have received of my Father:\r\n and I will give him the morning star.\r\n He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches.\r\n \r\n \r\n And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars: I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and thou art dead.\r\n Be thou watchful, and establish the things that remain, which were ready to die: for I have found no works of thine perfected before my God.\r\n Remember therefore how thou hast received and didst hear; and keep [it], and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.\r\n But thou hast a few names in Sardis that did not defile their garments: and they shall walk with me in white; for they are worthy.\r\n He that overcometh shall thus be arrayed in white garments; and I will in no wise blot his name out of the book of life, and I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.\r\n He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches.\r\n And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth and none shall shut, and that shutteth and none openeth:\r\n I know thy works (behold, I have set before thee a door opened, which none can shut), that thou hast a little power, and didst keep my word, and didst not deny my name.\r\n Behold, I give of the synagogue of Satan, of them that say they are Jews, and they are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.\r\n Because thou didst keep the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of trial, that [hour] which is to come upon the whole world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.\r\n I come quickly: hold fast that which thou hast, that no one take thy crown.\r\n He that overcometh, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go out thence no more: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God, and mine own new name.\r\n He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches.\r\n And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God:\r\n I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.\r\n So because thou art lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spew thee out of my mouth.\r\n Because thou sayest, I am rich, and have gotten riches, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art the wretched one and miserable and poor and blind and naked:\r\n I counsel thee to buy of me gold refined by fire, that thou mayest become rich; and white garments, that thou mayest clothe thyself, and [that] the shame of thy nakedness be not made manifest; and eyesalve to anoint thine eyes, that thou mayest see.\r\n As many as I love, I reprove and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.\r\n Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.\r\n He that overcometh, I will give to him to sit down with me in my throne, as I also overcame, and sat down with my Father in his throne.\r\n He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches.\r\n \r\n \r\n After these things I saw, and behold, a door opened in heaven, and the first voice that I heard, [a voice] as of a trumpet speaking with me, one saying, Come up hither, and I will show thee the things which must come to pass hereafter.\r\n Straightway I was in the Spirit: and behold, there was a throne set in heaven, and one sitting upon the throne;\r\n and he that sat [was] to look upon like a jasper stone and a sardius: and [there was] a rainbow round about the throne, like an emerald to look upon.\r\n And round about the throne [were] four and twenty thrones: and upon the thrones [I saw] four and twenty elders sitting, arrayed in white garments; and on their heads crowns of gold.\r\n And out of the throne proceed lightnings and voices and thunders. And [there was] seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God;\r\n and before the throne, as it were a sea of glass like a crystal; and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, four living creatures full of eyes before and behind.\r\n And the first creature [was] like a lion, and the second creature like a calf, and the third creature had a face as of a man, and the fourth creature [was] like a flying eagle.\r\n and the four living creatures, having each one of them six wings, are full of eyes round about and within: and they have no rest day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, [is] the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come.\r\n And when the living creatures shall give glory and honor and thanks to him that sitteth on the throne, to him that liveth for ever and ever,\r\n the four and twenty elders shall fall down before him that sitteth on the throne, and shall worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and shall cast their crowns before the throne, saying,\r\n Worthy art thou, our Lord and our God, to receive the glory and the honor and the power: for thou didst create all things, and because of thy will they were, and were created.\r\n \r\n \r\n And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the back, close sealed with seven seals.\r\n And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a great voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?\r\n And no one in the heaven, or on the earth, or under the earth, was able to open the book, or to look thereon.\r\n And I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open the book, or to look thereon:\r\n and one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not; behold, the Lion that is of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath overcome to open the book and the seven seals thereof.\r\n And I saw in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, having seven horns, and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent forth into all the earth.\r\n And he came, and he taketh [it] out of the right hand of him that sat on the throne.\r\n And when he had taken the book, the four living creatures and the four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having each one a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.\r\n And they sing a new song, saying, Worthy art thou to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou was slain, and didst purchase unto God with thy blood [men] of every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation,\r\n and madest them [to be] unto our God a kingdom and priests; and they reign upon earth.\r\n And I saw, and I heard a voice of many angels round about the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;\r\n saying with a great voice, Worthy is the Lamb that hath been slain to receive the power, and riches, and wisdom, and might and honor, and glory, and blessing.\r\n And every created thing which is in the heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and on the sea, and all things are in them, heard I saying, Unto him that sitteth on the throne, and unto the Lamb, [be] the blessing, and the honor, and the glory, and the dominion, for ever and ever.\r\n And the four living creatures said, Amen. And the elders fell down and worshipped.\r\n \r\n \r\n And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying as with a voice of thunder, Come.\r\n And I saw, and behold, a white horse, and he that sat thereon had a bow; and there was given unto him a crown: and he came forth conquering, and to conquer.\r\n And when he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, Come.\r\n And another [horse] came forth, a red horse: and to him that sat thereon it was given to take peace from the earth, and that they should slay one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.\r\n And when he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying, Come. And I saw, and behold, a black horse; and he that sat thereon had a balance in his hand.\r\n And I heard as it were a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, A measure of wheat for a shilling, and three measures of barley for a shilling; and the oil and the wine hurt thou not.\r\n And when he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, Come.\r\n And I saw, and behold, a pale horse: and he that sat upon him, his name was Death; and Hades followed with him. And there was given unto them authority over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with famine, and with death, and by the wild beasts of the earth.\r\n And when he opened the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of them that had been slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:\r\n and they cried with a great voice, saying, How long, O Master, the holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?\r\n And there was given them to each one a white robe; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little time, until their fellow-servants also and their brethren, who should be killed even as they were, should have fulfilled [their course].\r\n And I saw when he opened the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the whole moon became as blood;\r\n and the stars of the heaven fell unto the earth, as a fig tree casteth her unripe figs when she is shaken of a great wind.\r\n And the heaven was removed as a scroll when it is rolled up; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.\r\n And the kings of the earth, and the princes, and the chief captains, and the rich, and the strong, and every bondman and freeman, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains;\r\n and they say to the mountains and to the rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:\r\n for the great day of their wrath is come; and who is able to stand?\r\n \r\n \r\n After his I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that no wind should blow on the earth, or on the sea, or upon any tree.\r\n And I saw another angel ascend from the sunrising, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a great voice to the four angels to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,\r\n saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we shall have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.\r\n And I heard the number of them that were sealed, a hundred and forty and four thousand, sealed out of every tribe of the children of Israel:\r\n Of the tribe of Judah [were] sealed twelve thousand: Of the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand; Of the tribe of Gad twelve thousand;\r\n Of the tribe of Asher twelve thousand; Of the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand; Of the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand;\r\n Of the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand; Of the tribe of Levi twelve thousand; Of the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand;\r\n Of the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand; Of the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand; Of the tribe of Benjamin [were] sealed twelve thousand.\r\n After these things I saw, and behold, a great multitude, which no man could number, out of every nation and of [all] tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, arrayed in white robes, and palms in their hands;\r\n and they cry with a great voice, saying, Salvation unto our God who sitteth on the throne, and unto the Lamb.\r\n And all the angels were standing round about the throne, and [about] the elders and the four living creatures; and they fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,\r\n saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might, [be] unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.\r\n And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, These that are arrayed in white robes, who are they, and whence came they?\r\n And I say unto him, My lord, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they that come of the great tribulation, and they washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.\r\n Therefore are they before the throne of God; and they serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall spread his tabernacle over them.\r\n They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun strike upon them, nor any heat:\r\n for the Lamb that is in the midst of the throne shall be their shepherd, and shall guide them unto fountains of waters of life: and God shall wipe away every tear from their eyes.\r\n \r\n \r\n And when he opened the seventh seal, there followed a silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.\r\n And I saw the seven angels that stand before God; and there were given unto them seven trumpets.\r\n And another angel came and stood over the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should add it unto the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.\r\n And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel`s hand.\r\n And the angel taketh the censer; and he filled it with the fire of the altar, and cast it upon the earth: and there followed thunders, and voices, and lightnings, and an earthquake.\r\n And the seven angels that had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.\r\n And the first sounded, and there followed hail and fire, mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of the earth was burnt up, and the third part of the trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.\r\n And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood;\r\n and there died the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, [even] they that had life; and the third part of the ships was destroyed.\r\n And the third angel sounded, and there fell from heaven a great star, burning as a torch, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of the waters;\r\n and the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.\r\n And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; that the third part of them should be darkened, and the day should not shine for the third part of it, and the night in like manner.\r\n And I saw, and I heard an eagle, flying in mid heaven, saying with a great voice, Woe, woe, woe, for them that dwell on the earth, by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, who are yet to sound.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star from heaven fallen unto the earth: and there was given to him the key of the pit of the abyss.\r\n And he opened the pit of the abyss; and there went up a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.\r\n And out of the smoke came forth locusts upon the earth; and power was given them, as the scorpions of the earth have power.\r\n And it was said unto them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree, but only such men as have not the seal of God on their foreheads.\r\n And it was given them that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when it striketh a man.\r\n And in those days men shall seek death, and shall in no wise find it; and they shall desire to die, and death fleeth from them.\r\n And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared for war; and upon their heads as it were crowns like unto gold, and their faces were as men`s faces.\r\n And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as [teeth] of lions.\r\n And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots, of many horses rushing to war.\r\n And they have tails like unto scorpions, and stings; and in their tails is their power to hurt men five months.\r\n They have over them as king the angel of the abyss: his name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in the Greek [tongue] he hath the name Apollyon.\r\n The first Woe is past: behold, there come yet two Woes hereafter.\r\n And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the horns of the golden altar which is before God,\r\n one saying to the sixth angel that had one trumpet, Loose the four angels that are bound at the great river Euphrates.\r\n And the four angels were loosed, that had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, that they should kill the third part of men.\r\n And the number of the armies of the horsemen was twice ten thousand times ten thousand: I heard the number of them.\r\n And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates [as] of fire and of hyacinth and of brimstone: and the heads of lions; and out of their mouths proceedeth fire and smoke and brimstone.\r\n By these three plagues was the third part of men killed, by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone, which proceeded out of their mouths.\r\n For the power of the horses is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails are like unto serpents, and have heads; and with them they hurt.\r\n And the rest of mankind, who were not killed with these plagues, repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and the idols of gold, and of silver, and of brass, and of stone, and of wood; which can neither see, nor hear, nor walk:\r\n and they repented not of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.\r\n \r\n \r\n And I saw another strong angel coming down out of heaven, arrayed with a cloud; and the rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire;\r\n and he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left upon the earth;\r\n and he cried with a great voice, as a lion roareth: and when he cried, the seven thunders uttered their voices.\r\n And when the seven thunders uttered [their voices], I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying, Seal up the things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not.\r\n And the angel that I saw standing upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his right hand to heaven,\r\n and sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created the heaven and the things that are therein, and the earth and the things that are therein, and the sea and the things that are therein, that there shall be delay no longer:\r\n but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, then is finished they mystery of God, according to the good tidings which he declared to his servants the prophets.\r\n And the voice which I heard from heaven, [I heard it] again speaking with me, and saying, Go, take the book which is open in the hand of the angel that standeth upon the sea and upon the earth.\r\n And I went unto the angel, saying unto him that he should give me the little book. And he saith unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but in thy mouth it shall be sweet as honey.\r\n And I took the little book out of the angel`s hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and when I had eaten it, my belly was made bitter.\r\n And they say unto me, Thou must prophesy again over many peoples and nations and tongues and kings.\r\n \r\n \r\n And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and one said, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.\r\n And the court which is without the temple leave without, and measure it not; for it hath been given unto the nations: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.\r\n And I will give unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.\r\n These are the two olive trees and the two candlesticks, standing before the Lord of the earth.\r\n And if any man desireth to hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth and devoureth their enemies; and if any man shall desire to hurt them, in this manner must he be killed.\r\n These have the power to shut the heaven, that it rain not during the days of their prophecy: and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood, and to smite the earth with every plague, as often as they shall desire.\r\n And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that cometh up out of the abyss shall make war with them, and overcome them, and kill them.\r\n And their dead bodies [lie] in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified.\r\n And from among the peoples and tribes and tongues and nations do [men] look upon their dead bodies three days and a half, and suffer not their dead bodies to be laid in a tomb.\r\n And they that dwell on the earth rejoice over them, and make merry; and they shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwell on the earth.\r\n And after the three days and a half the breath of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them that beheld them.\r\n And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they went up into heaven in the cloud; and their enemies beheld them.\r\n And in that hour there was a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell; and there were killed in the earthquake seven thousand persons: and the rest were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.\r\n The second Woe is past: behold, the third Woe cometh quickly.\r\n And the seventh angel sounded; and there followed great voices in heaven, and they said, The kingdom of the world is become [the kingdom] of our Lord, and of his Christ: and he shall reign for ever and ever.\r\n And the four and twenty elders, who sit before God on their thrones, fell upon their faces and worshipped God,\r\n saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God, the Almighty, who art and who wast; because thou hast taken thy great power, and didst reign.\r\n And the nations were wroth, and thy wrath came, and the time of the dead to be judged, and [the time] to give their reward to thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and to them that fear thy name, the small and the great; and to destroy them that destroy the earth.\r\n And there was opened the temple of God that is in heaven; and there was seen in his temple the ark of his covenant; and there followed lightnings, and voices, and thunders, and an earthquake, and great hail.\r\n \r\n \r\n And a great sign was seen in heaven: a woman arrayed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars;\r\n and she was the child; and she crieth out, travailing in birth, and in pain to be delivered.\r\n And there was seen another sign in heaven: and behold, a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his heads seven diadems.\r\n And his tail draweth the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon standeth before the woman that is about to be delivered, that when she is delivered he may devour her child.\r\n And she was delivered of a son, a man child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and unto his throne.\r\n And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that there they may nourish her a thousand two hundred and threescore days.\r\n And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels [going forth] to war with the dragon; and the dragon warred and his angels;\r\n And they prevailed not, neither was their place found any more in heaven.\r\n And the great dragon was cast down, the old serpent, he that is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world; he was cast down to the earth, and his angels were cast down with him.\r\n And I heard a great voice in heaven, saying, Now is come the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, who accuseth them before our God day and night.\r\n And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb, and because of the word of their testimony; and they loved not their life even unto death.\r\n Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe for the earth and for the sea: because the devil is gone down unto you, having great wrath, knowing that he hath but a short time.\r\n And when the dragon saw that he was cast down to the earth, he persecuted the woman that brought forth the man [child].\r\n And there were given to the woman the two wings of the great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness unto her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.\r\n And the serpent cast out of his mouth after the woman water as a river, that he might cause her to be carried away by the stream.\r\n And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth and swallowed up the river which the dragon cast out of his mouth.\r\n And the dragon waxed wroth with the woman, and went away to make war with the rest of her seed, that keep the commandments of God, and hold the testimony of Jesus:\r\n \r\n \r\n and he stood upon the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns, and seven heads, and on his horns ten diadems, and upon his heads names of blasphemy.\r\n And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as [the feet] of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his throne, and great authority.\r\n And [I saw] one of his heads as though it had been smitten unto death; and his death-stroke was healed: and the whole earth wondered after the beast;\r\n and they worshipped the dragon, because he gave his authority unto the beast; and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? And who is able to war with him?\r\n and there was given to him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and there was given to him authority to continue forty and two months.\r\n And he opened his mouth for blasphemies against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, [even] them that dwell in the heaven.\r\n And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and there was given to him authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation.\r\n And all that dwell on the earth shall worship him, [every one] whose name hath not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb that hath been slain.\r\n If any man hath an ear, let him hear.\r\n If any man [is] for captivity, into captivity he goeth: if any man shall kill with the sword, with the sword must he be killed. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.\r\n And I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like unto lamb, and he spake as a dragon.\r\n And he exerciseth all the authority of the first beast in his sight. And he maketh the earth and them dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose death-stroke was healed.\r\n And he doeth great signs, that he should even make fire to come down out of heaven upon the earth in the sight of men.\r\n And he deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by reason of the signs which it was given him to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast who hath the stroke of the sword and lived.\r\n And it was given [unto him] to give breath to it, [even] to the image to the breast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as should not worship the image of the beast should be killed.\r\n And he causeth all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free and the bond, that there be given them a mark on their right hand, or upon their forehead;\r\n and that no man should be able to buy or to sell, save he that hath the mark, [even] the name of the beast or the number of his name.\r\n Here is wisdom. He that hath understanding, let him count the number of the beast; for it is the number of a man: and his number is Six hundred and sixty and six.\r\n \r\n \r\n And I saw, and behold, the Lamb standing on the mount Zion, and with him a hundred and forty and four thousand, having his name, and the name of his Father, written on their foreheads.\r\n And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and the voice which I heard [was] as [the voice] of harpers harping with their harps:\r\n and they sing as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four living creatures and the elders: and no man could learn the song save the hundred and forty and four thousand, [even] they that had been purchased out of the earth.\r\n These are they that were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These [are] they that follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were purchased from among men, [to be] the firstfruits unto God and unto the Lamb.\r\n And in their mouth was found no lie: they are without blemish.\r\n And I saw another angel flying in mid heaven, having eternal good tidings to proclaim unto them that dwell on the earth, and unto every nation and tribe and tongue and people;\r\n and he saith with a great voice, Fear God, and give him glory; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made the heaven and the earth and sea and fountains of waters.\r\n And another, a second angel, followed, saying, Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, that hath made all the nations to drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.\r\n And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a great voice, If any man worshippeth the beast and his image, and receiveth a mark on his forehead, or upon his hand,\r\n he also shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is prepared unmixed in the cup of his anger; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:\r\n and the smoke of their torment goeth up for ever and ever; and they have no rest day and night, they that worship the beast and his image, and whoso receiveth the mark of his name.\r\n Here is the patience of the saints, they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.\r\n And I heard the voice from heaven saying, Write, Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from henceforth: yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; for their works follow with them.\r\n And I saw, and behold, a white cloud; and on the cloud [I saw] one sitting like unto a son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand sharp sickle.\r\n And another angel came out from the temple, crying with a great voice to him that sat on the cloud, Send forth thy sickle, and reap: for the hour to reap is come; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.\r\n And he that sat on the cloud cast his sickle upon the earth; and the earth was reaped.\r\n Another angel came out from the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.\r\n And another angel came out from the altar, he that hath power over fire; and he called with a great voice to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Send forth thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.\r\n And the angel cast his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vintage of the earth, and cast it into the winepress, the great [winepress], of the wrath of God.\r\n And the winepress are trodden without the city, and there came out blood from the winepress, even unto the bridles of the horses, as far as a thousand and six hundred furlongs.\r\n \r\n \r\n And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having seven plagues, [which are] the last, for in them is finished the wrath of God.\r\n And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire; and them that come off victorious from the beast, and from his image, and from the number of his name, standing by the sea of glass, having harps of God.\r\n And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, O Lord God, the Almighty; righteous and true are thy ways, thou King of the ages.\r\n Who shall not fear, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy; for all the nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy righteous acts have been made manifest.\r\n And after these things I saw, and the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened:\r\n and there came out from the temple the seven angels that had the seven plagues, arrayed with [precious] stone, pure [and] bright, and girt about their breasts with golden girdles.\r\n And one of the four living creatures gave unto the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.\r\n And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and none was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels should be finished.\r\n \r\n \r\n And I heard a great voice out of the temple, saying to the seven angels, Go ye, and pour out the seven bowls of the wrath of God into the earth.\r\n And the first went, and poured out his bowl into the earth; and it became a noisome and grievous sore upon the men that had the mark of the beast, and that worshipped his image.\r\n And the second poured out his bowl into the sea; and it became blood as of a dead man; and every living soul died, [even] the things that were in the sea.\r\n And the third poured out his bowl into the rivers and the fountains of the waters; and it became blood.\r\n And I heard the angel of the waters saying, Righteous art thou, who art and who wast, thou Holy One, because thou didst thus judge:\r\n for they poured out the blood of the saints and the prophets, and blood hast thou given them to drink: they are worthy.\r\n And I heard the altar saying, Yea, O Lord God, the Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments.\r\n And the fourth poured out his bowl upon the sun; and it was given unto it to scorch men with fire.\r\n And men were scorched men with great heat: and they blasphemed the name of God who hath the power over these plagues; and they repented not to give him glory.\r\n And the fifth poured out his bowl upon the throne of the beast; and his kingdom was darkened; and they gnawed their tongues for pain,\r\n and they blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores; and they repented not of their works.\r\n And the sixth poured out his bowl upon the great river, the [river] Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way might by made ready for the kings that [come] from the sunrising.\r\n And I saw [coming] out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits, as it were frogs:\r\n for they are spirits of demons, working signs; which go forth unto the kings of the whole world, to gather them together unto the war of the great day of God, the Almighty.\r\n (Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walked naked, and they see his shame.)\r\n And they gathered them together into the place which is called in Hebrew Har-magedon.\r\n And the seventh poured out his bowl upon the air; and there came forth a great voice out of the temple, from the throne, saying, It is done:\r\n and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunders; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since there were men upon the earth, so great an earthquake, so mighty.\r\n And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and Babylon the great was remembered in the sight of God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.\r\n And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.\r\n And great hail, [every stone] about the weight of a talent, cometh down out of heaven upon men: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof is exceeding great.\r\n \r\n \r\n And there came one of the seven angels that had the seven bowls, and spake with me, saying, Come hither, I will show thee the judgment of the great harlot that sitteth upon many waters;\r\n with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and they that dwell in the earth were made drunken with the wine of her fornication.\r\n And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness: and I saw a woman sitting upon a scarlet-colored beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.\r\n And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and decked with gold and precious stone and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations, even the unclean things of her fornication,\r\n and upon her forehead a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF THE HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.\r\n And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I wondered with a great wonder.\r\n And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou wonder? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and the ten horns.\r\n The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and is about to come up out of the abyss, and to go into perdition. And they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, [they] whose name hath not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast, how that he was, and is not, and shall come.\r\n Here is the mind that hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth:\r\n and they are seven kings; the five are fallen, the one is, the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a little while.\r\n And the beast that was, and is not, is himself also an eighth, and is of the seven; and he goeth into perdition.\r\n And the ten horns that thou sawest are ten kings, who have received no kingdom as yet; but they receive authority as kings, with the beast, for one hour.\r\n These have one mind, and they give their power and authority unto the beast.\r\n These shall war against the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them, for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings; and they [also shall overcome] that are with him, called and chosen and faithful.\r\n And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the harlot sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.\r\n And the ten horns which thou sawest, and the beast, these shall hate the harlot, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and shall burn her utterly with fire.\r\n For God did put in their hearts to do his mind, and to come to one mind, and to give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God should be accomplished.\r\n And the woman whom thou sawest is the great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.\r\n \r\n \r\n After these things I saw another angel coming down out of heaven, having great authority; and the earth was lightened with his glory.\r\n And he cried with a mighty voice, saying, Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, and is become a habitation of demons, and a hold of every unclean spirit, and a hold of every unclean and hateful bird.\r\n For by the wine of the wrath of her fornication all the nations are fallen; and the kings of the earth committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth waxed rich by the power of her wantonness.\r\n And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come forth, my people, out of her, that ye have no fellowship with her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues:\r\n for her sins have reached even unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.\r\n Render unto her even as she rendered, and double [unto her] the double according to her works: in the cup which she mingled, mingle unto her double.\r\n How much soever she glorified herself, and waxed wanton, so much give her of torment and mourning: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall in no wise see mourning.\r\n Therefore in one day shall her plagues come, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire; for strong is the Lord God who judged her.\r\n And the kings of the earth, who committed fornication and lived wantonly with her, shall weep and wail over her, when they look upon the smoke of her burning,\r\n standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Woe, woe, the great city, Babylon, the strong city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.\r\n And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn over her, for no man buyeth their merchandise any more;\r\n merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stone, and pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet; and all thyine wood, and every vessel of ivory, and every vessel made of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble;\r\n and cinnamon, and spice, and incense, and ointment, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and cattle, and sheep; and [merchandise] of horses and chariots and slaves; and souls of men.\r\n And the fruits which thy soul lusted after are gone from thee, and all things that were dainty and sumptuous are perished from thee, and [men] shall find them no more at all.\r\n The merchants of these things, who were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and mourning;\r\n saying, Woe, woe, the great city, she that was arrayed in fine linen and purple and scarlet, and decked with gold and precious stone and pearl!\r\n for in an hour so great riches is made desolate. And every shipmaster, and every one that saileth any wither, and mariners, and as many as gain their living by sea, stood afar off,\r\n and cried out as they looked upon the smoke of her burning, saying, What [city] is like the great city?\r\n And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and mourning, saying, Woe, woe, the great city, wherein all that had their ships in the sea were made rich by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.\r\n Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye saints, and ye apostles, and ye prophets; for God hath judged your judgment on her.\r\n And a strong angel took up a stone as it were a great millstone and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with a mighty fall shall Babylon, the great city, be cast down, and shall be found no more at all.\r\n And the voice of harpers and minstrels and flute-players and trumpeters shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft, shall be found any more at all in thee; and the voice of a mill shall be heard no more at all in thee;\r\n and the light of a lamp shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the princes of the earth; for with thy sorcery were all the nations deceived.\r\n And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all that have been slain upon the earth.\r\n \r\n \r\n After these things I heard as it were a great voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, Hallelujah; Salvation, and glory, and power, belong to our God:\r\n for true and righteous are his judgments; for he hath judged the great harlot, her that corrupted the earth with her fornication, and he hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.\r\n And a second time they say, Hallelujah. And her smoke goeth up for ever and ever.\r\n And the four and twenty elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshipped God that sitteth on the throne, saying, Amen; Hallelujah.\r\n And a voice came forth from the throne, saying, Give praise to our God, all ye his servants, ye that fear him, the small and the great.\r\n And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunders, saying, Hallelujah: for the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigneth.\r\n Let us rejoice and be exceeding glad, and let us give the glory unto him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.\r\n And it was given unto her that she should array herself in fine linen, bright [and] pure: for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.\r\n And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they that are bidden to the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are true words of God.\r\n And I fell down before his feet to worship him. And he saith unto me, See thou do it not: I am a fellow-servant with thee and with thy brethren that hold the testimony of Jesus: worship God; for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.\r\n And I saw the heaven opened; and behold, a white horse, and he that sat thereon called Faithful and True; and in righteous he doth judge and make war.\r\n And his eyes [are] a flame of fire, and upon his head [are] many diadems; and he hath a name written which no one knoweth but he himself.\r\n And he [is] arrayed in a garment sprinkled with blood: and his name is called The Word of God.\r\n And the armies which are in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white [and] pure.\r\n And out of his mouth proceedeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness of the wrath of God, the Almighty.\r\n And he hath on his garment and on his thigh a name written, KINGS OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.\r\n And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in mid heaven, Come [and] be gathered together unto the great supper of God;\r\n that ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses and of them that sit thereon, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, and small and great.\r\n And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat upon the horse, and against his army.\r\n And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought the signs in his sight, wherewith he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast and them that worshipped his image: they two were cast alive into the lake of fire that burneth with brimstone:\r\n and the rest were killed with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, [even the sword] which came forth out of his mouth: and all the birds were filled with their flesh.\r\n \r\n \r\n And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand.\r\n And he laid hold on the dragon, the old serpent, which is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years,\r\n and cast him into the abyss, and shut [it], and sealed [it] over him, that he should deceive the nations no more, until the thousand years should be finished: after this he must be loosed for a little time.\r\n And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and [I saw] the souls of them that had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus, and for the word of God, and such as worshipped not the beast, neither his image, and received not the mark upon their forehead and upon their hand; and they lived, and reigned with Christ a thousand years.\r\n The rest of the dead lived not until the thousand years should be finished. This is the first resurrection.\r\n Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: over these the second death hath no power; but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.\r\n And when the thousand years are finished, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,\r\n and shall come forth to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to the war: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.\r\n And they went up over the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down out of heaven, and devoured them.\r\n And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where are also the beast and the false prophet; and they shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.\r\n And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat upon it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.\r\n And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne; and books were opened: and another book was opened, which is [the book] of life: and the dead were judged out of the things which were written in the books, according to their works.\r\n And the sea gave up the dead that were in it; and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.\r\n And death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death, [even] the lake of fire.\r\n And if any was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire.\r\n \r\n \r\n And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth are passed away; and the sea is no more.\r\n And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven of God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.\r\n And I heard a great voice out of the throne saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he shall dwell with them, and they shall be his peoples, and God himself shall be with them, [and be] their God:\r\n and he shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death shall be no more; neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more: the first things are passed away.\r\n And he that sitteth on the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he saith, Write: for these words are faithful and true.\r\n And he said unto me, They are come to pass. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.\r\n He that overcometh shall inherit these things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.\r\n But for the fearful, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and fornicators, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, their part [shall be] in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone; which is the second death.\r\n And there came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls, who were laden with the seven last plagues; and he spake with me, saying, Come hither, I will show thee the bride, the wife of the Lamb.\r\n And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,\r\n having the glory of God: her light was like unto a stone most precious, as it were a jasper stone, clear as crystal:\r\n having a wall great and high; having twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels; and names written thereon, which are [the names] of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:\r\n on the east were three gates; and on the north three gates; and on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.\r\n And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.\r\n And he that spake with me had for a measure a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.\r\n And the city lieth foursquare, and the length thereof is as great as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs: the length and the breadth and the height thereof are equal.\r\n And he measured the wall thereof, a hundred and forty and four cubits, [according to] the measure of a man, that is, of an angel.\r\n And the building of the wall thereof was jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto pure glass.\r\n The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald;\r\n the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprase; the eleventh, jacinth; the twelfth, amethyst.\r\n And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each one of the several gates was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.\r\n And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God the Almighty, and the Lamb, are the temple thereof.\r\n And the city hath no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine upon it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the lamp thereof [is] the Lamb.\r\n And the nations shall walk amidst the light thereof: and the kings of the earth bring their glory into it.\r\n And the gates thereof shall in no wise be shut by day (for there shall be no night there):\r\n and they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it:\r\n and there shall in no wise enter into it anything unclean, or he that maketh an abomination and a lie: but only they that are written in the Lamb`s book of life.\r\n \r\n \r\n And he showed me a river of water of life, bright as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb,\r\n in the midst of the street thereof. And on this side of the river and on that was the tree of life, bearing twelve [manner of] fruits, yielding its fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.\r\n And there shall be no curse any more: and the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be therein: and his servants shall serve him;\r\n and they shall see his face; and his name [shall be] on their foreheads.\r\n And there shall be night no more; and they need no light of lamp, neither light of sun; for the Lord God shall give them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.\r\n And he said unto me, These words are faithful and true: and the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent his angels to show unto his servants the things which must shortly come to pass.\r\n And behold, I come quickly. Blessed is he that keepeth the words of the prophecy of this book.\r\n And I John am he that heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel that showed me these things.\r\n And he saith unto me, See thou do it not: I am a fellow-servant with thee and with thy brethren the prophets, and with them that keep the words of this book: worship God.\r\n And he saith unto me, Seal not up the words of the prophecy of this book; for the time is at hand.\r\n He that is unrighteous, let him do unrighteousness still: and he that is filthy, let him be made filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him do righteousness still: and he that is holy, let him be made holy still.\r\n Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to render to each man according as his work is.\r\n I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.\r\n Blessed are they that wash their robes, that they may have the right [to come] to the tree of life, and my enter in by the gates into the city.\r\n Without are the dogs, and the sorcerers, and the fornicators, and the murderers, and the idolaters, and every one that loveth and maketh a lie.\r\n I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things for the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, the bright, the morning star.\r\n And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And he that heareth, let him say, Come. And he that is athirst, let him come: he that will, let him take the water of life freely.\r\n I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, if any man shall add unto them, God shall add unto him the plagues which are written in this book:\r\n and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the tree of life, and out of the holy city, which are written in this book.\r\n He who testifieth these things saith, Yea: I come quickly. Amen: come, Lord Jesus.\r\n The grace of the Lord Jesus be with the saints. Amen.\r\n \r\n \r\n"
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"path": "Quelea/bibles/kjv.xml",
"content": "\r\n\r\n \r\n \r\n In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.\r\n And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.\r\n And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.\r\n And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.\r\n And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.\r\n And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.\r\n And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so.\r\n And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.\r\n And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so.\r\n And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good.\r\n And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.\r\n And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.\r\n And the evening and the morning were the third day.\r\n And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:\r\n And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so.\r\n And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.\r\n And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth,\r\n And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good.\r\n And the evening and the morning were the fourth day.\r\n And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.\r\n And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good.\r\n And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth.\r\n And the evening and the morning were the fifth day.\r\n And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.\r\n And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.\r\n And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.\r\n So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.\r\n And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.\r\n And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.\r\n And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.\r\n And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.\r\n \r\n \r\n Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.\r\n And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.\r\n And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.\r\n These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens,\r\n And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground.\r\n But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground.\r\n And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.\r\n And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.\r\n And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.\r\n And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads.\r\n The name of the first is Pison: that is it which compasseth the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold;\r\n And the gold of that land is good: there is bdellium and the onyx stone.\r\n And the name of the second river is Gihon: the same is it that compasseth the whole land of Ethiopia.\r\n And the name of the third river is Hiddekel: that is it which goeth toward the east of Assyria. And the fourth river is Euphrates.\r\n And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.\r\n And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:\r\n But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.\r\n And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.\r\n And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.\r\n And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.\r\n And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;\r\n And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.\r\n And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.\r\n Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.\r\n And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?\r\n And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:\r\n But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.\r\n And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:\r\n For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.\r\n And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.\r\n And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.\r\n And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.\r\n And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?\r\n And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.\r\n And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?\r\n And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.\r\n And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.\r\n And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:\r\n And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.\r\n Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.\r\n And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;\r\n Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;\r\n In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.\r\n And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.\r\n Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.\r\n And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:\r\n Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.\r\n So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD.\r\n And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.\r\n And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.\r\n And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:\r\n But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.\r\n And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?\r\n If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.\r\n And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.\r\n And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?\r\n And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.\r\n And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand;\r\n When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.\r\n And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment is greater than I can bear.\r\n Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me.\r\n And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.\r\n And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.\r\n And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch.\r\n And unto Enoch was born Irad: and Irad begat Mehujael: and Mehujael begat Methusael: and Methusael begat Lamech.\r\n And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.\r\n And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents, and of such as have cattle.\r\n And his brother's name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ.\r\n And Zillah, she also bare Tubalcain, an instructer of every artificer in brass and iron: and the sister of Tubalcain was Naamah.\r\n And Lamech said unto his wives, Adah and Zillah, Hear my voice; ye wives of Lamech, hearken unto my speech: for I have slain a man to my wounding, and a young man to my hurt.\r\n If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold.\r\n And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew.\r\n And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the LORD.\r\n \r\n \r\n This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him;\r\n Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.\r\n And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth:\r\n And the days of Adam after he had begotten Seth were eight hundred years: and he begat sons and daughters:\r\n And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died.\r\n And Seth lived an hundred and five years, and begat Enos:\r\n And Seth lived after he begat Enos eight hundred and seven years, and begat sons and daughters:\r\n And all the days of Seth were nine hundred and twelve years: and he died.\r\n And Enos lived ninety years, and begat Cainan:\r\n And Enos lived after he begat Cainan eight hundred and fifteen years, and begat sons and daughters:\r\n And all the days of Enos were nine hundred and five years: and he died.\r\n And Cainan lived seventy years, and begat Mahalaleel:\r\n And Cainan lived after he begat Mahalaleel eight hundred and forty years, and begat sons and daughters:\r\n And all the days of Cainan were nine hundred and ten years: and he died.\r\n And Mahalaleel lived sixty and five years, and begat Jared:\r\n And Mahalaleel lived after he begat Jared eight hundred and thirty years, and begat sons and daughters:\r\n And all the days of Mahalaleel were eight hundred ninety and five years: and he died.\r\n And Jared lived an hundred sixty and two years, and he begat Enoch:\r\n And Jared lived after he begat Enoch eight hundred years, and begat sons and daughters:\r\n And all the days of Jared were nine hundred sixty and two years: and he died.\r\n And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah:\r\n And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters:\r\n And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years:\r\n And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.\r\n And Methuselah lived an hundred eighty and seven years, and begat Lamech:\r\n And Methuselah lived after he begat Lamech seven hundred eighty and two years, and begat sons and daughters:\r\n And all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty and nine years: and he died.\r\n And Lamech lived an hundred eighty and two years, and begat a son:\r\n And he called his name Noah, saying, This same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground which the LORD hath cursed.\r\n And Lamech lived after he begat Noah five hundred ninety and five years, and begat sons and daughters:\r\n And all the days of Lamech were seven hundred seventy and seven years: and he died.\r\n And Noah was five hundred years old: and Noah begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them,\r\n That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.\r\n And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.\r\n There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.\r\n And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.\r\n And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.\r\n And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.\r\n But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.\r\n These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.\r\n And Noah begat three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.\r\n The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.\r\n And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.\r\n And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.\r\n Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch.\r\n And this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits.\r\n A window shalt thou make to the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish it above; and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof; with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it.\r\n And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die.\r\n But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons' wives with thee.\r\n And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep them alive with thee; they shall be male and female.\r\n Of fowls after their kind, and of cattle after their kind, of every creeping thing of the earth after his kind, two of every sort shall come unto thee, to keep them alive.\r\n And take thou unto thee of all food that is eaten, and thou shalt gather it to thee; and it shall be for food for thee, and for them.\r\n Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.\r\n Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female: and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his female.\r\n Of fowls also of the air by sevens, the male and the female; to keep seed alive upon the face of all the earth.\r\n For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth.\r\n And Noah did according unto all that the LORD commanded him.\r\n And Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters was upon the earth.\r\n And Noah went in, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons' wives with him, into the ark, because of the waters of the flood.\r\n Of clean beasts, and of beasts that are not clean, and of fowls, and of every thing that creepeth upon the earth,\r\n There went in two and two unto Noah into the ark, the male and the female, as God had commanded Noah.\r\n And it came to pass after seven days, that the waters of the flood were upon the earth.\r\n In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.\r\n And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights.\r\n In the selfsame day entered Noah, and Shem, and Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah's wife, and the three wives of his sons with them, into the ark;\r\n They, and every beast after his kind, and all the cattle after their kind, and every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind, and every fowl after his kind, every bird of every sort.\r\n And they went in unto Noah into the ark, two and two of all flesh, wherein is the breath of life.\r\n And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the LORD shut him in.\r\n And the flood was forty days upon the earth; and the waters increased, and bare up the ark, and it was lift up above the earth.\r\n And the waters prevailed, and were increased greatly upon the earth; and the ark went upon the face of the waters.\r\n And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the high hills, that were under the whole heaven, were covered.\r\n Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail; and the mountains were covered.\r\n And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beast, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, and every man:\r\n All in whose nostrils was the breath of life, of all that was in the dry land, died.\r\n And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of the heaven; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark.\r\n And the waters prevailed upon the earth an hundred and fifty days.\r\n \r\n \r\n And God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the cattle that was with him in the ark: and God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters asswaged;\r\n The fountains also of the deep and the windows of heaven were stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained;\r\n And the waters returned from off the earth continually: and after the end of the hundred and fifty days the waters were abated.\r\n And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat.\r\n And the waters decreased continually until the tenth month: in the tenth month, on the first day of the month, were the tops of the mountains seen.\r\n And it came to pass at the end of forty days, that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made:\r\n And he sent forth a raven, which went forth to and fro, until the waters were dried up from off the earth.\r\n Also he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters were abated from off the face of the ground;\r\n But the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot, and she returned unto him into the ark, for the waters were on the face of the whole earth: then he put forth his hand, and took her, and pulled her in unto him into the ark.\r\n And he stayed yet other seven days; and again he sent forth the dove out of the ark;\r\n And the dove came in to him in the evening; and, lo, in her mouth was an olive leaf pluckt off: so Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth.\r\n And he stayed yet other seven days; and sent forth the dove; which returned not again unto him any more.\r\n And it came to pass in the six hundredth and first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were dried up from off the earth: and Noah removed the covering of the ark, and looked, and, behold, the face of the ground was dry.\r\n And in the second month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, was the earth dried.\r\n And God spake unto Noah, saying,\r\n Go forth of the ark, thou, and thy wife, and thy sons, and thy sons' wives with thee.\r\n Bring forth with thee every living thing that is with thee, of all flesh, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth; that they may breed abundantly in the earth, and be fruitful, and multiply upon the earth.\r\n And Noah went forth, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons' wives with him:\r\n Every beast, every creeping thing, and every fowl, and whatsoever creepeth upon the earth, after their kinds, went forth out of the ark.\r\n And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.\r\n And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.\r\n While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.\r\n \r\n \r\n And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.\r\n And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered.\r\n Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.\r\n But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.\r\n And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man's brother will I require the life of man.\r\n Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.\r\n And you, be ye fruitful, and multiply; bring forth abundantly in the earth, and multiply therein.\r\n And God spake unto Noah, and to his sons with him, saying,\r\n And I, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you;\r\n And with every living creature that is with you, of the fowl, of the cattle, and of every beast of the earth with you; from all that go out of the ark, to every beast of the earth.\r\n And I will establish my covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth.\r\n And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations:\r\n I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.\r\n And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud:\r\n And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.\r\n And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.\r\n And God said unto Noah, This is the token of the covenant, which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth.\r\n And the sons of Noah, that went forth of the ark, were Shem, and Ham, and Japheth: and Ham is the father of Canaan.\r\n These are the three sons of Noah: and of them was the whole earth overspread.\r\n And Noah began to be an husbandman, and he planted a vineyard:\r\n And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent.\r\n And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without.\r\n And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father's nakedness.\r\n And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done unto him.\r\n And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren.\r\n And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant.\r\n God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant.\r\n And Noah lived after the flood three hundred and fifty years.\r\n And all the days of Noah were nine hundred and fifty years: and he died.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now these are the generations of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth: and unto them were sons born after the flood.\r\n The sons of Japheth; Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras.\r\n And the sons of Gomer; Ashkenaz, and Riphath, and Togarmah.\r\n And the sons of Javan; Elishah, and Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim.\r\n By these were the isles of the Gentiles divided in their lands; every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations.\r\n And the sons of Ham; Cush, and Mizraim, and Phut, and Canaan.\r\n And the sons of Cush; Seba, and Havilah, and Sabtah, and Raamah, and Sabtecha: and the sons of Raamah; Sheba, and Dedan.\r\n And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth.\r\n He was a mighty hunter before the LORD: wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the LORD.\r\n And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.\r\n Out of that land went forth Asshur, and builded Nineveh, and the city Rehoboth, and Calah,\r\n And Resen between Nineveh and Calah: the same is a great city.\r\n And Mizraim begat Ludim, and Anamim, and Lehabim, and Naphtuhim,\r\n And Pathrusim, and Casluhim, (out of whom came Philistim,) and Caphtorim.\r\n And Canaan begat Sidon his firstborn, and Heth,\r\n And the Jebusite, and the Amorite, and the Girgasite,\r\n And the Hivite, and the Arkite, and the Sinite,\r\n And the Arvadite, and the Zemarite, and the Hamathite: and afterward were the families of the Canaanites spread abroad.\r\n And the border of the Canaanites was from Sidon, as thou comest to Gerar, unto Gaza; as thou goest, unto Sodom, and Gomorrah, and Admah, and Zeboim, even unto Lasha.\r\n These are the sons of Ham, after their families, after their tongues, in their countries, and in their nations.\r\n Unto Shem also, the father of all the children of Eber, the brother of Japheth the elder, even to him were children born.\r\n The children of Shem; Elam, and Asshur, and Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram.\r\n And the children of Aram; Uz, and Hul, and Gether, and Mash.\r\n And Arphaxad begat Salah; and Salah begat Eber.\r\n And unto Eber were born two sons: the name of one was Peleg; for in his days was the earth divided; and his brother's name was Joktan.\r\n And Joktan begat Almodad, and Sheleph, and Hazarmaveth, and Jerah,\r\n And Hadoram, and Uzal, and Diklah,\r\n And Obal, and Abimael, and Sheba,\r\n And Ophir, and Havilah, and Jobab: all these were the sons of Joktan.\r\n And their dwelling was from Mesha, as thou goest unto Sephar a mount of the east.\r\n These are the sons of Shem, after their families, after their tongues, in their lands, after their nations.\r\n These are the families of the sons of Noah, after their generations, in their nations: and by these were the nations divided in the earth after the flood.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech.\r\n And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there.\r\n And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter.\r\n And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.\r\n And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.\r\n And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.\r\n Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech.\r\n So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city.\r\n Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.\r\n These are the generations of Shem: Shem was an hundred years old, and begat Arphaxad two years after the flood:\r\n And Shem lived after he begat Arphaxad five hundred years, and begat sons and daughters.\r\n And Arphaxad lived five and thirty years, and begat Salah:\r\n And Arphaxad lived after he begat Salah four hundred and three years, and begat sons and daughters.\r\n And Salah lived thirty years, and begat Eber:\r\n And Salah lived after he begat Eber four hundred and three years, and begat sons and daughters.\r\n And Eber lived four and thirty years, and begat Peleg:\r\n And Eber lived after he begat Peleg four hundred and thirty years, and begat sons and daughters.\r\n And Peleg lived thirty years, and begat Reu:\r\n And Peleg lived after he begat Reu two hundred and nine years, and begat sons and daughters.\r\n And Reu lived two and thirty years, and begat Serug:\r\n And Reu lived after he begat Serug two hundred and seven years, and begat sons and daughters.\r\n And Serug lived thirty years, and begat Nahor:\r\n And Serug lived after he begat Nahor two hundred years, and begat sons and daughters.\r\n And Nahor lived nine and twenty years, and begat Terah:\r\n And Nahor lived after he begat Terah an hundred and nineteen years, and begat sons and daughters.\r\n And Terah lived seventy years, and begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran.\r\n Now these are the generations of Terah: Terah begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran begat Lot.\r\n And Haran died before his father Terah in the land of his nativity, in Ur of the Chaldees.\r\n And Abram and Nahor took them wives: the name of Abram's wife was Sarai; and the name of Nahor's wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah, and the father of Iscah.\r\n But Sarai was barren; she had no child.\r\n And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran his son's son, and Sarai his daughter in law, his son Abram's wife; and they went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan; and they came unto Haran, and dwelt there.\r\n And the days of Terah were two hundred and five years: and Terah died in Haran.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:\r\n And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:\r\n And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.\r\n So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.\r\n And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.\r\n And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land.\r\n And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him.\r\n And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD.\r\n And Abram journeyed, going on still toward the south.\r\n And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land.\r\n And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon:\r\n Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they shall say, This is his wife: and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive.\r\n Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee.\r\n And it came to pass, that, when Abram was come into Egypt, the Egyptians beheld the woman that she was very fair.\r\n The princes also of Pharaoh saw her, and commended her before Pharaoh: and the woman was taken into Pharaoh's house.\r\n And he entreated Abram well for her sake: and he had sheep, and oxen, and he asses, and menservants, and maidservants, and she asses, and camels.\r\n And the LORD plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai Abram's wife.\r\n And Pharaoh called Abram, and said, What is this that thou hast done unto me? why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife?\r\n Why saidst thou, She is my sister? so I might have taken her to me to wife: now therefore behold thy wife, take her, and go thy way.\r\n And Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him: and they sent him away, and his wife, and all that he had.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the south.\r\n And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold.\r\n And he went on his journeys from the south even to Bethel, unto the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Hai;\r\n Unto the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first: and there Abram called on the name of the LORD.\r\n And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents.\r\n And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together.\r\n And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram's cattle and the herdmen of Lot's cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land.\r\n And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.\r\n Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.\r\n And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.\r\n Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.\r\n Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.\r\n But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.\r\n And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward:\r\n For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.\r\n And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.\r\n Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.\r\n Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the LORD.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations;\r\n That these made war with Bera king of Sodom, and with Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, and Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela, which is Zoar.\r\n All these were joined together in the vale of Siddim, which is the salt sea.\r\n Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled.\r\n And in the fourteenth year came Chedorlaomer, and the kings that were with him, and smote the Rephaims in Ashteroth Karnaim, and the Zuzims in Ham, and the Emims in Shaveh Kiriathaim,\r\n And the Horites in their mount Seir, unto Elparan, which is by the wilderness.\r\n And they returned, and came to Enmishpat, which is Kadesh, and smote all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites, that dwelt in Hazezontamar.\r\n And there went out the king of Sodom, and the king of Gomorrah, and the king of Admah, and the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (the same is Zoar;) and they joined battle with them in the vale of Siddim;\r\n With Chedorlaomer the king of Elam, and with Tidal king of nations, and Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar; four kings with five.\r\n And the vale of Siddim was full of slimepits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and fell there; and they that remained fled to the mountain.\r\n And they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their victuals, and went their way.\r\n And they took Lot, Abram's brother's son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.\r\n And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew; for he dwelt in the plain of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner: and these were confederate with Abram.\r\n And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan.\r\n And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus.\r\n And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people.\r\n And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the king's dale.\r\n And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.\r\n And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:\r\n And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.\r\n And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself.\r\n And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth,\r\n That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich:\r\n Save only that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men which went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.\r\n \r\n \r\n After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.\r\n And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?\r\n And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir.\r\n And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.\r\n And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.\r\n And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.\r\n And he said unto him, I am the LORD that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it.\r\n And he said, Lord GOD, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it?\r\n And he said unto him, Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon.\r\n And he took unto him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid each piece one against another: but the birds divided he not.\r\n And when the fowls came down upon the carcases, Abram drove them away.\r\n And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him.\r\n And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;\r\n And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance.\r\n And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age.\r\n But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.\r\n And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces.\r\n In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:\r\n The Kenites, and the Kenizzites, and the Kadmonites,\r\n And the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Rephaims,\r\n And the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now Sarai Abram's wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.\r\n And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.\r\n And Sarai Abram's wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife.\r\n And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.\r\n And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the LORD judge between me and thee.\r\n But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid is in thy hand; do to her as it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face.\r\n And the angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur.\r\n And he said, Hagar, Sarai's maid, whence camest thou? and whither wilt thou go? And she said, I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai.\r\n And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.\r\n And the angel of the LORD said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude.\r\n And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the LORD hath heard thy affliction.\r\n And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.\r\n And she called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me?\r\n Wherefore the well was called Beerlahairoi; behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered.\r\n And Hagar bare Abram a son: and Abram called his son's name, which Hagar bare, Ishmael.\r\n And Abram was fourscore and six years old, when Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram.\r\n \r\n \r\n And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.\r\n And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.\r\n And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying,\r\n As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.\r\n Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.\r\n And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.\r\n And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.\r\n And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.\r\n And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations.\r\n This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised.\r\n And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you.\r\n And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed.\r\n He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.\r\n And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant.\r\n And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be.\r\n And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her.\r\n Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?\r\n And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee!\r\n And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.\r\n And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation.\r\n But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.\r\n And he left off talking with him, and God went up from Abraham.\r\n And Abraham took Ishmael his son, and all that were born in his house, and all that were bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham's house; and circumcised the flesh of their foreskin in the selfsame day, as God had said unto him.\r\n And Abraham was ninety years old and nine, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.\r\n And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.\r\n In the selfsame day was Abraham circumcised, and Ishmael his son.\r\n And all the men of his house, born in the house, and bought with money of the stranger, were circumcised with him.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day;\r\n And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground,\r\n And said, My Lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant:\r\n Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree:\r\n And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your hearts; after that ye shall pass on: for therefore are ye come to your servant. And they said, So do, as thou hast said.\r\n And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes upon the hearth.\r\n And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetcht a calf tender and good, and gave it unto a young man; and he hasted to dress it.\r\n And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat.\r\n And they said unto him, Where is Sarah thy wife? And he said, Behold, in the tent.\r\n And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him.\r\n Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.\r\n Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?\r\n And the LORD said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?\r\n Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.\r\n Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And he said, Nay; but thou didst laugh.\r\n And the men rose up from thence, and looked toward Sodom: and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way.\r\n And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do;\r\n Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?\r\n For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.\r\n And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;\r\n I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.\r\n And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the LORD.\r\n And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?\r\n Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein?\r\n That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?\r\n And the LORD said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.\r\n And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes:\r\n Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city for lack of five? And he said, If I find there forty and five, I will not destroy it.\r\n And he spake unto him yet again, and said, Peradventure there shall be forty found there. And he said, I will not do it for forty's sake.\r\n And he said unto him, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Peradventure there shall thirty be found there. And he said, I will not do it, if I find thirty there.\r\n And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord: Peradventure there shall be twenty found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for twenty's sake.\r\n And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten's sake.\r\n And the LORD went his way, as soon as he had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place.\r\n \r\n \r\n And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground;\r\n And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant's house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night.\r\n And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat.\r\n But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter:\r\n And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.\r\n And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him,\r\n And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly.\r\n Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof.\r\n And they said, Stand back. And they said again, This one fellow came in to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge: now will we deal worse with thee, than with them. And they pressed sore upon the man, even Lot, and came near to break the door.\r\n But the men put forth their hand, and pulled Lot into the house to them, and shut to the door.\r\n And they smote the men that were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great: so that they wearied themselves to find the door.\r\n And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? son in law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place:\r\n For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the LORD; and the LORD hath sent us to destroy it.\r\n And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law.\r\n And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city.\r\n And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.\r\n And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.\r\n And Lot said unto them, Oh, not so, my Lord:\r\n Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me, and I die:\r\n Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one: Oh, let me escape thither, (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live.\r\n And he said unto him, See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow this city, for the which thou hast spoken.\r\n Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.\r\n The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar.\r\n Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven;\r\n And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground.\r\n But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.\r\n And Abraham gat up early in the morning to the place where he stood before the LORD:\r\n And he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and beheld, and, lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace.\r\n And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in the which Lot dwelt.\r\n And Lot went up out of Zoar, and dwelt in the mountain, and his two daughters with him; for he feared to dwell in Zoar: and he dwelt in a cave, he and his two daughters.\r\n And the firstborn said unto the younger, Our father is old, and there is not a man in the earth to come in unto us after the manner of all the earth:\r\n Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father.\r\n And they made their father drink wine that night: and the firstborn went in, and lay with her father; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose.\r\n And it came to pass on the morrow, that the firstborn said unto the younger, Behold, I lay yesternight with my father: let us make him drink wine this night also; and go thou in, and lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father.\r\n And they made their father drink wine that night also: and the younger arose, and lay with him; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose.\r\n Thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their father.\r\n And the firstborn bare a son, and called his name Moab: the same is the father of the Moabites unto this day.\r\n And the younger, she also bare a son, and called his name Benammi: the same is the father of the children of Ammon unto this day.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Abraham journeyed from thence toward the south country, and dwelled between Kadesh and Shur, and sojourned in Gerar.\r\n And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah.\r\n But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she is a man's wife.\r\n But Abimelech had not come near her: and he said, Lord, wilt thou slay also a righteous nation?\r\n Said he not unto me, She is my sister? and she, even she herself said, He is my brother: in the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands have I done this.\r\n And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her.\r\n Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine.\r\n Therefore Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ears: and the men were sore afraid.\r\n Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said unto him, What hast thou done unto us? and what have I offended thee, that thou hast brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? thou hast done deeds unto me that ought not to be done.\r\n And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What sawest thou, that thou hast done this thing?\r\n And Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will slay me for my wife's sake.\r\n And yet indeed she is my sister; she is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife.\r\n And it came to pass, when God caused me to wander from my father's house, that I said unto her, This is thy kindness which thou shalt shew unto me; at every place whither we shall come, say of me, He is my brother.\r\n And Abimelech took sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and womenservants, and gave them unto Abraham, and restored him Sarah his wife.\r\n And Abimelech said, Behold, my land is before thee: dwell where it pleaseth thee.\r\n And unto Sarah he said, Behold, I have given thy brother a thousand pieces of silver: behold, he is to thee a covering of the eyes, unto all that are with thee, and with all other: thus she was reproved.\r\n So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare children.\r\n For the LORD had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham's wife.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken.\r\n For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.\r\n And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac.\r\n And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old, as God had commanded him.\r\n And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him.\r\n And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me.\r\n And she said, Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should have given children suck? for I have born him a son in his old age.\r\n And the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned.\r\n And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking.\r\n Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.\r\n And the thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight because of his son.\r\n And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.\r\n And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he is thy seed.\r\n And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away: and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba.\r\n And the water was spent in the bottle, and she cast the child under one of the shrubs.\r\n And she went, and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it were a bowshot: for she said, Let me not see the death of the child. And she sat over against him, and lift up her voice, and wept.\r\n And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is.\r\n Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation.\r\n And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink.\r\n And God was with the lad; and he grew, and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer.\r\n And he dwelt in the wilderness of Paran: and his mother took him a wife out of the land of Egypt.\r\n And it came to pass at that time, that Abimelech and Phichol the chief captain of his host spake unto Abraham, saying, God is with thee in all that thou doest:\r\n Now therefore swear unto me here by God that thou wilt not deal falsely with me, nor with my son, nor with my son's son: but according to the kindness that I have done unto thee, thou shalt do unto me, and to the land wherein thou hast sojourned.\r\n And Abraham said, I will swear.\r\n And Abraham reproved Abimelech because of a well of water, which Abimelech's servants had violently taken away.\r\n And Abimelech said, I wot not who hath done this thing: neither didst thou tell me, neither yet heard I of it, but to day.\r\n And Abraham took sheep and oxen, and gave them unto Abimelech; and both of them made a covenant.\r\n And Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves.\r\n And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What mean these seven ewe lambs which thou hast set by themselves?\r\n And he said, For these seven ewe lambs shalt thou take of my hand, that they may be a witness unto me, that I have digged this well.\r\n Wherefore he called that place Beersheba; because there they sware both of them.\r\n Thus they made a covenant at Beersheba: then Abimelech rose up, and Phichol the chief captain of his host, and they returned into the land of the Philistines.\r\n And Abraham planted a grove in Beersheba, and called there on the name of the LORD, the everlasting God.\r\n And Abraham sojourned in the Philistines' land many days.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.\r\n And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.\r\n And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.\r\n Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off.\r\n And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.\r\n And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together.\r\n And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?\r\n And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.\r\n And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.\r\n And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.\r\n And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.\r\n And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.\r\n And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.\r\n And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.\r\n And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time,\r\n And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:\r\n That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;\r\n And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.\r\n So Abraham returned unto his young men, and they rose up and went together to Beersheba; and Abraham dwelt at Beersheba.\r\n And it came to pass after these things, that it was told Abraham, saying, Behold, Milcah, she hath also born children unto thy brother Nahor;\r\n Huz his firstborn, and Buz his brother, and Kemuel the father of Aram,\r\n And Chesed, and Hazo, and Pildash, and Jidlaph, and Bethuel.\r\n And Bethuel begat Rebekah: these eight Milcah did bear to Nahor, Abraham's brother.\r\n And his concubine, whose name was Reumah, she bare also Tebah, and Gaham, and Thahash, and Maachah.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Sarah was an hundred and seven and twenty years old: these were the years of the life of Sarah.\r\n And Sarah died in Kirjatharba; the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan: and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her.\r\n And Abraham stood up from before his dead, and spake unto the sons of Heth, saying,\r\n I am a stranger and a sojourner with you: give me a possession of a buryingplace with you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.\r\n And the children of Heth answered Abraham, saying unto him,\r\n Hear us, my lord: thou art a mighty prince among us: in the choice of our sepulchres bury thy dead; none of us shall withhold from thee his sepulchre, but that thou mayest bury thy dead.\r\n And Abraham stood up, and bowed himself to the people of the land, even to the children of Heth.\r\n And he communed with them, saying, If it be your mind that I should bury my dead out of my sight; hear me, and intreat for me to Ephron the son of Zohar,\r\n That he may give me the cave of Machpelah, which he hath, which is in the end of his field; for as much money as it is worth he shall give it me for a possession of a buryingplace amongst you.\r\n And Ephron dwelt among the children of Heth: and Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the audience of the children of Heth, even of all that went in at the gate of his city, saying,\r\n Nay, my lord, hear me: the field give I thee, and the cave that is therein, I give it thee; in the presence of the sons of my people give I it thee: bury thy dead.\r\n And Abraham bowed down himself before the people of the land.\r\n And he spake unto Ephron in the audience of the people of the land, saying, But if thou wilt give it, I pray thee, hear me: I will give thee money for the field; take it of me, and I will bury my dead there.\r\n And Ephron answered Abraham, saying unto him,\r\n My lord, hearken unto me: the land is worth four hundred shekels of silver; what is that betwixt me and thee? bury therefore thy dead.\r\n And Abraham hearkened unto Ephron; and Abraham weighed to Ephron the silver, which he had named in the audience of the sons of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, current money with the merchant.\r\n And the field of Ephron, which was in Machpelah, which was before Mamre, the field, and the cave which was therein, and all the trees that were in the field, that were in all the borders round about, were made sure\r\n Unto Abraham for a possession in the presence of the children of Heth, before all that went in at the gate of his city.\r\n And after this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah before Mamre: the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan.\r\n And the field, and the cave that is therein, were made sure unto Abraham for a possession of a buryingplace by the sons of Heth.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Abraham was old, and well stricken in age: and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things.\r\n And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh:\r\n And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell:\r\n But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac.\r\n And the servant said unto him, Peradventure the woman will not be willing to follow me unto this land: must I needs bring thy son again unto the land from whence thou camest?\r\n And Abraham said unto him, Beware thou that thou bring not my son thither again.\r\n The LORD God of heaven, which took me from my father's house, and from the land of my kindred, and which spake unto me, and that sware unto me, saying, Unto thy seed will I give this land; he shall send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence.\r\n And if the woman will not be willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be clear from this my oath: only bring not my son thither again.\r\n And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and sware to him concerning that matter.\r\n And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and departed; for all the goods of his master were in his hand: and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor.\r\n And he made his camels to kneel down without the city by a well of water at the time of the evening, even the time that women go out to draw water.\r\n And he said, O LORD God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and shew kindness unto my master Abraham.\r\n Behold, I stand here by the well of water; and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water:\r\n And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let the same be she that thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou hast shewed kindness unto my master.\r\n And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder.\r\n And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her: and she went down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up.\r\n And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Let me, I pray thee, drink a little water of thy pitcher.\r\n And she said, Drink, my lord: and she hasted, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him drink.\r\n And when she had done giving him drink, she said, I will draw water for thy camels also, until they have done drinking.\r\n And she hasted, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again unto the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels.\r\n And the man wondering at her held his peace, to wit whether the LORD had made his journey prosperous or not.\r\n And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden earring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold;\r\n And said, Whose daughter art thou? tell me, I pray thee: is there room in thy father's house for us to lodge in?\r\n And she said unto him, I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, which she bare unto Nahor.\r\n She said moreover unto him, We have both straw and provender enough, and room to lodge in.\r\n And the man bowed down his head, and worshipped the LORD.\r\n And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of my master Abraham, who hath not left destitute my master of his mercy and his truth: I being in the way, the LORD led me to the house of my master's brethren.\r\n And the damsel ran, and told them of her mother's house these things.\r\n And Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban: and Laban ran out unto the man, unto the well.\r\n And it came to pass, when he saw the earring and bracelets upon his sister's hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, Thus spake the man unto me; that he came unto the man; and, behold, he stood by the camels at the well.\r\n And he said, Come in, thou blessed of the LORD; wherefore standest thou without? for I have prepared the house, and room for the camels.\r\n And the man came into the house: and he ungirded his camels, and gave straw and provender for the camels, and water to wash his feet, and the men's feet that were with him.\r\n And there was set meat before him to eat: but he said, I will not eat, until I have told mine errand. And he said, Speak on.\r\n And he said, I am Abraham's servant.\r\n And the LORD hath blessed my master greatly; and he is become great: and he hath given him flocks, and herds, and silver, and gold, and menservants, and maidservants, and camels, and asses.\r\n And Sarah my master's wife bare a son to my master when she was old: and unto him hath he given all that he hath.\r\n And my master made me swear, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife to my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell:\r\n But thou shalt go unto my father's house, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son.\r\n And I said unto my master, Peradventure the woman will not follow me.\r\n And he said unto me, The LORD, before whom I walk, will send his angel with thee, and prosper thy way; and thou shalt take a wife for my son of my kindred, and of my father's house:\r\n Then shalt thou be clear from this my oath, when thou comest to my kindred; and if they give not thee one, thou shalt be clear from my oath.\r\n And I came this day unto the well, and said, O LORD God of my master Abraham, if now thou do prosper my way which I go:\r\n Behold, I stand by the well of water; and it shall come to pass, that when the virgin cometh forth to draw water, and I say to her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water of thy pitcher to drink;\r\n And she say to me, Both drink thou, and I will also draw for thy camels: let the same be the woman whom the LORD hath appointed out for my master's son.\r\n And before I had done speaking in mine heart, behold, Rebekah came forth with her pitcher on her shoulder; and she went down unto the well, and drew water: and I said unto her, Let me drink, I pray thee.\r\n And she made haste, and let down her pitcher from her shoulder, and said, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: so I drank, and she made the camels drink also.\r\n And I asked her, and said, Whose daughter art thou? And she said, The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milcah bare unto him: and I put the earring upon her face, and the bracelets upon her hands.\r\n And I bowed down my head, and worshipped the LORD, and blessed the LORD God of my master Abraham, which had led me in the right way to take my master's brother's daughter unto his son.\r\n And now if ye will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me: and if not, tell me; that I may turn to the right hand, or to the left.\r\n Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, The thing proceedeth from the LORD: we cannot speak unto thee bad or good.\r\n Behold, Rebekah is before thee, take her, and go, and let her be thy master's son's wife, as the LORD hath spoken.\r\n And it came to pass, that, when Abraham's servant heard their words, he worshipped the LORD, bowing himself to the earth.\r\n And the servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment, and gave them to Rebekah: he gave also to her brother and to her mother precious things.\r\n And they did eat and drink, he and the men that were with him, and tarried all night; and they rose up in the morning, and he said, Send me away unto my master.\r\n And her brother and her mother said, Let the damsel abide with us a few days, at the least ten; after that she shall go.\r\n And he said unto them, Hinder me not, seeing the LORD hath prospered my way; send me away that I may go to my master.\r\n And they said, We will call the damsel, and enquire at her mouth.\r\n And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, I will go.\r\n And they sent away Rebekah their sister, and her nurse, and Abraham's servant, and his men.\r\n And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Thou art our sister, be thou the mother of thousands of millions, and let thy seed possess the gate of those which hate them.\r\n And Rebekah arose, and her damsels, and they rode upon the camels, and followed the man: and the servant took Rebekah, and went his way.\r\n And Isaac came from the way of the well Lahairoi; for he dwelt in the south country.\r\n And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming.\r\n And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel.\r\n For she had said unto the servant, What man is this that walketh in the field to meet us? And the servant had said, It is my master: therefore she took a vail, and covered herself.\r\n And the servant told Isaac all things that he had done.\r\n And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then again Abraham took a wife, and her name was Keturah.\r\n And she bare him Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah.\r\n And Jokshan begat Sheba, and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were Asshurim, and Letushim, and Leummim.\r\n And the sons of Midian; Ephah, and Epher, and Hanoch, and Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah.\r\n And Abraham gave all that he had unto Isaac.\r\n But unto the sons of the concubines, which Abraham had, Abraham gave gifts, and sent them away from Isaac his son, while he yet lived, eastward, unto the east country.\r\n And these are the days of the years of Abraham's life which he lived, an hundred threescore and fifteen years.\r\n Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people.\r\n And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, which is before Mamre;\r\n The field which Abraham purchased of the sons of Heth: there was Abraham buried, and Sarah his wife.\r\n And it came to pass after the death of Abraham, that God blessed his son Isaac; and Isaac dwelt by the well Lahairoi.\r\n Now these are the generations of Ishmael, Abraham's son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah's handmaid, bare unto Abraham:\r\n And these are the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, according to their generations: the firstborn of Ishmael, Nebajoth; and Kedar, and Adbeel, and Mibsam,\r\n And Mishma, and Dumah, and Massa,\r\n Hadar, and Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah:\r\n These are the sons of Ishmael, and these are their names, by their towns, and by their castles; twelve princes according to their nations.\r\n And these are the years of the life of Ishmael, an hundred and thirty and seven years: and he gave up the ghost and died; and was gathered unto his people.\r\n And they dwelt from Havilah unto Shur, that is before Egypt, as thou goest toward Assyria: and he died in the presence of all his brethren.\r\n And these are the generations of Isaac, Abraham's son: Abraham begat Isaac:\r\n And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padanaram, the sister to Laban the Syrian.\r\n And Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.\r\n And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the LORD.\r\n And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.\r\n And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb.\r\n And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau.\r\n And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them.\r\n And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents.\r\n And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob.\r\n And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint:\r\n And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom.\r\n And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright.\r\n And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?\r\n And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.\r\n Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.\r\n \r\n \r\n And there was a famine in the land, beside the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines unto Gerar.\r\n And the LORD appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of:\r\n Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father;\r\n And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed;\r\n Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.\r\n And Isaac dwelt in Gerar:\r\n And the men of the place asked him of his wife; and he said, She is my sister: for he feared to say, She is my wife; lest, said he, the men of the place should kill me for Rebekah; because she was fair to look upon.\r\n And it came to pass, when he had been there a long time, that Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out at a window, and saw, and, behold, Isaac was sporting with Rebekah his wife.\r\n And Abimelech called Isaac, and said, Behold, of a surety she is thy wife: and how saidst thou, She is my sister? And Isaac said unto him, Because I said, Lest I die for her.\r\n And Abimelech said, What is this thou hast done unto us? one of the people might lightly have lien with thy wife, and thou shouldest have brought guiltiness upon us.\r\n And Abimelech charged all his people, saying, He that toucheth this man or his wife shall surely be put to death.\r\n Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him.\r\n And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great:\r\n For he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and great store of servants: and the Philistines envied him.\r\n For all the wells which his father's servants had digged in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines had stopped them, and filled them with earth.\r\n And Abimelech said unto Isaac, Go from us; for thou art much mightier than we.\r\n And Isaac departed thence, and pitched his tent in the valley of Gerar, and dwelt there.\r\n And Isaac digged again the wells of water, which they had digged in the days of Abraham his father; for the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham: and he called their names after the names by which his father had called them.\r\n And Isaac's servants digged in the valley, and found there a well of springing water.\r\n And the herdmen of Gerar did strive with Isaac's herdmen, saying, The water is ours: and he called the name of the well Esek; because they strove with him.\r\n And they digged another well, and strove for that also: and he called the name of it Sitnah.\r\n And he removed from thence, and digged another well; and for that they strove not: and he called the name of it Rehoboth; and he said, For now the LORD hath made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.\r\n And he went up from thence to Beersheba.\r\n And the LORD appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham's sake.\r\n And he builded an altar there, and called upon the name of the LORD, and pitched his tent there: and there Isaac's servants digged a well.\r\n Then Abimelech went to him from Gerar, and Ahuzzath one of his friends, and Phichol the chief captain of his army.\r\n And Isaac said unto them, Wherefore come ye to me, seeing ye hate me, and have sent me away from you?\r\n And they said, We saw certainly that the LORD was with thee: and we said, Let there be now an oath betwixt us, even betwixt us and thee, and let us make a covenant with thee;\r\n That thou wilt do us no hurt, as we have not touched thee, and as we have done unto thee nothing but good, and have sent thee away in peace: thou art now the blessed of the LORD.\r\n And he made them a feast, and they did eat and drink.\r\n And they rose up betimes in the morning, and sware one to another: and Isaac sent them away, and they departed from him in peace.\r\n And it came to pass the same day, that Isaac's servants came, and told him concerning the well which they had digged, and said unto him, We have found water.\r\n And he called it Shebah: therefore the name of the city is Beersheba unto this day.\r\n And Esau was forty years old when he took to wife Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Bashemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite:\r\n Which were a grief of mind unto Isaac and to Rebekah.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said unto him, My son: and he said unto him, Behold, here am I.\r\n And he said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death:\r\n Now therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and take me some venison;\r\n And make me savoury meat, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless thee before I die.\r\n And Rebekah heard when Isaac spake to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it.\r\n And Rebekah spake unto Jacob her son, saying, Behold, I heard thy father speak unto Esau thy brother, saying,\r\n Bring me venison, and make me savoury meat, that I may eat, and bless thee before the LORD before my death.\r\n Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to that which I command thee.\r\n Go now to the flock, and fetch me from thence two good kids of the goats; and I will make them savoury meat for thy father, such as he loveth:\r\n And thou shalt bring it to thy father, that he may eat, and that he may bless thee before his death.\r\n And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man:\r\n My father peradventure will feel me, and I shall seem to him as a deceiver; and I shall bring a curse upon me, and not a blessing.\r\n And his mother said unto him, Upon me be thy curse, my son: only obey my voice, and go fetch me them.\r\n And he went, and fetched, and brought them to his mother: and his mother made savoury meat, such as his father loved.\r\n And Rebekah took goodly raiment of her eldest son Esau, which were with her in the house, and put them upon Jacob her younger son:\r\n And she put the skins of the kids of the goats upon his hands, and upon the smooth of his neck:\r\n And she gave the savoury meat and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob.\r\n And he came unto his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I; who art thou, my son?\r\n And Jacob said unto his father, I am Esau thy firstborn; I have done according as thou badest me: arise, I pray thee, sit and eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless me.\r\n And Isaac said unto his son, How is it that thou hast found it so quickly, my son? And he said, Because the LORD thy God brought it to me.\r\n And Isaac said unto Jacob, Come near, I pray thee, that I may feel thee, my son, whether thou be my very son Esau or not.\r\n And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father; and he felt him, and said, The voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.\r\n And he discerned him not, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau's hands: so he blessed him.\r\n And he said, Art thou my very son Esau? And he said, I am.\r\n And he said, Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son's venison, that my soul may bless thee. And he brought it near to him, and he did eat: and he brought him wine, and he drank.\r\n And his father Isaac said unto him, Come near now, and kiss me, my son.\r\n And he came near, and kissed him: and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said, See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which the LORD hath blessed:\r\n Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine:\r\n Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother's sons bow down to thee: cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee.\r\n And it came to pass, as soon as Isaac had made an end of blessing Jacob, and Jacob was yet scarce gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in from his hunting.\r\n And he also had made savoury meat, and brought it unto his father, and said unto his father, Let my father arise, and eat of his son's venison, that thy soul may bless me.\r\n And Isaac his father said unto him, Who art thou? And he said, I am thy son, thy firstborn Esau.\r\n And Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and said, Who? where is he that hath taken venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before thou camest, and have blessed him? yea, and he shall be blessed.\r\n And when Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry, and said unto his father, Bless me, even me also, O my father.\r\n And he said, Thy brother came with subtilty, and hath taken away thy blessing.\r\n And he said, Is not he rightly named Jacob? for he hath supplanted me these two times: he took away my birthright; and, behold, now he hath taken away my blessing. And he said, Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me?\r\n And Isaac answered and said unto Esau, Behold, I have made him thy lord, and all his brethren have I given to him for servants; and with corn and wine have I sustained him: and what shall I do now unto thee, my son?\r\n And Esau said unto his father, Hast thou but one blessing, my father? bless me, even me also, O my father. And Esau lifted up his voice, and wept.\r\n And Isaac his father answered and said unto him, Behold, thy dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of heaven from above;\r\n And by thy sword shalt thou live, and shalt serve thy brother; and it shall come to pass when thou shalt have the dominion, that thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck.\r\n And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob.\r\n And these words of Esau her elder son were told to Rebekah: and she sent and called Jacob her younger son, and said unto him, Behold, thy brother Esau, as touching thee, doth comfort himself, purposing to kill thee.\r\n Now therefore, my son, obey my voice; and arise, flee thou to Laban my brother to Haran;\r\n And tarry with him a few days, until thy brother's fury turn away;\r\n Until thy brother's anger turn away from thee, and he forget that which thou hast done to him: then I will send, and fetch thee from thence: why should I be deprived also of you both in one day?\r\n And Rebekah said to Isaac, I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth: if Jacob take a wife of the daughters of Heth, such as these which are of the daughters of the land, what good shall my life do me?\r\n \r\n \r\n And Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and charged him, and said unto him, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan.\r\n Arise, go to Padanaram, to the house of Bethuel thy mother's father; and take thee a wife from thence of the daughters of Laban thy mother's brother.\r\n And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people;\r\n And give thee the blessing of Abraham, to thee, and to thy seed with thee; that thou mayest inherit the land wherein thou art a stranger, which God gave unto Abraham.\r\n And Isaac sent away Jacob: and he went to Padanaram unto Laban, son of Bethuel the Syrian, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob's and Esau's mother.\r\n When Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob, and sent him away to Padanaram, to take him a wife from thence; and that as he blessed him he gave him a charge, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan;\r\n And that Jacob obeyed his father and his mother, and was gone to Padanaram;\r\n And Esau seeing that the daughters of Canaan pleased not Isaac his father;\r\n Then went Esau unto Ishmael, and took unto the wives which he had Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael Abraham's son, the sister of Nebajoth, to be his wife.\r\n And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran.\r\n And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep.\r\n And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.\r\n And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed;\r\n And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.\r\n And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.\r\n And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not.\r\n And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.\r\n And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it.\r\n And he called the name of that place Bethel: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first.\r\n And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on,\r\n So that I come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God:\r\n And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east.\r\n And he looked, and behold a well in the field, and, lo, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks: and a great stone was upon the well's mouth.\r\n And thither were all the flocks gathered: and they rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the stone again upon the well's mouth in his place.\r\n And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, whence be ye? And they said, Of Haran are we.\r\n And he said unto them, Know ye Laban the son of Nahor? And they said, We know him.\r\n And he said unto them, Is he well? And they said, He is well: and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep.\r\n And he said, Lo, it is yet high day, neither is it time that the cattle should be gathered together: water ye the sheep, and go and feed them.\r\n And they said, We cannot, until all the flocks be gathered together, and till they roll the stone from the well's mouth; then we water the sheep.\r\n And while he yet spake with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep: for she kept them.\r\n And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother's brother, that Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother.\r\n And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept.\r\n And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father's brother, and that he was Rebekah's son: and she ran and told her father.\r\n And it came to pass, when Laban heard the tidings of Jacob his sister's son, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house. And he told Laban all these things.\r\n And Laban said to him, Surely thou art my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him the space of a month.\r\n And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what shall thy wages be?\r\n And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.\r\n Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured.\r\n And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.\r\n And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man: abide with me.\r\n And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.\r\n And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her.\r\n And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.\r\n And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her.\r\n And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for an handmaid.\r\n And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it was Leah: and he said to Laban, What is this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me?\r\n And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.\r\n Fulfil her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years.\r\n And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also.\r\n And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid.\r\n And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years.\r\n And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren.\r\n And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the LORD hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me.\r\n And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Because the LORD hath heard that I was hated, he hath therefore given me this son also: and she called his name Simeon.\r\n And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have born him three sons: therefore was his name called Levi.\r\n And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the LORD: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing.\r\n \r\n \r\n And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die.\r\n And Jacob's anger was kindled against Rachel: and he said, Am I in God's stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb?\r\n And she said, Behold my maid Bilhah, go in unto her; and she shall bear upon my knees, that I may also have children by her.\r\n And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid to wife: and Jacob went in unto her.\r\n And Bilhah conceived, and bare Jacob a son.\r\n And Rachel said, God hath judged me, and hath also heard my voice, and hath given me a son: therefore called she his name Dan.\r\n And Bilhah Rachel's maid conceived again, and bare Jacob a second son.\r\n And Rachel said, With great wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister, and I have prevailed: and she called his name Naphtali.\r\n When Leah saw that she had left bearing, she took Zilpah her maid, and gave her Jacob to wife.\r\n And Zilpah Leah's maid bare Jacob a son.\r\n And Leah said, A troop cometh: and she called his name Gad.\r\n And Zilpah Leah's maid bare Jacob a second son.\r\n And Leah said, Happy am I, for the daughters will call me blessed: and she called his name Asher.\r\n And Reuben went in the days of wheat harvest, and found mandrakes in the field, and brought them unto his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, Give me, I pray thee, of thy son's mandrakes.\r\n And she said unto her, Is it a small matter that thou hast taken my husband? and wouldest thou take away my son's mandrakes also? And Rachel said, Therefore he shall lie with thee to night for thy son's mandrakes.\r\n And Jacob came out of the field in the evening, and Leah went out to meet him, and said, Thou must come in unto me; for surely I have hired thee with my son's mandrakes. And he lay with her that night.\r\n And God hearkened unto Leah, and she conceived, and bare Jacob the fifth son.\r\n And Leah said, God hath given me my hire, because I have given my maiden to my husband: and she called his name Issachar.\r\n And Leah conceived again, and bare Jacob the sixth son.\r\n And Leah said, God hath endued me with a good dowry; now will my husband dwell with me, because I have born him six sons: and she called his name Zebulun.\r\n And afterwards she bare a daughter, and called her name Dinah.\r\n And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb.\r\n And she conceived, and bare a son; and said, God hath taken away my reproach:\r\n And she called his name Joseph; and said, The LORD shall add to me another son.\r\n And it came to pass, when Rachel had born Joseph, that Jacob said unto Laban, Send me away, that I may go unto mine own place, and to my country.\r\n Give me my wives and my children, for whom I have served thee, and let me go: for thou knowest my service which I have done thee.\r\n And Laban said unto him, I pray thee, if I have found favour in thine eyes, tarry: for I have learned by experience that the LORD hath blessed me for thy sake.\r\n And he said, Appoint me thy wages, and I will give it.\r\n And he said unto him, Thou knowest how I have served thee, and how thy cattle was with me.\r\n For it was little which thou hadst before I came, and it is now increased unto a multitude; and the LORD hath blessed thee since my coming: and now when shall I provide for mine own house also?\r\n And he said, What shall I give thee? And Jacob said, Thou shalt not give me any thing: if thou wilt do this thing for me, I will again feed and keep thy flock:\r\n I will pass through all thy flock to day, removing from thence all the speckled and spotted cattle, and all the brown cattle among the sheep, and the spotted and speckled among the goats: and of such shall be my hire.\r\n So shall my righteousness answer for me in time to come, when it shall come for my hire before thy face: every one that is not speckled and spotted among the goats, and brown among the sheep, that shall be counted stolen with me.\r\n And Laban said, Behold, I would it might be according to thy word.\r\n And he removed that day the he goats that were ringstraked and spotted, and all the she goats that were speckled and spotted, and every one that had some white in it, and all the brown among the sheep, and gave them into the hand of his sons.\r\n And he set three days' journey betwixt himself and Jacob: and Jacob fed the rest of Laban's flocks.\r\n And Jacob took him rods of green poplar, and of the hazel and chesnut tree; and pilled white strakes in them, and made the white appear which was in the rods.\r\n And he set the rods which he had pilled before the flocks in the gutters in the watering troughs when the flocks came to drink, that they should conceive when they came to drink.\r\n And the flocks conceived before the rods, and brought forth cattle ringstraked, speckled, and spotted.\r\n And Jacob did separate the lambs, and set the faces of the flocks toward the ringstraked, and all the brown in the flock of Laban; and he put his own flocks by themselves, and put them not unto Laban's cattle.\r\n And it came to pass, whensoever the stronger cattle did conceive, that Jacob laid the rods before the eyes of the cattle in the gutters, that they might conceive among the rods.\r\n But when the cattle were feeble, he put them not in: so the feebler were Laban's, and the stronger Jacob's.\r\n And the man increased exceedingly, and had much cattle, and maidservants, and menservants, and camels, and asses.\r\n \r\n \r\n And he heard the words of Laban's sons, saying, Jacob hath taken away all that was our father's; and of that which was our father's hath he gotten all this glory.\r\n And Jacob beheld the countenance of Laban, and, behold, it was not toward him as before.\r\n And the LORD said unto Jacob, Return unto the land of thy fathers, and to thy kindred; and I will be with thee.\r\n And Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field unto his flock,\r\n And said unto them, I see your father's countenance, that it is not toward me as before; but the God of my father hath been with me.\r\n And ye know that with all my power I have served your father.\r\n And your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times; but God suffered him not to hurt me.\r\n If he said thus, The speckled shall be thy wages; then all the cattle bare speckled: and if he said thus, The ringstraked shall be thy hire; then bare all the cattle ringstraked.\r\n Thus God hath taken away the cattle of your father, and given them to me.\r\n And it came to pass at the time that the cattle conceived, that I lifted up mine eyes, and saw in a dream, and, behold, the rams which leaped upon the cattle were ringstraked, speckled, and grisled.\r\n And the angel of God spake unto me in a dream, saying, Jacob: And I said, Here am I.\r\n And he said, Lift up now thine eyes, and see, all the rams which leap upon the cattle are ringstraked, speckled, and grisled: for I have seen all that Laban doeth unto thee.\r\n I am the God of Bethel, where thou anointedst the pillar, and where thou vowedst a vow unto me: now arise, get thee out from this land, and return unto the land of thy kindred.\r\n And Rachel and Leah answered and said unto him, Is there yet any portion or inheritance for us in our father's house?\r\n Are we not counted of him strangers? for he hath sold us, and hath quite devoured also our money.\r\n For all the riches which God hath taken from our father, that is ours, and our children's: now then, whatsoever God hath said unto thee, do.\r\n Then Jacob rose up, and set his sons and his wives upon camels;\r\n And he carried away all his cattle, and all his goods which he had gotten, the cattle of his getting, which he had gotten in Padanaram, for to go to Isaac his father in the land of Canaan.\r\n And Laban went to shear his sheep: and Rachel had stolen the images that were her father's.\r\n And Jacob stole away unawares to Laban the Syrian, in that he told him not that he fled.\r\n So he fled with all that he had; and he rose up, and passed over the river, and set his face toward the mount Gilead.\r\n And it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob was fled.\r\n And he took his brethren with him, and pursued after him seven days' journey; and they overtook him in the mount Gilead.\r\n And God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and said unto him, Take heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.\r\n Then Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the mount: and Laban with his brethren pitched in the mount of Gilead.\r\n And Laban said to Jacob, What hast thou done, that thou hast stolen away unawares to me, and carried away my daughters, as captives taken with the sword?\r\n Wherefore didst thou flee away secretly, and steal away from me; and didst not tell me, that I might have sent thee away with mirth, and with songs, with tabret, and with harp?\r\n And hast not suffered me to kiss my sons and my daughters? thou hast now done foolishly in so doing.\r\n It is in the power of my hand to do you hurt: but the God of your father spake unto me yesternight, saying, Take thou heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.\r\n And now, though thou wouldest needs be gone, because thou sore longedst after thy father's house, yet wherefore hast thou stolen my gods?\r\n And Jacob answered and said to Laban, Because I was afraid: for I said, Peradventure thou wouldest take by force thy daughters from me.\r\n With whomsoever thou findest thy gods, let him not live: before our brethren discern thou what is thine with me, and take it to thee. For Jacob knew not that Rachel had stolen them.\r\n And Laban went into Jacob's tent, and into Leah's tent, and into the two maidservants' tents; but he found them not. Then went he out of Leah's tent, and entered into Rachel's tent.\r\n Now Rachel had taken the images, and put them in the camel's furniture, and sat upon them. And Laban searched all the tent, but found them not.\r\n And she said to her father, Let it not displease my lord that I cannot rise up before thee; for the custom of women is upon me. And he searched, but found not the images.\r\n And Jacob was wroth, and chode with Laban: and Jacob answered and said to Laban, What is my trespass? what is my sin, that thou hast so hotly pursued after me?\r\n Whereas thou hast searched all my stuff, what hast thou found of all thy household stuff? set it here before my brethren and thy brethren, that they may judge betwixt us both.\r\n This twenty years have I been with thee; thy ewes and thy she goats have not cast their young, and the rams of thy flock have I not eaten.\r\n That which was torn of beasts I brought not unto thee; I bare the loss of it; of my hand didst thou require it, whether stolen by day, or stolen by night.\r\n Thus I was; in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep departed from mine eyes.\r\n Thus have I been twenty years in thy house; I served thee fourteen years for thy two daughters, and six years for thy cattle: and thou hast changed my wages ten times.\r\n Except the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely thou hadst sent me away now empty. God hath seen mine affliction and the labour of my hands, and rebuked thee yesternight.\r\n And Laban answered and said unto Jacob, These daughters are my daughters, and these children are my children, and these cattle are my cattle, and all that thou seest is mine: and what can I do this day unto these my daughters, or unto their children which they have born?\r\n Now therefore come thou, let us make a covenant, I and thou; and let it be for a witness between me and thee.\r\n And Jacob took a stone, and set it up for a pillar.\r\n And Jacob said unto his brethren, Gather stones; and they took stones, and made an heap: and they did eat there upon the heap.\r\n And Laban called it Jegarsahadutha: but Jacob called it Galeed.\r\n And Laban said, This heap is a witness between me and thee this day. Therefore was the name of it called Galeed;\r\n And Mizpah; for he said, The LORD watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another.\r\n If thou shalt afflict my daughters, or if thou shalt take other wives beside my daughters, no man is with us; see, God is witness betwixt me and thee.\r\n And Laban said to Jacob, Behold this heap, and behold this pillar, which I have cast betwixt me and thee;\r\n This heap be witness, and this pillar be witness, that I will not pass over this heap to thee, and that thou shalt not pass over this heap and this pillar unto me, for harm.\r\n The God of Abraham, and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge betwixt us. And Jacob sware by the fear of his father Isaac.\r\n Then Jacob offered sacrifice upon the mount, and called his brethren to eat bread: and they did eat bread, and tarried all night in the mount.\r\n And early in the morning Laban rose up, and kissed his sons and his daughters, and blessed them: and Laban departed, and returned unto his place.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him.\r\n And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God's host: and he called the name of that place Mahanaim.\r\n And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother unto the land of Seir, the country of Edom.\r\n And he commanded them, saying, Thus shall ye speak unto my lord Esau; Thy servant Jacob saith thus, I have sojourned with Laban, and stayed there until now:\r\n And I have oxen, and asses, flocks, and menservants, and womenservants: and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find grace in thy sight.\r\n And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, We came to thy brother Esau, and also he cometh to meet thee, and four hundred men with him.\r\n Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed: and he divided the people that was with him, and the flocks, and herds, and the camels, into two bands;\r\n And said, If Esau come to the one company, and smite it, then the other company which is left shall escape.\r\n And Jacob said, O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, the LORD which saidst unto me, Return unto thy country, and to thy kindred, and I will deal well with thee:\r\n I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant; for with my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I am become two bands.\r\n Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he will come and smite me, and the mother with the children.\r\n And thou saidst, I will surely do thee good, and make thy seed as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.\r\n And he lodged there that same night; and took of that which came to his hand a present for Esau his brother;\r\n Two hundred she goats, and twenty he goats, two hundred ewes, and twenty rams,\r\n Thirty milch camels with their colts, forty kine, and ten bulls, twenty she asses, and ten foals.\r\n And he delivered them into the hand of his servants, every drove by themselves; and said unto his servants, Pass over before me, and put a space betwixt drove and drove.\r\n And he commanded the foremost, saying, When Esau my brother meeteth thee, and asketh thee, saying, Whose art thou? and whither goest thou? and whose are these before thee?\r\n Then thou shalt say, They be thy servant Jacob's; it is a present sent unto my lord Esau: and, behold, also he is behind us.\r\n And so commanded he the second, and the third, and all that followed the droves, saying, On this manner shall ye speak unto Esau, when ye find him.\r\n And say ye moreover, Behold, thy servant Jacob is behind us. For he said, I will appease him with the present that goeth before me, and afterward I will see his face; peradventure he will accept of me.\r\n So went the present over before him: and himself lodged that night in the company.\r\n And he rose up that night, and took his two wives, and his two womenservants, and his eleven sons, and passed over the ford Jabbok.\r\n And he took them, and sent them over the brook, and sent over that he had.\r\n And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.\r\n And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.\r\n And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.\r\n And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob.\r\n And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.\r\n And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there.\r\n And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.\r\n And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh.\r\n Therefore the children of Israel eat not of the sinew which shrank, which is upon the hollow of the thigh, unto this day: because he touched the hollow of Jacob's thigh in the sinew that shrank.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men. And he divided the children unto Leah, and unto Rachel, and unto the two handmaids.\r\n And he put the handmaids and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph hindermost.\r\n And he passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.\r\n And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept.\r\n And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said, Who are those with thee? And he said, The children which God hath graciously given thy servant.\r\n Then the handmaidens came near, they and their children, and they bowed themselves.\r\n And Leah also with her children came near, and bowed themselves: and after came Joseph near and Rachel, and they bowed themselves.\r\n And he said, What meanest thou by all this drove which I met? And he said, These are to find grace in the sight of my lord.\r\n And Esau said, I have enough, my brother; keep that thou hast unto thyself.\r\n And Jacob said, Nay, I pray thee, if now I have found grace in thy sight, then receive my present at my hand: for therefore I have seen thy face, as though I had seen the face of God, and thou wast pleased with me.\r\n Take, I pray thee, my blessing that is brought to thee; because God hath dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough. And he urged him, and he took it.\r\n And he said, Let us take our journey, and let us go, and I will go before thee.\r\n And he said unto him, My lord knoweth that the children are tender, and the flocks and herds with young are with me: and if men should overdrive them one day, all the flock will die.\r\n Let my lord, I pray thee, pass over before his servant: and I will lead on softly, according as the cattle that goeth before me and the children be able to endure, until I come unto my lord unto Seir.\r\n And Esau said, Let me now leave with thee some of the folk that are with me. And he said, What needeth it? let me find grace in the sight of my lord.\r\n So Esau returned that day on his way unto Seir.\r\n And Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built him an house, and made booths for his cattle: therefore the name of the place is called Succoth.\r\n And Jacob came to Shalem, a city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padanaram; and pitched his tent before the city.\r\n And he bought a parcel of a field, where he had spread his tent, at the hand of the children of Hamor, Shechem's father, for an hundred pieces of money.\r\n And he erected there an altar, and called it Elelohe-Israel.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Dinah the daughter of Leah, which she bare unto Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land.\r\n And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took her, and lay with her, and defiled her.\r\n And his soul clave unto Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the damsel, and spake kindly unto the damsel.\r\n And Shechem spake unto his father Hamor, saying, Get me this damsel to wife.\r\n And Jacob heard that he had defiled Dinah his daughter: now his sons were with his cattle in the field: and Jacob held his peace until they were come.\r\n And Hamor the father of Shechem went out unto Jacob to commune with him.\r\n And the sons of Jacob came out of the field when they heard it: and the men were grieved, and they were very wroth, because he had wrought folly in Israel in lying with Jacob's daughter; which thing ought not to be done.\r\n And Hamor communed with them, saying, The soul of my son Shechem longeth for your daughter: I pray you give her him to wife.\r\n And make ye marriages with us, and give your daughters unto us, and take our daughters unto you.\r\n And ye shall dwell with us: and the land shall be before you; dwell and trade ye therein, and get you possessions therein.\r\n And Shechem said unto her father and unto her brethren, Let me find grace in your eyes, and what ye shall say unto me I will give.\r\n Ask me never so much dowry and gift, and I will give according as ye shall say unto me: but give me the damsel to wife.\r\n And the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father deceitfully, and said, because he had defiled Dinah their sister:\r\n And they said unto them, We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one that is uncircumcised; for that were a reproach unto us:\r\n But in this will we consent unto you: If ye will be as we be, that every male of you be circumcised;\r\n Then will we give our daughters unto you, and we will take your daughters to us, and we will dwell with you, and we will become one people.\r\n But if ye will not hearken unto us, to be circumcised; then will we take our daughter, and we will be gone.\r\n And their words pleased Hamor, and Shechem Hamor's son.\r\n And the young man deferred not to do the thing, because he had delight in Jacob's daughter: and he was more honourable than all the house of his father.\r\n And Hamor and Shechem his son came unto the gate of their city, and communed with the men of their city, saying,\r\n These men are peaceable with us; therefore let them dwell in the land, and trade therein; for the land, behold, it is large enough for them; let us take their daughters to us for wives, and let us give them our daughters.\r\n Only herein will the men consent unto us for to dwell with us, to be one people, if every male among us be circumcised, as they are circumcised.\r\n Shall not their cattle and their substance and every beast of theirs be ours? only let us consent unto them, and they will dwell with us.\r\n And unto Hamor and unto Shechem his son hearkened all that went out of the gate of his city; and every male was circumcised, all that went out of the gate of his city.\r\n And it came to pass on the third day, when they were sore, that two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah's brethren, took each man his sword, and came upon the city boldly, and slew all the males.\r\n And they slew Hamor and Shechem his son with the edge of the sword, and took Dinah out of Shechem's house, and went out.\r\n The sons of Jacob came upon the slain, and spoiled the city, because they had defiled their sister.\r\n They took their sheep, and their oxen, and their asses, and that which was in the city, and that which was in the field,\r\n And all their wealth, and all their little ones, and their wives took they captive, and spoiled even all that was in the house.\r\n And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, Ye have troubled me to make me to stink among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites: and I being few in number, they shall gather themselves together against me, and slay me; and I shall be destroyed, I and my house.\r\n And they said, Should he deal with our sister as with an harlot?\r\n \r\n \r\n And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother.\r\n Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments:\r\n And let us arise, and go up to Bethel; and I will make there an altar unto God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way which I went.\r\n And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which were in their hand, and all their earrings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem.\r\n And they journeyed: and the terror of God was upon the cities that were round about them, and they did not pursue after the sons of Jacob.\r\n So Jacob came to Luz, which is in the land of Canaan, that is, Bethel, he and all the people that were with him.\r\n And he built there an altar, and called the place Elbethel: because there God appeared unto him, when he fled from the face of his brother.\r\n But Deborah Rebekah's nurse died, and she was buried beneath Bethel under an oak: and the name of it was called Allonbachuth.\r\n And God appeared unto Jacob again, when he came out of Padanaram, and blessed him.\r\n And God said unto him, Thy name is Jacob: thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name: and he called his name Israel.\r\n And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins;\r\n And the land which I gave Abraham and Isaac, to thee I will give it, and to thy seed after thee will I give the land.\r\n And God went up from him in the place where he talked with him.\r\n And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he talked with him, even a pillar of stone: and he poured a drink offering thereon, and he poured oil thereon.\r\n And Jacob called the name of the place where God spake with him, Bethel.\r\n And they journeyed from Bethel; and there was but a little way to come to Ephrath: and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labour.\r\n And it came to pass, when she was in hard labour, that the midwife said unto her, Fear not; thou shalt have this son also.\r\n And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin.\r\n And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem.\r\n And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave: that is the pillar of Rachel's grave unto this day.\r\n And Israel journeyed, and spread his tent beyond the tower of Edar.\r\n And it came to pass, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father's concubine: and Israel heard it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve:\r\n The sons of Leah; Reuben, Jacob's firstborn, and Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Zebulun:\r\n The sons of Rachel; Joseph, and Benjamin:\r\n And the sons of Bilhah, Rachel's handmaid; Dan, and Naphtali:\r\n And the sons of Zilpah, Leah's handmaid; Gad, and Asher: these are the sons of Jacob, which were born to him in Padanaram.\r\n And Jacob came unto Isaac his father unto Mamre, unto the city of Arbah, which is Hebron, where Abraham and Isaac sojourned.\r\n And the days of Isaac were an hundred and fourscore years.\r\n And Isaac gave up the ghost, and died, and was gathered unto his people, being old and full of days: and his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now these are the generations of Esau, who is Edom.\r\n Esau took his wives of the daughters of Canaan; Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite, and Aholibamah the daughter of Anah the daughter of Zibeon the Hivite;\r\n And Bashemath Ishmael's daughter, sister of Nebajoth.\r\n And Adah bare to Esau Eliphaz; and Bashemath bare Reuel;\r\n And Aholibamah bare Jeush, and Jaalam, and Korah: these are the sons of Esau, which were born unto him in the land of Canaan.\r\n And Esau took his wives, and his sons, and his daughters, and all the persons of his house, and his cattle, and all his beasts, and all his substance, which he had got in the land of Canaan; and went into the country from the face of his brother Jacob.\r\n For their riches were more than that they might dwell together; and the land wherein they were strangers could not bear them because of their cattle.\r\n Thus dwelt Esau in mount Seir: Esau is Edom.\r\n And these are the generations of Esau the father of the Edomites in mount Seir:\r\n These are the names of Esau's sons; Eliphaz the son of Adah the wife of Esau, Reuel the son of Bashemath the wife of Esau.\r\n And the sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho, and Gatam, and Kenaz.\r\n And Timna was concubine to Eliphaz Esau's son; and she bare to Eliphaz Amalek: these were the sons of Adah Esau's wife.\r\n And these are the sons of Reuel; Nahath, and Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah: these were the sons of Bashemath Esau's wife.\r\n And these were the sons of Aholibamah, the daughter of Anah the daughter of Zibeon, Esau's wife: and she bare to Esau Jeush, and Jaalam, and Korah.\r\n These were dukes of the sons of Esau: the sons of Eliphaz the firstborn son of Esau; duke Teman, duke Omar, duke Zepho, duke Kenaz,\r\n Duke Korah, duke Gatam, and duke Amalek: these are the dukes that came of Eliphaz in the land of Edom; these were the sons of Adah.\r\n And these are the sons of Reuel Esau's son; duke Nahath, duke Zerah, duke Shammah, duke Mizzah: these are the dukes that came of Reuel in the land of Edom; these are the sons of Bashemath Esau's wife.\r\n And these are the sons of Aholibamah Esau's wife; duke Jeush, duke Jaalam, duke Korah: these were the dukes that came of Aholibamah the daughter of Anah, Esau's wife.\r\n These are the sons of Esau, who is Edom, and these are their dukes.\r\n These are the sons of Seir the Horite, who inhabited the land; Lotan, and Shobal, and Zibeon, and Anah,\r\n And Dishon, and Ezer, and Dishan: these are the dukes of the Horites, the children of Seir in the land of Edom.\r\n And the children of Lotan were Hori and Hemam; and Lotan's sister was Timna.\r\n And the children of Shobal were these; Alvan, and Manahath, and Ebal, Shepho, and Onam.\r\n And these are the children of Zibeon; both Ajah, and Anah: this was that Anah that found the mules in the wilderness, as he fed the asses of Zibeon his father.\r\n And the children of Anah were these; Dishon, and Aholibamah the daughter of Anah.\r\n And these are the children of Dishon; Hemdan, and Eshban, and Ithran, and Cheran.\r\n The children of Ezer are these; Bilhan, and Zaavan, and Akan.\r\n The children of Dishan are these; Uz, and Aran.\r\n These are the dukes that came of the Horites; duke Lotan, duke Shobal, duke Zibeon, duke Anah,\r\n Duke Dishon, duke Ezer, duke Dishan: these are the dukes that came of Hori, among their dukes in the land of Seir.\r\n And these are the kings that reigned in the land of Edom, before there reigned any king over the children of Israel.\r\n And Bela the son of Beor reigned in Edom: and the name of his city was Dinhabah.\r\n And Bela died, and Jobab the son of Zerah of Bozrah reigned in his stead.\r\n And Jobab died, and Husham of the land of Temani reigned in his stead.\r\n And Husham died, and Hadad the son of Bedad, who smote Midian in the field of Moab, reigned in his stead: and the name of his city was Avith.\r\n And Hadad died, and Samlah of Masrekah reigned in his stead.\r\n And Samlah died, and Saul of Rehoboth by the river reigned in his stead.\r\n And Saul died, and Baalhanan the son of Achbor reigned in his stead.\r\n And Baalhanan the son of Achbor died, and Hadar reigned in his stead: and the name of his city was Pau; and his wife's name was Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, the daughter of Mezahab.\r\n And these are the names of the dukes that came of Esau, according to their families, after their places, by their names; duke Timnah, duke Alvah, duke Jetheth,\r\n Duke Aholibamah, duke Elah, duke Pinon,\r\n Duke Kenaz, duke Teman, duke Mibzar,\r\n Duke Magdiel, duke Iram: these be the dukes of Edom, according to their habitations in the land of their possession: he is Esau the father of the Edomites.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Jacob dwelt in the land wherein his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan.\r\n These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives: and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report.\r\n Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours.\r\n And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.\r\n And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more.\r\n And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed:\r\n For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf.\r\n And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words.\r\n And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me.\r\n And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?\r\n And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying.\r\n And his brethren went to feed their father's flock in Shechem.\r\n And Israel said unto Joseph, Do not thy brethren feed the flock in Shechem? come, and I will send thee unto them. And he said to him, Here am I.\r\n And he said to him, Go, I pray thee, see whether it be well with thy brethren, and well with the flocks; and bring me word again. So he sent him out of the vale of Hebron, and he came to Shechem.\r\n And a certain man found him, and, behold, he was wandering in the field: and the man asked him, saying, What seekest thou?\r\n And he said, I seek my brethren: tell me, I pray thee, where they feed their flocks.\r\n And the man said, They are departed hence; for I heard them say, Let us go to Dothan. And Joseph went after his brethren, and found them in Dothan.\r\n And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him.\r\n And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer cometh.\r\n Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams.\r\n And Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands; and said, Let us not kill him.\r\n And Reuben said unto them, Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness, and lay no hand upon him; that he might rid him out of their hands, to deliver him to his father again.\r\n And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stript Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many colours that was on him;\r\n And they took him, and cast him into a pit: and the pit was empty, there was no water in it.\r\n And they sat down to eat bread: and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and, behold, a company of Ishmeelites came from Gilead with their camels bearing spicery and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt.\r\n And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood?\r\n Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmeelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother and our flesh. And his brethren were content.\r\n Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.\r\n And Reuben returned unto the pit; and, behold, Joseph was not in the pit; and he rent his clothes.\r\n And he returned unto his brethren, and said, The child is not; and I, whither shall I go?\r\n And they took Joseph's coat, and killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the coat in the blood;\r\n And they sent the coat of many colours, and they brought it to their father; and said, This have we found: know now whether it be thy son's coat or no.\r\n And he knew it, and said, It is my son's coat; an evil beast hath devoured him; Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces.\r\n And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days.\r\n And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted; and he said, For I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning. Thus his father wept for him.\r\n And the Midianites sold him into Egypt unto Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh's, and captain of the guard.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass at that time, that Judah went down from his brethren, and turned in to a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah.\r\n And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite, whose name was Shuah; and he took her, and went in unto her.\r\n And she conceived, and bare a son; and he called his name Er.\r\n And she conceived again, and bare a son; and she called his name Onan.\r\n And she yet again conceived, and bare a son; and called his name Shelah: and he was at Chezib, when she bare him.\r\n And Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, whose name was Tamar.\r\n And Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD slew him.\r\n And Judah said unto Onan, Go in unto thy brother's wife, and marry her, and raise up seed to thy brother.\r\n And Onan knew that the seed should not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in unto his brother's wife, that he spilled it on the ground, lest that he should give seed to his brother.\r\n And the thing which he did displeased the LORD: wherefore he slew him also.\r\n Then said Judah to Tamar his daughter in law, Remain a widow at thy father's house, till Shelah my son be grown: for he said, Lest peradventure he die also, as his brethren did. And Tamar went and dwelt in her father's house.\r\n And in process of time the daughter of Shuah Judah's wife died; and Judah was comforted, and went up unto his sheepshearers to Timnath, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite.\r\n And it was told Tamar, saying, Behold thy father in law goeth up to Timnath to shear his sheep.\r\n And she put her widow's garments off from her, and covered her with a vail, and wrapped herself, and sat in an open place, which is by the way to Timnath; for she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given unto him to wife.\r\n When Judah saw her, he thought her to be an harlot; because she had covered her face.\r\n And he turned unto her by the way, and said, Go to, I pray thee, let me come in unto thee; (for he knew not that she was his daughter in law.) And she said, What wilt thou give me, that thou mayest come in unto me?\r\n And he said, I will send thee a kid from the flock. And she said, Wilt thou give me a pledge, till thou send it?\r\n And he said, What pledge shall I give thee? And she said, Thy signet, and thy bracelets, and thy staff that is in thine hand. And he gave it her, and came in unto her, and she conceived by him.\r\n And she arose, and went away, and laid by her vail from her, and put on the garments of her widowhood.\r\n And Judah sent the kid by the hand of his friend the Adullamite, to receive his pledge from the woman's hand: but he found her not.\r\n Then he asked the men of that place, saying, Where is the harlot, that was openly by the way side? And they said, There was no harlot in this place.\r\n And he returned to Judah, and said, I cannot find her; and also the men of the place said, that there was no harlot in this place.\r\n And Judah said, Let her take it to her, lest we be shamed: behold, I sent this kid, and thou hast not found her.\r\n And it came to pass about three months after, that it was told Judah, saying, Tamar thy daughter in law hath played the harlot; and also, behold, she is with child by whoredom. And Judah said, Bring her forth, and let her be burnt.\r\n When she was brought forth, she sent to her father in law, saying, By the man, whose these are, am I with child: and she said, Discern, I pray thee, whose are these, the signet, and bracelets, and staff.\r\n And Judah acknowledged them, and said, She hath been more righteous than I; because that I gave her not to Shelah my son. And he knew her again no more.\r\n And it came to pass in the time of her travail, that, behold, twins were in her womb.\r\n And it came to pass, when she travailed, that the one put out his hand: and the midwife took and bound upon his hand a scarlet thread, saying, This came out first.\r\n And it came to pass, as he drew back his hand, that, behold, his brother came out: and she said, How hast thou broken forth? this breach be upon thee: therefore his name was called Pharez.\r\n And afterward came out his brother, that had the scarlet thread upon his hand: and his name was called Zarah.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites, which had brought him down thither.\r\n And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.\r\n And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand.\r\n And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.\r\n And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the LORD was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field.\r\n And he left all that he had in Joseph's hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured.\r\n And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me.\r\n But he refused, and said unto his master's wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand;\r\n There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?\r\n And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.\r\n And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house there within.\r\n And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.\r\n And it came to pass, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and was fled forth,\r\n That she called unto the men of her house, and spake unto them, saying, See, he hath brought in an Hebrew unto us to mock us; he came in unto me to lie with me, and I cried with a loud voice:\r\n And it came to pass, when he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled, and got him out.\r\n And she laid up his garment by her, until his lord came home.\r\n And she spake unto him according to these words, saying, The Hebrew servant, which thou hast brought unto us, came in unto me to mock me:\r\n And it came to pass, as I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled out.\r\n And it came to pass, when his master heard the words of his wife, which she spake unto him, saying, After this manner did thy servant to me; that his wrath was kindled.\r\n And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison.\r\n But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.\r\n And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it.\r\n The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the LORD was with him, and that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass after these things, that the butler of the king of Egypt and his baker had offended their lord the king of Egypt.\r\n And Pharaoh was wroth against two of his officers, against the chief of the butlers, and against the chief of the bakers.\r\n And he put them in ward in the house of the captain of the guard, into the prison, the place where Joseph was bound.\r\n And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them: and they continued a season in ward.\r\n And they dreamed a dream both of them, each man his dream in one night, each man according to the interpretation of his dream, the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, which were bound in the prison.\r\n And Joseph came in unto them in the morning, and looked upon them, and, behold, they were sad.\r\n And he asked Pharaoh's officers that were with him in the ward of his lord's house, saying, Wherefore look ye so sadly to day?\r\n And they said unto him, We have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter of it. And Joseph said unto them, Do not interpretations belong to God? tell me them, I pray you.\r\n And the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, In my dream, behold, a vine was before me;\r\n And in the vine were three branches: and it was as though it budded, and her blossoms shot forth; and the clusters thereof brought forth ripe grapes:\r\n And Pharaoh's cup was in my hand: and I took the grapes, and pressed them into Pharaoh's cup, and I gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand.\r\n And Joseph said unto him, This is the interpretation of it: The three branches are three days:\r\n Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thine head, and restore thee unto thy place: and thou shalt deliver Pharaoh's cup into his hand, after the former manner when thou wast his butler.\r\n But think on me when it shall be well with thee, and shew kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house:\r\n For indeed I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews: and here also have I done nothing that they should put me into the dungeon.\r\n When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was good, he said unto Joseph, I also was in my dream, and, behold, I had three white baskets on my head:\r\n And in the uppermost basket there was of all manner of bakemeats for Pharaoh; and the birds did eat them out of the basket upon my head.\r\n And Joseph answered and said, This is the interpretation thereof: The three baskets are three days:\r\n Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thy head from off thee, and shall hang thee on a tree; and the birds shall eat thy flesh from off thee.\r\n And it came to pass the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthday, that he made a feast unto all his servants: and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants.\r\n And he restored the chief butler unto his butlership again; and he gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand:\r\n But he hanged the chief baker: as Joseph had interpreted to them.\r\n Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed: and, behold, he stood by the river.\r\n And, behold, there came up out of the river seven well favoured kine and fatfleshed; and they fed in a meadow.\r\n And, behold, seven other kine came up after them out of the river, ill favoured and leanfleshed; and stood by the other kine upon the brink of the river.\r\n And the ill favoured and leanfleshed kine did eat up the seven well favoured and fat kine. So Pharaoh awoke.\r\n And he slept and dreamed the second time: and, behold, seven ears of corn came up upon one stalk, rank and good.\r\n And, behold, seven thin ears and blasted with the east wind sprung up after them.\r\n And the seven thin ears devoured the seven rank and full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and, behold, it was a dream.\r\n And it came to pass in the morning that his spirit was troubled; and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt, and all the wise men thereof: and Pharaoh told them his dream; but there was none that could interpret them unto Pharaoh.\r\n Then spake the chief butler unto Pharaoh, saying, I do remember my faults this day:\r\n Pharaoh was wroth with his servants, and put me in ward in the captain of the guard's house, both me and the chief baker:\r\n And we dreamed a dream in one night, I and he; we dreamed each man according to the interpretation of his dream.\r\n And there was there with us a young man, an Hebrew, servant to the captain of the guard; and we told him, and he interpreted to us our dreams; to each man according to his dream he did interpret.\r\n And it came to pass, as he interpreted to us, so it was; me he restored unto mine office, and him he hanged.\r\n Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon: and he shaved himself, and changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh.\r\n And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it: and I have heard say of thee, that thou canst understand a dream to interpret it.\r\n And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.\r\n And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, In my dream, behold, I stood upon the bank of the river:\r\n And, behold, there came up out of the river seven kine, fatfleshed and well favoured; and they fed in a meadow:\r\n And, behold, seven other kine came up after them, poor and very ill favoured and leanfleshed, such as I never saw in all the land of Egypt for badness:\r\n And the lean and the ill favoured kine did eat up the first seven fat kine:\r\n And when they had eaten them up, it could not be known that they had eaten them; but they were still ill favoured, as at the beginning. So I awoke.\r\n And I saw in my dream, and, behold, seven ears came up in one stalk, full and good:\r\n And, behold, seven ears, withered, thin, and blasted with the east wind, sprung up after them:\r\n And the thin ears devoured the seven good ears: and I told this unto the magicians; but there was none that could declare it to me.\r\n And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, The dream of Pharaoh is one: God hath shewed Pharaoh what he is about to do.\r\n The seven good kine are seven years; and the seven good ears are seven years: the dream is one.\r\n And the seven thin and ill favoured kine that came up after them are seven years; and the seven empty ears blasted with the east wind shall be seven years of famine.\r\n This is the thing which I have spoken unto Pharaoh: What God is about to do he sheweth unto Pharaoh.\r\n Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt:\r\n And there shall arise after them seven years of famine; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine shall consume the land;\r\n And the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of that famine following; for it shall be very grievous.\r\n And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice; it is because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.\r\n Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt.\r\n Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years.\r\n And let them gather all the food of those good years that come, and lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities.\r\n And that food shall be for store to the land against the seven years of famine, which shall be in the land of Egypt; that the land perish not through the famine.\r\n And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his servants.\r\n And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?\r\n And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art:\r\n Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou.\r\n And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt.\r\n And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck;\r\n And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt.\r\n And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.\r\n And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaphnathpaaneah; and he gave him to wife Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On. And Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt.\r\n And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt.\r\n And in the seven plenteous years the earth brought forth by handfuls.\r\n And he gathered up all the food of the seven years, which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities: the food of the field, which was round about every city, laid he up in the same.\r\n And Joseph gathered corn as the sand of the sea, very much, until he left numbering; for it was without number.\r\n And unto Joseph were born two sons before the years of famine came, which Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On bare unto him.\r\n And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: For God, said he, hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father's house.\r\n And the name of the second called he Ephraim: For God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.\r\n And the seven years of plenteousness, that was in the land of Egypt, were ended.\r\n And the seven years of dearth began to come, according as Joseph had said: and the dearth was in all lands; but in all the land of Egypt there was bread.\r\n And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread: and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, Go unto Joseph; what he saith to you, do.\r\n And the famine was over all the face of the earth: And Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians; and the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt.\r\n And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn; because that the famine was so sore in all lands.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now when Jacob saw that there was corn in Egypt, Jacob said unto his sons, Why do ye look one upon another?\r\n And he said, Behold, I have heard that there is corn in Egypt: get you down thither, and buy for us from thence; that we may live, and not die.\r\n And Joseph's ten brethren went down to buy corn in Egypt.\r\n But Benjamin, Joseph's brother, Jacob sent not with his brethren; for he said, Lest peradventure mischief befall him.\r\n And the sons of Israel came to buy corn among those that came: for the famine was in the land of Canaan.\r\n And Joseph was the governor over the land, and he it was that sold to all the people of the land: and Joseph's brethren came, and bowed down themselves before him with their faces to the earth.\r\n And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them, but made himself strange unto them, and spake roughly unto them; and he said unto them, Whence come ye? And they said, From the land of Canaan to buy food.\r\n And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him.\r\n And Joseph remembered the dreams which he dreamed of them, and said unto them, Ye are spies; to see the nakedness of the land ye are come.\r\n And they said unto him, Nay, my lord, but to buy food are thy servants come.\r\n We are all one man's sons; we are true men, thy servants are no spies.\r\n And he said unto them, Nay, but to see the nakedness of the land ye are come.\r\n And they said, Thy servants are twelve brethren, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and, behold, the youngest is this day with our father, and one is not.\r\n And Joseph said unto them, That is it that I spake unto you, saying, Ye are spies:\r\n Hereby ye shall be proved: By the life of Pharaoh ye shall not go forth hence, except your youngest brother come hither.\r\n Send one of you, and let him fetch your brother, and ye shall be kept in prison, that your words may be proved, whether there be any truth in you: or else by the life of Pharaoh surely ye are spies.\r\n And he put them all together into ward three days.\r\n And Joseph said unto them the third day, This do, and live; for I fear God:\r\n If ye be true men, let one of your brethren be bound in the house of your prison: go ye, carry corn for the famine of your houses:\r\n But bring your youngest brother unto me; so shall your words be verified, and ye shall not die. And they did so.\r\n And they said one to another, We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us.\r\n And Reuben answered them, saying, Spake I not unto you, saying, Do not sin against the child; and ye would not hear? therefore, behold, also his blood is required.\r\n And they knew not that Joseph understood them; for he spake unto them by an interpreter.\r\n And he turned himself about from them, and wept; and returned to them again, and communed with them, and took from them Simeon, and bound him before their eyes.\r\n Then Joseph commanded to fill their sacks with corn, and to restore every man's money into his sack, and to give them provision for the way: and thus did he unto them.\r\n And they laded their asses with the corn, and departed thence.\r\n And as one of them opened his sack to give his ass provender in the inn, he espied his money; for, behold, it was in his sack's mouth.\r\n And he said unto his brethren, My money is restored; and, lo, it is even in my sack: and their heart failed them, and they were afraid, saying one to another, What is this that God hath done unto us?\r\n And they came unto Jacob their father unto the land of Canaan, and told him all that befell unto them; saying,\r\n The man, who is the lord of the land, spake roughly to us, and took us for spies of the country.\r\n And we said unto him, We are true men; we are no spies:\r\n We be twelve brethren, sons of our father; one is not, and the youngest is this day with our father in the land of Canaan.\r\n And the man, the lord of the country, said unto us, Hereby shall I know that ye are true men; leave one of your brethren here with me, and take food for the famine of your households, and be gone:\r\n And bring your youngest brother unto me: then shall I know that ye are no spies, but that ye are true men: so will I deliver you your brother, and ye shall traffick in the land.\r\n And it came to pass as they emptied their sacks, that, behold, every man's bundle of money was in his sack: and when both they and their father saw the bundles of money, they were afraid.\r\n And Jacob their father said unto them, Me have ye bereaved of my children: Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and ye will take Benjamin away: all these things are against me.\r\n And Reuben spake unto his father, saying, Slay my two sons, if I bring him not to thee: deliver him into my hand, and I will bring him to thee again.\r\n And he said, My son shall not go down with you; for his brother is dead, and he is left alone: if mischief befall him by the way in the which ye go, then shall ye bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the famine was sore in the land.\r\n And it came to pass, when they had eaten up the corn which they had brought out of Egypt, their father said unto them, Go again, buy us a little food.\r\n And Judah spake unto him, saying, The man did solemnly protest unto us, saying, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you.\r\n If thou wilt send our brother with us, we will go down and buy thee food:\r\n But if thou wilt not send him, we will not go down: for the man said unto us, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you.\r\n And Israel said, Wherefore dealt ye so ill with me, as to tell the man whether ye had yet a brother?\r\n And they said, The man asked us straitly of our state, and of our kindred, saying, Is your father yet alive? have ye another brother? and we told him according to the tenor of these words: could we certainly know that he would say, Bring your brother down?\r\n And Judah said unto Israel his father, Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go; that we may live, and not die, both we, and thou, and also our little ones.\r\n I will be surety for him; of my hand shalt thou require him: if I bring him not unto thee, and set him before thee, then let me bear the blame for ever:\r\n For except we had lingered, surely now we had returned this second time.\r\n And their father Israel said unto them, If it must be so now, do this; take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts, and almonds:\r\n And take double money in your hand; and the money that was brought again in the mouth of your sacks, carry it again in your hand; peradventure it was an oversight:\r\n Take also your brother, and arise, go again unto the man:\r\n And God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may send away your other brother, and Benjamin. If I be bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.\r\n And the men took that present, and they took double money in their hand, and Benjamin; and rose up, and went down to Egypt, and stood before Joseph.\r\n And when Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the ruler of his house, Bring these men home, and slay, and make ready; for these men shall dine with me at noon.\r\n And the man did as Joseph bade; and the man brought the men into Joseph's house.\r\n And the men were afraid, because they were brought into Joseph's house; and they said, Because of the money that was returned in our sacks at the first time are we brought in; that he may seek occasion against us, and fall upon us, and take us for bondmen, and our asses.\r\n And they came near to the steward of Joseph's house, and they communed with him at the door of the house,\r\n And said, O sir, we came indeed down at the first time to buy food:\r\n And it came to pass, when we came to the inn, that we opened our sacks, and, behold, every man's money was in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight: and we have brought it again in our hand.\r\n And other money have we brought down in our hands to buy food: we cannot tell who put our money in our sacks.\r\n And he said, Peace be to you, fear not: your God, and the God of your father, hath given you treasure in your sacks: I had your money. And he brought Simeon out unto them.\r\n And the man brought the men into Joseph's house, and gave them water, and they washed their feet; and he gave their asses provender.\r\n And they made ready the present against Joseph came at noon: for they heard that they should eat bread there.\r\n And when Joseph came home, they brought him the present which was in their hand into the house, and bowed themselves to him to the earth.\r\n And he asked them of their welfare, and said, Is your father well, the old man of whom ye spake? Is he yet alive?\r\n And they answered, Thy servant our father is in good health, he is yet alive. And they bowed down their heads, and made obeisance.\r\n And he lifted up his eyes, and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother's son, and said, Is this your younger brother, of whom ye spake unto me? And he said, God be gracious unto thee, my son.\r\n And Joseph made haste; for his bowels did yearn upon his brother: and he sought where to weep; and he entered into his chamber, and wept there.\r\n And he washed his face, and went out, and refrained himself, and said, Set on bread.\r\n And they set on for him by himself, and for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians, which did eat with him, by themselves: because the Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews; for that is an abomination unto the Egyptians.\r\n And they sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright, and the youngest according to his youth: and the men marvelled one at another.\r\n And he took and sent messes unto them from before him: but Benjamin's mess was five times so much as any of theirs. And they drank, and were merry with him.\r\n \r\n \r\n And he commanded the steward of his house, saying, Fill the men's sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put every man's money in his sack's mouth.\r\n And put my cup, the silver cup, in the sack's mouth of the youngest, and his corn money. And he did according to the word that Joseph had spoken.\r\n As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away, they and their asses.\r\n And when they were gone out of the city, and not yet far off, Joseph said unto his steward, Up, follow after the men; and when thou dost overtake them, say unto them, Wherefore have ye rewarded evil for good?\r\n Is not this it in which my lord drinketh, and whereby indeed he divineth? ye have done evil in so doing.\r\n And he overtook them, and he spake unto them these same words.\r\n And they said unto him, Wherefore saith my lord these words? God forbid that thy servants should do according to this thing:\r\n Behold, the money, which we found in our sacks' mouths, we brought again unto thee out of the land of Canaan: how then should we steal out of thy lord's house silver or gold?\r\n With whomsoever of thy servants it be found, both let him die, and we also will be my lord's bondmen.\r\n And he said, Now also let it be according unto your words: he with whom it is found shall be my servant; and ye shall be blameless.\r\n Then they speedily took down every man his sack to the ground, and opened every man his sack.\r\n And he searched, and began at the eldest, and left at the youngest: and the cup was found in Benjamin's sack.\r\n Then they rent their clothes, and laded every man his ass, and returned to the city.\r\n And Judah and his brethren came to Joseph's house; for he was yet there: and they fell before him on the ground.\r\n And Joseph said unto them, What deed is this that ye have done? wot ye not that such a man as I can certainly divine?\r\n And Judah said, What shall we say unto my lord? what shall we speak? or how shall we clear ourselves? God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants: behold, we are my lord's servants, both we, and he also with whom the cup is found.\r\n And he said, God forbid that I should do so: but the man in whose hand the cup is found, he shall be my servant; and as for you, get you up in peace unto your father.\r\n Then Judah came near unto him, and said, Oh my lord, let thy servant, I pray thee, speak a word in my lord's ears, and let not thine anger burn against thy servant: for thou art even as Pharaoh.\r\n My lord asked his servants, saying, Have ye a father, or a brother?\r\n And we said unto my lord, We have a father, an old man, and a child of his old age, a little one; and his brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother, and his father loveth him.\r\n And thou saidst unto thy servants, Bring him down unto me, that I may set mine eyes upon him.\r\n And we said unto my lord, The lad cannot leave his father: for if he should leave his father, his father would die.\r\n And thou saidst unto thy servants, Except your youngest brother come down with you, ye shall see my face no more.\r\n And it came to pass when we came up unto thy servant my father, we told him the words of my lord.\r\n And our father said, Go again, and buy us a little food.\r\n And we said, We cannot go down: if our youngest brother be with us, then will we go down: for we may not see the man's face, except our youngest brother be with us.\r\n And thy servant my father said unto us, Ye know that my wife bare me two sons:\r\n And the one went out from me, and I said, Surely he is torn in pieces; and I saw him not since:\r\n And if ye take this also from me, and mischief befall him, ye shall bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave.\r\n Now therefore when I come to thy servant my father, and the lad be not with us; seeing that his life is bound up in the lad's life;\r\n It shall come to pass, when he seeth that the lad is not with us, that he will die: and thy servants shall bring down the gray hairs of thy servant our father with sorrow to the grave.\r\n For thy servant became surety for the lad unto my father, saying, If I bring him not unto thee, then I shall bear the blame to my father for ever.\r\n Now therefore, I pray thee, let thy servant abide instead of the lad a bondman to my lord; and let the lad go up with his brethren.\r\n For how shall I go up to my father, and the lad be not with me? lest peradventure I see the evil that shall come on my father.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him; and he cried, Cause every man to go out from me. And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren.\r\n And he wept aloud: and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard.\r\n And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph; doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him; for they were troubled at his presence.\r\n And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt.\r\n Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.\r\n For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest.\r\n And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.\r\n So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.\r\n Haste ye, and go up to my father, and say unto him, Thus saith thy son Joseph, God hath made me lord of all Egypt: come down unto me, tarry not:\r\n And thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen, and thou shalt be near unto me, thou, and thy children, and thy children's children, and thy flocks, and thy herds, and all that thou hast:\r\n And there will I nourish thee; for yet there are five years of famine; lest thou, and thy household, and all that thou hast, come to poverty.\r\n And, behold, your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin, that it is my mouth that speaketh unto you.\r\n And ye shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that ye have seen; and ye shall haste and bring down my father hither.\r\n And he fell upon his brother Benjamin's neck, and wept; and Benjamin wept upon his neck.\r\n Moreover he kissed all his brethren, and wept upon them: and after that his brethren talked with him.\r\n And the fame thereof was heard in Pharaoh's house, saying, Joseph's brethren are come: and it pleased Pharaoh well, and his servants.\r\n And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Say unto thy brethren, This do ye; lade your beasts, and go, get you unto the land of Canaan;\r\n And take your father and your households, and come unto me: and I will give you the good of the land of Egypt, and ye shall eat the fat of the land.\r\n Now thou art commanded, this do ye; take you wagons out of the land of Egypt for your little ones, and for your wives, and bring your father, and come.\r\n Also regard not your stuff; for the good of all the land of Egypt is yours.\r\n And the children of Israel did so: and Joseph gave them wagons, according to the commandment of Pharaoh, and gave them provision for the way.\r\n To all of them he gave each man changes of raiment; but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver, and five changes of raiment.\r\n And to his father he sent after this manner; ten asses laden with the good things of Egypt, and ten she asses laden with corn and bread and meat for his father by the way.\r\n So he sent his brethren away, and they departed: and he said unto them, See that ye fall not out by the way.\r\n And they went up out of Egypt, and came into the land of Canaan unto Jacob their father,\r\n And told him, saying, Joseph is yet alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt. And Jacob's heart fainted, for he believed them not.\r\n And they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said unto them: and when he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived:\r\n And Israel said, It is enough; Joseph my son is yet alive: I will go and see him before I die.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices unto the God of his father Isaac.\r\n And God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night, and said, Jacob, Jacob. And he said, Here am I.\r\n And he said, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation:\r\n I will go down with thee into Egypt; and I will also surely bring thee up again: and Joseph shall put his hand upon thine eyes.\r\n And Jacob rose up from Beersheba: and the sons of Israel carried Jacob their father, and their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons which Pharaoh had sent to carry him.\r\n And they took their cattle, and their goods, which they had gotten in the land of Canaan, and came into Egypt, Jacob, and all his seed with him:\r\n His sons, and his sons' sons with him, his daughters, and his sons' daughters, and all his seed brought he with him into Egypt.\r\n And these are the names of the children of Israel, which came into Egypt, Jacob and his sons: Reuben, Jacob's firstborn.\r\n And the sons of Reuben; Hanoch, and Phallu, and Hezron, and Carmi.\r\n And the sons of Simeon; Jemuel, and Jamin, and Ohad, and Jachin, and Zohar, and Shaul the son of a Canaanitish woman.\r\n And the sons of Levi; Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.\r\n And the sons of Judah; Er, and Onan, and Shelah, and Pharez, and Zerah: but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. And the sons of Pharez were Hezron and Hamul.\r\n And the sons of Issachar; Tola, and Phuvah, and Job, and Shimron.\r\n And the sons of Zebulun; Sered, and Elon, and Jahleel.\r\n These be the sons of Leah, which she bare unto Jacob in Padanaram, with his daughter Dinah: all the souls of his sons and his daughters were thirty and three.\r\n And the sons of Gad; Ziphion, and Haggi, Shuni, and Ezbon, Eri, and Arodi, and Areli.\r\n And the sons of Asher; Jimnah, and Ishuah, and Isui, and Beriah, and Serah their sister: and the sons of Beriah; Heber, and Malchiel.\r\n These are the sons of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to Leah his daughter, and these she bare unto Jacob, even sixteen souls.\r\n The sons of Rachel Jacob's wife; Joseph, and Benjamin.\r\n And unto Joseph in the land of Egypt were born Manasseh and Ephraim, which Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On bare unto him.\r\n And the sons of Benjamin were Belah, and Becher, and Ashbel, Gera, and Naaman, Ehi, and Rosh, Muppim, and Huppim, and Ard.\r\n These are the sons of Rachel, which were born to Jacob: all the souls were fourteen.\r\n And the sons of Dan; Hushim.\r\n And the sons of Naphtali; Jahzeel, and Guni, and Jezer, and Shillem.\r\n These are the sons of Bilhah, which Laban gave unto Rachel his daughter, and she bare these unto Jacob: all the souls were seven.\r\n All the souls that came with Jacob into Egypt, which came out of his loins, besides Jacob's sons' wives, all the souls were threescore and six;\r\n And the sons of Joseph, which were born him in Egypt, were two souls: all the souls of the house of Jacob, which came into Egypt, were threescore and ten.\r\n And he sent Judah before him unto Joseph, to direct his face unto Goshen; and they came into the land of Goshen.\r\n And Joseph made ready his chariot, and went up to meet Israel his father, to Goshen, and presented himself unto him; and he fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while.\r\n And Israel said unto Joseph, Now let me die, since I have seen thy face, because thou art yet alive.\r\n And Joseph said unto his brethren, and unto his father's house, I will go up, and shew Pharaoh, and say unto him, My brethren, and my father's house, which were in the land of Canaan, are come unto me;\r\n And the men are shepherds, for their trade hath been to feed cattle; and they have brought their flocks, and their herds, and all that they have.\r\n And it shall come to pass, when Pharaoh shall call you, and shall say, What is your occupation?\r\n That ye shall say, Thy servants' trade hath been about cattle from our youth even until now, both we, and also our fathers: that ye may dwell in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is an abomination unto the Egyptians.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then Joseph came and told Pharaoh, and said, My father and my brethren, and their flocks, and their herds, and all that they have, are come out of the land of Canaan; and, behold, they are in the land of Goshen.\r\n And he took some of his brethren, even five men, and presented them unto Pharaoh.\r\n And Pharaoh said unto his brethren, What is your occupation? And they said unto Pharaoh, Thy servants are shepherds, both we, and also our fathers.\r\n They said moreover unto Pharaoh, For to sojourn in the land are we come; for thy servants have no pasture for their flocks; for the famine is sore in the land of Canaan: now therefore, we pray thee, let thy servants dwell in the land of Goshen.\r\n And Pharaoh spake unto Joseph, saying, Thy father and thy brethren are come unto thee:\r\n The land of Egypt is before thee; in the best of the land make thy father and brethren to dwell; in the land of Goshen let them dwell: and if thou knowest any men of activity among them, then make them rulers over my cattle.\r\n And Joseph brought in Jacob his father, and set him before Pharaoh: and Jacob blessed Pharaoh.\r\n And Pharaoh said unto Jacob, How old art thou?\r\n And Jacob said unto Pharaoh, The days of the years of my pilgrimage are an hundred and thirty years: few and evil have the days of the years of my life been, and have not attained unto the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage.\r\n And Jacob blessed Pharaoh, and went out from before Pharaoh.\r\n And Joseph placed his father and his brethren, and gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land, in the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had commanded.\r\n And Joseph nourished his father, and his brethren, and all his father's household, with bread, according to their families.\r\n And there was no bread in all the land; for the famine was very sore, so that the land of Egypt and all the land of Canaan fainted by reason of the famine.\r\n And Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, for the corn which they bought: and Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh's house.\r\n And when money failed in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came unto Joseph, and said, Give us bread: for why should we die in thy presence? for the money faileth.\r\n And Joseph said, Give your cattle; and I will give you for your cattle, if money fail.\r\n And they brought their cattle unto Joseph: and Joseph gave them bread in exchange for horses, and for the flocks, and for the cattle of the herds, and for the asses: and he fed them with bread for all their cattle for that year.\r\n When that year was ended, they came unto him the second year, and said unto him, We will not hide it from my lord, how that our money is spent; my lord also hath our herds of cattle; there is not ought left in the sight of my lord, but our bodies, and our lands:\r\n Wherefore shall we die before thine eyes, both we and our land? buy us and our land for bread, and we and our land will be servants unto Pharaoh: and give us seed, that we may live, and not die, that the land be not desolate.\r\n And Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh; for the Egyptians sold every man his field, because the famine prevailed over them: so the land became Pharaoh's.\r\n And as for the people, he removed them to cities from one end of the borders of Egypt even to the other end thereof.\r\n Only the land of the priests bought he not; for the priests had a portion assigned them of Pharaoh, and did eat their portion which Pharaoh gave them: wherefore they sold not their lands.\r\n Then Joseph said unto the people, Behold, I have bought you this day and your land for Pharaoh: lo, here is seed for you, and ye shall sow the land.\r\n And it shall come to pass in the increase, that ye shall give the fifth part unto Pharaoh, and four parts shall be your own, for seed of the field, and for your food, and for them of your households, and for food for your little ones.\r\n And they said, Thou hast saved our lives: let us find grace in the sight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh's servants.\r\n And Joseph made it a law over the land of Egypt unto this day, that Pharaoh should have the fifth part; except the land of the priests only, which became not Pharaoh's.\r\n And Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the country of Goshen; and they had possessions therein, and grew, and multiplied exceedingly.\r\n And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years: so the whole age of Jacob was an hundred forty and seven years.\r\n And the time drew nigh that Israel must die: and he called his son Joseph, and said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me; bury me not, I pray thee, in Egypt:\r\n But I will lie with my fathers, and thou shalt carry me out of Egypt, and bury me in their buryingplace. And he said, I will do as thou hast said.\r\n And he said, Swear unto me. And he sware unto him. And Israel bowed himself upon the bed's head.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass after these things, that one told Joseph, Behold, thy father is sick: and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.\r\n And one told Jacob, and said, Behold, thy son Joseph cometh unto thee: and Israel strengthened himself, and sat upon the bed.\r\n And Jacob said unto Joseph, God Almighty appeared unto me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and blessed me,\r\n And said unto me, Behold, I will make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, and I will make of thee a multitude of people; and will give this land to thy seed after thee for an everlasting possession.\r\n And now thy two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, which were born unto thee in the land of Egypt before I came unto thee into Egypt, are mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine.\r\n And thy issue, which thou begettest after them, shall be thine, and shall be called after the name of their brethren in their inheritance.\r\n And as for me, when I came from Padan, Rachel died by me in the land of Canaan in the way, when yet there was but a little way to come unto Ephrath: and I buried her there in the way of Ephrath; the same is Bethlehem.\r\n And Israel beheld Joseph's sons, and said, Who are these?\r\n And Joseph said unto his father, They are my sons, whom God hath given me in this place. And he said, Bring them, I pray thee, unto me, and I will bless them.\r\n Now the eyes of Israel were dim for age, so that he could not see. And he brought them near unto him; and he kissed them, and embraced them.\r\n And Israel said unto Joseph, I had not thought to see thy face: and, lo, God hath shewed me also thy seed.\r\n And Joseph brought them out from between his knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth.\r\n And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel's left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel's right hand, and brought them near unto him.\r\n And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim's head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh's head, guiding his hands wittingly; for Manasseh was the firstborn.\r\n And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day,\r\n The Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.\r\n And when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it displeased him: and he held up his father's hand, to remove it from Ephraim's head unto Manasseh's head.\r\n And Joseph said unto his father, Not so, my father: for this is the firstborn; put thy right hand upon his head.\r\n And his father refused, and said, I know it, my son, I know it: he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great: but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations.\r\n And he blessed them that day, saying, In thee shall Israel bless, saying, God make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh: and he set Ephraim before Manasseh.\r\n And Israel said unto Joseph, Behold, I die: but God shall be with you, and bring you again unto the land of your fathers.\r\n Moreover I have given to thee one portion above thy brethren, which I took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days.\r\n Gather yourselves together, and hear, ye sons of Jacob; and hearken unto Israel your father.\r\n Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power:\r\n Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father's bed; then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch.\r\n Simeon and Levi are brethren; instruments of cruelty are in their habitations.\r\n O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honour, be not thou united: for in their anger they slew a man, and in their selfwill they digged down a wall.\r\n Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel.\r\n Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father's children shall bow down before thee.\r\n Judah is a lion's whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up?\r\n The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.\r\n Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass's colt unto the choice vine; he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes:\r\n His eyes shall be red with wine, and his teeth white with milk.\r\n Zebulun shall dwell at the haven of the sea; and he shall be for an haven of ships; and his border shall be unto Zidon.\r\n Issachar is a strong ass couching down between two burdens:\r\n And he saw that rest was good, and the land that it was pleasant; and bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant unto tribute.\r\n Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel.\r\n Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward.\r\n I have waited for thy salvation, O LORD.\r\n Gad, a troop shall overcome him: but he shall overcome at the last.\r\n Out of Asher his bread shall be fat, and he shall yield royal dainties.\r\n Naphtali is a hind let loose: he giveth goodly words.\r\n Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall:\r\n The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him:\r\n But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:)\r\n Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee; and by the Almighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb:\r\n The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren.\r\n Benjamin shall ravin as a wolf: in the morning he shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the spoil.\r\n All these are the twelve tribes of Israel: and this is it that their father spake unto them, and blessed them; every one according to his blessing he blessed them.\r\n And he charged them, and said unto them, I am to be gathered unto my people: bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite,\r\n In the cave that is in the field of Machpelah, which is before Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field of Ephron the Hittite for a possession of a buryingplace.\r\n There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife; there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife; and there I buried Leah.\r\n The purchase of the field and of the cave that is therein was from the children of Heth.\r\n And when Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost, and was gathered unto his people.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Joseph fell upon his father's face, and wept upon him, and kissed him.\r\n And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father: and the physicians embalmed Israel.\r\n And forty days were fulfilled for him; for so are fulfilled the days of those which are embalmed: and the Egyptians mourned for him threescore and ten days.\r\n And when the days of his mourning were past, Joseph spake unto the house of Pharaoh, saying, If now I have found grace in your eyes, speak, I pray you, in the ears of Pharaoh, saying,\r\n My father made me swear, saying, Lo, I die: in my grave which I have digged for me in the land of Canaan, there shalt thou bury me. Now therefore let me go up, I pray thee, and bury my father, and I will come again.\r\n And Pharaoh said, Go up, and bury thy father, according as he made thee swear.\r\n And Joseph went up to bury his father: and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his house, and all the elders of the land of Egypt,\r\n And all the house of Joseph, and his brethren, and his father's house: only their little ones, and their flocks, and their herds, they left in the land of Goshen.\r\n And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen: and it was a very great company.\r\n And they came to the threshingfloor of Atad, which is beyond Jordan, and there they mourned with a great and very sore lamentation: and he made a mourning for his father seven days.\r\n And when the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning in the floor of Atad, they said, This is a grievous mourning to the Egyptians: wherefore the name of it was called Abelmizraim, which is beyond Jordan.\r\n And his sons did unto him according as he commanded them:\r\n For his sons carried him into the land of Canaan, and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, which Abraham bought with the field for a possession of a buryingplace of Ephron the Hittite, before Mamre.\r\n And Joseph returned into Egypt, he, and his brethren, and all that went up with him to bury his father, after he had buried his father.\r\n And when Joseph's brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, Joseph will peradventure hate us, and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him.\r\n And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying,\r\n So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him.\r\n And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants.\r\n And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?\r\n But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.\r\n Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.\r\n And Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he, and his father's house: and Joseph lived an hundred and ten years.\r\n And Joseph saw Ephraim's children of the third generation: the children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were brought up upon Joseph's knees.\r\n And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die: and God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land unto the land which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.\r\n And Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones from hence.\r\n So Joseph died, being an hundred and ten years old: and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n Now these are the names of the children of Israel, which came into Egypt; every man and his household came with Jacob.\r\n Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah,\r\n Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin,\r\n Dan, and Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.\r\n And all the souls that came out of the loins of Jacob were seventy souls: for Joseph was in Egypt already.\r\n And Joseph died, and all his brethren, and all that generation.\r\n And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them.\r\n Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph.\r\n And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we:\r\n Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land.\r\n Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses.\r\n But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel.\r\n And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour:\r\n And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in morter, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their service, wherein they made them serve, was with rigour.\r\n And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah:\r\n And he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live.\r\n But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive.\r\n And the king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said unto them, Why have ye done this thing, and have saved the men children alive?\r\n And the midwives said unto Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are lively, and are delivered ere the midwives come in unto them.\r\n Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty.\r\n And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made them houses.\r\n And Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye shall save alive.\r\n \r\n \r\n And there went a man of the house of Levi, and took to wife a daughter of Levi.\r\n And the woman conceived, and bare a son: and when she saw him that he was a goodly child, she hid him three months.\r\n And when she could not longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and put the child therein; and she laid it in the flags by the river's brink.\r\n And his sister stood afar off, to wit what would be done to him.\r\n And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to wash herself at the river; and her maidens walked along by the river's side; and when she saw the ark among the flags, she sent her maid to fetch it.\r\n And when she had opened it, she saw the child: and, behold, the babe wept. And she had compassion on him, and said, This is one of the Hebrews' children.\r\n Then said his sister to Pharaoh's daughter, Shall I go and call to thee a nurse of the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for thee?\r\n And Pharaoh's daughter said to her, Go. And the maid went and called the child's mother.\r\n And Pharaoh's daughter said unto her, Take this child away, and nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy wages. And the woman took the child, and nursed it.\r\n And the child grew, and she brought him unto Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son. And she called his name Moses: and she said, Because I drew him out of the water.\r\n And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens: and he spied an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew, one of his brethren.\r\n And he looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no man, he slew the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand.\r\n And when he went out the second day, behold, two men of the Hebrews strove together: and he said to him that did the wrong, Wherefore smitest thou thy fellow?\r\n And he said, Who made thee a prince and a judge over us? intendest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian? And Moses feared, and said, Surely this thing is known.\r\n Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian: and he sat down by a well.\r\n Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters: and they came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father's flock.\r\n And the shepherds came and drove them away: but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock.\r\n And when they came to Reuel their father, he said, How is it that ye are come so soon to day?\r\n And they said, An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds, and also drew water enough for us, and watered the flock.\r\n And he said unto his daughters, And where is he? why is it that ye have left the man? call him, that he may eat bread.\r\n And Moses was content to dwell with the man: and he gave Moses Zipporah his daughter.\r\n And she bare him a son, and he called his name Gershom: for he said, I have been a stranger in a strange land.\r\n And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage.\r\n And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.\r\n And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.\r\n And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.\r\n And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.\r\n And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.\r\n And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.\r\n Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.\r\n And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;\r\n And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.\r\n Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them.\r\n Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.\r\n And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?\r\n And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain.\r\n And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?\r\n And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.\r\n And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.\r\n Go, and gather the elders of Israel together, and say unto them, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared unto me, saying, I have surely visited you, and seen that which is done to you in Egypt:\r\n And I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, unto a land flowing with milk and honey.\r\n And they shall hearken to thy voice: and thou shalt come, thou and the elders of Israel, unto the king of Egypt, and ye shall say unto him, The LORD God of the Hebrews hath met with us: and now let us go, we beseech thee, three days' journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.\r\n And I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not by a mighty hand.\r\n And I will stretch out my hand, and smite Egypt with all my wonders which I will do in the midst thereof: and after that he will let you go.\r\n And I will give this people favour in the sight of the Egyptians: and it shall come to pass, that, when ye go, ye shall not go empty:\r\n But every woman shall borrow of her neighbour, and of her that sojourneth in her house, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: and ye shall put them upon your sons, and upon your daughters; and ye shall spoil the Egyptians.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The LORD hath not appeared unto thee.\r\n And the LORD said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod.\r\n And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it.\r\n And the LORD said unto Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail. And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand:\r\n That they may believe that the LORD God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared unto thee.\r\n And the LORD said furthermore unto him, Put now thine hand into thy bosom. And he put his hand into his bosom: and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous as snow.\r\n And he said, Put thine hand into thy bosom again. And he put his hand into his bosom again; and plucked it out of his bosom, and, behold, it was turned again as his other flesh.\r\n And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe thee, neither hearken to the voice of the first sign, that they will believe the voice of the latter sign.\r\n And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe also these two signs, neither hearken unto thy voice, that thou shalt take of the water of the river, and pour it upon the dry land: and the water which thou takest out of the river shall become blood upon the dry land.\r\n And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.\r\n And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD?\r\n Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.\r\n And he said, O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send.\r\n And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart.\r\n And thou shalt speak unto him, and put words in his mouth: and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do.\r\n And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead of God.\r\n And thou shalt take this rod in thine hand, wherewith thou shalt do signs.\r\n And Moses went and returned to Jethro his father in law, and said unto him, Let me go, I pray thee, and return unto my brethren which are in Egypt, and see whether they be yet alive. And Jethro said to Moses, Go in peace.\r\n And the LORD said unto Moses in Midian, Go, return into Egypt: for all the men are dead which sought thy life.\r\n And Moses took his wife and his sons, and set them upon an ass, and he returned to the land of Egypt: and Moses took the rod of God in his hand.\r\n And the LORD said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand: but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go.\r\n And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn:\r\n And I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy firstborn.\r\n And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the LORD met him, and sought to kill him.\r\n Then Zipporah took a sharp stone, and cut off the foreskin of her son, and cast it at his feet, and said, Surely a bloody husband art thou to me.\r\n So he let him go: then she said, A bloody husband thou art, because of the circumcision.\r\n And the LORD said to Aaron, Go into the wilderness to meet Moses. And he went, and met him in the mount of God, and kissed him.\r\n And Moses told Aaron all the words of the LORD who had sent him, and all the signs which he had commanded him.\r\n And Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel:\r\n And Aaron spake all the words which the LORD had spoken unto Moses, and did the signs in the sight of the people.\r\n And the people believed: and when they heard that the LORD had visited the children of Israel, and that he had looked upon their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshipped.\r\n \r\n \r\n And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness.\r\n And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go.\r\n And they said, The God of the Hebrews hath met with us: let us go, we pray thee, three days' journey into the desert, and sacrifice unto the LORD our God; lest he fall upon us with pestilence, or with the sword.\r\n And the king of Egypt said unto them, Wherefore do ye, Moses and Aaron, let the people from their works? get you unto your burdens.\r\n And Pharaoh said, Behold, the people of the land now are many, and ye make them rest from their burdens.\r\n And Pharaoh commanded the same day the taskmasters of the people, and their officers, saying,\r\n Ye shall no more give the people straw to make brick, as heretofore: let them go and gather straw for themselves.\r\n And the tale of the bricks, which they did make heretofore, ye shall lay upon them; ye shall not diminish ought thereof: for they be idle; therefore they cry, saying, Let us go and sacrifice to our God.\r\n Let there more work be laid upon the men, that they may labour therein; and let them not regard vain words.\r\n And the taskmasters of the people went out, and their officers, and they spake to the people, saying, Thus saith Pharaoh, I will not give you straw.\r\n Go ye, get you straw where ye can find it: yet not ought of your work shall be diminished.\r\n So the people were scattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble instead of straw.\r\n And the taskmasters hasted them, saying, Fulfil your works, your daily tasks, as when there was straw.\r\n And the officers of the children of Israel, which Pharaoh's taskmasters had set over them, were beaten, and demanded, Wherefore have ye not fulfilled your task in making brick both yesterday and to day, as heretofore?\r\n Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried unto Pharaoh, saying, Wherefore dealest thou thus with thy servants?\r\n There is no straw given unto thy servants, and they say to us, Make brick: and, behold, thy servants are beaten; but the fault is in thine own people.\r\n But he said, Ye are idle, ye are idle: therefore ye say, Let us go and do sacrifice to the LORD.\r\n Go therefore now, and work; for there shall no straw be given you, yet shall ye deliver the tale of bricks.\r\n And the officers of the children of Israel did see that they were in evil case, after it was said, Ye shall not minish ought from your bricks of your daily task.\r\n And they met Moses and Aaron, who stood in the way, as they came forth from Pharaoh:\r\n And they said unto them, The LORD look upon you, and judge; because ye have made our savour to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to slay us.\r\n And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Lord, wherefore hast thou so evil entreated this people? why is it that thou hast sent me?\r\n For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in thy name, he hath done evil to this people; neither hast thou delivered thy people at all.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then the LORD said unto Moses, Now shalt thou see what I will do to Pharaoh: for with a strong hand shall he let them go, and with a strong hand shall he drive them out of his land.\r\n And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am the LORD:\r\n And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.\r\n And I have also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, wherein they were strangers.\r\n And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage; and I have remembered my covenant.\r\n Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments:\r\n And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.\r\n And I will bring you in unto the land, concerning the which I did swear to give it to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it you for an heritage: I am the LORD.\r\n And Moses spake so unto the children of Israel: but they hearkened not unto Moses for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage.\r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Go in, speak unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, that he let the children of Israel go out of his land.\r\n And Moses spake before the LORD, saying, Behold, the children of Israel have not hearkened unto me; how then shall Pharaoh hear me, who am of uncircumcised lips?\r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, and gave them a charge unto the children of Israel, and unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt.\r\n These be the heads of their fathers' houses: The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel; Hanoch, and Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi: these be the families of Reuben.\r\n And the sons of Simeon; Jemuel, and Jamin, and Ohad, and Jachin, and Zohar, and Shaul the son of a Canaanitish woman: these are the families of Simeon.\r\n And these are the names of the sons of Levi according to their generations; Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari: and the years of the life of Levi were an hundred thirty and seven years.\r\n The sons of Gershon; Libni, and Shimi, according to their families.\r\n And the sons of Kohath; Amram, and Izhar, and Hebron, and Uzziel: and the years of the life of Kohath were an hundred thirty and three years.\r\n And the sons of Merari; Mahali and Mushi: these are the families of Levi according to their generations.\r\n And Amram took him Jochebed his father's sister to wife; and she bare him Aaron and Moses: and the years of the life of Amram were an hundred and thirty and seven years.\r\n And the sons of Izhar; Korah, and Nepheg, and Zichri.\r\n And the sons of Uzziel; Mishael, and Elzaphan, and Zithri.\r\n And Aaron took him Elisheba, daughter of Amminadab, sister of Naashon, to wife; and she bare him Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.\r\n And the sons of Korah; Assir, and Elkanah, and Abiasaph: these are the families of the Korhites.\r\n And Eleazar Aaron's son took him one of the daughters of Putiel to wife; and she bare him Phinehas: these are the heads of the fathers of the Levites according to their families.\r\n These are that Aaron and Moses, to whom the LORD said, Bring out the children of Israel from the land of Egypt according to their armies.\r\n These are they which spake to Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring out the children of Israel from Egypt: these are that Moses and Aaron.\r\n And it came to pass on the day when the LORD spake unto Moses in the land of Egypt,\r\n That the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, I am the LORD: speak thou unto Pharaoh king of Egypt all that I say unto thee.\r\n And Moses said before the LORD, Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips, and how shall Pharaoh hearken unto me?\r\n \r\n \r\n And the LORD said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet.\r\n Thou shalt speak all that I command thee: and Aaron thy brother shall speak unto Pharaoh, that he send the children of Israel out of his land.\r\n And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt.\r\n But Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you, that I may lay my hand upon Egypt, and bring forth mine armies, and my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments.\r\n And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch forth mine hand upon Egypt, and bring out the children of Israel from among them.\r\n And Moses and Aaron did as the LORD commanded them, so did they.\r\n And Moses was fourscore years old, and Aaron fourscore and three years old, when they spake unto Pharaoh.\r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,\r\n When Pharaoh shall speak unto you, saying, Shew a miracle for you: then thou shalt say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and cast it before Pharaoh, and it shall become a serpent.\r\n And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and they did so as the LORD had commanded: and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it became a serpent.\r\n Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments.\r\n For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods.\r\n And he hardened Pharaoh's heart, that he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.\r\n And the LORD said unto Moses, Pharaoh's heart is hardened, he refuseth to let the people go.\r\n Get thee unto Pharaoh in the morning; lo, he goeth out unto the water; and thou shalt stand by the river's brink against he come; and the rod which was turned to a serpent shalt thou take in thine hand.\r\n And thou shalt say unto him, The LORD God of the Hebrews hath sent me unto thee, saying, Let my people go, that they may serve me in the wilderness: and, behold, hitherto thou wouldest not hear.\r\n Thus saith the LORD, In this thou shalt know that I am the LORD: behold, I will smite with the rod that is in mine hand upon the waters which are in the river, and they shall be turned to blood.\r\n And the fish that is in the river shall die, and the river shall stink; and the Egyptians shall lothe to drink of the water of the river.\r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and stretch out thine hand upon the waters of Egypt, upon their streams, upon their rivers, and upon their ponds, and upon all their pools of water, that they may become blood; and that there may be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in vessels of wood, and in vessels of stone.\r\n And Moses and Aaron did so, as the LORD commanded; and he lifted up the rod, and smote the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants; and all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood.\r\n And the fish that was in the river died; and the river stank, and the Egyptians could not drink of the water of the river; and there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt.\r\n And the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments: and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, neither did he hearken unto them; as the LORD had said.\r\n And Pharaoh turned and went into his house, neither did he set his heart to this also.\r\n And all the Egyptians digged round about the river for water to drink; for they could not drink of the water of the river.\r\n And seven days were fulfilled, after that the LORD had smitten the river.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses, Go unto Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Let my people go, that they may serve me.\r\n And if thou refuse to let them go, behold, I will smite all thy borders with frogs:\r\n And the river shall bring forth frogs abundantly, which shall go up and come into thine house, and into thy bedchamber, and upon thy bed, and into the house of thy servants, and upon thy people, and into thine ovens, and into thy kneadingtroughs:\r\n And the frogs shall come up both on thee, and upon thy people, and upon all thy servants.\r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch forth thine hand with thy rod over the streams, over the rivers, and over the ponds, and cause frogs to come up upon the land of Egypt.\r\n And Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt; and the frogs came up, and covered the land of Egypt.\r\n And the magicians did so with their enchantments, and brought up frogs upon the land of Egypt.\r\n Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, Intreat the LORD, that he may take away the frogs from me, and from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may do sacrifice unto the LORD.\r\n And Moses said unto Pharaoh, Glory over me: when shall I intreat for thee, and for thy servants, and for thy people, to destroy the frogs from thee and thy houses, that they may remain in the river only?\r\n And he said, To morrow. And he said, Be it according to thy word: that thou mayest know that there is none like unto the LORD our God.\r\n And the frogs shall depart from thee, and from thy houses, and from thy servants, and from thy people; they shall remain in the river only.\r\n And Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh: and Moses cried unto the LORD because of the frogs which he had brought against Pharaoh.\r\n And the LORD did according to the word of Moses; and the frogs died out of the houses, out of the villages, and out of the fields.\r\n And they gathered them together upon heaps: and the land stank.\r\n But when Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he hardened his heart, and hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.\r\n And the LORD said unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch out thy rod, and smite the dust of the land, that it may become lice throughout all the land of Egypt.\r\n And they did so; for Aaron stretched out his hand with his rod, and smote the dust of the earth, and it became lice in man, and in beast; all the dust of the land became lice throughout all the land of Egypt.\r\n And the magicians did so with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not: so there were lice upon man, and upon beast.\r\n Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, This is the finger of God: and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.\r\n And the LORD said unto Moses, Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh; lo, he cometh forth to the water; and say unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Let my people go, that they may serve me.\r\n Else, if thou wilt not let my people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies upon thee, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people, and into thy houses: and the houses of the Egyptians shall be full of swarms of flies, and also the ground whereon they are.\r\n And I will sever in that day the land of Goshen, in which my people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there; to the end thou mayest know that I am the LORD in the midst of the earth.\r\n And I will put a division between my people and thy people: to morrow shall this sign be.\r\n And the LORD did so; and there came a grievous swarm of flies into the house of Pharaoh, and into his servants' houses, and into all the land of Egypt: the land was corrupted by reason of the swarm of flies.\r\n And Pharaoh called for Moses and for Aaron, and said, Go ye, sacrifice to your God in the land.\r\n And Moses said, It is not meet so to do; for we shall sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians to the LORD our God: lo, shall we sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians before their eyes, and will they not stone us?\r\n We will go three days' journey into the wilderness, and sacrifice to the LORD our God, as he shall command us.\r\n And Pharaoh said, I will let you go, that ye may sacrifice to the LORD your God in the wilderness; only ye shall not go very far away: intreat for me.\r\n And Moses said, Behold, I go out from thee, and I will intreat the LORD that the swarms of flies may depart from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people, to morrow: but let not Pharaoh deal deceitfully any more in not letting the people go to sacrifice to the LORD.\r\n And Moses went out from Pharaoh, and intreated the LORD.\r\n And the LORD did according to the word of Moses; and he removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people; there remained not one.\r\n And Pharaoh hardened his heart at this time also, neither would he let the people go.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then the LORD said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh, and tell him, Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews, Let my people go, that they may serve me.\r\n For if thou refuse to let them go, and wilt hold them still,\r\n Behold, the hand of the LORD is upon thy cattle which is in the field, upon the horses, upon the asses, upon the camels, upon the oxen, and upon the sheep: there shall be a very grievous murrain.\r\n And the LORD shall sever between the cattle of Israel and the cattle of Egypt: and there shall nothing die of all that is the children's of Israel.\r\n And the LORD appointed a set time, saying, To morrow the LORD shall do this thing in the land.\r\n And the LORD did that thing on the morrow, and all the cattle of Egypt died: but of the cattle of the children of Israel died not one.\r\n And Pharaoh sent, and, behold, there was not one of the cattle of the Israelites dead. And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the people go.\r\n And the LORD said unto Moses and unto Aaron, Take to you handfuls of ashes of the furnace, and let Moses sprinkle it toward the heaven in the sight of Pharaoh.\r\n And it shall become small dust in all the land of Egypt, and shall be a boil breaking forth with blains upon man, and upon beast, throughout all the land of Egypt.\r\n And they took ashes of the furnace, and stood before Pharaoh; and Moses sprinkled it up toward heaven; and it became a boil breaking forth with blains upon man, and upon beast.\r\n And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils; for the boil was upon the magicians, and upon all the Egyptians.\r\n And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had spoken unto Moses.\r\n And the LORD said unto Moses, Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews, Let my people go, that they may serve me.\r\n For I will at this time send all my plagues upon thine heart, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people; that thou mayest know that there is none like me in all the earth.\r\n For now I will stretch out my hand, that I may smite thee and thy people with pestilence; and thou shalt be cut off from the earth.\r\n And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up, for to shew in thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth.\r\n As yet exaltest thou thyself against my people, that thou wilt not let them go?\r\n Behold, to morrow about this time I will cause it to rain a very grievous hail, such as hath not been in Egypt since the foundation thereof even until now.\r\n Send therefore now, and gather thy cattle, and all that thou hast in the field; for upon every man and beast which shall be found in the field, and shall not be brought home, the hail shall come down upon them, and they shall die.\r\n He that feared the word of the LORD among the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his cattle flee into the houses:\r\n And he that regarded not the word of the LORD left his servants and his cattle in the field.\r\n And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch forth thine hand toward heaven, that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt, upon man, and upon beast, and upon every herb of the field, throughout the land of Egypt.\r\n And Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven: and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and the fire ran along upon the ground; and the LORD rained hail upon the land of Egypt.\r\n So there was hail, and fire mingled with the hail, very grievous, such as there was none like it in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation.\r\n And the hail smote throughout all the land of Egypt all that was in the field, both man and beast; and the hail smote every herb of the field, and brake every tree of the field.\r\n Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were, was there no hail.\r\n And Pharaoh sent, and called for Moses and Aaron, and said unto them, I have sinned this time: the LORD is righteous, and I and my people are wicked.\r\n Intreat the LORD (for it is enough) that there be no more mighty thunderings and hail; and I will let you go, and ye shall stay no longer.\r\n And Moses said unto him, As soon as I am gone out of the city, I will spread abroad my hands unto the LORD; and the thunder shall cease, neither shall there be any more hail; that thou mayest know how that the earth is the LORD'S.\r\n But as for thee and thy servants, I know that ye will not yet fear the LORD God.\r\n And the flax and the barley was smitten: for the barley was in the ear, and the flax was bolled.\r\n But the wheat and the rie were not smitten: for they were not grown up.\r\n And Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh, and spread abroad his hands unto the LORD: and the thunders and hail ceased, and the rain was not poured upon the earth.\r\n And when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunders were ceased, he sinned yet more, and hardened his heart, he and his servants.\r\n And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, neither would he let the children of Israel go; as the LORD had spoken by Moses.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the LORD said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh: for I have hardened his heart, and the heart of his servants, that I might shew these my signs before him:\r\n And that thou mayest tell in the ears of thy son, and of thy son's son, what things I have wrought in Egypt, and my signs which I have done among them; that ye may know how that I am the LORD.\r\n And Moses and Aaron came in unto Pharaoh, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews, How long wilt thou refuse to humble thyself before me? let my people go, that they may serve me.\r\n Else, if thou refuse to let my people go, behold, to morrow will I bring the locusts into thy coast:\r\n And they shall cover the face of the earth, that one cannot be able to see the earth: and they shall eat the residue of that which is escaped, which remaineth unto you from the hail, and shall eat every tree which groweth for you out of the field:\r\n And they shall fill thy houses, and the houses of all thy servants, and the houses of all the Egyptians; which neither thy fathers, nor thy fathers' fathers have seen, since the day that they were upon the earth unto this day. And he turned himself, and went out from Pharaoh.\r\n And Pharaoh's servants said unto him, How long shall this man be a snare unto us? let the men go, that they may serve the LORD their God: knowest thou not yet that Egypt is destroyed?\r\n And Moses and Aaron were brought again unto Pharaoh: and he said unto them, Go, serve the LORD your God: but who are they that shall go?\r\n And Moses said, We will go with our young and with our old, with our sons and with our daughters, with our flocks and with our herds will we go; for we must hold a feast unto the LORD.\r\n And he said unto them, Let the LORD be so with you, as I will let you go, and your little ones: look to it; for evil is before you.\r\n Not so: go now ye that are men, and serve the LORD; for that ye did desire. And they were driven out from Pharaoh's presence.\r\n And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the land of Egypt for the locusts, that they may come up upon the land of Egypt, and eat every herb of the land, even all that the hail hath left.\r\n And Moses stretched forth his rod over the land of Egypt, and the LORD brought an east wind upon the land all that day, and all that night; and when it was morning, the east wind brought the locusts.\r\n And the locusts went up over all the land of Egypt, and rested in all the coasts of Egypt: very grievous were they; before them there were no such locusts as they, neither after them shall be such.\r\n For they covered the face of the whole earth, so that the land was darkened; and they did eat every herb of the land, and all the fruit of the trees which the hail had left: and there remained not any green thing in the trees, or in the herbs of the field, through all the land of Egypt.\r\n Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron in haste; and he said, I have sinned against the LORD your God, and against you.\r\n Now therefore forgive, I pray thee, my sin only this once, and intreat the LORD your God, that he may take away from me this death only.\r\n And he went out from Pharaoh, and intreated the LORD.\r\n And the LORD turned a mighty strong west wind, which took away the locusts, and cast them into the Red sea; there remained not one locust in all the coasts of Egypt.\r\n But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, so that he would not let the children of Israel go.\r\n And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt.\r\n And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days:\r\n They saw not one another, neither rose any from his place for three days: but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.\r\n And Pharaoh called unto Moses, and said, Go ye, serve the LORD; only let your flocks and your herds be stayed: let your little ones also go with you.\r\n And Moses said, Thou must give us also sacrifices and burnt offerings, that we may sacrifice unto the LORD our God.\r\n Our cattle also shall go with us; there shall not an hoof be left behind; for thereof must we take to serve the LORD our God; and we know not with what we must serve the LORD, until we come thither.\r\n But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he would not let them go.\r\n And Pharaoh said unto him, Get thee from me, take heed to thyself, see my face no more; for in that day thou seest my face thou shalt die.\r\n And Moses said, Thou hast spoken well, I will see thy face again no more.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the LORD said unto Moses, Yet will I bring one plague more upon Pharaoh, and upon Egypt; afterwards he will let you go hence: when he shall let you go, he shall surely thrust you out hence altogether.\r\n Speak now in the ears of the people, and let every man borrow of his neighbour, and every woman of her neighbour, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold.\r\n And the LORD gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh's servants, and in the sight of the people.\r\n And Moses said, Thus saith the LORD, About midnight will I go out into the midst of Egypt:\r\n And all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sitteth upon his throne, even unto the firstborn of the maidservant that is behind the mill; and all the firstborn of beasts.\r\n And there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there was none like it, nor shall be like it any more.\r\n But against any of the children of Israel shall not a dog move his tongue, against man or beast: that ye may know how that the LORD doth put a difference between the Egyptians and Israel.\r\n And all these thy servants shall come down unto me, and bow down themselves unto me, saying, Get thee out, and all the people that follow thee: and after that I will go out. And he went out from Pharaoh in a great anger.\r\n And the LORD said unto Moses, Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you; that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.\r\n And Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh: and the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, so that he would not let the children of Israel go out of his land.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying,\r\n This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you.\r\n Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house:\r\n And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb.\r\n Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats:\r\n And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.\r\n And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.\r\n And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it.\r\n Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof.\r\n And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire.\r\n And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD'S passover.\r\n For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD.\r\n And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.\r\n And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.\r\n Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel.\r\n And in the first day there shall be an holy convocation, and in the seventh day there shall be an holy convocation to you; no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done of you.\r\n And ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by an ordinance for ever.\r\n In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at even, ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at even.\r\n Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born in the land.\r\n Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread.\r\n Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the passover.\r\n And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the bason, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the bason; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning.\r\n For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you.\r\n And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons for ever.\r\n And it shall come to pass, when ye be come to the land which the LORD will give you, according as he hath promised, that ye shall keep this service.\r\n And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service?\r\n That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the LORD'S passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped.\r\n And the children of Israel went away, and did as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they.\r\n And it came to pass, that at midnight the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle.\r\n And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead.\r\n And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve the LORD, as ye have said.\r\n Also take your flocks and your herds, as ye have said, and be gone; and bless me also.\r\n And the Egyptians were urgent upon the people, that they might send them out of the land in haste; for they said, We be all dead men.\r\n And the people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneadingtroughs being bound up in their clothes upon their shoulders.\r\n And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment:\r\n And the LORD gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required. And they spoiled the Egyptians.\r\n And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, beside children.\r\n And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle.\r\n And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they brought forth out of Egypt, for it was not leavened; because they were thrust out of Egypt, and could not tarry, neither had they prepared for themselves any victual.\r\n Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years.\r\n And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt.\r\n It is a night to be much observed unto the LORD for bringing them out from the land of Egypt: this is that night of the LORD to be observed of all the children of Israel in their generations.\r\n And the LORD said unto Moses and Aaron, This is the ordinance of the passover: There shall no stranger eat thereof:\r\n But every man's servant that is bought for money, when thou hast circumcised him, then shall he eat thereof.\r\n A foreigner and an hired servant shall not eat thereof.\r\n In one house shall it be eaten; thou shalt not carry forth ought of the flesh abroad out of the house; neither shall ye break a bone thereof.\r\n All the congregation of Israel shall keep it.\r\n And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof.\r\n One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you.\r\n Thus did all the children of Israel; as the LORD commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they.\r\n And it came to pass the selfsame day, that the LORD did bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their armies.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine.\r\n And Moses said unto the people, Remember this day, in which ye came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the LORD brought you out from this place: there shall no leavened bread be eaten.\r\n This day came ye out in the month Abib.\r\n And it shall be when the LORD shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee, a land flowing with milk and honey, that thou shalt keep this service in this month.\r\n Seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread, and in the seventh day shall be a feast to the LORD.\r\n Unleavened bread shall be eaten seven days; and there shall no leavened bread be seen with thee, neither shall there be leaven seen with thee in all thy quarters.\r\n And thou shalt shew thy son in that day, saying, This is done because of that which the LORD did unto me when I came forth out of Egypt.\r\n And it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thine hand, and for a memorial between thine eyes, that the LORD'S law may be in thy mouth: for with a strong hand hath the LORD brought thee out of Egypt.\r\n Thou shalt therefore keep this ordinance in his season from year to year.\r\n And it shall be when the LORD shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanites, as he sware unto thee and to thy fathers, and shall give it thee,\r\n That thou shalt set apart unto the LORD all that openeth the matrix, and every firstling that cometh of a beast which thou hast; the males shall be the LORD'S.\r\n And every firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb; and if thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break his neck: and all the firstborn of man among thy children shalt thou redeem.\r\n And it shall be when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What is this? that thou shalt say unto him, By strength of hand the LORD brought us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage:\r\n And it came to pass, when Pharaoh would hardly let us go, that the LORD slew all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man, and the firstborn of beast: therefore I sacrifice to the LORD all that openeth the matrix, being males; but all the firstborn of my children I redeem.\r\n And it shall be for a token upon thine hand, and for frontlets between thine eyes: for by strength of hand the LORD brought us forth out of Egypt.\r\n And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt:\r\n But God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt.\r\n And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him: for he had straitly sworn the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you; and ye shall carry up my bones away hence with you.\r\n And they took their journey from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, in the edge of the wilderness.\r\n And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:\r\n He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Speak unto the children of Israel, that they turn and encamp before Pihahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, over against Baalzephon: before it shall ye encamp by the sea.\r\n For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, They are entangled in the land, the wilderness hath shut them in.\r\n And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, that he shall follow after them; and I will be honoured upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host; that the Egyptians may know that I am the LORD. And they did so.\r\n And it was told the king of Egypt that the people fled: and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was turned against the people, and they said, Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us?\r\n And he made ready his chariot, and took his people with him:\r\n And he took six hundred chosen chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt, and captains over every one of them.\r\n And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued after the children of Israel: and the children of Israel went out with an high hand.\r\n But the Egyptians pursued after them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army, and overtook them encamping by the sea, beside Pihahiroth, before Baalzephon.\r\n And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the LORD.\r\n And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt?\r\n Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.\r\n And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.\r\n The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.\r\n And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward:\r\n But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.\r\n And I, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them: and I will get me honour upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.\r\n And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I have gotten me honour upon Pharaoh, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.\r\n And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them:\r\n And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night.\r\n And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.\r\n And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.\r\n And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them to the midst of the sea, even all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen.\r\n And it came to pass, that in the morning watch the LORD looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians,\r\n And took off their chariot wheels, that they drave them heavily: so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel; for the LORD fighteth for them against the Egyptians.\r\n And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen.\r\n And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea.\r\n And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them; there remained not so much as one of them.\r\n But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.\r\n Thus the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore.\r\n And Israel saw that great work which the LORD did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the LORD, and believed the LORD, and his servant Moses.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.\r\n The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him.\r\n The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name.\r\n Pharaoh's chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea: his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red sea.\r\n The depths have covered them: they sank into the bottom as a stone.\r\n Thy right hand, O LORD, is become glorious in power: thy right hand, O LORD, hath dashed in pieces the enemy.\r\n And in the greatness of thine excellency thou hast overthrown them that rose up against thee: thou sentest forth thy wrath, which consumed them as stubble.\r\n And with the blast of thy nostrils the waters were gathered together, the floods stood upright as an heap, and the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea.\r\n The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them.\r\n Thou didst blow with thy wind, the sea covered them: they sank as lead in the mighty waters.\r\n Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?\r\n Thou stretchedst out thy right hand, the earth swallowed them.\r\n Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people which thou hast redeemed: thou hast guided them in thy strength unto thy holy habitation.\r\n The people shall hear, and be afraid: sorrow shall take hold on the inhabitants of Palestina.\r\n Then the dukes of Edom shall be amazed; the mighty men of Moab, trembling shall take hold upon them; all the inhabitants of Canaan shall melt away.\r\n Fear and dread shall fall upon them; by the greatness of thine arm they shall be as still as a stone; till thy people pass over, O LORD, till the people pass over, which thou hast purchased.\r\n Thou shalt bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of thine inheritance, in the place, O LORD, which thou hast made for thee to dwell in, in the Sanctuary, O Lord, which thy hands have established.\r\n The LORD shall reign for ever and ever.\r\n For the horse of Pharaoh went in with his chariots and with his horsemen into the sea, and the LORD brought again the waters of the sea upon them; but the children of Israel went on dry land in the midst of the sea.\r\n And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances.\r\n And Miriam answered them, Sing ye to the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.\r\n So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water.\r\n And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah.\r\n And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?\r\n And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them,\r\n And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.\r\n And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters.\r\n \r\n \r\n And they took their journey from Elim, and all the congregation of the children of Israel came unto the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departing out of the land of Egypt.\r\n And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness:\r\n And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.\r\n Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no.\r\n And it shall come to pass, that on the sixth day they shall prepare that which they bring in; and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily.\r\n And Moses and Aaron said unto all the children of Israel, At even, then ye shall know that the LORD hath brought you out from the land of Egypt:\r\n And in the morning, then ye shall see the glory of the LORD; for that he heareth your murmurings against the LORD: and what are we, that ye murmur against us?\r\n And Moses said, This shall be, when the LORD shall give you in the evening flesh to eat, and in the morning bread to the full; for that the LORD heareth your murmurings which ye murmur against him: and what are we? your murmurings are not against us, but against the LORD.\r\n And Moses spake unto Aaron, Say unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, Come near before the LORD: for he hath heard your murmurings.\r\n And it came to pass, as Aaron spake unto the whole congregation of the children of Israel, that they looked toward the wilderness, and, behold, the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud.\r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel: speak unto them, saying, At even ye shall eat flesh, and in the morning ye shall be filled with bread; and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God.\r\n And it came to pass, that at even the quails came up, and covered the camp: and in the morning the dew lay round about the host.\r\n And when the dew that lay was gone up, behold, upon the face of the wilderness there lay a small round thing, as small as the hoar frost on the ground.\r\n And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It is manna: for they wist not what it was. And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the LORD hath given you to eat.\r\n This is the thing which the LORD hath commanded, Gather of it every man according to his eating, an omer for every man, according to the number of your persons; take ye every man for them which are in his tents.\r\n And the children of Israel did so, and gathered, some more, some less.\r\n And when they did mete it with an omer, he that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack; they gathered every man according to his eating.\r\n And Moses said, Let no man leave of it till the morning.\r\n Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto Moses; but some of them left of it until the morning, and it bred worms, and stank: and Moses was wroth with them.\r\n And they gathered it every morning, every man according to his eating: and when the sun waxed hot, it melted.\r\n And it came to pass, that on the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, two omers for one man: and all the rulers of the congregation came and told Moses.\r\n And he said unto them, This is that which the LORD hath said, To morrow is the rest of the holy sabbath unto the LORD: bake that which ye will bake to day, and seethe that ye will seethe; and that which remaineth over lay up for you to be kept until the morning.\r\n And they laid it up till the morning, as Moses bade: and it did not stink, neither was there any worm therein.\r\n And Moses said, Eat that to day; for to day is a sabbath unto the LORD: to day ye shall not find it in the field.\r\n Six days ye shall gather it; but on the seventh day, which is the sabbath, in it there shall be none.\r\n And it came to pass, that there went out some of the people on the seventh day for to gather, and they found none.\r\n And the LORD said unto Moses, How long refuse ye to keep my commandments and my laws?\r\n See, for that the LORD hath given you the sabbath, therefore he giveth you on the sixth day the bread of two days; abide ye every man in his place, let no man go out of his place on the seventh day.\r\n So the people rested on the seventh day.\r\n And the house of Israel called the name thereof Manna: and it was like coriander seed, white; and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey.\r\n And Moses said, This is the thing which the LORD commandeth, Fill an omer of it to be kept for your generations; that they may see the bread wherewith I have fed you in the wilderness, when I brought you forth from the land of Egypt.\r\n And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a pot, and put an omer full of manna therein, and lay it up before the LORD, to be kept for your generations.\r\n As the LORD commanded Moses, so Aaron laid it up before the Testimony, to be kept.\r\n And the children of Israel did eat manna forty years, until they came to a land inhabited; they did eat manna, until they came unto the borders of the land of Canaan.\r\n Now an omer is the tenth part of an ephah.\r\n \r\n \r\n And all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, after their journeys, according to the commandment of the LORD, and pitched in Rephidim: and there was no water for the people to drink.\r\n Wherefore the people did chide with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said unto them, Why chide ye with me? wherefore do ye tempt the LORD?\r\n And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Wherefore is this that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst?\r\n And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, What shall I do unto this people? they be almost ready to stone me.\r\n And the LORD said unto Moses, Go on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel; and thy rod, wherewith thou smotest the river, take in thine hand, and go.\r\n Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.\r\n And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the LORD, saying, Is the LORD among us, or not?\r\n Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim.\r\n And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand.\r\n So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.\r\n And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.\r\n But Moses' hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.\r\n And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.\r\n And the LORD said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.\r\n And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovahnissi:\r\n For he said, Because the LORD hath sworn that the LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.\r\n \r\n \r\n When Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father in law, heard of all that God had done for Moses, and for Israel his people, and that the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt;\r\n Then Jethro, Moses' father in law, took Zipporah, Moses' wife, after he had sent her back,\r\n And her two sons; of which the name of the one was Gershom; for he said, I have been an alien in a strange land:\r\n And the name of the other was Eliezer; for the God of my father, said he, was mine help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh:\r\n And Jethro, Moses' father in law, came with his sons and his wife unto Moses into the wilderness, where he encamped at the mount of God:\r\n And he said unto Moses, I thy father in law Jethro am come unto thee, and thy wife, and her two sons with her.\r\n And Moses went out to meet his father in law, and did obeisance, and kissed him; and they asked each other of their welfare; and they came into the tent.\r\n And Moses told his father in law all that the LORD had done unto Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel's sake, and all the travail that had come upon them by the way, and how the LORD delivered them.\r\n And Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which the LORD had done to Israel, whom he had delivered out of the hand of the Egyptians.\r\n And Jethro said, Blessed be the LORD, who hath delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of Pharaoh, who hath delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians.\r\n Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods: for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly he was above them.\r\n And Jethro, Moses' father in law, took a burnt offering and sacrifices for God: and Aaron came, and all the elders of Israel, to eat bread with Moses' father in law before God.\r\n And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses sat to judge the people: and the people stood by Moses from the morning unto the evening.\r\n And when Moses' father in law saw all that he did to the people, he said, What is this thing that thou doest to the people? why sittest thou thyself alone, and all the people stand by thee from morning unto even?\r\n And Moses said unto his father in law, Because the people come unto me to enquire of God:\r\n When they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between one and another, and I do make them know the statutes of God, and his laws.\r\n And Moses' father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good.\r\n Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone.\r\n Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God:\r\n And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do.\r\n Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:\r\n And let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee.\r\n If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people shall also go to their place in peace.\r\n So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father in law, and did all that he had said.\r\n And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.\r\n And they judged the people at all seasons: the hard causes they brought unto Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves.\r\n And Moses let his father in law depart; and he went his way into his own land.\r\n \r\n \r\n In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai.\r\n For they were departed from Rephidim, and were come to the desert of Sinai, and had pitched in the wilderness; and there Israel camped before the mount.\r\n And Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel;\r\n Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself.\r\n Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:\r\n And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.\r\n And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the LORD commanded him.\r\n And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD.\r\n And the LORD said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and believe thee for ever. And Moses told the words of the people unto the LORD.\r\n And the LORD said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to day and to morrow, and let them wash their clothes,\r\n And be ready against the third day: for the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai.\r\n And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death:\r\n There shall not an hand touch it, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; whether it be beast or man, it shall not live: when the trumpet soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount.\r\n And Moses went down from the mount unto the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes.\r\n And he said unto the people, Be ready against the third day: come not at your wives.\r\n And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled.\r\n And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount.\r\n And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.\r\n And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice.\r\n And the LORD came down upon mount Sinai, on the top of the mount: and the LORD called Moses up to the top of the mount; and Moses went up.\r\n And the LORD said unto Moses, Go down, charge the people, lest they break through unto the LORD to gaze, and many of them perish.\r\n And let the priests also, which come near to the LORD, sanctify themselves, lest the LORD break forth upon them.\r\n And Moses said unto the LORD, The people cannot come up to mount Sinai: for thou chargedst us, saying, Set bounds about the mount, and sanctify it.\r\n And the LORD said unto him, Away, get thee down, and thou shalt come up, thou, and Aaron with thee: but let not the priests and the people break through to come up unto the LORD, lest he break forth upon them.\r\n So Moses went down unto the people, and spake unto them.\r\n \r\n \r\n And God spake all these words, saying,\r\n I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.\r\n Thou shalt have no other gods before me.\r\n Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:\r\n Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;\r\n And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.\r\n Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.\r\n Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.\r\n Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:\r\n But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:\r\n For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.\r\n Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.\r\n Thou shalt not kill.\r\n Thou shalt not commit adultery.\r\n Thou shalt not steal.\r\n Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.\r\n Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.\r\n And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off.\r\n And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.\r\n And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.\r\n And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was.\r\n And the LORD said unto Moses, Thus thou shalt say unto the children of Israel, Ye have seen that I have talked with you from heaven.\r\n Ye shall not make with me gods of silver, neither shall ye make unto you gods of gold.\r\n An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt offerings, and thy peace offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen: in all places where I record my name I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee.\r\n And if thou wilt make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stone: for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it.\r\n Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar, that thy nakedness be not discovered thereon.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now these are the judgments which thou shalt set before them.\r\n If thou buy an Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve: and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing.\r\n If he came in by himself, he shall go out by himself: if he were married, then his wife shall go out with him.\r\n If his master have given him a wife, and she have born him sons or daughters; the wife and her children shall be her master's, and he shall go out by himself.\r\n And if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free:\r\n Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an aul; and he shall serve him for ever.\r\n And if a man sell his daughter to be a maidservant, she shall not go out as the menservants do.\r\n If she please not her master, who hath betrothed her to himself, then shall he let her be redeemed: to sell her unto a strange nation he shall have no power, seeing he hath dealt deceitfully with her.\r\n And if he have betrothed her unto his son, he shall deal with her after the manner of daughters.\r\n If he take him another wife; her food, her raiment, and her duty of marriage, shall he not diminish.\r\n And if he do not these three unto her, then shall she go out free without money.\r\n He that smiteth a man, so that he die, shall be surely put to death.\r\n And if a man lie not in wait, but God deliver him into his hand; then I will appoint thee a place whither he shall flee.\r\n But if a man come presumptuously upon his neighbour, to slay him with guile; thou shalt take him from mine altar, that he may die.\r\n And he that smiteth his father, or his mother, shall be surely put to death.\r\n And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.\r\n And he that curseth his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death.\r\n And if men strive together, and one smite another with a stone, or with his fist, and he die not, but keepeth his bed:\r\n If he rise again, and walk abroad upon his staff, then shall he that smote him be quit: only he shall pay for the loss of his time, and shall cause him to be thoroughly healed.\r\n And if a man smite his servant, or his maid, with a rod, and he die under his hand; he shall be surely punished.\r\n Notwithstanding, if he continue a day or two, he shall not be punished: for he is his money.\r\n If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, and yet no mischief follow: he shall be surely punished, according as the woman's husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine.\r\n And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life,\r\n Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,\r\n Burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.\r\n And if a man smite the eye of his servant, or the eye of his maid, that it perish; he shall let him go free for his eye's sake.\r\n And if he smite out his manservant's tooth, or his maidservant's tooth; he shall let him go free for his tooth's sake.\r\n If an ox gore a man or a woman, that they die: then the ox shall be surely stoned, and his flesh shall not be eaten; but the owner of the ox shall be quit.\r\n But if the ox were wont to push with his horn in time past, and it hath been testified to his owner, and he hath not kept him in, but that he hath killed a man or a woman; the ox shall be stoned, and his owner also shall be put to death.\r\n If there be laid on him a sum of money, then he shall give for the ransom of his life whatsoever is laid upon him.\r\n Whether he have gored a son, or have gored a daughter, according to this judgment shall it be done unto him.\r\n If the ox shall push a manservant or a maidservant; he shall give unto their master thirty shekels of silver, and the ox shall be stoned.\r\n And if a man shall open a pit, or if a man shall dig a pit, and not cover it, and an ox or an ass fall therein;\r\n The owner of the pit shall make it good, and give money unto the owner of them; and the dead beast shall be his.\r\n And if one man's ox hurt another's, that he die; then they shall sell the live ox, and divide the money of it; and the dead ox also they shall divide.\r\n Or if it be known that the ox hath used to push in time past, and his owner hath not kept him in; he shall surely pay ox for ox; and the dead shall be his own.\r\n \r\n \r\n If a man shall steal an ox, or a sheep, and kill it, or sell it; he shall restore five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep.\r\n If a thief be found breaking up, and be smitten that he die, there shall no blood be shed for him.\r\n If the sun be risen upon him, there shall be blood shed for him; for he should make full restitution; if he have nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft.\r\n If the theft be certainly found in his hand alive, whether it be ox, or ass, or sheep; he shall restore double.\r\n If a man shall cause a field or vineyard to be eaten, and shall put in his beast, and shall feed in another man's field; of the best of his own field, and of the best of his own vineyard, shall he make restitution.\r\n If fire break out, and catch in thorns, so that the stacks of corn, or the standing corn, or the field, be consumed therewith; he that kindled the fire shall surely make restitution.\r\n If a man shall deliver unto his neighbour money or stuff to keep, and it be stolen out of the man's house; if the thief be found, let him pay double.\r\n If the thief be not found, then the master of the house shall be brought unto the judges, to see whether he have put his hand unto his neighbour's goods.\r\n For all manner of trespass, whether it be for ox, for ass, for sheep, for raiment, or for any manner of lost thing, which another challengeth to be his, the cause of both parties shall come before the judges; and whom the judges shall condemn, he shall pay double unto his neighbour.\r\n If a man deliver unto his neighbour an ass, or an ox, or a sheep, or any beast, to keep; and it die, or be hurt, or driven away, no man seeing it:\r\n Then shall an oath of the LORD be between them both, that he hath not put his hand unto his neighbour's goods; and the owner of it shall accept thereof, and he shall not make it good.\r\n And if it be stolen from him, he shall make restitution unto the owner thereof.\r\n If it be torn in pieces, then let him bring it for witness, and he shall not make good that which was torn.\r\n And if a man borrow ought of his neighbour, and it be hurt, or die, the owner thereof being not with it, he shall surely make it good.\r\n But if the owner thereof be with it, he shall not make it good: if it be an hired thing, it came for his hire.\r\n And if a man entice a maid that is not betrothed, and lie with her, he shall surely endow her to be his wife.\r\n If her father utterly refuse to give her unto him, he shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins.\r\n Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.\r\n Whosoever lieth with a beast shall surely be put to death.\r\n He that sacrificeth unto any god, save unto the LORD only, he shall be utterly destroyed.\r\n Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.\r\n Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child.\r\n If thou afflict them in any wise, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry;\r\n And my wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.\r\n If thou lend money to any of my people that is poor by thee, thou shalt not be to him as an usurer, neither shalt thou lay upon him usury.\r\n If thou at all take thy neighbour's raiment to pledge, thou shalt deliver it unto him by that the sun goeth down:\r\n For that is his covering only, it is his raiment for his skin: wherein shall he sleep? and it shall come to pass, when he crieth unto me, that I will hear; for I am gracious.\r\n Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people.\r\n Thou shalt not delay to offer the first of thy ripe fruits, and of thy liquors: the firstborn of thy sons shalt thou give unto me.\r\n Likewise shalt thou do with thine oxen, and with thy sheep: seven days it shall be with his dam; on the eighth day thou shalt give it me.\r\n And ye shall be holy men unto me: neither shall ye eat any flesh that is torn of beasts in the field; ye shall cast it to the dogs.\r\n \r\n \r\n Thou shalt not raise a false report: put not thine hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness.\r\n Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment:\r\n Neither shalt thou countenance a poor man in his cause.\r\n If thou meet thine enemy's ox or his ass going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back to him again.\r\n If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee lying under his burden, and wouldest forbear to help him, thou shalt surely help with him.\r\n Thou shalt not wrest the judgment of thy poor in his cause.\r\n Keep thee far from a false matter; and the innocent and righteous slay thou not: for I will not justify the wicked.\r\n And thou shalt take no gift: for the gift blindeth the wise, and perverteth the words of the righteous.\r\n Also thou shalt not oppress a stranger: for ye know the heart of a stranger, seeing ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.\r\n And six years thou shalt sow thy land, and shalt gather in the fruits thereof:\r\n But the seventh year thou shalt let it rest and lie still; that the poor of thy people may eat: and what they leave the beasts of the field shall eat. In like manner thou shalt deal with thy vineyard, and with thy oliveyard.\r\n Six days thou shalt do thy work, and on the seventh day thou shalt rest: that thine ox and thine ass may rest, and the son of thy handmaid, and the stranger, may be refreshed.\r\n And in all things that I have said unto you be circumspect: and make no mention of the name of other gods, neither let it be heard out of thy mouth.\r\n Three times thou shalt keep a feast unto me in the year.\r\n Thou shalt keep the feast of unleavened bread: (thou shalt eat unleavened bread seven days, as I commanded thee, in the time appointed of the month Abib; for in it thou camest out from Egypt: and none shall appear before me empty:)\r\n And the feast of harvest, the firstfruits of thy labours, which thou hast sown in the field: and the feast of ingathering, which is in the end of the year, when thou hast gathered in thy labours out of the field.\r\n Three times in the year all thy males shall appear before the Lord GOD.\r\n Thou shalt not offer the blood of my sacrifice with leavened bread; neither shall the fat of my sacrifice remain until the morning.\r\n The first of the firstfruits of thy land thou shalt bring into the house of the LORD thy God. Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother's milk.\r\n Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared.\r\n Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions: for my name is in him.\r\n But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries.\r\n For mine Angel shall go before thee, and bring thee in unto the Amorites, and the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites: and I will cut them off.\r\n Thou shalt not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do after their works: but thou shalt utterly overthrow them, and quite break down their images.\r\n And ye shall serve the LORD your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee.\r\n There shall nothing cast their young, nor be barren, in thy land: the number of thy days I will fulfil.\r\n I will send my fear before thee, and will destroy all the people to whom thou shalt come, and I will make all thine enemies turn their backs unto thee.\r\n And I will send hornets before thee, which shall drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite, from before thee.\r\n I will not drive them out from before thee in one year; lest the land become desolate, and the beast of the field multiply against thee.\r\n By little and little I will drive them out from before thee, until thou be increased, and inherit the land.\r\n And I will set thy bounds from the Red sea even unto the sea of the Philistines, and from the desert unto the river: for I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand; and thou shalt drive them out before thee.\r\n Thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor with their gods.\r\n They shall not dwell in thy land, lest they make thee sin against me: for if thou serve their gods, it will surely be a snare unto thee.\r\n \r\n \r\n And he said unto Moses, Come up unto the LORD, thou, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel; and worship ye afar off.\r\n And Moses alone shall come near the LORD: but they shall not come nigh; neither shall the people go up with him.\r\n And Moses came and told the people all the words of the LORD, and all the judgments: and all the people answered with one voice, and said, All the words which the LORD hath said will we do.\r\n And Moses wrote all the words of the LORD, and rose up early in the morning, and builded an altar under the hill, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel.\r\n And he sent young men of the children of Israel, which offered burnt offerings, and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen unto the LORD.\r\n And Moses took half of the blood, and put it in basons; and half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar.\r\n And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the LORD hath said will we do, and be obedient.\r\n And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD hath made with you concerning all these words.\r\n Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel:\r\n And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness.\r\n And upon the nobles of the children of Israel he laid not his hand: also they saw God, and did eat and drink.\r\n And the LORD said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them.\r\n And Moses rose up, and his minister Joshua: and Moses went up into the mount of God.\r\n And he said unto the elders, Tarry ye here for us, until we come again unto you: and, behold, Aaron and Hur are with you: if any man have any matters to do, let him come unto them.\r\n And Moses went up into the mount, and a cloud covered the mount.\r\n And the glory of the LORD abode upon mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days: and the seventh day he called unto Moses out of the midst of the cloud.\r\n And the sight of the glory of the LORD was like devouring fire on the top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel.\r\n And Moses went into the midst of the cloud, and gat him up into the mount: and Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering.\r\n And this is the offering which ye shall take of them; gold, and silver, and brass,\r\n And blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats' hair,\r\n And rams' skins dyed red, and badgers' skins, and shittim wood,\r\n Oil for the light, spices for anointing oil, and for sweet incense,\r\n Onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod, and in the breastplate.\r\n And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.\r\n According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.\r\n And they shall make an ark of shittim wood: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof.\r\n And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, within and without shalt thou overlay it, and shalt make upon it a crown of gold round about.\r\n And thou shalt cast four rings of gold for it, and put them in the four corners thereof; and two rings shall be in the one side of it, and two rings in the other side of it.\r\n And thou shalt make staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold.\r\n And thou shalt put the staves into the rings by the sides of the ark, that the ark may be borne with them.\r\n The staves shall be in the rings of the ark: they shall not be taken from it.\r\n And thou shalt put into the ark the testimony which I shall give thee.\r\n And thou shalt make a mercy seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof.\r\n And thou shalt make two cherubims of gold, of beaten work shalt thou make them, in the two ends of the mercy seat.\r\n And make one cherub on the one end, and the other cherub on the other end: even of the mercy seat shall ye make the cherubims on the two ends thereof.\r\n And the cherubims shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and their faces shall look one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubims be.\r\n And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee.\r\n And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.\r\n Thou shalt also make a table of shittim wood: two cubits shall be the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof.\r\n And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, and make thereto a crown of gold round about.\r\n And thou shalt make unto it a border of an hand breadth round about, and thou shalt make a golden crown to the border thereof round about.\r\n And thou shalt make for it four rings of gold, and put the rings in the four corners that are on the four feet thereof.\r\n Over against the border shall the rings be for places of the staves to bear the table.\r\n And thou shalt make the staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold, that the table may be borne with them.\r\n And thou shalt make the dishes thereof, and spoons thereof, and covers thereof, and bowls thereof, to cover withal: of pure gold shalt thou make them.\r\n And thou shalt set upon the table shewbread before me alway.\r\n And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work shall the candlestick be made: his shaft, and his branches, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, shall be of the same.\r\n And six branches shall come out of the sides of it; three branches of the candlestick out of the one side, and three branches of the candlestick out of the other side:\r\n Three bowls made like unto almonds, with a knop and a flower in one branch; and three bowls made like almonds in the other branch, with a knop and a flower: so in the six branches that come out of the candlestick.\r\n And in the candlestick shall be four bowls made like unto almonds, with their knops and their flowers.\r\n And there shall be a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, according to the six branches that proceed out of the candlestick.\r\n Their knops and their branches shall be of the same: all it shall be one beaten work of pure gold.\r\n And thou shalt make the seven lamps thereof: and they shall light the lamps thereof, that they may give light over against it.\r\n And the tongs thereof, and the snuffdishes thereof, shall be of pure gold.\r\n Of a talent of pure gold shall he make it, with all these vessels.\r\n And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was shewed thee in the mount.\r\n \r\n \r\n Moreover thou shalt make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet: with cherubims of cunning work shalt thou make them.\r\n The length of one curtain shall be eight and twenty cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits: and every one of the curtains shall have one measure.\r\n The five curtains shall be coupled together one to another; and other five curtains shall be coupled one to another.\r\n And thou shalt make loops of blue upon the edge of the one curtain from the selvedge in the coupling; and likewise shalt thou make in the uttermost edge of another curtain, in the coupling of the second.\r\n Fifty loops shalt thou make in the one curtain, and fifty loops shalt thou make in the edge of the curtain that is in the coupling of the second; that the loops may take hold one of another.\r\n And thou shalt make fifty taches of gold, and couple the curtains together with the taches: and it shall be one tabernacle.\r\n And thou shalt make curtains of goats' hair to be a covering upon the tabernacle: eleven curtains shalt thou make.\r\n The length of one curtain shall be thirty cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits: and the eleven curtains shall be all of one measure.\r\n And thou shalt couple five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves, and shalt double the sixth curtain in the forefront of the tabernacle.\r\n And thou shalt make fifty loops on the edge of the one curtain that is outmost in the coupling, and fifty loops in the edge of the curtain which coupleth the second.\r\n And thou shalt make fifty taches of brass, and put the taches into the loops, and couple the tent together, that it may be one.\r\n And the remnant that remaineth of the curtains of the tent, the half curtain that remaineth, shall hang over the backside of the tabernacle.\r\n And a cubit on the one side, and a cubit on the other side of that which remaineth in the length of the curtains of the tent, it shall hang over the sides of the tabernacle on this side and on that side, to cover it.\r\n And thou shalt make a covering for the tent of rams' skins dyed red, and a covering above of badgers' skins.\r\n And thou shalt make boards for the tabernacle of shittim wood standing up.\r\n Ten cubits shall be the length of a board, and a cubit and a half shall be the breadth of one board.\r\n Two tenons shall there be in one board, set in order one against another: thus shalt thou make for all the boards of the tabernacle.\r\n And thou shalt make the boards for the tabernacle, twenty boards on the south side southward.\r\n And thou shalt make forty sockets of silver under the twenty boards; two sockets under one board for his two tenons, and two sockets under another board for his two tenons.\r\n And for the second side of the tabernacle on the north side there shall be twenty boards:\r\n And their forty sockets of silver; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.\r\n And for the sides of the tabernacle westward thou shalt make six boards.\r\n And two boards shalt thou make for the corners of the tabernacle in the two sides.\r\n And they shall be coupled together beneath, and they shall be coupled together above the head of it unto one ring: thus shall it be for them both; they shall be for the two corners.\r\n And they shall be eight boards, and their sockets of silver, sixteen sockets; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.\r\n And thou shalt make bars of shittim wood; five for the boards of the one side of the tabernacle,\r\n And five bars for the boards of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the side of the tabernacle, for the two sides westward.\r\n And the middle bar in the midst of the boards shall reach from end to end.\r\n And thou shalt overlay the boards with gold, and make their rings of gold for places for the bars: and thou shalt overlay the bars with gold.\r\n And thou shalt rear up the tabernacle according to the fashion thereof which was shewed thee in the mount.\r\n And thou shalt make a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work: with cherubims shall it be made:\r\n And thou shalt hang it upon four pillars of shittim wood overlaid with gold: their hooks shall be of gold, upon the four sockets of silver.\r\n And thou shalt hang up the vail under the taches, that thou mayest bring in thither within the vail the ark of the testimony: and the vail shall divide unto you between the holy place and the most holy.\r\n And thou shalt put the mercy seat upon the ark of the testimony in the most holy place.\r\n And thou shalt set the table without the vail, and the candlestick over against the table on the side of the tabernacle toward the south: and thou shalt put the table on the north side.\r\n And thou shalt make an hanging for the door of the tent, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, wrought with needlework.\r\n And thou shalt make for the hanging five pillars of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold, and their hooks shall be of gold: and thou shalt cast five sockets of brass for them.\r\n \r\n \r\n And thou shalt make an altar of shittim wood, five cubits long, and five cubits broad; the altar shall be foursquare: and the height thereof shall be three cubits.\r\n And thou shalt make the horns of it upon the four corners thereof: his horns shall be of the same: and thou shalt overlay it with brass.\r\n And thou shalt make his pans to receive his ashes, and his shovels, and his basons, and his fleshhooks, and his firepans: all the vessels thereof thou shalt make of brass.\r\n And thou shalt make for it a grate of network of brass; and upon the net shalt thou make four brasen rings in the four corners thereof.\r\n And thou shalt put it under the compass of the altar beneath, that the net may be even to the midst of the altar.\r\n And thou shalt make staves for the altar, staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with brass.\r\n And the staves shall be put into the rings, and the staves shall be upon the two sides of the altar, to bear it.\r\n Hollow with boards shalt thou make it: as it was shewed thee in the mount, so shall they make it.\r\n And thou shalt make the court of the tabernacle: for the south side southward there shall be hangings for the court of fine twined linen of an hundred cubits long for one side:\r\n And the twenty pillars thereof and their twenty sockets shall be of brass; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets shall be of silver.\r\n And likewise for the north side in length there shall be hangings of an hundred cubits long, and his twenty pillars and their twenty sockets of brass; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets of silver.\r\n And for the breadth of the court on the west side shall be hangings of fifty cubits: their pillars ten, and their sockets ten.\r\n And the breadth of the court on the east side eastward shall be fifty cubits.\r\n The hangings of one side of the gate shall be fifteen cubits: their pillars three, and their sockets three.\r\n And on the other side shall be hangings fifteen cubits: their pillars three, and their sockets three.\r\n And for the gate of the court shall be an hanging of twenty cubits, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, wrought with needlework: and their pillars shall be four, and their sockets four.\r\n All the pillars round about the court shall be filleted with silver; their hooks shall be of silver, and their sockets of brass.\r\n The length of the court shall be an hundred cubits, and the breadth fifty every where, and the height five cubits of fine twined linen, and their sockets of brass.\r\n All the vessels of the tabernacle in all the service thereof, and all the pins thereof, and all the pins of the court, shall be of brass.\r\n And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always.\r\n In the tabernacle of the congregation without the vail, which is before the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall order it from evening to morning before the LORD: it shall be a statute for ever unto their generations on the behalf of the children of Israel.\r\n \r\n \r\n And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron's sons.\r\n And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty.\r\n And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron's garments to consecrate him, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office.\r\n And these are the garments which they shall make; a breastplate, and an ephod, and a robe, and a broidered coat, a mitre, and a girdle: and they shall make holy garments for Aaron thy brother, and his sons, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office.\r\n And they shall take gold, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen.\r\n And they shall make the ephod of gold, of blue, and of purple, of scarlet, and fine twined linen, with cunning work.\r\n It shall have the two shoulderpieces thereof joined at the two edges thereof; and so it shall be joined together.\r\n And the curious girdle of the ephod, which is upon it, shall be of the same, according to the work thereof; even of gold, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen.\r\n And thou shalt take two onyx stones, and grave on them the names of the children of Israel:\r\n Six of their names on one stone, and the other six names of the rest on the other stone, according to their birth.\r\n With the work of an engraver in stone, like the engravings of a signet, shalt thou engrave the two stones with the names of the children of Israel: thou shalt make them to be set in ouches of gold.\r\n And thou shalt put the two stones upon the shoulders of the ephod for stones of memorial unto the children of Israel: and Aaron shall bear their names before the LORD upon his two shoulders for a memorial.\r\n And thou shalt make ouches of gold;\r\n And two chains of pure gold at the ends; of wreathen work shalt thou make them, and fasten the wreathen chains to the ouches.\r\n And thou shalt make the breastplate of judgment with cunning work; after the work of the ephod thou shalt make it; of gold, of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, and of fine twined linen, shalt thou make it.\r\n Foursquare it shall be being doubled; a span shall be the length thereof, and a span shall be the breadth thereof.\r\n And thou shalt set in it settings of stones, even four rows of stones: the first row shall be a sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle: this shall be the first row.\r\n And the second row shall be an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond.\r\n And the third row a ligure, an agate, and an amethyst.\r\n And the fourth row a beryl, and an onyx, and a jasper: they shall be set in gold in their inclosings.\r\n And the stones shall be with the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names, like the engravings of a signet; every one with his name shall they be according to the twelve tribes.\r\n And thou shalt make upon the breastplate chains at the ends of wreathen work of pure gold.\r\n And thou shalt make upon the breastplate two rings of gold, and shalt put the two rings on the two ends of the breastplate.\r\n And thou shalt put the two wreathen chains of gold in the two rings which are on the ends of the breastplate.\r\n And the other two ends of the two wreathen chains thou shalt fasten in the two ouches, and put them on the shoulderpieces of the ephod before it.\r\n And thou shalt make two rings of gold, and thou shalt put them upon the two ends of the breastplate in the border thereof, which is in the side of the ephod inward.\r\n And two other rings of gold thou shalt make, and shalt put them on the two sides of the ephod underneath, toward the forepart thereof, over against the other coupling thereof, above the curious girdle of the ephod.\r\n And they shall bind the breastplate by the rings thereof unto the rings of the ephod with a lace of blue, that it may be above the curious girdle of the ephod, and that the breastplate be not loosed from the ephod.\r\n And Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment upon his heart, when he goeth in unto the holy place, for a memorial before the LORD continually.\r\n And thou shalt put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim; and they shall be upon Aaron's heart, when he goeth in before the LORD: and Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel upon his heart before the LORD continually.\r\n And thou shalt make the robe of the ephod all of blue.\r\n And there shall be an hole in the top of it, in the midst thereof: it shall have a binding of woven work round about the hole of it, as it were the hole of an habergeon, that it be not rent.\r\n And beneath upon the hem of it thou shalt make pomegranates of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, round about the hem thereof; and bells of gold between them round about:\r\n A golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, upon the hem of the robe round about.\r\n And it shall be upon Aaron to minister: and his sound shall be heard when he goeth in unto the holy place before the LORD, and when he cometh out, that he die not.\r\n And thou shalt make a plate of pure gold, and grave upon it, like the engravings of a signet, HOLINESS TO THE LORD.\r\n And thou shalt put it on a blue lace, that it may be upon the mitre; upon the forefront of the mitre it shall be.\r\n And it shall be upon Aaron's forehead, that Aaron may bear the iniquity of the holy things, which the children of Israel shall hallow in all their holy gifts; and it shall be always upon his forehead, that they may be accepted before the LORD.\r\n And thou shalt embroider the coat of fine linen, and thou shalt make the mitre of fine linen, and thou shalt make the girdle of needlework.\r\n And for Aaron's sons thou shalt make coats, and thou shalt make for them girdles, and bonnets shalt thou make for them, for glory and for beauty.\r\n And thou shalt put them upon Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him; and shalt anoint them, and consecrate them, and sanctify them, that they may minister unto me in the priest's office.\r\n And thou shalt make them linen breeches to cover their nakedness; from the loins even unto the thighs they shall reach:\r\n And they shall be upon Aaron, and upon his sons, when they come in unto the tabernacle of the congregation, or when they come near unto the altar to minister in the holy place; that they bear not iniquity, and die: it shall be a statute for ever unto him and his seed after him.\r\n \r\n \r\n And this is the thing that thou shalt do unto them to hallow them, to minister unto me in the priest's office: Take one young bullock, and two rams without blemish,\r\n And unleavened bread, and cakes unleavened tempered with oil, and wafers unleavened anointed with oil: of wheaten flour shalt thou make them.\r\n And thou shalt put them into one basket, and bring them in the basket, with the bullock and the two rams.\r\n And Aaron and his sons thou shalt bring unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and shalt wash them with water.\r\n And thou shalt take the garments, and put upon Aaron the coat, and the robe of the ephod, and the ephod, and the breastplate, and gird him with the curious girdle of the ephod:\r\n And thou shalt put the mitre upon his head, and put the holy crown upon the mitre.\r\n Then shalt thou take the anointing oil, and pour it upon his head, and anoint him.\r\n And thou shalt bring his sons, and put coats upon them.\r\n And thou shalt gird them with girdles, Aaron and his sons, and put the bonnets on them: and the priest's office shall be theirs for a perpetual statute: and thou shalt consecrate Aaron and his sons.\r\n And thou shalt cause a bullock to be brought before the tabernacle of the congregation: and Aaron and his sons shall put their hands upon the head of the bullock.\r\n And thou shalt kill the bullock before the LORD, by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.\r\n And thou shalt take of the blood of the bullock, and put it upon the horns of the altar with thy finger, and pour all the blood beside the bottom of the altar.\r\n And thou shalt take all the fat that covereth the inwards, and the caul that is above the liver, and the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, and burn them upon the altar.\r\n But the flesh of the bullock, and his skin, and his dung, shalt thou burn with fire without the camp: it is a sin offering.\r\n Thou shalt also take one ram; and Aaron and his sons shall put their hands upon the head of the ram.\r\n And thou shalt slay the ram, and thou shalt take his blood, and sprinkle it round about upon the altar.\r\n And thou shalt cut the ram in pieces, and wash the inwards of him, and his legs, and put them unto his pieces, and unto his head.\r\n And thou shalt burn the whole ram upon the altar: it is a burnt offering unto the LORD: it is a sweet savour, an offering made by fire unto the LORD.\r\n And thou shalt take the other ram; and Aaron and his sons shall put their hands upon the head of the ram.\r\n Then shalt thou kill the ram, and take of his blood, and put it upon the tip of the right ear of Aaron, and upon the tip of the right ear of his sons, and upon the thumb of their right hand, and upon the great toe of their right foot, and sprinkle the blood upon the altar round about.\r\n And thou shalt take of the blood that is upon the altar, and of the anointing oil, and sprinkle it upon Aaron, and upon his garments, and upon his sons, and upon the garments of his sons with him: and he shall be hallowed, and his garments, and his sons, and his sons' garments with him.\r\n Also thou shalt take of the ram the fat and the rump, and the fat that covereth the inwards, and the caul above the liver, and the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, and the right shoulder; for it is a ram of consecration:\r\n And one loaf of bread, and one cake of oiled bread, and one wafer out of the basket of the unleavened bread that is before the LORD:\r\n And thou shalt put all in the hands of Aaron, and in the hands of his sons; and shalt wave them for a wave offering before the LORD.\r\n And thou shalt receive them of their hands, and burn them upon the altar for a burnt offering, for a sweet savour before the LORD: it is an offering made by fire unto the LORD.\r\n And thou shalt take the breast of the ram of Aaron's consecration, and wave it for a wave offering before the LORD: and it shall be thy part.\r\n And thou shalt sanctify the breast of the wave offering, and the shoulder of the heave offering, which is waved, and which is heaved up, of the ram of the consecration, even of that which is for Aaron, and of that which is for his sons:\r\n And it shall be Aaron's and his sons' by a statute for ever from the children of Israel: for it is an heave offering: and it shall be an heave offering from the children of Israel of the sacrifice of their peace offerings, even their heave offering unto the LORD.\r\n And the holy garments of Aaron shall be his sons' after him, to be anointed therein, and to be consecrated in them.\r\n And that son that is priest in his stead shall put them on seven days, when he cometh into the tabernacle of the congregation to minister in the holy place.\r\n And thou shalt take the ram of the consecration, and seethe his flesh in the holy place.\r\n And Aaron and his sons shall eat the flesh of the ram, and the bread that is in the basket, by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.\r\n And they shall eat those things wherewith the atonement was made, to consecrate and to sanctify them: but a stranger shall not eat thereof, because they are holy.\r\n And if ought of the flesh of the consecrations, or of the bread, remain unto the morning, then thou shalt burn the remainder with fire: it shall not be eaten, because it is holy.\r\n And thus shalt thou do unto Aaron, and to his sons, according to all things which I have commanded thee: seven days shalt thou consecrate them.\r\n And thou shalt offer every day a bullock for a sin offering for atonement: and thou shalt cleanse the altar, when thou hast made an atonement for it, and thou shalt anoint it, to sanctify it.\r\n Seven days thou shalt make an atonement for the altar, and sanctify it; and it shall be an altar most holy: whatsoever toucheth the altar shall be holy.\r\n Now this is that which thou shalt offer upon the altar; two lambs of the first year day by day continually.\r\n The one lamb thou shalt offer in the morning; and the other lamb thou shalt offer at even:\r\n And with the one lamb a tenth deal of flour mingled with the fourth part of an hin of beaten oil; and the fourth part of an hin of wine for a drink offering.\r\n And the other lamb thou shalt offer at even, and shalt do thereto according to the meat offering of the morning, and according to the drink offering thereof, for a sweet savour, an offering made by fire unto the LORD.\r\n This shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD: where I will meet you, to speak there unto thee.\r\n And there I will meet with the children of Israel, and the tabernacle shall be sanctified by my glory.\r\n And I will sanctify the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar: I will sanctify also both Aaron and his sons, to minister to me in the priest's office.\r\n And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will be their God.\r\n And they shall know that I am the LORD their God, that brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, that I may dwell among them: I am the LORD their God.\r\n \r\n \r\n And thou shalt make an altar to burn incense upon: of shittim wood shalt thou make it.\r\n A cubit shall be the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof; foursquare shall it be: and two cubits shall be the height thereof: the horns thereof shall be of the same.\r\n And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, the top thereof, and the sides thereof round about, and the horns thereof; and thou shalt make unto it a crown of gold round about.\r\n And two golden rings shalt thou make to it under the crown of it, by the two corners thereof, upon the two sides of it shalt thou make it; and they shall be for places for the staves to bear it withal.\r\n And thou shalt make the staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold.\r\n And thou shalt put it before the vail that is by the ark of the testimony, before the mercy seat that is over the testimony, where I will meet with thee.\r\n And Aaron shall burn thereon sweet incense every morning: when he dresseth the lamps, he shall burn incense upon it.\r\n And when Aaron lighteth the lamps at even, he shall burn incense upon it, a perpetual incense before the LORD throughout your generations.\r\n Ye shall offer no strange incense thereon, nor burnt sacrifice, nor meat offering; neither shall ye pour drink offering thereon.\r\n And Aaron shall make an atonement upon the horns of it once in a year with the blood of the sin offering of atonements: once in the year shall he make atonement upon it throughout your generations: it is most holy unto the LORD.\r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n When thou takest the sum of the children of Israel after their number, then shall they give every man a ransom for his soul unto the LORD, when thou numberest them; that there be no plague among them, when thou numberest them.\r\n This they shall give, every one that passeth among them that are numbered, half a shekel after the shekel of the sanctuary: (a shekel is twenty gerahs:) an half shekel shall be the offering of the LORD.\r\n Every one that passeth among them that are numbered, from twenty years old and above, shall give an offering unto the LORD.\r\n The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less than half a shekel, when they give an offering unto the LORD, to make an atonement for your souls.\r\n And thou shalt take the atonement money of the children of Israel, and shalt appoint it for the service of the tabernacle of the congregation; that it may be a memorial unto the children of Israel before the LORD, to make an atonement for your souls.\r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Thou shalt also make a laver of brass, and his foot also of brass, to wash withal: and thou shalt put it between the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar, and thou shalt put water therein.\r\n For Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet thereat:\r\n When they go into the tabernacle of the congregation, they shall wash with water, that they die not; or when they come near to the altar to minister, to burn offering made by fire unto the LORD:\r\n So they shall wash their hands and their feet, that they die not: and it shall be a statute for ever to them, even to him and to his seed throughout their generations.\r\n Moreover the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Take thou also unto thee principal spices, of pure myrrh five hundred shekels, and of sweet cinnamon half so much, even two hundred and fifty shekels, and of sweet calamus two hundred and fifty shekels,\r\n And of cassia five hundred shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, and of oil olive an hin:\r\n And thou shalt make it an oil of holy ointment, an ointment compound after the art of the apothecary: it shall be an holy anointing oil.\r\n And thou shalt anoint the tabernacle of the congregation therewith, and the ark of the testimony,\r\n And the table and all his vessels, and the candlestick and his vessels, and the altar of incense,\r\n And the altar of burnt offering with all his vessels, and the laver and his foot.\r\n And thou shalt sanctify them, that they may be most holy: whatsoever toucheth them shall be holy.\r\n And thou shalt anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that they may minister unto me in the priest's office.\r\n And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, This shall be an holy anointing oil unto me throughout your generations.\r\n Upon man's flesh shall it not be poured, neither shall ye make any other like it, after the composition of it: it is holy, and it shall be holy unto you.\r\n Whosoever compoundeth any like it, or whosoever putteth any of it upon a stranger, shall even be cut off from his people.\r\n And the LORD said unto Moses, Take unto thee sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum; these sweet spices with pure frankincense: of each shall there be a like weight:\r\n And thou shalt make it a perfume, a confection after the art of the apothecary, tempered together, pure and holy:\r\n And thou shalt beat some of it very small, and put of it before the testimony in the tabernacle of the congregation, where I will meet with thee: it shall be unto you most holy.\r\n And as for the perfume which thou shalt make, ye shall not make to yourselves according to the composition thereof: it shall be unto thee holy for the LORD.\r\n Whosoever shall make like unto that, to smell thereto, shall even be cut off from his people.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n See, I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah:\r\n And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship,\r\n To devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass,\r\n And in cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of timber, to work in all manner of workmanship.\r\n And I, behold, I have given with him Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan: and in the hearts of all that are wise hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded thee;\r\n The tabernacle of the congregation, and the ark of the testimony, and the mercy seat that is thereupon, and all the furniture of the tabernacle,\r\n And the table and his furniture, and the pure candlestick with all his furniture, and the altar of incense,\r\n And the altar of burnt offering with all his furniture, and the laver and his foot,\r\n And the cloths of service, and the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, to minister in the priest's office,\r\n And the anointing oil, and sweet incense for the holy place: according to all that I have commanded thee shall they do.\r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify you.\r\n Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people.\r\n Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death.\r\n Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.\r\n It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.\r\n And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.\r\n \r\n \r\n And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.\r\n And Aaron said unto them, Break off the golden earrings, which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring them unto me.\r\n And all the people brake off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them unto Aaron.\r\n And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.\r\n And when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, To morrow is a feast to the LORD.\r\n And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.\r\n And the LORD said unto Moses, Go, get thee down; for thy people, which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves:\r\n They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them: they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed thereunto, and said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.\r\n And the LORD said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people:\r\n Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation.\r\n And Moses besought the LORD his God, and said, LORD, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand?\r\n Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, and say, For mischief did he bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against thy people.\r\n Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit it for ever.\r\n And the LORD repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people.\r\n And Moses turned, and went down from the mount, and the two tables of the testimony were in his hand: the tables were written on both their sides; on the one side and on the other were they written.\r\n And the tables were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, graven upon the tables.\r\n And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said unto Moses, There is a noise of war in the camp.\r\n And he said, It is not the voice of them that shout for mastery, neither is it the voice of them that cry for being overcome: but the noise of them that sing do I hear.\r\n And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf, and the dancing: and Moses' anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and brake them beneath the mount.\r\n And he took the calf which they had made, and burnt it in the fire, and ground it to powder, and strawed it upon the water, and made the children of Israel drink of it.\r\n And Moses said unto Aaron, What did this people unto thee, that thou hast brought so great a sin upon them?\r\n And Aaron said, Let not the anger of my lord wax hot: thou knowest the people, that they are set on mischief.\r\n For they said unto me, Make us gods, which shall go before us: for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.\r\n And I said unto them, Whosoever hath any gold, let them break it off. So they gave it me: then I cast it into the fire, and there came out this calf.\r\n And when Moses saw that the people were naked; (for Aaron had made them naked unto their shame among their enemies:)\r\n Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD'S side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him.\r\n And he said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Put every man his sword by his side, and go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbour.\r\n And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men.\r\n For Moses had said, Consecrate yourselves to day to the LORD, even every man upon his son, and upon his brother; that he may bestow upon you a blessing this day.\r\n And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses said unto the people, Ye have sinned a great sin: and now I will go up unto the LORD; peradventure I shall make an atonement for your sin.\r\n And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold.\r\n Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin--; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.\r\n And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.\r\n Therefore now go, lead the people unto the place of which I have spoken unto thee: behold, mine Angel shall go before thee: nevertheless in the day when I visit I will visit their sin upon them.\r\n And the LORD plagued the people, because they made the calf, which Aaron made.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the LORD said unto Moses, Depart, and go up hence, thou and the people which thou hast brought up out of the land of Egypt, unto the land which I sware unto Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, Unto thy seed will I give it:\r\n And I will send an angel before thee; and I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite:\r\n Unto a land flowing with milk and honey: for I will not go up in the midst of thee; for thou art a stiffnecked people: lest I consume thee in the way.\r\n And when the people heard these evil tidings, they mourned: and no man did put on him his ornaments.\r\n For the LORD had said unto Moses, Say unto the children of Israel, Ye are a stiffnecked people: I will come up into the midst of thee in a moment, and consume thee: therefore now put off thy ornaments from thee, that I may know what to do unto thee.\r\n And the children of Israel stripped themselves of their ornaments by the mount Horeb.\r\n And Moses took the tabernacle, and pitched it without the camp, afar off from the camp, and called it the Tabernacle of the congregation. And it came to pass, that every one which sought the LORD went out unto the tabernacle of the congregation, which was without the camp.\r\n And it came to pass, when Moses went out unto the tabernacle, that all the people rose up, and stood every man at his tent door, and looked after Moses, until he was gone into the tabernacle.\r\n And it came to pass, as Moses entered into the tabernacle, the cloudy pillar descended, and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the LORD talked with Moses.\r\n And all the people saw the cloudy pillar stand at the tabernacle door: and all the people rose up and worshipped, every man in his tent door.\r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle.\r\n And Moses said unto the LORD, See, thou sayest unto me, Bring up this people: and thou hast not let me know whom thou wilt send with me. Yet thou hast said, I know thee by name, and thou hast also found grace in my sight.\r\n Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people.\r\n And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.\r\n And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence.\r\n For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? is it not in that thou goest with us? so shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth.\r\n And the LORD said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name.\r\n And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory.\r\n And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.\r\n And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.\r\n And the LORD said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock:\r\n And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by:\r\n And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the LORD said unto Moses, Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first: and I will write upon these tables the words that were in the first tables, which thou brakest.\r\n And be ready in the morning, and come up in the morning unto mount Sinai, and present thyself there to me in the top of the mount.\r\n And no man shall come up with thee, neither let any man be seen throughout all the mount; neither let the flocks nor herds feed before that mount.\r\n And he hewed two tables of stone like unto the first; and Moses rose up early in the morning, and went up unto mount Sinai, as the LORD had commanded him, and took in his hand the two tables of stone.\r\n And the LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD.\r\n And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,\r\n Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.\r\n And Moses made haste, and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshipped.\r\n And he said, If now I have found grace in thy sight, O Lord, let my Lord, I pray thee, go among us; for it is a stiffnecked people; and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for thine inheritance.\r\n And he said, Behold, I make a covenant: before all thy people I will do marvels, such as have not been done in all the earth, nor in any nation: and all the people among which thou art shall see the work of the LORD: for it is a terrible thing that I will do with thee.\r\n Observe thou that which I command thee this day: behold, I drive out before thee the Amorite, and the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite.\r\n Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee:\r\n But ye shall destroy their altars, break their images, and cut down their groves:\r\n For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:\r\n Lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and they go a whoring after their gods, and do sacrifice unto their gods, and one call thee, and thou eat of his sacrifice;\r\n And thou take of their daughters unto thy sons, and their daughters go a whoring after their gods, and make thy sons go a whoring after their gods.\r\n Thou shalt make thee no molten gods.\r\n The feast of unleavened bread shalt thou keep. Seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread, as I commanded thee, in the time of the month Abib: for in the month Abib thou camest out from Egypt.\r\n All that openeth the matrix is mine; and every firstling among thy cattle, whether ox or sheep, that is male.\r\n But the firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb: and if thou redeem him not, then shalt thou break his neck. All the firstborn of thy sons thou shalt redeem. And none shall appear before me empty.\r\n Six days thou shalt work, but on the seventh day thou shalt rest: in earing time and in harvest thou shalt rest.\r\n And thou shalt observe the feast of weeks, of the firstfruits of wheat harvest, and the feast of ingathering at the year's end.\r\n Thrice in the year shall all your men children appear before the Lord GOD, the God of Israel.\r\n For I will cast out the nations before thee, and enlarge thy borders: neither shall any man desire thy land, when thou shalt go up to appear before the LORD thy God thrice in the year.\r\n Thou shalt not offer the blood of my sacrifice with leaven; neither shall the sacrifice of the feast of the passover be left unto the morning.\r\n The first of the firstfruits of thy land thou shalt bring unto the house of the LORD thy God. Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother's milk.\r\n And the LORD said unto Moses, Write thou these words: for after the tenor of these words I have made a covenant with thee and with Israel.\r\n And he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments.\r\n And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses' hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him.\r\n And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come nigh him.\r\n And Moses called unto them; and Aaron and all the rulers of the congregation returned unto him: and Moses talked with them.\r\n And afterward all the children of Israel came nigh: and he gave them in commandment all that the LORD had spoken with him in mount Sinai.\r\n And till Moses had done speaking with them, he put a vail on his face.\r\n But when Moses went in before the LORD to speak with him, he took the vail off, until he came out. And he came out, and spake unto the children of Israel that which he was commanded.\r\n And the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses' face shone: and Moses put the vail upon his face again, until he went in to speak with him.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Moses gathered all the congregation of the children of Israel together, and said unto them, These are the words which the LORD hath commanded, that ye should do them.\r\n Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day there shall be to you an holy day, a sabbath of rest to the LORD: whosoever doeth work therein shall be put to death.\r\n Ye shall kindle no fire throughout your habitations upon the sabbath day.\r\n And Moses spake unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, This is the thing which the LORD commanded, saying,\r\n Take ye from among you an offering unto the LORD: whosoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it, an offering of the LORD; gold, and silver, and brass,\r\n And blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats' hair,\r\n And rams' skins dyed red, and badgers' skins, and shittim wood,\r\n And oil for the light, and spices for anointing oil, and for the sweet incense,\r\n And onyx stones, and stones to be set for the ephod, and for the breastplate.\r\n And every wise hearted among you shall come, and make all that the LORD hath commanded;\r\n The tabernacle, his tent, and his covering, his taches, and his boards, his bars, his pillars, and his sockets,\r\n The ark, and the staves thereof, with the mercy seat, and the vail of the covering,\r\n The table, and his staves, and all his vessels, and the shewbread,\r\n The candlestick also for the light, and his furniture, and his lamps, with the oil for the light,\r\n And the incense altar, and his staves, and the anointing oil, and the sweet incense, and the hanging for the door at the entering in of the tabernacle,\r\n The altar of burnt offering, with his brasen grate, his staves, and all his vessels, the laver and his foot,\r\n The hangings of the court, his pillars, and their sockets, and the hanging for the door of the court,\r\n The pins of the tabernacle, and the pins of the court, and their cords,\r\n The cloths of service, to do service in the holy place, the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, to minister in the priest's office.\r\n And all the congregation of the children of Israel departed from the presence of Moses.\r\n And they came, every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing, and they brought the LORD'S offering to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation, and for all his service, and for the holy garments.\r\n And they came, both men and women, as many as were willing hearted, and brought bracelets, and earrings, and rings, and tablets, all jewels of gold: and every man that offered offered an offering of gold unto the LORD.\r\n And every man, with whom was found blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats' hair, and red skins of rams, and badgers' skins, brought them.\r\n Every one that did offer an offering of silver and brass brought the LORD'S offering: and every man, with whom was found shittim wood for any work of the service, brought it.\r\n And all the women that were wise hearted did spin with their hands, and brought that which they had spun, both of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, and of fine linen.\r\n And all the women whose heart stirred them up in wisdom spun goats' hair.\r\n And the rulers brought onyx stones, and stones to be set, for the ephod, and for the breastplate;\r\n And spice, and oil for the light, and for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense.\r\n The children of Israel brought a willing offering unto the LORD, every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring for all manner of work, which the LORD had commanded to be made by the hand of Moses.\r\n And Moses said unto the children of Israel, See, the LORD hath called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah;\r\n And he hath filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship;\r\n And to devise curious works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass,\r\n And in the cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of wood, to make any manner of cunning work.\r\n And he hath put in his heart that he may teach, both he, and Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan.\r\n Them hath he filled with wisdom of heart, to work all manner of work, of the engraver, and of the cunning workman, and of the embroiderer, in blue, and in purple, in scarlet, and in fine linen, and of the weaver, even of them that do any work, and of those that devise cunning work.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then wrought Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whom the LORD put wisdom and understanding to know how to work all manner of work for the service of the sanctuary, according to all that the LORD had commanded.\r\n And Moses called Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whose heart the LORD had put wisdom, even every one whose heart stirred him up to come unto the work to do it:\r\n And they received of Moses all the offering, which the children of Israel had brought for the work of the service of the sanctuary, to make it withal. And they brought yet unto him free offerings every morning.\r\n And all the wise men, that wrought all the work of the sanctuary, came every man from his work which they made;\r\n And they spake unto Moses, saying, The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work, which the LORD commanded to make.\r\n And Moses gave commandment, and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp, saying, Let neither man nor woman make any more work for the offering of the sanctuary. So the people were restrained from bringing.\r\n For the stuff they had was sufficient for all the work to make it, and too much.\r\n And every wise hearted man among them that wrought the work of the tabernacle made ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet: with cherubims of cunning work made he them.\r\n The length of one curtain was twenty and eight cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits: the curtains were all of one size.\r\n And he coupled the five curtains one unto another: and the other five curtains he coupled one unto another.\r\n And he made loops of blue on the edge of one curtain from the selvedge in the coupling: likewise he made in the uttermost side of another curtain, in the coupling of the second.\r\n Fifty loops made he in one curtain, and fifty loops made he in the edge of the curtain which was in the coupling of the second: the loops held one curtain to another.\r\n And he made fifty taches of gold, and coupled the curtains one unto another with the taches: so it became one tabernacle.\r\n And he made curtains of goats' hair for the tent over the tabernacle: eleven curtains he made them.\r\n The length of one curtain was thirty cubits, and four cubits was the breadth of one curtain: the eleven curtains were of one size.\r\n And he coupled five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves.\r\n And he made fifty loops upon the uttermost edge of the curtain in the coupling, and fifty loops made he upon the edge of the curtain which coupleth the second.\r\n And he made fifty taches of brass to couple the tent together, that it might be one.\r\n And he made a covering for the tent of rams' skins dyed red, and a covering of badgers' skins above that.\r\n And he made boards for the tabernacle of shittim wood, standing up.\r\n The length of a board was ten cubits, and the breadth of a board one cubit and a half.\r\n One board had two tenons, equally distant one from another: thus did he make for all the boards of the tabernacle.\r\n And he made boards for the tabernacle; twenty boards for the south side southward:\r\n And forty sockets of silver he made under the twenty boards; two sockets under one board for his two tenons, and two sockets under another board for his two tenons.\r\n And for the other side of the tabernacle, which is toward the north corner, he made twenty boards,\r\n And their forty sockets of silver; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.\r\n And for the sides of the tabernacle westward he made six boards.\r\n And two boards made he for the corners of the tabernacle in the two sides.\r\n And they were coupled beneath, and coupled together at the head thereof, to one ring: thus he did to both of them in both the corners.\r\n And there were eight boards; and their sockets were sixteen sockets of silver, under every board two sockets.\r\n And he made bars of shittim wood; five for the boards of the one side of the tabernacle,\r\n And five bars for the boards of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the tabernacle for the sides westward.\r\n And he made the middle bar to shoot through the boards from the one end to the other.\r\n And he overlaid the boards with gold, and made their rings of gold to be places for the bars, and overlaid the bars with gold.\r\n And he made a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen: with cherubims made he it of cunning work.\r\n And he made thereunto four pillars of shittim wood, and overlaid them with gold: their hooks were of gold; and he cast for them four sockets of silver.\r\n And he made an hanging for the tabernacle door of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, of needlework;\r\n And the five pillars of it with their hooks: and he overlaid their chapiters and their fillets with gold: but their five sockets were of brass.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Bezaleel made the ark of shittim wood: two cubits and a half was the length of it, and a cubit and a half the breadth of it, and a cubit and a half the height of it:\r\n And he overlaid it with pure gold within and without, and made a crown of gold to it round about.\r\n And he cast for it four rings of gold, to be set by the four corners of it; even two rings upon the one side of it, and two rings upon the other side of it.\r\n And he made staves of shittim wood, and overlaid them with gold.\r\n And he put the staves into the rings by the sides of the ark, to bear the ark.\r\n And he made the mercy seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half was the length thereof, and one cubit and a half the breadth thereof.\r\n And he made two cherubims of gold, beaten out of one piece made he them, on the two ends of the mercy seat;\r\n One cherub on the end on this side, and another cherub on the other end on that side: out of the mercy seat made he the cherubims on the two ends thereof.\r\n And the cherubims spread out their wings on high, and covered with their wings over the mercy seat, with their faces one to another; even to the mercy seatward were the faces of the cherubims.\r\n And he made the table of shittim wood: two cubits was the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof:\r\n And he overlaid it with pure gold, and made thereunto a crown of gold round about.\r\n Also he made thereunto a border of an handbreadth round about; and made a crown of gold for the border thereof round about.\r\n And he cast for it four rings of gold, and put the rings upon the four corners that were in the four feet thereof.\r\n Over against the border were the rings, the places for the staves to bear the table.\r\n And he made the staves of shittim wood, and overlaid them with gold, to bear the table.\r\n And he made the vessels which were upon the table, his dishes, and his spoons, and his bowls, and his covers to cover withal, of pure gold.\r\n And he made the candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work made he the candlestick; his shaft, and his branch, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, were of the same:\r\n And six branches going out of the sides thereof; three branches of the candlestick out of the one side thereof, and three branches of the candlestick out of the other side thereof:\r\n Three bowls made after the fashion of almonds in one branch, a knop and a flower; and three bowls made like almonds in another branch, a knop and a flower: so throughout the six branches going out of the candlestick.\r\n And in the candlestick were four bowls made like almonds, his knops, and his flowers:\r\n And a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, according to the six branches going out of it.\r\n Their knops and their branches were of the same: all of it was one beaten work of pure gold.\r\n And he made his seven lamps, and his snuffers, and his snuffdishes, of pure gold.\r\n Of a talent of pure gold made he it, and all the vessels thereof.\r\n And he made the incense altar of shittim wood: the length of it was a cubit, and the breadth of it a cubit; it was foursquare; and two cubits was the height of it; the horns thereof were of the same.\r\n And he overlaid it with pure gold, both the top of it, and the sides thereof round about, and the horns of it: also he made unto it a crown of gold round about.\r\n And he made two rings of gold for it under the crown thereof, by the two corners of it, upon the two sides thereof, to be places for the staves to bear it withal.\r\n And he made the staves of shittim wood, and overlaid them with gold.\r\n And he made the holy anointing oil, and the pure incense of sweet spices, according to the work of the apothecary.\r\n \r\n \r\n And he made the altar of burnt offering of shittim wood: five cubits was the length thereof, and five cubits the breadth thereof; it was foursquare; and three cubits the height thereof.\r\n And he made the horns thereof on the four corners of it; the horns thereof were of the same: and he overlaid it with brass.\r\n And he made all the vessels of the altar, the pots, and the shovels, and the basons, and the fleshhooks, and the firepans: all the vessels thereof made he of brass.\r\n And he made for the altar a brasen grate of network under the compass thereof beneath unto the midst of it.\r\n And he cast four rings for the four ends of the grate of brass, to be places for the staves.\r\n And he made the staves of shittim wood, and overlaid them with brass.\r\n And he put the staves into the rings on the sides of the altar, to bear it withal; he made the altar hollow with boards.\r\n And he made the laver of brass, and the foot of it of brass, of the lookingglasses of the women assembling, which assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.\r\n And he made the court: on the south side southward the hangings of the court were of fine twined linen, an hundred cubits:\r\n Their pillars were twenty, and their brasen sockets twenty; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets were of silver.\r\n And for the north side the hangings were an hundred cubits, their pillars were twenty, and their sockets of brass twenty; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets of silver.\r\n And for the west side were hangings of fifty cubits, their pillars ten, and their sockets ten; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets of silver.\r\n And for the east side eastward fifty cubits.\r\n The hangings of the one side of the gate were fifteen cubits; their pillars three, and their sockets three.\r\n And for the other side of the court gate, on this hand and that hand, were hangings of fifteen cubits; their pillars three, and their sockets three.\r\n All the hangings of the court round about were of fine twined linen.\r\n And the sockets for the pillars were of brass; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets of silver; and the overlaying of their chapiters of silver; and all the pillars of the court were filleted with silver.\r\n And the hanging for the gate of the court was needlework, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen: and twenty cubits was the length, and the height in the breadth was five cubits, answerable to the hangings of the court.\r\n And their pillars were four, and their sockets of brass four; their hooks of silver, and the overlaying of their chapiters and their fillets of silver.\r\n And all the pins of the tabernacle, and of the court round about, were of brass.\r\n This is the sum of the tabernacle, even of the tabernacle of testimony, as it was counted, according to the commandment of Moses, for the service of the Levites, by the hand of Ithamar, son to Aaron the priest.\r\n And Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, made all that the LORD commanded Moses.\r\n And with him was Aholiab, son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, an engraver, and a cunning workman, and an embroiderer in blue, and in purple, and in scarlet, and fine linen.\r\n All the gold that was occupied for the work in all the work of the holy place, even the gold of the offering, was twenty and nine talents, and seven hundred and thirty shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary.\r\n And the silver of them that were numbered of the congregation was an hundred talents, and a thousand seven hundred and threescore and fifteen shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary:\r\n A bekah for every man, that is, half a shekel, after the shekel of the sanctuary, for every one that went to be numbered, from twenty years old and upward, for six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty men.\r\n And of the hundred talents of silver were cast the sockets of the sanctuary, and the sockets of the vail; an hundred sockets of the hundred talents, a talent for a socket.\r\n And of the thousand seven hundred seventy and five shekels he made hooks for the pillars, and overlaid their chapiters, and filleted them.\r\n And the brass of the offering was seventy talents, and two thousand and four hundred shekels.\r\n And therewith he made the sockets to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and the brasen altar, and the brasen grate for it, and all the vessels of the altar,\r\n And the sockets of the court round about, and the sockets of the court gate, and all the pins of the tabernacle, and all the pins of the court round about.\r\n \r\n \r\n And of the blue, and purple, and scarlet, they made cloths of service, to do service in the holy place, and made the holy garments for Aaron; as the LORD commanded Moses.\r\n And he made the ephod of gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen.\r\n And they did beat the gold into thin plates, and cut it into wires, to work it in the blue, and in the purple, and in the scarlet, and in the fine linen, with cunning work.\r\n They made shoulderpieces for it, to couple it together: by the two edges was it coupled together.\r\n And the curious girdle of his ephod, that was upon it, was of the same, according to the work thereof; of gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen; as the LORD commanded Moses.\r\n And they wrought onyx stones inclosed in ouches of gold, graven, as signets are graven, with the names of the children of Israel.\r\n And he put them on the shoulders of the ephod, that they should be stones for a memorial to the children of Israel; as the LORD commanded Moses.\r\n And he made the breastplate of cunning work, like the work of the ephod; of gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen.\r\n It was foursquare; they made the breastplate double: a span was the length thereof, and a span the breadth thereof, being doubled.\r\n And they set in it four rows of stones: the first row was a sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle: this was the first row.\r\n And the second row, an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond.\r\n And the third row, a ligure, an agate, and an amethyst.\r\n And the fourth row, a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper: they were inclosed in ouches of gold in their inclosings.\r\n And the stones were according to the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names, like the engravings of a signet, every one with his name, according to the twelve tribes.\r\n And they made upon the breastplate chains at the ends, of wreathen work of pure gold.\r\n And they made two ouches of gold, and two gold rings; and put the two rings in the two ends of the breastplate.\r\n And they put the two wreathen chains of gold in the two rings on the ends of the breastplate.\r\n And the two ends of the two wreathen chains they fastened in the two ouches, and put them on the shoulderpieces of the ephod, before it.\r\n And they made two rings of gold, and put them on the two ends of the breastplate, upon the border of it, which was on the side of the ephod inward.\r\n And they made two other golden rings, and put them on the two sides of the ephod underneath, toward the forepart of it, over against the other coupling thereof, above the curious girdle of the ephod.\r\n And they did bind the breastplate by his rings unto the rings of the ephod with a lace of blue, that it might be above the curious girdle of the ephod, and that the breastplate might not be loosed from the ephod; as the LORD commanded Moses.\r\n And he made the robe of the ephod of woven work, all of blue.\r\n And there was an hole in the midst of the robe, as the hole of an habergeon, with a band round about the hole, that it should not rend.\r\n And they made upon the hems of the robe pomegranates of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and twined linen.\r\n And they made bells of pure gold, and put the bells between the pomegranates upon the hem of the robe, round about between the pomegranates;\r\n A bell and a pomegranate, a bell and a pomegranate, round about the hem of the robe to minister in; as the LORD commanded Moses.\r\n And they made coats of fine linen of woven work for Aaron, and for his sons,\r\n And a mitre of fine linen, and goodly bonnets of fine linen, and linen breeches of fine twined linen,\r\n And a girdle of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, of needlework; as the LORD commanded Moses.\r\n And they made the plate of the holy crown of pure gold, and wrote upon it a writing, like to the engravings of a signet, HOLINESS TO THE LORD.\r\n And they tied unto it a lace of blue, to fasten it on high upon the mitre; as the LORD commanded Moses.\r\n Thus was all the work of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation finished: and the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so did they.\r\n And they brought the tabernacle unto Moses, the tent, and all his furniture, his taches, his boards, his bars, and his pillars, and his sockets,\r\n And the covering of rams' skins dyed red, and the covering of badgers' skins, and the vail of the covering,\r\n The ark of the testimony, and the staves thereof, and the mercy seat,\r\n The table, and all the vessels thereof, and the shewbread,\r\n The pure candlestick, with the lamps thereof, even with the lamps to be set in order, and all the vessels thereof, and the oil for light,\r\n And the golden altar, and the anointing oil, and the sweet incense, and the hanging for the tabernacle door,\r\n The brasen altar, and his grate of brass, his staves, and all his vessels, the laver and his foot,\r\n The hangings of the court, his pillars, and his sockets, and the hanging for the court gate, his cords, and his pins, and all the vessels of the service of the tabernacle, for the tent of the congregation,\r\n The cloths of service to do service in the holy place, and the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and his sons' garments, to minister in the priest's office.\r\n According to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so the children of Israel made all the work.\r\n And Moses did look upon all the work, and, behold, they had done it as the LORD had commanded, even so had they done it: and Moses blessed them.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n On the first day of the first month shalt thou set up the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation.\r\n And thou shalt put therein the ark of the testimony, and cover the ark with the vail.\r\n And thou shalt bring in the table, and set in order the things that are to be set in order upon it; and thou shalt bring in the candlestick, and light the lamps thereof.\r\n And thou shalt set the altar of gold for the incense before the ark of the testimony, and put the hanging of the door to the tabernacle.\r\n And thou shalt set the altar of the burnt offering before the door of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation.\r\n And thou shalt set the laver between the tent of the congregation and the altar, and shalt put water therein.\r\n And thou shalt set up the court round about, and hang up the hanging at the court gate.\r\n And thou shalt take the anointing oil, and anoint the tabernacle, and all that is therein, and shalt hallow it, and all the vessels thereof: and it shall be holy.\r\n And thou shalt anoint the altar of the burnt offering, and all his vessels, and sanctify the altar: and it shall be an altar most holy.\r\n And thou shalt anoint the laver and his foot, and sanctify it.\r\n And thou shalt bring Aaron and his sons unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and wash them with water.\r\n And thou shalt put upon Aaron the holy garments, and anoint him, and sanctify him; that he may minister unto me in the priest's office.\r\n And thou shalt bring his sons, and clothe them with coats:\r\n And thou shalt anoint them, as thou didst anoint their father, that they may minister unto me in the priest's office: for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations.\r\n Thus did Moses: according to all that the LORD commanded him, so did he.\r\n And it came to pass in the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month, that the tabernacle was reared up.\r\n And Moses reared up the tabernacle, and fastened his sockets, and set up the boards thereof, and put in the bars thereof, and reared up his pillars.\r\n And he spread abroad the tent over the tabernacle, and put the covering of the tent above upon it; as the LORD commanded Moses.\r\n And he took and put the testimony into the ark, and set the staves on the ark, and put the mercy seat above upon the ark:\r\n And he brought the ark into the tabernacle, and set up the vail of the covering, and covered the ark of the testimony; as the LORD commanded Moses.\r\n And he put the table in the tent of the congregation, upon the side of the tabernacle northward, without the vail.\r\n And he set the bread in order upon it before the LORD; as the LORD had commanded Moses.\r\n And he put the candlestick in the tent of the congregation, over against the table, on the side of the tabernacle southward.\r\n And he lighted the lamps before the LORD; as the LORD commanded Moses.\r\n And he put the golden altar in the tent of the congregation before the vail:\r\n And he burnt sweet incense thereon; as the LORD commanded Moses.\r\n And he set up the hanging at the door of the tabernacle.\r\n And he put the altar of burnt offering by the door of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation, and offered upon it the burnt offering and the meat offering; as the LORD commanded Moses.\r\n And he set the laver between the tent of the congregation and the altar, and put water there, to wash withal.\r\n And Moses and Aaron and his sons washed their hands and their feet thereat:\r\n When they went into the tent of the congregation, and when they came near unto the altar, they washed; as the LORD commanded Moses.\r\n And he reared up the court round about the tabernacle and the altar, and set up the hanging of the court gate. So Moses finished the work.\r\n Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.\r\n And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.\r\n And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys:\r\n But if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up.\r\n For the cloud of the LORD was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n And the LORD called unto Moses, and spake unto him out of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying,\r\n Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man of you bring an offering unto the LORD, ye shall bring your offering of the cattle, even of the herd, and of the flock.\r\n If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD.\r\n And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.\r\n And he shall kill the bullock before the LORD: and the priests, Aaron's sons, shall bring the blood, and sprinkle the blood round about upon the altar that is by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.\r\n And he shall flay the burnt offering, and cut it into his pieces.\r\n And the sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire upon the altar, and lay the wood in order upon the fire:\r\n And the priests, Aaron's sons, shall lay the parts, the head, and the fat, in order upon the wood that is on the fire which is upon the altar:\r\n But his inwards and his legs shall he wash in water: and the priest shall burn all on the altar, to be a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.\r\n And if his offering be of the flocks, namely, of the sheep, or of the goats, for a burnt sacrifice; he shall bring it a male without blemish.\r\n And he shall kill it on the side of the altar northward before the LORD: and the priests, Aaron's sons, shall sprinkle his blood round about upon the altar.\r\n And he shall cut it into his pieces, with his head and his fat: and the priest shall lay them in order on the wood that is on the fire which is upon the altar:\r\n But he shall wash the inwards and the legs with water: and the priest shall bring it all, and burn it upon the altar: it is a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.\r\n And if the burnt sacrifice for his offering to the LORD be of fowls, then he shall bring his offering of turtledoves, or of young pigeons.\r\n And the priest shall bring it unto the altar, and wring off his head, and burn it on the altar; and the blood thereof shall be wrung out at the side of the altar:\r\n And he shall pluck away his crop with his feathers, and cast it beside the altar on the east part, by the place of the ashes:\r\n And he shall cleave it with the wings thereof, but shall not divide it asunder: and the priest shall burn it upon the altar, upon the wood that is upon the fire: it is a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.\r\n \r\n \r\n And when any will offer a meat offering unto the LORD, his offering shall be of fine flour; and he shall pour oil upon it, and put frankincense thereon:\r\n And he shall bring it to Aaron's sons the priests: and he shall take thereout his handful of the flour thereof, and of the oil thereof, with all the frankincense thereof; and the priest shall burn the memorial of it upon the altar, to be an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD:\r\n And the remnant of the meat offering shall be Aaron's and his sons': it is a thing most holy of the offerings of the LORD made by fire.\r\n And if thou bring an oblation of a meat offering baken in the oven, it shall be unleavened cakes of fine flour mingled with oil, or unleavened wafers anointed with oil.\r\n And if thy oblation be a meat offering baken in a pan, it shall be of fine flour unleavened, mingled with oil.\r\n Thou shalt part it in pieces, and pour oil thereon: it is a meat offering.\r\n And if thy oblation be a meat offering baken in the fryingpan, it shall be made of fine flour with oil.\r\n And thou shalt bring the meat offering that is made of these things unto the LORD: and when it is presented unto the priest, he shall bring it unto the altar.\r\n And the priest shall take from the meat offering a memorial thereof, and shall burn it upon the altar: it is an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.\r\n And that which is left of the meat offering shall be Aaron's and his sons': it is a thing most holy of the offerings of the LORD made by fire.\r\n No meat offering, which ye shall bring unto the LORD, shall be made with leaven: for ye shall burn no leaven, nor any honey, in any offering of the LORD made by fire.\r\n As for the oblation of the firstfruits, ye shall offer them unto the LORD: but they shall not be burnt on the altar for a sweet savour.\r\n And every oblation of thy meat offering shalt thou season with salt; neither shalt thou suffer the salt of the covenant of thy God to be lacking from thy meat offering: with all thine offerings thou shalt offer salt.\r\n And if thou offer a meat offering of thy firstfruits unto the LORD, thou shalt offer for the meat offering of thy firstfruits green ears of corn dried by the fire, even corn beaten out of full ears.\r\n And thou shalt put oil upon it, and lay frankincense thereon: it is a meat offering.\r\n And the priest shall burn the memorial of it, part of the beaten corn thereof, and part of the oil thereof, with all the frankincense thereof: it is an offering made by fire unto the LORD.\r\n \r\n \r\n And if his oblation be a sacrifice of peace offering, if he offer it of the herd; whether it be a male or female, he shall offer it without blemish before the LORD.\r\n And he shall lay his hand upon the head of his offering, and kill it at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and Aaron's sons the priests shall sprinkle the blood upon the altar round about.\r\n And he shall offer of the sacrifice of the peace offering an offering made by fire unto the LORD; the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that is upon the inwards,\r\n And the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, which is by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away.\r\n And Aaron's sons shall burn it on the altar upon the burnt sacrifice, which is upon the wood that is on the fire: it is an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.\r\n And if his offering for a sacrifice of peace offering unto the LORD be of the flock; male or female, he shall offer it without blemish.\r\n If he offer a lamb for his offering, then shall he offer it before the LORD.\r\n And he shall lay his hand upon the head of his offering, and kill it before the tabernacle of the congregation: and Aaron's sons shall sprinkle the blood thereof round about upon the altar.\r\n And he shall offer of the sacrifice of the peace offering an offering made by fire unto the LORD; the fat thereof, and the whole rump, it shall he take off hard by the backbone; and the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that is upon the inwards,\r\n And the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, which is by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away.\r\n And the priest shall burn it upon the altar: it is the food of the offering made by fire unto the LORD.\r\n And if his offering be a goat, then he shall offer it before the LORD.\r\n And he shall lay his hand upon the head of it, and kill it before the tabernacle of the congregation: and the sons of Aaron shall sprinkle the blood thereof upon the altar round about.\r\n And he shall offer thereof his offering, even an offering made by fire unto the LORD; the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that is upon the inwards,\r\n And the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, which is by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away.\r\n And the priest shall burn them upon the altar: it is the food of the offering made by fire for a sweet savour: all the fat is the LORD'S.\r\n It shall be a perpetual statute for your generations throughout all your dwellings, that ye eat neither fat nor blood.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a soul shall sin through ignorance against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which ought not to be done, and shall do against any of them:\r\n If the priest that is anointed do sin according to the sin of the people; then let him bring for his sin, which he hath sinned, a young bullock without blemish unto the LORD for a sin offering.\r\n And he shall bring the bullock unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD; and shall lay his hand upon the bullock's head, and kill the bullock before the LORD.\r\n And the priest that is anointed shall take of the bullock's blood, and bring it to the tabernacle of the congregation:\r\n And the priest shall dip his finger in the blood, and sprinkle of the blood seven times before the LORD, before the vail of the sanctuary.\r\n And the priest shall put some of the blood upon the horns of the altar of sweet incense before the LORD, which is in the tabernacle of the congregation; and shall pour all the blood of the bullock at the bottom of the altar of the burnt offering, which is at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.\r\n And he shall take off from it all the fat of the bullock for the sin offering; the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that is upon the inwards,\r\n And the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, which is by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away,\r\n As it was taken off from the bullock of the sacrifice of peace offerings: and the priest shall burn them upon the altar of the burnt offering.\r\n And the skin of the bullock, and all his flesh, with his head, and with his legs, and his inwards, and his dung,\r\n Even the whole bullock shall he carry forth without the camp unto a clean place, where the ashes are poured out, and burn him on the wood with fire: where the ashes are poured out shall he be burnt.\r\n And if the whole congregation of Israel sin through ignorance, and the thing be hid from the eyes of the assembly, and they have done somewhat against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which should not be done, and are guilty;\r\n When the sin, which they have sinned against it, is known, then the congregation shall offer a young bullock for the sin, and bring him before the tabernacle of the congregation.\r\n And the elders of the congregation shall lay their hands upon the head of the bullock before the LORD: and the bullock shall be killed before the LORD.\r\n And the priest that is anointed shall bring of the bullock's blood to the tabernacle of the congregation:\r\n And the priest shall dip his finger in some of the blood, and sprinkle it seven times before the LORD, even before the vail.\r\n And he shall put some of the blood upon the horns of the altar which is before the LORD, that is in the tabernacle of the congregation, and shall pour out all the blood at the bottom of the altar of the burnt offering, which is at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.\r\n And he shall take all his fat from him, and burn it upon the altar.\r\n And he shall do with the bullock as he did with the bullock for a sin offering, so shall he do with this: and the priest shall make an atonement for them, and it shall be forgiven them.\r\n And he shall carry forth the bullock without the camp, and burn him as he burned the first bullock: it is a sin offering for the congregation.\r\n When a ruler hath sinned, and done somewhat through ignorance against any of the commandments of the LORD his God concerning things which should not be done, and is guilty;\r\n Or if his sin, wherein he hath sinned, come to his knowledge; he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a male without blemish:\r\n And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the goat, and kill it in the place where they kill the burnt offering before the LORD: it is a sin offering.\r\n And the priest shall take of the blood of the sin offering with his finger, and put it upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out his blood at the bottom of the altar of burnt offering.\r\n And he shall burn all his fat upon the altar, as the fat of the sacrifice of peace offerings: and the priest shall make an atonement for him as concerning his sin, and it shall be forgiven him.\r\n And if any one of the common people sin through ignorance, while he doeth somewhat against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which ought not to be done, and be guilty;\r\n Or if his sin, which he hath sinned, come to his knowledge: then he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a female without blemish, for his sin which he hath sinned.\r\n And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the sin offering, and slay the sin offering in the place of the burnt offering.\r\n And the priest shall take of the blood thereof with his finger, and put it upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out all the blood thereof at the bottom of the altar.\r\n And he shall take away all the fat thereof, as the fat is taken away from off the sacrifice of peace offerings; and the priest shall burn it upon the altar for a sweet savour unto the LORD; and the priest shall make an atonement for him, and it shall be forgiven him.\r\n And if he bring a lamb for a sin offering, he shall bring it a female without blemish.\r\n And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the sin offering, and slay it for a sin offering in the place where they kill the burnt offering.\r\n And the priest shall take of the blood of the sin offering with his finger, and put it upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out all the blood thereof at the bottom of the altar:\r\n And he shall take away all the fat thereof, as the fat of the lamb is taken away from the sacrifice of the peace offerings; and the priest shall burn them upon the altar, according to the offerings made by fire unto the LORD: and the priest shall make an atonement for his sin that he hath committed, and it shall be forgiven him.\r\n \r\n \r\n And if a soul sin, and hear the voice of swearing, and is a witness, whether he hath seen or known of it; if he do not utter it, then he shall bear his iniquity.\r\n Or if a soul touch any unclean thing, whether it be a carcase of an unclean beast, or a carcase of unclean cattle, or the carcase of unclean creeping things, and if it be hidden from him; he also shall be unclean, and guilty.\r\n Or if he touch the uncleanness of man, whatsoever uncleanness it be that a man shall be defiled withal, and it be hid from him; when he knoweth of it, then he shall be guilty.\r\n Or if a soul swear, pronouncing with his lips to do evil, or to do good, whatsoever it be that a man shall pronounce with an oath, and it be hid from him; when he knoweth of it, then he shall be guilty in one of these.\r\n And it shall be, when he shall be guilty in one of these things, that he shall confess that he hath sinned in that thing:\r\n And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the LORD for his sin which he hath sinned, a female from the flock, a lamb or a kid of the goats, for a sin offering; and the priest shall make an atonement for him concerning his sin.\r\n And if he be not able to bring a lamb, then he shall bring for his trespass, which he hath committed, two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, unto the LORD; one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering.\r\n And he shall bring them unto the priest, who shall offer that which is for the sin offering first, and wring off his head from his neck, but shall not divide it asunder:\r\n And he shall sprinkle of the blood of the sin offering upon the side of the altar; and the rest of the blood shall be wrung out at the bottom of the altar: it is a sin offering.\r\n And he shall offer the second for a burnt offering, according to the manner: and the priest shall make an atonement for him for his sin which he hath sinned, and it shall be forgiven him.\r\n But if he be not able to bring two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, then he that sinned shall bring for his offering the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a sin offering; he shall put no oil upon it, neither shall he put any frankincense thereon: for it is a sin offering.\r\n Then shall he bring it to the priest, and the priest shall take his handful of it, even a memorial thereof, and burn it on the altar, according to the offerings made by fire unto the LORD: it is a sin offering.\r\n And the priest shall make an atonement for him as touching his sin that he hath sinned in one of these, and it shall be forgiven him: and the remnant shall be the priest's, as a meat offering.\r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n If a soul commit a trespass, and sin through ignorance, in the holy things of the LORD; then he shall bring for his trespass unto the LORD a ram without blemish out of the flocks, with thy estimation by shekels of silver, after the shekel of the sanctuary, for a trespass offering:\r\n And he shall make amends for the harm that he hath done in the holy thing, and shall add the fifth part thereto, and give it unto the priest: and the priest shall make an atonement for him with the ram of the trespass offering, and it shall be forgiven him.\r\n And if a soul sin, and commit any of these things which are forbidden to be done by the commandments of the LORD; though he wist it not, yet is he guilty, and shall bear his iniquity.\r\n And he shall bring a ram without blemish out of the flock, with thy estimation, for a trespass offering, unto the priest: and the priest shall make an atonement for him concerning his ignorance wherein he erred and wist it not, and it shall be forgiven him.\r\n It is a trespass offering: he hath certainly trespassed against the LORD.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n If a soul sin, and commit a trespass against the LORD, and lie unto his neighbour in that which was delivered him to keep, or in fellowship, or in a thing taken away by violence, or hath deceived his neighbour;\r\n Or have found that which was lost, and lieth concerning it, and sweareth falsely; in any of all these that a man doeth, sinning therein:\r\n Then it shall be, because he hath sinned, and is guilty, that he shall restore that which he took violently away, or the thing which he hath deceitfully gotten, or that which was delivered him to keep, or the lost thing which he found,\r\n Or all that about which he hath sworn falsely; he shall even restore it in the principal, and shall add the fifth part more thereto, and give it unto him to whom it appertaineth, in the day of his trespass offering.\r\n And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the LORD, a ram without blemish out of the flock, with thy estimation, for a trespass offering, unto the priest:\r\n And the priest shall make an atonement for him before the LORD: and it shall be forgiven him for any thing of all that he hath done in trespassing therein.\r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Command Aaron and his sons, saying, This is the law of the burnt offering: It is the burnt offering, because of the burning upon the altar all night unto the morning, and the fire of the altar shall be burning in it.\r\n And the priest shall put on his linen garment, and his linen breeches shall he put upon his flesh, and take up the ashes which the fire hath consumed with the burnt offering on the altar, and he shall put them beside the altar.\r\n And he shall put off his garments, and put on other garments, and carry forth the ashes without the camp unto a clean place.\r\n And the fire upon the altar shall be burning in it; it shall not be put out: and the priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and lay the burnt offering in order upon it; and he shall burn thereon the fat of the peace offerings.\r\n The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out.\r\n And this is the law of the meat offering: the sons of Aaron shall offer it before the LORD, before the altar.\r\n And he shall take of it his handful, of the flour of the meat offering, and of the oil thereof, and all the frankincense which is upon the meat offering, and shall burn it upon the altar for a sweet savour, even the memorial of it, unto the LORD.\r\n And the remainder thereof shall Aaron and his sons eat: with unleavened bread shall it be eaten in the holy place; in the court of the tabernacle of the congregation they shall eat it.\r\n It shall not be baken with leaven. I have given it unto them for their portion of my offerings made by fire; it is most holy, as is the sin offering, and as the trespass offering.\r\n All the males among the children of Aaron shall eat of it. It shall be a statute for ever in your generations concerning the offerings of the LORD made by fire: every one that toucheth them shall be holy.\r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n This is the offering of Aaron and of his sons, which they shall offer unto the LORD in the day when he is anointed; the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a meat offering perpetual, half of it in the morning, and half thereof at night.\r\n In a pan it shall be made with oil; and when it is baken, thou shalt bring it in: and the baken pieces of the meat offering shalt thou offer for a sweet savour unto the LORD.\r\n And the priest of his sons that is anointed in his stead shall offer it: it is a statute for ever unto the LORD; it shall be wholly burnt.\r\n For every meat offering for the priest shall be wholly burnt: it shall not be eaten.\r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Speak unto Aaron and to his sons, saying, This is the law of the sin offering: In the place where the burnt offering is killed shall the sin offering be killed before the LORD: it is most holy.\r\n The priest that offereth it for sin shall eat it: in the holy place shall it be eaten, in the court of the tabernacle of the congregation.\r\n Whatsoever shall touch the flesh thereof shall be holy: and when there is sprinkled of the blood thereof upon any garment, thou shalt wash that whereon it was sprinkled in the holy place.\r\n But the earthen vessel wherein it is sodden shall be broken: and if it be sodden in a brasen pot, it shall be both scoured, and rinsed in water.\r\n All the males among the priests shall eat thereof: it is most holy.\r\n And no sin offering, whereof any of the blood is brought into the tabernacle of the congregation to reconcile withal in the holy place, shall be eaten: it shall be burnt in the fire.\r\n \r\n \r\n Likewise this is the law of the trespass offering: it is most holy.\r\n In the place where they kill the burnt offering shall they kill the trespass offering: and the blood thereof shall he sprinkle round about upon the altar.\r\n And he shall offer of it all the fat thereof; the rump, and the fat that covereth the inwards,\r\n And the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, which is by the flanks, and the caul that is above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away:\r\n And the priest shall burn them upon the altar for an offering made by fire unto the LORD: it is a trespass offering.\r\n Every male among the priests shall eat thereof: it shall be eaten in the holy place: it is most holy.\r\n As the sin offering is, so is the trespass offering: there is one law for them: the priest that maketh atonement therewith shall have it.\r\n And the priest that offereth any man's burnt offering, even the priest shall have to himself the skin of the burnt offering which he hath offered.\r\n And all the meat offering that is baken in the oven, and all that is dressed in the fryingpan, and in the pan, shall be the priest's that offereth it.\r\n And every meat offering, mingled with oil, and dry, shall all the sons of Aaron have, one as much as another.\r\n And this is the law of the sacrifice of peace offerings, which he shall offer unto the LORD.\r\n If he offer it for a thanksgiving, then he shall offer with the sacrifice of thanksgiving unleavened cakes mingled with oil, and unleavened wafers anointed with oil, and cakes mingled with oil, of fine flour, fried.\r\n Besides the cakes, he shall offer for his offering leavened bread with the sacrifice of thanksgiving of his peace offerings.\r\n And of it he shall offer one out of the whole oblation for an heave offering unto the LORD, and it shall be the priest's that sprinkleth the blood of the peace offerings.\r\n And the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offerings for thanksgiving shall be eaten the same day that it is offered; he shall not leave any of it until the morning.\r\n But if the sacrifice of his offering be a vow, or a voluntary offering, it shall be eaten the same day that he offereth his sacrifice: and on the morrow also the remainder of it shall be eaten:\r\n But the remainder of the flesh of the sacrifice on the third day shall be burnt with fire.\r\n And if any of the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offerings be eaten at all on the third day, it shall not be accepted, neither shall it be imputed unto him that offereth it: it shall be an abomination, and the soul that eateth of it shall bear his iniquity.\r\n And the flesh that toucheth any unclean thing shall not be eaten; it shall be burnt with fire: and as for the flesh, all that be clean shall eat thereof.\r\n But the soul that eateth of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace offerings, that pertain unto the LORD, having his uncleanness upon him, even that soul shall be cut off from his people.\r\n Moreover the soul that shall touch any unclean thing, as the uncleanness of man, or any unclean beast, or any abominable unclean thing, and eat of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace offerings, which pertain unto the LORD, even that soul shall be cut off from his people.\r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, Ye shall eat no manner of fat, of ox, or of sheep, or of goat.\r\n And the fat of the beast that dieth of itself, and the fat of that which is torn with beasts, may be used in any other use: but ye shall in no wise eat of it.\r\n For whosoever eateth the fat of the beast, of which men offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD, even the soul that eateth it shall be cut off from his people.\r\n Moreover ye shall eat no manner of blood, whether it be of fowl or of beast, in any of your dwellings.\r\n Whatsoever soul it be that eateth any manner of blood, even that soul shall be cut off from his people.\r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, He that offereth the sacrifice of his peace offerings unto the LORD shall bring his oblation unto the LORD of the sacrifice of his peace offerings.\r\n His own hands shall bring the offerings of the LORD made by fire, the fat with the breast, it shall he bring, that the breast may be waved for a wave offering before the LORD.\r\n And the priest shall burn the fat upon the altar: but the breast shall be Aaron's and his sons'.\r\n And the right shoulder shall ye give unto the priest for an heave offering of the sacrifices of your peace offerings.\r\n He among the sons of Aaron, that offereth the blood of the peace offerings, and the fat, shall have the right shoulder for his part.\r\n For the wave breast and the heave shoulder have I taken of the children of Israel from off the sacrifices of their peace offerings, and have given them unto Aaron the priest and unto his sons by a statute for ever from among the children of Israel.\r\n This is the portion of the anointing of Aaron, and of the anointing of his sons, out of the offerings of the LORD made by fire, in the day when he presented them to minister unto the LORD in the priest's office;\r\n Which the LORD commanded to be given them of the children of Israel, in the day that he anointed them, by a statute for ever throughout their generations.\r\n This is the law of the burnt offering, of the meat offering, and of the sin offering, and of the trespass offering, and of the consecrations, and of the sacrifice of the peace offerings;\r\n Which the LORD commanded Moses in mount Sinai, in the day that he commanded the children of Israel to offer their oblations unto the LORD, in the wilderness of Sinai.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Take Aaron and his sons with him, and the garments, and the anointing oil, and a bullock for the sin offering, and two rams, and a basket of unleavened bread;\r\n And gather thou all the congregation together unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.\r\n And Moses did as the LORD commanded him; and the assembly was gathered together unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.\r\n And Moses said unto the congregation, This is the thing which the LORD commanded to be done.\r\n And Moses brought Aaron and his sons, and washed them with water.\r\n And he put upon him the coat, and girded him with the girdle, and clothed him with the robe, and put the ephod upon him, and he girded him with the curious girdle of the ephod, and bound it unto him therewith.\r\n And he put the breastplate upon him: also he put in the breastplate the Urim and the Thummim.\r\n And he put the mitre upon his head; also upon the mitre, even upon his forefront, did he put the golden plate, the holy crown; as the LORD commanded Moses.\r\n And Moses took the anointing oil, and anointed the tabernacle and all that was therein, and sanctified them.\r\n And he sprinkled thereof upon the altar seven times, and anointed the altar and all his vessels, both the laver and his foot, to sanctify them.\r\n And he poured of the anointing oil upon Aaron's head, and anointed him, to sanctify him.\r\n And Moses brought Aaron's sons, and put coats upon them, and girded them with girdles, and put bonnets upon them; as the LORD commanded Moses.\r\n And he brought the bullock for the sin offering: and Aaron and his sons laid their hands upon the head of the bullock for the sin offering.\r\n And he slew it; and Moses took the blood, and put it upon the horns of the altar round about with his finger, and purified the altar, and poured the blood at the bottom of the altar, and sanctified it, to make reconciliation upon it.\r\n And he took all the fat that was upon the inwards, and the caul above the liver, and the two kidneys, and their fat, and Moses burned it upon the altar.\r\n But the bullock, and his hide, his flesh, and his dung, he burnt with fire without the camp; as the LORD commanded Moses.\r\n And he brought the ram for the burnt offering: and Aaron and his sons laid their hands upon the head of the ram.\r\n And he killed it; and Moses sprinkled the blood upon the altar round about.\r\n And he cut the ram into pieces; and Moses burnt the head, and the pieces, and the fat.\r\n And he washed the inwards and the legs in water; and Moses burnt the whole ram upon the altar: it was a burnt sacrifice for a sweet savour, and an offering made by fire unto the LORD; as the LORD commanded Moses.\r\n And he brought the other ram, the ram of consecration: and Aaron and his sons laid their hands upon the head of the ram.\r\n And he slew it; and Moses took of the blood of it, and put it upon the tip of Aaron's right ear, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot.\r\n And he brought Aaron's sons, and Moses put of the blood upon the tip of their right ear, and upon the thumbs of their right hands, and upon the great toes of their right feet: and Moses sprinkled the blood upon the altar round about.\r\n And he took the fat, and the rump, and all the fat that was upon the inwards, and the caul above the liver, and the two kidneys, and their fat, and the right shoulder:\r\n And out of the basket of unleavened bread, that was before the LORD, he took one unleavened cake, and a cake of oiled bread, and one wafer, and put them on the fat, and upon the right shoulder:\r\n And he put all upon Aaron's hands, and upon his sons' hands, and waved them for a wave offering before the LORD.\r\n And Moses took them from off their hands, and burnt them on the altar upon the burnt offering: they were consecrations for a sweet savour: it is an offering made by fire unto the LORD.\r\n And Moses took the breast, and waved it for a wave offering before the LORD: for of the ram of consecration it was Moses' part; as the LORD commanded Moses.\r\n And Moses took of the anointing oil, and of the blood which was upon the altar, and sprinkled it upon Aaron, and upon his garments, and upon his sons, and upon his sons' garments with him; and sanctified Aaron, and his garments, and his sons, and his sons' garments with him.\r\n And Moses said unto Aaron and to his sons, Boil the flesh at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and there eat it with the bread that is in the basket of consecrations, as I commanded, saying, Aaron and his sons shall eat it.\r\n And that which remaineth of the flesh and of the bread shall ye burn with fire.\r\n And ye shall not go out of the door of the tabernacle of the congregation in seven days, until the days of your consecration be at an end: for seven days shall he consecrate you.\r\n As he hath done this day, so the LORD hath commanded to do, to make an atonement for you.\r\n Therefore shall ye abide at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation day and night seven days, and keep the charge of the LORD, that ye die not: for so I am commanded.\r\n So Aaron and his sons did all things which the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass on the eighth day, that Moses called Aaron and his sons, and the elders of Israel;\r\n And he said unto Aaron, Take thee a young calf for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering, without blemish, and offer them before the LORD.\r\n And unto the children of Israel thou shalt speak, saying, Take ye a kid of the goats for a sin offering; and a calf and a lamb, both of the first year, without blemish, for a burnt offering;\r\n Also a bullock and a ram for peace offerings, to sacrifice before the LORD; and a meat offering mingled with oil: for to day the LORD will appear unto you.\r\n And they brought that which Moses commanded before the tabernacle of the congregation: and all the congregation drew near and stood before the LORD.\r\n And Moses said, This is the thing which the LORD commanded that ye should do: and the glory of the LORD shall appear unto you.\r\n And Moses said unto Aaron, Go unto the altar, and offer thy sin offering, and thy burnt offering, and make an atonement for thyself, and for the people: and offer the offering of the people, and make an atonement for them; as the LORD commanded.\r\n Aaron therefore went unto the altar, and slew the calf of the sin offering, which was for himself.\r\n And the sons of Aaron brought the blood unto him: and he dipped his finger in the blood, and put it upon the horns of the altar, and poured out the blood at the bottom of the altar:\r\n But the fat, and the kidneys, and the caul above the liver of the sin offering, he burnt upon the altar; as the LORD commanded Moses.\r\n And the flesh and the hide he burnt with fire without the camp.\r\n And he slew the burnt offering; and Aaron's sons presented unto him the blood, which he sprinkled round about upon the altar.\r\n And they presented the burnt offering unto him, with the pieces thereof, and the head: and he burnt them upon the altar.\r\n And he did wash the inwards and the legs, and burnt them upon the burnt offering on the altar.\r\n And he brought the people's offering, and took the goat, which was the sin offering for the people, and slew it, and offered it for sin, as the first.\r\n And he brought the burnt offering, and offered it according to the manner.\r\n And he brought the meat offering, and took an handful thereof, and burnt it upon the altar, beside the burnt sacrifice of the morning.\r\n He slew also the bullock and the ram for a sacrifice of peace offerings, which was for the people: and Aaron's sons presented unto him the blood, which he sprinkled upon the altar round about,\r\n And the fat of the bullock and of the ram, the rump, and that which covereth the inwards, and the kidneys, and the caul above the liver:\r\n And they put the fat upon the breasts, and he burnt the fat upon the altar:\r\n And the breasts and the right shoulder Aaron waved for a wave offering before the LORD; as Moses commanded.\r\n And Aaron lifted up his hand toward the people, and blessed them, and came down from offering of the sin offering, and the burnt offering, and peace offerings.\r\n And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of the congregation, and came out, and blessed the people: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the people.\r\n And there came a fire out from before the LORD, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not.\r\n And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.\r\n Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the LORD spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace.\r\n And Moses called Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of Uzziel the uncle of Aaron, and said unto them, Come near, carry your brethren from before the sanctuary out of the camp.\r\n So they went near, and carried them in their coats out of the camp; as Moses had said.\r\n And Moses said unto Aaron, and unto Eleazar and unto Ithamar, his sons, Uncover not your heads, neither rend your clothes; lest ye die, and lest wrath come upon all the people: but let your brethren, the whole house of Israel, bewail the burning which the LORD hath kindled.\r\n And ye shall not go out from the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: for the anointing oil of the LORD is upon you. And they did according to the word of Moses.\r\n And the LORD spake unto Aaron, saying,\r\n Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations:\r\n And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean;\r\n And that ye may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the LORD hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses.\r\n And Moses spake unto Aaron, and unto Eleazar and unto Ithamar, his sons that were left, Take the meat offering that remaineth of the offerings of the LORD made by fire, and eat it without leaven beside the altar: for it is most holy:\r\n And ye shall eat it in the holy place, because it is thy due, and thy sons' due, of the sacrifices of the LORD made by fire: for so I am commanded.\r\n And the wave breast and heave shoulder shall ye eat in a clean place; thou, and thy sons, and thy daughters with thee: for they be thy due, and thy sons' due, which are given out of the sacrifices of peace offerings of the children of Israel.\r\n The heave shoulder and the wave breast shall they bring with the offerings made by fire of the fat, to wave it for a wave offering before the LORD; and it shall be thine, and thy sons' with thee, by a statute for ever; as the LORD hath commanded.\r\n And Moses diligently sought the goat of the sin offering, and, behold, it was burnt: and he was angry with Eleazar and Ithamar, the sons of Aaron which were left alive, saying,\r\n Wherefore have ye not eaten the sin offering in the holy place, seeing it is most holy, and God hath given it you to bear the iniquity of the congregation, to make atonement for them before the LORD?\r\n Behold, the blood of it was not brought in within the holy place: ye should indeed have eaten it in the holy place, as I commanded.\r\n And Aaron said unto Moses, Behold, this day have they offered their sin offering and their burnt offering before the LORD; and such things have befallen me: and if I had eaten the sin offering to day, should it have been accepted in the sight of the LORD?\r\n And when Moses heard that, he was content.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses and to Aaron, saying unto them,\r\n Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, These are the beasts which ye shall eat among all the beasts that are on the earth.\r\n Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is clovenfooted, and cheweth the cud, among the beasts, that shall ye eat.\r\n Nevertheless these shall ye not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that divide the hoof: as the camel, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you.\r\n And the coney, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you.\r\n And the hare, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you.\r\n And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be clovenfooted, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you.\r\n Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcase shall ye not touch; they are unclean to you.\r\n These shall ye eat of all that are in the waters: whatsoever hath fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, them shall ye eat.\r\n And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you:\r\n They shall be even an abomination unto you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, but ye shall have their carcases in abomination.\r\n Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that shall be an abomination unto you.\r\n And these are they which ye shall have in abomination among the fowls; they shall not be eaten, they are an abomination: the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the ospray,\r\n And the vulture, and the kite after his kind;\r\n Every raven after his kind;\r\n And the owl, and the night hawk, and the cuckow, and the hawk after his kind,\r\n And the little owl, and the cormorant, and the great owl,\r\n And the swan, and the pelican, and the gier eagle,\r\n And the stork, the heron after her kind, and the lapwing, and the bat.\r\n All fowls that creep, going upon all four, shall be an abomination unto you.\r\n Yet these may ye eat of every flying creeping thing that goeth upon all four, which have legs above their feet, to leap withal upon the earth;\r\n Even these of them ye may eat; the locust after his kind, and the bald locust after his kind, and the beetle after his kind, and the grasshopper after his kind.\r\n But all other flying creeping things, which have four feet, shall be an abomination unto you.\r\n And for these ye shall be unclean: whosoever toucheth the carcase of them shall be unclean until the even.\r\n And whosoever beareth ought of the carcase of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even.\r\n The carcases of every beast which divideth the hoof, and is not clovenfooted, nor cheweth the cud, are unclean unto you: every one that toucheth them shall be unclean.\r\n And whatsoever goeth upon his paws, among all manner of beasts that go on all four, those are unclean unto you: whoso toucheth their carcase shall be unclean until the even.\r\n And he that beareth the carcase of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even: they are unclean unto you.\r\n These also shall be unclean unto you among the creeping things that creep upon the earth; the weasel, and the mouse, and the tortoise after his kind,\r\n And the ferret, and the chameleon, and the lizard, and the snail, and the mole.\r\n These are unclean to you among all that creep: whosoever doth touch them, when they be dead, shall be unclean until the even.\r\n And upon whatsoever any of them, when they are dead, doth fall, it shall be unclean; whether it be any vessel of wood, or raiment, or skin, or sack, whatsoever vessel it be, wherein any work is done, it must be put into water, and it shall be unclean until the even; so it shall be cleansed.\r\n And every earthen vessel, whereinto any of them falleth, whatsoever is in it shall be unclean; and ye shall break it.\r\n Of all meat which may be eaten, that on which such water cometh shall be unclean: and all drink that may be drunk in every such vessel shall be unclean.\r\n And every thing whereupon any part of their carcase falleth shall be unclean; whether it be oven, or ranges for pots, they shall be broken down: for they are unclean, and shall be unclean unto you.\r\n Nevertheless a fountain or pit, wherein there is plenty of water, shall be clean: but that which toucheth their carcase shall be unclean.\r\n And if any part of their carcase fall upon any sowing seed which is to be sown, it shall be clean.\r\n But if any water be put upon the seed, and any part of their carcase fall thereon, it shall be unclean unto you.\r\n And if any beast, of which ye may eat, die; he that toucheth the carcase thereof shall be unclean until the even.\r\n And he that eateth of the carcase of it shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even: he also that beareth the carcase of it shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even.\r\n And every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth shall be an abomination; it shall not be eaten.\r\n Whatsoever goeth upon the belly, and whatsoever goeth upon all four, or whatsoever hath more feet among all creeping things that creep upon the earth, them ye shall not eat; for they are an abomination.\r\n Ye shall not make yourselves abominable with any creeping thing that creepeth, neither shall ye make yourselves unclean with them, that ye should be defiled thereby.\r\n For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.\r\n For I am the LORD that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.\r\n This is the law of the beasts, and of the fowl, and of every living creature that moveth in the waters, and of every creature that creepeth upon the earth:\r\n To make a difference between the unclean and the clean, and between the beast that may be eaten and the beast that may not be eaten.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a woman have conceived seed, and born a man child: then she shall be unclean seven days; according to the days of the separation for her infirmity shall she be unclean.\r\n And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.\r\n And she shall then continue in the blood of her purifying three and thirty days; she shall touch no hallowed thing, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying be fulfilled.\r\n But if she bear a maid child, then she shall be unclean two weeks, as in her separation: and she shall continue in the blood of her purifying threescore and six days.\r\n And when the days of her purifying are fulfilled, for a son, or for a daughter, she shall bring a lamb of the first year for a burnt offering, and a young pigeon, or a turtledove, for a sin offering, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, unto the priest:\r\n Who shall offer it before the LORD, and make an atonement for her; and she shall be cleansed from the issue of her blood. This is the law for her that hath born a male or a female.\r\n And if she be not able to bring a lamb, then she shall bring two turtles, or two young pigeons; the one for the burnt offering, and the other for a sin offering: and the priest shall make an atonement for her, and she shall be clean.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, saying,\r\n When a man shall have in the skin of his flesh a rising, a scab, or bright spot, and it be in the skin of his flesh like the plague of leprosy; then he shall be brought unto Aaron the priest, or unto one of his sons the priests:\r\n And the priest shall look on the plague in the skin of the flesh: and when the hair in the plague is turned white, and the plague in sight be deeper than the skin of his flesh, it is a plague of leprosy: and the priest shall look on him, and pronounce him unclean.\r\n If the bright spot be white in the skin of his flesh, and in sight be not deeper than the skin, and the hair thereof be not turned white; then the priest shall shut up him that hath the plague seven days:\r\n And the priest shall look on him the seventh day: and, behold, if the plague in his sight be at a stay, and the plague spread not in the skin; then the priest shall shut him up seven days more:\r\n And the priest shall look on him again the seventh day: and, behold, if the plague be somewhat dark, and the plague spread not in the skin, the priest shall pronounce him clean: it is but a scab: and he shall wash his clothes, and be clean.\r\n But if the scab spread much abroad in the skin, after that he hath been seen of the priest for his cleansing, he shall be seen of the priest again:\r\n And if the priest see that, behold, the scab spreadeth in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is a leprosy.\r\n When the plague of leprosy is in a man, then he shall be brought unto the priest;\r\n And the priest shall see him: and, behold, if the rising be white in the skin, and it have turned the hair white, and there be quick raw flesh in the rising;\r\n It is an old leprosy in the skin of his flesh, and the priest shall pronounce him unclean, and shall not shut him up: for he is unclean.\r\n And if a leprosy break out abroad in the skin, and the leprosy cover all the skin of him that hath the plague from his head even to his foot, wheresoever the priest looketh;\r\n Then the priest shall consider: and, behold, if the leprosy have covered all his flesh, he shall pronounce him clean that hath the plague: it is all turned white: he is clean.\r\n But when raw flesh appeareth in him, he shall be unclean.\r\n And the priest shall see the raw flesh, and pronounce him to be unclean: for the raw flesh is unclean: it is a leprosy.\r\n Or if the raw flesh turn again, and be changed unto white, he shall come unto the priest;\r\n And the priest shall see him: and, behold, if the plague be turned into white; then the priest shall pronounce him clean that hath the plague: he is clean.\r\n The flesh also, in which, even in the skin thereof, was a boil, and is healed,\r\n And in the place of the boil there be a white rising, or a bright spot, white, and somewhat reddish, and it be shewed to the priest;\r\n And if, when the priest seeth it, behold, it be in sight lower than the skin, and the hair thereof be turned white; the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is a plague of leprosy broken out of the boil.\r\n But if the priest look on it, and, behold, there be no white hairs therein, and if it be not lower than the skin, but be somewhat dark; then the priest shall shut him up seven days:\r\n And if it spread much abroad in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is a plague.\r\n But if the bright spot stay in his place, and spread not, it is a burning boil; and the priest shall pronounce him clean.\r\n Or if there be any flesh, in the skin whereof there is a hot burning, and the quick flesh that burneth have a white bright spot, somewhat reddish, or white;\r\n Then the priest shall look upon it: and, behold, if the hair in the bright spot be turned white, and it be in sight deeper than the skin; it is a leprosy broken out of the burning: wherefore the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is the plague of leprosy.\r\n But if the priest look on it, and, behold, there be no white hair in the bright spot, and it be no lower than the other skin, but be somewhat dark; then the priest shall shut him up seven days:\r\n And the priest shall look upon him the seventh day: and if it be spread much abroad in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is the plague of leprosy.\r\n And if the bright spot stay in his place, and spread not in the skin, but it be somewhat dark; it is a rising of the burning, and the priest shall pronounce him clean: for it is an inflammation of the burning.\r\n If a man or woman have a plague upon the head or the beard;\r\n Then the priest shall see the plague: and, behold, if it be in sight deeper than the skin; and there be in it a yellow thin hair; then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is a dry scall, even a leprosy upon the head or beard.\r\n And if the priest look on the plague of the scall, and, behold, it be not in sight deeper than the skin, and that there is no black hair in it; then the priest shall shut up him that hath the plague of the scall seven days:\r\n And in the seventh day the priest shall look on the plague: and, behold, if the scall spread not, and there be in it no yellow hair, and the scall be not in sight deeper than the skin;\r\n He shall be shaven, but the scall shall he not shave; and the priest shall shut up him that hath the scall seven days more:\r\n And in the seventh day the priest shall look on the scall: and, behold, if the scall be not spread in the skin, nor be in sight deeper than the skin; then the priest shall pronounce him clean: and he shall wash his clothes, and be clean.\r\n But if the scall spread much in the skin after his cleansing;\r\n Then the priest shall look on him: and, behold, if the scall be spread in the skin, the priest shall not seek for yellow hair; he is unclean.\r\n But if the scall be in his sight at a stay, and that there is black hair grown up therein; the scall is healed, he is clean: and the priest shall pronounce him clean.\r\n If a man also or a woman have in the skin of their flesh bright spots, even white bright spots;\r\n Then the priest shall look: and, behold, if the bright spots in the skin of their flesh be darkish white; it is a freckled spot that groweth in the skin; he is clean.\r\n And the man whose hair is fallen off his head, he is bald; yet is he clean.\r\n And he that hath his hair fallen off from the part of his head toward his face, he is forehead bald: yet is he clean.\r\n And if there be in the bald head, or bald forehead, a white reddish sore; it is a leprosy sprung up in his bald head, or his bald forehead.\r\n Then the priest shall look upon it: and, behold, if the rising of the sore be white reddish in his bald head, or in his bald forehead, as the leprosy appeareth in the skin of the flesh;\r\n He is a leprous man, he is unclean: the priest shall pronounce him utterly unclean; his plague is in his head.\r\n And the leper in whom the plague is, his clothes shall be rent, and his head bare, and he shall put a covering upon his upper lip, and shall cry, Unclean, unclean.\r\n All the days wherein the plague shall be in him he shall be defiled; he is unclean: he shall dwell alone; without the camp shall his habitation be.\r\n The garment also that the plague of leprosy is in, whether it be a woollen garment, or a linen garment;\r\n Whether it be in the warp, or woof; of linen, or of woollen; whether in a skin, or in any thing made of skin;\r\n And if the plague be greenish or reddish in the garment, or in the skin, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in any thing of skin; it is a plague of leprosy, and shall be shewed unto the priest:\r\n And the priest shall look upon the plague, and shut up it that hath the plague seven days:\r\n And he shall look on the plague on the seventh day: if the plague be spread in the garment, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in a skin, or in any work that is made of skin; the plague is a fretting leprosy; it is unclean.\r\n He shall therefore burn that garment, whether warp or woof, in woollen or in linen, or any thing of skin, wherein the plague is: for it is a fretting leprosy; it shall be burnt in the fire.\r\n And if the priest shall look, and, behold, the plague be not spread in the garment, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in any thing of skin;\r\n Then the priest shall command that they wash the thing wherein the plague is, and he shall shut it up seven days more:\r\n And the priest shall look on the plague, after that it is washed: and, behold, if the plague have not changed his colour, and the plague be not spread; it is unclean; thou shalt burn it in the fire; it is fret inward, whether it be bare within or without.\r\n And if the priest look, and, behold, the plague be somewhat dark after the washing of it; then he shall rend it out of the garment, or out of the skin, or out of the warp, or out of the woof:\r\n And if it appear still in the garment, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in any thing of skin; it is a spreading plague: thou shalt burn that wherein the plague is with fire.\r\n And the garment, either warp, or woof, or whatsoever thing of skin it be, which thou shalt wash, if the plague be departed from them, then it shall be washed the second time, and shall be clean.\r\n This is the law of the plague of leprosy in a garment of woollen or linen, either in the warp, or woof, or any thing of skins, to pronounce it clean, or to pronounce it unclean.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing: He shall be brought unto the priest:\r\n And the priest shall go forth out of the camp; and the priest shall look, and, behold, if the plague of leprosy be healed in the leper;\r\n Then shall the priest command to take for him that is to be cleansed two birds alive and clean, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop:\r\n And the priest shall command that one of the birds be killed in an earthen vessel over running water:\r\n As for the living bird, he shall take it, and the cedar wood, and the scarlet, and the hyssop, and shall dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water:\r\n And he shall sprinkle upon him that is to be cleansed from the leprosy seven times, and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let the living bird loose into the open field.\r\n And he that is to be cleansed shall wash his clothes, and shave off all his hair, and wash himself in water, that he may be clean: and after that he shall come into the camp, and shall tarry abroad out of his tent seven days.\r\n But it shall be on the seventh day, that he shall shave all his hair off his head and his beard and his eyebrows, even all his hair he shall shave off: and he shall wash his clothes, also he shall wash his flesh in water, and he shall be clean.\r\n And on the eighth day he shall take two he lambs without blemish, and one ewe lamb of the first year without blemish, and three tenth deals of fine flour for a meat offering, mingled with oil, and one log of oil.\r\n And the priest that maketh him clean shall present the man that is to be made clean, and those things, before the LORD, at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation:\r\n And the priest shall take one he lamb, and offer him for a trespass offering, and the log of oil, and wave them for a wave offering before the LORD:\r\n And he shall slay the lamb in the place where he shall kill the sin offering and the burnt offering, in the holy place: for as the sin offering is the priest's, so is the trespass offering: it is most holy:\r\n And the priest shall take some of the blood of the trespass offering, and the priest shall put it upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot:\r\n And the priest shall take some of the log of oil, and pour it into the palm of his own left hand:\r\n And the priest shall dip his right finger in the oil that is in his left hand, and shall sprinkle of the oil with his finger seven times before the LORD:\r\n And of the rest of the oil that is in his hand shall the priest put upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot, upon the blood of the trespass offering:\r\n And the remnant of the oil that is in the priest's hand he shall pour upon the head of him that is to be cleansed: and the priest shall make an atonement for him before the LORD.\r\n And the priest shall offer the sin offering, and make an atonement for him that is to be cleansed from his uncleanness; and afterward he shall kill the burnt offering:\r\n And the priest shall offer the burnt offering and the meat offering upon the altar: and the priest shall make an atonement for him, and he shall be clean.\r\n And if he be poor, and cannot get so much; then he shall take one lamb for a trespass offering to be waved, to make an atonement for him, and one tenth deal of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering, and a log of oil;\r\n And two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, such as he is able to get; and the one shall be a sin offering, and the other a burnt offering.\r\n And he shall bring them on the eighth day for his cleansing unto the priest, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, before the LORD.\r\n And the priest shall take the lamb of the trespass offering, and the log of oil, and the priest shall wave them for a wave offering before the LORD:\r\n And he shall kill the lamb of the trespass offering, and the priest shall take some of the blood of the trespass offering, and put it upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot:\r\n And the priest shall pour of the oil into the palm of his own left hand:\r\n And the priest shall sprinkle with his right finger some of the oil that is in his left hand seven times before the LORD:\r\n And the priest shall put of the oil that is in his hand upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot, upon the place of the blood of the trespass offering:\r\n And the rest of the oil that is in the priest's hand he shall put upon the head of him that is to be cleansed, to make an atonement for him before the LORD.\r\n And he shall offer the one of the turtledoves, or of the young pigeons, such as he can get;\r\n Even such as he is able to get, the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering, with the meat offering: and the priest shall make an atonement for him that is to be cleansed before the LORD.\r\n This is the law of him in whom is the plague of leprosy, whose hand is not able to get that which pertaineth to his cleansing.\r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,\r\n When ye be come into the land of Canaan, which I give to you for a possession, and I put the plague of leprosy in a house of the land of your possession;\r\n And he that owneth the house shall come and tell the priest, saying, It seemeth to me there is as it were a plague in the house:\r\n Then the priest shall command that they empty the house, before the priest go into it to see the plague, that all that is in the house be not made unclean: and afterward the priest shall go in to see the house:\r\n And he shall look on the plague, and, behold, if the plague be in the walls of the house with hollow strakes, greenish or reddish, which in sight are lower than the wall;\r\n Then the priest shall go out of the house to the door of the house, and shut up the house seven days:\r\n And the priest shall come again the seventh day, and shall look: and, behold, if the plague be spread in the walls of the house;\r\n Then the priest shall command that they take away the stones in which the plague is, and they shall cast them into an unclean place without the city:\r\n And he shall cause the house to be scraped within round about, and they shall pour out the dust that they scrape off without the city into an unclean place:\r\n And they shall take other stones, and put them in the place of those stones; and he shall take other morter, and shall plaister the house.\r\n And if the plague come again, and break out in the house, after that he hath taken away the stones, and after he hath scraped the house, and after it is plaistered;\r\n Then the priest shall come and look, and, behold, if the plague be spread in the house, it is a fretting leprosy in the house: it is unclean.\r\n And he shall break down the house, the stones of it, and the timber thereof, and all the morter of the house; and he shall carry them forth out of the city into an unclean place.\r\n Moreover he that goeth into the house all the while that it is shut up shall be unclean until the even.\r\n And he that lieth in the house shall wash his clothes; and he that eateth in the house shall wash his clothes.\r\n And if the priest shall come in, and look upon it, and, behold, the plague hath not spread in the house, after the house was plaistered: then the priest shall pronounce the house clean, because the plague is healed.\r\n And he shall take to cleanse the house two birds, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop:\r\n And he shall kill the one of the birds in an earthen vessel over running water:\r\n And he shall take the cedar wood, and the hyssop, and the scarlet, and the living bird, and dip them in the blood of the slain bird, and in the running water, and sprinkle the house seven times:\r\n And he shall cleanse the house with the blood of the bird, and with the running water, and with the living bird, and with the cedar wood, and with the hyssop, and with the scarlet:\r\n But he shall let go the living bird out of the city into the open fields, and make an atonement for the house: and it shall be clean.\r\n This is the law for all manner of plague of leprosy, and scall,\r\n And for the leprosy of a garment, and of a house,\r\n And for a rising, and for a scab, and for a bright spot:\r\n To teach when it is unclean, and when it is clean: this is the law of leprosy.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses and to Aaron, saying,\r\n Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When any man hath a running issue out of his flesh, because of his issue he is unclean.\r\n And this shall be his uncleanness in his issue: whether his flesh run with his issue, or his flesh be stopped from his issue, it is his uncleanness.\r\n Every bed, whereon he lieth that hath the issue, is unclean: and every thing, whereon he sitteth, shall be unclean.\r\n And whosoever toucheth his bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.\r\n And he that sitteth on any thing whereon he sat that hath the issue shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.\r\n And he that toucheth the flesh of him that hath the issue shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.\r\n And if he that hath the issue spit upon him that is clean; then he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.\r\n And what saddle soever he rideth upon that hath the issue shall be unclean.\r\n And whosoever toucheth any thing that was under him shall be unclean until the even: and he that beareth any of those things shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.\r\n And whomsoever he toucheth that hath the issue, and hath not rinsed his hands in water, he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.\r\n And the vessel of earth, that he toucheth which hath the issue, shall be broken: and every vessel of wood shall be rinsed in water.\r\n And when he that hath an issue is cleansed of his issue; then he shall number to himself seven days for his cleansing, and wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in running water, and shall be clean.\r\n And on the eighth day he shall take to him two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, and come before the LORD unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and give them unto the priest:\r\n And the priest shall offer them, the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering; and the priest shall make an atonement for him before the LORD for his issue.\r\n And if any man's seed of copulation go out from him, then he shall wash all his flesh in water, and be unclean until the even.\r\n And every garment, and every skin, whereon is the seed of copulation, shall be washed with water, and be unclean until the even.\r\n The woman also with whom man shall lie with seed of copulation, they shall both bathe themselves in water, and be unclean until the even.\r\n And if a woman have an issue, and her issue in her flesh be blood, she shall be put apart seven days: and whosoever toucheth her shall be unclean until the even.\r\n And every thing that she lieth upon in her separation shall be unclean: every thing also that she sitteth upon shall be unclean.\r\n And whosoever toucheth her bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.\r\n And whosoever toucheth any thing that she sat upon shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.\r\n And if it be on her bed, or on any thing whereon she sitteth, when he toucheth it, he shall be unclean until the even.\r\n And if any man lie with her at all, and her flowers be upon him, he shall be unclean seven days; and all the bed whereon he lieth shall be unclean.\r\n And if a woman have an issue of her blood many days out of the time of her separation, or if it run beyond the time of her separation; all the days of the issue of her uncleanness shall be as the days of her separation: she shall be unclean.\r\n Every bed whereon she lieth all the days of her issue shall be unto her as the bed of her separation: and whatsoever she sitteth upon shall be unclean, as the uncleanness of her separation.\r\n And whosoever toucheth those things shall be unclean, and shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even.\r\n But if she be cleansed of her issue, then she shall number to herself seven days, and after that she shall be clean.\r\n And on the eighth day she shall take unto her two turtles, or two young pigeons, and bring them unto the priest, to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.\r\n And the priest shall offer the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering; and the priest shall make an atonement for her before the LORD for the issue of her uncleanness.\r\n Thus shall ye separate the children of Israel from their uncleanness; that they die not in their uncleanness, when they defile my tabernacle that is among them.\r\n This is the law of him that hath an issue, and of him whose seed goeth from him, and is defiled therewith;\r\n And of her that is sick of her flowers, and of him that hath an issue, of the man, and of the woman, and of him that lieth with her that is unclean.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they offered before the LORD, and died;\r\n And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the vail before the mercy seat, which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat.\r\n Thus shall Aaron come into the holy place: with a young bullock for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering.\r\n He shall put on the holy linen coat, and he shall have the linen breeches upon his flesh, and shall be girded with a linen girdle, and with the linen mitre shall he be attired: these are holy garments; therefore shall he wash his flesh in water, and so put them on.\r\n And he shall take of the congregation of the children of Israel two kids of the goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering.\r\n And Aaron shall offer his bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make an atonement for himself, and for his house.\r\n And he shall take the two goats, and present them before the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.\r\n And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat.\r\n And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the LORD'S lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering.\r\n But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness.\r\n And Aaron shall bring the bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and shall make an atonement for himself, and for his house, and shall kill the bullock of the sin offering which is for himself:\r\n And he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from off the altar before the LORD, and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small, and bring it within the vail:\r\n And he shall put the incense upon the fire before the LORD, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is upon the testimony, that he die not:\r\n And he shall take of the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it with his finger upon the mercy seat eastward; and before the mercy seat shall he sprinkle of the blood with his finger seven times.\r\n Then shall he kill the goat of the sin offering, that is for the people, and bring his blood within the vail, and do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat:\r\n And he shall make an atonement for the holy place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions in all their sins: and so shall he do for the tabernacle of the congregation, that remaineth among them in the midst of their uncleanness.\r\n And there shall be no man in the tabernacle of the congregation when he goeth in to make an atonement in the holy place, until he come out, and have made an atonement for himself, and for his household, and for all the congregation of Israel.\r\n And he shall go out unto the altar that is before the LORD, and make an atonement for it; and shall take of the blood of the bullock, and of the blood of the goat, and put it upon the horns of the altar round about.\r\n And he shall sprinkle of the blood upon it with his finger seven times, and cleanse it, and hallow it from the uncleanness of the children of Israel.\r\n And when he hath made an end of reconciling the holy place, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar, he shall bring the live goat:\r\n And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness:\r\n And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness.\r\n And Aaron shall come into the tabernacle of the congregation, and shall put off the linen garments, which he put on when he went into the holy place, and shall leave them there:\r\n And he shall wash his flesh with water in the holy place, and put on his garments, and come forth, and offer his burnt offering, and the burnt offering of the people, and make an atonement for himself, and for the people.\r\n And the fat of the sin offering shall he burn upon the altar.\r\n And he that let go the goat for the scapegoat shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward come into the camp.\r\n And the bullock for the sin offering, and the goat for the sin offering, whose blood was brought in to make atonement in the holy place, shall one carry forth without the camp; and they shall burn in the fire their skins, and their flesh, and their dung.\r\n And he that burneth them shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp.\r\n And this shall be a statute for ever unto you: that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, ye shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger that sojourneth among you:\r\n For on that day shall the priest make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all your sins before the LORD.\r\n It shall be a sabbath of rest unto you, and ye shall afflict your souls, by a statute for ever.\r\n And the priest, whom he shall anoint, and whom he shall consecrate to minister in the priest's office in his father's stead, shall make the atonement, and shall put on the linen clothes, even the holy garments:\r\n And he shall make an atonement for the holy sanctuary, and he shall make an atonement for the tabernacle of the congregation, and for the altar, and he shall make an atonement for the priests, and for all the people of the congregation.\r\n And this shall be an everlasting statute unto you, to make an atonement for the children of Israel for all their sins once a year. And he did as the LORD commanded Moses.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Speak unto Aaron, and unto his sons, and unto all the children of Israel, and say unto them; This is the thing which the LORD hath commanded, saying,\r\n What man soever there be of the house of Israel, that killeth an ox, or lamb, or goat, in the camp, or that killeth it out of the camp,\r\n And bringeth it not unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, to offer an offering unto the LORD before the tabernacle of the LORD; blood shall be imputed unto that man; he hath shed blood; and that man shall be cut off from among his people:\r\n To the end that the children of Israel may bring their sacrifices, which they offer in the open field, even that they may bring them unto the LORD, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, unto the priest, and offer them for peace offerings unto the LORD.\r\n And the priest shall sprinkle the blood upon the altar of the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and burn the fat for a sweet savour unto the LORD.\r\n And they shall no more offer their sacrifices unto devils, after whom they have gone a whoring. This shall be a statute for ever unto them throughout their generations.\r\n And thou shalt say unto them, Whatsoever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers which sojourn among you, that offereth a burnt offering or sacrifice,\r\n And bringeth it not unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, to offer it unto the LORD; even that man shall be cut off from among his people.\r\n And whatsoever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, that eateth any manner of blood; I will even set my face against that soul that eateth blood, and will cut him off from among his people.\r\n For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.\r\n Therefore I said unto the children of Israel, No soul of you shall eat blood, neither shall any stranger that sojourneth among you eat blood.\r\n And whatsoever man there be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, which hunteth and catcheth any beast or fowl that may be eaten; he shall even pour out the blood thereof, and cover it with dust.\r\n For it is the life of all flesh; the blood of it is for the life thereof: therefore I said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh: for the life of all flesh is the blood thereof: whosoever eateth it shall be cut off.\r\n And every soul that eateth that which died of itself, or that which was torn with beasts, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger, he shall both wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even: then shall he be clean.\r\n But if he wash them not, nor bathe his flesh; then he shall bear his iniquity.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, I am the LORD your God.\r\n After the doings of the land of Egypt, wherein ye dwelt, shall ye not do: and after the doings of the land of Canaan, whither I bring you, shall ye not do: neither shall ye walk in their ordinances.\r\n Ye shall do my judgments, and keep mine ordinances, to walk therein: I am the LORD your God.\r\n Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am the LORD.\r\n None of you shall approach to any that is near of kin to him, to uncover their nakedness: I am the LORD.\r\n The nakedness of thy father, or the nakedness of thy mother, shalt thou not uncover: she is thy mother; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.\r\n The nakedness of thy father's wife shalt thou not uncover: it is thy father's nakedness.\r\n The nakedness of thy sister, the daughter of thy father, or daughter of thy mother, whether she be born at home, or born abroad, even their nakedness thou shalt not uncover.\r\n The nakedness of thy son's daughter, or of thy daughter's daughter, even their nakedness thou shalt not uncover: for theirs is thine own nakedness.\r\n The nakedness of thy father's wife's daughter, begotten of thy father, she is thy sister, thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.\r\n Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father's sister: she is thy father's near kinswoman.\r\n Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother's sister: for she is thy mother's near kinswoman.\r\n Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father's brother, thou shalt not approach to his wife: she is thine aunt.\r\n Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy daughter in law: she is thy son's wife; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.\r\n Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy brother's wife: it is thy brother's nakedness.\r\n Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of a woman and her daughter, neither shalt thou take her son's daughter, or her daughter's daughter, to uncover her nakedness; for they are her near kinswomen: it is wickedness.\r\n Neither shalt thou take a wife to her sister, to vex her, to uncover her nakedness, beside the other in her life time.\r\n Also thou shalt not approach unto a woman to uncover her nakedness, as long as she is put apart for her uncleanness.\r\n Moreover thou shalt not lie carnally with thy neighbour's wife, to defile thyself with her.\r\n And thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through the fire to Molech, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD.\r\n Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.\r\n Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith: neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it is confusion.\r\n Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you:\r\n And the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itself vomiteth out her inhabitants.\r\n Ye shall therefore keep my statutes and my judgments, and shall not commit any of these abominations; neither any of your own nation, nor any stranger that sojourneth among you:\r\n For all these abominations have the men of the land done, which were before you, and the land is defiled;)\r\n That the land spue not you out also, when ye defile it, as it spued out the nations that were before you.\r\n For whosoever shall commit any of these abominations, even the souls that commit them shall be cut off from among their people.\r\n Therefore shall ye keep mine ordinance, that ye commit not any one of these abominable customs, which were committed before you, and that ye defile not yourselves therein: I am the LORD your God.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy.\r\n Ye shall fear every man his mother, and his father, and keep my sabbaths: I am the LORD your God.\r\n Turn ye not unto idols, nor make to yourselves molten gods: I am the LORD your God.\r\n And if ye offer a sacrifice of peace offerings unto the LORD, ye shall offer it at your own will.\r\n It shall be eaten the same day ye offer it, and on the morrow: and if ought remain until the third day, it shall be burnt in the fire.\r\n And if it be eaten at all on the third day, it is abominable; it shall not be accepted.\r\n Therefore every one that eateth it shall bear his iniquity, because he hath profaned the hallowed thing of the LORD: and that soul shall be cut off from among his people.\r\n And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field, neither shalt thou gather the gleanings of thy harvest.\r\n And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither shalt thou gather every grape of thy vineyard; thou shalt leave them for the poor and stranger: I am the LORD your God.\r\n Ye shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie one to another.\r\n And ye shall not swear by my name falsely, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD.\r\n Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbour, neither rob him: the wages of him that is hired shall not abide with thee all night until the morning.\r\n Thou shalt not curse the deaf, nor put a stumblingblock before the blind, but shalt fear thy God: I am the LORD.\r\n Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour.\r\n Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour: I am the LORD.\r\n Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him.\r\n Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.\r\n Ye shall keep my statutes. Thou shalt not let thy cattle gender with a diverse kind: thou shalt not sow thy field with mingled seed: neither shall a garment mingled of linen and woollen come upon thee.\r\n And whosoever lieth carnally with a woman, that is a bondmaid, betrothed to an husband, and not at all redeemed, nor freedom given her; she shall be scourged; they shall not be put to death, because she was not free.\r\n And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the LORD, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, even a ram for a trespass offering.\r\n And the priest shall make an atonement for him with the ram of the trespass offering before the LORD for his sin which he hath done: and the sin which he hath done shall be forgiven him.\r\n And when ye shall come into the land, and shall have planted all manner of trees for food, then ye shall count the fruit thereof as uncircumcised: three years shall it be as uncircumcised unto you: it shall not be eaten of.\r\n But in the fourth year all the fruit thereof shall be holy to praise the LORD withal.\r\n And in the fifth year shall ye eat of the fruit thereof, that it may yield unto you the increase thereof: I am the LORD your God.\r\n Ye shall not eat any thing with the blood: neither shall ye use enchantment, nor observe times.\r\n Ye shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard.\r\n Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD.\r\n Do not prostitute thy daughter, to cause her to be a whore; lest the land fall to whoredom, and the land become full of wickedness.\r\n Ye shall keep my sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary: I am the LORD.\r\n Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God.\r\n Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man, and fear thy God: I am the LORD.\r\n And if a stranger sojourn with thee in your land, ye shall not vex him.\r\n But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.\r\n Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment, in meteyard, in weight, or in measure.\r\n Just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin, shall ye have: I am the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt.\r\n Therefore shall ye observe all my statutes, and all my judgments, and do them: I am the LORD.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Again, thou shalt say to the children of Israel, Whosoever he be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn in Israel, that giveth any of his seed unto Molech; he shall surely be put to death: the people of the land shall stone him with stones.\r\n And I will set my face against that man, and will cut him off from among his people; because he hath given of his seed unto Molech, to defile my sanctuary, and to profane my holy name.\r\n And if the people of the land do any ways hide their eyes from the man, when he giveth of his seed unto Molech, and kill him not:\r\n Then I will set my face against that man, and against his family, and will cut him off, and all that go a whoring after him, to commit whoredom with Molech, from among their people.\r\n And the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people.\r\n Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God.\r\n And ye shall keep my statutes, and do them: I am the LORD which sanctify you.\r\n For every one that curseth his father or his mother shall be surely put to death: he hath cursed his father or his mother; his blood shall be upon him.\r\n And the man that committeth adultery with another man's wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.\r\n And the man that lieth with his father's wife hath uncovered his father's nakedness: both of them shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.\r\n And if a man lie with his daughter in law, both of them shall surely be put to death: they have wrought confusion; their blood shall be upon them.\r\n If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.\r\n And if a man take a wife and her mother, it is wickedness: they shall be burnt with fire, both he and they; that there be no wickedness among you.\r\n And if a man lie with a beast, he shall surely be put to death: and ye shall slay the beast.\r\n And if a woman approach unto any beast, and lie down thereto, thou shalt kill the woman, and the beast: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.\r\n And if a man shall take his sister, his father's daughter, or his mother's daughter, and see her nakedness, and she see his nakedness; it is a wicked thing; and they shall be cut off in the sight of their people: he hath uncovered his sister's nakedness; he shall bear his iniquity.\r\n And if a man shall lie with a woman having her sickness, and shall uncover her nakedness; he hath discovered her fountain, and she hath uncovered the fountain of her blood: and both of them shall be cut off from among their people.\r\n And thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother's sister, nor of thy father's sister: for he uncovereth his near kin: they shall bear their iniquity.\r\n And if a man shall lie with his uncle's wife, he hath uncovered his uncle's nakedness: they shall bear their sin; they shall die childless.\r\n And if a man shall take his brother's wife, it is an unclean thing: he hath uncovered his brother's nakedness; they shall be childless.\r\n Ye shall therefore keep all my statutes, and all my judgments, and do them: that the land, whither I bring you to dwell therein, spue you not out.\r\n And ye shall not walk in the manners of the nation, which I cast out before you: for they committed all these things, and therefore I abhorred them.\r\n But I have said unto you, Ye shall inherit their land, and I will give it unto you to possess it, a land that floweth with milk and honey: I am the LORD your God, which have separated you from other people.\r\n Ye shall therefore put difference between clean beasts and unclean, and between unclean fowls and clean: and ye shall not make your souls abominable by beast, or by fowl, or by any manner of living thing that creepeth on the ground, which I have separated from you as unclean.\r\n And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the LORD am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine.\r\n A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood shall be upon them.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto the priests the sons of Aaron, and say unto them, There shall none be defiled for the dead among his people:\r\n But for his kin, that is near unto him, that is, for his mother, and for his father, and for his son, and for his daughter, and for his brother,\r\n And for his sister a virgin, that is nigh unto him, which hath had no husband; for her may he be defiled.\r\n But he shall not defile himself, being a chief man among his people, to profane himself.\r\n They shall not make baldness upon their head, neither shall they shave off the corner of their beard, nor make any cuttings in their flesh.\r\n They shall be holy unto their God, and not profane the name of their God: for the offerings of the LORD made by fire, and the bread of their God, they do offer: therefore they shall be holy.\r\n They shall not take a wife that is a whore, or profane; neither shall they take a woman put away from her husband: for he is holy unto his God.\r\n Thou shalt sanctify him therefore; for he offereth the bread of thy God: he shall be holy unto thee: for I the LORD, which sanctify you, am holy.\r\n And the daughter of any priest, if she profane herself by playing the whore, she profaneth her father: she shall be burnt with fire.\r\n And he that is the high priest among his brethren, upon whose head the anointing oil was poured, and that is consecrated to put on the garments, shall not uncover his head, nor rend his clothes;\r\n Neither shall he go in to any dead body, nor defile himself for his father, or for his mother;\r\n Neither shall he go out of the sanctuary, nor profane the sanctuary of his God; for the crown of the anointing oil of his God is upon him: I am the LORD.\r\n And he shall take a wife in her virginity.\r\n A widow, or a divorced woman, or profane, or an harlot, these shall he not take: but he shall take a virgin of his own people to wife.\r\n Neither shall he profane his seed among his people: for I the LORD do sanctify him.\r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Speak unto Aaron, saying, Whosoever he be of thy seed in their generations that hath any blemish, let him not approach to offer the bread of his God.\r\n For whatsoever man he be that hath a blemish, he shall not approach: a blind man, or a lame, or he that hath a flat nose, or any thing superfluous,\r\n Or a man that is brokenfooted, or brokenhanded,\r\n Or crookbackt, or a dwarf, or that hath a blemish in his eye, or be scurvy, or scabbed, or hath his stones broken;\r\n No man that hath a blemish of the seed of Aaron the priest shall come nigh to offer the offerings of the LORD made by fire: he hath a blemish; he shall not come nigh to offer the bread of his God.\r\n He shall eat the bread of his God, both of the most holy, and of the holy.\r\n Only he shall not go in unto the vail, nor come nigh unto the altar, because he hath a blemish; that he profane not my sanctuaries: for I the LORD do sanctify them.\r\n And Moses told it unto Aaron, and to his sons, and unto all the children of Israel.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Speak unto Aaron and to his sons, that they separate themselves from the holy things of the children of Israel, and that they profane not my holy name in those things which they hallow unto me: I am the LORD.\r\n Say unto them, Whosoever he be of all your seed among your generations, that goeth unto the holy things, which the children of Israel hallow unto the LORD, having his uncleanness upon him, that soul shall be cut off from my presence: I am the LORD.\r\n What man soever of the seed of Aaron is a leper, or hath a running issue; he shall not eat of the holy things, until he be clean. And whoso toucheth any thing that is unclean by the dead, or a man whose seed goeth from him;\r\n Or whosoever toucheth any creeping thing, whereby he may be made unclean, or a man of whom he may take uncleanness, whatsoever uncleanness he hath;\r\n The soul which hath touched any such shall be unclean until even, and shall not eat of the holy things, unless he wash his flesh with water.\r\n And when the sun is down, he shall be clean, and shall afterward eat of the holy things; because it is his food.\r\n That which dieth of itself, or is torn with beasts, he shall not eat to defile himself therewith: I am the LORD.\r\n They shall therefore keep mine ordinance, lest they bear sin for it, and die therefore, if they profane it: I the LORD do sanctify them.\r\n There shall no stranger eat of the holy thing: a sojourner of the priest, or an hired servant, shall not eat of the holy thing.\r\n But if the priest buy any soul with his money, he shall eat of it, and he that is born in his house: they shall eat of his meat.\r\n If the priest's daughter also be married unto a stranger, she may not eat of an offering of the holy things.\r\n But if the priest's daughter be a widow, or divorced, and have no child, and is returned unto her father's house, as in her youth, she shall eat of her father's meat: but there shall no stranger eat thereof.\r\n And if a man eat of the holy thing unwittingly, then he shall put the fifth part thereof unto it, and shall give it unto the priest with the holy thing.\r\n And they shall not profane the holy things of the children of Israel, which they offer unto the LORD;\r\n Or suffer them to bear the iniquity of trespass, when they eat their holy things: for I the LORD do sanctify them.\r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Speak unto Aaron, and to his sons, and unto all the children of Israel, and say unto them, Whatsoever he be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers in Israel, that will offer his oblation for all his vows, and for all his freewill offerings, which they will offer unto the LORD for a burnt offering;\r\n Ye shall offer at your own will a male without blemish, of the beeves, of the sheep, or of the goats.\r\n But whatsoever hath a blemish, that shall ye not offer: for it shall not be acceptable for you.\r\n And whosoever offereth a sacrifice of peace offerings unto the LORD to accomplish his vow, or a freewill offering in beeves or sheep, it shall be perfect to be accepted; there shall be no blemish therein.\r\n Blind, or broken, or maimed, or having a wen, or scurvy, or scabbed, ye shall not offer these unto the LORD, nor make an offering by fire of them upon the altar unto the LORD.\r\n Either a bullock or a lamb that hath any thing superfluous or lacking in his parts, that mayest thou offer for a freewill offering; but for a vow it shall not be accepted.\r\n Ye shall not offer unto the LORD that which is bruised, or crushed, or broken, or cut; neither shall ye make any offering thereof in your land.\r\n Neither from a stranger's hand shall ye offer the bread of your God of any of these; because their corruption is in them, and blemishes be in them: they shall not be accepted for you.\r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n When a bullock, or a sheep, or a goat, is brought forth, then it shall be seven days under the dam; and from the eighth day and thenceforth it shall be accepted for an offering made by fire unto the LORD.\r\n And whether it be cow or ewe, ye shall not kill it and her young both in one day.\r\n And when ye will offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving unto the LORD, offer it at your own will.\r\n On the same day it shall be eaten up; ye shall leave none of it until the morrow: I am the LORD.\r\n Therefore shall ye keep my commandments, and do them: I am the LORD.\r\n Neither shall ye profane my holy name; but I will be hallowed among the children of Israel: I am the LORD which hallow you,\r\n That brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the LORD.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, Concerning the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts.\r\n Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings.\r\n These are the feasts of the LORD, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons.\r\n In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the LORD'S passover.\r\n And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the LORD: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread.\r\n In the first day ye shall have an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.\r\n But ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD seven days: in the seventh day is an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.\r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest:\r\n And he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it.\r\n And ye shall offer that day when ye wave the sheaf an he lamb without blemish of the first year for a burnt offering unto the LORD.\r\n And the meat offering thereof shall be two tenth deals of fine flour mingled with oil, an offering made by fire unto the LORD for a sweet savour: and the drink offering thereof shall be of wine, the fourth part of an hin.\r\n And ye shall eat neither bread, nor parched corn, nor green ears, until the selfsame day that ye have brought an offering unto your God: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.\r\n And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete:\r\n Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the LORD.\r\n Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals: they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baken with leaven; they are the firstfruits unto the LORD.\r\n And ye shall offer with the bread seven lambs without blemish of the first year, and one young bullock, and two rams: they shall be for a burnt offering unto the LORD, with their meat offering, and their drink offerings, even an offering made by fire, of sweet savour unto the LORD.\r\n Then ye shall sacrifice one kid of the goats for a sin offering, and two lambs of the first year for a sacrifice of peace offerings.\r\n And the priest shall wave them with the bread of the firstfruits for a wave offering before the LORD, with the two lambs: they shall be holy to the LORD for the priest.\r\n And ye shall proclaim on the selfsame day, that it may be an holy convocation unto you: ye shall do no servile work therein: it shall be a statute for ever in all your dwellings throughout your generations.\r\n And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not make clean riddance of the corners of thy field when thou reapest, neither shalt thou gather any gleaning of thy harvest: thou shalt leave them unto the poor, and to the stranger: I am the LORD your God.\r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation.\r\n Ye shall do no servile work therein: but ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD.\r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD.\r\n And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the LORD your God.\r\n For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people.\r\n And whatsoever soul it be that doeth any work in that same day, the same soul will I destroy from among his people.\r\n Ye shall do no manner of work: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.\r\n It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath.\r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the LORD.\r\n On the first day shall be an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.\r\n Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: on the eighth day shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: it is a solemn assembly; and ye shall do no servile work therein.\r\n These are the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD, a burnt offering, and a meat offering, a sacrifice, and drink offerings, every thing upon his day:\r\n Beside the sabbaths of the LORD, and beside your gifts, and beside all your vows, and beside all your freewill offerings, which ye give unto the LORD.\r\n Also in the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when ye have gathered in the fruit of the land, ye shall keep a feast unto the LORD seven days: on the first day shall be a sabbath, and on the eighth day shall be a sabbath.\r\n And ye shall take you on the first day the boughs of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, and the boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and ye shall rejoice before the LORD your God seven days.\r\n And ye shall keep it a feast unto the LORD seven days in the year. It shall be a statute for ever in your generations: ye shall celebrate it in the seventh month.\r\n Ye shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are Israelites born shall dwell in booths:\r\n That your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.\r\n And Moses declared unto the children of Israel the feasts of the LORD.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Command the children of Israel, that they bring unto thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamps to burn continually.\r\n Without the vail of the testimony, in the tabernacle of the congregation, shall Aaron order it from the evening unto the morning before the LORD continually: it shall be a statute for ever in your generations.\r\n He shall order the lamps upon the pure candlestick before the LORD continually.\r\n And thou shalt take fine flour, and bake twelve cakes thereof: two tenth deals shall be in one cake.\r\n And thou shalt set them in two rows, six on a row, upon the pure table before the LORD.\r\n And thou shalt put pure frankincense upon each row, that it may be on the bread for a memorial, even an offering made by fire unto the LORD.\r\n Every sabbath he shall set it in order before the LORD continually, being taken from the children of Israel by an everlasting covenant.\r\n And it shall be Aaron's and his sons'; and they shall eat it in the holy place: for it is most holy unto him of the offerings of the LORD made by fire by a perpetual statute.\r\n And the son of an Israelitish woman, whose father was an Egyptian, went out among the children of Israel: and this son of the Israelitish woman and a man of Israel strove together in the camp;\r\n And the Israelitish woman's son blasphemed the name of the LORD, and cursed. And they brought him unto Moses: (and his mother's name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan:)\r\n And they put him in ward, that the mind of the LORD might be shewed them.\r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Bring forth him that hath cursed without the camp; and let all that heard him lay their hands upon his head, and let all the congregation stone him.\r\n And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, Whosoever curseth his God shall bear his sin.\r\n And he that blasphemeth the name of the LORD, he shall surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly stone him: as well the stranger, as he that is born in the land, when he blasphemeth the name of the LORD, shall be put to death.\r\n And he that killeth any man shall surely be put to death.\r\n And he that killeth a beast shall make it good; beast for beast.\r\n And if a man cause a blemish in his neighbour; as he hath done, so shall it be done to him;\r\n Breach for breach, eye for eye, tooth for tooth: as he hath caused a blemish in a man, so shall it be done to him again.\r\n And he that killeth a beast, he shall restore it: and he that killeth a man, he shall be put to death.\r\n Ye shall have one manner of law, as well for the stranger, as for one of your own country: for I am the LORD your God.\r\n And Moses spake to the children of Israel, that they should bring forth him that had cursed out of the camp, and stone him with stones. And the children of Israel did as the LORD commanded Moses.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses in mount Sinai, saying,\r\n Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye come into the land which I give you, then shall the land keep a sabbath unto the LORD.\r\n Six years thou shalt sow thy field, and six years thou shalt prune thy vineyard, and gather in the fruit thereof;\r\n But in the seventh year shall be a sabbath of rest unto the land, a sabbath for the LORD: thou shalt neither sow thy field, nor prune thy vineyard.\r\n That which groweth of its own accord of thy harvest thou shalt not reap, neither gather the grapes of thy vine undressed: for it is a year of rest unto the land.\r\n And the sabbath of the land shall be meat for you; for thee, and for thy servant, and for thy maid, and for thy hired servant, and for thy stranger that sojourneth with thee,\r\n And for thy cattle, and for the beast that are in thy land, shall all the increase thereof be meat.\r\n And thou shalt number seven sabbaths of years unto thee, seven times seven years; and the space of the seven sabbaths of years shall be unto thee forty and nine years.\r\n Then shalt thou cause the trumpet of the jubile to sound on the tenth day of the seventh month, in the day of atonement shall ye make the trumpet sound throughout all your land.\r\n And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubile unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family.\r\n A jubile shall that fiftieth year be unto you: ye shall not sow, neither reap that which groweth of itself in it, nor gather the grapes in it of thy vine undressed.\r\n For it is the jubile; it shall be holy unto you: ye shall eat the increase thereof out of the field.\r\n In the year of this jubile ye shall return every man unto his possession.\r\n And if thou sell ought unto thy neighbour, or buyest ought of thy neighbour's hand, ye shall not oppress one another:\r\n According to the number of years after the jubile thou shalt buy of thy neighbour, and according unto the number of years of the fruits he shall sell unto thee:\r\n According to the multitude of years thou shalt increase the price thereof, and according to the fewness of years thou shalt diminish the price of it: for according to the number of the years of the fruits doth he sell unto thee.\r\n Ye shall not therefore oppress one another; but thou shalt fear thy God: for I am the LORD your God.\r\n Wherefore ye shall do my statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them; and ye shall dwell in the land in safety.\r\n And the land shall yield her fruit, and ye shall eat your fill, and dwell therein in safety.\r\n And if ye shall say, What shall we eat the seventh year? behold, we shall not sow, nor gather in our increase:\r\n Then I will command my blessing upon you in the sixth year, and it shall bring forth fruit for three years.\r\n And ye shall sow the eighth year, and eat yet of old fruit until the ninth year; until her fruits come in ye shall eat of the old store.\r\n The land shall not be sold for ever: for the land is mine; for ye are strangers and sojourners with me.\r\n And in all the land of your possession ye shall grant a redemption for the land.\r\n If thy brother be waxen poor, and hath sold away some of his possession, and if any of his kin come to redeem it, then shall he redeem that which his brother sold.\r\n And if the man have none to redeem it, and himself be able to redeem it;\r\n Then let him count the years of the sale thereof, and restore the overplus unto the man to whom he sold it; that he may return unto his possession.\r\n But if he be not able to restore it to him, then that which is sold shall remain in the hand of him that hath bought it until the year of jubile: and in the jubile it shall go out, and he shall return unto his possession.\r\n And if a man sell a dwelling house in a walled city, then he may redeem it within a whole year after it is sold; within a full year may he redeem it.\r\n And if it be not redeemed within the space of a full year, then the house that is in the walled city shall be established for ever to him that bought it throughout his generations: it shall not go out in the jubile.\r\n But the houses of the villages which have no wall round about them shall be counted as the fields of the country: they may be redeemed, and they shall go out in the jubile.\r\n Notwithstanding the cities of the Levites, and the houses of the cities of their possession, may the Levites redeem at any time.\r\n And if a man purchase of the Levites, then the house that was sold, and the city of his possession, shall go out in the year of jubile: for the houses of the cities of the Levites are their possession among the children of Israel.\r\n But the field of the suburbs of their cities may not be sold; for it is their perpetual possession.\r\n And if thy brother be waxen poor, and fallen in decay with thee; then thou shalt relieve him: yea, though he be a stranger, or a sojourner; that he may live with thee.\r\n Take thou no usury of him, or increase: but fear thy God; that thy brother may live with thee.\r\n Thou shalt not give him thy money upon usury, nor lend him thy victuals for increase.\r\n I am the LORD your God, which brought you forth out of the land of Egypt, to give you the land of Canaan, and to be your God.\r\n And if thy brother that dwelleth by thee be waxen poor, and be sold unto thee; thou shalt not compel him to serve as a bondservant:\r\n But as an hired servant, and as a sojourner, he shall be with thee, and shall serve thee unto the year of jubile:\r\n And then shall he depart from thee, both he and his children with him, and shall return unto his own family, and unto the possession of his fathers shall he return.\r\n For they are my servants, which I brought forth out of the land of Egypt: they shall not be sold as bondmen.\r\n Thou shalt not rule over him with rigour; but shalt fear thy God.\r\n Both thy bondmen, and thy bondmaids, which thou shalt have, shall be of the heathen that are round about you; of them shall ye buy bondmen and bondmaids.\r\n Moreover of the children of the strangers that do sojourn among you, of them shall ye buy, and of their families that are with you, which they begat in your land: and they shall be your possession.\r\n And ye shall take them as an inheritance for your children after you, to inherit them for a possession; they shall be your bondmen for ever: but over your brethren the children of Israel, ye shall not rule one over another with rigour.\r\n And if a sojourner or stranger wax rich by thee, and thy brother that dwelleth by him wax poor, and sell himself unto the stranger or sojourner by thee, or to the stock of the stranger's family:\r\n After that he is sold he may be redeemed again; one of his brethren may redeem him:\r\n Either his uncle, or his uncle's son, may redeem him, or any that is nigh of kin unto him of his family may redeem him; or if he be able, he may redeem himself.\r\n And he shall reckon with him that bought him from the year that he was sold to him unto the year of jubile: and the price of his sale shall be according unto the number of years, according to the time of an hired servant shall it be with him.\r\n If there be yet many years behind, according unto them he shall give again the price of his redemption out of the money that he was bought for.\r\n And if there remain but few years unto the year of jubile, then he shall count with him, and according unto his years shall he give him again the price of his redemption.\r\n And as a yearly hired servant shall he be with him: and the other shall not rule with rigour over him in thy sight.\r\n And if he be not redeemed in these years, then he shall go out in the year of jubile, both he, and his children with him.\r\n For unto me the children of Israel are servants; they are my servants whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.\r\n \r\n \r\n Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I am the LORD your God.\r\n Ye shall keep my sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary: I am the LORD.\r\n If ye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them;\r\n Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.\r\n And your threshing shall reach unto the vintage, and the vintage shall reach unto the sowing time: and ye shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely.\r\n And I will give peace in the land, and ye shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid: and I will rid evil beasts out of the land, neither shall the sword go through your land.\r\n And ye shall chase your enemies, and they shall fall before you by the sword.\r\n And five of you shall chase an hundred, and an hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight: and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword.\r\n For I will have respect unto you, and make you fruitful, and multiply you, and establish my covenant with you.\r\n And ye shall eat old store, and bring forth the old because of the new.\r\n And I will set my tabernacle among you: and my soul shall not abhor you.\r\n And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people.\r\n I am the LORD your God, which brought you forth out of the land of Egypt, that ye should not be their bondmen; and I have broken the bands of your yoke, and made you go upright.\r\n But if ye will not hearken unto me, and will not do all these commandments;\r\n And if ye shall despise my statutes, or if your soul abhor my judgments, so that ye will not do all my commandments, but that ye break my covenant:\r\n I also will do this unto you; I will even appoint over you terror, consumption, and the burning ague, that shall consume the eyes, and cause sorrow of heart: and ye shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it.\r\n And I will set my face against you, and ye shall be slain before your enemies: they that hate you shall reign over you; and ye shall flee when none pursueth you.\r\n And if ye will not yet for all this hearken unto me, then I will punish you seven times more for your sins.\r\n And I will break the pride of your power; and I will make your heaven as iron, and your earth as brass:\r\n And your strength shall be spent in vain: for your land shall not yield her increase, neither shall the trees of the land yield their fruits.\r\n And if ye walk contrary unto me, and will not hearken unto me; I will bring seven times more plagues upon you according to your sins.\r\n I will also send wild beasts among you, which shall rob you of your children, and destroy your cattle, and make you few in number; and your high ways shall be desolate.\r\n And if ye will not be reformed by me by these things, but will walk contrary unto me;\r\n Then will I also walk contrary unto you, and will punish you yet seven times for your sins.\r\n And I will bring a sword upon you, that shall avenge the quarrel of my covenant: and when ye are gathered together within your cities, I will send the pestilence among you; and ye shall be delivered into the hand of the enemy.\r\n And when I have broken the staff of your bread, ten women shall bake your bread in one oven, and they shall deliver you your bread again by weight: and ye shall eat, and not be satisfied.\r\n And if ye will not for all this hearken unto me, but walk contrary unto me;\r\n Then I will walk contrary unto you also in fury; and I, even I, will chastise you seven times for your sins.\r\n And ye shall eat the flesh of your sons, and the flesh of your daughters shall ye eat.\r\n And I will destroy your high places, and cut down your images, and cast your carcases upon the carcases of your idols, and my soul shall abhor you.\r\n And I will make your cities waste, and bring your sanctuaries unto desolation, and I will not smell the savour of your sweet odours.\r\n And I will bring the land into desolation: and your enemies which dwell therein shall be astonished at it.\r\n And I will scatter you among the heathen, and will draw out a sword after you: and your land shall be desolate, and your cities waste.\r\n Then shall the land enjoy her sabbaths, as long as it lieth desolate, and ye be in your enemies' land; even then shall the land rest, and enjoy her sabbaths.\r\n As long as it lieth desolate it shall rest; because it did not rest in your sabbaths, when ye dwelt upon it.\r\n And upon them that are left alive of you I will send a faintness into their hearts in the lands of their enemies; and the sound of a shaken leaf shall chase them; and they shall flee, as fleeing from a sword; and they shall fall when none pursueth.\r\n And they shall fall one upon another, as it were before a sword, when none pursueth: and ye shall have no power to stand before your enemies.\r\n And ye shall perish among the heathen, and the land of your enemies shall eat you up.\r\n And they that are left of you shall pine away in their iniquity in your enemies' lands; and also in the iniquities of their fathers shall they pine away with them.\r\n If they shall confess their iniquity, and the iniquity of their fathers, with their trespass which they trespassed against me, and that also they have walked contrary unto me;\r\n And that I also have walked contrary unto them, and have brought them into the land of their enemies; if then their uncircumcised hearts be humbled, and they then accept of the punishment of their iniquity:\r\n Then will I remember my covenant with Jacob, and also my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham will I remember; and I will remember the land.\r\n The land also shall be left of them, and shall enjoy her sabbaths, while she lieth desolate without them: and they shall accept of the punishment of their iniquity: because, even because they despised my judgments, and because their soul abhorred my statutes.\r\n And yet for all that, when they be in the land of their enemies, I will not cast them away, neither will I abhor them, to destroy them utterly, and to break my covenant with them: for I am the LORD their God.\r\n But I will for their sakes remember the covenant of their ancestors, whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the heathen, that I might be their God: I am the LORD.\r\n These are the statutes and judgments and laws, which the LORD made between him and the children of Israel in mount Sinai by the hand of Moses.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When a man shall make a singular vow, the persons shall be for the LORD by thy estimation.\r\n And thy estimation shall be of the male from twenty years old even unto sixty years old, even thy estimation shall be fifty shekels of silver, after the shekel of the sanctuary.\r\n And if it be a female, then thy estimation shall be thirty shekels.\r\n And if it be from five years old even unto twenty years old, then thy estimation shall be of the male twenty shekels, and for the female ten shekels.\r\n And if it be from a month old even unto five years old, then thy estimation shall be of the male five shekels of silver, and for the female thy estimation shall be three shekels of silver.\r\n And if it be from sixty years old and above; if it be a male, then thy estimation shall be fifteen shekels, and for the female ten shekels.\r\n But if he be poorer than thy estimation, then he shall present himself before the priest, and the priest shall value him; according to his ability that vowed shall the priest value him.\r\n And if it be a beast, whereof men bring an offering unto the LORD, all that any man giveth of such unto the LORD shall be holy.\r\n He shall not alter it, nor change it, a good for a bad, or a bad for a good: and if he shall at all change beast for beast, then it and the exchange thereof shall be holy.\r\n And if it be any unclean beast, of which they do not offer a sacrifice unto the LORD, then he shall present the beast before the priest:\r\n And the priest shall value it, whether it be good or bad: as thou valuest it, who art the priest, so shall it be.\r\n But if he will at all redeem it, then he shall add a fifth part thereof unto thy estimation.\r\n And when a man shall sanctify his house to be holy unto the LORD, then the priest shall estimate it, whether it be good or bad: as the priest shall estimate it, so shall it stand.\r\n And if he that sanctified it will redeem his house, then he shall add the fifth part of the money of thy estimation unto it, and it shall be his.\r\n And if a man shall sanctify unto the LORD some part of a field of his possession, then thy estimation shall be according to the seed thereof: an homer of barley seed shall be valued at fifty shekels of silver.\r\n If he sanctify his field from the year of jubile, according to thy estimation it shall stand.\r\n But if he sanctify his field after the jubile, then the priest shall reckon unto him the money according to the years that remain, even unto the year of the jubile, and it shall be abated from thy estimation.\r\n And if he that sanctified the field will in any wise redeem it, then he shall add the fifth part of the money of thy estimation unto it, and it shall be assured to him.\r\n And if he will not redeem the field, or if he have sold the field to another man, it shall not be redeemed any more.\r\n But the field, when it goeth out in the jubile, shall be holy unto the LORD, as a field devoted; the possession thereof shall be the priest's.\r\n And if a man sanctify unto the LORD a field which he hath bought, which is not of the fields of his possession;\r\n Then the priest shall reckon unto him the worth of thy estimation, even unto the year of the jubile: and he shall give thine estimation in that day, as a holy thing unto the LORD.\r\n In the year of the jubile the field shall return unto him of whom it was bought, even to him to whom the possession of the land did belong.\r\n And all thy estimations shall be according to the shekel of the sanctuary: twenty gerahs shall be the shekel.\r\n Only the firstling of the beasts, which should be the LORD'S firstling, no man shall sanctify it; whether it be ox, or sheep: it is the LORD'S.\r\n And if it be of an unclean beast, then he shall redeem it according to thine estimation, and shall add a fifth part of it thereto: or if it be not redeemed, then it shall be sold according to thy estimation.\r\n Notwithstanding no devoted thing, that a man shall devote unto the LORD of all that he hath, both of man and beast, and of the field of his possession, shall be sold or redeemed: every devoted thing is most holy unto the LORD.\r\n None devoted, which shall be devoted of men, shall be redeemed; but shall surely be put to death.\r\n And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD'S: it is holy unto the LORD.\r\n And if a man will at all redeem ought of his tithes, he shall add thereto the fifth part thereof.\r\n And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the LORD.\r\n He shall not search whether it be good or bad, neither shall he change it: and if he change it at all, then both it and the change thereof shall be holy; it shall not be redeemed.\r\n These are the commandments, which the LORD commanded Moses for the children of Israel in mount Sinai.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tabernacle of the congregation, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they were come out of the land of Egypt, saying,\r\n Take ye the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, after their families, by the house of their fathers, with the number of their names, every male by their polls;\r\n From twenty years old and upward, all that are able to go forth to war in Israel: thou and Aaron shall number them by their armies.\r\n And with you there shall be a man of every tribe; every one head of the house of his fathers.\r\n And these are the names of the men that shall stand with you: of the tribe of Reuben; Elizur the son of Shedeur.\r\n Of Simeon; Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.\r\n Of Judah; Nahshon the son of Amminadab.\r\n Of Issachar; Nethaneel the son of Zuar.\r\n Of Zebulun; Eliab the son of Helon.\r\n Of the children of Joseph: of Ephraim; Elishama the son of Ammihud: of Manasseh; Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.\r\n Of Benjamin; Abidan the son of Gideoni.\r\n Of Dan; Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.\r\n Of Asher; Pagiel the son of Ocran.\r\n Of Gad; Eliasaph the son of Deuel.\r\n Of Naphtali; Ahira the son of Enan.\r\n These were the renowned of the congregation, princes of the tribes of their fathers, heads of thousands in Israel.\r\n And Moses and Aaron took these men which are expressed by their names:\r\n And they assembled all the congregation together on the first day of the second month, and they declared their pedigrees after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, by their polls.\r\n As the LORD commanded Moses, so he numbered them in the wilderness of Sinai.\r\n And the children of Reuben, Israel's eldest son, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, by their polls, every male from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;\r\n Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Reuben, were forty and six thousand and five hundred.\r\n Of the children of Simeon, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, those that were numbered of them, according to the number of the names, by their polls, every male from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;\r\n Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Simeon, were fifty and nine thousand and three hundred.\r\n Of the children of Gad, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;\r\n Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Gad, were forty and five thousand six hundred and fifty.\r\n Of the children of Judah, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;\r\n Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Judah, were threescore and fourteen thousand and six hundred.\r\n Of the children of Issachar, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;\r\n Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Issachar, were fifty and four thousand and four hundred.\r\n Of the children of Zebulun, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;\r\n Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Zebulun, were fifty and seven thousand and four hundred.\r\n Of the children of Joseph, namely, of the children of Ephraim, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;\r\n Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Ephraim, were forty thousand and five hundred.\r\n Of the children of Manasseh, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;\r\n Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Manasseh, were thirty and two thousand and two hundred.\r\n Of the children of Benjamin, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;\r\n Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Benjamin, were thirty and five thousand and four hundred.\r\n Of the children of Dan, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;\r\n Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Dan, were threescore and two thousand and seven hundred.\r\n Of the children of Asher, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;\r\n Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Asher, were forty and one thousand and five hundred.\r\n Of the children of Naphtali, throughout their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;\r\n Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Naphtali, were fifty and three thousand and four hundred.\r\n These are those that were numbered, which Moses and Aaron numbered, and the princes of Israel, being twelve men: each one was for the house of his fathers.\r\n So were all those that were numbered of the children of Israel, by the house of their fathers, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war in Israel;\r\n Even all they that were numbered were six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty.\r\n But the Levites after the tribe of their fathers were not numbered among them.\r\n For the LORD had spoken unto Moses, saying,\r\n Only thou shalt not number the tribe of Levi, neither take the sum of them among the children of Israel:\r\n But thou shalt appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of testimony, and over all the vessels thereof, and over all things that belong to it: they shall bear the tabernacle, and all the vessels thereof; and they shall minister unto it, and shall encamp round about the tabernacle.\r\n And when the tabernacle setteth forward, the Levites shall take it down: and when the tabernacle is to be pitched, the Levites shall set it up: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.\r\n And the children of Israel shall pitch their tents, every man by his own camp, and every man by his own standard, throughout their hosts.\r\n But the Levites shall pitch round about the tabernacle of testimony, that there be no wrath upon the congregation of the children of Israel: and the Levites shall keep the charge of the tabernacle of testimony.\r\n And the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so did they.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,\r\n Every man of the children of Israel shall pitch by his own standard, with the ensign of their father's house: far off about the tabernacle of the congregation shall they pitch.\r\n And on the east side toward the rising of the sun shall they of the standard of the camp of Judah pitch throughout their armies: and Nahshon the son of Amminadab shall be captain of the children of Judah.\r\n And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were threescore and fourteen thousand and six hundred.\r\n And those that do pitch next unto him shall be the tribe of Issachar: and Nethaneel the son of Zuar shall be captain of the children of Issachar.\r\n And his host, and those that were numbered thereof, were fifty and four thousand and four hundred.\r\n Then the tribe of Zebulun: and Eliab the son of Helon shall be captain of the children of Zebulun.\r\n And his host, and those that were numbered thereof, were fifty and seven thousand and four hundred.\r\n All that were numbered in the camp of Judah were an hundred thousand and fourscore thousand and six thousand and four hundred, throughout their armies. These shall first set forth.\r\n On the south side shall be the standard of the camp of Reuben according to their armies: and the captain of the children of Reuben shall be Elizur the son of Shedeur.\r\n And his host, and those that were numbered thereof, were forty and six thousand and five hundred.\r\n And those which pitch by him shall be the tribe of Simeon: and the captain of the children of Simeon shall be Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.\r\n And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were fifty and nine thousand and three hundred.\r\n Then the tribe of Gad: and the captain of the sons of Gad shall be Eliasaph the son of Reuel.\r\n And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were forty and five thousand and six hundred and fifty.\r\n All that were numbered in the camp of Reuben were an hundred thousand and fifty and one thousand and four hundred and fifty, throughout their armies. And they shall set forth in the second rank.\r\n Then the tabernacle of the congregation shall set forward with the camp of the Levites in the midst of the camp: as they encamp, so shall they set forward, every man in his place by their standards.\r\n On the west side shall be the standard of the camp of Ephraim according to their armies: and the captain of the sons of Ephraim shall be Elishama the son of Ammihud.\r\n And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were forty thousand and five hundred.\r\n And by him shall be the tribe of Manasseh: and the captain of the children of Manasseh shall be Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.\r\n And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were thirty and two thousand and two hundred.\r\n Then the tribe of Benjamin: and the captain of the sons of Benjamin shall be Abidan the son of Gideoni.\r\n And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were thirty and five thousand and four hundred.\r\n All that were numbered of the camp of Ephraim were an hundred thousand and eight thousand and an hundred, throughout their armies. And they shall go forward in the third rank.\r\n The standard of the camp of Dan shall be on the north side by their armies: and the captain of the children of Dan shall be Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.\r\n And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were threescore and two thousand and seven hundred.\r\n And those that encamp by him shall be the tribe of Asher: and the captain of the children of Asher shall be Pagiel the son of Ocran.\r\n And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were forty and one thousand and five hundred.\r\n Then the tribe of Naphtali: and the captain of the children of Naphtali shall be Ahira the son of Enan.\r\n And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were fifty and three thousand and four hundred.\r\n All they that were numbered in the camp of Dan were an hundred thousand and fifty and seven thousand and six hundred. They shall go hindmost with their standards.\r\n These are those which were numbered of the children of Israel by the house of their fathers: all those that were numbered of the camps throughout their hosts were six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty.\r\n But the Levites were not numbered among the children of Israel; as the LORD commanded Moses.\r\n And the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses: so they pitched by their standards, and so they set forward, every one after their families, according to the house of their fathers.\r\n \r\n \r\n These also are the generations of Aaron and Moses in the day that the LORD spake with Moses in mount Sinai.\r\n And these are the names of the sons of Aaron; Nadab the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.\r\n These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the priests which were anointed, whom he consecrated to minister in the priest's office.\r\n And Nadab and Abihu died before the LORD, when they offered strange fire before the LORD, in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children: and Eleazar and Ithamar ministered in the priest's office in the sight of Aaron their father.\r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Bring the tribe of Levi near, and present them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister unto him.\r\n And they shall keep his charge, and the charge of the whole congregation before the tabernacle of the congregation, to do the service of the tabernacle.\r\n And they shall keep all the instruments of the tabernacle of the congregation, and the charge of the children of Israel, to do the service of the tabernacle.\r\n And thou shalt give the Levites unto Aaron and to his sons: they are wholly given unto him out of the children of Israel.\r\n And thou shalt appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall wait on their priest's office: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.\r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn that openeth the matrix among the children of Israel: therefore the Levites shall be mine;\r\n Because all the firstborn are mine; for on the day that I smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I hallowed unto me all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast: mine shall they be: I am the LORD.\r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, saying,\r\n Number the children of Levi after the house of their fathers, by their families: every male from a month old and upward shalt thou number them.\r\n And Moses numbered them according to the word of the LORD, as he was commanded.\r\n And these were the sons of Levi by their names; Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari.\r\n And these are the names of the sons of Gershon by their families; Libni, and Shimei.\r\n And the sons of Kohath by their families; Amram, and Izehar, Hebron, and Uzziel.\r\n And the sons of Merari by their families; Mahli, and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites according to the house of their fathers.\r\n Of Gershon was the family of the Libnites, and the family of the Shimites: these are the families of the Gershonites.\r\n Those that were numbered of them, according to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, even those that were numbered of them were seven thousand and five hundred.\r\n The families of the Gershonites shall pitch behind the tabernacle westward.\r\n And the chief of the house of the father of the Gershonites shall be Eliasaph the son of Lael.\r\n And the charge of the sons of Gershon in the tabernacle of the congregation shall be the tabernacle, and the tent, the covering thereof, and the hanging for the door of the tabernacle of the congregation,\r\n And the hangings of the court, and the curtain for the door of the court, which is by the tabernacle, and by the altar round about, and the cords of it for all the service thereof.\r\n And of Kohath was the family of the Amramites, and the family of the Izeharites, and the family of the Hebronites, and the family of the Uzzielites: these are the families of the Kohathites.\r\n In the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, were eight thousand and six hundred, keeping the charge of the sanctuary.\r\n The families of the sons of Kohath shall pitch on the side of the tabernacle southward.\r\n And the chief of the house of the father of the families of the Kohathites shall be Elizaphan the son of Uzziel.\r\n And their charge shall be the ark, and the table, and the candlestick, and the altars, and the vessels of the sanctuary wherewith they minister, and the hanging, and all the service thereof.\r\n And Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest shall be chief over the chief of the Levites, and have the oversight of them that keep the charge of the sanctuary.\r\n Of Merari was the family of the Mahlites, and the family of the Mushites: these are the families of Merari.\r\n And those that were numbered of them, according to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, were six thousand and two hundred.\r\n And the chief of the house of the father of the families of Merari was Zuriel the son of Abihail: these shall pitch on the side of the tabernacle northward.\r\n And under the custody and charge of the sons of Merari shall be the boards of the tabernacle, and the bars thereof, and the pillars thereof, and the sockets thereof, and all the vessels thereof, and all that serveth thereto,\r\n And the pillars of the court round about, and their sockets, and their pins, and their cords.\r\n But those that encamp before the tabernacle toward the east, even before the tabernacle of the congregation eastward, shall be Moses, and Aaron and his sons, keeping the charge of the sanctuary for the charge of the children of Israel; and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.\r\n All that were numbered of the Levites, which Moses and Aaron numbered at the commandment of the LORD, throughout their families, all the males from a month old and upward, were twenty and two thousand.\r\n And the LORD said unto Moses, Number all the firstborn of the males of the children of Israel from a month old and upward, and take the number of their names.\r\n And thou shalt take the Levites for me (I am the LORD) instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel; and the cattle of the Levites instead of all the firstlings among the cattle of the children of Israel.\r\n And Moses numbered, as the LORD commanded him, all the firstborn among the children of Israel.\r\n And all the firstborn males by the number of names, from a month old and upward, of those that were numbered of them, were twenty and two thousand two hundred and threescore and thirteen.\r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle; and the Levites shall be mine: I am the LORD.\r\n And for those that are to be redeemed of the two hundred and threescore and thirteen of the firstborn of the children of Israel, which are more than the Levites;\r\n Thou shalt even take five shekels apiece by the poll, after the shekel of the sanctuary shalt thou take them: (the shekel is twenty gerahs:)\r\n And thou shalt give the money, wherewith the odd number of them is to be redeemed, unto Aaron and to his sons.\r\n And Moses took the redemption money of them that were over and above them that were redeemed by the Levites:\r\n Of the firstborn of the children of Israel took he the money; a thousand three hundred and threescore and five shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary:\r\n And Moses gave the money of them that were redeemed unto Aaron and to his sons, according to the word of the LORD, as the LORD commanded Moses.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,\r\n Take the sum of the sons of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, after their families, by the house of their fathers,\r\n From thirty years old and upward even until fifty years old, all that enter into the host, to do the work in the tabernacle of the congregation.\r\n This shall be the service of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation, about the most holy things:\r\n And when the camp setteth forward, Aaron shall come, and his sons, and they shall take down the covering vail, and cover the ark of testimony with it:\r\n And shall put thereon the covering of badgers' skins, and shall spread over it a cloth wholly of blue, and shall put in the staves thereof.\r\n And upon the table of shewbread they shall spread a cloth of blue, and put thereon the dishes, and the spoons, and the bowls, and covers to cover withal: and the continual bread shall be thereon:\r\n And they shall spread upon them a cloth of scarlet, and cover the same with a covering of badgers' skins, and shall put in the staves thereof.\r\n And they shall take a cloth of blue, and cover the candlestick of the light, and his lamps, and his tongs, and his snuffdishes, and all the oil vessels thereof, wherewith they minister unto it:\r\n And they shall put it and all the vessels thereof within a covering of badgers' skins, and shall put it upon a bar.\r\n And upon the golden altar they shall spread a cloth of blue, and cover it with a covering of badgers' skins, and shall put to the staves thereof:\r\n And they shall take all the instruments of ministry, wherewith they minister in the sanctuary, and put them in a cloth of blue, and cover them with a covering of badgers' skins, and shall put them on a bar:\r\n And they shall take away the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple cloth thereon:\r\n And they shall put upon it all the vessels thereof, wherewith they minister about it, even the censers, the fleshhooks, and the shovels, and the basons, all the vessels of the altar; and they shall spread upon it a covering of badgers' skins, and put to the staves of it.\r\n And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the vessels of the sanctuary, as the camp is to set forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear it: but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die. These things are the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation.\r\n And to the office of Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest pertaineth the oil for the light, and the sweet incense, and the daily meat offering, and the anointing oil, and the oversight of all the tabernacle, and of all that therein is, in the sanctuary, and in the vessels thereof.\r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,\r\n Cut ye not off the tribe of the families of the Kohathites from among the Levites:\r\n But thus do unto them, that they may live, and not die, when they approach unto the most holy things: Aaron and his sons shall go in, and appoint them every one to his service and to his burden:\r\n But they shall not go in to see when the holy things are covered, lest they die.\r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Take also the sum of the sons of Gershon, throughout the houses of their fathers, by their families;\r\n From thirty years old and upward until fifty years old shalt thou number them; all that enter in to perform the service, to do the work in the tabernacle of the congregation.\r\n This is the service of the families of the Gershonites, to serve, and for burdens:\r\n And they shall bear the curtains of the tabernacle, and the tabernacle of the congregation, his covering, and the covering of the badgers' skins that is above upon it, and the hanging for the door of the tabernacle of the congregation,\r\n And the hangings of the court, and the hanging for the door of the gate of the court, which is by the tabernacle and by the altar round about, and their cords, and all the instruments of their service, and all that is made for them: so shall they serve.\r\n At the appointment of Aaron and his sons shall be all the service of the sons of the Gershonites, in all their burdens, and in all their service: and ye shall appoint unto them in charge all their burdens.\r\n This is the service of the families of the sons of Gershon in the tabernacle of the congregation: and their charge shall be under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.\r\n As for the sons of Merari, thou shalt number them after their families, by the house of their fathers;\r\n From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old shalt thou number them, every one that entereth into the service, to do the work of the tabernacle of the congregation.\r\n And this is the charge of their burden, according to all their service in the tabernacle of the congregation; the boards of the tabernacle, and the bars thereof, and the pillars thereof, and sockets thereof,\r\n And the pillars of the court round about, and their sockets, and their pins, and their cords, with all their instruments, and with all their service: and by name ye shall reckon the instruments of the charge of their burden.\r\n This is the service of the families of the sons of Merari, according to all their service, in the tabernacle of the congregation, under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.\r\n And Moses and Aaron and the chief of the congregation numbered the sons of the Kohathites after their families, and after the house of their fathers,\r\n From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one that entereth into the service, for the work in the tabernacle of the congregation:\r\n And those that were numbered of them by their families were two thousand seven hundred and fifty.\r\n These were they that were numbered of the families of the Kohathites, all that might do service in the tabernacle of the congregation, which Moses and Aaron did number according to the commandment of the LORD by the hand of Moses.\r\n And those that were numbered of the sons of Gershon, throughout their families, and by the house of their fathers,\r\n From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one that entereth into the service, for the work in the tabernacle of the congregation,\r\n Even those that were numbered of them, throughout their families, by the house of their fathers, were two thousand and six hundred and thirty.\r\n These are they that were numbered of the families of the sons of Gershon, of all that might do service in the tabernacle of the congregation, whom Moses and Aaron did number according to the commandment of the LORD.\r\n And those that were numbered of the families of the sons of Merari, throughout their families, by the house of their fathers,\r\n From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one that entereth into the service, for the work in the tabernacle of the congregation,\r\n Even those that were numbered of them after their families, were three thousand and two hundred.\r\n These be those that were numbered of the families of the sons of Merari, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the word of the LORD by the hand of Moses.\r\n All those that were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron and the chief of Israel numbered, after their families, and after the house of their fathers,\r\n From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one that came to do the service of the ministry, and the service of the burden in the tabernacle of the congregation,\r\n Even those that were numbered of them, were eight thousand and five hundred and fourscore.\r\n According to the commandment of the LORD they were numbered by the hand of Moses, every one according to his service, and according to his burden: thus were they numbered of him, as the LORD commanded Moses.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Command the children of Israel, that they put out of the camp every leper, and every one that hath an issue, and whosoever is defiled by the dead:\r\n Both male and female shall ye put out, without the camp shall ye put them; that they defile not their camps, in the midst whereof I dwell.\r\n And the children of Israel did so, and put them out without the camp: as the LORD spake unto Moses, so did the children of Israel.\r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Speak unto the children of Israel, When a man or woman shall commit any sin that men commit, to do a trespass against the LORD, and that person be guilty;\r\n Then they shall confess their sin which they have done: and he shall recompense his trespass with the principal thereof, and add unto it the fifth part thereof, and give it unto him against whom he hath trespassed.\r\n But if the man have no kinsman to recompense the trespass unto, let the trespass be recompensed unto the LORD, even to the priest; beside the ram of the atonement, whereby an atonement shall be made for him.\r\n And every offering of all the holy things of the children of Israel, which they bring unto the priest, shall be his.\r\n And every man's hallowed things shall be his: whatsoever any man giveth the priest, it shall be his.\r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man's wife go aside, and commit a trespass against him,\r\n And a man lie with her carnally, and it be hid from the eyes of her husband, and be kept close, and she be defiled, and there be no witness against her, neither she be taken with the manner;\r\n And the spirit of jealousy come upon him, and he be jealous of his wife, and she be defiled: or if the spirit of jealousy come upon him, and he be jealous of his wife, and she be not defiled:\r\n Then shall the man bring his wife unto the priest, and he shall bring her offering for her, the tenth part of an ephah of barley meal; he shall pour no oil upon it, nor put frankincense thereon; for it is an offering of jealousy, an offering of memorial, bringing iniquity to remembrance.\r\n And the priest shall bring her near, and set her before the LORD:\r\n And the priest shall take holy water in an earthen vessel; and of the dust that is in the floor of the tabernacle the priest shall take, and put it into the water:\r\n And the priest shall set the woman before the LORD, and uncover the woman's head, and put the offering of memorial in her hands, which is the jealousy offering: and the priest shall have in his hand the bitter water that causeth the curse:\r\n And the priest shall charge her by an oath, and say unto the woman, If no man have lain with thee, and if thou hast not gone aside to uncleanness with another instead of thy husband, be thou free from this bitter water that causeth the curse:\r\n But if thou hast gone aside to another instead of thy husband, and if thou be defiled, and some man have lain with thee beside thine husband:\r\n Then the priest shall charge the woman with an oath of cursing, and the priest shall say unto the woman, The LORD make thee a curse and an oath among thy people, when the LORD doth make thy thigh to rot, and thy belly to swell;\r\n And this water that causeth the curse shall go into thy bowels, to make thy belly to swell, and thy thigh to rot: And the woman shall say, Amen, amen.\r\n And the priest shall write these curses in a book, and he shall blot them out with the bitter water:\r\n And he shall cause the woman to drink the bitter water that causeth the curse: and the water that causeth the curse shall enter into her, and become bitter.\r\n Then the priest shall take the jealousy offering out of the woman's hand, and shall wave the offering before the LORD, and offer it upon the altar:\r\n And the priest shall take an handful of the offering, even the memorial thereof, and burn it upon the altar, and afterward shall cause the woman to drink the water.\r\n And when he hath made her to drink the water, then it shall come to pass, that, if she be defiled, and have done trespass against her husband, that the water that causeth the curse shall enter into her, and become bitter, and her belly shall swell, and her thigh shall rot: and the woman shall be a curse among her people.\r\n And if the woman be not defiled, but be clean; then she shall be free, and shall conceive seed.\r\n This is the law of jealousies, when a wife goeth aside to another instead of her husband, and is defiled;\r\n Or when the spirit of jealousy cometh upon him, and he be jealous over his wife, and shall set the woman before the LORD, and the priest shall execute upon her all this law.\r\n Then shall the man be guiltless from iniquity, and this woman shall bear her iniquity.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When either man or woman shall separate themselves to vow a vow of a Nazarite, to separate themselves unto the LORD:\r\n He shall separate himself from wine and strong drink, and shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any liquor of grapes, nor eat moist grapes, or dried.\r\n All the days of his separation shall he eat nothing that is made of the vine tree, from the kernels even to the husk.\r\n All the days of the vow of his separation there shall no razor come upon his head: until the days be fulfilled, in the which he separateth himself unto the LORD, he shall be holy, and shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow.\r\n All the days that he separateth himself unto the LORD he shall come at no dead body.\r\n He shall not make himself unclean for his father, or for his mother, for his brother, or for his sister, when they die: because the consecration of his God is upon his head.\r\n All the days of his separation he is holy unto the LORD.\r\n And if any man die very suddenly by him, and he hath defiled the head of his consecration; then he shall shave his head in the day of his cleansing, on the seventh day shall he shave it.\r\n And on the eighth day he shall bring two turtles, or two young pigeons, to the priest, to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation:\r\n And the priest shall offer the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering, and make an atonement for him, for that he sinned by the dead, and shall hallow his head that same day.\r\n And he shall consecrate unto the LORD the days of his separation, and shall bring a lamb of the first year for a trespass offering: but the days that were before shall be lost, because his separation was defiled.\r\n And this is the law of the Nazarite, when the days of his separation are fulfilled: he shall be brought unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation:\r\n And he shall offer his offering unto the LORD, one he lamb of the first year without blemish for a burnt offering, and one ewe lamb of the first year without blemish for a sin offering, and one ram without blemish for peace offerings,\r\n And a basket of unleavened bread, cakes of fine flour mingled with oil, and wafers of unleavened bread anointed with oil, and their meat offering, and their drink offerings.\r\n And the priest shall bring them before the LORD, and shall offer his sin offering, and his burnt offering:\r\n And he shall offer the ram for a sacrifice of peace offerings unto the LORD, with the basket of unleavened bread: the priest shall offer also his meat offering, and his drink offering.\r\n And the Nazarite shall shave the head of his separation at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and shall take the hair of the head of his separation, and put it in the fire which is under the sacrifice of the peace offerings.\r\n And the priest shall take the sodden shoulder of the ram, and one unleavened cake out of the basket, and one unleavened wafer, and shall put them upon the hands of the Nazarite, after the hair of his separation is shaven:\r\n And the priest shall wave them for a wave offering before the LORD: this is holy for the priest, with the wave breast and heave shoulder: and after that the Nazarite may drink wine.\r\n This is the law of the Nazarite who hath vowed, and of his offering unto the LORD for his separation, beside that that his hand shall get: according to the vow which he vowed, so he must do after the law of his separation.\r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them,\r\n The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:\r\n The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:\r\n The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.\r\n And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass on the day that Moses had fully set up the tabernacle, and had anointed it, and sanctified it, and all the instruments thereof, both the altar and all the vessels thereof, and had anointed them, and sanctified them;\r\n That the princes of Israel, heads of the house of their fathers, who were the princes of the tribes, and were over them that were numbered, offered:\r\n And they brought their offering before the LORD, six covered wagons, and twelve oxen; a wagon for two of the princes, and for each one an ox: and they brought them before the tabernacle.\r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Take it of them, that they may be to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation; and thou shalt give them unto the Levites, to every man according to his service.\r\n And Moses took the wagons and the oxen, and gave them unto the Levites.\r\n Two wagons and four oxen he gave unto the sons of Gershon, according to their service:\r\n And four wagons and eight oxen he gave unto the sons of Merari, according unto their service, under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.\r\n But unto the sons of Kohath he gave none: because the service of the sanctuary belonging unto them was that they should bear upon their shoulders.\r\n And the princes offered for dedicating of the altar in the day that it was anointed, even the princes offered their offering before the altar.\r\n And the LORD said unto Moses, They shall offer their offering, each prince on his day, for the dedicating of the altar.\r\n And he that offered his offering the first day was Nahshon the son of Amminadab, of the tribe of Judah:\r\n And his offering was one silver charger, the weight thereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them were full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:\r\n One spoon of ten shekels of gold, full of incense:\r\n One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:\r\n One kid of the goats for a sin offering:\r\n And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Nahshon the son of Amminadab.\r\n On the second day Nethaneel the son of Zuar, prince of Issachar, did offer:\r\n He offered for his offering one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:\r\n One spoon of gold of ten shekels, full of incense:\r\n One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:\r\n One kid of the goats for a sin offering:\r\n And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Nethaneel the son of Zuar.\r\n On the third day Eliab the son of Helon, prince of the children of Zebulun, did offer:\r\n His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:\r\n One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:\r\n One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:\r\n One kid of the goats for a sin offering:\r\n And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Eliab the son of Helon.\r\n On the fourth day Elizur the son of Shedeur, prince of the children of Reuben, did offer:\r\n His offering was one silver charger of the weight of an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:\r\n One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:\r\n One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:\r\n One kid of the goats for a sin offering:\r\n And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Elizur the son of Shedeur.\r\n On the fifth day Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai, prince of the children of Simeon, did offer:\r\n His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:\r\n One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:\r\n One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:\r\n One kid of the goats for a sin offering:\r\n And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.\r\n On the sixth day Eliasaph the son of Deuel, prince of the children of Gad, offered:\r\n His offering was one silver charger of the weight of an hundred and thirty shekels, a silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:\r\n One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:\r\n One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:\r\n One kid of the goats for a sin offering:\r\n And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Eliasaph the son of Deuel.\r\n On the seventh day Elishama the son of Ammihud, prince of the children of Ephraim, offered:\r\n His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:\r\n One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:\r\n One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:\r\n One kid of the goats for a sin offering:\r\n And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Elishama the son of Ammihud.\r\n On the eighth day offered Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur, prince of the children of Manasseh:\r\n His offering was one silver charger of the weight of an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:\r\n One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:\r\n One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:\r\n One kid of the goats for a sin offering:\r\n And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.\r\n On the ninth day Abidan the son of Gideoni, prince of the children of Benjamin, offered:\r\n His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:\r\n One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:\r\n One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:\r\n One kid of the goats for a sin offering:\r\n And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Abidan the son of Gideoni.\r\n On the tenth day Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai, prince of the children of Dan, offered:\r\n His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:\r\n One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:\r\n One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:\r\n One kid of the goats for a sin offering:\r\n And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.\r\n On the eleventh day Pagiel the son of Ocran, prince of the children of Asher, offered:\r\n His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:\r\n One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:\r\n One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:\r\n One kid of the goats for a sin offering:\r\n And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Pagiel the son of Ocran.\r\n On the twelfth day Ahira the son of Enan, prince of the children of Naphtali, offered:\r\n His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:\r\n One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:\r\n One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:\r\n One kid of the goats for a sin offering:\r\n And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Ahira the son of Enan.\r\n This was the dedication of the altar, in the day when it was anointed, by the princes of Israel: twelve chargers of silver, twelve silver bowls, twelve spoons of gold:\r\n Each charger of silver weighing an hundred and thirty shekels, each bowl seventy: all the silver vessels weighed two thousand and four hundred shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary:\r\n The golden spoons were twelve, full of incense, weighing ten shekels apiece, after the shekel of the sanctuary: all the gold of the spoons was an hundred and twenty shekels.\r\n All the oxen for the burnt offering were twelve bullocks, the rams twelve, the lambs of the first year twelve, with their meat offering: and the kids of the goats for sin offering twelve.\r\n And all the oxen for the sacrifice of the peace offerings were twenty and four bullocks, the rams sixty, the he goats sixty, the lambs of the first year sixty. This was the dedication of the altar, after that it was anointed.\r\n And when Moses was gone into the tabernacle of the congregation to speak with him, then he heard the voice of one speaking unto him from off the mercy seat that was upon the ark of testimony, from between the two cherubims: and he spake unto him.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Speak unto Aaron, and say unto him, When thou lightest the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light over against the candlestick.\r\n And Aaron did so; he lighted the lamps thereof over against the candlestick, as the LORD commanded Moses.\r\n And this work of the candlestick was of beaten gold, unto the shaft thereof, unto the flowers thereof, was beaten work: according unto the pattern which the LORD had shewed Moses, so he made the candlestick.\r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Take the Levites from among the children of Israel, and cleanse them.\r\n And thus shalt thou do unto them, to cleanse them: Sprinkle water of purifying upon them, and let them shave all their flesh, and let them wash their clothes, and so make themselves clean.\r\n Then let them take a young bullock with his meat offering, even fine flour mingled with oil, and another young bullock shalt thou take for a sin offering.\r\n And thou shalt bring the Levites before the tabernacle of the congregation: and thou shalt gather the whole assembly of the children of Israel together:\r\n And thou shalt bring the Levites before the LORD: and the children of Israel shall put their hands upon the Levites:\r\n And Aaron shall offer the Levites before the LORD for an offering of the children of Israel, that they may execute the service of the LORD.\r\n And the Levites shall lay their hands upon the heads of the bullocks: and thou shalt offer the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering, unto the LORD, to make an atonement for the Levites.\r\n And thou shalt set the Levites before Aaron, and before his sons, and offer them for an offering unto the LORD.\r\n Thus shalt thou separate the Levites from among the children of Israel: and the Levites shall be mine.\r\n And after that shall the Levites go in to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation: and thou shalt cleanse them, and offer them for an offering.\r\n For they are wholly given unto me from among the children of Israel; instead of such as open every womb, even instead of the firstborn of all the children of Israel, have I taken them unto me.\r\n For all the firstborn of the children of Israel are mine, both man and beast: on the day that I smote every firstborn in the land of Egypt I sanctified them for myself.\r\n And I have taken the Levites for all the firstborn of the children of Israel.\r\n And I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and to his sons from among the children of Israel, to do the service of the children of Israel in the tabernacle of the congregation, and to make an atonement for the children of Israel: that there be no plague among the children of Israel, when the children of Israel come nigh unto the sanctuary.\r\n And Moses, and Aaron, and all the congregation of the children of Israel, did to the Levites according unto all that the LORD commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so did the children of Israel unto them.\r\n And the Levites were purified, and they washed their clothes; and Aaron offered them as an offering before the LORD; and Aaron made an atonement for them to cleanse them.\r\n And after that went the Levites in to do their service in the tabernacle of the congregation before Aaron, and before his sons: as the LORD had commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so did they unto them.\r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n This is it that belongeth unto the Levites: from twenty and five years old and upward they shall go in to wait upon the service of the tabernacle of the congregation:\r\n And from the age of fifty years they shall cease waiting upon the service thereof, and shall serve no more:\r\n But shall minister with their brethren in the tabernacle of the congregation, to keep the charge, and shall do no service. Thus shalt thou do unto the Levites touching their charge.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the first month of the second year after they were come out of the land of Egypt, saying,\r\n Let the children of Israel also keep the passover at his appointed season.\r\n In the fourteenth day of this month, at even, ye shall keep it in his appointed season: according to all the rites of it, and according to all the ceremonies thereof, shall ye keep it.\r\n And Moses spake unto the children of Israel, that they should keep the passover.\r\n And they kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the first month at even in the wilderness of Sinai: according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so did the children of Israel.\r\n And there were certain men, who were defiled by the dead body of a man, that they could not keep the passover on that day: and they came before Moses and before Aaron on that day:\r\n And those men said unto him, We are defiled by the dead body of a man: wherefore are we kept back, that we may not offer an offering of the LORD in his appointed season among the children of Israel?\r\n And Moses said unto them, Stand still, and I will hear what the LORD will command concerning you.\r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If any man of you or of your posterity shall be unclean by reason of a dead body, or be in a journey afar off, yet he shall keep the passover unto the LORD.\r\n The fourteenth day of the second month at even they shall keep it, and eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.\r\n They shall leave none of it unto the morning, nor break any bone of it: according to all the ordinances of the passover they shall keep it.\r\n But the man that is clean, and is not in a journey, and forbeareth to keep the passover, even the same soul shall be cut off from among his people: because he brought not the offering of the LORD in his appointed season, that man shall bear his sin.\r\n And if a stranger shall sojourn among you, and will keep the passover unto the LORD; according to the ordinance of the passover, and according to the manner thereof, so shall he do: ye shall have one ordinance, both for the stranger, and for him that was born in the land.\r\n And on the day that the tabernacle was reared up the cloud covered the tabernacle, namely, the tent of the testimony: and at even there was upon the tabernacle as it were the appearance of fire, until the morning.\r\n So it was alway: the cloud covered it by day, and the appearance of fire by night.\r\n And when the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle, then after that the children of Israel journeyed: and in the place where the cloud abode, there the children of Israel pitched their tents.\r\n At the commandment of the LORD the children of Israel journeyed, and at the commandment of the LORD they pitched: as long as the cloud abode upon the tabernacle they rested in their tents.\r\n And when the cloud tarried long upon the tabernacle many days, then the children of Israel kept the charge of the LORD, and journeyed not.\r\n And so it was, when the cloud was a few days upon the tabernacle; according to the commandment of the LORD they abode in their tents, and according to the commandment of the LORD they journeyed.\r\n And so it was, when the cloud abode from even unto the morning, and that the cloud was taken up in the morning, then they journeyed: whether it was by day or by night that the cloud was taken up, they journeyed.\r\n Or whether it were two days, or a month, or a year, that the cloud tarried upon the tabernacle, remaining thereon, the children of Israel abode in their tents, and journeyed not: but when it was taken up, they journeyed.\r\n At the commandment of the LORD they rested in the tents, and at the commandment of the LORD they journeyed: they kept the charge of the LORD, at the commandment of the LORD by the hand of Moses.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Make thee two trumpets of silver; of a whole piece shalt thou make them: that thou mayest use them for the calling of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps.\r\n And when they shall blow with them, all the assembly shall assemble themselves to thee at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.\r\n And if they blow but with one trumpet, then the princes, which are heads of the thousands of Israel, shall gather themselves unto thee.\r\n When ye blow an alarm, then the camps that lie on the east parts shall go forward.\r\n When ye blow an alarm the second time, then the camps that lie on the south side shall take their journey: they shall blow an alarm for their journeys.\r\n But when the congregation is to be gathered together, ye shall blow, but ye shall not sound an alarm.\r\n And the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow with the trumpets; and they shall be to you for an ordinance for ever throughout your generations.\r\n And if ye go to war in your land against the enemy that oppresseth you, then ye shall blow an alarm with the trumpets; and ye shall be remembered before the LORD your God, and ye shall be saved from your enemies.\r\n Also in the day of your gladness, and in your solemn days, and in the beginnings of your months, ye shall blow with the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; that they may be to you for a memorial before your God: I am the LORD your God.\r\n And it came to pass on the twentieth day of the second month, in the second year, that the cloud was taken up from off the tabernacle of the testimony.\r\n And the children of Israel took their journeys out of the wilderness of Sinai; and the cloud rested in the wilderness of Paran.\r\n And they first took their journey according to the commandment of the LORD by the hand of Moses.\r\n In the first place went the standard of the camp of the children of Judah according to their armies: and over his host was Nahshon the son of Amminadab.\r\n And over the host of the tribe of the children of Issachar was Nethaneel the son of Zuar.\r\n And over the host of the tribe of the children of Zebulun was Eliab the son of Helon.\r\n And the tabernacle was taken down; and the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari set forward, bearing the tabernacle.\r\n And the standard of the camp of Reuben set forward according to their armies: and over his host was Elizur the son of Shedeur.\r\n And over the host of the tribe of the children of Simeon was Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.\r\n And over the host of the tribe of the children of Gad was Eliasaph the son of Deuel.\r\n And the Kohathites set forward, bearing the sanctuary: and the other did set up the tabernacle against they came.\r\n And the standard of the camp of the children of Ephraim set forward according to their armies: and over his host was Elishama the son of Ammihud.\r\n And over the host of the tribe of the children of Manasseh was Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.\r\n And over the host of the tribe of the children of Benjamin was Abidan the son of Gideoni.\r\n And the standard of the camp of the children of Dan set forward, which was the rereward of all the camps throughout their hosts: and over his host was Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.\r\n And over the host of the tribe of the children of Asher was Pagiel the son of Ocran.\r\n And over the host of the tribe of the children of Naphtali was Ahira the son of Enan.\r\n Thus were the journeyings of the children of Israel according to their armies, when they set forward.\r\n And Moses said unto Hobab, the son of Raguel the Midianite, Moses' father in law, We are journeying unto the place of which the LORD said, I will give it you: come thou with us, and we will do thee good: for the LORD hath spoken good concerning Israel.\r\n And he said unto him, I will not go; but I will depart to mine own land, and to my kindred.\r\n And he said, Leave us not, I pray thee; forasmuch as thou knowest how we are to encamp in the wilderness, and thou mayest be to us instead of eyes.\r\n And it shall be, if thou go with us, yea, it shall be, that what goodness the LORD shall do unto us, the same will we do unto thee.\r\n And they departed from the mount of the LORD three days' journey: and the ark of the covenant of the LORD went before them in the three days' journey, to search out a resting place for them.\r\n And the cloud of the LORD was upon them by day, when they went out of the camp.\r\n And it came to pass, when the ark set forward, that Moses said, Rise up, LORD, and let thine enemies be scattered; and let them that hate thee flee before thee.\r\n And when it rested, he said, Return, O LORD, unto the many thousands of Israel.\r\n \r\n \r\n And when the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp.\r\n And the people cried unto Moses; and when Moses prayed unto the LORD, the fire was quenched.\r\n And he called the name of the place Taberah: because the fire of the LORD burnt among them.\r\n And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat?\r\n We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick:\r\n But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes.\r\n And the manna was as coriander seed, and the colour thereof as the colour of bdellium.\r\n And the people went about, and gathered it, and ground it in mills, or beat it in a mortar, and baked it in pans, and made cakes of it: and the taste of it was as the taste of fresh oil.\r\n And when the dew fell upon the camp in the night, the manna fell upon it.\r\n Then Moses heard the people weep throughout their families, every man in the door of his tent: and the anger of the LORD was kindled greatly; Moses also was displeased.\r\n And Moses said unto the LORD, Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant? and wherefore have I not found favour in thy sight, that thou layest the burden of all this people upon me?\r\n Have I conceived all this people? have I begotten them, that thou shouldest say unto me, Carry them in thy bosom, as a nursing father beareth the sucking child, unto the land which thou swarest unto their fathers?\r\n Whence should I have flesh to give unto all this people? for they weep unto me, saying, Give us flesh, that we may eat.\r\n I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me.\r\n And if thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray thee, out of hand, if I have found favour in thy sight; and let me not see my wretchedness.\r\n And the LORD said unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the elders of the people, and officers over them; and bring them unto the tabernacle of the congregation, that they may stand there with thee.\r\n And I will come down and talk with thee there: and I will take of the spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone.\r\n And say thou unto the people, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow, and ye shall eat flesh: for ye have wept in the ears of the LORD, saying, Who shall give us flesh to eat? for it was well with us in Egypt: therefore the LORD will give you flesh, and ye shall eat.\r\n Ye shall not eat one day, nor two days, nor five days, neither ten days, nor twenty days;\r\n But even a whole month, until it come out at your nostrils, and it be loathsome unto you: because that ye have despised the LORD which is among you, and have wept before him, saying, Why came we forth out of Egypt?\r\n And Moses said, The people, among whom I am, are six hundred thousand footmen; and thou hast said, I will give them flesh, that they may eat a whole month.\r\n Shall the flocks and the herds be slain for them, to suffice them? or shall all the fish of the sea be gathered together for them, to suffice them?\r\n And the LORD said unto Moses, Is the LORD'S hand waxed short? thou shalt see now whether my word shall come to pass unto thee or not.\r\n And Moses went out, and told the people the words of the LORD, and gathered the seventy men of the elders of the people, and set them round about the tabernacle.\r\n And the LORD came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the spirit that was upon him, and gave it unto the seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease.\r\n But there remained two of the men in the camp, the name of the one was Eldad, and the name of the other Medad: and the spirit rested upon them; and they were of them that were written, but went not out unto the tabernacle: and they prophesied in the camp.\r\n And there ran a young man, and told Moses, and said, Eldad and Medad do prophesy in the camp.\r\n And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Moses, one of his young men, answered and said, My lord Moses, forbid them.\r\n And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the LORD'S people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit upon them!\r\n And Moses gat him into the camp, he and the elders of Israel.\r\n And there went forth a wind from the LORD, and brought quails from the sea, and let them fall by the camp, as it were a day's journey on this side, and as it were a day's journey on the other side, round about the camp, and as it were two cubits high upon the face of the earth.\r\n And the people stood up all that day, and all that night, and all the next day, and they gathered the quails: he that gathered least gathered ten homers: and they spread them all abroad for themselves round about the camp.\r\n And while the flesh was yet between their teeth, ere it was chewed, the wrath of the LORD was kindled against the people, and the LORD smote the people with a very great plague.\r\n And he called the name of that place Kibrothhattaavah: because there they buried the people that lusted.\r\n And the people journeyed from Kibrothhattaavah unto Hazeroth; and abode at Hazeroth.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman.\r\n And they said, Hath the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? And the LORD heard it.\r\n (Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)\r\n And the LORD spake suddenly unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto Miriam, Come out ye three unto the tabernacle of the congregation. And they three came out.\r\n And the LORD came down in the pillar of the cloud, and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam: and they both came forth.\r\n And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream.\r\n My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house.\r\n With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?\r\n And the anger of the LORD was kindled against them; and he departed.\r\n And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow: and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous.\r\n And Aaron said unto Moses, Alas, my lord, I beseech thee, lay not the sin upon us, wherein we have done foolishly, and wherein we have sinned.\r\n Let her not be as one dead, of whom the flesh is half consumed when he cometh out of his mother's womb.\r\n And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee.\r\n And the LORD said unto Moses, If her father had but spit in her face, should she not be ashamed seven days? let her be shut out from the camp seven days, and after that let her be received in again.\r\n And Miriam was shut out from the camp seven days: and the people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in again.\r\n And afterward the people removed from Hazeroth, and pitched in the wilderness of Paran.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Send thou men, that they may search the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel: of every tribe of their fathers shall ye send a man, every one a ruler among them.\r\n And Moses by the commandment of the LORD sent them from the wilderness of Paran: all those men were heads of the children of Israel.\r\n And these were their names: of the tribe of Reuben, Shammua the son of Zaccur.\r\n Of the tribe of Simeon, Shaphat the son of Hori.\r\n Of the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephunneh.\r\n Of the tribe of Issachar, Igal the son of Joseph.\r\n Of the tribe of Ephraim, Oshea the son of Nun.\r\n Of the tribe of Benjamin, Palti the son of Raphu.\r\n Of the tribe of Zebulun, Gaddiel the son of Sodi.\r\n Of the tribe of Joseph, namely, of the tribe of Manasseh, Gaddi the son of Susi.\r\n Of the tribe of Dan, Ammiel the son of Gemalli.\r\n Of the tribe of Asher, Sethur the son of Michael.\r\n Of the tribe of Naphtali, Nahbi the son of Vophsi.\r\n Of the tribe of Gad, Geuel the son of Machi.\r\n These are the names of the men which Moses sent to spy out the land. And Moses called Oshea the son of Nun Jehoshua.\r\n And Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said unto them, Get you up this way southward, and go up into the mountain:\r\n And see the land, what it is; and the people that dwelleth therein, whether they be strong or weak, few or many;\r\n And what the land is that they dwell in, whether it be good or bad; and what cities they be that they dwell in, whether in tents, or in strong holds;\r\n And what the land is, whether it be fat or lean, whether there be wood therein, or not. And be ye of good courage, and bring of the fruit of the land. Now the time was the time of the firstripe grapes.\r\n So they went up, and searched the land from the wilderness of Zin unto Rehob, as men come to Hamath.\r\n And they ascended by the south, and came unto Hebron; where Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the children of Anak, were. (Now Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.)\r\n And they came unto the brook of Eshcol, and cut down from thence a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they bare it between two upon a staff; and they brought of the pomegranates, and of the figs.\r\n The place was called the brook Eshcol, because of the cluster of grapes which the children of Israel cut down from thence.\r\n And they returned from searching of the land after forty days.\r\n And they went and came to Moses, and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh; and brought back word unto them, and unto all the congregation, and shewed them the fruit of the land.\r\n And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it.\r\n Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there.\r\n The Amalekites dwell in the land of the south: and the Hittites, and the Jebusites, and the Amorites, dwell in the mountains: and the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and by the coast of Jordan.\r\n And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.\r\n But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.\r\n And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature.\r\n And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.\r\n \r\n \r\n And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night.\r\n And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness!\r\n And wherefore hath the LORD brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt?\r\n And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt.\r\n Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel.\r\n And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes:\r\n And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land.\r\n If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey.\r\n Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not.\r\n But all the congregation bade stone them with stones. And the glory of the LORD appeared in the tabernacle of the congregation before all the children of Israel.\r\n And the LORD said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke me? and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have shewed among them?\r\n I will smite them with the pestilence, and disinherit them, and will make of thee a greater nation and mightier than they.\r\n And Moses said unto the LORD, Then the Egyptians shall hear it, (for thou broughtest up this people in thy might from among them;)\r\n And they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land: for they have heard that thou LORD art among this people, that thou LORD art seen face to face, and that thy cloud standeth over them, and that thou goest before them, by day time in a pillar of a cloud, and in a pillar of fire by night.\r\n Now if thou shalt kill all this people as one man, then the nations which have heard the fame of thee will speak, saying,\r\n Because the LORD was not able to bring this people into the land which he sware unto them, therefore he hath slain them in the wilderness.\r\n And now, I beseech thee, let the power of my Lord be great, according as thou hast spoken, saying,\r\n The LORD is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation.\r\n Pardon, I beseech thee, the iniquity of this people according unto the greatness of thy mercy, and as thou hast forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now.\r\n And the LORD said, I have pardoned according to thy word:\r\n But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD.\r\n Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice;\r\n Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it:\r\n But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it.\r\n (Now the Amalekites and the Canaanites dwelt in the valley.) To morrow turn you, and get you into the wilderness by the way of the Red sea.\r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,\r\n How long shall I bear with this evil congregation, which murmur against me? I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against me.\r\n Say unto them, As truly as I live, saith the LORD, as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you:\r\n Your carcases shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, which have murmured against me,\r\n Doubtless ye shall not come into the land, concerning which I sware to make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun.\r\n But your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, them will I bring in, and they shall know the land which ye have despised.\r\n But as for you, your carcases, they shall fall in this wilderness.\r\n And your children shall wander in the wilderness forty years, and bear your whoredoms, until your carcases be wasted in the wilderness.\r\n After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise.\r\n I the LORD have said, I will surely do it unto all this evil congregation, that are gathered together against me: in this wilderness they shall be consumed, and there they shall die.\r\n And the men, which Moses sent to search the land, who returned, and made all the congregation to murmur against him, by bringing up a slander upon the land,\r\n Even those men that did bring up the evil report upon the land, died by the plague before the LORD.\r\n But Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of the men that went to search the land, lived still.\r\n And Moses told these sayings unto all the children of Israel: and the people mourned greatly.\r\n And they rose up early in the morning, and gat them up into the top of the mountain, saying, Lo, we be here, and will go up unto the place which the LORD hath promised: for we have sinned.\r\n And Moses said, Wherefore now do ye transgress the commandment of the LORD? but it shall not prosper.\r\n Go not up, for the LORD is not among you; that ye be not smitten before your enemies.\r\n For the Amalekites and the Canaanites are there before you, and ye shall fall by the sword: because ye are turned away from the LORD, therefore the LORD will not be with you.\r\n But they presumed to go up unto the hill top: nevertheless the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and Moses, departed not out of the camp.\r\n Then the Amalekites came down, and the Canaanites which dwelt in that hill, and smote them, and discomfited them, even unto Hormah.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land of your habitations, which I give unto you,\r\n And will make an offering by fire unto the LORD, a burnt offering, or a sacrifice in performing a vow, or in a freewill offering, or in your solemn feasts, to make a sweet savour unto the LORD, of the herd, or of the flock:\r\n Then shall he that offereth his offering unto the LORD bring a meat offering of a tenth deal of flour mingled with the fourth part of an hin of oil.\r\n And the fourth part of an hin of wine for a drink offering shalt thou prepare with the burnt offering or sacrifice, for one lamb.\r\n Or for a ram, thou shalt prepare for a meat offering two tenth deals of flour mingled with the third part of an hin of oil.\r\n And for a drink offering thou shalt offer the third part of an hin of wine, for a sweet savour unto the LORD.\r\n And when thou preparest a bullock for a burnt offering, or for a sacrifice in performing a vow, or peace offerings unto the LORD:\r\n Then shall he bring with a bullock a meat offering of three tenth deals of flour mingled with half an hin of oil.\r\n And thou shalt bring for a drink offering half an hin of wine, for an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.\r\n Thus shall it be done for one bullock, or for one ram, or for a lamb, or a kid.\r\n According to the number that ye shall prepare, so shall ye do to every one according to their number.\r\n All that are born of the country shall do these things after this manner, in offering an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.\r\n And if a stranger sojourn with you, or whosoever be among you in your generations, and will offer an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD; as ye do, so he shall do.\r\n One ordinance shall be both for you of the congregation, and also for the stranger that sojourneth with you, an ordinance for ever in your generations: as ye are, so shall the stranger be before the LORD.\r\n One law and one manner shall be for you, and for the stranger that sojourneth with you.\r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye come into the land whither I bring you,\r\n Then it shall be, that, when ye eat of the bread of the land, ye shall offer up an heave offering unto the LORD.\r\n Ye shall offer up a cake of the first of your dough for an heave offering: as ye do the heave offering of the threshingfloor, so shall ye heave it.\r\n Of the first of your dough ye shall give unto the LORD an heave offering in your generations.\r\n And if ye have erred, and not observed all these commandments, which the LORD hath spoken unto Moses,\r\n Even all that the LORD hath commanded you by the hand of Moses, from the day that the LORD commanded Moses, and henceforward among your generations;\r\n Then it shall be, if ought be committed by ignorance without the knowledge of the congregation, that all the congregation shall offer one young bullock for a burnt offering, for a sweet savour unto the LORD, with his meat offering, and his drink offering, according to the manner, and one kid of the goats for a sin offering.\r\n And the priest shall make an atonement for all the congregation of the children of Israel, and it shall be forgiven them; for it is ignorance: and they shall bring their offering, a sacrifice made by fire unto the LORD, and their sin offering before the LORD, for their ignorance:\r\n And it shall be forgiven all the congregation of the children of Israel, and the stranger that sojourneth among them; seeing all the people were in ignorance.\r\n And if any soul sin through ignorance, then he shall bring a she goat of the first year for a sin offering.\r\n And the priest shall make an atonement for the soul that sinneth ignorantly, when he sinneth by ignorance before the LORD, to make an atonement for him; and it shall be forgiven him.\r\n Ye shall have one law for him that sinneth through ignorance, both for him that is born among the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them.\r\n But the soul that doeth ought presumptuously, whether he be born in the land, or a stranger, the same reproacheth the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people.\r\n Because he hath despised the word of the LORD, and hath broken his commandment, that soul shall utterly be cut off; his iniquity shall be upon him.\r\n And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day.\r\n And they that found him gathering sticks brought him unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation.\r\n And they put him in ward, because it was not declared what should be done to him.\r\n And the LORD said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp.\r\n And all the congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died; as the LORD commanded Moses.\r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribband of blue:\r\n And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the LORD, and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring:\r\n That ye may remember, and do all my commandments, and be holy unto your God.\r\n I am the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the LORD your God.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men:\r\n And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown:\r\n And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD?\r\n And when Moses heard it, he fell upon his face:\r\n And he spake unto Korah and unto all his company, saying, Even to morrow the LORD will shew who are his, and who is holy; and will cause him to come near unto him: even him whom he hath chosen will he cause to come near unto him.\r\n This do; Take you censers, Korah, and all his company;\r\n And put fire therein, and put incense in them before the LORD to morrow: and it shall be that the man whom the LORD doth choose, he shall be holy: ye take too much upon you, ye sons of Levi.\r\n And Moses said unto Korah, Hear, I pray you, ye sons of Levi:\r\n Seemeth it but a small thing unto you, that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself to do the service of the tabernacle of the LORD, and to stand before the congregation to minister unto them?\r\n And he hath brought thee near to him, and all thy brethren the sons of Levi with thee: and seek ye the priesthood also?\r\n For which cause both thou and all thy company are gathered together against the LORD: and what is Aaron, that ye murmur against him?\r\n And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab: which said, We will not come up:\r\n Is it a small thing that thou hast brought us up out of a land that floweth with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, except thou make thyself altogether a prince over us?\r\n Moreover thou hast not brought us into a land that floweth with milk and honey, or given us inheritance of fields and vineyards: wilt thou put out the eyes of these men? we will not come up.\r\n And Moses was very wroth, and said unto the LORD, Respect not thou their offering: I have not taken one ass from them, neither have I hurt one of them.\r\n And Moses said unto Korah, Be thou and all thy company before the LORD, thou, and they, and Aaron, to morrow:\r\n And take every man his censer, and put incense in them, and bring ye before the LORD every man his censer, two hundred and fifty censers; thou also, and Aaron, each of you his censer.\r\n And they took every man his censer, and put fire in them, and laid incense thereon, and stood in the door of the tabernacle of the congregation with Moses and Aaron.\r\n And Korah gathered all the congregation against them unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the congregation.\r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,\r\n Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.\r\n And they fell upon their faces, and said, O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and wilt thou be wroth with all the congregation?\r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Speak unto the congregation, saying, Get you up from about the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.\r\n And Moses rose up and went unto Dathan and Abiram; and the elders of Israel followed him.\r\n And he spake unto the congregation, saying, Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest ye be consumed in all their sins.\r\n So they gat up from the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, on every side: and Dathan and Abiram came out, and stood in the door of their tents, and their wives, and their sons, and their little children.\r\n And Moses said, Hereby ye shall know that the LORD hath sent me to do all these works; for I have not done them of mine own mind.\r\n If these men die the common death of all men, or if they be visited after the visitation of all men; then the LORD hath not sent me.\r\n But if the LORD make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they go down quick into the pit; then ye shall understand that these men have provoked the LORD.\r\n And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them:\r\n And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods.\r\n They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation.\r\n And all Israel that were round about them fled at the cry of them: for they said, Lest the earth swallow us up also.\r\n And there came out a fire from the LORD, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense.\r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Speak unto Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, that he take up the censers out of the burning, and scatter thou the fire yonder; for they are hallowed.\r\n The censers of these sinners against their own souls, let them make them broad plates for a covering of the altar: for they offered them before the LORD, therefore they are hallowed: and they shall be a sign unto the children of Israel.\r\n And Eleazar the priest took the brasen censers, wherewith they that were burnt had offered; and they were made broad plates for a covering of the altar:\r\n To be a memorial unto the children of Israel, that no stranger, which is not of the seed of Aaron, come near to offer incense before the LORD; that he be not as Korah, and as his company: as the LORD said to him by the hand of Moses.\r\n But on the morrow all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron, saying, Ye have killed the people of the LORD.\r\n And it came to pass, when the congregation was gathered against Moses and against Aaron, that they looked toward the tabernacle of the congregation: and, behold, the cloud covered it, and the glory of the LORD appeared.\r\n And Moses and Aaron came before the tabernacle of the congregation.\r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Get you up from among this congregation, that I may consume them as in a moment. And they fell upon their faces.\r\n And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a censer, and put fire therein from off the altar, and put on incense, and go quickly unto the congregation, and make an atonement for them: for there is wrath gone out from the LORD; the plague is begun.\r\n And Aaron took as Moses commanded, and ran into the midst of the congregation; and, behold, the plague was begun among the people: and he put on incense, and made an atonement for the people.\r\n And he stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stayed.\r\n Now they that died in the plague were fourteen thousand and seven hundred, beside them that died about the matter of Korah.\r\n And Aaron returned unto Moses unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and the plague was stayed.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Speak unto the children of Israel, and take of every one of them a rod according to the house of their fathers, of all their princes according to the house of their fathers twelve rods: write thou every man's name upon his rod.\r\n And thou shalt write Aaron's name upon the rod of Levi: for one rod shall be for the head of the house of their fathers.\r\n And thou shalt lay them up in the tabernacle of the congregation before the testimony, where I will meet with you.\r\n And it shall come to pass, that the man's rod, whom I shall choose, shall blossom: and I will make to cease from me the murmurings of the children of Israel, whereby they murmur against you.\r\n And Moses spake unto the children of Israel, and every one of their princes gave him a rod apiece, for each prince one, according to their fathers' houses, even twelve rods: and the rod of Aaron was among their rods.\r\n And Moses laid up the rods before the LORD in the tabernacle of witness.\r\n And it came to pass, that on the morrow Moses went into the tabernacle of witness; and, behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds.\r\n And Moses brought out all the rods from before the LORD unto all the children of Israel: and they looked, and took every man his rod.\r\n And the LORD said unto Moses, Bring Aaron's rod again before the testimony, to be kept for a token against the rebels; and thou shalt quite take away their murmurings from me, that they die not.\r\n And Moses did so: as the LORD commanded him, so did he.\r\n And the children of Israel spake unto Moses, saying, Behold, we die, we perish, we all perish.\r\n Whosoever cometh any thing near unto the tabernacle of the LORD shall die: shall we be consumed with dying?\r\n \r\n \r\n And the LORD said unto Aaron, Thou and thy sons and thy father's house with thee shall bear the iniquity of the sanctuary: and thou and thy sons with thee shall bear the iniquity of your priesthood.\r\n And thy brethren also of the tribe of Levi, the tribe of thy father, bring thou with thee, that they may be joined unto thee, and minister unto thee: but thou and thy sons with thee shall minister before the tabernacle of witness.\r\n And they shall keep thy charge, and the charge of all the tabernacle: only they shall not come nigh the vessels of the sanctuary and the altar, that neither they, nor ye also, die.\r\n And they shall be joined unto thee, and keep the charge of the tabernacle of the congregation, for all the service of the tabernacle: and a stranger shall not come nigh unto you.\r\n And ye shall keep the charge of the sanctuary, and the charge of the altar: that there be no wrath any more upon the children of Israel.\r\n And I, behold, I have taken your brethren the Levites from among the children of Israel: to you they are given as a gift for the LORD, to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation.\r\n Therefore thou and thy sons with thee shall keep your priest's office for every thing of the altar, and within the vail; and ye shall serve: I have given your priest's office unto you as a service of gift: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.\r\n And the LORD spake unto Aaron, Behold, I also have given thee the charge of mine heave offerings of all the hallowed things of the children of Israel; unto thee have I given them by reason of the anointing, and to thy sons, by an ordinance for ever.\r\n This shall be thine of the most holy things, reserved from the fire: every oblation of theirs, every meat offering of theirs, and every sin offering of theirs, and every trespass offering of theirs, which they shall render unto me, shall be most holy for thee and for thy sons.\r\n In the most holy place shalt thou eat it; every male shall eat it: it shall be holy unto thee.\r\n And this is thine; the heave offering of their gift, with all the wave offerings of the children of Israel: I have given them unto thee, and to thy sons and to thy daughters with thee, by a statute for ever: every one that is clean in thy house shall eat of it.\r\n All the best of the oil, and all the best of the wine, and of the wheat, the firstfruits of them which they shall offer unto the LORD, them have I given thee.\r\n And whatsoever is first ripe in the land, which they shall bring unto the LORD, shall be thine; every one that is clean in thine house shall eat of it.\r\n Every thing devoted in Israel shall be thine.\r\n Every thing that openeth the matrix in all flesh, which they bring unto the LORD, whether it be of men or beasts, shall be thine: nevertheless the firstborn of man shalt thou surely redeem, and the firstling of unclean beasts shalt thou redeem.\r\n And those that are to be redeemed from a month old shalt thou redeem, according to thine estimation, for the money of five shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, which is twenty gerahs.\r\n But the firstling of a cow, or the firstling of a sheep, or the firstling of a goat, thou shalt not redeem; they are holy: thou shalt sprinkle their blood upon the altar, and shalt burn their fat for an offering made by fire, for a sweet savour unto the LORD.\r\n And the flesh of them shall be thine, as the wave breast and as the right shoulder are thine.\r\n All the heave offerings of the holy things, which the children of Israel offer unto the LORD, have I given thee, and thy sons and thy daughters with thee, by a statute for ever: it is a covenant of salt for ever before the LORD unto thee and to thy seed with thee.\r\n And the LORD spake unto Aaron, Thou shalt have no inheritance in their land, neither shalt thou have any part among them: I am thy part and thine inheritance among the children of Israel.\r\n And, behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they serve, even the service of the tabernacle of the congregation.\r\n Neither must the children of Israel henceforth come nigh the tabernacle of the congregation, lest they bear sin, and die.\r\n But the Levites shall do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they shall bear their iniquity: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations, that among the children of Israel they have no inheritance.\r\n But the tithes of the children of Israel, which they offer as an heave offering unto the LORD, I have given to the Levites to inherit: therefore I have said unto them, Among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance.\r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Thus speak unto the Levites, and say unto them, When ye take of the children of Israel the tithes which I have given you from them for your inheritance, then ye shall offer up an heave offering of it for the LORD, even a tenth part of the tithe.\r\n And this your heave offering shall be reckoned unto you, as though it were the corn of the threshingfloor, and as the fulness of the winepress.\r\n Thus ye also shall offer an heave offering unto the LORD of all your tithes, which ye receive of the children of Israel; and ye shall give thereof the LORD'S heave offering to Aaron the priest.\r\n Out of all your gifts ye shall offer every heave offering of the LORD, of all the best thereof, even the hallowed part thereof out of it.\r\n Therefore thou shalt say unto them, When ye have heaved the best thereof from it, then it shall be counted unto the Levites as the increase of the threshingfloor, and as the increase of the winepress.\r\n And ye shall eat it in every place, ye and your households: for it is your reward for your service in the tabernacle of the congregation.\r\n And ye shall bear no sin by reason of it, when ye have heaved from it the best of it: neither shall ye pollute the holy things of the children of Israel, lest ye die.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,\r\n This is the ordinance of the law which the LORD hath commanded, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring thee a red heifer without spot, wherein is no blemish, and upon which never came yoke:\r\n And ye shall give her unto Eleazar the priest, that he may bring her forth without the camp, and one shall slay her before his face:\r\n And Eleazar the priest shall take of her blood with his finger, and sprinkle of her blood directly before the tabernacle of the congregation seven times:\r\n And one shall burn the heifer in his sight; her skin, and her flesh, and her blood, with her dung, shall he burn:\r\n And the priest shall take cedar wood, and hyssop, and scarlet, and cast it into the midst of the burning of the heifer.\r\n Then the priest shall wash his clothes, and he shall bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp, and the priest shall be unclean until the even.\r\n And he that burneth her shall wash his clothes in water, and bathe his flesh in water, and shall be unclean until the even.\r\n And a man that is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer, and lay them up without the camp in a clean place, and it shall be kept for the congregation of the children of Israel for a water of separation: it is a purification for sin.\r\n And he that gathereth the ashes of the heifer shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even: and it shall be unto the children of Israel, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among them, for a statute for ever.\r\n He that toucheth the dead body of any man shall be unclean seven days.\r\n He shall purify himself with it on the third day, and on the seventh day he shall be clean: but if he purify not himself the third day, then the seventh day he shall not be clean.\r\n Whosoever toucheth the dead body of any man that is dead, and purifieth not himself, defileth the tabernacle of the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off from Israel: because the water of separation was not sprinkled upon him, he shall be unclean; his uncleanness is yet upon him.\r\n This is the law, when a man dieth in a tent: all that come into the tent, and all that is in the tent, shall be unclean seven days.\r\n And every open vessel, which hath no covering bound upon it, is unclean.\r\n And whosoever toucheth one that is slain with a sword in the open fields, or a dead body, or a bone of a man, or a grave, shall be unclean seven days.\r\n And for an unclean person they shall take of the ashes of the burnt heifer of purification for sin, and running water shall be put thereto in a vessel:\r\n And a clean person shall take hyssop, and dip it in the water, and sprinkle it upon the tent, and upon all the vessels, and upon the persons that were there, and upon him that touched a bone, or one slain, or one dead, or a grave:\r\n And the clean person shall sprinkle upon the unclean on the third day, and on the seventh day: and on the seventh day he shall purify himself, and wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and shall be clean at even.\r\n But the man that shall be unclean, and shall not purify himself, that soul shall be cut off from among the congregation, because he hath defiled the sanctuary of the LORD: the water of separation hath not been sprinkled upon him; he is unclean.\r\n And it shall be a perpetual statute unto them, that he that sprinkleth the water of separation shall wash his clothes; and he that toucheth the water of separation shall be unclean until even.\r\n And whatsoever the unclean person toucheth shall be unclean; and the soul that toucheth it shall be unclean until even.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then came the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, into the desert of Zin in the first month: and the people abode in Kadesh; and Miriam died there, and was buried there.\r\n And there was no water for the congregation: and they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron.\r\n And the people chode with Moses, and spake, saying, Would God that we had died when our brethren died before the LORD!\r\n And why have ye brought up the congregation of the LORD into this wilderness, that we and our cattle should die there?\r\n And wherefore have ye made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in unto this evil place? it is no place of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates; neither is there any water to drink.\r\n And Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they fell upon their faces: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto them.\r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink.\r\n And Moses took the rod from before the LORD, as he commanded him.\r\n And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?\r\n And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also.\r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.\r\n This is the water of Meribah; because the children of Israel strove with the LORD, and he was sanctified in them.\r\n And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh unto the king of Edom, Thus saith thy brother Israel, Thou knowest all the travail that hath befallen us:\r\n How our fathers went down into Egypt, and we have dwelt in Egypt a long time; and the Egyptians vexed us, and our fathers:\r\n And when we cried unto the LORD, he heard our voice, and sent an angel, and hath brought us forth out of Egypt: and, behold, we are in Kadesh, a city in the uttermost of thy border:\r\n Let us pass, I pray thee, through thy country: we will not pass through the fields, or through the vineyards, neither will we drink of the water of the wells: we will go by the king's high way, we will not turn to the right hand nor to the left, until we have passed thy borders.\r\n And Edom said unto him, Thou shalt not pass by me, lest I come out against thee with the sword.\r\n And the children of Israel said unto him, We will go by the high way: and if I and my cattle drink of thy water, then I will pay for it: I will only, without doing any thing else, go through on my feet.\r\n And he said, Thou shalt not go through. And Edom came out against him with much people, and with a strong hand.\r\n Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border: wherefore Israel turned away from him.\r\n And the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, journeyed from Kadesh, and came unto mount Hor.\r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron in mount Hor, by the coast of the land of Edom, saying,\r\n Aaron shall be gathered unto his people: for he shall not enter into the land which I have given unto the children of Israel, because ye rebelled against my word at the water of Meribah.\r\n Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring them up unto mount Hor:\r\n And strip Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son: and Aaron shall be gathered unto his people, and shall die there.\r\n And Moses did as the LORD commanded: and they went up into mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation.\r\n And Moses stripped Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son; and Aaron died there in the top of the mount: and Moses and Eleazar came down from the mount.\r\n And when all the congregation saw that Aaron was dead, they mourned for Aaron thirty days, even all the house of Israel.\r\n \r\n \r\n And when king Arad the Canaanite, which dwelt in the south, heard tell that Israel came by the way of the spies; then he fought against Israel, and took some of them prisoners.\r\n And Israel vowed a vow unto the LORD, and said, If thou wilt indeed deliver this people into my hand, then I will utterly destroy their cities.\r\n And the LORD hearkened to the voice of Israel, and delivered up the Canaanites; and they utterly destroyed them and their cities: and he called the name of the place Hormah.\r\n And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way.\r\n And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.\r\n And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.\r\n Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people.\r\n And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.\r\n And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.\r\n And the children of Israel set forward, and pitched in Oboth.\r\n And they journeyed from Oboth, and pitched at Ijeabarim, in the wilderness which is before Moab, toward the sunrising.\r\n From thence they removed, and pitched in the valley of Zared.\r\n From thence they removed, and pitched on the other side of Arnon, which is in the wilderness that cometh out of the coasts of the Amorites: for Arnon is the border of Moab, between Moab and the Amorites.\r\n Wherefore it is said in the book of the wars of the LORD, What he did in the Red sea, and in the brooks of Arnon,\r\n And at the stream of the brooks that goeth down to the dwelling of Ar, and lieth upon the border of Moab.\r\n And from thence they went to Beer: that is the well whereof the LORD spake unto Moses, Gather the people together, and I will give them water.\r\n Then Israel sang this song, Spring up, O well; sing ye unto it:\r\n The princes digged the well, the nobles of the people digged it, by the direction of the lawgiver, with their staves. And from the wilderness they went to Mattanah:\r\n And from Mattanah to Nahaliel: and from Nahaliel to Bamoth:\r\n And from Bamoth in the valley, that is in the country of Moab, to the top of Pisgah, which looketh toward Jeshimon.\r\n And Israel sent messengers unto Sihon king of the Amorites, saying,\r\n Let me pass through thy land: we will not turn into the fields, or into the vineyards; we will not drink of the waters of the well: but we will go along by the king's high way, until we be past thy borders.\r\n And Sihon would not suffer Israel to pass through his border: but Sihon gathered all his people together, and went out against Israel into the wilderness: and he came to Jahaz, and fought against Israel.\r\n And Israel smote him with the edge of the sword, and possessed his land from Arnon unto Jabbok, even unto the children of Ammon: for the border of the children of Ammon was strong.\r\n And Israel took all these cities: and Israel dwelt in all the cities of the Amorites, in Heshbon, and in all the villages thereof.\r\n For Heshbon was the city of Sihon the king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab, and taken all his land out of his hand, even unto Arnon.\r\n Wherefore they that speak in proverbs say, Come into Heshbon, let the city of Sihon be built and prepared:\r\n For there is a fire gone out of Heshbon, a flame from the city of Sihon: it hath consumed Ar of Moab, and the lords of the high places of Arnon.\r\n Woe to thee, Moab! thou art undone, O people of Chemosh: he hath given his sons that escaped, and his daughters, into captivity unto Sihon king of the Amorites.\r\n We have shot at them; Heshbon is perished even unto Dibon, and we have laid them waste even unto Nophah, which reacheth unto Medeba.\r\n Thus Israel dwelt in the land of the Amorites.\r\n And Moses sent to spy out Jaazer, and they took the villages thereof, and drove out the Amorites that were there.\r\n And they turned and went up by the way of Bashan: and Og the king of Bashan went out against them, he, and all his people, to the battle at Edrei.\r\n And the LORD said unto Moses, Fear him not: for I have delivered him into thy hand, and all his people, and his land; and thou shalt do to him as thou didst unto Sihon king of the Amorites, which dwelt at Heshbon.\r\n So they smote him, and his sons, and all his people, until there was none left him alive: and they possessed his land.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the children of Israel set forward, and pitched in the plains of Moab on this side Jordan by Jericho.\r\n And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.\r\n And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they were many: and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel.\r\n And Moab said unto the elders of Midian, Now shall this company lick up all that are round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time.\r\n He sent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor, which is by the river of the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt: behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me:\r\n Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land: for I wot that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed.\r\n And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak.\r\n And he said unto them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as the LORD shall speak unto me: and the princes of Moab abode with Balaam.\r\n And God came unto Balaam, and said, What men are these with thee?\r\n And Balaam said unto God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me, saying,\r\n Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt, which covereth the face of the earth: come now, curse me them; peradventure I shall be able to overcome them, and drive them out.\r\n And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed.\r\n And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said unto the princes of Balak, Get you into your land: for the LORD refuseth to give me leave to go with you.\r\n And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went unto Balak, and said, Balaam refuseth to come with us.\r\n And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honourable than they.\r\n And they came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus saith Balak the son of Zippor, Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from coming unto me:\r\n For I will promote thee unto very great honour, and I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me: come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people.\r\n And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the LORD my God, to do less or more.\r\n Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may know what the LORD will say unto me more.\r\n And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the men come to call thee, rise up, and go with them; but yet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do.\r\n And Balaam rose up in the morning, and saddled his ass, and went with the princes of Moab.\r\n And God's anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him.\r\n And the ass saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way.\r\n But the angel of the LORD stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side.\r\n And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall: and he smote her again.\r\n And the angel of the LORD went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.\r\n And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff.\r\n And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?\r\n And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee.\r\n And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? And he said, Nay.\r\n Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face.\r\n And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me:\r\n And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times: unless she had turned from me, surely now also I had slain thee, and saved her alive.\r\n And Balaam said unto the angel of the LORD, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again.\r\n And the angel of the LORD said unto Balaam, Go with the men: but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak. So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.\r\n And when Balak heard that Balaam was come, he went out to meet him unto a city of Moab, which is in the border of Arnon, which is in the utmost coast.\r\n And Balak said unto Balaam, Did I not earnestly send unto thee to call thee? wherefore camest thou not unto me? am I not able indeed to promote thee to honour?\r\n And Balaam said unto Balak, Lo, I am come unto thee: have I now any power at all to say any thing? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak.\r\n And Balaam went with Balak, and they came unto Kirjathhuzoth.\r\n And Balak offered oxen and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes that were with him.\r\n And it came to pass on the morrow, that Balak took Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal, that thence he might see the utmost part of the people.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven oxen and seven rams.\r\n And Balak did as Balaam had spoken; and Balak and Balaam offered on every altar a bullock and a ram.\r\n And Balaam said unto Balak, Stand by thy burnt offering, and I will go: peradventure the LORD will come to meet me: and whatsoever he sheweth me I will tell thee. And he went to an high place.\r\n And God met Balaam: and he said unto him, I have prepared seven altars, and I have offered upon every altar a bullock and a ram.\r\n And the LORD put a word in Balaam's mouth, and said, Return unto Balak, and thus thou shalt speak.\r\n And he returned unto him, and, lo, he stood by his burnt sacrifice, he, and all the princes of Moab.\r\n And he took up his parable, and said, Balak the king of Moab hath brought me from Aram, out of the mountains of the east, saying, Come, curse me Jacob, and come, defy Israel.\r\n How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? or how shall I defy, whom the LORD hath not defied?\r\n For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him: lo, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations.\r\n Who can count the dust of Jacob, and the number of the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his!\r\n And Balak said unto Balaam, What hast thou done unto me? I took thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast blessed them altogether.\r\n And he answered and said, Must I not take heed to speak that which the LORD hath put in my mouth?\r\n And Balak said unto him, Come, I pray thee, with me unto another place, from whence thou mayest see them: thou shalt see but the utmost part of them, and shalt not see them all: and curse me them from thence.\r\n And he brought him into the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah, and built seven altars, and offered a bullock and a ram on every altar.\r\n And he said unto Balak, Stand here by thy burnt offering, while I meet the LORD yonder.\r\n And the LORD met Balaam, and put a word in his mouth, and said, Go again unto Balak, and say thus.\r\n And when he came to him, behold, he stood by his burnt offering, and the princes of Moab with him. And Balak said unto him, What hath the LORD spoken?\r\n And he took up his parable, and said, Rise up, Balak, and hear; hearken unto me, thou son of Zippor:\r\n God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?\r\n Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it.\r\n He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel: the LORD his God is with him, and the shout of a king is among them.\r\n God brought them out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn.\r\n Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel: according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought!\r\n Behold, the people shall rise up as a great lion, and lift up himself as a young lion: he shall not lie down until he eat of the prey, and drink the blood of the slain.\r\n And Balak said unto Balaam, Neither curse them at all, nor bless them at all.\r\n But Balaam answered and said unto Balak, Told not I thee, saying, All that the LORD speaketh, that I must do?\r\n And Balak said unto Balaam, Come, I pray thee, I will bring thee unto another place; peradventure it will please God that thou mayest curse me them from thence.\r\n And Balak brought Balaam unto the top of Peor, that looketh toward Jeshimon.\r\n And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven bullocks and seven rams.\r\n And Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered a bullock and a ram on every altar.\r\n \r\n \r\n And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he went not, as at other times, to seek for enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness.\r\n And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel abiding in his tents according to their tribes; and the spirit of God came upon him.\r\n And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:\r\n He hath said, which heard the words of God, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:\r\n How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel!\r\n As the valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by the river's side, as the trees of lign aloes which the LORD hath planted, and as cedar trees beside the waters.\r\n He shall pour the water out of his buckets, and his seed shall be in many waters, and his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted.\r\n God brought him forth out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn: he shall eat up the nations his enemies, and shall break their bones, and pierce them through with his arrows.\r\n He couched, he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion: who shall stir him up? Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee.\r\n And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together: and Balak said unto Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times.\r\n Therefore now flee thou to thy place: I thought to promote thee unto great honour; but, lo, the LORD hath kept thee back from honour.\r\n And Balaam said unto Balak, Spake I not also to thy messengers which thou sentest unto me, saying,\r\n If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the LORD, to do either good or bad of mine own mind; but what the LORD saith, that will I speak?\r\n And now, behold, I go unto my people: come therefore, and I will advertise thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days.\r\n And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:\r\n He hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:\r\n I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.\r\n And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly.\r\n Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city.\r\n And when he looked on Amalek, he took up his parable, and said, Amalek was the first of the nations; but his latter end shall be that he perish for ever.\r\n And he looked on the Kenites, and took up his parable, and said, Strong is thy dwellingplace, and thou puttest thy nest in a rock.\r\n Nevertheless the Kenite shall be wasted, until Asshur shall carry thee away captive.\r\n And he took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God doeth this!\r\n And ships shall come from the coast of Chittim, and shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber, and he also shall perish for ever.\r\n And Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place: and Balak also went his way.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab.\r\n And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods.\r\n And Israel joined himself unto Baalpeor: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel.\r\n And the LORD said unto Moses, Take all the heads of the people, and hang them up before the LORD against the sun, that the fierce anger of the LORD may be turned away from Israel.\r\n And Moses said unto the judges of Israel, Slay ye every one his men that were joined unto Baalpeor.\r\n And, behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought unto his brethren a Midianitish woman in the sight of Moses, and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, who were weeping before the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.\r\n And when Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from among the congregation, and took a javelin in his hand;\r\n And he went after the man of Israel into the tent, and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her belly. So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel.\r\n And those that died in the plague were twenty and four thousand.\r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, hath turned my wrath away from the children of Israel, while he was zealous for my sake among them, that I consumed not the children of Israel in my jealousy.\r\n Wherefore say, Behold, I give unto him my covenant of peace:\r\n And he shall have it, and his seed after him, even the covenant of an everlasting priesthood; because he was zealous for his God, and made an atonement for the children of Israel.\r\n Now the name of the Israelite that was slain, even that was slain with the Midianitish woman, was Zimri, the son of Salu, a prince of a chief house among the Simeonites.\r\n And the name of the Midianitish woman that was slain was Cozbi, the daughter of Zur; he was head over a people, and of a chief house in Midian.\r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Vex the Midianites, and smite them:\r\n For they vex you with their wiles, wherewith they have beguiled you in the matter of Peor, and in the matter of Cozbi, the daughter of a prince of Midian, their sister, which was slain in the day of the plague for Peor's sake.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass after the plague, that the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, saying,\r\n Take the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, from twenty years old and upward, throughout their fathers' house, all that are able to go to war in Israel.\r\n And Moses and Eleazar the priest spake with them in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho, saying,\r\n Take the sum of the people, from twenty years old and upward; as the LORD commanded Moses and the children of Israel, which went forth out of the land of Egypt.\r\n Reuben, the eldest son of Israel: the children of Reuben; Hanoch, of whom cometh the family of the Hanochites: of Pallu, the family of the Palluites:\r\n Of Hezron, the family of the Hezronites: of Carmi, the family of the Carmites.\r\n These are the families of the Reubenites: and they that were numbered of them were forty and three thousand and seven hundred and thirty.\r\n And the sons of Pallu; Eliab.\r\n And the sons of Eliab; Nemuel, and Dathan, and Abiram. This is that Dathan and Abiram, which were famous in the congregation, who strove against Moses and against Aaron in the company of Korah, when they strove against the LORD:\r\n And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up together with Korah, when that company died, what time the fire devoured two hundred and fifty men: and they became a sign.\r\n Notwithstanding the children of Korah died not.\r\n The sons of Simeon after their families: of Nemuel, the family of the Nemuelites: of Jamin, the family of the Jaminites: of Jachin, the family of the Jachinites:\r\n Of Zerah, the family of the Zarhites: of Shaul, the family of the Shaulites.\r\n These are the families of the Simeonites, twenty and two thousand and two hundred.\r\n The children of Gad after their families: of Zephon, the family of the Zephonites: of Haggi, the family of the Haggites: of Shuni, the family of the Shunites:\r\n Of Ozni, the family of the Oznites: of Eri, the family of the Erites:\r\n Of Arod, the family of the Arodites: of Areli, the family of the Arelites.\r\n These are the families of the children of Gad according to those that were numbered of them, forty thousand and five hundred.\r\n The sons of Judah were Er and Onan: and Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan.\r\n And the sons of Judah after their families were; of Shelah, the family of the Shelanites: of Pharez, the family of the Pharzites: of Zerah, the family of the Zarhites.\r\n And the sons of Pharez were; of Hezron, the family of the Hezronites: of Hamul, the family of the Hamulites.\r\n These are the families of Judah according to those that were numbered of them, threescore and sixteen thousand and five hundred.\r\n Of the sons of Issachar after their families: of Tola, the family of the Tolaites: of Pua, the family of the Punites:\r\n Of Jashub, the family of the Jashubites: of Shimron, the family of the Shimronites.\r\n These are the families of Issachar according to those that were numbered of them, threescore and four thousand and three hundred.\r\n Of the sons of Zebulun after their families: of Sered, the family of the Sardites: of Elon, the family of the Elonites: of Jahleel, the family of the Jahleelites.\r\n These are the families of the Zebulunites according to those that were numbered of them, threescore thousand and five hundred.\r\n The sons of Joseph after their families were Manasseh and Ephraim.\r\n Of the sons of Manasseh: of Machir, the family of the Machirites: and Machir begat Gilead: of Gilead come the family of the Gileadites.\r\n These are the sons of Gilead: of Jeezer, the family of the Jeezerites: of Helek, the family of the Helekites:\r\n And of Asriel, the family of the Asrielites: and of Shechem, the family of the Shechemites:\r\n And of Shemida, the family of the Shemidaites: and of Hepher, the family of the Hepherites.\r\n And Zelophehad the son of Hepher had no sons, but daughters: and the names of the daughters of Zelophehad were Mahlah, and Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.\r\n These are the families of Manasseh, and those that were numbered of them, fifty and two thousand and seven hundred.\r\n These are the sons of Ephraim after their families: of Shuthelah, the family of the Shuthalhites: of Becher, the family of the Bachrites: of Tahan, the family of the Tahanites.\r\n And these are the sons of Shuthelah: of Eran, the family of the Eranites.\r\n These are the families of the sons of Ephraim according to those that were numbered of them, thirty and two thousand and five hundred. These are the sons of Joseph after their families.\r\n The sons of Benjamin after their families: of Bela, the family of the Belaites: of Ashbel, the family of the Ashbelites: of Ahiram, the family of the Ahiramites:\r\n Of Shupham, the family of the Shuphamites: of Hupham, the family of the Huphamites.\r\n And the sons of Bela were Ard and Naaman: of Ard, the family of the Ardites: and of Naaman, the family of the Naamites.\r\n These are the sons of Benjamin after their families: and they that were numbered of them were forty and five thousand and six hundred.\r\n These are the sons of Dan after their families: of Shuham, the family of the Shuhamites. These are the families of Dan after their families.\r\n All the families of the Shuhamites, according to those that were numbered of them, were threescore and four thousand and four hundred.\r\n Of the children of Asher after their families: of Jimna, the family of the Jimnites: of Jesui, the family of the Jesuites: of Beriah, the family of the Beriites.\r\n Of the sons of Beriah: of Heber, the family of the Heberites: of Malchiel, the family of the Malchielites.\r\n And the name of the daughter of Asher was Sarah.\r\n These are the families of the sons of Asher according to those that were numbered of them; who were fifty and three thousand and four hundred.\r\n Of the sons of Naphtali after their families: of Jahzeel, the family of the Jahzeelites: of Guni, the family of the Gunites:\r\n Of Jezer, the family of the Jezerites: of Shillem, the family of the Shillemites.\r\n These are the families of Naphtali according to their families: and they that were numbered of them were forty and five thousand and four hundred.\r\n These were the numbered of the children of Israel, six hundred thousand and a thousand seven hundred and thirty.\r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Unto these the land shall be divided for an inheritance according to the number of names.\r\n To many thou shalt give the more inheritance, and to few thou shalt give the less inheritance: to every one shall his inheritance be given according to those that were numbered of him.\r\n Notwithstanding the land shall be divided by lot: according to the names of the tribes of their fathers they shall inherit.\r\n According to the lot shall the possession thereof be divided between many and few.\r\n And these are they that were numbered of the Levites after their families: of Gershon, the family of the Gershonites: of Kohath, the family of the Kohathites: of Merari, the family of the Merarites.\r\n These are the families of the Levites: the family of the Libnites, the family of the Hebronites, the family of the Mahlites, the family of the Mushites, the family of the Korathites. And Kohath begat Amram.\r\n And the name of Amram's wife was Jochebed, the daughter of Levi, whom her mother bare to Levi in Egypt: and she bare unto Amram Aaron and Moses, and Miriam their sister.\r\n And unto Aaron was born Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.\r\n And Nadab and Abihu died, when they offered strange fire before the LORD.\r\n And those that were numbered of them were twenty and three thousand, all males from a month old and upward: for they were not numbered among the children of Israel, because there was no inheritance given them among the children of Israel.\r\n These are they that were numbered by Moses and Eleazar the priest, who numbered the children of Israel in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho.\r\n But among these there was not a man of them whom Moses and Aaron the priest numbered, when they numbered the children of Israel in the wilderness of Sinai.\r\n For the LORD had said of them, They shall surely die in the wilderness. And there was not left a man of them, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then came the daughters of Zelophehad, the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, of the families of Manasseh the son of Joseph: and these are the names of his daughters; Mahlah, Noah, and Hoglah, and Milcah, and Tirzah.\r\n And they stood before Moses, and before Eleazar the priest, and before the princes and all the congregation, by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying,\r\n Our father died in the wilderness, and he was not in the company of them that gathered themselves together against the LORD in the company of Korah; but died in his own sin, and had no sons.\r\n Why should the name of our father be done away from among his family, because he hath no son? Give unto us therefore a possession among the brethren of our father.\r\n And Moses brought their cause before the LORD.\r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n The daughters of Zelophehad speak right: thou shalt surely give them a possession of an inheritance among their father's brethren; and thou shalt cause the inheritance of their father to pass unto them.\r\n And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a man die, and have no son, then ye shall cause his inheritance to pass unto his daughter.\r\n And if he have no daughter, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his brethren.\r\n And if he have no brethren, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his father's brethren.\r\n And if his father have no brethren, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his kinsman that is next to him of his family, and he shall possess it: and it shall be unto the children of Israel a statute of judgment, as the LORD commanded Moses.\r\n And the LORD said unto Moses, Get thee up into this mount Abarim, and see the land which I have given unto the children of Israel.\r\n And when thou hast seen it, thou also shalt be gathered unto thy people, as Aaron thy brother was gathered.\r\n For ye rebelled against my commandment in the desert of Zin, in the strife of the congregation, to sanctify me at the water before their eyes: that is the water of Meribah in Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.\r\n And Moses spake unto the LORD, saying,\r\n Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation,\r\n Which may go out before them, and which may go in before them, and which may lead them out, and which may bring them in; that the congregation of the LORD be not as sheep which have no shepherd.\r\n And the LORD said unto Moses, Take thee Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay thine hand upon him;\r\n And set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation; and give him a charge in their sight.\r\n And thou shalt put some of thine honour upon him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient.\r\n And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall ask counsel for him after the judgment of Urim before the LORD: at his word shall they go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he, and all the children of Israel with him, even all the congregation.\r\n And Moses did as the LORD commanded him: and he took Joshua, and set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation:\r\n And he laid his hands upon him, and gave him a charge, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Command the children of Israel, and say unto them, My offering, and my bread for my sacrifices made by fire, for a sweet savour unto me, shall ye observe to offer unto me in their due season.\r\n And thou shalt say unto them, This is the offering made by fire which ye shall offer unto the LORD; two lambs of the first year without spot day by day, for a continual burnt offering.\r\n The one lamb shalt thou offer in the morning, and the other lamb shalt thou offer at even;\r\n And a tenth part of an ephah of flour for a meat offering, mingled with the fourth part of an hin of beaten oil.\r\n It is a continual burnt offering, which was ordained in mount Sinai for a sweet savour, a sacrifice made by fire unto the LORD.\r\n And the drink offering thereof shall be the fourth part of an hin for the one lamb: in the holy place shalt thou cause the strong wine to be poured unto the LORD for a drink offering.\r\n And the other lamb shalt thou offer at even: as the meat offering of the morning, and as the drink offering thereof, thou shalt offer it, a sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.\r\n And on the sabbath day two lambs of the first year without spot, and two tenth deals of flour for a meat offering, mingled with oil, and the drink offering thereof:\r\n This is the burnt offering of every sabbath, beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink offering.\r\n And in the beginnings of your months ye shall offer a burnt offering unto the LORD; two young bullocks, and one ram, seven lambs of the first year without spot;\r\n And three tenth deals of flour for a meat offering, mingled with oil, for one bullock; and two tenth deals of flour for a meat offering, mingled with oil, for one ram;\r\n And a several tenth deal of flour mingled with oil for a meat offering unto one lamb; for a burnt offering of a sweet savour, a sacrifice made by fire unto the LORD.\r\n And their drink offerings shall be half an hin of wine unto a bullock, and the third part of an hin unto a ram, and a fourth part of an hin unto a lamb: this is the burnt offering of every month throughout the months of the year.\r\n And one kid of the goats for a sin offering unto the LORD shall be offered, beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink offering.\r\n And in the fourteenth day of the first month is the passover of the LORD.\r\n And in the fifteenth day of this month is the feast: seven days shall unleavened bread be eaten.\r\n In the first day shall be an holy convocation; ye shall do no manner of servile work therein:\r\n But ye shall offer a sacrifice made by fire for a burnt offering unto the LORD; two young bullocks, and one ram, and seven lambs of the first year: they shall be unto you without blemish:\r\n And their meat offering shall be of flour mingled with oil: three tenth deals shall ye offer for a bullock, and two tenth deals for a ram;\r\n A several tenth deal shalt thou offer for every lamb, throughout the seven lambs:\r\n And one goat for a sin offering, to make an atonement for you.\r\n Ye shall offer these beside the burnt offering in the morning, which is for a continual burnt offering.\r\n After this manner ye shall offer daily, throughout the seven days, the meat of the sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD: it shall be offered beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink offering.\r\n And on the seventh day ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work.\r\n Also in the day of the firstfruits, when ye bring a new meat offering unto the LORD, after your weeks be out, ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work:\r\n But ye shall offer the burnt offering for a sweet savour unto the LORD; two young bullocks, one ram, seven lambs of the first year;\r\n And their meat offering of flour mingled with oil, three tenth deals unto one bullock, two tenth deals unto one ram,\r\n A several tenth deal unto one lamb, throughout the seven lambs;\r\n And one kid of the goats, to make an atonement for you.\r\n Ye shall offer them beside the continual burnt offering, and his meat offering, (they shall be unto you without blemish) and their drink offerings.\r\n \r\n \r\n And in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work: it is a day of blowing the trumpets unto you.\r\n And ye shall offer a burnt offering for a sweet savour unto the LORD; one young bullock, one ram, and seven lambs of the first year without blemish:\r\n And their meat offering shall be of flour mingled with oil, three tenth deals for a bullock, and two tenth deals for a ram,\r\n And one tenth deal for one lamb, throughout the seven lambs:\r\n And one kid of the goats for a sin offering, to make an atonement for you:\r\n Beside the burnt offering of the month, and his meat offering, and the daily burnt offering, and his meat offering, and their drink offerings, according unto their manner, for a sweet savour, a sacrifice made by fire unto the LORD.\r\n And ye shall have on the tenth day of this seventh month an holy convocation; and ye shall afflict your souls: ye shall not do any work therein:\r\n But ye shall offer a burnt offering unto the LORD for a sweet savour; one young bullock, one ram, and seven lambs of the first year; they shall be unto you without blemish:\r\n And their meat offering shall be of flour mingled with oil, three tenth deals to a bullock, and two tenth deals to one ram,\r\n A several tenth deal for one lamb, throughout the seven lambs:\r\n One kid of the goats for a sin offering; beside the sin offering of atonement, and the continual burnt offering, and the meat offering of it, and their drink offerings.\r\n And on the fifteenth day of the seventh month ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work, and ye shall keep a feast unto the LORD seven days:\r\n And ye shall offer a burnt offering, a sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD; thirteen young bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year; they shall be without blemish:\r\n And their meat offering shall be of flour mingled with oil, three tenth deals unto every bullock of the thirteen bullocks, two tenth deals to each ram of the two rams,\r\n And a several tenth deal to each lamb of the fourteen lambs:\r\n And one kid of the goats for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, his meat offering, and his drink offering.\r\n And on the second day ye shall offer twelve young bullocks, two rams, fourteen lambs of the first year without spot:\r\n And their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner:\r\n And one kid of the goats for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, and the meat offering thereof, and their drink offerings.\r\n And on the third day eleven bullocks, two rams, fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish;\r\n And their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner:\r\n And one goat for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, and his meat offering, and his drink offering.\r\n And on the fourth day ten bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish:\r\n Their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner:\r\n And one kid of the goats for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, his meat offering, and his drink offering.\r\n And on the fifth day nine bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without spot:\r\n And their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner:\r\n And one goat for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, and his meat offering, and his drink offering.\r\n And on the sixth day eight bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish:\r\n And their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner:\r\n And one goat for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, his meat offering, and his drink offering.\r\n And on the seventh day seven bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish:\r\n And their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner:\r\n And one goat for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, his meat offering, and his drink offering.\r\n On the eighth day ye shall have a solemn assembly: ye shall do no servile work therein:\r\n But ye shall offer a burnt offering, a sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD: one bullock, one ram, seven lambs of the first year without blemish:\r\n Their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullock, for the ram, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner:\r\n And one goat for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, and his meat offering, and his drink offering.\r\n These things ye shall do unto the LORD in your set feasts, beside your vows, and your freewill offerings, for your burnt offerings, and for your meat offerings, and for your drink offerings, and for your peace offerings.\r\n And Moses told the children of Israel according to all that the LORD commanded Moses.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Moses spake unto the heads of the tribes concerning the children of Israel, saying, This is the thing which the LORD hath commanded.\r\n If a man vow a vow unto the LORD, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.\r\n If a woman also vow a vow unto the LORD, and bind herself by a bond, being in her father's house in her youth;\r\n And her father hear her vow, and her bond wherewith she hath bound her soul, and her father shall hold his peace at her: then all her vows shall stand, and every bond wherewith she hath bound her soul shall stand.\r\n But if her father disallow her in the day that he heareth; not any of her vows, or of her bonds wherewith she hath bound her soul, shall stand: and the LORD shall forgive her, because her father disallowed her.\r\n And if she had at all an husband, when she vowed, or uttered ought out of her lips, wherewith she bound her soul;\r\n And her husband heard it, and held his peace at her in the day that he heard it: then her vows shall stand, and her bonds wherewith she bound her soul shall stand.\r\n But if her husband disallowed her on the day that he heard it; then he shall make her vow which she vowed, and that which she uttered with her lips, wherewith she bound her soul, of none effect: and the LORD shall forgive her.\r\n But every vow of a widow, and of her that is divorced, wherewith they have bound their souls, shall stand against her.\r\n And if she vowed in her husband's house, or bound her soul by a bond with an oath;\r\n And her husband heard it, and held his peace at her, and disallowed her not: then all her vows shall stand, and every bond wherewith she bound her soul shall stand.\r\n But if her husband hath utterly made them void on the day he heard them; then whatsoever proceeded out of her lips concerning her vows, or concerning the bond of her soul, shall not stand: her husband hath made them void; and the LORD shall forgive her.\r\n Every vow, and every binding oath to afflict the soul, her husband may establish it, or her husband may make it void.\r\n But if her husband altogether hold his peace at her from day to day; then he establisheth all her vows, or all her bonds, which are upon her: he confirmeth them, because he held his peace at her in the day that he heard them.\r\n But if he shall any ways make them void after that he hath heard them; then he shall bear her iniquity.\r\n These are the statutes, which the LORD commanded Moses, between a man and his wife, between the father and his daughter, being yet in her youth in her father's house.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Avenge the children of Israel of the Midianites: afterward shalt thou be gathered unto thy people.\r\n And Moses spake unto the people, saying, Arm some of yourselves unto the war, and let them go against the Midianites, and avenge the LORD of Midian.\r\n Of every tribe a thousand, throughout all the tribes of Israel, shall ye send to the war.\r\n So there were delivered out of the thousands of Israel, a thousand of every tribe, twelve thousand armed for war.\r\n And Moses sent them to the war, a thousand of every tribe, them and Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, to the war, with the holy instruments, and the trumpets to blow in his hand.\r\n And they warred against the Midianites, as the LORD commanded Moses; and they slew all the males.\r\n And they slew the kings of Midian, beside the rest of them that were slain; namely, Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, five kings of Midian: Balaam also the son of Beor they slew with the sword.\r\n And the children of Israel took all the women of Midian captives, and their little ones, and took the spoil of all their cattle, and all their flocks, and all their goods.\r\n And they burnt all their cities wherein they dwelt, and all their goodly castles, with fire.\r\n And they took all the spoil, and all the prey, both of men and of beasts.\r\n And they brought the captives, and the prey, and the spoil, unto Moses, and Eleazar the priest, and unto the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the camp at the plains of Moab, which are by Jordan near Jericho.\r\n And Moses, and Eleazar the priest, and all the princes of the congregation, went forth to meet them without the camp.\r\n And Moses was wroth with the officers of the host, with the captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, which came from the battle.\r\n And Moses said unto them, Have ye saved all the women alive?\r\n Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the LORD in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the LORD.\r\n Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman that hath known man by lying with him.\r\n But all the women children, that have not known a man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves.\r\n And do ye abide without the camp seven days: whosoever hath killed any person, and whosoever hath touched any slain, purify both yourselves and your captives on the third day, and on the seventh day.\r\n And purify all your raiment, and all that is made of skins, and all work of goats' hair, and all things made of wood.\r\n And Eleazar the priest said unto the men of war which went to the battle, This is the ordinance of the law which the LORD commanded Moses;\r\n Only the gold, and the silver, the brass, the iron, the tin, and the lead,\r\n Every thing that may abide the fire, ye shall make it go through the fire, and it shall be clean: nevertheless it shall be purified with the water of separation: and all that abideth not the fire ye shall make go through the water.\r\n And ye shall wash your clothes on the seventh day, and ye shall be clean, and afterward ye shall come into the camp.\r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Take the sum of the prey that was taken, both of man and of beast, thou, and Eleazar the priest, and the chief fathers of the congregation:\r\n And divide the prey into two parts; between them that took the war upon them, who went out to battle, and between all the congregation:\r\n And levy a tribute unto the LORD of the men of war which went out to battle: one soul of five hundred, both of the persons, and of the beeves, and of the asses, and of the sheep:\r\n Take it of their half, and give it unto Eleazar the priest, for an heave offering of the LORD.\r\n And of the children of Israel's half, thou shalt take one portion of fifty, of the persons, of the beeves, of the asses, and of the flocks, of all manner of beasts, and give them unto the Levites, which keep the charge of the tabernacle of the LORD.\r\n And Moses and Eleazar the priest did as the LORD commanded Moses.\r\n And the booty, being the rest of the prey which the men of war had caught, was six hundred thousand and seventy thousand and five thousand sheep,\r\n And threescore and twelve thousand beeves,\r\n And threescore and one thousand asses,\r\n And thirty and two thousand persons in all, of women that had not known man by lying with him.\r\n And the half, which was the portion of them that went out to war, was in number three hundred thousand and seven and thirty thousand and five hundred sheep:\r\n And the LORD'S tribute of the sheep was six hundred and threescore and fifteen.\r\n And the beeves were thirty and six thousand; of which the LORD'S tribute was threescore and twelve.\r\n And the asses were thirty thousand and five hundred; of which the LORD'S tribute was threescore and one.\r\n And the persons were sixteen thousand; of which the LORD'S tribute was thirty and two persons.\r\n And Moses gave the tribute, which was the LORD'S heave offering, unto Eleazar the priest, as the LORD commanded Moses.\r\n And of the children of Israel's half, which Moses divided from the men that warred,\r\n (Now the half that pertained unto the congregation was three hundred thousand and thirty thousand and seven thousand and five hundred sheep,\r\n And thirty and six thousand beeves,\r\n And thirty thousand asses and five hundred,\r\n And sixteen thousand persons;)\r\n Even of the children of Israel's half, Moses took one portion of fifty, both of man and of beast, and gave them unto the Levites, which kept the charge of the tabernacle of the LORD; as the LORD commanded Moses.\r\n And the officers which were over thousands of the host, the captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds, came near unto Moses:\r\n And they said unto Moses, Thy servants have taken the sum of the men of war which are under our charge, and there lacketh not one man of us.\r\n We have therefore brought an oblation for the LORD, what every man hath gotten, of jewels of gold, chains, and bracelets, rings, earrings, and tablets, to make an atonement for our souls before the LORD.\r\n And Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold of them, even all wrought jewels.\r\n And all the gold of the offering that they offered up to the LORD, of the captains of thousands, and of the captains of hundreds, was sixteen thousand seven hundred and fifty shekels.\r\n (For the men of war had taken spoil, every man for himself.)\r\n And Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold of the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and brought it into the tabernacle of the congregation, for a memorial for the children of Israel before the LORD.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now the children of Reuben and the children of Gad had a very great multitude of cattle: and when they saw the land of Jazer, and the land of Gilead, that, behold, the place was a place for cattle;\r\n The children of Gad and the children of Reuben came and spake unto Moses, and to Eleazar the priest, and unto the princes of the congregation, saying,\r\n Ataroth, and Dibon, and Jazer, and Nimrah, and Heshbon, and Elealeh, and Shebam, and Nebo, and Beon,\r\n Even the country which the LORD smote before the congregation of Israel, is a land for cattle, and thy servants have cattle:\r\n Wherefore, said they, if we have found grace in thy sight, let this land be given unto thy servants for a possession, and bring us not over Jordan.\r\n And Moses said unto the children of Gad and to the children of Reuben, Shall your brethren go to war, and shall ye sit here?\r\n And wherefore discourage ye the heart of the children of Israel from going over into the land which the LORD hath given them?\r\n Thus did your fathers, when I sent them from Kadeshbarnea to see the land.\r\n For when they went up unto the valley of Eshcol, and saw the land, they discouraged the heart of the children of Israel, that they should not go into the land which the LORD had given them.\r\n And the LORD'S anger was kindled the same time, and he sware, saying,\r\n Surely none of the men that came up out of Egypt, from twenty years old and upward, shall see the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob; because they have not wholly followed me:\r\n Save Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite, and Joshua the son of Nun: for they have wholly followed the LORD.\r\n And the LORD'S anger was kindled against Israel, and he made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until all the generation, that had done evil in the sight of the LORD, was consumed.\r\n And, behold, ye are risen up in your fathers' stead, an increase of sinful men, to augment yet the fierce anger of the LORD toward Israel.\r\n For if ye turn away from after him, he will yet again leave them in the wilderness; and ye shall destroy all this people.\r\n And they came near unto him, and said, We will build sheepfolds here for our cattle, and cities for our little ones:\r\n But we ourselves will go ready armed before the children of Israel, until we have brought them unto their place: and our little ones shall dwell in the fenced cities because of the inhabitants of the land.\r\n We will not return unto our houses, until the children of Israel have inherited every man his inheritance.\r\n For we will not inherit with them on yonder side Jordan, or forward; because our inheritance is fallen to us on this side Jordan eastward.\r\n And Moses said unto them, If ye will do this thing, if ye will go armed before the LORD to war,\r\n And will go all of you armed over Jordan before the LORD, until he hath driven out his enemies from before him,\r\n And the land be subdued before the LORD: then afterward ye shall return, and be guiltless before the LORD, and before Israel; and this land shall be your possession before the LORD.\r\n But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out.\r\n Build you cities for your little ones, and folds for your sheep; and do that which hath proceeded out of your mouth.\r\n And the children of Gad and the children of Reuben spake unto Moses, saying, Thy servants will do as my lord commandeth.\r\n Our little ones, our wives, our flocks, and all our cattle, shall be there in the cities of Gilead:\r\n But thy servants will pass over, every man armed for war, before the LORD to battle, as my lord saith.\r\n So concerning them Moses commanded Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the chief fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel:\r\n And Moses said unto them, If the children of Gad and the children of Reuben will pass with you over Jordan, every man armed to battle, before the LORD, and the land shall be subdued before you; then ye shall give them the land of Gilead for a possession:\r\n But if they will not pass over with you armed, they shall have possessions among you in the land of Canaan.\r\n And the children of Gad and the children of Reuben answered, saying, As the LORD hath said unto thy servants, so will we do.\r\n We will pass over armed before the LORD into the land of Canaan, that the possession of our inheritance on this side Jordan may be ours.\r\n And Moses gave unto them, even to the children of Gad, and to the children of Reuben, and unto half the tribe of Manasseh the son of Joseph, the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, and the kingdom of Og king of Bashan, the land, with the cities thereof in the coasts, even the cities of the country round about.\r\n And the children of Gad built Dibon, and Ataroth, and Aroer,\r\n And Atroth, Shophan, and Jaazer, and Jogbehah,\r\n And Bethnimrah, and Bethharan, fenced cities: and folds for sheep.\r\n And the children of Reuben built Heshbon, and Elealeh, and Kirjathaim,\r\n And Nebo, and Baalmeon, (their names being changed,) and Shibmah: and gave other names unto the cities which they builded.\r\n And the children of Machir the son of Manasseh went to Gilead, and took it, and dispossessed the Amorite which was in it.\r\n And Moses gave Gilead unto Machir the son of Manasseh; and he dwelt therein.\r\n And Jair the son of Manasseh went and took the small towns thereof, and called them Havothjair.\r\n And Nobah went and took Kenath, and the villages thereof, and called it Nobah, after his own name.\r\n \r\n \r\n These are the journeys of the children of Israel, which went forth out of the land of Egypt with their armies under the hand of Moses and Aaron.\r\n And Moses wrote their goings out according to their journeys by the commandment of the LORD: and these are their journeys according to their goings out.\r\n And they departed from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month; on the morrow after the passover the children of Israel went out with an high hand in the sight of all the Egyptians.\r\n For the Egyptians buried all their firstborn, which the LORD had smitten among them: upon their gods also the LORD executed judgments.\r\n And the children of Israel removed from Rameses, and pitched in Succoth.\r\n And they departed from Succoth, and pitched in Etham, which is in the edge of the wilderness.\r\n And they removed from Etham, and turned again unto Pihahiroth, which is before Baalzephon: and they pitched before Migdol.\r\n And they departed from before Pihahiroth, and passed through the midst of the sea into the wilderness, and went three days' journey in the wilderness of Etham, and pitched in Marah.\r\n And they removed from Marah, and came unto Elim: and in Elim were twelve fountains of water, and threescore and ten palm trees; and they pitched there.\r\n And they removed from Elim, and encamped by the Red sea.\r\n And they removed from the Red sea, and encamped in the wilderness of Sin.\r\n And they took their journey out of the wilderness of Sin, and encamped in Dophkah.\r\n And they departed from Dophkah, and encamped in Alush.\r\n And they removed from Alush, and encamped at Rephidim, where was no water for the people to drink.\r\n And they departed from Rephidim, and pitched in the wilderness of Sinai.\r\n And they removed from the desert of Sinai, and pitched at Kibrothhattaavah.\r\n And they departed from Kibrothhattaavah, and encamped at Hazeroth.\r\n And they departed from Hazeroth, and pitched in Rithmah.\r\n And they departed from Rithmah, and pitched at Rimmonparez.\r\n And they departed from Rimmonparez, and pitched in Libnah.\r\n And they removed from Libnah, and pitched at Rissah.\r\n And they journeyed from Rissah, and pitched in Kehelathah.\r\n And they went from Kehelathah, and pitched in mount Shapher.\r\n And they removed from mount Shapher, and encamped in Haradah.\r\n And they removed from Haradah, and pitched in Makheloth.\r\n And they removed from Makheloth, and encamped at Tahath.\r\n And they departed from Tahath, and pitched at Tarah.\r\n And they removed from Tarah, and pitched in Mithcah.\r\n And they went from Mithcah, and pitched in Hashmonah.\r\n And they departed from Hashmonah, and encamped at Moseroth.\r\n And they departed from Moseroth, and pitched in Benejaakan.\r\n And they removed from Benejaakan, and encamped at Horhagidgad.\r\n And they went from Horhagidgad, and pitched in Jotbathah.\r\n And they removed from Jotbathah, and encamped at Ebronah.\r\n And they departed from Ebronah, and encamped at Eziongaber.\r\n And they removed from Eziongaber, and pitched in the wilderness of Zin, which is Kadesh.\r\n And they removed from Kadesh, and pitched in mount Hor, in the edge of the land of Edom.\r\n And Aaron the priest went up into mount Hor at the commandment of the LORD, and died there, in the fortieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the first day of the fifth month.\r\n And Aaron was an hundred and twenty and three years old when he died in mount Hor.\r\n And king Arad the Canaanite, which dwelt in the south in the land of Canaan, heard of the coming of the children of Israel.\r\n And they departed from mount Hor, and pitched in Zalmonah.\r\n And they departed from Zalmonah, and pitched in Punon.\r\n And they departed from Punon, and pitched in Oboth.\r\n And they departed from Oboth, and pitched in Ijeabarim, in the border of Moab.\r\n And they departed from Iim, and pitched in Dibongad.\r\n And they removed from Dibongad, and encamped in Almondiblathaim.\r\n And they removed from Almondiblathaim, and pitched in the mountains of Abarim, before Nebo.\r\n And they departed from the mountains of Abarim, and pitched in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho.\r\n And they pitched by Jordan, from Bethjesimoth even unto Abelshittim in the plains of Moab.\r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho, saying,\r\n Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye are passed over Jordan into the land of Canaan;\r\n Then ye shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, and destroy all their pictures, and destroy all their molten images, and quite pluck down all their high places:\r\n And ye shall dispossess the inhabitants of the land, and dwell therein: for I have given you the land to possess it.\r\n And ye shall divide the land by lot for an inheritance among your families: and to the more ye shall give the more inheritance, and to the fewer ye shall give the less inheritance: every man's inheritance shall be in the place where his lot falleth; according to the tribes of your fathers ye shall inherit.\r\n But if ye will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you; then it shall come to pass, that those which ye let remain of them shall be pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your sides, and shall vex you in the land wherein ye dwell.\r\n Moreover it shall come to pass, that I shall do unto you, as I thought to do unto them.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Command the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye come into the land of Canaan; (this is the land that shall fall unto you for an inheritance, even the land of Canaan with the coasts thereof:)\r\n Then your south quarter shall be from the wilderness of Zin along by the coast of Edom, and your south border shall be the outmost coast of the salt sea eastward:\r\n And your border shall turn from the south to the ascent of Akrabbim, and pass on to Zin: and the going forth thereof shall be from the south to Kadeshbarnea, and shall go on to Hazaraddar, and pass on to Azmon:\r\n And the border shall fetch a compass from Azmon unto the river of Egypt, and the goings out of it shall be at the sea.\r\n And as for the western border, ye shall even have the great sea for a border: this shall be your west border.\r\n And this shall be your north border: from the great sea ye shall point out for you mount Hor:\r\n From mount Hor ye shall point out your border unto the entrance of Hamath; and the goings forth of the border shall be to Zedad:\r\n And the border shall go on to Ziphron, and the goings out of it shall be at Hazarenan: this shall be your north border.\r\n And ye shall point out your east border from Hazarenan to Shepham:\r\n And the coast shall go down from Shepham to Riblah, on the east side of Ain; and the border shall descend, and shall reach unto the side of the sea of Chinnereth eastward:\r\n And the border shall go down to Jordan, and the goings out of it shall be at the salt sea: this shall be your land with the coasts thereof round about.\r\n And Moses commanded the children of Israel, saying, This is the land which ye shall inherit by lot, which the LORD commanded to give unto the nine tribes, and to the half tribe:\r\n For the tribe of the children of Reuben according to the house of their fathers, and the tribe of the children of Gad according to the house of their fathers, have received their inheritance; and half the tribe of Manasseh have received their inheritance:\r\n The two tribes and the half tribe have received their inheritance on this side Jordan near Jericho eastward, toward the sunrising.\r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n These are the names of the men which shall divide the land unto you: Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun.\r\n And ye shall take one prince of every tribe, to divide the land by inheritance.\r\n And the names of the men are these: Of the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephunneh.\r\n And of the tribe of the children of Simeon, Shemuel the son of Ammihud.\r\n Of the tribe of Benjamin, Elidad the son of Chislon.\r\n And the prince of the tribe of the children of Dan, Bukki the son of Jogli.\r\n The prince of the children of Joseph, for the tribe of the children of Manasseh, Hanniel the son of Ephod.\r\n And the prince of the tribe of the children of Ephraim, Kemuel the son of Shiphtan.\r\n And the prince of the tribe of the children of Zebulun, Elizaphan the son of Parnach.\r\n And the prince of the tribe of the children of Issachar, Paltiel the son of Azzan.\r\n And the prince of the tribe of the children of Asher, Ahihud the son of Shelomi.\r\n And the prince of the tribe of the children of Naphtali, Pedahel the son of Ammihud.\r\n These are they whom the LORD commanded to divide the inheritance unto the children of Israel in the land of Canaan.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho, saying,\r\n Command the children of Israel, that they give unto the Levites of the inheritance of their possession cities to dwell in; and ye shall give also unto the Levites suburbs for the cities round about them.\r\n And the cities shall they have to dwell in; and the suburbs of them shall be for their cattle, and for their goods, and for all their beasts.\r\n And the suburbs of the cities, which ye shall give unto the Levites, shall reach from the wall of the city and outward a thousand cubits round about.\r\n And ye shall measure from without the city on the east side two thousand cubits, and on the south side two thousand cubits, and on the west side two thousand cubits, and on the north side two thousand cubits; and the city shall be in the midst: this shall be to them the suburbs of the cities.\r\n And among the cities which ye shall give unto the Levites there shall be six cities for refuge, which ye shall appoint for the manslayer, that he may flee thither: and to them ye shall add forty and two cities.\r\n So all the cities which ye shall give to the Levites shall be forty and eight cities: them shall ye give with their suburbs.\r\n And the cities which ye shall give shall be of the possession of the children of Israel: from them that have many ye shall give many; but from them that have few ye shall give few: every one shall give of his cities unto the Levites according to his inheritance which he inheriteth.\r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,\r\n Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come over Jordan into the land of Canaan;\r\n Then ye shall appoint you cities to be cities of refuge for you; that the slayer may flee thither, which killeth any person at unawares.\r\n And they shall be unto you cities for refuge from the avenger; that the manslayer die not, until he stand before the congregation in judgment.\r\n And of these cities which ye shall give six cities shall ye have for refuge.\r\n Ye shall give three cities on this side Jordan, and three cities shall ye give in the land of Canaan, which shall be cities of refuge.\r\n These six cities shall be a refuge, both for the children of Israel, and for the stranger, and for the sojourner among them: that every one that killeth any person unawares may flee thither.\r\n And if he smite him with an instrument of iron, so that he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.\r\n And if he smite him with throwing a stone, wherewith he may die, and he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.\r\n Or if he smite him with an hand weapon of wood, wherewith he may die, and he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.\r\n The revenger of blood himself shall slay the murderer: when he meeteth him, he shall slay him.\r\n But if he thrust him of hatred, or hurl at him by laying of wait, that he die;\r\n Or in enmity smite him with his hand, that he die: he that smote him shall surely be put to death; for he is a murderer: the revenger of blood shall slay the murderer, when he meeteth him.\r\n But if he thrust him suddenly without enmity, or have cast upon him any thing without laying of wait,\r\n Or with any stone, wherewith a man may die, seeing him not, and cast it upon him, that he die, and was not his enemy, neither sought his harm:\r\n Then the congregation shall judge between the slayer and the revenger of blood according to these judgments:\r\n And the congregation shall deliver the slayer out of the hand of the revenger of blood, and the congregation shall restore him to the city of his refuge, whither he was fled: and he shall abide in it unto the death of the high priest, which was anointed with the holy oil.\r\n But if the slayer shall at any time come without the border of the city of his refuge, whither he was fled;\r\n And the revenger of blood find him without the borders of the city of his refuge, and the revenger of blood kill the slayer; he shall not be guilty of blood:\r\n Because he should have remained in the city of his refuge until the death of the high priest: but after the death of the high priest the slayer shall return into the land of his possession.\r\n So these things shall be for a statute of judgment unto you throughout your generations in all your dwellings.\r\n Whoso killeth any person, the murderer shall be put to death by the mouth of witnesses: but one witness shall not testify against any person to cause him to die.\r\n Moreover ye shall take no satisfaction for the life of a murderer, which is guilty of death: but he shall be surely put to death.\r\n And ye shall take no satisfaction for him that is fled to the city of his refuge, that he should come again to dwell in the land, until the death of the priest.\r\n So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are: for blood it defileth the land: and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it.\r\n Defile not therefore the land which ye shall inhabit, wherein I dwell: for I the LORD dwell among the children of Israel.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the chief fathers of the families of the children of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, of the families of the sons of Joseph, came near, and spake before Moses, and before the princes, the chief fathers of the children of Israel:\r\n And they said, The LORD commanded my lord to give the land for an inheritance by lot to the children of Israel: and my lord was commanded by the LORD to give the inheritance of Zelophehad our brother unto his daughters.\r\n And if they be married to any of the sons of the other tribes of the children of Israel, then shall their inheritance be taken from the inheritance of our fathers, and shall be put to the inheritance of the tribe whereunto they are received: so shall it be taken from the lot of our inheritance.\r\n And when the jubile of the children of Israel shall be, then shall their inheritance be put unto the inheritance of the tribe whereunto they are received: so shall their inheritance be taken away from the inheritance of the tribe of our fathers.\r\n And Moses commanded the children of Israel according to the word of the LORD, saying, The tribe of the sons of Joseph hath said well.\r\n This is the thing which the LORD doth command concerning the daughters of Zelophehad, saying, Let them marry to whom they think best; only to the family of the tribe of their father shall they marry.\r\n So shall not the inheritance of the children of Israel remove from tribe to tribe: for every one of the children of Israel shall keep himself to the inheritance of the tribe of his fathers.\r\n And every daughter, that possesseth an inheritance in any tribe of the children of Israel, shall be wife unto one of the family of the tribe of her father, that the children of Israel may enjoy every man the inheritance of his fathers.\r\n Neither shall the inheritance remove from one tribe to another tribe; but every one of the tribes of the children of Israel shall keep himself to his own inheritance.\r\n Even as the LORD commanded Moses, so did the daughters of Zelophehad:\r\n For Mahlah, Tirzah, and Hoglah, and Milcah, and Noah, the daughters of Zelophehad, were married unto their father's brothers' sons:\r\n And they were married into the families of the sons of Manasseh the son of Joseph, and their inheritance remained in the tribe of the family of their father.\r\n These are the commandments and the judgments, which the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses unto the children of Israel in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n These be the words which Moses spake unto all Israel on this side Jordan in the wilderness, in the plain over against the Red sea, between Paran, and Tophel, and Laban, and Hazeroth, and Dizahab.\r\n (There are eleven days' journey from Horeb by the way of mount Seir unto Kadeshbarnea.)\r\n And it came to pass in the fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the first day of the month, that Moses spake unto the children of Israel, according unto all that the LORD had given him in commandment unto them;\r\n After he had slain Sihon the king of the Amorites, which dwelt in Heshbon, and Og the king of Bashan, which dwelt at Astaroth in Edrei:\r\n On this side Jordan, in the land of Moab, began Moses to declare this law, saying,\r\n The LORD our God spake unto us in Horeb, saying, Ye have dwelt long enough in this mount:\r\n Turn you, and take your journey, and go to the mount of the Amorites, and unto all the places nigh thereunto, in the plain, in the hills, and in the vale, and in the south, and by the sea side, to the land of the Canaanites, and unto Lebanon, unto the great river, the river Euphrates.\r\n Behold, I have set the land before you: go in and possess the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give unto them and to their seed after them.\r\n And I spake unto you at that time, saying, I am not able to bear you myself alone:\r\n The LORD your God hath multiplied you, and, behold, ye are this day as the stars of heaven for multitude.\r\n (The LORD God of your fathers make you a thousand times so many more as ye are, and bless you, as he hath promised you!)\r\n How can I myself alone bear your cumbrance, and your burden, and your strife?\r\n Take you wise men, and understanding, and known among your tribes, and I will make them rulers over you.\r\n And ye answered me, and said, The thing which thou hast spoken is good for us to do.\r\n So I took the chief of your tribes, wise men, and known, and made them heads over you, captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, and captains over fifties, and captains over tens, and officers among your tribes.\r\n And I charged your judges at that time, saying, Hear the causes between your brethren, and judge righteously between every man and his brother, and the stranger that is with him.\r\n Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; but ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God's: and the cause that is too hard for you, bring it unto me, and I will hear it.\r\n And I commanded you at that time all the things which ye should do.\r\n And when we departed from Horeb, we went through all that great and terrible wilderness, which ye saw by the way of the mountain of the Amorites, as the LORD our God commanded us; and we came to Kadeshbarnea.\r\n And I said unto you, Ye are come unto the mountain of the Amorites, which the LORD our God doth give unto us.\r\n Behold, the LORD thy God hath set the land before thee: go up and possess it, as the LORD God of thy fathers hath said unto thee; fear not, neither be discouraged.\r\n And ye came near unto me every one of you, and said, We will send men before us, and they shall search us out the land, and bring us word again by what way we must go up, and into what cities we shall come.\r\n And the saying pleased me well: and I took twelve men of you, one of a tribe:\r\n And they turned and went up into the mountain, and came unto the valley of Eshcol, and searched it out.\r\n And they took of the fruit of the land in their hands, and brought it down unto us, and brought us word again, and said, It is a good land which the LORD our God doth give us.\r\n Notwithstanding ye would not go up, but rebelled against the commandment of the LORD your God:\r\n And ye murmured in your tents, and said, Because the LORD hated us, he hath brought us forth out of the land of Egypt, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us.\r\n Whither shall we go up? our brethren have discouraged our heart, saying, The people is greater and taller than we; the cities are great and walled up to heaven; and moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakims there.\r\n Then I said unto you, Dread not, neither be afraid of them.\r\n The LORD your God which goeth before you, he shall fight for you, according to all that he did for you in Egypt before your eyes;\r\n And in the wilderness, where thou hast seen how that the LORD thy God bare thee, as a man doth bear his son, in all the way that ye went, until ye came into this place.\r\n Yet in this thing ye did not believe the LORD your God,\r\n Who went in the way before you, to search you out a place to pitch your tents in, in fire by night, to shew you by what way ye should go, and in a cloud by day.\r\n And the LORD heard the voice of your words, and was wroth, and sware, saying,\r\n Surely there shall not one of these men of this evil generation see that good land, which I sware to give unto your fathers,\r\n Save Caleb the son of Jephunneh; he shall see it, and to him will I give the land that he hath trodden upon, and to his children, because he hath wholly followed the LORD.\r\n Also the LORD was angry with me for your sakes, saying, Thou also shalt not go in thither.\r\n But Joshua the son of Nun, which standeth before thee, he shall go in thither: encourage him: for he shall cause Israel to inherit it.\r\n Moreover your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, and your children, which in that day had no knowledge between good and evil, they shall go in thither, and unto them will I give it, and they shall possess it.\r\n But as for you, turn you, and take your journey into the wilderness by the way of the Red sea.\r\n Then ye answered and said unto me, We have sinned against the LORD, we will go up and fight, according to all that the LORD our God commanded us. And when ye had girded on every man his weapons of war, ye were ready to go up into the hill.\r\n And the LORD said unto me, Say unto them, Go not up, neither fight; for I am not among you; lest ye be smitten before your enemies.\r\n So I spake unto you; and ye would not hear, but rebelled against the commandment of the LORD, and went presumptuously up into the hill.\r\n And the Amorites, which dwelt in that mountain, came out against you, and chased you, as bees do, and destroyed you in Seir, even unto Hormah.\r\n And ye returned and wept before the LORD; but the LORD would not hearken to your voice, nor give ear unto you.\r\n So ye abode in Kadesh many days, according unto the days that ye abode there.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then we turned, and took our journey into the wilderness by the way of the Red sea, as the LORD spake unto me: and we compassed mount Seir many days.\r\n And the LORD spake unto me, saying,\r\n Ye have compassed this mountain long enough: turn you northward.\r\n And command thou the people, saying, Ye are to pass through the coast of your brethren the children of Esau, which dwell in Seir; and they shall be afraid of you: take ye good heed unto yourselves therefore:\r\n Meddle not with them; for I will not give you of their land, no, not so much as a foot breadth; because I have given mount Seir unto Esau for a possession.\r\n Ye shall buy meat of them for money, that ye may eat; and ye shall also buy water of them for money, that ye may drink.\r\n For the LORD thy God hath blessed thee in all the works of thy hand: he knoweth thy walking through this great wilderness: these forty years the LORD thy God hath been with thee; thou hast lacked nothing.\r\n And when we passed by from our brethren the children of Esau, which dwelt in Seir, through the way of the plain from Elath, and from Eziongaber, we turned and passed by the way of the wilderness of Moab.\r\n And the LORD said unto me, Distress not the Moabites, neither contend with them in battle: for I will not give thee of their land for a possession; because I have given Ar unto the children of Lot for a possession.\r\n The Emims dwelt therein in times past, a people great, and many, and tall, as the Anakims;\r\n Which also were accounted giants, as the Anakims; but the Moabites call them Emims.\r\n The Horims also dwelt in Seir beforetime; but the children of Esau succeeded them, when they had destroyed them from before them, and dwelt in their stead; as Israel did unto the land of his possession, which the LORD gave unto them.\r\n Now rise up, said I, and get you over the brook Zered. And we went over the brook Zered.\r\n And the space in which we came from Kadeshbarnea, until we were come over the brook Zered, was thirty and eight years; until all the generation of the men of war were wasted out from among the host, as the LORD sware unto them.\r\n For indeed the hand of the LORD was against them, to destroy them from among the host, until they were consumed.\r\n So it came to pass, when all the men of war were consumed and dead from among the people,\r\n That the LORD spake unto me, saying,\r\n Thou art to pass over through Ar, the coast of Moab, this day:\r\n And when thou comest nigh over against the children of Ammon, distress them not, nor meddle with them: for I will not give thee of the land of the children of Ammon any possession; because I have given it unto the children of Lot for a possession.\r\n (That also was accounted a land of giants: giants dwelt therein in old time; and the Ammonites call them Zamzummims;\r\n A people great, and many, and tall, as the Anakims; but the LORD destroyed them before them; and they succeeded them, and dwelt in their stead:\r\n As he did to the children of Esau, which dwelt in Seir, when he destroyed the Horims from before them; and they succeeded them, and dwelt in their stead even unto this day:\r\n And the Avims which dwelt in Hazerim, even unto Azzah, the Caphtorims, which came forth out of Caphtor, destroyed them, and dwelt in their stead.)\r\n Rise ye up, take your journey, and pass over the river Arnon: behold, I have given into thine hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land: begin to possess it, and contend with him in battle.\r\n This day will I begin to put the dread of thee and the fear of thee upon the nations that are under the whole heaven, who shall hear report of thee, and shall tremble, and be in anguish because of thee.\r\n And I sent messengers out of the wilderness of Kedemoth unto Sihon king of Heshbon with words of peace, saying,\r\n Let me pass through thy land: I will go along by the high way, I will neither turn unto the right hand nor to the left.\r\n Thou shalt sell me meat for money, that I may eat; and give me water for money, that I may drink: only I will pass through on my feet;\r\n (As the children of Esau which dwell in Seir, and the Moabites which dwell in Ar, did unto me;) until I shall pass over Jordan into the land which the LORD our God giveth us.\r\n But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him: for the LORD thy God hardened his spirit, and made his heart obstinate, that he might deliver him into thy hand, as appeareth this day.\r\n And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have begun to give Sihon and his land before thee: begin to possess, that thou mayest inherit his land.\r\n Then Sihon came out against us, he and all his people, to fight at Jahaz.\r\n And the LORD our God delivered him before us; and we smote him, and his sons, and all his people.\r\n And we took all his cities at that time, and utterly destroyed the men, and the women, and the little ones, of every city, we left none to remain:\r\n Only the cattle we took for a prey unto ourselves, and the spoil of the cities which we took.\r\n From Aroer, which is by the brink of the river of Arnon, and from the city that is by the river, even unto Gilead, there was not one city too strong for us: the LORD our God delivered all unto us:\r\n Only unto the land of the children of Ammon thou camest not, nor unto any place of the river Jabbok, nor unto the cities in the mountains, nor unto whatsoever the LORD our God forbad us.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then we turned, and went up the way to Bashan: and Og the king of Bashan came out against us, he and all his people, to battle at Edrei.\r\n And the LORD said unto me, Fear him not: for I will deliver him, and all his people, and his land, into thy hand; and thou shalt do unto him as thou didst unto Sihon king of the Amorites, which dwelt at Heshbon.\r\n So the LORD our God delivered into our hands Og also, the king of Bashan, and all his people: and we smote him until none was left to him remaining.\r\n And we took all his cities at that time, there was not a city which we took not from them, threescore cities, all the region of Argob, the kingdom of Og in Bashan.\r\n All these cities were fenced with high walls, gates, and bars; beside unwalled towns a great many.\r\n And we utterly destroyed them, as we did unto Sihon king of Heshbon, utterly destroying the men, women, and children, of every city.\r\n But all the cattle, and the spoil of the cities, we took for a prey to ourselves.\r\n And we took at that time out of the hand of the two kings of the Amorites the land that was on this side Jordan, from the river of Arnon unto mount Hermon;\r\n (Which Hermon the Sidonians call Sirion; and the Amorites call it Shenir;)\r\n All the cities of the plain, and all Gilead, and all Bashan, unto Salchah and Edrei, cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan.\r\n For only Og king of Bashan remained of the remnant of giants; behold, his bedstead was a bedstead of iron; is it not in Rabbath of the children of Ammon? nine cubits was the length thereof, and four cubits the breadth of it, after the cubit of a man.\r\n And this land, which we possessed at that time, from Aroer, which is by the river Arnon, and half mount Gilead, and the cities thereof, gave I unto the Reubenites and to the Gadites.\r\n And the rest of Gilead, and all Bashan, being the kingdom of Og, gave I unto the half tribe of Manasseh; all the region of Argob, with all Bashan, which was called the land of giants.\r\n Jair the son of Manasseh took all the country of Argob unto the coasts of Geshuri and Maachathi; and called them after his own name, Bashanhavothjair, unto this day.\r\n And I gave Gilead unto Machir.\r\n And unto the Reubenites and unto the Gadites I gave from Gilead even unto the river Arnon half the valley, and the border even unto the river Jabbok, which is the border of the children of Ammon;\r\n The plain also, and Jordan, and the coast thereof, from Chinnereth even unto the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, under Ashdothpisgah eastward.\r\n And I commanded you at that time, saying, The LORD your God hath given you this land to possess it: ye shall pass over armed before your brethren the children of Israel, all that are meet for the war.\r\n But your wives, and your little ones, and your cattle, (for I know that ye have much cattle,) shall abide in your cities which I have given you;\r\n Until the LORD have given rest unto your brethren, as well as unto you, and until they also possess the land which the LORD your God hath given them beyond Jordan: and then shall ye return every man unto his possession, which I have given you.\r\n And I commanded Joshua at that time, saying, Thine eyes have seen all that the LORD your God hath done unto these two kings: so shall the LORD do unto all the kingdoms whither thou passest.\r\n Ye shall not fear them: for the LORD your God he shall fight for you.\r\n And I besought the LORD at that time, saying,\r\n O Lord GOD, thou hast begun to shew thy servant thy greatness, and thy mighty hand: for what God is there in heaven or in earth, that can do according to thy works, and according to thy might?\r\n I pray thee, let me go over, and see the good land that is beyond Jordan, that goodly mountain, and Lebanon.\r\n But the LORD was wroth with me for your sakes, and would not hear me: and the LORD said unto me, Let it suffice thee; speak no more unto me of this matter.\r\n Get thee up into the top of Pisgah, and lift up thine eyes westward, and northward, and southward, and eastward, and behold it with thine eyes: for thou shalt not go over this Jordan.\r\n But charge Joshua, and encourage him, and strengthen him: for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land which thou shalt see.\r\n So we abode in the valley over against Bethpeor.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers giveth you.\r\n Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.\r\n Your eyes have seen what the LORD did because of Baalpeor: for all the men that followed Baalpeor, the LORD thy God hath destroyed them from among you.\r\n But ye that did cleave unto the LORD your God are alive every one of you this day.\r\n Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the LORD my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it.\r\n Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.\r\n For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for?\r\n And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?\r\n Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons;\r\n Specially the day that thou stoodest before the LORD thy God in Horeb, when the LORD said unto me, Gather me the people together, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children.\r\n And ye came near and stood under the mountain; and the mountain burned with fire unto the midst of heaven, with darkness, clouds, and thick darkness.\r\n And the LORD spake unto you out of the midst of the fire: ye heard the voice of the words, but saw no similitude; only ye heard a voice.\r\n And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone.\r\n And the LORD commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and judgments, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go over to possess it.\r\n Take ye therefore good heed unto yourselves; for ye saw no manner of similitude on the day that the LORD spake unto you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire:\r\n Lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image, the similitude of any figure, the likeness of male or female,\r\n The likeness of any beast that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged fowl that flieth in the air,\r\n The likeness of any thing that creepeth on the ground, the likeness of any fish that is in the waters beneath the earth:\r\n And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the LORD thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven.\r\n But the LORD hath taken you, and brought you forth out of the iron furnace, even out of Egypt, to be unto him a people of inheritance, as ye are this day.\r\n Furthermore the LORD was angry with me for your sakes, and sware that I should not go over Jordan, and that I should not go in unto that good land, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance:\r\n But I must die in this land, I must not go over Jordan: but ye shall go over, and possess that good land.\r\n Take heed unto yourselves, lest ye forget the covenant of the LORD your God, which he made with you, and make you a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, which the LORD thy God hath forbidden thee.\r\n For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.\r\n When thou shalt beget children, and children's children, and ye shall have remained long in the land, and shall corrupt yourselves, and make a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, and shall do evil in the sight of the LORD thy God, to provoke him to anger:\r\n I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that ye shall soon utterly perish from off the land whereunto ye go over Jordan to possess it; ye shall not prolong your days upon it, but shall utterly be destroyed.\r\n And the LORD shall scatter you among the nations, and ye shall be left few in number among the heathen, whither the LORD shall lead you.\r\n And there ye shall serve gods, the work of men's hands, wood and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell.\r\n But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.\r\n When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the LORD thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice;\r\n (For the LORD thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them.\r\n For ask now of the days that are past, which were before thee, since the day that God created man upon the earth, and ask from the one side of heaven unto the other, whether there hath been any such thing as this great thing is, or hath been heard like it?\r\n Did ever people hear the voice of God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as thou hast heard, and live?\r\n Or hath God assayed to go and take him a nation from the midst of another nation, by temptations, by signs, and by wonders, and by war, and by a mighty hand, and by a stretched out arm, and by great terrors, according to all that the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes?\r\n Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mightest know that the LORD he is God; there is none else beside him.\r\n Out of heaven he made thee to hear his voice, that he might instruct thee: and upon earth he shewed thee his great fire; and thou heardest his words out of the midst of the fire.\r\n And because he loved thy fathers, therefore he chose their seed after them, and brought thee out in his sight with his mighty power out of Egypt;\r\n To drive out nations from before thee greater and mightier than thou art, to bring thee in, to give thee their land for an inheritance, as it is this day.\r\n Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the LORD he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else.\r\n Thou shalt keep therefore his statutes, and his commandments, which I command thee this day, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days upon the earth, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, for ever.\r\n Then Moses severed three cities on this side Jordan toward the sunrising;\r\n That the slayer might flee thither, which should kill his neighbour unawares, and hated him not in times past; and that fleeing unto one of these cities he might live:\r\n Namely, Bezer in the wilderness, in the plain country, of the Reubenites; and Ramoth in Gilead, of the Gadites; and Golan in Bashan, of the Manassites.\r\n And this is the law which Moses set before the children of Israel:\r\n These are the testimonies, and the statutes, and the judgments, which Moses spake unto the children of Israel, after they came forth out of Egypt,\r\n On this side Jordan, in the valley over against Bethpeor, in the land of Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt at Heshbon, whom Moses and the children of Israel smote, after they were come forth out of Egypt:\r\n And they possessed his land, and the land of Og king of Bashan, two kings of the Amorites, which were on this side Jordan toward the sunrising;\r\n From Aroer, which is by the bank of the river Arnon, even unto mount Sion, which is Hermon,\r\n And all the plain on this side Jordan eastward, even unto the sea of the plain, under the springs of Pisgah.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Moses called all Israel, and said unto them, Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your ears this day, that ye may learn them, and keep, and do them.\r\n The LORD our God made a covenant with us in Horeb.\r\n The LORD made not this covenant with our fathers, but with us, even us, who are all of us here alive this day.\r\n The LORD talked with you face to face in the mount out of the midst of the fire,\r\n (I stood between the LORD and you at that time, to shew you the word of the LORD: for ye were afraid by reason of the fire, and went not up into the mount;) saying,\r\n I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.\r\n Thou shalt have none other gods before me.\r\n Thou shalt not make thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the waters beneath the earth:\r\n Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me,\r\n And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.\r\n Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain: for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.\r\n Keep the sabbath day to sanctify it, as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee.\r\n Six days thou shalt labour, and do all thy work:\r\n But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thine ox, nor thine ass, nor any of thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates; that thy manservant and thy maidservant may rest as well as thou.\r\n And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and that the LORD thy God brought thee out thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm: therefore the LORD thy God commanded thee to keep the sabbath day.\r\n Honour thy father and thy mother, as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.\r\n Thou shalt not kill.\r\n Neither shalt thou commit adultery.\r\n Neither shalt thou steal.\r\n Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbour.\r\n Neither shalt thou desire thy neighbour's wife, neither shalt thou covet thy neighbour's house, his field, or his manservant, or his maidservant, his ox, or his ass, or any thing that is thy neighbour's.\r\n These words the LORD spake unto all your assembly in the mount out of the midst of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness, with a great voice: and he added no more. And he wrote them in two tables of stone, and delivered them unto me.\r\n And it came to pass, when ye heard the voice out of the midst of the darkness, (for the mountain did burn with fire,) that ye came near unto me, even all the heads of your tribes, and your elders;\r\n And ye said, Behold, the LORD our God hath shewed us his glory and his greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the midst of the fire: we have seen this day that God doth talk with man, and he liveth.\r\n Now therefore why should we die? for this great fire will consume us: if we hear the voice of the LORD our God any more, then we shall die.\r\n For who is there of all flesh, that hath heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as we have, and lived?\r\n Go thou near, and hear all that the LORD our God shall say: and speak thou unto us all that the LORD our God shall speak unto thee; and we will hear it, and do it.\r\n And the LORD heard the voice of your words, when ye spake unto me; and the LORD said unto me, I have heard the voice of the words of this people, which they have spoken unto thee: they have well said all that they have spoken.\r\n O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!\r\n Go say to them, Get you into your tents again.\r\n But as for thee, stand thou here by me, and I will speak unto thee all the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments, which thou shalt teach them, that they may do them in the land which I give them to possess it.\r\n Ye shall observe to do therefore as the LORD your God hath commanded you: ye shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.\r\n Ye shall walk in all the ways which the LORD your God hath commanded you, that ye may live, and that it may be well with you, and that ye may prolong your days in the land which ye shall possess.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now these are the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments, which the LORD your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go to possess it:\r\n That thou mightest fear the LORD thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son's son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged.\r\n Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it; that it may be well with thee, and that ye may increase mightily, as the LORD God of thy fathers hath promised thee, in the land that floweth with milk and honey.\r\n Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:\r\n And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.\r\n And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:\r\n And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.\r\n And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.\r\n And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.\r\n And it shall be, when the LORD thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not,\r\n And houses full of all good things, which thou filledst not, and wells digged, which thou diggedst not, vineyards and olive trees, which thou plantedst not; when thou shalt have eaten and be full;\r\n Then beware lest thou forget the LORD, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.\r\n Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name.\r\n Ye shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the people which are round about you;\r\n (For the LORD thy God is a jealous God among you) lest the anger of the LORD thy God be kindled against thee, and destroy thee from off the face of the earth.\r\n Ye shall not tempt the LORD your God, as ye tempted him in Massah.\r\n Ye shall diligently keep the commandments of the LORD your God, and his testimonies, and his statutes, which he hath commanded thee.\r\n And thou shalt do that which is right and good in the sight of the LORD: that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest go in and possess the good land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers,\r\n To cast out all thine enemies from before thee, as the LORD hath spoken.\r\n And when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What mean the testimonies, and the statutes, and the judgments, which the LORD our God hath commanded you?\r\n Then thou shalt say unto thy son, We were Pharaoh's bondmen in Egypt; and the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand:\r\n And the LORD shewed signs and wonders, great and sore, upon Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his household, before our eyes:\r\n And he brought us out from thence, that he might bring us in, to give us the land which he sware unto our fathers.\r\n And the LORD commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as it is at this day.\r\n And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the LORD our God, as he hath commanded us.\r\n \r\n \r\n When the LORD thy God shall bring thee into the land whither thou goest to possess it, and hath cast out many nations before thee, the Hittites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than thou;\r\n And when the LORD thy God shall deliver them before thee; thou shalt smite them, and utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor shew mercy unto them:\r\n Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son.\r\n For they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly.\r\n But thus shall ye deal with them; ye shall destroy their altars, and break down their images, and cut down their groves, and burn their graven images with fire.\r\n For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.\r\n The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people:\r\n But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.\r\n Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;\r\n And repayeth them that hate him to their face, to destroy them: he will not be slack to him that hateth him, he will repay him to his face.\r\n Thou shalt therefore keep the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments, which I command thee this day, to do them.\r\n Wherefore it shall come to pass, if ye hearken to these judgments, and keep, and do them, that the LORD thy God shall keep unto thee the covenant and the mercy which he sware unto thy fathers:\r\n And he will love thee, and bless thee, and multiply thee: he will also bless the fruit of thy womb, and the fruit of thy land, thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep, in the land which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee.\r\n Thou shalt be blessed above all people: there shall not be male or female barren among you, or among your cattle.\r\n And the LORD will take away from thee all sickness, and will put none of the evil diseases of Egypt, which thou knowest, upon thee; but will lay them upon all them that hate thee.\r\n And thou shalt consume all the people which the LORD thy God shall deliver thee; thine eye shall have no pity upon them: neither shalt thou serve their gods; for that will be a snare unto thee.\r\n If thou shalt say in thine heart, These nations are more than I; how can I dispossess them?\r\n Thou shalt not be afraid of them: but shalt well remember what the LORD thy God did unto Pharaoh, and unto all Egypt;\r\n The great temptations which thine eyes saw, and the signs, and the wonders, and the mighty hand, and the stretched out arm, whereby the LORD thy God brought thee out: so shall the LORD thy God do unto all the people of whom thou art afraid.\r\n Moreover the LORD thy God will send the hornet among them, until they that are left, and hide themselves from thee, be destroyed.\r\n Thou shalt not be affrighted at them: for the LORD thy God is among you, a mighty God and terrible.\r\n And the LORD thy God will put out those nations before thee by little and little: thou mayest not consume them at once, lest the beasts of the field increase upon thee.\r\n But the LORD thy God shall deliver them unto thee, and shall destroy them with a mighty destruction, until they be destroyed.\r\n And he shall deliver their kings into thine hand, and thou shalt destroy their name from under heaven: there shall no man be able to stand before thee, until thou have destroyed them.\r\n The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with fire: thou shalt not desire the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it unto thee, lest thou be snared therein: for it is an abomination to the LORD thy God.\r\n Neither shalt thou bring an abomination into thine house, lest thou be a cursed thing like it: but thou shalt utterly detest it, and thou shalt utterly abhor it; for it is a cursed thing.\r\n \r\n \r\n All the commandments which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do, that ye may live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers.\r\n And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.\r\n And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.\r\n Thy raiment waxed not old upon thee, neither did thy foot swell, these forty years.\r\n Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the LORD thy God chasteneth thee.\r\n Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to fear him.\r\n For the LORD thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills;\r\n A land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil olive, and honey;\r\n A land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack any thing in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass.\r\n When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the LORD thy God for the good land which he hath given thee.\r\n Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day:\r\n Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein;\r\n And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied;\r\n Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the LORD thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage;\r\n Who led thee through that great and terrible wilderness, wherein were fiery serpents, and scorpions, and drought, where there was no water; who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint;\r\n Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end;\r\n And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth.\r\n But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.\r\n And it shall be, if thou do at all forget the LORD thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish.\r\n As the nations which the LORD destroyeth before your face, so shall ye perish; because ye would not be obedient unto the voice of the LORD your God.\r\n \r\n \r\n Hear, O Israel: Thou art to pass over Jordan this day, to go in to possess nations greater and mightier than thyself, cities great and fenced up to heaven,\r\n A people great and tall, the children of the Anakims, whom thou knowest, and of whom thou hast heard say, Who can stand before the children of Anak!\r\n Understand therefore this day, that the LORD thy God is he which goeth over before thee; as a consuming fire he shall destroy them, and he shall bring them down before thy face: so shalt thou drive them out, and destroy them quickly, as the LORD hath said unto thee.\r\n Speak not thou in thine heart, after that the LORD thy God hath cast them out from before thee, saying, For my righteousness the LORD hath brought me in to possess this land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD doth drive them out from before thee.\r\n Not for thy righteousness, or for the uprightness of thine heart, dost thou go to possess their land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee, and that he may perform the word which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.\r\n Understand therefore, that the LORD thy God giveth thee not this good land to possess it for thy righteousness; for thou art a stiffnecked people.\r\n Remember, and forget not, how thou provokedst the LORD thy God to wrath in the wilderness: from the day that thou didst depart out of the land of Egypt, until ye came unto this place, ye have been rebellious against the LORD.\r\n Also in Horeb ye provoked the LORD to wrath, so that the LORD was angry with you to have destroyed you.\r\n When I was gone up into the mount to receive the tables of stone, even the tables of the covenant which the LORD made with you, then I abode in the mount forty days and forty nights, I neither did eat bread nor drink water:\r\n And the LORD delivered unto me two tables of stone written with the finger of God; and on them was written according to all the words, which the LORD spake with you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly.\r\n And it came to pass at the end of forty days and forty nights, that the LORD gave me the two tables of stone, even the tables of the covenant.\r\n And the LORD said unto me, Arise, get thee down quickly from hence; for thy people which thou hast brought forth out of Egypt have corrupted themselves; they are quickly turned aside out of the way which I commanded them; they have made them a molten image.\r\n Furthermore the LORD spake unto me, saying, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people:\r\n Let me alone, that I may destroy them, and blot out their name from under heaven: and I will make of thee a nation mightier and greater than they.\r\n So I turned and came down from the mount, and the mount burned with fire: and the two tables of the covenant were in my two hands.\r\n And I looked, and, behold, ye had sinned against the LORD your God, and had made you a molten calf: ye had turned aside quickly out of the way which the LORD had commanded you.\r\n And I took the two tables, and cast them out of my two hands, and brake them before your eyes.\r\n And I fell down before the LORD, as at the first, forty days and forty nights: I did neither eat bread, nor drink water, because of all your sins which ye sinned, in doing wickedly in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.\r\n For I was afraid of the anger and hot displeasure, wherewith the LORD was wroth against you to destroy you. But the LORD hearkened unto me at that time also.\r\n And the LORD was very angry with Aaron to have destroyed him: and I prayed for Aaron also the same time.\r\n And I took your sin, the calf which ye had made, and burnt it with fire, and stamped it, and ground it very small, even until it was as small as dust: and I cast the dust thereof into the brook that descended out of the mount.\r\n And at Taberah, and at Massah, and at Kibrothhattaavah, ye provoked the LORD to wrath.\r\n Likewise when the LORD sent you from Kadeshbarnea, saying, Go up and possess the land which I have given you; then ye rebelled against the commandment of the LORD your God, and ye believed him not, nor hearkened to his voice.\r\n Ye have been rebellious against the LORD from the day that I knew you.\r\n Thus I fell down before the LORD forty days and forty nights, as I fell down at the first; because the LORD had said he would destroy you.\r\n I prayed therefore unto the LORD, and said, O Lord GOD, destroy not thy people and thine inheritance, which thou hast redeemed through thy greatness, which thou hast brought forth out of Egypt with a mighty hand.\r\n Remember thy servants, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; look not unto the stubbornness of this people, nor to their wickedness, nor to their sin:\r\n Lest the land whence thou broughtest us out say, Because the LORD was not able to bring them into the land which he promised them, and because he hated them, he hath brought them out to slay them in the wilderness.\r\n Yet they are thy people and thine inheritance, which thou broughtest out by thy mighty power and by thy stretched out arm.\r\n \r\n \r\n At that time the LORD said unto me, Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first, and come up unto me into the mount, and make thee an ark of wood.\r\n And I will write on the tables the words that were in the first tables which thou brakest, and thou shalt put them in the ark.\r\n And I made an ark of shittim wood, and hewed two tables of stone like unto the first, and went up into the mount, having the two tables in mine hand.\r\n And he wrote on the tables, according to the first writing, the ten commandments, which the LORD spake unto you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly: and the LORD gave them unto me.\r\n And I turned myself and came down from the mount, and put the tables in the ark which I had made; and there they be, as the LORD commanded me.\r\n And the children of Israel took their journey from Beeroth of the children of Jaakan to Mosera: there Aaron died, and there he was buried; and Eleazar his son ministered in the priest's office in his stead.\r\n From thence they journeyed unto Gudgodah; and from Gudgodah to Jotbath, a land of rivers of waters.\r\n At that time the LORD separated the tribe of Levi, to bear the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to stand before the LORD to minister unto him, and to bless in his name, unto this day.\r\n Wherefore Levi hath no part nor inheritance with his brethren; the LORD is his inheritance, according as the LORD thy God promised him.\r\n And I stayed in the mount, according to the first time, forty days and forty nights; and the LORD hearkened unto me at that time also, and the LORD would not destroy thee.\r\n And the LORD said unto me, Arise, take thy journey before the people, that they may go in and possess the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give unto them.\r\n And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,\r\n To keep the commandments of the LORD, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?\r\n Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the LORD'S thy God, the earth also, with all that therein is.\r\n Only the LORD had a delight in thy fathers to love them, and he chose their seed after them, even you above all people, as it is this day.\r\n Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked.\r\n For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward:\r\n He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment.\r\n Love ye therefore the stranger: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.\r\n Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name.\r\n He is thy praise, and he is thy God, that hath done for thee these great and terrible things, which thine eyes have seen.\r\n Thy fathers went down into Egypt with threescore and ten persons; and now the LORD thy God hath made thee as the stars of heaven for multitude.\r\n \r\n \r\n Therefore thou shalt love the LORD thy God, and keep his charge, and his statutes, and his judgments, and his commandments, alway.\r\n And know ye this day: for I speak not with your children which have not known, and which have not seen the chastisement of the LORD your God, his greatness, his mighty hand, and his stretched out arm,\r\n And his miracles, and his acts, which he did in the midst of Egypt unto Pharaoh the king of Egypt, and unto all his land;\r\n And what he did unto the army of Egypt, unto their horses, and to their chariots; how he made the water of the Red sea to overflow them as they pursued after you, and how the LORD hath destroyed them unto this day;\r\n And what he did unto you in the wilderness, until ye came into this place;\r\n And what he did unto Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, the son of Reuben: how the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their households, and their tents, and all the substance that was in their possession, in the midst of all Israel:\r\n But your eyes have seen all the great acts of the LORD which he did.\r\n Therefore shall ye keep all the commandments which I command you this day, that ye may be strong, and go in and possess the land, whither ye go to possess it;\r\n And that ye may prolong your days in the land, which the LORD sware unto your fathers to give unto them and to their seed, a land that floweth with milk and honey.\r\n For the land, whither thou goest in to possess it, is not as the land of Egypt, from whence ye came out, where thou sowedst thy seed, and wateredst it with thy foot, as a garden of herbs:\r\n But the land, whither ye go to possess it, is a land of hills and valleys, and drinketh water of the rain of heaven:\r\n A land which the LORD thy God careth for: the eyes of the LORD thy God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year even unto the end of the year.\r\n And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the LORD your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul,\r\n That I will give you the rain of your land in his due season, the first rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil.\r\n And I will send grass in thy fields for thy cattle, that thou mayest eat and be full.\r\n Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them;\r\n And then the LORD'S wrath be kindled against you, and he shut up the heaven, that there be no rain, and that the land yield not her fruit; and lest ye perish quickly from off the good land which the LORD giveth you.\r\n Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes.\r\n And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.\r\n And thou shalt write them upon the door posts of thine house, and upon thy gates:\r\n That your days may be multiplied, and the days of your children, in the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers to give them, as the days of heaven upon the earth.\r\n For if ye shall diligently keep all these commandments which I command you, to do them, to love the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, and to cleave unto him;\r\n Then will the LORD drive out all these nations from before you, and ye shall possess greater nations and mightier than yourselves.\r\n Every place whereon the soles of your feet shall tread shall be yours: from the wilderness and Lebanon, from the river, the river Euphrates, even unto the uttermost sea shall your coast be.\r\n There shall no man be able to stand before you: for the LORD your God shall lay the fear of you and the dread of you upon all the land that ye shall tread upon, as he hath said unto you.\r\n Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse;\r\n A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day:\r\n And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known.\r\n And it shall come to pass, when the LORD thy God hath brought thee in unto the land whither thou goest to possess it, that thou shalt put the blessing upon mount Gerizim, and the curse upon mount Ebal.\r\n Are they not on the other side Jordan, by the way where the sun goeth down, in the land of the Canaanites, which dwell in the champaign over against Gilgal, beside the plains of Moreh?\r\n For ye shall pass over Jordan to go in to possess the land which the LORD your God giveth you, and ye shall possess it, and dwell therein.\r\n And ye shall observe to do all the statutes and judgments which I set before you this day.\r\n \r\n \r\n These are the statutes and judgments, which ye shall observe to do in the land, which the LORD God of thy fathers giveth thee to possess it, all the days that ye live upon the earth.\r\n Ye shall utterly destroy all the places, wherein the nations which ye shall possess served their gods, upon the high mountains, and upon the hills, and under every green tree:\r\n And ye shall overthrow their altars, and break their pillars, and burn their groves with fire; and ye shall hew down the graven images of their gods, and destroy the names of them out of that place.\r\n Ye shall not do so unto the LORD your God.\r\n But unto the place which the LORD your God shall choose out of all your tribes to put his name there, even unto his habitation shall ye seek, and thither thou shalt come:\r\n And thither ye shall bring your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, and your tithes, and heave offerings of your hand, and your vows, and your freewill offerings, and the firstlings of your herds and of your flocks:\r\n And there ye shall eat before the LORD your God, and ye shall rejoice in all that ye put your hand unto, ye and your households, wherein the LORD thy God hath blessed thee.\r\n Ye shall not do after all the things that we do here this day, every man whatsoever is right in his own eyes.\r\n For ye are not as yet come to the rest and to the inheritance, which the LORD your God giveth you.\r\n But when ye go over Jordan, and dwell in the land which the LORD your God giveth you to inherit, and when he giveth you rest from all your enemies round about, so that ye dwell in safety;\r\n Then there shall be a place which the LORD your God shall choose to cause his name to dwell there; thither shall ye bring all that I command you; your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, your tithes, and the heave offering of your hand, and all your choice vows which ye vow unto the LORD:\r\n And ye shall rejoice before the LORD your God, ye, and your sons, and your daughters, and your menservants, and your maidservants, and the Levite that is within your gates; forasmuch as he hath no part nor inheritance with you.\r\n Take heed to thyself that thou offer not thy burnt offerings in every place that thou seest:\r\n But in the place which the LORD shall choose in one of thy tribes, there thou shalt offer thy burnt offerings, and there thou shalt do all that I command thee.\r\n Notwithstanding thou mayest kill and eat flesh in all thy gates, whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God which he hath given thee: the unclean and the clean may eat thereof, as of the roebuck, and as of the hart.\r\n Only ye shall not eat the blood; ye shall pour it upon the earth as water.\r\n Thou mayest not eat within thy gates the tithe of thy corn, or of thy wine, or of thy oil, or the firstlings of thy herds or of thy flock, nor any of thy vows which thou vowest, nor thy freewill offerings, or heave offering of thine hand:\r\n But thou must eat them before the LORD thy God in the place which the LORD thy God shall choose, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite that is within thy gates: and thou shalt rejoice before the LORD thy God in all that thou puttest thine hands unto.\r\n Take heed to thyself that thou forsake not the Levite as long as thou livest upon the earth.\r\n When the LORD thy God shall enlarge thy border, as he hath promised thee, and thou shalt say, I will eat flesh, because thy soul longeth to eat flesh; thou mayest eat flesh, whatsoever thy soul lusteth after.\r\n If the place which the LORD thy God hath chosen to put his name there be too far from thee, then thou shalt kill of thy herd and of thy flock, which the LORD hath given thee, as I have commanded thee, and thou shalt eat in thy gates whatsoever thy soul lusteth after.\r\n Even as the roebuck and the hart is eaten, so thou shalt eat them: the unclean and the clean shall eat of them alike.\r\n Only be sure that thou eat not the blood: for the blood is the life; and thou mayest not eat the life with the flesh.\r\n Thou shalt not eat it; thou shalt pour it upon the earth as water.\r\n Thou shalt not eat it; that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee, when thou shalt do that which is right in the sight of the LORD.\r\n Only thy holy things which thou hast, and thy vows, thou shalt take, and go unto the place which the LORD shall choose:\r\n And thou shalt offer thy burnt offerings, the flesh and the blood, upon the altar of the LORD thy God: and the blood of thy sacrifices shall be poured out upon the altar of the LORD thy God, and thou shalt eat the flesh.\r\n Observe and hear all these words which I command thee, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee for ever, when thou doest that which is good and right in the sight of the LORD thy God.\r\n When the LORD thy God shall cut off the nations from before thee, whither thou goest to possess them, and thou succeedest them, and dwellest in their land;\r\n Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou enquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise.\r\n Thou shalt not do so unto the LORD thy God: for every abomination to the LORD, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods.\r\n What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.\r\n \r\n \r\n If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder,\r\n And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them;\r\n Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.\r\n Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him.\r\n And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the LORD thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee.\r\n If thy brother, the son of thy mother, or thy son, or thy daughter, or the wife of thy bosom, or thy friend, which is as thine own soul, entice thee secretly, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which thou hast not known, thou, nor thy fathers;\r\n Namely, of the gods of the people which are round about you, nigh unto thee, or far off from thee, from the one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth;\r\n Thou shalt not consent unto him, nor hearken unto him; neither shall thine eye pity him, neither shalt thou spare, neither shalt thou conceal him:\r\n But thou shalt surely kill him; thine hand shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people.\r\n And thou shalt stone him with stones, that he die; because he hath sought to thrust thee away from the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.\r\n And all Israel shall hear, and fear, and shall do no more any such wickedness as this is among you.\r\n If thou shalt hear say in one of thy cities, which the LORD thy God hath given thee to dwell there, saying,\r\n Certain men, the children of Belial, are gone out from among you, and have withdrawn the inhabitants of their city, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which ye have not known;\r\n Then shalt thou enquire, and make search, and ask diligently; and, behold, if it be truth, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought among you;\r\n Thou shalt surely smite the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword, destroying it utterly, and all that is therein, and the cattle thereof, with the edge of the sword.\r\n And thou shalt gather all the spoil of it into the midst of the street thereof, and shalt burn with fire the city, and all the spoil thereof every whit, for the LORD thy God: and it shall be an heap for ever; it shall not be built again.\r\n And there shall cleave nought of the cursed thing to thine hand: that the LORD may turn from the fierceness of his anger, and shew thee mercy, and have compassion upon thee, and multiply thee, as he hath sworn unto thy fathers;\r\n When thou shalt hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep all his commandments which I command thee this day, to do that which is right in the eyes of the LORD thy God.\r\n \r\n \r\n Ye are the children of the LORD your God: ye shall not cut yourselves, nor make any baldness between your eyes for the dead.\r\n For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth.\r\n Thou shalt not eat any abominable thing.\r\n These are the beasts which ye shall eat: the ox, the sheep, and the goat,\r\n The hart, and the roebuck, and the fallow deer, and the wild goat, and the pygarg, and the wild ox, and the chamois.\r\n And every beast that parteth the hoof, and cleaveth the cleft into two claws, and cheweth the cud among the beasts, that ye shall eat.\r\n Nevertheless these ye shall not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that divide the cloven hoof; as the camel, and the hare, and the coney: for they chew the cud, but divide not the hoof; therefore they are unclean unto you.\r\n And the swine, because it divideth the hoof, yet cheweth not the cud, it is unclean unto you: ye shall not eat of their flesh, nor touch their dead carcase.\r\n These ye shall eat of all that are in the waters: all that have fins and scales shall ye eat:\r\n And whatsoever hath not fins and scales ye may not eat; it is unclean unto you.\r\n Of all clean birds ye shall eat.\r\n But these are they of which ye shall not eat: the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the ospray,\r\n And the glede, and the kite, and the vulture after his kind,\r\n And every raven after his kind,\r\n And the owl, and the night hawk, and the cuckow, and the hawk after his kind,\r\n The little owl, and the great owl, and the swan,\r\n And the pelican, and the gier eagle, and the cormorant,\r\n And the stork, and the heron after her kind, and the lapwing, and the bat.\r\n And every creeping thing that flieth is unclean unto you: they shall not be eaten.\r\n But of all clean fowls ye may eat.\r\n Ye shall not eat of any thing that dieth of itself: thou shalt give it unto the stranger that is in thy gates, that he may eat it; or thou mayest sell it unto an alien: for thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God. Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother's milk.\r\n Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year.\r\n And thou shalt eat before the LORD thy God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear the LORD thy God always.\r\n And if the way be too long for thee, so that thou art not able to carry it; or if the place be too far from thee, which the LORD thy God shall choose to set his name there, when the LORD thy God hath blessed thee:\r\n Then shalt thou turn it into money, and bind up the money in thine hand, and shalt go unto the place which the LORD thy God shall choose:\r\n And thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth: and thou shalt eat there before the LORD thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou, and thine household,\r\n And the Levite that is within thy gates; thou shalt not forsake him; for he hath no part nor inheritance with thee.\r\n At the end of three years thou shalt bring forth all the tithe of thine increase the same year, and shalt lay it up within thy gates:\r\n And the Levite, (because he hath no part nor inheritance with thee,) and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, which are within thy gates, shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied; that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hand which thou doest.\r\n \r\n \r\n At the end of every seven years thou shalt make a release.\r\n And this is the manner of the release: Every creditor that lendeth ought unto his neighbour shall release it; he shall not exact it of his neighbour, or of his brother; because it is called the LORD'S release.\r\n Of a foreigner thou mayest exact it again: but that which is thine with thy brother thine hand shall release;\r\n Save when there shall be no poor among you; for the LORD shall greatly bless thee in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance to possess it:\r\n Only if thou carefully hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all these commandments which I command thee this day.\r\n For the LORD thy God blesseth thee, as he promised thee: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, but thou shalt not borrow; and thou shalt reign over many nations, but they shall not reign over thee.\r\n If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother:\r\n But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth.\r\n Beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand; and thine eye be evil against thy poor brother, and thou givest him nought; and he cry unto the LORD against thee, and it be sin unto thee.\r\n Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto.\r\n For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.\r\n And if thy brother, an Hebrew man, or an Hebrew woman, be sold unto thee, and serve thee six years; then in the seventh year thou shalt let him go free from thee.\r\n And when thou sendest him out free from thee, thou shalt not let him go away empty:\r\n Thou shalt furnish him liberally out of thy flock, and out of thy floor, and out of thy winepress: of that wherewith the LORD thy God hath blessed thee thou shalt give unto him.\r\n And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt, and the LORD thy God redeemed thee: therefore I command thee this thing to day.\r\n And it shall be, if he say unto thee, I will not go away from thee; because he loveth thee and thine house, because he is well with thee;\r\n Then thou shalt take an aul, and thrust it through his ear unto the door, and he shall be thy servant for ever. And also unto thy maidservant thou shalt do likewise.\r\n It shall not seem hard unto thee, when thou sendest him away free from thee; for he hath been worth a double hired servant to thee, in serving thee six years: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all that thou doest.\r\n All the firstling males that come of thy herd and of thy flock thou shalt sanctify unto the LORD thy God: thou shalt do no work with the firstling of thy bullock, nor shear the firstling of thy sheep.\r\n Thou shalt eat it before the LORD thy God year by year in the place which the LORD shall choose, thou and thy household.\r\n And if there be any blemish therein, as if it be lame, or blind, or have any ill blemish, thou shalt not sacrifice it unto the LORD thy God.\r\n Thou shalt eat it within thy gates: the unclean and the clean person shall eat it alike, as the roebuck, and as the hart.\r\n Only thou shalt not eat the blood thereof; thou shalt pour it upon the ground as water.\r\n \r\n \r\n Observe the month of Abib, and keep the passover unto the LORD thy God: for in the month of Abib the LORD thy God brought thee forth out of Egypt by night.\r\n Thou shalt therefore sacrifice the passover unto the LORD thy God, of the flock and the herd, in the place which the LORD shall choose to place his name there.\r\n Thou shalt eat no leavened bread with it; seven days shalt thou eat unleavened bread therewith, even the bread of affliction; for thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt in haste: that thou mayest remember the day when thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt all the days of thy life.\r\n And there shall be no leavened bread seen with thee in all thy coast seven days; neither shall there any thing of the flesh, which thou sacrificedst the first day at even, remain all night until the morning.\r\n Thou mayest not sacrifice the passover within any of thy gates, which the LORD thy God giveth thee:\r\n But at the place which the LORD thy God shall choose to place his name in, there thou shalt sacrifice the passover at even, at the going down of the sun, at the season that thou camest forth out of Egypt.\r\n And thou shalt roast and eat it in the place which the LORD thy God shall choose: and thou shalt turn in the morning, and go unto thy tents.\r\n Six days thou shalt eat unleavened bread: and on the seventh day shall be a solemn assembly to the LORD thy God: thou shalt do no work therein.\r\n Seven weeks shalt thou number unto thee: begin to number the seven weeks from such time as thou beginnest to put the sickle to the corn.\r\n And thou shalt keep the feast of weeks unto the LORD thy God with a tribute of a freewill offering of thine hand, which thou shalt give unto the LORD thy God, according as the LORD thy God hath blessed thee:\r\n And thou shalt rejoice before the LORD thy God, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite that is within thy gates, and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are among you, in the place which the LORD thy God hath chosen to place his name there.\r\n And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt: and thou shalt observe and do these statutes.\r\n Thou shalt observe the feast of tabernacles seven days, after that thou hast gathered in thy corn and thy wine:\r\n And thou shalt rejoice in thy feast, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite, the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are within thy gates.\r\n Seven days shalt thou keep a solemn feast unto the LORD thy God in the place which the LORD shall choose: because the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thine increase, and in all the works of thine hands, therefore thou shalt surely rejoice.\r\n Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the LORD empty:\r\n Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God which he hath given thee.\r\n Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, throughout thy tribes: and they shall judge the people with just judgment.\r\n Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous.\r\n That which is altogether just shalt thou follow, that thou mayest live, and inherit the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.\r\n Thou shalt not plant thee a grove of any trees near unto the altar of the LORD thy God, which thou shalt make thee.\r\n Neither shalt thou set thee up any image; which the LORD thy God hateth.\r\n \r\n \r\n Thou shalt not sacrifice unto the LORD thy God any bullock, or sheep, wherein is blemish, or any evilfavouredness: for that is an abomination unto the LORD thy God.\r\n If there be found among you, within any of thy gates which the LORD thy God giveth thee, man or woman, that hath wrought wickedness in the sight of the LORD thy God, in transgressing his covenant,\r\n And hath gone and served other gods, and worshipped them, either the sun, or moon, or any of the host of heaven, which I have not commanded;\r\n And it be told thee, and thou hast heard of it, and enquired diligently, and, behold, it be true, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought in Israel:\r\n Then shalt thou bring forth that man or that woman, which have committed that wicked thing, unto thy gates, even that man or that woman, and shalt stone them with stones, till they die.\r\n At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death.\r\n The hands of the witnesses shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterward the hands of all the people. So thou shalt put the evil away from among you.\r\n If there arise a matter too hard for thee in judgment, between blood and blood, between plea and plea, and between stroke and stroke, being matters of controversy within thy gates: then shalt thou arise, and get thee up into the place which the LORD thy God shall choose;\r\n And thou shalt come unto the priests the Levites, and unto the judge that shall be in those days, and enquire; and they shall shew thee the sentence of judgment:\r\n And thou shalt do according to the sentence, which they of that place which the LORD shall choose shall shew thee; and thou shalt observe to do according to all that they inform thee:\r\n According to the sentence of the law which they shall teach thee, and according to the judgment which they shall tell thee, thou shalt do: thou shalt not decline from the sentence which they shall shew thee, to the right hand, nor to the left.\r\n And the man that will do presumptuously, and will not hearken unto the priest that standeth to minister there before the LORD thy God, or unto the judge, even that man shall die: and thou shalt put away the evil from Israel.\r\n And all the people shall hear, and fear, and do no more presumptuously.\r\n When thou art come unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, and shalt possess it, and shalt dwell therein, and shalt say, I will set a king over me, like as all the nations that are about me;\r\n Thou shalt in any wise set him king over thee, whom the LORD thy God shall choose: one from among thy brethren shalt thou set king over thee: thou mayest not set a stranger over thee, which is not thy brother.\r\n But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses: forasmuch as the LORD hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way.\r\n Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold.\r\n And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites:\r\n And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them:\r\n That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, to the right hand, or to the left: to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he, and his children, in the midst of Israel.\r\n \r\n \r\n The priests the Levites, and all the tribe of Levi, shall have no part nor inheritance with Israel: they shall eat the offerings of the LORD made by fire, and his inheritance.\r\n Therefore shall they have no inheritance among their brethren: the LORD is their inheritance, as he hath said unto them.\r\n And this shall be the priest's due from the people, from them that offer a sacrifice, whether it be ox or sheep; and they shall give unto the priest the shoulder, and the two cheeks, and the maw.\r\n The firstfruit also of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the first of the fleece of thy sheep, shalt thou give him.\r\n For the LORD thy God hath chosen him out of all thy tribes, to stand to minister in the name of the LORD, him and his sons for ever.\r\n And if a Levite come from any of thy gates out of all Israel, where he sojourned, and come with all the desire of his mind unto the place which the LORD shall choose;\r\n Then he shall minister in the name of the LORD his God, as all his brethren the Levites do, which stand there before the LORD.\r\n They shall have like portions to eat, beside that which cometh of the sale of his patrimony.\r\n When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations.\r\n There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch,\r\n Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.\r\n For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.\r\n Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God.\r\n For these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for thee, the LORD thy God hath not suffered thee so to do.\r\n The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;\r\n According to all that thou desiredst of the LORD thy God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not.\r\n And the LORD said unto me, They have well spoken that which they have spoken.\r\n I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.\r\n And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.\r\n But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.\r\n And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken?\r\n When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.\r\n \r\n \r\n When the LORD thy God hath cut off the nations, whose land the LORD thy God giveth thee, and thou succeedest them, and dwellest in their cities, and in their houses;\r\n Thou shalt separate three cities for thee in the midst of thy land, which the LORD thy God giveth thee to possess it.\r\n Thou shalt prepare thee a way, and divide the coasts of thy land, which the LORD thy God giveth thee to inherit, into three parts, that every slayer may flee thither.\r\n And this is the case of the slayer, which shall flee thither, that he may live: Whoso killeth his neighbour ignorantly, whom he hated not in time past;\r\n As when a man goeth into the wood with his neighbour to hew wood, and his hand fetcheth a stroke with the axe to cut down the tree, and the head slippeth from the helve, and lighteth upon his neighbour, that he die; he shall flee unto one of those cities, and live:\r\n Lest the avenger of the blood pursue the slayer, while his heart is hot, and overtake him, because the way is long, and slay him; whereas he was not worthy of death, inasmuch as he hated him not in time past.\r\n Wherefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt separate three cities for thee.\r\n And if the LORD thy God enlarge thy coast, as he hath sworn unto thy fathers, and give thee all the land which he promised to give unto thy fathers;\r\n If thou shalt keep all these commandments to do them, which I command thee this day, to love the LORD thy God, and to walk ever in his ways; then shalt thou add three cities more for thee, beside these three:\r\n That innocent blood be not shed in thy land, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance, and so blood be upon thee.\r\n But if any man hate his neighbour, and lie in wait for him, and rise up against him, and smite him mortally that he die, and fleeth into one of these cities:\r\n Then the elders of his city shall send and fetch him thence, and deliver him into the hand of the avenger of blood, that he may die.\r\n Thine eye shall not pity him, but thou shalt put away the guilt of innocent blood from Israel, that it may go well with thee.\r\n Thou shalt not remove thy neighbour's landmark, which they of old time have set in thine inheritance, which thou shalt inherit in the land that the LORD thy God giveth thee to possess it.\r\n One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.\r\n If a false witness rise up against any man to testify against him that which is wrong;\r\n Then both the men, between whom the controversy is, shall stand before the LORD, before the priests and the judges, which shall be in those days;\r\n And the judges shall make diligent inquisition: and, behold, if the witness be a false witness, and hath testified falsely against his brother;\r\n Then shall ye do unto him, as he had thought to have done unto his brother: so shalt thou put the evil away from among you.\r\n And those which remain shall hear, and fear, and shall henceforth commit no more any such evil among you.\r\n And thine eye shall not pity; but life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.\r\n \r\n \r\n When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses, and chariots, and a people more than thou, be not afraid of them: for the LORD thy God is with thee, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.\r\n And it shall be, when ye are come nigh unto the battle, that the priest shall approach and speak unto the people,\r\n And shall say unto them, Hear, O Israel, ye approach this day unto battle against your enemies: let not your hearts faint, fear not, and do not tremble, neither be ye terrified because of them;\r\n For the LORD your God is he that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.\r\n And the officers shall speak unto the people, saying, What man is there that hath built a new house, and hath not dedicated it? let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man dedicate it.\r\n And what man is he that hath planted a vineyard, and hath not yet eaten of it? let him also go and return unto his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man eat of it.\r\n And what man is there that hath betrothed a wife, and hath not taken her? let him go and return unto his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man take her.\r\n And the officers shall speak further unto the people, and they shall say, What man is there that is fearful and fainthearted? let him go and return unto his house, lest his brethren's heart faint as well as his heart.\r\n And it shall be, when the officers have made an end of speaking unto the people, that they shall make captains of the armies to lead the people.\r\n When thou comest nigh unto a city to fight against it, then proclaim peace unto it.\r\n And it shall be, if it make thee answer of peace, and open unto thee, then it shall be, that all the people that is found therein shall be tributaries unto thee, and they shall serve thee.\r\n And if it will make no peace with thee, but will make war against thee, then thou shalt besiege it:\r\n And when the LORD thy God hath delivered it into thine hands, thou shalt smite every male thereof with the edge of the sword:\r\n But the women, and the little ones, and the cattle, and all that is in the city, even all the spoil thereof, shalt thou take unto thyself; and thou shalt eat the spoil of thine enemies, which the LORD thy God hath given thee.\r\n Thus shalt thou do unto all the cities which are very far off from thee, which are not of the cities of these nations.\r\n But of the cities of these people, which the LORD thy God doth give thee for an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth:\r\n But thou shalt utterly destroy them; namely, the Hittites, and the Amorites, the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee:\r\n That they teach you not to do after all their abominations, which they have done unto their gods; so should ye sin against the LORD your God.\r\n When thou shalt besiege a city a long time, in making war against it to take it, thou shalt not destroy the trees thereof by forcing an axe against them: for thou mayest eat of them, and thou shalt not cut them down (for the tree of the field is man's life) to employ them in the siege:\r\n Only the trees which thou knowest that they be not trees for meat, thou shalt destroy and cut them down; and thou shalt build bulwarks against the city that maketh war with thee, until it be subdued.\r\n \r\n \r\n If one be found slain in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee to possess it, lying in the field, and it be not known who hath slain him:\r\n Then thy elders and thy judges shall come forth, and they shall measure unto the cities which are round about him that is slain:\r\n And it shall be, that the city which is next unto the slain man, even the elders of that city shall take an heifer, which hath not been wrought with, and which hath not drawn in the yoke;\r\n And the elders of that city shall bring down the heifer unto a rough valley, which is neither eared nor sown, and shall strike off the heifer's neck there in the valley:\r\n And the priests the sons of Levi shall come near; for them the LORD thy God hath chosen to minister unto him, and to bless in the name of the LORD; and by their word shall every controversy and every stroke be tried:\r\n And all the elders of that city, that are next unto the slain man, shall wash their hands over the heifer that is beheaded in the valley:\r\n And they shall answer and say, Our hands have not shed this blood, neither have our eyes seen it.\r\n Be merciful, O LORD, unto thy people Israel, whom thou hast redeemed, and lay not innocent blood unto thy people of Israel's charge. And the blood shall be forgiven them.\r\n So shalt thou put away the guilt of innocent blood from among you, when thou shalt do that which is right in the sight of the LORD.\r\n When thou goest forth to war against thine enemies, and the LORD thy God hath delivered them into thine hands, and thou hast taken them captive,\r\n And seest among the captives a beautiful woman, and hast a desire unto her, that thou wouldest have her to thy wife;\r\n Then thou shalt bring her home to thine house; and she shall shave her head, and pare her nails;\r\n And she shall put the raiment of her captivity from off her, and shall remain in thine house, and bewail her father and her mother a full month: and after that thou shalt go in unto her, and be her husband, and she shall be thy wife.\r\n And it shall be, if thou have no delight in her, then thou shalt let her go whither she will; but thou shalt not sell her at all for money, thou shalt not make merchandise of her, because thou hast humbled her.\r\n If a man have two wives, one beloved, and another hated, and they have born him children, both the beloved and the hated; and if the firstborn son be hers that was hated:\r\n Then it shall be, when he maketh his sons to inherit that which he hath, that he may not make the son of the beloved firstborn before the son of the hated, which is indeed the firstborn:\r\n But he shall acknowledge the son of the hated for the firstborn, by giving him a double portion of all that he hath: for he is the beginning of his strength; the right of the firstborn is his.\r\n If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them:\r\n Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place;\r\n And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard.\r\n And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.\r\n And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree:\r\n His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.\r\n \r\n \r\n Thou shalt not see thy brother's ox or his sheep go astray, and hide thyself from them: thou shalt in any case bring them again unto thy brother.\r\n And if thy brother be not nigh unto thee, or if thou know him not, then thou shalt bring it unto thine own house, and it shall be with thee until thy brother seek after it, and thou shalt restore it to him again.\r\n In like manner shalt thou do with his ass; and so shalt thou do with his raiment; and with all lost thing of thy brother's, which he hath lost, and thou hast found, shalt thou do likewise: thou mayest not hide thyself.\r\n Thou shalt not see thy brother's ass or his ox fall down by the way, and hide thyself from them: thou shalt surely help him to lift them up again.\r\n The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God.\r\n If a bird's nest chance to be before thee in the way in any tree, or on the ground, whether they be young ones, or eggs, and the dam sitting upon the young, or upon the eggs, thou shalt not take the dam with the young:\r\n But thou shalt in any wise let the dam go, and take the young to thee; that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days.\r\n When thou buildest a new house, then thou shalt make a battlement for thy roof, that thou bring not blood upon thine house, if any man fall from thence.\r\n Thou shalt not sow thy vineyard with divers seeds: lest the fruit of thy seed which thou hast sown, and the fruit of thy vineyard, be defiled.\r\n Thou shalt not plow with an ox and an ass together.\r\n Thou shalt not wear a garment of divers sorts, as of woollen and linen together.\r\n Thou shalt make thee fringes upon the four quarters of thy vesture, wherewith thou coverest thyself.\r\n If any man take a wife, and go in unto her, and hate her,\r\n And give occasions of speech against her, and bring up an evil name upon her, and say, I took this woman, and when I came to her, I found her not a maid:\r\n Then shall the father of the damsel, and her mother, take and bring forth the tokens of the damsel's virginity unto the elders of the city in the gate:\r\n And the damsel's father shall say unto the elders, I gave my daughter unto this man to wife, and he hateth her;\r\n And, lo, he hath given occasions of speech against her, saying, I found not thy daughter a maid; and yet these are the tokens of my daughter's virginity. And they shall spread the cloth before the elders of the city.\r\n And the elders of that city shall take that man and chastise him;\r\n And they shall amerce him in an hundred shekels of silver, and give them unto the father of the damsel, because he hath brought up an evil name upon a virgin of Israel: and she shall be his wife; he may not put her away all his days.\r\n But if this thing be true, and the tokens of virginity be not found for the damsel:\r\n Then they shall bring out the damsel to the door of her father's house, and the men of her city shall stone her with stones that she die: because she hath wrought folly in Israel, to play the whore in her father's house: so shalt thou put evil away from among you.\r\n If a man be found lying with a woman married to an husband, then they shall both of them die, both the man that lay with the woman, and the woman: so shalt thou put away evil from Israel.\r\n If a damsel that is a virgin be betrothed unto an husband, and a man find her in the city, and lie with her;\r\n Then ye shall bring them both out unto the gate of that city, and ye shall stone them with stones that they die; the damsel, because she cried not, being in the city; and the man, because he hath humbled his neighbour's wife: so thou shalt put away evil from among you.\r\n But if a man find a betrothed damsel in the field, and the man force her, and lie with her: then the man only that lay with her shall die:\r\n But unto the damsel thou shalt do nothing; there is in the damsel no sin worthy of death: for as when a man riseth against his neighbour, and slayeth him, even so is this matter:\r\n For he found her in the field, and the betrothed damsel cried, and there was none to save her.\r\n If a man find a damsel that is a virgin, which is not betrothed, and lay hold on her, and lie with her, and they be found;\r\n Then the man that lay with her shall give unto the damsel's father fifty shekels of silver, and she shall be his wife; because he hath humbled her, he may not put her away all his days.\r\n A man shall not take his father's wife, nor discover his father's skirt.\r\n \r\n \r\n He that is wounded in the stones, or hath his privy member cut off, shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD.\r\n A bastard shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD; even to his tenth generation shall he not enter into the congregation of the LORD.\r\n An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD; even to their tenth generation shall they not enter into the congregation of the LORD for ever:\r\n Because they met you not with bread and with water in the way, when ye came forth out of Egypt; and because they hired against thee Balaam the son of Beor of Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse thee.\r\n Nevertheless the LORD thy God would not hearken unto Balaam; but the LORD thy God turned the curse into a blessing unto thee, because the LORD thy God loved thee.\r\n Thou shalt not seek their peace nor their prosperity all thy days for ever.\r\n Thou shalt not abhor an Edomite; for he is thy brother: thou shalt not abhor an Egyptian; because thou wast a stranger in his land.\r\n The children that are begotten of them shall enter into the congregation of the LORD in their third generation.\r\n When the host goeth forth against thine enemies, then keep thee from every wicked thing.\r\n If there be among you any man, that is not clean by reason of uncleanness that chanceth him by night, then shall he go abroad out of the camp, he shall not come within the camp:\r\n But it shall be, when evening cometh on, he shall wash himself with water: and when the sun is down, he shall come into the camp again.\r\n Thou shalt have a place also without the camp, whither thou shalt go forth abroad:\r\n And thou shalt have a paddle upon thy weapon; and it shall be, when thou wilt ease thyself abroad, thou shalt dig therewith, and shalt turn back and cover that which cometh from thee:\r\n For the LORD thy God walketh in the midst of thy camp, to deliver thee, and to give up thine enemies before thee; therefore shall thy camp be holy: that he see no unclean thing in thee, and turn away from thee.\r\n Thou shalt not deliver unto his master the servant which is escaped from his master unto thee:\r\n He shall dwell with thee, even among you, in that place which he shall choose in one of thy gates, where it liketh him best: thou shalt not oppress him.\r\n There shall be no whore of the daughters of Israel, nor a sodomite of the sons of Israel.\r\n Thou shalt not bring the hire of a whore, or the price of a dog, into the house of the LORD thy God for any vow: for even both these are abomination unto the LORD thy God.\r\n Thou shalt not lend upon usury to thy brother; usury of money, usury of victuals, usury of any thing that is lent upon usury:\r\n Unto a stranger thou mayest lend upon usury; but unto thy brother thou shalt not lend upon usury: that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all that thou settest thine hand to in the land whither thou goest to possess it.\r\n When thou shalt vow a vow unto the LORD thy God, thou shalt not slack to pay it: for the LORD thy God will surely require it of thee; and it would be sin in thee.\r\n But if thou shalt forbear to vow, it shall be no sin in thee.\r\n That which is gone out of thy lips thou shalt keep and perform; even a freewill offering, according as thou hast vowed unto the LORD thy God, which thou hast promised with thy mouth.\r\n When thou comest into thy neighbour's vineyard, then thou mayest eat grapes thy fill at thine own pleasure; but thou shalt not put any in thy vessel.\r\n When thou comest into the standing corn of thy neighbour, then thou mayest pluck the ears with thine hand; but thou shalt not move a sickle unto thy neighbour's standing corn.\r\n \r\n \r\n When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house.\r\n And when she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man's wife.\r\n And if the latter husband hate her, and write her a bill of divorcement, and giveth it in her hand, and sendeth her out of his house; or if the latter husband die, which took her to be his wife;\r\n Her former husband, which sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that is abomination before the LORD: and thou shalt not cause the land to sin, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.\r\n When a man hath taken a new wife, he shall not go out to war, neither shall he be charged with any business: but he shall be free at home one year, and shall cheer up his wife which he hath taken.\r\n No man shall take the nether or the upper millstone to pledge: for he taketh a man's life to pledge.\r\n If a man be found stealing any of his brethren of the children of Israel, and maketh merchandise of him, or selleth him; then that thief shall die; and thou shalt put evil away from among you.\r\n Take heed in the plague of leprosy, that thou observe diligently, and do according to all that the priests the Levites shall teach you: as I commanded them, so ye shall observe to do.\r\n Remember what the LORD thy God did unto Miriam by the way, after that ye were come forth out of Egypt.\r\n When thou dost lend thy brother any thing, thou shalt not go into his house to fetch his pledge.\r\n Thou shalt stand abroad, and the man to whom thou dost lend shall bring out the pledge abroad unto thee.\r\n And if the man be poor, thou shalt not sleep with his pledge:\r\n In any case thou shalt deliver him the pledge again when the sun goeth down, that he may sleep in his own raiment, and bless thee: and it shall be righteousness unto thee before the LORD thy God.\r\n Thou shalt not oppress an hired servant that is poor and needy, whether he be of thy brethren, or of thy strangers that are in thy land within thy gates:\r\n At his day thou shalt give him his hire, neither shall the sun go down upon it; for he is poor, and setteth his heart upon it: lest he cry against thee unto the LORD, and it be sin unto thee.\r\n The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin.\r\n Thou shalt not pervert the judgment of the stranger, nor of the fatherless; nor take a widow's raiment to pledge:\r\n But thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt, and the LORD thy God redeemed thee thence: therefore I command thee to do this thing.\r\n When thou cuttest down thine harvest in thy field, and hast forgot a sheaf in the field, thou shalt not go again to fetch it: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow: that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hands.\r\n When thou beatest thine olive tree, thou shalt not go over the boughs again: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow.\r\n When thou gatherest the grapes of thy vineyard, thou shalt not glean it afterward: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow.\r\n And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt: therefore I command thee to do this thing.\r\n \r\n \r\n If there be a controversy between men, and they come unto judgment, that the judges may judge them; then they shall justify the righteous, and condemn the wicked.\r\n And it shall be, if the wicked man be worthy to be beaten, that the judge shall cause him to lie down, and to be beaten before his face, according to his fault, by a certain number.\r\n Forty stripes he may give him, and not exceed: lest, if he should exceed, and beat him above these with many stripes, then thy brother should seem vile unto thee.\r\n Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn.\r\n If brethren dwell together, and one of them die, and have no child, the wife of the dead shall not marry without unto a stranger: her husband's brother shall go in unto her, and take her to him to wife, and perform the duty of an husband's brother unto her.\r\n And it shall be, that the firstborn which she beareth shall succeed in the name of his brother which is dead, that his name be not put out of Israel.\r\n And if the man like not to take his brother's wife, then let his brother's wife go up to the gate unto the elders, and say, My husband's brother refuseth to raise up unto his brother a name in Israel, he will not perform the duty of my husband's brother.\r\n Then the elders of his city shall call him, and speak unto him: and if he stand to it, and say, I like not to take her;\r\n Then shall his brother's wife come unto him in the presence of the elders, and loose his shoe from off his foot, and spit in his face, and shall answer and say, So shall it be done unto that man that will not build up his brother's house.\r\n And his name shall be called in Israel, The house of him that hath his shoe loosed.\r\n When men strive together one with another, and the wife of the one draweth near for to deliver her husband out of the hand of him that smiteth him, and putteth forth her hand, and taketh him by the secrets:\r\n Then thou shalt cut off her hand, thine eye shall not pity her.\r\n Thou shalt not have in thy bag divers weights, a great and a small.\r\n Thou shalt not have in thine house divers measures, a great and a small.\r\n But thou shalt have a perfect and just weight, a perfect and just measure shalt thou have: that thy days may be lengthened in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.\r\n For all that do such things, and all that do unrighteously, are an abomination unto the LORD thy God.\r\n Remember what Amalek did unto thee by the way, when ye were come forth out of Egypt;\r\n How he met thee by the way, and smote the hindmost of thee, even all that were feeble behind thee, when thou wast faint and weary; and he feared not God.\r\n Therefore it shall be, when the LORD thy God hath given thee rest from all thine enemies round about, in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance to possess it, that thou shalt blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven; thou shalt not forget it.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it shall be, when thou art come in unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance, and possessest it, and dwellest therein;\r\n That thou shalt take of the first of all the fruit of the earth, which thou shalt bring of thy land that the LORD thy God giveth thee, and shalt put it in a basket, and shalt go unto the place which the LORD thy God shall choose to place his name there.\r\n And thou shalt go unto the priest that shall be in those days, and say unto him, I profess this day unto the LORD thy God, that I am come unto the country which the LORD sware unto our fathers for to give us.\r\n And the priest shall take the basket out of thine hand, and set it down before the altar of the LORD thy God.\r\n And thou shalt speak and say before the LORD thy God, A Syrian ready to perish was my father, and he went down into Egypt, and sojourned there with a few, and became there a nation, great, mighty, and populous:\r\n And the Egyptians evil entreated us, and afflicted us, and laid upon us hard bondage:\r\n And when we cried unto the LORD God of our fathers, the LORD heard our voice, and looked on our affliction, and our labour, and our oppression:\r\n And the LORD brought us forth out of Egypt with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with great terribleness, and with signs, and with wonders:\r\n And he hath brought us into this place, and hath given us this land, even a land that floweth with milk and honey.\r\n And now, behold, I have brought the firstfruits of the land, which thou, O LORD, hast given me. And thou shalt set it before the LORD thy God, and worship before the LORD thy God:\r\n And thou shalt rejoice in every good thing which the LORD thy God hath given unto thee, and unto thine house, thou, and the Levite, and the stranger that is among you.\r\n When thou hast made an end of tithing all the tithes of thine increase the third year, which is the year of tithing, and hast given it unto the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat within thy gates, and be filled;\r\n Then thou shalt say before the LORD thy God, I have brought away the hallowed things out of mine house, and also have given them unto the Levite, and unto the stranger, to the fatherless, and to the widow, according to all thy commandments which thou hast commanded me: I have not transgressed thy commandments, neither have I forgotten them:\r\n I have not eaten thereof in my mourning, neither have I taken away ought thereof for any unclean use, nor given ought thereof for the dead: but I have hearkened to the voice of the LORD my God, and have done according to all that thou hast commanded me.\r\n Look down from thy holy habitation, from heaven, and bless thy people Israel, and the land which thou hast given us, as thou swarest unto our fathers, a land that floweth with milk and honey.\r\n This day the LORD thy God hath commanded thee to do these statutes and judgments: thou shalt therefore keep and do them with all thine heart, and with all thy soul.\r\n Thou hast avouched the LORD this day to be thy God, and to walk in his ways, and to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and to hearken unto his voice:\r\n And the LORD hath avouched thee this day to be his peculiar people, as he hath promised thee, and that thou shouldest keep all his commandments;\r\n And to make thee high above all nations which he hath made, in praise, and in name, and in honour; and that thou mayest be an holy people unto the LORD thy God, as he hath spoken.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Moses with the elders of Israel commanded the people, saying, Keep all the commandments which I command you this day.\r\n And it shall be on the day when ye shall pass over Jordan unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, that thou shalt set thee up great stones, and plaister them with plaister:\r\n And thou shalt write upon them all the words of this law, when thou art passed over, that thou mayest go in unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, a land that floweth with milk and honey; as the LORD God of thy fathers hath promised thee.\r\n Therefore it shall be when ye be gone over Jordan, that ye shall set up these stones, which I command you this day, in mount Ebal, and thou shalt plaister them with plaister.\r\n And there shalt thou build an altar unto the LORD thy God, an altar of stones: thou shalt not lift up any iron tool upon them.\r\n Thou shalt build the altar of the LORD thy God of whole stones: and thou shalt offer burnt offerings thereon unto the LORD thy God:\r\n And thou shalt offer peace offerings, and shalt eat there, and rejoice before the LORD thy God.\r\n And thou shalt write upon the stones all the words of this law very plainly.\r\n And Moses and the priests the Levites spake unto all Israel, saying, Take heed, and hearken, O Israel; this day thou art become the people of the LORD thy God.\r\n Thou shalt therefore obey the voice of the LORD thy God, and do his commandments and his statutes, which I command thee this day.\r\n And Moses charged the people the same day, saying,\r\n These shall stand upon mount Gerizim to bless the people, when ye are come over Jordan; Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Joseph, and Benjamin:\r\n And these shall stand upon mount Ebal to curse; Reuben, Gad, and Asher, and Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.\r\n And the Levites shall speak, and say unto all the men of Israel with a loud voice,\r\n Cursed be the man that maketh any graven or molten image, an abomination unto the LORD, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and putteth it in a secret place. And all the people shall answer and say, Amen.\r\n Cursed be he that setteth light by his father or his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen.\r\n Cursed be he that removeth his neighbour's landmark. And all the people shall say, Amen.\r\n Cursed be he that maketh the blind to wander out of the way. And all the people shall say, Amen.\r\n Cursed be he that perverteth the judgment of the stranger, fatherless, and widow. And all the people shall say, Amen.\r\n Cursed be he that lieth with his father's wife; because he uncovereth his father's skirt. And all the people shall say, Amen.\r\n Cursed be he that lieth with any manner of beast. And all the people shall say, Amen.\r\n Cursed be he that lieth with his sister, the daughter of his father, or the daughter of his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen.\r\n Cursed be he that lieth with his mother in law. And all the people shall say, Amen.\r\n Cursed be he that smiteth his neighbour secretly. And all the people shall say, Amen.\r\n Cursed be he that taketh reward to slay an innocent person. And all the people shall say, Amen.\r\n Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them. And all the people shall say, Amen.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:\r\n And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God.\r\n Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field.\r\n Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep.\r\n Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store.\r\n Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out.\r\n The LORD shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways.\r\n The LORD shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto; and he shall bless thee in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.\r\n The LORD shall establish thee an holy people unto himself, as he hath sworn unto thee, if thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, and walk in his ways.\r\n And all people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the LORD; and they shall be afraid of thee.\r\n And the LORD shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers to give thee.\r\n The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow.\r\n And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them:\r\n And thou shalt not go aside from any of the words which I command thee this day, to the right hand, or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.\r\n But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee:\r\n Cursed shalt thou be in the city, and cursed shalt thou be in the field.\r\n Cursed shall be thy basket and thy store.\r\n Cursed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy land, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep.\r\n Cursed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and cursed shalt thou be when thou goest out.\r\n The LORD shall send upon thee cursing, vexation, and rebuke, in all that thou settest thine hand unto for to do, until thou be destroyed, and until thou perish quickly; because of the wickedness of thy doings, whereby thou hast forsaken me.\r\n The LORD shall make the pestilence cleave unto thee, until he have consumed thee from off the land, whither thou goest to possess it.\r\n The LORD shall smite thee with a consumption, and with a fever, and with an inflammation, and with an extreme burning, and with the sword, and with blasting, and with mildew; and they shall pursue thee until thou perish.\r\n And thy heaven that is over thy head shall be brass, and the earth that is under thee shall be iron.\r\n The LORD shall make the rain of thy land powder and dust: from heaven shall it come down upon thee, until thou be destroyed.\r\n The LORD shall cause thee to be smitten before thine enemies: thou shalt go out one way against them, and flee seven ways before them: and shalt be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth.\r\n And thy carcase shall be meat unto all fowls of the air, and unto the beasts of the earth, and no man shall fray them away.\r\n The LORD will smite thee with the botch of Egypt, and with the emerods, and with the scab, and with the itch, whereof thou canst not be healed.\r\n The LORD shall smite thee with madness, and blindness, and astonishment of heart:\r\n And thou shalt grope at noonday, as the blind gropeth in darkness, and thou shalt not prosper in thy ways: and thou shalt be only oppressed and spoiled evermore, and no man shall save thee.\r\n Thou shalt betroth a wife, and another man shall lie with her: thou shalt build an house, and thou shalt not dwell therein: thou shalt plant a vineyard, and shalt not gather the grapes thereof.\r\n Thine ox shall be slain before thine eyes, and thou shalt not eat thereof: thine ass shall be violently taken away from before thy face, and shall not be restored to thee: thy sheep shall be given unto thine enemies, and thou shalt have none to rescue them.\r\n Thy sons and thy daughters shall be given unto another people, and thine eyes shall look, and fail with longing for them all the day long: and there shall be no might in thine hand.\r\n The fruit of thy land, and all thy labours, shall a nation which thou knowest not eat up; and thou shalt be only oppressed and crushed alway:\r\n So that thou shalt be mad for the sight of thine eyes which thou shalt see.\r\n The LORD shall smite thee in the knees, and in the legs, with a sore botch that cannot be healed, from the sole of thy foot unto the top of thy head.\r\n The LORD shall bring thee, and thy king which thou shalt set over thee, unto a nation which neither thou nor thy fathers have known; and there shalt thou serve other gods, wood and stone.\r\n And thou shalt become an astonishment, a proverb, and a byword, among all nations whither the LORD shall lead thee.\r\n Thou shalt carry much seed out into the field, and shalt gather but little in; for the locust shall consume it.\r\n Thou shalt plant vineyards, and dress them, but shalt neither drink of the wine, nor gather the grapes; for the worms shall eat them.\r\n Thou shalt have olive trees throughout all thy coasts, but thou shalt not anoint thyself with the oil; for thine olive shall cast his fruit.\r\n Thou shalt beget sons and daughters, but thou shalt not enjoy them; for they shall go into captivity.\r\n All thy trees and fruit of thy land shall the locust consume.\r\n The stranger that is within thee shall get up above thee very high; and thou shalt come down very low.\r\n He shall lend to thee, and thou shalt not lend to him: he shall be the head, and thou shalt be the tail.\r\n Moreover all these curses shall come upon thee, and shall pursue thee, and overtake thee, till thou be destroyed; because thou hearkenedst not unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which he commanded thee:\r\n And they shall be upon thee for a sign and for a wonder, and upon thy seed for ever.\r\n Because thou servedst not the LORD thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things;\r\n Therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the LORD shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things: and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he have destroyed thee.\r\n The LORD shall bring a nation against thee from far, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flieth; a nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand;\r\n A nation of fierce countenance, which shall not regard the person of the old, nor shew favour to the young:\r\n And he shall eat the fruit of thy cattle, and the fruit of thy land, until thou be destroyed: which also shall not leave thee either corn, wine, or oil, or the increase of thy kine, or flocks of thy sheep, until he have destroyed thee.\r\n And he shall besiege thee in all thy gates, until thy high and fenced walls come down, wherein thou trustedst, throughout all thy land: and he shall besiege thee in all thy gates throughout all thy land, which the LORD thy God hath given thee.\r\n And thou shalt eat the fruit of thine own body, the flesh of thy sons and of thy daughters, which the LORD thy God hath given thee, in the siege, and in the straitness, wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee:\r\n So that the man that is tender among you, and very delicate, his eye shall be evil toward his brother, and toward the wife of his bosom, and toward the remnant of his children which he shall leave:\r\n So that he will not give to any of them of the flesh of his children whom he shall eat: because he hath nothing left him in the siege, and in the straitness, wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee in all thy gates.\r\n The tender and delicate woman among you, which would not adventure to set the sole of her foot upon the ground for delicateness and tenderness, her eye shall be evil toward the husband of her bosom, and toward her son, and toward her daughter,\r\n And toward her young one that cometh out from between her feet, and toward her children which she shall bear: for she shall eat them for want of all things secretly in the siege and straitness, wherewith thine enemy shall distress thee in thy gates.\r\n If thou wilt not observe to do all the words of this law that are written in this book, that thou mayest fear this glorious and fearful name, THE LORD THY GOD;\r\n Then the LORD will make thy plagues wonderful, and the plagues of thy seed, even great plagues, and of long continuance, and sore sicknesses, and of long continuance.\r\n Moreover he will bring upon thee all the diseases of Egypt, which thou wast afraid of; and they shall cleave unto thee.\r\n Also every sickness, and every plague, which is not written in the book of this law, them will the LORD bring upon thee, until thou be destroyed.\r\n And ye shall be left few in number, whereas ye were as the stars of heaven for multitude; because thou wouldest not obey the voice of the LORD thy God.\r\n And it shall come to pass, that as the LORD rejoiced over you to do you good, and to multiply you; so the LORD will rejoice over you to destroy you, and to bring you to nought; and ye shall be plucked from off the land whither thou goest to possess it.\r\n And the LORD shall scatter thee among all people, from the one end of the earth even unto the other; and there thou shalt serve other gods, which neither thou nor thy fathers have known, even wood and stone.\r\n And among these nations shalt thou find no ease, neither shall the sole of thy foot have rest: but the LORD shall give thee there a trembling heart, and failing of eyes, and sorrow of mind:\r\n And thy life shall hang in doubt before thee; and thou shalt fear day and night, and shalt have none assurance of thy life:\r\n In the morning thou shalt say, Would God it were even! and at even thou shalt say, Would God it were morning! for the fear of thine heart wherewith thou shalt fear, and for the sight of thine eyes which thou shalt see.\r\n And the LORD shall bring thee into Egypt again with ships, by the way whereof I spake unto thee, Thou shalt see it no more again: and there ye shall be sold unto your enemies for bondmen and bondwomen, and no man shall buy you.\r\n \r\n \r\n These are the words of the covenant, which the LORD commanded Moses to make with the children of Israel in the land of Moab, beside the covenant which he made with them in Horeb.\r\n And Moses called unto all Israel, and said unto them, Ye have seen all that the LORD did before your eyes in the land of Egypt unto Pharaoh, and unto all his servants, and unto all his land;\r\n The great temptations which thine eyes have seen, the signs, and those great miracles:\r\n Yet the LORD hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day.\r\n And I have led you forty years in the wilderness: your clothes are not waxen old upon you, and thy shoe is not waxen old upon thy foot.\r\n Ye have not eaten bread, neither have ye drunk wine or strong drink: that ye might know that I am the LORD your God.\r\n And when ye came unto this place, Sihon the king of Heshbon, and Og the king of Bashan, came out against us unto battle, and we smote them:\r\n And we took their land, and gave it for an inheritance unto the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to the half tribe of Manasseh.\r\n Keep therefore the words of this covenant, and do them, that ye may prosper in all that ye do.\r\n Ye stand this day all of you before the LORD your God; your captains of your tribes, your elders, and your officers, with all the men of Israel,\r\n Your little ones, your wives, and thy stranger that is in thy camp, from the hewer of thy wood unto the drawer of thy water:\r\n That thou shouldest enter into covenant with the LORD thy God, and into his oath, which the LORD thy God maketh with thee this day:\r\n That he may establish thee to day for a people unto himself, and that he may be unto thee a God, as he hath said unto thee, and as he hath sworn unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.\r\n Neither with you only do I make this covenant and this oath;\r\n But with him that standeth here with us this day before the LORD our God, and also with him that is not here with us this day:\r\n (For ye know how we have dwelt in the land of Egypt; and how we came through the nations which ye passed by;\r\n And ye have seen their abominations, and their idols, wood and stone, silver and gold, which were among them:)\r\n Lest there should be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turneth away this day from the LORD our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations; lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood;\r\n And it come to pass, when he heareth the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of mine heart, to add drunkenness to thirst:\r\n The LORD will not spare him, but then the anger of the LORD and his jealousy shall smoke against that man, and all the curses that are written in this book shall lie upon him, and the LORD shall blot out his name from under heaven.\r\n And the LORD shall separate him unto evil out of all the tribes of Israel, according to all the curses of the covenant that are written in this book of the law:\r\n So that the generation to come of your children that shall rise up after you, and the stranger that shall come from a far land, shall say, when they see the plagues of that land, and the sicknesses which the LORD hath laid upon it;\r\n And that the whole land thereof is brimstone, and salt, and burning, that it is not sown, nor beareth, nor any grass groweth therein, like the overthrow of Sodom, and Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboim, which the LORD overthrew in his anger, and in his wrath:\r\n Even all nations shall say, Wherefore hath the LORD done thus unto this land? what meaneth the heat of this great anger?\r\n Then men shall say, Because they have forsaken the covenant of the LORD God of their fathers, which he made with them when he brought them forth out of the land of Egypt:\r\n For they went and served other gods, and worshipped them, gods whom they knew not, and whom he had not given unto them:\r\n And the anger of the LORD was kindled against this land, to bring upon it all the curses that are written in this book:\r\n And the LORD rooted them out of their land in anger, and in wrath, and in great indignation, and cast them into another land, as it is this day.\r\n The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shalt call them to mind among all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath driven thee,\r\n And shalt return unto the LORD thy God, and shalt obey his voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul;\r\n That then the LORD thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath scattered thee.\r\n If any of thine be driven out unto the outmost parts of heaven, from thence will the LORD thy God gather thee, and from thence will he fetch thee:\r\n And the LORD thy God will bring thee into the land which thy fathers possessed, and thou shalt possess it; and he will do thee good, and multiply thee above thy fathers.\r\n And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live.\r\n And the LORD thy God will put all these curses upon thine enemies, and on them that hate thee, which persecuted thee.\r\n And thou shalt return and obey the voice of the LORD, and do all his commandments which I command thee this day.\r\n And the LORD thy God will make thee plenteous in every work of thine hand, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy land, for good: for the LORD will again rejoice over thee for good, as he rejoiced over thy fathers:\r\n If thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which are written in this book of the law, and if thou turn unto the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul.\r\n For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off.\r\n It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?\r\n Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?\r\n But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.\r\n See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil;\r\n In that I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it.\r\n But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them;\r\n I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish, and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land, whither thou passest over Jordan to go to possess it.\r\n I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:\r\n That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Moses went and spake these words unto all Israel.\r\n And he said unto them, I am an hundred and twenty years old this day; I can no more go out and come in: also the LORD hath said unto me, Thou shalt not go over this Jordan.\r\n The LORD thy God, he will go over before thee, and he will destroy these nations from before thee, and thou shalt possess them: and Joshua, he shall go over before thee, as the LORD hath said.\r\n And the LORD shall do unto them as he did to Sihon and to Og, kings of the Amorites, and unto the land of them, whom he destroyed.\r\n And the LORD shall give them up before your face, that ye may do unto them according unto all the commandments which I have commanded you.\r\n Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.\r\n And Moses called unto Joshua, and said unto him in the sight of all Israel, Be strong and of a good courage: for thou must go with this people unto the land which the LORD hath sworn unto their fathers to give them; and thou shalt cause them to inherit it.\r\n And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.\r\n And Moses wrote this law, and delivered it unto the priests the sons of Levi, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and unto all the elders of Israel.\r\n And Moses commanded them, saying, At the end of every seven years, in the solemnity of the year of release, in the feast of tabernacles,\r\n When all Israel is come to appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose, thou shalt read this law before all Israel in their hearing.\r\n Gather the people together, men, and women, and children, and thy stranger that is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the LORD your God, and observe to do all the words of this law:\r\n And that their children, which have not known any thing, may hear, and learn to fear the LORD your God, as long as ye live in the land whither ye go over Jordan to possess it.\r\n And the LORD said unto Moses, Behold, thy days approach that thou must die: call Joshua, and present yourselves in the tabernacle of the congregation, that I may give him a charge. And Moses and Joshua went, and presented themselves in the tabernacle of the congregation.\r\n And the LORD appeared in the tabernacle in a pillar of a cloud: and the pillar of the cloud stood over the door of the tabernacle.\r\n And the LORD said unto Moses, Behold, thou shalt sleep with thy fathers; and this people will rise up, and go a whoring after the gods of the strangers of the land, whither they go to be among them, and will forsake me, and break my covenant which I have made with them.\r\n Then my anger shall be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them, and I will hide my face from them, and they shall be devoured, and many evils and troubles shall befall them; so that they will say in that day, Are not these evils come upon us, because our God is not among us?\r\n And I will surely hide my face in that day for all the evils which they shall have wrought, in that they are turned unto other gods.\r\n Now therefore write ye this song for you, and teach it the children of Israel: put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel.\r\n For when I shall have brought them into the land which I sware unto their fathers, that floweth with milk and honey; and they shall have eaten and filled themselves, and waxen fat; then will they turn unto other gods, and serve them, and provoke me, and break my covenant.\r\n And it shall come to pass, when many evils and troubles are befallen them, that this song shall testify against them as a witness; for it shall not be forgotten out of the mouths of their seed: for I know their imagination which they go about, even now, before I have brought them into the land which I sware.\r\n Moses therefore wrote this song the same day, and taught it the children of Israel.\r\n And he gave Joshua the son of Nun a charge, and said, Be strong and of a good courage: for thou shalt bring the children of Israel into the land which I sware unto them: and I will be with thee.\r\n And it came to pass, when Moses had made an end of writing the words of this law in a book, until they were finished,\r\n That Moses commanded the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, saying,\r\n Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may be there for a witness against thee.\r\n For I know thy rebellion, and thy stiff neck: behold, while I am yet alive with you this day, ye have been rebellious against the LORD; and how much more after my death?\r\n Gather unto me all the elders of your tribes, and your officers, that I may speak these words in their ears, and call heaven and earth to record against them.\r\n For I know that after my death ye will utterly corrupt yourselves, and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you; and evil will befall you in the latter days; because ye will do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger through the work of your hands.\r\n And Moses spake in the ears of all the congregation of Israel the words of this song, until they were ended.\r\n \r\n \r\n Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.\r\n My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass:\r\n Because I will publish the name of the LORD: ascribe ye greatness unto our God.\r\n He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.\r\n They have corrupted themselves, their spot is not the spot of his children: they are a perverse and crooked generation.\r\n Do ye thus requite the LORD, O foolish people and unwise? is not he thy father that hath bought thee? hath he not made thee, and established thee?\r\n Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations: ask thy father, and he will shew thee; thy elders, and they will tell thee.\r\n When the most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel.\r\n For the LORD'S portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance.\r\n He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye.\r\n As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings:\r\n So the LORD alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him.\r\n He made him ride on the high places of the earth, that he might eat the increase of the fields; and he made him to suck honey out of the rock, and oil out of the flinty rock;\r\n Butter of kine, and milk of sheep, with fat of lambs, and rams of the breed of Bashan, and goats, with the fat of kidneys of wheat; and thou didst drink the pure blood of the grape.\r\n But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness; then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation.\r\n They provoked him to jealousy with strange gods, with abominations provoked they him to anger.\r\n They sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new gods that came newly up, whom your fathers feared not.\r\n Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten God that formed thee.\r\n And when the LORD saw it, he abhorred them, because of the provoking of his sons, and of his daughters.\r\n And he said, I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end shall be: for they are a very froward generation, children in whom is no faith.\r\n They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God; they have provoked me to anger with their vanities: and I will move them to jealousy with those which are not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.\r\n For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains.\r\n I will heap mischiefs upon them; I will spend mine arrows upon them.\r\n They shall be burnt with hunger, and devoured with burning heat, and with bitter destruction: I will also send the teeth of beasts upon them, with the poison of serpents of the dust.\r\n The sword without, and terror within, shall destroy both the young man and the virgin, the suckling also with the man of gray hairs.\r\n I said, I would scatter them into corners, I would make the remembrance of them to cease from among men:\r\n Were it not that I feared the wrath of the enemy, lest their adversaries should behave themselves strangely, and lest they should say, Our hand is high, and the LORD hath not done all this.\r\n For they are a nation void of counsel, neither is there any understanding in them.\r\n O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end!\r\n How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the LORD had shut them up?\r\n For their rock is not as our Rock, even our enemies themselves being judges.\r\n For their vine is of the vine of Sodom, and of the fields of Gomorrah: their grapes are grapes of gall, their clusters are bitter:\r\n Their wine is the poison of dragons, and the cruel venom of asps.\r\n Is not this laid up in store with me, and sealed up among my treasures?\r\n To me belongeth vengeance, and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.\r\n For the LORD shall judge his people, and repent himself for his servants, when he seeth that their power is gone, and there is none shut up, or left.\r\n And he shall say, Where are their gods, their rock in whom they trusted,\r\n Which did eat the fat of their sacrifices, and drank the wine of their drink offerings? let them rise up and help you, and be your protection.\r\n See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.\r\n For I lift up my hand to heaven, and say, I live for ever.\r\n If I whet my glittering sword, and mine hand take hold on judgment; I will render vengeance to mine enemies, and will reward them that hate me.\r\n I will make mine arrows drunk with blood, and my sword shall devour flesh; and that with the blood of the slain and of the captives, from the beginning of revenges upon the enemy.\r\n Rejoice, O ye nations, with his people: for he will avenge the blood of his servants, and will render vengeance to his adversaries, and will be merciful unto his land, and to his people.\r\n And Moses came and spake all the words of this song in the ears of the people, he, and Hoshea the son of Nun.\r\n And Moses made an end of speaking all these words to all Israel:\r\n And he said unto them, Set your hearts unto all the words which I testify among you this day, which ye shall command your children to observe to do, all the words of this law.\r\n For it is not a vain thing for you; because it is your life: and through this thing ye shall prolong your days in the land, whither ye go over Jordan to possess it.\r\n And the LORD spake unto Moses that selfsame day, saying,\r\n Get thee up into this mountain Abarim, unto mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, that is over against Jericho; and behold the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel for a possession:\r\n And die in the mount whither thou goest up, and be gathered unto thy people; as Aaron thy brother died in mount Hor, and was gathered unto his people:\r\n Because ye trespassed against me among the children of Israel at the waters of Meribah-Kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin; because ye sanctified me not in the midst of the children of Israel.\r\n Yet thou shalt see the land before thee; but thou shalt not go thither unto the land which I give the children of Israel.\r\n \r\n \r\n And this is the blessing, wherewith Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death.\r\n And he said, The LORD came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them; he shined forth from mount Paran, and he came with ten thousands of saints: from his right hand went a fiery law for them.\r\n Yea, he loved the people; all his saints are in thy hand: and they sat down at thy feet; every one shall receive of thy words.\r\n Moses commanded us a law, even the inheritance of the congregation of Jacob.\r\n And he was king in Jeshurun, when the heads of the people and the tribes of Israel were gathered together.\r\n Let Reuben live, and not die; and let not his men be few.\r\n And this is the blessing of Judah: and he said, Hear, LORD, the voice of Judah, and bring him unto his people: let his hands be sufficient for him; and be thou an help to him from his enemies.\r\n And of Levi he said, Let thy Thummim and thy Urim be with thy holy one, whom thou didst prove at Massah, and with whom thou didst strive at the waters of Meribah;\r\n Who said unto his father and to his mother, I have not seen him; neither did he acknowledge his brethren, nor knew his own children: for they have observed thy word, and kept thy covenant.\r\n They shall teach Jacob thy judgments, and Israel thy law: they shall put incense before thee, and whole burnt sacrifice upon thine altar.\r\n Bless, LORD, his substance, and accept the work of his hands: smite through the loins of them that rise against him, and of them that hate him, that they rise not again.\r\n And of Benjamin he said, The beloved of the LORD shall dwell in safety by him; and the LORD shall cover him all the day long, and he shall dwell between his shoulders.\r\n And of Joseph he said, Blessed of the LORD be his land, for the precious things of heaven, for the dew, and for the deep that coucheth beneath,\r\n And for the precious fruits brought forth by the sun, and for the precious things put forth by the moon,\r\n And for the chief things of the ancient mountains, and for the precious things of the lasting hills,\r\n And for the precious things of the earth and fulness thereof, and for the good will of him that dwelt in the bush: let the blessing come upon the head of Joseph, and upon the top of the head of him that was separated from his brethren.\r\n His glory is like the firstling of his bullock, and his horns are like the horns of unicorns: with them he shall push the people together to the ends of the earth: and they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh.\r\n And of Zebulun he said, Rejoice, Zebulun, in thy going out; and, Issachar, in thy tents.\r\n They shall call the people unto the mountain; there they shall offer sacrifices of righteousness: for they shall suck of the abundance of the seas, and of treasures hid in the sand.\r\n And of Gad he said, Blessed be he that enlargeth Gad: he dwelleth as a lion, and teareth the arm with the crown of the head.\r\n And he provided the first part for himself, because there, in a portion of the lawgiver, was he seated; and he came with the heads of the people, he executed the justice of the LORD, and his judgments with Israel.\r\n And of Dan he said, Dan is a lion's whelp: he shall leap from Bashan.\r\n And of Naphtali he said, O Naphtali, satisfied with favour, and full with the blessing of the LORD: possess thou the west and the south.\r\n And of Asher he said, Let Asher be blessed with children; let him be acceptable to his brethren, and let him dip his foot in oil.\r\n Thy shoes shall be iron and brass; and as thy days, so shall thy strength be.\r\n There is none like unto the God of Jeshurun, who rideth upon the heaven in thy help, and in his excellency on the sky.\r\n The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.\r\n Israel then shall dwell in safety alone: the fountain of Jacob shall be upon a land of corn and wine; also his heavens shall drop down dew.\r\n Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people saved by the LORD, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellency! and thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Moses went up from the plains of Moab unto the mountain of Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, that is over against Jericho. And the LORD shewed him all the land of Gilead, unto Dan,\r\n And all Naphtali, and the land of Ephraim, and Manasseh, and all the land of Judah, unto the utmost sea,\r\n And the south, and the plain of the valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees, unto Zoar.\r\n And the LORD said unto him, This is the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, saying, I will give it unto thy seed: I have caused thee to see it with thine eyes, but thou shalt not go over thither.\r\n So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD.\r\n And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Bethpeor: but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day.\r\n And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated.\r\n And the children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days: so the days of weeping and mourning for Moses were ended.\r\n And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands upon him: and the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the LORD commanded Moses.\r\n And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face,\r\n In all the signs and the wonders, which the LORD sent him to do in the land of Egypt to Pharaoh, and to all his servants, and to all his land,\r\n And in all that mighty hand, and in all the great terror which Moses shewed in the sight of all Israel.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD it came to pass, that the LORD spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister, saying,\r\n Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.\r\n Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.\r\n From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast.\r\n There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.\r\n Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.\r\n Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.\r\n This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.\r\n Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.\r\n Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying,\r\n Pass through the host, and command the people, saying, Prepare you victuals; for within three days ye shall pass over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land, which the LORD your God giveth you to possess it.\r\n And to the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to half the tribe of Manasseh, spake Joshua, saying,\r\n Remember the word which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, saying, The LORD your God hath given you rest, and hath given you this land.\r\n Your wives, your little ones, and your cattle, shall remain in the land which Moses gave you on this side Jordan; but ye shall pass before your brethren armed, all the mighty men of valour, and help them;\r\n Until the LORD have given your brethren rest, as he hath given you, and they also have possessed the land which the LORD your God giveth them: then ye shall return unto the land of your possession, and enjoy it, which Moses the LORD'S servant gave you on this side Jordan toward the sunrising.\r\n And they answered Joshua, saying, All that thou commandest us we will do, and whithersoever thou sendest us, we will go.\r\n According as we hearkened unto Moses in all things, so will we hearken unto thee: only the LORD thy God be with thee, as he was with Moses.\r\n Whosoever he be that doth rebel against thy commandment, and will not hearken unto thy words in all that thou commandest him, he shall be put to death: only be strong and of a good courage.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into an harlot's house, named Rahab, and lodged there.\r\n And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, Behold, there came men in hither to night of the children of Israel to search out the country.\r\n And the king of Jericho sent unto Rahab, saying, Bring forth the men that are come to thee, which are entered into thine house: for they be come to search out all the country.\r\n And the woman took the two men, and hid them, and said thus, There came men unto me, but I wist not whence they were:\r\n And it came to pass about the time of shutting of the gate, when it was dark, that the men went out: whither the men went I wot not: pursue after them quickly; for ye shall overtake them.\r\n But she had brought them up to the roof of the house, and hid them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order upon the roof.\r\n And the men pursued after them the way to Jordan unto the fords: and as soon as they which pursued after them were gone out, they shut the gate.\r\n And before they were laid down, she came up unto them upon the roof;\r\n And she said unto the men, I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you.\r\n For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed.\r\n And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.\r\n Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the LORD, since I have shewed you kindness, that ye will also shew kindness unto my father's house, and give me a true token:\r\n And that ye will save alive my father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.\r\n And the men answered her, Our life for yours, if ye utter not this our business. And it shall be, when the LORD hath given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with thee.\r\n Then she let them down by a cord through the window: for her house was upon the town wall, and she dwelt upon the wall.\r\n And she said unto them, Get you to the mountain, lest the pursuers meet you; and hide yourselves there three days, until the pursuers be returned: and afterward may ye go your way.\r\n And the men said unto her, We will be blameless of this thine oath which thou hast made us swear.\r\n Behold, when we come into the land, thou shalt bind this line of scarlet thread in the window which thou didst let us down by: and thou shalt bring thy father, and thy mother, and thy brethren, and all thy father's household, home unto thee.\r\n And it shall be, that whosoever shall go out of the doors of thy house into the street, his blood shall be upon his head, and we will be guiltless: and whosoever shall be with thee in the house, his blood shall be on our head, if any hand be upon him.\r\n And if thou utter this our business, then we will be quit of thine oath which thou hast made us to swear.\r\n And she said, According unto your words, so be it. And she sent them away, and they departed: and she bound the scarlet line in the window.\r\n And they went, and came unto the mountain, and abode there three days, until the pursuers were returned: and the pursuers sought them throughout all the way, but found them not.\r\n So the two men returned, and descended from the mountain, and passed over, and came to Joshua the son of Nun, and told him all things that befell them:\r\n And they said unto Joshua, Truly the LORD hath delivered into our hands all the land; for even all the inhabitants of the country do faint because of us.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Joshua rose early in the morning; and they removed from Shittim, and came to Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over.\r\n And it came to pass after three days, that the officers went through the host;\r\n And they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it.\r\n Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed this way heretofore.\r\n And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for to morrow the LORD will do wonders among you.\r\n And Joshua spake unto the priests, saying, Take up the ark of the covenant, and pass over before the people. And they took up the ark of the covenant, and went before the people.\r\n And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day will I begin to magnify thee in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee.\r\n And thou shalt command the priests that bear the ark of the covenant, saying, When ye are come to the brink of the water of Jordan, ye shall stand still in Jordan.\r\n And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, Come hither, and hear the words of the LORD your God.\r\n And Joshua said, Hereby ye shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Hivites, and the Perizzites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Jebusites.\r\n Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth passeth over before you into Jordan.\r\n Now therefore take you twelve men out of the tribes of Israel, out of every tribe a man.\r\n And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests that bear the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of Jordan, that the waters of Jordan shall be cut off from the waters that come down from above; and they shall stand upon an heap.\r\n And it came to pass, when the people removed from their tents, to pass over Jordan, and the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people;\r\n And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest,)\r\n That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho.\r\n And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were passed clean over Jordan.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass, when all the people were clean passed over Jordan, that the LORD spake unto Joshua, saying,\r\n Take you twelve men out of the people, out of every tribe a man,\r\n And command ye them, saying, Take you hence out of the midst of Jordan, out of the place where the priests' feet stood firm, twelve stones, and ye shall carry them over with you, and leave them in the lodging place, where ye shall lodge this night.\r\n Then Joshua called the twelve men, whom he had prepared of the children of Israel, out of every tribe a man:\r\n And Joshua said unto them, Pass over before the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of Jordan, and take ye up every man of you a stone upon his shoulder, according unto the number of the tribes of the children of Israel:\r\n That this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean ye by these stones?\r\n Then ye shall answer them, That the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it passed over Jordan, the waters of Jordan were cut off: and these stones shall be for a memorial unto the children of Israel for ever.\r\n And the children of Israel did so as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones out of the midst of Jordan, as the LORD spake unto Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, and carried them over with them unto the place where they lodged, and laid them down there.\r\n And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests which bare the ark of the covenant stood: and they are there unto this day.\r\n For the priests which bare the ark stood in the midst of Jordan, until every thing was finished that the LORD commanded Joshua to speak unto the people, according to all that Moses commanded Joshua: and the people hasted and passed over.\r\n And it came to pass, when all the people were clean passed over, that the ark of the LORD passed over, and the priests, in the presence of the people.\r\n And the children of Reuben, and the children of Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh, passed over armed before the children of Israel, as Moses spake unto them:\r\n About forty thousand prepared for war passed over before the LORD unto battle, to the plains of Jericho.\r\n On that day the LORD magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they feared Moses, all the days of his life.\r\n And the LORD spake unto Joshua, saying,\r\n Command the priests that bear the ark of the testimony, that they come up out of Jordan.\r\n Joshua therefore commanded the priests, saying, Come ye up out of Jordan.\r\n And it came to pass, when the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD were come up out of the midst of Jordan, and the soles of the priests' feet were lifted up unto the dry land, that the waters of Jordan returned unto their place, and flowed over all his banks, as they did before.\r\n And the people came up out of Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and encamped in Gilgal, in the east border of Jericho.\r\n And those twelve stones, which they took out of Jordan, did Joshua pitch in Gilgal.\r\n And he spake unto the children of Israel, saying, When your children shall ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean these stones?\r\n Then ye shall let your children know, saying, Israel came over this Jordan on dry land.\r\n For the LORD your God dried up the waters of Jordan from before you, until ye were passed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red sea, which he dried up from before us, until we were gone over:\r\n That all the people of the earth might know the hand of the LORD, that it is mighty: that ye might fear the LORD your God for ever.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass, when all the kings of the Amorites, which were on the side of Jordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites, which were by the sea, heard that the LORD had dried up the waters of Jordan from before the children of Israel, until we were passed over, that their heart melted, neither was there spirit in them any more, because of the children of Israel.\r\n At that time the LORD said unto Joshua, Make thee sharp knives, and circumcise again the children of Israel the second time.\r\n And Joshua made him sharp knives, and circumcised the children of Israel at the hill of the foreskins.\r\n And this is the cause why Joshua did circumcise: All the people that came out of Egypt, that were males, even all the men of war, died in the wilderness by the way, after they came out of Egypt.\r\n Now all the people that came out were circumcised: but all the people that were born in the wilderness by the way as they came forth out of Egypt, them they had not circumcised.\r\n For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the people that were men of war, which came out of Egypt, were consumed, because they obeyed not the voice of the LORD: unto whom the LORD sware that he would not shew them the land, which the LORD sware unto their fathers that he would give us, a land that floweth with milk and honey.\r\n And their children, whom he raised up in their stead, them Joshua circumcised: for they were uncircumcised, because they had not circumcised them by the way.\r\n And it came to pass, when they had done circumcising all the people, that they abode in their places in the camp, till they were whole.\r\n And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you. Wherefore the name of the place is called Gilgal unto this day.\r\n And the children of Israel encamped in Gilgal, and kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the month at even in the plains of Jericho.\r\n And they did eat of the old corn of the land on the morrow after the passover, unleavened cakes, and parched corn in the selfsame day.\r\n And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna any more; but they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.\r\n And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?\r\n And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant?\r\n And the captain of the LORD'S host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in.\r\n And the LORD said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour.\r\n And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days.\r\n And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams' horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets.\r\n And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up every man straight before him.\r\n And Joshua the son of Nun called the priests, and said unto them, Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the LORD.\r\n And he said unto the people, Pass on, and compass the city, and let him that is armed pass on before the ark of the LORD.\r\n And it came to pass, when Joshua had spoken unto the people, that the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns passed on before the LORD, and blew with the trumpets: and the ark of the covenant of the LORD followed them.\r\n And the armed men went before the priests that blew with the trumpets, and the rereward came after the ark, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets.\r\n And Joshua had commanded the people, saying, Ye shall not shout, nor make any noise with your voice, neither shall any word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I bid you shout; then shall ye shout.\r\n So the ark of the LORD compassed the city, going about it once: and they came into the camp, and lodged in the camp.\r\n And Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the LORD.\r\n And seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the LORD went on continually, and blew with the trumpets: and the armed men went before them; but the rereward came after the ark of the LORD, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets.\r\n And the second day they compassed the city once, and returned into the camp: so they did six days.\r\n And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they rose early about the dawning of the day, and compassed the city after the same manner seven times: only on that day they compassed the city seven times.\r\n And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, Shout; for the LORD hath given you the city.\r\n And the city shall be accursed, even it, and all that are therein, to the LORD: only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all that are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent.\r\n And ye, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest ye make yourselves accursed, when ye take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it.\r\n But all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, are consecrated unto the LORD: they shall come into the treasury of the LORD.\r\n So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.\r\n And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, young and old, and ox, and sheep, and ass, with the edge of the sword.\r\n But Joshua had said unto the two men that had spied out the country, Go into the harlot's house, and bring out thence the woman, and all that she hath, as ye sware unto her.\r\n And the young men that were spies went in, and brought out Rahab, and her father, and her mother, and her brethren, and all that she had; and they brought out all her kindred, and left them without the camp of Israel.\r\n And they burnt the city with fire, and all that was therein: only the silver, and the gold, and the vessels of brass and of iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the LORD.\r\n And Joshua saved Rahab the harlot alive, and her father's household, and all that she had; and she dwelleth in Israel even unto this day; because she hid the messengers, which Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.\r\n And Joshua adjured them at that time, saying, Cursed be the man before the LORD, that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho: he shall lay the foundation thereof in his firstborn, and in his youngest son shall he set up the gates of it.\r\n So the LORD was with Joshua; and his fame was noised throughout all the country.\r\n \r\n \r\n But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against the children of Israel.\r\n And Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Bethaven, on the east side of Bethel, and spake unto them, saying, Go up and view the country. And the men went up and viewed Ai.\r\n And they returned to Joshua, and said unto him, Let not all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai; and make not all the people to labour thither; for they are but few.\r\n So there went up thither of the people about three thousand men: and they fled before the men of Ai.\r\n And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men: for they chased them from before the gate even unto Shebarim, and smote them in the going down: wherefore the hearts of the people melted, and became as water.\r\n And Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the LORD until the eventide, he and the elders of Israel, and put dust upon their heads.\r\n And Joshua said, Alas, O Lord GOD, wherefore hast thou at all brought this people over Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? would to God we had been content, and dwelt on the other side Jordan!\r\n O Lord, what shall I say, when Israel turneth their backs before their enemies!\r\n For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land shall hear of it, and shall environ us round, and cut off our name from the earth: and what wilt thou do unto thy great name?\r\n And the LORD said unto Joshua, Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face?\r\n Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff.\r\n Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you.\r\n Up, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow: for thus saith the LORD God of Israel, There is an accursed thing in the midst of thee, O Israel: thou canst not stand before thine enemies, until ye take away the accursed thing from among you.\r\n In the morning therefore ye shall be brought according to your tribes: and it shall be, that the tribe which the LORD taketh shall come according to the families thereof; and the family which the LORD shall take shall come by households; and the household which the LORD shall take shall come man by man.\r\n And it shall be, that he that is taken with the accursed thing shall be burnt with fire, he and all that he hath: because he hath transgressed the covenant of the LORD, and because he hath wrought folly in Israel.\r\n So Joshua rose up early in the morning, and brought Israel by their tribes; and the tribe of Judah was taken:\r\n And he brought the family of Judah; and he took the family of the Zarhites: and he brought the family of the Zarhites man by man; and Zabdi was taken:\r\n And he brought his household man by man; and Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was taken.\r\n And Joshua said unto Achan, My son, give, I pray thee, glory to the LORD God of Israel, and make confession unto him; and tell me now what thou hast done; hide it not from me.\r\n And Achan answered Joshua, and said, Indeed I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done:\r\n When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.\r\n So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran unto the tent; and, behold, it was hid in his tent, and the silver under it.\r\n And they took them out of the midst of the tent, and brought them unto Joshua, and unto all the children of Israel, and laid them out before the LORD.\r\n And Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver, and the garment, and the wedge of gold, and his sons, and his daughters, and his oxen, and his asses, and his sheep, and his tent, and all that he had: and they brought them unto the valley of Achor.\r\n And Joshua said, Why hast thou troubled us? the LORD shall trouble thee this day. And all Israel stoned him with stones, and burned them with fire, after they had stoned them with stones.\r\n And they raised over him a great heap of stones unto this day. So the LORD turned from the fierceness of his anger. Wherefore the name of that place was called, The valley of Achor, unto this day.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the LORD said unto Joshua, Fear not, neither be thou dismayed: take all the people of war with thee, and arise, go up to Ai: see, I have given into thy hand the king of Ai, and his people, and his city, and his land:\r\n And thou shalt do to Ai and her king as thou didst unto Jericho and her king: only the spoil thereof, and the cattle thereof, shall ye take for a prey unto yourselves: lay thee an ambush for the city behind it.\r\n So Joshua arose, and all the people of war, to go up against Ai: and Joshua chose out thirty thousand mighty men of valour, and sent them away by night.\r\n And he commanded them, saying, Behold, ye shall lie in wait against the city, even behind the city: go not very far from the city, but be ye all ready:\r\n And I, and all the people that are with me, will approach unto the city: and it shall come to pass, when they come out against us, as at the first, that we will flee before them,\r\n (For they will come out after us) till we have drawn them from the city; for they will say, They flee before us, as at the first: therefore we will flee before them.\r\n Then ye shall rise up from the ambush, and seize upon the city: for the LORD your God will deliver it into your hand.\r\n And it shall be, when ye have taken the city, that ye shall set the city on fire: according to the commandment of the LORD shall ye do. See, I have commanded you.\r\n Joshua therefore sent them forth: and they went to lie in ambush, and abode between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of Ai: but Joshua lodged that night among the people.\r\n And Joshua rose up early in the morning, and numbered the people, and went up, he and the elders of Israel, before the people to Ai.\r\n And all the people, even the people of war that were with him, went up, and drew nigh, and came before the city, and pitched on the north side of Ai: now there was a valley between them and Ai.\r\n And he took about five thousand men, and set them to lie in ambush between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of the city.\r\n And when they had set the people, even all the host that was on the north of the city, and their liers in wait on the west of the city, Joshua went that night into the midst of the valley.\r\n And it came to pass, when the king of Ai saw it, that they hasted and rose up early, and the men of the city went out against Israel to battle, he and all his people, at a time appointed, before the plain; but he wist not that there were liers in ambush against him behind the city.\r\n And Joshua and all Israel made as if they were beaten before them, and fled by the way of the wilderness.\r\n And all the people that were in Ai were called together to pursue after them: and they pursued after Joshua, and were drawn away from the city.\r\n And there was not a man left in Ai or Bethel, that went not out after Israel: and they left the city open, and pursued after Israel.\r\n And the LORD said unto Joshua, Stretch out the spear that is in thy hand toward Ai; for I will give it into thine hand. And Joshua stretched out the spear that he had in his hand toward the city.\r\n And the ambush arose quickly out of their place, and they ran as soon as he had stretched out his hand: and they entered into the city, and took it, and hasted and set the city on fire.\r\n And when the men of Ai looked behind them, they saw, and, behold, the smoke of the city ascended up to heaven, and they had no power to flee this way or that way: and the people that fled to the wilderness turned back upon the pursuers.\r\n And when Joshua and all Israel saw that the ambush had taken the city, and that the smoke of the city ascended, then they turned again, and slew the men of Ai.\r\n And the other issued out of the city against them; so they were in the midst of Israel, some on this side, and some on that side: and they smote them, so that they let none of them remain or escape.\r\n And the king of Ai they took alive, and brought him to Joshua.\r\n And it came to pass, when Israel had made an end of slaying all the inhabitants of Ai in the field, in the wilderness wherein they chased them, and when they were all fallen on the edge of the sword, until they were consumed, that all the Israelites returned unto Ai, and smote it with the edge of the sword.\r\n And so it was, that all that fell that day, both of men and women, were twelve thousand, even all the men of Ai.\r\n For Joshua drew not his hand back, wherewith he stretched out the spear, until he had utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai.\r\n Only the cattle and the spoil of that city Israel took for a prey unto themselves, according unto the word of the LORD which he commanded Joshua.\r\n And Joshua burnt Ai, and made it an heap for ever, even a desolation unto this day.\r\n And the king of Ai he hanged on a tree until eventide: and as soon as the sun was down, Joshua commanded that they should take his carcase down from the tree, and cast it at the entering of the gate of the city, and raise thereon a great heap of stones, that remaineth unto this day.\r\n Then Joshua built an altar unto the LORD God of Israel in mount Ebal,\r\n As Moses the servant of the LORD commanded the children of Israel, as it is written in the book of the law of Moses, an altar of whole stones, over which no man hath lift up any iron: and they offered thereon burnt offerings unto the LORD, and sacrificed peace offerings.\r\n And he wrote there upon the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he wrote in the presence of the children of Israel.\r\n And all Israel, and their elders, and officers, and their judges, stood on this side the ark and on that side before the priests the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, as well the stranger, as he that was born among them; half of them over against mount Gerizim, and half of them over against mount Ebal; as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded before, that they should bless the people of Israel.\r\n And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessings and cursings, according to all that is written in the book of the law.\r\n There was not a word of all that Moses commanded, which Joshua read not before all the congregation of Israel, with the women, and the little ones, and the strangers that were conversant among them.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass, when all the kings which were on this side Jordan, in the hills, and in the valleys, and in all the coasts of the great sea over against Lebanon, the Hittite, and the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, heard thereof;\r\n That they gathered themselves together, to fight with Joshua and with Israel, with one accord.\r\n And when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai,\r\n They did work wilily, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine bottles, old, and rent, and bound up;\r\n And old shoes and clouted upon their feet, and old garments upon them; and all the bread of their provision was dry and mouldy.\r\n And they went to Joshua unto the camp at Gilgal, and said unto him, and to the men of Israel, We be come from a far country: now therefore make ye a league with us.\r\n And the men of Israel said unto the Hivites, Peradventure ye dwell among us; and how shall we make a league with you?\r\n And they said unto Joshua, We are thy servants. And Joshua said unto them, Who are ye? and from whence come ye?\r\n And they said unto him, From a very far country thy servants are come because of the name of the LORD thy God: for we have heard the fame of him, and all that he did in Egypt,\r\n And all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites, that were beyond Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan, which was at Ashtaroth.\r\n Wherefore our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spake to us, saying, Take victuals with you for the journey, and go to meet them, and say unto them, We are your servants: therefore now make ye a league with us.\r\n This our bread we took hot for our provision out of our houses on the day we came forth to go unto you; but now, behold, it is dry, and it is mouldy:\r\n And these bottles of wine, which we filled, were new; and, behold, they be rent: and these our garments and our shoes are become old by reason of the very long journey.\r\n And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the LORD.\r\n And Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation sware unto them.\r\n And it came to pass at the end of three days after they had made a league with them, that they heard that they were their neighbours, and that they dwelt among them.\r\n And the children of Israel journeyed, and came unto their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, and Chephirah, and Beeroth, and Kirjathjearim.\r\n And the children of Israel smote them not, because the princes of the congregation had sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel. And all the congregation murmured against the princes.\r\n But all the princes said unto all the congregation, We have sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel: now therefore we may not touch them.\r\n This we will do to them; we will even let them live, lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath which we sware unto them.\r\n And the princes said unto them, Let them live; but let them be hewers of wood and drawers of water unto all the congregation; as the princes had promised them.\r\n And Joshua called for them, and he spake unto them, saying, Wherefore have ye beguiled us, saying, We are very far from you; when ye dwell among us?\r\n Now therefore ye are cursed, and there shall none of you be freed from being bondmen, and hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.\r\n And they answered Joshua, and said, Because it was certainly told thy servants, how that the LORD thy God commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you, therefore we were sore afraid of our lives because of you, and have done this thing.\r\n And now, behold, we are in thine hand: as it seemeth good and right unto thee to do unto us, do.\r\n And so did he unto them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, that they slew them not.\r\n And Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation, and for the altar of the LORD, even unto this day, in the place which he should choose.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now it came to pass, when Adonizedek king of Jerusalem had heard how Joshua had taken Ai, and had utterly destroyed it; as he had done to Jericho and her king, so he had done to Ai and her king; and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel, and were among them;\r\n That they feared greatly, because Gibeon was a great city, as one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all the men thereof were mighty.\r\n Wherefore Adonizedek king of Jerusalem sent unto Hoham king of Hebron, and unto Piram king of Jarmuth, and unto Japhia king of Lachish, and unto Debir king of Eglon, saying,\r\n Come up unto me, and help me, that we may smite Gibeon: for it hath made peace with Joshua and with the children of Israel.\r\n Therefore the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, the king of Eglon, gathered themselves together, and went up, they and all their hosts, and encamped before Gibeon, and made war against it.\r\n And the men of Gibeon sent unto Joshua to the camp to Gilgal, saying, Slack not thy hand from thy servants; come up to us quickly, and save us, and help us: for all the kings of the Amorites that dwell in the mountains are gathered together against us.\r\n So Joshua ascended from Gilgal, he, and all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valour.\r\n And the LORD said unto Joshua, Fear them not: for I have delivered them into thine hand; there shall not a man of them stand before thee.\r\n Joshua therefore came unto them suddenly, and went up from Gilgal all night.\r\n And the LORD discomfited them before Israel, and slew them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, and chased them along the way that goeth up to Bethhoron, and smote them to Azekah, and unto Makkedah.\r\n And it came to pass, as they fled from before Israel, and were in the going down to Bethhoron, that the LORD cast down great stones from heaven upon them unto Azekah, and they died: they were more which died with hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword.\r\n Then spake Joshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon.\r\n And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day.\r\n And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the LORD hearkened unto the voice of a man: for the LORD fought for Israel.\r\n And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, unto the camp to Gilgal.\r\n But these five kings fled, and hid themselves in a cave at Makkedah.\r\n And it was told Joshua, saying, The five kings are found hid in a cave at Makkedah.\r\n And Joshua said, Roll great stones upon the mouth of the cave, and set men by it for to keep them:\r\n And stay ye not, but pursue after your enemies, and smite the hindmost of them; suffer them not to enter into their cities: for the LORD your God hath delivered them into your hand.\r\n And it came to pass, when Joshua and the children of Israel had made an end of slaying them with a very great slaughter, till they were consumed, that the rest which remained of them entered into fenced cities.\r\n And all the people returned to the camp to Joshua at Makkedah in peace: none moved his tongue against any of the children of Israel.\r\n Then said Joshua, Open the mouth of the cave, and bring out those five kings unto me out of the cave.\r\n And they did so, and brought forth those five kings unto him out of the cave, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon.\r\n And it came to pass, when they brought out those kings unto Joshua, that Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and said unto the captains of the men of war which went with him, Come near, put your feet upon the necks of these kings. And they came near, and put their feet upon the necks of them.\r\n And Joshua said unto them, Fear not, nor be dismayed, be strong and of good courage: for thus shall the LORD do to all your enemies against whom ye fight.\r\n And afterward Joshua smote them, and slew them, and hanged them on five trees: and they were hanging upon the trees until the evening.\r\n And it came to pass at the time of the going down of the sun, that Joshua commanded, and they took them down off the trees, and cast them into the cave wherein they had been hid, and laid great stones in the cave's mouth, which remain until this very day.\r\n And that day Joshua took Makkedah, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and the king thereof he utterly destroyed, them, and all the souls that were therein; he let none remain: and he did to the king of Makkedah as he did unto the king of Jericho.\r\n Then Joshua passed from Makkedah, and all Israel with him, unto Libnah, and fought against Libnah:\r\n And the LORD delivered it also, and the king thereof, into the hand of Israel; and he smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that were therein; he let none remain in it; but did unto the king thereof as he did unto the king of Jericho.\r\n And Joshua passed from Libnah, and all Israel with him, unto Lachish, and encamped against it, and fought against it:\r\n And the LORD delivered Lachish into the hand of Israel, which took it on the second day, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that were therein, according to all that he had done to Libnah.\r\n Then Horam king of Gezer came up to help Lachish; and Joshua smote him and his people, until he had left him none remaining.\r\n And from Lachish Joshua passed unto Eglon, and all Israel with him; and they encamped against it, and fought against it:\r\n And they took it on that day, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that were therein he utterly destroyed that day, according to all that he had done to Lachish.\r\n And Joshua went up from Eglon, and all Israel with him, unto Hebron; and they fought against it:\r\n And they took it, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and the king thereof, and all the cities thereof, and all the souls that were therein; he left none remaining, according to all that he had done to Eglon; but destroyed it utterly, and all the souls that were therein.\r\n And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to Debir; and fought against it:\r\n And he took it, and the king thereof, and all the cities thereof; and they smote them with the edge of the sword, and utterly destroyed all the souls that were therein; he left none remaining: as he had done to Hebron, so he did to Debir, and to the king thereof; as he had done also to Libnah, and to her king.\r\n So Joshua smote all the country of the hills, and of the south, and of the vale, and of the springs, and all their kings: he left none remaining, but utterly destroyed all that breathed, as the LORD God of Israel commanded.\r\n And Joshua smote them from Kadeshbarnea even unto Gaza, and all the country of Goshen, even unto Gibeon.\r\n And all these kings and their land did Joshua take at one time, because the LORD God of Israel fought for Israel.\r\n And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, unto the camp to Gilgal.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass, when Jabin king of Hazor had heard those things, that he sent to Jobab king of Madon, and to the king of Shimron, and to the king of Achshaph,\r\n And to the kings that were on the north of the mountains, and of the plains south of Chinneroth, and in the valley, and in the borders of Dor on the west,\r\n And to the Canaanite on the east and on the west, and to the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Jebusite in the mountains, and to the Hivite under Hermon in the land of Mizpeh.\r\n And they went out, they and all their hosts with them, much people, even as the sand that is upon the sea shore in multitude, with horses and chariots very many.\r\n And when all these kings were met together, they came and pitched together at the waters of Merom, to fight against Israel.\r\n And the LORD said unto Joshua, Be not afraid because of them: for to morrow about this time will I deliver them up all slain before Israel: thou shalt hough their horses, and burn their chariots with fire.\r\n So Joshua came, and all the people of war with him, against them by the waters of Merom suddenly; and they fell upon them.\r\n And the LORD delivered them into the hand of Israel, who smote them, and chased them unto great Zidon, and unto Misrephothmaim, and unto the valley of Mizpeh eastward; and they smote them, until they left them none remaining.\r\n And Joshua did unto them as the LORD bade him: he houghed their horses, and burnt their chariots with fire.\r\n And Joshua at that time turned back, and took Hazor, and smote the king thereof with the sword: for Hazor beforetime was the head of all those kingdoms.\r\n And they smote all the souls that were therein with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying them: there was not any left to breathe: and he burnt Hazor with fire.\r\n And all the cities of those kings, and all the kings of them, did Joshua take, and smote them with the edge of the sword, and he utterly destroyed them, as Moses the servant of the LORD commanded.\r\n But as for the cities that stood still in their strength, Israel burned none of them, save Hazor only; that did Joshua burn.\r\n And all the spoil of these cities, and the cattle, the children of Israel took for a prey unto themselves; but every man they smote with the edge of the sword, until they had destroyed them, neither left they any to breathe.\r\n As the LORD commanded Moses his servant, so did Moses command Joshua, and so did Joshua; he left nothing undone of all that the LORD commanded Moses.\r\n So Joshua took all that land, the hills, and all the south country, and all the land of Goshen, and the valley, and the plain, and the mountain of Israel, and the valley of the same;\r\n Even from the mount Halak, that goeth up to Seir, even unto Baalgad in the valley of Lebanon under mount Hermon: and all their kings he took, and smote them, and slew them.\r\n Joshua made war a long time with all those kings.\r\n There was not a city that made peace with the children of Israel, save the Hivites the inhabitants of Gibeon: all other they took in battle.\r\n For it was of the LORD to harden their hearts, that they should come against Israel in battle, that he might destroy them utterly, and that they might have no favour, but that he might destroy them, as the LORD commanded Moses.\r\n And at that time came Joshua, and cut off the Anakims from the mountains, from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab, and from all the mountains of Judah, and from all the mountains of Israel: Joshua destroyed them utterly with their cities.\r\n There was none of the Anakims left in the land of the children of Israel: only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod, there remained.\r\n So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the LORD said unto Moses; and Joshua gave it for an inheritance unto Israel according to their divisions by their tribes. And the land rested from war.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now these are the kings of the land, which the children of Israel smote, and possessed their land on the other side Jordan toward the rising of the sun, from the river Arnon unto mount Hermon, and all the plain on the east:\r\n Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt in Heshbon, and ruled from Aroer, which is upon the bank of the river Arnon, and from the middle of the river, and from half Gilead, even unto the river Jabbok, which is the border of the children of Ammon;\r\n And from the plain to the sea of Chinneroth on the east, and unto the sea of the plain, even the salt sea on the east, the way to Bethjeshimoth; and from the south, under Ashdothpisgah:\r\n And the coast of Og king of Bashan, which was of the remnant of the giants, that dwelt at Ashtaroth and at Edrei,\r\n And reigned in mount Hermon, and in Salcah, and in all Bashan, unto the border of the Geshurites and the Maachathites, and half Gilead, the border of Sihon king of Heshbon.\r\n Them did Moses the servant of the LORD and the children of Israel smite: and Moses the servant of the LORD gave it for a possession unto the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh.\r\n And these are the kings of the country which Joshua and the children of Israel smote on this side Jordan on the west, from Baalgad in the valley of Lebanon even unto the mount Halak, that goeth up to Seir; which Joshua gave unto the tribes of Israel for a possession according to their divisions;\r\n In the mountains, and in the valleys, and in the plains, and in the springs, and in the wilderness, and in the south country; the Hittites, the Amorites, and the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites:\r\n The king of Jericho, one; the king of Ai, which is beside Bethel, one;\r\n The king of Jerusalem, one; the king of Hebron, one;\r\n The king of Jarmuth, one; the king of Lachish, one;\r\n The king of Eglon, one; the king of Gezer, one;\r\n The king of Debir, one; the king of Geder, one;\r\n The king of Hormah, one; the king of Arad, one;\r\n The king of Libnah, one; the king of Adullam, one;\r\n The king of Makkedah, one; the king of Bethel, one;\r\n The king of Tappuah, one; the king of Hepher, one;\r\n The king of Aphek, one; the king of Lasharon, one;\r\n The king of Madon, one; the king of Hazor, one;\r\n The king of Shimronmeron, one; the king of Achshaph, one;\r\n The king of Taanach, one; the king of Megiddo, one;\r\n The king of Kedesh, one; the king of Jokneam of Carmel, one;\r\n The king of Dor in the coast of Dor, one; the king of the nations of Gilgal, one;\r\n The king of Tirzah, one: all the kings thirty and one.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now Joshua was old and stricken in years; and the LORD said unto him, Thou art old and stricken in years, and there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed.\r\n This is the land that yet remaineth: all the borders of the Philistines, and all Geshuri,\r\n From Sihor, which is before Egypt, even unto the borders of Ekron northward, which is counted to the Canaanite: five lords of the Philistines; the Gazathites, and the Ashdothites, the Eshkalonites, the Gittites, and the Ekronites; also the Avites:\r\n From the south, all the land of the Canaanites, and Mearah that is beside the Sidonians, unto Aphek, to the borders of the Amorites:\r\n And the land of the Giblites, and all Lebanon, toward the sunrising, from Baalgad under mount Hermon unto the entering into Hamath.\r\n All the inhabitants of the hill country from Lebanon unto Misrephothmaim, and all the Sidonians, them will I drive out from before the children of Israel: only divide thou it by lot unto the Israelites for an inheritance, as I have commanded thee.\r\n Now therefore divide this land for an inheritance unto the nine tribes, and the half tribe of Manasseh,\r\n With whom the Reubenites and the Gadites have received their inheritance, which Moses gave them, beyond Jordan eastward, even as Moses the servant of the LORD gave them;\r\n From Aroer, that is upon the bank of the river Arnon, and the city that is in the midst of the river, and all the plain of Medeba unto Dibon;\r\n And all the cities of Sihon king of the Amorites, which reigned in Heshbon, unto the border of the children of Ammon;\r\n And Gilead, and the border of the Geshurites and Maachathites, and all mount Hermon, and all Bashan unto Salcah;\r\n All the kingdom of Og in Bashan, which reigned in Ashtaroth and in Edrei, who remained of the remnant of the giants: for these did Moses smite, and cast them out.\r\n Nevertheless the children of Israel expelled not the Geshurites, nor the Maachathites: but the Geshurites and the Maachathites dwell among the Israelites until this day.\r\n Only unto the tribe of Levi he gave none inheritance; the sacrifices of the LORD God of Israel made by fire are their inheritance, as he said unto them.\r\n And Moses gave unto the tribe of the children of Reuben inheritance according to their families.\r\n And their coast was from Aroer, that is on the bank of the river Arnon, and the city that is in the midst of the river, and all the plain by Medeba;\r\n Heshbon, and all her cities that are in the plain; Dibon, and Bamothbaal, and Bethbaalmeon,\r\n And Jahazah, and Kedemoth, and Mephaath,\r\n And Kirjathaim, and Sibmah, and Zarethshahar in the mount of the valley,\r\n And Bethpeor, and Ashdothpisgah, and Bethjeshimoth,\r\n And all the cities of the plain, and all the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, which reigned in Heshbon, whom Moses smote with the princes of Midian, Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, which were dukes of Sihon, dwelling in the country.\r\n Balaam also the son of Beor, the soothsayer, did the children of Israel slay with the sword among them that were slain by them.\r\n And the border of the children of Reuben was Jordan, and the border thereof. This was the inheritance of the children of Reuben after their families, the cities and the villages thereof.\r\n And Moses gave inheritance unto the tribe of Gad, even unto the children of Gad according to their families.\r\n And their coast was Jazer, and all the cities of Gilead, and half the land of the children of Ammon, unto Aroer that is before Rabbah;\r\n And from Heshbon unto Ramathmizpeh, and Betonim; and from Mahanaim unto the border of Debir;\r\n And in the valley, Betharam, and Bethnimrah, and Succoth, and Zaphon, the rest of the kingdom of Sihon king of Heshbon, Jordan and his border, even unto the edge of the sea of Chinnereth on the other side Jordan eastward.\r\n This is the inheritance of the children of Gad after their families, the cities, and their villages.\r\n And Moses gave inheritance unto the half tribe of Manasseh: and this was the possession of the half tribe of the children of Manasseh by their families.\r\n And their coast was from Mahanaim, all Bashan, all the kingdom of Og king of Bashan, and all the towns of Jair, which are in Bashan, threescore cities:\r\n And half Gilead, and Ashtaroth, and Edrei, cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan, were pertaining unto the children of Machir the son of Manasseh, even to the one half of the children of Machir by their families.\r\n These are the countries which Moses did distribute for inheritance in the plains of Moab, on the other side Jordan, by Jericho, eastward.\r\n But unto the tribe of Levi Moses gave not any inheritance: the LORD God of Israel was their inheritance, as he said unto them.\r\n \r\n \r\n And these are the countries which the children of Israel inherited in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel, distributed for inheritance to them.\r\n By lot was their inheritance, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses, for the nine tribes, and for the half tribe.\r\n For Moses had given the inheritance of two tribes and an half tribe on the other side Jordan: but unto the Levites he gave none inheritance among them.\r\n For the children of Joseph were two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim: therefore they gave no part unto the Levites in the land, save cities to dwell in, with their suburbs for their cattle and for their substance.\r\n As the LORD commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did, and they divided the land.\r\n Then the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal: and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite said unto him, Thou knowest the thing that the LORD said unto Moses the man of God concerning me and thee in Kadeshbarnea.\r\n Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadeshbarnea to espy out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in mine heart.\r\n Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the LORD my God.\r\n And Moses sware on that day, saying, Surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy children's for ever, because thou hast wholly followed the LORD my God.\r\n And now, behold, the LORD hath kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, even since the LORD spake this word unto Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old.\r\n As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in.\r\n Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the LORD will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said.\r\n And Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh Hebron for an inheritance.\r\n Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite unto this day, because that he wholly followed the LORD God of Israel.\r\n And the name of Hebron before was Kirjatharba; which Arba was a great man among the Anakims. And the land had rest from war.\r\n \r\n \r\n This then was the lot of the tribe of the children of Judah by their families; even to the border of Edom the wilderness of Zin southward was the uttermost part of the south coast.\r\n And their south border was from the shore of the salt sea, from the bay that looketh southward:\r\n And it went out to the south side to Maalehacrabbim, and passed along to Zin, and ascended up on the south side unto Kadeshbarnea, and passed along to Hezron, and went up to Adar, and fetched a compass to Karkaa:\r\n From thence it passed toward Azmon, and went out unto the river of Egypt; and the goings out of that coast were at the sea: this shall be your south coast.\r\n And the east border was the salt sea, even unto the end of Jordan. And their border in the north quarter was from the bay of the sea at the uttermost part of Jordan:\r\n And the border went up to Bethhogla, and passed along by the north of Betharabah; and the border went up to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben:\r\n And the border went up toward Debir from the valley of Achor, and so northward, looking toward Gilgal, that is before the going up to Adummim, which is on the south side of the river: and the border passed toward the waters of Enshemesh, and the goings out thereof were at Enrogel:\r\n And the border went up by the valley of the son of Hinnom unto the south side of the Jebusite; the same is Jerusalem: and the border went up to the top of the mountain that lieth before the valley of Hinnom westward, which is at the end of the valley of the giants northward:\r\n And the border was drawn from the top of the hill unto the fountain of the water of Nephtoah, and went out to the cities of mount Ephron; and the border was drawn to Baalah, which is Kirjathjearim:\r\n And the border compassed from Baalah westward unto mount Seir, and passed along unto the side of mount Jearim, which is Chesalon, on the north side, and went down to Bethshemesh, and passed on to Timnah:\r\n And the border went out unto the side of Ekron northward: and the border was drawn to Shicron, and passed along to mount Baalah, and went out unto Jabneel; and the goings out of the border were at the sea.\r\n And the west border was to the great sea, and the coast thereof. This is the coast of the children of Judah round about according to their families.\r\n And unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh he gave a part among the children of Judah, according to the commandment of the LORD to Joshua, even the city of Arba the father of Anak, which city is Hebron.\r\n And Caleb drove thence the three sons of Anak, Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai, the children of Anak.\r\n And he went up thence to the inhabitants of Debir: and the name of Debir before was Kirjathsepher.\r\n And Caleb said, He that smiteth Kirjathsepher, and taketh it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter to wife.\r\n And Othniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, took it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife.\r\n And it came to pass, as she came unto him, that she moved him to ask of her father a field: and she lighted off her ass; and Caleb said unto her, What wouldest thou?\r\n Who answered, Give me a blessing; for thou hast given me a south land; give me also springs of water. And he gave her the upper springs, and the nether springs.\r\n This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Judah according to their families.\r\n And the uttermost cities of the tribe of the children of Judah toward the coast of Edom southward were Kabzeel, and Eder, and Jagur,\r\n And Kinah, and Dimonah, and Adadah,\r\n And Kedesh, and Hazor, and Ithnan,\r\n Ziph, and Telem, and Bealoth,\r\n And Hazor, Hadattah, and Kerioth, and Hezron, which is Hazor,\r\n Amam, and Shema, and Moladah,\r\n And Hazargaddah, and Heshmon, and Bethpalet,\r\n And Hazarshual, and Beersheba, and Bizjothjah,\r\n Baalah, and Iim, and Azem,\r\n And Eltolad, and Chesil, and Hormah,\r\n And Ziklag, and Madmannah, and Sansannah,\r\n And Lebaoth, and Shilhim, and Ain, and Rimmon: all the cities are twenty and nine, with their villages:\r\n And in the valley, Eshtaol, and Zoreah, and Ashnah,\r\n And Zanoah, and Engannim, Tappuah, and Enam,\r\n Jarmuth, and Adullam, Socoh, and Azekah,\r\n And Sharaim, and Adithaim, and Gederah, and Gederothaim; fourteen cities with their villages:\r\n Zenan, and Hadashah, and Migdalgad,\r\n And Dilean, and Mizpeh, and Joktheel,\r\n Lachish, and Bozkath, and Eglon,\r\n And Cabbon, and Lahmam, and Kithlish,\r\n And Gederoth, Bethdagon, and Naamah, and Makkedah; sixteen cities with their villages:\r\n Libnah, and Ether, and Ashan,\r\n And Jiphtah, and Ashnah, and Nezib,\r\n And Keilah, and Achzib, and Mareshah; nine cities with their villages:\r\n Ekron, with her towns and her villages:\r\n From Ekron even unto the sea, all that lay near Ashdod, with their villages:\r\n Ashdod with her towns and her villages, Gaza with her towns and her villages, unto the river of Egypt, and the great sea, and the border thereof:\r\n And in the mountains, Shamir, and Jattir, and Socoh,\r\n And Dannah, and Kirjathsannah, which is Debir,\r\n And Anab, and Eshtemoh, and Anim,\r\n And Goshen, and Holon, and Giloh; eleven cities with their villages:\r\n Arab, and Dumah, and Eshean,\r\n And Janum, and Bethtappuah, and Aphekah,\r\n And Humtah, and Kirjatharba, which is Hebron, and Zior; nine cities with their villages:\r\n Maon, Carmel, and Ziph, and Juttah,\r\n And Jezreel, and Jokdeam, and Zanoah,\r\n Cain, Gibeah, and Timnah; ten cities with their villages:\r\n Halhul, Bethzur, and Gedor,\r\n And Maarath, and Bethanoth, and Eltekon; six cities with their villages:\r\n Kirjathbaal, which is Kirjathjearim, and Rabbah; two cities with their villages:\r\n In the wilderness, Betharabah, Middin, and Secacah,\r\n And Nibshan, and the city of Salt, and Engedi; six cities with their villages.\r\n As for the Jebusites the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the children of Judah could not drive them out: but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Judah at Jerusalem unto this day.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the lot of the children of Joseph fell from Jordan by Jericho, unto the water of Jericho on the east, to the wilderness that goeth up from Jericho throughout mount Bethel,\r\n And goeth out from Bethel to Luz, and passeth along unto the borders of Archi to Ataroth,\r\n And goeth down westward to the coast of Japhleti, unto the coast of Bethhoron the nether, and to Gezer: and the goings out thereof are at the sea.\r\n So the children of Joseph, Manasseh and Ephraim, took their inheritance.\r\n And the border of the children of Ephraim according to their families was thus: even the border of their inheritance on the east side was Atarothaddar, unto Bethhoron the upper;\r\n And the border went out toward the sea to Michmethah on the north side; and the border went about eastward unto Taanathshiloh, and passed by it on the east to Janohah;\r\n And it went down from Janohah to Ataroth, and to Naarath, and came to Jericho, and went out at Jordan.\r\n The border went out from Tappuah westward unto the river Kanah; and the goings out thereof were at the sea. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Ephraim by their families.\r\n And the separate cities for the children of Ephraim were among the inheritance of the children of Manasseh, all the cities with their villages.\r\n And they drave not out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer: but the Canaanites dwell among the Ephraimites unto this day, and serve under tribute.\r\n \r\n \r\n There was also a lot for the tribe of Manasseh; for he was the firstborn of Joseph; to wit, for Machir the firstborn of Manasseh, the father of Gilead: because he was a man of war, therefore he had Gilead and Bashan.\r\n There was also a lot for the rest of the children of Manasseh by their families; for the children of Abiezer, and for the children of Helek, and for the children of Asriel, and for the children of Shechem, and for the children of Hepher, and for the children of Shemida: these were the male children of Manasseh the son of Joseph by their families.\r\n But Zelophehad, the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, had no sons, but daughters: and these are the names of his daughters, Mahlah, and Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.\r\n And they came near before Eleazar the priest, and before Joshua the son of Nun, and before the princes, saying, The LORD commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our brethren. Therefore according to the commandment of the LORD he gave them an inheritance among the brethren of their father.\r\n And there fell ten portions to Manasseh, beside the land of Gilead and Bashan, which were on the other side Jordan;\r\n Because the daughters of Manasseh had an inheritance among his sons: and the rest of Manasseh's sons had the land of Gilead.\r\n And the coast of Manasseh was from Asher to Michmethah, that lieth before Shechem; and the border went along on the right hand unto the inhabitants of Entappuah.\r\n Now Manasseh had the land of Tappuah: but Tappuah on the border of Manasseh belonged to the children of Ephraim;\r\n And the coast descended unto the river Kanah, southward of the river: these cities of Ephraim are among the cities of Manasseh: the coast of Manasseh also was on the north side of the river, and the outgoings of it were at the sea:\r\n Southward it was Ephraim's, and northward it was Manasseh's, and the sea is his border; and they met together in Asher on the north, and in Issachar on the east.\r\n And Manasseh had in Issachar and in Asher Bethshean and her towns, and Ibleam and her towns, and the inhabitants of Dor and her towns, and the inhabitants of Endor and her towns, and the inhabitants of Taanach and her towns, and the inhabitants of Megiddo and her towns, even three countries.\r\n Yet the children of Manasseh could not drive out the inhabitants of those cities; but the Canaanites would dwell in that land.\r\n Yet it came to pass, when the children of Israel were waxen strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute; but did not utterly drive them out.\r\n And the children of Joseph spake unto Joshua, saying, Why hast thou given me but one lot and one portion to inherit, seeing I am a great people, forasmuch as the LORD hath blessed me hitherto?\r\n And Joshua answered them, If thou be a great people, then get thee up to the wood country, and cut down for thyself there in the land of the Perizzites and of the giants, if mount Ephraim be too narrow for thee.\r\n And the children of Joseph said, The hill is not enough for us: and all the Canaanites that dwell in the land of the valley have chariots of iron, both they who are of Bethshean and her towns, and they who are of the valley of Jezreel.\r\n And Joshua spake unto the house of Joseph, even to Ephraim and to Manasseh, saying, Thou art a great people, and hast great power: thou shalt not have one lot only:\r\n But the mountain shall be thine; for it is a wood, and thou shalt cut it down: and the outgoings of it shall be thine: for thou shalt drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots, and though they be strong.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh, and set up the tabernacle of the congregation there. And the land was subdued before them.\r\n And there remained among the children of Israel seven tribes, which had not yet received their inheritance.\r\n And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, How long are ye slack to go to possess the land, which the LORD God of your fathers hath given you?\r\n Give out from among you three men for each tribe: and I will send them, and they shall rise, and go through the land, and describe it according to the inheritance of them; and they shall come again to me.\r\n And they shall divide it into seven parts: Judah shall abide in their coast on the south, and the house of Joseph shall abide in their coasts on the north.\r\n Ye shall therefore describe the land into seven parts, and bring the description hither to me, that I may cast lots for you here before the LORD our God.\r\n But the Levites have no part among you; for the priesthood of the LORD is their inheritance: and Gad, and Reuben, and half the tribe of Manasseh, have received their inheritance beyond Jordan on the east, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave them.\r\n And the men arose, and went away: and Joshua charged them that went to describe the land, saying, Go and walk through the land, and describe it, and come again to me, that I may here cast lots for you before the LORD in Shiloh.\r\n And the men went and passed through the land, and described it by cities into seven parts in a book, and came again to Joshua to the host at Shiloh.\r\n And Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh before the LORD: and there Joshua divided the land unto the children of Israel according to their divisions.\r\n And the lot of the tribe of the children of Benjamin came up according to their families: and the coast of their lot came forth between the children of Judah and the children of Joseph.\r\n And their border on the north side was from Jordan; and the border went up to the side of Jericho on the north side, and went up through the mountains westward; and the goings out thereof were at the wilderness of Bethaven.\r\n And the border went over from thence toward Luz, to the side of Luz, which is Bethel, southward; and the border descended to Atarothadar, near the hill that lieth on the south side of the nether Bethhoron.\r\n And the border was drawn thence, and compassed the corner of the sea southward, from the hill that lieth before Bethhoron southward; and the goings out thereof were at Kirjathbaal, which is Kirjathjearim, a city of the children of Judah: this was the west quarter.\r\n And the south quarter was from the end of Kirjathjearim, and the border went out on the west, and went out to the well of waters of Nephtoah:\r\n And the border came down to the end of the mountain that lieth before the valley of the son of Hinnom, and which is in the valley of the giants on the north, and descended to the valley of Hinnom, to the side of Jebusi on the south, and descended to Enrogel,\r\n And was drawn from the north, and went forth to Enshemesh, and went forth toward Geliloth, which is over against the going up of Adummim, and descended to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben,\r\n And passed along toward the side over against Arabah northward, and went down unto Arabah:\r\n And the border passed along to the side of Bethhoglah northward: and the outgoings of the border were at the north bay of the salt sea at the south end of Jordan: this was the south coast.\r\n And Jordan was the border of it on the east side. This was the inheritance of the children of Benjamin, by the coasts thereof round about, according to their families.\r\n Now the cities of the tribe of the children of Benjamin according to their families were Jericho, and Bethhoglah, and the valley of Keziz,\r\n And Betharabah, and Zemaraim, and Bethel,\r\n And Avim, and Parah, and Ophrah,\r\n And Chepharhaammonai, and Ophni, and Gaba; twelve cities with their villages:\r\n Gibeon, and Ramah, and Beeroth,\r\n And Mizpeh, and Chephirah, and Mozah,\r\n And Rekem, and Irpeel, and Taralah,\r\n And Zelah, Eleph, and Jebusi, which is Jerusalem, Gibeath, and Kirjath; fourteen cities with their villages. This is the inheritance of the children of Benjamin according to their families.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the second lot came forth to Simeon, even for the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their families: and their inheritance was within the inheritance of the children of Judah.\r\n And they had in their inheritance Beersheba, or Sheba, and Moladah,\r\n And Hazarshual, and Balah, and Azem,\r\n And Eltolad, and Bethul, and Hormah,\r\n And Ziklag, and Bethmarcaboth, and Hazarsusah,\r\n And Bethlebaoth, and Sharuhen; thirteen cities and their villages:\r\n Ain, Remmon, and Ether, and Ashan; four cities and their villages:\r\n And all the villages that were round about these cities to Baalathbeer, Ramath of the south. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their families.\r\n Out of the portion of the children of Judah was the inheritance of the children of Simeon: for the part of the children of Judah was too much for them: therefore the children of Simeon had their inheritance within the inheritance of them.\r\n And the third lot came up for the children of Zebulun according to their families: and the border of their inheritance was unto Sarid:\r\n And their border went up toward the sea, and Maralah, and reached to Dabbasheth, and reached to the river that is before Jokneam;\r\n And turned from Sarid eastward toward the sunrising unto the border of Chislothtabor, and then goeth out to Daberath, and goeth up to Japhia,\r\n And from thence passeth on along on the east to Gittahhepher, to Ittahkazin, and goeth out to Remmonmethoar to Neah;\r\n And the border compasseth it on the north side to Hannathon: and the outgoings thereof are in the valley of Jiphthahel:\r\n And Kattath, and Nahallal, and Shimron, and Idalah, and Bethlehem: twelve cities with their villages.\r\n This is the inheritance of the children of Zebulun according to their families, these cities with their villages.\r\n And the fourth lot came out to Issachar, for the children of Issachar according to their families.\r\n And their border was toward Jezreel, and Chesulloth, and Shunem,\r\n And Hapharaim, and Shion, and Anaharath,\r\n And Rabbith, and Kishion, and Abez,\r\n And Remeth, and Engannim, and Enhaddah, and Bethpazzez;\r\n And the coast reacheth to Tabor, and Shahazimah, and Bethshemesh; and the outgoings of their border were at Jordan: sixteen cities with their villages.\r\n This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Issachar according to their families, the cities and their villages.\r\n And the fifth lot came out for the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families.\r\n And their border was Helkath, and Hali, and Beten, and Achshaph,\r\n And Alammelech, and Amad, and Misheal; and reacheth to Carmel westward, and to Shihorlibnath;\r\n And turneth toward the sunrising to Bethdagon, and reacheth to Zebulun, and to the valley of Jiphthahel toward the north side of Bethemek, and Neiel, and goeth out to Cabul on the left hand,\r\n And Hebron, and Rehob, and Hammon, and Kanah, even unto great Zidon;\r\n And then the coast turneth to Ramah, and to the strong city Tyre; and the coast turneth to Hosah; and the outgoings thereof are at the sea from the coast to Achzib:\r\n Ummah also, and Aphek, and Rehob: twenty and two cities with their villages.\r\n This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families, these cities with their villages.\r\n The sixth lot came out to the children of Naphtali, even for the children of Naphtali according to their families.\r\n And their coast was from Heleph, from Allon to Zaanannim, and Adami, Nekeb, and Jabneel, unto Lakum; and the outgoings thereof were at Jordan:\r\n And then the coast turneth westward to Aznothtabor, and goeth out from thence to Hukkok, and reacheth to Zebulun on the south side, and reacheth to Asher on the west side, and to Judah upon Jordan toward the sunrising.\r\n And the fenced cities are Ziddim, Zer, and Hammath, Rakkath, and Chinnereth,\r\n And Adamah, and Ramah, and Hazor,\r\n And Kedesh, and Edrei, and Enhazor,\r\n And Iron, and Migdalel, Horem, and Bethanath, and Bethshemesh; nineteen cities with their villages.\r\n This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Naphtali according to their families, the cities and their villages.\r\n And the seventh lot came out for the tribe of the children of Dan according to their families.\r\n And the coast of their inheritance was Zorah, and Eshtaol, and Irshemesh,\r\n And Shaalabbin, and Ajalon, and Jethlah,\r\n And Elon, and Thimnathah, and Ekron,\r\n And Eltekeh, and Gibbethon, and Baalath,\r\n And Jehud, and Beneberak, and Gathrimmon,\r\n And Mejarkon, and Rakkon, with the border before Japho.\r\n And the coast of the children of Dan went out too little for them: therefore the children of Dan went up to fight against Leshem, and took it, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and possessed it, and dwelt therein, and called Leshem, Dan, after the name of Dan their father.\r\n This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Dan according to their families, these cities with their villages.\r\n When they had made an end of dividing the land for inheritance by their coasts, the children of Israel gave an inheritance to Joshua the son of Nun among them:\r\n According to the word of the LORD they gave him the city which he asked, even Timnathserah in mount Ephraim: and he built the city, and dwelt therein.\r\n These are the inheritances, which Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel, divided for an inheritance by lot in Shiloh before the LORD, at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. So they made an end of dividing the country.\r\n \r\n \r\n The LORD also spake unto Joshua, saying,\r\n Speak to the children of Israel, saying, Appoint out for you cities of refuge, whereof I spake unto you by the hand of Moses:\r\n That the slayer that killeth any person unawares and unwittingly may flee thither: and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood.\r\n And when he that doth flee unto one of those cities shall stand at the entering of the gate of the city, and shall declare his cause in the ears of the elders of that city, they shall take him into the city unto them, and give him a place, that he may dwell among them.\r\n And if the avenger of blood pursue after him, then they shall not deliver the slayer up into his hand; because he smote his neighbour unwittingly, and hated him not beforetime.\r\n And he shall dwell in that city, until he stand before the congregation for judgment, and until the death of the high priest that shall be in those days: then shall the slayer return, and come unto his own city, and unto his own house, unto the city from whence he fled.\r\n And they appointed Kedesh in Galilee in mount Naphtali, and Shechem in mount Ephraim, and Kirjatharba, which is Hebron, in the mountain of Judah.\r\n And on the other side Jordan by Jericho eastward, they assigned Bezer in the wilderness upon the plain out of the tribe of Reuben, and Ramoth in Gilead out of the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan out of the tribe of Manasseh.\r\n These were the cities appointed for all the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them, that whosoever killeth any person at unawares might flee thither, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, until he stood before the congregation.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then came near the heads of the fathers of the Levites unto Eleazar the priest, and unto Joshua the son of Nun, and unto the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel;\r\n And they spake unto them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan, saying, The LORD commanded by the hand of Moses to give us cities to dwell in, with the suburbs thereof for our cattle.\r\n And the children of Israel gave unto the Levites out of their inheritance, at the commandment of the LORD, these cities and their suburbs.\r\n And the lot came out for the families of the Kohathites: and the children of Aaron the priest, which were of the Levites, had by lot out of the tribe of Judah, and out of the tribe of Simeon, and out of the tribe of Benjamin, thirteen cities.\r\n And the rest of the children of Kohath had by lot out of the families of the tribe of Ephraim, and out of the tribe of Dan, and out of the half tribe of Manasseh, ten cities.\r\n And the children of Gershon had by lot out of the families of the tribe of Issachar, and out of the tribe of Asher, and out of the tribe of Naphtali, and out of the half tribe of Manasseh in Bashan, thirteen cities.\r\n The children of Merari by their families had out of the tribe of Reuben, and out of the tribe of Gad, and out of the tribe of Zebulun, twelve cities.\r\n And the children of Israel gave by lot unto the Levites these cities with their suburbs, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses.\r\n And they gave out of the tribe of the children of Judah, and out of the tribe of the children of Simeon, these cities which are here mentioned by name,\r\n Which the children of Aaron, being of the families of the Kohathites, who were of the children of Levi, had: for theirs was the first lot.\r\n And they gave them the city of Arba the father of Anak, which city is Hebron, in the hill country of Judah, with the suburbs thereof round about it.\r\n But the fields of the city, and the villages thereof, gave they to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for his possession.\r\n Thus they gave to the children of Aaron the priest Hebron with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Libnah with her suburbs,\r\n And Jattir with her suburbs, and Eshtemoa with her suburbs,\r\n And Holon with her suburbs, and Debir with her suburbs,\r\n And Ain with her suburbs, and Juttah with her suburbs, and Bethshemesh with her suburbs; nine cities out of those two tribes.\r\n And out of the tribe of Benjamin, Gibeon with her suburbs, Geba with her suburbs,\r\n Anathoth with her suburbs, and Almon with her suburbs; four cities.\r\n All the cities of the children of Aaron, the priests, were thirteen cities with their suburbs.\r\n And the families of the children of Kohath, the Levites which remained of the children of Kohath, even they had the cities of their lot out of the tribe of Ephraim.\r\n For they gave them Shechem with her suburbs in mount Ephraim, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Gezer with her suburbs,\r\n And Kibzaim with her suburbs, and Bethhoron with her suburbs; four cities.\r\n And out of the tribe of Dan, Eltekeh with her suburbs, Gibbethon with her suburbs,\r\n Aijalon with her suburbs, Gathrimmon with her suburbs; four cities.\r\n And out of the half tribe of Manasseh, Tanach with her suburbs, and Gathrimmon with her suburbs; two cities.\r\n All the cities were ten with their suburbs for the families of the children of Kohath that remained.\r\n And unto the children of Gershon, of the families of the Levites, out of the other half tribe of Manasseh they gave Golan in Bashan with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Beeshterah with her suburbs; two cities.\r\n And out of the tribe of Issachar, Kishon with her suburbs, Dabareh with her suburbs,\r\n Jarmuth with her suburbs, Engannim with her suburbs; four cities.\r\n And out of the tribe of Asher, Mishal with her suburbs, Abdon with her suburbs,\r\n Helkath with her suburbs, and Rehob with her suburbs; four cities.\r\n And out of the tribe of Naphtali, Kedesh in Galilee with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Hammothdor with her suburbs, and Kartan with her suburbs; three cities.\r\n All the cities of the Gershonites according to their families were thirteen cities with their suburbs.\r\n And unto the families of the children of Merari, the rest of the Levites, out of the tribe of Zebulun, Jokneam with her suburbs, and Kartah with her suburbs,\r\n Dimnah with her suburbs, Nahalal with her suburbs; four cities.\r\n And out of the tribe of Reuben, Bezer with her suburbs, and Jahazah with her suburbs,\r\n Kedemoth with her suburbs, and Mephaath with her suburbs; four cities.\r\n And out of the tribe of Gad, Ramoth in Gilead with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Mahanaim with her suburbs,\r\n Heshbon with her suburbs, Jazer with her suburbs; four cities in all.\r\n So all the cities for the children of Merari by their families, which were remaining of the families of the Levites, were by their lot twelve cities.\r\n All the cities of the Levites within the possession of the children of Israel were forty and eight cities with their suburbs.\r\n These cities were every one with their suburbs round about them: thus were all these cities.\r\n And the LORD gave unto Israel all the land which he sware to give unto their fathers; and they possessed it, and dwelt therein.\r\n And the LORD gave them rest round about, according to all that he sware unto their fathers: and there stood not a man of all their enemies before them; the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand.\r\n There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then Joshua called the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh,\r\n And said unto them, Ye have kept all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, and have obeyed my voice in all that I commanded you:\r\n Ye have not left your brethren these many days unto this day, but have kept the charge of the commandment of the LORD your God.\r\n And now the LORD your God hath given rest unto your brethren, as he promised them: therefore now return ye, and get you unto your tents, and unto the land of your possession, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you on the other side Jordan.\r\n But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the LORD charged you, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.\r\n So Joshua blessed them, and sent them away: and they went unto their tents.\r\n Now to the one half of the tribe of Manasseh Moses had given possession in Bashan: but unto the other half thereof gave Joshua among their brethren on this side Jordan westward. And when Joshua sent them away also unto their tents, then he blessed them,\r\n And he spake unto them, saying, Return with much riches unto your tents, and with very much cattle, with silver, and with gold, and with brass, and with iron, and with very much raiment: divide the spoil of your enemies with your brethren.\r\n And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh returned, and departed from the children of Israel out of Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan, to go unto the country of Gilead, to the land of their possession, whereof they were possessed, according to the word of the LORD by the hand of Moses.\r\n And when they came unto the borders of Jordan, that are in the land of Canaan, the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh built there an altar by Jordan, a great altar to see to.\r\n And the children of Israel heard say, Behold, the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh have built an altar over against the land of Canaan, in the borders of Jordan, at the passage of the children of Israel.\r\n And when the children of Israel heard of it, the whole congregation of the children of Israel gathered themselves together at Shiloh, to go up to war against them.\r\n And the children of Israel sent unto the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the half tribe of Manasseh, into the land of Gilead, Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest,\r\n And with him ten princes, of each chief house a prince throughout all the tribes of Israel; and each one was an head of the house of their fathers among the thousands of Israel.\r\n And they came unto the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the half tribe of Manasseh, unto the land of Gilead, and they spake with them, saying,\r\n Thus saith the whole congregation of the LORD, What trespass is this that ye have committed against the God of Israel, to turn away this day from following the LORD, in that ye have builded you an altar, that ye might rebel this day against the LORD?\r\n Is the iniquity of Peor too little for us, from which we are not cleansed until this day, although there was a plague in the congregation of the LORD,\r\n But that ye must turn away this day from following the LORD? and it will be, seeing ye rebel to day against the LORD, that to morrow he will be wroth with the whole congregation of Israel.\r\n Notwithstanding, if the land of your possession be unclean, then pass ye over unto the land of the possession of the LORD, wherein the LORD'S tabernacle dwelleth, and take possession among us: but rebel not against the LORD, nor rebel against us, in building you an altar beside the altar of the LORD our God.\r\n Did not Achan the son of Zerah commit a trespass in the accursed thing, and wrath fell on all the congregation of Israel? and that man perished not alone in his iniquity.\r\n Then the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh answered, and said unto the heads of the thousands of Israel,\r\n The LORD God of gods, the LORD God of gods, he knoweth, and Israel he shall know; if it be in rebellion, or if in transgression against the LORD, (save us not this day,)\r\n That we have built us an altar to turn from following the LORD, or if to offer thereon burnt offering or meat offering, or if to offer peace offerings thereon, let the LORD himself require it;\r\n And if we have not rather done it for fear of this thing, saying, In time to come your children might speak unto our children, saying, What have ye to do with the LORD God of Israel?\r\n For the LORD hath made Jordan a border between us and you, ye children of Reuben and children of Gad; ye have no part in the LORD: so shall your children make our children cease from fearing the LORD.\r\n Therefore we said, Let us now prepare to build us an altar, not for burnt offering, nor for sacrifice:\r\n But that it may be a witness between us, and you, and our generations after us, that we might do the service of the LORD before him with our burnt offerings, and with our sacrifices, and with our peace offerings; that your children may not say to our children in time to come, Ye have no part in the LORD.\r\n Therefore said we, that it shall be, when they should so say to us or to our generations in time to come, that we may say again, Behold the pattern of the altar of the LORD, which our fathers made, not for burnt offerings, nor for sacrifices; but it is a witness between us and you.\r\n God forbid that we should rebel against the LORD, and turn this day from following the LORD, to build an altar for burnt offerings, for meat offerings, or for sacrifices, beside the altar of the LORD our God that is before his tabernacle.\r\n And when Phinehas the priest, and the princes of the congregation and heads of the thousands of Israel which were with him, heard the words that the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the children of Manasseh spake, it pleased them.\r\n And Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest said unto the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the children of Manasseh, This day we perceive that the LORD is among us, because ye have not committed this trespass against the LORD: now ye have delivered the children of Israel out of the hand of the LORD.\r\n And Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, and the princes, returned from the children of Reuben, and from the children of Gad, out of the land of Gilead, unto the land of Canaan, to the children of Israel, and brought them word again.\r\n And the thing pleased the children of Israel; and the children of Israel blessed God, and did not intend to go up against them in battle, to destroy the land wherein the children of Reuben and Gad dwelt.\r\n And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad called the altar Ed: for it shall be a witness between us that the LORD is God.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass a long time after that the LORD had given rest unto Israel from all their enemies round about, that Joshua waxed old and stricken in age.\r\n And Joshua called for all Israel, and for their elders, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers, and said unto them, I am old and stricken in age:\r\n And ye have seen all that the LORD your God hath done unto all these nations because of you; for the LORD your God is he that hath fought for you.\r\n Behold, I have divided unto you by lot these nations that remain, to be an inheritance for your tribes, from Jordan, with all the nations that I have cut off, even unto the great sea westward.\r\n And the LORD your God, he shall expel them from before you, and drive them from out of your sight; and ye shall possess their land, as the LORD your God hath promised unto you.\r\n Be ye therefore very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that ye turn not aside therefrom to the right hand or to the left;\r\n That ye come not among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear by them, neither serve them, nor bow yourselves unto them:\r\n But cleave unto the LORD your God, as ye have done unto this day.\r\n For the LORD hath driven out from before you great nations and strong: but as for you, no man hath been able to stand before you unto this day.\r\n One man of you shall chase a thousand: for the LORD your God, he it is that fighteth for you, as he hath promised you.\r\n Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love the LORD your God.\r\n Else if ye do in any wise go back, and cleave unto the remnant of these nations, even these that remain among you, and shall make marriages with them, and go in unto them, and they to you:\r\n Know for a certainty that the LORD your God will no more drive out any of these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you.\r\n And, behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth: and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof.\r\n Therefore it shall come to pass, that as all good things are come upon you, which the LORD your God promised you; so shall the LORD bring upon you all evil things, until he have destroyed you from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you.\r\n When ye have transgressed the covenant of the LORD your God, which he commanded you, and have gone and served other gods, and bowed yourselves to them; then shall the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and ye shall perish quickly from off the good land which he hath given unto you.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and called for the elders of Israel, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers; and they presented themselves before God.\r\n And Joshua said unto all the people, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor: and they served other gods.\r\n And I took your father Abraham from the other side of the flood, and led him throughout all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his seed, and gave him Isaac.\r\n And I gave unto Isaac Jacob and Esau: and I gave unto Esau mount Seir, to possess it; but Jacob and his children went down into Egypt.\r\n I sent Moses also and Aaron, and I plagued Egypt, according to that which I did among them: and afterward I brought you out.\r\n And I brought your fathers out of Egypt: and ye came unto the sea; and the Egyptians pursued after your fathers with chariots and horsemen unto the Red sea.\r\n And when they cried unto the LORD, he put darkness between you and the Egyptians, and brought the sea upon them, and covered them; and your eyes have seen what I have done in Egypt: and ye dwelt in the wilderness a long season.\r\n And I brought you into the land of the Amorites, which dwelt on the other side Jordan; and they fought with you: and I gave them into your hand, that ye might possess their land; and I destroyed them from before you.\r\n Then Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and warred against Israel, and sent and called Balaam the son of Beor to curse you:\r\n But I would not hearken unto Balaam; therefore he blessed you still: so I delivered you out of his hand.\r\n And ye went over Jordan, and came unto Jericho: and the men of Jericho fought against you, the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Girgashites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; and I delivered them into your hand.\r\n And I sent the hornet before you, which drave them out from before you, even the two kings of the Amorites; but not with thy sword, nor with thy bow.\r\n And I have given you a land for which ye did not labour, and cities which ye built not, and ye dwell in them; of the vineyards and oliveyards which ye planted not do ye eat.\r\n Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD.\r\n And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.\r\n And the people answered and said, God forbid that we should forsake the LORD, to serve other gods;\r\n For the LORD our God, he it is that brought us up and our fathers out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, and which did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way wherein we went, and among all the people through whom we passed:\r\n And the LORD drave out from before us all the people, even the Amorites which dwelt in the land: therefore will we also serve the LORD; for he is our God.\r\n And Joshua said unto the people, Ye cannot serve the LORD: for he is an holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins.\r\n If ye forsake the LORD, and serve strange gods, then he will turn and do you hurt, and consume you, after that he hath done you good.\r\n And the people said unto Joshua, Nay; but we will serve the LORD.\r\n And Joshua said unto the people, Ye are witnesses against yourselves that ye have chosen you the LORD, to serve him. And they said, We are witnesses.\r\n Now therefore put away, said he, the strange gods which are among you, and incline your heart unto the LORD God of Israel.\r\n And the people said unto Joshua, The LORD our God will we serve, and his voice will we obey.\r\n So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and set them a statute and an ordinance in Shechem.\r\n And Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God, and took a great stone, and set it up there under an oak, that was by the sanctuary of the LORD.\r\n And Joshua said unto all the people, Behold, this stone shall be a witness unto us; for it hath heard all the words of the LORD which he spake unto us: it shall be therefore a witness unto you, lest ye deny your God.\r\n So Joshua let the people depart, every man unto his inheritance.\r\n And it came to pass after these things, that Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being an hundred and ten years old.\r\n And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnathserah, which is in mount Ephraim, on the north side of the hill of Gaash.\r\n And Israel served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that overlived Joshua, and which had known all the works of the LORD, that he had done for Israel.\r\n And the bones of Joseph, which the children of Israel brought up out of Egypt, buried they in Shechem, in a parcel of ground which Jacob bought of the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for an hundred pieces of silver: and it became the inheritance of the children of Joseph.\r\n And Eleazar the son of Aaron died; and they buried him in a hill that pertained to Phinehas his son, which was given him in mount Ephraim.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n Now after the death of Joshua it came to pass, that the children of Israel asked the LORD, saying, Who shall go up for us against the Canaanites first, to fight against them?\r\n And the LORD said, Judah shall go up: behold, I have delivered the land into his hand.\r\n And Judah said unto Simeon his brother, Come up with me into my lot, that we may fight against the Canaanites; and I likewise will go with thee into thy lot. So Simeon went with him.\r\n And Judah went up; and the LORD delivered the Canaanites and the Perizzites into their hand: and they slew of them in Bezek ten thousand men.\r\n And they found Adonibezek in Bezek: and they fought against him, and they slew the Canaanites and the Perizzites.\r\n But Adonibezek fled; and they pursued after him, and caught him, and cut off his thumbs and his great toes.\r\n And Adonibezek said, Threescore and ten kings, having their thumbs and their great toes cut off, gathered their meat under my table: as I have done, so God hath requited me. And they brought him to Jerusalem, and there he died.\r\n Now the children of Judah had fought against Jerusalem, and had taken it, and smitten it with the edge of the sword, and set the city on fire.\r\n And afterward the children of Judah went down to fight against the Canaanites, that dwelt in the mountain, and in the south, and in the valley.\r\n And Judah went against the Canaanites that dwelt in Hebron: (now the name of Hebron before was Kirjatharba:) and they slew Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai.\r\n And from thence he went against the inhabitants of Debir: and the name of Debir before was Kirjathsepher:\r\n And Caleb said, He that smiteth Kirjathsepher, and taketh it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter to wife.\r\n And Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother, took it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife.\r\n And it came to pass, when she came to him, that she moved him to ask of her father a field: and she lighted from off her ass; and Caleb said unto her, What wilt thou?\r\n And she said unto him, Give me a blessing: for thou hast given me a south land; give me also springs of water. And Caleb gave her the upper springs and the nether springs.\r\n And the children of the Kenite, Moses' father in law, went up out of the city of palm trees with the children of Judah into the wilderness of Judah, which lieth in the south of Arad; and they went and dwelt among the people.\r\n And Judah went with Simeon his brother, and they slew the Canaanites that inhabited Zephath, and utterly destroyed it. And the name of the city was called Hormah.\r\n Also Judah took Gaza with the coast thereof, and Askelon with the coast thereof, and Ekron with the coast thereof.\r\n And the LORD was with Judah; and he drave out the inhabitants of the mountain; but could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because they had chariots of iron.\r\n And they gave Hebron unto Caleb, as Moses said: and he expelled thence the three sons of Anak.\r\n And the children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites that inhabited Jerusalem; but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Benjamin in Jerusalem unto this day.\r\n And the house of Joseph, they also went up against Bethel: and the LORD was with them.\r\n And the house of Joseph sent to descry Bethel. (Now the name of the city before was Luz.)\r\n And the spies saw a man come forth out of the city, and they said unto him, Shew us, we pray thee, the entrance into the city, and we will shew thee mercy.\r\n And when he shewed them the entrance into the city, they smote the city with the edge of the sword; but they let go the man and all his family.\r\n And the man went into the land of the Hittites, and built a city, and called the name thereof Luz: which is the name thereof unto this day.\r\n Neither did Manasseh drive out the inhabitants of Bethshean and her towns, nor Taanach and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Dor and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Ibleam and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Megiddo and her towns: but the Canaanites would dwell in that land.\r\n And it came to pass, when Israel was strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute, and did not utterly drive them out.\r\n Neither did Ephraim drive out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer; but the Canaanites dwelt in Gezer among them.\r\n Neither did Zebulun drive out the inhabitants of Kitron, nor the inhabitants of Nahalol; but the Canaanites dwelt among them, and became tributaries.\r\n Neither did Asher drive out the inhabitants of Accho, nor the inhabitants of Zidon, nor of Ahlab, nor of Achzib, nor of Helbah, nor of Aphik, nor of Rehob:\r\n But the Asherites dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land: for they did not drive them out.\r\n Neither did Naphtali drive out the inhabitants of Bethshemesh, nor the inhabitants of Bethanath; but he dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land: nevertheless the inhabitants of Bethshemesh and of Bethanath became tributaries unto them.\r\n And the Amorites forced the children of Dan into the mountain: for they would not suffer them to come down to the valley:\r\n But the Amorites would dwell in mount Heres in Aijalon, and in Shaalbim: yet the hand of the house of Joseph prevailed, so that they became tributaries.\r\n And the coast of the Amorites was from the going up to Akrabbim, from the rock, and upward.\r\n \r\n \r\n And an angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the land which I sware unto your fathers; and I said, I will never break my covenant with you.\r\n And ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall throw down their altars: but ye have not obeyed my voice: why have ye done this?\r\n Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you.\r\n And it came to pass, when the angel of the LORD spake these words unto all the children of Israel, that the people lifted up their voice, and wept.\r\n And they called the name of that place Bochim: and they sacrificed there unto the LORD.\r\n And when Joshua had let the people go, the children of Israel went every man unto his inheritance to possess the land.\r\n And the people served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the LORD, that he did for Israel.\r\n And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being an hundred and ten years old.\r\n And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnathheres, in the mount of Ephraim, on the north side of the hill Gaash.\r\n And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel.\r\n And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim:\r\n And they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the LORD to anger.\r\n And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal and Ashtaroth.\r\n And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies.\r\n Whithersoever they went out, the hand of the LORD was against them for evil, as the LORD had said, and as the LORD had sworn unto them: and they were greatly distressed.\r\n Nevertheless the LORD raised up judges, which delivered them out of the hand of those that spoiled them.\r\n And yet they would not hearken unto their judges, but they went a whoring after other gods, and bowed themselves unto them: they turned quickly out of the way which their fathers walked in, obeying the commandments of the LORD; but they did not so.\r\n And when the LORD raised them up judges, then the LORD was with the judge, and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge: for it repented the LORD because of their groanings by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them.\r\n And it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that they returned, and corrupted themselves more than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them, and to bow down unto them; they ceased not from their own doings, nor from their stubborn way.\r\n And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel; and he said, Because that this people hath transgressed my covenant which I commanded their fathers, and have not hearkened unto my voice;\r\n I also will not henceforth drive out any from before them of the nations which Joshua left when he died:\r\n That through them I may prove Israel, whether they will keep the way of the LORD to walk therein, as their fathers did keep it, or not.\r\n Therefore the LORD left those nations, without driving them out hastily; neither delivered he them into the hand of Joshua.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now these are the nations which the LORD left, to prove Israel by them, even as many of Israel as had not known all the wars of Canaan;\r\n Only that the generations of the children of Israel might know, to teach them war, at the least such as before knew nothing thereof;\r\n Namely, five lords of the Philistines, and all the Canaanites, and the Sidonians, and the Hivites that dwelt in mount Lebanon, from mount Baalhermon unto the entering in of Hamath.\r\n And they were to prove Israel by them, to know whether they would hearken unto the commandments of the LORD, which he commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses.\r\n And the children of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites, Hittites, and Amorites, and Perizzites, and Hivites, and Jebusites:\r\n And they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their daughters to their sons, and served their gods.\r\n And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and forgat the LORD their God, and served Baalim and the groves.\r\n Therefore the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia: and the children of Israel served Chushanrishathaim eight years.\r\n And when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer to the children of Israel, who delivered them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother.\r\n And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he judged Israel, and went out to war: and the LORD delivered Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand; and his hand prevailed against Chushanrishathaim.\r\n And the land had rest forty years. And Othniel the son of Kenaz died.\r\n And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel, because they had done evil in the sight of the LORD.\r\n And he gathered unto him the children of Ammon and Amalek, and went and smote Israel, and possessed the city of palm trees.\r\n So the children of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab eighteen years.\r\n But when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised them up a deliverer, Ehud the son of Gera, a Benjamite, a man lefthanded: and by him the children of Israel sent a present unto Eglon the king of Moab.\r\n But Ehud made him a dagger which had two edges, of a cubit length; and he did gird it under his raiment upon his right thigh.\r\n And he brought the present unto Eglon king of Moab: and Eglon was a very fat man.\r\n And when he had made an end to offer the present, he sent away the people that bare the present.\r\n But he himself turned again from the quarries that were by Gilgal, and said, I have a secret errand unto thee, O king: who said, Keep silence. And all that stood by him went out from him.\r\n And Ehud came unto him; and he was sitting in a summer parlour, which he had for himself alone. And Ehud said, I have a message from God unto thee. And he arose out of his seat.\r\n And Ehud put forth his left hand, and took the dagger from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly:\r\n And the haft also went in after the blade; and the fat closed upon the blade, so that he could not draw the dagger out of his belly; and the dirt came out.\r\n Then Ehud went forth through the porch, and shut the doors of the parlour upon him, and locked them.\r\n When he was gone out, his servants came; and when they saw that, behold, the doors of the parlour were locked, they said, Surely he covereth his feet in his summer chamber.\r\n And they tarried till they were ashamed: and, behold, he opened not the doors of the parlour; therefore they took a key, and opened them: and, behold, their lord was fallen down dead on the earth.\r\n And Ehud escaped while they tarried, and passed beyond the quarries, and escaped unto Seirath.\r\n And it came to pass, when he was come, that he blew a trumpet in the mountain of Ephraim, and the children of Israel went down with him from the mount, and he before them.\r\n And he said unto them, Follow after me: for the LORD hath delivered your enemies the Moabites into your hand. And they went down after him, and took the fords of Jordan toward Moab, and suffered not a man to pass over.\r\n And they slew of Moab at that time about ten thousand men, all lusty, and all men of valour; and there escaped not a man.\r\n So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the land had rest fourscore years.\r\n And after him was Shamgar the son of Anath, which slew of the Philistines six hundred men with an ox goad: and he also delivered Israel.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD, when Ehud was dead.\r\n And the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, that reigned in Hazor; the captain of whose host was Sisera, which dwelt in Harosheth of the Gentiles.\r\n And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD: for he had nine hundred chariots of iron; and twenty years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel.\r\n And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time.\r\n And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment.\r\n And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedeshnaphtali, and said unto him, Hath not the LORD God of Israel commanded, saying, Go and draw toward mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun?\r\n And I will draw unto thee to the river Kishon Sisera, the captain of Jabin's army, with his chariots and his multitude; and I will deliver him into thine hand.\r\n And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go.\r\n And she said, I will surely go with thee: notwithstanding the journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honour; for the LORD shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. And Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh.\r\n And Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh; and he went up with ten thousand men at his feet: and Deborah went up with him.\r\n Now Heber the Kenite, which was of the children of Hobab the father in law of Moses, had severed himself from the Kenites, and pitched his tent unto the plain of Zaanaim, which is by Kedesh.\r\n And they shewed Sisera that Barak the son of Abinoam was gone up to mount Tabor.\r\n And Sisera gathered together all his chariots, even nine hundred chariots of iron, and all the people that were with him, from Harosheth of the Gentiles unto the river of Kishon.\r\n And Deborah said unto Barak, Up; for this is the day in which the LORD hath delivered Sisera into thine hand: is not the LORD gone out before thee? So Barak went down from mount Tabor, and ten thousand men after him.\r\n And the LORD discomfited Sisera, and all his chariots, and all his host, with the edge of the sword before Barak; so that Sisera lighted down off his chariot, and fled away on his feet.\r\n But Barak pursued after the chariots, and after the host, unto Harosheth of the Gentiles: and all the host of Sisera fell upon the edge of the sword; and there was not a man left.\r\n Howbeit Sisera fled away on his feet to the tent of Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite: for there was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite.\r\n And Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said unto him, Turn in, my lord, turn in to me; fear not. And when he had turned in unto her into the tent, she covered him with a mantle.\r\n And he said unto her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water to drink; for I am thirsty. And she opened a bottle of milk, and gave him drink, and covered him.\r\n Again he said unto her, Stand in the door of the tent, and it shall be, when any man doth come and enquire of thee, and say, Is there any man here? that thou shalt say, No.\r\n Then Jael Heber's wife took a nail of the tent, and took an hammer in her hand, and went softly unto him, and smote the nail into his temples, and fastened it into the ground: for he was fast asleep and weary. So he died.\r\n And, behold, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him, and said unto him, Come, and I will shew thee the man whom thou seekest. And when he came into her tent, behold, Sisera lay dead, and the nail was in his temples.\r\n So God subdued on that day Jabin the king of Canaan before the children of Israel.\r\n And the hand of the children of Israel prospered, and prevailed against Jabin the king of Canaan, until they had destroyed Jabin king of Canaan.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day, saying,\r\n Praise ye the LORD for the avenging of Israel, when the people willingly offered themselves.\r\n Hear, O ye kings; give ear, O ye princes; I, even I, will sing unto the LORD; I will sing praise to the LORD God of Israel.\r\n LORD, when thou wentest out of Seir, when thou marchedst out of the field of Edom, the earth trembled, and the heavens dropped, the clouds also dropped water.\r\n The mountains melted from before the LORD, even that Sinai from before the LORD God of Israel.\r\n In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were unoccupied, and the travellers walked through byways.\r\n The inhabitants of the villages ceased, they ceased in Israel, until that I Deborah arose, that I arose a mother in Israel.\r\n They chose new gods; then was war in the gates: was there a shield or spear seen among forty thousand in Israel?\r\n My heart is toward the governors of Israel, that offered themselves willingly among the people. Bless ye the LORD.\r\n Speak, ye that ride on white asses, ye that sit in judgment, and walk by the way.\r\n They that are delivered from the noise of archers in the places of drawing water, there shall they rehearse the righteous acts of the LORD, even the righteous acts toward the inhabitants of his villages in Israel: then shall the people of the LORD go down to the gates.\r\n Awake, awake, Deborah: awake, awake, utter a song: arise, Barak, and lead thy captivity captive, thou son of Abinoam.\r\n Then he made him that remaineth have dominion over the nobles among the people: the LORD made me have dominion over the mighty.\r\n Out of Ephraim was there a root of them against Amalek; after thee, Benjamin, among thy people; out of Machir came down governors, and out of Zebulun they that handle the pen of the writer.\r\n And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah; even Issachar, and also Barak: he was sent on foot into the valley. For the divisions of Reuben there were great thoughts of heart.\r\n Why abodest thou among the sheepfolds, to hear the bleatings of the flocks? For the divisions of Reuben there were great searchings of heart.\r\n Gilead abode beyond Jordan: and why did Dan remain in ships? Asher continued on the sea shore, and abode in his breaches.\r\n Zebulun and Naphtali were a people that jeoparded their lives unto the death in the high places of the field.\r\n The kings came and fought, then fought the kings of Canaan in Taanach by the waters of Megiddo; they took no gain of money.\r\n They fought from heaven; the stars in their courses fought against Sisera.\r\n The river of Kishon swept them away, that ancient river, the river Kishon. O my soul, thou hast trodden down strength.\r\n Then were the horsehoofs broken by the means of the pransings, the pransings of their mighty ones.\r\n Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of the LORD, curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof; because they came not to the help of the LORD, to the help of the LORD against the mighty.\r\n Blessed above women shall Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite be, blessed shall she be above women in the tent.\r\n He asked water, and she gave him milk; she brought forth butter in a lordly dish.\r\n She put her hand to the nail, and her right hand to the workmen's hammer; and with the hammer she smote Sisera, she smote off his head, when she had pierced and stricken through his temples.\r\n At her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay down: at her feet he bowed, he fell: where he bowed, there he fell down dead.\r\n The mother of Sisera looked out at a window, and cried through the lattice, Why is his chariot so long in coming? why tarry the wheels of his chariots?\r\n Her wise ladies answered her, yea, she returned answer to herself,\r\n Have they not sped? have they not divided the prey; to every man a damsel or two; to Sisera a prey of divers colours, a prey of divers colours of needlework, of divers colours of needlework on both sides, meet for the necks of them that take the spoil?\r\n So let all thine enemies perish, O LORD: but let them that love him be as the sun when he goeth forth in his might. And the land had rest forty years.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years.\r\n And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel: and because of the Midianites the children of Israel made them the dens which are in the mountains, and caves, and strong holds.\r\n And so it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites came up, and the Amalekites, and the children of the east, even they came up against them;\r\n And they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, till thou come unto Gaza, and left no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass.\r\n For they came up with their cattle and their tents, and they came as grasshoppers for multitude; for both they and their camels were without number: and they entered into the land to destroy it.\r\n And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites; and the children of Israel cried unto the LORD.\r\n And it came to pass, when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD because of the Midianites,\r\n That the LORD sent a prophet unto the children of Israel, which said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I brought you up from Egypt, and brought you forth out of the house of bondage;\r\n And I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all that oppressed you, and drave them out from before you, and gave you their land;\r\n And I said unto you, I am the LORD your God; fear not the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but ye have not obeyed my voice.\r\n And there came an angel of the LORD, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites.\r\n And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.\r\n And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? but now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.\r\n And the LORD looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?\r\n And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house.\r\n And the LORD said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.\r\n And he said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, then shew me a sign that thou talkest with me.\r\n Depart not hence, I pray thee, until I come unto thee, and bring forth my present, and set it before thee. And he said, I will tarry until thou come again.\r\n And Gideon went in, and made ready a kid, and unleavened cakes of an ephah of flour: the flesh he put in a basket, and he put the broth in a pot, and brought it out unto him under the oak, and presented it.\r\n And the angel of God said unto him, Take the flesh and the unleavened cakes, and lay them upon this rock, and pour out the broth. And he did so.\r\n Then the angel of the LORD put forth the end of the staff that was in his hand, and touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes; and there rose up fire out of the rock, and consumed the flesh and the unleavened cakes. Then the angel of the LORD departed out of his sight.\r\n And when Gideon perceived that he was an angel of the LORD, Gideon said, Alas, O Lord GOD! for because I have seen an angel of the LORD face to face.\r\n And the LORD said unto him, Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou shalt not die.\r\n Then Gideon built an altar there unto the LORD, and called it Jehovahshalom: unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.\r\n And it came to pass the same night, that the LORD said unto him, Take thy father's young bullock, even the second bullock of seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath, and cut down the grove that is by it:\r\n And build an altar unto the LORD thy God upon the top of this rock, in the ordered place, and take the second bullock, and offer a burnt sacrifice with the wood of the grove which thou shalt cut down.\r\n Then Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as the LORD had said unto him: and so it was, because he feared his father's household, and the men of the city, that he could not do it by day, that he did it by night.\r\n And when the men of the city arose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was cast down, and the grove was cut down that was by it, and the second bullock was offered upon the altar that was built.\r\n And they said one to another, Who hath done this thing? And when they enquired and asked, they said, Gideon the son of Joash hath done this thing.\r\n Then the men of the city said unto Joash, Bring out thy son, that he may die: because he hath cast down the altar of Baal, and because he hath cut down the grove that was by it.\r\n And Joash said unto all that stood against him, Will ye plead for Baal? will ye save him? he that will plead for him, let him be put to death whilst it is yet morning: if he be a god, let him plead for himself, because one hath cast down his altar.\r\n Therefore on that day he called him Jerubbaal, saying, Let Baal plead against him, because he hath thrown down his altar.\r\n Then all the Midianites and the Amalekites and the children of the east were gathered together, and went over, and pitched in the valley of Jezreel.\r\n But the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet; and Abiezer was gathered after him.\r\n And he sent messengers throughout all Manasseh; who also was gathered after him: and he sent messengers unto Asher, and unto Zebulun, and unto Naphtali; and they came up to meet them.\r\n And Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said,\r\n Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the floor; and if the dew be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the earth beside, then shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said.\r\n And it was so: for he rose up early on the morrow, and thrust the fleece together, and wringed the dew out of the fleece, a bowl full of water.\r\n And Gideon said unto God, Let not thine anger be hot against me, and I will speak but this once: let me prove, I pray thee, but this once with the fleece; let it now be dry only upon the fleece, and upon all the ground let there be dew.\r\n And God did so that night: for it was dry upon the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then Jerubbaal, who is Gideon, and all the people that were with him, rose up early, and pitched beside the well of Harod: so that the host of the Midianites were on the north side of them, by the hill of Moreh, in the valley.\r\n And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me.\r\n Now therefore go to, proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, Whosoever is fearful and afraid, let him return and depart early from mount Gilead. And there returned of the people twenty and two thousand; and there remained ten thousand.\r\n And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people are yet too many; bring them down unto the water, and I will try them for thee there: and it shall be, that of whom I say unto thee, This shall go with thee, the same shall go with thee; and of whomsoever I say unto thee, This shall not go with thee, the same shall not go.\r\n So he brought down the people unto the water: and the LORD said unto Gideon, Every one that lappeth of the water with his tongue, as a dog lappeth, him shalt thou set by himself; likewise every one that boweth down upon his knees to drink.\r\n And the number of them that lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, were three hundred men: but all the rest of the people bowed down upon their knees to drink water.\r\n And the LORD said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand: and let all the other people go every man unto his place.\r\n So the people took victuals in their hand, and their trumpets: and he sent all the rest of Israel every man unto his tent, and retained those three hundred men: and the host of Midian was beneath him in the valley.\r\n And it came to pass the same night, that the LORD said unto him, Arise, get thee down unto the host; for I have delivered it into thine hand.\r\n But if thou fear to go down, go thou with Phurah thy servant down to the host:\r\n And thou shalt hear what they say; and afterward shall thine hands be strengthened to go down unto the host. Then went he down with Phurah his servant unto the outside of the armed men that were in the host.\r\n And the Midianites and the Amalekites and all the children of the east lay along in the valley like grasshoppers for multitude; and their camels were without number, as the sand by the sea side for multitude.\r\n And when Gideon was come, behold, there was a man that told a dream unto his fellow, and said, Behold, I dreamed a dream, and, lo, a cake of barley bread tumbled into the host of Midian, and came unto a tent, and smote it that it fell, and overturned it, that the tent lay along.\r\n And his fellow answered and said, This is nothing else save the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel: for into his hand hath God delivered Midian, and all the host.\r\n And it was so, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream, and the interpretation thereof, that he worshipped, and returned into the host of Israel, and said, Arise; for the LORD hath delivered into your hand the host of Midian.\r\n And he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put a trumpet in every man's hand, with empty pitchers, and lamps within the pitchers.\r\n And he said unto them, Look on me, and do likewise: and, behold, when I come to the outside of the camp, it shall be that, as I do, so shall ye do.\r\n When I blow with a trumpet, I and all that are with me, then blow ye the trumpets also on every side of all the camp, and say, The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon.\r\n So Gideon, and the hundred men that were with him, came unto the outside of the camp in the beginning of the middle watch; and they had but newly set the watch: and they blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers that were in their hands.\r\n And the three companies blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers, and held the lamps in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands to blow withal: and they cried, The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon.\r\n And they stood every man in his place round about the camp: and all the host ran, and cried, and fled.\r\n And the three hundred blew the trumpets, and the LORD set every man's sword against his fellow, even throughout all the host: and the host fled to Bethshittah in Zererath, and to the border of Abelmeholah, unto Tabbath.\r\n And the men of Israel gathered themselves together out of Naphtali, and out of Asher, and out of all Manasseh, and pursued after the Midianites.\r\n And Gideon sent messengers throughout all mount Ephraim, saying, Come down against the Midianites, and take before them the waters unto Bethbarah and Jordan. Then all the men of Ephraim gathered themselves together, and took the waters unto Bethbarah and Jordan.\r\n And they took two princes of the Midianites, Oreb and Zeeb; and they slew Oreb upon the rock Oreb, and Zeeb they slew at the winepress of Zeeb, and pursued Midian, and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon on the other side Jordan.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the men of Ephraim said unto him, Why hast thou served us thus, that thou calledst us not, when thou wentest to fight with the Midianites? And they did chide with him sharply.\r\n And he said unto them, What have I done now in comparison of you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer?\r\n God hath delivered into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb: and what was I able to do in comparison of you? Then their anger was abated toward him, when he had said that.\r\n And Gideon came to Jordan, and passed over, he, and the three hundred men that were with him, faint, yet pursuing them.\r\n And he said unto the men of Succoth, Give, I pray you, loaves of bread unto the people that follow me; for they be faint, and I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian.\r\n And the princes of Succoth said, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thine army?\r\n And Gideon said, Therefore when the LORD hath delivered Zebah and Zalmunna into mine hand, then I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers.\r\n And he went up thence to Penuel, and spake unto them likewise: and the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered him.\r\n And he spake also unto the men of Penuel, saying, When I come again in peace, I will break down this tower.\r\n Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor, and their hosts with them, about fifteen thousand men, all that were left of all the hosts of the children of the east: for there fell an hundred and twenty thousand men that drew sword.\r\n And Gideon went up by the way of them that dwelt in tents on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and smote the host: for the host was secure.\r\n And when Zebah and Zalmunna fled, he pursued after them, and took the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and discomfited all the host.\r\n And Gideon the son of Joash returned from battle before the sun was up,\r\n And caught a young man of the men of Succoth, and enquired of him: and he described unto him the princes of Succoth, and the elders thereof, even threescore and seventeen men.\r\n And he came unto the men of Succoth, and said, Behold Zebah and Zalmunna, with whom ye did upbraid me, saying, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thy men that are weary?\r\n And he took the elders of the city, and thorns of the wilderness and briers, and with them he taught the men of Succoth.\r\n And he beat down the tower of Penuel, and slew the men of the city.\r\n Then said he unto Zebah and Zalmunna, What manner of men were they whom ye slew at Tabor? And they answered, As thou art, so were they; each one resembled the children of a king.\r\n And he said, They were my brethren, even the sons of my mother: as the LORD liveth, if ye had saved them alive, I would not slay you.\r\n And he said unto Jether his firstborn, Up, and slay them. But the youth drew not his sword: for he feared, because he was yet a youth.\r\n Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, Rise thou, and fall upon us: for as the man is, so is his strength. And Gideon arose, and slew Zebah and Zalmunna, and took away the ornaments that were on their camels' necks.\r\n Then the men of Israel said unto Gideon, Rule thou over us, both thou, and thy son, and thy son's son also: for thou hast delivered us from the hand of Midian.\r\n And Gideon said unto them, I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the LORD shall rule over you.\r\n And Gideon said unto them, I would desire a request of you, that ye would give me every man the earrings of his prey. (For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.)\r\n And they answered, We will willingly give them. And they spread a garment, and did cast therein every man the earrings of his prey.\r\n And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was a thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold; beside ornaments, and collars, and purple raiment that was on the kings of Midian, and beside the chains that were about their camels' necks.\r\n And Gideon made an ephod thereof, and put it in his city, even in Ophrah: and all Israel went thither a whoring after it: which thing became a snare unto Gideon, and to his house.\r\n Thus was Midian subdued before the children of Israel, so that they lifted up their heads no more. And the country was in quietness forty years in the days of Gideon.\r\n And Jerubbaal the son of Joash went and dwelt in his own house.\r\n And Gideon had threescore and ten sons of his body begotten: for he had many wives.\r\n And his concubine that was in Shechem, she also bare him a son, whose name he called Abimelech.\r\n And Gideon the son of Joash died in a good old age, and was buried in the sepulchre of Joash his father, in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.\r\n And it came to pass, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the children of Israel turned again, and went a whoring after Baalim, and made Baalberith their god.\r\n And the children of Israel remembered not the LORD their God, who had delivered them out of the hands of all their enemies on every side:\r\n Neither shewed they kindness to the house of Jerubbaal, namely, Gideon, according to all the goodness which he had shewed unto Israel.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem unto his mother's brethren, and communed with them, and with all the family of the house of his mother's father, saying,\r\n Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the men of Shechem, Whether is better for you, either that all the sons of Jerubbaal, which are threescore and ten persons, reign over you, or that one reign over you? remember also that I am your bone and your flesh.\r\n And his mother's brethren spake of him in the ears of all the men of Shechem all these words: and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech; for they said, He is our brother.\r\n And they gave him threescore and ten pieces of silver out of the house of Baalberith, wherewith Abimelech hired vain and light persons, which followed him.\r\n And he went unto his father's house at Ophrah, and slew his brethren the sons of Jerubbaal, being threescore and ten persons, upon one stone: notwithstanding yet Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; for he hid himself.\r\n And all the men of Shechem gathered together, and all the house of Millo, and went, and made Abimelech king, by the plain of the pillar that was in Shechem.\r\n And when they told it to Jotham, he went and stood in the top of mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried, and said unto them, Hearken unto me, ye men of Shechem, that God may hearken unto you.\r\n The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us.\r\n But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?\r\n And the trees said to the fig tree, Come thou, and reign over us.\r\n But the fig tree said unto them, Should I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees?\r\n Then said the trees unto the vine, Come thou, and reign over us.\r\n And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?\r\n Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us.\r\n And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and put your trust in my shadow: and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.\r\n Now therefore, if ye have done truly and sincerely, in that ye have made Abimelech king, and if ye have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done unto him according to the deserving of his hands;\r\n (For my father fought for you, and adventured his life far, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian:\r\n And ye are risen up against my father's house this day, and have slain his sons, threescore and ten persons, upon one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his maidservant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother;)\r\n If ye then have dealt truly and sincerely with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice ye in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you:\r\n But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the men of Shechem, and the house of Millo; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem, and from the house of Millo, and devour Abimelech.\r\n And Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.\r\n When Abimelech had reigned three years over Israel,\r\n Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech:\r\n That the cruelty done to the threescore and ten sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood be laid upon Abimelech their brother, which slew them; and upon the men of Shechem, which aided him in the killing of his brethren.\r\n And the men of Shechem set liers in wait for him in the top of the mountains, and they robbed all that came along that way by them: and it was told Abimelech.\r\n And Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brethren, and went over to Shechem: and the men of Shechem put their confidence in him.\r\n And they went out into the fields, and gathered their vineyards, and trode the grapes, and made merry, and went into the house of their god, and did eat and drink, and cursed Abimelech.\r\n And Gaal the son of Ebed said, Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? is not he the son of Jerubbaal? and Zebul his officer? serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem: for why should we serve him?\r\n And would to God this people were under my hand! then would I remove Abimelech. And he said to Abimelech, Increase thine army, and come out.\r\n And when Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled.\r\n And he sent messengers unto Abimelech privily, saying, Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his brethren be come to Shechem; and, behold, they fortify the city against thee.\r\n Now therefore up by night, thou and the people that is with thee, and lie in wait in the field:\r\n And it shall be, that in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, thou shalt rise early, and set upon the city: and, behold, when he and the people that is with him come out against thee, then mayest thou do to them as thou shalt find occasion.\r\n And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies.\r\n And Gaal the son of Ebed went out, and stood in the entering of the gate of the city: and Abimelech rose up, and the people that were with him, from lying in wait.\r\n And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, Behold, there come people down from the top of the mountains. And Zebul said unto him, Thou seest the shadow of the mountains as if they were men.\r\n And Gaal spake again and said, See there come people down by the middle of the land, and another company come along by the plain of Meonenim.\r\n Then said Zebul unto him, Where is now thy mouth, wherewith thou saidst, Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him? is not this the people that thou hast despised? go out, I pray now, and fight with them.\r\n And Gaal went out before the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech.\r\n And Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, and many were overthrown and wounded, even unto the entering of the gate.\r\n And Abimelech dwelt at Arumah: and Zebul thrust out Gaal and his brethren, that they should not dwell in Shechem.\r\n And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people went out into the field; and they told Abimelech.\r\n And he took the people, and divided them into three companies, and laid wait in the field, and looked, and, behold, the people were come forth out of the city; and he rose up against them, and smote them.\r\n And Abimelech, and the company that was with him, rushed forward, and stood in the entering of the gate of the city: and the two other companies ran upon all the people that were in the fields, and slew them.\r\n And Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the city, and slew the people that was therein, and beat down the city, and sowed it with salt.\r\n And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard that, they entered into an hold of the house of the god Berith.\r\n And it was told Abimelech, that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together.\r\n And Abimelech gat him up to mount Zalmon, he and all the people that were with him; and Abimelech took an axe in his hand, and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it, and laid it on his shoulder, and said unto the people that were with him, What ye have seen me do, make haste, and do as I have done.\r\n And all the people likewise cut down every man his bough, and followed Abimelech, and put them to the hold, and set the hold on fire upon them; so that all the men of the tower of Shechem died also, about a thousand men and women.\r\n Then went Abimelech to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and took it.\r\n But there was a strong tower within the city, and thither fled all the men and women, and all they of the city, and shut it to them, and gat them up to the top of the tower.\r\n And Abimelech came unto the tower, and fought against it, and went hard unto the door of the tower to burn it with fire.\r\n And a certain woman cast a piece of a millstone upon Abimelech's head, and all to brake his skull.\r\n Then he called hastily unto the young man his armourbearer, and said unto him, Draw thy sword, and slay me, that men say not of me, A woman slew him. And his young man thrust him through, and he died.\r\n And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed every man unto his place.\r\n Thus God rendered the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did unto his father, in slaying his seventy brethren:\r\n And all the evil of the men of Shechem did God render upon their heads: and upon them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.\r\n \r\n \r\n And after Abimelech there arose to defend Israel Tola the son of Puah, the son of Dodo, a man of Issachar; and he dwelt in Shamir in mount Ephraim.\r\n And he judged Israel twenty and three years, and died, and was buried in Shamir.\r\n And after him arose Jair, a Gileadite, and judged Israel twenty and two years.\r\n And he had thirty sons that rode on thirty ass colts, and they had thirty cities, which are called Havothjair unto this day, which are in the land of Gilead.\r\n And Jair died, and was buried in Camon.\r\n And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim, and Ashtaroth, and the gods of Syria, and the gods of Zidon, and the gods of Moab, and the gods of the children of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines, and forsook the LORD, and served not him.\r\n And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hands of the Philistines, and into the hands of the children of Ammon.\r\n And that year they vexed and oppressed the children of Israel: eighteen years, all the children of Israel that were on the other side Jordan in the land of the Amorites, which is in Gilead.\r\n Moreover the children of Ammon passed over Jordan to fight also against Judah, and against Benjamin, and against the house of Ephraim; so that Israel was sore distressed.\r\n And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, saying, We have sinned against thee, both because we have forsaken our God, and also served Baalim.\r\n And the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Did not I deliver you from the Egyptians, and from the Amorites, from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines?\r\n The Zidonians also, and the Amalekites, and the Maonites, did oppress you; and ye cried to me, and I delivered you out of their hand.\r\n Yet ye have forsaken me, and served other gods: wherefore I will deliver you no more.\r\n Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation.\r\n And the children of Israel said unto the LORD, We have sinned: do thou unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto thee; deliver us only, we pray thee, this day.\r\n And they put away the strange gods from among them, and served the LORD: and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel.\r\n Then the children of Ammon were gathered together, and encamped in Gilead. And the children of Israel assembled themselves together, and encamped in Mizpeh.\r\n And the people and princes of Gilead said one to another, What man is he that will begin to fight against the children of Ammon? he shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valour, and he was the son of an harlot: and Gilead begat Jephthah.\r\n And Gilead's wife bare him sons; and his wife's sons grew up, and they thrust out Jephthah, and said unto him, Thou shalt not inherit in our father's house; for thou art the son of a strange woman.\r\n Then Jephthah fled from his brethren, and dwelt in the land of Tob: and there were gathered vain men to Jephthah, and went out with him.\r\n And it came to pass in process of time, that the children of Ammon made war against Israel.\r\n And it was so, that when the children of Ammon made war against Israel, the elders of Gilead went to fetch Jephthah out of the land of Tob:\r\n And they said unto Jephthah, Come, and be our captain, that we may fight with the children of Ammon.\r\n And Jephthah said unto the elders of Gilead, Did not ye hate me, and expel me out of my father's house? and why are ye come unto me now when ye are in distress?\r\n And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah, Therefore we turn again to thee now, that thou mayest go with us, and fight against the children of Ammon, and be our head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.\r\n And Jephthah said unto the elders of Gilead, If ye bring me home again to fight against the children of Ammon, and the LORD deliver them before me, shall I be your head?\r\n And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah, The LORD be witness between us, if we do not so according to thy words.\r\n Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and captain over them: and Jephthah uttered all his words before the LORD in Mizpeh.\r\n And Jephthah sent messengers unto the king of the children of Ammon, saying, What hast thou to do with me, that thou art come against me to fight in my land?\r\n And the king of the children of Ammon answered unto the messengers of Jephthah, Because Israel took away my land, when they came up out of Egypt, from Arnon even unto Jabbok, and unto Jordan: now therefore restore those lands again peaceably.\r\n And Jephthah sent messengers again unto the king of the children of Ammon:\r\n And said unto him, Thus saith Jephthah, Israel took not away the land of Moab, nor the land of the children of Ammon:\r\n But when Israel came up from Egypt, and walked through the wilderness unto the Red sea, and came to Kadesh;\r\n Then Israel sent messengers unto the king of Edom, saying, Let me, I pray thee, pass through thy land: but the king of Edom would not hearken thereto. And in like manner they sent unto the king of Moab: but he would not consent: and Israel abode in Kadesh.\r\n Then they went along through the wilderness, and compassed the land of Edom, and the land of Moab, and came by the east side of the land of Moab, and pitched on the other side of Arnon, but came not within the border of Moab: for Arnon was the border of Moab.\r\n And Israel sent messengers unto Sihon king of the Amorites, the king of Heshbon; and Israel said unto him, Let us pass, we pray thee, through thy land into my place.\r\n But Sihon trusted not Israel to pass through his coast: but Sihon gathered all his people together, and pitched in Jahaz, and fought against Israel.\r\n And the LORD God of Israel delivered Sihon and all his people into the hand of Israel, and they smote them: so Israel possessed all the land of the Amorites, the inhabitants of that country.\r\n And they possessed all the coasts of the Amorites, from Arnon even unto Jabbok, and from the wilderness even unto Jordan.\r\n So now the LORD God of Israel hath dispossessed the Amorites from before his people Israel, and shouldest thou possess it?\r\n Wilt not thou possess that which Chemosh thy god giveth thee to possess? So whomsoever the LORD our God shall drive out from before us, them will we possess.\r\n And now art thou any thing better than Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab? did he ever strive against Israel, or did he ever fight against them,\r\n While Israel dwelt in Heshbon and her towns, and in Aroer and her towns, and in all the cities that be along by the coasts of Arnon, three hundred years? why therefore did ye not recover them within that time?\r\n Wherefore I have not sinned against thee, but thou doest me wrong to war against me: the LORD the Judge be judge this day between the children of Israel and the children of Ammon.\r\n Howbeit the king of the children of Ammon hearkened not unto the words of Jephthah which he sent him.\r\n Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah, and he passed over Gilead, and Manasseh, and passed over Mizpeh of Gilead, and from Mizpeh of Gilead he passed over unto the children of Ammon.\r\n And Jephthah vowed a vow unto the LORD, and said, If thou shalt without fail deliver the children of Ammon into mine hands,\r\n Then it shall be, that whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, shall surely be the LORD'S, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering.\r\n So Jephthah passed over unto the children of Ammon to fight against them; and the LORD delivered them into his hands.\r\n And he smote them from Aroer, even till thou come to Minnith, even twenty cities, and unto the plain of the vineyards, with a very great slaughter. Thus the children of Ammon were subdued before the children of Israel.\r\n And Jephthah came to Mizpeh unto his house, and, behold, his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances: and she was his only child; beside her he had neither son nor daughter.\r\n And it came to pass, when he saw her, that he rent his clothes, and said, Alas, my daughter! thou hast brought me very low, and thou art one of them that trouble me: for I have opened my mouth unto the LORD, and I cannot go back.\r\n And she said unto him, My father, if thou hast opened thy mouth unto the LORD, do to me according to that which hath proceeded out of thy mouth; forasmuch as the LORD hath taken vengeance for thee of thine enemies, even of the children of Ammon.\r\n And she said unto her father, Let this thing be done for me: let me alone two months, that I may go up and down upon the mountains, and bewail my virginity, I and my fellows.\r\n And he said, Go. And he sent her away for two months: and she went with her companions, and bewailed her virginity upon the mountains.\r\n And it came to pass at the end of two months, that she returned unto her father, who did with her according to his vow which he had vowed: and she knew no man. And it was a custom in Israel,\r\n That the daughters of Israel went yearly to lament the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite four days in a year.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the men of Ephraim gathered themselves together, and went northward, and said unto Jephthah, Wherefore passedst thou over to fight against the children of Ammon, and didst not call us to go with thee? we will burn thine house upon thee with fire.\r\n And Jephthah said unto them, I and my people were at great strife with the children of Ammon; and when I called you, ye delivered me not out of their hands.\r\n And when I saw that ye delivered me not, I put my life in my hands, and passed over against the children of Ammon, and the LORD delivered them into my hand: wherefore then are ye come up unto me this day, to fight against me?\r\n Then Jephthah gathered together all the men of Gilead, and fought with Ephraim: and the men of Gilead smote Ephraim, because they said, Ye Gileadites are fugitives of Ephraim among the Ephraimites, and among the Manassites.\r\n And the Gileadites took the passages of Jordan before the Ephraimites: and it was so, that when those Ephraimites which were escaped said, Let me go over; that the men of Gilead said unto him, Art thou an Ephraimite? If he said, Nay;\r\n Then said they unto him, Say now Shibboleth: and he said Sibboleth: for he could not frame to pronounce it right. Then they took him, and slew him at the passages of Jordan: and there fell at that time of the Ephraimites forty and two thousand.\r\n And Jephthah judged Israel six years. Then died Jephthah the Gileadite, and was buried in one of the cities of Gilead.\r\n And after him Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel.\r\n And he had thirty sons, and thirty daughters, whom he sent abroad, and took in thirty daughters from abroad for his sons. And he judged Israel seven years.\r\n Then died Ibzan, and was buried at Bethlehem.\r\n And after him Elon, a Zebulonite, judged Israel; and he judged Israel ten years.\r\n And Elon the Zebulonite died, and was buried in Aijalon in the country of Zebulun.\r\n And after him Abdon the son of Hillel, a Pirathonite, judged Israel.\r\n And he had forty sons and thirty nephews, that rode on threescore and ten ass colts: and he judged Israel eight years.\r\n And Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite died, and was buried in Pirathon in the land of Ephraim, in the mount of the Amalekites.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD delivered them into the hand of the Philistines forty years.\r\n And there was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren, and bare not.\r\n And the angel of the LORD appeared unto the woman, and said unto her, Behold now, thou art barren, and bearest not: but thou shalt conceive, and bear a son.\r\n Now therefore beware, I pray thee, and drink not wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing:\r\n For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.\r\n Then the woman came and told her husband, saying, A man of God came unto me, and his countenance was like the countenance of an angel of God, very terrible: but I asked him not whence he was, neither told he me his name:\r\n But he said unto me, Behold, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and now drink no wine nor strong drink, neither eat any unclean thing: for the child shall be a Nazarite to God from the womb to the day of his death.\r\n Then Manoah intreated the LORD, and said, O my Lord, let the man of God which thou didst send come again unto us, and teach us what we shall do unto the child that shall be born.\r\n And God hearkened to the voice of Manoah; and the angel of God came again unto the woman as she sat in the field: but Manoah her husband was not with her.\r\n And the woman made haste, and ran, and shewed her husband, and said unto him, Behold, the man hath appeared unto me, that came unto me the other day.\r\n And Manoah arose, and went after his wife, and came to the man, and said unto him, Art thou the man that spakest unto the woman? And he said, I am.\r\n And Manoah said, Now let thy words come to pass. How shall we order the child, and how shall we do unto him?\r\n And the angel of the LORD said unto Manoah, Of all that I said unto the woman let her beware.\r\n She may not eat of any thing that cometh of the vine, neither let her drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing: all that I commanded her let her observe.\r\n And Manoah said unto the angel of the LORD, I pray thee, let us detain thee, until we shall have made ready a kid for thee.\r\n And the angel of the LORD said unto Manoah, Though thou detain me, I will not eat of thy bread: and if thou wilt offer a burnt offering, thou must offer it unto the LORD. For Manoah knew not that he was an angel of the LORD.\r\n And Manoah said unto the angel of the LORD, What is thy name, that when thy sayings come to pass we may do thee honour?\r\n And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Why askest thou thus after my name, seeing it is secret?\r\n So Manoah took a kid with a meat offering, and offered it upon a rock unto the LORD: and the angel did wondrously; and Manoah and his wife looked on.\r\n For it came to pass, when the flame went up toward heaven from off the altar, that the angel of the LORD ascended in the flame of the altar. And Manoah and his wife looked on it, and fell on their faces to the ground.\r\n But the angel of the LORD did no more appear to Manoah and to his wife. Then Manoah knew that he was an angel of the LORD.\r\n And Manoah said unto his wife, We shall surely die, because we have seen God.\r\n But his wife said unto him, If the LORD were pleased to kill us, he would not have received a burnt offering and a meat offering at our hands, neither would he have shewed us all these things, nor would as at this time have told us such things as these.\r\n And the woman bare a son, and called his name Samson: and the child grew, and the LORD blessed him.\r\n And the Spirit of the LORD began to move him at times in the camp of Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Samson went down to Timnath, and saw a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines.\r\n And he came up, and told his father and his mother, and said, I have seen a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines: now therefore get her for me to wife.\r\n Then his father and his mother said unto him, Is there never a woman among the daughters of thy brethren, or among all my people, that thou goest to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines? And Samson said unto his father, Get her for me; for she pleaseth me well.\r\n But his father and his mother knew not that it was of the LORD, that he sought an occasion against the Philistines: for at that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel.\r\n Then went Samson down, and his father and his mother, to Timnath, and came to the vineyards of Timnath: and, behold, a young lion roared against him.\r\n And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he rent him as he would have rent a kid, and he had nothing in his hand: but he told not his father or his mother what he had done.\r\n And he went down, and talked with the woman; and she pleased Samson well.\r\n And after a time he returned to take her, and he turned aside to see the carcase of the lion: and, behold, there was a swarm of bees and honey in the carcase of the lion.\r\n And he took thereof in his hands, and went on eating, and came to his father and mother, and he gave them, and they did eat: but he told not them that he had taken the honey out of the carcase of the lion.\r\n So his father went down unto the woman: and Samson made there a feast; for so used the young men to do.\r\n And it came to pass, when they saw him, that they brought thirty companions to be with him.\r\n And Samson said unto them, I will now put forth a riddle unto you: if ye can certainly declare it me within the seven days of the feast, and find it out, then I will give you thirty sheets and thirty change of garments:\r\n But if ye cannot declare it me, then shall ye give me thirty sheets and thirty change of garments. And they said unto him, Put forth thy riddle, that we may hear it.\r\n And he said unto them, Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness. And they could not in three days expound the riddle.\r\n And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they said unto Samson's wife, Entice thy husband, that he may declare unto us the riddle, lest we burn thee and thy father's house with fire: have ye called us to take that we have? is it not so?\r\n And Samson's wife wept before him, and said, Thou dost but hate me, and lovest me not: thou hast put forth a riddle unto the children of my people, and hast not told it me. And he said unto her, Behold, I have not told it my father nor my mother, and shall I tell it thee?\r\n And she wept before him the seven days, while their feast lasted: and it came to pass on the seventh day, that he told her, because she lay sore upon him: and she told the riddle to the children of her people.\r\n And the men of the city said unto him on the seventh day before the sun went down, What is sweeter than honey? and what is stronger than a lion? And he said unto them, If ye had not plowed with my heifer, ye had not found out my riddle.\r\n And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon, and slew thirty men of them, and took their spoil, and gave change of garments unto them which expounded the riddle. And his anger was kindled, and he went up to his father's house.\r\n But Samson's wife was given to his companion, whom he had used as his friend.\r\n \r\n \r\n But it came to pass within a while after, in the time of wheat harvest, that Samson visited his wife with a kid; and he said, I will go in to my wife into the chamber. But her father would not suffer him to go in.\r\n And her father said, I verily thought that thou hadst utterly hated her; therefore I gave her to thy companion: is not her younger sister fairer than she? take her, I pray thee, instead of her.\r\n And Samson said concerning them, Now shall I be more blameless than the Philistines, though I do them a displeasure.\r\n And Samson went and caught three hundred foxes, and took firebrands, and turned tail to tail, and put a firebrand in the midst between two tails.\r\n And when he had set the brands on fire, he let them go into the standing corn of the Philistines, and burnt up both the shocks, and also the standing corn, with the vineyards and olives.\r\n Then the Philistines said, Who hath done this? And they answered, Samson, the son in law of the Timnite, because he had taken his wife, and given her to his companion. And the Philistines came up, and burnt her and her father with fire.\r\n And Samson said unto them, Though ye have done this, yet will I be avenged of you, and after that I will cease.\r\n And he smote them hip and thigh with a great slaughter: and he went down and dwelt in the top of the rock Etam.\r\n Then the Philistines went up, and pitched in Judah, and spread themselves in Lehi.\r\n And the men of Judah said, Why are ye come up against us? And they answered, To bind Samson are we come up, to do to him as he hath done to us.\r\n Then three thousand men of Judah went to the top of the rock Etam, and said to Samson, Knowest thou not that the Philistines are rulers over us? what is this that thou hast done unto us? And he said unto them, As they did unto me, so have I done unto them.\r\n And they said unto him, We are come down to bind thee, that we may deliver thee into the hand of the Philistines. And Samson said unto them, Swear unto me, that ye will not fall upon me yourselves.\r\n And they spake unto him, saying, No; but we will bind thee fast, and deliver thee into their hand: but surely we will not kill thee. And they bound him with two new cords, and brought him up from the rock.\r\n And when he came unto Lehi, the Philistines shouted against him: and the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and the cords that were upon his arms became as flax that was burnt with fire, and his bands loosed from off his hands.\r\n And he found a new jawbone of an ass, and put forth his hand, and took it, and slew a thousand men therewith.\r\n And Samson said, With the jawbone of an ass, heaps upon heaps, with the jaw of an ass have I slain a thousand men.\r\n And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking, that he cast away the jawbone out of his hand, and called that place Ramathlehi.\r\n And he was sore athirst, and called on the LORD, and said, Thou hast given this great deliverance into the hand of thy servant: and now shall I die for thirst, and fall into the hand of the uncircumcised?\r\n But God clave an hollow place that was in the jaw, and there came water thereout; and when he had drunk, his spirit came again, and he revived: wherefore he called the name thereof Enhakkore, which is in Lehi unto this day.\r\n And he judged Israel in the days of the Philistines twenty years.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then went Samson to Gaza, and saw there an harlot, and went in unto her.\r\n And it was told the Gazites, saying, Samson is come hither. And they compassed him in, and laid wait for him all night in the gate of the city, and were quiet all the night, saying, In the morning, when it is day, we shall kill him.\r\n And Samson lay till midnight, and arose at midnight, and took the doors of the gate of the city, and the two posts, and went away with them, bar and all, and put them upon his shoulders, and carried them up to the top of an hill that is before Hebron.\r\n And it came to pass afterward, that he loved a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah.\r\n And the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and said unto her, Entice him, and see wherein his great strength lieth, and by what means we may prevail against him, that we may bind him to afflict him: and we will give thee every one of us eleven hundred pieces of silver.\r\n And Delilah said to Samson, Tell me, I pray thee, wherein thy great strength lieth, and wherewith thou mightest be bound to afflict thee.\r\n And Samson said unto her, If they bind me with seven green withs that were never dried, then shall I be weak, and be as another man.\r\n Then the lords of the Philistines brought up to her seven green withs which had not been dried, and she bound him with them.\r\n Now there were men lying in wait, abiding with her in the chamber. And she said unto him, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he brake the withs, as a thread of tow is broken when it toucheth the fire. So his strength was not known.\r\n And Delilah said unto Samson, Behold, thou hast mocked me, and told me lies: now tell me, I pray thee, wherewith thou mightest be bound.\r\n And he said unto her, If they bind me fast with new ropes that never were occupied, then shall I be weak, and be as another man.\r\n Delilah therefore took new ropes, and bound him therewith, and said unto him, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And there were liers in wait abiding in the chamber. And he brake them from off his arms like a thread.\r\n And Delilah said unto Samson, Hitherto thou hast mocked me, and told me lies: tell me wherewith thou mightest be bound. And he said unto her, If thou weavest the seven locks of my head with the web.\r\n And she fastened it with the pin, and said unto him, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awaked out of his sleep, and went away with the pin of the beam, and with the web.\r\n And she said unto him, How canst thou say, I love thee, when thine heart is not with me? thou hast mocked me these three times, and hast not told me wherein thy great strength lieth.\r\n And it came to pass, when she pressed him daily with her words, and urged him, so that his soul was vexed unto death;\r\n That he told her all his heart, and said unto her, There hath not come a razor upon mine head; for I have been a Nazarite unto God from my mother's womb: if I be shaven, then my strength will go from me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man.\r\n And when Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called for the lords of the Philistines, saying, Come up this once, for he hath shewed me all his heart. Then the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and brought money in their hand.\r\n And she made him sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head; and she began to afflict him, and his strength went from him.\r\n And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him.\r\n But the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison house.\r\n Howbeit the hair of his head began to grow again after he was shaven.\r\n Then the lords of the Philistines gathered them together for to offer a great sacrifice unto Dagon their god, and to rejoice: for they said, Our god hath delivered Samson our enemy into our hand.\r\n And when the people saw him, they praised their god: for they said, Our god hath delivered into our hands our enemy, and the destroyer of our country, which slew many of us.\r\n And it came to pass, when their hearts were merry, that they said, Call for Samson, that he may make us sport. And they called for Samson out of the prison house; and he made them sport: and they set him between the pillars.\r\n And Samson said unto the lad that held him by the hand, Suffer me that I may feel the pillars whereupon the house standeth, that I may lean upon them.\r\n Now the house was full of men and women; and all the lords of the Philistines were there; and there were upon the roof about three thousand men and women, that beheld while Samson made sport.\r\n And Samson called unto the LORD, and said, O Lord GOD, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.\r\n And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars upon which the house stood, and on which it was borne up, of the one with his right hand, and of the other with his left.\r\n And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life.\r\n Then his brethren and all the house of his father came down, and took him, and brought him up, and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the buryingplace of Manoah his father. And he judged Israel twenty years.\r\n \r\n \r\n And there was a man of mount Ephraim, whose name was Micah.\r\n And he said unto his mother, The eleven hundred shekels of silver that were taken from thee, about which thou cursedst, and spakest of also in mine ears, behold, the silver is with me; I took it. And his mother said, Blessed be thou of the LORD, my son.\r\n And when he had restored the eleven hundred shekels of silver to his mother, his mother said, I had wholly dedicated the silver unto the LORD from my hand for my son, to make a graven image and a molten image: now therefore I will restore it unto thee.\r\n Yet he restored the money unto his mother; and his mother took two hundred shekels of silver, and gave them to the founder, who made thereof a graven image and a molten image: and they were in the house of Micah.\r\n And the man Micah had an house of gods, and made an ephod, and teraphim, and consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest.\r\n In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.\r\n And there was a young man out of Bethlehemjudah of the family of Judah, who was a Levite, and he sojourned there.\r\n And the man departed out of the city from Bethlehemjudah to sojourn where he could find a place: and he came to mount Ephraim to the house of Micah, as he journeyed.\r\n And Micah said unto him, Whence comest thou? And he said unto him, I am a Levite of Bethlehemjudah, and I go to sojourn where I may find a place.\r\n And Micah said unto him, Dwell with me, and be unto me a father and a priest, and I will give thee ten shekels of silver by the year, and a suit of apparel, and thy victuals. So the Levite went in.\r\n And the Levite was content to dwell with the man; and the young man was unto him as one of his sons.\r\n And Micah consecrated the Levite; and the young man became his priest, and was in the house of Micah.\r\n Then said Micah, Now know I that the LORD will do me good, seeing I have a Levite to my priest.\r\n \r\n \r\n In those days there was no king in Israel: and in those days the tribe of the Danites sought them an inheritance to dwell in; for unto that day all their inheritance had not fallen unto them among the tribes of Israel.\r\n And the children of Dan sent of their family five men from their coasts, men of valour, from Zorah, and from Eshtaol, to spy out the land, and to search it; and they said unto them, Go, search the land: who when they came to mount Ephraim, to the house of Micah, they lodged there.\r\n When they were by the house of Micah, they knew the voice of the young man the Levite: and they turned in thither, and said unto him, Who brought thee hither? and what makest thou in this place? and what hast thou here?\r\n And he said unto them, Thus and thus dealeth Micah with me, and hath hired me, and I am his priest.\r\n And they said unto him, Ask counsel, we pray thee, of God, that we may know whether our way which we go shall be prosperous.\r\n And the priest said unto them, Go in peace: before the LORD is your way wherein ye go.\r\n Then the five men departed, and came to Laish, and saw the people that were therein, how they dwelt careless, after the manner of the Zidonians, quiet and secure; and there was no magistrate in the land, that might put them to shame in any thing; and they were far from the Zidonians, and had no business with any man.\r\n And they came unto their brethren to Zorah and Eshtaol: and their brethren said unto them, What say ye?\r\n And they said, Arise, that we may go up against them: for we have seen the land, and, behold, it is very good: and are ye still? be not slothful to go, and to enter to possess the land.\r\n When ye go, ye shall come unto a people secure, and to a large land: for God hath given it into your hands; a place where there is no want of any thing that is in the earth.\r\n And there went from thence of the family of the Danites, out of Zorah and out of Eshtaol, six hundred men appointed with weapons of war.\r\n And they went up, and pitched in Kirjathjearim, in Judah: wherefore they called that place Mahanehdan unto this day: behold, it is behind Kirjathjearim.\r\n And they passed thence unto mount Ephraim, and came unto the house of Micah.\r\n Then answered the five men that went to spy out the country of Laish, and said unto their brethren, Do ye know that there is in these houses an ephod, and teraphim, and a graven image, and a molten image? now therefore consider what ye have to do.\r\n And they turned thitherward, and came to the house of the young man the Levite, even unto the house of Micah, and saluted him.\r\n And the six hundred men appointed with their weapons of war, which were of the children of Dan, stood by the entering of the gate.\r\n And the five men that went to spy out the land went up, and came in thither, and took the graven image, and the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image: and the priest stood in the entering of the gate with the six hundred men that were appointed with weapons of war.\r\n And these went into Micah's house, and fetched the carved image, the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image. Then said the priest unto them, What do ye?\r\n And they said unto him, Hold thy peace, lay thine hand upon thy mouth, and go with us, and be to us a father and a priest: is it better for thee to be a priest unto the house of one man, or that thou be a priest unto a tribe and a family in Israel?\r\n And the priest's heart was glad, and he took the ephod, and the teraphim, and the graven image, and went in the midst of the people.\r\n So they turned and departed, and put the little ones and the cattle and the carriage before them.\r\n And when they were a good way from the house of Micah, the men that were in the houses near to Micah's house were gathered together, and overtook the children of Dan.\r\n And they cried unto the children of Dan. And they turned their faces, and said unto Micah, What aileth thee, that thou comest with such a company?\r\n And he said, Ye have taken away my gods which I made, and the priest, and ye are gone away: and what have I more? and what is this that ye say unto me, What aileth thee?\r\n And the children of Dan said unto him, Let not thy voice be heard among us, lest angry fellows run upon thee, and thou lose thy life, with the lives of thy household.\r\n And the children of Dan went their way: and when Micah saw that they were too strong for him, he turned and went back unto his house.\r\n And they took the things which Micah had made, and the priest which he had, and came unto Laish, unto a people that were at quiet and secure: and they smote them with the edge of the sword, and burnt the city with fire.\r\n And there was no deliverer, because it was far from Zidon, and they had no business with any man; and it was in the valley that lieth by Bethrehob. And they built a city, and dwelt therein.\r\n And they called the name of the city Dan, after the name of Dan their father, who was born unto Israel: howbeit the name of the city was Laish at the first.\r\n And the children of Dan set up the graven image: and Jonathan, the son of Gershom, the son of Manasseh, he and his sons were priests to the tribe of Dan until the day of the captivity of the land.\r\n And they set them up Micah's graven image, which he made, all the time that the house of God was in Shiloh.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass in those days, when there was no king in Israel, that there was a certain Levite sojourning on the side of mount Ephraim, who took to him a concubine out of Bethlehemjudah.\r\n And his concubine played the whore against him, and went away from him unto her father's house to Bethlehemjudah, and was there four whole months.\r\n And her husband arose, and went after her, to speak friendly unto her, and to bring her again, having his servant with him, and a couple of asses: and she brought him into her father's house: and when the father of the damsel saw him, he rejoiced to meet him.\r\n And his father in law, the damsel's father, retained him; and he abode with him three days: so they did eat and drink, and lodged there.\r\n And it came to pass on the fourth day, when they arose early in the morning, that he rose up to depart: and the damsel's father said unto his son in law, Comfort thine heart with a morsel of bread, and afterward go your way.\r\n And they sat down, and did eat and drink both of them together: for the damsel's father had said unto the man, Be content, I pray thee, and tarry all night, and let thine heart be merry.\r\n And when the man rose up to depart, his father in law urged him: therefore he lodged there again.\r\n And he arose early in the morning on the fifth day to depart: and the damsel's father said, Comfort thine heart, I pray thee. And they tarried until afternoon, and they did eat both of them.\r\n And when the man rose up to depart, he, and his concubine, and his servant, his father in law, the damsel's father, said unto him, Behold, now the day draweth toward evening, I pray you tarry all night: behold, the day groweth to an end, lodge here, that thine heart may be merry; and to morrow get you early on your way, that thou mayest go home.\r\n But the man would not tarry that night, but he rose up and departed, and came over against Jebus, which is Jerusalem; and there were with him two asses saddled, his concubine also was with him.\r\n And when they were by Jebus, the day was far spent; and the servant said unto his master, Come, I pray thee, and let us turn in into this city of the Jebusites, and lodge in it.\r\n And his master said unto him, We will not turn aside hither into the city of a stranger, that is not of the children of Israel; we will pass over to Gibeah.\r\n And he said unto his servant, Come, and let us draw near to one of these places to lodge all night, in Gibeah, or in Ramah.\r\n And they passed on and went their way; and the sun went down upon them when they were by Gibeah, which belongeth to Benjamin.\r\n And they turned aside thither, to go in and to lodge in Gibeah: and when he went in, he sat him down in a street of the city: for there was no man that took them into his house to lodging.\r\n And, behold, there came an old man from his work out of the field at even, which was also of mount Ephraim; and he sojourned in Gibeah: but the men of the place were Benjamites.\r\n And when he had lifted up his eyes, he saw a wayfaring man in the street of the city: and the old man said, Whither goest thou? and whence comest thou?\r\n And he said unto him, We are passing from Bethlehemjudah toward the side of mount Ephraim; from thence am I: and I went to Bethlehemjudah, but I am now going to the house of the LORD; and there is no man that receiveth me to house.\r\n Yet there is both straw and provender for our asses; and there is bread and wine also for me, and for thy handmaid, and for the young man which is with thy servants: there is no want of any thing.\r\n And the old man said, Peace be with thee; howsoever let all thy wants lie upon me; only lodge not in the street.\r\n So he brought him into his house, and gave provender unto the asses: and they washed their feet, and did eat and drink.\r\n Now as they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, certain sons of Belial, beset the house round about, and beat at the door, and spake to the master of the house, the old man, saying, Bring forth the man that came into thine house, that we may know him.\r\n And the man, the master of the house, went out unto them, and said unto them, Nay, my brethren, nay, I pray you, do not so wickedly; seeing that this man is come into mine house, do not this folly.\r\n Behold, here is my daughter a maiden, and his concubine; them I will bring out now, and humble ye them, and do with them what seemeth good unto you: but unto this man do not so vile a thing.\r\n But the men would not hearken to him: so the man took his concubine, and brought her forth unto them; and they knew her, and abused her all the night until the morning: and when the day began to spring, they let her go.\r\n Then came the woman in the dawning of the day, and fell down at the door of the man's house where her lord was, till it was light.\r\n And her lord rose up in the morning, and opened the doors of the house, and went out to go his way: and, behold, the woman his concubine was fallen down at the door of the house, and her hands were upon the threshold.\r\n And he said unto her, Up, and let us be going. But none answered. Then the man took her up upon an ass, and the man rose up, and gat him unto his place.\r\n And when he was come into his house, he took a knife, and laid hold on his concubine, and divided her, together with her bones, into twelve pieces, and sent her into all the coasts of Israel.\r\n And it was so, that all that saw it said, There was no such deed done nor seen from the day that the children of Israel came up out of the land of Egypt unto this day: consider of it, take advice, and speak your minds.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then all the children of Israel went out, and the congregation was gathered together as one man, from Dan even to Beersheba, with the land of Gilead, unto the LORD in Mizpeh.\r\n And the chief of all the people, even of all the tribes of Israel, presented themselves in the assembly of the people of God, four hundred thousand footmen that drew sword.\r\n (Now the children of Benjamin heard that the children of Israel were gone up to Mizpeh.) Then said the children of Israel, Tell us, how was this wickedness?\r\n And the Levite, the husband of the woman that was slain, answered and said, I came into Gibeah that belongeth to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to lodge.\r\n And the men of Gibeah rose against me, and beset the house round about upon me by night, and thought to have slain me: and my concubine have they forced, that she is dead.\r\n And I took my concubine, and cut her in pieces, and sent her throughout all the country of the inheritance of Israel: for they have committed lewdness and folly in Israel.\r\n Behold, ye are all children of Israel; give here your advice and counsel.\r\n And all the people arose as one man, saying, We will not any of us go to his tent, neither will we any of us turn into his house.\r\n But now this shall be the thing which we will do to Gibeah; we will go up by lot against it;\r\n And we will take ten men of an hundred throughout all the tribes of Israel, and an hundred of a thousand, and a thousand out of ten thousand, to fetch victual for the people, that they may do, when they come to Gibeah of Benjamin, according to all the folly that they have wrought in Israel.\r\n So all the men of Israel were gathered against the city, knit together as one man.\r\n And the tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin, saying, What wickedness is this that is done among you?\r\n Now therefore deliver us the men, the children of Belial, which are in Gibeah, that we may put them to death, and put away evil from Israel. But the children of Benjamin would not hearken to the voice of their brethren the children of Israel:\r\n But the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together out of the cities unto Gibeah, to go out to battle against the children of Israel.\r\n And the children of Benjamin were numbered at that time out of the cities twenty and six thousand men that drew sword, beside the inhabitants of Gibeah, which were numbered seven hundred chosen men.\r\n Among all this people there were seven hundred chosen men lefthanded; every one could sling stones at an hair breadth, and not miss.\r\n And the men of Israel, beside Benjamin, were numbered four hundred thousand men that drew sword: all these were men of war.\r\n And the children of Israel arose, and went up to the house of God, and asked counsel of God, and said, Which of us shall go up first to the battle against the children of Benjamin? And the LORD said, Judah shall go up first.\r\n And the children of Israel rose up in the morning, and encamped against Gibeah.\r\n And the men of Israel went out to battle against Benjamin; and the men of Israel put themselves in array to fight against them at Gibeah.\r\n And the children of Benjamin came forth out of Gibeah, and destroyed down to the ground of the Israelites that day twenty and two thousand men.\r\n And the people the men of Israel encouraged themselves, and set their battle again in array in the place where they put themselves in array the first day.\r\n (And the children of Israel went up and wept before the LORD until even, and asked counsel of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up again to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother? And the LORD said, Go up against him.)\r\n And the children of Israel came near against the children of Benjamin the second day.\r\n And Benjamin went forth against them out of Gibeah the second day, and destroyed down to the ground of the children of Israel again eighteen thousand men; all these drew the sword.\r\n Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came unto the house of God, and wept, and sat there before the LORD, and fasted that day until even, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.\r\n And the children of Israel enquired of the LORD, (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days,\r\n And Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, stood before it in those days,) saying, Shall I yet again go out to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother, or shall I cease? And the LORD said, Go up; for to morrow I will deliver them into thine hand.\r\n And Israel set liers in wait round about Gibeah.\r\n And the children of Israel went up against the children of Benjamin on the third day, and put themselves in array against Gibeah, as at other times.\r\n And the children of Benjamin went out against the people, and were drawn away from the city; and they began to smite of the people, and kill, as at other times, in the highways, of which one goeth up to the house of God, and the other to Gibeah in the field, about thirty men of Israel.\r\n And the children of Benjamin said, They are smitten down before us, as at the first. But the children of Israel said, Let us flee, and draw them from the city unto the highways.\r\n And all the men of Israel rose up out of their place, and put themselves in array at Baaltamar: and the liers in wait of Israel came forth out of their places, even out of the meadows of Gibeah.\r\n And there came against Gibeah ten thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and the battle was sore: but they knew not that evil was near them.\r\n And the LORD smote Benjamin before Israel: and the children of Israel destroyed of the Benjamites that day twenty and five thousand and an hundred men: all these drew the sword.\r\n So the children of Benjamin saw that they were smitten: for the men of Israel gave place to the Benjamites, because they trusted unto the liers in wait which they had set beside Gibeah.\r\n And the liers in wait hasted, and rushed upon Gibeah; and the liers in wait drew themselves along, and smote all the city with the edge of the sword.\r\n Now there was an appointed sign between the men of Israel and the liers in wait, that they should make a great flame with smoke rise up out of the city.\r\n And when the men of Israel retired in the battle, Benjamin began to smite and kill of the men of Israel about thirty persons: for they said, Surely they are smitten down before us, as in the first battle.\r\n But when the flame began to arise up out of the city with a pillar of smoke, the Benjamites looked behind them, and, behold, the flame of the city ascended up to heaven.\r\n And when the men of Israel turned again, the men of Benjamin were amazed: for they saw that evil was come upon them.\r\n Therefore they turned their backs before the men of Israel unto the way of the wilderness; but the battle overtook them; and them which came out of the cities they destroyed in the midst of them.\r\n Thus they inclosed the Benjamites round about, and chased them, and trode them down with ease over against Gibeah toward the sunrising.\r\n And there fell of Benjamin eighteen thousand men; all these were men of valour.\r\n And they turned and fled toward the wilderness unto the rock of Rimmon: and they gleaned of them in the highways five thousand men; and pursued hard after them unto Gidom, and slew two thousand men of them.\r\n So that all which fell that day of Benjamin were twenty and five thousand men that drew the sword; all these were men of valour.\r\n But six hundred men turned and fled to the wilderness unto the rock Rimmon, and abode in the rock Rimmon four months.\r\n And the men of Israel turned again upon the children of Benjamin, and smote them with the edge of the sword, as well the men of every city, as the beast, and all that came to hand: also they set on fire all the cities that they came to.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now the men of Israel had sworn in Mizpeh, saying, There shall not any of us give his daughter unto Benjamin to wife.\r\n And the people came to the house of God, and abode there till even before God, and lifted up their voices, and wept sore;\r\n And said, O LORD God of Israel, why is this come to pass in Israel, that there should be to day one tribe lacking in Israel?\r\n And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people rose early, and built there an altar, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings.\r\n And the children of Israel said, Who is there among all the tribes of Israel that came not up with the congregation unto the LORD? For they had made a great oath concerning him that came not up to the LORD to Mizpeh, saying, He shall surely be put to death.\r\n And the children of Israel repented them for Benjamin their brother, and said, There is one tribe cut off from Israel this day.\r\n How shall we do for wives for them that remain, seeing we have sworn by the LORD that we will not give them of our daughters to wives?\r\n And they said, What one is there of the tribes of Israel that came not up to Mizpeh to the LORD? And, behold, there came none to the camp from Jabeshgilead to the assembly.\r\n For the people were numbered, and, behold, there were none of the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead there.\r\n And the congregation sent thither twelve thousand men of the valiantest, and commanded them, saying, Go and smite the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead with the edge of the sword, with the women and the children.\r\n And this is the thing that ye shall do, Ye shall utterly destroy every male, and every woman that hath lain by man.\r\n And they found among the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead four hundred young virgins, that had known no man by lying with any male: and they brought them unto the camp to Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan.\r\n And the whole congregation sent some to speak to the children of Benjamin that were in the rock Rimmon, and to call peaceably unto them.\r\n And Benjamin came again at that time; and they gave them wives which they had saved alive of the women of Jabeshgilead: and yet so they sufficed them not.\r\n And the people repented them for Benjamin, because that the LORD had made a breach in the tribes of Israel.\r\n Then the elders of the congregation said, How shall we do for wives for them that remain, seeing the women are destroyed out of Benjamin?\r\n And they said, There must be an inheritance for them that be escaped of Benjamin, that a tribe be not destroyed out of Israel.\r\n Howbeit we may not give them wives of our daughters: for the children of Israel have sworn, saying, Cursed be he that giveth a wife to Benjamin.\r\n Then they said, Behold, there is a feast of the LORD in Shiloh yearly in a place which is on the north side of Bethel, on the east side of the highway that goeth up from Bethel to Shechem, and on the south of Lebonah.\r\n Therefore they commanded the children of Benjamin, saying, Go and lie in wait in the vineyards;\r\n And see, and, behold, if the daughters of Shiloh come out to dance in dances, then come ye out of the vineyards, and catch you every man his wife of the daughters of Shiloh, and go to the land of Benjamin.\r\n And it shall be, when their fathers or their brethren come unto us to complain, that we will say unto them, Be favourable unto them for our sakes: because we reserved not to each man his wife in the war: for ye did not give unto them at this time, that ye should be guilty.\r\n And the children of Benjamin did so, and took them wives, according to their number, of them that danced, whom they caught: and they went and returned unto their inheritance, and repaired the cities, and dwelt in them.\r\n And the children of Israel departed thence at that time, every man to his tribe and to his family, and they went out from thence every man to his inheritance.\r\n In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehemjudah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.\r\n And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehemjudah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there.\r\n And Elimelech Naomi's husband died; and she was left, and her two sons.\r\n And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years.\r\n And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband.\r\n Then she arose with her daughters in law, that she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that the LORD had visited his people in giving them bread.\r\n Wherefore she went forth out of the place where she was, and her two daughters in law with her; and they went on the way to return unto the land of Judah.\r\n And Naomi said unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each to her mother's house: the LORD deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me.\r\n The LORD grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept.\r\n And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people.\r\n And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?\r\n Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons;\r\n Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD is gone out against me.\r\n And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.\r\n And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law.\r\n And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:\r\n Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.\r\n When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her.\r\n So they two went until they came to Bethlehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Bethlehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they said, Is this Naomi?\r\n And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.\r\n I went out full, and the LORD hath brought me home again empty: why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the LORD hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me?\r\n So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter in law, with her, which returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband's, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz.\r\n And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter.\r\n And she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after the reapers: and her hap was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech.\r\n And, behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said unto the reapers, The LORD be with you. And they answered him, The LORD bless thee.\r\n Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set over the reapers, Whose damsel is this?\r\n And the servant that was set over the reapers answered and said, It is the Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi out of the country of Moab:\r\n And she said, I pray you, let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves: so she came, and hath continued even from the morning until now, that she tarried a little in the house.\r\n Then said Boaz unto Ruth, Hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, neither go from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens:\r\n Let thine eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go thou after them: have I not charged the young men that they shall not touch thee? and when thou art athirst, go unto the vessels, and drink of that which the young men have drawn.\r\n Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger?\r\n And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been shewed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law since the death of thine husband: and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore.\r\n The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.\r\n Then she said, Let me find favour in thy sight, my lord; for that thou hast comforted me, and for that thou hast spoken friendly unto thine handmaid, though I be not like unto one of thine handmaidens.\r\n And Boaz said unto her, At mealtime come thou hither, and eat of the bread, and dip thy morsel in the vinegar. And she sat beside the reapers: and he reached her parched corn, and she did eat, and was sufficed, and left.\r\n And when she was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, Let her glean even among the sheaves, and reproach her not:\r\n And let fall also some of the handfuls of purpose for her, and leave them, that she may glean them, and rebuke her not.\r\n So she gleaned in the field until even, and beat out that she had gleaned: and it was about an ephah of barley.\r\n And she took it up, and went into the city: and her mother in law saw what she had gleaned: and she brought forth, and gave to her that she had reserved after she was sufficed.\r\n And her mother in law said unto her, Where hast thou gleaned to day? and where wroughtest thou? blessed be he that did take knowledge of thee. And she shewed her mother in law with whom she had wrought, and said, The man's name with whom I wrought to day is Boaz.\r\n And Naomi said unto her daughter in law, Blessed be he of the LORD, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead. And Naomi said unto her, The man is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen.\r\n And Ruth the Moabitess said, He said unto me also, Thou shalt keep fast by my young men, until they have ended all my harvest.\r\n And Naomi said unto Ruth her daughter in law, It is good, my daughter, that thou go out with his maidens, that they meet thee not in any other field.\r\n So she kept fast by the maidens of Boaz to glean unto the end of barley harvest and of wheat harvest; and dwelt with her mother in law.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then Naomi her mother in law said unto her, My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee?\r\n And now is not Boaz of our kindred, with whose maidens thou wast? Behold, he winnoweth barley to night in the threshingfloor.\r\n Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the floor: but make not thyself known unto the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking.\r\n And it shall be, when he lieth down, that thou shalt mark the place where he shall lie, and thou shalt go in, and uncover his feet, and lay thee down; and he will tell thee what thou shalt do.\r\n And she said unto her, All that thou sayest unto me I will do.\r\n And she went down unto the floor, and did according to all that her mother in law bade her.\r\n And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of corn: and she came softly, and uncovered his feet, and laid her down.\r\n And it came to pass at midnight, that the man was afraid, and turned himself: and, behold, a woman lay at his feet.\r\n And he said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thine handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman.\r\n And he said, Blessed be thou of the LORD, my daughter: for thou hast shewed more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, inasmuch as thou followedst not young men, whether poor or rich.\r\n And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman.\r\n And now it is true that I am thy near kinsman: howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I.\r\n Tarry this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if he will perform unto thee the part of a kinsman, well; let him do the kinsman's part: but if he will not do the part of a kinsman to thee, then will I do the part of a kinsman to thee, as the LORD liveth: lie down until the morning.\r\n And she lay at his feet until the morning: and she rose up before one could know another. And he said, Let it not be known that a woman came into the floor.\r\n Also he said, Bring the vail that thou hast upon thee, and hold it. And when she held it, he measured six measures of barley, and laid it on her: and she went into the city.\r\n And when she came to her mother in law, she said, Who art thou, my daughter? And she told her all that the man had done to her.\r\n And she said, These six measures of barley gave he me; for he said to me, Go not empty unto thy mother in law.\r\n Then said she, Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall: for the man will not be in rest, until he have finished the thing this day.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then went Boaz up to the gate, and sat him down there: and, behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz spake came by; unto whom he said, Ho, such a one! turn aside, sit down here. And he turned aside, and sat down.\r\n And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit ye down here. And they sat down.\r\n And he said unto the kinsman, Naomi, that is come again out of the country of Moab, selleth a parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech's:\r\n And I thought to advertise thee, saying, Buy it before the inhabitants, and before the elders of my people. If thou wilt redeem it, redeem it: but if thou wilt not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know: for there is none to redeem it beside thee; and I am after thee. And he said, I will redeem it.\r\n Then said Boaz, What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance.\r\n And the kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar mine own inheritance: redeem thou my right to thyself; for I cannot redeem it.\r\n Now this was the manner in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning changing, for to confirm all things; a man plucked off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbour: and this was a testimony in Israel.\r\n Therefore the kinsman said unto Boaz, Buy it for thee. So he drew off his shoe.\r\n And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech's, and all that was Chilion's and Mahlon's, of the hand of Naomi.\r\n Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day.\r\n And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. The LORD make the woman that is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephratah, and be famous in Bethlehem:\r\n And let thy house be like the house of Pharez, whom Tamar bare unto Judah, of the seed which the LORD shall give thee of this young woman.\r\n So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, the LORD gave her conception, and she bare a son.\r\n And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the LORD, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel.\r\n And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age: for thy daughter in law, which loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath born him.\r\n And Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom, and became nurse unto it.\r\n And the women her neighbours gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David.\r\n Now these are the generations of Pharez: Pharez begat Hezron,\r\n And Hezron begat Ram, and Ram begat Amminadab,\r\n And Amminadab begat Nahshon, and Nahshon begat Salmon,\r\n And Salmon begat Boaz, and Boaz begat Obed,\r\n And Obed begat Jesse, and Jesse begat David.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n Now there was a certain man of Ramathaimzophim, of mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite:\r\n And he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.\r\n And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, were there.\r\n And when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions:\r\n But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the LORD had shut up her womb.\r\n And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb.\r\n And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of the LORD, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat.\r\n Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? am not I better to thee than ten sons?\r\n So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the LORD.\r\n And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.\r\n And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.\r\n And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth.\r\n Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.\r\n And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.\r\n And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD.\r\n Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto.\r\n Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.\r\n And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.\r\n And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the LORD, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the LORD remembered her.\r\n Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the LORD.\r\n And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto the LORD the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.\r\n But Hannah went not up; for she said unto her husband, I will not go up until the child be weaned, and then I will bring him, that he may appear before the LORD, and there abide for ever.\r\n And Elkanah her husband said unto her, Do what seemeth thee good; tarry until thou have weaned him; only the LORD establish his word. So the woman abode, and gave her son suck until she weaned him.\r\n And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of the LORD in Shiloh: and the child was young.\r\n And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli.\r\n And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the LORD.\r\n For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him:\r\n Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation.\r\n There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.\r\n Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.\r\n The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength.\r\n They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble.\r\n The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up.\r\n The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up.\r\n He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD'S, and he hath set the world upon them.\r\n He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.\r\n The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the LORD shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed.\r\n And Elkanah went to Ramah to his house. And the child did minister unto the LORD before Eli the priest.\r\n Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the LORD.\r\n And the priests' custom with the people was, that, when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant came, while the flesh was in seething, with a fleshhook of three teeth in his hand;\r\n And he struck it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the fleshhook brought up the priest took for himself. So they did in Shiloh unto all the Israelites that came thither.\r\n Also before they burnt the fat, the priest's servant came, and said to the man that sacrificed, Give flesh to roast for the priest; for he will not have sodden flesh of thee, but raw.\r\n And if any man said unto him, Let them not fail to burn the fat presently, and then take as much as thy soul desireth; then he would answer him, Nay; but thou shalt give it me now: and if not, I will take it by force.\r\n Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD: for men abhorred the offering of the LORD.\r\n But Samuel ministered before the LORD, being a child, girded with a linen ephod.\r\n Moreover his mother made him a little coat, and brought it to him from year to year, when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.\r\n And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, The LORD give thee seed of this woman for the loan which is lent to the LORD. And they went unto their own home.\r\n And the LORD visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before the LORD.\r\n Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.\r\n And he said unto them, Why do ye such things? for I hear of your evil dealings by all this people.\r\n Nay, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear: ye make the LORD'S people to transgress.\r\n If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him: but if a man sin against the LORD, who shall intreat for him? Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because the LORD would slay them.\r\n And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the LORD, and also with men.\r\n And there came a man of God unto Eli, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Did I plainly appear unto the house of thy father, when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh's house?\r\n And did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to offer upon mine altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? and did I give unto the house of thy father all the offerings made by fire of the children of Israel?\r\n Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering, which I have commanded in my habitation; and honourest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people?\r\n Wherefore the LORD God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the LORD saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.\r\n Behold, the days come, that I will cut off thine arm, and the arm of thy father's house, that there shall not be an old man in thine house.\r\n And thou shalt see an enemy in my habitation, in all the wealth which God shall give Israel: and there shall not be an old man in thine house for ever.\r\n And the man of thine, whom I shall not cut off from mine altar, shall be to consume thine eyes, and to grieve thine heart: and all the increase of thine house shall die in the flower of their age.\r\n And this shall be a sign unto thee, that shall come upon thy two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas; in one day they shall die both of them.\r\n And I will raise me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in mine heart and in my mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before mine anointed for ever.\r\n And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left in thine house shall come and crouch to him for a piece of silver and a morsel of bread, and shall say, Put me, I pray thee, into one of the priests' offices, that I may eat a piece of bread.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision.\r\n And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see;\r\n And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep;\r\n That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I.\r\n And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down.\r\n And the LORD called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again.\r\n Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him.\r\n And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child.\r\n Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place.\r\n And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.\r\n And the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle.\r\n In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end.\r\n For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.\r\n And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever.\r\n And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel feared to shew Eli the vision.\r\n Then Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel, my son. And he answered, Here am I.\r\n And he said, What is the thing that the LORD hath said unto thee? I pray thee hide it not from me: God do so to thee, and more also, if thou hide any thing from me of all the things that he said unto thee.\r\n And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, It is the LORD: let him do what seemeth him good.\r\n And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground.\r\n And all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the LORD.\r\n And the LORD appeared again in Shiloh: for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out against the Philistines to battle, and pitched beside Ebenezer: and the Philistines pitched in Aphek.\r\n And the Philistines put themselves in array against Israel: and when they joined battle, Israel was smitten before the Philistines: and they slew of the army in the field about four thousand men.\r\n And when the people were come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, Wherefore hath the LORD smitten us to day before the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of Shiloh unto us, that, when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the hand of our enemies.\r\n So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from thence the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth between the cherubims: and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.\r\n And when the ark of the covenant of the LORD came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth rang again.\r\n And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, What meaneth the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews? And they understood that the ark of the LORD was come into the camp.\r\n And the Philistines were afraid, for they said, God is come into the camp. And they said, Woe unto us! for there hath not been such a thing heretofore.\r\n Woe unto us! who shall deliver us out of the hand of these mighty Gods? these are the Gods that smote the Egyptians with all the plagues in the wilderness.\r\n Be strong, and quit yourselves like men, O ye Philistines, that ye be not servants unto the Hebrews, as they have been to you: quit yourselves like men, and fight.\r\n And the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten, and they fled every man into his tent: and there was a very great slaughter; for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen.\r\n And the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain.\r\n And there ran a man of Benjamin out of the army, and came to Shiloh the same day with his clothes rent, and with earth upon his head.\r\n And when he came, lo, Eli sat upon a seat by the wayside watching: for his heart trembled for the ark of God. And when the man came into the city, and told it, all the city cried out.\r\n And when Eli heard the noise of the crying, he said, What meaneth the noise of this tumult? And the man came in hastily, and told Eli.\r\n Now Eli was ninety and eight years old; and his eyes were dim, that he could not see.\r\n And the man said unto Eli, I am he that came out of the army, and I fled to day out of the army. And he said, What is there done, my son?\r\n And the messenger answered and said, Israel is fled before the Philistines, and there hath been also a great slaughter among the people, and thy two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God is taken.\r\n And it came to pass, when he made mention of the ark of God, that he fell from off the seat backward by the side of the gate, and his neck brake, and he died: for he was an old man, and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years.\r\n And his daughter in law, Phinehas' wife, was with child, near to be delivered: and when she heard the tidings that the ark of God was taken, and that her father in law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and travailed; for her pains came upon her.\r\n And about the time of her death the women that stood by her said unto her, Fear not; for thou hast born a son. But she answered not, neither did she regard it.\r\n And she named the child Ichabod, saying, The glory is departed from Israel: because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father in law and her husband.\r\n And she said, The glory is departed from Israel: for the ark of God is taken.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the Philistines took the ark of God, and brought it from Ebenezer unto Ashdod.\r\n When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon.\r\n And when they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of the LORD. And they took Dagon, and set him in his place again.\r\n And when they arose early on the morrow morning, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD; and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off upon the threshold; only the stump of Dagon was left to him.\r\n Therefore neither the priests of Dagon, nor any that come into Dagon's house, tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod unto this day.\r\n But the hand of the LORD was heavy upon them of Ashdod, and he destroyed them, and smote them with emerods, even Ashdod and the coasts thereof.\r\n And when the men of Ashdod saw that it was so, they said, The ark of the God of Israel shall not abide with us: for his hand is sore upon us, and upon Dagon our god.\r\n They sent therefore and gathered all the lords of the Philistines unto them, and said, What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel? And they answered, Let the ark of the God of Israel be carried about unto Gath. And they carried the ark of the God of Israel about thither.\r\n And it was so, that, after they had carried it about, the hand of the LORD was against the city with a very great destruction: and he smote the men of the city, both small and great, and they had emerods in their secret parts.\r\n Therefore they sent the ark of God to Ekron. And it came to pass, as the ark of God came to Ekron, that the Ekronites cried out, saying, They have brought about the ark of the God of Israel to us, to slay us and our people.\r\n So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and said, Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it go again to his own place, that it slay us not, and our people: for there was a deadly destruction throughout all the city; the hand of God was very heavy there.\r\n And the men that died not were smitten with the emerods: and the cry of the city went up to heaven.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the ark of the LORD was in the country of the Philistines seven months.\r\n And the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners, saying, What shall we do to the ark of the LORD? tell us wherewith we shall send it to his place.\r\n And they said, If ye send away the ark of the God of Israel, send it not empty; but in any wise return him a trespass offering: then ye shall be healed, and it shall be known to you why his hand is not removed from you.\r\n Then said they, What shall be the trespass offering which we shall return to him? They answered, Five golden emerods, and five golden mice, according to the number of the lords of the Philistines: for one plague was on you all, and on your lords.\r\n Wherefore ye shall make images of your emerods, and images of your mice that mar the land; and ye shall give glory unto the God of Israel: peradventure he will lighten his hand from off you, and from off your gods, and from off your land.\r\n Wherefore then do ye harden your hearts, as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? when he had wrought wonderfully among them, did they not let the people go, and they departed?\r\n Now therefore make a new cart, and take two milch kine, on which there hath come no yoke, and tie the kine to the cart, and bring their calves home from them:\r\n And take the ark of the LORD, and lay it upon the cart; and put the jewels of gold, which ye return him for a trespass offering, in a coffer by the side thereof; and send it away, that it may go.\r\n And see, if it goeth up by the way of his own coast to Bethshemesh, then he hath done us this great evil: but if not, then we shall know that it is not his hand that smote us: it was a chance that happened to us.\r\n And the men did so; and took two milch kine, and tied them to the cart, and shut up their calves at home:\r\n And they laid the ark of the LORD upon the cart, and the coffer with the mice of gold and the images of their emerods.\r\n And the kine took the straight way to the way of Bethshemesh, and went along the highway, lowing as they went, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left; and the lords of the Philistines went after them unto the border of Bethshemesh.\r\n And they of Bethshemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley: and they lifted up their eyes, and saw the ark, and rejoiced to see it.\r\n And the cart came into the field of Joshua, a Bethshemite, and stood there, where there was a great stone: and they clave the wood of the cart, and offered the kine a burnt offering unto the LORD.\r\n And the Levites took down the ark of the LORD, and the coffer that was with it, wherein the jewels of gold were, and put them on the great stone: and the men of Bethshemesh offered burnt offerings and sacrificed sacrifices the same day unto the LORD.\r\n And when the five lords of the Philistines had seen it, they returned to Ekron the same day.\r\n And these are the golden emerods which the Philistines returned for a trespass offering unto the LORD; for Ashdod one, for Gaza one, for Askelon one, for Gath one, for Ekron one;\r\n And the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both of fenced cities, and of country villages, even unto the great stone of Abel, whereon they set down the ark of the LORD: which stone remaineth unto this day in the field of Joshua, the Bethshemite.\r\n And he smote the men of Bethshemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the LORD, even he smote of the people fifty thousand and threescore and ten men: and the people lamented, because the LORD had smitten many of the people with a great slaughter.\r\n And the men of Bethshemesh said, Who is able to stand before this holy LORD God? and to whom shall he go up from us?\r\n And they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kirjathjearim, saying, The Philistines have brought again the ark of the LORD; come ye down, and fetch it up to you.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the men of Kirjathjearim came, and fetched up the ark of the LORD, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill, and sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the LORD.\r\n And it came to pass, while the ark abode in Kirjathjearim, that the time was long; for it was twenty years: and all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD.\r\n And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.\r\n Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only.\r\n And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will pray for you unto the LORD.\r\n And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured it out before the LORD, and fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against the LORD. And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpeh.\r\n And when the Philistines heard that the children of Israel were gathered together to Mizpeh, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the children of Israel heard it, they were afraid of the Philistines.\r\n And the children of Israel said to Samuel, Cease not to cry unto the LORD our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines.\r\n And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a burnt offering wholly unto the LORD: and Samuel cried unto the LORD for Israel; and the LORD heard him.\r\n And as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel: but the LORD thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and discomfited them; and they were smitten before Israel.\r\n And the men of Israel went out of Mizpeh, and pursued the Philistines, and smote them, until they came under Bethcar.\r\n Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us.\r\n So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more into the coast of Israel: and the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.\r\n And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even unto Gath; and the coasts thereof did Israel deliver out of the hands of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.\r\n And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.\r\n And he went from year to year in circuit to Bethel, and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places.\r\n And his return was to Ramah; for there was his house; and there he judged Israel; and there he built an altar unto the LORD.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel.\r\n Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: they were judges in Beersheba.\r\n And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.\r\n Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah,\r\n And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.\r\n But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD.\r\n And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.\r\n According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee.\r\n Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.\r\n And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that asked of him a king.\r\n And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots.\r\n And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots.\r\n And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers.\r\n And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants.\r\n And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants.\r\n And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work.\r\n He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants.\r\n And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not hear you in that day.\r\n Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us;\r\n That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.\r\n And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of the LORD.\r\n And the LORD said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye every man unto his city.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power.\r\n And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people.\r\n And the asses of Kish Saul's father were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son, Take now one of the servants with thee, and arise, go seek the asses.\r\n And he passed through mount Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalisha, but they found them not: then they passed through the land of Shalim, and there they were not: and he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they found them not.\r\n And when they were come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant that was with him, Come, and let us return; lest my father leave caring for the asses, and take thought for us.\r\n And he said unto him, Behold now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is an honourable man; all that he saith cometh surely to pass: now let us go thither; peradventure he can shew us our way that we should go.\r\n Then said Saul to his servant, But, behold, if we go, what shall we bring the man? for the bread is spent in our vessels, and there is not a present to bring to the man of God: what have we?\r\n And the servant answered Saul again, and said, Behold, I have here at hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver: that will I give to the man of God, to tell us our way.\r\n (Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to enquire of God, thus he spake, Come, and let us go to the seer: for he that is now called a Prophet was beforetime called a Seer.)\r\n Then said Saul to his servant, Well said; come, let us go. So they went unto the city where the man of God was.\r\n And as they went up the hill to the city, they found young maidens going out to draw water, and said unto them, Is the seer here?\r\n And they answered them, and said, He is; behold, he is before you: make haste now, for he came to day to the city; for there is a sacrifice of the people to day in the high place:\r\n As soon as ye be come into the city, ye shall straightway find him, before he go up to the high place to eat: for the people will not eat until he come, because he doth bless the sacrifice; and afterwards they eat that be bidden. Now therefore get you up; for about this time ye shall find him.\r\n And they went up into the city: and when they were come into the city, behold, Samuel came out against them, for to go up to the high place.\r\n Now the LORD had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying,\r\n To morrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin, and thou shalt anoint him to be captain over my people Israel, that he may save my people out of the hand of the Philistines: for I have looked upon my people, because their cry is come unto me.\r\n And when Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said unto him, Behold the man whom I spake to thee of! this same shall reign over my people.\r\n Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, where the seer's house is.\r\n And Samuel answered Saul, and said, I am the seer: go up before me unto the high place; for ye shall eat with me to day, and to morrow I will let thee go, and will tell thee all that is in thine heart.\r\n And as for thine asses that were lost three days ago, set not thy mind on them; for they are found. And on whom is all the desire of Israel? Is it not on thee, and on all thy father's house?\r\n And Saul answered and said, Am not I a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? wherefore then speakest thou so to me?\r\n And Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them into the parlour, and made them sit in the chiefest place among them that were bidden, which were about thirty persons.\r\n And Samuel said unto the cook, Bring the portion which I gave thee, of which I said unto thee, Set it by thee.\r\n And the cook took up the shoulder, and that which was upon it, and set it before Saul. And Samuel said, Behold that which is left! set it before thee, and eat: for unto this time hath it been kept for thee since I said, I have invited the people. So Saul did eat with Samuel that day.\r\n And when they were come down from the high place into the city, Samuel communed with Saul upon the top of the house.\r\n And they arose early: and it came to pass about the spring of the day, that Samuel called Saul to the top of the house, saying, Up, that I may send thee away. And Saul arose, and they went out both of them, he and Samuel, abroad.\r\n And as they were going down to the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Bid the servant pass on before us, (and he passed on,) but stand thou still a while, that I may shew thee the word of God.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because the LORD hath anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance?\r\n When thou art departed from me to day, then thou shalt find two men by Rachel's sepulchre in the border of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will say unto thee, The asses which thou wentest to seek are found: and, lo, thy father hath left the care of the asses, and sorroweth for you, saying, What shall I do for my son?\r\n Then shalt thou go on forward from thence, and thou shalt come to the plain of Tabor, and there shall meet thee three men going up to God to Bethel, one carrying three kids, and another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a bottle of wine:\r\n And they will salute thee, and give thee two loaves of bread; which thou shalt receive of their hands.\r\n After that thou shalt come to the hill of God, where is the garrison of the Philistines: and it shall come to pass, when thou art come thither to the city, that thou shalt meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp, before them; and they shall prophesy:\r\n And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man.\r\n And let it be, when these signs are come unto thee, that thou do as occasion serve thee; for God is with thee.\r\n And thou shalt go down before me to Gilgal; and, behold, I will come down unto thee, to offer burnt offerings, and to sacrifice sacrifices of peace offerings: seven days shalt thou tarry, till I come to thee, and shew thee what thou shalt do.\r\n And it was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart: and all those signs came to pass that day.\r\n And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them.\r\n And it came to pass, when all that knew him beforetime saw that, behold, he prophesied among the prophets, then the people said one to another, What is this that is come unto the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?\r\n And one of the same place answered and said, But who is their father? Therefore it became a proverb, Is Saul also among the prophets?\r\n And when he had made an end of prophesying, he came to the high place.\r\n And Saul's uncle said unto him and to his servant, Whither went ye? And he said, To seek the asses: and when we saw that they were no where, we came to Samuel.\r\n And Saul's uncle said, Tell me, I pray thee, what Samuel said unto you.\r\n And Saul said unto his uncle, He told us plainly that the asses were found. But of the matter of the kingdom, whereof Samuel spake, he told him not.\r\n And Samuel called the people together unto the LORD to Mizpeh;\r\n And said unto the children of Israel, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all kingdoms, and of them that oppressed you:\r\n And ye have this day rejected your God, who himself saved you out of all your adversities and your tribulations; and ye have said unto him, Nay, but set a king over us. Now therefore present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes, and by your thousands.\r\n And when Samuel had caused all the tribes of Israel to come near, the tribe of Benjamin was taken.\r\n When he had caused the tribe of Benjamin to come near by their families, the family of Matri was taken, and Saul the son of Kish was taken: and when they sought him, he could not be found.\r\n Therefore they enquired of the LORD further, if the man should yet come thither. And the LORD answered, Behold, he hath hid himself among the stuff.\r\n And they ran and fetched him thence: and when he stood among the people, he was higher than any of the people from his shoulders and upward.\r\n And Samuel said to all the people, See ye him whom the LORD hath chosen, that there is none like him among all the people? And all the people shouted, and said, God save the king.\r\n Then Samuel told the people the manner of the kingdom, and wrote it in a book, and laid it up before the LORD. And Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house.\r\n And Saul also went home to Gibeah; and there went with him a band of men, whose hearts God had touched.\r\n But the children of Belial said, How shall this man save us? And they despised him, and brought him no presents. But he held his peace.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against Jabeshgilead: and all the men of Jabesh said unto Nahash, Make a covenant with us, and we will serve thee.\r\n And Nahash the Ammonite answered them, On this condition will I make a covenant with you, that I may thrust out all your right eyes, and lay it for a reproach upon all Israel.\r\n And the elders of Jabesh said unto him, Give us seven days' respite, that we may send messengers unto all the coasts of Israel: and then, if there be no man to save us, we will come out to thee.\r\n Then came the messengers to Gibeah of Saul, and told the tidings in the ears of the people: and all the people lifted up their voices, and wept.\r\n And, behold, Saul came after the herd out of the field; and Saul said, What aileth the people that they weep? And they told him the tidings of the men of Jabesh.\r\n And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly.\r\n And he took a yoke of oxen, and hewed them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the coasts of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, Whosoever cometh not forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done unto his oxen. And the fear of the LORD fell on the people, and they came out with one consent.\r\n And when he numbered them in Bezek, the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand.\r\n And they said unto the messengers that came, Thus shall ye say unto the men of Jabeshgilead, To morrow, by that time the sun be hot, ye shall have help. And the messengers came and shewed it to the men of Jabesh; and they were glad.\r\n Therefore the men of Jabesh said, To morrow we will come out unto you, and ye shall do with us all that seemeth good unto you.\r\n And it was so on the morrow, that Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the host in the morning watch, and slew the Ammonites until the heat of the day: and it came to pass, that they which remained were scattered, so that two of them were not left together.\r\n And the people said unto Samuel, Who is he that said, Shall Saul reign over us? bring the men, that we may put them to death.\r\n And Saul said, There shall not a man be put to death this day: for to day the LORD hath wrought salvation in Israel.\r\n Then said Samuel to the people, Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there.\r\n And all the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul king before the LORD in Gilgal; and there they sacrificed sacrifices of peace offerings before the LORD; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Samuel said unto all Israel, Behold, I have hearkened unto your voice in all that ye said unto me, and have made a king over you.\r\n And now, behold, the king walketh before you: and I am old and grayheaded; and, behold, my sons are with you: and I have walked before you from my childhood unto this day.\r\n Behold, here I am: witness against me before the LORD, and before his anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it you.\r\n And they said, Thou hast not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither hast thou taken ought of any man's hand.\r\n And he said unto them, The LORD is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that ye have not found ought in my hand. And they answered, He is witness.\r\n And Samuel said unto the people, It is the LORD that advanced Moses and Aaron, and that brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt.\r\n Now therefore stand still, that I may reason with you before the LORD of all the righteous acts of the LORD, which he did to you and to your fathers.\r\n When Jacob was come into Egypt, and your fathers cried unto the LORD, then the LORD sent Moses and Aaron, which brought forth your fathers out of Egypt, and made them dwell in this place.\r\n And when they forgat the LORD their God, he sold them into the hand of Sisera, captain of the host of Hazor, and into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab, and they fought against them.\r\n And they cried unto the LORD, and said, We have sinned, because we have forsaken the LORD, and have served Baalim and Ashtaroth: but now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, and we will serve thee.\r\n And the LORD sent Jerubbaal, and Bedan, and Jephthah, and Samuel, and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side, and ye dwelled safe.\r\n And when ye saw that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon came against you, ye said unto me, Nay; but a king shall reign over us: when the LORD your God was your king.\r\n Now therefore behold the king whom ye have chosen, and whom ye have desired! and, behold, the LORD hath set a king over you.\r\n If ye will fear the LORD, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall both ye and also the king that reigneth over you continue following the LORD your God:\r\n But if ye will not obey the voice of the LORD, but rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall the hand of the LORD be against you, as it was against your fathers.\r\n Now therefore stand and see this great thing, which the LORD will do before your eyes.\r\n Is it not wheat harvest to day? I will call unto the LORD, and he shall send thunder and rain; that ye may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which ye have done in the sight of the LORD, in asking you a king.\r\n So Samuel called unto the LORD; and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day: and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel.\r\n And all the people said unto Samuel, Pray for thy servants unto the LORD thy God, that we die not: for we have added unto all our sins this evil, to ask us a king.\r\n And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not: ye have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart;\r\n And turn ye not aside: for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain.\r\n For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name's sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people.\r\n Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:\r\n Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you.\r\n But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both ye and your king.\r\n \r\n \r\n Saul reigned one year; and when he had reigned two years over Israel,\r\n Saul chose him three thousand men of Israel; whereof two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and in mount Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin: and the rest of the people he sent every man to his tent.\r\n And Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba, and the Philistines heard of it. And Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, Let the Hebrews hear.\r\n And all Israel heard say that Saul had smitten a garrison of the Philistines, and that Israel also was had in abomination with the Philistines. And the people were called together after Saul to Gilgal.\r\n And the Philistines gathered themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which is on the sea shore in multitude: and they came up, and pitched in Michmash, eastward from Bethaven.\r\n When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait, (for the people were distressed,) then the people did hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high places, and in pits.\r\n And some of the Hebrews went over Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. As for Saul, he was yet in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.\r\n And he tarried seven days, according to the set time that Samuel had appointed: but Samuel came not to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him.\r\n And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering.\r\n And it came to pass, that as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might salute him.\r\n And Samuel said, What hast thou done? And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that thou camest not within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash;\r\n Therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the LORD: I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering.\r\n And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever.\r\n But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee.\r\n And Samuel arose, and gat him up from Gilgal unto Gibeah of Benjamin. And Saul numbered the people that were present with him, about six hundred men.\r\n And Saul, and Jonathan his son, and the people that were present with them, abode in Gibeah of Benjamin: but the Philistines encamped in Michmash.\r\n And the spoilers came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies: one company turned unto the way that leadeth to Ophrah, unto the land of Shual:\r\n And another company turned the way to Bethhoron: and another company turned to the way of the border that looketh to the valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness.\r\n Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel: for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears:\r\n But all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his share, and his coulter, and his axe, and his mattock.\r\n Yet they had a file for the mattocks, and for the coulters, and for the forks, and for the axes, and to sharpen the goads.\r\n So it came to pass in the day of battle, that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people that were with Saul and Jonathan: but with Saul and with Jonathan his son was there found.\r\n And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the passage of Michmash.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now it came to pass upon a day, that Jonathan the son of Saul said unto the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over to the Philistines' garrison, that is on the other side. But he told not his father.\r\n And Saul tarried in the uttermost part of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree which is in Migron: and the people that were with him were about six hundred men;\r\n And Ahiah, the son of Ahitub, Ichabod's brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the LORD'S priest in Shiloh, wearing an ephod. And the people knew not that Jonathan was gone.\r\n And between the passages, by which Jonathan sought to go over unto the Philistines' garrison, there was a sharp rock on the one side, and a sharp rock on the other side: and the name of the one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh.\r\n The forefront of the one was situate northward over against Michmash, and the other southward over against Gibeah.\r\n And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the LORD will work for us: for there is no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few.\r\n And his armourbearer said unto him, Do all that is in thine heart: turn thee; behold, I am with thee according to thy heart.\r\n Then said Jonathan, Behold, we will pass over unto these men, and we will discover ourselves unto them.\r\n If they say thus unto us, Tarry until we come to you; then we will stand still in our place, and will not go up unto them.\r\n But if they say thus, Come up unto us; then we will go up: for the LORD hath delivered them into our hand: and this shall be a sign unto us.\r\n And both of them discovered themselves unto the garrison of the Philistines: and the Philistines said, Behold, the Hebrews come forth out of the holes where they had hid themselves.\r\n And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armourbearer, and said, Come up to us, and we will shew you a thing. And Jonathan said unto his armourbearer, Come up after me: for the LORD hath delivered them into the hand of Israel.\r\n And Jonathan climbed up upon his hands and upon his feet, and his armourbearer after him: and they fell before Jonathan; and his armourbearer slew after him.\r\n And that first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armourbearer made, was about twenty men, within as it were an half acre of land, which a yoke of oxen might plow.\r\n And there was trembling in the host, in the field, and among all the people: the garrison, and the spoilers, they also trembled, and the earth quaked: so it was a very great trembling.\r\n And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked; and, behold, the multitude melted away, and they went on beating down one another.\r\n Then said Saul unto the people that were with him, Number now, and see who is gone from us. And when they had numbered, behold, Jonathan and his armourbearer were not there.\r\n And Saul said unto Ahiah, Bring hither the ark of God. For the ark of God was at that time with the children of Israel.\r\n And it came to pass, while Saul talked unto the priest, that the noise that was in the host of the Philistines went on and increased: and Saul said unto the priest, Withdraw thine hand.\r\n And Saul and all the people that were with him assembled themselves, and they came to the battle: and, behold, every man's sword was against his fellow, and there was a very great discomfiture.\r\n Moreover the Hebrews that were with the Philistines before that time, which went up with them into the camp from the country round about, even they also turned to be with the Israelites that were with Saul and Jonathan.\r\n Likewise all the men of Israel which had hid themselves in mount Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines fled, even they also followed hard after them in the battle.\r\n So the LORD saved Israel that day: and the battle passed over unto Bethaven.\r\n And the men of Israel were distressed that day: for Saul had adjured the people, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food until evening, that I may be avenged on mine enemies. So none of the people tasted any food.\r\n And all they of the land came to a wood; and there was honey upon the ground.\r\n And when the people were come into the wood, behold, the honey dropped; but no man put his hand to his mouth: for the people feared the oath.\r\n But Jonathan heard not when his father charged the people with the oath: wherefore he put forth the end of the rod that was in his hand, and dipped it in an honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes were enlightened.\r\n Then answered one of the people, and said, Thy father straitly charged the people with an oath, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food this day. And the people were faint.\r\n Then said Jonathan, My father hath troubled the land: see, I pray you, how mine eyes have been enlightened, because I tasted a little of this honey.\r\n How much more, if haply the people had eaten freely to day of the spoil of their enemies which they found? for had there not been now a much greater slaughter among the Philistines?\r\n And they smote the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon: and the people were very faint.\r\n And the people flew upon the spoil, and took sheep, and oxen, and calves, and slew them on the ground: and the people did eat them with the blood.\r\n Then they told Saul, saying, Behold, the people sin against the LORD, in that they eat with the blood. And he said, Ye have transgressed: roll a great stone unto me this day.\r\n And Saul said, Disperse yourselves among the people, and say unto them, Bring me hither every man his ox, and every man his sheep, and slay them here, and eat; and sin not against the LORD in eating with the blood. And all the people brought every man his ox with him that night, and slew them there.\r\n And Saul built an altar unto the LORD: the same was the first altar that he built unto the LORD.\r\n And Saul said, Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and spoil them until the morning light, and let us not leave a man of them. And they said, Do whatsoever seemeth good unto thee. Then said the priest, Let us draw near hither unto God.\r\n And Saul asked counsel of God, Shall I go down after the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into the hand of Israel? But he answered him not that day.\r\n And Saul said, Draw ye near hither, all the chief of the people: and know and see wherein this sin hath been this day.\r\n For, as the LORD liveth, which saveth Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die. But there was not a man among all the people that answered him.\r\n Then said he unto all Israel, Be ye on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side. And the people said unto Saul, Do what seemeth good unto thee.\r\n Therefore Saul said unto the LORD God of Israel, Give a perfect lot. And Saul and Jonathan were taken: but the people escaped.\r\n And Saul said, Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son. And Jonathan was taken.\r\n Then Saul said to Jonathan, Tell me what thou hast done. And Jonathan told him, and said, I did but taste a little honey with the end of the rod that was in mine hand, and, lo, I must die.\r\n And Saul answered, God do so and more also: for thou shalt surely die, Jonathan.\r\n And the people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel? God forbid: as the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he hath wrought with God this day. So the people rescued Jonathan, that he died not.\r\n Then Saul went up from following the Philistines: and the Philistines went to their own place.\r\n So Saul took the kingdom over Israel, and fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, and against the children of Ammon, and against Edom, and against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines: and whithersoever he turned himself, he vexed them.\r\n And he gathered an host, and smote the Amalekites, and delivered Israel out of the hands of them that spoiled them.\r\n Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, and Ishui, and Melchishua: and the names of his two daughters were these; the name of the firstborn Merab, and the name of the younger Michal:\r\n And the name of Saul's wife was Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz: and the name of the captain of his host was Abner, the son of Ner, Saul's uncle.\r\n And Kish was the father of Saul; and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel.\r\n And there was sore war against the Philistines all the days of Saul: and when Saul saw any strong man, or any valiant man, he took him unto him.\r\n \r\n \r\n Samuel also said unto Saul, The LORD sent me to anoint thee to be king over his people, over Israel: now therefore hearken thou unto the voice of the words of the LORD.\r\n Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt.\r\n Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.\r\n And Saul gathered the people together, and numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand footmen, and ten thousand men of Judah.\r\n And Saul came to a city of Amalek, and laid wait in the valley.\r\n And Saul said unto the Kenites, Go, depart, get you down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them: for ye shewed kindness to all the children of Israel, when they came up out of Egypt. So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites.\r\n And Saul smote the Amalekites from Havilah until thou comest to Shur, that is over against Egypt.\r\n And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword.\r\n But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but every thing that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.\r\n Then came the word of the LORD unto Samuel, saying,\r\n It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the LORD all night.\r\n And when Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning, it was told Samuel, saying, Saul came to Carmel, and, behold, he set him up a place, and is gone about, and passed on, and gone down to Gilgal.\r\n And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of the LORD: I have performed the commandment of the LORD.\r\n And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?\r\n And Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites: for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed.\r\n Then Samuel said unto Saul, Stay, and I will tell thee what the LORD hath said to me this night. And he said unto him, Say on.\r\n And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel?\r\n And the LORD sent thee on a journey, and said, Go and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be consumed.\r\n Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the LORD, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of the LORD?\r\n And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.\r\n But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God in Gilgal.\r\n And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.\r\n For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.\r\n And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.\r\n Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD.\r\n And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee: for thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD hath rejected thee from being king over Israel.\r\n And as Samuel turned about to go away, he laid hold upon the skirt of his mantle, and it rent.\r\n And Samuel said unto him, The LORD hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbour of thine, that is better than thou.\r\n And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent.\r\n Then he said, I have sinned: yet honour me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD thy God.\r\n So Samuel turned again after Saul; and Saul worshipped the LORD.\r\n Then said Samuel, Bring ye hither to me Agag the king of the Amalekites. And Agag came unto him delicately. And Agag said, Surely the bitterness of death is past.\r\n And Samuel said, As thy sword hath made women childless, so shall thy mother be childless among women. And Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the LORD in Gilgal.\r\n Then Samuel went to Ramah; and Saul went up to his house to Gibeah of Saul.\r\n And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death: nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul: and the LORD repented that he had made Saul king over Israel.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons.\r\n And Samuel said, How can I go? if Saul hear it, he will kill me. And the LORD said, Take an heifer with thee, and say, I am come to sacrifice to the LORD.\r\n And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will shew thee what thou shalt do: and thou shalt anoint unto me him whom I name unto thee.\r\n And Samuel did that which the LORD spake, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, Comest thou peaceably?\r\n And he said, Peaceably: I am come to sacrifice unto the LORD: sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice.\r\n And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD'S anointed is before him.\r\n But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.\r\n Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this.\r\n Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this.\r\n Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The LORD hath not chosen these.\r\n And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither.\r\n And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he.\r\n Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.\r\n But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.\r\n And Saul's servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee.\r\n Let our lord now command thy servants, which are before thee, to seek out a man, who is a cunning player on an harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well.\r\n And Saul said unto his servants, Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me.\r\n Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the LORD is with him.\r\n Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said, Send me David thy son, which is with the sheep.\r\n And Jesse took an ass laden with bread, and a bottle of wine, and a kid, and sent them by David his son unto Saul.\r\n And David came to Saul, and stood before him: and he loved him greatly; and he became his armourbearer.\r\n And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David, I pray thee, stand before me; for he hath found favour in my sight.\r\n And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now the Philistines gathered together their armies to battle, and were gathered together at Shochoh, which belongeth to Judah, and pitched between Shochoh and Azekah, in Ephesdammim.\r\n And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and pitched by the valley of Elah, and set the battle in array against the Philistines.\r\n And the Philistines stood on a mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side: and there was a valley between them.\r\n And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.\r\n And he had an helmet of brass upon his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass.\r\n And he had greaves of brass upon his legs, and a target of brass between his shoulders.\r\n And the staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam; and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron: and one bearing a shield went before him.\r\n And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them, Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me.\r\n If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be your servants: but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us.\r\n And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.\r\n When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.\r\n Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Bethlehemjudah, whose name was Jesse; and he had eight sons: and the man went among men for an old man in the days of Saul.\r\n And the three eldest sons of Jesse went and followed Saul to the battle: and the names of his three sons that went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, and next unto him Abinadab, and the third Shammah.\r\n And David was the youngest: and the three eldest followed Saul.\r\n But David went and returned from Saul to feed his father's sheep at Bethlehem.\r\n And the Philistine drew near morning and evening, and presented himself forty days.\r\n And Jesse said unto David his son, Take now for thy brethren an ephah of this parched corn, and these ten loaves, and run to the camp to thy brethren;\r\n And carry these ten cheeses unto the captain of their thousand, and look how thy brethren fare, and take their pledge.\r\n Now Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel, were in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.\r\n And David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and took, and went, as Jesse had commanded him; and he came to the trench, as the host was going forth to the fight, and shouted for the battle.\r\n For Israel and the Philistines had put the battle in array, army against army.\r\n And David left his carriage in the hand of the keeper of the carriage, and ran into the army, and came and saluted his brethren.\r\n And as he talked with them, behold, there came up the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, out of the armies of the Philistines, and spake according to the same words: and David heard them.\r\n And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid.\r\n And the men of Israel said, Have ye seen this man that is come up? surely to defy Israel is he come up: and it shall be, that the man who killeth him, the king will enrich him with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father's house free in Israel.\r\n And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?\r\n And the people answered him after this manner, saying, So shall it be done to the man that killeth him.\r\n And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle.\r\n And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?\r\n And he turned from him toward another, and spake after the same manner: and the people answered him again after the former manner.\r\n And when the words were heard which David spake, they rehearsed them before Saul: and he sent for him.\r\n And David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.\r\n And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.\r\n And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock:\r\n And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.\r\n Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.\r\n David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee.\r\n And Saul armed David with his armour, and he put an helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail.\r\n And David girded his sword upon his armour, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him.\r\n And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine.\r\n And the Philistine came on and drew near unto David; and the man that bare the shield went before him.\r\n And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance.\r\n And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.\r\n And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field.\r\n Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.\r\n This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.\r\n And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD'S, and he will give you into our hands.\r\n And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.\r\n And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth.\r\n So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David.\r\n Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled.\r\n And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted, and pursued the Philistines, until thou come to the valley, and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell down by the way to Shaaraim, even unto Gath, and unto Ekron.\r\n And the children of Israel returned from chasing after the Philistines, and they spoiled their tents.\r\n And David took the head of the Philistine, and brought it to Jerusalem; but he put his armour in his tent.\r\n And when Saul saw David go forth against the Philistine, he said unto Abner, the captain of the host, Abner, whose son is this youth? And Abner said, As thy soul liveth, O king, I cannot tell.\r\n And the king said, Enquire thou whose son the stripling is.\r\n And as David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, Abner took him, and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand.\r\n And Saul said to him, Whose son art thou, thou young man? And David answered, I am the son of thy servant Jesse the Bethlehemite.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.\r\n And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father's house.\r\n Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.\r\n And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.\r\n And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul's servants.\r\n And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick.\r\n And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.\r\n And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom?\r\n And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.\r\n And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul's hand.\r\n And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall with it. And David avoided out of his presence twice.\r\n And Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with him, and was departed from Saul.\r\n Therefore Saul removed him from him, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people.\r\n And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the LORD was with him.\r\n Wherefore when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he was afraid of him.\r\n But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them.\r\n And Saul said to David, Behold my elder daughter Merab, her will I give thee to wife: only be thou valiant for me, and fight the LORD'S battles. For Saul said, Let not mine hand be upon him, but let the hand of the Philistines be upon him.\r\n And David said unto Saul, Who am I? and what is my life, or my father's family in Israel, that I should be son in law to the king?\r\n But it came to pass at the time when Merab Saul's daughter should have been given to David, that she was given unto Adriel the Meholathite to wife.\r\n And Michal Saul's daughter loved David: and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him.\r\n And Saul said, I will give him her, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. Wherefore Saul said to David, Thou shalt this day be my son in law in the one of the twain.\r\n And Saul commanded his servants, saying, Commune with David secretly, and say, Behold, the king hath delight in thee, and all his servants love thee: now therefore be the king's son in law.\r\n And Saul's servants spake those words in the ears of David. And David said, Seemeth it to you a light thing to be a king's son in law, seeing that I am a poor man, and lightly esteemed?\r\n And the servants of Saul told him, saying, On this manner spake David.\r\n And Saul said, Thus shall ye say to David, The king desireth not any dowry, but an hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king's enemies. But Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.\r\n And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king's son in law: and the days were not expired.\r\n Wherefore David arose and went, he and his men, and slew of the Philistines two hundred men; and David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full tale to the king, that he might be the king's son in law. And Saul gave him Michal his daughter to wife.\r\n And Saul saw and knew that the LORD was with David, and that Michal Saul's daughter loved him.\r\n And Saul was yet the more afraid of David; and Saul became David's enemy continually.\r\n Then the princes of the Philistines went forth: and it came to pass, after they went forth, that David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul; so that his name was much set by.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Saul spake to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they should kill David.\r\n But Jonathan Saul's son delighted much in David: and Jonathan told David, saying, Saul my father seeketh to kill thee: now therefore, I pray thee, take heed to thyself until the morning, and abide in a secret place, and hide thyself:\r\n And I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where thou art, and I will commune with my father of thee; and what I see, that I will tell thee.\r\n And Jonathan spake good of David unto Saul his father, and said unto him, Let not the king sin against his servant, against David; because he hath not sinned against thee, and because his works have been to thee-ward very good:\r\n For he did put his life in his hand, and slew the Philistine, and the LORD wrought a great salvation for all Israel: thou sawest it, and didst rejoice: wherefore then wilt thou sin against innocent blood, to slay David without a cause?\r\n And Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan: and Saul sware, As the LORD liveth, he shall not be slain.\r\n And Jonathan called David, and Jonathan shewed him all those things. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence, as in times past.\r\n And there was war again: and David went out, and fought with the Philistines, and slew them with a great slaughter; and they fled from him.\r\n And the evil spirit from the LORD was upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand: and David played with his hand.\r\n And Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with the javelin; but he slipped away out of Saul's presence, and he smote the javelin into the wall: and David fled, and escaped that night.\r\n Saul also sent messengers unto David's house, to watch him, and to slay him in the morning: and Michal David's wife told him, saying, If thou save not thy life to night, to morrow thou shalt be slain.\r\n So Michal let David down through a window: and he went, and fled, and escaped.\r\n And Michal took an image, and laid it in the bed, and put a pillow of goats' hair for his bolster, and covered it with a cloth.\r\n And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, He is sick.\r\n And Saul sent the messengers again to see David, saying, Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may slay him.\r\n And when the messengers were come in, behold, there was an image in the bed, with a pillow of goats' hair for his bolster.\r\n And Saul said unto Michal, Why hast thou deceived me so, and sent away mine enemy, that he is escaped? And Michal answered Saul, He said unto me, Let me go; why should I kill thee?\r\n So David fled, and escaped, and came to Samuel to Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and dwelt in Naioth.\r\n And it was told Saul, saying, Behold, David is at Naioth in Ramah.\r\n And Saul sent messengers to take David: and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as appointed over them, the Spirit of God was upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied.\r\n And when it was told Saul, he sent other messengers, and they prophesied likewise. And Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they prophesied also.\r\n Then went he also to Ramah, and came to a great well that is in Sechu: and he asked and said, Where are Samuel and David? And one said, Behold, they be at Naioth in Ramah.\r\n And he went thither to Naioth in Ramah: and the Spirit of God was upon him also, and he went on, and prophesied, until he came to Naioth in Ramah.\r\n And he stripped off his clothes also, and prophesied before Samuel in like manner, and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Wherefore they say, Is Saul also among the prophets?\r\n \r\n \r\n And David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and came and said before Jonathan, What have I done? what is mine iniquity? and what is my sin before thy father, that he seeketh my life?\r\n And he said unto him, God forbid; thou shalt not die: behold, my father will do nothing either great or small, but that he will shew it me: and why should my father hide this thing from me? it is not so.\r\n And David sware moreover, and said, Thy father certainly knoweth that I have found grace in thine eyes; and he saith, Let not Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved: but truly as the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, there is but a step between me and death.\r\n Then said Jonathan unto David, Whatsoever thy soul desireth, I will even do it for thee.\r\n And David said unto Jonathan, Behold, to morrow is the new moon, and I should not fail to sit with the king at meat: but let me go, that I may hide myself in the field unto the third day at even.\r\n If thy father at all miss me, then say, David earnestly asked leave of me that he might run to Bethlehem his city: for there is a yearly sacrifice there for all the family.\r\n If he say thus, It is well; thy servant shall have peace: but if he be very wroth, then be sure that evil is determined by him.\r\n Therefore thou shalt deal kindly with thy servant; for thou hast brought thy servant into a covenant of the LORD with thee: notwithstanding, if there be in me iniquity, slay me thyself; for why shouldest thou bring me to thy father?\r\n And Jonathan said, Far be it from thee: for if I knew certainly that evil were determined by my father to come upon thee, then would not I tell it thee?\r\n Then said David to Jonathan, Who shall tell me? or what if thy father answer thee roughly?\r\n And Jonathan said unto David, Come, and let us go out into the field. And they went out both of them into the field.\r\n And Jonathan said unto David, O LORD God of Israel, when I have sounded my father about to morrow any time, or the third day, and, behold, if there be good toward David, and I then send not unto thee, and shew it thee;\r\n The LORD do so and much more to Jonathan: but if it please my father to do thee evil, then I will shew it thee, and send thee away, that thou mayest go in peace: and the LORD be with thee, as he hath been with my father.\r\n And thou shalt not only while yet I live shew me the kindness of the LORD, that I die not:\r\n But also thou shalt not cut off thy kindness from my house for ever: no, not when the LORD hath cut off the enemies of David every one from the face of the earth.\r\n So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, Let the LORD even require it at the hand of David's enemies.\r\n And Jonathan caused David to swear again, because he loved him: for he loved him as he loved his own soul.\r\n Then Jonathan said to David, To morrow is the new moon: and thou shalt be missed, because thy seat will be empty.\r\n And when thou hast stayed three days, then thou shalt go down quickly, and come to the place where thou didst hide thyself when the business was in hand, and shalt remain by the stone Ezel.\r\n And I will shoot three arrows on the side thereof, as though I shot at a mark.\r\n And, behold, I will send a lad, saying, Go, find out the arrows. If I expressly say unto the lad, Behold, the arrows are on this side of thee, take them; then come thou: for there is peace to thee, and no hurt; as the LORD liveth.\r\n But if I say thus unto the young man, Behold, the arrows are beyond thee; go thy way: for the LORD hath sent thee away.\r\n And as touching the matter which thou and I have spoken of, behold, the LORD be between thee and me for ever.\r\n So David hid himself in the field: and when the new moon was come, the king sat him down to eat meat.\r\n And the king sat upon his seat, as at other times, even upon a seat by the wall: and Jonathan arose, and Abner sat by Saul's side, and David's place was empty.\r\n Nevertheless Saul spake not any thing that day: for he thought, Something hath befallen him, he is not clean; surely he is not clean.\r\n And it came to pass on the morrow, which was the second day of the month, that David's place was empty: and Saul said unto Jonathan his son, Wherefore cometh not the son of Jesse to meat, neither yesterday, nor to day?\r\n And Jonathan answered Saul, David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Bethlehem:\r\n And he said, Let me go, I pray thee; for our family hath a sacrifice in the city; and my brother, he hath commanded me to be there: and now, if I have found favour in thine eyes, let me get away, I pray thee, and see my brethren. Therefore he cometh not unto the king's table.\r\n Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said unto him, Thou son of the perverse rebellious woman, do not I know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine own confusion, and unto the confusion of thy mother's nakedness?\r\n For as long as the son of Jesse liveth upon the ground, thou shalt not be established, nor thy kingdom. Wherefore now send and fetch him unto me, for he shall surely die.\r\n And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said unto him, Wherefore shall he be slain? what hath he done?\r\n And Saul cast a javelin at him to smite him: whereby Jonathan knew that it was determined of his father to slay David.\r\n So Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger, and did eat no meat the second day of the month: for he was grieved for David, because his father had done him shame.\r\n And it came to pass in the morning, that Jonathan went out into the field at the time appointed with David, and a little lad with him.\r\n And he said unto his lad, Run, find out now the arrows which I shoot. And as the lad ran, he shot an arrow beyond him.\r\n And when the lad was come to the place of the arrow which Jonathan had shot, Jonathan cried after the lad, and said, Is not the arrow beyond thee?\r\n And Jonathan cried after the lad, Make speed, haste, stay not. And Jonathan's lad gathered up the arrows, and came to his master.\r\n But the lad knew not any thing: only Jonathan and David knew the matter.\r\n And Jonathan gave his artillery unto his lad, and said unto him, Go, carry them to the city.\r\n And as soon as the lad was gone, David arose out of a place toward the south, and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times: and they kissed one another, and wept one with another, until David exceeded.\r\n And Jonathan said to David, Go in peace, forasmuch as we have sworn both of us in the name of the LORD, saying, The LORD be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever. And he arose and departed: and Jonathan went into the city.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then came David to Nob to Ahimelech the priest: and Ahimelech was afraid at the meeting of David, and said unto him, Why art thou alone, and no man with thee?\r\n And David said unto Ahimelech the priest, The king hath commanded me a business, and hath said unto me, Let no man know any thing of the business whereabout I send thee, and what I have commanded thee: and I have appointed my servants to such and such a place.\r\n Now therefore what is under thine hand? give me five loaves of bread in mine hand, or what there is present.\r\n And the priest answered David, and said, There is no common bread under mine hand, but there is hallowed bread; if the young men have kept themselves at least from women.\r\n And David answered the priest, and said unto him, Of a truth women have been kept from us about these three days, since I came out, and the vessels of the young men are holy, and the bread is in a manner common, yea, though it were sanctified this day in the vessel.\r\n So the priest gave him hallowed bread: for there was no bread there but the shewbread, that was taken from before the LORD, to put hot bread in the day when it was taken away.\r\n Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before the LORD; and his name was Doeg, an Edomite, the chiefest of the herdmen that belonged to Saul.\r\n And David said unto Ahimelech, And is there not here under thine hand spear or sword? for I have neither brought my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king's business required haste.\r\n And the priest said, The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom thou slewest in the valley of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod: if thou wilt take that, take it: for there is no other save that here. And David said, There is none like that; give it me.\r\n And David arose, and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath.\r\n And the servants of Achish said unto him, Is not this David the king of the land? did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands?\r\n And David laid up these words in his heart, and was sore afraid of Achish the king of Gath.\r\n And he changed his behaviour before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard.\r\n Then said Achish unto his servants, Lo, ye see the man is mad: wherefore then have ye brought him to me?\r\n Have I need of mad men, that ye have brought this fellow to play the mad man in my presence? shall this fellow come into my house?\r\n \r\n \r\n David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father's house heard it, they went down thither to him.\r\n And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.\r\n And David went thence to Mizpeh of Moab: and he said unto the king of Moab, Let my father and my mother, I pray thee, come forth, and be with you, till I know what God will do for me.\r\n And he brought them before the king of Moab: and they dwelt with him all the while that David was in the hold.\r\n And the prophet Gad said unto David, Abide not in the hold; depart, and get thee into the land of Judah. Then David departed, and came into the forest of Hareth.\r\n When Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men that were with him, (now Saul abode in Gibeah under a tree in Ramah, having his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing about him;)\r\n Then Saul said unto his servants that stood about him, Hear now, ye Benjamites; will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and vineyards, and make you all captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds;\r\n That all of you have conspired against me, and there is none that sheweth me that my son hath made a league with the son of Jesse, and there is none of you that is sorry for me, or sheweth unto me that my son hath stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?\r\n Then answered Doeg the Edomite, which was set over the servants of Saul, and said, I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub.\r\n And he enquired of the LORD for him, and gave him victuals, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.\r\n Then the king sent to call Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father's house, the priests that were in Nob: and they came all of them to the king.\r\n And Saul said, Hear now, thou son of Ahitub. And he answered, Here I am, my lord.\r\n And Saul said unto him, Why have ye conspired against me, thou and the son of Jesse, in that thou hast given him bread, and a sword, and hast enquired of God for him, that he should rise against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?\r\n Then Ahimelech answered the king, and said, And who is so faithful among all thy servants as David, which is the king's son in law, and goeth at thy bidding, and is honourable in thine house?\r\n Did I then begin to enquire of God for him? be it far from me: let not the king impute any thing unto his servant, nor to all the house of my father: for thy servant knew nothing of all this, less or more.\r\n And the king said, Thou shalt surely die, Ahimelech, thou, and all thy father's house.\r\n And the king said unto the footmen that stood about him, Turn, and slay the priests of the LORD; because their hand also is with David, and because they knew when he fled, and did not shew it to me. But the servants of the king would not put forth their hand to fall upon the priests of the LORD.\r\n And the king said to Doeg, Turn thou, and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell upon the priests, and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ephod.\r\n And Nob, the city of the priests, smote he with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and sucklings, and oxen, and asses, and sheep, with the edge of the sword.\r\n And one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped, and fled after David.\r\n And Abiathar shewed David that Saul had slain the LORD'S priests.\r\n And David said unto Abiathar, I knew it that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul: I have occasioned the death of all the persons of thy father's house.\r\n Abide thou with me, fear not: for he that seeketh my life seeketh thy life: but with me thou shalt be in safeguard.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines fight against Keilah, and they rob the threshingfloors.\r\n Therefore David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And the LORD said unto David, Go, and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah.\r\n And David's men said unto him, Behold, we be afraid here in Judah: how much more then if we come to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?\r\n Then David enquired of the LORD yet again. And the LORD answered him and said, Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will deliver the Philistines into thine hand.\r\n So David and his men went to Keilah, and fought with the Philistines, and brought away their cattle, and smote them with a great slaughter. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.\r\n And it came to pass, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah, that he came down with an ephod in his hand.\r\n And it was told Saul that David was come to Keilah. And Saul said, God hath delivered him into mine hand; for he is shut in, by entering into a town that hath gates and bars.\r\n And Saul called all the people together to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men.\r\n And David knew that Saul secretly practised mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring hither the ephod.\r\n Then said David, O LORD God of Israel, thy servant hath certainly heard that Saul seeketh to come to Keilah, to destroy the city for my sake.\r\n Will the men of Keilah deliver me up into his hand? will Saul come down, as thy servant hath heard? O LORD God of Israel, I beseech thee, tell thy servant. And the LORD said, He will come down.\r\n Then said David, Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul? And the LORD said, They will deliver thee up.\r\n Then David and his men, which were about six hundred, arose and departed out of Keilah, and went whithersoever they could go. And it was told Saul that David was escaped from Keilah; and he forbare to go forth.\r\n And David abode in the wilderness in strong holds, and remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God delivered him not into his hand.\r\n And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life: and David was in the wilderness of Ziph in a wood.\r\n And Jonathan Saul's son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God.\r\n And he said unto him, Fear not: for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee; and thou shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be next unto thee; and that also Saul my father knoweth.\r\n And they two made a covenant before the LORD: and David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house.\r\n Then came up the Ziphites to Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself with us in strong holds in the wood, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of Jeshimon?\r\n Now therefore, O king, come down according to all the desire of thy soul to come down; and our part shall be to deliver him into the king's hand.\r\n And Saul said, Blessed be ye of the LORD; for ye have compassion on me.\r\n Go, I pray you, prepare yet, and know and see his place where his haunt is, and who hath seen him there: for it is told me that he dealeth very subtilly.\r\n See therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking places where he hideth himself, and come ye again to me with the certainty, and I will go with you: and it shall come to pass, if he be in the land, that I will search him out throughout all the thousands of Judah.\r\n And they arose, and went to Ziph before Saul: but David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the plain on the south of Jeshimon.\r\n Saul also and his men went to seek him. And they told David: wherefore he came down into a rock, and abode in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon.\r\n And Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain: and David made haste to get away for fear of Saul; for Saul and his men compassed David and his men round about to take them.\r\n But there came a messenger unto Saul, saying, Haste thee, and come; for the Philistines have invaded the land.\r\n Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines: therefore they called that place Selahammahlekoth.\r\n And David went up from thence, and dwelt in strong holds at Engedi.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass, when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi.\r\n Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats.\r\n And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet: and David and his men remained in the sides of the cave.\r\n And the men of David said unto him, Behold the day of which the LORD said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe privily.\r\n And it came to pass afterward, that David's heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt.\r\n And he said unto his men, The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD'S anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD.\r\n So David stayed his servants with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. But Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way.\r\n David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, My lord the king. And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed himself.\r\n And David said to Saul, Wherefore hearest thou men's words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt?\r\n Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the LORD had delivered thee to day into mine hand in the cave: and some bade me kill thee: but mine eye spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he is the LORD'S anointed.\r\n Moreover, my father, see, yea, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand: for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe, and killed thee not, know thou and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in mine hand, and I have not sinned against thee; yet thou huntest my soul to take it.\r\n The LORD judge between me and thee, and the LORD avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.\r\n As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.\r\n After whom is the king of Israel come out? after whom dost thou pursue? after a dead dog, after a flea.\r\n The LORD therefore be judge, and judge between me and thee, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thine hand.\r\n And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.\r\n And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil.\r\n And thou hast shewed this day how that thou hast dealt well with me: forasmuch as when the LORD had delivered me into thine hand, thou killedst me not.\r\n For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away? wherefore the LORD reward thee good for that thou hast done unto me this day.\r\n And now, behold, I know well that thou shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thine hand.\r\n Swear now therefore unto me by the LORD, that thou wilt not cut off my seed after me, and that thou wilt not destroy my name out of my father's house.\r\n And David sware unto Saul. And Saul went home; but David and his men gat them up unto the hold.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Samuel died; and all the Israelites were gathered together, and lamented him, and buried him in his house at Ramah. And David arose, and went down to the wilderness of Paran.\r\n And there was a man in Maon, whose possessions were in Carmel; and the man was very great, and he had three thousand sheep, and a thousand goats: and he was shearing his sheep in Carmel.\r\n Now the name of the man was Nabal; and the name of his wife Abigail: and she was a woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance: but the man was churlish and evil in his doings; and he was of the house of Caleb.\r\n And David heard in the wilderness that Nabal did shear his sheep.\r\n And David sent out ten young men, and David said unto the young men, Get you up to Carmel, and go to Nabal, and greet him in my name:\r\n And thus shall ye say to him that liveth in prosperity, Peace be both to thee, and peace be to thine house, and peace be unto all that thou hast.\r\n And now I have heard that thou hast shearers: now thy shepherds which were with us, we hurt them not, neither was there ought missing unto them, all the while they were in Carmel.\r\n Ask thy young men, and they will shew thee. Wherefore let the young men find favour in thine eyes: for we come in a good day: give, I pray thee, whatsoever cometh to thine hand unto thy servants, and to thy son David.\r\n And when David's young men came, they spake to Nabal according to all those words in the name of David, and ceased.\r\n And Nabal answered David's servants, and said, Who is David? and who is the son of Jesse? there be many servants now a days that break away every man from his master.\r\n Shall I then take my bread, and my water, and my flesh that I have killed for my shearers, and give it unto men, whom I know not whence they be?\r\n So David's young men turned their way, and went again, and came and told him all those sayings.\r\n And David said unto his men, Gird ye on every man his sword. And they girded on every man his sword; and David also girded on his sword: and there went up after David about four hundred men; and two hundred abode by the stuff.\r\n But one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal's wife, saying, Behold, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to salute our master; and he railed on them.\r\n But the men were very good unto us, and we were not hurt, neither missed we any thing, as long as we were conversant with them, when we were in the fields:\r\n They were a wall unto us both by night and day, all the while we were with them keeping the sheep.\r\n Now therefore know and consider what thou wilt do; for evil is determined against our master, and against all his household: for he is such a son of Belial, that a man cannot speak to him.\r\n Then Abigail made haste, and took two hundred loaves, and two bottles of wine, and five sheep ready dressed, and five measures of parched corn, and an hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on asses.\r\n And she said unto her servants, Go on before me; behold, I come after you. But she told not her husband Nabal.\r\n And it was so, as she rode on the ass, that she came down by the covert of the hill, and, behold, David and his men came down against her; and she met them.\r\n Now David had said, Surely in vain have I kept all that this fellow hath in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that pertained unto him: and he hath requited me evil for good.\r\n So and more also do God unto the enemies of David, if I leave of all that pertain to him by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall.\r\n And when Abigail saw David, she hasted, and lighted off the ass, and fell before David on her face, and bowed herself to the ground,\r\n And fell at his feet, and said, Upon me, my lord, upon me let this iniquity be: and let thine handmaid, I pray thee, speak in thine audience, and hear the words of thine handmaid.\r\n Let not my lord, I pray thee, regard this man of Belial, even Nabal: for as his name is, so is he; Nabal is his name, and folly is with him: but I thine handmaid saw not the young men of my lord, whom thou didst send.\r\n Now therefore, my lord, as the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, seeing the LORD hath withholden thee from coming to shed blood, and from avenging thyself with thine own hand, now let thine enemies, and they that seek evil to my lord, be as Nabal.\r\n And now this blessing which thine handmaid hath brought unto my lord, let it even be given unto the young men that follow my lord.\r\n I pray thee, forgive the trespass of thine handmaid: for the LORD will certainly make my lord a sure house; because my lord fighteth the battles of the LORD, and evil hath not been found in thee all thy days.\r\n Yet a man is risen to pursue thee, and to seek thy soul: but the soul of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of life with the LORD thy God; and the souls of thine enemies, them shall he sling out, as out of the middle of a sling.\r\n And it shall come to pass, when the LORD shall have done to my lord according to all the good that he hath spoken concerning thee, and shall have appointed thee ruler over Israel;\r\n That this shall be no grief unto thee, nor offence of heart unto my lord, either that thou hast shed blood causeless, or that my lord hath avenged himself: but when the LORD shall have dealt well with my lord, then remember thine handmaid.\r\n And David said to Abigail, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which sent thee this day to meet me:\r\n And blessed be thy advice, and blessed be thou, which hast kept me this day from coming to shed blood, and from avenging myself with mine own hand.\r\n For in very deed, as the LORD God of Israel liveth, which hath kept me back from hurting thee, except thou hadst hasted and come to meet me, surely there had not been left unto Nabal by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall.\r\n So David received of her hand that which she had brought him, and said unto her, Go up in peace to thine house; see, I have hearkened to thy voice, and have accepted thy person.\r\n And Abigail came to Nabal; and, behold, he held a feast in his house, like the feast of a king; and Nabal's heart was merry within him, for he was very drunken: wherefore she told him nothing, less or more, until the morning light.\r\n But it came to pass in the morning, when the wine was gone out of Nabal, and his wife had told him these things, that his heart died within him, and he became as a stone.\r\n And it came to pass about ten days after, that the LORD smote Nabal, that he died.\r\n And when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, Blessed be the LORD, that hath pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and hath kept his servant from evil: for the LORD hath returned the wickedness of Nabal upon his own head. And David sent and communed with Abigail, to take her to him to wife.\r\n And when the servants of David were come to Abigail to Carmel, they spake unto her, saying, David sent us unto thee, to take thee to him to wife.\r\n And she arose, and bowed herself on her face to the earth, and said, Behold, let thine handmaid be a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.\r\n And Abigail hasted, and arose, and rode upon an ass, with five damsels of hers that went after her; and she went after the messengers of David, and became his wife.\r\n David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel; and they were also both of them his wives.\r\n But Saul had given Michal his daughter, David's wife, to Phalti the son of Laish, which was of Gallim.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the Ziphites came unto Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon?\r\n Then Saul arose, and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph.\r\n And Saul pitched in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon, by the way. But David abode in the wilderness, and he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness.\r\n David therefore sent out spies, and understood that Saul was come in very deed.\r\n And David arose, and came to the place where Saul had pitched: and David beheld the place where Saul lay, and Abner the son of Ner, the captain of his host: and Saul lay in the trench, and the people pitched round about him.\r\n Then answered David and said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother to Joab, saying, Who will go down with me to Saul to the camp? And Abishai said, I will go down with thee.\r\n So David and Abishai came to the people by night: and, behold, Saul lay sleeping within the trench, and his spear stuck in the ground at his bolster: but Abner and the people lay round about him.\r\n Then said Abishai to David, God hath delivered thine enemy into thine hand this day: now therefore let me smite him, I pray thee, with the spear even to the earth at once, and I will not smite him the second time.\r\n And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the LORD'S anointed, and be guiltless?\r\n David said furthermore, As the LORD liveth, the LORD shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle, and perish.\r\n The LORD forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the LORD'S anointed: but, I pray thee, take thou now the spear that is at his bolster, and the cruse of water, and let us go.\r\n So David took the spear and the cruse of water from Saul's bolster; and they gat them away, and no man saw it, nor knew it, neither awaked: for they were all asleep; because a deep sleep from the LORD was fallen upon them.\r\n Then David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of an hill afar off; a great space being between them:\r\n And David cried to the people, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, Answerest thou not, Abner? Then Abner answered and said, Who art thou that criest to the king?\r\n And David said to Abner, Art not thou a valiant man? and who is like to thee in Israel? wherefore then hast thou not kept thy lord the king? for there came one of the people in to destroy the king thy lord.\r\n This thing is not good that thou hast done. As the LORD liveth, ye are worthy to die, because ye have not kept your master, the LORD'S anointed. And now see where the king's spear is, and the cruse of water that was at his bolster.\r\n And Saul knew David's voice, and said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And David said, It is my voice, my lord, O king.\r\n And he said, Wherefore doth my lord thus pursue after his servant? for what have I done? or what evil is in mine hand?\r\n Now therefore, I pray thee, let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If the LORD have stirred thee up against me, let him accept an offering: but if they be the children of men, cursed be they before the LORD; for they have driven me out this day from abiding in the inheritance of the LORD, saying, Go, serve other gods.\r\n Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth before the face of the LORD: for the king of Israel is come out to seek a flea, as when one doth hunt a partridge in the mountains.\r\n Then said Saul, I have sinned: return, my son David: for I will no more do thee harm, because my soul was precious in thine eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.\r\n And David answered and said, Behold the king's spear! and let one of the young men come over and fetch it.\r\n The LORD render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness: for the LORD delivered thee into my hand to day, but I would not stretch forth mine hand against the LORD'S anointed.\r\n And, behold, as thy life was much set by this day in mine eyes, so let my life be much set by in the eyes of the LORD, and let him deliver me out of all tribulation.\r\n Then Saul said to David, Blessed be thou, my son David: thou shalt both do great things, and also shalt still prevail. So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.\r\n \r\n \r\n And David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul: there is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines; and Saul shall despair of me, to seek me any more in any coast of Israel: so shall I escape out of his hand.\r\n And David arose, and he passed over with the six hundred men that were with him unto Achish, the son of Maoch, king of Gath.\r\n And David dwelt with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household, even David with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabal's wife.\r\n And it was told Saul that David was fled to Gath: and he sought no more again for him.\r\n And David said unto Achish, If I have now found grace in thine eyes, let them give me a place in some town in the country, that I may dwell there: for why should thy servant dwell in the royal city with thee?\r\n Then Achish gave him Ziklag that day: wherefore Ziklag pertaineth unto the kings of Judah unto this day.\r\n And the time that David dwelt in the country of the Philistines was a full year and four months.\r\n And David and his men went up, and invaded the Geshurites, and the Gezrites, and the Amalekites: for those nations were of old the inhabitants of the land, as thou goest to Shur, even unto the land of Egypt.\r\n And David smote the land, and left neither man nor woman alive, and took away the sheep, and the oxen, and the asses, and the camels, and the apparel, and returned, and came to Achish.\r\n And Achish said, Whither have ye made a road to day? And David said, Against the south of Judah, and against the south of the Jerahmeelites, and against the south of the Kenites.\r\n And David saved neither man nor woman alive, to bring tidings to Gath, saying, Lest they should tell on us, saying, So did David, and so will be his manner all the while he dwelleth in the country of the Philistines.\r\n And Achish believed David, saying, He hath made his people Israel utterly to abhor him; therefore he shall be my servant for ever.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass in those days, that the Philistines gathered their armies together for warfare, to fight with Israel. And Achish said unto David, Know thou assuredly, that thou shalt go out with me to battle, thou and thy men.\r\n And David said to Achish, Surely thou shalt know what thy servant can do. And Achish said to David, Therefore will I make thee keeper of mine head for ever.\r\n Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and buried him in Ramah, even in his own city. And Saul had put away those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land.\r\n And the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and pitched in Shunem: and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they pitched in Gilboa.\r\n And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled.\r\n And when Saul enquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.\r\n Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor.\r\n And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me him up, whom I shall name unto thee.\r\n And the woman said unto him, Behold, thou knowest what Saul hath done, how he hath cut off those that have familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land: wherefore then layest thou a snare for my life, to cause me to die?\r\n And Saul sware to her by the LORD, saying, As the LORD liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing.\r\n Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto thee? And he said, Bring me up Samuel.\r\n And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice: and the woman spake to Saul, saying, Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Saul.\r\n And the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what sawest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth.\r\n And he said unto her, What form is he of? And she said, An old man cometh up; and he is covered with a mantle. And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground, and bowed himself.\r\n And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up? And Saul answered, I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest make known unto me what I shall do.\r\n Then said Samuel, Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing the LORD is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy?\r\n And the LORD hath done to him, as he spake by me: for the LORD hath rent the kingdom out of thine hand, and given it to thy neighbour, even to David:\r\n Because thou obeyedst not the voice of the LORD, nor executedst his fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore hath the LORD done this thing unto thee this day.\r\n Moreover the LORD will also deliver Israel with thee into the hand of the Philistines: and to morrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me: the LORD also shall deliver the host of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.\r\n Then Saul fell straightway all along on the earth, and was sore afraid, because of the words of Samuel: and there was no strength in him; for he had eaten no bread all the day, nor all the night.\r\n And the woman came unto Saul, and saw that he was sore troubled, and said unto him, Behold, thine handmaid hath obeyed thy voice, and I have put my life in my hand, and have hearkened unto thy words which thou spakest unto me.\r\n Now therefore, I pray thee, hearken thou also unto the voice of thine handmaid, and let me set a morsel of bread before thee; and eat, that thou mayest have strength, when thou goest on thy way.\r\n But he refused, and said, I will not eat. But his servants, together with the woman, compelled him; and he hearkened unto their voice. So he arose from the earth, and sat upon the bed.\r\n And the woman had a fat calf in the house; and she hasted, and killed it, and took flour, and kneaded it, and did bake unleavened bread thereof:\r\n And she brought it before Saul, and before his servants; and they did eat. Then they rose up, and went away that night.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now the Philistines gathered together all their armies to Aphek: and the Israelites pitched by a fountain which is in Jezreel.\r\n And the lords of the Philistines passed on by hundreds, and by thousands: but David and his men passed on in the rereward with Achish.\r\n Then said the princes of the Philistines, What do these Hebrews here? And Achish said unto the princes of the Philistines, Is not this David, the servant of Saul the king of Israel, which hath been with me these days, or these years, and I have found no fault in him since he fell unto me unto this day?\r\n And the princes of the Philistines were wroth with him; and the princes of the Philistines said unto him, Make this fellow return, that he may go again to his place which thou hast appointed him, and let him not go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he be an adversary to us: for wherewith should he reconcile himself unto his master? should it not be with the heads of these men?\r\n Is not this David, of whom they sang one to another in dances, saying, Saul slew his thousands, and David his ten thousands?\r\n Then Achish called David, and said unto him, Surely, as the LORD liveth, thou hast been upright, and thy going out and thy coming in with me in the host is good in my sight: for I have not found evil in thee since the day of thy coming unto me unto this day: nevertheless the lords favour thee not.\r\n Wherefore now return, and go in peace, that thou displease not the lords of the Philistines.\r\n And David said unto Achish, But what have I done? and what hast thou found in thy servant so long as I have been with thee unto this day, that I may not go fight against the enemies of my lord the king?\r\n And Achish answered and said to David, I know that thou art good in my sight, as an angel of God: notwithstanding the princes of the Philistines have said, He shall not go up with us to the battle.\r\n Wherefore now rise up early in the morning with thy master's servants that are come with thee: and as soon as ye be up early in the morning, and have light, depart.\r\n So David and his men rose up early to depart in the morning, to return into the land of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass, when David and his men were come to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the south, and Ziklag, and smitten Ziklag, and burned it with fire;\r\n And had taken the women captives, that were therein: they slew not any, either great or small, but carried them away, and went on their way.\r\n So David and his men came to the city, and, behold, it was burned with fire; and their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, were taken captives.\r\n Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep.\r\n And David's two wives were taken captives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.\r\n And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.\r\n And David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech's son, I pray thee, bring me hither the ephod. And Abiathar brought thither the ephod to David.\r\n And David enquired at the LORD, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all.\r\n So David went, he and the six hundred men that were with him, and came to the brook Besor, where those that were left behind stayed.\r\n But David pursued, he and four hundred men: for two hundred abode behind, which were so faint that they could not go over the brook Besor.\r\n And they found an Egyptian in the field, and brought him to David, and gave him bread, and he did eat; and they made him drink water;\r\n And they gave him a piece of a cake of figs, and two clusters of raisins: and when he had eaten, his spirit came again to him: for he had eaten no bread, nor drunk any water, three days and three nights.\r\n And David said unto him, To whom belongest thou? and whence art thou? And he said, I am a young man of Egypt, servant to an Amalekite; and my master left me, because three days agone I fell sick.\r\n We made an invasion upon the south of the Cherethites, and upon the coast which belongeth to Judah, and upon the south of Caleb; and we burned Ziklag with fire.\r\n And David said to him, Canst thou bring me down to this company? And he said, Swear unto me by God, that thou wilt neither kill me, nor deliver me into the hands of my master, and I will bring thee down to this company.\r\n And when he had brought him down, behold, they were spread abroad upon all the earth, eating and drinking, and dancing, because of all the great spoil that they had taken out of the land of the Philistines, and out of the land of Judah.\r\n And David smote them from the twilight even unto the evening of the next day: and there escaped not a man of them, save four hundred young men, which rode upon camels, and fled.\r\n And David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away: and David rescued his two wives.\r\n And there was nothing lacking to them, neither small nor great, neither sons nor daughters, neither spoil, nor any thing that they had taken to them: David recovered all.\r\n And David took all the flocks and the herds, which they drave before those other cattle, and said, This is David's spoil.\r\n And David came to the two hundred men, which were so faint that they could not follow David, whom they had made also to abide at the brook Besor: and they went forth to meet David, and to meet the people that were with him: and when David came near to the people, he saluted them.\r\n Then answered all the wicked men and men of Belial, of those that went with David, and said, Because they went not with us, we will not give them ought of the spoil that we have recovered, save to every man his wife and his children, that they may lead them away, and depart.\r\n Then said David, Ye shall not do so, my brethren, with that which the LORD hath given us, who hath preserved us, and delivered the company that came against us into our hand.\r\n For who will hearken unto you in this matter? but as his part is that goeth down to the battle, so shall his part be that tarrieth by the stuff: they shall part alike.\r\n And it was so from that day forward, that he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel unto this day.\r\n And when David came to Ziklag, he sent of the spoil unto the elders of Judah, even to his friends, saying, Behold a present for you of the spoil of the enemies of the LORD;\r\n To them which were in Bethel, and to them which were in south Ramoth, and to them which were in Jattir,\r\n And to them which were in Aroer, and to them which were in Siphmoth, and to them which were in Eshtemoa,\r\n And to them which were in Rachal, and to them which were in the cities of the Jerahmeelites, and to them which were in the cities of the Kenites,\r\n And to them which were in Hormah, and to them which were in Chorashan, and to them which were in Athach,\r\n And to them which were in Hebron, and to all the places where David himself and his men were wont to haunt.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now the Philistines fought against Israel: and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in mount Gilboa.\r\n And the Philistines followed hard upon Saul and upon his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchishua, Saul's sons.\r\n And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers hit him; and he was sore wounded of the archers.\r\n Then said Saul unto his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword, and fell upon it.\r\n And when his armourbearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise upon his sword, and died with him.\r\n So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armourbearer, and all his men, that same day together.\r\n And when the men of Israel that were on the other side of the valley, and they that were on the other side Jordan, saw that the men of Israel fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook the cities, and fled; and the Philistines came and dwelt in them.\r\n And it came to pass on the morrow, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his three sons fallen in mount Gilboa.\r\n And they cut off his head, and stripped off his armour, and sent into the land of the Philistines round about, to publish it in the house of their idols, and among the people.\r\n And they put his armour in the house of Ashtaroth: and they fastened his body to the wall of Bethshan.\r\n And when the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead heard of that which the Philistines had done to Saul;\r\n All the valiant men arose, and went all night, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Bethshan, and came to Jabesh, and burnt them there.\r\n And they took their bones, and buried them under a tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had abode two days in Ziklag;\r\n It came even to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head: and so it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance.\r\n And David said unto him, From whence comest thou? And he said unto him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped.\r\n And David said unto him, How went the matter? I pray thee, tell me. And he answered, That the people are fled from the battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.\r\n And David said unto the young man that told him, How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead?\r\n And the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him.\r\n And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called unto me. And I answered, Here am I.\r\n And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite.\r\n He said unto me again, Stand, I pray thee, upon me, and slay me: for anguish is come upon me, because my life is yet whole in me.\r\n So I stood upon him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen: and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my lord.\r\n Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him:\r\n And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the LORD, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword.\r\n And David said unto the young man that told him, Whence art thou? And he answered, I am the son of a stranger, an Amalekite.\r\n And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand to destroy the LORD'S anointed?\r\n And David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, and fall upon him. And he smote him that he died.\r\n And David said unto him, Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain the LORD'S anointed.\r\n And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son:\r\n (Also he bade them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jasher.)\r\n The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen!\r\n Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.\r\n Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil.\r\n From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty.\r\n Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.\r\n Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel.\r\n How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine high places.\r\n I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.\r\n How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass after this, that David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah? And the LORD said unto him, Go up. And David said, Whither shall I go up? And he said, Unto Hebron.\r\n So David went up thither, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail Nabal's wife the Carmelite.\r\n And his men that were with him did David bring up, every man with his household: and they dwelt in the cities of Hebron.\r\n And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, That the men of Jabeshgilead were they that buried Saul.\r\n And David sent messengers unto the men of Jabeshgilead, and said unto them, Blessed be ye of the LORD, that ye have shewed this kindness unto your lord, even unto Saul, and have buried him.\r\n And now the LORD shew kindness and truth unto you: and I also will requite you this kindness, because ye have done this thing.\r\n Therefore now let your hands be strengthened, and be ye valiant: for your master Saul is dead, and also the house of Judah have anointed me king over them.\r\n But Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul's host, took Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim;\r\n And made him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel.\r\n Ishbosheth Saul's son was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David.\r\n And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.\r\n And Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.\r\n And Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went out, and met together by the pool of Gibeon: and they sat down, the one on the one side of the pool, and the other on the other side of the pool.\r\n And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men now arise, and play before us. And Joab said, Let them arise.\r\n Then there arose and went over by number twelve of Benjamin, which pertained to Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David.\r\n And they caught every one his fellow by the head, and thrust his sword in his fellow's side; so they fell down together: wherefore that place was called Helkathhazzurim, which is in Gibeon.\r\n And there was a very sore battle that day; and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David.\r\n And there were three sons of Zeruiah there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel was as light of foot as a wild roe.\r\n And Asahel pursued after Abner; and in going he turned not to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner.\r\n Then Abner looked behind him, and said, Art thou Asahel? And he answered, I am.\r\n And Abner said to him, Turn thee aside to thy right hand or to thy left, and lay thee hold on one of the young men, and take thee his armour. But Asahel would not turn aside from following of him.\r\n And Abner said again to Asahel, Turn thee aside from following me: wherefore should I smite thee to the ground? how then should I hold up my face to Joab thy brother?\r\n Howbeit he refused to turn aside: wherefore Abner with the hinder end of the spear smote him under the fifth rib, that the spear came out behind him; and he fell down there, and died in the same place: and it came to pass, that as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died stood still.\r\n Joab also and Abishai pursued after Abner: and the sun went down when they were come to the hill of Ammah, that lieth before Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon.\r\n And the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together after Abner, and became one troop, and stood on the top of an hill.\r\n Then Abner called to Joab, and said, Shall the sword devour for ever? knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in the latter end? how long shall it be then, ere thou bid the people return from following their brethren?\r\n And Joab said, As God liveth, unless thou hadst spoken, surely then in the morning the people had gone up every one from following his brother.\r\n So Joab blew a trumpet, and all the people stood still, and pursued after Israel no more, neither fought they any more.\r\n And Abner and his men walked all that night through the plain, and passed over Jordan, and went through all Bithron, and they came to Mahanaim.\r\n And Joab returned from following Abner: and when he had gathered all the people together, there lacked of David's servants nineteen men and Asahel.\r\n But the servants of David had smitten of Benjamin, and of Abner's men, so that three hundred and threescore men died.\r\n And they took up Asahel, and buried him in the sepulchre of his father, which was in Bethlehem. And Joab and his men went all night, and they came to Hebron at break of day.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: but David waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker.\r\n And unto David were sons born in Hebron: and his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;\r\n And his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;\r\n And the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;\r\n And the sixth, Ithream, by Eglah David's wife. These were born to David in Hebron.\r\n And it came to pass, while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner made himself strong for the house of Saul.\r\n And Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah: and Ishbosheth said to Abner, Wherefore hast thou gone in unto my father's concubine?\r\n Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ishbosheth, and said, Am I a dog's head, which against Judah do shew kindness this day unto the house of Saul thy father, to his brethren, and to his friends, and have not delivered thee into the hand of David, that thou chargest me to day with a fault concerning this woman?\r\n So do God to Abner, and more also, except, as the LORD hath sworn to David, even so I do to him;\r\n To translate the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beersheba.\r\n And he could not answer Abner a word again, because he feared him.\r\n And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, Whose is the land? saying also, Make thy league with me, and, behold, my hand shall be with thee, to bring about all Israel unto thee.\r\n And he said, Well; I will make a league with thee: but one thing I require of thee, that is, Thou shalt not see my face, except thou first bring Michal Saul's daughter, when thou comest to see my face.\r\n And David sent messengers to Ishbosheth Saul's son, saying, Deliver me my wife Michal, which I espoused to me for an hundred foreskins of the Philistines.\r\n And Ishbosheth sent, and took her from her husband, even from Phaltiel the son of Laish.\r\n And her husband went with her along weeping behind her to Bahurim. Then said Abner unto him, Go, return. And he returned.\r\n And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, Ye sought for David in times past to be king over you:\r\n Now then do it: for the LORD hath spoken of David, saying, By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their enemies.\r\n And Abner also spake in the ears of Benjamin: and Abner went also to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel, and that seemed good to the whole house of Benjamin.\r\n So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. And David made Abner and the men that were with him a feast.\r\n And Abner said unto David, I will arise and go, and will gather all Israel unto my lord the king, that they may make a league with thee, and that thou mayest reign over all that thine heart desireth. And David sent Abner away; and he went in peace.\r\n And, behold, the servants of David and Joab came from pursuing a troop, and brought in a great spoil with them: but Abner was not with David in Hebron; for he had sent him away, and he was gone in peace.\r\n When Joab and all the host that was with him were come, they told Joab, saying, Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he hath sent him away, and he is gone in peace.\r\n Then Joab came to the king, and said, What hast thou done? behold, Abner came unto thee; why is it that thou hast sent him away, and he is quite gone?\r\n Thou knowest Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive thee, and to know thy going out and thy coming in, and to know all that thou doest.\r\n And when Joab was come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, which brought him again from the well of Sirah: but David knew it not.\r\n And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him quietly, and smote him there under the fifth rib, that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.\r\n And afterward when David heard it, he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless before the LORD for ever from the blood of Abner the son of Ner:\r\n Let it rest on the head of Joab, and on all his father's house; and let there not fail from the house of Joab one that hath an issue, or that is a leper, or that leaneth on a staff, or that falleth on the sword, or that lacketh bread.\r\n So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.\r\n And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David himself followed the bier.\r\n And they buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept.\r\n And the king lamented over Abner, and said, Died Abner as a fool dieth?\r\n Thy hands were not bound, nor thy feet put into fetters: as a man falleth before wicked men, so fellest thou. And all the people wept again over him.\r\n And when all the people came to cause David to eat meat while it was yet day, David sware, saying, So do God to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or ought else, till the sun be down.\r\n And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them: as whatsoever the king did pleased all the people.\r\n For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to slay Abner the son of Ner.\r\n And the king said unto his servants, Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?\r\n And I am this day weak, though anointed king; and these men the sons of Zeruiah be too hard for me: the LORD shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness.\r\n \r\n \r\n And when Saul's son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands were feeble, and all the Israelites were troubled.\r\n And Saul's son had two men that were captains of bands: the name of the one was Baanah, and the name of the other Rechab, the sons of Rimmon a Beerothite, of the children of Benjamin: (for Beeroth also was reckoned to Benjamin:\r\n And the Beerothites fled to Gittaim, and were sojourners there until this day.)\r\n And Jonathan, Saul's son, had a son that was lame of his feet. He was five years old when the tidings came of Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel, and his nurse took him up, and fled: and it came to pass, as she made haste to flee, that he fell, and became lame. And his name was Mephibosheth.\r\n And the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, went, and came about the heat of the day to the house of Ishbosheth, who lay on a bed at noon.\r\n And they came thither into the midst of the house, as though they would have fetched wheat; and they smote him under the fifth rib: and Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped.\r\n For when they came into the house, he lay on his bed in his bedchamber, and they smote him, and slew him, and beheaded him, and took his head, and gat them away through the plain all night.\r\n And they brought the head of Ishbosheth unto David to Hebron, and said to the king, Behold the head of Ishbosheth the son of Saul thine enemy, which sought thy life; and the LORD hath avenged my lord the king this day of Saul, and of his seed.\r\n And David answered Rechab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, and said unto them, As the LORD liveth, who hath redeemed my soul out of all adversity,\r\n When one told me, saying, Behold, Saul is dead, thinking to have brought good tidings, I took hold of him, and slew him in Ziklag, who thought that I would have given him a reward for his tidings:\r\n How much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person in his own house upon his bed? shall I not therefore now require his blood of your hand, and take you away from the earth?\r\n And David commanded his young men, and they slew them, and cut off their hands and their feet, and hanged them up over the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ishbosheth, and buried it in the sepulchre of Abner in Hebron.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spake, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh.\r\n Also in time past, when Saul was king over us, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the LORD said to thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be a captain over Israel.\r\n So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king David made a league with them in Hebron before the LORD: and they anointed David king over Israel.\r\n David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.\r\n In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months: and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years over all Israel and Judah.\r\n And the king and his men went to Jerusalem unto the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land: which spake unto David, saying, Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither: thinking, David cannot come in hither.\r\n Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David.\r\n And David said on that day, Whosoever getteth up to the gutter, and smiteth the Jebusites, and the lame and the blind, that are hated of David's soul, he shall be chief and captain. Wherefore they said, The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.\r\n So David dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from Millo and inward.\r\n And David went on, and grew great, and the LORD God of hosts was with him.\r\n And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters, and masons: and they built David an house.\r\n And David perceived that the LORD had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel's sake.\r\n And David took him more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after he was come from Hebron: and there were yet sons and daughters born to David.\r\n And these be the names of those that were born unto him in Jerusalem; Shammua, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon,\r\n Ibhar also, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia,\r\n And Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphalet.\r\n But when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines came up to seek David; and David heard of it, and went down to the hold.\r\n The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.\r\n And David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up to the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the LORD said unto David, Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand.\r\n And David came to Baalperazim, and David smote them there, and said, The LORD hath broken forth upon mine enemies before me, as the breach of waters. Therefore he called the name of that place Baalperazim.\r\n And there they left their images, and David and his men burned them.\r\n And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.\r\n And when David enquired of the LORD, he said, Thou shalt not go up; but fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees.\r\n And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall the LORD go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines.\r\n And David did so, as the LORD had commanded him; and smote the Philistines from Geba until thou come to Gazer.\r\n \r\n \r\n Again, David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand.\r\n And David arose, and went with all the people that were with him from Baale of Judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God, whose name is called by the name of the LORD of hosts that dwelleth between the cherubims.\r\n And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drave the new cart.\r\n And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab which was at Gibeah, accompanying the ark of God: and Ahio went before the ark.\r\n And David and all the house of Israel played before the LORD on all manner of instruments made of fir wood, even on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals.\r\n And when they came to Nachon's threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it.\r\n And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God.\r\n And David was displeased, because the LORD had made a breach upon Uzzah: and he called the name of the place Perezuzzah to this day.\r\n And David was afraid of the LORD that day, and said, How shall the ark of the LORD come to me?\r\n So David would not remove the ark of the LORD unto him into the city of David: but David carried it aside into the house of Obededom the Gittite.\r\n And the ark of the LORD continued in the house of Obededom the Gittite three months: and the LORD blessed Obededom, and all his household.\r\n And it was told king David, saying, The LORD hath blessed the house of Obededom, and all that pertaineth unto him, because of the ark of God. So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obededom into the city of David with gladness.\r\n And it was so, that when they that bare the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings.\r\n And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.\r\n So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.\r\n And as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal Saul's daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart.\r\n And they brought in the ark of the LORD, and set it in his place, in the midst of the tabernacle that David had pitched for it: and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.\r\n And as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts.\r\n And he dealt among all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, as well to the women as men, to every one a cake of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine. So all the people departed every one to his house.\r\n Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel to day, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself!\r\n And David said unto Michal, It was before the LORD, which chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel: therefore will I play before the LORD.\r\n And I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight: and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honour.\r\n Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass, when the king sat in his house, and the LORD had given him rest round about from all his enemies;\r\n That the king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains.\r\n And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in thine heart; for the LORD is with thee.\r\n And it came to pass that night, that the word of the LORD came unto Nathan, saying,\r\n Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith the LORD, Shalt thou build me an house for me to dwell in?\r\n Whereas I have not dwelt in any house since the time that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle.\r\n In all the places wherein I have walked with all the children of Israel spake I a word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying, Why build ye not me an house of cedar?\r\n Now therefore so shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel:\r\n And I was with thee whithersoever thou wentest, and have cut off all thine enemies out of thy sight, and have made thee a great name, like unto the name of the great men that are in the earth.\r\n Moreover I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as beforetime,\r\n And as since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel, and have caused thee to rest from all thine enemies. Also the LORD telleth thee that he will make thee an house.\r\n And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.\r\n He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.\r\n I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men:\r\n But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee.\r\n And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.\r\n According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.\r\n Then went king David in, and sat before the LORD, and he said, Who am I, O Lord GOD? and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?\r\n And this was yet a small thing in thy sight, O Lord GOD; but thou hast spoken also of thy servant's house for a great while to come. And is this the manner of man, O Lord GOD?\r\n And what can David say more unto thee? for thou, Lord GOD, knowest thy servant.\r\n For thy word's sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou done all these great things, to make thy servant know them.\r\n Wherefore thou art great, O LORD God: for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.\r\n And what one nation in the earth is like thy people, even like Israel, whom God went to redeem for a people to himself, and to make him a name, and to do for you great things and terrible, for thy land, before thy people, which thou redeemedst to thee from Egypt, from the nations and their gods?\r\n For thou hast confirmed to thyself thy people Israel to be a people unto thee for ever: and thou, LORD, art become their God.\r\n And now, O LORD God, the word that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant, and concerning his house, establish it for ever, and do as thou hast said.\r\n And let thy name be magnified for ever, saying, The LORD of hosts is the God over Israel: and let the house of thy servant David be established before thee.\r\n For thou, O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, hast revealed to thy servant, saying, I will build thee an house: therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee.\r\n And now, O Lord GOD, thou art that God, and thy words be true, and thou hast promised this goodness unto thy servant:\r\n Therefore now let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue for ever before thee: for thou, O Lord GOD, hast spoken it: and with thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed for ever.\r\n \r\n \r\n And after this it came to pass, that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them: and David took Methegammah out of the hand of the Philistines.\r\n And he smote Moab, and measured them with a line, casting them down to the ground; even with two lines measured he to put to death, and with one full line to keep alive. And so the Moabites became David's servants, and brought gifts.\r\n David smote also Hadadezer, the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his border at the river Euphrates.\r\n And David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen: and David houghed all the chariot horses, but reserved of them for an hundred chariots.\r\n And when the Syrians of Damascus came to succour Hadadezer king of Zobah, David slew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men.\r\n Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus: and the Syrians became servants to David, and brought gifts. And the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went.\r\n And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.\r\n And from Betah, and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, king David took exceeding much brass.\r\n When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had smitten all the host of Hadadezer,\r\n Then Toi sent Joram his son unto king David, to salute him, and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer, and smitten him: for Hadadezer had wars with Toi. And Joram brought with him vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and vessels of brass:\r\n Which also king David did dedicate unto the LORD, with the silver and gold that he had dedicated of all nations which he subdued;\r\n Of Syria, and of Moab, and of the children of Ammon, and of the Philistines, and of Amalek, and of the spoil of Hadadezer, son of Rehob, king of Zobah.\r\n And David gat him a name when he returned from smiting of the Syrians in the valley of salt, being eighteen thousand men.\r\n And he put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom put he garrisons, and all they of Edom became David's servants. And the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went.\r\n And David reigned over all Israel; and David executed judgment and justice unto all his people.\r\n And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder;\r\n And Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, were the priests; and Seraiah was the scribe;\r\n And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over both the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David's sons were chief rulers.\r\n \r\n \r\n And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may shew him kindness for Jonathan's sake?\r\n And there was of the house of Saul a servant whose name was Ziba. And when they had called him unto David, the king said unto him, Art thou Ziba? And he said, Thy servant is he.\r\n And the king said, Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may shew the kindness of God unto him? And Ziba said unto the king, Jonathan hath yet a son, which is lame on his feet.\r\n And the king said unto him, Where is he? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he is in the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, in Lodebar.\r\n Then king David sent, and fetched him out of the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, from Lodebar.\r\n Now when Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, was come unto David, he fell on his face, and did reverence. And David said, Mephibosheth. And he answered, Behold thy servant!\r\n And David said unto him, Fear not: for I will surely shew thee kindness for Jonathan thy father's sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually.\r\n And he bowed himself, and said, What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?\r\n Then the king called to Ziba, Saul's servant, and said unto him, I have given unto thy master's son all that pertained to Saul and to all his house.\r\n Thou therefore, and thy sons, and thy servants, shall till the land for him, and thou shalt bring in the fruits, that thy master's son may have food to eat: but Mephibosheth thy master's son shall eat bread alway at my table. Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.\r\n Then said Ziba unto the king, According to all that my lord the king hath commanded his servant, so shall thy servant do. As for Mephibosheth, said the king, he shall eat at my table, as one of the king's sons.\r\n And Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Micha. And all that dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants unto Mephibosheth.\r\n So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem: for he did eat continually at the king's table; and was lame on both his feet.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass after this, that the king of the children of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his stead.\r\n Then said David, I will shew kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father shewed kindness unto me. And David sent to comfort him by the hand of his servants for his father. And David's servants came into the land of the children of Ammon.\r\n And the princes of the children of Ammon said unto Hanun their lord, Thinkest thou that David doth honour thy father, that he hath sent comforters unto thee? hath not David rather sent his servants unto thee, to search the city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow it?\r\n Wherefore Hanun took David's servants, and shaved off the one half of their beards, and cut off their garments in the middle, even to their buttocks, and sent them away.\r\n When they told it unto David, he sent to meet them, because the men were greatly ashamed: and the king said, Tarry at Jericho until your beards be grown, and then return.\r\n And when the children of Ammon saw that they stank before David, the children of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Bethrehob, and the Syrians of Zoba, twenty thousand footmen, and of king Maacah a thousand men, and of Ishtob twelve thousand men.\r\n And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men.\r\n And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the entering in of the gate: and the Syrians of Zoba, and of Rehob, and Ishtob, and Maacah, were by themselves in the field.\r\n When Joab saw that the front of the battle was against him before and behind, he chose of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians:\r\n And the rest of the people he delivered into the hand of Abishai his brother, that he might put them in array against the children of Ammon.\r\n And he said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then thou shalt help me: but if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, then I will come and help thee.\r\n Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, and for the cities of our God: and the LORD do that which seemeth him good.\r\n And Joab drew nigh, and the people that were with him, unto the battle against the Syrians: and they fled before him.\r\n And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled, then fled they also before Abishai, and entered into the city. So Joab returned from the children of Ammon, and came to Jerusalem.\r\n And when the Syrians saw that they were smitten before Israel, they gathered themselves together.\r\n And Hadarezer sent, and brought out the Syrians that were beyond the river: and they came to Helam; and Shobach the captain of the host of Hadarezer went before them.\r\n And when it was told David, he gathered all Israel together, and passed over Jordan, and came to Helam. And the Syrians set themselves in array against David, and fought with him.\r\n And the Syrians fled before Israel; and David slew the men of seven hundred chariots of the Syrians, and forty thousand horsemen, and smote Shobach the captain of their host, who died there.\r\n And when all the kings that were servants to Hadarezer saw that they were smitten before Israel, they made peace with Israel, and served them. So the Syrians feared to help the children of Ammon any more.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem.\r\n And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.\r\n And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?\r\n And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house.\r\n And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I am with child.\r\n And David sent to Joab, saying, Send me Uriah the Hittite. And Joab sent Uriah to David.\r\n And when Uriah was come unto him, David demanded of him how Joab did, and how the people did, and how the war prospered.\r\n And David said to Uriah, Go down to thy house, and wash thy feet. And Uriah departed out of the king's house, and there followed him a mess of meat from the king.\r\n But Uriah slept at the door of the king's house with all the servants of his lord, and went not down to his house.\r\n And when they had told David, saying, Uriah went not down unto his house, David said unto Uriah, Camest thou not from thy journey? why then didst thou not go down unto thine house?\r\n And Uriah said unto David, The ark, and Israel, and Judah, abide in tents; and my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the open fields; shall I then go into mine house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? as thou livest, and as thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing.\r\n And David said to Uriah, Tarry here to day also, and to morrow I will let thee depart. So Uriah abode in Jerusalem that day, and the morrow.\r\n And when David had called him, he did eat and drink before him; and he made him drunk: and at even he went out to lie on his bed with the servants of his lord, but went not down to his house.\r\n And it came to pass in the morning, that David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah.\r\n And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and die.\r\n And it came to pass, when Joab observed the city, that he assigned Uriah unto a place where he knew that valiant men were.\r\n And the men of the city went out, and fought with Joab: and there fell some of the people of the servants of David; and Uriah the Hittite died also.\r\n Then Joab sent and told David all the things concerning the war;\r\n And charged the messenger, saying, When thou hast made an end of telling the matters of the war unto the king,\r\n And if so be that the king's wrath arise, and he say unto thee, Wherefore approached ye so nigh unto the city when ye did fight? knew ye not that they would shoot from the wall?\r\n Who smote Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? did not a woman cast a piece of a millstone upon him from the wall, that he died in Thebez? why went ye nigh the wall? then say thou, Thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.\r\n So the messenger went, and came and shewed David all that Joab had sent him for.\r\n And the messenger said unto David, Surely the men prevailed against us, and came out unto us into the field, and we were upon them even unto the entering of the gate.\r\n And the shooters shot from off the wall upon thy servants; and some of the king's servants be dead, and thy servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.\r\n Then David said unto the messenger, Thus shalt thou say unto Joab, Let not this thing displease thee, for the sword devoureth one as well as another: make thy battle more strong against the city, and overthrow it: and encourage thou him.\r\n And when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she mourned for her husband.\r\n And when the mourning was past, David sent and fetched her to his house, and she became his wife, and bare him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the LORD sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor.\r\n The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds:\r\n But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter.\r\n And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man's lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him.\r\n And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die:\r\n And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.\r\n And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;\r\n And I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things.\r\n Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.\r\n Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.\r\n Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun.\r\n For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.\r\n And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.\r\n Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.\r\n And Nathan departed unto his house. And the LORD struck the child that Uriah's wife bare unto David, and it was very sick.\r\n David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth.\r\n And the elders of his house arose, and went to him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them.\r\n And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died. And the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead: for they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spake unto him, and he would not hearken unto our voice: how will he then vex himself, if we tell him that the child is dead?\r\n But when David saw that his servants whispered, David perceived that the child was dead: therefore David said unto his servants, Is the child dead? And they said, He is dead.\r\n Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the LORD, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat.\r\n Then said his servants unto him, What thing is this that thou hast done? thou didst fast and weep for the child, while it was alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread.\r\n And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?\r\n But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.\r\n And David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her: and she bare a son, and he called his name Solomon: and the LORD loved him.\r\n And he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet; and he called his name Jedidiah, because of the LORD.\r\n And Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and took the royal city.\r\n And Joab sent messengers to David, and said, I have fought against Rabbah, and have taken the city of waters.\r\n Now therefore gather the rest of the people together, and encamp against the city, and take it: lest I take the city, and it be called after my name.\r\n And David gathered all the people together, and went to Rabbah, and fought against it, and took it.\r\n And he took their king's crown from off his head, the weight whereof was a talent of gold with the precious stones: and it was set on David's head. And he brought forth the spoil of the city in great abundance.\r\n And he brought forth the people that were therein, and put them under saws, and under harrows of iron, and under axes of iron, and made them pass through the brickkiln: and thus did he unto all the cities of the children of Ammon. So David and all the people returned unto Jerusalem.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass after this, that Absalom the son of David had a fair sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her.\r\n And Amnon was so vexed, that he fell sick for his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin; and Amnon thought it hard for him to do any thing to her.\r\n But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David's brother: and Jonadab was a very subtil man.\r\n And he said unto him, Why art thou, being the king's son, lean from day to day? wilt thou not tell me? And Amnon said unto him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister.\r\n And Jonadab said unto him, Lay thee down on thy bed, and make thyself sick: and when thy father cometh to see thee, say unto him, I pray thee, let my sister Tamar come, and give me meat, and dress the meat in my sight, that I may see it, and eat it at her hand.\r\n So Amnon lay down, and made himself sick: and when the king was come to see him, Amnon said unto the king, I pray thee, let Tamar my sister come, and make me a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat at her hand.\r\n Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, Go now to thy brother Amnon's house, and dress him meat.\r\n So Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house; and he was laid down. And she took flour, and kneaded it, and made cakes in his sight, and did bake the cakes.\r\n And she took a pan, and poured them out before him; but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, Have out all men from me. And they went out every man from him.\r\n And Amnon said unto Tamar, Bring the meat into the chamber, that I may eat of thine hand. And Tamar took the cakes which she had made, and brought them into the chamber to Amnon her brother.\r\n And when she had brought them unto him to eat, he took hold of her, and said unto her, Come lie with me, my sister.\r\n And she answered him, Nay, my brother, do not force me; for no such thing ought to be done in Israel: do not thou this folly.\r\n And I, whither shall I cause my shame to go? and as for thee, thou shalt be as one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, I pray thee, speak unto the king; for he will not withhold me from thee.\r\n Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice: but, being stronger than she, forced her, and lay with her.\r\n Then Amnon hated her exceedingly; so that the hatred wherewith he hated her was greater than the love wherewith he had loved her. And Amnon said unto her, Arise, be gone.\r\n And she said unto him, There is no cause: this evil in sending me away is greater than the other that thou didst unto me. But he would not hearken unto her.\r\n Then he called his servant that ministered unto him, and said, Put now this woman out from me, and bolt the door after her.\r\n And she had a garment of divers colours upon her: for with such robes were the king's daughters that were virgins apparelled. Then his servant brought her out, and bolted the door after her.\r\n And Tamar put ashes on her head, and rent her garment of divers colours that was on her, and laid her hand on her head, and went on crying.\r\n And Absalom her brother said unto her, Hath Amnon thy brother been with thee? but hold now thy peace, my sister: he is thy brother; regard not this thing. So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom's house.\r\n But when king David heard of all these things, he was very wroth.\r\n And Absalom spake unto his brother Amnon neither good nor bad: for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar.\r\n And it came to pass after two full years, that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baalhazor, which is beside Ephraim: and Absalom invited all the king's sons.\r\n And Absalom came to the king, and said, Behold now, thy servant hath sheepshearers; let the king, I beseech thee, and his servants go with thy servant.\r\n And the king said to Absalom, Nay, my son, let us not all now go, lest we be chargeable unto thee. And he pressed him: howbeit he would not go, but blessed him.\r\n Then said Absalom, If not, I pray thee, let my brother Amnon go with us. And the king said unto him, Why should he go with thee?\r\n But Absalom pressed him, that he let Amnon and all the king's sons go with him.\r\n Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now when Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and when I say unto you, Smite Amnon; then kill him, fear not: have not I commanded you? be courageous, and be valiant.\r\n And the servants of Absalom did unto Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king's sons arose, and every man gat him up upon his mule, and fled.\r\n And it came to pass, while they were in the way, that tidings came to David, saying, Absalom hath slain all the king's sons, and there is not one of them left.\r\n Then the king arose, and tare his garments, and lay on the earth; and all his servants stood by with their clothes rent.\r\n And Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David's brother, answered and said, Let not my lord suppose that they have slain all the young men the king's sons; for Amnon only is dead: for by the appointment of Absalom this hath been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar.\r\n Now therefore let not my lord the king take the thing to his heart, to think that all the king's sons are dead: for Amnon only is dead.\r\n But Absalom fled. And the young man that kept the watch lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came much people by the way of the hill side behind him.\r\n And Jonadab said unto the king, Behold, the king's sons come: as thy servant said, so it is.\r\n And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of speaking, that, behold, the king's sons came, and lifted up their voice and wept: and the king also and all his servants wept very sore.\r\n But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai, the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day.\r\n So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three years.\r\n And the soul of king David longed to go forth unto Absalom: for he was comforted concerning Amnon, seeing he was dead.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now Joab the son of Zeruiah perceived that the king's heart was toward Absalom.\r\n And Joab sent to Tekoah, and fetched thence a wise woman, and said unto her, I pray thee, feign thyself to be a mourner, and put on now mourning apparel, and anoint not thyself with oil, but be as a woman that had a long time mourned for the dead:\r\n And come to the king, and speak on this manner unto him. So Joab put the words in her mouth.\r\n And when the woman of Tekoah spake to the king, she fell on her face to the ground, and did obeisance, and said, Help, O king.\r\n And the king said unto her, What aileth thee? And she answered, I am indeed a widow woman, and mine husband is dead.\r\n And thy handmaid had two sons, and they two strove together in the field, and there was none to part them, but the one smote the other, and slew him.\r\n And, behold, the whole family is risen against thine handmaid, and they said, Deliver him that smote his brother, that we may kill him, for the life of his brother whom he slew; and we will destroy the heir also: and so they shall quench my coal which is left, and shall not leave to my husband neither name nor remainder upon the earth.\r\n And the king said unto the woman, Go to thine house, and I will give charge concerning thee.\r\n And the woman of Tekoah said unto the king, My lord, O king, the iniquity be on me, and on my father's house: and the king and his throne be guiltless.\r\n And the king said, Whosoever saith ought unto thee, bring him to me, and he shall not touch thee any more.\r\n Then said she, I pray thee, let the king remember the LORD thy God, that thou wouldest not suffer the revengers of blood to destroy any more, lest they destroy my son. And he said, As the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of thy son fall to the earth.\r\n Then the woman said, Let thine handmaid, I pray thee, speak one word unto my lord the king. And he said, Say on.\r\n And the woman said, Wherefore then hast thou thought such a thing against the people of God? for the king doth speak this thing as one which is faulty, in that the king doth not fetch home again his banished.\r\n For we must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; neither doth God respect any person: yet doth he devise means, that his banished be not expelled from him.\r\n Now therefore that I am come to speak of this thing unto my lord the king, it is because the people have made me afraid: and thy handmaid said, I will now speak unto the king; it may be that the king will perform the request of his handmaid.\r\n For the king will hear, to deliver his handmaid out of the hand of the man that would destroy me and my son together out of the inheritance of God.\r\n Then thine handmaid said, The word of my lord the king shall now be comfortable: for as an angel of God, so is my lord the king to discern good and bad: therefore the LORD thy God will be with thee.\r\n Then the king answered and said unto the woman, Hide not from me, I pray thee, the thing that I shall ask thee. And the woman said, Let my lord the king now speak.\r\n And the king said, Is not the hand of Joab with thee in all this? And the woman answered and said, As thy soul liveth, my lord the king, none can turn to the right hand or to the left from ought that my lord the king hath spoken: for thy servant Joab, he bade me, and he put all these words in the mouth of thine handmaid:\r\n To fetch about this form of speech hath thy servant Joab done this thing: and my lord is wise, according to the wisdom of an angel of God, to know all things that are in the earth.\r\n And the king said unto Joab, Behold now, I have done this thing: go therefore, bring the young man Absalom again.\r\n And Joab fell to the ground on his face, and bowed himself, and thanked the king: and Joab said, To day thy servant knoweth that I have found grace in thy sight, my lord, O king, in that the king hath fulfilled the request of his servant.\r\n So Joab arose and went to Geshur, and brought Absalom to Jerusalem.\r\n And the king said, Let him turn to his own house, and let him not see my face. So Absalom returned to his own house, and saw not the king's face.\r\n But in all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty: from the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him.\r\n And when he polled his head, (for it was at every year's end that he polled it: because the hair was heavy on him, therefore he polled it:) he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels after the king's weight.\r\n And unto Absalom there were born three sons, and one daughter, whose name was Tamar: she was a woman of a fair countenance.\r\n So Absalom dwelt two full years in Jerusalem, and saw not the king's face.\r\n Therefore Absalom sent for Joab, to have sent him to the king; but he would not come to him: and when he sent again the second time, he would not come.\r\n Therefore he said unto his servants, See, Joab's field is near mine, and he hath barley there; go and set it on fire. And Absalom's servants set the field on fire.\r\n Then Joab arose, and came to Absalom unto his house, and said unto him, Wherefore have thy servants set my field on fire?\r\n And Absalom answered Joab, Behold, I sent unto thee, saying, Come hither, that I may send thee to the king, to say, Wherefore am I come from Geshur? it had been good for me to have been there still: now therefore let me see the king's face; and if there be any iniquity in me, let him kill me.\r\n So Joab came to the king, and told him: and when he had called for Absalom, he came to the king, and bowed himself on his face to the ground before the king: and the king kissed Absalom.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him.\r\n And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that when any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel.\r\n And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee.\r\n Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice!\r\n And it was so, that when any man came nigh to him to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took him, and kissed him.\r\n And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.\r\n And it came to pass after forty years, that Absalom said unto the king, I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed unto the LORD, in Hebron.\r\n For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, If the LORD shall bring me again indeed to Jerusalem, then I will serve the LORD.\r\n And the king said unto him, Go in peace. So he arose, and went to Hebron.\r\n But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, As soon as ye hear the sound of the trumpet, then ye shall say, Absalom reigneth in Hebron.\r\n And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem, that were called; and they went in their simplicity, and they knew not any thing.\r\n And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counsellor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom.\r\n And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom.\r\n And David said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for we shall not else escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly, and bring evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword.\r\n And the king's servants said unto the king, Behold, thy servants are ready to do whatsoever my lord the king shall appoint.\r\n And the king went forth, and all his household after him. And the king left ten women, which were concubines, to keep the house.\r\n And the king went forth, and all the people after him, and tarried in a place that was far off.\r\n And all his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men which came after him from Gath, passed on before the king.\r\n Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, Wherefore goest thou also with us? return to thy place, and abide with the king: for thou art a stranger, and also an exile.\r\n Whereas thou camest but yesterday, should I this day make thee go up and down with us? seeing I go whither I may, return thou, and take back thy brethren: mercy and truth be with thee.\r\n And Ittai answered the king, and said, As the LORD liveth, and as my lord the king liveth, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also will thy servant be.\r\n And David said to Ittai, Go and pass over. And Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men, and all the little ones that were with him.\r\n And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over: the king also himself passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over, toward the way of the wilderness.\r\n And lo Zadok also, and all the Levites were with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God: and they set down the ark of God; and Abiathar went up, until all the people had done passing out of the city.\r\n And the king said unto Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favour in the eyes of the LORD, he will bring me again, and shew me both it, and his habitation:\r\n But if he thus say, I have no delight in thee; behold, here am I, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him.\r\n The king said also unto Zadok the priest, Art not thou a seer? return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz thy son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.\r\n See, I will tarry in the plain of the wilderness, until there come word from you to certify me.\r\n Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God again to Jerusalem: and they tarried there.\r\n And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot: and all the people that was with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.\r\n And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O LORD, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.\r\n And it came to pass, that when David was come to the top of the mount, where he worshipped God, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat rent, and earth upon his head:\r\n Unto whom David said, If thou passest on with me, then thou shalt be a burden unto me:\r\n But if thou return to the city, and say unto Absalom, I will be thy servant, O king; as I have been thy father's servant hitherto, so will I now also be thy servant: then mayest thou for me defeat the counsel of Ahithophel.\r\n And hast thou not there with thee Zadok and Abiathar the priests? therefore it shall be, that what thing soever thou shalt hear out of the king's house, thou shalt tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.\r\n Behold, they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz Zadok's son, and Jonathan Abiathar's son; and by them ye shall send unto me every thing that ye can hear.\r\n So Hushai David's friend came into the city, and Absalom came into Jerusalem.\r\n \r\n \r\n And when David was a little past the top of the hill, behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of asses saddled, and upon them two hundred loaves of bread, and an hundred bunches of raisins, and an hundred of summer fruits, and a bottle of wine.\r\n And the king said unto Ziba, What meanest thou by these? And Ziba said, The asses be for the king's household to ride on; and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat; and the wine, that such as be faint in the wilderness may drink.\r\n And the king said, And where is thy master's son? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he abideth at Jerusalem: for he said, To day shall the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father.\r\n Then said the king to Ziba, Behold, thine are all that pertained unto Mephibosheth. And Ziba said, I humbly beseech thee that I may find grace in thy sight, my lord, O king.\r\n And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, thence came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera: he came forth, and cursed still as he came.\r\n And he cast stones at David, and at all the servants of king David: and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left.\r\n And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come out, come out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial:\r\n The LORD hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned; and the LORD hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son: and, behold, thou art taken in thy mischief, because thou art a bloody man.\r\n Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah unto the king, Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his head.\r\n And the king said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? so let him curse, because the LORD hath said unto him, Curse David. Who shall then say, Wherefore hast thou done so?\r\n And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD hath bidden him.\r\n It may be that the LORD will look on mine affliction, and that the LORD will requite me good for his cursing this day.\r\n And as David and his men went by the way, Shimei went along on the hill's side over against him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him, and cast dust.\r\n And the king, and all the people that were with him, came weary, and refreshed themselves there.\r\n And Absalom, and all the people the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him.\r\n And it came to pass, when Hushai the Archite, David's friend, was come unto Absalom, that Hushai said unto Absalom, God save the king, God save the king.\r\n And Absalom said to Hushai, Is this thy kindness to thy friend? why wentest thou not with thy friend?\r\n And Hushai said unto Absalom, Nay; but whom the LORD, and this people, and all the men of Israel, choose, his will I be, and with him will I abide.\r\n And again, whom should I serve? should I not serve in the presence of his son? as I have served in thy father's presence, so will I be in thy presence.\r\n Then said Absalom to Ahithophel, Give counsel among you what we shall do.\r\n And Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Go in unto thy father's concubines, which he hath left to keep the house; and all Israel shall hear that thou art abhorred of thy father: then shall the hands of all that are with thee be strong.\r\n So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house; and Absalom went in unto his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel.\r\n And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counselled in those days, was as if a man had enquired at the oracle of God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.\r\n \r\n \r\n Moreover Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night:\r\n And I will come upon him while he is weary and weak handed, and will make him afraid: and all the people that are with him shall flee; and I will smite the king only:\r\n And I will bring back all the people unto thee: the man whom thou seekest is as if all returned: so all the people shall be in peace.\r\n And the saying pleased Absalom well, and all the elders of Israel.\r\n Then said Absalom, Call now Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear likewise what he saith.\r\n And when Hushai was come to Absalom, Absalom spake unto him, saying, Ahithophel hath spoken after this manner: shall we do after his saying? if not; speak thou.\r\n And Hushai said unto Absalom, The counsel that Ahithophel hath given is not good at this time.\r\n For, said Hushai, thou knowest thy father and his men, that they be mighty men, and they be chafed in their minds, as a bear robbed of her whelps in the field: and thy father is a man of war, and will not lodge with the people.\r\n Behold, he is hid now in some pit, or in some other place: and it will come to pass, when some of them be overthrown at the first, that whosoever heareth it will say, There is a slaughter among the people that follow Absalom.\r\n And he also that is valiant, whose heart is as the heart of a lion, shall utterly melt: for all Israel knoweth that thy father is a mighty man, and they which be with him are valiant men.\r\n Therefore I counsel that all Israel be generally gathered unto thee, from Dan even to Beersheba, as the sand that is by the sea for multitude; and that thou go to battle in thine own person.\r\n So shall we come upon him in some place where he shall be found, and we will light upon him as the dew falleth on the ground: and of him and of all the men that are with him there shall not be left so much as one.\r\n Moreover, if he be gotten into a city, then shall all Israel bring ropes to that city, and we will draw it into the river, until there be not one small stone found there.\r\n And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel. For the LORD had appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that the LORD might bring evil upon Absalom.\r\n Then said Hushai unto Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, Thus and thus did Ahithophel counsel Absalom and the elders of Israel; and thus and thus have I counselled.\r\n Now therefore send quickly, and tell David, saying, Lodge not this night in the plains of the wilderness, but speedily pass over; lest the king be swallowed up, and all the people that are with him.\r\n Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz stayed by Enrogel; for they might not be seen to come into the city: and a wench went and told them; and they went and told king David.\r\n Nevertheless a lad saw them, and told Absalom: but they went both of them away quickly, and came to a man's house in Bahurim, which had a well in his court; whither they went down.\r\n And the woman took and spread a covering over the well's mouth, and spread ground corn thereon; and the thing was not known.\r\n And when Absalom's servants came to the woman to the house, they said, Where is Ahimaaz and Jonathan? And the woman said unto them, They be gone over the brook of water. And when they had sought and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem.\r\n And it came to pass, after they were departed, that they came up out of the well, and went and told king David, and said unto David, Arise, and pass quickly over the water: for thus hath Ahithophel counselled against you.\r\n Then David arose, and all the people that were with him, and they passed over Jordan: by the morning light there lacked not one of them that was not gone over Jordan.\r\n And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his ass, and arose, and gat him home to his house, to his city, and put his household in order, and hanged himself, and died, and was buried in the sepulchre of his father.\r\n Then David came to Mahanaim. And Absalom passed over Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him.\r\n And Absalom made Amasa captain of the host instead of Joab: which Amasa was a man's son, whose name was Ithra an Israelite, that went in to Abigail the daughter of Nahash, sister to Zeruiah Joab's mother.\r\n So Israel and Absalom pitched in the land of Gilead.\r\n And it came to pass, when David was come to Mahanaim, that Shobi the son of Nahash of Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and Machir the son of Ammiel of Lodebar, and Barzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim,\r\n Brought beds, and basons, and earthen vessels, and wheat, and barley, and flour, and parched corn, and beans, and lentiles, and parched pulse,\r\n And honey, and butter, and sheep, and cheese of kine, for David, and for the people that were with him, to eat: for they said, The people is hungry, and weary, and thirsty, in the wilderness.\r\n \r\n \r\n And David numbered the people that were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.\r\n And David sent forth a third part of the people under the hand of Joab, and a third part under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, and a third part under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said unto the people, I will surely go forth with you myself also.\r\n But the people answered, Thou shalt not go forth: for if we flee away, they will not care for us; neither if half of us die, will they care for us: but now thou art worth ten thousand of us: therefore now it is better that thou succour us out of the city.\r\n And the king said unto them, What seemeth you best I will do. And the king stood by the gate side, and all the people came out by hundreds and by thousands.\r\n And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom.\r\n So the people went out into the field against Israel: and the battle was in the wood of Ephraim;\r\n Where the people of Israel were slain before the servants of David, and there was there a great slaughter that day of twenty thousand men.\r\n For the battle was there scattered over the face of all the country: and the wood devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.\r\n And Absalom met the servants of David. And Absalom rode upon a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth; and the mule that was under him went away.\r\n And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak.\r\n And Joab said unto the man that told him, And, behold, thou sawest him, and why didst thou not smite him there to the ground? and I would have given thee ten shekels of silver, and a girdle.\r\n And the man said unto Joab, Though I should receive a thousand shekels of silver in mine hand, yet would I not put forth mine hand against the king's son: for in our hearing the king charged thee and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Beware that none touch the young man Absalom.\r\n Otherwise I should have wrought falsehood against mine own life: for there is no matter hid from the king, and thou thyself wouldest have set thyself against me.\r\n Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee. And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak.\r\n And ten young men that bare Joab's armour compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him.\r\n And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel: for Joab held back the people.\r\n And they took Absalom, and cast him into a great pit in the wood, and laid a very great heap of stones upon him: and all Israel fled every one to his tent.\r\n Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself a pillar, which is in the king's dale: for he said, I have no son to keep my name in remembrance: and he called the pillar after his own name: and it is called unto this day, Absalom's place.\r\n Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, Let me now run, and bear the king tidings, how that the LORD hath avenged him of his enemies.\r\n And Joab said unto him, Thou shalt not bear tidings this day, but thou shalt bear tidings another day: but this day thou shalt bear no tidings, because the king's son is dead.\r\n Then said Joab to Cushi, Go tell the king what thou hast seen. And Cushi bowed himself unto Joab, and ran.\r\n Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok yet again to Joab, But howsoever, let me, I pray thee, also run after Cushi. And Joab said, Wherefore wilt thou run, my son, seeing that thou hast no tidings ready?\r\n But howsoever, said he, let me run. And he said unto him, Run. Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and overran Cushi.\r\n And David sat between the two gates: and the watchman went up to the roof over the gate unto the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold a man running alone.\r\n And the watchman cried, and told the king. And the king said, If he be alone, there is tidings in his mouth. And he came apace, and drew near.\r\n And the watchman saw another man running: and the watchman called unto the porter, and said, Behold another man running alone. And the king said, He also bringeth tidings.\r\n And the watchman said, Me thinketh the running of the foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok. And the king said, He is a good man, and cometh with good tidings.\r\n And Ahimaaz called, and said unto the king, All is well. And he fell down to the earth upon his face before the king, and said, Blessed be the LORD thy God, which hath delivered up the men that lifted up their hand against my lord the king.\r\n And the king said, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Ahimaaz answered, When Joab sent the king's servant, and me thy servant, I saw a great tumult, but I knew not what it was.\r\n And the king said unto him, Turn aside, and stand here. And he turned aside, and stood still.\r\n And, behold, Cushi came; and Cushi said, Tidings, my lord the king: for the LORD hath avenged thee this day of all them that rose up against thee.\r\n And the king said unto Cushi, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Cushi answered, The enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise against thee to do thee hurt, be as that young man is.\r\n And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!\r\n \r\n \r\n And it was told Joab, Behold, the king weepeth and mourneth for Absalom.\r\n And the victory that day was turned into mourning unto all the people: for the people heard say that day how the king was grieved for his son.\r\n And the people gat them by stealth that day into the city, as people being ashamed steal away when they flee in battle.\r\n But the king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!\r\n And Joab came into the house to the king, and said, Thou hast shamed this day the faces of all thy servants, which this day have saved thy life, and the lives of thy sons and of thy daughters, and the lives of thy wives, and the lives of thy concubines;\r\n In that thou lovest thine enemies, and hatest thy friends. For thou hast declared this day, that thou regardest neither princes nor servants: for this day I perceive, that if Absalom had lived, and all we had died this day, then it had pleased thee well.\r\n Now therefore arise, go forth, and speak comfortably unto thy servants: for I swear by the LORD, if thou go not forth, there will not tarry one with thee this night: and that will be worse unto thee than all the evil that befell thee from thy youth until now.\r\n Then the king arose, and sat in the gate. And they told unto all the people, saying, Behold, the king doth sit in the gate. And all the people came before the king: for Israel had fled every man to his tent.\r\n And all the people were at strife throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, The king saved us out of the hand of our enemies, and he delivered us out of the hand of the Philistines; and now he is fled out of the land for Absalom.\r\n And Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why speak ye not a word of bringing the king back?\r\n And king David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, saying, Speak unto the elders of Judah, saying, Why are ye the last to bring the king back to his house? seeing the speech of all Israel is come to the king, even to his house.\r\n Ye are my brethren, ye are my bones and my flesh: wherefore then are ye the last to bring back the king?\r\n And say ye to Amasa, Art thou not of my bone, and of my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if thou be not captain of the host before me continually in the room of Joab.\r\n And he bowed the heart of all the men of Judah, even as the heart of one man; so that they sent this word unto the king, Return thou, and all thy servants.\r\n So the king returned, and came to Jordan. And Judah came to Gilgal, to go to meet the king, to conduct the king over Jordan.\r\n And Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite, which was of Bahurim, hasted and came down with the men of Judah to meet king David.\r\n And there were a thousand men of Benjamin with him, and Ziba the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with him; and they went over Jordan before the king.\r\n And there went over a ferry boat to carry over the king's household, and to do what he thought good. And Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king, as he was come over Jordan;\r\n And said unto the king, Let not my lord impute iniquity unto me, neither do thou remember that which thy servant did perversely the day that my lord the king went out of Jerusalem, that the king should take it to his heart.\r\n For thy servant doth know that I have sinned: therefore, behold, I am come the first this day of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king.\r\n But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the LORD'S anointed?\r\n And David said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah, that ye should this day be adversaries unto me? shall there any man be put to death this day in Israel? for do not I know that I am this day king over Israel?\r\n Therefore the king said unto Shimei, Thou shalt not die. And the king sware unto him.\r\n And Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king, and had neither dressed his feet, nor trimmed his beard, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came again in peace.\r\n And it came to pass, when he was come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said unto him, Wherefore wentest not thou with me, Mephibosheth?\r\n And he answered, My lord, O king, my servant deceived me: for thy servant said, I will saddle me an ass, that I may ride thereon, and go to the king; because thy servant is lame.\r\n And he hath slandered thy servant unto my lord the king; but my lord the king is as an angel of God: do therefore what is good in thine eyes.\r\n For all of my father's house were but dead men before my lord the king: yet didst thou set thy servant among them that did eat at thine own table. What right therefore have I yet to cry any more unto the king?\r\n And the king said unto him, Why speakest thou any more of thy matters? I have said, Thou and Ziba divide the land.\r\n And Mephibosheth said unto the king, Yea, let him take all, forasmuch as my lord the king is come again in peace unto his own house.\r\n And Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim, and went over Jordan with the king, to conduct him over Jordan.\r\n Now Barzillai was a very aged man, even fourscore years old: and he had provided the king of sustenance while he lay at Mahanaim; for he was a very great man.\r\n And the king said unto Barzillai, Come thou over with me, and I will feed thee with me in Jerusalem.\r\n And Barzillai said unto the king, How long have I to live, that I should go up with the king unto Jerusalem?\r\n I am this day fourscore years old: and can I discern between good and evil? can thy servant taste what I eat or what I drink? can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women? wherefore then should thy servant be yet a burden unto my lord the king?\r\n Thy servant will go a little way over Jordan with the king: and why should the king recompense it me with such a reward?\r\n Let thy servant, I pray thee, turn back again, that I may die in mine own city, and be buried by the grave of my father and of my mother. But behold thy servant Chimham; let him go over with my lord the king; and do to him what shall seem good unto thee.\r\n And the king answered, Chimham shall go over with me, and I will do to him that which shall seem good unto thee: and whatsoever thou shalt require of me, that will I do for thee.\r\n And all the people went over Jordan. And when the king was come over, the king kissed Barzillai, and blessed him; and he returned unto his own place.\r\n Then the king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went on with him: and all the people of Judah conducted the king, and also half the people of Israel.\r\n And, behold, all the men of Israel came to the king, and said unto the king, Why have our brethren the men of Judah stolen thee away, and have brought the king, and his household, and all David's men with him, over Jordan?\r\n And all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, Because the king is near of kin to us: wherefore then be ye angry for this matter? have we eaten at all of the king's cost? or hath he given us any gift?\r\n And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, and said, We have ten parts in the king, and we have also more right in David than ye: why then did ye despise us, that our advice should not be first had in bringing back our king? And the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel.\r\n \r\n \r\n And there happened to be there a man of Belial, whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite: and he blew a trumpet, and said, We have no part in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to his tents, O Israel.\r\n So every man of Israel went up from after David, and followed Sheba the son of Bichri: but the men of Judah clave unto their king, from Jordan even to Jerusalem.\r\n And David came to his house at Jerusalem; and the king took the ten women his concubines, whom he had left to keep the house, and put them in ward, and fed them, but went not in unto them. So they were shut up unto the day of their death, living in widowhood.\r\n Then said the king to Amasa, Assemble me the men of Judah within three days, and be thou here present.\r\n So Amasa went to assemble the men of Judah: but he tarried longer than the set time which he had appointed him.\r\n And David said to Abishai, Now shall Sheba the son of Bichri do us more harm than did Absalom: take thou thy lord's servants, and pursue after him, lest he get him fenced cities, and escape us.\r\n And there went out after him Joab's men, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and all the mighty men: and they went out of Jerusalem, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.\r\n When they were at the great stone which is in Gibeon, Amasa went before them. And Joab's garment that he had put on was girded unto him, and upon it a girdle with a sword fastened upon his loins in the sheath thereof; and as he went forth it fell out.\r\n And Joab said to Amasa, Art thou in health, my brother? And Joab took Amasa by the beard with the right hand to kiss him.\r\n But Amasa took no heed to the sword that was in Joab's hand: so he smote him therewith in the fifth rib, and shed out his bowels to the ground, and struck him not again; and he died. So Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba the son of Bichri.\r\n And one of Joab's men stood by him, and said, He that favoureth Joab, and he that is for David, let him go after Joab.\r\n And Amasa wallowed in blood in the midst of the highway. And when the man saw that all the people stood still, he removed Amasa out of the highway into the field, and cast a cloth upon him, when he saw that every one that came by him stood still.\r\n When he was removed out of the highway, all the people went on after Joab, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.\r\n And he went through all the tribes of Israel unto Abel, and to Bethmaachah, and all the Berites: and they were gathered together, and went also after him.\r\n And they came and besieged him in Abel of Bethmaachah, and they cast up a bank against the city, and it stood in the trench: and all the people that were with Joab battered the wall, to throw it down.\r\n Then cried a wise woman out of the city, Hear, hear; say, I pray you, unto Joab, Come near hither, that I may speak with thee.\r\n And when he was come near unto her, the woman said, Art thou Joab? And he answered, I am he. Then she said unto him, Hear the words of thine handmaid. And he answered, I do hear.\r\n Then she spake, saying, They were wont to speak in old time, saying, They shall surely ask counsel at Abel: and so they ended the matter.\r\n I am one of them that are peaceable and faithful in Israel: thou seekest to destroy a city and a mother in Israel: why wilt thou swallow up the inheritance of the LORD?\r\n And Joab answered and said, Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy.\r\n The matter is not so: but a man of mount Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, hath lifted up his hand against the king, even against David: deliver him only, and I will depart from the city. And the woman said unto Joab, Behold, his head shall be thrown to thee over the wall.\r\n Then the woman went unto all the people in her wisdom. And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri, and cast it out to Joab. And he blew a trumpet, and they retired from the city, every man to his tent. And Joab returned to Jerusalem unto the king.\r\n Now Joab was over all the host of Israel: and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites:\r\n And Adoram was over the tribute: and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder:\r\n And Sheva was scribe: and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests:\r\n And Ira also the Jairite was a chief ruler about David.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David enquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites.\r\n And the king called the Gibeonites, and said unto them; (now the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites; and the children of Israel had sworn unto them: and Saul sought to slay them in his zeal to the children of Israel and Judah.)\r\n Wherefore David said unto the Gibeonites, What shall I do for you? and wherewith shall I make the atonement, that ye may bless the inheritance of the LORD?\r\n And the Gibeonites said unto him, We will have no silver nor gold of Saul, nor of his house; neither for us shalt thou kill any man in Israel. And he said, What ye shall say, that will I do for you.\r\n And they answered the king, The man that consumed us, and that devised against us that we should be destroyed from remaining in any of the coasts of Israel,\r\n Let seven men of his sons be delivered unto us, and we will hang them up unto the LORD in Gibeah of Saul, whom the LORD did choose. And the king said, I will give them.\r\n But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, because of the LORD'S oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul.\r\n But the king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bare unto Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; and the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she brought up for Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite:\r\n And he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them in the hill before the LORD: and they fell all seven together, and were put to death in the days of harvest, in the first days, in the beginning of barley harvest.\r\n And Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth, and spread it for her upon the rock, from the beginning of harvest until water dropped upon them out of heaven, and suffered neither the birds of the air to rest on them by day, nor the beasts of the field by night.\r\n And it was told David what Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, the concubine of Saul, had done.\r\n And David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from the men of Jabeshgilead, which had stolen them from the street of Bethshan, where the Philistines had hanged them, when the Philistines had slain Saul in Gilboa:\r\n And he brought up from thence the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son; and they gathered the bones of them that were hanged.\r\n And the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son buried they in the country of Benjamin in Zelah, in the sepulchre of Kish his father: and they performed all that the king commanded. And after that God was intreated for the land.\r\n Moreover the Philistines had yet war again with Israel; and David went down, and his servants with him, and fought against the Philistines: and David waxed faint.\r\n And Ishbibenob, which was of the sons of the giant, the weight of whose spear weighed three hundred shekels of brass in weight, he being girded with a new sword, thought to have slain David.\r\n But Abishai the son of Zeruiah succoured him, and smote the Philistine, and killed him. Then the men of David sware unto him, saying, Thou shalt go no more out with us to battle, that thou quench not the light of Israel.\r\n And it came to pass after this, that there was again a battle with the Philistines at Gob: then Sibbechai the Hushathite slew Saph, which was of the sons of the giant.\r\n And there was again a battle in Gob with the Philistines, where Elhanan the son of Jaareoregim, a Bethlehemite, slew the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver's beam.\r\n And there was yet a battle in Gath, where was a man of great stature, that had on every hand six fingers, and on every foot six toes, four and twenty in number; and he also was born to the giant.\r\n And when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea the brother of David slew him.\r\n These four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.\r\n \r\n \r\n And David spake unto the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul:\r\n And he said, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;\r\n The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence.\r\n I will call on the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.\r\n When the waves of death compassed me, the floods of ungodly men made me afraid;\r\n The sorrows of hell compassed me about; the snares of death prevented me;\r\n In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried to my God: and he did hear my voice out of his temple, and my cry did enter into his ears.\r\n Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations of heaven moved and shook, because he was wroth.\r\n There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it.\r\n He bowed the heavens also, and came down; and darkness was under his feet.\r\n And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: and he was seen upon the wings of the wind.\r\n And he made darkness pavilions round about him, dark waters, and thick clouds of the skies.\r\n Through the brightness before him were coals of fire kindled.\r\n The LORD thundered from heaven, and the most High uttered his voice.\r\n And he sent out arrows, and scattered them; lightning, and discomfited them.\r\n And the channels of the sea appeared, the foundations of the world were discovered, at the rebuking of the LORD, at the blast of the breath of his nostrils.\r\n He sent from above, he took me; he drew me out of many waters;\r\n He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them that hated me: for they were too strong for me.\r\n They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay.\r\n He brought me forth also into a large place: he delivered me, because he delighted in me.\r\n The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness: according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.\r\n For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God.\r\n For all his judgments were before me: and as for his statutes, I did not depart from them.\r\n I was also upright before him, and have kept myself from mine iniquity.\r\n Therefore the LORD hath recompensed me according to my righteousness; according to my cleanness in his eye sight.\r\n With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful, and with the upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright.\r\n With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself unsavoury.\r\n And the afflicted people thou wilt save: but thine eyes are upon the haughty, that thou mayest bring them down.\r\n For thou art my lamp, O LORD: and the LORD will lighten my darkness.\r\n For by thee I have run through a troop: by my God have I leaped over a wall.\r\n As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him.\r\n For who is God, save the LORD? and who is a rock, save our God?\r\n God is my strength and power: and he maketh my way perfect.\r\n He maketh my feet like hinds' feet: and setteth me upon my high places.\r\n He teacheth my hands to war; so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.\r\n Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy gentleness hath made me great.\r\n Thou hast enlarged my steps under me; so that my feet did not slip.\r\n I have pursued mine enemies, and destroyed them; and turned not again until I had consumed them.\r\n And I have consumed them, and wounded them, that they could not arise: yea, they are fallen under my feet.\r\n For thou hast girded me with strength to battle: them that rose up against me hast thou subdued under me.\r\n Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies, that I might destroy them that hate me.\r\n They looked, but there was none to save; even unto the LORD, but he answered them not.\r\n Then did I beat them as small as the dust of the earth, I did stamp them as the mire of the street, and did spread them abroad.\r\n Thou also hast delivered me from the strivings of my people, thou hast kept me to be head of the heathen: a people which I knew not shall serve me.\r\n Strangers shall submit themselves unto me: as soon as they hear, they shall be obedient unto me.\r\n Strangers shall fade away, and they shall be afraid out of their close places.\r\n The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and exalted be the God of the rock of my salvation.\r\n It is God that avengeth me, and that bringeth down the people under me,\r\n And that bringeth me forth from mine enemies: thou also hast lifted me up on high above them that rose up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man.\r\n Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and I will sing praises unto thy name.\r\n He is the tower of salvation for his king: and sheweth mercy to his anointed, unto David, and to his seed for evermore.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said,\r\n The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word was in my tongue.\r\n The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.\r\n And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain.\r\n Although my house be not so with God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure: for this is all my salvation, and all my desire, although he make it not to grow.\r\n But the sons of Belial shall be all of them as thorns thrust away, because they cannot be taken with hands:\r\n But the man that shall touch them must be fenced with iron and the staff of a spear; and they shall be utterly burned with fire in the same place.\r\n These be the names of the mighty men whom David had: The Tachmonite that sat in the seat, chief among the captains; the same was Adino the Eznite: he lift up his spear against eight hundred, whom he slew at one time.\r\n And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David, when they defied the Philistines that were there gathered together to battle, and the men of Israel were gone away:\r\n He arose, and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clave unto the sword: and the LORD wrought a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to spoil.\r\n And after him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered together into a troop, where was a piece of ground full of lentiles: and the people fled from the Philistines.\r\n But he stood in the midst of the ground, and defended it, and slew the Philistines: and the LORD wrought a great victory.\r\n And three of the thirty chief went down, and came to David in the harvest time unto the cave of Adullam: and the troop of the Philistines pitched in the valley of Rephaim.\r\n And David was then in an hold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem.\r\n And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!\r\n And the three mighty men brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the LORD.\r\n And he said, Be it far from me, O LORD, that I should do this: is not this the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives? therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mighty men.\r\n And Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief among three. And he lifted up his spear against three hundred, and slew them, and had the name among three.\r\n Was he not most honourable of three? therefore he was their captain: howbeit he attained not unto the first three.\r\n And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man, of Kabzeel, who had done many acts, he slew two lionlike men of Moab: he went down also and slew a lion in the midst of a pit in time of snow:\r\n And he slew an Egyptian, a goodly man: and the Egyptian had a spear in his hand; but he went down to him with a staff, and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian's hand, and slew him with his own spear.\r\n These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and had the name among three mighty men.\r\n He was more honourable than the thirty, but he attained not to the first three. And David set him over his guard.\r\n Asahel the brother of Joab was one of the thirty; Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem,\r\n Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,\r\n Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite,\r\n Abiezer the Anethothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite,\r\n Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite,\r\n Heleb the son of Baanah, a Netophathite, Ittai the son of Ribai out of Gibeah of the children of Benjamin,\r\n Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash,\r\n Abialbon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite,\r\n Eliahba the Shaalbonite, of the sons of Jashen, Jonathan,\r\n Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Hararite,\r\n Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai, the son of the Maachathite, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,\r\n Hezrai the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite,\r\n Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite,\r\n Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, armourbearer to Joab the son of Zeruiah,\r\n Ira an Ithrite, Gareb an Ithrite,\r\n Uriah the Hittite: thirty and seven in all.\r\n \r\n \r\n And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah.\r\n For the king said to Joab the captain of the host, which was with him, Go now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beersheba, and number ye the people, that I may know the number of the people.\r\n And Joab said unto the king, Now the LORD thy God add unto the people, how many soever they be, an hundredfold, and that the eyes of my lord the king may see it: but why doth my lord the king delight in this thing?\r\n Notwithstanding the king's word prevailed against Joab, and against the captains of the host. And Joab and the captains of the host went out from the presence of the king, to number the people of Israel.\r\n And they passed over Jordan, and pitched in Aroer, on the right side of the city that lieth in the midst of the river of Gad, and toward Jazer:\r\n Then they came to Gilead, and to the land of Tahtimhodshi; and they came to Danjaan, and about to Zidon,\r\n And came to the strong hold of Tyre, and to all the cities of the Hivites, and of the Canaanites: and they went out to the south of Judah, even to Beersheba.\r\n So when they had gone through all the land, they came to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days.\r\n And Joab gave up the sum of the number of the people unto the king: and there were in Israel eight hundred thousand valiant men that drew the sword; and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand men.\r\n And David's heart smote him after that he had numbered the people. And David said unto the LORD, I have sinned greatly in that I have done: and now, I beseech thee, O LORD, take away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.\r\n For when David was up in the morning, the word of the LORD came unto the prophet Gad, David's seer, saying,\r\n Go and say unto David, Thus saith the LORD, I offer thee three things; choose thee one of them, that I may do it unto thee.\r\n So Gad came to David, and told him, and said unto him, Shall seven years of famine come unto thee in thy land? or wilt thou flee three months before thine enemies, while they pursue thee? or that there be three days' pestilence in thy land? now advise, and see what answer I shall return to him that sent me.\r\n And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let us fall now into the hand of the LORD; for his mercies are great: and let me not fall into the hand of man.\r\n So the LORD sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning even to the time appointed: and there died of the people from Dan even to Beersheba seventy thousand men.\r\n And when the angel stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed the people, It is enough: stay now thine hand. And the angel of the LORD was by the threshingplace of Araunah the Jebusite.\r\n And David spake unto the LORD when he saw the angel that smote the people, and said, Lo, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly: but these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, be against me, and against my father's house.\r\n And Gad came that day to David, and said unto him, Go up, rear an altar unto the LORD in the threshingfloor of Araunah the Jebusite.\r\n And David, according to the saying of Gad, went up as the LORD commanded.\r\n And Araunah looked, and saw the king and his servants coming on toward him: and Araunah went out, and bowed himself before the king on his face upon the ground.\r\n And Araunah said, Wherefore is my lord the king come to his servant? And David said, To buy the threshingfloor of thee, to build an altar unto the LORD, that the plague may be stayed from the people.\r\n And Araunah said unto David, Let my lord the king take and offer up what seemeth good unto him: behold, here be oxen for burnt sacrifice, and threshing instruments and other instruments of the oxen for wood.\r\n All these things did Araunah, as a king, give unto the king. And Araunah said unto the king, The LORD thy God accept thee.\r\n And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.\r\n And David built there an altar unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the LORD was intreated for the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n Now king David was old and stricken in years; and they covered him with clothes, but he gat no heat.\r\n Wherefore his servants said unto him, Let there be sought for my lord the king a young virgin: and let her stand before the king, and let her cherish him, and let her lie in thy bosom, that my lord the king may get heat.\r\n So they sought for a fair damsel throughout all the coasts of Israel, and found Abishag a Shunammite, and brought her to the king.\r\n And the damsel was very fair, and cherished the king, and ministered to him: but the king knew her not.\r\n Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king: and he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.\r\n And his father had not displeased him at any time in saying, Why hast thou done so? and he also was a very goodly man; and his mother bare him after Absalom.\r\n And he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest: and they following Adonijah helped him.\r\n But Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the prophet, and Shimei, and Rei, and the mighty men which belonged to David, were not with Adonijah.\r\n And Adonijah slew sheep and oxen and fat cattle by the stone of Zoheleth, which is by Enrogel, and called all his brethren the king's sons, and all the men of Judah the king's servants:\r\n But Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother, he called not.\r\n Wherefore Nathan spake unto Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying, Hast thou not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith doth reign, and David our lord knoweth it not?\r\n Now therefore come, let me, I pray thee, give thee counsel, that thou mayest save thine own life, and the life of thy son Solomon.\r\n Go and get thee in unto king David, and say unto him, Didst not thou, my lord, O king, swear unto thine handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne? why then doth Adonijah reign?\r\n Behold, while thou yet talkest there with the king, I also will come in after thee, and confirm thy words.\r\n And Bathsheba went in unto the king into the chamber: and the king was very old; and Abishag the Shunammite ministered unto the king.\r\n And Bathsheba bowed, and did obeisance unto the king. And the king said, What wouldest thou?\r\n And she said unto him, My lord, thou swarest by the LORD thy God unto thine handmaid, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne.\r\n And now, behold, Adonijah reigneth; and now, my lord the king, thou knowest it not:\r\n And he hath slain oxen and fat cattle and sheep in abundance, and hath called all the sons of the king, and Abiathar the priest, and Joab the captain of the host: but Solomon thy servant hath he not called.\r\n And thou, my lord, O king, the eyes of all Israel are upon thee, that thou shouldest tell them who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after him.\r\n Otherwise it shall come to pass, when my lord the king shall sleep with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon shall be counted offenders.\r\n And, lo, while she yet talked with the king, Nathan the prophet also came in.\r\n And they told the king, saying, Behold Nathan the prophet. And when he was come in before the king, he bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground.\r\n And Nathan said, My lord, O king, hast thou said, Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne?\r\n For he is gone down this day, and hath slain oxen and fat cattle and sheep in abundance, and hath called all the king's sons, and the captains of the host, and Abiathar the priest; and, behold, they eat and drink before him, and say, God save king Adonijah.\r\n But me, even me thy servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and thy servant Solomon, hath he not called.\r\n Is this thing done by my lord the king, and thou hast not shewed it unto thy servant, who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?\r\n Then king David answered and said, Call me Bathsheba. And she came into the king's presence, and stood before the king.\r\n And the king sware, and said, As the LORD liveth, that hath redeemed my soul out of all distress,\r\n Even as I sware unto thee by the LORD God of Israel, saying, Assuredly Solomon thy son shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne in my stead; even so will I certainly do this day.\r\n Then Bathsheba bowed with her face to the earth, and did reverence to the king, and said, Let my lord king David live for ever.\r\n And king David said, Call me Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada. And they came before the king.\r\n The king also said unto them, Take with you the servants of your lord, and cause Solomon my son to ride upon mine own mule, and bring him down to Gihon:\r\n And let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there king over Israel: and blow ye with the trumpet, and say, God save king Solomon.\r\n Then ye shall come up after him, that he may come and sit upon my throne; for he shall be king in my stead: and I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and over Judah.\r\n And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada answered the king, and said, Amen: the LORD God of my lord the king say so too.\r\n As the LORD hath been with my lord the king, even so be he with Solomon, and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord king David.\r\n So Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, went down, and caused Solomon to ride upon king David's mule, and brought him to Gihon.\r\n And Zadok the priest took an horn of oil out of the tabernacle, and anointed Solomon. And they blew the trumpet; and all the people said, God save king Solomon.\r\n And all the people came up after him, and the people piped with pipes, and rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth rent with the sound of them.\r\n And Adonijah and all the guests that were with him heard it as they had made an end of eating. And when Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he said, Wherefore is this noise of the city being in an uproar?\r\n And while he yet spake, behold, Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest came: and Adonijah said unto him, Come in; for thou art a valiant man, and bringest good tidings.\r\n And Jonathan answered and said to Adonijah, Verily our lord king David hath made Solomon king.\r\n And the king hath sent with him Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and they have caused him to ride upon the king's mule:\r\n And Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king in Gihon: and they are come up from thence rejoicing, so that the city rang again. This is the noise that ye have heard.\r\n And also Solomon sitteth on the throne of the kingdom.\r\n And moreover the king's servants came to bless our lord king David, saying, God make the name of Solomon better than thy name, and make his throne greater than thy throne. And the king bowed himself upon the bed.\r\n And also thus said the king, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which hath given one to sit on my throne this day, mine eyes even seeing it.\r\n And all the guests that were with Adonijah were afraid, and rose up, and went every man his way.\r\n And Adonijah feared because of Solomon, and arose, and went, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.\r\n And it was told Solomon, saying, Behold, Adonijah feareth king Solomon: for, lo, he hath caught hold on the horns of the altar, saying, Let king Solomon swear unto me to day that he will not slay his servant with the sword.\r\n And Solomon said, If he will shew himself a worthy man, there shall not an hair of him fall to the earth: but if wickedness shall be found in him, he shall die.\r\n So king Solomon sent, and they brought him down from the altar. And he came and bowed himself to king Solomon: and Solomon said unto him, Go to thine house.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now the days of David drew nigh that he should die; and he charged Solomon his son, saying,\r\n I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man;\r\n And keep the charge of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself:\r\n That the LORD may continue his word which he spake concerning me, saying, If thy children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail thee (said he) a man on the throne of Israel.\r\n Moreover thou knowest also what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, and what he did to the two captains of the hosts of Israel, unto Abner the son of Ner, and unto Amasa the son of Jether, whom he slew, and shed the blood of war in peace, and put the blood of war upon his girdle that was about his loins, and in his shoes that were on his feet.\r\n Do therefore according to thy wisdom, and let not his hoar head go down to the grave in peace.\r\n But shew kindness unto the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be of those that eat at thy table: for so they came to me when I fled because of Absalom thy brother.\r\n And, behold, thou hast with thee Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite of Bahurim, which cursed me with a grievous curse in the day when I went to Mahanaim: but he came down to meet me at Jordan, and I sware to him by the LORD, saying, I will not put thee to death with the sword.\r\n Now therefore hold him not guiltless: for thou art a wise man, and knowest what thou oughtest to do unto him; but his hoar head bring thou down to the grave with blood.\r\n So David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David.\r\n And the days that David reigned over Israel were forty years: seven years reigned he in Hebron, and thirty and three years reigned he in Jerusalem.\r\n Then sat Solomon upon the throne of David his father; and his kingdom was established greatly.\r\n And Adonijah the son of Haggith came to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon. And she said, Comest thou peaceably? And he said, Peaceably.\r\n He said moreover, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And she said, Say on.\r\n And he said, Thou knowest that the kingdom was mine, and that all Israel set their faces on me, that I should reign: howbeit the kingdom is turned about, and is become my brother's: for it was his from the LORD.\r\n And now I ask one petition of thee, deny me not. And she said unto him, Say on.\r\n And he said, Speak, I pray thee, unto Solomon the king, (for he will not say thee nay,) that he give me Abishag the Shunammite to wife.\r\n And Bathsheba said, Well; I will speak for thee unto the king.\r\n Bathsheba therefore went unto king Solomon, to speak unto him for Adonijah. And the king rose up to meet her, and bowed himself unto her, and sat down on his throne, and caused a seat to be set for the king's mother; and she sat on his right hand.\r\n Then she said, I desire one small petition of thee; I pray thee, say me not nay. And the king said unto her, Ask on, my mother: for I will not say thee nay.\r\n And she said, Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah thy brother to wife.\r\n And king Solomon answered and said unto his mother, And why dost thou ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? ask for him the kingdom also; for he is mine elder brother; even for him, and for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah.\r\n Then king Solomon sware by the LORD, saying, God do so to me, and more also, if Adonijah have not spoken this word against his own life.\r\n Now therefore, as the LORD liveth, which hath established me, and set me on the throne of David my father, and who hath made me an house, as he promised, Adonijah shall be put to death this day.\r\n And king Solomon sent by the hand of Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he fell upon him that he died.\r\n And unto Abiathar the priest said the king, Get thee to Anathoth, unto thine own fields; for thou art worthy of death: but I will not at this time put thee to death, because thou barest the ark of the Lord GOD before David my father, and because thou hast been afflicted in all wherein my father was afflicted.\r\n So Solomon thrust out Abiathar from being priest unto the LORD; that he might fulfil the word of the LORD, which he spake concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh.\r\n Then tidings came to Joab: for Joab had turned after Adonijah, though he turned not after Absalom. And Joab fled unto the tabernacle of the LORD, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.\r\n And it was told king Solomon that Joab was fled unto the tabernacle of the LORD; and, behold, he is by the altar. Then Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, Go, fall upon him.\r\n And Benaiah came to the tabernacle of the LORD, and said unto him, Thus saith the king, Come forth. And he said, Nay; but I will die here. And Benaiah brought the king word again, saying, Thus said Joab, and thus he answered me.\r\n And the king said unto him, Do as he hath said, and fall upon him, and bury him; that thou mayest take away the innocent blood, which Joab shed, from me, and from the house of my father.\r\n And the LORD shall return his blood upon his own head, who fell upon two men more righteous and better than he, and slew them with the sword, my father David not knowing thereof, to wit, Abner the son of Ner, captain of the host of Israel, and Amasa the son of Jether, captain of the host of Judah.\r\n Their blood shall therefore return upon the head of Joab, and upon the head of his seed for ever: but upon David, and upon his seed, and upon his house, and upon his throne, shall there be peace for ever from the LORD.\r\n So Benaiah the son of Jehoiada went up, and fell upon him, and slew him: and he was buried in his own house in the wilderness.\r\n And the king put Benaiah the son of Jehoiada in his room over the host: and Zadok the priest did the king put in the room of Abiathar.\r\n And the king sent and called for Shimei, and said unto him, Build thee an house in Jerusalem, and dwell there, and go not forth thence any whither.\r\n For it shall be, that on the day thou goest out, and passest over the brook Kidron, thou shalt know for certain that thou shalt surely die: thy blood shall be upon thine own head.\r\n And Shimei said unto the king, The saying is good: as my lord the king hath said, so will thy servant do. And Shimei dwelt in Jerusalem many days.\r\n And it came to pass at the end of three years, that two of the servants of Shimei ran away unto Achish son of Maachah king of Gath. And they told Shimei, saying, Behold, thy servants be in Gath.\r\n And Shimei arose, and saddled his ass, and went to Gath to Achish to seek his servants: and Shimei went, and brought his servants from Gath.\r\n And it was told Solomon that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath, and was come again.\r\n And the king sent and called for Shimei, and said unto him, Did I not make thee to swear by the LORD, and protested unto thee, saying, Know for a certain, on the day thou goest out, and walkest abroad any whither, that thou shalt surely die? and thou saidst unto me, The word that I have heard is good.\r\n Why then hast thou not kept the oath of the LORD, and the commandment that I have charged thee with?\r\n The king said moreover to Shimei, Thou knowest all the wickedness which thine heart is privy to, that thou didst to David my father: therefore the LORD shall return thy wickedness upon thine own head;\r\n And king Solomon shall be blessed, and the throne of David shall be established before the LORD for ever.\r\n So the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; which went out, and fell upon him, that he died. And the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took Pharaoh's daughter, and brought her into the city of David, until he had made an end of building his own house, and the house of the LORD, and the wall of Jerusalem round about.\r\n Only the people sacrificed in high places, because there was no house built unto the name of the LORD, until those days.\r\n And Solomon loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of David his father: only he sacrificed and burnt incense in high places.\r\n And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there; for that was the great high place: a thousand burnt offerings did Solomon offer upon that altar.\r\n In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.\r\n And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.\r\n And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in.\r\n And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.\r\n Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?\r\n And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.\r\n And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment;\r\n Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.\r\n And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days.\r\n And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days.\r\n And Solomon awoke; and, behold, it was a dream. And he came to Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and offered up burnt offerings, and offered peace offerings, and made a feast to all his servants.\r\n Then came there two women, that were harlots, unto the king, and stood before him.\r\n And the one woman said, O my lord, I and this woman dwell in one house; and I was delivered of a child with her in the house.\r\n And it came to pass the third day after that I was delivered, that this woman was delivered also: and we were together; there was no stranger with us in the house, save we two in the house.\r\n And this woman's child died in the night; because she overlaid it.\r\n And she arose at midnight, and took my son from beside me, while thine handmaid slept, and laid it in her bosom, and laid her dead child in my bosom.\r\n And when I rose in the morning to give my child suck, behold, it was dead: but when I had considered it in the morning, behold, it was not my son, which I did bear.\r\n And the other woman said, Nay; but the living is my son, and the dead is thy son. And this said, No; but the dead is thy son, and the living is my son. Thus they spake before the king.\r\n Then said the king, The one saith, This is my son that liveth, and thy son is the dead: and the other saith, Nay; but thy son is the dead, and my son is the living.\r\n And the king said, Bring me a sword. And they brought a sword before the king.\r\n And the king said, Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other.\r\n Then spake the woman whose the living child was unto the king, for her bowels yearned upon her son, and she said, O my lord, give her the living child, and in no wise slay it. But the other said, Let it be neither mine nor thine, but divide it.\r\n Then the king answered and said, Give her the living child, and in no wise slay it: she is the mother thereof.\r\n And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; and they feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do judgment.\r\n \r\n \r\n So king Solomon was king over all Israel.\r\n And these were the princes which he had; Azariah the son of Zadok the priest,\r\n Elihoreph and Ahiah, the sons of Shisha, scribes; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud, the recorder.\r\n And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the host: and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests:\r\n And Azariah the son of Nathan was over the officers: and Zabud the son of Nathan was principal officer, and the king's friend:\r\n And Ahishar was over the household: and Adoniram the son of Abda was over the tribute.\r\n And Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel, which provided victuals for the king and his household: each man his month in a year made provision.\r\n And these are their names: The son of Hur, in mount Ephraim:\r\n The son of Dekar, in Makaz, and in Shaalbim, and Bethshemesh, and Elonbethhanan:\r\n The son of Hesed, in Aruboth; to him pertained Sochoh, and all the land of Hepher:\r\n The son of Abinadab, in all the region of Dor; which had Taphath the daughter of Solomon to wife:\r\n Baana the son of Ahilud; to him pertained Taanach and Megiddo, and all Bethshean, which is by Zartanah beneath Jezreel, from Bethshean to Abelmeholah, even unto the place that is beyond Jokneam:\r\n The son of Geber, in Ramothgilead; to him pertained the towns of Jair the son of Manasseh, which are in Gilead; to him also pertained the region of Argob, which is in Bashan, threescore great cities with walls and brasen bars:\r\n Ahinadab the son of Iddo had Mahanaim:\r\n Ahimaaz was in Naphtali; he also took Basmath the daughter of Solomon to wife:\r\n Baanah the son of Hushai was in Asher and in Aloth:\r\n Jehoshaphat the son of Paruah, in Issachar:\r\n Shimei the son of Elah, in Benjamin:\r\n Geber the son of Uri was in the country of Gilead, in the country of Sihon king of the Amorites, and of Og king of Bashan; and he was the only officer which was in the land.\r\n Judah and Israel were many, as the sand which is by the sea in multitude, eating and drinking, and making merry.\r\n And Solomon reigned over all kingdoms from the river unto the land of the Philistines, and unto the border of Egypt: they brought presents, and served Solomon all the days of his life.\r\n And Solomon's provision for one day was thirty measures of fine flour, and threescore measures of meal,\r\n Ten fat oxen, and twenty oxen out of the pastures, and an hundred sheep, beside harts, and roebucks, and fallowdeer, and fatted fowl.\r\n For he had dominion over all the region on this side the river, from Tiphsah even to Azzah, over all the kings on this side the river: and he had peace on all sides round about him.\r\n And Judah and Israel dwelt safely, every man under his vine and under his fig tree, from Dan even to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon.\r\n And Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen.\r\n And those officers provided victual for king Solomon, and for all that came unto king Solomon's table, every man in his month: they lacked nothing.\r\n Barley also and straw for the horses and dromedaries brought they unto the place where the officers were, every man according to his charge.\r\n And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore.\r\n And Solomon's wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt.\r\n For he was wiser than all men; than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol: and his fame was in all nations round about.\r\n And he spake three thousand proverbs: and his songs were a thousand and five.\r\n And he spake of trees, from the cedar tree that is in Lebanon even unto the hyssop that springeth out of the wall: he spake also of beasts, and of fowl, and of creeping things, and of fishes.\r\n And there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, which had heard of his wisdom.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants unto Solomon; for he had heard that they had anointed him king in the room of his father: for Hiram was ever a lover of David.\r\n And Solomon sent to Hiram, saying,\r\n Thou knowest how that David my father could not build an house unto the name of the LORD his God for the wars which were about him on every side, until the LORD put them under the soles of his feet.\r\n But now the LORD my God hath given me rest on every side, so that there is neither adversary nor evil occurrent.\r\n And, behold, I purpose to build an house unto the name of the LORD my God, as the LORD spake unto David my father, saying, Thy son, whom I will set upon thy throne in thy room, he shall build an house unto my name.\r\n Now therefore command thou that they hew me cedar trees out of Lebanon; and my servants shall be with thy servants: and unto thee will I give hire for thy servants according to all that thou shalt appoint: for thou knowest that there is not among us any that can skill to hew timber like unto the Sidonians.\r\n And it came to pass, when Hiram heard the words of Solomon, that he rejoiced greatly, and said, Blessed be the LORD this day, which hath given unto David a wise son over this great people.\r\n And Hiram sent to Solomon, saying, I have considered the things which thou sentest to me for: and I will do all thy desire concerning timber of cedar, and concerning timber of fir.\r\n My servants shall bring them down from Lebanon unto the sea: and I will convey them by sea in floats unto the place that thou shalt appoint me, and will cause them to be discharged there, and thou shalt receive them: and thou shalt accomplish my desire, in giving food for my household.\r\n So Hiram gave Solomon cedar trees and fir trees according to all his desire.\r\n And Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand measures of wheat for food to his household, and twenty measures of pure oil: thus gave Solomon to Hiram year by year.\r\n And the LORD gave Solomon wisdom, as he promised him: and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon; and they two made a league together.\r\n And king Solomon raised a levy out of all Israel; and the levy was thirty thousand men.\r\n And he sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month by courses: a month they were in Lebanon, and two months at home: and Adoniram was over the levy.\r\n And Solomon had threescore and ten thousand that bare burdens, and fourscore thousand hewers in the mountains;\r\n Beside the chief of Solomon's officers which were over the work, three thousand and three hundred, which ruled over the people that wrought in the work.\r\n And the king commanded, and they brought great stones, costly stones, and hewed stones, to lay the foundation of the house.\r\n And Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders did hew them, and the stonesquarers: so they prepared timber and stones to build the house.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the month Zif, which is the second month, that he began to build the house of the LORD.\r\n And the house which king Solomon built for the LORD, the length thereof was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof twenty cubits, and the height thereof thirty cubits.\r\n And the porch before the temple of the house, twenty cubits was the length thereof, according to the breadth of the house; and ten cubits was the breadth thereof before the house.\r\n And for the house he made windows of narrow lights.\r\n And against the wall of the house he built chambers round about, against the walls of the house round about, both of the temple and of the oracle: and he made chambers round about:\r\n The nethermost chamber was five cubits broad, and the middle was six cubits broad, and the third was seven cubits broad: for without in the wall of the house he made narrowed rests round about, that the beams should not be fastened in the walls of the house.\r\n And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither: so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building.\r\n The door for the middle chamber was in the right side of the house: and they went up with winding stairs into the middle chamber, and out of the middle into the third.\r\n So he built the house, and finished it; and covered the house with beams and boards of cedar.\r\n And then he built chambers against all the house, five cubits high: and they rested on the house with timber of cedar.\r\n And the word of the LORD came to Solomon, saying,\r\n Concerning this house which thou art in building, if thou wilt walk in my statutes, and execute my judgments, and keep all my commandments to walk in them; then will I perform my word with thee, which I spake unto David thy father:\r\n And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake my people Israel.\r\n So Solomon built the house, and finished it.\r\n And he built the walls of the house within with boards of cedar, both the floor of the house, and the walls of the cieling: and he covered them on the inside with wood, and covered the floor of the house with planks of fir.\r\n And he built twenty cubits on the sides of the house, both the floor and the walls with boards of cedar: he even built them for it within, even for the oracle, even for the most holy place.\r\n And the house, that is, the temple before it, was forty cubits long.\r\n And the cedar of the house within was carved with knops and open flowers: all was cedar; there was no stone seen.\r\n And the oracle he prepared in the house within, to set there the ark of the covenant of the LORD.\r\n And the oracle in the forepart was twenty cubits in length, and twenty cubits in breadth, and twenty cubits in the height thereof: and he overlaid it with pure gold; and so covered the altar which was of cedar.\r\n So Solomon overlaid the house within with pure gold: and he made a partition by the chains of gold before the oracle; and he overlaid it with gold.\r\n And the whole house he overlaid with gold, until he had finished all the house: also the whole altar that was by the oracle he overlaid with gold.\r\n And within the oracle he made two cherubims of olive tree, each ten cubits high.\r\n And five cubits was the one wing of the cherub, and five cubits the other wing of the cherub: from the uttermost part of the one wing unto the uttermost part of the other were ten cubits.\r\n And the other cherub was ten cubits: both the cherubims were of one measure and one size.\r\n The height of the one cherub was ten cubits, and so was it of the other cherub.\r\n And he set the cherubims within the inner house: and they stretched forth the wings of the cherubims, so that the wing of the one touched the one wall, and the wing of the other cherub touched the other wall; and their wings touched one another in the midst of the house.\r\n And he overlaid the cherubims with gold.\r\n And he carved all the walls of the house round about with carved figures of cherubims and palm trees and open flowers, within and without.\r\n And the floor of the house he overlaid with gold, within and without.\r\n And for the entering of the oracle he made doors of olive tree: the lintel and side posts were a fifth part of the wall.\r\n The two doors also were of olive tree; and he carved upon them carvings of cherubims and palm trees and open flowers, and overlaid them with gold, and spread gold upon the cherubims, and upon the palm trees.\r\n So also made he for the door of the temple posts of olive tree, a fourth part of the wall.\r\n And the two doors were of fir tree: the two leaves of the one door were folding, and the two leaves of the other door were folding.\r\n And he carved thereon cherubims and palm trees and open flowers: and covered them with gold fitted upon the carved work.\r\n And he built the inner court with three rows of hewed stone, and a row of cedar beams.\r\n In the fourth year was the foundation of the house of the LORD laid, in the month Zif:\r\n And in the eleventh year, in the month Bul, which is the eighth month, was the house finished throughout all the parts thereof, and according to all the fashion of it. So was he seven years in building it.\r\n \r\n \r\n But Solomon was building his own house thirteen years, and he finished all his house.\r\n He built also the house of the forest of Lebanon; the length thereof was an hundred cubits, and the breadth thereof fifty cubits, and the height thereof thirty cubits, upon four rows of cedar pillars, with cedar beams upon the pillars.\r\n And it was covered with cedar above upon the beams, that lay on forty five pillars, fifteen in a row.\r\n And there were windows in three rows, and light was against light in three ranks.\r\n And all the doors and posts were square, with the windows: and light was against light in three ranks.\r\n And he made a porch of pillars; the length thereof was fifty cubits, and the breadth thereof thirty cubits: and the porch was before them: and the other pillars and the thick beam were before them.\r\n Then he made a porch for the throne where he might judge, even the porch of judgment: and it was covered with cedar from one side of the floor to the other.\r\n And his house where he dwelt had another court within the porch, which was of the like work. Solomon made also an house for Pharaoh's daughter, whom he had taken to wife, like unto this porch.\r\n All these were of costly stones, according to the measures of hewed stones, sawed with saws, within and without, even from the foundation unto the coping, and so on the outside toward the great court.\r\n And the foundation was of costly stones, even great stones, stones of ten cubits, and stones of eight cubits.\r\n And above were costly stones, after the measures of hewed stones, and cedars.\r\n And the great court round about was with three rows of hewed stones, and a row of cedar beams, both for the inner court of the house of the LORD, and for the porch of the house.\r\n And king Solomon sent and fetched Hiram out of Tyre.\r\n He was a widow's son of the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a worker in brass: and he was filled with wisdom, and understanding, and cunning to work all works in brass. And he came to king Solomon, and wrought all his work.\r\n For he cast two pillars of brass, of eighteen cubits high apiece: and a line of twelve cubits did compass either of them about.\r\n And he made two chapiters of molten brass, to set upon the tops of the pillars: the height of the one chapiter was five cubits, and the height of the other chapiter was five cubits:\r\n And nets of checker work, and wreaths of chain work, for the chapiters which were upon the top of the pillars; seven for the one chapiter, and seven for the other chapiter.\r\n And he made the pillars, and two rows round about upon the one network, to cover the chapiters that were upon the top, with pomegranates: and so did he for the other chapiter.\r\n And the chapiters that were upon the top of the pillars were of lily work in the porch, four cubits.\r\n And the chapiters upon the two pillars had pomegranates also above, over against the belly which was by the network: and the pomegranates were two hundred in rows round about upon the other chapiter.\r\n And he set up the pillars in the porch of the temple: and he set up the right pillar, and called the name thereof Jachin: and he set up the left pillar, and called the name thereof Boaz.\r\n And upon the top of the pillars was lily work: so was the work of the pillars finished.\r\n And he made a molten sea, ten cubits from the one brim to the other: it was round all about, and his height was five cubits: and a line of thirty cubits did compass it round about.\r\n And under the brim of it round about there were knops compassing it, ten in a cubit, compassing the sea round about: the knops were cast in two rows, when it was cast.\r\n It stood upon twelve oxen, three looking toward the north, and three looking toward the west, and three looking toward the south, and three looking toward the east: and the sea was set above upon them, and all their hinder parts were inward.\r\n And it was an hand breadth thick, and the brim thereof was wrought like the brim of a cup, with flowers of lilies: it contained two thousand baths.\r\n And he made ten bases of brass; four cubits was the length of one base, and four cubits the breadth thereof, and three cubits the height of it.\r\n And the work of the bases was on this manner: they had borders, and the borders were between the ledges:\r\n And on the borders that were between the ledges were lions, oxen, and cherubims: and upon the ledges there was a base above: and beneath the lions and oxen were certain additions made of thin work.\r\n And every base had four brasen wheels, and plates of brass: and the four corners thereof had undersetters: under the laver were undersetters molten, at the side of every addition.\r\n And the mouth of it within the chapiter and above was a cubit: but the mouth thereof was round after the work of the base, a cubit and an half: and also upon the mouth of it were gravings with their borders, foursquare, not round.\r\n And under the borders were four wheels; and the axletrees of the wheels were joined to the base: and the height of a wheel was a cubit and half a cubit.\r\n And the work of the wheels was like the work of a chariot wheel: their axletrees, and their naves, and their felloes, and their spokes, were all molten.\r\n And there were four undersetters to the four corners of one base: and the undersetters were of the very base itself.\r\n And in the top of the base was there a round compass of half a cubit high: and on the top of the base the ledges thereof and the borders thereof were of the same.\r\n For on the plates of the ledges thereof, and on the borders thereof, he graved cherubims, lions, and palm trees, according to the proportion of every one, and additions round about.\r\n After this manner he made the ten bases: all of them had one casting, one measure, and one size.\r\n Then made he ten lavers of brass: one laver contained forty baths: and every laver was four cubits: and upon every one of the ten bases one laver.\r\n And he put five bases on the right side of the house, and five on the left side of the house: and he set the sea on the right side of the house eastward over against the south.\r\n And Hiram made the lavers, and the shovels, and the basons. So Hiram made an end of doing all the work that he made king Solomon for the house of the LORD:\r\n The two pillars, and the two bowls of the chapiters that were on the top of the two pillars; and the two networks, to cover the two bowls of the chapiters which were upon the top of the pillars;\r\n And four hundred pomegranates for the two networks, even two rows of pomegranates for one network, to cover the two bowls of the chapiters that were upon the pillars;\r\n And the ten bases, and ten lavers on the bases;\r\n And one sea, and twelve oxen under the sea;\r\n And the pots, and the shovels, and the basons: and all these vessels, which Hiram made to king Solomon for the house of the LORD, were of bright brass.\r\n In the plain of Jordan did the king cast them, in the clay ground between Succoth and Zarthan.\r\n And Solomon left all the vessels unweighed, because they were exceeding many: neither was the weight of the brass found out.\r\n And Solomon made all the vessels that pertained unto the house of the LORD: the altar of gold, and the table of gold, whereupon the shewbread was,\r\n And the candlesticks of pure gold, five on the right side, and five on the left, before the oracle, with the flowers, and the lamps, and the tongs of gold,\r\n And the bowls, and the snuffers, and the basons, and the spoons, and the censers of pure gold; and the hinges of gold, both for the doors of the inner house, the most holy place, and for the doors of the house, to wit, of the temple.\r\n So was ended all the work that king Solomon made for the house of the LORD. And Solomon brought in the things which David his father had dedicated; even the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, did he put among the treasures of the house of the LORD.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the chief of the fathers of the children of Israel, unto king Solomon in Jerusalem, that they might bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the city of David, which is Zion.\r\n And all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto king Solomon at the feast in the month Ethanim, which is the seventh month.\r\n And all the elders of Israel came, and the priests took up the ark.\r\n And they brought up the ark of the LORD, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and all the holy vessels that were in the tabernacle, even those did the priests and the Levites bring up.\r\n And king Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel, that were assembled unto him, were with him before the ark, sacrificing sheep and oxen, that could not be told nor numbered for multitude.\r\n And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the LORD unto his place, into the oracle of the house, to the most holy place, even under the wings of the cherubims.\r\n For the cherubims spread forth their two wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubims covered the ark and the staves thereof above.\r\n And they drew out the staves, that the ends of the staves were seen out in the holy place before the oracle, and they were not seen without: and there they are unto this day.\r\n There was nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone, which Moses put there at Horeb, when the LORD made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt.\r\n And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the LORD,\r\n So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of the LORD.\r\n Then spake Solomon, The LORD said that he would dwell in the thick darkness.\r\n I have surely built thee an house to dwell in, a settled place for thee to abide in for ever.\r\n And the king turned his face about, and blessed all the congregation of Israel: (and all the congregation of Israel stood;)\r\n And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which spake with his mouth unto David my father, and hath with his hand fulfilled it, saying,\r\n Since the day that I brought forth my people Israel out of Egypt, I chose no city out of all the tribes of Israel to build an house, that my name might be therein; but I chose David to be over my people Israel.\r\n And it was in the heart of David my father to build an house for the name of the LORD God of Israel.\r\n And the LORD said unto David my father, Whereas it was in thine heart to build an house unto my name, thou didst well that it was in thine heart.\r\n Nevertheless thou shalt not build the house; but thy son that shall come forth out of thy loins, he shall build the house unto my name.\r\n And the LORD hath performed his word that he spake, and I am risen up in the room of David my father, and sit on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised, and have built an house for the name of the LORD God of Israel.\r\n And I have set there a place for the ark, wherein is the covenant of the LORD, which he made with our fathers, when he brought them out of the land of Egypt.\r\n And Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven:\r\n And he said, LORD God of Israel, there is no God like thee, in heaven above, or on earth beneath, who keepest covenant and mercy with thy servants that walk before thee with all their heart:\r\n Who hast kept with thy servant David my father that thou promisedst him: thou spakest also with thy mouth, and hast fulfilled it with thine hand, as it is this day.\r\n Therefore now, LORD God of Israel, keep with thy servant David my father that thou promisedst him, saying, There shall not fail thee a man in my sight to sit on the throne of Israel; so that thy children take heed to their way, that they walk before me as thou hast walked before me.\r\n And now, O God of Israel, let thy word, I pray thee, be verified, which thou spakest unto thy servant David my father.\r\n But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?\r\n Yet have thou respect unto the prayer of thy servant, and to his supplication, O LORD my God, to hearken unto the cry and to the prayer, which thy servant prayeth before thee to day:\r\n That thine eyes may be open toward this house night and day, even toward the place of which thou hast said, My name shall be there: that thou mayest hearken unto the prayer which thy servant shall make toward this place.\r\n And hearken thou to the supplication of thy servant, and of thy people Israel, when they shall pray toward this place: and hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place: and when thou hearest, forgive.\r\n If any man trespass against his neighbour, and an oath be laid upon him to cause him to swear, and the oath come before thine altar in this house:\r\n Then hear thou in heaven, and do, and judge thy servants, condemning the wicked, to bring his way upon his head; and justifying the righteous, to give him according to his righteousness.\r\n When thy people Israel be smitten down before the enemy, because they have sinned against thee, and shall turn again to thee, and confess thy name, and pray, and make supplication unto thee in this house:\r\n Then hear thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of thy people Israel, and bring them again unto the land which thou gavest unto their fathers.\r\n When heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee; if they pray toward this place, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, when thou afflictest them:\r\n Then hear thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of thy servants, and of thy people Israel, that thou teach them the good way wherein they should walk, and give rain upon thy land, which thou hast given to thy people for an inheritance.\r\n If there be in the land famine, if there be pestilence, blasting, mildew, locust, or if there be caterpiller; if their enemy besiege them in the land of their cities; whatsoever plague, whatsoever sickness there be;\r\n What prayer and supplication soever be made by any man, or by all thy people Israel, which shall know every man the plague of his own heart, and spread forth his hands toward this house:\r\n Then hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and do, and give to every man according to his ways, whose heart thou knowest; (for thou, even thou only, knowest the hearts of all the children of men;)\r\n That they may fear thee all the days that they live in the land which thou gavest unto our fathers.\r\n Moreover concerning a stranger, that is not of thy people Israel, but cometh out of a far country for thy name's sake;\r\n (For they shall hear of thy great name, and of thy strong hand, and of thy stretched out arm;) when he shall come and pray toward this house;\r\n Hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and do according to all that the stranger calleth to thee for: that all people of the earth may know thy name, to fear thee, as do thy people Israel; and that they may know that this house, which I have builded, is called by thy name.\r\n If thy people go out to battle against their enemy, whithersoever thou shalt send them, and shall pray unto the LORD toward the city which thou hast chosen, and toward the house that I have built for thy name:\r\n Then hear thou in heaven their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause.\r\n If they sin against thee, (for there is no man that sinneth not,) and thou be angry with them, and deliver them to the enemy, so that they carry them away captives unto the land of the enemy, far or near;\r\n Yet if they shall bethink themselves in the land whither they were carried captives, and repent, and make supplication unto thee in the land of them that carried them captives, saying, We have sinned, and have done perversely, we have committed wickedness;\r\n And so return unto thee with all their heart, and with all their soul, in the land of their enemies, which led them away captive, and pray unto thee toward their land, which thou gavest unto their fathers, the city which thou hast chosen, and the house which I have built for thy name:\r\n Then hear thou their prayer and their supplication in heaven thy dwelling place, and maintain their cause,\r\n And forgive thy people that have sinned against thee, and all their transgressions wherein they have transgressed against thee, and give them compassion before them who carried them captive, that they may have compassion on them:\r\n For they be thy people, and thine inheritance, which thou broughtest forth out of Egypt, from the midst of the furnace of iron:\r\n That thine eyes may be open unto the supplication of thy servant, and unto the supplication of thy people Israel, to hearken unto them in all that they call for unto thee.\r\n For thou didst separate them from among all the people of the earth, to be thine inheritance, as thou spakest by the hand of Moses thy servant, when thou broughtest our fathers out of Egypt, O Lord GOD.\r\n And it was so, that when Solomon had made an end of praying all this prayer and supplication unto the LORD, he arose from before the altar of the LORD, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread up to heaven.\r\n And he stood, and blessed all the congregation of Israel with a loud voice, saying,\r\n Blessed be the LORD, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised: there hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant.\r\n The LORD our God be with us, as he was with our fathers: let him not leave us, nor forsake us:\r\n That he may incline our hearts unto him, to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and his statutes, and his judgments, which he commanded our fathers.\r\n And let these my words, wherewith I have made supplication before the LORD, be nigh unto the LORD our God day and night, that he maintain the cause of his servant, and the cause of his people Israel at all times, as the matter shall require:\r\n That all the people of the earth may know that the LORD is God, and that there is none else.\r\n Let your heart therefore be perfect with the LORD our God, to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments, as at this day.\r\n And the king, and all Israel with him, offered sacrifice before the LORD.\r\n And Solomon offered a sacrifice of peace offerings, which he offered unto the LORD, two and twenty thousand oxen, and an hundred and twenty thousand sheep. So the king and all the children of Israel dedicated the house of the LORD.\r\n The same day did the king hallow the middle of the court that was before the house of the LORD: for there he offered burnt offerings, and meat offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings: because the brasen altar that was before the LORD was too little to receive the burnt offerings, and meat offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings.\r\n And at that time Solomon held a feast, and all Israel with him, a great congregation, from the entering in of Hamath unto the river of Egypt, before the LORD our God, seven days and seven days, even fourteen days.\r\n On the eighth day he sent the people away: and they blessed the king, and went unto their tents joyful and glad of heart for all the goodness that the LORD had done for David his servant, and for Israel his people.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass, when Solomon had finished the building of the house of the LORD, and the king's house, and all Solomon's desire which he was pleased to do,\r\n That the LORD appeared to Solomon the second time, as he had appeared unto him at Gibeon.\r\n And the LORD said unto him, I have heard thy prayer and thy supplication, that thou hast made before me: I have hallowed this house, which thou hast built, to put my name there for ever; and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.\r\n And if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, in integrity of heart, and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded thee, and wilt keep my statutes and my judgments:\r\n Then I will establish the throne of thy kingdom upon Israel for ever, as I promised to David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man upon the throne of Israel.\r\n But if ye shall at all turn from following me, ye or your children, and will not keep my commandments and my statutes which I have set before you, but go and serve other gods, and worship them:\r\n Then will I cut off Israel out of the land which I have given them; and this house, which I have hallowed for my name, will I cast out of my sight; and Israel shall be a proverb and a byword among all people:\r\n And at this house, which is high, every one that passeth by it shall be astonished, and shall hiss; and they shall say, Why hath the LORD done thus unto this land, and to this house?\r\n And they shall answer, Because they forsook the LORD their God, who brought forth their fathers out of the land of Egypt, and have taken hold upon other gods, and have worshipped them, and served them: therefore hath the LORD brought upon them all this evil.\r\n And it came to pass at the end of twenty years, when Solomon had built the two houses, the house of the LORD, and the king's house,\r\n (Now Hiram the king of Tyre had furnished Solomon with cedar trees and fir trees, and with gold, according to all his desire,) that then king Solomon gave Hiram twenty cities in the land of Galilee.\r\n And Hiram came out from Tyre to see the cities which Solomon had given him; and they pleased him not.\r\n And he said, What cities are these which thou hast given me, my brother? And he called them the land of Cabul unto this day.\r\n And Hiram sent to the king sixscore talents of gold.\r\n And this is the reason of the levy which king Solomon raised; for to build the house of the LORD, and his own house, and Millo, and the wall of Jerusalem, and Hazor, and Megiddo, and Gezer.\r\n For Pharaoh king of Egypt had gone up, and taken Gezer, and burnt it with fire, and slain the Canaanites that dwelt in the city, and given it for a present unto his daughter, Solomon's wife.\r\n And Solomon built Gezer, and Bethhoron the nether,\r\n And Baalath, and Tadmor in the wilderness, in the land,\r\n And all the cities of store that Solomon had, and cities for his chariots, and cities for his horsemen, and that which Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem, and in Lebanon, and in all the land of his dominion.\r\n And all the people that were left of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, which were not of the children of Israel,\r\n Their children that were left after them in the land, whom the children of Israel also were not able utterly to destroy, upon those did Solomon levy a tribute of bondservice unto this day.\r\n But of the children of Israel did Solomon make no bondmen: but they were men of war, and his servants, and his princes, and his captains, and rulers of his chariots, and his horsemen.\r\n These were the chief of the officers that were over Solomon's work, five hundred and fifty, which bare rule over the people that wrought in the work.\r\n But Pharaoh's daughter came up out of the city of David unto her house which Solomon had built for her: then did he build Millo.\r\n And three times in a year did Solomon offer burnt offerings and peace offerings upon the altar which he built unto the LORD, and he burnt incense upon the altar that was before the LORD. So he finished the house.\r\n And king Solomon made a navy of ships in Eziongeber, which is beside Eloth, on the shore of the Red sea, in the land of Edom.\r\n And Hiram sent in the navy his servants, shipmen that had knowledge of the sea, with the servants of Solomon.\r\n And they came to Ophir, and fetched from thence gold, four hundred and twenty talents, and brought it to king Solomon.\r\n \r\n \r\n And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to prove him with hard questions.\r\n And she came to Jerusalem with a very great train, with camels that bare spices, and very much gold, and precious stones: and when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart.\r\n And Solomon told her all her questions: there was not any thing hid from the king, which he told her not.\r\n And when the queen of Sheba had seen all Solomon's wisdom, and the house that he had built,\r\n And the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel, and his cupbearers, and his ascent by which he went up unto the house of the LORD; there was no more spirit in her.\r\n And she said to the king, It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of thy acts and of thy wisdom.\r\n Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the half was not told me: thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard.\r\n Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom.\r\n Blessed be the LORD thy God, which delighted in thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel: because the LORD loved Israel for ever, therefore made he thee king, to do judgment and justice.\r\n And she gave the king an hundred and twenty talents of gold, and of spices very great store, and precious stones: there came no more such abundance of spices as these which the queen of Sheba gave to king Solomon.\r\n And the navy also of Hiram, that brought gold from Ophir, brought in from Ophir great plenty of almug trees, and precious stones.\r\n And the king made of the almug trees pillars for the house of the LORD, and for the king's house, harps also and psalteries for singers: there came no such almug trees, nor were seen unto this day.\r\n And king Solomon gave unto the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatsoever she asked, beside that which Solomon gave her of his royal bounty. So she turned and went to her own country, she and her servants.\r\n Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred threescore and six talents of gold,\r\n Beside that he had of the merchantmen, and of the traffick of the spice merchants, and of all the kings of Arabia, and of the governors of the country.\r\n And king Solomon made two hundred targets of beaten gold: six hundred shekels of gold went to one target.\r\n And he made three hundred shields of beaten gold; three pound of gold went to one shield: and the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon.\r\n Moreover the king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with the best gold.\r\n The throne had six steps, and the top of the throne was round behind: and there were stays on either side on the place of the seat, and two lions stood beside the stays.\r\n And twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other upon the six steps: there was not the like made in any kingdom.\r\n And all king Solomon's drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold; none were of silver: it was nothing accounted of in the days of Solomon.\r\n For the king had at sea a navy of Tharshish with the navy of Hiram: once in three years came the navy of Tharshish, bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks.\r\n So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth for riches and for wisdom.\r\n And all the earth sought to Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart.\r\n And they brought every man his present, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and garments, and armour, and spices, horses, and mules, a rate year by year.\r\n And Solomon gathered together chariots and horsemen: and he had a thousand and four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, whom he bestowed in the cities for chariots, and with the king at Jerusalem.\r\n And the king made silver to be in Jerusalem as stones, and cedars made he to be as the sycomore trees that are in the vale, for abundance.\r\n And Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt, and linen yarn: the king's merchants received the linen yarn at a price.\r\n And a chariot came up and went out of Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver, and an horse for an hundred and fifty: and so for all the kings of the Hittites, and for the kings of Syria, did they bring them out by their means.\r\n \r\n \r\n But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites;\r\n Of the nations concerning which the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love.\r\n And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart.\r\n For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father.\r\n For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.\r\n And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and went not fully after the LORD, as did David his father.\r\n Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon.\r\n And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods.\r\n And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice,\r\n And had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which the LORD commanded.\r\n Wherefore the LORD said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant.\r\n Notwithstanding in thy days I will not do it for David thy father's sake: but I will rend it out of the hand of thy son.\r\n Howbeit I will not rend away all the kingdom; but will give one tribe to thy son for David my servant's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake which I have chosen.\r\n And the LORD stirred up an adversary unto Solomon, Hadad the Edomite: he was of the king's seed in Edom.\r\n For it came to pass, when David was in Edom, and Joab the captain of the host was gone up to bury the slain, after he had smitten every male in Edom;\r\n (For six months did Joab remain there with all Israel, until he had cut off every male in Edom:)\r\n That Hadad fled, he and certain Edomites of his father's servants with him, to go into Egypt; Hadad being yet a little child.\r\n And they arose out of Midian, and came to Paran: and they took men with them out of Paran, and they came to Egypt, unto Pharaoh king of Egypt; which gave him an house, and appointed him victuals, and gave him land.\r\n And Hadad found great favour in the sight of Pharaoh, so that he gave him to wife the sister of his own wife, the sister of Tahpenes the queen.\r\n And the sister of Tahpenes bare him Genubath his son, whom Tahpenes weaned in Pharaoh's house: and Genubath was in Pharaoh's household among the sons of Pharaoh.\r\n And when Hadad heard in Egypt that David slept with his fathers, and that Joab the captain of the host was dead, Hadad said to Pharaoh, Let me depart, that I may go to mine own country.\r\n Then Pharaoh said unto him, But what hast thou lacked with me, that, behold, thou seekest to go to thine own country? And he answered, Nothing: howbeit let me go in any wise.\r\n And God stirred him up another adversary, Rezon the son of Eliadah, which fled from his lord Hadadezer king of Zobah:\r\n And he gathered men unto him, and became captain over a band, when David slew them of Zobah: and they went to Damascus, and dwelt therein, and reigned in Damascus.\r\n And he was an adversary to Israel all the days of Solomon, beside the mischief that Hadad did: and he abhorred Israel, and reigned over Syria.\r\n And Jeroboam the son of Nebat, an Ephrathite of Zereda, Solomon's servant, whose mother's name was Zeruah, a widow woman, even he lifted up his hand against the king.\r\n And this was the cause that he lifted up his hand against the king: Solomon built Millo, and repaired the breaches of the city of David his father.\r\n And the man Jeroboam was a mighty man of valour: and Solomon seeing the young man that he was industrious, he made him ruler over all the charge of the house of Joseph.\r\n And it came to pass at that time when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, that the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him in the way; and he had clad himself with a new garment; and they two were alone in the field:\r\n And Ahijah caught the new garment that was on him, and rent it in twelve pieces:\r\n And he said to Jeroboam, Take thee ten pieces: for thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee:\r\n (But he shall have one tribe for my servant David's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake, the city which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel:)\r\n Because that they have forsaken me, and have worshipped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon, and have not walked in my ways, to do that which is right in mine eyes, and to keep my statutes and my judgments, as did David his father.\r\n Howbeit I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand: but I will make him prince all the days of his life for David my servant's sake, whom I chose, because he kept my commandments and my statutes:\r\n But I will take the kingdom out of his son's hand, and will give it unto thee, even ten tribes.\r\n And unto his son will I give one tribe, that David my servant may have a light alway before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen me to put my name there.\r\n And I will take thee, and thou shalt reign according to all that thy soul desireth, and shalt be king over Israel.\r\n And it shall be, if thou wilt hearken unto all that I command thee, and wilt walk in my ways, and do that is right in my sight, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did; that I will be with thee, and build thee a sure house, as I built for David, and will give Israel unto thee.\r\n And I will for this afflict the seed of David, but not for ever.\r\n Solomon sought therefore to kill Jeroboam. And Jeroboam arose, and fled into Egypt, unto Shishak king of Egypt, and was in Egypt until the death of Solomon.\r\n And the rest of the acts of Solomon, and all that he did, and his wisdom, are they not written in the book of the acts of Solomon?\r\n And the time that Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel was forty years.\r\n And Solomon slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David his father: and Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for all Israel were come to Shechem to make him king.\r\n And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who was yet in Egypt, heard of it, (for he was fled from the presence of king Solomon, and Jeroboam dwelt in Egypt;)\r\n That they sent and called him. And Jeroboam and all the congregation of Israel came, and spake unto Rehoboam, saying,\r\n Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore make thou the grievous service of thy father, and his heavy yoke which he put upon us, lighter, and we will serve thee.\r\n And he said unto them, Depart yet for three days, then come again to me. And the people departed.\r\n And king Rehoboam consulted with the old men, that stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, and said, How do ye advise that I may answer this people?\r\n And they spake unto him, saying, If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants for ever.\r\n But he forsook the counsel of the old men, which they had given him, and consulted with the young men that were grown up with him, and which stood before him:\r\n And he said unto them, What counsel give ye that we may answer this people, who have spoken to me, saying, Make the yoke which thy father did put upon us lighter?\r\n And the young men that were grown up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou speak unto this people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it lighter unto us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins.\r\n And now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father hath chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.\r\n So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king had appointed, saying, Come to me again the third day.\r\n And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the old men's counsel that they gave him;\r\n And spake to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.\r\n Wherefore the king hearkened not unto the people; for the cause was from the LORD, that he might perform his saying, which the LORD spake by Ahijah the Shilonite unto Jeroboam the son of Nebat.\r\n So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: to your tents, O Israel: now see to thine own house, David. So Israel departed unto their tents.\r\n But as for the children of Israel which dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them.\r\n Then king Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was over the tribute; and all Israel stoned him with stones, that he died. Therefore king Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem.\r\n So Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day.\r\n And it came to pass, when all Israel heard that Jeroboam was come again, that they sent and called him unto the congregation, and made him king over all Israel: there was none that followed the house of David, but the tribe of Judah only.\r\n And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of Judah, with the tribe of Benjamin, an hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men, which were warriors, to fight against the house of Israel, to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam the son of Solomon.\r\n But the word of God came unto Shemaiah the man of God, saying,\r\n Speak unto Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and unto all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the remnant of the people, saying,\r\n Thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel: return every man to his house; for this thing is from me. They hearkened therefore to the word of the LORD, and returned to depart, according to the word of the LORD.\r\n Then Jeroboam built Shechem in mount Ephraim, and dwelt therein; and went out from thence, and built Penuel.\r\n And Jeroboam said in his heart, Now shall the kingdom return to the house of David:\r\n If this people go up to do sacrifice in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, then shall the heart of this people turn again unto their lord, even unto Rehoboam king of Judah, and they shall kill me, and go again to Rehoboam king of Judah.\r\n Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.\r\n And he set the one in Bethel, and the other put he in Dan.\r\n And this thing became a sin: for the people went to worship before the one, even unto Dan.\r\n And he made an house of high places, and made priests of the lowest of the people, which were not of the sons of Levi.\r\n And Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like unto the feast that is in Judah, and he offered upon the altar. So did he in Bethel, sacrificing unto the calves that he had made: and he placed in Bethel the priests of the high places which he had made.\r\n So he offered upon the altar which he had made in Bethel the fifteenth day of the eighth month, even in the month which he had devised of his own heart; and ordained a feast unto the children of Israel: and he offered upon the altar, and burnt incense.\r\n \r\n \r\n And, behold, there came a man of God out of Judah by the word of the LORD unto Bethel: and Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense.\r\n And he cried against the altar in the word of the LORD, and said, O altar, altar, thus saith the LORD; Behold, a child shall be born unto the house of David, Josiah by name; and upon thee shall he offer the priests of the high places that burn incense upon thee, and men's bones shall be burnt upon thee.\r\n And he gave a sign the same day, saying, This is the sign which the LORD hath spoken; Behold, the altar shall be rent, and the ashes that are upon it shall be poured out.\r\n And it came to pass, when king Jeroboam heard the saying of the man of God, which had cried against the altar in Bethel, that he put forth his hand from the altar, saying, Lay hold on him. And his hand, which he put forth against him, dried up, so that he could not pull it in again to him.\r\n The altar also was rent, and the ashes poured out from the altar, according to the sign which the man of God had given by the word of the LORD.\r\n And the king answered and said unto the man of God, Intreat now the face of the LORD thy God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored me again. And the man of God besought the LORD, and the king's hand was restored him again, and became as it was before.\r\n And the king said unto the man of God, Come home with me, and refresh thyself, and I will give thee a reward.\r\n And the man of God said unto the king, If thou wilt give me half thine house, I will not go in with thee, neither will I eat bread nor drink water in this place:\r\n For so was it charged me by the word of the LORD, saying, Eat no bread, nor drink water, nor turn again by the same way that thou camest.\r\n So he went another way, and returned not by the way that he came to Bethel.\r\n Now there dwelt an old prophet in Bethel; and his sons came and told him all the works that the man of God had done that day in Bethel: the words which he had spoken unto the king, them they told also to their father.\r\n And their father said unto them, What way went he? For his sons had seen what way the man of God went, which came from Judah.\r\n And he said unto his sons, Saddle me the ass. So they saddled him the ass: and he rode thereon,\r\n And went after the man of God, and found him sitting under an oak: and he said unto him, Art thou the man of God that camest from Judah? And he said, I am.\r\n Then he said unto him, Come home with me, and eat bread.\r\n And he said, I may not return with thee, nor go in with thee: neither will I eat bread nor drink water with thee in this place:\r\n For it was said to me by the word of the LORD, Thou shalt eat no bread nor drink water there, nor turn again to go by the way that thou camest.\r\n He said unto him, I am a prophet also as thou art; and an angel spake unto me by the word of the LORD, saying, Bring him back with thee into thine house, that he may eat bread and drink water. But he lied unto him.\r\n So he went back with him, and did eat bread in his house, and drank water.\r\n And it came to pass, as they sat at the table, that the word of the LORD came unto the prophet that brought him back:\r\n And he cried unto the man of God that came from Judah, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Forasmuch as thou hast disobeyed the mouth of the LORD, and hast not kept the commandment which the LORD thy God commanded thee,\r\n But camest back, and hast eaten bread and drunk water in the place, of the which the LORD did say to thee, Eat no bread, and drink no water; thy carcase shall not come unto the sepulchre of thy fathers.\r\n And it came to pass, after he had eaten bread, and after he had drunk, that he saddled for him the ass, to wit, for the prophet whom he had brought back.\r\n And when he was gone, a lion met him by the way, and slew him: and his carcase was cast in the way, and the ass stood by it, the lion also stood by the carcase.\r\n And, behold, men passed by, and saw the carcase cast in the way, and the lion standing by the carcase: and they came and told it in the city where the old prophet dwelt.\r\n And when the prophet that brought him back from the way heard thereof, he said, It is the man of God, who was disobedient unto the word of the LORD: therefore the LORD hath delivered him unto the lion, which hath torn him, and slain him, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake unto him.\r\n And he spake to his sons, saying, Saddle me the ass. And they saddled him.\r\n And he went and found his carcase cast in the way, and the ass and the lion standing by the carcase: the lion had not eaten the carcase, nor torn the ass.\r\n And the prophet took up the carcase of the man of God, and laid it upon the ass, and brought it back: and the old prophet came to the city, to mourn and to bury him.\r\n And he laid his carcase in his own grave; and they mourned over him, saying, Alas, my brother!\r\n And it came to pass, after he had buried him, that he spake to his sons, saying, When I am dead, then bury me in the sepulchre wherein the man of God is buried; lay my bones beside his bones:\r\n For the saying which he cried by the word of the LORD against the altar in Bethel, and against all the houses of the high places which are in the cities of Samaria, shall surely come to pass.\r\n After this thing Jeroboam returned not from his evil way, but made again of the lowest of the people priests of the high places: whosoever would, he consecrated him, and he became one of the priests of the high places.\r\n And this thing became sin unto the house of Jeroboam, even to cut it off, and to destroy it from off the face of the earth.\r\n \r\n \r\n At that time Abijah the son of Jeroboam fell sick.\r\n And Jeroboam said to his wife, Arise, I pray thee, and disguise thyself, that thou be not known to be the wife of Jeroboam; and get thee to Shiloh: behold, there is Ahijah the prophet, which told me that I should be king over this people.\r\n And take with thee ten loaves, and cracknels, and a cruse of honey, and go to him: he shall tell thee what shall become of the child.\r\n And Jeroboam's wife did so, and arose, and went to Shiloh, and came to the house of Ahijah. But Ahijah could not see; for his eyes were set by reason of his age.\r\n And the LORD said unto Ahijah, Behold, the wife of Jeroboam cometh to ask a thing of thee for her son; for he is sick: thus and thus shalt thou say unto her: for it shall be, when she cometh in, that she shall feign herself to be another woman.\r\n And it was so, when Ahijah heard the sound of her feet, as she came in at the door, that he said, Come in, thou wife of Jeroboam; why feignest thou thyself to be another? for I am sent to thee with heavy tidings.\r\n Go, tell Jeroboam, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Forasmuch as I exalted thee from among the people, and made thee prince over my people Israel,\r\n And rent the kingdom away from the house of David, and gave it thee: and yet thou hast not been as my servant David, who kept my commandments, and who followed me with all his heart, to do that only which was right in mine eyes;\r\n But hast done evil above all that were before thee: for thou hast gone and made thee other gods, and molten images, to provoke me to anger, and hast cast me behind thy back:\r\n Therefore, behold, I will bring evil upon the house of Jeroboam, and will cut off from Jeroboam him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel, and will take away the remnant of the house of Jeroboam, as a man taketh away dung, till it be all gone.\r\n Him that dieth of Jeroboam in the city shall the dogs eat; and him that dieth in the field shall the fowls of the air eat: for the LORD hath spoken it.\r\n Arise thou therefore, get thee to thine own house: and when thy feet enter into the city, the child shall die.\r\n And all Israel shall mourn for him, and bury him: for he only of Jeroboam shall come to the grave, because in him there is found some good thing toward the LORD God of Israel in the house of Jeroboam.\r\n Moreover the LORD shall raise him up a king over Israel, who shall cut off the house of Jeroboam that day: but what? even now.\r\n For the LORD shall smite Israel, as a reed is shaken in the water, and he shall root up Israel out of this good land, which he gave to their fathers, and shall scatter them beyond the river, because they have made their groves, provoking the LORD to anger.\r\n And he shall give Israel up because of the sins of Jeroboam, who did sin, and who made Israel to sin.\r\n And Jeroboam's wife arose, and departed, and came to Tirzah: and when she came to the threshold of the door, the child died;\r\n And they buried him; and all Israel mourned for him, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by the hand of his servant Ahijah the prophet.\r\n And the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, how he warred, and how he reigned, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.\r\n And the days which Jeroboam reigned were two and twenty years: and he slept with his fathers, and Nadab his son reigned in his stead.\r\n And Rehoboam the son of Solomon reigned in Judah. Rehoboam was forty and one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which the LORD did choose out of all the tribes of Israel, to put his name there. And his mother's name was Naamah an Ammonitess.\r\n And Judah did evil in the sight of the LORD, and they provoked him to jealousy with their sins which they had committed, above all that their fathers had done.\r\n For they also built them high places, and images, and groves, on every high hill, and under every green tree.\r\n And there were also sodomites in the land: and they did according to all the abominations of the nations which the LORD cast out before the children of Israel.\r\n And it came to pass in the fifth year of king Rehoboam, that Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem:\r\n And he took away the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king's house; he even took away all: and he took away all the shields of gold which Solomon had made.\r\n And king Rehoboam made in their stead brasen shields, and committed them unto the hands of the chief of the guard, which kept the door of the king's house.\r\n And it was so, when the king went into the house of the LORD, that the guard bare them, and brought them back into the guard chamber.\r\n Now the rest of the acts of Rehoboam, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?\r\n And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all their days.\r\n And Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David. And his mother's name was Naamah an Ammonitess. And Abijam his son reigned in his stead.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam the son of Nebat reigned Abijam over Judah.\r\n Three years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom.\r\n And he walked in all the sins of his father, which he had done before him: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father.\r\n Nevertheless for David's sake did the LORD his God give him a lamp in Jerusalem, to set up his son after him, and to establish Jerusalem:\r\n Because David did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, and turned not aside from any thing that he commanded him all the days of his life, save only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.\r\n And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all the days of his life.\r\n Now the rest of the acts of Abijam, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? And there was war between Abijam and Jeroboam.\r\n And Abijam slept with his fathers; and they buried him in the city of David: and Asa his son reigned in his stead.\r\n And in the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel reigned Asa over Judah.\r\n And forty and one years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom.\r\n And Asa did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, as did David his father.\r\n And he took away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made.\r\n And also Maachah his mother, even her he removed from being queen, because she had made an idol in a grove; and Asa destroyed her idol, and burnt it by the brook Kidron.\r\n But the high places were not removed: nevertheless Asa's heart was perfect with the LORD all his days.\r\n And he brought in the things which his father had dedicated, and the things which himself had dedicated, into the house of the LORD, silver, and gold, and vessels.\r\n And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days.\r\n And Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah, and built Ramah, that he might not suffer any to go out or come in to Asa king of Judah.\r\n Then Asa took all the silver and the gold that were left in the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king's house, and delivered them into the hand of his servants: and king Asa sent them to Benhadad, the son of Tabrimon, the son of Hezion, king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying,\r\n There is a league between me and thee, and between my father and thy father: behold, I have sent unto thee a present of silver and gold; come and break thy league with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me.\r\n So Benhadad hearkened unto king Asa, and sent the captains of the hosts which he had against the cities of Israel, and smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abelbethmaachah, and all Cinneroth, with all the land of Naphtali.\r\n And it came to pass, when Baasha heard thereof, that he left off building of Ramah, and dwelt in Tirzah.\r\n Then king Asa made a proclamation throughout all Judah; none was exempted: and they took away the stones of Ramah, and the timber thereof, wherewith Baasha had builded; and king Asa built with them Geba of Benjamin, and Mizpah.\r\n The rest of all the acts of Asa, and all his might, and all that he did, and the cities which he built, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? Nevertheless in the time of his old age he was diseased in his feet.\r\n And Asa slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father: and Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead.\r\n And Nadab the son of Jeroboam began to reign over Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned over Israel two years.\r\n And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of his father, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin.\r\n And Baasha the son of Ahijah, of the house of Issachar, conspired against him; and Baasha smote him at Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines; for Nadab and all Israel laid siege to Gibbethon.\r\n Even in the third year of Asa king of Judah did Baasha slay him, and reigned in his stead.\r\n And it came to pass, when he reigned, that he smote all the house of Jeroboam; he left not to Jeroboam any that breathed, until he had destroyed him, according unto the saying of the LORD, which he spake by his servant Ahijah the Shilonite:\r\n Because of the sins of Jeroboam which he sinned, and which he made Israel sin, by his provocation wherewith he provoked the LORD God of Israel to anger.\r\n Now the rest of the acts of Nadab, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?\r\n And there was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days.\r\n In the third year of Asa king of Judah began Baasha the son of Ahijah to reign over all Israel in Tirzah, twenty and four years.\r\n And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then the word of the LORD came to Jehu the son of Hanani against Baasha, saying,\r\n Forasmuch as I exalted thee out of the dust, and made thee prince over my people Israel; and thou hast walked in the way of Jeroboam, and hast made my people Israel to sin, to provoke me to anger with their sins;\r\n Behold, I will take away the posterity of Baasha, and the posterity of his house; and will make thy house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat.\r\n Him that dieth of Baasha in the city shall the dogs eat; and him that dieth of his in the fields shall the fowls of the air eat.\r\n Now the rest of the acts of Baasha, and what he did, and his might, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?\r\n So Baasha slept with his fathers, and was buried in Tirzah: and Elah his son reigned in his stead.\r\n And also by the hand of the prophet Jehu the son of Hanani came the word of the LORD against Baasha, and against his house, even for all the evil that he did in the sight of the LORD, in provoking him to anger with the work of his hands, in being like the house of Jeroboam; and because he killed him.\r\n In the twenty and sixth year of Asa king of Judah began Elah the son of Baasha to reign over Israel in Tirzah, two years.\r\n And his servant Zimri, captain of half his chariots, conspired against him, as he was in Tirzah, drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza steward of his house in Tirzah.\r\n And Zimri went in and smote him, and killed him, in the twenty and seventh year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned in his stead.\r\n And it came to pass, when he began to reign, as soon as he sat on his throne, that he slew all the house of Baasha: he left him not one that pisseth against a wall, neither of his kinsfolks, nor of his friends.\r\n Thus did Zimri destroy all the house of Baasha, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake against Baasha by Jehu the prophet,\r\n For all the sins of Baasha, and the sins of Elah his son, by which they sinned, and by which they made Israel to sin, in provoking the LORD God of Israel to anger with their vanities.\r\n Now the rest of the acts of Elah, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?\r\n In the twenty and seventh year of Asa king of Judah did Zimri reign seven days in Tirzah. And the people were encamped against Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines.\r\n And the people that were encamped heard say, Zimri hath conspired, and hath also slain the king: wherefore all Israel made Omri, the captain of the host, king over Israel that day in the camp.\r\n And Omri went up from Gibbethon, and all Israel with him, and they besieged Tirzah.\r\n And it came to pass, when Zimri saw that the city was taken, that he went into the palace of the king's house, and burnt the king's house over him with fire, and died,\r\n For his sins which he sinned in doing evil in the sight of the LORD, in walking in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin which he did, to make Israel to sin.\r\n Now the rest of the acts of Zimri, and his treason that he wrought, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?\r\n Then were the people of Israel divided into two parts: half of the people followed Tibni the son of Ginath, to make him king; and half followed Omri.\r\n But the people that followed Omri prevailed against the people that followed Tibni the son of Ginath: so Tibni died, and Omri reigned.\r\n In the thirty and first year of Asa king of Judah began Omri to reign over Israel, twelve years: six years reigned he in Tirzah.\r\n And he bought the hill Samaria of Shemer for two talents of silver, and built on the hill, and called the name of the city which he built, after the name of Shemer, owner of the hill, Samaria.\r\n But Omri wrought evil in the eyes of the LORD, and did worse than all that were before him.\r\n For he walked in all the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin, to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger with their vanities.\r\n Now the rest of the acts of Omri which he did, and his might that he shewed, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?\r\n So Omri slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria: and Ahab his son reigned in his stead.\r\n And in the thirty and eighth year of Asa king of Judah began Ahab the son of Omri to reign over Israel: and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty and two years.\r\n And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD above all that were before him.\r\n And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him.\r\n And he reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria.\r\n And Ahab made a grove; and Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him.\r\n In his days did Hiel the Bethelite build Jericho: he laid the foundation thereof in Abiram his firstborn, and set up the gates thereof in his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Joshua the son of Nun.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.\r\n And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying,\r\n Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.\r\n And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there.\r\n So he went and did according unto the word of the LORD: for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.\r\n And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook.\r\n And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land.\r\n And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying,\r\n Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee.\r\n So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.\r\n And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand.\r\n And she said, As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.\r\n And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son.\r\n For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth.\r\n And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days.\r\n And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Elijah.\r\n And it came to pass after these things, that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, fell sick; and his sickness was so sore, that there was no breath left in him.\r\n And she said unto Elijah, What have I to do with thee, O thou man of God? art thou come unto me to call my sin to remembrance, and to slay my son?\r\n And he said unto her, Give me thy son. And he took him out of her bosom, and carried him up into a loft, where he abode, and laid him upon his own bed.\r\n And he cried unto the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, hast thou also brought evil upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying her son?\r\n And he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried unto the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, I pray thee, let this child's soul come into him again.\r\n And the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived.\r\n And Elijah took the child, and brought him down out of the chamber into the house, and delivered him unto his mother: and Elijah said, See, thy son liveth.\r\n And the woman said to Elijah, Now by this I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in thy mouth is truth.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass after many days, that the word of the LORD came to Elijah in the third year, saying, Go, shew thyself unto Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth.\r\n And Elijah went to shew himself unto Ahab. And there was a sore famine in Samaria.\r\n And Ahab called Obadiah, which was the governor of his house. (Now Obadiah feared the LORD greatly:\r\n For it was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the LORD, that Obadiah took an hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water.)\r\n And Ahab said unto Obadiah, Go into the land, unto all fountains of water, and unto all brooks: peradventure we may find grass to save the horses and mules alive, that we lose not all the beasts.\r\n So they divided the land between them to pass throughout it: Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself.\r\n And as Obadiah was in the way, behold, Elijah met him: and he knew him, and fell on his face, and said, Art thou that my lord Elijah?\r\n And he answered him, I am: go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here.\r\n And he said, What have I sinned, that thou wouldest deliver thy servant into the hand of Ahab, to slay me?\r\n As the LORD thy God liveth, there is no nation or kingdom, whither my lord hath not sent to seek thee: and when they said, He is not there; he took an oath of the kingdom and nation, that they found thee not.\r\n And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here.\r\n And it shall come to pass, as soon as I am gone from thee, that the Spirit of the LORD shall carry thee whither I know not; and so when I come and tell Ahab, and he cannot find thee, he shall slay me: but I thy servant fear the LORD from my youth.\r\n Was it not told my lord what I did when Jezebel slew the prophets of the LORD, how I hid an hundred men of the LORD'S prophets by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water?\r\n And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here: and he shall slay me.\r\n And Elijah said, As the LORD of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, I will surely shew myself unto him to day.\r\n So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him: and Ahab went to meet Elijah.\r\n And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel?\r\n And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and thou hast followed Baalim.\r\n Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel's table.\r\n So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel.\r\n And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.\r\n Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the LORD; but Baal's prophets are four hundred and fifty men.\r\n Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under:\r\n And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken.\r\n And Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal, Choose you one bullock for yourselves, and dress it first; for ye are many; and call on the name of your gods, but put no fire under.\r\n And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made.\r\n And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked.\r\n And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them.\r\n And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded.\r\n And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down.\r\n And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came, saying, Israel shall be thy name:\r\n And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed.\r\n And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood.\r\n And he said, Do it the second time. And they did it the second time. And he said, Do it the third time. And they did it the third time.\r\n And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water.\r\n And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word.\r\n Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again.\r\n Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.\r\n And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God.\r\n And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. And they took them: and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there.\r\n And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain.\r\n So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees,\r\n And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times.\r\n And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not.\r\n And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel.\r\n And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword.\r\n Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time.\r\n And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there.\r\n But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.\r\n And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat.\r\n And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again.\r\n And the angel of the LORD came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee.\r\n And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.\r\n And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?\r\n And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.\r\n And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake:\r\n And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.\r\n And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?\r\n And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.\r\n And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria:\r\n And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room.\r\n And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay.\r\n Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.\r\n So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him.\r\n And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee. And he said unto him, Go back again: for what have I done to thee?\r\n And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Benhadad the king of Syria gathered all his host together: and there were thirty and two kings with him, and horses, and chariots: and he went up and besieged Samaria, and warred against it.\r\n And he sent messengers to Ahab king of Israel into the city, and said unto him, Thus saith Benhadad,\r\n Thy silver and thy gold is mine; thy wives also and thy children, even the goodliest, are mine.\r\n And the king of Israel answered and said, My lord, O king, according to thy saying, I am thine, and all that I have.\r\n And the messengers came again, and said, Thus speaketh Benhadad, saying, Although I have sent unto thee, saying, Thou shalt deliver me thy silver, and thy gold, and thy wives, and thy children;\r\n Yet I will send my servants unto thee to morrow about this time, and they shall search thine house, and the houses of thy servants; and it shall be, that whatsoever is pleasant in thine eyes, they shall put it in their hand, and take it away.\r\n Then the king of Israel called all the elders of the land, and said, Mark, I pray you, and see how this man seeketh mischief: for he sent unto me for my wives, and for my children, and for my silver, and for my gold; and I denied him not.\r\n And all the elders and all the people said unto him, Hearken not unto him, nor consent.\r\n Wherefore he said unto the messengers of Benhadad, Tell my lord the king, All that thou didst send for to thy servant at the first I will do: but this thing I may not do. And the messengers departed, and brought him word again.\r\n And Benhadad sent unto him, and said, The gods do so unto me, and more also, if the dust of Samaria shall suffice for handfuls for all the people that follow me.\r\n And the king of Israel answered and said, Tell him, Let not him that girdeth on his harness boast himself as he that putteth it off.\r\n And it came to pass, when Benhadad heard this message, as he was drinking, he and the kings in the pavilions, that he said unto his servants, Set yourselves in array. And they set themselves in array against the city.\r\n And, behold, there came a prophet unto Ahab king of Israel, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Hast thou seen all this great multitude? behold, I will deliver it into thine hand this day; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD.\r\n And Ahab said, By whom? And he said, Thus saith the LORD, Even by the young men of the princes of the provinces. Then he said, Who shall order the battle? And he answered, Thou.\r\n Then he numbered the young men of the princes of the provinces, and they were two hundred and thirty two: and after them he numbered all the people, even all the children of Israel, being seven thousand.\r\n And they went out at noon. But Benhadad was drinking himself drunk in the pavilions, he and the kings, the thirty and two kings that helped him.\r\n And the young men of the princes of the provinces went out first; and Benhadad sent out, and they told him, saying, There are men come out of Samaria.\r\n And he said, Whether they be come out for peace, take them alive; or whether they be come out for war, take them alive.\r\n So these young men of the princes of the provinces came out of the city, and the army which followed them.\r\n And they slew every one his man: and the Syrians fled; and Israel pursued them: and Benhadad the king of Syria escaped on an horse with the horsemen.\r\n And the king of Israel went out, and smote the horses and chariots, and slew the Syrians with a great slaughter.\r\n And the prophet came to the king of Israel, and said unto him, Go, strengthen thyself, and mark, and see what thou doest: for at the return of the year the king of Syria will come up against thee.\r\n And the servants of the king of Syria said unto him, Their gods are gods of the hills; therefore they were stronger than we; but let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they.\r\n And do this thing, Take the kings away, every man out of his place, and put captains in their rooms:\r\n And number thee an army, like the army that thou hast lost, horse for horse, and chariot for chariot: and we will fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they. And he hearkened unto their voice, and did so.\r\n And it came to pass at the return of the year, that Benhadad numbered the Syrians, and went up to Aphek, to fight against Israel.\r\n And the children of Israel were numbered, and were all present, and went against them: and the children of Israel pitched before them like two little flocks of kids; but the Syrians filled the country.\r\n And there came a man of God, and spake unto the king of Israel, and said, Thus saith the LORD, Because the Syrians have said, The LORD is God of the hills, but he is not God of the valleys, therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into thine hand, and ye shall know that I am the LORD.\r\n And they pitched one over against the other seven days. And so it was, that in the seventh day the battle was joined: and the children of Israel slew of the Syrians an hundred thousand footmen in one day.\r\n But the rest fled to Aphek, into the city; and there a wall fell upon twenty and seven thousand of the men that were left. And Benhadad fled, and came into the city, into an inner chamber.\r\n And his servants said unto him, Behold now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings: let us, I pray thee, put sackcloth on our loins, and ropes upon our heads, and go out to the king of Israel: peradventure he will save thy life.\r\n So they girded sackcloth on their loins, and put ropes on their heads, and came to the king of Israel, and said, Thy servant Benhadad saith, I pray thee, let me live. And he said, Is he yet alive? he is my brother.\r\n Now the men did diligently observe whether any thing would come from him, and did hastily catch it: and they said, Thy brother Benhadad. Then he said, Go ye, bring him. Then Benhadad came forth to him; and he caused him to come up into the chariot.\r\n And Benhadad said unto him, The cities, which my father took from thy father, I will restore; and thou shalt make streets for thee in Damascus, as my father made in Samaria. Then said Ahab, I will send thee away with this covenant. So he made a covenant with him, and sent him away.\r\n And a certain man of the sons of the prophets said unto his neighbour in the word of the LORD, Smite me, I pray thee. And the man refused to smite him.\r\n Then said he unto him, Because thou hast not obeyed the voice of the LORD, behold, as soon as thou art departed from me, a lion shall slay thee. And as soon as he was departed from him, a lion found him, and slew him.\r\n Then he found another man, and said, Smite me, I pray thee. And the man smote him, so that in smiting he wounded him.\r\n So the prophet departed, and waited for the king by the way, and disguised himself with ashes upon his face.\r\n And as the king passed by, he cried unto the king: and he said, Thy servant went out into the midst of the battle; and, behold, a man turned aside, and brought a man unto me, and said, Keep this man: if by any means he be missing, then shall thy life be for his life, or else thou shalt pay a talent of silver.\r\n And as thy servant was busy here and there, he was gone. And the king of Israel said unto him, So shall thy judgment be; thyself hast decided it.\r\n And he hasted, and took the ashes away from his face; and the king of Israel discerned him that he was of the prophets.\r\n And he said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Because thou hast let go out of thy hand a man whom I appointed to utter destruction, therefore thy life shall go for his life, and thy people for his people.\r\n And the king of Israel went to his house heavy and displeased, and came to Samaria.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass after these things, that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard, which was in Jezreel, hard by the palace of Ahab king of Samaria.\r\n And Ahab spake unto Naboth, saying, Give me thy vineyard, that I may have it for a garden of herbs, because it is near unto my house: and I will give thee for it a better vineyard than it; or, if it seem good to thee, I will give thee the worth of it in money.\r\n And Naboth said to Ahab, The LORD forbid it me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers unto thee.\r\n And Ahab came into his house heavy and displeased because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him: for he had said, I will not give thee the inheritance of my fathers. And he laid him down upon his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no bread.\r\n But Jezebel his wife came to him, and said unto him, Why is thy spirit so sad, that thou eatest no bread?\r\n And he said unto her, Because I spake unto Naboth the Jezreelite, and said unto him, Give me thy vineyard for money; or else, if it please thee, I will give thee another vineyard for it: and he answered, I will not give thee my vineyard.\r\n And Jezebel his wife said unto him, Dost thou now govern the kingdom of Israel? arise, and eat bread, and let thine heart be merry: I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.\r\n So she wrote letters in Ahab's name, and sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters unto the elders and to the nobles that were in his city, dwelling with Naboth.\r\n And she wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people:\r\n And set two men, sons of Belial, before him, to bear witness against him, saying, Thou didst blaspheme God and the king. And then carry him out, and stone him, that he may die.\r\n And the men of his city, even the elders and the nobles who were the inhabitants in his city, did as Jezebel had sent unto them, and as it was written in the letters which she had sent unto them.\r\n They proclaimed a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people.\r\n And there came in two men, children of Belial, and sat before him: and the men of Belial witnessed against him, even against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, Naboth did blaspheme God and the king. Then they carried him forth out of the city, and stoned him with stones, that he died.\r\n Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, Naboth is stoned, and is dead.\r\n And it came to pass, when Jezebel heard that Naboth was stoned, and was dead, that Jezebel said to Ahab, Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give thee for money: for Naboth is not alive, but dead.\r\n And it came to pass, when Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, that Ahab rose up to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it.\r\n And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying,\r\n Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, which is in Samaria: behold, he is in the vineyard of Naboth, whither he is gone down to possess it.\r\n And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Hast thou killed, and also taken possession? And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the LORD, In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick thy blood, even thine.\r\n And Ahab said to Elijah, Hast thou found me, O mine enemy? And he answered, I have found thee: because thou hast sold thyself to work evil in the sight of the LORD.\r\n Behold, I will bring evil upon thee, and will take away thy posterity, and will cut off from Ahab him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel,\r\n And will make thine house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, for the provocation wherewith thou hast provoked me to anger, and made Israel to sin.\r\n And of Jezebel also spake the LORD, saying, The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.\r\n Him that dieth of Ahab in the city the dogs shall eat; and him that dieth in the field shall the fowls of the air eat.\r\n But there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the LORD, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up.\r\n And he did very abominably in following idols, according to all things as did the Amorites, whom the LORD cast out before the children of Israel.\r\n And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly.\r\n And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying,\r\n Seest thou how Ahab humbleth himself before me? because he humbleth himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his days: but in his son's days will I bring the evil upon his house.\r\n \r\n \r\n And they continued three years without war between Syria and Israel.\r\n And it came to pass in the third year, that Jehoshaphat the king of Judah came down to the king of Israel.\r\n And the king of Israel said unto his servants, Know ye that Ramoth in Gilead is ours, and we be still, and take it not out of the hand of the king of Syria?\r\n And he said unto Jehoshaphat, Wilt thou go with me to battle to Ramothgilead? And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, I am as thou art, my people as thy people, my horses as thy horses.\r\n And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Enquire, I pray thee, at the word of the LORD to day.\r\n Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall I go against Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for the Lord shall deliver it into the hand of the king.\r\n And Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD besides, that we might enquire of him?\r\n And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may enquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.\r\n Then the king of Israel called an officer, and said, Hasten hither Micaiah the son of Imlah.\r\n And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah sat each on his throne, having put on their robes, in a void place in the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them.\r\n And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made him horns of iron: and he said, Thus saith the LORD, With these shalt thou push the Syrians, until thou have consumed them.\r\n And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramothgilead, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver it into the king's hand.\r\n And the messenger that was gone to call Micaiah spake unto him, saying, Behold now, the words of the prophets declare good unto the king with one mouth: let thy word, I pray thee, be like the word of one of them, and speak that which is good.\r\n And Micaiah said, As the LORD liveth, what the LORD saith unto me, that will I speak.\r\n So he came to the king. And the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go against Ramothgilead to battle, or shall we forbear? And he answered him, Go, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver it into the hand of the king.\r\n And the king said unto him, How many times shall I adjure thee that thou tell me nothing but that which is true in the name of the LORD?\r\n And he said, I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd: and the LORD said, These have no master: let them return every man to his house in peace.\r\n And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would prophesy no good concerning me, but evil?\r\n And he said, Hear thou therefore the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left.\r\n And the LORD said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner.\r\n And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will persuade him.\r\n And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so.\r\n Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil concerning thee.\r\n But Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah went near, and smote Micaiah on the cheek, and said, Which way went the Spirit of the LORD from me to speak unto thee?\r\n And Micaiah said, Behold, thou shalt see in that day, when thou shalt go into an inner chamber to hide thyself.\r\n And the king of Israel said, Take Micaiah, and carry him back unto Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king's son;\r\n And say, Thus saith the king, Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I come in peace.\r\n And Micaiah said, If thou return at all in peace, the LORD hath not spoken by me. And he said, Hearken, O people, every one of you.\r\n So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramothgilead.\r\n And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, and enter into the battle; but put thou on thy robes. And the king of Israel disguised himself, and went into the battle.\r\n But the king of Syria commanded his thirty and two captains that had rule over his chariots, saying, Fight neither with small nor great, save only with the king of Israel.\r\n And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, Surely it is the king of Israel. And they turned aside to fight against him: and Jehoshaphat cried out.\r\n And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots perceived that it was not the king of Israel, that they turned back from pursuing him.\r\n And a certain man drew a bow at a venture, and smote the king of Israel between the joints of the harness: wherefore he said unto the driver of his chariot, Turn thine hand, and carry me out of the host; for I am wounded.\r\n And the battle increased that day: and the king was stayed up in his chariot against the Syrians, and died at even: and the blood ran out of the wound into the midst of the chariot.\r\n And there went a proclamation throughout the host about the going down of the sun, saying, Every man to his city, and every man to his own country.\r\n So the king died, and was brought to Samaria; and they buried the king in Samaria.\r\n And one washed the chariot in the pool of Samaria; and the dogs licked up his blood; and they washed his armour; according unto the word of the LORD which he spake.\r\n Now the rest of the acts of Ahab, and all that he did, and the ivory house which he made, and all the cities that he built, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?\r\n So Ahab slept with his fathers; and Ahaziah his son reigned in his stead.\r\n And Jehoshaphat the son of Asa began to reign over Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel.\r\n Jehoshaphat was thirty and five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty and five years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi.\r\n And he walked in all the ways of Asa his father; he turned not aside from it, doing that which was right in the eyes of the LORD: nevertheless the high places were not taken away; for the people offered and burnt incense yet in the high places.\r\n And Jehoshaphat made peace with the king of Israel.\r\n Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, and his might that he shewed, and how he warred, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?\r\n And the remnant of the sodomites, which remained in the days of his father Asa, he took out of the land.\r\n There was then no king in Edom: a deputy was king.\r\n Jehoshaphat made ships of Tharshish to go to Ophir for gold: but they went not; for the ships were broken at Eziongeber.\r\n Then said Ahaziah the son of Ahab unto Jehoshaphat, Let my servants go with thy servants in the ships. But Jehoshaphat would not.\r\n And Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father: and Jehoram his son reigned in his stead.\r\n Ahaziah the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned two years over Israel.\r\n And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of his father, and in the way of his mother, and in the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin:\r\n For he served Baal, and worshipped him, and provoked to anger the LORD God of Israel, according to all that his father had done.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n Then Moab rebelled against Israel after the death of Ahab.\r\n And Ahaziah fell down through a lattice in his upper chamber that was in Samaria, and was sick: and he sent messengers, and said unto them, Go, enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron whether I shall recover of this disease.\r\n But the angel of the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite, Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say unto them, Is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that ye go to enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron?\r\n Now therefore thus saith the LORD, Thou shalt not come down from that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die. And Elijah departed.\r\n And when the messengers turned back unto him, he said unto them, Why are ye now turned back?\r\n And they said unto him, There came a man up to meet us, and said unto us, Go, turn again unto the king that sent you, and say unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that thou sendest to enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron? therefore thou shalt not come down from that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die.\r\n And he said unto them, What manner of man was he which came up to meet you, and told you these words?\r\n And they answered him, He was an hairy man, and girt with a girdle of leather about his loins. And he said, It is Elijah the Tishbite.\r\n Then the king sent unto him a captain of fifty with his fifty. And he went up to him: and, behold, he sat on the top of an hill. And he spake unto him, Thou man of God, the king hath said, Come down.\r\n And Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, If I be a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And there came down fire from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty.\r\n Again also he sent unto him another captain of fifty with his fifty. And he answered and said unto him, O man of God, thus hath the king said, Come down quickly.\r\n And Elijah answered and said unto them, If I be a man of God, let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And the fire of God came down from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty.\r\n And he sent again a captain of the third fifty with his fifty. And the third captain of fifty went up, and came and fell on his knees before Elijah, and besought him, and said unto him, O man of God, I pray thee, let my life, and the life of these fifty thy servants, be precious in thy sight.\r\n Behold, there came fire down from heaven, and burnt up the two captains of the former fifties with their fifties: therefore let my life now be precious in thy sight.\r\n And the angel of the LORD said unto Elijah, Go down with him: be not afraid of him. And he arose, and went down with him unto the king.\r\n And he said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Forasmuch as thou hast sent messengers to enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron, is it not because there is no God in Israel to enquire of his word? therefore thou shalt not come down off that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die.\r\n So he died according to the word of the LORD which Elijah had spoken. And Jehoram reigned in his stead in the second year of Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah; because he had no son.\r\n Now the rest of the acts of Ahaziah which he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass, when the LORD would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.\r\n And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Bethel. And Elisha said unto him, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Bethel.\r\n And the sons of the prophets that were at Bethel came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he said, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.\r\n And Elijah said unto him, Elisha, tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Jericho. And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they came to Jericho.\r\n And the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho came to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he answered, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.\r\n And Elijah said unto him, Tarry, I pray thee, here; for the LORD hath sent me to Jordan. And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And they two went on.\r\n And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood to view afar off: and they two stood by Jordan.\r\n And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground.\r\n And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.\r\n And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so.\r\n And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.\r\n And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces.\r\n He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan;\r\n And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the LORD God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over.\r\n And when the sons of the prophets which were to view at Jericho saw him, they said, The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha. And they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him.\r\n And they said unto him, Behold now, there be with thy servants fifty strong men; let them go, we pray thee, and seek thy master: lest peradventure the Spirit of the LORD hath taken him up, and cast him upon some mountain, or into some valley. And he said, Ye shall not send.\r\n And when they urged him till he was ashamed, he said, Send. They sent therefore fifty men; and they sought three days, but found him not.\r\n And when they came again to him, (for he tarried at Jericho,) he said unto them, Did I not say unto you, Go not?\r\n And the men of the city said unto Elisha, Behold, I pray thee, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord seeth: but the water is naught, and the ground barren.\r\n And he said, Bring me a new cruse, and put salt therein. And they brought it to him.\r\n And he went forth unto the spring of the waters, and cast the salt in there, and said, Thus saith the LORD, I have healed these waters; there shall not be from thence any more death or barren land.\r\n So the waters were healed unto this day, according to the saying of Elisha which he spake.\r\n And he went up from thence unto Bethel: and as he was going up by the way, there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head.\r\n And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the LORD. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them.\r\n And he went from thence to mount Carmel, and from thence he returned to Samaria.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now Jehoram the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned twelve years.\r\n And he wrought evil in the sight of the LORD; but not like his father, and like his mother: for he put away the image of Baal that his father had made.\r\n Nevertheless he cleaved unto the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel to sin; he departed not therefrom.\r\n And Mesha king of Moab was a sheepmaster, and rendered unto the king of Israel an hundred thousand lambs, and an hundred thousand rams, with the wool.\r\n But it came to pass, when Ahab was dead, that the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel.\r\n And king Jehoram went out of Samaria the same time, and numbered all Israel.\r\n And he went and sent to Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, saying, The king of Moab hath rebelled against me: wilt thou go with me against Moab to battle? And he said, I will go up: I am as thou art, my people as thy people, and my horses as thy horses.\r\n And he said, Which way shall we go up? And he answered, The way through the wilderness of Edom.\r\n So the king of Israel went, and the king of Judah, and the king of Edom: and they fetched a compass of seven days' journey: and there was no water for the host, and for the cattle that followed them.\r\n And the king of Israel said, Alas! that the LORD hath called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab!\r\n But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD, that we may enquire of the LORD by him? And one of the king of Israel's servants answered and said, Here is Elisha the son of Shaphat, which poured water on the hands of Elijah.\r\n And Jehoshaphat said, The word of the LORD is with him. So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him.\r\n And Elisha said unto the king of Israel, What have I to do with thee? get thee to the prophets of thy father, and to the prophets of thy mother. And the king of Israel said unto him, Nay: for the LORD hath called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab.\r\n And Elisha said, As the LORD of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, surely, were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look toward thee, nor see thee.\r\n But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him.\r\n And he said, Thus saith the LORD, Make this valley full of ditches.\r\n For thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not see wind, neither shall ye see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, that ye may drink, both ye, and your cattle, and your beasts.\r\n And this is but a light thing in the sight of the LORD: he will deliver the Moabites also into your hand.\r\n And ye shall smite every fenced city, and every choice city, and shall fell every good tree, and stop all wells of water, and mar every good piece of land with stones.\r\n And it came to pass in the morning, when the meat offering was offered, that, behold, there came water by the way of Edom, and the country was filled with water.\r\n And when all the Moabites heard that the kings were come up to fight against them, they gathered all that were able to put on armour, and upward, and stood in the border.\r\n And they rose up early in the morning, and the sun shone upon the water, and the Moabites saw the water on the other side as red as blood:\r\n And they said, This is blood: the kings are surely slain, and they have smitten one another: now therefore, Moab, to the spoil.\r\n And when they came to the camp of Israel, the Israelites rose up and smote the Moabites, so that they fled before them: but they went forward smiting the Moabites, even in their country.\r\n And they beat down the cities, and on every good piece of land cast every man his stone, and filled it; and they stopped all the wells of water, and felled all the good trees: only in Kirharaseth left they the stones thereof; howbeit the slingers went about it, and smote it.\r\n And when the king of Moab saw that the battle was too sore for him, he took with him seven hundred men that drew swords, to break through even unto the king of Edom: but they could not.\r\n Then he took his eldest son that should have reigned in his stead, and offered him for a burnt offering upon the wall. And there was great indignation against Israel: and they departed from him, and returned to their own land.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the LORD: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen.\r\n And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil.\r\n Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.\r\n And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full.\r\n So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured out.\r\n And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed.\r\n Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest.\r\n And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. And so it was, that as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread.\r\n And she said unto her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this is an holy man of God, which passeth by us continually.\r\n Let us make a little chamber, I pray thee, on the wall; and let us set for him there a bed, and a table, and a stool, and a candlestick: and it shall be, when he cometh to us, that he shall turn in thither.\r\n And it fell on a day, that he came thither, and he turned into the chamber, and lay there.\r\n And he said to Gehazi his servant, Call this Shunammite. And when he had called her, she stood before him.\r\n And he said unto him, Say now unto her, Behold, thou hast been careful for us with all this care; what is to be done for thee? wouldest thou be spoken for to the king, or to the captain of the host? And she answered, I dwell among mine own people.\r\n And he said, What then is to be done for her? And Gehazi answered, Verily she hath no child, and her husband is old.\r\n And he said, Call her. And when he had called her, she stood in the door.\r\n And he said, About this season, according to the time of life, thou shalt embrace a son. And she said, Nay, my lord, thou man of God, do not lie unto thine handmaid.\r\n And the woman conceived, and bare a son at that season that Elisha had said unto her, according to the time of life.\r\n And when the child was grown, it fell on a day, that he went out to his father to the reapers.\r\n And he said unto his father, My head, my head. And he said to a lad, Carry him to his mother.\r\n And when he had taken him, and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees till noon, and then died.\r\n And she went up, and laid him on the bed of the man of God, and shut the door upon him, and went out.\r\n And she called unto her husband, and said, Send me, I pray thee, one of the young men, and one of the asses, that I may run to the man of God, and come again.\r\n And he said, Wherefore wilt thou go to him to day? it is neither new moon, nor sabbath. And she said, It shall be well.\r\n Then she saddled an ass, and said to her servant, Drive, and go forward; slack not thy riding for me, except I bid thee.\r\n So she went and came unto the man of God to mount Carmel. And it came to pass, when the man of God saw her afar off, that he said to Gehazi his servant, Behold, yonder is that Shunammite:\r\n Run now, I pray thee, to meet her, and say unto her, Is it well with thee? is it well with thy husband? is it well with the child? And she answered, It is well.\r\n And when she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught him by the feet: but Gehazi came near to thrust her away. And the man of God said, Let her alone; for her soul is vexed within her: and the LORD hath hid it from me, and hath not told me.\r\n Then she said, Did I desire a son of my lord? did I not say, Do not deceive me?\r\n Then he said to Gehazi, Gird up thy loins, and take my staff in thine hand, and go thy way: if thou meet any man, salute him not; and if any salute thee, answer him not again: and lay my staff upon the face of the child.\r\n And the mother of the child said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And he arose, and followed her.\r\n And Gehazi passed on before them, and laid the staff upon the face of the child; but there was neither voice, nor hearing. Wherefore he went again to meet him, and told him, saying, The child is not awaked.\r\n And when Elisha was come into the house, behold, the child was dead, and laid upon his bed.\r\n He went in therefore, and shut the door upon them twain, and prayed unto the LORD.\r\n And he went up, and lay upon the child, and put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands: and he stretched himself upon the child; and the flesh of the child waxed warm.\r\n Then he returned, and walked in the house to and fro; and went up, and stretched himself upon him: and the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes.\r\n And he called Gehazi, and said, Call this Shunammite. So he called her. And when she was come in unto him, he said, Take up thy son.\r\n Then she went in, and fell at his feet, and bowed herself to the ground, and took up her son, and went out.\r\n And Elisha came again to Gilgal: and there was a dearth in the land; and the sons of the prophets were sitting before him: and he said unto his servant, Set on the great pot, and seethe pottage for the sons of the prophets.\r\n And one went out into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild vine, and gathered thereof wild gourds his lap full, and came and shred them into the pot of pottage: for they knew them not.\r\n So they poured out for the men to eat. And it came to pass, as they were eating of the pottage, that they cried out, and said, O thou man of God, there is death in the pot. And they could not eat thereof.\r\n But he said, Then bring meal. And he cast it into the pot; and he said, Pour out for the people, that they may eat. And there was no harm in the pot.\r\n And there came a man from Baalshalisha, and brought the man of God bread of the firstfruits, twenty loaves of barley, and full ears of corn in the husk thereof. And he said, Give unto the people, that they may eat.\r\n And his servitor said, What, should I set this before an hundred men? He said again, Give the people, that they may eat: for thus saith the LORD, They shall eat, and shall leave thereof.\r\n So he set it before them, and they did eat, and left thereof, according to the word of the LORD.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honourable, because by him the LORD had given deliverance unto Syria: he was also a mighty man in valour, but he was a leper.\r\n And the Syrians had gone out by companies, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maid; and she waited on Naaman's wife.\r\n And she said unto her mistress, Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy.\r\n And one went in, and told his lord, saying, Thus and thus said the maid that is of the land of Israel.\r\n And the king of Syria said, Go to, go, and I will send a letter unto the king of Israel. And he departed, and took with him ten talents of silver, and six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of raiment.\r\n And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, saying, Now when this letter is come unto thee, behold, I have therewith sent Naaman my servant to thee, that thou mayest recover him of his leprosy.\r\n And it came to pass, when the king of Israel had read the letter, that he rent his clothes, and said, Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man doth send unto me to recover a man of his leprosy? wherefore consider, I pray you, and see how he seeketh a quarrel against me.\r\n And it was so, when Elisha the man of God had heard that the king of Israel had rent his clothes, that he sent to the king, saying, Wherefore hast thou rent thy clothes? let him come now to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel.\r\n So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariot, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha.\r\n And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean.\r\n But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the LORD his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper.\r\n Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage.\r\n And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean?\r\n Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.\r\n And he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him: and he said, Behold, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel: now therefore, I pray thee, take a blessing of thy servant.\r\n But he said, As the LORD liveth, before whom I stand, I will receive none. And he urged him to take it; but he refused.\r\n And Naaman said, Shall there not then, I pray thee, be given to thy servant two mules' burden of earth? for thy servant will henceforth offer neither burnt offering nor sacrifice unto other gods, but unto the LORD.\r\n In this thing the LORD pardon thy servant, that when my master goeth into the house of Rimmon to worship there, and he leaneth on my hand, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon: when I bow down myself in the house of Rimmon, the LORD pardon thy servant in this thing.\r\n And he said unto him, Go in peace. So he departed from him a little way.\r\n But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold, my master hath spared Naaman this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought: but, as the LORD liveth, I will run after him, and take somewhat of him.\r\n So Gehazi followed after Naaman. And when Naaman saw him running after him, he lighted down from the chariot to meet him, and said, Is all well?\r\n And he said, All is well. My master hath sent me, saying, Behold, even now there be come to me from mount Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets: give them, I pray thee, a talent of silver, and two changes of garments.\r\n And Naaman said, Be content, take two talents. And he urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of garments, and laid them upon two of his servants; and they bare them before him.\r\n And when he came to the tower, he took them from their hand, and bestowed them in the house: and he let the men go, and they departed.\r\n But he went in, and stood before his master. And Elisha said unto him, Whence comest thou, Gehazi? And he said, Thy servant went no whither.\r\n And he said unto him, Went not mine heart with thee, when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee? Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants?\r\n The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever. And he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the sons of the prophets said unto Elisha, Behold now, the place where we dwell with thee is too strait for us.\r\n Let us go, we pray thee, unto Jordan, and take thence every man a beam, and let us make us a place there, where we may dwell. And he answered, Go ye.\r\n And one said, Be content, I pray thee, and go with thy servants. And he answered, I will go.\r\n So he went with them. And when they came to Jordan, they cut down wood.\r\n But as one was felling a beam, the axe head fell into the water: and he cried, and said, Alas, master! for it was borrowed.\r\n And the man of God said, Where fell it? And he shewed him the place. And he cut down a stick, and cast it in thither; and the iron did swim.\r\n Therefore said he, Take it up to thee. And he put out his hand, and took it.\r\n Then the king of Syria warred against Israel, and took counsel with his servants, saying, In such and such a place shall be my camp.\r\n And the man of God sent unto the king of Israel, saying, Beware that thou pass not such a place; for thither the Syrians are come down.\r\n And the king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God told him and warned him of, and saved himself there, not once nor twice.\r\n Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was sore troubled for this thing; and he called his servants, and said unto them, Will ye not shew me which of us is for the king of Israel?\r\n And one of his servants said, None, my lord, O king: but Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that thou speakest in thy bedchamber.\r\n And he said, Go and spy where he is, that I may send and fetch him. And it was told him, saying, Behold, he is in Dothan.\r\n Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about.\r\n And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?\r\n And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.\r\n And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.\r\n And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the LORD, and said, Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness. And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.\r\n And Elisha said unto them, This is not the way, neither is this the city: follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom ye seek. But he led them to Samaria.\r\n And it came to pass, when they were come into Samaria, that Elisha said, LORD, open the eyes of these men, that they may see. And the LORD opened their eyes, and they saw; and, behold, they were in the midst of Samaria.\r\n And the king of Israel said unto Elisha, when he saw them, My father, shall I smite them? shall I smite them?\r\n And he answered, Thou shalt not smite them: wouldest thou smite those whom thou hast taken captive with thy sword and with thy bow? set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink, and go to their master.\r\n And he prepared great provision for them: and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. So the bands of Syria came no more into the land of Israel.\r\n And it came to pass after this, that Benhadad king of Syria gathered all his host, and went up, and besieged Samaria.\r\n And there was a great famine in Samaria: and, behold, they besieged it, until an ass's head was sold for fourscore pieces of silver, and the fourth part of a cab of dove's dung for five pieces of silver.\r\n And as the king of Israel was passing by upon the wall, there cried a woman unto him, saying, Help, my lord, O king.\r\n And he said, If the LORD do not help thee, whence shall I help thee? out of the barnfloor, or out of the winepress?\r\n And the king said unto her, What aileth thee? And she answered, This woman said unto me, Give thy son, that we may eat him to day, and we will eat my son to morrow.\r\n So we boiled my son, and did eat him: and I said unto her on the next day, Give thy son, that we may eat him: and she hath hid her son.\r\n And it came to pass, when the king heard the words of the woman, that he rent his clothes; and he passed by upon the wall, and the people looked, and, behold, he had sackcloth within upon his flesh.\r\n Then he said, God do so and more also to me, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat shall stand on him this day.\r\n But Elisha sat in his house, and the elders sat with him; and the king sent a man from before him: but ere the messenger came to him, he said to the elders, See ye how this son of a murderer hath sent to take away mine head? look, when the messenger cometh, shut the door, and hold him fast at the door: is not the sound of his master's feet behind him?\r\n And while he yet talked with them, behold, the messenger came down unto him: and he said, Behold, this evil is of the LORD; what should I wait for the LORD any longer?\r\n \r\n \r\n Then Elisha said, Hear ye the word of the LORD; Thus saith the LORD, To morrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria.\r\n Then a lord on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God, and said, Behold, if the LORD would make windows in heaven, might this thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof.\r\n And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die?\r\n If we say, We will enter into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there: and if we sit still here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let us fall unto the host of the Syrians: if they save us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die.\r\n And they rose up in the twilight, to go unto the camp of the Syrians: and when they were come to the uttermost part of the camp of Syria, behold, there was no man there.\r\n For the Lord had made the host of the Syrians to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, even the noise of a great host: and they said one to another, Lo, the king of Israel hath hired against us the kings of the Hittites, and the kings of the Egyptians, to come upon us.\r\n Wherefore they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their tents, and their horses, and their asses, even the camp as it was, and fled for their life.\r\n And when these lepers came to the uttermost part of the camp, they went into one tent, and did eat and drink, and carried thence silver, and gold, and raiment, and went and hid it; and came again, and entered into another tent, and carried thence also, and went and hid it.\r\n Then they said one to another, We do not well: this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace: if we tarry till the morning light, some mischief will come upon us: now therefore come, that we may go and tell the king's household.\r\n So they came and called unto the porter of the city: and they told them, saying, We came to the camp of the Syrians, and, behold, there was no man there, neither voice of man, but horses tied, and asses tied, and the tents as they were.\r\n And he called the porters; and they told it to the king's house within.\r\n And the king arose in the night, and said unto his servants, I will now shew you what the Syrians have done to us. They know that we be hungry; therefore are they gone out of the camp to hide themselves in the field, saying, When they come out of the city, we shall catch them alive, and get into the city.\r\n And one of his servants answered and said, Let some take, I pray thee, five of the horses that remain, which are left in the city, (behold, they are as all the multitude of Israel that are left in it: behold, I say, they are even as all the multitude of the Israelites that are consumed:) and let us send and see.\r\n They took therefore two chariot horses; and the king sent after the host of the Syrians, saying, Go and see.\r\n And they went after them unto Jordan: and, lo, all the way was full of garments and vessels, which the Syrians had cast away in their haste. And the messengers returned, and told the king.\r\n And the people went out, and spoiled the tents of the Syrians. So a measure of fine flour was sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, according to the word of the LORD.\r\n And the king appointed the lord on whose hand he leaned to have the charge of the gate: and the people trode upon him in the gate, and he died, as the man of God had said, who spake when the king came down to him.\r\n And it came to pass as the man of God had spoken to the king, saying, Two measures of barley for a shekel, and a measure of fine flour for a shekel, shall be to morrow about this time in the gate of Samaria:\r\n And that lord answered the man of God, and said, Now, behold, if the LORD should make windows in heaven, might such a thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof.\r\n And so it fell out unto him: for the people trode upon him in the gate, and he died.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then spake Elisha unto the woman, whose son he had restored to life, saying, Arise, and go thou and thine household, and sojourn wheresoever thou canst sojourn: for the LORD hath called for a famine; and it shall also come upon the land seven years.\r\n And the woman arose, and did after the saying of the man of God: and she went with her household, and sojourned in the land of the Philistines seven years.\r\n And it came to pass at the seven years' end, that the woman returned out of the land of the Philistines: and she went forth to cry unto the king for her house and for her land.\r\n And the king talked with Gehazi the servant of the man of God, saying, Tell me, I pray thee, all the great things that Elisha hath done.\r\n And it came to pass, as he was telling the king how he had restored a dead body to life, that, behold, the woman, whose son he had restored to life, cried to the king for her house and for her land. And Gehazi said, My lord, O king, this is the woman, and this is her son, whom Elisha restored to life.\r\n And when the king asked the woman, she told him. So the king appointed unto her a certain officer, saying, Restore all that was hers, and all the fruits of the field since the day that she left the land, even until now.\r\n And Elisha came to Damascus; and Benhadad the king of Syria was sick; and it was told him, saying, The man of God is come hither.\r\n And the king said unto Hazael, Take a present in thine hand, and go, meet the man of God, and enquire of the LORD by him, saying, Shall I recover of this disease?\r\n So Hazael went to meet him, and took a present with him, even of every good thing of Damascus, forty camels' burden, and came and stood before him, and said, Thy son Benhadad king of Syria hath sent me to thee, saying, Shall I recover of this disease?\r\n And Elisha said unto him, Go, say unto him, Thou mayest certainly recover: howbeit the LORD hath shewed me that he shall surely die.\r\n And he settled his countenance stedfastly, until he was ashamed: and the man of God wept.\r\n And Hazael said, Why weepeth my lord? And he answered, Because I know the evil that thou wilt do unto the children of Israel: their strong holds wilt thou set on fire, and their young men wilt thou slay with the sword, and wilt dash their children, and rip up their women with child.\r\n And Hazael said, But what, is thy servant a dog, that he should do this great thing? And Elisha answered, The LORD hath shewed me that thou shalt be king over Syria.\r\n So he departed from Elisha, and came to his master; who said to him, What said Elisha to thee? And he answered, He told me that thou shouldest surely recover.\r\n And it came to pass on the morrow, that he took a thick cloth, and dipped it in water, and spread it on his face, so that he died: and Hazael reigned in his stead.\r\n And in the fifth year of Joram the son of Ahab king of Israel, Jehoshaphat being then king of Judah, Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah began to reign.\r\n Thirty and two years old was he when he began to reign; and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem.\r\n And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as did the house of Ahab: for the daughter of Ahab was his wife: and he did evil in the sight of the LORD.\r\n Yet the LORD would not destroy Judah for David his servant's sake, as he promised him to give him alway a light, and to his children.\r\n In his days Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah, and made a king over themselves.\r\n So Joram went over to Zair, and all the chariots with him: and he rose by night, and smote the Edomites which compassed him about, and the captains of the chariots: and the people fled into their tents.\r\n Yet Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah unto this day. Then Libnah revolted at the same time.\r\n And the rest of the acts of Joram, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?\r\n And Joram slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David: and Ahaziah his son reigned in his stead.\r\n In the twelfth year of Joram the son of Ahab king of Israel did Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah begin to reign.\r\n Two and twenty years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign; and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Athaliah, the daughter of Omri king of Israel.\r\n And he walked in the way of the house of Ahab, and did evil in the sight of the LORD, as did the house of Ahab: for he was the son in law of the house of Ahab.\r\n And he went with Joram the son of Ahab to the war against Hazael king of Syria in Ramothgilead; and the Syrians wounded Joram.\r\n And king Joram went back to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds which the Syrians had given him at Ramah, when he fought against Hazael king of Syria. And Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to see Joram the son of Ahab in Jezreel, because he was sick.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Elisha the prophet called one of the children of the prophets, and said unto him, Gird up thy loins, and take this box of oil in thine hand, and go to Ramothgilead:\r\n And when thou comest thither, look out there Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi, and go in, and make him arise up from among his brethren, and carry him to an inner chamber;\r\n Then take the box of oil, and pour it on his head, and say, Thus saith the LORD, I have anointed thee king over Israel. Then open the door, and flee, and tarry not.\r\n So the young man, even the young man the prophet, went to Ramothgilead.\r\n And when he came, behold, the captains of the host were sitting; and he said, I have an errand to thee, O captain. And Jehu said, Unto which of all us? And he said, To thee, O captain.\r\n And he arose, and went into the house; and he poured the oil on his head, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I have anointed thee king over the people of the LORD, even over Israel.\r\n And thou shalt smite the house of Ahab thy master, that I may avenge the blood of my servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of the LORD, at the hand of Jezebel.\r\n For the whole house of Ahab shall perish: and I will cut off from Ahab him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel:\r\n And I will make the house of Ahab like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah:\r\n And the dogs shall eat Jezebel in the portion of Jezreel, and there shall be none to bury her. And he opened the door, and fled.\r\n Then Jehu came forth to the servants of his lord: and one said unto him, Is all well? wherefore came this mad fellow to thee? And he said unto them, Ye know the man, and his communication.\r\n And they said, It is false; tell us now. And he said, Thus and thus spake he to me, saying, Thus saith the LORD, I have anointed thee king over Israel.\r\n Then they hasted, and took every man his garment, and put it under him on the top of the stairs, and blew with trumpets, saying, Jehu is king.\r\n So Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi conspired against Joram. (Now Joram had kept Ramothgilead, he and all Israel, because of Hazael king of Syria.\r\n But king Joram was returned to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds which the Syrians had given him, when he fought with Hazael king of Syria.) And Jehu said, If it be your minds, then let none go forth nor escape out of the city to go to tell it in Jezreel.\r\n So Jehu rode in a chariot, and went to Jezreel; for Joram lay there. And Ahaziah king of Judah was come down to see Joram.\r\n And there stood a watchman on the tower in Jezreel, and he spied the company of Jehu as he came, and said, I see a company. And Joram said, Take an horseman, and send to meet them, and let him say, Is it peace?\r\n So there went one on horseback to meet him, and said, Thus saith the king, Is it peace? And Jehu said, What hast thou to do with peace? turn thee behind me. And the watchman told, saying, The messenger came to them, but he cometh not again.\r\n Then he sent out a second on horseback, which came to them, and said, Thus saith the king, Is it peace? And Jehu answered, What hast thou to do with peace? turn thee behind me.\r\n And the watchman told, saying, He came even unto them, and cometh not again: and the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi; for he driveth furiously.\r\n And Joram said, Make ready. And his chariot was made ready. And Joram king of Israel and Ahaziah king of Judah went out, each in his chariot, and they went out against Jehu, and met him in the portion of Naboth the Jezreelite.\r\n And it came to pass, when Joram saw Jehu, that he said, Is it peace, Jehu? And he answered, What peace, so long as the whoredoms of thy mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many?\r\n And Joram turned his hands, and fled, and said to Ahaziah, There is treachery, O Ahaziah.\r\n And Jehu drew a bow with his full strength, and smote Jehoram between his arms, and the arrow went out at his heart, and he sunk down in his chariot.\r\n Then said Jehu to Bidkar his captain, Take up, and cast him in the portion of the field of Naboth the Jezreelite: for remember how that, when I and thou rode together after Ahab his father, the LORD laid this burden upon him;\r\n Surely I have seen yesterday the blood of Naboth, and the blood of his sons, saith the LORD; and I will requite thee in this plat, saith the LORD. Now therefore take and cast him into the plat of ground, according to the word of the LORD.\r\n But when Ahaziah the king of Judah saw this, he fled by the way of the garden house. And Jehu followed after him, and said, Smite him also in the chariot. And they did so at the going up to Gur, which is by Ibleam. And he fled to Megiddo, and died there.\r\n And his servants carried him in a chariot to Jerusalem, and buried him in his sepulchre with his fathers in the city of David.\r\n And in the eleventh year of Joram the son of Ahab began Ahaziah to reign over Judah.\r\n And when Jehu was come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; and she painted her face, and tired her head, and looked out at a window.\r\n And as Jehu entered in at the gate, she said, Had Zimri peace, who slew his master?\r\n And he lifted up his face to the window, and said, Who is on my side? who? And there looked out to him two or three eunuchs.\r\n And he said, Throw her down. So they threw her down: and some of her blood was sprinkled on the wall, and on the horses: and he trode her under foot.\r\n And when he was come in, he did eat and drink, and said, Go, see now this cursed woman, and bury her: for she is a king's daughter.\r\n And they went to bury her: but they found no more of her than the skull, and the feet, and the palms of her hands.\r\n Wherefore they came again, and told him. And he said, This is the word of the LORD, which he spake by his servant Elijah the Tishbite, saying, In the portion of Jezreel shall dogs eat the flesh of Jezebel:\r\n And the carcase of Jezebel shall be as dung upon the face of the field in the portion of Jezreel; so that they shall not say, This is Jezebel.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. And Jehu wrote letters, and sent to Samaria, unto the rulers of Jezreel, to the elders, and to them that brought up Ahab's children, saying,\r\n Now as soon as this letter cometh to you, seeing your master's sons are with you, and there are with you chariots and horses, a fenced city also, and armour;\r\n Look even out the best and meetest of your master's sons, and set him on his father's throne, and fight for your master's house.\r\n But they were exceedingly afraid, and said, Behold, two kings stood not before him: how then shall we stand?\r\n And he that was over the house, and he that was over the city, the elders also, and the bringers up of the children, sent to Jehu, saying, We are thy servants, and will do all that thou shalt bid us; we will not make any king: do thou that which is good in thine eyes.\r\n Then he wrote a letter the second time to them, saying, If ye be mine, and if ye will hearken unto my voice, take ye the heads of the men your master's sons, and come to me to Jezreel by to morrow this time. Now the king's sons, being seventy persons, were with the great men of the city, which brought them up.\r\n And it came to pass, when the letter came to them, that they took the king's sons, and slew seventy persons, and put their heads in baskets, and sent him them to Jezreel.\r\n And there came a messenger, and told him, saying, They have brought the heads of the king's sons. And he said, Lay ye them in two heaps at the entering in of the gate until the morning.\r\n And it came to pass in the morning, that he went out, and stood, and said to all the people, Ye be righteous: behold, I conspired against my master, and slew him: but who slew all these?\r\n Know now that there shall fall unto the earth nothing of the word of the LORD, which the LORD spake concerning the house of Ahab: for the LORD hath done that which he spake by his servant Elijah.\r\n So Jehu slew all that remained of the house of Ahab in Jezreel, and all his great men, and his kinsfolks, and his priests, until he left him none remaining.\r\n And he arose and departed, and came to Samaria. And as he was at the shearing house in the way,\r\n Jehu met with the brethren of Ahaziah king of Judah, and said, Who are ye? And they answered, We are the brethren of Ahaziah; and we go down to salute the children of the king and the children of the queen.\r\n And he said, Take them alive. And they took them alive, and slew them at the pit of the shearing house, even two and forty men; neither left he any of them.\r\n And when he was departed thence, he lighted on Jehonadab the son of Rechab coming to meet him: and he saluted him, and said to him, Is thine heart right, as my heart is with thy heart? And Jehonadab answered, It is. If it be, give me thine hand. And he gave him his hand; and he took him up to him into the chariot.\r\n And he said, Come with me, and see my zeal for the LORD. So they made him ride in his chariot.\r\n And when he came to Samaria, he slew all that remained unto Ahab in Samaria, till he had destroyed him, according to the saying of the LORD, which he spake to Elijah.\r\n And Jehu gathered all the people together, and said unto them, Ahab served Baal a little; but Jehu shall serve him much.\r\n Now therefore call unto me all the prophets of Baal, all his servants, and all his priests; let none be wanting: for I have a great sacrifice to do to Baal; whosoever shall be wanting, he shall not live. But Jehu did it in subtilty, to the intent that he might destroy the worshippers of Baal.\r\n And Jehu said, Proclaim a solemn assembly for Baal. And they proclaimed it.\r\n And Jehu sent through all Israel: and all the worshippers of Baal came, so that there was not a man left that came not. And they came into the house of Baal; and the house of Baal was full from one end to another.\r\n And he said unto him that was over the vestry, Bring forth vestments for all the worshippers of Baal. And he brought them forth vestments.\r\n And Jehu went, and Jehonadab the son of Rechab, into the house of Baal, and said unto the worshippers of Baal, Search, and look that there be here with you none of the servants of the LORD, but the worshippers of Baal only.\r\n And when they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings, Jehu appointed fourscore men without, and said, If any of the men whom I have brought into your hands escape, he that letteth him go, his life shall be for the life of him.\r\n And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, that Jehu said to the guard and to the captains, Go in, and slay them; let none come forth. And they smote them with the edge of the sword; and the guard and the captains cast them out, and went to the city of the house of Baal.\r\n And they brought forth the images out of the house of Baal, and burned them.\r\n And they brake down the image of Baal, and brake down the house of Baal, and made it a draught house unto this day.\r\n Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel.\r\n Howbeit from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, Jehu departed not from after them, to wit, the golden calves that were in Bethel, and that were in Dan.\r\n And the LORD said unto Jehu, Because thou hast done well in executing that which is right in mine eyes, and hast done unto the house of Ahab according to all that was in mine heart, thy children of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel.\r\n But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the LORD God of Israel with all his heart: for he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam, which made Israel to sin.\r\n In those days the LORD began to cut Israel short: and Hazael smote them in all the coasts of Israel;\r\n From Jordan eastward, all the land of Gilead, the Gadites, and the Reubenites, and the Manassites, from Aroer, which is by the river Arnon, even Gilead and Bashan.\r\n Now the rest of the acts of Jehu, and all that he did, and all his might, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?\r\n And Jehu slept with his fathers: and they buried him in Samaria. And Jehoahaz his son reigned in his stead.\r\n And the time that Jehu reigned over Israel in Samaria was twenty and eight years.\r\n \r\n \r\n And when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal.\r\n But Jehosheba, the daughter of king Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king's sons which were slain; and they hid him, even him and his nurse, in the bedchamber from Athaliah, so that he was not slain.\r\n And he was with her hid in the house of the LORD six years. And Athaliah did reign over the land.\r\n And the seventh year Jehoiada sent and fetched the rulers over hundreds, with the captains and the guard, and brought them to him into the house of the LORD, and made a covenant with them, and took an oath of them in the house of the LORD, and shewed them the king's son.\r\n And he commanded them, saying, This is the thing that ye shall do; A third part of you that enter in on the sabbath shall even be keepers of the watch of the king's house;\r\n And a third part shall be at the gate of Sur; and a third part at the gate behind the guard: so shall ye keep the watch of the house, that it be not broken down.\r\n And two parts of all you that go forth on the sabbath, even they shall keep the watch of the house of the LORD about the king.\r\n And ye shall compass the king round about, every man with his weapons in his hand: and he that cometh within the ranges, let him be slain: and be ye with the king as he goeth out and as he cometh in.\r\n And the captains over the hundreds did according to all things that Jehoiada the priest commanded: and they took every man his men that were to come in on the sabbath, with them that should go out on the sabbath, and came to Jehoiada the priest.\r\n And to the captains over hundreds did the priest give king David's spears and shields, that were in the temple of the LORD.\r\n And the guard stood, every man with his weapons in his hand, round about the king, from the right corner of the temple to the left corner of the temple, along by the altar and the temple.\r\n And he brought forth the king's son, and put the crown upon him, and gave him the testimony; and they made him king, and anointed him; and they clapped their hands, and said, God save the king.\r\n And when Athaliah heard the noise of the guard and of the people, she came to the people into the temple of the LORD.\r\n And when she looked, behold, the king stood by a pillar, as the manner was, and the princes and the trumpeters by the king, and all the people of the land rejoiced, and blew with trumpets: and Athaliah rent her clothes, and cried, Treason, Treason.\r\n But Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of the hundreds, the officers of the host, and said unto them, Have her forth without the ranges: and him that followeth her kill with the sword. For the priest had said, Let her not be slain in the house of the LORD.\r\n And they laid hands on her; and she went by the way by the which the horses came into the king's house: and there was she slain.\r\n And Jehoiada made a covenant between the LORD and the king and the people, that they should be the LORD'S people; between the king also and the people.\r\n And all the people of the land went into the house of Baal, and brake it down; his altars and his images brake they in pieces thoroughly, and slew Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. And the priest appointed officers over the house of the LORD.\r\n And he took the rulers over hundreds, and the captains, and the guard, and all the people of the land; and they brought down the king from the house of the LORD, and came by the way of the gate of the guard to the king's house. And he sat on the throne of the kings.\r\n And all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was in quiet: and they slew Athaliah with the sword beside the king's house.\r\n Seven years old was Jehoash when he began to reign.\r\n \r\n \r\n In the seventh year of Jehu Jehoash began to reign; and forty years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Zibiah of Beersheba.\r\n And Jehoash did that which was right in the sight of the LORD all his days wherein Jehoiada the priest instructed him.\r\n But the high places were not taken away: the people still sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places.\r\n And Jehoash said to the priests, All the money of the dedicated things that is brought into the house of the LORD, even the money of every one that passeth the account, the money that every man is set at, and all the money that cometh into any man's heart to bring into the house of the LORD,\r\n Let the priests take it to them, every man of his acquaintance: and let them repair the breaches of the house, wheresoever any breach shall be found.\r\n But it was so, that in the three and twentieth year of king Jehoash the priests had not repaired the breaches of the house.\r\n Then king Jehoash called for Jehoiada the priest, and the other priests, and said unto them, Why repair ye not the breaches of the house? now therefore receive no more money of your acquaintance, but deliver it for the breaches of the house.\r\n And the priests consented to receive no more money of the people, neither to repair the breaches of the house.\r\n But Jehoiada the priest took a chest, and bored a hole in the lid of it, and set it beside the altar, on the right side as one cometh into the house of the LORD: and the priests that kept the door put therein all the money that was brought into the house of the LORD.\r\n And it was so, when they saw that there was much money in the chest, that the king's scribe and the high priest came up, and they put up in bags, and told the money that was found in the house of the LORD.\r\n And they gave the money, being told, into the hands of them that did the work, that had the oversight of the house of the LORD: and they laid it out to the carpenters and builders, that wrought upon the house of the LORD,\r\n And to masons, and hewers of stone, and to buy timber and hewed stone to repair the breaches of the house of the LORD, and for all that was laid out for the house to repair it.\r\n Howbeit there were not made for the house of the LORD bowls of silver, snuffers, basons, trumpets, any vessels of gold, or vessels of silver, of the money that was brought into the house of the LORD:\r\n But they gave that to the workmen, and repaired therewith the house of the LORD.\r\n Moreover they reckoned not with the men, into whose hand they delivered the money to be bestowed on workmen: for they dealt faithfully.\r\n The trespass money and sin money was not brought into the house of the LORD: it was the priests'.\r\n Then Hazael king of Syria went up, and fought against Gath, and took it: and Hazael set his face to go up to Jerusalem.\r\n And Jehoash king of Judah took all the hallowed things that Jehoshaphat, and Jehoram, and Ahaziah, his fathers, kings of Judah, had dedicated, and his own hallowed things, and all the gold that was found in the treasures of the house of the LORD, and in the king's house, and sent it to Hazael king of Syria: and he went away from Jerusalem.\r\n And the rest of the acts of Joash, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?\r\n And his servants arose, and made a conspiracy, and slew Joash in the house of Millo, which goeth down to Silla.\r\n For Jozachar the son of Shimeath, and Jehozabad the son of Shomer, his servants, smote him, and he died; and they buried him with his fathers in the city of David: and Amaziah his son reigned in his stead.\r\n \r\n \r\n In the three and twentieth year of Joash the son of Ahaziah king of Judah Jehoahaz the son of Jehu began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned seventeen years.\r\n And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel to sin; he departed not therefrom.\r\n And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he delivered them into the hand of Hazael king of Syria, and into the hand of Benhadad the son of Hazael, all their days.\r\n And Jehoahaz besought the LORD, and the LORD hearkened unto him: for he saw the oppression of Israel, because the king of Syria oppressed them.\r\n (And the LORD gave Israel a saviour, so that they went out from under the hand of the Syrians: and the children of Israel dwelt in their tents, as beforetime.\r\n Nevertheless they departed not from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, who made Israel sin, but walked therein: and there remained the grove also in Samaria.)\r\n Neither did he leave of the people to Jehoahaz but fifty horsemen, and ten chariots, and ten thousand footmen; for the king of Syria had destroyed them, and had made them like the dust by threshing.\r\n Now the rest of the acts of Jehoahaz, and all that he did, and his might, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?\r\n And Jehoahaz slept with his fathers; and they buried him in Samaria: and Joash his son reigned in his stead.\r\n In the thirty and seventh year of Joash king of Judah began Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned sixteen years.\r\n And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD; he departed not from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel sin: but he walked therein.\r\n And the rest of the acts of Joash, and all that he did, and his might wherewith he fought against Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?\r\n And Joash slept with his fathers; and Jeroboam sat upon his throne: and Joash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.\r\n Now Elisha was fallen sick of his sickness whereof he died. And Joash the king of Israel came down unto him, and wept over his face, and said, O my father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof.\r\n And Elisha said unto him, Take bow and arrows. And he took unto him bow and arrows.\r\n And he said to the king of Israel, Put thine hand upon the bow. And he put his hand upon it: and Elisha put his hands upon the king's hands.\r\n And he said, Open the window eastward. And he opened it. Then Elisha said, Shoot. And he shot. And he said, The arrow of the LORD'S deliverance, and the arrow of deliverance from Syria: for thou shalt smite the Syrians in Aphek, till thou have consumed them.\r\n And he said, Take the arrows. And he took them. And he said unto the king of Israel, Smite upon the ground. And he smote thrice, and stayed.\r\n And the man of God was wroth with him, and said, Thou shouldest have smitten five or six times; then hadst thou smitten Syria till thou hadst consumed it: whereas now thou shalt smite Syria but thrice.\r\n And Elisha died, and they buried him. And the bands of the Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year.\r\n And it came to pass, as they were burying a man, that, behold, they spied a band of men; and they cast the man into the sepulchre of Elisha: and when the man was let down, and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his feet.\r\n But Hazael king of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz.\r\n And the LORD was gracious unto them, and had compassion on them, and had respect unto them, because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them, neither cast he them from his presence as yet.\r\n So Hazael king of Syria died; and Benhadad his son reigned in his stead.\r\n And Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz took again out of the hand of Benhadad the son of Hazael the cities, which he had taken out of the hand of Jehoahaz his father by war. Three times did Joash beat him, and recovered the cities of Israel.\r\n \r\n \r\n In the second year of Joash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel reigned Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah.\r\n He was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem.\r\n And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, yet not like David his father: he did according to all things as Joash his father did.\r\n Howbeit the high places were not taken away: as yet the people did sacrifice and burnt incense on the high places.\r\n And it came to pass, as soon as the kingdom was confirmed in his hand, that he slew his servants which had slain the king his father.\r\n But the children of the murderers he slew not: according unto that which is written in the book of the law of Moses, wherein the LORD commanded, saying, The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, nor the children be put to death for the fathers; but every man shall be put to death for his own sin.\r\n He slew of Edom in the valley of salt ten thousand, and took Selah by war, and called the name of it Joktheel unto this day.\r\n Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash, the son of Jehoahaz son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, Come, let us look one another in the face.\r\n And Jehoash the king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, Give thy daughter to my son to wife: and there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon, and trode down the thistle.\r\n Thou hast indeed smitten Edom, and thine heart hath lifted thee up: glory of this, and tarry at home: for why shouldest thou meddle to thy hurt, that thou shouldest fall, even thou, and Judah with thee?\r\n But Amaziah would not hear. Therefore Jehoash king of Israel went up; and he and Amaziah king of Judah looked one another in the face at Bethshemesh, which belongeth to Judah.\r\n And Judah was put to the worse before Israel; and they fled every man to their tents.\r\n And Jehoash king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Jehoash the son of Ahaziah, at Bethshemesh, and came to Jerusalem, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim unto the corner gate, four hundred cubits.\r\n And he took all the gold and silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasures of the king's house, and hostages, and returned to Samaria.\r\n Now the rest of the acts of Jehoash which he did, and his might, and how he fought with Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?\r\n And Jehoash slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel; and Jeroboam his son reigned in his stead.\r\n And Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah lived after the death of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel fifteen years.\r\n And the rest of the acts of Amaziah, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?\r\n Now they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem: and he fled to Lachish; but they sent after him to Lachish, and slew him there.\r\n And they brought him on horses: and he was buried at Jerusalem with his fathers in the city of David.\r\n And all the people of Judah took Azariah, which was sixteen years old, and made him king instead of his father Amaziah.\r\n He built Elath, and restored it to Judah, after that the king slept with his fathers.\r\n In the fifteenth year of Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel began to reign in Samaria, and reigned forty and one years.\r\n And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD: he departed not from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.\r\n He restored the coast of Israel from the entering of Hamath unto the sea of the plain, according to the word of the LORD God of Israel, which he spake by the hand of his servant Jonah, the son of Amittai, the prophet, which was of Gathhepher.\r\n For the LORD saw the affliction of Israel, that it was very bitter: for there was not any shut up, nor any left, nor any helper for Israel.\r\n And the LORD said not that he would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven: but he saved them by the hand of Jeroboam the son of Joash.\r\n Now the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, and all that he did, and his might, how he warred, and how he recovered Damascus, and Hamath, which belonged to Judah, for Israel, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?\r\n And Jeroboam slept with his fathers, even with the kings of Israel; and Zachariah his son reigned in his stead.\r\n \r\n \r\n In the twenty and seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel began Azariah son of Amaziah king of Judah to reign.\r\n Sixteen years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned two and fifty years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jecholiah of Jerusalem.\r\n And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah had done;\r\n Save that the high places were not removed: the people sacrificed and burnt incense still on the high places.\r\n And the LORD smote the king, so that he was a leper unto the day of his death, and dwelt in a several house. And Jotham the king's son was over the house, judging the people of the land.\r\n And the rest of the acts of Azariah, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?\r\n So Azariah slept with his fathers; and they buried him with his fathers in the city of David: and Jotham his son reigned in his stead.\r\n In the thirty and eighth year of Azariah king of Judah did Zachariah the son of Jeroboam reign over Israel in Samaria six months.\r\n And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, as his fathers had done: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.\r\n And Shallum the son of Jabesh conspired against him, and smote him before the people, and slew him, and reigned in his stead.\r\n And the rest of the acts of Zachariah, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.\r\n This was the word of the LORD which he spake unto Jehu, saying, Thy sons shall sit on the throne of Israel unto the fourth generation. And so it came to pass.\r\n Shallum the son of Jabesh began to reign in the nine and thirtieth year of Uzziah king of Judah; and he reigned a full month in Samaria.\r\n For Menahem the son of Gadi went up from Tirzah, and came to Samaria, and smote Shallum the son of Jabesh in Samaria, and slew him, and reigned in his stead.\r\n And the rest of the acts of Shallum, and his conspiracy which he made, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.\r\n Then Menahem smote Tiphsah, and all that were therein, and the coasts thereof from Tirzah: because they opened not to him, therefore he smote it; and all the women therein that were with child he ripped up.\r\n In the nine and thirtieth year of Azariah king of Judah began Menahem the son of Gadi to reign over Israel, and reigned ten years in Samaria.\r\n And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD: he departed not all his days from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.\r\n And Pul the king of Assyria came against the land: and Menahem gave Pul a thousand talents of silver, that his hand might be with him to confirm the kingdom in his hand.\r\n And Menahem exacted the money of Israel, even of all the mighty men of wealth, of each man fifty shekels of silver, to give to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria turned back, and stayed not there in the land.\r\n And the rest of the acts of Menahem, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?\r\n And Menahem slept with his fathers; and Pekahiah his son reigned in his stead.\r\n In the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah Pekahiah the son of Menahem began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned two years.\r\n And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.\r\n But Pekah the son of Remaliah, a captain of his, conspired against him, and smote him in Samaria, in the palace of the king's house, with Argob and Arieh, and with him fifty men of the Gileadites: and he killed him, and reigned in his room.\r\n And the rest of the acts of Pekahiah, and all that he did, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.\r\n In the two and fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah Pekah the son of Remaliah began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned twenty years.\r\n And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.\r\n In the days of Pekah king of Israel came Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, and took Ijon, and Abelbethmaachah, and Janoah, and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali, and carried them captive to Assyria.\r\n And Hoshea the son of Elah made a conspiracy against Pekah the son of Remaliah, and smote him, and slew him, and reigned in his stead, in the twentieth year of Jotham the son of Uzziah.\r\n And the rest of the acts of Pekah, and all that he did, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.\r\n In the second year of Pekah the son of Remaliah king of Israel began Jotham the son of Uzziah king of Judah to reign.\r\n Five and twenty years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jerusha, the daughter of Zadok.\r\n And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD: he did according to all that his father Uzziah had done.\r\n Howbeit the high places were not removed: the people sacrificed and burned incense still in the high places. He built the higher gate of the house of the LORD.\r\n Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?\r\n In those days the LORD began to send against Judah Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah.\r\n And Jotham slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father: and Ahaz his son reigned in his stead.\r\n \r\n \r\n In the seventeenth year of Pekah the son of Remaliah Ahaz the son of Jotham king of Judah began to reign.\r\n Twenty years old was Ahaz when he began to reign, and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem, and did not that which was right in the sight of the LORD his God, like David his father.\r\n But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, yea, and made his son to pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel.\r\n And he sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree.\r\n Then Rezin king of Syria and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel came up to Jerusalem to war: and they besieged Ahaz, but could not overcome him.\r\n At that time Rezin king of Syria recovered Elath to Syria, and drave the Jews from Elath: and the Syrians came to Elath, and dwelt there unto this day.\r\n So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, saying, I am thy servant and thy son: come up, and save me out of the hand of the king of Syria, and out of the hand of the king of Israel, which rise up against me.\r\n And Ahaz took the silver and gold that was found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasures of the king's house, and sent it for a present to the king of Assyria.\r\n And the king of Assyria hearkened unto him: for the king of Assyria went up against Damascus, and took it, and carried the people of it captive to Kir, and slew Rezin.\r\n And king Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, and saw an altar that was at Damascus: and king Ahaz sent to Urijah the priest the fashion of the altar, and the pattern of it, according to all the workmanship thereof.\r\n And Urijah the priest built an altar according to all that king Ahaz had sent from Damascus: so Urijah the priest made it against king Ahaz came from Damascus.\r\n And when the king was come from Damascus, the king saw the altar: and the king approached to the altar, and offered thereon.\r\n And he burnt his burnt offering and his meat offering, and poured his drink offering, and sprinkled the blood of his peace offerings, upon the altar.\r\n And he brought also the brasen altar, which was before the LORD, from the forefront of the house, from between the altar and the house of the LORD, and put it on the north side of the altar.\r\n And king Ahaz commanded Urijah the priest, saying, Upon the great altar burn the morning burnt offering, and the evening meat offering, and the king's burnt sacrifice, and his meat offering, with the burnt offering of all the people of the land, and their meat offering, and their drink offerings; and sprinkle upon it all the blood of the burnt offering, and all the blood of the sacrifice: and the brasen altar shall be for me to enquire by.\r\n Thus did Urijah the priest, according to all that king Ahaz commanded.\r\n And king Ahaz cut off the borders of the bases, and removed the laver from off them; and took down the sea from off the brasen oxen that were under it, and put it upon a pavement of stones.\r\n And the covert for the sabbath that they had built in the house, and the king's entry without, turned he from the house of the LORD for the king of Assyria.\r\n Now the rest of the acts of Ahaz which he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?\r\n And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David: and Hezekiah his son reigned in his stead.\r\n \r\n \r\n In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah began Hoshea the son of Elah to reign in Samaria over Israel nine years.\r\n And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, but not as the kings of Israel that were before him.\r\n Against him came up Shalmaneser king of Assyria; and Hoshea became his servant, and gave him presents.\r\n And the king of Assyria found conspiracy in Hoshea: for he had sent messengers to So king of Egypt, and brought no present to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year: therefore the king of Assyria shut him up, and bound him in prison.\r\n Then the king of Assyria came up throughout all the land, and went up to Samaria, and besieged it three years.\r\n In the ninth year of Hoshea the king of Assyria took Samaria, and carried Israel away into Assyria, and placed them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.\r\n For so it was, that the children of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God, which had brought them up out of the land of Egypt, from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and had feared other gods,\r\n And walked in the statutes of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel, and of the kings of Israel, which they had made.\r\n And the children of Israel did secretly those things that were not right against the LORD their God, and they built them high places in all their cities, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city.\r\n And they set them up images and groves in every high hill, and under every green tree:\r\n And there they burnt incense in all the high places, as did the heathen whom the LORD carried away before them; and wrought wicked things to provoke the LORD to anger:\r\n For they served idols, whereof the LORD had said unto them, Ye shall not do this thing.\r\n Yet the LORD testified against Israel, and against Judah, by all the prophets, and by all the seers, saying, Turn ye from your evil ways, and keep my commandments and my statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by my servants the prophets.\r\n Notwithstanding they would not hear, but hardened their necks, like to the neck of their fathers, that did not believe in the LORD their God.\r\n And they rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he testified against them; and they followed vanity, and became vain, and went after the heathen that were round about them, concerning whom the LORD had charged them, that they should not do like them.\r\n And they left all the commandments of the LORD their God, and made them molten images, even two calves, and made a grove, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served Baal.\r\n And they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire, and used divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.\r\n Therefore the LORD was very angry with Israel, and removed them out of his sight: there was none left but the tribe of Judah only.\r\n Also Judah kept not the commandments of the LORD their God, but walked in the statutes of Israel which they made.\r\n And the LORD rejected all the seed of Israel, and afflicted them, and delivered them into the hand of spoilers, until he had cast them out of his sight.\r\n For he rent Israel from the house of David; and they made Jeroboam the son of Nebat king: and Jeroboam drave Israel from following the LORD, and made them sin a great sin.\r\n For the children of Israel walked in all the sins of Jeroboam which he did; they departed not from them;\r\n Until the LORD removed Israel out of his sight, as he had said by all his servants the prophets. So was Israel carried away out of their own land to Assyria unto this day.\r\n And the king of Assyria brought men from Babylon, and from Cuthah, and from Ava, and from Hamath, and from Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel: and they possessed Samaria, and dwelt in the cities thereof.\r\n And so it was at the beginning of their dwelling there, that they feared not the LORD: therefore the LORD sent lions among them, which slew some of them.\r\n Wherefore they spake to the king of Assyria, saying, The nations which thou hast removed, and placed in the cities of Samaria, know not the manner of the God of the land: therefore he hath sent lions among them, and, behold, they slay them, because they know not the manner of the God of the land.\r\n Then the king of Assyria commanded, saying, Carry thither one of the priests whom ye brought from thence; and let them go and dwell there, and let him teach them the manner of the God of the land.\r\n Then one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and dwelt in Bethel, and taught them how they should fear the LORD.\r\n Howbeit every nation made gods of their own, and put them in the houses of the high places which the Samaritans had made, every nation in their cities wherein they dwelt.\r\n And the men of Babylon made Succothbenoth, and the men of Cuth made Nergal, and the men of Hamath made Ashima,\r\n And the Avites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burnt their children in fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim.\r\n So they feared the LORD, and made unto themselves of the lowest of them priests of the high places, which sacrificed for them in the houses of the high places.\r\n They feared the LORD, and served their own gods, after the manner of the nations whom they carried away from thence.\r\n Unto this day they do after the former manners: they fear not the LORD, neither do they after their statutes, or after their ordinances, or after the law and commandment which the LORD commanded the children of Jacob, whom he named Israel;\r\n With whom the LORD had made a covenant, and charged them, saying, Ye shall not fear other gods, nor bow yourselves to them, nor serve them, nor sacrifice to them:\r\n But the LORD, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt with great power and a stretched out arm, him shall ye fear, and him shall ye worship, and to him shall ye do sacrifice.\r\n And the statutes, and the ordinances, and the law, and the commandment, which he wrote for you, ye shall observe to do for evermore; and ye shall not fear other gods.\r\n And the covenant that I have made with you ye shall not forget; neither shall ye fear other gods.\r\n But the LORD your God ye shall fear; and he shall deliver you out of the hand of all your enemies.\r\n Howbeit they did not hearken, but they did after their former manner.\r\n So these nations feared the LORD, and served their graven images, both their children, and their children's children: as did their fathers, so do they unto this day.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now it came to pass in the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, that Hezekiah the son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign.\r\n Twenty and five years old was he when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Abi, the daughter of Zachariah.\r\n And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father did.\r\n He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan.\r\n He trusted in the LORD God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him.\r\n For he clave to the LORD, and departed not from following him, but kept his commandments, which the LORD commanded Moses.\r\n And the LORD was with him; and he prospered whithersoever he went forth: and he rebelled against the king of Assyria, and served him not.\r\n He smote the Philistines, even unto Gaza, and the borders thereof, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city.\r\n And it came to pass in the fourth year of king Hezekiah, which was the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, that Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against Samaria, and besieged it.\r\n And at the end of three years they took it: even in the sixth year of Hezekiah, that is the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel, Samaria was taken.\r\n And the king of Assyria did carry away Israel unto Assyria, and put them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes:\r\n Because they obeyed not the voice of the LORD their God, but transgressed his covenant, and all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded, and would not hear them, nor do them.\r\n Now in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah did Sennacherib king of Assyria come up against all the fenced cities of Judah, and took them.\r\n And Hezekiah king of Judah sent to the king of Assyria to Lachish, saying, I have offended; return from me: that which thou puttest on me will I bear. And the king of Assyria appointed unto Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold.\r\n And Hezekiah gave him all the silver that was found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasures of the king's house.\r\n At that time did Hezekiah cut off the gold from the doors of the temple of the LORD, and from the pillars which Hezekiah king of Judah had overlaid, and gave it to the king of Assyria.\r\n And the king of Assyria sent Tartan and Rabsaris and Rabshakeh from Lachish to king Hezekiah with a great host against Jerusalem. And they went up and came to Jerusalem. And when they were come up, they came and stood by the conduit of the upper pool, which is in the highway of the fuller's field.\r\n And when they had called to the king, there came out to them Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, which was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder.\r\n And Rabshakeh said unto them, Speak ye now to Hezekiah, Thus saith the great king, the king of Assyria, What confidence is this wherein thou trustest?\r\n Thou sayest, (but they are but vain words,) I have counsel and strength for the war. Now on whom dost thou trust, that thou rebellest against me?\r\n Now, behold, thou trustest upon the staff of this bruised reed, even upon Egypt, on which if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so is Pharaoh king of Egypt unto all that trust on him.\r\n But if ye say unto me, We trust in the LORD our God: is not that he, whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah hath taken away, and hath said to Judah and Jerusalem, Ye shall worship before this altar in Jerusalem?\r\n Now therefore, I pray thee, give pledges to my lord the king of Assyria, and I will deliver thee two thousand horses, if thou be able on thy part to set riders upon them.\r\n How then wilt thou turn away the face of one captain of the least of my master's servants, and put thy trust on Egypt for chariots and for horsemen?\r\n Am I now come up without the LORD against this place to destroy it? The LORD said to me, Go up against this land, and destroy it.\r\n Then said Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, and Shebna, and Joah, unto Rabshakeh, Speak, I pray thee, to thy servants in the Syrian language; for we understand it: and talk not with us in the Jews' language in the ears of the people that are on the wall.\r\n But Rabshakeh said unto them, Hath my master sent me to thy master, and to thee, to speak these words? hath he not sent me to the men which sit on the wall, that they may eat their own dung, and drink their own piss with you?\r\n Then Rabshakeh stood and cried with a loud voice in the Jews' language, and spake, saying, Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria:\r\n Thus saith the king, Let not Hezekiah deceive you: for he shall not be able to deliver you out of his hand:\r\n Neither let Hezekiah make you trust in the LORD, saying, The LORD will surely deliver us, and this city shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria.\r\n Hearken not to Hezekiah: for thus saith the king of Assyria, Make an agreement with me by a present, and come out to me, and then eat ye every man of his own vine, and every one of his fig tree, and drink ye every one the waters of his cistern:\r\n Until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of corn and wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of oil olive and of honey, that ye may live, and not die: and hearken not unto Hezekiah, when he persuadeth you, saying, The LORD will deliver us.\r\n Hath any of the gods of the nations delivered at all his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria?\r\n Where are the gods of Hamath, and of Arpad? where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivah? have they delivered Samaria out of mine hand?\r\n Who are they among all the gods of the countries, that have delivered their country out of mine hand, that the LORD should deliver Jerusalem out of mine hand?\r\n But the people held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king's commandment was, saying, Answer him not.\r\n Then came Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, which was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder, to Hezekiah with their clothes rent, and told him the words of Rabshakeh.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass, when king Hezekiah heard it, that he rent his clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the LORD.\r\n And he sent Eliakim, which was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, to Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz.\r\n And they said unto him, Thus saith Hezekiah, This day is a day of trouble, and of rebuke, and blasphemy: for the children are come to the birth, and there is not strength to bring forth.\r\n It may be the LORD thy God will hear all the words of Rabshakeh, whom the king of Assyria his master hath sent to reproach the living God; and will reprove the words which the LORD thy God hath heard: wherefore lift up thy prayer for the remnant that are left.\r\n So the servants of king Hezekiah came to Isaiah.\r\n And Isaiah said unto them, Thus shall ye say to your master, Thus saith the LORD, Be not afraid of the words which thou hast heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me.\r\n Behold, I will send a blast upon him, and he shall hear a rumour, and shall return to his own land; and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land.\r\n So Rabshakeh returned, and found the king of Assyria warring against Libnah: for he had heard that he was departed from Lachish.\r\n And when he heard say of Tirhakah king of Ethiopia, Behold, he is come out to fight against thee: he sent messengers again unto Hezekiah, saying,\r\n Thus shall ye speak to Hezekiah king of Judah, saying, Let not thy God in whom thou trustest deceive thee, saying, Jerusalem shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria.\r\n Behold, thou hast heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands, by destroying them utterly: and shalt thou be delivered?\r\n Have the gods of the nations delivered them which my fathers have destroyed; as Gozan, and Haran, and Rezeph, and the children of Eden which were in Thelasar?\r\n Where is the king of Hamath, and the king of Arpad, and the king of the city of Sepharvaim, of Hena, and Ivah?\r\n And Hezekiah received the letter of the hand of the messengers, and read it: and Hezekiah went up into the house of the LORD, and spread it before the LORD.\r\n And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD, and said, O LORD God of Israel, which dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; thou hast made heaven and earth.\r\n LORD, bow down thine ear, and hear: open, LORD, thine eyes, and see: and hear the words of Sennacherib, which hath sent him to reproach the living God.\r\n Of a truth, LORD, the kings of Assyria have destroyed the nations and their lands,\r\n And have cast their gods into the fire: for they were no gods, but the work of men's hands, wood and stone: therefore they have destroyed them.\r\n Now therefore, O LORD our God, I beseech thee, save thou us out of his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the LORD God, even thou only.\r\n Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, That which thou hast prayed to me against Sennacherib king of Assyria I have heard.\r\n This is the word that the LORD hath spoken concerning him; The virgin the daughter of Zion hath despised thee, and laughed thee to scorn; the daughter of Jerusalem hath shaken her head at thee.\r\n Whom hast thou reproached and blasphemed? and against whom hast thou exalted thy voice, and lifted up thine eyes on high? even against the Holy One of Israel.\r\n By thy messengers thou hast reproached the Lord, and hast said, With the multitude of my chariots I am come up to the height of the mountains, to the sides of Lebanon, and will cut down the tall cedar trees thereof, and the choice fir trees thereof: and I will enter into the lodgings of his borders, and into the forest of his Carmel.\r\n I have digged and drunk strange waters, and with the sole of my feet have I dried up all the rivers of besieged places.\r\n Hast thou not heard long ago how I have done it, and of ancient times that I have formed it? now have I brought it to pass, that thou shouldest be to lay waste fenced cities into ruinous heaps.\r\n Therefore their inhabitants were of small power, they were dismayed and confounded; they were as the grass of the field, and as the green herb, as the grass on the housetops, and as corn blasted before it be grown up.\r\n But I know thy abode, and thy going out, and thy coming in, and thy rage against me.\r\n Because thy rage against me and thy tumult is come up into mine ears, therefore I will put my hook in thy nose, and my bridle in thy lips, and I will turn thee back by the way by which thou camest.\r\n And this shall be a sign unto thee, Ye shall eat this year such things as grow of themselves, and in the second year that which springeth of the same; and in the third year sow ye, and reap, and plant vineyards, and eat the fruits thereof.\r\n And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall yet again take root downward, and bear fruit upward.\r\n For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and they that escape out of mount Zion: the zeal of the LORD of hosts shall do this.\r\n Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning the king of Assyria, He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with shield, nor cast a bank against it.\r\n By the way that he came, by the same shall he return, and shall not come into this city, saith the LORD.\r\n For I will defend this city, to save it, for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake.\r\n And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the LORD went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.\r\n So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned, and dwelt at Nineveh.\r\n And it came to pass, as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons smote him with the sword: and they escaped into the land of Armenia. And Esarhaddon his son reigned in his stead.\r\n \r\n \r\n In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live.\r\n Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the LORD, saying,\r\n I beseech thee, O LORD, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.\r\n And it came to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, that the word of the LORD came to him, saying,\r\n Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the LORD.\r\n And I will add unto thy days fifteen years; and I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake.\r\n And Isaiah said, Take a lump of figs. And they took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered.\r\n And Hezekiah said unto Isaiah, What shall be the sign that the LORD will heal me, and that I shall go up into the house of the LORD the third day?\r\n And Isaiah said, This sign shalt thou have of the LORD, that the LORD will do the thing that he hath spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten degrees, or go back ten degrees?\r\n And Hezekiah answered, It is a light thing for the shadow to go down ten degrees: nay, but let the shadow return backward ten degrees.\r\n And Isaiah the prophet cried unto the LORD: and he brought the shadow ten degrees backward, by which it had gone down in the dial of Ahaz.\r\n At that time Berodachbaladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present unto Hezekiah: for he had heard that Hezekiah had been sick.\r\n And Hezekiah hearkened unto them, and shewed them all the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his armour, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah shewed them not.\r\n Then came Isaiah the prophet unto king Hezekiah, and said unto him, What said these men? and from whence came they unto thee? And Hezekiah said, They are come from a far country, even from Babylon.\r\n And he said, What have they seen in thine house? And Hezekiah answered, All the things that are in mine house have they seen: there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shewed them.\r\n And Isaiah said unto Hezekiah, Hear the word of the LORD.\r\n Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store unto this day, shall be carried into Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the LORD.\r\n And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.\r\n Then said Hezekiah unto Isaiah, Good is the word of the LORD which thou hast spoken. And he said, Is it not good, if peace and truth be in my days?\r\n And the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and all his might, and how he made a pool, and a conduit, and brought water into the city, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?\r\n And Hezekiah slept with his fathers: and Manasseh his son reigned in his stead.\r\n \r\n \r\n Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Hephzibah.\r\n And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, after the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out before the children of Israel.\r\n For he built up again the high places which Hezekiah his father had destroyed; and he reared up altars for Baal, and made a grove, as did Ahab king of Israel; and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them.\r\n And he built altars in the house of the LORD, of which the LORD said, In Jerusalem will I put my name.\r\n And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD.\r\n And he made his son pass through the fire, and observed times, and used enchantments, and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards: he wrought much wickedness in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.\r\n And he set a graven image of the grove that he had made in the house, of which the LORD said to David, and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever:\r\n Neither will I make the feet of Israel move any more out of the land which I gave their fathers; only if they will observe to do according to all that I have commanded them, and according to all the law that my servant Moses commanded them.\r\n But they hearkened not: and Manasseh seduced them to do more evil than did the nations whom the LORD destroyed before the children of Israel.\r\n And the LORD spake by his servants the prophets, saying,\r\n Because Manasseh king of Judah hath done these abominations, and hath done wickedly above all that the Amorites did, which were before him, and hath made Judah also to sin with his idols:\r\n Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Behold, I am bringing such evil upon Jerusalem and Judah, that whosoever heareth of it, both his ears shall tingle.\r\n And I will stretch over Jerusalem the line of Samaria, and the plummet of the house of Ahab: and I will wipe Jerusalem as a man wipeth a dish, wiping it, and turning it upside down.\r\n And I will forsake the remnant of mine inheritance, and deliver them into the hand of their enemies; and they shall become a prey and a spoil to all their enemies;\r\n Because they have done that which was evil in my sight, and have provoked me to anger, since the day their fathers came forth out of Egypt, even unto this day.\r\n Moreover Manasseh shed innocent blood very much, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another; beside his sin wherewith he made Judah to sin, in doing that which was evil in the sight of the LORD.\r\n Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and all that he did, and his sin that he sinned, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?\r\n And Manasseh slept with his fathers, and was buried in the garden of his own house, in the garden of Uzza: and Amon his son reigned in his stead.\r\n Amon was twenty and two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned two years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Meshullemeth, the daughter of Haruz of Jotbah.\r\n And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, as his father Manasseh did.\r\n And he walked in all the way that his father walked in, and served the idols that his father served, and worshipped them:\r\n And he forsook the LORD God of his fathers, and walked not in the way of the LORD.\r\n And the servants of Amon conspired against him, and slew the king in his own house.\r\n And the people of the land slew all them that had conspired against king Amon; and the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his stead.\r\n Now the rest of the acts of Amon which he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?\r\n And he was buried in his sepulchre in the garden of Uzza: and Josiah his son reigned in his stead.\r\n \r\n \r\n Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty and one years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jedidah, the daughter of Adaiah of Boscath.\r\n And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in all the way of David his father, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left.\r\n And it came to pass in the eighteenth year of king Josiah, that the king sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, the son of Meshullam, the scribe, to the house of the LORD, saying,\r\n Go up to Hilkiah the high priest, that he may sum the silver which is brought into the house of the LORD, which the keepers of the door have gathered of the people:\r\n And let them deliver it into the hand of the doers of the work, that have the oversight of the house of the LORD: and let them give it to the doers of the work which is in the house of the LORD, to repair the breaches of the house,\r\n Unto carpenters, and builders, and masons, and to buy timber and hewn stone to repair the house.\r\n Howbeit there was no reckoning made with them of the money that was delivered into their hand, because they dealt faithfully.\r\n And Hilkiah the high priest said unto Shaphan the scribe, I have found the book of the law in the house of the LORD. And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it.\r\n And Shaphan the scribe came to the king, and brought the king word again, and said, Thy servants have gathered the money that was found in the house, and have delivered it into the hand of them that do the work, that have the oversight of the house of the LORD.\r\n And Shaphan the scribe shewed the king, saying, Hilkiah the priest hath delivered me a book. And Shaphan read it before the king.\r\n And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the book of the law, that he rent his clothes.\r\n And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Michaiah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asahiah a servant of the king's, saying,\r\n Go ye, enquire of the LORD for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that is found: for great is the wrath of the LORD that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not hearkened unto the words of this book, to do according unto all that which is written concerning us.\r\n So Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam, and Achbor, and Shaphan, and Asahiah, went unto Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe; (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the college;) and they communed with her.\r\n And she said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Tell the man that sent you to me,\r\n Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof, even all the words of the book which the king of Judah hath read:\r\n Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore my wrath shall be kindled against this place, and shall not be quenched.\r\n But to the king of Judah which sent you to enquire of the LORD, thus shall ye say to him, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, As touching the words which thou hast heard;\r\n Because thine heart was tender, and thou hast humbled thyself before the LORD, when thou heardest what I spake against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and hast rent thy clothes, and wept before me; I also have heard thee, saith the LORD.\r\n Behold therefore, I will gather thee unto thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered into thy grave in peace; and thine eyes shall not see all the evil which I will bring upon this place. And they brought the king word again.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the king sent, and they gathered unto him all the elders of Judah and of Jerusalem.\r\n And the king went up into the house of the LORD, and all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem with him, and the priests, and the prophets, and all the people, both small and great: and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant which was found in the house of the LORD.\r\n And the king stood by a pillar, and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes with all their heart and all their soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people stood to the covenant.\r\n And the king commanded Hilkiah the high priest, and the priests of the second order, and the keepers of the door, to bring forth out of the temple of the LORD all the vessels that were made for Baal, and for the grove, and for all the host of heaven: and he burned them without Jerusalem in the fields of Kidron, and carried the ashes of them unto Bethel.\r\n And he put down the idolatrous priests, whom the kings of Judah had ordained to burn incense in the high places in the cities of Judah, and in the places round about Jerusalem; them also that burned incense unto Baal, to the sun, and to the moon, and to the planets, and to all the host of heaven.\r\n And he brought out the grove from the house of the LORD, without Jerusalem, unto the brook Kidron, and burned it at the brook Kidron, and stamped it small to powder, and cast the powder thereof upon the graves of the children of the people.\r\n And he brake down the houses of the sodomites, that were by the house of the LORD, where the women wove hangings for the grove.\r\n And he brought all the priests out of the cities of Judah, and defiled the high places where the priests had burned incense, from Geba to Beersheba, and brake down the high places of the gates that were in the entering in of the gate of Joshua the governor of the city, which were on a man's left hand at the gate of the city.\r\n Nevertheless the priests of the high places came not up to the altar of the LORD in Jerusalem, but they did eat of the unleavened bread among their brethren.\r\n And he defiled Topheth, which is in the valley of the children of Hinnom, that no man might make his son or his daughter to pass through the fire to Molech.\r\n And he took away the horses that the kings of Judah had given to the sun, at the entering in of the house of the LORD, by the chamber of Nathanmelech the chamberlain, which was in the suburbs, and burned the chariots of the sun with fire.\r\n And the altars that were on the top of the upper chamber of Ahaz, which the kings of Judah had made, and the altars which Manasseh had made in the two courts of the house of the LORD, did the king beat down, and brake them down from thence, and cast the dust of them into the brook Kidron.\r\n And the high places that were before Jerusalem, which were on the right hand of the mount of corruption, which Solomon the king of Israel had builded for Ashtoreth the abomination of the Zidonians, and for Chemosh the abomination of the Moabites, and for Milcom the abomination of the children of Ammon, did the king defile.\r\n And he brake in pieces the images, and cut down the groves, and filled their places with the bones of men.\r\n Moreover the altar that was at Bethel, and the high place which Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, had made, both that altar and the high place he brake down, and burned the high place, and stamped it small to powder, and burned the grove.\r\n And as Josiah turned himself, he spied the sepulchres that were there in the mount, and sent, and took the bones out of the sepulchres, and burned them upon the altar, and polluted it, according to the word of the LORD which the man of God proclaimed, who proclaimed these words.\r\n Then he said, What title is that that I see? And the men of the city told him, It is the sepulchre of the man of God, which came from Judah, and proclaimed these things that thou hast done against the altar of Bethel.\r\n And he said, Let him alone; let no man move his bones. So they let his bones alone, with the bones of the prophet that came out of Samaria.\r\n And all the houses also of the high places that were in the cities of Samaria, which the kings of Israel had made to provoke the LORD to anger, Josiah took away, and did to them according to all the acts that he had done in Bethel.\r\n And he slew all the priests of the high places that were there upon the altars, and burned men's bones upon them, and returned to Jerusalem.\r\n And the king commanded all the people, saying, Keep the passover unto the LORD your God, as it is written in the book of this covenant.\r\n Surely there was not holden such a passover from the days of the judges that judged Israel, nor in all the days of the kings of Israel, nor of the kings of Judah;\r\n But in the eighteenth year of king Josiah, wherein this passover was holden to the LORD in Jerusalem.\r\n Moreover the workers with familiar spirits, and the wizards, and the images, and the idols, and all the abominations that were spied in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, did Josiah put away, that he might perform the words of the law which were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of the LORD.\r\n And like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to the LORD with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him.\r\n Notwithstanding the LORD turned not from the fierceness of his great wrath, wherewith his anger was kindled against Judah, because of all the provocations that Manasseh had provoked him withal.\r\n And the LORD said, I will remove Judah also out of my sight, as I have removed Israel, and will cast off this city Jerusalem which I have chosen, and the house of which I said, My name shall be there.\r\n Now the rest of the acts of Josiah, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?\r\n In his days Pharaohnechoh king of Egypt went up against the king of Assyria to the river Euphrates: and king Josiah went against him; and he slew him at Megiddo, when he had seen him.\r\n And his servants carried him in a chariot dead from Megiddo, and brought him to Jerusalem, and buried him in his own sepulchre. And the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah, and anointed him, and made him king in his father's stead.\r\n Jehoahaz was twenty and three years old when he began to reign; and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.\r\n And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his fathers had done.\r\n And Pharaohnechoh put him in bands at Riblah in the land of Hamath, that he might not reign in Jerusalem; and put the land to a tribute of an hundred talents of silver, and a talent of gold.\r\n And Pharaohnechoh made Eliakim the son of Josiah king in the room of Josiah his father, and turned his name to Jehoiakim, and took Jehoahaz away: and he came to Egypt, and died there.\r\n And Jehoiakim gave the silver and the gold to Pharaoh; but he taxed the land to give the money according to the commandment of Pharaoh: he exacted the silver and the gold of the people of the land, of every one according to his taxation, to give it unto Pharaohnechoh.\r\n Jehoiakim was twenty and five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Zebudah, the daughter of Pedaiah of Rumah.\r\n And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his fathers had done.\r\n \r\n \r\n In his days Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up, and Jehoiakim became his servant three years: then he turned and rebelled against him.\r\n And the LORD sent against him bands of the Chaldees, and bands of the Syrians, and bands of the Moabites, and bands of the children of Ammon, and sent them against Judah to destroy it, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by his servants the prophets.\r\n Surely at the commandment of the LORD came this upon Judah, to remove them out of his sight, for the sins of Manasseh, according to all that he did;\r\n And also for the innocent blood that he shed: for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood; which the LORD would not pardon.\r\n Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?\r\n So Jehoiakim slept with his fathers: and Jehoiachin his son reigned in his stead.\r\n And the king of Egypt came not again any more out of his land: for the king of Babylon had taken from the river of Egypt unto the river Euphrates all that pertained to the king of Egypt.\r\n Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. And his mother's name was Nehushta, the daughter of Elnathan of Jerusalem.\r\n And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father had done.\r\n At that time the servants of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up against Jerusalem, and the city was besieged.\r\n And Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came against the city, and his servants did besiege it.\r\n And Jehoiachin the king of Judah went out to the king of Babylon, he, and his mother, and his servants, and his princes, and his officers: and the king of Babylon took him in the eighth year of his reign.\r\n And he carried out thence all the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king's house, and cut in pieces all the vessels of gold which Solomon king of Israel had made in the temple of the LORD, as the LORD had said.\r\n And he carried away all Jerusalem, and all the princes, and all the mighty men of valour, even ten thousand captives, and all the craftsmen and smiths: none remained, save the poorest sort of the people of the land.\r\n And he carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon, and the king's mother, and the king's wives, and his officers, and the mighty of the land, those carried he into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon.\r\n And all the men of might, even seven thousand, and craftsmen and smiths a thousand, all that were strong and apt for war, even them the king of Babylon brought captive to Babylon.\r\n And the king of Babylon made Mattaniah his father's brother king in his stead, and changed his name to Zedekiah.\r\n Zedekiah was twenty and one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.\r\n And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that Jehoiakim had done.\r\n For through the anger of the LORD it came to pass in Jerusalem and Judah, until he had cast them out from his presence, that Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came, he, and all his host, against Jerusalem, and pitched against it; and they built forts against it round about.\r\n And the city was besieged unto the eleventh year of king Zedekiah.\r\n And on the ninth day of the fourth month the famine prevailed in the city, and there was no bread for the people of the land.\r\n And the city was broken up, and all the men of war fled by night by the way of the gate between two walls, which is by the king's garden: (now the Chaldees were against the city round about:) and the king went the way toward the plain.\r\n And the army of the Chaldees pursued after the king, and overtook him in the plains of Jericho: and all his army were scattered from him.\r\n So they took the king, and brought him up to the king of Babylon to Riblah; and they gave judgment upon him.\r\n And they slew the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and put out the eyes of Zedekiah, and bound him with fetters of brass, and carried him to Babylon.\r\n And in the fifth month, on the seventh day of the month, which is the nineteenth year of king Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, came Nebuzaradan, captain of the guard, a servant of the king of Babylon, unto Jerusalem:\r\n And he burnt the house of the LORD, and the king's house, and all the houses of Jerusalem, and every great man's house burnt he with fire.\r\n And all the army of the Chaldees, that were with the captain of the guard, brake down the walls of Jerusalem round about.\r\n Now the rest of the people that were left in the city, and the fugitives that fell away to the king of Babylon, with the remnant of the multitude, did Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carry away.\r\n But the captain of the guard left of the poor of the land to be vinedressers and husbandmen.\r\n And the pillars of brass that were in the house of the LORD, and the bases, and the brasen sea that was in the house of the LORD, did the Chaldees break in pieces, and carried the brass of them to Babylon.\r\n And the pots, and the shovels, and the snuffers, and the spoons, and all the vessels of brass wherewith they ministered, took they away.\r\n And the firepans, and the bowls, and such things as were of gold, in gold, and of silver, in silver, the captain of the guard took away.\r\n The two pillars, one sea, and the bases which Solomon had made for the house of the LORD; the brass of all these vessels was without weight.\r\n The height of the one pillar was eighteen cubits, and the chapiter upon it was brass: and the height of the chapiter three cubits; and the wreathen work, and pomegranates upon the chapiter round about, all of brass: and like unto these had the second pillar with wreathen work.\r\n And the captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, and Zephaniah the second priest, and the three keepers of the door:\r\n And out of the city he took an officer that was set over the men of war, and five men of them that were in the king's presence, which were found in the city, and the principal scribe of the host, which mustered the people of the land, and threescore men of the people of the land that were found in the city:\r\n And Nebuzaradan captain of the guard took these, and brought them to the king of Babylon to Riblah:\r\n And the king of Babylon smote them, and slew them at Riblah in the land of Hamath. So Judah was carried away out of their land.\r\n And as for the people that remained in the land of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had left, even over them he made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, ruler.\r\n And when all the captains of the armies, they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah governor, there came to Gedaliah to Mizpah, even Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and Johanan the son of Careah, and Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, and Jaazaniah the son of a Maachathite, they and their men.\r\n And Gedaliah sware to them, and to their men, and said unto them, Fear not to be the servants of the Chaldees: dwell in the land, and serve the king of Babylon; and it shall be well with you.\r\n But it came to pass in the seventh month, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, of the seed royal, came, and ten men with him, and smote Gedaliah, that he died, and the Jews and the Chaldees that were with him at Mizpah.\r\n And all the people, both small and great, and the captains of the armies, arose, and came to Egypt: for they were afraid of the Chaldees.\r\n And it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, that Evilmerodach king of Babylon in the year that he began to reign did lift up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah out of prison;\r\n And he spake kindly to him, and set his throne above the throne of the kings that were with him in Babylon;\r\n And changed his prison garments: and he did eat bread continually before him all the days of his life.\r\n And his allowance was a continual allowance given him of the king, a daily rate for every day, all the days of his life.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n Adam, Sheth, Enosh,\r\n Kenan, Mahalaleel, Jered,\r\n Henoch, Methuselah, Lamech,\r\n Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.\r\n The sons of Japheth; Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras.\r\n And the sons of Gomer; Ashchenaz, and Riphath, and Togarmah.\r\n And the sons of Javan; Elishah, and Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim.\r\n The sons of Ham; Cush, and Mizraim, Put, and Canaan.\r\n And the sons of Cush; Seba, and Havilah, and Sabta, and Raamah, and Sabtecha. And the sons of Raamah; Sheba, and Dedan.\r\n And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be mighty upon the earth.\r\n And Mizraim begat Ludim, and Anamim, and Lehabim, and Naphtuhim,\r\n And Pathrusim, and Casluhim, (of whom came the Philistines,) and Caphthorim.\r\n And Canaan begat Zidon his firstborn, and Heth,\r\n The Jebusite also, and the Amorite, and the Girgashite,\r\n And the Hivite, and the Arkite, and the Sinite,\r\n And the Arvadite, and the Zemarite, and the Hamathite.\r\n The sons of Shem; Elam, and Asshur, and Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram, and Uz, and Hul, and Gether, and Meshech.\r\n And Arphaxad begat Shelah, and Shelah begat Eber.\r\n And unto Eber were born two sons: the name of the one was Peleg; because in his days the earth was divided: and his brother's name was Joktan.\r\n And Joktan begat Almodad, and Sheleph, and Hazarmaveth, and Jerah,\r\n Hadoram also, and Uzal, and Diklah,\r\n And Ebal, and Abimael, and Sheba,\r\n And Ophir, and Havilah, and Jobab. All these were the sons of Joktan.\r\n Shem, Arphaxad, Shelah,\r\n Eber, Peleg, Reu,\r\n Serug, Nahor, Terah,\r\n Abram; the same is Abraham.\r\n The sons of Abraham; Isaac, and Ishmael.\r\n These are their generations: The firstborn of Ishmael, Nebaioth; then Kedar, and Adbeel, and Mibsam,\r\n Mishma, and Dumah, Massa, Hadad, and Tema,\r\n Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. These are the sons of Ishmael.\r\n Now the sons of Keturah, Abraham's concubine: she bare Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah. And the sons of Jokshan; Sheba, and Dedan.\r\n And the sons of Midian; Ephah, and Epher, and Henoch, and Abida, and Eldaah. All these are the sons of Keturah.\r\n And Abraham begat Isaac. The sons of Isaac; Esau and Israel.\r\n The sons of Esau; Eliphaz, Reuel, and Jeush, and Jaalam, and Korah.\r\n The sons of Eliphaz; Teman, and Omar, Zephi, and Gatam, Kenaz, and Timna, and Amalek.\r\n The sons of Reuel; Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah.\r\n And the sons of Seir; Lotan, and Shobal, and Zibeon, and Anah, and Dishon, and Ezer, and Dishan.\r\n And the sons of Lotan; Hori, and Homam: and Timna was Lotan's sister.\r\n The sons of Shobal; Alian, and Manahath, and Ebal, Shephi, and Onam. And the sons of Zibeon; Aiah, and Anah.\r\n The sons of Anah; Dishon. And the sons of Dishon; Amram, and Eshban, and Ithran, and Cheran.\r\n The sons of Ezer; Bilhan, and Zavan, and Jakan. The sons of Dishan; Uz, and Aran.\r\n Now these are the kings that reigned in the land of Edom before any king reigned over the children of Israel; Bela the son of Beor: and the name of his city was Dinhabah.\r\n And when Bela was dead, Jobab the son of Zerah of Bozrah reigned in his stead.\r\n And when Jobab was dead, Husham of the land of the Temanites reigned in his stead.\r\n And when Husham was dead, Hadad the son of Bedad, which smote Midian in the field of Moab, reigned in his stead: and the name of his city was Avith.\r\n And when Hadad was dead, Samlah of Masrekah reigned in his stead.\r\n And when Samlah was dead, Shaul of Rehoboth by the river reigned in his stead.\r\n And when Shaul was dead, Baalhanan the son of Achbor reigned in his stead.\r\n And when Baalhanan was dead, Hadad reigned in his stead: and the name of his city was Pai; and his wife's name was Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, the daughter of Mezahab.\r\n Hadad died also. And the dukes of Edom were; duke Timnah, duke Aliah, duke Jetheth,\r\n Duke Aholibamah, duke Elah, duke Pinon,\r\n Duke Kenaz, duke Teman, duke Mibzar,\r\n Duke Magdiel, duke Iram. These are the dukes of Edom.\r\n \r\n \r\n These are the sons of Israel; Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun,\r\n Dan, Joseph, and Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.\r\n The sons of Judah; Er, and Onan, and Shelah: which three were born unto him of the daughter of Shua the Canaanitess. And Er, the firstborn of Judah, was evil in the sight of the LORD; and he slew him.\r\n And Tamar his daughter in law bare him Pharez and Zerah. All the sons of Judah were five.\r\n The sons of Pharez; Hezron, and Hamul.\r\n And the sons of Zerah; Zimri, and Ethan, and Heman, and Calcol, and Dara: five of them in all.\r\n And the sons of Carmi; Achar, the troubler of Israel, who transgressed in the thing accursed.\r\n And the sons of Ethan; Azariah.\r\n The sons also of Hezron, that were born unto him; Jerahmeel, and Ram, and Chelubai.\r\n And Ram begat Amminadab; and Amminadab begat Nahshon, prince of the children of Judah;\r\n And Nahshon begat Salma, and Salma begat Boaz,\r\n And Boaz begat Obed, and Obed begat Jesse,\r\n And Jesse begat his firstborn Eliab, and Abinadab the second, and Shimma the third,\r\n Nethaneel the fourth, Raddai the fifth,\r\n Ozem the sixth, David the seventh:\r\n Whose sisters were Zeruiah, and Abigail. And the sons of Zeruiah; Abishai, and Joab, and Asahel, three.\r\n And Abigail bare Amasa: and the father of Amasa was Jether the Ishmeelite.\r\n And Caleb the son of Hezron begat children of Azubah his wife, and of Jerioth: her sons are these; Jesher, and Shobab, and Ardon.\r\n And when Azubah was dead, Caleb took unto him Ephrath, which bare him Hur.\r\n And Hur begat Uri, and Uri begat Bezaleel.\r\n And afterward Hezron went in to the daughter of Machir the father of Gilead, whom he married when he was threescore years old; and she bare him Segub.\r\n And Segub begat Jair, who had three and twenty cities in the land of Gilead.\r\n And he took Geshur, and Aram, with the towns of Jair, from them, with Kenath, and the towns thereof, even threescore cities. All these belonged to the sons of Machir the father of Gilead.\r\n And after that Hezron was dead in Calebephratah, then Abiah Hezron's wife bare him Ashur the father of Tekoa.\r\n And the sons of Jerahmeel the firstborn of Hezron were, Ram the firstborn, and Bunah, and Oren, and Ozem, and Ahijah.\r\n Jerahmeel had also another wife, whose name was Atarah; she was the mother of Onam.\r\n And the sons of Ram the firstborn of Jerahmeel were, Maaz, and Jamin, and Eker.\r\n And the sons of Onam were, Shammai, and Jada. And the sons of Shammai; Nadab, and Abishur.\r\n And the name of the wife of Abishur was Abihail, and she bare him Ahban, and Molid.\r\n And the sons of Nadab; Seled, and Appaim: but Seled died without children.\r\n And the sons of Appaim; Ishi. And the sons of Ishi; Sheshan. And the children of Sheshan; Ahlai.\r\n And the sons of Jada the brother of Shammai; Jether, and Jonathan: and Jether died without children.\r\n And the sons of Jonathan; Peleth, and Zaza. These were the sons of Jerahmeel.\r\n Now Sheshan had no sons, but daughters. And Sheshan had a servant, an Egyptian, whose name was Jarha.\r\n And Sheshan gave his daughter to Jarha his servant to wife; and she bare him Attai.\r\n And Attai begat Nathan, and Nathan begat Zabad,\r\n And Zabad begat Ephlal, and Ephlal begat Obed,\r\n And Obed begat Jehu, and Jehu begat Azariah,\r\n And Azariah begat Helez, and Helez begat Eleasah,\r\n And Eleasah begat Sisamai, and Sisamai begat Shallum,\r\n And Shallum begat Jekamiah, and Jekamiah begat Elishama.\r\n Now the sons of Caleb the brother of Jerahmeel were, Mesha his firstborn, which was the father of Ziph; and the sons of Mareshah the father of Hebron.\r\n And the sons of Hebron; Korah, and Tappuah, and Rekem, and Shema.\r\n And Shema begat Raham, the father of Jorkoam: and Rekem begat Shammai.\r\n And the son of Shammai was Maon: and Maon was the father of Bethzur.\r\n And Ephah, Caleb's concubine, bare Haran, and Moza, and Gazez: and Haran begat Gazez.\r\n And the sons of Jahdai; Regem, and Jotham, and Geshan, and Pelet, and Ephah, and Shaaph.\r\n Maachah, Caleb's concubine, bare Sheber, and Tirhanah.\r\n She bare also Shaaph the father of Madmannah, Sheva the father of Machbenah, and the father of Gibea: and the daughter of Caleb was Achsah.\r\n These were the sons of Caleb the son of Hur, the firstborn of Ephratah; Shobal the father of Kirjathjearim,\r\n Salma the father of Bethlehem, Hareph the father of Bethgader.\r\n And Shobal the father of Kirjathjearim had sons; Haroeh, and half of the Manahethites.\r\n And the families of Kirjathjearim; the Ithrites, and the Puhites, and the Shumathites, and the Mishraites; of them came the Zareathites, and the Eshtaulites.\r\n The sons of Salma; Bethlehem, and the Netophathites, Ataroth, the house of Joab, and half of the Manahethites, the Zorites.\r\n And the families of the scribes which dwelt at Jabez; the Tirathites, the Shimeathites, and Suchathites. These are the Kenites that came of Hemath, the father of the house of Rechab.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now these were the sons of David, which were born unto him in Hebron; the firstborn Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; the second Daniel, of Abigail the Carmelitess:\r\n The third, Absalom the son of Maachah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur: the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith:\r\n The fifth, Shephatiah of Abital: the sixth, Ithream by Eglah his wife.\r\n These six were born unto him in Hebron; and there he reigned seven years and six months: and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years.\r\n And these were born unto him in Jerusalem; Shimea, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon, four, of Bathshua the daughter of Ammiel:\r\n Ibhar also, and Elishama, and Eliphelet,\r\n And Nogah, and Nepheg, and Japhia,\r\n And Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphelet, nine.\r\n These were all the sons of David, beside the sons of the concubines, and Tamar their sister.\r\n And Solomon's son was Rehoboam, Abia his son, Asa his son, Jehoshaphat his son,\r\n Joram his son, Ahaziah his son, Joash his son,\r\n Amaziah his son, Azariah his son, Jotham his son,\r\n Ahaz his son, Hezekiah his son, Manasseh his son,\r\n Amon his son, Josiah his son.\r\n And the sons of Josiah were, the firstborn Johanan, the second Jehoiakim, the third Zedekiah, the fourth Shallum.\r\n And the sons of Jehoiakim: Jeconiah his son, Zedekiah his son.\r\n And the sons of Jeconiah; Assir, Salathiel his son,\r\n Malchiram also, and Pedaiah, and Shenazar, Jecamiah, Hoshama, and Nedabiah.\r\n And the sons of Pedaiah were, Zerubbabel, and Shimei: and the sons of Zerubbabel; Meshullam, and Hananiah, and Shelomith their sister:\r\n And Hashubah, and Ohel, and Berechiah, and Hasadiah, Jushabhesed, five.\r\n And the sons of Hananiah; Pelatiah, and Jesaiah: the sons of Rephaiah, the sons of Arnan, the sons of Obadiah, the sons of Shechaniah.\r\n And the sons of Shechaniah; Shemaiah: and the sons of Shemaiah; Hattush, and Igeal, and Bariah, and Neariah, and Shaphat, six.\r\n And the sons of Neariah; Elioenai, and Hezekiah, and Azrikam, three.\r\n And the sons of Elioenai were, Hodaiah, and Eliashib, and Pelaiah, and Akkub, and Johanan, and Dalaiah, and Anani, seven.\r\n \r\n \r\n The sons of Judah; Pharez, Hezron, and Carmi, and Hur, and Shobal.\r\n And Reaiah the son of Shobal begat Jahath; and Jahath begat Ahumai, and Lahad. These are the families of the Zorathites.\r\n And these were of the father of Etam; Jezreel, and Ishma, and Idbash: and the name of their sister was Hazelelponi:\r\n And Penuel the father of Gedor, and Ezer the father of Hushah. These are the sons of Hur, the firstborn of Ephratah, the father of Bethlehem.\r\n And Ashur the father of Tekoa had two wives, Helah and Naarah.\r\n And Naarah bare him Ahuzam, and Hepher, and Temeni, and Haahashtari. These were the sons of Naarah.\r\n And the sons of Helah were, Zereth, and Jezoar, and Ethnan.\r\n And Coz begat Anub, and Zobebah, and the families of Aharhel the son of Harum.\r\n And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow.\r\n And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.\r\n And Chelub the brother of Shuah begat Mehir, which was the father of Eshton.\r\n And Eshton begat Bethrapha, and Paseah, and Tehinnah the father of Irnahash. These are the men of Rechah.\r\n And the sons of Kenaz; Othniel, and Seraiah: and the sons of Othniel; Hathath.\r\n And Meonothai begat Ophrah: and Seraiah begat Joab, the father of the valley of Charashim; for they were craftsmen.\r\n And the sons of Caleb the son of Jephunneh; Iru, Elah, and Naam: and the sons of Elah, even Kenaz.\r\n And the sons of Jehaleleel; Ziph, and Ziphah, Tiria, and Asareel.\r\n And the sons of Ezra were, Jether, and Mered, and Epher, and Jalon: and she bare Miriam, and Shammai, and Ishbah the father of Eshtemoa.\r\n And his wife Jehudijah bare Jered the father of Gedor, and Heber the father of Socho, and Jekuthiel the father of Zanoah. And these are the sons of Bithiah the daughter of Pharaoh, which Mered took.\r\n And the sons of his wife Hodiah the sister of Naham, the father of Keilah the Garmite, and Eshtemoa the Maachathite.\r\n And the sons of Shimon were, Amnon, and Rinnah, Benhanan, and Tilon. And the sons of Ishi were, Zoheth, and Benzoheth.\r\n The sons of Shelah the son of Judah were, Er the father of Lecah, and Laadah the father of Mareshah, and the families of the house of them that wrought fine linen, of the house of Ashbea,\r\n And Jokim, and the men of Chozeba, and Joash, and Saraph, who had the dominion in Moab, and Jashubilehem. And these are ancient things.\r\n These were the potters, and those that dwelt among plants and hedges: there they dwelt with the king for his work.\r\n The sons of Simeon were, Nemuel, and Jamin, Jarib, Zerah, and Shaul:\r\n Shallum his son, Mibsam his son, Mishma his son.\r\n And the sons of Mishma; Hamuel his son, Zacchur his son, Shimei his son.\r\n And Shimei had sixteen sons and six daughters; but his brethren had not many children, neither did all their family multiply, like to the children of Judah.\r\n And they dwelt at Beersheba, and Moladah, and Hazarshual,\r\n And at Bilhah, and at Ezem, and at Tolad,\r\n And at Bethuel, and at Hormah, and at Ziklag,\r\n And at Bethmarcaboth, and Hazarsusim, and at Bethbirei, and at Shaaraim. These were their cities unto the reign of David.\r\n And their villages were, Etam, and Ain, Rimmon, and Tochen, and Ashan, five cities:\r\n And all their villages that were round about the same cities, unto Baal. These were their habitations, and their genealogy.\r\n And Meshobab, and Jamlech, and Joshah the son of Amaziah,\r\n And Joel, and Jehu the son of Josibiah, the son of Seraiah, the son of Asiel,\r\n And Elioenai, and Jaakobah, and Jeshohaiah, and Asaiah, and Adiel, and Jesimiel, and Benaiah,\r\n And Ziza the son of Shiphi, the son of Allon, the son of Jedaiah, the son of Shimri, the son of Shemaiah;\r\n These mentioned by their names were princes in their families: and the house of their fathers increased greatly.\r\n And they went to the entrance of Gedor, even unto the east side of the valley, to seek pasture for their flocks.\r\n And they found fat pasture and good, and the land was wide, and quiet, and peaceable; for they of Ham had dwelt there of old.\r\n And these written by name came in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and smote their tents, and the habitations that were found there, and destroyed them utterly unto this day, and dwelt in their rooms: because there was pasture there for their flocks.\r\n And some of them, even of the sons of Simeon, five hundred men, went to mount Seir, having for their captains Pelatiah, and Neariah, and Rephaiah, and Uzziel, the sons of Ishi.\r\n And they smote the rest of the Amalekites that were escaped, and dwelt there unto this day.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel, (for he was the firstborn; but, forasmuch as he defiled his father's bed, his birthright was given unto the sons of Joseph the son of Israel: and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birthright.\r\n For Judah prevailed above his brethren, and of him came the chief ruler; but the birthright was Joseph's:)\r\n The sons, I say, of Reuben the firstborn of Israel were, Hanoch, and Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.\r\n The sons of Joel; Shemaiah his son, Gog his son, Shimei his son,\r\n Micah his son, Reaia his son, Baal his son,\r\n Beerah his son, whom Tilgathpilneser king of Assyria carried away captive: he was prince of the Reubenites.\r\n And his brethren by their families, when the genealogy of their generations was reckoned, were the chief, Jeiel, and Zechariah,\r\n And Bela the son of Azaz, the son of Shema, the son of Joel, who dwelt in Aroer, even unto Nebo and Baalmeon:\r\n And eastward he inhabited unto the entering in of the wilderness from the river Euphrates: because their cattle were multiplied in the land of Gilead.\r\n And in the days of Saul they made war with the Hagarites, who fell by their hand: and they dwelt in their tents throughout all the east land of Gilead.\r\n And the children of Gad dwelt over against them, in the land of Bashan unto Salchah:\r\n Joel the chief, and Shapham the next, and Jaanai, and Shaphat in Bashan.\r\n And their brethren of the house of their fathers were, Michael, and Meshullam, and Sheba, and Jorai, and Jachan, and Zia, and Heber, seven.\r\n These are the children of Abihail the son of Huri, the son of Jaroah, the son of Gilead, the son of Michael, the son of Jeshishai, the son of Jahdo, the son of Buz;\r\n Ahi the son of Abdiel, the son of Guni, chief of the house of their fathers.\r\n And they dwelt in Gilead in Bashan, and in her towns, and in all the suburbs of Sharon, upon their borders.\r\n All these were reckoned by genealogies in the days of Jotham king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam king of Israel.\r\n The sons of Reuben, and the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh, of valiant men, men able to bear buckler and sword, and to shoot with bow, and skilful in war, were four and forty thousand seven hundred and threescore, that went out to the war.\r\n And they made war with the Hagarites, with Jetur, and Nephish, and Nodab.\r\n And they were helped against them, and the Hagarites were delivered into their hand, and all that were with them: for they cried to God in the battle, and he was intreated of them; because they put their trust in him.\r\n And they took away their cattle; of their camels fifty thousand, and of sheep two hundred and fifty thousand, and of asses two thousand, and of men an hundred thousand.\r\n For there fell down many slain, because the war was of God. And they dwelt in their steads until the captivity.\r\n And the children of the half tribe of Manasseh dwelt in the land: they increased from Bashan unto Baalhermon and Senir, and unto mount Hermon.\r\n And these were the heads of the house of their fathers, even Epher, and Ishi, and Eliel, and Azriel, and Jeremiah, and Hodaviah, and Jahdiel, mighty men of valour, famous men, and heads of the house of their fathers.\r\n And they transgressed against the God of their fathers, and went a whoring after the gods of the people of the land, whom God destroyed before them.\r\n And the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria, and the spirit of Tilgathpilneser king of Assyria, and he carried them away, even the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh, and brought them unto Halah, and Habor, and Hara, and to the river Gozan, unto this day.\r\n \r\n \r\n The sons of Levi; Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.\r\n And the sons of Kohath; Amram, Izhar, and Hebron, and Uzziel.\r\n And the children of Amram; Aaron, and Moses, and Miriam. The sons also of Aaron; Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.\r\n Eleazar begat Phinehas, Phinehas begat Abishua,\r\n And Abishua begat Bukki, and Bukki begat Uzzi,\r\n And Uzzi begat Zerahiah, and Zerahiah begat Meraioth,\r\n Meraioth begat Amariah, and Amariah begat Ahitub,\r\n And Ahitub begat Zadok, and Zadok begat Ahimaaz,\r\n And Ahimaaz begat Azariah, and Azariah begat Johanan,\r\n And Johanan begat Azariah, (he it is that executed the priest's office in the temple that Solomon built in Jerusalem:)\r\n And Azariah begat Amariah, and Amariah begat Ahitub,\r\n And Ahitub begat Zadok, and Zadok begat Shallum,\r\n And Shallum begat Hilkiah, and Hilkiah begat Azariah,\r\n And Azariah begat Seraiah, and Seraiah begat Jehozadak,\r\n And Jehozadak went into captivity, when the LORD carried away Judah and Jerusalem by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar.\r\n The sons of Levi; Gershom, Kohath, and Merari.\r\n And these be the names of the sons of Gershom; Libni, and Shimei.\r\n And the sons of Kohath were, Amram, and Izhar, and Hebron, and Uzziel.\r\n The sons of Merari; Mahli, and Mushi. And these are the families of the Levites according to their fathers.\r\n Of Gershom; Libni his son, Jahath his son, Zimmah his son,\r\n Joah his son, Iddo his son, Zerah his son, Jeaterai his son.\r\n The sons of Kohath; Amminadab his son, Korah his son, Assir his son,\r\n Elkanah his son, and Ebiasaph his son, and Assir his son,\r\n Tahath his son, Uriel his son, Uzziah his son, and Shaul his son.\r\n And the sons of Elkanah; Amasai, and Ahimoth.\r\n As for Elkanah: the sons of Elkanah; Zophai his son, and Nahath his son,\r\n Eliab his son, Jeroham his son, Elkanah his son.\r\n And the sons of Samuel; the firstborn Vashni, and Abiah.\r\n The sons of Merari; Mahli, Libni his son, Shimei his son, Uzza his son,\r\n Shimea his son, Haggiah his son, Asaiah his son.\r\n And these are they whom David set over the service of song in the house of the LORD, after that the ark had rest.\r\n And they ministered before the dwelling place of the tabernacle of the congregation with singing, until Solomon had built the house of the LORD in Jerusalem: and then they waited on their office according to their order.\r\n And these are they that waited with their children. Of the sons of the Kohathites: Heman a singer, the son of Joel, the son of Shemuel,\r\n The son of Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Eliel, the son of Toah,\r\n The son of Zuph, the son of Elkanah, the son of Mahath, the son of Amasai,\r\n The son of Elkanah, the son of Joel, the son of Azariah, the son of Zephaniah,\r\n The son of Tahath, the son of Assir, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah,\r\n The son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, the son of Israel.\r\n And his brother Asaph, who stood on his right hand, even Asaph the son of Berachiah, the son of Shimea,\r\n The son of Michael, the son of Baaseiah, the son of Malchiah,\r\n The son of Ethni, the son of Zerah, the son of Adaiah,\r\n The son of Ethan, the son of Zimmah, the son of Shimei,\r\n The son of Jahath, the son of Gershom, the son of Levi.\r\n And their brethren the sons of Merari stood on the left hand: Ethan the son of Kishi, the son of Abdi, the son of Malluch,\r\n The son of Hashabiah, the son of Amaziah, the son of Hilkiah,\r\n The son of Amzi, the son of Bani, the son of Shamer,\r\n The son of Mahli, the son of Mushi, the son of Merari, the son of Levi.\r\n Their brethren also the Levites were appointed unto all manner of service of the tabernacle of the house of God.\r\n But Aaron and his sons offered upon the altar of the burnt offering, and on the altar of incense, and were appointed for all the work of the place most holy, and to make an atonement for Israel, according to all that Moses the servant of God had commanded.\r\n And these are the sons of Aaron; Eleazar his son, Phinehas his son, Abishua his son,\r\n Bukki his son, Uzzi his son, Zerahiah his son,\r\n Meraioth his son, Amariah his son, Ahitub his son,\r\n Zadok his son, Ahimaaz his son.\r\n Now these are their dwelling places throughout their castles in their coasts, of the sons of Aaron, of the families of the Kohathites: for theirs was the lot.\r\n And they gave them Hebron in the land of Judah, and the suburbs thereof round about it.\r\n But the fields of the city, and the villages thereof, they gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh.\r\n And to the sons of Aaron they gave the cities of Judah, namely, Hebron, the city of refuge, and Libnah with her suburbs, and Jattir, and Eshtemoa, with their suburbs,\r\n And Hilen with her suburbs, Debir with her suburbs,\r\n And Ashan with her suburbs, and Bethshemesh with her suburbs:\r\n And out of the tribe of Benjamin; Geba with her suburbs, and Alemeth with her suburbs, and Anathoth with her suburbs. All their cities throughout their families were thirteen cities.\r\n And unto the sons of Kohath, which were left of the family of that tribe, were cities given out of the half tribe, namely, out of the half tribe of Manasseh, by lot, ten cities.\r\n And to the sons of Gershom throughout their families out of the tribe of Issachar, and out of the tribe of Asher, and out of the tribe of Naphtali, and out of the tribe of Manasseh in Bashan, thirteen cities.\r\n Unto the sons of Merari were given by lot, throughout their families, out of the tribe of Reuben, and out of the tribe of Gad, and out of the tribe of Zebulun, twelve cities.\r\n And the children of Israel gave to the Levites these cities with their suburbs.\r\n And they gave by lot out of the tribe of the children of Judah, and out of the tribe of the children of Simeon, and out of the tribe of the children of Benjamin, these cities, which are called by their names.\r\n And the residue of the families of the sons of Kohath had cities of their coasts out of the tribe of Ephraim.\r\n And they gave unto them, of the cities of refuge, Shechem in mount Ephraim with her suburbs; they gave also Gezer with her suburbs,\r\n And Jokmeam with her suburbs, and Bethhoron with her suburbs,\r\n And Aijalon with her suburbs, and Gathrimmon with her suburbs:\r\n And out of the half tribe of Manasseh; Aner with her suburbs, and Bileam with her suburbs, for the family of the remnant of the sons of Kohath.\r\n Unto the sons of Gershom were given out of the family of the half tribe of Manasseh, Golan in Bashan with her suburbs, and Ashtaroth with her suburbs:\r\n And out of the tribe of Issachar; Kedesh with her suburbs, Daberath with her suburbs,\r\n And Ramoth with her suburbs, and Anem with her suburbs:\r\n And out of the tribe of Asher; Mashal with her suburbs, and Abdon with her suburbs,\r\n And Hukok with her suburbs, and Rehob with her suburbs:\r\n And out of the tribe of Naphtali; Kedesh in Galilee with her suburbs, and Hammon with her suburbs, and Kirjathaim with her suburbs.\r\n Unto the rest of the children of Merari were given out of the tribe of Zebulun, Rimmon with her suburbs, Tabor with her suburbs:\r\n And on the other side Jordan by Jericho, on the east side of Jordan, were given them out of the tribe of Reuben, Bezer in the wilderness with her suburbs, and Jahzah with her suburbs,\r\n Kedemoth also with her suburbs, and Mephaath with her suburbs:\r\n And out of the tribe of Gad; Ramoth in Gilead with her suburbs, and Mahanaim with her suburbs,\r\n And Heshbon with her suburbs, and Jazer with her suburbs.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now the sons of Issachar were, Tola, and Puah, Jashub, and Shimron, four.\r\n And the sons of Tola; Uzzi, and Rephaiah, and Jeriel, and Jahmai, and Jibsam, and Shemuel, heads of their father's house, to wit, of Tola: they were valiant men of might in their generations; whose number was in the days of David two and twenty thousand and six hundred.\r\n And the sons of Uzzi; Izrahiah: and the sons of Izrahiah; Michael, and Obadiah, and Joel, Ishiah, five: all of them chief men.\r\n And with them, by their generations, after the house of their fathers, were bands of soldiers for war, six and thirty thousand men: for they had many wives and sons.\r\n And their brethren among all the families of Issachar were valiant men of might, reckoned in all by their genealogies fourscore and seven thousand.\r\n The sons of Benjamin; Bela, and Becher, and Jediael, three.\r\n And the sons of Bela; Ezbon, and Uzzi, and Uzziel, and Jerimoth, and Iri, five; heads of the house of their fathers, mighty men of valour; and were reckoned by their genealogies twenty and two thousand and thirty and four.\r\n And the sons of Becher; Zemira, and Joash, and Eliezer, and Elioenai, and Omri, and Jerimoth, and Abiah, and Anathoth, and Alameth. All these are the sons of Becher.\r\n And the number of them, after their genealogy by their generations, heads of the house of their fathers, mighty men of valour, was twenty thousand and two hundred.\r\n The sons also of Jediael; Bilhan: and the sons of Bilhan; Jeush, and Benjamin, and Ehud, and Chenaanah, and Zethan, and Tharshish, and Ahishahar.\r\n All these the sons of Jediael, by the heads of their fathers, mighty men of valour, were seventeen thousand and two hundred soldiers, fit to go out for war and battle.\r\n Shuppim also, and Huppim, the children of Ir, and Hushim, the sons of Aher.\r\n The sons of Naphtali; Jahziel, and Guni, and Jezer, and Shallum, the sons of Bilhah.\r\n The sons of Manasseh; Ashriel, whom she bare: (but his concubine the Aramitess bare Machir the father of Gilead:\r\n And Machir took to wife the sister of Huppim and Shuppim, whose sister's name was Maachah;) and the name of the second was Zelophehad: and Zelophehad had daughters.\r\n And Maachah the wife of Machir bare a son, and she called his name Peresh; and the name of his brother was Sheresh; and his sons were Ulam and Rakem.\r\n And the sons of Ulam; Bedan. These were the sons of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh.\r\n And his sister Hammoleketh bare Ishod, and Abiezer, and Mahalah.\r\n And the sons of Shemida were, Ahian, and Shechem, and Likhi, and Aniam.\r\n And the sons of Ephraim; Shuthelah, and Bered his son, and Tahath his son, and Eladah his son, and Tahath his son,\r\n And Zabad his son, and Shuthelah his son, and Ezer, and Elead, whom the men of Gath that were born in that land slew, because they came down to take away their cattle.\r\n And Ephraim their father mourned many days, and his brethren came to comfort him.\r\n And when he went in to his wife, she conceived, and bare a son, and he called his name Beriah, because it went evil with his house.\r\n (And his daughter was Sherah, who built Bethhoron the nether, and the upper, and Uzzensherah.)\r\n And Rephah was his son, also Resheph, and Telah his son, and Tahan his son,\r\n Laadan his son, Ammihud his son, Elishama his son,\r\n Non his son, Jehoshua his son.\r\n And their possessions and habitations were, Bethel and the towns thereof, and eastward Naaran, and westward Gezer, with the towns thereof; Shechem also and the towns thereof, unto Gaza and the towns thereof:\r\n And by the borders of the children of Manasseh, Bethshean and her towns, Taanach and her towns, Megiddo and her towns, Dor and her towns. In these dwelt the children of Joseph the son of Israel.\r\n The sons of Asher; Imnah, and Isuah, and Ishuai, and Beriah, and Serah their sister.\r\n And the sons of Beriah; Heber, and Malchiel, who is the father of Birzavith.\r\n And Heber begat Japhlet, and Shomer, and Hotham, and Shua their sister.\r\n And the sons of Japhlet; Pasach, and Bimhal, and Ashvath. These are the children of Japhlet.\r\n And the sons of Shamer; Ahi, and Rohgah, Jehubbah, and Aram.\r\n And the sons of his brother Helem; Zophah, and Imna, and Shelesh, and Amal.\r\n The sons of Zophah; Suah, and Harnepher, and Shual, and Beri, and Imrah,\r\n Bezer, and Hod, and Shamma, and Shilshah, and Ithran, and Beera.\r\n And the sons of Jether; Jephunneh, and Pispah, and Ara.\r\n And the sons of Ulla; Arah, and Haniel, and Rezia.\r\n All these were the children of Asher, heads of their father's house, choice and mighty men of valour, chief of the princes. And the number throughout the genealogy of them that were apt to the war and to battle was twenty and six thousand men.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now Benjamin begat Bela his firstborn, Ashbel the second, and Aharah the third,\r\n Nohah the fourth, and Rapha the fifth.\r\n And the sons of Bela were, Addar, and Gera, and Abihud,\r\n And Abishua, and Naaman, and Ahoah,\r\n And Gera, and Shephuphan, and Huram.\r\n And these are the sons of Ehud: these are the heads of the fathers of the inhabitants of Geba, and they removed them to Manahath:\r\n And Naaman, and Ahiah, and Gera, he removed them, and begat Uzza, and Ahihud.\r\n And Shaharaim begat children in the country of Moab, after he had sent them away; Hushim and Baara were his wives.\r\n And he begat of Hodesh his wife, Jobab, and Zibia, and Mesha, and Malcham,\r\n And Jeuz, and Shachia, and Mirma. These were his sons, heads of the fathers.\r\n And of Hushim he begat Abitub, and Elpaal.\r\n The sons of Elpaal; Eber, and Misham, and Shamed, who built Ono, and Lod, with the towns thereof:\r\n Beriah also, and Shema, who were heads of the fathers of the inhabitants of Aijalon, who drove away the inhabitants of Gath:\r\n And Ahio, Shashak, and Jeremoth,\r\n And Zebadiah, and Arad, and Ader,\r\n And Michael, and Ispah, and Joha, the sons of Beriah;\r\n And Zebadiah, and Meshullam, and Hezeki, and Heber,\r\n Ishmerai also, and Jezliah, and Jobab, the sons of Elpaal;\r\n And Jakim, and Zichri, and Zabdi,\r\n And Elienai, and Zilthai, and Eliel,\r\n And Adaiah, and Beraiah, and Shimrath, the sons of Shimhi;\r\n And Ishpan, and Heber, and Eliel,\r\n And Abdon, and Zichri, and Hanan,\r\n And Hananiah, and Elam, and Antothijah,\r\n And Iphedeiah, and Penuel, the sons of Shashak;\r\n And Shamsherai, and Shehariah, and Athaliah,\r\n And Jaresiah, and Eliah, and Zichri, the sons of Jeroham.\r\n These were heads of the fathers, by their generations, chief men. These dwelt in Jerusalem.\r\n And at Gibeon dwelt the father of Gibeon; whose wife's name was Maachah:\r\n And his firstborn son Abdon, and Zur, and Kish, and Baal, and Nadab,\r\n And Gedor, and Ahio, and Zacher.\r\n And Mikloth begat Shimeah. And these also dwelt with their brethren in Jerusalem, over against them.\r\n And Ner begat Kish, and Kish begat Saul, and Saul begat Jonathan, and Malchishua, and Abinadab, and Eshbaal.\r\n And the son of Jonathan was Meribbaal; and Meribbaal begat Micah.\r\n And the sons of Micah were, Pithon, and Melech, and Tarea, and Ahaz.\r\n And Ahaz begat Jehoadah; and Jehoadah begat Alemeth, and Azmaveth, and Zimri; and Zimri begat Moza,\r\n And Moza begat Binea: Rapha was his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son:\r\n And Azel had six sons, whose names are these, Azrikam, Bocheru, and Ishmael, and Sheariah, and Obadiah, and Hanan. All these were the sons of Azel.\r\n And the sons of Eshek his brother were, Ulam his firstborn, Jehush the second, and Eliphelet the third.\r\n And the sons of Ulam were mighty men of valour, archers, and had many sons, and sons' sons, an hundred and fifty. All these are of the sons of Benjamin.\r\n \r\n \r\n So all Israel were reckoned by genealogies; and, behold, they were written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah, who were carried away to Babylon for their transgression.\r\n Now the first inhabitants that dwelt in their possessions in their cities were, the Israelites, the priests, Levites, and the Nethinims.\r\n And in Jerusalem dwelt of the children of Judah, and of the children of Benjamin, and of the children of Ephraim, and Manasseh;\r\n Uthai the son of Ammihud, the son of Omri, the son of Imri, the son of Bani, of the children of Pharez the son of Judah.\r\n And of the Shilonites; Asaiah the firstborn, and his sons.\r\n And of the sons of Zerah; Jeuel, and their brethren, six hundred and ninety.\r\n And of the sons of Benjamin; Sallu the son of Meshullam, the son of Hodaviah, the son of Hasenuah,\r\n And Ibneiah the son of Jeroham, and Elah the son of Uzzi, the son of Michri, and Meshullam the son of Shephathiah, the son of Reuel, the son of Ibnijah;\r\n And their brethren, according to their generations, nine hundred and fifty and six. All these men were chief of the fathers in the house of their fathers.\r\n And of the priests; Jedaiah, and Jehoiarib, and Jachin,\r\n And Azariah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the ruler of the house of God;\r\n And Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son of Pashur, the son of Malchijah, and Maasiai the son of Adiel, the son of Jahzerah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Meshillemith, the son of Immer;\r\n And their brethren, heads of the house of their fathers, a thousand and seven hundred and threescore; very able men for the work of the service of the house of God.\r\n And of the Levites; Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, of the sons of Merari;\r\n And Bakbakkar, Heresh, and Galal, and Mattaniah the son of Micah, the son of Zichri, the son of Asaph;\r\n And Obadiah the son of Shemaiah, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun, and Berechiah the son of Asa, the son of Elkanah, that dwelt in the villages of the Netophathites.\r\n And the porters were, Shallum, and Akkub, and Talmon, and Ahiman, and their brethren: Shallum was the chief;\r\n Who hitherto waited in the king's gate eastward: they were porters in the companies of the children of Levi.\r\n And Shallum the son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, and his brethren, of the house of his father, the Korahites, were over the work of the service, keepers of the gates of the tabernacle: and their fathers, being over the host of the LORD, were keepers of the entry.\r\n And Phinehas the son of Eleazar was the ruler over them in time past, and the LORD was with him.\r\n And Zechariah the son of Meshelemiah was porter of the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.\r\n All these which were chosen to be porters in the gates were two hundred and twelve. These were reckoned by their genealogy in their villages, whom David and Samuel the seer did ordain in their set office.\r\n So they and their children had the oversight of the gates of the house of the LORD, namely, the house of the tabernacle, by wards.\r\n In four quarters were the porters, toward the east, west, north, and south.\r\n And their brethren, which were in their villages, were to come after seven days from time to time with them.\r\n For these Levites, the four chief porters, were in their set office, and were over the chambers and treasuries of the house of God.\r\n And they lodged round about the house of God, because the charge was upon them, and the opening thereof every morning pertained to them.\r\n And certain of them had the charge of the ministering vessels, that they should bring them in and out by tale.\r\n Some of them also were appointed to oversee the vessels, and all the instruments of the sanctuary, and the fine flour, and the wine, and the oil, and the frankincense, and the spices.\r\n And some of the sons of the priests made the ointment of the spices.\r\n And Mattithiah, one of the Levites, who was the firstborn of Shallum the Korahite, had the set office over the things that were made in the pans.\r\n And other of their brethren, of the sons of the Kohathites, were over the shewbread, to prepare it every sabbath.\r\n And these are the singers, chief of the fathers of the Levites, who remaining in the chambers were free: for they were employed in that work day and night.\r\n These chief fathers of the Levites were chief throughout their generations; these dwelt at Jerusalem.\r\n And in Gibeon dwelt the father of Gibeon, Jehiel, whose wife's name was Maachah:\r\n And his firstborn son Abdon, then Zur, and Kish, and Baal, and Ner, and Nadab,\r\n And Gedor, and Ahio, and Zechariah, and Mikloth.\r\n And Mikloth begat Shimeam. And they also dwelt with their brethren at Jerusalem, over against their brethren.\r\n And Ner begat Kish; and Kish begat Saul; and Saul begat Jonathan, and Malchishua, and Abinadab, and Eshbaal.\r\n And the son of Jonathan was Meribbaal: and Meribbaal begat Micah.\r\n And the sons of Micah were, Pithon, and Melech, and Tahrea, and Ahaz.\r\n And Ahaz begat Jarah; and Jarah begat Alemeth, and Azmaveth, and Zimri; and Zimri begat Moza;\r\n And Moza begat Binea; and Rephaiah his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son.\r\n And Azel had six sons, whose names are these, Azrikam, Bocheru, and Ishmael, and Sheariah, and Obadiah, and Hanan: these were the sons of Azel.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now the Philistines fought against Israel; and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in mount Gilboa.\r\n And the Philistines followed hard after Saul, and after his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchishua, the sons of Saul.\r\n And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers hit him, and he was wounded of the archers.\r\n Then said Saul to his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. So Saul took a sword, and fell upon it.\r\n And when his armourbearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise on the sword, and died.\r\n So Saul died, and his three sons, and all his house died together.\r\n And when all the men of Israel that were in the valley saw that they fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, then they forsook their cities, and fled: and the Philistines came and dwelt in them.\r\n And it came to pass on the morrow, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his sons fallen in mount Gilboa.\r\n And when they had stripped him, they took his head, and his armour, and sent into the land of the Philistines round about, to carry tidings unto their idols, and to the people.\r\n And they put his armour in the house of their gods, and fastened his head in the temple of Dagon.\r\n And when all Jabeshgilead heard all that the Philistines had done to Saul,\r\n They arose, all the valiant men, and took away the body of Saul, and the bodies of his sons, and brought them to Jabesh, and buried their bones under the oak in Jabesh, and fasted seven days.\r\n So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the LORD, even against the word of the LORD, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to enquire of it;\r\n And enquired not of the LORD: therefore he slew him, and turned the kingdom unto David the son of Jesse.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then all Israel gathered themselves to David unto Hebron, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh.\r\n And moreover in time past, even when Saul was king, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the LORD thy God said unto thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be ruler over my people Israel.\r\n Therefore came all the elders of Israel to the king to Hebron; and David made a covenant with them in Hebron before the LORD; and they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of the LORD by Samuel.\r\n And David and all Israel went to Jerusalem, which is Jebus; where the Jebusites were, the inhabitants of the land.\r\n And the inhabitants of Jebus said to David, Thou shalt not come hither. Nevertheless David took the castle of Zion, which is the city of David.\r\n And David said, Whosoever smiteth the Jebusites first shall be chief and captain. So Joab the son of Zeruiah went first up, and was chief.\r\n And David dwelt in the castle; therefore they called it the city of David.\r\n And he built the city round about, even from Millo round about: and Joab repaired the rest of the city.\r\n So David waxed greater and greater: for the LORD of hosts was with him.\r\n These also are the chief of the mighty men whom David had, who strengthened themselves with him in his kingdom, and with all Israel, to make him king, according to the word of the LORD concerning Israel.\r\n And this is the number of the mighty men whom David had; Jashobeam, an Hachmonite, the chief of the captains: he lifted up his spear against three hundred slain by him at one time.\r\n And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo, the Ahohite, who was one of the three mighties.\r\n He was with David at Pasdammim, and there the Philistines were gathered together to battle, where was a parcel of ground full of barley; and the people fled from before the Philistines.\r\n And they set themselves in the midst of that parcel, and delivered it, and slew the Philistines; and the LORD saved them by a great deliverance.\r\n Now three of the thirty captains went down to the rock to David, into the cave of Adullam; and the host of the Philistines encamped in the valley of Rephaim.\r\n And David was then in the hold, and the Philistines' garrison was then at Bethlehem.\r\n And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, that is at the gate!\r\n And the three brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: but David would not drink of it, but poured it out to the LORD,\r\n And said, My God forbid it me, that I should do this thing: shall I drink the blood of these men that have put their lives in jeopardy? for with the jeopardy of their lives they brought it. Therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mightiest.\r\n And Abishai the brother of Joab, he was chief of the three: for lifting up his spear against three hundred, he slew them, and had a name among the three.\r\n Of the three, he was more honourable than the two; for he was their captain: howbeit he attained not to the first three.\r\n Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, who had done many acts; he slew two lionlike men of Moab: also he went down and slew a lion in a pit in a snowy day.\r\n And he slew an Egyptian, a man of great stature, five cubits high; and in the Egyptian's hand was a spear like a weaver's beam; and he went down to him with a staff, and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian's hand, and slew him with his own spear.\r\n These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and had the name among the three mighties.\r\n Behold, he was honourable among the thirty, but attained not to the first three: and David set him over his guard.\r\n Also the valiant men of the armies were, Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem,\r\n Shammoth the Harorite, Helez the Pelonite,\r\n Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, Abiezer the Antothite,\r\n Sibbecai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite,\r\n Maharai the Netophathite, Heled the son of Baanah the Netophathite,\r\n Ithai the son of Ribai of Gibeah, that pertained to the children of Benjamin, Benaiah the Pirathonite,\r\n Hurai of the brooks of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite,\r\n Azmaveth the Baharumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite,\r\n The sons of Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan the son of Shage the Hararite,\r\n Ahiam the son of Sacar the Hararite, Eliphal the son of Ur,\r\n Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite,\r\n Hezro the Carmelite, Naarai the son of Ezbai,\r\n Joel the brother of Nathan, Mibhar the son of Haggeri,\r\n Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Berothite, the armourbearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah,\r\n Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,\r\n Uriah the Hittite, Zabad the son of Ahlai,\r\n Adina the son of Shiza the Reubenite, a captain of the Reubenites, and thirty with him,\r\n Hanan the son of Maachah, and Joshaphat the Mithnite,\r\n Uzzia the Ashterathite, Shama and Jehiel the sons of Hothan the Aroerite,\r\n Jediael the son of Shimri, and Joha his brother, the Tizite,\r\n Eliel the Mahavite, and Jeribai, and Joshaviah, the sons of Elnaam, and Ithmah the Moabite,\r\n Eliel, and Obed, and Jasiel the Mesobaite.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now these are they that came to David to Ziklag, while he yet kept himself close because of Saul the son of Kish: and they were among the mighty men, helpers of the war.\r\n They were armed with bows, and could use both the right hand and the left in hurling stones and shooting arrows out of a bow, even of Saul's brethren of Benjamin.\r\n The chief was Ahiezer, then Joash, the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite; and Jeziel, and Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth; and Berachah, and Jehu the Antothite,\r\n And Ismaiah the Gibeonite, a mighty man among the thirty, and over the thirty; and Jeremiah, and Jahaziel, and Johanan, and Josabad the Gederathite,\r\n Eluzai, and Jerimoth, and Bealiah, and Shemariah, and Shephatiah the Haruphite,\r\n Elkanah, and Jesiah, and Azareel, and Joezer, and Jashobeam, the Korhites,\r\n And Joelah, and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham of Gedor.\r\n And of the Gadites there separated themselves unto David into the hold to the wilderness men of might, and men of war fit for the battle, that could handle shield and buckler, whose faces were like the faces of lions, and were as swift as the roes upon the mountains;\r\n Ezer the first, Obadiah the second, Eliab the third,\r\n Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the fifth,\r\n Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh,\r\n Johanan the eighth, Elzabad the ninth,\r\n Jeremiah the tenth, Machbanai the eleventh.\r\n These were of the sons of Gad, captains of the host: one of the least was over an hundred, and the greatest over a thousand.\r\n These are they that went over Jordan in the first month, when it had overflown all his banks; and they put to flight all them of the valleys, both toward the east, and toward the west.\r\n And there came of the children of Benjamin and Judah to the hold unto David.\r\n And David went out to meet them, and answered and said unto them, If ye be come peaceably unto me to help me, mine heart shall be knit unto you: but if ye be come to betray me to mine enemies, seeing there is no wrong in mine hands, the God of our fathers look thereon, and rebuke it.\r\n Then the spirit came upon Amasai, who was chief of the captains, and he said, Thine are we, David, and on thy side, thou son of Jesse: peace, peace be unto thee, and peace be to thine helpers; for thy God helpeth thee. Then David received them, and made them captains of the band.\r\n And there fell some of Manasseh to David, when he came with the Philistines against Saul to battle: but they helped them not: for the lords of the Philistines upon advisement sent him away, saying, He will fall to his master Saul to the jeopardy of our heads.\r\n As he went to Ziklag, there fell to him of Manasseh, Adnah, and Jozabad, and Jediael, and Michael, and Jozabad, and Elihu, and Zilthai, captains of the thousands that were of Manasseh.\r\n And they helped David against the band of the rovers: for they were all mighty men of valour, and were captains in the host.\r\n For at that time day by day there came to David to help him, until it was a great host, like the host of God.\r\n And these are the numbers of the bands that were ready armed to the war, and came to David to Hebron, to turn the kingdom of Saul to him, according to the word of the LORD.\r\n The children of Judah that bare shield and spear were six thousand and eight hundred, ready armed to the war.\r\n Of the children of Simeon, mighty men of valour for the war, seven thousand and one hundred.\r\n Of the children of Levi four thousand and six hundred.\r\n And Jehoiada was the leader of the Aaronites, and with him were three thousand and seven hundred;\r\n And Zadok, a young man mighty of valour, and of his father's house twenty and two captains.\r\n And of the children of Benjamin, the kindred of Saul, three thousand: for hitherto the greatest part of them had kept the ward of the house of Saul.\r\n And of the children of Ephraim twenty thousand and eight hundred, mighty men of valour, famous throughout the house of their fathers.\r\n And of the half tribe of Manasseh eighteen thousand, which were expressed by name, to come and make David king.\r\n And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their commandment.\r\n Of Zebulun, such as went forth to battle, expert in war, with all instruments of war, fifty thousand, which could keep rank: they were not of double heart.\r\n And of Naphtali a thousand captains, and with them with shield and spear thirty and seven thousand.\r\n And of the Danites expert in war twenty and eight thousand and six hundred.\r\n And of Asher, such as went forth to battle, expert in war, forty thousand.\r\n And on the other side of Jordan, of the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and of the half tribe of Manasseh, with all manner of instruments of war for the battle, an hundred and twenty thousand.\r\n All these men of war, that could keep rank, came with a perfect heart to Hebron, to make David king over all Israel: and all the rest also of Israel were of one heart to make David king.\r\n And there they were with David three days, eating and drinking: for their brethren had prepared for them.\r\n Moreover they that were nigh them, even unto Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, brought bread on asses, and on camels, and on mules, and on oxen, and meat, meal, cakes of figs, and bunches of raisins, and wine, and oil, and oxen, and sheep abundantly: for there was joy in Israel.\r\n \r\n \r\n And David consulted with the captains of thousands and hundreds, and with every leader.\r\n And David said unto all the congregation of Israel, If it seem good unto you, and that it be of the LORD our God, let us send abroad unto our brethren every where, that are left in all the land of Israel, and with them also to the priests and Levites which are in their cities and suburbs, that they may gather themselves unto us:\r\n And let us bring again the ark of our God to us: for we enquired not at it in the days of Saul.\r\n And all the congregation said that they would do so: for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people.\r\n So David gathered all Israel together, from Shihor of Egypt even unto the entering of Hemath, to bring the ark of God from Kirjathjearim.\r\n And David went up, and all Israel, to Baalah, that is, to Kirjathjearim, which belonged to Judah, to bring up thence the ark of God the LORD, that dwelleth between the cherubims, whose name is called on it.\r\n And they carried the ark of God in a new cart out of the house of Abinadab: and Uzza and Ahio drave the cart.\r\n And David and all Israel played before God with all their might, and with singing, and with harps, and with psalteries, and with timbrels, and with cymbals, and with trumpets.\r\n And when they came unto the threshingfloor of Chidon, Uzza put forth his hand to hold the ark; for the oxen stumbled.\r\n And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzza, and he smote him, because he put his hand to the ark: and there he died before God.\r\n And David was displeased, because the LORD had made a breach upon Uzza: wherefore that place is called Perezuzza to this day.\r\n And David was afraid of God that day, saying, How shall I bring the ark of God home to me?\r\n So David brought not the ark home to himself to the city of David, but carried it aside into the house of Obededom the Gittite.\r\n And the ark of God remained with the family of Obededom in his house three months. And the LORD blessed the house of Obededom, and all that he had.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and timber of cedars, with masons and carpenters, to build him an house.\r\n And David perceived that the LORD had confirmed him king over Israel, for his kingdom was lifted up on high, because of his people Israel.\r\n And David took more wives at Jerusalem: and David begat more sons and daughters.\r\n Now these are the names of his children which he had in Jerusalem; Shammua, and Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon,\r\n And Ibhar, and Elishua, and Elpalet,\r\n And Nogah, and Nepheg, and Japhia,\r\n And Elishama, and Beeliada, and Eliphalet.\r\n And when the Philistines heard that David was anointed king over all Israel, all the Philistines went up to seek David. And David heard of it, and went out against them.\r\n And the Philistines came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.\r\n And David enquired of God, saying, Shall I go up against the Philistines? and wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the LORD said unto him, Go up; for I will deliver them into thine hand.\r\n So they came up to Baalperazim; and David smote them there. Then David said, God hath broken in upon mine enemies by mine hand like the breaking forth of waters: therefore they called the name of that place Baalperazim.\r\n And when they had left their gods there, David gave a commandment, and they were burned with fire.\r\n And the Philistines yet again spread themselves abroad in the valley.\r\n Therefore David enquired again of God; and God said unto him, Go not up after them; turn away from them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees.\r\n And it shall be, when thou shalt hear a sound of going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt go out to battle: for God is gone forth before thee to smite the host of the Philistines.\r\n David therefore did as God commanded him: and they smote the host of the Philistines from Gibeon even to Gazer.\r\n And the fame of David went out into all lands; and the LORD brought the fear of him upon all nations.\r\n \r\n \r\n And David made him houses in the city of David, and prepared a place for the ark of God, and pitched for it a tent.\r\n Then David said, None ought to carry the ark of God but the Levites: for them hath the LORD chosen to carry the ark of God, and to minister unto him for ever.\r\n And David gathered all Israel together to Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the LORD unto his place, which he had prepared for it.\r\n And David assembled the children of Aaron, and the Levites:\r\n Of the sons of Kohath; Uriel the chief, and his brethren an hundred and twenty:\r\n Of the sons of Merari; Asaiah the chief, and his brethren two hundred and twenty:\r\n Of the sons of Gershom; Joel the chief, and his brethren an hundred and thirty:\r\n Of the sons of Elizaphan; Shemaiah the chief, and his brethren two hundred:\r\n Of the sons of Hebron; Eliel the chief, and his brethren fourscore:\r\n Of the sons of Uzziel; Amminadab the chief, and his brethren an hundred and twelve.\r\n And David called for Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and for the Levites, for Uriel, Asaiah, and Joel, Shemaiah, and Eliel, and Amminadab,\r\n And said unto them, Ye are the chief of the fathers of the Levites: sanctify yourselves, both ye and your brethren, that ye may bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel unto the place that I have prepared for it.\r\n For because ye did it not at the first, the LORD our God made a breach upon us, for that we sought him not after the due order.\r\n So the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel.\r\n And the children of the Levites bare the ark of God upon their shoulders with the staves thereon, as Moses commanded according to the word of the LORD.\r\n And David spake to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be the singers with instruments of musick, psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding, by lifting up the voice with joy.\r\n So the Levites appointed Heman the son of Joel; and of his brethren, Asaph the son of Berechiah; and of the sons of Merari their brethren, Ethan the son of Kushaiah;\r\n And with them their brethren of the second degree, Zechariah, Ben, and Jaaziel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Unni, Eliab, and Benaiah, and Maaseiah, and Mattithiah, and Elipheleh, and Mikneiah, and Obededom, and Jeiel, the porters.\r\n So the singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, were appointed to sound with cymbals of brass;\r\n And Zechariah, and Aziel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Unni, and Eliab, and Maaseiah, and Benaiah, with psalteries on Alamoth;\r\n And Mattithiah, and Elipheleh, and Mikneiah, and Obededom, and Jeiel, and Azaziah, with harps on the Sheminith to excel.\r\n And Chenaniah, chief of the Levites, was for song: he instructed about the song, because he was skilful.\r\n And Berechiah and Elkanah were doorkeepers for the ark.\r\n And Shebaniah, and Jehoshaphat, and Nethaneel, and Amasai, and Zechariah, and Benaiah, and Eliezer, the priests, did blow with the trumpets before the ark of God: and Obededom and Jehiah were doorkeepers for the ark.\r\n So David, and the elders of Israel, and the captains over thousands, went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the house of Obededom with joy.\r\n And it came to pass, when God helped the Levites that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, that they offered seven bullocks and seven rams.\r\n And David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, and all the Levites that bare the ark, and the singers, and Chenaniah the master of the song with the singers: David also had upon him an ephod of linen.\r\n Thus all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the LORD with shouting, and with sound of the cornet, and with trumpets, and with cymbals, making a noise with psalteries and harps.\r\n And it came to pass, as the ark of the covenant of the LORD came to the city of David, that Michal the daughter of Saul looking out at a window saw king David dancing and playing: and she despised him in her heart.\r\n \r\n \r\n So they brought the ark of God, and set it in the midst of the tent that David had pitched for it: and they offered burnt sacrifices and peace offerings before God.\r\n And when David had made an end of offering the burnt offerings and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD.\r\n And he dealt to every one of Israel, both man and woman, to every one a loaf of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine.\r\n And he appointed certain of the Levites to minister before the ark of the LORD, and to record, and to thank and praise the LORD God of Israel:\r\n Asaph the chief, and next to him Zechariah, Jeiel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Mattithiah, and Eliab, and Benaiah, and Obededom: and Jeiel with psalteries and with harps; but Asaph made a sound with cymbals;\r\n Benaiah also and Jahaziel the priests with trumpets continually before the ark of the covenant of God.\r\n Then on that day David delivered first this psalm to thank the LORD into the hand of Asaph and his brethren.\r\n Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people.\r\n Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him, talk ye of all his wondrous works.\r\n Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD.\r\n Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually.\r\n Remember his marvellous works that he hath done, his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth;\r\n O ye seed of Israel his servant, ye children of Jacob, his chosen ones.\r\n He is the LORD our God; his judgments are in all the earth.\r\n Be ye mindful always of his covenant; the word which he commanded to a thousand generations;\r\n Even of the covenant which he made with Abraham, and of his oath unto Isaac;\r\n And hath confirmed the same to Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant,\r\n Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance;\r\n When ye were but few, even a few, and strangers in it.\r\n And when they went from nation to nation, and from one kingdom to another people;\r\n He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sakes,\r\n Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.\r\n Sing unto the LORD, all the earth; shew forth from day to day his salvation.\r\n Declare his glory among the heathen; his marvellous works among all nations.\r\n For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised: he also is to be feared above all gods.\r\n For all the gods of the people are idols: but the LORD made the heavens.\r\n Glory and honour are in his presence; strength and gladness are in his place.\r\n Give unto the LORD, ye kindreds of the people, give unto the LORD glory and strength.\r\n Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.\r\n Fear before him, all the earth: the world also shall be stable, that it be not moved.\r\n Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice: and let men say among the nations, The LORD reigneth.\r\n Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof: let the fields rejoice, and all that is therein.\r\n Then shall the trees of the wood sing out at the presence of the LORD, because he cometh to judge the earth.\r\n O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.\r\n And say ye, Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather us together, and deliver us from the heathen, that we may give thanks to thy holy name, and glory in thy praise.\r\n Blessed be the LORD God of Israel for ever and ever. And all the people said, Amen, and praised the LORD.\r\n So he left there before the ark of the covenant of the LORD Asaph and his brethren, to minister before the ark continually, as every day's work required:\r\n And Obededom with their brethren, threescore and eight; Obededom also the son of Jeduthun and Hosah to be porters:\r\n And Zadok the priest, and his brethren the priests, before the tabernacle of the LORD in the high place that was at Gibeon,\r\n To offer burnt offerings unto the LORD upon the altar of the burnt offering continually morning and evening, and to do according to all that is written in the law of the LORD, which he commanded Israel;\r\n And with them Heman and Jeduthun, and the rest that were chosen, who were expressed by name, to give thanks to the LORD, because his mercy endureth for ever;\r\n And with them Heman and Jeduthun with trumpets and cymbals for those that should make a sound, and with musical instruments of God. And the sons of Jeduthun were porters.\r\n And all the people departed every man to his house: and David returned to bless his house.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now it came to pass, as David sat in his house, that David said to Nathan the prophet, Lo, I dwell in an house of cedars, but the ark of the covenant of the LORD remaineth under curtains.\r\n Then Nathan said unto David, Do all that is in thine heart; for God is with thee.\r\n And it came to pass the same night, that the word of God came to Nathan, saying,\r\n Go and tell David my servant, Thus saith the LORD, Thou shalt not build me an house to dwell in:\r\n For I have not dwelt in an house since the day that I brought up Israel unto this day; but have gone from tent to tent, and from one tabernacle to another.\r\n Wheresoever I have walked with all Israel, spake I a word to any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people, saying, Why have ye not built me an house of cedars?\r\n Now therefore thus shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, even from following the sheep, that thou shouldest be ruler over my people Israel:\r\n And I have been with thee whithersoever thou hast walked, and have cut off all thine enemies from before thee, and have made thee a name like the name of the great men that are in the earth.\r\n Also I will ordain a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, and they shall dwell in their place, and shall be moved no more; neither shall the children of wickedness waste them any more, as at the beginning,\r\n And since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel. Moreover I will subdue all thine enemies. Furthermore I tell thee that the LORD will build thee an house.\r\n And it shall come to pass, when thy days be expired that thou must go to be with thy fathers, that I will raise up thy seed after thee, which shall be of thy sons; and I will establish his kingdom.\r\n He shall build me an house, and I will stablish his throne for ever.\r\n I will be his father, and he shall be my son: and I will not take my mercy away from him, as I took it from him that was before thee:\r\n But I will settle him in mine house and in my kingdom for ever: and his throne shall be established for evermore.\r\n According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.\r\n And David the king came and sat before the LORD, and said, Who am I, O LORD God, and what is mine house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?\r\n And yet this was a small thing in thine eyes, O God; for thou hast also spoken of thy servant's house for a great while to come, and hast regarded me according to the estate of a man of high degree, O LORD God.\r\n What can David speak more to thee for the honour of thy servant? for thou knowest thy servant.\r\n O LORD, for thy servant's sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou done all this greatness, in making known all these great things.\r\n O LORD, there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.\r\n And what one nation in the earth is like thy people Israel, whom God went to redeem to be his own people, to make thee a name of greatness and terribleness, by driving out nations from before thy people, whom thou hast redeemed out of Egypt?\r\n For thy people Israel didst thou make thine own people for ever; and thou, LORD, becamest their God.\r\n Therefore now, LORD, let the thing that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant and concerning his house be established for ever, and do as thou hast said.\r\n Let it even be established, that thy name may be magnified for ever, saying, The LORD of hosts is the God of Israel, even a God to Israel: and let the house of David thy servant be established before thee.\r\n For thou, O my God, hast told thy servant that thou wilt build him an house: therefore thy servant hath found in his heart to pray before thee.\r\n And now, LORD, thou art God, and hast promised this goodness unto thy servant:\r\n Now therefore let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may be before thee for ever: for thou blessest, O LORD, and it shall be blessed for ever.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now after this it came to pass, that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them, and took Gath and her towns out of the hand of the Philistines.\r\n And he smote Moab; and the Moabites became David's servants, and brought gifts.\r\n And David smote Hadarezer king of Zobah unto Hamath, as he went to stablish his dominion by the river Euphrates.\r\n And David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen: David also houghed all the chariot horses, but reserved of them an hundred chariots.\r\n And when the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadarezer king of Zobah, David slew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men.\r\n Then David put garrisons in Syriadamascus; and the Syrians became David's servants, and brought gifts. Thus the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went.\r\n And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadarezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.\r\n Likewise from Tibhath, and from Chun, cities of Hadarezer, brought David very much brass, wherewith Solomon made the brasen sea, and the pillars, and the vessels of brass.\r\n Now when Tou king of Hamath heard how David had smitten all the host of Hadarezer king of Zobah;\r\n He sent Hadoram his son to king David, to enquire of his welfare, and to congratulate him, because he had fought against Hadarezer, and smitten him; (for Hadarezer had war with Tou;) and with him all manner of vessels of gold and silver and brass.\r\n Them also king David dedicated unto the LORD, with the silver and the gold that he brought from all these nations; from Edom, and from Moab, and from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines, and from Amalek.\r\n Moreover Abishai the son of Zeruiah slew of the Edomites in the valley of salt eighteen thousand.\r\n And he put garrisons in Edom; and all the Edomites became David's servants. Thus the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went.\r\n So David reigned over all Israel, and executed judgment and justice among all his people.\r\n And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud, recorder.\r\n And Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Abimelech the son of Abiathar, were the priests; and Shavsha was scribe;\r\n And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and the sons of David were chief about the king.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now it came to pass after this, that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon died, and his son reigned in his stead.\r\n And David said, I will shew kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, because his father shewed kindness to me. And David sent messengers to comfort him concerning his father. So the servants of David came into the land of the children of Ammon to Hanun, to comfort him.\r\n But the princes of the children of Ammon said to Hanun, Thinkest thou that David doth honour thy father, that he hath sent comforters unto thee? are not his servants come unto thee for to search, and to overthrow, and to spy out the land?\r\n Wherefore Hanun took David's servants, and shaved them, and cut off their garments in the midst hard by their buttocks, and sent them away.\r\n Then there went certain, and told David how the men were served. And he sent to meet them: for the men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, Tarry at Jericho until your beards be grown, and then return.\r\n And when the children of Ammon saw that they had made themselves odious to David, Hanun and the children of Ammon sent a thousand talents of silver to hire them chariots and horsemen out of Mesopotamia, and out of Syriamaachah, and out of Zobah.\r\n So they hired thirty and two thousand chariots, and the king of Maachah and his people; who came and pitched before Medeba. And the children of Ammon gathered themselves together from their cities, and came to battle.\r\n And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men.\r\n And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array before the gate of the city: and the kings that were come were by themselves in the field.\r\n Now when Joab saw that the battle was set against him before and behind, he chose out of all the choice of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians.\r\n And the rest of the people he delivered unto the hand of Abishai his brother, and they set themselves in array against the children of Ammon.\r\n And he said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then thou shalt help me: but if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, then I will help thee.\r\n Be of good courage, and let us behave ourselves valiantly for our people, and for the cities of our God: and let the LORD do that which is good in his sight.\r\n So Joab and the people that were with him drew nigh before the Syrians unto the battle; and they fled before him.\r\n And when the children of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled, they likewise fled before Abishai his brother, and entered into the city. Then Joab came to Jerusalem.\r\n And when the Syrians saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they sent messengers, and drew forth the Syrians that were beyond the river: and Shophach the captain of the host of Hadarezer went before them.\r\n And it was told David; and he gathered all Israel, and passed over Jordan, and came upon them, and set the battle in array against them. So when David had put the battle in array against the Syrians, they fought with him.\r\n But the Syrians fled before Israel; and David slew of the Syrians seven thousand men which fought in chariots, and forty thousand footmen, and killed Shophach the captain of the host.\r\n And when the servants of Hadarezer saw that they were put to the worse before Israel, they made peace with David, and became his servants: neither would the Syrians help the children of Ammon any more.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass, that after the year was expired, at the time that kings go out to battle, Joab led forth the power of the army, and wasted the country of the children of Ammon, and came and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried at Jerusalem. And Joab smote Rabbah, and destroyed it.\r\n And David took the crown of their king from off his head, and found it to weigh a talent of gold, and there were precious stones in it; and it was set upon David's head: and he brought also exceeding much spoil out of the city.\r\n And he brought out the people that were in it, and cut them with saws, and with harrows of iron, and with axes. Even so dealt David with all the cities of the children of Ammon. And David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.\r\n And it came to pass after this, that there arose war at Gezer with the Philistines; at which time Sibbechai the Hushathite slew Sippai, that was of the children of the giant: and they were subdued.\r\n And there was war again with the Philistines; and Elhanan the son of Jair slew Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, whose spear staff was like a weaver's beam.\r\n And yet again there was war at Gath, where was a man of great stature, whose fingers and toes were four and twenty, six on each hand, and six on each foot: and he also was the son of the giant.\r\n But when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea David's brother slew him.\r\n These were born unto the giant in Gath; and they fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.\r\n And David said to Joab and to the rulers of the people, Go, number Israel from Beersheba even to Dan; and bring the number of them to me, that I may know it.\r\n And Joab answered, The LORD make his people an hundred times so many more as they be: but, my lord the king, are they not all my lord's servants? why then doth my lord require this thing? why will he be a cause of trespass to Israel?\r\n Nevertheless the king's word prevailed against Joab. Wherefore Joab departed, and went throughout all Israel, and came to Jerusalem.\r\n And Joab gave the sum of the number of the people unto David. And all they of Israel were a thousand thousand and an hundred thousand men that drew sword: and Judah was four hundred threescore and ten thousand men that drew sword.\r\n But Levi and Benjamin counted he not among them: for the king's word was abominable to Joab.\r\n And God was displeased with this thing; therefore he smote Israel.\r\n And David said unto God, I have sinned greatly, because I have done this thing: but now, I beseech thee, do away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.\r\n And the LORD spake unto Gad, David's seer, saying,\r\n Go and tell David, saying, Thus saith the LORD, I offer thee three things: choose thee one of them, that I may do it unto thee.\r\n So Gad came to David, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Choose thee\r\n Either three years' famine; or three months to be destroyed before thy foes, while that the sword of thine enemies overtaketh thee; or else three days the sword of the LORD, even the pestilence, in the land, and the angel of the LORD destroying throughout all the coasts of Israel. Now therefore advise thyself what word I shall bring again to him that sent me.\r\n And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let me fall now into the hand of the LORD; for very great are his mercies: but let me not fall into the hand of man.\r\n So the LORD sent pestilence upon Israel: and there fell of Israel seventy thousand men.\r\n And God sent an angel unto Jerusalem to destroy it: and as he was destroying, the LORD beheld, and he repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed, It is enough, stay now thine hand. And the angel of the LORD stood by the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite.\r\n And David lifted up his eyes, and saw the angel of the LORD stand between the earth and the heaven, having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders of Israel, who were clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces.\r\n And David said unto God, Is it not I that commanded the people to be numbered? even I it is that have sinned and done evil indeed; but as for these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, O LORD my God, be on me, and on my father's house; but not on thy people, that they should be plagued.\r\n Then the angel of the LORD commanded Gad to say to David, that David should go up, and set up an altar unto the LORD in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite.\r\n And David went up at the saying of Gad, which he spake in the name of the LORD.\r\n And Ornan turned back, and saw the angel; and his four sons with him hid themselves. Now Ornan was threshing wheat.\r\n And as David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David, and went out of the threshingfloor, and bowed himself to David with his face to the ground.\r\n Then David said to Ornan, Grant me the place of this threshingfloor, that I may build an altar therein unto the LORD: thou shalt grant it me for the full price: that the plague may be stayed from the people.\r\n And Ornan said unto David, Take it to thee, and let my lord the king do that which is good in his eyes: lo, I give thee the oxen also for burnt offerings, and the threshing instruments for wood, and the wheat for the meat offering; I give it all.\r\n And king David said to Ornan, Nay; but I will verily buy it for the full price: for I will not take that which is thine for the LORD, nor offer burnt offerings without cost.\r\n So David gave to Ornan for the place six hundred shekels of gold by weight.\r\n And David built there an altar unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and called upon the LORD; and he answered him from heaven by fire upon the altar of burnt offering.\r\n And the LORD commanded the angel; and he put up his sword again into the sheath thereof.\r\n At that time when David saw that the LORD had answered him in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite, then he sacrificed there.\r\n For the tabernacle of the LORD, which Moses made in the wilderness, and the altar of the burnt offering, were at that season in the high place at Gibeon.\r\n But David could not go before it to enquire of God: for he was afraid because of the sword of the angel of the LORD.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then David said, This is the house of the LORD God, and this is the altar of the burnt offering for Israel.\r\n And David commanded to gather together the strangers that were in the land of Israel; and he set masons to hew wrought stones to build the house of God.\r\n And David prepared iron in abundance for the nails for the doors of the gates, and for the joinings; and brass in abundance without weight;\r\n Also cedar trees in abundance: for the Zidonians and they of Tyre brought much cedar wood to David.\r\n And David said, Solomon my son is young and tender, and the house that is to be builded for the LORD must be exceeding magnifical, of fame and of glory throughout all countries: I will therefore now make preparation for it. So David prepared abundantly before his death.\r\n Then he called for Solomon his son, and charged him to build an house for the LORD God of Israel.\r\n And David said to Solomon, My son, as for me, it was in my mind to build an house unto the name of the LORD my God:\r\n But the word of the LORD came to me, saying, Thou hast shed blood abundantly, and hast made great wars: thou shalt not build an house unto my name, because thou hast shed much blood upon the earth in my sight.\r\n Behold, a son shall be born to thee, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies round about: for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quietness unto Israel in his days.\r\n He shall build an house for my name; and he shall be my son, and I will be his father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel for ever.\r\n Now, my son, the LORD be with thee; and prosper thou, and build the house of the LORD thy God, as he hath said of thee.\r\n Only the LORD give thee wisdom and understanding, and give thee charge concerning Israel, that thou mayest keep the law of the LORD thy God.\r\n Then shalt thou prosper, if thou takest heed to fulfil the statutes and judgments which the LORD charged Moses with concerning Israel: be strong, and of good courage; dread not, nor be dismayed.\r\n Now, behold, in my trouble I have prepared for the house of the LORD an hundred thousand talents of gold, and a thousand thousand talents of silver; and of brass and iron without weight; for it is in abundance: timber also and stone have I prepared; and thou mayest add thereto.\r\n Moreover there are workmen with thee in abundance, hewers and workers of stone and timber, and all manner of cunning men for every manner of work.\r\n Of the gold, the silver, and the brass, and the iron, there is no number. Arise therefore, and be doing, and the LORD be with thee.\r\n David also commanded all the princes of Israel to help Solomon his son, saying,\r\n Is not the LORD your God with you? and hath he not given you rest on every side? for he hath given the inhabitants of the land into mine hand; and the land is subdued before the LORD, and before his people.\r\n Now set your heart and your soul to seek the LORD your God; arise therefore, and build ye the sanctuary of the LORD God, to bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and the holy vessels of God, into the house that is to be built to the name of the LORD.\r\n \r\n \r\n So when David was old and full of days, he made Solomon his son king over Israel.\r\n And he gathered together all the princes of Israel, with the priests and the Levites.\r\n Now the Levites were numbered from the age of thirty years and upward: and their number by their polls, man by man, was thirty and eight thousand.\r\n Of which, twenty and four thousand were to set forward the work of the house of the LORD; and six thousand were officers and judges:\r\n Moreover four thousand were porters; and four thousand praised the LORD with the instruments which I made, said David, to praise therewith.\r\n And David divided them into courses among the sons of Levi, namely, Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.\r\n Of the Gershonites were, Laadan, and Shimei.\r\n The sons of Laadan; the chief was Jehiel, and Zetham, and Joel, three.\r\n The sons of Shimei; Shelomith, and Haziel, and Haran, three. These were the chief of the fathers of Laadan.\r\n And the sons of Shimei were, Jahath, Zina, and Jeush, and Beriah. These four were the sons of Shimei.\r\n And Jahath was the chief, and Zizah the second: but Jeush and Beriah had not many sons; therefore they were in one reckoning, according to their father's house.\r\n The sons of Kohath; Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, four.\r\n The sons of Amram; Aaron and Moses: and Aaron was separated, that he should sanctify the most holy things, he and his sons for ever, to burn incense before the LORD, to minister unto him, and to bless in his name for ever.\r\n Now concerning Moses the man of God, his sons were named of the tribe of Levi.\r\n The sons of Moses were, Gershom, and Eliezer.\r\n Of the sons of Gershom, Shebuel was the chief.\r\n And the sons of Eliezer were, Rehabiah the chief. And Eliezer had none other sons; but the sons of Rehabiah were very many.\r\n Of the sons of Izhar; Shelomith the chief.\r\n Of the sons of Hebron; Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth.\r\n Of the sons of Uzziel; Michah the first, and Jesiah the second.\r\n The sons of Merari; Mahli, and Mushi. The sons of Mahli; Eleazar, and Kish.\r\n And Eleazar died, and had no sons, but daughters: and their brethren the sons of Kish took them.\r\n The sons of Mushi; Mahli, and Eder, and Jeremoth, three.\r\n These were the sons of Levi after the house of their fathers; even the chief of the fathers, as they were counted by number of names by their polls, that did the work for the service of the house of the LORD, from the age of twenty years and upward.\r\n For David said, The LORD God of Israel hath given rest unto his people, that they may dwell in Jerusalem for ever:\r\n And also unto the Levites; they shall no more carry the tabernacle, nor any vessels of it for the service thereof.\r\n For by the last words of David the Levites were numbered from twenty years old and above:\r\n Because their office was to wait on the sons of Aaron for the service of the house of the LORD, in the courts, and in the chambers, and in the purifying of all holy things, and the work of the service of the house of God;\r\n Both for the shewbread, and for the fine flour for meat offering, and for the unleavened cakes, and for that which is baked in the pan, and for that which is fried, and for all manner of measure and size;\r\n And to stand every morning to thank and praise the LORD, and likewise at even;\r\n And to offer all burnt sacrifices unto the LORD in the sabbaths, in the new moons, and on the set feasts, by number, according to the order commanded unto them, continually before the LORD:\r\n And that they should keep the charge of the tabernacle of the congregation, and the charge of the holy place, and the charge of the sons of Aaron their brethren, in the service of the house of the LORD.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now these are the divisions of the sons of Aaron. The sons of Aaron; Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.\r\n But Nadab and Abihu died before their father, and had no children: therefore Eleazar and Ithamar executed the priest's office.\r\n And David distributed them, both Zadok of the sons of Eleazar, and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, according to their offices in their service.\r\n And there were more chief men found of the sons of Eleazar than of the sons of Ithamar; and thus were they divided. Among the sons of Eleazar there were sixteen chief men of the house of their fathers, and eight among the sons of Ithamar according to the house of their fathers.\r\n Thus were they divided by lot, one sort with another; for the governors of the sanctuary, and governors of the house of God, were of the sons of Eleazar, and of the sons of Ithamar.\r\n And Shemaiah the son of Nethaneel the scribe, one of the Levites, wrote them before the king, and the princes, and Zadok the priest, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, and before the chief of the fathers of the priests and Levites: one principal household being taken for Eleazar, and one taken for Ithamar.\r\n Now the first lot came forth to Jehoiarib, the second to Jedaiah,\r\n The third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim,\r\n The fifth to Malchijah, the sixth to Mijamin,\r\n The seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah,\r\n The ninth to Jeshua, the tenth to Shecaniah,\r\n The eleventh to Eliashib, the twelfth to Jakim,\r\n The thirteenth to Huppah, the fourteenth to Jeshebeab,\r\n The fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to Immer,\r\n The seventeenth to Hezir, the eighteenth to Aphses,\r\n The nineteenth to Pethahiah, the twentieth to Jehezekel,\r\n The one and twentieth to Jachin, the two and twentieth to Gamul,\r\n The three and twentieth to Delaiah, the four and twentieth to Maaziah.\r\n These were the orderings of them in their service to come into the house of the LORD, according to their manner, under Aaron their father, as the LORD God of Israel had commanded him.\r\n And the rest of the sons of Levi were these: Of the sons of Amram; Shubael: of the sons of Shubael; Jehdeiah.\r\n Concerning Rehabiah: of the sons of Rehabiah, the first was Isshiah.\r\n Of the Izharites; Shelomoth: of the sons of Shelomoth; Jahath.\r\n And the sons of Hebron; Jeriah the first, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, Jekameam the fourth.\r\n Of the sons of Uzziel; Michah: of the sons of Michah; Shamir.\r\n The brother of Michah was Isshiah: of the sons of Isshiah; Zechariah.\r\n The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi: the sons of Jaaziah; Beno.\r\n The sons of Merari by Jaaziah; Beno, and Shoham, and Zaccur, and Ibri.\r\n Of Mahli came Eleazar, who had no sons.\r\n Concerning Kish: the son of Kish was Jerahmeel.\r\n The sons also of Mushi; Mahli, and Eder, and Jerimoth. These were the sons of the Levites after the house of their fathers.\r\n These likewise cast lots over against their brethren the sons of Aaron in the presence of David the king, and Zadok, and Ahimelech, and the chief of the fathers of the priests and Levites, even the principal fathers over against their younger brethren.\r\n \r\n \r\n Moreover David and the captains of the host separated to the service of the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals: and the number of the workmen according to their service was:\r\n Of the sons of Asaph; Zaccur, and Joseph, and Nethaniah, and Asarelah, the sons of Asaph under the hands of Asaph, which prophesied according to the order of the king.\r\n Of Jeduthun: the sons of Jeduthun; Gedaliah, and Zeri, and Jeshaiah, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, under the hands of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied with a harp, to give thanks and to praise the LORD.\r\n Of Heman: the sons of Heman; Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, and Romamtiezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth:\r\n All these were the sons of Heman the king's seer in the words of God, to lift up the horn. And God gave to Heman fourteen sons and three daughters.\r\n All these were under the hands of their father for song in the house of the LORD, with cymbals, psalteries, and harps, for the service of the house of God, according to the king's order to Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman.\r\n So the number of them, with their brethren that were instructed in the songs of the LORD, even all that were cunning, was two hundred fourscore and eight.\r\n And they cast lots, ward against ward, as well the small as the great, the teacher as the scholar.\r\n Now the first lot came forth for Asaph to Joseph: the second to Gedaliah, who with his brethren and sons were twelve:\r\n The third to Zaccur, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:\r\n The fourth to Izri, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:\r\n The fifth to Nethaniah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:\r\n The sixth to Bukkiah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:\r\n The seventh to Jesharelah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:\r\n The eighth to Jeshaiah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:\r\n The ninth to Mattaniah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:\r\n The tenth to Shimei, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:\r\n The eleventh to Azareel, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:\r\n The twelfth to Hashabiah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:\r\n The thirteenth to Shubael, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:\r\n The fourteenth to Mattithiah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:\r\n The fifteenth to Jeremoth, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:\r\n The sixteenth to Hananiah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:\r\n The seventeenth to Joshbekashah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:\r\n The eighteenth to Hanani, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:\r\n The nineteenth to Mallothi, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:\r\n The twentieth to Eliathah, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:\r\n The one and twentieth to Hothir, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:\r\n The two and twentieth to Giddalti, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:\r\n The three and twentieth to Mahazioth, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve:\r\n The four and twentieth to Romamtiezer, he, his sons, and his brethren, were twelve.\r\n \r\n \r\n Concerning the divisions of the porters: Of the Korhites was Meshelemiah the son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph.\r\n And the sons of Meshelemiah were, Zechariah the firstborn, Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third, Jathniel the fourth,\r\n Elam the fifth, Jehohanan the sixth, Elioenai the seventh.\r\n Moreover the sons of Obededom were, Shemaiah the firstborn, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, and Sacar the fourth, and Nethaneel the fifth,\r\n Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh, Peulthai the eighth: for God blessed him.\r\n Also unto Shemaiah his son were sons born, that ruled throughout the house of their father: for they were mighty men of valour.\r\n The sons of Shemaiah; Othni, and Rephael, and Obed, Elzabad, whose brethren were strong men, Elihu, and Semachiah.\r\n All these of the sons of Obededom: they and their sons and their brethren, able men for strength for the service, were threescore and two of Obededom.\r\n And Meshelemiah had sons and brethren, strong men, eighteen.\r\n Also Hosah, of the children of Merari, had sons; Simri the chief, (for though he was not the firstborn, yet his father made him the chief;)\r\n Hilkiah the second, Tebaliah the third, Zechariah the fourth: all the sons and brethren of Hosah were thirteen.\r\n Among these were the divisions of the porters, even among the chief men, having wards one against another, to minister in the house of the LORD.\r\n And they cast lots, as well the small as the great, according to the house of their fathers, for every gate.\r\n And the lot eastward fell to Shelemiah. Then for Zechariah his son, a wise counsellor, they cast lots; and his lot came out northward.\r\n To Obededom southward; and to his sons the house of Asuppim.\r\n To Shuppim and Hosah the lot came forth westward, with the gate Shallecheth, by the causeway of the going up, ward against ward.\r\n Eastward were six Levites, northward four a day, southward four a day, and toward Asuppim two and two.\r\n At Parbar westward, four at the causeway, and two at Parbar.\r\n These are the divisions of the porters among the sons of Kore, and among the sons of Merari.\r\n And of the Levites, Ahijah was over the treasures of the house of God, and over the treasures of the dedicated things.\r\n As concerning the sons of Laadan; the sons of the Gershonite Laadan, chief fathers, even of Laadan the Gershonite, were Jehieli.\r\n The sons of Jehieli; Zetham, and Joel his brother, which were over the treasures of the house of the LORD.\r\n Of the Amramites, and the Izharites, the Hebronites, and the Uzzielites:\r\n And Shebuel the son of Gershom, the son of Moses, was ruler of the treasures.\r\n And his brethren by Eliezer; Rehabiah his son, and Jeshaiah his son, and Joram his son, and Zichri his son, and Shelomith his son.\r\n Which Shelomith and his brethren were over all the treasures of the dedicated things, which David the king, and the chief fathers, the captains over thousands and hundreds, and the captains of the host, had dedicated.\r\n Out of the spoils won in battles did they dedicate to maintain the house of the LORD.\r\n And all that Samuel the seer, and Saul the son of Kish, and Abner the son of Ner, and Joab the son of Zeruiah, had dedicated; and whosoever had dedicated any thing, it was under the hand of Shelomith, and of his brethren.\r\n Of the Izharites, Chenaniah and his sons were for the outward business over Israel, for officers and judges.\r\n And of the Hebronites, Hashabiah and his brethren, men of valour, a thousand and seven hundred, were officers among them of Israel on this side Jordan westward in all the business of the LORD, and in the service of the king.\r\n Among the Hebronites was Jerijah the chief, even among the Hebronites, according to the generations of his fathers. In the fortieth year of the reign of David they were sought for, and there were found among them mighty men of valour at Jazer of Gilead.\r\n And his brethren, men of valour, were two thousand and seven hundred chief fathers, whom king David made rulers over the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh, for every matter pertaining to God, and affairs of the king.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now the children of Israel after their number, to wit, the chief fathers and captains of thousands and hundreds, and their officers that served the king in any matter of the courses, which came in and went out month by month throughout all the months of the year, of every course were twenty and four thousand.\r\n Over the first course for the first month was Jashobeam the son of Zabdiel: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.\r\n Of the children of Perez was the chief of all the captains of the host for the first month.\r\n And over the course of the second month was Dodai an Ahohite, and of his course was Mikloth also the ruler: in his course likewise were twenty and four thousand.\r\n The third captain of the host for the third month was Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, a chief priest: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.\r\n This is that Benaiah, who was mighty among the thirty, and above the thirty: and in his course was Ammizabad his son.\r\n The fourth captain for the fourth month was Asahel the brother of Joab, and Zebadiah his son after him: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.\r\n The fifth captain for the fifth month was Shamhuth the Izrahite: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.\r\n The sixth captain for the sixth month was Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.\r\n The seventh captain for the seventh month was Helez the Pelonite, of the children of Ephraim: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.\r\n The eighth captain for the eighth month was Sibbecai the Hushathite, of the Zarhites: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.\r\n The ninth captain for the ninth month was Abiezer the Anetothite, of the Benjamites: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.\r\n The tenth captain for the tenth month was Maharai the Netophathite, of the Zarhites: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.\r\n The eleventh captain for the eleventh month was Benaiah the Pirathonite, of the children of Ephraim: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.\r\n The twelfth captain for the twelfth month was Heldai the Netophathite, of Othniel: and in his course were twenty and four thousand.\r\n Furthermore over the tribes of Israel: the ruler of the Reubenites was Eliezer the son of Zichri: of the Simeonites, Shephatiah the son of Maachah:\r\n Of the Levites, Hashabiah the son of Kemuel: of the Aaronites, Zadok:\r\n Of Judah, Elihu, one of the brethren of David: of Issachar, Omri the son of Michael:\r\n Of Zebulun, Ishmaiah the son of Obadiah: of Naphtali, Jerimoth the son of Azriel:\r\n Of the children of Ephraim, Hoshea the son of Azaziah: of the half tribe of Manasseh, Joel the son of Pedaiah:\r\n Of the half tribe of Manasseh in Gilead, Iddo the son of Zechariah: of Benjamin, Jaasiel the son of Abner:\r\n Of Dan, Azareel the son of Jeroham. These were the princes of the tribes of Israel.\r\n But David took not the number of them from twenty years old and under: because the LORD had said he would increase Israel like to the stars of the heavens.\r\n Joab the son of Zeruiah began to number, but he finished not, because there fell wrath for it against Israel; neither was the number put in the account of the chronicles of king David.\r\n And over the king's treasures was Azmaveth the son of Adiel: and over the storehouses in the fields, in the cities, and in the villages, and in the castles, was Jehonathan the son of Uzziah:\r\n And over them that did the work of the field for tillage of the ground was Ezri the son of Chelub:\r\n And over the vineyards was Shimei the Ramathite: over the increase of the vineyards for the wine cellars was Zabdi the Shiphmite:\r\n And over the olive trees and the sycomore trees that were in the low plains was Baalhanan the Gederite: and over the cellars of oil was Joash:\r\n And over the herds that fed in Sharon was Shitrai the Sharonite: and over the herds that were in the valleys was Shaphat the son of Adlai:\r\n Over the camels also was Obil the Ishmaelite: and over the asses was Jehdeiah the Meronothite:\r\n And over the flocks was Jaziz the Hagerite. All these were the rulers of the substance which was king David's.\r\n Also Jonathan David's uncle was a counsellor, a wise man, and a scribe: and Jehiel the son of Hachmoni was with the king's sons:\r\n And Ahithophel was the king's counsellor: and Hushai the Archite was the king's companion:\r\n And after Ahithophel was Jehoiada the son of Benaiah, and Abiathar: and the general of the king's army was Joab.\r\n \r\n \r\n And David assembled all the princes of Israel, the princes of the tribes, and the captains of the companies that ministered to the king by course, and the captains over the thousands, and captains over the hundreds, and the stewards over all the substance and possession of the king, and of his sons, with the officers, and with the mighty men, and with all the valiant men, unto Jerusalem.\r\n Then David the king stood up upon his feet, and said, Hear me, my brethren, and my people: As for me, I had in mine heart to build an house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and for the footstool of our God, and had made ready for the building:\r\n But God said unto me, Thou shalt not build an house for my name, because thou hast been a man of war, and hast shed blood.\r\n Howbeit the LORD God of Israel chose me before all the house of my father to be king over Israel for ever: for he hath chosen Judah to be the ruler; and of the house of Judah, the house of my father; and among the sons of my father he liked me to make me king over all Israel:\r\n And of all my sons, (for the LORD hath given me many sons,) he hath chosen Solomon my son to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel.\r\n And he said unto me, Solomon thy son, he shall build my house and my courts: for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father.\r\n Moreover I will establish his kingdom for ever, if he be constant to do my commandments and my judgments, as at this day.\r\n Now therefore in the sight of all Israel the congregation of the LORD, and in the audience of our God, keep and seek for all the commandments of the LORD your God: that ye may possess this good land, and leave it for an inheritance for your children after you for ever.\r\n And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.\r\n Take heed now; for the LORD hath chosen thee to build an house for the sanctuary: be strong, and do it.\r\n Then David gave to Solomon his son the pattern of the porch, and of the houses thereof, and of the treasuries thereof, and of the upper chambers thereof, and of the inner parlours thereof, and of the place of the mercy seat,\r\n And the pattern of all that he had by the spirit, of the courts of the house of the LORD, and of all the chambers round about, of the treasuries of the house of God, and of the treasuries of the dedicated things:\r\n Also for the courses of the priests and the Levites, and for all the work of the service of the house of the LORD, and for all the vessels of service in the house of the LORD.\r\n He gave of gold by weight for things of gold, for all instruments of all manner of service; silver also for all instruments of silver by weight, for all instruments of every kind of service:\r\n Even the weight for the candlesticks of gold, and for their lamps of gold, by weight for every candlestick, and for the lamps thereof: and for the candlesticks of silver by weight, both for the candlestick, and also for the lamps thereof, according to the use of every candlestick.\r\n And by weight he gave gold for the tables of shewbread, for every table; and likewise silver for the tables of silver:\r\n Also pure gold for the fleshhooks, and the bowls, and the cups: and for the golden basons he gave gold by weight for every bason; and likewise silver by weight for every bason of silver:\r\n And for the altar of incense refined gold by weight; and gold for the pattern of the chariot of the cherubims, that spread out their wings, and covered the ark of the covenant of the LORD.\r\n All this, said David, the LORD made me understand in writing by his hand upon me, even all the works of this pattern.\r\n And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the LORD God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD.\r\n And, behold, the courses of the priests and the Levites, even they shall be with thee for all the service of the house of God: and there shall be with thee for all manner of workmanship every willing skilful man, for any manner of service: also the princes and all the people will be wholly at thy commandment.\r\n \r\n \r\n Furthermore David the king said unto all the congregation, Solomon my son, whom alone God hath chosen, is yet young and tender, and the work is great: for the palace is not for man, but for the LORD God.\r\n Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God the gold for things to be made of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and the brass for things of brass, the iron for things of iron, and wood for things of wood; onyx stones, and stones to be set, glistering stones, and of divers colours, and all manner of precious stones, and marble stones in abundance.\r\n Moreover, because I have set my affection to the house of my God, I have of mine own proper good, of gold and silver, which I have given to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house,\r\n Even three thousand talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and seven thousand talents of refined silver, to overlay the walls of the houses withal:\r\n The gold for things of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and for all manner of work to be made by the hands of artificers. And who then is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the LORD?\r\n Then the chief of the fathers and princes of the tribes of Israel, and the captains of thousands and of hundreds, with the rulers of the king's work, offered willingly,\r\n And gave for the service of the house of God of gold five thousand talents and ten thousand drams, and of silver ten thousand talents, and of brass eighteen thousand talents, and one hundred thousand talents of iron.\r\n And they with whom precious stones were found gave them to the treasure of the house of the LORD, by the hand of Jehiel the Gershonite.\r\n Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the LORD: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy.\r\n Wherefore David blessed the LORD before all the congregation: and David said, Blessed be thou, LORD God of Israel our father, for ever and ever.\r\n Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all.\r\n Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all.\r\n Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name.\r\n But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.\r\n For we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as were all our fathers: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding.\r\n O LORD our God, all this store that we have prepared to build thee an house for thine holy name cometh of thine hand, and is all thine own.\r\n I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of mine heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy thy people, which are present here, to offer willingly unto thee.\r\n O LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, our fathers, keep this for ever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of thy people, and prepare their heart unto thee:\r\n And give unto Solomon my son a perfect heart, to keep thy commandments, thy testimonies, and thy statutes, and to do all these things, and to build the palace, for the which I have made provision.\r\n And David said to all the congregation, Now bless the LORD your God. And all the congregation blessed the LORD God of their fathers, and bowed down their heads, and worshipped the LORD, and the king.\r\n And they sacrificed sacrifices unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings unto the LORD, on the morrow after that day, even a thousand bullocks, a thousand rams, and a thousand lambs, with their drink offerings, and sacrifices in abundance for all Israel:\r\n And did eat and drink before the LORD on that day with great gladness. And they made Solomon the son of David king the second time, and anointed him unto the LORD to be the chief governor, and Zadok to be priest.\r\n Then Solomon sat on the throne of the LORD as king instead of David his father, and prospered; and all Israel obeyed him.\r\n And all the princes, and the mighty men, and all the sons likewise of king David, submitted themselves unto Solomon the king.\r\n And the LORD magnified Solomon exceedingly in the sight of all Israel, and bestowed upon him such royal majesty as had not been on any king before him in Israel.\r\n Thus David the son of Jesse reigned over all Israel.\r\n And the time that he reigned over Israel was forty years; seven years reigned he in Hebron, and thirty and three years reigned he in Jerusalem.\r\n And he died in a good old age, full of days, riches, and honour: and Solomon his son reigned in his stead.\r\n Now the acts of David the king, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of Samuel the seer, and in the book of Nathan the prophet, and in the book of Gad the seer,\r\n With all his reign and his might, and the times that went over him, and over Israel, and over all the kingdoms of the countries.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n And Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom, and the LORD his God was with him, and magnified him exceedingly.\r\n Then Solomon spake unto all Israel, to the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and to the judges, and to every governor in all Israel, the chief of the fathers.\r\n So Solomon, and all the congregation with him, went to the high place that was at Gibeon; for there was the tabernacle of the congregation of God, which Moses the servant of the LORD had made in the wilderness.\r\n But the ark of God had David brought up from Kirjathjearim to the place which David had prepared for it: for he had pitched a tent for it at Jerusalem.\r\n Moreover the brasen altar, that Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made, he put before the tabernacle of the LORD: and Solomon and the congregation sought unto it.\r\n And Solomon went up thither to the brasen altar before the LORD, which was at the tabernacle of the congregation, and offered a thousand burnt offerings upon it.\r\n In that night did God appear unto Solomon, and said unto him, Ask what I shall give thee.\r\n And Solomon said unto God, Thou hast shewed great mercy unto David my father, and hast made me to reign in his stead.\r\n Now, O LORD God, let thy promise unto David my father be established: for thou hast made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude.\r\n Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this thy people, that is so great?\r\n And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thine heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honour, nor the life of thine enemies, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge my people, over whom I have made thee king:\r\n Wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honour, such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee, neither shall there any after thee have the like.\r\n Then Solomon came from his journey to the high place that was at Gibeon to Jerusalem, from before the tabernacle of the congregation, and reigned over Israel.\r\n And Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen: and he had a thousand and four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, which he placed in the chariot cities, and with the king at Jerusalem.\r\n And the king made silver and gold at Jerusalem as plenteous as stones, and cedar trees made he as the sycomore trees that are in the vale for abundance.\r\n And Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt, and linen yarn: the king's merchants received the linen yarn at a price.\r\n And they fetched up, and brought forth out of Egypt a chariot for six hundred shekels of silver, and an horse for an hundred and fifty: and so brought they out horses for all the kings of the Hittites, and for the kings of Syria, by their means.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Solomon determined to build an house for the name of the LORD, and an house for his kingdom.\r\n And Solomon told out threescore and ten thousand men to bear burdens, and fourscore thousand to hew in the mountain, and three thousand and six hundred to oversee them.\r\n And Solomon sent to Huram the king of Tyre, saying, As thou didst deal with David my father, and didst send him cedars to build him an house to dwell therein, even so deal with me.\r\n Behold, I build an house to the name of the LORD my God, to dedicate it to him, and to burn before him sweet incense, and for the continual shewbread, and for the burnt offerings morning and evening, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the solemn feasts of the LORD our God. This is an ordinance for ever to Israel.\r\n And the house which I build is great: for great is our God above all gods.\r\n But who is able to build him an house, seeing the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain him? who am I then, that I should build him an house, save only to burn sacrifice before him?\r\n Send me now therefore a man cunning to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in iron, and in purple, and crimson, and blue, and that can skill to grave with the cunning men that are with me in Judah and in Jerusalem, whom David my father did provide.\r\n Send me also cedar trees, fir trees, and algum trees, out of Lebanon: for I know that thy servants can skill to cut timber in Lebanon; and, behold, my servants shall be with thy servants,\r\n Even to prepare me timber in abundance: for the house which I am about to build shall be wonderful great.\r\n And, behold, I will give to thy servants, the hewers that cut timber, twenty thousand measures of beaten wheat, and twenty thousand measures of barley, and twenty thousand baths of wine, and twenty thousand baths of oil.\r\n Then Huram the king of Tyre answered in writing, which he sent to Solomon, Because the LORD hath loved his people, he hath made thee king over them.\r\n Huram said moreover, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, that made heaven and earth, who hath given to David the king a wise son, endued with prudence and understanding, that might build an house for the LORD, and an house for his kingdom.\r\n And now I have sent a cunning man, endued with understanding, of Huram my father's,\r\n The son of a woman of the daughters of Dan, and his father was a man of Tyre, skilful to work in gold, and in silver, in brass, in iron, in stone, and in timber, in purple, in blue, and in fine linen, and in crimson; also to grave any manner of graving, and to find out every device which shall be put to him, with thy cunning men, and with the cunning men of my lord David thy father.\r\n Now therefore the wheat, and the barley, the oil, and the wine, which my lord hath spoken of, let him send unto his servants:\r\n And we will cut wood out of Lebanon, as much as thou shalt need: and we will bring it to thee in floats by sea to Joppa; and thou shalt carry it up to Jerusalem.\r\n And Solomon numbered all the strangers that were in the land of Israel, after the numbering wherewith David his father had numbered them; and they were found an hundred and fifty thousand and three thousand and six hundred.\r\n And he set threescore and ten thousand of them to be bearers of burdens, and fourscore thousand to be hewers in the mountain, and three thousand and six hundred overseers to set the people a work.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem in mount Moriah, where the LORD appeared unto David his father, in the place that David had prepared in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite.\r\n And he began to build in the second day of the second month, in the fourth year of his reign.\r\n Now these are the things wherein Solomon was instructed for the building of the house of God. The length by cubits after the first measure was threescore cubits, and the breadth twenty cubits.\r\n And the porch that was in the front of the house, the length of it was according to the breadth of the house, twenty cubits, and the height was an hundred and twenty: and he overlaid it within with pure gold.\r\n And the greater house he cieled with fir tree, which he overlaid with fine gold, and set thereon palm trees and chains.\r\n And he garnished the house with precious stones for beauty: and the gold was gold of Parvaim.\r\n He overlaid also the house, the beams, the posts, and the walls thereof, and the doors thereof, with gold; and graved cherubims on the walls.\r\n And he made the most holy house, the length whereof was according to the breadth of the house, twenty cubits, and the breadth thereof twenty cubits: and he overlaid it with fine gold, amounting to six hundred talents.\r\n And the weight of the nails was fifty shekels of gold. And he overlaid the upper chambers with gold.\r\n And in the most holy house he made two cherubims of image work, and overlaid them with gold.\r\n And the wings of the cherubims were twenty cubits long: one wing of the one cherub was five cubits, reaching to the wall of the house: and the other wing was likewise five cubits, reaching to the wing of the other cherub.\r\n And one wing of the other cherub was five cubits, reaching to the wall of the house: and the other wing was five cubits also, joining to the wing of the other cherub.\r\n The wings of these cherubims spread themselves forth twenty cubits: and they stood on their feet, and their faces were inward.\r\n And he made the vail of blue, and purple, and crimson, and fine linen, and wrought cherubims thereon.\r\n Also he made before the house two pillars of thirty and five cubits high, and the chapiter that was on the top of each of them was five cubits.\r\n And he made chains, as in the oracle, and put them on the heads of the pillars; and made an hundred pomegranates, and put them on the chains.\r\n And he reared up the pillars before the temple, one on the right hand, and the other on the left; and called the name of that on the right hand Jachin, and the name of that on the left Boaz.\r\n \r\n \r\n Moreover he made an altar of brass, twenty cubits the length thereof, and twenty cubits the breadth thereof, and ten cubits the height thereof.\r\n Also he made a molten sea of ten cubits from brim to brim, round in compass, and five cubits the height thereof; and a line of thirty cubits did compass it round about.\r\n And under it was the similitude of oxen, which did compass it round about: ten in a cubit, compassing the sea round about. Two rows of oxen were cast, when it was cast.\r\n It stood upon twelve oxen, three looking toward the north, and three looking toward the west, and three looking toward the south, and three looking toward the east: and the sea was set above upon them, and all their hinder parts were inward.\r\n And the thickness of it was an handbreadth, and the brim of it like the work of the brim of a cup, with flowers of lilies; and it received and held three thousand baths.\r\n He made also ten lavers, and put five on the right hand, and five on the left, to wash in them: such things as they offered for the burnt offering they washed in them; but the sea was for the priests to wash in.\r\n And he made ten candlesticks of gold according to their form, and set them in the temple, five on the right hand, and five on the left.\r\n He made also ten tables, and placed them in the temple, five on the right side, and five on the left. And he made an hundred basons of gold.\r\n Furthermore he made the court of the priests, and the great court, and doors for the court, and overlaid the doors of them with brass.\r\n And he set the sea on the right side of the east end, over against the south.\r\n And Huram made the pots, and the shovels, and the basons. And Huram finished the work that he was to make for king Solomon for the house of God;\r\n To wit, the two pillars, and the pommels, and the chapiters which were on the top of the two pillars, and the two wreaths to cover the two pommels of the chapiters which were on the top of the pillars;\r\n And four hundred pomegranates on the two wreaths; two rows of pomegranates on each wreath, to cover the two pommels of the chapiters which were upon the pillars.\r\n He made also bases, and lavers made he upon the bases;\r\n One sea, and twelve oxen under it.\r\n The pots also, and the shovels, and the fleshhooks, and all their instruments, did Huram his father make to king Solomon for the house of the LORD of bright brass.\r\n In the plain of Jordan did the king cast them, in the clay ground between Succoth and Zeredathah.\r\n Thus Solomon made all these vessels in great abundance: for the weight of the brass could not be found out.\r\n And Solomon made all the vessels that were for the house of God, the golden altar also, and the tables whereon the shewbread was set;\r\n Moreover the candlesticks with their lamps, that they should burn after the manner before the oracle, of pure gold;\r\n And the flowers, and the lamps, and the tongs, made he of gold, and that perfect gold;\r\n And the snuffers, and the basons, and the spoons, and the censers, of pure gold: and the entry of the house, the inner doors thereof for the most holy place, and the doors of the house of the temple, were of gold.\r\n \r\n \r\n Thus all the work that Solomon made for the house of the LORD was finished: and Solomon brought in all the things that David his father had dedicated; and the silver, and the gold, and all the instruments, put he among the treasures of the house of God.\r\n Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the chief of the fathers of the children of Israel, unto Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the city of David, which is Zion.\r\n Wherefore all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto the king in the feast which was in the seventh month.\r\n And all the elders of Israel came; and the Levites took up the ark.\r\n And they brought up the ark, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and all the holy vessels that were in the tabernacle, these did the priests and the Levites bring up.\r\n Also king Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel that were assembled unto him before the ark, sacrificed sheep and oxen, which could not be told nor numbered for multitude.\r\n And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the LORD unto his place, to the oracle of the house, into the most holy place, even under the wings of the cherubims:\r\n For the cherubims spread forth their wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubims covered the ark and the staves thereof above.\r\n And they drew out the staves of the ark, that the ends of the staves were seen from the ark before the oracle; but they were not seen without. And there it is unto this day.\r\n There was nothing in the ark save the two tables which Moses put therein at Horeb, when the LORD made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of Egypt.\r\n And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place: (for all the priests that were present were sanctified, and did not then wait by course:\r\n Also the Levites which were the singers, all of them of Asaph, of Heman, of Jeduthun, with their sons and their brethren, being arrayed in white linen, having cymbals and psalteries and harps, stood at the east end of the altar, and with them an hundred and twenty priests sounding with trumpets:)\r\n It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD;\r\n So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then said Solomon, The LORD hath said that he would dwell in the thick darkness.\r\n But I have built an house of habitation for thee, and a place for thy dwelling for ever.\r\n And the king turned his face, and blessed the whole congregation of Israel: and all the congregation of Israel stood.\r\n And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, who hath with his hands fulfilled that which he spake with his mouth to my father David, saying,\r\n Since the day that I brought forth my people out of the land of Egypt I chose no city among all the tribes of Israel to build an house in, that my name might be there; neither chose I any man to be a ruler over my people Israel:\r\n But I have chosen Jerusalem, that my name might be there; and have chosen David to be over my people Israel.\r\n Now it was in the heart of David my father to build an house for the name of the LORD God of Israel.\r\n But the LORD said to David my father, Forasmuch as it was in thine heart to build an house for my name, thou didst well in that it was in thine heart:\r\n Notwithstanding thou shalt not build the house; but thy son which shall come forth out of thy loins, he shall build the house for my name.\r\n The LORD therefore hath performed his word that he hath spoken: for I am risen up in the room of David my father, and am set on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised, and have built the house for the name of the LORD God of Israel.\r\n And in it have I put the ark, wherein is the covenant of the LORD, that he made with the children of Israel.\r\n And he stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands:\r\n For Solomon had made a brasen scaffold, of five cubits long, and five cubits broad, and three cubits high, and had set it in the midst of the court: and upon it he stood, and kneeled down upon his knees before all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven,\r\n And said, O LORD God of Israel, there is no God like thee in the heaven, nor in the earth; which keepest covenant, and shewest mercy unto thy servants, that walk before thee with all their hearts:\r\n Thou which hast kept with thy servant David my father that which thou hast promised him; and spakest with thy mouth, and hast fulfilled it with thine hand, as it is this day.\r\n Now therefore, O LORD God of Israel, keep with thy servant David my father that which thou hast promised him, saying, There shall not fail thee a man in my sight to sit upon the throne of Israel; yet so that thy children take heed to their way to walk in my law, as thou hast walked before me.\r\n Now then, O LORD God of Israel, let thy word be verified, which thou hast spoken unto thy servant David.\r\n But will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth? behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house which I have built!\r\n Have respect therefore to the prayer of thy servant, and to his supplication, O LORD my God, to hearken unto the cry and the prayer which thy servant prayeth before thee:\r\n That thine eyes may be open upon this house day and night, upon the place whereof thou hast said that thou wouldest put thy name there; to hearken unto the prayer which thy servant prayeth toward this place.\r\n Hearken therefore unto the supplications of thy servant, and of thy people Israel, which they shall make toward this place: hear thou from thy dwelling place, even from heaven; and when thou hearest, forgive.\r\n If a man sin against his neighbour, and an oath be laid upon him to make him swear, and the oath come before thine altar in this house;\r\n Then hear thou from heaven, and do, and judge thy servants, by requiting the wicked, by recompensing his way upon his own head; and by justifying the righteous, by giving him according to his righteousness.\r\n And if thy people Israel be put to the worse before the enemy, because they have sinned against thee; and shall return and confess thy name, and pray and make supplication before thee in this house;\r\n Then hear thou from the heavens, and forgive the sin of thy people Israel, and bring them again unto the land which thou gavest to them and to their fathers.\r\n When the heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee; yet if they pray toward this place, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, when thou dost afflict them;\r\n Then hear thou from heaven, and forgive the sin of thy servants, and of thy people Israel, when thou hast taught them the good way, wherein they should walk; and send rain upon thy land, which thou hast given unto thy people for an inheritance.\r\n If there be dearth in the land, if there be pestilence, if there be blasting, or mildew, locusts, or caterpillers; if their enemies besiege them in the cities of their land; whatsoever sore or whatsoever sickness there be:\r\n Then what prayer or what supplication soever shall be made of any man, or of all thy people Israel, when every one shall know his own sore and his own grief, and shall spread forth his hands in this house:\r\n Then hear thou from heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and render unto every man according unto all his ways, whose heart thou knowest; (for thou only knowest the hearts of the children of men:)\r\n That they may fear thee, to walk in thy ways, so long as they live in the land which thou gavest unto our fathers.\r\n Moreover concerning the stranger, which is not of thy people Israel, but is come from a far country for thy great name's sake, and thy mighty hand, and thy stretched out arm; if they come and pray in this house;\r\n Then hear thou from the heavens, even from thy dwelling place, and do according to all that the stranger calleth to thee for; that all people of the earth may know thy name, and fear thee, as doth thy people Israel, and may know that this house which I have built is called by thy name.\r\n If thy people go out to war against their enemies by the way that thou shalt send them, and they pray unto thee toward this city which thou hast chosen, and the house which I have built for thy name;\r\n Then hear thou from the heavens their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause.\r\n If they sin against thee, (for there is no man which sinneth not,) and thou be angry with them, and deliver them over before their enemies, and they carry them away captives unto a land far off or near;\r\n Yet if they bethink themselves in the land whither they are carried captive, and turn and pray unto thee in the land of their captivity, saying, We have sinned, we have done amiss, and have dealt wickedly;\r\n If they return to thee with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, whither they have carried them captives, and pray toward their land, which thou gavest unto their fathers, and toward the city which thou hast chosen, and toward the house which I have built for thy name:\r\n Then hear thou from the heavens, even from thy dwelling place, their prayer and their supplications, and maintain their cause, and forgive thy people which have sinned against thee.\r\n Now, my God, let, I beseech thee, thine eyes be open, and let thine ears be attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.\r\n Now therefore arise, O LORD God, into thy resting place, thou, and the ark of thy strength: let thy priests, O LORD God, be clothed with salvation, and let thy saints rejoice in goodness.\r\n O LORD God, turn not away the face of thine anointed: remember the mercies of David thy servant.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house.\r\n And the priests could not enter into the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD'S house.\r\n And when all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the LORD upon the house, they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.\r\n Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the LORD.\r\n And king Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty and two thousand oxen, and an hundred and twenty thousand sheep: so the king and all the people dedicated the house of God.\r\n And the priests waited on their offices: the Levites also with instruments of musick of the LORD, which David the king had made to praise the LORD, because his mercy endureth for ever, when David praised by their ministry; and the priests sounded trumpets before them, and all Israel stood.\r\n Moreover Solomon hallowed the middle of the court that was before the house of the LORD: for there he offered burnt offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings, because the brasen altar which Solomon had made was not able to receive the burnt offerings, and the meat offerings, and the fat.\r\n Also at the same time Solomon kept the feast seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great congregation, from the entering in of Hamath unto the river of Egypt.\r\n And in the eighth day they made a solemn assembly: for they kept the dedication of the altar seven days, and the feast seven days.\r\n And on the three and twentieth day of the seventh month he sent the people away into their tents, glad and merry in heart for the goodness that the LORD had shewed unto David, and to Solomon, and to Israel his people.\r\n Thus Solomon finished the house of the LORD, and the king's house: and all that came into Solomon's heart to make in the house of the LORD, and in his own house, he prosperously effected.\r\n And the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for an house of sacrifice.\r\n If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people;\r\n If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.\r\n Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.\r\n For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there for ever: and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.\r\n And as for thee, if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, and do according to all that I have commanded thee, and shalt observe my statutes and my judgments;\r\n Then will I stablish the throne of thy kingdom, according as I have covenanted with David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man to be ruler in Israel.\r\n But if ye turn away, and forsake my statutes and my commandments, which I have set before you, and shall go and serve other gods, and worship them;\r\n Then will I pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I have given them; and this house, which I have sanctified for my name, will I cast out of my sight, and will make it to be a proverb and a byword among all nations.\r\n And this house, which is high, shall be an astonishment to every one that passeth by it; so that he shall say, Why hath the LORD done thus unto this land, and unto this house?\r\n And it shall be answered, Because they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, and laid hold on other gods, and worshipped them, and served them: therefore hath he brought all this evil upon them.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass at the end of twenty years, wherein Solomon had built the house of the LORD, and his own house,\r\n That the cities which Huram had restored to Solomon, Solomon built them, and caused the children of Israel to dwell there.\r\n And Solomon went to Hamathzobah, and prevailed against it.\r\n And he built Tadmor in the wilderness, and all the store cities, which he built in Hamath.\r\n Also he built Bethhoron the upper, and Bethhoron the nether, fenced cities, with walls, gates, and bars;\r\n And Baalath, and all the store cities that Solomon had, and all the chariot cities, and the cities of the horsemen, and all that Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem, and in Lebanon, and throughout all the land of his dominion.\r\n As for all the people that were left of the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which were not of Israel,\r\n But of their children, who were left after them in the land, whom the children of Israel consumed not, them did Solomon make to pay tribute until this day.\r\n But of the children of Israel did Solomon make no servants for his work; but they were men of war, and chief of his captains, and captains of his chariots and horsemen.\r\n And these were the chief of king Solomon's officers, even two hundred and fifty, that bare rule over the people.\r\n And Solomon brought up the daughter of Pharaoh out of the city of David unto the house that he had built for her: for he said, My wife shall not dwell in the house of David king of Israel, because the places are holy, whereunto the ark of the LORD hath come.\r\n Then Solomon offered burnt offerings unto the LORD on the altar of the LORD, which he had built before the porch,\r\n Even after a certain rate every day, offering according to the commandment of Moses, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the solemn feasts, three times in the year, even in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles.\r\n And he appointed, according to the order of David his father, the courses of the priests to their service, and the Levites to their charges, to praise and minister before the priests, as the duty of every day required: the porters also by their courses at every gate: for so had David the man of God commanded.\r\n And they departed not from the commandment of the king unto the priests and Levites concerning any matter, or concerning the treasures.\r\n Now all the work of Solomon was prepared unto the day of the foundation of the house of the LORD, and until it was finished. So the house of the LORD was perfected.\r\n Then went Solomon to Eziongeber, and to Eloth, at the sea side in the land of Edom.\r\n And Huram sent him by the hands of his servants ships, and servants that had knowledge of the sea; and they went with the servants of Solomon to Ophir, and took thence four hundred and fifty talents of gold, and brought them to king Solomon.\r\n \r\n \r\n And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to prove Solomon with hard questions at Jerusalem, with a very great company, and camels that bare spices, and gold in abundance, and precious stones: and when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart.\r\n And Solomon told her all her questions: and there was nothing hid from Solomon which he told her not.\r\n And when the queen of Sheba had seen the wisdom of Solomon, and the house that he had built,\r\n And the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel; his cupbearers also, and their apparel; and his ascent by which he went up into the house of the LORD; there was no more spirit in her.\r\n And she said to the king, It was a true report which I heard in mine own land of thine acts, and of thy wisdom:\r\n Howbeit I believed not their words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the one half of the greatness of thy wisdom was not told me: for thou exceedest the fame that I heard.\r\n Happy are thy men, and happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and hear thy wisdom.\r\n Blessed be the LORD thy God, which delighted in thee to set thee on his throne, to be king for the LORD thy God: because thy God loved Israel, to establish them for ever, therefore made he thee king over them, to do judgment and justice.\r\n And she gave the king an hundred and twenty talents of gold, and of spices great abundance, and precious stones: neither was there any such spice as the queen of Sheba gave king Solomon.\r\n And the servants also of Huram, and the servants of Solomon, which brought gold from Ophir, brought algum trees and precious stones.\r\n And the king made of the algum trees terraces to the house of the LORD, and to the king's palace, and harps and psalteries for singers: and there were none such seen before in the land of Judah.\r\n And king Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatsoever she asked, beside that which she had brought unto the king. So she turned, and went away to her own land, she and her servants.\r\n Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred and threescore and six talents of gold;\r\n Beside that which chapmen and merchants brought. And all the kings of Arabia and governors of the country brought gold and silver to Solomon.\r\n And king Solomon made two hundred targets of beaten gold: six hundred shekels of beaten gold went to one target.\r\n And three hundred shields made he of beaten gold: three hundred shekels of gold went to one shield. And the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon.\r\n Moreover the king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with pure gold.\r\n And there were six steps to the throne, with a footstool of gold, which were fastened to the throne, and stays on each side of the sitting place, and two lions standing by the stays:\r\n And twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other upon the six steps. There was not the like made in any kingdom.\r\n And all the drinking vessels of king Solomon were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold: none were of silver; it was not any thing accounted of in the days of Solomon.\r\n For the king's ships went to Tarshish with the servants of Huram: every three years once came the ships of Tarshish bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks.\r\n And king Solomon passed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom.\r\n And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom, that God had put in his heart.\r\n And they brought every man his present, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and raiment, harness, and spices, horses, and mules, a rate year by year.\r\n And Solomon had four thousand stalls for horses and chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen; whom he bestowed in the chariot cities, and with the king at Jerusalem.\r\n And he reigned over all the kings from the river even unto the land of the Philistines, and to the border of Egypt.\r\n And the king made silver in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar trees made he as the sycomore trees that are in the low plains in abundance.\r\n And they brought unto Solomon horses out of Egypt, and out of all lands.\r\n Now the rest of the acts of Solomon, first and last, are they not written in the book of Nathan the prophet, and in the prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and in the visions of Iddo the seer against Jeroboam the son of Nebat?\r\n And Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years.\r\n And Solomon slept with his fathers, and he was buried in the city of David his father: and Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for to Shechem were all Israel come to make him king.\r\n And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who was in Egypt, whither he had fled from the presence of Solomon the king, heard it, that Jeroboam returned out of Egypt.\r\n And they sent and called him. So Jeroboam and all Israel came and spake to Rehoboam, saying,\r\n Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore ease thou somewhat the grievous servitude of thy father, and his heavy yoke that he put upon us, and we will serve thee.\r\n And he said unto them, Come again unto me after three days. And the people departed.\r\n And king Rehoboam took counsel with the old men that had stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, saying, What counsel give ye me to return answer to this people?\r\n And they spake unto him, saying, If thou be kind to this people, and please them, and speak good words to them, they will be thy servants for ever.\r\n But he forsook the counsel which the old men gave him, and took counsel with the young men that were brought up with him, that stood before him.\r\n And he said unto them, What advice give ye that we may return answer to this people, which have spoken to me, saying, Ease somewhat the yoke that thy father did put upon us?\r\n And the young men that were brought up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou answer the people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it somewhat lighter for us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins.\r\n For whereas my father put a heavy yoke upon you, I will put more to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.\r\n So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day, as the king bade, saying, Come again to me on the third day.\r\n And the king answered them roughly; and king Rehoboam forsook the counsel of the old men,\r\n And answered them after the advice of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add thereto: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.\r\n So the king hearkened not unto the people: for the cause was of God, that the LORD might perform his word, which he spake by the hand of Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.\r\n And when all Israel saw that the king would not hearken unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? and we have none inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to your tents, O Israel: and now, David, see to thine own house. So all Israel went to their tents.\r\n But as for the children of Israel that dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them.\r\n Then king Rehoboam sent Hadoram that was over the tribute; and the children of Israel stoned him with stones, that he died. But king Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem.\r\n And Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day.\r\n \r\n \r\n And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he gathered of the house of Judah and Benjamin an hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men, which were warriors, to fight against Israel, that he might bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam.\r\n But the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying,\r\n Speak unto Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying,\r\n Thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren: return every man to his house: for this thing is done of me. And they obeyed the words of the LORD, and returned from going against Jeroboam.\r\n And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defence in Judah.\r\n He built even Bethlehem, and Etam, and Tekoa,\r\n And Bethzur, and Shoco, and Adullam,\r\n And Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph,\r\n And Adoraim, and Lachish, and Azekah,\r\n And Zorah, and Aijalon, and Hebron, which are in Judah and in Benjamin fenced cities.\r\n And he fortified the strong holds, and put captains in them, and store of victual, and of oil and wine.\r\n And in every several city he put shields and spears, and made them exceeding strong, having Judah and Benjamin on his side.\r\n And the priests and the Levites that were in all Israel resorted to him out of all their coasts.\r\n For the Levites left their suburbs and their possession, and came to Judah and Jerusalem: for Jeroboam and his sons had cast them off from executing the priest's office unto the LORD:\r\n And he ordained him priests for the high places, and for the devils, and for the calves which he had made.\r\n And after them out of all the tribes of Israel such as set their hearts to seek the LORD God of Israel came to Jerusalem, to sacrifice unto the LORD God of their fathers.\r\n So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon strong, three years: for three years they walked in the way of David and Solomon.\r\n And Rehoboam took him Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David to wife, and Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse;\r\n Which bare him children; Jeush, and Shamariah, and Zaham.\r\n And after her he took Maachah the daughter of Absalom; which bare him Abijah, and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith.\r\n And Rehoboam loved Maachah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and his concubines: (for he took eighteen wives, and threescore concubines; and begat twenty and eight sons, and threescore daughters.)\r\n And Rehoboam made Abijah the son of Maachah the chief, to be ruler among his brethren: for he thought to make him king.\r\n And he dealt wisely, and dispersed of all his children throughout all the countries of Judah and Benjamin, unto every fenced city: and he gave them victual in abundance. And he desired many wives.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass, when Rehoboam had established the kingdom, and had strengthened himself, he forsook the law of the LORD, and all Israel with him.\r\n And it came to pass, that in the fifth year of king Rehoboam Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, because they had transgressed against the LORD,\r\n With twelve hundred chariots, and threescore thousand horsemen: and the people were without number that came with him out of Egypt; the Lubims, the Sukkiims, and the Ethiopians.\r\n And he took the fenced cities which pertained to Judah, and came to Jerusalem.\r\n Then came Shemaiah the prophet to Rehoboam, and to the princes of Judah, that were gathered together to Jerusalem because of Shishak, and said unto them, Thus saith the LORD, Ye have forsaken me, and therefore have I also left you in the hand of Shishak.\r\n Whereupon the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves; and they said, The LORD is righteous.\r\n And when the LORD saw that they humbled themselves, the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah, saying, They have humbled themselves; therefore I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance; and my wrath shall not be poured out upon Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak.\r\n Nevertheless they shall be his servants; that they may know my service, and the service of the kingdoms of the countries.\r\n So Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, and took away the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king's house; he took all: he carried away also the shields of gold which Solomon had made.\r\n Instead of which king Rehoboam made shields of brass, and committed them to the hands of the chief of the guard, that kept the entrance of the king's house.\r\n And when the king entered into the house of the LORD, the guard came and fetched them, and brought them again into the guard chamber.\r\n And when he humbled himself, the wrath of the LORD turned from him, that he would not destroy him altogether: and also in Judah things went well.\r\n So king Rehoboam strengthened himself in Jerusalem, and reigned: for Rehoboam was one and forty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which the LORD had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, to put his name there. And his mother's name was Naamah an Ammonitess.\r\n And he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the LORD.\r\n Now the acts of Rehoboam, first and last, are they not written in the book of Shemaiah the prophet, and of Iddo the seer concerning genealogies? And there were wars between Rehoboam and Jeroboam continually.\r\n And Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David: and Abijah his son reigned in his stead.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam began Abijah to reign over Judah.\r\n He reigned three years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Michaiah the daughter of Uriel of Gibeah. And there was war between Abijah and Jeroboam.\r\n And Abijah set the battle in array with an army of valiant men of war, even four hundred thousand chosen men: Jeroboam also set the battle in array against him with eight hundred thousand chosen men, being mighty men of valour.\r\n And Abijah stood up upon mount Zemaraim, which is in mount Ephraim, and said, Hear me, thou Jeroboam, and all Israel;\r\n Ought ye not to know that the LORD God of Israel gave the kingdom over Israel to David for ever, even to him and to his sons by a covenant of salt?\r\n Yet Jeroboam the son of Nebat, the servant of Solomon the son of David, is risen up, and hath rebelled against his lord.\r\n And there are gathered unto him vain men, the children of Belial, and have strengthened themselves against Rehoboam the son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was young and tenderhearted, and could not withstand them.\r\n And now ye think to withstand the kingdom of the LORD in the hand of the sons of David; and ye be a great multitude, and there are with you golden calves, which Jeroboam made you for gods.\r\n Have ye not cast out the priests of the LORD, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and have made you priests after the manner of the nations of other lands? so that whosoever cometh to consecrate himself with a young bullock and seven rams, the same may be a priest of them that are no gods.\r\n But as for us, the LORD is our God, and we have not forsaken him; and the priests, which minister unto the LORD, are the sons of Aaron, and the Levites wait upon their business:\r\n And they burn unto the LORD every morning and every evening burnt sacrifices and sweet incense: the shewbread also set they in order upon the pure table; and the candlestick of gold with the lamps thereof, to burn every evening: for we keep the charge of the LORD our God; but ye have forsaken him.\r\n And, behold, God himself is with us for our captain, and his priests with sounding trumpets to cry alarm against you. O children of Israel, fight ye not against the LORD God of your fathers; for ye shall not prosper.\r\n But Jeroboam caused an ambushment to come about behind them: so they were before Judah, and the ambushment was behind them.\r\n And when Judah looked back, behold, the battle was before and behind: and they cried unto the LORD, and the priests sounded with the trumpets.\r\n Then the men of Judah gave a shout: and as the men of Judah shouted, it came to pass, that God smote Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah.\r\n And the children of Israel fled before Judah: and God delivered them into their hand.\r\n And Abijah and his people slew them with a great slaughter: so there fell down slain of Israel five hundred thousand chosen men.\r\n Thus the children of Israel were brought under at that time, and the children of Judah prevailed, because they relied upon the LORD God of their fathers.\r\n And Abijah pursued after Jeroboam, and took cities from him, Bethel with the towns thereof, and Jeshanah with the towns thereof, and Ephrain with the towns thereof.\r\n Neither did Jeroboam recover strength again in the days of Abijah: and the LORD struck him, and he died.\r\n But Abijah waxed mighty, and married fourteen wives, and begat twenty and two sons, and sixteen daughters.\r\n And the rest of the acts of Abijah, and his ways, and his sayings, are written in the story of the prophet Iddo.\r\n \r\n \r\n So Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David: and Asa his son reigned in his stead. In his days the land was quiet ten years.\r\n And Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God:\r\n For he took away the altars of the strange gods, and the high places, and brake down the images, and cut down the groves:\r\n And commanded Judah to seek the LORD God of their fathers, and to do the law and the commandment.\r\n Also he took away out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the images: and the kingdom was quiet before him.\r\n And he built fenced cities in Judah: for the land had rest, and he had no war in those years; because the LORD had given him rest.\r\n Therefore he said unto Judah, Let us build these cities, and make about them walls, and towers, gates, and bars, while the land is yet before us; because we have sought the LORD our God, we have sought him, and he hath given us rest on every side. So they built and prospered.\r\n And Asa had an army of men that bare targets and spears, out of Judah three hundred thousand; and out of Benjamin, that bare shields and drew bows, two hundred and fourscore thousand: all these were mighty men of valour.\r\n And there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with an host of a thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots; and came unto Mareshah.\r\n Then Asa went out against him, and they set the battle in array in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.\r\n And Asa cried unto the LORD his God, and said, LORD, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O LORD our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O LORD, thou art our God; let not man prevail against thee.\r\n So the LORD smote the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah; and the Ethiopians fled.\r\n And Asa and the people that were with him pursued them unto Gerar: and the Ethiopians were overthrown, that they could not recover themselves; for they were destroyed before the LORD, and before his host; and they carried away very much spoil.\r\n And they smote all the cities round about Gerar; for the fear of the LORD came upon them: and they spoiled all the cities; for there was exceeding much spoil in them.\r\n They smote also the tents of cattle, and carried away sheep and camels in abundance, and returned to Jerusalem.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the Spirit of God came upon Azariah the son of Oded:\r\n And he went out to meet Asa, and said unto him, Hear ye me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin; The LORD is with you, while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you.\r\n Now for a long season Israel hath been without the true God, and without a teaching priest, and without law.\r\n But when they in their trouble did turn unto the LORD God of Israel, and sought him, he was found of them.\r\n And in those times there was no peace to him that went out, nor to him that came in, but great vexations were upon all the inhabitants of the countries.\r\n And nation was destroyed of nation, and city of city: for God did vex them with all adversity.\r\n Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded.\r\n And when Asa heard these words, and the prophecy of Oded the prophet, he took courage, and put away the abominable idols out of all the land of Judah and Benjamin, and out of the cities which he had taken from mount Ephraim, and renewed the altar of the LORD, that was before the porch of the LORD.\r\n And he gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and the strangers with them out of Ephraim and Manasseh, and out of Simeon: for they fell to him out of Israel in abundance, when they saw that the LORD his God was with him.\r\n So they gathered themselves together at Jerusalem in the third month, in the fifteenth year of the reign of Asa.\r\n And they offered unto the LORD the same time, of the spoil which they had brought, seven hundred oxen and seven thousand sheep.\r\n And they entered into a covenant to seek the LORD God of their fathers with all their heart and with all their soul;\r\n That whosoever would not seek the LORD God of Israel should be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman.\r\n And they sware unto the LORD with a loud voice, and with shouting, and with trumpets, and with cornets.\r\n And all Judah rejoiced at the oath: for they had sworn with all their heart, and sought him with their whole desire; and he was found of them: and the LORD gave them rest round about.\r\n And also concerning Maachah the mother of Asa the king, he removed her from being queen, because she had made an idol in a grove: and Asa cut down her idol, and stamped it, and burnt it at the brook Kidron.\r\n But the high places were not taken away out of Israel: nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect all his days.\r\n And he brought into the house of God the things that his father had dedicated, and that he himself had dedicated, silver, and gold, and vessels.\r\n And there was no more war unto the five and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa.\r\n \r\n \r\n In the six and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa Baasha king of Israel came up against Judah, and built Ramah, to the intent that he might let none go out or come in to Asa king of Judah.\r\n Then Asa brought out silver and gold out of the treasures of the house of the LORD and of the king's house, and sent to Benhadad king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying,\r\n There is a league between me and thee, as there was between my father and thy father: behold, I have sent thee silver and gold; go, break thy league with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me.\r\n And Benhadad hearkened unto king Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel; and they smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abelmaim, and all the store cities of Naphtali.\r\n And it came to pass, when Baasha heard it, that he left off building of Ramah, and let his work cease.\r\n Then Asa the king took all Judah; and they carried away the stones of Ramah, and the timber thereof, wherewith Baasha was building; and he built therewith Geba and Mizpah.\r\n And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said unto him, Because thou hast relied on the king of Syria, and not relied on the LORD thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of thine hand.\r\n Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubims a huge host, with very many chariots and horsemen? yet, because thou didst rely on the LORD, he delivered them into thine hand.\r\n For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.\r\n Then Asa was wroth with the seer, and put him in a prison house; for he was in a rage with him because of this thing. And Asa oppressed some of the people the same time.\r\n And, behold, the acts of Asa, first and last, lo, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.\r\n And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he sought not to the LORD, but to the physicians.\r\n And Asa slept with his fathers, and died in the one and fortieth year of his reign.\r\n And they buried him in his own sepulchres, which he had made for himself in the city of David, and laid him in the bed which was filled with sweet odours and divers kinds of spices prepared by the apothecaries' art: and they made a very great burning for him.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead, and strengthened himself against Israel.\r\n And he placed forces in all the fenced cities of Judah, and set garrisons in the land of Judah, and in the cities of Ephraim, which Asa his father had taken.\r\n And the LORD was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and sought not unto Baalim;\r\n But sought to the LORD God of his father, and walked in his commandments, and not after the doings of Israel.\r\n Therefore the LORD stablished the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat presents; and he had riches and honour in abundance.\r\n And his heart was lifted up in the ways of the LORD: moreover he took away the high places and groves out of Judah.\r\n Also in the third year of his reign he sent to his princes, even to Benhail, and to Obadiah, and to Zechariah, and to Nethaneel, and to Michaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah.\r\n And with them he sent Levites, even Shemaiah, and Nethaniah, and Zebadiah, and Asahel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehonathan, and Adonijah, and Tobijah, and Tobadonijah, Levites; and with them Elishama and Jehoram, priests.\r\n And they taught in Judah, and had the book of the law of the LORD with them, and went about throughout all the cities of Judah, and taught the people.\r\n And the fear of the LORD fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were round about Judah, so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat.\r\n Also some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents, and tribute silver; and the Arabians brought him flocks, seven thousand and seven hundred rams, and seven thousand and seven hundred he goats.\r\n And Jehoshaphat waxed great exceedingly; and he built in Judah castles, and cities of store.\r\n And he had much business in the cities of Judah: and the men of war, mighty men of valour, were in Jerusalem.\r\n And these are the numbers of them according to the house of their fathers: Of Judah, the captains of thousands; Adnah the chief, and with him mighty men of valour three hundred thousand.\r\n And next to him was Jehohanan the captain, and with him two hundred and fourscore thousand.\r\n And next him was Amasiah the son of Zichri, who willingly offered himself unto the LORD; and with him two hundred thousand mighty men of valour.\r\n And of Benjamin; Eliada a mighty man of valour, and with him armed men with bow and shield two hundred thousand.\r\n And next him was Jehozabad, and with him an hundred and fourscore thousand ready prepared for the war.\r\n These waited on the king, beside those whom the king put in the fenced cities throughout all Judah.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honour in abundance, and joined affinity with Ahab.\r\n And after certain years he went down to Ahab to Samaria. And Ahab killed sheep and oxen for him in abundance, and for the people that he had with him, and persuaded him to go up with him to Ramothgilead.\r\n And Ahab king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat king of Judah, Wilt thou go with me to Ramothgilead? And he answered him, I am as thou art, and my people as thy people; and we will be with thee in the war.\r\n And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Enquire, I pray thee, at the word of the LORD to day.\r\n Therefore the king of Israel gathered together of prophets four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall we go to Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for God will deliver it into the king's hand.\r\n But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD besides, that we might enquire of him?\r\n And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, by whom we may enquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he never prophesied good unto me, but always evil: the same is Micaiah the son of Imla. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.\r\n And the king of Israel called for one of his officers, and said, Fetch quickly Micaiah the son of Imla.\r\n And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah sat either of them on his throne, clothed in their robes, and they sat in a void place at the entering in of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them.\r\n And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah had made him horns of iron, and said, Thus saith the LORD, With these thou shalt push Syria until they be consumed.\r\n And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramothgilead, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver it into the hand of the king.\r\n And the messenger that went to call Micaiah spake to him, saying, Behold, the words of the prophets declare good to the king with one assent; let thy word therefore, I pray thee, be like one of theirs, and speak thou good.\r\n And Micaiah said, As the LORD liveth, even what my God saith, that will I speak.\r\n And when he was come to the king, the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go to Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And he said, Go ye up, and prosper, and they shall be delivered into your hand.\r\n And the king said to him, How many times shall I adjure thee that thou say nothing but the truth to me in the name of the LORD?\r\n Then he said, I did see all Israel scattered upon the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd: and the LORD said, These have no master; let them return therefore every man to his house in peace.\r\n And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would not prophesy good unto me, but evil?\r\n Again he said, Therefore hear the word of the LORD; I saw the LORD sitting upon his throne, and all the host of heaven standing on his right hand and on his left.\r\n And the LORD said, Who shall entice Ahab king of Israel, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one spake saying after this manner, and another saying after that manner.\r\n Then there came out a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will entice him. And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith?\r\n And he said, I will go out, and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And the LORD said, Thou shalt entice him, and thou shalt also prevail: go out, and do even so.\r\n Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil against thee.\r\n Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near, and smote Micaiah upon the cheek, and said, Which way went the Spirit of the LORD from me to speak unto thee?\r\n And Micaiah said, Behold, thou shalt see on that day when thou shalt go into an inner chamber to hide thyself.\r\n Then the king of Israel said, Take ye Micaiah, and carry him back to Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king's son;\r\n And say, Thus saith the king, Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I return in peace.\r\n And Micaiah said, If thou certainly return in peace, then hath not the LORD spoken by me. And he said, Hearken, all ye people.\r\n So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramothgilead.\r\n And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, and will go to the battle; but put thou on thy robes. So the king of Israel disguised himself; and they went to the battle.\r\n Now the king of Syria had commanded the captains of the chariots that were with him, saying, Fight ye not with small or great, save only with the king of Israel.\r\n And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, It is the king of Israel. Therefore they compassed about him to fight: but Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD helped him; and God moved them to depart from him.\r\n For it came to pass, that, when the captains of the chariots perceived that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back again from pursuing him.\r\n And a certain man drew a bow at a venture, and smote the king of Israel between the joints of the harness: therefore he said to his chariot man, Turn thine hand, that thou mayest carry me out of the host; for I am wounded.\r\n And the battle increased that day: howbeit the king of Israel stayed himself up in his chariot against the Syrians until the even: and about the time of the sun going down he died.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned to his house in peace to Jerusalem.\r\n And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the LORD.\r\n Nevertheless there are good things found in thee, in that thou hast taken away the groves out of the land, and hast prepared thine heart to seek God.\r\n And Jehoshaphat dwelt at Jerusalem: and he went out again through the people from Beersheba to mount Ephraim, and brought them back unto the LORD God of their fathers.\r\n And he set judges in the land throughout all the fenced cities of Judah, city by city,\r\n And said to the judges, Take heed what ye do: for ye judge not for man, but for the LORD, who is with you in the judgment.\r\n Wherefore now let the fear of the LORD be upon you; take heed and do it: for there is no iniquity with the LORD our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts.\r\n Moreover in Jerusalem did Jehoshaphat set of the Levites, and of the priests, and of the chief of the fathers of Israel, for the judgment of the LORD, and for controversies, when they returned to Jerusalem.\r\n And he charged them, saying, Thus shall ye do in the fear of the LORD, faithfully, and with a perfect heart.\r\n And what cause soever shall come to you of your brethren that dwell in their cities, between blood and blood, between law and commandment, statutes and judgments, ye shall even warn them that they trespass not against the LORD, and so wrath come upon you, and upon your brethren: this do, and ye shall not trespass.\r\n And, behold, Amariah the chief priest is over you in all matters of the LORD; and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the ruler of the house of Judah, for all the king's matters: also the Levites shall be officers before you. Deal courageously, and the LORD shall be with the good.\r\n \r\n \r\n It came to pass after this also, that the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them other beside the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle.\r\n Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying, There cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the sea on this side Syria; and, behold, they be in Hazazontamar, which is Engedi.\r\n And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.\r\n And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help of the LORD: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD.\r\n And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court,\r\n And said, O LORD God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee?\r\n Art not thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend for ever?\r\n And they dwelt therein, and have built thee a sanctuary therein for thy name, saying,\r\n If, when evil cometh upon us, as the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in thy presence, (for thy name is in this house,) and cry unto thee in our affliction, then thou wilt hear and help.\r\n And now, behold, the children of Ammon and Moab and mount Seir, whom thou wouldest not let Israel invade, when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them, and destroyed them not;\r\n Behold, I say, how they reward us, to come to cast us out of thy possession, which thou hast given us to inherit.\r\n O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee.\r\n And all Judah stood before the LORD, with their little ones, their wives, and their children.\r\n Then upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, came the Spirit of the LORD in the midst of the congregation;\r\n And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's.\r\n To morrow go ye down against them: behold, they come up by the cliff of Ziz; and ye shall find them at the end of the brook, before the wilderness of Jeruel.\r\n Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you.\r\n And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the LORD, worshipping the LORD.\r\n And the Levites, of the children of the Kohathites, and of the children of the Korhites, stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel with a loud voice on high.\r\n And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.\r\n And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD; for his mercy endureth for ever.\r\n And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.\r\n For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to destroy another.\r\n And when Judah came toward the watch tower in the wilderness, they looked unto the multitude, and, behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none escaped.\r\n And when Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away the spoil of them, they found among them in abundance both riches with the dead bodies, and precious jewels, which they stripped off for themselves, more than they could carry away: and they were three days in gathering of the spoil, it was so much.\r\n And on the fourth day they assembled themselves in the valley of Berachah; for there they blessed the LORD: therefore the name of the same place was called, The valley of Berachah, unto this day.\r\n Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, and Jehoshaphat in the forefront of them, to go again to Jerusalem with joy; for the LORD had made them to rejoice over their enemies.\r\n And they came to Jerusalem with psalteries and harps and trumpets unto the house of the LORD.\r\n And the fear of God was on all the kingdoms of those countries, when they had heard that the LORD fought against the enemies of Israel.\r\n So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet: for his God gave him rest round about.\r\n And Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah: he was thirty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty and five years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi.\r\n And he walked in the way of Asa his father, and departed not from it, doing that which was right in the sight of the LORD.\r\n Howbeit the high places were not taken away: for as yet the people had not prepared their hearts unto the God of their fathers.\r\n Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of Jehu the son of Hanani, who is mentioned in the book of the kings of Israel.\r\n And after this did Jehoshaphat king of Judah join himself with Ahaziah king of Israel, who did very wickedly:\r\n And he joined himself with him to make ships to go to Tarshish: and they made the ships in Eziongeber.\r\n Then Eliezer the son of Dodavah of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, Because thou hast joined thyself with Ahaziah, the LORD hath broken thy works. And the ships were broken, that they were not able to go to Tarshish.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David. And Jehoram his son reigned in his stead.\r\n And he had brethren the sons of Jehoshaphat, Azariah, and Jehiel, and Zechariah, and Azariah, and Michael, and Shephatiah: all these were the sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel.\r\n And their father gave them great gifts of silver, and of gold, and of precious things, with fenced cities in Judah: but the kingdom gave he to Jehoram; because he was the firstborn.\r\n Now when Jehoram was risen up to the kingdom of his father, he strengthened himself, and slew all his brethren with the sword, and divers also of the princes of Israel.\r\n Jehoram was thirty and two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem.\r\n And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, like as did the house of Ahab: for he had the daughter of Ahab to wife: and he wrought that which was evil in the eyes of the LORD.\r\n Howbeit the LORD would not destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that he had made with David, and as he promised to give a light to him and to his sons for ever.\r\n In his days the Edomites revolted from under the dominion of Judah, and made themselves a king.\r\n Then Jehoram went forth with his princes, and all his chariots with him: and he rose up by night, and smote the Edomites which compassed him in, and the captains of the chariots.\r\n So the Edomites revolted from under the hand of Judah unto this day. The same time also did Libnah revolt from under his hand; because he had forsaken the LORD God of his fathers.\r\n Moreover he made high places in the mountains of Judah, and caused the inhabitants of Jerusalem to commit fornication, and compelled Judah thereto.\r\n And there came a writing to him from Elijah the prophet, saying, Thus saith the LORD God of David thy father, Because thou hast not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat thy father, nor in the ways of Asa king of Judah,\r\n But hast walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and hast made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to go a whoring, like to the whoredoms of the house of Ahab, and also hast slain thy brethren of thy father's house, which were better than thyself:\r\n Behold, with a great plague will the LORD smite thy people, and thy children, and thy wives, and all thy goods:\r\n And thou shalt have great sickness by disease of thy bowels, until thy bowels fall out by reason of the sickness day by day.\r\n Moreover the LORD stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines, and of the Arabians, that were near the Ethiopians:\r\n And they came up into Judah, and brake into it, and carried away all the substance that was found in the king's house, and his sons also, and his wives; so that there was never a son left him, save Jehoahaz, the youngest of his sons.\r\n And after all this the LORD smote him in his bowels with an incurable disease.\r\n And it came to pass, that in process of time, after the end of two years, his bowels fell out by reason of his sickness: so he died of sore diseases. And his people made no burning for him, like the burning of his fathers.\r\n Thirty and two years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years, and departed without being desired. Howbeit they buried him in the city of David, but not in the sepulchres of the kings.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the inhabitants of Jerusalem made Ahaziah his youngest son king in his stead: for the band of men that came with the Arabians to the camp had slain all the eldest. So Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah reigned.\r\n Forty and two years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Athaliah the daughter of Omri.\r\n He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab: for his mother was his counsellor to do wickedly.\r\n Wherefore he did evil in the sight of the LORD like the house of Ahab: for they were his counsellors after the death of his father to his destruction.\r\n He walked also after their counsel, and went with Jehoram the son of Ahab king of Israel to war against Hazael king of Syria at Ramothgilead: and the Syrians smote Joram.\r\n And he returned to be healed in Jezreel because of the wounds which were given him at Ramah, when he fought with Hazael king of Syria. And Azariah the son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to see Jehoram the son of Ahab at Jezreel, because he was sick.\r\n And the destruction of Ahaziah was of God by coming to Joram: for when he was come, he went out with Jehoram against Jehu the son of Nimshi, whom the LORD had anointed to cut off the house of Ahab.\r\n And it came to pass, that, when Jehu was executing judgment upon the house of Ahab, and found the princes of Judah, and the sons of the brethren of Ahaziah, that ministered to Ahaziah, he slew them.\r\n And he sought Ahaziah: and they caught him, (for he was hid in Samaria,) and brought him to Jehu: and when they had slain him, they buried him: Because, said they, he is the son of Jehoshaphat, who sought the LORD with all his heart. So the house of Ahaziah had no power to keep still the kingdom.\r\n But when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal of the house of Judah.\r\n But Jehoshabeath, the daughter of the king, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king's sons that were slain, and put him and his nurse in a bedchamber. So Jehoshabeath, the daughter of king Jehoram, the wife of Jehoiada the priest, (for she was the sister of Ahaziah,) hid him from Athaliah, so that she slew him not.\r\n And he was with them hid in the house of God six years: and Athaliah reigned over the land.\r\n \r\n \r\n And in the seventh year Jehoiada strengthened himself, and took the captains of hundreds, Azariah the son of Jeroham, and Ishmael the son of Jehohanan, and Azariah the son of Obed, and Maaseiah the son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat the son of Zichri, into covenant with him.\r\n And they went about in Judah, and gathered the Levites out of all the cities of Judah, and the chief of the fathers of Israel, and they came to Jerusalem.\r\n And all the congregation made a covenant with the king in the house of God. And he said unto them, Behold, the king's son shall reign, as the LORD hath said of the sons of David.\r\n This is the thing that ye shall do; A third part of you entering on the sabbath, of the priests and of the Levites, shall be porters of the doors;\r\n And a third part shall be at the king's house; and a third part at the gate of the foundation: and all the people shall be in the courts of the house of the LORD.\r\n But let none come into the house of the LORD, save the priests, and they that minister of the Levites; they shall go in, for they are holy: but all the people shall keep the watch of the LORD.\r\n And the Levites shall compass the king round about, every man with his weapons in his hand; and whosoever else cometh into the house, he shall be put to death: but be ye with the king when he cometh in, and when he goeth out.\r\n So the Levites and all Judah did according to all things that Jehoiada the priest had commanded, and took every man his men that were to come in on the sabbath, with them that were to go out on the sabbath: for Jehoiada the priest dismissed not the courses.\r\n Moreover Jehoiada the priest delivered to the captains of hundreds spears, and bucklers, and shields, that had been king David's, which were in the house of God.\r\n And he set all the people, every man having his weapon in his hand, from the right side of the temple to the left side of the temple, along by the altar and the temple, by the king round about.\r\n Then they brought out the king's son, and put upon him the crown, and gave him the testimony, and made him king. And Jehoiada and his sons anointed him, and said, God save the king.\r\n Now when Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and praising the king, she came to the people into the house of the LORD:\r\n And she looked, and, behold, the king stood at his pillar at the entering in, and the princes and the trumpets by the king: and all the people of the land rejoiced, and sounded with trumpets, also the singers with instruments of musick, and such as taught to sing praise. Then Athaliah rent her clothes, and said, Treason, Treason.\r\n Then Jehoiada the priest brought out the captains of hundreds that were set over the host, and said unto them, Have her forth of the ranges: and whoso followeth her, let him be slain with the sword. For the priest said, Slay her not in the house of the LORD.\r\n So they laid hands on her; and when she was come to the entering of the horse gate by the king's house, they slew her there.\r\n And Jehoiada made a covenant between him, and between all the people, and between the king, that they should be the LORD'S people.\r\n Then all the people went to the house of Baal, and brake it down, and brake his altars and his images in pieces, and slew Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars.\r\n Also Jehoiada appointed the offices of the house of the LORD by the hand of the priests the Levites, whom David had distributed in the house of the LORD, to offer the burnt offerings of the LORD, as it is written in the law of Moses, with rejoicing and with singing, as it was ordained by David.\r\n And he set the porters at the gates of the house of the LORD, that none which was unclean in any thing should enter in.\r\n And he took the captains of hundreds, and the nobles, and the governors of the people, and all the people of the land, and brought down the king from the house of the LORD: and they came through the high gate into the king's house, and set the king upon the throne of the kingdom.\r\n And all the people of the land rejoiced: and the city was quiet, after that they had slain Athaliah with the sword.\r\n \r\n \r\n Joash was seven years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Zibiah of Beersheba.\r\n And Joash did that which was right in the sight of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada the priest.\r\n And Jehoiada took for him two wives; and he begat sons and daughters.\r\n And it came to pass after this, that Joash was minded to repair the house of the LORD.\r\n And he gathered together the priests and the Levites, and said to them, Go out unto the cities of Judah, and gather of all Israel money to repair the house of your God from year to year, and see that ye hasten the matter. Howbeit the Levites hastened it not.\r\n And the king called for Jehoiada the chief, and said unto him, Why hast thou not required of the Levites to bring in out of Judah and out of Jerusalem the collection, according to the commandment of Moses the servant of the LORD, and of the congregation of Israel, for the tabernacle of witness?\r\n For the sons of Athaliah, that wicked woman, had broken up the house of God; and also all the dedicated things of the house of the LORD did they bestow upon Baalim.\r\n And at the king's commandment they made a chest, and set it without at the gate of the house of the LORD.\r\n And they made a proclamation through Judah and Jerusalem, to bring in to the LORD the collection that Moses the servant of God laid upon Israel in the wilderness.\r\n And all the princes and all the people rejoiced, and brought in, and cast into the chest, until they had made an end.\r\n Now it came to pass, that at what time the chest was brought unto the king's office by the hand of the Levites, and when they saw that there was much money, the king's scribe and the high priest's officer came and emptied the chest, and took it, and carried it to his place again. Thus they did day by day, and gathered money in abundance.\r\n And the king and Jehoiada gave it to such as did the work of the service of the house of the LORD, and hired masons and carpenters to repair the house of the LORD, and also such as wrought iron and brass to mend the house of the LORD.\r\n So the workmen wrought, and the work was perfected by them, and they set the house of God in his state, and strengthened it.\r\n And when they had finished it, they brought the rest of the money before the king and Jehoiada, whereof were made vessels for the house of the LORD, even vessels to minister, and to offer withal, and spoons, and vessels of gold and silver. And they offered burnt offerings in the house of the LORD continually all the days of Jehoiada.\r\n But Jehoiada waxed old, and was full of days when he died; an hundred and thirty years old was he when he died.\r\n And they buried him in the city of David among the kings, because he had done good in Israel, both toward God, and toward his house.\r\n Now after the death of Jehoiada came the princes of Judah, and made obeisance to the king. Then the king hearkened unto them.\r\n And they left the house of the LORD God of their fathers, and served groves and idols: and wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this their trespass.\r\n Yet he sent prophets to them, to bring them again unto the LORD; and they testified against them: but they would not give ear.\r\n And the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, which stood above the people, and said unto them, Thus saith God, Why transgress ye the commandments of the LORD, that ye cannot prosper? because ye have forsaken the LORD, he hath also forsaken you.\r\n And they conspired against him, and stoned him with stones at the commandment of the king in the court of the house of the LORD.\r\n Thus Joash the king remembered not the kindness which Jehoiada his father had done to him, but slew his son. And when he died, he said, The LORD look upon it, and require it.\r\n And it came to pass at the end of the year, that the host of Syria came up against him: and they came to Judah and Jerusalem, and destroyed all the princes of the people from among the people, and sent all the spoil of them unto the king of Damascus.\r\n For the army of the Syrians came with a small company of men, and the LORD delivered a very great host into their hand, because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers. So they executed judgment against Joash.\r\n And when they were departed from him, (for they left him in great diseases,) his own servants conspired against him for the blood of the sons of Jehoiada the priest, and slew him on his bed, and he died: and they buried him in the city of David, but they buried him not in the sepulchres of the kings.\r\n And these are they that conspired against him; Zabad the son of Shimeath an Ammonitess, and Jehozabad the son of Shimrith a Moabitess.\r\n Now concerning his sons, and the greatness of the burdens laid upon him, and the repairing of the house of God, behold, they are written in the story of the book of the kings. And Amaziah his son reigned in his stead.\r\n \r\n \r\n Amaziah was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem.\r\n And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, but not with a perfect heart.\r\n Now it came to pass, when the kingdom was established to him, that he slew his servants that had killed the king his father.\r\n But he slew not their children, but did as it is written in the law in the book of Moses, where the LORD commanded, saying, The fathers shall not die for the children, neither shall the children die for the fathers, but every man shall die for his own sin.\r\n Moreover Amaziah gathered Judah together, and made them captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, according to the houses of their fathers, throughout all Judah and Benjamin: and he numbered them from twenty years old and above, and found them three hundred thousand choice men, able to go forth to war, that could handle spear and shield.\r\n He hired also an hundred thousand mighty men of valour out of Israel for an hundred talents of silver.\r\n But there came a man of God to him, saying, O king, let not the army of Israel go with thee; for the LORD is not with Israel, to wit, with all the children of Ephraim.\r\n But if thou wilt go, do it, be strong for the battle: God shall make thee fall before the enemy: for God hath power to help, and to cast down.\r\n And Amaziah said to the man of God, But what shall we do for the hundred talents which I have given to the army of Israel? And the man of God answered, The LORD is able to give thee much more than this.\r\n Then Amaziah separated them, to wit, the army that was come to him out of Ephraim, to go home again: wherefore their anger was greatly kindled against Judah, and they returned home in great anger.\r\n And Amaziah strengthened himself, and led forth his people, and went to the valley of salt, and smote of the children of Seir ten thousand.\r\n And other ten thousand left alive did the children of Judah carry away captive, and brought them unto the top of the rock, and cast them down from the top of the rock, that they all were broken in pieces.\r\n But the soldiers of the army which Amaziah sent back, that they should not go with him to battle, fell upon the cities of Judah, from Samaria even unto Bethhoron, and smote three thousand of them, and took much spoil.\r\n Now it came to pass, after that Amaziah was come from the slaughter of the Edomites, that he brought the gods of the children of Seir, and set them up to be his gods, and bowed down himself before them, and burned incense unto them.\r\n Wherefore the anger of the LORD was kindled against Amaziah, and he sent unto him a prophet, which said unto him, Why hast thou sought after the gods of the people, which could not deliver their own people out of thine hand?\r\n And it came to pass, as he talked with him, that the king said unto him, Art thou made of the king's counsel? forbear; why shouldest thou be smitten? Then the prophet forbare, and said, I know that God hath determined to destroy thee, because thou hast done this, and hast not hearkened unto my counsel.\r\n Then Amaziah king of Judah took advice, and sent to Joash, the son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, Come, let us see one another in the face.\r\n And Joash king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, Give thy daughter to my son to wife: and there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon, and trode down the thistle.\r\n Thou sayest, Lo, thou hast smitten the Edomites; and thine heart lifteth thee up to boast: abide now at home; why shouldest thou meddle to thine hurt, that thou shouldest fall, even thou, and Judah with thee?\r\n But Amaziah would not hear; for it came of God, that he might deliver them into the hand of their enemies, because they sought after the gods of Edom.\r\n So Joash the king of Israel went up; and they saw one another in the face, both he and Amaziah king of Judah, at Bethshemesh, which belongeth to Judah.\r\n And Judah was put to the worse before Israel, and they fled every man to his tent.\r\n And Joash the king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash, the son of Jehoahaz, at Bethshemesh, and brought him to Jerusalem, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim to the corner gate, four hundred cubits.\r\n And he took all the gold and the silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of God with Obededom, and the treasures of the king's house, the hostages also, and returned to Samaria.\r\n And Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah lived after the death of Joash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel fifteen years.\r\n Now the rest of the acts of Amaziah, first and last, behold, are they not written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel?\r\n Now after the time that Amaziah did turn away from following the LORD they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem; and he fled to Lachish: but they sent to Lachish after him, and slew him there.\r\n And they brought him upon horses, and buried him with his fathers in the city of Judah.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in the room of his father Amaziah.\r\n He built Eloth, and restored it to Judah, after that the king slept with his fathers.\r\n Sixteen years old was Uzziah when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and two years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Jecoliah of Jerusalem.\r\n And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah did.\r\n And he sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God: and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him to prosper.\r\n And he went forth and warred against the Philistines, and brake down the wall of Gath, and the wall of Jabneh, and the wall of Ashdod, and built cities about Ashdod, and among the Philistines.\r\n And God helped him against the Philistines, and against the Arabians that dwelt in Gurbaal, and the Mehunims.\r\n And the Ammonites gave gifts to Uzziah: and his name spread abroad even to the entering in of Egypt; for he strengthened himself exceedingly.\r\n Moreover Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the corner gate, and at the valley gate, and at the turning of the wall, and fortified them.\r\n Also he built towers in the desert, and digged many wells: for he had much cattle, both in the low country, and in the plains: husbandmen also, and vine dressers in the mountains, and in Carmel: for he loved husbandry.\r\n Moreover Uzziah had an host of fighting men, that went out to war by bands, according to the number of their account by the hand of Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the ruler, under the hand of Hananiah, one of the king's captains.\r\n The whole number of the chief of the fathers of the mighty men of valour were two thousand and six hundred.\r\n And under their hand was an army, three hundred thousand and seven thousand and five hundred, that made war with mighty power, to help the king against the enemy.\r\n And Uzziah prepared for them throughout all the host shields, and spears, and helmets, and habergeons, and bows, and slings to cast stones.\r\n And he made in Jerusalem engines, invented by cunning men, to be on the towers and upon the bulwarks, to shoot arrows and great stones withal. And his name spread far abroad; for he was marvellously helped, till he was strong.\r\n But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the LORD his God, and went into the temple of the LORD to burn incense upon the altar of incense.\r\n And Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him fourscore priests of the LORD, that were valiant men:\r\n And they withstood Uzziah the king, and said unto him, It appertaineth not unto thee, Uzziah, to burn incense unto the LORD, but to the priests the sons of Aaron, that are consecrated to burn incense: go out of the sanctuary; for thou hast trespassed; neither shall it be for thine honour from the LORD God.\r\n Then Uzziah was wroth, and had a censer in his hand to burn incense: and while he was wroth with the priests, the leprosy even rose up in his forehead before the priests in the house of the LORD, from beside the incense altar.\r\n And Azariah the chief priest, and all the priests, looked upon him, and, behold, he was leprous in his forehead, and they thrust him out from thence; yea, himself hasted also to go out, because the LORD had smitten him.\r\n And Uzziah the king was a leper unto the day of his death, and dwelt in a several house, being a leper; for he was cut off from the house of the LORD: and Jotham his son was over the king's house, judging the people of the land.\r\n Now the rest of the acts of Uzziah, first and last, did Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, write.\r\n So Uzziah slept with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers in the field of the burial which belonged to the kings; for they said, He is a leper: and Jotham his son reigned in his stead.\r\n \r\n \r\n Jotham was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Jerushah, the daughter of Zadok.\r\n And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Uzziah did: howbeit he entered not into the temple of the LORD. And the people did yet corruptly.\r\n He built the high gate of the house of the LORD, and on the wall of Ophel he built much.\r\n Moreover he built cities in the mountains of Judah, and in the forests he built castles and towers.\r\n He fought also with the king of the Ammonites, and prevailed against them. And the children of Ammon gave him the same year an hundred talents of silver, and ten thousand measures of wheat, and ten thousand of barley. So much did the children of Ammon pay unto him, both the second year, and the third.\r\n So Jotham became mighty, because he prepared his ways before the LORD his God.\r\n Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all his wars, and his ways, lo, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.\r\n He was five and twenty years old when he began to reign, and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem.\r\n And Jotham slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David: and Ahaz his son reigned in his stead.\r\n \r\n \r\n Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem: but he did not that which was right in the sight of the LORD, like David his father:\r\n For he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made also molten images for Baalim.\r\n Moreover he burnt incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and burnt his children in the fire, after the abominations of the heathen whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel.\r\n He sacrificed also and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree.\r\n Wherefore the LORD his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria; and they smote him, and carried away a great multitude of them captives, and brought them to Damascus. And he was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who smote him with a great slaughter.\r\n For Pekah the son of Remaliah slew in Judah an hundred and twenty thousand in one day, which were all valiant men; because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers.\r\n And Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, slew Maaseiah the king's son, and Azrikam the governor of the house, and Elkanah that was next to the king.\r\n And the children of Israel carried away captive of their brethren two hundred thousand, women, sons, and daughters, and took also away much spoil from them, and brought the spoil to Samaria.\r\n But a prophet of the LORD was there, whose name was Oded: and he went out before the host that came to Samaria, and said unto them, Behold, because the LORD God of your fathers was wroth with Judah, he hath delivered them into your hand, and ye have slain them in a rage that reacheth up unto heaven.\r\n And now ye purpose to keep under the children of Judah and Jerusalem for bondmen and bondwomen unto you: but are there not with you, even with you, sins against the LORD your God?\r\n Now hear me therefore, and deliver the captives again, which ye have taken captive of your brethren: for the fierce wrath of the LORD is upon you.\r\n Then certain of the heads of the children of Ephraim, Azariah the son of Johanan, Berechiah the son of Meshillemoth, and Jehizkiah the son of Shallum, and Amasa the son of Hadlai, stood up against them that came from the war,\r\n And said unto them, Ye shall not bring in the captives hither: for whereas we have offended against the LORD already, ye intend to add more to our sins and to our trespass: for our trespass is great, and there is fierce wrath against Israel.\r\n So the armed men left the captives and the spoil before the princes and all the congregation.\r\n And the men which were expressed by name rose up, and took the captives, and with the spoil clothed all that were naked among them, and arrayed them, and shod them, and gave them to eat and to drink, and anointed them, and carried all the feeble of them upon asses, and brought them to Jericho, the city of palm trees, to their brethren: then they returned to Samaria.\r\n At that time did king Ahaz send unto the kings of Assyria to help him.\r\n For again the Edomites had come and smitten Judah, and carried away captives.\r\n The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the low country, and of the south of Judah, and had taken Bethshemesh, and Ajalon, and Gederoth, and Shocho with the villages thereof, and Timnah with the villages thereof, Gimzo also and the villages thereof: and they dwelt there.\r\n For the LORD brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel; for he made Judah naked, and transgressed sore against the LORD.\r\n And Tilgathpilneser king of Assyria came unto him, and distressed him, but strengthened him not.\r\n For Ahaz took away a portion out of the house of the LORD, and out of the house of the king, and of the princes, and gave it unto the king of Assyria: but he helped him not.\r\n And in the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against the LORD: this is that king Ahaz.\r\n For he sacrificed unto the gods of Damascus, which smote him: and he said, Because the gods of the kings of Syria help them, therefore will I sacrifice to them, that they may help me. But they were the ruin of him, and of all Israel.\r\n And Ahaz gathered together the vessels of the house of God, and cut in pieces the vessels of the house of God, and shut up the doors of the house of the LORD, and he made him altars in every corner of Jerusalem.\r\n And in every several city of Judah he made high places to burn incense unto other gods, and provoked to anger the LORD God of his fathers.\r\n Now the rest of his acts and of all his ways, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.\r\n And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city, even in Jerusalem: but they brought him not into the sepulchres of the kings of Israel: and Hezekiah his son reigned in his stead.\r\n \r\n \r\n Hezekiah began to reign when he was five and twenty years old, and he reigned nine and twenty years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah.\r\n And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father had done.\r\n He in the first year of his reign, in the first month, opened the doors of the house of the LORD, and repaired them.\r\n And he brought in the priests and the Levites, and gathered them together into the east street,\r\n And said unto them, Hear me, ye Levites, sanctify now yourselves, and sanctify the house of the LORD God of your fathers, and carry forth the filthiness out of the holy place.\r\n For our fathers have trespassed, and done that which was evil in the eyes of the LORD our God, and have forsaken him, and have turned away their faces from the habitation of the LORD, and turned their backs.\r\n Also they have shut up the doors of the porch, and put out the lamps, and have not burned incense nor offered burnt offerings in the holy place unto the God of Israel.\r\n Wherefore the wrath of the LORD was upon Judah and Jerusalem, and he hath delivered them to trouble, to astonishment, and to hissing, as ye see with your eyes.\r\n For, lo, our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons and our daughters and our wives are in captivity for this.\r\n Now it is in mine heart to make a covenant with the LORD God of Israel, that his fierce wrath may turn away from us.\r\n My sons, be not now negligent: for the LORD hath chosen you to stand before him, to serve him, and that ye should minister unto him, and burn incense.\r\n Then the Levites arose, Mahath the son of Amasai, and Joel the son of Azariah, of the sons of the Kohathites: and of the sons of Merari, Kish the son of Abdi, and Azariah the son of Jehalelel: and of the Gershonites; Joah the son of Zimmah, and Eden the son of Joah:\r\n And of the sons of Elizaphan; Shimri, and Jeiel: and of the sons of Asaph; Zechariah, and Mattaniah:\r\n And of the sons of Heman; Jehiel, and Shimei: and of the sons of Jeduthun; Shemaiah, and Uzziel.\r\n And they gathered their brethren, and sanctified themselves, and came, according to the commandment of the king, by the words of the LORD, to cleanse the house of the LORD.\r\n And the priests went into the inner part of the house of the LORD, to cleanse it, and brought out all the uncleanness that they found in the temple of the LORD into the court of the house of the LORD. And the Levites took it, to carry it out abroad into the brook Kidron.\r\n Now they began on the first day of the first month to sanctify, and on the eighth day of the month came they to the porch of the LORD: so they sanctified the house of the LORD in eight days; and in the sixteenth day of the first month they made an end.\r\n Then they went in to Hezekiah the king, and said, We have cleansed all the house of the LORD, and the altar of burnt offering, with all the vessels thereof, and the shewbread table, with all the vessels thereof.\r\n Moreover all the vessels, which king Ahaz in his reign did cast away in his transgression, have we prepared and sanctified, and, behold, they are before the altar of the LORD.\r\n Then Hezekiah the king rose early, and gathered the rulers of the city, and went up to the house of the LORD.\r\n And they brought seven bullocks, and seven rams, and seven lambs, and seven he goats, for a sin offering for the kingdom, and for the sanctuary, and for Judah. And he commanded the priests the sons of Aaron to offer them on the altar of the LORD.\r\n So they killed the bullocks, and the priests received the blood, and sprinkled it on the altar: likewise, when they had killed the rams, they sprinkled the blood upon the altar: they killed also the lambs, and they sprinkled the blood upon the altar.\r\n And they brought forth the he goats for the sin offering before the king and the congregation; and they laid their hands upon them:\r\n And the priests killed them, and they made reconciliation with their blood upon the altar, to make an atonement for all Israel: for the king commanded that the burnt offering and the sin offering should be made for all Israel.\r\n And he set the Levites in the house of the LORD with cymbals, with psalteries, and with harps, according to the commandment of David, and of Gad the king's seer, and Nathan the prophet: for so was the commandment of the LORD by his prophets.\r\n And the Levites stood with the instruments of David, and the priests with the trumpets.\r\n And Hezekiah commanded to offer the burnt offering upon the altar. And when the burnt offering began, the song of the LORD began also with the trumpets, and with the instruments ordained by David king of Israel.\r\n And all the congregation worshipped, and the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded: and all this continued until the burnt offering was finished.\r\n And when they had made an end of offering, the king and all that were present with him bowed themselves, and worshipped.\r\n Moreover Hezekiah the king and the princes commanded the Levites to sing praise unto the LORD with the words of David, and of Asaph the seer. And they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed their heads and worshipped.\r\n Then Hezekiah answered and said, Now ye have consecrated yourselves unto the LORD, come near and bring sacrifices and thank offerings into the house of the LORD. And the congregation brought in sacrifices and thank offerings; and as many as were of a free heart burnt offerings.\r\n And the number of the burnt offerings, which the congregation brought, was threescore and ten bullocks, an hundred rams, and two hundred lambs: all these were for a burnt offering to the LORD.\r\n And the consecrated things were six hundred oxen and three thousand sheep.\r\n But the priests were too few, so that they could not flay all the burnt offerings: wherefore their brethren the Levites did help them, till the work was ended, and until the other priests had sanctified themselves: for the Levites were more upright in heart to sanctify themselves than the priests.\r\n And also the burnt offerings were in abundance, with the fat of the peace offerings, and the drink offerings for every burnt offering. So the service of the house of the LORD was set in order.\r\n And Hezekiah rejoiced, and all the people, that God had prepared the people: for the thing was done suddenly.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, to keep the passover unto the LORD God of Israel.\r\n For the king had taken counsel, and his princes, and all the congregation in Jerusalem, to keep the passover in the second month.\r\n For they could not keep it at that time, because the priests had not sanctified themselves sufficiently, neither had the people gathered themselves together to Jerusalem.\r\n And the thing pleased the king and all the congregation.\r\n So they established a decree to make proclamation throughout all Israel, from Beersheba even to Dan, that they should come to keep the passover unto the LORD God of Israel at Jerusalem: for they had not done it of a long time in such sort as it was written.\r\n So the posts went with the letters from the king and his princes throughout all Israel and Judah, and according to the commandment of the king, saying, Ye children of Israel, turn again unto the LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, and he will return to the remnant of you, that are escaped out of the hand of the kings of Assyria.\r\n And be not ye like your fathers, and like your brethren, which trespassed against the LORD God of their fathers, who therefore gave them up to desolation, as ye see.\r\n Now be ye not stiffnecked, as your fathers were, but yield yourselves unto the LORD, and enter into his sanctuary, which he hath sanctified for ever: and serve the LORD your God, that the fierceness of his wrath may turn away from you.\r\n For if ye turn again unto the LORD, your brethren and your children shall find compassion before them that lead them captive, so that they shall come again into this land: for the LORD your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if ye return unto him.\r\n So the posts passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh even unto Zebulun: but they laughed them to scorn, and mocked them.\r\n Nevertheless divers of Asher and Manasseh and of Zebulun humbled themselves, and came to Jerusalem.\r\n Also in Judah the hand of God was to give them one heart to do the commandment of the king and of the princes, by the word of the LORD.\r\n And there assembled at Jerusalem much people to keep the feast of unleavened bread in the second month, a very great congregation.\r\n And they arose and took away the altars that were in Jerusalem, and all the altars for incense took they away, and cast them into the brook Kidron.\r\n Then they killed the passover on the fourteenth day of the second month: and the priests and the Levites were ashamed, and sanctified themselves, and brought in the burnt offerings into the house of the LORD.\r\n And they stood in their place after their manner, according to the law of Moses the man of God: the priests sprinkled the blood, which they received of the hand of the Levites.\r\n For there were many in the congregation that were not sanctified: therefore the Levites had the charge of the killing of the passovers for every one that was not clean, to sanctify them unto the LORD.\r\n For a multitude of the people, even many of Ephraim, and Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet did they eat the passover otherwise than it was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, The good LORD pardon every one\r\n That prepareth his heart to seek God, the LORD God of his fathers, though he be not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary.\r\n And the LORD hearkened to Hezekiah, and healed the people.\r\n And the children of Israel that were present at Jerusalem kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with great gladness: and the Levites and the priests praised the LORD day by day, singing with loud instruments unto the LORD.\r\n And Hezekiah spake comfortably unto all the Levites that taught the good knowledge of the LORD: and they did eat throughout the feast seven days, offering peace offerings, and making confession to the LORD God of their fathers.\r\n And the whole assembly took counsel to keep other seven days: and they kept other seven days with gladness.\r\n For Hezekiah king of Judah did give to the congregation a thousand bullocks and seven thousand sheep; and the princes gave to the congregation a thousand bullocks and ten thousand sheep: and a great number of priests sanctified themselves.\r\n And all the congregation of Judah, with the priests and the Levites, and all the congregation that came out of Israel, and the strangers that came out of the land of Israel, and that dwelt in Judah, rejoiced.\r\n So there was great joy in Jerusalem: for since the time of Solomon the son of David king of Israel there was not the like in Jerusalem.\r\n Then the priests the Levites arose and blessed the people: and their voice was heard, and their prayer came up to his holy dwelling place, even unto heaven.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now when all this was finished, all Israel that were present went out to the cities of Judah, and brake the images in pieces, and cut down the groves, and threw down the high places and the altars out of all Judah and Benjamin, in Ephraim also and Manasseh, until they had utterly destroyed them all. Then all the children of Israel returned, every man to his possession, into their own cities.\r\n And Hezekiah appointed the courses of the priests and the Levites after their courses, every man according to his service, the priests and Levites for burnt offerings and for peace offerings, to minister, and to give thanks, and to praise in the gates of the tents of the LORD.\r\n He appointed also the king's portion of his substance for the burnt offerings, to wit, for the morning and evening burnt offerings, and the burnt offerings for the sabbaths, and for the new moons, and for the set feasts, as it is written in the law of the LORD.\r\n Moreover he commanded the people that dwelt in Jerusalem to give the portion of the priests and the Levites, that they might be encouraged in the law of the LORD.\r\n And as soon as the commandment came abroad, the children of Israel brought in abundance the firstfruits of corn, wine, and oil, and honey, and of all the increase of the field; and the tithe of all things brought they in abundantly.\r\n And concerning the children of Israel and Judah, that dwelt in the cities of Judah, they also brought in the tithe of oxen and sheep, and the tithe of holy things which were consecrated unto the LORD their God, and laid them by heaps.\r\n In the third month they began to lay the foundation of the heaps, and finished them in the seventh month.\r\n And when Hezekiah and the princes came and saw the heaps, they blessed the LORD, and his people Israel.\r\n Then Hezekiah questioned with the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps.\r\n And Azariah the chief priest of the house of Zadok answered him, and said, Since the people began to bring the offerings into the house of the LORD, we have had enough to eat, and have left plenty: for the LORD hath blessed his people; and that which is left is this great store.\r\n Then Hezekiah commanded to prepare chambers in the house of the LORD; and they prepared them,\r\n And brought in the offerings and the tithes and the dedicated things faithfully: over which Cononiah the Levite was ruler, and Shimei his brother was the next.\r\n And Jehiel, and Azaziah, and Nahath, and Asahel, and Jerimoth, and Jozabad, and Eliel, and Ismachiah, and Mahath, and Benaiah, were overseers under the hand of Cononiah and Shimei his brother, at the commandment of Hezekiah the king, and Azariah the ruler of the house of God.\r\n And Kore the son of Imnah the Levite, the porter toward the east, was over the freewill offerings of God, to distribute the oblations of the LORD, and the most holy things.\r\n And next him were Eden, and Miniamin, and Jeshua, and Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah, in the cities of the priests, in their set office, to give to their brethren by courses, as well to the great as to the small:\r\n Beside their genealogy of males, from three years old and upward, even unto every one that entereth into the house of the LORD, his daily portion for their service in their charges according to their courses;\r\n Both to the genealogy of the priests by the house of their fathers, and the Levites from twenty years old and upward, in their charges by their courses;\r\n And to the genealogy of all their little ones, their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, through all the congregation: for in their set office they sanctified themselves in holiness:\r\n Also of the sons of Aaron the priests, which were in the fields of the suburbs of their cities, in every several city, the men that were expressed by name, to give portions to all the males among the priests, and to all that were reckoned by genealogies among the Levites.\r\n And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah, and wrought that which was good and right and truth before the LORD his God.\r\n And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered.\r\n \r\n \r\n After these things, and the establishment thereof, Sennacherib king of Assyria came, and entered into Judah, and encamped against the fenced cities, and thought to win them for himself.\r\n And when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib was come, and that he was purposed to fight against Jerusalem,\r\n He took counsel with his princes and his mighty men to stop the waters of the fountains which were without the city: and they did help him.\r\n So there was gathered much people together, who stopped all the fountains, and the brook that ran through the midst of the land, saying, Why should the kings of Assyria come, and find much water?\r\n Also he strengthened himself, and built up all the wall that was broken, and raised it up to the towers, and another wall without, and repaired Millo in the city of David, and made darts and shields in abundance.\r\n And he set captains of war over the people, and gathered them together to him in the street of the gate of the city, and spake comfortably to them, saying,\r\n Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more with us than with him:\r\n With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.\r\n After this did Sennacherib king of Assyria send his servants to Jerusalem, (but he himself laid siege against Lachish, and all his power with him,) unto Hezekiah king of Judah, and unto all Judah that were at Jerusalem, saying,\r\n Thus saith Sennacherib king of Assyria, Whereon do ye trust, that ye abide in the siege in Jerusalem?\r\n Doth not Hezekiah persuade you to give over yourselves to die by famine and by thirst, saying, The LORD our God shall deliver us out of the hand of the king of Assyria?\r\n Hath not the same Hezekiah taken away his high places and his altars, and commanded Judah and Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall worship before one altar, and burn incense upon it?\r\n Know ye not what I and my fathers have done unto all the people of other lands? were the gods of the nations of those lands any ways able to deliver their lands out of mine hand?\r\n Who was there among all the gods of those nations that my fathers utterly destroyed, that could deliver his people out of mine hand, that your God should be able to deliver you out of mine hand?\r\n Now therefore let not Hezekiah deceive you, nor persuade you on this manner, neither yet believe him: for no god of any nation or kingdom was able to deliver his people out of mine hand, and out of the hand of my fathers: how much less shall your God deliver you out of mine hand?\r\n And his servants spake yet more against the LORD God, and against his servant Hezekiah.\r\n He wrote also letters to rail on the LORD God of Israel, and to speak against him, saying, As the gods of the nations of other lands have not delivered their people out of mine hand, so shall not the God of Hezekiah deliver his people out of mine hand.\r\n Then they cried with a loud voice in the Jews' speech unto the people of Jerusalem that were on the wall, to affright them, and to trouble them; that they might take the city.\r\n And they spake against the God of Jerusalem, as against the gods of the people of the earth, which were the work of the hands of man.\r\n And for this cause Hezekiah the king, and the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz, prayed and cried to heaven.\r\n And the LORD sent an angel, which cut off all the mighty men of valour, and the leaders and captains in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he was come into the house of his god, they that came forth of his own bowels slew him there with the sword.\r\n Thus the LORD saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria, and from the hand of all other, and guided them on every side.\r\n And many brought gifts unto the LORD to Jerusalem, and presents to Hezekiah king of Judah: so that he was magnified in the sight of all nations from thenceforth.\r\n In those days Hezekiah was sick to the death, and prayed unto the LORD: and he spake unto him, and he gave him a sign.\r\n But Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit done unto him; for his heart was lifted up: therefore there was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem.\r\n Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the LORD came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah.\r\n And Hezekiah had exceeding much riches and honour: and he made himself treasuries for silver, and for gold, and for precious stones, and for spices, and for shields, and for all manner of pleasant jewels;\r\n Storehouses also for the increase of corn, and wine, and oil; and stalls for all manner of beasts, and cotes for flocks.\r\n Moreover he provided him cities, and possessions of flocks and herds in abundance: for God had given him substance very much.\r\n This same Hezekiah also stopped the upper watercourse of Gihon, and brought it straight down to the west side of the city of David. And Hezekiah prospered in all his works.\r\n Howbeit in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to enquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him, to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart.\r\n Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and his goodness, behold, they are written in the vision of Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, and in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.\r\n And Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the chiefest of the sepulchres of the sons of David: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did him honour at his death. And Manasseh his son reigned in his stead.\r\n \r\n \r\n Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem:\r\n But did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, like unto the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel.\r\n For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down, and he reared up altars for Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them.\r\n Also he built altars in the house of the LORD, whereof the LORD had said, In Jerusalem shall my name be for ever.\r\n And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD.\r\n And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.\r\n And he set a carved image, the idol which he had made, in the house of God, of which God had said to David and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen before all the tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever:\r\n Neither will I any more remove the foot of Israel from out of the land which I have appointed for your fathers; so that they will take heed to do all that I have commanded them, according to the whole law and the statutes and the ordinances by the hand of Moses.\r\n So Manasseh made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to err, and to do worse than the heathen, whom the LORD had destroyed before the children of Israel.\r\n And the LORD spake to Manasseh, and to his people: but they would not hearken.\r\n Wherefore the LORD brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, which took Manasseh among the thorns, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon.\r\n And when he was in affliction, he besought the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers,\r\n And prayed unto him: and he was intreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD he was God.\r\n Now after this he built a wall without the city of David, on the west side of Gihon, in the valley, even to the entering in at the fish gate, and compassed about Ophel, and raised it up a very great height, and put captains of war in all the fenced cities of Judah.\r\n And he took away the strange gods, and the idol out of the house of the LORD, and all the altars that he had built in the mount of the house of the LORD, and in Jerusalem, and cast them out of the city.\r\n And he repaired the altar of the LORD, and sacrificed thereon peace offerings and thank offerings, and commanded Judah to serve the LORD God of Israel.\r\n Nevertheless the people did sacrifice still in the high places, yet unto the LORD their God only.\r\n Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and his prayer unto his God, and the words of the seers that spake to him in the name of the LORD God of Israel, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel.\r\n His prayer also, and how God was intreated of him, and all his sin, and his trespass, and the places wherein he built high places, and set up groves and graven images, before he was humbled: behold, they are written among the sayings of the seers.\r\n So Manasseh slept with his fathers, and they buried him in his own house: and Amon his son reigned in his stead.\r\n Amon was two and twenty years old when he began to reign, and reigned two years in Jerusalem.\r\n But he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, as did Manasseh his father: for Amon sacrificed unto all the carved images which Manasseh his father had made, and served them;\r\n And humbled not himself before the LORD, as Manasseh his father had humbled himself; but Amon trespassed more and more.\r\n And his servants conspired against him, and slew him in his own house.\r\n But the people of the land slew all them that had conspired against king Amon; and the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his stead.\r\n \r\n \r\n Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem one and thirty years.\r\n And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the ways of David his father, and declined neither to the right hand, nor to the left.\r\n For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet young, he began to seek after the God of David his father: and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places, and the groves, and the carved images, and the molten images.\r\n And they brake down the altars of Baalim in his presence; and the images, that were on high above them, he cut down; and the groves, and the carved images, and the molten images, he brake in pieces, and made dust of them, and strowed it upon the graves of them that had sacrificed unto them.\r\n And he burnt the bones of the priests upon their altars, and cleansed Judah and Jerusalem.\r\n And so did he in the cities of Manasseh, and Ephraim, and Simeon, even unto Naphtali, with their mattocks round about.\r\n And when he had broken down the altars and the groves, and had beaten the graven images into powder, and cut down all the idols throughout all the land of Israel, he returned to Jerusalem.\r\n Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, when he had purged the land, and the house, he sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, and Maaseiah the governor of the city, and Joah the son of Joahaz the recorder, to repair the house of the LORD his God.\r\n And when they came to Hilkiah the high priest, they delivered the money that was brought into the house of God, which the Levites that kept the doors had gathered of the hand of Manasseh and Ephraim, and of all the remnant of Israel, and of all Judah and Benjamin; and they returned to Jerusalem.\r\n And they put it in the hand of the workmen that had the oversight of the house of the LORD, and they gave it to the workmen that wrought in the house of the LORD, to repair and amend the house:\r\n Even to the artificers and builders gave they it, to buy hewn stone, and timber for couplings, and to floor the houses which the kings of Judah had destroyed.\r\n And the men did the work faithfully: and the overseers of them were Jahath and Obadiah, the Levites, of the sons of Merari; and Zechariah and Meshullam, of the sons of the Kohathites, to set it forward; and other of the Levites, all that could skill of instruments of musick.\r\n Also they were over the bearers of burdens, and were overseers of all that wrought the work in any manner of service: and of the Levites there were scribes, and officers, and porters.\r\n And when they brought out the money that was brought into the house of the LORD, Hilkiah the priest found a book of the law of the LORD given by Moses.\r\n And Hilkiah answered and said to Shaphan the scribe, I have found the book of the law in the house of the LORD. And Hilkiah delivered the book to Shaphan.\r\n And Shaphan carried the book to the king, and brought the king word back again, saying, All that was committed to thy servants, they do it.\r\n And they have gathered together the money that was found in the house of the LORD, and have delivered it into the hand of the overseers, and to the hand of the workmen.\r\n Then Shaphan the scribe told the king, saying, Hilkiah the priest hath given me a book. And Shaphan read it before the king.\r\n And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the law, that he rent his clothes.\r\n And the king commanded Hilkiah, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Abdon the son of Micah, and Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah a servant of the king's, saying,\r\n Go, enquire of the LORD for me, and for them that are left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book that is found: for great is the wrath of the LORD that is poured out upon us, because our fathers have not kept the word of the LORD, to do after all that is written in this book.\r\n And Hilkiah, and they that the king had appointed, went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvath, the son of Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe; (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the college:) and they spake to her to that effect.\r\n And she answered them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Tell ye the man that sent you to me,\r\n Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof, even all the curses that are written in the book which they have read before the king of Judah:\r\n Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore my wrath shall be poured out upon this place, and shall not be quenched.\r\n And as for the king of Judah, who sent you to enquire of the LORD, so shall ye say unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel concerning the words which thou hast heard;\r\n Because thine heart was tender, and thou didst humble thyself before God, when thou heardest his words against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, and humbledst thyself before me, and didst rend thy clothes, and weep before me; I have even heard thee also, saith the LORD.\r\n Behold, I will gather thee to thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered to thy grave in peace, neither shall thine eyes see all the evil that I will bring upon this place, and upon the inhabitants of the same. So they brought the king word again.\r\n Then the king sent and gathered together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem.\r\n And the king went up into the house of the LORD, and all the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the priests, and the Levites, and all the people, great and small: and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant that was found in the house of the LORD.\r\n And the king stood in his place, and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep his commandments, and his testimonies, and his statutes, with all his heart, and with all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant which are written in this book.\r\n And he caused all that were present in Jerusalem and Benjamin to stand to it. And the inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of God, the God of their fathers.\r\n And Josiah took away all the abominations out of all the countries that pertained to the children of Israel, and made all that were present in Israel to serve, even to serve the LORD their God. And all his days they departed not from following the LORD, the God of their fathers.\r\n \r\n \r\n Moreover Josiah kept a passover unto the LORD in Jerusalem: and they killed the passover on the fourteenth day of the first month.\r\n And he set the priests in their charges, and encouraged them to the service of the house of the LORD,\r\n And said unto the Levites that taught all Israel, which were holy unto the LORD, Put the holy ark in the house which Solomon the son of David king of Israel did build; it shall not be a burden upon your shoulders: serve now the LORD your God, and his people Israel,\r\n And prepare yourselves by the houses of your fathers, after your courses, according to the writing of David king of Israel, and according to the writing of Solomon his son.\r\n And stand in the holy place according to the divisions of the families of the fathers of your brethren the people, and after the division of the families of the Levites.\r\n So kill the passover, and sanctify yourselves, and prepare your brethren, that they may do according to the word of the LORD by the hand of Moses.\r\n And Josiah gave to the people, of the flock, lambs and kids, all for the passover offerings, for all that were present, to the number of thirty thousand, and three thousand bullocks: these were of the king's substance.\r\n And his princes gave willingly unto the people, to the priests, and to the Levites: Hilkiah and Zechariah and Jehiel, rulers of the house of God, gave unto the priests for the passover offerings two thousand and six hundred small cattle, and three hundred oxen.\r\n Conaniah also, and Shemaiah and Nethaneel, his brethren, and Hashabiah and Jeiel and Jozabad, chief of the Levites, gave unto the Levites for passover offerings five thousand small cattle, and five hundred oxen.\r\n So the service was prepared, and the priests stood in their place, and the Levites in their courses, according to the king's commandment.\r\n And they killed the passover, and the priests sprinkled the blood from their hands, and the Levites flayed them.\r\n And they removed the burnt offerings, that they might give according to the divisions of the families of the people, to offer unto the LORD, as it is written in the book of Moses. And so did they with the oxen.\r\n And they roasted the passover with fire according to the ordinance: but the other holy offerings sod they in pots, and in caldrons, and in pans, and divided them speedily among all the people.\r\n And afterward they made ready for themselves, and for the priests: because the priests the sons of Aaron were busied in offering of burnt offerings and the fat until night; therefore the Levites prepared for themselves, and for the priests the sons of Aaron.\r\n And the singers the sons of Asaph were in their place, according to the commandment of David, and Asaph, and Heman, and Jeduthun the king's seer; and the porters waited at every gate; they might not depart from their service; for their brethren the Levites prepared for them.\r\n So all the service of the LORD was prepared the same day, to keep the passover, and to offer burnt offerings upon the altar of the LORD, according to the commandment of king Josiah.\r\n And the children of Israel that were present kept the passover at that time, and the feast of unleavened bread seven days.\r\n And there was no passover like to that kept in Israel from the days of Samuel the prophet; neither did all the kings of Israel keep such a passover as Josiah kept, and the priests, and the Levites, and all Judah and Israel that were present, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.\r\n In the eighteenth year of the reign of Josiah was this passover kept.\r\n After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Necho king of Egypt came up to fight against Carchemish by Euphrates: and Josiah went out against him.\r\n But he sent ambassadors to him, saying, What have I to do with thee, thou king of Judah? I come not against thee this day, but against the house wherewith I have war: for God commanded me to make haste: forbear thee from meddling with God, who is with me, that he destroy thee not.\r\n Nevertheless Josiah would not turn his face from him, but disguised himself, that he might fight with him, and hearkened not unto the words of Necho from the mouth of God, and came to fight in the valley of Megiddo.\r\n And the archers shot at king Josiah; and the king said to his servants, Have me away; for I am sore wounded.\r\n His servants therefore took him out of that chariot, and put him in the second chariot that he had; and they brought him to Jerusalem, and he died, and was buried in one of the sepulchres of his fathers. And all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah.\r\n And Jeremiah lamented for Josiah: and all the singing men and the singing women spake of Josiah in their lamentations to this day, and made them an ordinance in Israel: and, behold, they are written in the lamentations.\r\n Now the rest of the acts of Josiah, and his goodness, according to that which was written in the law of the LORD,\r\n And his deeds, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah, and made him king in his father's stead in Jerusalem.\r\n Jehoahaz was twenty and three years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem.\r\n And the king of Egypt put him down at Jerusalem, and condemned the land in an hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold.\r\n And the king of Egypt made Eliakim his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem, and turned his name to Jehoiakim. And Necho took Jehoahaz his brother, and carried him to Egypt.\r\n Jehoiakim was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem: and he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD his God.\r\n Against him came up Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and bound him in fetters, to carry him to Babylon.\r\n Nebuchadnezzar also carried of the vessels of the house of the LORD to Babylon, and put them in his temple at Babylon.\r\n Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, and his abominations which he did, and that which was found in him, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah: and Jehoiachin his son reigned in his stead.\r\n Jehoiachin was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem: and he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD.\r\n And when the year was expired, king Nebuchadnezzar sent, and brought him to Babylon, with the goodly vessels of the house of the LORD, and made Zedekiah his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem.\r\n Zedekiah was one and twenty years old when he began to reign, and reigned eleven years in Jerusalem.\r\n And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD his God, and humbled not himself before Jeremiah the prophet speaking from the mouth of the LORD.\r\n And he also rebelled against king Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God: but he stiffened his neck, and hardened his heart from turning unto the LORD God of Israel.\r\n Moreover all the chief of the priests, and the people, transgressed very much after all the abominations of the heathen; and polluted the house of the LORD which he had hallowed in Jerusalem.\r\n And the LORD God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place:\r\n But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till there was no remedy.\r\n Therefore he brought upon them the king of the Chaldees, who slew their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion upon young man or maiden, old man, or him that stooped for age: he gave them all into his hand.\r\n And all the vessels of the house of God, great and small, and the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king, and of his princes; all these he brought to Babylon.\r\n And they burnt the house of God, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem, and burnt all the palaces thereof with fire, and destroyed all the goodly vessels thereof.\r\n And them that had escaped from the sword carried he away to Babylon; where they were servants to him and his sons until the reign of the kingdom of Persia:\r\n To fulfil the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her sabbaths: for as long as she lay desolate she kept sabbath, to fulfil threescore and ten years.\r\n Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying,\r\n Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth hath the LORD God of heaven given me; and he hath charged me to build him an house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? The LORD his God be with him, and let him go up.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying,\r\n Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.\r\n Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem.\r\n And whosoever remaineth in any place where he sojourneth, let the men of his place help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beasts, beside the freewill offering for the house of God that is in Jerusalem.\r\n Then rose up the chief of the fathers of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests, and the Levites, with all them whose spirit God had raised, to go up to build the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem.\r\n And all they that were about them strengthened their hands with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, and with beasts, and with precious things, beside all that was willingly offered.\r\n Also Cyrus the king brought forth the vessels of the house of the LORD, which Nebuchadnezzar had brought forth out of Jerusalem, and had put them in the house of his gods;\r\n Even those did Cyrus king of Persia bring forth by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer, and numbered them unto Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah.\r\n And this is the number of them: thirty chargers of gold, a thousand chargers of silver, nine and twenty knives,\r\n Thirty basons of gold, silver basons of a second sort four hundred and ten, and other vessels a thousand.\r\n All the vessels of gold and of silver were five thousand and four hundred. All these did Sheshbazzar bring up with them of the captivity that were brought up from Babylon unto Jerusalem.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now these are the children of the province that went up out of the captivity, of those which had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away unto Babylon, and came again unto Jerusalem and Judah, every one unto his city;\r\n Which came with Zerubbabel: Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel:\r\n The children of Parosh, two thousand an hundred seventy and two.\r\n The children of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy and two.\r\n The children of Arah, seven hundred seventy and five.\r\n The children of Pahathmoab, of the children of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand eight hundred and twelve.\r\n The children of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four.\r\n The children of Zattu, nine hundred forty and five.\r\n The children of Zaccai, seven hundred and threescore.\r\n The children of Bani, six hundred forty and two.\r\n The children of Bebai, six hundred twenty and three.\r\n The children of Azgad, a thousand two hundred twenty and two.\r\n The children of Adonikam, six hundred sixty and six.\r\n The children of Bigvai, two thousand fifty and six.\r\n The children of Adin, four hundred fifty and four.\r\n The children of Ater of Hezekiah, ninety and eight.\r\n The children of Bezai, three hundred twenty and three.\r\n The children of Jorah, an hundred and twelve.\r\n The children of Hashum, two hundred twenty and three.\r\n The children of Gibbar, ninety and five.\r\n The children of Bethlehem, an hundred twenty and three.\r\n The men of Netophah, fifty and six.\r\n The men of Anathoth, an hundred twenty and eight.\r\n The children of Azmaveth, forty and two.\r\n The children of Kirjatharim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred and forty and three.\r\n The children of Ramah and Gaba, six hundred twenty and one.\r\n The men of Michmas, an hundred twenty and two.\r\n The men of Bethel and Ai, two hundred twenty and three.\r\n The children of Nebo, fifty and two.\r\n The children of Magbish, an hundred fifty and six.\r\n The children of the other Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four.\r\n The children of Harim, three hundred and twenty.\r\n The children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred twenty and five.\r\n The children of Jericho, three hundred forty and five.\r\n The children of Senaah, three thousand and six hundred and thirty.\r\n The priests: the children of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred seventy and three.\r\n The children of Immer, a thousand fifty and two.\r\n The children of Pashur, a thousand two hundred forty and seven.\r\n The children of Harim, a thousand and seventeen.\r\n The Levites: the children of Jeshua and Kadmiel, of the children of Hodaviah, seventy and four.\r\n The singers: the children of Asaph, an hundred twenty and eight.\r\n The children of the porters: the children of Shallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the children of Shobai, in all an hundred thirty and nine.\r\n The Nethinims: the children of Ziha, the children of Hasupha, the children of Tabbaoth,\r\n The children of Keros, the children of Siaha, the children of Padon,\r\n The children of Lebanah, the children of Hagabah, the children of Akkub,\r\n The children of Hagab, the children of Shalmai, the children of Hanan,\r\n The children of Giddel, the children of Gahar, the children of Reaiah,\r\n The children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda, the children of Gazzam,\r\n The children of Uzza, the children of Paseah, the children of Besai,\r\n The children of Asnah, the children of Mehunim, the children of Nephusim,\r\n The children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the children of Harhur,\r\n The children of Bazluth, the children of Mehida, the children of Harsha,\r\n The children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children of Thamah,\r\n The children of Neziah, the children of Hatipha.\r\n The children of Solomon's servants: the children of Sotai, the children of Sophereth, the children of Peruda,\r\n The children of Jaalah, the children of Darkon, the children of Giddel,\r\n The children of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth of Zebaim, the children of Ami.\r\n All the Nethinims, and the children of Solomon's servants, were three hundred ninety and two.\r\n And these were they which went up from Telmelah, Telharsa, Cherub, Addan, and Immer: but they could not shew their father's house, and their seed, whether they were of Israel:\r\n The children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda, six hundred fifty and two.\r\n And of the children of the priests: the children of Habaiah, the children of Koz, the children of Barzillai; which took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called after their name:\r\n These sought their register among those that were reckoned by genealogy, but they were not found: therefore were they, as polluted, put from the priesthood.\r\n And the Tirshatha said unto them, that they should not eat of the most holy things, till there stood up a priest with Urim and with Thummim.\r\n The whole congregation together was forty and two thousand three hundred and threescore,\r\n Beside their servants and their maids, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty and seven: and there were among them two hundred singing men and singing women.\r\n Their horses were seven hundred thirty and six; their mules, two hundred forty and five;\r\n Their camels, four hundred thirty and five; their asses, six thousand seven hundred and twenty.\r\n And some of the chief of the fathers, when they came to the house of the LORD which is at Jerusalem, offered freely for the house of God to set it up in his place:\r\n They gave after their ability unto the treasure of the work threescore and one thousand drams of gold, and five thousand pound of silver, and one hundred priests' garments.\r\n So the priests, and the Levites, and some of the people, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, dwelt in their cities, and all Israel in their cities.\r\n \r\n \r\n And when the seventh month was come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered themselves together as one man to Jerusalem.\r\n Then stood up Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and his brethren, and builded the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings thereon, as it is written in the law of Moses the man of God.\r\n And they set the altar upon his bases; for fear was upon them because of the people of those countries: and they offered burnt offerings thereon unto the LORD, even burnt offerings morning and evening.\r\n They kept also the feast of tabernacles, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt offerings by number, according to the custom, as the duty of every day required;\r\n And afterward offered the continual burnt offering, both of the new moons, and of all the set feasts of the LORD that were consecrated, and of every one that willingly offered a freewill offering unto the LORD.\r\n From the first day of the seventh month began they to offer burnt offerings unto the LORD. But the foundation of the temple of the LORD was not yet laid.\r\n They gave money also unto the masons, and to the carpenters; and meat, and drink, and oil, unto them of Zidon, and to them of Tyre, to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea of Joppa, according to the grant that they had of Cyrus king of Persia.\r\n Now in the second year of their coming unto the house of God at Jerusalem, in the second month, began Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and the remnant of their brethren the priests and the Levites, and all they that were come out of the captivity unto Jerusalem; and appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to set forward the work of the house of the LORD.\r\n Then stood Jeshua with his sons and his brethren, Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah, together, to set forward the workmen in the house of God: the sons of Henadad, with their sons and their brethren the Levites.\r\n And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise the LORD, after the ordinance of David king of Israel.\r\n And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the LORD; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid.\r\n But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy:\r\n So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity builded the temple unto the LORD God of Israel;\r\n Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and said unto them, Let us build with you: for we seek your God, as ye do; and we do sacrifice unto him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assur, which brought us up hither.\r\n But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto the LORD God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded us.\r\n Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building,\r\n And hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.\r\n And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, wrote they unto him an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.\r\n And in the days of Artaxerxes wrote Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of their companions, unto Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the writing of the letter was written in the Syrian tongue, and interpreted in the Syrian tongue.\r\n Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this sort:\r\n Then wrote Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions; the Dinaites, the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Susanchites, the Dehavites, and the Elamites,\r\n And the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Asnappar brought over, and set in the cities of Samaria, and the rest that are on this side the river, and at such a time.\r\n This is the copy of the letter that they sent unto him, even unto Artaxerxes the king; Thy servants the men on this side the river, and at such a time.\r\n Be it known unto the king, that the Jews which came up from thee to us are come unto Jerusalem, building the rebellious and the bad city, and have set up the walls thereof, and joined the foundations.\r\n Be it known now unto the king, that, if this city be builded, and the walls set up again, then will they not pay toll, tribute, and custom, and so thou shalt endamage the revenue of the kings.\r\n Now because we have maintenance from the king's palace, and it was not meet for us to see the king's dishonour, therefore have we sent and certified the king;\r\n That search may be made in the book of the records of thy fathers: so shalt thou find in the book of the records, and know that this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful unto kings and provinces, and that they have moved sedition within the same of old time: for which cause was this city destroyed.\r\n We certify the king that, if this city be builded again, and the walls thereof set up, by this means thou shalt have no portion on this side the river.\r\n Then sent the king an answer unto Rehum the chancellor, and to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their companions that dwell in Samaria, and unto the rest beyond the river, Peace, and at such a time.\r\n The letter which ye sent unto us hath been plainly read before me.\r\n And I commanded, and search hath been made, and it is found that this city of old time hath made insurrection against kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been made therein.\r\n There have been mighty kings also over Jerusalem, which have ruled over all countries beyond the river; and toll, tribute, and custom, was paid unto them.\r\n Give ye now commandment to cause these men to cease, and that this city be not builded, until another commandment shall be given from me.\r\n Take heed now that ye fail not to do this: why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings?\r\n Now when the copy of king Artaxerxes' letter was read before Rehum, and Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went up in haste to Jerusalem unto the Jews, and made them to cease by force and power.\r\n Then ceased the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem. So it ceased unto the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, even unto them.\r\n Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem: and with them were the prophets of God helping them.\r\n At the same time came to them Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shetharboznai, and their companions, and said thus unto them, Who hath commanded you to build this house, and to make up this wall?\r\n Then said we unto them after this manner, What are the names of the men that make this building?\r\n But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, that they could not cause them to cease, till the matter came to Darius: and then they returned answer by letter concerning this matter.\r\n The copy of the letter that Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shetharboznai, and his companions the Apharsachites, which were on this side the river, sent unto Darius the king:\r\n They sent a letter unto him, wherein was written thus; Unto Darius the king, all peace.\r\n Be it known unto the king, that we went into the province of Judea, to the house of the great God, which is builded with great stones, and timber is laid in the walls, and this work goeth fast on, and prospereth in their hands.\r\n Then asked we those elders, and said unto them thus, Who commanded you to build this house, and to make up these walls?\r\n We asked their names also, to certify thee, that we might write the names of the men that were the chief of them.\r\n And thus they returned us answer, saying, We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and build the house that was builded these many years ago, which a great king of Israel builded and set up.\r\n But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven unto wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house, and carried the people away into Babylon.\r\n But in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon the same king Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God.\r\n And the vessels also of gold and silver of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was in Jerusalem, and brought them into the temple of Babylon, those did Cyrus the king take out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered unto one, whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor;\r\n And said unto him, Take these vessels, go, carry them into the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be builded in his place.\r\n Then came the same Sheshbazzar, and laid the foundation of the house of God which is in Jerusalem: and since that time even until now hath it been in building, and yet it is not finished.\r\n Now therefore, if it seem good to the king, let there be search made in the king's treasure house, which is there at Babylon, whether it be so, that a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the house of the rolls, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon.\r\n And there was found at Achmetha, in the palace that is in the province of the Medes, a roll, and therein was a record thus written:\r\n In the first year of Cyrus the king the same Cyrus the king made a decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, Let the house be builded, the place where they offered sacrifices, and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid; the height thereof threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof threescore cubits;\r\n With three rows of great stones, and a row of new timber: and let the expenses be given out of the king's house:\r\n And also let the golden and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple which is at Jerusalem, and brought unto Babylon, be restored, and brought again unto the temple which is at Jerusalem, every one to his place, and place them in the house of God.\r\n Now therefore, Tatnai, governor beyond the river, Shetharboznai, and your companions the Apharsachites, which are beyond the river, be ye far from thence:\r\n Let the work of this house of God alone; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of God in his place.\r\n Moreover I make a decree what ye shall do to the elders of these Jews for the building of this house of God: that of the king's goods, even of the tribute beyond the river, forthwith expenses be given unto these men, that they be not hindered.\r\n And that which they have need of, both young bullocks, and rams, and lambs, for the burnt offerings of the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the appointment of the priests which are at Jerusalem, let it be given them day by day without fail:\r\n That they may offer sacrifices of sweet savours unto the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons.\r\n Also I have made a decree, that whosoever shall alter this word, let timber be pulled down from his house, and being set up, let him be hanged thereon; and let his house be made a dunghill for this.\r\n And the God that hath caused his name to dwell there destroy all kings and people, that shall put to their hand to alter and to destroy this house of God which is at Jerusalem. I Darius have made a decree; let it be done with speed.\r\n Then Tatnai, governor on this side the river, Shetharboznai, and their companions, according to that which Darius the king had sent, so they did speedily.\r\n And the elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they builded, and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.\r\n And this house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king.\r\n And the children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God with joy,\r\n And offered at the dedication of this house of God an hundred bullocks, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs; and for a sin offering for all Israel, twelve he goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel.\r\n And they set the priests in their divisions, and the Levites in their courses, for the service of God, which is at Jerusalem; as it is written in the book of Moses.\r\n And the children of the captivity kept the passover upon the fourteenth day of the first month.\r\n For the priests and the Levites were purified together, all of them were pure, and killed the passover for all the children of the captivity, and for their brethren the priests, and for themselves.\r\n And the children of Israel, which were come again out of captivity, and all such as had separated themselves unto them from the filthiness of the heathen of the land, to seek the LORD God of Israel, did eat,\r\n And kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy: for the LORD had made them joyful, and turned the heart of the king of Assyria unto them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,\r\n The son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub,\r\n The son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth,\r\n The son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki,\r\n The son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest:\r\n This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given: and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him.\r\n And there went up some of the children of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, unto Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.\r\n And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king.\r\n For upon the first day of the first month began he to go up from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him.\r\n For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.\r\n Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave unto Ezra the priest, the scribe, even a scribe of the words of the commandments of the LORD, and of his statutes to Israel.\r\n Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect peace, and at such a time.\r\n I make a decree, that all they of the people of Israel, and of his priests and Levites, in my realm, which are minded of their own freewill to go up to Jerusalem, go with thee.\r\n Forasmuch as thou art sent of the king, and of his seven counsellors, to enquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of thy God which is in thine hand;\r\n And to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counsellors have freely offered unto the God of Israel, whose habitation is in Jerusalem,\r\n And all the silver and gold that thou canst find in all the province of Babylon, with the freewill offering of the people, and of the priests, offering willingly for the house of their God which is in Jerusalem:\r\n That thou mayest buy speedily with this money bullocks, rams, lambs, with their meat offerings and their drink offerings, and offer them upon the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem.\r\n And whatsoever shall seem good to thee, and to thy brethren, to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, that do after the will of your God.\r\n The vessels also that are given thee for the service of the house of thy God, those deliver thou before the God of Jerusalem.\r\n And whatsoever more shall be needful for the house of thy God, which thou shalt have occasion to bestow, bestow it out of the king's treasure house.\r\n And I, even I Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all the treasurers which are beyond the river, that whatsoever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shall require of you, it be done speedily,\r\n Unto an hundred talents of silver, and to an hundred measures of wheat, and to an hundred baths of wine, and to an hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much.\r\n Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently done for the house of the God of heaven: for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons?\r\n Also we certify you, that touching any of the priests and Levites, singers, porters, Nethinims, or ministers of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose toll, tribute, or custom, upon them.\r\n And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God, that is in thine hand, set magistrates and judges, which may judge all the people that are beyond the river, all such as know the laws of thy God; and teach ye them that know them not.\r\n And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily upon him, whether it be unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.\r\n Blessed be the LORD God of our fathers, which hath put such a thing as this in the king's heart, to beautify the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem:\r\n And hath extended mercy unto me before the king, and his counsellors, and before all the king's mighty princes. And I was strengthened as the hand of the LORD my God was upon me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me.\r\n \r\n \r\n These are now the chief of their fathers, and this is the genealogy of them that went up with me from Babylon, in the reign of Artaxerxes the king.\r\n Of the sons of Phinehas; Gershom: of the sons of Ithamar; Daniel: of the sons of David; Hattush.\r\n Of the sons of Shechaniah, of the sons of Pharosh; Zechariah: and with him were reckoned by genealogy of the males an hundred and fifty.\r\n Of the sons of Pahathmoab; Elihoenai the son of Zerahiah, and with him two hundred males.\r\n Of the sons of Shechaniah; the son of Jahaziel, and with him three hundred males.\r\n Of the sons also of Adin; Ebed the son of Jonathan, and with him fifty males.\r\n And of the sons of Elam; Jeshaiah the son of Athaliah, and with him seventy males.\r\n And of the sons of Shephatiah; Zebadiah the son of Michael, and with him fourscore males.\r\n Of the sons of Joab; Obadiah the son of Jehiel, and with him two hundred and eighteen males.\r\n And of the sons of Shelomith; the son of Josiphiah, and with him an hundred and threescore males.\r\n And of the sons of Bebai; Zechariah the son of Bebai, and with him twenty and eight males.\r\n And of the sons of Azgad; Johanan the son of Hakkatan, and with him an hundred and ten males.\r\n And of the last sons of Adonikam, whose names are these, Eliphelet, Jeiel, and Shemaiah, and with them threescore males.\r\n Of the sons also of Bigvai; Uthai, and Zabbud, and with them seventy males.\r\n And I gathered them together to the river that runneth to Ahava; and there abode we in tents three days: and I viewed the people, and the priests, and found there none of the sons of Levi.\r\n Then sent I for Eliezer, for Ariel, for Shemaiah, and for Elnathan, and for Jarib, and for Elnathan, and for Nathan, and for Zechariah, and for Meshullam, chief men; also for Joiarib, and for Elnathan, men of understanding.\r\n And I sent them with commandment unto Iddo the chief at the place Casiphia, and I told them what they should say unto Iddo, and to his brethren the Nethinims, at the place Casiphia, that they should bring unto us ministers for the house of our God.\r\n And by the good hand of our God upon us they brought us a man of understanding, of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel; and Sherebiah, with his sons and his brethren, eighteen;\r\n And Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, his brethren and their sons, twenty;\r\n Also of the Nethinims, whom David and the princes had appointed for the service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty Nethinims: all of them were expressed by name.\r\n Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance.\r\n For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him.\r\n So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was intreated of us.\r\n Then I separated twelve of the chief of the priests, Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their brethren with them,\r\n And weighed unto them the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, even the offering of the house of our God, which the king, and his counsellors, and his lords, and all Israel there present, had offered:\r\n I even weighed unto their hand six hundred and fifty talents of silver, and silver vessels an hundred talents, and of gold an hundred talents;\r\n Also twenty basons of gold, of a thousand drams; and two vessels of fine copper, precious as gold.\r\n And I said unto them, Ye are holy unto the LORD; the vessels are holy also; and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering unto the LORD God of your fathers.\r\n Watch ye, and keep them, until ye weigh them before the chief of the priests and the Levites, and chief of the fathers of Israel, at Jerusalem, in the chambers of the house of the LORD.\r\n So took the priests and the Levites the weight of the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, to bring them to Jerusalem unto the house of our God.\r\n Then we departed from the river of Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go unto Jerusalem: and the hand of our God was upon us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy, and of such as lay in wait by the way.\r\n And we came to Jerusalem, and abode there three days.\r\n Now on the fourth day was the silver and the gold and the vessels weighed in the house of our God by the hand of Meremoth the son of Uriah the priest; and with him was Eleazar the son of Phinehas; and with them was Jozabad the son of Jeshua, and Noadiah the son of Binnui, Levites;\r\n By number and by weight of every one: and all the weight was written at that time.\r\n Also the children of those that had been carried away, which were come out of the captivity, offered burnt offerings unto the God of Israel, twelve bullocks for all Israel, ninety and six rams, seventy and seven lambs, twelve he goats for a sin offering: all this was a burnt offering unto the LORD.\r\n And they delivered the king's commissions unto the king's lieutenants, and to the governors on this side the river: and they furthered the people, and the house of God.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now when these things were done, the princes came to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the lands, doing according to their abominations, even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.\r\n For they have taken of their daughters for themselves, and for their sons: so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the people of those lands: yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in this trespass.\r\n And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my mantle, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down astonied.\r\n Then were assembled unto me every one that trembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of the transgression of those that had been carried away; and I sat astonied until the evening sacrifice.\r\n And at the evening sacrifice I arose up from my heaviness; and having rent my garment and my mantle, I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands unto the LORD my God,\r\n And said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God: for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens.\r\n Since the days of our fathers have we been in a great trespass unto this day; and for our iniquities have we, our kings, and our priests, been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, and to a spoil, and to confusion of face, as it is this day.\r\n And now for a little space grace hath been shewed from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage.\r\n For we were bondmen; yet our God hath not forsaken us in our bondage, but hath extended mercy unto us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving, to set up the house of our God, and to repair the desolations thereof, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem.\r\n And now, O our God, what shall we say after this? for we have forsaken thy commandments,\r\n Which thou hast commanded by thy servants the prophets, saying, The land, unto which ye go to possess it, is an unclean land with the filthiness of the people of the lands, with their abominations, which have filled it from one end to another with their uncleanness.\r\n Now therefore give not your daughters unto their sons, neither take their daughters unto your sons, nor seek their peace or their wealth for ever: that ye may be strong, and eat the good of the land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children for ever.\r\n And after all that is come upon us for our evil deeds, and for our great trespass, seeing that thou our God hast punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and hast given us such deliverance as this;\r\n Should we again break thy commandments, and join in affinity with the people of these abominations? wouldest not thou be angry with us till thou hadst consumed us, so that there should be no remnant nor escaping?\r\n O LORD God of Israel, thou art righteous: for we remain yet escaped, as it is this day: behold, we are before thee in our trespasses: for we cannot stand before thee because of this.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now when Ezra had prayed, and when he had confessed, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, there assembled unto him out of Israel a very great congregation of men and women and children: for the people wept very sore.\r\n And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered and said unto Ezra, We have trespassed against our God, and have taken strange wives of the people of the land: yet now there is hope in Israel concerning this thing.\r\n Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the wives, and such as are born of them, according to the counsel of my lord, and of those that tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the law.\r\n Arise; for this matter belongeth unto thee: we also will be with thee: be of good courage, and do it.\r\n Then arose Ezra, and made the chief priests, the Levites, and all Israel, to swear that they should do according to this word. And they sware.\r\n Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God, and went into the chamber of Johanan the son of Eliashib: and when he came thither, he did eat no bread, nor drink water: for he mourned because of the transgression of them that had been carried away.\r\n And they made proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem unto all the children of the captivity, that they should gather themselves together unto Jerusalem;\r\n And that whosoever would not come within three days, according to the counsel of the princes and the elders, all his substance should be forfeited, and himself separated from the congregation of those that had been carried away.\r\n Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered themselves together unto Jerusalem within three days. It was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month; and all the people sat in the street of the house of God, trembling because of this matter, and for the great rain.\r\n And Ezra the priest stood up, and said unto them, Ye have transgressed, and have taken strange wives, to increase the trespass of Israel.\r\n Now therefore make confession unto the LORD God of your fathers, and do his pleasure: and separate yourselves from the people of the land, and from the strange wives.\r\n Then all the congregation answered and said with a loud voice, As thou hast said, so must we do.\r\n But the people are many, and it is a time of much rain, and we are not able to stand without, neither is this a work of one day or two: for we are many that have transgressed in this thing.\r\n Let now our rulers of all the congregation stand, and let all them which have taken strange wives in our cities come at appointed times, and with them the elders of every city, and the judges thereof, until the fierce wrath of our God for this matter be turned from us.\r\n Only Jonathan the son of Asahel and Jahaziah the son of Tikvah were employed about this matter: and Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite helped them.\r\n And the children of the captivity did so. And Ezra the priest, with certain chief of the fathers, after the house of their fathers, and all of them by their names, were separated, and sat down in the first day of the tenth month to examine the matter.\r\n And they made an end with all the men that had taken strange wives by the first day of the first month.\r\n And among the sons of the priests there were found that had taken strange wives: namely, of the sons of Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren; Maaseiah, and Eliezer, and Jarib, and Gedaliah.\r\n And they gave their hands that they would put away their wives; and being guilty, they offered a ram of the flock for their trespass.\r\n And of the sons of Immer; Hanani, and Zebadiah.\r\n And of the sons of Harim; Maaseiah, and Elijah, and Shemaiah, and Jehiel, and Uzziah.\r\n And of the sons of Pashur; Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethaneel, Jozabad, and Elasah.\r\n Also of the Levites; Jozabad, and Shimei, and Kelaiah, (the same is Kelita,) Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.\r\n Of the singers also; Eliashib: and of the porters; Shallum, and Telem, and Uri.\r\n Moreover of Israel: of the sons of Parosh; Ramiah, and Jeziah, and Malchiah, and Miamin, and Eleazar, and Malchijah, and Benaiah.\r\n And of the sons of Elam; Mattaniah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, and Abdi, and Jeremoth, and Eliah.\r\n And of the sons of Zattu; Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, and Jeremoth, and Zabad, and Aziza.\r\n Of the sons also of Bebai; Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai.\r\n And of the sons of Bani; Meshullam, Malluch, and Adaiah, Jashub, and Sheal, and Ramoth.\r\n And of the sons of Pahathmoab; Adna, and Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezaleel, and Binnui, and Manasseh.\r\n And of the sons of Harim; Eliezer, Ishijah, Malchiah, Shemaiah, Shimeon,\r\n Benjamin, Malluch, and Shemariah.\r\n Of the sons of Hashum; Mattenai, Mattathah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei.\r\n Of the sons of Bani; Maadai, Amram, and Uel,\r\n Benaiah, Bedeiah, Chelluh,\r\n Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib,\r\n Mattaniah, Mattenai, and Jaasau,\r\n And Bani, and Binnui, Shimei,\r\n And Shelemiah, and Nathan, and Adaiah,\r\n Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai,\r\n Azareel, and Shelemiah, Shemariah,\r\n Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph.\r\n Of the sons of Nebo; Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jadau, and Joel, Benaiah.\r\n All these had taken strange wives: and some of them had wives by whom they had children.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in the month Chisleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace,\r\n That Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.\r\n And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire.\r\n And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,\r\n And said, I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments:\r\n Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father's house have sinned.\r\n We have dealt very corruptly against thee, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the judgments, which thou commandedst thy servant Moses.\r\n Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst thy servant Moses, saying, If ye transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations:\r\n But if ye turn unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them; though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven, yet will I gather them from thence, and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set my name there.\r\n Now these are thy servants and thy people, whom thou hast redeemed by thy great power, and by thy strong hand.\r\n O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king's cupbearer.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that wine was before him: and I took up the wine, and gave it unto the king. Now I had not been beforetime sad in his presence.\r\n Wherefore the king said unto me, Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? this is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was very sore afraid,\r\n And said unto the king, Let the king live for ever: why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' sepulchres, lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire?\r\n Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven.\r\n And I said unto the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favour in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers' sepulchres, that I may build it.\r\n And the king said unto me, (the queen also sitting by him,) For how long shall thy journey be? and when wilt thou return? So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time.\r\n Moreover I said unto the king, If it please the king, let letters be given me to the governors beyond the river, that they may convey me over till I come into Judah;\r\n And a letter unto Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the palace which appertained to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall enter into. And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me.\r\n Then I came to the governors beyond the river, and gave them the king's letters. Now the king had sent captains of the army and horsemen with me.\r\n When Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly that there was come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel.\r\n So I came to Jerusalem, and was there three days.\r\n And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me; neither told I any man what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem: neither was there any beast with me, save the beast that I rode upon.\r\n And I went out by night by the gate of the valley, even before the dragon well, and to the dung port, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem, which were broken down, and the gates thereof were consumed with fire.\r\n Then I went on to the gate of the fountain, and to the king's pool: but there was no place for the beast that was under me to pass.\r\n Then went I up in the night by the brook, and viewed the wall, and turned back, and entered by the gate of the valley, and so returned.\r\n And the rulers knew not whither I went, or what I did; neither had I as yet told it to the Jews, nor to the priests, nor to the nobles, nor to the rulers, nor to the rest that did the work.\r\n Then said I unto them, Ye see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach.\r\n Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king's words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work.\r\n But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king?\r\n Then answered I them, and said unto them, The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build: but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brethren the priests, and they builded the sheep gate; they sanctified it, and set up the doors of it; even unto the tower of Meah they sanctified it, unto the tower of Hananeel.\r\n And next unto him builded the men of Jericho. And next to them builded Zaccur the son of Imri.\r\n But the fish gate did the sons of Hassenaah build, who also laid the beams thereof, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof.\r\n And next unto them repaired Meremoth the son of Urijah, the son of Koz. And next unto them repaired Meshullam the son of Berechiah, the son of Meshezabeel. And next unto them repaired Zadok the son of Baana.\r\n And next unto them the Tekoites repaired; but their nobles put not their necks to the work of their Lord.\r\n Moreover the old gate repaired Jehoiada the son of Paseah, and Meshullam the son of Besodeiah; they laid the beams thereof, and set up the doors thereof, and the locks thereof, and the bars thereof.\r\n And next unto them repaired Melatiah the Gibeonite, and Jadon the Meronothite, the men of Gibeon, and of Mizpah, unto the throne of the governor on this side the river.\r\n Next unto him repaired Uzziel the son of Harhaiah, of the goldsmiths. Next unto him also repaired Hananiah the son of one of the apothecaries, and they fortified Jerusalem unto the broad wall.\r\n And next unto them repaired Rephaiah the son of Hur, the ruler of the half part of Jerusalem.\r\n And next unto them repaired Jedaiah the son of Harumaph, even over against his house. And next unto him repaired Hattush the son of Hashabniah.\r\n Malchijah the son of Harim, and Hashub the son of Pahathmoab, repaired the other piece, and the tower of the furnaces.\r\n And next unto him repaired Shallum the son of Halohesh, the ruler of the half part of Jerusalem, he and his daughters.\r\n The valley gate repaired Hanun, and the inhabitants of Zanoah; they built it, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof, and a thousand cubits on the wall unto the dung gate.\r\n But the dung gate repaired Malchiah the son of Rechab, the ruler of part of Bethhaccerem; he built it, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof.\r\n But the gate of the fountain repaired Shallun the son of Colhozeh, the ruler of part of Mizpah; he built it, and covered it, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof, and the wall of the pool of Siloah by the king's garden, and unto the stairs that go down from the city of David.\r\n After him repaired Nehemiah the son of Azbuk, the ruler of the half part of Bethzur, unto the place over against the sepulchres of David, and to the pool that was made, and unto the house of the mighty.\r\n After him repaired the Levites, Rehum the son of Bani. Next unto him repaired Hashabiah, the ruler of the half part of Keilah, in his part.\r\n After him repaired their brethren, Bavai the son of Henadad, the ruler of the half part of Keilah.\r\n And next to him repaired Ezer the son of Jeshua, the ruler of Mizpah, another piece over against the going up to the armoury at the turning of the wall.\r\n After him Baruch the son of Zabbai earnestly repaired the other piece, from the turning of the wall unto the door of the house of Eliashib the high priest.\r\n After him repaired Meremoth the son of Urijah the son of Koz another piece, from the door of the house of Eliashib even to the end of the house of Eliashib.\r\n And after him repaired the priests, the men of the plain.\r\n After him repaired Benjamin and Hashub over against their house. After him repaired Azariah the son of Maaseiah the son of Ananiah by his house.\r\n After him repaired Binnui the son of Henadad another piece, from the house of Azariah unto the turning of the wall, even unto the corner.\r\n Palal the son of Uzai, over against the turning of the wall, and the tower which lieth out from the king's high house, that was by the court of the prison. After him Pedaiah the son of Parosh.\r\n Moreover the Nethinims dwelt in Ophel, unto the place over against the water gate toward the east, and the tower that lieth out.\r\n After them the Tekoites repaired another piece, over against the great tower that lieth out, even unto the wall of Ophel.\r\n From above the horse gate repaired the priests, every one over against his house.\r\n After them repaired Zadok the son of Immer over against his house. After him repaired also Shemaiah the son of Shechaniah, the keeper of the east gate.\r\n After him repaired Hananiah the son of Shelemiah, and Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph, another piece. After him repaired Meshullam the son of Berechiah over against his chamber.\r\n After him repaired Malchiah the goldsmith's son unto the place of the Nethinims, and of the merchants, over against the gate Miphkad, and to the going up of the corner.\r\n And between the going up of the corner unto the sheep gate repaired the goldsmiths and the merchants.\r\n \r\n \r\n But it came to pass, that when Sanballat heard that we builded the wall, he was wroth, and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews.\r\n And he spake before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, What do these feeble Jews? will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice? will they make an end in a day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned?\r\n Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall.\r\n Hear, O our God; for we are despised: and turn their reproach upon their own head, and give them for a prey in the land of captivity:\r\n And cover not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from before thee: for they have provoked thee to anger before the builders.\r\n So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work.\r\n But it came to pass, that when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up, and that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth,\r\n And conspired all of them together to come and to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it.\r\n Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.\r\n And Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and there is much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall.\r\n And our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, till we come in the midst among them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease.\r\n And it came to pass, that when the Jews which dwelt by them came, they said unto us ten times, From all places whence ye shall return unto us they will be upon you.\r\n Therefore set I in the lower places behind the wall, and on the higher places, I even set the people after their families with their swords, their spears, and their bows.\r\n And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, which is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.\r\n And it came to pass, when our enemies heard that it was known unto us, and God had brought their counsel to nought, that we returned all of us to the wall, every one unto his work.\r\n And it came to pass from that time forth, that the half of my servants wrought in the work, and the other half of them held both the spears, the shields, and the bows, and the habergeons; and the rulers were behind all the house of Judah.\r\n They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon.\r\n For the builders, every one had his sword girded by his side, and so builded. And he that sounded the trumpet was by me.\r\n And I said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, The work is great and large, and we are separated upon the wall, one far from another.\r\n In what place therefore ye hear the sound of the trumpet, resort ye thither unto us: our God shall fight for us.\r\n So we laboured in the work: and half of them held the spears from the rising of the morning till the stars appeared.\r\n Likewise at the same time said I unto the people, Let every one with his servant lodge within Jerusalem, that in the night they may be a guard to us, and labour on the day.\r\n So neither I, nor my brethren, nor my servants, nor the men of the guard which followed me, none of us put off our clothes, saving that every one put them off for washing.\r\n \r\n \r\n And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews.\r\n For there were that said, We, our sons, and our daughters, are many: therefore we take up corn for them, that we may eat, and live.\r\n Some also there were that said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn, because of the dearth.\r\n There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king's tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards.\r\n Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children: and, lo, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters are brought unto bondage already: neither is it in our power to redeem them; for other men have our lands and vineyards.\r\n And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.\r\n Then I consulted with myself, and I rebuked the nobles, and the rulers, and said unto them, Ye exact usury, every one of his brother. And I set a great assembly against them.\r\n And I said unto them, We after our ability have redeemed our brethren the Jews, which were sold unto the heathen; and will ye even sell your brethren? or shall they be sold unto us? Then held they their peace, and found nothing to answer.\r\n Also I said, It is not good that ye do: ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies?\r\n I likewise, and my brethren, and my servants, might exact of them money and corn: I pray you, let us leave off this usury.\r\n Restore, I pray you, to them, even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their oliveyards, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money, and of the corn, the wine, and the oil, that ye exact of them.\r\n Then said they, We will restore them, and will require nothing of them; so will we do as thou sayest. Then I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they should do according to this promise.\r\n Also I shook my lap, and said, So God shake out every man from his house, and from his labour, that performeth not this promise, even thus be he shaken out, and emptied. And all the congregation said, Amen, and praised the LORD. And the people did according to this promise.\r\n Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even unto the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that is, twelve years, I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor.\r\n But the former governors that had been before me were chargeable unto the people, and had taken of them bread and wine, beside forty shekels of silver; yea, even their servants bare rule over the people: but so did not I, because of the fear of God.\r\n Yea, also I continued in the work of this wall, neither bought we any land: and all my servants were gathered thither unto the work.\r\n Moreover there were at my table an hundred and fifty of the Jews and rulers, beside those that came unto us from among the heathen that are about us.\r\n Now that which was prepared for me daily was one ox and six choice sheep; also fowls were prepared for me, and once in ten days store of all sorts of wine: yet for all this required not I the bread of the governor, because the bondage was heavy upon this people.\r\n Think upon me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now it came to pass, when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and Geshem the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies, heard that I had builded the wall, and that there was no breach left therein; (though at that time I had not set up the doors upon the gates;)\r\n That Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying, Come, let us meet together in some one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief.\r\n And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?\r\n Yet they sent unto me four times after this sort; and I answered them after the same manner.\r\n Then sent Sanballat his servant unto me in like manner the fifth time with an open letter in his hand;\r\n Wherein was written, It is reported among the heathen, and Gashmu saith it, that thou and the Jews think to rebel: for which cause thou buildest the wall, that thou mayest be their king, according to these words.\r\n And thou hast also appointed prophets to preach of thee at Jerusalem, saying, There is a king in Judah: and now shall it be reported to the king according to these words. Come now therefore, and let us take counsel together.\r\n Then I sent unto him, saying, There are no such things done as thou sayest, but thou feignest them out of thine own heart.\r\n For they all made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done. Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands.\r\n Afterward I came unto the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabeel, who was shut up; and he said, Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple: for they will come to slay thee; yea, in the night will they come to slay thee.\r\n And I said, Should such a man as I flee? and who is there, that, being as I am, would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in.\r\n And, lo, I perceived that God had not sent him; but that he pronounced this prophecy against me: for Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.\r\n Therefore was he hired, that I should be afraid, and do so, and sin, and that they might have matter for an evil report, that they might reproach me.\r\n My God, think thou upon Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works, and on the prophetess Noadiah, and the rest of the prophets, that would have put me in fear.\r\n So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty and two days.\r\n And it came to pass, that when all our enemies heard thereof, and all the heathen that were about us saw these things, they were much cast down in their own eyes: for they perceived that this work was wrought of our God.\r\n Moreover in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters unto Tobiah, and the letters of Tobiah came unto them.\r\n For there were many in Judah sworn unto him, because he was the son in law of Shechaniah the son of Arah; and his son Johanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah.\r\n Also they reported his good deeds before me, and uttered my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now it came to pass, when the wall was built, and I had set up the doors, and the porters and the singers and the Levites were appointed,\r\n That I gave my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the ruler of the palace, charge over Jerusalem: for he was a faithful man, and feared God above many.\r\n And I said unto them, Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun be hot; and while they stand by, let them shut the doors, and bar them: and appoint watches of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, every one in his watch, and every one to be over against his house.\r\n Now the city was large and great: but the people were few therein, and the houses were not builded.\r\n And my God put into mine heart to gather together the nobles, and the rulers, and the people, that they might be reckoned by genealogy. And I found a register of the genealogy of them which came up at the first, and found written therein,\r\n These are the children of the province, that went up out of the captivity, of those that had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away, and came again to Jerusalem and to Judah, every one unto his city;\r\n Who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, Baanah. The number, I say, of the men of the people of Israel was this;\r\n The children of Parosh, two thousand an hundred seventy and two.\r\n The children of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy and two.\r\n The children of Arah, six hundred fifty and two.\r\n The children of Pahathmoab, of the children of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand and eight hundred and eighteen.\r\n The children of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four.\r\n The children of Zattu, eight hundred forty and five.\r\n The children of Zaccai, seven hundred and threescore.\r\n The children of Binnui, six hundred forty and eight.\r\n The children of Bebai, six hundred twenty and eight.\r\n The children of Azgad, two thousand three hundred twenty and two.\r\n The children of Adonikam, six hundred threescore and seven.\r\n The children of Bigvai, two thousand threescore and seven.\r\n The children of Adin, six hundred fifty and five.\r\n The children of Ater of Hezekiah, ninety and eight.\r\n The children of Hashum, three hundred twenty and eight.\r\n The children of Bezai, three hundred twenty and four.\r\n The children of Hariph, an hundred and twelve.\r\n The children of Gibeon, ninety and five.\r\n The men of Bethlehem and Netophah, an hundred fourscore and eight.\r\n The men of Anathoth, an hundred twenty and eight.\r\n The men of Bethazmaveth, forty and two.\r\n The men of Kirjathjearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred forty and three.\r\n The men of Ramah and Geba, six hundred twenty and one.\r\n The men of Michmas, an hundred and twenty and two.\r\n The men of Bethel and Ai, an hundred twenty and three.\r\n The men of the other Nebo, fifty and two.\r\n The children of the other Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four.\r\n The children of Harim, three hundred and twenty.\r\n The children of Jericho, three hundred forty and five.\r\n The children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred twenty and one.\r\n The children of Senaah, three thousand nine hundred and thirty.\r\n The priests: the children of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred seventy and three.\r\n The children of Immer, a thousand fifty and two.\r\n The children of Pashur, a thousand two hundred forty and seven.\r\n The children of Harim, a thousand and seventeen.\r\n The Levites: the children of Jeshua, of Kadmiel, and of the children of Hodevah, seventy and four.\r\n The singers: the children of Asaph, an hundred forty and eight.\r\n The porters: the children of Shallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the children of Shobai, an hundred thirty and eight.\r\n The Nethinims: the children of Ziha, the children of Hashupha, the children of Tabbaoth,\r\n The children of Keros, the children of Sia, the children of Padon,\r\n The children of Lebana, the children of Hagaba, the children of Shalmai,\r\n The children of Hanan, the children of Giddel, the children of Gahar,\r\n The children of Reaiah, the children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda,\r\n The children of Gazzam, the children of Uzza, the children of Phaseah,\r\n The children of Besai, the children of Meunim, the children of Nephishesim,\r\n The children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the children of Harhur,\r\n The children of Bazlith, the children of Mehida, the children of Harsha,\r\n The children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children of Tamah,\r\n The children of Neziah, the children of Hatipha.\r\n The children of Solomon's servants: the children of Sotai, the children of Sophereth, the children of Perida,\r\n The children of Jaala, the children of Darkon, the children of Giddel,\r\n The children of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth of Zebaim, the children of Amon.\r\n All the Nethinims, and the children of Solomon's servants, were three hundred ninety and two.\r\n And these were they which went up also from Telmelah, Telharesha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer: but they could not shew their father's house, nor their seed, whether they were of Israel.\r\n The children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda, six hundred forty and two.\r\n And of the priests: the children of Habaiah, the children of Koz, the children of Barzillai, which took one of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite to wife, and was called after their name.\r\n These sought their register among those that were reckoned by genealogy, but it was not found: therefore were they, as polluted, put from the priesthood.\r\n And the Tirshatha said unto them, that they should not eat of the most holy things, till there stood up a priest with Urim and Thummim.\r\n The whole congregation together was forty and two thousand three hundred and threescore,\r\n Beside their manservants and their maidservants, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty and seven: and they had two hundred forty and five singing men and singing women.\r\n Their horses, seven hundred thirty and six: their mules, two hundred forty and five:\r\n Their camels, four hundred thirty and five: six thousand seven hundred and twenty asses.\r\n And some of the chief of the fathers gave unto the work. The Tirshatha gave to the treasure a thousand drams of gold, fifty basons, five hundred and thirty priests' garments.\r\n And some of the chief of the fathers gave to the treasure of the work twenty thousand drams of gold, and two thousand and two hundred pound of silver.\r\n And that which the rest of the people gave was twenty thousand drams of gold, and two thousand pound of silver, and threescore and seven priests' garments.\r\n So the priests, and the Levites, and the porters, and the singers, and some of the people, and the Nethinims, and all Israel, dwelt in their cities; and when the seventh month came, the children of Israel were in their cities.\r\n \r\n \r\n And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded to Israel.\r\n And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month.\r\n And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law.\r\n And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Urijah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchiah, and Hashum, and Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam.\r\n And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people; (for he was above all the people;) and when he opened it, all the people stood up:\r\n And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the LORD with their faces to the ground.\r\n Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law: and the people stood in their place.\r\n So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.\r\n And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law.\r\n Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.\r\n So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, Hold your peace, for the day is holy; neither be ye grieved.\r\n And all the people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared unto them.\r\n And on the second day were gathered together the chief of the fathers of all the people, the priests, and the Levites, unto Ezra the scribe, even to understand the words of the law.\r\n And they found written in the law which the LORD had commanded by Moses, that the children of Israel should dwell in booths in the feast of the seventh month:\r\n And that they should publish and proclaim in all their cities, and in Jerusalem, saying, Go forth unto the mount, and fetch olive branches, and pine branches, and myrtle branches, and palm branches, and branches of thick trees, to make booths, as it is written.\r\n So the people went forth, and brought them, and made themselves booths, every one upon the roof of his house, and in their courts, and in the courts of the house of God, and in the street of the water gate, and in the street of the gate of Ephraim.\r\n And all the congregation of them that were come again out of the captivity made booths, and sat under the booths: for since the days of Jeshua the son of Nun unto that day had not the children of Israel done so. And there was very great gladness.\r\n Also day by day, from the first day unto the last day, he read in the book of the law of God. And they kept the feast seven days; and on the eighth day was a solemn assembly, according unto the manner.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now in the twenty and fourth day of this month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, and with sackclothes, and earth upon them.\r\n And the seed of Israel separated themselves from all strangers, and stood and confessed their sins, and the iniquities of their fathers.\r\n And they stood up in their place, and read in the book of the law of the LORD their God one fourth part of the day; and another fourth part they confessed, and worshipped the LORD their God.\r\n Then stood up upon the stairs, of the Levites, Jeshua, and Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani, and cried with a loud voice unto the LORD their God.\r\n Then the Levites, Jeshua, and Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabniah, Sherebiah, Hodijah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said, Stand up and bless the LORD your God for ever and ever: and blessed be thy glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise.\r\n Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee.\r\n Thou art the LORD the God, who didst choose Abram, and broughtest him forth out of Ur of the Chaldees, and gavest him the name of Abraham;\r\n And foundest his heart faithful before thee, and madest a covenant with him to give the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Jebusites, and the Girgashites, to give it, I say, to his seed, and hast performed thy words; for thou art righteous:\r\n And didst see the affliction of our fathers in Egypt, and heardest their cry by the Red sea;\r\n And shewedst signs and wonders upon Pharaoh, and on all his servants, and on all the people of his land: for thou knewest that they dealt proudly against them. So didst thou get thee a name, as it is this day.\r\n And thou didst divide the sea before them, so that they went through the midst of the sea on the dry land; and their persecutors thou threwest into the deeps, as a stone into the mighty waters.\r\n Moreover thou leddest them in the day by a cloudy pillar; and in the night by a pillar of fire, to give them light in the way wherein they should go.\r\n Thou camest down also upon mount Sinai, and spakest with them from heaven, and gavest them right judgments, and true laws, good statutes and commandments:\r\n And madest known unto them thy holy sabbath, and commandedst them precepts, statutes, and laws, by the hand of Moses thy servant:\r\n And gavest them bread from heaven for their hunger, and broughtest forth water for them out of the rock for their thirst, and promisedst them that they should go in to possess the land which thou hadst sworn to give them.\r\n But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their necks, and hearkened not to thy commandments,\r\n And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage: but thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not.\r\n Yea, when they had made them a molten calf, and said, This is thy God that brought thee up out of Egypt, and had wrought great provocations;\r\n Yet thou in thy manifold mercies forsookest them not in the wilderness: the pillar of the cloud departed not from them by day, to lead them in the way; neither the pillar of fire by night, to shew them light, and the way wherein they should go.\r\n Thou gavest also thy good spirit to instruct them, and withheldest not thy manna from their mouth, and gavest them water for their thirst.\r\n Yea, forty years didst thou sustain them in the wilderness, so that they lacked nothing; their clothes waxed not old, and their feet swelled not.\r\n Moreover thou gavest them kingdoms and nations, and didst divide them into corners: so they possessed the land of Sihon, and the land of the king of Heshbon, and the land of Og king of Bashan.\r\n Their children also multipliedst thou as the stars of heaven, and broughtest them into the land, concerning which thou hadst promised to their fathers, that they should go in to possess it.\r\n So the children went in and possessed the land, and thou subduedst before them the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, and gavest them into their hands, with their kings, and the people of the land, that they might do with them as they would.\r\n And they took strong cities, and a fat land, and possessed houses full of all goods, wells digged, vineyards, and oliveyards, and fruit trees in abundance: so they did eat, and were filled, and became fat, and delighted themselves in thy great goodness.\r\n Nevertheless they were disobedient, and rebelled against thee, and cast thy law behind their backs, and slew thy prophets which testified against them to turn them to thee, and they wrought great provocations.\r\n Therefore thou deliveredst them into the hand of their enemies, who vexed them: and in the time of their trouble, when they cried unto thee, thou heardest them from heaven; and according to thy manifold mercies thou gavest them saviours, who saved them out of the hand of their enemies.\r\n But after they had rest, they did evil again before thee: therefore leftest thou them in the hand of their enemies, so that they had the dominion over them: yet when they returned, and cried unto thee, thou heardest them from heaven; and many times didst thou deliver them according to thy mercies;\r\n And testifiedst against them, that thou mightest bring them again unto thy law: yet they dealt proudly, and hearkened not unto thy commandments, but sinned against thy judgments, (which if a man do, he shall live in them;) and withdrew the shoulder, and hardened their neck, and would not hear.\r\n Yet many years didst thou forbear them, and testifiedst against them by thy spirit in thy prophets: yet would they not give ear: therefore gavest thou them into the hand of the people of the lands.\r\n Nevertheless for thy great mercies' sake thou didst not utterly consume them, nor forsake them; for thou art a gracious and merciful God.\r\n Now therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the terrible God, who keepest covenant and mercy, let not all the trouble seem little before thee, that hath come upon us, on our kings, on our princes, and on our priests, and on our prophets, and on our fathers, and on all thy people, since the time of the kings of Assyria unto this day.\r\n Howbeit thou art just in all that is brought upon us; for thou hast done right, but we have done wickedly:\r\n Neither have our kings, our princes, our priests, nor our fathers, kept thy law, nor hearkened unto thy commandments and thy testimonies, wherewith thou didst testify against them.\r\n For they have not served thee in their kingdom, and in thy great goodness that thou gavest them, and in the large and fat land which thou gavest before them, neither turned they from their wicked works.\r\n Behold, we are servants this day, and for the land that thou gavest unto our fathers to eat the fruit thereof and the good thereof, behold, we are servants in it:\r\n And it yieldeth much increase unto the kings whom thou hast set over us because of our sins: also they have dominion over our bodies, and over our cattle, at their pleasure, and we are in great distress.\r\n And because of all this we make a sure covenant, and write it; and our princes, Levites, and priests, seal unto it.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now those that sealed were, Nehemiah, the Tirshatha, the son of Hachaliah, and Zidkijah,\r\n Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah,\r\n Pashur, Amariah, Malchijah,\r\n Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch,\r\n Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah,\r\n Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch,\r\n Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin,\r\n Maaziah, Bilgai, Shemaiah: these were the priests.\r\n And the Levites: both Jeshua the son of Azaniah, Binnui of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel;\r\n And their brethren, Shebaniah, Hodijah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan,\r\n Micha, Rehob, Hashabiah,\r\n Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah,\r\n Hodijah, Bani, Beninu.\r\n The chief of the people; Parosh, Pahathmoab, Elam, Zatthu, Bani,\r\n Bunni, Azgad, Bebai,\r\n Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin,\r\n Ater, Hizkijah, Azzur,\r\n Hodijah, Hashum, Bezai,\r\n Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai,\r\n Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir,\r\n Meshezabeel, Zadok, Jaddua,\r\n Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah,\r\n Hoshea, Hananiah, Hashub,\r\n Hallohesh, Pileha, Shobek,\r\n Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah,\r\n And Ahijah, Hanan, Anan,\r\n Malluch, Harim, Baanah.\r\n And the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the porters, the singers, the Nethinims, and all they that had separated themselves from the people of the lands unto the law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, every one having knowledge, and having understanding;\r\n They clave to their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God's law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the LORD our Lord, and his judgments and his statutes;\r\n And that we would not give our daughters unto the people of the land, nor take their daughters for our sons:\r\n And if the people of the land bring ware or any victuals on the sabbath day to sell, that we would not buy it of them on the sabbath, or on the holy day: and that we would leave the seventh year, and the exaction of every debt.\r\n Also we made ordinances for us, to charge ourselves yearly with the third part of a shekel for the service of the house of our God;\r\n For the shewbread, and for the continual meat offering, and for the continual burnt offering, of the sabbaths, of the new moons, for the set feasts, and for the holy things, and for the sin offerings to make an atonement for Israel, and for all the work of the house of our God.\r\n And we cast the lots among the priests, the Levites, and the people, for the wood offering, to bring it into the house of our God, after the houses of our fathers, at times appointed year by year, to burn upon the altar of the LORD our God, as it is written in the law:\r\n And to bring the firstfruits of our ground, and the firstfruits of all fruit of all trees, year by year, unto the house of the LORD:\r\n Also the firstborn of our sons, and of our cattle, as it is written in the law, and the firstlings of our herds and of our flocks, to bring to the house of our God, unto the priests that minister in the house of our God:\r\n And that we should bring the firstfruits of our dough, and our offerings, and the fruit of all manner of trees, of wine and of oil, unto the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God; and the tithes of our ground unto the Levites, that the same Levites might have the tithes in all the cities of our tillage.\r\n And the priest the son of Aaron shall be with the Levites, when the Levites take tithes: and the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes unto the house of our God, to the chambers, into the treasure house.\r\n For the children of Israel and the children of Levi shall bring the offering of the corn, of the new wine, and the oil, unto the chambers, where are the vessels of the sanctuary, and the priests that minister, and the porters, and the singers: and we will not forsake the house of our God.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the rulers of the people dwelt at Jerusalem: the rest of the people also cast lots, to bring one of ten to dwell in Jerusalem the holy city, and nine parts to dwell in other cities.\r\n And the people blessed all the men, that willingly offered themselves to dwell at Jerusalem.\r\n Now these are the chief of the province that dwelt in Jerusalem: but in the cities of Judah dwelt every one in his possession in their cities, to wit, Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the Nethinims, and the children of Solomon's servants.\r\n And at Jerusalem dwelt certain of the children of Judah, and of the children of Benjamin. Of the children of Judah; Athaiah the son of Uzziah, the son of Zechariah, the son of Amariah, the son of Shephatiah, the son of Mahalaleel, of the children of Perez;\r\n And Maaseiah the son of Baruch, the son of Colhozeh, the son of Hazaiah, the son of Adaiah, the son of Joiarib, the son of Zechariah, the son of Shiloni.\r\n All the sons of Perez that dwelt at Jerusalem were four hundred threescore and eight valiant men.\r\n And these are the sons of Benjamin; Sallu the son of Meshullam, the son of Joed, the son of Pedaiah, the son of Kolaiah, the son of Maaseiah, the son of Ithiel, the son of Jesaiah.\r\n And after him Gabbai, Sallai, nine hundred twenty and eight.\r\n And Joel the son of Zichri was their overseer: and Judah the son of Senuah was second over the city.\r\n Of the priests: Jedaiah the son of Joiarib, Jachin.\r\n Seraiah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, was the ruler of the house of God.\r\n And their brethren that did the work of the house were eight hundred twenty and two: and Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son of Pelaliah, the son of Amzi, the son of Zechariah, the son of Pashur, the son of Malchiah,\r\n And his brethren, chief of the fathers, two hundred forty and two: and Amashai the son of Azareel, the son of Ahasai, the son of Meshillemoth, the son of Immer,\r\n And their brethren, mighty men of valour, an hundred twenty and eight: and their overseer was Zabdiel, the son of one of the great men.\r\n Also of the Levites: Shemaiah the son of Hashub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Bunni;\r\n And Shabbethai and Jozabad, of the chief of the Levites, had the oversight of the outward business of the house of God.\r\n And Mattaniah the son of Micha, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, was the principal to begin the thanksgiving in prayer: and Bakbukiah the second among his brethren, and Abda the son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun.\r\n All the Levites in the holy city were two hundred fourscore and four.\r\n Moreover the porters, Akkub, Talmon, and their brethren that kept the gates, were an hundred seventy and two.\r\n And the residue of Israel, of the priests, and the Levites, were in all the cities of Judah, every one in his inheritance.\r\n But the Nethinims dwelt in Ophel: and Ziha and Gispa were over the Nethinims.\r\n The overseer also of the Levites at Jerusalem was Uzzi the son of Bani, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Micha. Of the sons of Asaph, the singers were over the business of the house of God.\r\n For it was the king's commandment concerning them, that a certain portion should be for the singers, due for every day.\r\n And Pethahiah the son of Meshezabeel, of the children of Zerah the son of Judah, was at the king's hand in all matters concerning the people.\r\n And for the villages, with their fields, some of the children of Judah dwelt at Kirjatharba, and in the villages thereof, and at Dibon, and in the villages thereof, and at Jekabzeel, and in the villages thereof,\r\n And at Jeshua, and at Moladah, and at Bethphelet,\r\n And at Hazarshual, and at Beersheba, and in the villages thereof,\r\n And at Ziklag, and at Mekonah, and in the villages thereof,\r\n And at Enrimmon, and at Zareah, and at Jarmuth,\r\n Zanoah, Adullam, and in their villages, at Lachish, and the fields thereof, at Azekah, and in the villages thereof. And they dwelt from Beersheba unto the valley of Hinnom.\r\n The children also of Benjamin from Geba dwelt at Michmash, and Aija, and Bethel, and in their villages,\r\n And at Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah,\r\n Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim,\r\n Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat,\r\n Lod, and Ono, the valley of craftsmen.\r\n And of the Levites were divisions in Judah, and in Benjamin.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now these are the priests and the Levites that went up with Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra,\r\n Amariah, Malluch, Hattush,\r\n Shechaniah, Rehum, Meremoth,\r\n Iddo, Ginnetho, Abijah,\r\n Miamin, Maadiah, Bilgah,\r\n Shemaiah, and Joiarib, Jedaiah,\r\n Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, Jedaiah. These were the chief of the priests and of their brethren in the days of Jeshua.\r\n Moreover the Levites: Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah, which was over the thanksgiving, he and his brethren.\r\n Also Bakbukiah and Unni, their brethren, were over against them in the watches.\r\n And Jeshua begat Joiakim, Joiakim also begat Eliashib, and Eliashib begat Joiada,\r\n And Joiada begat Jonathan, and Jonathan begat Jaddua.\r\n And in the days of Joiakim were priests, the chief of the fathers: of Seraiah, Meraiah; of Jeremiah, Hananiah;\r\n Of Ezra, Meshullam; of Amariah, Jehohanan;\r\n Of Melicu, Jonathan; of Shebaniah, Joseph;\r\n Of Harim, Adna; of Meraioth, Helkai;\r\n Of Iddo, Zechariah; of Ginnethon, Meshullam;\r\n Of Abijah, Zichri; of Miniamin, of Moadiah, Piltai;\r\n Of Bilgah, Shammua; of Shemaiah, Jehonathan;\r\n And of Joiarib, Mattenai; of Jedaiah, Uzzi;\r\n Of Sallai, Kallai; of Amok, Eber;\r\n Of Hilkiah, Hashabiah; of Jedaiah, Nethaneel.\r\n The Levites in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, and Johanan, and Jaddua, were recorded chief of the fathers: also the priests, to the reign of Darius the Persian.\r\n The sons of Levi, the chief of the fathers, were written in the book of the chronicles, even until the days of Johanan the son of Eliashib.\r\n And the chief of the Levites: Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua the son of Kadmiel, with their brethren over against them, to praise and to give thanks, according to the commandment of David the man of God, ward over against ward.\r\n Mattaniah, and Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, Akkub, were porters keeping the ward at the thresholds of the gates.\r\n These were in the days of Joiakim the son of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor, and of Ezra the priest, the scribe.\r\n And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites out of all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem, to keep the dedication with gladness, both with thanksgivings, and with singing, with cymbals, psalteries, and with harps.\r\n And the sons of the singers gathered themselves together, both out of the plain country round about Jerusalem, and from the villages of Netophathi;\r\n Also from the house of Gilgal, and out of the fields of Geba and Azmaveth: for the singers had builded them villages round about Jerusalem.\r\n And the priests and the Levites purified themselves, and purified the people, and the gates, and the wall.\r\n Then I brought up the princes of Judah upon the wall, and appointed two great companies of them that gave thanks, whereof one went on the right hand upon the wall toward the dung gate:\r\n And after them went Hoshaiah, and half of the princes of Judah,\r\n And Azariah, Ezra, and Meshullam,\r\n Judah, and Benjamin, and Shemaiah, and Jeremiah,\r\n And certain of the priests' sons with trumpets; namely, Zechariah the son of Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Michaiah, the son of Zaccur, the son of Asaph:\r\n And his brethren, Shemaiah, and Azarael, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethaneel, and Judah, Hanani, with the musical instruments of David the man of God, and Ezra the scribe before them.\r\n And at the fountain gate, which was over against them, they went up by the stairs of the city of David, at the going up of the wall, above the house of David, even unto the water gate eastward.\r\n And the other company of them that gave thanks went over against them, and I after them, and the half of the people upon the wall, from beyond the tower of the furnaces even unto the broad wall;\r\n And from above the gate of Ephraim, and above the old gate, and above the fish gate, and the tower of Hananeel, and the tower of Meah, even unto the sheep gate: and they stood still in the prison gate.\r\n So stood the two companies of them that gave thanks in the house of God, and I, and the half of the rulers with me:\r\n And the priests; Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Michaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah, with trumpets;\r\n And Maaseiah, and Shemaiah, and Eleazar, and Uzzi, and Jehohanan, and Malchijah, and Elam, and Ezer. And the singers sang loud, with Jezrahiah their overseer.\r\n Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced: for God had made them rejoice with great joy: the wives also and the children rejoiced: so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off.\r\n And at that time were some appointed over the chambers for the treasures, for the offerings, for the firstfruits, and for the tithes, to gather into them out of the fields of the cities the portions of the law for the priests and Levites: for Judah rejoiced for the priests and for the Levites that waited.\r\n And both the singers and the porters kept the ward of their God, and the ward of the purification, according to the commandment of David, and of Solomon his son.\r\n For in the days of David and Asaph of old there were chief of the singers, and songs of praise and thanksgiving unto God.\r\n And all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel, and in the days of Nehemiah, gave the portions of the singers and the porters, every day his portion: and they sanctified holy things unto the Levites; and the Levites sanctified them unto the children of Aaron.\r\n \r\n \r\n On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people; and therein was found written, that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God for ever;\r\n Because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, that he should curse them: howbeit our God turned the curse into a blessing.\r\n Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude.\r\n And before this, Eliashib the priest, having the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God, was allied unto Tobiah:\r\n And he had prepared for him a great chamber, where aforetime they laid the meat offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the corn, the new wine, and the oil, which was commanded to be given to the Levites, and the singers, and the porters; and the offerings of the priests.\r\n But in all this time was not I at Jerusalem: for in the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon came I unto the king, and after certain days obtained I leave of the king:\r\n And I came to Jerusalem, and understood of the evil that Eliashib did for Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God.\r\n And it grieved me sore: therefore I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber.\r\n Then I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers: and thither brought I again the vessels of the house of God, with the meat offering and the frankincense.\r\n And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them: for the Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled every one to his field.\r\n Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place.\r\n Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oil unto the treasuries.\r\n And I made treasurers over the treasuries, Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah: and next to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah: for they were counted faithful, and their office was to distribute unto their brethren.\r\n Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and wipe not out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God, and for the offices thereof.\r\n In those days saw I in Judah some treading wine presses on the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day: and I testified against them in the day wherein they sold victuals.\r\n There dwelt men of Tyre also therein, which brought fish, and all manner of ware, and sold on the sabbath unto the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem.\r\n Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day?\r\n Did not your fathers thus, and did not our God bring all this evil upon us, and upon this city? yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the sabbath.\r\n And it came to pass, that when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the sabbath, I commanded that the gates should be shut, and charged that they should not be opened till after the sabbath: and some of my servants set I at the gates, that there should no burden be brought in on the sabbath day.\r\n So the merchants and sellers of all kind of ware lodged without Jerusalem once or twice.\r\n Then I testified against them, and said unto them, Why lodge ye about the wall? if ye do so again, I will lay hands on you. From that time forth came they no more on the sabbath.\r\n And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the sabbath day. Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the greatness of thy mercy.\r\n In those days also saw I Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab:\r\n And their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews' language, but according to the language of each people.\r\n And I contended with them, and cursed them, and smote certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, saying, Ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters unto your sons, or for yourselves.\r\n Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause to sin.\r\n Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to transgress against our God in marrying strange wives?\r\n And one of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was son in law to Sanballat the Horonite: therefore I chased him from me.\r\n Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites.\r\n Thus cleansed I them from all strangers, and appointed the wards of the priests and the Levites, every one in his business;\r\n And for the wood offering, at times appointed, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, for good.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus, (this is Ahasuerus which reigned, from India even unto Ethiopia, over an hundred and seven and twenty provinces:)\r\n That in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the palace,\r\n In the third year of his reign, he made a feast unto all his princes and his servants; the power of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces, being before him:\r\n When he shewed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honour of his excellent majesty many days, even an hundred and fourscore days.\r\n And when these days were expired, the king made a feast unto all the people that were present in Shushan the palace, both unto great and small, seven days, in the court of the garden of the king's palace;\r\n Where were white, green, and blue, hangings, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble: the beds were of gold and silver, upon a pavement of red, and blue, and white, and black, marble.\r\n And they gave them drink in vessels of gold, (the vessels being diverse one from another,) and royal wine in abundance, according to the state of the king.\r\n And the drinking was according to the law; none did compel: for so the king had appointed to all the officers of his house, that they should do according to every man's pleasure.\r\n Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the royal house which belonged to king Ahasuerus.\r\n On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven chamberlains that served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king,\r\n To bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to shew the people and the princes her beauty: for she was fair to look on.\r\n But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king's commandment by his chamberlains: therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in him.\r\n Then the king said to the wise men, which knew the times, (for so was the king's manner toward all that knew law and judgment:\r\n And the next unto him was Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, which saw the king's face, and which sat the first in the kingdom;)\r\n What shall we do unto the queen Vashti according to law, because she hath not performed the commandment of the king Ahasuerus by the chamberlains?\r\n And Memucan answered before the king and the princes, Vashti the queen hath not done wrong to the king only, but also to all the princes, and to all the people that are in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus.\r\n For this deed of the queen shall come abroad unto all women, so that they shall despise their husbands in their eyes, when it shall be reported, The king Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she came not.\r\n Likewise shall the ladies of Persia and Media say this day unto all the king's princes, which have heard of the deed of the queen. Thus shall there arise too much contempt and wrath.\r\n If it please the king, let there go a royal commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it be not altered, That Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she.\r\n And when the king's decree which he shall make shall be published throughout all his empire, (for it is great,) all the wives shall give to their husbands honour, both to great and small.\r\n And the saying pleased the king and the princes; and the king did according to the word of Memucan:\r\n For he sent letters into all the king's provinces, into every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language, that every man should bear rule in his own house, and that it should be published according to the language of every people.\r\n \r\n \r\n After these things, when the wrath of king Ahasuerus was appeased, he remembered Vashti, and what she had done, and what was decreed against her.\r\n Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, Let there be fair young virgins sought for the king:\r\n And let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the fair young virgins unto Shushan the palace, to the house of the women, unto the custody of Hege the king's chamberlain, keeper of the women; and let their things for purification be given them:\r\n And let the maiden which pleaseth the king be queen instead of Vashti. And the thing pleased the king; and he did so.\r\n Now in Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite;\r\n Who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captivity which had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away.\r\n And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle's daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid was fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daughter.\r\n So it came to pass, when the king's commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together unto Shushan the palace, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was brought also unto the king's house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women.\r\n And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him; and he speedily gave her her things for purification, with such things as belonged to her, and seven maidens, which were meet to be given her, out of the king's house: and he preferred her and her maids unto the best place of the house of the women.\r\n Esther had not shewed her people nor her kindred: for Mordecai had charged her that she should not shew it.\r\n And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women's house, to know how Esther did, and what should become of her.\r\n Now when every maid's turn was come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after that she had been twelve months, according to the manner of the women, (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, to wit, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odours, and with other things for the purifying of the women;)\r\n Then thus came every maiden unto the king; whatsoever she desired was given her to go with her out of the house of the women unto the king's house.\r\n In the evening she went, and on the morrow she returned into the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king's chamberlain, which kept the concubines: she came in unto the king no more, except the king delighted in her, and that she were called by name.\r\n Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in unto the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king's chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. And Esther obtained favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her.\r\n So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.\r\n And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.\r\n Then the king made a great feast unto all his princes and his servants, even Esther's feast; and he made a release to the provinces, and gave gifts, according to the state of the king.\r\n And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, then Mordecai sat in the king's gate.\r\n Esther had not yet shewed her kindred nor her people; as Mordecai had charged her: for Esther did the commandment of Mordecai, like as when she was brought up with him.\r\n In those days, while Mordecai sat in the king's gate, two of the king's chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those which kept the door, were wroth, and sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus.\r\n And the thing was known to Mordecai, who told it unto Esther the queen; and Esther certified the king thereof in Mordecai's name.\r\n And when inquisition was made of the matter, it was found out; therefore they were both hanged on a tree: and it was written in the book of the chronicles before the king.\r\n \r\n \r\n After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him.\r\n And all the king's servants, that were in the king's gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence.\r\n Then the king's servants, which were in the king's gate, said unto Mordecai, Why transgressest thou the king's commandment?\r\n Now it came to pass, when they spake daily unto him, and he hearkened not unto them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai's matters would stand: for he had told them that he was a Jew.\r\n And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath.\r\n And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had shewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai.\r\n In the first month, that is, the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, to the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar.\r\n And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from all people; neither keep they the king's laws: therefore it is not for the king's profit to suffer them.\r\n If it please the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed: and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to the hands of those that have the charge of the business, to bring it into the king's treasuries.\r\n And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy.\r\n And the king said unto Haman, The silver is given to thee, the people also, to do with them as it seemeth good to thee.\r\n Then were the king's scribes called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and there was written according to all that Haman had commanded unto the king's lieutenants, and to the governors that were over every province, and to the rulers of every people of every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language; in the name of king Ahasuerus was it written, and sealed with the king's ring.\r\n And the letters were sent by posts into all the king's provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them for a prey.\r\n The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published unto all people, that they should be ready against that day.\r\n The posts went out, being hastened by the king's commandment, and the decree was given in Shushan the palace. And the king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city Shushan was perplexed.\r\n \r\n \r\n When Mordecai perceived all that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry;\r\n And came even before the king's gate: for none might enter into the king's gate clothed with sackcloth.\r\n And in every province, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.\r\n So Esther's maids and her chamberlains came and told it her. Then was the queen exceedingly grieved; and she sent raiment to clothe Mordecai, and to take away his sackcloth from him: but he received it not.\r\n Then called Esther for Hatach, one of the king's chamberlains, whom he had appointed to attend upon her, and gave him a commandment to Mordecai, to know what it was, and why it was.\r\n So Hatach went forth to Mordecai unto the street of the city, which was before the king's gate.\r\n And Mordecai told him of all that had happened unto him, and of the sum of the money that Haman had promised to pay to the king's treasuries for the Jews, to destroy them.\r\n Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given at Shushan to destroy them, to shew it unto Esther, and to declare it unto her, and to charge her that she should go in unto the king, to make supplication unto him, and to make request before him for her people.\r\n And Hatach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai.\r\n Again Esther spake unto Hatach, and gave him commandment unto Mordecai;\r\n All the king's servants, and the people of the king's provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, shall come unto the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law of his to put him to death, except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days.\r\n And they told to Mordecai Esther's words.\r\n Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more than all the Jews.\r\n For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?\r\n Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer,\r\n Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.\r\n So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king's house, over against the king's house: and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the gate of the house.\r\n And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favour in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre.\r\n Then said the king unto her, What wilt thou, queen Esther? and what is thy request? it shall be even given thee to the half of the kingdom.\r\n And Esther answered, If it seem good unto the king, let the king and Haman come this day unto the banquet that I have prepared for him.\r\n Then the king said, Cause Haman to make haste, that he may do as Esther hath said. So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared.\r\n And the king said unto Esther at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed.\r\n Then answered Esther, and said, My petition and my request is;\r\n If I have found favour in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to grant my petition, and to perform my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them, and I will do to morrow as the king hath said.\r\n Then went Haman forth that day joyful and with a glad heart: but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, that he stood not up, nor moved for him, he was full of indignation against Mordecai.\r\n Nevertheless Haman refrained himself: and when he came home, he sent and called for his friends, and Zeresh his wife.\r\n And Haman told them of the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and all the things wherein the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king.\r\n Haman said moreover, Yea, Esther the queen did let no man come in with the king unto the banquet that she had prepared but myself; and to morrow am I invited unto her also with the king.\r\n Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate.\r\n Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him, Let a gallows be made of fifty cubits high, and to morrow speak thou unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon: then go thou in merrily with the king unto the banquet. And the thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made.\r\n \r\n \r\n On that night could not the king sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king.\r\n And it was found written, that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's chamberlains, the keepers of the door, who sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus.\r\n And the king said, What honour and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this? Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, There is nothing done for him.\r\n And the king said, Who is in the court? Now Haman was come into the outward court of the king's house, to speak unto the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him.\r\n And the king's servants said unto him, Behold, Haman standeth in the court. And the king said, Let him come in.\r\n So Haman came in. And the king said unto him, What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour? Now Haman thought in his heart, To whom would the king delight to do honour more than to myself?\r\n And Haman answered the king, For the man whom the king delighteth to honour,\r\n Let the royal apparel be brought which the king useth to wear, and the horse that the king rideth upon, and the crown royal which is set upon his head:\r\n And let this apparel and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king's most noble princes, that they may array the man withal whom the king delighteth to honour, and bring him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaim before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delighteth to honour.\r\n Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, and take the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, that sitteth at the king's gate: let nothing fail of all that thou hast spoken.\r\n Then took Haman the apparel and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and brought him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour.\r\n And Mordecai came again to the king's gate. But Haman hasted to his house mourning, and having his head covered.\r\n And Haman told Zeresh his wife and all his friends every thing that had befallen him. Then said his wise men and Zeresh his wife unto him, If Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt surely fall before him.\r\n And while they were yet talking with him, came the king's chamberlains, and hasted to bring Haman unto the banquet that Esther had prepared.\r\n \r\n \r\n So the king and Haman came to banquet with Esther the queen.\r\n And the king said again unto Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition, queen Esther? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? and it shall be performed, even to the half of the kingdom.\r\n Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favour in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request:\r\n For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my tongue, although the enemy could not countervail the king's damage.\r\n Then the king Ahasuerus answered and said unto Esther the queen, Who is he, and where is he, that durst presume in his heart to do so?\r\n And Esther said, The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen.\r\n And the king arising from the banquet of wine in his wrath went into the palace garden: and Haman stood up to make request for his life to Esther the queen; for he saw that there was evil determined against him by the king.\r\n Then the king returned out of the palace garden into the place of the banquet of wine; and Haman was fallen upon the bed whereon Esther was. Then said the king, Will he force the queen also before me in the house? As the word went out of the king's mouth, they covered Haman's face.\r\n And Harbonah, one of the chamberlains, said before the king, Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman had made for Mordecai, who had spoken good for the king, standeth in the house of Haman. Then the king said, Hang him thereon.\r\n So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king's wrath pacified.\r\n \r\n \r\n On that day did the king Ahasuerus give the house of Haman the Jews' enemy unto Esther the queen. And Mordecai came before the king; for Esther had told what he was unto her.\r\n And the king took off his ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it unto Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.\r\n And Esther spake yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet, and besought him with tears to put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he had devised against the Jews.\r\n Then the king held out the golden sceptre toward Esther. So Esther arose, and stood before the king,\r\n And said, If it please the king, and if I have found favour in his sight, and the thing seem right before the king, and I be pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to reverse the letters devised by Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews which are in all the king's provinces:\r\n For how can I endure to see the evil that shall come unto my people? or how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred?\r\n Then the king Ahasuerus said unto Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and him they have hanged upon the gallows, because he laid his hand upon the Jews.\r\n Write ye also for the Jews, as it liketh you, in the king's name, and seal it with the king's ring: for the writing which is written in the king's name, and sealed with the king's ring, may no man reverse.\r\n Then were the king's scribes called at that time in the third month, that is, the month Sivan, on the three and twentieth day thereof; and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded unto the Jews, and to the lieutenants, and the deputies and rulers of the provinces which are from India unto Ethiopia, an hundred twenty and seven provinces, unto every province according to the writing thereof, and unto every people after their language, and to the Jews according to their writing, and according to their language.\r\n And he wrote in the king Ahasuerus' name, and sealed it with the king's ring, and sent letters by posts on horseback, and riders on mules, camels, and young dromedaries:\r\n Wherein the king granted the Jews which were in every city to gather themselves together, and to stand for their life, to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault them, both little ones and women, and to take the spoil of them for a prey,\r\n Upon one day in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus, namely, upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar.\r\n The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published unto all people, and that the Jews should be ready against that day to avenge themselves on their enemies.\r\n So the posts that rode upon mules and camels went out, being hastened and pressed on by the king's commandment. And the decree was given at Shushan the palace.\r\n And Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a garment of fine linen and purple: and the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad.\r\n The Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and honour.\r\n And in every province, and in every city, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a good day. And many of the people of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews fell upon them.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now in the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king's commandment and his decree drew near to be put in execution, in the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to have power over them, (though it was turned to the contrary, that the Jews had rule over them that hated them;)\r\n The Jews gathered themselves together in their cities throughout all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, to lay hand on such as sought their hurt: and no man could withstand them; for the fear of them fell upon all people.\r\n And all the rulers of the provinces, and the lieutenants, and the deputies, and officers of the king, helped the Jews; because the fear of Mordecai fell upon them.\r\n For Mordecai was great in the king's house, and his fame went out throughout all the provinces: for this man Mordecai waxed greater and greater.\r\n Thus the Jews smote all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, and slaughter, and destruction, and did what they would unto those that hated them.\r\n And in Shushan the palace the Jews slew and destroyed five hundred men.\r\n And Parshandatha, and Dalphon, and Aspatha,\r\n And Poratha, and Adalia, and Aridatha,\r\n And Parmashta, and Arisai, and Aridai, and Vajezatha,\r\n The ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews, slew they; but on the spoil laid they not their hand.\r\n On that day the number of those that were slain in Shushan the palace was brought before the king.\r\n And the king said unto Esther the queen, The Jews have slain and destroyed five hundred men in Shushan the palace, and the ten sons of Haman; what have they done in the rest of the king's provinces? now what is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: or what is thy request further? and it shall be done.\r\n Then said Esther, If it please the king, let it be granted to the Jews which are in Shushan to do to morrow also according unto this day's decree, and let Haman's ten sons be hanged upon the gallows.\r\n And the king commanded it so to be done: and the decree was given at Shushan; and they hanged Haman's ten sons.\r\n For the Jews that were in Shushan gathered themselves together on the fourteenth day also of the month Adar, and slew three hundred men at Shushan; but on the prey they laid not their hand.\r\n But the other Jews that were in the king's provinces gathered themselves together, and stood for their lives, and had rest from their enemies, and slew of their foes seventy and five thousand, but they laid not their hands on the prey,\r\n On the thirteenth day of the month Adar; and on the fourteenth day of the same rested they, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.\r\n But the Jews that were at Shushan assembled together on the thirteenth day thereof, and on the fourteenth thereof; and on the fifteenth day of the same they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.\r\n Therefore the Jews of the villages, that dwelt in the unwalled towns, made the fourteenth day of the month Adar a day of gladness and feasting, and a good day, and of sending portions one to another.\r\n And Mordecai wrote these things, and sent letters unto all the Jews that were in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, both nigh and far,\r\n To stablish this among them, that they should keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same, yearly,\r\n As the days wherein the Jews rested from their enemies, and the month which was turned unto them from sorrow to joy, and from mourning into a good day: that they should make them days of feasting and joy, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor.\r\n And the Jews undertook to do as they had begun, and as Mordecai had written unto them;\r\n Because Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had devised against the Jews to destroy them, and had cast Pur, that is, the lot, to consume them, and to destroy them;\r\n But when Esther came before the king, he commanded by letters that his wicked device, which he devised against the Jews, should return upon his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows.\r\n Wherefore they called these days Purim after the name of Pur. Therefore for all the words of this letter, and of that which they had seen concerning this matter, and which had come unto them,\r\n The Jews ordained, and took upon them, and upon their seed, and upon all such as joined themselves unto them, so as it should not fail, that they would keep these two days according to their writing, and according to their appointed time every year;\r\n And that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, every family, every province, and every city; and that these days of Purim should not fail from among the Jews, nor the memorial of them perish from their seed.\r\n Then Esther the queen, the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew, wrote with all authority, to confirm this second letter of Purim.\r\n And he sent the letters unto all the Jews, to the hundred twenty and seven provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, with words of peace and truth,\r\n To confirm these days of Purim in their times appointed, according as Mordecai the Jew and Esther the queen had enjoined them, and as they had decreed for themselves and for their seed, the matters of the fastings and their cry.\r\n And the decree of Esther confirmed these matters of Purim; and it was written in the book.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the king Ahasuerus laid a tribute upon the land, and upon the isles of the sea.\r\n And all the acts of his power and of his might, and the declaration of the greatness of Mordecai, whereunto the king advanced him, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia?\r\n For Mordecai the Jew was next unto king Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and accepted of the multitude of his brethren, seeking the wealth of his people, and speaking peace to all his seed.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.\r\n And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters.\r\n His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east.\r\n And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.\r\n And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.\r\n Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.\r\n And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.\r\n And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?\r\n Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?\r\n Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.\r\n But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.\r\n And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.\r\n And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:\r\n And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them:\r\n And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.\r\n While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.\r\n While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.\r\n While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:\r\n And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.\r\n Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,\r\n And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.\r\n In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.\r\n \r\n \r\n Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD.\r\n And the LORD said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.\r\n And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.\r\n And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.\r\n But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face.\r\n And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life.\r\n So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown.\r\n And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes.\r\n Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.\r\n But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.\r\n Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him.\r\n And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice, and wept; and they rent every one his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven.\r\n So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spake a word unto him: for they saw that his grief was very great.\r\n \r\n \r\n After this opened Job his mouth, and cursed his day.\r\n And Job spake, and said,\r\n Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night in which it was said, There is a man child conceived.\r\n Let that day be darkness; let not God regard it from above, neither let the light shine upon it.\r\n Let darkness and the shadow of death stain it; let a cloud dwell upon it; let the blackness of the day terrify it.\r\n As for that night, let darkness seize upon it; let it not be joined unto the days of the year, let it not come into the number of the months.\r\n Lo, let that night be solitary, let no joyful voice come therein.\r\n Let them curse it that curse the day, who are ready to raise up their mourning.\r\n Let the stars of the twilight thereof be dark; let it look for light, but have none; neither let it see the dawning of the day:\r\n Because it shut not up the doors of my mother's womb, nor hid sorrow from mine eyes.\r\n Why died I not from the womb? why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly?\r\n Why did the knees prevent me? or why the breasts that I should suck?\r\n For now should I have lain still and been quiet, I should have slept: then had I been at rest,\r\n With kings and counsellors of the earth, which built desolate places for themselves;\r\n Or with princes that had gold, who filled their houses with silver:\r\n Or as an hidden untimely birth I had not been; as infants which never saw light.\r\n There the wicked cease from troubling; and there the weary be at rest.\r\n There the prisoners rest together; they hear not the voice of the oppressor.\r\n The small and great are there; and the servant is free from his master.\r\n Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, and life unto the bitter in soul;\r\n Which long for death, but it cometh not; and dig for it more than for hid treasures;\r\n Which rejoice exceedingly, and are glad, when they can find the grave?\r\n Why is light given to a man whose way is hid, and whom God hath hedged in?\r\n For my sighing cometh before I eat, and my roarings are poured out like the waters.\r\n For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.\r\n I was not in safety, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet; yet trouble came.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,\r\n If we assay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieved? but who can withhold himself from speaking?\r\n Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands.\r\n Thy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees.\r\n But now it is come upon thee, and thou faintest; it toucheth thee, and thou art troubled.\r\n Is not this thy fear, thy confidence, thy hope, and the uprightness of thy ways?\r\n Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off?\r\n Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.\r\n By the blast of God they perish, and by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed.\r\n The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, and the teeth of the young lions, are broken.\r\n The old lion perisheth for lack of prey, and the stout lion's whelps are scattered abroad.\r\n Now a thing was secretly brought to me, and mine ear received a little thereof.\r\n In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men,\r\n Fear came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones to shake.\r\n Then a spirit passed before my face; the hair of my flesh stood up:\r\n It stood still, but I could not discern the form thereof: an image was before mine eyes, there was silence, and I heard a voice, saying,\r\n Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his maker?\r\n Behold, he put no trust in his servants; and his angels he charged with folly:\r\n How much less in them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, which are crushed before the moth?\r\n They are destroyed from morning to evening: they perish for ever without any regarding it.\r\n Doth not their excellency which is in them go away? they die, even without wisdom.\r\n \r\n \r\n Call now, if there be any that will answer thee; and to which of the saints wilt thou turn?\r\n For wrath killeth the foolish man, and envy slayeth the silly one.\r\n I have seen the foolish taking root: but suddenly I cursed his habitation.\r\n His children are far from safety, and they are crushed in the gate, neither is there any to deliver them.\r\n Whose harvest the hungry eateth up, and taketh it even out of the thorns, and the robber swalloweth up their substance.\r\n Although affliction cometh not forth of the dust, neither doth trouble spring out of the ground;\r\n Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward.\r\n I would seek unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause:\r\n Which doeth great things and unsearchable; marvellous things without number:\r\n Who giveth rain upon the earth, and sendeth waters upon the fields:\r\n To set up on high those that be low; that those which mourn may be exalted to safety.\r\n He disappointeth the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot perform their enterprise.\r\n He taketh the wise in their own craftiness: and the counsel of the froward is carried headlong.\r\n They meet with darkness in the daytime, and grope in the noonday as in the night.\r\n But he saveth the poor from the sword, from their mouth, and from the hand of the mighty.\r\n So the poor hath hope, and iniquity stoppeth her mouth.\r\n Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty:\r\n For he maketh sore, and bindeth up: he woundeth, and his hands make whole.\r\n He shall deliver thee in six troubles: yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee.\r\n In famine he shall redeem thee from death: and in war from the power of the sword.\r\n Thou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue: neither shalt thou be afraid of destruction when it cometh.\r\n At destruction and famine thou shalt laugh: neither shalt thou be afraid of the beasts of the earth.\r\n For thou shalt be in league with the stones of the field: and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee.\r\n And thou shalt know that thy tabernacle shall be in peace; and thou shalt visit thy habitation, and shalt not sin.\r\n Thou shalt know also that thy seed shall be great, and thine offspring as the grass of the earth.\r\n Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age, like as a shock of corn cometh in in his season.\r\n Lo this, we have searched it, so it is; hear it, and know thou it for thy good.\r\n \r\n \r\n But Job answered and said,\r\n Oh that my grief were throughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together!\r\n For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea: therefore my words are swallowed up.\r\n For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poison whereof drinketh up my spirit: the terrors of God do set themselves in array against me.\r\n Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? or loweth the ox over his fodder?\r\n Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt? or is there any taste in the white of an egg?\r\n The things that my soul refused to touch are as my sorrowful meat.\r\n Oh that I might have my request; and that God would grant me the thing that I long for!\r\n Even that it would please God to destroy me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!\r\n Then should I yet have comfort; yea, I would harden myself in sorrow: let him not spare; for I have not concealed the words of the Holy One.\r\n What is my strength, that I should hope? and what is mine end, that I should prolong my life?\r\n Is my strength the strength of stones? or is my flesh of brass?\r\n Is not my help in me? and is wisdom driven quite from me?\r\n To him that is afflicted pity should be shewed from his friend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.\r\n My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, and as the stream of brooks they pass away;\r\n Which are blackish by reason of the ice, and wherein the snow is hid:\r\n What time they wax warm, they vanish: when it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.\r\n The paths of their way are turned aside; they go to nothing, and perish.\r\n The troops of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them.\r\n They were confounded because they had hoped; they came thither, and were ashamed.\r\n For now ye are nothing; ye see my casting down, and are afraid.\r\n Did I say, Bring unto me? or, Give a reward for me of your substance?\r\n Or, Deliver me from the enemy's hand? or, Redeem me from the hand of the mighty?\r\n Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand wherein I have erred.\r\n How forcible are right words! but what doth your arguing reprove?\r\n Do ye imagine to reprove words, and the speeches of one that is desperate, which are as wind?\r\n Yea, ye overwhelm the fatherless, and ye dig a pit for your friend.\r\n Now therefore be content, look upon me; for it is evident unto you if I lie.\r\n Return, I pray you, let it not be iniquity; yea, return again, my righteousness is in it.\r\n Is there iniquity in my tongue? cannot my taste discern perverse things?\r\n \r\n \r\n Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also like the days of an hireling?\r\n As a servant earnestly desireth the shadow, and as an hireling looketh for the reward of his work:\r\n So am I made to possess months of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed to me.\r\n When I lie down, I say, When shall I arise, and the night be gone? and I am full of tossings to and fro unto the dawning of the day.\r\n My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin is broken, and become loathsome.\r\n My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and are spent without hope.\r\n O remember that my life is wind: mine eye shall no more see good.\r\n The eye of him that hath seen me shall see me no more: thine eyes are upon me, and I am not.\r\n As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away: so he that goeth down to the grave shall come up no more.\r\n He shall return no more to his house, neither shall his place know him any more.\r\n Therefore I will not refrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.\r\n Am I a sea, or a whale, that thou settest a watch over me?\r\n When I say, My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall ease my complaint;\r\n Then thou scarest me with dreams, and terrifiest me through visions:\r\n So that my soul chooseth strangling, and death rather than my life.\r\n I loathe it; I would not live alway: let me alone; for my days are vanity.\r\n What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him? and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him?\r\n And that thou shouldest visit him every morning, and try him every moment?\r\n How long wilt thou not depart from me, nor let me alone till I swallow down my spittle?\r\n I have sinned; what shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver of men? why hast thou set me as a mark against thee, so that I am a burden to myself?\r\n And why dost thou not pardon my transgression, and take away mine iniquity? for now shall I sleep in the dust; and thou shalt seek me in the morning, but I shall not be.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,\r\n How long wilt thou speak these things? and how long shall the words of thy mouth be like a strong wind?\r\n Doth God pervert judgment? or doth the Almighty pervert justice?\r\n If thy children have sinned against him, and he have cast them away for their transgression;\r\n If thou wouldest seek unto God betimes, and make thy supplication to the Almighty;\r\n If thou wert pure and upright; surely now he would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous.\r\n Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase.\r\n For enquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and prepare thyself to the search of their fathers:\r\n (For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days upon earth are a shadow:)\r\n Shall not they teach thee, and tell thee, and utter words out of their heart?\r\n Can the rush grow up without mire? can the flag grow without water?\r\n Whilst it is yet in his greenness, and not cut down, it withereth before any other herb.\r\n So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite's hope shall perish:\r\n Whose hope shall be cut off, and whose trust shall be a spider's web.\r\n He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand: he shall hold it fast, but it shall not endure.\r\n He is green before the sun, and his branch shooteth forth in his garden.\r\n His roots are wrapped about the heap, and seeth the place of stones.\r\n If he destroy him from his place, then it shall deny him, saying, I have not seen thee.\r\n Behold, this is the joy of his way, and out of the earth shall others grow.\r\n Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, neither will he help the evil doers:\r\n Till he fill thy mouth with laughing, and thy lips with rejoicing.\r\n They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame; and the dwelling place of the wicked shall come to nought.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then Job answered and said,\r\n I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?\r\n If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.\r\n He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?\r\n Which removeth the mountains, and they know not: which overturneth them in his anger.\r\n Which shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble.\r\n Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars.\r\n Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea.\r\n Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south.\r\n Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.\r\n Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: he passeth on also, but I perceive him not.\r\n Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou?\r\n If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do stoop under him.\r\n How much less shall I answer him, and choose out my words to reason with him?\r\n Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge.\r\n If I had called, and he had answered me; yet would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice.\r\n For he breaketh me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause.\r\n He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitterness.\r\n If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead?\r\n If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.\r\n Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.\r\n This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.\r\n If the scourge slay suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the innocent.\r\n The earth is given into the hand of the wicked: he covereth the faces of the judges thereof; if not, where, and who is he?\r\n Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good.\r\n They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that hasteth to the prey.\r\n If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my heaviness, and comfort myself:\r\n I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.\r\n If I be wicked, why then labour I in vain?\r\n If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;\r\n Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor me.\r\n For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in judgment.\r\n Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both.\r\n Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me:\r\n Then would I speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me.\r\n \r\n \r\n My soul is weary of my life; I will leave my complaint upon myself; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.\r\n I will say unto God, Do not condemn me; shew me wherefore thou contendest with me.\r\n Is it good unto thee that thou shouldest oppress, that thou shouldest despise the work of thine hands, and shine upon the counsel of the wicked?\r\n Hast thou eyes of flesh? or seest thou as man seeth?\r\n Are thy days as the days of man? are thy years as man's days,\r\n That thou enquirest after mine iniquity, and searchest after my sin?\r\n Thou knowest that I am not wicked; and there is none that can deliver out of thine hand.\r\n Thine hands have made me and fashioned me together round about; yet thou dost destroy me.\r\n Remember, I beseech thee, that thou hast made me as the clay; and wilt thou bring me into dust again?\r\n Hast thou not poured me out as milk, and curdled me like cheese?\r\n Thou hast clothed me with skin and flesh, and hast fenced me with bones and sinews.\r\n Thou hast granted me life and favour, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit.\r\n And these things hast thou hid in thine heart: I know that this is with thee.\r\n If I sin, then thou markest me, and thou wilt not acquit me from mine iniquity.\r\n If I be wicked, woe unto me; and if I be righteous, yet will I not lift up my head. I am full of confusion; therefore see thou mine affliction;\r\n For it increaseth. Thou huntest me as a fierce lion: and again thou shewest thyself marvellous upon me.\r\n Thou renewest thy witnesses against me, and increasest thine indignation upon me; changes and war are against me.\r\n Wherefore then hast thou brought me forth out of the womb? Oh that I had given up the ghost, and no eye had seen me!\r\n I should have been as though I had not been; I should have been carried from the womb to the grave.\r\n Are not my days few? cease then, and let me alone, that I may take comfort a little,\r\n Before I go whence I shall not return, even to the land of darkness and the shadow of death;\r\n A land of darkness, as darkness itself; and of the shadow of death, without any order, and where the light is as darkness.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,\r\n Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man full of talk be justified?\r\n Should thy lies make men hold their peace? and when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed?\r\n For thou hast said, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in thine eyes.\r\n But oh that God would speak, and open his lips against thee;\r\n And that he would shew thee the secrets of wisdom, that they are double to that which is! Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth.\r\n Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?\r\n It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know?\r\n The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.\r\n If he cut off, and shut up, or gather together, then who can hinder him?\r\n For he knoweth vain men: he seeth wickedness also; will he not then consider it?\r\n For vain man would be wise, though man be born like a wild ass's colt.\r\n If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thine hands toward him;\r\n If iniquity be in thine hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles.\r\n For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear:\r\n Because thou shalt forget thy misery, and remember it as waters that pass away:\r\n And thine age shall be clearer than the noonday; thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning.\r\n And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety.\r\n Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid; yea, many shall make suit unto thee.\r\n But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, and they shall not escape, and their hope shall be as the giving up of the ghost.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Job answered and said,\r\n No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you.\r\n But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you: yea, who knoweth not such things as these?\r\n I am as one mocked of his neighbour, who calleth upon God, and he answereth him: the just upright man is laughed to scorn.\r\n He that is ready to slip with his feet is as a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease.\r\n The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth abundantly.\r\n But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee:\r\n Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee.\r\n Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this?\r\n In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.\r\n Doth not the ear try words? and the mouth taste his meat?\r\n With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding.\r\n With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding.\r\n Behold, he breaketh down, and it cannot be built again: he shutteth up a man, and there can be no opening.\r\n Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up: also he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth.\r\n With him is strength and wisdom: the deceived and the deceiver are his.\r\n He leadeth counsellors away spoiled, and maketh the judges fools.\r\n He looseth the bond of kings, and girdeth their loins with a girdle.\r\n He leadeth princes away spoiled, and overthroweth the mighty.\r\n He removeth away the speech of the trusty, and taketh away the understanding of the aged.\r\n He poureth contempt upon princes, and weakeneth the strength of the mighty.\r\n He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death.\r\n He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth the nations, and straiteneth them again.\r\n He taketh away the heart of the chief of the people of the earth, and causeth them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way.\r\n They grope in the dark without light, and he maketh them to stagger like a drunken man.\r\n \r\n \r\n Lo, mine eye hath seen all this, mine ear hath heard and understood it.\r\n What ye know, the same do I know also: I am not inferior unto you.\r\n Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God.\r\n But ye are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value.\r\n O that ye would altogether hold your peace! and it should be your wisdom.\r\n Hear now my reasoning, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips.\r\n Will ye speak wickedly for God? and talk deceitfully for him?\r\n Will ye accept his person? will ye contend for God?\r\n Is it good that he should search you out? or as one man mocketh another, do ye so mock him?\r\n He will surely reprove you, if ye do secretly accept persons.\r\n Shall not his excellency make you afraid? and his dread fall upon you?\r\n Your remembrances are like unto ashes, your bodies to bodies of clay.\r\n Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak, and let come on me what will.\r\n Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in mine hand?\r\n Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.\r\n He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him.\r\n Hear diligently my speech, and my declaration with your ears.\r\n Behold now, I have ordered my cause; I know that I shall be justified.\r\n Who is he that will plead with me? for now, if I hold my tongue, I shall give up the ghost.\r\n Only do not two things unto me: then will I not hide myself from thee.\r\n Withdraw thine hand far from me: and let not thy dread make me afraid.\r\n Then call thou, and I will answer: or let me speak, and answer thou me.\r\n How many are mine iniquities and sins? make me to know my transgression and my sin.\r\n Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and holdest me for thine enemy?\r\n Wilt thou break a leaf driven to and fro? and wilt thou pursue the dry stubble?\r\n For thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me to possess the iniquities of my youth.\r\n Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks, and lookest narrowly unto all my paths; thou settest a print upon the heels of my feet.\r\n And he, as a rotten thing, consumeth, as a garment that is moth eaten.\r\n \r\n \r\n Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.\r\n He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.\r\n And dost thou open thine eyes upon such an one, and bringest me into judgment with thee?\r\n Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.\r\n Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months are with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass;\r\n Turn from him, that he may rest, till he shall accomplish, as an hireling, his day.\r\n For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease.\r\n Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground;\r\n Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant.\r\n But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he?\r\n As the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decayeth and drieth up:\r\n So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep.\r\n O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me!\r\n If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.\r\n Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands.\r\n For now thou numberest my steps: dost thou not watch over my sin?\r\n My transgression is sealed up in a bag, and thou sewest up mine iniquity.\r\n And surely the mountain falling cometh to nought, and the rock is removed out of his place.\r\n The waters wear the stones: thou washest away the things which grow out of the dust of the earth; and thou destroyest the hope of man.\r\n Thou prevailest for ever against him, and he passeth: thou changest his countenance, and sendest him away.\r\n His sons come to honour, and he knoweth it not; and they are brought low, but he perceiveth it not of them.\r\n But his flesh upon him shall have pain, and his soul within him shall mourn.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said,\r\n Should a wise man utter vain knowledge, and fill his belly with the east wind?\r\n Should he reason with unprofitable talk? or with speeches wherewith he can do no good?\r\n Yea, thou castest off fear, and restrainest prayer before God.\r\n For thy mouth uttereth thine iniquity, and thou choosest the tongue of the crafty.\r\n Thine own mouth condemneth thee, and not I: yea, thine own lips testify against thee.\r\n Art thou the first man that was born? or wast thou made before the hills?\r\n Hast thou heard the secret of God? and dost thou restrain wisdom to thyself?\r\n What knowest thou, that we know not? what understandest thou, which is not in us?\r\n With us are both the grayheaded and very aged men, much elder than thy father.\r\n Are the consolations of God small with thee? is there any secret thing with thee?\r\n Why doth thine heart carry thee away? and what do thy eyes wink at,\r\n That thou turnest thy spirit against God, and lettest such words go out of thy mouth?\r\n What is man, that he should be clean? and he which is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?\r\n Behold, he putteth no trust in his saints; yea, the heavens are not clean in his sight.\r\n How much more abominable and filthy is man, which drinketh iniquity like water?\r\n I will shew thee, hear me; and that which I have seen I will declare;\r\n Which wise men have told from their fathers, and have not hid it:\r\n Unto whom alone the earth was given, and no stranger passed among them.\r\n The wicked man travaileth with pain all his days, and the number of years is hidden to the oppressor.\r\n A dreadful sound is in his ears: in prosperity the destroyer shall come upon him.\r\n He believeth not that he shall return out of darkness, and he is waited for of the sword.\r\n He wandereth abroad for bread, saying, Where is it? he knoweth that the day of darkness is ready at his hand.\r\n Trouble and anguish shall make him afraid; they shall prevail against him, as a king ready to the battle.\r\n For he stretcheth out his hand against God, and strengtheneth himself against the Almighty.\r\n He runneth upon him, even on his neck, upon the thick bosses of his bucklers:\r\n Because he covereth his face with his fatness, and maketh collops of fat on his flanks.\r\n And he dwelleth in desolate cities, and in houses which no man inhabiteth, which are ready to become heaps.\r\n He shall not be rich, neither shall his substance continue, neither shall he prolong the perfection thereof upon the earth.\r\n He shall not depart out of darkness; the flame shall dry up his branches, and by the breath of his mouth shall he go away.\r\n Let not him that is deceived trust in vanity: for vanity shall be his recompence.\r\n It shall be accomplished before his time, and his branch shall not be green.\r\n He shall shake off his unripe grape as the vine, and shall cast off his flower as the olive.\r\n For the congregation of hypocrites shall be desolate, and fire shall consume the tabernacles of bribery.\r\n They conceive mischief, and bring forth vanity, and their belly prepareth deceit.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then Job answered and said,\r\n I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all.\r\n Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest?\r\n I also could speak as ye do: if your soul were in my soul's stead, I could heap up words against you, and shake mine head at you.\r\n But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should asswage your grief.\r\n Though I speak, my grief is not asswaged: and though I forbear, what am I eased?\r\n But now he hath made me weary: thou hast made desolate all my company.\r\n And thou hast filled me with wrinkles, which is a witness against me: and my leanness rising up in me beareth witness to my face.\r\n He teareth me in his wrath, who hateth me: he gnasheth upon me with his teeth; mine enemy sharpeneth his eyes upon me.\r\n They have gaped upon me with their mouth; they have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully; they have gathered themselves together against me.\r\n God hath delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over into the hands of the wicked.\r\n I was at ease, but he hath broken me asunder: he hath also taken me by my neck, and shaken me to pieces, and set me up for his mark.\r\n His archers compass me round about, he cleaveth my reins asunder, and doth not spare; he poureth out my gall upon the ground.\r\n He breaketh me with breach upon breach, he runneth upon me like a giant.\r\n I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and defiled my horn in the dust.\r\n My face is foul with weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadow of death;\r\n Not for any injustice in mine hands: also my prayer is pure.\r\n O earth, cover not thou my blood, and let my cry have no place.\r\n Also now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high.\r\n My friends scorn me: but mine eye poureth out tears unto God.\r\n O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbour!\r\n When a few years are come, then I shall go the way whence I shall not return.\r\n \r\n \r\n My breath is corrupt, my days are extinct, the graves are ready for me.\r\n Are there not mockers with me? and doth not mine eye continue in their provocation?\r\n Lay down now, put me in a surety with thee; who is he that will strike hands with me?\r\n For thou hast hid their heart from understanding: therefore shalt thou not exalt them.\r\n He that speaketh flattery to his friends, even the eyes of his children shall fail.\r\n He hath made me also a byword of the people; and aforetime I was as a tabret.\r\n Mine eye also is dim by reason of sorrow, and all my members are as a shadow.\r\n Upright men shall be astonied at this, and the innocent shall stir up himself against the hypocrite.\r\n The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger.\r\n But as for you all, do ye return, and come now: for I cannot find one wise man among you.\r\n My days are past, my purposes are broken off, even the thoughts of my heart.\r\n They change the night into day: the light is short because of darkness.\r\n If I wait, the grave is mine house: I have made my bed in the darkness.\r\n I have said to corruption, Thou art my father: to the worm, Thou art my mother, and my sister.\r\n And where is now my hope? as for my hope, who shall see it?\r\n They shall go down to the bars of the pit, when our rest together is in the dust.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,\r\n How long will it be ere ye make an end of words? mark, and afterwards we will speak.\r\n Wherefore are we counted as beasts, and reputed vile in your sight?\r\n He teareth himself in his anger: shall the earth be forsaken for thee? and shall the rock be removed out of his place?\r\n Yea, the light of the wicked shall be put out, and the spark of his fire shall not shine.\r\n The light shall be dark in his tabernacle, and his candle shall be put out with him.\r\n The steps of his strength shall be straitened, and his own counsel shall cast him down.\r\n For he is cast into a net by his own feet, and he walketh upon a snare.\r\n The gin shall take him by the heel, and the robber shall prevail against him.\r\n The snare is laid for him in the ground, and a trap for him in the way.\r\n Terrors shall make him afraid on every side, and shall drive him to his feet.\r\n His strength shall be hungerbitten, and destruction shall be ready at his side.\r\n It shall devour the strength of his skin: even the firstborn of death shall devour his strength.\r\n His confidence shall be rooted out of his tabernacle, and it shall bring him to the king of terrors.\r\n It shall dwell in his tabernacle, because it is none of his: brimstone shall be scattered upon his habitation.\r\n His roots shall be dried up beneath, and above shall his branch be cut off.\r\n His remembrance shall perish from the earth, and he shall have no name in the street.\r\n He shall be driven from light into darkness, and chased out of the world.\r\n He shall neither have son nor nephew among his people, nor any remaining in his dwellings.\r\n They that come after him shall be astonied at his day, as they that went before were affrighted.\r\n Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked, and this is the place of him that knoweth not God.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then Job answered and said,\r\n How long will ye vex my soul, and break me in pieces with words?\r\n These ten times have ye reproached me: ye are not ashamed that ye make yourselves strange to me.\r\n And be it indeed that I have erred, mine error remaineth with myself.\r\n If indeed ye will magnify yourselves against me, and plead against me my reproach:\r\n Know now that God hath overthrown me, and hath compassed me with his net.\r\n Behold, I cry out of wrong, but I am not heard: I cry aloud, but there is no judgment.\r\n He hath fenced up my way that I cannot pass, and he hath set darkness in my paths.\r\n He hath stripped me of my glory, and taken the crown from my head.\r\n He hath destroyed me on every side, and I am gone: and mine hope hath he removed like a tree.\r\n He hath also kindled his wrath against me, and he counteth me unto him as one of his enemies.\r\n His troops come together, and raise up their way against me, and encamp round about my tabernacle.\r\n He hath put my brethren far from me, and mine acquaintance are verily estranged from me.\r\n My kinsfolk have failed, and my familiar friends have forgotten me.\r\n They that dwell in mine house, and my maids, count me for a stranger: I am an alien in their sight.\r\n I called my servant, and he gave me no answer; I intreated him with my mouth.\r\n My breath is strange to my wife, though I intreated for the children's sake of mine own body.\r\n Yea, young children despised me; I arose, and they spake against me.\r\n All my inward friends abhorred me: and they whom I loved are turned against me.\r\n My bone cleaveth to my skin and to my flesh, and I am escaped with the skin of my teeth.\r\n Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, O ye my friends; for the hand of God hath touched me.\r\n Why do ye persecute me as God, and are not satisfied with my flesh?\r\n Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book!\r\n That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever!\r\n For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:\r\n And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:\r\n Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.\r\n But ye should say, Why persecute we him, seeing the root of the matter is found in me?\r\n Be ye afraid of the sword: for wrath bringeth the punishments of the sword, that ye may know there is a judgment.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,\r\n Therefore do my thoughts cause me to answer, and for this I make haste.\r\n I have heard the check of my reproach, and the spirit of my understanding causeth me to answer.\r\n Knowest thou not this of old, since man was placed upon earth,\r\n That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment?\r\n Though his excellency mount up to the heavens, and his head reach unto the clouds;\r\n Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung: they which have seen him shall say, Where is he?\r\n He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found: yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night.\r\n The eye also which saw him shall see him no more; neither shall his place any more behold him.\r\n His children shall seek to please the poor, and his hands shall restore their goods.\r\n His bones are full of the sin of his youth, which shall lie down with him in the dust.\r\n Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue;\r\n Though he spare it, and forsake it not; but keep it still within his mouth:\r\n Yet his meat in his bowels is turned, it is the gall of asps within him.\r\n He hath swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again: God shall cast them out of his belly.\r\n He shall suck the poison of asps: the viper's tongue shall slay him.\r\n He shall not see the rivers, the floods, the brooks of honey and butter.\r\n That which he laboured for shall he restore, and shall not swallow it down: according to his substance shall the restitution be, and he shall not rejoice therein.\r\n Because he hath oppressed and hath forsaken the poor; because he hath violently taken away an house which he builded not;\r\n Surely he shall not feel quietness in his belly, he shall not save of that which he desired.\r\n There shall none of his meat be left; therefore shall no man look for his goods.\r\n In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits: every hand of the wicked shall come upon him.\r\n When he is about to fill his belly, God shall cast the fury of his wrath upon him, and shall rain it upon him while he is eating.\r\n He shall flee from the iron weapon, and the bow of steel shall strike him through.\r\n It is drawn, and cometh out of the body; yea, the glittering sword cometh out of his gall: terrors are upon him.\r\n All darkness shall be hid in his secret places: a fire not blown shall consume him; it shall go ill with him that is left in his tabernacle.\r\n The heaven shall reveal his iniquity; and the earth shall rise up against him.\r\n The increase of his house shall depart, and his goods shall flow away in the day of his wrath.\r\n This is the portion of a wicked man from God, and the heritage appointed unto him by God.\r\n \r\n \r\n But Job answered and said,\r\n Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolations.\r\n Suffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on.\r\n As for me, is my complaint to man? and if it were so, why should not my spirit be troubled?\r\n Mark me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth.\r\n Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh.\r\n Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power?\r\n Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes.\r\n Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.\r\n Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.\r\n They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.\r\n They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ.\r\n They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave.\r\n Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.\r\n What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?\r\n Lo, their good is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me.\r\n How oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and how oft cometh their destruction upon them! God distributeth sorrows in his anger.\r\n They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away.\r\n God layeth up his iniquity for his children: he rewardeth him, and he shall know it.\r\n His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty.\r\n For what pleasure hath he in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off in the midst?\r\n Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judgeth those that are high.\r\n One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.\r\n His breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow.\r\n And another dieth in the bitterness of his soul, and never eateth with pleasure.\r\n They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them.\r\n Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me.\r\n For ye say, Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked?\r\n Have ye not asked them that go by the way? and do ye not know their tokens,\r\n That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.\r\n Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done?\r\n Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and shall remain in the tomb.\r\n The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, and every man shall draw after him, as there are innumerable before him.\r\n How then comfort ye me in vain, seeing in your answers there remaineth falsehood?\r\n \r\n \r\n Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,\r\n Can a man be profitable unto God, as he that is wise may be profitable unto himself?\r\n Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that thou art righteous? or is it gain to him, that thou makest thy ways perfect?\r\n Will he reprove thee for fear of thee? will he enter with thee into judgment?\r\n Is not thy wickedness great? and thine iniquities infinite?\r\n For thou hast taken a pledge from thy brother for nought, and stripped the naked of their clothing.\r\n Thou hast not given water to the weary to drink, and thou hast withholden bread from the hungry.\r\n But as for the mighty man, he had the earth; and the honourable man dwelt in it.\r\n Thou hast sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken.\r\n Therefore snares are round about thee, and sudden fear troubleth thee;\r\n Or darkness, that thou canst not see; and abundance of waters cover thee.\r\n Is not God in the height of heaven? and behold the height of the stars, how high they are!\r\n And thou sayest, How doth God know? can he judge through the dark cloud?\r\n Thick clouds are a covering to him, that he seeth not; and he walketh in the circuit of heaven.\r\n Hast thou marked the old way which wicked men have trodden?\r\n Which were cut down out of time, whose foundation was overflown with a flood:\r\n Which said unto God, Depart from us: and what can the Almighty do for them?\r\n Yet he filled their houses with good things: but the counsel of the wicked is far from me.\r\n The righteous see it, and are glad: and the innocent laugh them to scorn.\r\n Whereas our substance is not cut down, but the remnant of them the fire consumeth.\r\n Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee.\r\n Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in thine heart.\r\n If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacles.\r\n Then shalt thou lay up gold as dust, and the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brooks.\r\n Yea, the Almighty shall be thy defence, and thou shalt have plenty of silver.\r\n For then shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face unto God.\r\n Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he shall hear thee, and thou shalt pay thy vows.\r\n Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways.\r\n When men are cast down, then thou shalt say, There is lifting up; and he shall save the humble person.\r\n He shall deliver the island of the innocent: and it is delivered by the pureness of thine hands.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then Job answered and said,\r\n Even to day is my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning.\r\n Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat!\r\n I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.\r\n I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me.\r\n Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me.\r\n There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge.\r\n Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him:\r\n On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him:\r\n But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.\r\n My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.\r\n Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.\r\n But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.\r\n For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him.\r\n Therefore am I troubled at his presence: when I consider, I am afraid of him.\r\n For God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me:\r\n Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither hath he covered the darkness from my face.\r\n \r\n \r\n Why, seeing times are not hidden from the Almighty, do they that know him not see his days?\r\n Some remove the landmarks; they violently take away flocks, and feed thereof.\r\n They drive away the ass of the fatherless, they take the widow's ox for a pledge.\r\n They turn the needy out of the way: the poor of the earth hide themselves together.\r\n Behold, as wild asses in the desert, go they forth to their work; rising betimes for a prey: the wilderness yieldeth food for them and for their children.\r\n They reap every one his corn in the field: and they gather the vintage of the wicked.\r\n They cause the naked to lodge without clothing, that they have no covering in the cold.\r\n They are wet with the showers of the mountains, and embrace the rock for want of a shelter.\r\n They pluck the fatherless from the breast, and take a pledge of the poor.\r\n They cause him to go naked without clothing, and they take away the sheaf from the hungry;\r\n Which make oil within their walls, and tread their winepresses, and suffer thirst.\r\n Men groan from out of the city, and the soul of the wounded crieth out: yet God layeth not folly to them.\r\n They are of those that rebel against the light; they know not the ways thereof, nor abide in the paths thereof.\r\n The murderer rising with the light killeth the poor and needy, and in the night is as a thief.\r\n The eye also of the adulterer waiteth for the twilight, saying, No eye shall see me: and disguiseth his face.\r\n In the dark they dig through houses, which they had marked for themselves in the daytime: they know not the light.\r\n For the morning is to them even as the shadow of death: if one know them, they are in the terrors of the shadow of death.\r\n He is swift as the waters; their portion is cursed in the earth: he beholdeth not the way of the vineyards.\r\n Drought and heat consume the snow waters: so doth the grave those which have sinned.\r\n The womb shall forget him; the worm shall feed sweetly on him; he shall be no more remembered; and wickedness shall be broken as a tree.\r\n He evil entreateth the barren that beareth not: and doeth not good to the widow.\r\n He draweth also the mighty with his power: he riseth up, and no man is sure of life.\r\n Though it be given him to be in safety, whereon he resteth; yet his eyes are upon their ways.\r\n They are exalted for a little while, but are gone and brought low; they are taken out of the way as all other, and cut off as the tops of the ears of corn.\r\n And if it be not so now, who will make me a liar, and make my speech nothing worth?\r\n \r\n \r\n Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,\r\n Dominion and fear are with him, he maketh peace in his high places.\r\n Is there any number of his armies? and upon whom doth not his light arise?\r\n How then can man be justified with God? or how can he be clean that is born of a woman?\r\n Behold even to the moon, and it shineth not; yea, the stars are not pure in his sight.\r\n How much less man, that is a worm? and the son of man, which is a worm?\r\n \r\n \r\n But Job answered and said,\r\n How hast thou helped him that is without power? how savest thou the arm that hath no strength?\r\n How hast thou counselled him that hath no wisdom? and how hast thou plentifully declared the thing as it is?\r\n To whom hast thou uttered words? and whose spirit came from thee?\r\n Dead things are formed from under the waters, and the inhabitants thereof.\r\n Hell is naked before him, and destruction hath no covering.\r\n He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing.\r\n He bindeth up the waters in his thick clouds; and the cloud is not rent under them.\r\n He holdeth back the face of his throne, and spreadeth his cloud upon it.\r\n He hath compassed the waters with bounds, until the day and night come to an end.\r\n The pillars of heaven tremble and are astonished at his reproof.\r\n He divideth the sea with his power, and by his understanding he smiteth through the proud.\r\n By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens; his hand hath formed the crooked serpent.\r\n Lo, these are parts of his ways: but how little a portion is heard of him? but the thunder of his power who can understand?\r\n \r\n \r\n Moreover Job continued his parable, and said,\r\n As God liveth, who hath taken away my judgment; and the Almighty, who hath vexed my soul;\r\n All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils;\r\n My lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit.\r\n God forbid that I should justify you: till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me.\r\n My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live.\r\n Let mine enemy be as the wicked, and he that riseth up against me as the unrighteous.\r\n For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul?\r\n Will God hear his cry when trouble cometh upon him?\r\n Will he delight himself in the Almighty? will he always call upon God?\r\n I will teach you by the hand of God: that which is with the Almighty will I not conceal.\r\n Behold, all ye yourselves have seen it; why then are ye thus altogether vain?\r\n This is the portion of a wicked man with God, and the heritage of oppressors, which they shall receive of the Almighty.\r\n If his children be multiplied, it is for the sword: and his offspring shall not be satisfied with bread.\r\n Those that remain of him shall be buried in death: and his widows shall not weep.\r\n Though he heap up silver as the dust, and prepare raiment as the clay;\r\n He may prepare it, but the just shall put it on, and the innocent shall divide the silver.\r\n He buildeth his house as a moth, and as a booth that the keeper maketh.\r\n The rich man shall lie down, but he shall not be gathered: he openeth his eyes, and he is not.\r\n Terrors take hold on him as waters, a tempest stealeth him away in the night.\r\n The east wind carrieth him away, and he departeth: and as a storm hurleth him out of his place.\r\n For God shall cast upon him, and not spare: he would fain flee out of his hand.\r\n Men shall clap their hands at him, and shall hiss him out of his place.\r\n \r\n \r\n Surely there is a vein for the silver, and a place for gold where they fine it.\r\n Iron is taken out of the earth, and brass is molten out of the stone.\r\n He setteth an end to darkness, and searcheth out all perfection: the stones of darkness, and the shadow of death.\r\n The flood breaketh out from the inhabitant; even the waters forgotten of the foot: they are dried up, they are gone away from men.\r\n As for the earth, out of it cometh bread: and under it is turned up as it were fire.\r\n The stones of it are the place of sapphires: and it hath dust of gold.\r\n There is a path which no fowl knoweth, and which the vulture's eye hath not seen:\r\n The lion's whelps have not trodden it, nor the fierce lion passed by it.\r\n He putteth forth his hand upon the rock; he overturneth the mountains by the roots.\r\n He cutteth out rivers among the rocks; and his eye seeth every precious thing.\r\n He bindeth the floods from overflowing; and the thing that is hid bringeth he forth to light.\r\n But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding?\r\n Man knoweth not the price thereof; neither is it found in the land of the living.\r\n The depth saith, It is not in me: and the sea saith, It is not with me.\r\n It cannot be gotten for gold, neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof.\r\n It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire.\r\n The gold and the crystal cannot equal it: and the exchange of it shall not be for jewels of fine gold.\r\n No mention shall be made of coral, or of pearls: for the price of wisdom is above rubies.\r\n The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it, neither shall it be valued with pure gold.\r\n Whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding?\r\n Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living, and kept close from the fowls of the air.\r\n Destruction and death say, We have heard the fame thereof with our ears.\r\n God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth the place thereof.\r\n For he looketh to the ends of the earth, and seeth under the whole heaven;\r\n To make the weight for the winds; and he weigheth the waters by measure.\r\n When he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder:\r\n Then did he see it, and declare it; he prepared it, yea, and searched it out.\r\n And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.\r\n \r\n \r\n Moreover Job continued his parable, and said,\r\n Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me;\r\n When his candle shined upon my head, and when by his light I walked through darkness;\r\n As I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of God was upon my tabernacle;\r\n When the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were about me;\r\n When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil;\r\n When I went out to the gate through the city, when I prepared my seat in the street!\r\n The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the aged arose, and stood up.\r\n The princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth.\r\n The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.\r\n When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me:\r\n Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him.\r\n The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.\r\n I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem.\r\n I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame.\r\n I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out.\r\n And I brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth.\r\n Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand.\r\n My root was spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch.\r\n My glory was fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in my hand.\r\n Unto me men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence at my counsel.\r\n After my words they spake not again; and my speech dropped upon them.\r\n And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.\r\n If I laughed on them, they believed it not; and the light of my countenance they cast not down.\r\n I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners.\r\n \r\n \r\n But now they that are younger than I have me in derision, whose fathers I would have disdained to have set with the dogs of my flock.\r\n Yea, whereto might the strength of their hands profit me, in whom old age was perished?\r\n For want and famine they were solitary; fleeing into the wilderness in former time desolate and waste.\r\n Who cut up mallows by the bushes, and juniper roots for their meat.\r\n They were driven forth from among men, (they cried after them as after a thief;)\r\n To dwell in the clifts of the valleys, in caves of the earth, and in the rocks.\r\n Among the bushes they brayed; under the nettles they were gathered together.\r\n They were children of fools, yea, children of base men: they were viler than the earth.\r\n And now am I their song, yea, I am their byword.\r\n They abhor me, they flee far from me, and spare not to spit in my face.\r\n Because he hath loosed my cord, and afflicted me, they have also let loose the bridle before me.\r\n Upon my right hand rise the youth; they push away my feet, and they raise up against me the ways of their destruction.\r\n They mar my path, they set forward my calamity, they have no helper.\r\n They came upon me as a wide breaking in of waters: in the desolation they rolled themselves upon me.\r\n Terrors are turned upon me: they pursue my soul as the wind: and my welfare passeth away as a cloud.\r\n And now my soul is poured out upon me; the days of affliction have taken hold upon me.\r\n My bones are pierced in me in the night season: and my sinews take no rest.\r\n By the great force of my disease is my garment changed: it bindeth me about as the collar of my coat.\r\n He hath cast me into the mire, and I am become like dust and ashes.\r\n I cry unto thee, and thou dost not hear me: I stand up, and thou regardest me not.\r\n Thou art become cruel to me: with thy strong hand thou opposest thyself against me.\r\n Thou liftest me up to the wind; thou causest me to ride upon it, and dissolvest my substance.\r\n For I know that thou wilt bring me to death, and to the house appointed for all living.\r\n Howbeit he will not stretch out his hand to the grave, though they cry in his destruction.\r\n Did not I weep for him that was in trouble? was not my soul grieved for the poor?\r\n When I looked for good, then evil came unto me: and when I waited for light, there came darkness.\r\n My bowels boiled, and rested not: the days of affliction prevented me.\r\n I went mourning without the sun: I stood up, and I cried in the congregation.\r\n I am a brother to dragons, and a companion to owls.\r\n My skin is black upon me, and my bones are burned with heat.\r\n My harp also is turned to mourning, and my organ into the voice of them that weep.\r\n \r\n \r\n I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?\r\n For what portion of God is there from above? and what inheritance of the Almighty from on high?\r\n Is not destruction to the wicked? and a strange punishment to the workers of iniquity?\r\n Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps?\r\n If I have walked with vanity, or if my foot hath hasted to deceit;\r\n Let me be weighed in an even balance, that God may know mine integrity.\r\n If my step hath turned out of the way, and mine heart walked after mine eyes, and if any blot hath cleaved to mine hands;\r\n Then let me sow, and let another eat; yea, let my offspring be rooted out.\r\n If mine heart have been deceived by a woman, or if I have laid wait at my neighbour's door;\r\n Then let my wife grind unto another, and let others bow down upon her.\r\n For this is an heinous crime; yea, it is an iniquity to be punished by the judges.\r\n For it is a fire that consumeth to destruction, and would root out all mine increase.\r\n If I did despise the cause of my manservant or of my maidservant, when they contended with me;\r\n What then shall I do when God riseth up? and when he visiteth, what shall I answer him?\r\n Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not one fashion us in the womb?\r\n If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail;\r\n Or have eaten my morsel myself alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof;\r\n (For from my youth he was brought up with me, as with a father, and I have guided her from my mother's womb;)\r\n If I have seen any perish for want of clothing, or any poor without covering;\r\n If his loins have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep;\r\n If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, when I saw my help in the gate:\r\n Then let mine arm fall from my shoulder blade, and mine arm be broken from the bone.\r\n For destruction from God was a terror to me, and by reason of his highness I could not endure.\r\n If I have made gold my hope, or have said to the fine gold, Thou art my confidence;\r\n If I rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because mine hand had gotten much;\r\n If I beheld the sun when it shined, or the moon walking in brightness;\r\n And my heart hath been secretly enticed, or my mouth hath kissed my hand:\r\n This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge: for I should have denied the God that is above.\r\n If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, or lifted up myself when evil found him:\r\n Neither have I suffered my mouth to sin by wishing a curse to his soul.\r\n If the men of my tabernacle said not, Oh that we had of his flesh! we cannot be satisfied.\r\n The stranger did not lodge in the street: but I opened my doors to the traveller.\r\n If I covered my transgressions as Adam, by hiding mine iniquity in my bosom:\r\n Did I fear a great multitude, or did the contempt of families terrify me, that I kept silence, and went not out of the door?\r\n Oh that one would hear me! behold, my desire is, that the Almighty would answer me, and that mine adversary had written a book.\r\n Surely I would take it upon my shoulder, and bind it as a crown to me.\r\n I would declare unto him the number of my steps; as a prince would I go near unto him.\r\n If my land cry against me, or that the furrows likewise thereof complain;\r\n If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, or have caused the owners thereof to lose their life:\r\n Let thistles grow instead of wheat, and cockle instead of barley. The words of Job are ended.\r\n \r\n \r\n So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.\r\n Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the kindred of Ram: against Job was his wrath kindled, because he justified himself rather than God.\r\n Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.\r\n Now Elihu had waited till Job had spoken, because they were elder than he.\r\n When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, then his wrath was kindled.\r\n And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said, I am young, and ye are very old; wherefore I was afraid, and durst not shew you mine opinion.\r\n I said, Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom.\r\n But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.\r\n Great men are not always wise: neither do the aged understand judgment.\r\n Therefore I said, Hearken to me; I also will shew mine opinion.\r\n Behold, I waited for your words; I gave ear to your reasons, whilst ye searched out what to say.\r\n Yea, I attended unto you, and, behold, there was none of you that convinced Job, or that answered his words:\r\n Lest ye should say, We have found out wisdom: God thrusteth him down, not man.\r\n Now he hath not directed his words against me: neither will I answer him with your speeches.\r\n They were amazed, they answered no more: they left off speaking.\r\n When I had waited, (for they spake not, but stood still, and answered no more;)\r\n I said, I will answer also my part, I also will shew mine opinion.\r\n For I am full of matter, the spirit within me constraineth me.\r\n Behold, my belly is as wine which hath no vent; it is ready to burst like new bottles.\r\n I will speak, that I may be refreshed: I will open my lips and answer.\r\n Let me not, I pray you, accept any man's person, neither let me give flattering titles unto man.\r\n For I know not to give flattering titles; in so doing my maker would soon take me away.\r\n \r\n \r\n Wherefore, Job, I pray thee, hear my speeches, and hearken to all my words.\r\n Behold, now I have opened my mouth, my tongue hath spoken in my mouth.\r\n My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart: and my lips shall utter knowledge clearly.\r\n The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.\r\n If thou canst answer me, set thy words in order before me, stand up.\r\n Behold, I am according to thy wish in God's stead: I also am formed out of the clay.\r\n Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, neither shall my hand be heavy upon thee.\r\n Surely thou hast spoken in mine hearing, and I have heard the voice of thy words, saying,\r\n I am clean without transgression, I am innocent; neither is there iniquity in me.\r\n Behold, he findeth occasions against me, he counteth me for his enemy,\r\n He putteth my feet in the stocks, he marketh all my paths.\r\n Behold, in this thou art not just: I will answer thee, that God is greater than man.\r\n Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters.\r\n For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not.\r\n In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed;\r\n Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction,\r\n That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man.\r\n He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.\r\n He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong pain:\r\n So that his life abhorreth bread, and his soul dainty meat.\r\n His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones that were not seen stick out.\r\n Yea, his soul draweth near unto the grave, and his life to the destroyers.\r\n If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his uprightness:\r\n Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom.\r\n His flesh shall be fresher than a child's: he shall return to the days of his youth:\r\n He shall pray unto God, and he will be favourable unto him: and he shall see his face with joy: for he will render unto man his righteousness.\r\n He looketh upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not;\r\n He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light.\r\n Lo, all these things worketh God oftentimes with man,\r\n To bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living.\r\n Mark well, O Job, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I will speak.\r\n If thou hast any thing to say, answer me: speak, for I desire to justify thee.\r\n If not, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I shall teach thee wisdom.\r\n \r\n \r\n Furthermore Elihu answered and said,\r\n Hear my words, O ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.\r\n For the ear trieth words, as the mouth tasteth meat.\r\n Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among ourselves what is good.\r\n For Job hath said, I am righteous: and God hath taken away my judgment.\r\n Should I lie against my right? my wound is incurable without transgression.\r\n What man is like Job, who drinketh up scorning like water?\r\n Which goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men.\r\n For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.\r\n Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness; and from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.\r\n For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.\r\n Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment.\r\n Who hath given him a charge over the earth? or who hath disposed the whole world?\r\n If he set his heart upon man, if he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath;\r\n All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust.\r\n If now thou hast understanding, hear this: hearken to the voice of my words.\r\n Shall even he that hateth right govern? and wilt thou condemn him that is most just?\r\n Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked? and to princes, Ye are ungodly?\r\n How much less to him that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? for they all are the work of his hands.\r\n In a moment shall they die, and the people shall be troubled at midnight, and pass away: and the mighty shall be taken away without hand.\r\n For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings.\r\n There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.\r\n For he will not lay upon man more than right; that he should enter into judgment with God.\r\n He shall break in pieces mighty men without number, and set others in their stead.\r\n Therefore he knoweth their works, and he overturneth them in the night, so that they are destroyed.\r\n He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others;\r\n Because they turned back from him, and would not consider any of his ways:\r\n So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he heareth the cry of the afflicted.\r\n When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble? and when he hideth his face, who then can behold him? whether it be done against a nation, or against a man only:\r\n That the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared.\r\n Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more:\r\n That which I see not teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more.\r\n Should it be according to thy mind? he will recompense it, whether thou refuse, or whether thou choose; and not I: therefore speak what thou knowest.\r\n Let men of understanding tell me, and let a wise man hearken unto me.\r\n Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were without wisdom.\r\n My desire is that Job may be tried unto the end because of his answers for wicked men.\r\n For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth his hands among us, and multiplieth his words against God.\r\n \r\n \r\n Elihu spake moreover, and said,\r\n Thinkest thou this to be right, that thou saidst, My righteousness is more than God's?\r\n For thou saidst, What advantage will it be unto thee? and, What profit shall I have, if I be cleansed from my sin?\r\n I will answer thee, and thy companions with thee.\r\n Look unto the heavens, and see; and behold the clouds which are higher than thou.\r\n If thou sinnest, what doest thou against him? or if thy transgressions be multiplied, what doest thou unto him?\r\n If thou be righteous, what givest thou him? or what receiveth he of thine hand?\r\n Thy wickedness may hurt a man as thou art; and thy righteousness may profit the son of man.\r\n By reason of the multitude of oppressions they make the oppressed to cry: they cry out by reason of the arm of the mighty.\r\n But none saith, Where is God my maker, who giveth songs in the night;\r\n Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, and maketh us wiser than the fowls of heaven?\r\n There they cry, but none giveth answer, because of the pride of evil men.\r\n Surely God will not hear vanity, neither will the Almighty regard it.\r\n Although thou sayest thou shalt not see him, yet judgment is before him; therefore trust thou in him.\r\n But now, because it is not so, he hath visited in his anger; yet he knoweth it not in great extremity:\r\n Therefore doth Job open his mouth in vain; he multiplieth words without knowledge.\r\n \r\n \r\n Elihu also proceeded, and said,\r\n Suffer me a little, and I will shew thee that I have yet to speak on God's behalf.\r\n I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.\r\n For truly my words shall not be false: he that is perfect in knowledge is with thee.\r\n Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom.\r\n He preserveth not the life of the wicked: but giveth right to the poor.\r\n He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: but with kings are they on the throne; yea, he doth establish them for ever, and they are exalted.\r\n And if they be bound in fetters, and be holden in cords of affliction;\r\n Then he sheweth them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded.\r\n He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity.\r\n If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.\r\n But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge.\r\n But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath: they cry not when he bindeth them.\r\n They die in youth, and their life is among the unclean.\r\n He delivereth the poor in his affliction, and openeth their ears in oppression.\r\n Even so would he have removed thee out of the strait into a broad place, where there is no straitness; and that which should be set on thy table should be full of fatness.\r\n But thou hast fulfilled the judgment of the wicked: judgment and justice take hold on thee.\r\n Because there is wrath, beware lest he take thee away with his stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver thee.\r\n Will he esteem thy riches? no, not gold, nor all the forces of strength.\r\n Desire not the night, when people are cut off in their place.\r\n Take heed, regard not iniquity: for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction.\r\n Behold, God exalteth by his power: who teacheth like him?\r\n Who hath enjoined him his way? or who can say, Thou hast wrought iniquity?\r\n Remember that thou magnify his work, which men behold.\r\n Every man may see it; man may behold it afar off.\r\n Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out.\r\n For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof:\r\n Which the clouds do drop and distil upon man abundantly.\r\n Also can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, or the noise of his tabernacle?\r\n Behold, he spreadeth his light upon it, and covereth the bottom of the sea.\r\n For by them judgeth he the people; he giveth meat in abundance.\r\n With clouds he covereth the light; and commandeth it not to shine by the cloud that cometh betwixt.\r\n The noise thereof sheweth concerning it, the cattle also concerning the vapour.\r\n \r\n \r\n At this also my heart trembleth, and is moved out of his place.\r\n Hear attentively the noise of his voice, and the sound that goeth out of his mouth.\r\n He directeth it under the whole heaven, and his lightning unto the ends of the earth.\r\n After it a voice roareth: he thundereth with the voice of his excellency; and he will not stay them when his voice is heard.\r\n God thundereth marvellously with his voice; great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend.\r\n For he saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength.\r\n He sealeth up the hand of every man; that all men may know his work.\r\n Then the beasts go into dens, and remain in their places.\r\n Out of the south cometh the whirlwind: and cold out of the north.\r\n By the breath of God frost is given: and the breadth of the waters is straitened.\r\n Also by watering he wearieth the thick cloud: he scattereth his bright cloud:\r\n And it is turned round about by his counsels: that they may do whatsoever he commandeth them upon the face of the world in the earth.\r\n He causeth it to come, whether for correction, or for his land, or for mercy.\r\n Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.\r\n Dost thou know when God disposed them, and caused the light of his cloud to shine?\r\n Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge?\r\n How thy garments are warm, when he quieteth the earth by the south wind?\r\n Hast thou with him spread out the sky, which is strong, and as a molten looking glass?\r\n Teach us what we shall say unto him; for we cannot order our speech by reason of darkness.\r\n Shall it be told him that I speak? if a man speak, surely he shall be swallowed up.\r\n And now men see not the bright light which is in the clouds: but the wind passeth, and cleanseth them.\r\n Fair weather cometh out of the north: with God is terrible majesty.\r\n Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict.\r\n Men do therefore fear him: he respecteth not any that are wise of heart.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,\r\n Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?\r\n Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.\r\n Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.\r\n Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?\r\n Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;\r\n When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?\r\n Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb?\r\n When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it,\r\n And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors,\r\n And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?\r\n Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place;\r\n That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it?\r\n It is turned as clay to the seal; and they stand as a garment.\r\n And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the high arm shall be broken.\r\n Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? or hast thou walked in the search of the depth?\r\n Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death?\r\n Hast thou perceived the breadth of the earth? declare if thou knowest it all.\r\n Where is the way where light dwelleth? and as for darkness, where is the place thereof,\r\n That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, and that thou shouldest know the paths to the house thereof?\r\n Knowest thou it, because thou wast then born? or because the number of thy days is great?\r\n Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail,\r\n Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?\r\n By what way is the light parted, which scattereth the east wind upon the earth?\r\n Who hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder;\r\n To cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is; on the wilderness, wherein there is no man;\r\n To satisfy the desolate and waste ground; and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth?\r\n Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of dew?\r\n Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it?\r\n The waters are hid as with a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.\r\n Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?\r\n Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons?\r\n Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth?\r\n Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee?\r\n Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we are?\r\n Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the heart?\r\n Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the bottles of heaven,\r\n When the dust groweth into hardness, and the clods cleave fast together?\r\n Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite of the young lions,\r\n When they couch in their dens, and abide in the covert to lie in wait?\r\n Who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat.\r\n \r\n \r\n Knowest thou the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth? or canst thou mark when the hinds do calve?\r\n Canst thou number the months that they fulfil? or knowest thou the time when they bring forth?\r\n They bow themselves, they bring forth their young ones, they cast out their sorrows.\r\n Their young ones are in good liking, they grow up with corn; they go forth, and return not unto them.\r\n Who hath sent out the wild ass free? or who hath loosed the bands of the wild ass?\r\n Whose house I have made the wilderness, and the barren land his dwellings.\r\n He scorneth the multitude of the city, neither regardeth he the crying of the driver.\r\n The range of the mountains is his pasture, and he searcheth after every green thing.\r\n Will the unicorn be willing to serve thee, or abide by thy crib?\r\n Canst thou bind the unicorn with his band in the furrow? or will he harrow the valleys after thee?\r\n Wilt thou trust him, because his strength is great? or wilt thou leave thy labour to him?\r\n Wilt thou believe him, that he will bring home thy seed, and gather it into thy barn?\r\n Gavest thou the goodly wings unto the peacocks? or wings and feathers unto the ostrich?\r\n Which leaveth her eggs in the earth, and warmeth them in dust,\r\n And forgetteth that the foot may crush them, or that the wild beast may break them.\r\n She is hardened against her young ones, as though they were not hers: her labour is in vain without fear;\r\n Because God hath deprived her of wisdom, neither hath he imparted to her understanding.\r\n What time she lifteth up herself on high, she scorneth the horse and his rider.\r\n Hast thou given the horse strength? hast thou clothed his neck with thunder?\r\n Canst thou make him afraid as a grasshopper? the glory of his nostrils is terrible.\r\n He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength: he goeth on to meet the armed men.\r\n He mocketh at fear, and is not affrighted; neither turneth he back from the sword.\r\n The quiver rattleth against him, the glittering spear and the shield.\r\n He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage: neither believeth he that it is the sound of the trumpet.\r\n He saith among the trumpets, Ha, ha; and he smelleth the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting.\r\n Doth the hawk fly by thy wisdom, and stretch her wings toward the south?\r\n Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high?\r\n She dwelleth and abideth on the rock, upon the crag of the rock, and the strong place.\r\n From thence she seeketh the prey, and her eyes behold afar off.\r\n Her young ones also suck up blood: and where the slain are, there is she.\r\n \r\n \r\n Moreover the LORD answered Job, and said,\r\n Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.\r\n Then Job answered the LORD, and said,\r\n Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.\r\n Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea, twice; but I will proceed no further.\r\n Then answered the LORD unto Job out of the whirlwind, and said,\r\n Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.\r\n Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous?\r\n Hast thou an arm like God? or canst thou thunder with a voice like him?\r\n Deck thyself now with majesty and excellency; and array thyself with glory and beauty.\r\n Cast abroad the rage of thy wrath: and behold every one that is proud, and abase him.\r\n Look on every one that is proud, and bring him low; and tread down the wicked in their place.\r\n Hide them in the dust together; and bind their faces in secret.\r\n Then will I also confess unto thee that thine own right hand can save thee.\r\n Behold now behemoth, which I made with thee; he eateth grass as an ox.\r\n Lo now, his strength is in his loins, and his force is in the navel of his belly.\r\n He moveth his tail like a cedar: the sinews of his stones are wrapped together.\r\n His bones are as strong pieces of brass; his bones are like bars of iron.\r\n He is the chief of the ways of God: he that made him can make his sword to approach unto him.\r\n Surely the mountains bring him forth food, where all the beasts of the field play.\r\n He lieth under the shady trees, in the covert of the reed, and fens.\r\n The shady trees cover him with their shadow; the willows of the brook compass him about.\r\n Behold, he drinketh up a river, and hasteth not: he trusteth that he can draw up Jordan into his mouth.\r\n He taketh it with his eyes: his nose pierceth through snares.\r\n \r\n \r\n Canst thou draw out leviathan with an hook? or his tongue with a cord which thou lettest down?\r\n Canst thou put an hook into his nose? or bore his jaw through with a thorn?\r\n Will he make many supplications unto thee? will he speak soft words unto thee?\r\n Will he make a covenant with thee? wilt thou take him for a servant for ever?\r\n Wilt thou play with him as with a bird? or wilt thou bind him for thy maidens?\r\n Shall the companions make a banquet of him? shall they part him among the merchants?\r\n Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons? or his head with fish spears?\r\n Lay thine hand upon him, remember the battle, do no more.\r\n Behold, the hope of him is in vain: shall not one be cast down even at the sight of him?\r\n None is so fierce that dare stir him up: who then is able to stand before me?\r\n Who hath prevented me, that I should repay him? whatsoever is under the whole heaven is mine.\r\n I will not conceal his parts, nor his power, nor his comely proportion.\r\n Who can discover the face of his garment? or who can come to him with his double bridle?\r\n Who can open the doors of his face? his teeth are terrible round about.\r\n His scales are his pride, shut up together as with a close seal.\r\n One is so near to another, that no air can come between them.\r\n They are joined one to another, they stick together, that they cannot be sundered.\r\n By his neesings a light doth shine, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning.\r\n Out of his mouth go burning lamps, and sparks of fire leap out.\r\n Out of his nostrils goeth smoke, as out of a seething pot or caldron.\r\n His breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth.\r\n In his neck remaineth strength, and sorrow is turned into joy before him.\r\n The flakes of his flesh are joined together: they are firm in themselves; they cannot be moved.\r\n His heart is as firm as a stone; yea, as hard as a piece of the nether millstone.\r\n When he raiseth up himself, the mighty are afraid: by reason of breakings they purify themselves.\r\n The sword of him that layeth at him cannot hold: the spear, the dart, nor the habergeon.\r\n He esteemeth iron as straw, and brass as rotten wood.\r\n The arrow cannot make him flee: slingstones are turned with him into stubble.\r\n Darts are counted as stubble: he laugheth at the shaking of a spear.\r\n Sharp stones are under him: he spreadeth sharp pointed things upon the mire.\r\n He maketh the deep to boil like a pot: he maketh the sea like a pot of ointment.\r\n He maketh a path to shine after him; one would think the deep to be hoary.\r\n Upon earth there is not his like, who is made without fear.\r\n He beholdeth all high things: he is a king over all the children of pride.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then Job answered the LORD, and said,\r\n I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee.\r\n Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.\r\n Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.\r\n I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.\r\n Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.\r\n And it was so, that after the LORD had spoken these words unto Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath.\r\n Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job.\r\n So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went, and did according as the LORD commanded them: the LORD also accepted Job.\r\n And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.\r\n Then came there unto him all his brethren, and all his sisters, and all they that had been of his acquaintance before, and did eat bread with him in his house: and they bemoaned him, and comforted him over all the evil that the LORD had brought upon him: every man also gave him a piece of money, and every one an earring of gold.\r\n So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses.\r\n He had also seven sons and three daughters.\r\n And he called the name of the first, Jemima; and the name of the second, Kezia; and the name of the third, Kerenhappuch.\r\n And in all the land were no women found so fair as the daughters of Job: and their father gave them inheritance among their brethren.\r\n After this lived Job an hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons' sons, even four generations.\r\n So Job died, being old and full of days.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.\r\n But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.\r\n And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.\r\n The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.\r\n Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.\r\n For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.\r\n \r\n \r\n Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?\r\n The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,\r\n Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.\r\n He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.\r\n Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.\r\n Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.\r\n I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.\r\n Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.\r\n Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.\r\n Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.\r\n Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.\r\n Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.\r\n \r\n \r\n A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son.\r\n LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me.\r\n Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah.\r\n But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.\r\n I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah.\r\n I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me.\r\n I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about.\r\n Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly.\r\n Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah.\r\n \r\n \r\n To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm of David.\r\n Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.\r\n O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah.\r\n But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him.\r\n Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.\r\n Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD.\r\n There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.\r\n Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased.\r\n I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.\r\n \r\n \r\n To the chief Musician upon Nehiloth, A Psalm of David.\r\n Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation.\r\n Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray.\r\n My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.\r\n For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee.\r\n The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity.\r\n Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the LORD will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.\r\n But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.\r\n Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face.\r\n For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue.\r\n Destroy thou them, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions; for they have rebelled against thee.\r\n But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.\r\n For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.\r\n \r\n \r\n To the chief Musician on Neginoth upon Sheminith, A Psalm of David.\r\n O LORD, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.\r\n Have mercy upon me, O LORD; for I am weak: O LORD, heal me; for my bones are vexed.\r\n My soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O LORD, how long?\r\n Return, O LORD, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies' sake.\r\n For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?\r\n I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears.\r\n Mine eye is consumed because of grief; it waxeth old because of all mine enemies.\r\n Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity; for the LORD hath heard the voice of my weeping.\r\n The LORD hath heard my supplication; the LORD will receive my prayer.\r\n Let all mine enemies be ashamed and sore vexed: let them return and be ashamed suddenly.\r\n \r\n \r\n Shiggaion of David, which he sang unto the LORD, concerning the words of Cush the Benjamite.\r\n O LORD my God, in thee do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me:\r\n Lest he tear my soul like a lion, rending it in pieces, while there is none to deliver.\r\n O LORD my God, if I have done this; if there be iniquity in my hands;\r\n If I have rewarded evil unto him that was at peace with me; (yea, I have delivered him that without cause is mine enemy:)\r\n Let the enemy persecute my soul, and take it; yea, let him tread down my life upon the earth, and lay mine honour in the dust. Selah.\r\n Arise, O LORD, in thine anger, lift up thyself because of the rage of mine enemies: and awake for me to the judgment that thou hast commanded.\r\n So shall the congregation of the people compass thee about: for their sakes therefore return thou on high.\r\n The LORD shall judge the people: judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity that is in me.\r\n Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins.\r\n My defence is of God, which saveth the upright in heart.\r\n God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.\r\n If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready.\r\n He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors.\r\n Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood.\r\n He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made.\r\n His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate.\r\n I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high.\r\n \r\n \r\n To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A Psalm of David.\r\n O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.\r\n Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.\r\n When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;\r\n What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?\r\n For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.\r\n Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:\r\n All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;\r\n The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.\r\n O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!\r\n \r\n \r\n To the chief Musician upon Muthlabben, A Psalm of David. \r\n I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.\r\n I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High.\r\n When mine enemies are turned back, they shall fall and perish at thy presence.\r\n For thou hast maintained my right and my cause; thou satest in the throne judging right.\r\n Thou hast rebuked the heathen, thou hast destroyed the wicked, thou hast put out their name for ever and ever.\r\n O thou enemy, destructions are come to a perpetual end: and thou hast destroyed cities; their memorial is perished with them.\r\n But the LORD shall endure for ever: he hath prepared his throne for judgment.\r\n And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness.\r\n The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.\r\n And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.\r\n Sing praises to the LORD, which dwelleth in Zion: declare among the people his doings.\r\n When he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them: he forgetteth not the cry of the humble.\r\n Have mercy upon me, O LORD; consider my trouble which I suffer of them that hate me, thou that liftest me up from the gates of death:\r\n That I may shew forth all thy praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion: I will rejoice in thy salvation.\r\n The heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made: in the net which they hid is their own foot taken.\r\n The LORD is known by the judgment which he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion. Selah.\r\n The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.\r\n For the needy shall not alway be forgotten: the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever.\r\n Arise, O LORD; let not man prevail: let the heathen be judged in thy sight.\r\n Put them in fear, O LORD: that the nations may know themselves to be but men. Selah.\r\n \r\n \r\n Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?\r\n The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined.\r\n For the wicked boasteth of his heart's desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth.\r\n The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.\r\n His ways are always grievous; thy judgments are far above out of his sight: as for all his enemies, he puffeth at them.\r\n He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity.\r\n His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity.\r\n He sitteth in the lurking places of the villages: in the secret places doth he murder the innocent: his eyes are privily set against the poor.\r\n He lieth in wait secretly as a lion in his den: he lieth in wait to catch the poor: he doth catch the poor, when he draweth him into his net.\r\n He croucheth, and humbleth himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones.\r\n He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see it.\r\n Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up thine hand: forget not the humble.\r\n Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God? he hath said in his heart, Thou wilt not require it.\r\n Thou hast seen it; for thou beholdest mischief and spite, to requite it with thy hand: the poor committeth himself unto thee; thou art the helper of the fatherless.\r\n Break thou the arm of the wicked and the evil man: seek out his wickedness till thou find none.\r\n The LORD is King for ever and ever: the heathen are perished out of his land.\r\n LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear:\r\n To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress.\r\n \r\n \r\n To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.\r\n In the LORD put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain?\r\n For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart.\r\n If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?\r\n The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD'S throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men.\r\n The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.\r\n Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.\r\n For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright.\r\n \r\n \r\n To the chief Musician upon Sheminith, A Psalm of David. \r\n Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.\r\n They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.\r\n The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things:\r\n Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us?\r\n For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him.\r\n The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.\r\n Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.\r\n The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted.\r\n \r\n \r\n To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. \r\n How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?\r\n How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?\r\n Consider and hear me, O LORD my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death;\r\n Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; and those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved.\r\n But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.\r\n I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.\r\n \r\n \r\n To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. \r\n The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.\r\n The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.\r\n They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.\r\n Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread, and call not upon the LORD.\r\n There were they in great fear: for God is in the generation of the righteous.\r\n Ye have shamed the counsel of the poor, because the LORD is his refuge.\r\n Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! when the LORD bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.\r\n \r\n \r\n A Psalm of David.\r\n LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?\r\n He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.\r\n He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.\r\n In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.\r\n He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.\r\n \r\n \r\n Michtam of David. \r\n Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust.\r\n O my soul, thou hast said unto the LORD, Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to thee;\r\n But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight.\r\n Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god: their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips.\r\n The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot.\r\n The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage.\r\n I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons.\r\n I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.\r\n Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.\r\n For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.\r\n Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.\r\n \r\n \r\n A Prayer of David.\r\n Hear the right, O LORD, attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips.\r\n Let my sentence come forth from thy presence; let thine eyes behold the things that are equal.\r\n Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.\r\n Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.\r\n Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.\r\n I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech.\r\n Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them.\r\n Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,\r\n From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about.\r\n They are inclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly.\r\n They have now compassed us in our steps: they have set their eyes bowing down to the earth;\r\n Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey, and as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.\r\n Arise, O LORD, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword:\r\n From men which are thy hand, O LORD, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure: they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes.\r\n As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.\r\n \r\n \r\n To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, the servant of the LORD, who spake unto the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul: And he said, \r\n I will love thee, O LORD, my strength.\r\n The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.\r\n I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.\r\n The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid.\r\n The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me.\r\n In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.\r\n Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because he was wroth.\r\n There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it.\r\n He bowed the heavens also, and came down: and darkness was under his feet.\r\n And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind.\r\n He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.\r\n At the brightness that was before him his thick clouds passed, hail stones and coals of fire.\r\n The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave his voice; hail stones and coals of fire.\r\n Yea, he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; and he shot out lightnings, and discomfited them.\r\n Then the channels of waters were seen, and the foundations of the world were discovered at thy rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of the breath of thy nostrils.\r\n He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters.\r\n He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me.\r\n They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay.\r\n He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me.\r\n The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.\r\n For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God.\r\n For all his judgments were before me, and I did not put away his statutes from me.\r\n I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity.\r\n Therefore hath the LORD recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight.\r\n With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright;\r\n With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward.\r\n For thou wilt save the afflicted people; but wilt bring down high looks.\r\n For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.\r\n For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall.\r\n As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.\r\n For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God?\r\n It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect.\r\n He maketh my feet like hinds' feet, and setteth me upon my high places.\r\n He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.\r\n Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great.\r\n Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip.\r\n I have pursued mine enemies, and overtaken them: neither did I turn again till they were consumed.\r\n I have wounded them that they were not able to rise: they are fallen under my feet.\r\n For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me.\r\n Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies; that I might destroy them that hate me.\r\n They cried, but there was none to save them: even unto the LORD, but he answered them not.\r\n Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind: I did cast them out as the dirt in the streets.\r\n Thou hast delivered me from the strivings of the people; and thou hast made me the head of the heathen: a people whom I have not known shall serve me.\r\n As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me: the strangers shall submit themselves unto me.\r\n The strangers shall fade away, and be afraid out of their close places.\r\n The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted.\r\n It is God that avengeth me, and subdueth the people under me.\r\n He delivereth me from mine enemies: yea, thou liftest me up above those that rise up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man.\r\n Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name.\r\n Great deliverance giveth he to his king; and sheweth mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his seed for evermore.\r\n \r\n \r\n To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. \r\n The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.\r\n Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.\r\n There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.\r\n Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,\r\n Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.\r\n His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.\r\n The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.\r\n The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.\r\n The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.\r\n More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.\r\n Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.\r\n Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.\r\n Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.\r\n Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.\r\n \r\n \r\n To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. \r\n The LORD hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee;\r\n Send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion;\r\n Remember all thy offerings, and accept thy burnt sacrifice; Selah.\r\n Grant thee according to thine own heart, and fulfil all thy counsel.\r\n We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the LORD fulfil all thy petitions.\r\n Now know I that the LORD saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand.\r\n Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.\r\n They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright.\r\n Save, LORD: let the king hear us when we call.\r\n \r\n \r\n To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. \r\n The king shall joy in thy strength, O LORD; and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!\r\n Thou hast given him his heart's desire, and hast not withholden the request of his lips. Selah.\r\n For thou preventest him with the blessings of goodness: thou settest a crown of pure gold on his head.\r\n He asked life of thee, and thou gavest it him, even length of days for ever and ever.\r\n His glory is great in thy salvation: honour and majesty hast thou laid upon him.\r\n For thou hast made him most blessed for ever: thou hast made him exceeding glad with thy countenance.\r\n For the king trusteth in the LORD, and through the mercy of the most High he shall not be moved.\r\n Thine hand shall find out all thine enemies: thy right hand shall find out those that hate thee.\r\n Thou shalt make them as a fiery oven in the time of thine anger: the LORD shall swallow them up in his wrath, and the fire shall devour them.\r\n Their fruit shalt thou destroy from the earth, and their seed from among the children of men.\r\n For they intended evil against thee: they imagined a mischievous device, which they are not able to perform.\r\n Therefore shalt thou make them turn their back, when thou shalt make ready thine arrows upon thy strings against the face of them.\r\n Be thou exalted, LORD, in thine own strength: so will we sing and praise thy power.\r\n \r\n \r\n To the chief Musician upon Aijeleth Shahar, A Psalm of David. \r\n My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?\r\n O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.\r\n But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.\r\n Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them.\r\n They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.\r\n But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.\r\n All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,\r\n He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.\r\n But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother's breasts.\r\n I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother's belly.\r\n Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help.\r\n Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.\r\n They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.\r\n I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.\r\n My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.\r\n For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.\r\n I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.\r\n They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.\r\n But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me.\r\n Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog.\r\n Save me from the lion's mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.\r\n I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.\r\n Ye that fear the LORD, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel.\r\n For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard.\r\n My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him.\r\n The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.\r\n All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.\r\n For the kingdom is the LORD'S: and he is the governor among the nations.\r\n All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul.\r\n A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.\r\n They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this.\r\n \r\n \r\n A Psalm of David. \r\n The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.\r\n He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.\r\n He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.\r\n Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.\r\n Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.\r\n Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.\r\n \r\n \r\n A Psalm of David.\r\n The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.\r\n For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.\r\n Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?\r\n He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.\r\n He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.\r\n This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.\r\n Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.\r\n Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.\r\n Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.\r\n Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.\r\n \r\n \r\n A Psalm of David. \r\n Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul.\r\n O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me.\r\n Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause.\r\n Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths.\r\n Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.\r\n Remember, O LORD, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old.\r\n Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness' sake, O LORD.\r\n Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way.\r\n The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.\r\n All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.\r\n For thy name's sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great.\r\n What man is he that feareth the LORD? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose.\r\n His soul shall dwell at ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth.\r\n The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.\r\n Mine eyes are ever toward the LORD; for he shall pluck my feet out of the net.\r\n Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; for I am desolate and afflicted.\r\n The troubles of my heart are enlarged: O bring thou me out of my distresses.\r\n Look upon mine affliction and my pain; and forgive all my sins.\r\n Consider mine enemies; for they are many; and they hate me with cruel hatred.\r\n O keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee.\r\n Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee.\r\n Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles.\r\n \r\n \r\n A Psalm of David. \r\n Judge me, O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the LORD; therefore I shall not slide.\r\n Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.\r\n For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth.\r\n I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers.\r\n I have hated the congregation of evil doers; and will not sit with the wicked.\r\n I will wash mine hands in innocency: so will I compass thine altar, O LORD:\r\n That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works.\r\n LORD, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth.\r\n Gather not my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloody men:\r\n In whose hands is mischief, and their right hand is full of bribes.\r\n But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity: redeem me, and be merciful unto me.\r\n My foot standeth in an even place: in the congregations will I bless the LORD.\r\n \r\n \r\n A Psalm of David. \r\n The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?\r\n When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.\r\n Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.\r\n One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.\r\n For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.\r\n And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.\r\n Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.\r\n When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.\r\n Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.\r\n When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.\r\n Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.\r\n Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.\r\n I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.\r\n Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.\r\n \r\n \r\n A Psalm of David.\r\n Unto thee will I cry, O LORD my rock; be not silent to me: lest, if thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit.\r\n Hear the voice of my supplications, when I cry unto thee, when I lift up my hands toward thy holy oracle.\r\n Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, which speak peace to their neighbours, but mischief is in their hearts.\r\n Give them according to their deeds, and according to the wickedness of their endeavours: give them after the work of their hands; render to them their desert.\r\n Because they regard not the works of the LORD, nor the operation of his hands, he shall destroy them, and not build them up.\r\n Blessed be the LORD, because he hath heard the voice of my supplications.\r\n The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.\r\n The LORD is their strength, and he is the saving strength of his anointed.\r\n Save thy people, and bless thine inheritance: feed them also, and lift them up for ever.\r\n \r\n \r\n A Psalm of David. \r\n Give unto the LORD, O ye mighty, give unto the LORD glory and strength.\r\n Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.\r\n The voice of the LORD is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the LORD is upon many waters.\r\n The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty.\r\n The voice of the LORD breaketh the cedars; yea, the LORD breaketh the cedars of Lebanon.\r\n He maketh them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young unicorn.\r\n The voice of the LORD divideth the flames of fire.\r\n The voice of the LORD shaketh the wilderness; the LORD shaketh the wilderness of Kadesh.\r\n The voice of the LORD maketh the hinds to calve, and discovereth the forests: and in his temple doth every one speak of his glory.\r\n The LORD sitteth upon the flood; yea, the LORD sitteth King for ever.\r\n The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace.\r\n \r\n \r\n A Psalm and Song at the dedication of the house of David. \r\n I will extol thee, O LORD; for thou hast lifted me up, and hast not made my foes to rejoice over me.\r\n O LORD my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me.\r\n O LORD, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.\r\n Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.\r\n For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.\r\n And in my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved.\r\n LORD, by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to stand strong: thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled.\r\n I cried to thee, O LORD; and unto the LORD I made supplication.\r\n What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise thee? shall it declare thy truth?\r\n Hear, O LORD, and have mercy upon me: LORD, be thou my helper.\r\n Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;\r\n To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.\r\n \r\n \r\n To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. \r\n In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness.\r\n Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me.\r\n For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me.\r\n Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me: for thou art my strength.\r\n Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth.\r\n I have hated them that regard lying vanities: but I trust in the LORD.\r\n I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in adversities;\r\n And hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy: thou hast set my feet in a large room.\r\n Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for I am in trouble: mine eye is consumed with grief, yea, my soul and my belly.\r\n For my life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing: my strength faileth because of mine iniquity, and my bones are consumed.\r\n I was a reproach among all mine enemies, but especially among my neighbours, and a fear to mine acquaintance: they that did see me without fled from me.\r\n I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel.\r\n For I have heard the slander of many: fear was on every side: while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life.\r\n But I trusted in thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my God.\r\n My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.\r\n Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies' sake.\r\n Let me not be ashamed, O LORD; for I have called upon thee: let the wicked be ashamed, and let them be silent in the grave.\r\n Let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.\r\n Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!\r\n Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.\r\n Blessed be the LORD: for he hath shewed me his marvellous kindness in a strong city.\r\n For I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes: nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee.\r\n O love the LORD, all ye his saints: for the LORD preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer.\r\n Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.\r\n \r\n \r\n A Psalm of David, Maschil. \r\n Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.\r\n Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.\r\n When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long.\r\n For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah.\r\n I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.\r\n For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him.\r\n Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.\r\n I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.\r\n Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.\r\n Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about.\r\n Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.\r\n \r\n \r\n Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.\r\n Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.\r\n Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.\r\n For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.\r\n He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.\r\n By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.\r\n He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses.\r\n Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.\r\n For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.\r\n The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect.\r\n The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.\r\n Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.\r\n The LORD looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men.\r\n From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth.\r\n He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works.\r\n There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength.\r\n An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength.\r\n Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;\r\n To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.\r\n Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield.\r\n For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.\r\n Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.\r\n \r\n \r\n A Psalm of David, when he changed his behaviour before Abimelech; who drove him away, and he departed. \r\n I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.\r\n My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.\r\n O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.\r\n I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.\r\n They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.\r\n This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.\r\n The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.\r\n O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.\r\n O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.\r\n The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.\r\n Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.\r\n What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?\r\n Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.\r\n Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.\r\n The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.\r\n The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.\r\n The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.\r\n The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.\r\n Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.\r\n He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.\r\n Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate.\r\n The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.\r\n \r\n \r\n Psalm of David.\r\n Plead my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me.\r\n Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help.\r\n Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me: say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.\r\n Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt.\r\n Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD chase them.\r\n Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the LORD persecute them.\r\n For without cause have they hid for me their net in a pit, which without cause they have digged for my soul.\r\n Let destruction come upon him at unawares; and let his net that he hath hid catch himself: into that very destruction let him fall.\r\n And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation.\r\n All my bones shall say, LORD, who is like unto thee, which deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him?\r\n False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that I knew not.\r\n They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling of my soul.\r\n But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom.\r\n I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother.\r\n But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: yea, the abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knew it not; they did tear me, and ceased not:\r\n With hypocritical mockers in feasts, they gnashed upon me with their teeth.\r\n Lord, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my soul from their destructions, my darling from the lions.\r\n I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people.\r\n Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause.\r\n For they speak not peace: but they devise deceitful matters against them that are quiet in the land.\r\n Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me, and said, Aha, aha, our eye hath seen it.\r\n This thou hast seen, O LORD: keep not silence: O Lord, be not far from me.\r\n Stir up thyself, and awake to my judgment, even unto my cause, my God and my Lord.\r\n Judge me, O LORD my God, according to thy righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me.\r\n Let them not say in their hearts, Ah, so would we have it: let them not say, We have swallowed him up.\r\n Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion together that rejoice at mine hurt: let them be clothed with shame and dishonour that magnify themselves against me.\r\n Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.\r\n And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long.\r\n \r\n \r\n To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David the servant of the LORD. \r\n The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes.\r\n For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful.\r\n The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, and to do good.\r\n He deviseth mischief upon his bed; he setteth himself in a way that is not good; he abhorreth not evil.\r\n Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.\r\n Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O LORD, thou preservest man and beast.\r\n How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.\r\n They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures.\r\n For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.\r\n O continue thy lovingkindness unto them that know thee; and thy righteousness to the upright in heart.\r\n Let not the foot of pride come against me, and let not the hand of the wicked remove me.\r\n There are the workers of iniquity fallen: they are cast down, and shall not be able to rise.\r\n \r\n \r\n A Psalm of David. \r\n Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.\r\n For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.\r\n Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.\r\n Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.\r\n Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.\r\n And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.\r\n Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.\r\n Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.\r\n For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.\r\n For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.\r\n But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.\r\n The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.\r\n The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.\r\n The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation.\r\n Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.\r\n A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.\r\n For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the LORD upholdeth the righteous.\r\n The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.\r\n They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.\r\n But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.\r\n The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth.\r\n For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.\r\n The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.\r\n Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.\r\n I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.\r\n He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.\r\n Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.\r\n For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.\r\n The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.\r\n The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.\r\n The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.\r\n The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him.\r\n The LORD will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.\r\n Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.\r\n I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree.\r\n Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.\r\n Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.\r\n But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off.\r\n But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble.\r\n And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.\r\n \r\n \r\n A Psalm of David, to bring to remembrance. \r\n O LORD, rebuke me not in thy wrath: neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.\r\n For thine arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand presseth me sore.\r\n There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin.\r\n For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me.\r\n My wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness.\r\n I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long.\r\n For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease: and there is no soundness in my flesh.\r\n I am feeble and sore broken: I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart.\r\n Lord, all my desire is before thee; and my groaning is not hid from thee.\r\n My heart panteth, my strength faileth me: as for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me.\r\n My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore; and my kinsmen stand afar off.\r\n They also that seek after my life lay snares for me: and they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and imagine deceits all the day long.\r\n But I, as a deaf man, heard not; and I was as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth.\r\n Thus I was as a man that heareth not, and in whose mouth are no reproofs.\r\n For in thee, O LORD, do I hope: thou wilt hear, O Lord my God.\r\n For I said, Hear me, lest otherwise they should rejoice over me: when my foot slippeth, they magnify themselves against me.\r\n For I am ready to halt, and my sorrow is continually before me.\r\n For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.\r\n But mine enemies are lively, and they are strong: and they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied.\r\n They also that render evil for good are mine adversaries; because I follow the thing that good is.\r\n Forsake me not, O LORD: O my God, be not far from me.\r\n Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation.\r\n \r\n \r\n To the chief Musician, even to Jeduthun, A Psalm of David. \r\n I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.\r\n I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; and my sorrow was stirred.\r\n My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: then spake I with my tongue,\r\n LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am.\r\n Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.\r\n Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.\r\n And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee.\r\n Deliver me from all my transgressions: make me not the reproach of the foolish.\r\n I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; because thou didst it.\r\n Remove thy stroke away from me: I am consumed by the blow of thine hand.\r\n When thou with rebukes dost correct man for iniquity, thou makest his beauty to consume away like a moth: surely every man is vanity. Selah.\r\n Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear unto my cry; hold not thy peace at my tears: for I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner, as all my fathers were.\r\n O spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go hence, and be no more.\r\n \r\n \r\n To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. \r\n I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.\r\n He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.\r\n And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.\r\n Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.\r\n Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.\r\n Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.\r\n Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me,\r\n I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.\r\n I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest.\r\n I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation.\r\n Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O LORD: let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me.\r\n For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine head: therefore my heart faileth me.\r\n Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me: O LORD, make haste to help me.\r\n Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destroy it; let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil.\r\n Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame that say unto me, Aha, aha.\r\n Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified.\r\n But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.\r\n \r\n \r\n To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. \r\n Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.\r\n The LORD will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies.\r\n The LORD will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.\r\n I said, LORD, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee.\r\n Mine enemies speak evil of me, When shall he die, and his name perish?\r\n And if he come to see me, he speaketh vanity: his heart gathereth iniquity to itself; when he goeth abroad, he telleth it.\r\n All that hate me whisper together against me: against me do they devise my hurt.\r\n An evil disease, say they, cleaveth fast unto him: and now that he lieth he shall rise up no more.\r\n Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.\r\n But thou, O LORD, be merciful unto me, and raise me up, that I may requite them.\r\n By this I know that thou favourest me, because mine enemy doth not triumph over me.\r\n And as for me, thou upholdest me in mine integrity, and settest me before thy face for ever.\r\n Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen.\r\n \r\n \r\n To the chief Musician, Maschil, for the sons of Korah. \r\n As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.\r\n My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?\r\n My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?\r\n When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday.\r\n Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.\r\n O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar.\r\n Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.\r\n Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.\r\n I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?\r\n As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God?\r\n Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.\r\n \r\n \r\n Judge me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation: O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man.\r\n For thou art the God of my strength: why dost thou cast me off? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?\r\n O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles.\r\n Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God.\r\n Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.\r\n \r\n \r\n To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, Maschil. \r\n We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, what work thou didst in their days, in the times of old.\r\n How thou didst drive out the heathen with thy hand, and plantedst them; how thou didst afflict the people, and cast them out.\r\n For they got not the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them: but thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, because thou hadst a favour unto them.\r\n Thou art my King, O God: command deliverances for Jacob.\r\n Through thee will we push down our enemies: through thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us.\r\n For I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me.\r\n But thou hast saved us from our enemies, and hast put them to shame that hated us.\r\n In God we boast all the day long, and praise thy name for ever. Selah.\r\n But thou hast cast off, and put us to shame; and goest not forth with our armies.\r\n Thou makest us to turn back from the enemy: and they which hate us spoil for themselves.\r\n Thou hast given us like sheep appointed for meat; and hast scattered us among the heathen.\r\n Thou sellest thy people for nought, and dost not increase thy wealth by their price.\r\n Thou makest us a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and a derision to them that are round about us.\r\n Thou makest us a byword among the heathen, a shaking of the head among the people.\r\n My confusion is continually before me, and the shame of my face hath covered me,\r\n For the voice of him that reproacheth and blasphemeth; by reason of the enemy and avenger.\r\n All this is come upon us; yet have we not forgotten thee, neither have we dealt falsely in thy covenant.\r\n Our heart is not turned back, neither have our steps declined from thy way;\r\n Though thou hast sore broken us in the place of dragons, and covered us with the shadow of death.\r\n If we have forgotten the name of our God, or stretched out our hands to a strange god;\r\n Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.\r\n Yea, for thy sake are we killed all the day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter.\r\n Awake, why sleepest thou, O Lord? arise, cast us not off for ever.\r\n Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and forgettest our affliction and our oppression?\r\n For our soul is bowed down to the dust: our belly cleaveth unto the earth.\r\n Arise for our help, and redeem us for thy mercies' sake.\r\n \r\n \r\n To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim, for the sons of Korah, Maschil, A Song of loves. \r\n My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.\r\n Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee for ever.\r\n Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty.\r\n And in thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things.\r\n Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the king's enemies; whereby the people fall under thee.\r\n Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre.\r\n Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.\r\n All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad.\r\n Kings' daughters were among thy honourable women: upon thy right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir.\r\n Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also thine own people, and thy father's house;\r\n So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: for he is thy Lord; and worship thou him.\r\n And the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift; even the rich among the people shall intreat thy favour.\r\n The king's daughter is all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold.\r\n She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework: the virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee.\r\n With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought: they shall enter into the king's palace.\r\n Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children, whom thou mayest make princes in all the earth.\r\n I will make thy name to be remembered in all generations: therefore shall the people praise thee for ever and ever.\r\n \r\n \r\n To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth. \r\n God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.\r\n Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;\r\n Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.\r\n There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.\r\n God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.\r\n The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.\r\n The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.\r\n Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth.\r\n He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.\r\n Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.\r\n The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.\r\n \r\n \r\n To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah.\r\n O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.\r\n For the LORD most high is terrible; he is a great King over all the earth.\r\n He shall subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet.\r\n He shall choose our inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom he loved. Selah.\r\n God is gone up with a shout, the LORD with the sound of a trumpet.\r\n Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises.\r\n For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding.\r\n God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness.\r\n The princes of the people are gathered together, even the people of the God of Abraham: for the shields of the earth belong unto God: he is greatly exalted.\r\n \r\n \r\n A Song and Psalm for the sons of Korah.\r\n Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness.\r\n Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.\r\n God is known in her palaces for a refuge.\r\n For, lo, the kings were assembled, they passed by together.\r\n They saw it, and so they marvelled; they were troubled, and hasted away.\r\n Fear took hold upon them there, and pain, as of a woman in travail.\r\n Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish with an east wind.\r\n As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the LORD of hosts, in the city of our God: God will establish it for ever. Selah.\r\n We have thought of thy lovingkindness, O God, in the midst of thy temple.\r\n According to thy name, O God, so is thy praise unto the ends of the earth: thy right hand is full of righteousness.\r\n Let mount Zion rejoice, let the daughters of Judah be glad, because of thy judgments.\r\n Walk about Zion, and go round about her: tell the towers thereof.\r\n Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces; that ye may tell it to the generation following.\r\n For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.\r\n \r\n \r\n To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah. \r\n Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world:\r\n Both low and high, rich and poor, together.\r\n My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.\r\n I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp.\r\n Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my heels shall compass me about?\r\n They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;\r\n None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:\r\n For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:)\r\n That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption.\r\n For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others.\r\n Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names.\r\n Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish.\r\n This their way is their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings. Selah.\r\n Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling.\r\n But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah.\r\n Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased;\r\n For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him.\r\n Though while he lived he blessed his soul: and men will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself.\r\n He shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light.\r\n Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.\r\n \r\n \r\n A Psalm of Asaph. \r\n The mighty God, even the LORD, hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof.\r\n Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined.\r\n Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him.\r\n He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people.\r\n Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.\r\n And the heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God is judge himself. Selah.\r\n Hear, O my people, and I will speak; O Israel, and I will testify against thee: I am God, even thy God.\r\n I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices or thy burnt offerings, to have been continually before me.\r\n I will take no bullock out of thy house, nor he goats out of thy folds.\r\n For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.\r\n I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine.\r\n If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.\r\n Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats?\r\n Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High:\r\n And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.\r\n But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth?\r\n Seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thee.\r\n When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him, and hast been partaker with adulterers.\r\n Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit.\r\n Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother; thou slanderest thine own mother's son.\r\n These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes.\r\n Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver.\r\n Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God.\r\n \r\n \r\n To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. \r\n Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.\r\n Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.\r\n For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.\r\n Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.\r\n Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.\r\n Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.\r\n Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.\r\n Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.\r\n Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.\r\n Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.\r\n Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.\r\n Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.\r\n Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.\r\n Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.\r\n O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.\r\n For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.\r\n The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.\r\n Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.\r\n Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.\r\n \r\n \r\n To the chief Musician, Maschil, A Psalm of David, when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul, and said unto him, David is come to the house of Ahimelech. \r\n Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? the goodness of God endureth continually.\r\n Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.\r\n Thou lovest evil more than good; and lying rather than to speak righteousness. Selah.\r\n Thou lovest all devouring words, O thou deceitful tongue.\r\n God shall likewise destroy thee for ever, he shall take thee away, and pluck thee out of thy dwelling place, and root thee out of the land of the living. Selah.\r\n The righteous also shall see, and fear, and shall laugh at him:\r\n Lo, this is the man that made not God his strength; but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness.\r\n But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever.\r\n I will praise thee for ever, because thou hast done it: and I will wait on thy name; for it is good before thy saints.\r\n \r\n \r\n To the chief Musician upon Mahalath, Maschil, A Psalm of David. \r\n The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good.\r\n God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God.\r\n Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.\r\n Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread: they have not called upon God.\r\n There were they in great fear, where no fear was: for God hath scattered the bones of him that encampeth against thee: thou hast put them to shame, because God hath despised them.\r\n Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! When God bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.\r\n \r\n \r\n To the chief Musician on Neginoth, Maschil, A Psalm of David, when the Ziphims came and said to Saul, Doth not David hide himself with us? \r\n Save me, O God, by thy name, and judge me by thy strength.\r\n Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth.\r\n For strangers are risen up against me, and oppressors seek after my soul: they have not set God before them. Selah.\r\n Behold, God is mine helper: the Lord is with them that uphold my soul.\r\n He shall reward evil unto mine enemies: cut them off in thy truth.\r\n I will freely sacrifice unto thee: I will praise thy name, O LORD; for it is good.\r\n For he hath delivered me out of all trouble: and mine eye hath seen his desire upon mine enemies.\r\n \r\n \r\n To the chief Musician on Neginoth, Maschil, A Psalm of David. \r\n Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication.\r\n Attend unto me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise;\r\n Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked: for they cast iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hate me.\r\n My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.\r\n Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me.\r\n And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest.\r\n Lo, then would I wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. Selah.\r\n I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest.\r\n Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.\r\n Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof: mischief also and sorrow are in the midst of it.\r\n Wickedness is in the midst thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streets.\r\n For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him:\r\n But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance.\r\n We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.\r\n Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them.\r\n As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me.\r\n Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.\r\n He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for there were many with me.\r\n God shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God.\r\n He hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him: he hath broken his covenant.\r\n The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.\r\n Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.\r\n But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee.\r\n \r\n \r\n To the chief Musician upon Jonathelemrechokim, Michtam of David, when the Philistines took him in Gath. \r\n Be merciful unto me, O God: for man would swallow me up; he fighting daily oppresseth me.\r\n Mine enemies would daily swallow me up: for they be many that fight against me, O thou most High.\r\n What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.\r\n In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.\r\n Every day they wrest my words: all their thoughts are against me for evil.\r\n They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, they mark my steps, when they wait for my soul.\r\n Shall they escape by iniquity? in thine anger cast down the people, O God.\r\n Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?\r\n When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me.\r\n In God will I praise his word: in the LORD will I praise his word.\r\n In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.\r\n Thy vows are upon me, O God: I will render praises unto thee.\r\n For thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living?\r\n \r\n \r\n To the chief Musician, Altaschith, Michtam of David, when he fled from Saul in the cave. \r\n Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.\r\n I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me.\r\n He shall send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth.\r\n My soul is among lions: and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.\r\n Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; let thy glory be above all the earth.\r\n They have prepared a net for my steps; my soul is bowed down: they have digged a pit before me, into the midst whereof they are fallen themselves. Selah.\r\n My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise.\r\n Awake up, my glory; awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early.\r\n I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people: I will sing unto thee among the nations.\r\n For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds.\r\n Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: let thy glory be above all the earth.\r\n \r\n \r\n To the chief Musician, Altaschith, Michtam of David. \r\n Do ye indeed speak righteousness, O congregation? do ye judge uprightly, O ye sons of men?\r\n Yea, in heart ye work wickedness; ye weigh the violence of your hands in the earth.\r\n The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.\r\n Their poison is like the poison of a serpent: they are like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear;\r\n Which will not hearken to the voice of charmers, charming never so wisely.\r\n Break their teeth, O God, in their mouth: break out the great teeth of the young lions, O LORD.\r\n Let them melt away as waters which run continually: when he bendeth his bow to shoot his arrows, let them be as cut in pieces.\r\n As a snail which melteth, let every one of them pass away: like the untimely birth of a woman, that they may not see the sun.\r\n Before your pots can feel the thorns, he shall take them away as with a whirlwind, both living, and in his wrath.\r\n The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance: he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked.\r\n So that a man shall say, Verily there is a reward for the righteous: verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth.\r\n \r\n \r\n To the chief Musician, Altaschith, Michtam of David; when Saul sent, and they watched the house to kill him. \r\n Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God: defend me from them that rise up against me.\r\n Deliver me from the workers of iniquity, and save me from bloody men.\r\n For, lo, they lie in wait for my soul: the mighty are gathered against me; not for my transgression, nor for my sin, O LORD.\r\n They run and prepare themselves without my fault: awake to help me, and behold.\r\n Thou therefore, O LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel, awake to visit all the heathen: be not merciful to any wicked transgressors. Selah.\r\n They return at evening: they make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city.\r\n Behold, they belch out with their mouth: swords are in their lips: for who, say they, doth hear?\r\n But thou, O LORD, shalt laugh at them; thou shalt have all the heathen in derision.\r\n Because of his strength will I wait upon thee: for God is my defence.\r\n The God of my mercy shall prevent me: God shall let me see my desire upon mine enemies.\r\n Slay them not, lest my people forget: scatter them by thy power; and bring them down, O Lord our shield.\r\n For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips let them even be taken in their pride: and for cursing and lying which they speak.\r\n Consume them in wrath, consume them, that they may not be: and let them know that God ruleth in Jacob unto the ends of the earth. Selah.\r\n And at evening let them return; and let them make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city.\r\n Let them wander up and down for meat, and grudge if they be not satisfied.\r\n But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble.\r\n Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defence, and the God of my mercy.\r\n \r\n \r\n To the chief Musician upon Shushaneduth, Michtam of David, to teach; when he strove with Aramnaharaim and with Aramzobah, when Joab returned, and smote of Edom in the valley of salt twelve thousand. \r\n O God, thou hast cast us off, thou hast scattered us, thou hast been displeased; O turn thyself to us again.\r\n Thou hast made the earth to tremble; thou hast broken it: heal the breaches thereof; for it shaketh.\r\n Thou hast shewed thy people hard things: thou hast made us to drink the wine of astonishment.\r\n Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah.\r\n That thy beloved may be delivered; save with thy right hand, and hear me.\r\n God hath spoken in his holiness; I will rejoice, I will divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth.\r\n Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine; Ephraim also is the strength of mine head; Judah is my lawgiver;\r\n Moab is my washpot; over Edom will I cast out my shoe: Philistia, triumph thou because of me.\r\n Who will bring me into the strong city? who will lead me into Edom?\r\n Wilt not thou, O God, which hadst cast us off? and thou, O God, which didst not go out with our armies?\r\n Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man.\r\n Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies.\r\n \r\n \r\n To the chief Musician upon Neginah, A Psalm of David. \r\n Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.\r\n From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.\r\n For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.\r\n I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah.\r\n For thou, O God, hast heard my vows: thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy name.\r\n Thou wilt prolong the king's life: and his years as many generations.\r\n He shall abide before God for ever: O prepare mercy and truth, which may preserve him.\r\n So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows.\r\n \r\n \r\n To the chief Musician, to Jeduthun, A Psalm of David. \r\n Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation.\r\n He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved.\r\n How long will ye imagine mischief against a man? ye shall be slain all of you: as a bowing wall shall ye be, and as a tottering fence.\r\n They only consult to cast him down from his excellency: they delight in lies: they bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. Selah.\r\n My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.\r\n He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved.\r\n In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.\r\n Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.\r\n Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie: to be laid in the balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity.\r\n Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery: if riches increase, set not your heart upon them.\r\n God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God.\r\n Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy: for thou renderest to every man according to his work.\r\n \r\n \r\n A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. \r\n O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;\r\n To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.\r\n Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.\r\n Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.\r\n My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips:\r\n When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.\r\n Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.\r\n My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.\r\n But those that seek my soul, to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts of the earth.\r\n They shall fall by the sword: they shall be a portion for foxes.\r\n But the king shall rejoice in God; every one that sweareth by him shall glory: but the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped.\r\n \r\n \r\n To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. \r\n Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer: preserve my life from fear of the enemy.\r\n Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked; from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity:\r\n Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words:\r\n That they may shoot in secret at the perfect: suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not.\r\n They encourage themselves in an evil matter: they commune of laying snares privily; they say, Who shall see them?\r\n They search out iniquities; they accomplish a diligent search: both the inward thought of every one of them, and the heart, is deep.\r\n But God shall shoot at them with an arrow; suddenly shall they be wounded.\r\n So they shall make their own tongue to fall upon themselves: all that see them shall flee away.\r\n And all men shall fear, and shall declare the work of God; for they shall wisely consider of his doing.\r\n The righteous shall be glad in the LORD, and shall trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory.\r\n \r\n \r\n To the chief Musician, A Psalm and Song of David. \r\n Praise waiteth for thee, O God, in Sion: and unto thee shall the vow be performed.\r\n O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come.\r\n Iniquities prevail against me: as for our transgressions, thou shalt purge them away.\r\n Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.\r\n By terrible things in righteousness wilt thou answer us, O God of our salvation; who art the confidence of all the ends of the earth, and of them that are afar off upon the sea:\r\n Which by his strength setteth fast the mountains; being girded with power:\r\n Which stilleth the noise of the seas, the noise of their waves, and the tumult of the people.\r\n They also that dwell in the uttermost parts are afraid at thy tokens: thou makest the outgoings of the morning and evening to rejoice.\r\n Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it: thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God, which is full of water: thou preparest them corn, when thou hast so provided for it.\r\n Thou waterest the ridges thereof abundantly: thou settlest the furrows thereof: thou makest it soft with showers: thou blessest the springing thereof.\r\n Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; and thy paths drop fatness.\r\n They drop upon the pastures of the wilderness: and the little hills rejoice on every side.\r\n The pastures are clothed with flocks; the valleys also are covered over with corn; they shout for joy, they also sing.\r\n \r\n \r\n To the chief Musician, A Song or Psalm. \r\n Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands:\r\n Sing forth the honour of his name: make his praise glorious.\r\n Say unto God, How terrible art thou in thy works! through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee.\r\n All the earth shall worship thee, and shall sing unto thee; they shall sing to thy name. Selah.\r\n Come and see the works of God: he is terrible in his doing toward the children of men.\r\n He turned the sea into dry land: they went through the flood on foot: there did we rejoice in him.\r\n He ruleth by his power for ever; his eyes behold the nations: let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah.\r\n O bless our God, ye people, and make the voice of his praise to be heard:\r\n Which holdeth our soul in life, and suffereth not our feet to be moved.\r\n For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried.\r\n Thou broughtest us into the net; thou laidst affliction upon our loins.\r\n Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water: but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place.\r\n I will go into thy house with burnt offerings: I will pay thee my vows,\r\n Which my lips have uttered, and my mouth hath spoken, when I was in trouble.\r\n I will offer unto thee burnt sacrifices of fatlings, with the incense of rams; I will offer bullocks with goats. Selah.\r\n Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul.\r\n I cried unto him with my mouth, and he was extolled with my tongue.\r\n If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:\r\n But verily God hath heard me; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer.\r\n Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me.\r\n \r\n \r\n To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm or Song. \r\n God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; Selah.\r\n That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations.\r\n Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee.\r\n O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. Selah.\r\n Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee.\r\n Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us.\r\n God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear him.\r\n \r\n \r\n To the chief Musician, A Psalm or Song of David. \r\n Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him.\r\n As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.\r\n But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice.\r\n Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH, and rejoice before him.\r\n A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.\r\n God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land.\r\n O God, when thou wentest forth before thy people, when thou didst march through the wilderness; Selah:\r\n The earth shook, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God: even Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel.\r\n Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain, whereby thou didst confirm thine inheritance, when it was weary.\r\n Thy congregation hath dwelt therein: thou, O God, hast prepared of thy goodness for the poor.\r\n The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.\r\n Kings of armies did flee apace: and she that tarried at home divided the spoil.\r\n Though ye have lien among the pots, yet shall ye be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold.\r\n When the Almighty scattered kings in it, it was white as snow in Salmon.\r\n The hill of God is as the hill of Bashan; an high hill as the hill of Bashan.\r\n Why leap ye, ye high hills? this is the hill which God desireth to dwell in; yea, the LORD will dwell in it for ever.\r\n The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place.\r\n Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them.\r\n Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.\r\n He that is our God is the God of salvation; and unto GOD the Lord belong the issues from death.\r\n But God shall wound the head of his enemies, and the hairy scalp of such an one as goeth on still in his trespasses.\r\n The Lord said, I will bring again from Bashan, I will bring my people again from the depths of the sea:\r\n That thy foot may be dipped in the blood of thine enemies, and the tongue of thy dogs in the same.\r\n They have seen thy goings, O God; even the goings of my God, my King, in the sanctuary.\r\n The singers went before, the players on instruments followed after; among them were the damsels playing with timbrels.\r\n Bless ye God in the congregations, even the Lord, from the fountain of Israel.\r\n There is little Benjamin with their ruler, the princes of Judah and their council, the princes of Zebulun, and the princes of Naphtali.\r\n Thy God hath commanded thy strength: strengthen, O God, that which thou hast wrought for us.\r\n Because of thy temple at Jerusalem shall kings bring presents unto thee.\r\n Rebuke the company of spearmen, the multitude of the bulls, with the calves of the people, till every one submit himself with pieces of silver: scatter thou the people that delight in war.\r\n Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God.\r\n Sing unto God, ye kingdoms of the earth; O sing praises unto the Lord; Selah:\r\n To him that rideth upon the heavens of heavens, which were of old; lo, he doth send out his voice, and that a mighty voice.\r\n Ascribe ye strength unto God: his excellency is over Israel, and his strength is in the clouds.\r\n O God, thou art terrible out of thy holy places: the God of Israel is he that giveth strength and power unto his people. Blessed be God.\r\n \r\n \r\n To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim, A Psalm of David. \r\n Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul.\r\n I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me.\r\n I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God.\r\n They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head: they that would destroy me, being mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty: then I restored that which I took not away.\r\n O God, thou knowest my foolishness; and my sins are not hid from thee.\r\n Let not them that wait on thee, O Lord GOD of hosts, be ashamed for my sake: let not those that seek thee be confounded for my sake, O God of Israel.\r\n Because for thy sake I have borne reproach; shame hath covered my face.\r\n I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mother's children.\r\n For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.\r\n When I wept, and chastened my soul with fasting, that was to my reproach.\r\n I made sackcloth also my garment; and I became a proverb to them.\r\n They that sit in the gate speak against me; and I was the song of the drunkards.\r\n But as for me, my prayer is unto thee, O LORD, in an acceptable time: O God, in the multitude of thy mercy hear me, in the truth of thy salvation.\r\n Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink: let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters.\r\n Let not the waterflood overflow me, neither let the deep swallow me up, and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me.\r\n Hear me, O LORD; for thy lovingkindness is good: turn unto me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies.\r\n And hide not thy face from thy servant; for I am in trouble: hear me speedily.\r\n Draw nigh unto my soul, and redeem it: deliver me because of mine enemies.\r\n Thou hast known my reproach, and my shame, and my dishonour: mine adversaries are all before thee.\r\n Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none.\r\n They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.\r\n Let their table become a snare before them: and that which should have been for their welfare, let it become a trap.\r\n Let their eyes be darkened, that they see not; and make their loins continually to shake.\r\n Pour out thine indignation upon them, and let thy wrathful anger take hold of them.\r\n Let their habitation be desolate; and let none dwell in their tents.\r\n For they persecute him whom thou hast smitten; and they talk to the grief of those whom thou hast wounded.\r\n Add iniquity unto their iniquity: and let them not come into thy righteousness.\r\n Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.\r\n But I am poor and sorrowful: let thy salvation, O God, set me up on high.\r\n I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.\r\n This also shall please the LORD better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs.\r\n The humble shall see this, and be glad: and your heart shall live that seek God.\r\n For the LORD heareth the poor, and despiseth not his prisoners.\r\n Let the heaven and earth praise him, the seas, and every thing that moveth therein.\r\n For God will save Zion, and will build the cities of Judah: that they may dwell there, and have it in possession.\r\n The seed also of his servants shall inherit it: and they that love his name shall dwell therein.\r\n \r\n \r\n To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, to bring to remembrance. \r\n Make haste, O God, to deliver me; make haste to help me, O LORD.\r\n Let them be ashamed and confounded that seek after my soul: let them be turned backward, and put to confusion, that desire my hurt.\r\n Let them be turned back for a reward of their shame that say, Aha, aha.\r\n Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: and let such as love thy salvation say continually, Let God be magnified.\r\n But I am poor and needy: make haste unto me, O God: thou art my help and my deliverer; O LORD, make no tarrying.\r\n \r\n \r\n In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.\r\n Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape: incline thine ear unto me, and save me.\r\n Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress.\r\n Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man.\r\n For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: thou art my trust from my youth.\r\n By thee have I been holden up from the womb: thou art he that took me out of my mother's bowels: my praise shall be continually of thee.\r\n I am as a wonder unto many; but thou art my strong refuge.\r\n Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honour all the day.\r\n Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth.\r\n For mine enemies speak against me; and they that lay wait for my soul take counsel together,\r\n Saying, God hath forsaken him: persecute and take him; for there is none to deliver him.\r\n O God, be not far from me: O my God, make haste for my help.\r\n Let them be confounded and consumed that are adversaries to my soul; let them be covered with reproach and dishonour that seek my hurt.\r\n But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more.\r\n My mouth shall shew forth thy righteousness and thy salvation all the day; for I know not the numbers thereof.\r\n I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD: I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only.\r\n O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works.\r\n Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come.\r\n Thy righteousness also, O God, is very high, who hast done great things: O God, who is like unto thee!\r\n Thou, which hast shewed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth.\r\n Thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side.\r\n I will also praise thee with the psaltery, even thy truth, O my God: unto thee will I sing with the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel.\r\n My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee; and my soul, which thou hast redeemed.\r\n My tongue also shall talk of thy righteousness all the day long: for they are confounded, for they are brought unto shame, that seek my hurt.\r\n \r\n \r\n A Psalm for Solomon. \r\n Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king's son.\r\n He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment.\r\n The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness.\r\n He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor.\r\n They shall fear thee as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations.\r\n He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth.\r\n In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth.\r\n He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth.\r\n They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him; and his enemies shall lick the dust.\r\n The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts.\r\n Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him.\r\n For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper.\r\n He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the souls of the needy.\r\n He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence: and precious shall their blood be in his sight.\r\n And he shall live, and to him shall be given of the gold of Sheba: prayer also shall be made for him continually; and daily shall he be praised.\r\n There shall be an handful of corn in the earth upon the top of the mountains; the fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon: and they of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth.\r\n His name shall endure for ever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun: and men shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call him blessed.\r\n Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things.\r\n And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen.\r\n The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.\r\n \r\n \r\n A Psalm of Asaph. \r\n Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.\r\n But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.\r\n For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.\r\n For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.\r\n They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.\r\n Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.\r\n Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.\r\n They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.\r\n They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.\r\n Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.\r\n And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?\r\n Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.\r\n Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.\r\n For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.\r\n If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.\r\n When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;\r\n Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.\r\n Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.\r\n How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.\r\n As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.\r\n Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.\r\n So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.\r\n Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.\r\n Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.\r\n Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.\r\n My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.\r\n For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.\r\n But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.\r\n \r\n \r\n Maschil of Asaph. \r\n O God, why hast thou cast us off for ever? why doth thine anger smoke against the sheep of thy pasture?\r\n Remember thy congregation, which thou hast purchased of old; the rod of thine inheritance, which thou hast redeemed; this mount Zion, wherein thou hast dwelt.\r\n Lift up thy feet unto the perpetual desolations; even all that the enemy hath done wickedly in the sanctuary.\r\n Thine enemies roar in the midst of thy congregations; they set up their ensigns for signs.\r\n A man was famous according as he had lifted up axes upon the thick trees.\r\n But now they break down the carved work thereof at once with axes and hammers.\r\n They have cast fire into thy sanctuary, they have defiled by casting down the dwelling place of thy name to the ground.\r\n They said in their hearts, Let us destroy them together: they have burned up all the synagogues of God in the land.\r\n We see not our signs: there is no more any prophet: neither is there among us any that knoweth how long.\r\n O God, how long shall the adversary reproach? shall the enemy blaspheme thy name for ever?\r\n Why withdrawest thou thy hand, even thy right hand? pluck it out of thy bosom.\r\n For God is my King of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth.\r\n Thou didst divide the sea by thy strength: thou brakest the heads of the dragons in the waters.\r\n Thou brakest the heads of leviathan in pieces, and gavest him to be meat to the people inhabiting the wilderness.\r\n Thou didst cleave the fountain and the flood: thou driedst up mighty rivers.\r\n The day is thine, the night also is thine: thou hast prepared the light and the sun.\r\n Thou hast set all the borders of the earth: thou hast made summer and winter.\r\n Remember this, that the enemy hath reproached, O LORD, and that the foolish people have blasphemed thy name.\r\n O deliver not the soul of thy turtledove unto the multitude of the wicked: forget not the congregation of thy poor for ever.\r\n Have respect unto the covenant: for the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty.\r\n O let not the oppressed return ashamed: let the poor and needy praise thy name.\r\n Arise, O God, plead thine own cause: remember how the foolish man reproacheth thee daily.\r\n Forget not the voice of thine enemies: the tumult of those that rise up against thee increaseth continually.\r\n \r\n \r\n To the chief Musician, Altaschith, A Psalm or Song of Asaph. \r\n Unto thee, O God, do we give thanks, unto thee do we give thanks: for that thy name is near thy wondrous works declare.\r\n When I shall receive the congregation I will judge uprightly.\r\n The earth and all the inhabitants thereof are dissolved: I bear up the pillars of it. Selah.\r\n I said unto the fools, Deal not foolishly: and to the wicked, Lift not up the horn:\r\n Lift not up your horn on high: speak not with a stiff neck.\r\n For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south.\r\n But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.\r\n For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup, and the wine is red; it is full of mixture; and he poureth out of the same: but the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall wring them out, and drink them.\r\n But I will declare for ever; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.\r\n All the horns of the wicked also will I cut off; but the horns of the righteous shall be exalted.\r\n \r\n \r\n To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm or Song of Asaph. \r\n In Judah is God known: his name is great in Israel.\r\n In Salem also is his tabernacle, and his dwelling place in Zion.\r\n There brake he the arrows of the bow, the shield, and the sword, and the battle. Selah.\r\n Thou art more glorious and excellent than the mountains of prey.\r\n The stouthearted are spoiled, they have slept their sleep: and none of the men of might have found their hands.\r\n At thy rebuke, O God of Jacob, both the chariot and horse are cast into a dead sleep.\r\n Thou, even thou, art to be feared: and who may stand in thy sight when once thou art angry?\r\n Thou didst cause judgment to be heard from heaven; the earth feared, and was still,\r\n When God arose to judgment, to save all the meek of the earth. Selah.\r\n Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.\r\n Vow, and pay unto the LORD your God: let all that be round about him bring presents unto him that ought to be feared.\r\n He shall cut off the spirit of princes: he is terrible to the kings of the earth.\r\n \r\n \r\n To the chief Musician, to Jeduthun, A Psalm of Asaph. \r\n I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me.\r\n In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted.\r\n I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah.\r\n Thou holdest mine eyes waking: I am so troubled that I cannot speak.\r\n I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times.\r\n I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search.\r\n Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be favourable no more?\r\n Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise fail for evermore?\r\n Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah.\r\n And I said, This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High.\r\n I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old.\r\n I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.\r\n Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God?\r\n Thou art the God that doest wonders: thou hast declared thy strength among the people.\r\n Thou hast with thine arm redeemed thy people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah.\r\n The waters saw thee, O God, the waters saw thee; they were afraid: the depths also were troubled.\r\n The clouds poured out water: the skies sent out a sound: thine arrows also went abroad.\r\n The voice of thy thunder was in the heaven: the lightnings lightened the world: the earth trembled and shook.\r\n Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known.\r\n Thou leddest thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.\r\n \r\n \r\n Maschil of Asaph. \r\n Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.\r\n I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old:\r\n Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.\r\n We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done.\r\n For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children:\r\n That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children:\r\n That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:\r\n And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God.\r\n The children of Ephraim, being armed, and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle.\r\n They kept not the covenant of God, and refused to walk in his law;\r\n And forgat his works, and his wonders that he had shewed them.\r\n Marvellous things did he in the sight of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.\r\n He divided the sea, and caused them to pass through; and he made the waters to stand as an heap.\r\n In the daytime also he led them with a cloud, and all the night with a light of fire.\r\n He clave the rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink as out of the great depths.\r\n He brought streams also out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers.\r\n And they sinned yet more against him by provoking the most High in the wilderness.\r\n And they tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their lust.\r\n Yea, they spake against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?\r\n Behold, he smote the rock, that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed; can he give bread also? can he provide flesh for his people?\r\n Therefore the LORD heard this, and was wroth: so a fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also came up against Israel;\r\n Because they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation:\r\n Though he had commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven,\r\n And had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn of heaven.\r\n Man did eat angels' food: he sent them meat to the full.\r\n He caused an east wind to blow in the heaven: and by his power he brought in the south wind.\r\n He rained flesh also upon them as dust, and feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea:\r\n And he let it fall in the midst of their camp, round about their habitations.\r\n So they did eat, and were well filled: for he gave them their own desire;\r\n They were not estranged from their lust. But while their meat was yet in their mouths,\r\n The wrath of God came upon them, and slew the fattest of them, and smote down the chosen men of Israel.\r\n For all this they sinned still, and believed not for his wondrous works.\r\n Therefore their days did he consume in vanity, and their years in trouble.\r\n When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned and enquired early after God.\r\n And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer.\r\n Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues.\r\n For their heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant.\r\n But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath.\r\n For he remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.\r\n How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness, and grieve him in the desert!\r\n Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.\r\n They remembered not his hand, nor the day when he delivered them from the enemy.\r\n How he had wrought his signs in Egypt, and his wonders in the field of Zoan:\r\n And had turned their rivers into blood; and their floods, that they could not drink.\r\n He sent divers sorts of flies among them, which devoured them; and frogs, which destroyed them.\r\n He gave also their increase unto the caterpiller, and their labour unto the locust.\r\n He destroyed their vines with hail, and their sycomore trees with frost.\r\n He gave up their cattle also to the hail, and their flocks to hot thunderbolts.\r\n He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, and indignation, and trouble, by sending evil angels among them.\r\n He made a way to his anger; he spared not their soul from death, but gave their life over to the pestilence;\r\n And smote all the firstborn in Egypt; the chief of their strength in the tabernacles of Ham:\r\n But made his own people to go forth like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock.\r\n And he led them on safely, so that they feared not: but the sea overwhelmed their enemies.\r\n And he brought them to the border of his sanctuary, even to this mountain, which his right hand had purchased.\r\n He cast out the heathen also before them, and divided them an inheritance by line, and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.\r\n Yet they tempted and provoked the most high God, and kept not his testimonies:\r\n But turned back, and dealt unfaithfully like their fathers: they were turned aside like a deceitful bow.\r\n For they provoked him to anger with their high places, and moved him to jealousy with their graven images.\r\n When God heard this, he was wroth, and greatly abhorred Israel:\r\n So that he forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent which he placed among men;\r\n And delivered his strength into captivity, and his glory into the enemy's hand.\r\n He gave his people over also unto the sword; and was wroth with his inheritance.\r\n The fire consumed their young men; and their maidens were not given to marriage.\r\n Their priests fell by the sword; and their widows made no lamentation.\r\n Then the Lord awaked as one out of sleep, and like a mighty man that shouteth by reason of wine.\r\n And he smote his enemies in the hinder parts: he put them to a perpetual reproach.\r\n Moreover he refused the tabernacle of Joseph, and chose not the tribe of Ephraim:\r\n But chose the tribe of Judah, the mount Zion which he loved.\r\n And he built his sanctuary like high palaces, like the earth which he hath established for ever.\r\n He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds:\r\n From following the ewes great with young he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance.\r\n So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands.\r\n \r\n \r\n A Psalm of Asaph. \r\n O God, the heathen are come into thine inheritance; thy holy temple have they defiled; they have laid Jerusalem on heaps.\r\n The dead bodies of thy servants have they given to be meat unto the fowls of the heaven, the flesh of thy saints unto the beasts of the earth.\r\n Their blood have they shed like water round about Jerusalem; and there was none to bury them.\r\n We are become a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and derision to them that are round about us.\r\n How long, LORD? wilt thou be angry for ever? shall thy jealousy burn like fire?\r\n Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee, and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy name.\r\n For they have devoured Jacob, and laid waste his dwelling place.\r\n O remember not against us former iniquities: let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us: for we are brought very low.\r\n Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name's sake.\r\n Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is their God? let him be known among the heathen in our sight by the revenging of the blood of thy servants which is shed.\r\n Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee; according to the greatness of thy power preserve thou those that are appointed to die;\r\n And render unto our neighbours sevenfold into their bosom their reproach, wherewith they have reproached thee, O Lord.\r\n So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture will give thee thanks for ever: we will shew forth thy praise to all generations.\r\n \r\n \r\n To the chief Musician upon Shoshannimeduth, A Psalm of Asaph. \r\n Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; thou that dwellest between the cherubims, shine forth.\r\n Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh stir up thy strength, and come and save us.\r\n Turn us again, O God, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.\r\n O LORD God of hosts, how long wilt thou be angry against the prayer of thy people?\r\n Thou feedest them with the bread of tears; and givest them tears to drink in great measure.\r\n Thou makest us a strife unto our neighbours: and our enemies laugh among themselves.\r\n Turn us again, O God of hosts, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.\r\n Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt: thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it.\r\n Thou preparedst room before it, and didst cause it to take deep root, and it filled the land.\r\n The hills were covered with the shadow of it, and the boughs thereof were like the goodly cedars.\r\n She sent out her boughs unto the sea, and her branches unto the river.\r\n Why hast thou then broken down her hedges, so that all they which pass by the way do pluck her?\r\n The boar out of the wood doth waste it, and the wild beast of the field doth devour it.\r\n Return, we beseech thee, O God of hosts: look down from heaven, and behold, and visit this vine;\r\n And the vineyard which thy right hand hath planted, and the branch that thou madest strong for thyself.\r\n It is burned with fire, it is cut down: they perish at the rebuke of thy countenance.\r\n Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand, upon the son of man whom thou madest strong for thyself.\r\n So will not we go back from thee: quicken us, and we will call upon thy name.\r\n Turn us again, O LORD God of hosts, cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.\r\n \r\n \r\n To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A Psalm of Asaph. \r\n Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.\r\n Take a psalm, and bring hither the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the psaltery.\r\n Blow up the trumpet in the new moon, in the time appointed, on our solemn feast day.\r\n For this was a statute for Israel, and a law of the God of Jacob.\r\n This he ordained in Joseph for a testimony, when he went out through the land of Egypt: where I heard a language that I understood not.\r\n I removed his shoulder from the burden: his hands were delivered from the pots.\r\n Thou calledst in trouble, and I delivered thee; I answered thee in the secret place of thunder: I proved thee at the waters of Meribah. Selah.\r\n Hear, O my people, and I will testify unto thee: O Israel, if thou wilt hearken unto me;\r\n There shall no strange god be in thee; neither shalt thou worship any strange god.\r\n I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.\r\n But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me.\r\n So I gave them up unto their own hearts' lust: and they walked in their own counsels.\r\n Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways!\r\n I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries.\r\n The haters of the LORD should have submitted themselves unto him: but their time should have endured for ever.\r\n He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee.\r\n \r\n \r\n A Psalm of Asaph. \r\n God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods.\r\n How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah.\r\n Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy.\r\n Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.\r\n They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course.\r\n I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.\r\n But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes.\r\n Arise, O God, judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit all nations.\r\n \r\n \r\n A Song or Psalm of Asaph. \r\n Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God.\r\n For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head.\r\n They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones.\r\n They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.\r\n For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee:\r\n The tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes;\r\n Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre;\r\n Assur also is joined with them: they have holpen the children of Lot. Selah.\r\n Do unto them as unto the Midianites; as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the brook of Kison:\r\n Which perished at Endor: they became as dung for the earth.\r\n Make their nobles like Oreb, and like Zeeb: yea, all their princes as Zebah, and as Zalmunna:\r\n Who said, Let us take to ourselves the houses of God in possession.\r\n O my God, make them like a wheel; as the stubble before the wind.\r\n As the fire burneth a wood, and as the flame setteth the mountains on fire;\r\n So persecute them with thy tempest, and make them afraid with thy storm.\r\n Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek thy name, O LORD.\r\n Let them be confounded and troubled for ever; yea, let them be put to shame, and perish:\r\n That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth.\r\n \r\n \r\n To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A Psalm for the sons of Korah. \r\n How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts!\r\n My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.\r\n Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O LORD of hosts, my King, and my God.\r\n Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah.\r\n Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them.\r\n Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools.\r\n They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God.\r\n O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer: give ear, O God of Jacob. Selah.\r\n Behold, O God our shield, and look upon the face of thine anointed.\r\n For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.\r\n For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.\r\n O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.\r\n \r\n \r\n To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah. \r\n LORD, thou hast been favourable unto thy land: thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob.\r\n Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast covered all their sin. Selah.\r\n Thou hast taken away all thy wrath: thou hast turned thyself from the fierceness of thine anger.\r\n Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause thine anger toward us to cease.\r\n Wilt thou be angry with us for ever? wilt thou draw out thine anger to all generations?\r\n Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?\r\n Shew us thy mercy, O LORD, and grant us thy salvation.\r\n I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly.\r\n Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land.\r\n Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.\r\n Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.\r\n Yea, the LORD shall give that which is good; and our land shall yield her increase.\r\n Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set us in the way of his steps.\r\n \r\n \r\n A Prayer of David. \r\n Bow down thine ear, O LORD, hear me: for I am poor and needy.\r\n Preserve my soul; for I am holy: O thou my God, save thy servant that trusteth in thee.\r\n Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily.\r\n Rejoice the soul of thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.\r\n For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.\r\n Give ear, O LORD, unto my prayer; and attend to the voice of my supplications.\r\n In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me.\r\n Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord; neither are there any works like unto thy works.\r\n All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name.\r\n For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone.\r\n Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.\r\n I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore.\r\n For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell.\r\n O God, the proud are risen against me, and the assemblies of violent men have sought after my soul; and have not set thee before them.\r\n But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.\r\n O turn unto me, and have mercy upon me; give thy strength unto thy servant, and save the son of thine handmaid.\r\n Shew me a token for good; that they which hate me may see it, and be ashamed: because thou, LORD, hast holpen me, and comforted me.\r\n \r\n \r\n A Psalm or Song for the sons of Korah. \r\n His foundation is in the holy mountains.\r\n The LORD loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.\r\n Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. Selah.\r\n I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me: behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this man was born there.\r\n And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her: and the highest himself shall establish her.\r\n The LORD shall count, when he writeth up the people, that this man was born there. Selah.\r\n As well the singers as the players on instruments shall be there: all my springs are in thee.\r\n \r\n \r\n A Song or Psalm for the sons of Korah, to the chief Musician upon Mahalath Leannoth, Maschil of Heman the Ezrahite. \r\n O LORD God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before thee:\r\n Let my prayer come before thee: incline thine ear unto my cry;\r\n For my soul is full of troubles: and my life draweth nigh unto the grave.\r\n I am counted with them that go down into the pit: I am as a man that hath no strength:\r\n Free among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, whom thou rememberest no more: and they are cut off from thy hand.\r\n Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the deeps.\r\n Thy wrath lieth hard upon me, and thou hast afflicted me with all thy waves. Selah.\r\n Thou hast put away mine acquaintance far from me; thou hast made me an abomination unto them: I am shut up, and I cannot come forth.\r\n Mine eye mourneth by reason of affliction: LORD, I have called daily upon thee, I have stretched out my hands unto thee.\r\n Wilt thou shew wonders to the dead? shall the dead arise and praise thee? Selah.\r\n Shall thy lovingkindness be declared in the grave? or thy faithfulness in destruction?\r\n Shall thy wonders be known in the dark? and thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?\r\n But unto thee have I cried, O LORD; and in the morning shall my prayer prevent thee.\r\n LORD, why castest thou off my soul? why hidest thou thy face from me?\r\n I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up: while I suffer thy terrors I am distracted.\r\n Thy fierce wrath goeth over me; thy terrors have cut me off.\r\n They came round about me daily like water; they compassed me about together.\r\n Lover and friend hast thou put far from me, and mine acquaintance into darkness.\r\n \r\n \r\n Maschil of Ethan the Ezrahite. \r\n I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.\r\n For I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever: thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens.\r\n I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant,\r\n Thy seed will I establish for ever, and build up thy throne to all generations. Selah.\r\n And the heavens shall praise thy wonders, O LORD: thy faithfulness also in the congregation of the saints.\r\n For who in the heaven can be compared unto the LORD? who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the LORD?\r\n God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him.\r\n O LORD God of hosts, who is a strong LORD like unto thee? or to thy faithfulness round about thee?\r\n Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them.\r\n Thou hast broken Rahab in pieces, as one that is slain; thou hast scattered thine enemies with thy strong arm.\r\n The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine: as for the world and the fulness thereof, thou hast founded them.\r\n The north and the south thou hast created them: Tabor and Hermon shall rejoice in thy name.\r\n Thou hast a mighty arm: strong is thy hand, and high is thy right hand.\r\n Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face.\r\n Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance.\r\n In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted.\r\n For thou art the glory of their strength: and in thy favour our horn shall be exalted.\r\n For the LORD is our defence; and the Holy One of Israel is our king.\r\n Then thou spakest in vision to thy holy one, and saidst, I have laid help upon one that is mighty; I have exalted one chosen out of the people.\r\n I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him:\r\n With whom my hand shall be established: mine arm also shall strengthen him.\r\n The enemy shall not exact upon him; nor the son of wickedness afflict him.\r\n And I will beat down his foes before his face, and plague them that hate him.\r\n But my faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him: and in my name shall his horn be exalted.\r\n I will set his hand also in the sea, and his right hand in the rivers.\r\n He shall cry unto me, Thou art my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation.\r\n Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth.\r\n My mercy will I keep for him for evermore, and my covenant shall stand fast with him.\r\n His seed also will I make to endure for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven.\r\n If his children forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments;\r\n If they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments;\r\n Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes.\r\n Nevertheless my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail.\r\n My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.\r\n Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David.\r\n His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me.\r\n It shall be established for ever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven. Selah.\r\n But thou hast cast off and abhorred, thou hast been wroth with thine anointed.\r\n Thou hast made void the covenant of thy servant: thou hast profaned his crown by casting it to the ground.\r\n Thou hast broken down all his hedges; thou hast brought his strong holds to ruin.\r\n All that pass by the way spoil him: he is a reproach to his neighbours.\r\n Thou hast set up the right hand of his adversaries; thou hast made all his enemies to rejoice.\r\n Thou hast also turned the edge of his sword, and hast not made him to stand in the battle.\r\n Thou hast made his glory to cease, and cast his throne down to the ground.\r\n The days of his youth hast thou shortened: thou hast covered him with shame. Selah.\r\n How long, LORD? wilt thou hide thyself for ever? shall thy wrath burn like fire?\r\n Remember how short my time is: wherefore hast thou made all men in vain?\r\n What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death? shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave? Selah.\r\n Lord, where are thy former lovingkindnesses, which thou swarest unto David in thy truth?\r\n Remember, Lord, the reproach of thy servants; how I do bear in my bosom the reproach of all the mighty people;\r\n Wherewith thine enemies have reproached, O LORD; wherewith they have reproached the footsteps of thine anointed.\r\n Blessed be the LORD for evermore. Amen, and Amen.\r\n \r\n \r\n A Prayer of Moses the man of God.\r\n Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.\r\n Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.\r\n Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men.\r\n For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.\r\n Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which groweth up.\r\n In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth.\r\n For we are consumed by thine anger, and by thy wrath are we troubled.\r\n Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance.\r\n For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told.\r\n The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.\r\n Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath.\r\n So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.\r\n Return, O LORD, how long? and let it repent thee concerning thy servants.\r\n O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.\r\n Make us glad according to the days wherein thou hast afflicted us, and the years wherein we have seen evil.\r\n Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children.\r\n And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.\r\n \r\n \r\n He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.\r\n I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.\r\n Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.\r\n He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.\r\n Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;\r\n Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.\r\n A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.\r\n Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.\r\n Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;\r\n There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.\r\n For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.\r\n They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.\r\n Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.\r\n Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.\r\n He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.\r\n With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.\r\n \r\n \r\n A Psalm or Song for the sabbath day. \r\n It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High:\r\n To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night,\r\n Upon an instrument of ten strings, and upon the psaltery; upon the harp with a solemn sound.\r\n For thou, LORD, hast made me glad through thy work: I will triumph in the works of thy hands.\r\n O LORD, how great are thy works! and thy thoughts are very deep.\r\n A brutish man knoweth not; neither doth a fool understand this.\r\n When the wicked spring as the grass, and when all the workers of iniquity do flourish; it is that they shall be destroyed for ever:\r\n But thou, LORD, art most high for evermore.\r\n For, lo, thine enemies, O LORD, for, lo, thine enemies shall perish; all the workers of iniquity shall be scattered.\r\n But my horn shalt thou exalt like the horn of an unicorn: I shall be anointed with fresh oil.\r\n Mine eye also shall see my desire on mine enemies, and mine ears shall hear my desire of the wicked that rise up against me.\r\n The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.\r\n Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God.\r\n They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing;\r\n To shew that the LORD is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.\r\n \r\n \r\n The LORD reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the LORD is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: the world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved.\r\n Thy throne is established of old: thou art from everlasting.\r\n The floods have lifted up, O LORD, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves.\r\n The LORD on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea.\r\n Thy testimonies are very sure: holiness becometh thine house, O LORD, for ever.\r\n \r\n \r\n O LORD God, to whom vengeance belongeth; O God, to whom vengeance belongeth, shew thyself.\r\n Lift up thyself, thou judge of the earth: render a reward to the proud.\r\n LORD, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph?\r\n How long shall they utter and speak hard things? and all the workers of iniquity boast themselves?\r\n They break in pieces thy people, O LORD, and afflict thine heritage.\r\n They slay the widow and the stranger, and murder the fatherless.\r\n Yet they say, The LORD shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob regard it.\r\n Understand, ye brutish among the people: and ye fools, when will ye be wise?\r\n He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see?\r\n He that chastiseth the heathen, shall not he correct? he that teacheth man knowledge, shall not he know?\r\n The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.\r\n Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD, and teachest him out of thy law;\r\n That thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit be digged for the wicked.\r\n For the LORD will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance.\r\n But judgment shall return unto righteousness: and all the upright in heart shall follow it.\r\n Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?\r\n Unless the LORD had been my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence.\r\n When I said, My foot slippeth; thy mercy, O LORD, held me up.\r\n In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul.\r\n Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by a law?\r\n They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood.\r\n But the LORD is my defence; and my God is the rock of my refuge.\r\n And he shall bring upon them their own iniquity, and shall cut them off in their own wickedness; yea, the LORD our God shall cut them off.\r\n \r\n \r\n O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.\r\n Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.\r\n For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.\r\n In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also.\r\n The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land.\r\n O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.\r\n For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice,\r\n Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness:\r\n When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work.\r\n Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways:\r\n Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest.\r\n \r\n \r\n O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth.\r\n Sing unto the LORD, bless his name; shew forth his salvation from day to day.\r\n Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people.\r\n For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods.\r\n For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the LORD made the heavens.\r\n Honour and majesty are before him: strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.\r\n Give unto the LORD, O ye kindreds of the people, give unto the LORD glory and strength.\r\n Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come into his courts.\r\n O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.\r\n Say among the heathen that the LORD reigneth: the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously.\r\n Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof.\r\n Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice\r\n Before the LORD: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth.\r\n \r\n \r\n The LORD reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof.\r\n Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne.\r\n A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about.\r\n His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled.\r\n The hills melted like wax at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.\r\n The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory.\r\n Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols: worship him, all ye gods.\r\n Zion heard, and was glad; and the daughters of Judah rejoiced because of thy judgments, O LORD.\r\n For thou, LORD, art high above all the earth: thou art exalted far above all gods.\r\n Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.\r\n Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.\r\n Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.\r\n \r\n \r\n A Psalm. \r\n O sing unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory.\r\n The LORD hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen.\r\n He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.\r\n Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.\r\n Sing unto the LORD with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm.\r\n With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the LORD, the King.\r\n Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.\r\n Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together\r\n Before the LORD; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity.\r\n \r\n \r\n The LORD reigneth; let the people tremble: he sitteth between the cherubims; let the earth be moved.\r\n The LORD is great in Zion; and he is high above all the people.\r\n Let them praise thy great and terrible name; for it is holy.\r\n The king's strength also loveth judgment; thou dost establish equity, thou executest judgment and righteousness in Jacob.\r\n Exalt ye the LORD our God, and worship at his footstool; for he is holy.\r\n Moses and Aaron among his priests, and Samuel among them that call upon his name; they called upon the LORD, and he answered them.\r\n He spake unto them in the cloudy pillar: they kept his testimonies, and the ordinance that he gave them.\r\n Thou answeredst them, O LORD our God: thou wast a God that forgavest them, though thou tookest vengeance of their inventions.\r\n Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at his holy hill; for the LORD our God is holy.\r\n \r\n \r\n A Psalm of praise. \r\n Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.\r\n Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.\r\n Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.\r\n Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.\r\n For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.\r\n \r\n \r\n A Psalm of David. \r\n I will sing of mercy and judgment: unto thee, O LORD, will I sing.\r\n I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.\r\n I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.\r\n A froward heart shall depart from me: I will not know a wicked person.\r\n Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer.\r\n Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me.\r\n He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight.\r\n I will early destroy all the wicked of the land; that I may cut off all wicked doers from the city of the LORD.\r\n \r\n \r\n A Prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed, and poureth out his complaint before the LORD. \r\n Hear my prayer, O LORD, and let my cry come unto thee.\r\n Hide not thy face from me in the day when I am in trouble; incline thine ear unto me: in the day when I call answer me speedily.\r\n For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as an hearth.\r\n My heart is smitten, and withered like grass; so that I forget to eat my bread.\r\n By reason of the voice of my groaning my bones cleave to my skin.\r\n I am like a pelican of the wilderness: I am like an owl of the desert.\r\n I watch, and am as a sparrow alone upon the house top.\r\n Mine enemies reproach me all the day; and they that are mad against me are sworn against me.\r\n For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping,\r\n Because of thine indignation and thy wrath: for thou hast lifted me up, and cast me down.\r\n My days are like a shadow that declineth; and I am withered like grass.\r\n But thou, O LORD, shalt endure for ever; and thy remembrance unto all generations.\r\n Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come.\r\n For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and favour the dust thereof.\r\n So the heathen shall fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth thy glory.\r\n When the LORD shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory.\r\n He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer.\r\n This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the LORD.\r\n For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from heaven did the LORD behold the earth;\r\n To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death;\r\n To declare the name of the LORD in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem;\r\n When the people are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.\r\n He weakened my strength in the way; he shortened my days.\r\n I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days: thy years are throughout all generations.\r\n Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands.\r\n They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed:\r\n But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.\r\n The children of thy servants shall continue, and their seed shall be established before thee.\r\n \r\n \r\n A Psalm of David. \r\n Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.\r\n Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:\r\n Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;\r\n Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;\r\n Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.\r\n The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.\r\n He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.\r\n The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.\r\n He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.\r\n He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.\r\n For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.\r\n As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.\r\n Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.\r\n For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.\r\n As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.\r\n For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.\r\n But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children;\r\n To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.\r\n The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.\r\n Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.\r\n Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.\r\n Bless the LORD, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the LORD, O my soul.\r\n \r\n \r\n Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty.\r\n Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:\r\n Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind:\r\n Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire:\r\n Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever.\r\n Thou coveredst it with the deep as with a garment: the waters stood above the mountains.\r\n At thy rebuke they fled; at the voice of thy thunder they hasted away.\r\n They go up by the mountains; they go down by the valleys unto the place which thou hast founded for them.\r\n Thou hast set a bound that they may not pass over; that they turn not again to cover the earth.\r\n He sendeth the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills.\r\n They give drink to every beast of the field: the wild asses quench their thirst.\r\n By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, which sing among the branches.\r\n He watereth the hills from his chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works.\r\n He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth;\r\n And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man's heart.\r\n The trees of the LORD are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted;\r\n Where the birds make their nests: as for the stork, the fir trees are her house.\r\n The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats; and the rocks for the conies.\r\n He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knoweth his going down.\r\n Thou makest darkness, and it is night: wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth.\r\n The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God.\r\n The sun ariseth, they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens.\r\n Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labour until the evening.\r\n O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.\r\n So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts.\r\n There go the ships: there is that leviathan, whom thou hast made to play therein.\r\n These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them their meat in due season.\r\n That thou givest them they gather: thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good.\r\n Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust.\r\n Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth.\r\n The glory of the LORD shall endure for ever: the LORD shall rejoice in his works.\r\n He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth: he toucheth the hills, and they smoke.\r\n I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.\r\n My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD.\r\n Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless thou the LORD, O my soul. Praise ye the LORD.\r\n \r\n \r\n O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people.\r\n Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all his wondrous works.\r\n Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD.\r\n Seek the LORD, and his strength: seek his face evermore.\r\n Remember his marvellous works that he hath done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth;\r\n O ye seed of Abraham his servant, ye children of Jacob his chosen.\r\n He is the LORD our God: his judgments are in all the earth.\r\n He hath remembered his covenant for ever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations.\r\n Which covenant he made with Abraham, and his oath unto Isaac;\r\n And confirmed the same unto Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant:\r\n Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance:\r\n When they were but a few men in number; yea, very few, and strangers in it.\r\n When they went from one nation to another, from one kingdom to another people;\r\n He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sakes;\r\n Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.\r\n Moreover he called for a famine upon the land: he brake the whole staff of bread.\r\n He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant:\r\n Whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron:\r\n Until the time that his word came: the word of the LORD tried him.\r\n The king sent and loosed him; even the ruler of the people, and let him go free.\r\n He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all his substance:\r\n To bind his princes at his pleasure; and teach his senators wisdom.\r\n Israel also came into Egypt; and Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham.\r\n And he increased his people greatly; and made them stronger than their enemies.\r\n He turned their heart to hate his people, to deal subtilly with his servants.\r\n He sent Moses his servant; and Aaron whom he had chosen.\r\n They shewed his signs among them, and wonders in the land of Ham.\r\n He sent darkness, and made it dark; and they rebelled not against his word.\r\n He turned their waters into blood, and slew their fish.\r\n Their land brought forth frogs in abundance, in the chambers of their kings.\r\n He spake, and there came divers sorts of flies, and lice in all their coasts.\r\n He gave them hail for rain, and flaming fire in their land.\r\n He smote their vines also and their fig trees; and brake the trees of their coasts.\r\n He spake, and the locusts came, and caterpillers, and that without number,\r\n And did eat up all the herbs in their land, and devoured the fruit of their ground.\r\n He smote also all the firstborn in their land, the chief of all their strength.\r\n He brought them forth also with silver and gold: and there was not one feeble person among their tribes.\r\n Egypt was glad when they departed: for the fear of them fell upon them.\r\n He spread a cloud for a covering; and fire to give light in the night.\r\n The people asked, and he brought quails, and satisfied them with the bread of heaven.\r\n He opened the rock, and the waters gushed out; they ran in the dry places like a river.\r\n For he remembered his holy promise, and Abraham his servant.\r\n And he brought forth his people with joy, and his chosen with gladness:\r\n And gave them the lands of the heathen: and they inherited the labour of the people;\r\n That they might observe his statutes, and keep his laws. Praise ye the LORD.\r\n \r\n \r\n Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.\r\n Who can utter the mighty acts of the LORD? who can shew forth all his praise?\r\n Blessed are they that keep judgment, and he that doeth righteousness at all times.\r\n Remember me, O LORD, with the favour that thou bearest unto thy people: O visit me with thy salvation;\r\n That I may see the good of thy chosen, that I may rejoice in the gladness of thy nation, that I may glory with thine inheritance.\r\n We have sinned with our fathers, we have committed iniquity, we have done wickedly.\r\n Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt; they remembered not the multitude of thy mercies; but provoked him at the sea, even at the Red sea.\r\n Nevertheless he saved them for his name's sake, that he might make his mighty power to be known.\r\n He rebuked the Red sea also, and it was dried up: so he led them through the depths, as through the wilderness.\r\n And he saved them from the hand of him that hated them, and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy.\r\n And the waters covered their enemies: there was not one of them left.\r\n Then believed they his words; they sang his praise.\r\n They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel:\r\n But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert.\r\n And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.\r\n They envied Moses also in the camp, and Aaron the saint of the LORD.\r\n The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan, and covered the company of Abiram.\r\n And a fire was kindled in their company; the flame burned up the wicked.\r\n They made a calf in Horeb, and worshipped the molten image.\r\n Thus they changed their glory into the similitude of an ox that eateth grass.\r\n They forgat God their saviour, which had done great things in Egypt;\r\n Wondrous works in the land of Ham, and terrible things by the Red sea.\r\n Therefore he said that he would destroy them, had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach, to turn away his wrath, lest he should destroy them.\r\n Yea, they despised the pleasant land, they believed not his word:\r\n But murmured in their tents, and hearkened not unto the voice of the LORD.\r\n Therefore he lifted up his hand against them, to overthrow them in the wilderness:\r\n To overthrow their seed also among the nations, and to scatter them in the lands.\r\n They joined themselves also unto Baalpeor, and ate the sacrifices of the dead.\r\n Thus they provoked him to anger with their inventions: and the plague brake in upon them.\r\n Then stood up Phinehas, and executed judgment: and so the plague was stayed.\r\n And that was counted unto him for righteousness unto all generations for evermore.\r\n They angered him also at the waters of strife, so that it went ill with Moses for their sakes:\r\n Because they provoked his spirit, so that he spake unadvisedly with his lips.\r\n They did not destroy the nations, concerning whom the LORD commanded them:\r\n But were mingled among the heathen, and learned their works.\r\n And they served their idols: which were a snare unto them.\r\n Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils,\r\n And shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan: and the land was polluted with blood.\r\n Thus were they defiled with their own works, and went a whoring with their own inventions.\r\n Therefore was the wrath of the LORD kindled against his people, insomuch that he abhorred his own inheritance.\r\n And he gave them into the hand of the heathen; and they that hated them ruled over them.\r\n Their enemies also oppressed them, and they were brought into subjection under their hand.\r\n Many times did he deliver them; but they provoked him with their counsel, and were brought low for their iniquity.\r\n Nevertheless he regarded their affliction, when he heard their cry:\r\n And he remembered for them his covenant, and repented according to the multitude of his mercies.\r\n He made them also to be pitied of all those that carried them captives.\r\n Save us, O LORD our God, and gather us from among the heathen, to give thanks unto thy holy name, and to triumph in thy praise.\r\n Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting: and let all the people say, Amen. Praise ye the LORD.\r\n \r\n \r\n O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.\r\n Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;\r\n And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south.\r\n They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in.\r\n Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.\r\n Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses.\r\n And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation.\r\n Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!\r\n For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.\r\n Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron;\r\n Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High:\r\n Therefore he brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and there was none to help.\r\n Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses.\r\n He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder.\r\n Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!\r\n For he hath broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder.\r\n Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted.\r\n Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat; and they draw near unto the gates of death.\r\n Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses.\r\n He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.\r\n Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!\r\n And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.\r\n They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;\r\n These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep.\r\n For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.\r\n They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.\r\n They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits' end.\r\n Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.\r\n He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.\r\n Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.\r\n Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!\r\n Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.\r\n He turneth rivers into a wilderness, and the watersprings into dry ground;\r\n A fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein.\r\n He turneth the wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground into watersprings.\r\n And there he maketh the hungry to dwell, that they may prepare a city for habitation;\r\n And sow the fields, and plant vineyards, which may yield fruits of increase.\r\n He blesseth them also, so that they are multiplied greatly; and suffereth not their cattle to decrease.\r\n Again, they are minished and brought low through oppression, affliction, and sorrow.\r\n He poureth contempt upon princes, and causeth them to wander in the wilderness, where there is no way.\r\n Yet setteth he the poor on high from affliction, and maketh him families like a flock.\r\n The righteous shall see it, and rejoice: and all iniquity shall stop her mouth.\r\n Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the LORD.\r\n \r\n \r\n A Song or Psalm of David. \r\n O God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise, even with my glory.\r\n Awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early.\r\n I will praise thee, O LORD, among the people: and I will sing praises unto thee among the nations.\r\n For thy mercy is great above the heavens: and thy truth reacheth unto the clouds.\r\n Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: and thy glory above all the earth;\r\n That thy beloved may be delivered: save with thy right hand, and answer me.\r\n God hath spoken in his holiness; I will rejoice, I will divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth.\r\n Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine; Ephraim also is the strength of mine head; Judah is my lawgiver;\r\n Moab is my washpot; over Edom will I cast out my shoe; over Philistia will I triumph.\r\n Who will bring me into the strong city? who will lead me into Edom?\r\n Wilt not thou, O God, who hast cast us off? and wilt not thou, O God, go forth with our hosts?\r\n Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man.\r\n Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies.\r\n \r\n \r\n To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.\r\n Hold not thy peace, O God of my praise;\r\n For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful are opened against me: they have spoken against me with a lying tongue.\r\n They compassed me about also with words of hatred; and fought against me without a cause.\r\n For my love they are my adversaries: but I give myself unto prayer.\r\n And they have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love.\r\n Set thou a wicked man over him: and let Satan stand at his right hand.\r\n When he shall be judged, let him be condemned: and let his prayer become sin.\r\n Let his days be few; and let another take his office.\r\n Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow.\r\n Let his children be continually vagabonds, and beg: let them seek their bread also out of their desolate places.\r\n Let the extortioner catch all that he hath; and let the strangers spoil his labour.\r\n Let there be none to extend mercy unto him: neither let there be any to favour his fatherless children.\r\n Let his posterity be cut off; and in the generation following let their name be blotted out.\r\n Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered with the LORD; and let not the sin of his mother be blotted out.\r\n Let them be before the LORD continually, that he may cut off the memory of them from the earth.\r\n Because that he remembered not to shew mercy, but persecuted the poor and needy man, that he might even slay the broken in heart.\r\n As he loved cursing, so let it come unto him: as he delighted not in blessing, so let it be far from him.\r\n As he clothed himself with cursing like as with his garment, so let it come into his bowels like water, and like oil into his bones.\r\n Let it be unto him as the garment which covereth him, and for a girdle wherewith he is girded continually.\r\n Let this be the reward of mine adversaries from the LORD, and of them that speak evil against my soul.\r\n But do thou for me, O GOD the Lord, for thy name's sake: because thy mercy is good, deliver thou me.\r\n For I am poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within me.\r\n I am gone like the shadow when it declineth: I am tossed up and down as the locust.\r\n My knees are weak through fasting; and my flesh faileth of fatness.\r\n I became also a reproach unto them: when they looked upon me they shaked their heads.\r\n Help me, O LORD my God: O save me according to thy mercy:\r\n That they may know that this is thy hand; that thou, LORD, hast done it.\r\n Let them curse, but bless thou: when they arise, let them be ashamed; but let thy servant rejoice.\r\n Let mine adversaries be clothed with shame, and let them cover themselves with their own confusion, as with a mantle.\r\n I will greatly praise the LORD with my mouth; yea, I will praise him among the multitude.\r\n For he shall stand at the right hand of the poor, to save him from those that condemn his soul.\r\n \r\n \r\n A Psalm of David. \r\n The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.\r\n The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.\r\n Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth.\r\n The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.\r\n The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath.\r\n He shall judge among the heathen, he shall fill the places with the dead bodies; he shall wound the heads over many countries.\r\n He shall drink of the brook in the way: therefore shall he lift up the head.\r\n \r\n \r\n Praise ye the LORD. I will praise the LORD with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation.\r\n The works of the LORD are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.\r\n His work is honourable and glorious: and his righteousness endureth for ever.\r\n He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the LORD is gracious and full of compassion.\r\n He hath given meat unto them that fear him: he will ever be mindful of his covenant.\r\n He hath shewed his people the power of his works, that he may give them the heritage of the heathen.\r\n The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure.\r\n They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness.\r\n He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.\r\n The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.\r\n \r\n \r\n Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.\r\n His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed.\r\n Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endureth for ever.\r\n Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.\r\n A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion.\r\n Surely he shall not be moved for ever: the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.\r\n He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD.\r\n His heart is established, he shall not be afraid, until he see his desire upon his enemies.\r\n He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour.\r\n The wicked shall see it, and be grieved; he shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away: the desire of the wicked shall perish.\r\n \r\n \r\n Praise ye the LORD. Praise, O ye servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD.\r\n Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and for evermore.\r\n From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD'S name is to be praised.\r\n The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens.\r\n Who is like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high,\r\n Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth!\r\n He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill;\r\n That he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people.\r\n He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the LORD.\r\n \r\n \r\n When Israel went out of Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of strange language;\r\n Judah was his sanctuary, and Israel his dominion.\r\n The sea saw it, and fled: Jordan was driven back.\r\n The mountains skipped like rams, and the little hills like lambs.\r\n What ailed thee, O thou sea, that thou fleddest? thou Jordan, that thou wast driven back?\r\n Ye mountains, that ye skipped like rams; and ye little hills, like lambs?\r\n Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob;\r\n Which turned the rock into a standing water, the flint into a fountain of waters.\r\n \r\n \r\n Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake.\r\n Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God?\r\n But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.\r\n Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands.\r\n They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not:\r\n They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not:\r\n They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat.\r\n They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them.\r\n O Israel, trust thou in the LORD: he is their help and their shield.\r\n O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield.\r\n Ye that fear the LORD, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield.\r\n The LORD hath been mindful of us: he will bless us; he will bless the house of Israel; he will bless the house of Aaron.\r\n He will bless them that fear the LORD, both small and great.\r\n The LORD shall increase you more and more, you and your children.\r\n Ye are blessed of the LORD which made heaven and earth.\r\n The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD'S: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.\r\n The dead praise not the LORD, neither any that go down into silence.\r\n But we will bless the LORD from this time forth and for evermore. Praise the LORD.\r\n \r\n \r\n I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications.\r\n Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live.\r\n The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow.\r\n Then called I upon the name of the LORD; O LORD, I beseech thee, deliver my soul.\r\n Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful.\r\n The LORD preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and he helped me.\r\n Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee.\r\n For thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.\r\n I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living.\r\n I believed, therefore have I spoken: I was greatly afflicted:\r\n I said in my haste, All men are liars.\r\n What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?\r\n I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD.\r\n I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people.\r\n Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.\r\n O LORD, truly I am thy servant; I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid: thou hast loosed my bonds.\r\n I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD.\r\n I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people,\r\n In the courts of the LORD'S house, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Praise ye the LORD.\r\n \r\n \r\n O praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people.\r\n For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. Praise ye the LORD.\r\n \r\n \r\n O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever.\r\n Let Israel now say, that his mercy endureth for ever.\r\n Let the house of Aaron now say, that his mercy endureth for ever.\r\n Let them now that fear the LORD say, that his mercy endureth for ever.\r\n I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place.\r\n The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?\r\n The LORD taketh my part with them that help me: therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me.\r\n It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.\r\n It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.\r\n All nations compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD will I destroy them.\r\n They compassed me about; yea, they compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.\r\n They compassed me about like bees; they are quenched as the fire of thorns: for in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.\r\n Thou hast thrust sore at me that I might fall: but the LORD helped me.\r\n The LORD is my strength and song, and is become my salvation.\r\n The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.\r\n The right hand of the LORD is exalted: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.\r\n I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD.\r\n The LORD hath chastened me sore: but he hath not given me over unto death.\r\n Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the LORD:\r\n This gate of the LORD, into which the righteous shall enter.\r\n I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation.\r\n The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.\r\n This is the LORD'S doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.\r\n This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.\r\n Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity.\r\n Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD.\r\n God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.\r\n Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee.\r\n O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.\r\n \r\n \r\n ALEPH. Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.\r\n Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.\r\n They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways.\r\n Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently.\r\n O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!\r\n Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments.\r\n I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments.\r\n I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly.\r\n BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.\r\n With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.\r\n Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.\r\n Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes.\r\n With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth.\r\n I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.\r\n I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.\r\n I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.\r\n GIMEL. Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, and keep thy word.\r\n Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.\r\n I am a stranger in the earth: hide not thy commandments from me.\r\n My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgments at all times.\r\n Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed, which do err from thy commandments.\r\n Remove from me reproach and contempt; for I have kept thy testimonies.\r\n Princes also did sit and speak against me: but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes.\r\n Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counsellors.\r\n DALETH. My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word.\r\n I have declared my ways, and thou heardest me: teach me thy statutes.\r\n Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works.\r\n My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word.\r\n Remove from me the way of lying: and grant me thy law graciously.\r\n I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid before me.\r\n I have stuck unto thy testimonies: O LORD, put me not to shame.\r\n I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart.\r\n HE. Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end.\r\n Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.\r\n Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.\r\n Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.\r\n Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way.\r\n Stablish thy word unto thy servant, who is devoted to thy fear.\r\n Turn away my reproach which I fear: for thy judgments are good.\r\n Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness.\r\n VAU. Let thy mercies come also unto me, O LORD, even thy salvation, according to thy word.\r\n So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me: for I trust in thy word.\r\n And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for I have hoped in thy judgments.\r\n So shall I keep thy law continually for ever and ever.\r\n And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts.\r\n I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed.\r\n And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved.\r\n My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes.\r\n ZAIN. Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope.\r\n This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.\r\n The proud have had me greatly in derision: yet have I not declined from thy law.\r\n I remembered thy judgments of old, O LORD; and have comforted myself.\r\n Horror hath taken hold upon me because of the wicked that forsake thy law.\r\n Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.\r\n I have remembered thy name, O LORD, in the night, and have kept thy law.\r\n This I had, because I kept thy precepts.\r\n CHETH. Thou art my portion, O LORD: I have said that I would keep thy words.\r\n I intreated thy favour with my whole heart: be merciful unto me according to thy word.\r\n I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.\r\n I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments.\r\n The bands of the wicked have robbed me: but I have not forgotten thy law.\r\n At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments.\r\n I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.\r\n The earth, O LORD, is full of thy mercy: teach me thy statutes.\r\n TETH. Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O LORD, according unto thy word.\r\n Teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I have believed thy commandments.\r\n Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.\r\n Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes.\r\n The proud have forged a lie against me: but I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart.\r\n Their heart is as fat as grease; but I delight in thy law.\r\n It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.\r\n The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.\r\n JOD. Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments.\r\n They that fear thee will be glad when they see me; because I have hoped in thy word.\r\n I know, O LORD, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.\r\n Let, I pray thee, thy merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to thy word unto thy servant.\r\n Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live: for thy law is my delight.\r\n Let the proud be ashamed; for they dealt perversely with me without a cause: but I will meditate in thy precepts.\r\n Let those that fear thee turn unto me, and those that have known thy testimonies.\r\n Let my heart be sound in thy statutes; that I be not ashamed.\r\n CAPH. My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word.\r\n Mine eyes fail for thy word, saying, When wilt thou comfort me?\r\n For I am become like a bottle in the smoke; yet do I not forget thy statutes.\r\n How many are the days of thy servant? when wilt thou execute judgment on them that persecute me?\r\n The proud have digged pits for me, which are not after thy law.\r\n All thy commandments are faithful: they persecute me wrongfully; help thou me.\r\n They had almost consumed me upon earth; but I forsook not thy precepts.\r\n Quicken me after thy lovingkindness; so shall I keep the testimony of thy mouth.\r\n LAMED. For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.\r\n Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth.\r\n They continue this day according to thine ordinances: for all are thy servants.\r\n Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction.\r\n I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast quickened me.\r\n I am thine, save me; for I have sought thy precepts.\r\n The wicked have waited for me to destroy me: but I will consider thy testimonies.\r\n I have seen an end of all perfection: but thy commandment is exceeding broad.\r\n MEM. O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.\r\n Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me.\r\n I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation.\r\n I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.\r\n I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word.\r\n I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me.\r\n How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!\r\n Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.\r\n NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.\r\n I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments.\r\n I am afflicted very much: quicken me, O LORD, according unto thy word.\r\n Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD, and teach me thy judgments.\r\n My soul is continually in my hand: yet do I not forget thy law.\r\n The wicked have laid a snare for me: yet I erred not from thy precepts.\r\n Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart.\r\n I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes alway, even unto the end.\r\n SAMECH. I hate vain thoughts: but thy law do I love.\r\n Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.\r\n Depart from me, ye evildoers: for I will keep the commandments of my God.\r\n Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope.\r\n Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe: and I will have respect unto thy statutes continually.\r\n Thou hast trodden down all them that err from thy statutes: for their deceit is falsehood.\r\n Thou puttest away all the wicked of the earth like dross: therefore I love thy testimonies.\r\n My flesh trembleth for fear of thee; and I am afraid of thy judgments.\r\n AIN. I have done judgment and justice: leave me not to mine oppressors.\r\n Be surety for thy servant for good: let not the proud oppress me.\r\n Mine eyes fail for thy salvation, and for the word of thy righteousness.\r\n Deal with thy servant according unto thy mercy, and teach me thy statutes.\r\n I am thy servant; give me understanding, that I may know thy testimonies.\r\n It is time for thee, LORD, to work: for they have made void thy law.\r\n Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold.\r\n Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way.\r\n PE. Thy testimonies are wonderful: therefore doth my soul keep them.\r\n The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.\r\n I opened my mouth, and panted: for I longed for thy commandments.\r\n Look thou upon me, and be merciful unto me, as thou usest to do unto those that love thy name.\r\n Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.\r\n Deliver me from the oppression of man: so will I keep thy precepts.\r\n Make thy face to shine upon thy servant; and teach me thy statutes.\r\n Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law.\r\n TZADDI. Righteous art thou, O LORD, and upright are thy judgments.\r\n Thy testimonies that thou hast commanded are righteous and very faithful.\r\n My zeal hath consumed me, because mine enemies have forgotten thy words.\r\n Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it.\r\n I am small and despised: yet do not I forget thy precepts.\r\n Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth.\r\n Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me: yet thy commandments are my delights.\r\n The righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting: give me understanding, and I shall live.\r\n KOPH. I cried with my whole heart; hear me, O LORD: I will keep thy statutes.\r\n I cried unto thee; save me, and I shall keep thy testimonies.\r\n I prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried: I hoped in thy word.\r\n Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate in thy word.\r\n Hear my voice according unto thy lovingkindness: O LORD, quicken me according to thy judgment.\r\n They draw nigh that follow after mischief: they are far from thy law.\r\n Thou art near, O LORD; and all thy commandments are truth.\r\n Concerning thy testimonies, I have known of old that thou hast founded them for ever.\r\n RESH. Consider mine affliction, and deliver me: for I do not forget thy law.\r\n Plead my cause, and deliver me: quicken me according to thy word.\r\n Salvation is far from the wicked: for they seek not thy statutes.\r\n Great are thy tender mercies, O LORD: quicken me according to thy judgments.\r\n Many are my persecutors and mine enemies; yet do I not decline from thy testimonies.\r\n I beheld the transgressors, and was grieved; because they kept not thy word.\r\n Consider how I love thy precepts: quicken me, O LORD, according to thy lovingkindness.\r\n Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.\r\n SCHIN. Princes have persecuted me without a cause: but my heart standeth in awe of thy word.\r\n I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil.\r\n I hate and abhor lying: but thy law do I love.\r\n Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments.\r\n Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.\r\n LORD, I have hoped for thy salvation, and done thy commandments.\r\n My soul hath kept thy testimonies; and I love them exceedingly.\r\n I have kept thy precepts and thy testimonies: for all my ways are before thee.\r\n TAU. Let my cry come near before thee, O LORD: give me understanding according to thy word.\r\n Let my supplication come before thee: deliver me according to thy word.\r\n My lips shall utter praise, when thou hast taught me thy statutes.\r\n My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness.\r\n Let thine hand help me; for I have chosen thy precepts.\r\n I have longed for thy salvation, O LORD; and thy law is my delight.\r\n Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee; and let thy judgments help me.\r\n I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments.\r\n \r\n \r\n A Song of degrees. \r\n In my distress I cried unto the LORD, and he heard me.\r\n Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue.\r\n What shall be given unto thee? or what shall be done unto thee, thou false tongue?\r\n Sharp arrows of the mighty, with coals of juniper.\r\n Woe is me, that I sojourn in Mesech, that I dwell in the tents of Kedar!\r\n My soul hath long dwelt with him that hateth peace.\r\n I am for peace: but when I speak, they are for war.\r\n \r\n \r\n A Song of degrees. \r\n I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.\r\n My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.\r\n He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.\r\n Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.\r\n The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.\r\n The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.\r\n The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.\r\n The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.\r\n \r\n \r\n A Song of degrees of David. \r\n I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.\r\n Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem.\r\n Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together:\r\n Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the LORD.\r\n For there are set thrones of judgment, the thrones of the house of David.\r\n Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.\r\n Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces.\r\n For my brethren and companions' sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee.\r\n Because of the house of the LORD our God I will seek thy good.\r\n \r\n \r\n A Song of degrees. \r\n Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens.\r\n Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the LORD our God, until that he have mercy upon us.\r\n Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us: for we are exceedingly filled with contempt.\r\n Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease, and with the contempt of the proud.\r\n \r\n \r\n A Song of degrees of David. \r\n If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, now may Israel say;\r\n If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when men rose up against us:\r\n Then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us:\r\n Then the waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul:\r\n Then the proud waters had gone over our soul.\r\n Blessed be the LORD, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth.\r\n Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped.\r\n Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.\r\n \r\n \r\n A Song of degrees. \r\n They that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever.\r\n As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the LORD is round about his people from henceforth even for ever.\r\n For the rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous; lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity.\r\n Do good, O LORD, unto those that be good, and to them that are upright in their hearts.\r\n As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, the LORD shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity: but peace shall be upon Israel.\r\n \r\n \r\n A Song of degrees. \r\n When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.\r\n Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them.\r\n The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.\r\n Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south.\r\n They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.\r\n He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.\r\n \r\n \r\n A Song of degrees for Solomon.\r\n Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.\r\n It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.\r\n Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.\r\n As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.\r\n Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.\r\n \r\n \r\n A Song of degrees. \r\n Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways.\r\n For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.\r\n Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table.\r\n Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the LORD.\r\n The LORD shall bless thee out of Zion: and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life.\r\n Yea, thou shalt see thy children's children, and peace upon Israel.\r\n \r\n \r\n A Song of degrees. \r\n Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth, may Israel now say:\r\n Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth: yet they have not prevailed against me.\r\n The plowers plowed upon my back: they made long their furrows.\r\n The LORD is righteous: he hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked.\r\n Let them all be confounded and turned back that hate Zion.\r\n Let them be as the grass upon the housetops, which withereth afore it groweth up:\r\n Wherewith the mower filleth not his hand; nor he that bindeth sheaves his bosom.\r\n Neither do they which go by say, The blessing of the LORD be upon you: we bless you in the name of the LORD.\r\n \r\n \r\n A Song of degrees. \r\n Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD.\r\n Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.\r\n If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?\r\n But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.\r\n I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.\r\n My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning.\r\n Let Israel hope in the LORD: for with the LORD there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption.\r\n And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.\r\n \r\n \r\n A Song of degrees of David. \r\n LORD, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me.\r\n Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child.\r\n Let Israel hope in the LORD from henceforth and for ever.\r\n \r\n \r\n A Song of degrees. LORD, remember David, and all his afflictions:\r\n How he sware unto the LORD, and vowed unto the mighty God of Jacob;\r\n Surely I will not come into the tabernacle of my house, nor go up into my bed;\r\n I will not give sleep to mine eyes, or slumber to mine eyelids,\r\n Until I find out a place for the LORD, an habitation for the mighty God of Jacob.\r\n Lo, we heard of it at Ephratah: we found it in the fields of the wood.\r\n We will go into his tabernacles: we will worship at his footstool.\r\n Arise, O LORD, into thy rest; thou, and the ark of thy strength.\r\n Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness; and let thy saints shout for joy.\r\n For thy servant David's sake turn not away the face of thine anointed.\r\n The LORD hath sworn in truth unto David; he will not turn from it; Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne.\r\n If thy children will keep my covenant and my testimony that I shall teach them, their children shall also sit upon thy throne for evermore.\r\n For the LORD hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation.\r\n This is my rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it.\r\n I will abundantly bless her provision: I will satisfy her poor with bread.\r\n I will also clothe her priests with salvation: and her saints shall shout aloud for joy.\r\n There will I make the horn of David to bud: I have ordained a lamp for mine anointed.\r\n His enemies will I clothe with shame: but upon himself shall his crown flourish.\r\n \r\n \r\n A Song of degrees of David. \r\n Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!\r\n It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;\r\n As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.\r\n \r\n \r\n A Song of degrees. \r\n Behold, bless ye the LORD, all ye servants of the LORD, which by night stand in the house of the LORD.\r\n Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the LORD.\r\n The LORD that made heaven and earth bless thee out of Zion.\r\n \r\n \r\n Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the name of the LORD; praise him, O ye servants of the LORD.\r\n Ye that stand in the house of the LORD, in the courts of the house of our God,\r\n Praise the LORD; for the LORD is good: sing praises unto his name; for it is pleasant.\r\n For the LORD hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure.\r\n For I know that the LORD is great, and that our Lord is above all gods.\r\n Whatsoever the LORD pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places.\r\n He causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings for the rain; he bringeth the wind out of his treasuries.\r\n Who smote the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and beast.\r\n Who sent tokens and wonders into the midst of thee, O Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his servants.\r\n Who smote great nations, and slew mighty kings;\r\n Sihon king of the Amorites, and Og king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan:\r\n And gave their land for an heritage, an heritage unto Israel his people.\r\n Thy name, O LORD, endureth for ever; and thy memorial, O LORD, throughout all generations.\r\n For the LORD will judge his people, and he will repent himself concerning his servants.\r\n The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men's hands.\r\n They have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not;\r\n They have ears, but they hear not; neither is there any breath in their mouths.\r\n They that make them are like unto them: so is every one that trusteth in them.\r\n Bless the LORD, O house of Israel: bless the LORD, O house of Aaron:\r\n Bless the LORD, O house of Levi: ye that fear the LORD, bless the LORD.\r\n Blessed be the LORD out of Zion, which dwelleth at Jerusalem. Praise ye the LORD.\r\n \r\n \r\n O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.\r\n O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever.\r\n O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.\r\n To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever.\r\n To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever.\r\n To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever.\r\n To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever:\r\n The sun to rule by day: for his mercy endureth for ever:\r\n The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever.\r\n To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn: for his mercy endureth for ever:\r\n And brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endureth for ever:\r\n With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endureth for ever.\r\n To him which divided the Red sea into parts: for his mercy endureth for ever:\r\n And made Israel to pass through the midst of it: for his mercy endureth for ever:\r\n But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea: for his mercy endureth for ever.\r\n To him which led his people through the wilderness: for his mercy endureth for ever.\r\n To him which smote great kings: for his mercy endureth for ever:\r\n And slew famous kings: for his mercy endureth for ever:\r\n Sihon king of the Amorites: for his mercy endureth for ever:\r\n And Og the king of Bashan: for his mercy endureth for ever:\r\n And gave their land for an heritage: for his mercy endureth for ever:\r\n Even an heritage unto Israel his servant: for his mercy endureth for ever.\r\n Who remembered us in our low estate: for his mercy endureth for ever:\r\n And hath redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endureth for ever.\r\n Who giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy endureth for ever.\r\n O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever.\r\n \r\n \r\n By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.\r\n We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.\r\n For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion.\r\n How shall we sing the LORD'S song in a strange land?\r\n If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning.\r\n If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy.\r\n Remember, O LORD, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; who said, Rase it, rase it, even to the foundation thereof.\r\n O daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed; happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us.\r\n Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones.\r\n \r\n \r\n A Psalm of David. \r\n I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee.\r\n I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.\r\n In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul.\r\n All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O LORD, when they hear the words of thy mouth.\r\n Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the LORD: for great is the glory of the LORD.\r\n Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.\r\n Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.\r\n The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.\r\n \r\n \r\n To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.\r\n O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me.\r\n Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.\r\n Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.\r\n For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.\r\n Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.\r\n Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.\r\n Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?\r\n If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.\r\n If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;\r\n Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.\r\n If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.\r\n Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.\r\n For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.\r\n I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.\r\n My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.\r\n Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.\r\n How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!\r\n If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.\r\n Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men.\r\n For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain.\r\n Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?\r\n I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.\r\n Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:\r\n And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.\r\n \r\n \r\n To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. \r\n Deliver me, O LORD, from the evil man: preserve me from the violent man;\r\n Which imagine mischiefs in their heart; continually are they gathered together for war.\r\n They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders' poison is under their lips. Selah.\r\n Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man; who have purposed to overthrow my goings.\r\n The proud have hid a snare for me, and cords; they have spread a net by the wayside; they have set gins for me. Selah.\r\n I said unto the LORD, Thou art my God: hear the voice of my supplications, O LORD.\r\n O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, thou hast covered my head in the day of battle.\r\n Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked: further not his wicked device; lest they exalt themselves. Selah.\r\n As for the head of those that compass me about, let the mischief of their own lips cover them.\r\n Let burning coals fall upon them: let them be cast into the fire; into deep pits, that they rise not up again.\r\n Let not an evil speaker be established in the earth: evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him.\r\n I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor.\r\n Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: the upright shall dwell in thy presence.\r\n \r\n \r\n Psalm of David.\r\n LORD, I cry unto thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee.\r\n Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.\r\n Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.\r\n Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practise wicked works with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties.\r\n Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities.\r\n When their judges are overthrown in stony places, they shall hear my words; for they are sweet.\r\n Our bones are scattered at the grave's mouth, as when one cutteth and cleaveth wood upon the earth.\r\n But mine eyes are unto thee, O GOD the Lord: in thee is my trust; leave not my soul destitute.\r\n Keep me from the snares which they have laid for me, and the gins of the workers of iniquity.\r\n Let the wicked fall into their own nets, whilst that I withal escape.\r\n \r\n \r\n Maschil of David; A Prayer when he was in the cave. \r\n I cried unto the LORD with my voice; with my voice unto the LORD did I make my supplication.\r\n I poured out my complaint before him; I shewed before him my trouble.\r\n When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me.\r\n I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.\r\n I cried unto thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living.\r\n Attend unto my cry; for I am brought very low: deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I.\r\n Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name: the righteous shall compass me about; for thou shalt deal bountifully with me.\r\n \r\n \r\n A Psalm of David. \r\n Hear my prayer, O LORD, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness.\r\n And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.\r\n For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead.\r\n Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate.\r\n I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands.\r\n I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah.\r\n Hear me speedily, O LORD: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit.\r\n Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.\r\n Deliver me, O LORD, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me.\r\n Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.\r\n Quicken me, O LORD, for thy name's sake: for thy righteousness' sake bring my soul out of trouble.\r\n And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul: for I am thy servant.\r\n \r\n \r\n A Psalm of David. \r\n Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight:\r\n My goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and he in whom I trust; who subdueth my people under me.\r\n LORD, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him! or the son of man, that thou makest account of him!\r\n Man is like to vanity: his days are as a shadow that passeth away.\r\n Bow thy heavens, O LORD, and come down: touch the mountains, and they shall smoke.\r\n Cast forth lightning, and scatter them: shoot out thine arrows, and destroy them.\r\n Send thine hand from above; rid me, and deliver me out of great waters, from the hand of strange children;\r\n Whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood.\r\n I will sing a new song unto thee, O God: upon a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee.\r\n It is he that giveth salvation unto kings: who delivereth David his servant from the hurtful sword.\r\n Rid me, and deliver me from the hand of strange children, whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood:\r\n That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace:\r\n That our garners may be full, affording all manner of store: that our sheep may bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our streets:\r\n That our oxen may be strong to labour; that there be no breaking in, nor going out; that there be no complaining in our streets.\r\n Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD.\r\n \r\n \r\n David's Psalm of praise. \r\n I will extol thee, my God, O king; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever.\r\n Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever.\r\n Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable.\r\n One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts.\r\n I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works.\r\n And men shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts: and I will declare thy greatness.\r\n They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness, and shall sing of thy righteousness.\r\n The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.\r\n The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.\r\n All thy works shall praise thee, O LORD; and thy saints shall bless thee.\r\n They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power;\r\n To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of his kingdom.\r\n Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations.\r\n The LORD upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down.\r\n The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season.\r\n Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing.\r\n The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.\r\n The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.\r\n He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them.\r\n The LORD preserveth all them that love him: but all the wicked will he destroy.\r\n My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD: and let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever.\r\n \r\n \r\n Praise ye the LORD. Praise the LORD, O my soul.\r\n While I live will I praise the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being.\r\n Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.\r\n His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.\r\n Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God:\r\n Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever:\r\n Which executeth judgment for the oppressed: which giveth food to the hungry. The LORD looseth the prisoners:\r\n The LORD openeth the eyes of the blind: the LORD raiseth them that are bowed down: the LORD loveth the righteous:\r\n The LORD preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down.\r\n The LORD shall reign for ever, even thy God, O Zion, unto all generations. Praise ye the LORD.\r\n \r\n \r\n Praise ye the LORD: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely.\r\n The LORD doth build up Jerusalem: he gathereth together the outcasts of Israel.\r\n He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.\r\n He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names.\r\n Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.\r\n The LORD lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground.\r\n Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God:\r\n Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains.\r\n He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry.\r\n He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man.\r\n The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.\r\n Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem; praise thy God, O Zion.\r\n For he hath strengthened the bars of thy gates; he hath blessed thy children within thee.\r\n He maketh peace in thy borders, and filleth thee with the finest of the wheat.\r\n He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth: his word runneth very swiftly.\r\n He giveth snow like wool: he scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes.\r\n He casteth forth his ice like morsels: who can stand before his cold?\r\n He sendeth out his word, and melteth them: he causeth his wind to blow, and the waters flow.\r\n He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel.\r\n He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the LORD.\r\n \r\n \r\n Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the LORD from the heavens: praise him in the heights.\r\n Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts.\r\n Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light.\r\n Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens.\r\n Let them praise the name of the LORD: for he commanded, and they were created.\r\n He hath also stablished them for ever and ever: he hath made a decree which shall not pass.\r\n Praise the LORD from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps:\r\n Fire, and hail; snow, and vapour; stormy wind fulfilling his word:\r\n Mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars:\r\n Beasts, and all cattle; creeping things, and flying fowl:\r\n Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth:\r\n Both young men, and maidens; old men, and children:\r\n Let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven.\r\n He also exalteth the horn of his people, the praise of all his saints; even of the children of Israel, a people near unto him. Praise ye the LORD.\r\n \r\n \r\n Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints.\r\n Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.\r\n Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.\r\n For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.\r\n Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds.\r\n Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a twoedged sword in their hand;\r\n To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people;\r\n To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron;\r\n To execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all his saints. Praise ye the LORD.\r\n \r\n \r\n Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.\r\n Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.\r\n Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.\r\n Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.\r\n Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.\r\n Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;\r\n To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;\r\n To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;\r\n To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.\r\n A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:\r\n To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.\r\n The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.\r\n My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:\r\n For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.\r\n My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.\r\n If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause:\r\n Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit:\r\n We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil:\r\n Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse:\r\n My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path:\r\n For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.\r\n Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird.\r\n And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives.\r\n So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof.\r\n Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets:\r\n She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying,\r\n How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?\r\n Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.\r\n Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;\r\n But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:\r\n I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;\r\n When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.\r\n Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:\r\n For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD:\r\n They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.\r\n Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.\r\n For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.\r\n But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.\r\n \r\n \r\n My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;\r\n So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;\r\n Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;\r\n If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;\r\n Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.\r\n For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.\r\n He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.\r\n He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints.\r\n Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.\r\n When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul;\r\n Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:\r\n To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things;\r\n Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness;\r\n Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of the wicked;\r\n Whose ways are crooked, and they froward in their paths:\r\n To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words;\r\n Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God.\r\n For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead.\r\n None that go unto her return again, neither take they hold of the paths of life.\r\n That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous.\r\n For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it.\r\n But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it.\r\n \r\n \r\n My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:\r\n For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.\r\n Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:\r\n So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.\r\n Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.\r\n In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.\r\n Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.\r\n It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.\r\n Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:\r\n So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.\r\n My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:\r\n For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.\r\n Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.\r\n For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.\r\n She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.\r\n Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.\r\n Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.\r\n She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.\r\n The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.\r\n By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.\r\n My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:\r\n So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.\r\n Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.\r\n When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.\r\n Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.\r\n For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.\r\n Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.\r\n Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.\r\n Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.\r\n Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.\r\n Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.\r\n For the froward is abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the righteous.\r\n The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just.\r\n Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.\r\n The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.\r\n \r\n \r\n Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.\r\n For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.\r\n For I was my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.\r\n He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.\r\n Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.\r\n Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.\r\n Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.\r\n Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.\r\n She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.\r\n Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many.\r\n I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths.\r\n When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.\r\n Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.\r\n Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.\r\n Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.\r\n For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.\r\n For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.\r\n But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.\r\n The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.\r\n My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.\r\n Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.\r\n For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.\r\n Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.\r\n Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.\r\n Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.\r\n Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.\r\n Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.\r\n \r\n \r\n My son, attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my understanding:\r\n That thou mayest regard discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge.\r\n For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil:\r\n But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a twoedged sword.\r\n Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell.\r\n Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, that thou canst not know them.\r\n Hear me now therefore, O ye children, and depart not from the words of my mouth.\r\n Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house:\r\n Lest thou give thine honour unto others, and thy years unto the cruel:\r\n Lest strangers be filled with thy wealth; and thy labours be in the house of a stranger;\r\n And thou mourn at the last, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed,\r\n And say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof;\r\n And have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me!\r\n I was almost in all evil in the midst of the congregation and assembly.\r\n Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well.\r\n Let thy fountains be dispersed abroad, and rivers of waters in the streets.\r\n Let them be only thine own, and not strangers' with thee.\r\n Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth.\r\n Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love.\r\n And why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger?\r\n For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings.\r\n His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins.\r\n He shall die without instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.\r\n \r\n \r\n My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger,\r\n Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.\r\n Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself, when thou art come into the hand of thy friend; go, humble thyself, and make sure thy friend.\r\n Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids.\r\n Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler.\r\n Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:\r\n Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,\r\n Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.\r\n How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?\r\n Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:\r\n So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.\r\n A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth.\r\n He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers;\r\n Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord.\r\n Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy.\r\n These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:\r\n A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,\r\n An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,\r\n A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.\r\n My son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother:\r\n Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck.\r\n When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.\r\n For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:\r\n To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman.\r\n Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids.\r\n For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adulteress will hunt for the precious life.\r\n Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?\r\n Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned?\r\n So he that goeth in to his neighbour's wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent.\r\n Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry;\r\n But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house.\r\n But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul.\r\n A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away.\r\n For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance.\r\n He will not regard any ransom; neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts.\r\n \r\n \r\n My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee.\r\n Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye.\r\n Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart.\r\n Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman:\r\n That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words.\r\n For at the window of my house I looked through my casement,\r\n And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding,\r\n Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house,\r\n In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night:\r\n And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart.\r\n She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house:\r\n Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.)\r\n So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him,\r\n I have peace offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows.\r\n Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.\r\n I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt.\r\n I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.\r\n Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves.\r\n For the goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey:\r\n He hath taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed.\r\n With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him.\r\n He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;\r\n Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life.\r\n Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth.\r\n Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths.\r\n For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her.\r\n Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.\r\n \r\n \r\n Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?\r\n She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.\r\n She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors.\r\n Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man.\r\n O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.\r\n Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.\r\n For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.\r\n All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them.\r\n They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.\r\n Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.\r\n For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.\r\n I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.\r\n The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.\r\n Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.\r\n By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.\r\n By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.\r\n I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.\r\n Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.\r\n My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.\r\n I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:\r\n That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.\r\n The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.\r\n I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.\r\n When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.\r\n Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth:\r\n While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.\r\n When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:\r\n When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:\r\n When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:\r\n Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;\r\n Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.\r\n Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways.\r\n Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.\r\n Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.\r\n For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.\r\n But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.\r\n \r\n \r\n Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars:\r\n She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table.\r\n She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city,\r\n Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,\r\n Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.\r\n Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.\r\n He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot.\r\n Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.\r\n Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.\r\n The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.\r\n For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.\r\n If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.\r\n A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing.\r\n For she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,\r\n To call passengers who go right on their ways:\r\n Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,\r\n Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.\r\n But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.\r\n \r\n \r\n The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.\r\n Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death.\r\n The LORD will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but he casteth away the substance of the wicked.\r\n He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.\r\n He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame.\r\n Blessings are upon the head of the just: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.\r\n The memory of the just is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot.\r\n The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall.\r\n He that walketh uprightly walketh surely: but he that perverteth his ways shall be known.\r\n He that winketh with the eye causeth sorrow: but a prating fool shall fall.\r\n The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.\r\n Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.\r\n In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found: but a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding.\r\n Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.\r\n The rich man's wealth is his strong city: the destruction of the poor is their poverty.\r\n The labour of the righteous tendeth to life: the fruit of the wicked to sin.\r\n He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth.\r\n He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool.\r\n In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.\r\n The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth.\r\n The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.\r\n The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.\r\n It is as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom.\r\n The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him: but the desire of the righteous shall be granted.\r\n As the whirlwind passeth, so is the wicked no more: but the righteous is an everlasting foundation.\r\n As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to them that send him.\r\n The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.\r\n The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish.\r\n The way of the LORD is strength to the upright: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.\r\n The righteous shall never be removed: but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth.\r\n The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out.\r\n The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness.\r\n \r\n \r\n A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight.\r\n When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.\r\n The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.\r\n Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.\r\n The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.\r\n The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness.\r\n When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perisheth.\r\n The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead.\r\n An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered.\r\n When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting.\r\n By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.\r\n He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace.\r\n A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.\r\n Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.\r\n He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it: and he that hateth suretiship is sure.\r\n A gracious woman retaineth honour: and strong men retain riches.\r\n The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.\r\n The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward.\r\n As righteousness tendeth to life: so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death.\r\n They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the LORD: but such as are upright in their way are his delight.\r\n Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.\r\n As a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion.\r\n The desire of the righteous is only good: but the expectation of the wicked is wrath.\r\n There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.\r\n The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.\r\n He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him: but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it.\r\n He that diligently seeketh good procureth favour: but he that seeketh mischief, it shall come unto him.\r\n He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.\r\n He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind: and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart.\r\n The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.\r\n Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner.\r\n \r\n \r\n Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish.\r\n A good man obtaineth favour of the LORD: but a man of wicked devices will he condemn.\r\n A man shall not be established by wickedness: but the root of the righteous shall not be moved.\r\n A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.\r\n The thoughts of the righteous are right: but the counsels of the wicked are deceit.\r\n The words of the wicked are to lie in wait for blood: but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them.\r\n The wicked are overthrown, and are not: but the house of the righteous shall stand.\r\n A man shall be commended according to his wisdom: but he that is of a perverse heart shall be despised.\r\n He that is despised, and hath a servant, is better than he that honoureth himself, and lacketh bread.\r\n A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.\r\n He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding.\r\n The wicked desireth the net of evil men: but the root of the righteous yieldeth fruit.\r\n The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips: but the just shall come out of trouble.\r\n A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth: and the recompence of a man's hands shall be rendered unto him.\r\n The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.\r\n A fool's wrath is presently known: but a prudent man covereth shame.\r\n He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit.\r\n There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.\r\n The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.\r\n Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil: but to the counsellors of peace is joy.\r\n There shall no evil happen to the just: but the wicked shall be filled with mischief.\r\n Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight.\r\n A prudent man concealeth knowledge: but the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness.\r\n The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.\r\n Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.\r\n The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour: but the way of the wicked seduceth them.\r\n The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious.\r\n In the way of righteousness is life; and in the pathway thereof there is no death.\r\n \r\n \r\n A wise son heareth his father's instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke.\r\n A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth: but the soul of the transgressors shall eat violence.\r\n He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.\r\n The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.\r\n A righteous man hateth lying: but a wicked man is loathsome, and cometh to shame.\r\n Righteousness keepeth him that is upright in the way: but wickedness overthroweth the sinner.\r\n There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.\r\n The ransom of a man's life are his riches: but the poor heareth not rebuke.\r\n The light of the righteous rejoiceth: but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.\r\n Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.\r\n Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.\r\n Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.\r\n Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.\r\n The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.\r\n Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard.\r\n Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open his folly.\r\n A wicked messenger falleth into mischief: but a faithful ambassador is health.\r\n Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured.\r\n The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: but it is abomination to fools to depart from evil.\r\n He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.\r\n Evil pursueth sinners: but to the righteous good shall be repayed.\r\n A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.\r\n Much food is in the tillage of the poor: but there is that is destroyed for want of judgment.\r\n He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.\r\n The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul: but the belly of the wicked shall want.\r\n \r\n \r\n Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.\r\n He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the LORD: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him.\r\n In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.\r\n Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.\r\n A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies.\r\n A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth.\r\n Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge.\r\n The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit.\r\n Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour.\r\n The heart knoweth his own bitterness; and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy.\r\n The house of the wicked shall be overthrown: but the tabernacle of the upright shall flourish.\r\n There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.\r\n Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness.\r\n The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself.\r\n The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.\r\n A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.\r\n He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated.\r\n The simple inherit folly: but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.\r\n The evil bow before the good; and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.\r\n The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends.\r\n He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.\r\n Do they not err that devise evil? but mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good.\r\n In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.\r\n The crown of the wise is their riches: but the foolishness of fools is folly.\r\n A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful witness speaketh lies.\r\n In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.\r\n The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.\r\n In the multitude of people is the king's honour: but in the want of people is the destruction of the prince.\r\n He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.\r\n A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.\r\n He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.\r\n The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.\r\n Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding: but that which is in the midst of fools is made known.\r\n Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.\r\n The king's favour is toward a wise servant: but his wrath is against him that causeth shame.\r\n \r\n \r\n A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.\r\n The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.\r\n The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.\r\n A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.\r\n A fool despiseth his father's instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent.\r\n In the house of the righteous is much treasure: but in the revenues of the wicked is trouble.\r\n The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish doeth not so.\r\n The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.\r\n The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the LORD: but he loveth him that followeth after righteousness.\r\n Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way: and he that hateth reproof shall die.\r\n Hell and destruction are before the LORD: how much more then the hearts of the children of men?\r\n A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him: neither will he go unto the wise.\r\n A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.\r\n The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness.\r\n All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.\r\n Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith.\r\n Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.\r\n A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.\r\n The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain.\r\n A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish man despiseth his mother.\r\n Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walketh uprightly.\r\n Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.\r\n A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!\r\n The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath.\r\n The LORD will destroy the house of the proud: but he will establish the border of the widow.\r\n The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD: but the words of the pure are pleasant words.\r\n He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live.\r\n The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.\r\n The LORD is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous.\r\n The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart: and a good report maketh the bones fat.\r\n The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise.\r\n He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding.\r\n The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.\r\n \r\n \r\n The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD.\r\n All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.\r\n Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.\r\n The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.\r\n Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.\r\n By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.\r\n When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.\r\n Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.\r\n A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.\r\n A divine sentence is in the lips of the king: his mouth transgresseth not in judgment.\r\n A just weight and balance are the LORD'S: all the weights of the bag are his work.\r\n It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness.\r\n Righteous lips are the delight of kings; and they love him that speaketh right.\r\n The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: but a wise man will pacify it.\r\n In the light of the king's countenance is life; and his favour is as a cloud of the latter rain.\r\n How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!\r\n The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.\r\n Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.\r\n Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.\r\n He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he.\r\n The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.\r\n Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly.\r\n The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.\r\n Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.\r\n There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.\r\n He that laboureth laboureth for himself; for his mouth craveth it of him.\r\n An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire.\r\n A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.\r\n A violent man enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him into the way that is not good.\r\n He shutteth his eyes to devise froward things: moving his lips he bringeth evil to pass.\r\n The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.\r\n He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.\r\n The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD.\r\n \r\n \r\n Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.\r\n A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.\r\n The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.\r\n A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.\r\n Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.\r\n Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.\r\n Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.\r\n A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.\r\n He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.\r\n A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.\r\n An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.\r\n Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.\r\n Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.\r\n The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.\r\n He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.\r\n Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?\r\n A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.\r\n A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend.\r\n He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.\r\n He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.\r\n He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.\r\n A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.\r\n A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.\r\n Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.\r\n A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.\r\n Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity.\r\n He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.\r\n Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.\r\n \r\n \r\n Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.\r\n A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.\r\n When the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt, and with ignominy reproach.\r\n The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.\r\n It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment.\r\n A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.\r\n A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.\r\n The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.\r\n He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.\r\n The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.\r\n The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit.\r\n Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.\r\n He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.\r\n The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?\r\n The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.\r\n A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.\r\n He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.\r\n The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between the mighty.\r\n A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.\r\n A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.\r\n Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.\r\n Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.\r\n The poor useth intreaties; but the rich answereth roughly.\r\n A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.\r\n \r\n \r\n Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.\r\n Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.\r\n The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the LORD.\r\n Wealth maketh many friends; but the poor is separated from his neighbour.\r\n A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape.\r\n Many will intreat the favour of the prince: and every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts.\r\n All the brethren of the poor do hate him: how much more do his friends go far from him? he pursueth them with words, yet they are wanting to him.\r\n He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good.\r\n A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish.\r\n Delight is not seemly for a fool; much less for a servant to have rule over princes.\r\n The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.\r\n The king's wrath is as the roaring of a lion; but his favour is as dew upon the grass.\r\n A foolish son is the calamity of his father: and the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping.\r\n House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife is from the LORD.\r\n Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger.\r\n He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; but he that despiseth his ways shall die.\r\n He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.\r\n Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.\r\n A man of great wrath shall suffer punishment: for if thou deliver him, yet thou must do it again.\r\n Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.\r\n There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.\r\n The desire of a man is his kindness: and a poor man is better than a liar.\r\n The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.\r\n A slothful man hideth his hand in his bosom, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.\r\n Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware: and reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge.\r\n He that wasteth his father, and chaseth away his mother, is a son that causeth shame, and bringeth reproach.\r\n Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge.\r\n An ungodly witness scorneth judgment: and the mouth of the wicked devoureth iniquity.\r\n Judgments are prepared for scorners, and stripes for the back of fools.\r\n \r\n \r\n Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.\r\n The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.\r\n It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.\r\n The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.\r\n Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.\r\n Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?\r\n The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.\r\n A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.\r\n Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?\r\n Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the LORD.\r\n Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.\r\n The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.\r\n Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.\r\n It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.\r\n There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.\r\n Take his garment that is surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.\r\n Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.\r\n Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.\r\n He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.\r\n Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.\r\n An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.\r\n Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.\r\n Divers weights are an abomination unto the LORD; and a false balance is not good.\r\n Man's goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?\r\n It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry.\r\n A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.\r\n The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.\r\n Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy.\r\n The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the gray head.\r\n The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.\r\n \r\n \r\n The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.\r\n Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.\r\n To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.\r\n An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.\r\n The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want.\r\n The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death.\r\n The robbery of the wicked shall destroy them; because they refuse to do judgment.\r\n The way of man is froward and strange: but as for the pure, his work is right.\r\n It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house.\r\n The soul of the wicked desireth evil: his neighbour findeth no favour in his eyes.\r\n When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.\r\n The righteous man wisely considereth the house of the wicked: but God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness.\r\n Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.\r\n A gift in secret pacifieth anger: and a reward in the bosom strong wrath.\r\n It is joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.\r\n The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.\r\n He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.\r\n The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright.\r\n It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman.\r\n There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.\r\n He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour.\r\n A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, and casteth down the strength of the confidence thereof.\r\n Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.\r\n Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who dealeth in proud wrath.\r\n The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour.\r\n He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not.\r\n The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind?\r\n A false witness shall perish: but the man that heareth speaketh constantly.\r\n A wicked man hardeneth his face: but as for the upright, he directeth his way.\r\n There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD.\r\n The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD.\r\n \r\n \r\n A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.\r\n The rich and poor meet together: the LORD is the maker of them all.\r\n A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.\r\n By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.\r\n Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them.\r\n Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.\r\n The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.\r\n He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.\r\n He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.\r\n Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.\r\n He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.\r\n The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, and he overthroweth the words of the transgressor.\r\n The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.\r\n The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the LORD shall fall therein.\r\n Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.\r\n He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.\r\n Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge.\r\n For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips.\r\n That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee.\r\n Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge,\r\n That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?\r\n Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:\r\n For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.\r\n Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:\r\n Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.\r\n Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts.\r\n If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?\r\n Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.\r\n Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.\r\n \r\n \r\n When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee:\r\n And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite.\r\n Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat.\r\n Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.\r\n Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.\r\n Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats:\r\n For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.\r\n The morsel which thou hast eaten shalt thou vomit up, and lose thy sweet words.\r\n Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words.\r\n Remove not the old landmark; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless:\r\n For their redeemer is mighty; he shall plead their cause with thee.\r\n Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge.\r\n Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.\r\n Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.\r\n My son, if thine heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine.\r\n Yea, my reins shall rejoice, when thy lips speak right things.\r\n Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.\r\n For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off.\r\n Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way.\r\n Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh:\r\n For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.\r\n Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old.\r\n Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.\r\n The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him.\r\n Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall rejoice.\r\n My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.\r\n For a whore is a deep ditch; and a strange woman is a narrow pit.\r\n She also lieth in wait as for a prey, and increaseth the transgressors among men.\r\n Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?\r\n They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.\r\n Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.\r\n At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.\r\n Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things.\r\n Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast.\r\n They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.\r\n \r\n \r\n Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.\r\n For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.\r\n Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established:\r\n And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.\r\n A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.\r\n For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.\r\n Wisdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate.\r\n He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a mischievous person.\r\n The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men.\r\n If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.\r\n If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain;\r\n If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?\r\n My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste:\r\n So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off.\r\n Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil not his resting place:\r\n For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.\r\n Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:\r\n Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.\r\n Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked;\r\n For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out.\r\n My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:\r\n For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both?\r\n These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.\r\n He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him:\r\n But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.\r\n Every man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right answer.\r\n Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house.\r\n Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not with thy lips.\r\n Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work.\r\n I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;\r\n And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.\r\n Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction.\r\n Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:\r\n So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.\r\n \r\n \r\n These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.\r\n It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.\r\n The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.\r\n Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.\r\n Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.\r\n Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men:\r\n For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen.\r\n Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.\r\n Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another:\r\n Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away.\r\n A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.\r\n As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.\r\n As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters.\r\n Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain.\r\n By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.\r\n Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.\r\n Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee.\r\n A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.\r\n Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.\r\n As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart.\r\n If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:\r\n For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.\r\n The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.\r\n It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.\r\n As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.\r\n A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring.\r\n It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory.\r\n He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.\r\n \r\n \r\n As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool.\r\n As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.\r\n A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back.\r\n Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.\r\n Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.\r\n He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage.\r\n The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.\r\n As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.\r\n As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.\r\n The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors.\r\n As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.\r\n Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.\r\n The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.\r\n As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.\r\n The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth.\r\n The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.\r\n He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.\r\n As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,\r\n So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?\r\n Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.\r\n As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.\r\n The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.\r\n Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.\r\n He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him;\r\n When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.\r\n Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation.\r\n Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.\r\n A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.\r\n \r\n \r\n Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.\r\n Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.\r\n A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool's wrath is heavier than them both.\r\n Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?\r\n Open rebuke is better than secret love.\r\n Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.\r\n The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.\r\n As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that wandereth from his place.\r\n Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel.\r\n Thine own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not; neither go into thy brother's house in the day of thy calamity: for better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off.\r\n My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him that reproacheth me.\r\n A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.\r\n Take his garment that is surety for a stranger, and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.\r\n He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him.\r\n A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike.\r\n Whosoever hideth her hideth the wind, and the ointment of his right hand, which bewrayeth itself.\r\n Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.\r\n Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof: so he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured.\r\n As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man.\r\n Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.\r\n As the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold; so is a man to his praise.\r\n Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet will not his foolishness depart from him.\r\n Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds.\r\n For riches are not for ever: and doth the crown endure to every generation?\r\n The hay appeareth, and the tender grass sheweth itself, and herbs of the mountains are gathered.\r\n The lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of the field.\r\n And thou shalt have goats' milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household, and for the maintenance for thy maidens.\r\n \r\n \r\n The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.\r\n For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof: but by a man of understanding and knowledge the state thereof shall be prolonged.\r\n A poor man that oppresseth the poor is like a sweeping rain which leaveth no food.\r\n They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them.\r\n Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the LORD understand all things.\r\n Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.\r\n Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son: but he that is a companion of riotous men shameth his father.\r\n He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor.\r\n He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.\r\n Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil way, he shall fall himself into his own pit: but the upright shall have good things in possession.\r\n The rich man is wise in his own conceit; but the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out.\r\n When righteous men do rejoice, there is great glory: but when the wicked rise, a man is hidden.\r\n He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.\r\n Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.\r\n As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear; so is a wicked ruler over the poor people.\r\n The prince that wanteth understanding is also a great oppressor: but he that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days.\r\n A man that doeth violence to the blood of any person shall flee to the pit; let no man stay him.\r\n Whoso walketh uprightly shall be saved: but he that is perverse in his ways shall fall at once.\r\n He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread: but he that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough.\r\n A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.\r\n To have respect of persons is not good: for for a piece of bread that man will transgress.\r\n He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him.\r\n He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more favour than he that flattereth with the tongue.\r\n Whoso robbeth his father or his mother, and saith, It is no transgression; the same is the companion of a destroyer.\r\n He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the LORD shall be made fat.\r\n He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.\r\n He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.\r\n When the wicked rise, men hide themselves: but when they perish, the righteous increase.\r\n \r\n \r\n He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.\r\n When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.\r\n Whoso loveth wisdom rejoiceth his father: but he that keepeth company with harlots spendeth his substance.\r\n The king by judgment establisheth the land: but he that receiveth gifts overthroweth it.\r\n A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his feet.\r\n In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare: but the righteous doth sing and rejoice.\r\n The righteous considereth the cause of the poor: but the wicked regardeth not to know it.\r\n Scornful men bring a city into a snare: but wise men turn away wrath.\r\n If a wise man contendeth with a foolish man, whether he rage or laugh, there is no rest.\r\n The bloodthirsty hate the upright: but the just seek his soul.\r\n A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.\r\n If a ruler hearken to lies, all his servants are wicked.\r\n The poor and the deceitful man meet together: the LORD lighteneth both their eyes.\r\n The king that faithfully judgeth the poor, his throne shall be established for ever.\r\n The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.\r\n When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increaseth: but the righteous shall see their fall.\r\n Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul.\r\n Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.\r\n A servant will not be corrected by words: for though he understand he will not answer.\r\n Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him.\r\n He that delicately bringeth up his servant from a child shall have him become his son at the length.\r\n An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression.\r\n A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.\r\n Whoso is partner with a thief hateth his own soul: he heareth cursing, and bewrayeth it not.\r\n The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.\r\n Many seek the ruler's favour; but every man's judgment cometh from the LORD.\r\n An unjust man is an abomination to the just: and he that is upright in the way is abomination to the wicked.\r\n \r\n \r\n The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, even the prophecy: the man spake unto Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal,\r\n Surely I am more brutish than any man, and have not the understanding of a man.\r\n I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy.\r\n Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst tell?\r\n Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.\r\n Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.\r\n Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die:\r\n Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:\r\n Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.\r\n Accuse not a servant unto his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be found guilty.\r\n There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother.\r\n There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.\r\n There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up.\r\n There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.\r\n The horseleach hath two daughters, crying, Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, yea, four things say not, It is enough:\r\n The grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire that saith not, It is enough.\r\n The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it.\r\n There be three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not:\r\n The way of an eagle in the air; the way of a serpent upon a rock; the way of a ship in the midst of the sea; and the way of a man with a maid.\r\n Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness.\r\n For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which it cannot bear:\r\n For a servant when he reigneth; and a fool when he is filled with meat;\r\n For an odious woman when she is married; and an handmaid that is heir to her mistress.\r\n There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise:\r\n The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer;\r\n The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks;\r\n The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands;\r\n The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings' palaces.\r\n There be three things which go well, yea, four are comely in going:\r\n A lion which is strongest among beasts, and turneth not away for any;\r\n A greyhound; an he goat also; and a king, against whom there is no rising up.\r\n If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, lay thine hand upon thy mouth.\r\n Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood: so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife.\r\n \r\n \r\n The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.\r\n What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?\r\n Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.\r\n It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:\r\n Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.\r\n Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.\r\n Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.\r\n Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.\r\n Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.\r\n Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.\r\n The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.\r\n She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.\r\n She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.\r\n She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.\r\n She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.\r\n She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.\r\n She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.\r\n She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.\r\n She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.\r\n She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.\r\n She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.\r\n She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.\r\n Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.\r\n She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.\r\n Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.\r\n She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.\r\n She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.\r\n Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.\r\n Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.\r\n Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.\r\n Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.\r\n Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.\r\n What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?\r\n One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.\r\n The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose.\r\n The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits.\r\n All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again.\r\n All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.\r\n The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.\r\n Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.\r\n There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after.\r\n I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.\r\n And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith.\r\n I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.\r\n That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.\r\n I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.\r\n And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.\r\n For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.\r\n \r\n \r\n I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity.\r\n I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it?\r\n I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life.\r\n I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards:\r\n I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits:\r\n I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees:\r\n I got me servants and maidens, and had servants born in my house; also I had great possessions of great and small cattle above all that were in Jerusalem before me:\r\n I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts.\r\n So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me.\r\n And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour.\r\n Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.\r\n And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: for what can the man do that cometh after the king? even that which hath been already done.\r\n Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.\r\n The wise man's eyes are in his head; but the fool walketh in darkness: and I myself perceived also that one event happeneth to them all.\r\n Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so it happeneth even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then I said in my heart, that this also is vanity.\r\n For there is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool for ever; seeing that which now is in the days to come shall all be forgotten. And how dieth the wise man? as the fool.\r\n Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit.\r\n Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me.\r\n And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity.\r\n Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun.\r\n For there is a man whose labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.\r\n For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun?\r\n For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.\r\n There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.\r\n For who can eat, or who else can hasten hereunto, more than I?\r\n For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.\r\n \r\n \r\n To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:\r\n A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;\r\n A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;\r\n A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;\r\n A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;\r\n A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;\r\n A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;\r\n A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.\r\n What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?\r\n I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.\r\n He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.\r\n I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.\r\n And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.\r\n I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.\r\n That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.\r\n And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there.\r\n I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.\r\n I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.\r\n For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity.\r\n All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.\r\n Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?\r\n Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?\r\n \r\n \r\n So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter.\r\n Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive.\r\n Yea, better is he than both they, which hath not yet been, who hath not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.\r\n Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.\r\n The fool foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh.\r\n Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.\r\n Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun.\r\n There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.\r\n Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.\r\n For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.\r\n Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?\r\n And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.\r\n Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.\r\n For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor.\r\n I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead.\r\n There is no end of all the people, even of all that have been before them: they also that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit.\r\n \r\n \r\n Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil.\r\n Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.\r\n For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool's voice is known by multitude of words.\r\n When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed.\r\n Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.\r\n Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands?\r\n For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities: but fear thou God.\r\n If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there be higher than they.\r\n Moreover the profit of the earth is for all: the king himself is served by the field.\r\n He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.\r\n When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes?\r\n The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.\r\n There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt.\r\n But those riches perish by evil travail: and he begetteth a son, and there is nothing in his hand.\r\n As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand.\r\n And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind?\r\n All his days also he eateth in darkness, and he hath much sorrow and wrath with his sickness.\r\n Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion.\r\n Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God.\r\n For he shall not much remember the days of his life; because God answereth him in the joy of his heart.\r\n \r\n \r\n There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men:\r\n A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour, so that he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it: this is vanity, and it is an evil disease.\r\n If a man beget an hundred children, and live many years, so that the days of his years be many, and his soul be not filled with good, and also that he have no burial; I say, that an untimely birth is better than he.\r\n For he cometh in with vanity, and departeth in darkness, and his name shall be covered with darkness.\r\n Moreover he hath not seen the sun, nor known any thing: this hath more rest than the other.\r\n Yea, though he live a thousand years twice told, yet hath he seen no good: do not all go to one place?\r\n All the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled.\r\n For what hath the wise more than the fool? what hath the poor, that knoweth to walk before the living?\r\n Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit.\r\n That which hath been is named already, and it is known that it is man: neither may he contend with him that is mightier than he.\r\n Seeing there be many things that increase vanity, what is man the better?\r\n For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?\r\n \r\n \r\n A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth.\r\n It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart.\r\n Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.\r\n The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.\r\n It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.\r\n For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity.\r\n Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart.\r\n Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.\r\n Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.\r\n Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this.\r\n Wisdom is good with an inheritance: and by it there is profit to them that see the sun.\r\n For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it.\r\n Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?\r\n In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.\r\n All things have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickedness.\r\n Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?\r\n Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?\r\n It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from this withdraw not thine hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all.\r\n Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city.\r\n For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.\r\n Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee:\r\n For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.\r\n All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.\r\n That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out?\r\n I applied mine heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason of things, and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and madness:\r\n And I find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her.\r\n Behold, this have I found, saith the preacher, counting one by one, to find out the account:\r\n Which yet my soul seeketh, but I find not: one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found.\r\n Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.\r\n \r\n \r\n Who is as the wise man? and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? a man's wisdom maketh his face to shine, and the boldness of his face shall be changed.\r\n I counsel thee to keep the king's commandment, and that in regard of the oath of God.\r\n Be not hasty to go out of his sight: stand not in an evil thing; for he doeth whatsoever pleaseth him.\r\n Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou?\r\n Whoso keepeth the commandment shall feel no evil thing: and a wise man's heart discerneth both time and judgment.\r\n Because to every purpose there is time and judgment, therefore the misery of man is great upon him.\r\n For he knoweth not that which shall be: for who can tell him when it shall be?\r\n There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in that war; neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it.\r\n All this have I seen, and applied my heart unto every work that is done under the sun: there is a time wherein one man ruleth over another to his own hurt.\r\n And so I saw the wicked buried, who had come and gone from the place of the holy, and they were forgotten in the city where they had so done: this is also vanity.\r\n Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.\r\n Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him:\r\n But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow; because he feareth not before God.\r\n There is a vanity which is done upon the earth; that there be just men, unto whom it happeneth according to the work of the wicked; again, there be wicked men, to whom it happeneth according to the work of the righteous: I said that this also is vanity.\r\n Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry: for that shall abide with him of his labour the days of his life, which God giveth him under the sun.\r\n When I applied mine heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done upon the earth: (for also there is that neither day nor night seeth sleep with his eyes:)\r\n Then I beheld all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun: because though a man labour to seek it out, yet he shall not find it; yea further; though a wise man think to know it, yet shall he not be able to find it.\r\n \r\n \r\n For all this I considered in my heart even to declare all this, that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God: no man knoweth either love or hatred by all that is before them.\r\n All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as is the good, so is the sinner; and he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath.\r\n This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event unto all: yea, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead.\r\n For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion.\r\n For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.\r\n Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.\r\n Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works.\r\n Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment.\r\n Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun.\r\n Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.\r\n I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.\r\n For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them.\r\n This wisdom have I seen also under the sun, and it seemed great unto me:\r\n There was a little city, and few men within it; and there came a great king against it, and besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it:\r\n Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man.\r\n Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.\r\n The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools.\r\n Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good.\r\n \r\n \r\n Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.\r\n A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.\r\n Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wisdom faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool.\r\n If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.\r\n There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler:\r\n Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.\r\n I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.\r\n He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.\r\n Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby.\r\n If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.\r\n Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.\r\n The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.\r\n The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.\r\n A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?\r\n The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city.\r\n Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!\r\n Blessed art thou, O land, when thy king is the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!\r\n By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.\r\n A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things.\r\n Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.\r\n \r\n \r\n Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.\r\n Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.\r\n If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth: and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be.\r\n He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.\r\n As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all.\r\n In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.\r\n Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun:\r\n But if a man live many years, and rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity.\r\n Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.\r\n Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity.\r\n \r\n \r\n Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;\r\n While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain:\r\n In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened,\r\n And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of musick shall be brought low;\r\n Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets:\r\n Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern.\r\n Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.\r\n Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity.\r\n And moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs.\r\n The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.\r\n The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.\r\n And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.\r\n Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.\r\n For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n The song of songs, which is Solomon's.\r\n Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love is better than wine.\r\n Because of the savour of thy good ointments thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee.\r\n Draw me, we will run after thee: the king hath brought me into his chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in thee, we will remember thy love more than wine: the upright love thee.\r\n I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon.\r\n Look not upon me, because I am black, because the sun hath looked upon me: my mother's children were angry with me; they made me the keeper of the vineyards; but mine own vineyard have I not kept.\r\n Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon: for why should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of thy companions?\r\n If thou know not, O thou fairest among women, go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock, and feed thy kids beside the shepherds' tents.\r\n I have compared thee, O my love, to a company of horses in Pharaoh's chariots.\r\n Thy cheeks are comely with rows of jewels, thy neck with chains of gold.\r\n We will make thee borders of gold with studs of silver.\r\n While the king sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof.\r\n A bundle of myrrh is my wellbeloved unto me; he shall lie all night betwixt my breasts.\r\n My beloved is unto me as a cluster of camphire in the vineyards of Engedi.\r\n Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves' eyes.\r\n Behold, thou art fair, my beloved, yea, pleasant: also our bed is green.\r\n The beams of our house are cedar, and our rafters of fir.\r\n \r\n \r\n I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys.\r\n As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters.\r\n As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste.\r\n He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.\r\n Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples: for I am sick of love.\r\n His left hand is under my head, and his right hand doth embrace me.\r\n I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, till he please.\r\n The voice of my beloved! behold, he cometh leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills.\r\n My beloved is like a roe or a young hart: behold, he standeth behind our wall, he looketh forth at the windows, shewing himself through the lattice.\r\n My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.\r\n For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone;\r\n The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land;\r\n The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.\r\n O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely.\r\n Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.\r\n My beloved is mine, and I am his: he feedeth among the lilies.\r\n Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, turn, my beloved, and be thou like a roe or a young hart upon the mountains of Bether.\r\n \r\n \r\n By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not.\r\n I will rise now, and go about the city in the streets, and in the broad ways I will seek him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not.\r\n The watchmen that go about the city found me: to whom I said, Saw ye him whom my soul loveth?\r\n It was but a little that I passed from them, but I found him whom my soul loveth: I held him, and would not let him go, until I had brought him into my mother's house, and into the chamber of her that conceived me.\r\n I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, till he please.\r\n Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all powders of the merchant?\r\n Behold his bed, which is Solomon's; threescore valiant men are about it, of the valiant of Israel.\r\n They all hold swords, being expert in war: every man hath his sword upon his thigh because of fear in the night.\r\n King Solomon made himself a chariot of the wood of Lebanon.\r\n He made the pillars thereof of silver, the bottom thereof of gold, the covering of it of purple, the midst thereof being paved with love, for the daughters of Jerusalem.\r\n Go forth, O ye daughters of Zion, and behold king Solomon with the crown wherewith his mother crowned him in the day of his espousals, and in the day of the gladness of his heart.\r\n \r\n \r\n Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves' eyes within thy locks: thy hair is as a flock of goats, that appear from mount Gilead.\r\n Thy teeth are like a flock of sheep that are even shorn, which came up from the washing; whereof every one bear twins, and none is barren among them.\r\n Thy lips are like a thread of scarlet, and thy speech is comely: thy temples are like a piece of a pomegranate within thy locks.\r\n Thy neck is like the tower of David builded for an armoury, whereon there hang a thousand bucklers, all shields of mighty men.\r\n Thy two breasts are like two young roes that are twins, which feed among the lilies.\r\n Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, I will get me to the mountain of myrrh, and to the hill of frankincense.\r\n Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee.\r\n Come with me from Lebanon, my spouse, with me from Lebanon: look from the top of Amana, from the top of Shenir and Hermon, from the lions' dens, from the mountains of the leopards.\r\n Thou hast ravished my heart, my sister, my spouse; thou hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes, with one chain of thy neck.\r\n How fair is thy love, my sister, my spouse! how much better is thy love than wine! and the smell of thine ointments than all spices!\r\n Thy lips, O my spouse, drop as the honeycomb: honey and milk are under thy tongue; and the smell of thy garments is like the smell of Lebanon.\r\n A garden inclosed is my sister, my spouse; a spring shut up, a fountain sealed.\r\n Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits; camphire, with spikenard,\r\n Spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices:\r\n A fountain of gardens, a well of living waters, and streams from Lebanon.\r\n Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south; blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out. Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his pleasant fruits.\r\n \r\n \r\n I am come into my garden, my sister, my spouse: I have gathered my myrrh with my spice; I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk: eat, O friends; drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved.\r\n I sleep, but my heart waketh: it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night.\r\n I have put off my coat; how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet; how shall I defile them?\r\n My beloved put in his hand by the hole of the door, and my bowels were moved for him.\r\n I rose up to open to my beloved; and my hands dropped with myrrh, and my fingers with sweet smelling myrrh, upon the handles of the lock.\r\n I opened to my beloved; but my beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone: my soul failed when he spake: I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer.\r\n The watchmen that went about the city found me, they smote me, they wounded me; the keepers of the walls took away my veil from me.\r\n I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if ye find my beloved, that ye tell him, that I am sick of love.\r\n What is thy beloved more than another beloved, O thou fairest among women? what is thy beloved more than another beloved, that thou dost so charge us?\r\n My beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand.\r\n His head is as the most fine gold, his locks are bushy, and black as a raven.\r\n His eyes are as the eyes of doves by the rivers of waters, washed with milk, and fitly set.\r\n His cheeks are as a bed of spices, as sweet flowers: his lips like lilies, dropping sweet smelling myrrh.\r\n His hands are as gold rings set with the beryl: his belly is as bright ivory overlaid with sapphires.\r\n His legs are as pillars of marble, set upon sockets of fine gold: his countenance is as Lebanon, excellent as the cedars.\r\n His mouth is most sweet: yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.\r\n \r\n \r\n Whither is thy beloved gone, O thou fairest among women? whither is thy beloved turned aside? that we may seek him with thee.\r\n My beloved is gone down into his garden, to the beds of spices, to feed in the gardens, and to gather lilies.\r\n I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine: he feedeth among the lilies.\r\n Thou art beautiful, O my love, as Tirzah, comely as Jerusalem, terrible as an army with banners.\r\n Turn away thine eyes from me, for they have overcome me: thy hair is as a flock of goats that appear from Gilead.\r\n Thy teeth are as a flock of sheep which go up from the washing, whereof every one beareth twins, and there is not one barren among them.\r\n As a piece of a pomegranate are thy temples within thy locks.\r\n There are threescore queens, and fourscore concubines, and virgins without number.\r\n My dove, my undefiled is but one; she is the only one of her mother, she is the choice one of her that bare her. The daughters saw her, and blessed her; yea, the queens and the concubines, and they praised her.\r\n Who is she that looketh forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners?\r\n I went down into the garden of nuts to see the fruits of the valley, and to see whether the vine flourished, and the pomegranates budded.\r\n Or ever I was aware, my soul made me like the chariots of Amminadib.\r\n Return, return, O Shulamite; return, return, that we may look upon thee. What will ye see in the Shulamite? As it were the company of two armies.\r\n \r\n \r\n How beautiful are thy feet with shoes, O prince's daughter! the joints of thy thighs are like jewels, the work of the hands of a cunning workman.\r\n Thy navel is like a round goblet, which wanteth not liquor: thy belly is like an heap of wheat set about with lilies.\r\n Thy two breasts are like two young roes that are twins.\r\n Thy neck is as a tower of ivory; thine eyes like the fishpools in Heshbon, by the gate of Bathrabbim: thy nose is as the tower of Lebanon which looketh toward Damascus.\r\n Thine head upon thee is like Carmel, and the hair of thine head like purple; the king is held in the galleries.\r\n How fair and how pleasant art thou, O love, for delights!\r\n This thy stature is like to a palm tree, and thy breasts to clusters of grapes.\r\n I said, I will go up to the palm tree, I will take hold of the boughs thereof: now also thy breasts shall be as clusters of the vine, and the smell of thy nose like apples;\r\n And the roof of thy mouth like the best wine for my beloved, that goeth down sweetly, causing the lips of those that are asleep to speak.\r\n I am my beloved's, and his desire is toward me.\r\n Come, my beloved, let us go forth into the field; let us lodge in the villages.\r\n Let us get up early to the vineyards; let us see if the vine flourish, whether the tender grape appear, and the pomegranates bud forth: there will I give thee my loves.\r\n The mandrakes give a smell, and at our gates are all manner of pleasant fruits, new and old, which I have laid up for thee, O my beloved.\r\n \r\n \r\n O that thou wert as my brother, that sucked the breasts of my mother! when I should find thee without, I would kiss thee; yea, I should not be despised.\r\n I would lead thee, and bring thee into my mother's house, who would instruct me: I would cause thee to drink of spiced wine of the juice of my pomegranate.\r\n His left hand should be under my head, and his right hand should embrace me.\r\n I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, until he please.\r\n Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved? I raised thee up under the apple tree: there thy mother brought thee forth: there she brought thee forth that bare thee.\r\n Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame.\r\n Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned.\r\n We have a little sister, and she hath no breasts: what shall we do for our sister in the day when she shall be spoken for?\r\n If she be a wall, we will build upon her a palace of silver: and if she be a door, we will inclose her with boards of cedar.\r\n I am a wall, and my breasts like towers: then was I in his eyes as one that found favour.\r\n Solomon had a vineyard at Baalhamon; he let out the vineyard unto keepers; every one for the fruit thereof was to bring a thousand pieces of silver.\r\n My vineyard, which is mine, is before me: thou, O Solomon, must have a thousand, and those that keep the fruit thereof two hundred.\r\n Thou that dwellest in the gardens, the companions hearken to thy voice: cause me to hear it.\r\n Make haste, my beloved, and be thou like to a roe or to a young hart upon the mountains of spices.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.\r\n Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.\r\n The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider.\r\n Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward.\r\n Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.\r\n From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.\r\n Your country is desolate, your cities are burned with fire: your land, strangers devour it in your presence, and it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers.\r\n And the daughter of Zion is left as a cottage in a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city.\r\n Except the LORD of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah.\r\n Hear the word of the LORD, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah.\r\n To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats.\r\n When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts?\r\n Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting.\r\n Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them.\r\n And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.\r\n Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;\r\n Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.\r\n Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.\r\n If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:\r\n But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.\r\n How is the faithful city become an harlot! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers.\r\n Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mixed with water:\r\n Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them.\r\n Therefore saith the Lord, the LORD of hosts, the mighty One of Israel, Ah, I will ease me of mine adversaries, and avenge me of mine enemies:\r\n And I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin:\r\n And I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counsellors as at the beginning: afterward thou shalt be called, The city of righteousness, the faithful city.\r\n Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, and her converts with righteousness.\r\n And the destruction of the transgressors and of the sinners shall be together, and they that forsake the LORD shall be consumed.\r\n For they shall be ashamed of the oaks which ye have desired, and ye shall be confounded for the gardens that ye have chosen.\r\n For ye shall be as an oak whose leaf fadeth, and as a garden that hath no water.\r\n And the strong shall be as tow, and the maker of it as a spark, and they shall both burn together, and none shall quench them.\r\n \r\n \r\n The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.\r\n And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD'S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.\r\n And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.\r\n And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.\r\n O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the LORD.\r\n Therefore thou hast forsaken thy people the house of Jacob, because they be replenished from the east, and are soothsayers like the Philistines, and they please themselves in the children of strangers.\r\n Their land also is full of silver and gold, neither is there any end of their treasures; their land is also full of horses, neither is there any end of their chariots:\r\n Their land also is full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made:\r\n And the mean man boweth down, and the great man humbleth himself: therefore forgive them not.\r\n Enter into the rock, and hide thee in the dust, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty.\r\n The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.\r\n For the day of the LORD of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low:\r\n And upon all the cedars of Lebanon, that are high and lifted up, and upon all the oaks of Bashan,\r\n And upon all the high mountains, and upon all the hills that are lifted up,\r\n And upon every high tower, and upon every fenced wall,\r\n And upon all the ships of Tarshish, and upon all pleasant pictures.\r\n And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.\r\n And the idols he shall utterly abolish.\r\n And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.\r\n In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made each one for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats;\r\n To go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the ragged rocks, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.\r\n Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of?\r\n \r\n \r\n For, behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, doth take away from Jerusalem and from Judah the stay and the staff, the whole stay of bread, and the whole stay of water,\r\n The mighty man, and the man of war, the judge, and the prophet, and the prudent, and the ancient,\r\n The captain of fifty, and the honourable man, and the counsellor, and the cunning artificer, and the eloquent orator.\r\n And I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over them.\r\n And the people shall be oppressed, every one by another, and every one by his neighbour: the child shall behave himself proudly against the ancient, and the base against the honourable.\r\n When a man shall take hold of his brother of the house of his father, saying, Thou hast clothing, be thou our ruler, and let this ruin be under thy hand:\r\n In that day shall he swear, saying, I will not be an healer; for in my house is neither bread nor clothing: make me not a ruler of the people.\r\n For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen: because their tongue and their doings are against the LORD, to provoke the eyes of his glory.\r\n The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves.\r\n Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings.\r\n Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him.\r\n As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.\r\n The LORD standeth up to plead, and standeth to judge the people.\r\n The LORD will enter into judgment with the ancients of his people, and the princes thereof: for ye have eaten up the vineyard; the spoil of the poor is in your houses.\r\n What mean ye that ye beat my people to pieces, and grind the faces of the poor? saith the Lord GOD of hosts.\r\n Moreover the LORD saith, Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go, and making a tinkling with their feet:\r\n Therefore the Lord will smite with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, and the LORD will discover their secret parts.\r\n In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments about their feet, and their cauls, and their round tires like the moon,\r\n The chains, and the bracelets, and the mufflers,\r\n The bonnets, and the ornaments of the legs, and the headbands, and the tablets, and the earrings,\r\n The rings, and nose jewels,\r\n The changeable suits of apparel, and the mantles, and the wimples, and the crisping pins,\r\n The glasses, and the fine linen, and the hoods, and the vails.\r\n And it shall come to pass, that instead of sweet smell there shall be stink; and instead of a girdle a rent; and instead of well set hair baldness; and instead of a stomacher a girding of sackcloth; and burning instead of beauty.\r\n Thy men shall fall by the sword, and thy mighty in the war.\r\n And her gates shall lament and mourn; and she being desolate shall sit upon the ground.\r\n \r\n \r\n And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.\r\n In that day shall the branch of the LORD be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel.\r\n And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem:\r\n When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning.\r\n And the LORD will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defence.\r\n And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now will I sing to my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill:\r\n And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes.\r\n And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard.\r\n What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes?\r\n And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down:\r\n And I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it.\r\n For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry.\r\n Woe unto them that join house to house, that lay field to field, till there be no place, that they may be placed alone in the midst of the earth!\r\n In mine ears said the LORD of hosts, Of a truth many houses shall be desolate, even great and fair, without inhabitant.\r\n Yea, ten acres of vineyard shall yield one bath, and the seed of an homer shall yield an ephah.\r\n Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them!\r\n And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine, are in their feasts: but they regard not the work of the LORD, neither consider the operation of his hands.\r\n Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge: and their honourable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst.\r\n Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it.\r\n And the mean man shall be brought down, and the mighty man shall be humbled, and the eyes of the lofty shall be humbled:\r\n But the LORD of hosts shall be exalted in judgment, and God that is holy shall be sanctified in righteousness.\r\n Then shall the lambs feed after their manner, and the waste places of the fat ones shall strangers eat.\r\n Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it were with a cart rope:\r\n That say, Let him make speed, and hasten his work, that we may see it: and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw nigh and come, that we may know it!\r\n Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!\r\n Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!\r\n Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink:\r\n Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!\r\n Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.\r\n Therefore is the anger of the LORD kindled against his people, and he hath stretched forth his hand against them, and hath smitten them: and the hills did tremble, and their carcases were torn in the midst of the streets. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.\r\n And he will lift up an ensign to the nations from far, and will hiss unto them from the end of the earth: and, behold, they shall come with speed swiftly:\r\n None shall be weary nor stumble among them; none shall slumber nor sleep; neither shall the girdle of their loins be loosed, nor the latchet of their shoes be broken:\r\n Whose arrows are sharp, and all their bows bent, their horses' hoofs shall be counted like flint, and their wheels like a whirlwind:\r\n Their roaring shall be like a lion, they shall roar like young lions: yea, they shall roar, and lay hold of the prey, and shall carry it away safe, and none shall deliver it.\r\n And in that day they shall roar against them like the roaring of the sea: and if one look unto the land, behold darkness and sorrow, and the light is darkened in the heavens thereof.\r\n \r\n \r\n In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.\r\n Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.\r\n And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.\r\n And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.\r\n Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.\r\n Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar:\r\n And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.\r\n Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.\r\n And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.\r\n Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.\r\n Then said I, Lord, how long? And he answered, Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate,\r\n And the LORD have removed men far away, and there be a great forsaking in the midst of the land.\r\n But yet in it shall be a tenth, and it shall return, and shall be eaten: as a teil tree, and as an oak, whose substance is in them, when they cast their leaves: so the holy seed shall be the substance thereof.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass in the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, that Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up toward Jerusalem to war against it, but could not prevail against it.\r\n And it was told the house of David, saying, Syria is confederate with Ephraim. And his heart was moved, and the heart of his people, as the trees of the wood are moved with the wind.\r\n Then said the LORD unto Isaiah, Go forth now to meet Ahaz, thou, and Shearjashub thy son, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool in the highway of the fuller's field;\r\n And say unto him, Take heed, and be quiet; fear not, neither be fainthearted for the two tails of these smoking firebrands, for the fierce anger of Rezin with Syria, and of the son of Remaliah.\r\n Because Syria, Ephraim, and the son of Remaliah, have taken evil counsel against thee, saying,\r\n Let us go up against Judah, and vex it, and let us make a breach therein for us, and set a king in the midst of it, even the son of Tabeal:\r\n Thus saith the Lord GOD, It shall not stand, neither shall it come to pass.\r\n For the head of Syria is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin; and within threescore and five years shall Ephraim be broken, that it be not a people.\r\n And the head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is Remaliah's son. If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established.\r\n Moreover the LORD spake again unto Ahaz, saying,\r\n Ask thee a sign of the LORD thy God; ask it either in the depth, or in the height above.\r\n But Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt the LORD.\r\n And he said, Hear ye now, O house of David; Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will ye weary my God also?\r\n Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.\r\n Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good.\r\n For before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land that thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her kings.\r\n The LORD shall bring upon thee, and upon thy people, and upon thy father's house, days that have not come, from the day that Ephraim departed from Judah; even the king of Assyria.\r\n And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall hiss for the fly that is in the uttermost part of the rivers of Egypt, and for the bee that is in the land of Assyria.\r\n And they shall come, and shall rest all of them in the desolate valleys, and in the holes of the rocks, and upon all thorns, and upon all bushes.\r\n In the same day shall the Lord shave with a razor that is hired, namely, by them beyond the river, by the king of Assyria, the head, and the hair of the feet: and it shall also consume the beard.\r\n And it shall come to pass in that day, that a man shall nourish a young cow, and two sheep;\r\n And it shall come to pass, for the abundance of milk that they shall give he shall eat butter: for butter and honey shall every one eat that is left in the land.\r\n And it shall come to pass in that day, that every place shall be, where there were a thousand vines at a thousand silverlings, it shall even be for briers and thorns.\r\n With arrows and with bows shall men come thither; because all the land shall become briers and thorns.\r\n And on all hills that shall be digged with the mattock, there shall not come thither the fear of briers and thorns: but it shall be for the sending forth of oxen, and for the treading of lesser cattle.\r\n \r\n \r\n Moreover the LORD said unto me, Take thee a great roll, and write in it with a man's pen concerning Mahershalalhashbaz.\r\n And I took unto me faithful witnesses to record, Uriah the priest, and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah.\r\n And I went unto the prophetess; and she conceived, and bare a son. Then said the LORD to me, Call his name Mahershalalhashbaz.\r\n For before the child shall have knowledge to cry, My father, and my mother, the riches of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria shall be taken away before the king of Assyria.\r\n The LORD spake also unto me again, saying,\r\n Forasmuch as this people refuseth the waters of Shiloah that go softly, and rejoice in Rezin and Remaliah's son;\r\n Now therefore, behold, the Lord bringeth up upon them the waters of the river, strong and many, even the king of Assyria, and all his glory: and he shall come up over all his channels, and go over all his banks:\r\n And he shall pass through Judah; he shall overflow and go over, he shall reach even to the neck; and the stretching out of his wings shall fill the breadth of thy land, O Immanuel.\r\n Associate yourselves, O ye people, and ye shall be broken in pieces; and give ear, all ye of far countries: gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces; gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces.\r\n Take counsel together, and it shall come to nought; speak the word, and it shall not stand: for God is with us.\r\n For the LORD spake thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying,\r\n Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid.\r\n Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.\r\n And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.\r\n And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken.\r\n Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.\r\n And I will wait upon the LORD, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him.\r\n Behold, I and the children whom the LORD hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion.\r\n And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?\r\n To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.\r\n And they shall pass through it, hardly bestead and hungry: and it shall come to pass, that when they shall be hungry, they shall fret themselves, and curse their king and their God, and look upward.\r\n And they shall look unto the earth; and behold trouble and darkness, dimness of anguish; and they shall be driven to darkness.\r\n \r\n \r\n Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations.\r\n The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.\r\n Thou hast multiplied the nation, and not increased the joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.\r\n For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian.\r\n For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire.\r\n For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.\r\n Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.\r\n The Lord sent a word into Jacob, and it hath lighted upon Israel.\r\n And all the people shall know, even Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria, that say in the pride and stoutness of heart,\r\n The bricks are fallen down, but we will build with hewn stones: the sycomores are cut down, but we will change them into cedars.\r\n Therefore the LORD shall set up the adversaries of Rezin against him, and join his enemies together;\r\n The Syrians before, and the Philistines behind; and they shall devour Israel with open mouth. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.\r\n For the people turneth not unto him that smiteth them, neither do they seek the LORD of hosts.\r\n Therefore the LORD will cut off from Israel head and tail, branch and rush, in one day.\r\n The ancient and honourable, he is the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail.\r\n For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed.\r\n Therefore the Lord shall have no joy in their young men, neither shall have mercy on their fatherless and widows: for every one is an hypocrite and an evildoer, and every mouth speaketh folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.\r\n For wickedness burneth as the fire: it shall devour the briers and thorns, and shall kindle in the thickets of the forest, and they shall mount up like the lifting up of smoke.\r\n Through the wrath of the LORD of hosts is the land darkened, and the people shall be as the fuel of the fire: no man shall spare his brother.\r\n And he shall snatch on the right hand, and be hungry; and he shall eat on the left hand, and they shall not be satisfied: they shall eat every man the flesh of his own arm:\r\n Manasseh, Ephraim; and Ephraim, Manasseh: and they together shall be against Judah. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.\r\n \r\n \r\n Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness which they have prescribed;\r\n To turn aside the needy from judgment, and to take away the right from the poor of my people, that widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the fatherless!\r\n And what will ye do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation which shall come from far? to whom will ye flee for help? and where will ye leave your glory?\r\n Without me they shall bow down under the prisoners, and they shall fall under the slain. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.\r\n O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation.\r\n I will send him against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.\r\n Howbeit he meaneth not so, neither doth his heart think so; but it is in his heart to destroy and cut off nations not a few.\r\n For he saith, Are not my princes altogether kings?\r\n Is not Calno as Carchemish? is not Hamath as Arpad? is not Samaria as Damascus?\r\n As my hand hath found the kingdoms of the idols, and whose graven images did excel them of Jerusalem and of Samaria;\r\n Shall I not, as I have done unto Samaria and her idols, so do to Jerusalem and her idols?\r\n Wherefore it shall come to pass, that when the Lord hath performed his whole work upon mount Zion and on Jerusalem, I will punish the fruit of the stout heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his high looks.\r\n For he saith, By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom; for I am prudent: and I have removed the bounds of the people, and have robbed their treasures, and I have put down the inhabitants like a valiant man:\r\n And my hand hath found as a nest the riches of the people: and as one gathereth eggs that are left, have I gathered all the earth; and there was none that moved the wing, or opened the mouth, or peeped.\r\n Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth therewith? or shall the saw magnify itself against him that shaketh it? as if the rod should shake itself against them that lift it up, or as if the staff should lift up itself, as if it were no wood.\r\n Therefore shall the Lord, the Lord of hosts, send among his fat ones leanness; and under his glory he shall kindle a burning like the burning of a fire.\r\n And the light of Israel shall be for a fire, and his Holy One for a flame: and it shall burn and devour his thorns and his briers in one day;\r\n And shall consume the glory of his forest, and of his fruitful field, both soul and body: and they shall be as when a standardbearer fainteth.\r\n And the rest of the trees of his forest shall be few, that a child may write them.\r\n And it shall come to pass in that day, that the remnant of Israel, and such as are escaped of the house of Jacob, shall no more again stay upon him that smote them; but shall stay upon the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, in truth.\r\n The remnant shall return, even the remnant of Jacob, unto the mighty God.\r\n For though thy people Israel be as the sand of the sea, yet a remnant of them shall return: the consumption decreed shall overflow with righteousness.\r\n For the Lord GOD of hosts shall make a consumption, even determined, in the midst of all the land.\r\n Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD of hosts, O my people that dwellest in Zion, be not afraid of the Assyrian: he shall smite thee with a rod, and shall lift up his staff against thee, after the manner of Egypt.\r\n For yet a very little while, and the indignation shall cease, and mine anger in their destruction.\r\n And the LORD of hosts shall stir up a scourge for him according to the slaughter of Midian at the rock of Oreb: and as his rod was upon the sea, so shall he lift it up after the manner of Egypt.\r\n And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing.\r\n He is come to Aiath, he is passed to Migron; at Michmash he hath laid up his carriages:\r\n They are gone over the passage: they have taken up their lodging at Geba; Ramah is afraid; Gibeah of Saul is fled.\r\n Lift up thy voice, O daughter of Gallim: cause it to be heard unto Laish, O poor Anathoth.\r\n Madmenah is removed; the inhabitants of Gebim gather themselves to flee.\r\n As yet shall he remain at Nob that day: he shall shake his hand against the mount of the daughter of Zion, the hill of Jerusalem.\r\n Behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, shall lop the bough with terror: and the high ones of stature shall be hewn down, and the haughty shall be humbled.\r\n And he shall cut down the thickets of the forest with iron, and Lebanon shall fall by a mighty one.\r\n \r\n \r\n And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:\r\n And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;\r\n And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:\r\n But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.\r\n And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.\r\n The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.\r\n And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.\r\n And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den.\r\n They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.\r\n And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.\r\n And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.\r\n And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.\r\n The envy also of Ephraim shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off: Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim.\r\n But they shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines toward the west; they shall spoil them of the east together: they shall lay their hand upon Edom and Moab; and the children of Ammon shall obey them.\r\n And the LORD shall utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea; and with his mighty wind shall he shake his hand over the river, and shall smite it in the seven streams, and make men go over dryshod.\r\n And there shall be an highway for the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria; like as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt.\r\n \r\n \r\n And in that day thou shalt say, O LORD, I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me.\r\n Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.\r\n Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.\r\n And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted.\r\n Sing unto the LORD; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth.\r\n Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.\r\n \r\n \r\n The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz did see.\r\n Lift ye up a banner upon the high mountain, exalt the voice unto them, shake the hand, that they may go into the gates of the nobles.\r\n I have commanded my sanctified ones, I have also called my mighty ones for mine anger, even them that rejoice in my highness.\r\n The noise of a multitude in the mountains, like as of a great people; a tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of nations gathered together: the LORD of hosts mustereth the host of the battle.\r\n They come from a far country, from the end of heaven, even the LORD, and the weapons of his indignation, to destroy the whole land.\r\n Howl ye; for the day of the LORD is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty.\r\n Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man's heart shall melt:\r\n And they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth: they shall be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames.\r\n Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.\r\n For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.\r\n And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.\r\n I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir.\r\n Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the LORD of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger.\r\n And it shall be as the chased roe, and as a sheep that no man taketh up: they shall every man turn to his own people, and flee every one into his own land.\r\n Every one that is found shall be thrust through; and every one that is joined unto them shall fall by the sword.\r\n Their children also shall be dashed to pieces before their eyes; their houses shall be spoiled, and their wives ravished.\r\n Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them, which shall not regard silver; and as for gold, they shall not delight in it.\r\n Their bows also shall dash the young men to pieces; and they shall have no pity on the fruit of the womb; their eye shall not spare children.\r\n And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees' excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.\r\n It shall never be inhabited, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation: neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there; neither shall the shepherds make their fold there.\r\n But wild beasts of the desert shall lie there; and their houses shall be full of doleful creatures; and owls shall dwell there, and satyrs shall dance there.\r\n And the wild beasts of the islands shall cry in their desolate houses, and dragons in their pleasant palaces: and her time is near to come, and her days shall not be prolonged.\r\n \r\n \r\n For the LORD will have mercy on Jacob, and will yet choose Israel, and set them in their own land: and the strangers shall be joined with them, and they shall cleave to the house of Jacob.\r\n And the people shall take them, and bring them to their place: and the house of Israel shall possess them in the land of the LORD for servants and handmaids: and they shall take them captives, whose captives they were; and they shall rule over their oppressors.\r\n And it shall come to pass in the day that the LORD shall give thee rest from thy sorrow, and from thy fear, and from the hard bondage wherein thou wast made to serve,\r\n That thou shalt take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say, How hath the oppressor ceased! the golden city ceased!\r\n The LORD hath broken the staff of the wicked, and the sceptre of the rulers.\r\n He who smote the people in wrath with a continual stroke, he that ruled the nations in anger, is persecuted, and none hindereth.\r\n The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet: they break forth into singing.\r\n Yea, the fir trees rejoice at thee, and the cedars of Lebanon, saying, Since thou art laid down, no feller is come up against us.\r\n Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming: it stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth; it hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations.\r\n All they shall speak and say unto thee, Art thou also become weak as we? art thou become like unto us?\r\n Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, and the noise of thy viols: the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee.\r\n How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!\r\n For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:\r\n I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.\r\n Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.\r\n They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms;\r\n That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners?\r\n All the kings of the nations, even all of them, lie in glory, every one in his own house.\r\n But thou art cast out of thy grave like an abominable branch, and as the raiment of those that are slain, thrust through with a sword, that go down to the stones of the pit; as a carcase trodden under feet.\r\n Thou shalt not be joined with them in burial, because thou hast destroyed thy land, and slain thy people: the seed of evildoers shall never be renowned.\r\n Prepare slaughter for his children for the iniquity of their fathers; that they do not rise, nor possess the land, nor fill the face of the world with cities.\r\n For I will rise up against them, saith the LORD of hosts, and cut off from Babylon the name, and remnant, and son, and nephew, saith the LORD.\r\n I will also make it a possession for the bittern, and pools of water: and I will sweep it with the besom of destruction, saith the LORD of hosts.\r\n The LORD of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand:\r\n That I will break the Assyrian in my land, and upon my mountains tread him under foot: then shall his yoke depart from off them, and his burden depart from off their shoulders.\r\n This is the purpose that is purposed upon the whole earth: and this is the hand that is stretched out upon all the nations.\r\n For the LORD of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? and his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?\r\n In the year that king Ahaz died was this burden.\r\n Rejoice not thou, whole Palestina, because the rod of him that smote thee is broken: for out of the serpent's root shall come forth a cockatrice, and his fruit shall be a fiery flying serpent.\r\n And the firstborn of the poor shall feed, and the needy shall lie down in safety: and I will kill thy root with famine, and he shall slay thy remnant.\r\n Howl, O gate; cry, O city; thou, whole Palestina, art dissolved: for there shall come from the north a smoke, and none shall be alone in his appointed times.\r\n What shall one then answer the messengers of the nation? That the LORD hath founded Zion, and the poor of his people shall trust in it.\r\n \r\n \r\n The burden of Moab. Because in the night Ar of Moab is laid waste, and brought to silence; because in the night Kir of Moab is laid waste, and brought to silence;\r\n He is gone up to Bajith, and to Dibon, the high places, to weep: Moab shall howl over Nebo, and over Medeba: on all their heads shall be baldness, and every beard cut off.\r\n In their streets they shall gird themselves with sackcloth: on the tops of their houses, and in their streets, every one shall howl, weeping abundantly.\r\n And Heshbon shall cry, and Elealeh: their voice shall be heard even unto Jahaz: therefore the armed soldiers of Moab shall cry out; his life shall be grievous unto him.\r\n My heart shall cry out for Moab; his fugitives shall flee unto Zoar, an heifer of three years old: for by the mounting up of Luhith with weeping shall they go it up; for in the way of Horonaim they shall raise up a cry of destruction.\r\n For the waters of Nimrim shall be desolate: for the hay is withered away, the grass faileth, there is no green thing.\r\n Therefore the abundance they have gotten, and that which they have laid up, shall they carry away to the brook of the willows.\r\n For the cry is gone round about the borders of Moab; the howling thereof unto Eglaim, and the howling thereof unto Beerelim.\r\n For the waters of Dimon shall be full of blood: for I will bring more upon Dimon, lions upon him that escapeth of Moab, and upon the remnant of the land.\r\n \r\n \r\n Send ye the lamb to the ruler of the land from Sela to the wilderness, unto the mount of the daughter of Zion.\r\n For it shall be, that, as a wandering bird cast out of the nest, so the daughters of Moab shall be at the fords of Arnon.\r\n Take counsel, execute judgment; make thy shadow as the night in the midst of the noonday; hide the outcasts; bewray not him that wandereth.\r\n Let mine outcasts dwell with thee, Moab; be thou a covert to them from the face of the spoiler: for the extortioner is at an end, the spoiler ceaseth, the oppressors are consumed out of the land.\r\n And in mercy shall the throne be established: and he shall sit upon it in truth in the tabernacle of David, judging, and seeking judgment, and hasting righteousness.\r\n We have heard of the pride of Moab; he is very proud: even of his haughtiness, and his pride, and his wrath: but his lies shall not be so.\r\n Therefore shall Moab howl for Moab, every one shall howl: for the foundations of Kirhareseth shall ye mourn; surely they are stricken.\r\n For the fields of Heshbon languish, and the vine of Sibmah: the lords of the heathen have broken down the principal plants thereof, they are come even unto Jazer, they wandered through the wilderness: her branches are stretched out, they are gone over the sea.\r\n Therefore I will bewail with the weeping of Jazer the vine of Sibmah: I will water thee with my tears, O Heshbon, and Elealeh: for the shouting for thy summer fruits and for thy harvest is fallen.\r\n And gladness is taken away, and joy out of the plentiful field; and in the vineyards there shall be no singing, neither shall there be shouting: the treaders shall tread out no wine in their presses; I have made their vintage shouting to cease.\r\n Wherefore my bowels shall sound like an harp for Moab, and mine inward parts for Kirharesh.\r\n And it shall come to pass, when it is seen that Moab is weary on the high place, that he shall come to his sanctuary to pray; but he shall not prevail.\r\n This is the word that the LORD hath spoken concerning Moab since that time.\r\n But now the LORD hath spoken, saying, Within three years, as the years of an hireling, and the glory of Moab shall be contemned, with all that great multitude; and the remnant shall be very small and feeble.\r\n \r\n \r\n The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap.\r\n The cities of Aroer are forsaken: they shall be for flocks, which shall lie down, and none shall make them afraid.\r\n The fortress also shall cease from Ephraim, and the kingdom from Damascus, and the remnant of Syria: they shall be as the glory of the children of Israel, saith the LORD of hosts.\r\n And in that day it shall come to pass, that the glory of Jacob shall be made thin, and the fatness of his flesh shall wax lean.\r\n And it shall be as when the harvestman gathereth the corn, and reapeth the ears with his arm; and it shall be as he that gathereth ears in the valley of Rephaim.\r\n Yet gleaning grapes shall be left in it, as the shaking of an olive tree, two or three berries in the top of the uppermost bough, four or five in the outmost fruitful branches thereof, saith the LORD God of Israel.\r\n At that day shall a man look to his Maker, and his eyes shall have respect to the Holy One of Israel.\r\n And he shall not look to the altars, the work of his hands, neither shall respect that which his fingers have made, either the groves, or the images.\r\n In that day shall his strong cities be as a forsaken bough, and an uppermost branch, which they left because of the children of Israel: and there shall be desolation.\r\n Because thou hast forgotten the God of thy salvation, and hast not been mindful of the rock of thy strength, therefore shalt thou plant pleasant plants, and shalt set it with strange slips:\r\n In the day shalt thou make thy plant to grow, and in the morning shalt thou make thy seed to flourish: but the harvest shall be a heap in the day of grief and of desperate sorrow.\r\n Woe to the multitude of many people, which make a noise like the noise of the seas; and to the rushing of nations, that make a rushing like the rushing of mighty waters!\r\n The nations shall rush like the rushing of many waters: but God shall rebuke them, and they shall flee far off, and shall be chased as the chaff of the mountains before the wind, and like a rolling thing before the whirlwind.\r\n And behold at eveningtide trouble; and before the morning he is not. This is the portion of them that spoil us, and the lot of them that rob us.\r\n \r\n \r\n Woe to the land shadowing with wings, which is beyond the rivers of Ethiopia:\r\n That sendeth ambassadors by the sea, even in vessels of bulrushes upon the waters, saying, Go, ye swift messengers, to a nation scattered and peeled, to a people terrible from their beginning hitherto; a nation meted out and trodden down, whose land the rivers have spoiled!\r\n All ye inhabitants of the world, and dwellers on the earth, see ye, when he lifteth up an ensign on the mountains; and when he bloweth a trumpet, hear ye.\r\n For so the LORD said unto me, I will take my rest, and I will consider in my dwelling place like a clear heat upon herbs, and like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest.\r\n For afore the harvest, when the bud is perfect, and the sour grape is ripening in the flower, he shall both cut off the sprigs with pruning hooks, and take away and cut down the branches.\r\n They shall be left together unto the fowls of the mountains, and to the beasts of the earth: and the fowls shall summer upon them, and all the beasts of the earth shall winter upon them.\r\n In that time shall the present be brought unto the LORD of hosts of a people scattered and peeled, and from a people terrible from their beginning hitherto; a nation meted out and trodden under foot, whose land the rivers have spoiled, to the place of the name of the LORD of hosts, the mount Zion.\r\n \r\n \r\n The burden of Egypt. Behold, the LORD rideth upon a swift cloud, and shall come into Egypt: and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his presence, and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it.\r\n And I will set the Egyptians against the Egyptians: and they shall fight every one against his brother, and every one against his neighbour; city against city, and kingdom against kingdom.\r\n And the spirit of Egypt shall fail in the midst thereof; and I will destroy the counsel thereof: and they shall seek to the idols, and to the charmers, and to them that have familiar spirits, and to the wizards.\r\n And the Egyptians will I give over into the hand of a cruel lord; and a fierce king shall rule over them, saith the Lord, the LORD of hosts.\r\n And the waters shall fail from the sea, and the river shall be wasted and dried up.\r\n And they shall turn the rivers far away; and the brooks of defence shall be emptied and dried up: the reeds and flags shall wither.\r\n The paper reeds by the brooks, by the mouth of the brooks, and every thing sown by the brooks, shall wither, be driven away, and be no more.\r\n The fishers also shall mourn, and all they that cast angle into the brooks shall lament, and they that spread nets upon the waters shall languish.\r\n Moreover they that work in fine flax, and they that weave networks, shall be confounded.\r\n And they shall be broken in the purposes thereof, all that make sluices and ponds for fish.\r\n Surely the princes of Zoan are fools, the counsel of the wise counsellors of Pharaoh is become brutish: how say ye unto Pharaoh, I am the son of the wise, the son of ancient kings?\r\n Where are they? where are thy wise men? and let them tell thee now, and let them know what the LORD of hosts hath purposed upon Egypt.\r\n The princes of Zoan are become fools, the princes of Noph are deceived; they have also seduced Egypt, even they that are the stay of the tribes thereof.\r\n The LORD hath mingled a perverse spirit in the midst thereof: and they have caused Egypt to err in every work thereof, as a drunken man staggereth in his vomit.\r\n Neither shall there be any work for Egypt, which the head or tail, branch or rush, may do.\r\n In that day shall Egypt be like unto women: and it shall be afraid and fear because of the shaking of the hand of the LORD of hosts, which he shaketh over it.\r\n And the land of Judah shall be a terror unto Egypt, every one that maketh mention thereof shall be afraid in himself, because of the counsel of the LORD of hosts, which he hath determined against it.\r\n In that day shall five cities in the land of Egypt speak the language of Canaan, and swear to the LORD of hosts; one shall be called, The city of destruction.\r\n In that day shall there be an altar to the LORD in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar at the border thereof to the LORD.\r\n And it shall be for a sign and for a witness unto the LORD of hosts in the land of Egypt: for they shall cry unto the LORD because of the oppressors, and he shall send them a saviour, and a great one, and he shall deliver them.\r\n And the LORD shall be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know the LORD in that day, and shall do sacrifice and oblation; yea, they shall vow a vow unto the LORD, and perform it.\r\n And the LORD shall smite Egypt: he shall smite and heal it: and they shall return even to the LORD, and he shall be intreated of them, and shall heal them.\r\n In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians.\r\n In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land:\r\n Whom the LORD of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance.\r\n \r\n \r\n In the year that Tartan came unto Ashdod, (when Sargon the king of Assyria sent him,) and fought against Ashdod, and took it;\r\n At the same time spake the LORD by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, Go and loose the sackcloth from off thy loins, and put off thy shoe from thy foot. And he did so, walking naked and barefoot.\r\n And the LORD said, Like as my servant Isaiah hath walked naked and barefoot three years for a sign and wonder upon Egypt and upon Ethiopia;\r\n So shall the king of Assyria lead away the Egyptians prisoners, and the Ethiopians captives, young and old, naked and barefoot, even with their buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt.\r\n And they shall be afraid and ashamed of Ethiopia their expectation, and of Egypt their glory.\r\n And the inhabitant of this isle shall say in that day, Behold, such is our expectation, whither we flee for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria: and how shall we escape?\r\n \r\n \r\n The burden of the desert of the sea. As whirlwinds in the south pass through; so it cometh from the desert, from a terrible land.\r\n A grievous vision is declared unto me; the treacherous dealer dealeth treacherously, and the spoiler spoileth. Go up, O Elam: besiege, O Media; all the sighing thereof have I made to cease.\r\n Therefore are my loins filled with pain: pangs have taken hold upon me, as the pangs of a woman that travaileth: I was bowed down at the hearing of it; I was dismayed at the seeing of it.\r\n My heart panted, fearfulness affrighted me: the night of my pleasure hath he turned into fear unto me.\r\n Prepare the table, watch in the watchtower, eat, drink: arise, ye princes, and anoint the shield.\r\n For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Go, set a watchman, let him declare what he seeth.\r\n And he saw a chariot with a couple of horsemen, a chariot of asses, and a chariot of camels; and he hearkened diligently with much heed:\r\n And he cried, A lion: My lord, I stand continually upon the watchtower in the daytime, and I am set in my ward whole nights:\r\n And, behold, here cometh a chariot of men, with a couple of horsemen. And he answered and said, Babylon is fallen, is fallen; and all the graven images of her gods he hath broken unto the ground.\r\n O my threshing, and the corn of my floor: that which I have heard of the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, have I declared unto you.\r\n The burden of Dumah. He calleth to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?\r\n The watchman said, The morning cometh, and also the night: if ye will enquire, enquire ye: return, come.\r\n The burden upon Arabia. In the forest in Arabia shall ye lodge, O ye travelling companies of Dedanim.\r\n The inhabitants of the land of Tema brought water to him that was thirsty, they prevented with their bread him that fled.\r\n For they fled from the swords, from the drawn sword, and from the bent bow, and from the grievousness of war.\r\n For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Within a year, according to the years of an hireling, and all the glory of Kedar shall fail:\r\n And the residue of the number of archers, the mighty men of the children of Kedar, shall be diminished: for the LORD God of Israel hath spoken it.\r\n \r\n \r\n The burden of the valley of vision. What aileth thee now, that thou art wholly gone up to the housetops?\r\n Thou that art full of stirs, a tumultuous city, a joyous city: thy slain men are not slain with the sword, nor dead in battle.\r\n All thy rulers are fled together, they are bound by the archers: all that are found in thee are bound together, which have fled from far.\r\n Therefore said I, Look away from me; I will weep bitterly, labour not to comfort me, because of the spoiling of the daughter of my people.\r\n For it is a day of trouble, and of treading down, and of perplexity by the Lord GOD of hosts in the valley of vision, breaking down the walls, and of crying to the mountains.\r\n And Elam bare the quiver with chariots of men and horsemen, and Kir uncovered the shield.\r\n And it shall come to pass, that thy choicest valleys shall be full of chariots, and the horsemen shall set themselves in array at the gate.\r\n And he discovered the covering of Judah, and thou didst look in that day to the armour of the house of the forest.\r\n Ye have seen also the breaches of the city of David, that they are many: and ye gathered together the waters of the lower pool.\r\n And ye have numbered the houses of Jerusalem, and the houses have ye broken down to fortify the wall.\r\n Ye made also a ditch between the two walls for the water of the old pool: but ye have not looked unto the maker thereof, neither had respect unto him that fashioned it long ago.\r\n And in that day did the Lord GOD of hosts call to weeping, and to mourning, and to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth:\r\n And behold joy and gladness, slaying oxen, and killing sheep, eating flesh, and drinking wine: let us eat and drink; for to morrow we shall die.\r\n And it was revealed in mine ears by the LORD of hosts, Surely this iniquity shall not be purged from you till ye die, saith the Lord GOD of hosts.\r\n Thus saith the Lord GOD of hosts, Go, get thee unto this treasurer, even unto Shebna, which is over the house, and say,\r\n What hast thou here? and whom hast thou here, that thou hast hewed thee out a sepulchre here, as he that heweth him out a sepulchre on high, and that graveth an habitation for himself in a rock?\r\n Behold, the LORD will carry thee away with a mighty captivity, and will surely cover thee.\r\n He will surely violently turn and toss thee like a ball into a large country: there shalt thou die, and there the chariots of thy glory shall be the shame of thy lord's house.\r\n And I will drive thee from thy station, and from thy state shall he pull thee down.\r\n And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will call my servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah:\r\n And I will clothe him with thy robe, and strengthen him with thy girdle, and I will commit thy government into his hand: and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah.\r\n And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.\r\n And I will fasten him as a nail in a sure place; and he shall be for a glorious throne to his father's house.\r\n And they shall hang upon him all the glory of his father's house, the offspring and the issue, all vessels of small quantity, from the vessels of cups, even to all the vessels of flagons.\r\n In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, shall the nail that is fastened in the sure place be removed, and be cut down, and fall; and the burden that was upon it shall be cut off: for the LORD hath spoken it.\r\n \r\n \r\n The burden of Tyre. Howl, ye ships of Tarshish; for it is laid waste, so that there is no house, no entering in: from the land of Chittim it is revealed to them.\r\n Be still, ye inhabitants of the isle; thou whom the merchants of Zidon, that pass over the sea, have replenished.\r\n And by great waters the seed of Sihor, the harvest of the river, is her revenue; and she is a mart of nations.\r\n Be thou ashamed, O Zidon: for the sea hath spoken, even the strength of the sea, saying, I travail not, nor bring forth children, neither do I nourish up young men, nor bring up virgins.\r\n As at the report concerning Egypt, so shall they be sorely pained at the report of Tyre.\r\n Pass ye over to Tarshish; howl, ye inhabitants of the isle.\r\n Is this your joyous city, whose antiquity is of ancient days? her own feet shall carry her afar off to sojourn.\r\n Who hath taken this counsel against Tyre, the crowning city, whose merchants are princes, whose traffickers are the honourable of the earth?\r\n The LORD of hosts hath purposed it, to stain the pride of all glory, and to bring into contempt all the honourable of the earth.\r\n Pass through thy land as a river, O daughter of Tarshish: there is no more strength.\r\n He stretched out his hand over the sea, he shook the kingdoms: the LORD hath given a commandment against the merchant city, to destroy the strong holds thereof.\r\n And he said, Thou shalt no more rejoice, O thou oppressed virgin, daughter of Zidon: arise, pass over to Chittim; there also shalt thou have no rest.\r\n Behold the land of the Chaldeans; this people was not, till the Assyrian founded it for them that dwell in the wilderness: they set up the towers thereof, they raised up the palaces thereof; and he brought it to ruin.\r\n Howl, ye ships of Tarshish: for your strength is laid waste.\r\n And it shall come to pass in that day, that Tyre shall be forgotten seventy years, according to the days of one king: after the end of seventy years shall Tyre sing as an harlot.\r\n Take an harp, go about the city, thou harlot that hast been forgotten; make sweet melody, sing many songs, that thou mayest be remembered.\r\n And it shall come to pass after the end of seventy years, that the LORD will visit Tyre, and she shall turn to her hire, and shall commit fornication with all the kingdoms of the world upon the face of the earth.\r\n And her merchandise and her hire shall be holiness to the LORD: it shall not be treasured nor laid up; for her merchandise shall be for them that dwell before the LORD, to eat sufficiently, and for durable clothing.\r\n \r\n \r\n Behold, the LORD maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof.\r\n And it shall be, as with the people, so with the priest; as with the servant, so with his master; as with the maid, so with her mistress; as with the buyer, so with the seller; as with the lender, so with the borrower; as with the taker of usury, so with the giver of usury to him.\r\n The land shall be utterly emptied, and utterly spoiled: for the LORD hath spoken this word.\r\n The earth mourneth and fadeth away, the world languisheth and fadeth away, the haughty people of the earth do languish.\r\n The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant.\r\n Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left.\r\n The new wine mourneth, the vine languisheth, all the merryhearted do sigh.\r\n The mirth of tabrets ceaseth, the noise of them that rejoice endeth, the joy of the harp ceaseth.\r\n They shall not drink wine with a song; strong drink shall be bitter to them that drink it.\r\n The city of confusion is broken down: every house is shut up, that no man may come in.\r\n There is a crying for wine in the streets; all joy is darkened, the mirth of the land is gone.\r\n In the city is left desolation, and the gate is smitten with destruction.\r\n When thus it shall be in the midst of the land among the people, there shall be as the shaking of an olive tree, and as the gleaning grapes when the vintage is done.\r\n They shall lift up their voice, they shall sing for the majesty of the LORD, they shall cry aloud from the sea.\r\n Wherefore glorify ye the LORD in the fires, even the name of the LORD God of Israel in the isles of the sea.\r\n From the uttermost part of the earth have we heard songs, even glory to the righteous. But I said, My leanness, my leanness, woe unto me! the treacherous dealers have dealt treacherously; yea, the treacherous dealers have dealt very treacherously.\r\n Fear, and the pit, and the snare, are upon thee, O inhabitant of the earth.\r\n And it shall come to pass, that he who fleeth from the noise of the fear shall fall into the pit; and he that cometh up out of the midst of the pit shall be taken in the snare: for the windows from on high are open, and the foundations of the earth do shake.\r\n The earth is utterly broken down, the earth is clean dissolved, the earth is moved exceedingly.\r\n The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise again.\r\n And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth.\r\n And they shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days shall they be visited.\r\n Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the LORD of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously.\r\n \r\n \r\n O LORD, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.\r\n For thou hast made of a city an heap; of a defenced city a ruin: a palace of strangers to be no city; it shall never be built.\r\n Therefore shall the strong people glorify thee, the city of the terrible nations shall fear thee.\r\n For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall.\r\n Thou shalt bring down the noise of strangers, as the heat in a dry place; even the heat with the shadow of a cloud: the branch of the terrible ones shall be brought low.\r\n And in this mountain shall the LORD of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined.\r\n And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail that is spread over all nations.\r\n He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it.\r\n And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.\r\n For in this mountain shall the hand of the LORD rest, and Moab shall be trodden down under him, even as straw is trodden down for the dunghill.\r\n And he shall spread forth his hands in the midst of them, as he that swimmeth spreadeth forth his hands to swim: and he shall bring down their pride together with the spoils of their hands.\r\n And the fortress of the high fort of thy walls shall he bring down, lay low, and bring to the ground, even to the dust.\r\n \r\n \r\n In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah; We have a strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks.\r\n Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in.\r\n Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.\r\n Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:\r\n For he bringeth down them that dwell on high; the lofty city, he layeth it low; he layeth it low, even to the ground; he bringeth it even to the dust.\r\n The foot shall tread it down, even the feet of the poor, and the steps of the needy.\r\n The way of the just is uprightness: thou, most upright, dost weigh the path of the just.\r\n Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O LORD, have we waited for thee; the desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee.\r\n With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.\r\n Let favour be shewed to the wicked, yet will he not learn righteousness: in the land of uprightness will he deal unjustly, and will not behold the majesty of the LORD.\r\n LORD, when thy hand is lifted up, they will not see: but they shall see, and be ashamed for their envy at the people; yea, the fire of thine enemies shall devour them.\r\n LORD, thou wilt ordain peace for us: for thou also hast wrought all our works in us.\r\n O LORD our God, other lords beside thee have had dominion over us: but by thee only will we make mention of thy name.\r\n They are dead, they shall not live; they are deceased, they shall not rise: therefore hast thou visited and destroyed them, and made all their memory to perish.\r\n Thou hast increased the nation, O LORD, thou hast increased the nation: thou art glorified: thou hadst removed it far unto all the ends of the earth.\r\n LORD, in trouble have they visited thee, they poured out a prayer when thy chastening was upon them.\r\n Like as a woman with child, that draweth near the time of her delivery, is in pain, and crieth out in her pangs; so have we been in thy sight, O LORD.\r\n We have been with child, we have been in pain, we have as it were brought forth wind; we have not wrought any deliverance in the earth; neither have the inhabitants of the world fallen.\r\n Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.\r\n Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.\r\n For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.\r\n \r\n \r\n In that day the LORD with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish leviathan the piercing serpent, even leviathan that crooked serpent; and he shall slay the dragon that is in the sea.\r\n In that day sing ye unto her, A vineyard of red wine.\r\n I the LORD do keep it; I will water it every moment: lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day.\r\n Fury is not in me: who would set the briers and thorns against me in battle? I would go through them, I would burn them together.\r\n Or let him take hold of my strength, that he may make peace with me; and he shall make peace with me.\r\n He shall cause them that come of Jacob to take root: Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit.\r\n Hath he smitten him, as he smote those that smote him? or is he slain according to the slaughter of them that are slain by him?\r\n In measure, when it shooteth forth, thou wilt debate with it: he stayeth his rough wind in the day of the east wind.\r\n By this therefore shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged; and this is all the fruit to take away his sin; when he maketh all the stones of the altar as chalkstones that are beaten in sunder, the groves and images shall not stand up.\r\n Yet the defenced city shall be desolate, and the habitation forsaken, and left like a wilderness: there shall the calf feed, and there shall he lie down, and consume the branches thereof.\r\n When the boughs thereof are withered, they shall be broken off: the women come, and set them on fire: for it is a people of no understanding: therefore he that made them will not have mercy on them, and he that formed them will shew them no favour.\r\n And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall beat off from the channel of the river unto the stream of Egypt, and ye shall be gathered one by one, O ye children of Israel.\r\n And it shall come to pass in that day, that the great trumpet shall be blown, and they shall come which were ready to perish in the land of Assyria, and the outcasts in the land of Egypt, and shall worship the LORD in the holy mount at Jerusalem.\r\n \r\n \r\n Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, whose glorious beauty is a fading flower, which are on the head of the fat valleys of them that are overcome with wine!\r\n Behold, the Lord hath a mighty and strong one, which as a tempest of hail and a destroying storm, as a flood of mighty waters overflowing, shall cast down to the earth with the hand.\r\n The crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim, shall be trodden under feet:\r\n And the glorious beauty, which is on the head of the fat valley, shall be a fading flower, and as the hasty fruit before the summer; which when he that looketh upon it seeth, while it is yet in his hand he eateth it up.\r\n In that day shall the LORD of hosts be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, unto the residue of his people,\r\n And for a spirit of judgment to him that sitteth in judgment, and for strength to them that turn the battle to the gate.\r\n But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment.\r\n For all tables are full of vomit and filthiness, so that there is no place clean.\r\n Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.\r\n For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:\r\n For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.\r\n To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.\r\n But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.\r\n Wherefore hear the word of the LORD, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem.\r\n Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves:\r\n Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.\r\n Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place.\r\n And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it.\r\n From the time that it goeth forth it shall take you: for morning by morning shall it pass over, by day and by night: and it shall be a vexation only to understand the report.\r\n For the bed is shorter than that a man can stretch himself on it: and the covering narrower than that he can wrap himself in it.\r\n For the LORD shall rise up as in mount Perazim, he shall be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon, that he may do his work, his strange work; and bring to pass his act, his strange act.\r\n Now therefore be ye not mockers, lest your bands be made strong: for I have heard from the Lord GOD of hosts a consumption, even determined upon the whole earth.\r\n Give ye ear, and hear my voice; hearken, and hear my speech.\r\n Doth the plowman plow all day to sow? doth he open and break the clods of his ground?\r\n When he hath made plain the face thereof, doth he not cast abroad the fitches, and scatter the cummin, and cast in the principal wheat and the appointed barley and the rie in their place?\r\n For his God doth instruct him to discretion, and doth teach him.\r\n For the fitches are not threshed with a threshing instrument, neither is a cart wheel turned about upon the cummin; but the fitches are beaten out with a staff, and the cummin with a rod.\r\n Bread corn is bruised; because he will not ever be threshing it, nor break it with the wheel of his cart, nor bruise it with his horsemen.\r\n This also cometh forth from the LORD of hosts, which is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working.\r\n \r\n \r\n Woe to Ariel, to Ariel, the city where David dwelt! add ye year to year; let them kill sacrifices.\r\n Yet I will distress Ariel, and there shall be heaviness and sorrow: and it shall be unto me as Ariel.\r\n And I will camp against thee round about, and will lay siege against thee with a mount, and I will raise forts against thee.\r\n And thou shalt be brought down, and shalt speak out of the ground, and thy speech shall be low out of the dust, and thy voice shall be, as of one that hath a familiar spirit, out of the ground, and thy speech shall whisper out of the dust.\r\n Moreover the multitude of thy strangers shall be like small dust, and the multitude of the terrible ones shall be as chaff that passeth away: yea, it shall be at an instant suddenly.\r\n Thou shalt be visited of the LORD of hosts with thunder, and with earthquake, and great noise, with storm and tempest, and the flame of devouring fire.\r\n And the multitude of all the nations that fight against Ariel, even all that fight against her and her munition, and that distress her, shall be as a dream of a night vision.\r\n It shall even be as when an hungry man dreameth, and, behold, he eateth; but he awaketh, and his soul is empty: or as when a thirsty man dreameth, and, behold, he drinketh; but he awaketh, and, behold, he is faint, and his soul hath appetite: so shall the multitude of all the nations be, that fight against mount Zion.\r\n Stay yourselves, and wonder; cry ye out, and cry: they are drunken, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink.\r\n For the LORD hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered.\r\n And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed:\r\n And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned.\r\n Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:\r\n Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.\r\n Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the LORD, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us?\r\n Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter's clay: for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding?\r\n Is it not yet a very little while, and Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field shall be esteemed as a forest?\r\n And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness.\r\n The meek also shall increase their joy in the LORD, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.\r\n For the terrible one is brought to nought, and the scorner is consumed, and all that watch for iniquity are cut off:\r\n That make a man an offender for a word, and lay a snare for him that reproveth in the gate, and turn aside the just for a thing of nought.\r\n Therefore thus saith the LORD, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob, Jacob shall not now be ashamed, neither shall his face now wax pale.\r\n But when he seeth his children, the work of mine hands, in the midst of him, they shall sanctify my name, and sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and shall fear the God of Israel.\r\n They also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding, and they that murmured shall learn doctrine.\r\n \r\n \r\n Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin:\r\n That walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt!\r\n Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh be your shame, and the trust in the shadow of Egypt your confusion.\r\n For his princes were at Zoan, and his ambassadors came to Hanes.\r\n They were all ashamed of a people that could not profit them, nor be an help nor profit, but a shame, and also a reproach.\r\n The burden of the beasts of the south: into the land of trouble and anguish, from whence come the young and old lion, the viper and fiery flying serpent, they will carry their riches upon the shoulders of young asses, and their treasures upon the bunches of camels, to a people that shall not profit them.\r\n For the Egyptians shall help in vain, and to no purpose: therefore have I cried concerning this, Their strength is to sit still.\r\n Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever:\r\n That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD:\r\n Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:\r\n Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us.\r\n Wherefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel, Because ye despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and stay thereon:\r\n Therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant.\r\n And he shall break it as the breaking of the potters' vessel that is broken in pieces; he shall not spare: so that there shall not be found in the bursting of it a sherd to take fire from the hearth, or to take water withal out of the pit.\r\n For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not.\r\n But ye said, No; for we will flee upon horses; therefore shall ye flee: and, We will ride upon the swift; therefore shall they that pursue you be swift.\r\n One thousand shall flee at the rebuke of one; at the rebuke of five shall ye flee: till ye be left as a beacon upon the top of a mountain, and as an ensign on an hill.\r\n And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.\r\n For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem: thou shalt weep no more: he will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when he shall hear it, he will answer thee.\r\n And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers:\r\n And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.\r\n Ye shall defile also the covering of thy graven images of silver, and the ornament of thy molten images of gold: thou shalt cast them away as a menstruous cloth; thou shalt say unto it, Get thee hence.\r\n Then shall he give the rain of thy seed, that thou shalt sow the ground withal; and bread of the increase of the earth, and it shall be fat and plenteous: in that day shall thy cattle feed in large pastures.\r\n The oxen likewise and the young asses that ear the ground shall eat clean provender, which hath been winnowed with the shovel and with the fan.\r\n And there shall be upon every high mountain, and upon every high hill, rivers and streams of waters in the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall.\r\n Moreover the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day that the LORD bindeth up the breach of his people, and healeth the stroke of their wound.\r\n Behold, the name of the LORD cometh from far, burning with his anger, and the burden thereof is heavy: his lips are full of indignation, and his tongue as a devouring fire:\r\n And his breath, as an overflowing stream, shall reach to the midst of the neck, to sift the nations with the sieve of vanity: and there shall be a bridle in the jaws of the people, causing them to err.\r\n Ye shall have a song, as in the night when a holy solemnity is kept; and gladness of heart, as when one goeth with a pipe to come into the mountain of the LORD, to the mighty One of Israel.\r\n And the LORD shall cause his glorious voice to be heard, and shall shew the lighting down of his arm, with the indignation of his anger, and with the flame of a devouring fire, with scattering, and tempest, and hailstones.\r\n For through the voice of the LORD shall the Assyrian be beaten down, which smote with a rod.\r\n And in every place where the grounded staff shall pass, which the LORD shall lay upon him, it shall be with tabrets and harps: and in battles of shaking will he fight with it.\r\n For Tophet is ordained of old; yea, for the king it is prepared; he hath made it deep and large: the pile thereof is fire and much wood; the breath of the LORD, like a stream of brimstone, doth kindle it.\r\n \r\n \r\n Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD!\r\n Yet he also is wise, and will bring evil, and will not call back his words: but will arise against the house of the evildoers, and against the help of them that work iniquity.\r\n Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses flesh, and not spirit. When the LORD shall stretch out his hand, both he that helpeth shall fall, and he that is holpen shall fall down, and they all shall fail together.\r\n For thus hath the LORD spoken unto me, Like as the lion and the young lion roaring on his prey, when a multitude of shepherds is called forth against him, he will not be afraid of their voice, nor abase himself for the noise of them: so shall the LORD of hosts come down to fight for mount Zion, and for the hill thereof.\r\n As birds flying, so will the LORD of hosts defend Jerusalem; defending also he will deliver it; and passing over he will preserve it.\r\n Turn ye unto him from whom the children of Israel have deeply revolted.\r\n For in that day every man shall cast away his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which your own hands have made unto you for a sin.\r\n Then shall the Assyrian fall with the sword, not of a mighty man; and the sword, not of a mean man, shall devour him: but he shall flee from the sword, and his young men shall be discomfited.\r\n And he shall pass over to his strong hold for fear, and his princes shall be afraid of the ensign, saith the LORD, whose fire is in Zion, and his furnace in Jerusalem.\r\n \r\n \r\n Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgment.\r\n And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.\r\n And the eyes of them that see shall not be dim, and the ears of them that hear shall hearken.\r\n The heart also of the rash shall understand knowledge, and the tongue of the stammerers shall be ready to speak plainly.\r\n The vile person shall be no more called liberal, nor the churl said to be bountiful.\r\n For the vile person will speak villany, and his heart will work iniquity, to practise hypocrisy, and to utter error against the LORD, to make empty the soul of the hungry, and he will cause the drink of the thirsty to fail.\r\n The instruments also of the churl are evil: he deviseth wicked devices to destroy the poor with lying words, even when the needy speaketh right.\r\n But the liberal deviseth liberal things; and by liberal things shall he stand.\r\n Rise up, ye women that are at ease; hear my voice, ye careless daughters; give ear unto my speech.\r\n Many days and years shall ye be troubled, ye careless women: for the vintage shall fail, the gathering shall not come.\r\n Tremble, ye women that are at ease; be troubled, ye careless ones: strip you, and make you bare, and gird sackcloth upon your loins.\r\n They shall lament for the teats, for the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vine.\r\n Upon the land of my people shall come up thorns and briers; yea, upon all the houses of joy in the joyous city:\r\n Because the palaces shall be forsaken; the multitude of the city shall be left; the forts and towers shall be for dens for ever, a joy of wild asses, a pasture of flocks;\r\n Until the spirit be poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness be a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be counted for a forest.\r\n Then judgment shall dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness remain in the fruitful field.\r\n And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.\r\n And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places;\r\n When it shall hail, coming down on the forest; and the city shall be low in a low place.\r\n Blessed are ye that sow beside all waters, that send forth thither the feet of the ox and the ass.\r\n \r\n \r\n Woe to thee that spoilest, and thou wast not spoiled; and dealest treacherously, and they dealt not treacherously with thee! when thou shalt cease to spoil, thou shalt be spoiled; and when thou shalt make an end to deal treacherously, they shall deal treacherously with thee.\r\n O LORD, be gracious unto us; we have waited for thee: be thou their arm every morning, our salvation also in the time of trouble.\r\n At the noise of the tumult the people fled; at the lifting up of thyself the nations were scattered.\r\n And your spoil shall be gathered like the gathering of the caterpiller: as the running to and fro of locusts shall he run upon them.\r\n The LORD is exalted; for he dwelleth on high: he hath filled Zion with judgment and righteousness.\r\n And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the LORD is his treasure.\r\n Behold, their valiant ones shall cry without: the ambassadors of peace shall weep bitterly.\r\n The highways lie waste, the wayfaring man ceaseth: he hath broken the covenant, he hath despised the cities, he regardeth no man.\r\n The earth mourneth and languisheth: Lebanon is ashamed and hewn down: Sharon is like a wilderness; and Bashan and Carmel shake off their fruits.\r\n Now will I rise, saith the LORD; now will I be exalted; now will I lift up myself.\r\n Ye shall conceive chaff, ye shall bring forth stubble: your breath, as fire, shall devour you.\r\n And the people shall be as the burnings of lime: as thorns cut up shall they be burned in the fire.\r\n Hear, ye that are far off, what I have done; and, ye that are near, acknowledge my might.\r\n The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?\r\n He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil;\r\n He shall dwell on high: his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure.\r\n Thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty: they shall behold the land that is very far off.\r\n Thine heart shall meditate terror. Where is the scribe? where is the receiver? where is he that counted the towers?\r\n Thou shalt not see a fierce people, a people of a deeper speech than thou canst perceive; of a stammering tongue, that thou canst not understand.\r\n Look upon Zion, the city of our solemnities: thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation, a tabernacle that shall not be taken down; not one of the stakes thereof shall ever be removed, neither shall any of the cords thereof be broken.\r\n But there the glorious LORD will be unto us a place of broad rivers and streams; wherein shall go no galley with oars, neither shall gallant ship pass thereby.\r\n For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; he will save us.\r\n Thy tacklings are loosed; they could not well strengthen their mast, they could not spread the sail: then is the prey of a great spoil divided; the lame take the prey.\r\n And the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick: the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity.\r\n \r\n \r\n Come near, ye nations, to hear; and hearken, ye people: let the earth hear, and all that is therein; the world, and all things that come forth of it.\r\n For the indignation of the LORD is upon all nations, and his fury upon all their armies: he hath utterly destroyed them, he hath delivered them to the slaughter.\r\n Their slain also shall be cast out, and their stink shall come up out of their carcases, and the mountains shall be melted with their blood.\r\n And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll: and all their host shall fall down, as the leaf falleth off from the vine, and as a falling fig from the fig tree.\r\n For my sword shall be bathed in heaven: behold, it shall come down upon Idumea, and upon the people of my curse, to judgment.\r\n The sword of the LORD is filled with blood, it is made fat with fatness, and with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams: for the LORD hath a sacrifice in Bozrah, and a great slaughter in the land of Idumea.\r\n And the unicorns shall come down with them, and the bullocks with the bulls; and their land shall be soaked with blood, and their dust made fat with fatness.\r\n For it is the day of the LORD'S vengeance, and the year of recompences for the controversy of Zion.\r\n And the streams thereof shall be turned into pitch, and the dust thereof into brimstone, and the land thereof shall become burning pitch.\r\n It shall not be quenched night nor day; the smoke thereof shall go up for ever: from generation to generation it shall lie waste; none shall pass through it for ever and ever.\r\n But the cormorant and the bittern shall possess it; the owl also and the raven shall dwell in it: and he shall stretch out upon it the line of confusion, and the stones of emptiness.\r\n They shall call the nobles thereof to the kingdom, but none shall be there, and all her princes shall be nothing.\r\n And thorns shall come up in her palaces, nettles and brambles in the fortresses thereof: and it shall be an habitation of dragons, and a court for owls.\r\n The wild beasts of the desert shall also meet with the wild beasts of the island, and the satyr shall cry to his fellow; the screech owl also shall rest there, and find for herself a place of rest.\r\n There shall the great owl make her nest, and lay, and hatch, and gather under her shadow: there shall the vultures also be gathered, every one with her mate.\r\n Seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read: no one of these shall fail, none shall want her mate: for my mouth it hath commanded, and his spirit it hath gathered them.\r\n And he hath cast the lot for them, and his hand hath divided it unto them by line: they shall possess it for ever, from generation to generation shall they dwell therein.\r\n \r\n \r\n The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.\r\n It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the LORD, and the excellency of our God.\r\n Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.\r\n Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.\r\n Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.\r\n Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.\r\n And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes.\r\n And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.\r\n No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there:\r\n And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now it came to pass in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah, that Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the defenced cities of Judah, and took them.\r\n And the king of Assyria sent Rabshakeh from Lachish to Jerusalem unto king Hezekiah with a great army. And he stood by the conduit of the upper pool in the highway of the fuller's field.\r\n Then came forth unto him Eliakim, Hilkiah's son, which was over the house, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah, Asaph's son, the recorder.\r\n And Rabshakeh said unto them, Say ye now to Hezekiah, Thus saith the great king, the king of Assyria, What confidence is this wherein thou trustest?\r\n I say, sayest thou, (but they are but vain words) I have counsel and strength for war: now on whom dost thou trust, that thou rebellest against me?\r\n Lo, thou trustest in the staff of this broken reed, on Egypt; whereon if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all that trust in him.\r\n But if thou say to me, We trust in the LORD our God: is it not he, whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah hath taken away, and said to Judah and to Jerusalem, Ye shall worship before this altar?\r\n Now therefore give pledges, I pray thee, to my master the king of Assyria, and I will give thee two thousand horses, if thou be able on thy part to set riders upon them.\r\n How then wilt thou turn away the face of one captain of the least of my master's servants, and put thy trust on Egypt for chariots and for horsemen?\r\n And am I now come up without the LORD against this land to destroy it? the LORD said unto me, Go up against this land, and destroy it.\r\n Then said Eliakim and Shebna and Joah unto Rabshakeh, Speak, I pray thee, unto thy servants in the Syrian language; for we understand it: and speak not to us in the Jews' language, in the ears of the people that are on the wall.\r\n But Rabshakeh said, Hath my master sent me to thy master and to thee to speak these words? hath he not sent me to the men that sit upon the wall, that they may eat their own dung, and drink their own piss with you?\r\n Then Rabshakeh stood, and cried with a loud voice in the Jews' language, and said, Hear ye the words of the great king, the king of Assyria.\r\n Thus saith the king, Let not Hezekiah deceive you: for he shall not be able to deliver you.\r\n Neither let Hezekiah make you trust in the LORD, saying, The LORD will surely deliver us: this city shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria.\r\n Hearken not to Hezekiah: for thus saith the king of Assyria, Make an agreement with me by a present, and come out to me: and eat ye every one of his vine, and every one of his fig tree, and drink ye every one the waters of his own cistern;\r\n Until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of corn and wine, a land of bread and vineyards.\r\n Beware lest Hezekiah persuade you, saying, The LORD will deliver us. Hath any of the gods of the nations delivered his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria?\r\n Where are the gods of Hamath and Arphad? where are the gods of Sepharvaim? and have they delivered Samaria out of my hand?\r\n Who are they among all the gods of these lands, that have delivered their land out of my hand, that the LORD should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?\r\n But they held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king's commandment was, saying, Answer him not.\r\n Then came Eliakim, the son of Hilkiah, that was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah, the son of Asaph, the recorder, to Hezekiah with their clothes rent, and told him the words of Rabshakeh.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass, when king Hezekiah heard it, that he rent his clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the LORD.\r\n And he sent Eliakim, who was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests covered with sackcloth, unto Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz.\r\n And they said unto him, Thus saith Hezekiah, This day is a day of trouble, and of rebuke, and of blasphemy: for the children are come to the birth, and there is not strength to bring forth.\r\n It may be the LORD thy God will hear the words of Rabshakeh, whom the king of Assyria his master hath sent to reproach the living God, and will reprove the words which the LORD thy God hath heard: wherefore lift up thy prayer for the remnant that is left.\r\n So the servants of king Hezekiah came to Isaiah.\r\n And Isaiah said unto them, Thus shall ye say unto your master, Thus saith the LORD, Be not afraid of the words that thou hast heard, wherewith the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me.\r\n Behold, I will send a blast upon him, and he shall hear a rumour, and return to his own land; and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land.\r\n So Rabshakeh returned, and found the king of Assyria warring against Libnah: for he had heard that he was departed from Lachish.\r\n And he heard say concerning Tirhakah king of Ethiopia, He is come forth to make war with thee. And when he heard it, he sent messengers to Hezekiah, saying,\r\n Thus shall ye speak to Hezekiah king of Judah, saying, Let not thy God, in whom thou trustest, deceive thee, saying, Jerusalem shall not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.\r\n Behold, thou hast heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands by destroying them utterly; and shalt thou be delivered?\r\n Have the gods of the nations delivered them which my fathers have destroyed, as Gozan, and Haran, and Rezeph, and the children of Eden which were in Telassar?\r\n Where is the king of Hamath, and the king of Arphad, and the king of the city of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivah?\r\n And Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it: and Hezekiah went up unto the house of the LORD, and spread it before the LORD.\r\n And Hezekiah prayed unto the LORD, saying,\r\n O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, that dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth: thou hast made heaven and earth.\r\n Incline thine ear, O LORD, and hear; open thine eyes, O LORD, and see: and hear all the words of Sennacherib, which hath sent to reproach the living God.\r\n Of a truth, LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the nations, and their countries,\r\n And have cast their gods into the fire: for they were no gods, but the work of men's hands, wood and stone: therefore they have destroyed them.\r\n Now therefore, O LORD our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the LORD, even thou only.\r\n Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent unto Hezekiah, saying, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Whereas thou hast prayed to me against Sennacherib king of Assyria:\r\n This is the word which the LORD hath spoken concerning him; The virgin, the daughter of Zion, hath despised thee, and laughed thee to scorn; the daughter of Jerusalem hath shaken her head at thee.\r\n Whom hast thou reproached and blasphemed? and against whom hast thou exalted thy voice, and lifted up thine eyes on high? even against the Holy One of Israel.\r\n By thy servants hast thou reproached the Lord, and hast said, By the multitude of my chariots am I come up to the height of the mountains, to the sides of Lebanon; and I will cut down the tall cedars thereof, and the choice fir trees thereof: and I will enter into the height of his border, and the forest of his Carmel.\r\n I have digged, and drunk water; and with the sole of my feet have I dried up all the rivers of the besieged places.\r\n Hast thou not heard long ago, how I have done it; and of ancient times, that I have formed it? now have I brought it to pass, that thou shouldest be to lay waste defenced cities into ruinous heaps.\r\n Therefore their inhabitants were of small power, they were dismayed and confounded: they were as the grass of the field, and as the green herb, as the grass on the housetops, and as corn blasted before it be grown up.\r\n But I know thy abode, and thy going out, and thy coming in, and thy rage against me.\r\n Because thy rage against me, and thy tumult, is come up into mine ears, therefore will I put my hook in thy nose, and my bridle in thy lips, and I will turn thee back by the way by which thou camest.\r\n And this shall be a sign unto thee, Ye shall eat this year such as groweth of itself; and the second year that which springeth of the same: and in the third year sow ye, and reap, and plant vineyards, and eat the fruit thereof.\r\n And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall again take root downward, and bear fruit upward:\r\n For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and they that escape out of mount Zion: the zeal of the LORD of hosts shall do this.\r\n Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning the king of Assyria, He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with shields, nor cast a bank against it.\r\n By the way that he came, by the same shall he return, and shall not come into this city, saith the LORD.\r\n For I will defend this city to save it for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake.\r\n Then the angel of the LORD went forth, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.\r\n So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned, and dwelt at Nineveh.\r\n And it came to pass, as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons smote him with the sword; and they escaped into the land of Armenia: and Esarhaddon his son reigned in his stead.\r\n \r\n \r\n In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came unto him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order: for thou shalt die, and not live.\r\n Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed unto the LORD,\r\n And said, Remember now, O LORD, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.\r\n Then came the word of the LORD to Isaiah, saying,\r\n Go, and say to Hezekiah, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years.\r\n And I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria: and I will defend this city.\r\n And this shall be a sign unto thee from the LORD, that the LORD will do this thing that he hath spoken;\r\n Behold, I will bring again the shadow of the degrees, which is gone down in the sun dial of Ahaz, ten degrees backward. So the sun returned ten degrees, by which degrees it was gone down.\r\n The writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, when he had been sick, and was recovered of his sickness:\r\n I said in the cutting off of my days, I shall go to the gates of the grave: I am deprived of the residue of my years.\r\n I said, I shall not see the LORD, even the LORD, in the land of the living: I shall behold man no more with the inhabitants of the world.\r\n Mine age is departed, and is removed from me as a shepherd's tent: I have cut off like a weaver my life: he will cut me off with pining sickness: from day even to night wilt thou make an end of me.\r\n I reckoned till morning, that, as a lion, so will he break all my bones: from day even to night wilt thou make an end of me.\r\n Like a crane or a swallow, so did I chatter: I did mourn as a dove: mine eyes fail with looking upward: O LORD, I am oppressed; undertake for me.\r\n What shall I say? he hath both spoken unto me, and himself hath done it: I shall go softly all my years in the bitterness of my soul.\r\n O Lord, by these things men live, and in all these things is the life of my spirit: so wilt thou recover me, and make me to live.\r\n Behold, for peace I had great bitterness: but thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back.\r\n For the grave cannot praise thee, death can not celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth.\r\n The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do this day: the father to the children shall make known thy truth.\r\n The LORD was ready to save me: therefore we will sing my songs to the stringed instruments all the days of our life in the house of the LORD.\r\n For Isaiah had said, Let them take a lump of figs, and lay it for a plaister upon the boil, and he shall recover.\r\n Hezekiah also had said, What is the sign that I shall go up to the house of the LORD?\r\n \r\n \r\n At that time Merodachbaladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah: for he had heard that he had been sick, and was recovered.\r\n And Hezekiah was glad of them, and shewed them the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his armour, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah shewed them not.\r\n Then came Isaiah the prophet unto king Hezekiah, and said unto him, What said these men? and from whence came they unto thee? And Hezekiah said, They are come from a far country unto me, even from Babylon.\r\n Then said he, What have they seen in thine house? And Hezekiah answered, All that is in mine house have they seen: there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shewed them.\r\n Then said Isaiah to Hezekiah, Hear the word of the LORD of hosts:\r\n Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store until this day, shall be carried to Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the LORD.\r\n And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.\r\n Then said Hezekiah to Isaiah, Good is the word of the LORD which thou hast spoken. He said moreover, For there shall be peace and truth in my days.\r\n \r\n \r\n Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.\r\n Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD'S hand double for all her sins.\r\n The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.\r\n Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:\r\n And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.\r\n The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field:\r\n The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass.\r\n The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.\r\n O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!\r\n Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.\r\n He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.\r\n Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?\r\n Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counsellor hath taught him?\r\n With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way of understanding?\r\n Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing.\r\n And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn, nor the beasts thereof sufficient for a burnt offering.\r\n All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity.\r\n To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him?\r\n The workman melteth a graven image, and the goldsmith spreadeth it over with gold, and casteth silver chains.\r\n He that is so impoverished that he hath no oblation chooseth a tree that will not rot; he seeketh unto him a cunning workman to prepare a graven image, that shall not be moved.\r\n Have ye not known? have ye not heard? hath it not been told you from the beginning? have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth?\r\n It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:\r\n That bringeth the princes to nothing; he maketh the judges of the earth as vanity.\r\n Yea, they shall not be planted; yea, they shall not be sown: yea, their stock shall not take root in the earth: and he shall also blow upon them, and they shall wither, and the whirlwind shall take them away as stubble.\r\n To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One.\r\n Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth.\r\n Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the LORD, and my judgment is passed over from my God?\r\n Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.\r\n He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.\r\n Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:\r\n But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.\r\n \r\n \r\n Keep silence before me, O islands; and let the people renew their strength: let them come near; then let them speak: let us come near together to judgment.\r\n Who raised up the righteous man from the east, called him to his foot, gave the nations before him, and made him rule over kings? he gave them as the dust to his sword, and as driven stubble to his bow.\r\n He pursued them, and passed safely; even by the way that he had not gone with his feet.\r\n Who hath wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I the LORD, the first, and with the last; I am he.\r\n The isles saw it, and feared; the ends of the earth were afraid, drew near, and came.\r\n They helped every one his neighbour; and every one said to his brother, Be of good courage.\r\n So the carpenter encouraged the goldsmith, and he that smootheth with the hammer him that smote the anvil, saying, It is ready for the sodering: and he fastened it with nails, that it should not be moved.\r\n But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend.\r\n Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away.\r\n Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.\r\n Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish.\r\n Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought.\r\n For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.\r\n Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.\r\n Behold, I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth: thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and shalt make the hills as chaff.\r\n Thou shalt fan them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the whirlwind shall scatter them: and thou shalt rejoice in the LORD, and shalt glory in the Holy One of Israel.\r\n When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the LORD will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them.\r\n I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.\r\n I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, the shittah tree, and the myrtle, and the oil tree; I will set in the desert the fir tree, and the pine, and the box tree together:\r\n That they may see, and know, and consider, and understand together, that the hand of the LORD hath done this, and the Holy One of Israel hath created it.\r\n Produce your cause, saith the LORD; bring forth your strong reasons, saith the King of Jacob.\r\n Let them bring them forth, and shew us what shall happen: let them shew the former things, what they be, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or declare us things for to come.\r\n Shew the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods: yea, do good, or do evil, that we may be dismayed, and behold it together.\r\n Behold, ye are of nothing, and your work of nought: an abomination is he that chooseth you.\r\n I have raised up one from the north, and he shall come: from the rising of the sun shall he call upon my name: and he shall come upon princes as upon morter, and as the potter treadeth clay.\r\n Who hath declared from the beginning, that we may know? and beforetime, that we may say, He is righteous? yea, there is none that sheweth, yea, there is none that declareth, yea, there is none that heareth your words.\r\n The first shall say to Zion, Behold, behold them: and I will give to Jerusalem one that bringeth good tidings.\r\n For I beheld, and there was no man; even among them, and there was no counsellor, that, when I asked of them, could answer a word.\r\n Behold, they are all vanity; their works are nothing: their molten images are wind and confusion.\r\n \r\n \r\n Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.\r\n He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street.\r\n A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth.\r\n He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.\r\n Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:\r\n I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;\r\n To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.\r\n I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.\r\n Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.\r\n Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the isles, and the inhabitants thereof.\r\n Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar doth inhabit: let the inhabitants of the rock sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains.\r\n Let them give glory unto the LORD, and declare his praise in the islands.\r\n The LORD shall go forth as a mighty man, he shall stir up jealousy like a man of war: he shall cry, yea, roar; he shall prevail against his enemies.\r\n I have long time holden my peace; I have been still, and refrained myself: now will I cry like a travailing woman; I will destroy and devour at once.\r\n I will make waste mountains and hills, and dry up all their herbs; and I will make the rivers islands, and I will dry up the pools.\r\n And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.\r\n They shall be turned back, they shall be greatly ashamed, that trust in graven images, that say to the molten images, Ye are our gods.\r\n Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see.\r\n Who is blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger that I sent? who is blind as he that is perfect, and blind as the LORD'S servant?\r\n Seeing many things, but thou observest not; opening the ears, but he heareth not.\r\n The LORD is well pleased for his righteousness' sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honourable.\r\n But this is a people robbed and spoiled; they are all of them snared in holes, and they are hid in prison houses: they are for a prey, and none delivereth; for a spoil, and none saith, Restore.\r\n Who among you will give ear to this? who will hearken and hear for the time to come?\r\n Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers? did not the LORD, he against whom we have sinned? for they would not walk in his ways, neither were they obedient unto his law.\r\n Therefore he hath poured upon him the fury of his anger, and the strength of battle: and it hath set him on fire round about, yet he knew not; and it burned him, yet he laid it not to heart.\r\n \r\n \r\n But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.\r\n When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.\r\n For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee.\r\n Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life.\r\n Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west;\r\n I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth;\r\n Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.\r\n Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears.\r\n Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled: who among them can declare this, and shew us former things? let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified: or let them hear, and say, It is truth.\r\n Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.\r\n I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.\r\n I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, that I am God.\r\n Yea, before the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it?\r\n Thus saith the LORD, your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; For your sake I have sent to Babylon, and have brought down all their nobles, and the Chaldeans, whose cry is in the ships.\r\n I am the LORD, your Holy One, the creator of Israel, your King.\r\n Thus saith the LORD, which maketh a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters;\r\n Which bringeth forth the chariot and horse, the army and the power; they shall lie down together, they shall not rise: they are extinct, they are quenched as tow.\r\n Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.\r\n Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.\r\n The beast of the field shall honour me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen.\r\n This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise.\r\n But thou hast not called upon me, O Jacob; but thou hast been weary of me, O Israel.\r\n Thou hast not brought me the small cattle of thy burnt offerings; neither hast thou honoured me with thy sacrifices. I have not caused thee to serve with an offering, nor wearied thee with incense.\r\n Thou hast bought me no sweet cane with money, neither hast thou filled me with the fat of thy sacrifices: but thou hast made me to serve with thy sins, thou hast wearied me with thine iniquities.\r\n I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.\r\n Put me in remembrance: let us plead together: declare thou, that thou mayest be justified.\r\n Thy first father hath sinned, and thy teachers have transgressed against me.\r\n Therefore I have profaned the princes of the sanctuary, and have given Jacob to the curse, and Israel to reproaches.\r\n \r\n \r\n Yet now hear, O Jacob my servant; and Israel, whom I have chosen:\r\n Thus saith the LORD that made thee, and formed thee from the womb, which will help thee; Fear not, O Jacob, my servant; and thou, Jesurun, whom I have chosen.\r\n For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:\r\n And they shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water courses.\r\n One shall say, I am the LORD'S; and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob; and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the LORD, and surname himself by the name of Israel.\r\n Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.\r\n And who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in order for me, since I appointed the ancient people? and the things that are coming, and shall come, let them shew unto them.\r\n Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.\r\n They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed.\r\n Who hath formed a god, or molten a graven image that is profitable for nothing?\r\n Behold, all his fellows shall be ashamed: and the workmen, they are of men: let them all be gathered together, let them stand up; yet they shall fear, and they shall be ashamed together.\r\n The smith with the tongs both worketh in the coals, and fashioneth it with hammers, and worketh it with the strength of his arms: yea, he is hungry, and his strength faileth: he drinketh no water, and is faint.\r\n The carpenter stretcheth out his rule; he marketh it out with a line; he fitteth it with planes, and he marketh it out with the compass, and maketh it after the figure of a man, according to the beauty of a man; that it may remain in the house.\r\n He heweth him down cedars, and taketh the cypress and the oak, which he strengtheneth for himself among the trees of the forest: he planteth an ash, and the rain doth nourish it.\r\n Then shall it be for a man to burn: for he will take thereof, and warm himself; yea, he kindleth it, and baketh bread; yea, he maketh a god, and worshippeth it; he maketh it a graven image, and falleth down thereto.\r\n He burneth part thereof in the fire; with part thereof he eateth flesh; he roasteth roast, and is satisfied: yea, he warmeth himself, and saith, Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire:\r\n And the residue thereof he maketh a god, even his graven image: he falleth down unto it, and worshippeth it, and prayeth unto it, and saith, Deliver me; for thou art my god.\r\n They have not known nor understood: for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand.\r\n And none considereth in his heart, neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say, I have burned part of it in the fire; yea, also I have baked bread upon the coals thereof; I have roasted flesh, and eaten it: and shall I make the residue thereof an abomination? shall I fall down to the stock of a tree?\r\n He feedeth on ashes: a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?\r\n Remember these, O Jacob and Israel; for thou art my servant: I have formed thee; thou art my servant: O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of me.\r\n I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.\r\n Sing, O ye heavens; for the LORD hath done it: shout, ye lower parts of the earth: break forth into singing, ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein: for the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel.\r\n Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;\r\n That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish;\r\n That confirmeth the word of his servant, and performeth the counsel of his messengers; that saith to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be inhabited; and to the cities of Judah, Ye shall be built, and I will raise up the decayed places thereof:\r\n That saith to the deep, Be dry, and I will dry up thy rivers:\r\n That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.\r\n \r\n \r\n Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut;\r\n I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron:\r\n And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the LORD, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel.\r\n For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me.\r\n I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:\r\n That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else.\r\n I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.\r\n Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I the LORD have created it.\r\n Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands?\r\n Woe unto him that saith unto his father, What begettest thou? or to the woman, What hast thou brought forth?\r\n Thus saith the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me.\r\n I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded.\r\n I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will direct all his ways: he shall build my city, and he shall let go my captives, not for price nor reward, saith the LORD of hosts.\r\n Thus saith the LORD, The labour of Egypt, and merchandise of Ethiopia and of the Sabeans, men of stature, shall come over unto thee, and they shall be thine: they shall come after thee; in chains they shall come over, and they shall fall down unto thee, they shall make supplication unto thee, saying, Surely God is in thee; and there is none else, there is no God.\r\n Verily thou art a God that hidest thyself, O God of Israel, the Saviour.\r\n They shall be ashamed, and also confounded, all of them: they shall go to confusion together that are makers of idols.\r\n But Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end.\r\n For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.\r\n I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I the LORD speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.\r\n Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, ye that are escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god that cannot save.\r\n Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me.\r\n Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.\r\n I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.\r\n Surely, shall one say, in the LORD have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed.\r\n In the LORD shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory.\r\n \r\n \r\n Bel boweth down, Nebo stoopeth, their idols were upon the beasts, and upon the cattle: your carriages were heavy loaden; they are a burden to the weary beast.\r\n They stoop, they bow down together; they could not deliver the burden, but themselves are gone into captivity.\r\n Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, which are borne by me from the belly, which are carried from the womb:\r\n And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.\r\n To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like?\r\n They lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance, and hire a goldsmith; and he maketh it a god: they fall down, yea, they worship.\r\n They bear him upon the shoulder, they carry him, and set him in his place, and he standeth; from his place shall he not remove: yea, one shall cry unto him, yet can he not answer, nor save him out of his trouble.\r\n Remember this, and shew yourselves men: bring it again to mind, O ye transgressors.\r\n Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,\r\n Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:\r\n Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.\r\n Hearken unto me, ye stouthearted, that are far from righteousness:\r\n I bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry: and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory.\r\n \r\n \r\n Come down, and sit in the dust, O virgin daughter of Babylon, sit on the ground: there is no throne, O daughter of the Chaldeans: for thou shalt no more be called tender and delicate.\r\n Take the millstones, and grind meal: uncover thy locks, make bare the leg, uncover the thigh, pass over the rivers.\r\n Thy nakedness shall be uncovered, yea, thy shame shall be seen: I will take vengeance, and I will not meet thee as a man.\r\n As for our redeemer, the LORD of hosts is his name, the Holy One of Israel.\r\n Sit thou silent, and get thee into darkness, O daughter of the Chaldeans: for thou shalt no more be called, The lady of kingdoms.\r\n I was wroth with my people, I have polluted mine inheritance, and given them into thine hand: thou didst shew them no mercy; upon the ancient hast thou very heavily laid thy yoke.\r\n And thou saidst, I shall be a lady for ever: so that thou didst not lay these things to thy heart, neither didst remember the latter end of it.\r\n Therefore hear now this, thou that art given to pleasures, that dwellest carelessly, that sayest in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me; I shall not sit as a widow, neither shall I know the loss of children:\r\n But these two things shall come to thee in a moment in one day, the loss of children, and widowhood: they shall come upon thee in their perfection for the multitude of thy sorceries, and for the great abundance of thine enchantments.\r\n For thou hast trusted in thy wickedness: thou hast said, None seeth me. Thy wisdom and thy knowledge, it hath perverted thee; and thou hast said in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me.\r\n Therefore shall evil come upon thee; thou shalt not know from whence it riseth: and mischief shall fall upon thee; thou shalt not be able to put it off: and desolation shall come upon thee suddenly, which thou shalt not know.\r\n Stand now with thine enchantments, and with the multitude of thy sorceries, wherein thou hast laboured from thy youth; if so be thou shalt be able to profit, if so be thou mayest prevail.\r\n Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy counsels. Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save thee from these things that shall come upon thee.\r\n Behold, they shall be as stubble; the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame: there shall not be a coal to warm at, nor fire to sit before it.\r\n Thus shall they be unto thee with whom thou hast laboured, even thy merchants, from thy youth: they shall wander every one to his quarter; none shall save thee.\r\n \r\n \r\n Hear ye this, O house of Jacob, which are called by the name of Israel, and are come forth out of the waters of Judah, which swear by the name of the LORD, and make mention of the God of Israel, but not in truth, nor in righteousness.\r\n For they call themselves of the holy city, and stay themselves upon the God of Israel; The LORD of hosts is his name.\r\n I have declared the former things from the beginning; and they went forth out of my mouth, and I shewed them; I did them suddenly, and they came to pass.\r\n Because I knew that thou art obstinate, and thy neck is an iron sinew, and thy brow brass;\r\n I have even from the beginning declared it to thee; before it came to pass I shewed it thee: lest thou shouldest say, Mine idol hath done them, and my graven image, and my molten image, hath commanded them.\r\n Thou hast heard, see all this; and will not ye declare it? I have shewed thee new things from this time, even hidden things, and thou didst not know them.\r\n They are created now, and not from the beginning; even before the day when thou heardest them not; lest thou shouldest say, Behold, I knew them.\r\n Yea, thou heardest not; yea, thou knewest not; yea, from that time that thine ear was not opened: for I knew that thou wouldest deal very treacherously, and wast called a transgressor from the womb.\r\n For my name's sake will I defer mine anger, and for my praise will I refrain for thee, that I cut thee not off.\r\n Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.\r\n For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another.\r\n Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I am he; I am the first, I also am the last.\r\n Mine hand also hath laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand hath spanned the heavens: when I call unto them, they stand up together.\r\n All ye, assemble yourselves, and hear; which among them hath declared these things? The LORD hath loved him: he will do his pleasure on Babylon, and his arm shall be on the Chaldeans.\r\n I, even I, have spoken; yea, I have called him: I have brought him, and he shall make his way prosperous.\r\n Come ye near unto me, hear ye this; I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, there am I: and now the Lord GOD, and his Spirit, hath sent me.\r\n Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go.\r\n O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea:\r\n Thy seed also had been as the sand, and the offspring of thy bowels like the gravel thereof; his name should not have been cut off nor destroyed from before me.\r\n Go ye forth of Babylon, flee ye from the Chaldeans, with a voice of singing declare ye, tell this, utter it even to the end of the earth; say ye, The LORD hath redeemed his servant Jacob.\r\n And they thirsted not when he led them through the deserts: he caused the waters to flow out of the rock for them: he clave the rock also, and the waters gushed out.\r\n There is no peace, saith the LORD, unto the wicked.\r\n \r\n \r\n Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name.\r\n And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me;\r\n And said unto me, Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified.\r\n Then I said, I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain: yet surely my judgment is with the LORD, and my work with my God.\r\n And now, saith the LORD that formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the LORD, and my God shall be my strength.\r\n And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.\r\n Thus saith the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nation abhorreth, to a servant of rulers, Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of the LORD that is faithful, and the Holy One of Israel, and he shall choose thee.\r\n Thus saith the LORD, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages;\r\n That thou mayest say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Shew yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures shall be in all high places.\r\n They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them.\r\n And I will make all my mountains a way, and my highways shall be exalted.\r\n Behold, these shall come from far: and, lo, these from the north and from the west; and these from the land of Sinim.\r\n Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for the LORD hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted.\r\n But Zion said, The LORD hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me.\r\n Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.\r\n Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.\r\n Thy children shall make haste; thy destroyers and they that made thee waste shall go forth of thee.\r\n Lift up thine eyes round about, and behold: all these gather themselves together, and come to thee. As I live, saith the LORD, thou shalt surely clothe thee with them all, as with an ornament, and bind them on thee, as a bride doeth.\r\n For thy waste and thy desolate places, and the land of thy destruction, shall even now be too narrow by reason of the inhabitants, and they that swallowed thee up shall be far away.\r\n The children which thou shalt have, after thou hast lost the other, shall say again in thine ears, The place is too strait for me: give place to me that I may dwell.\r\n Then shalt thou say in thine heart, Who hath begotten me these, seeing I have lost my children, and am desolate, a captive, and removing to and fro? and who hath brought up these? Behold, I was left alone; these, where had they been?\r\n Thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I will lift up mine hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people: and they shall bring thy sons in their arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders.\r\n And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers: they shall bow down to thee with their face toward the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD: for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me.\r\n Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered?\r\n But thus saith the LORD, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children.\r\n And I will feed them that oppress thee with their own flesh; and they shall be drunken with their own blood, as with sweet wine: and all flesh shall know that I the LORD am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob.\r\n \r\n \r\n Thus saith the LORD, Where is the bill of your mother's divorcement, whom I have put away? or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities have ye sold yourselves, and for your transgressions is your mother put away.\r\n Wherefore, when I came, was there no man? when I called, was there none to answer? Is my hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem? or have I no power to deliver? behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness: their fish stinketh, because there is no water, and dieth for thirst.\r\n I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I make sackcloth their covering.\r\n The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.\r\n The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back.\r\n I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.\r\n For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.\r\n He is near that justifieth me; who will contend with me? let us stand together: who is mine adversary? let him come near to me.\r\n Behold, the Lord GOD will help me; who is he that shall condemn me? lo, they all shall wax old as a garment; the moth shall eat them up.\r\n Who is among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God.\r\n Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks: walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled. This shall ye have of mine hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow.\r\n \r\n \r\n Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the LORD: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged.\r\n Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him.\r\n For the LORD shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.\r\n Hearken unto me, my people; and give ear unto me, O my nation: for a law shall proceed from me, and I will make my judgment to rest for a light of the people.\r\n My righteousness is near; my salvation is gone forth, and mine arms shall judge the people; the isles shall wait upon me, and on mine arm shall they trust.\r\n Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished.\r\n Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings.\r\n For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool: but my righteousness shall be for ever, and my salvation from generation to generation.\r\n Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD; awake, as in the ancient days, in the generations of old. Art thou not it that hath cut Rahab, and wounded the dragon?\r\n Art thou not it which hath dried the sea, the waters of the great deep; that hath made the depths of the sea a way for the ransomed to pass over?\r\n Therefore the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.\r\n I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass;\r\n And forgettest the LORD thy maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth; and hast feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy? and where is the fury of the oppressor?\r\n The captive exile hasteneth that he may be loosed, and that he should not die in the pit, nor that his bread should fail.\r\n But I am the LORD thy God, that divided the sea, whose waves roared: The LORD of hosts is his name.\r\n And I have put my words in thy mouth, and I have covered thee in the shadow of mine hand, that I may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say unto Zion, Thou art my people.\r\n Awake, awake, stand up, O Jerusalem, which hast drunk at the hand of the LORD the cup of his fury; thou hast drunken the dregs of the cup of trembling, and wrung them out.\r\n There is none to guide her among all the sons whom she hath brought forth; neither is there any that taketh her by the hand of all the sons that she hath brought up.\r\n These two things are come unto thee; who shall be sorry for thee? desolation, and destruction, and the famine, and the sword: by whom shall I comfort thee?\r\n Thy sons have fainted, they lie at the head of all the streets, as a wild bull in a net: they are full of the fury of the LORD, the rebuke of thy God.\r\n Therefore hear now this, thou afflicted, and drunken, but not with wine:\r\n Thus saith thy Lord the LORD, and thy God that pleadeth the cause of his people, Behold, I have taken out of thine hand the cup of trembling, even the dregs of the cup of my fury; thou shalt no more drink it again:\r\n But I will put it into the hand of them that afflict thee; which have said to thy soul, Bow down, that we may go over: and thou hast laid thy body as the ground, and as the street, to them that went over.\r\n \r\n \r\n Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean.\r\n Shake thyself from the dust; arise, and sit down, O Jerusalem: loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion.\r\n For thus saith the LORD, Ye have sold yourselves for nought; and ye shall be redeemed without money.\r\n For thus saith the Lord GOD, My people went down aforetime into Egypt to sojourn there; and the Assyrian oppressed them without cause.\r\n Now therefore, what have I here, saith the LORD, that my people is taken away for nought? they that rule over them make them to howl, saith the LORD; and my name continually every day is blasphemed.\r\n Therefore my people shall know my name: therefore they shall know in that day that I am he that doth speak: behold, it is I.\r\n How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!\r\n Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the LORD shall bring again Zion.\r\n Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem: for the LORD hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem.\r\n The LORD hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.\r\n Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD.\r\n For ye shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight: for the LORD will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your rereward.\r\n Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high.\r\n As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:\r\n So shall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider.\r\n \r\n \r\n Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?\r\n For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.\r\n He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.\r\n Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.\r\n But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.\r\n All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.\r\n He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.\r\n He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.\r\n And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.\r\n Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.\r\n He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.\r\n Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.\r\n \r\n \r\n Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the LORD.\r\n Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes;\r\n For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited.\r\n Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more.\r\n For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.\r\n For the LORD hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God.\r\n For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee.\r\n In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer.\r\n For this is as the waters of Noah unto me: for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee.\r\n For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee.\r\n O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with sapphires.\r\n And I will make thy windows of agates, and thy gates of carbuncles, and all thy borders of pleasant stones.\r\n And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children.\r\n In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee.\r\n Behold, they shall surely gather together, but not by me: whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake.\r\n Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy.\r\n No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.\r\n \r\n \r\n Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.\r\n Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.\r\n Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.\r\n Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people.\r\n Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, and nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the LORD thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee.\r\n Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:\r\n Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.\r\n For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.\r\n For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.\r\n For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:\r\n So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.\r\n For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.\r\n Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.\r\n \r\n \r\n Thus saith the LORD, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed.\r\n Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil.\r\n Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to the LORD, speak, saying, The LORD hath utterly separated me from his people: neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree.\r\n For thus saith the LORD unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant;\r\n Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.\r\n Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the LORD, to serve him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant;\r\n Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.\r\n The Lord GOD which gathereth the outcasts of Israel saith, Yet will I gather others to him, beside those that are gathered unto him.\r\n All ye beasts of the field, come to devour, yea, all ye beasts in the forest.\r\n His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.\r\n Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.\r\n Come ye, say they, I will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink; and to morrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant.\r\n \r\n \r\n The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come.\r\n He shall enter into peace: they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness.\r\n But draw near hither, ye sons of the sorceress, the seed of the adulterer and the whore.\r\n Against whom do ye sport yourselves? against whom make ye a wide mouth, and draw out the tongue? are ye not children of transgression, a seed of falsehood,\r\n Enflaming yourselves with idols under every green tree, slaying the children in the valleys under the clifts of the rocks?\r\n Among the smooth stones of the stream is thy portion; they, they are thy lot: even to them hast thou poured a drink offering, thou hast offered a meat offering. Should I receive comfort in these?\r\n Upon a lofty and high mountain hast thou set thy bed: even thither wentest thou up to offer sacrifice.\r\n Behind the doors also and the posts hast thou set up thy remembrance: for thou hast discovered thyself to another than me, and art gone up; thou hast enlarged thy bed, and made thee a covenant with them; thou lovedst their bed where thou sawest it.\r\n And thou wentest to the king with ointment, and didst increase thy perfumes, and didst send thy messengers far off, and didst debase thyself even unto hell.\r\n Thou art wearied in the greatness of thy way; yet saidst thou not, There is no hope: thou hast found the life of thine hand; therefore thou wast not grieved.\r\n And of whom hast thou been afraid or feared, that thou hast lied, and hast not remembered me, nor laid it to thy heart? have not I held my peace even of old, and thou fearest me not?\r\n I will declare thy righteousness, and thy works; for they shall not profit thee.\r\n When thou criest, let thy companies deliver thee; but the wind shall carry them all away; vanity shall take them: but he that putteth his trust in me shall possess the land, and shall inherit my holy mountain;\r\n And shall say, Cast ye up, cast ye up, prepare the way, take up the stumblingblock out of the way of my people.\r\n For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.\r\n For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth: for the spirit should fail before me, and the souls which I have made.\r\n For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him: I hid me, and was wroth, and he went on frowardly in the way of his heart.\r\n I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners.\r\n I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the LORD; and I will heal him.\r\n But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.\r\n There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.\r\n \r\n \r\n Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.\r\n Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God.\r\n Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours.\r\n Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high.\r\n Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD?\r\n Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?\r\n Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?\r\n Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward.\r\n Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity;\r\n And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday:\r\n And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.\r\n And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.\r\n If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:\r\n Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.\r\n \r\n \r\n Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:\r\n But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.\r\n For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness.\r\n None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity.\r\n They hatch cockatrice' eggs, and weave the spider's web: he that eateth of their eggs dieth, and that which is crushed breaketh out into a viper.\r\n Their webs shall not become garments, neither shall they cover themselves with their works: their works are works of iniquity, and the act of violence is in their hands.\r\n Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths.\r\n The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace.\r\n Therefore is judgment far from us, neither doth justice overtake us: we wait for light, but behold obscurity; for brightness, but we walk in darkness.\r\n We grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as if we had no eyes: we stumble at noonday as in the night; we are in desolate places as dead men.\r\n We roar all like bears, and mourn sore like doves: we look for judgment, but there is none; for salvation, but it is far off from us.\r\n For our transgressions are multiplied before thee, and our sins testify against us: for our transgressions are with us; and as for our iniquities, we know them;\r\n In transgressing and lying against the LORD, and departing away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood.\r\n And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter.\r\n Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment.\r\n And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him.\r\n For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloke.\r\n According to their deeds, accordingly he will repay, fury to his adversaries, recompence to his enemies; to the islands he will repay recompence.\r\n So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.\r\n And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD.\r\n As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the LORD; My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth and for ever.\r\n \r\n \r\n Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.\r\n For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.\r\n And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.\r\n Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side.\r\n Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee.\r\n The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense; and they shall shew forth the praises of the LORD.\r\n All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together unto thee, the rams of Nebaioth shall minister unto thee: they shall come up with acceptance on mine altar, and I will glorify the house of my glory.\r\n Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows?\r\n Surely the isles shall wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring thy sons from far, their silver and their gold with them, unto the name of the LORD thy God, and to the Holy One of Israel, because he hath glorified thee.\r\n And the sons of strangers shall build up thy walls, and their kings shall minister unto thee: for in my wrath I smote thee, but in my favour have I had mercy on thee.\r\n Therefore thy gates shall be open continually; they shall not be shut day nor night; that men may bring unto thee the forces of the Gentiles, and that their kings may be brought.\r\n For the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish; yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted.\r\n The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, the fir tree, the pine tree, and the box together, to beautify the place of my sanctuary; and I will make the place of my feet glorious.\r\n The sons also of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee; and all they that despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet; and they shall call thee, The city of the LORD, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel.\r\n Whereas thou hast been forsaken and hated, so that no man went through thee, I will make thee an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations.\r\n Thou shalt also suck the milk of the Gentiles, and shalt suck the breast of kings: and thou shalt know that I the LORD am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob.\r\n For brass I will bring gold, and for iron I will bring silver, and for wood brass, and for stones iron: I will also make thy officers peace, and thine exactors righteousness.\r\n Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise.\r\n The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory.\r\n Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the LORD shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended.\r\n Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified.\r\n A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation: I the LORD will hasten it in his time.\r\n \r\n \r\n The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;\r\n To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;\r\n To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.\r\n And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations.\r\n And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers.\r\n But ye shall be named the Priests of the LORD: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.\r\n For your shame ye shall have double; and for confusion they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess the double: everlasting joy shall be unto them.\r\n For I the LORD love judgment, I hate robbery for burnt offering; and I will direct their work in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.\r\n And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people: all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which the LORD hath blessed.\r\n I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.\r\n For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.\r\n \r\n \r\n For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth.\r\n And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name.\r\n Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God.\r\n Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzibah, and thy land Beulah: for the LORD delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married.\r\n For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.\r\n I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence,\r\n And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.\r\n The LORD hath sworn by his right hand, and by the arm of his strength, Surely I will no more give thy corn to be meat for thine enemies; and the sons of the stranger shall not drink thy wine, for the which thou hast laboured:\r\n But they that have gathered it shall eat it, and praise the LORD; and they that have brought it together shall drink it in the courts of my holiness.\r\n Go through, go through the gates; prepare ye the way of the people; cast up, cast up the highway; gather out the stones; lift up a standard for the people.\r\n Behold, the LORD hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.\r\n And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the LORD: and thou shalt be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken.\r\n \r\n \r\n Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save.\r\n Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat?\r\n I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment.\r\n For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come.\r\n And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my fury, it upheld me.\r\n And I will tread down the people in mine anger, and make them drunk in my fury, and I will bring down their strength to the earth.\r\n I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the LORD, and the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he hath bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his lovingkindnesses.\r\n For he said, Surely they are my people, children that will not lie: so he was their Saviour.\r\n In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.\r\n But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them.\r\n Then he remembered the days of old, Moses, and his people, saying, Where is he that brought them up out of the sea with the shepherd of his flock? where is he that put his holy Spirit within him?\r\n That led them by the right hand of Moses with his glorious arm, dividing the water before them, to make himself an everlasting name?\r\n That led them through the deep, as an horse in the wilderness, that they should not stumble?\r\n As a beast goeth down into the valley, the Spirit of the LORD caused him to rest: so didst thou lead thy people, to make thyself a glorious name.\r\n Look down from heaven, and behold from the habitation of thy holiness and of thy glory: where is thy zeal and thy strength, the sounding of thy bowels and of thy mercies toward me? are they restrained?\r\n Doubtless thou art our father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: thou, O LORD, art our father, our redeemer; thy name is from everlasting.\r\n O LORD, why hast thou made us to err from thy ways, and hardened our heart from thy fear? Return for thy servants' sake, the tribes of thine inheritance.\r\n The people of thy holiness have possessed it but a little while: our adversaries have trodden down thy sanctuary.\r\n We are thine: thou never barest rule over them; they were not called by thy name.\r\n \r\n \r\n Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might flow down at thy presence,\r\n As when the melting fire burneth, the fire causeth the waters to boil, to make thy name known to thine adversaries, that the nations may tremble at thy presence!\r\n When thou didst terrible things which we looked not for, thou camest down, the mountains flowed down at thy presence.\r\n For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.\r\n Thou meetest him that rejoiceth and worketh righteousness, those that remember thee in thy ways: behold, thou art wroth; for we have sinned: in those is continuance, and we shall be saved.\r\n But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.\r\n And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities.\r\n But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.\r\n Be not wroth very sore, O LORD, neither remember iniquity for ever: behold, see, we beseech thee, we are all thy people.\r\n Thy holy cities are a wilderness, Zion is a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation.\r\n Our holy and our beautiful house, where our fathers praised thee, is burned up with fire: and all our pleasant things are laid waste.\r\n Wilt thou refrain thyself for these things, O LORD? wilt thou hold thy peace, and afflict us very sore?\r\n \r\n \r\n I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name.\r\n I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts;\r\n A people that provoketh me to anger continually to my face; that sacrificeth in gardens, and burneth incense upon altars of brick;\r\n Which remain among the graves, and lodge in the monuments, which eat swine's flesh, and broth of abominable things is in their vessels;\r\n Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day.\r\n Behold, it is written before me: I will not keep silence, but will recompense, even recompense into their bosom,\r\n Your iniquities, and the iniquities of your fathers together, saith the LORD, which have burned incense upon the mountains, and blasphemed me upon the hills: therefore will I measure their former work into their bosom.\r\n Thus saith the LORD, As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one saith, Destroy it not; for a blessing is in it: so will I do for my servants' sakes, that I may not destroy them all.\r\n And I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob, and out of Judah an inheritor of my mountains: and mine elect shall inherit it, and my servants shall dwell there.\r\n And Sharon shall be a fold of flocks, and the valley of Achor a place for the herds to lie down in, for my people that have sought me.\r\n But ye are they that forsake the LORD, that forget my holy mountain, that prepare a table for that troop, and that furnish the drink offering unto that number.\r\n Therefore will I number you to the sword, and ye shall all bow down to the slaughter: because when I called, ye did not answer; when I spake, ye did not hear; but did evil before mine eyes, and did choose that wherein I delighted not.\r\n Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, my servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry: behold, my servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty: behold, my servants shall rejoice, but ye shall be ashamed:\r\n Behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for vexation of spirit.\r\n And ye shall leave your name for a curse unto my chosen: for the Lord GOD shall slay thee, and call his servants by another name:\r\n That he who blesseth himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth; and he that sweareth in the earth shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hid from mine eyes.\r\n For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.\r\n But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.\r\n And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying.\r\n There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed.\r\n And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.\r\n They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.\r\n They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them.\r\n And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.\r\n The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.\r\n \r\n \r\n Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?\r\n For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.\r\n He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog's neck; he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swine's blood; he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations.\r\n I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not.\r\n Hear the word of the LORD, ye that tremble at his word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name's sake, said, Let the LORD be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.\r\n A voice of noise from the city, a voice from the temple, a voice of the LORD that rendereth recompence to his enemies.\r\n Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child.\r\n Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.\r\n Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith the LORD: shall I cause to bring forth, and shut the womb? saith thy God.\r\n Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all ye that love her: rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn for her:\r\n That ye may suck, and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations; that ye may milk out, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory.\r\n For thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream: then shall ye suck, ye shall be borne upon her sides, and be dandled upon her knees.\r\n As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem.\r\n And when ye see this, your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like an herb: and the hand of the LORD shall be known toward his servants, and his indignation toward his enemies.\r\n For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire.\r\n For by fire and by his sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many.\r\n They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine's flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the LORD.\r\n For I know their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory.\r\n And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles.\r\n And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the LORD out of all nations upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the LORD, as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the LORD.\r\n And I will also take of them for priests and for Levites, saith the LORD.\r\n For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain.\r\n And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD.\r\n And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, of the priests that were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin:\r\n To whom the word of the LORD came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign.\r\n It came also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, unto the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah the son of Josiah king of Judah, unto the carrying away of Jerusalem captive in the fifth month.\r\n Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,\r\n Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.\r\n Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.\r\n But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.\r\n Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD.\r\n Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.\r\n See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.\r\n Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Jeremiah, what seest thou? And I said, I see a rod of an almond tree.\r\n Then said the LORD unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it.\r\n And the word of the LORD came unto me the second time, saying, What seest thou? And I said, I see a seething pot; and the face thereof is toward the north.\r\n Then the LORD said unto me, Out of the north an evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land.\r\n For, lo, I will call all the families of the kingdoms of the north, saith the LORD; and they shall come, and they shall set every one his throne at the entering of the gates of Jerusalem, and against all the walls thereof round about, and against all the cities of Judah.\r\n And I will utter my judgments against them touching all their wickedness, who have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, and worshipped the works of their own hands.\r\n Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee: be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them.\r\n For, behold, I have made thee this day a defenced city, and an iron pillar, and brasen walls against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, against the princes thereof, against the priests thereof, and against the people of the land.\r\n And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith the LORD, to deliver thee.\r\n \r\n \r\n Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying,\r\n Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the LORD; I remember thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals, when thou wentest after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown.\r\n Israel was holiness unto the LORD, and the firstfruits of his increase: all that devour him shall offend; evil shall come upon them, saith the LORD.\r\n Hear ye the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel:\r\n Thus saith the LORD, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?\r\n Neither said they, Where is the LORD that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, that led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and of pits, through a land of drought, and of the shadow of death, through a land that no man passed through, and where no man dwelt?\r\n And I brought you into a plentiful country, to eat the fruit thereof and the goodness thereof; but when ye entered, ye defiled my land, and made mine heritage an abomination.\r\n The priests said not, Where is the LORD? and they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.\r\n Wherefore I will yet plead with you, saith the LORD, and with your children's children will I plead.\r\n For pass over the isles of Chittim, and see; and send unto Kedar, and consider diligently, and see if there be such a thing.\r\n Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit.\r\n Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the LORD.\r\n For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.\r\n Is Israel a servant? is he a homeborn slave? why is he spoiled?\r\n The young lions roared upon him, and yelled, and they made his land waste: his cities are burned without inhabitant.\r\n Also the children of Noph and Tahapanes have broken the crown of thy head.\r\n Hast thou not procured this unto thyself, in that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, when he led thee by the way?\r\n And now what hast thou to do in the way of Egypt, to drink the waters of Sihor? or what hast thou to do in the way of Assyria, to drink the waters of the river?\r\n Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord GOD of hosts.\r\n For of old time I have broken thy yoke, and burst thy bands; and thou saidst, I will not transgress; when upon every high hill and under every green tree thou wanderest, playing the harlot.\r\n Yet I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed: how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me?\r\n For though thou wash thee with nitre, and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity is marked before me, saith the Lord GOD.\r\n How canst thou say, I am not polluted, I have not gone after Baalim? see thy way in the valley, know what thou hast done: thou art a swift dromedary traversing her ways;\r\n A wild ass used to the wilderness, that snuffeth up the wind at her pleasure; in her occasion who can turn her away? all they that seek her will not weary themselves; in her month they shall find her.\r\n Withhold thy foot from being unshod, and thy throat from thirst: but thou saidst, There is no hope: no; for I have loved strangers, and after them will I go.\r\n As the thief is ashamed when he is found, so is the house of Israel ashamed; they, their kings, their princes, and their priests, and their prophets,\r\n Saying to a stock, Thou art my father; and to a stone, Thou hast brought me forth: for they have turned their back unto me, and not their face: but in the time of their trouble they will say, Arise, and save us.\r\n But where are thy gods that thou hast made thee? let them arise, if they can save thee in the time of thy trouble: for according to the number of thy cities are thy gods, O Judah.\r\n Wherefore will ye plead with me? ye all have transgressed against me, saith the LORD.\r\n In vain have I smitten your children; they received no correction: your own sword hath devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.\r\n O generation, see ye the word of the LORD. Have I been a wilderness unto Israel? a land of darkness? wherefore say my people, We are lords; we will come no more unto thee?\r\n Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? yet my people have forgotten me days without number.\r\n Why trimmest thou thy way to seek love? therefore hast thou also taught the wicked ones thy ways.\r\n Also in thy skirts is found the blood of the souls of the poor innocents: I have not found it by secret search, but upon all these.\r\n Yet thou sayest, Because I am innocent, surely his anger shall turn from me. Behold, I will plead with thee, because thou sayest, I have not sinned.\r\n Why gaddest thou about so much to change thy way? thou also shalt be ashamed of Egypt, as thou wast ashamed of Assyria.\r\n Yea, thou shalt go forth from him, and thine hands upon thine head: for the LORD hath rejected thy confidences, and thou shalt not prosper in them.\r\n \r\n \r\n They say, If a man put away his wife, and she go from him, and become another man's, shall he return unto her again? shall not that land be greatly polluted? but thou hast played the harlot with many lovers; yet return again to me, saith the LORD.\r\n Lift up thine eyes unto the high places, and see where thou hast not been lien with. In the ways hast thou sat for them, as the Arabian in the wilderness; and thou hast polluted the land with thy whoredoms and with thy wickedness.\r\n Therefore the showers have been withholden, and there hath been no latter rain; and thou hadst a whore's forehead, thou refusedst to be ashamed.\r\n Wilt thou not from this time cry unto me, My father, thou art the guide of my youth?\r\n Will he reserve his anger for ever? will he keep it to the end? Behold, thou hast spoken and done evil things as thou couldest.\r\n The LORD said also unto me in the days of Josiah the king, Hast thou seen that which backsliding Israel hath done? she is gone up upon every high mountain and under every green tree, and there hath played the harlot.\r\n And I said after she had done all these things, Turn thou unto me. But she returned not. And her treacherous sister Judah saw it.\r\n And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also.\r\n And it came to pass through the lightness of her whoredom, that she defiled the land, and committed adultery with stones and with stocks.\r\n And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah hath not turned unto me with her whole heart, but feignedly, saith the LORD.\r\n And the LORD said unto me, The backsliding Israel hath justified herself more than treacherous Judah.\r\n Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the LORD; and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, saith the LORD, and I will not keep anger for ever.\r\n Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the LORD thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the LORD.\r\n Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion:\r\n And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.\r\n And it shall come to pass, when ye be multiplied and increased in the land, in those days, saith the LORD, they shall say no more, The ark of the covenant of the LORD: neither shall it come to mind: neither shall they remember it; neither shall they visit it; neither shall that be done any more.\r\n At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the LORD; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the LORD, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart.\r\n In those days the house of Judah shall walk with the house of Israel, and they shall come together out of the land of the north to the land that I have given for an inheritance unto your fathers.\r\n But I said, How shall I put thee among the children, and give thee a pleasant land, a goodly heritage of the hosts of nations? and I said, Thou shalt call me, My father; and shalt not turn away from me.\r\n Surely as a wife treacherously departeth from her husband, so have ye dealt treacherously with me, O house of Israel, saith the LORD.\r\n A voice was heard upon the high places, weeping and supplications of the children of Israel: for they have perverted their way, and they have forgotten the LORD their God.\r\n Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings. Behold, we come unto thee; for thou art the LORD our God.\r\n Truly in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills, and from the multitude of mountains: truly in the LORD our God is the salvation of Israel.\r\n For shame hath devoured the labour of our fathers from our youth; their flocks and their herds, their sons and their daughters.\r\n We lie down in our shame, and our confusion covereth us: for we have sinned against the LORD our God, we and our fathers, from our youth even unto this day, and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God.\r\n \r\n \r\n If thou wilt return, O Israel, saith the LORD, return unto me: and if thou wilt put away thine abominations out of my sight, then shalt thou not remove.\r\n And thou shalt swear, The LORD liveth, in truth, in judgment, and in righteousness; and the nations shall bless themselves in him, and in him shall they glory.\r\n For thus saith the LORD to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns.\r\n Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and take away the foreskins of your heart, ye men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem: lest my fury come forth like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings.\r\n Declare ye in Judah, and publish in Jerusalem; and say, Blow ye the trumpet in the land: cry, gather together, and say, Assemble yourselves, and let us go into the defenced cities.\r\n Set up the standard toward Zion: retire, stay not: for I will bring evil from the north, and a great destruction.\r\n The lion is come up from his thicket, and the destroyer of the Gentiles is on his way; he is gone forth from his place to make thy land desolate; and thy cities shall be laid waste, without an inhabitant.\r\n For this gird you with sackcloth, lament and howl: for the fierce anger of the LORD is not turned back from us.\r\n And it shall come to pass at that day, saith the LORD, that the heart of the king shall perish, and the heart of the princes; and the priests shall be astonished, and the prophets shall wonder.\r\n Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! surely thou hast greatly deceived this people and Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall have peace; whereas the sword reacheth unto the soul.\r\n At that time shall it be said to this people and to Jerusalem, A dry wind of the high places in the wilderness toward the daughter of my people, not to fan, nor to cleanse,\r\n Even a full wind from those places shall come unto me: now also will I give sentence against them.\r\n Behold, he shall come up as clouds, and his chariots shall be as a whirlwind: his horses are swifter than eagles. Woe unto us! for we are spoiled.\r\n O Jerusalem, wash thine heart from wickedness, that thou mayest be saved. How long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee?\r\n For a voice declareth from Dan, and publisheth affliction from mount Ephraim.\r\n Make ye mention to the nations; behold, publish against Jerusalem, that watchers come from a far country, and give out their voice against the cities of Judah.\r\n As keepers of a field, are they against her round about; because she hath been rebellious against me, saith the LORD.\r\n Thy way and thy doings have procured these things unto thee; this is thy wickedness, because it is bitter, because it reacheth unto thine heart.\r\n My bowels, my bowels! I am pained at my very heart; my heart maketh a noise in me; I cannot hold my peace, because thou hast heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war.\r\n Destruction upon destruction is cried; for the whole land is spoiled: suddenly are my tents spoiled, and my curtains in a moment.\r\n How long shall I see the standard, and hear the sound of the trumpet?\r\n For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.\r\n I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light.\r\n I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly.\r\n I beheld, and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled.\r\n I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of the LORD, and by his fierce anger.\r\n For thus hath the LORD said, The whole land shall be desolate; yet will I not make a full end.\r\n For this shall the earth mourn, and the heavens above be black: because I have spoken it, I have purposed it, and will not repent, neither will I turn back from it.\r\n The whole city shall flee for the noise of the horsemen and bowmen; they shall go into thickets, and climb up upon the rocks: every city shall be forsaken, and not a man dwell therein.\r\n And when thou art spoiled, what wilt thou do? Though thou clothest thyself with crimson, though thou deckest thee with ornaments of gold, though thou rentest thy face with painting, in vain shalt thou make thyself fair; thy lovers will despise thee, they will seek thy life.\r\n For I have heard a voice as of a woman in travail, and the anguish as of her that bringeth forth her first child, the voice of the daughter of Zion, that bewaileth herself, that spreadeth her hands, saying, Woe is me now! for my soul is wearied because of murderers.\r\n \r\n \r\n Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgment, that seeketh the truth; and I will pardon it.\r\n And though they say, The LORD liveth; surely they swear falsely.\r\n O LORD, are not thine eyes upon the truth? thou hast stricken them, but they have not grieved; thou hast consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction: they have made their faces harder than a rock; they have refused to return.\r\n Therefore I said, Surely these are poor; they are foolish: for they know not the way of the LORD, nor the judgment of their God.\r\n I will get me unto the great men, and will speak unto them; for they have known the way of the LORD, and the judgment of their God: but these have altogether broken the yoke, and burst the bonds.\r\n Wherefore a lion out of the forest shall slay them, and a wolf of the evenings shall spoil them, a leopard shall watch over their cities: every one that goeth out thence shall be torn in pieces: because their transgressions are many, and their backslidings are increased.\r\n How shall I pardon thee for this? thy children have forsaken me, and sworn by them that are no gods: when I had fed them to the full, they then committed adultery, and assembled themselves by troops in the harlots' houses.\r\n They were as fed horses in the morning: every one neighed after his neighbour's wife.\r\n Shall I not visit for these things? saith the LORD: and shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?\r\n Go ye up upon her walls, and destroy; but make not a full end: take away her battlements; for they are not the LORD'S.\r\n For the house of Israel and the house of Judah have dealt very treacherously against me, saith the LORD.\r\n They have belied the LORD, and said, It is not he; neither shall evil come upon us; neither shall we see sword nor famine:\r\n And the prophets shall become wind, and the word is not in them: thus shall it be done unto them.\r\n Wherefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts, Because ye speak this word, behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them.\r\n Lo, I will bring a nation upon you from far, O house of Israel, saith the LORD: it is a mighty nation, it is an ancient nation, a nation whose language thou knowest not, neither understandest what they say.\r\n Their quiver is as an open sepulchre, they are all mighty men.\r\n And they shall eat up thine harvest, and thy bread, which thy sons and thy daughters should eat: they shall eat up thy flocks and thine herds: they shall eat up thy vines and thy fig trees: they shall impoverish thy fenced cities, wherein thou trustedst, with the sword.\r\n Nevertheless in those days, saith the LORD, I will not make a full end with you.\r\n And it shall come to pass, when ye shall say, Wherefore doeth the LORD our God all these things unto us? then shalt thou answer them, Like as ye have forsaken me, and served strange gods in your land, so shall ye serve strangers in a land that is not yours.\r\n Declare this in the house of Jacob, and publish it in Judah, saying,\r\n Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not:\r\n Fear ye not me? saith the LORD: will ye not tremble at my presence, which have placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it: and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it?\r\n But this people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone.\r\n Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear the LORD our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in his season: he reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest.\r\n Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good things from you.\r\n For among my people are found wicked men: they lay wait, as he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they catch men.\r\n As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become great, and waxen rich.\r\n They are waxen fat, they shine: yea, they overpass the deeds of the wicked: they judge not the cause, the cause of the fatherless, yet they prosper; and the right of the needy do they not judge.\r\n Shall I not visit for these things? saith the LORD: shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?\r\n A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land;\r\n The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?\r\n \r\n \r\n O ye children of Benjamin, gather yourselves to flee out of the midst of Jerusalem, and blow the trumpet in Tekoa, and set up a sign of fire in Bethhaccerem: for evil appeareth out of the north, and great destruction.\r\n I have likened the daughter of Zion to a comely and delicate woman.\r\n The shepherds with their flocks shall come unto her; they shall pitch their tents against her round about; they shall feed every one in his place.\r\n Prepare ye war against her; arise, and let us go up at noon. Woe unto us! for the day goeth away, for the shadows of the evening are stretched out.\r\n Arise, and let us go by night, and let us destroy her palaces.\r\n For thus hath the LORD of hosts said, Hew ye down trees, and cast a mount against Jerusalem: this is the city to be visited; she is wholly oppression in the midst of her.\r\n As a fountain casteth out her waters, so she casteth out her wickedness: violence and spoil is heard in her; before me continually is grief and wounds.\r\n Be thou instructed, O Jerusalem, lest my soul depart from thee; lest I make thee desolate, a land not inhabited.\r\n Thus saith the LORD of hosts, They shall throughly glean the remnant of Israel as a vine: turn back thine hand as a grapegatherer into the baskets.\r\n To whom shall I speak, and give warning, that they may hear? behold, their ear is uncircumcised, and they cannot hearken: behold, the word of the LORD is unto them a reproach; they have no delight in it.\r\n Therefore I am full of the fury of the LORD; I am weary with holding in: I will pour it out upon the children abroad, and upon the assembly of young men together: for even the husband with the wife shall be taken, the aged with him that is full of days.\r\n And their houses shall be turned unto others, with their fields and wives together: for I will stretch out my hand upon the inhabitants of the land, saith the LORD.\r\n For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely.\r\n They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.\r\n Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall: at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, saith the LORD.\r\n Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.\r\n Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken.\r\n Therefore hear, ye nations, and know, O congregation, what is among them.\r\n Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto my words, nor to my law, but rejected it.\r\n To what purpose cometh there to me incense from Sheba, and the sweet cane from a far country? your burnt offerings are not acceptable, nor your sacrifices sweet unto me.\r\n Therefore thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will lay stumblingblocks before this people, and the fathers and the sons together shall fall upon them; the neighbour and his friend shall perish.\r\n Thus saith the LORD, Behold, a people cometh from the north country, and a great nation shall be raised from the sides of the earth.\r\n They shall lay hold on bow and spear; they are cruel, and have no mercy; their voice roareth like the sea; and they ride upon horses, set in array as men for war against thee, O daughter of Zion.\r\n We have heard the fame thereof: our hands wax feeble: anguish hath taken hold of us, and pain, as of a woman in travail.\r\n Go not forth into the field, nor walk by the way; for the sword of the enemy and fear is on every side.\r\n O daughter of my people, gird thee with sackcloth, and wallow thyself in ashes: make thee mourning, as for an only son, most bitter lamentation: for the spoiler shall suddenly come upon us.\r\n I have set thee for a tower and a fortress among my people, that thou mayest know and try their way.\r\n They are all grievous revolters, walking with slanders: they are brass and iron; they are all corrupters.\r\n The bellows are burned, the lead is consumed of the fire; the founder melteth in vain: for the wicked are not plucked away.\r\n Reprobate silver shall men call them, because the LORD hath rejected them.\r\n \r\n \r\n The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,\r\n Stand in the gate of the LORD'S house, and proclaim there this word, and say, Hear the word of the LORD, all ye of Judah, that enter in at these gates to worship the LORD.\r\n Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place.\r\n Trust ye not in lying words, saying, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, are these.\r\n For if ye throughly amend your ways and your doings; if ye throughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbour;\r\n If ye oppress not the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and shed not innocent blood in this place, neither walk after other gods to your hurt:\r\n Then will I cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers, for ever and ever.\r\n Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit.\r\n Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not;\r\n And come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, We are delivered to do all these abominations?\r\n Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, even I have seen it, saith the LORD.\r\n But go ye now unto my place which was in Shiloh, where I set my name at the first, and see what I did to it for the wickedness of my people Israel.\r\n And now, because ye have done all these works, saith the LORD, and I spake unto you, rising up early and speaking, but ye heard not; and I called you, but ye answered not;\r\n Therefore will I do unto this house, which is called by my name, wherein ye trust, and unto the place which I gave to you and to your fathers, as I have done to Shiloh.\r\n And I will cast you out of my sight, as I have cast out all your brethren, even the whole seed of Ephraim.\r\n Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them, neither make intercession to me: for I will not hear thee.\r\n Seest thou not what they do in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem?\r\n The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead their dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto other gods, that they may provoke me to anger.\r\n Do they provoke me to anger? saith the LORD: do they not provoke themselves to the confusion of their own faces?\r\n Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, mine anger and my fury shall be poured out upon this place, upon man, and upon beast, and upon the trees of the field, and upon the fruit of the ground; and it shall burn, and shall not be quenched.\r\n Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Put your burnt offerings unto your sacrifices, and eat flesh.\r\n For I spake not unto your fathers, nor commanded them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices:\r\n But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you.\r\n But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward.\r\n Since the day that your fathers came forth out of the land of Egypt unto this day I have even sent unto you all my servants the prophets, daily rising up early and sending them:\r\n Yet they hearkened not unto me, nor inclined their ear, but hardened their neck: they did worse than their fathers.\r\n Therefore thou shalt speak all these words unto them; but they will not hearken to thee: thou shalt also call unto them; but they will not answer thee.\r\n But thou shalt say unto them, This is a nation that obeyeth not the voice of the LORD their God, nor receiveth correction: truth is perished, and is cut off from their mouth.\r\n Cut off thine hair, O Jerusalem, and cast it away, and take up a lamentation on high places; for the LORD hath rejected and forsaken the generation of his wrath.\r\n For the children of Judah have done evil in my sight, saith the LORD: they have set their abominations in the house which is called by my name, to pollute it.\r\n And they have built the high places of Tophet, which is in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire; which I commanded them not, neither came it into my heart.\r\n Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that it shall no more be called Tophet, nor the valley of the son of Hinnom, but the valley of slaughter: for they shall bury in Tophet, till there be no place.\r\n And the carcases of this people shall be meat for the fowls of the heaven, and for the beasts of the earth; and none shall fray them away.\r\n Then will I cause to cease from the cities of Judah, and from the streets of Jerusalem, the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride: for the land shall be desolate.\r\n \r\n \r\n At that time, saith the LORD, they shall bring out the bones of the kings of Judah, and the bones of his princes, and the bones of the priests, and the bones of the prophets, and the bones of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, out of their graves:\r\n And they shall spread them before the sun, and the moon, and all the host of heaven, whom they have loved, and whom they have served, and after whom they have walked, and whom they have sought, and whom they have worshipped: they shall not be gathered, nor be buried; they shall be for dung upon the face of the earth.\r\n And death shall be chosen rather than life by all the residue of them that remain of this evil family, which remain in all the places whither I have driven them, saith the LORD of hosts.\r\n Moreover thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD; Shall they fall, and not arise? shall he turn away, and not return?\r\n Why then is this people of Jerusalem slidden back by a perpetual backsliding? they hold fast deceit, they refuse to return.\r\n I hearkened and heard, but they spake not aright: no man repented him of his wickedness, saying, What have I done? every one turned to his course, as the horse rusheth into the battle.\r\n Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle and the crane and the swallow observe the time of their coming; but my people know not the judgment of the LORD.\r\n How do ye say, We are wise, and the law of the LORD is with us? Lo, certainly in vain made he it; the pen of the scribes is in vain.\r\n The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken: lo, they have rejected the word of the LORD; and what wisdom is in them?\r\n Therefore will I give their wives unto others, and their fields to them that shall inherit them: for every one from the least even unto the greatest is given to covetousness, from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely.\r\n For they have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.\r\n Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore shall they fall among them that fall: in the time of their visitation they shall be cast down, saith the LORD.\r\n I will surely consume them, saith the LORD: there shall be no grapes on the vine, nor figs on the fig tree, and the leaf shall fade; and the things that I have given them shall pass away from them.\r\n Why do we sit still? assemble yourselves, and let us enter into the defenced cities, and let us be silent there: for the LORD our God hath put us to silence, and given us water of gall to drink, because we have sinned against the LORD.\r\n We looked for peace, but no good came; and for a time of health, and behold trouble!\r\n The snorting of his horses was heard from Dan: the whole land trembled at the sound of the neighing of his strong ones; for they are come, and have devoured the land, and all that is in it; the city, and those that dwell therein.\r\n For, behold, I will send serpents, cockatrices, among you, which will not be charmed, and they shall bite you, saith the LORD.\r\n When I would comfort myself against sorrow, my heart is faint in me.\r\n Behold the voice of the cry of the daughter of my people because of them that dwell in a far country: Is not the LORD in Zion? is not her king in her? Why have they provoked me to anger with their graven images, and with strange vanities?\r\n The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.\r\n For the hurt of the daughter of my people am I hurt; I am black; astonishment hath taken hold on me.\r\n Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?\r\n \r\n \r\n Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!\r\n Oh that I had in the wilderness a lodging place of wayfaring men; that I might leave my people, and go from them! for they be all adulterers, an assembly of treacherous men.\r\n And they bend their tongues like their bow for lies: but they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they know not me, saith the LORD.\r\n Take ye heed every one of his neighbour, and trust ye not in any brother: for every brother will utterly supplant, and every neighbour will walk with slanders.\r\n And they will deceive every one his neighbour, and will not speak the truth: they have taught their tongue to speak lies, and weary themselves to commit iniquity.\r\n Thine habitation is in the midst of deceit; through deceit they refuse to know me, saith the LORD.\r\n Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, Behold, I will melt them, and try them; for how shall I do for the daughter of my people?\r\n Their tongue is as an arrow shot out; it speaketh deceit: one speaketh peaceably to his neighbour with his mouth, but in heart he layeth his wait.\r\n Shall I not visit them for these things? saith the LORD: shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?\r\n For the mountains will I take up a weeping and wailing, and for the habitations of the wilderness a lamentation, because they are burned up, so that none can pass through them; neither can men hear the voice of the cattle; both the fowl of the heavens and the beast are fled; they are gone.\r\n And I will make Jerusalem heaps, and a den of dragons; and I will make the cities of Judah desolate, without an inhabitant.\r\n Who is the wise man, that may understand this? and who is he to whom the mouth of the LORD hath spoken, that he may declare it, for what the land perisheth and is burned up like a wilderness, that none passeth through?\r\n And the LORD saith, Because they have forsaken my law which I set before them, and have not obeyed my voice, neither walked therein;\r\n But have walked after the imagination of their own heart, and after Baalim, which their fathers taught them:\r\n Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will feed them, even this people, with wormwood, and give them water of gall to drink.\r\n I will scatter them also among the heathen, whom neither they nor their fathers have known: and I will send a sword after them, till I have consumed them.\r\n Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Consider ye, and call for the mourning women, that they may come; and send for cunning women, that they may come:\r\n And let them make haste, and take up a wailing for us, that our eyes may run down with tears, and our eyelids gush out with waters.\r\n For a voice of wailing is heard out of Zion, How are we spoiled! we are greatly confounded, because we have forsaken the land, because our dwellings have cast us out.\r\n Yet hear the word of the LORD, O ye women, and let your ear receive the word of his mouth, and teach your daughters wailing, and every one her neighbour lamentation.\r\n For death is come up into our windows, and is entered into our palaces, to cut off the children from without, and the young men from the streets.\r\n Speak, Thus saith the LORD, Even the carcases of men shall fall as dung upon the open field, and as the handful after the harvestman, and none shall gather them.\r\n Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:\r\n But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.\r\n Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will punish all them which are circumcised with the uncircumcised;\r\n Egypt, and Judah, and Edom, and the children of Ammon, and Moab, and all that are in the utmost corners, that dwell in the wilderness: for all these nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in the heart.\r\n \r\n \r\n Hear ye the word which the LORD speaketh unto you, O house of Israel:\r\n Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.\r\n For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe.\r\n They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.\r\n They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.\r\n Forasmuch as there is none like unto thee, O LORD; thou art great, and thy name is great in might.\r\n Who would not fear thee, O King of nations? for to thee doth it appertain: forasmuch as among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their kingdoms, there is none like unto thee.\r\n But they are altogether brutish and foolish: the stock is a doctrine of vanities.\r\n Silver spread into plates is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz, the work of the workman, and of the hands of the founder: blue and purple is their clothing: they are all the work of cunning men.\r\n But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation.\r\n Thus shall ye say unto them, The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens.\r\n He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion.\r\n When he uttereth his voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens, and he causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures.\r\n Every man is brutish in his knowledge: every founder is confounded by the graven image: for his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them.\r\n They are vanity, and the work of errors: in the time of their visitation they shall perish.\r\n The portion of Jacob is not like them: for he is the former of all things; and Israel is the rod of his inheritance: The LORD of hosts is his name.\r\n Gather up thy wares out of the land, O inhabitant of the fortress.\r\n For thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will sling out the inhabitants of the land at this once, and will distress them, that they may find it so.\r\n Woe is me for my hurt! my wound is grievous: but I said, Truly this is a grief, and I must bear it.\r\n My tabernacle is spoiled, and all my cords are broken: my children are gone forth of me, and they are not: there is none to stretch forth my tent any more, and to set up my curtains.\r\n For the pastors are become brutish, and have not sought the LORD: therefore they shall not prosper, and all their flocks shall be scattered.\r\n Behold, the noise of the bruit is come, and a great commotion out of the north country, to make the cities of Judah desolate, and a den of dragons.\r\n O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.\r\n O LORD, correct me, but with judgment; not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing.\r\n Pour out thy fury upon the heathen that know thee not, and upon the families that call not on thy name: for they have eaten up Jacob, and devoured him, and consumed him, and have made his habitation desolate.\r\n \r\n \r\n The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,\r\n Hear ye the words of this covenant, and speak unto the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem;\r\n And say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel; Cursed be the man that obeyeth not the words of this covenant,\r\n Which I commanded your fathers in the day that I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace, saying, Obey my voice, and do them, according to all which I command you: so shall ye be my people, and I will be your God:\r\n That I may perform the oath which I have sworn unto your fathers, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey, as it is this day. Then answered I, and said, So be it, O LORD.\r\n Then the LORD said unto me, Proclaim all these words in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, saying, Hear ye the words of this covenant, and do them.\r\n For I earnestly protested unto your fathers in the day that I brought them up out of the land of Egypt, even unto this day, rising early and protesting, saying, Obey my voice.\r\n Yet they obeyed not, nor inclined their ear, but walked every one in the imagination of their evil heart: therefore I will bring upon them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do; but they did them not.\r\n And the LORD said unto me, A conspiracy is found among the men of Judah, and among the inhabitants of Jerusalem.\r\n They are turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers, which refused to hear my words; and they went after other gods to serve them: the house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken my covenant which I made with their fathers.\r\n Therefore thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil upon them, which they shall not be able to escape; and though they shall cry unto me, I will not hearken unto them.\r\n Then shall the cities of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem go, and cry unto the gods unto whom they offer incense: but they shall not save them at all in the time of their trouble.\r\n For according to the number of thy cities were thy gods, O Judah; and according to the number of the streets of Jerusalem have ye set up altars to that shameful thing, even altars to burn incense unto Baal.\r\n Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up a cry or prayer for them: for I will not hear them in the time that they cry unto me for their trouble.\r\n What hath my beloved to do in mine house, seeing she hath wrought lewdness with many, and the holy flesh is passed from thee? when thou doest evil, then thou rejoicest.\r\n The LORD called thy name, A green olive tree, fair, and of goodly fruit: with the noise of a great tumult he hath kindled fire upon it, and the branches of it are broken.\r\n For the LORD of hosts, that planted thee, hath pronounced evil against thee, for the evil of the house of Israel and of the house of Judah, which they have done against themselves to provoke me to anger in offering incense unto Baal.\r\n And the LORD hath given me knowledge of it, and I know it: then thou shewedst me their doings.\r\n But I was like a lamb or an ox that is brought to the slaughter; and I knew not that they had devised devices against me, saying, Let us destroy the tree with the fruit thereof, and let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name may be no more remembered.\r\n But, O LORD of hosts, that judgest righteously, that triest the reins and the heart, let me see thy vengeance on them: for unto thee have I revealed my cause.\r\n Therefore thus saith the LORD of the men of Anathoth, that seek thy life, saying, Prophesy not in the name of the LORD, that thou die not by our hand:\r\n Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, Behold, I will punish them: the young men shall die by the sword; their sons and their daughters shall die by famine:\r\n And there shall be no remnant of them: for I will bring evil upon the men of Anathoth, even the year of their visitation.\r\n \r\n \r\n Righteous art thou, O LORD, when I plead with thee: yet let me talk with thee of thy judgments: Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper? wherefore are all they happy that deal very treacherously?\r\n Thou hast planted them, yea, they have taken root: they grow, yea, they bring forth fruit: thou art near in their mouth, and far from their reins.\r\n But thou, O LORD, knowest me: thou hast seen me, and tried mine heart toward thee: pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and prepare them for the day of slaughter.\r\n How long shall the land mourn, and the herbs of every field wither, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein? the beasts are consumed, and the birds; because they said, He shall not see our last end.\r\n If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?\r\n For even thy brethren, and the house of thy father, even they have dealt treacherously with thee; yea, they have called a multitude after thee: believe them not, though they speak fair words unto thee.\r\n I have forsaken mine house, I have left mine heritage; I have given the dearly beloved of my soul into the hand of her enemies.\r\n Mine heritage is unto me as a lion in the forest; it crieth out against me: therefore have I hated it.\r\n Mine heritage is unto me as a speckled bird, the birds round about are against her; come ye, assemble all the beasts of the field, come to devour.\r\n Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness.\r\n They have made it desolate, and being desolate it mourneth unto me; the whole land is made desolate, because no man layeth it to heart.\r\n The spoilers are come upon all high places through the wilderness: for the sword of the LORD shall devour from the one end of the land even to the other end of the land: no flesh shall have peace.\r\n They have sown wheat, but shall reap thorns: they have put themselves to pain, but shall not profit: and they shall be ashamed of your revenues because of the fierce anger of the LORD.\r\n Thus saith the LORD against all mine evil neighbours, that touch the inheritance which I have caused my people Israel to inherit; Behold, I will pluck them out of their land, and pluck out the house of Judah from among them.\r\n And it shall come to pass, after that I have plucked them out I will return, and have compassion on them, and will bring them again, every man to his heritage, and every man to his land.\r\n And it shall come to pass, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name, The LORD liveth; as they taught my people to swear by Baal; then shall they be built in the midst of my people.\r\n But if they will not obey, I will utterly pluck up and destroy that nation, saith the LORD.\r\n \r\n \r\n Thus saith the LORD unto me, Go and get thee a linen girdle, and put it upon thy loins, and put it not in water.\r\n So I got a girdle according to the word of the LORD, and put it on my loins.\r\n And the word of the LORD came unto me the second time, saying,\r\n Take the girdle that thou hast got, which is upon thy loins, and arise, go to Euphrates, and hide it there in a hole of the rock.\r\n So I went, and hid it by Euphrates, as the LORD commanded me.\r\n And it came to pass after many days, that the LORD said unto me, Arise, go to Euphrates, and take the girdle from thence, which I commanded thee to hide there.\r\n Then I went to Euphrates, and digged, and took the girdle from the place where I had hid it: and, behold, the girdle was marred, it was profitable for nothing.\r\n Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,\r\n Thus saith the LORD, After this manner will I mar the pride of Judah, and the great pride of Jerusalem.\r\n This evil people, which refuse to hear my words, which walk in the imagination of their heart, and walk after other gods, to serve them, and to worship them, shall even be as this girdle, which is good for nothing.\r\n For as the girdle cleaveth to the loins of a man, so have I caused to cleave unto me the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah, saith the LORD; that they might be unto me for a people, and for a name, and for a praise, and for a glory: but they would not hear.\r\n Therefore thou shalt speak unto them this word; Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Every bottle shall be filled with wine: and they shall say unto thee, Do we not certainly know that every bottle shall be filled with wine?\r\n Then shalt thou say unto them, Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will fill all the inhabitants of this land, even the kings that sit upon David's throne, and the priests, and the prophets, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, with drunkenness.\r\n And I will dash them one against another, even the fathers and the sons together, saith the LORD: I will not pity, nor spare, nor have mercy, but destroy them.\r\n Hear ye, and give ear; be not proud: for the LORD hath spoken.\r\n Give glory to the LORD your God, before he cause darkness, and before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains, and, while ye look for light, he turn it into the shadow of death, and make it gross darkness.\r\n But if ye will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret places for your pride; and mine eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because the LORD'S flock is carried away captive.\r\n Say unto the king and to the queen, Humble yourselves, sit down: for your principalities shall come down, even the crown of your glory.\r\n The cities of the south shall be shut up, and none shall open them: Judah shall be carried away captive all of it, it shall be wholly carried away captive.\r\n Lift up your eyes, and behold them that come from the north: where is the flock that was given thee, thy beautiful flock?\r\n What wilt thou say when he shall punish thee? for thou hast taught them to be captains, and as chief over thee: shall not sorrows take thee, as a woman in travail?\r\n And if thou say in thine heart, Wherefore come these things upon me? For the greatness of thine iniquity are thy skirts discovered, and thy heels made bare.\r\n Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.\r\n Therefore will I scatter them as the stubble that passeth away by the wind of the wilderness.\r\n This is thy lot, the portion of thy measures from me, saith the LORD; because thou hast forgotten me, and trusted in falsehood.\r\n Therefore will I discover thy skirts upon thy face, that thy shame may appear.\r\n I have seen thine adulteries, and thy neighings, the lewdness of thy whoredom, and thine abominations on the hills in the fields. Woe unto thee, O Jerusalem! wilt thou not be made clean? when shall it once be?\r\n \r\n \r\n The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah concerning the dearth.\r\n Judah mourneth, and the gates thereof languish; they are black unto the ground; and the cry of Jerusalem is gone up.\r\n And their nobles have sent their little ones to the waters: they came to the pits, and found no water; they returned with their vessels empty; they were ashamed and confounded, and covered their heads.\r\n Because the ground is chapt, for there was no rain in the earth, the plowmen were ashamed, they covered their heads.\r\n Yea, the hind also calved in the field, and forsook it, because there was no grass.\r\n And the wild asses did stand in the high places, they snuffed up the wind like dragons; their eyes did fail, because there was no grass.\r\n O LORD, though our iniquities testify against us, do thou it for thy name's sake: for our backslidings are many; we have sinned against thee.\r\n O the hope of Israel, the saviour thereof in time of trouble, why shouldest thou be as a stranger in the land, and as a wayfaring man that turneth aside to tarry for a night?\r\n Why shouldest thou be as a man astonied, as a mighty man that cannot save? yet thou, O LORD, art in the midst of us, and we are called by thy name; leave us not.\r\n Thus saith the LORD unto this people, Thus have they loved to wander, they have not refrained their feet, therefore the LORD doth not accept them; he will now remember their iniquity, and visit their sins.\r\n Then said the LORD unto me, Pray not for this people for their good.\r\n When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and when they offer burnt offering and an oblation, I will not accept them: but I will consume them by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence.\r\n Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, the prophets say unto them, Ye shall not see the sword, neither shall ye have famine; but I will give you assured peace in this place.\r\n Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart.\r\n Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning the prophets that prophesy in my name, and I sent them not, yet they say, Sword and famine shall not be in this land; By sword and famine shall those prophets be consumed.\r\n And the people to whom they prophesy shall be cast out in the streets of Jerusalem because of the famine and the sword; and they shall have none to bury them, them, their wives, nor their sons, nor their daughters: for I will pour their wickedness upon them.\r\n Therefore thou shalt say this word unto them; Let mine eyes run down with tears night and day, and let them not cease: for the virgin daughter of my people is broken with a great breach, with a very grievous blow.\r\n If I go forth into the field, then behold the slain with the sword! and if I enter into the city, then behold them that are sick with famine! yea, both the prophet and the priest go about into a land that they know not.\r\n Hast thou utterly rejected Judah? hath thy soul lothed Zion? why hast thou smitten us, and there is no healing for us? we looked for peace, and there is no good; and for the time of healing, and behold trouble!\r\n We acknowledge, O LORD, our wickedness, and the iniquity of our fathers: for we have sinned against thee.\r\n Do not abhor us, for thy name's sake, do not disgrace the throne of thy glory: remember, break not thy covenant with us.\r\n Are there any among the vanities of the Gentiles that can cause rain? or can the heavens give showers? art not thou he, O LORD our God? therefore we will wait upon thee: for thou hast made all these things.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then said the LORD unto me, Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet my mind could not be toward this people: cast them out of my sight, and let them go forth.\r\n And it shall come to pass, if they say unto thee, Whither shall we go forth? then thou shalt tell them, Thus saith the LORD; Such as are for death, to death; and such as are for the sword, to the sword; and such as are for the famine, to the famine; and such as are for the captivity, to the captivity.\r\n And I will appoint over them four kinds, saith the LORD: the sword to slay, and the dogs to tear, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the earth, to devour and destroy.\r\n And I will cause them to be removed into all kingdoms of the earth, because of Manasseh the son of Hezekiah king of Judah, for that which he did in Jerusalem.\r\n For who shall have pity upon thee, O Jerusalem? or who shall bemoan thee? or who shall go aside to ask how thou doest?\r\n Thou hast forsaken me, saith the LORD, thou art gone backward: therefore will I stretch out my hand against thee, and destroy thee; I am weary with repenting.\r\n And I will fan them with a fan in the gates of the land; I will bereave them of children, I will destroy my people, since they return not from their ways.\r\n Their widows are increased to me above the sand of the seas: I have brought upon them against the mother of the young men a spoiler at noonday: I have caused him to fall upon it suddenly, and terrors upon the city.\r\n She that hath borne seven languisheth: she hath given up the ghost; her sun is gone down while it was yet day: she hath been ashamed and confounded: and the residue of them will I deliver to the sword before their enemies, saith the LORD.\r\n Woe is me, my mother, that thou hast borne me a man of strife and a man of contention to the whole earth! I have neither lent on usury, nor men have lent to me on usury; yet every one of them doth curse me.\r\n The LORD said, Verily it shall be well with thy remnant; verily I will cause the enemy to entreat thee well in the time of evil and in the time of affliction.\r\n Shall iron break the northern iron and the steel?\r\n Thy substance and thy treasures will I give to the spoil without price, and that for all thy sins, even in all thy borders.\r\n And I will make thee to pass with thine enemies into a land which thou knowest not: for a fire is kindled in mine anger, which shall burn upon you.\r\n O LORD, thou knowest: remember me, and visit me, and revenge me of my persecutors; take me not away in thy longsuffering: know that for thy sake I have suffered rebuke.\r\n Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.\r\n I sat not in the assembly of the mockers, nor rejoiced; I sat alone because of thy hand: for thou hast filled me with indignation.\r\n Why is my pain perpetual, and my wound incurable, which refuseth to be healed? wilt thou be altogether unto me as a liar, and as waters that fail?\r\n Therefore thus saith the LORD, If thou return, then will I bring thee again, and thou shalt stand before me: and if thou take forth the precious from the vile, thou shalt be as my mouth: let them return unto thee; but return not thou unto them.\r\n And I will make thee unto this people a fenced brasen wall: and they shall fight against thee, but they shall not prevail against thee: for I am with thee to save thee and to deliver thee, saith the LORD.\r\n And I will deliver thee out of the hand of the wicked, and I will redeem thee out of the hand of the terrible.\r\n \r\n \r\n The word of the LORD came also unto me, saying,\r\n Thou shalt not take thee a wife, neither shalt thou have sons or daughters in this place.\r\n For thus saith the LORD concerning the sons and concerning the daughters that are born in this place, and concerning their mothers that bare them, and concerning their fathers that begat them in this land;\r\n They shall die of grievous deaths; they shall not be lamented; neither shall they be buried; but they shall be as dung upon the face of the earth: and they shall be consumed by the sword, and by famine; and their carcases shall be meat for the fowls of heaven, and for the beasts of the earth.\r\n For thus saith the LORD, Enter not into the house of mourning, neither go to lament nor bemoan them: for I have taken away my peace from this people, saith the LORD, even lovingkindness and mercies.\r\n Both the great and the small shall die in this land: they shall not be buried, neither shall men lament for them, nor cut themselves, nor make themselves bald for them:\r\n Neither shall men tear themselves for them in mourning, to comfort them for the dead; neither shall men give them the cup of consolation to drink for their father or for their mother.\r\n Thou shalt not also go into the house of feasting, to sit with them to eat and to drink.\r\n For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will cause to cease out of this place in your eyes, and in your days, the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride.\r\n And it shall come to pass, when thou shalt shew this people all these words, and they shall say unto thee, Wherefore hath the LORD pronounced all this great evil against us? or what is our iniquity? or what is our sin that we have committed against the LORD our God?\r\n Then shalt thou say unto them, Because your fathers have forsaken me, saith the LORD, and have walked after other gods, and have served them, and have worshipped them, and have forsaken me, and have not kept my law;\r\n And ye have done worse than your fathers; for, behold, ye walk every one after the imagination of his evil heart, that they may not hearken unto me:\r\n Therefore will I cast you out of this land into a land that ye know not, neither ye nor your fathers; and there shall ye serve other gods day and night; where I will not shew you favour.\r\n Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that it shall no more be said, The LORD liveth, that brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt;\r\n But, The LORD liveth, that brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north, and from all the lands whither he had driven them: and I will bring them again into their land that I gave unto their fathers.\r\n Behold, I will send for many fishers, saith the LORD, and they shall fish them; and after will I send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks.\r\n For mine eyes are upon all their ways: they are not hid from my face, neither is their iniquity hid from mine eyes.\r\n And first I will recompense their iniquity and their sin double; because they have defiled my land, they have filled mine inheritance with the carcases of their detestable and abominable things.\r\n O LORD, my strength, and my fortress, and my refuge in the day of affliction, the Gentiles shall come unto thee from the ends of the earth, and shall say, Surely our fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and things wherein there is no profit.\r\n Shall a man make gods unto himself, and they are no gods?\r\n Therefore, behold, I will this once cause them to know, I will cause them to know mine hand and my might; and they shall know that my name is The LORD.\r\n \r\n \r\n The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron, and with the point of a diamond: it is graven upon the table of their heart, and upon the horns of your altars;\r\n Whilst their children remember their altars and their groves by the green trees upon the high hills.\r\n O my mountain in the field, I will give thy substance and all thy treasures to the spoil, and thy high places for sin, throughout all thy borders.\r\n And thou, even thyself, shalt discontinue from thine heritage that I gave thee; and I will cause thee to serve thine enemies in the land which thou knowest not: for ye have kindled a fire in mine anger, which shall burn for ever.\r\n Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.\r\n For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited.\r\n Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.\r\n For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.\r\n The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?\r\n I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.\r\n As the partridge sitteth on eggs, and hatcheth them not; so he that getteth riches, and not by right, shall leave them in the midst of his days, and at his end shall be a fool.\r\n A glorious high throne from the beginning is the place of our sanctuary.\r\n O LORD, the hope of Israel, all that forsake thee shall be ashamed, and they that depart from me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the LORD, the fountain of living waters.\r\n Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise.\r\n Behold, they say unto me, Where is the word of the LORD? let it come now.\r\n As for me, I have not hastened from being a pastor to follow thee: neither have I desired the woeful day; thou knowest: that which came out of my lips was right before thee.\r\n Be not a terror unto me: thou art my hope in the day of evil.\r\n Let them be confounded that persecute me, but let not me be confounded: let them be dismayed, but let not me be dismayed: bring upon them the day of evil, and destroy them with double destruction.\r\n Thus said the LORD unto me; Go and stand in the gate of the children of the people, whereby the kings of Judah come in, and by the which they go out, and in all the gates of Jerusalem;\r\n And say unto them, Hear ye the word of the LORD, ye kings of Judah, and all Judah, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, that enter in by these gates:\r\n Thus saith the LORD; Take heed to yourselves, and bear no burden on the sabbath day, nor bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem;\r\n Neither carry forth a burden out of your houses on the sabbath day, neither do ye any work, but hallow ye the sabbath day, as I commanded your fathers.\r\n But they obeyed not, neither inclined their ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not hear, nor receive instruction.\r\n And it shall come to pass, if ye diligently hearken unto me, saith the LORD, to bring in no burden through the gates of this city on the sabbath day, but hallow the sabbath day, to do no work therein;\r\n Then shall there enter into the gates of this city kings and princes sitting upon the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, they, and their princes, the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem: and this city shall remain for ever.\r\n And they shall come from the cities of Judah, and from the places about Jerusalem, and from the land of Benjamin, and from the plain, and from the mountains, and from the south, bringing burnt offerings, and sacrifices, and meat offerings, and incense, and bringing sacrifices of praise, unto the house of the LORD.\r\n But if ye will not hearken unto me to hallow the sabbath day, and not to bear a burden, even entering in at the gates of Jerusalem on the sabbath day; then will I kindle a fire in the gates thereof, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched.\r\n \r\n \r\n The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,\r\n Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words.\r\n Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels.\r\n And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.\r\n Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,\r\n O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.\r\n At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it;\r\n If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.\r\n And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it;\r\n If it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them.\r\n Now therefore go to, speak to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I frame evil against you, and devise a device against you: return ye now every one from his evil way, and make your ways and your doings good.\r\n And they said, There is no hope: but we will walk after our own devices, and we will every one do the imagination of his evil heart.\r\n Therefore thus saith the LORD; Ask ye now among the heathen, who hath heard such things: the virgin of Israel hath done a very horrible thing.\r\n Will a man leave the snow of Lebanon which cometh from the rock of the field? or shall the cold flowing waters that come from another place be forsaken?\r\n Because my people hath forgotten me, they have burned incense to vanity, and they have caused them to stumble in their ways from the ancient paths, to walk in paths, in a way not cast up;\r\n To make their land desolate, and a perpetual hissing; every one that passeth thereby shall be astonished, and wag his head.\r\n I will scatter them as with an east wind before the enemy; I will shew them the back, and not the face, in the day of their calamity.\r\n Then said they, Come, and let us devise devices against Jeremiah; for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, and let us smite him with the tongue, and let us not give heed to any of his words.\r\n Give heed to me, O LORD, and hearken to the voice of them that contend with me.\r\n Shall evil be recompensed for good? for they have digged a pit for my soul. Remember that I stood before thee to speak good for them, and to turn away thy wrath from them.\r\n Therefore deliver up their children to the famine, and pour out their blood by the force of the sword; and let their wives be bereaved of their children, and be widows; and let their men be put to death; let their young men be slain by the sword in battle.\r\n Let a cry be heard from their houses, when thou shalt bring a troop suddenly upon them: for they have digged a pit to take me, and hid snares for my feet.\r\n Yet, LORD, thou knowest all their counsel against me to slay me: forgive not their iniquity, neither blot out their sin from thy sight, but let them be overthrown before thee; deal thus with them in the time of thine anger.\r\n \r\n \r\n Thus saith the LORD, Go and get a potter's earthen bottle, and take of the ancients of the people, and of the ancients of the priests;\r\n And go forth unto the valley of the son of Hinnom, which is by the entry of the east gate, and proclaim there the words that I shall tell thee,\r\n And say, Hear ye the word of the LORD, O kings of Judah, and inhabitants of Jerusalem; Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, the which whosoever heareth, his ears shall tingle.\r\n Because they have forsaken me, and have estranged this place, and have burned incense in it unto other gods, whom neither they nor their fathers have known, nor the kings of Judah, and have filled this place with the blood of innocents;\r\n They have built also the high places of Baal, to burn their sons with fire for burnt offerings unto Baal, which I commanded not, nor spake it, neither came it into my mind:\r\n Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that this place shall no more be called Tophet, nor The valley of the son of Hinnom, but The valley of slaughter.\r\n And I will make void the counsel of Judah and Jerusalem in this place; and I will cause them to fall by the sword before their enemies, and by the hands of them that seek their lives: and their carcases will I give to be meat for the fowls of the heaven, and for the beasts of the earth.\r\n And I will make this city desolate, and an hissing; every one that passeth thereby shall be astonished and hiss because of all the plagues thereof.\r\n And I will cause them to eat the flesh of their sons and the flesh of their daughters, and they shall eat every one the flesh of his friend in the siege and straitness, wherewith their enemies, and they that seek their lives, shall straiten them.\r\n Then shalt thou break the bottle in the sight of the men that go with thee,\r\n And shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Even so will I break this people and this city, as one breaketh a potter's vessel, that cannot be made whole again: and they shall bury them in Tophet, till there be no place to bury.\r\n Thus will I do unto this place, saith the LORD, and to the inhabitants thereof, and even make this city as Tophet:\r\n And the houses of Jerusalem, and the houses of the kings of Judah, shall be defiled as the place of Tophet, because of all the houses upon whose roofs they have burned incense unto all the host of heaven, and have poured out drink offerings unto other gods.\r\n Then came Jeremiah from Tophet, whither the LORD had sent him to prophesy; and he stood in the court of the LORD'S house; and said to all the people,\r\n Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring upon this city and upon all her towns all the evil that I have pronounced against it, because they have hardened their necks, that they might not hear my words.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now Pashur the son of Immer the priest, who was also chief governor in the house of the LORD, heard that Jeremiah prophesied these things.\r\n Then Pashur smote Jeremiah the prophet, and put him in the stocks that were in the high gate of Benjamin, which was by the house of the LORD.\r\n And it came to pass on the morrow, that Pashur brought forth Jeremiah out of the stocks. Then said Jeremiah unto him, The LORD hath not called thy name Pashur, but Magormissabib.\r\n For thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will make thee a terror to thyself, and to all thy friends: and they shall fall by the sword of their enemies, and thine eyes shall behold it: and I will give all Judah into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall carry them captive into Babylon, and shall slay them with the sword.\r\n Moreover I will deliver all the strength of this city, and all the labours thereof, and all the precious things thereof, and all the treasures of the kings of Judah will I give into the hand of their enemies, which shall spoil them, and take them, and carry them to Babylon.\r\n And thou, Pashur, and all that dwell in thine house shall go into captivity: and thou shalt come to Babylon, and there thou shalt die, and shalt be buried there, thou, and all thy friends, to whom thou hast prophesied lies.\r\n O LORD, thou hast deceived me, and I was deceived: thou art stronger than I, and hast prevailed: I am in derision daily, every one mocketh me.\r\n For since I spake, I cried out, I cried violence and spoil; because the word of the LORD was made a reproach unto me, and a derision, daily.\r\n Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.\r\n For I heard the defaming of many, fear on every side. Report, say they, and we will report it. All my familiars watched for my halting, saying, Peradventure he will be enticed, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him.\r\n But the LORD is with me as a mighty terrible one: therefore my persecutors shall stumble, and they shall not prevail: they shall be greatly ashamed; for they shall not prosper: their everlasting confusion shall never be forgotten.\r\n But, O LORD of hosts, that triest the righteous, and seest the reins and the heart, let me see thy vengeance on them: for unto thee have I opened my cause.\r\n Sing unto the LORD, praise ye the LORD: for he hath delivered the soul of the poor from the hand of evildoers.\r\n Cursed be the day wherein I was born: let not the day wherein my mother bare me be blessed.\r\n Cursed be the man who brought tidings to my father, saying, A man child is born unto thee; making him very glad.\r\n And let that man be as the cities which the LORD overthrew, and repented not: and let him hear the cry in the morning, and the shouting at noontide;\r\n Because he slew me not from the womb; or that my mother might have been my grave, and her womb to be always great with me.\r\n Wherefore came I forth out of the womb to see labour and sorrow, that my days should be consumed with shame?\r\n \r\n \r\n The word which came unto Jeremiah from the LORD, when king Zedekiah sent unto him Pashur the son of Melchiah, and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah the priest, saying,\r\n Enquire, I pray thee, of the LORD for us; for Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon maketh war against us; if so be that the LORD will deal with us according to all his wondrous works, that he may go up from us.\r\n Then said Jeremiah unto them, Thus shall ye say to Zedekiah:\r\n Thus saith the LORD God of Israel; Behold, I will turn back the weapons of war that are in your hands, wherewith ye fight against the king of Babylon, and against the Chaldeans, which besiege you without the walls, and I will assemble them into the midst of this city.\r\n And I myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and with a strong arm, even in anger, and in fury, and in great wrath.\r\n And I will smite the inhabitants of this city, both man and beast: they shall die of a great pestilence.\r\n And afterward, saith the LORD, I will deliver Zedekiah king of Judah, and his servants, and the people, and such as are left in this city from the pestilence, from the sword, and from the famine, into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of those that seek their life: and he shall smite them with the edge of the sword; he shall not spare them, neither have pity, nor have mercy.\r\n And unto this people thou shalt say, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I set before you the way of life, and the way of death.\r\n He that abideth in this city shall die by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence: but he that goeth out, and falleth to the Chaldeans that besiege you, he shall live, and his life shall be unto him for a prey.\r\n For I have set my face against this city for evil, and not for good, saith the LORD: it shall be given into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall burn it with fire.\r\n And touching the house of the king of Judah, say, Hear ye the word of the LORD;\r\n O house of David, thus saith the LORD; Execute judgment in the morning, and deliver him that is spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor, lest my fury go out like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings.\r\n Behold, I am against thee, O inhabitant of the valley, and rock of the plain, saith the LORD; which say, Who shall come down against us? or who shall enter into our habitations?\r\n But I will punish you according to the fruit of your doings, saith the LORD: and I will kindle a fire in the forest thereof, and it shall devour all things round about it.\r\n \r\n \r\n Thus saith the LORD; Go down to the house of the king of Judah, and speak there this word,\r\n And say, Hear the word of the LORD, O king of Judah, that sittest upon the throne of David, thou, and thy servants, and thy people that enter in by these gates:\r\n Thus saith the LORD; Execute ye judgment and righteousness, and deliver the spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor: and do no wrong, do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, nor the widow, neither shed innocent blood in this place.\r\n For if ye do this thing indeed, then shall there enter in by the gates of this house kings sitting upon the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, he, and his servants, and his people.\r\n But if ye will not hear these words, I swear by myself, saith the LORD, that this house shall become a desolation.\r\n For thus saith the LORD unto the king's house of Judah; Thou art Gilead unto me, and the head of Lebanon: yet surely I will make thee a wilderness, and cities which are not inhabited.\r\n And I will prepare destroyers against thee, every one with his weapons: and they shall cut down thy choice cedars, and cast them into the fire.\r\n And many nations shall pass by this city, and they shall say every man to his neighbour, Wherefore hath the LORD done thus unto this great city?\r\n Then they shall answer, Because they have forsaken the covenant of the LORD their God, and worshipped other gods, and served them.\r\n Weep ye not for the dead, neither bemoan him: but weep sore for him that goeth away: for he shall return no more, nor see his native country.\r\n For thus saith the LORD touching Shallum the son of Josiah king of Judah, which reigned instead of Josiah his father, which went forth out of this place; He shall not return thither any more:\r\n But he shall die in the place whither they have led him captive, and shall see this land no more.\r\n Woe unto him that buildeth his house by unrighteousness, and his chambers by wrong; that useth his neighbour's service without wages, and giveth him not for his work;\r\n That saith, I will build me a wide house and large chambers, and cutteth him out windows; and it is cieled with cedar, and painted with vermilion.\r\n Shalt thou reign, because thou closest thyself in cedar? did not thy father eat and drink, and do judgment and justice, and then it was well with him?\r\n He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well with him: was not this to know me? saith the LORD.\r\n But thine eyes and thine heart are not but for thy covetousness, and for to shed innocent blood, and for oppression, and for violence, to do it.\r\n Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah; They shall not lament for him, saying, Ah my brother! or, Ah sister! they shall not lament for him, saying, Ah lord! or, Ah his glory!\r\n He shall be buried with the burial of an ass, drawn and cast forth beyond the gates of Jerusalem.\r\n Go up to Lebanon, and cry; and lift up thy voice in Bashan, and cry from the passages: for all thy lovers are destroyed.\r\n I spake unto thee in thy prosperity; but thou saidst, I will not hear. This hath been thy manner from thy youth, that thou obeyedst not my voice.\r\n The wind shall eat up all thy pastors, and thy lovers shall go into captivity: surely then shalt thou be ashamed and confounded for all thy wickedness.\r\n O inhabitant of Lebanon, that makest thy nest in the cedars, how gracious shalt thou be when pangs come upon thee, the pain as of a woman in travail!\r\n As I live, saith the LORD, though Coniah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah were the signet upon my right hand, yet would I pluck thee thence;\r\n And I will give thee into the hand of them that seek thy life, and into the hand of them whose face thou fearest, even into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of the Chaldeans.\r\n And I will cast thee out, and thy mother that bare thee, into another country, where ye were not born; and there shall ye die.\r\n But to the land whereunto they desire to return, thither shall they not return.\r\n Is this man Coniah a despised broken idol? is he a vessel wherein is no pleasure? wherefore are they cast out, he and his seed, and are cast into a land which they know not?\r\n O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the LORD.\r\n Thus saith the LORD, Write ye this man childless, a man that shall not prosper in his days: for no man of his seed shall prosper, sitting upon the throne of David, and ruling any more in Judah.\r\n \r\n \r\n Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD.\r\n Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the LORD.\r\n And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase.\r\n And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the LORD.\r\n Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.\r\n In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.\r\n Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that they shall no more say, The LORD liveth, which brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt;\r\n But, The LORD liveth, which brought up and which led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all countries whither I had driven them; and they shall dwell in their own land.\r\n Mine heart within me is broken because of the prophets; all my bones shake; I am like a drunken man, and like a man whom wine hath overcome, because of the LORD, and because of the words of his holiness.\r\n For the land is full of adulterers; for because of swearing the land mourneth; the pleasant places of the wilderness are dried up, and their course is evil, and their force is not right.\r\n For both prophet and priest are profane; yea, in my house have I found their wickedness, saith the LORD.\r\n Wherefore their way shall be unto them as slippery ways in the darkness: they shall be driven on, and fall therein: for I will bring evil upon them, even the year of their visitation, saith the LORD.\r\n And I have seen folly in the prophets of Samaria; they prophesied in Baal, and caused my people Israel to err.\r\n I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies: they strengthen also the hands of evildoers, that none doth return from his wickedness: they are all of them unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah.\r\n Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts concerning the prophets; Behold, I will feed them with wormwood, and make them drink the water of gall: for from the prophets of Jerusalem is profaneness gone forth into all the land.\r\n Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD.\r\n They say still unto them that despise me, The LORD hath said, Ye shall have peace; and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you.\r\n For who hath stood in the counsel of the LORD, and hath perceived and heard his word? who hath marked his word, and heard it?\r\n Behold, a whirlwind of the LORD is gone forth in fury, even a grievous whirlwind: it shall fall grievously upon the head of the wicked.\r\n The anger of the LORD shall not return, until he have executed, and till he have performed the thoughts of his heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it perfectly.\r\n I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied.\r\n But if they had stood in my counsel, and had caused my people to hear my words, then they should have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings.\r\n Am I a God at hand, saith the LORD, and not a God afar off?\r\n Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD.\r\n I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed.\r\n How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart;\r\n Which think to cause my people to forget my name by their dreams which they tell every man to his neighbour, as their fathers have forgotten my name for Baal.\r\n The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? saith the LORD.\r\n Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?\r\n Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that steal my words every one from his neighbour.\r\n Behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that use their tongues, and say, He saith.\r\n Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the LORD, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the LORD.\r\n And when this people, or the prophet, or a priest, shall ask thee, saying, What is the burden of the LORD? thou shalt then say unto them, What burden? I will even forsake you, saith the LORD.\r\n And as for the prophet, and the priest, and the people, that shall say, The burden of the LORD, I will even punish that man and his house.\r\n Thus shall ye say every one to his neighbour, and every one to his brother, What hath the LORD answered? and, What hath the LORD spoken?\r\n And the burden of the LORD shall ye mention no more: for every man's word shall be his burden; for ye have perverted the words of the living God, of the LORD of hosts our God.\r\n Thus shalt thou say to the prophet, What hath the LORD answered thee? and, What hath the LORD spoken?\r\n But since ye say, The burden of the LORD; therefore thus saith the LORD; Because ye say this word, The burden of the LORD, and I have sent unto you, saying, Ye shall not say, The burden of the LORD;\r\n Therefore, behold, I, even I, will utterly forget you, and I will forsake you, and the city that I gave you and your fathers, and cast you out of my presence:\r\n And I will bring an everlasting reproach upon you, and a perpetual shame, which shall not be forgotten.\r\n \r\n \r\n The LORD shewed me, and, behold, two baskets of figs were set before the temple of the LORD, after that Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon had carried away captive Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, and the princes of Judah, with the carpenters and smiths, from Jerusalem, and had brought them to Babylon.\r\n One basket had very good figs, even like the figs that are first ripe: and the other basket had very naughty figs, which could not be eaten, they were so bad.\r\n Then said the LORD unto me, What seest thou, Jeremiah? And I said, Figs; the good figs, very good; and the evil, very evil, that cannot be eaten, they are so evil.\r\n Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,\r\n Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel; Like these good figs, so will I acknowledge them that are carried away captive of Judah, whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans for their good.\r\n For I will set mine eyes upon them for good, and I will bring them again to this land: and I will build them, and not pull them down; and I will plant them, and not pluck them up.\r\n And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the LORD: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart.\r\n And as the evil figs, which cannot be eaten, they are so evil; surely thus saith the LORD, So will I give Zedekiah the king of Judah, and his princes, and the residue of Jerusalem, that remain in this land, and them that dwell in the land of Egypt:\r\n And I will deliver them to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth for their hurt, to be a reproach and a proverb, a taunt and a curse, in all places whither I shall drive them.\r\n And I will send the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, among them, till they be consumed from off the land that I gave unto them and to their fathers.\r\n \r\n \r\n The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, that was the first year of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon;\r\n The which Jeremiah the prophet spake unto all the people of Judah, and to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying,\r\n From the thirteenth year of Josiah the son of Amon king of Judah, even unto this day, that is the three and twentieth year, the word of the LORD hath come unto me, and I have spoken unto you, rising early and speaking; but ye have not hearkened.\r\n And the LORD hath sent unto you all his servants the prophets, rising early and sending them; but ye have not hearkened, nor inclined your ear to hear.\r\n They said, Turn ye again now every one from his evil way, and from the evil of your doings, and dwell in the land that the LORD hath given unto you and to your fathers for ever and ever:\r\n And go not after other gods to serve them, and to worship them, and provoke me not to anger with the works of your hands; and I will do you no hurt.\r\n Yet ye have not hearkened unto me, saith the LORD; that ye might provoke me to anger with the works of your hands to your own hurt.\r\n Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Because ye have not heard my words,\r\n Behold, I will send and take all the families of the north, saith the LORD, and Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will bring them against this land, and against the inhabitants thereof, and against all these nations round about, and will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, and an hissing, and perpetual desolations.\r\n Moreover I will take from them the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the sound of the millstones, and the light of the candle.\r\n And this whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.\r\n And it shall come to pass, when seventy years are accomplished, that I will punish the king of Babylon, and that nation, saith the LORD, for their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans, and will make it perpetual desolations.\r\n And I will bring upon that land all my words which I have pronounced against it, even all that is written in this book, which Jeremiah hath prophesied against all the nations.\r\n For many nations and great kings shall serve themselves of them also: and I will recompense them according to their deeds, and according to the works of their own hands.\r\n For thus saith the LORD God of Israel unto me; Take the wine cup of this fury at my hand, and cause all the nations, to whom I send thee, to drink it.\r\n And they shall drink, and be moved, and be mad, because of the sword that I will send among them.\r\n Then took I the cup at the LORD'S hand, and made all the nations to drink, unto whom the LORD had sent me:\r\n To wit, Jerusalem, and the cities of Judah, and the kings thereof, and the princes thereof, to make them a desolation, an astonishment, an hissing, and a curse; as it is this day;\r\n Pharaoh king of Egypt, and his servants, and his princes, and all his people;\r\n And all the mingled people, and all the kings of the land of Uz, and all the kings of the land of the Philistines, and Ashkelon, and Azzah, and Ekron, and the remnant of Ashdod,\r\n Edom, and Moab, and the children of Ammon,\r\n And all the kings of Tyrus, and all the kings of Zidon, and the kings of the isles which are beyond the sea,\r\n Dedan, and Tema, and Buz, and all that are in the utmost corners,\r\n And all the kings of Arabia, and all the kings of the mingled people that dwell in the desert,\r\n And all the kings of Zimri, and all the kings of Elam, and all the kings of the Medes,\r\n And all the kings of the north, far and near, one with another, and all the kingdoms of the world, which are upon the face of the earth: and the king of Sheshach shall drink after them.\r\n Therefore thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Drink ye, and be drunken, and spue, and fall, and rise no more, because of the sword which I will send among you.\r\n And it shall be, if they refuse to take the cup at thine hand to drink, then shalt thou say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Ye shall certainly drink.\r\n For, lo, I begin to bring evil on the city which is called by my name, and should ye be utterly unpunished? Ye shall not be unpunished: for I will call for a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth, saith the LORD of hosts.\r\n Therefore prophesy thou against them all these words, and say unto them, The LORD shall roar from on high, and utter his voice from his holy habitation; he shall mightily roar upon his habitation; he shall give a shout, as they that tread the grapes, against all the inhabitants of the earth.\r\n A noise shall come even to the ends of the earth; for the LORD hath a controversy with the nations, he will plead with all flesh; he will give them that are wicked to the sword, saith the LORD.\r\n Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Behold, evil shall go forth from nation to nation, and a great whirlwind shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth.\r\n And the slain of the LORD shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth: they shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried; they shall be dung upon the ground.\r\n Howl, ye shepherds, and cry; and wallow yourselves in the ashes, ye principal of the flock: for the days of your slaughter and of your dispersions are accomplished; and ye shall fall like a pleasant vessel.\r\n And the shepherds shall have no way to flee, nor the principal of the flock to escape.\r\n A voice of the cry of the shepherds, and an howling of the principal of the flock, shall be heard: for the LORD hath spoiled their pasture.\r\n And the peaceable habitations are cut down because of the fierce anger of the LORD.\r\n He hath forsaken his covert, as the lion: for their land is desolate because of the fierceness of the oppressor, and because of his fierce anger.\r\n \r\n \r\n In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah came this word from the LORD, saying,\r\n Thus saith the LORD; Stand in the court of the LORD'S house, and speak unto all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the LORD'S house, all the words that I command thee to speak unto them; diminish not a word:\r\n If so be they will hearken, and turn every man from his evil way, that I may repent me of the evil, which I purpose to do unto them because of the evil of their doings.\r\n And thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD; If ye will not hearken to me, to walk in my law, which I have set before you,\r\n To hearken to the words of my servants the prophets, whom I sent unto you, both rising up early, and sending them, but ye have not hearkened;\r\n Then will I make this house like Shiloh, and will make this city a curse to all the nations of the earth.\r\n So the priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the LORD.\r\n Now it came to pass, when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking all that the LORD had commanded him to speak unto all the people, that the priests and the prophets and all the people took him, saying, Thou shalt surely die.\r\n Why hast thou prophesied in the name of the LORD, saying, This house shall be like Shiloh, and this city shall be desolate without an inhabitant? And all the people were gathered against Jeremiah in the house of the LORD.\r\n When the princes of Judah heard these things, then they came up from the king's house unto the house of the LORD, and sat down in the entry of the new gate of the LORD'S house.\r\n Then spake the priests and the prophets unto the princes and to all the people, saying, This man is worthy to die; for he hath prophesied against this city, as ye have heard with your ears.\r\n Then spake Jeremiah unto all the princes and to all the people, saying, The LORD sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city all the words that ye have heard.\r\n Therefore now amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of the LORD your God; and the LORD will repent him of the evil that he hath pronounced against you.\r\n As for me, behold, I am in your hand: do with me as seemeth good and meet unto you.\r\n But know ye for certain, that if ye put me to death, ye shall surely bring innocent blood upon yourselves, and upon this city, and upon the inhabitants thereof: for of a truth the LORD hath sent me unto you to speak all these words in your ears.\r\n Then said the princes and all the people unto the priests and to the prophets; This man is not worthy to die: for he hath spoken to us in the name of the LORD our God.\r\n Then rose up certain of the elders of the land, and spake to all the assembly of the people, saying,\r\n Micah the Morasthite prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and spake to all the people of Judah, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Zion shall be plowed like a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of a forest.\r\n Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah put him at all to death? did he not fear the LORD, and besought the LORD, and the LORD repented him of the evil which he had pronounced against them? Thus might we procure great evil against our souls.\r\n And there was also a man that prophesied in the name of the LORD, Urijah the son of Shemaiah of Kirjathjearim, who prophesied against this city and against this land according to all the words of Jeremiah:\r\n And when Jehoiakim the king, with all his mighty men, and all the princes, heard his words, the king sought to put him to death: but when Urijah heard it, he was afraid, and fled, and went into Egypt;\r\n And Jehoiakim the king sent men into Egypt, namely, Elnathan the son of Achbor, and certain men with him into Egypt.\r\n And they fetched forth Urijah out of Egypt, and brought him unto Jehoiakim the king; who slew him with the sword, and cast his dead body into the graves of the common people.\r\n Nevertheless the hand of Ahikam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah, that they should not give him into the hand of the people to put him to death.\r\n \r\n \r\n In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah came this word unto Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,\r\n Thus saith the LORD to me; Make thee bonds and yokes, and put them upon thy neck,\r\n And send them to the king of Edom, and to the king of Moab, and to the king of the Ammonites, and to the king of Tyrus, and to the king of Zidon, by the hand of the messengers which come to Jerusalem unto Zedekiah king of Judah;\r\n And command them to say unto their masters, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Thus shall ye say unto your masters;\r\n I have made the earth, the man and the beast that are upon the ground, by my great power and by my outstretched arm, and have given it unto whom it seemed meet unto me.\r\n And now have I given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant; and the beasts of the field have I given him also to serve him.\r\n And all nations shall serve him, and his son, and his son's son, until the very time of his land come: and then many nations and great kings shall serve themselves of him.\r\n And it shall come to pass, that the nation and kingdom which will not serve the same Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, and that will not put their neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, that nation will I punish, saith the LORD, with the sword, and with the famine, and with the pestilence, until I have consumed them by his hand.\r\n Therefore hearken not ye to your prophets, nor to your diviners, nor to your dreamers, nor to your enchanters, nor to your sorcerers, which speak unto you, saying, Ye shall not serve the king of Babylon:\r\n For they prophesy a lie unto you, to remove you far from your land; and that I should drive you out, and ye should perish.\r\n But the nations that bring their neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him, those will I let remain still in their own land, saith the LORD; and they shall till it, and dwell therein.\r\n I spake also to Zedekiah king of Judah according to all these words, saying, Bring your necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him and his people, and live.\r\n Why will ye die, thou and thy people, by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence, as the LORD hath spoken against the nation that will not serve the king of Babylon?\r\n Therefore hearken not unto the words of the prophets that speak unto you, saying, Ye shall not serve the king of Babylon: for they prophesy a lie unto you.\r\n For I have not sent them, saith the LORD, yet they prophesy a lie in my name; that I might drive you out, and that ye might perish, ye, and the prophets that prophesy unto you.\r\n Also I spake to the priests and to all this people, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Hearken not to the words of your prophets that prophesy unto you, saying, Behold, the vessels of the LORD'S house shall now shortly be brought again from Babylon: for they prophesy a lie unto you.\r\n Hearken not unto them; serve the king of Babylon, and live: wherefore should this city be laid waste?\r\n But if they be prophets, and if the word of the LORD be with them, let them now make intercession to the LORD of hosts, that the vessels which are left in the house of the LORD, and in the house of the king of Judah, and at Jerusalem, go not to Babylon.\r\n For thus saith the LORD of hosts concerning the pillars, and concerning the sea, and concerning the bases, and concerning the residue of the vessels that remain in this city,\r\n Which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took not, when he carried away captive Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah from Jerusalem to Babylon, and all the nobles of Judah and Jerusalem;\r\n Yea, thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, concerning the vessels that remain in the house of the LORD, and in the house of the king of Judah and of Jerusalem;\r\n They shall be carried to Babylon, and there shall they be until the day that I visit them, saith the LORD; then will I bring them up, and restore them to this place.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass the same year, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fourth year, and in the fifth month, that Hananiah the son of Azur the prophet, which was of Gibeon, spake unto me in the house of the LORD, in the presence of the priests and of all the people, saying,\r\n Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying, I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon.\r\n Within two full years will I bring again into this place all the vessels of the LORD'S house, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took away from this place, and carried them to Babylon:\r\n And I will bring again to this place Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, with all the captives of Judah, that went into Babylon, saith the LORD: for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.\r\n Then the prophet Jeremiah said unto the prophet Hananiah in the presence of the priests, and in the presence of all the people that stood in the house of the LORD,\r\n Even the prophet Jeremiah said, Amen: the LORD do so: the LORD perform thy words which thou hast prophesied, to bring again the vessels of the LORD'S house, and all that is carried away captive, from Babylon into this place.\r\n Nevertheless hear thou now this word that I speak in thine ears, and in the ears of all the people;\r\n The prophets that have been before me and before thee of old prophesied both against many countries, and against great kingdoms, of war, and of evil, and of pestilence.\r\n The prophet which prophesieth of peace, when the word of the prophet shall come to pass, then shall the prophet be known, that the LORD hath truly sent him.\r\n Then Hananiah the prophet took the yoke from off the prophet Jeremiah's neck, and brake it.\r\n And Hananiah spake in the presence of all the people, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Even so will I break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon from the neck of all nations within the space of two full years. And the prophet Jeremiah went his way.\r\n Then the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah the prophet, after that Hananiah the prophet had broken the yoke from off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah, saying,\r\n Go and tell Hananiah, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Thou hast broken the yokes of wood; but thou shalt make for them yokes of iron.\r\n For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; I have put a yoke of iron upon the neck of all these nations, that they may serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and they shall serve him: and I have given him the beasts of the field also.\r\n Then said the prophet Jeremiah unto Hananiah the prophet, Hear now, Hananiah; The LORD hath not sent thee; but thou makest this people to trust in a lie.\r\n Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will cast thee from off the face of the earth: this year thou shalt die, because thou hast taught rebellion against the LORD.\r\n So Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the seventh month.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now these are the words of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem unto the residue of the elders which were carried away captives, and to the priests, and to the prophets, and to all the people whom Nebuchadnezzar had carried away captive from Jerusalem to Babylon;\r\n After that Jeconiah the king, and the queen, and the eunuchs, the princes of Judah and Jerusalem, and the carpenters, and the smiths, were departed from Jerusalem;)\r\n By the hand of Elasah the son of Shaphan, and Gemariah the son of Hilkiah, (whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent unto Babylon to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon) saying,\r\n Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, unto all that are carried away captives, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem unto Babylon;\r\n Build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them;\r\n Take ye wives, and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; that ye may be increased there, and not diminished.\r\n And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the LORD for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace.\r\n For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Let not your prophets and your diviners, that be in the midst of you, deceive you, neither hearken to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed.\r\n For they prophesy falsely unto you in my name: I have not sent them, saith the LORD.\r\n For thus saith the LORD, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place.\r\n For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.\r\n Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.\r\n And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.\r\n And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.\r\n Because ye have said, The LORD hath raised us up prophets in Babylon;\r\n Know that thus saith the LORD of the king that sitteth upon the throne of David, and of all the people that dwelleth in this city, and of your brethren that are not gone forth with you into captivity;\r\n Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will send upon them the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, and will make them like vile figs, that cannot be eaten, they are so evil.\r\n And I will persecute them with the sword, with the famine, and with the pestilence, and will deliver them to be removed to all the kingdoms of the earth, to be a curse, and an astonishment, and an hissing, and a reproach, among all the nations whither I have driven them:\r\n Because they have not hearkened to my words, saith the LORD, which I sent unto them by my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them; but ye would not hear, saith the LORD.\r\n Hear ye therefore the word of the LORD, all ye of the captivity, whom I have sent from Jerusalem to Babylon:\r\n Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, of Ahab the son of Kolaiah, and of Zedekiah the son of Maaseiah, which prophesy a lie unto you in my name; Behold, I will deliver them into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon; and he shall slay them before your eyes;\r\n And of them shall be taken up a curse by all the captivity of Judah which are in Babylon, saying, The LORD make thee like Zedekiah and like Ahab, whom the king of Babylon roasted in the fire;\r\n Because they have committed villany in Israel, and have committed adultery with their neighbours' wives, and have spoken lying words in my name, which I have not commanded them; even I know, and am a witness, saith the LORD.\r\n Thus shalt thou also speak to Shemaiah the Nehelamite, saying,\r\n Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying, Because thou hast sent letters in thy name unto all the people that are at Jerusalem, and to Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah the priest, and to all the priests, saying,\r\n The LORD hath made thee priest in the stead of Jehoiada the priest, that ye should be officers in the house of the LORD, for every man that is mad, and maketh himself a prophet, that thou shouldest put him in prison, and in the stocks.\r\n Now therefore why hast thou not reproved Jeremiah of Anathoth, which maketh himself a prophet to you?\r\n For therefore he sent unto us in Babylon, saying, This captivity is long: build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them.\r\n And Zephaniah the priest read this letter in the ears of Jeremiah the prophet.\r\n Then came the word of the LORD unto Jeremiah, saying,\r\n Send to all them of the captivity, saying, Thus saith the LORD concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite; Because that Shemaiah hath prophesied unto you, and I sent him not, and he caused you to trust in a lie:\r\n Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite, and his seed: he shall not have a man to dwell among this people; neither shall he behold the good that I will do for my people, saith the LORD; because he hath taught rebellion against the LORD.\r\n \r\n \r\n The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,\r\n Thus speaketh the LORD God of Israel, saying, Write thee all the words that I have spoken unto thee in a book.\r\n For, lo, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will bring again the captivity of my people Israel and Judah, saith the LORD: and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.\r\n And these are the words that the LORD spake concerning Israel and concerning Judah.\r\n For thus saith the LORD; We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace.\r\n Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness?\r\n Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.\r\n For it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him:\r\n But they shall serve the LORD their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them.\r\n Therefore fear thou not, O my servant Jacob, saith the LORD; neither be dismayed, O Israel: for, lo, I will save thee from afar, and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and shall be in rest, and be quiet, and none shall make him afraid.\r\n For I am with thee, saith the LORD, to save thee: though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee, yet will I not make a full end of thee: but I will correct thee in measure, and will not leave thee altogether unpunished.\r\n For thus saith the LORD, Thy bruise is incurable, and thy wound is grievous.\r\n There is none to plead thy cause, that thou mayest be bound up: thou hast no healing medicines.\r\n All thy lovers have forgotten thee; they seek thee not; for I have wounded thee with the wound of an enemy, with the chastisement of a cruel one, for the multitude of thine iniquity; because thy sins were increased.\r\n Why criest thou for thine affliction? thy sorrow is incurable for the multitude of thine iniquity: because thy sins were increased, I have done these things unto thee.\r\n Therefore all they that devour thee shall be devoured; and all thine adversaries, every one of them, shall go into captivity; and they that spoil thee shall be a spoil, and all that prey upon thee will I give for a prey.\r\n For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the LORD; because they called thee an Outcast, saying, This is Zion, whom no man seeketh after.\r\n Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will bring again the captivity of Jacob's tents, and have mercy on his dwellingplaces; and the city shall be builded upon her own heap, and the palace shall remain after the manner thereof.\r\n And out of them shall proceed thanksgiving and the voice of them that make merry: and I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small.\r\n Their children also shall be as aforetime, and their congregation shall be established before me, and I will punish all that oppress them.\r\n And their nobles shall be of themselves, and their governor shall proceed from the midst of them; and I will cause him to draw near, and he shall approach unto me: for who is this that engaged his heart to approach unto me? saith the LORD.\r\n And ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.\r\n Behold, the whirlwind of the LORD goeth forth with fury, a continuing whirlwind: it shall fall with pain upon the head of the wicked.\r\n The fierce anger of the LORD shall not return, until he have done it, and until he have performed the intents of his heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it.\r\n \r\n \r\n At the same time, saith the LORD, will I be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people.\r\n Thus saith the LORD, The people which were left of the sword found grace in the wilderness; even Israel, when I went to cause him to rest.\r\n The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.\r\n Again I will build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of Israel: thou shalt again be adorned with thy tabrets, and shalt go forth in the dances of them that make merry.\r\n Thou shalt yet plant vines upon the mountains of Samaria: the planters shall plant, and shall eat them as common things.\r\n For there shall be a day, that the watchmen upon the mount Ephraim shall cry, Arise ye, and let us go up to Zion unto the LORD our God.\r\n For thus saith the LORD; Sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout among the chief of the nations: publish ye, praise ye, and say, O LORD, save thy people, the remnant of Israel.\r\n Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the coasts of the earth, and with them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and her that travaileth with child together: a great company shall return thither.\r\n They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn.\r\n Hear the word of the LORD, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock.\r\n For the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him from the hand of him that was stronger than he.\r\n Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow together to the goodness of the LORD, for wheat, and for wine, and for oil, and for the young of the flock and of the herd: and their soul shall be as a watered garden; and they shall not sorrow any more at all.\r\n Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, both young men and old together: for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow.\r\n And I will satiate the soul of the priests with fatness, and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness, saith the LORD.\r\n Thus saith the LORD; A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rahel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not.\r\n Thus saith the LORD; Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears: for thy work shall be rewarded, saith the LORD; and they shall come again from the land of the enemy.\r\n And there is hope in thine end, saith the LORD, that thy children shall come again to their own border.\r\n I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the LORD my God.\r\n Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after that I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh: I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth.\r\n Is Ephraim my dear son? is he a pleasant child? for since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my bowels are troubled for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the LORD.\r\n Set thee up waymarks, make thee high heaps: set thine heart toward the highway, even the way which thou wentest: turn again, O virgin of Israel, turn again to these thy cities.\r\n How long wilt thou go about, O thou backsliding daughter? for the LORD hath created a new thing in the earth, A woman shall compass a man.\r\n Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; As yet they shall use this speech in the land of Judah and in the cities thereof, when I shall bring again their captivity; The LORD bless thee, O habitation of justice, and mountain of holiness.\r\n And there shall dwell in Judah itself, and in all the cities thereof together, husbandmen, and they that go forth with flocks.\r\n For I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul.\r\n Upon this I awaked, and beheld; and my sleep was sweet unto me.\r\n Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man, and with the seed of beast.\r\n And it shall come to pass, that like as I have watched over them, to pluck up, and to break down, and to throw down, and to destroy, and to afflict; so will I watch over them, to build, and to plant, saith the LORD.\r\n In those days they shall say no more, The fathers have eaten a sour grape, and the children's teeth are set on edge.\r\n But every one shall die for his own iniquity: every man that eateth the sour grape, his teeth shall be set on edge.\r\n Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:\r\n Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:\r\n But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.\r\n And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.\r\n Thus saith the LORD, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; The LORD of hosts is his name:\r\n If those ordinances depart from before me, saith the LORD, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me for ever.\r\n Thus saith the LORD; If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, saith the LORD.\r\n Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that the city shall be built to the LORD from the tower of Hananeel unto the gate of the corner.\r\n And the measuring line shall yet go forth over against it upon the hill Gareb, and shall compass about to Goath.\r\n And the whole valley of the dead bodies, and of the ashes, and all the fields unto the brook of Kidron, unto the corner of the horse gate toward the east, shall be holy unto the LORD; it shall not be plucked up, nor thrown down any more for ever.\r\n \r\n \r\n The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD in the tenth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, which was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadrezzar.\r\n For then the king of Babylon's army besieged Jerusalem: and Jeremiah the prophet was shut up in the court of the prison, which was in the king of Judah's house.\r\n For Zedekiah king of Judah had shut him up, saying, Wherefore dost thou prophesy, and say, Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will give this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall take it;\r\n And Zedekiah king of Judah shall not escape out of the hand of the Chaldeans, but shall surely be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon, and shall speak with him mouth to mouth, and his eyes shall behold his eyes;\r\n And he shall lead Zedekiah to Babylon, and there shall he be until I visit him, saith the LORD: though ye fight with the Chaldeans, ye shall not prosper.\r\n And Jeremiah said, The word of the LORD came unto me, saying,\r\n Behold, Hanameel the son of Shallum thine uncle shall come unto thee, saying, Buy thee my field that is in Anathoth: for the right of redemption is thine to buy it.\r\n So Hanameel mine uncle's son came to me in the court of the prison according to the word of the LORD, and said unto me, Buy my field, I pray thee, that is in Anathoth, which is in the country of Benjamin: for the right of inheritance is thine, and the redemption is thine; buy it for thyself. Then I knew that this was the word of the LORD.\r\n And I bought the field of Hanameel my uncle's son, that was in Anathoth, and weighed him the money, even seventeen shekels of silver.\r\n And I subscribed the evidence, and sealed it, and took witnesses, and weighed him the money in the balances.\r\n So I took the evidence of the purchase, both that which was sealed according to the law and custom, and that which was open:\r\n And I gave the evidence of the purchase unto Baruch the son of Neriah, the son of Maaseiah, in the sight of Hanameel mine uncle's son, and in the presence of the witnesses that subscribed the book of the purchase, before all the Jews that sat in the court of the prison.\r\n And I charged Baruch before them, saying,\r\n Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Take these evidences, this evidence of the purchase, both which is sealed, and this evidence which is open; and put them in an earthen vessel, that they may continue many days.\r\n For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Houses and fields and vineyards shall be possessed again in this land.\r\n Now when I had delivered the evidence of the purchase unto Baruch the son of Neriah, I prayed unto the LORD, saying,\r\n Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:\r\n Thou shewest lovingkindness unto thousands, and recompensest the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them: the Great, the Mighty God, the LORD of hosts, is his name,\r\n Great in counsel, and mighty in work: for thine eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men: to give every one according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings:\r\n Which hast set signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, even unto this day, and in Israel, and among other men; and hast made thee a name, as at this day;\r\n And hast brought forth thy people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs, and with wonders, and with a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with great terror;\r\n And hast given them this land, which thou didst swear to their fathers to give them, a land flowing with milk and honey;\r\n And they came in, and possessed it; but they obeyed not thy voice, neither walked in thy law; they have done nothing of all that thou commandedst them to do: therefore thou hast caused all this evil to come upon them:\r\n Behold the mounts, they are come unto the city to take it; and the city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans, that fight against it, because of the sword, and of the famine, and of the pestilence: and what thou hast spoken is come to pass; and, behold, thou seest it.\r\n And thou hast said unto me, O Lord GOD, Buy thee the field for money, and take witnesses; for the city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans.\r\n Then came the word of the LORD unto Jeremiah, saying,\r\n Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?\r\n Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will give this city into the hand of the Chaldeans, and into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and he shall take it:\r\n And the Chaldeans, that fight against this city, shall come and set fire on this city, and burn it with the houses, upon whose roofs they have offered incense unto Baal, and poured out drink offerings unto other gods, to provoke me to anger.\r\n For the children of Israel and the children of Judah have only done evil before me from their youth: for the children of Israel have only provoked me to anger with the work of their hands, saith the LORD.\r\n For this city hath been to me as a provocation of mine anger and of my fury from the day that they built it even unto this day; that I should remove it from before my face,\r\n Because of all the evil of the children of Israel and of the children of Judah, which they have done to provoke me to anger, they, their kings, their princes, their priests, and their prophets, and the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.\r\n And they have turned unto me the back, and not the face: though I taught them, rising up early and teaching them, yet they have not hearkened to receive instruction.\r\n But they set their abominations in the house, which is called by my name, to defile it.\r\n And they built the high places of Baal, which are in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to cause their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire unto Molech; which I commanded them not, neither came it into my mind, that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin.\r\n And now therefore thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning this city, whereof ye say, It shall be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence;\r\n Behold, I will gather them out of all countries, whither I have driven them in mine anger, and in my fury, and in great wrath; and I will bring them again unto this place, and I will cause them to dwell safely:\r\n And they shall be my people, and I will be their God:\r\n And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children after them:\r\n And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me.\r\n Yea, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will plant them in this land assuredly with my whole heart and with my whole soul.\r\n For thus saith the LORD; Like as I have brought all this great evil upon this people, so will I bring upon them all the good that I have promised them.\r\n And fields shall be bought in this land, whereof ye say, It is desolate without man or beast; it is given into the hand of the Chaldeans.\r\n Men shall buy fields for money, and subscribe evidences, and seal them, and take witnesses in the land of Benjamin, and in the places about Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, and in the cities of the mountains, and in the cities of the valley, and in the cities of the south: for I will cause their captivity to return, saith the LORD.\r\n \r\n \r\n Moreover the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah the second time, while he was yet shut up in the court of the prison, saying,\r\n Thus saith the LORD the maker thereof, the LORD that formed it, to establish it; the LORD is his name;\r\n Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.\r\n For thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning the houses of this city, and concerning the houses of the kings of Judah, which are thrown down by the mounts, and by the sword;\r\n They come to fight with the Chaldeans, but it is to fill them with the dead bodies of men, whom I have slain in mine anger and in my fury, and for all whose wickedness I have hid my face from this city.\r\n Behold, I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them, and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth.\r\n And I will cause the captivity of Judah and the captivity of Israel to return, and will build them, as at the first.\r\n And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against me; and I will pardon all their iniquities, whereby they have sinned, and whereby they have transgressed against me.\r\n And it shall be to me a name of joy, a praise and an honour before all the nations of the earth, which shall hear all the good that I do unto them: and they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and for all the prosperity that I procure unto it.\r\n Thus saith the LORD; Again there shall be heard in this place, which ye say shall be desolate without man and without beast, even in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, that are desolate, without man, and without inhabitant, and without beast,\r\n The voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the voice of them that shall say, Praise the LORD of hosts: for the LORD is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: and of them that shall bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the LORD. For I will cause to return the captivity of the land, as at the first, saith the LORD.\r\n Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Again in this place, which is desolate without man and without beast, and in all the cities thereof, shall be an habitation of shepherds causing their flocks to lie down.\r\n In the cities of the mountains, in the cities of the vale, and in the cities of the south, and in the land of Benjamin, and in the places about Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, shall the flocks pass again under the hands of him that telleth them, saith the LORD.\r\n Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will perform that good thing which I have promised unto the house of Israel and to the house of Judah.\r\n In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land.\r\n In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, The LORD our righteousness.\r\n For thus saith the LORD; David shall never want a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel;\r\n Neither shall the priests the Levites want a man before me to offer burnt offerings, and to kindle meat offerings, and to do sacrifice continually.\r\n And the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah, saying,\r\n Thus saith the LORD; If ye can break my covenant of the day, and my covenant of the night, and that there should not be day and night in their season;\r\n Then may also my covenant be broken with David my servant, that he should not have a son to reign upon his throne; and with the Levites the priests, my ministers.\r\n As the host of heaven cannot be numbered, neither the sand of the sea measured: so will I multiply the seed of David my servant, and the Levites that minister unto me.\r\n Moreover the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, saying,\r\n Considerest thou not what this people have spoken, saying, The two families which the LORD hath chosen, he hath even cast them off? thus they have despised my people, that they should be no more a nation before them.\r\n Thus saith the LORD; If my covenant be not with day and night, and if I have not appointed the ordinances of heaven and earth;\r\n Then will I cast away the seed of Jacob, and David my servant, so that I will not take any of his seed to be rulers over the seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: for I will cause their captivity to return, and have mercy on them.\r\n \r\n \r\n The word which came unto Jeremiah from the LORD, when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and all his army, and all the kingdoms of the earth of his dominion, and all the people, fought against Jerusalem, and against all the cities thereof, saying,\r\n Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel; Go and speak to Zedekiah king of Judah, and tell him, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will give this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall burn it with fire:\r\n And thou shalt not escape out of his hand, but shalt surely be taken, and delivered into his hand; and thine eyes shall behold the eyes of the king of Babylon, and he shall speak with thee mouth to mouth, and thou shalt go to Babylon.\r\n Yet hear the word of the LORD, O Zedekiah king of Judah; Thus saith the LORD of thee, Thou shalt not die by the sword:\r\n But thou shalt die in peace: and with the burnings of thy fathers, the former kings which were before thee, so shall they burn odours for thee; and they will lament thee, saying, Ah lord! for I have pronounced the word, saith the LORD.\r\n Then Jeremiah the prophet spake all these words unto Zedekiah king of Judah in Jerusalem,\r\n When the king of Babylon's army fought against Jerusalem, and against all the cities of Judah that were left, against Lachish, and against Azekah: for these defenced cities remained of the cities of Judah.\r\n This is the word that came unto Jeremiah from the LORD, after that the king Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people which were at Jerusalem, to proclaim liberty unto them;\r\n That every man should let his manservant, and every man his maidservant, being an Hebrew or an Hebrewess, go free; that none should serve himself of them, to wit, of a Jew his brother.\r\n Now when all the princes, and all the people, which had entered into the covenant, heard that every one should let his manservant, and every one his maidservant, go free, that none should serve themselves of them any more, then they obeyed, and let them go.\r\n But afterward they turned, and caused the servants and the handmaids, whom they had let go free, to return, and brought them into subjection for servants and for handmaids.\r\n Therefore the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,\r\n Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel; I made a covenant with your fathers in the day that I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondmen, saying,\r\n At the end of seven years let ye go every man his brother an Hebrew, which hath been sold unto thee; and when he hath served thee six years, thou shalt let him go free from thee: but your fathers hearkened not unto me, neither inclined their ear.\r\n And ye were now turned, and had done right in my sight, in proclaiming liberty every man to his neighbour; and ye had made a covenant before me in the house which is called by my name:\r\n But ye turned and polluted my name, and caused every man his servant, and every man his handmaid, whom ye had set at liberty at their pleasure, to return, and brought them into subjection, to be unto you for servants and for handmaids.\r\n Therefore thus saith the LORD; Ye have not hearkened unto me, in proclaiming liberty, every one to his brother, and every man to his neighbour: behold, I proclaim a liberty for you, saith the LORD, to the sword, to the pestilence, and to the famine; and I will make you to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth.\r\n And I will give the men that have transgressed my covenant, which have not performed the words of the covenant which they had made before me, when they cut the calf in twain, and passed between the parts thereof,\r\n The princes of Judah, and the princes of Jerusalem, the eunuchs, and the priests, and all the people of the land, which passed between the parts of the calf;\r\n I will even give them into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of them that seek their life: and their dead bodies shall be for meat unto the fowls of the heaven, and to the beasts of the earth.\r\n And Zedekiah king of Judah and his princes will I give into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of them that seek their life, and into the hand of the king of Babylon's army, which are gone up from you.\r\n Behold, I will command, saith the LORD, and cause them to return to this city; and they shall fight against it, and take it, and burn it with fire: and I will make the cities of Judah a desolation without an inhabitant.\r\n \r\n \r\n The word which came unto Jeremiah from the LORD in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, saying,\r\n Go unto the house of the Rechabites, and speak unto them, and bring them into the house of the LORD, into one of the chambers, and give them wine to drink.\r\n Then I took Jaazaniah the son of Jeremiah, the son of Habaziniah, and his brethren, and all his sons, and the whole house of the Rechabites;\r\n And I brought them into the house of the LORD, into the chamber of the sons of Hanan, the son of Igdaliah, a man of God, which was by the chamber of the princes, which was above the chamber of Maaseiah the son of Shallum, the keeper of the door:\r\n And I set before the sons of the house of the Rechabites pots full of wine, and cups, and I said unto them, Drink ye wine.\r\n But they said, We will drink no wine: for Jonadab the son of Rechab our father commanded us, saying, Ye shall drink no wine, neither ye, nor your sons for ever:\r\n Neither shall ye build house, nor sow seed, nor plant vineyard, nor have any: but all your days ye shall dwell in tents; that ye may live many days in the land where ye be strangers.\r\n Thus have we obeyed the voice of Jonadab the son of Rechab our father in all that he hath charged us, to drink no wine all our days, we, our wives, our sons, nor our daughters;\r\n Nor to build houses for us to dwell in: neither have we vineyard, nor field, nor seed:\r\n But we have dwelt in tents, and have obeyed, and done according to all that Jonadab our father commanded us.\r\n But it came to pass, when Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon came up into the land, that we said, Come, and let us go to Jerusalem for fear of the army of the Chaldeans, and for fear of the army of the Syrians: so we dwell at Jerusalem.\r\n Then came the word of the LORD unto Jeremiah, saying,\r\n Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Go and tell the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Will ye not receive instruction to hearken to my words? saith the LORD.\r\n The words of Jonadab the son of Rechab, that he commanded his sons not to drink wine, are performed; for unto this day they drink none, but obey their father's commandment: notwithstanding I have spoken unto you, rising early and speaking; but ye hearkened not unto me.\r\n I have sent also unto you all my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, Return ye now every man from his evil way, and amend your doings, and go not after other gods to serve them, and ye shall dwell in the land which I have given to you and to your fathers: but ye have not inclined your ear, nor hearkened unto me.\r\n Because the sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab have performed the commandment of their father, which he commanded them; but this people hath not hearkened unto me:\r\n Therefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring upon Judah and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem all the evil that I have pronounced against them: because I have spoken unto them, but they have not heard; and I have called unto them, but they have not answered.\r\n And Jeremiah said unto the house of the Rechabites, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Because ye have obeyed the commandment of Jonadab your father, and kept all his precepts, and done according unto all that he hath commanded you:\r\n Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Jonadab the son of Rechab shall not want a man to stand before me for ever.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, that this word came unto Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,\r\n Take thee a roll of a book, and write therein all the words that I have spoken unto thee against Israel, and against Judah, and against all the nations, from the day I spake unto thee, from the days of Josiah, even unto this day.\r\n It may be that the house of Judah will hear all the evil which I purpose to do unto them; that they may return every man from his evil way; that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin.\r\n Then Jeremiah called Baruch the son of Neriah: and Baruch wrote from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the LORD, which he had spoken unto him, upon a roll of a book.\r\n And Jeremiah commanded Baruch, saying, I am shut up; I cannot go into the house of the LORD:\r\n Therefore go thou, and read in the roll, which thou hast written from my mouth, the words of the LORD in the ears of the people in the LORD'S house upon the fasting day: and also thou shalt read them in the ears of all Judah that come out of their cities.\r\n It may be they will present their supplication before the LORD, and will return every one from his evil way: for great is the anger and the fury that the LORD hath pronounced against this people.\r\n And Baruch the son of Neriah did according to all that Jeremiah the prophet commanded him, reading in the book the words of the LORD in the LORD'S house.\r\n And it came to pass in the fifth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, in the ninth month, that they proclaimed a fast before the LORD to all the people in Jerusalem, and to all the people that came from the cities of Judah unto Jerusalem.\r\n Then read Baruch in the book the words of Jeremiah in the house of the LORD, in the chamber of Gemariah the son of Shaphan the scribe, in the higher court, at the entry of the new gate of the LORD'S house, in the ears of all the people.\r\n When Michaiah the son of Gemariah, the son of Shaphan, had heard out of the book all the words of the LORD,\r\n Then he went down into the king's house, into the scribe's chamber: and, lo, all the princes sat there, even Elishama the scribe, and Delaiah the son of Shemaiah, and Elnathan the son of Achbor, and Gemariah the son of Shaphan, and Zedekiah the son of Hananiah, and all the princes.\r\n Then Michaiah declared unto them all the words that he had heard, when Baruch read the book in the ears of the people.\r\n Therefore all the princes sent Jehudi the son of Nethaniah, the son of Shelemiah, the son of Cushi, unto Baruch, saying, Take in thine hand the roll wherein thou hast read in the ears of the people, and come. So Baruch the son of Neriah took the roll in his hand, and came unto them.\r\n And they said unto him, Sit down now, and read it in our ears. So Baruch read it in their ears.\r\n Now it came to pass, when they had heard all the words, they were afraid both one and other, and said unto Baruch, We will surely tell the king of all these words.\r\n And they asked Baruch, saying, Tell us now, How didst thou write all these words at his mouth?\r\n Then Baruch answered them, He pronounced all these words unto me with his mouth, and I wrote them with ink in the book.\r\n Then said the princes unto Baruch, Go, hide thee, thou and Jeremiah; and let no man know where ye be.\r\n And they went in to the king into the court, but they laid up the roll in the chamber of Elishama the scribe, and told all the words in the ears of the king.\r\n So the king sent Jehudi to fetch the roll: and he took it out of Elishama the scribe's chamber. And Jehudi read it in the ears of the king, and in the ears of all the princes which stood beside the king.\r\n Now the king sat in the winterhouse in the ninth month: and there was a fire on the hearth burning before him.\r\n And it came to pass, that when Jehudi had read three or four leaves, he cut it with the penknife, and cast it into the fire that was on the hearth, until all the roll was consumed in the fire that was on the hearth.\r\n Yet they were not afraid, nor rent their garments, neither the king, nor any of his servants that heard all these words.\r\n Nevertheless Elnathan and Delaiah and Gemariah had made intercession to the king that he would not burn the roll: but he would not hear them.\r\n But the king commanded Jerahmeel the son of Hammelech, and Seraiah the son of Azriel, and Shelemiah the son of Abdeel, to take Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet: but the LORD hid them.\r\n Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, after that the king had burned the roll, and the words which Baruch wrote at the mouth of Jeremiah, saying,\r\n Take thee again another roll, and write in it all the former words that were in the first roll, which Jehoiakim the king of Judah hath burned.\r\n And thou shalt say to Jehoiakim king of Judah, Thus saith the LORD; Thou hast burned this roll, saying, Why hast thou written therein, saying, The king of Babylon shall certainly come and destroy this land, and shall cause to cease from thence man and beast?\r\n Therefore thus saith the LORD of Jehoiakim king of Judah; He shall have none to sit upon the throne of David: and his dead body shall be cast out in the day to the heat, and in the night to the frost.\r\n And I will punish him and his seed and his servants for their iniquity; and I will bring upon them, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and upon the men of Judah, all the evil that I have pronounced against them; but they hearkened not.\r\n Then took Jeremiah another roll, and gave it to Baruch the scribe, the son of Neriah; who wrote therein from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the book which Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned in the fire: and there were added besides unto them many like words.\r\n \r\n \r\n And king Zedekiah the son of Josiah reigned instead of Coniah the son of Jehoiakim, whom Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon made king in the land of Judah.\r\n But neither he, nor his servants, nor the people of the land, did hearken unto the words of the LORD, which he spake by the prophet Jeremiah.\r\n And Zedekiah the king sent Jehucal the son of Shelemiah and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah the priest to the prophet Jeremiah, saying, Pray now unto the LORD our God for us.\r\n Now Jeremiah came in and went out among the people: for they had not put him into prison.\r\n Then Pharaoh's army was come forth out of Egypt: and when the Chaldeans that besieged Jerusalem heard tidings of them, they departed from Jerusalem.\r\n Then came the word of the LORD unto the prophet Jeremiah, saying,\r\n Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel; Thus shall ye say to the king of Judah, that sent you unto me to enquire of me; Behold, Pharaoh's army, which is come forth to help you, shall return to Egypt into their own land.\r\n And the Chaldeans shall come again, and fight against this city, and take it, and burn it with fire.\r\n Thus saith the LORD; Deceive not yourselves, saying, The Chaldeans shall surely depart from us: for they shall not depart.\r\n For though ye had smitten the whole army of the Chaldeans that fight against you, and there remained but wounded men among them, yet should they rise up every man in his tent, and burn this city with fire.\r\n And it came to pass, that when the army of the Chaldeans was broken up from Jerusalem for fear of Pharaoh's army,\r\n Then Jeremiah went forth out of Jerusalem to go into the land of Benjamin, to separate himself thence in the midst of the people.\r\n And when he was in the gate of Benjamin, a captain of the ward was there, whose name was Irijah, the son of Shelemiah, the son of Hananiah; and he took Jeremiah the prophet, saying, Thou fallest away to the Chaldeans.\r\n Then said Jeremiah, It is false; I fall not away to the Chaldeans. But he hearkened not to him: so Irijah took Jeremiah, and brought him to the princes.\r\n Wherefore the princes were wroth with Jeremiah, and smote him, and put him in prison in the house of Jonathan the scribe: for they had made that the prison.\r\n When Jeremiah was entered into the dungeon, and into the cabins, and Jeremiah had remained there many days;\r\n Then Zedekiah the king sent, and took him out: and the king asked him secretly in his house, and said, Is there any word from the LORD? And Jeremiah said, There is: for, said he, thou shalt be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon.\r\n Moreover Jeremiah said unto king Zedekiah, What have I offended against thee, or against thy servants, or against this people, that ye have put me in prison?\r\n Where are now your prophets which prophesied unto you, saying, The king of Babylon shall not come against you, nor against this land?\r\n Therefore hear now, I pray thee, O my lord the king: let my supplication, I pray thee, be accepted before thee; that thou cause me not to return to the house of Jonathan the scribe, lest I die there.\r\n Then Zedekiah the king commanded that they should commit Jeremiah into the court of the prison, and that they should give him daily a piece of bread out of the bakers' street, until all the bread in the city were spent. Thus Jeremiah remained in the court of the prison.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then Shephatiah the son of Mattan, and Gedaliah the son of Pashur, and Jucal the son of Shelemiah, and Pashur the son of Malchiah, heard the words that Jeremiah had spoken unto all the people, saying,\r\n Thus saith the LORD, He that remaineth in this city shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence: but he that goeth forth to the Chaldeans shall live; for he shall have his life for a prey, and shall live.\r\n Thus saith the LORD, This city shall surely be given into the hand of the king of Babylon's army, which shall take it.\r\n Therefore the princes said unto the king, We beseech thee, let this man be put to death: for thus he weakeneth the hands of the men of war that remain in this city, and the hands of all the people, in speaking such words unto them: for this man seeketh not the welfare of this people, but the hurt.\r\n Then Zedekiah the king said, Behold, he is in your hand: for the king is not he that can do any thing against you.\r\n Then took they Jeremiah, and cast him into the dungeon of Malchiah the son of Hammelech, that was in the court of the prison: and they let down Jeremiah with cords. And in the dungeon there was no water, but mire: so Jeremiah sunk in the mire.\r\n Now when Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, one of the eunuchs which was in the king's house, heard that they had put Jeremiah in the dungeon; the king then sitting in the gate of Benjamin;\r\n Ebedmelech went forth out of the king's house, and spake to the king, saying,\r\n My lord the king, these men have done evil in all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet, whom they have cast into the dungeon; and he is like to die for hunger in the place where he is: for there is no more bread in the city.\r\n Then the king commanded Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, saying, Take from hence thirty men with thee, and take up Jeremiah the prophet out of the dungeon, before he die.\r\n So Ebedmelech took the men with him, and went into the house of the king under the treasury, and took thence old cast clouts and old rotten rags, and let them down by cords into the dungeon to Jeremiah.\r\n And Ebedmelech the Ethiopian said unto Jeremiah, Put now these old cast clouts and rotten rags under thine armholes under the cords. And Jeremiah did so.\r\n So they drew up Jeremiah with cords, and took him up out of the dungeon: and Jeremiah remained in the court of the prison.\r\n Then Zedekiah the king sent, and took Jeremiah the prophet unto him into the third entry that is in the house of the LORD: and the king said unto Jeremiah, I will ask thee a thing; hide nothing from me.\r\n Then Jeremiah said unto Zedekiah, If I declare it unto thee, wilt thou not surely put me to death? and if I give thee counsel, wilt thou not hearken unto me?\r\n So Zedekiah the king sware secretly unto Jeremiah, saying, As the LORD liveth, that made us this soul, I will not put thee to death, neither will I give thee into the hand of these men that seek thy life.\r\n Then said Jeremiah unto Zedekiah, Thus saith the LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel; If thou wilt assuredly go forth unto the king of Babylon's princes, then thy soul shall live, and this city shall not be burned with fire; and thou shalt live, and thine house:\r\n But if thou wilt not go forth to the king of Babylon's princes, then shall this city be given into the hand of the Chaldeans, and they shall burn it with fire, and thou shalt not escape out of their hand.\r\n And Zedekiah the king said unto Jeremiah, I am afraid of the Jews that are fallen to the Chaldeans, lest they deliver me into their hand, and they mock me.\r\n But Jeremiah said, They shall not deliver thee. Obey, I beseech thee, the voice of the LORD, which I speak unto thee: so it shall be well unto thee, and thy soul shall live.\r\n But if thou refuse to go forth, this is the word that the LORD hath shewed me:\r\n And, behold, all the women that are left in the king of Judah's house shall be brought forth to the king of Babylon's princes, and those women shall say, Thy friends have set thee on, and have prevailed against thee: thy feet are sunk in the mire, and they are turned away back.\r\n So they shall bring out all thy wives and thy children to the Chaldeans: and thou shalt not escape out of their hand, but shalt be taken by the hand of the king of Babylon: and thou shalt cause this city to be burned with fire.\r\n Then said Zedekiah unto Jeremiah, Let no man know of these words, and thou shalt not die.\r\n But if the princes hear that I have talked with thee, and they come unto thee, and say unto thee, Declare unto us now what thou hast said unto the king, hide it not from us, and we will not put thee to death; also what the king said unto thee:\r\n Then thou shalt say unto them, I presented my supplication before the king, that he would not cause me to return to Jonathan's house, to die there.\r\n Then came all the princes unto Jeremiah, and asked him: and he told them according to all these words that the king had commanded. So they left off speaking with him; for the matter was not perceived.\r\n So Jeremiah abode in the court of the prison until the day that Jerusalem was taken: and he was there when Jerusalem was taken.\r\n \r\n \r\n In the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, came Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon and all his army against Jerusalem, and they besieged it.\r\n And in the eleventh year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month, the ninth day of the month, the city was broken up.\r\n And all the princes of the king of Babylon came in, and sat in the middle gate, even Nergalsharezer, Samgarnebo, Sarsechim, Rabsaris, Nergalsharezer, Rabmag, with all the residue of the princes of the king of Babylon.\r\n And it came to pass, that when Zedekiah the king of Judah saw them, and all the men of war, then they fled, and went forth out of the city by night, by the way of the king's garden, by the gate betwixt the two walls: and he went out the way of the plain.\r\n But the Chaldeans' army pursued after them, and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho: and when they had taken him, they brought him up to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon to Riblah in the land of Hamath, where he gave judgment upon him.\r\n Then the king of Babylon slew the sons of Zedekiah in Riblah before his eyes: also the king of Babylon slew all the nobles of Judah.\r\n Moreover he put out Zedekiah's eyes, and bound him with chains, to carry him to Babylon.\r\n And the Chaldeans burned the king's house, and the houses of the people, with fire, and brake down the walls of Jerusalem.\r\n Then Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive into Babylon the remnant of the people that remained in the city, and those that fell away, that fell to him, with the rest of the people that remained.\r\n But Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard left of the poor of the people, which had nothing, in the land of Judah, and gave them vineyards and fields at the same time.\r\n Now Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon gave charge concerning Jeremiah to Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, saying,\r\n Take him, and look well to him, and do him no harm; but do unto him even as he shall say unto thee.\r\n So Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard sent, and Nebushasban, Rabsaris, and Nergalsharezer, Rabmag, and all the king of Babylon's princes;\r\n Even they sent, and took Jeremiah out of the court of the prison, and committed him unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan, that he should carry him home: so he dwelt among the people.\r\n Now the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah, while he was shut up in the court of the prison, saying,\r\n Go and speak to Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring my words upon this city for evil, and not for good; and they shall be accomplished in that day before thee.\r\n But I will deliver thee in that day, saith the LORD: and thou shalt not be given into the hand of the men of whom thou art afraid.\r\n For I will surely deliver thee, and thou shalt not fall by the sword, but thy life shall be for a prey unto thee: because thou hast put thy trust in me, saith the LORD.\r\n \r\n \r\n The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, after that Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had let him go from Ramah, when he had taken him being bound in chains among all that were carried away captive of Jerusalem and Judah, which were carried away captive unto Babylon.\r\n And the captain of the guard took Jeremiah, and said unto him, The LORD thy God hath pronounced this evil upon this place.\r\n Now the LORD hath brought it, and done according as he hath said: because ye have sinned against the LORD, and have not obeyed his voice, therefore this thing is come upon you.\r\n And now, behold, I loose thee this day from the chains which were upon thine hand. If it seem good unto thee to come with me into Babylon, come; and I will look well unto thee: but if it seem ill unto thee to come with me into Babylon, forbear: behold, all the land is before thee: whither it seemeth good and convenient for thee to go, thither go.\r\n Now while he was not yet gone back, he said, Go back also to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon hath made governor over the cities of Judah, and dwell with him among the people: or go wheresoever it seemeth convenient unto thee to go. So the captain of the guard gave him victuals and a reward, and let him go.\r\n Then went Jeremiah unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah; and dwelt with him among the people that were left in the land.\r\n Now when all the captains of the forces which were in the fields, even they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam governor in the land, and had committed unto him men, and women, and children, and of the poor of the land, of them that were not carried away captive to Babylon;\r\n Then they came to Gedaliah to Mizpah, even Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and Johanan and Jonathan the sons of Kareah, and Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth, and the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, and Jezaniah the son of a Maachathite, they and their men.\r\n And Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan sware unto them and to their men, saying, Fear not to serve the Chaldeans: dwell in the land, and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be well with you.\r\n As for me, behold, I will dwell at Mizpah to serve the Chaldeans, which will come unto us: but ye, gather ye wine, and summer fruits, and oil, and put them in your vessels, and dwell in your cities that ye have taken.\r\n Likewise when all the Jews that were in Moab, and among the Ammonites, and in Edom, and that were in all the countries, heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant of Judah, and that he had set over them Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan;\r\n Even all the Jews returned out of all places whither they were driven, and came to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah, unto Mizpah, and gathered wine and summer fruits very much.\r\n Moreover Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were in the fields, came to Gedaliah to Mizpah,\r\n And said unto him, Dost thou certainly know that Baalis the king of the Ammonites hath sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to slay thee? But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam believed them not.\r\n Then Johanan the son of Kareah spake to Gedaliah in Mizpah secretly, saying, Let me go, I pray thee, and I will slay Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and no man shall know it: wherefore should he slay thee, that all the Jews which are gathered unto thee should be scattered, and the remnant in Judah perish?\r\n But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam said unto Johanan the son of Kareah, Thou shalt not do this thing: for thou speakest falsely of Ishmael.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now it came to pass in the seventh month, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah the son of Elishama, of the seed royal, and the princes of the king, even ten men with him, came unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah; and there they did eat bread together in Mizpah.\r\n Then arose Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and the ten men that were with him, and smote Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan with the sword, and slew him, whom the king of Babylon had made governor over the land.\r\n Ishmael also slew all the Jews that were with him, even with Gedaliah, at Mizpah, and the Chaldeans that were found there, and the men of war.\r\n And it came to pass the second day after he had slain Gedaliah, and no man knew it,\r\n That there came certain from Shechem, from Shiloh, and from Samaria, even fourscore men, having their beards shaven, and their clothes rent, and having cut themselves, with offerings and incense in their hand, to bring them to the house of the LORD.\r\n And Ishmael the son of Nethaniah went forth from Mizpah to meet them, weeping all along as he went: and it came to pass, as he met them, he said unto them, Come to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam.\r\n And it was so, when they came into the midst of the city, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah slew them, and cast them into the midst of the pit, he, and the men that were with him.\r\n But ten men were found among them that said unto Ishmael, Slay us not: for we have treasures in the field, of wheat, and of barley, and of oil, and of honey. So he forbare, and slew them not among their brethren.\r\n Now the pit wherein Ishmael had cast all the dead bodies of the men, whom he had slain because of Gedaliah, was it which Asa the king had made for fear of Baasha king of Israel: and Ishmael the son of Nethaniah filled it with them that were slain.\r\n Then Ishmael carried away captive all the residue of the people that were in Mizpah, even the king's daughters, and all the people that remained in Mizpah, whom Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had committed to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam: and Ishmael the son of Nethaniah carried them away captive, and departed to go over to the Ammonites.\r\n But when Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were with him, heard of all the evil that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah had done,\r\n Then they took all the men, and went to fight with Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and found him by the great waters that are in Gibeon.\r\n Now it came to pass, that when all the people which were with Ishmael saw Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were with him, then they were glad.\r\n So all the people that Ishmael had carried away captive from Mizpah cast about and returned, and went unto Johanan the son of Kareah.\r\n But Ishmael the son of Nethaniah escaped from Johanan with eight men, and went to the Ammonites.\r\n Then took Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were with him, all the remnant of the people whom he had recovered from Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, from Mizpah, after that he had slain Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, even mighty men of war, and the women, and the children, and the eunuchs, whom he had brought again from Gibeon:\r\n And they departed, and dwelt in the habitation of Chimham, which is by Bethlehem, to go to enter into Egypt,\r\n Because of the Chaldeans: for they were afraid of them, because Ishmael the son of Nethaniah had slain Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, whom the king of Babylon made governor in the land.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then all the captains of the forces, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and Jezaniah the son of Hoshaiah, and all the people from the least even unto the greatest, came near,\r\n And said unto Jeremiah the prophet, Let, we beseech thee, our supplication be accepted before thee, and pray for us unto the LORD thy God, even for all this remnant; (for we are left but a few of many, as thine eyes do behold us:)\r\n That the LORD thy God may shew us the way wherein we may walk, and the thing that we may do.\r\n Then Jeremiah the prophet said unto them, I have heard you; behold, I will pray unto the LORD your God according to your words; and it shall come to pass, that whatsoever thing the LORD shall answer you, I will declare it unto you; I will keep nothing back from you.\r\n Then they said to Jeremiah, The LORD be a true and faithful witness between us, if we do not even according to all things for the which the LORD thy God shall send thee to us.\r\n Whether it be good, or whether it be evil, we will obey the voice of the LORD our God, to whom we send thee; that it may be well with us, when we obey the voice of the LORD our God.\r\n And it came to pass after ten days, that the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah.\r\n Then called he Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces which were with him, and all the people from the least even to the greatest,\r\n And said unto them, Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, unto whom ye sent me to present your supplication before him;\r\n If ye will still abide in this land, then will I build you, and not pull you down, and I will plant you, and not pluck you up: for I repent me of the evil that I have done unto you.\r\n Be not afraid of the king of Babylon, of whom ye are afraid; be not afraid of him, saith the LORD: for I am with you to save you, and to deliver you from his hand.\r\n And I will shew mercies unto you, that he may have mercy upon you, and cause you to return to your own land.\r\n But if ye say, We will not dwell in this land, neither obey the voice of the LORD your God,\r\n Saying, No; but we will go into the land of Egypt, where we shall see no war, nor hear the sound of the trumpet, nor have hunger of bread; and there will we dwell:\r\n And now therefore hear the word of the LORD, ye remnant of Judah; Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; If ye wholly set your faces to enter into Egypt, and go to sojourn there;\r\n Then it shall come to pass, that the sword, which ye feared, shall overtake you there in the land of Egypt, and the famine, whereof ye were afraid, shall follow close after you there in Egypt; and there ye shall die.\r\n So shall it be with all the men that set their faces to go into Egypt to sojourn there; they shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence: and none of them shall remain or escape from the evil that I will bring upon them.\r\n For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; As mine anger and my fury hath been poured forth upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem; so shall my fury be poured forth upon you, when ye shall enter into Egypt: and ye shall be an execration, and an astonishment, and a curse, and a reproach; and ye shall see this place no more.\r\n The LORD hath said concerning you, O ye remnant of Judah; Go ye not into Egypt: know certainly that I have admonished you this day.\r\n For ye dissembled in your hearts, when ye sent me unto the LORD your God, saying, Pray for us unto the LORD our God; and according unto all that the LORD our God shall say, so declare unto us, and we will do it.\r\n And now I have this day declared it to you; but ye have not obeyed the voice of the LORD your God, nor any thing for the which he hath sent me unto you.\r\n Now therefore know certainly that ye shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence, in the place whither ye desire to go and to sojourn.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass, that when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking unto all the people all the words of the LORD their God, for which the LORD their God had sent him to them, even all these words,\r\n Then spake Azariah the son of Hoshaiah, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the proud men, saying unto Jeremiah, Thou speakest falsely: the LORD our God hath not sent thee to say, Go not into Egypt to sojourn there:\r\n But Baruch the son of Neriah setteth thee on against us, for to deliver us into the hand of the Chaldeans, that they might put us to death, and carry us away captives into Babylon.\r\n So Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces, and all the people, obeyed not the voice of the LORD, to dwell in the land of Judah.\r\n But Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces, took all the remnant of Judah, that were returned from all nations, whither they had been driven, to dwell in the land of Judah;\r\n Even men, and women, and children, and the king's daughters, and every person that Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had left with Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Jeremiah the prophet, and Baruch the son of Neriah.\r\n So they came into the land of Egypt: for they obeyed not the voice of the LORD: thus came they even to Tahpanhes.\r\n Then came the word of the LORD unto Jeremiah in Tahpanhes, saying,\r\n Take great stones in thine hand, and hide them in the clay in the brickkiln, which is at the entry of Pharaoh's house in Tahpanhes, in the sight of the men of Judah;\r\n And say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will send and take Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will set his throne upon these stones that I have hid; and he shall spread his royal pavilion over them.\r\n And when he cometh, he shall smite the land of Egypt, and deliver such as are for death to death; and such as are for captivity to captivity; and such as are for the sword to the sword.\r\n And I will kindle a fire in the houses of the gods of Egypt; and he shall burn them, and carry them away captives: and he shall array himself with the land of Egypt, as a shepherd putteth on his garment; and he shall go forth from thence in peace.\r\n He shall break also the images of Bethshemesh, that is in the land of Egypt; and the houses of the gods of the Egyptians shall he burn with fire.\r\n \r\n \r\n The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the Jews which dwell in the land of Egypt, which dwell at Migdol, and at Tahpanhes, and at Noph, and in the country of Pathros, saying,\r\n Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Ye have seen all the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem, and upon all the cities of Judah; and, behold, this day they are a desolation, and no man dwelleth therein,\r\n Because of their wickedness which they have committed to provoke me to anger, in that they went to burn incense, and to serve other gods, whom they knew not, neither they, ye, nor your fathers.\r\n Howbeit I sent unto you all my servants the prophets, rising early and sending them, saying, Oh, do not this abominable thing that I hate.\r\n But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear to turn from their wickedness, to burn no incense unto other gods.\r\n Wherefore my fury and mine anger was poured forth, and was kindled in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem; and they are wasted and desolate, as at this day.\r\n Therefore now thus saith the LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel; Wherefore commit ye this great evil against your souls, to cut off from you man and woman, child and suckling, out of Judah, to leave you none to remain;\r\n In that ye provoke me unto wrath with the works of your hands, burning incense unto other gods in the land of Egypt, whither ye be gone to dwell, that ye might cut yourselves off, and that ye might be a curse and a reproach among all the nations of the earth?\r\n Have ye forgotten the wickedness of your fathers, and the wickedness of the kings of Judah, and the wickedness of their wives, and your own wickedness, and the wickedness of your wives, which they have committed in the land of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem?\r\n They are not humbled even unto this day, neither have they feared, nor walked in my law, nor in my statutes, that I set before you and before your fathers.\r\n Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will set my face against you for evil, and to cut off all Judah.\r\n And I will take the remnant of Judah, that have set their faces to go into the land of Egypt to sojourn there, and they shall all be consumed, and fall in the land of Egypt; they shall even be consumed by the sword and by the famine: they shall die, from the least even unto the greatest, by the sword and by the famine: and they shall be an execration, and an astonishment, and a curse, and a reproach.\r\n For I will punish them that dwell in the land of Egypt, as I have punished Jerusalem, by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence:\r\n So that none of the remnant of Judah, which are gone into the land of Egypt to sojourn there, shall escape or remain, that they should return into the land of Judah, to the which they have a desire to return to dwell there: for none shall return but such as shall escape.\r\n Then all the men which knew that their wives had burned incense unto other gods, and all the women that stood by, a great multitude, even all the people that dwelt in the land of Egypt, in Pathros, answered Jeremiah, saying,\r\n As for the word that thou hast spoken unto us in the name of the LORD, we will not hearken unto thee.\r\n But we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth, to burn incense unto the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, as we have done, we, and our fathers, our kings, and our princes, in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem: for then had we plenty of victuals, and were well, and saw no evil.\r\n But since we left off to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, we have wanted all things, and have been consumed by the sword and by the famine.\r\n And when we burned incense to the queen of heaven, and poured out drink offerings unto her, did we make her cakes to worship her, and pour out drink offerings unto her, without our men?\r\n Then Jeremiah said unto all the people, to the men, and to the women, and to all the people which had given him that answer, saying,\r\n The incense that ye burned in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, ye, and your fathers, your kings, and your princes, and the people of the land, did not the LORD remember them, and came it not into his mind?\r\n So that the LORD could no longer bear, because of the evil of your doings, and because of the abominations which ye have committed; therefore is your land a desolation, and an astonishment, and a curse, without an inhabitant, as at this day.\r\n Because ye have burned incense, and because ye have sinned against the LORD, and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD, nor walked in his law, nor in his statutes, nor in his testimonies; therefore this evil is happened unto you, as at this day.\r\n Moreover Jeremiah said unto all the people, and to all the women, Hear the word of the LORD, all Judah that are in the land of Egypt:\r\n Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying; Ye and your wives have both spoken with your mouths, and fulfilled with your hand, saying, We will surely perform our vows that we have vowed, to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her: ye will surely accomplish your vows, and surely perform your vows.\r\n Therefore hear ye the word of the LORD, all Judah that dwell in the land of Egypt; Behold, I have sworn by my great name, saith the LORD, that my name shall no more be named in the mouth of any man of Judah in all the land of Egypt, saying, The Lord GOD liveth.\r\n Behold, I will watch over them for evil, and not for good: and all the men of Judah that are in the land of Egypt shall be consumed by the sword and by the famine, until there be an end of them.\r\n Yet a small number that escape the sword shall return out of the land of Egypt into the land of Judah, and all the remnant of Judah, that are gone into the land of Egypt to sojourn there, shall know whose words shall stand, mine, or theirs.\r\n And this shall be a sign unto you, saith the LORD, that I will punish you in this place, that ye may know that my words shall surely stand against you for evil:\r\n Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will give Pharaohhophra king of Egypt into the hand of his enemies, and into the hand of them that seek his life; as I gave Zedekiah king of Judah into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, his enemy, and that sought his life.\r\n \r\n \r\n The word that Jeremiah the prophet spake unto Baruch the son of Neriah, when he had written these words in a book at the mouth of Jeremiah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, saying,\r\n Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, unto thee, O Baruch;\r\n Thou didst say, Woe is me now! for the LORD hath added grief to my sorrow; I fainted in my sighing, and I find no rest.\r\n Thus shalt thou say unto him, The LORD saith thus; Behold, that which I have built will I break down, and that which I have planted I will pluck up, even this whole land.\r\n And seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not: for, behold, I will bring evil upon all flesh, saith the LORD: but thy life will I give unto thee for a prey in all places whither thou goest.\r\n \r\n \r\n The word of the LORD which came to Jeremiah the prophet against the Gentiles;\r\n Against Egypt, against the army of Pharaohnecho king of Egypt, which was by the river Euphrates in Carchemish, which Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon smote in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah.\r\n Order ye the buckler and shield, and draw near to battle.\r\n Harness the horses; and get up, ye horsemen, and stand forth with your helmets; furbish the spears, and put on the brigandines.\r\n Wherefore have I seen them dismayed and turned away back? and their mighty ones are beaten down, and are fled apace, and look not back: for fear was round about, saith the LORD.\r\n Let not the swift flee away, nor the mighty man escape; they shall stumble, and fall toward the north by the river Euphrates.\r\n Who is this that cometh up as a flood, whose waters are moved as the rivers?\r\n Egypt riseth up like a flood, and his waters are moved like the rivers; and he saith, I will go up, and will cover the earth; I will destroy the city and the inhabitants thereof.\r\n Come up, ye horses; and rage, ye chariots; and let the mighty men come forth; the Ethiopians and the Libyans, that handle the shield; and the Lydians, that handle and bend the bow.\r\n For this is the day of the Lord GOD of hosts, a day of vengeance, that he may avenge him of his adversaries: and the sword shall devour, and it shall be satiate and made drunk with their blood: for the Lord GOD of hosts hath a sacrifice in the north country by the river Euphrates.\r\n Go up into Gilead, and take balm, O virgin, the daughter of Egypt: in vain shalt thou use many medicines; for thou shalt not be cured.\r\n The nations have heard of thy shame, and thy cry hath filled the land: for the mighty man hath stumbled against the mighty, and they are fallen both together.\r\n The word that the LORD spake to Jeremiah the prophet, how Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon should come and smite the land of Egypt.\r\n Declare ye in Egypt, and publish in Migdol, and publish in Noph and in Tahpanhes: say ye, Stand fast, and prepare thee; for the sword shall devour round about thee.\r\n Why are thy valiant men swept away? they stood not, because the LORD did drive them.\r\n He made many to fall, yea, one fell upon another: and they said, Arise, and let us go again to our own people, and to the land of our nativity, from the oppressing sword.\r\n They did cry there, Pharaoh king of Egypt is but a noise; he hath passed the time appointed.\r\n As I live, saith the King, whose name is the LORD of hosts, Surely as Tabor is among the mountains, and as Carmel by the sea, so shall he come.\r\n O thou daughter dwelling in Egypt, furnish thyself to go into captivity: for Noph shall be waste and desolate without an inhabitant.\r\n Egypt is like a very fair heifer, but destruction cometh; it cometh out of the north.\r\n Also her hired men are in the midst of her like fatted bullocks; for they also are turned back, and are fled away together: they did not stand, because the day of their calamity was come upon them, and the time of their visitation.\r\n The voice thereof shall go like a serpent; for they shall march with an army, and come against her with axes, as hewers of wood.\r\n They shall cut down her forest, saith the LORD, though it cannot be searched; because they are more than the grasshoppers, and are innumerable.\r\n The daughter of Egypt shall be confounded; she shall be delivered into the hand of the people of the north.\r\n The LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saith; Behold, I will punish the multitude of No, and Pharaoh, and Egypt, with their gods, and their kings; even Pharaoh, and all them that trust in him:\r\n And I will deliver them into the hand of those that seek their lives, and into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of his servants: and afterward it shall be inhabited, as in the days of old, saith the LORD.\r\n But fear not thou, O my servant Jacob, and be not dismayed, O Israel: for, behold, I will save thee from afar off, and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and be in rest and at ease, and none shall make him afraid.\r\n Fear thou not, O Jacob my servant, saith the LORD: for I am with thee; for I will make a full end of all the nations whither I have driven thee: but I will not make a full end of thee, but correct thee in measure; yet will I not leave thee wholly unpunished.\r\n \r\n \r\n The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet against the Philistines, before that Pharaoh smote Gaza.\r\n Thus saith the LORD; Behold, waters rise up out of the north, and shall be an overflowing flood, and shall overflow the land, and all that is therein; the city, and them that dwell therein: then the men shall cry, and all the inhabitants of the land shall howl.\r\n At the noise of the stamping of the hoofs of his strong horses, at the rushing of his chariots, and at the rumbling of his wheels, the fathers shall not look back to their children for feebleness of hands;\r\n Because of the day that cometh to spoil all the Philistines, and to cut off from Tyrus and Zidon every helper that remaineth: for the LORD will spoil the Philistines, the remnant of the country of Caphtor.\r\n Baldness is come upon Gaza; Ashkelon is cut off with the remnant of their valley: how long wilt thou cut thyself?\r\n O thou sword of the LORD, how long will it be ere thou be quiet? put up thyself into thy scabbard, rest, and be still.\r\n How can it be quiet, seeing the LORD hath given it a charge against Ashkelon, and against the sea shore? there hath he appointed it.\r\n \r\n \r\n Against Moab thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Woe unto Nebo! for it is spoiled: Kiriathaim is confounded and taken: Misgab is confounded and dismayed.\r\n There shall be no more praise of Moab: in Heshbon they have devised evil against it; come, and let us cut it off from being a nation. Also thou shalt be cut down, O Madmen; the sword shall pursue thee.\r\n A voice of crying shall be from Horonaim, spoiling and great destruction.\r\n Moab is destroyed; her little ones have caused a cry to be heard.\r\n For in the going up of Luhith continual weeping shall go up; for in the going down of Horonaim the enemies have heard a cry of destruction.\r\n Flee, save your lives, and be like the heath in the wilderness.\r\n For because thou hast trusted in thy works and in thy treasures, thou shalt also be taken: and Chemosh shall go forth into captivity with his priests and his princes together.\r\n And the spoiler shall come upon every city, and no city shall escape: the valley also shall perish, and the plain shall be destroyed, as the LORD hath spoken.\r\n Give wings unto Moab, that it may flee and get away: for the cities thereof shall be desolate, without any to dwell therein.\r\n Cursed be he that doeth the work of the LORD deceitfully, and cursed be he that keepeth back his sword from blood.\r\n Moab hath been at ease from his youth, and he hath settled on his lees, and hath not been emptied from vessel to vessel, neither hath he gone into captivity: therefore his taste remained in him, and his scent is not changed.\r\n Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will send unto him wanderers, that shall cause him to wander, and shall empty his vessels, and break their bottles.\r\n And Moab shall be ashamed of Chemosh, as the house of Israel was ashamed of Bethel their confidence.\r\n How say ye, We are mighty and strong men for the war?\r\n Moab is spoiled, and gone up out of her cities, and his chosen young men are gone down to the slaughter, saith the King, whose name is the LORD of hosts.\r\n The calamity of Moab is near to come, and his affliction hasteth fast.\r\n All ye that are about him, bemoan him; and all ye that know his name, say, How is the strong staff broken, and the beautiful rod!\r\n Thou daughter that dost inhabit Dibon, come down from thy glory, and sit in thirst; for the spoiler of Moab shall come upon thee, and he shall destroy thy strong holds.\r\n O inhabitant of Aroer, stand by the way, and espy; ask him that fleeth, and her that escapeth, and say, What is done?\r\n Moab is confounded; for it is broken down: howl and cry; tell ye it in Arnon, that Moab is spoiled,\r\n And judgment is come upon the plain country; upon Holon, and upon Jahazah, and upon Mephaath,\r\n And upon Dibon, and upon Nebo, and upon Bethdiblathaim,\r\n And upon Kiriathaim, and upon Bethgamul, and upon Bethmeon,\r\n And upon Kerioth, and upon Bozrah, and upon all the cities of the land of Moab, far or near.\r\n The horn of Moab is cut off, and his arm is broken, saith the LORD.\r\n Make ye him drunken: for he magnified himself against the LORD: Moab also shall wallow in his vomit, and he also shall be in derision.\r\n For was not Israel a derision unto thee? was he found among thieves? for since thou spakest of him, thou skippedst for joy.\r\n O ye that dwell in Moab, leave the cities, and dwell in the rock, and be like the dove that maketh her nest in the sides of the hole's mouth.\r\n We have heard the pride of Moab, (he is exceeding proud) his loftiness, and his arrogancy, and his pride, and the haughtiness of his heart.\r\n I know his wrath, saith the LORD; but it shall not be so; his lies shall not so effect it.\r\n Therefore will I howl for Moab, and I will cry out for all Moab; mine heart shall mourn for the men of Kirheres.\r\n O vine of Sibmah, I will weep for thee with the weeping of Jazer: thy plants are gone over the sea, they reach even to the sea of Jazer: the spoiler is fallen upon thy summer fruits and upon thy vintage.\r\n And joy and gladness is taken from the plentiful field, and from the land of Moab; and I have caused wine to fail from the winepresses: none shall tread with shouting; their shouting shall be no shouting.\r\n From the cry of Heshbon even unto Elealeh, and even unto Jahaz, have they uttered their voice, from Zoar even unto Horonaim, as an heifer of three years old: for the waters also of Nimrim shall be desolate.\r\n Moreover I will cause to cease in Moab, saith the LORD, him that offereth in the high places, and him that burneth incense to his gods.\r\n Therefore mine heart shall sound for Moab like pipes, and mine heart shall sound like pipes for the men of Kirheres: because the riches that he hath gotten are perished.\r\n For every head shall be bald, and every beard clipped: upon all the hands shall be cuttings, and upon the loins sackcloth.\r\n There shall be lamentation generally upon all the housetops of Moab, and in the streets thereof: for I have broken Moab like a vessel wherein is no pleasure, saith the LORD.\r\n They shall howl, saying, How is it broken down! how hath Moab turned the back with shame! so shall Moab be a derision and a dismaying to all them about him.\r\n For thus saith the LORD; Behold, he shall fly as an eagle, and shall spread his wings over Moab.\r\n Kerioth is taken, and the strong holds are surprised, and the mighty men's hearts in Moab at that day shall be as the heart of a woman in her pangs.\r\n And Moab shall be destroyed from being a people, because he hath magnified himself against the LORD.\r\n Fear, and the pit, and the snare, shall be upon thee, O inhabitant of Moab, saith the LORD.\r\n He that fleeth from the fear shall fall into the pit; and he that getteth up out of the pit shall be taken in the snare: for I will bring upon it, even upon Moab, the year of their visitation, saith the LORD.\r\n They that fled stood under the shadow of Heshbon because of the force: but a fire shall come forth out of Heshbon, and a flame from the midst of Sihon, and shall devour the corner of Moab, and the crown of the head of the tumultuous ones.\r\n Woe be unto thee, O Moab! the people of Chemosh perisheth: for thy sons are taken captives, and thy daughters captives.\r\n Yet will I bring again the captivity of Moab in the latter days, saith the LORD. Thus far is the judgment of Moab.\r\n \r\n \r\n Concerning the Ammonites, thus saith the LORD; Hath Israel no sons? hath he no heir? why then doth their king inherit Gad, and his people dwell in his cities?\r\n Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will cause an alarm of war to be heard in Rabbah of the Ammonites; and it shall be a desolate heap, and her daughters shall be burned with fire: then shall Israel be heir unto them that were his heirs, saith the LORD.\r\n Howl, O Heshbon, for Ai is spoiled: cry, ye daughters of Rabbah, gird you with sackcloth; lament, and run to and fro by the hedges; for their king shall go into captivity, and his priests and his princes together.\r\n Wherefore gloriest thou in the valleys, thy flowing valley, O backsliding daughter? that trusted in her treasures, saying, Who shall come unto me?\r\n Behold, I will bring a fear upon thee, saith the Lord GOD of hosts, from all those that be about thee; and ye shall be driven out every man right forth; and none shall gather up him that wandereth.\r\n And afterward I will bring again the captivity of the children of Ammon, saith the LORD.\r\n Concerning Edom, thus saith the LORD of hosts; Is wisdom no more in Teman? is counsel perished from the prudent? is their wisdom vanished?\r\n Flee ye, turn back, dwell deep, O inhabitants of Dedan; for I will bring the calamity of Esau upon him, the time that I will visit him.\r\n If grapegatherers come to thee, would they not leave some gleaning grapes? if thieves by night, they will destroy till they have enough.\r\n But I have made Esau bare, I have uncovered his secret places, and he shall not be able to hide himself: his seed is spoiled, and his brethren, and his neighbours, and he is not.\r\n Leave thy fatherless children, I will preserve them alive; and let thy widows trust in me.\r\n For thus saith the LORD; Behold, they whose judgment was not to drink of the cup have assuredly drunken; and art thou he that shall altogether go unpunished? thou shalt not go unpunished, but thou shalt surely drink of it.\r\n For I have sworn by myself, saith the LORD, that Bozrah shall become a desolation, a reproach, a waste, and a curse; and all the cities thereof shall be perpetual wastes.\r\n I have heard a rumour from the LORD, and an ambassador is sent unto the heathen, saying, Gather ye together, and come against her, and rise up to the battle.\r\n For, lo, I will make thee small among the heathen, and despised among men.\r\n Thy terribleness hath deceived thee, and the pride of thine heart, O thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, that holdest the height of the hill: though thou shouldest make thy nest as high as the eagle, I will bring thee down from thence, saith the LORD.\r\n Also Edom shall be a desolation: every one that goeth by it shall be astonished, and shall hiss at all the plagues thereof.\r\n As in the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighbour cities thereof, saith the LORD, no man shall abide there, neither shall a son of man dwell in it.\r\n Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the swelling of Jordan against the habitation of the strong: but I will suddenly make him run away from her: and who is a chosen man, that I may appoint over her? for who is like me? and who will appoint me the time? and who is that shepherd that will stand before me?\r\n Therefore hear the counsel of the LORD, that he hath taken against Edom; and his purposes, that he hath purposed against the inhabitants of Teman: Surely the least of the flock shall draw them out: surely he shall make their habitations desolate with them.\r\n The earth is moved at the noise of their fall, at the cry the noise thereof was heard in the Red sea.\r\n Behold, he shall come up and fly as the eagle, and spread his wings over Bozrah: and at that day shall the heart of the mighty men of Edom be as the heart of a woman in her pangs.\r\n Concerning Damascus. Hamath is confounded, and Arpad: for they have heard evil tidings: they are fainthearted; there is sorrow on the sea; it cannot be quiet.\r\n Damascus is waxed feeble, and turneth herself to flee, and fear hath seized on her: anguish and sorrows have taken her, as a woman in travail.\r\n How is the city of praise not left, the city of my joy!\r\n Therefore her young men shall fall in her streets, and all the men of war shall be cut off in that day, saith the LORD of hosts.\r\n And I will kindle a fire in the wall of Damascus, and it shall consume the palaces of Benhadad.\r\n Concerning Kedar, and concerning the kingdoms of Hazor, which Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon shall smite, thus saith the LORD; Arise ye, go up to Kedar, and spoil the men of the east.\r\n Their tents and their flocks shall they take away: they shall take to themselves their curtains, and all their vessels, and their camels; and they shall cry unto them, Fear is on every side.\r\n Flee, get you far off, dwell deep, O ye inhabitants of Hazor, saith the LORD; for Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath taken counsel against you, and hath conceived a purpose against you.\r\n Arise, get you up unto the wealthy nation, that dwelleth without care, saith the LORD, which have neither gates nor bars, which dwell alone.\r\n And their camels shall be a booty, and the multitude of their cattle a spoil: and I will scatter into all winds them that are in the utmost corners; and I will bring their calamity from all sides thereof, saith the LORD.\r\n And Hazor shall be a dwelling for dragons, and a desolation for ever: there shall no man abide there, nor any son of man dwell in it.\r\n The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet against Elam in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, saying,\r\n Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will break the bow of Elam, the chief of their might.\r\n And upon Elam will I bring the four winds from the four quarters of heaven, and will scatter them toward all those winds; and there shall be no nation whither the outcasts of Elam shall not come.\r\n For I will cause Elam to be dismayed before their enemies, and before them that seek their life: and I will bring evil upon them, even my fierce anger, saith the LORD; and I will send the sword after them, till I have consumed them:\r\n And I will set my throne in Elam, and will destroy from thence the king and the princes, saith the LORD.\r\n But it shall come to pass in the latter days, that I will bring again the captivity of Elam, saith the LORD.\r\n \r\n \r\n The word that the LORD spake against Babylon and against the land of the Chaldeans by Jeremiah the prophet.\r\n Declare ye among the nations, and publish, and set up a standard; publish, and conceal not: say, Babylon is taken, Bel is confounded, Merodach is broken in pieces; her idols are confounded, her images are broken in pieces.\r\n For out of the north there cometh up a nation against her, which shall make her land desolate, and none shall dwell therein: they shall remove, they shall depart, both man and beast.\r\n In those days, and in that time, saith the LORD, the children of Israel shall come, they and the children of Judah together, going and weeping: they shall go, and seek the LORD their God.\r\n They shall ask the way to Zion with their faces thitherward, saying, Come, and let us join ourselves to the LORD in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten.\r\n My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they have turned them away on the mountains: they have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their restingplace.\r\n All that found them have devoured them: and their adversaries said, We offend not, because they have sinned against the LORD, the habitation of justice, even the LORD, the hope of their fathers.\r\n Remove out of the midst of Babylon, and go forth out of the land of the Chaldeans, and be as the he goats before the flocks.\r\n For, lo, I will raise and cause to come up against Babylon an assembly of great nations from the north country: and they shall set themselves in array against her; from thence she shall be taken: their arrows shall be as of a mighty expert man; none shall return in vain.\r\n And Chaldea shall be a spoil: all that spoil her shall be satisfied, saith the LORD.\r\n Because ye were glad, because ye rejoiced, O ye destroyers of mine heritage, because ye are grown fat as the heifer at grass, and bellow as bulls;\r\n Your mother shall be sore confounded; she that bare you shall be ashamed: behold, the hindermost of the nations shall be a wilderness, a dry land, and a desert.\r\n Because of the wrath of the LORD it shall not be inhabited, but it shall be wholly desolate: every one that goeth by Babylon shall be astonished, and hiss at all her plagues.\r\n Put yourselves in array against Babylon round about: all ye that bend the bow, shoot at her, spare no arrows: for she hath sinned against the LORD.\r\n Shout against her round about: she hath given her hand: her foundations are fallen, her walls are thrown down: for it is the vengeance of the LORD: take vengeance upon her; as she hath done, do unto her.\r\n Cut off the sower from Babylon, and him that handleth the sickle in the time of harvest: for fear of the oppressing sword they shall turn every one to his people, and they shall flee every one to his own land.\r\n Israel is a scattered sheep; the lions have driven him away: first the king of Assyria hath devoured him; and last this Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath broken his bones.\r\n Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will punish the king of Babylon and his land, as I have punished the king of Assyria.\r\n And I will bring Israel again to his habitation, and he shall feed on Carmel and Bashan, and his soul shall be satisfied upon mount Ephraim and Gilead.\r\n In those days, and in that time, saith the LORD, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found: for I will pardon them whom I reserve.\r\n Go up against the land of Merathaim, even against it, and against the inhabitants of Pekod: waste and utterly destroy after them, saith the LORD, and do according to all that I have commanded thee.\r\n A sound of battle is in the land, and of great destruction.\r\n How is the hammer of the whole earth cut asunder and broken! how is Babylon become a desolation among the nations!\r\n I have laid a snare for thee, and thou art also taken, O Babylon, and thou wast not aware: thou art found, and also caught, because thou hast striven against the LORD.\r\n The LORD hath opened his armoury, and hath brought forth the weapons of his indignation: for this is the work of the Lord GOD of hosts in the land of the Chaldeans.\r\n Come against her from the utmost border, open her storehouses: cast her up as heaps, and destroy her utterly: let nothing of her be left.\r\n Slay all her bullocks; let them go down to the slaughter: woe unto them! for their day is come, the time of their visitation.\r\n The voice of them that flee and escape out of the land of Babylon, to declare in Zion the vengeance of the LORD our God, the vengeance of his temple.\r\n Call together the archers against Babylon: all ye that bend the bow, camp against it round about; let none thereof escape: recompense her according to her work; according to all that she hath done, do unto her: for she hath been proud against the LORD, against the Holy One of Israel.\r\n Therefore shall her young men fall in the streets, and all her men of war shall be cut off in that day, saith the LORD.\r\n Behold, I am against thee, O thou most proud, saith the Lord GOD of hosts: for thy day is come, the time that I will visit thee.\r\n And the most proud shall stumble and fall, and none shall raise him up: and I will kindle a fire in his cities, and it shall devour all round about him.\r\n Thus saith the LORD of hosts; The children of Israel and the children of Judah were oppressed together: and all that took them captives held them fast; they refused to let them go.\r\n Their Redeemer is strong; the LORD of hosts is his name: he shall throughly plead their cause, that he may give rest to the land, and disquiet the inhabitants of Babylon.\r\n A sword is upon the Chaldeans, saith the LORD, and upon the inhabitants of Babylon, and upon her princes, and upon her wise men.\r\n A sword is upon the liars; and they shall dote: a sword is upon her mighty men; and they shall be dismayed.\r\n A sword is upon their horses, and upon their chariots, and upon all the mingled people that are in the midst of her; and they shall become as women: a sword is upon her treasures; and they shall be robbed.\r\n A drought is upon her waters; and they shall be dried up: for it is the land of graven images, and they are mad upon their idols.\r\n Therefore the wild beasts of the desert with the wild beasts of the islands shall dwell there, and the owls shall dwell therein: and it shall be no more inhabited for ever; neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation.\r\n As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighbour cities thereof, saith the LORD; so shall no man abide there, neither shall any son of man dwell therein.\r\n Behold, a people shall come from the north, and a great nation, and many kings shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth.\r\n They shall hold the bow and the lance: they are cruel, and will not shew mercy: their voice shall roar like the sea, and they shall ride upon horses, every one put in array, like a man to the battle, against thee, O daughter of Babylon.\r\n The king of Babylon hath heard the report of them, and his hands waxed feeble: anguish took hold of him, and pangs as of a woman in travail.\r\n Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the swelling of Jordan unto the habitation of the strong: but I will make them suddenly run away from her: and who is a chosen man, that I may appoint over her? for who is like me? and who will appoint me the time? and who is that shepherd that will stand before me?\r\n Therefore hear ye the counsel of the LORD, that he hath taken against Babylon; and his purposes, that he hath purposed against the land of the Chaldeans: Surely the least of the flock shall draw them out: surely he shall make their habitation desolate with them.\r\n At the noise of the taking of Babylon the earth is moved, and the cry is heard among the nations.\r\n \r\n \r\n Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will raise up against Babylon, and against them that dwell in the midst of them that rise up against me, a destroying wind;\r\n And will send unto Babylon fanners, that shall fan her, and shall empty her land: for in the day of trouble they shall be against her round about.\r\n Against him that bendeth let the archer bend his bow, and against him that lifteth himself up in his brigandine: and spare ye not her young men; destroy ye utterly all her host.\r\n Thus the slain shall fall in the land of the Chaldeans, and they that are thrust through in her streets.\r\n For Israel hath not been forsaken, nor Judah of his God, of the LORD of hosts; though their land was filled with sin against the Holy One of Israel.\r\n Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and deliver every man his soul: be not cut off in her iniquity; for this is the time of the LORD'S vengeance; he will render unto her a recompence.\r\n Babylon hath been a golden cup in the LORD'S hand, that made all the earth drunken: the nations have drunken of her wine; therefore the nations are mad.\r\n Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed: howl for her; take balm for her pain, if so be she may be healed.\r\n We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed: forsake her, and let us go every one into his own country: for her judgment reacheth unto heaven, and is lifted up even to the skies.\r\n The LORD hath brought forth our righteousness: come, and let us declare in Zion the work of the LORD our God.\r\n Make bright the arrows; gather the shields: the LORD hath raised up the spirit of the kings of the Medes: for his device is against Babylon, to destroy it; because it is the vengeance of the LORD, the vengeance of his temple.\r\n Set up the standard upon the walls of Babylon, make the watch strong, set up the watchmen, prepare the ambushes: for the LORD hath both devised and done that which he spake against the inhabitants of Babylon.\r\n O thou that dwellest upon many waters, abundant in treasures, thine end is come, and the measure of thy covetousness.\r\n The LORD of hosts hath sworn by himself, saying, Surely I will fill thee with men, as with caterpillers; and they shall lift up a shout against thee.\r\n He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heaven by his understanding.\r\n When he uttereth his voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens; and he causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth: he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures.\r\n Every man is brutish by his knowledge; every founder is confounded by the graven image: for his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them.\r\n They are vanity, the work of errors: in the time of their visitation they shall perish.\r\n The portion of Jacob is not like them; for he is the former of all things: and Israel is the rod of his inheritance: the LORD of hosts is his name.\r\n Thou art my battle axe and weapons of war: for with thee will I break in pieces the nations, and with thee will I destroy kingdoms;\r\n And with thee will I break in pieces the horse and his rider; and with thee will I break in pieces the chariot and his rider;\r\n With thee also will I break in pieces man and woman; and with thee will I break in pieces old and young; and with thee will I break in pieces the young man and the maid;\r\n I will also break in pieces with thee the shepherd and his flock; and with thee will I break in pieces the husbandman and his yoke of oxen; and with thee will I break in pieces captains and rulers.\r\n And I will render unto Babylon and to all the inhabitants of Chaldea all their evil that they have done in Zion in your sight, saith the LORD.\r\n Behold, I am against thee, O destroying mountain, saith the LORD, which destroyest all the earth: and I will stretch out mine hand upon thee, and roll thee down from the rocks, and will make thee a burnt mountain.\r\n And they shall not take of thee a stone for a corner, nor a stone for foundations; but thou shalt be desolate for ever, saith the LORD.\r\n Set ye up a standard in the land, blow the trumpet among the nations, prepare the nations against her, call together against her the kingdoms of Ararat, Minni, and Ashchenaz; appoint a captain against her; cause the horses to come up as the rough caterpillers.\r\n Prepare against her the nations with the kings of the Medes, the captains thereof, and all the rulers thereof, and all the land of his dominion.\r\n And the land shall tremble and sorrow: for every purpose of the LORD shall be performed against Babylon, to make the land of Babylon a desolation without an inhabitant.\r\n The mighty men of Babylon have forborn to fight, they have remained in their holds: their might hath failed; they became as women: they have burned her dwellingplaces; her bars are broken.\r\n One post shall run to meet another, and one messenger to meet another, to shew the king of Babylon that his city is taken at one end,\r\n And that the passages are stopped, and the reeds they have burned with fire, and the men of war are affrighted.\r\n For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; The daughter of Babylon is like a threshingfloor, it is time to thresh her: yet a little while, and the time of her harvest shall come.\r\n Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon hath devoured me, he hath crushed me, he hath made me an empty vessel, he hath swallowed me up like a dragon, he hath filled his belly with my delicates, he hath cast me out.\r\n The violence done to me and to my flesh be upon Babylon, shall the inhabitant of Zion say; and my blood upon the inhabitants of Chaldea, shall Jerusalem say.\r\n Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will plead thy cause, and take vengeance for thee; and I will dry up her sea, and make her springs dry.\r\n And Babylon shall become heaps, a dwellingplace for dragons, an astonishment, and an hissing, without an inhabitant.\r\n They shall roar together like lions: they shall yell as lions' whelps.\r\n In their heat I will make their feasts, and I will make them drunken, that they may rejoice, and sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake, saith the LORD.\r\n I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter, like rams with he goats.\r\n How is Sheshach taken! and how is the praise of the whole earth surprised! how is Babylon become an astonishment among the nations!\r\n The sea is come up upon Babylon: she is covered with the multitude of the waves thereof.\r\n Her cities are a desolation, a dry land, and a wilderness, a land wherein no man dwelleth, neither doth any son of man pass thereby.\r\n And I will punish Bel in Babylon, and I will bring forth out of his mouth that which he hath swallowed up: and the nations shall not flow together any more unto him: yea, the wall of Babylon shall fall.\r\n My people, go ye out of the midst of her, and deliver ye every man his soul from the fierce anger of the LORD.\r\n And lest your heart faint, and ye fear for the rumour that shall be heard in the land; a rumour shall both come one year, and after that in another year shall come a rumour, and violence in the land, ruler against ruler.\r\n Therefore, behold, the days come, that I will do judgment upon the graven images of Babylon: and her whole land shall be confounded, and all her slain shall fall in the midst of her.\r\n Then the heaven and the earth, and all that is therein, shall sing for Babylon: for the spoilers shall come unto her from the north, saith the LORD.\r\n As Babylon hath caused the slain of Israel to fall, so at Babylon shall fall the slain of all the earth.\r\n Ye that have escaped the sword, go away, stand not still: remember the LORD afar off, and let Jerusalem come into your mind.\r\n We are confounded, because we have heard reproach: shame hath covered our faces: for strangers are come into the sanctuaries of the LORD'S house.\r\n Wherefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will do judgment upon her graven images: and through all her land the wounded shall groan.\r\n Though Babylon should mount up to heaven, and though she should fortify the height of her strength, yet from me shall spoilers come unto her, saith the LORD.\r\n A sound of a cry cometh from Babylon, and great destruction from the land of the Chaldeans:\r\n Because the LORD hath spoiled Babylon, and destroyed out of her the great voice; when her waves do roar like great waters, a noise of their voice is uttered:\r\n Because the spoiler is come upon her, even upon Babylon, and her mighty men are taken, every one of their bows is broken: for the LORD God of recompences shall surely requite.\r\n And I will make drunk her princes, and her wise men, her captains, and her rulers, and her mighty men: and they shall sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake, saith the King, whose name is the LORD of hosts.\r\n Thus saith the LORD of hosts; The broad walls of Babylon shall be utterly broken, and her high gates shall be burned with fire; and the people shall labour in vain, and the folk in the fire, and they shall be weary.\r\n The word which Jeremiah the prophet commanded Seraiah the son of Neriah, the son of Maaseiah, when he went with Zedekiah the king of Judah into Babylon in the fourth year of his reign. And this Seraiah was a quiet prince.\r\n So Jeremiah wrote in a book all the evil that should come upon Babylon, even all these words that are written against Babylon.\r\n And Jeremiah said to Seraiah, When thou comest to Babylon, and shalt see, and shalt read all these words;\r\n Then shalt thou say, O LORD, thou hast spoken against this place, to cut it off, that none shall remain in it, neither man nor beast, but that it shall be desolate for ever.\r\n And it shall be, when thou hast made an end of reading this book, that thou shalt bind a stone to it, and cast it into the midst of Euphrates:\r\n And thou shalt say, Thus shall Babylon sink, and shall not rise from the evil that I will bring upon her: and they shall be weary. Thus far are the words of Jeremiah.\r\n \r\n \r\n Zedekiah was one and twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.\r\n And he did that which was evil in the eyes of the LORD, according to all that Jehoiakim had done.\r\n For through the anger of the LORD it came to pass in Jerusalem and Judah, till he had cast them out from his presence, that Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.\r\n And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon came, he and all his army, against Jerusalem, and pitched against it, and built forts against it round about.\r\n So the city was besieged unto the eleventh year of king Zedekiah.\r\n And in the fourth month, in the ninth day of the month, the famine was sore in the city, so that there was no bread for the people of the land.\r\n Then the city was broken up, and all the men of war fled, and went forth out of the city by night by the way of the gate between the two walls, which was by the king's garden; (now the Chaldeans were by the city round about:) and they went by the way of the plain.\r\n But the army of the Chaldeans pursued after the king, and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho; and all his army was scattered from him.\r\n Then they took the king, and carried him up unto the king of Babylon to Riblah in the land of Hamath; where he gave judgment upon him.\r\n And the king of Babylon slew the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes: he slew also all the princes of Judah in Riblah.\r\n Then he put out the eyes of Zedekiah; and the king of Babylon bound him in chains, and carried him to Babylon, and put him in prison till the day of his death.\r\n Now in the fifth month, in the tenth day of the month, which was the nineteenth year of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, came Nebuzaradan, captain of the guard, which served the king of Babylon, into Jerusalem,\r\n And burned the house of the LORD, and the king's house; and all the houses of Jerusalem, and all the houses of the great men, burned he with fire:\r\n And all the army of the Chaldeans, that were with the captain of the guard, brake down all the walls of Jerusalem round about.\r\n Then Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive certain of the poor of the people, and the residue of the people that remained in the city, and those that fell away, that fell to the king of Babylon, and the rest of the multitude.\r\n But Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard left certain of the poor of the land for vinedressers and for husbandmen.\r\n Also the pillars of brass that were in the house of the LORD, and the bases, and the brasen sea that was in the house of the LORD, the Chaldeans brake, and carried all the brass of them to Babylon.\r\n The caldrons also, and the shovels, and the snuffers, and the bowls, and the spoons, and all the vessels of brass wherewith they ministered, took they away.\r\n And the basons, and the firepans, and the bowls, and the caldrons, and the candlesticks, and the spoons, and the cups; that which was of gold in gold, and that which was of silver in silver, took the captain of the guard away.\r\n The two pillars, one sea, and twelve brasen bulls that were under the bases, which king Solomon had made in the house of the LORD: the brass of all these vessels was without weight.\r\n And concerning the pillars, the height of one pillar was eighteen cubits; and a fillet of twelve cubits did compass it; and the thickness thereof was four fingers: it was hollow.\r\n And a chapiter of brass was upon it; and the height of one chapiter was five cubits, with network and pomegranates upon the chapiters round about, all of brass. The second pillar also and the pomegranates were like unto these.\r\n And there were ninety and six pomegranates on a side; and all the pomegranates upon the network were an hundred round about.\r\n And the captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, and Zephaniah the second priest, and the three keepers of the door:\r\n He took also out of the city an eunuch, which had the charge of the men of war; and seven men of them that were near the king's person, which were found in the city; and the principal scribe of the host, who mustered the people of the land; and threescore men of the people of the land, that were found in the midst of the city.\r\n So Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard took them, and brought them to the king of Babylon to Riblah.\r\n And the king of Babylon smote them, and put them to death in Riblah in the land of Hamath. Thus Judah was carried away captive out of his own land.\r\n This is the people whom Nebuchadrezzar carried away captive: in the seventh year three thousand Jews and three and twenty:\r\n In the eighteenth year of Nebuchadrezzar he carried away captive from Jerusalem eight hundred thirty and two persons:\r\n In the three and twentieth year of Nebuchadrezzar Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive of the Jews seven hundred forty and five persons: all the persons were four thousand and six hundred.\r\n And it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, in the five and twentieth day of the month, that Evilmerodach king of Babylon in the first year of his reign lifted up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah, and brought him forth out of prison,\r\n And spake kindly unto him, and set his throne above the throne of the kings that were with him in Babylon,\r\n And changed his prison garments: and he did continually eat bread before him all the days of his life.\r\n And for his diet, there was a continual diet given him of the king of Babylon, every day a portion until the day of his death, all the days of his life.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n How doth the city sit solitary, that was full of people! how is she become as a widow! she that was great among the nations, and princess among the provinces, how is she become tributary!\r\n She weepeth sore in the night, and her tears are on her cheeks: among all her lovers she hath none to comfort her: all her friends have dealt treacherously with her, they are become her enemies.\r\n Judah is gone into captivity because of affliction, and because of great servitude: she dwelleth among the heathen, she findeth no rest: all her persecutors overtook her between the straits.\r\n The ways of Zion do mourn, because none come to the solemn feasts: all her gates are desolate: her priests sigh, her virgins are afflicted, and she is in bitterness.\r\n Her adversaries are the chief, her enemies prosper; for the LORD hath afflicted her for the multitude of her transgressions: her children are gone into captivity before the enemy.\r\n And from the daughter of Zion all her beauty is departed: her princes are become like harts that find no pasture, and they are gone without strength before the pursuer.\r\n Jerusalem remembered in the days of her affliction and of her miseries all her pleasant things that she had in the days of old, when her people fell into the hand of the enemy, and none did help her: the adversaries saw her, and did mock at her sabbaths.\r\n Jerusalem hath grievously sinned; therefore she is removed: all that honoured her despise her, because they have seen her nakedness: yea, she sigheth, and turneth backward.\r\n Her filthiness is in her skirts; she remembereth not her last end; therefore she came down wonderfully: she had no comforter. O LORD, behold my affliction: for the enemy hath magnified himself.\r\n The adversary hath spread out his hand upon all her pleasant things: for she hath seen that the heathen entered into her sanctuary, whom thou didst command that they should not enter into thy congregation.\r\n All her people sigh, they seek bread; they have given their pleasant things for meat to relieve the soul: see, O LORD, and consider; for I am become vile.\r\n Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is done unto me, wherewith the LORD hath afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger.\r\n From above hath he sent fire into my bones, and it prevaileth against them: he hath spread a net for my feet, he hath turned me back: he hath made me desolate and faint all the day.\r\n The yoke of my transgressions is bound by his hand: they are wreathed, and come up upon my neck: he hath made my strength to fall, the Lord hath delivered me into their hands, from whom I am not able to rise up.\r\n The Lord hath trodden under foot all my mighty men in the midst of me: he hath called an assembly against me to crush my young men: the Lord hath trodden the virgin, the daughter of Judah, as in a winepress.\r\n For these things I weep; mine eye, mine eye runneth down with water, because the comforter that should relieve my soul is far from me: my children are desolate, because the enemy prevailed.\r\n Zion spreadeth forth her hands, and there is none to comfort her: the LORD hath commanded concerning Jacob, that his adversaries should be round about him: Jerusalem is as a menstruous woman among them.\r\n The LORD is righteous; for I have rebelled against his commandment: hear, I pray you, all people, and behold my sorrow: my virgins and my young men are gone into captivity.\r\n I called for my lovers, but they deceived me: my priests and mine elders gave up the ghost in the city, while they sought their meat to relieve their souls.\r\n Behold, O LORD; for I am in distress: my bowels are troubled; mine heart is turned within me; for I have grievously rebelled: abroad the sword bereaveth, at home there is as death.\r\n They have heard that I sigh: there is none to comfort me: all mine enemies have heard of my trouble; they are glad that thou hast done it: thou wilt bring the day that thou hast called, and they shall be like unto me.\r\n Let all their wickedness come before thee; and do unto them, as thou hast done unto me for all my transgressions: for my sighs are many, and my heart is faint.\r\n \r\n \r\n How hath the Lord covered the daughter of Zion with a cloud in his anger, and cast down from heaven unto the earth the beauty of Israel, and remembered not his footstool in the day of his anger!\r\n The Lord hath swallowed up all the habitations of Jacob, and hath not pitied: he hath thrown down in his wrath the strong holds of the daughter of Judah; he hath brought them down to the ground: he hath polluted the kingdom and the princes thereof.\r\n He hath cut off in his fierce anger all the horn of Israel: he hath drawn back his right hand from before the enemy, and he burned against Jacob like a flaming fire, which devoureth round about.\r\n He hath bent his bow like an enemy: he stood with his right hand as an adversary, and slew all that were pleasant to the eye in the tabernacle of the daughter of Zion: he poured out his fury like fire.\r\n The Lord was as an enemy: he hath swallowed up Israel, he hath swallowed up all her palaces: he hath destroyed his strong holds, and hath increased in the daughter of Judah mourning and lamentation.\r\n And he hath violently taken away his tabernacle, as if it were of a garden: he hath destroyed his places of the assembly: the LORD hath caused the solemn feasts and sabbaths to be forgotten in Zion, and hath despised in the indignation of his anger the king and the priest.\r\n The Lord hath cast off his altar, he hath abhorred his sanctuary, he hath given up into the hand of the enemy the walls of her palaces; they have made a noise in the house of the LORD, as in the day of a solemn feast.\r\n The LORD hath purposed to destroy the wall of the daughter of Zion: he hath stretched out a line, he hath not withdrawn his hand from destroying: therefore he made the rampart and the wall to lament; they languished together.\r\n Her gates are sunk into the ground; he hath destroyed and broken her bars: her king and her princes are among the Gentiles: the law is no more; her prophets also find no vision from the LORD.\r\n The elders of the daughter of Zion sit upon the ground, and keep silence: they have cast up dust upon their heads; they have girded themselves with sackcloth: the virgins of Jerusalem hang down their heads to the ground.\r\n Mine eyes do fail with tears, my bowels are troubled, my liver is poured upon the earth, for the destruction of the daughter of my people; because the children and the sucklings swoon in the streets of the city.\r\n They say to their mothers, Where is corn and wine? when they swooned as the wounded in the streets of the city, when their soul was poured out into their mothers' bosom.\r\n What thing shall I take to witness for thee? what thing shall I liken to thee, O daughter of Jerusalem? what shall I equal to thee, that I may comfort thee, O virgin daughter of Zion? for thy breach is great like the sea: who can heal thee?\r\n Thy prophets have seen vain and foolish things for thee: and they have not discovered thine iniquity, to turn away thy captivity; but have seen for thee false burdens and causes of banishment.\r\n All that pass by clap their hands at thee; they hiss and wag their head at the daughter of Jerusalem, saying, Is this the city that men call The perfection of beauty, The joy of the whole earth?\r\n All thine enemies have opened their mouth against thee: they hiss and gnash the teeth: they say, We have swallowed her up: certainly this is the day that we looked for; we have found, we have seen it.\r\n The LORD hath done that which he had devised; he hath fulfilled his word that he had commanded in the days of old: he hath thrown down, and hath not pitied: and he hath caused thine enemy to rejoice over thee, he hath set up the horn of thine adversaries.\r\n Their heart cried unto the Lord, O wall of the daughter of Zion, let tears run down like a river day and night: give thyself no rest; let not the apple of thine eye cease.\r\n Arise, cry out in the night: in the beginning of the watches pour out thine heart like water before the face of the Lord: lift up thy hands toward him for the life of thy young children, that faint for hunger in the top of every street.\r\n Behold, O LORD, and consider to whom thou hast done this. Shall the women eat their fruit, and children of a span long? shall the priest and the prophet be slain in the sanctuary of the Lord?\r\n The young and the old lie on the ground in the streets: my virgins and my young men are fallen by the sword; thou hast slain them in the day of thine anger; thou hast killed, and not pitied.\r\n Thou hast called as in a solemn day my terrors round about, so that in the day of the LORD'S anger none escaped nor remained: those that I have swaddled and brought up hath mine enemy consumed.\r\n \r\n \r\n I am the man that hath seen affliction by the rod of his wrath.\r\n He hath led me, and brought me into darkness, but not into light.\r\n Surely against me is he turned; he turneth his hand against me all the day.\r\n My flesh and my skin hath he made old; he hath broken my bones.\r\n He hath builded against me, and compassed me with gall and travail.\r\n He hath set me in dark places, as they that be dead of old.\r\n He hath hedged me about, that I cannot get out: he hath made my chain heavy.\r\n Also when I cry and shout, he shutteth out my prayer.\r\n He hath inclosed my ways with hewn stone, he hath made my paths crooked.\r\n He was unto me as a bear lying in wait, and as a lion in secret places.\r\n He hath turned aside my ways, and pulled me in pieces: he hath made me desolate.\r\n He hath bent his bow, and set me as a mark for the arrow.\r\n He hath caused the arrows of his quiver to enter into my reins.\r\n I was a derision to all my people; and their song all the day.\r\n He hath filled me with bitterness, he hath made me drunken with wormwood.\r\n He hath also broken my teeth with gravel stones, he hath covered me with ashes.\r\n And thou hast removed my soul far off from peace: I forgat prosperity.\r\n And I said, My strength and my hope is perished from the LORD:\r\n Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall.\r\n My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me.\r\n This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.\r\n It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.\r\n They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.\r\n The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.\r\n The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.\r\n It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.\r\n It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.\r\n He sitteth alone and keepeth silence, because he hath borne it upon him.\r\n He putteth his mouth in the dust; if so be there may be hope.\r\n He giveth his cheek to him that smiteth him: he is filled full with reproach.\r\n For the Lord will not cast off for ever:\r\n But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies.\r\n For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men.\r\n To crush under his feet all the prisoners of the earth,\r\n To turn aside the right of a man before the face of the most High,\r\n To subvert a man in his cause, the Lord approveth not.\r\n Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not?\r\n Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil and good?\r\n Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins?\r\n Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD.\r\n Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens.\r\n We have transgressed and have rebelled: thou hast not pardoned.\r\n Thou hast covered with anger, and persecuted us: thou hast slain, thou hast not pitied.\r\n Thou hast covered thyself with a cloud, that our prayer should not pass through.\r\n Thou hast made us as the offscouring and refuse in the midst of the people.\r\n All our enemies have opened their mouths against us.\r\n Fear and a snare is come upon us, desolation and destruction.\r\n Mine eye runneth down with rivers of water for the destruction of the daughter of my people.\r\n Mine eye trickleth down, and ceaseth not, without any intermission,\r\n Till the LORD look down, and behold from heaven.\r\n Mine eye affecteth mine heart because of all the daughters of my city.\r\n Mine enemies chased me sore, like a bird, without cause.\r\n They have cut off my life in the dungeon, and cast a stone upon me.\r\n Waters flowed over mine head; then I said, I am cut off.\r\n I called upon thy name, O LORD, out of the low dungeon.\r\n Thou hast heard my voice: hide not thine ear at my breathing, at my cry.\r\n Thou drewest near in the day that I called upon thee: thou saidst, Fear not.\r\n O Lord, thou hast pleaded the causes of my soul; thou hast redeemed my life.\r\n O LORD, thou hast seen my wrong: judge thou my cause.\r\n Thou hast seen all their vengeance and all their imaginations against me.\r\n Thou hast heard their reproach, O LORD, and all their imaginations against me;\r\n The lips of those that rose up against me, and their device against me all the day.\r\n Behold their sitting down, and their rising up; I am their musick.\r\n Render unto them a recompence, O LORD, according to the work of their hands.\r\n Give them sorrow of heart, thy curse unto them.\r\n Persecute and destroy them in anger from under the heavens of the LORD.\r\n \r\n \r\n How is the gold become dim! how is the most fine gold changed! the stones of the sanctuary are poured out in the top of every street.\r\n The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, how are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter!\r\n Even the sea monsters draw out the breast, they give suck to their young ones: the daughter of my people is become cruel, like the ostriches in the wilderness.\r\n The tongue of the sucking child cleaveth to the roof of his mouth for thirst: the young children ask bread, and no man breaketh it unto them.\r\n They that did feed delicately are desolate in the streets: they that were brought up in scarlet embrace dunghills.\r\n For the punishment of the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the punishment of the sin of Sodom, that was overthrown as in a moment, and no hands stayed on her.\r\n Her Nazarites were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk, they were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing was of sapphire:\r\n Their visage is blacker than a coal; they are not known in the streets: their skin cleaveth to their bones; it is withered, it is become like a stick.\r\n They that be slain with the sword are better than they that be slain with hunger: for these pine away, stricken through for want of the fruits of the field.\r\n The hands of the pitiful women have sodden their own children: they were their meat in the destruction of the daughter of my people.\r\n The LORD hath accomplished his fury; he hath poured out his fierce anger, and hath kindled a fire in Zion, and it hath devoured the foundations thereof.\r\n The kings of the earth, and all the inhabitants of the world, would not have believed that the adversary and the enemy should have entered into the gates of Jerusalem.\r\n For the sins of her prophets, and the iniquities of her priests, that have shed the blood of the just in the midst of her,\r\n They have wandered as blind men in the streets, they have polluted themselves with blood, so that men could not touch their garments.\r\n They cried unto them, Depart ye; it is unclean; depart, depart, touch not: when they fled away and wandered, they said among the heathen, They shall no more sojourn there.\r\n The anger of the LORD hath divided them; he will no more regard them: they respected not the persons of the priests, they favoured not the elders.\r\n As for us, our eyes as yet failed for our vain help: in our watching we have watched for a nation that could not save us.\r\n They hunt our steps, that we cannot go in our streets: our end is near, our days are fulfilled; for our end is come.\r\n Our persecutors are swifter than the eagles of the heaven: they pursued us upon the mountains, they laid wait for us in the wilderness.\r\n The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of the LORD, was taken in their pits, of whom we said, Under his shadow we shall live among the heathen.\r\n Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Edom, that dwellest in the land of Uz; the cup also shall pass through unto thee: thou shalt be drunken, and shalt make thyself naked.\r\n The punishment of thine iniquity is accomplished, O daughter of Zion; he will no more carry thee away into captivity: he will visit thine iniquity, O daughter of Edom; he will discover thy sins.\r\n \r\n \r\n Remember, O LORD, what is come upon us: consider, and behold our reproach.\r\n Our inheritance is turned to strangers, our houses to aliens.\r\n We are orphans and fatherless, our mothers are as widows.\r\n We have drunken our water for money; our wood is sold unto us.\r\n Our necks are under persecution: we labour, and have no rest.\r\n We have given the hand to the Egyptians, and to the Assyrians, to be satisfied with bread.\r\n Our fathers have sinned, and are not; and we have borne their iniquities.\r\n Servants have ruled over us: there is none that doth deliver us out of their hand.\r\n We gat our bread with the peril of our lives because of the sword of the wilderness.\r\n Our skin was black like an oven because of the terrible famine.\r\n They ravished the women in Zion, and the maids in the cities of Judah.\r\n Princes are hanged up by their hand: the faces of elders were not honoured.\r\n They took the young men to grind, and the children fell under the wood.\r\n The elders have ceased from the gate, the young men from their musick.\r\n The joy of our heart is ceased; our dance is turned into mourning.\r\n The crown is fallen from our head: woe unto us, that we have sinned!\r\n For this our heart is faint; for these things our eyes are dim.\r\n Because of the mountain of Zion, which is desolate, the foxes walk upon it.\r\n Thou, O LORD, remainest for ever; thy throne from generation to generation.\r\n Wherefore dost thou forget us for ever, and forsake us so long time?\r\n Turn thou us unto thee, O LORD, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old.\r\n But thou hast utterly rejected us; thou art very wroth against us.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the river of Chebar, that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God.\r\n In the fifth day of the month, which was the fifth year of king Jehoiachin's captivity,\r\n The word of the LORD came expressly unto Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of the LORD was there upon him.\r\n And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and a brightness was about it, and out of the midst thereof as the colour of amber, out of the midst of the fire.\r\n Also out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance; they had the likeness of a man.\r\n And every one had four faces, and every one had four wings.\r\n And their feet were straight feet; and the sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf's foot: and they sparkled like the colour of burnished brass.\r\n And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and they four had their faces and their wings.\r\n Their wings were joined one to another; they turned not when they went; they went every one straight forward.\r\n As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle.\r\n Thus were their faces: and their wings were stretched upward; two wings of every one were joined one to another, and two covered their bodies.\r\n And they went every one straight forward: whither the spirit was to go, they went; and they turned not when they went.\r\n As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, and like the appearance of lamps: it went up and down among the living creatures; and the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning.\r\n And the living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning.\r\n Now as I beheld the living creatures, behold one wheel upon the earth by the living creatures, with his four faces.\r\n The appearance of the wheels and their work was like unto the colour of a beryl: and they four had one likeness: and their appearance and their work was as it were a wheel in the middle of a wheel.\r\n When they went, they went upon their four sides: and they turned not when they went.\r\n As for their rings, they were so high that they were dreadful; and their rings were full of eyes round about them four.\r\n And when the living creatures went, the wheels went by them: and when the living creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up.\r\n Whithersoever the spirit was to go, they went, thither was their spirit to go; and the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.\r\n When those went, these went; and when those stood, these stood; and when those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.\r\n And the likeness of the firmament upon the heads of the living creature was as the colour of the terrible crystal, stretched forth over their heads above.\r\n And under the firmament were their wings straight, the one toward the other: every one had two, which covered on this side, and every one had two, which covered on that side, their bodies.\r\n And when they went, I heard the noise of their wings, like the noise of great waters, as the voice of the Almighty, the voice of speech, as the noise of an host: when they stood, they let down their wings.\r\n And there was a voice from the firmament that was over their heads, when they stood, and had let down their wings.\r\n And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone: and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it.\r\n And I saw as the colour of amber, as the appearance of fire round about within it, from the appearance of his loins even upward, and from the appearance of his loins even downward, I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about.\r\n As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake.\r\n \r\n \r\n And he said unto me, Son of man, stand upon thy feet, and I will speak unto thee.\r\n And the spirit entered into me when he spake unto me, and set me upon my feet, that I heard him that spake unto me.\r\n And he said unto me, Son of man, I send thee to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that hath rebelled against me: they and their fathers have transgressed against me, even unto this very day.\r\n For they are impudent children and stiffhearted. I do send thee unto them; and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD.\r\n And they, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear, (for they are a rebellious house,) yet shall know that there hath been a prophet among them.\r\n And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.\r\n And thou shalt speak my words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear: for they are most rebellious.\r\n But thou, son of man, hear what I say unto thee; Be not thou rebellious like that rebellious house: open thy mouth, and eat that I give thee.\r\n And when I looked, behold, an hand was sent unto me; and, lo, a roll of a book was therein;\r\n And he spread it before me; and it was written within and without: and there was written therein lamentations, and mourning, and woe.\r\n \r\n \r\n Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, eat that thou findest; eat this roll, and go speak unto the house of Israel.\r\n So I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat that roll.\r\n And he said unto me, Son of man, cause thy belly to eat, and fill thy bowels with this roll that I give thee. Then did I eat it; and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness.\r\n And he said unto me, Son of man, go, get thee unto the house of Israel, and speak with my words unto them.\r\n For thou art not sent to a people of a strange speech and of an hard language, but to the house of Israel;\r\n Not to many people of a strange speech and of an hard language, whose words thou canst not understand. Surely, had I sent thee to them, they would have hearkened unto thee.\r\n But the house of Israel will not hearken unto thee; for they will not hearken unto me: for all the house of Israel are impudent and hardhearted.\r\n Behold, I have made thy face strong against their faces, and thy forehead strong against their foreheads.\r\n As an adamant harder than flint have I made thy forehead: fear them not, neither be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.\r\n Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, all my words that I shall speak unto thee receive in thine heart, and hear with thine ears.\r\n And go, get thee to them of the captivity, unto the children of thy people, and speak unto them, and tell them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear.\r\n Then the spirit took me up, and I heard behind me a voice of a great rushing, saying, Blessed be the glory of the LORD from his place.\r\n I heard also the noise of the wings of the living creatures that touched one another, and the noise of the wheels over against them, and a noise of a great rushing.\r\n So the spirit lifted me up, and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; but the hand of the LORD was strong upon me.\r\n Then I came to them of the captivity at Telabib, that dwelt by the river of Chebar, and I sat where they sat, and remained there astonished among them seven days.\r\n And it came to pass at the end of seven days, that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,\r\n Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.\r\n When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.\r\n Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.\r\n Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand.\r\n Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul.\r\n And the hand of the LORD was there upon me; and he said unto me, Arise, go forth into the plain, and I will there talk with thee.\r\n Then I arose, and went forth into the plain: and, behold, the glory of the LORD stood there, as the glory which I saw by the river of Chebar: and I fell on my face.\r\n Then the spirit entered into me, and set me upon my feet, and spake with me, and said unto me, Go, shut thyself within thine house.\r\n But thou, O son of man, behold, they shall put bands upon thee, and shall bind thee with them, and thou shalt not go out among them:\r\n And I will make thy tongue cleave to the roof of thy mouth, that thou shalt be dumb, and shalt not be to them a reprover: for they are a rebellious house.\r\n But when I speak with thee, I will open thy mouth, and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; He that heareth, let him hear; and he that forbeareth, let him forbear: for they are a rebellious house.\r\n \r\n \r\n Thou also, son of man, take thee a tile, and lay it before thee, and pourtray upon it the city, even Jerusalem:\r\n And lay siege against it, and build a fort against it, and cast a mount against it; set the camp also against it, and set battering rams against it round about.\r\n Moreover take thou unto thee an iron pan, and set it for a wall of iron between thee and the city: and set thy face against it, and it shall be besieged, and thou shalt lay siege against it. This shall be a sign to the house of Israel.\r\n Lie thou also upon thy left side, and lay the iniquity of the house of Israel upon it: according to the number of the days that thou shalt lie upon it thou shalt bear their iniquity.\r\n For I have laid upon thee the years of their iniquity, according to the number of the days, three hundred and ninety days: so shalt thou bear the iniquity of the house of Israel.\r\n And when thou hast accomplished them, lie again on thy right side, and thou shalt bear the iniquity of the house of Judah forty days: I have appointed thee each day for a year.\r\n Therefore thou shalt set thy face toward the siege of Jerusalem, and thine arm shall be uncovered, and thou shalt prophesy against it.\r\n And, behold, I will lay bands upon thee, and thou shalt not turn thee from one side to another, till thou hast ended the days of thy siege.\r\n Take thou also unto thee wheat, and barley, and beans, and lentiles, and millet, and fitches, and put them in one vessel, and make thee bread thereof, according to the number of the days that thou shalt lie upon thy side, three hundred and ninety days shalt thou eat thereof.\r\n And thy meat which thou shalt eat shall be by weight, twenty shekels a day: from time to time shalt thou eat it.\r\n Thou shalt drink also water by measure, the sixth part of an hin: from time to time shalt thou drink.\r\n And thou shalt eat it as barley cakes, and thou shalt bake it with dung that cometh out of man, in their sight.\r\n And the LORD said, Even thus shall the children of Israel eat their defiled bread among the Gentiles, whither I will drive them.\r\n Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! behold, my soul hath not been polluted: for from my youth up even till now have I not eaten of that which dieth of itself, or is torn in pieces; neither came there abominable flesh into my mouth.\r\n Then he said unto me, Lo, I have given thee cow's dung for man's dung, and thou shalt prepare thy bread therewith.\r\n Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, behold, I will break the staff of bread in Jerusalem: and they shall eat bread by weight, and with care; and they shall drink water by measure, and with astonishment:\r\n That they may want bread and water, and be astonied one with another, and consume away for their iniquity.\r\n \r\n \r\n And thou, son of man, take thee a sharp knife, take thee a barber's razor, and cause it to pass upon thine head and upon thy beard: then take thee balances to weigh, and divide the hair.\r\n Thou shalt burn with fire a third part in the midst of the city, when the days of the siege are fulfilled: and thou shalt take a third part, and smite about it with a knife: and a third part thou shalt scatter in the wind; and I will draw out a sword after them.\r\n Thou shalt also take thereof a few in number, and bind them in thy skirts.\r\n Then take of them again, and cast them into the midst of the fire, and burn them in the fire; for thereof shall a fire come forth into all the house of Israel.\r\n Thus saith the Lord GOD; This is Jerusalem: I have set it in the midst of the nations and countries that are round about her.\r\n And she hath changed my judgments into wickedness more than the nations, and my statutes more than the countries that are round about her: for they have refused my judgments and my statutes, they have not walked in them.\r\n Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because ye multiplied more than the nations that are round about you, and have not walked in my statutes, neither have kept my judgments, neither have done according to the judgments of the nations that are round about you;\r\n Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, am against thee, and will execute judgments in the midst of thee in the sight of the nations.\r\n And I will do in thee that which I have not done, and whereunto I will not do any more the like, because of all thine abominations.\r\n Therefore the fathers shall eat the sons in the midst of thee, and the sons shall eat their fathers; and I will execute judgments in thee, and the whole remnant of thee will I scatter into all the winds.\r\n Wherefore, as I live, saith the Lord GOD; Surely, because thou hast defiled my sanctuary with all thy detestable things, and with all thine abominations, therefore will I also diminish thee; neither shall mine eye spare, neither will I have any pity.\r\n A third part of thee shall die with the pestilence, and with famine shall they be consumed in the midst of thee: and a third part shall fall by the sword round about thee; and I will scatter a third part into all the winds, and I will draw out a sword after them.\r\n Thus shall mine anger be accomplished, and I will cause my fury to rest upon them, and I will be comforted: and they shall know that I the LORD have spoken it in my zeal, when I have accomplished my fury in them.\r\n Moreover I will make thee waste, and a reproach among the nations that are round about thee, in the sight of all that pass by.\r\n So it shall be a reproach and a taunt, an instruction and an astonishment unto the nations that are round about thee, when I shall execute judgments in thee in anger and in fury and in furious rebukes. I the LORD have spoken it.\r\n When I shall send upon them the evil arrows of famine, which shall be for their destruction, and which I will send to destroy you: and I will increase the famine upon you, and will break your staff of bread:\r\n So will I send upon you famine and evil beasts, and they shall bereave thee; and pestilence and blood shall pass through thee; and I will bring the sword upon thee. I the LORD have spoken it.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,\r\n Son of man, set thy face toward the mountains of Israel, and prophesy against them,\r\n And say, Ye mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord GOD; Thus saith the Lord GOD to the mountains, and to the hills, to the rivers, and to the valleys; Behold, I, even I, will bring a sword upon you, and I will destroy your high places.\r\n And your altars shall be desolate, and your images shall be broken: and I will cast down your slain men before your idols.\r\n And I will lay the dead carcases of the children of Israel before their idols; and I will scatter your bones round about your altars.\r\n In all your dwellingplaces the cities shall be laid waste, and the high places shall be desolate; that your altars may be laid waste and made desolate, and your idols may be broken and cease, and your images may be cut down, and your works may be abolished.\r\n And the slain shall fall in the midst of you, and ye shall know that I am the LORD.\r\n Yet will I leave a remnant, that ye may have some that shall escape the sword among the nations, when ye shall be scattered through the countries.\r\n And they that escape of you shall remember me among the nations whither they shall be carried captives, because I am broken with their whorish heart, which hath departed from me, and with their eyes, which go a whoring after their idols: and they shall lothe themselves for the evils which they have committed in all their abominations.\r\n And they shall know that I am the LORD, and that I have not said in vain that I would do this evil unto them.\r\n Thus saith the Lord GOD; Smite with thine hand, and stamp with thy foot, and say, Alas for all the evil abominations of the house of Israel! for they shall fall by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence.\r\n He that is far off shall die of the pestilence; and he that is near shall fall by the sword; and he that remaineth and is besieged shall die by the famine: thus will I accomplish my fury upon them.\r\n Then shall ye know that I am the LORD, when their slain men shall be among their idols round about their altars, upon every high hill, in all the tops of the mountains, and under every green tree, and under every thick oak, the place where they did offer sweet savour to all their idols.\r\n So will I stretch out my hand upon them, and make the land desolate, yea, more desolate than the wilderness toward Diblath, in all their habitations: and they shall know that I am the LORD.\r\n \r\n \r\n Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,\r\n Also, thou son of man, thus saith the Lord GOD unto the land of Israel; An end, the end is come upon the four corners of the land.\r\n Now is the end come upon thee, and I will send mine anger upon thee, and will judge thee according to thy ways, and will recompense upon thee all thine abominations.\r\n And mine eye shall not spare thee, neither will I have pity: but I will recompense thy ways upon thee, and thine abominations shall be in the midst of thee: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.\r\n Thus saith the Lord GOD; An evil, an only evil, behold, is come.\r\n An end is come, the end is come: it watcheth for thee; behold, it is come.\r\n The morning is come unto thee, O thou that dwellest in the land: the time is come, the day of trouble is near, and not the sounding again of the mountains.\r\n Now will I shortly pour out my fury upon thee, and accomplish mine anger upon thee: and I will judge thee according to thy ways, and will recompense thee for all thine abominations.\r\n And mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: I will recompense thee according to thy ways and thine abominations that are in the midst of thee; and ye shall know that I am the LORD that smiteth.\r\n Behold the day, behold, it is come: the morning is gone forth; the rod hath blossomed, pride hath budded.\r\n Violence is risen up into a rod of wickedness: none of them shall remain, nor of their multitude, nor of any of theirs: neither shall there be wailing for them.\r\n The time is come, the day draweth near: let not the buyer rejoice, nor the seller mourn: for wrath is upon all the multitude thereof.\r\n For the seller shall not return to that which is sold, although they were yet alive: for the vision is touching the whole multitude thereof, which shall not return; neither shall any strengthen himself in the iniquity of his life.\r\n They have blown the trumpet, even to make all ready; but none goeth to the battle: for my wrath is upon all the multitude thereof.\r\n The sword is without, and the pestilence and the famine within: he that is in the field shall die with the sword; and he that is in the city, famine and pestilence shall devour him.\r\n But they that escape of them shall escape, and shall be on the mountains like doves of the valleys, all of them mourning, every one for his iniquity.\r\n All hands shall be feeble, and all knees shall be weak as water.\r\n They shall also gird themselves with sackcloth, and horror shall cover them; and shame shall be upon all faces, and baldness upon all their heads.\r\n They shall cast their silver in the streets, and their gold shall be removed: their silver and their gold shall not be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the LORD: they shall not satisfy their souls, neither fill their bowels: because it is the stumblingblock of their iniquity.\r\n As for the beauty of his ornament, he set it in majesty: but they made the images of their abominations and of their detestable things therein: therefore have I set it far from them.\r\n And I will give it into the hands of the strangers for a prey, and to the wicked of the earth for a spoil; and they shall pollute it.\r\n My face will I turn also from them, and they shall pollute my secret place: for the robbers shall enter into it, and defile it.\r\n Make a chain: for the land is full of bloody crimes, and the city is full of violence.\r\n Wherefore I will bring the worst of the heathen, and they shall possess their houses: I will also make the pomp of the strong to cease; and their holy places shall be defiled.\r\n Destruction cometh; and they shall seek peace, and there shall be none.\r\n Mischief shall come upon mischief, and rumour shall be upon rumour; then shall they seek a vision of the prophet; but the law shall perish from the priest, and counsel from the ancients.\r\n The king shall mourn, and the prince shall be clothed with desolation, and the hands of the people of the land shall be troubled: I will do unto them after their way, and according to their deserts will I judge them; and they shall know that I am the LORD.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass in the sixth year, in the sixth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I sat in mine house, and the elders of Judah sat before me, that the hand of the Lord GOD fell there upon me.\r\n Then I beheld, and lo a likeness as the appearance of fire: from the appearance of his loins even downward, fire; and from his loins even upward, as the appearance of brightness, as the colour of amber.\r\n And he put forth the form of an hand, and took me by a lock of mine head; and the spirit lifted me up between the earth and the heaven, and brought me in the visions of God to Jerusalem, to the door of the inner gate that looketh toward the north; where was the seat of the image of jealousy, which provoketh to jealousy.\r\n And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel was there, according to the vision that I saw in the plain.\r\n Then said he unto me, Son of man, lift up thine eyes now the way toward the north. So I lifted up mine eyes the way toward the north, and behold northward at the gate of the altar this image of jealousy in the entry.\r\n He said furthermore unto me, Son of man, seest thou what they do? even the great abominations that the house of Israel committeth here, that I should go far off from my sanctuary? but turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations.\r\n And he brought me to the door of the court; and when I looked, behold a hole in the wall.\r\n Then said he unto me, Son of man, dig now in the wall: and when I had digged in the wall, behold a door.\r\n And he said unto me, Go in, and behold the wicked abominations that they do here.\r\n So I went in and saw; and behold every form of creeping things, and abominable beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel, pourtrayed upon the wall round about.\r\n And there stood before them seventy men of the ancients of the house of Israel, and in the midst of them stood Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan, with every man his censer in his hand; and a thick cloud of incense went up.\r\n Then said he unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the chambers of his imagery? for they say, The LORD seeth us not; the LORD hath forsaken the earth.\r\n He said also unto me, Turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations that they do.\r\n Then he brought me to the door of the gate of the LORD'S house which was toward the north; and, behold, there sat women weeping for Tammuz.\r\n Then said he unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations than these.\r\n And he brought me into the inner court of the LORD'S house, and, behold, at the door of the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar, were about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of the LORD, and their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the sun toward the east.\r\n Then he said unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? Is it a light thing to the house of Judah that they commit the abominations which they commit here? for they have filled the land with violence, and have returned to provoke me to anger: and, lo, they put the branch to their nose.\r\n Therefore will I also deal in fury: mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: and though they cry in mine ears with a loud voice, yet will I not hear them.\r\n \r\n \r\n He cried also in mine ears with a loud voice, saying, Cause them that have charge over the city to draw near, even every man with his destroying weapon in his hand.\r\n And, behold, six men came from the way of the higher gate, which lieth toward the north, and every man a slaughter weapon in his hand; and one man among them was clothed with linen, with a writer's inkhorn by his side: and they went in, and stood beside the brasen altar.\r\n And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon he was, to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed with linen, which had the writer's inkhorn by his side;\r\n And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.\r\n And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity:\r\n Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house.\r\n And he said unto them, Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain: go ye forth. And they went forth, and slew in the city.\r\n And it came to pass, while they were slaying them, and I was left, that I fell upon my face, and cried, and said, Ah Lord GOD! wilt thou destroy all the residue of Israel in thy pouring out of thy fury upon Jerusalem?\r\n Then said he unto me, The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceeding great, and the land is full of blood, and the city full of perverseness: for they say, The LORD hath forsaken the earth, and the LORD seeth not.\r\n And as for me also, mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity, but I will recompense their way upon their head.\r\n And, behold, the man clothed with linen, which had the inkhorn by his side, reported the matter, saying, I have done as thou hast commanded me.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then I looked, and, behold, in the firmament that was above the head of the cherubims there appeared over them as it were a sapphire stone, as the appearance of the likeness of a throne.\r\n And he spake unto the man clothed with linen, and said, Go in between the wheels, even under the cherub, and fill thine hand with coals of fire from between the cherubims, and scatter them over the city. And he went in in my sight.\r\n Now the cherubims stood on the right side of the house, when the man went in; and the cloud filled the inner court.\r\n Then the glory of the LORD went up from the cherub, and stood over the threshold of the house; and the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was full of the brightness of the LORD'S glory.\r\n And the sound of the cherubims' wings was heard even to the outer court, as the voice of the Almighty God when he speaketh.\r\n And it came to pass, that when he had commanded the man clothed with linen, saying, Take fire from between the wheels, from between the cherubims; then he went in, and stood beside the wheels.\r\n And one cherub stretched forth his hand from between the cherubims unto the fire that was between the cherubims, and took thereof, and put it into the hands of him that was clothed with linen: who took it, and went out.\r\n And there appeared in the cherubims the form of a man's hand under their wings.\r\n And when I looked, behold the four wheels by the cherubims, one wheel by one cherub, and another wheel by another cherub: and the appearance of the wheels was as the colour of a beryl stone.\r\n And as for their appearances, they four had one likeness, as if a wheel had been in the midst of a wheel.\r\n When they went, they went upon their four sides; they turned not as they went, but to the place whither the head looked they followed it; they turned not as they went.\r\n And their whole body, and their backs, and their hands, and their wings, and the wheels, were full of eyes round about, even the wheels that they four had.\r\n As for the wheels, it was cried unto them in my hearing, O wheel.\r\n And every one had four faces: the first face was the face of a cherub, and the second face was the face of a man, and the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle.\r\n And the cherubims were lifted up. This is the living creature that I saw by the river of Chebar.\r\n And when the cherubims went, the wheels went by them: and when the cherubims lifted up their wings to mount up from the earth, the same wheels also turned not from beside them.\r\n When they stood, these stood; and when they were lifted up, these lifted up themselves also: for the spirit of the living creature was in them.\r\n Then the glory of the LORD departed from off the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubims.\r\n And the cherubims lifted up their wings, and mounted up from the earth in my sight: when they went out, the wheels also were beside them, and every one stood at the door of the east gate of the LORD'S house; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above.\r\n This is the living creature that I saw under the God of Israel by the river of Chebar; and I knew that they were the cherubims.\r\n Every one had four faces apiece, and every one four wings; and the likeness of the hands of a man was under their wings.\r\n And the likeness of their faces was the same faces which I saw by the river of Chebar, their appearances and themselves: they went every one straight forward.\r\n \r\n \r\n Moreover the spirit lifted me up, and brought me unto the east gate of the LORD'S house, which looketh eastward: and behold at the door of the gate five and twenty men; among whom I saw Jaazaniah the son of Azur, and Pelatiah the son of Benaiah, princes of the people.\r\n Then said he unto me, Son of man, these are the men that devise mischief, and give wicked counsel in this city:\r\n Which say, It is not near; let us build houses: this city is the caldron, and we be the flesh.\r\n Therefore prophesy against them, prophesy, O son of man.\r\n And the Spirit of the LORD fell upon me, and said unto me, Speak; Thus saith the LORD; Thus have ye said, O house of Israel: for I know the things that come into your mind, every one of them.\r\n Ye have multiplied your slain in this city, and ye have filled the streets thereof with the slain.\r\n Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Your slain whom ye have laid in the midst of it, they are the flesh, and this city is the caldron: but I will bring you forth out of the midst of it.\r\n Ye have feared the sword; and I will bring a sword upon you, saith the Lord GOD.\r\n And I will bring you out of the midst thereof, and deliver you into the hands of strangers, and will execute judgments among you.\r\n Ye shall fall by the sword; I will judge you in the border of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.\r\n This city shall not be your caldron, neither shall ye be the flesh in the midst thereof; but I will judge you in the border of Israel:\r\n And ye shall know that I am the LORD: for ye have not walked in my statutes, neither executed my judgments, but have done after the manners of the heathen that are round about you.\r\n And it came to pass, when I prophesied, that Pelatiah the son of Benaiah died. Then fell I down upon my face, and cried with a loud voice, and said, Ah Lord GOD! wilt thou make a full end of the remnant of Israel?\r\n Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,\r\n Son of man, thy brethren, even thy brethren, the men of thy kindred, and all the house of Israel wholly, are they unto whom the inhabitants of Jerusalem have said, Get you far from the LORD: unto us is this land given in possession.\r\n Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Although I have cast them far off among the heathen, and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet will I be to them as a little sanctuary in the countries where they shall come.\r\n Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will even gather you from the people, and assemble you out of the countries where ye have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.\r\n And they shall come thither, and they shall take away all the detestable things thereof and all the abominations thereof from thence.\r\n And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:\r\n That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.\r\n But as for them whose heart walketh after the heart of their detestable things and their abominations, I will recompense their way upon their own heads, saith the Lord GOD.\r\n Then did the cherubims lift up their wings, and the wheels beside them; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above.\r\n And the glory of the LORD went up from the midst of the city, and stood upon the mountain which is on the east side of the city.\r\n Afterwards the spirit took me up, and brought me in a vision by the Spirit of God into Chaldea, to them of the captivity. So the vision that I had seen went up from me.\r\n Then I spake unto them of the captivity all the things that the LORD had shewed me.\r\n \r\n \r\n The word of the LORD also came unto me, saying,\r\n Son of man, thou dwellest in the midst of a rebellious house, which have eyes to see, and see not; they have ears to hear, and hear not: for they are a rebellious house.\r\n Therefore, thou son of man, prepare thee stuff for removing, and remove by day in their sight; and thou shalt remove from thy place to another place in their sight: it may be they will consider, though they be a rebellious house.\r\n Then shalt thou bring forth thy stuff by day in their sight, as stuff for removing: and thou shalt go forth at even in their sight, as they that go forth into captivity.\r\n Dig thou through the wall in their sight, and carry out thereby.\r\n In their sight shalt thou bear it upon thy shoulders, and carry it forth in the twilight: thou shalt cover thy face, that thou see not the ground: for I have set thee for a sign unto the house of Israel.\r\n And I did so as I was commanded: I brought forth my stuff by day, as stuff for captivity, and in the even I digged through the wall with mine hand; I brought it forth in the twilight, and I bare it upon my shoulder in their sight.\r\n And in the morning came the word of the LORD unto me, saying,\r\n Son of man, hath not the house of Israel, the rebellious house, said unto thee, What doest thou?\r\n Say thou unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; This burden concerneth the prince in Jerusalem, and all the house of Israel that are among them.\r\n Say, I am your sign: like as I have done, so shall it be done unto them: they shall remove and go into captivity.\r\n And the prince that is among them shall bear upon his shoulder in the twilight, and shall go forth: they shall dig through the wall to carry out thereby: he shall cover his face, that he see not the ground with his eyes.\r\n My net also will I spread upon him, and he shall be taken in my snare: and I will bring him to Babylon to the land of the Chaldeans; yet shall he not see it, though he shall die there.\r\n And I will scatter toward every wind all that are about him to help him, and all his bands; and I will draw out the sword after them.\r\n And they shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall scatter them among the nations, and disperse them in the countries.\r\n But I will leave a few men of them from the sword, from the famine, and from the pestilence; that they may declare all their abominations among the heathen whither they come; and they shall know that I am the LORD.\r\n Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying,\r\n Son of man, eat thy bread with quaking, and drink thy water with trembling and with carefulness;\r\n And say unto the people of the land, Thus saith the Lord GOD of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and of the land of Israel; They shall eat their bread with carefulness, and drink their water with astonishment, that her land may be desolate from all that is therein, because of the violence of all them that dwell therein.\r\n And the cities that are inhabited shall be laid waste, and the land shall be desolate; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.\r\n And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,\r\n Son of man, what is that proverb that ye have in the land of Israel, saying, The days are prolonged, and every vision faileth?\r\n Tell them therefore, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will make this proverb to cease, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel; but say unto them, The days are at hand, and the effect of every vision.\r\n For there shall be no more any vain vision nor flattering divination within the house of Israel.\r\n For I am the LORD: I will speak, and the word that I shall speak shall come to pass; it shall be no more prolonged: for in your days, O rebellious house, will I say the word, and will perform it, saith the Lord GOD.\r\n Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying,\r\n Son of man, behold, they of the house of Israel say, The vision that he seeth is for many days to come, and he prophesieth of the times that are far off.\r\n Therefore say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; There shall none of my words be prolonged any more, but the word which I have spoken shall be done, saith the Lord GOD.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,\r\n Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel that prophesy, and say thou unto them that prophesy out of their own hearts, Hear ye the word of the LORD;\r\n Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!\r\n O Israel, thy prophets are like the foxes in the deserts.\r\n Ye have not gone up into the gaps, neither made up the hedge for the house of Israel to stand in the battle in the day of the LORD.\r\n They have seen vanity and lying divination, saying, The LORD saith: and the LORD hath not sent them: and they have made others to hope that they would confirm the word.\r\n Have ye not seen a vain vision, and have ye not spoken a lying divination, whereas ye say, The LORD saith it; albeit I have not spoken?\r\n Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because ye have spoken vanity, and seen lies, therefore, behold, I am against you, saith the Lord GOD.\r\n And mine hand shall be upon the prophets that see vanity, and that divine lies: they shall not be in the assembly of my people, neither shall they be written in the writing of the house of Israel, neither shall they enter into the land of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the Lord GOD.\r\n Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying, Peace; and there was no peace; and one built up a wall, and, lo, others daubed it with untempered morter:\r\n Say unto them which daub it with untempered morter, that it shall fall: there shall be an overflowing shower; and ye, O great hailstones, shall fall; and a stormy wind shall rend it.\r\n Lo, when the wall is fallen, shall it not be said unto you, Where is the daubing wherewith ye have daubed it?\r\n Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; I will even rend it with a stormy wind in my fury; and there shall be an overflowing shower in mine anger, and great hailstones in my fury to consume it.\r\n So will I break down the wall that ye have daubed with untempered morter, and bring it down to the ground, so that the foundation thereof shall be discovered, and it shall fall, and ye shall be consumed in the midst thereof: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.\r\n Thus will I accomplish my wrath upon the wall, and upon them that have daubed it with untempered morter, and will say unto you, The wall is no more, neither they that daubed it;\r\n To wit, the prophets of Israel which prophesy concerning Jerusalem, and which see visions of peace for her, and there is no peace, saith the Lord GOD.\r\n Likewise, thou son of man, set thy face against the daughters of thy people, which prophesy out of their own heart; and prophesy thou against them,\r\n And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe to the women that sew pillows to all armholes, and make kerchiefs upon the head of every stature to hunt souls! Will ye hunt the souls of my people, and will ye save the souls alive that come unto you?\r\n And will ye pollute me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, to slay the souls that should not die, and to save the souls alive that should not live, by your lying to my people that hear your lies?\r\n Wherefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against your pillows, wherewith ye there hunt the souls to make them fly, and I will tear them from your arms, and will let the souls go, even the souls that ye hunt to make them fly.\r\n Your kerchiefs also will I tear, and deliver my people out of your hand, and they shall be no more in your hand to be hunted; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.\r\n Because with lies ye have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, by promising him life:\r\n Therefore ye shall see no more vanity, nor divine divinations: for I will deliver my people out of your hand: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then came certain of the elders of Israel unto me, and sat before me.\r\n And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,\r\n Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them?\r\n Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I the LORD will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols;\r\n That I may take the house of Israel in their own heart, because they are all estranged from me through their idols.\r\n Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Repent, and turn yourselves from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations.\r\n For every one of the house of Israel, or of the stranger that sojourneth in Israel, which separateth himself from me, and setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to a prophet to enquire of him concerning me; I the LORD will answer him by myself:\r\n And I will set my face against that man, and will make him a sign and a proverb, and I will cut him off from the midst of my people; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.\r\n And if the prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I the LORD have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel.\r\n And they shall bear the punishment of their iniquity: the punishment of the prophet shall be even as the punishment of him that seeketh unto him;\r\n That the house of Israel may go no more astray from me, neither be polluted any more with all their transgressions; but that they may be my people, and I may be their God, saith the Lord GOD.\r\n The word of the LORD came again to me, saying,\r\n Son of man, when the land sinneth against me by trespassing grievously, then will I stretch out mine hand upon it, and will break the staff of the bread thereof, and will send famine upon it, and will cut off man and beast from it:\r\n Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord GOD.\r\n If I cause noisome beasts to pass through the land, and they spoil it, so that it be desolate, that no man may pass through because of the beasts:\r\n Though these three men were in it, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters; they only shall be delivered, but the land shall be desolate.\r\n Or if I bring a sword upon that land, and say, Sword, go through the land; so that I cut off man and beast from it:\r\n Though these three men were in it, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters, but they only shall be delivered themselves.\r\n Or if I send a pestilence into that land, and pour out my fury upon it in blood, to cut off from it man and beast:\r\n Though Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall but deliver their own souls by their righteousness.\r\n For thus saith the Lord GOD; How much more when I send my four sore judgments upon Jerusalem, the sword, and the famine, and the noisome beast, and the pestilence, to cut off from it man and beast?\r\n Yet, behold, therein shall be left a remnant that shall be brought forth, both sons and daughters: behold, they shall come forth unto you, and ye shall see their way and their doings: and ye shall be comforted concerning the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem, even concerning all that I have brought upon it.\r\n And they shall comfort you, when ye see their ways and their doings: and ye shall know that I have not done without cause all that I have done in it, saith the Lord GOD.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,\r\n Son of man, What is the vine tree more than any tree, or than a branch which is among the trees of the forest?\r\n Shall wood be taken thereof to do any work? or will men take a pin of it to hang any vessel thereon?\r\n Behold, it is cast into the fire for fuel; the fire devoureth both the ends of it, and the midst of it is burned. Is it meet for any work?\r\n Behold, when it was whole, it was meet for no work: how much less shall it be meet yet for any work, when the fire hath devoured it, and it is burned?\r\n Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; As the vine tree among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so will I give the inhabitants of Jerusalem.\r\n And I will set my face against them; they shall go out from one fire, and another fire shall devour them; and ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I set my face against them.\r\n And I will make the land desolate, because they have committed a trespass, saith the Lord GOD.\r\n \r\n \r\n Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,\r\n Son of man, cause Jerusalem to know her abominations,\r\n And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto Jerusalem; Thy birth and thy nativity is of the land of Canaan; thy father was an Amorite, and thy mother an Hittite.\r\n And as for thy nativity, in the day thou wast born thy navel was not cut, neither wast thou washed in water to supple thee; thou wast not salted at all, nor swaddled at all.\r\n None eye pitied thee, to do any of these unto thee, to have compassion upon thee; but thou wast cast out in the open field, to the lothing of thy person, in the day that thou wast born.\r\n And when I passed by thee, and saw thee polluted in thine own blood, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live; yea, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live.\r\n I have caused thee to multiply as the bud of the field, and thou hast increased and waxen great, and thou art come to excellent ornaments: thy breasts are fashioned, and thine hair is grown, whereas thou wast naked and bare.\r\n Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness: yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord GOD, and thou becamest mine.\r\n Then washed I thee with water; yea, I throughly washed away thy blood from thee, and I anointed thee with oil.\r\n I clothed thee also with broidered work, and shod thee with badgers' skin, and I girded thee about with fine linen, and I covered thee with silk.\r\n I decked thee also with ornaments, and I put bracelets upon thy hands, and a chain on thy neck.\r\n And I put a jewel on thy forehead, and earrings in thine ears, and a beautiful crown upon thine head.\r\n Thus wast thou decked with gold and silver; and thy raiment was of fine linen, and silk, and broidered work; thou didst eat fine flour, and honey, and oil: and thou wast exceeding beautiful, and thou didst prosper into a kingdom.\r\n And thy renown went forth among the heathen for thy beauty: for it was perfect through my comeliness, which I had put upon thee, saith the Lord GOD.\r\n But thou didst trust in thine own beauty, and playedst the harlot because of thy renown, and pouredst out thy fornications on every one that passed by; his it was.\r\n And of thy garments thou didst take, and deckedst thy high places with divers colours, and playedst the harlot thereupon: the like things shall not come, neither shall it be so.\r\n Thou hast also taken thy fair jewels of my gold and of my silver, which I had given thee, and madest to thyself images of men, and didst commit whoredom with them,\r\n And tookest thy broidered garments, and coveredst them: and thou hast set mine oil and mine incense before them.\r\n My meat also which I gave thee, fine flour, and oil, and honey, wherewith I fed thee, thou hast even set it before them for a sweet savour: and thus it was, saith the Lord GOD.\r\n Moreover thou hast taken thy sons and thy daughters, whom thou hast borne unto me, and these hast thou sacrificed unto them to be devoured. Is this of thy whoredoms a small matter,\r\n That thou hast slain my children, and delivered them to cause them to pass through the fire for them?\r\n And in all thine abominations and thy whoredoms thou hast not remembered the days of thy youth, when thou wast naked and bare, and wast polluted in thy blood.\r\n And it came to pass after all thy wickedness, (woe, woe unto thee! saith the Lord GOD;)\r\n That thou hast also built unto thee an eminent place, and hast made thee an high place in every street.\r\n Thou hast built thy high place at every head of the way, and hast made thy beauty to be abhorred, and hast opened thy feet to every one that passed by, and multiplied thy whoredoms.\r\n Thou hast also committed fornication with the Egyptians thy neighbours, great of flesh; and hast increased thy whoredoms, to provoke me to anger.\r\n Behold, therefore I have stretched out my hand over thee, and have diminished thine ordinary food, and delivered thee unto the will of them that hate thee, the daughters of the Philistines, which are ashamed of thy lewd way.\r\n Thou hast played the whore also with the Assyrians, because thou wast unsatiable; yea, thou hast played the harlot with them, and yet couldest not be satisfied.\r\n Thou hast moreover multiplied thy fornication in the land of Canaan unto Chaldea; and yet thou wast not satisfied herewith.\r\n How weak is thine heart, saith the Lord GOD, seeing thou doest all these things, the work of an imperious whorish woman;\r\n In that thou buildest thine eminent place in the head of every way, and makest thine high place in every street; and hast not been as an harlot, in that thou scornest hire;\r\n But as a wife that committeth adultery, which taketh strangers instead of her husband!\r\n They give gifts to all whores: but thou givest thy gifts to all thy lovers, and hirest them, that they may come unto thee on every side for thy whoredom.\r\n And the contrary is in thee from other women in thy whoredoms, whereas none followeth thee to commit whoredoms: and in that thou givest a reward, and no reward is given unto thee, therefore thou art contrary.\r\n Wherefore, O harlot, hear the word of the LORD:\r\n Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thy filthiness was poured out, and thy nakedness discovered through thy whoredoms with thy lovers, and with all the idols of thy abominations, and by the blood of thy children, which thou didst give unto them;\r\n Behold, therefore I will gather all thy lovers, with whom thou hast taken pleasure, and all them that thou hast loved, with all them that thou hast hated; I will even gather them round about against thee, and will discover thy nakedness unto them, that they may see all thy nakedness.\r\n And I will judge thee, as women that break wedlock and shed blood are judged; and I will give thee blood in fury and jealousy.\r\n And I will also give thee into their hand, and they shall throw down thine eminent place, and shall break down thy high places: they shall strip thee also of thy clothes, and shall take thy fair jewels, and leave thee naked and bare.\r\n They shall also bring up a company against thee, and they shall stone thee with stones, and thrust thee through with their swords.\r\n And they shall burn thine houses with fire, and execute judgments upon thee in the sight of many women: and I will cause thee to cease from playing the harlot, and thou also shalt give no hire any more.\r\n So will I make my fury toward thee to rest, and my jealousy shall depart from thee, and I will be quiet, and will be no more angry.\r\n Because thou hast not remembered the days of thy youth, but hast fretted me in all these things; behold, therefore I also will recompense thy way upon thine head, saith the Lord GOD: and thou shalt not commit this lewdness above all thine abominations.\r\n Behold, every one that useth proverbs shall use this proverb against thee, saying, As is the mother, so is her daughter.\r\n Thou art thy mother's daughter, that lotheth her husband and her children; and thou art the sister of thy sisters, which lothed their husbands and their children: your mother was an Hittite, and your father an Amorite.\r\n And thine elder sister is Samaria, she and her daughters that dwell at thy left hand: and thy younger sister, that dwelleth at thy right hand, is Sodom and her daughters.\r\n Yet hast thou not walked after their ways, nor done after their abominations: but, as if that were a very little thing, thou wast corrupted more than they in all thy ways.\r\n As I live, saith the Lord GOD, Sodom thy sister hath not done, she nor her daughters, as thou hast done, thou and thy daughters.\r\n Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.\r\n And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good.\r\n Neither hath Samaria committed half of thy sins; but thou hast multiplied thine abominations more than they, and hast justified thy sisters in all thine abominations which thou hast done.\r\n Thou also, which hast judged thy sisters, bear thine own shame for thy sins that thou hast committed more abominable than they: they are more righteous than thou: yea, be thou confounded also, and bear thy shame, in that thou hast justified thy sisters.\r\n When I shall bring again their captivity, the captivity of Sodom and her daughters, and the captivity of Samaria and her daughters, then will I bring again the captivity of thy captives in the midst of them:\r\n That thou mayest bear thine own shame, and mayest be confounded in all that thou hast done, in that thou art a comfort unto them.\r\n When thy sisters, Sodom and her daughters, shall return to their former estate, and Samaria and her daughters shall return to their former estate, then thou and thy daughters shall return to your former estate.\r\n For thy sister Sodom was not mentioned by thy mouth in the day of thy pride,\r\n Before thy wickedness was discovered, as at the time of thy reproach of the daughters of Syria, and all that are round about her, the daughters of the Philistines, which despise thee round about.\r\n Thou hast borne thy lewdness and thine abominations, saith the LORD.\r\n For thus saith the Lord GOD; I will even deal with thee as thou hast done, which hast despised the oath in breaking the covenant.\r\n Nevertheless I will remember my covenant with thee in the days of thy youth, and I will establish unto thee an everlasting covenant.\r\n Then thou shalt remember thy ways, and be ashamed, when thou shalt receive thy sisters, thine elder and thy younger: and I will give them unto thee for daughters, but not by thy covenant.\r\n And I will establish my covenant with thee; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD:\r\n That thou mayest remember, and be confounded, and never open thy mouth any more because of thy shame, when I am pacified toward thee for all that thou hast done, saith the Lord GOD.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,\r\n Son of man, put forth a riddle, and speak a parable unto the house of Israel;\r\n And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; A great eagle with great wings, longwinged, full of feathers, which had divers colours, came unto Lebanon, and took the highest branch of the cedar:\r\n He cropped off the top of his young twigs, and carried it into a land of traffick; he set it in a city of merchants.\r\n He took also of the seed of the land, and planted it in a fruitful field; he placed it by great waters, and set it as a willow tree.\r\n And it grew, and became a spreading vine of low stature, whose branches turned toward him, and the roots thereof were under him: so it became a vine, and brought forth branches, and shot forth sprigs.\r\n There was also another great eagle with great wings and many feathers: and, behold, this vine did bend her roots toward him, and shot forth her branches toward him, that he might water it by the furrows of her plantation.\r\n It was planted in a good soil by great waters, that it might bring forth branches, and that it might bear fruit, that it might be a goodly vine.\r\n Say thou, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Shall it prosper? shall he not pull up the roots thereof, and cut off the fruit thereof, that it wither? it shall wither in all the leaves of her spring, even without great power or many people to pluck it up by the roots thereof.\r\n Yea, behold, being planted, shall it prosper? shall it not utterly wither, when the east wind toucheth it? it shall wither in the furrows where it grew.\r\n Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,\r\n Say now to the rebellious house, Know ye not what these things mean? tell them, Behold, the king of Babylon is come to Jerusalem, and hath taken the king thereof, and the princes thereof, and led them with him to Babylon;\r\n And hath taken of the king's seed, and made a covenant with him, and hath taken an oath of him: he hath also taken the mighty of the land:\r\n That the kingdom might be base, that it might not lift itself up, but that by keeping of his covenant it might stand.\r\n But he rebelled against him in sending his ambassadors into Egypt, that they might give him horses and much people. Shall he prosper? shall he escape that doeth such things? or shall he break the covenant, and be delivered?\r\n As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely in the place where the king dwelleth that made him king, whose oath he despised, and whose covenant he brake, even with him in the midst of Babylon he shall die.\r\n Neither shall Pharaoh with his mighty army and great company make for him in the war, by casting up mounts, and building forts, to cut off many persons:\r\n Seeing he despised the oath by breaking the covenant, when, lo, he had given his hand, and hath done all these things, he shall not escape.\r\n Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; As I live, surely mine oath that he hath despised, and my covenant that he hath broken, even it will I recompense upon his own head.\r\n And I will spread my net upon him, and he shall be taken in my snare, and I will bring him to Babylon, and will plead with him there for his trespass that he hath trespassed against me.\r\n And all his fugitives with all his bands shall fall by the sword, and they that remain shall be scattered toward all winds: and ye shall know that I the LORD have spoken it.\r\n Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will also take of the highest branch of the high cedar, and will set it; I will crop off from the top of his young twigs a tender one, and will plant it upon an high mountain and eminent:\r\n In the mountain of the height of Israel will I plant it: and it shall bring forth boughs, and bear fruit, and be a goodly cedar: and under it shall dwell all fowl of every wing; in the shadow of the branches thereof shall they dwell.\r\n And all the trees of the field shall know that I the LORD have brought down the high tree, have exalted the low tree, have dried up the green tree, and have made the dry tree to flourish: I the LORD have spoken and have done it.\r\n \r\n \r\n The word of the LORD came unto me again, saying,\r\n What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge?\r\n As I live, saith the Lord GOD, ye shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb in Israel.\r\n Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.\r\n But if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right,\r\n And hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, neither hath defiled his neighbour's wife, neither hath come near to a menstruous woman,\r\n And hath not oppressed any, but hath restored to the debtor his pledge, hath spoiled none by violence, hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment;\r\n He that hath not given forth upon usury, neither hath taken any increase, that hath withdrawn his hand from iniquity, hath executed true judgment between man and man,\r\n Hath walked in my statutes, and hath kept my judgments, to deal truly; he is just, he shall surely live, saith the Lord GOD.\r\n If he beget a son that is a robber, a shedder of blood, and that doeth the like to any one of these things,\r\n And that doeth not any of those duties, but even hath eaten upon the mountains, and defiled his neighbour's wife,\r\n Hath oppressed the poor and needy, hath spoiled by violence, hath not restored the pledge, and hath lifted up his eyes to the idols, hath committed abomination,\r\n Hath given forth upon usury, and hath taken increase: shall he then live? he shall not live: he hath done all these abominations; he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon him.\r\n Now, lo, if he beget a son, that seeth all his father's sins which he hath done, and considereth, and doeth not such like,\r\n That hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, hath not defiled his neighbour's wife,\r\n Neither hath oppressed any, hath not withholden the pledge, neither hath spoiled by violence, but hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment,\r\n That hath taken off his hand from the poor, that hath not received usury nor increase, hath executed my judgments, hath walked in my statutes; he shall not die for the iniquity of his father, he shall surely live.\r\n As for his father, because he cruelly oppressed, spoiled his brother by violence, and did that which is not good among his people, lo, even he shall die in his iniquity.\r\n Yet say ye, Why? doth not the son bear the iniquity of the father? When the son hath done that which is lawful and right, and hath kept all my statutes, and hath done them, he shall surely live.\r\n The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.\r\n But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.\r\n All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live.\r\n Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?\r\n But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.\r\n Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal?\r\n When a righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth in them; for his iniquity that he hath done shall he die.\r\n Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive.\r\n Because he considereth, and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.\r\n Yet saith the house of Israel, The way of the Lord is not equal. O house of Israel, are not my ways equal? are not your ways unequal?\r\n Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.\r\n Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?\r\n For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.\r\n \r\n \r\n Moreover take thou up a lamentation for the princes of Israel,\r\n And say, What is thy mother? A lioness: she lay down among lions, she nourished her whelps among young lions.\r\n And she brought up one of her whelps: it became a young lion, and it learned to catch the prey; it devoured men.\r\n The nations also heard of him; he was taken in their pit, and they brought him with chains unto the land of Egypt.\r\n Now when she saw that she had waited, and her hope was lost, then she took another of her whelps, and made him a young lion.\r\n And he went up and down among the lions, he became a young lion, and learned to catch the prey, and devoured men.\r\n And he knew their desolate palaces, and he laid waste their cities; and the land was desolate, and the fulness thereof, by the noise of his roaring.\r\n Then the nations set against him on every side from the provinces, and spread their net over him: he was taken in their pit.\r\n And they put him in ward in chains, and brought him to the king of Babylon: they brought him into holds, that his voice should no more be heard upon the mountains of Israel.\r\n Thy mother is like a vine in thy blood, planted by the waters: she was fruitful and full of branches by reason of many waters.\r\n And she had strong rods for the sceptres of them that bare rule, and her stature was exalted among the thick branches, and she appeared in her height with the multitude of her branches.\r\n But she was plucked up in fury, she was cast down to the ground, and the east wind dried up her fruit: her strong rods were broken and withered; the fire consumed them.\r\n And now she is planted in the wilderness, in a dry and thirsty ground.\r\n And fire is gone out of a rod of her branches, which hath devoured her fruit, so that she hath no strong rod to be a sceptre to rule. This is a lamentation, and shall be for a lamentation.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass in the seventh year, in the fifth month, the tenth day of the month, that certain of the elders of Israel came to enquire of the LORD, and sat before me.\r\n Then came the word of the LORD unto me, saying,\r\n Son of man, speak unto the elders of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Are ye come to enquire of me? As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will not be enquired of by you.\r\n Wilt thou judge them, son of man, wilt thou judge them? cause them to know the abominations of their fathers:\r\n And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the day when I chose Israel, and lifted up mine hand unto the seed of the house of Jacob, and made myself known unto them in the land of Egypt, when I lifted up mine hand unto them, saying, I am the LORD your God;\r\n In the day that I lifted up mine hand unto them, to bring them forth of the land of Egypt into a land that I had espied for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands:\r\n Then said I unto them, Cast ye away every man the abominations of his eyes, and defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.\r\n But they rebelled against me, and would not hearken unto me: they did not every man cast away the abominations of their eyes, neither did they forsake the idols of Egypt: then I said, I will pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.\r\n But I wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, among whom they were, in whose sight I made myself known unto them, in bringing them forth out of the land of Egypt.\r\n Wherefore I caused them to go forth out of the land of Egypt, and brought them into the wilderness.\r\n And I gave them my statutes, and shewed them my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them.\r\n Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD that sanctify them.\r\n But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness: they walked not in my statutes, and they despised my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them; and my sabbaths they greatly polluted: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them in the wilderness, to consume them.\r\n But I wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, in whose sight I brought them out.\r\n Yet also I lifted up my hand unto them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands;\r\n Because they despised my judgments, and walked not in my statutes, but polluted my sabbaths: for their heart went after their idols.\r\n Nevertheless mine eye spared them from destroying them, neither did I make an end of them in the wilderness.\r\n But I said unto their children in the wilderness, Walk ye not in the statutes of your fathers, neither observe their judgments, nor defile yourselves with their idols:\r\n I am the LORD your God; walk in my statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them;\r\n And hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the LORD your God.\r\n Notwithstanding the children rebelled against me: they walked not in my statutes, neither kept my judgments to do them, which if a man do, he shall even live in them; they polluted my sabbaths: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the wilderness.\r\n Nevertheless I withdrew mine hand, and wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted in the sight of the heathen, in whose sight I brought them forth.\r\n I lifted up mine hand unto them also in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the heathen, and disperse them through the countries;\r\n Because they had not executed my judgments, but had despised my statutes, and had polluted my sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers' idols.\r\n Wherefore I gave them also statutes that were not good, and judgments whereby they should not live;\r\n And I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused to pass through the fire all that openeth the womb, that I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know that I am the LORD.\r\n Therefore, son of man, speak unto the house of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Yet in this your fathers have blasphemed me, in that they have committed a trespass against me.\r\n For when I had brought them into the land, for the which I lifted up mine hand to give it to them, then they saw every high hill, and all the thick trees, and they offered there their sacrifices, and there they presented the provocation of their offering: there also they made their sweet savour, and poured out there their drink offerings.\r\n Then I said unto them, What is the high place whereunto ye go? And the name thereof is called Bamah unto this day.\r\n Wherefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Are ye polluted after the manner of your fathers? and commit ye whoredom after their abominations?\r\n For when ye offer your gifts, when ye make your sons to pass through the fire, ye pollute yourselves with all your idols, even unto this day: and shall I be enquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will not be enquired of by you.\r\n And that which cometh into your mind shall not be at all, that ye say, We will be as the heathen, as the families of the countries, to serve wood and stone.\r\n As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out, will I rule over you:\r\n And I will bring you out from the people, and will gather you out of the countries wherein ye are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out.\r\n And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face.\r\n Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I plead with you, saith the Lord GOD.\r\n And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant:\r\n And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me: I will bring them forth out of the country where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.\r\n As for you, O house of Israel, thus saith the Lord GOD; Go ye, serve ye every one his idols, and hereafter also, if ye will not hearken unto me: but pollute ye my holy name no more with your gifts, and with your idols.\r\n For in mine holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel, saith the Lord GOD, there shall all the house of Israel, all of them in the land, serve me: there will I accept them, and there will I require your offerings, and the firstfruits of your oblations, with all your holy things.\r\n I will accept you with your sweet savour, when I bring you out from the people, and gather you out of the countries wherein ye have been scattered; and I will be sanctified in you before the heathen.\r\n And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall bring you into the land of Israel, into the country for the which I lifted up mine hand to give it to your fathers.\r\n And there shall ye remember your ways, and all your doings, wherein ye have been defiled; and ye shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that ye have committed.\r\n And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have wrought with you for my name's sake, not according to your wicked ways, nor according to your corrupt doings, O ye house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.\r\n Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,\r\n Son of man, set thy face toward the south, and drop thy word toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the south field;\r\n And say to the forest of the south, Hear the word of the LORD; Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall devour every green tree in thee, and every dry tree: the flaming flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be burned therein.\r\n And all flesh shall see that I the LORD have kindled it: it shall not be quenched.\r\n Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! they say of me, Doth he not speak parables?\r\n \r\n \r\n And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,\r\n Son of man, set thy face toward Jerusalem, and drop thy word toward the holy places, and prophesy against the land of Israel,\r\n And say to the land of Israel, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I am against thee, and will draw forth my sword out of his sheath, and will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked.\r\n Seeing then that I will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked, therefore shall my sword go forth out of his sheath against all flesh from the south to the north:\r\n That all flesh may know that I the LORD have drawn forth my sword out of his sheath: it shall not return any more.\r\n Sigh therefore, thou son of man, with the breaking of thy loins; and with bitterness sigh before their eyes.\r\n And it shall be, when they say unto thee, Wherefore sighest thou? that thou shalt answer, For the tidings; because it cometh: and every heart shall melt, and all hands shall be feeble, and every spirit shall faint, and all knees shall be weak as water: behold, it cometh, and shall be brought to pass, saith the Lord GOD.\r\n Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,\r\n Son of man, prophesy, and say, Thus saith the LORD; Say, A sword, a sword is sharpened, and also furbished:\r\n It is sharpened to make a sore slaughter; it is furbished that it may glitter: should we then make mirth? it contemneth the rod of my son, as every tree.\r\n And he hath given it to be furbished, that it may be handled: this sword is sharpened, and it is furbished, to give it into the hand of the slayer.\r\n Cry and howl, son of man: for it shall be upon my people, it shall be upon all the princes of Israel: terrors by reason of the sword shall be upon my people: smite therefore upon thy thigh.\r\n Because it is a trial, and what if the sword contemn even the rod? it shall be no more, saith the Lord GOD.\r\n Thou therefore, son of man, prophesy, and smite thine hands together, and let the sword be doubled the third time, the sword of the slain: it is the sword of the great men that are slain, which entereth into their privy chambers.\r\n I have set the point of the sword against all their gates, that their heart may faint, and their ruins be multiplied: ah! it is made bright, it is wrapped up for the slaughter.\r\n Go thee one way or other, either on the right hand, or on the left, whithersoever thy face is set.\r\n I will also smite mine hands together, and I will cause my fury to rest: I the LORD have said it.\r\n The word of the LORD came unto me again, saying,\r\n Also, thou son of man, appoint thee two ways, that the sword of the king of Babylon may come: both twain shall come forth out of one land: and choose thou a place, choose it at the head of the way to the city.\r\n Appoint a way, that the sword may come to Rabbath of the Ammonites, and to Judah in Jerusalem the defenced.\r\n For the king of Babylon stood at the parting of the way, at the head of the two ways, to use divination: he made his arrows bright, he consulted with images, he looked in the liver.\r\n At his right hand was the divination for Jerusalem, to appoint captains, to open the mouth in the slaughter, to lift up the voice with shouting, to appoint battering rams against the gates, to cast a mount, and to build a fort.\r\n And it shall be unto them as a false divination in their sight, to them that have sworn oaths: but he will call to remembrance the iniquity, that they may be taken.\r\n Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because ye have made your iniquity to be remembered, in that your transgressions are discovered, so that in all your doings your sins do appear; because, I say, that ye are come to remembrance, ye shall be taken with the hand.\r\n And thou, profane wicked prince of Israel, whose day is come, when iniquity shall have an end,\r\n Thus saith the Lord GOD; Remove the diadem, and take off the crown: this shall not be the same: exalt him that is low, and abase him that is high.\r\n I will overturn, overturn, overturn, it: and it shall be no more, until he come whose right it is; and I will give it him.\r\n And thou, son of man, prophesy and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD concerning the Ammonites, and concerning their reproach; even say thou, The sword, the sword is drawn: for the slaughter it is furbished, to consume because of the glittering:\r\n Whiles they see vanity unto thee, whiles they divine a lie unto thee, to bring thee upon the necks of them that are slain, of the wicked, whose day is come, when their iniquity shall have an end.\r\n Shall I cause it to return into his sheath? I will judge thee in the place where thou wast created, in the land of thy nativity.\r\n And I will pour out mine indignation upon thee, I will blow against thee in the fire of my wrath, and deliver thee into the hand of brutish men, and skilful to destroy.\r\n Thou shalt be for fuel to the fire; thy blood shall be in the midst of the land; thou shalt be no more remembered: for I the LORD have spoken it.\r\n \r\n \r\n Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,\r\n Now, thou son of man, wilt thou judge, wilt thou judge the bloody city? yea, thou shalt shew her all her abominations.\r\n Then say thou, Thus saith the Lord GOD, The city sheddeth blood in the midst of it, that her time may come, and maketh idols against herself to defile herself.\r\n Thou art become guilty in thy blood that thou hast shed; and hast defiled thyself in thine idols which thou hast made; and thou hast caused thy days to draw near, and art come even unto thy years: therefore have I made thee a reproach unto the heathen, and a mocking to all countries.\r\n Those that be near, and those that be far from thee, shall mock thee, which art infamous and much vexed.\r\n Behold, the princes of Israel, every one were in thee to their power to shed blood.\r\n In thee have they set light by father and mother: in the midst of thee have they dealt by oppression with the stranger: in thee have they vexed the fatherless and the widow.\r\n Thou hast despised mine holy things, and hast profaned my sabbaths.\r\n In thee are men that carry tales to shed blood: and in thee they eat upon the mountains: in the midst of thee they commit lewdness.\r\n In thee have they discovered their fathers' nakedness: in thee have they humbled her that was set apart for pollution.\r\n And one hath committed abomination with his neighbour's wife; and another hath lewdly defiled his daughter in law; and another in thee hath humbled his sister, his father's daughter.\r\n In thee have they taken gifts to shed blood; thou hast taken usury and increase, and thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbours by extortion, and hast forgotten me, saith the Lord GOD.\r\n Behold, therefore I have smitten mine hand at thy dishonest gain which thou hast made, and at thy blood which hath been in the midst of thee.\r\n Can thine heart endure, or can thine hands be strong, in the days that I shall deal with thee? I the LORD have spoken it, and will do it.\r\n And I will scatter thee among the heathen, and disperse thee in the countries, and will consume thy filthiness out of thee.\r\n And thou shalt take thine inheritance in thyself in the sight of the heathen, and thou shalt know that I am the LORD.\r\n And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,\r\n Son of man, the house of Israel is to me become dross: all they are brass, and tin, and iron, and lead, in the midst of the furnace; they are even the dross of silver.\r\n Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because ye are all become dross, behold, therefore I will gather you into the midst of Jerusalem.\r\n As they gather silver, and brass, and iron, and lead, and tin, into the midst of the furnace, to blow the fire upon it, to melt it; so will I gather you in mine anger and in my fury, and I will leave you there, and melt you.\r\n Yea, I will gather you, and blow upon you in the fire of my wrath, and ye shall be melted in the midst thereof.\r\n As silver is melted in the midst of the furnace, so shall ye be melted in the midst thereof; and ye shall know that I the LORD have poured out my fury upon you.\r\n And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,\r\n Son of man, say unto her, Thou art the land that is not cleansed, nor rained upon in the day of indignation.\r\n There is a conspiracy of her prophets in the midst thereof, like a roaring lion ravening the prey; they have devoured souls; they have taken the treasure and precious things; they have made her many widows in the midst thereof.\r\n Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them.\r\n Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain.\r\n And her prophets have daubed them with untempered morter, seeing vanity, and divining lies unto them, saying, Thus saith the Lord GOD, when the LORD hath not spoken.\r\n The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery, and have vexed the poor and needy: yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully.\r\n And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.\r\n Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath: their own way have I recompensed upon their heads, saith the Lord GOD.\r\n \r\n \r\n The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying,\r\n Son of man, there were two women, the daughters of one mother:\r\n And they committed whoredoms in Egypt; they committed whoredoms in their youth: there were their breasts pressed, and there they bruised the teats of their virginity.\r\n And the names of them were Aholah the elder, and Aholibah her sister: and they were mine, and they bare sons and daughters. Thus were their names; Samaria is Aholah, and Jerusalem Aholibah.\r\n And Aholah played the harlot when she was mine; and she doted on her lovers, on the Assyrians her neighbours,\r\n Which were clothed with blue, captains and rulers, all of them desirable young men, horsemen riding upon horses.\r\n Thus she committed her whoredoms with them, with all them that were the chosen men of Assyria, and with all on whom she doted: with all their idols she defiled herself.\r\n Neither left she her whoredoms brought from Egypt: for in her youth they lay with her, and they bruised the breasts of her virginity, and poured their whoredom upon her.\r\n Wherefore I have delivered her into the hand of her lovers, into the hand of the Assyrians, upon whom she doted.\r\n These discovered her nakedness: they took her sons and her daughters, and slew her with the sword: and she became famous among women; for they had executed judgment upon her.\r\n And when her sister Aholibah saw this, she was more corrupt in her inordinate love than she, and in her whoredoms more than her sister in her whoredoms.\r\n She doted upon the Assyrians her neighbours, captains and rulers clothed most gorgeously, horsemen riding upon horses, all of them desirable young men.\r\n Then I saw that she was defiled, that they took both one way,\r\n And that she increased her whoredoms: for when she saw men pourtrayed upon the wall, the images of the Chaldeans pourtrayed with vermilion,\r\n Girded with girdles upon their loins, exceeding in dyed attire upon their heads, all of them princes to look to, after the manner of the Babylonians of Chaldea, the land of their nativity:\r\n And as soon as she saw them with her eyes, she doted upon them, and sent messengers unto them into Chaldea.\r\n And the Babylonians came to her into the bed of love, and they defiled her with their whoredom, and she was polluted with them, and her mind was alienated from them.\r\n So she discovered her whoredoms, and discovered her nakedness: then my mind was alienated from her, like as my mind was alienated from her sister.\r\n Yet she multiplied her whoredoms, in calling to remembrance the days of her youth, wherein she had played the harlot in the land of Egypt.\r\n For she doted upon their paramours, whose flesh is as the flesh of asses, and whose issue is like the issue of horses.\r\n Thus thou calledst to remembrance the lewdness of thy youth, in bruising thy teats by the Egyptians for the paps of thy youth.\r\n Therefore, O Aholibah, thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will raise up thy lovers against thee, from whom thy mind is alienated, and I will bring them against thee on every side;\r\n The Babylonians, and all the Chaldeans, Pekod, and Shoa, and Koa, and all the Assyrians with them: all of them desirable young men, captains and rulers, great lords and renowned, all of them riding upon horses.\r\n And they shall come against thee with chariots, wagons, and wheels, and with an assembly of people, which shall set against thee buckler and shield and helmet round about: and I will set judgment before them, and they shall judge thee according to their judgments.\r\n And I will set my jealousy against thee, and they shall deal furiously with thee: they shall take away thy nose and thine ears; and thy remnant shall fall by the sword: they shall take thy sons and thy daughters; and thy residue shall be devoured by the fire.\r\n They shall also strip thee out of thy clothes, and take away thy fair jewels.\r\n Thus will I make thy lewdness to cease from thee, and thy whoredom brought from the land of Egypt: so that thou shalt not lift up thine eyes unto them, nor remember Egypt any more.\r\n For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will deliver thee into the hand of them whom thou hatest, into the hand of them from whom thy mind is alienated:\r\n And they shall deal with thee hatefully, and shall take away all thy labour, and shall leave thee naked and bare: and the nakedness of thy whoredoms shall be discovered, both thy lewdness and thy whoredoms.\r\n I will do these things unto thee, because thou hast gone a whoring after the heathen, and because thou art polluted with their idols.\r\n Thou hast walked in the way of thy sister; therefore will I give her cup into thine hand.\r\n Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou shalt drink of thy sister's cup deep and large: thou shalt be laughed to scorn and had in derision; it containeth much.\r\n Thou shalt be filled with drunkenness and sorrow, with the cup of astonishment and desolation, with the cup of thy sister Samaria.\r\n Thou shalt even drink it and suck it out, and thou shalt break the sherds thereof, and pluck off thine own breasts: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD.\r\n Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou hast forgotten me, and cast me behind thy back, therefore bear thou also thy lewdness and thy whoredoms.\r\n The LORD said moreover unto me; Son of man, wilt thou judge Aholah and Aholibah? yea, declare unto them their abominations;\r\n That they have committed adultery, and blood is in their hands, and with their idols have they committed adultery, and have also caused their sons, whom they bare unto me, to pass for them through the fire, to devour them.\r\n Moreover this they have done unto me: they have defiled my sanctuary in the same day, and have profaned my sabbaths.\r\n For when they had slain their children to their idols, then they came the same day into my sanctuary to profane it; and, lo, thus have they done in the midst of mine house.\r\n And furthermore, that ye have sent for men to come from far, unto whom a messenger was sent; and, lo, they came: for whom thou didst wash thyself, paintedst thy eyes, and deckedst thyself with ornaments,\r\n And satest upon a stately bed, and a table prepared before it, whereupon thou hast set mine incense and mine oil.\r\n And a voice of a multitude being at ease was with her: and with the men of the common sort were brought Sabeans from the wilderness, which put bracelets upon their hands, and beautiful crowns upon their heads.\r\n Then said I unto her that was old in adulteries, Will they now commit whoredoms with her, and she with them?\r\n Yet they went in unto her, as they go in unto a woman that playeth the harlot: so went they in unto Aholah and unto Aholibah, the lewd women.\r\n And the righteous men, they shall judge them after the manner of adulteresses, and after the manner of women that shed blood; because they are adulteresses, and blood is in their hands.\r\n For thus saith the Lord GOD; I will bring up a company upon them, and will give them to be removed and spoiled.\r\n And the company shall stone them with stones, and dispatch them with their swords; they shall slay their sons and their daughters, and burn up their houses with fire.\r\n Thus will I cause lewdness to cease out of the land, that all women may be taught not to do after your lewdness.\r\n And they shall recompense your lewdness upon you, and ye shall bear the sins of your idols: and ye shall know that I am the Lord GOD.\r\n \r\n \r\n Again in the ninth year, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,\r\n Son of man, write thee the name of the day, even of this same day: the king of Babylon set himself against Jerusalem this same day.\r\n And utter a parable unto the rebellious house, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Set on a pot, set it on, and also pour water into it:\r\n Gather the pieces thereof into it, even every good piece, the thigh, and the shoulder; fill it with the choice bones.\r\n Take the choice of the flock, and burn also the bones under it, and make it boil well, and let them seethe the bones of it therein.\r\n Wherefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe to the bloody city, to the pot whose scum is therein, and whose scum is not gone out of it! bring it out piece by piece; let no lot fall upon it.\r\n For her blood is in the midst of her; she set it upon the top of a rock; she poured it not upon the ground, to cover it with dust;\r\n That it might cause fury to come up to take vengeance; I have set her blood upon the top of a rock, that it should not be covered.\r\n Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe to the bloody city! I will even make the pile for fire great.\r\n Heap on wood, kindle the fire, consume the flesh, and spice it well, and let the bones be burned.\r\n Then set it empty upon the coals thereof, that the brass of it may be hot, and may burn, and that the filthiness of it may be molten in it, that the scum of it may be consumed.\r\n She hath wearied herself with lies, and her great scum went not forth out of her: her scum shall be in the fire.\r\n In thy filthiness is lewdness: because I have purged thee, and thou wast not purged, thou shalt not be purged from thy filthiness any more, till I have caused my fury to rest upon thee.\r\n I the LORD have spoken it: it shall come to pass, and I will do it; I will not go back, neither will I spare, neither will I repent; according to thy ways, and according to thy doings, shall they judge thee, saith the Lord GOD.\r\n Also the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,\r\n Son of man, behold, I take away from thee the desire of thine eyes with a stroke: yet neither shalt thou mourn nor weep, neither shall thy tears run down.\r\n Forbear to cry, make no mourning for the dead, bind the tire of thine head upon thee, and put on thy shoes upon thy feet, and cover not thy lips, and eat not the bread of men.\r\n So I spake unto the people in the morning: and at even my wife died; and I did in the morning as I was commanded.\r\n And the people said unto me, Wilt thou not tell us what these things are to us, that thou doest so?\r\n Then I answered them, The word of the LORD came unto me, saying,\r\n Speak unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will profane my sanctuary, the excellency of your strength, the desire of your eyes, and that which your soul pitieth; and your sons and your daughters whom ye have left shall fall by the sword.\r\n And ye shall do as I have done: ye shall not cover your lips, nor eat the bread of men.\r\n And your tires shall be upon your heads, and your shoes upon your feet: ye shall not mourn nor weep; but ye shall pine away for your iniquities, and mourn one toward another.\r\n Thus Ezekiel is unto you a sign: according to all that he hath done shall ye do: and when this cometh, ye shall know that I am the Lord GOD.\r\n Also, thou son of man, shall it not be in the day when I take from them their strength, the joy of their glory, the desire of their eyes, and that whereupon they set their minds, their sons and their daughters,\r\n That he that escapeth in that day shall come unto thee, to cause thee to hear it with thine ears?\r\n In that day shall thy mouth be opened to him which is escaped, and thou shalt speak, and be no more dumb: and thou shalt be a sign unto them; and they shall know that I am the LORD.\r\n \r\n \r\n The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying,\r\n Son of man, set thy face against the Ammonites, and prophesy against them;\r\n And say unto the Ammonites, Hear the word of the Lord GOD; Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou saidst, Aha, against my sanctuary, when it was profaned; and against the land of Israel, when it was desolate; and against the house of Judah, when they went into captivity;\r\n Behold, therefore I will deliver thee to the men of the east for a possession, and they shall set their palaces in thee, and make their dwellings in thee: they shall eat thy fruit, and they shall drink thy milk.\r\n And I will make Rabbah a stable for camels, and the Ammonites a couchingplace for flocks: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.\r\n For thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou hast clapped thine hands, and stamped with the feet, and rejoiced in heart with all thy despite against the land of Israel;\r\n Behold, therefore I will stretch out mine hand upon thee, and will deliver thee for a spoil to the heathen; and I will cut thee off from the people, and I will cause thee to perish out of the countries: I will destroy thee; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD.\r\n Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because that Moab and Seir do say, Behold, the house of Judah is like unto all the heathen;\r\n Therefore, behold, I will open the side of Moab from the cities, from his cities which are on his frontiers, the glory of the country, Bethjeshimoth, Baalmeon, and Kiriathaim,\r\n Unto the men of the east with the Ammonites, and will give them in possession, that the Ammonites may not be remembered among the nations.\r\n And I will execute judgments upon Moab; and they shall know that I am the LORD.\r\n Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because that Edom hath dealt against the house of Judah by taking vengeance, and hath greatly offended, and revenged himself upon them;\r\n Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; I will also stretch out mine hand upon Edom, and will cut off man and beast from it; and I will make it desolate from Teman; and they of Dedan shall fall by the sword.\r\n And I will lay my vengeance upon Edom by the hand of my people Israel: and they shall do in Edom according to mine anger and according to my fury; and they shall know my vengeance, saith the Lord GOD.\r\n Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because the Philistines have dealt by revenge, and have taken vengeance with a despiteful heart, to destroy it for the old hatred;\r\n Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will stretch out mine hand upon the Philistines, and I will cut off the Cherethims, and destroy the remnant of the sea coast.\r\n And I will execute great vengeance upon them with furious rebukes; and they shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall lay my vengeance upon them.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the first day of the month, that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,\r\n Son of man, because that Tyrus hath said against Jerusalem, Aha, she is broken that was the gates of the people: she is turned unto me: I shall be replenished, now she is laid waste:\r\n Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Tyrus, and will cause many nations to come up against thee, as the sea causeth his waves to come up.\r\n And they shall destroy the walls of Tyrus, and break down her towers: I will also scrape her dust from her, and make her like the top of a rock.\r\n It shall be a place for the spreading of nets in the midst of the sea: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD: and it shall become a spoil to the nations.\r\n And her daughters which are in the field shall be slain by the sword; and they shall know that I am the LORD.\r\n For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will bring upon Tyrus Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, a king of kings, from the north, with horses, and with chariots, and with horsemen, and companies, and much people.\r\n He shall slay with the sword thy daughters in the field: and he shall make a fort against thee, and cast a mount against thee, and lift up the buckler against thee.\r\n And he shall set engines of war against thy walls, and with his axes he shall break down thy towers.\r\n By reason of the abundance of his horses their dust shall cover thee: thy walls shall shake at the noise of the horsemen, and of the wheels, and of the chariots, when he shall enter into thy gates, as men enter into a city wherein is made a breach.\r\n With the hoofs of his horses shall he tread down all thy streets: he shall slay thy people by the sword, and thy strong garrisons shall go down to the ground.\r\n And they shall make a spoil of thy riches, and make a prey of thy merchandise: and they shall break down thy walls, and destroy thy pleasant houses: and they shall lay thy stones and thy timber and thy dust in the midst of the water.\r\n And I will cause the noise of thy songs to cease; and the sound of thy harps shall be no more heard.\r\n And I will make thee like the top of a rock: thou shalt be a place to spread nets upon; thou shalt be built no more: for I the LORD have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD.\r\n Thus saith the Lord GOD to Tyrus; Shall not the isles shake at the sound of thy fall, when the wounded cry, when the slaughter is made in the midst of thee?\r\n Then all the princes of the sea shall come down from their thrones, and lay away their robes, and put off their broidered garments: they shall clothe themselves with trembling; they shall sit upon the ground, and shall tremble at every moment, and be astonished at thee.\r\n And they shall take up a lamentation for thee, and say to thee, How art thou destroyed, that wast inhabited of seafaring men, the renowned city, which wast strong in the sea, she and her inhabitants, which cause their terror to be on all that haunt it!\r\n Now shall the isles tremble in the day of thy fall; yea, the isles that are in the sea shall be troubled at thy departure.\r\n For thus saith the Lord GOD; When I shall make thee a desolate city, like the cities that are not inhabited; when I shall bring up the deep upon thee, and great waters shall cover thee;\r\n When I shall bring thee down with them that descend into the pit, with the people of old time, and shall set thee in the low parts of the earth, in places desolate of old, with them that go down to the pit, that thou be not inhabited; and I shall set glory in the land of the living;\r\n I will make thee a terror, and thou shalt be no more: though thou be sought for, yet shalt thou never be found again, saith the Lord GOD.\r\n \r\n \r\n The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying,\r\n Now, thou son of man, take up a lamentation for Tyrus;\r\n And say unto Tyrus, O thou that art situate at the entry of the sea, which art a merchant of the people for many isles, Thus saith the Lord GOD; O Tyrus, thou hast said, I am of perfect beauty.\r\n Thy borders are in the midst of the seas, thy builders have perfected thy beauty.\r\n They have made all thy ship boards of fir trees of Senir: they have taken cedars from Lebanon to make masts for thee.\r\n Of the oaks of Bashan have they made thine oars; the company of the Ashurites have made thy benches of ivory, brought out of the isles of Chittim.\r\n Fine linen with broidered work from Egypt was that which thou spreadest forth to be thy sail; blue and purple from the isles of Elishah was that which covered thee.\r\n The inhabitants of Zidon and Arvad were thy mariners: thy wise men, O Tyrus, that were in thee, were thy pilots.\r\n The ancients of Gebal and the wise men thereof were in thee thy calkers: all the ships of the sea with their mariners were in thee to occupy thy merchandise.\r\n They of Persia and of Lud and of Phut were in thine army, thy men of war: they hanged the shield and helmet in thee; they set forth thy comeliness.\r\n The men of Arvad with thine army were upon thy walls round about, and the Gammadims were in thy towers: they hanged their shields upon thy walls round about; they have made thy beauty perfect.\r\n Tarshish was thy merchant by reason of the multitude of all kind of riches; with silver, iron, tin, and lead, they traded in thy fairs.\r\n Javan, Tubal, and Meshech, they were thy merchants: they traded the persons of men and vessels of brass in thy market.\r\n They of the house of Togarmah traded in thy fairs with horses and horsemen and mules.\r\n The men of Dedan were thy merchants; many isles were the merchandise of thine hand: they brought thee for a present horns of ivory and ebony.\r\n Syria was thy merchant by reason of the multitude of the wares of thy making: they occupied in thy fairs with emeralds, purple, and broidered work, and fine linen, and coral, and agate.\r\n Judah, and the land of Israel, they were thy merchants: they traded in thy market wheat of Minnith, and Pannag, and honey, and oil, and balm.\r\n Damascus was thy merchant in the multitude of the wares of thy making, for the multitude of all riches; in the wine of Helbon, and white wool.\r\n Dan also and Javan going to and fro occupied in thy fairs: bright iron, cassia, and calamus, were in thy market.\r\n Dedan was thy merchant in precious clothes for chariots.\r\n Arabia, and all the princes of Kedar, they occupied with thee in lambs, and rams, and goats: in these were they thy merchants.\r\n The merchants of Sheba and Raamah, they were thy merchants: they occupied in thy fairs with chief of all spices, and with all precious stones, and gold.\r\n Haran, and Canneh, and Eden, the merchants of Sheba, Asshur, and Chilmad, were thy merchants.\r\n These were thy merchants in all sorts of things, in blue clothes, and broidered work, and in chests of rich apparel, bound with cords, and made of cedar, among thy merchandise.\r\n The ships of Tarshish did sing of thee in thy market: and thou wast replenished, and made very glorious in the midst of the seas.\r\n Thy rowers have brought thee into great waters: the east wind hath broken thee in the midst of the seas.\r\n Thy riches, and thy fairs, thy merchandise, thy mariners, and thy pilots, thy calkers, and the occupiers of thy merchandise, and all thy men of war, that are in thee, and in all thy company which is in the midst of thee, shall fall into the midst of the seas in the day of thy ruin.\r\n The suburbs shall shake at the sound of the cry of thy pilots.\r\n And all that handle the oar, the mariners, and all the pilots of the sea, shall come down from their ships, they shall stand upon the land;\r\n And shall cause their voice to be heard against thee, and shall cry bitterly, and shall cast up dust upon their heads, they shall wallow themselves in the ashes:\r\n And they shall make themselves utterly bald for thee, and gird them with sackcloth, and they shall weep for thee with bitterness of heart and bitter wailing.\r\n And in their wailing they shall take up a lamentation for thee, and lament over thee, saying, What city is like Tyrus, like the destroyed in the midst of the sea?\r\n When thy wares went forth out of the seas, thou filledst many people; thou didst enrich the kings of the earth with the multitude of thy riches and of thy merchandise.\r\n In the time when thou shalt be broken by the seas in the depths of the waters thy merchandise and all thy company in the midst of thee shall fall.\r\n All the inhabitants of the isles shall be astonished at thee, and their kings shall be sore afraid, they shall be troubled in their countenance.\r\n The merchants among the people shall hiss at thee; thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt be any more.\r\n \r\n \r\n The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying,\r\n Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou art a man, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God:\r\n Behold, thou art wiser than Daniel; there is no secret that they can hide from thee:\r\n With thy wisdom and with thine understanding thou hast gotten thee riches, and hast gotten gold and silver into thy treasures:\r\n By thy great wisdom and by thy traffick hast thou increased thy riches, and thine heart is lifted up because of thy riches:\r\n Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou hast set thine heart as the heart of God;\r\n Behold, therefore I will bring strangers upon thee, the terrible of the nations: and they shall draw their swords against the beauty of thy wisdom, and they shall defile thy brightness.\r\n They shall bring thee down to the pit, and thou shalt die the deaths of them that are slain in the midst of the seas.\r\n Wilt thou yet say before him that slayeth thee, I am God? but thou shalt be a man, and no God, in the hand of him that slayeth thee.\r\n Thou shalt die the deaths of the uncircumcised by the hand of strangers: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD.\r\n Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,\r\n Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty.\r\n Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.\r\n Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.\r\n Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.\r\n By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.\r\n Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.\r\n Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee.\r\n All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more.\r\n Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,\r\n Son of man, set thy face against Zidon, and prophesy against it,\r\n And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Zidon; and I will be glorified in the midst of thee: and they shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall have executed judgments in her, and shall be sanctified in her.\r\n For I will send into her pestilence, and blood into her streets; and the wounded shall be judged in the midst of her by the sword upon her on every side; and they shall know that I am the LORD.\r\n And there shall be no more a pricking brier unto the house of Israel, nor any grieving thorn of all that are round about them, that despised them; and they shall know that I am the Lord GOD.\r\n Thus saith the Lord GOD; When I shall have gathered the house of Israel from the people among whom they are scattered, and shall be sanctified in them in the sight of the heathen, then shall they dwell in their land that I have given to my servant Jacob.\r\n And they shall dwell safely therein, and shall build houses, and plant vineyards; yea, they shall dwell with confidence, when I have executed judgments upon all those that despise them round about them; and they shall know that I am the LORD their God.\r\n \r\n \r\n In the tenth year, in the tenth month, in the twelfth day of the month, the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,\r\n Son of man, set thy face against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and prophesy against him, and against all Egypt:\r\n Speak, and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, Pharaoh king of Egypt, the great dragon that lieth in the midst of his rivers, which hath said, My river is mine own, and I have made it for myself.\r\n But I will put hooks in thy jaws, and I will cause the fish of thy rivers to stick unto thy scales, and I will bring thee up out of the midst of thy rivers, and all the fish of thy rivers shall stick unto thy scales.\r\n And I will leave thee thrown into the wilderness, thee and all the fish of thy rivers: thou shalt fall upon the open fields; thou shalt not be brought together, nor gathered: I have given thee for meat to the beasts of the field and to the fowls of the heaven.\r\n And all the inhabitants of Egypt shall know that I am the LORD, because they have been a staff of reed to the house of Israel.\r\n When they took hold of thee by thy hand, thou didst break, and rend all their shoulder: and when they leaned upon thee, thou brakest, and madest all their loins to be at a stand.\r\n Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will bring a sword upon thee, and cut off man and beast out of thee.\r\n And the land of Egypt shall be desolate and waste; and they shall know that I am the LORD: because he hath said, The river is mine, and I have made it.\r\n Behold, therefore I am against thee, and against thy rivers, and I will make the land of Egypt utterly waste and desolate, from the tower of Syene even unto the border of Ethiopia.\r\n No foot of man shall pass through it, nor foot of beast shall pass through it, neither shall it be inhabited forty years.\r\n And I will make the land of Egypt desolate in the midst of the countries that are desolate, and her cities among the cities that are laid waste shall be desolate forty years: and I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and will disperse them through the countries.\r\n Yet thus saith the Lord GOD; At the end of forty years will I gather the Egyptians from the people whither they were scattered:\r\n And I will bring again the captivity of Egypt, and will cause them to return into the land of Pathros, into the land of their habitation; and they shall be there a base kingdom.\r\n It shall be the basest of the kingdoms; neither shall it exalt itself any more above the nations: for I will diminish them, that they shall no more rule over the nations.\r\n And it shall be no more the confidence of the house of Israel, which bringeth their iniquity to remembrance, when they shall look after them: but they shall know that I am the Lord GOD.\r\n And it came to pass in the seven and twentieth year, in the first month, in the first day of the month, the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,\r\n Son of man, Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon caused his army to serve a great service against Tyrus: every head was made bald, and every shoulder was peeled: yet had he no wages, nor his army, for Tyrus, for the service that he had served against it:\r\n Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will give the land of Egypt unto Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon; and he shall take her multitude, and take her spoil, and take her prey; and it shall be the wages for his army.\r\n I have given him the land of Egypt for his labour wherewith he served against it, because they wrought for me, saith the Lord GOD.\r\n In that day will I cause the horn of the house of Israel to bud forth, and I will give thee the opening of the mouth in the midst of them; and they shall know that I am the LORD.\r\n \r\n \r\n The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying,\r\n Son of man, prophesy and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Howl ye, Woe worth the day!\r\n For the day is near, even the day of the LORD is near, a cloudy day; it shall be the time of the heathen.\r\n And the sword shall come upon Egypt, and great pain shall be in Ethiopia, when the slain shall fall in Egypt, and they shall take away her multitude, and her foundations shall be broken down.\r\n Ethiopia, and Libya, and Lydia, and all the mingled people, and Chub, and the men of the land that is in league, shall fall with them by the sword.\r\n Thus saith the LORD; They also that uphold Egypt shall fall; and the pride of her power shall come down: from the tower of Syene shall they fall in it by the sword, saith the Lord GOD.\r\n And they shall be desolate in the midst of the countries that are desolate, and her cities shall be in the midst of the cities that are wasted.\r\n And they shall know that I am the LORD, when I have set a fire in Egypt, and when all her helpers shall be destroyed.\r\n In that day shall messengers go forth from me in ships to make the careless Ethiopians afraid, and great pain shall come upon them, as in the day of Egypt: for, lo, it cometh.\r\n Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will also make the multitude of Egypt to cease by the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon.\r\n He and his people with him, the terrible of the nations, shall be brought to destroy the land: and they shall draw their swords against Egypt, and fill the land with the slain.\r\n And I will make the rivers dry, and sell the land into the hand of the wicked: and I will make the land waste, and all that is therein, by the hand of strangers: I the LORD have spoken it.\r\n Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will also destroy the idols, and I will cause their images to cease out of Noph; and there shall be no more a prince of the land of Egypt: and I will put a fear in the land of Egypt.\r\n And I will make Pathros desolate, and will set fire in Zoan, and will execute judgments in No.\r\n And I will pour my fury upon Sin, the strength of Egypt; and I will cut off the multitude of No.\r\n And I will set fire in Egypt: Sin shall have great pain, and No shall be rent asunder, and Noph shall have distresses daily.\r\n The young men of Aven and of Pibeseth shall fall by the sword: and these cities shall go into captivity.\r\n At Tehaphnehes also the day shall be darkened, when I shall break there the yokes of Egypt: and the pomp of her strength shall cease in her: as for her, a cloud shall cover her, and her daughters shall go into captivity.\r\n Thus will I execute judgments in Egypt: and they shall know that I am the LORD.\r\n And it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the first month, in the seventh day of the month, that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,\r\n Son of man, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and, lo, it shall not be bound up to be healed, to put a roller to bind it, to make it strong to hold the sword.\r\n Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and will break his arms, the strong, and that which was broken; and I will cause the sword to fall out of his hand.\r\n And I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and will disperse them through the countries.\r\n And I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, and put my sword in his hand: but I will break Pharaoh's arms, and he shall groan before him with the groanings of a deadly wounded man.\r\n But I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, and the arms of Pharaoh shall fall down; and they shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall put my sword into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall stretch it out upon the land of Egypt.\r\n And I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and disperse them among the countries; and they shall know that I am the LORD.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the third month, in the first day of the month, that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,\r\n Son of man, speak unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, and to his multitude; Whom art thou like in thy greatness?\r\n Behold, the Assyrian was a cedar in Lebanon with fair branches, and with a shadowing shroud, and of an high stature; and his top was among the thick boughs.\r\n The waters made him great, the deep set him up on high with her rivers running round about his plants, and sent out her little rivers unto all the trees of the field.\r\n Therefore his height was exalted above all the trees of the field, and his boughs were multiplied, and his branches became long because of the multitude of waters, when he shot forth.\r\n All the fowls of heaven made their nests in his boughs, and under his branches did all the beasts of the field bring forth their young, and under his shadow dwelt all great nations.\r\n Thus was he fair in his greatness, in the length of his branches: for his root was by great waters.\r\n The cedars in the garden of God could not hide him: the fir trees were not like his boughs, and the chesnut trees were not like his branches; nor any tree in the garden of God was like unto him in his beauty.\r\n I have made him fair by the multitude of his branches: so that all the trees of Eden, that were in the garden of God, envied him.\r\n Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou hast lifted up thyself in height, and he hath shot up his top among the thick boughs, and his heart is lifted up in his height;\r\n I have therefore delivered him into the hand of the mighty one of the heathen; he shall surely deal with him: I have driven him out for his wickedness.\r\n And strangers, the terrible of the nations, have cut him off, and have left him: upon the mountains and in all the valleys his branches are fallen, and his boughs are broken by all the rivers of the land; and all the people of the earth are gone down from his shadow, and have left him.\r\n Upon his ruin shall all the fowls of the heaven remain, and all the beasts of the field shall be upon his branches:\r\n To the end that none of all the trees by the waters exalt themselves for their height, neither shoot up their top among the thick boughs, neither their trees stand up in their height, all that drink water: for they are all delivered unto death, to the nether parts of the earth, in the midst of the children of men, with them that go down to the pit.\r\n Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the day when he went down to the grave I caused a mourning: I covered the deep for him, and I restrained the floods thereof, and the great waters were stayed: and I caused Lebanon to mourn for him, and all the trees of the field fainted for him.\r\n I made the nations to shake at the sound of his fall, when I cast him down to hell with them that descend into the pit: and all the trees of Eden, the choice and best of Lebanon, all that drink water, shall be comforted in the nether parts of the earth.\r\n They also went down into hell with him unto them that be slain with the sword; and they that were his arm, that dwelt under his shadow in the midst of the heathen.\r\n To whom art thou thus like in glory and in greatness among the trees of Eden? yet shalt thou be brought down with the trees of Eden unto the nether parts of the earth: thou shalt lie in the midst of the uncircumcised with them that be slain by the sword. This is Pharaoh and all his multitude, saith the Lord GOD.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass in the twelfth year, in the twelfth month, in the first day of the month, that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,\r\n Son of man, take up a lamentation for Pharaoh king of Egypt, and say unto him, Thou art like a young lion of the nations, and thou art as a whale in the seas: and thou camest forth with thy rivers, and troubledst the waters with thy feet, and fouledst their rivers.\r\n Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will therefore spread out my net over thee with a company of many people; and they shall bring thee up in my net.\r\n Then will I leave thee upon the land, I will cast thee forth upon the open field, and will cause all the fowls of the heaven to remain upon thee, and I will fill the beasts of the whole earth with thee.\r\n And I will lay thy flesh upon the mountains, and fill the valleys with thy height.\r\n I will also water with thy blood the land wherein thou swimmest, even to the mountains; and the rivers shall be full of thee.\r\n And when I shall put thee out, I will cover the heaven, and make the stars thereof dark; I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon shall not give her light.\r\n All the bright lights of heaven will I make dark over thee, and set darkness upon thy land, saith the Lord GOD.\r\n I will also vex the hearts of many people, when I shall bring thy destruction among the nations, into the countries which thou hast not known.\r\n Yea, I will make many people amazed at thee, and their kings shall be horribly afraid for thee, when I shall brandish my sword before them; and they shall tremble at every moment, every man for his own life, in the day of thy fall.\r\n For thus saith the Lord GOD; The sword of the king of Babylon shall come upon thee.\r\n By the swords of the mighty will I cause thy multitude to fall, the terrible of the nations, all of them: and they shall spoil the pomp of Egypt, and all the multitude thereof shall be destroyed.\r\n I will destroy also all the beasts thereof from beside the great waters; neither shall the foot of man trouble them any more, nor the hoofs of beasts trouble them.\r\n Then will I make their waters deep, and cause their rivers to run like oil, saith the Lord GOD.\r\n When I shall make the land of Egypt desolate, and the country shall be destitute of that whereof it was full, when I shall smite all them that dwell therein, then shall they know that I am the LORD.\r\n This is the lamentation wherewith they shall lament her: the daughters of the nations shall lament her: they shall lament for her, even for Egypt, and for all her multitude, saith the Lord GOD.\r\n It came to pass also in the twelfth year, in the fifteenth day of the month, that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,\r\n Son of man, wail for the multitude of Egypt, and cast them down, even her, and the daughters of the famous nations, unto the nether parts of the earth, with them that go down into the pit.\r\n Whom dost thou pass in beauty? go down, and be thou laid with the uncircumcised.\r\n They shall fall in the midst of them that are slain by the sword: she is delivered to the sword: draw her and all her multitudes.\r\n The strong among the mighty shall speak to him out of the midst of hell with them that help him: they are gone down, they lie uncircumcised, slain by the sword.\r\n Asshur is there and all her company: his graves are about him: all of them slain, fallen by the sword:\r\n Whose graves are set in the sides of the pit, and her company is round about her grave: all of them slain, fallen by the sword, which caused terror in the land of the living.\r\n There is Elam and all her multitude round about her grave, all of them slain, fallen by the sword, which are gone down uncircumcised into the nether parts of the earth, which caused their terror in the land of the living; yet have they borne their shame with them that go down to the pit.\r\n They have set her a bed in the midst of the slain with all her multitude: her graves are round about him: all of them uncircumcised, slain by the sword: though their terror was caused in the land of the living, yet have they borne their shame with them that go down to the pit: he is put in the midst of them that be slain.\r\n There is Meshech, Tubal, and all her multitude: her graves are round about him: all of them uncircumcised, slain by the sword, though they caused their terror in the land of the living.\r\n And they shall not lie with the mighty that are fallen of the uncircumcised, which are gone down to hell with their weapons of war: and they have laid their swords under their heads, but their iniquities shall be upon their bones, though they were the terror of the mighty in the land of the living.\r\n Yea, thou shalt be broken in the midst of the uncircumcised, and shalt lie with them that are slain with the sword.\r\n There is Edom, her kings, and all her princes, which with their might are laid by them that were slain by the sword: they shall lie with the uncircumcised, and with them that go down to the pit.\r\n There be the princes of the north, all of them, and all the Zidonians, which are gone down with the slain; with their terror they are ashamed of their might; and they lie uncircumcised with them that be slain by the sword, and bear their shame with them that go down to the pit.\r\n Pharaoh shall see them, and shall be comforted over all his multitude, even Pharaoh and all his army slain by the sword, saith the Lord GOD.\r\n For I have caused my terror in the land of the living: and he shall be laid in the midst of the uncircumcised with them that are slain with the sword, even Pharaoh and all his multitude, saith the Lord GOD.\r\n \r\n \r\n Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,\r\n Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman:\r\n If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people;\r\n Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head.\r\n He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul.\r\n But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand.\r\n So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.\r\n When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.\r\n Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.\r\n Therefore, O thou son of man, speak unto the house of Israel; Thus ye speak, saying, If our transgressions and our sins be upon us, and we pine away in them, how should we then live?\r\n Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?\r\n Therefore, thou son of man, say unto the children of thy people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression: as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall thereby in the day that he turneth from his wickedness; neither shall the righteous be able to live for his righteousness in the day that he sinneth.\r\n When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it.\r\n Again, when I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right;\r\n If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die.\r\n None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him: he hath done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live.\r\n Yet the children of thy people say, The way of the Lord is not equal: but as for them, their way is not equal.\r\n When the righteous turneth from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, he shall even die thereby.\r\n But if the wicked turn from his wickedness, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall live thereby.\r\n Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. O ye house of Israel, I will judge you every one after his ways.\r\n And it came to pass in the twelfth year of our captivity, in the tenth month, in the fifth day of the month, that one that had escaped out of Jerusalem came unto me, saying, The city is smitten.\r\n Now the hand of the LORD was upon me in the evening, afore he that was escaped came; and had opened my mouth, until he came to me in the morning; and my mouth was opened, and I was no more dumb.\r\n Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,\r\n Son of man, they that inhabit those wastes of the land of Israel speak, saying, Abraham was one, and he inherited the land: but we are many; the land is given us for inheritance.\r\n Wherefore say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Ye eat with the blood, and lift up your eyes toward your idols, and shed blood: and shall ye possess the land?\r\n Ye stand upon your sword, ye work abomination, and ye defile every one his neighbour's wife: and shall ye possess the land?\r\n Say thou thus unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; As I live, surely they that are in the wastes shall fall by the sword, and him that is in the open field will I give to the beasts to be devoured, and they that be in the forts and in the caves shall die of the pestilence.\r\n For I will lay the land most desolate, and the pomp of her strength shall cease; and the mountains of Israel shall be desolate, that none shall pass through.\r\n Then shall they know that I am the LORD, when I have laid the land most desolate because of all their abominations which they have committed.\r\n Also, thou son of man, the children of thy people still are talking against thee by the walls and in the doors of the houses, and speak one to another, every one to his brother, saying, Come, I pray you, and hear what is the word that cometh forth from the LORD.\r\n And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness.\r\n And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not.\r\n And when this cometh to pass, (lo, it will come,) then shall they know that a prophet hath been among them.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,\r\n Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks?\r\n Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock.\r\n The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them.\r\n And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered.\r\n My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them.\r\n Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD;\r\n As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely because my flock became a prey, and my flock became meat to every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, neither did my shepherds search for my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flock;\r\n Therefore, O ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD;\r\n Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against the shepherds; and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more; for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them.\r\n For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out.\r\n As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.\r\n And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country.\r\n I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be: there shall they lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel.\r\n I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord GOD.\r\n I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment.\r\n And as for you, O my flock, thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I judge between cattle and cattle, between the rams and the he goats.\r\n Seemeth it a small thing unto you to have eaten up the good pasture, but ye must tread down with your feet the residue of your pastures? and to have drunk of the deep waters, but ye must foul the residue with your feet?\r\n And as for my flock, they eat that which ye have trodden with your feet; and they drink that which ye have fouled with your feet.\r\n Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD unto them; Behold, I, even I, will judge between the fat cattle and between the lean cattle.\r\n Because ye have thrust with side and with shoulder, and pushed all the diseased with your horns, till ye have scattered them abroad;\r\n Therefore will I save my flock, and they shall no more be a prey; and I will judge between cattle and cattle.\r\n And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd.\r\n And I the LORD will be their God, and my servant David a prince among them; I the LORD have spoken it.\r\n And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land: and they shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods.\r\n And I will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing; and I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing.\r\n And the tree of the field shall yield her fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase, and they shall be safe in their land, and shall know that I am the LORD, when I have broken the bands of their yoke, and delivered them out of the hand of those that served themselves of them.\r\n And they shall no more be a prey to the heathen, neither shall the beast of the land devour them; but they shall dwell safely, and none shall make them afraid.\r\n And I will raise up for them a plant of renown, and they shall be no more consumed with hunger in the land, neither bear the shame of the heathen any more.\r\n Thus shall they know that I the LORD their God am with them, and that they, even the house of Israel, are my people, saith the Lord GOD.\r\n And ye my flock, the flock of my pasture, are men, and I am your God, saith the Lord GOD.\r\n \r\n \r\n Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,\r\n Son of man, set thy face against mount Seir, and prophesy against it,\r\n And say unto it, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O mount Seir, I am against thee, and I will stretch out mine hand against thee, and I will make thee most desolate.\r\n I will lay thy cities waste, and thou shalt be desolate, and thou shalt know that I am the LORD.\r\n Because thou hast had a perpetual hatred, and hast shed the blood of the children of Israel by the force of the sword in the time of their calamity, in the time that their iniquity had an end:\r\n Therefore, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will prepare thee unto blood, and blood shall pursue thee: sith thou hast not hated blood, even blood shall pursue thee.\r\n Thus will I make mount Seir most desolate, and cut off from it him that passeth out and him that returneth.\r\n And I will fill his mountains with his slain men: in thy hills, and in thy valleys, and in all thy rivers, shall they fall that are slain with the sword.\r\n I will make thee perpetual desolations, and thy cities shall not return: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.\r\n Because thou hast said, These two nations and these two countries shall be mine, and we will possess it; whereas the LORD was there:\r\n Therefore, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will even do according to thine anger, and according to thine envy which thou hast used out of thy hatred against them; and I will make myself known among them, when I have judged thee.\r\n And thou shalt know that I am the LORD, and that I have heard all thy blasphemies which thou hast spoken against the mountains of Israel, saying, They are laid desolate, they are given us to consume.\r\n Thus with your mouth ye have boasted against me, and have multiplied your words against me: I have heard them.\r\n Thus saith the Lord GOD; When the whole earth rejoiceth, I will make thee desolate.\r\n As thou didst rejoice at the inheritance of the house of Israel, because it was desolate, so will I do unto thee: thou shalt be desolate, O mount Seir, and all Idumea, even all of it: and they shall know that I am the LORD.\r\n \r\n \r\n Also, thou son of man, prophesy unto the mountains of Israel, and say, Ye mountains of Israel, hear the word of the LORD:\r\n Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because the enemy hath said against you, Aha, even the ancient high places are ours in possession:\r\n Therefore prophesy and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because they have made you desolate, and swallowed you up on every side, that ye might be a possession unto the residue of the heathen, and ye are taken up in the lips of talkers, and are an infamy of the people:\r\n Therefore, ye mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord GOD; Thus saith the Lord GOD to the mountains, and to the hills, to the rivers, and to the valleys, to the desolate wastes, and to the cities that are forsaken, which became a prey and derision to the residue of the heathen that are round about;\r\n Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Surely in the fire of my jealousy have I spoken against the residue of the heathen, and against all Idumea, which have appointed my land into their possession with the joy of all their heart, with despiteful minds, to cast it out for a prey.\r\n Prophesy therefore concerning the land of Israel, and say unto the mountains, and to the hills, to the rivers, and to the valleys, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I have spoken in my jealousy and in my fury, because ye have borne the shame of the heathen:\r\n Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; I have lifted up mine hand, Surely the heathen that are about you, they shall bear their shame.\r\n But ye, O mountains of Israel, ye shall shoot forth your branches, and yield your fruit to my people of Israel; for they are at hand to come.\r\n For, behold, I am for you, and I will turn unto you, and ye shall be tilled and sown:\r\n And I will multiply men upon you, all the house of Israel, even all of it: and the cities shall be inhabited, and the wastes shall be builded:\r\n And I will multiply upon you man and beast; and they shall increase and bring fruit: and I will settle you after your old estates, and will do better unto you than at your beginnings: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.\r\n Yea, I will cause men to walk upon you, even my people Israel; and they shall possess thee, and thou shalt be their inheritance, and thou shalt no more henceforth bereave them of men.\r\n Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because they say unto you, Thou land devourest up men, and hast bereaved thy nations;\r\n Therefore thou shalt devour men no more, neither bereave thy nations any more, saith the Lord GOD.\r\n Neither will I cause men to hear in thee the shame of the heathen any more, neither shalt thou bear the reproach of the people any more, neither shalt thou cause thy nations to fall any more, saith the Lord GOD.\r\n Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,\r\n Son of man, when the house of Israel dwelt in their own land, they defiled it by their own way and by their doings: their way was before me as the uncleanness of a removed woman.\r\n Wherefore I poured my fury upon them for the blood that they had shed upon the land, and for their idols wherewith they had polluted it:\r\n And I scattered them among the heathen, and they were dispersed through the countries: according to their way and according to their doings I judged them.\r\n And when they entered unto the heathen, whither they went, they profaned my holy name, when they said to them, These are the people of the LORD, and are gone forth out of his land.\r\n But I had pity for mine holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the heathen, whither they went.\r\n Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name's sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went.\r\n And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.\r\n For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.\r\n Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.\r\n A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.\r\n And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.\r\n And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.\r\n I will also save you from all your uncleannesses: and I will call for the corn, and will increase it, and lay no famine upon you.\r\n And I will multiply the fruit of the tree, and the increase of the field, that ye shall receive no more reproach of famine among the heathen.\r\n Then shall ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations.\r\n Not for your sakes do I this, saith the Lord GOD, be it known unto you: be ashamed and confounded for your own ways, O house of Israel.\r\n Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the day that I shall have cleansed you from all your iniquities I will also cause you to dwell in the cities, and the wastes shall be builded.\r\n And the desolate land shall be tilled, whereas it lay desolate in the sight of all that passed by.\r\n And they shall say, This land that was desolate is become like the garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are become fenced, and are inhabited.\r\n Then the heathen that are left round about you shall know that I the LORD build the ruined places, and plant that that was desolate: I the LORD have spoken it, and I will do it.\r\n Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will yet for this be enquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them; I will increase them with men like a flock.\r\n As the holy flock, as the flock of Jerusalem in her solemn feasts; so shall the waste cities be filled with flocks of men: and they shall know that I am the LORD.\r\n \r\n \r\n The hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones,\r\n And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry.\r\n And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest.\r\n Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.\r\n Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live:\r\n And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.\r\n So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone.\r\n And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them.\r\n Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.\r\n So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army.\r\n Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts.\r\n Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.\r\n And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves,\r\n And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith the LORD.\r\n The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying,\r\n Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions:\r\n And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand.\r\n And when the children of thy people shall speak unto thee, saying, Wilt thou not shew us what thou meanest by these?\r\n Say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in mine hand.\r\n And the sticks whereon thou writest shall be in thine hand before their eyes.\r\n And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land:\r\n And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all:\r\n Neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions: but I will save them out of all their dwellingplaces, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them: so shall they be my people, and I will be their God.\r\n And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them.\r\n And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, even they, and their children, and their children's children for ever: and my servant David shall be their prince for ever.\r\n Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore.\r\n My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people.\r\n And the heathen shall know that I the LORD do sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,\r\n Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him,\r\n And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal:\r\n And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armour, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords:\r\n Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet:\r\n Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with thee.\r\n Be thou prepared, and prepare for thyself, thou, and all thy company that are assembled unto thee, and be thou a guard unto them.\r\n After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them.\r\n Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee.\r\n Thus saith the Lord GOD; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought:\r\n And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates,\r\n To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land.\r\n Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil?\r\n Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say unto Gog, Thus saith the Lord GOD; In that day when my people of Israel dwelleth safely, shalt thou not know it?\r\n And thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts, thou, and many people with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army:\r\n And thou shalt come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes.\r\n Thus saith the Lord GOD; Art thou he of whom I have spoken in old time by my servants the prophets of Israel, which prophesied in those days many years that I would bring thee against them?\r\n And it shall come to pass at the same time when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, saith the Lord GOD, that my fury shall come up in my face.\r\n For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel;\r\n So that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the field, and all creeping things that creep upon the earth, and all the men that are upon the face of the earth, shall shake at my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground.\r\n And I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains, saith the Lord GOD: every man's sword shall be against his brother.\r\n And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone.\r\n Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the LORD.\r\n \r\n \r\n Therefore, thou son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal:\r\n And I will turn thee back, and leave but the sixth part of thee, and will cause thee to come up from the north parts, and will bring thee upon the mountains of Israel:\r\n And I will smite thy bow out of thy left hand, and will cause thine arrows to fall out of thy right hand.\r\n Thou shalt fall upon the mountains of Israel, thou, and all thy bands, and the people that is with thee: I will give thee unto the ravenous birds of every sort, and to the beasts of the field to be devoured.\r\n Thou shalt fall upon the open field: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD.\r\n And I will send a fire on Magog, and among them that dwell carelessly in the isles: and they shall know that I am the LORD.\r\n So will I make my holy name known in the midst of my people Israel; and I will not let them pollute my holy name any more: and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel.\r\n Behold, it is come, and it is done, saith the Lord GOD; this is the day whereof I have spoken.\r\n And they that dwell in the cities of Israel shall go forth, and shall set on fire and burn the weapons, both the shields and the bucklers, the bows and the arrows, and the handstaves, and the spears, and they shall burn them with fire seven years:\r\n So that they shall take no wood out of the field, neither cut down any out of the forests; for they shall burn the weapons with fire: and they shall spoil those that spoiled them, and rob those that robbed them, saith the Lord GOD.\r\n And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will give unto Gog a place there of graves in Israel, the valley of the passengers on the east of the sea: and it shall stop the noses of the passengers: and there shall they bury Gog and all his multitude: and they shall call it The valley of Hamongog.\r\n And seven months shall the house of Israel be burying of them, that they may cleanse the land.\r\n Yea, all the people of the land shall bury them; and it shall be to them a renown the day that I shall be glorified, saith the Lord GOD.\r\n And they shall sever out men of continual employment, passing through the land to bury with the passengers those that remain upon the face of the earth, to cleanse it: after the end of seven months shall they search.\r\n And the passengers that pass through the land, when any seeth a man's bone, then shall he set up a sign by it, till the buriers have buried it in the valley of Hamongog.\r\n And also the name of the city shall be Hamonah. Thus shall they cleanse the land.\r\n And, thou son of man, thus saith the Lord GOD; Speak unto every feathered fowl, and to every beast of the field, Assemble yourselves, and come; gather yourselves on every side to my sacrifice that I do sacrifice for you, even a great sacrifice upon the mountains of Israel, that ye may eat flesh, and drink blood.\r\n Ye shall eat the flesh of the mighty, and drink the blood of the princes of the earth, of rams, of lambs, and of goats, of bullocks, all of them fatlings of Bashan.\r\n And ye shall eat fat till ye be full, and drink blood till ye be drunken, of my sacrifice which I have sacrificed for you.\r\n Thus ye shall be filled at my table with horses and chariots, with mighty men, and with all men of war, saith the Lord GOD.\r\n And I will set my glory among the heathen, and all the heathen shall see my judgment that I have executed, and my hand that I have laid upon them.\r\n So the house of Israel shall know that I am the LORD their God from that day and forward.\r\n And the heathen shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity: because they trespassed against me, therefore hid I my face from them, and gave them into the hand of their enemies: so fell they all by the sword.\r\n According to their uncleanness and according to their transgressions have I done unto them, and hid my face from them.\r\n Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Now will I bring again the captivity of Jacob, and have mercy upon the whole house of Israel, and will be jealous for my holy name;\r\n After that they have borne their shame, and all their trespasses whereby they have trespassed against me, when they dwelt safely in their land, and none made them afraid.\r\n When I have brought them again from the people, and gathered them out of their enemies' lands, and am sanctified in them in the sight of many nations;\r\n Then shall they know that I am the LORD their God, which caused them to be led into captivity among the heathen: but I have gathered them unto their own land, and have left none of them any more there.\r\n Neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have poured out my spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.\r\n \r\n \r\n In the five and twentieth year of our captivity, in the beginning of the year, in the tenth day of the month, in the fourteenth year after that the city was smitten, in the selfsame day the hand of the LORD was upon me, and brought me thither.\r\n In the visions of God brought he me into the land of Israel, and set me upon a very high mountain, by which was as the frame of a city on the south.\r\n And he brought me thither, and, behold, there was a man, whose appearance was like the appearance of brass, with a line of flax in his hand, and a measuring reed; and he stood in the gate.\r\n And the man said unto me, Son of man, behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears, and set thine heart upon all that I shall shew thee; for to the intent that I might shew them unto thee art thou brought hither: declare all that thou seest to the house of Israel.\r\n And behold a wall on the outside of the house round about, and in the man's hand a measuring reed of six cubits long by the cubit and an hand breadth: so he measured the breadth of the building, one reed; and the height, one reed.\r\n Then came he unto the gate which looketh toward the east, and went up the stairs thereof, and measured the threshold of the gate, which was one reed broad; and the other threshold of the gate, which was one reed broad.\r\n And every little chamber was one reed long, and one reed broad; and between the little chambers were five cubits; and the threshold of the gate by the porch of the gate within was one reed.\r\n He measured also the porch of the gate within, one reed.\r\n Then measured he the porch of the gate, eight cubits; and the posts thereof, two cubits; and the porch of the gate was inward.\r\n And the little chambers of the gate eastward were three on this side, and three on that side; they three were of one measure: and the posts had one measure on this side and on that side.\r\n And he measured the breadth of the entry of the gate, ten cubits; and the length of the gate, thirteen cubits.\r\n The space also before the little chambers was one cubit on this side, and the space was one cubit on that side: and the little chambers were six cubits on this side, and six cubits on that side.\r\n He measured then the gate from the roof of one little chamber to the roof of another: the breadth was five and twenty cubits, door against door.\r\n He made also posts of threescore cubits, even unto the post of the court round about the gate.\r\n And from the face of the gate of the entrance unto the face of the porch of the inner gate were fifty cubits.\r\n And there were narrow windows to the little chambers, and to their posts within the gate round about, and likewise to the arches: and windows were round about inward: and upon each post were palm trees.\r\n Then brought he me into the outward court, and, lo, there were chambers, and a pavement made for the court round about: thirty chambers were upon the pavement.\r\n And the pavement by the side of the gates over against the length of the gates was the lower pavement.\r\n Then he measured the breadth from the forefront of the lower gate unto the forefront of the inner court without, an hundred cubits eastward and northward.\r\n And the gate of the outward court that looked toward the north, he measured the length thereof, and the breadth thereof.\r\n And the little chambers thereof were three on this side and three on that side; and the posts thereof and the arches thereof were after the measure of the first gate: the length thereof was fifty cubits, and the breadth five and twenty cubits.\r\n And their windows, and their arches, and their palm trees, were after the measure of the gate that looketh toward the east; and they went up unto it by seven steps; and the arches thereof were before them.\r\n And the gate of the inner court was over against the gate toward the north, and toward the east; and he measured from gate to gate an hundred cubits.\r\n After that he brought me toward the south, and behold a gate toward the south: and he measured the posts thereof and the arches thereof according to these measures.\r\n And there were windows in it and in the arches thereof round about, like those windows: the length was fifty cubits, and the breadth five and twenty cubits.\r\n And there were seven steps to go up to it, and the arches thereof were before them: and it had palm trees, one on this side, and another on that side, upon the posts thereof.\r\n And there was a gate in the inner court toward the south: and he measured from gate to gate toward the south an hundred cubits.\r\n And he brought me to the inner court by the south gate: and he measured the south gate according to these measures;\r\n And the little chambers thereof, and the posts thereof, and the arches thereof, according to these measures: and there were windows in it and in the arches thereof round about: it was fifty cubits long, and five and twenty cubits broad.\r\n And the arches round about were five and twenty cubits long, and five cubits broad.\r\n And the arches thereof were toward the utter court; and palm trees were upon the posts thereof: and the going up to it had eight steps.\r\n And he brought me into the inner court toward the east: and he measured the gate according to these measures.\r\n And the little chambers thereof, and the posts thereof, and the arches thereof, were according to these measures: and there were windows therein and in the arches thereof round about: it was fifty cubits long, and five and twenty cubits broad.\r\n And the arches thereof were toward the outward court; and palm trees were upon the posts thereof, on this side, and on that side: and the going up to it had eight steps.\r\n And he brought me to the north gate, and measured it according to these measures;\r\n The little chambers thereof, the posts thereof, and the arches thereof, and the windows to it round about: the length was fifty cubits, and the breadth five and twenty cubits.\r\n And the posts thereof were toward the utter court; and palm trees were upon the posts thereof, on this side, and on that side: and the going up to it had eight steps.\r\n And the chambers and the entries thereof were by the posts of the gates, where they washed the burnt offering.\r\n And in the porch of the gate were two tables on this side, and two tables on that side, to slay thereon the burnt offering and the sin offering and the trespass offering.\r\n And at the side without, as one goeth up to the entry of the north gate, were two tables; and on the other side, which was at the porch of the gate, were two tables.\r\n Four tables were on this side, and four tables on that side, by the side of the gate; eight tables, whereupon they slew their sacrifices.\r\n And the four tables were of hewn stone for the burnt offering, of a cubit and an half long, and a cubit and an half broad, and one cubit high: whereupon also they laid the instruments wherewith they slew the burnt offering and the sacrifice.\r\n And within were hooks, an hand broad, fastened round about: and upon the tables was the flesh of the offering.\r\n And without the inner gate were the chambers of the singers in the inner court, which was at the side of the north gate; and their prospect was toward the south: one at the side of the east gate having the prospect toward the north.\r\n And he said unto me, This chamber, whose prospect is toward the south, is for the priests, the keepers of the charge of the house.\r\n And the chamber whose prospect is toward the north is for the priests, the keepers of the charge of the altar: these are the sons of Zadok among the sons of Levi, which come near to the LORD to minister unto him.\r\n So he measured the court, an hundred cubits long, and an hundred cubits broad, foursquare; and the altar that was before the house.\r\n And he brought me to the porch of the house, and measured each post of the porch, five cubits on this side, and five cubits on that side: and the breadth of the gate was three cubits on this side, and three cubits on that side.\r\n The length of the porch was twenty cubits, and the breadth eleven cubits; and he brought me by the steps whereby they went up to it: and there were pillars by the posts, one on this side, and another on that side.\r\n \r\n \r\n Afterward he brought me to the temple, and measured the posts, six cubits broad on the one side, and six cubits broad on the other side, which was the breadth of the tabernacle.\r\n And the breadth of the door was ten cubits; and the sides of the door were five cubits on the one side, and five cubits on the other side: and he measured the length thereof, forty cubits: and the breadth, twenty cubits.\r\n Then went he inward, and measured the post of the door, two cubits; and the door, six cubits; and the breadth of the door, seven cubits.\r\n So he measured the length thereof, twenty cubits; and the breadth, twenty cubits, before the temple: and he said unto me, This is the most holy place.\r\n After he measured the wall of the house, six cubits; and the breadth of every side chamber, four cubits, round about the house on every side.\r\n And the side chambers were three, one over another, and thirty in order; and they entered into the wall which was of the house for the side chambers round about, that they might have hold, but they had not hold in the wall of the house.\r\n And there was an enlarging, and a winding about still upward to the side chambers: for the winding about of the house went still upward round about the house: therefore the breadth of the house was still upward, and so increased from the lowest chamber to the highest by the midst.\r\n I saw also the height of the house round about: the foundations of the side chambers were a full reed of six great cubits.\r\n The thickness of the wall, which was for the side chamber without, was five cubits: and that which was left was the place of the side chambers that were within.\r\n And between the chambers was the wideness of twenty cubits round about the house on every side.\r\n And the doors of the side chambers were toward the place that was left, one door toward the north, and another door toward the south: and the breadth of the place that was left was five cubits round about.\r\n Now the building that was before the separate place at the end toward the west was seventy cubits broad; and the wall of the building was five cubits thick round about, and the length thereof ninety cubits.\r\n So he measured the house, an hundred cubits long; and the separate place, and the building, with the walls thereof, an hundred cubits long;\r\n Also the breadth of the face of the house, and of the separate place toward the east, an hundred cubits.\r\n And he measured the length of the building over against the separate place which was behind it, and the galleries thereof on the one side and on the other side, an hundred cubits, with the inner temple, and the porches of the court;\r\n The door posts, and the narrow windows, and the galleries round about on their three stories, over against the door, cieled with wood round about, and from the ground up to the windows, and the windows were covered;\r\n To that above the door, even unto the inner house, and without, and by all the wall round about within and without, by measure.\r\n And it was made with cherubims and palm trees, so that a palm tree was between a cherub and a cherub; and every cherub had two faces;\r\n So that the face of a man was toward the palm tree on the one side, and the face of a young lion toward the palm tree on the other side: it was made through all the house round about.\r\n From the ground unto above the door were cherubims and palm trees made, and on the wall of the temple.\r\n The posts of the temple were squared, and the face of the sanctuary; the appearance of the one as the appearance of the other.\r\n The altar of wood was three cubits high, and the length thereof two cubits; and the corners thereof, and the length thereof, and the walls thereof, were of wood: and he said unto me, This is the table that is before the LORD.\r\n And the temple and the sanctuary had two doors.\r\n And the doors had two leaves apiece, two turning leaves; two leaves for the one door, and two leaves for the other door.\r\n And there were made on them, on the doors of the temple, cherubims and palm trees, like as were made upon the walls; and there were thick planks upon the face of the porch without.\r\n And there were narrow windows and palm trees on the one side and on the other side, on the sides of the porch, and upon the side chambers of the house, and thick planks.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then he brought me forth into the utter court, the way toward the north: and he brought me into the chamber that was over against the separate place, and which was before the building toward the north.\r\n Before the length of an hundred cubits was the north door, and the breadth was fifty cubits.\r\n Over against the twenty cubits which were for the inner court, and over against the pavement which was for the utter court, was gallery against gallery in three stories.\r\n And before the chambers was a walk of ten cubits breadth inward, a way of one cubit; and their doors toward the north.\r\n Now the upper chambers were shorter: for the galleries were higher than these, than the lower, and than the middlemost of the building.\r\n For they were in three stories, but had not pillars as the pillars of the courts: therefore the building was straitened more than the lowest and the middlemost from the ground.\r\n And the wall that was without over against the chambers, toward the utter court on the forepart of the chambers, the length thereof was fifty cubits.\r\n For the length of the chambers that were in the utter court was fifty cubits: and, lo, before the temple were an hundred cubits.\r\n And from under these chambers was the entry on the east side, as one goeth into them from the utter court.\r\n The chambers were in the thickness of the wall of the court toward the east, over against the separate place, and over against the building.\r\n And the way before them was like the appearance of the chambers which were toward the north, as long as they, and as broad as they: and all their goings out were both according to their fashions, and according to their doors.\r\n And according to the doors of the chambers that were toward the south was a door in the head of the way, even the way directly before the wall toward the east, as one entereth into them.\r\n Then said he unto me, The north chambers and the south chambers, which are before the separate place, they be holy chambers, where the priests that approach unto the LORD shall eat the most holy things: there shall they lay the most holy things, and the meat offering, and the sin offering, and the trespass offering; for the place is holy.\r\n When the priests enter therein, then shall they not go out of the holy place into the utter court, but there they shall lay their garments wherein they minister; for they are holy; and shall put on other garments, and shall approach to those things which are for the people.\r\n Now when he had made an end of measuring the inner house, he brought me forth toward the gate whose prospect is toward the east, and measured it round about.\r\n He measured the east side with the measuring reed, five hundred reeds, with the measuring reed round about.\r\n He measured the north side, five hundred reeds, with the measuring reed round about.\r\n He measured the south side, five hundred reeds, with the measuring reed.\r\n He turned about to the west side, and measured five hundred reeds with the measuring reed.\r\n He measured it by the four sides: it had a wall round about, five hundred reeds long, and five hundred broad, to make a separation between the sanctuary and the profane place.\r\n \r\n \r\n Afterward he brought me to the gate, even the gate that looketh toward the east:\r\n And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east: and his voice was like a noise of many waters: and the earth shined with his glory.\r\n And it was according to the appearance of the vision which I saw, even according to the vision that I saw when I came to destroy the city: and the visions were like the vision that I saw by the river Chebar; and I fell upon my face.\r\n And the glory of the LORD came into the house by the way of the gate whose prospect is toward the east.\r\n So the spirit took me up, and brought me into the inner court; and, behold, the glory of the LORD filled the house.\r\n And I heard him speaking unto me out of the house; and the man stood by me.\r\n And he said unto me, Son of man, the place of my throne, and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel for ever, and my holy name, shall the house of Israel no more defile, neither they, nor their kings, by their whoredom, nor by the carcases of their kings in their high places.\r\n In their setting of their threshold by my thresholds, and their post by my posts, and the wall between me and them, they have even defiled my holy name by their abominations that they have committed: wherefore I have consumed them in mine anger.\r\n Now let them put away their whoredom, and the carcases of their kings, far from me, and I will dwell in the midst of them for ever.\r\n Thou son of man, shew the house to the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities: and let them measure the pattern.\r\n And if they be ashamed of all that they have done, shew them the form of the house, and the fashion thereof, and the goings out thereof, and the comings in thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the laws thereof: and write it in their sight, that they may keep the whole form thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and do them.\r\n This is the law of the house; Upon the top of the mountain the whole limit thereof round about shall be most holy. Behold, this is the law of the house.\r\n And these are the measures of the altar after the cubits: The cubit is a cubit and an hand breadth; even the bottom shall be a cubit, and the breadth a cubit, and the border thereof by the edge thereof round about shall be a span: and this shall be the higher place of the altar.\r\n And from the bottom upon the ground even to the lower settle shall be two cubits, and the breadth one cubit; and from the lesser settle even to the greater settle shall be four cubits, and the breadth one cubit.\r\n So the altar shall be four cubits; and from the altar and upward shall be four horns.\r\n And the altar shall be twelve cubits long, twelve broad, square in the four squares thereof.\r\n And the settle shall be fourteen cubits long and fourteen broad in the four squares thereof; and the border about it shall be half a cubit; and the bottom thereof shall be a cubit about; and his stairs shall look toward the east.\r\n And he said unto me, Son of man, thus saith the Lord GOD; These are the ordinances of the altar in the day when they shall make it, to offer burnt offerings thereon, and to sprinkle blood thereon.\r\n And thou shalt give to the priests the Levites that be of the seed of Zadok, which approach unto me, to minister unto me, saith the Lord GOD, a young bullock for a sin offering.\r\n And thou shalt take of the blood thereof, and put it on the four horns of it, and on the four corners of the settle, and upon the border round about: thus shalt thou cleanse and purge it.\r\n Thou shalt take the bullock also of the sin offering, and he shall burn it in the appointed place of the house, without the sanctuary.\r\n And on the second day thou shalt offer a kid of the goats without blemish for a sin offering; and they shall cleanse the altar, as they did cleanse it with the bullock.\r\n When thou hast made an end of cleansing it, thou shalt offer a young bullock without blemish, and a ram out of the flock without blemish.\r\n And thou shalt offer them before the LORD, and the priests shall cast salt upon them, and they shall offer them up for a burnt offering unto the LORD.\r\n Seven days shalt thou prepare every day a goat for a sin offering: they shall also prepare a young bullock, and a ram out of the flock, without blemish.\r\n Seven days shall they purge the altar and purify it; and they shall consecrate themselves.\r\n And when these days are expired, it shall be, that upon the eighth day, and so forward, the priests shall make your burnt offerings upon the altar, and your peace offerings; and I will accept you, saith the Lord GOD.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then he brought me back the way of the gate of the outward sanctuary which looketh toward the east; and it was shut.\r\n Then said the LORD unto me; This gate shall be shut, it shall not be opened, and no man shall enter in by it; because the LORD, the God of Israel, hath entered in by it, therefore it shall be shut.\r\n It is for the prince; the prince, he shall sit in it to eat bread before the LORD; he shall enter by the way of the porch of that gate, and shall go out by the way of the same.\r\n Then brought he me the way of the north gate before the house: and I looked, and, behold, the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD: and I fell upon my face.\r\n And the LORD said unto me, Son of man, mark well, and behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears all that I say unto thee concerning all the ordinances of the house of the LORD, and all the laws thereof; and mark well the entering in of the house, with every going forth of the sanctuary.\r\n And thou shalt say to the rebellious, even to the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; O ye house of Israel, let it suffice you of all your abominations,\r\n In that ye have brought into my sanctuary strangers, uncircumcised in heart, and uncircumcised in flesh, to be in my sanctuary, to pollute it, even my house, when ye offer my bread, the fat and the blood, and they have broken my covenant because of all your abominations.\r\n And ye have not kept the charge of mine holy things: but ye have set keepers of my charge in my sanctuary for yourselves.\r\n Thus saith the Lord GOD; No stranger, uncircumcised in heart, nor uncircumcised in flesh, shall enter into my sanctuary, of any stranger that is among the children of Israel.\r\n And the Levites that are gone away far from me, when Israel went astray, which went astray away from me after their idols; they shall even bear their iniquity.\r\n Yet they shall be ministers in my sanctuary, having charge at the gates of the house, and ministering to the house: they shall slay the burnt offering and the sacrifice for the people, and they shall stand before them to minister unto them.\r\n Because they ministered unto them before their idols, and caused the house of Israel to fall into iniquity; therefore have I lifted up mine hand against them, saith the Lord GOD, and they shall bear their iniquity.\r\n And they shall not come near unto me, to do the office of a priest unto me, nor to come near to any of my holy things, in the most holy place: but they shall bear their shame, and their abominations which they have committed.\r\n But I will make them keepers of the charge of the house, for all the service thereof, and for all that shall be done therein.\r\n But the priests the Levites, the sons of Zadok, that kept the charge of my sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from me, they shall come near to me to minister unto me, and they shall stand before me to offer unto me the fat and the blood, saith the Lord GOD:\r\n They shall enter into my sanctuary, and they shall come near to my table, to minister unto me, and they shall keep my charge.\r\n And it shall come to pass, that when they enter in at the gates of the inner court, they shall be clothed with linen garments; and no wool shall come upon them, whiles they minister in the gates of the inner court, and within.\r\n They shall have linen bonnets upon their heads, and shall have linen breeches upon their loins; they shall not gird themselves with any thing that causeth sweat.\r\n And when they go forth into the utter court, even into the utter court to the people, they shall put off their garments wherein they ministered, and lay them in the holy chambers, and they shall put on other garments; and they shall not sanctify the people with their garments.\r\n Neither shall they shave their heads, nor suffer their locks to grow long; they shall only poll their heads.\r\n Neither shall any priest drink wine, when they enter into the inner court.\r\n Neither shall they take for their wives a widow, nor her that is put away: but they shall take maidens of the seed of the house of Israel, or a widow that had a priest before.\r\n And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.\r\n And in controversy they shall stand in judgment; and they shall judge it according to my judgments: and they shall keep my laws and my statutes in all mine assemblies; and they shall hallow my sabbaths.\r\n And they shall come at no dead person to defile themselves: but for father, or for mother, or for son, or for daughter, for brother, or for sister that hath had no husband, they may defile themselves.\r\n And after he is cleansed, they shall reckon unto him seven days.\r\n And in the day that he goeth into the sanctuary, unto the inner court, to minister in the sanctuary, he shall offer his sin offering, saith the Lord GOD.\r\n And it shall be unto them for an inheritance: I am their inheritance: and ye shall give them no possession in Israel: I am their possession.\r\n They shall eat the meat offering, and the sin offering, and the trespass offering; and every dedicated thing in Israel shall be theirs.\r\n And the first of all the firstfruits of all things, and every oblation of all, of every sort of your oblations, shall be the priest's: ye shall also give unto the priest the first of your dough, that he may cause the blessing to rest in thine house.\r\n The priests shall not eat of any thing that is dead of itself, or torn, whether it be fowl or beast.\r\n \r\n \r\n Moreover, when ye shall divide by lot the land for inheritance, ye shall offer an oblation unto the LORD, an holy portion of the land: the length shall be the length of five and twenty thousand reeds, and the breadth shall be ten thousand. This shall be holy in all the borders thereof round about.\r\n Of this there shall be for the sanctuary five hundred in length, with five hundred in breadth, square round about; and fifty cubits round about for the suburbs thereof.\r\n And of this measure shalt thou measure the length of five and twenty thousand, and the breadth of ten thousand: and in it shall be the sanctuary and the most holy place.\r\n The holy portion of the land shall be for the priests the ministers of the sanctuary, which shall come near to minister unto the LORD: and it shall be a place for their houses, and an holy place for the sanctuary.\r\n And the five and twenty thousand of length, and the ten thousand of breadth, shall also the Levites, the ministers of the house, have for themselves, for a possession for twenty chambers.\r\n And ye shall appoint the possession of the city five thousand broad, and five and twenty thousand long, over against the oblation of the holy portion: it shall be for the whole house of Israel.\r\n And a portion shall be for the prince on the one side and on the other side of the oblation of the holy portion, and of the possession of the city, before the oblation of the holy portion, and before the possession of the city, from the west side westward, and from the east side eastward: and the length shall be over against one of the portions, from the west border unto the east border.\r\n In the land shall be his possession in Israel: and my princes shall no more oppress my people; and the rest of the land shall they give to the house of Israel according to their tribes.\r\n Thus saith the Lord GOD; Let it suffice you, O princes of Israel: remove violence and spoil, and execute judgment and justice, take away your exactions from my people, saith the Lord GOD.\r\n Ye shall have just balances, and a just ephah, and a just bath.\r\n The ephah and the bath shall be of one measure, that the bath may contain the tenth part of an homer, and the ephah the tenth part of an homer: the measure thereof shall be after the homer.\r\n And the shekel shall be twenty gerahs: twenty shekels, five and twenty shekels, fifteen shekels, shall be your maneh.\r\n This is the oblation that ye shall offer; the sixth part of an ephah of an homer of wheat, and ye shall give the sixth part of an ephah of an homer of barley:\r\n Concerning the ordinance of oil, the bath of oil, ye shall offer the tenth part of a bath out of the cor, which is an homer of ten baths; for ten baths are an homer:\r\n And one lamb out of the flock, out of two hundred, out of the fat pastures of Israel; for a meat offering, and for a burnt offering, and for peace offerings, to make reconciliation for them, saith the Lord GOD.\r\n All the people of the land shall give this oblation for the prince in Israel.\r\n And it shall be the prince's part to give burnt offerings, and meat offerings, and drink offerings, in the feasts, and in the new moons, and in the sabbaths, in all solemnities of the house of Israel: he shall prepare the sin offering, and the meat offering, and the burnt offering, and the peace offerings, to make reconciliation for the house of Israel.\r\n Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the first month, in the first day of the month, thou shalt take a young bullock without blemish, and cleanse the sanctuary:\r\n And the priest shall take of the blood of the sin offering, and put it upon the posts of the house, and upon the four corners of the settle of the altar, and upon the posts of the gate of the inner court.\r\n And so thou shalt do the seventh day of the month for every one that erreth, and for him that is simple: so shall ye reconcile the house.\r\n In the first month, in the fourteenth day of the month, ye shall have the passover, a feast of seven days; unleavened bread shall be eaten.\r\n And upon that day shall the prince prepare for himself and for all the people of the land a bullock for a sin offering.\r\n And seven days of the feast he shall prepare a burnt offering to the LORD, seven bullocks and seven rams without blemish daily the seven days; and a kid of the goats daily for a sin offering.\r\n And he shall prepare a meat offering of an ephah for a bullock, and an ephah for a ram, and an hin of oil for an ephah.\r\n In the seventh month, in the fifteenth day of the month, shall he do the like in the feast of the seven days, according to the sin offering, according to the burnt offering, and according to the meat offering, and according to the oil.\r\n \r\n \r\n Thus saith the Lord GOD; The gate of the inner court that looketh toward the east shall be shut the six working days; but on the sabbath it shall be opened, and in the day of the new moon it shall be opened.\r\n And the prince shall enter by the way of the porch of that gate without, and shall stand by the post of the gate, and the priests shall prepare his burnt offering and his peace offerings, and he shall worship at the threshold of the gate: then he shall go forth; but the gate shall not be shut until the evening.\r\n Likewise the people of the land shall worship at the door of this gate before the LORD in the sabbaths and in the new moons.\r\n And the burnt offering that the prince shall offer unto the LORD in the sabbath day shall be six lambs without blemish, and a ram without blemish.\r\n And the meat offering shall be an ephah for a ram, and the meat offering for the lambs as he shall be able to give, and an hin of oil to an ephah.\r\n And in the day of the new moon it shall be a young bullock without blemish, and six lambs, and a ram: they shall be without blemish.\r\n And he shall prepare a meat offering, an ephah for a bullock, and an ephah for a ram, and for the lambs according as his hand shall attain unto, and an hin of oil to an ephah.\r\n And when the prince shall enter, he shall go in by the way of the porch of that gate, and he shall go forth by the way thereof.\r\n But when the people of the land shall come before the LORD in the solemn feasts, he that entereth in by the way of the north gate to worship shall go out by the way of the south gate; and he that entereth by the way of the south gate shall go forth by the way of the north gate: he shall not return by the way of the gate whereby he came in, but shall go forth over against it.\r\n And the prince in the midst of them, when they go in, shall go in; and when they go forth, shall go forth.\r\n And in the feasts and in the solemnities the meat offering shall be an ephah to a bullock, and an ephah to a ram, and to the lambs as he is able to give, and an hin of oil to an ephah.\r\n Now when the prince shall prepare a voluntary burnt offering or peace offerings voluntarily unto the LORD, one shall then open him the gate that looketh toward the east, and he shall prepare his burnt offering and his peace offerings, as he did on the sabbath day: then he shall go forth; and after his going forth one shall shut the gate.\r\n Thou shalt daily prepare a burnt offering unto the LORD of a lamb of the first year without blemish: thou shalt prepare it every morning.\r\n And thou shalt prepare a meat offering for it every morning, the sixth part of an ephah, and the third part of an hin of oil, to temper with the fine flour; a meat offering continually by a perpetual ordinance unto the LORD.\r\n Thus shall they prepare the lamb, and the meat offering, and the oil, every morning for a continual burnt offering.\r\n Thus saith the Lord GOD; If the prince give a gift unto any of his sons, the inheritance thereof shall be his sons'; it shall be their possession by inheritance.\r\n But if he give a gift of his inheritance to one of his servants, then it shall be his to the year of liberty; after it shall return to the prince: but his inheritance shall be his sons' for them.\r\n Moreover the prince shall not take of the people's inheritance by oppression, to thrust them out of their possession; but he shall give his sons inheritance out of his own possession: that my people be not scattered every man from his possession.\r\n After he brought me through the entry, which was at the side of the gate, into the holy chambers of the priests, which looked toward the north: and, behold, there was a place on the two sides westward.\r\n Then said he unto me, This is the place where the priests shall boil the trespass offering and the sin offering, where they shall bake the meat offering; that they bear them not out into the utter court, to sanctify the people.\r\n Then he brought me forth into the utter court, and caused me to pass by the four corners of the court; and, behold, in every corner of the court there was a court.\r\n In the four corners of the court there were courts joined of forty cubits long and thirty broad: these four corners were of one measure.\r\n And there was a row of building round about in them, round about them four, and it was made with boiling places under the rows round about.\r\n Then said he unto me, These are the places of them that boil, where the ministers of the house shall boil the sacrifice of the people.\r\n \r\n \r\n Afterward he brought me again unto the door of the house; and, behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward: for the forefront of the house stood toward the east, and the waters came down from under from the right side of the house, at the south side of the altar.\r\n Then brought he me out of the way of the gate northward, and led me about the way without unto the utter gate by the way that looketh eastward; and, behold, there ran out waters on the right side.\r\n And when the man that had the line in his hand went forth eastward, he measured a thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the waters were to the ankles.\r\n Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through the waters; the waters were to the knees. Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through; the waters were to the loins.\r\n Afterward he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could not pass over: for the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed over.\r\n And he said unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen this? Then he brought me, and caused me to return to the brink of the river.\r\n Now when I had returned, behold, at the bank of the river were very many trees on the one side and on the other.\r\n Then said he unto me, These waters issue out toward the east country, and go down into the desert, and go into the sea: which being brought forth into the sea, the waters shall be healed.\r\n And it shall come to pass, that every thing that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live: and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come thither: for they shall be healed; and every thing shall live whither the river cometh.\r\n And it shall come to pass, that the fishers shall stand upon it from Engedi even unto Eneglaim; they shall be a place to spread forth nets; their fish shall be according to their kinds, as the fish of the great sea, exceeding many.\r\n But the miry places thereof and the marishes thereof shall not be healed; they shall be given to salt.\r\n And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine.\r\n Thus saith the Lord GOD; This shall be the border, whereby ye shall inherit the land according to the twelve tribes of Israel: Joseph shall have two portions.\r\n And ye shall inherit it, one as well as another: concerning the which I lifted up mine hand to give it unto your fathers: and this land shall fall unto you for inheritance.\r\n And this shall be the border of the land toward the north side, from the great sea, the way of Hethlon, as men go to Zedad;\r\n Hamath, Berothah, Sibraim, which is between the border of Damascus and the border of Hamath; Hazarhatticon, which is by the coast of Hauran.\r\n And the border from the sea shall be Hazarenan, the border of Damascus, and the north northward, and the border of Hamath. And this is the north side.\r\n And the east side ye shall measure from Hauran, and from Damascus, and from Gilead, and from the land of Israel by Jordan, from the border unto the east sea. And this is the east side.\r\n And the south side southward, from Tamar even to the waters of strife in Kadesh, the river to the great sea. And this is the south side southward.\r\n The west side also shall be the great sea from the border, till a man come over against Hamath. This is the west side.\r\n So shall ye divide this land unto you according to the tribes of Israel.\r\n And it shall come to pass, that ye shall divide it by lot for an inheritance unto you, and to the strangers that sojourn among you, which shall beget children among you: and they shall be unto you as born in the country among the children of Israel; they shall have inheritance with you among the tribes of Israel.\r\n And it shall come to pass, that in what tribe the stranger sojourneth, there shall ye give him his inheritance, saith the Lord GOD.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now these are the names of the tribes. From the north end to the coast of the way of Hethlon, as one goeth to Hamath, Hazarenan, the border of Damascus northward, to the coast of Hamath; for these are his sides east and west; a portion for Dan.\r\n And by the border of Dan, from the east side unto the west side, a portion for Asher.\r\n And by the border of Asher, from the east side even unto the west side, a portion for Naphtali.\r\n And by the border of Naphtali, from the east side unto the west side, a portion for Manasseh.\r\n And by the border of Manasseh, from the east side unto the west side, a portion for Ephraim.\r\n And by the border of Ephraim, from the east side even unto the west side, a portion for Reuben.\r\n And by the border of Reuben, from the east side unto the west side, a portion for Judah.\r\n And by the border of Judah, from the east side unto the west side, shall be the offering which ye shall offer of five and twenty thousand reeds in breadth, and in length as one of the other parts, from the east side unto the west side: and the sanctuary shall be in the midst of it.\r\n The oblation that ye shall offer unto the LORD shall be of five and twenty thousand in length, and of ten thousand in breadth.\r\n And for them, even for the priests, shall be this holy oblation; toward the north five and twenty thousand in length, and toward the west ten thousand in breadth, and toward the east ten thousand in breadth, and toward the south five and twenty thousand in length: and the sanctuary of the LORD shall be in the midst thereof.\r\n It shall be for the priests that are sanctified of the sons of Zadok; which have kept my charge, which went not astray when the children of Israel went astray, as the Levites went astray.\r\n And this oblation of the land that is offered shall be unto them a thing most holy by the border of the Levites.\r\n And over against the border of the priests the Levites shall have five and twenty thousand in length, and ten thousand in breadth: all the length shall be five and twenty thousand, and the breadth ten thousand.\r\n And they shall not sell of it, neither exchange, nor alienate the firstfruits of the land: for it is holy unto the LORD.\r\n And the five thousand, that are left in the breadth over against the five and twenty thousand, shall be a profane place for the city, for dwelling, and for suburbs: and the city shall be in the midst thereof.\r\n And these shall be the measures thereof; the north side four thousand and five hundred, and the south side four thousand and five hundred, and on the east side four thousand and five hundred, and the west side four thousand and five hundred.\r\n And the suburbs of the city shall be toward the north two hundred and fifty, and toward the south two hundred and fifty, and toward the east two hundred and fifty, and toward the west two hundred and fifty.\r\n And the residue in length over against the oblation of the holy portion shall be ten thousand eastward, and ten thousand westward: and it shall be over against the oblation of the holy portion; and the increase thereof shall be for food unto them that serve the city.\r\n And they that serve the city shall serve it out of all the tribes of Israel.\r\n All the oblation shall be five and twenty thousand by five and twenty thousand: ye shall offer the holy oblation foursquare, with the possession of the city.\r\n And the residue shall be for the prince, on the one side and on the other of the holy oblation, and of the possession of the city, over against the five and twenty thousand of the oblation toward the east border, and westward over against the five and twenty thousand toward the west border, over against the portions for the prince: and it shall be the holy oblation; and the sanctuary of the house shall be in the midst thereof.\r\n Moreover from the possession of the Levites, and from the possession of the city, being in the midst of that which is the prince's, between the border of Judah and the border of Benjamin, shall be for the prince.\r\n As for the rest of the tribes, from the east side unto the west side, Benjamin shall have a portion.\r\n And by the border of Benjamin, from the east side unto the west side, Simeon shall have a portion.\r\n And by the border of Simeon, from the east side unto the west side, Issachar a portion.\r\n And by the border of Issachar, from the east side unto the west side, Zebulun a portion.\r\n And by the border of Zebulun, from the east side unto the west side, Gad a portion.\r\n And by the border of Gad, at the south side southward, the border shall be even from Tamar unto the waters of strife in Kadesh, and to the river toward the great sea.\r\n This is the land which ye shall divide by lot unto the tribes of Israel for inheritance, and these are their portions, saith the Lord GOD.\r\n And these are the goings out of the city on the north side, four thousand and five hundred measures.\r\n And the gates of the city shall be after the names of the tribes of Israel: three gates northward; one gate of Reuben, one gate of Judah, one gate of Levi.\r\n And at the east side four thousand and five hundred: and three gates; and one gate of Joseph, one gate of Benjamin, one gate of Dan.\r\n And at the south side four thousand and five hundred measures: and three gates; one gate of Simeon, one gate of Issachar, one gate of Zebulun.\r\n At the west side four thousand and five hundred, with their three gates; one gate of Gad, one gate of Asher, one gate of Naphtali.\r\n It was round about eighteen thousand measures: and the name of the city from that day shall be, The LORD is there.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it.\r\n And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.\r\n And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king's seed, and of the princes;\r\n Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.\r\n And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king's meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king.\r\n Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:\r\n Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abednego.\r\n But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.\r\n Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs.\r\n And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which are of your sort? then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king.\r\n Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,\r\n Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.\r\n Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king's meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants.\r\n So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days.\r\n And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat.\r\n Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse.\r\n As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.\r\n Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.\r\n And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king.\r\n And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.\r\n And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus.\r\n \r\n \r\n And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep brake from him.\r\n Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to shew the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king.\r\n And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream.\r\n Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in Syriack, O king, live for ever: tell thy servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation.\r\n The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me: if ye will not make known unto me the dream, with the interpretation thereof, ye shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill.\r\n But if ye shew the dream, and the interpretation thereof, ye shall receive of me gifts and rewards and great honour: therefore shew me the dream, and the interpretation thereof.\r\n They answered again and said, Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation of it.\r\n The king answered and said, I know of certainty that ye would gain the time, because ye see the thing is gone from me.\r\n But if ye will not make known unto me the dream, there is but one decree for you: for ye have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, till the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that ye can shew me the interpretation thereof.\r\n The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth that can shew the king's matter: therefore there is no king, lord, nor ruler, that asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean.\r\n And it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can shew it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.\r\n For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.\r\n And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain.\r\n Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to Arioch the captain of the king's guard, which was gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon:\r\n He answered and said to Arioch the king's captain, Why is the decree so hasty from the king? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel.\r\n Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would shew the king the interpretation.\r\n Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions:\r\n That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.\r\n Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.\r\n Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:\r\n And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:\r\n He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.\r\n I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee: for thou hast now made known unto us the king's matter.\r\n Therefore Daniel went in unto Arioch, whom the king had ordained to destroy the wise men of Babylon: he went and said thus unto him; Destroy not the wise men of Babylon: bring me in before the king, and I will shew unto the king the interpretation.\r\n Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste, and said thus unto him, I have found a man of the captives of Judah, that will make known unto the king the interpretation.\r\n The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, Art thou able to make known unto me the dream which I have seen, and the interpretation thereof?\r\n Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto the king;\r\n But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these;\r\n As for thee, O king, thy thoughts came into thy mind upon thy bed, what should come to pass hereafter: and he that revealeth secrets maketh known to thee what shall come to pass.\r\n But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living, but for their sakes that shall make known the interpretation to the king, and that thou mightest know the thoughts of thy heart.\r\n Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof was terrible.\r\n This image's head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass,\r\n His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay.\r\n Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces.\r\n Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.\r\n This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king.\r\n Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory.\r\n And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold.\r\n And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth.\r\n And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise.\r\n And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay.\r\n And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken.\r\n And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.\r\n And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.\r\n Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.\r\n Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, and worshipped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an oblation and sweet odours unto him.\r\n The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret.\r\n Then the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon.\r\n Then Daniel requested of the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon: but Daniel sat in the gate of the king.\r\n \r\n \r\n Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.\r\n Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.\r\n Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.\r\n Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages,\r\n That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up:\r\n And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.\r\n Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of musick, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.\r\n Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews.\r\n They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever.\r\n Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, shall fall down and worship the golden image:\r\n And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.\r\n There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.\r\n Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king.\r\n Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?\r\n Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?\r\n Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.\r\n If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.\r\n But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.\r\n Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated.\r\n And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.\r\n Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.\r\n Therefore because the king's commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.\r\n And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.\r\n Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.\r\n He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.\r\n Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire.\r\n And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king's counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.\r\n Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.\r\n Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort.\r\n Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon.\r\n \r\n \r\n Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.\r\n I thought it good to shew the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me.\r\n How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation.\r\n I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace:\r\n I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.\r\n Therefore made I a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known unto me the interpretation of the dream.\r\n Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers: and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof.\r\n But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name was Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods: and before him I told the dream, saying,\r\n O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof.\r\n Thus were the visions of mine head in my bed; I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was great.\r\n The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth:\r\n The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all: the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it.\r\n I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven;\r\n He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches:\r\n Nevertheless leave the stump of his roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth:\r\n Let his heart be changed from man's, and let a beast's heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him.\r\n This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.\r\n This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have seen. Now thou, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation thereof, forasmuch as all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known unto me the interpretation: but thou art able; for the spirit of the holy gods is in thee.\r\n Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonied for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. The king spake, and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpretation thereof, trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, the dream be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine enemies.\r\n The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth;\r\n Whose leaves were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the fowls of the heaven had their habitation:\r\n It is thou, O king, that art grown and become strong: for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion to the end of the earth.\r\n And whereas the king saw a watcher and an holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him;\r\n This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king:\r\n That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.\r\n And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule.\r\n Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.\r\n All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar.\r\n At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon.\r\n The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?\r\n While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee.\r\n And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.\r\n The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws.\r\n And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:\r\n And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?\r\n At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me.\r\n Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.\r\n \r\n \r\n Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand.\r\n Belshazzar, whiles he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, might drink therein.\r\n Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem; and the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, drank in them.\r\n They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.\r\n In the same hour came forth fingers of a man's hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaister of the wall of the king's palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote.\r\n Then the king's countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another.\r\n The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. And the king spake, and said to the wise men of Babylon, Whosoever shall read this writing, and shew me the interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.\r\n Then came in all the king's wise men: but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation thereof.\r\n Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his countenance was changed in him, and his lords were astonied.\r\n Now the queen, by reason of the words of the king and his lords, came into the banquet house: and the queen spake and said, O king, live for ever: let not thy thoughts trouble thee, nor let thy countenance be changed:\r\n There is a man in thy kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of thy father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him; whom the king Nebuchadnezzar thy father, the king, I say, thy father, made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers;\r\n Forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and shewing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar: now let Daniel be called, and he will shew the interpretation.\r\n Then was Daniel brought in before the king. And the king spake and said unto Daniel, Art thou that Daniel, which art of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Jewry?\r\n I have even heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods is in thee, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in thee.\r\n And now the wise men, the astrologers, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing, and make known unto me the interpretation thereof: but they could not shew the interpretation of the thing:\r\n And I have heard of thee, that thou canst make interpretations, and dissolve doubts: now if thou canst read the writing, and make known to me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about thy neck, and shalt be the third ruler in the kingdom.\r\n Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another; yet I will read the writing unto the king, and make known to him the interpretation.\r\n O thou king, the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honour:\r\n And for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages, trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew; and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he set up; and whom he would he put down.\r\n But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him:\r\n And he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild asses: they fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; till he knew that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and that he appointeth over it whomsoever he will.\r\n And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this;\r\n But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified:\r\n Then was the part of the hand sent from him; and this writing was written.\r\n And this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.\r\n This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it.\r\n TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.\r\n PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.\r\n Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with scarlet, and put a chain of gold about his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom.\r\n In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain.\r\n And Darius the Median took the kingdom, being about threescore and two years old.\r\n \r\n \r\n It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom;\r\n And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage.\r\n Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.\r\n Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.\r\n Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.\r\n Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever.\r\n All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.\r\n Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.\r\n Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.\r\n Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.\r\n Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.\r\n Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king's decree; Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.\r\n Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day.\r\n Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him.\r\n Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed.\r\n Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.\r\n And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel.\r\n Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him.\r\n Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions.\r\n And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?\r\n Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.\r\n My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.\r\n Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.\r\n And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den.\r\n Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.\r\n I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end.\r\n He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.\r\n So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.\r\n \r\n \r\n In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matters.\r\n Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea.\r\n And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.\r\n The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man's heart was given to it.\r\n And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh.\r\n After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it.\r\n After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns.\r\n I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.\r\n I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.\r\n A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.\r\n I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame.\r\n As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time.\r\n I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.\r\n And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.\r\n I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me.\r\n I came near unto one of them that stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things.\r\n These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth.\r\n But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.\r\n Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet;\r\n And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows.\r\n I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;\r\n Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.\r\n Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.\r\n And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.\r\n And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.\r\n But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end.\r\n And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.\r\n Hitherto is the end of the matter. As for me Daniel, my cogitations much troubled me, and my countenance changed in me: but I kept the matter in my heart.\r\n \r\n \r\n In the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar a vision appeared unto me, even unto me Daniel, after that which appeared unto me at the first.\r\n And I saw in a vision; and it came to pass, when I saw, that I was at Shushan in the palace, which is in the province of Elam; and I saw in a vision, and I was by the river of Ulai.\r\n Then I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, there stood before the river a ram which had two horns: and the two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last.\r\n I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward; so that no beasts might stand before him, neither was there any that could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will, and became great.\r\n And as I was considering, behold, an he goat came from the west on the face of the whole earth, and touched not the ground: and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes.\r\n And he came to the ram that had two horns, which I had seen standing before the river, and ran unto him in the fury of his power.\r\n And I saw him come close unto the ram, and he was moved with choler against him, and smote the ram, and brake his two horns: and there was no power in the ram to stand before him, but he cast him down to the ground, and stamped upon him: and there was none that could deliver the ram out of his hand.\r\n Therefore the he goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven.\r\n And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land.\r\n And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them.\r\n Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down.\r\n And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered.\r\n Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?\r\n And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.\r\n And it came to pass, when I, even I Daniel, had seen the vision, and sought for the meaning, then, behold, there stood before me as the appearance of a man.\r\n And I heard a man's voice between the banks of Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision.\r\n So he came near where I stood: and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face: but he said unto me, Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the end shall be the vision.\r\n Now as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep on my face toward the ground: but he touched me, and set me upright.\r\n And he said, Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the last end of the indignation: for at the time appointed the end shall be.\r\n The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia.\r\n And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king.\r\n Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power.\r\n And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up.\r\n And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people.\r\n And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.\r\n And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true: wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days.\r\n And I Daniel fainted, and was sick certain days; afterward I rose up, and did the king's business; and I was astonished at the vision, but none understood it.\r\n \r\n \r\n In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes, which was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans;\r\n In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.\r\n And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:\r\n And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments;\r\n We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments:\r\n Neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the prophets, which spake in thy name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land.\r\n O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion of faces, as at this day; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, that are near, and that are far off, through all the countries whither thou hast driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against thee.\r\n O Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against thee.\r\n To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him;\r\n Neither have we obeyed the voice of the LORD our God, to walk in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets.\r\n Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against him.\r\n And he hath confirmed his words, which he spake against us, and against our judges that judged us, by bringing upon us a great evil: for under the whole heaven hath not been done as hath been done upon Jerusalem.\r\n As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us: yet made we not our prayer before the LORD our God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand thy truth.\r\n Therefore hath the LORD watched upon the evil, and brought it upon us: for the LORD our God is righteous in all his works which he doeth: for we obeyed not his voice.\r\n And now, O Lord our God, that hast brought thy people forth out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and hast gotten thee renown, as at this day; we have sinned, we have done wickedly.\r\n O Lord, according to all thy righteousness, I beseech thee, let thine anger and thy fury be turned away from thy city Jerusalem, thy holy mountain: because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and thy people are become a reproach to all that are about us.\r\n Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord's sake.\r\n O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies.\r\n O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God: for thy city and thy people are called by thy name.\r\n And whiles I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God for the holy mountain of my God;\r\n Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation.\r\n And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding.\r\n At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision.\r\n Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.\r\n Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.\r\n And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.\r\n And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.\r\n \r\n \r\n In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a thing was revealed unto Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar; and the thing was true, but the time appointed was long: and he understood the thing, and had understanding of the vision.\r\n In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks.\r\n I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.\r\n And in the four and twentieth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which is Hiddekel;\r\n Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz:\r\n His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude.\r\n And I Daniel alone saw the vision: for the men that were with me saw not the vision; but a great quaking fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves.\r\n Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength.\r\n Yet heard I the voice of his words: and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I in a deep sleep on my face, and my face toward the ground.\r\n And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands.\r\n And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling.\r\n Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.\r\n But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.\r\n Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days.\r\n And when he had spoken such words unto me, I set my face toward the ground, and I became dumb.\r\n And, behold, one like the similitude of the sons of men touched my lips: then I opened my mouth, and spake, and said unto him that stood before me, O my lord, by the vision my sorrows are turned upon me, and I have retained no strength.\r\n For how can the servant of this my lord talk with this my lord? for as for me, straightway there remained no strength in me, neither is there breath left in me.\r\n Then there came again and touched me one like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me,\r\n And said, O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. And when he had spoken unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for thou hast strengthened me.\r\n Then said he, Knowest thou wherefore I come unto thee? and now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia: and when I am gone forth, lo, the prince of Grecia shall come.\r\n But I will shew thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince.\r\n \r\n \r\n Also I in the first year of Darius the Mede, even I, stood to confirm and to strengthen him.\r\n And now will I shew thee the truth. Behold, there shall stand up yet three kings in Persia; and the fourth shall be far richer than they all: and by his strength through his riches he shall stir up all against the realm of Grecia.\r\n And a mighty king shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will.\r\n And when he shall stand up, his kingdom shall be broken, and shall be divided toward the four winds of heaven; and not to his posterity, nor according to his dominion which he ruled: for his kingdom shall be plucked up, even for others beside those.\r\n And the king of the south shall be strong, and one of his princes; and he shall be strong above him, and have dominion; his dominion shall be a great dominion.\r\n And in the end of years they shall join themselves together; for the king's daughter of the south shall come to the king of the north to make an agreement: but she shall not retain the power of the arm; neither shall he stand, nor his arm: but she shall be given up, and they that brought her, and he that begat her, and he that strengthened her in these times.\r\n But out of a branch of her roots shall one stand up in his estate, which shall come with an army, and shall enter into the fortress of the king of the north, and shall deal against them, and shall prevail:\r\n And shall also carry captives into Egypt their gods, with their princes, and with their precious vessels of silver and of gold; and he shall continue more years than the king of the north.\r\n So the king of the south shall come into his kingdom, and shall return into his own land.\r\n But his sons shall be stirred up, and shall assemble a multitude of great forces: and one shall certainly come, and overflow, and pass through: then shall he return, and be stirred up, even to his fortress.\r\n And the king of the south shall be moved with choler, and shall come forth and fight with him, even with the king of the north: and he shall set forth a great multitude; but the multitude shall be given into his hand.\r\n And when he hath taken away the multitude, his heart shall be lifted up; and he shall cast down many ten thousands: but he shall not be strengthened by it.\r\n For the king of the north shall return, and shall set forth a multitude greater than the former, and shall certainly come after certain years with a great army and with much riches.\r\n And in those times there shall many stand up against the king of the south: also the robbers of thy people shall exalt themselves to establish the vision; but they shall fall.\r\n So the king of the north shall come, and cast up a mount, and take the most fenced cities: and the arms of the south shall not withstand, neither his chosen people, neither shall there be any strength to withstand.\r\n But he that cometh against him shall do according to his own will, and none shall stand before him: and he shall stand in the glorious land, which by his hand shall be consumed.\r\n He shall also set his face to enter with the strength of his whole kingdom, and upright ones with him; thus shall he do: and he shall give him the daughter of women, corrupting her: but she shall not stand on his side, neither be for him.\r\n After this shall he turn his face unto the isles, and shall take many: but a prince for his own behalf shall cause the reproach offered by him to cease; without his own reproach he shall cause it to turn upon him.\r\n Then he shall turn his face toward the fort of his own land: but he shall stumble and fall, and not be found.\r\n Then shall stand up in his estate a raiser of taxes in the glory of the kingdom: but within few days he shall be destroyed, neither in anger, nor in battle.\r\n And in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honour of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries.\r\n And with the arms of a flood shall they be overflown from before him, and shall be broken; yea, also the prince of the covenant.\r\n And after the league made with him he shall work deceitfully: for he shall come up, and shall become strong with a small people.\r\n He shall enter peaceably even upon the fattest places of the province; and he shall do that which his fathers have not done, nor his fathers' fathers; he shall scatter among them the prey, and spoil, and riches: yea, and he shall forecast his devices against the strong holds, even for a time.\r\n And he shall stir up his power and his courage against the king of the south with a great army; and the king of the south shall be stirred up to battle with a very great and mighty army; but he shall not stand: for they shall forecast devices against him.\r\n Yea, they that feed of the portion of his meat shall destroy him, and his army shall overflow: and many shall fall down slain.\r\n And both these kings' hearts shall be to do mischief, and they shall speak lies at one table; but it shall not prosper: for yet the end shall be at the time appointed.\r\n Then shall he return into his land with great riches; and his heart shall be against the holy covenant; and he shall do exploits, and return to his own land.\r\n At the time appointed he shall return, and come toward the south; but it shall not be as the former, or as the latter.\r\n For the ships of Chittim shall come against him: therefore he shall be grieved, and return, and have indignation against the holy covenant: so shall he do; he shall even return, and have intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant.\r\n And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.\r\n And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.\r\n And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days.\r\n Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries.\r\n And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed.\r\n And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done.\r\n Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all.\r\n But in his estate shall he honour the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things.\r\n Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory: and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain.\r\n And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over.\r\n He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon.\r\n He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape.\r\n But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps.\r\n But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many.\r\n And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.\r\n \r\n \r\n And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.\r\n And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.\r\n And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.\r\n But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.\r\n Then I Daniel looked, and, behold, there stood other two, the one on this side of the bank of the river, and the other on that side of the bank of the river.\r\n And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?\r\n And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.\r\n And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?\r\n And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.\r\n Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.\r\n And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.\r\n Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.\r\n But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n The word of the LORD that came unto Hosea, the son of Beeri, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel.\r\n The beginning of the word of the LORD by Hosea. And the LORD said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms: for the land hath committed great whoredom, departing from the LORD.\r\n So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim; which conceived, and bare him a son.\r\n And the LORD said unto him, Call his name Jezreel; for yet a little while, and I will avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu, and will cause to cease the kingdom of the house of Israel.\r\n And it shall come to pass at that day, that I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel.\r\n And she conceived again, and bare a daughter. And God said unto him, Call her name Loruhamah: for I will no more have mercy upon the house of Israel; but I will utterly take them away.\r\n But I will have mercy upon the house of Judah, and will save them by the LORD their God, and will not save them by bow, nor by sword, nor by battle, by horses, nor by horsemen.\r\n Now when she had weaned Loruhamah, she conceived, and bare a son.\r\n Then said God, Call his name Loammi: for ye are not my people, and I will not be your God.\r\n Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God.\r\n Then shall the children of Judah and the children of Israel be gathered together, and appoint themselves one head, and they shall come up out of the land: for great shall be the day of Jezreel.\r\n \r\n \r\n Say ye unto your brethren, Ammi; and to your sisters, Ruhamah.\r\n Plead with your mother, plead: for she is not my wife, neither am I her husband: let her therefore put away her whoredoms out of her sight, and her adulteries from between her breasts;\r\n Lest I strip her naked, and set her as in the day that she was born, and make her as a wilderness, and set her like a dry land, and slay her with thirst.\r\n And I will not have mercy upon her children; for they be the children of whoredoms.\r\n For their mother hath played the harlot: she that conceived them hath done shamefully: for she said, I will go after my lovers, that give me my bread and my water, my wool and my flax, mine oil and my drink.\r\n Therefore, behold, I will hedge up thy way with thorns, and make a wall, that she shall not find her paths.\r\n And she shall follow after her lovers, but she shall not overtake them; and she shall seek them, but shall not find them: then shall she say, I will go and return to my first husband; for then was it better with me than now.\r\n For she did not know that I gave her corn, and wine, and oil, and multiplied her silver and gold, which they prepared for Baal.\r\n Therefore will I return, and take away my corn in the time thereof, and my wine in the season thereof, and will recover my wool and my flax given to cover her nakedness.\r\n And now will I discover her lewdness in the sight of her lovers, and none shall deliver her out of mine hand.\r\n I will also cause all her mirth to cease, her feast days, her new moons, and her sabbaths, and all her solemn feasts.\r\n And I will destroy her vines and her fig trees, whereof she hath said, These are my rewards that my lovers have given me: and I will make them a forest, and the beasts of the field shall eat them.\r\n And I will visit upon her the days of Baalim, wherein she burned incense to them, and she decked herself with her earrings and her jewels, and she went after her lovers, and forgat me, saith the LORD.\r\n Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her.\r\n And I will give her her vineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope: and she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt.\r\n And it shall be at that day, saith the LORD, that thou shalt call me Ishi; and shalt call me no more Baali.\r\n For I will take away the names of Baalim out of her mouth, and they shall no more be remembered by their name.\r\n And in that day will I make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven, and with the creeping things of the ground: and I will break the bow and the sword and the battle out of the earth, and will make them to lie down safely.\r\n And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies.\r\n I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know the LORD.\r\n And it shall come to pass in that day, I will hear, saith the LORD, I will hear the heavens, and they shall hear the earth;\r\n And the earth shall hear the corn, and the wine, and the oil; and they shall hear Jezreel.\r\n And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then said the LORD unto me, Go yet, love a woman beloved of her friend, yet an adulteress, according to the love of the LORD toward the children of Israel, who look to other gods, and love flagons of wine.\r\n So I bought her to me for fifteen pieces of silver, and for an homer of barley, and an half homer of barley:\r\n And I said unto her, Thou shalt abide for me many days; thou shalt not play the harlot, and thou shalt not be for another man: so will I also be for thee.\r\n For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim:\r\n Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the LORD their God, and David their king; and shall fear the LORD and his goodness in the latter days.\r\n \r\n \r\n Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.\r\n By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood.\r\n Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven; yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away.\r\n Yet let no man strive, nor reprove another: for thy people are as they that strive with the priest.\r\n Therefore shalt thou fall in the day, and the prophet also shall fall with thee in the night, and I will destroy thy mother.\r\n My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.\r\n As they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I change their glory into shame.\r\n They eat up the sin of my people, and they set their heart on their iniquity.\r\n And there shall be, like people, like priest: and I will punish them for their ways, and reward them their doings.\r\n For they shall eat, and not have enough: they shall commit whoredom, and shall not increase: because they have left off to take heed to the LORD.\r\n Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart.\r\n My people ask counsel at their stocks, and their staff declareth unto them: for the spirit of whoredoms hath caused them to err, and they have gone a whoring from under their God.\r\n They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and burn incense upon the hills, under oaks and poplars and elms, because the shadow thereof is good: therefore your daughters shall commit whoredom, and your spouses shall commit adultery.\r\n I will not punish your daughters when they commit whoredom, nor your spouses when they commit adultery: for themselves are separated with whores, and they sacrifice with harlots: therefore the people that doth not understand shall fall.\r\n Though thou, Israel, play the harlot, yet let not Judah offend; and come not ye unto Gilgal, neither go ye up to Bethaven, nor swear, The LORD liveth.\r\n For Israel slideth back as a backsliding heifer: now the LORD will feed them as a lamb in a large place.\r\n Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone.\r\n Their drink is sour: they have committed whoredom continually: her rulers with shame do love, Give ye.\r\n The wind hath bound her up in her wings, and they shall be ashamed because of their sacrifices.\r\n \r\n \r\n Hear ye this, O priests; and hearken, ye house of Israel; and give ye ear, O house of the king; for judgment is toward you, because ye have been a snare on Mizpah, and a net spread upon Tabor.\r\n And the revolters are profound to make slaughter, though I have been a rebuker of them all.\r\n I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hid from me: for now, O Ephraim, thou committest whoredom, and Israel is defiled.\r\n They will not frame their doings to turn unto their God: for the spirit of whoredoms is in the midst of them, and they have not known the LORD.\r\n And the pride of Israel doth testify to his face: therefore shall Israel and Ephraim fall in their iniquity; Judah also shall fall with them.\r\n They shall go with their flocks and with their herds to seek the LORD; but they shall not find him; he hath withdrawn himself from them.\r\n They have dealt treacherously against the LORD: for they have begotten strange children: now shall a month devour them with their portions.\r\n Blow ye the cornet in Gibeah, and the trumpet in Ramah: cry aloud at Bethaven, after thee, O Benjamin.\r\n Ephraim shall be desolate in the day of rebuke: among the tribes of Israel have I made known that which shall surely be.\r\n The princes of Judah were like them that remove the bound: therefore I will pour out my wrath upon them like water.\r\n Ephraim is oppressed and broken in judgment, because he willingly walked after the commandment.\r\n Therefore will I be unto Ephraim as a moth, and to the house of Judah as rottenness.\r\n When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah saw his wound, then went Ephraim to the Assyrian, and sent to king Jareb: yet could he not heal you, nor cure you of your wound.\r\n For I will be unto Ephraim as a lion, and as a young lion to the house of Judah: I, even I, will tear and go away; I will take away, and none shall rescue him.\r\n I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early.\r\n \r\n \r\n Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.\r\n After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.\r\n Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.\r\n O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? for your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away.\r\n Therefore have I hewed them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth: and thy judgments are as the light that goeth forth.\r\n For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.\r\n But they like men have transgressed the covenant: there have they dealt treacherously against me.\r\n Gilead is a city of them that work iniquity, and is polluted with blood.\r\n And as troops of robbers wait for a man, so the company of priests murder in the way by consent: for they commit lewdness.\r\n I have seen an horrible thing in the house of Israel: there is the whoredom of Ephraim, Israel is defiled.\r\n Also, O Judah, he hath set an harvest for thee, when I returned the captivity of my people.\r\n \r\n \r\n When I would have healed Israel, then the iniquity of Ephraim was discovered, and the wickedness of Samaria: for they commit falsehood; and the thief cometh in, and the troop of robbers spoileth without.\r\n And they consider not in their hearts that I remember all their wickedness: now their own doings have beset them about; they are before my face.\r\n They make the king glad with their wickedness, and the princes with their lies.\r\n They are all adulterers, as an oven heated by the baker, who ceaseth from raising after he hath kneaded the dough, until it be leavened.\r\n In the day of our king the princes have made him sick with bottles of wine; he stretched out his hand with scorners.\r\n For they have made ready their heart like an oven, whiles they lie in wait: their baker sleepeth all the night; in the morning it burneth as a flaming fire.\r\n They are all hot as an oven, and have devoured their judges; all their kings are fallen: there is none among them that calleth unto me.\r\n Ephraim, he hath mixed himself among the people; Ephraim is a cake not turned.\r\n Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knoweth it not: yea, gray hairs are here and there upon him, yet he knoweth not.\r\n And the pride of Israel testifieth to his face: and they do not return to the LORD their God, nor seek him for all this.\r\n Ephraim also is like a silly dove without heart: they call to Egypt, they go to Assyria.\r\n When they shall go, I will spread my net upon them; I will bring them down as the fowls of the heaven; I will chastise them, as their congregation hath heard.\r\n Woe unto them! for they have fled from me: destruction unto them! because they have transgressed against me: though I have redeemed them, yet they have spoken lies against me.\r\n And they have not cried unto me with their heart, when they howled upon their beds: they assemble themselves for corn and wine, and they rebel against me.\r\n Though I have bound and strengthened their arms, yet do they imagine mischief against me.\r\n They return, but not to the most High: they are like a deceitful bow: their princes shall fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue: this shall be their derision in the land of Egypt.\r\n \r\n \r\n Set the trumpet to thy mouth. He shall come as an eagle against the house of the LORD, because they have transgressed my covenant, and trespassed against my law.\r\n Israel shall cry unto me, My God, we know thee.\r\n Israel hath cast off the thing that is good: the enemy shall pursue him.\r\n They have set up kings, but not by me: they have made princes, and I knew it not: of their silver and their gold have they made them idols, that they may be cut off.\r\n Thy calf, O Samaria, hath cast thee off; mine anger is kindled against them: how long will it be ere they attain to innocency?\r\n For from Israel was it also: the workman made it; therefore it is not God: but the calf of Samaria shall be broken in pieces.\r\n For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: it hath no stalk: the bud shall yield no meal: if so be it yield, the strangers shall swallow it up.\r\n Israel is swallowed up: now shall they be among the Gentiles as a vessel wherein is no pleasure.\r\n For they are gone up to Assyria, a wild ass alone by himself: Ephraim hath hired lovers.\r\n Yea, though they have hired among the nations, now will I gather them, and they shall sorrow a little for the burden of the king of princes.\r\n Because Ephraim hath made many altars to sin, altars shall be unto him to sin.\r\n I have written to him the great things of my law, but they were counted as a strange thing.\r\n They sacrifice flesh for the sacrifices of mine offerings, and eat it; but the LORD accepteth them not; now will he remember their iniquity, and visit their sins: they shall return to Egypt.\r\n For Israel hath forgotten his Maker, and buildeth temples; and Judah hath multiplied fenced cities: but I will send a fire upon his cities, and it shall devour the palaces thereof.\r\n \r\n \r\n Rejoice not, O Israel, for joy, as other people: for thou hast gone a whoring from thy God, thou hast loved a reward upon every cornfloor.\r\n The floor and the winepress shall not feed them, and the new wine shall fail in her.\r\n They shall not dwell in the LORD'S land; but Ephraim shall return to Egypt, and they shall eat unclean things in Assyria.\r\n They shall not offer wine offerings to the LORD, neither shall they be pleasing unto him: their sacrifices shall be unto them as the bread of mourners; all that eat thereof shall be polluted: for their bread for their soul shall not come into the house of the LORD.\r\n What will ye do in the solemn day, and in the day of the feast of the LORD?\r\n For, lo, they are gone because of destruction: Egypt shall gather them up, Memphis shall bury them: the pleasant places for their silver, nettles shall possess them: thorns shall be in their tabernacles.\r\n The days of visitation are come, the days of recompence are come; Israel shall know it: the prophet is a fool, the spiritual man is mad, for the multitude of thine iniquity, and the great hatred.\r\n The watchman of Ephraim was with my God: but the prophet is a snare of a fowler in all his ways, and hatred in the house of his God.\r\n They have deeply corrupted themselves, as in the days of Gibeah: therefore he will remember their iniquity, he will visit their sins.\r\n I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers as the firstripe in the fig tree at her first time: but they went to Baalpeor, and separated themselves unto that shame; and their abominations were according as they loved.\r\n As for Ephraim, their glory shall fly away like a bird, from the birth, and from the womb, and from the conception.\r\n Though they bring up their children, yet will I bereave them, that there shall not be a man left: yea, woe also to them when I depart from them!\r\n Ephraim, as I saw Tyrus, is planted in a pleasant place: but Ephraim shall bring forth his children to the murderer.\r\n Give them, O LORD: what wilt thou give? give them a miscarrying womb and dry breasts.\r\n All their wickedness is in Gilgal: for there I hated them: for the wickedness of their doings I will drive them out of mine house, I will love them no more: all their princes are revolters.\r\n Ephraim is smitten, their root is dried up, they shall bear no fruit: yea, though they bring forth, yet will I slay even the beloved fruit of their womb.\r\n My God will cast them away, because they did not hearken unto him: and they shall be wanderers among the nations.\r\n \r\n \r\n Israel is an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto himself: according to the multitude of his fruit he hath increased the altars; according to the goodness of his land they have made goodly images.\r\n Their heart is divided; now shall they be found faulty: he shall break down their altars, he shall spoil their images.\r\n For now they shall say, We have no king, because we feared not the LORD; what then should a king do to us?\r\n They have spoken words, swearing falsely in making a covenant: thus judgment springeth up as hemlock in the furrows of the field.\r\n The inhabitants of Samaria shall fear because of the calves of Bethaven: for the people thereof shall mourn over it, and the priests thereof that rejoiced on it, for the glory thereof, because it is departed from it.\r\n It shall be also carried unto Assyria for a present to king Jareb: Ephraim shall receive shame, and Israel shall be ashamed of his own counsel.\r\n As for Samaria, her king is cut off as the foam upon the water.\r\n The high places also of Aven, the sin of Israel, shall be destroyed: the thorn and the thistle shall come up on their altars; and they shall say to the mountains, Cover us; and to the hills, Fall on us.\r\n O Israel, thou hast sinned from the days of Gibeah: there they stood: the battle in Gibeah against the children of iniquity did not overtake them.\r\n It is in my desire that I should chastise them; and the people shall be gathered against them, when they shall bind themselves in their two furrows.\r\n And Ephraim is as an heifer that is taught, and loveth to tread out the corn; but I passed over upon her fair neck: I will make Ephraim to ride; Judah shall plow, and Jacob shall break his clods.\r\n Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.\r\n Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies: because thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men.\r\n Therefore shall a tumult arise among thy people, and all thy fortresses shall be spoiled, as Shalman spoiled Betharbel in the day of battle: the mother was dashed in pieces upon her children.\r\n So shall Bethel do unto you because of your great wickedness: in a morning shall the king of Israel utterly be cut off.\r\n \r\n \r\n When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.\r\n As they called them, so they went from them: they sacrificed unto Baalim, and burned incense to graven images.\r\n I taught Ephraim also to go, taking them by their arms; but they knew not that I healed them.\r\n I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love: and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I laid meat unto them.\r\n He shall not return into the land of Egypt, but the Assyrian shall be his king, because they refused to return.\r\n And the sword shall abide on his cities, and shall consume his branches, and devour them, because of their own counsels.\r\n And my people are bent to backsliding from me: though they called them to the most High, none at all would exalt him.\r\n How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? how shall I deliver thee, Israel? how shall I make thee as Admah? how shall I set thee as Zeboim? mine heart is turned within me, my repentings are kindled together.\r\n I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee: and I will not enter into the city.\r\n They shall walk after the LORD: he shall roar like a lion: when he shall roar, then the children shall tremble from the west.\r\n They shall tremble as a bird out of Egypt, and as a dove out of the land of Assyria: and I will place them in their houses, saith the LORD.\r\n Ephraim compasseth me about with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit: but Judah yet ruleth with God, and is faithful with the saints.\r\n \r\n \r\n Ephraim feedeth on wind, and followeth after the east wind: he daily increaseth lies and desolation; and they do make a covenant with the Assyrians, and oil is carried into Egypt.\r\n The LORD hath also a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his doings will he recompense him.\r\n He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power with God:\r\n Yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed: he wept, and made supplication unto him: he found him in Bethel, and there he spake with us;\r\n Even the LORD God of hosts; the LORD is his memorial.\r\n Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgment, and wait on thy God continually.\r\n He is a merchant, the balances of deceit are in his hand: he loveth to oppress.\r\n And Ephraim said, Yet I am become rich, I have found me out substance: in all my labours they shall find none iniquity in me that were sin.\r\n And I that am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt will yet make thee to dwell in tabernacles, as in the days of the solemn feast.\r\n I have also spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and used similitudes, by the ministry of the prophets.\r\n Is there iniquity in Gilead? surely they are vanity: they sacrifice bullocks in Gilgal; yea, their altars are as heaps in the furrows of the fields.\r\n And Jacob fled into the country of Syria, and Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he kept sheep.\r\n And by a prophet the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he preserved.\r\n Ephraim provoked him to anger most bitterly: therefore shall he leave his blood upon him, and his reproach shall his Lord return unto him.\r\n \r\n \r\n When Ephraim spake trembling, he exalted himself in Israel; but when he offended in Baal, he died.\r\n And now they sin more and more, and have made them molten images of their silver, and idols according to their own understanding, all of it the work of the craftsmen: they say of them, Let the men that sacrifice kiss the calves.\r\n Therefore they shall be as the morning cloud, and as the early dew that passeth away, as the chaff that is driven with the whirlwind out of the floor, and as the smoke out of the chimney.\r\n Yet I am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no god but me: for there is no saviour beside me.\r\n I did know thee in the wilderness, in the land of great drought.\r\n According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted; therefore have they forgotten me.\r\n Therefore I will be unto them as a lion: as a leopard by the way will I observe them:\r\n I will meet them as a bear that is bereaved of her whelps, and will rend the caul of their heart, and there will I devour them like a lion: the wild beast shall tear them.\r\n O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me is thine help.\r\n I will be thy king: where is any other that may save thee in all thy cities? and thy judges of whom thou saidst, Give me a king and princes?\r\n I gave thee a king in mine anger, and took him away in my wrath.\r\n The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up; his sin is hid.\r\n The sorrows of a travailing woman shall come upon him: he is an unwise son; for he should not stay long in the place of the breaking forth of children.\r\n I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.\r\n Though he be fruitful among his brethren, an east wind shall come, the wind of the LORD shall come up from the wilderness, and his spring shall become dry, and his fountain shall be dried up: he shall spoil the treasure of all pleasant vessels.\r\n Samaria shall become desolate; for she hath rebelled against her God: they shall fall by the sword: their infants shall be dashed in pieces, and their women with child shall be ripped up.\r\n \r\n \r\n O Israel, return unto the LORD thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.\r\n Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips.\r\n Asshur shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses: neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, Ye are our gods: for in thee the fatherless findeth mercy.\r\n I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.\r\n I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon.\r\n His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon.\r\n They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon.\r\n Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found.\r\n Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n The word of the LORD that came to Joel the son of Pethuel.\r\n Hear this, ye old men, and give ear, all ye inhabitants of the land. Hath this been in your days, or even in the days of your fathers?\r\n Tell ye your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation.\r\n That which the palmerworm hath left hath the locust eaten; and that which the locust hath left hath the cankerworm eaten; and that which the cankerworm hath left hath the caterpiller eaten.\r\n Awake, ye drunkards, and weep; and howl, all ye drinkers of wine, because of the new wine; for it is cut off from your mouth.\r\n For a nation is come up upon my land, strong, and without number, whose teeth are the teeth of a lion, and he hath the cheek teeth of a great lion.\r\n He hath laid my vine waste, and barked my fig tree: he hath made it clean bare, and cast it away; the branches thereof are made white.\r\n Lament like a virgin girded with sackcloth for the husband of her youth.\r\n The meat offering and the drink offering is cut off from the house of the LORD; the priests, the LORD'S ministers, mourn.\r\n The field is wasted, the land mourneth; for the corn is wasted: the new wine is dried up, the oil languisheth.\r\n Be ye ashamed, O ye husbandmen; howl, O ye vinedressers, for the wheat and for the barley; because the harvest of the field is perished.\r\n The vine is dried up, and the fig tree languisheth; the pomegranate tree, the palm tree also, and the apple tree, even all the trees of the field, are withered: because joy is withered away from the sons of men.\r\n Gird yourselves, and lament, ye priests: howl, ye ministers of the altar: come, lie all night in sackcloth, ye ministers of my God: for the meat offering and the drink offering is withholden from the house of your God.\r\n Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the LORD your God, and cry unto the LORD,\r\n Alas for the day! for the day of the LORD is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come.\r\n Is not the meat cut off before our eyes, yea, joy and gladness from the house of our God?\r\n The seed is rotten under their clods, the garners are laid desolate, the barns are broken down; for the corn is withered.\r\n How do the beasts groan! the herds of cattle are perplexed, because they have no pasture; yea, the flocks of sheep are made desolate.\r\n O LORD, to thee will I cry: for the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness, and the flame hath burned all the trees of the field.\r\n The beasts of the field cry also unto thee: for the rivers of waters are dried up, and the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness.\r\n \r\n \r\n Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand;\r\n A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.\r\n A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them.\r\n The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run.\r\n Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array.\r\n Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather blackness.\r\n They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks:\r\n Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path: and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded.\r\n They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief.\r\n The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining:\r\n And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?\r\n Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:\r\n And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.\r\n Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God?\r\n Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly:\r\n Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.\r\n Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?\r\n Then will the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity his people.\r\n Yea, the LORD will answer and say unto his people, Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen:\r\n But I will remove far off from you the northern army, and will drive him into a land barren and desolate, with his face toward the east sea, and his hinder part toward the utmost sea, and his stink shall come up, and his ill savour shall come up, because he hath done great things.\r\n Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things.\r\n Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field: for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree beareth her fruit, the fig tree and the vine do yield their strength.\r\n Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.\r\n And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the fats shall overflow with wine and oil.\r\n And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.\r\n And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed.\r\n And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed.\r\n And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:\r\n And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.\r\n And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.\r\n The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.\r\n And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.\r\n \r\n \r\n For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem,\r\n I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.\r\n And they have cast lots for my people; and have given a boy for an harlot, and sold a girl for wine, that they might drink.\r\n Yea, and what have ye to do with me, O Tyre, and Zidon, and all the coasts of Palestine? will ye render me a recompence? and if ye recompense me, swiftly and speedily will I return your recompence upon your own head;\r\n Because ye have taken my silver and my gold, and have carried into your temples my goodly pleasant things:\r\n The children also of Judah and the children of Jerusalem have ye sold unto the Grecians, that ye might remove them far from their border.\r\n Behold, I will raise them out of the place whither ye have sold them, and will return your recompence upon your own head:\r\n And I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the children of Judah, and they shall sell them to the Sabeans, to a people far off: for the LORD hath spoken it.\r\n Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up:\r\n Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong.\r\n Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together round about: thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O LORD.\r\n Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about.\r\n Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great.\r\n Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.\r\n The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining.\r\n The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.\r\n So shall ye know that I am the LORD your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more.\r\n And it shall come to pass in that day, that the mountains shall drop down new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, and a fountain shall come forth of the house of the LORD, and shall water the valley of Shittim.\r\n Egypt shall be a desolation, and Edom shall be a desolate wilderness, for the violence against the children of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land.\r\n But Judah shall dwell for ever, and Jerusalem from generation to generation.\r\n For I will cleanse their blood that I have not cleansed: for the LORD dwelleth in Zion.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n The words of Amos, who was among the herdmen of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel, two years before the earthquake.\r\n And he said, The LORD will roar from Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the habitations of the shepherds shall mourn, and the top of Carmel shall wither.\r\n Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have threshed Gilead with threshing instruments of iron:\r\n But I will send a fire into the house of Hazael, which shall devour the palaces of Benhadad.\r\n I will break also the bar of Damascus, and cut off the inhabitant from the plain of Aven, and him that holdeth the sceptre from the house of Eden: and the people of Syria shall go into captivity unto Kir, saith the LORD.\r\n Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Gaza, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they carried away captive the whole captivity, to deliver them up to Edom:\r\n But I will send a fire on the wall of Gaza, which shall devour the palaces thereof:\r\n And I will cut off the inhabitant from Ashdod, and him that holdeth the sceptre from Ashkelon, and I will turn mine hand against Ekron: and the remnant of the Philistines shall perish, saith the Lord GOD.\r\n Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Tyrus, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they delivered up the whole captivity to Edom, and remembered not the brotherly covenant:\r\n But I will send a fire on the wall of Tyrus, which shall devour the palaces thereof.\r\n Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Edom, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because he did pursue his brother with the sword, and did cast off all pity, and his anger did tear perpetually, and he kept his wrath for ever:\r\n But I will send a fire upon Teman, which shall devour the palaces of Bozrah.\r\n Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of the children of Ammon, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have ripped up the women with child of Gilead, that they might enlarge their border:\r\n But I will kindle a fire in the wall of Rabbah, and it shall devour the palaces thereof, with shouting in the day of battle, with a tempest in the day of the whirlwind:\r\n And their king shall go into captivity, he and his princes together, saith the LORD.\r\n \r\n \r\n Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Moab, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because he burned the bones of the king of Edom into lime:\r\n But I will send a fire upon Moab, and it shall devour the palaces of Kerioth: and Moab shall die with tumult, with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet:\r\n And I will cut off the judge from the midst thereof, and will slay all the princes thereof with him, saith the LORD.\r\n Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Judah, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have despised the law of the LORD, and have not kept his commandments, and their lies caused them to err, after the which their fathers have walked:\r\n But I will send a fire upon Judah, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem.\r\n Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they sold the righteous for silver, and the poor for a pair of shoes;\r\n That pant after the dust of the earth on the head of the poor, and turn aside the way of the meek: and a man and his father will go in unto the same maid, to profane my holy name:\r\n And they lay themselves down upon clothes laid to pledge by every altar, and they drink the wine of the condemned in the house of their god.\r\n Yet destroyed I the Amorite before them, whose height was like the height of the cedars, and he was strong as the oaks; yet I destroyed his fruit from above, and his roots from beneath.\r\n Also I brought you up from the land of Egypt, and led you forty years through the wilderness, to possess the land of the Amorite.\r\n And I raised up of your sons for prophets, and of your young men for Nazarites. Is it not even thus, O ye children of Israel? saith the LORD.\r\n But ye gave the Nazarites wine to drink; and commanded the prophets, saying, Prophesy not.\r\n Behold, I am pressed under you, as a cart is pressed that is full of sheaves.\r\n Therefore the flight shall perish from the swift, and the strong shall not strengthen his force, neither shall the mighty deliver himself:\r\n Neither shall he stand that handleth the bow; and he that is swift of foot shall not deliver himself: neither shall he that rideth the horse deliver himself.\r\n And he that is courageous among the mighty shall flee away naked in that day, saith the LORD.\r\n \r\n \r\n Hear this word that the LORD hath spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying,\r\n You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.\r\n Can two walk together, except they be agreed?\r\n Will a lion roar in the forest, when he hath no prey? will a young lion cry out of his den, if he have taken nothing?\r\n Can a bird fall in a snare upon the earth, where no gin is for him? shall one take up a snare from the earth, and have taken nothing at all?\r\n Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it?\r\n Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.\r\n The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord GOD hath spoken, who can but prophesy?\r\n Publish in the palaces at Ashdod, and in the palaces in the land of Egypt, and say, Assemble yourselves upon the mountains of Samaria, and behold the great tumults in the midst thereof, and the oppressed in the midst thereof.\r\n For they know not to do right, saith the LORD, who store up violence and robbery in their palaces.\r\n Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; An adversary there shall be even round about the land; and he shall bring down thy strength from thee, and thy palaces shall be spoiled.\r\n Thus saith the LORD; As the shepherd taketh out of the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear; so shall the children of Israel be taken out that dwell in Samaria in the corner of a bed, and in Damascus in a couch.\r\n Hear ye, and testify in the house of Jacob, saith the Lord GOD, the God of hosts,\r\n That in the day that I shall visit the transgressions of Israel upon him I will also visit the altars of Bethel: and the horns of the altar shall be cut off, and fall to the ground.\r\n And I will smite the winter house with the summer house; and the houses of ivory shall perish, and the great houses shall have an end, saith the LORD.\r\n \r\n \r\n Hear this word, ye kine of Bashan, that are in the mountain of Samaria, which oppress the poor, which crush the needy, which say to their masters, Bring, and let us drink.\r\n The Lord GOD hath sworn by his holiness, that, lo, the days shall come upon you, that he will take you away with hooks, and your posterity with fishhooks.\r\n And ye shall go out at the breaches, every cow at that which is before her; and ye shall cast them into the palace, saith the LORD.\r\n Come to Bethel, and transgress; at Gilgal multiply transgression; and bring your sacrifices every morning, and your tithes after three years:\r\n And offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving with leaven, and proclaim and publish the free offerings: for this liketh you, O ye children of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.\r\n And I also have given you cleanness of teeth in all your cities, and want of bread in all your places: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.\r\n And also I have withholden the rain from you, when there were yet three months to the harvest: and I caused it to rain upon one city, and caused it not to rain upon another city: one piece was rained upon, and the piece whereupon it rained not withered.\r\n So two or three cities wandered unto one city, to drink water; but they were not satisfied: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.\r\n I have smitten you with blasting and mildew: when your gardens and your vineyards and your fig trees and your olive trees increased, the palmerworm devoured them: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.\r\n I have sent among you the pestilence after the manner of Egypt: your young men have I slain with the sword, and have taken away your horses; and I have made the stink of your camps to come up unto your nostrils: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.\r\n I have overthrown some of you, as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and ye were as a firebrand plucked out of the burning: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.\r\n Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.\r\n For, lo, he that formeth the mountains, and createth the wind, and declareth unto man what is his thought, that maketh the morning darkness, and treadeth upon the high places of the earth, The LORD, The God of hosts, is his name.\r\n \r\n \r\n Hear ye this word which I take up against you, even a lamentation, O house of Israel.\r\n The virgin of Israel is fallen; she shall no more rise: she is forsaken upon her land; there is none to raise her up.\r\n For thus saith the Lord GOD; The city that went out by a thousand shall leave an hundred, and that which went forth by an hundred shall leave ten, to the house of Israel.\r\n For thus saith the LORD unto the house of Israel, Seek ye me, and ye shall live:\r\n But seek not Bethel, nor enter into Gilgal, and pass not to Beersheba: for Gilgal shall surely go into captivity, and Bethel shall come to nought.\r\n Seek the LORD, and ye shall live; lest he break out like fire in the house of Joseph, and devour it, and there be none to quench it in Bethel.\r\n Ye who turn judgment to wormwood, and leave off righteousness in the earth,\r\n Seek him that maketh the seven stars and Orion, and turneth the shadow of death into the morning, and maketh the day dark with night: that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The LORD is his name:\r\n That strengtheneth the spoiled against the strong, so that the spoiled shall come against the fortress.\r\n They hate him that rebuketh in the gate, and they abhor him that speaketh uprightly.\r\n Forasmuch therefore as your treading is upon the poor, and ye take from him burdens of wheat: ye have built houses of hewn stone, but ye shall not dwell in them; ye have planted pleasant vineyards, but ye shall not drink wine of them.\r\n For I know your manifold transgressions and your mighty sins: they afflict the just, they take a bribe, and they turn aside the poor in the gate from their right.\r\n Therefore the prudent shall keep silence in that time; for it is an evil time.\r\n Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live: and so the LORD, the God of hosts, shall be with you, as ye have spoken.\r\n Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate: it may be that the LORD God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph.\r\n Therefore the LORD, the God of hosts, the Lord, saith thus; Wailing shall be in all streets; and they shall say in all the highways, Alas! alas! and they shall call the husbandman to mourning, and such as are skilful of lamentation to wailing.\r\n And in all vineyards shall be wailing: for I will pass through thee, saith the LORD.\r\n Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD! to what end is it for you? the day of the LORD is darkness, and not light.\r\n As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him.\r\n Shall not the day of the LORD be darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it?\r\n I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies.\r\n Though ye offer me burnt offerings and your meat offerings, I will not accept them: neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts.\r\n Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols.\r\n But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream.\r\n Have ye offered unto me sacrifices and offerings in the wilderness forty years, O house of Israel?\r\n But ye have borne the tabernacle of your Moloch and Chiun your images, the star of your god, which ye made to yourselves.\r\n Therefore will I cause you to go into captivity beyond Damascus, saith the LORD, whose name is The God of hosts.\r\n \r\n \r\n Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria, which are named chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel came!\r\n Pass ye unto Calneh, and see; and from thence go ye to Hamath the great: then go down to Gath of the Philistines: be they better than these kingdoms? or their border greater than your border?\r\n Ye that put far away the evil day, and cause the seat of violence to come near;\r\n That lie upon beds of ivory, and stretch themselves upon their couches, and eat the lambs out of the flock, and the calves out of the midst of the stall;\r\n That chant to the sound of the viol, and invent to themselves instruments of musick, like David;\r\n That drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the chief ointments: but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph.\r\n Therefore now shall they go captive with the first that go captive, and the banquet of them that stretched themselves shall be removed.\r\n The Lord GOD hath sworn by himself, saith the LORD the God of hosts, I abhor the excellency of Jacob, and hate his palaces: therefore will I deliver up the city with all that is therein.\r\n And it shall come to pass, if there remain ten men in one house, that they shall die.\r\n And a man's uncle shall take him up, and he that burneth him, to bring out the bones out of the house, and shall say unto him that is by the sides of the house, Is there yet any with thee? and he shall say, No. Then shall he say, Hold thy tongue: for we may not make mention of the name of the LORD.\r\n For, behold, the LORD commandeth, and he will smite the great house with breaches, and the little house with clefts.\r\n Shall horses run upon the rock? will one plow there with oxen? for ye have turned judgment into gall, and the fruit of righteousness into hemlock:\r\n Ye which rejoice in a thing of nought, which say, Have we not taken to us horns by our own strength?\r\n But, behold, I will raise up against you a nation, O house of Israel, saith the LORD the God of hosts; and they shall afflict you from the entering in of Hemath unto the river of the wilderness.\r\n \r\n \r\n Thus hath the Lord GOD shewed unto me; and, behold, he formed grasshoppers in the beginning of the shooting up of the latter growth; and, lo, it was the latter growth after the king's mowings.\r\n And it came to pass, that when they had made an end of eating the grass of the land, then I said, O Lord GOD, forgive, I beseech thee: by whom shall Jacob arise? for he is small.\r\n The LORD repented for this: It shall not be, saith the LORD.\r\n Thus hath the Lord GOD shewed unto me: and, behold, the Lord GOD called to contend by fire, and it devoured the great deep, and did eat up a part.\r\n Then said I, O Lord GOD, cease, I beseech thee: by whom shall Jacob arise? for he is small.\r\n The LORD repented for this: This also shall not be, saith the Lord GOD.\r\n Thus he shewed me: and, behold, the Lord stood upon a wall made by a plumbline, with a plumbline in his hand.\r\n And the LORD said unto me, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A plumbline. Then said the Lord, Behold, I will set a plumbline in the midst of my people Israel: I will not again pass by them any more:\r\n And the high places of Isaac shall be desolate, and the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste; and I will rise against the house of Jeroboam with the sword.\r\n Then Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying, Amos hath conspired against thee in the midst of the house of Israel: the land is not able to bear all his words.\r\n For thus Amos saith, Jeroboam shall die by the sword, and Israel shall surely be led away captive out of their own land.\r\n Also Amaziah said unto Amos, O thou seer, go, flee thee away into the land of Judah, and there eat bread, and prophesy there:\r\n But prophesy not again any more at Bethel: for it is the king's chapel, and it is the king's court.\r\n Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet's son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycomore fruit:\r\n And the LORD took me as I followed the flock, and the LORD said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel.\r\n Now therefore hear thou the word of the LORD: Thou sayest, Prophesy not against Israel, and drop not thy word against the house of Isaac.\r\n Therefore thus saith the LORD; Thy wife shall be an harlot in the city, and thy sons and thy daughters shall fall by the sword, and thy land shall be divided by line; and thou shalt die in a polluted land: and Israel shall surely go into captivity forth of his land.\r\n \r\n \r\n Thus hath the Lord GOD shewed unto me: and behold a basket of summer fruit.\r\n And he said, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A basket of summer fruit. Then said the LORD unto me, The end is come upon my people of Israel; I will not again pass by them any more.\r\n And the songs of the temple shall be howlings in that day, saith the Lord GOD: there shall be many dead bodies in every place; they shall cast them forth with silence.\r\n Hear this, O ye that swallow up the needy, even to make the poor of the land to fail,\r\n Saying, When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell corn? and the sabbath, that we may set forth wheat, making the ephah small, and the shekel great, and falsifying the balances by deceit?\r\n That we may buy the poor for silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes; yea, and sell the refuse of the wheat?\r\n The LORD hath sworn by the excellency of Jacob, Surely I will never forget any of their works.\r\n Shall not the land tremble for this, and every one mourn that dwelleth therein? and it shall rise up wholly as a flood; and it shall be cast out and drowned, as by the flood of Egypt.\r\n And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord GOD, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day:\r\n And I will turn your feasts into mourning, and all your songs into lamentation; and I will bring up sackcloth upon all loins, and baldness upon every head; and I will make it as the mourning of an only son, and the end thereof as a bitter day.\r\n Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:\r\n And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it.\r\n In that day shall the fair virgins and young men faint for thirst.\r\n They that swear by the sin of Samaria, and say, Thy god, O Dan, liveth; and, The manner of Beersheba liveth; even they shall fall, and never rise up again.\r\n \r\n \r\n I saw the Lord standing upon the altar: and he said, Smite the lintel of the door, that the posts may shake: and cut them in the head, all of them; and I will slay the last of them with the sword: he that fleeth of them shall not flee away, and he that escapeth of them shall not be delivered.\r\n Though they dig into hell, thence shall mine hand take them; though they climb up to heaven, thence will I bring them down:\r\n And though they hide themselves in the top of Carmel, I will search and take them out thence; and though they be hid from my sight in the bottom of the sea, thence will I command the serpent, and he shall bite them:\r\n And though they go into captivity before their enemies, thence will I command the sword, and it shall slay them: and I will set mine eyes upon them for evil, and not for good.\r\n And the Lord GOD of hosts is he that toucheth the land, and it shall melt, and all that dwell therein shall mourn: and it shall rise up wholly like a flood; and shall be drowned, as by the flood of Egypt.\r\n It is he that buildeth his stories in the heaven, and hath founded his troop in the earth; he that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The LORD is his name.\r\n Are ye not as children of the Ethiopians unto me, O children of Israel? saith the LORD. Have not I brought up Israel out of the land of Egypt? and the Philistines from Caphtor, and the Syrians from Kir?\r\n Behold, the eyes of the Lord GOD are upon the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from off the face of the earth; saving that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob, saith the LORD.\r\n For, lo, I will command, and I will sift the house of Israel among all nations, like as corn is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earth.\r\n All the sinners of my people shall die by the sword, which say, The evil shall not overtake nor prevent us.\r\n In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old:\r\n That they may possess the remnant of Edom, and of all the heathen, which are called by my name, saith the LORD that doeth this.\r\n Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed; and the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt.\r\n And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them.\r\n And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the LORD thy God.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n The vision of Obadiah. Thus saith the Lord GOD concerning Edom; We have heard a rumour from the LORD, and an ambassador is sent among the heathen, Arise ye, and let us rise up against her in battle.\r\n Behold, I have made thee small among the heathen: thou art greatly despised.\r\n The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high; that saith in his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground?\r\n Though thou exalt thyself as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith the LORD.\r\n If thieves came to thee, if robbers by night, (how art thou cut off!) would they not have stolen till they had enough? if the grapegatherers came to thee, would they not leave some grapes?\r\n How are the things of Esau searched out! how are his hidden things sought up!\r\n All the men of thy confederacy have brought thee even to the border: the men that were at peace with thee have deceived thee, and prevailed against thee; they that eat thy bread have laid a wound under thee: there is none understanding in him.\r\n Shall I not in that day, saith the LORD, even destroy the wise men out of Edom, and understanding out of the mount of Esau?\r\n And thy mighty men, O Teman, shall be dismayed, to the end that every one of the mount of Esau may be cut off by slaughter.\r\n For thy violence against thy brother Jacob shame shall cover thee, and thou shalt be cut off for ever.\r\n In the day that thou stoodest on the other side, in the day that the strangers carried away captive his forces, and foreigners entered into his gates, and cast lots upon Jerusalem, even thou wast as one of them.\r\n But thou shouldest not have looked on the day of thy brother in the day that he became a stranger; neither shouldest thou have rejoiced over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction; neither shouldest thou have spoken proudly in the day of distress.\r\n Thou shouldest not have entered into the gate of my people in the day of their calamity; yea, thou shouldest not have looked on their affliction in the day of their calamity, nor have laid hands on their substance in the day of their calamity;\r\n Neither shouldest thou have stood in the crossway, to cut off those of his that did escape; neither shouldest thou have delivered up those of his that did remain in the day of distress.\r\n For the day of the LORD is near upon all the heathen: as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee: thy reward shall return upon thine own head.\r\n For as ye have drunk upon my holy mountain, so shall all the heathen drink continually, yea, they shall drink, and they shall swallow down, and they shall be as though they had not been.\r\n But upon mount Zion shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions.\r\n And the house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for stubble, and they shall kindle in them, and devour them; and there shall not be any remaining of the house of Esau; for the LORD hath spoken it.\r\n And they of the south shall possess the mount of Esau; and they of the plain the Philistines: and they shall possess the fields of Ephraim, and the fields of Samaria: and Benjamin shall possess Gilead.\r\n And the captivity of this host of the children of Israel shall possess that of the Canaanites, even unto Zarephath; and the captivity of Jerusalem, which is in Sepharad, shall possess the cities of the south.\r\n And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD'S.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,\r\n Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.\r\n But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.\r\n But the LORD sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken.\r\n Then the mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his god, and cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it of them. But Jonah was gone down into the sides of the ship; and he lay, and was fast asleep.\r\n So the shipmaster came to him, and said unto him, What meanest thou, O sleeper? arise, call upon thy God, if so be that God will think upon us, that we perish not.\r\n And they said every one to his fellow, Come, and let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this evil is upon us. So they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonah.\r\n Then said they unto him, Tell us, we pray thee, for whose cause this evil is upon us; What is thine occupation? and whence comest thou? what is thy country? and of what people art thou?\r\n And he said unto them, I am an Hebrew; and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, which hath made the sea and the dry land.\r\n Then were the men exceedingly afraid, and said unto him, Why hast thou done this? For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them.\r\n Then said they unto him, What shall we do unto thee, that the sea may be calm unto us? for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous.\r\n And he said unto them, Take me up, and cast me forth into the sea; so shall the sea be calm unto you: for I know that for my sake this great tempest is upon you.\r\n Nevertheless the men rowed hard to bring it to the land; but they could not: for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous against them.\r\n Wherefore they cried unto the LORD, and said, We beseech thee, O LORD, we beseech thee, let us not perish for this man's life, and lay not upon us innocent blood: for thou, O LORD, hast done as it pleased thee.\r\n So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and the sea ceased from her raging.\r\n Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice unto the LORD, and made vows.\r\n Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then Jonah prayed unto the LORD his God out of the fish's belly,\r\n And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.\r\n For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; and the floods compassed me about: all thy billows and thy waves passed over me.\r\n Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight; yet I will look again toward thy holy temple.\r\n The waters compassed me about, even to the soul: the depth closed me round about, the weeds were wrapped about my head.\r\n I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars was about me for ever: yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, O LORD my God.\r\n When my soul fainted within me I remembered the LORD: and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple.\r\n They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy.\r\n But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD.\r\n And the LORD spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the second time, saying,\r\n Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee.\r\n So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days' journey.\r\n And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.\r\n So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.\r\n For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.\r\n And he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink water:\r\n But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands.\r\n Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?\r\n And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.\r\n \r\n \r\n But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry.\r\n And he prayed unto the LORD, and said, I pray thee, O LORD, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil.\r\n Therefore now, O LORD, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live.\r\n Then said the LORD, Doest thou well to be angry?\r\n So Jonah went out of the city, and sat on the east side of the city, and there made him a booth, and sat under it in the shadow, till he might see what would become of the city.\r\n And the LORD God prepared a gourd, and made it to come up over Jonah, that it might be a shadow over his head, to deliver him from his grief. So Jonah was exceeding glad of the gourd.\r\n But God prepared a worm when the morning rose the next day, and it smote the gourd that it withered.\r\n And it came to pass, when the sun did arise, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat upon the head of Jonah, that he fainted, and wished in himself to die, and said, It is better for me to die than to live.\r\n And God said to Jonah, Doest thou well to be angry for the gourd? And he said, I do well to be angry, even unto death.\r\n Then said the LORD, Thou hast had pity on the gourd, for the which thou hast not laboured, neither madest it grow; which came up in a night, and perished in a night:\r\n And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n The word of the LORD that came to Micah the Morasthite in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem.\r\n Hear, all ye people; hearken, O earth, and all that therein is: and let the Lord GOD be witness against you, the Lord from his holy temple.\r\n For, behold, the LORD cometh forth out of his place, and will come down, and tread upon the high places of the earth.\r\n And the mountains shall be molten under him, and the valleys shall be cleft, as wax before the fire, and as the waters that are poured down a steep place.\r\n For the transgression of Jacob is all this, and for the sins of the house of Israel. What is the transgression of Jacob? is it not Samaria? and what are the high places of Judah? are they not Jerusalem?\r\n Therefore I will make Samaria as an heap of the field, and as plantings of a vineyard: and I will pour down the stones thereof into the valley, and I will discover the foundations thereof.\r\n And all the graven images thereof shall be beaten to pieces, and all the hires thereof shall be burned with the fire, and all the idols thereof will I lay desolate: for she gathered it of the hire of an harlot, and they shall return to the hire of an harlot.\r\n Therefore I will wail and howl, I will go stripped and naked: I will make a wailing like the dragons, and mourning as the owls.\r\n For her wound is incurable; for it is come unto Judah; he is come unto the gate of my people, even to Jerusalem.\r\n Declare ye it not at Gath, weep ye not at all: in the house of Aphrah roll thyself in the dust.\r\n Pass ye away, thou inhabitant of Saphir, having thy shame naked: the inhabitant of Zaanan came not forth in the mourning of Bethezel; he shall receive of you his standing.\r\n For the inhabitant of Maroth waited carefully for good: but evil came down from the LORD unto the gate of Jerusalem.\r\n O thou inhabitant of Lachish, bind the chariot to the swift beast: she is the beginning of the sin to the daughter of Zion: for the transgressions of Israel were found in thee.\r\n Therefore shalt thou give presents to Moreshethgath: the houses of Achzib shall be a lie to the kings of Israel.\r\n Yet will I bring an heir unto thee, O inhabitant of Mareshah: he shall come unto Adullam the glory of Israel.\r\n Make thee bald, and poll thee for thy delicate children; enlarge thy baldness as the eagle; for they are gone into captivity from thee.\r\n \r\n \r\n Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds! when the morning is light, they practise it, because it is in the power of their hand.\r\n And they covet fields, and take them by violence; and houses, and take them away: so they oppress a man and his house, even a man and his heritage.\r\n Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, against this family do I devise an evil, from which ye shall not remove your necks; neither shall ye go haughtily: for this time is evil.\r\n In that day shall one take up a parable against you, and lament with a doleful lamentation, and say, We be utterly spoiled: he hath changed the portion of my people: how hath he removed it from me! turning away he hath divided our fields.\r\n Therefore thou shalt have none that shall cast a cord by lot in the congregation of the LORD.\r\n Prophesy ye not, say they to them that prophesy: they shall not prophesy to them, that they shall not take shame.\r\n O thou that art named the house of Jacob, is the spirit of the LORD straitened? are these his doings? do not my words do good to him that walketh uprightly?\r\n Even of late my people is risen up as an enemy: ye pull off the robe with the garment from them that pass by securely as men averse from war.\r\n The women of my people have ye cast out from their pleasant houses; from their children have ye taken away my glory for ever.\r\n Arise ye, and depart; for this is not your rest: because it is polluted, it shall destroy you, even with a sore destruction.\r\n If a man walking in the spirit and falsehood do lie, saying, I will prophesy unto thee of wine and of strong drink; he shall even be the prophet of this people.\r\n I will surely assemble, O Jacob, all of thee; I will surely gather the remnant of Israel; I will put them together as the sheep of Bozrah, as the flock in the midst of their fold: they shall make great noise by reason of the multitude of men.\r\n The breaker is come up before them: they have broken up, and have passed through the gate, and are gone out by it: and their king shall pass before them, and the LORD on the head of them.\r\n \r\n \r\n And I said, Hear, I pray you, O heads of Jacob, and ye princes of the house of Israel; Is it not for you to know judgment?\r\n Who hate the good, and love the evil; who pluck off their skin from off them, and their flesh from off their bones;\r\n Who also eat the flesh of my people, and flay their skin from off them; and they break their bones, and chop them in pieces, as for the pot, and as flesh within the caldron.\r\n Then shall they cry unto the LORD, but he will not hear them: he will even hide his face from them at that time, as they have behaved themselves ill in their doings.\r\n Thus saith the LORD concerning the prophets that make my people err, that bite with their teeth, and cry, Peace; and he that putteth not into their mouths, they even prepare war against him.\r\n Therefore night shall be unto you, that ye shall not have a vision; and it shall be dark unto you, that ye shall not divine; and the sun shall go down over the prophets, and the day shall be dark over them.\r\n Then shall the seers be ashamed, and the diviners confounded: yea, they shall all cover their lips; for there is no answer of God.\r\n But truly I am full of power by the spirit of the LORD, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin.\r\n Hear this, I pray you, ye heads of the house of Jacob, and princes of the house of Israel, that abhor judgment, and pervert all equity.\r\n They build up Zion with blood, and Jerusalem with iniquity.\r\n The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the LORD, and say, Is not the LORD among us? none evil can come upon us.\r\n Therefore shall Zion for your sake be plowed as a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of the forest.\r\n \r\n \r\n But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it.\r\n And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.\r\n And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.\r\n But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of hosts hath spoken it.\r\n For all people will walk every one in the name of his god, and we will walk in the name of the LORD our God for ever and ever.\r\n In that day, saith the LORD, will I assemble her that halteth, and I will gather her that is driven out, and her that I have afflicted;\r\n And I will make her that halted a remnant, and her that was cast far off a strong nation: and the LORD shall reign over them in mount Zion from henceforth, even for ever.\r\n And thou, O tower of the flock, the strong hold of the daughter of Zion, unto thee shall it come, even the first dominion; the kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem.\r\n Now why dost thou cry out aloud? is there no king in thee? is thy counsellor perished? for pangs have taken thee as a woman in travail.\r\n Be in pain, and labour to bring forth, O daughter of Zion, like a woman in travail: for now shalt thou go forth out of the city, and thou shalt dwell in the field, and thou shalt go even to Babylon; there shalt thou be delivered; there the LORD shall redeem thee from the hand of thine enemies.\r\n Now also many nations are gathered against thee, that say, Let her be defiled, and let our eye look upon Zion.\r\n But they know not the thoughts of the LORD, neither understand they his counsel: for he shall gather them as the sheaves into the floor.\r\n Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion: for I will make thine horn iron, and I will make thy hoofs brass: and thou shalt beat in pieces many people: and I will consecrate their gain unto the LORD, and their substance unto the Lord of the whole earth.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now gather thyself in troops, O daughter of troops: he hath laid siege against us: they shall smite the judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek.\r\n But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.\r\n Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she which travaileth hath brought forth: then the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel.\r\n And he shall stand and feed in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God; and they shall abide: for now shall he be great unto the ends of the earth.\r\n And this man shall be the peace, when the Assyrian shall come into our land: and when he shall tread in our palaces, then shall we raise against him seven shepherds, and eight principal men.\r\n And they shall waste the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod in the entrances thereof: thus shall he deliver us from the Assyrian, when he cometh into our land, and when he treadeth within our borders.\r\n And the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many people as a dew from the LORD, as the showers upon the grass, that tarrieth not for man, nor waiteth for the sons of men.\r\n And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles in the midst of many people as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep: who, if he go through, both treadeth down, and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver.\r\n Thine hand shall be lifted up upon thine adversaries, and all thine enemies shall be cut off.\r\n And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD, that I will cut off thy horses out of the midst of thee, and I will destroy thy chariots:\r\n And I will cut off the cities of thy land, and throw down all thy strong holds:\r\n And I will cut off witchcrafts out of thine hand; and thou shalt have no more soothsayers:\r\n Thy graven images also will I cut off, and thy standing images out of the midst of thee; and thou shalt no more worship the work of thine hands.\r\n And I will pluck up thy groves out of the midst of thee: so will I destroy thy cities.\r\n And I will execute vengeance in anger and fury upon the heathen, such as they have not heard.\r\n \r\n \r\n Hear ye now what the LORD saith; Arise, contend thou before the mountains, and let the hills hear thy voice.\r\n Hear ye, O mountains, the LORD'S controversy, and ye strong foundations of the earth: for the LORD hath a controversy with his people, and he will plead with Israel.\r\n O my people, what have I done unto thee? and wherein have I wearied thee? testify against me.\r\n For I brought thee up out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed thee out of the house of servants; and I sent before thee Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.\r\n O my people, remember now what Balak king of Moab consulted, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him from Shittim unto Gilgal; that ye may know the righteousness of the LORD.\r\n Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old?\r\n Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?\r\n He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?\r\n The LORD'S voice crieth unto the city, and the man of wisdom shall see thy name: hear ye the rod, and who hath appointed it.\r\n Are there yet the treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and the scant measure that is abominable?\r\n Shall I count them pure with the wicked balances, and with the bag of deceitful weights?\r\n For the rich men thereof are full of violence, and the inhabitants thereof have spoken lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth.\r\n Therefore also will I make thee sick in smiting thee, in making thee desolate because of thy sins.\r\n Thou shalt eat, but not be satisfied; and thy casting down shall be in the midst of thee; and thou shalt take hold, but shalt not deliver; and that which thou deliverest will I give up to the sword.\r\n Thou shalt sow, but thou shalt not reap; thou shalt tread the olives, but thou shalt not anoint thee with oil; and sweet wine, but shalt not drink wine.\r\n For the statutes of Omri are kept, and all the works of the house of Ahab, and ye walk in their counsels; that I should make thee a desolation, and the inhabitants thereof an hissing: therefore ye shall bear the reproach of my people.\r\n \r\n \r\n Woe is me! for I am as when they have gathered the summer fruits, as the grapegleanings of the vintage: there is no cluster to eat: my soul desired the firstripe fruit.\r\n The good man is perished out of the earth: and there is none upright among men: they all lie in wait for blood; they hunt every man his brother with a net.\r\n That they may do evil with both hands earnestly, the prince asketh, and the judge asketh for a reward; and the great man, he uttereth his mischievous desire: so they wrap it up.\r\n The best of them is as a brier: the most upright is sharper than a thorn hedge: the day of thy watchmen and thy visitation cometh; now shall be their perplexity.\r\n Trust ye not in a friend, put ye not confidence in a guide: keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom.\r\n For the son dishonoureth the father, the daughter riseth up against her mother, the daughter in law against her mother in law; a man's enemies are the men of his own house.\r\n Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me.\r\n Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me.\r\n I will bear the indignation of the LORD, because I have sinned against him, until he plead my cause, and execute judgment for me: he will bring me forth to the light, and I shall behold his righteousness.\r\n Then she that is mine enemy shall see it, and shame shall cover her which said unto me, Where is the LORD thy God? mine eyes shall behold her: now shall she be trodden down as the mire of the streets.\r\n In the day that thy walls are to be built, in that day shall the decree be far removed.\r\n In that day also he shall come even to thee from Assyria, and from the fortified cities, and from the fortress even to the river, and from sea to sea, and from mountain to mountain.\r\n Notwithstanding the land shall be desolate because of them that dwell therein, for the fruit of their doings.\r\n Feed thy people with thy rod, the flock of thine heritage, which dwell solitarily in the wood, in the midst of Carmel: let them feed in Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old.\r\n According to the days of thy coming out of the land of Egypt will I shew unto him marvellous things.\r\n The nations shall see and be confounded at all their might: they shall lay their hand upon their mouth, their ears shall be deaf.\r\n They shall lick the dust like a serpent, they shall move out of their holes like worms of the earth: they shall be afraid of the LORD our God, and shall fear because of thee.\r\n Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.\r\n He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.\r\n Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n The burden of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.\r\n God is jealous, and the LORD revengeth; the LORD revengeth, and is furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies.\r\n The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.\r\n He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers: Bashan languisheth, and Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon languisheth.\r\n The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein.\r\n Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him.\r\n The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.\r\n But with an overrunning flood he will make an utter end of the place thereof, and darkness shall pursue his enemies.\r\n What do ye imagine against the LORD? he will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time.\r\n For while they be folden together as thorns, and while they are drunken as drunkards, they shall be devoured as stubble fully dry.\r\n There is one come out of thee, that imagineth evil against the LORD, a wicked counsellor.\r\n Thus saith the LORD; Though they be quiet, and likewise many, yet thus shall they be cut down, when he shall pass through. Though I have afflicted thee, I will afflict thee no more.\r\n For now will I break his yoke from off thee, and will burst thy bonds in sunder.\r\n And the LORD hath given a commandment concerning thee, that no more of thy name be sown: out of the house of thy gods will I cut off the graven image and the molten image: I will make thy grave; for thou art vile.\r\n Behold upon the mountains the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace! O Judah, keep thy solemn feasts, perform thy vows: for the wicked shall no more pass through thee; he is utterly cut off.\r\n \r\n \r\n He that dasheth in pieces is come up before thy face: keep the munition, watch the way, make thy loins strong, fortify thy power mightily.\r\n For the LORD hath turned away the excellency of Jacob, as the excellency of Israel: for the emptiers have emptied them out, and marred their vine branches.\r\n The shield of his mighty men is made red, the valiant men are in scarlet: the chariots shall be with flaming torches in the day of his preparation, and the fir trees shall be terribly shaken.\r\n The chariots shall rage in the streets, they shall justle one against another in the broad ways: they shall seem like torches, they shall run like the lightnings.\r\n He shall recount his worthies: they shall stumble in their walk; they shall make haste to the wall thereof, and the defence shall be prepared.\r\n The gates of the rivers shall be opened, and the palace shall be dissolved.\r\n And Huzzab shall be led away captive, she shall be brought up, and her maids shall lead her as with the voice of doves, tabering upon their breasts.\r\n But Nineveh is of old like a pool of water: yet they shall flee away. Stand, stand, shall they cry; but none shall look back.\r\n Take ye the spoil of silver, take the spoil of gold: for there is none end of the store and glory out of all the pleasant furniture.\r\n She is empty, and void, and waste: and the heart melteth, and the knees smite together, and much pain is in all loins, and the faces of them all gather blackness.\r\n Where is the dwelling of the lions, and the feedingplace of the young lions, where the lion, even the old lion, walked, and the lion's whelp, and none made them afraid?\r\n The lion did tear in pieces enough for his whelps, and strangled for his lionesses, and filled his holes with prey, and his dens with ravin.\r\n Behold, I am against thee, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will burn her chariots in the smoke, and the sword shall devour thy young lions: and I will cut off thy prey from the earth, and the voice of thy messengers shall no more be heard.\r\n \r\n \r\n Woe to the bloody city! it is all full of lies and robbery; the prey departeth not;\r\n The noise of a whip, and the noise of the rattling of the wheels, and of the pransing horses, and of the jumping chariots.\r\n The horseman lifteth up both the bright sword and the glittering spear: and there is a multitude of slain, and a great number of carcases; and there is none end of their corpses; they stumble upon their corpses:\r\n Because of the multitude of the whoredoms of the wellfavoured harlot, the mistress of witchcrafts, that selleth nations through her whoredoms, and families through her witchcrafts.\r\n Behold, I am against thee, saith the LORD of hosts; and I will discover thy skirts upon thy face, and I will shew the nations thy nakedness, and the kingdoms thy shame.\r\n And I will cast abominable filth upon thee, and make thee vile, and will set thee as a gazingstock.\r\n And it shall come to pass, that all they that look upon thee shall flee from thee, and say, Nineveh is laid waste: who will bemoan her? whence shall I seek comforters for thee?\r\n Art thou better than populous No, that was situate among the rivers, that had the waters round about it, whose rampart was the sea, and her wall was from the sea?\r\n Ethiopia and Egypt were her strength, and it was infinite; Put and Lubim were thy helpers.\r\n Yet was she carried away, she went into captivity: her young children also were dashed in pieces at the top of all the streets: and they cast lots for her honourable men, and all her great men were bound in chains.\r\n Thou also shalt be drunken: thou shalt be hid, thou also shalt seek strength because of the enemy.\r\n All thy strong holds shall be like fig trees with the firstripe figs: if they be shaken, they shall even fall into the mouth of the eater.\r\n Behold, thy people in the midst of thee are women: the gates of thy land shall be set wide open unto thine enemies: the fire shall devour thy bars.\r\n Draw thee waters for the siege, fortify thy strong holds: go into clay, and tread the morter, make strong the brickkiln.\r\n There shall the fire devour thee; the sword shall cut thee off, it shall eat thee up like the cankerworm: make thyself many as the cankerworm, make thyself many as the locusts.\r\n Thou hast multiplied thy merchants above the stars of heaven: the cankerworm spoileth, and flieth away.\r\n Thy crowned are as the locusts, and thy captains as the great grasshoppers, which camp in the hedges in the cold day, but when the sun ariseth they flee away, and their place is not known where they are.\r\n Thy shepherds slumber, O king of Assyria: thy nobles shall dwell in the dust: thy people is scattered upon the mountains, and no man gathereth them.\r\n There is no healing of thy bruise; thy wound is grievous: all that hear the bruit of thee shall clap the hands over thee: for upon whom hath not thy wickedness passed continually?\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n The burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see.\r\n O LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save!\r\n Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention.\r\n Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth.\r\n Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvellously: for I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you.\r\n For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwellingplaces that are not theirs.\r\n They are terrible and dreadful: their judgment and their dignity shall proceed of themselves.\r\n Their horses also are swifter than the leopards, and are more fierce than the evening wolves: and their horsemen shall spread themselves, and their horsemen shall come from far; they shall fly as the eagle that hasteth to eat.\r\n They shall come all for violence: their faces shall sup up as the east wind, and they shall gather the captivity as the sand.\r\n And they shall scoff at the kings, and the princes shall be a scorn unto them: they shall deride every strong hold; for they shall heap dust, and take it.\r\n Then shall his mind change, and he shall pass over, and offend, imputing this his power unto his god.\r\n Art thou not from everlasting, O LORD my God, mine Holy One? we shall not die. O LORD, thou hast ordained them for judgment; and, O mighty God, thou hast established them for correction.\r\n Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?\r\n And makest men as the fishes of the sea, as the creeping things, that have no ruler over them?\r\n They take up all of them with the angle, they catch them in their net, and gather them in their drag: therefore they rejoice and are glad.\r\n Therefore they sacrifice unto their net, and burn incense unto their drag; because by them their portion is fat, and their meat plenteous.\r\n Shall they therefore empty their net, and not spare continually to slay the nations?\r\n \r\n \r\n I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved.\r\n And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.\r\n For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.\r\n Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.\r\n Yea also, because he transgresseth by wine, he is a proud man, neither keepeth at home, who enlargeth his desire as hell, and is as death, and cannot be satisfied, but gathereth unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all people:\r\n Shall not all these take up a parable against him, and a taunting proverb against him, and say, Woe to him that increaseth that which is not his! how long? and to him that ladeth himself with thick clay!\r\n Shall they not rise up suddenly that shall bite thee, and awake that shall vex thee, and thou shalt be for booties unto them?\r\n Because thou hast spoiled many nations, all the remnant of the people shall spoil thee; because of men's blood, and for the violence of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein.\r\n Woe to him that coveteth an evil covetousness to his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the power of evil!\r\n Thou hast consulted shame to thy house by cutting off many people, and hast sinned against thy soul.\r\n For the stone shall cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the timber shall answer it.\r\n Woe to him that buildeth a town with blood, and stablisheth a city by iniquity!\r\n Behold, is it not of the LORD of hosts that the people shall labour in the very fire, and the people shall weary themselves for very vanity?\r\n For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.\r\n Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink, that puttest thy bottle to him, and makest him drunken also, that thou mayest look on their nakedness!\r\n Thou art filled with shame for glory: drink thou also, and let thy foreskin be uncovered: the cup of the LORD'S right hand shall be turned unto thee, and shameful spewing shall be on thy glory.\r\n For the violence of Lebanon shall cover thee, and the spoil of beasts, which made them afraid, because of men's blood, and for the violence of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein.\r\n What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that the maker of his work trusteth therein, to make dumb idols?\r\n Woe unto him that saith to the wood, Awake; to the dumb stone, Arise, it shall teach! Behold, it is laid over with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in the midst of it.\r\n But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him.\r\n \r\n \r\n A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet upon Shigionoth.\r\n O LORD, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy.\r\n God came from Teman, and the Holy One from mount Paran. Selah. His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise.\r\n And his brightness was as the light; he had horns coming out of his hand: and there was the hiding of his power.\r\n Before him went the pestilence, and burning coals went forth at his feet.\r\n He stood, and measured the earth: he beheld, and drove asunder the nations; and the everlasting mountains were scattered, the perpetual hills did bow: his ways are everlasting.\r\n I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction: and the curtains of the land of Midian did tremble.\r\n Was the LORD displeased against the rivers? was thine anger against the rivers? was thy wrath against the sea, that thou didst ride upon thine horses and thy chariots of salvation?\r\n Thy bow was made quite naked, according to the oaths of the tribes, even thy word. Selah. Thou didst cleave the earth with rivers.\r\n The mountains saw thee, and they trembled: the overflowing of the water passed by: the deep uttered his voice, and lifted up his hands on high.\r\n The sun and moon stood still in their habitation: at the light of thine arrows they went, and at the shining of thy glittering spear.\r\n Thou didst march through the land in indignation, thou didst thresh the heathen in anger.\r\n Thou wentest forth for the salvation of thy people, even for salvation with thine anointed; thou woundedst the head out of the house of the wicked, by discovering the foundation unto the neck. Selah.\r\n Thou didst strike through with his staves the head of his villages: they came out as a whirlwind to scatter me: their rejoicing was as to devour the poor secretly.\r\n Thou didst walk through the sea with thine horses, through the heap of great waters.\r\n When I heard, my belly trembled; my lips quivered at the voice: rottenness entered into my bones, and I trembled in myself, that I might rest in the day of trouble: when he cometh up unto the people, he will invade them with his troops.\r\n Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:\r\n Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.\r\n The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n The word of the LORD which came unto Zephaniah the son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hizkiah, in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah.\r\n I will utterly consume all things from off the land, saith the LORD.\r\n I will consume man and beast; I will consume the fowls of the heaven, and the fishes of the sea, and the stumblingblocks with the wicked; and I will cut off man from off the land, saith the LORD.\r\n I will also stretch out mine hand upon Judah, and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and I will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place, and the name of the Chemarims with the priests;\r\n And them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops; and them that worship and that swear by the LORD, and that swear by Malcham;\r\n And them that are turned back from the LORD; and those that have not sought the LORD, nor enquired for him.\r\n Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord GOD: for the day of the LORD is at hand: for the LORD hath prepared a sacrifice, he hath bid his guests.\r\n And it shall come to pass in the day of the LORD'S sacrifice, that I will punish the princes, and the king's children, and all such as are clothed with strange apparel.\r\n In the same day also will I punish all those that leap on the threshold, which fill their masters' houses with violence and deceit.\r\n And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD, that there shall be the noise of a cry from the fish gate, and an howling from the second, and a great crashing from the hills.\r\n Howl, ye inhabitants of Maktesh, for all the merchant people are cut down; all they that bear silver are cut off.\r\n And it shall come to pass at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish the men that are settled on their lees: that say in their heart, The LORD will not do good, neither will he do evil.\r\n Therefore their goods shall become a booty, and their houses a desolation: they shall also build houses, but not inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, but not drink the wine thereof.\r\n The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly.\r\n That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness,\r\n A day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers.\r\n And I will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the LORD: and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as the dung.\r\n Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD'S wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land.\r\n \r\n \r\n Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together, O nation not desired;\r\n Before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the LORD come upon you, before the day of the LORD'S anger come upon you.\r\n Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD'S anger.\r\n For Gaza shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation: they shall drive out Ashdod at the noon day, and Ekron shall be rooted up.\r\n Woe unto the inhabitants of the sea coast, the nation of the Cherethites! the word of the LORD is against you; O Canaan, the land of the Philistines, I will even destroy thee, that there shall be no inhabitant.\r\n And the sea coast shall be dwellings and cottages for shepherds, and folds for flocks.\r\n And the coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah; they shall feed thereupon: in the houses of Ashkelon shall they lie down in the evening: for the LORD their God shall visit them, and turn away their captivity.\r\n I have heard the reproach of Moab, and the revilings of the children of Ammon, whereby they have reproached my people, and magnified themselves against their border.\r\n Therefore as I live, saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Surely Moab shall be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah, even the breeding of nettles, and saltpits, and a perpetual desolation: the residue of my people shall spoil them, and the remnant of my people shall possess them.\r\n This shall they have for their pride, because they have reproached and magnified themselves against the people of the LORD of hosts.\r\n The LORD will be terrible unto them: for he will famish all the gods of the earth; and men shall worship him, every one from his place, even all the isles of the heathen.\r\n Ye Ethiopians also, ye shall be slain by my sword.\r\n And he will stretch out his hand against the north, and destroy Assyria; and will make Nineveh a desolation, and dry like a wilderness.\r\n And flocks shall lie down in the midst of her, all the beasts of the nations: both the cormorant and the bittern shall lodge in the upper lintels of it; their voice shall sing in the windows; desolation shall be in the thresholds: for he shall uncover the cedar work.\r\n This is the rejoicing city that dwelt carelessly, that said in her heart, I am, and there is none beside me: how is she become a desolation, a place for beasts to lie down in! every one that passeth by her shall hiss, and wag his hand.\r\n \r\n \r\n Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the oppressing city!\r\n She obeyed not the voice; she received not correction; she trusted not in the LORD; she drew not near to her God.\r\n Her princes within her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves; they gnaw not the bones till the morrow.\r\n Her prophets are light and treacherous persons: her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law.\r\n The just LORD is in the midst thereof; he will not do iniquity: every morning doth he bring his judgment to light, he faileth not; but the unjust knoweth no shame.\r\n I have cut off the nations: their towers are desolate; I made their streets waste, that none passeth by: their cities are destroyed, so that there is no man, that there is none inhabitant.\r\n I said, Surely thou wilt fear me, thou wilt receive instruction; so their dwelling should not be cut off, howsoever I punished them: but they rose early, and corrupted all their doings.\r\n Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.\r\n For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one consent.\r\n From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants, even the daughter of my dispersed, shall bring mine offering.\r\n In that day shalt thou not be ashamed for all thy doings, wherein thou hast transgressed against me: for then I will take away out of the midst of thee them that rejoice in thy pride, and thou shalt no more be haughty because of my holy mountain.\r\n I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the LORD.\r\n The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid.\r\n Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem.\r\n The LORD hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy: the king of Israel, even the LORD, is in the midst of thee: thou shalt not see evil any more.\r\n In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not: and to Zion, Let not thine hands be slack.\r\n The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.\r\n I will gather them that are sorrowful for the solemn assembly, who are of thee, to whom the reproach of it was a burden.\r\n Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee: and I will save her that halteth, and gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame.\r\n At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the LORD.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, in the first day of the month, came the word of the LORD by Haggai the prophet unto Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, saying,\r\n Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, This people say, The time is not come, the time that the LORD'S house should be built.\r\n Then came the word of the LORD by Haggai the prophet, saying,\r\n Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your cieled houses, and this house lie waste?\r\n Now therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways.\r\n Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.\r\n Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways.\r\n Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the LORD.\r\n Ye looked for much, and, lo, it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it. Why? saith the LORD of hosts. Because of mine house that is waste, and ye run every man unto his own house.\r\n Therefore the heaven over you is stayed from dew, and the earth is stayed from her fruit.\r\n And I called for a drought upon the land, and upon the mountains, and upon the corn, and upon the new wine, and upon the oil, and upon that which the ground bringeth forth, and upon men, and upon cattle, and upon all the labour of the hands.\r\n Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the LORD their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the LORD their God had sent him, and the people did fear before the LORD.\r\n Then spake Haggai the LORD'S messenger in the LORD'S message unto the people, saying, I am with you, saith the LORD.\r\n And the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and did work in the house of the LORD of hosts, their God,\r\n In the four and twentieth day of the sixth month, in the second year of Darius the king.\r\n \r\n \r\n In the seventh month, in the one and twentieth day of the month, came the word of the LORD by the prophet Haggai, saying,\r\n Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and to the residue of the people, saying,\r\n Who is left among you that saw this house in her first glory? and how do ye see it now? is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing?\r\n Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the LORD; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Josedech, the high priest; and be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the LORD, and work: for I am with you, saith the LORD of hosts:\r\n According to the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt, so my spirit remaineth among you: fear ye not.\r\n For thus saith the LORD of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land;\r\n And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts.\r\n The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts.\r\n The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the LORD of hosts.\r\n In the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD by Haggai the prophet, saying,\r\n Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Ask now the priests concerning the law, saying,\r\n If one bear holy flesh in the skirt of his garment, and with his skirt do touch bread, or pottage, or wine, or oil, or any meat, shall it be holy? And the priests answered and said, No.\r\n Then said Haggai, If one that is unclean by a dead body touch any of these, shall it be unclean? And the priests answered and said, It shall be unclean.\r\n Then answered Haggai, and said, So is this people, and so is this nation before me, saith the LORD; and so is every work of their hands; and that which they offer there is unclean.\r\n And now, I pray you, consider from this day and upward, from before a stone was laid upon a stone in the temple of the LORD:\r\n Since those days were, when one came to an heap of twenty measures, there were but ten: when one came to the pressfat for to draw out fifty vessels out of the press, there were but twenty.\r\n I smote you with blasting and with mildew and with hail in all the labours of your hands; yet ye turned not to me, saith the LORD.\r\n Consider now from this day and upward, from the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, even from the day that the foundation of the LORD'S temple was laid, consider it.\r\n Is the seed yet in the barn? yea, as yet the vine, and the fig tree, and the pomegranate, and the olive tree, hath not brought forth: from this day will I bless you.\r\n And again the word of the LORD came unto Haggai in the four and twentieth day of the month, saying,\r\n Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I will shake the heavens and the earth;\r\n And I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms, and I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the heathen; and I will overthrow the chariots, and those that ride in them; and the horses and their riders shall come down, every one by the sword of his brother.\r\n In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, will I take thee, O Zerubbabel, my servant, the son of Shealtiel, saith the LORD, and will make thee as a signet: for I have chosen thee, saith the LORD of hosts.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying,\r\n The LORD hath been sore displeased with your fathers.\r\n Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Turn ye unto me, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the LORD of hosts.\r\n Be ye not as your fathers, unto whom the former prophets have cried, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Turn ye now from your evil ways, and from your evil doings: but they did not hear, nor hearken unto me, saith the LORD.\r\n Your fathers, where are they? and the prophets, do they live for ever?\r\n But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not take hold of your fathers? and they returned and said, Like as the LORD of hosts thought to do unto us, according to our ways, and according to our doings, so hath he dealt with us.\r\n Upon the four and twentieth day of the eleventh month, which is the month Sebat, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying,\r\n I saw by night, and behold a man riding upon a red horse, and he stood among the myrtle trees that were in the bottom; and behind him were there red horses, speckled, and white.\r\n Then said I, O my lord, what are these? And the angel that talked with me said unto me, I will shew thee what these be.\r\n And the man that stood among the myrtle trees answered and said, These are they whom the LORD hath sent to walk to and fro through the earth.\r\n And they answered the angel of the LORD that stood among the myrtle trees, and said, We have walked to and fro through the earth, and, behold, all the earth sitteth still, and is at rest.\r\n Then the angel of the LORD answered and said, O LORD of hosts, how long wilt thou not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which thou hast had indignation these threescore and ten years?\r\n And the LORD answered the angel that talked with me with good words and comfortable words.\r\n So the angel that communed with me said unto me, Cry thou, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy.\r\n And I am very sore displeased with the heathen that are at ease: for I was but a little displeased, and they helped forward the affliction.\r\n Therefore thus saith the LORD; I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies: my house shall be built in it, saith the LORD of hosts, and a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem.\r\n Cry yet, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; My cities through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad; and the LORD shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem.\r\n Then lifted I up mine eyes, and saw, and behold four horns.\r\n And I said unto the angel that talked with me, What be these? And he answered me, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.\r\n And the LORD shewed me four carpenters.\r\n Then said I, What come these to do? And he spake, saying, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, so that no man did lift up his head: but these are come to fray them, to cast out the horns of the Gentiles, which lifted up their horn over the land of Judah to scatter it.\r\n \r\n \r\n I lifted up mine eyes again, and looked, and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand.\r\n Then said I, Whither goest thou? And he said unto me, To measure Jerusalem, to see what is the breadth thereof, and what is the length thereof.\r\n And, behold, the angel that talked with me went forth, and another angel went out to meet him,\r\n And said unto him, Run, speak to this young man, saying, Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein:\r\n For I, saith the LORD, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her.\r\n Ho, ho, come forth, and flee from the land of the north, saith the LORD: for I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heaven, saith the LORD.\r\n Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon.\r\n For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye.\r\n For, behold, I will shake mine hand upon them, and they shall be a spoil to their servants: and ye shall know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me.\r\n Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the LORD.\r\n And many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto thee.\r\n And the LORD shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again.\r\n Be silent, O all flesh, before the LORD: for he is raised up out of his holy habitation.\r\n \r\n \r\n And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him.\r\n And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?\r\n Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel.\r\n And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.\r\n And I said, Let them set a fair mitre upon his head. So they set a fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the LORD stood by.\r\n And the angel of the LORD protested unto Joshua, saying,\r\n Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If thou wilt walk in my ways, and if thou wilt keep my charge, then thou shalt also judge my house, and shalt also keep my courts, and I will give thee places to walk among these that stand by.\r\n Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH.\r\n For behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone shall be seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the graving thereof, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.\r\n In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, shall ye call every man his neighbour under the vine and under the fig tree.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the angel that talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep,\r\n And said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top thereof:\r\n And two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof.\r\n So I answered and spake to the angel that talked with me, saying, What are these, my lord?\r\n Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.\r\n Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.\r\n Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.\r\n Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,\r\n The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you.\r\n For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.\r\n Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof?\r\n And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves?\r\n And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.\r\n Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a flying roll.\r\n And he said unto me, What seest thou? And I answered, I see a flying roll; the length thereof is twenty cubits, and the breadth thereof ten cubits.\r\n Then said he unto me, This is the curse that goeth forth over the face of the whole earth: for every one that stealeth shall be cut off as on this side according to it; and every one that sweareth shall be cut off as on that side according to it.\r\n I will bring it forth, saith the LORD of hosts, and it shall enter into the house of the thief, and into the house of him that sweareth falsely by my name: and it shall remain in the midst of his house, and shall consume it with the timber thereof and the stones thereof.\r\n Then the angel that talked with me went forth, and said unto me, Lift up now thine eyes, and see what is this that goeth forth.\r\n And I said, What is it? And he said, This is an ephah that goeth forth. He said moreover, This is their resemblance through all the earth.\r\n And, behold, there was lifted up a talent of lead: and this is a woman that sitteth in the midst of the ephah.\r\n And he said, This is wickedness. And he cast it into the midst of the ephah; and he cast the weight of lead upon the mouth thereof.\r\n Then lifted I up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came out two women, and the wind was in their wings; for they had wings like the wings of a stork: and they lifted up the ephah between the earth and the heaven.\r\n Then said I to the angel that talked with me, Whither do these bear the ephah?\r\n And he said unto me, To build it an house in the land of Shinar: and it shall be established, and set there upon her own base.\r\n \r\n \r\n And I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came four chariots out from between two mountains; and the mountains were mountains of brass.\r\n In the first chariot were red horses; and in the second chariot black horses;\r\n And in the third chariot white horses; and in the fourth chariot grisled and bay horses.\r\n Then I answered and said unto the angel that talked with me, What are these, my lord?\r\n And the angel answered and said unto me, These are the four spirits of the heavens, which go forth from standing before the Lord of all the earth.\r\n The black horses which are therein go forth into the north country; and the white go forth after them; and the grisled go forth toward the south country.\r\n And the bay went forth, and sought to go that they might walk to and fro through the earth: and he said, Get you hence, walk to and fro through the earth. So they walked to and fro through the earth.\r\n Then cried he upon me, and spake unto me, saying, Behold, these that go toward the north country have quieted my spirit in the north country.\r\n And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,\r\n Take of them of the captivity, even of Heldai, of Tobijah, and of Jedaiah, which are come from Babylon, and come thou the same day, and go into the house of Josiah the son of Zephaniah;\r\n Then take silver and gold, and make crowns, and set them upon the head of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest;\r\n And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD:\r\n Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.\r\n And the crowns shall be to Helem, and to Tobijah, and to Jedaiah, and to Hen the son of Zephaniah, for a memorial in the temple of the LORD.\r\n And they that are far off shall come and build in the temple of the LORD, and ye shall know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you. And this shall come to pass, if ye will diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass in the fourth year of king Darius, that the word of the LORD came unto Zechariah in the fourth day of the ninth month, even in Chisleu;\r\n When they had sent unto the house of God Sherezer and Regemmelech, and their men, to pray before the LORD,\r\n And to speak unto the priests which were in the house of the LORD of hosts, and to the prophets, saying, Should I weep in the fifth month, separating myself, as I have done these so many years?\r\n Then came the word of the LORD of hosts unto me, saying,\r\n Speak unto all the people of the land, and to the priests, saying, When ye fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh month, even those seventy years, did ye at all fast unto me, even to me?\r\n And when ye did eat, and when ye did drink, did not ye eat for yourselves, and drink for yourselves?\r\n Should ye not hear the words which the LORD hath cried by the former prophets, when Jerusalem was inhabited and in prosperity, and the cities thereof round about her, when men inhabited the south and the plain?\r\n And the word of the LORD came unto Zechariah, saying,\r\n Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother:\r\n And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart.\r\n But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear.\r\n Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the LORD of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the LORD of hosts.\r\n Therefore it is come to pass, that as he cried, and they would not hear; so they cried, and I would not hear, saith the LORD of hosts:\r\n But I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations whom they knew not. Thus the land was desolate after them, that no man passed through nor returned: for they laid the pleasant land desolate.\r\n \r\n \r\n Again the word of the LORD of hosts came to me, saying,\r\n Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I was jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I was jealous for her with great fury.\r\n Thus saith the LORD; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts the holy mountain.\r\n Thus saith the LORD of hosts; There shall yet old men and old women dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, and every man with his staff in his hand for very age.\r\n And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof.\r\n Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If it be marvellous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, should it also be marvellous in mine eyes? saith the LORD of hosts.\r\n Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will save my people from the east country, and from the west country;\r\n And I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness.\r\n Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Let your hands be strong, ye that hear in these days these words by the mouth of the prophets, which were in the day that the foundation of the house of the LORD of hosts was laid, that the temple might be built.\r\n For before these days there was no hire for man, nor any hire for beast; neither was there any peace to him that went out or came in because of the affliction: for I set all men every one against his neighbour.\r\n But now I will not be unto the residue of this people as in the former days, saith the LORD of hosts.\r\n For the seed shall be prosperous; the vine shall give her fruit, and the ground shall give her increase, and the heavens shall give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things.\r\n And it shall come to pass, that as ye were a curse among the heathen, O house of Judah, and house of Israel; so will I save you, and ye shall be a blessing: fear not, but let your hands be strong.\r\n For thus saith the LORD of hosts; As I thought to punish you, when your fathers provoked me to wrath, saith the LORD of hosts, and I repented not:\r\n So again have I thought in these days to do well unto Jerusalem and to the house of Judah: fear ye not.\r\n These are the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates:\r\n And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith the LORD.\r\n And the word of the LORD of hosts came unto me, saying,\r\n Thus saith the LORD of hosts; The fast of the fourth month, and the fast of the fifth, and the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth, shall be to the house of Judah joy and gladness, and cheerful feasts; therefore love the truth and peace.\r\n Thus saith the LORD of hosts; It shall yet come to pass, that there shall come people, and the inhabitants of many cities:\r\n And the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to pray before the LORD, and to seek the LORD of hosts: I will go also.\r\n Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the LORD.\r\n Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.\r\n \r\n \r\n The burden of the word of the LORD in the land of Hadrach, and Damascus shall be the rest thereof: when the eyes of man, as of all the tribes of Israel, shall be toward the LORD.\r\n And Hamath also shall border thereby; Tyrus, and Zidon, though it be very wise.\r\n And Tyrus did build herself a strong hold, and heaped up silver as the dust, and fine gold as the mire of the streets.\r\n Behold, the Lord will cast her out, and he will smite her power in the sea; and she shall be devoured with fire.\r\n Ashkelon shall see it, and fear; Gaza also shall see it, and be very sorrowful, and Ekron; for her expectation shall be ashamed; and the king shall perish from Gaza, and Ashkelon shall not be inhabited.\r\n And a bastard shall dwell in Ashdod, and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines.\r\n And I will take away his blood out of his mouth, and his abominations from between his teeth: but he that remaineth, even he, shall be for our God, and he shall be as a governor in Judah, and Ekron as a Jebusite.\r\n And I will encamp about mine house because of the army, because of him that passeth by, and because of him that returneth: and no oppressor shall pass through them any more: for now have I seen with mine eyes.\r\n Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.\r\n And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off: and he shall speak peace unto the heathen: and his dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth.\r\n As for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water.\r\n Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: even to day do I declare that I will render double unto thee;\r\n When I have bent Judah for me, filled the bow with Ephraim, and raised up thy sons, O Zion, against thy sons, O Greece, and made thee as the sword of a mighty man.\r\n And the LORD shall be seen over them, and his arrow shall go forth as the lightning: and the Lord GOD shall blow the trumpet, and shall go with whirlwinds of the south.\r\n The LORD of hosts shall defend them; and they shall devour, and subdue with sling stones; and they shall drink, and make a noise as through wine; and they shall be filled like bowls, and as the corners of the altar.\r\n And the LORD their God shall save them in that day as the flock of his people: for they shall be as the stones of a crown, lifted up as an ensign upon his land.\r\n For how great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty! corn shall make the young men cheerful, and new wine the maids.\r\n \r\n \r\n Ask ye of the LORD rain in the time of the latter rain; so the LORD shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field.\r\n For the idols have spoken vanity, and the diviners have seen a lie, and have told false dreams; they comfort in vain: therefore they went their way as a flock, they were troubled, because there was no shepherd.\r\n Mine anger was kindled against the shepherds, and I punished the goats: for the LORD of hosts hath visited his flock the house of Judah, and hath made them as his goodly horse in the battle.\r\n Out of him came forth the corner, out of him the nail, out of him the battle bow, out of him every oppressor together.\r\n And they shall be as mighty men, which tread down their enemies in the mire of the streets in the battle: and they shall fight, because the LORD is with them, and the riders on horses shall be confounded.\r\n And I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph, and I will bring them again to place them; for I have mercy upon them: and they shall be as though I had not cast them off: for I am the LORD their God, and will hear them.\r\n And they of Ephraim shall be like a mighty man, and their heart shall rejoice as through wine: yea, their children shall see it, and be glad; their heart shall rejoice in the LORD.\r\n I will hiss for them, and gather them; for I have redeemed them: and they shall increase as they have increased.\r\n And I will sow them among the people: and they shall remember me in far countries; and they shall live with their children, and turn again.\r\n I will bring them again also out of the land of Egypt, and gather them out of Assyria; and I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon; and place shall not be found for them.\r\n And he shall pass through the sea with affliction, and shall smite the waves in the sea, and all the deeps of the river shall dry up: and the pride of Assyria shall be brought down, and the sceptre of Egypt shall depart away.\r\n And I will strengthen them in the LORD; and they shall walk up and down in his name, saith the LORD.\r\n \r\n \r\n Open thy doors, O Lebanon, that the fire may devour thy cedars.\r\n Howl, fir tree; for the cedar is fallen; because the mighty are spoiled: howl, O ye oaks of Bashan; for the forest of the vintage is come down.\r\n There is a voice of the howling of the shepherds; for their glory is spoiled: a voice of the roaring of young lions; for the pride of Jordan is spoiled.\r\n Thus saith the LORD my God; Feed the flock of the slaughter;\r\n Whose possessors slay them, and hold themselves not guilty: and they that sell them say, Blessed be the LORD; for I am rich: and their own shepherds pity them not.\r\n For I will no more pity the inhabitants of the land, saith the LORD: but, lo, I will deliver the men every one into his neighbour's hand, and into the hand of his king: and they shall smite the land, and out of their hand I will not deliver them.\r\n And I will feed the flock of slaughter, even you, O poor of the flock. And I took unto me two staves; the one I called Beauty, and the other I called Bands; and I fed the flock.\r\n Three shepherds also I cut off in one month; and my soul lothed them, and their soul also abhorred me.\r\n Then said I, I will not feed you: that that dieth, let it die; and that that is to be cut off, let it be cut off; and let the rest eat every one the flesh of another.\r\n And I took my staff, even Beauty, and cut it asunder, that I might break my covenant which I had made with all the people.\r\n And it was broken in that day: and so the poor of the flock that waited upon me knew that it was the word of the LORD.\r\n And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver.\r\n And the LORD said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the LORD.\r\n Then I cut asunder mine other staff, even Bands, that I might break the brotherhood between Judah and Israel.\r\n And the LORD said unto me, Take unto thee yet the instruments of a foolish shepherd.\r\n For, lo, I will raise up a shepherd in the land, which shall not visit those that be cut off, neither shall seek the young one, nor heal that that is broken, nor feed that that standeth still: but he shall eat the flesh of the fat, and tear their claws in pieces.\r\n Woe to the idol shepherd that leaveth the flock! the sword shall be upon his arm, and upon his right eye: his arm shall be clean dried up, and his right eye shall be utterly darkened.\r\n \r\n \r\n The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him.\r\n Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem.\r\n And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.\r\n In that day, saith the LORD, I will smite every horse with astonishment, and his rider with madness: and I will open mine eyes upon the house of Judah, and will smite every horse of the people with blindness.\r\n And the governors of Judah shall say in their heart, The inhabitants of Jerusalem shall be my strength in the LORD of hosts their God.\r\n In that day will I make the governors of Judah like an hearth of fire among the wood, and like a torch of fire in a sheaf; and they shall devour all the people round about, on the right hand and on the left: and Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place, even in Jerusalem.\r\n The LORD also shall save the tents of Judah first, that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem do not magnify themselves against Judah.\r\n In that day shall the LORD defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the LORD before them.\r\n And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.\r\n And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.\r\n In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon.\r\n And the land shall mourn, every family apart; the family of the house of David apart, and their wives apart; the family of the house of Nathan apart, and their wives apart;\r\n The family of the house of Levi apart, and their wives apart; the family of Shimei apart, and their wives apart;\r\n All the families that remain, every family apart, and their wives apart.\r\n \r\n \r\n In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.\r\n And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and they shall no more be remembered: and also I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land.\r\n And it shall come to pass, that when any shall yet prophesy, then his father and his mother that begat him shall say unto him, Thou shalt not live; for thou speakest lies in the name of the LORD: and his father and his mother that begat him shall thrust him through when he prophesieth.\r\n And it shall come to pass in that day, that the prophets shall be ashamed every one of his vision, when he hath prophesied; neither shall they wear a rough garment to deceive:\r\n But he shall say, I am no prophet, I am an husbandman; for man taught me to keep cattle from my youth.\r\n And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.\r\n Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones.\r\n And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein.\r\n And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.\r\n \r\n \r\n Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee.\r\n For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.\r\n Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.\r\n And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.\r\n And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with thee.\r\n And it shall come to pass in that day, that the light shall not be clear, nor dark:\r\n But it shall be one day which shall be known to the LORD, not day, nor night: but it shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light.\r\n And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it be.\r\n And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one.\r\n All the land shall be turned as a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem: and it shall be lifted up, and inhabited in her place, from Benjamin's gate unto the place of the first gate, unto the corner gate, and from the tower of Hananeel unto the king's winepresses.\r\n And men shall dwell in it, and there shall be no more utter destruction; but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited.\r\n And this shall be the plague wherewith the LORD will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth.\r\n And it shall come to pass in that day, that a great tumult from the LORD shall be among them; and they shall lay hold every one on the hand of his neighbour, and his hand shall rise up against the hand of his neighbour.\r\n And Judah also shall fight at Jerusalem; and the wealth of all the heathen round about shall be gathered together, gold, and silver, and apparel, in great abundance.\r\n And so shall be the plague of the horse, of the mule, of the camel, and of the ass, and of all the beasts that shall be in these tents, as this plague.\r\n And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles.\r\n And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain.\r\n And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that have no rain; there shall be the plague, wherewith the LORD will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.\r\n This shall be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all nations that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.\r\n In that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses, HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD; and the pots in the LORD'S house shall be like the bowls before the altar.\r\n Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holiness unto the LORD of hosts: and all they that sacrifice shall come and take of them, and seethe therein: and in that day there shall be no more the Canaanite in the house of the LORD of hosts.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi.\r\n I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob's brother? saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob,\r\n And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness.\r\n Whereas Edom saith, We are impoverished, but we will return and build the desolate places; thus saith the LORD of hosts, They shall build, but I will throw down; and they shall call them, The border of wickedness, and, The people against whom the LORD hath indignation for ever.\r\n And your eyes shall see, and ye shall say, The LORD will be magnified from the border of Israel.\r\n A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?\r\n Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the LORD is contemptible.\r\n And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the LORD of hosts.\r\n And now, I pray you, beseech God that he will be gracious unto us: this hath been by your means: will he regard your persons? saith the LORD of hosts.\r\n Who is there even among you that would shut the doors for nought? neither do ye kindle fire on mine altar for nought. I have no pleasure in you, saith the LORD of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand.\r\n For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts.\r\n But ye have profaned it, in that ye say, The table of the LORD is polluted; and the fruit thereof, even his meat, is contemptible.\r\n Ye said also, Behold, what a weariness is it! and ye have snuffed at it, saith the LORD of hosts; and ye brought that which was torn, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye brought an offering: should I accept this of your hand? saith the LORD.\r\n But cursed be the deceiver, which hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing: for I am a great King, saith the LORD of hosts, and my name is dreadful among the heathen.\r\n \r\n \r\n And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you.\r\n If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart.\r\n Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spread dung upon your faces, even the dung of your solemn feasts; and one shall take you away with it.\r\n And ye shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you, that my covenant might be with Levi, saith the LORD of hosts.\r\n My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him for the fear wherewith he feared me, and was afraid before my name.\r\n The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity.\r\n For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.\r\n But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the LORD of hosts.\r\n Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as ye have not kept my ways, but have been partial in the law.\r\n Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers?\r\n Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the holiness of the LORD which he loved, and hath married the daughter of a strange god.\r\n The LORD will cut off the man that doeth this, the master and the scholar, out of the tabernacles of Jacob, and him that offereth an offering unto the LORD of hosts.\r\n And this have ye done again, covering the altar of the LORD with tears, with weeping, and with crying out, insomuch that he regardeth not the offering any more, or receiveth it with good will at your hand.\r\n Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant.\r\n And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.\r\n For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.\r\n Ye have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment?\r\n \r\n \r\n Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.\r\n But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap:\r\n And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.\r\n Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the LORD, as in the days of old, and as in former years.\r\n And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts.\r\n For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.\r\n Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return?\r\n Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.\r\n Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.\r\n Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.\r\n And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts.\r\n And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.\r\n Your words have been stout against me, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, What have we spoken so much against thee?\r\n Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the LORD of hosts?\r\n And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.\r\n Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.\r\n And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.\r\n Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.\r\n \r\n \r\n For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.\r\n But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.\r\n And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts.\r\n Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments.\r\n Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:\r\n And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.\r\n Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren;\r\n And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram;\r\n And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon;\r\n And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse;\r\n And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias;\r\n And Solomon begat Roboam; and Roboam begat Abia; and Abia begat Asa;\r\n And Asa begat Josaphat; and Josaphat begat Joram; and Joram begat Ozias;\r\n And Ozias begat Joatham; and Joatham begat Achaz; and Achaz begat Ezekias;\r\n And Ezekias begat Manasses; and Manasses begat Amon; and Amon begat Josias;\r\n And Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon:\r\n And after they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel; and Salathiel begat Zorobabel;\r\n And Zorobabel begat Abiud; and Abiud begat Eliakim; and Eliakim begat Azor;\r\n And Azor begat Sadoc; and Sadoc begat Achim; and Achim begat Eliud;\r\n And Eliud begat Eleazar; and Eleazar begat Matthan; and Matthan begat Jacob;\r\n And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.\r\n So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations.\r\n Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.\r\n Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.\r\n But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.\r\n And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.\r\n Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,\r\n Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.\r\n Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:\r\n And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,\r\n Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.\r\n When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.\r\n And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.\r\n And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,\r\n And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.\r\n Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.\r\n And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.\r\n When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.\r\n When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.\r\n And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.\r\n And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.\r\n And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.\r\n When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:\r\n And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.\r\n Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.\r\n Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying,\r\n In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.\r\n But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,\r\n Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's life.\r\n And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.\r\n But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee:\r\n And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.\r\n \r\n \r\n In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,\r\n And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.\r\n For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.\r\n And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.\r\n Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,\r\n And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.\r\n But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?\r\n Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:\r\n And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.\r\n And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.\r\n I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:\r\n Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.\r\n Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.\r\n But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?\r\n And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.\r\n And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:\r\n And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.\r\n And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.\r\n And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.\r\n But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.\r\n Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,\r\n And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.\r\n Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.\r\n Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;\r\n And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.\r\n Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.\r\n Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.\r\n Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee;\r\n And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim:\r\n That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,\r\n The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles;\r\n The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.\r\n From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.\r\n And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.\r\n And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.\r\n And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.\r\n And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.\r\n And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.\r\n And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.\r\n And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.\r\n And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan.\r\n \r\n \r\n And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:\r\n And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,\r\n Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.\r\n Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.\r\n Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.\r\n Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.\r\n Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.\r\n Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.\r\n Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.\r\n Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.\r\n Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.\r\n Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.\r\n Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.\r\n Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.\r\n Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.\r\n Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.\r\n Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.\r\n For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.\r\n Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.\r\n For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.\r\n Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:\r\n But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.\r\n Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;\r\n Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.\r\n Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.\r\n Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.\r\n Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:\r\n But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.\r\n And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.\r\n And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.\r\n It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:\r\n But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.\r\n Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:\r\n But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne:\r\n Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.\r\n Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.\r\n But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.\r\n Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:\r\n But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.\r\n And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.\r\n And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.\r\n Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.\r\n Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.\r\n But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;\r\n That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.\r\n For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?\r\n And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?\r\n Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.\r\n \r\n \r\n Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.\r\n Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.\r\n But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:\r\n That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.\r\n And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.\r\n But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.\r\n But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.\r\n Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.\r\n After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.\r\n Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.\r\n Give us this day our daily bread.\r\n And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.\r\n And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.\r\n For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:\r\n But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.\r\n Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.\r\n But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;\r\n That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.\r\n Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:\r\n But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:\r\n For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.\r\n The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.\r\n But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!\r\n No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.\r\n Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?\r\n Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?\r\n Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?\r\n And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:\r\n And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.\r\n Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?\r\n Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?\r\n For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.\r\n But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.\r\n Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.\r\n \r\n \r\n Judge not, that ye be not judged.\r\n For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.\r\n And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?\r\n Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?\r\n Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.\r\n Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.\r\n Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:\r\n For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.\r\n Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?\r\n Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?\r\n If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?\r\n Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.\r\n Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:\r\n Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.\r\n Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.\r\n Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?\r\n Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.\r\n A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.\r\n Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.\r\n Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.\r\n Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.\r\n Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?\r\n And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.\r\n Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:\r\n And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.\r\n And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:\r\n And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.\r\n And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:\r\n For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.\r\n \r\n \r\n When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him.\r\n And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.\r\n And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.\r\n And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.\r\n And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him,\r\n And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.\r\n And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him.\r\n The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.\r\n For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.\r\n When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.\r\n And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.\r\n But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.\r\n And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.\r\n And when Jesus was come into Peter's house, he saw his wife's mother laid, and sick of a fever.\r\n And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them.\r\n When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick:\r\n That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.\r\n Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he gave commandment to depart unto the other side.\r\n And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.\r\n And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.\r\n And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.\r\n But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.\r\n And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him.\r\n And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.\r\n And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.\r\n And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.\r\n But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!\r\n And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way.\r\n And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?\r\n And there was a good way off from them an herd of many swine feeding.\r\n So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine.\r\n And he said unto them, Go. And when they were come out, they went into the herd of swine: and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters.\r\n And they that kept them fled, and went their ways into the city, and told every thing, and what was befallen to the possessed of the devils.\r\n And, behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts.\r\n \r\n \r\n And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city.\r\n And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.\r\n And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.\r\n And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?\r\n For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?\r\n But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.\r\n And he arose, and departed to his house.\r\n But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.\r\n And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.\r\n And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.\r\n And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?\r\n But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.\r\n But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.\r\n Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?\r\n And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.\r\n No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse.\r\n Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.\r\n While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live.\r\n And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples.\r\n And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment:\r\n For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.\r\n But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.\r\n And when Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise,\r\n He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn.\r\n But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose.\r\n And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land.\r\n And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou Son of David, have mercy on us.\r\n And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord.\r\n Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.\r\n And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it.\r\n But they, when they were departed, spread abroad his fame in all that country.\r\n As they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil.\r\n And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel.\r\n But the Pharisees said, He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils.\r\n And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.\r\n But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.\r\n Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;\r\n Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.\r\n \r\n \r\n And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.\r\n Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;\r\n Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;\r\n Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.\r\n These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:\r\n But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.\r\n And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.\r\n Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.\r\n Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses,\r\n Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.\r\n And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence.\r\n And when ye come into an house, salute it.\r\n And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you.\r\n And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.\r\n Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.\r\n Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.\r\n But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;\r\n And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.\r\n But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.\r\n For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.\r\n And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.\r\n And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.\r\n But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.\r\n The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.\r\n It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?\r\n Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.\r\n What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.\r\n And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.\r\n Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.\r\n But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.\r\n Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.\r\n Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.\r\n But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.\r\n Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.\r\n For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.\r\n And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.\r\n He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.\r\n And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.\r\n He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.\r\n He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.\r\n He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward.\r\n And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities.\r\n Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples,\r\n And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?\r\n Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see:\r\n The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.\r\n And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.\r\n And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?\r\n But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses.\r\n But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet.\r\n For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.\r\n Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.\r\n And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.\r\n For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.\r\n And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.\r\n He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.\r\n But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows,\r\n And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented.\r\n For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil.\r\n The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.\r\n Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not:\r\n Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.\r\n But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you.\r\n And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.\r\n But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.\r\n At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.\r\n Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight.\r\n All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.\r\n Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.\r\n Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.\r\n For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.\r\n \r\n \r\n At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat.\r\n But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day.\r\n But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him;\r\n How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests?\r\n Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless?\r\n But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple.\r\n But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.\r\n For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.\r\n And when he was departed thence, he went into their synagogue:\r\n And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him.\r\n And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out?\r\n How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.\r\n Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other.\r\n Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him.\r\n But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all;\r\n And charged them that they should not make him known:\r\n That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,\r\n Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles.\r\n He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets.\r\n A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.\r\n And in his name shall the Gentiles trust.\r\n Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw.\r\n And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David?\r\n But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.\r\n And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:\r\n And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?\r\n And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges.\r\n But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.\r\n Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.\r\n He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.\r\n Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.\r\n And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.\r\n Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.\r\n O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.\r\n A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.\r\n But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.\r\n For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.\r\n Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.\r\n But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:\r\n For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.\r\n The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.\r\n The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.\r\n When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.\r\n Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.\r\n Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.\r\n While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.\r\n Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.\r\n But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?\r\n And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!\r\n For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.\r\n \r\n \r\n The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side.\r\n And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.\r\n And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;\r\n And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:\r\n Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:\r\n And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.\r\n And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:\r\n But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.\r\n Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.\r\n And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?\r\n He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.\r\n For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.\r\n Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.\r\n And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:\r\n For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.\r\n But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.\r\n For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.\r\n Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.\r\n When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.\r\n But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;\r\n Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.\r\n He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.\r\n But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.\r\n Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:\r\n But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.\r\n But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.\r\n So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?\r\n He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?\r\n But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.\r\n Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.\r\n Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:\r\n Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.\r\n Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.\r\n All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them:\r\n That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.\r\n Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.\r\n He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;\r\n The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;\r\n The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.\r\n As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.\r\n The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;\r\n And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.\r\n Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.\r\n Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.\r\n Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:\r\n Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.\r\n Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:\r\n Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.\r\n So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,\r\n And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.\r\n Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord.\r\n Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.\r\n And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed thence.\r\n And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?\r\n Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?\r\n And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?\r\n And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.\r\n And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.\r\n \r\n \r\n At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus,\r\n And said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him.\r\n For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife.\r\n For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her.\r\n And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.\r\n But when Herod's birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod.\r\n Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask.\r\n And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist's head in a charger.\r\n And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath's sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her.\r\n And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison.\r\n And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel: and she brought it to her mother.\r\n And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus.\r\n When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities.\r\n And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.\r\n And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals.\r\n But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat.\r\n And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes.\r\n He said, Bring them hither to me.\r\n And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.\r\n And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full.\r\n And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.\r\n And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.\r\n And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.\r\n But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.\r\n And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.\r\n And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.\r\n But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.\r\n And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.\r\n And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.\r\n But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.\r\n And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?\r\n And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.\r\n Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.\r\n And when they were gone over, they came into the land of Gennesaret.\r\n And when the men of that place had knowledge of him, they sent out into all that country round about, and brought unto him all that were diseased;\r\n And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying,\r\n Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.\r\n But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?\r\n For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.\r\n But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me;\r\n And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.\r\n Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,\r\n This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.\r\n But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.\r\n And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand:\r\n Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.\r\n Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?\r\n But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.\r\n Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.\r\n Then answered Peter and said unto him, Declare unto us this parable.\r\n And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding?\r\n Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?\r\n But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.\r\n For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:\r\n These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.\r\n Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon.\r\n And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.\r\n But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.\r\n But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.\r\n Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.\r\n But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs.\r\n And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.\r\n Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.\r\n And Jesus departed from thence, and came nigh unto the sea of Galilee; and went up into a mountain, and sat down there.\r\n And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus' feet; and he healed them:\r\n Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel.\r\n Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way.\r\n And his disciples say unto him, Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fill so great a multitude?\r\n And Jesus saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven, and a few little fishes.\r\n And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground.\r\n And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.\r\n And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full.\r\n And they that did eat were four thousand men, beside women and children.\r\n And he sent away the multitude, and took ship, and came into the coasts of Magdala.\r\n \r\n \r\n The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven.\r\n He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red.\r\n And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?\r\n A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.\r\n And when his disciples were come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread.\r\n Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.\r\n And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread.\r\n Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread?\r\n Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?\r\n Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?\r\n How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?\r\n Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.\r\n When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?\r\n And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.\r\n He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?\r\n And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.\r\n And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.\r\n And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.\r\n And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.\r\n Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.\r\n From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.\r\n Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.\r\n But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.\r\n Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.\r\n For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.\r\n For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?\r\n For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.\r\n Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.\r\n \r\n \r\n And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,\r\n And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.\r\n And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.\r\n Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.\r\n While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.\r\n And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.\r\n And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.\r\n And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.\r\n And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead.\r\n And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come?\r\n And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.\r\n But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them.\r\n Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.\r\n And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying,\r\n Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.\r\n And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.\r\n Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.\r\n And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.\r\n Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?\r\n And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.\r\n Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.\r\n And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men:\r\n And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry.\r\n And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute?\r\n He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?\r\n Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free.\r\n Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.\r\n \r\n \r\n At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?\r\n And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,\r\n And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.\r\n Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.\r\n And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.\r\n But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.\r\n Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!\r\n Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.\r\n And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.\r\n Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.\r\n For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.\r\n How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?\r\n And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.\r\n Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.\r\n Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.\r\n But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.\r\n And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.\r\n Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.\r\n Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.\r\n For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.\r\n Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?\r\n Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.\r\n Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.\r\n And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.\r\n But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.\r\n The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.\r\n Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.\r\n But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.\r\n And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.\r\n And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.\r\n So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.\r\n Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:\r\n Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?\r\n And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.\r\n So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these sayings, he departed from Galilee, and came into the coasts of Judaea beyond Jordan;\r\n And great multitudes followed him; and he healed them there.\r\n The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?\r\n And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,\r\n And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?\r\n Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.\r\n They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?\r\n He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.\r\n And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.\r\n His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry.\r\n But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given.\r\n For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.\r\n Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them.\r\n But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.\r\n And he laid his hands on them, and departed thence.\r\n And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?\r\n And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.\r\n He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,\r\n Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.\r\n The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?\r\n Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.\r\n But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.\r\n Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.\r\n And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.\r\n When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?\r\n But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.\r\n Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?\r\n And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.\r\n And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.\r\n But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.\r\n \r\n \r\n For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.\r\n And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.\r\n And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace,\r\n And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.\r\n Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.\r\n And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?\r\n They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.\r\n So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.\r\n And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.\r\n But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.\r\n And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house,\r\n Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.\r\n But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?\r\n Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.\r\n Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?\r\n So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.\r\n And Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto them,\r\n Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death,\r\n And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again.\r\n Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him.\r\n And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom.\r\n But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able.\r\n And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.\r\n And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren.\r\n But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.\r\n But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;\r\n And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:\r\n Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.\r\n And as they departed from Jericho, a great multitude followed him.\r\n And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David.\r\n And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David.\r\n And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you?\r\n They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened.\r\n So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.\r\n \r\n \r\n And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples,\r\n Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me.\r\n And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them.\r\n All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying,\r\n Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.\r\n And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them,\r\n And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon.\r\n And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way.\r\n And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.\r\n And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this?\r\n And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.\r\n And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves,\r\n And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.\r\n And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them.\r\n And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; they were sore displeased,\r\n And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?\r\n And he left them, and went out of the city into Bethany; and he lodged there.\r\n Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered.\r\n And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.\r\n And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away!\r\n Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.\r\n And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.\r\n And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?\r\n And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things.\r\n The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him?\r\n But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet.\r\n And they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell. And he said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.\r\n But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard.\r\n He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.\r\n And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not.\r\n Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.\r\n For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.\r\n Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country:\r\n And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it.\r\n And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another.\r\n Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise.\r\n But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son.\r\n But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance.\r\n And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him.\r\n When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen?\r\n They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons.\r\n Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?\r\n Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.\r\n And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.\r\n And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them.\r\n But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said,\r\n The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,\r\n And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.\r\n Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.\r\n But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:\r\n And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.\r\n But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.\r\n Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.\r\n Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.\r\n So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.\r\n And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:\r\n And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.\r\n Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.\r\n For many are called, but few are chosen.\r\n Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk.\r\n And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men.\r\n Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?\r\n But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?\r\n Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny.\r\n And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?\r\n They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.\r\n When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.\r\n The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him,\r\n Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.\r\n Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and, having no issue, left his wife unto his brother:\r\n Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh.\r\n And last of all the woman died also.\r\n Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her.\r\n Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.\r\n For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.\r\n But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying,\r\n I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.\r\n And when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at his doctrine.\r\n But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together.\r\n Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,\r\n Master, which is the great commandment in the law?\r\n Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.\r\n This is the first and great commandment.\r\n And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.\r\n On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.\r\n While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them,\r\n Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David.\r\n He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying,\r\n The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool?\r\n If David then call him Lord, how is he his son?\r\n And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,\r\n Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat:\r\n All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.\r\n For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.\r\n But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,\r\n And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,\r\n And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.\r\n But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.\r\n And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.\r\n Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.\r\n But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.\r\n And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.\r\n But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.\r\n Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.\r\n Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.\r\n Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor!\r\n Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?\r\n And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty.\r\n Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?\r\n Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon.\r\n And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein.\r\n And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon.\r\n Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.\r\n Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.\r\n Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.\r\n Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.\r\n Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.\r\n Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.\r\n Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,\r\n And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.\r\n Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.\r\n Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.\r\n Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?\r\n Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:\r\n That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.\r\n Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.\r\n O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!\r\n Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.\r\n For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple.\r\n And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.\r\n And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?\r\n And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.\r\n For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.\r\n And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.\r\n For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.\r\n All these are the beginning of sorrows.\r\n Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.\r\n And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.\r\n And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.\r\n And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.\r\n But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.\r\n And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.\r\n When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)\r\n Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:\r\n Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:\r\n Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.\r\n And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!\r\n But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:\r\n For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.\r\n And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.\r\n Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.\r\n For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.\r\n Behold, I have told you before.\r\n Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.\r\n For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.\r\n For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.\r\n Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:\r\n And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.\r\n And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.\r\n Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:\r\n So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.\r\n Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.\r\n Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.\r\n But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.\r\n But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.\r\n For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,\r\n And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.\r\n Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.\r\n Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.\r\n Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.\r\n But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.\r\n Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.\r\n Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?\r\n Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.\r\n Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.\r\n But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;\r\n And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;\r\n The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,\r\n And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.\r\n And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.\r\n They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:\r\n But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.\r\n While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.\r\n And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.\r\n Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.\r\n And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.\r\n But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.\r\n And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.\r\n Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.\r\n But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.\r\n Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.\r\n For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.\r\n And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.\r\n Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.\r\n And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.\r\n But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.\r\n After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.\r\n And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.\r\n His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.\r\n He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.\r\n His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.\r\n Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:\r\n And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.\r\n His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:\r\n Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.\r\n Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.\r\n For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.\r\n And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.\r\n When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:\r\n And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:\r\n And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.\r\n Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:\r\n For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:\r\n Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.\r\n Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?\r\n When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?\r\n Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?\r\n And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.\r\n Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:\r\n For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:\r\n I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.\r\n Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?\r\n Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.\r\n And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said unto his disciples,\r\n Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified.\r\n Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas,\r\n And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill him.\r\n But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar among the people.\r\n Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper,\r\n There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat.\r\n But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste?\r\n For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor.\r\n When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me.\r\n For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always.\r\n For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial.\r\n Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.\r\n Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests,\r\n And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.\r\n And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.\r\n Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the passover?\r\n And he said, Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him, The Master saith, My time is at hand; I will keep the passover at thy house with my disciples.\r\n And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them; and they made ready the passover.\r\n Now when the even was come, he sat down with the twelve.\r\n And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.\r\n And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I?\r\n And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me.\r\n The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born.\r\n Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said.\r\n And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.\r\n And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;\r\n For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.\r\n But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.\r\n And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.\r\n Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.\r\n But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee.\r\n Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.\r\n Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.\r\n Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.\r\n Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.\r\n And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.\r\n Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.\r\n And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.\r\n And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?\r\n Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.\r\n He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.\r\n And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy.\r\n And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.\r\n Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.\r\n Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me.\r\n And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people.\r\n Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast.\r\n And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him.\r\n And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.\r\n And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest's, and smote off his ear.\r\n Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.\r\n Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?\r\n But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?\r\n In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me.\r\n But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.\r\n And they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.\r\n But Peter followed him afar off unto the high priest's palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end.\r\n Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death;\r\n But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses,\r\n And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.\r\n And the high priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?\r\n But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.\r\n Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.\r\n Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy.\r\n What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death.\r\n Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands,\r\n Saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, Who is he that smote thee?\r\n Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee.\r\n But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest.\r\n And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth.\r\n And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man.\r\n And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee.\r\n Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.\r\n And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.\r\n \r\n \r\n When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death:\r\n And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.\r\n Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,\r\n Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.\r\n And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.\r\n And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood.\r\n And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in.\r\n Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day.\r\n Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value;\r\n And gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord appointed me.\r\n And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest.\r\n And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing.\r\n Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee?\r\n And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly.\r\n Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would.\r\n And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas.\r\n Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?\r\n For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.\r\n When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.\r\n But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.\r\n The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas.\r\n Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified.\r\n And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified.\r\n When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.\r\n Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.\r\n Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.\r\n Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers.\r\n And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe.\r\n And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!\r\n And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.\r\n And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.\r\n And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.\r\n And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull,\r\n They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink.\r\n And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.\r\n And sitting down they watched him there;\r\n And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.\r\n Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left.\r\n And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,\r\n And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.\r\n Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said,\r\n He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.\r\n He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.\r\n The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.\r\n Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.\r\n And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?\r\n Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias.\r\n And straightway one of them ran, and took a spunge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink.\r\n The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him.\r\n Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.\r\n And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;\r\n And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,\r\n And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.\r\n Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.\r\n And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him:\r\n Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's children.\r\n When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple:\r\n He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered.\r\n And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,\r\n And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.\r\n And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre.\r\n Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate,\r\n Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.\r\n Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.\r\n Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can.\r\n So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.\r\n \r\n \r\n In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.\r\n And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.\r\n His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:\r\n And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.\r\n And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.\r\n He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.\r\n And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.\r\n And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.\r\n And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.\r\n Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.\r\n Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done.\r\n And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers,\r\n Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept.\r\n And if this come to the governor's ears, we will persuade him, and secure you.\r\n So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.\r\n Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.\r\n And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.\r\n And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.\r\n Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:\r\n Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;\r\n As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.\r\n The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.\r\n John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.\r\n And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins.\r\n And John was clothed with camel's hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey;\r\n And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose.\r\n I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.\r\n And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.\r\n And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:\r\n And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.\r\n And immediately the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness.\r\n And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.\r\n Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,\r\n And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.\r\n Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.\r\n And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.\r\n And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him.\r\n And when he had gone a little further thence, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets.\r\n And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him.\r\n And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught.\r\n And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.\r\n And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out,\r\n Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.\r\n And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him.\r\n And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him.\r\n And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him.\r\n And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee.\r\n And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.\r\n But Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell him of her.\r\n And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them.\r\n And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils.\r\n And all the city was gathered together at the door.\r\n And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him.\r\n And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.\r\n And Simon and they that were with him followed after him.\r\n And when they had found him, they said unto him, All men seek for thee.\r\n And he said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth.\r\n And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils.\r\n And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.\r\n And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.\r\n And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed.\r\n And he straitly charged him, and forthwith sent him away;\r\n And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.\r\n But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places: and they came to him from every quarter.\r\n \r\n \r\n And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house.\r\n And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them.\r\n And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.\r\n And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.\r\n When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.\r\n But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,\r\n Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?\r\n And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?\r\n Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?\r\n But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,)\r\n I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.\r\n And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.\r\n And he went forth again by the sea side; and all the multitude resorted unto him, and he taught them.\r\n And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him.\r\n And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him.\r\n And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners?\r\n When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.\r\n And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used to fast: and they come and say unto him, Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but thy disciples fast not?\r\n And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? as long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.\r\n But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.\r\n No man also seweth a piece of new cloth on an old garment: else the new piece that filled it up taketh away from the old, and the rent is made worse.\r\n And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the new wine doth burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles.\r\n And it came to pass, that he went through the corn fields on the sabbath day; and his disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears of corn.\r\n And the Pharisees said unto him, Behold, why do they on the sabbath day that which is not lawful?\r\n And he said unto them, Have ye never read what David did, when he had need, and was an hungred, he, and they that were with him?\r\n How he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and did eat the shewbread, which is not lawful to eat but for the priests, and gave also to them which were with him?\r\n And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:\r\n Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.\r\n \r\n \r\n And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand.\r\n And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him.\r\n And he saith unto the man which had the withered hand, Stand forth.\r\n And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace.\r\n And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other.\r\n And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him.\r\n But Jesus withdrew himself with his disciples to the sea: and a great multitude from Galilee followed him, and from Judaea,\r\n And from Jerusalem, and from Idumaea, and from beyond Jordan; and they about Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they had heard what great things he did, came unto him.\r\n And he spake to his disciples, that a small ship should wait on him because of the multitude, lest they should throng him.\r\n For he had healed many; insomuch that they pressed upon him for to touch him, as many as had plagues.\r\n And unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God.\r\n And he straitly charged them that they should not make him known.\r\n And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and they came unto him.\r\n And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach,\r\n And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils:\r\n And Simon he surnamed Peter;\r\n And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder:\r\n And Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Canaanite,\r\n And Judas Iscariot, which also betrayed him: and they went into an house.\r\n And the multitude cometh together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread.\r\n And when his friends heard of it, they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself.\r\n And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils.\r\n And he called them unto him, and said unto them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan?\r\n And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.\r\n And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.\r\n And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end.\r\n No man can enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house.\r\n Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme:\r\n But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:\r\n Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit.\r\n There came then his brethren and his mother, and, standing without, sent unto him, calling him.\r\n And the multitude sat about him, and they said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee.\r\n And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren?\r\n And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!\r\n For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.\r\n \r\n \r\n And he began again to teach by the sea side: and there was gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land.\r\n And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine,\r\n Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow:\r\n And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up.\r\n And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth:\r\n But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.\r\n And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.\r\n And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred.\r\n And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.\r\n And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable.\r\n And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:\r\n That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.\r\n And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?\r\n The sower soweth the word.\r\n And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.\r\n And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;\r\n And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.\r\n And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,\r\n And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.\r\n And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.\r\n And he said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick?\r\n For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad.\r\n If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.\r\n And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given.\r\n For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.\r\n And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground;\r\n And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how.\r\n For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.\r\n But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.\r\n And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it?\r\n It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth:\r\n But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it.\r\n And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it.\r\n But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.\r\n And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.\r\n And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.\r\n And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.\r\n And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?\r\n And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.\r\n And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?\r\n And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?\r\n \r\n \r\n And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes.\r\n And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,\r\n Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains:\r\n Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him.\r\n And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.\r\n But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him,\r\n And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not.\r\n For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit.\r\n And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many.\r\n And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country.\r\n Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding.\r\n And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them.\r\n And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea.\r\n And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done.\r\n And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.\r\n And they that saw it told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine.\r\n And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts.\r\n And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him.\r\n Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.\r\n And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.\r\n And when Jesus was passed over again by ship unto the other side, much people gathered unto him: and he was nigh unto the sea.\r\n And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet,\r\n And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live.\r\n And Jesus went with him; and much people followed him, and thronged him.\r\n And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years,\r\n And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,\r\n When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.\r\n For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.\r\n And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.\r\n And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?\r\n And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?\r\n And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing.\r\n But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.\r\n And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.\r\n While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue's house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further?\r\n As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe.\r\n And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James.\r\n And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly.\r\n And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth.\r\n And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying.\r\n And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise.\r\n And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment.\r\n And he charged them straitly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat.\r\n \r\n \r\n And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him.\r\n And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands?\r\n Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.\r\n But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.\r\n And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.\r\n And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.\r\n And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits;\r\n And commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only; no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse:\r\n But be shod with sandals; and not put on two coats.\r\n And he said unto them, In what place soever ye enter into an house, there abide till ye depart from that place.\r\n And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.\r\n And they went out, and preached that men should repent.\r\n And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.\r\n And king Herod heard of him; (for his name was spread abroad:) and he said, That John the Baptist was risen from the dead, and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him.\r\n Others said, That it is Elias. And others said, That it is a prophet, or as one of the prophets.\r\n But when Herod heard thereof, he said, It is John, whom I beheaded: he is risen from the dead.\r\n For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife: for he had married her.\r\n For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife.\r\n Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him; but she could not:\r\n For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.\r\n And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee;\r\n And when the daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod and them that sat with him, the king said unto the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee.\r\n And he sware unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom.\r\n And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist.\r\n And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that thou give me by and by in a charger the head of John the Baptist.\r\n And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath's sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her.\r\n And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison,\r\n And brought his head in a charger, and gave it to the damsel: and the damsel gave it to her mother.\r\n And when his disciples heard of it, they came and took up his corpse, and laid it in a tomb.\r\n And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught.\r\n And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.\r\n And they departed into a desert place by ship privately.\r\n And the people saw them departing, and many knew him, and ran afoot thither out of all cities, and outwent them, and came together unto him.\r\n And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.\r\n And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came unto him, and said, This is a desert place, and now the time is far passed:\r\n Send them away, that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat.\r\n He answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, and give them to eat?\r\n He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes.\r\n And he commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass.\r\n And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties.\r\n And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all.\r\n And they did all eat, and were filled.\r\n And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes.\r\n And they that did eat of the loaves were about five thousand men.\r\n And straightway he constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people.\r\n And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray.\r\n And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land.\r\n And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them.\r\n But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out:\r\n For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid.\r\n And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered.\r\n For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.\r\n And when they had passed over, they came into the land of Gennesaret, and drew to the shore.\r\n And when they were come out of the ship, straightway they knew him,\r\n And ran through that whole region round about, and began to carry about in beds those that were sick, where they heard he was.\r\n And whithersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem.\r\n And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault.\r\n For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders.\r\n And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables.\r\n Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?\r\n He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.\r\n Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.\r\n For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.\r\n And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.\r\n For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death:\r\n But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free.\r\n And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother;\r\n Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.\r\n And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand:\r\n There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.\r\n If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.\r\n And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable.\r\n And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him;\r\n Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats?\r\n And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.\r\n For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,\r\n Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:\r\n All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.\r\n And from thence he arose, and went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and entered into an house, and would have no man know it: but he could not be hid.\r\n For a certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and fell at his feet:\r\n The woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation; and she besought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her daughter.\r\n But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it unto the dogs.\r\n And she answered and said unto him, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs.\r\n And he said unto her, For this saying go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter.\r\n And when she was come to her house, she found the devil gone out, and her daughter laid upon the bed.\r\n And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis.\r\n And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him.\r\n And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue;\r\n And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened.\r\n And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain.\r\n And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it;\r\n And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.\r\n \r\n \r\n In those days the multitude being very great, and having nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples unto him, and saith unto them,\r\n I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat:\r\n And if I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint by the way: for divers of them came from far.\r\n And his disciples answered him, From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness?\r\n And he asked them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven.\r\n And he commanded the people to sit down on the ground: and he took the seven loaves, and gave thanks, and brake, and gave to his disciples to set before them; and they did set them before the people.\r\n And they had a few small fishes: and he blessed, and commanded to set them also before them.\r\n So they did eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets.\r\n And they that had eaten were about four thousand: and he sent them away.\r\n And straightway he entered into a ship with his disciples, and came into the parts of Dalmanutha.\r\n And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him.\r\n And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation.\r\n And he left them, and entering into the ship again departed to the other side.\r\n Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, neither had they in the ship with them more than one loaf.\r\n And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod.\r\n And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have no bread.\r\n And when Jesus knew it, he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened?\r\n Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember?\r\n When I brake the five loaves among five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? They say unto him, Twelve.\r\n And when the seven among four thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? And they said, Seven.\r\n And he said unto them, How is it that ye do not understand?\r\n And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him.\r\n And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought.\r\n And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking.\r\n After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly.\r\n And he sent him away to his house, saying, Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town.\r\n And Jesus went out, and his disciples, into the towns of Caesarea Philippi: and by the way he asked his disciples, saying unto them, Whom do men say that I am?\r\n And they answered, John the Baptist: but some say, Elias; and others, One of the prophets.\r\n And he saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Peter answereth and saith unto him, Thou art the Christ.\r\n And he charged them that they should tell no man of him.\r\n And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.\r\n And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him.\r\n But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.\r\n And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.\r\n For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.\r\n For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?\r\n Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?\r\n Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.\r\n \r\n \r\n And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.\r\n And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them.\r\n And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.\r\n And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus.\r\n And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.\r\n For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid.\r\n And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.\r\n And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves.\r\n And as they came down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the Son of man were risen from the dead.\r\n And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean.\r\n And they asked him, saying, Why say the scribes that Elias must first come?\r\n And he answered and told them, Elias verily cometh first, and restoreth all things; and how it is written of the Son of man, that he must suffer many things, and be set at nought.\r\n But I say unto you, That Elias is indeed come, and they have done unto him whatsoever they listed, as it is written of him.\r\n And when he came to his disciples, he saw a great multitude about them, and the scribes questioning with them.\r\n And straightway all the people, when they beheld him, were greatly amazed, and running to him saluted him.\r\n And he asked the scribes, What question ye with them?\r\n And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit;\r\n And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not.\r\n He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me.\r\n And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.\r\n And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child.\r\n And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.\r\n Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.\r\n And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.\r\n When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.\r\n And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead.\r\n But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose.\r\n And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out?\r\n And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.\r\n And they departed thence, and passed through Galilee; and he would not that any man should know it.\r\n For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day.\r\n But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him.\r\n And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way?\r\n But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.\r\n And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.\r\n And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them,\r\n Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.\r\n And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us.\r\n But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me.\r\n For he that is not against us is on our part.\r\n For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.\r\n And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.\r\n And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:\r\n Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.\r\n And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:\r\n Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.\r\n And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:\r\n Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.\r\n For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.\r\n Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.\r\n \r\n \r\n And he arose from thence, and cometh into the coasts of Judaea by the farther side of Jordan: and the people resort unto him again; and, as he was wont, he taught them again.\r\n And the Pharisees came to him, and asked him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? tempting him.\r\n And he answered and said unto them, What did Moses command you?\r\n And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away.\r\n And Jesus answered and said unto them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept.\r\n But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.\r\n For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife;\r\n And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.\r\n What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.\r\n And in the house his disciples asked him again of the same matter.\r\n And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her.\r\n And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.\r\n And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them.\r\n But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.\r\n Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.\r\n And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.\r\n And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?\r\n And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.\r\n Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.\r\n And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.\r\n Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.\r\n And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.\r\n And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!\r\n And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!\r\n It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.\r\n And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved?\r\n And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.\r\n Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.\r\n And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's,\r\n But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.\r\n But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.\r\n And they were in the way going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus went before them: and they were amazed; and as they followed, they were afraid. And he took again the twelve, and began to tell them what things should happen unto him,\r\n Saying, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles:\r\n And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again.\r\n And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire.\r\n And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you?\r\n They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory.\r\n But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?\r\n And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized:\r\n But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared.\r\n And when the ten heard it, they began to be much displeased with James and John.\r\n But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them.\r\n But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister:\r\n And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.\r\n For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.\r\n And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging.\r\n And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.\r\n And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.\r\n And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee.\r\n And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus.\r\n And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight.\r\n And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.\r\n \r\n \r\n And when they came nigh to Jerusalem, unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount of Olives, he sendeth forth two of his disciples,\r\n And saith unto them, Go your way into the village over against you: and as soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him.\r\n And if any man say unto you, Why do ye this? say ye that the Lord hath need of him; and straightway he will send him hither.\r\n And they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door without in a place where two ways met; and they loose him.\r\n And certain of them that stood there said unto them, What do ye, loosing the colt?\r\n And they said unto them even as Jesus had commanded: and they let them go.\r\n And they brought the colt to Jesus, and cast their garments on him; and he sat upon him.\r\n And many spread their garments in the way: and others cut down branches off the trees, and strawed them in the way.\r\n And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord:\r\n Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.\r\n And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple: and when he had looked round about upon all things, and now the eventide was come, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve.\r\n And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry:\r\n And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet.\r\n And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it.\r\n And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves;\r\n And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple.\r\n And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.\r\n And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine.\r\n And when even was come, he went out of the city.\r\n And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots.\r\n And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away.\r\n And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.\r\n For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.\r\n Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.\r\n And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.\r\n But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.\r\n And they come again to Jerusalem: and as he was walking in the temple, there come to him the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders,\r\n And say unto him, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority to do these things?\r\n And Jesus answered and said unto them, I will also ask of you one question, and answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things.\r\n The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? answer me.\r\n And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him?\r\n But if we shall say, Of men; they feared the people: for all men counted John, that he was a prophet indeed.\r\n And they answered and said unto Jesus, We cannot tell. And Jesus answering saith unto them, Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.\r\n \r\n \r\n And he began to speak unto them by parables. A certain man planted a vineyard, and set an hedge about it, and digged a place for the winefat, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country.\r\n And at the season he sent to the husbandmen a servant, that he might receive from the husbandmen of the fruit of the vineyard.\r\n And they caught him, and beat him, and sent him away empty.\r\n And again he sent unto them another servant; and at him they cast stones, and wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully handled.\r\n And again he sent another; and him they killed, and many others; beating some, and killing some.\r\n Having yet therefore one son, his wellbeloved, he sent him also last unto them, saying, They will reverence my son.\r\n But those husbandmen said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be ours.\r\n And they took him, and killed him, and cast him out of the vineyard.\r\n What shall therefore the lord of the vineyard do? he will come and destroy the husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others.\r\n And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner:\r\n This was the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?\r\n And they sought to lay hold on him, but feared the people: for they knew that he had spoken the parable against them: and they left him, and went their way.\r\n And they send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch him in his words.\r\n And when they were come, they say unto him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?\r\n Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why tempt ye me? bring me a penny, that I may see it.\r\n And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Caesar's.\r\n And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marvelled at him.\r\n Then come unto him the Sadducees, which say there is no resurrection; and they asked him, saying,\r\n Master, Moses wrote unto us, If a man's brother die, and leave his wife behind him, and leave no children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.\r\n Now there were seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and dying left no seed.\r\n And the second took her, and died, neither left he any seed: and the third likewise.\r\n And the seven had her, and left no seed: last of all the woman died also.\r\n In the resurrection therefore, when they shall rise, whose wife shall she be of them? for the seven had her to wife.\r\n And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God?\r\n For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven.\r\n And as touching the dead, that they rise: have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?\r\n He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: ye therefore do greatly err.\r\n And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all?\r\n And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:\r\n And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.\r\n And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.\r\n And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he:\r\n And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.\r\n And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.\r\n And Jesus answered and said, while he taught in the temple, How say the scribes that Christ is the Son of David?\r\n For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, The LORD said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool.\r\n David therefore himself calleth him Lord; and whence is he then his son? And the common people heard him gladly.\r\n And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces,\r\n And the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts:\r\n Which devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation.\r\n And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.\r\n And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.\r\n And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:\r\n For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.\r\n \r\n \r\n And as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples saith unto him, Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!\r\n And Jesus answering said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.\r\n And as he sat upon the mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately,\r\n Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?\r\n And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you:\r\n For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.\r\n And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet.\r\n For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.\r\n But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them.\r\n And the gospel must first be published among all nations.\r\n But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.\r\n Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death.\r\n And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.\r\n But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains:\r\n And let him that is on the housetop not go down into the house, neither enter therein, to take any thing out of his house:\r\n And let him that is in the field not turn back again for to take up his garment.\r\n But woe to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!\r\n And pray ye that your flight be not in the winter.\r\n For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be.\r\n And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.\r\n And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not:\r\n For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.\r\n But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.\r\n But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,\r\n And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.\r\n And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.\r\n And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.\r\n Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near:\r\n So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors.\r\n Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.\r\n Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.\r\n But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.\r\n Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.\r\n For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.\r\n Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:\r\n Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.\r\n And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.\r\n \r\n \r\n After two days was the feast of the passover, and of unleavened bread: and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take him by craft, and put him to death.\r\n But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar of the people.\r\n And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head.\r\n And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made?\r\n For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her.\r\n And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me.\r\n For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always.\r\n She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying.\r\n Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.\r\n And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests, to betray him unto them.\r\n And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently betray him.\r\n And the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the passover, his disciples said unto him, Where wilt thou that we go and prepare that thou mayest eat the passover?\r\n And he sendeth forth two of his disciples, and saith unto them, Go ye into the city, and there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water: follow him.\r\n And wheresoever he shall go in, say ye to the goodman of the house, The Master saith, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?\r\n And he will shew you a large upper room furnished and prepared: there make ready for us.\r\n And his disciples went forth, and came into the city, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover.\r\n And in the evening he cometh with the twelve.\r\n And as they sat and did eat, Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, One of you which eateth with me shall betray me.\r\n And they began to be sorrowful, and to say unto him one by one, Is it I? and another said, Is it I?\r\n And he answered and said unto them, It is one of the twelve, that dippeth with me in the dish.\r\n The Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had never been born.\r\n And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body.\r\n And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it.\r\n And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.\r\n Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God.\r\n And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.\r\n And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.\r\n But after that I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee.\r\n But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I.\r\n And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice.\r\n But he spake the more vehemently, If I should die with thee, I will not deny thee in any wise. Likewise also said they all.\r\n And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and he saith to his disciples, Sit ye here, while I shall pray.\r\n And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy;\r\n And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch.\r\n And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him.\r\n And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.\r\n And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldest not thou watch one hour?\r\n Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.\r\n And again he went away, and prayed, and spake the same words.\r\n And when he returned, he found them asleep again, (for their eyes were heavy,) neither wist they what to answer him.\r\n And he cometh the third time, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: it is enough, the hour is come; behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.\r\n Rise up, let us go; lo, he that betrayeth me is at hand.\r\n And immediately, while he yet spake, cometh Judas, one of the twelve, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders.\r\n And he that betrayed him had given them a token, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he; take him, and lead him away safely.\r\n And as soon as he was come, he goeth straightway to him, and saith, Master, master; and kissed him.\r\n And they laid their hands on him, and took him.\r\n And one of them that stood by drew a sword, and smote a servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.\r\n And Jesus answered and said unto them, Are ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and with staves to take me?\r\n I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and ye took me not: but the scriptures must be fulfilled.\r\n And they all forsook him, and fled.\r\n And there followed him a certain young man, having a linen cloth cast about his naked body; and the young men laid hold on him:\r\n And he left the linen cloth, and fled from them naked.\r\n And they led Jesus away to the high priest: and with him were assembled all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes.\r\n And Peter followed him afar off, even into the palace of the high priest: and he sat with the servants, and warmed himself at the fire.\r\n And the chief priests and all the council sought for witness against Jesus to put him to death; and found none.\r\n For many bare false witness against him, but their witness agreed not together.\r\n And there arose certain, and bare false witness against him, saying,\r\n We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.\r\n But neither so did their witness agree together.\r\n And the high priest stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, saying, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?\r\n But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?\r\n And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.\r\n Then the high priest rent his clothes, and saith, What need we any further witnesses?\r\n Ye have heard the blasphemy: what think ye? And they all condemned him to be guilty of death.\r\n And some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to buffet him, and to say unto him, Prophesy: and the servants did strike him with the palms of their hands.\r\n And as Peter was beneath in the palace, there cometh one of the maids of the high priest:\r\n And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked upon him, and said, And thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth.\r\n But he denied, saying, I know not, neither understand I what thou sayest. And he went out into the porch; and the cock crew.\r\n And a maid saw him again, and began to say to them that stood by, This is one of them.\r\n And he denied it again. And a little after, they that stood by said again to Peter, Surely thou art one of them: for thou art a Galilaean, and thy speech agreeth thereto.\r\n But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak.\r\n And the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept.\r\n \r\n \r\n And straightway in the morning the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council, and bound Jesus, and carried him away, and delivered him to Pilate.\r\n And Pilate asked him, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answering said unto him, Thou sayest it.\r\n And the chief priests accused him of many things: but he answered nothing.\r\n And Pilate asked him again, saying, Answerest thou nothing? behold how many things they witness against thee.\r\n But Jesus yet answered nothing; so that Pilate marvelled.\r\n Now at that feast he released unto them one prisoner, whomsoever they desired.\r\n And there was one named Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection.\r\n And the multitude crying aloud began to desire him to do as he had ever done unto them.\r\n But Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews?\r\n For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy.\r\n But the chief priests moved the people, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them.\r\n And Pilate answered and said again unto them, What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews?\r\n And they cried out again, Crucify him.\r\n Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him.\r\n And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified.\r\n And the soldiers led him away into the hall, called Praetorium; and they call together the whole band.\r\n And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head,\r\n And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews!\r\n And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their knees worshipped him.\r\n And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him.\r\n And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross.\r\n And they bring him unto the place Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, The place of a skull.\r\n And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not.\r\n And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take.\r\n And it was the third hour, and they crucified him.\r\n And the superscription of his accusation was written over, THE KING OF THE JEWS.\r\n And with him they crucify two thieves; the one on his right hand, and the other on his left.\r\n And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors.\r\n And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days,\r\n Save thyself, and come down from the cross.\r\n Likewise also the chief priests mocking said among themselves with the scribes, He saved others; himself he cannot save.\r\n Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him reviled him.\r\n And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.\r\n And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?\r\n And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, Behold, he calleth Elias.\r\n And one ran and filled a spunge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink, saying, Let alone; let us see whether Elias will come to take him down.\r\n And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.\r\n And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.\r\n And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God.\r\n There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome;\r\n Who also, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered unto him;) and many other women which came up with him unto Jerusalem.\r\n And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath,\r\n Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus.\r\n And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead.\r\n And when he knew it of the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph.\r\n And he bought fine linen, and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a sepulchre which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre.\r\n And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where he was laid.\r\n \r\n \r\n And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.\r\n And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.\r\n And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?\r\n And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.\r\n And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.\r\n And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.\r\n But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.\r\n And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid.\r\n Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.\r\n And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept.\r\n And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.\r\n After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country.\r\n And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them.\r\n Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.\r\n And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.\r\n He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.\r\n And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;\r\n They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.\r\n So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.\r\n And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,\r\n Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;\r\n It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,\r\n That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.\r\n There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.\r\n And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.\r\n And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.\r\n And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course,\r\n According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.\r\n And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.\r\n And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.\r\n And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.\r\n But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.\r\n And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.\r\n For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.\r\n And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.\r\n And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.\r\n And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.\r\n And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.\r\n And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.\r\n And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple.\r\n And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless.\r\n And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.\r\n And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,\r\n Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.\r\n And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,\r\n To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.\r\n And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.\r\n And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.\r\n And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.\r\n And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.\r\n He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:\r\n And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.\r\n Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?\r\n And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.\r\n And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.\r\n For with God nothing shall be impossible.\r\n And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.\r\n And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda;\r\n And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.\r\n And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:\r\n And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.\r\n And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?\r\n For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.\r\n And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.\r\n And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,\r\n And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.\r\n For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.\r\n For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.\r\n And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.\r\n He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.\r\n He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.\r\n He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.\r\n He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;\r\n As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.\r\n And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.\r\n Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.\r\n And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.\r\n And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father.\r\n And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John.\r\n And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.\r\n And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.\r\n And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all.\r\n And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God.\r\n And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea.\r\n And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him.\r\n And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,\r\n Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,\r\n And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;\r\n As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:\r\n That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;\r\n To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;\r\n The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,\r\n That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,\r\n In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.\r\n And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;\r\n To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,\r\n Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,\r\n To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.\r\n And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.\r\n And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)\r\n And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.\r\n And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)\r\n To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.\r\n And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.\r\n And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.\r\n And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.\r\n And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.\r\n And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.\r\n For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.\r\n And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.\r\n And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,\r\n Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.\r\n And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.\r\n And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.\r\n And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.\r\n And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.\r\n But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.\r\n And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.\r\n And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.\r\n And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord;\r\n As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)\r\n And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.\r\n And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.\r\n And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ.\r\n And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,\r\n Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,\r\n Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:\r\n For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,\r\n Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;\r\n A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.\r\n And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him.\r\n And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;\r\n Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.\r\n And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity;\r\n And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.\r\n And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.\r\n And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.\r\n And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.\r\n Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover.\r\n And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.\r\n And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it.\r\n But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance.\r\n And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him.\r\n And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.\r\n And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.\r\n And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.\r\n And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?\r\n And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them.\r\n And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.\r\n And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene,\r\n Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.\r\n And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;\r\n As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.\r\n Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth;\r\n And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.\r\n Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?\r\n Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.\r\n And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.\r\n And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then?\r\n He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.\r\n Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do?\r\n And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you.\r\n And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.\r\n And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not;\r\n John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:\r\n Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.\r\n And many other things in his exhortation preached he unto the people.\r\n But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias his brother Philip's wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done,\r\n Added yet this above all, that he shut up John in prison.\r\n Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened,\r\n And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.\r\n And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli,\r\n Which was the son of Matthat, which was the son of Levi, which was the son of Melchi, which was the son of Janna, which was the son of Joseph,\r\n Which was the son of Mattathias, which was the son of Amos, which was the son of Naum, which was the son of Esli, which was the son of Nagge,\r\n Which was the son of Maath, which was the son of Mattathias, which was the son of Semei, which was the son of Joseph, which was the son of Juda,\r\n Which was the son of Joanna, which was the son of Rhesa, which was the son of Zorobabel, which was the son of Salathiel, which was the son of Neri,\r\n Which was the son of Melchi, which was the son of Addi, which was the son of Cosam, which was the son of Elmodam, which was the son of Er,\r\n Which was the son of Jose, which was the son of Eliezer, which was the son of Jorim, which was the son of Matthat, which was the son of Levi,\r\n Which was the son of Simeon, which was the son of Juda, which was the son of Joseph, which was the son of Jonan, which was the son of Eliakim,\r\n Which was the son of Melea, which was the son of Menan, which was the son of Mattatha, which was the son of Nathan, which was the son of David,\r\n Which was the son of Jesse, which was the son of Obed, which was the son of Booz, which was the son of Salmon, which was the son of Naasson,\r\n Which was the son of Aminadab, which was the son of Aram, which was the son of Esrom, which was the son of Phares, which was the son of Juda,\r\n Which was the son of Jacob, which was the son of Isaac, which was the son of Abraham, which was the son of Thara, which was the son of Nachor,\r\n Which was the son of Saruch, which was the son of Ragau, which was the son of Phalec, which was the son of Heber, which was the son of Sala,\r\n Which was the son of Cainan, which was the son of Arphaxad, which was the son of Sem, which was the son of Noe, which was the son of Lamech,\r\n Which was the son of Mathusala, which was the son of Enoch, which was the son of Jared, which was the son of Maleleel, which was the son of Cainan,\r\n Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,\r\n Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.\r\n And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread.\r\n And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.\r\n And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.\r\n And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.\r\n If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.\r\n And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.\r\n And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence:\r\n For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee:\r\n And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.\r\n And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.\r\n And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.\r\n And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.\r\n And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all.\r\n And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.\r\n And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,\r\n The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,\r\n To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.\r\n And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.\r\n And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.\r\n And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph's son?\r\n And he said unto them, Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in thy country.\r\n And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country.\r\n But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land;\r\n But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow.\r\n And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian.\r\n And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath,\r\n And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong.\r\n But he passing through the midst of them went his way,\r\n And came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath days.\r\n And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power.\r\n And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice,\r\n Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God.\r\n And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the devil had thrown him in the midst, he came out of him, and hurt him not.\r\n And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out.\r\n And the fame of him went out into every place of the country round about.\r\n And he arose out of the synagogue, and entered into Simon's house. And Simon's wife's mother was taken with a great fever; and they besought him for her.\r\n And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her: and immediately she arose and ministered unto them.\r\n Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them.\r\n And devils also came out of many, crying out, and saying, Thou art Christ the Son of God. And he rebuking them suffered them not to speak: for they knew that he was Christ.\r\n And when it was day, he departed and went into a desert place: and the people sought him, and came unto him, and stayed him, that he should not depart from them.\r\n And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent.\r\n And he preached in the synagogues of Galilee.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,\r\n And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.\r\n And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.\r\n Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.\r\n And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.\r\n And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.\r\n And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.\r\n When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.\r\n For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken:\r\n And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.\r\n And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.\r\n And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.\r\n And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him.\r\n And he charged him to tell no man: but go, and shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing, according as Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.\r\n But so much the more went there a fame abroad of him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities.\r\n And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.\r\n And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them.\r\n And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him.\r\n And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus.\r\n And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.\r\n And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?\r\n But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts?\r\n Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?\r\n But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house.\r\n And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.\r\n And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day.\r\n And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me.\r\n And he left all, rose up, and followed him.\r\n And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them.\r\n But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?\r\n And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.\r\n I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.\r\n And they said unto him, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink?\r\n And he said unto them, Can ye make the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them?\r\n But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.\r\n And he spake also a parable unto them; No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old; if otherwise, then both the new maketh a rent, and the piece that was taken out of the new agreeth not with the old.\r\n And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish.\r\n But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved.\r\n No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass on the second sabbath after the first, that he went through the corn fields; and his disciples plucked the ears of corn, and did eat, rubbing them in their hands.\r\n And certain of the Pharisees said unto them, Why do ye that which is not lawful to do on the sabbath days?\r\n And Jesus answering them said, Have ye not read so much as this, what David did, when himself was an hungred, and they which were with him;\r\n How he went into the house of God, and did take and eat the shewbread, and gave also to them that were with him; which it is not lawful to eat but for the priests alone?\r\n And he said unto them, That the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.\r\n And it came to pass also on another sabbath, that he entered into the synagogue and taught: and there was a man whose right hand was withered.\r\n And the scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the sabbath day; that they might find an accusation against him.\r\n But he knew their thoughts, and said to the man which had the withered hand, Rise up, and stand forth in the midst. And he arose and stood forth.\r\n Then said Jesus unto them, I will ask you one thing; Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy it?\r\n And looking round about upon them all, he said unto the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he did so: and his hand was restored whole as the other.\r\n And they were filled with madness; and communed one with another what they might do to Jesus.\r\n And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.\r\n And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles;\r\n Simon, (whom he also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew,\r\n Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called Zelotes,\r\n And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor.\r\n And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judaea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases;\r\n And they that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed.\r\n And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all.\r\n And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.\r\n Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh.\r\n Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.\r\n Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.\r\n But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation.\r\n Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.\r\n Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.\r\n But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,\r\n Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.\r\n And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also.\r\n Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.\r\n And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.\r\n For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.\r\n And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.\r\n And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.\r\n But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.\r\n Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.\r\n Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:\r\n Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.\r\n And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch?\r\n The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.\r\n And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye?\r\n Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye.\r\n For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.\r\n For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.\r\n A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.\r\n And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?\r\n Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:\r\n He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.\r\n But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now when he had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum.\r\n And a certain centurion's servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die.\r\n And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant.\r\n And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this:\r\n For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue.\r\n Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof:\r\n Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed.\r\n For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.\r\n When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.\r\n And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick.\r\n And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people.\r\n Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her.\r\n And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.\r\n And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.\r\n And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.\r\n And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people.\r\n And this rumour of him went forth throughout all Judaea, and throughout all the region round about.\r\n And the disciples of John shewed him of all these things.\r\n And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?\r\n When the men were come unto him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?\r\n And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight.\r\n Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached.\r\n And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.\r\n And when the messengers of John were departed, he began to speak unto the people concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness for to see? A reed shaken with the wind?\r\n But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they which are gorgeously apparelled, and live delicately, are in kings' courts.\r\n But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet.\r\n This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.\r\n For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.\r\n And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John.\r\n But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him.\r\n And the Lord said, Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation? and to what are they like?\r\n They are like unto children sitting in the marketplace, and calling one to another, and saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned to you, and ye have not wept.\r\n For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a devil.\r\n The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!\r\n But wisdom is justified of all her children.\r\n And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat.\r\n And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment,\r\n And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.\r\n Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.\r\n And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on.\r\n There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.\r\n And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?\r\n Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.\r\n And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.\r\n Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.\r\n My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.\r\n Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.\r\n And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.\r\n And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also?\r\n And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him,\r\n And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,\r\n And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.\r\n And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable:\r\n A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.\r\n And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture.\r\n And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it.\r\n And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.\r\n And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be?\r\n And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.\r\n Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.\r\n Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.\r\n They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.\r\n And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.\r\n But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.\r\n No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light.\r\n For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.\r\n Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.\r\n Then came to him his mother and his brethren, and could not come at him for the press.\r\n And it was told him by certain which said, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee.\r\n And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.\r\n Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth.\r\n But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy.\r\n And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm.\r\n And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.\r\n And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee.\r\n And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs.\r\n When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? I beseech thee, torment me not.\r\n For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.)\r\n And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him.\r\n And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep.\r\n And there was there an herd of many swine feeding on the mountain: and they besought him that he would suffer them to enter into them. And he suffered them.\r\n Then went the devils out of the man, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake, and were choked.\r\n When they that fed them saw what was done, they fled, and went and told it in the city and in the country.\r\n Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.\r\n They also which saw it told them by what means he that was possessed of the devils was healed.\r\n Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes round about besought him to depart from them; for they were taken with great fear: and he went up into the ship, and returned back again.\r\n Now the man out of whom the devils were departed besought him that he might be with him: but Jesus sent him away, saying,\r\n Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him.\r\n And it came to pass, that, when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received him: for they were all waiting for him.\r\n And, behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue: and he fell down at Jesus' feet, and besought him that he would come into his house:\r\n For he had one only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she lay a dying. But as he went the people thronged him.\r\n And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any,\r\n Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched.\r\n And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?\r\n And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me.\r\n And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately.\r\n And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.\r\n While he yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue's house, saying to him, Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master.\r\n But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole.\r\n And when he came into the house, he suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden.\r\n And all wept, and bewailed her: but he said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth.\r\n And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead.\r\n And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise.\r\n And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat.\r\n And her parents were astonished: but he charged them that they should tell no man what was done.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.\r\n And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.\r\n And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece.\r\n And whatsoever house ye enter into, there abide, and thence depart.\r\n And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them.\r\n And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing every where.\r\n Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by him: and he was perplexed, because that it was said of some, that John was risen from the dead;\r\n And of some, that Elias had appeared; and of others, that one of the old prophets was risen again.\r\n And Herod said, John have I beheaded: but who is this, of whom I hear such things? And he desired to see him.\r\n And the apostles, when they were returned, told him all that they had done. And he took them, and went aside privately into a desert place belonging to the city called Bethsaida.\r\n And the people, when they knew it, followed him: and he received them, and spake unto them of the kingdom of God, and healed them that had need of healing.\r\n And when the day began to wear away, then came the twelve, and said unto him, Send the multitude away, that they may go into the towns and country round about, and lodge, and get victuals: for we are here in a desert place.\r\n But he said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they said, We have no more but five loaves and two fishes; except we should go and buy meat for all this people.\r\n For they were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, Make them sit down by fifties in a company.\r\n And they did so, and made them all sit down.\r\n Then he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and brake, and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude.\r\n And they did eat, and were all filled: and there was taken up of fragments that remained to them twelve baskets.\r\n And it came to pass, as he was alone praying, his disciples were with him: and he asked them, saying, Whom say the people that I am?\r\n They answering said, John the Baptist; but some say, Elias; and others say, that one of the old prophets is risen again.\r\n He said unto them, But whom say ye that I am? Peter answering said, The Christ of God.\r\n And he straitly charged them, and commanded them to tell no man that thing;\r\n Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day.\r\n And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.\r\n For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.\r\n For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?\r\n For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels.\r\n But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God.\r\n And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray.\r\n And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.\r\n And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias:\r\n Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.\r\n But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him.\r\n And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said.\r\n While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud.\r\n And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.\r\n And when the voice was past, Jesus was found alone. And they kept it close, and told no man in those days any of those things which they had seen.\r\n And it came to pass, that on the next day, when they were come down from the hill, much people met him.\r\n And, behold, a man of the company cried out, saying, Master, I beseech thee, look upon my son: for he is mine only child.\r\n And, lo, a spirit taketh him, and he suddenly crieth out; and it teareth him that he foameth again, and bruising him hardly departeth from him.\r\n And I besought thy disciples to cast him out; and they could not.\r\n And Jesus answering said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you, and suffer you? Bring thy son hither.\r\n And as he was yet a coming, the devil threw him down, and tare him. And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and delivered him again to his father.\r\n And they were all amazed at the mighty power of God. But while they wondered every one at all things which Jesus did, he said unto his disciples,\r\n Let these sayings sink down into your ears: for the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men.\r\n But they understood not this saying, and it was hid from them, that they perceived it not: and they feared to ask him of that saying.\r\n Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest.\r\n And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a child, and set him by him,\r\n And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great.\r\n And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us.\r\n And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.\r\n And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,\r\n And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him.\r\n And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem.\r\n And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?\r\n But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.\r\n For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.\r\n And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.\r\n And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.\r\n And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.\r\n Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.\r\n And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.\r\n And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.\r\n \r\n \r\n After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.\r\n Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.\r\n Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.\r\n Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way.\r\n And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house.\r\n And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again.\r\n And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house.\r\n And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you:\r\n And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.\r\n But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say,\r\n Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.\r\n But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city.\r\n Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which have been done in you, they had a great while ago repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.\r\n But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment, than for you.\r\n And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be thrust down to hell.\r\n He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.\r\n And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.\r\n And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.\r\n Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.\r\n Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.\r\n In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.\r\n All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him.\r\n And he turned him unto his disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see:\r\n For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.\r\n And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?\r\n He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?\r\n And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.\r\n And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.\r\n But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?\r\n And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.\r\n And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.\r\n And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.\r\n But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,\r\n And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.\r\n And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.\r\n Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?\r\n And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.\r\n Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.\r\n And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.\r\n But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.\r\n And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:\r\n But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.\r\n And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.\r\n Give us day by day our daily bread.\r\n And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.\r\n And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves;\r\n For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him?\r\n And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee.\r\n I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.\r\n And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.\r\n For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.\r\n If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?\r\n Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?\r\n If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?\r\n And he was casting out a devil, and it was dumb. And it came to pass, when the devil was gone out, the dumb spake; and the people wondered.\r\n But some of them said, He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils.\r\n And others, tempting him, sought of him a sign from heaven.\r\n But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth.\r\n If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because ye say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub.\r\n And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges.\r\n But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.\r\n When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace:\r\n But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils.\r\n He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.\r\n When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out.\r\n And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished.\r\n Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.\r\n And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked.\r\n But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.\r\n And when the people were gathered thick together, he began to say, This is an evil generation: they seek a sign; and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet.\r\n For as Jonas was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to this generation.\r\n The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation, and condemn them: for she came from the utmost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.\r\n The men of Nineve shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.\r\n No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light.\r\n The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness.\r\n Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness.\r\n If thy whole body therefore be full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light, as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light.\r\n And as he spake, a certain Pharisee besought him to dine with him: and he went in, and sat down to meat.\r\n And when the Pharisee saw it, he marvelled that he had not first washed before dinner.\r\n And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness.\r\n Ye fools, did not he that made that which is without make that which is within also?\r\n But rather give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you.\r\n But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.\r\n Woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye love the uppermost seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets.\r\n Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are as graves which appear not, and the men that walk over them are not aware of them.\r\n Then answered one of the lawyers, and said unto him, Master, thus saying thou reproachest us also.\r\n And he said, Woe unto you also, ye lawyers! for ye lade men with burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers.\r\n Woe unto you! for ye build the sepulchres of the prophets, and your fathers killed them.\r\n Truly ye bear witness that ye allow the deeds of your fathers: for they indeed killed them, and ye build their sepulchres.\r\n Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute:\r\n That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation;\r\n From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation.\r\n Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.\r\n And as he said these things unto them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to urge him vehemently, and to provoke him to speak of many things:\r\n Laying wait for him, and seeking to catch something out of his mouth, that they might accuse him.\r\n \r\n \r\n In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.\r\n For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.\r\n Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.\r\n And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.\r\n But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.\r\n Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?\r\n But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.\r\n Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:\r\n But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.\r\n And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven.\r\n And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say:\r\n For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.\r\n And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me.\r\n And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?\r\n And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.\r\n And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:\r\n And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?\r\n And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.\r\n And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.\r\n But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?\r\n So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.\r\n And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.\r\n The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.\r\n Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?\r\n And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?\r\n If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?\r\n Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.\r\n If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?\r\n And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.\r\n For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.\r\n But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.\r\n Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.\r\n Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.\r\n For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.\r\n Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;\r\n And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.\r\n Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.\r\n And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.\r\n And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through.\r\n Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.\r\n Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all?\r\n And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?\r\n Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.\r\n Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath.\r\n But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;\r\n The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.\r\n And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.\r\n But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.\r\n I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?\r\n But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!\r\n Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:\r\n For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.\r\n The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.\r\n And he said also to the people, When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is.\r\n And when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass.\r\n Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?\r\n Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?\r\n When thou goest with thine adversary to the magistrate, as thou art in the way, give diligence that thou mayest be delivered from him; lest he hale thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and the officer cast thee into prison.\r\n I tell thee, thou shalt not depart thence, till thou hast paid the very last mite.\r\n \r\n \r\n There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.\r\n And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?\r\n I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.\r\n Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?\r\n I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.\r\n He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.\r\n Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?\r\n And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:\r\n And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.\r\n And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath.\r\n And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself.\r\n And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.\r\n And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.\r\n And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day.\r\n The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering?\r\n And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?\r\n And when he had said these things, all his adversaries were ashamed: and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him.\r\n Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it?\r\n It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it.\r\n And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God?\r\n It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.\r\n And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem.\r\n Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them,\r\n Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.\r\n When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:\r\n Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.\r\n But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.\r\n There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.\r\n And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.\r\n And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.\r\n The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, Get thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill thee.\r\n And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.\r\n Nevertheless I must walk to day, and to morrow, and the day following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem.\r\n O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!\r\n Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass, as he went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees to eat bread on the sabbath day, that they watched him.\r\n And, behold, there was a certain man before him which had the dropsy.\r\n And Jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day?\r\n And they held their peace. And he took him, and healed him, and let him go;\r\n And answered them, saying, Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fallen into a pit, and will not straightway pull him out on the sabbath day?\r\n And they could not answer him again to these things.\r\n And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them,\r\n When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him;\r\n And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room.\r\n But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee.\r\n For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.\r\n Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee.\r\n But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind:\r\n And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.\r\n And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.\r\n Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:\r\n And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.\r\n And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused.\r\n And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.\r\n And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.\r\n So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.\r\n And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.\r\n And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.\r\n For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.\r\n And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,\r\n If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.\r\n And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.\r\n For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?\r\n Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,\r\n Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.\r\n Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?\r\n Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.\r\n So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.\r\n Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?\r\n It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.\r\n And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.\r\n And he spake this parable unto them, saying,\r\n What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?\r\n And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.\r\n And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.\r\n I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.\r\n Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?\r\n And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.\r\n Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.\r\n And he said, A certain man had two sons:\r\n And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.\r\n And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.\r\n And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.\r\n And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.\r\n And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.\r\n And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!\r\n I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,\r\n And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.\r\n And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.\r\n And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.\r\n But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:\r\n And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:\r\n For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.\r\n Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.\r\n And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.\r\n And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.\r\n And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.\r\n And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:\r\n But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.\r\n And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.\r\n It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.\r\n \r\n \r\n And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods.\r\n And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward.\r\n Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed.\r\n I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.\r\n So he called every one of his lord's debtors unto him, and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto my lord?\r\n And he said, An hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty.\r\n Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, An hundred measures of wheat. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and write fourscore.\r\n And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.\r\n And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.\r\n He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.\r\n If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?\r\n And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?\r\n No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.\r\n And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.\r\n And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.\r\n The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.\r\n And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.\r\n Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery.\r\n There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:\r\n And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,\r\n And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.\r\n And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;\r\n And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.\r\n And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.\r\n But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.\r\n And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.\r\n Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:\r\n For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.\r\n Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.\r\n And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.\r\n And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!\r\n It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.\r\n Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.\r\n And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.\r\n And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.\r\n And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.\r\n But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat?\r\n And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink?\r\n Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not.\r\n So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.\r\n And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.\r\n And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:\r\n And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.\r\n And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.\r\n And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,\r\n And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.\r\n And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?\r\n There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.\r\n And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.\r\n And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:\r\n Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.\r\n And he said unto the disciples, The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it.\r\n And they shall say to you, See here; or, see there: go not after them, nor follow them.\r\n For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day.\r\n But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation.\r\n And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.\r\n They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.\r\n Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;\r\n But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.\r\n Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.\r\n In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back.\r\n Remember Lot's wife.\r\n Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.\r\n I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left.\r\n Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left.\r\n Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.\r\n And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.\r\n \r\n \r\n And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;\r\n Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:\r\n And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.\r\n And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;\r\n Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.\r\n And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.\r\n And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?\r\n I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?\r\n And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:\r\n Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.\r\n The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.\r\n I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.\r\n And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.\r\n I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.\r\n And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them.\r\n But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.\r\n Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.\r\n And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?\r\n And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.\r\n Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother.\r\n And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up.\r\n Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.\r\n And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.\r\n And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!\r\n For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.\r\n And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved?\r\n And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.\r\n Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee.\r\n And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake,\r\n Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.\r\n Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished.\r\n For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on:\r\n And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again.\r\n And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.\r\n And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging:\r\n And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant.\r\n And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by.\r\n And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.\r\n And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.\r\n And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him,\r\n Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight.\r\n And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.\r\n And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.\r\n And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich.\r\n And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.\r\n And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.\r\n And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.\r\n And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.\r\n And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.\r\n And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.\r\n And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.\r\n For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.\r\n And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear.\r\n He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.\r\n And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.\r\n But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.\r\n And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.\r\n Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds.\r\n And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.\r\n And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds.\r\n And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities.\r\n And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin:\r\n For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow.\r\n And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow:\r\n Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?\r\n And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds.\r\n And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.)\r\n For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him.\r\n But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.\r\n And when he had thus spoken, he went before, ascending up to Jerusalem.\r\n And it came to pass, when he was come nigh to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount called the mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples,\r\n Saying, Go ye into the village over against you; in the which at your entering ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat: loose him, and bring him hither.\r\n And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him.\r\n And they that were sent went their way, and found even as he had said unto them.\r\n And as they were loosing the colt, the owners thereof said unto them, Why loose ye the colt?\r\n And they said, The Lord hath need of him.\r\n And they brought him to Jesus: and they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus thereon.\r\n And as he went, they spread their clothes in the way.\r\n And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen;\r\n Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.\r\n And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples.\r\n And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.\r\n And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,\r\n Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.\r\n For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side,\r\n And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.\r\n And he went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold therein, and them that bought;\r\n Saying unto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves.\r\n And he taught daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy him,\r\n And could not find what they might do: for all the people were very attentive to hear him.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass, that on one of those days, as he taught the people in the temple, and preached the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes came upon him with the elders,\r\n And spake unto him, saying, Tell us, by what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority?\r\n And he answered and said unto them, I will also ask you one thing; and answer me:\r\n The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men?\r\n And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then believed ye him not?\r\n But and if we say, Of men; all the people will stone us: for they be persuaded that John was a prophet.\r\n And they answered, that they could not tell whence it was.\r\n And Jesus said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.\r\n Then began he to speak to the people this parable; A certain man planted a vineyard, and let it forth to husbandmen, and went into a far country for a long time.\r\n And at the season he sent a servant to the husbandmen, that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard: but the husbandmen beat him, and sent him away empty.\r\n And again he sent another servant: and they beat him also, and entreated him shamefully, and sent him away empty.\r\n And again he sent a third: and they wounded him also, and cast him out.\r\n Then said the lord of the vineyard, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son: it may be they will reverence him when they see him.\r\n But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, This is the heir: come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.\r\n So they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What therefore shall the lord of the vineyard do unto them?\r\n He shall come and destroy these husbandmen, and shall give the vineyard to others. And when they heard it, they said, God forbid.\r\n And he beheld them, and said, What is this then that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner?\r\n Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.\r\n And the chief priests and the scribes the same hour sought to lay hands on him; and they feared the people: for they perceived that he had spoken this parable against them.\r\n And they watched him, and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words, that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor.\r\n And they asked him, saying, Master, we know that thou sayest and teachest rightly, neither acceptest thou the person of any, but teachest the way of God truly:\r\n Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar, or no?\r\n But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, Why tempt ye me?\r\n Shew me a penny. Whose image and superscription hath it? They answered and said, Caesar's.\r\n And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's, and unto God the things which be God's.\r\n And they could not take hold of his words before the people: and they marvelled at his answer, and held their peace.\r\n Then came to him certain of the Sadducees, which deny that there is any resurrection; and they asked him,\r\n Saying, Master, Moses wrote unto us, If any man's brother die, having a wife, and he die without children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.\r\n There were therefore seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and died without children.\r\n And the second took her to wife, and he died childless.\r\n And the third took her; and in like manner the seven also: and they left no children, and died.\r\n Last of all the woman died also.\r\n Therefore in the resurrection whose wife of them is she? for seven had her to wife.\r\n And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage:\r\n But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage:\r\n Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.\r\n Now that the dead are raised, even Moses shewed at the bush, when he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.\r\n For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him.\r\n Then certain of the scribes answering said, Master, thou hast well said.\r\n And after that they durst not ask him any question at all.\r\n And he said unto them, How say they that Christ is David's son?\r\n And David himself saith in the book of Psalms, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,\r\n Till I make thine enemies thy footstool.\r\n David therefore calleth him Lord, how is he then his son?\r\n Then in the audience of all the people he said unto his disciples,\r\n Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts;\r\n Which devour widows' houses, and for a shew make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation.\r\n \r\n \r\n And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.\r\n And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.\r\n And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:\r\n For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.\r\n And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said,\r\n As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.\r\n And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?\r\n And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.\r\n But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.\r\n Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:\r\n And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.\r\n But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake.\r\n And it shall turn to you for a testimony.\r\n Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer:\r\n For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.\r\n And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.\r\n And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake.\r\n But there shall not an hair of your head perish.\r\n In your patience possess ye your souls.\r\n And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.\r\n Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.\r\n For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.\r\n But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.\r\n And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.\r\n And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;\r\n Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.\r\n And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.\r\n And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.\r\n And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees;\r\n When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand.\r\n So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.\r\n Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.\r\n Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.\r\n And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.\r\n For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.\r\n Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.\r\n And in the day time he was teaching in the temple; and at night he went out, and abode in the mount that is called the mount of Olives.\r\n And all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple, for to hear him.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover.\r\n And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him; for they feared the people.\r\n Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve.\r\n And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them.\r\n And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money.\r\n And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude.\r\n Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed.\r\n And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat.\r\n And they said unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare?\r\n And he said unto them, Behold, when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he entereth in.\r\n And ye shall say unto the goodman of the house, The Master saith unto thee, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?\r\n And he shall shew you a large upper room furnished: there make ready.\r\n And they went, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover.\r\n And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him.\r\n And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer:\r\n For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.\r\n And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves:\r\n For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.\r\n And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.\r\n Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.\r\n But, behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table.\r\n And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined: but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed!\r\n And they began to enquire among themselves, which of them it was that should do this thing.\r\n And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.\r\n And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors.\r\n But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.\r\n For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.\r\n Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations.\r\n And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me;\r\n That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.\r\n And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:\r\n But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.\r\n And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.\r\n And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.\r\n And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing.\r\n Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.\r\n For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end.\r\n And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough.\r\n And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him.\r\n And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.\r\n And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,\r\n Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.\r\n And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.\r\n And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.\r\n And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow,\r\n And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.\r\n And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him.\r\n But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?\r\n When they which were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword?\r\n And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear.\r\n And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him.\r\n Then Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders, which were come to him, Be ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and staves?\r\n When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness.\r\n Then took they him, and led him, and brought him into the high priest's house. And Peter followed afar off.\r\n And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them.\r\n But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him.\r\n And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not.\r\n And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not.\r\n And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilaean.\r\n And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew.\r\n And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.\r\n And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.\r\n And the men that held Jesus mocked him, and smote him.\r\n And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face, and asked him, saying, Prophesy, who is it that smote thee?\r\n And many other things blasphemously spake they against him.\r\n And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and the chief priests and the scribes came together, and led him into their council, saying,\r\n Art thou the Christ? tell us. And he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe:\r\n And if I also ask you, ye will not answer me, nor let me go.\r\n Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God.\r\n Then said they all, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, Ye say that I am.\r\n And they said, What need we any further witness? for we ourselves have heard of his own mouth.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto Pilate.\r\n And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King.\r\n And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest it.\r\n Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man.\r\n And they were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place.\r\n When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilaean.\r\n And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time.\r\n And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him.\r\n Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing.\r\n And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him.\r\n And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate.\r\n And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for before they were at enmity between themselves.\r\n And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people,\r\n Said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him:\r\n No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him.\r\n I will therefore chastise him, and release him.\r\n For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.)\r\n And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas:\r\n Who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.)\r\n Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them.\r\n But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him.\r\n And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go.\r\n And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed.\r\n And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required.\r\n And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will.\r\n And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus.\r\n And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him.\r\n But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.\r\n For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck.\r\n Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us.\r\n For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?\r\n And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death.\r\n And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.\r\n Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.\r\n And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.\r\n And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar,\r\n And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.\r\n And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.\r\n And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.\r\n But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?\r\n And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.\r\n And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.\r\n And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.\r\n And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.\r\n And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.\r\n And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.\r\n Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.\r\n And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned.\r\n And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things.\r\n And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just:\r\n The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God.\r\n This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus.\r\n And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid.\r\n And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on.\r\n And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid.\r\n And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.\r\n And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.\r\n And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.\r\n And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:\r\n And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?\r\n He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,\r\n Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.\r\n And they remembered his words,\r\n And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest.\r\n It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles.\r\n And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.\r\n Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.\r\n And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs.\r\n And they talked together of all these things which had happened.\r\n And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.\r\n But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.\r\n And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?\r\n And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?\r\n And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:\r\n And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him.\r\n But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.\r\n Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre;\r\n And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive.\r\n And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.\r\n Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:\r\n Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?\r\n And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.\r\n And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further.\r\n But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.\r\n And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.\r\n And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.\r\n And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?\r\n And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them,\r\n Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.\r\n And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.\r\n And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.\r\n But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.\r\n And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?\r\n Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.\r\n And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.\r\n And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?\r\n And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.\r\n And he took it, and did eat before them.\r\n And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.\r\n Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,\r\n And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:\r\n And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.\r\n And ye are witnesses of these things.\r\n And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.\r\n And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.\r\n And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.\r\n And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy:\r\n And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.\r\n The same was in the beginning with God.\r\n All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.\r\n In him was life; and the life was the light of men.\r\n And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.\r\n There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.\r\n The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.\r\n He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.\r\n That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.\r\n He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.\r\n He came unto his own, and his own received him not.\r\n But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:\r\n Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.\r\n And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.\r\n John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.\r\n And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.\r\n For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.\r\n No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.\r\n And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou?\r\n And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ.\r\n And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.\r\n Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?\r\n He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.\r\n And they which were sent were of the Pharisees.\r\n And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet?\r\n John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not;\r\n He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose.\r\n These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.\r\n The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.\r\n This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.\r\n And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.\r\n And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.\r\n And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.\r\n And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.\r\n Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples;\r\n And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!\r\n And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.\r\n Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou?\r\n He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour.\r\n One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.\r\n He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.\r\n And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.\r\n The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me.\r\n Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.\r\n Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.\r\n And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.\r\n Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!\r\n Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.\r\n Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.\r\n Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these.\r\n And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there:\r\n And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.\r\n And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine.\r\n Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.\r\n His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.\r\n And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece.\r\n Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.\r\n And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it.\r\n When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom,\r\n And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now.\r\n This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.\r\n After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, and his brethren, and his disciples: and they continued there not many days.\r\n And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem,\r\n And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:\r\n And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables;\r\n And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise.\r\n And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.\r\n Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?\r\n Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.\r\n Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?\r\n But he spake of the temple of his body.\r\n When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.\r\n Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did.\r\n But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men,\r\n And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.\r\n \r\n \r\n There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:\r\n The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.\r\n Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.\r\n Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?\r\n Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.\r\n That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.\r\n Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.\r\n The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.\r\n Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?\r\n Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?\r\n Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.\r\n If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?\r\n And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.\r\n And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:\r\n That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.\r\n For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.\r\n For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.\r\n He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.\r\n And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.\r\n For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.\r\n But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.\r\n After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized.\r\n And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.\r\n For John was not yet cast into prison.\r\n Then there arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purifying.\r\n And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him.\r\n John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.\r\n Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him.\r\n He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.\r\n He must increase, but I must decrease.\r\n He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.\r\n And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony.\r\n He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.\r\n For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.\r\n The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.\r\n He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.\r\n \r\n \r\n When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John,\r\n Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,)\r\n He left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee.\r\n And he must needs go through Samaria.\r\n Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.\r\n Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.\r\n There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink.\r\n For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.)\r\n Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.\r\n Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.\r\n The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?\r\n Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?\r\n Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:\r\n But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.\r\n The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.\r\n Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither.\r\n The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband:\r\n For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.\r\n The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.\r\n Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.\r\n Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.\r\n Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.\r\n But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.\r\n God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.\r\n The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.\r\n Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.\r\n And upon this came his disciples, and marvelled that he talked with the woman: yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why talkest thou with her?\r\n The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men,\r\n Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?\r\n Then they went out of the city, and came unto him.\r\n In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat.\r\n But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of.\r\n Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat?\r\n Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.\r\n Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.\r\n And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.\r\n And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth.\r\n I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.\r\n And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did.\r\n So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days.\r\n And many more believed because of his own word;\r\n And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.\r\n Now after two days he departed thence, and went into Galilee.\r\n For Jesus himself testified, that a prophet hath no honour in his own country.\r\n Then when he was come into Galilee, the Galilaeans received him, having seen all the things that he did at Jerusalem at the feast: for they also went unto the feast.\r\n So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum.\r\n When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judaea into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son: for he was at the point of death.\r\n Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.\r\n The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die.\r\n Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way.\r\n And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son liveth.\r\n Then enquired he of them the hour when he began to amend. And they said unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.\r\n So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house.\r\n This is again the second miracle that Jesus did, when he was come out of Judaea into Galilee.\r\n \r\n \r\n After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.\r\n Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches.\r\n In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.\r\n For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.\r\n And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.\r\n When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?\r\n The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.\r\n Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.\r\n And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.\r\n The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed.\r\n He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk.\r\n Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk?\r\n And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place.\r\n Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.\r\n The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole.\r\n And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day.\r\n But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.\r\n Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.\r\n Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.\r\n For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.\r\n For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.\r\n For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:\r\n That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.\r\n Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.\r\n Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.\r\n For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;\r\n And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.\r\n Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,\r\n And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.\r\n I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.\r\n If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.\r\n There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true.\r\n Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth.\r\n But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved.\r\n He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.\r\n But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.\r\n And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.\r\n And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not.\r\n Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.\r\n And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.\r\n I receive not honour from men.\r\n But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you.\r\n I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.\r\n How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?\r\n Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust.\r\n For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.\r\n But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?\r\n \r\n \r\n After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias.\r\n And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased.\r\n And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples.\r\n And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh.\r\n When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?\r\n And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.\r\n Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.\r\n One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him,\r\n There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?\r\n And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.\r\n And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.\r\n When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.\r\n Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.\r\n Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.\r\n When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.\r\n And when even was now come, his disciples went down unto the sea,\r\n And entered into a ship, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them.\r\n And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew.\r\n So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship: and they were afraid.\r\n But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid.\r\n Then they willingly received him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went.\r\n The day following, when the people which stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was none other boat there, save that one whereinto his disciples were entered, and that Jesus went not with his disciples into the boat, but that his disciples were gone away alone;\r\n Howbeit there came other boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they did eat bread, after that the Lord had given thanks:)\r\n When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus.\r\n And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither?\r\n Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.\r\n Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.\r\n Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?\r\n Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.\r\n They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?\r\n Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.\r\n Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.\r\n For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.\r\n Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.\r\n And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.\r\n But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not.\r\n All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.\r\n For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.\r\n And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.\r\n And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.\r\n The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven.\r\n And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven?\r\n Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves.\r\n No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.\r\n It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.\r\n Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father.\r\n Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.\r\n I am that bread of life.\r\n Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.\r\n This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.\r\n I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.\r\n The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat?\r\n Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.\r\n Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.\r\n For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.\r\n He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.\r\n As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.\r\n This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.\r\n These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.\r\n Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?\r\n When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?\r\n What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?\r\n It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.\r\n But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.\r\n And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.\r\n From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.\r\n Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?\r\n Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.\r\n And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.\r\n Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?\r\n He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.\r\n \r\n \r\n After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him.\r\n Now the Jews' feast of tabernacles was at hand.\r\n His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest.\r\n For there is no man that doeth any thing in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou do these things, shew thyself to the world.\r\n For neither did his brethren believe in him.\r\n Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come: but your time is alway ready.\r\n The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.\r\n Go ye up unto this feast: I go not up yet unto this feast; for my time is not yet full come.\r\n When he had said these words unto them, he abode still in Galilee.\r\n But when his brethren were gone up, then went he also up unto the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret.\r\n Then the Jews sought him at the feast, and said, Where is he?\r\n And there was much murmuring among the people concerning him: for some said, He is a good man: others said, Nay; but he deceiveth the people.\r\n Howbeit no man spake openly of him for fear of the Jews.\r\n Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught.\r\n And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?\r\n Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.\r\n If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.\r\n He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.\r\n Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me?\r\n The people answered and said, Thou hast a devil: who goeth about to kill thee?\r\n Jesus answered and said unto them, I have done one work, and ye all marvel.\r\n Moses therefore gave unto you circumcision; (not because it is of Moses, but of the fathers;) and ye on the sabbath day circumcise a man.\r\n If a man on the sabbath day receive circumcision, that the law of Moses should not be broken; are ye angry at me, because I have made a man every whit whole on the sabbath day?\r\n Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.\r\n Then said some of them of Jerusalem, Is not this he, whom they seek to kill?\r\n But, lo, he speaketh boldly, and they say nothing unto him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is the very Christ?\r\n Howbeit we know this man whence he is: but when Christ cometh, no man knoweth whence he is.\r\n Then cried Jesus in the temple as he taught, saying, Ye both know me, and ye know whence I am: and I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom ye know not.\r\n But I know him: for I am from him, and he hath sent me.\r\n Then they sought to take him: but no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come.\r\n And many of the people believed on him, and said, When Christ cometh, will he do more miracles than these which this man hath done?\r\n The Pharisees heard that the people murmured such things concerning him; and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take him.\r\n Then said Jesus unto them, Yet a little while am I with you, and then I go unto him that sent me.\r\n Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where I am, thither ye cannot come.\r\n Then said the Jews among themselves, Whither will he go, that we shall not find him? will he go unto the dispersed among the Gentiles, and teach the Gentiles?\r\n What manner of saying is this that he said, Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where I am, thither ye cannot come?\r\n In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.\r\n He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.\r\n But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)\r\n Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet.\r\n Others said, This is the Christ. But some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee?\r\n Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was?\r\n So there was a division among the people because of him.\r\n And some of them would have taken him; but no man laid hands on him.\r\n Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they said unto them, Why have ye not brought him?\r\n The officers answered, Never man spake like this man.\r\n Then answered them the Pharisees, Are ye also deceived?\r\n Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him?\r\n But this people who knoweth not the law are cursed.\r\n Nicodemus saith unto them, (he that came to Jesus by night, being one of them,)\r\n Doth our law judge any man, before it hear him, and know what he doeth?\r\n They answered and said unto him, Art thou also of Galilee? Search, and look: for out of Galilee ariseth no prophet.\r\n And every man went unto his own house.\r\n \r\n \r\n Jesus went unto the mount of Olives.\r\n And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.\r\n And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,\r\n They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.\r\n Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?\r\n This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.\r\n So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.\r\n And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.\r\n And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.\r\n When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?\r\n She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.\r\n Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.\r\n The Pharisees therefore said unto him, Thou bearest record of thyself; thy record is not true.\r\n Jesus answered and said unto them, Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go.\r\n Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man.\r\n And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me.\r\n It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true.\r\n I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.\r\n Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.\r\n These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come.\r\n Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come.\r\n Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself? because he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come.\r\n And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.\r\n I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.\r\n Then said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning.\r\n I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him.\r\n They understood not that he spake to them of the Father.\r\n Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.\r\n And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.\r\n As he spake these words, many believed on him.\r\n Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;\r\n And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.\r\n They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?\r\n Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.\r\n And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.\r\n If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.\r\n I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.\r\n I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.\r\n They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham.\r\n But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.\r\n Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.\r\n Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.\r\n Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.\r\n Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.\r\n And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.\r\n Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?\r\n He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.\r\n Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?\r\n Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me.\r\n And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth.\r\n Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.\r\n Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death.\r\n Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself?\r\n Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God:\r\n Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying.\r\n Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.\r\n Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?\r\n Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.\r\n Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.\r\n \r\n \r\n And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.\r\n And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?\r\n Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.\r\n I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.\r\n As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.\r\n When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,\r\n And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.\r\n The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged?\r\n Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I am he.\r\n Therefore said they unto him, How were thine eyes opened?\r\n He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight.\r\n Then said they unto him, Where is he? He said, I know not.\r\n They brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind.\r\n And it was the sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes.\r\n Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. He said unto them, He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do see.\r\n Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them.\r\n They say unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened thine eyes? He said, He is a prophet.\r\n But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight.\r\n And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? how then doth he now see?\r\n His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind:\r\n But by what means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself.\r\n These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.\r\n Therefore said his parents, He is of age; ask him.\r\n Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner.\r\n He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.\r\n Then said they to him again, What did he to thee? how opened he thine eyes?\r\n He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? will ye also be his disciples?\r\n Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses' disciples.\r\n We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is.\r\n The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes.\r\n Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.\r\n Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind.\r\n If this man were not of God, he could do nothing.\r\n They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out.\r\n Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?\r\n He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?\r\n And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee.\r\n And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.\r\n And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.\r\n And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?\r\n Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.\r\n \r\n \r\n Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.\r\n But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.\r\n To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.\r\n And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.\r\n And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.\r\n This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.\r\n Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.\r\n All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.\r\n I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.\r\n The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.\r\n I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.\r\n But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.\r\n The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.\r\n I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.\r\n As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.\r\n And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.\r\n Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.\r\n No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.\r\n There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings.\r\n And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?\r\n Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind?\r\n And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter.\r\n And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch.\r\n Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.\r\n Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me.\r\n But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.\r\n My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:\r\n And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.\r\n My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.\r\n I and my Father are one.\r\n Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.\r\n Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?\r\n The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.\r\n Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?\r\n If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;\r\n Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?\r\n If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.\r\n But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.\r\n Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand,\r\n And went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John at first baptized; and there he abode.\r\n And many resorted unto him, and said, John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true.\r\n And many believed on him there.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.\r\n It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)\r\n Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.\r\n When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.\r\n Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.\r\n When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was.\r\n Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judaea again.\r\n His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again?\r\n Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world.\r\n But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.\r\n These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.\r\n Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.\r\n Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.\r\n Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.\r\n And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.\r\n Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellowdisciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him.\r\n Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already.\r\n Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off:\r\n And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.\r\n Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house.\r\n Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.\r\n But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.\r\n Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.\r\n Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.\r\n Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:\r\n And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?\r\n She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.\r\n And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee.\r\n As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, and came unto him.\r\n Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in that place where Martha met him.\r\n The Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up hastily and went out, followed her, saying, She goeth unto the grave to weep there.\r\n Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.\r\n When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled,\r\n And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see.\r\n Jesus wept.\r\n Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!\r\n And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died?\r\n Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.\r\n Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.\r\n Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?\r\n Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.\r\n And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.\r\n And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.\r\n And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.\r\n Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him.\r\n But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done.\r\n Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles.\r\n If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.\r\n And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all,\r\n Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.\r\n And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation;\r\n And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.\r\n Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death.\r\n Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews; but went thence unto a country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and there continued with his disciples.\r\n And the Jews' passover was nigh at hand: and many went out of the country up to Jerusalem before the passover, to purify themselves.\r\n Then sought they for Jesus, and spake among themselves, as they stood in the temple, What think ye, that he will not come to the feast?\r\n Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a commandment, that, if any man knew where he were, he should shew it, that they might take him.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.\r\n There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.\r\n Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.\r\n Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him,\r\n Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?\r\n This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.\r\n Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.\r\n For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.\r\n Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead.\r\n But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death;\r\n Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus.\r\n On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,\r\n Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.\r\n And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written,\r\n Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass's colt.\r\n These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him.\r\n The people therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, bare record.\r\n For this cause the people also met him, for that they heard that he had done this miracle.\r\n The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him.\r\n And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast:\r\n The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.\r\n Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus.\r\n And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.\r\n Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.\r\n He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.\r\n If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.\r\n Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.\r\n Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.\r\n The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him.\r\n Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes.\r\n Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.\r\n And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.\r\n This he said, signifying what death he should die.\r\n The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man?\r\n Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.\r\n While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.\r\n But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him:\r\n That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?\r\n Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again,\r\n He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.\r\n These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him.\r\n Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:\r\n For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.\r\n Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me.\r\n And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me.\r\n I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.\r\n And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.\r\n He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.\r\n For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.\r\n And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.\r\n And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him;\r\n Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God;\r\n He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.\r\n After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.\r\n Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?\r\n Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.\r\n Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.\r\n Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.\r\n Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.\r\n For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.\r\n So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?\r\n Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.\r\n If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.\r\n For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.\r\n Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.\r\n If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.\r\n I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me.\r\n Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he.\r\n Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.\r\n When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.\r\n Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake.\r\n Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.\r\n Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake.\r\n He then lying on Jesus' breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it?\r\n Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.\r\n And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.\r\n Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him.\r\n For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor.\r\n He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night.\r\n Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him.\r\n If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him.\r\n Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you.\r\n A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.\r\n By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.\r\n Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards.\r\n Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake.\r\n Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice.\r\n \r\n \r\n Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.\r\n In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.\r\n And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.\r\n And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.\r\n Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?\r\n Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.\r\n If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.\r\n Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.\r\n Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?\r\n Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.\r\n Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.\r\n Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.\r\n And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.\r\n If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.\r\n If ye love me, keep my commandments.\r\n And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;\r\n Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.\r\n I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.\r\n Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.\r\n At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.\r\n He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.\r\n Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?\r\n Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.\r\n He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.\r\n These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.\r\n But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.\r\n Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.\r\n Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.\r\n And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.\r\n Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.\r\n But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.\r\n \r\n \r\n I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.\r\n Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.\r\n Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.\r\n Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.\r\n I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.\r\n If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.\r\n If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.\r\n Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.\r\n As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.\r\n If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.\r\n These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.\r\n This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.\r\n Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.\r\n Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.\r\n Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.\r\n Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.\r\n These things I command you, that ye love one another.\r\n If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.\r\n If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.\r\n Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.\r\n But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.\r\n If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin.\r\n He that hateth me hateth my Father also.\r\n If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.\r\n But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.\r\n But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:\r\n And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.\r\n \r\n \r\n These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.\r\n They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.\r\n And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.\r\n But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.\r\n But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou?\r\n But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart.\r\n Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.\r\n And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:\r\n Of sin, because they believe not on me;\r\n Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;\r\n Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.\r\n I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.\r\n Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.\r\n He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.\r\n All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.\r\n A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father.\r\n Then said some of his disciples among themselves, What is this that he saith unto us, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me: and, Because I go to the Father?\r\n They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A little while? we cannot tell what he saith.\r\n Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said unto them, Do ye enquire among yourselves of that I said, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me?\r\n Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.\r\n A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world.\r\n And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.\r\n And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.\r\n Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.\r\n These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father.\r\n At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you:\r\n For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.\r\n I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.\r\n His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb.\r\n Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God.\r\n Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe?\r\n Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.\r\n These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.\r\n \r\n \r\n These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:\r\n As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.\r\n And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.\r\n I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.\r\n And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.\r\n I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.\r\n Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee.\r\n For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.\r\n I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.\r\n And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.\r\n And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.\r\n While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.\r\n And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.\r\n I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.\r\n I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.\r\n They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.\r\n Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.\r\n As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.\r\n And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.\r\n Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;\r\n That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.\r\n And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:\r\n I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.\r\n Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.\r\n O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me.\r\n And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.\r\n \r\n \r\n When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and his disciples.\r\n And Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place: for Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples.\r\n Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons.\r\n Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye?\r\n They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them.\r\n As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.\r\n Then asked he them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth.\r\n Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way:\r\n That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none.\r\n Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus.\r\n Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?\r\n Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus, and bound him,\r\n And led him away to Annas first; for he was father in law to Caiaphas, which was the high priest that same year.\r\n Now Caiaphas was he, which gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.\r\n And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple: that disciple was known unto the high priest, and went in with Jesus into the palace of the high priest.\r\n But Peter stood at the door without. Then went out that other disciple, which was known unto the high priest, and spake unto her that kept the door, and brought in Peter.\r\n Then saith the damsel that kept the door unto Peter, Art not thou also one of this man's disciples? He saith, I am not.\r\n And the servants and officers stood there, who had made a fire of coals; for it was cold: and they warmed themselves: and Peter stood with them, and warmed himself.\r\n The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine.\r\n Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing.\r\n Why askest thou me? ask them which heard me, what I have said unto them: behold, they know what I said.\r\n And when he had thus spoken, one of the officers which stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, Answerest thou the high priest so?\r\n Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me?\r\n Now Annas had sent him bound unto Caiaphas the high priest.\r\n And Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. They said therefore unto him, Art not thou also one of his disciples? He denied it, and said, I am not.\r\n One of the servants of the high priest, being his kinsman whose ear Peter cut off, saith, Did not I see thee in the garden with him?\r\n Peter then denied again: and immediately the cock crew.\r\n Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover.\r\n Pilate then went out unto them, and said, What accusation bring ye against this man?\r\n They answered and said unto him, If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto thee.\r\n Then said Pilate unto them, Take ye him, and judge him according to your law. The Jews therefore said unto him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death:\r\n That the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spake, signifying what death he should die.\r\n Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews?\r\n Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me?\r\n Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done?\r\n Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.\r\n Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.\r\n Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.\r\n But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the passover: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews?\r\n Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him.\r\n And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe,\r\n And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands.\r\n Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him.\r\n Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man!\r\n When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him.\r\n The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.\r\n When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was the more afraid;\r\n And went again into the judgment hall, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer.\r\n Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee?\r\n Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.\r\n And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar's friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar.\r\n When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha.\r\n And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King!\r\n But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar.\r\n Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away.\r\n And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha:\r\n Where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst.\r\n And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS.\r\n This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin.\r\n Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am King of the Jews.\r\n Pilate answered, What I have written I have written.\r\n Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout.\r\n They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did.\r\n Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.\r\n When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!\r\n Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.\r\n After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.\r\n Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.\r\n When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.\r\n The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.\r\n Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him.\r\n But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs:\r\n But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.\r\n And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.\r\n For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.\r\n And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced.\r\n And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus.\r\n And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.\r\n Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.\r\n Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid.\r\n There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews' preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand.\r\n \r\n \r\n The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.\r\n Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.\r\n Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre.\r\n So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.\r\n And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.\r\n Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,\r\n And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.\r\n Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.\r\n For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.\r\n Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.\r\n But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,\r\n And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.\r\n And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.\r\n And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.\r\n Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.\r\n Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.\r\n Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.\r\n Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.\r\n Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.\r\n And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.\r\n Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.\r\n And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:\r\n Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.\r\n But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.\r\n The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.\r\n And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.\r\n Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.\r\n And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.\r\n Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.\r\n And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:\r\n But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.\r\n \r\n \r\n After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself.\r\n There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples.\r\n Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.\r\n But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.\r\n Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.\r\n And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.\r\n Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.\r\n And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes.\r\n As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.\r\n Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.\r\n Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.\r\n Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.\r\n Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise.\r\n This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.\r\n So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.\r\n He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.\r\n He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.\r\n Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.\r\n This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.\r\n Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?\r\n Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?\r\n Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.\r\n Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?\r\n This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true.\r\n And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,\r\n Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:\r\n To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:\r\n And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.\r\n For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.\r\n When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?\r\n And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.\r\n But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.\r\n And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.\r\n And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;\r\n Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.\r\n Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey.\r\n And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.\r\n These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.\r\n And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)\r\n Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.\r\n For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry.\r\n Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.\r\n And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood.\r\n For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take.\r\n Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,\r\n Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.\r\n And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.\r\n And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,\r\n That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.\r\n And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.\r\n \r\n \r\n And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.\r\n And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.\r\n And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.\r\n And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.\r\n And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.\r\n Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.\r\n And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?\r\n And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?\r\n Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,\r\n Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,\r\n Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.\r\n And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?\r\n Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.\r\n But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:\r\n For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.\r\n But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;\r\n And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:\r\n And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:\r\n And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:\r\n The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:\r\n And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.\r\n Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:\r\n Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:\r\n Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.\r\n For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:\r\n Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope:\r\n Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.\r\n Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.\r\n Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.\r\n Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;\r\n He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.\r\n This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.\r\n Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.\r\n For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,\r\n Until I make thy foes thy footstool.\r\n Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.\r\n Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?\r\n Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.\r\n For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.\r\n And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.\r\n Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.\r\n And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.\r\n And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.\r\n And all that believed were together, and had all things common;\r\n And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.\r\n And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,\r\n Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.\r\n And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;\r\n Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.\r\n And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.\r\n And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.\r\n Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.\r\n And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.\r\n And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.\r\n And all the people saw him walking and praising God:\r\n And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.\r\n And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon's, greatly wondering.\r\n And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?\r\n The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.\r\n But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;\r\n And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.\r\n And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.\r\n And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.\r\n But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.\r\n Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;\r\n And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:\r\n Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.\r\n For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.\r\n And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.\r\n Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.\r\n Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.\r\n Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.\r\n \r\n \r\n And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them,\r\n Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.\r\n And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide.\r\n Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.\r\n And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes,\r\n And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.\r\n And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?\r\n Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,\r\n If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole;\r\n Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.\r\n This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.\r\n Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.\r\n Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.\r\n And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.\r\n But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves,\r\n Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it.\r\n But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name.\r\n And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.\r\n But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.\r\n For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.\r\n So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done.\r\n For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shewed.\r\n And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them.\r\n And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:\r\n Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?\r\n The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.\r\n For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,\r\n For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.\r\n And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,\r\n By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.\r\n And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.\r\n And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.\r\n And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.\r\n Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,\r\n And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.\r\n And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,\r\n Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.\r\n \r\n \r\n But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,\r\n And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet.\r\n But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?\r\n Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.\r\n And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.\r\n And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.\r\n And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.\r\n And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.\r\n Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.\r\n Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.\r\n And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.\r\n And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch.\r\n And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them.\r\n And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)\r\n Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.\r\n There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.\r\n Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation,\r\n And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.\r\n But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,\r\n Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.\r\n And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.\r\n But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned, and told,\r\n Saying, The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within.\r\n Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted of them whereunto this would grow.\r\n Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people.\r\n Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned.\r\n And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them,\r\n Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us.\r\n Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.\r\n The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.\r\n Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.\r\n And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.\r\n When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.\r\n Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space;\r\n And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men.\r\n For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought.\r\n After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed.\r\n And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought:\r\n But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.\r\n And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.\r\n And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.\r\n And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.\r\n \r\n \r\n And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.\r\n Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.\r\n Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.\r\n But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.\r\n And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:\r\n Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.\r\n And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.\r\n And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.\r\n Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.\r\n And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.\r\n Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.\r\n And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council,\r\n And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:\r\n For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.\r\n And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then said the high priest, Are these things so?\r\n And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran,\r\n And said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall shew thee.\r\n Then came he out of the land of the Chaldaeans, and dwelt in Charran: and from thence, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land, wherein ye now dwell.\r\n And he gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child.\r\n And God spake on this wise, That his seed should sojourn in a strange land; and that they should bring them into bondage, and entreat them evil four hundred years.\r\n And the nation to whom they shall be in bondage will I judge, said God: and after that shall they come forth, and serve me in this place.\r\n And he gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs.\r\n And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him,\r\n And delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house.\r\n Now there came a dearth over all the land of Egypt and Chanaan, and great affliction: and our fathers found no sustenance.\r\n But when Jacob heard that there was corn in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first.\r\n And at the second time Joseph was made known to his brethren; and Joseph's kindred was made known unto Pharaoh.\r\n Then sent Joseph, and called his father Jacob to him, and all his kindred, threescore and fifteen souls.\r\n So Jacob went down into Egypt, and died, he, and our fathers,\r\n And were carried over into Sychem, and laid in the sepulchre that Abraham bought for a sum of money of the sons of Emmor the father of Sychem.\r\n But when the time of the promise drew nigh, which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt,\r\n Till another king arose, which knew not Joseph.\r\n The same dealt subtilly with our kindred, and evil entreated our fathers, so that they cast out their young children, to the end they might not live.\r\n In which time Moses was born, and was exceeding fair, and nourished up in his father's house three months:\r\n And when he was cast out, Pharaoh's daughter took him up, and nourished him for her own son.\r\n And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds.\r\n And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel.\r\n And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian:\r\n For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not.\r\n And the next day he shewed himself unto them as they strove, and would have set them at one again, saying, Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye wrong one to another?\r\n But he that did his neighbour wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us?\r\n Wilt thou kill me, as thou diddest the Egyptian yesterday?\r\n Then fled Moses at this saying, and was a stranger in the land of Madian, where he begat two sons.\r\n And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sina an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush.\r\n When Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight: and as he drew near to behold it, the voice of the Lord came unto him,\r\n Saying, I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Then Moses trembled, and durst not behold.\r\n Then said the Lord to him, Put off thy shoes from thy feet: for the place where thou standest is holy ground.\r\n I have seen, I have seen the affliction of my people which is in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and am come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send thee into Egypt.\r\n This Moses whom they refused, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge? the same did God send to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel which appeared to him in the bush.\r\n He brought them out, after that he had shewed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red sea, and in the wilderness forty years.\r\n This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear.\r\n This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:\r\n To whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt,\r\n Saying unto Aaron, Make us gods to go before us: for as for this Moses, which brought us out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.\r\n And they made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands.\r\n Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, O ye house of Israel, have ye offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices by the space of forty years in the wilderness?\r\n Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon.\r\n Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as he had appointed, speaking unto Moses, that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen.\r\n Which also our fathers that came after brought in with Jesus into the possession of the Gentiles, whom God drave out before the face of our fathers, unto the days of David;\r\n Who found favour before God, and desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob.\r\n But Solomon built him an house.\r\n Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet,\r\n Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest?\r\n Hath not my hand made all these things?\r\n Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.\r\n Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:\r\n Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.\r\n When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.\r\n But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,\r\n And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.\r\n Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,\r\n And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.\r\n And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.\r\n And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.\r\n And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.\r\n As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.\r\n Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.\r\n Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.\r\n And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.\r\n For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.\r\n And there was great joy in that city.\r\n But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:\r\n To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.\r\n And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.\r\n But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.\r\n Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.\r\n Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:\r\n Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:\r\n For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)\r\n Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.\r\n And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,\r\n Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.\r\n But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.\r\n Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.\r\n Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.\r\n For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.\r\n Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.\r\n And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.\r\n And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.\r\n And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,\r\n Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.\r\n Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.\r\n And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?\r\n And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.\r\n The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:\r\n In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.\r\n And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?\r\n Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.\r\n And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?\r\n And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.\r\n And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.\r\n And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.\r\n But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,\r\n And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.\r\n And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:\r\n And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?\r\n And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.\r\n And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.\r\n And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.\r\n And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.\r\n And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.\r\n And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.\r\n And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,\r\n And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.\r\n Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:\r\n And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.\r\n But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:\r\n For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.\r\n And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.\r\n And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.\r\n And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.\r\n And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.\r\n But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests?\r\n But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.\r\n And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him:\r\n But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him.\r\n Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket.\r\n And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.\r\n But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.\r\n And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem.\r\n And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.\r\n Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.\r\n Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.\r\n And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all quarters, he came down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda.\r\n And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy.\r\n And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately.\r\n And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord.\r\n Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.\r\n And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber.\r\n And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them.\r\n Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.\r\n But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.\r\n And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.\r\n And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord.\r\n And it came to pass, that he tarried many days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner.\r\n \r\n \r\n There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,\r\n A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.\r\n He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.\r\n And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.\r\n And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter:\r\n He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.\r\n And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually;\r\n And when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa.\r\n On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour:\r\n And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,\r\n And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:\r\n Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.\r\n And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.\r\n But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.\r\n And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.\r\n This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.\r\n Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate,\r\n And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there.\r\n While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.\r\n Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.\r\n Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come?\r\n And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee.\r\n Then called he them in, and lodged them. And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him.\r\n And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends.\r\n And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.\r\n But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.\r\n And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together.\r\n And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.\r\n Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me?\r\n And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,\r\n And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.\r\n Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner by the sea side: who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee.\r\n Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.\r\n Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:\r\n But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.\r\n The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)\r\n That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;\r\n How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.\r\n And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:\r\n Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;\r\n Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.\r\n And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.\r\n To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.\r\n While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.\r\n And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.\r\n For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,\r\n Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?\r\n And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.\r\n \r\n \r\n And the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God.\r\n And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him,\r\n Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them.\r\n But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them, saying,\r\n I was in the city of Joppa praying: and in a trance I saw a vision, A certain vessel descend, as it had been a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even to me:\r\n Upon the which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, and saw fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.\r\n And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter; slay and eat.\r\n But I said, Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered into my mouth.\r\n But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.\r\n And this was done three times: and all were drawn up again into heaven.\r\n And, behold, immediately there were three men already come unto the house where I was, sent from Caesarea unto me.\r\n And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man's house:\r\n And he shewed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter;\r\n Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.\r\n And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.\r\n Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.\r\n Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?\r\n When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.\r\n Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.\r\n And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus.\r\n And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.\r\n Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch.\r\n Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.\r\n For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.\r\n Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul:\r\n And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.\r\n And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch.\r\n And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar.\r\n Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea:\r\n Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.\r\n And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.\r\n And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)\r\n And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.\r\n Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.\r\n And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison.\r\n And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.\r\n And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.\r\n And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision.\r\n When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.\r\n And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.\r\n And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.\r\n And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda.\r\n And when she knew Peter's voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate.\r\n And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel.\r\n But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished.\r\n But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go shew these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place.\r\n Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what was become of Peter.\r\n And when Herod had sought for him, and found him not, he examined the keepers, and commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judaea to Caesarea, and there abode.\r\n And Herod was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon: but they came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus the king's chamberlain their friend, desired peace; because their country was nourished by the king's country.\r\n And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them.\r\n And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man.\r\n And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.\r\n But the word of God grew and multiplied.\r\n And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was Mark.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.\r\n As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.\r\n And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.\r\n So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.\r\n And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their minister.\r\n And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus:\r\n Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God.\r\n But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.\r\n Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him,\r\n And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?\r\n And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.\r\n Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.\r\n Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John departing from them returned to Jerusalem.\r\n But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down.\r\n And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.\r\n Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience.\r\n The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an high arm brought he them out of it.\r\n And about the time of forty years suffered he their manners in the wilderness.\r\n And when he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Chanaan, he divided their land to them by lot.\r\n And after that he gave unto them judges about the space of four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet.\r\n And afterward they desired a king: and God gave unto them Saul the son of Cis, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of forty years.\r\n And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.\r\n Of this man's seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus:\r\n When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.\r\n And as John fulfilled his course, he said, Whom think ye that I am? I am not he. But, behold, there cometh one after me, whose shoes of his feet I am not worthy to loose.\r\n Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent.\r\n For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him.\r\n And though they found no cause of death in him, yet desired they Pilate that he should be slain.\r\n And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre.\r\n But God raised him from the dead:\r\n And he was seen many days of them which came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses unto the people.\r\n And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers,\r\n God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.\r\n And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David.\r\n Wherefore he saith also in another psalm, Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.\r\n For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption:\r\n But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption.\r\n Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:\r\n And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.\r\n Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets;\r\n Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.\r\n And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath.\r\n Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.\r\n And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.\r\n But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.\r\n Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.\r\n For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.\r\n And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.\r\n And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region.\r\n But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts.\r\n But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium.\r\n And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass in Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed.\r\n But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren.\r\n Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.\r\n But the multitude of the city was divided: and part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles.\r\n And when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles, and also of the Jews with their rulers, to use them despitefully, and to stone them,\r\n They were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about:\r\n And there they preached the gospel.\r\n And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked:\r\n The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed,\r\n Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked.\r\n And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men.\r\n And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker.\r\n Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people.\r\n Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out,\r\n And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:\r\n Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways.\r\n Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.\r\n And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them.\r\n And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead.\r\n Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.\r\n And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch,\r\n Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.\r\n And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.\r\n And after they had passed throughout Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia.\r\n And when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down into Attalia:\r\n And thence sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled.\r\n And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.\r\n And there they abode long time with the disciples.\r\n \r\n \r\n And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.\r\n When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.\r\n And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.\r\n And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.\r\n But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.\r\n And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.\r\n And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.\r\n And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;\r\n And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.\r\n Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?\r\n But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.\r\n Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.\r\n And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:\r\n Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.\r\n And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,\r\n After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:\r\n That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.\r\n Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.\r\n Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:\r\n But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.\r\n For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.\r\n Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren:\r\n And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia:\r\n Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:\r\n It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,\r\n Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.\r\n We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth.\r\n For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;\r\n That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.\r\n So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle:\r\n Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.\r\n And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them.\r\n And after they had tarried there a space, they were let go in peace from the brethren unto the apostles.\r\n Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still.\r\n Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.\r\n And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do.\r\n And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark.\r\n But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.\r\n And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;\r\n And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God.\r\n And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek:\r\n Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium.\r\n Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek.\r\n And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem.\r\n And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.\r\n Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,\r\n After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.\r\n And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas.\r\n And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.\r\n And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.\r\n Therefore loosing from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis;\r\n And from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony: and we were in that city abiding certain days.\r\n And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither.\r\n And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.\r\n And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.\r\n And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:\r\n The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.\r\n And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.\r\n And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers,\r\n And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,\r\n And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.\r\n And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.\r\n And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:\r\n Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.\r\n And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.\r\n And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.\r\n And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.\r\n But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.\r\n Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,\r\n And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?\r\n And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.\r\n And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.\r\n And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.\r\n And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.\r\n And when it was day, the magistrates sent the serjeants, saying, Let those men go.\r\n And the keeper of the prison told this saying to Paul, The magistrates have sent to let you go: now therefore depart, and go in peace.\r\n But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out.\r\n And the serjeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they were Romans.\r\n And they came and besought them, and brought them out, and desired them to depart out of the city.\r\n And they went out of the prison, and entered into the house of Lydia: and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews:\r\n And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,\r\n Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.\r\n And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.\r\n But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.\r\n And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;\r\n Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus.\r\n And they troubled the people and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things.\r\n And when they had taken security of Jason, and of the other, they let them go.\r\n And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.\r\n These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.\r\n Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.\r\n But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, and stirred up the people.\r\n And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul to go as it were to the sea: but Silas and Timotheus abode there still.\r\n And they that conducted Paul brought him unto Athens: and receiving a commandment unto Silas and Timotheus for to come to him with all speed, they departed.\r\n Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.\r\n Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him.\r\n Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.\r\n And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is?\r\n For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean.\r\n For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.)\r\n Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.\r\n For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.\r\n God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;\r\n Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;\r\n And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;\r\n That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:\r\n For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.\r\n Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.\r\n And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:\r\n Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.\r\n And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter.\r\n So Paul departed from among them.\r\n Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.\r\n \r\n \r\n After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth;\r\n And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them.\r\n And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.\r\n And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.\r\n And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ.\r\n And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.\r\n And he departed thence, and entered into a certain man's house, named Justus, one that worshipped God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue.\r\n And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.\r\n Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace:\r\n For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.\r\n And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.\r\n And when Gallio was the deputy of Achaia, the Jews made insurrection with one accord against Paul, and brought him to the judgment seat,\r\n Saying, This fellow persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law.\r\n And when Paul was now about to open his mouth, Gallio said unto the Jews, If it were a matter of wrong or wicked lewdness, O ye Jews, reason would that I should bear with you:\r\n But if it be a question of words and names, and of your law, look ye to it; for I will be no judge of such matters.\r\n And he drave them from the judgment seat.\r\n Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes, the chief ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. And Gallio cared for none of those things.\r\n And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow.\r\n And he came to Ephesus, and left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews.\r\n When they desired him to tarry longer time with them, he consented not;\r\n But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus.\r\n And when he had landed at Caesarea, and gone up, and saluted the church, he went down to Antioch.\r\n And after he had spent some time there, he departed, and went over all the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples.\r\n And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus.\r\n This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John.\r\n And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.\r\n And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace:\r\n For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,\r\n He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.\r\n And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.\r\n Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.\r\n When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.\r\n And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.\r\n And all the men were about twelve.\r\n And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.\r\n But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus.\r\n And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.\r\n And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:\r\n So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.\r\n Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.\r\n And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.\r\n And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?\r\n And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.\r\n And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.\r\n And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds.\r\n Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.\r\n So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.\r\n After these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome.\r\n So he sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timotheus and Erastus; but he himself stayed in Asia for a season.\r\n And the same time there arose no small stir about that way.\r\n For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen;\r\n Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth.\r\n Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands:\r\n So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.\r\n And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.\r\n And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theatre.\r\n And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not.\r\n And certain of the chief of Asia, which were his friends, sent unto him, desiring him that he would not adventure himself into the theatre.\r\n Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confused; and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together.\r\n And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made his defence unto the people.\r\n But when they knew that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.\r\n And when the townclerk had appeased the people, he said, Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there that knoweth not how that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter?\r\n Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against, ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly.\r\n For ye have brought hither these men, which are neither robbers of churches, nor yet blasphemers of your goddess.\r\n Wherefore if Demetrius, and the craftsmen which are with him, have a matter against any man, the law is open, and there are deputies: let them implead one another.\r\n But if ye enquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly.\r\n For we are in danger to be called in question for this day's uproar, there being no cause whereby we may give an account of this concourse.\r\n And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly.\r\n \r\n \r\n And after the uproar was ceased, Paul called unto him the disciples, and embraced them, and departed for to go into Macedonia.\r\n And when he had gone over those parts, and had given them much exhortation, he came into Greece,\r\n And there abode three months. And when the Jews laid wait for him, as he was about to sail into Syria, he purposed to return through Macedonia.\r\n And there accompanied him into Asia Sopater of Berea; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timotheus; and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus.\r\n These going before tarried for us at Troas.\r\n And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days; where we abode seven days.\r\n And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.\r\n And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together.\r\n And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead.\r\n And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said, Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him.\r\n When he therefore was come up again, and had broken bread, and eaten, and talked a long while, even till break of day, so he departed.\r\n And they brought the young man alive, and were not a little comforted.\r\n And we went before to ship, and sailed unto Assos, there intending to take in Paul: for so had he appointed, minding himself to go afoot.\r\n And when he met with us at Assos, we took him in, and came to Mitylene.\r\n And we sailed thence, and came the next day over against Chios; and the next day we arrived at Samos, and tarried at Trogyllium; and the next day we came to Miletus.\r\n For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: for he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost.\r\n And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.\r\n And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons,\r\n Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:\r\n And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house,\r\n Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.\r\n And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:\r\n Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.\r\n But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.\r\n And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.\r\n Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.\r\n For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.\r\n Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.\r\n For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.\r\n Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.\r\n Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.\r\n And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.\r\n I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel.\r\n Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.\r\n I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.\r\n And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all.\r\n And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul's neck, and kissed him,\r\n Sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him unto the ship.\r\n \r\n \r\n And it came to pass, that after we were gotten from them, and had launched, we came with a straight course unto Coos, and the day following unto Rhodes, and from thence unto Patara:\r\n And finding a ship sailing over unto Phenicia, we went aboard, and set forth.\r\n Now when we had discovered Cyprus, we left it on the left hand, and sailed into Syria, and landed at Tyre: for there the ship was to unlade her burden.\r\n And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days: who said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem.\r\n And when we had accomplished those days, we departed and went our way; and they all brought us on our way, with wives and children, till we were out of the city: and we kneeled down on the shore, and prayed.\r\n And when we had taken our leave one of another, we took ship; and they returned home again.\r\n And when we had finished our course from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, and saluted the brethren, and abode with them one day.\r\n And the next day we that were of Paul's company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him.\r\n And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.\r\n And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus.\r\n And when he was come unto us, he took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.\r\n And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem.\r\n Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.\r\n And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.\r\n And after those days we took up our carriages, and went up to Jerusalem.\r\n There went with us also certain of the disciples of Caesarea, and brought with them one Mnason of Cyprus, an old disciple, with whom we should lodge.\r\n And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly.\r\n And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present.\r\n And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry.\r\n And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law:\r\n And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs.\r\n What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come.\r\n Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have a vow on them;\r\n Them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law.\r\n As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication.\r\n Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them.\r\n And when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews which were of Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the people, and laid hands on him,\r\n Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teacheth all men every where against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place.\r\n For they had seen before with him in the city Trophimus an Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.)\r\n And all the city was moved, and the people ran together: and they took Paul, and drew him out of the temple: and forthwith the doors were shut.\r\n And as they went about to kill him, tidings came unto the chief captain of the band, that all Jerusalem was in an uproar.\r\n Who immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down unto them: and when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, they left beating of Paul.\r\n Then the chief captain came near, and took him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains; and demanded who he was, and what he had done.\r\n And some cried one thing, some another, among the multitude: and when he could not know the certainty for the tumult, he commanded him to be carried into the castle.\r\n And when he came upon the stairs, so it was, that he was borne of the soldiers for the violence of the people.\r\n For the multitude of the people followed after, crying, Away with him.\r\n And as Paul was to be led into the castle, he said unto the chief captain, May I speak unto thee? Who said, Canst thou speak Greek?\r\n Art not thou that Egyptian, which before these days madest an uproar, and leddest out into the wilderness four thousand men that were murderers?\r\n But Paul said, I am a man which am a Jew of Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city: and, I beseech thee, suffer me to speak unto the people.\r\n And when he had given him licence, Paul stood on the stairs, and beckoned with the hand unto the people. And when there was made a great silence, he spake unto them in the Hebrew tongue, saying,\r\n \r\n \r\n Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defence which I make now unto you.\r\n And when they heard that he spake in the Hebrew tongue to them, they kept the more silence: and he saith,)\r\n I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.\r\n And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.\r\n As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished.\r\n And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me.\r\n And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?\r\n And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.\r\n And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me.\r\n And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do.\r\n And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them that were with me, I came into Damascus.\r\n And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there,\r\n Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him.\r\n And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth.\r\n For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard.\r\n And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.\r\n And it came to pass, that, when I was come again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance;\r\n And saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me.\r\n And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee:\r\n And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him.\r\n And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles.\r\n And they gave him audience unto this word, and then lifted up their voices, and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live.\r\n And as they cried out, and cast off their clothes, and threw dust into the air,\r\n The chief captain commanded him to be brought into the castle, and bade that he should be examined by scourging; that he might know wherefore they cried so against him.\r\n And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said unto the centurion that stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned?\r\n When the centurion heard that, he went and told the chief captain, saying, Take heed what thou doest: for this man is a Roman.\r\n Then the chief captain came, and said unto him, Tell me, art thou a Roman? He said, Yea.\r\n And the chief captain answered, With a great sum obtained I this freedom. And Paul said, But I was free born.\r\n Then straightway they departed from him which should have examined him: and the chief captain also was afraid, after he knew that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him.\r\n On the morrow, because he would have known the certainty wherefore he was accused of the Jews, he loosed him from his bands, and commanded the chief priests and all their council to appear, and brought Paul down, and set him before them.\r\n \r\n \r\n And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.\r\n And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth.\r\n Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?\r\n And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God's high priest?\r\n Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.\r\n But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.\r\n And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided.\r\n For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.\r\n And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that were of the Pharisees' part arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God.\r\n And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the castle.\r\n And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.\r\n And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.\r\n And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy.\r\n And they came to the chief priests and elders, and said, We have bound ourselves under a great curse, that we will eat nothing until we have slain Paul.\r\n Now therefore ye with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you to morrow, as though ye would enquire something more perfectly concerning him: and we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him.\r\n And when Paul's sister's son heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered into the castle, and told Paul.\r\n Then Paul called one of the centurions unto him, and said, Bring this young man unto the chief captain: for he hath a certain thing to tell him.\r\n So he took him, and brought him to the chief captain, and said, Paul the prisoner called me unto him, and prayed me to bring this young man unto thee, who hath something to say unto thee.\r\n Then the chief captain took him by the hand, and went with him aside privately, and asked him, What is that thou hast to tell me?\r\n And he said, The Jews have agreed to desire thee that thou wouldest bring down Paul to morrow into the council, as though they would enquire somewhat of him more perfectly.\r\n But do not thou yield unto them: for there lie in wait for him of them more than forty men, which have bound themselves with an oath, that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him: and now are they ready, looking for a promise from thee.\r\n So the chief captain then let the young man depart, and charged him, See thou tell no man that thou hast shewed these things to me.\r\n And he called unto him two centurions, saying, Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Caesarea, and horsemen threescore and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night;\r\n And provide them beasts, that they may set Paul on, and bring him safe unto Felix the governor.\r\n And he wrote a letter after this manner:\r\n Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix sendeth greeting.\r\n This man was taken of the Jews, and should have been killed of them: then came I with an army, and rescued him, having understood that he was a Roman.\r\n And when I would have known the cause wherefore they accused him, I brought him forth into their council:\r\n Whom I perceived to be accused of questions of their law, but to have nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of bonds.\r\n And when it was told me how that the Jews laid wait for the man, I sent straightway to thee, and gave commandment to his accusers also to say before thee what they had against him. Farewell.\r\n Then the soldiers, as it was commanded them, took Paul, and brought him by night to Antipatris.\r\n On the morrow they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the castle:\r\n Who, when they came to Caesarea, and delivered the epistle to the governor, presented Paul also before him.\r\n And when the governor had read the letter, he asked of what province he was. And when he understood that he was of Cilicia;\r\n I will hear thee, said he, when thine accusers are also come. And he commanded him to be kept in Herod's judgment hall.\r\n \r\n \r\n And after five days Ananias the high priest descended with the elders, and with a certain orator named Tertullus, who informed the governor against Paul.\r\n And when he was called forth, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, Seeing that by thee we enjoy great quietness, and that very worthy deeds are done unto this nation by thy providence,\r\n We accept it always, and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness.\r\n Notwithstanding, that I be not further tedious unto thee, I pray thee that thou wouldest hear us of thy clemency a few words.\r\n For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes:\r\n Who also hath gone about to profane the temple: whom we took, and would have judged according to our law.\r\n But the chief captain Lysias came upon us, and with great violence took him away out of our hands,\r\n Commanding his accusers to come unto thee: by examining of whom thyself mayest take knowledge of all these things, whereof we accuse him.\r\n And the Jews also assented, saying that these things were so.\r\n Then Paul, after that the governor had beckoned unto him to speak, answered, Forasmuch as I know that thou hast been of many years a judge unto this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself:\r\n Because that thou mayest understand, that there are yet but twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem for to worship.\r\n And they neither found me in the temple disputing with any man, neither raising up the people, neither in the synagogues, nor in the city:\r\n Neither can they prove the things whereof they now accuse me.\r\n But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:\r\n And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.\r\n And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.\r\n Now after many years I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings.\r\n Whereupon certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with multitude, nor with tumult.\r\n Who ought to have been here before thee, and object, if they had ought against me.\r\n Or else let these same here say, if they have found any evil doing in me, while I stood before the council,\r\n Except it be for this one voice, that I cried standing among them, Touching the resurrection of the dead I am called in question by you this day.\r\n And when Felix heard these things, having more perfect knowledge of that way, he deferred them, and said, When Lysias the chief captain shall come down, I will know the uttermost of your matter.\r\n And he commanded a centurion to keep Paul, and to let him have liberty, and that he should forbid none of his acquaintance to minister or come unto him.\r\n And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.\r\n And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.\r\n He hoped also that money should have been given him of Paul, that he might loose him: wherefore he sent for him the oftener, and communed with him.\r\n But after two years Porcius Festus came into Felix' room: and Felix, willing to shew the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now when Festus was come into the province, after three days he ascended from Caesarea to Jerusalem.\r\n Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed him against Paul, and besought him,\r\n And desired favour against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem, laying wait in the way to kill him.\r\n But Festus answered, that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself would depart shortly thither.\r\n Let them therefore, said he, which among you are able, go down with me, and accuse this man, if there be any wickedness in him.\r\n And when he had tarried among them more than ten days, he went down unto Caesarea; and the next day sitting on the judgment seat commanded Paul to be brought.\r\n And when he was come, the Jews which came down from Jerusalem stood round about, and laid many and grievous complaints against Paul, which they could not prove.\r\n While he answered for himself, Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Caesar, have I offended any thing at all.\r\n But Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure, answered Paul, and said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me?\r\n Then said Paul, I stand at Caesar's judgment seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knowest.\r\n For if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Caesar.\r\n Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Hast thou appealed unto Caesar? unto Caesar shalt thou go.\r\n And after certain days king Agrippa and Bernice came unto Caesarea to salute Festus.\r\n And when they had been there many days, Festus declared Paul's cause unto the king, saying, There is a certain man left in bonds by Felix:\r\n About whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, desiring to have judgment against him.\r\n To whom I answered, It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die, before that he which is accused have the accusers face to face, and have licence to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him.\r\n Therefore, when they were come hither, without any delay on the morrow I sat on the judgment seat, and commanded the man to be brought forth.\r\n Against whom when the accusers stood up, they brought none accusation of such things as I supposed:\r\n But had certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.\r\n And because I doubted of such manner of questions, I asked him whether he would go to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these matters.\r\n But when Paul had appealed to be reserved unto the hearing of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I might send him to Caesar.\r\n Then Agrippa said unto Festus, I would also hear the man myself. To morrow, said he, thou shalt hear him.\r\n And on the morrow, when Agrippa was come, and Bernice, with great pomp, and was entered into the place of hearing, with the chief captains, and principal men of the city, at Festus' commandment Paul was brought forth.\r\n And Festus said, King Agrippa, and all men which are here present with us, ye see this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews have dealt with me, both at Jerusalem, and also here, crying that he ought not to live any longer.\r\n But when I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, and that he himself hath appealed to Augustus, I have determined to send him.\r\n Of whom I have no certain thing to write unto my lord. Wherefore I have brought him forth before you, and specially before thee, O king Agrippa, that, after examination had, I might have somewhat to write.\r\n For it seemeth to me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not withal to signify the crimes laid against him.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself:\r\n I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews:\r\n Especially because I know thee to be expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently.\r\n My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews;\r\n Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.\r\n And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers:\r\n Unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come. For which hope's sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews.\r\n Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?\r\n I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.\r\n Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them.\r\n And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.\r\n Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,\r\n At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me.\r\n And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.\r\n And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.\r\n But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;\r\n Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,\r\n To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.\r\n Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:\r\n But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.\r\n For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me.\r\n Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:\r\n That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.\r\n And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.\r\n But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.\r\n For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner.\r\n King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.\r\n Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.\r\n And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.\r\n And when he had thus spoken, the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them:\r\n And when they were gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds.\r\n Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Caesar.\r\n \r\n \r\n And when it was determined that we should sail into Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners unto one named Julius, a centurion of Augustus' band.\r\n And entering into a ship of Adramyttium, we launched, meaning to sail by the coasts of Asia; one Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us.\r\n And the next day we touched at Sidon. And Julius courteously entreated Paul, and gave him liberty to go unto his friends to refresh himself.\r\n And when we had launched from thence, we sailed under Cyprus, because the winds were contrary.\r\n And when we had sailed over the sea of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia.\r\n And there the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing into Italy; and he put us therein.\r\n And when we had sailed slowly many days, and scarce were come over against Cnidus, the wind not suffering us, we sailed under Crete, over against Salmone;\r\n And, hardly passing it, came unto a place which is called The fair havens; nigh whereunto was the city of Lasea.\r\n Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished them,\r\n And said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives.\r\n Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul.\r\n And because the haven was not commodious to winter in, the more part advised to depart thence also, if by any means they might attain to Phenice, and there to winter; which is an haven of Crete, and lieth toward the south west and north west.\r\n And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete.\r\n But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon.\r\n And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive.\r\n And running under a certain island which is called Clauda, we had much work to come by the boat:\r\n Which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands, strake sail, and so were driven.\r\n And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship;\r\n And the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship.\r\n And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away.\r\n But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss.\r\n And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but of the ship.\r\n For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,\r\n Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.\r\n Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.\r\n Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island.\r\n But when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven up and down in Adria, about midnight the shipmen deemed that they drew near to some country;\r\n And sounded, and found it twenty fathoms: and when they had gone a little further, they sounded again, and found it fifteen fathoms.\r\n Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day.\r\n And as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship, when they had let down the boat into the sea, under colour as though they would have cast anchors out of the foreship,\r\n Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.\r\n Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off.\r\n And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take meat, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued fasting, having taken nothing.\r\n Wherefore I pray you to take some meat: for this is for your health: for there shall not an hair fall from the head of any of you.\r\n And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all: and when he had broken it, he began to eat.\r\n Then were they all of good cheer, and they also took some meat.\r\n And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls.\r\n And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, and cast out the wheat into the sea.\r\n And when it was day, they knew not the land: but they discovered a certain creek with a shore, into the which they were minded, if it were possible, to thrust in the ship.\r\n And when they had taken up the anchors, they committed themselves unto the sea, and loosed the rudder bands, and hoised up the mainsail to the wind, and made toward shore.\r\n And falling into a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the forepart stuck fast, and remained unmoveable, but the hinder part was broken with the violence of the waves.\r\n And the soldiers' counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape.\r\n But the centurion, willing to save Paul, kept them from their purpose; and commanded that they which could swim should cast themselves first into the sea, and get to land:\r\n And the rest, some on boards, and some on broken pieces of the ship. And so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to land.\r\n \r\n \r\n And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita.\r\n And the barbarous people shewed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold.\r\n And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand.\r\n And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.\r\n And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.\r\n Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.\r\n In the same quarters were possessions of the chief man of the island, whose name was Publius; who received us, and lodged us three days courteously.\r\n And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him.\r\n So when this was done, others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed:\r\n Who also honoured us with many honours; and when we departed, they laded us with such things as were necessary.\r\n And after three months we departed in a ship of Alexandria, which had wintered in the isle, whose sign was Castor and Pollux.\r\n And landing at Syracuse, we tarried there three days.\r\n And from thence we fetched a compass, and came to Rhegium: and after one day the south wind blew, and we came the next day to Puteoli:\r\n Where we found brethren, and were desired to tarry with them seven days: and so we went toward Rome.\r\n And from thence, when the brethren heard of us, they came to meet us as far as Appii forum, and The three taverns: whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage.\r\n And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard: but Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him.\r\n And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together: and when they were come together, he said unto them, Men and brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.\r\n Who, when they had examined me, would have let me go, because there was no cause of death in me.\r\n But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar; not that I had ought to accuse my nation of.\r\n For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you: because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.\r\n And they said unto him, We neither received letters out of Judaea concerning thee, neither any of the brethren that came shewed or spake any harm of thee.\r\n But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against.\r\n And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.\r\n And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not.\r\n And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers,\r\n Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive:\r\n For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.\r\n Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.\r\n And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves.\r\n And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him,\r\n Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,\r\n Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)\r\n Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;\r\n And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:\r\n By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:\r\n Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ:\r\n To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.\r\n First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.\r\n For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;\r\n Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you.\r\n For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;\r\n That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.\r\n Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.\r\n I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.\r\n So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.\r\n For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.\r\n For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.\r\n For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;\r\n Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.\r\n For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:\r\n Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.\r\n Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,\r\n And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.\r\n Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:\r\n Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.\r\n For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:\r\n And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.\r\n And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;\r\n Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,\r\n Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,\r\n Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:\r\n Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.\r\n \r\n \r\n Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.\r\n But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.\r\n And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?\r\n Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?\r\n But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;\r\n Who will render to every man according to his deeds:\r\n To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:\r\n But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,\r\n Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;\r\n But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:\r\n For there is no respect of persons with God.\r\n For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;\r\n For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.\r\n For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:\r\n Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)\r\n In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.\r\n Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God,\r\n And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law;\r\n And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness,\r\n An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law.\r\n Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?\r\n Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?\r\n Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God?\r\n For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.\r\n For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.\r\n Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?\r\n And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law?\r\n For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:\r\n But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.\r\n \r\n \r\n What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?\r\n Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.\r\n For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?\r\n God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.\r\n But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man)\r\n God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world?\r\n For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner?\r\n And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just.\r\n What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;\r\n As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:\r\n There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.\r\n They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.\r\n Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:\r\n Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:\r\n Their feet are swift to shed blood:\r\n Destruction and misery are in their ways:\r\n And the way of peace have they not known:\r\n There is no fear of God before their eyes.\r\n Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.\r\n Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.\r\n But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;\r\n Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:\r\n For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;\r\n Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:\r\n Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;\r\n To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.\r\n Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.\r\n Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.\r\n Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:\r\n Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.\r\n Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.\r\n \r\n \r\n What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?\r\n For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.\r\n For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.\r\n Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.\r\n But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.\r\n Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,\r\n Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.\r\n Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.\r\n Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.\r\n How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.\r\n And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:\r\n And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.\r\n For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.\r\n For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:\r\n Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.\r\n Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,\r\n As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.\r\n Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.\r\n And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb:\r\n He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;\r\n And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.\r\n And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.\r\n Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;\r\n But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;\r\n Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.\r\n \r\n \r\n Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:\r\n By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.\r\n And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;\r\n And patience, experience; and experience, hope:\r\n And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.\r\n For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.\r\n For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.\r\n But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.\r\n Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.\r\n For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.\r\n And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.\r\n Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:\r\n For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.\r\n Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.\r\n But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.\r\n And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.\r\n For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)\r\n Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.\r\n For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.\r\n Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:\r\n That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.\r\n \r\n \r\n What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?\r\n God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?\r\n Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?\r\n Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.\r\n For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:\r\n Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.\r\n For he that is dead is freed from sin.\r\n Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:\r\n Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.\r\n For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.\r\n Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.\r\n Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.\r\n Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.\r\n For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.\r\n What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.\r\n Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?\r\n But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.\r\n Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.\r\n I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.\r\n For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.\r\n What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.\r\n But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.\r\n For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.\r\n \r\n \r\n Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?\r\n For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.\r\n So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.\r\n Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.\r\n For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.\r\n But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.\r\n What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.\r\n But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.\r\n For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.\r\n And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.\r\n For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.\r\n Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.\r\n Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.\r\n For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.\r\n For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.\r\n If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.\r\n Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.\r\n For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.\r\n For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.\r\n Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.\r\n I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.\r\n For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:\r\n But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.\r\n O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?\r\n I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.\r\n \r\n \r\n There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.\r\n For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.\r\n For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:\r\n That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.\r\n For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.\r\n For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.\r\n Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.\r\n So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.\r\n But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.\r\n And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.\r\n But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.\r\n Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.\r\n For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.\r\n For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.\r\n For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.\r\n The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:\r\n And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.\r\n For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.\r\n For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.\r\n For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,\r\n Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.\r\n For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.\r\n And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.\r\n For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?\r\n But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.\r\n Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.\r\n And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.\r\n And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.\r\n For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.\r\n Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.\r\n What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?\r\n He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?\r\n Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.\r\n Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.\r\n Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?\r\n As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.\r\n Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.\r\n For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,\r\n Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.\r\n \r\n \r\n I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,\r\n That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.\r\n For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:\r\n Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;\r\n Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.\r\n Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:\r\n Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.\r\n That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.\r\n For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sara shall have a son.\r\n And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac;\r\n For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)\r\n It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.\r\n As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.\r\n What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.\r\n For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.\r\n So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.\r\n For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.\r\n Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.\r\n Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?\r\n Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?\r\n Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?\r\n What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:\r\n And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,\r\n Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?\r\n As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.\r\n And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God.\r\n Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved:\r\n For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.\r\n And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha.\r\n What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.\r\n But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.\r\n Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;\r\n As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.\r\n \r\n \r\n Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.\r\n For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.\r\n For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.\r\n For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.\r\n For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.\r\n But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)\r\n Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)\r\n But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;\r\n That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.\r\n For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.\r\n For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.\r\n For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.\r\n For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.\r\n How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?\r\n And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!\r\n But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?\r\n So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.\r\n But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.\r\n But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you.\r\n But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me.\r\n But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.\r\n \r\n \r\n I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.\r\n God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying,\r\n Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.\r\n But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.\r\n Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.\r\n And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.\r\n What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded\r\n According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.\r\n And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them:\r\n Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.\r\n I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.\r\n Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?\r\n For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:\r\n If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.\r\n For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?\r\n For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.\r\n And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;\r\n Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.\r\n Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.\r\n Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:\r\n For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.\r\n Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.\r\n And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.\r\n For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree?\r\n For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.\r\n And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:\r\n For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.\r\n As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes.\r\n For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.\r\n For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:\r\n Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.\r\n For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.\r\n O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!\r\n For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?\r\n Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?\r\n For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.\r\n \r\n \r\n I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.\r\n And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.\r\n For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.\r\n For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:\r\n So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.\r\n Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;\r\n Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;\r\n Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.\r\n Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.\r\n Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;\r\n Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;\r\n Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;\r\n Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.\r\n Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.\r\n Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.\r\n Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.\r\n Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.\r\n If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.\r\n Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.\r\n Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.\r\n Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.\r\n \r\n \r\n Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.\r\n Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.\r\n For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:\r\n For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.\r\n Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.\r\n For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.\r\n Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.\r\n Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.\r\n For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.\r\n Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.\r\n And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.\r\n The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.\r\n Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.\r\n But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.\r\n \r\n \r\n Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.\r\n For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.\r\n Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.\r\n Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.\r\n One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.\r\n He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.\r\n For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.\r\n For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.\r\n For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.\r\n But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.\r\n For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.\r\n So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.\r\n Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.\r\n I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.\r\n But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.\r\n Let not then your good be evil spoken of:\r\n For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.\r\n For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.\r\n Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.\r\n For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.\r\n It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.\r\n Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.\r\n And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.\r\n \r\n \r\n We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.\r\n Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.\r\n For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.\r\n For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.\r\n Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:\r\n That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.\r\n Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.\r\n Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers:\r\n And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name.\r\n And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people.\r\n And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people.\r\n And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust.\r\n Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.\r\n And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.\r\n Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me of God,\r\n That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.\r\n I have therefore whereof I may glory through Jesus Christ in those things which pertain to God.\r\n For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed,\r\n Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.\r\n Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man's foundation:\r\n But as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand.\r\n For which cause also I have been much hindered from coming to you.\r\n But now having no more place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come unto you;\r\n Whensoever I take my journey into Spain, I will come to you: for I trust to see you in my journey, and to be brought on my way thitherward by you, if first I be somewhat filled with your company.\r\n But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints.\r\n For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.\r\n It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things.\r\n When therefore I have performed this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will come by you into Spain.\r\n And I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.\r\n Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me;\r\n That I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judaea; and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints;\r\n That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed.\r\n Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.\r\n \r\n \r\n I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea:\r\n That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also.\r\n Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus:\r\n Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.\r\n Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my wellbeloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ.\r\n Greet Mary, who bestowed much labour on us.\r\n Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellowprisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.\r\n Greet Amplias my beloved in the Lord.\r\n Salute Urbane, our helper in Christ, and Stachys my beloved.\r\n Salute Apelles approved in Christ. Salute them which are of Aristobulus' household.\r\n Salute Herodion my kinsman. Greet them that be of the household of Narcissus, which are in the Lord.\r\n Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labour in the Lord. Salute the beloved Persis, which laboured much in the Lord.\r\n Salute Rufus chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.\r\n Salute Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren which are with them.\r\n Salute Philologus, and Julia, Nereus, and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints which are with them.\r\n Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.\r\n Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.\r\n For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.\r\n For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.\r\n And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.\r\n Timotheus my workfellow, and Lucius, and Jason, and Sosipater, my kinsmen, salute you.\r\n I Tertius, who wrote this epistle, salute you in the Lord.\r\n Gaius mine host, and of the whole church, saluteth you. Erastus the chamberlain of the city saluteth you, and Quartus a brother.\r\n The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.\r\n Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,\r\n But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:\r\n To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n Written to the Romans from Corinthus, and sent by Phebe servant of the church at Cenchrea.\r\n The first epistle to the Corinthians was written from Philippi by Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus and Timotheus.\r\n Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,\r\n Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:\r\n Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.\r\n I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;\r\n That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;\r\n Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you:\r\n So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:\r\n Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.\r\n God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.\r\n Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.\r\n For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.\r\n Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.\r\n Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?\r\n I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;\r\n Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name.\r\n And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.\r\n For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.\r\n For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.\r\n For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.\r\n Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?\r\n For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.\r\n For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:\r\n But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;\r\n But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.\r\n Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.\r\n For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:\r\n But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;\r\n And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:\r\n That no flesh should glory in his presence.\r\n But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:\r\n That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.\r\n \r\n \r\n And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.\r\n For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.\r\n And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.\r\n And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:\r\n That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.\r\n Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:\r\n But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:\r\n Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.\r\n But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.\r\n But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.\r\n For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.\r\n Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.\r\n Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.\r\n But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.\r\n But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.\r\n For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.\r\n \r\n \r\n And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.\r\n I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.\r\n For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?\r\n For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?\r\n Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?\r\n I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.\r\n So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.\r\n Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.\r\n For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.\r\n According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.\r\n For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.\r\n Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;\r\n Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.\r\n If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.\r\n If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.\r\n Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?\r\n If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.\r\n Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.\r\n For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.\r\n And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.\r\n Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;\r\n Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;\r\n And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.\r\n \r\n \r\n Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.\r\n Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.\r\n But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self.\r\n For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.\r\n Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.\r\n And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.\r\n For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?\r\n Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us: and I would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with you.\r\n For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.\r\n We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised.\r\n Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;\r\n And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:\r\n Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.\r\n I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.\r\n For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.\r\n Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.\r\n For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.\r\n Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you.\r\n But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power.\r\n For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.\r\n What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?\r\n \r\n \r\n It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife.\r\n And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.\r\n For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed,\r\n In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,\r\n To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.\r\n Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?\r\n Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:\r\n Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.\r\n I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:\r\n Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.\r\n But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.\r\n For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?\r\n But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.\r\n \r\n \r\n Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?\r\n Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?\r\n Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?\r\n If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.\r\n I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?\r\n But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers.\r\n Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?\r\n Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.\r\n Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,\r\n Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.\r\n And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.\r\n All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.\r\n Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.\r\n And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power.\r\n Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.\r\n What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.\r\n But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.\r\n Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.\r\n What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?\r\n For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.\r\n Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.\r\n Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.\r\n The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.\r\n Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.\r\n But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment.\r\n For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.\r\n I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.\r\n But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.\r\n And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband:\r\n But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.\r\n But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.\r\n And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.\r\n For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.\r\n But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.\r\n For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?\r\n But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches.\r\n Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised.\r\n Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.\r\n Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.\r\n Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.\r\n For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant.\r\n Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.\r\n Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.\r\n Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.\r\n I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be.\r\n Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.\r\n But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you.\r\n But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none;\r\n And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not;\r\n And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.\r\n But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord:\r\n But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.\r\n There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.\r\n And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.\r\n But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry.\r\n Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well.\r\n So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better.\r\n The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.\r\n But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.\r\n And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.\r\n But if any man love God, the same is known of him.\r\n As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.\r\n For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)\r\n But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.\r\n Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.\r\n But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.\r\n But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.\r\n For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;\r\n And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?\r\n But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.\r\n Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.\r\n \r\n \r\n Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?\r\n If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.\r\n Mine answer to them that do examine me is this,\r\n Have we not power to eat and to drink?\r\n Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?\r\n Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?\r\n Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?\r\n Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?\r\n For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?\r\n Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.\r\n If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?\r\n If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.\r\n Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?\r\n Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.\r\n But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void.\r\n For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!\r\n For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.\r\n What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.\r\n For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.\r\n And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;\r\n To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.\r\n To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.\r\n And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.\r\n Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.\r\n And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.\r\n I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:\r\n But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.\r\n \r\n \r\n Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;\r\n And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;\r\n And did all eat the same spiritual meat;\r\n And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.\r\n But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.\r\n Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.\r\n Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.\r\n Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.\r\n Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.\r\n Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.\r\n Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.\r\n Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.\r\n There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.\r\n Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.\r\n I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.\r\n The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?\r\n For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.\r\n Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?\r\n What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?\r\n But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.\r\n Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils.\r\n Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?\r\n All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.\r\n Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth.\r\n Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake:\r\n For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof.\r\n If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.\r\n But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof:\r\n Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience?\r\n For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?\r\n Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.\r\n Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:\r\n Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.\r\n \r\n \r\n Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.\r\n Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.\r\n But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.\r\n Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.\r\n But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.\r\n For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered.\r\n For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.\r\n For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man.\r\n Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.\r\n For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.\r\n Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord.\r\n For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God.\r\n Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered?\r\n Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?\r\n But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.\r\n But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.\r\n Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse.\r\n For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.\r\n For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.\r\n When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper.\r\n For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken.\r\n What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.\r\n For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:\r\n And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.\r\n After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.\r\n For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.\r\n Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.\r\n But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.\r\n For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.\r\n For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.\r\n For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.\r\n But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.\r\n Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another.\r\n And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.\r\n Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.\r\n Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.\r\n Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.\r\n And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.\r\n And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.\r\n But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.\r\n For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;\r\n To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;\r\n To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:\r\n But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.\r\n For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.\r\n For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.\r\n For the body is not one member, but many.\r\n If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?\r\n And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?\r\n If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?\r\n But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.\r\n And if they were all one member, where were the body?\r\n But now are they many members, yet but one body.\r\n And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.\r\n Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:\r\n And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.\r\n For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked:\r\n That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.\r\n And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.\r\n Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.\r\n And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.\r\n Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?\r\n Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?\r\n But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.\r\n \r\n \r\n Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.\r\n And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.\r\n And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.\r\n Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,\r\n Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;\r\n Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;\r\n Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.\r\n Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.\r\n For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.\r\n But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.\r\n When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.\r\n For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.\r\n And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.\r\n \r\n \r\n Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.\r\n For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.\r\n But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.\r\n He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.\r\n I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.\r\n Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?\r\n And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?\r\n For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?\r\n So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.\r\n There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification.\r\n Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me.\r\n Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.\r\n Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.\r\n For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.\r\n What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.\r\n Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?\r\n For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.\r\n I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:\r\n Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.\r\n Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.\r\n In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.\r\n Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.\r\n If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?\r\n But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:\r\n And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.\r\n How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.\r\n If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.\r\n But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.\r\n Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.\r\n If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.\r\n For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.\r\n And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.\r\n For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.\r\n Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.\r\n And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.\r\n What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?\r\n If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.\r\n But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.\r\n Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.\r\n Let all things be done decently and in order.\r\n \r\n \r\n Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;\r\n By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.\r\n For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;\r\n And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:\r\n And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:\r\n After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.\r\n After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.\r\n And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.\r\n For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.\r\n But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.\r\n Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.\r\n Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?\r\n But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:\r\n And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.\r\n Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.\r\n For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:\r\n And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.\r\n Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.\r\n If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.\r\n But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.\r\n For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.\r\n For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.\r\n But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.\r\n Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.\r\n For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.\r\n The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.\r\n For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.\r\n And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.\r\n Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?\r\n And why stand we in jeopardy every hour?\r\n I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.\r\n If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die.\r\n Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.\r\n Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.\r\n But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?\r\n Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die:\r\n And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain:\r\n But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body.\r\n All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds.\r\n There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.\r\n There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.\r\n So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:\r\n It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:\r\n It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.\r\n And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.\r\n Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.\r\n The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.\r\n As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.\r\n And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.\r\n Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.\r\n Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,\r\n In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.\r\n For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.\r\n So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.\r\n O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?\r\n The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.\r\n But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.\r\n Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.\r\n Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.\r\n And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem.\r\n And if it be meet that I go also, they shall go with me.\r\n Now I will come unto you, when I shall pass through Macedonia: for I do pass through Macedonia.\r\n And it may be that I will abide, yea, and winter with you, that ye may bring me on my journey whithersoever I go.\r\n For I will not see you now by the way; but I trust to tarry a while with you, if the Lord permit.\r\n But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost.\r\n For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.\r\n Now if Timotheus come, see that he may be with you without fear: for he worketh the work of the Lord, as I also do.\r\n Let no man therefore despise him: but conduct him forth in peace, that he may come unto me: for I look for him with the brethren.\r\n As touching our brother Apollos, I greatly desired him to come unto you with the brethren: but his will was not at all to come at this time; but he will come when he shall have convenient time.\r\n Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.\r\n Let all your things be done with charity.\r\n I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,)\r\n That ye submit yourselves unto such, and to every one that helpeth with us, and laboureth.\r\n I am glad of the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus: for that which was lacking on your part they have supplied.\r\n For they have refreshed my spirit and yours: therefore acknowledge ye them that are such.\r\n The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.\r\n All the brethren greet you. Greet ye one another with an holy kiss.\r\n The salutation of me Paul with mine own hand.\r\n If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha.\r\n The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.\r\n My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen. \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n The second epistle to the Corinthians was written from Philippi, a city of Macedonia, by Titus and Lucas.\r\n Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia:\r\n Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.\r\n Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;\r\n Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.\r\n For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.\r\n And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.\r\n And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.\r\n For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:\r\n But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:\r\n Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;\r\n Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.\r\n For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.\r\n For we write none other things unto you, than what ye read or acknowledge; and I trust ye shall acknowledge even to the end;\r\n As also ye have acknowledged us in part, that we are your rejoicing, even as ye also are ours in the day of the Lord Jesus.\r\n And in this confidence I was minded to come unto you before, that ye might have a second benefit;\r\n And to pass by you into Macedonia, and to come again out of Macedonia unto you, and of you to be brought on my way toward Judaea.\r\n When I therefore was thus minded, did I use lightness? or the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be yea yea, and nay nay?\r\n But as God is true, our word toward you was not yea and nay.\r\n For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea.\r\n For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.\r\n Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;\r\n Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.\r\n Moreover I call God for a record upon my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth.\r\n Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.\r\n \r\n \r\n But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness.\r\n For if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me?\r\n And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all.\r\n For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.\r\n But if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all.\r\n Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many.\r\n So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.\r\n Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.\r\n For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things.\r\n To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ;\r\n Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.\r\n Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord,\r\n I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother: but taking my leave of them, I went from thence into Macedonia.\r\n Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.\r\n For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:\r\n To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?\r\n For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.\r\n \r\n \r\n Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you?\r\n Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:\r\n Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.\r\n And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward:\r\n Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;\r\n Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.\r\n But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:\r\n How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?\r\n For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.\r\n For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.\r\n For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.\r\n Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech:\r\n And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:\r\n But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.\r\n But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.\r\n Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.\r\n Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.\r\n But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.\r\n \r\n \r\n Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;\r\n But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.\r\n But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:\r\n In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.\r\n For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.\r\n For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.\r\n But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.\r\n We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;\r\n Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;\r\n Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.\r\n For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.\r\n So then death worketh in us, but life in you.\r\n We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;\r\n Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.\r\n For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.\r\n For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.\r\n For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;\r\n While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.\r\n \r\n \r\n For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.\r\n For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:\r\n If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.\r\n For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.\r\n Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.\r\n Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:\r\n For we walk by faith, not by sight:)\r\n We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.\r\n Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.\r\n For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.\r\n Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.\r\n For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart.\r\n For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause.\r\n For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:\r\n And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.\r\n Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.\r\n Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.\r\n And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;\r\n To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.\r\n Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.\r\n For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.\r\n \r\n \r\n We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.\r\n For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)\r\n Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:\r\n But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,\r\n In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;\r\n By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,\r\n By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,\r\n By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;\r\n As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;\r\n As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.\r\n O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged.\r\n Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels.\r\n Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged.\r\n Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?\r\n And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?\r\n And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.\r\n Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,\r\n And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.\r\n \r\n \r\n Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.\r\n Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man.\r\n I speak not this to condemn you: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die and live with you.\r\n Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.\r\n For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.\r\n Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus;\r\n And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more.\r\n For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season.\r\n Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.\r\n For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.\r\n For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.\r\n Wherefore, though I wrote unto you, I did it not for his cause that had done the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear unto you.\r\n Therefore we were comforted in your comfort: yea, and exceedingly the more joyed we for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all.\r\n For if I have boasted any thing to him of you, I am not ashamed; but as we spake all things to you in truth, even so our boasting, which I made before Titus, is found a truth.\r\n And his inward affection is more abundant toward you, whilst he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him.\r\n I rejoice therefore that I have confidence in you in all things.\r\n \r\n \r\n Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;\r\n How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.\r\n For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;\r\n Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.\r\n And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.\r\n Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also.\r\n Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.\r\n I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.\r\n For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.\r\n And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago.\r\n Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have.\r\n For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.\r\n For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened:\r\n But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:\r\n As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.\r\n But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you.\r\n For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went unto you.\r\n And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches;\r\n And not that only, but who was also chosen of the churches to travel with us with this grace, which is administered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and declaration of your ready mind:\r\n Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us:\r\n Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.\r\n And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have oftentimes proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, upon the great confidence which I have in you.\r\n Whether any do enquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellowhelper concerning you: or our brethren be enquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ.\r\n Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf.\r\n \r\n \r\n For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you:\r\n For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many.\r\n Yet have I sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this behalf; that, as I said, ye may be ready:\r\n Lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be ashamed in this same confident boasting.\r\n Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness.\r\n But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.\r\n Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.\r\n And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:\r\n As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.\r\n Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)\r\n Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.\r\n For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;\r\n Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men;\r\n And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you.\r\n Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:\r\n But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.\r\n For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:\r\n For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)\r\n Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;\r\n And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.\r\n Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ's, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ's, even so are we Christ's.\r\n For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed:\r\n That I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters.\r\n For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.\r\n Let such an one think this, that, such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we are present.\r\n For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.\r\n But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you.\r\n For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ:\r\n Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men's labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly,\r\n To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man's line of things made ready to our hand.\r\n But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.\r\n For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.\r\n \r\n \r\n Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me.\r\n For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.\r\n But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.\r\n For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.\r\n For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles.\r\n But though I be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we have been throughly made manifest among you in all things.\r\n Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely?\r\n I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service.\r\n And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself.\r\n As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia.\r\n Wherefore? because I love you not? God knoweth.\r\n But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we.\r\n For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.\r\n And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.\r\n Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.\r\n I say again, Let no man think me a fool; if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I may boast myself a little.\r\n That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.\r\n Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also.\r\n For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise.\r\n For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face.\r\n I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit whereinsoever any is bold, (I speak foolishly,) I am bold also.\r\n Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.\r\n Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.\r\n Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.\r\n Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;\r\n In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;\r\n In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.\r\n Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.\r\n Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?\r\n If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.\r\n The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.\r\n In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me:\r\n And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.\r\n \r\n \r\n It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.\r\n I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.\r\n And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)\r\n How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.\r\n Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.\r\n For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.\r\n And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.\r\n For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.\r\n And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.\r\n Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.\r\n I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing.\r\n Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.\r\n For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong.\r\n Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.\r\n And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.\r\n But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile.\r\n Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you?\r\n I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? walked we not in the same spirit? walked we not in the same steps?\r\n Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.\r\n For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:\r\n And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.\r\n \r\n \r\n This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.\r\n I told you before, and foretell you, as if I were present, the second time; and being absent now I write to them which heretofore have sinned, and to all other, that, if I come again, I will not spare:\r\n Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you.\r\n For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.\r\n Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?\r\n But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates.\r\n Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates.\r\n For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.\r\n For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection.\r\n Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction.\r\n Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.\r\n Greet one another with an holy kiss.\r\n All the saints salute you.\r\n The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n To the Galatians written from Rome.\r\n Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)\r\n And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia:\r\n Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,\r\n Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:\r\n To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.\r\n I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:\r\n Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.\r\n But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.\r\n As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.\r\n For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.\r\n But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.\r\n For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.\r\n For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:\r\n And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.\r\n But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace,\r\n To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:\r\n Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.\r\n Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.\r\n But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother.\r\n Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not.\r\n Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia;\r\n And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ:\r\n But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.\r\n And they glorified God in me.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also.\r\n And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.\r\n But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised:\r\n And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:\r\n To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.\r\n But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man's person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me:\r\n But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;\r\n For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)\r\n And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.\r\n Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.\r\n But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.\r\n For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.\r\n And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.\r\n But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?\r\n We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles,\r\n Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.\r\n But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.\r\n For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.\r\n For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.\r\n I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.\r\n I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.\r\n \r\n \r\n O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?\r\n This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?\r\n Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?\r\n Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.\r\n He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?\r\n Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.\r\n Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.\r\n And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.\r\n So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.\r\n For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.\r\n But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.\r\n And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.\r\n Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:\r\n That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.\r\n Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.\r\n Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.\r\n And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.\r\n For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.\r\n Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.\r\n Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.\r\n Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.\r\n But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.\r\n But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.\r\n Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.\r\n But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.\r\n For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.\r\n For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.\r\n There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.\r\n And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;\r\n But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.\r\n Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:\r\n But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,\r\n To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.\r\n And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.\r\n Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.\r\n Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.\r\n But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?\r\n Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.\r\n I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.\r\n Brethren, I beseech you, be as I am; for I am as ye are: ye have not injured me at all.\r\n Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first.\r\n And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.\r\n Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me.\r\n Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?\r\n They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them.\r\n But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you.\r\n My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,\r\n I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you.\r\n Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?\r\n For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.\r\n But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.\r\n Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.\r\n For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.\r\n But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.\r\n For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.\r\n Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.\r\n But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.\r\n Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.\r\n So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.\r\n \r\n \r\n Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.\r\n Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.\r\n For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.\r\n Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.\r\n For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.\r\n For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.\r\n Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?\r\n This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you.\r\n A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.\r\n I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be.\r\n And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased.\r\n I would they were even cut off which trouble you.\r\n For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.\r\n For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.\r\n But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.\r\n This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.\r\n For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.\r\n But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.\r\n Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,\r\n Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,\r\n Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.\r\n But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,\r\n Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.\r\n And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.\r\n If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.\r\n Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.\r\n \r\n \r\n Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.\r\n Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.\r\n For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.\r\n But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.\r\n For every man shall bear his own burden.\r\n Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.\r\n Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.\r\n For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.\r\n And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.\r\n As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.\r\n Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand.\r\n As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.\r\n For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.\r\n But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.\r\n For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.\r\n And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.\r\n From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.\r\n Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n To the Ephesians written from Rome, by Tychicus.\r\n Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:\r\n Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.\r\n Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:\r\n According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:\r\n Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,\r\n To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.\r\n In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;\r\n Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;\r\n Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:\r\n That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:\r\n In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:\r\n That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.\r\n In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,\r\n Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.\r\n Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,\r\n Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;\r\n That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:\r\n The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,\r\n And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,\r\n Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,\r\n Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:\r\n And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,\r\n Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.\r\n \r\n \r\n And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;\r\n Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:\r\n Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.\r\n But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,\r\n Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)\r\n And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:\r\n That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.\r\n For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:\r\n Not of works, lest any man should boast.\r\n For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.\r\n Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;\r\n That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:\r\n But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.\r\n For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;\r\n Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;\r\n And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:\r\n And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.\r\n For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.\r\n Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;\r\n And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;\r\n In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:\r\n In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.\r\n \r\n \r\n For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,\r\n If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:\r\n How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,\r\n Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)\r\n Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;\r\n That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:\r\n Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.\r\n Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;\r\n And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:\r\n To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,\r\n According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:\r\n In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.\r\n Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.\r\n For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,\r\n Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,\r\n That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;\r\n That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,\r\n May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;\r\n And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.\r\n Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,\r\n Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.\r\n \r\n \r\n I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,\r\n With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;\r\n Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.\r\n There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;\r\n One Lord, one faith, one baptism,\r\n One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.\r\n But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.\r\n Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.\r\n Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?\r\n He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)\r\n And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;\r\n For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:\r\n Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:\r\n That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;\r\n But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:\r\n From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.\r\n This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,\r\n Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:\r\n Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.\r\n But ye have not so learned Christ;\r\n If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:\r\n That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;\r\n And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;\r\n And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.\r\n Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.\r\n Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:\r\n Neither give place to the devil.\r\n Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.\r\n Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.\r\n And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.\r\n Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:\r\n And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.\r\n \r\n \r\n Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;\r\n And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.\r\n But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;\r\n Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.\r\n For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.\r\n Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.\r\n Be not ye therefore partakers with them.\r\n For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:\r\n For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)\r\n Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.\r\n And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.\r\n For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.\r\n But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.\r\n Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.\r\n See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,\r\n Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.\r\n Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.\r\n And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;\r\n Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;\r\n Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;\r\n Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.\r\n Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.\r\n For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.\r\n Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.\r\n Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;\r\n That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,\r\n That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.\r\n So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.\r\n For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:\r\n For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.\r\n For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.\r\n This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.\r\n Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.\r\n \r\n \r\n Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.\r\n Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)\r\n That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.\r\n And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.\r\n Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;\r\n Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;\r\n With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:\r\n Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.\r\n And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.\r\n Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.\r\n Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.\r\n For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.\r\n Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.\r\n Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;\r\n And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;\r\n Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.\r\n And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:\r\n Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;\r\n And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,\r\n For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.\r\n But that ye also may know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things:\r\n Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that ye might know our affairs, and that he might comfort your hearts.\r\n Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.\r\n Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen. \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n To the Philippians written from Rome, by Epaphroditus.\r\n Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:\r\n Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.\r\n I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,\r\n Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,\r\n For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;\r\n Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:\r\n Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.\r\n For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.\r\n And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;\r\n That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;\r\n Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.\r\n But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;\r\n So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places;\r\n And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.\r\n Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:\r\n The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:\r\n But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.\r\n What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.\r\n For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,\r\n According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.\r\n For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.\r\n But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.\r\n For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:\r\n Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.\r\n And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith;\r\n That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again.\r\n Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;\r\n And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.\r\n For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;\r\n Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.\r\n \r\n \r\n If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,\r\n Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.\r\n Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.\r\n Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.\r\n Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:\r\n Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:\r\n But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:\r\n And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.\r\n Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:\r\n That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;\r\n And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.\r\n Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.\r\n For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.\r\n Do all things without murmurings and disputings:\r\n That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;\r\n Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.\r\n Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.\r\n For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me.\r\n But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state.\r\n For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state.\r\n For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's.\r\n But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel.\r\n Him therefore I hope to send presently, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me.\r\n But I trust in the Lord that I also myself shall come shortly.\r\n Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants.\r\n For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick.\r\n For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.\r\n I sent him therefore the more carefully, that, when ye see him again, ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful.\r\n Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such in reputation:\r\n Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me.\r\n \r\n \r\n Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.\r\n Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.\r\n For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.\r\n Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:\r\n Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;\r\n Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.\r\n But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.\r\n Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,\r\n And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:\r\n That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;\r\n If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.\r\n Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.\r\n Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,\r\n I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.\r\n Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.\r\n Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.\r\n Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.\r\n For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:\r\n Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)\r\n For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:\r\n Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.\r\n \r\n \r\n Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.\r\n I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.\r\n And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.\r\n Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.\r\n Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.\r\n Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.\r\n And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.\r\n Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.\r\n Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.\r\n But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.\r\n Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.\r\n I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.\r\n I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.\r\n Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction.\r\n Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.\r\n For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.\r\n Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.\r\n But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.\r\n But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.\r\n Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.\r\n Salute every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren which are with me greet you.\r\n All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Caesar's household.\r\n The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n Written from Rome to Colossians by Tychicus and Onesimus.\r\n Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother,\r\n To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.\r\n We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,\r\n Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints,\r\n For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;\r\n Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:\r\n As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ;\r\n Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.\r\n For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;\r\n That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;\r\n Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;\r\n Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:\r\n Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:\r\n In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:\r\n Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:\r\n For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:\r\n And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.\r\n And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.\r\n For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;\r\n And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.\r\n And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled\r\n In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:\r\n If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;\r\n Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:\r\n Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;\r\n Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:\r\n To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:\r\n Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:\r\n Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.\r\n \r\n \r\n For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;\r\n That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;\r\n In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.\r\n And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.\r\n For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.\r\n As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:\r\n Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.\r\n Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.\r\n For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.\r\n And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:\r\n In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:\r\n Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.\r\n And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;\r\n Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;\r\n And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.\r\n Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:\r\n Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.\r\n Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,\r\n And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.\r\n Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,\r\n Touch not; taste not; handle not;\r\n Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?\r\n Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.\r\n \r\n \r\n If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.\r\n Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.\r\n For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.\r\n When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.\r\n Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:\r\n For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:\r\n In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.\r\n But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.\r\n Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;\r\n And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:\r\n Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.\r\n Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;\r\n Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.\r\n And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.\r\n And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.\r\n Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.\r\n And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.\r\n Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.\r\n Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.\r\n Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.\r\n Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.\r\n Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:\r\n And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;\r\n Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.\r\n But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.\r\n \r\n \r\n Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.\r\n Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;\r\n Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:\r\n That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.\r\n Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.\r\n Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.\r\n All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord:\r\n Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts;\r\n With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things which are done here.\r\n Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister's son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him;)\r\n And Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These only are my fellowworkers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me.\r\n Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.\r\n For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis.\r\n Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you.\r\n Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house.\r\n And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.\r\n And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.\r\n The salutation by the hand of me Paul. Remember my bonds. Grace be with you. Amen. \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n The first epistle to the Thessalonians was written from Athens.\r\n Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.\r\n We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers;\r\n Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;\r\n Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.\r\n For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.\r\n And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:\r\n So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.\r\n For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.\r\n For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;\r\n And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.\r\n \r\n \r\n For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain:\r\n But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention.\r\n For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile:\r\n But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.\r\n For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness:\r\n Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.\r\n But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:\r\n So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.\r\n For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.\r\n Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:\r\n As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children,\r\n That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.\r\n For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.\r\n For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:\r\n Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men:\r\n Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.\r\n But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavoured the more abundantly to see your face with great desire.\r\n Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.\r\n For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?\r\n For ye are our glory and joy.\r\n \r\n \r\n Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone;\r\n And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:\r\n That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.\r\n For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.\r\n For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.\r\n But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you:\r\n Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith:\r\n For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.\r\n For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God;\r\n Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?\r\n Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you.\r\n And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:\r\n To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.\r\n \r\n \r\n Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.\r\n For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.\r\n For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:\r\n That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;\r\n Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:\r\n That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.\r\n For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.\r\n He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.\r\n But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.\r\n And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more;\r\n And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;\r\n That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.\r\n But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.\r\n For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.\r\n For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.\r\n For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:\r\n Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.\r\n Wherefore comfort one another with these words.\r\n \r\n \r\n But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.\r\n For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.\r\n For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.\r\n But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.\r\n Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.\r\n Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.\r\n For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.\r\n But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.\r\n For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,\r\n Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.\r\n Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.\r\n And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;\r\n And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves.\r\n Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.\r\n See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.\r\n Rejoice evermore.\r\n Pray without ceasing.\r\n In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.\r\n Quench not the Spirit.\r\n Despise not prophesyings.\r\n Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.\r\n Abstain from all appearance of evil.\r\n And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.\r\n Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.\r\n Brethren, pray for us.\r\n Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss.\r\n I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren.\r\n The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n The second epistle to the Thessalonians was written from Athens.\r\n Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:\r\n Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.\r\n We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;\r\n So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:\r\n Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:\r\n Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;\r\n And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,\r\n In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:\r\n Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;\r\n When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.\r\n Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:\r\n That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,\r\n That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.\r\n Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;\r\n Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.\r\n Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?\r\n And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.\r\n For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.\r\n And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:\r\n Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,\r\n And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.\r\n And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:\r\n That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.\r\n But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:\r\n Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.\r\n Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.\r\n Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,\r\n Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.\r\n \r\n \r\n Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:\r\n And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.\r\n But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.\r\n And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which we command you.\r\n And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.\r\n Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.\r\n For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;\r\n Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you:\r\n Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.\r\n For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.\r\n For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.\r\n Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.\r\n But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.\r\n And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.\r\n Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.\r\n Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all.\r\n The salutation of Paul with mine own hand, which is the token in every epistle: so I write.\r\n The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n The first to Timothy was written from Laodicea, which is the chiefest city of Phrygia Pacatiana.\r\n Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;\r\n Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.\r\n As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,\r\n Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.\r\n Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:\r\n From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;\r\n Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.\r\n But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;\r\n Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,\r\n For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;\r\n According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.\r\n And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;\r\n Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.\r\n And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.\r\n This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.\r\n Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.\r\n Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.\r\n This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;\r\n Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:\r\n Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.\r\n \r\n \r\n I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;\r\n For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.\r\n For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;\r\n Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.\r\n For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;\r\n Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.\r\n Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.\r\n I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.\r\n In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;\r\n But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.\r\n Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.\r\n But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.\r\n For Adam was first formed, then Eve.\r\n And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.\r\n Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.\r\n \r\n \r\n This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.\r\n A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;\r\n Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;\r\n One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;\r\n For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)\r\n Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.\r\n Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.\r\n Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;\r\n Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.\r\n And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.\r\n Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.\r\n Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.\r\n For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.\r\n These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly:\r\n But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.\r\n And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;\r\n Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;\r\n Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.\r\n For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:\r\n For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.\r\n If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.\r\n But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.\r\n For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.\r\n This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.\r\n For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.\r\n These things command and teach.\r\n Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.\r\n Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.\r\n Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.\r\n Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.\r\n Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.\r\n \r\n \r\n Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren;\r\n The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity.\r\n Honour widows that are widows indeed.\r\n But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God.\r\n Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.\r\n But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.\r\n And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless.\r\n But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.\r\n Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man,\r\n Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.\r\n But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry;\r\n Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith.\r\n And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.\r\n I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.\r\n For some are already turned aside after Satan.\r\n If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed.\r\n Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.\r\n For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.\r\n Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.\r\n Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.\r\n I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.\r\n Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure.\r\n Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities.\r\n Some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after.\r\n Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid.\r\n \r\n \r\n Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed.\r\n And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort.\r\n If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;\r\n He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,\r\n Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.\r\n But godliness with contentment is great gain.\r\n For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.\r\n And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.\r\n But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.\r\n For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.\r\n But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.\r\n Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.\r\n I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession;\r\n That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:\r\n Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;\r\n Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.\r\n Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;\r\n That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;\r\n Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.\r\n O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:\r\n Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen. \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n The second epistle unto Timotheus, ordained the first bishop of the church of the Ephesians, was written from Rome, when Paul was brought before Nero the second time.\r\n Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,\r\n To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.\r\n I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day;\r\n Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy;\r\n When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.\r\n Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.\r\n For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.\r\n Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;\r\n Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,\r\n But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:\r\n Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.\r\n For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.\r\n Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.\r\n That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.\r\n This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.\r\n The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain:\r\n But, when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found me.\r\n The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day: and in how many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus, thou knowest very well.\r\n \r\n \r\n Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.\r\n And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.\r\n Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.\r\n No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.\r\n And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.\r\n The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.\r\n Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.\r\n Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:\r\n Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.\r\n Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.\r\n It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:\r\n If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:\r\n If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.\r\n Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.\r\n Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.\r\n But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.\r\n And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;\r\n Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.\r\n Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.\r\n But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.\r\n If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.\r\n Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.\r\n But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.\r\n And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,\r\n In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;\r\n And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.\r\n \r\n \r\n This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.\r\n For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,\r\n Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,\r\n Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;\r\n Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.\r\n For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,\r\n Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.\r\n Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.\r\n But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.\r\n But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,\r\n Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.\r\n Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.\r\n But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.\r\n But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;\r\n And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.\r\n All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:\r\n That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.\r\n \r\n \r\n I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;\r\n Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.\r\n For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;\r\n And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.\r\n But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.\r\n For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.\r\n I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:\r\n Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.\r\n Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me:\r\n For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.\r\n Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.\r\n And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus.\r\n The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments.\r\n Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works:\r\n Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words.\r\n At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.\r\n Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.\r\n And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.\r\n Salute Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus.\r\n Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick.\r\n Do thy diligence to come before winter. Eubulus greeteth thee, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brethren.\r\n The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit. Grace be with you. Amen. \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n It was written to Titus, ordained the first bishop of the church of the Cretians, from Nicopolis of Macedonia.\r\n Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;\r\n In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;\r\n But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;\r\n To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.\r\n For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:\r\n If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.\r\n For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;\r\n But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;\r\n Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.\r\n For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:\r\n Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.\r\n One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.\r\n This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;\r\n Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.\r\n Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.\r\n They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.\r\n \r\n \r\n But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:\r\n That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.\r\n The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;\r\n That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,\r\n To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.\r\n Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded.\r\n In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,\r\n Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.\r\n Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again;\r\n Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.\r\n For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,\r\n Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;\r\n Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;\r\n Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.\r\n These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.\r\n \r\n \r\n Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,\r\n To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.\r\n For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.\r\n But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,\r\n Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;\r\n Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;\r\n That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.\r\n This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.\r\n But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.\r\n A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;\r\n Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.\r\n When I shall send Artemas unto thee, or Tychicus, be diligent to come unto me to Nicopolis: for I have determined there to winter.\r\n Bring Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey diligently, that nothing be wanting unto them.\r\n And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.\r\n All that are with me salute thee. Greet them that love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen. \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n Written from Rome to Philemon, by Onesimus a servant.\r\n Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer,\r\n And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house:\r\n Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.\r\n I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers,\r\n Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints;\r\n That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.\r\n For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.\r\n Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient,\r\n Yet for love's sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.\r\n I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:\r\n Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:\r\n Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels:\r\n Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel:\r\n But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.\r\n For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever;\r\n Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?\r\n If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself.\r\n If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account;\r\n I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides.\r\n Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord.\r\n Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.\r\n But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you.\r\n There salute thee Epaphras, my fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus;\r\n Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers.\r\n The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n Written to the Hebrews from Italy, by Timothy.\r\n God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,\r\n Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;\r\n Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;\r\n Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.\r\n For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?\r\n And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.\r\n And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.\r\n But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.\r\n Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.\r\n And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:\r\n They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment;\r\n And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.\r\n But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?\r\n Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?\r\n \r\n \r\n Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.\r\n For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;\r\n How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;\r\n God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?\r\n For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak.\r\n But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him?\r\n Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:\r\n Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.\r\n But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.\r\n For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.\r\n For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,\r\n Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.\r\n And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.\r\n Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;\r\n And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.\r\n For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.\r\n Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.\r\n For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.\r\n \r\n \r\n Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;\r\n Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house.\r\n For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house.\r\n For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God.\r\n And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after;\r\n But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.\r\n Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice,\r\n Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:\r\n When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.\r\n Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.\r\n So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.)\r\n Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.\r\n But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.\r\n For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;\r\n While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.\r\n For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.\r\n But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?\r\n And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?\r\n So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.\r\n \r\n \r\n Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.\r\n For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.\r\n For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.\r\n For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.\r\n And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest.\r\n Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:\r\n Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.\r\n For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.\r\n There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.\r\n For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.\r\n Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.\r\n For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.\r\n Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.\r\n Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.\r\n For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.\r\n Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.\r\n \r\n \r\n For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:\r\n Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.\r\n And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.\r\n And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.\r\n So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.\r\n As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.\r\n Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;\r\n Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;\r\n And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;\r\n Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.\r\n Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.\r\n For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.\r\n For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.\r\n But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.\r\n \r\n \r\n Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,\r\n Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.\r\n And this will we do, if God permit.\r\n For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,\r\n And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,\r\n If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.\r\n For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God:\r\n But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.\r\n But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.\r\n For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.\r\n And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:\r\n That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.\r\n For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,\r\n Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.\r\n And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.\r\n For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife.\r\n Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:\r\n That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:\r\n Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;\r\n Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.\r\n \r\n \r\n For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;\r\n To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;\r\n Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.\r\n Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.\r\n And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham:\r\n But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.\r\n And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.\r\n And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.\r\n And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.\r\n For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.\r\n If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?\r\n For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.\r\n For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.\r\n For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.\r\n And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,\r\n Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.\r\n For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.\r\n For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.\r\n For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.\r\n And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest:\r\n For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:)\r\n By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.\r\n And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:\r\n But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.\r\n Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.\r\n For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;\r\n Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.\r\n For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;\r\n A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.\r\n For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer.\r\n For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law:\r\n Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.\r\n But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.\r\n For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.\r\n For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:\r\n Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.\r\n For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:\r\n And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.\r\n For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.\r\n In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.\r\n \r\n \r\n Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.\r\n For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary.\r\n And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all;\r\n Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;\r\n And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.\r\n Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God.\r\n But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:\r\n The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:\r\n Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;\r\n Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.\r\n But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;\r\n Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.\r\n For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:\r\n How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?\r\n And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.\r\n For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.\r\n For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.\r\n Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood.\r\n For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people,\r\n Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.\r\n Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry.\r\n And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.\r\n It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.\r\n For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:\r\n Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;\r\n For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.\r\n And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:\r\n So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.\r\n \r\n \r\n For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.\r\n For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.\r\n But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.\r\n For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.\r\n Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:\r\n In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.\r\n Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.\r\n Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;\r\n Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.\r\n By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.\r\n And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:\r\n But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;\r\n From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.\r\n For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.\r\n Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,\r\n This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;\r\n And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.\r\n Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.\r\n Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,\r\n By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;\r\n And having an high priest over the house of God;\r\n Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.\r\n Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)\r\n And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:\r\n Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.\r\n For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,\r\n But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.\r\n He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:\r\n Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?\r\n For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.\r\n It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.\r\n But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions;\r\n Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used.\r\n For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.\r\n Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.\r\n For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.\r\n For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.\r\n Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.\r\n But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.\r\n \r\n \r\n Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.\r\n For by it the elders obtained a good report.\r\n Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.\r\n By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.\r\n By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.\r\n But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.\r\n By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.\r\n By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.\r\n By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:\r\n For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.\r\n Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.\r\n Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.\r\n These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.\r\n For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.\r\n And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.\r\n But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.\r\n By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,\r\n Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:\r\n Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.\r\n By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.\r\n By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.\r\n By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.\r\n By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.\r\n By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;\r\n Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;\r\n Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.\r\n By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.\r\n Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.\r\n By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.\r\n By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.\r\n By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.\r\n And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:\r\n Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,\r\n Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.\r\n Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:\r\n And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:\r\n They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;\r\n Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.\r\n And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:\r\n God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.\r\n \r\n \r\n Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,\r\n Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.\r\n For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.\r\n Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.\r\n And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:\r\n For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.\r\n If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?\r\n But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.\r\n Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?\r\n For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.\r\n Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.\r\n Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;\r\n And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.\r\n Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:\r\n Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;\r\n Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.\r\n For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.\r\n For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,\r\n And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more:\r\n For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart:\r\n And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)\r\n But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,\r\n To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,\r\n And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.\r\n See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:\r\n Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.\r\n And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.\r\n Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:\r\n For our God is a consuming fire.\r\n \r\n \r\n Let brotherly love continue.\r\n Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.\r\n Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.\r\n Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.\r\n Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.\r\n So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.\r\n Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.\r\n Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.\r\n Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.\r\n We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.\r\n For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.\r\n Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.\r\n Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.\r\n For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.\r\n By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.\r\n But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.\r\n Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.\r\n Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.\r\n But I beseech you the rather to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.\r\n Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,\r\n Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.\r\n And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation: for I have written a letter unto you in few words.\r\n Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you.\r\n Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you.\r\n Grace be with you all. Amen. \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.\r\n My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;\r\n Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.\r\n But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.\r\n If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.\r\n But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.\r\n For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.\r\n A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.\r\n Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted:\r\n But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.\r\n For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.\r\n Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.\r\n Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:\r\n But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.\r\n Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.\r\n Do not err, my beloved brethren.\r\n Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.\r\n Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.\r\n Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:\r\n For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.\r\n Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.\r\n But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.\r\n For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:\r\n For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.\r\n But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.\r\n If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.\r\n Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.\r\n \r\n \r\n My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.\r\n For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;\r\n And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:\r\n Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?\r\n Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?\r\n But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?\r\n Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?\r\n If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:\r\n But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.\r\n For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.\r\n For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.\r\n So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.\r\n For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.\r\n What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?\r\n If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,\r\n And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?\r\n Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.\r\n Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.\r\n Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.\r\n But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?\r\n Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?\r\n Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?\r\n And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.\r\n Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.\r\n Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?\r\n For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.\r\n \r\n \r\n My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.\r\n For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.\r\n Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.\r\n Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.\r\n Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!\r\n And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.\r\n For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:\r\n But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.\r\n Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.\r\n Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.\r\n Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?\r\n Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.\r\n Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.\r\n But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.\r\n This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.\r\n For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.\r\n But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.\r\n And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.\r\n \r\n \r\n From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?\r\n Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.\r\n Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.\r\n Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.\r\n Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?\r\n But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.\r\n Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.\r\n Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.\r\n Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.\r\n Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.\r\n Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.\r\n There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?\r\n Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:\r\n Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.\r\n For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.\r\n But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.\r\n Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.\r\n \r\n \r\n Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.\r\n Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten.\r\n Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.\r\n Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.\r\n Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.\r\n Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you.\r\n Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.\r\n Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.\r\n Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.\r\n Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.\r\n Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.\r\n But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.\r\n Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.\r\n Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:\r\n And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.\r\n Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.\r\n Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.\r\n And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.\r\n Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;\r\n Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,\r\n Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.\r\n Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,\r\n To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,\r\n Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.\r\n Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:\r\n That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:\r\n Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:\r\n Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.\r\n Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:\r\n Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.\r\n Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.\r\n Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;\r\n As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:\r\n But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;\r\n Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.\r\n And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:\r\n Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;\r\n But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:\r\n Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,\r\n Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.\r\n Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:\r\n Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.\r\n For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:\r\n But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.\r\n \r\n \r\n Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,\r\n As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:\r\n If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.\r\n To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,\r\n Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.\r\n Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.\r\n Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,\r\n And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.\r\n But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:\r\n Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.\r\n Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;\r\n Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.\r\n Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;\r\n Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.\r\n For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:\r\n As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.\r\n Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.\r\n Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.\r\n For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.\r\n For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.\r\n For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:\r\n Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:\r\n Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:\r\n Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.\r\n For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.\r\n \r\n \r\n Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;\r\n While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.\r\n Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;\r\n But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.\r\n For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:\r\n Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.\r\n Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.\r\n Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:\r\n Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.\r\n For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:\r\n Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.\r\n For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.\r\n And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?\r\n But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;\r\n But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:\r\n Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.\r\n For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.\r\n For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:\r\n By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;\r\n Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.\r\n The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:\r\n Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.\r\n \r\n \r\n Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;\r\n That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.\r\n For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:\r\n Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:\r\n Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.\r\n For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.\r\n But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.\r\n And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.\r\n Use hospitality one to another without grudging.\r\n As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.\r\n If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.\r\n Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:\r\n But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.\r\n If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.\r\n But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.\r\n Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.\r\n For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?\r\n And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?\r\n Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.\r\n \r\n \r\n The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:\r\n Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;\r\n Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.\r\n And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.\r\n Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.\r\n Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:\r\n Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.\r\n Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:\r\n Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.\r\n But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.\r\n To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.\r\n By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand.\r\n The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son.\r\n Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:\r\n Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,\r\n According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:\r\n Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.\r\n And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;\r\n And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;\r\n And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.\r\n For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.\r\n But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.\r\n Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:\r\n For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.\r\n Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.\r\n Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance;\r\n Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me.\r\n Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.\r\n For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.\r\n For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.\r\n And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.\r\n We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:\r\n Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.\r\n For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.\r\n \r\n \r\n But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.\r\n And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.\r\n And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.\r\n For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;\r\n And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;\r\n And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;\r\n And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:\r\n For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)\r\n The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:\r\n But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.\r\n Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.\r\n But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;\r\n And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;\r\n Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:\r\n Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;\r\n But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet.\r\n These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.\r\n For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.\r\n While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.\r\n For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.\r\n For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.\r\n But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.\r\n \r\n \r\n This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:\r\n That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:\r\n Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,\r\n And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.\r\n For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:\r\n Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:\r\n But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.\r\n But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.\r\n The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.\r\n But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.\r\n Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,\r\n Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?\r\n Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.\r\n Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.\r\n And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;\r\n As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.\r\n Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.\r\n But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;\r\n For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)\r\n That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.\r\n And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.\r\n This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.\r\n If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:\r\n But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.\r\n If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.\r\n If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.\r\n If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.\r\n \r\n \r\n My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:\r\n And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.\r\n And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.\r\n He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.\r\n But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.\r\n He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.\r\n Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning.\r\n Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.\r\n He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.\r\n He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.\r\n But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.\r\n I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake.\r\n I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.\r\n I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.\r\n Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.\r\n For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.\r\n And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.\r\n Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.\r\n They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.\r\n But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.\r\n I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.\r\n Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.\r\n Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.\r\n Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.\r\n And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.\r\n These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.\r\n But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.\r\n And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.\r\n If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.\r\n \r\n \r\n Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.\r\n Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.\r\n And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.\r\n Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.\r\n And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.\r\n Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.\r\n Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.\r\n He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.\r\n Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.\r\n In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.\r\n For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.\r\n Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.\r\n Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.\r\n We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.\r\n Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.\r\n Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.\r\n But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?\r\n My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.\r\n And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.\r\n For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.\r\n Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.\r\n And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.\r\n And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.\r\n And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.\r\n \r\n \r\n Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.\r\n Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:\r\n And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.\r\n Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.\r\n They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.\r\n We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.\r\n Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.\r\n He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.\r\n In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.\r\n Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.\r\n Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.\r\n No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.\r\n Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.\r\n And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.\r\n Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.\r\n And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.\r\n Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.\r\n There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.\r\n We love him, because he first loved us.\r\n If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?\r\n And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.\r\n \r\n \r\n Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.\r\n By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.\r\n For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.\r\n For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.\r\n Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?\r\n This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.\r\n For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.\r\n And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.\r\n If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.\r\n He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.\r\n And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.\r\n He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.\r\n These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.\r\n And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:\r\n And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.\r\n If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.\r\n All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.\r\n We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.\r\n And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.\r\n And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.\r\n Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth;\r\n For the truth's sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever.\r\n Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.\r\n I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.\r\n And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.\r\n And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.\r\n For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.\r\n Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.\r\n Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.\r\n If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:\r\n For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.\r\n Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.\r\n The children of thy elect sister greet thee. Amen.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n The elder unto the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth.\r\n Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.\r\n For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.\r\n I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.\r\n Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers;\r\n Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well:\r\n Because that for his name's sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles.\r\n We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth.\r\n I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.\r\n Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.\r\n Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.\r\n Demetrius hath good report of all men, and of the truth itself: yea, and we also bear record; and ye know that our record is true.\r\n I had many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen write unto thee:\r\n But I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to face. Peace be to thee. Our friends salute thee. Greet the friends by name.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:\r\n Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied.\r\n Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.\r\n For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.\r\n I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.\r\n And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.\r\n Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.\r\n Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.\r\n Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.\r\n But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.\r\n Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.\r\n These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;\r\n Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.\r\n And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,\r\n To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.\r\n These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage.\r\n But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;\r\n How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.\r\n These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.\r\n But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,\r\n Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.\r\n And of some have compassion, making a difference:\r\n And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.\r\n Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,\r\n To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:\r\n Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.\r\n Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.\r\n John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;\r\n And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,\r\n And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.\r\n Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.\r\n I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.\r\n I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.\r\n I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,\r\n Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.\r\n And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;\r\n And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.\r\n His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;\r\n And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.\r\n And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.\r\n And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:\r\n I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.\r\n Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;\r\n The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.\r\n \r\n \r\n Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;\r\n I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:\r\n And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.\r\n Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.\r\n Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.\r\n But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.\r\n He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.\r\n And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;\r\n I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.\r\n Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.\r\n He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.\r\n And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;\r\n I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.\r\n But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.\r\n So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.\r\n Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.\r\n He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.\r\n And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass;\r\n I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.\r\n Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.\r\n And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.\r\n Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.\r\n And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.\r\n But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.\r\n But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.\r\n And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:\r\n And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.\r\n And I will give him the morning star.\r\n He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.\r\n \r\n \r\n And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.\r\n Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.\r\n Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.\r\n Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.\r\n He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.\r\n He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.\r\n And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;\r\n I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.\r\n Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.\r\n Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.\r\n Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.\r\n Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.\r\n He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.\r\n And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;\r\n I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.\r\n So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.\r\n Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:\r\n I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.\r\n As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.\r\n Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.\r\n To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.\r\n He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.\r\n \r\n \r\n After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.\r\n And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.\r\n And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.\r\n And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.\r\n And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.\r\n And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.\r\n And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.\r\n And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.\r\n And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,\r\n The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,\r\n Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.\r\n \r\n \r\n And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.\r\n And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?\r\n And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.\r\n And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.\r\n And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.\r\n And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.\r\n And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.\r\n And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.\r\n And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;\r\n And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.\r\n And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;\r\n Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.\r\n And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.\r\n And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.\r\n \r\n \r\n And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see.\r\n And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.\r\n And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see.\r\n And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.\r\n And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand.\r\n And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.\r\n And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see.\r\n And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.\r\n And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:\r\n And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?\r\n And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.\r\n And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;\r\n And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.\r\n And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.\r\n And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;\r\n And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:\r\n For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?\r\n \r\n \r\n And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.\r\n And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,\r\n Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.\r\n And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.\r\n Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand.\r\n Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nepthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand.\r\n Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand.\r\n Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand.\r\n After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;\r\n And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.\r\n And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,\r\n Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.\r\n And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?\r\n And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.\r\n Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.\r\n They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.\r\n For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.\r\n \r\n \r\n And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.\r\n And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets.\r\n And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.\r\n And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.\r\n And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.\r\n And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.\r\n The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.\r\n And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood;\r\n And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed.\r\n And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters;\r\n And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.\r\n And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise.\r\n And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!\r\n \r\n \r\n And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.\r\n And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.\r\n And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.\r\n And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.\r\n And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man.\r\n And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.\r\n And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men.\r\n And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions.\r\n And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle.\r\n And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months.\r\n And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.\r\n One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter.\r\n And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God,\r\n Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates.\r\n And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men.\r\n And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them.\r\n And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone.\r\n By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths.\r\n For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails were like unto serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt.\r\n And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:\r\n Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.\r\n \r\n \r\n And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire:\r\n And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth,\r\n And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.\r\n And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not.\r\n And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven,\r\n And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer:\r\n But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.\r\n And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto me again, and said, Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth.\r\n And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey.\r\n And I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.\r\n And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.\r\n \r\n \r\n And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.\r\n But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.\r\n And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.\r\n These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.\r\n And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.\r\n These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.\r\n And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.\r\n And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.\r\n And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.\r\n And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.\r\n And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.\r\n And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.\r\n And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.\r\n The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly.\r\n And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.\r\n And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,\r\n Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.\r\n And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.\r\n And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.\r\n \r\n \r\n And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:\r\n And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.\r\n And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.\r\n And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.\r\n And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.\r\n And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.\r\n And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,\r\n And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.\r\n And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.\r\n And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.\r\n And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.\r\n Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.\r\n And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.\r\n And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.\r\n And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.\r\n And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.\r\n And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.\r\n \r\n \r\n And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.\r\n And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.\r\n And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.\r\n And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?\r\n And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.\r\n And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.\r\n And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.\r\n And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.\r\n If any man have an ear, let him hear.\r\n He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.\r\n And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.\r\n And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.\r\n And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,\r\n And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.\r\n And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.\r\n And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:\r\n And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.\r\n Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.\r\n \r\n \r\n And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads.\r\n And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:\r\n And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.\r\n These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.\r\n And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.\r\n And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,\r\n Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.\r\n And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.\r\n And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,\r\n The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:\r\n And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.\r\n Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.\r\n And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.\r\n And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.\r\n And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.\r\n And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.\r\n And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.\r\n And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.\r\n And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.\r\n And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.\r\n \r\n \r\n And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.\r\n And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.\r\n And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.\r\n Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.\r\n And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened:\r\n And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles.\r\n And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.\r\n And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.\r\n \r\n \r\n And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.\r\n And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image.\r\n And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man: and every living soul died in the sea.\r\n And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood.\r\n And I heard the angel of the waters say, Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be, because thou hast judged thus.\r\n For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy.\r\n And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments.\r\n And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire.\r\n And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory.\r\n And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain,\r\n And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.\r\n And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.\r\n And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.\r\n For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.\r\n Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.\r\n And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.\r\n And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.\r\n And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.\r\n And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.\r\n And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.\r\n And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.\r\n \r\n \r\n And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:\r\n With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.\r\n So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.\r\n And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:\r\n And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.\r\n And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.\r\n And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns.\r\n The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.\r\n And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.\r\n And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.\r\n And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.\r\n And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.\r\n These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.\r\n These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.\r\n And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.\r\n And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.\r\n For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.\r\n And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.\r\n \r\n \r\n And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.\r\n And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.\r\n For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.\r\n And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.\r\n For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.\r\n Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.\r\n How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.\r\n Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.\r\n And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning,\r\n Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.\r\n And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more:\r\n The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble,\r\n And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.\r\n And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all.\r\n The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing,\r\n And saying, Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls!\r\n For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off,\r\n And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city!\r\n And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.\r\n Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her.\r\n And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.\r\n And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee;\r\n And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.\r\n And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.\r\n \r\n \r\n And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God:\r\n For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.\r\n And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever.\r\n And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia.\r\n And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great.\r\n And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.\r\n Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.\r\n And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.\r\n And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.\r\n And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.\r\n And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.\r\n His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.\r\n And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.\r\n And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.\r\n And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.\r\n And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.\r\n And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;\r\n That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.\r\n And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.\r\n And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.\r\n And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.\r\n \r\n \r\n And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.\r\n And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,\r\n And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.\r\n And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.\r\n But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.\r\n Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.\r\n And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,\r\n And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.\r\n And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.\r\n And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.\r\n And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.\r\n And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.\r\n And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.\r\n And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.\r\n And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.\r\n \r\n \r\n And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.\r\n And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.\r\n And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.\r\n And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.\r\n And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.\r\n And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.\r\n He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.\r\n But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.\r\n And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.\r\n And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,\r\n Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;\r\n And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel:\r\n On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.\r\n And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.\r\n And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.\r\n And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.\r\n And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.\r\n And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.\r\n And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;\r\n The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.\r\n And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.\r\n And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.\r\n And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.\r\n And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.\r\n And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.\r\n And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.\r\n And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.\r\n \r\n \r\n And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.\r\n In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.\r\n And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:\r\n And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.\r\n And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.\r\n And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.\r\n Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.\r\n And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.\r\n Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.\r\n And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.\r\n He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.\r\n And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.\r\n I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.\r\n Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.\r\n For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.\r\n I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.\r\n And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.\r\n For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:\r\n And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.\r\n He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.\r\n The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.\r\n \r\n \r\n"
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"path": "Quelea/bibles/net.xml",
"content": "\n\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.\n\t\t\t Now the earth was without shape and empty, and darkness was over the surface of the watery deep, but the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the water.\n\t\t\t God said, \"Let there be light.\" And there was light! \n\t\t\t God saw that the light was good, so God separated the light from the darkness. \n\t\t\t God called the light \"day\" and the darkness \"night.\" There was evening, and there was morning, marking the first day.\n\t\t\t God said, \"Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters and let it separate water from water. \n\t\t\t So God made the expanse and separated the water under the expanse from the water above it. It was so.\n\t\t\t God called the expanse \"sky.\" There was evening, and there was morning, a second day.\n\t\t\t God said, \"Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place and let dry ground appear.\" It was so. \n\t\t\t God called the dry ground \"land\" and the gathered waters he called \"seas.\" God saw that it was good.\n\t\t\t God said, \"Let the land produce vegetation: plants yielding seeds according to their kinds, and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds.\" It was so. \n\t\t\t The land produced vegetation, plants yielding seeds according to their kinds, and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. God saw that it was good.\n\t\t\t There was evening, and there was morning, a third day.\n\t\t\t God said, \"Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them be signs to indicate seasons and days and years, \n\t\t\t and let them serve as lights in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth.\" It was so.\n\t\t\t God made two great lights, the greater light to rule over the day and the lesser light to rule over the night. He made the stars also.\n\t\t\t God placed the lights in the expanse of the sky to shine on the earth, \n\t\t\t to preside over the day and the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. God saw that it was good. \n\t\t\t There was evening, and there was morning, a fourth day.\n\t\t\t God said, \"Let the water swarm with swarms of living creatures and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky.\" \n\t\t\t God created the great sea creatures and every living and moving thing with which the water swarmed, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. God saw that it was good. \n\t\t\t God blessed them and said, \"Be fruitful and multiply and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds multiply on the earth.\"\n\t\t\t There was evening, and there was morning, a fifth day.\n\t\t\t God said, \"Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: cattle, creeping things, and wild animals, each according to its kind.\" It was so. \n\t\t\t God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the cattle according to their kinds, and all the creatures that creep along the ground according to their kinds. God saw that it was good.\n\t\t\t Then God said, \"Let us make humankind in our image, after our likeness, so they may rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move on the earth.\"\n\t\t\t God created humankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them, male and female he created them.\n\t\t\t God blessed them and said to them, \"Be fruitful and multiply! Fill the earth and subdue it! Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and every creature that moves on the ground.\"\n\t\t\t Then God said, \"I now give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the entire earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.\n\t\t\t And to all the animals of the earth, and to every bird of the air, and to all the creatures that move on the ground, everything that has the breath of life in it, I give every green plant for food.\" It was so.\n\t\t\t God saw all that he had made, and it was very good! There was evening, and there was morning, the sixth day.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The heavens and the earth were completed with everything that was in them.\n\t\t\t By the seventh day God finished the work that he had been doing, and he ceased on the seventh day all the work that he had been doing. \n\t\t\t God blessed the seventh day and made it holy because on it he ceased all the work that he had been doing in creation.\n\t\t\t This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, when the LORD God made the earth and heavens.\n\t\t\t Now no shrub of the field had yet grown on the earth, and no plant of the field had yet sprouted, for the LORD God had not caused it to rain on the earth, and there was no man to cultivate the ground.\n\t\t\t Springs would well up from the earth and water the whole surface of the ground.\n\t\t\t The LORD God formed the man from the soil of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.\n\t\t\t The LORD God planted an orchard in the east, in Eden; and there he placed the man he had formed.\n\t\t\t The LORD God made all kinds of trees grow from the soil, every tree that was pleasing to look at and good for food. (Now the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil were in the middle of the orchard.)\n\t\t\t Now a river flows from Eden to water the orchard, and from there it divides into four headstreams.\n\t\t\t The name of the first is Pishon; it runs through the entire land of Havilah, where there is gold.\n\t\t\t (The gold of that land is pure; pearls and lapis lazuli are also there). \n\t\t\t The name of the second river is Gihon; it runs through the entire land of Cush.\n\t\t\t The name of the third river is Tigris; it runs along the east side of Assyria. The fourth river is the Euphrates.\n\t\t\t The LORD God took the man and placed him in the orchard in Eden to care for it and to maintain it.\n\t\t\t Then the LORD God commanded the man, \"You may freely eat fruit from every tree of the orchard, \n\t\t\t but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will surely die.\"\n\t\t\t The LORD God said, \"It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a companion for him who corresponds to him.\"\n\t\t\t The LORD God formed out of the ground every living animal of the field and every bird of the air. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them, and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. \n\t\t\t So the man named all the animals, the birds of the air, and the living creatures of the field, but for Adam no companion who corresponded to him was found.\n\t\t\t So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep, and while he was asleep, he took part of the man's side and closed up the place with flesh.\n\t\t\t Then the LORD God made a woman from the part he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. \n\t\t\t Then the man said, \"This one at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; this one will be called 'woman,' for she was taken out of man.\"\n\t\t\t That is why a man leaves his father and mother and unites with his wife, and they become a new family.\n\t\t\t The man and his wife were both naked, but they were not ashamed.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now the serpent was more shrewd than any of the wild animals that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, \"Is it really true that God said, 'You must not eat from any tree of the orchard'?\"\n\t\t\t The woman said to the serpent, \"We may eat of the fruit from the trees of the orchard; \n\t\t\t but concerning the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the orchard God said, 'You must not eat from it, and you must not touch it, or else you will die.'\"\n\t\t\t The serpent said to the woman, \"Surely you will not die,\n\t\t\t for God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will open and you will be like divine beings who know good and evil.\"\n\t\t\t When the woman saw that the tree produced fruit that was good for food, was attractive to the eye, and was desirable for making one wise, she took some of its fruit and ate it. She also gave some of it to her husband who was with her, and he ate it.\n\t\t\t Then the eyes of both of them opened, and they knew they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.\n\t\t\t Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God moving about in the orchard at the breezy time of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the orchard. \n\t\t\t But the LORD God called to the man and said to him, \"Where are you?\"\n\t\t\t The man replied, \"I heard you moving about in the orchard, and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid.\" \n\t\t\t And the LORD God said, \"Who told you that you were naked? Did you eat from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?\"\n\t\t\t The man said, \"The woman whom you gave me, she gave me some fruit from the tree and I ate it.\" \n\t\t\t So the LORD God said to the woman, \"What is this you have done?\" And the woman replied, \"The serpent tricked me, and I ate.\"\n\t\t\t The LORD God said to the serpent, \"Because you have done this, cursed are you above all the wild beasts and all the living creatures of the field! On your belly you will crawl and dust you will eat all the days of your life.\n\t\t\t And I will put hostility between you and the woman and between your offspring and her offspring; her offspring will attack your head, and you will attack her offspring's heel.\"\n\t\t\t To the woman he said, \"I will greatly increase your labor pains; with pain you will give birth to children. You will want to control your husband, but he will dominate you.\"\n\t\t\t But to Adam he said, \"Because you obeyed your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, 'You must not eat from it,' cursed is the ground thanks to you; in painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life.\n\t\t\t It will produce thorns and thistles for you, but you will eat the grain of the field.\n\t\t\t By the sweat of your brow you will eat food until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you will return.\"\n\t\t\t The man named his wife Eve, because she was the mother of all the living.\n\t\t\t The LORD God made garments from skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them. \n\t\t\t And the LORD God said, \"Now that the man has become like one of us, knowing good and evil, he must not be allowed to stretch out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.\" \n\t\t\t So the LORD God expelled him from the orchard in Eden to cultivate the ground from which he had been taken. \n\t\t\t When he drove the man out, he placed on the eastern side of the orchard in Eden angelic sentries who used the flame of a whirling sword to guard the way to the tree of life.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now the man had marital relations with his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. Then she said, \"I have created a man just as the LORD did!\"\n\t\t\t Then she gave birth to his brother Abel. Abel took care of the flocks, while Cain cultivated the ground.\n\t\t\t At the designated time Cain brought some of the fruit of the ground for an offering to the LORD. \n\t\t\t But Abel brought some of the firstborn of his flock, even the fattest of them. And the LORD was pleased with Abel and his offering,\n\t\t\t but with Cain and his offering he was not pleased. So Cain became very angry, and his expression was downcast.\n\t\t\t Then the LORD said to Cain, \"Why are you angry, and why is your expression downcast?\n\t\t\t Is it not true that if you do what is right, you will be fine? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at the door. It desires to dominate you, but you must subdue it.\"\n\t\t\t Cain said to his brother Abel, \"Let's go out to the field.\" While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.\n\t\t\t Then the LORD said to Cain, \"Where is your brother Abel?\" And he replied, \"I don't know! Am I my brother's guardian?\"\n\t\t\t But the LORD said, \"What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood is crying out to me from the ground! \n\t\t\t So now, you are banished from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand.\n\t\t\t When you try to cultivate the ground it will no longer yield its best for you. You will be a homeless wanderer on the earth.\"\n\t\t\t Then Cain said to the LORD, \"My punishment is too great to endure!\n\t\t\t Look! You are driving me off the land today, and I must hide from your presence. I will be a homeless wanderer on the earth; whoever finds me will kill me.\" \n\t\t\t But the LORD said to him, \"All right then, if anyone kills Cain, Cain will be avenged seven times as much.\" Then the LORD put a special mark on Cain so that no one who found him would strike him down.\n\t\t\t So Cain went out from the presence of the LORD and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden.\n\t\t\t Cain had marital relations with his wife, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Enoch. Cain was building a city, and he named the city after his son Enoch. \n\t\t\t To Enoch was born Irad, and Irad was the father of Mehujael. Mehujael was the father of Methushael, and Methushael was the father of Lamech.\n\t\t\t Lamech took two wives for himself; the name of the first was Adah, and the name of the second was Zillah.\n\t\t\t Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the first of those who live in tents and keep livestock. \n\t\t\t The name of his brother was Jubal; he was the first of all who play the harp and the flute.\n\t\t\t Now Zillah also gave birth to Tubal-Cain, who heated metal and shaped all kinds of tools made of bronze and iron. The sister of Tubal-Cain was Naamah.\n\t\t\t Lamech said to his wives, \"Adah and Zillah! Listen to me! You wives of Lamech, hear my words! I have killed a man for wounding me, a young man for hurting me.\n\t\t\t If Cain is to be avenged seven times as much, then Lamech seventy-seven times!\"\n\t\t\t And Adam had marital relations with his wife again, and she gave birth to a son. She named him Seth, saying, \"God has given me another child in place of Abel because Cain killed him.\" \n\t\t\t And a son was also born to Seth, whom he named Enosh. At that time people began to worship the LORD.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t This is the record of the family line of Adam. When God created humankind, he made them in the likeness of God. \n\t\t\t He created them male and female; when they were created, he blessed them and named them \"humankind.\"\n\t\t\t When Adam had lived 130 years he fathered a son in his own likeness, according to his image, and he named him Seth. \n\t\t\t The length of time Adam lived after he became the father of Seth was 800 years; during this time he had other sons and daughters. \n\t\t\t The entire lifetime of Adam was 930 years, and then he died.\n\t\t\t When Seth had lived 105 years, he became the father of Enosh.\n\t\t\t Seth lived 807 years after he became the father of Enosh, and he had other sons and daughters. \n\t\t\t The entire lifetime of Seth was 912 years, and then he died.\n\t\t\t When Enosh had lived 90 years, he became the father of Kenan.\n\t\t\t Enosh lived 815 years after he became the father of Kenan, and he had other sons and daughters.\n\t\t\t The entire lifetime of Enosh was 905 years, and then he died.\n\t\t\t When Kenan had lived 70 years, he became the father of Mahalalel.\n\t\t\t Kenan lived 840 years after he became the father of Mahalalel, and he had other sons and daughters.\n\t\t\t The entire lifetime of Kenan was 910 years, and then he died.\n\t\t\t When Mahalalel had lived 65 years, he became the father of Jared.\n\t\t\t Mahalalel lived 830 years after he became the father of Jared, and he had other sons and daughters.\n\t\t\t The entire lifetime of Mahalalel was 895 years, and then he died.\n\t\t\t When Jared had lived 162 years, he became the father of Enoch.\n\t\t\t Jared lived 800 years after he became the father of Enoch, and he had other sons and daughters.\n\t\t\t The entire lifetime of Jared was 962 years, and then he died.\n\t\t\t When Enoch had lived 65 years, he became the father of Methuselah.\n\t\t\t After he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked with God for 300 years, and he had other sons and daughters. \n\t\t\t The entire lifetime of Enoch was 365 years.\n\t\t\t Enoch walked with God, and then he disappeared because God took him away.\n\t\t\t When Methuselah had lived 187 years, he became the father of Lamech.\n\t\t\t Methuselah lived 782 years after he became the father of Lamech, and he had other sons and daughters. \n\t\t\t The entire lifetime of Methuselah was 969 years, and then he died.\n\t\t\t When Lamech had lived 182 years, he had a son.\n\t\t\t He named him Noah, saying, \"This one will bring us comfort from our labor and from the painful toil of our hands because of the ground that the LORD has cursed.\" \n\t\t\t Lamech lived 595 years after he became the father of Noah, and he had other sons and daughters. \n\t\t\t The entire lifetime of Lamech was 777 years, and then he died.\n\t\t\t After Noah was 500 years old, he became the father of Shem, Ham, and Japheth.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t When humankind began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born to them,\n\t\t\t the sons of God saw that the daughters of humankind were beautiful. Thus they took wives for themselves from any they chose. \n\t\t\t So the LORD said, \"My spirit will not remain in humankind indefinitely, since they are mortal. They will remain for 120 more years.\"\n\t\t\t The Nephilim were on the earth in those days (and also after this) when the sons of God were having sexual relations with the daughters of humankind, who gave birth to their children. They were the mighty heroes of old, the famous men.\n\t\t\t But the LORD saw that the wickedness of humankind had become great on the earth. Every inclination of the thoughts of their minds was only evil all the time.\n\t\t\t The LORD regretted that he had made humankind on the earth, and he was highly offended.\n\t\t\t So the LORD said, \"I will wipe humankind, whom I have created, from the face of the earth, everything from humankind to animals, including creatures that move on the ground and birds of the air, for I regret that I have made them.\"\n\t\t\t But Noah found favor in the sight of the LORD.\n\t\t\t This is the account of Noah. Noah was a godly man; he was blameless among his contemporaries. He walked with God.\n\t\t\t Noah had three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.\n\t\t\t The earth was ruined in the sight of God; the earth was filled with violence.\n\t\t\t God saw the earth, and indeed it was ruined, for all living creatures on the earth were sinful.\n\t\t\t So God said to Noah, \"I have decided that all living creatures must die, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. Now I am about to destroy them and the earth. \n\t\t\t Make for yourself an ark of cypress wood. Make rooms in the ark, and cover it with pitch inside and out. \n\t\t\t This is how you should make it: The ark is to be 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high.\n\t\t\t Make a roof for the ark and finish it, leaving 18 inches from the top. Put a door in the side of the ark, and make lower, middle, and upper decks. \n\t\t\t I am about to bring floodwaters on the earth to destroy from under the sky all the living creatures that have the breath of life in them. Everything that is on the earth will die, \n\t\t\t but I will confirm my covenant with you. You will enter the ark, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons' wives with you.\n\t\t\t You must bring into the ark two of every kind of living creature from all flesh, male and female, to keep them alive with you. \n\t\t\t Of the birds after their kinds, and of the cattle after their kinds, and of every creeping thing of the ground after its kind, two of every kind will come to you so you can keep them alive.\n\t\t\t And you must take for yourself every kind of food that is eaten, and gather it together. It will be food for you and for them.\n\t\t\t And Noah did all that God commanded him, he did indeed.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Noah, \"Come into the ark, you and all your household, for I consider you godly among this generation.\n\t\t\t You must take with you seven of every kind of clean animal, the male and its mate, two of every kind of unclean animal, the male and its mate, \n\t\t\t and also seven of every kind of bird in the sky, male and female, to preserve their offspring on the face of the earth. \n\t\t\t For in seven days I will cause it to rain on the earth for forty days and forty nights, and I will wipe from the face of the ground every living thing that I have made.\"\n\t\t\t And Noah did all that the LORD commanded him.\n\t\t\t Noah was 600 years old when the floodwaters engulfed the earth. \n\t\t\t Noah entered the ark along with his sons, his wife, and his sons' wives because of the floodwaters. \n\t\t\t Pairs of clean animals, of unclean animals, of birds, and of everything that creeps along the ground, \n\t\t\t male and female, came into the ark to Noah, just as God had commanded him.\n\t\t\t And after seven days the floodwaters engulfed the earth.\n\t\t\t In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on that day all the fountains of the great deep burst open and the floodgates of the heavens were opened.\n\t\t\t And the rain fell on the earth forty days and forty nights.\n\t\t\t On that very day Noah entered the ark, accompanied by his sons Shem, Ham, and Japheth, along with his wife and his sons' three wives.\n\t\t\t They entered, along with every living creature after its kind, every animal after its kind, every creeping thing that creeps on the earth after its kind, and every bird after its kind, everything with wings.\n\t\t\t Pairs of all creatures that have the breath of life came into the ark to Noah. \n\t\t\t Those that entered were male and female, just as God commanded him. Then the LORD shut him in.\n\t\t\t The flood engulfed the earth for forty days. As the waters increased, they lifted the ark and raised it above the earth.\n\t\t\t The waters completely overwhelmed the earth, and the ark floated on the surface of the waters. \n\t\t\t The waters completely inundated the earth so that even all the high mountains under the entire sky were covered. \n\t\t\t The waters rose more than twenty feet above the mountains.\n\t\t\t And all living things that moved on the earth died, including the birds, domestic animals, wild animals, all the creatures that swarm over the earth, and all humankind. \n\t\t\t Everything on dry land that had the breath of life in its nostrils died. \n\t\t\t So the LORD destroyed every living thing that was on the surface of the ground, including people, animals, creatures that creep along the ground, and birds of the sky. They were wiped off the earth. Only Noah and those who were with him in the ark survived.\n\t\t\t The waters prevailed over the earth for 150 days.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t But God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and domestic animals that were with him in the ark. God caused a wind to blow over the earth and the waters receded. \n\t\t\t The fountains of the deep and the floodgates of heaven were closed, and the rain stopped falling from the sky. \n\t\t\t The waters kept receding steadily from the earth, so that they had gone down by the end of the 150 days. \n\t\t\t On the seventeenth day of the seventh month, the ark came to rest on one of the mountains of Ararat.\n\t\t\t The waters kept on receding until the tenth month. On the first day of the tenth month, the tops of the mountains became visible.\n\t\t\t At the end of forty days, Noah opened the window he had made in the ark\n\t\t\t and sent out a raven; it kept flying back and forth until the waters had dried up on the earth.\n\t\t\t Then Noah sent out a dove to see if the waters had receded from the surface of the ground. \n\t\t\t The dove could not find a resting place for its feet because water still covered the surface of the entire earth, and so it returned to Noah in the ark. He stretched out his hand, took the dove, and brought it back into the ark.\n\t\t\t He waited seven more days and then sent out the dove again from the ark.\n\t\t\t When the dove returned to him in the evening, there was a freshly plucked olive leaf in its beak! Noah knew that the waters had receded from the earth. \n\t\t\t He waited another seven days and sent the dove out again, but it did not return to him this time.\n\t\t\t In Noah's six hundred and first year, in the first day of the first month, the waters had dried up from the earth, and Noah removed the covering from the ark and saw that the surface of the ground was dry. \n\t\t\t And by the twenty-seventh day of the second month the earth was dry.\n\t\t\t Then God spoke to Noah and said,\n\t\t\t \"Come out of the ark, you, your wife, your sons, and your sons' wives with you.\n\t\t\t Bring out with you all the living creatures that are with you. Bring out every living thing, including the birds, animals, and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth. Let them increase and be fruitful and multiply on the earth!\"\n\t\t\t Noah went out along with his sons, his wife, and his sons' wives.\n\t\t\t Every living creature, every creeping thing, every bird, and everything that moves on the earth went out of the ark in their groups.\n\t\t\t Noah built an altar to the LORD. He then took some of every kind of clean animal and clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar.\n\t\t\t And the LORD smelled the soothing aroma and said to himself, \"I will never again curse the ground because of humankind, even though the inclination of their minds is evil from childhood on. I will never again destroy everything that lives, as I have just done.\n\t\t\t \"While the earth continues to exist, planting time and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, and day and night will not cease.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, \"Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.\n\t\t\t Every living creature of the earth and every bird of the sky will be terrified of you. Everything that creeps on the ground and all the fish of the sea are under your authority.\n\t\t\t You may eat any moving thing that lives. As I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything.\n\t\t\t But you must not eat meat with its life (that is, its blood) in it.\n\t\t\t For your lifeblood I will surely exact punishment, from every living creature I will exact punishment. From each person I will exact punishment for the life of the individual since the man was his relative.\n\t\t\t \"Whoever sheds human blood, by other humans must his blood be shed; for in God's image God has made humankind.\"\n\t\t\t But as for you, be fruitful and multiply; increase abundantly on the earth and multiply on it.\"\n\t\t\t God said to Noah and his sons,\n\t\t\t \"Look! I now confirm my covenant with you and your descendants after you\n\t\t\t and with every living creature that is with you, including the birds, the domestic animals, and every living creature of the earth with you, all those that came out of the ark with you, every living creature of the earth.\n\t\t\t I confirm my covenant with you: Never again will all living things be wiped out by the waters of a flood; never again will a flood destroy the earth.\"\n\t\t\t And God said, \"This is the guarantee of the covenant I am making with you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all subsequent generations: \n\t\t\t I will place my rainbow in the clouds, and it will become a guarantee of the covenant between me and the earth. \n\t\t\t Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, \n\t\t\t then I will remember my covenant with you and with all living creatures of all kinds. Never again will the waters become a flood and destroy all living things.\n\t\t\t When the rainbow is in the clouds, I will notice it and remember the perpetual covenant between God and all living creatures of all kinds that are on the earth.\"\n\t\t\t So God said to Noah, \"This is the guarantee of the covenant that I am confirming between me and all living things that are on the earth.\"\n\t\t\t The sons of Noah who came out of the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. (Now Ham was the father of Canaan.)\n\t\t\t These were the sons of Noah, and from them the whole earth was populated.\n\t\t\t Noah, a man of the soil, began to plant a vineyard.\n\t\t\t When he drank some of the wine, he got drunk and uncovered himself inside his tent. \n\t\t\t Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his father's nakedness and told his two brothers who were outside. \n\t\t\t Shem and Japheth took the garment and placed it on their shoulders. Then they walked in backwards and covered up their father's nakedness. Their faces were turned the other way so they did not see their father's nakedness.\n\t\t\t When Noah awoke from his drunken stupor he learned what his youngest son had done to him. \n\t\t\t So he said, \"Cursed be Canaan! The lowest of slaves he will be to his brothers.\"\n\t\t\t He also said, \"Worthy of praise is the LORD, the God of Shem! May Canaan be the slave of Shem!\n\t\t\t May God enlarge Japheth's territory and numbers! May he live in the tents of Shem and may Canaan be his slave!\"\n\t\t\t After the flood Noah lived 350 years.\n\t\t\t The entire lifetime of Noah was 950 years, and then he died.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t This is the account of Noah's sons Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Sons were born to them after the flood.\n\t\t\t The sons of Japheth were Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras.\n\t\t\t The sons of Gomer were Askenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah.\n\t\t\t The sons of Javan were Elishah, Tarshish, the Kittim, and the Dodanim.\n\t\t\t From these the coastlands of the nations were separated into their lands, every one according to its language, according to their families, by their nations.\n\t\t\t The sons of Ham were Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan.\n\t\t\t The sons of Cush were Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabteca. The sons of Raamah were Sheba and Dedan.\n\t\t\t Cush was the father of Nimrod; he began to be a valiant warrior on the earth. \n\t\t\t He was a mighty hunter before the LORD. (That is why it is said, \"Like Nimrod, a mighty hunter before the LORD.\") \n\t\t\t The primary regions of his kingdom were Babel, Erech, Akkad, and Calneh in the land of Shinar.\n\t\t\t From that land he went to Assyria, where he built Nineveh, Rehoboth-Ir, Calah,\n\t\t\t and Resen, which is between Nineveh and the great city Calah.\n\t\t\t Mizraim was the father of the Ludites, Anamites, Lehabites, Naphtuhites,\n\t\t\t Pathrusites, Casluhites (from whom the Philistines came), and Caphtorites.\n\t\t\t Canaan was the father of Sidon his firstborn, Heth,\n\t\t\t the Jebusites, Amorites, Girgashites,\n\t\t\t Hivites, Arkites, Sinites,\n\t\t\t Arvadites, Zemarites, and Hamathites. Eventually the families of the Canaanites were scattered\n\t\t\t and the borders of Canaan extended from Sidon all the way to Gerar as far as Gaza, and all the way to Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, as far as Lasha.\n\t\t\t These are the sons of Ham, according to their families, according to their languages, by their lands, and by their nations.\n\t\t\t And sons were also born to Shem (the older brother of Japheth), the father of all the sons of Eber.\n\t\t\t The sons of Shem were Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud, and Aram.\n\t\t\t The sons of Aram were Uz, Hul, Gether, and Mash.\n\t\t\t Arphaxad was the father of Shelah, and Shelah was the father of Eber.\n\t\t\t Two sons were born to Eber: One was named Peleg because in his days the earth was divided, and his brother's name was Joktan. \n\t\t\t Joktan was the father of Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah,\n\t\t\t Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah,\n\t\t\t Obal, Abimael, Sheba,\n\t\t\t Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab. All these were sons of Joktan. \n\t\t\t Their dwelling place was from Mesha all the way to Sephar in the eastern hills. \n\t\t\t These are the sons of Shem according to their families, according to their languages, by their lands, and according to their nations.\n\t\t\t These are the families of the sons of Noah, according to their genealogies, by their nations, and from these the nations spread over the earth after the flood.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The whole earth had a common language and a common vocabulary.\n\t\t\t When the people moved eastward, they found a plain in Shinar and settled there. \n\t\t\t Then they said to one another, \"Come, let's make bricks and bake them thoroughly.\" (They had brick instead of stone and tar instead of mortar.)\n\t\t\t Then they said, \"Come, let's build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens so that we may make a name for ourselves. Otherwise we will be scattered across the face of the entire earth.\"\n\t\t\t But the LORD came down to see the city and the tower that the people had started building. \n\t\t\t And the LORD said, \"If as one people all sharing a common language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be beyond them.\n\t\t\t Come, let's go down and confuse their language so they won't be able to understand each other.\"\n\t\t\t So the LORD scattered them from there across the face of the entire earth, and they stopped building the city. \n\t\t\t That is why its name was called Babel, because there the LORD confused the language of the entire world, and from there the LORD scattered them across the face of the entire earth.\n\t\t\t This is the account of Shem. Shem was 100 old when he became the father of Arphaxad, two years after the flood.\n\t\t\t And after becoming the father of Arphaxad, Shem lived 500 years and had other sons and daughters.\n\t\t\t When Arphaxad had lived 35 years, he became the father of Shelah.\n\t\t\t And after he became the father of Shelah, Arphaxad lived 403 years and had other sons and daughters.\n\t\t\t When Shelah had lived 30 years, he became the father of Eber.\n\t\t\t And after he became the father of Eber, Shelah lived 403 years and had other sons and daughters.\n\t\t\t When Eber had lived 34 years, he became the father of Peleg.\n\t\t\t And after he became the father of Peleg, Eber lived 430 years and had other sons and daughters.\n\t\t\t When Peleg had lived 30 years, he became the father of Reu.\n\t\t\t And after he became the father of Reu, Peleg lived 209 years and had other sons and daughters.\n\t\t\t When Reu had lived 32 years, he became the father of Serug.\n\t\t\t And after he became the father of Serug, Reu lived 207 years and had other sons and daughters.\n\t\t\t When Serug had lived 30 years, he became the father of Nahor.\n\t\t\t And after he became the father of Nahor, Serug lived 200 years and had other sons and daughters.\n\t\t\t When Nahor had lived 29 years, he became the father of Terah.\n\t\t\t And after he became the father of Terah, Nahor lived 119 years and had other sons and daughters.\n\t\t\t When Terah had lived 70 years, he became the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran.\n\t\t\t This is the account of Terah. Terah became the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran. And Haran became the father of Lot.\n\t\t\t Haran died in the land of his birth, in Ur of the Chaldeans, while his father Terah was still alive.\n\t\t\t And Abram and Nahor took wives for themselves. The name of Abram's wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor's wife was Milcah; she was the daughter of Haran, the father of both Milcah and Iscah. \n\t\t\t But Sarai was barren; she had no children.\n\t\t\t Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot (the son of Haran), and his daughter-in-law Sarai, his son Abram's wife, and with them he set out from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to Canaan. When they came to Haran, they settled there.\n\t\t\t The lifetime of Terah was 205 years, and he died in Haran.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now the LORD said to Abram, \"Go out from your country, your relatives, and your father's household to the land that I will show you.\n\t\t\t Then I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you, and I will make your name great, so that you will exemplify divine blessing.\n\t\t\t I will bless those who bless you, but the one who treats you lightly I must curse, and all the families of the earth will bless one another by your name.\"\n\t\t\t So Abram left, just as the LORD had told him to do, and Lot went with him. (Now Abram was 75 years old when he departed from Haran.) \n\t\t\t And Abram took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, and all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Haran, and they left for the land of Canaan. They entered the land of Canaan.\n\t\t\t Abram traveled through the land as far as the oak tree of Moreh at Shechem. (At that time the Canaanites were in the land.)\n\t\t\t The LORD appeared to Abram and said, \"To your descendants I will give this land.\" So Abram built an altar there to the LORD, who had appeared to him.\n\t\t\t Then he moved from there to the hill country east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the LORD and worshiped the LORD.\n\t\t\t Abram continually journeyed by stages down to the Negev.\n\t\t\t There was a famine in the land, so Abram went down to Egypt to stay for a while because the famine was severe.\n\t\t\t As he approached Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, \"Look, I know that you are a beautiful woman.\n\t\t\t When the Egyptians see you they will say, 'This is his wife.' Then they will kill me but will keep you alive.\n\t\t\t So tell them you are my sister so that it may go well for me because of you and my life will be spared on account of you.\"\n\t\t\t When Abram entered Egypt, the Egyptians saw that the woman was very beautiful.\n\t\t\t When Pharaoh's officials saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh. So Abram's wife was taken into the household of Pharaoh,\n\t\t\t and he did treat Abram well on account of her. Abram received sheep and cattle, male donkeys, male servants, female servants, female donkeys, and camels.\n\t\t\t But the LORD struck Pharaoh and his household with severe diseases because of Sarai, Abram's wife. \n\t\t\t So Pharaoh summoned Abram and said, \"What is this you have done to me? Why didn't you tell me that she was your wife? \n\t\t\t Why did you say, 'She is my sister,' so that I took her to be my wife? Here is your wife! Take her and go!\"\n\t\t\t Pharaoh gave his men orders about Abram, and so they expelled him, along with his wife and all his possessions.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t So Abram went up from Egypt into the Negev. He took his wife and all his possessions with him, as well as Lot.\n\t\t\t (Now Abram was very wealthy in livestock, silver, and gold.)\n\t\t\t And he journeyed from place to place from the Negev as far as Bethel. He returned to the place where he had pitched his tent at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai. \n\t\t\t This was the place where he had first built the altar, and there Abram worshiped the LORD.\n\t\t\t Now Lot, who was traveling with Abram, also had flocks, herds, and tents. \n\t\t\t But the land could not support them while they were living side by side. Because their possessions were so great, they were not able to live alongside one another. \n\t\t\t So there were quarrels between Abram's herdsmen and Lot's herdsmen. (Now the Canaanites and the Perizzites were living in the land at that time.)\n\t\t\t Abram said to Lot, \"Let there be no quarreling between me and you, and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen, for we are close relatives.\n\t\t\t Is not the whole land before you? Separate yourself now from me. If you go to the left, then I'll go to the right, but if you go to the right, then I'll go to the left.\"\n\t\t\t Lot looked up and saw the whole region of the Jordan. He noticed that all of it was well-watered (before the LORD obliterated Sodom and Gomorrah) like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, all the way to Zoar. \n\t\t\t Lot chose for himself the whole region of the Jordan and traveled toward the east. So the relatives separated from each other.\n\t\t\t Abram settled in the land of Canaan, but Lot settled among the cities of the Jordan plain and pitched his tents next to Sodom.\n\t\t\t (Now the people of Sodom were extremely wicked rebels against the LORD.)\n\t\t\t After Lot had departed, the LORD said to Abram, \"Look from the place where you stand to the north, south, east, and west. \n\t\t\t I will give all the land that you see to you and your descendants forever. \n\t\t\t And I will make your descendants like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone is able to count the dust of the earth, then your descendants also can be counted.\n\t\t\t Get up and walk throughout the land, for I will give it to you.\"\n\t\t\t So Abram moved his tents and went to live by the oaks of Mamre in Hebron, and he built an altar to the LORD there.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t At that time Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Kedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations\n\t\t\t went to war against Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar).\n\t\t\t These last five kings joined forces in the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea).\n\t\t\t For twelve years they had served Kedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled.\n\t\t\t In the fourteenth year, Kedorlaomer and the kings who were his allies came and defeated the Rephaites in Ashteroth Karnaim, the Zuzites in Ham, the Emites in Shaveh Kiriathaim, \n\t\t\t and the Horites in their hill country of Seir, as far as El Paran, which is near the desert.\n\t\t\t Then they attacked En Mishpat (that is, Kadesh) again, and they conquered all the territory of the Amalekites, as well as the Amorites who were living in Hazazon Tamar.\n\t\t\t Then the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) went out and prepared for battle. In the Valley of Siddim they met\n\t\t\t Kedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of nations, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar. Four kings fought against five. \n\t\t\t Now the Valley of Siddim was full of tar pits. When the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, they fell into them, but some survivors fled to the hills.\n\t\t\t The four victorious kings took all the possessions and food of Sodom and Gomorrah and left. \n\t\t\t They also took Abram's nephew Lot and his possessions when they left, for Lot was living in Sodom.\n\t\t\t A fugitive came and told Abram the Hebrew. Now Abram was living by the oaks of Mamre the Amorite, the brother of Eshcol and Aner. (All these were allied by treaty with Abram.)\n\t\t\t When Abram heard that his nephew had been taken captive, he mobilized his 318 trained men who had been born in his household, and he pursued the invaders as far as Dan.\n\t\t\t Then, during the night, Abram divided his forces against them and defeated them. He chased them as far as Hobah, which is north of Damascus. \n\t\t\t He retrieved all the stolen property. He also brought back his nephew Lot and his possessions, as well as the women and the rest of the people.\n\t\t\t After Abram returned from defeating Kedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet Abram in the Valley of Shaveh (known as the King's Valley).\n\t\t\t Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (Now he was the priest of the Most High God.)\n\t\t\t He blessed Abram, saying, \"Blessed be Abram by the Most High God, Creator of heaven and earth.\n\t\t\t Worthy of praise is the Most High God, who delivered your enemies into your hand.\" Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything.\n\t\t\t Then the king of Sodom said to Abram, \"Give me the people and take the possessions for yourself.\"\n\t\t\t But Abram replied to the king of Sodom, \"I raise my hand to the LORD, the Most High God, Creator of heaven and earth, and vow\n\t\t\t that I will take nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or the strap of a sandal. That way you can never say, 'It is I who made Abram rich.' \n\t\t\t I will take nothing except compensation for what the young men have eaten. As for the share of the men who went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre, let them take their share.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: \"Fear not, Abram! I am your shield and the one who will reward you in great abundance.\"\n\t\t\t But Abram said, \"O sovereign LORD, what will you give me since I continue to be childless, and my heir is Eliezer of Damascus?\"\n\t\t\t Abram added, \"Since you have not given me a descendant, then look, one born in my house will be my heir!\"\n\t\t\t But look, the word of the LORD came to him: \"This man will not be your heir, but instead a son who comes from your own body will be your heir.\"\n\t\t\t The LORD took him outside and said, \"Gaze into the sky and count the stars, if you are able to count them!\" Then he said to him, \"So will your descendants be.\"\n\t\t\t Abram believed the LORD, and the LORD considered his response of faith as proof of genuine loyalty.\n\t\t\t The LORD said to him, \"I am the LORD who brought you out from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess.\" \n\t\t\t But Abram said, \"O sovereign LORD, by what can I know that I am to possess it?\"\n\t\t\t The LORD said to him, \"Take for me a heifer, a goat, and a ram, each three years old, along with a dove and a young pigeon.\" \n\t\t\t So Abram took all these for him and then cut them in two and placed each half opposite the other, but he did not cut the birds in half. \n\t\t\t When birds of prey came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away.\n\t\t\t When the sun went down, Abram fell sound asleep, and great terror overwhelmed him.\n\t\t\t Then the LORD said to Abram, \"Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a foreign country. They will be enslaved and oppressed for four hundred years. \n\t\t\t But I will execute judgment on the nation that they will serve. Afterward they will come out with many possessions. \n\t\t\t But as for you, you will go to your ancestors in peace and be buried at a good old age.\n\t\t\t In the fourth generation your descendants will return here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its limit.\"\n\t\t\t When the sun had gone down and it was dark, a smoking firepot with a flaming torch passed between the animal parts.\n\t\t\t That day the LORD made a covenant with Abram: \"To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates River,\n\t\t\t the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, \n\t\t\t Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites,\n\t\t\t Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites, and Jebusites.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now Sarai, Abram's wife, had not given birth to any children, but she had an Egyptian servant named Hagar.\n\t\t\t So Sarai said to Abram, \"Since the LORD has prevented me from having children, have sexual relations with my servant. Perhaps I can have a family by her.\" Abram did what Sarai told him.\n\t\t\t So after Abram had lived in Canaan for ten years, Sarai, Abram's wife, gave Hagar, her Egyptian servant, to her husband to be his wife.\n\t\t\t He had sexual relations with Hagar, and she became pregnant. Once Hagar realized she was pregnant, she despised Sarai.\n\t\t\t Then Sarai said to Abram, \"You have brought this wrong on me! I allowed my servant to have sexual relations with you, but when she realized that she was pregnant, she despised me. May the LORD judge between you and me!\"\n\t\t\t Abram said to Sarai, \"Since your servant is under your authority, do to her whatever you think best.\" Then Sarai treated Hagar harshly, so she ran away from Sarai.\n\t\t\t The LORD's angel found Hagar near a spring of water in the desert, the spring that is along the road to Shur.\n\t\t\t He said, \"Hagar, servant of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?\" She replied, \"I'm running away from my mistress, Sarai.\"\n\t\t\t Then the LORD's angel said to her, \"Return to your mistress and submit to her authority. \n\t\t\t I will greatly multiply your descendants,\" the LORD's angel added, \"so that they will be too numerous to count.\"\n\t\t\t Then the LORD's angel said to her, \"You are now pregnant and are about to give birth to a son. You are to name him Ishmael, for the LORD has heard your painful groans.\n\t\t\t He will be a wild donkey of a man. He will be hostile to everyone, and everyone will be hostile to him. He will live away from his brothers.\"\n\t\t\t So Hagar named the LORD who spoke to her, \"You are the God who sees me,\" for she said, \"Here I have seen one who sees me!\"\n\t\t\t That is why the well was called Beer Lahai Roi. (It is located between Kadesh and Bered.)\n\t\t\t So Hagar gave birth to Abram's son, whom Abram named Ishmael.\n\t\t\t (Now Abram was 86 years old when Hagar gave birth to Ishmael.)\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t When Abram was 99 years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, \"I am the sovereign God. Walk before me and be blameless.\n\t\t\t Then I will confirm my covenant between me and you, and I will give you a multitude of descendants.\"\n\t\t\t Abram bowed down with his face to the ground, and God said to him,\n\t\t\t \"As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of a multitude of nations. \n\t\t\t No longer will your name be Abram. Instead, your name will be Abraham because I will make you the father of a multitude of nations. \n\t\t\t I will make you extremely fruitful. I will make nations of you, and kings will descend from you.\n\t\t\t I will confirm my covenant as a perpetual covenant between me and you. It will extend to your descendants after you throughout their generations. I will be your God and the God of your descendants after you.\n\t\t\t I will give the whole land of Canaan, the land where you are now residing, to you and your descendants after you as a permanent possession. I will be their God.\"\n\t\t\t Then God said to Abraham, \"As for you, you must keep the covenantal requirement I am imposing on you and your descendants after you throughout their generations.\n\t\t\t This is my requirement that you and your descendants after you must keep: Every male among you must be circumcised.\n\t\t\t You must circumcise the flesh of your foreskins. This will be a reminder of the covenant between me and you. \n\t\t\t Throughout your generations every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised, whether born in your house or bought with money from any foreigner who is not one of your descendants. \n\t\t\t They must indeed be circumcised, whether born in your house or bought with money. The sign of my covenant will be visible in your flesh as a permanent reminder. \n\t\t\t Any uncircumcised male who has not been circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin will be cut off from his people, he has failed to carry out my requirement.\"\n\t\t\t Then God said to Abraham, \"As for your wife, you must no longer call her Sarai; Sarah will be her name. \n\t\t\t I will bless her and will give you a son through her. I will bless her and she will become a mother of nations. Kings of countries will come from her!\"\n\t\t\t Then Abraham bowed down with his face to the ground and laughed as he said to himself, \"Can a son be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Can Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?\"\n\t\t\t Abraham said to God, \"O that Ishmael might live before you!\"\n\t\t\t God said, \"No, Sarah your wife is going to bear you a son, and you will name him Isaac. I will confirm my covenant with him as a perpetual covenant for his descendants after him. \n\t\t\t As for Ishmael, I have heard you. I will indeed bless him, make him fruitful, and give him a multitude of descendants. He will become the father of twelve princes; I will make him into a great nation. \n\t\t\t But I will establish my covenant with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this set time next year.\"\n\t\t\t When he finished speaking with Abraham, God went up from him.\n\t\t\t Abraham took his son Ishmael and every male in his household (whether born in his house or bought with money) and circumcised them on that very same day, just as God had told him to do. \n\t\t\t Now Abraham was 99 years old when he was circumcised;\n\t\t\t his son Ishmael was thirteen years old when he was circumcised. \n\t\t\t Abraham and his son Ishmael were circumcised on the very same day.\n\t\t\t All the men of his household, whether born in his household or bought with money from a foreigner, were circumcised with him.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The LORD appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent during the hottest time of the day. \n\t\t\t Abraham looked up and saw three men standing across from him. When he saw them he ran from the entrance of the tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground.\n\t\t\t He said, \"My lord, if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by and leave your servant.\n\t\t\t Let a little water be brought so that you may all wash your feet and rest under the tree. \n\t\t\t And let me get a bit of food so that you may refresh yourselves since you have passed by your servant's home. After that you may be on your way.\" \"All right,\" they replied, \"you may do as you say.\"\n\t\t\t So Abraham hurried into the tent and said to Sarah, \"Quick! Take three measures of fine flour, knead it, and make bread.\"\n\t\t\t Then Abraham ran to the herd and chose a fine, tender calf, and gave it to a servant, who quickly prepared it.\n\t\t\t Abraham then took some curds and milk, along with the calf that had been prepared, and placed the food before them. They ate while he was standing near them under a tree.\n\t\t\t Then they asked him, \"Where is Sarah your wife?\" He replied, \"There, in the tent.\" \n\t\t\t One of them said, \"I will surely return to you when the season comes round again, and your wife Sarah will have a son!\" (Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, not far behind him.\n\t\t\t Abraham and Sarah were old and advancing in years; Sarah had long since passed menopause.)\n\t\t\t So Sarah laughed to herself, thinking, \"After I am worn out will I have pleasure, especially when my husband is old too?\"\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Abraham, \"Why did Sarah laugh and say, 'Will I really have a child when I am old?' \n\t\t\t Is anything impossible for the LORD? I will return to you when the season comes round again and Sarah will have a son.\"\n\t\t\t Then Sarah lied, saying, \"I did not laugh,\" because she was afraid. But the LORD said, \"No! You did laugh.\"\n\t\t\t When the men got up to leave, they looked out over Sodom. (Now Abraham was walking with them to see them on their way.)\n\t\t\t Then the LORD said, \"Should I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?\n\t\t\t After all, Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all the nations on the earth will pronounce blessings on one another using his name. \n\t\t\t I have chosen him so that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just. Then the LORD will give to Abraham what he promised him.\"\n\t\t\t So the LORD said, \"The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so blatant\n\t\t\t that I must go down and see if they are as wicked as the outcry suggests. If not, I want to know.\"\n\t\t\t The two men turned and headed toward Sodom, but Abraham was still standing before the LORD.\n\t\t\t Abraham approached and said, \"Will you sweep away the godly along with the wicked?\n\t\t\t What if there are fifty godly people in the city? Will you really wipe it out and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty godly people who are in it? \n\t\t\t Far be it from you to do such a thing, to kill the godly with the wicked, treating the godly and the wicked alike! Far be it from you! Will not the judge of the whole earth do what is right?\"\n\t\t\t So the LORD replied, \"If I find in the city of Sodom fifty godly people, I will spare the whole place for their sake.\"\n\t\t\t Then Abraham asked, \"Since I have undertaken to speak to the Lord (although I am but dust and ashes),\n\t\t\t what if there are five less than the fifty godly people? Will you destroy the whole city because five are lacking?\" He replied, \"I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.\"\n\t\t\t Abraham spoke to him again, \"What if forty are found there?\" He replied, \"I will not do it for the sake of the forty.\"\n\t\t\t Then Abraham said, \"May the Lord not be angry so that I may speak! What if thirty are found there?\" He replied, \"I will not do it if I find thirty there.\"\n\t\t\t Abraham said, \"Since I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, what if only twenty are found there?\" He replied, \"I will not destroy it for the sake of the twenty.\"\n\t\t\t Finally Abraham said, \"May the Lord not be angry so that I may speak just once more. What if ten are found there?\" He replied, \"I will not destroy it for the sake of the ten.\"\n\t\t\t The LORD went on his way when he had finished speaking to Abraham. Then Abraham returned home.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The two angels came to Sodom in the evening while Lot was sitting in the city's gateway. When Lot saw them, he got up to meet them and bowed down with his face toward the ground.\n\t\t\t He said, \"Here, my lords, please turn aside to your servant's house. Stay the night and wash your feet. Then you can be on your way early in the morning.\" \"No,\" they replied, \"we'll spend the night in the town square.\"\n\t\t\t But he urged them persistently, so they turned aside with him and entered his house. He prepared a feast for them, including bread baked without yeast, and they ate. \n\t\t\t Before they could lie down to sleep, all the men, both young and old, from every part of the city of Sodom, surrounded the house.\n\t\t\t They shouted to Lot, \"Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so we can have sex with them!\"\n\t\t\t Lot went outside to them, shutting the door behind him.\n\t\t\t He said, \"No, my brothers! Don't act so wickedly!\n\t\t\t Look, I have two daughters who have never had sexual relations with a man. Let me bring them out to you, and you can do to them whatever you please. Only don't do anything to these men, for they have come under the protection of my roof.\"\n\t\t\t \"Out of our way!\" they cried, and \"This man came to live here as a foreigner, and now he dares to judge us! We'll do more harm to you than to them!\" They kept pressing in on Lot until they were close enough to break down the door.\n\t\t\t So the men inside reached out and pulled Lot back into the house as they shut the door. \n\t\t\t Then they struck the men who were at the door of the house, from the youngest to the oldest, with blindness. The men outside wore themselves out trying to find the door. \n\t\t\t Then the two visitors said to Lot, \"Who else do you have here? Do you have any sons-in-law, sons, daughters, or other relatives in the city? Get them out of this place \n\t\t\t because we are about to destroy it. The outcry against this place is so great before the LORD that he has sent us to destroy it.\"\n\t\t\t Then Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law who were going to marry his daughters. He said, \"Quick, get out of this place because the LORD is about to destroy the city!\" But his sons-in-law thought he was ridiculing them.\n\t\t\t At dawn the angels hurried Lot along, saying, \"Get going! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or else you will be destroyed when the city is judged!\"\n\t\t\t When Lot hesitated, the men grabbed his hand and the hands of his wife and two daughters because the LORD had compassion on them. They led them away and placed them outside the city. \n\t\t\t When they had brought them outside, they said, \"Run for your lives! Don't look behind you or stop anywhere in the valley! Escape to the mountains or you will be destroyed!\"\n\t\t\t But Lot said to them, \"No, please, Lord!\n\t\t\t Your servant has found favor with you, and you have shown me great kindness by sparing my life. But I am not able to escape to the mountains because this disaster will overtake me and I'll die.\n\t\t\t Look, this town over here is close enough to escape to, and it's just a little one. Let me go there. It's just a little place, isn't it? Then I'll survive.\"\n\t\t\t \"Very well,\" he replied, \"I will grant this request too and will not overthrow the town you mentioned. \n\t\t\t Run there quickly, for I cannot do anything until you arrive there.\" (This incident explains why the town was called Zoar.)\n\t\t\t The sun had just risen over the land as Lot reached Zoar.\n\t\t\t Then the LORD rained down sulfur and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah. It was sent down from the sky by the LORD.\n\t\t\t So he overthrew those cities and all that region, including all the inhabitants of the cities and the vegetation that grew from the ground. \n\t\t\t But Lot's wife looked back longingly and was turned into a pillar of salt.\n\t\t\t Abraham got up early in the morning and went to the place where he had stood before the LORD. \n\t\t\t He looked out toward Sodom and Gomorrah and all the land of that region. As he did so, he saw the smoke rising up from the land like smoke from a furnace.\n\t\t\t So when God destroyed the cities of the region, God honored Abraham's request. He removed Lot from the midst of the destruction when he destroyed the cities Lot had lived in.\n\t\t\t Lot went up from Zoar with his two daughters and settled in the mountains because he was afraid to live in Zoar. So he lived in a cave with his two daughters.\n\t\t\t Later the older daughter said to the younger, \"Our father is old, and there is no man anywhere nearby to have sexual relations with us, according to the way of all the world.\n\t\t\t Come, let's make our father drunk with wine so we can have sexual relations with him and preserve our family line through our father.\"\n\t\t\t So that night they made their father drunk with wine, and the older daughter came and had sexual relations with her father. But he was not aware that she had sexual relations with him and then got up.\n\t\t\t So in the morning the older daughter said to the younger, \"Since I had sexual relations with my father last night, let's make him drunk again tonight. Then you go and have sexual relations with him so we can preserve our family line through our father.\"\n\t\t\t So they made their father drunk that night as well, and the younger one came and had sexual relations with him. But he was not aware that she had sexual relations with him and then got up.\n\t\t\t In this way both of Lot's daughters became pregnant by their father.\n\t\t\t The older daughter gave birth to a son and named him Moab. He is the ancestor of the Moabites of today. \n\t\t\t The younger daughter also gave birth to a son and named him Ben-Ammi. He is the ancestor of the Ammonites of today.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Abraham journeyed from there to the Negev region and settled between Kadesh and Shur. While he lived as a temporary resident in Gerar, \n\t\t\t Abraham said about his wife Sarah, \"She is my sister.\" So Abimelech, king of Gerar, sent for Sarah and took her.\n\t\t\t But God appeared to Abimelech in a dream at night and said to him, \"You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken, for she is someone else's wife.\"\n\t\t\t Now Abimelech had not gone near her. He said, \"Lord, would you really slaughter an innocent nation?\n\t\t\t Did Abraham not say to me, 'She is my sister'? And she herself said, 'He is my brother.' I have done this with a clear conscience and with innocent hands!\"\n\t\t\t Then in the dream God replied to him, \"Yes, I know that you have done this with a clear conscience. That is why I have kept you from sinning against me and why I did not allow you to touch her. \n\t\t\t But now give back the man's wife. Indeed he is a prophet and he will pray for you; thus you will live. But if you don't give her back, know that you will surely die along with all who belong to you.\"\n\t\t\t Early in the morning Abimelech summoned all his servants. When he told them about all these things, they were terrified. \n\t\t\t Abimelech summoned Abraham and said to him, \"What have you done to us? What sin did I commit against you that would cause you to bring such great guilt on me and my kingdom? You have done things to me that should not be done!\"\n\t\t\t Then Abimelech asked Abraham, \"What prompted you to do this thing?\"\n\t\t\t Abraham replied, \"Because I thought, 'Surely no one fears God in this place. They will kill me because of my wife.' \n\t\t\t What's more, she is indeed my sister, my father's daughter, but not my mother's daughter. She became my wife. \n\t\t\t When God made me wander from my father's house, I told her, 'This is what you can do to show your loyalty to me: Every place we go, say about me, \"He is my brother.\"'\"\n\t\t\t So Abimelech gave sheep, cattle, and male and female servants to Abraham. He also gave his wife Sarah back to him. \n\t\t\t Then Abimelech said, \"Look, my land is before you; live wherever you please.\"\n\t\t\t To Sarah he said, \"Look, I have given a thousand pieces of silver to your 'brother.' This is compensation for you so that you will stand vindicated before all who are with you.\"\n\t\t\t Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, as well as his wife and female slaves so that they were able to have children.\n\t\t\t For the LORD had caused infertility to strike every woman in the household of Abimelech because he took Sarah, Abraham's wife.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The LORD visited Sarah just as he had said he would and did for Sarah what he had promised.\n\t\t\t So Sarah became pregnant and bore Abraham a son in his old age at the appointed time that God had told him.\n\t\t\t Abraham named his son, whom Sarah bore to him, Isaac.\n\t\t\t When his son Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him just as God had commanded him to do.\n\t\t\t (Now Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him.)\n\t\t\t Sarah said, \"God has made me laugh. Everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.\" \n\t\t\t She went on to say, \"Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have given birth to a son for him in his old age!\"\n\t\t\t The child grew and was weaned. Abraham prepared a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned.\n\t\t\t But Sarah noticed the son of Hagar the Egyptian, the son whom Hagar had borne to Abraham, mocking.\n\t\t\t So she said to Abraham, \"Banish that slave woman and her son, for the son of that slave woman will not be an heir along with my son Isaac!\"\n\t\t\t Sarah's demand displeased Abraham greatly because Ishmael was his son.\n\t\t\t But God said to Abraham, \"Do not be upset about the boy or your slave wife. Do all that Sarah is telling you because through Isaac your descendants will be counted.\n\t\t\t But I will also make the son of the slave wife into a great nation, for he is your descendant too.\"\n\t\t\t Early in the morning Abraham took some food and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar. He put them on her shoulders, gave her the child, and sent her away. So she went wandering aimlessly through the wilderness of Beer Sheba.\n\t\t\t When the water in the skin was gone, she shoved the child under one of the shrubs. \n\t\t\t Then she went and sat down by herself across from him at quite a distance, about a bowshot away; for she thought, \"I refuse to watch the child die.\" So she sat across from him and wept uncontrollably.\n\t\t\t But God heard the boy's voice. The angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and asked her, \"What is the matter, Hagar? Don't be afraid, for God has heard the boy's voice right where he is crying. \n\t\t\t Get up! Help the boy up and hold him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation.\"\n\t\t\t Then God enabled Hagar to see a well of water. She went over and filled the skin with water, and then gave the boy a drink.\n\t\t\t God was with the boy as he grew. He lived in the wilderness and became an archer.\n\t\t\t He lived in the wilderness of Paran. His mother found a wife for him from the land of Egypt.\n\t\t\t At that time Abimelech and Phicol, the commander of his army, said to Abraham, \"God is with you in all that you do. \n\t\t\t Now swear to me right here in God's name that you will not deceive me, my children, or my descendants. Show me, and the land where you are staying, the same loyalty that I have shown you.\"\n\t\t\t Abraham said, \"I swear to do this.\"\n\t\t\t But Abraham lodged a complaint against Abimelech concerning a well that Abimelech's servants had seized.\n\t\t\t \"I do not know who has done this thing,\" Abimelech replied. \"Moreover, you did not tell me. I did not hear about it until today.\"\n\t\t\t Abraham took some sheep and cattle and gave them to Abimelech. The two of them made a treaty.\n\t\t\t Then Abraham set seven ewe lambs apart from the flock by themselves.\n\t\t\t Abimelech asked Abraham, \"What is the meaning of these seven ewe lambs that you have set apart?\" \n\t\t\t He replied, \"You must take these seven ewe lambs from my hand as legal proof that I dug this well.\"\n\t\t\t That is why he named that place Beer Sheba, because the two of them swore an oath there.\n\t\t\t So they made a treaty at Beer Sheba. Then Abimelech and Phicol, the commander of his army, returned to the land of the Philistines.\n\t\t\t Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beer Sheba. There he worshiped the LORD, the eternal God. \n\t\t\t So Abraham stayed in the land of the Philistines for quite some time.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Some time after these things God tested Abraham. He said to him, \"Abraham!\" \"Here I am!\" Abraham replied. \n\t\t\t God said, \"Take your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah! Offer him up there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains which I will indicate to you.\"\n\t\t\t Early in the morning Abraham got up and saddled his donkey. He took two of his young servants with him, along with his son Isaac. When he had cut the wood for the burnt offering, he started out for the place God had spoken to him about.\n\t\t\t On the third day Abraham caught sight of the place in the distance. \n\t\t\t So he said to his servants, \"You two stay here with the donkey while the boy and I go up there. We will worship and then return to you.\"\n\t\t\t Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and put it on his son Isaac. Then he took the fire and the knife in his hand, and the two of them walked on together. \n\t\t\t Isaac said to his father Abraham, \"My father?\" \"What is it, my son?\" he replied. \"Here is the fire and the wood,\" Isaac said, \"but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?\" \n\t\t\t \"God will provide for himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son,\" Abraham replied. The two of them continued on together.\n\t\t\t When they came to the place God had told him about, Abraham built the altar there and arranged the wood on it. Next he tied up his son Isaac and placed him on the altar on top of the wood. \n\t\t\t Then Abraham reached out his hand, took the knife, and prepared to slaughter his son. \n\t\t\t But the LORD's angel called to him from heaven, \"Abraham! Abraham!\" \"Here I am!\" he answered. \n\t\t\t \"Do not harm the boy!\" the angel said. \"Do not do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God because you did not withhold your son, your only son, from me.\"\n\t\t\t Abraham looked up and saw behind him a ram caught in the bushes by its horns. So he went over and got the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. \n\t\t\t And Abraham called the name of that place \"The LORD provides.\" It is said to this day, \"In the mountain of the LORD provision will be made.\"\n\t\t\t The LORD's angel called to Abraham a second time from heaven\n\t\t\t and said, \"'I solemnly swear by my own name,' decrees the LORD, 'that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, \n\t\t\t I will indeed bless you, and I will greatly multiply your descendants so that they will be as countless as the stars in the sky or the grains of sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the strongholds of their enemies. \n\t\t\t Because you have obeyed me, all the nations of the earth will pronounce blessings on one another using the name of your descendants.'\"\n\t\t\t Then Abraham returned to his servants, and they set out together for Beer Sheba where Abraham stayed.\n\t\t\t After these things Abraham was told, \"Milcah also has borne children to your brother Nahor,\n\t\t\t Uz the firstborn, his brother Buz, Kemuel (the father of Aram),\n\t\t\t Kesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph, and Bethuel.\"\n\t\t\t (Now Bethuel became the father of Rebekah.) These were the eight sons Milcah bore to Abraham's brother Nahor. \n\t\t\t His concubine, whose name was Reumah, also bore him children, Tebah, Gaham, Tahash, and Maacah.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Sarah lived 127 years.\n\t\t\t Then she died in Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan. Abraham went to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her.\n\t\t\t Then Abraham got up from mourning his dead wife and said to the sons of Heth,\n\t\t\t \"I am a temporary settler among you. Grant me ownership of a burial site among you so that I may bury my dead.\"\n\t\t\t The sons of Heth answered Abraham,\n\t\t\t \"Listen, sir, you are a mighty prince among us! You may bury your dead in the choicest of our tombs. None of us will refuse you his tomb to prevent you from burying your dead.\"\n\t\t\t Abraham got up and bowed down to the local people, the sons of Heth. \n\t\t\t Then he said to them, \"If you agree that I may bury my dead, then hear me out. Ask Ephron the son of Zohar \n\t\t\t if he will sell me the cave of Machpelah that belongs to him; it is at the end of his field. Let him sell it to me publicly for the full price, so that I may own it as a burial site.\"\n\t\t\t (Now Ephron was sitting among the sons of Heth.) Ephron the Hethite replied to Abraham in the hearing of the sons of Heth, before all who entered the gate of his city,\n\t\t\t \"No, my lord! Hear me out. I sell you both the field and the cave that is in it. In the presence of my people I sell it to you. Bury your dead.\"\n\t\t\t Abraham bowed before the local people\n\t\t\t and said to Ephron in their hearing, \"Hear me, if you will. I pay to you the price of the field. Take it from me so that I may bury my dead there.\"\n\t\t\t Ephron answered Abraham, saying to him,\n\t\t\t \"Hear me, my lord. The land is worth 400 pieces of silver, but what is that between me and you? So bury your dead.\"\n\t\t\t So Abraham agreed to Ephron's price and weighed out for him the price that Ephron had quoted in the hearing of the sons of Heth, 400 pieces of silver, according to the standard measurement at the time.\n\t\t\t So Abraham secured Ephron's field in Machpelah, next to Mamre, including the field, the cave that was in it, and all the trees that were in the field and all around its border, \n\t\t\t as his property in the presence of the sons of Heth before all who entered the gate of Ephron's city.\n\t\t\t After this Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the cave in the field of Machpelah next to Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan.\n\t\t\t So Abraham secured the field and the cave that was in it as a burial site from the sons of Heth.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now Abraham was old, well advanced in years, and the LORD had blessed him in everything. \n\t\t\t Abraham said to his servant, the senior one in his household who was in charge of everything he had, \"Put your hand under my thigh\n\t\t\t so that I may make you solemnly promise by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God of the earth: You must not acquire a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I am living. \n\t\t\t You must go instead to my country and to my relatives to find a wife for my son Isaac.\"\n\t\t\t The servant asked him, \"What if the woman is not willing to come back with me to this land? Must I then take your son back to the land from which you came?\"\n\t\t\t \"Be careful never to take my son back there!\" Abraham told him.\n\t\t\t \"The LORD, the God of heaven, who took me from my father's house and the land of my relatives, promised me with a solemn oath, 'To your descendants I will give this land.' He will send his angel before you so that you may find a wife for my son from there. \n\t\t\t But if the woman is not willing to come back with you, you will be free from this oath of mine. But you must not take my son back there!\" \n\t\t\t So the servant placed his hand under the thigh of his master Abraham and gave his solemn promise he would carry out his wishes.\n\t\t\t Then the servant took ten of his master's camels and departed with all kinds of gifts from his master at his disposal. He journeyed to the region of Aram Naharaim and the city of Nahor. \n\t\t\t He made the camels kneel down by the well outside the city. It was evening, the time when the women would go out to draw water. \n\t\t\t He prayed, \"O LORD, God of my master Abraham, guide me today. Be faithful to my master Abraham. \n\t\t\t Here I am, standing by the spring, and the daughters of the people who live in the town are coming out to draw water. \n\t\t\t I will say to a young woman, 'Please lower your jar so I may drink.' May the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac reply, 'Drink, and I'll give your camels water too.' In this way I will know that you have been faithful to my master.\"\n\t\t\t Before he had finished praying, there came Rebekah with her water jug on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel son of Milcah (Milcah was the wife of Abraham's brother Nahor).\n\t\t\t Now the young woman was very beautiful. She was a virgin; no man had ever had sexual relations with her. She went down to the spring, filled her jug, and came back up. \n\t\t\t Abraham's servant ran to meet her and said, \"Please give me a sip of water from your jug.\" \n\t\t\t \"Drink, my lord,\" she replied, and quickly lowering her jug to her hands, she gave him a drink. \n\t\t\t When she had done so, she said, \"I'll draw water for your camels too, until they have drunk as much as they want.\" \n\t\t\t She quickly emptied her jug into the watering trough and ran back to the well to draw more water until she had drawn enough for all his camels. \n\t\t\t Silently the man watched her with interest to determine if the LORD had made his journey successful or not.\n\t\t\t After the camels had finished drinking, the man took out a gold nose ring weighing a beka and two gold bracelets weighing ten shekels and gave them to her.\n\t\t\t \"Whose daughter are you?\" he asked. \"Tell me, is there room in your father's house for us to spend the night?\"\n\t\t\t She said to him, \"I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, whom Milcah bore to Nahor.\n\t\t\t We have plenty of straw and feed,\" she added, \"and room for you to spend the night.\"\n\t\t\t The man bowed his head and worshiped the LORD,\n\t\t\t saying \"Praised be the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who has not abandoned his faithful love for my master! The LORD has led me to the house of my master's relatives!\"\n\t\t\t The young woman ran and told her mother's household all about these things. \n\t\t\t (Now Rebekah had a brother named Laban.) Laban rushed out to meet the man at the spring. \n\t\t\t When he saw the bracelets on his sister's wrists and the nose ring and heard his sister Rebekah say, \"This is what the man said to me,\" he went out to meet the man. There he was, standing by the camels near the spring. \n\t\t\t Laban said to him, \"Come, you who are blessed by the LORD! Why are you standing out here when I have prepared the house and a place for the camels?\"\n\t\t\t So Abraham's servant went to the house and unloaded the camels. Straw and feed were given to the camels, and water was provided so that he and the men who were with him could wash their feet.\n\t\t\t When food was served, he said, \"I will not eat until I have said what I want to say.\" \"Tell us,\" Laban said.\n\t\t\t \"I am the servant of Abraham,\" he began.\n\t\t\t \"The LORD has richly blessed my master and he has become very wealthy. The Lord has given him sheep and cattle, silver and gold, male and female servants, and camels and donkeys. \n\t\t\t My master's wife Sarah bore a son to him when she was old, and my master has given him everything he owns. \n\t\t\t My master made me swear an oath. He said, 'You must not acquire a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I am living,\n\t\t\t but you must go to the family of my father and to my relatives to find a wife for my son.' \n\t\t\t But I said to my master, 'What if the woman does not want to go with me?'\n\t\t\t He answered, 'The LORD, before whom I have walked, will send his angel with you. He will make your journey a success and you will find a wife for my son from among my relatives, from my father's family. \n\t\t\t You will be free from your oath if you go to my relatives and they will not give her to you. Then you will be free from your oath.' \n\t\t\t When I came to the spring today, I prayed, 'O LORD, God of my master Abraham, if you have decided to make my journey successful, may events unfold as follows:\n\t\t\t Here I am, standing by the spring. When the young woman goes out to draw water, I'll say, \"Give me a little water to drink from your jug.\" \n\t\t\t Then she will reply to me, \"Drink, and I'll draw water for your camels too.\" May that woman be the one whom the LORD has chosen for my master's son.'\n\t\t\t \"Before I finished praying in my heart, along came Rebekah with her water jug on her shoulder! She went down to the spring and drew water. So I said to her, 'Please give me a drink.' \n\t\t\t She quickly lowered her jug from her shoulder and said, 'Drink, and I'll give your camels water too.' So I drank, and she also gave the camels water.\n\t\t\t Then I asked her, 'Whose daughter are you?' She replied, 'The daughter of Bethuel the son of Nahor, whom Milcah bore to Nahor.' I put the ring in her nose and the bracelets on her wrists. \n\t\t\t Then I bowed down and worshiped the LORD. I praised the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me on the right path to find the granddaughter of my master's brother for his son.\n\t\t\t Now, if you will show faithful love to my master, tell me. But if not, tell me as well, so that I may go on my way.\"\n\t\t\t Then Laban and Bethuel replied, \"This is the LORD's doing. Our wishes are of no concern.\n\t\t\t Rebekah stands here before you. Take her and go so that she may become the wife of your master's son, just as the LORD has decided.\"\n\t\t\t When Abraham's servant heard their words, he bowed down to the ground before the LORD.\n\t\t\t Then he brought out gold, silver jewelry, and clothing and gave them to Rebekah. He also gave valuable gifts to her brother and to her mother. \n\t\t\t After this, he and the men who were with him ate a meal and stayed there overnight. When they got up in the morning, he said, \"Let me leave now so I can return to my master.\"\n\t\t\t But Rebekah's brother and her mother replied, \"Let the girl stay with us a few more days, perhaps ten. Then she can go.\" \n\t\t\t But he said to them, \"Don't detain me, the LORD has granted me success on my journey. Let me leave now so I may return to my master.\"\n\t\t\t Then they said, \"We'll call the girl and find out what she wants to do.\"\n\t\t\t So they called Rebekah and asked her, \"Do you want to go with this man?\" She replied, \"I want to go.\"\n\t\t\t So they sent their sister Rebekah on her way, accompanied by her female attendant, with Abraham's servant and his men.\n\t\t\t They blessed Rebekah with these words: \"Our sister, may you become the mother of thousands of ten thousands! May your descendants possess the strongholds of their enemies.\"\n\t\t\t Then Rebekah and her female servants mounted the camels and rode away with the man. So Abraham's servant took Rebekah and left.\n\t\t\t Now Isaac came from Beer Lahai Roi, for he was living in the Negev.\n\t\t\t He went out to relax in the field in the early evening. Then he looked up and saw that there were camels approaching. \n\t\t\t Rebekah looked up and saw Isaac. She got down from her camel \n\t\t\t and asked Abraham's servant, \"Who is that man walking in the field toward us?\" \"That is my master,\" the servant replied. So she took her veil and covered herself.\n\t\t\t The servant told Isaac everything that had happened.\n\t\t\t Then Isaac brought Rebekah into his mother Sarah's tent. He took her as his wife and loved her. So Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Abraham had taken another wife, named Keturah. \n\t\t\t She bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah.\n\t\t\t Jokshan became the father of Sheba and Dedan. The descendants of Dedan were the Asshurites, Letushites, and Leummites. \n\t\t\t The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were descendants of Keturah.\n\t\t\t Everything he owned Abraham left to his son Isaac.\n\t\t\t But while he was still alive, Abraham gave gifts to the sons of his concubines and sent them off to the east, away from his son Isaac.\n\t\t\t Abraham lived a total of 175 years. \n\t\t\t Then Abraham breathed his last and died at a good old age, an old man who had lived a full life. He joined his ancestors.\n\t\t\t His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah near Mamre, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar, the Hethite. \n\t\t\t This was the field Abraham had purchased from the sons of Heth. There Abraham was buried with his wife Sarah. \n\t\t\t After Abraham's death, God blessed his son Isaac. Isaac lived near Beer Lahai Roi.\n\t\t\t This is the account of Abraham's son Ishmael, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah's servant, bore to Abraham.\n\t\t\t These are the names of Ishmael's sons, by their names according to their records: Nebaioth (Ishmael's firstborn), Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, \n\t\t\t Mishma, Dumah, Massa,\n\t\t\t Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah.\n\t\t\t These are the sons of Ishmael, and these are their names by their settlements and their camps, twelve princes according to their clans.\n\t\t\t Ishmael lived a total of 137 years. He breathed his last and died; then he joined his ancestors.\n\t\t\t His descendants settled from Havilah to Shur, which runs next to Egypt all the way to Asshur. They settled away from all their relatives.\n\t\t\t This is the account of Isaac, the son of Abraham. Abraham became the father of Isaac. \n\t\t\t When Isaac was forty years old, he married Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan Aram and sister of Laban the Aramean.\n\t\t\t Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife because she was childless. The LORD answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant.\n\t\t\t But the children struggled inside her, and she said, \"If it is going to be like this, I'm not so sure I want to be pregnant!\" So she asked the LORD,\n\t\t\t and the LORD said to her, \"Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples will be separated from within you. One people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.\"\n\t\t\t When the time came for Rebekah to give birth, there were twins in her womb. \n\t\t\t The first came out reddish all over, like a hairy garment, so they named him Esau.\n\t\t\t When his brother came out with his hand clutching Esau's heel, they named him Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when they were born.\n\t\t\t When the boys grew up, Esau became a skilled hunter, a man of the open fields, but Jacob was an even-tempered man, living in tents.\n\t\t\t Isaac loved Esau because he had a taste for fresh game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.\n\t\t\t Now Jacob cooked some stew, and when Esau came in from the open fields, he was famished. \n\t\t\t So Esau said to Jacob, \"Feed me some of the red stuff, yes, this red stuff, because I'm starving!\" (That is why he was also called Edom.)\n\t\t\t But Jacob replied, \"First sell me your birthright.\" \n\t\t\t \"Look,\" said Esau, \"I'm about to die! What use is the birthright to me?\"\n\t\t\t But Jacob said, \"Swear an oath to me now.\" So Esau swore an oath to him and sold his birthright to Jacob.\n\t\t\t Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and lentil stew; Esau ate and drank, then got up and went out. So Esau despised his birthright.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t There was a famine in the land, subsequent to the earlier famine that occurred in the days of Abraham. Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines at Gerar. \n\t\t\t The LORD appeared to Isaac and said, \"Do not go down to Egypt; settle down in the land that I will point out to you.\n\t\t\t Stay in this land. Then I will be with you and will bless you, for I will give all these lands to you and to your descendants, and I will fulfill the solemn promise I made to your father Abraham. \n\t\t\t I will multiply your descendants so they will be as numerous as the stars in the sky, and I will give them all these lands. All the nations of the earth will pronounce blessings on one another using the name of your descendants.\n\t\t\t All this will come to pass because Abraham obeyed me and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.\"\n\t\t\t So Isaac settled in Gerar.\n\t\t\t When the men of that place asked him about his wife, he replied, \"She is my sister.\" He was afraid to say, \"She is my wife,\" for he thought to himself, \"The men of this place will kill me to get Rebekah because she is very beautiful.\"\n\t\t\t After Isaac had been there a long time, Abimelech king of the Philistines happened to look out a window and observed Isaac caressing his wife Rebekah. \n\t\t\t So Abimelech summoned Isaac and said, \"She is really your wife! Why did you say, 'She is my sister'?\" Isaac replied, \"Because I thought someone might kill me to get her.\"\n\t\t\t Then Abimelech exclaimed, \"What in the world have you done to us? One of the men might easily have had sexual relations with your wife, and you would have brought guilt on us!\" \n\t\t\t So Abimelech commanded all the people, \"Whoever touches this man or his wife will surely be put to death.\"\n\t\t\t When Isaac planted in that land, he reaped in the same year a hundred times what he had sown, because the LORD blessed him.\n\t\t\t The man became wealthy. His influence continued to grow until he became very prominent. \n\t\t\t He had so many sheep and cattle and such a great household of servants that the Philistines became jealous of him. \n\t\t\t So the Philistines took dirt and filled up all the wells that his father's servants had dug back in the days of his father Abraham.\n\t\t\t Then Abimelech said to Isaac, \"Leave us and go elsewhere, for you have become much more powerful than we are.\" \n\t\t\t So Isaac left there and settled in the Gerar Valley.\n\t\t\t Isaac reopened the wells that had been dug back in the days of his father Abraham, for the Philistines had stopped them up after Abraham died. Isaac gave these wells the same names his father had given them.\n\t\t\t When Isaac's servants dug in the valley and discovered a well with fresh flowing water there, \n\t\t\t the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with Isaac's herdsmen, saying, \"The water belongs to us!\" So Isaac named the well Esek because they argued with him about it.\n\t\t\t His servants dug another well, but they quarreled over it too, so Isaac named it Sitnah.\n\t\t\t Then he moved away from there and dug another well. They did not quarrel over it, so Isaac named it Rehoboth, saying, \"For now the LORD has made room for us, and we will prosper in the land.\"\n\t\t\t From there Isaac went up to Beer Sheba. \n\t\t\t The LORD appeared to him that night and said, \"I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you. I will bless you and multiply your descendants for the sake of my servant Abraham.\"\n\t\t\t Then Isaac built an altar there and worshiped the LORD. He pitched his tent there, and his servants dug a well.\n\t\t\t Now Abimelech had come to him from Gerar along with Ahuzzah his friend and Phicol the commander of his army.\n\t\t\t Isaac asked them, \"Why have you come to me? You hate me and sent me away from you.\" \n\t\t\t They replied, \"We could plainly see that the LORD is with you. So we decided there should be a pact between us, between us and you. Allow us to make a treaty with you\n\t\t\t so that you will not do us any harm, just as we have not harmed you, but have always treated you well before sending you away in peace. Now you are blessed by the LORD.\"\n\t\t\t So Isaac held a feast for them and they celebrated.\n\t\t\t Early in the morning the men made a treaty with each other. Isaac sent them off; they separated on good terms.\n\t\t\t That day Isaac's servants came and told him about the well they had dug. \"We've found water,\" they reported.\n\t\t\t So he named it Shibah; that is why the name of the city has been Beer Sheba to this day.\n\t\t\t When Esau was forty years old, he married Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, as well as Basemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite. \n\t\t\t They caused Isaac and Rebekah great anxiety.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t When Isaac was old and his eyes were so weak that he was almost blind, he called his older son Esau and said to him, \"My son!\" \"Here I am!\" Esau replied. \n\t\t\t Isaac said, \"Since I am so old, I could die at any time.\n\t\t\t Therefore, take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out into the open fields and hunt down some wild game for me.\n\t\t\t Then prepare for me some tasty food, the kind I love, and bring it to me. Then I will eat it so that I may bless you before I die.\"\n\t\t\t Now Rebekah had been listening while Isaac spoke to his son Esau. When Esau went out to the open fields to hunt down some wild game and bring it back,\n\t\t\t Rebekah said to her son Jacob, \"Look, I overheard your father tell your brother Esau,\n\t\t\t 'Bring me some wild game and prepare for me some tasty food. Then I will eat it and bless you in the presence of the LORD before I die.' \n\t\t\t Now then, my son, do exactly what I tell you!\n\t\t\t Go to the flock and get me two of the best young goats. I'll prepare them in a tasty way for your father, just the way he loves them. \n\t\t\t Then you will take it to your father. Thus he will eat it and bless you before he dies.\"\n\t\t\t \"But Esau my brother is a hairy man,\" Jacob protested to his mother Rebekah, \"and I have smooth skin!\n\t\t\t My father may touch me! Then he'll think I'm mocking him and I'll bring a curse on myself instead of a blessing.\" \n\t\t\t So his mother told him, \"Any curse against you will fall on me, my son! Just obey me! Go and get them for me!\"\n\t\t\t So he went and got the goats and brought them to his mother. She prepared some tasty food, just the way his father loved it. \n\t\t\t Then Rebekah took her older son Esau's best clothes, which she had with her in the house, and put them on her younger son Jacob.\n\t\t\t She put the skins of the young goats on his hands and the smooth part of his neck. \n\t\t\t Then she handed the tasty food and the bread she had made to her son Jacob.\n\t\t\t He went to his father and said, \"My father!\" Isaac replied, \"Here I am. Which are you, my son?\"\n\t\t\t Jacob said to his father, \"I am Esau, your firstborn. I've done as you told me. Now sit up and eat some of my wild game so that you can bless me.\"\n\t\t\t But Isaac asked his son, \"How in the world did you find it so quickly, my son?\" \"Because the LORD your God brought it to me,\" he replied.\n\t\t\t Then Isaac said to Jacob, \"Come closer so I can touch you, my son, and know for certain if you really are my son Esau.\"\n\t\t\t So Jacob went over to his father Isaac, who felt him and said, \"The voice is Jacob's, but the hands are Esau's.\"\n\t\t\t He did not recognize him because his hands were hairy, like his brother Esau's hands. So Isaac blessed Jacob.\n\t\t\t Then he asked, \"Are you really my son Esau?\" \"I am,\" Jacob replied. \n\t\t\t Isaac said, \"Bring some of the wild game for me to eat, my son. Then I will bless you.\" So Jacob brought it to him, and he ate it. He also brought him wine, and Isaac drank. \n\t\t\t Then his father Isaac said to him, \"Come here and kiss me, my son.\"\n\t\t\t So Jacob went over and kissed him. When Isaac caught the scent of his clothing, he blessed him, saying, \"Yes, my son smells like the scent of an open field which the LORD has blessed.\n\t\t\t May God give you the dew of the sky and the richness of the earth, and plenty of grain and new wine.\n\t\t\t May peoples serve you and nations bow down to you. You will be lord over your brothers, and the sons of your mother will bow down to you. May those who curse you be cursed, and those who bless you be blessed.\"\n\t\t\t Isaac had just finished blessing Jacob, and Jacob had scarcely left his father's presence, when his brother Esau returned from the hunt.\n\t\t\t He also prepared some tasty food and brought it to his father. Esau said to him, \"My father, get up and eat some of your son's wild game. Then you can bless me.\"\n\t\t\t His father Isaac asked, \"Who are you?\" \"I am your firstborn son,\" he replied, \"Esau!\" \n\t\t\t Isaac began to shake violently and asked, \"Then who else hunted game and brought it to me? I ate all of it just before you arrived, and I blessed him. He will indeed be blessed!\"\n\t\t\t When Esau heard his father's words, he wailed loudly and bitterly. He said to his father, \"Bless me too, my father!\" \n\t\t\t But Isaac replied, \"Your brother came in here deceitfully and took away your blessing.\" \n\t\t\t Esau exclaimed, \"'Jacob' is the right name for him! He has tripped me up two times! He took away my birthright, and now, look, he has taken away my blessing!\" Then he asked, \"Have you not kept back a blessing for me?\"\n\t\t\t Isaac replied to Esau, \"Look! I have made him lord over you. I have made all his relatives his servants and provided him with grain and new wine. What is left that I can do for you, my son?\"\n\t\t\t Esau said to his father, \"Do you have only that one blessing, my father? Bless me too!\" Then Esau wept loudly.\n\t\t\t So his father Isaac said to him, \"Indeed, your home will be away from the richness of the earth, and away from the dew of the sky above.\n\t\t\t You will live by your sword but you will serve your brother. When you grow restless, you will tear off his yoke from your neck.\"\n\t\t\t So Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing his father had given to his brother. Esau said privately, \"The time of mourning for my father is near; then I will kill my brother Jacob!\"\n\t\t\t When Rebekah heard what her older son Esau had said, she quickly summoned her younger son Jacob and told him, \"Look, your brother Esau is planning to get revenge by killing you.\n\t\t\t Now then, my son, do what I say. Run away immediately to my brother Laban in Haran. \n\t\t\t Live with him for a little while until your brother's rage subsides. \n\t\t\t Stay there until your brother's anger against you subsides and he forgets what you did to him. Then I'll send someone to bring you back from there. Why should I lose both of you in one day?\"\n\t\t\t Then Rebekah said to Isaac, \"I am deeply depressed because of these daughters of Heth. If Jacob were to marry one of these daughters of Heth who live in this land, I would want to die!\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t So Isaac called for Jacob and blessed him. Then he commanded him, \"You must not marry a Canaanite woman!\n\t\t\t Leave immediately for Paddan Aram! Go to the house of Bethuel, your mother's father, and find yourself a wife there, among the daughters of Laban, your mother's brother. \n\t\t\t May the sovereign God bless you! May he make you fruitful and give you a multitude of descendants! Then you will become a large nation.\n\t\t\t May he give you and your descendants the blessing he gave to Abraham so that you may possess the land God gave to Abraham, the land where you have been living as a temporary resident.\"\n\t\t\t So Isaac sent Jacob on his way, and he went to Paddan Aram, to Laban son of Bethuel the Aramean and brother of Rebekah, the mother of Jacob and Esau.\n\t\t\t Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob and sent him off to Paddan Aram to find a wife there. As he blessed him, Isaac commanded him, \"You must not marry a Canaanite woman.\"\n\t\t\t Jacob obeyed his father and mother and left for Paddan Aram.\n\t\t\t Then Esau realized that the Canaanite women were displeasing to his father Isaac. \n\t\t\t So Esau went to Ishmael and married Mahalath, the sister of Nebaioth and daughter of Abraham's son Ishmael, along with the wives he already had.\n\t\t\t Meanwhile Jacob left Beer Sheba and set out for Haran.\n\t\t\t He reached a certain place where he decided to camp because the sun had gone down. He took one of the stones and placed it near his head. Then he fell asleep in that place\n\t\t\t and had a dream. He saw a stairway erected on the earth with its top reaching to the heavens. The angels of God were going up and coming down it \n\t\t\t and the LORD stood at its top. He said, \"I am the LORD, the God of your grandfather Abraham and the God of your father Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the ground you are lying on.\n\t\t\t Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west, east, north, and south. All the families of the earth will pronounce blessings on one another using your name and that of your descendants.\n\t\t\t I am with you! I will protect you wherever you go and will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I promised you!\"\n\t\t\t Then Jacob woke up and thought, \"Surely the LORD is in this place, but I did not realize it!\" \n\t\t\t He was afraid and said, \"What an awesome place this is! This is nothing else than the house of God! This is the gate of heaven!\"\n\t\t\t Early in the morning Jacob took the stone he had placed near his head and set it up as a sacred stone. Then he poured oil on top of it. \n\t\t\t He called that place Bethel, although the former name of the town was Luz. \n\t\t\t Then Jacob made a vow, saying, \"If God is with me and protects me on this journey I am taking and gives me food to eat and clothing to wear, \n\t\t\t and I return safely to my father's home, then the LORD will become my God. \n\t\t\t Then this stone that I have set up as a sacred stone will be the house of God, and I will surely give you back a tenth of everything you give me.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t So Jacob moved on and came to the land of the eastern people.\n\t\t\t He saw in the field a well with three flocks of sheep lying beside it, because the flocks were watered from that well. Now a large stone covered the mouth of the well. \n\t\t\t When all the flocks were gathered there, the shepherds would roll the stone off the mouth of the well and water the sheep. Then they would put the stone back in its place over the well's mouth.\n\t\t\t Jacob asked them, \"My brothers, where are you from?\" They replied, \"We're from Haran.\"\n\t\t\t So he said to them, \"Do you know Laban, the grandson of Nahor?\" \"We know him,\" they said. \n\t\t\t \"Is he well?\" Jacob asked. They replied, \"He is well. Now look, here comes his daughter Rachel with the sheep.\" \n\t\t\t Then Jacob said, \"Since it is still the middle of the day, it is not time for the flocks to be gathered. You should water the sheep and then go and let them graze some more.\"\n\t\t\t \"We can't,\" they said, \"until all the flocks are gathered and the stone is rolled off the mouth of the well. Then we water the sheep.\"\n\t\t\t While he was still speaking with them, Rachel arrived with her father's sheep, for she was tending them.\n\t\t\t When Jacob saw Rachel, the daughter of his uncle Laban, and the sheep of his uncle Laban, he went over and rolled the stone off the mouth of the well and watered the sheep of his uncle Laban.\n\t\t\t Then Jacob kissed Rachel and began to weep loudly.\n\t\t\t When Jacob explained to Rachel that he was a relative of her father and the son of Rebekah, she ran and told her father. \n\t\t\t When Laban heard this news about Jacob, his sister's son, he rushed out to meet him. He embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his house. Jacob told Laban how he was related to him.\n\t\t\t Then Laban said to him, \"You are indeed my own flesh and blood.\" So Jacob stayed with him for a month.\n\t\t\t Then Laban said to Jacob, \"Should you work for me for nothing because you are my relative? Tell me what your wages should be.\" \n\t\t\t (Now Laban had two daughters; the older one was named Leah, and the younger one Rachel. \n\t\t\t Leah's eyes were tender, but Rachel had a lovely figure and beautiful appearance.)\n\t\t\t Since Jacob had fallen in love with Rachel, he said, \"I'll serve you seven years in exchange for your younger daughter Rachel.\" \n\t\t\t Laban replied, \"I'd rather give her to you than to another man. Stay with me.\" \n\t\t\t So Jacob worked for seven years to acquire Rachel. But they seemed like only a few days to him because his love for her was so great.\n\t\t\t Finally Jacob said to Laban, \"Give me my wife, for my time of service is up. I want to have marital relations with her.\"\n\t\t\t So Laban invited all the people of that place and prepared a feast. \n\t\t\t In the evening he brought his daughter Leah to Jacob, and Jacob had marital relations with her.\n\t\t\t (Laban gave his female servant Zilpah to his daughter Leah to be her servant.)\n\t\t\t In the morning Jacob discovered it was Leah! So Jacob said to Laban, \"What in the world have you done to me! Didn't I work for you in exchange for Rachel? Why have you tricked me?\" \n\t\t\t \"It is not our custom here,\" Laban replied, \"to give the younger daughter in marriage before the firstborn. \n\t\t\t Complete my older daughter's bridal week. Then we will give you the younger one too, in exchange for seven more years of work.\"\n\t\t\t Jacob did as Laban said. When Jacob completed Leah's bridal week, Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife.\n\t\t\t (Laban gave his female servant Bilhah to his daughter Rachel to be her servant.)\n\t\t\t Jacob had marital relations with Rachel as well. He loved Rachel more than Leah, so he worked for Laban for seven more years.\n\t\t\t When the LORD saw that Leah was unloved, he enabled her to become pregnant while Rachel remained childless. \n\t\t\t So Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben, for she said, \"The LORD has looked with pity on my oppressed condition. Surely my husband will love me now.\"\n\t\t\t She became pregnant again and had another son. She said, \"Because the LORD heard that I was unloved, he gave me this one too.\" So she named him Simeon.\n\t\t\t She became pregnant again and had another son. She said, \"Now this time my husband will show me affection, because I have given birth to three sons for him.\" That is why he was named Levi.\n\t\t\t She became pregnant again and had another son. She said, \"This time I will praise the LORD.\" That is why she named him Judah. Then she stopped having children.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t When Rachel saw that she could not give Jacob children, she became jealous of her sister. She said to Jacob, \"Give me children or I'll die!\" \n\t\t\t Jacob became furious with Rachel and exclaimed, \"Am I in the place of God, who has kept you from having children?\"\n\t\t\t She replied, \"Here is my servant Bilhah! Have sexual relations with her so that she can bear children for me and I can have a family through her.\"\n\t\t\t So Rachel gave him her servant Bilhah as a wife, and Jacob had marital relations with her. \n\t\t\t Bilhah became pregnant and gave Jacob a son.\n\t\t\t Then Rachel said, \"God has vindicated me. He has responded to my prayer and given me a son.\" That is why she named him Dan.\n\t\t\t Bilhah, Rachel's servant, became pregnant again and gave Jacob another son.\n\t\t\t Then Rachel said, \"I have fought a desperate struggle with my sister, but I have won.\" So she named him Naphtali.\n\t\t\t When Leah saw that she had stopped having children, she gave her servant Zilpah to Jacob as a wife. \n\t\t\t Soon Leah's servant Zilpah gave Jacob a son.\n\t\t\t Leah said, \"How fortunate!\" So she named him Gad.\n\t\t\t Then Leah's servant Zilpah gave Jacob another son.\n\t\t\t Leah said, \"How happy I am, for women will call me happy!\" So she named him Asher.\n\t\t\t At the time of the wheat harvest Reuben went out and found some mandrake plants in a field and brought them to his mother Leah. Rachel said to Leah, \"Give me some of your son's mandrakes.\"\n\t\t\t But Leah replied, \"Wasn't it enough that you've taken away my husband? Would you take away my son's mandrakes too?\" \"All right,\" Rachel said, \"he may sleep with you tonight in exchange for your son's mandrakes.\" \n\t\t\t When Jacob came in from the fields that evening, Leah went out to meet him and said, \"You must sleep with me because I have paid for your services with my son's mandrakes.\" So he had marital relations with her that night. \n\t\t\t God paid attention to Leah; she became pregnant and gave Jacob a son for the fifth time.\n\t\t\t Then Leah said, \"God has granted me a reward because I gave my servant to my husband as a wife.\" So she named him Issachar.\n\t\t\t Leah became pregnant again and gave Jacob a son for the sixth time.\n\t\t\t Then Leah said, \"God has given me a good gift. Now my husband will honor me because I have given him six sons.\" So she named him Zebulun.\n\t\t\t After that she gave birth to a daughter and named her Dinah.\n\t\t\t Then God took note of Rachel. He paid attention to her and enabled her to become pregnant.\n\t\t\t She became pregnant and gave birth to a son. Then she said, \"God has taken away my shame.\"\n\t\t\t She named him Joseph, saying, \"May the LORD give me yet another son.\"\n\t\t\t After Rachel had given birth to Joseph, Jacob said to Laban, \"Send me on my way so that I can go home to my own country.\n\t\t\t Let me take my wives and my children whom I have acquired by working for you. Then I'll depart, because you know how hard I've worked for you.\"\n\t\t\t But Laban said to him, \"If I have found favor in your sight, please stay here, for I have learned by divination that the LORD has blessed me on account of you.\" \n\t\t\t He added, \"Just name your wages, I'll pay whatever you want.\"\n\t\t\t \"You know how I have worked for you,\" Jacob replied, \"and how well your livestock have fared under my care.\n\t\t\t Indeed, you had little before I arrived, but now your possessions have increased many times over. The LORD has blessed you wherever I worked. But now, how long must it be before I do something for my own family too?\"\n\t\t\t So Laban asked, \"What should I give you?\" \"You don't need to give me a thing,\" Jacob replied, \"but if you agree to this one condition, I will continue to care for your flocks and protect them: \n\t\t\t Let me walk among all your flocks today and remove from them every speckled or spotted sheep, every dark-colored lamb, and the spotted or speckled goats. These animals will be my wages.\n\t\t\t My integrity will testify for me later on. When you come to verify that I've taken only the wages we agreed on, if I have in my possession any goat that is not speckled or spotted or any sheep that is not dark-colored, it will be considered stolen.\"\n\t\t\t \"Agreed!\" said Laban, \"It will be as you say.\"\n\t\t\t So that day Laban removed the male goats that were streaked or spotted, all the female goats that were speckled or spotted (all that had any white on them), and all the dark-colored lambs, and put them in the care of his sons. \n\t\t\t Then he separated them from Jacob by a three-day journey, while Jacob was taking care of the rest of Laban's flocks.\n\t\t\t But Jacob took fresh-cut branches from poplar, almond, and plane trees. He made white streaks by peeling them, making the white inner wood in the branches visible.\n\t\t\t Then he set up the peeled branches in all the watering troughs where the flocks came to drink. He set up the branches in front of the flocks when they were in heat and came to drink.\n\t\t\t When the sheep mated in front of the branches, they gave birth to young that were streaked or speckled or spotted. \n\t\t\t Jacob removed these lambs, but he made the rest of the flock face the streaked and completely dark-colored animals in Laban's flock. So he made separate flocks for himself and did not mix them with Laban's flocks. \n\t\t\t When the stronger females were in heat, Jacob would set up the branches in the troughs in front of the flock, so they would mate near the branches. \n\t\t\t But if the animals were weaker, he did not set the branches there. So the weaker animals ended up belonging to Laban and the stronger animals to Jacob. \n\t\t\t In this way Jacob became extremely prosperous. He owned large flocks, male and female servants, camels, and donkeys.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Jacob heard that Laban's sons were complaining, \"Jacob has taken everything that belonged to our father! He has gotten rich at our father's expense!\"\n\t\t\t When Jacob saw the look on Laban's face, he could tell his attitude toward him had changed.\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Jacob, \"Return to the land of your fathers and to your relatives. I will be with you.\"\n\t\t\t So Jacob sent a message for Rachel and Leah to come to the field where his flocks were.\n\t\t\t There he said to them, \"I can tell that your father's attitude toward me has changed, but the God of my father has been with me. \n\t\t\t You know that I've worked for your father as hard as I could,\n\t\t\t but your father has humiliated me and changed my wages ten times. But God has not permitted him to do me any harm. \n\t\t\t If he said, 'The speckled animals will be your wage,' then the entire flock gave birth to speckled offspring. But if he said, 'The streaked animals will be your wage,' then the entire flock gave birth to streaked offspring.\n\t\t\t In this way God has snatched away your father's livestock and given them to me.\n\t\t\t \"Once during breeding season I saw in a dream that the male goats mating with the flock were streaked, speckled, and spotted. \n\t\t\t In the dream the angel of God said to me, 'Jacob!' 'Here I am!' I replied.\n\t\t\t Then he said, 'Observe that all the male goats mating with the flock are streaked, speckled, or spotted, for I have observed all that Laban has done to you. \n\t\t\t I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed the sacred stone and made a vow to me. Now leave this land immediately and return to your native land.'\"\n\t\t\t Then Rachel and Leah replied to him, \"Do we still have any portion or inheritance in our father's house? \n\t\t\t Hasn't he treated us like foreigners? He not only sold us, but completely wasted the money paid for us!\n\t\t\t Surely all the wealth that God snatched away from our father belongs to us and to our children. So now do everything God has told you.\"\n\t\t\t So Jacob immediately put his children and his wives on the camels.\n\t\t\t He took away all the livestock he had acquired in Paddan Aram and all his moveable property that he had accumulated. Then he set out toward the land of Canaan to return to his father Isaac.\n\t\t\t While Laban had gone to shear his sheep, Rachel stole the household idols that belonged to her father. \n\t\t\t Jacob also deceived Laban the Aramean by not telling him that he was leaving.\n\t\t\t He left with all he owned. He quickly crossed the Euphrates River and headed for the hill country of Gilead.\n\t\t\t Three days later Laban discovered Jacob had left.\n\t\t\t So he took his relatives with him and pursued Jacob for seven days. He caught up with him in the hill country of Gilead. \n\t\t\t But God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream at night and warned him, \"Be careful that you neither bless nor curse Jacob.\"\n\t\t\t Laban overtook Jacob, and when Jacob pitched his tent in the hill country of Gilead, Laban and his relatives set up camp there too.\n\t\t\t \"What have you done?\" Laban demanded of Jacob. \"You've deceived me and carried away my daughters as if they were captives of war!\n\t\t\t Why did you run away secretly and deceive me? Why didn't you tell me so I could send you off with a celebration complete with singing, tambourines, and harps?\n\t\t\t You didn't even allow me to kiss my daughters and my grandchildren good-bye. You have acted foolishly! \n\t\t\t I have the power to do you harm, but the God of your father told me last night, 'Be careful that you neither bless nor curse Jacob.'\n\t\t\t Now I understand that you have gone away because you longed desperately for your father's house. Yet why did you steal my gods?\"\n\t\t\t \"I left secretly because I was afraid!\" Jacob replied to Laban. \"I thought you might take your daughters away from me by force.\n\t\t\t Whoever has taken your gods will be put to death! In the presence of our relatives identify whatever is yours and take it.\" (Now Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen them.)\n\t\t\t So Laban entered Jacob's tent, and Leah's tent, and the tent of the two female servants, but he did not find the idols. Then he left Leah's tent and entered Rachel's.\n\t\t\t (Now Rachel had taken the idols and put them inside her camel's saddle and sat on them.) Laban searched the whole tent, but did not find them.\n\t\t\t Rachel said to her father, \"Don't be angry, my lord. I cannot stand up in your presence because I am having my period.\" So he searched thoroughly, but did not find the idols.\n\t\t\t Jacob became angry and argued with Laban. \"What did I do wrong?\" he demanded of Laban. \"What sin of mine prompted you to chase after me in hot pursuit?\n\t\t\t When you searched through all my goods, did you find anything that belonged to you? Set it here before my relatives and yours, and let them settle the dispute between the two of us!\n\t\t\t \"I have been with you for the past twenty years. Your ewes and female goats have not miscarried, nor have I eaten rams from your flocks.\n\t\t\t Animals torn by wild beasts I never brought to you; I always absorbed the loss myself. You always made me pay for every missing animal, whether it was taken by day or at night. \n\t\t\t I was consumed by scorching heat during the day and by piercing cold at night, and I went without sleep.\n\t\t\t This was my lot for twenty years in your house: I worked like a slave for you, fourteen years for your two daughters and six years for your flocks, but you changed my wages ten times!\n\t\t\t If the God of my father, the God of Abraham, the one whom Isaac fears, had not been with me, you would certainly have sent me away empty-handed! But God saw how I was oppressed and how hard I worked, and he rebuked you last night.\"\n\t\t\t Laban replied to Jacob, \"These women are my daughters, these children are my grandchildren, and these flocks are my flocks. All that you see belongs to me. But how can I harm these daughters of mine today or the children to whom they have given birth? \n\t\t\t So now, come, let's make a formal agreement, you and I, and it will be proof that we have made peace.\"\n\t\t\t So Jacob took a stone and set it up as a memorial pillar.\n\t\t\t Then he said to his relatives, \"Gather stones.\" So they brought stones and put them in a pile. They ate there by the pile of stones. \n\t\t\t Laban called it Jegar Sahadutha, but Jacob called it Galeed.\n\t\t\t Laban said, \"This pile of stones is a witness of our agreement today.\" That is why it was called Galeed. \n\t\t\t It was also called Mizpah because he said, \"May the LORD watch between us when we are out of sight of one another.\n\t\t\t If you mistreat my daughters or if you take wives besides my daughters, although no one else is with us, realize that God is witness to your actions.\"\n\t\t\t \"Here is this pile of stones and this pillar I have set up between me and you,\" Laban said to Jacob.\n\t\t\t \"This pile of stones and the pillar are reminders that I will not pass beyond this pile to come to harm you and that you will not pass beyond this pile and this pillar to come to harm me.\n\t\t\t May the God of Abraham and the god of Nahor, the gods of their father, judge between us.\" Jacob took an oath by the God whom his father Isaac feared.\n\t\t\t Then Jacob offered a sacrifice on the mountain and invited his relatives to eat the meal. They ate the meal and spent the night on the mountain.\n\t\t\t Early in the morning Laban kissed his grandchildren and his daughters goodbye and blessed them. Then Laban left and returned home.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t So Jacob went on his way and the angels of God met him. \n\t\t\t When Jacob saw them, he exclaimed, \"This is the camp of God!\" So he named that place Mahanaim.\n\t\t\t Jacob sent messengers on ahead to his brother Esau in the land of Seir, the region of Edom.\n\t\t\t He commanded them, \"This is what you must say to my lord Esau: 'This is what your servant Jacob says: I have been staying with Laban until now.\n\t\t\t I have oxen, donkeys, sheep, and male and female servants. I have sent this message to inform my lord, so that I may find favor in your sight.'\"\n\t\t\t The messengers returned to Jacob and said, \"We went to your brother Esau. He is coming to meet you and has four hundred men with him.\"\n\t\t\t Jacob was very afraid and upset. So he divided the people who were with him into two camps, as well as the flocks, herds, and camels.\n\t\t\t \"If Esau attacks one camp,\" he thought, \"then the other camp will be able to escape.\"\n\t\t\t Then Jacob prayed, \"O God of my father Abraham, God of my father Isaac, O LORD, you said to me, 'Return to your land and to your relatives and I will make you prosper.'\n\t\t\t I am not worthy of all the faithful love you have shown your servant. With only my walking stick I crossed the Jordan, but now I have become two camps. \n\t\t\t Rescue me, I pray, from the hand of my brother Esau, for I am afraid he will come and attack me, as well as the mothers with their children.\n\t\t\t But you said, 'I will certainly make you prosper and will make your descendants like the sand on the seashore, too numerous to count.'\"\n\t\t\t Jacob stayed there that night. Then he sent as a gift to his brother Esau \n\t\t\t two hundred female goats and twenty male goats, two hundred ewes and twenty rams,\n\t\t\t thirty female camels with their young, forty cows and ten bulls, and twenty female donkeys and ten male donkeys.\n\t\t\t He entrusted them to his servants, who divided them into herds. He told his servants, \"Pass over before me, and keep some distance between one herd and the next.\" \n\t\t\t He instructed the servant leading the first herd, \"When my brother Esau meets you and asks, 'To whom do you belong? Where are you going? Whose herds are you driving?'\n\t\t\t then you must say, 'They belong to your servant Jacob. They have been sent as a gift to my lord Esau. In fact Jacob himself is behind us.'\"\n\t\t\t He also gave these instructions to the second and third servants, as well as all those who were following the herds, saying, \"You must say the same thing to Esau when you meet him.\n\t\t\t You must also say, 'In fact your servant Jacob is behind us.'\" Jacob thought, \"I will first appease him by sending a gift ahead of me. After that I will meet him. Perhaps he will accept me.\"\n\t\t\t So the gifts were sent on ahead of him while he spent that night in the camp.\n\t\t\t During the night Jacob quickly took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok.\n\t\t\t He took them and sent them across the stream along with all his possessions.\n\t\t\t So Jacob was left alone. Then a man wrestled with him until daybreak.\n\t\t\t When the man saw that he could not defeat Jacob, he struck the socket of his hip so the socket of Jacob's hip was dislocated while he wrestled with him.\n\t\t\t Then the man said, \"Let me go, for the dawn is breaking.\" \"I will not let you go,\" Jacob replied, \"unless you bless me.\"\n\t\t\t The man asked him, \"What is your name?\" He answered, \"Jacob.\" \n\t\t\t \"No longer will your name be Jacob,\" the man told him, \"but Israel, because you have fought with God and with men and have prevailed.\"\n\t\t\t Then Jacob asked, \"Please tell me your name.\" \"Why do you ask my name?\" the man replied. Then he blessed Jacob there. \n\t\t\t So Jacob named the place Peniel, explaining, \"Certainly I have seen God face to face and have survived.\"\n\t\t\t The sun rose over him as he crossed over Penuel, but he was limping because of his hip. \n\t\t\t That is why to this day the Israelites do not eat the sinew which is attached to the socket of the hip, because he struck the socket of Jacob's hip near the attached sinew.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Jacob looked up and saw that Esau was coming along with four hundred men. So he divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two female servants. \n\t\t\t He put the servants and their children in front, with Leah and her children behind them, and Rachel and Joseph behind them.\n\t\t\t But Jacob himself went on ahead of them, and he bowed toward the ground seven times as he approached his brother. \n\t\t\t But Esau ran to meet him, embraced him, hugged his neck, and kissed him. Then they both wept.\n\t\t\t When Esau looked up and saw the women and the children, he asked, \"Who are these people with you?\" Jacob replied, \"The children whom God has graciously given your servant.\"\n\t\t\t The female servants came forward with their children and bowed down.\n\t\t\t Then Leah came forward with her children and they bowed down. Finally Joseph and Rachel came forward and bowed down.\n\t\t\t Esau then asked, \"What did you intend by sending all these herds to meet me?\" Jacob replied, \"To find favor in your sight, my lord.\" \n\t\t\t But Esau said, \"I have plenty, my brother. Keep what belongs to you.\"\n\t\t\t \"No, please take them,\" Jacob said. \"If I have found favor in your sight, accept my gift from my hand. Now that I have seen your face and you have accepted me, it is as if I have seen the face of God.\n\t\t\t Please take my present that was brought to you, for God has been generous to me and I have all I need.\" When Jacob urged him, he took it.\n\t\t\t Then Esau said, \"Let's be on our way! I will go in front of you.\" \n\t\t\t But Jacob said to him, \"My lord knows that the children are young, and that I have to look after the sheep and cattle that are nursing their young. If they are driven too hard for even a single day, all the animals will die. \n\t\t\t Let my lord go on ahead of his servant. I will travel more slowly, at the pace of the herds and the children, until I come to my lord at Seir.\"\n\t\t\t So Esau said, \"Let me leave some of my men with you.\" \"Why do that?\" Jacob replied. \"My lord has already been kind enough to me.\"\n\t\t\t So that same day Esau made his way back to Seir. \n\t\t\t But Jacob traveled to Succoth where he built himself a house and made shelters for his livestock. That is why the place was called Succoth.\n\t\t\t After he left Paddan Aram, Jacob came safely to the city of Shechem in the land of Canaan, and he camped near the city. \n\t\t\t Then he purchased the portion of the field where he had pitched his tent; he bought it from the sons of Hamor, Shechem's father, for a hundred pieces of money.\n\t\t\t There he set up an altar and called it \"The God of Israel is God.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now Dinah, Leah's daughter whom she bore to Jacob, went to meet the young women of the land. \n\t\t\t When Shechem son of Hamor the Hivite, who ruled that area, saw her, he grabbed her, forced himself on her, and sexually assaulted her.\n\t\t\t Then he became very attached to Dinah, Jacob's daughter. He fell in love with the young woman and spoke romantically to her.\n\t\t\t Shechem said to his father Hamor, \"Acquire this young girl as my wife.\"\n\t\t\t When Jacob heard that Shechem had violated his daughter Dinah, his sons were with the livestock in the field. So Jacob remained silent until they came in.\n\t\t\t Then Shechem's father Hamor went to speak with Jacob about Dinah.\n\t\t\t Now Jacob's sons had come in from the field when they heard the news. They were offended and very angry because Shechem had disgraced Israel by sexually assaulting Jacob's daughter, a crime that should not be committed.\n\t\t\t But Hamor made this appeal to them: \"My son Shechem is in love with your daughter. Please give her to him as his wife. \n\t\t\t Intermarry with us. Let us marry your daughters, and take our daughters as wives for yourselves.\n\t\t\t You may live among us, and the land will be open to you. Live in it, travel freely in it, and acquire property in it.\"\n\t\t\t Then Shechem said to Dinah's father and brothers, \"Let me find favor in your sight, and whatever you require of me I'll give.\n\t\t\t You can make the bride price and the gift I must bring very expensive, and I'll give whatever you ask of me. Just give me the young woman as my wife!\"\n\t\t\t Jacob's sons answered Shechem and his father Hamor deceitfully when they spoke because Shechem had violated their sister Dinah. \n\t\t\t They said to them, \"We cannot give our sister to a man who is not circumcised, for it would be a disgrace to us. \n\t\t\t We will give you our consent on this one condition: You must become like us by circumcising all your males. \n\t\t\t Then we will give you our daughters to marry, and we will take your daughters as wives for ourselves, and we will live among you and become one people. \n\t\t\t But if you do not agree to our terms by being circumcised, then we will take our sister and depart.\"\n\t\t\t Their offer pleased Hamor and his son Shechem.\n\t\t\t The young man did not delay in doing what they asked because he wanted Jacob's daughter Dinah badly. (Now he was more important than anyone in his father's household.)\n\t\t\t So Hamor and his son Shechem went to the gate of their city and spoke to the men of their city, \n\t\t\t \"These men are at peace with us. So let them live in the land and travel freely in it, for the land is wide enough for them. We will take their daughters for wives, and we will give them our daughters to marry.\n\t\t\t Only on this one condition will these men consent to live with us and become one people: They demand that every male among us be circumcised just as they are circumcised. \n\t\t\t If we do so, won't their livestock, their property, and all their animals become ours? So let's consent to their demand, so they will live among us.\"\n\t\t\t All the men who assembled at the city gate agreed with Hamor and his son Shechem. Every male who assembled at the city gate was circumcised. \n\t\t\t In three days, when they were still in pain, two of Jacob's sons, Simeon and Levi, Dinah's brothers, each took his sword and went to the unsuspecting city and slaughtered every male. \n\t\t\t They killed Hamor and his son Shechem with the sword, took Dinah from Shechem's house, and left.\n\t\t\t Jacob's sons killed them and looted the city because their sister had been violated.\n\t\t\t They took their flocks, herds, and donkeys, as well as everything in the city and in the surrounding fields.\n\t\t\t They captured as plunder all their wealth, all their little ones, and their wives, including everything in the houses.\n\t\t\t Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, \"You have brought ruin on me by making me a foul odor among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites. I am few in number; they will join forces against me and attack me, and both I and my family will be destroyed!\"\n\t\t\t But Simeon and Levi replied, \"Should he treat our sister like a common prostitute?\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then God said to Jacob, \"Go up at once to Bethel and live there. Make an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau.\"\n\t\t\t So Jacob told his household and all who were with him, \"Get rid of the foreign gods you have among you. Purify yourselves and change your clothes.\n\t\t\t Let us go up at once to Bethel. Then I will make an altar there to God, who responded to me in my time of distress and has been with me wherever I went.\"\n\t\t\t So they gave Jacob all the foreign gods that were in their possession and the rings that were in their ears. Jacob buried them under the oak near Shechem\n\t\t\t and they started on their journey. The surrounding cities were afraid of God, and they did not pursue the sons of Jacob.\n\t\t\t Jacob and all those who were with him arrived at Luz (that is, Bethel) in the land of Canaan.\n\t\t\t He built an altar there and named the place El Bethel because there God had revealed himself to him when he was fleeing from his brother. \n\t\t\t (Deborah, Rebekah's nurse, died and was buried under the oak below Bethel; thus it was named Oak of Weeping.)\n\t\t\t God appeared to Jacob again after he returned from Paddan Aram and blessed him.\n\t\t\t God said to him, \"Your name is Jacob, but your name will no longer be called Jacob; Israel will be your name.\" So God named him Israel.\n\t\t\t Then God said to him, \"I am the sovereign God. Be fruitful and multiply! A nation, even a company of nations, will descend from you; kings will be among your descendants!\n\t\t\t The land I gave to Abraham and Isaac I will give to you. To your descendants I will also give this land.\" \n\t\t\t Then God went up from the place where he spoke with him. \n\t\t\t So Jacob set up a sacred stone pillar in the place where God spoke with him. He poured out a drink offering on it, and then he poured oil on it.\n\t\t\t Jacob named the place where God spoke with him Bethel.\n\t\t\t They traveled on from Bethel, and when Ephrath was still some distance away, Rachel went into labor, and her labor was hard.\n\t\t\t When her labor was at its hardest, the midwife said to her, \"Don't be afraid, for you are having another son.\"\n\t\t\t With her dying breath, she named him Ben-Oni. But his father called him Benjamin instead.\n\t\t\t So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).\n\t\t\t Jacob set up a marker over her grave; it is the Marker of Rachel's Grave to this day.\n\t\t\t Then Israel traveled on and pitched his tent beyond Migdal Eder.\n\t\t\t While Israel was living in that land, Reuben had sexual relations with Bilhah, his father's concubine, and Israel heard about it. Jacob had twelve sons:\n\t\t\t The sons of Leah were Reuben, Jacob's firstborn, as well as Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun.\n\t\t\t The sons of Rachel were Joseph and Benjamin.\n\t\t\t The sons of Bilhah, Rachel's servant, were Dan and Naphtali.\n\t\t\t The sons of Zilpah, Leah's servant, were Gad and Asher. These were the sons of Jacob who were born to him in Paddan Aram.\n\t\t\t So Jacob came back to his father Isaac in Mamre, to Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac had stayed.\n\t\t\t Isaac lived to be 180 years old.\n\t\t\t Then Isaac breathed his last and joined his ancestors. He died an old man who had lived a full life. His sons Esau and Jacob buried him.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t What follows is the account of Esau (also known as Edom).\n\t\t\t Esau took his wives from the Canaanites: Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite, and Oholibamah the daughter of Anah and granddaughter of Zibeon the Hivite, \n\t\t\t in addition to Basemath the daughter of Ishmael and sister of Nebaioth.\n\t\t\t Adah bore Eliphaz to Esau, Basemath bore Reuel,\n\t\t\t and Oholibamah bore Jeush, Jalam, and Korah. These were the sons of Esau who were born to him in the land of Canaan.\n\t\t\t Esau took his wives, his sons, his daughters, all the people in his household, his livestock, his animals, and all his possessions which he had acquired in the land of Canaan and went to a land some distance away from Jacob his brother \n\t\t\t because they had too many possessions to be able to stay together and the land where they had settled was not able to support them because of their livestock. \n\t\t\t So Esau (also known as Edom) lived in the hill country of Seir.\n\t\t\t This is the account of Esau, the father of the Edomites, in the hill country of Seir.\n\t\t\t These were the names of Esau's sons: Eliphaz, the son of Esau's wife Adah, and Reuel, the son of Esau's wife Basemath.\n\t\t\t The sons of Eliphaz were: Teman, Omar, Zepho, Gatam, and Kenaz.\n\t\t\t Timna, a concubine of Esau's son Eliphaz, bore Amalek to Eliphaz. These were the sons of Esau's wife Adah.\n\t\t\t These were the sons of Reuel: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah. These were the sons of Esau's wife Basemath.\n\t\t\t These were the sons of Esau's wife Oholibamah the daughter of Anah and granddaughter of Zibeon: She bore Jeush, Jalam, and Korah to Esau.\n\t\t\t These were the chiefs among the descendants of Esau, the sons of Eliphaz, Esau's firstborn: chief Teman, chief Omar, chief Zepho, chief Kenaz, \n\t\t\t chief Korah, chief Gatam, chief Amalek. These were the chiefs descended from Eliphaz in the land of Edom; these were the sons of Adah.\n\t\t\t These were the sons of Esau's son Reuel: chief Nahath, chief Zerah, chief Shammah, chief Mizzah. These were the chiefs descended from Reuel in the land of Edom; these were the sons of Esau's wife Basemath.\n\t\t\t These were the sons of Esau's wife Oholibamah: chief Jeush, chief Jalam, chief Korah. These were the chiefs descended from Esau's wife Oholibamah, the daughter of Anah.\n\t\t\t These were the sons of Esau (also known as Edom), and these were their chiefs.\n\t\t\t These were the sons of Seir the Horite, who were living in the land: Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, \n\t\t\t Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan. These were the chiefs of the Horites, the descendants of Seir in the land of Edom.\n\t\t\t The sons of Lotan were Hori and Homam; Lotan's sister was Timna.\n\t\t\t These were the sons of Shobal: Alvan, Manahath, Ebal, Shepho, and Onam.\n\t\t\t These were the sons of Zibeon: Aiah and Anah (who discovered the hot springs in the wilderness as he pastured the donkeys of his father Zibeon).\n\t\t\t These were the children of Anah: Dishon and Oholibamah, the daughter of Anah.\n\t\t\t These were the sons of Dishon: Hemdan, Eshban, Ithran, and Keran.\n\t\t\t These were the sons of Ezer: Bilhan, Zaavan, and Akan.\n\t\t\t These were the sons of Dishan: Uz and Aran.\n\t\t\t These were the chiefs of the Horites: chief Lotan, chief Shobal, chief Zibeon, chief Anah,\n\t\t\t chief Dishon, chief Ezer, chief Dishan. These were the chiefs of the Horites, according to their chief lists in the land of Seir.\n\t\t\t These were the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before any king ruled over the Israelites:\n\t\t\t Bela the son of Beor reigned in Edom; the name of his city was Dinhabah.\n\t\t\t When Bela died, Jobab the son of Zerah from Bozrah reigned in his place.\n\t\t\t When Jobab died, Husham from the land of the Temanites reigned in his place.\n\t\t\t When Husham died, Hadad the son of Bedad, who defeated the Midianites in the land of Moab, reigned in his place; the name of his city was Avith.\n\t\t\t When Hadad died, Samlah from Masrekah reigned in his place.\n\t\t\t When Samlah died, Shaul from Rehoboth by the River reigned in his place.\n\t\t\t When Shaul died, Baal-Hanan the son of Achbor reigned in his place.\n\t\t\t When Baal-Hanan the son of Achbor died, Hadad reigned in his place; the name of his city was Pau. His wife's name was Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, the daughter of Me-Zahab.\n\t\t\t These were the names of the chiefs of Esau, according to their families, according to their places, by their names: chief Timna, chief Alvah, chief Jetheth,\n\t\t\t chief Oholibamah, chief Elah, chief Pinon,\n\t\t\t chief Kenaz, chief Teman, chief Mibzar,\n\t\t\t chief Magdiel, chief Iram. These were the chiefs of Edom, according to their settlements in the land they possessed. This was Esau, the father of the Edomites.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t But Jacob lived in the land where his father had stayed, in the land of Canaan.\n\t\t\t This is the account of Jacob. Joseph, his seventeen-year-old son, was taking care of the flocks with his brothers. Now he was a youngster working with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father's wives. Joseph brought back a bad report about them to their father.\n\t\t\t Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his sons because he was a son born to him late in life, and he made a special tunic for him. \n\t\t\t When Joseph's brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated Joseph and were not able to speak to him kindly.\n\t\t\t Joseph had a dream, and when he told his brothers about it, they hated him even more.\n\t\t\t He said to them, \"Listen to this dream I had:\n\t\t\t There we were, binding sheaves of grain in the middle of the field. Suddenly my sheaf rose up and stood upright and your sheaves surrounded my sheaf and bowed down to it!\" \n\t\t\t Then his brothers asked him, \"Do you really think you will rule over us or have dominion over us?\" They hated him even more because of his dream and because of what he said.\n\t\t\t Then he had another dream, and told it to his brothers. \"Look,\" he said. \"I had another dream. The sun, the moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me.\" \n\t\t\t When he told his father and his brothers, his father rebuked him, saying, \"What is this dream that you had? Will I, your mother, and your brothers really come and bow down to you?\"\n\t\t\t His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept in mind what Joseph said.\n\t\t\t When his brothers had gone to graze their father's flocks near Shechem,\n\t\t\t Israel said to Joseph, \"Your brothers are grazing the flocks near Shechem. Come, I will send you to them.\" \"I'm ready,\" Joseph replied.\n\t\t\t So Jacob said to him, \"Go now and check on the welfare of your brothers and of the flocks, and bring me word.\" So Jacob sent him from the valley of Hebron.\n\t\t\t When Joseph reached Shechem, a man found him wandering in the field, so the man asked him, \"What are you looking for?\" \n\t\t\t He replied, \"I'm looking for my brothers. Please tell me where they are grazing their flocks.\" \n\t\t\t The man said, \"They left this area, for I heard them say, 'Let's go to Dothan.'\" So Joseph went after his brothers and found them at Dothan.\n\t\t\t Now Joseph's brothers saw him from a distance, and before he reached them, they plotted to kill him. \n\t\t\t They said to one another, \"Here comes this master of dreams!\n\t\t\t Come now, let's kill him, throw him into one of the cisterns, and then say that a wild animal ate him. Then we'll see how his dreams turn out!\"\n\t\t\t When Reuben heard this, he rescued Joseph from their hands, saying, \"Let's not take his life!\"\n\t\t\t Reuben continued, \"Don't shed blood! Throw him into this cistern that is here in the wilderness, but don't lay a hand on him.\" (Reuben said this so he could rescue Joseph from them and take him back to his father.)\n\t\t\t When Joseph reached his brothers, they stripped him of his tunic, the special tunic that he wore. \n\t\t\t Then they took him and threw him into the cistern. (Now the cistern was empty; there was no water in it.)\n\t\t\t When they sat down to eat their food, they looked up and saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead. Their camels were carrying spices, balm, and myrrh down to Egypt.\n\t\t\t Then Judah said to his brothers, \"What profit is there if we kill our brother and cover up his blood?\n\t\t\t Come, let's sell him to the Ishmaelites, but let's not lay a hand on him, for after all, he is our brother, our own flesh.\" His brothers agreed.\n\t\t\t So when the Midianite merchants passed by, Joseph's brothers pulled him out of the cistern and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver. The Ishmaelites then took Joseph to Egypt.\n\t\t\t Later Reuben returned to the cistern to find that Joseph was not in it! He tore his clothes, \n\t\t\t returned to his brothers, and said, \"The boy isn't there! And I, where can I go?\"\n\t\t\t So they took Joseph's tunic, killed a young goat, and dipped the tunic in the blood. \n\t\t\t Then they brought the special tunic to their father and said, \"We found this. Determine now whether it is your son's tunic or not.\"\n\t\t\t He recognized it and exclaimed, \"It is my son's tunic! A wild animal has eaten him! Joseph has surely been torn to pieces!\" \n\t\t\t Then Jacob tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and mourned for his son many days. \n\t\t\t All his sons and daughters stood by him to console him, but he refused to be consoled. \"No,\" he said, \"I will go to the grave mourning my son.\" So Joseph's father wept for him.\n\t\t\t Now in Egypt the Midianites sold Joseph to Potiphar, one of Pharaoh's officials, the captain of the guard.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t At that time Judah left his brothers and stayed with an Adullamite man named Hirah.\n\t\t\t There Judah saw the daughter of a Canaanite man named Shua. Judah acquired her as a wife and had marital relations with her.\n\t\t\t She became pregnant and had a son. Judah named him Er. \n\t\t\t She became pregnant again and had another son, whom she named Onan.\n\t\t\t Then she had yet another son, whom she named Shelah. She gave birth to him in Kezib.\n\t\t\t Judah acquired a wife for Er his firstborn; her name was Tamar. \n\t\t\t But Er, Judah's firstborn, was evil in the LORD's sight, so the LORD killed him.\n\t\t\t Then Judah said to Onan, \"Have sexual relations with your brother's wife and fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law to her so that you may raise up a descendant for your brother.\"\n\t\t\t But Onan knew that the child would not be considered his. So whenever he had sexual relations with his brother's wife, he withdrew prematurely so as not to give his brother a descendant. \n\t\t\t What he did was evil in the LORD's sight, so the LORD killed him too.\n\t\t\t Then Judah said to his daughter-in-law Tamar, \"Live as a widow in your father's house until Shelah my son grows up.\" For he thought, \"I don't want him to die like his brothers.\" So Tamar went and lived in her father's house.\n\t\t\t After some time Judah's wife, the daughter of Shua, died. After Judah was consoled, he left for Timnah to visit his sheepshearers, along with his friend Hirah the Adullamite. \n\t\t\t Tamar was told, \"Look, your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep.\" \n\t\t\t So she removed her widow's clothes and covered herself with a veil. She wrapped herself and sat at the entrance to Enaim which is on the way to Timnah. (She did this because she saw that she had not been given to Shelah as a wife, even though he had now grown up.)\n\t\t\t When Judah saw her, he thought she was a prostitute because she had covered her face. \n\t\t\t He turned aside to her along the road and said, \"Come on! I want to have sex with you.\" (He did not realize it was his daughter-in-law.) She asked, \"What will you give me in exchange for having sex with you?\"\n\t\t\t He replied, \"I'll send you a young goat from the flock.\" She asked, \"Will you give me a pledge until you send it?\"\n\t\t\t He said, \"What pledge should I give you?\" She replied, \"Your seal, your cord, and the staff that's in your hand.\" So he gave them to her and had sex with her. She became pregnant by him. \n\t\t\t She left immediately, removed her veil, and put on her widow's clothes.\n\t\t\t Then Judah had his friend Hirah the Adullamite take a young goat to get back from the woman the items he had given in pledge, but Hirah could not find her.\n\t\t\t He asked the men who were there, \"Where is the cult prostitute who was at Enaim by the road?\" But they replied, \"There has been no cult prostitute here.\"\n\t\t\t So he returned to Judah and said, \"I couldn't find her. Moreover, the men of the place said, 'There has been no cult prostitute here.'\"\n\t\t\t Judah said, \"Let her keep the things for herself. Otherwise we will appear to be dishonest. I did indeed send this young goat, but you couldn't find her.\"\n\t\t\t After three months Judah was told, \"Your daughter-in-law Tamar has turned to prostitution, and as a result she has become pregnant.\" Judah said, \"Bring her out and let her be burned!\"\n\t\t\t While they were bringing her out, she sent word to her father-in-law: \"I am pregnant by the man to whom these belong.\" Then she said, \"Identify the one to whom the seal, cord, and staff belong.\" \n\t\t\t Judah recognized them and said, \"She is more upright than I am, because I wouldn't give her to Shelah my son.\" He did not have sexual relations with her again.\n\t\t\t When it was time for her to give birth, there were twins in her womb.\n\t\t\t While she was giving birth, one child put out his hand, and the midwife took a scarlet thread and tied it on his hand, saying, \"This one came out first.\" \n\t\t\t But then he drew back his hand, and his brother came out before him. She said, \"How you have broken out of the womb!\" So he was named Perez.\n\t\t\t Afterward his brother came out, the one who had the scarlet thread on his hand, and he was named Zerah.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now Joseph had been brought down to Egypt. An Egyptian named Potiphar, an official of Pharaoh and the captain of the guard, purchased him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him there. \n\t\t\t The LORD was with Joseph. He was successful and lived in the household of his Egyptian master. \n\t\t\t His master observed that the LORD was with him and that the LORD made everything he was doing successful.\n\t\t\t So Joseph found favor in his sight and became his personal attendant. Potiphar appointed Joseph overseer of his household and put him in charge of everything he owned. \n\t\t\t From the time Potiphar appointed him over his household and over all that he owned, the LORD blessed the Egyptian's household for Joseph's sake. The blessing of the LORD was on everything that he had, both in his house and in his fields.\n\t\t\t So Potiphar left everything he had in Joseph's care; he gave no thought to anything except the food he ate. Now Joseph was well built and good-looking.\n\t\t\t Soon after these things, his master's wife took notice of Joseph and said, \"Have sex with me.\"\n\t\t\t But he refused, saying to his master's wife, \"Look, my master does not give any thought to his household with me here, and everything that he owns he has put into my care.\n\t\t\t There is no one greater in this household than I am. He has withheld nothing from me except you because you are his wife. So how could I do such a great evil and sin against God?\" \n\t\t\t Even though she continued to speak to Joseph day after day, he did not respond to her invitation to have sex with her.\n\t\t\t One day he went into the house to do his work when none of the household servants were there in the house. \n\t\t\t She grabbed him by his outer garment, saying, \"Have sex with me!\" But he left his outer garment in her hand and ran outside.\n\t\t\t When she saw that he had left his outer garment in her hand and had run outside,\n\t\t\t she called for her household servants and said to them, \"See, my husband brought in a Hebrew man to us to humiliate us. He tried to have sex with me, but I screamed loudly.\n\t\t\t When he heard me raise my voice and scream, he left his outer garment beside me and ran outside.\"\n\t\t\t So she laid his outer garment beside her until his master came home.\n\t\t\t This is what she said to him: \"That Hebrew slave you brought to us tried to humiliate me,\n\t\t\t but when I raised my voice and screamed, he left his outer garment and ran outside.\"\n\t\t\t When his master heard his wife say, \"This is the way your slave treated me,\" he became furious.\n\t\t\t Joseph's master took him and threw him into the prison, the place where the king's prisoners were confined. So he was there in the prison.\n\t\t\t But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him kindness. He granted him favor in the sight of the prison warden.\n\t\t\t The warden put all the prisoners under Joseph's care. He was in charge of whatever they were doing.\n\t\t\t The warden did not concern himself with anything that was in Joseph's care because the LORD was with him and whatever he was doing the LORD was making successful.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t After these things happened, the cupbearer to the king of Egypt and the royal baker offended their master, the king of Egypt. \n\t\t\t Pharaoh was enraged with his two officials, the cupbearer and the baker, \n\t\t\t so he imprisoned them in the house of the captain of the guard in the same facility where Joseph was confined.\n\t\t\t The captain of the guard appointed Joseph to be their attendant, and he served them. They spent some time in custody.\n\t\t\t Both of them, the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were confined in the prison, had a dream the same night. Each man's dream had its own meaning.\n\t\t\t When Joseph came to them in the morning, he saw that they were looking depressed.\n\t\t\t So he asked Pharaoh's officials, who were with him in custody in his master's house, \"Why do you look so sad today?\"\n\t\t\t They told him, \"We both had dreams, but there is no one to interpret them.\" Joseph responded, \"Don't interpretations belong to God? Tell them to me.\"\n\t\t\t So the chief cupbearer told his dream to Joseph: \"In my dream, there was a vine in front of me. \n\t\t\t On the vine there were three branches. As it budded, its blossoms opened and its clusters ripened into grapes.\n\t\t\t Now Pharaoh's cup was in my hand, so I took the grapes, squeezed them into his cup, and put the cup in Pharaoh's hand.\"\n\t\t\t \"This is its meaning,\" Joseph said to him. \"The three branches represent three days. \n\t\t\t In three more days Pharaoh will reinstate you and restore you to your office. You will put Pharaoh's cup in his hand, just as you did before when you were cupbearer. \n\t\t\t But remember me when it goes well for you, and show me kindness. Make mention of me to Pharaoh and bring me out of this prison,\n\t\t\t for I really was kidnapped from the land of the Hebrews and I have done nothing wrong here for which they should put me in a dungeon.\"\n\t\t\t When the chief baker saw that the interpretation of the first dream was favorable, he said to Joseph, \"I also appeared in my dream and there were three baskets of white bread on my head. \n\t\t\t In the top basket there were baked goods of every kind for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating them from the basket that was on my head.\"\n\t\t\t Joseph replied, \"This is its meaning: The three baskets represent three days. \n\t\t\t In three more days Pharaoh will decapitate you and impale you on a pole. Then the birds will eat your flesh from you.\"\n\t\t\t On the third day it was Pharaoh's birthday, so he gave a feast for all his servants. He \"lifted up\" the head of the chief cupbearer and the head of the chief baker in the midst of his servants. \n\t\t\t He restored the chief cupbearer to his former position so that he placed the cup in Pharaoh's hand, \n\t\t\t but the chief baker he impaled, just as Joseph had predicted.\n\t\t\t But the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, he forgot him.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t At the end of two full years Pharaoh had a dream. As he was standing by the Nile, \n\t\t\t seven fine-looking, fat cows were coming up out of the Nile, and they grazed in the reeds. \n\t\t\t Then seven bad-looking, thin cows were coming up after them from the Nile, and they stood beside the other cows at the edge of the river.\n\t\t\t The bad-looking, thin cows ate the seven fine-looking, fat cows. Then Pharaoh woke up.\n\t\t\t Then he fell asleep again and had a second dream: There were seven heads of grain growing on one stalk, healthy and good. \n\t\t\t Then seven heads of grain, thin and burned by the east wind, were sprouting up after them. \n\t\t\t The thin heads swallowed up the seven healthy and full heads. Then Pharaoh woke up and realized it was a dream.\n\t\t\t In the morning he was troubled, so he called for all the diviner-priests of Egypt and all its wise men. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could interpret them for him.\n\t\t\t Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, \"Today I recall my failures.\n\t\t\t Pharaoh was enraged with his servants, and he put me in prison in the house of the captain of the guards, me and the chief baker.\n\t\t\t We each had a dream one night; each of us had a dream with its own meaning.\n\t\t\t Now a young man, a Hebrew, a servant of the captain of the guards, was with us there. We told him our dreams, and he interpreted the meaning of each of our respective dreams for us.\n\t\t\t It happened just as he had said to us, Pharaoh restored me to my office, but he impaled the baker.\"\n\t\t\t Then Pharaoh summoned Joseph. So they brought him quickly out of the dungeon; he shaved himself, changed his clothes, and came before Pharaoh. \n\t\t\t Pharaoh said to Joseph, \"I had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. But I have heard about you, that you can interpret dreams.\"\n\t\t\t Joseph replied to Pharaoh, \"It is not within my power, but God will speak concerning the welfare of Pharaoh.\"\n\t\t\t Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, \"In my dream I was standing by the edge of the Nile. \n\t\t\t Then seven fat and fine-looking cows were coming up out of the Nile, and they grazed in the reeds.\n\t\t\t Then seven other cows came up after them; they were scrawny, very bad-looking, and lean. I had never seen such bad-looking cows as these in all the land of Egypt! \n\t\t\t The lean, bad-looking cows ate up the seven fat cows. \n\t\t\t When they had eaten them, no one would have known that they had done so, for they were just as bad-looking as before. Then I woke up. \n\t\t\t I also saw in my dream seven heads of grain growing on one stalk, full and good. \n\t\t\t Then seven heads of grain, withered and thin and burned with the east wind, were sprouting up after them. \n\t\t\t The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven good heads of grain. So I told all this to the diviner-priests, but no one could tell me its meaning.\"\n\t\t\t Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, \"Both dreams of Pharaoh have the same meaning. God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do.\n\t\t\t The seven good cows represent seven years, and the seven good heads of grain represent seven years. Both dreams have the same meaning.\n\t\t\t The seven lean, bad-looking cows that came up after them represent seven years, as do the seven empty heads of grain burned with the east wind. They represent seven years of famine.\n\t\t\t This is just what I told Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do. \n\t\t\t Seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the whole land of Egypt.\n\t\t\t But seven years of famine will occur after them, and all the abundance will be forgotten in the land of Egypt. The famine will devastate the land. \n\t\t\t The previous abundance of the land will not be remembered because of the famine that follows, for the famine will be very severe.\n\t\t\t The dream was repeated to Pharaoh because the matter has been decreed by God, and God will make it happen soon.\n\t\t\t \"So now Pharaoh should look for a wise and discerning man and give him authority over all the land of Egypt.\n\t\t\t Pharaoh should do this, he should appoint officials throughout the land to collect one-fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt during the seven years of abundance.\n\t\t\t They should gather all the excess food during these good years that are coming. By Pharaoh's authority they should store up grain so the cities will have food, and they should preserve it.\n\t\t\t This food should be held in storage for the land in preparation for the seven years of famine that will occur throughout the land of Egypt. In this way the land will survive the famine.\"\n\t\t\t This advice made sense to Pharaoh and all his officials.\n\t\t\t So Pharaoh asked his officials, \"Can we find a man like Joseph, one in whom the Spirit of God is present?\"\n\t\t\t So Pharaoh said to Joseph, \"Because God has enabled you to know all this, there is no one as wise and discerning as you are! \n\t\t\t You will oversee my household, and all my people will submit to your commands. Only I, the king, will be greater than you.\n\t\t\t \"See here,\" Pharaoh said to Joseph, \"I place you in authority over all the land of Egypt.\"\n\t\t\t Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his own hand and put it on Joseph's. He clothed him with fine linen clothes and put a gold chain around his neck. \n\t\t\t Pharaoh had him ride in the chariot used by his second-in-command, and they cried out before him, \"Kneel down!\" So he placed him over all the land of Egypt. \n\t\t\t Pharaoh also said to Joseph, \"I am Pharaoh, but without your permission no one will move his hand or his foot in all the land of Egypt.\" \n\t\t\t Pharaoh gave Joseph the name Zaphenath-Paneah. He also gave him Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, to be his wife. So Joseph took charge of all the land of Egypt.\n\t\t\t Now Joseph was 30 years old when he began serving Pharaoh king of Egypt. Joseph was commissioned by Pharaoh and was in charge of all the land of Egypt. \n\t\t\t During the seven years of abundance the land produced large, bountiful harvests.\n\t\t\t Joseph collected all the excess food in the land of Egypt during the seven years and stored it in the cities. In every city he put the food gathered from the fields around it. \n\t\t\t Joseph stored up a vast amount of grain, like the sand of the sea, until he stopped measuring it because it was impossible to measure.\n\t\t\t Two sons were born to Joseph before the famine came. Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, was their mother.\n\t\t\t Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh, saying, \"Certainly God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father's house.\" \n\t\t\t He named the second child Ephraim, saying, \"Certainly God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering.\"\n\t\t\t The seven years of abundance in the land of Egypt came to an end.\n\t\t\t Then the seven years of famine began, just as Joseph had predicted. There was famine in all the other lands, but throughout the land of Egypt there was food. \n\t\t\t When all the land of Egypt experienced the famine, the people cried out to Pharaoh for food. Pharaoh said to all the people of Egypt, \"Go to Joseph and do whatever he tells you.\"\n\t\t\t While the famine was over all the earth, Joseph opened the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians. The famine was severe throughout the land of Egypt. \n\t\t\t People from every country came to Joseph in Egypt to buy grain because the famine was severe throughout the earth.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t When Jacob heard there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, \"Why are you looking at each other?\"\n\t\t\t He then said, \"Look, I hear that there is grain in Egypt. Go down there and buy grain for us so that we may live and not die.\"\n\t\t\t So ten of Joseph's brothers went down to buy grain from Egypt.\n\t\t\t But Jacob did not send Joseph's brother Benjamin with his brothers, for he said, \"What if some accident happens to him?\" \n\t\t\t So Israel's sons came to buy grain among the other travelers, for the famine was severe in the land of Canaan.\n\t\t\t Now Joseph was the ruler of the country, the one who sold grain to all the people of the country. Joseph's brothers came and bowed down before him with their faces to the ground.\n\t\t\t When Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he pretended to be a stranger to them and spoke to them harshly. He asked, \"Where do you come from?\" They answered, \"From the land of Canaan, to buy grain for food.\"\n\t\t\t Joseph recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him.\n\t\t\t Then Joseph remembered the dreams he had dreamed about them, and he said to them, \"You are spies; you have come to see if our land is vulnerable!\"\n\t\t\t But they exclaimed, \"No, my lord! Your servants have come to buy grain for food! \n\t\t\t We are all the sons of one man; we are honest men! Your servants are not spies.\"\n\t\t\t \"No,\" he insisted, \"but you have come to see if our land is vulnerable.\"\n\t\t\t They replied, \"Your servants are from a family of twelve brothers. We are the sons of one man in the land of Canaan. The youngest is with our father at this time, and one is no longer alive.\"\n\t\t\t But Joseph told them, \"It is just as I said to you: You are spies! \n\t\t\t You will be tested in this way: As surely as Pharaoh lives, you will not depart from this place unless your youngest brother comes here. \n\t\t\t One of you must go and get your brother, while the rest of you remain in prison. In this way your words may be tested to see if you are telling the truth. If not, then, as surely as Pharaoh lives, you are spies!\" \n\t\t\t He imprisoned them all for three days. \n\t\t\t On the third day Joseph said to them, \"Do as I say and you will live, for I fear God.\n\t\t\t If you are honest men, leave one of your brothers confined here in prison while the rest of you go and take grain back for your hungry families.\n\t\t\t But you must bring your youngest brother to me. Then your words will be verified and you will not die.\" They did as he said.\n\t\t\t They said to one other, \"Surely we're being punished because of our brother, because we saw how distressed he was when he cried to us for mercy, but we refused to listen. That is why this distress has come on us!\" \n\t\t\t Reuben said to them, \"Didn't I say to you, 'Don't sin against the boy,' but you wouldn't listen? So now we must pay for shedding his blood!\"\n\t\t\t (Now they did not know that Joseph could understand them, for he was speaking through an interpreter.)\n\t\t\t He turned away from them and wept. When he turned around and spoke to them again, he had Simeon taken from them and tied up before their eyes.\n\t\t\t Then Joseph gave orders to fill their bags with grain, to return each man's money to his sack, and to give them provisions for the journey. His orders were carried out.\n\t\t\t So they loaded their grain on their donkeys and left.\n\t\t\t When one of them opened his sack to get feed for his donkey at their resting place, he saw his money in the mouth of his sack.\n\t\t\t He said to his brothers, \"My money was returned! Here it is in my sack!\" They were dismayed; they turned trembling one to another and said, \"What in the world has God done to us?\"\n\t\t\t They returned to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan and told him all the things that had happened to them, saying,\n\t\t\t \"The man, the lord of the land, spoke harshly to us and treated us as if we were spying on the land. \n\t\t\t But we said to him, 'We are honest men; we are not spies!\n\t\t\t We are from a family of twelve brothers; we are the sons of one father. One is no longer alive, and the youngest is with our father at this time in the land of Canaan.'\n\t\t\t \"Then the man, the lord of the land, said to us, 'This is how I will find out if you are honest men. Leave one of your brothers with me, and take grain for your hungry households and go. \n\t\t\t But bring your youngest brother back to me so I will know that you are honest men and not spies. Then I will give your brother back to you and you may move about freely in the land.'\"\n\t\t\t When they were emptying their sacks, there was each man's bag of money in his sack! When they and their father saw the bags of money, they were afraid.\n\t\t\t Their father Jacob said to them, \"You are making me childless! Joseph is gone. Simeon is gone. And now you want to take Benjamin! Everything is against me.\"\n\t\t\t Then Reuben said to his father, \"You may put my two sons to death if I do not bring him back to you. Put him in my care and I will bring him back to you.\"\n\t\t\t But Jacob replied, \"My son will not go down there with you, for his brother is dead and he alone is left. If an accident happens to him on the journey you have to make, then you will bring down my gray hair in sorrow to the grave.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now the famine was severe in the land.\n\t\t\t When they finished eating the grain they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, \"Return, buy us a little more food.\"\n\t\t\t But Judah said to him, \"The man solemnly warned us, 'You will not see my face unless your brother is with you.' \n\t\t\t If you send our brother with us, we'll go down and buy food for you. \n\t\t\t But if you will not send him, we won't go down there because the man said to us, 'You will not see my face unless your brother is with you.'\"\n\t\t\t Israel said, \"Why did you bring this trouble on me by telling the man you had one more brother?\"\n\t\t\t They replied, \"The man questioned us thoroughly about ourselves and our family, saying, 'Is your father still alive? Do you have another brother?' So we answered him in this way. How could we possibly know that he would say, 'Bring your brother down'?\"\n\t\t\t Then Judah said to his father Israel, \"Send the boy with me and we will go immediately. Then we will live and not die, we and you and our little ones.\n\t\t\t I myself pledge security for him; you may hold me liable. If I do not bring him back to you and place him here before you, I will bear the blame before you all my life.\n\t\t\t But if we had not delayed, we could have traveled there and back twice by now!\"\n\t\t\t Then their father Israel said to them, \"If it must be so, then do this: Take some of the best products of the land in your bags, and take a gift down to the man, a little balm and a little honey, spices and myrrh, pistachios and almonds.\n\t\t\t Take double the money with you; you must take back the money that was returned in the mouths of your sacks, perhaps it was an oversight.\n\t\t\t Take your brother too, and go right away to the man.\n\t\t\t May the sovereign God grant you mercy before the man so that he may release your other brother and Benjamin! As for me, if I lose my children I lose them.\"\n\t\t\t So the men took these gifts, and they took double the money with them, along with Benjamin. Then they hurried down to Egypt and stood before Joseph. \n\t\t\t When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the servant who was over his household, \"Bring the men to the house. Slaughter an animal and prepare it, for the men will eat with me at noon.\"\n\t\t\t The man did just as Joseph said; he brought the men into Joseph's house.\n\t\t\t But the men were afraid when they were brought to Joseph's house. They said, \"We are being brought in because of the money that was returned in our sacks last time. He wants to capture us, make us slaves, and take our donkeys!\" \n\t\t\t So they approached the man who was in charge of Joseph's household and spoke to him at the entrance to the house.\n\t\t\t They said, \"My lord, we did indeed come down the first time to buy food. \n\t\t\t But when we came to the place where we spent the night, we opened our sacks and each of us found his money, the full amount, in the mouth of his sack. So we have returned it.\n\t\t\t We have brought additional money with us to buy food. We do not know who put the money in our sacks!\"\n\t\t\t \"Everything is fine,\" the man in charge of Joseph's household told them. \"Don't be afraid. Your God and the God of your father has given you treasure in your sacks. I had your money.\" Then he brought Simeon out to them.\n\t\t\t The servant in charge brought the men into Joseph's house. He gave them water, and they washed their feet. Then he gave food to their donkeys. \n\t\t\t They got their gifts ready for Joseph's arrival at noon, for they had heard that they were to have a meal there.\n\t\t\t When Joseph came home, they presented him with the gifts they had brought inside, and they bowed down to the ground before him. \n\t\t\t He asked them how they were doing. Then he said, \"Is your aging father well, the one you spoke about? Is he still alive?\" \n\t\t\t \"Your servant our father is well,\" they replied. \"He is still alive.\" They bowed down in humility.\n\t\t\t When Joseph looked up and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother's son, he said, \"Is this your youngest brother, whom you told me about?\" Then he said, \"May God be gracious to you, my son.\"\n\t\t\t Joseph hurried out, for he was overcome by affection for his brother and was at the point of tears. So he went to his room and wept there.\n\t\t\t Then he washed his face and came out. With composure he said, \"Set out the food.\" \n\t\t\t They set a place for him, a separate place for his brothers, and another for the Egyptians who were eating with him. (The Egyptians are not able to eat with Hebrews, for the Egyptians think it is disgusting to do so.)\n\t\t\t They sat before him, arranged by order of birth, beginning with the firstborn and ending with the youngest. The men looked at each other in astonishment.\n\t\t\t He gave them portions of the food set before him, but the portion for Benjamin was five times greater than the portions for any of the others. They drank with Joseph until they all became drunk.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t He instructed the servant who was over his household, \"Fill the sacks of the men with as much food as they can carry and put each man's money in the mouth of his sack.\n\t\t\t Then put my cup, the silver cup, in the mouth of the youngest one's sack, along with the money for his grain.\" He did as Joseph instructed.\n\t\t\t When morning came, the men and their donkeys were sent off.\n\t\t\t They had not gone very far from the city when Joseph said to the servant who was over his household, \"Pursue the men at once! When you overtake them, say to them, 'Why have you repaid good with evil? \n\t\t\t Doesn't my master drink from this cup and use it for divination? You have done wrong!'\"\n\t\t\t When the man overtook them, he spoke these words to them. \n\t\t\t They answered him, \"Why does my lord say such things? Far be it from your servants to do such a thing!\n\t\t\t Look, the money that we found in the mouths of our sacks we brought back to you from the land of Canaan. Why then would we steal silver or gold from your master's house?\n\t\t\t If one of us has it, he will die, and the rest of us will become my lord's slaves!\"\n\t\t\t He replied, \"You have suggested your own punishment! The one who has it will become my slave, but the rest of you will go free.\"\n\t\t\t So each man quickly lowered his sack to the ground and opened it. \n\t\t\t Then the man searched. He began with the oldest and finished with the youngest. The cup was found in Benjamin's sack! \n\t\t\t They all tore their clothes! Then each man loaded his donkey, and they returned to the city.\n\t\t\t So Judah and his brothers came back to Joseph's house. He was still there, and they threw themselves to the ground before him.\n\t\t\t Joseph said to them, \"What did you think you were doing? Don't you know that a man like me can find out things like this by divination?\"\n\t\t\t Judah replied, \"What can we say to my lord? What can we speak? How can we clear ourselves? God has exposed the sin of your servants! We are now my lord's slaves, we and the one in whose possession the cup was found.\"\n\t\t\t But Joseph said, \"Far be it from me to do this! The man in whose hand the cup was found will become my slave, but the rest of you may go back to your father in peace.\"\n\t\t\t Then Judah approached him and said, \"My lord, please allow your servant to speak a word with you. Please do not get angry with your servant, for you are just like Pharaoh.\n\t\t\t My lord asked his servants, 'Do you have a father or a brother?'\n\t\t\t We said to my lord, 'We have an aged father, and there is a young boy who was born when our father was old. The boy's brother is dead. He is the only one of his mother's sons left, and his father loves him.'\n\t\t\t \"Then you told your servants, 'Bring him down to me so I can see him.'\n\t\t\t We said to my lord, 'The boy cannot leave his father. If he leaves his father, his father will die.'\n\t\t\t But you said to your servants, 'If your youngest brother does not come down with you, you will not see my face again.'\n\t\t\t When we returned to your servant my father, we told him the words of my lord.\n\t\t\t \"Then our father said, 'Go back and buy us a little food.'\n\t\t\t But we replied, 'We cannot go down there. If our youngest brother is with us, then we will go, for we won't be permitted to see the man's face if our youngest brother is not with us.'\n\t\t\t \"Then your servant my father said to us, 'You know that my wife gave me two sons.\n\t\t\t The first disappeared and I said, \"He has surely been torn to pieces.\" I have not seen him since. \n\t\t\t If you take this one from me too and an accident happens to him, then you will bring down my gray hair in tragedy to the grave.'\n\t\t\t \"So now, when I return to your servant my father, and the boy is not with us, his very life is bound up in his son's life.\n\t\t\t When he sees the boy is not with us, he will die, and your servants will bring down the gray hair of your servant our father in sorrow to the grave. \n\t\t\t Indeed, your servant pledged security for the boy with my father, saying, 'If I do not bring him back to you, then I will bear the blame before my father all my life.'\n\t\t\t \"So now, please let your servant remain as my lord's slave instead of the boy. As for the boy, let him go back with his brothers.\n\t\t\t For how can I go back to my father if the boy is not with me? I couldn't bear to see my father's pain.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Joseph was no longer able to control himself before all his attendants, so he cried out, \"Make everyone go out from my presence!\" No one remained with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. \n\t\t\t He wept loudly; the Egyptians heard it and Pharaoh's household heard about it.\n\t\t\t Joseph said to his brothers, \"I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?\" His brothers could not answer him because they were dumbfounded before him.\n\t\t\t Joseph said to his brothers, \"Come closer to me,\" so they came near. Then he said, \"I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt.\n\t\t\t Now, do not be upset and do not be angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me ahead of you to preserve life! \n\t\t\t For these past two years there has been famine in the land and for five more years there will be neither plowing nor harvesting.\n\t\t\t God sent me ahead of you to preserve you on the earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. \n\t\t\t So now, it is not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me an adviser to Pharaoh, lord over all his household, and ruler over all the land of Egypt. \n\t\t\t Now go up to my father quickly and tell him, 'This is what your son Joseph says: \"God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; do not delay! \n\t\t\t You will live in the land of Goshen, and you will be near me, you, your children, your grandchildren, your flocks, your herds, and everything you have.\n\t\t\t I will provide you with food there because there will be five more years of famine. Otherwise you would become poor, you, your household, and everyone who belongs to you.\"'\n\t\t\t You and my brother Benjamin can certainly see with your own eyes that I really am the one who speaks to you.\n\t\t\t So tell my father about all my honor in Egypt and about everything you have seen. But bring my father down here quickly!\"\n\t\t\t Then he threw himself on the neck of his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin wept on his neck.\n\t\t\t He kissed all his brothers and wept over them. After this his brothers talked with him.\n\t\t\t Now it was reported in the household of Pharaoh, \"Joseph's brothers have arrived.\" It pleased Pharaoh and his servants.\n\t\t\t Pharaoh said to Joseph, \"Say to your brothers, 'Do this: Load your animals and go to the land of Canaan! \n\t\t\t Get your father and your households and come to me! Then I will give you the best land in Egypt and you will eat the best of the land.' \n\t\t\t You are also commanded to say, 'Do this: Take for yourselves wagons from the land of Egypt for your little ones and for your wives. Bring your father and come. \n\t\t\t Don't worry about your belongings, for the best of all the land of Egypt will be yours.'\"\n\t\t\t So the sons of Israel did as he said. Joseph gave them wagons as Pharaoh had instructed, and he gave them provisions for the journey. \n\t\t\t He gave sets of clothes to each one of them, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver and five sets of clothes.\n\t\t\t To his father he sent the following: ten donkeys loaded with the best products of Egypt and ten female donkeys loaded with grain, food, and provisions for his father's journey. \n\t\t\t Then he sent his brothers on their way and they left. He said to them, \"As you travel don't be overcome with fear.\"\n\t\t\t So they went up from Egypt and came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan.\n\t\t\t They told him, \"Joseph is still alive and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt!\" Jacob was stunned, for he did not believe them. \n\t\t\t But when they related to him everything Joseph had said to them, and when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to transport him, their father Jacob's spirit revived. \n\t\t\t Then Israel said, \"Enough! My son Joseph is still alive! I will go and see him before I die.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t So Israel began his journey, taking with him all that he had. When he came to Beer Sheba he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. \n\t\t\t God spoke to Israel in a vision during the night and said, \"Jacob, Jacob!\" He replied, \"Here I am!\" \n\t\t\t He said, \"I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there. \n\t\t\t I will go down with you to Egypt and I myself will certainly bring you back from there. Joseph will close your eyes.\"\n\t\t\t Then Jacob started out from Beer Sheba, and the sons of Israel carried their father Jacob, their little children, and their wives in the wagons that Pharaoh had sent along to transport him. \n\t\t\t Jacob and all his descendants took their livestock and the possessions they had acquired in the land of Canaan, and they went to Egypt.\n\t\t\t He brought with him to Egypt his sons and grandsons, his daughters and granddaughters, all his descendants.\n\t\t\t These are the names of the sons of Israel who went to Egypt, Jacob and his sons: Reuben, the firstborn of Jacob.\n\t\t\t The sons of Reuben: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.\n\t\t\t The sons of Simeon: Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jakin, Zohar, and Shaul (the son of a Canaanite woman).\n\t\t\t The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.\n\t\t\t The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah (but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan). The sons of Perez were Hezron and Hamul.\n\t\t\t The sons of Issachar: Tola, Puah, Jashub, and Shimron.\n\t\t\t The sons of Zebulun: Sered, Elon, and Jahleel.\n\t\t\t These were the sons of Leah, whom she bore to Jacob in Paddan Aram, along with Dinah his daughter. His sons and daughters numbered thirty-three in all.\n\t\t\t The sons of Gad: Zephon, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi, and Areli.\n\t\t\t The sons of Asher: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, Beriah, and Serah their sister. The sons of Beriah were Heber and Malkiel.\n\t\t\t These were the sons of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to Leah his daughter. She bore these to Jacob, sixteen in all.\n\t\t\t The sons of Rachel the wife of Jacob: Joseph and Benjamin.\n\t\t\t Manasseh and Ephraim were born to Joseph in the land of Egypt. Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, bore them to him.\n\t\t\t The sons of Benjamin: Bela, Beker, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim and Ard.\n\t\t\t These were the sons of Rachel who were born to Jacob, fourteen in all.\n\t\t\t The son of Dan: Hushim.\n\t\t\t The sons of Naphtali: Jahziel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem.\n\t\t\t These were the sons of Bilhah, whom Laban gave to Rachel his daughter. She bore these to Jacob, seven in all.\n\t\t\t All the direct descendants of Jacob who went to Egypt with him were sixty-six in number. (This number does not include the wives of Jacob's sons.)\n\t\t\t Counting the two sons of Joseph who were born to him in Egypt, all the people of the household of Jacob who were in Egypt numbered seventy.\n\t\t\t Jacob sent Judah before him to Joseph to accompany him to Goshen. So they came to the land of Goshen. \n\t\t\t Joseph harnessed his chariot and went up to meet his father Israel in Goshen. When he met him, he hugged his neck and wept on his neck for quite some time.\n\t\t\t Israel said to Joseph, \"Now let me die since I have seen your face and know that you are still alive.\"\n\t\t\t Then Joseph said to his brothers and his father's household, \"I will go up and tell Pharaoh, 'My brothers and my father's household who were in the land of Canaan have come to me. \n\t\t\t The men are shepherds; they take care of livestock. They have brought their flocks and their herds and all that they have.' \n\t\t\t Pharaoh will summon you and say, 'What is your occupation?'\n\t\t\t Tell him, 'Your servants have taken care of cattle from our youth until now, both we and our fathers,' so that you may live in the land of Goshen, for everyone who takes care of sheep is disgusting to the Egyptians.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Joseph went and told Pharaoh, \"My father, my brothers, their flocks and herds, and all that they own have arrived from the land of Canaan. They are now in the land of Goshen.\"\n\t\t\t He took five of his brothers and introduced them to Pharaoh.\n\t\t\t Pharaoh said to Joseph's brothers, \"What is your occupation?\" They said to Pharaoh, \"Your servants take care of flocks, just as our ancestors did.\"\n\t\t\t Then they said to Pharaoh, \"We have come to live as temporary residents in the land. There is no pasture for your servants' flocks because the famine is severe in the land of Canaan. So now, please let your servants live in the land of Goshen.\"\n\t\t\t Pharaoh said to Joseph, \"Your father and your brothers have come to you.\n\t\t\t The land of Egypt is before you; settle your father and your brothers in the best region of the land. They may live in the land of Goshen. If you know of any highly capable men among them, put them in charge of my livestock.\"\n\t\t\t Then Joseph brought in his father Jacob and presented him before Pharaoh. Jacob blessed Pharaoh. \n\t\t\t Pharaoh said to Jacob, \"How long have you lived?\"\n\t\t\t Jacob said to Pharaoh, \"All the years of my travels are 130. All the years of my life have been few and painful; the years of my travels are not as long as those of my ancestors.\"\n\t\t\t Then Jacob blessed Pharaoh and went out from his presence.\n\t\t\t So Joseph settled his father and his brothers. He gave them territory in the land of Egypt, in the best region of the land, the land of Rameses, just as Pharaoh had commanded.\n\t\t\t Joseph also provided food for his father, his brothers, and all his father's household, according to the number of their little children.\n\t\t\t But there was no food in all the land because the famine was very severe; the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan wasted away because of the famine. \n\t\t\t Joseph collected all the money that could be found in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan as payment for the grain they were buying. Then Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh's palace.\n\t\t\t When the money from the lands of Egypt and Canaan was used up, all the Egyptians came to Joseph and said, \"Give us food! Why should we die before your very eyes because our money has run out?\"\n\t\t\t Then Joseph said, \"If your money is gone, bring your livestock, and I will give you food in exchange for your livestock.\" \n\t\t\t So they brought their livestock to Joseph, and Joseph gave them food in exchange for their horses, the livestock of their flocks and herds, and their donkeys. He got them through that year by giving them food in exchange for livestock.\n\t\t\t When that year was over, they came to him the next year and said to him, \"We cannot hide from our lord that the money is used up and the livestock and the animals belong to our lord. Nothing remains before our lord except our bodies and our land. \n\t\t\t Why should we die before your very eyes, both we and our land? Buy us and our land in exchange for food, and we, with our land, will become Pharaoh's slaves. Give us seed that we may live and not die. Then the land will not become desolate.\"\n\t\t\t So Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh. Each of the Egyptians sold his field, for the famine was severe. So the land became Pharaoh's. \n\t\t\t Joseph made all the people slaves from one end of Egypt's border to the other end of it. \n\t\t\t But he did not purchase the land of the priests because the priests had an allotment from Pharaoh and they ate from their allotment that Pharaoh gave them. That is why they did not sell their land.\n\t\t\t Joseph said to the people, \"Since I have bought you and your land today for Pharaoh, here is seed for you. Cultivate the land. \n\t\t\t When you gather in the crop, give one-fifth of it to Pharaoh, and the rest will be yours for seed for the fields and for you to eat, including those in your households and your little children.\"\n\t\t\t They replied, \"You have saved our lives! You are showing us favor, and we will be Pharaoh's slaves.\"\n\t\t\t So Joseph made it a statute, which is in effect to this day throughout the land of Egypt: One-fifth belongs to Pharaoh. Only the land of the priests did not become Pharaoh's.\n\t\t\t Israel settled in the land of Egypt, in the land of Goshen, and they owned land there. They were fruitful and increased rapidly in number.\n\t\t\t Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years; the years of Jacob's life were 147 in all. \n\t\t\t The time for Israel to die approached, so he called for his son Joseph and said to him, \"If now I have found favor in your sight, put your hand under my thigh and show me kindness and faithfulness. Do not bury me in Egypt, \n\t\t\t but when I rest with my fathers, carry me out of Egypt and bury me in their burial place.\" Joseph said, \"I will do as you say.\"\n\t\t\t Jacob said, \"Swear to me that you will do so.\" So Joseph gave him his word. Then Israel bowed down at the head of his bed.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t After these things Joseph was told, \"Your father is weakening.\" So he took his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim with him. \n\t\t\t When Jacob was told, \"Your son Joseph has just come to you,\" Israel regained strength and sat up on his bed. \n\t\t\t Jacob said to Joseph, \"The sovereign God appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me. \n\t\t\t He said to me, 'I am going to make you fruitful and will multiply you. I will make you into a group of nations, and I will give this land to your descendants as an everlasting possession.'\n\t\t\t \"Now, as for your two sons, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt, they will be mine. Ephraim and Manasseh will be mine just as Reuben and Simeon are.\n\t\t\t Any children that you father after them will be yours; they will be listed under the names of their brothers in their inheritance.\n\t\t\t But as for me, when I was returning from Paddan, Rachel died, to my sorrow, in the land of Canaan. It happened along the way, some distance from Ephrath. So I buried her there on the way to Ephrath\" (that is, Bethlehem).\n\t\t\t When Israel saw Joseph's sons, he asked, \"Who are these?\"\n\t\t\t Joseph said to his father, \"They are the sons God has given me in this place.\" His father said, \"Bring them to me so I may bless them.\"\n\t\t\t Now Israel's eyes were failing because of his age; he was not able to see well. So Joseph brought his sons near to him, and his father kissed them and embraced them. \n\t\t\t Israel said to Joseph, \"I never expected to see you again, but now God has allowed me to see your children too.\"\n\t\t\t So Joseph moved them from Israel's knees and bowed down with his face to the ground. \n\t\t\t Joseph positioned them; he put Ephraim on his right hand across from Israel's left hand, and Manasseh on his left hand across from Israel's right hand. Then Joseph brought them closer to his father.\n\t\t\t Israel stretched out his right hand and placed it on Ephraim's head, although he was the younger. Crossing his hands, he put his left hand on Manasseh's head, for Manasseh was the firstborn.\n\t\t\t Then he blessed Joseph and said, \"May the God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life long to this day,\n\t\t\t the Angel who has protected me from all harm, bless these boys. May my name be named in them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac. May they grow into a multitude on the earth.\"\n\t\t\t When Joseph saw that his father placed his right hand on Ephraim's head, it displeased him. So he took his father's hand to move it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's head. \n\t\t\t Joseph said to his father, \"Not so, my father, for this is the firstborn. Put your right hand on his head.\"\n\t\t\t But his father refused and said, \"I know, my son, I know. He too will become a nation and he too will become great. In spite of this, his younger brother will be even greater and his descendants will become a multitude of nations.\" \n\t\t\t So he blessed them that day, saying, \"By you will Israel bless, saying, 'May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh.'\" So he put Ephraim before Manasseh.\n\t\t\t Then Israel said to Joseph, \"I am about to die, but God will be with you and will bring you back to the land of your fathers. \n\t\t\t As one who is above your brothers, I give to you the mountain slope, which I took from the Amorites with my sword and my bow.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Jacob called for his sons and said, \"Gather together so I can tell you what will happen to you in the future.\n\t\t\t \"Assemble and listen, you sons of Jacob; listen to Israel, your father.\n\t\t\t Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might and the beginning of my strength, outstanding in dignity, outstanding in power.\n\t\t\t You are destructive like water and will not excel, for you got on your father's bed, then you defiled it, he got on my couch!\n\t\t\t Simeon and Levi are brothers, weapons of violence are their knives!\n\t\t\t O my soul, do not come into their council, do not be united to their assembly, my heart, for in their anger they have killed men, and for pleasure they have hamstrung oxen.\n\t\t\t Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce, and their fury, for it was cruel. I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel!\n\t\t\t Judah, your brothers will praise you. Your hand will be on the neck of your enemies, your father's sons will bow down before you.\n\t\t\t You are a lion's cub, Judah, from the prey, my son, you have gone up. He crouches and lies down like a lion; like a lioness, who will rouse him?\n\t\t\t The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs; the nations will obey him.\n\t\t\t Binding his foal to the vine, and his colt to the choicest vine, he will wash his garments in wine, his robes in the blood of grapes.\n\t\t\t His eyes will be dark from wine, and his teeth white from milk.\n\t\t\t Zebulun will live by the haven of the sea and become a haven for ships; his border will extend to Sidon.\n\t\t\t Issachar is a strong-boned donkey lying down between two saddlebags.\n\t\t\t When he sees a good resting place, and the pleasant land, he will bend his shoulder to the burden and become a slave laborer.\n\t\t\t Dan will judge his people as one of the tribes of Israel.\n\t\t\t May Dan be a snake beside the road, a viper by the path, that bites the heels of the horse so that its rider falls backward.\n\t\t\t I wait for your deliverance, O LORD.\n\t\t\t Gad will be raided by marauding bands, but he will attack them at their heels.\n\t\t\t Asher's food will be rich, and he will provide delicacies to royalty.\n\t\t\t Naphtali is a free running doe, he speaks delightful words.\n\t\t\t Joseph is a fruitful bough, a fruitful bough near a spring whose branches climb over the wall.\n\t\t\t The archers will attack him, they will shoot at him and oppose him.\n\t\t\t But his bow will remain steady, and his hands will be skillful; because of the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob, because of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel,\n\t\t\t because of the God of your father, who will help you, because of the sovereign God, who will bless you with blessings from the sky above, blessings from the deep that lies below, and blessings of the breasts and womb.\n\t\t\t The blessings of your father are greater than the blessings of the eternal mountains or the desirable things of the age-old hills. They will be on the head of Joseph and on the brow of the prince of his brothers.\n\t\t\t Benjamin is a ravenous wolf; in the morning devouring the prey, and in the evening dividing the plunder.\"\n\t\t\t These are the twelve tribes of Israel. This is what their father said to them when he blessed them. He gave each of them an appropriate blessing.\n\t\t\t Then he instructed them, \"I am about to go to my people. Bury me with my fathers in the cave in the field of Ephron the Hittite. \n\t\t\t It is the cave in the field of Machpelah, near Mamre in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought for a burial plot from Ephron the Hittite.\n\t\t\t There they buried Abraham and his wife Sarah; there they buried Isaac and his wife Rebekah; and there I buried Leah.\n\t\t\t The field and the cave in it were acquired from the sons of Heth.\"\n\t\t\t When Jacob finished giving these instructions to his sons, he pulled his feet up onto the bed, breathed his last breath, and went to his people.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then Joseph hugged his father's face. He wept over him and kissed him. \n\t\t\t Joseph instructed the physicians in his service to embalm his father, so the physicians embalmed Israel. \n\t\t\t They took forty days, for that is the full time needed for embalming. The Egyptians mourned for him seventy days.\n\t\t\t When the days of mourning had passed, Joseph said to Pharaoh's royal court, \"If I have found favor in your sight, please say to Pharaoh,\n\t\t\t 'My father made me swear an oath. He said, \"I am about to die. Bury me in my tomb that I dug for myself there in the land of Canaan.\" Now let me go and bury my father; then I will return.'\" \n\t\t\t So Pharaoh said, \"Go and bury your father, just as he made you swear to do.\"\n\t\t\t So Joseph went up to bury his father; all Pharaoh's officials went with him, the senior courtiers of his household, all the senior officials of the land of Egypt,\n\t\t\t all Joseph's household, his brothers, and his father's household. But they left their little children and their flocks and herds in the land of Goshen.\n\t\t\t Chariots and horsemen also went up with him, so it was a very large entourage.\n\t\t\t When they came to the threshing floor of Atad on the other side of the Jordan, they mourned there with very great and bitter sorrow. There Joseph observed a seven day period of mourning for his father. \n\t\t\t When the Canaanites who lived in the land saw them mourning at the threshing floor of Atad, they said, \"This is a very sad occasion for the Egyptians.\" That is why its name was called Abel Mizraim, which is beyond the Jordan.\n\t\t\t So the sons of Jacob did for him just as he had instructed them.\n\t\t\t His sons carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, near Mamre. This is the field Abraham purchased as a burial plot from Ephron the Hittite.\n\t\t\t After he buried his father, Joseph returned to Egypt, along with his brothers and all who had accompanied him to bury his father.\n\t\t\t When Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, \"What if Joseph bears a grudge and wants to repay us in full for all the harm we did to him?\" \n\t\t\t So they sent word to Joseph, saying, \"Your father gave these instructions before he died: \n\t\t\t 'Tell Joseph this: Please forgive the sin of your brothers and the wrong they did when they treated you so badly.' Now please forgive the sin of the servants of the God of your father.\" When this message was reported to him, Joseph wept.\n\t\t\t Then his brothers also came and threw themselves down before him; they said, \"Here we are; we are your slaves.\"\n\t\t\t But Joseph answered them, \"Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? \n\t\t\t As for you, you meant to harm me, but God intended it for a good purpose, so he could preserve the lives of many people, as you can see this day.\n\t\t\t So now, don't be afraid. I will provide for you and your little children.\" Then he consoled them and spoke kindly to them.\n\t\t\t Joseph lived in Egypt, along with his father's family. Joseph lived 110 years. \n\t\t\t Joseph saw the descendants of Ephraim to the third generation. He also saw the children of Makir the son of Manasseh; they were given special inheritance rights by Joseph.\n\t\t\t Then Joseph said to his brothers, \"I am about to die. But God will surely come to you and lead you up from this land to the land he swore on oath to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.\" \n\t\t\t Joseph made the sons of Israel swear an oath. He said, \"God will surely come to you. Then you must carry my bones up from this place.\"\n\t\t\t So Joseph died at the age of 110. After they embalmed him, his body was placed in a coffin in Egypt. \n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t These are the names of the sons of Israel who entered Egypt, each man with his household entered with Jacob:\n\t\t\t Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah,\n\t\t\t Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin,\n\t\t\t Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher.\n\t\t\t All the people who were directly descended from Jacob numbered seventy. But Joseph was already in Egypt,\n\t\t\t and in time Joseph and his brothers and all that generation died. \n\t\t\t The Israelites, however, were fruitful, increased greatly, multiplied, and became extremely strong, so that the land was filled with them.\n\t\t\t Then a new king, who did not know about Joseph, came to power over Egypt. \n\t\t\t He said to his people, \"Look at the Israelite people, more numerous and stronger than we are! \n\t\t\t Come, let's deal wisely with them. Otherwise they will continue to multiply, and if a war breaks out, they will ally themselves with our enemies and fight against us and leave the country.\"\n\t\t\t So they put foremen over the Israelites to oppress them with hard labor. As a result they built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh. \n\t\t\t But the more the Egyptians oppressed them, the more they multiplied and spread. As a result the Egyptians loathed the Israelites, \n\t\t\t and they made the Israelites serve rigorously.\n\t\t\t They made their lives bitter by hard service with mortar and bricks and by all kinds of service in the fields. Every kind of service the Israelites were required to give was rigorous.\n\t\t\t The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other Puah,\n\t\t\t \"When you assist the Hebrew women in childbirth, observe at the delivery: If it is a son, kill him, but if it is a daughter, she may live.\"\n\t\t\t But the midwives feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them; they let the boys live.\n\t\t\t Then the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and said to them, \"Why have you done this and let the boys live?\"\n\t\t\t The midwives said to Pharaoh, \"Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women, for the Hebrew women are vigorous; they give birth before the midwife gets to them!\"\n\t\t\t So God treated the midwives well, and the people multiplied and became very strong. \n\t\t\t And because the midwives feared God, he made households for them.\n\t\t\t Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, \"All sons that are born you must throw into the river, but all daughters you may let live.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t A man from the household of Levi married a woman who was a descendant of Levi.\n\t\t\t The woman became pregnant and gave birth to a son. When she saw that he was a healthy child, she hid him for three months. \n\t\t\t But when she was no longer able to hide him, she took a papyrus basket for him and sealed it with bitumen and pitch. She put the child in it and set it among the reeds along the edge of the Nile.\n\t\t\t His sister stationed herself at a distance to find out what would happen to him.\n\t\t\t Then the daughter of Pharaoh came down to wash herself by the Nile, while her attendants were walking alongside the river, and she saw the basket among the reeds. She sent one of her attendants, took it,\n\t\t\t opened it, and saw the child, a boy, crying!, and she felt compassion for him and said, \"This is one of the Hebrews' children.\"\n\t\t\t Then his sister said to Pharaoh's daughter, \"Shall I go and get a nursing woman for you from the Hebrews, so that she may nurse the child for you?\" \n\t\t\t Pharaoh's daughter said to her, \"Yes, do so.\" So the young girl went and got the child's mother.\n\t\t\t Pharaoh's daughter said to her, \"Take this child and nurse him for me, and I will pay your wages.\" So the woman took the child and nursed him.\n\t\t\t When the child grew older she brought him to Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son. She named him Moses, saying, \"Because I drew him from the water.\"\n\t\t\t In those days, when Moses had grown up, he went out to his people and observed their hard labor, and he saw an Egyptian man attacking a Hebrew man, one of his own people.\n\t\t\t He looked this way and that and saw that no one was there, and then he attacked the Egyptian and concealed the body in the sand. \n\t\t\t When he went out the next day, there were two Hebrew men fighting. So he said to the one who was in the wrong, \"Why are you attacking your fellow Hebrew?\"\n\t\t\t The man replied, \"Who made you a ruler and a judge over us? Are you planning to kill me like you killed that Egyptian?\" Then Moses was afraid, thinking, \"Surely what I did has become known.\" \n\t\t\t When Pharaoh heard about this event, he sought to kill Moses. So Moses fled from Pharaoh and settled in the land of Midian, and he settled by a certain well.\n\t\t\t Now a priest of Midian had seven daughters, and they came and began to draw water and fill the troughs in order to water their father's flock. \n\t\t\t When some shepherds came and drove them away, Moses came up and defended them and then watered their flock. \n\t\t\t So when they came home to their father Reuel, he asked, \"Why have you come home so early today?\" \n\t\t\t They said, \"An Egyptian man rescued us from the shepherds, and he actually drew water for us and watered the flock!\" \n\t\t\t He said to his daughters, \"So where is he? Why in the world did you leave the man? Call him, so that he may eat a meal with us.\"\n\t\t\t Moses agreed to stay with the man, and he gave his daughter Zipporah to Moses in marriage.\n\t\t\t When she bore a son, Moses named him Gershom, for he said, \"I have become a resident foreigner in a foreign land.\"\n\t\t\t During that long period of time the king of Egypt died, and the Israelites groaned because of the slave labor. They cried out, and their desperate cry because of their slave labor went up to God. \n\t\t\t God heard their groaning, God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob, \n\t\t\t God saw the Israelites, and God understood,.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now Moses was shepherding the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the desert and came to the mountain of God, to Horeb.\n\t\t\t The angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire from within a bush. He looked, and the bush was ablaze with fire, but it was not being consumed!\n\t\t\t So Moses thought, \"I will turn aside to see this amazing sight. Why does the bush not burn up?\"\n\t\t\t When the LORD saw that he had turned aside to look, God called to him from within the bush and said, \"Moses, Moses!\" And Moses said, \"Here I am.\" \n\t\t\t God said, \"Do not approach any closer! Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.\"\n\t\t\t He added, \"I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.\" Then Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.\n\t\t\t The LORD said, \"I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt. I have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows.\n\t\t\t I have come down to deliver them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up from that land to a land that is both good and spacious, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the region of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.\n\t\t\t And now indeed the cry of the Israelites has come to me, and I have also seen how severely the Egyptians oppress them.\n\t\t\t So now go, and I will send you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.\"\n\t\t\t Moses said to God, \"Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, or that I should bring the Israelites out of Egypt?\" \n\t\t\t He replied, \"Surely I will be with you, and this will be the sign to you that I have sent you: When you bring the people out of Egypt, you and they will serve God on this mountain.\"\n\t\t\t Moses said to God, \"If I go to the Israelites and tell them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, 'What is his name?', what should I say to them?\"\n\t\t\t God said to Moses, \"I AM that I AM.\" And he said, \"You must say this to the Israelites, 'I AM has sent me to you.'\" \n\t\t\t God also said to Moses, \"You must say this to the Israelites, 'The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is my name forever, and this is my memorial from generation to generation.'\n\t\t\t \"Go and bring together the elders of Israel and tell them, 'The LORD, the God of your fathers, appeared to me, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, \"I have attended carefully to you and to what has been done to you in Egypt,\n\t\t\t and I have promised that I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, to a land flowing with milk and honey.\"'\n\t\t\t \"The elders will listen to you, and then you and the elders of Israel must go to the king of Egypt and tell him, 'The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. So now, let us go three days' journey into the wilderness, so that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.' \n\t\t\t But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go, not even under force.\n\t\t\t So I will extend my hand and strike Egypt with all my wonders that I will do among them, and after that he will release you.\n\t\t\t \"I will grant this people favor with the Egyptians, so that when you depart you will not leave empty-handed. \n\t\t\t Every woman will ask her neighbor and the one who happens to be staying in her house for items of silver and gold and for clothing. You will put these articles on your sons and daughters, thus you will plunder Egypt!\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Moses answered again, \"And if they do not believe me or pay attention to me, but say, 'The LORD has not appeared to you'?\" \n\t\t\t The LORD said to him, \"What is that in your hand?\" He said, \"A staff.\"\n\t\t\t The LORD said, \"Throw it to the ground.\" So he threw it to the ground, and it became a snake, and Moses ran from it. \n\t\t\t But the LORD said to Moses, \"Put out your hand and grab it by the tail\", so he put out his hand and caught it, and it became a staff in his hand,\n\t\t\t \"that they may believe that the LORD, the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you.\"\n\t\t\t The LORD also said to him, \"Put your hand into your robe.\" So he put his hand into his robe, and when he brought it out, there was his hand, leprous like snow!\n\t\t\t He said, \"Put your hand back into your robe.\" So he put his hand back into his robe, and when he brought it out from his robe, there it was, restored like the rest of his skin!\n\t\t\t \"If they do not believe you or pay attention to the former sign, then they may believe the latter sign.\n\t\t\t And if they do not believe even these two signs or listen to you, then take some water from the Nile and pour it out on the dry ground. The water you take out of the Nile will become blood on the dry ground.\"\n\t\t\t Then Moses said to the LORD, \"O my Lord, I am not an eloquent man, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant, for I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.\"\n\t\t\t The LORD said to him, \"Who gave a mouth to man, or who makes a person mute or deaf or seeing or blind? Is it not I, the LORD?\n\t\t\t So now go, and I will be with your mouth and will teach you what you must say.\"\n\t\t\t But Moses said, \"O my Lord, please send anyone else whom you wish to send!\"\n\t\t\t Then the LORD became angry with Moses, and he said, \"What about your brother Aaron the Levite? I know that he can speak very well. Moreover, he is coming to meet you, and when he sees you he will be glad in his heart.\n\t\t\t \"So you are to speak to him and put the words in his mouth. And as for me, I will be with your mouth and with his mouth, and I will teach you both what you must do.\n\t\t\t He will speak for you to the people, and it will be as if he were your mouth and as if you were his God.\n\t\t\t You will also take in your hand this staff, with which you will do the signs.\"\n\t\t\t So Moses went back to his father-in-law Jethro and said to him, \"Let me go, so that I may return to my relatives in Egypt and see if they are still alive.\" Jethro said to Moses, \"Go in peace.\" \n\t\t\t The LORD said to Moses in Midian, \"Go back to Egypt, because all the men who were seeking your life are dead.\"\n\t\t\t Then Moses took his wife and sons and put them on a donkey and headed back to the land of Egypt, and Moses took the staff of God in his hand. \n\t\t\t The LORD said to Moses, \"When you go back to Egypt, see that you do before Pharaoh all the wonders I have put under your control. But I will harden his heart and he will not let the people go.\n\t\t\t You must say to Pharaoh, 'Thus says the LORD, \"Israel is my son, my firstborn,\n\t\t\t and I said to you, 'Let my son go that he may serve me,' but since you have refused to let him go, I will surely kill your son, your firstborn!\"'\"\n\t\t\t Now on the way, at a place where they stopped for the night, the LORD met Moses and sought to kill him.\n\t\t\t But Zipporah took a flint knife, cut off the foreskin of her son and touched it to Moses' feet, and said, \"Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me.\" \n\t\t\t So the LORD let him alone. (At that time she said, \"A bridegroom of blood,\" referring to the circumcision.)\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Aaron, \"Go to the wilderness to meet Moses. So he went and met him at the mountain of God and greeted him with a kiss.\n\t\t\t Moses told Aaron all the words of the LORD who had sent him and all the signs that he had commanded him. \n\t\t\t Then Moses and Aaron went and brought together all the Israelite elders.\n\t\t\t Aaron spoke all the words that the LORD had spoken to Moses and did the signs in the sight of the people, \n\t\t\t and the people believed. When they heard that the LORD had attended to the Israelites and that he had seen their affliction, they bowed down close to the ground.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Afterward Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, \"Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, 'Release my people so that they may hold a pilgrim feast to me in the desert.'\" \n\t\t\t But Pharaoh said, \"Who is the LORD that I should obey him by releasing Israel? I do not know the LORD, and I will not release Israel!\" \n\t\t\t And they said, \"The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Let us go a three-day journey into the desert so that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God, so that he does not strike us with plague or the sword.\"\n\t\t\t The king of Egypt said to them, \"Moses and Aaron, why do you cause the people to refrain from their work? Return to your labor!\" \n\t\t\t Pharaoh was thinking, \"The people of the land are now many, and you are giving them rest from their labor.\"\n\t\t\t That same day Pharaoh commanded the slave masters and foremen who were over the people:\n\t\t\t \"You must no longer give straw to the people for making bricks as before. Let them go and collect straw for themselves. \n\t\t\t But you must require of them the same quota of bricks that they were making before. Do not reduce it, for they are slackers. That is why they are crying, 'Let us go sacrifice to our God.' \n\t\t\t Make the work harder for the men so they will keep at it and pay no attention to lying words!\"\n\t\t\t So the slave masters of the people and their foremen went to the Israelites and said, \"Thus says Pharaoh: 'I am not giving you straw. \n\t\t\t You go get straw for yourselves wherever you can find it, because there will be no reduction at all in your workload.'\" \n\t\t\t So the people spread out through all the land of Egypt to collect stubble for straw. \n\t\t\t The slave masters were pressuring them, saying, \"Complete your work for each day, just like when there was straw!\"\n\t\t\t The Israelite foremen whom Pharaoh's slave masters had set over them were beaten and were asked, \"Why did you not complete your requirement for brickmaking as in the past, both yesterday and today?\"\n\t\t\t The Israelite foremen went and cried out to Pharaoh, \"Why are you treating your servants this way? \n\t\t\t No straw is given to your servants, but we are told, 'Make bricks!' Your servants are even being beaten, but the fault is with your people.\"\n\t\t\t But Pharaoh replied, \"You are slackers! Slackers! That is why you are saying, 'Let us go sacrifice to the LORD.' \n\t\t\t So now, get back to work! You will not be given straw, but you must still produce your quota of bricks!\" \n\t\t\t The Israelite foremen saw that they were in trouble when they were told, \"You must not reduce the daily quota of your bricks.\"\n\t\t\t When they went out from Pharaoh, they encountered Moses and Aaron standing there to meet them,\n\t\t\t and they said to them, \"May the LORD look on you and judge, because you have made us stink in the opinion of Pharaoh and his servants, so that you have given them an excuse to kill us!\"\n\t\t\t Moses returned to the LORD, and said, \"Lord, why have you caused trouble for this people? Why did you ever send me? \n\t\t\t From the time I went to speak to Pharaoh in your name, he has caused trouble for this people, and you have certainly not rescued them!\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then the LORD said to Moses, \"Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh, for compelled by my strong hand he will release them, and by my strong hand he will drive them out of his land.\"\n\t\t\t God spoke to Moses and said to him, \"I am the LORD.\n\t\t\t I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob as God Almighty, but by my name 'the LORD' I was not known to them.\n\t\t\t I also established my covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, where they were living as resident foreigners.\n\t\t\t I have also heard the groaning of the Israelites, whom the Egyptians are enslaving, and I have remembered my covenant.\n\t\t\t Therefore, tell the Israelites, 'I am the LORD. I will bring you out from your enslavement to the Egyptians, I will rescue you from the hard labor they impose, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. \n\t\t\t I will take you to myself for a people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God, who brought you out from your enslavement to the Egyptians. \n\t\t\t I will bring you to the land I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, and I will give it to you as a possession. I am the LORD!'\"\n\t\t\t Moses told this to the Israelites, but they did not listen to him because of their discouragement and hard labor. \n\t\t\t Then the LORD said to Moses,\n\t\t\t \"Go, tell Pharaoh king of Egypt that he must release the Israelites from his land.\" \n\t\t\t But Moses replied to the LORD, \"If the Israelites did not listen to me, then how will Pharaoh listen to me, since I speak with difficulty?\"\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron and gave them a charge for the Israelites and Pharaoh king of Egypt to bring the Israelites out of the land of Egypt.\n\t\t\t These are the heads of their fathers' households: The sons of Reuben, the firstborn son of Israel, were Hanoch and Pallu, Hezron and Carmi. These were the clans of Reuben.\n\t\t\t The sons of Simeon were Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jakin, Zohar, and Shaul, the son of a Canaanite woman. These were the clans of Simeon.\n\t\t\t Now these are the names of the sons of Levi, according to their records: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. (The length of Levi's life was 137 years.)\n\t\t\t The sons of Gershon, by their families, were Libni and Shimei.\n\t\t\t The sons of Kohath were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. (The length of Kohath's life was 133 years.)\n\t\t\t The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi. These were the clans of Levi, according to their records.\n\t\t\t Amram married his father's sister Jochebed, and she bore him Aaron and Moses. (The length of Amram's life was 137 years.)\n\t\t\t The sons of Izhar were Korah, Nepheg, and Zikri.\n\t\t\t The sons of Uzziel were Mishael, Elzaphan, and Sithri.\n\t\t\t Aaron married Elisheba, the daughter of Amminadab and sister of Nahshon, and she bore him Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.\n\t\t\t The sons of Korah were Assir, Elkanah, and Abiasaph. These were the Korahite clans.\n\t\t\t Now Eleazar son of Aaron married one of the daughters of Putiel and she bore him Phinehas. These are the heads of the fathers' households of Levi according to their clans.\n\t\t\t It was the same Aaron and Moses to whom the LORD said, \"Bring the Israelites out of the land of Egypt by their regiments.\"\n\t\t\t They were the men who were speaking to Pharaoh king of Egypt, in order to bring the Israelites out of Egypt. It was the same Moses and Aaron.\n\t\t\t When the LORD spoke to Moses in the land of Egypt, \n\t\t\t he said to him, \"I am the LORD. Tell Pharaoh king of Egypt all that I am telling you.\" \n\t\t\t But Moses said before the LORD, \"Since I speak with difficulty, why should Pharaoh listen to me?\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t So the LORD said to Moses, \"See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron will be your prophet.\n\t\t\t You are to speak everything I command you, and your brother Aaron is to tell Pharaoh that he must release the Israelites from his land. \n\t\t\t But I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and although I will multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt, \n\t\t\t Pharaoh will not listen to you. I will reach into Egypt and bring out my regiments, my people the Israelites, from the land of Egypt with great acts of judgment. \n\t\t\t Then the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD, when I extend my hand over Egypt and bring the Israelites out from among them.\n\t\t\t And Moses and Aaron did so; they did just as the LORD commanded them.\n\t\t\t Now Moses was eighty years old and Aaron was eighty-three years old when they spoke to Pharaoh.\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Moses and Aaron,\n\t\t\t \"When Pharaoh says to you, 'Do a miracle,' and you say to Aaron, 'Take your staff and throw it down before Pharaoh,' it will become a snake.\" \n\t\t\t When Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh, they did so, just as the LORD had commanded them, Aaron threw down his staff before Pharaoh and his servants and it became a snake.\n\t\t\t Then Pharaoh also summoned wise men and sorcerers, and the magicians of Egypt by their secret arts did the same thing. \n\t\t\t Each man threw down his staff, and the staffs became snakes. But Aaron's staff swallowed up their staffs. \n\t\t\t Yet Pharaoh's heart became hard, and he did not listen to them, just as the LORD had predicted.\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Moses, \"Pharaoh's heart is hard; he refuses to release the people. \n\t\t\t Go to Pharaoh in the morning when he goes out to the water. Position yourself to meet him by the edge of the Nile, and take in your hand the staff that was turned into a snake. \n\t\t\t Tell him, 'The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has sent me to you to say, \"Release my people, that they may serve me in the desert!\" But until now you have not listened.\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD: \"By this you will know that I am the LORD: I am going to strike the water of the Nile with the staff that is in my hand, and it will be turned into blood.\n\t\t\t Fish in the Nile will die, the Nile will stink, and the Egyptians will be unable to drink water from the Nile.\"'\" \n\t\t\t Then the LORD said to Moses, \"Tell Aaron, 'Take your staff and stretch out your hand over Egypt's waters, over their rivers, over their canals, over their ponds, and over all their reservoirs, so that it becomes blood.' There will be blood everywhere in the land of Egypt, even in wooden and stone containers.\"\n\t\t\t Moses and Aaron did so, just as the LORD had commanded. Moses raised the staff and struck the water that was in the Nile right before the eyes of Pharaoh and his servants, and all the water that was in the Nile was turned to blood.\n\t\t\t When the fish that were in the Nile died, the Nile began to stink, so that the Egyptians could not drink water from the Nile. There was blood everywhere in the land of Egypt! \n\t\t\t But the magicians of Egypt did the same by their secret arts, and so Pharaoh's heart remained hard, and he refused to listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the LORD had predicted.\n\t\t\t And Pharaoh turned and went into his house. He did not pay any attention to this.\n\t\t\t All the Egyptians dug around the Nile for water to drink, because they could not drink the water of the Nile.\n\t\t\t Seven full days passed after the LORD struck the Nile. \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then the LORD said to Moses, \"Go to Pharaoh and tell him, 'Thus says the LORD: \"Release my people in order that they may serve me! \n\t\t\t But if you refuse to release them, then I am going to plague all your territory with frogs.\n\t\t\t The Nile will swarm with frogs, and they will come up and go into your house, in your bedroom, and on your bed, and into the houses of your servants and your people, and into your ovens and your kneading troughs.\n\t\t\t Frogs will come up against you, your people, and all your servants.\"'\"\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses, \"Tell Aaron, 'Extend your hand with your staff over the rivers, over the canals, and over the ponds, and bring the frogs up over the land of Egypt.'\" \n\t\t\t So Aaron extended his hand over the waters of Egypt, and frogs came up and covered the land of Egypt.\n\t\t\t The magicians did the same with their secret arts and brought up frogs on the land of Egypt too.\n\t\t\t Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, \"Pray to the LORD that he may take the frogs away from me and my people, and I will release the people that they may sacrifice to the LORD.\" \n\t\t\t Moses said to Pharaoh, \"You may have the honor over me, when shall I pray for you, your servants, and your people, for the frogs to be removed from you and your houses, so that they will be left only in the Nile?\"\n\t\t\t He said, \"Tomorrow.\" And Moses said, \"It will be as you say, so that you may know that there is no one like the LORD our God. \n\t\t\t The frogs will depart from you, your houses, your servants, and your people; they will be left only in the Nile.\"\n\t\t\t Then Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh, and Moses cried to the LORD because of the frogs that he had brought on Pharaoh.\n\t\t\t The LORD did as Moses asked, the frogs died out of the houses, the villages, and the fields.\n\t\t\t The Egyptians piled them in countless heaps, and the land stank. \n\t\t\t But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and did not listen to them, just as the LORD had predicted.\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Moses, \"Tell Aaron, 'Extend your staff and strike the dust of the ground, and it will become gnats throughout all the land of Egypt.'\" \n\t\t\t They did so; Aaron extended his hand with his staff, he struck the dust of the ground, and it became gnats on people and on animals. All the dust of the ground became gnats throughout all the land of Egypt. \n\t\t\t When the magicians attempted to bring forth gnats by their secret arts, they could not. So there were gnats on people and on animals. \n\t\t\t The magicians said to Pharaoh, \"It is the finger of God!\" But Pharaoh's heart remained hard, and he did not listen to them, just as the LORD had predicted.\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Moses, \"Get up early in the morning and position yourself before Pharaoh as he goes out to the water, and tell him, 'Thus says the LORD, \"Release my people that they may serve me! \n\t\t\t If you do not release my people, then I am going to send swarms of flies on you and on your servants and on your people and in your houses. The houses of the Egyptians will be full of flies, and even the ground they stand on.\n\t\t\t But on that day I will mark off the land of Goshen, where my people are staying, so that no swarms of flies will be there, that you may know that I am the LORD in the midst of this land.\n\t\t\t I will put a division between my people and your people. This sign will take place tomorrow.\"'\" \n\t\t\t The LORD did so; a thick swarm of flies came into Pharaoh's house and into the houses of his servants, and throughout the whole land of Egypt the land was ruined because of the swarms of flies.\n\t\t\t Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, \"Go, sacrifice to your God within the land.\"\n\t\t\t But Moses said, \"That would not be the right thing to do, for the sacrifices we make to the LORD our God would be an abomination to the Egyptians. If we make sacrifices that are an abomination to the Egyptians right before their eyes, will they not stone us?\n\t\t\t We must go on a three-day journey into the desert and sacrifice to the LORD our God, just as he is telling us.\"\n\t\t\t Pharaoh said, \"I will release you so that you may sacrifice to the LORD your God in the desert. Only you must not go very far. Do pray for me.\"\n\t\t\t Moses said, \"I am going to go out from you and pray to the LORD, and the swarms of flies will go away from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people tomorrow. Only do not let Pharaoh deal falsely again by not releasing the people to sacrifice to the LORD.\" \n\t\t\t So Moses went out from Pharaoh and prayed to the LORD,\n\t\t\t and the LORD did as Moses asked, he removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people. Not one remained!\n\t\t\t But Pharaoh hardened his heart this time also and did not release the people.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then the LORD said to Moses, \"Go to Pharaoh and tell him, 'Thus says the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, \"Release my people that they may serve me! \n\t\t\t For if you refuse to release them and continue holding them,\n\t\t\t then the hand of the LORD will surely bring a very terrible plague on your livestock in the field, on the horses, the donkeys, the camels, the herds, and the flocks. \n\t\t\t But the Lord will distinguish between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt, and nothing will die of all that the Israelites have.\"'\"\n\t\t\t The LORD set an appointed time, saying, \"Tomorrow the LORD will do this in the land.\" \n\t\t\t And the LORD did this on the next day; all the livestock of the Egyptians died, but of the Israelites' livestock not one died. \n\t\t\t Pharaoh sent representatives to investigate, and indeed, not even one of the livestock of Israel had died. But Pharaoh's heart remained hard, and he did not release the people.\n\t\t\t Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, \"Take handfuls of soot from a furnace, and have Moses throw it into the air while Pharaoh is watching.\n\t\t\t It will become fine dust over the whole land of Egypt and will cause boils to break out and fester on both people and animals in all the land of Egypt.\" \n\t\t\t So they took soot from a furnace and stood before Pharaoh, Moses threw it into the air, and it caused festering boils to break out on both people and animals.\n\t\t\t The magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils, for boils were on the magicians and on all the Egyptians.\n\t\t\t But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he did not listen to them, just as the LORD had predicted to Moses.\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Moses, \"Get up early in the morning, stand before Pharaoh, and tell him, 'Thus says the LORD, the God of the Hebrews: \"Release my people so that they may serve me! \n\t\t\t For this time I will send all my plagues on your very self and on your servants and your people, so that you may know that there is no one like me in all the earth. \n\t\t\t For by now I could have stretched out my hand and struck you and your people with plague, and you would have been destroyed from the earth. \n\t\t\t But for this purpose I have caused you to stand: to show you my strength, and so that my name may be declared in all the earth. \n\t\t\t You are still exalting yourself against my people by not releasing them. \n\t\t\t I am going to cause very severe hail to rain down about this time tomorrow, such hail as has never occurred in Egypt from the day it was founded until now. \n\t\t\t So now, send instructions to gather your livestock and all your possessions in the fields to a safe place. Every person or animal caught in the field and not brought into the house, the hail will come down on them, and they will die!\"'\"\n\t\t\t Those of Pharaoh's servants who feared the word of the LORD hurried to bring their servants and livestock into the houses, \n\t\t\t but those who did not take the word of the LORD seriously left their servants and their cattle in the field.\n\t\t\t Then the LORD said to Moses, \"Extend your hand toward the sky that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt, on people and on animals, and on everything that grows in the field in the land of Egypt.\" \n\t\t\t When Moses extended his staff toward the sky, the LORD sent thunder and hail, and fire fell to the earth; so the LORD caused hail to rain down on the land of Egypt. \n\t\t\t Hail fell and fire mingled with the hail; the hail was so severe that there had not been any like it in all the land of Egypt since it had become a nation. \n\t\t\t The hail struck everything in the open fields, both people and animals, throughout all the land of Egypt. The hail struck everything that grows in the field, and it broke all the trees of the field to pieces. \n\t\t\t Only in the land of Goshen, where the Israelites lived, was there no hail.\n\t\t\t So Pharaoh sent and summoned Moses and Aaron and said to them, \"I have sinned this time! The LORD is righteous, and I and my people are guilty.\n\t\t\t Pray to the LORD, for the mighty thunderings and hail are too much! I will release you and you will stay no longer.\"\n\t\t\t Moses said to him, \"When I leave the city I will spread my hands to the LORD, the thunder will cease, and there will be no more hail, so that you may know that the earth belongs to the LORD.\n\t\t\t But as for you and your servants, I know that you do not yet fear the LORD God.\"\n\t\t\t (Now the flax and the barley were struck by the hail, for the barley had ripened and the flax was in bud. \n\t\t\t But the wheat and the spelt were not struck, for they are later crops.)\n\t\t\t So Moses left Pharaoh, went out of the city, and spread out his hands to the LORD, and the thunder and the hail ceased, and the rain stopped pouring on the earth.\n\t\t\t When Pharaoh saw that the rain and hail and thunder ceased, he sinned again: both he and his servants hardened their hearts. \n\t\t\t So Pharaoh's heart remained hard, and he did not release the Israelites, as the LORD had predicted through Moses.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Moses, \"Go to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the heart of his servants, in order to display these signs of mine before him,\n\t\t\t and in order that in the hearing of your son and your grandson you may tell how I made fools of the Egyptians and about my signs that I displayed among them, so that you may know that I am the LORD.\"\n\t\t\t So Moses and Aaron came to Pharaoh and told him, \"Thus says the LORD, the God of the Hebrews: 'How long do you refuse to humble yourself before me? Release my people so that they may serve me! \n\t\t\t But if you refuse to release my people, I am going to bring locusts into your territory tomorrow. \n\t\t\t They will cover the surface of the earth, so that you will be unable to see the ground. They will eat the remainder of what escaped, what is left over for you, from the hail, and they will eat every tree that grows for you from the field.\n\t\t\t They will fill your houses, the houses of your servants, and all the houses of Egypt, such as neither your fathers nor your grandfathers have seen since they have been in the land until this day!'\" Then Moses turned and went out from Pharaoh.\n\t\t\t Pharaoh's servants said to him, \"How long will this man be a menace to us? Release the people so that they may serve the LORD their God. Do you not know that Egypt is destroyed?\"\n\t\t\t So Moses and Aaron were brought back to Pharaoh, and he said to them, \"Go, serve the LORD your God. Exactly who is going with you?\"\n\t\t\t Moses said, \"We will go with our young and our old, with our sons and our daughters, and with our sheep and our cattle we will go, because we are to hold a pilgrim feast for the LORD.\"\n\t\t\t He said to them, \"The LORD will need to be with you if I release you and your dependents! Watch out! Trouble is right in front of you!\n\t\t\t No! Go, you men only, and serve the LORD, for that is what you want.\" Then Moses and Aaron were driven out of Pharaoh's presence.\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Moses, \"Extend your hand over the land of Egypt for the locusts, that they may come up over the land of Egypt and eat everything that grows in the ground, everything that the hail has left.\" \n\t\t\t So Moses extended his staff over the land of Egypt, and then the LORD brought an east wind on the land all that day and all night. The morning came, and the east wind had brought up the locusts! \n\t\t\t The locusts went up over all the land of Egypt and settled down in all the territory of Egypt. It was very severe; there had been no locusts like them before, nor will there be such ever again.\n\t\t\t They covered the surface of all the ground, so that the ground became dark with them, and they ate all the vegetation of the ground and all the fruit of the trees that the hail had left. Nothing green remained on the trees or on anything that grew in the fields throughout the whole land of Egypt.\n\t\t\t Then Pharaoh quickly summoned Moses and Aaron and said, \"I have sinned against the LORD your God and against you! \n\t\t\t So now, forgive my sin this time only, and pray to the LORD your God that he would only take this death away from me.\" \n\t\t\t Moses went out from Pharaoh and prayed to the LORD, \n\t\t\t and the LORD turned a very strong west wind, and it picked up the locusts and blew them into the Red Sea. Not one locust remained in all the territory of Egypt. \n\t\t\t But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he did not release the Israelites.\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Moses, \"Extend your hand toward heaven so that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, a darkness so thick it can be felt.\"\n\t\t\t So Moses extended his hand toward heaven, and there was absolute darkness throughout the land of Egypt for three days.\n\t\t\t No one could see another person, and no one could rise from his place for three days. But the Israelites had light in the places where they lived.\n\t\t\t Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and said, \"Go, serve the LORD, only your flocks and herds will be detained. Even your families may go with you.\"\n\t\t\t But Moses said, \"Will you also provide us with sacrifices and burnt offerings that we may present them to the LORD our God? \n\t\t\t Our livestock must also go with us! Not a hoof is to be left behind! For we must take these animals to serve the LORD our God. Until we arrive there, we do not know what we must use to serve the LORD.\"\n\t\t\t But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he was not willing to release them.\n\t\t\t Pharaoh said to him, \"Go from me! Watch out for yourself! Do not appear before me again, for when you see my face you will die!\" \n\t\t\t Moses said, \"As you wish! I will not see your face again.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Moses, \"I will bring one more plague on Pharaoh and on Egypt; after that he will release you from this place. When he releases you, he will drive you out completely from this place.\n\t\t\t Instruct the people that each man and each woman is to request from his or her neighbor items of silver and gold.\"\n\t\t\t (Now the LORD granted the people favor with the Egyptians. Moreover, the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, respected by Pharaoh's servants and by the Egyptian people.)\n\t\t\t Moses said, \"Thus says the LORD: 'About midnight I will go throughout Egypt,\n\t\t\t and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt will die, from the firstborn son of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, to the firstborn son of the slave girl who is at her hand mill, and all the firstborn of the cattle. \n\t\t\t There will be a great cry throughout the whole land of Egypt, such as there has never been, nor ever will be again.\n\t\t\t But against any of the Israelites not even a dog will bark against either people or animals, so that you may know that the LORD distinguishes between Egypt and Israel.' \n\t\t\t All these your servants will come down to me and bow down to me, saying, 'Go, you and all the people who follow you,' and after that I will go out.\" Then Moses went out from Pharaoh in great anger.\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Moses, \"Pharaoh will not listen to you, so that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.\"\n\t\t\t So Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh, but the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he did not release the Israelites from his land.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt,\n\t\t\t \"This month is to be your beginning of months; it will be your first month of the year.\n\t\t\t Tell the whole community of Israel, 'In the tenth day of this month they each must take a lamb for themselves according to their families, a lamb for each household.\n\t\t\t If any household is too small for a lamb, the man and his next-door neighbor are to take a lamb according to the number of people, you will make your count for the lamb according to how much each one can eat.\n\t\t\t Your lamb must be perfect, a male, one year old; you may take it from the sheep or from the goats. \n\t\t\t You must care for it until the fourteenth day of this month, and then the whole community of Israel will kill it around sundown.\n\t\t\t They will take some of the blood and put it on the two side posts and top of the doorframe of the houses where they will eat it.\n\t\t\t They will eat the meat the same night; they will eat it roasted over the fire with bread made without yeast and with bitter herbs. \n\t\t\t Do not eat it raw or boiled in water, but roast it over the fire with its head, its legs, and its entrails. \n\t\t\t You must leave nothing until morning, but you must burn with fire whatever remains of it until morning.\n\t\t\t This is how you are to eat it, dressed to travel, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. You are to eat it in haste. It is the LORD'S Passover.\n\t\t\t I will pass through the land of Egypt in the same night, and I will attack all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both of humans and of animals, and on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment. I am the LORD. \n\t\t\t The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, so that when I see the blood I will pass over you, and this plague will not fall on you to destroy you when I attack the land of Egypt.\n\t\t\t This day will become a memorial for you, and you will celebrate it as a festival to the LORD, you will celebrate it perpetually as a lasting ordinance.\n\t\t\t For seven days you must eat bread made without yeast. Surely on the first day you must put away yeast from your houses because anyone who eats bread made with yeast from the first day to the seventh day will be cut off from Israel.\n\t\t\t On the first day there will be a holy convocation, and on the seventh day there will be a holy convocation for you. You must do no work of any kind on them, only what every person will eat, that alone may be prepared for you.\n\t\t\t So you will keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread, because on this very day I brought your regiments out from the land of Egypt, and so you must keep this day perpetually as a lasting ordinance.\n\t\t\t In the first month, from the fourteenth day of the month, in the evening, you will eat bread made without yeast until the twenty-first day of the month in the evening. \n\t\t\t For seven days yeast must not be found in your houses, for whoever eats what is made with yeast, that person will be cut off from the community of Israel, whether a foreigner or one born in the land.\n\t\t\t You will not eat anything made with yeast; in all the places where you live you must eat bread made without yeast.'\"\n\t\t\t Then Moses summoned all the elders of Israel, and told them, \"Go and select for yourselves a lamb or young goat for your families, and kill the Passover animals.\n\t\t\t Take a branch of hyssop, dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and apply to the top of the doorframe and the two side posts some of the blood that is in the basin. Not one of you is to go out the door of his house until morning. \n\t\t\t For the LORD will pass through to strike Egypt, and when he sees the blood on the top of the doorframe and the two side posts, then the LORD will pass over the door, and he will not permit the destroyer to enter your houses to strike you.\n\t\t\t You must observe this event as an ordinance for you and for your children forever.\n\t\t\t When you enter the land that the LORD will give to you, just as he said, you must observe this ceremony. \n\t\t\t When your children ask you, 'What does this ceremony mean to you?',\n\t\t\t then you will say, 'It is the sacrifice of the LORD's Passover, when he passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt, when he struck Egypt and delivered our households.'\" The people bowed down low to the ground, \n\t\t\t and the Israelites went away and did exactly as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron.\n\t\t\t It happened at midnight, the LORD attacked all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the prison, and all the firstborn of the cattle.\n\t\t\t Pharaoh got up in the night, along with all his servants and all Egypt, and there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was no house in which there was not someone dead. \n\t\t\t Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron in the night and said, \"Get up, get out from among my people, both you and the Israelites! Go, serve the LORD as you have requested!\n\t\t\t Also, take your flocks and your herds, just as you have requested, and leave. But bless me also.\"\n\t\t\t The Egyptians were urging the people on, in order to send them out of the land quickly, for they were saying, \"We are all dead!\" \n\t\t\t So the people took their dough before the yeast was added, with their kneading troughs bound up in their clothing on their shoulders. \n\t\t\t Now the Israelites had done as Moses told them, they had requested from the Egyptians silver and gold items and clothing.\n\t\t\t The LORD gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, and they gave them whatever they wanted, and so they plundered Egypt.\n\t\t\t The Israelites journeyed from Rameses to Sukkoth. There were about 600,000 men on foot, plus their dependants.\n\t\t\t A mixed multitude also went up with them, and flocks and herds, a very large number of cattle.\n\t\t\t They baked cakes of bread without yeast using the dough they had brought from Egypt, for it was made without yeast, because they were thrust out of Egypt and were not able to delay, they could not prepare food for themselves either.\n\t\t\t Now the length of time the Israelites lived in Egypt was 430 years.\n\t\t\t At the end of the 430 years, on the very day, all the regiments of the LORD went out of the land of Egypt. \n\t\t\t It was a night of vigil for the LORD to bring them out from the land of Egypt, and so on this night all Israel is to keep the vigil to the LORD for generations to come.\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, \"This is the ordinance of the Passover. No foreigner may share in eating it.\n\t\t\t But everyone's servant who is bought for money, after you have circumcised him, may eat it.\n\t\t\t A foreigner and a hired worker must not eat it.\n\t\t\t It must be eaten in one house; you must not bring any of the meat outside the house, and you must not break a bone of it.\n\t\t\t The whole community of Israel must observe it.\n\t\t\t \"When a foreigner lives with you and wants to observe the Passover to the LORD, all his males must be circumcised, and then he may approach and observe it, and he will be like one who is born in the land, but no uncircumcised person may eat of it.\n\t\t\t The same law will apply to the person who is native-born and to the foreigner who lives among you.\"\n\t\t\t So all the Israelites did exactly as the LORD commanded Moses and Aaron.\n\t\t\t And on this very day the LORD brought the Israelites out of the land of Egypt by their regiments.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses: \n\t\t\t \"Set apart to me every firstborn male, the first offspring of every womb among the Israelites, whether human or animal; it is mine.\"\n\t\t\t Moses said to the people, \"Remember this day on which you came out from Egypt, from the place where you were enslaved, for the LORD brought you out of there with a mighty hand, and no bread made with yeast may be eaten.\n\t\t\t On this day, in the month of Abib, you are going out.\n\t\t\t When the LORD brings you to the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Hivites, and Jebusites, which he swore to your fathers to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey, then you will keep this ceremony in this month. \n\t\t\t For seven days you must eat bread made without yeast, and on the seventh day there is to be a festival to the LORD. \n\t\t\t Bread made without yeast must be eaten for seven days; no bread made with yeast shall be seen among you, and you must have no yeast among you within any of your borders.\n\t\t\t You are to tell your son on that day, 'It is because of what the LORD did for me when I came out of Egypt.' \n\t\t\t It will be a sign for you on your hand and a memorial on your forehead, so that the law of the LORD may be in your mouth, for with a mighty hand the LORD brought you out of Egypt. \n\t\t\t So you must keep this ordinance at its appointed time from year to year.\n\t\t\t When the LORD brings you into the land of the Canaanites, as he swore to you and to your fathers, and gives it to you, \n\t\t\t then you must give over to the LORD the first offspring of every womb. Every firstling of a beast that you have, the males will be the LORD's.\n\t\t\t Every firstling of a donkey you must redeem with a lamb, and if you do not redeem it, then you must break its neck. Every firstborn of your sons you must redeem.\n\t\t\t In the future, when your son asks you 'What is this?' you are to tell him, 'With a mighty hand the LORD brought us out from Egypt, from the land of slavery.\n\t\t\t When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to release us, the LORD killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of people to the firstborn of animals. That is why I am sacrificing to the LORD the first male offspring of every womb, but all my firstborn sons I redeem.' \n\t\t\t It will be for a sign on your hand and for frontlets on your forehead, for with a mighty hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt.\"\n\t\t\t When Pharaoh released the people, God did not lead them by the way to the land of the Philistines, although that was nearby, for God said, \"Lest the people change their minds and return to Egypt when they experience war.\" \n\t\t\t So God brought the people around by the way of the desert to the Red Sea, and the Israelites went up from the land of Egypt prepared for battle.\n\t\t\t Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for Joseph had made the Israelites solemnly swear, \"God will surely attend to you, and you will carry my bones up from this place with you.\"\n\t\t\t They journeyed from Sukkoth and camped in Etham, on the edge of the desert.\n\t\t\t Now the LORD was going before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them in the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel day or night.\n\t\t\t He did not remove the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night from before the people.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses: \n\t\t\t \"Tell the Israelites that they must turn and camp before Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea; you are to camp by the sea before Baal Zephon opposite it.\n\t\t\t Pharaoh will think regarding the Israelites, 'They are wandering around confused in the land, the desert has closed in on them.'\n\t\t\t I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he will chase after them. I will gain honor because of Pharaoh and because of all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD.\" So this is what they did.\n\t\t\t When it was reported to the king of Egypt that the people had fled, the heart of Pharaoh and his servants was turned against the people, and the king and his servants said, \"What in the world have we done? For we have released the people of Israel from serving us!\" \n\t\t\t Then he prepared his chariots and took his army with him. \n\t\t\t He took six hundred select chariots, and all the rest of the chariots of Egypt, and officers on all of them.\n\t\t\t But the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he chased after the Israelites. Now the Israelites were going out defiantly.\n\t\t\t The Egyptians chased after them, and all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh and his horsemen and his army overtook them camping by the sea, beside Pi-hahiroth, before Baal-Zephon.\n\t\t\t When Pharaoh got closer, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians marching after them, and they were terrified. The Israelites cried out to the LORD,\n\t\t\t and they said to Moses, \"Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the desert? What in the world have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? \n\t\t\t Isn't this what we told you in Egypt, 'Leave us alone so that we can serve the Egyptians, because it is better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!'\"\n\t\t\t Moses said to the people, \"Do not fear! Stand firm and see the salvation of the LORD that he will provide for you today; for the Egyptians that you see today you will never, ever see again.\n\t\t\t The LORD will fight for you, and you can be still.\"\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Moses, \"Why do you cry out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on.\n\t\t\t And as for you, lift up your staff and extend your hand toward the sea and divide it, so that the Israelites may go through the middle of the sea on dry ground. \n\t\t\t And as for me, I am going to harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will come after them, that I may be honored because of Pharaoh and his army and his chariots and his horsemen.\n\t\t\t And the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD when I have gained my honor because of Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen.\"\n\t\t\t The angel of God, who was going before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them, and the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them. \n\t\t\t It came between the Egyptian camp and the Israelite camp; it was a dark cloud and it lit up the night so that one camp did not come near the other the whole night.\n\t\t\t Moses stretched out his hand toward the sea, and the LORD drove the sea apart by a strong east wind all that night, and he made the sea into dry land, and the water was divided. \n\t\t\t So the Israelites went through the middle of the sea on dry ground, the water forming a wall for them on their right and on their left.\n\t\t\t The Egyptians chased them and followed them into the middle of the sea, all the horses of Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen.\n\t\t\t In the morning watch the LORD looked down on the Egyptian army through the pillar of fire and cloud, and he threw the Egyptian army into a panic.\n\t\t\t He jammed the wheels of their chariots so that they had difficulty driving, and the Egyptians said, \"Let's flee from Israel, for the LORD fights for them against Egypt!\"\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Moses, \"Extend your hand toward the sea, so that the waters may flow back on the Egyptians, on their chariots, and on their horsemen!\" \n\t\t\t So Moses extended his hand toward the sea, and the sea returned to its normal state when the sun began to rise. Now the Egyptians were fleeing before it, but the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the middle of the sea. \n\t\t\t The water returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen and all the army of Pharaoh that was coming after the Israelites into the sea, not so much as one of them survived!\n\t\t\t But the Israelites walked on dry ground in the middle of the sea, the water forming a wall for them on their right and on their left.\n\t\t\t So the LORD saved Israel on that day from the power of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the shore of the sea. \n\t\t\t When Israel saw the great power that the LORD had exercised over the Egyptians, they feared the LORD, and they believed in the LORD and in his servant Moses.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the LORD. They said, \"I will sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously, the horse and its rider he has thrown into the sea.\n\t\t\t The LORD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation. This is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him.\n\t\t\t The LORD is a warrior, the LORD is his name.\n\t\t\t The chariots of Pharaoh and his army he has thrown into the sea, and his chosen officers were drowned in the Red Sea.\n\t\t\t The depths have covered them, they went down to the bottom like a stone.\n\t\t\t Your right hand, O LORD, was majestic in power, your right hand, O LORD, shattered the enemy.\n\t\t\t In the abundance of your majesty you have overthrown those who rise up against you. You sent forth your wrath; it consumed them like stubble.\n\t\t\t By the blast of your nostrils the waters were piled up, the flowing water stood upright like a heap, and the deep waters were solidified in the heart of the sea.\n\t\t\t The enemy said, 'I will chase, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my desire will be satisfied on them. I will draw my sword, my hand will destroy them.'\n\t\t\t But you blew with your breath, and the sea covered them. They sank like lead in the mighty waters.\n\t\t\t Who is like you, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like you?, majestic in holiness, fearful in praises, working wonders?\n\t\t\t You stretched out your right hand, the earth swallowed them.\n\t\t\t By your loyal love you will lead the people whom you have redeemed; you will guide them by your strength to your holy dwelling place.\n\t\t\t The nations will hear and tremble; anguish will seize the inhabitants of Philistia.\n\t\t\t Then the chiefs of Edom will be terrified, trembling will seize the leaders of Moab, and the inhabitants of Canaan will shake.\n\t\t\t Fear and dread will fall on them; by the greatness of your arm they will be as still as stone until your people pass by, O LORD, until the people whom you have bought pass by.\n\t\t\t You will bring them in and plant them in the mountain of your inheritance, in the place you made for your residence, O Lord, the sanctuary, O LORD, that your hands have established.\n\t\t\t The LORD will reign forever and ever!\n\t\t\t For the horses of Pharaoh came with his chariots and his footmen into the sea, and the LORD brought back the waters of the sea on them, but the Israelites walked on dry land in the middle of the sea.\"\n\t\t\t Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a hand-drum in her hand, and all the women went out after her with hand-drums and with dances.\n\t\t\t Miriam sang in response to them, \"Sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously; the horse and its rider he has thrown into the sea.\"\n\t\t\t Then Moses led Israel to journey away from the Red Sea. They went out to the Desert of Shur, walked for three days into the desert, and found no water. \n\t\t\t Then they came to Marah, but they were not able to drink the waters of Marah, because they were bitter. (That is why its name was Marah.)\n\t\t\t So the people murmured against Moses, saying, \"What can we drink?\" \n\t\t\t He cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a tree. When Moses threw it into the water, the water became safe to drink. There the Lord made for them a binding ordinance, and there he tested them. \n\t\t\t He said, \"If you will diligently obey the LORD your God, and do what is right in his sight, and pay attention to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, then all the diseases that I brought on the Egyptians I will not bring on you, for I, the LORD, am your healer.\"\n\t\t\t Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve wells of water and seventy palm trees, and they camped there by the water.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t When they journeyed from Elim, the entire company of Israelites came to the Desert of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their exodus from the land of Egypt. \n\t\t\t The entire company of Israelites murmured against Moses and Aaron in the desert. \n\t\t\t The Israelites said to them, \"If only we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat, when we ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this desert to kill this whole assembly with hunger!\"\n\t\t\t Then the LORD said to Moses, \"I am going to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people will go out and gather the amount for each day, so that I may test them. Will they will walk in my law or not? \n\t\t\t On the sixth day they will prepare what they bring in, and it will be twice as much as they gather every other day.\"\n\t\t\t Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, \"In the evening you will know that the LORD has brought you out of the land of Egypt, \n\t\t\t and in the morning you will see the glory of the LORD, because he has heard your murmurings against the LORD. As for us, what are we, that you should murmur against us?\"\n\t\t\t Moses said, \"You will know this when the LORD gives you meat to eat in the evening and bread in the morning to satisfy you, because the LORD has heard your murmurings that you are murmuring against him. As for us, what are we? Your murmurings are not against us, but against the LORD.\"\n\t\t\t Then Moses said to Aaron, \"Tell the whole community of the Israelites, 'Come before the LORD, because he has heard your murmurings.'\"\n\t\t\t As Aaron spoke to the whole community of the Israelites and they looked toward the desert, there the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud, \n\t\t\t and the LORD spoke to Moses:\n\t\t\t \"I have heard the murmurings of the Israelites. Tell them, 'During the evening you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be satisfied with bread, so that you may know that I am the LORD your God.'\"\n\t\t\t In the evening the quail came up and covered the camp, and in the morning a layer of dew was all around the camp. \n\t\t\t When the layer of dew had evaporated, there on the surface of the desert was a thin flaky substance, thin like frost on the earth. \n\t\t\t When the Israelites saw it, they said to one another, \"What is it?\" because they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, \"It is the bread that the LORD has given you for food.\n\t\t\t \"This is what the LORD has commanded: 'Each person is to gather from it what he can eat, an omer per person according to the number of your people; each one will pick it up for whoever lives in his tent.'\" \n\t\t\t The Israelites did so, and they gathered, some more, some less.\n\t\t\t When they measured with an omer, the one who gathered much had nothing left over, and the one who gathered little lacked nothing; each one had gathered what he could eat.\n\t\t\t Moses said to them, \"No one is to keep any of it until morning.\" \n\t\t\t But they did not listen to Moses; some kept part of it until morning, and it was full of worms and began to stink, and Moses was angry with them. \n\t\t\t So they gathered it each morning, each person according to what he could eat, and when the sun got hot, it would melt.\n\t\t\t And on the sixth day they gathered twice as much food, two omers per person; and all the leaders of the community came and told Moses. \n\t\t\t He said to them, \"This is what the LORD has said: 'Tomorrow is a time of cessation from work, a holy Sabbath to the LORD. Whatever you want to bake, bake today; whatever you want to boil, boil today; whatever is left put aside for yourselves to be kept until morning.'\"\n\t\t\t So they put it aside until the morning, just as Moses had commanded, and it did not stink, nor were there any worms in it.\n\t\t\t Moses said, \"Eat it today, for today is a Sabbath to the LORD; today you will not find it in the area.\n\t\t\t Six days you will gather it, but on the seventh day, the Sabbath, there will not be any.\"\n\t\t\t On the seventh day some of the people went out to gather it, but they found nothing.\n\t\t\t So the LORD said to Moses, \"How long do you refuse to obey my commandments and my instructions? \n\t\t\t See, because the LORD has given you the Sabbath, that is why he is giving you food for two days on the sixth day. Each of you stay where you are; let no one go out of his place on the seventh day.\" \n\t\t\t So the people rested on the seventh day.\n\t\t\t The house of Israel called its name \"manna.\" It was like coriander seed and was white, and it tasted like wafers with honey.\n\t\t\t Moses said, \"This is what the LORD has commanded: 'Fill an omer with it to be kept for generations to come, so that they may see the food I fed you in the desert when I brought you out from the land of Egypt.'\" \n\t\t\t Moses said to Aaron, \"Take a jar and put in it an omer full of manna, and place it before the LORD to be kept for generations to come.\"\n\t\t\t Just as the LORD commanded Moses, so Aaron placed it before the Testimony for safekeeping.\n\t\t\t Now the Israelites ate manna forty years, until they came to a land that was inhabited; they ate manna until they came to the border of the land of Canaan.\n\t\t\t (Now an omer is one tenth of an ephah.)\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The whole community of the Israelites traveled on their journey from the Desert of Sin according to the LORD's instruction, and they pitched camp in Rephidim. Now there was no water for the people to drink.\n\t\t\t So the people contended with Moses, and they said, \"Give us water to drink!\" Moses said to them, \"Why do you contend with me? Why do you test the LORD?\" \n\t\t\t But the people were very thirsty there for water, and they murmured against Moses and said, \"Why in the world did you bring us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst?\"\n\t\t\t Then Moses cried out to the LORD, \"What will I do with this people?, a little more and they will stone me!\"\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Moses, \"Go over before the people; take with you some of the elders of Israel and take in your hand your staff with which you struck the Nile and go. \n\t\t\t I will be standing before you there on the rock in Horeb, and you will strike the rock, and water will come out of it so that the people may drink.\" And Moses did so in plain view of the elders of Israel.\n\t\t\t He called the name of the place Massah and Meribah, because of the contending of the Israelites and because of their testing the LORD, saying, \"Is the LORD among us or not?\"\n\t\t\t Amalek came and attacked Israel in Rephidim. \n\t\t\t So Moses said to Joshua, \"Choose some of our men and go out, fight against Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.\"\n\t\t\t So Joshua fought against Amalek just as Moses had instructed him; and Moses and Aaron and Hur went up to the top of the hill. \n\t\t\t Whenever Moses would raise his hands, then Israel prevailed, but whenever he would rest his hands, then Amalek prevailed. \n\t\t\t When the hands of Moses became heavy, they took a stone and put it under him, and Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side and one on the other, and so his hands were steady until the sun went down.\n\t\t\t So Joshua destroyed Amalek and his army with the sword.\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Moses, \"Write this as a memorial in the book, and rehearse it in Joshua's hearing; for I will surely wipe out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. \n\t\t\t Moses built an altar, and he called it \"The LORD is my Banner,\"\n\t\t\t for he said, \"For a hand was lifted up to the throne of the LORD, that the LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father-in-law, heard about all that God had done for Moses and for his people Israel, that the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt.\n\t\t\t Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, took Moses' wife Zipporah after he had sent her back,\n\t\t\t and her two sons, one of whom was named Gershom (for Moses had said, \"I have been a foreigner in a foreign land\"), \n\t\t\t and the other Eliezer (for Moses had said, \"The God of my father has been my help and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh\").\n\t\t\t Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, together with Moses' sons and his wife, came to Moses in the desert where he was camping by the mountain of God.\n\t\t\t He said to Moses, \"I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you, along with your wife and her two sons with her.\" \n\t\t\t Moses went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down and kissed him; they each asked about the other's welfare, and then they went into the tent. \n\t\t\t Moses told his father-in-law all that the LORD had done to Pharaoh and to Egypt for Israel's sake, and all the hardship that had come on them along the way, and how the LORD had delivered them.\n\t\t\t Jethro rejoiced because of all the good that the LORD had done for Israel, whom he had delivered from the hand of Egypt. \n\t\t\t Jethro said, \"Blessed be the LORD who has delivered you from the hand of Egypt, and from the hand of Pharaoh, who has delivered the people from the Egyptians' control!\n\t\t\t Now I know that the LORD is greater than all the gods, for in the thing in which they dealt proudly against them he has destroyed them.\"\n\t\t\t Then Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and sacrifices for God, and Aaron and all the elders of Israel came to eat food with the father-in-law of Moses before God.\n\t\t\t On the next day Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from morning until evening. \n\t\t\t When Moses' father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, \"What is this that you are doing for the people? Why are you sitting by yourself, and all the people stand around you from morning until evening?\"\n\t\t\t Moses said to his father-in-law, \"Because the people come to me to inquire of God. \n\t\t\t When they have a dispute, it comes to me and I decide between a man and his neighbor, and I make known the decrees of God and his laws.\"\n\t\t\t Moses' father-in-law said to him, \"What you are doing is not good! \n\t\t\t You will surely wear out, both you and these people who are with you, for this is too heavy a burden for you; you are not able to do it by yourself. \n\t\t\t Now listen to me, I will give you advice, and may God be with you: You be a representative for the people to God, and you bring their disputes to God; \n\t\t\t warn them of the statutes and the laws, and make known to them the way in which they must walk and the work they must do.\n\t\t\t But you choose from the people capable men, God-fearing, men of truth, those who hate bribes, and put them over the people as rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. \n\t\t\t They will judge the people under normal circumstances, and every difficult case they will bring to you, but every small case they themselves will judge, so that you may make it easier for yourself, and they will bear the burden with you. \n\t\t\t If you do this thing, and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all these people will be able to go home satisfied.\"\n\t\t\t Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he had said. \n\t\t\t Moses chose capable men from all Israel, and he made them heads over the people, rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.\n\t\t\t They judged the people under normal circumstances; the difficult cases they would bring to Moses, but every small case they would judge themselves.\n\t\t\t Then Moses sent his father-in-law on his way, and so Jethro went to his own land.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t In the third month after the Israelites went out from the land of Egypt, on the very day, they came to the Desert of Sinai. \n\t\t\t After they journeyed from Rephidim, they came to the Desert of Sinai, and they camped in the desert; Israel camped there in front of the mountain.\n\t\t\t Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain, \"Thus you will tell the house of Jacob, and declare to the people of Israel:\n\t\t\t 'You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt and how I lifted you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself.\n\t\t\t And now, if you will diligently listen to me and keep my covenant, then you will be my special possession out of all the nations, for all the earth is mine, \n\t\t\t and you will be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words that you will speak to the Israelites.\"\n\t\t\t So Moses came and summoned the elders of Israel. He set before them all these words that the LORD had commanded him,\n\t\t\t and all the people answered together, \"All that the LORD has commanded we will do!\" So Moses brought the words of the people back to the LORD.\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Moses, \"I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, so that the people may hear when I speak with you and so that they will always believe in you.\" And Moses told the words of the people to the LORD.\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Moses, \"Go to the people and sanctify them today and tomorrow, and make them wash their clothes \n\t\t\t and 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.\n\t\t\t You must set boundaries for the people all around, saying, 'Take heed to yourselves not to go up on the mountain nor touch its edge. Whoever touches the mountain will surely be put to death! \n\t\t\t No hand will touch him, but he will surely be stoned or shot through, whether a beast or a human being; he must not live.' When the ram's horn sounds a long blast they may go up on the mountain.\"\n\t\t\t Then Moses went down from the mountain to the people and sanctified the people, and they washed their clothes.\n\t\t\t He said to the people, \"Be ready for the third day. Do not go near your wives.\"\n\t\t\t On the third day in the morning there was thunder and lightning and a dense cloud on the mountain, and the sound of a very loud horn; all the people who were in the camp trembled. \n\t\t\t Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they took their place at the foot of the mountain.\n\t\t\t Now Mount Sinai was completely covered with smoke because the LORD had descended on it in fire, and its smoke went up like the smoke of a great furnace, and the whole mountain shook violently. \n\t\t\t When the sound of the horn grew louder and louder, Moses was speaking and God was answering him with a voice.\n\t\t\t The LORD came down on Mount Sinai, on the top of the mountain, and the LORD summoned Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Moses, \"Go down and solemnly warn the people, lest they force their way through to the LORD to look, and many of them perish.\n\t\t\t Let the priests also, who approach the LORD, sanctify themselves, lest the LORD break through against them.\"\n\t\t\t Moses said to the LORD, \"The people are not able to come up to Mount Sinai, because you solemnly warned us, 'Set boundaries for the mountain and set it apart.'\"\n\t\t\t The LORD said to him, \"Go, get down, and come up, and Aaron with you, but do not let the priests and the people force their way through to come up to the LORD, lest he break through against them.\"\n\t\t\t So Moses went down to the people and spoke to them.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t God spoke all these words:\n\t\t\t \"I, the LORD, am your God, who brought you from the land of Egypt, from the house of slavery.\n\t\t\t \"You shall have no other gods before me.\n\t\t\t \"You shall not make for yourself a carved image or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above or that is on the earth beneath or that is in the water below.\n\t\t\t You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I, the LORD, your God, am a jealous God, responding to the transgression of fathers by dealing with children to the third and fourth generations of those who reject me,\n\t\t\t and showing covenant faithfulness to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.\n\t\t\t \"You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold guiltless anyone who takes his name in vain.\n\t\t\t \"Remember the Sabbath day to set it apart as holy.\n\t\t\t For six days you may labor and do all your work,\n\t\t\t but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God; on it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, or your male servant, or your female servant, or your cattle, or the resident foreigner who is in your gates.\n\t\t\t For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth and the sea and all that is in them, and he rested on the seventh day; therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy.\n\t\t\t \"Honor your father and your mother, that you may live a long time in the land the LORD your God is giving to you.\n\t\t\t \"You shall not murder.\n\t\t\t \"You shall not commit adultery.\n\t\t\t \"You shall not steal.\n\t\t\t \"You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.\n\t\t\t \"You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that belongs to your neighbor.\"\n\t\t\t All the people were seeing the thundering and the lightning, and heard the sound of the horn, and saw the mountain smoking, and when the people saw it they trembled with fear and kept their distance.\n\t\t\t They said to Moses, \"You speak to us and we will listen, but do not let God speak with us, lest we die.\" \n\t\t\t Moses said to the people, \"Do not fear, for God has come to test you, that the fear of him may be before you so that you do not sin.\" \n\t\t\t The people kept their distance, but Moses drew near the thick darkness where God was.\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Moses: \"Thus you will tell the Israelites: 'You yourselves have seen that I have spoken with you from heaven. \n\t\t\t You must not make gods of silver alongside me, nor make gods of gold for yourselves.\n\t\t\t 'You must make for me an altar made of earth, and you will sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and your cattle. In every place where I cause my name to be honored I will come to you and I will bless you. \n\t\t\t If you make me an altar of stone, you must not build it of stones shaped with tools, for if you use your tool on it you have defiled it.\n\t\t\t And you must not go up by steps to my altar, so that your nakedness is not exposed.'\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t \"These are the decisions that you will set before them:\n\t\t\t \"If you buy a Hebrew servant, he is to serve you for six years, but in the seventh year he will go out free without paying anything.\n\t\t\t If he came in by himself he will go out by himself; if he had a wife when he came in, then his wife will go out with him. \n\t\t\t If his master gave him a wife, and she bore sons or daughters, the wife and the children will belong to her master, and he will go out by himself.\n\t\t\t But if the servant should declare, 'I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free,' \n\t\t\t then his master must bring him to the judges, and he will bring him to the door or the doorposts, and his master will pierce his ear with an awl, and he shall serve him forever.\n\t\t\t \"If a man sells his daughter as a female servant, she will not go out as the male servants do.\n\t\t\t If she does not please her master, who has designated her for himself, then he must let her be redeemed. He has no right to sell her to a foreign nation, because he has dealt deceitfully with her. \n\t\t\t If he designated her for his son, then he will deal with her according to the customary rights of daughters. \n\t\t\t If he takes another wife, he must not diminish the first one's food, her clothing, or her marital rights.\n\t\t\t If he does not provide her with these three things, then she will go out free, without paying money.\n\t\t\t \"Whoever strikes someone so that he dies must surely be put to death.\n\t\t\t But if he does not do it with premeditation, but it happens by accident, then I will appoint for you a place where he may flee. \n\t\t\t But if a man willfully attacks his neighbor to kill him cunningly, you will take him even from my altar that he may die.\n\t\t\t \"Whoever strikes his father or his mother must surely be put to death.\n\t\t\t \"Whoever kidnaps someone and sells him, or is caught still holding him, must surely be put to death.\n\t\t\t \"Whoever treats his father or his mother disgracefully must surely be put to death.\n\t\t\t \"If men fight, and one strikes his neighbor with a stone or with his fist and he does not die, but must remain in bed,\n\t\t\t and then if he gets up and walks about outside on his staff, then the one who struck him is innocent, except he must pay for the injured person's loss of time and see to it that he is fully healed.\n\t\t\t \"If a man strikes his male servant or his female servant with a staff so that he or she dies as a result of the blow, he will surely be punished.\n\t\t\t However, if the injured servant survives one or two days, the owner will not be punished, for he has suffered the loss.\n\t\t\t \"If men fight and hit a pregnant woman and her child is born prematurely, but there is no serious injury, he will surely be punished in accordance with what the woman's husband demands of him, and he will pay what the court decides.\n\t\t\t But if there is serious injury, then you will give a life for a life,\n\t\t\t eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,\n\t\t\t burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.\n\t\t\t \"If a man strikes the eye of his male servant or his female servant so that he destroys it, he will let the servant go free as compensation for the eye. \n\t\t\t If he knocks out the tooth of his male servant or his female servant, he will let the servant go free as compensation for the tooth.\n\t\t\t \"If an ox gores a man or a woman so that either dies, then the ox must surely be stoned and its flesh must not be eaten, but the owner of the ox will be acquitted. \n\t\t\t But if the ox had the habit of goring, and its owner was warned, and he did not take the necessary precautions, and then it killed a man or a woman, the ox must be stoned and the man must be put to death. \n\t\t\t If a ransom is set for him, then he must pay the redemption for his life according to whatever amount was set for him. \n\t\t\t If the ox gores a son or a daughter, the owner will be dealt with according to this rule.\n\t\t\t If the ox gores a male servant or a female servant, the owner must pay thirty shekels of silver, and the ox must be stoned.\n\t\t\t \"If a man opens a pit or if a man digs a pit and does not cover it, and an ox or a donkey falls into it,\n\t\t\t the owner of the pit must repay the loss. He must give money to its owner, and the dead animal will become his. \n\t\t\t If the ox of one man injures the ox of his neighbor so that it dies, then they will sell the live ox and divide its proceeds, and they will also divide the dead ox.\n\t\t\t Or if it is known that the ox had the habit of goring, and its owner did not take the necessary precautions, he must surely pay ox for ox, and the dead animal will become his.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t \"If a man steals an ox or a sheep and kills it or sells it, he must pay back five head of cattle for the ox, and four sheep for the one sheep.\n\t\t\t \"If a thief is caught breaking in and is struck so that he dies, there will be no blood guilt for him.\n\t\t\t If the sun has risen on him, then there is blood guilt for him. A thief must surely make full restitution; if he has nothing, then he will be sold for his theft. \n\t\t\t If the stolen item should in fact be found alive in his possession, whether it be an ox or a donkey or a sheep, he must pay back double.\n\t\t\t \"If a man grazes his livestock in a field or a vineyard, and he lets the livestock loose and they graze in the field of another man, he must make restitution from the best of his own field and the best of his own vineyard.\n\t\t\t \"If a fire breaks out and spreads to thorn bushes, so that stacked grain or standing grain or the whole field is consumed, the one who started the fire must surely make restitution.\n\t\t\t \"If a man gives his neighbor money or articles for safekeeping, and it is stolen from the man's house, if the thief is caught, he must repay double. \n\t\t\t If the thief is not caught, then the owner of the house will be brought before the judges to see whether he has laid his hand on his neighbor's goods. \n\t\t\t In all cases of illegal possessions, whether for an ox, a donkey, a sheep, a garment, or any kind of lost item, about which someone says 'This belongs to me,' the matter of the two of them will come before the judges, and the one whom the judges declare guilty must repay double to his neighbor.\n\t\t\t If a man gives his neighbor a donkey or an ox or a sheep or any beast to keep, and it dies or is hurt or is carried away without anyone seeing it,\n\t\t\t then there will be an oath to the LORD between the two of them, that he has not laid his hand on his neighbor's goods, and its owner will accept this, and he will not have to pay. \n\t\t\t But if it was stolen from him, he will pay its owner. \n\t\t\t If it is torn in pieces, then he will bring it for evidence, and he will not have to pay for what was torn.\n\t\t\t \"If a man borrows an animal from his neighbor, and it is hurt or dies when its owner was not with it, the man who borrowed it will surely pay. \n\t\t\t If its owner was with it, he will not have to pay; if it was hired, what was paid for the hire covers it.\n\t\t\t \"If a man seduces a virgin who is not engaged and has sexual relations with her, he must surely endow her to be his wife. \n\t\t\t If her father refuses to give her to him, he must pay money for the bride price of virgins.\n\t\t\t \"You must not allow a sorceress to live.\n\t\t\t \"Whoever has sexual relations with a beast must surely be put to death.\n\t\t\t \"Whoever sacrifices to a god other than the LORD alone must be utterly destroyed.\n\t\t\t \"You must not wrong a foreigner nor oppress him, for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt.\n\t\t\t \"You must not afflict any widow or orphan. \n\t\t\t If you afflict them in any way and they cry to me, I will surely hear their cry, \n\t\t\t and my anger will burn and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives will be widows and your children will be fatherless.\n\t\t\t \"If you lend money to any of my people who are needy among you, do not be like a moneylender to him; do not charge him interest.\n\t\t\t If you do take the garment of your neighbor in pledge, you must return it to him by the time the sun goes down,\n\t\t\t for it is his only covering, it is his garment for his body. What else can he sleep in? And when he cries out to me, I will hear, for I am gracious.\n\t\t\t \"You must not blaspheme God or curse the ruler of your people.\n\t\t\t \"Do not hold back offerings from your granaries or your vats. You must give me the firstborn of your sons. \n\t\t\t You must also do this for your oxen and for your sheep; seven days they may remain with their mothers, but give them to me on the eighth day.\n\t\t\t \"You will be holy people to me; you must not eat any meat torn by animals in the field. You must throw it to the dogs.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t \"You must not give a false report. Do not make common cause with the wicked to be a malicious witness.\n\t\t\t \"You must not follow a crowd in doing evil things; in a lawsuit you must not offer testimony that agrees with a crowd so as to pervert justice,\n\t\t\t and you must not show partiality to a poor man in his lawsuit.\n\t\t\t \"If you encounter your enemy's ox or donkey wandering off, you must by all means return it to him. \n\t\t\t If you see the donkey of someone who hates you fallen under its load, you must not ignore him, but be sure to help him with it.\n\t\t\t \"You must not turn away justice for your poor people in their lawsuits.\n\t\t\t Keep your distance from a false charge, do not kill the innocent and the righteous, for I will not justify the wicked.\n\t\t\t \"You must not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds those who see and subverts the words of the righteous.\n\t\t\t \"You must not oppress a foreigner, since you know the life of a foreigner, for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt.\n\t\t\t \"For six years you are to sow your land and gather in its produce. \n\t\t\t But in the seventh year you must let it lie fallow and leave it alone so that the poor of your people may eat, and what they leave any animal in the field may eat; you must do likewise with your vineyard and your olive grove. \n\t\t\t For six days you are to do your work, but on the seventh day you must cease, in order that your ox and your donkey may rest and that your female servant's son and any hired help may refresh themselves.\n\t\t\t \"Pay attention to do everything I have told you, and do not even mention the names of other gods, do not let them be heard on your lips.\n\t\t\t \"Three times in the year you must make a pilgrim feast to me. \n\t\t\t You are to observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread; seven days you must eat bread made without yeast, as I commanded you, at the appointed time of the month of Abib, for at that time you came out of Egypt. No one may appear before me empty-handed.\n\t\t\t \"You are also to observe the Feast of Harvest, the firstfruits of your labors that you have sown in the field, and the Feast of Ingathering at the end of the year when you have gathered in your harvest out of the field. \n\t\t\t At three times in the year all your males will appear before the Lord GOD.\n\t\t\t \"You must not offer the blood of my sacrifice with bread containing yeast; the fat of my festal sacrifice must not remain until morning.\n\t\t\t The first of the firstfruits of your soil you must bring to the house of the LORD your God. \"You must not cook a young goat in its mother's milk.\n\t\t\t \"I am going to send an angel before you to protect you as you journey and to bring you into the place that I have prepared.\n\t\t\t Take heed because of him, and obey his voice; do not rebel against him, for he will not pardon your transgressions, for my name is in him. \n\t\t\t But if you diligently obey him and do all that I command, then I will be an enemy to your enemies, and I will be an adversary to your adversaries.\n\t\t\t For my angel will go before you and bring you to the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Canaanites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, and I will destroy them completely.\n\t\t\t \"You must not bow down to their gods; you must not serve them or do according to their practices. Instead you must completely overthrow them and smash their standing stones to pieces.\n\t\t\t You must serve the LORD your God, and he will bless your bread and your water, and I will remove sickness from your midst. \n\t\t\t No woman will miscarry her young or be barren in your land. I will fulfill the number of your days.\n\t\t\t \"I will send my terror before you, and I will destroy all the people whom you encounter; I will make all your enemies turn their backs to you. \n\t\t\t I will send hornets before you that will drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite before you. \n\t\t\t I will not drive them out before you in one year, lest the land become desolate and the wild animals multiply against you. \n\t\t\t Little by little I will drive them out before you, until you become fruitful and inherit the land. \n\t\t\t I will set your boundaries from the Red Sea to the sea of the Philistines, and from the desert to the River, for I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand, and you will drive them out before you.\n\t\t\t \"You must make no covenant with them or with their gods.\n\t\t\t They must not live in your land, lest they make you sin against me, for if you serve their gods, it will surely be a snare to you.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t But to Moses the LORD said, \"Come up to the LORD, you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and worship from a distance.\n\t\t\t Moses alone may come near the LORD, but the others must not come near, nor may the people go up with him.\"\n\t\t\t Moses came and told the people all the LORD's words and all the decisions. All the people answered together, \"We are willing to do all the words that the LORD has said,\" \n\t\t\t and Moses wrote down all the words of the LORD. Early in the morning he built an altar at the foot of the mountain and arranged twelve standing stones, according to the twelve tribes of Israel.\n\t\t\t He sent young Israelite men, and they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed young bulls for peace offerings to the LORD. \n\t\t\t Moses took half of the blood and put it in bowls, and half of the blood he splashed on the altar.\n\t\t\t He took the Book of the Covenant and read it aloud to the people, and they said, \"We are willing to do and obey all that the LORD has spoken.\" \n\t\t\t So Moses took the blood and splashed it on the people and said, \"This is the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words.\"\n\t\t\t Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and the seventy elders of Israel went up,\n\t\t\t and they saw the God of Israel. Under his feet there was something like a pavement made of sapphire, clear like the sky itself.\n\t\t\t But he did not lay a hand on the leaders of the Israelites, so they saw God, and they ate and they drank.\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Moses, \"Come up to me to the mountain and remain there, and I will give you the stone tablets with the law and the commandments that I have written, so that you may teach them.\"\n\t\t\t So Moses set out with Joshua his attendant, and Moses went up the mountain of God. \n\t\t\t He told the elders, \"Wait for us in this place until we return to you. Here are Aaron and Hur with you. Whoever has any matters of dispute can approach them.\"\n\t\t\t Moses went up the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain.\n\t\t\t The glory of the LORD resided on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days. On the seventh day he called to Moses from within the cloud. \n\t\t\t Now the appearance of the glory of the LORD was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in plain view of the people. \n\t\t\t Moses went into the cloud when he went up the mountain, and Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses: \n\t\t\t \"Tell the Israelites to take an offering for me; from every person motivated by a willing heart you are to receive my offering. \n\t\t\t This is the offering you are to accept from them: gold, silver, bronze, \n\t\t\t blue, purple, scarlet, fine linen, goat's hair,\n\t\t\t ram skins dyed red, fine leather, acacia wood,\n\t\t\t oil for the light, spices for the anointing oil and for fragrant incense,\n\t\t\t onyx stones, and other gems to be set in the ephod and in the breastpiece.\n\t\t\t Let them make for me a sanctuary, so that I may live among them. \n\t\t\t According to all that I am showing you, the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishings, you must make it exactly so.\n\t\t\t \"They are to make an ark of acacia wood, its length is to be three feet nine inches, its width two feet three inches, and its height two feet three inches.\n\t\t\t You are to overlay it with pure gold, both inside and outside you must overlay it, and you are to make a surrounding border of gold over it.\n\t\t\t You are to cast four gold rings for it and put them on its four feet, with two rings on one side and two rings on the other side.\n\t\t\t You are to make poles of acacia wood, overlay them with gold,\n\t\t\t and put the poles into the rings at the sides of the ark in order to carry the ark with them.\n\t\t\t The poles must remain in the rings of the ark; they must not be removed from it.\n\t\t\t You are to put into the ark the testimony that I will give to you.\n\t\t\t \"You are to make an atonement lid of pure gold; its length is to be three feet nine inches, and its width is to be two feet three inches.\n\t\t\t You are to make two cherubim of gold; you are to make them of hammered metal on the two ends of the atonement lid. \n\t\t\t Make one cherub on one end and one cherub on the other end; from the atonement lid you are to make the cherubim on the two ends. \n\t\t\t The cherubim are to be spreading their wings upward, overshadowing the atonement lid with their wings, and the cherubim are to face each other, looking toward the atonement lid. \n\t\t\t You are to put the atonement lid on top of the ark, and in the ark you are to put the testimony I am giving you.\n\t\t\t I will meet with you there, and from above the atonement lid, from between the two cherubim that are over the ark of the testimony, I will speak with you about all that I will command you for the Israelites.\n\t\t\t \"You are to make a table of acacia wood; its length is to be three feet, its width one foot six inches, and its height two feet three inches. \n\t\t\t You are to overlay it with pure gold, and you are to make a surrounding border of gold for it. \n\t\t\t You are to make a surrounding frame for it about three inches broad, and you are to make a surrounding border of gold for its frame. \n\t\t\t You are to make four rings of gold for it and attach the rings at the four corners where its four legs are.\n\t\t\t The rings are to be close to the frame to provide places for the poles to carry the table. \n\t\t\t You are to make the poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold, so that the table may be carried with them.\n\t\t\t You are to make its plates, its ladles, its pitchers, and its bowls, to be used in pouring out offerings; you are to make them of pure gold. \n\t\t\t You are to set the Bread of the Presence on the table before me continually.\n\t\t\t \"You are to make a lampstand of pure gold. The lampstand is to be made of hammered metal; its base and its shaft, its cups, its buds, and its blossoms are to be from the same piece.\n\t\t\t Six branches are to extend from the sides of the lampstand, three branches of the lampstand from one side of it and three branches of the lampstand from the other side of it.\n\t\t\t Three cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms are to be on one branch, and three cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms are to be on the next branch, and the same for the six branches extending from the lampstand.\n\t\t\t On the lampstand there are to be four cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms,\n\t\t\t with a bud under the first two branches from it, and a bud under the next two branches from it, and a bud under the third two branches from it, according to the six branches that extend from the lampstand. \n\t\t\t Their buds and their branches will be one piece, all of it one hammered piece of pure gold.\n\t\t\t \"You are to make its seven lamps, and then set its lamps up on it, so that it will give light to the area in front of it. \n\t\t\t Its trimmers and its trays are to be of pure gold. \n\t\t\t About seventy-five pounds of pure gold is to be used for it and for all these utensils. \n\t\t\t Now be sure to make them according to the pattern you were shown on the mountain.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t \"The tabernacle itself you are to make with ten curtains of fine twisted linen and blue and purple and scarlet; you are to make them with cherubim that are the work of an artistic designer. \n\t\t\t The length of each curtain is to be forty-two feet, and the width of each curtain is to be six feet, the same size for each of the curtains.\n\t\t\t Five curtains are to be joined, one to another, and the other five curtains are to be joined, one to another. \n\t\t\t You are to make loops of blue material along the edge of the end curtain in one set, and in the same way you are to make loops in the outer edge of the end curtain in the second set. \n\t\t\t You are to make fifty loops on the one curtain, and you are to make fifty loops on the end curtain which is on the second set, so that the loops are opposite one to another.\n\t\t\t You are to make fifty gold clasps and join the curtains together with the clasps, so that the tabernacle is a unit.\n\t\t\t \"You are to make curtains of goats' hair for a tent over the tabernacle; you are to make eleven curtains. \n\t\t\t The length of each curtain is to be forty-five feet, and the width of each curtain is to be six feet, the same size for the eleven curtains.\n\t\t\t You are to join five curtains by themselves and six curtains by themselves. You are to double over the sixth curtain at the front of the tent. \n\t\t\t You are to make fifty loops along the edge of the end curtain in one set and fifty loops along the edge of the curtain that joins the second set.\n\t\t\t You are to make fifty bronze clasps and put the clasps into the loops and join the tent together so that it is a unit.\n\t\t\t Now the part that remains of the curtains of the tent, the half curtain that remains will hang over at the back of the tabernacle.\n\t\t\t The foot and a half on the one side and the foot and a half on the other side of what remains in the length of the curtains of the tent will hang over the sides of the tabernacle, on one side and the other side, to cover it.\n\t\t\t \"You are to make a covering for the tent out of ram skins dyed red and over that a covering of fine leather.\n\t\t\t \"You are to make the frames for the tabernacle out of acacia wood as uprights.\n\t\t\t Each frame is to be fifteen feet long, and each frame is to be two feet three inches wide, \n\t\t\t with two projections per frame parallel one to another. You are to make all the frames of the tabernacle in this way. \n\t\t\t So you are to make the frames for the tabernacle: twenty frames for the south side,\n\t\t\t and you are to make forty silver bases to go under the twenty frames, two bases under the first frame for its two projections, and likewise two bases under the next frame for its two projections;\n\t\t\t and for the second side of the tabernacle, the north side, twenty frames,\n\t\t\t and their forty silver bases, two bases under the first frame, and two bases under the next frame.\n\t\t\t And for the back of the tabernacle on the west you will make six frames. \n\t\t\t You are to make two frames for the corners of the tabernacle on the back. \n\t\t\t At the two corners they must be doubled at the lower end and finished together at the top in one ring. So it will be for both. \n\t\t\t So there are to be eight frames and their silver bases, sixteen bases, two bases under the first frame, and two bases under the next frame.\n\t\t\t \"You are to make bars of acacia wood, five for the frames on one side of the tabernacle,\n\t\t\t and five bars for the frames on the second side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the frames on the back of the tabernacle on the west.\n\t\t\t The middle bar in the center of the frames will reach from end to end.\n\t\t\t You are to overlay the frames with gold and make their rings of gold to provide places for the bars, and you are to overlay the bars with gold.\n\t\t\t You are to set up the tabernacle according to the plan that you were shown on the mountain.\n\t\t\t \"You are to make a special curtain of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and fine twisted linen; it is to be made with cherubim, the work of an artistic designer. \n\t\t\t You are to hang it with gold hooks on four posts of acacia wood overlaid with gold, set in four silver bases. \n\t\t\t You are to hang this curtain under the clasps and bring the ark of the testimony in there behind the curtain. The curtain will make a division for you between the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place.\n\t\t\t You are to put the atonement lid on the ark of the testimony in the Most Holy Place.\n\t\t\t You are to put the table outside the curtain and the lampstand on the south side of the tabernacle, opposite the table, and you are to place the table on the north side.\n\t\t\t \"You are to make a hanging for the entrance of the tent of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and fine twined linen, the work of an embroiderer.\n\t\t\t You are to make for the hanging five posts of acacia wood and overlay them with gold, and their hooks will be gold, and you are to cast five bronze bases for them.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t \"You are to make the altar of acacia wood, seven feet six inches long, and seven feet six inches wide; the altar is to be square, and its height is to be four feet six inches. \n\t\t\t You are to make its four horns on its four corners; its horns will be part of it, and you are to overlay it with bronze. \n\t\t\t You are to make its pots for the ashes, its shovels, its tossing bowls, its meat hooks, and its fire pans, you are to make all its utensils of bronze.\n\t\t\t You are to make a grating for it, a network of bronze, and you are to make on the network four bronze rings on its four corners. \n\t\t\t You are to put it under the ledge of the altar below, so that the network will come halfway up the altar.\n\t\t\t You are to make poles for the altar, poles of acacia wood, and you are to overlay them with bronze.\n\t\t\t The poles are to be put into the rings so that the poles will be on two sides of the altar when carrying it.\n\t\t\t You are to make the altar hollow, out of boards. Just as it was shown you on the mountain, so they must make it.\n\t\t\t \"You are to make the courtyard of the tabernacle. For the south side there are to be hangings for the courtyard of fine twisted linen, one hundred fifty feet long for one side,\n\t\t\t with twenty posts and their twenty bronze bases, with the hooks of the posts and their bands of silver. \n\t\t\t Likewise for its length on the north side, there are to be hangings for one hundred fifty feet, with twenty posts and their twenty bronze bases, with silver hooks and bands on the posts. \n\t\t\t The width of the court on the west side is to be seventy-five feet with hangings, with their ten posts and their ten bases.\n\t\t\t The width of the court on the east side, toward the sunrise, is to be seventy-five feet.\n\t\t\t The hangings on one side of the gate are to be twenty-two and a half feet long, with their three posts and their three bases. \n\t\t\t On the second side there are to be hangings twenty-two and a half feet long, with their three posts and their three bases.\n\t\t\t For the gate of the courtyard there is to be a curtain of thirty feet, of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and fine twined linen, the work of an embroiderer, with four posts and their four bases.\n\t\t\t All the posts around the courtyard are to have silver bands; their hooks are to be silver, and their bases bronze. \n\t\t\t The length of the courtyard is to be one hundred fifty feet and the width seventy-five feet, and the height of the fine twisted linen hangings is to be seven and a half feet, with their bronze bases. \n\t\t\t All the utensils of the tabernacle used in all its service, all its tent pegs, and all the tent pegs of the courtyard are to be made of bronze.\n\t\t\t \"You are to command the Israelites that they bring to you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, so that the lamps will burn regularly.\n\t\t\t In the tent of meeting outside the curtain that is before the testimony, Aaron and his sons are to arrange it from evening to morning before the LORD. This is to be a lasting ordinance among the Israelites for generations to come.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t \"And you, bring near to you your brother Aaron and his sons with him from among the Israelites, so that they may minister as my priests, Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron's sons.\n\t\t\t You must make holy garments for your brother Aaron, for glory and for beauty.\n\t\t\t You are to speak to all who are specially skilled, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, so that they may make Aaron's garments to set him apart to minister as my priest. \n\t\t\t Now these are the garments that they are to make: a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a fitted tunic, a turban, and a sash. They are to make holy garments for your brother Aaron and for his sons, that they may minister as my priests.\n\t\t\t The artisans are to use the gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and fine linen.\n\t\t\t \"They are to make the ephod of gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twisted linen, the work of an artistic designer.\n\t\t\t It is to have two shoulder pieces attached to two of its corners, so it can be joined together.\n\t\t\t The artistically woven waistband of the ephod that is on it is to be like it, of one piece with the ephod, of gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twisted linen.\n\t\t\t \"You are to take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel,\n\t\t\t six of their names on one stone, and the six remaining names on the second stone, according to the order of their birth.\n\t\t\t You are to engrave the two stones with the names of the sons of Israel with the work of an engraver in stone, like the engravings of a seal; you are to have them set in gold filigree settings. \n\t\t\t You are to put the two stones on the shoulders of the ephod, stones of memorial for the sons of Israel, and Aaron will bear their names before the LORD on his two shoulders for a memorial.\n\t\t\t You are to make filigree settings of gold\n\t\t\t and two braided chains of pure gold, like a cord, and attach the chains to the settings.\n\t\t\t \"You are to make a breastpiece for use in making decisions, the work of an artistic designer; you are to make it in the same fashion as the ephod; you are to make it of gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twisted linen. \n\t\t\t It is to be square when doubled, nine inches long and nine inches wide. \n\t\t\t You are to set in it a setting for stones, four rows of stones, a row with a ruby, a topaz, and a beryl, the first row;\n\t\t\t and the second row, a turquoise, a sapphire, and an emerald;\n\t\t\t and the third row, a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst;\n\t\t\t and the fourth row, a chrysolite, an onyx, and a jasper. They are to be enclosed in gold in their filigree settings.\n\t\t\t The stones are to be for the names of the sons of Israel, twelve, according to the number of their names. Each name according to the twelve tribes is to be like the engravings of a seal.\n\t\t\t \"You are to make for the breastpiece braided chains like cords of pure gold,\n\t\t\t and you are to make for the breastpiece two gold rings and attach the two rings to the upper two ends of the breastpiece. \n\t\t\t You are to attach the two gold chains to the two rings at the ends of the breastpiece;\n\t\t\t the other two ends of the two chains you will attach to the two settings and then attach them to the shoulder pieces of the ephod at the front of it. \n\t\t\t You are to make two rings of gold and put them on the other two ends of the breastpiece, on its edge that is on the inner side of the ephod. \n\t\t\t You are to make two more gold rings and attach them to the bottom of the two shoulder pieces on the front of the ephod, close to the juncture above the waistband of the ephod. \n\t\t\t They are to tie the breastpiece by its rings to the rings of the ephod by blue cord, so that it may be above the waistband of the ephod, and so that the breastpiece will not be loose from the ephod.\n\t\t\t Aaron will bear the names of the sons of Israel in the breastpiece of decision over his heart when he goes into the holy place, for a memorial before the LORD continually.\n\t\t\t \"You are to put the Urim and the Thummim into the breastpiece of decision; and they are to be over Aaron's heart when he goes in before the LORD. Aaron is to bear the decisions of the Israelites over his heart before the LORD continually.\n\t\t\t \"You are to make the robe of the ephod completely blue. \n\t\t\t There is to be an opening in its top in the center of it, with an edge all around the opening, the work of a weaver, like the opening of a collar, so that it cannot be torn.\n\t\t\t You are to make pomegranates of blue, purple, and scarlet all around its hem and bells of gold between them all around. \n\t\t\t The pattern is to be a gold bell and a pomegranate, a gold bell and a pomegranate, all around the hem of the robe. \n\t\t\t The robe is to be on Aaron as he ministers, and his sound will be heard when he enters the Holy Place before the LORD and when he leaves, so that he does not die.\n\t\t\t \"You are to make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it the way a seal is engraved: \"Holiness to the LORD.\"\n\t\t\t You are to attach to it a blue cord so that it will be on the turban; it is to be on the front of the turban, \n\t\t\t It will be on Aaron's forehead, and Aaron will bear the iniquity of the holy things, which the Israelites are to sanctify by all their holy gifts; it will always be on his forehead, for their acceptance before the LORD. \n\t\t\t You are to weave the tunic of fine linen and make the turban of fine linen, and make the sash the work of an embroiderer.\n\t\t\t \"For Aaron's sons you are to make tunics, sashes, and headbands for glory and for beauty.\n\t\t\t \"You are to clothe them, your brother Aaron and his sons with him, and anoint them and ordain them and set them apart as holy, so that they may minister as my priests.\n\t\t\t Make for them linen undergarments to cover their naked bodies; they must cover from the waist to the thighs. \n\t\t\t These must be on Aaron and his sons when they enter to the tent of meeting, or when they approach the altar to minister in the Holy Place, so that they bear no iniquity and die. It is to be a perpetual ordinance for him and for his descendants after him.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t \"Now this is what you are to do for them to consecrate them so that they may minister as my priests. Take a young bull and two rams without blemish;\n\t\t\t and bread made without yeast, and perforated cakes without yeast mixed with oil, and wafers without yeast spread with oil, you are to make them using fine wheat flour.\n\t\t\t You are to put them in one basket and present them in the basket, along with the bull and the two rams.\n\t\t\t \"You are to present Aaron and his sons at the entrance of the tent of meeting. You are to wash them with water \n\t\t\t and take the garments and clothe Aaron with the tunic, the robe of the ephod, the ephod, and the breastpiece; you are to fasten the ephod on him by using the skillfully woven waistband.\n\t\t\t You are to put the turban on his head and put the holy diadem on the turban. \n\t\t\t You are to take the anointing oil and pour it on his head and anoint him.\n\t\t\t You are to present his sons and clothe them with tunics\n\t\t\t and wrap the sashes around Aaron and his sons and put headbands on them, and so the ministry of priesthood will belong to them by a perpetual ordinance. Thus you are to consecrate Aaron and his sons.\n\t\t\t \"You are to present the bull at the front of the tent of meeting, and Aaron and his sons are to put their hands on the head of the bull. \n\t\t\t You are to kill the bull before the LORD at the entrance to the tent of meeting\n\t\t\t and take some of the blood of the bull and put it on the horns of the altar with your finger; all the rest of the blood you are to pour out at the base of the altar. \n\t\t\t You are to take all the fat that covers the entrails, and the lobe that is above the liver, and the two kidneys and the fat that is on them, and burn them on the altar. \n\t\t\t But the meat of the bull, its skin, and its dung you are to burn up outside the camp. It is the purification offering.\n\t\t\t \"You are to take one ram, and Aaron and his sons are to lay their hands on the ram's head,\n\t\t\t and you are to kill the ram and take its blood and splash it all around on the altar.\n\t\t\t Then you are to cut the ram into pieces and wash the entrails and its legs and put them on its pieces and on its head\n\t\t\t and burn the whole ram on the altar. It is a burnt offering to the LORD, a soothing aroma; it is an offering made by fire to the LORD.\n\t\t\t \"You are to take the second ram, and Aaron and his sons are to lay their hands on the ram's head,\n\t\t\t and you are to kill the ram and take some of its blood and put it on the tip of the right ear of Aaron, on the tip of the right ear of his sons, on the thumb of their right hand, and on the big toe of their right foot, and then splash the blood all around on the altar. \n\t\t\t You are to take some of the blood that is on the altar and some of the anointing oil and sprinkle it on Aaron, on his garments, on his sons, and on his sons' garments with him, so that he may be holy, he and his garments along with his sons and his sons' garments.\n\t\t\t \"You are to take from the ram the fat, the fat tail, the fat that covers the entrails, the lobe of the liver, the two kidneys and the fat that is on them, and the right thigh, for it is the ram for consecration,\n\t\t\t and one round flat cake of bread, one perforated cake of oiled bread, and one wafer from the basket of bread made without yeast that is before the LORD.\n\t\t\t You are to put all these in Aaron's hands and in his sons' hands, and you are to wave them as a wave offering before the LORD. \n\t\t\t Then you are to take them from their hands and burn them on the altar for a burnt offering, for a soothing aroma before the LORD. It is an offering made by fire to the LORD. \n\t\t\t You are to take the breast of the ram of Aaron's consecration; you are to wave it as a wave offering before the LORD, and it is to be your share.\n\t\t\t You are to sanctify the breast of the wave offering and the thigh of the contribution, which were waved and lifted up as a contribution from the ram of consecration, from what belongs to Aaron and to his sons.\n\t\t\t It is to belong to Aaron and to his sons from the Israelites, by a perpetual ordinance, for it is a contribution. It is to be a contribution from the Israelites from their peace offerings, their contribution to the LORD.\n\t\t\t \"The holy garments that belong to Aaron are to belong to his sons after him, so that they may be anointed in them and consecrated in them. \n\t\t\t The priest who succeeds him from his sons, when he first comes to the tent of meeting to minister in the Holy Place, is to wear them for seven days.\n\t\t\t \"You are to take the ram of the consecration and cook its meat in a holy place.\n\t\t\t Aaron and his sons are to eat the meat of the ram and the bread that was in the basket at the entrance of the tent of meeting.\n\t\t\t They are to eat those things by which atonement was made to consecrate and to set them apart, but no one else may eat them, for they are holy. \n\t\t\t If any of the meat from the consecration offerings or any of the bread is left over until morning, then you are to burn up what is left over. It must not be eaten, because it is holy.\n\t\t\t \"Thus you are to do for Aaron and for his sons, according to all that I have commanded you; you are to consecrate them for seven days. \n\t\t\t Every day you are to prepare a bull for a purification offering for atonement. You are to purge the altar by making atonement for it, and you are to anoint it to set it apart as holy.\n\t\t\t For seven days you are to make atonement for the altar and set it apart as holy. Then the altar will be most holy. Anything that touches the altar will be holy.\n\t\t\t \"Now this is what you are to prepare on the altar every day continually: two lambs a year old. \n\t\t\t The first lamb you are to prepare in the morning, and the second lamb you are to prepare around sundown.\n\t\t\t With the first lamb offer a tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with a fourth of a hin of oil from pressed olives, and a fourth of a hin of wine as a drink offering. \n\t\t\t The second lamb you are to offer around sundown; you are to prepare for it the same meal offering as for the morning and the same drink offering, for a soothing aroma, an offering made by fire to the LORD.\n\t\t\t \"This will be a regular burnt offering throughout your generations at the entrance of the tent of meeting before the LORD, where I will meet with you to speak to you there. \n\t\t\t There I will meet with the Israelites, and it will be set apart as holy by my glory.\n\t\t\t \"So I will set apart as holy the tent of meeting and the altar, and I will set apart as holy Aaron and his sons, that they may minister as priests to me. \n\t\t\t I will reside among the Israelites, and I will be their God,\n\t\t\t and they will know that I am the LORD their God, who brought them out from the land of Egypt, so that I may reside among them. I am the LORD their God.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t \"You are to make an altar for burning incense; you are to make it of acacia wood.\n\t\t\t Its length is to be a foot and a half and its width a foot and a half; it will be square. Its height is to be three feet, with its horns of one piece with it.\n\t\t\t You are to overlay it with pure gold, its top, its four walls, and its horns, and make a surrounding border of gold for it.\n\t\t\t You are to make two gold rings for it under its border, on its two flanks; you are to make them on its two sides. The rings will be places for poles to carry it with. \n\t\t\t You are to make the poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold.\n\t\t\t \"You are to put it in front of the curtain that is before the ark of the testimony (before the atonement lid that is over the testimony), where I will meet you.\n\t\t\t Aaron is to burn sweet incense on it morning by morning; when he attends to the lamps he is to burn incense.\n\t\t\t When Aaron sets up the lamps around sundown he is to burn incense on it; it is to be a regular incense offering before the LORD throughout your generations.\n\t\t\t You must not offer strange incense on it, nor burnt offering, nor meal offering, and you must not pour out a drink offering on it.\n\t\t\t Aaron is to make atonement on its horns once in the year with some of the blood of the sin offering for atonement; once in the year he is to make atonement on it throughout your generations. It is most holy to the LORD.\"\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses:\n\t\t\t \"When you take a census of the Israelites according to their number, then each man is to pay a ransom for his life to the LORD when you number them, so that there will be no plague among them when you number them. \n\t\t\t Everyone who crosses over to those who are numbered is to pay this: a half shekel according to the shekel of the sanctuary (a shekel weighs twenty gerahs). The half shekel is to be an offering to the LORD. \n\t\t\t Everyone who crosses over to those numbered, from twenty years old and up, is to pay an offering to the LORD.\n\t\t\t The rich are not to increase it, and the poor are not to pay less than the half shekel when giving the offering of the LORD, to make atonement for your lives. \n\t\t\t You are to receive the atonement money from the Israelites and give it for the service of the tent of meeting. It will be a memorial for the Israelites before the LORD, to make atonement for your lives.\"\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses:\n\t\t\t \"You are also to make a large bronze basin with a bronze stand for washing. You are to put it between the tent of meeting and the altar and put water in it,\n\t\t\t and Aaron and his sons must wash their hands and their feet from it.\n\t\t\t When they enter the tent of meeting, they must wash with water so that they do not die. Also, when they approach the altar to minister by burning incense as an offering made by fire to the LORD, \n\t\t\t they must wash their hands and their feet so that they do not die. And this will be a perpetual ordinance for them and for their descendants throughout their generations.\"\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses:\n\t\t\t \"Take choice spices: twelve and a half pounds of free-flowing myrrh, half that, about six and a quarter pounds, of sweet-smelling cinnamon, six and a quarter pounds of sweet-smelling cane,\n\t\t\t and twelve and a half pounds of cassia, all weighed according to the sanctuary shekel, and four quarts of olive oil. \n\t\t\t You are to make this into a sacred anointing oil, a perfumed compound, the work of a perfumer. It will be sacred anointing oil.\n\t\t\t \"With it you are to anoint the tent of meeting, the ark of the testimony,\n\t\t\t the table and all its utensils, the lampstand and its utensils, the altar of incense,\n\t\t\t the altar for the burnt offering and all its utensils, and the laver and its base.\n\t\t\t So you are to sanctify them, and they will be most holy; anything that touches them will be holy.\n\t\t\t \"You are to anoint Aaron and his sons and sanctify them, so that they may minister as my priests.\n\t\t\t And you are to tell the Israelites: 'This is to be my sacred anointing oil throughout your generations.\n\t\t\t It must not be applied to people's bodies, and you must not make any like it with the same recipe. It is holy, and it must be holy to you. \n\t\t\t Whoever makes perfume like it and whoever puts any of it on someone not a priest will be cut off from his people.'\"\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Moses: \"Take spices, gum resin, onycha, galbanum, and pure frankincense of equal amounts\n\t\t\t and make it into an incense, a perfume, the work of a perfumer. It is to be finely ground, and pure and sacred. \n\t\t\t You are to beat some of it very fine and put some of it before the ark of the testimony in the tent of meeting where I will meet with you; it is to be most holy to you.\n\t\t\t And the incense that you are to make, you must not make for yourselves using the same recipe; it is to be most holy to you, belonging to the LORD.\n\t\t\t Whoever makes anything like it, to use as perfume, will be cut off from his people.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses:\n\t\t\t \"See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, \n\t\t\t and I have filled him with the Spirit of God in skill, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all kinds of craftsmanship, \n\t\t\t to make artistic designs for work with gold, with silver, and with bronze, \n\t\t\t and with cutting and setting stone, and with cutting wood, to work in all kinds of craftsmanship.\n\t\t\t Moreover, I have also given him Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, and I have given ability to all the specially skilled, that they may make everything I have commanded you:\n\t\t\t the tent of meeting, the ark of the testimony, the atonement lid that is on it, all the furnishings of the tent, \n\t\t\t the table with its utensils, the pure lampstand with all its utensils, the altar of incense,\n\t\t\t the altar for the burnt offering with all its utensils, the large basin with its base,\n\t\t\t the woven garments, the holy garments for Aaron the priest and the garments for his sons, to minister as priests,\n\t\t\t the anointing oil, and sweet incense for the Holy Place. They will make all these things just as I have commanded you.\"\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Moses,\n\t\t\t \"Tell the Israelites, 'Surely you must keep my Sabbaths, for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you.\n\t\t\t So you must keep the Sabbath, for it is holy for you. Everyone who defiles it must surely be put to death; indeed, if anyone does any work on it, then that person will be cut off from among his people.\n\t\t\t Six days work may be done, but on the seventh day is a Sabbath of complete rest, holy to the LORD; anyone who does work on the Sabbath day must surely be put to death. \n\t\t\t The Israelites must keep the Sabbath by observing the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant.\n\t\t\t It is a sign between me and the Israelites forever; for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.'\"\n\t\t\t He gave Moses two tablets of testimony when he had finished speaking with him on Mount Sinai, tablets of stone written by the finger of God.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t When the people saw that Moses delayed in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said to him, \"Get up, make us gods that will go before us. As for this fellow Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him!\"\n\t\t\t So Aaron said to them, \"Break off the gold earrings that are on the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me.\"\n\t\t\t So all the people broke off the gold earrings that were on their ears and brought them to Aaron. \n\t\t\t He accepted the gold from them, fashioned it with an engraving tool, and made a molten calf. Then they said, \"These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.\"\n\t\t\t When Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it, and Aaron made a proclamation and said, \"Tomorrow will be a feast to the LORD.\" \n\t\t\t So they got up early on the next day and offered up burnt offerings and brought peace offerings, and the people sat down to eat and drink, and they rose up to play.\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses: \"Go quickly, descend, because your people, whom you brought up from the land of Egypt, have acted corruptly. \n\t\t\t They have quickly turned aside from the way that I commanded them, they have made for themselves a molten calf and have bowed down to it and sacrificed to it and said, 'These are your gods, O Israel, which brought you up from the land of Egypt.'\"\n\t\t\t Then the LORD said to Moses: \"I have seen this people. Look what a stiff-necked people they are!\n\t\t\t So now, leave me alone so that my anger can burn against them and I can destroy them, and I will make from you a great nation.\"\n\t\t\t But Moses sought the favor of the LORD his God and said, \"O LORD, why does your anger burn against your people, whom you have brought out from the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? \n\t\t\t Why should the Egyptians say, 'For evil he led them out to kill them in the mountains and to destroy them from the face of the earth'? Turn from your burning anger, and relent of this evil against your people. \n\t\t\t Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel your servants, to whom you swore by yourself and told them, 'I will multiply your descendants like the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken about I will give to your descendants, and they will inherit it forever.'\" \n\t\t\t Then the LORD relented over the evil that he had said he would do to his people.\n\t\t\t Moses turned and went down from the mountain with the two tablets of the testimony in his hands. The tablets were written on both sides, they were written on the front and on the back.\n\t\t\t Now the tablets were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, engraved on the tablets.\n\t\t\t When Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said to Moses, \"It is the sound of war in the camp!\" \n\t\t\t Moses said, \"It is not the sound of those who shout for victory, nor is it the sound of those who cry because they are overcome, but the sound of singing I hear.\"\n\t\t\t When he approached the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, Moses became extremely angry. He threw the tablets from his hands and broke them to pieces at the bottom of the mountain.\n\t\t\t He took the calf they had made and burned it in the fire, ground it to powder, poured it out on the water, and made the Israelites drink it.\n\t\t\t Moses said to Aaron, \"What did this people do to you, that you have brought on them so great a sin?\"\n\t\t\t Aaron said, \"Do not let your anger burn hot, my lord; you know these people, that they tend to evil.\n\t\t\t They said to me, 'Make us gods that will go before us, for as for this fellow Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has happened to him.'\n\t\t\t So I said to them, 'Whoever has gold, break it off.' So they gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and this calf came out.\"\n\t\t\t Moses saw that the people were running wild, for Aaron had let them get completely out of control, causing derision from their enemies.\n\t\t\t So Moses stood at the entrance of the camp and said, \"Whoever is for the LORD, come to me.\" All the Levites gathered around him, \n\t\t\t and he said to them, \"Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, 'Each man fasten his sword on his side, and go back and forth from entrance to entrance throughout the camp, and each one kill his brother, his friend, and his neighbor.'\"\n\t\t\t The Levites did what Moses ordered, and that day about three thousand men of the people died.\n\t\t\t Moses said, \"You have been consecrated today for the LORD, for each of you was against his son or against his brother, so he has given a blessing to you today.\"\n\t\t\t The next day Moses said to the people, \"You have committed a very serious sin, but now I will go up to the LORD, perhaps I can make atonement on behalf of your sin.\"\n\t\t\t So Moses returned to the LORD and said, \"Alas, this people has committed a very serious sin, and they have made for themselves gods of gold. \n\t\t\t But now, if you will forgive their sin,, but if not, wipe me out from your book that you have written.\"\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Moses, \"Whoever has sinned against me, that person I will wipe out of my book.\n\t\t\t So now go, lead the people to the place I have spoken to you about. See, my angel will go before you. But on the day that I punish, I will indeed punish them for their sin.\"\n\t\t\t And the LORD sent a plague on the people because they had made the calf, the one Aaron made.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Moses, \"Go up from here, you and the people whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, to the land I promised on oath to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, 'I will give it to your descendants.'\n\t\t\t I will send an angel before you, and I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite.\n\t\t\t Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go up among you, for you are a stiff-necked people, and I might destroy you on the way.\"\n\t\t\t When the people heard this troubling word they mourned; no one put on his ornaments. \n\t\t\t For the LORD had said to Moses, \"Tell the Israelites, 'You are a stiff-necked people. If I went up among you for a moment, I might destroy you. Now take off your ornaments, that I may know what I should do to you.'\"\n\t\t\t So the Israelites stripped off their ornaments by Mount Horeb.\n\t\t\t Moses took the tent and pitched it outside the camp, at a good distance from the camp, and he called it the tent of meeting. Anyone seeking the LORD would go out to the tent of meeting that was outside the camp.\n\t\t\t And when Moses went out to the tent, all the people would get up and stand at the entrance to their tents and watch Moses until he entered the tent.\n\t\t\t And whenever Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent, and the LORD would speak with Moses.\n\t\t\t When all the people would see the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance of the tent, all the people, each one at the entrance of his own tent, would rise and worship.\n\t\t\t The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, the way a person speaks to a friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his servant, Joshua son of Nun, a young man, did not leave the tent.\n\t\t\t Moses said to the LORD, \"See, you have been saying to me, 'Bring this people up,' but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. But you said, 'I know you by name, and also you have found favor in my sight.'\n\t\t\t Now if I have found favor in your sight, show me your way, that I may know you, that I may continue to find favor in your sight. And see that this nation is your people.\"\n\t\t\t And the LORD said, \"My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.\"\n\t\t\t And Moses said to him, \"If your presence does not go with us, do not take us up from here.\n\t\t\t For how will it be known then that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people? Is it not by your going with us, so that we will be distinguished, I and your people, from all the people who are on the face of the earth?\"\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Moses, \"I will do this thing also that you have requested, for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name.\"\n\t\t\t And Moses said, \"Show me your glory.\"\n\t\t\t And the LORD said, \"I will make all my goodness pass before your face, and I will proclaim the LORD by name before you; I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, I will show mercy to whom I will show mercy.\"\n\t\t\t But he added, \"You cannot see my face, for no one can see me and live.\"\n\t\t\t The LORD said, \"Here is a place by me; you will station yourself on a rock. \n\t\t\t When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and will cover you with my hand while I pass by.\n\t\t\t Then I will take away my hand, and you will see my back, but my face must not be seen.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Moses, \"Cut out two tablets of stone like the first, and I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets, which you smashed.\n\t\t\t Be prepared in the morning, and go up in the morning to Mount Sinai, and station yourself for me there on the top of the mountain. \n\t\t\t No one is to come up with you; do not let anyone be seen anywhere on the mountain; not even the flocks or the herds may graze in front of that mountain.\"\n\t\t\t So Moses cut out two tablets of stone like the first; early in the morning he went up to Mount Sinai, just as the LORD had commanded him, and he took in his hand the two tablets of stone.\n\t\t\t The LORD descended in the cloud and stood with him there and proclaimed the LORD by name.\n\t\t\t The LORD passed by before him and proclaimed: \"The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, and abounding in loyal love and faithfulness,\n\t\t\t keeping loyal love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin. But he by no means leaves the guilty unpunished, responding to the transgression of fathers by dealing with children and children's children, to the third and fourth generation.\"\n\t\t\t Moses quickly bowed to the ground and worshiped \n\t\t\t and said, \"If now I have found favor in your sight, O Lord, let my Lord go among us, for we are a stiff-necked people; pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for your inheritance.\"\n\t\t\t He said, \"See, I am going to make a covenant before all your people. I will do wonders such as have not been done in all the earth, nor in any nation. All the people among whom you live will see the work of the LORD, for it is a fearful thing that I am doing with you.\n\t\t\t \"Obey what I am commanding you this day. I am going to drive out before you the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite. \n\t\t\t Be careful not to make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land where you are going, lest it become a snare among you. \n\t\t\t Rather you must destroy their altars, smash their images, and cut down their Asherah poles.\n\t\t\t For you must not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God. \n\t\t\t Be careful not to make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, for when they prostitute themselves to their gods and sacrifice to their gods, and someone invites you, you will eat from his sacrifice; \n\t\t\t and you then take his daughters for your sons, and when his daughters prostitute themselves to their gods, they will make your sons prostitute themselves to their gods as well. \n\t\t\t You must not make yourselves molten gods.\n\t\t\t \"You must keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread. For seven days you must eat bread made without yeast, as I commanded you; do this at the appointed time of the month Abib, for in the month Abib you came out of Egypt.\n\t\t\t \"Every firstborn of the womb belongs to me, even every firstborn of your cattle that is a male, whether ox or sheep.\n\t\t\t Now the firstling of a donkey you may redeem with a lamb, but if you do not redeem it, then break its neck. You must redeem all the firstborn of your sons. \"No one will appear before me empty-handed.\n\t\t\t \"On six days you may labor, but on the seventh day you must rest; even at the time of plowing and of harvest you are to rest.\n\t\t\t \"You must observe the Feast of Weeks, the firstfruits of the harvest of wheat, and the Feast of Ingathering at the end of the year.\n\t\t\t At three times in the year all your men must appear before the Lord GOD, the God of Israel. \n\t\t\t For I will drive out the nations before you and enlarge your borders; no one will covet your land when you go up to appear before the LORD your God three times in the year.\n\t\t\t \"You must not offer the blood of my sacrifice with yeast; the sacrifice from the feast of Passover must not remain until the following morning.\n\t\t\t \"The first of the firstfruits of your soil you must bring to the house of the LORD your God. You must not cook a young goat in its mother's milk.\"\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Moses, \"Write down these words, for in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel.\" \n\t\t\t So he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did not eat bread, and he did not drink water. He wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the ten commandments.\n\t\t\t Now when Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand, when he came down from the mountain, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him.\n\t\t\t When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to approach him. \n\t\t\t But Moses called to them, so Aaron and all the leaders of the community came back to him, and Moses spoke to them.\n\t\t\t After this all the Israelites approached, and he commanded them all that the LORD had spoken to him on Mount Sinai.\n\t\t\t When Moses finished speaking with them, he would put a veil on his face. \n\t\t\t But when Moses went in before the LORD to speak with him, he would remove the veil until he came out. Then he would come out and tell the Israelites what he had been commanded.\n\t\t\t When the Israelites would see the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses' face shone, Moses would put the veil on his face again, until he went in to speak with the LORD.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Moses assembled the whole community of the Israelites and said to them, \"These are the things that the LORD has commanded you to do.\n\t\t\t In six days work may be done, but on the seventh day there must be a holy day for you, a Sabbath of complete rest to the LORD. Anyone who does work on it will be put to death.\n\t\t\t You must not kindle a fire in any of your homes on the Sabbath day.\"\n\t\t\t Moses spoke to the whole community of the Israelites, \"This is the word that the LORD has commanded: \n\t\t\t 'Take an offering for the LORD. Let everyone who has a willing heart bring an offering to the LORD: gold, silver, bronze, \n\t\t\t blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, fine linen, goat's hair,\n\t\t\t ram skins dyed red, fine leather, acacia wood, \n\t\t\t olive oil for the light, spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense,\n\t\t\t onyx stones, and other gems for mounting on the ephod and the breastpiece. \n\t\t\t Every skilled person among you is to come and make all that the LORD has commanded: \n\t\t\t the tabernacle with its tent, its covering, its clasps, its frames, its crossbars, its posts, and its bases; \n\t\t\t the ark, with its poles, the atonement lid, and the special curtain that conceals it;\n\t\t\t the table with its poles and all its vessels, and the Bread of the Presence;\n\t\t\t the lampstand for the light and its accessories, its lamps, and oil for the light;\n\t\t\t and the altar of incense with its poles, the anointing oil, and the fragrant incense; the hanging for the door at the entrance of the tabernacle;\n\t\t\t the altar for the burnt offering with its bronze grating that is on it, its poles, and all its utensils; the large basin and its pedestal;\n\t\t\t the hangings of the courtyard, its posts and its bases, and the curtain for the gateway to the courtyard;\n\t\t\t tent pegs for the tabernacle and tent pegs for the courtyard and their ropes;\n\t\t\t the woven garments for serving in the holy place, the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments for his sons to minister as priests.\"\n\t\t\t So the whole community of the Israelites went out from the presence of Moses.\n\t\t\t Everyone whose heart stirred him to action and everyone whose spirit was willing came and brought the offering for the LORD for the work of the tent of meeting, for all its service, and for the holy garments.\n\t\t\t They came, men and women alike, all who had willing hearts. They brought brooches, earrings, rings and ornaments, all kinds of gold jewelry, and everyone came who waved a wave offering of gold to the LORD.\n\t\t\t Everyone who had blue, purple, or scarlet yarn, fine linen, goats' hair, ram skins dyed red, or fine leather brought them.\n\t\t\t Everyone making an offering of silver or bronze brought it as an offering to the LORD, and everyone who had acacia wood for any work of the service brought it.\n\t\t\t Every woman who was skilled spun with her hands and brought what she had spun, blue, purple, or scarlet yarn, or fine linen, \n\t\t\t and all the women whose heart stirred them to action and who were skilled spun goats' hair.\n\t\t\t The leaders brought onyx stones and other gems to be mounted for the ephod and the breastpiece, \n\t\t\t and spices and olive oil for the light, for the anointing oil, and for the fragrant incense.\n\t\t\t The Israelites brought a freewill offering to the LORD, every man and woman whose heart was willing to bring materials for all the work that the LORD through Moses had commanded them to do.\n\t\t\t Moses said to the Israelites, \"See, the LORD has chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. \n\t\t\t He has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, with understanding, with knowledge, and in all kinds of work,\n\t\t\t to design artistic designs, to work in gold, in silver, and in bronze,\n\t\t\t and in cutting stones for their setting, and in cutting wood, to do work in every artistic craft.\n\t\t\t And he has put it in his heart to teach, he and Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan.\n\t\t\t He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as craftsmen, as designers, as embroiderers in blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and in fine linen, and as weavers. They are craftsmen in all the work and artistic designers.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t So Bezalel and Oholiab and every skilled person in whom the LORD has put skill and ability to know how to do all the work for the service of the sanctuary are to do the work according to all that the LORD has commanded.\"\n\t\t\t Moses summoned Bezalel and Oholiab and every skilled person in whom the LORD had put skill, everyone whose heart stirred him to volunteer to do the work,\n\t\t\t and they received from Moses all the offerings the Israelites had brought to do the work for the service of the sanctuary, and they still continued to bring him a freewill offering each morning.\n\t\t\t So all the skilled people who were doing all the work on the sanctuary came from the work they were doing \n\t\t\t and told Moses, \"The people are bringing much more than is needed for the completion of the work which the LORD commanded us to do!\"\n\t\t\t Moses instructed them to take his message throughout the camp, saying, \"Let no man or woman do any more work for the offering for the sanctuary.\" So the people were restrained from bringing any more.\n\t\t\t Now the materials were more than enough for them to do all the work.\n\t\t\t All the skilled among those who were doing the work made the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twisted linen and blue and purple and scarlet; they were made with cherubim that were the work of an artistic designer.\n\t\t\t The length of one curtain was forty-two feet, and the width of one curtain was six feet, the same size for each of the curtains.\n\t\t\t He joined five of the curtains to one another, and the other five curtains he joined to one another. \n\t\t\t He made loops of blue material along the edge of the end curtain in the first set; he did the same along the edge of the end curtain in the second set.\n\t\t\t He made fifty loops on the first curtain, and he made fifty loops on the end curtain that was in the second set, with the loops opposite one another.\n\t\t\t He made fifty gold clasps and joined the curtains together to one another with the clasps, so that the tabernacle was a unit.\n\t\t\t He made curtains of goats' hair for a tent over the tabernacle; he made eleven curtains.\n\t\t\t The length of one curtain was forty-five feet, and the width of one curtain was six feet, one size for all eleven curtains.\n\t\t\t He joined five curtains by themselves and six curtains by themselves.\n\t\t\t He made fifty loops along the edge of the end curtain in the first set and fifty loops along the edge of the curtain that joined the second set.\n\t\t\t He made fifty bronze clasps to join the tent together so that it might be a unit.\n\t\t\t He made a covering for the tent out of ram skins dyed red and over that a covering of fine leather.\n\t\t\t He made the frames for the tabernacle of acacia wood as uprights.\n\t\t\t The length of each frame was fifteen feet, the width of each frame was two and a quarter feet, \n\t\t\t with two projections per frame parallel one to another. He made all the frames of the tabernacle in this way. \n\t\t\t So he made frames for the tabernacle: twenty frames for the south side.\n\t\t\t He made forty silver bases under the twenty frames, two bases under the first frame for its two projections, and likewise two bases under the next frame for its two projections,\n\t\t\t and for the second side of the tabernacle, the north side, he made twenty frames\n\t\t\t and their forty silver bases, two bases under the first frame and two bases under the next frame. \n\t\t\t And for the back of the tabernacle on the west he made six frames.\n\t\t\t He made two frames for the corners of the tabernacle on the back.\n\t\t\t At the two corners they were doubled at the lower end and finished together at the top in one ring. So he did for both. \n\t\t\t So there were eight frames and their silver bases, sixteen bases, two bases under each frame.\n\t\t\t He made bars of acacia wood, five for the frames on one side of the tabernacle\n\t\t\t and five bars for the frames on the second side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the frames of the tabernacle for the back side on the west.\n\t\t\t He made the middle bar to reach from end to end in the center of the frames.\n\t\t\t He overlaid the frames with gold and made their rings of gold to provide places for the bars, and he overlaid the bars with gold.\n\t\t\t He made the special curtain of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and fine twisted linen; he made it with cherubim, the work of an artistic designer. \n\t\t\t He made for it four posts of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold, with gold hooks, and he cast for them four silver bases.\n\t\t\t He made a hanging for the entrance of the tent of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and fine twisted linen, the work of an embroiderer,\n\t\t\t and its five posts and their hooks. He overlaid their tops and their bands with gold, but their five bases were bronze.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood; its length was three feet nine inches, its width two feet three inches, and its height two feet three inches.\n\t\t\t He overlaid it with pure gold, inside and out, and he made a surrounding border of gold for it. \n\t\t\t He cast four gold rings for it that he put on its four feet, with two rings on one side and two rings on the other side. \n\t\t\t He made poles of acacia wood, overlaid them with gold,\n\t\t\t and put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark in order to carry the ark.\n\t\t\t He made an atonement lid of pure gold; its length was three feet nine inches, and its width was two feet three inches. \n\t\t\t He made two cherubim of gold; he made them of hammered metal on the two ends of the atonement lid,\n\t\t\t one cherub on one end and one cherub on the other end. He made the cherubim from the atonement lid on its two ends.\n\t\t\t The cherubim were spreading their wings upward, overshadowing the atonement lid with their wings. The cherubim faced each other, looking toward the atonement lid.\n\t\t\t He made the table of acacia wood; its length was three feet, its width one foot six inches, and its height two feet three inches.\n\t\t\t He overlaid it with pure gold, and he made a surrounding border of gold for it.\n\t\t\t He made a surrounding frame for it about three inches wide, and he made a surrounding border of gold for its frame.\n\t\t\t He cast four gold rings for it and attached the rings at the four corners where its four legs were.\n\t\t\t The rings were close to the frame to provide places for the poles to carry the table.\n\t\t\t He made the poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold, to carry the table.\n\t\t\t He made the vessels which were on the table out of pure gold, its plates, its ladles, its pitchers, and its bowls, to be used in pouring out offerings.\n\t\t\t He made the lampstand of pure gold. He made the lampstand of hammered metal; its base and its shaft, its cups, its buds, and its blossoms were from the same piece.\n\t\t\t Six branches were extending from its sides, three branches of the lampstand from one side of it, and three branches of the lampstand from the other side of it.\n\t\t\t Three cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms were on the first branch, and three cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms were on the next branch, and the same for the six branches that were extending from the lampstand. \n\t\t\t On the lampstand there were four cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms,\n\t\t\t with a bud under the first two branches from it, and a bud under the next two branches from it, and a bud under the third two branches from it; according to the six branches that extended from it.\n\t\t\t Their buds and their branches were of one piece; all of it was one hammered piece of pure gold. \n\t\t\t He made its seven lamps, its trimmers, and its trays of pure gold.\n\t\t\t He made the lampstand and all its accessories with seventy-five pounds of pure gold.\n\t\t\t He made the incense altar of acacia wood. Its length was a foot and a half and its width a foot and a half, a square, and its height was three feet. Its horns were of one piece with it.\n\t\t\t He overlaid it with pure gold, its top, its four walls, and its horns, and he made a surrounding border of gold for it.\n\t\t\t He also made two gold rings for it under its border, on its two sides, on opposite sides, as places for poles to carry it with. \n\t\t\t He made the poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold.\n\t\t\t He made the sacred anointing oil and the pure fragrant incense, the work of a perfumer.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t He made the altar for the burnt offering of acacia wood seven feet six inches long and seven feet six inches wide, it was square, and its height was four feet six inches.\n\t\t\t He made its horns on its four corners; its horns were part of it, and he overlaid it with bronze. \n\t\t\t He made all the utensils of the altar, the pots, the shovels, the tossing bowls, the meat hooks, and the fire pans, he made all its utensils of bronze.\n\t\t\t He made a grating for the altar, a network of bronze under its ledge, halfway up from the bottom.\n\t\t\t He cast four rings for the four corners of the bronze grating, to provide places for the poles.\n\t\t\t He made the poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with bronze.\n\t\t\t He put the poles into the rings on the sides of the altar, with which to carry it. He made the altar hollow, out of boards.\n\t\t\t He made the large basin of bronze and its pedestal of bronze from the mirrors of the women who served at the entrance of the tent of meeting.\n\t\t\t He made the courtyard. For the south side the hangings of the courtyard were of fine twisted linen, one hundred fifty feet long, \n\t\t\t with their twenty posts and their twenty bronze bases, with the hooks of the posts and their bands of silver. \n\t\t\t For the north side the hangings were one hundred fifty feet, with their twenty posts and their twenty bronze bases, with the hooks of the posts and their bands of silver.\n\t\t\t For the west side there were hangings seventy-five feet long, with their ten posts and their ten bases, with the hooks of the posts and their bands of silver. \n\t\t\t For the east side, toward the sunrise, it was seventy-five feet wide,\n\t\t\t with hangings on one side of the gate that were twenty-two and a half feet long, with their three posts and their three bases, \n\t\t\t and for the second side of the gate of the courtyard, just like the other, the hangings were twenty-two and a half feet long, with their three posts and their three bases. \n\t\t\t All the hangings around the courtyard were of fine twisted linen.\n\t\t\t The bases for the posts were bronze. The hooks of the posts and their bands were silver, their tops were overlaid with silver, and all the posts of the courtyard had silver bands.\n\t\t\t The curtain for the gate of the courtyard was of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and fine twisted linen, the work of an embroiderer. It was thirty feet long, and like the hangings in the courtyard, it was seven and a half feet high, \n\t\t\t with four posts and their four bronze bases. Their hooks and their bands were silver, and their tops were overlaid with silver.\n\t\t\t All the tent pegs of the tabernacle and of the courtyard all around were bronze.\n\t\t\t This is the inventory of the tabernacle, the tabernacle of the testimony, which was counted by the order of Moses, being the work of the Levites under the direction of Ithamar, son of Aaron the priest. \n\t\t\t Now Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, made everything that the LORD had commanded Moses;\n\t\t\t and with him was Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, an artisan, a designer, and an embroiderer in blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and fine linen.\n\t\t\t All the gold that was used for the work, in all the work of the sanctuary (namely, the gold of the wave offering) was twenty-nine talents and 730 shekels, according to the sanctuary shekel.\n\t\t\t The silver of those who were numbered of the community was one hundred talents and 1,775 shekels, according to the sanctuary shekel, \n\t\t\t one beka per person, that is, a half shekel, according to the sanctuary shekel, for everyone who crossed over to those numbered, from twenty years old or older, 603,550 in all.\n\t\t\t The one hundred talents of silver were used for casting the bases of the sanctuary and the bases of the special curtain, one hundred bases for one hundred talents, one talent per base.\n\t\t\t From the remaining 1,775 shekels he made hooks for the posts, overlaid their tops, and made bands for them.\n\t\t\t The bronze of the wave offering was seventy talents and 2,400 shekels.\n\t\t\t With it he made the bases for the door of the tent of meeting, the bronze altar, the bronze grating for it, and all the utensils of the altar,\n\t\t\t the bases for the courtyard all around, the bases for the gate of the courtyard, all the tent pegs of the tabernacle, and all the tent pegs of the courtyard all around.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t From the blue, purple, and scarlet yarn they made woven garments for serving in the sanctuary; they made holy garments that were for Aaron, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.\n\t\t\t He made the ephod of gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twisted linen.\n\t\t\t They hammered the gold into thin sheets and cut it into narrow strips to weave them into the blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and into the fine linen, the work of an artistic designer.\n\t\t\t They made shoulder pieces for it, attached to two of its corners, so it could be joined together.\n\t\t\t The artistically woven waistband of the ephod that was on it was like it, of one piece with it, of gold, blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and fine twisted linen, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.\n\t\t\t They set the onyx stones in gold filigree settings, engraved as with the engravings of a seal with the names of the sons of Israel.\n\t\t\t He put them on the shoulder pieces of the ephod as stones of memorial for the Israelites, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.\n\t\t\t He made the breastpiece, the work of an artistic designer, in the same fashion as the ephod, of gold, blue, purple, and scarlet, and fine twisted linen.\n\t\t\t It was square, they made the breastpiece doubled, nine inches long and nine inches wide when doubled.\n\t\t\t They set on it four rows of stones: a row with a ruby, a topaz, and a beryl, the first row;\n\t\t\t and the second row, a turquoise, a sapphire, and an emerald;\n\t\t\t and the third row, a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst;\n\t\t\t and the fourth row, a chrysolite, an onyx, and a jasper. They were enclosed in gold filigree settings.\n\t\t\t The stones were for the names of the sons of Israel, twelve, corresponding to the number of their names. Each name corresponding to one of the twelve tribes was like the engravings of a seal.\n\t\t\t They made for the breastpiece braided chains like cords of pure gold,\n\t\t\t and they made two gold filigree settings and two gold rings, and they attached the two rings to the upper two ends of the breastpiece. \n\t\t\t They attached the two gold chains to the two rings at the ends of the breastpiece;\n\t\t\t the other two ends of the two chains they attached to the two settings, and they attached them to the shoulder pieces of the ephod at the front of it. \n\t\t\t They made two rings of gold and put them on the other two ends of the breastpiece on its edge, which is on the inner side of the ephod.\n\t\t\t They made two more gold rings and attached them to the bottom of the two shoulder pieces on the front of the ephod, close to the juncture above the waistband of the ephod. \n\t\t\t They tied the breastpiece by its rings to the rings of the ephod by blue cord, so that it was above the waistband of the ephod, so that the breastpiece would not be loose from the ephod, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.\n\t\t\t He made the robe of the ephod completely blue, the work of a weaver.\n\t\t\t There was an opening in the center of the robe, like the opening of a collar, with an edge all around the opening so that it could not be torn.\n\t\t\t They made pomegranates of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and twisted linen around the hem of the robe. \n\t\t\t They made bells of pure gold and attached the bells between the pomegranates around the hem of the robe between the pomegranates.\n\t\t\t There was a bell and a pomegranate, a bell and a pomegranate, all around the hem of the robe, to be used in ministering, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.\n\t\t\t They made tunics of fine linen, the work of a weaver, for Aaron and for his sons,\n\t\t\t and the turban of fine linen, the headbands of fine linen, and the undergarments of fine twisted linen.\n\t\t\t The sash was of fine twisted linen and blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, the work of an embroiderer, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.\n\t\t\t They made a plate, the holy diadem, of pure gold and wrote on it an inscription, as on the engravings of a seal, \"Holiness to the LORD.\"\n\t\t\t They attached to it a blue cord, to attach it to the turban above, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.\n\t\t\t So all the work of the tabernacle, the tent of meeting, was completed, and the Israelites did according to all that the LORD had commanded Moses, they did it exactly so.\n\t\t\t They brought the tabernacle to Moses, the tent and all its furnishings, clasps, frames, bars, posts, and bases;\n\t\t\t and the coverings of ram skins dyed red, the covering of fine leather, and the protecting curtain; \n\t\t\t the ark of the testimony and its poles, and the atonement lid;\n\t\t\t the table, all its utensils, and the Bread of the Presence;\n\t\t\t the pure lampstand, its lamps, with the lamps set in order, and all its accessories, and oil for the light; \n\t\t\t and the gold altar, and the anointing oil, and the fragrant incense; and the curtain for the entrance to the tent;\n\t\t\t the bronze altar and its bronze grating, its poles, and all its utensils; the large basin with its pedestal;\n\t\t\t the hangings of the courtyard, its posts and its bases, and the curtain for the gateway of the courtyard, its ropes and its tent pegs, and all the furnishings for the service of the tabernacle, for the tent of meeting; \n\t\t\t the woven garments for serving in the sanctuary, the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments for his sons to minister as priests.\n\t\t\t The Israelites did all the work according to all that the LORD had commanded Moses.\n\t\t\t Moses inspected all the work, and they had done it just as the LORD had commanded, they had done it exactly, and Moses blessed them.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then the LORD spoke to Moses:\n\t\t\t \"On the first day of the first month you are to set up the tabernacle, the tent of meeting. \n\t\t\t You are to place the ark of the testimony in it and shield the ark with the special curtain.\n\t\t\t You are to bring in the table and set out the things that belong on it; then you are to bring in the lampstand and set up its lamps.\n\t\t\t You are to put the gold altar for incense in front of the ark of the testimony and put the curtain at the entrance to the tabernacle.\n\t\t\t You are to put the altar for the burnt offering in front of the entrance to the tabernacle, the tent of meeting.\n\t\t\t You are to put the large basin between the tent of meeting and the altar and put water in it.\n\t\t\t You are to set up the courtyard around it and put the curtain at the gate of the courtyard.\n\t\t\t And take the anointing oil, and anoint the tabernacle and all that is in it, and sanctify it and all its furnishings, and it will be holy. \n\t\t\t Then you are to anoint the altar for the burnt offering with all its utensils; you are to sanctify the altar, and it will be the most holy altar. \n\t\t\t You must also anoint the large basin and its pedestal, and you are to sanctify it.\n\t\t\t \"You are to bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance of the tent of meeting and wash them with water. \n\t\t\t Then you are to clothe Aaron with the holy garments and anoint him and sanctify him so that he may minister as my priest.\n\t\t\t You are to bring his sons and clothe them with tunics \n\t\t\t and anoint them just as you anointed their father, so that they may minister as my priests; their anointing will make them a priesthood that will continue throughout their generations.\"\n\t\t\t This is what Moses did, according to all the LORD had commanded him, so he did.\n\t\t\t So the tabernacle was set up on the first day of the first month, in the second year.\n\t\t\t When Moses set up the tabernacle and put its bases in place, he set up its frames, attached its bars, and set up its posts.\n\t\t\t Then he spread the tent over the tabernacle and put the covering of the tent over it, as the LORD had commanded Moses.\n\t\t\t He took the testimony and put it in the ark, attached the poles to the ark, and then put the atonement lid on the ark.\n\t\t\t And he brought the ark into the tabernacle, hung the protecting curtain, and shielded the ark of the testimony from view, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.\n\t\t\t And he put the table in the tent of meeting, on the north side of the tabernacle, outside the curtain.\n\t\t\t And he set the bread in order on it before the LORD, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.\n\t\t\t And he put the lampstand in the tent of meeting opposite the table, on the south side of the tabernacle.\n\t\t\t Then he set up the lamps before the LORD, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.\n\t\t\t And he put the gold altar in the tent of meeting in front of the curtain,\n\t\t\t and he burned fragrant incense on it, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.\n\t\t\t Then he put the curtain at the entrance to the tabernacle.\n\t\t\t He also put the altar for the burnt offering by the entrance to the tabernacle, the tent of meeting, and offered on it the burnt offering and the meal offering, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.\n\t\t\t Then he put the large basin between the tent of meeting and the altar and put water in it for washing. \n\t\t\t Moses and Aaron and his sons would wash their hands and their feet from it.\n\t\t\t Whenever they entered the tent of meeting, and whenever they approached the altar, they would wash, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.\n\t\t\t And he set up the courtyard around the tabernacle and the altar, and put the curtain at the gate of the courtyard. So Moses finished the work.\n\t\t\t Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.\n\t\t\t Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.\n\t\t\t But when the cloud was lifted up from the tabernacle, the Israelites would set out on all their journeys; \n\t\t\t but if the cloud was not lifted up, then they would not journey further until the day it was lifted up.\n\t\t\t For the cloud of the LORD was on the tabernacle by day, but fire would be on it at night, in plain view of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys. \n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then the LORD called to Moses and spoke to him from the Meeting Tent:\n\t\t\t \"Speak to the Israelites and tell them, 'When someone among you presents an offering to the LORD, you must present your offering from the domesticated animals, either from the herd or from the flock.\n\t\t\t \"'If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd he must present it as a flawless male; he must present it at the entrance of the Meeting Tent for its acceptance before the LORD. \n\t\t\t He must lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it will be accepted for him to make atonement on his behalf. \n\t\t\t Then the one presenting the offering must slaughter the bull before the LORD, and the sons of Aaron, the priests, must present the blood and splash the blood against the sides of the altar which is at the entrance of the Meeting Tent. \n\t\t\t Next, the one presenting the offering must skin the burnt offering and cut it into parts, \n\t\t\t and the sons of Aaron, the priest, must put fire on the altar and arrange wood on the fire. \n\t\t\t Then the sons of Aaron, the priests, must arrange the parts with the head and the suet on the wood that is in the fire on the altar.\n\t\t\t Finally, the one presenting the offering must wash its entrails and its legs in water and the priest must offer all of it up in smoke on the altar, it is a burnt offering, a gift of a soothing aroma to the LORD.\n\t\t\t \"'If his offering is from the flock for a burnt offering, from the sheep or the goats, he must present a flawless male,\n\t\t\t and must slaughter it on the north side of the altar before the LORD, and the sons of Aaron, the priests, will splash its blood against the altar's sides.\n\t\t\t Next, the one presenting the offering must cut it into parts, with its head and its suet, and the priest must arrange them on the wood which is in the fire, on the altar. \n\t\t\t Then the one presenting the offering must wash the entrails and the legs in water, and the priest must present all of it and offer it up in smoke on the altar, it is a burnt offering, a gift of a soothing aroma to the LORD.\n\t\t\t \"'If his offering to the LORD is a burnt offering from the birds, he must present his offering from the turtledoves or from the young pigeons.\n\t\t\t The priest must present it at the altar, pinch off its head and offer the head up in smoke on the altar, and its blood must be drained out against the side of the altar. \n\t\t\t Then the priest must remove its entrails by cutting off its tail feathers, and throw them to the east side of the altar into the place of fatty ashes, \n\t\t\t and tear it open by its wings without dividing it into two parts. Finally, the priest must offer it up in smoke on the altar on the wood which is in the fire, it is a burnt offering, a gift of a soothing aroma to the LORD.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t \"'When a person presents a grain offering to the LORD, his offering must consist of choice wheat flour, and he must pour olive oil on it and put frankincense on it. \n\t\t\t Then he must bring it to the sons of Aaron, the priests, and the priest must scoop out from there a handful of its choice wheat flour and some of its olive oil in addition to all of its frankincense, and the priest must offer its memorial portion up in smoke on the altar, it is a gift of a soothing aroma to the LORD.\n\t\t\t The remainder of the grain offering belongs to Aaron and to his sons, it is most holy from the gifts of the LORD.\n\t\t\t \"'When you present an offering of grain baked in an oven, it must be made of choice wheat flour baked into unleavened loaves mixed with olive oil or unleavened wafers smeared with olive oil. \n\t\t\t If your offering is a grain offering made on the griddle, it must be choice wheat flour mixed with olive oil, unleavened.\n\t\t\t Crumble it in pieces and pour olive oil on it, it is a grain offering.\n\t\t\t If your offering is a grain offering made in a pan, it must be made of choice wheat flour deep fried in olive oil.\n\t\t\t \"'You must bring the grain offering that must be made from these to the LORD. Present it to the priest, and he will bring it to the altar. \n\t\t\t Then the priest must take up from the grain offering its memorial portion and offer it up in smoke on the altar, it is a gift of a soothing aroma to the LORD.\n\t\t\t The remainder of the grain offering belongs to Aaron and to his sons, it is most holy from the gifts of the LORD.\n\t\t\t \"'No grain offering which you present to the LORD can be made with yeast, for you must not offer up in smoke any yeast or honey as a gift to the LORD.\n\t\t\t You can present them to the LORD as an offering of first fruit, but they must not go up to the altar for a soothing aroma. \n\t\t\t Moreover, you must season every one of your grain offerings with salt; you must not allow the salt of the covenant of your God to be missing from your grain offering, on every one of your grain offerings you must present salt.\n\t\t\t \"'If you present a grain offering of first ripe grain to the LORD, you must present your grain offering of first ripe grain as soft kernels roasted in fire, crushed bits of fresh grain.\n\t\t\t And you must put olive oil on it and set frankincense on it, it is a grain offering.\n\t\t\t Then the priest must offer its memorial portion up in smoke, some of its crushed bits, some of its olive oil, in addition to all of its frankincense, it is a gift to the LORD.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t \"'Now if his offering is a peace offering sacrifice, if he presents an offering from the herd, he must present before the LORD a flawless male or a female.\n\t\t\t He must lay his hand on the head of his offering and slaughter it at the entrance of the Meeting Tent, and the sons of Aaron, the priests, must splash the blood against the altar's sides.\n\t\t\t Then the one presenting the offering must present a gift to the LORD from the peace offering sacrifice: He must remove the fat that covers the entrails and all the fat that surrounds the entrails,\n\t\t\t the two kidneys with the fat on their sinews, and the protruding lobe on the liver (which he is to remove along with the kidneys).\n\t\t\t Then the sons of Aaron must offer it up in smoke on the altar atop the burnt offering that is on the wood in the fire as a gift of a soothing aroma to the LORD.\n\t\t\t \"'If his offering for a peace offering sacrifice to the LORD is from the flock, he must present a flawless male or female.\n\t\t\t If he presents a sheep as his offering, he must present it before the LORD.\n\t\t\t He must lay his hand on the head of his offering and slaughter it before the Meeting Tent, and the sons of Aaron must splash its blood against the altar's sides.\n\t\t\t Then he must present a gift to the LORD from the peace offering sacrifice: He must remove all the fatty tail up to the end of the spine, the fat covering the entrails, and all the fat on the entrails,\n\t\t\t the two kidneys with the fat on their sinews, and the protruding lobe on the liver (which he is to remove along with the kidneys).\n\t\t\t Then the priest must offer it up in smoke on the altar as a food gift to the LORD.\n\t\t\t \"'If his offering is a goat he must present it before the LORD,\n\t\t\t lay his hand on its head, and slaughter it before the Meeting Tent, and the sons of Aaron must splash its blood against the altar's sides.\n\t\t\t Then he must present from it his offering as a gift to the LORD: the fat which covers the entrails and all the fat on the entrails,\n\t\t\t the two kidneys with the fat on their sinews, and the protruding lobe on the liver (which he is to remove along with the kidneys).\n\t\t\t Then the priest must offer them up in smoke on the altar as a food gift for a soothing aroma, all the fat belongs to the LORD.\n\t\t\t This is a perpetual statute throughout your generations in all the places where you live: You must never eat any fat or any blood.'\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then the LORD spoke to Moses:\n\t\t\t \"Tell the Israelites, 'When a person sins by straying unintentionally from any of the Lord's commandments which must not be violated, and violates any one of them,\n\t\t\t \"'If the high priest sins so that the people are guilty, on account of the sin he has committed he must present a flawless young bull to the LORD for a sin offering.\n\t\t\t He must bring the bull to the entrance of the Meeting Tent before the LORD, lay his hand on the head of the bull, and slaughter the bull before the LORD.\n\t\t\t Then that high priest must take some of the blood of the bull and bring it to the Meeting Tent. \n\t\t\t The priest must dip his finger in the blood and sprinkle some of it seven times before the LORD toward the front of the veil-canopy of the sanctuary. \n\t\t\t The priest must put some of the blood on the horns of the altar of fragrant incense that is before the LORD in the Meeting Tent, and all the rest of the bull's blood he must pour out at the base of the altar of burnt offering that is at the entrance of the Meeting Tent.\n\t\t\t \"'Then he must take up all the fat from the sin offering bull: the fat covering the entrails and all the fat surrounding the entrails,\n\t\t\t the two kidneys with the fat on their sinews, and the protruding lobe on the liver (which he is to remove along with the kidneys)\n\t\t\t , just as it is taken from the ox of the peace offering sacrifice, and the priest must offer them up in smoke on the altar of burnt offering.\n\t\t\t But the hide of the bull, all its flesh along with its head and its legs, its entrails, and its dung,\n\t\t\t all the rest of the bull, he must bring outside the camp to a ceremonially clean place, to the fatty ash pile, and he must burn it on a wood fire; it must be burned on the fatty ash pile.\n\t\t\t \"'If the whole congregation of Israel strays unintentionally and the matter is not noticed by the assembly, and they violate one of the Lord's commandments, which must not be violated, so they become guilty, \n\t\t\t the assembly must present a young bull for a sin offering when the sin they have committed becomes known. They must bring it before the Meeting Tent, \n\t\t\t the elders of the congregation must lay their hands on the head of the bull before the LORD, and someone must slaughter the bull before the LORD. \n\t\t\t Then the high priest must bring some of the blood of the bull to the Meeting Tent, \n\t\t\t and that priest must dip his finger in the blood and sprinkle some of the blood seven times before the LORD toward the front of the veil-canopy.\n\t\t\t He must put some of the blood on the horns of the altar which is before the LORD in the Meeting Tent, and all the rest of the blood he must pour out at the base of the altar of burnt offering that is at the entrance of the Meeting Tent.\n\t\t\t \"'Then the priest must take all its fat and offer the fat up in smoke on the altar. \n\t\t\t He must do with the rest of the bull just as he did with the bull of the sin offering; this is what he must do with it. So the priest will make atonement on their behalf and they will be forgiven.\n\t\t\t He must bring the rest of the bull outside the camp and burn it just as he burned the first bull, it is the sin offering of the assembly.\n\t\t\t \"'Whenever a leader, by straying unintentionally, sins and violates one of the commandments of the LORD his God which must not be violated, and he pleads guilty, \n\t\t\t or his sin that he committed is made known to him, he must bring a flawless male goat as his offering.\n\t\t\t He must lay his hand on the head of the male goat and slaughter it in the place where the burnt offering is slaughtered before the LORD, it is a sin offering.\n\t\t\t Then the priest must take some of the blood of the sin offering with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and he must pour out the rest of its blood at the base of the altar of burnt offering.\n\t\t\t Then the priest must offer all of its fat up in smoke on the altar like the fat of the peace offering sacrifice. So the priest will make atonement on his behalf for his sin and he will be forgiven.\n\t\t\t \"'If an ordinary individual sins by straying unintentionally when he violates one of the Lord's commandments which must not be violated, and he pleads guilty \n\t\t\t or his sin that he committed is made known to him, he must bring a flawless female goat as his offering for the sin that he committed. \n\t\t\t He must lay his hand on the head of the sin offering and slaughter the sin offering in the place where the burnt offering is slaughtered. \n\t\t\t Then the priest must take some of its blood with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and he must pour out all the rest of its blood at the base of the altar.\n\t\t\t Then he must remove all of its fat (just as fat was removed from the peace offering sacrifice) and the priest must offer it up in smoke on the altar for a soothing aroma to the LORD. So the priest will make atonement on his behalf and he will be forgiven.\n\t\t\t \"'But if he brings a sheep as his offering, for a sin offering, he must bring a flawless female.\n\t\t\t He must lay his hand on the head of the sin offering and slaughter it for a sin offering in the place where the burnt offering is slaughtered.\n\t\t\t Then the priest must take some of the blood of the sin offering with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and he must pour out all the rest of its blood at the base of the altar.\n\t\t\t Then the one who brought the offering must remove all its fat (just as the fat of the sheep is removed from the peace offering sacrifice) and the priest must offer them up in smoke on the altar on top of the other gifts of the LORD. So the priest will make atonement on his behalf for his sin which he has committed and he will be forgiven.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t \"'When a person sins in that he hears a public curse against one who fails to testify and he is a witness (he either saw or knew what had happened) and he does not make it known, then he will bear his punishment for iniquity.\n\t\t\t Or when there is a person who touches anything ceremonially unclean, whether the carcass of an unclean wild animal, or the carcass of an unclean domesticated animal, or the carcass of an unclean creeping thing, even if he did not realize it, but he himself has become unclean and is guilty;\n\t\t\t or when he touches human uncleanness with regard to anything by which he can become unclean, even if he did not realize it, but he himself has later come to know it and is guilty; \n\t\t\t or when a person swears an oath, speaking thoughtlessly with his lips, whether to do evil or to do good, with regard to anything which the individual might speak thoughtlessly in an oath, even if he did not realize it, but he himself has later come to know it and is guilty with regard to one of these oaths,\n\t\t\t when an individual becomes guilty with regard to one of these things he must confess how he has sinned,\n\t\t\t and he must bring his penalty for guilt to the LORD for his sin that he has committed, a female from the flock, whether a female sheep or a female goat, for a sin offering. So the priest will make atonement on his behalf for his sin.\n\t\t\t \"'If he cannot afford an animal from the flock, he must bring his penalty for guilt for his sin that he has committed, two turtledoves or two young pigeons, to the LORD, one for a sin offering and one for a burnt offering. \n\t\t\t He must bring them to the priest and present first the one that is for a sin offering. The priest must pinch its head at the nape of its neck, but must not sever the head from the body.\n\t\t\t Then he must sprinkle some of the blood of the sin offering on the wall of the altar, and the remainder of the blood must be squeezed out at the base of the altar, it is a sin offering.\n\t\t\t The second bird he must make a burnt offering according to the standard regulation. So the priest will make atonement on behalf of this person for his sin which he has committed, and he will be forgiven.\n\t\t\t \"'If he cannot afford two turtledoves or two young pigeons, he must bring as his offering for his sin which he has committed a tenth of an ephah of choice wheat flour for a sin offering. He must not place olive oil on it and he must not put frankincense on it, because it is a sin offering. \n\t\t\t He must bring it to the priest and the priest must scoop out from it a handful as its memorial portion and offer it up in smoke on the altar on top of the other gifts of the LORD, it is a sin offering.\n\t\t\t So the priest will make atonement on his behalf for his sin which he has committed by doing one of these things, and he will be forgiven. The remainder of the offering will belong to the priest like the grain offering.'\"\n\t\t\t Then the LORD spoke to Moses:\n\t\t\t \"When a person commits a trespass and sins by straying unintentionally from the regulations about the Lord's holy things, then he must bring his penalty for guilt to the LORD, a flawless ram from the flock, convertible into silver shekels according to the standard of the sanctuary shekel, for a guilt offering.\n\t\t\t And whatever holy thing he violated he must restore and must add one fifth to it and give it to the priest. So the priest will make atonement on his behalf with the guilt offering ram and he will be forgiven.\"\n\t\t\t \"If a person sins and violates any of the Lord's commandments which must not be violated (although he did not know it at the time, but later realizes he is guilty), then he will bear his punishment for iniquity\n\t\t\t and must bring a flawless ram from the flock, convertible into silver shekels, for a guilt offering to the priest. So the priest will make atonement on his behalf for his error which he committed (although he himself had not known it) and he will be forgiven.\n\t\t\t It is a guilt offering; he was surely guilty before the LORD.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then the LORD spoke to Moses:\n\t\t\t \"When a person sins and commits a trespass against the LORD by deceiving his fellow citizen in regard to something held in trust, or a pledge, or something stolen, or by extorting something from his fellow citizen,\n\t\t\t or has found something lost and denies it and swears falsely concerning any one of the things that someone might do to sin,\n\t\t\t when it happens that he sins and he is found guilty, then he must return whatever he had stolen, or whatever he had extorted, or the thing that he had held in trust, or the lost thing that he had found, \n\t\t\t or anything about which he swears falsely. He must restore it in full and add one fifth to it; he must give it to its owner when he is found guilty.\n\t\t\t Then he must bring his guilt offering to the LORD, a flawless ram from the flock, convertible into silver shekels, for a guilt offering to the priest. \n\t\t\t So the priest will make atonement on his behalf before the LORD and he will be forgiven for whatever he has done to become guilty.\"\n\t\t\t Then the LORD spoke to Moses:\n\t\t\t \"Command Aaron and his sons, 'This is the law of the burnt offering. The burnt offering is to remain on the hearth on the altar all night until morning, and the fire of the altar must be kept burning on it.\n\t\t\t Then the priest must put on his linen robe and must put linen leggings over his bare flesh, and he must take up the fatty ashes of the burnt offering that the fire consumed on the altar, and he must place them beside the altar. \n\t\t\t Then he must take off his clothes and put on other clothes, and he must bring the fatty ashes outside the camp to a ceremonially clean place, \n\t\t\t but the fire which is on the altar must be kept burning on it. It must not be extinguished. So the priest must kindle wood on it morning by morning, and he must arrange the burnt offering on it and offer the fat of the peace offering up in smoke on it. \n\t\t\t A continual fire must be kept burning on the altar. It must not be extinguished.\n\t\t\t \"'This is the law of the grain offering. The sons of Aaron are to present it before the LORD in front of the altar, \n\t\t\t and the priest must take up with his hand some of the choice wheat flour of the grain offering and some of its olive oil, and all of the frankincense that is on the grain offering, and he must offer its memorial portion up in smoke on the altar as a soothing aroma to the LORD.\n\t\t\t Aaron and his sons are to eat what is left over from it. It must be eaten unleavened in a holy place; they are to eat it in the courtyard of the Meeting Tent.\n\t\t\t It must not be baked with yeast. I have given it as their portion from my gifts. It is most holy, like the sin offering and the guilt offering. \n\t\t\t Every male among the sons of Aaron may eat it. It is a perpetual allotted portion throughout your generations from the gifts of the LORD. Anyone who touches these gifts must be holy.'\"\n\t\t\t Then the LORD spoke to Moses:\n\t\t\t \"This is the offering of Aaron and his sons which they must present to the LORD on the day when he is anointed: a tenth of an ephah of choice wheat flour as a continual grain offering, half of it in the morning and half of it in the evening. \n\t\t\t It must be made with olive oil on a griddle and you must bring it well soaked, so you must present a grain offering of broken pieces as a soothing aroma to the LORD. \n\t\t\t The high priest who succeeds him from among his sons must do it. It is a perpetual statute; it must be offered up in smoke as a whole offering to the LORD. \n\t\t\t Every grain offering of a priest must be a whole offering; it must not be eaten.\"\n\t\t\t Then the LORD spoke to Moses:\n\t\t\t \"Tell Aaron and his sons, 'This is the law of the sin offering. In the place where the burnt offering is slaughtered the sin offering must be slaughtered before the LORD. It is most holy.\n\t\t\t The priest who offers it for sin is to eat it. It must be eaten in a holy place, in the court of the Meeting Tent.\n\t\t\t Anyone who touches its meat must be holy, and whoever spatters some of its blood on a garment, you must wash whatever he spatters it on in a holy place. \n\t\t\t Any clay vessel it is boiled in must be broken, and if it was boiled in a bronze vessel, then that vessel must be rubbed out and rinsed in water. \n\t\t\t Any male among the priests may eat it. It is most holy.\n\t\t\t But any sin offering from which some of its blood is brought into the Meeting Tent to make atonement in the sanctuary must not be eaten. It must be burned up in the fire.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t \"'This is the law of the guilt offering. It is most holy.\n\t\t\t In the place where they slaughter the burnt offering they must slaughter the guilt offering, and the officiating priest must splash the blood against the altar's sides.\n\t\t\t Then the one making the offering must present all its fat: the fatty tail, the fat covering the entrails, \n\t\t\t the two kidneys and the fat on their sinews, and the protruding lobe on the liver (which he must remove along with the kidneys).\n\t\t\t Then the priest must offer them up in smoke on the altar as a gift to the LORD. It is a guilt offering. \n\t\t\t Any male among the priests may eat it. It must be eaten in a holy place. It is most holy.\n\t\t\t The law is the same for the sin offering and the guilt offering; it belongs to the priest who makes atonement with it.\n\t\t\t \"'As for the priest who presents someone's burnt offering, the hide of that burnt offering which he presented belongs to him.\n\t\t\t Every grain offering which is baked in the oven or made in the pan or on the griddle belongs to the priest who presented it. \n\t\t\t Every grain offering, whether mixed with olive oil or dry, belongs to all the sons of Aaron, each one alike.\n\t\t\t \"'This is the law of the peace offering sacrifice which he is to present to the LORD. \n\t\t\t If he presents it on account of thanksgiving, along with the thank offering sacrifice he must present unleavened loaves mixed with olive oil, unleavened wafers smeared with olive oil, and well soaked ring-shaped loaves made of choice wheat flour mixed with olive oil. \n\t\t\t He must present this grain offering in addition to ring-shaped loaves of leavened bread which regularly accompany the sacrifice of his thanksgiving peace offering. \n\t\t\t He must present one of each kind of grain offering as a contribution offering to the LORD; it belongs to the priest who splashes the blood of the peace offering. \n\t\t\t The meat of his thanksgiving peace offering must be eaten on the day of his offering; he must not set any of it aside until morning.\n\t\t\t \"'If his offering is a votive or freewill sacrifice, it may be eaten on the day he presents his sacrifice, and also the leftovers from it may be eaten on the next day,\n\t\t\t but the leftovers from the meat of the sacrifice must be burned up in the fire on the third day. \n\t\t\t If some of the meat of his peace offering sacrifice is ever eaten on the third day it will not be accepted; it will not be accounted to the one who presented it, since it is spoiled, and the person who eats from it will bear his punishment for iniquity.\n\t\t\t The meat which touches anything ceremonially unclean must not be eaten; it must be burned up in the fire. As for ceremonially clean meat, everyone who is ceremonially clean may eat the meat. \n\t\t\t The person who eats meat from the peace offering sacrifice which belongs to the LORD while his uncleanness persists will be cut off from his people.\n\t\t\t When a person touches anything unclean (whether human uncleanness, or an unclean animal, or an unclean detestable creature) and eats some of the meat of the peace offering sacrifice which belongs to the LORD, that person will be cut off from his people.'\"\n\t\t\t Then the LORD spoke to Moses:\n\t\t\t \"Tell the Israelites, 'You must not eat any fat of an ox, sheep, or goat.\n\t\t\t Moreover, the fat of an animal that has died of natural causes and the fat of an animal torn by beasts may be used for any other purpose, but you must certainly never eat it. \n\t\t\t If anyone eats fat from the animal from which he presents a gift to the LORD, that person will be cut off from his people.\n\t\t\t And you must not eat any blood of the birds or the domesticated land animals in any of the places where you live.\n\t\t\t Any person who eats any blood, that person will be cut off from his people.'\"\n\t\t\t Then the LORD spoke to Moses:\n\t\t\t \"Tell the Israelites, 'The one who presents his peace offering sacrifice to the LORD must bring his offering to the LORD from his peace offering sacrifice.\n\t\t\t With his own hands he must bring the LORD's gifts. He must bring the fat with the breast to wave the breast as a wave offering before the LORD,\n\t\t\t and the priest must offer the fat up in smoke on the altar, but the breast will belong to Aaron and his sons.\n\t\t\t The right thigh you must give as a contribution offering to the priest from your peace offering sacrifices.\n\t\t\t The one from Aaron's sons who presents the blood of the peace offering and fat will have the right thigh as his share,\n\t\t\t for the breast of the wave offering and the thigh of the contribution offering I have taken from the Israelites out of their peace offering sacrifices and have given them to Aaron the priest and to his sons from the people of Israel as a perpetual allotted portion.'\"\n\t\t\t This is the allotment of Aaron and the allotment of his sons from the LORD's gifts on the day Moses presented them to serve as priests to the LORD. \n\t\t\t This is what the LORD commanded to give to them from the Israelites on the day Moses anointed them, a perpetual allotted portion throughout their generations.\n\t\t\t This is the law for the burnt offering, the grain offering, the sin offering, the guilt offering, the ordination offering, and the peace offering sacrifice,\n\t\t\t which the LORD commanded Moses on Mount Sinai on the day he commanded the Israelites to present their offerings to the LORD in the wilderness of Sinai.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then the LORD spoke to Moses:\n\t\t\t \"Take Aaron and his sons with him, and the garments, the anointing oil, the sin offering bull, the two rams, and the basket of unleavened bread,\n\t\t\t and assemble the whole congregation at the entrance of the Meeting Tent.\"\n\t\t\t So Moses did just as the LORD commanded him, and the congregation assembled at the entrance of the Meeting Tent.\n\t\t\t Then Moses said to the congregation: \"This is what the LORD has commanded to be done.\"\n\t\t\t So Moses brought Aaron and his sons forward and washed them with water.\n\t\t\t Then he put the tunic on Aaron, wrapped the sash around him, and clothed him with the robe. Next he put the ephod on him and placed on him the decorated band of the ephod, and fastened the ephod closely to him with the band.\n\t\t\t He then set the breastpiece on him and put the Urim and Thummim into the breastpiece. \n\t\t\t Finally, he set the turban on his head and attached the gold plate, the holy diadem, to the front of the turban just as the LORD had commanded Moses.\n\t\t\t Then Moses took the anointing oil and anointed the tabernacle and everything in it, and so consecrated them.\n\t\t\t Next he sprinkled some of it on the altar seven times and so anointed the altar, all its vessels, and the wash basin and its stand to consecrate them.\n\t\t\t He then poured some of the anointing oil on the head of Aaron and anointed him to consecrate him.\n\t\t\t Moses also brought forward Aaron's sons, clothed them with tunics, wrapped sashes around them, and wrapped headbands on them just as the LORD had commanded Moses.\n\t\t\t Then he brought near the sin offering bull and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the sin offering bull, \n\t\t\t and he slaughtered it. Moses then took the blood and put it all around on the horns of the altar with his finger and decontaminated the altar, and he poured out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar and so consecrated it to make atonement on it.\n\t\t\t Then he took all the fat on the entrails, the protruding lobe of the liver, and the two kidneys and their fat, and Moses offered it all up in smoke on the altar,\n\t\t\t but the rest of the bull, its hide, its flesh, and its dung, he completely burned up outside the camp just as the LORD had commanded Moses.\n\t\t\t Then he presented the burnt offering ram and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the ram,\n\t\t\t and he slaughtered it. Moses then splashed the blood against the altar's sides. \n\t\t\t Then he cut the ram into parts, and Moses offered the head, the parts, and the suet up in smoke, \n\t\t\t but the entrails and the legs he washed with water, and Moses offered the whole ram up in smoke on the altar, it was a burnt offering for a soothing aroma, a gift to the LORD, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.\n\t\t\t Then he presented the second ram, the ram of ordination, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the ram \n\t\t\t and he slaughtered it. Moses then took some of its blood and put it on Aaron's right earlobe, on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot. \n\t\t\t Next he brought Aaron's sons forward, and Moses put some of the blood on their right earlobes, on their right thumbs, and on the big toes of their right feet, and Moses splashed the rest of the blood against the altar's sides.\n\t\t\t Then he took the fat (the fatty tail, all the fat on the entrails, the protruding lobe of the liver, and the two kidneys and their fat) and the right thigh,\n\t\t\t and from the basket of unleavened bread that was before the LORD he took one unleavened loaf, one loaf of bread mixed with olive oil, and one wafer, and placed them on the fat parts and on the right thigh. \n\t\t\t He then put all of them on the palms of Aaron and his sons, who waved them as a wave offering before the LORD.\n\t\t\t Moses then took them from their palms and offered them up in smoke on the altar on top of the burnt offering, they were an ordination offering for a soothing aroma; it was a gift to the LORD.\n\t\t\t Finally, Moses took the breast and waved it as a wave offering before the LORD from the ram of ordination. It was Moses' share just as the LORD had commanded Moses.\n\t\t\t Then Moses took some of the anointing oil and some of the blood which was on the altar and sprinkled it on Aaron and his garments, and on his sons and his sons' garments with him. So he consecrated Aaron, his garments, and his sons and his sons' garments with him.\n\t\t\t Then Moses said to Aaron and his sons, \"Boil the meat at the entrance of the Meeting Tent, and there you are to eat it and the bread which is in the ordination offering basket, just as I have commanded, saying, 'Aaron and his sons are to eat it,' \n\t\t\t but the remainder of the meat and the bread you must burn with fire. \n\t\t\t And you must not go out from the entrance of the Meeting Tent for seven days, until the day when your days of ordination are completed, because you must be ordained over a seven-day period.\n\t\t\t What has been done on this day the LORD has commanded to be done to make atonement for you. \n\t\t\t You must reside at the entrance of the Meeting Tent day and night for seven days and keep the charge of the LORD so that you will not die, for this is what I have been commanded.\"\n\t\t\t So Aaron and his sons did all the things the LORD had commanded through Moses.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t On the eighth day Moses summoned Aaron and his sons and the elders of Israel,\n\t\t\t and said to Aaron, \"Take for yourself a bull calf for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering, both flawless, and present them before the LORD.\n\t\t\t Then tell the Israelites: 'Take a male goat for a sin offering and a calf and lamb, both a year old and flawless, for a burnt offering, \n\t\t\t and an ox and a ram for peace offerings to sacrifice before the LORD, and a grain offering mixed with olive oil, for today the LORD is going to appear to you.'\" \n\t\t\t So they took what Moses had commanded to the front of the Meeting Tent and the whole congregation presented them and stood before the LORD. \n\t\t\t Then Moses said, \"This is what the LORD has commanded you to do so that the glory of the LORD may appear to you.\" \n\t\t\t Moses then said to Aaron, \"Approach the altar and make your sin offering and your burnt offering, and make atonement on behalf of yourself and on behalf of the people; and also make the people's offering and make atonement on behalf of them just as the LORD has commanded.\"\n\t\t\t So Aaron approached the altar and slaughtered the sin offering calf which was for himself.\n\t\t\t Then Aaron's sons presented the blood to him and he dipped his finger in the blood and put it on the horns of the altar, and the rest of the blood he poured out at the base of the altar.\n\t\t\t The fat and the kidneys and the protruding lobe of the liver from the sin offering he offered up in smoke on the altar just as the LORD had commanded Moses, \n\t\t\t but the flesh and the hide he completely burned up outside the camp.\n\t\t\t He then slaughtered the burnt offering, and his sons handed the blood to him and he splashed it against the altar's sides. \n\t\t\t The burnt offering itself they handed to him by its parts, including the head, and he offered them up in smoke on the altar, \n\t\t\t and he washed the entrails and the legs and offered them up in smoke on top of the burnt offering on the altar.\n\t\t\t Then he presented the people's offering. He took the sin offering male goat which was for the people, slaughtered it, and performed a decontamination rite with it like the first one.\n\t\t\t He then presented the burnt offering, and did it according to the standard regulation.\n\t\t\t Next he presented the grain offering, filled his hand with some of it, and offered it up in smoke on the altar in addition to the morning burnt offering.\n\t\t\t Then he slaughtered the ox and the ram, the peace offering sacrifices which were for the people, and Aaron's sons handed the blood to him and he splashed it against the altar's sides.\n\t\t\t As for the fat parts from the ox and from the ram (the fatty tail, the fat covering the entrails, the kidneys, and the protruding lobe of the liver), \n\t\t\t they set those on the breasts and he offered the fat parts up in smoke on the altar. \n\t\t\t Finally Aaron waved the breasts and the right thigh as a wave offering before the LORD just as Moses had commanded.\n\t\t\t Then Aaron lifted up his hands toward the people and blessed them and descended from making the sin offering, the burnt offering, and the peace offering.\n\t\t\t Moses and Aaron then entered into the Meeting Tent. When they came out, they blessed the people, and the glory of the LORD appeared to all the people.\n\t\t\t Then fire went out from the presence of the LORD and consumed the burnt offering and the fat parts on the altar, and all the people saw it, so they shouted loudly and fell down with their faces to the ground.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then Aaron's sons, Nadab and Abihu, each took his fire pan and put fire in it, set incense on it, and presented strange fire before the LORD, which he had not commanded them to do. \n\t\t\t So fire went out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them so that they died before the LORD. \n\t\t\t Moses then said to Aaron, \"This is what the LORD spoke: 'Among the ones close to me I will show myself holy, and in the presence of all the people I will be honored.'\" So Aaron kept silent. \n\t\t\t Moses then called to Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of Uzziel, Aaron's uncle, and said to them, \"Come near, carry your brothers away from the front of the sanctuary to a place outside the camp.\"\n\t\t\t So they came near and carried them away in their tunics to a place outside the camp just as Moses had spoken.\n\t\t\t Then Moses said to Aaron and to Eleazar and Ithamar his other two sons, \"Do not dishevel the hair of your heads and do not tear your garments, so that you do not die and so that wrath does not come on the whole congregation. Your brothers, all the house of Israel, are to mourn the burning which the LORD has caused,\n\t\t\t but you must not go out from the entrance of the Meeting Tent lest you die, for the Lord's anointing oil is on you.\" So they acted according to the word of Moses.\n\t\t\t Then the LORD spoke to Aaron,\n\t\t\t \"Do not drink wine or strong drink, you and your sons with you, when you enter into the Meeting Tent, so that you do not die, which is a perpetual statute throughout your generations,\n\t\t\t as well as to distinguish between the holy and the common, and between the unclean and the clean,\n\t\t\t and to teach the Israelites all the statutes that the LORD has spoken to them through Moses.\"\n\t\t\t Then Moses spoke to Aaron and to Eleazar and Ithamar, his remaining sons, \"Take the grain offering which remains from the gifts of the LORD and eat it unleavened beside the altar, for it is most holy.\n\t\t\t You must eat it in a holy place because it is your allotted portion and the allotted portion of your sons from the gifts of the LORD, for this is what I have been commanded.\n\t\t\t Also, the breast of the wave offering and the thigh of the contribution offering you must eat in a ceremonially clean place, you and your sons and daughters with you, for they have been given as your allotted portion and the allotted portion of your sons from the peace offering sacrifices of the Israelites.\n\t\t\t The thigh of the contribution offering and the breast of the wave offering they must bring in addition to the gifts of the fat parts to wave them as a wave offering before the LORD, and it will belong to you and your sons with you for a perpetual statute just as the LORD has commanded.\"\n\t\t\t Later Moses sought diligently for the sin offering male goat, but it had actually been burnt. So he became angry at Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron's remaining sons, saying, \n\t\t\t \"Why did you not eat the sin offering in the sanctuary? For it is most holy and he gave it to you to bear the iniquity of the congregation, to make atonement on their behalf before the LORD. \n\t\t\t See here! Its blood was not brought into the holy place within! You should certainly have eaten it in the sanctuary just as I commanded!\" \n\t\t\t But Aaron spoke to Moses, \"See here! Just today they presented their sin offering and their burnt offering before the LORD and such things as these have happened to me! If I had eaten a sin offering today would the LORD have been pleased?\"\n\t\t\t When Moses heard this explanation, he was satisfied.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying to them,\n\t\t\t \"Tell the Israelites: 'This is the kind of creature you may eat from among all the animals that are on the land. \n\t\t\t You may eat any among the animals that has a divided hoof (the hooves are completely split in two) and that also chews the cud.\n\t\t\t However, you must not eat these from among those that chew the cud and have divided hooves: The camel is unclean to you because it chews the cud even though its hoof is not divided.\n\t\t\t The rock badger is unclean to you because it chews the cud even though its hoof is not divided. \n\t\t\t The hare is unclean to you because it chews the cud even though its hoof is not divided.\n\t\t\t The pig is unclean to you because its hoof is divided (the hoof is completely split in two), even though it does not chew the cud.\n\t\t\t You must not eat from their meat and you must not touch their carcasses; they are unclean to you.\n\t\t\t \"'These you can eat from all creatures that are in the water: Any creatures in the water that have both fins and scales, whether in the seas or in the streams, you may eat. \n\t\t\t But any creatures that do not have both fins and scales, whether in the seas or in the streams, from all the swarming things of the water and from all the living creatures that are in the water, are detestable to you.\n\t\t\t Since they are detestable to you, you must not eat their meat and their carcass you must detest.\n\t\t\t Any creature in the water that does not have both fins and scales is detestable to you.\n\t\t\t \"'These you are to detest from among the birds, they must not be eaten, because they are detestable: the griffon vulture, the bearded vulture, the black vulture,\n\t\t\t the kite, the buzzard of any kind,\n\t\t\t every kind of crow,\n\t\t\t the eagle owl, the short-eared owl, the long-eared owl, the hawk of any kind, \n\t\t\t the little owl, the cormorant, the screech owl,\n\t\t\t the white owl, the scops owl, the osprey,\n\t\t\t the stork, the heron of any kind, the hoopoe, and the bat.\n\t\t\t \"'Every winged swarming thing that walks on all fours is detestable to you. \n\t\t\t However, this you may eat from all the winged swarming things that walk on all fours, which have jointed legs to hop with on the land. \n\t\t\t These you may eat from them: the locust of any kind, the bald locust of any kind, the cricket of any kind, the grasshopper of any kind. \n\t\t\t But any other winged swarming thing that has four legs is detestable to you.\n\t\t\t \"'By these you defile yourselves; anyone who touches their carcass will be unclean until the evening, \n\t\t\t and anyone who carries their carcass must wash his clothes and will be unclean until the evening.\n\t\t\t \"'All animals that divide the hoof but it is not completely split in two and do not chew the cud are unclean to you; anyone who touches them becomes unclean.\n\t\t\t All that walk on their paws among all the creatures that walk on all fours are unclean to you. Anyone who touches their carcass will be unclean until the evening, \n\t\t\t and the one who carries their carcass must wash his clothes and be unclean until the evening; they are unclean to you.\n\t\t\t \"'Now this is what is unclean to you among the swarming things that swarm on the land: the rat, the mouse, the large lizard of any kind, \n\t\t\t the Mediterranean gecko, the spotted lizard, the wall gecko, the skink, and the chameleon.\n\t\t\t These are the ones that are unclean to you among all the swarming things. Anyone who touches them when they die will be unclean until evening.\n\t\t\t Also, anything they fall on when they die will become unclean, any wood vessel or garment or article of leather or sackcloth. Any such vessel with which work is done must be immersed in water and will be unclean until the evening. Then it will become clean.\n\t\t\t As for any clay vessel they fall into, everything in it will become unclean and you must break it. \n\t\t\t Any food that may be eaten which becomes soaked with water will become unclean. Anything drinkable in any such vessel will become unclean.\n\t\t\t Anything their carcass may fall on will become unclean. An oven or small stove must be smashed to pieces; they are unclean, and they will stay unclean to you. \n\t\t\t However, a spring or a cistern which collects water will be clean, but one who touches their carcass will be unclean. \n\t\t\t Now, if such a carcass falls on any sowing seed which is to be sown, it is clean, \n\t\t\t but if water is put on the seed and such a carcass falls on it, it is unclean to you.\n\t\t\t \"'Now if an animal that you may eat dies, whoever touches its carcass will be unclean until the evening. \n\t\t\t One who eats from its carcass must wash his clothes and be unclean until the evening, and whoever carries its carcass must wash his clothes and be unclean until the evening.\n\t\t\t Every swarming thing that swarms on the land is detestable; it must not be eaten.\n\t\t\t You must not eat anything that crawls on its belly or anything that walks on all fours or on any number of legs of all the swarming things that swarm on the land, because they are detestable. \n\t\t\t Do not make yourselves detestable by any of the swarming things. You must not defile yourselves by them and become unclean by them, \n\t\t\t for I am the LORD your God and you are to sanctify yourselves and be holy because I am holy. You must not defile yourselves by any of the swarming things that creep on the ground,\n\t\t\t for I am the LORD who brought you up from the land of Egypt to be your God, and you are to be holy because I am holy. \n\t\t\t This is the law of the land animals, the birds, all the living creatures that move in the water, and all the creatures that swarm on the land, \n\t\t\t to distinguish between the unclean and the clean, between the living creatures that may be eaten and the living creatures that must not be eaten.'\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses:\n\t\t\t \"Tell the Israelites, 'When a woman produces offspring and bears a male child, she will be unclean seven days, as she is unclean during the days of her menstruation.\n\t\t\t On the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin must be circumcised. \n\t\t\t Then she will remain thirty-three days in blood purity. She must not touch anything holy and she must not enter the sanctuary until the days of her purification are fulfilled.\n\t\t\t If she bears a female child, she will be impure fourteen days as during her menstrual flow, and she will remain sixty-six days in blood purity.\n\t\t\t \"'When the days of her purification are completed for a son or for a daughter, she must bring a one year old lamb for a burnt offering and a young pigeon or turtledove for a sin offering to the entrance of the Meeting Tent, to the priest. \n\t\t\t The priest is to present it before the LORD and make atonement on her behalf, and she will be clean from her flow of blood. This is the law of the one who bears a child, for the male or the female child. \n\t\t\t If she cannot afford a sheep, then she must take two turtledoves or two young pigeons, one for a burnt offering and one for a sin offering, and the priest is to make atonement on her behalf, and she will be clean.'\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron:\n\t\t\t \"When someone has a swelling or a scab or a bright spot on the skin of his body that may become a diseased infection, he must be brought to Aaron the priest or one of his sons, the priests.\n\t\t\t The priest must then examine the infection on the skin of the body, and if the hair in the infection has turned white and the infection appears to be deeper than the skin of the body, then it is a diseased infection, so when the priest examines it he must pronounce the person unclean.\n\t\t\t \"If it is a white bright spot on the skin of his body, but it does not appear to be deeper than the skin, and the hair has not turned white, then the priest is to quarantine the person with the infection for seven days.\n\t\t\t The priest must then examine it on the seventh day, and if, as far as he can see, the infection has stayed the same and has not spread on the skin, then the priest is to quarantine the person for another seven days.\n\t\t\t The priest must then examine it again on the seventh day, and if the infection has faded and has not spread on the skin, then the priest is to pronounce the person clean. It is a scab, so he must wash his clothes and be clean. \n\t\t\t If, however, the scab is spreading further on the skin after he has shown himself to the priest for his purification, then he must show himself to the priest a second time. \n\t\t\t The priest must then examine it, and if the scab has spread on the skin, then the priest is to pronounce the person unclean. It is a disease.\n\t\t\t \"When someone has a diseased infection, he must be brought to the priest. \n\t\t\t The priest will then examine it, and if a white swelling is on the skin, it has turned the hair white, and there is raw flesh in the swelling,\n\t\t\t it is a chronic disease on the skin of his body, so the priest is to pronounce him unclean. The priest must not merely quarantine him, for he is unclean.\n\t\t\t If, however, the disease breaks out on the skin so that the disease covers all the skin of the person with the infection from his head to his feet, as far as the priest can see,\n\t\t\t the priest must then examine it, and if the disease covers his whole body, he is to pronounce the person with the infection clean. He has turned all white, so he is clean.\n\t\t\t But whenever raw flesh appears in it he will be unclean, \n\t\t\t so the priest is to examine the raw flesh and pronounce him unclean, it is diseased.\n\t\t\t If, however, the raw flesh once again turns white, then he must come to the priest.\n\t\t\t The priest will then examine it, and if the infection has turned white, the priest is to pronounce the person with the infection clean, he is clean.\n\t\t\t \"When someone's body has a boil on its skin and it heals, \n\t\t\t and in the place of the boil there is a white swelling or a reddish white bright spot, he must show himself to the priest.\n\t\t\t The priest will then examine it, and if it appears to be deeper than the skin and its hair has turned white, then the priest is to pronounce the person unclean. It is a diseased infection that has broken out in the boil.\n\t\t\t If, however, the priest examines it, and there is no white hair in it, it is not deeper than the skin, and it has faded, then the priest is to quarantine him for seven days.\n\t\t\t If it is spreading further on the skin, then the priest is to pronounce him unclean. It is an infection. \n\t\t\t But if the bright spot stays in its place and has not spread, it is the scar of the boil, so the priest is to pronounce him clean.\n\t\t\t \"When a body has a burn on its skin and the raw area of the burn becomes a reddish white or white bright spot, \n\t\t\t the priest must examine it, and if the hair has turned white in the bright spot and it appears to be deeper than the skin, it is a disease that has broken out in the burn. The priest is to pronounce the person unclean. It is a diseased infection.\n\t\t\t If, however, the priest examines it and there is no white hair in the bright spot, it is not deeper than the skin, and it has faded, then the priest is to quarantine him for seven days.\n\t\t\t The priest must then examine it on the seventh day, and if it is spreading further on the skin, then the priest is to pronounce him unclean. It is a diseased infection.\n\t\t\t But if the bright spot stays in its place, has not spread on the skin, and it has faded, then it is the swelling of the burn, so the priest is to pronounce him clean, because it is the scar of the burn.\n\t\t\t \"When a man or a woman has an infection on the head or in the beard,\n\t\t\t the priest is to examine the infection, and if it appears to be deeper than the skin and the hair in it is reddish yellow and thin, then the priest is to pronounce the person unclean. It is scall, a disease of the head or the beard.\n\t\t\t But if the priest examines the scall infection and it does not appear to be deeper than the skin, and there is no black hair in it, then the priest is to quarantine the person with the scall infection for seven days.\n\t\t\t The priest must then examine the infection on the seventh day, and if the scall has not spread, there is no reddish yellow hair in it, and the scall does not appear to be deeper than the skin,\n\t\t\t then the individual is to shave himself, but he must not shave the area affected by the scall, and the priest is to quarantine the person with the scall for another seven days.\n\t\t\t The priest must then examine the scall on the seventh day, and if the scall has not spread on the skin and it does not appear to be deeper than the skin, then the priest is to pronounce him clean. So he is to wash his clothes and be clean. \n\t\t\t If, however, the scall spreads further on the skin after his purification, \n\t\t\t then the priest is to examine it, and if the scall has spread on the skin the priest is not to search further for reddish yellow hair. The person is unclean. \n\t\t\t If, as far as the priest can see, the scall has stayed the same and black hair has sprouted in it, the scall has been healed; the person is clean. So the priest is to pronounce him clean.\n\t\t\t \"When a man or a woman has bright spots, white bright spots, on the skin of their body,\n\t\t\t the priest is to examine them, and if the bright spots on the skin of their body are faded white, it is a harmless rash that has broken out on the skin. The person is clean.\n\t\t\t \"When a man's head is bare so that he is balding in back, he is clean. \n\t\t\t If his head is bare on the forehead so that he is balding in front, he is clean. \n\t\t\t But if there is a reddish white infection in the back or front bald area, it is a disease breaking out in his back or front bald area.\n\t\t\t The priest is to examine it, and if the swelling of the infection is reddish white in the back or front bald area like the appearance of a disease on the skin of the body,\n\t\t\t he is a diseased man. He is unclean. The priest must surely pronounce him unclean because of his infection on his head.\n\t\t\t \"As for the diseased person who has the infection, his clothes must be torn, the hair of his head must be unbound, he must cover his mustache, and he must call out 'Unclean! Unclean!' \n\t\t\t The whole time he has the infection he will be continually unclean. He must live in isolation, and his place of residence must be outside the camp.\n\t\t\t \"When a garment has a diseased infection in it, whether a wool or linen garment,\n\t\t\t or in the warp or woof of the linen or the wool, or in leather or anything made of leather,\n\t\t\t if the infection in the garment or leather or warp or woof or any article of leather is yellowish green or reddish, it is a diseased infection and it must be shown to the priest. \n\t\t\t The priest is to examine and then quarantine the article with the infection for seven days.\n\t\t\t He must then examine the infection on the seventh day. If the infection has spread in the garment, or in the warp, or in the woof, or in the leather, whatever the article into which the leather was made, the infection is a malignant disease. It is unclean.\n\t\t\t He must burn the garment or the warp or the woof, whether wool or linen, or any article of leather which has the infection in it. Because it is a malignant disease it must be burned up in the fire.\n\t\t\t But if the priest examines it and the infection has not spread in the garment or in the warp or in the woof or in any article of leather, \n\t\t\t the priest is to command that they wash whatever has the infection and quarantine it for another seven days.\n\t\t\t The priest must then examine it after the infection has been washed out, and if the infection has not changed its appearance even though the infection has not spread, it is unclean. You must burn it up in the fire. It is a fungus, whether on the back side or front side of the article.\n\t\t\t But if the priest has examined it and the infection has faded after it has been washed, he is to tear it out of the garment or the leather or the warp or the woof.\n\t\t\t Then if it still appears again in the garment or the warp or the woof, or in any article of leather, it is an outbreak. Whatever has the infection in it you must burn up in the fire. \n\t\t\t But the garment or the warp or the woof or any article of leather which you wash and infection disappears from it is to be washed a second time and it will be clean.\"\n\t\t\t This is the law of the diseased infection in the garment of wool or linen, or the warp or woof, or any article of leather, for pronouncing it clean or unclean.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses:\n\t\t\t \"This is the law of the diseased person on the day of his purification, when he is brought to the priest.\n\t\t\t The priest is to go outside the camp and examine the infection. If the infection of the diseased person has been healed,\n\t\t\t then the priest will command that two live clean birds, a piece of cedar wood, a scrap of crimson fabric, and some twigs of hyssop be taken up for the one being cleansed.\n\t\t\t The priest will then command that one bird be slaughtered into a clay vessel over fresh water.\n\t\t\t Then he is to take the live bird along with the piece of cedar wood, the scrap of crimson fabric, and the twigs of hyssop, and he is to dip them and the live bird in the blood of the bird slaughtered over the fresh water, \n\t\t\t and sprinkle it seven times on the one being cleansed from the disease, pronounce him clean, and send the live bird away over the open countryside.\n\t\t\t \"The one being cleansed must then wash his clothes, shave off all his hair, and bathe in water, and so be clean. Then afterward he may enter the camp, but he must live outside his tent seven days. \n\t\t\t When the seventh day comes he must shave all his hair, his head, his beard, his eyebrows, all his hair, and he must wash his clothes, bathe his body in water, and so be clean.\n\t\t\t \"On the eighth day he must take two flawless male lambs, one flawless yearling female lamb, three-tenths of an ephah of choice wheat flour as a grain offering mixed with olive oil, and one log of olive oil,\n\t\t\t and the priest who pronounces him clean will have the man who is being cleansed stand along with these offerings before the LORD at the entrance of the Meeting Tent.\n\t\t\t \"The priest is to take one male lamb and present it for a guilt offering along with the log of olive oil and present them as a wave offering before the LORD.\n\t\t\t He must then slaughter the male lamb in the place where the sin offering and the burnt offering are slaughtered, in the sanctuary, because, like the sin offering, the guilt offering belongs to the priest; it is most holy. \n\t\t\t Then the priest is to take some of the blood of the guilt offering and put it on the right earlobe of the one being cleansed, on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot. \n\t\t\t The priest will then take some of the log of olive oil and pour it into his own left hand.\n\t\t\t Then the priest is to dip his right forefinger into the olive oil that is in his left hand, and sprinkle some of the olive oil with his finger seven times before the LORD. \n\t\t\t The priest will then put some of the rest of the olive oil that is in his hand on the right earlobe of the one being cleansed, on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot, on the blood of the guilt offering, \n\t\t\t and the remainder of the olive oil that is in his hand the priest is to put on the head of the one being cleansed. So the priest is to make atonement for him before the LORD.\n\t\t\t \"The priest must then perform the sin offering and make atonement for the one being cleansed from his impurity. After that he is to slaughter the burnt offering, \n\t\t\t and the priest is to offer the burnt offering and the grain offering on the altar. So the priest is to make atonement for him and he will be clean.\n\t\t\t \"If the person is poor and does not have sufficient means, he must take one male lamb as a guilt offering for a wave offering to make atonement for himself, one-tenth of an ephah of choice wheat flour mixed with olive oil for a grain offering, a log of olive oil,\n\t\t\t and two turtledoves or two young pigeons, which are within his means. One will be a sin offering and the other a burnt offering.\n\t\t\t \"On the eighth day he must bring them for his purification to the priest at the entrance of the Meeting Tent before the LORD,\n\t\t\t and the priest is to take the male lamb of the guilt offering and the log of olive oil and wave them as a wave offering before the LORD. \n\t\t\t Then he is to slaughter the male lamb of the guilt offering, and the priest is to take some of the blood of the guilt offering and put it on the right earlobe of the one being cleansed, on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot. \n\t\t\t The priest will then pour some of the olive oil into his own left hand,\n\t\t\t and sprinkle some of the olive oil that is in his left hand with his right forefinger seven times before the LORD. \n\t\t\t Then the priest is to put some of the olive oil that is in his hand on the right earlobe of the one being cleansed, on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot, on the place of the blood of the guilt offering, \n\t\t\t and the remainder of the olive oil that is in the hand of the priest he is to put on the head of the one being cleansed to make atonement for him before the LORD.\n\t\t\t \"He will then make one of the turtledoves or young pigeons, which are within his means,\n\t\t\t a sin offering and the other a burnt offering along with the grain offering. So the priest is to make atonement for the one being cleansed before the LORD. \n\t\t\t This is the law of the one in whom there is a diseased infection, who does not have sufficient means for his purification.\"\n\t\t\t The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron:\n\t\t\t \"When you enter the land of Canaan which I am about to give to you for a possession, and I put a diseased infection in a house in the land you are to possess,\n\t\t\t then whoever owns the house must come and declare to the priest, 'Something like an infection is visible to me in the house.' \n\t\t\t Then the priest will command that the house be cleared before the priest enters to examine the infection so that everything in the house does not become unclean, and afterward the priest will enter to examine the house. \n\t\t\t He is to examine the infection, and if the infection in the walls of the house consists of yellowish green or reddish eruptions, and it appears to be deeper than the surface of the wall,\n\t\t\t then the priest is to go out of the house to the doorway of the house and quarantine the house for seven days.\n\t\t\t The priest must return on the seventh day and examine it, and if the infection has spread in the walls of the house, \n\t\t\t then the priest is to command that the stones that had the infection in them be pulled and thrown outside the city into an unclean place. \n\t\t\t Then he is to have the house scraped all around on the inside, and the plaster which is scraped off must be dumped outside the city into an unclean place. \n\t\t\t They are then to take other stones and replace those stones, and he is to take other plaster and replaster the house.\n\t\t\t \"If the infection returns and breaks out in the house after he has pulled out the stones, scraped the house, and it is replastered,\n\t\t\t the priest is to come and examine it, and if the infection has spread in the house, it is a malignant disease in the house. It is unclean. \n\t\t\t He must tear down the house, its stones, its wood, and all the plaster of the house, and bring all of it outside the city to an unclean place. \n\t\t\t Anyone who enters the house all the days the priest has quarantined it will be unclean until evening. \n\t\t\t Anyone who lies down in the house must wash his clothes. Anyone who eats in the house must wash his clothes.\n\t\t\t \"If, however, the priest enters and examines it, and the infection has not spread in the house after the house has been replastered, then the priest is to pronounce the house clean because the infection has been healed. \n\t\t\t Then he is to take two birds, a piece of cedar wood, a scrap of crimson fabric, and some twigs of hyssop to decontaminate the house, \n\t\t\t and he is to slaughter one bird into a clay vessel over fresh water.\n\t\t\t He must then take the piece of cedar wood, the twigs of hyssop, the scrap of crimson fabric, and the live bird, and dip them in the blood of the slaughtered bird and in the fresh water, and sprinkle the house seven times.\n\t\t\t So he is to decontaminate the house with the blood of the bird, the fresh water, the live bird, the piece of cedar wood, the twigs of hyssop, and the scrap of crimson fabric,\n\t\t\t and he is to send the live bird away outside the city into the open countryside. So he is to make atonement for the house and it will be clean.\n\t\t\t \"This is the law for all diseased infections, for scall,\n\t\t\t for the diseased garment, for the house,\n\t\t\t for the swelling, for the scab, and for the bright spot,\n\t\t\t to teach when something is unclean and when it is clean. This is the law for dealing with infectious disease.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron:\n\t\t\t \"Speak to the Israelites and tell them, 'When any man has a discharge from his body, his discharge is unclean.\n\t\t\t Now this is his uncleanness in regard to his discharge, whether his body secretes his discharge or blocks his discharge, he is unclean. All the days that his body has a discharge or his body blocks his discharge, this is his uncleanness.\n\t\t\t \"'Any bed the man with a discharge lies on will be unclean, and any furniture he sits on will be unclean.\n\t\t\t Anyone who touches his bed must wash his clothes, bathe in water, and be unclean until evening.\n\t\t\t The one who sits on the furniture the man with a discharge sits on must wash his clothes, bathe in water, and be unclean until evening.\n\t\t\t The one who touches the body of the man with a discharge must wash his clothes, bathe in water, and be unclean until evening. \n\t\t\t If the man with a discharge spits on a person who is ceremonially clean, that person must wash his clothes, bathe in water, and be unclean until evening. \n\t\t\t Any means of riding the man with a discharge rides on will be unclean. \n\t\t\t Anyone who touches anything that was under him will be unclean until evening, and the one who carries those items must wash his clothes, bathe in water, and be unclean until evening. \n\t\t\t Anyone whom the man with the discharge touches without having rinsed his hands in water must wash his clothes, bathe in water, and be unclean until evening. \n\t\t\t A clay vessel which the man with the discharge touches must be broken, and any wooden utensil must be rinsed in water.\n\t\t\t \"'When the man with the discharge becomes clean from his discharge he is to count off for himself seven days for his purification, and he must wash his clothes, bathe in fresh water, and be clean. \n\t\t\t Then on the eighth day he is to take for himself two turtledoves or two young pigeons, and he is to present himself before the LORD at the entrance of the Meeting Tent and give them to the priest, \n\t\t\t and the priest is to make one of them a sin offering and the other a burnt offering. So the priest is to make atonement for him before the LORD for his discharge.\n\t\t\t \"'When a man has a seminal emission, he must bathe his whole body in water and be unclean until evening, \n\t\t\t and he must wash in water any clothing or leather that has semen on it, and it will be unclean until evening.\n\t\t\t When a man has sexual intercourse with a woman and there is a seminal emission, they must bathe in water and be unclean until evening.\n\t\t\t \"'When a woman has a discharge and her discharge is blood from her body, she is to be in her menstruation seven days, and anyone who touches her will be unclean until evening. \n\t\t\t Anything she lies on during her menstruation will be unclean, and anything she sits on will be unclean.\n\t\t\t Anyone who touches her bed must wash his clothes, bathe in water, and be unclean until evening.\n\t\t\t Anyone who touches any furniture she sits on must wash his clothes, bathe in water, and be unclean until evening.\n\t\t\t If there is something on the bed or on the furniture she sits on, when he touches it he will be unclean until evening, \n\t\t\t and if a man actually has sexual intercourse with her so that her menstrual impurity touches him, then he will be unclean seven days and any bed he lies on will be unclean.\n\t\t\t \"'When a woman's discharge of blood flows many days not at the time of her menstruation, or if it flows beyond the time of her menstruation, all the days of her discharge of impurity will be like the days of her menstruation, she is unclean.\n\t\t\t Any bed she lies on all the days of her discharge will be to her like the bed of her menstruation, any furniture she sits on will be unclean like the impurity of her menstruation,\n\t\t\t and anyone who touches them will be unclean, and he must wash his clothes, bathe in water, and be unclean until evening.\n\t\t\t \"'If she becomes clean from her discharge, then she is to count off for herself seven days, and afterward she will be clean. \n\t\t\t Then on the eighth day she must take for herself two turtledoves or two young pigeons and she must bring them to the priest at the entrance of the Meeting Tent, \n\t\t\t and the priest is to make one a sin offering and the other a burnt offering. So the priest is to make atonement for her before the LORD from her discharge of impurity.\n\t\t\t \"'Thus you are to set the Israelites apart from their impurity so that they do not die in their impurity by defiling my tabernacle which is in their midst. \n\t\t\t This is the law of the one with a discharge: the one who has a seminal emission and becomes unclean by it,\n\t\t\t the one who is sick in her menstruation, the one with a discharge, whether male or female, and a man who has sexual intercourse with an unclean woman.'\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses after the death of Aaron's two sons when they approached the presence of the LORD and died, \n\t\t\t and the LORD said to Moses: \"Tell Aaron your brother that he must not enter at any time into the holy place inside the veil-canopy in front of the atonement plate that is on the ark so that he may not die, for I will appear in the cloud over the atonement plate.\n\t\t\t \"In this way Aaron is to enter into the sanctuary, with a young bull for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering.\n\t\t\t He must put on a holy linen tunic, linen leggings are to cover his body, and he is to wrap himself with a linen sash and wrap his head with a linen turban. They are holy garments, so he must bathe his body in water and put them on. \n\t\t\t He must also take two male goats from the congregation of the Israelites for a sin offering and one ram for a burnt offering. \n\t\t\t Then Aaron is to present the sin offering bull which is for himself and is to make atonement on behalf of himself and his household.\n\t\t\t He must then take the two goats and stand them before the LORD at the entrance of the Meeting Tent, \n\t\t\t and Aaron is to cast lots over the two goats, one lot for the LORD and one lot for Azazel.\n\t\t\t Aaron must then present the goat which has been designated by lot for the LORD, and he is to make it a sin offering, \n\t\t\t but the goat which has been designated by lot for Azazel is to be stood alive before the LORD to make atonement on it by sending it away to Azazel into the wilderness.\n\t\t\t \"Aaron is to present the sin offering bull which is for himself, and he is to make atonement on behalf of himself and his household. He is to slaughter the sin offering bull which is for himself,\n\t\t\t and take a censer full of coals of fire from the altar before the LORD and a full double handful of finely ground fragrant incense, and bring them inside the veil-canopy.\n\t\t\t He must then put the incense on the fire before the LORD, and the cloud of incense will cover the atonement plate which is above the ark of the testimony, so that he will not die.\n\t\t\t Then he is to take some of the blood of the bull and sprinkle it with his finger on the eastern face of the atonement plate, and in front of the atonement plate he is to sprinkle some of the blood seven times with his finger.\n\t\t\t \"He must then slaughter the sin offering goat which is for the people. He is to bring its blood inside the veil-canopy, and he is to do with its blood just as he did to the blood of the bull: He is to sprinkle it on the atonement plate and in front of the atonement plate. \n\t\t\t So he is to make atonement for the holy place from the impurities of the Israelites and from their transgressions with regard to all their sins, and thus he is to do for the Meeting Tent which resides with them in the midst of their impurities. \n\t\t\t Nobody is to be in the Meeting Tent when he enters to make atonement in the holy place until he goes out, and he has made atonement on his behalf, on behalf of his household, and on behalf of the whole assembly of Israel.\n\t\t\t \"Then he is to go out to the altar which is before the LORD and make atonement for it. He is to take some of the blood of the bull and some of the blood of the goat, and put it all around on the horns of the altar. \n\t\t\t Then he is to sprinkle on it some of the blood with his finger seven times, and cleanse and consecrate it from the impurities of the Israelites.\n\t\t\t \"When he has finished purifying the holy place, the Meeting Tent, and the altar, he is to present the live goat. \n\t\t\t Aaron is to lay his two hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the iniquities of the Israelites and all their transgressions in regard to all their sins, and thus he is to put them on the head of the goat and send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a man standing ready.\n\t\t\t The goat is to bear on itself all their iniquities into an inaccessible land, so he is to send the goat away in the wilderness.\n\t\t\t \"Aaron must then enter the Meeting Tent and take off the linen garments which he had put on when he entered the sanctuary, and leave them there. \n\t\t\t Then he must bathe his body in water in a holy place, put on his clothes, and go out and make his burnt offering and the people's burnt offering. So he is to make atonement on behalf of himself and the people.\n\t\t\t \"Then he is to offer up the fat of the sin offering in smoke on the altar, \n\t\t\t and the one who sent the goat away to Azazel must wash his clothes, bathe his body in water, and afterward he may reenter the camp. \n\t\t\t The bull of the sin offering and the goat of the sin offering, whose blood was brought to make atonement in the holy place, must be brought outside the camp and their hide, their flesh, and their dung must be burned up,\n\t\t\t and the one who burns them must wash his clothes and bathe his body in water, and afterward he may reenter the camp.\n\t\t\t \"This is to be a perpetual statute for you. In the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you must humble yourselves and do no work of any kind, both the native citizen and the foreigner who resides in your midst, \n\t\t\t for on this day atonement is to be made for you to cleanse you from all your sins; you must be clean before the LORD.\n\t\t\t It is to be a Sabbath of complete rest for you, and you must humble yourselves. It is a perpetual statute.\n\t\t\t \"The priest who is anointed and ordained to act as high priest in place of his father is to make atonement. He is to put on the linen garments, the holy garments, \n\t\t\t and he is to purify the Most Holy Place, he is to purify the Meeting Tent and the altar, and he is to make atonement for the priests and for all the people of the assembly. \n\t\t\t This is to be a perpetual statute for you to make atonement for the Israelites for all their sins once a year.\" So he did just as the LORD had commanded Moses.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses:\n\t\t\t \"Speak to Aaron, his sons, and all the Israelites, and tell them: 'This is the word that the LORD has commanded:\n\t\t\t \"Blood guilt will be accounted to any man from the house of Israel who slaughters an ox or a lamb or a goat inside the camp or outside the camp,\n\t\t\t but has not brought it to the entrance of the Meeting Tent to present it as an offering to the LORD before the tabernacle of the LORD. He has shed blood, so that man will be cut off from the midst of his people.\n\t\t\t This is so that the Israelites will bring their sacrifices that they are sacrificing in the open field to the LORD at the entrance of the Meeting Tent to the priest and sacrifice them there as peace offering sacrifices to the LORD. \n\t\t\t The priest is to splash the blood on the altar of the LORD at the entrance of the Meeting Tent, and offer the fat up in smoke for a soothing aroma to the LORD. \n\t\t\t So they must no longer offer their sacrifices to the goat demons, acting like prostitutes by going after them. This is to be a perpetual statute for them throughout their generations.\n\t\t\t \"You are to say to them: 'Any man from the house of Israel or from the foreigners who reside in their midst, who offers a burnt offering or a sacrifice \n\t\t\t but does not bring it to the entrance of the Meeting Tent to offer it to the LORD, that person will be cut off from his people.\n\t\t\t \"'Any man from the house of Israel or from the foreigners who reside in their midst who eats any blood, I will set my face against that person who eats the blood, and I will cut him off from the midst of his people,\n\t\t\t for the life of every living thing is in the blood. So I myself have assigned it to you on the altar to make atonement for your lives, for the blood makes atonement by means of the life.\n\t\t\t Therefore, I have said to the Israelites: No person among you is to eat blood, and no resident foreigner who lives among you is to eat blood.\n\t\t\t \"'Any man from the Israelites or from the foreigners who reside in their midst who hunts a wild animal or a bird that may be eaten must pour out its blood and cover it with soil, \n\t\t\t for the life of all flesh is its blood. So I have said to the Israelites: You must not eat the blood of any living thing because the life of every living thing is its blood, all who eat it will be cut off.\n\t\t\t \"'Any person who eats an animal that has died of natural causes or an animal torn by beasts, whether a native citizen or a foreigner, must wash his clothes, bathe in water, and be unclean until evening; then he becomes clean. \n\t\t\t But if he does not wash his clothes and does not bathe his body, he will bear his punishment for iniquity.'\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses:\n\t\t\t \"Speak to the Israelites and tell them, 'I am the LORD your God!\n\t\t\t You must not do as they do in the land of Egypt where you have been living, and you must not do as they do in the land of Canaan into which I am about to bring you; you must not walk in their statutes. \n\t\t\t You must observe my regulations and you must be sure to walk in my statutes. I am the LORD your God. \n\t\t\t So you must keep my statutes and my regulations; anyone who does so will live by keeping them. I am the LORD.\n\t\t\t \"'No man is to approach any close relative to have sexual intercourse with her. I am the LORD.\n\t\t\t You must not expose your father's nakedness by having sexual intercourse with your mother. She is your mother; you must not have intercourse with her. \n\t\t\t You must not have sexual intercourse with your father's wife; she is your father's nakedness.\n\t\t\t You must not have sexual intercourse with your sister, whether she is your father's daughter or your mother's daughter, whether she is born in the same household or born outside it; you must not have sexual intercourse with either of them.\n\t\t\t You must not expose the nakedness of your son's daughter or your daughter's daughter by having sexual intercourse with them, because they are your own nakedness.\n\t\t\t You must not have sexual intercourse with the daughter of your father's wife born of your father; she is your sister. You must not have intercourse with her.\n\t\t\t You must not have sexual intercourse with your father's sister; she is your father's flesh.\n\t\t\t You must not have sexual intercourse with your mother's sister, because she is your mother's flesh.\n\t\t\t You must not expose the nakedness of your father's brother; you must not approach his wife to have sexual intercourse with her. She is your aunt.\n\t\t\t You must not have sexual intercourse with your daughter-in-law; she is your son's wife. You must not have intercourse with her.\n\t\t\t You must not have sexual intercourse with your brother's wife; she is your brother's nakedness.\n\t\t\t You must not have sexual intercourse with both a woman and her daughter; you must not take as wife either her son's daughter or her daughter's daughter to have intercourse with them. They are closely related to her, it is lewdness.\n\t\t\t You must not take a woman in marriage and then marry her sister as a rival wife while she is still alive, to have sexual intercourse with her.\n\t\t\t \"'You must not approach a woman in her menstrual impurity to have sexual intercourse with her. \n\t\t\t You must not have sexual intercourse with the wife of your fellow citizen to become unclean with her. \n\t\t\t You must not give any of your children as an offering to Molech, so that you do not profane the name of your God. I am the LORD! \n\t\t\t You must not have sexual intercourse with a male as one has sexual intercourse with a woman; it is a detestable act.\n\t\t\t You must not have sexual intercourse with any animal to become defiled with it, and a woman must not stand before an animal to have sexual intercourse with it; it is a perversion.\n\t\t\t \"'Do not defile yourselves with any of these things, for the nations which I am about to drive out before you have been defiled with all these things. \n\t\t\t Therefore the land has become unclean and I have brought the punishment for its iniquity upon it, so that the land has vomited out its inhabitants.\n\t\t\t You yourselves must obey my statutes and my regulations and must not do any of these abominations, both the native citizen and the resident foreigner in your midst,\n\t\t\t for the people who were in the land before you have done all these abominations, and the land has become unclean. \n\t\t\t So do not make the land vomit you out because you defile it just as it has vomited out the nations that were before you. \n\t\t\t For if anyone does any of these abominations, the persons who do them will be cut off from the midst of their people.\n\t\t\t You must obey my charge to not practice any of the abominable statutes that have been done before you, so that you do not defile yourselves by them. I am the LORD your God.'\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses:\n\t\t\t \"Speak to the whole congregation of the Israelites and tell them, 'You must be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.\n\t\t\t Each of you must respect his mother and his father, and you must keep my Sabbaths. I am the LORD your God. \n\t\t\t Do not turn to idols, and you must not make for yourselves gods of cast metal. I am the LORD your God.\n\t\t\t \"'When you sacrifice a peace offering sacrifice to the LORD, you must sacrifice it so that it is accepted for you.\n\t\t\t It must be eaten on the day of your sacrifice and on the following day, but what is left over until the third day must be burned up.\n\t\t\t If, however, it is eaten on the third day, it is spoiled, it will not be accepted, \n\t\t\t and the one who eats it will bear his punishment for iniquity because he has profaned what is holy to the LORD. That person will be cut off from his people.\n\t\t\t \"'When you gather in the harvest of your land, you must not completely harvest the corner of your field, and you must not gather up the gleanings of your harvest. \n\t\t\t You must not pick your vineyard bare, and you must not gather up the fallen grapes of your vineyard. You must leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the LORD your God.\n\t\t\t \"'You must not steal, you must not tell lies, and you must not deal falsely with your fellow citizen.\n\t\t\t You must not swear falsely in my name, so that you do not profane the name of your God. I am the LORD. \n\t\t\t You must not oppress your neighbor or commit robbery against him. You must not withhold the wages of the hired laborer overnight until morning. \n\t\t\t You must not curse a deaf person or put a stumbling block in front of a blind person. You must fear your God; I am the LORD.\n\t\t\t \"'You must not deal unjustly in judgment: you must neither show partiality to the poor nor honor the rich. You must judge your fellow citizen fairly.\n\t\t\t You must not go about as a slanderer among your people. You must not stand idly by when your neighbor's life is at stake. I am the LORD. \n\t\t\t You must not hate your brother in your heart. You must surely reprove your fellow citizen so that you do not incur sin on account of him.\n\t\t\t You must not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the children of your people, but you must love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD. \n\t\t\t You must keep my statutes. You must not allow two different kinds of your animals to breed, you must not sow your field with two different kinds of seed, and you must not wear a garment made of two different kinds of fabric.\n\t\t\t \"'When a man has sexual intercourse with a woman, although she is a slave woman designated for another man and she has not yet been ransomed, or freedom has not been granted to her, there will be an obligation to pay compensation. They must not be put to death, because she was not free. \n\t\t\t He must bring his guilt offering to the LORD at the entrance of the Meeting Tent, a guilt offering ram,\n\t\t\t and the priest is to make atonement for him with the ram of the guilt offering before the LORD for his sin that he has committed, and he will be forgiven of his sin that he has committed.\n\t\t\t \"'When you enter the land and plant any fruit tree, you must consider its fruit to be forbidden. Three years it will be forbidden to you; it must not be eaten. \n\t\t\t In the fourth year all its fruit will be holy, praise offerings to the LORD. \n\t\t\t Then in the fifth year you may eat its fruit to add its produce to your harvest. I am the LORD your God.\n\t\t\t \"'You must not eat anything with the blood still in it. You must not practice either divination or soothsaying.\n\t\t\t You must not round off the corners of the hair on your head or ruin the corners of your beard.\n\t\t\t You must not slash your body for a dead person or incise a tattoo on yourself. I am the LORD.\n\t\t\t Do not profane your daughter by making her a prostitute, so that the land does not practice prostitution and become full of lewdness.\n\t\t\t \"'You must keep my Sabbaths and fear my sanctuary. I am the LORD.\n\t\t\t Do not turn to the spirits of the dead and do not seek familiar spirits to become unclean by them. I am the LORD your God. \n\t\t\t You must stand up in the presence of the aged, honor the presence of an elder, and fear your God. I am the LORD.\n\t\t\t When a foreigner resides with you in your land, you must not oppress him. \n\t\t\t The foreigner who resides with you must be to you like a native citizen among you; so you must love him as yourself, because you were foreigners in the land of Egypt. I am the LORD your God. \n\t\t\t You must not do injustice in the regulation of measures, whether of length, weight, or volume.\n\t\t\t You must have honest balances, honest weights, an honest ephah, and an honest hin. I am the LORD your God who brought you out from the land of Egypt. \n\t\t\t You must be sure to obey all my statutes and regulations. I am the LORD.'\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses:\n\t\t\t \"You are to say to the Israelites, 'Any man from the Israelites or from the foreigners who reside in Israel who gives any of his children to Molech must be put to death; the people of the land must pelt him with stones.\n\t\t\t I myself will set my face against that man and cut him off from the midst of his people, because he has given some of his children to Molech and thereby defiled my sanctuary and profaned my holy name.\n\t\t\t If, however, the people of the land shut their eyes to that man when he gives some of his children to Molech so that they do not put him to death, \n\t\t\t I myself will set my face against that man and his clan. I will cut off from the midst of their people both him and all who follow after him in spiritual prostitution, to commit prostitution by worshiping Molech.\n\t\t\t \"'The person who turns to the spirits of the dead and familiar spirits to commit prostitution by going after them, I will set my face against that person and cut him off from the midst of his people.\n\t\t\t \"'You must sanctify yourselves and be holy, because I am the LORD your God.\n\t\t\t You must be sure to obey my statutes. I am the LORD who sanctifies you.\n\t\t\t \"'If anyone curses his father and mother he must be put to death. He has cursed his father and mother; his blood guilt is on himself.\n\t\t\t If a man commits adultery with his neighbor's wife, both the adulterer and the adulteress must be put to death. \n\t\t\t If a man has sexual intercourse with his father's wife, he has exposed his father's nakedness. Both of them must be put to death; their blood guilt is on themselves.\n\t\t\t If a man has sexual intercourse with his daughter-in-law, both of them must be put to death. They have committed perversion; their blood guilt is on themselves. \n\t\t\t If a man has sexual intercourse with a male as one has sexual intercourse with a woman, the two of them have committed an abomination. They must be put to death; their blood guilt is on themselves.\n\t\t\t If a man has sexual intercourse with both a woman and her mother, it is lewdness. Both he and they must be burned to death, so there is no lewdness in your midst. \n\t\t\t If a man has sexual intercourse with any animal, he must be put to death, and you must kill the animal. \n\t\t\t If a woman approaches any animal to have sexual intercourse with it, you must kill the woman, and the animal must be put to death; their blood guilt is on themselves.\n\t\t\t \"'If a man has sexual intercourse with his sister, whether the daughter of his father or his mother, so that he sees her nakedness and she sees his nakedness, it is a disgrace. They must be cut off in the sight of the children of their people. He has exposed his sister's nakedness; he will bear his punishment for iniquity.\n\t\t\t If a man has sexual intercourse with a menstruating woman and uncovers her nakedness, he has laid bare her fountain of blood and she has exposed the fountain of her blood, so both of them must be cut off from the midst of their people. \n\t\t\t You must not expose the nakedness of your mother's sister and your father's sister, for such a person has laid bare his own close relative. They must bear their punishment for iniquity.\n\t\t\t If a man has sexual intercourse with his aunt, he has exposed his uncle's nakedness; they must bear responsibility for their sin, they will die childless.\n\t\t\t If a man has sexual intercourse with his brother's wife, it is indecency. He has exposed his brother's nakedness; they will be childless.\n\t\t\t \"'You must be sure to obey all my statutes and regulations, so that the land to which I am about to bring you to take up residence there does not vomit you out. \n\t\t\t You must not walk in the statutes of the nation which I am about to drive out before you, because they have done all these things and I am filled with disgust against them. \n\t\t\t So I have said to you: You yourselves will possess their land and I myself will give it to you for a possession, a land flowing with milk and honey. I am the LORD your God who has set you apart from the other peoples.\n\t\t\t Therefore you must distinguish between the clean animal and the unclean, and between the unclean bird and the clean, and you must not make yourselves detestable by means of an animal or bird or anything that creeps on the ground, creatures I have distinguished for you as unclean.\n\t\t\t You must be holy to me because I, the LORD, am holy, and I have set you apart from the other peoples to be mine.\n\t\t\t \"'A man or woman who has in them a spirit of the dead or a familiar spirit must be put to death. They must pelt them with stones; their blood guilt is on themselves.'\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Moses: \"Say to the priests, the sons of Aaron, say to them, 'For a dead person no priest is to defile himself among his people,\n\t\t\t except for his close relative who is near to him: his mother, his father, his son, his daughter, his brother, \n\t\t\t and his virgin sister who is near to him, who has no husband; he may defile himself for her. \n\t\t\t He must not defile himself as a husband among his people so as to profane himself.\n\t\t\t Priests must not have a bald spot shaved on their head, they must not shave the corner of their beard, and they must not cut slashes in their body.\n\t\t\t \"'They must be holy to their God, and they must not profane the name of their God, because they are the ones who present the LORD's gifts, the food of their God. Therefore they must be holy.\n\t\t\t They must not take a wife defiled by prostitution, nor are they to take a wife divorced from her husband, for the priest is holy to his God.\n\t\t\t You must sanctify him because he presents the food of your God. He must be holy to you because I, the LORD who sanctifies you all, am holy.\n\t\t\t If a daughter of a priest profanes herself by engaging in prostitution, she is profaning her father. She must be burned to death.\n\t\t\t \"'The high priest, who is greater than his brothers, on whose head the anointing oil is poured, who has been ordained to wear the priestly garments, must neither dishevel the hair of his head nor tear his garments.\n\t\t\t He must not go where there is any dead person; he must not defile himself even for his father and his mother. \n\t\t\t He must not go out from the sanctuary and must not profane the sanctuary of his God, because the dedication of the anointing oil of his God is on him. I am the LORD. \n\t\t\t He must take a wife who is a virgin.\n\t\t\t He must not marry a widow, a divorced woman, or one profaned by prostitution; he may only take a virgin from his people as a wife. \n\t\t\t He must not profane his children among his people, for I am the LORD who sanctifies him.'\"\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses:\n\t\t\t \"Tell Aaron, 'No man from your descendants throughout their generations who has a physical flaw is to approach to present the food of his God. \n\t\t\t Certainly no man who has a physical flaw is to approach: a blind man, or one who is lame, or one with a slit nose, or a limb too long, \n\t\t\t or a man who has had a broken leg or arm,\n\t\t\t or a hunchback, or a dwarf, or one with a spot in his eye, or a festering eruption, or a feverish rash, or a crushed testicle. \n\t\t\t No man from the descendants of Aaron the priest who has a physical flaw may step forward to present the LORD's gifts; he has a physical flaw, so he must not step forward to present the food of his God. \n\t\t\t He may eat both the most holy and the holy food of his God,\n\t\t\t but he must not go into the veil-canopy or step forward to the altar because he has a physical flaw. Thus he must not profane my holy places, for I am the LORD who sanctifies them.'\"\n\t\t\t So Moses spoke these things to Aaron, his sons, and all the Israelites.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses:\n\t\t\t \"Tell Aaron and his sons that they must deal respectfully with the holy offerings of the Israelites, which they consecrate to me, so that they do not profane my holy name. I am the LORD. \n\t\t\t Say to them, 'Throughout your generations, if any man from all your descendants approaches the holy offerings which the Israelites consecrate to the LORD while he is impure, that person must be cut off from before me. I am the LORD. \n\t\t\t No man from the descendants of Aaron who is diseased or has a discharge may eat the holy offerings until he becomes clean. The one who touches anything made unclean by contact with a dead person, or a man who has a seminal emission,\n\t\t\t or a man who touches a swarming thing by which he becomes unclean, or touches a person by which he becomes unclean, whatever that person's impurity,\n\t\t\t the person who touches any of these will be unclean until evening and must not eat from the holy offerings unless he has bathed his body in water.\n\t\t\t When the sun goes down he will be clean, and afterward he may eat from the holy offerings, because they are his food.\n\t\t\t He must not eat an animal that has died of natural causes or an animal torn by beasts and thus become unclean by it. I am the LORD. \n\t\t\t They must keep my charge so that they do not incur sin on account of it and therefore die because they profane it. I am the LORD who sanctifies them.\n\t\t\t \"'No lay person may eat anything holy. Neither a priest's lodger nor a hired laborer may eat anything holy, \n\t\t\t but if a priest buys a person with his own money, that person may eat the holy offerings, and those born in the priest's own house may eat his food.\n\t\t\t If a priest's daughter marries a lay person, she may not eat the holy contribution offerings,\n\t\t\t but if a priest's daughter is a widow or divorced, and she has no children so that she returns to live in her father's house as in her youth, she may eat from her father's food, but no lay person may eat it.\n\t\t\t \"'If a man eats a holy offering by mistake, he must add one fifth to it and give the holy offering to the priest.\n\t\t\t They must not profane the holy offerings which the Israelites contribute to the LORD,\n\t\t\t and so cause them to incur a penalty for guilt when they eat their holy offerings, for I am the LORD who sanctifies them.'\"\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses:\n\t\t\t \"Speak to Aaron, his sons, and all the Israelites and tell them, 'When any man from the house of Israel or from the foreigners in Israel presents his offering for any of the votive or freewill offerings which they present to the LORD as a burnt offering, \n\t\t\t if it is to be acceptable for your benefit it must be a flawless male from the cattle, sheep, or goats. \n\t\t\t You must not present anything that has a flaw, because it will not be acceptable for your benefit.\n\t\t\t If a man presents a peace offering sacrifice to the LORD for a special votive offering or for a freewill offering from the herd or the flock, it must be flawless to be acceptable; it must have no flaw.\n\t\t\t \"'You must not present to the LORD something blind, or with a broken bone, or mutilated, or with a running sore, or with a festering eruption, or with a feverish rash. You must not give any of these as a gift on the altar to the LORD. \n\t\t\t As for an ox or a sheep with a limb too long or stunted, you may present it as a freewill offering, but it will not be acceptable for a votive offering.\n\t\t\t You must not present to the LORD something with testicles that are bruised, crushed, torn, or cut off; you must not do this in your land. \n\t\t\t Even from a foreigner you must not present the food of your God from such animals as these, for they are ruined and flawed; they will not be acceptable for your benefit.'\"\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses:\n\t\t\t \"When an ox, lamb, or goat is born, it must be under the care of its mother seven days, but from the eighth day onward it will be acceptable as an offering gift to the LORD. \n\t\t\t You must not slaughter an ox or a sheep and its young on the same day.\n\t\t\t When you sacrifice a thanksgiving offering to the LORD, you must sacrifice it so that it is acceptable for your benefit.\n\t\t\t On that very day it must be eaten; you must not leave any part of it over until morning. I am the LORD.\n\t\t\t \"You must be sure to do my commandments. I am the LORD. \n\t\t\t You must not profane my holy name, and I will be sanctified in the midst of the Israelites. I am the LORD who sanctifies you,\n\t\t\t the one who brought you out from the land of Egypt to be your God. I am the LORD.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses:\n\t\t\t \"Speak to the Israelites and tell them, 'These are the LORD's appointed times which you must proclaim as holy assemblies, my appointed times:\n\t\t\t \"'Six days work may be done, but on the seventh day there must be a Sabbath of complete rest, a holy assembly. You must not do any work; it is a Sabbath to the LORD in all the places where you live.\n\t\t\t \"'These are the LORD's appointed times, holy assemblies, which you must proclaim at their appointed time.\n\t\t\t In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, at twilight, is a Passover offering to the LORD. \n\t\t\t Then on the fifteenth day of the same month will be the festival of unleavened bread to the LORD; seven days you must eat unleavened bread. \n\t\t\t On the first day there will be a holy assembly for you; you must not do any regular work.\n\t\t\t You must present a gift to the LORD for seven days, and the seventh day is a holy assembly; you must not do any regular work.'\"\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses:\n\t\t\t \"Speak to the Israelites and tell them, 'When you enter the land that I am about to give to you and you gather in its harvest, then you must bring the sheaf of the first portion of your harvest to the priest, \n\t\t\t and he must wave the sheaf before the LORD to be accepted for your benefit, on the day after the Sabbath the priest is to wave it.\n\t\t\t On the day you wave the sheaf you must also offer a flawless yearling lamb for a burnt offering to the LORD, \n\t\t\t along with its grain offering, two tenths of an ephah of choice wheat flour mixed with olive oil, as a gift to the LORD, a soothing aroma, and its drink offering, one fourth of a hin of wine.\n\t\t\t You must not eat bread, roasted grain, or fresh grain until this very day, until you bring the offering of your God. This is a perpetual statute throughout your generations in all the places where you live.\n\t\t\t \"'You must count for yourselves seven weeks from the day after the Sabbath, from the day you bring the wave offering sheaf; they must be complete weeks.\n\t\t\t You must count fifty days, until the day after the seventh Sabbath, and then you must present a new grain offering to the LORD.\n\t\t\t From the places where you live you must bring two loaves of bread for a wave offering; they must be made from two tenths of an ephah of fine wheat flour, baked with yeast, as first fruits to the LORD. \n\t\t\t Along with the loaves of bread, you must also present seven flawless yearling lambs, one young bull, and two rams. They are to be a burnt offering to the LORD along with their grain offering and drink offerings, a gift of a soothing aroma to the LORD.\n\t\t\t You must also offer one male goat for a sin offering and two yearling lambs for a peace offering sacrifice, \n\t\t\t and the priest is to wave them, the two lambs, along with the bread of the first fruits, as a wave offering before the LORD; they will be holy to the LORD for the priest.\n\t\t\t \"'On this very day you must proclaim an assembly; it is to be a holy assembly for you. You must not do any regular work. This is a perpetual statute in all the places where you live throughout your generations.\n\t\t\t When you gather in the harvest of your land, you must not completely harvest the corner of your field, and you must not gather up the gleanings of your harvest. You must leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the LORD your God.'\"\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses:\n\t\t\t \"Tell the Israelites, 'In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you must have a complete rest, a memorial announced by loud horn blasts, a holy assembly. \n\t\t\t You must not do any regular work, but you must present a gift to the LORD.'\"\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses:\n\t\t\t \"The tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. It is to be a holy assembly for you, and you must humble yourselves and present a gift to the LORD. \n\t\t\t You must not do any work on this particular day, because it is a day of atonement to make atonement for yourselves before the LORD your God. \n\t\t\t Indeed, any person who does not behave with humility on this particular day will be cut off from his people.\n\t\t\t As for any person who does any work on this particular day, I will exterminate that person from the midst of his people!\n\t\t\t You must not do any work. This is a perpetual statute throughout your generations in all the places where you live. \n\t\t\t It is a Sabbath of complete rest for you, and you must humble yourselves on the ninth day of the month in the evening, from evening until evening you must observe your Sabbath.\"\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses:\n\t\t\t \"Tell the Israelites, 'On the fifteenth day of this seventh month is the Festival of Temporary Shelters for seven days to the LORD. \n\t\t\t On the first day is a holy assembly; you must do no regular work.\n\t\t\t For seven days you must present a gift to the LORD. On the eighth day there is to be a holy assembly for you, and you must present a gift to the LORD. It is a solemn assembly day; you must not do any regular work.\n\t\t\t \"'These are the appointed times of the LORD that you must proclaim as holy assemblies to present a gift to the LORD, burnt offering, grain offering, sacrifice, and drink offerings, each day according to its regulation,\n\t\t\t besides the Sabbaths of the LORD and all your gifts, votive offerings, and freewill offerings which you must give to the LORD.\n\t\t\t \"'On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you gather in the produce of the land, you must celebrate a pilgrim festival of the LORD for seven days. On the first day is a complete rest and on the eighth day is complete rest. \n\t\t\t On the first day you must take for yourselves branches from majestic trees, palm branches, branches of leafy trees, and willows of the brook, and you must rejoice before the LORD your God for seven days.\n\t\t\t You must celebrate it as a pilgrim festival to the LORD for seven days in the year. This is a perpetual statute throughout your generations; you must celebrate it in the seventh month. \n\t\t\t You must live in temporary shelters for seven days; every native citizen in Israel must live in temporary shelters, \n\t\t\t so that your future generations may know that I made the Israelites live in temporary shelters when I brought them out from the land of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.'\"\n\t\t\t So Moses spoke to the Israelites about the appointed times of the LORD.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses:\n\t\t\t \"Command the Israelites to bring to you pure oil of beaten olives for the light, to make a lamp burn continually.\n\t\t\t Outside the veil-canopy of the congregation in the Meeting Tent Aaron must arrange it from evening until morning before the LORD continually. This is a perpetual statute throughout your generations.\n\t\t\t On the ceremonially pure lampstand he must arrange the lamps before the LORD continually.\n\t\t\t \"You must take choice wheat flour and bake twelve loaves; there must be two tenths of an ephah of flour in each loaf, \n\t\t\t and you must set them in two rows, six in a row, on the ceremonially pure table before the LORD. \n\t\t\t You must put pure frankincense on each row, and it will become a memorial portion for the bread, a gift to the LORD.\n\t\t\t Each Sabbath day Aaron must arrange it before the LORD continually; this portion is from the Israelites as a perpetual covenant. \n\t\t\t It will belong to Aaron and his sons, and they must eat it in a holy place because it is most holy to him, a perpetual allotted portion from the gifts of the LORD.\"\n\t\t\t Now an Israelite woman's son whose father was an Egyptian went out among the Israelites, and the Israelite woman's son and an Israelite man had a fight in the camp.\n\t\t\t The Israelite woman's son misused the Name and cursed, so they brought him to Moses. (Now his mother's name was Shelomith daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan.)\n\t\t\t So they placed him in custody until they were able to make a clear legal decision for themselves based on words from the mouth of the LORD.\n\t\t\t Then the LORD spoke to Moses:\n\t\t\t \"Bring the one who cursed outside the camp, and all who heard him are to lay their hands on his head, and the whole congregation is to stone him to death.\n\t\t\t Moreover, you are to tell the Israelites, 'If any man curses his God he will bear responsibility for his sin, \n\t\t\t and one who misuses the name of the LORD must surely be put to death. The whole congregation must surely stone him, whether he is a foreigner or a native citizen; when he misuses the Name he must be put to death.\n\t\t\t \"'If a man beats any person to death, he must be put to death. \n\t\t\t One who beats an animal to death must make restitution for it, life for life.\n\t\t\t If a man inflicts an injury on his fellow citizen, just as he has done it must be done to him,\n\t\t\t fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, just as he inflicts an injury on another person that same injury must be inflicted on him.\n\t\t\t One who beats an animal to death must make restitution for it, but one who beats a person to death must be put to death. \n\t\t\t There will be one regulation for you, whether a foreigner or a native citizen, for I am the LORD your God.'\"\n\t\t\t Then Moses spoke to the Israelites and they brought the one who cursed outside the camp and stoned him with stones. So the Israelites did just as the LORD had commanded Moses.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses at Mount Sinai:\n\t\t\t \"Speak to the Israelites and tell them, 'When you enter the land that I am giving you, the land must observe a Sabbath to the LORD. \n\t\t\t Six years you may sow your field, and six years you may prune your vineyard and gather the produce,\n\t\t\t but in the seventh year the land must have a Sabbath of complete rest, a Sabbath to the LORD. You must not sow your field or prune your vineyard.\n\t\t\t You must not gather in the aftergrowth of your harvest and you must not pick the grapes of your unpruned vines; the land must have a year of complete rest. \n\t\t\t You may have the Sabbath produce of the land to eat, you, your male servant, your female servant, your hired worker, the resident foreigner who stays with you,\n\t\t\t your cattle, and the wild animals that are in your land, all its produce will be for you to eat.\n\t\t\t \"'You must count off seven weeks of years, seven times seven years, and the days of the seven weeks of years will amount to forty-nine years.\n\t\t\t You must sound loud horn blasts, in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, on the Day of Atonement, you must sound the horn in your entire land.\n\t\t\t So you must consecrate the fiftieth year, and you must proclaim a release in the land for all its inhabitants. That year will be your jubilee; each one of you must return to his property and each one of you must return to his clan. \n\t\t\t That fiftieth year will be your jubilee; you must not sow the land, harvest its aftergrowth, or pick the grapes of its unpruned vines.\n\t\t\t Because that year is a jubilee, it will be holy to you, you may eat its produce from the field.\n\t\t\t \"'In this year of jubilee you must each return to your property. \n\t\t\t If you make a sale to your fellow citizen or buy from your fellow citizen, no one is to wrong his brother.\n\t\t\t You may buy it from your fellow citizen according to the number of years since the last jubilee; he may sell it to you according to the years of produce that are left.\n\t\t\t The more years there are, the more you may make its purchase price, and the fewer years there are, the less you must make its purchase price, because he is only selling to you a number of years of produce. \n\t\t\t No one is to oppress his fellow citizen, but you must fear your God, because I am the LORD your God. \n\t\t\t You must obey my statutes and my regulations; you must be sure to keep them so that you may live securely in the land.\n\t\t\t \"'The land will give its fruit and you may eat until you are satisfied, and you may live securely in the land. \n\t\t\t If you say, 'What will we eat in the seventh year if we do not sow and gather our produce?'\n\t\t\t I will command my blessing for you in the sixth year so that it may yield the produce for three years, \n\t\t\t and you may sow the eighth year and eat from that sixth year's produce, old produce. Until you bring in the ninth year's produce, you may eat old produce.\n\t\t\t The land must not be sold without reclaim because the land belongs to me, for you are foreigners and residents with me.\n\t\t\t In all your landed property you must provide for the right of redemption of the land.\n\t\t\t \"'If your brother becomes impoverished and sells some of his property, his near redeemer is to come to you and redeem what his brother sold.\n\t\t\t If a man has no redeemer, but he prospers and gains enough for its redemption,\n\t\t\t he is to calculate the value of the years it was sold, refund the balance to the man to whom he had sold it, and return to his property. \n\t\t\t If he has not prospered enough to refund a balance to him, then what he sold will belong to the one who bought it until the jubilee year, but it must revert in the jubilee and the original owner may return to his property.\n\t\t\t \"'If a man sells a residential house in a walled city, its right of redemption must extend until one full year from its sale; its right of redemption must extend to a full calendar year.\n\t\t\t If it is not redeemed before the full calendar year is ended, the house in the walled city will belong without reclaim to the one who bought it throughout his generations; it will not revert in the jubilee. \n\t\t\t The houses of villages, however, which have no wall surrounding them must be considered as the field of the land; they will have the right of redemption and must revert in the jubilee. \n\t\t\t As for the cities of the Levites, the houses in the cities which they possess, the Levites must have a perpetual right of redemption. \n\t\t\t Whatever someone among the Levites might redeem, the sale of a house which is his property in a city, must revert in the jubilee, because the houses of the cities of the Levites are their property in the midst of the Israelites.\n\t\t\t Moreover, the open field areas of their cities must not be sold, because that is their perpetual possession.\n\t\t\t \"'If your brother becomes impoverished and is indebted to you, you must support him; he must live with you like a foreign resident.\n\t\t\t Do not take interest or profit from him, but you must fear your God and your brother must live with you. \n\t\t\t You must not lend him your money at interest and you must not sell him food for profit.\n\t\t\t I am the LORD your God who brought you out from the land of Egypt to give you the land of Canaan, to be your God.\n\t\t\t \"'If your brother becomes impoverished with regard to you so that he sells himself to you, you must not subject him to slave service.\n\t\t\t He must be with you as a hired worker, as a resident foreigner; he must serve with you until the year of jubilee, \n\t\t\t but then he may go free, he and his children with him, and may return to his family and to the property of his ancestors.\n\t\t\t Since they are my servants whom I brought out from the land of Egypt, they must not be sold in a slave sale.\n\t\t\t You must not rule over him harshly, but you must fear your God.\n\t\t\t \"'As for your male and female slaves who may belong to you, you may buy male and female slaves from the nations all around you.\n\t\t\t Also you may buy slaves from the children of the foreigners who reside with you, and from their families that are with you, whom they have fathered in your land, they may become your property. \n\t\t\t You may give them as inheritance to your children after you to possess as property. You may enslave them perpetually. However, as for your brothers the Israelites, no man may rule over his brother harshly.\n\t\t\t \"'If a resident foreigner who is with you prospers and your brother becomes impoverished with regard to him so that he sells himself to a resident foreigner who is with you or to a member of a foreigner's family, \n\t\t\t after he has sold himself he retains a right of redemption. One of his brothers may redeem him, \n\t\t\t or his uncle or his cousin may redeem him, or anyone of the rest of his blood relatives, his family, may redeem him, or if he prospers he may redeem himself.\n\t\t\t He must calculate with the one who bought him the number of years from the year he sold himself to him until the jubilee year, and the cost of his sale must correspond to the number of years, according to the rate of wages a hired worker would have earned while with him.\n\t\t\t If there are still many years, in keeping with them he must refund most of the cost of his purchase for his redemption, \n\t\t\t but if only a few years remain until the jubilee, he must calculate for himself in keeping with the remaining years and refund it for his redemption. \n\t\t\t He must be with the one who bought him like a yearly hired worker. The one who bought him must not rule over him harshly in your sight. \n\t\t\t If, however, he is not redeemed in these ways, he must go free in the jubilee year, he and his children with him, \n\t\t\t because the Israelites are my own servants; they are my servants whom I brought out from the land of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t \"'You must not make for yourselves idols, so you must not set up for yourselves a carved image or a pillar, and you must not place a sculpted stone in your land to bow down before it, for I am the LORD your God. \n\t\t\t You must keep my Sabbaths and reverence my sanctuary. I am the LORD.\n\t\t\t \"'If you walk in my statutes and are sure to obey my commandments,\n\t\t\t I will give you your rains in their time so that the land will give its yield and the trees of the field will produce their fruit.\n\t\t\t Threshing season will extend for you until the season for harvesting grapes, and the season for harvesting grapes will extend until sowing season, so you will eat your bread until you are satisfied, and you will live securely in your land. \n\t\t\t I will grant peace in the land so that you will lie down to sleep without anyone terrifying you. I will remove harmful animals from the land, and no sword of war will pass through your land. \n\t\t\t You will pursue your enemies and they will fall before you by the sword.\n\t\t\t Five of you will pursue a hundred, and a hundred of you will pursue ten thousand, and your enemies will fall before you by the sword.\n\t\t\t I will turn to you, make you fruitful, multiply you, and maintain my covenant with you. \n\t\t\t You will still be eating stored produce from the previous year and will have to clean out what is stored from the previous year to make room for new.\n\t\t\t \"'I will put my tabernacle in your midst and I will not abhor you.\n\t\t\t I will walk among you, and I will be your God and you will be my people.\n\t\t\t I am the LORD your God who brought you out from the land of Egypt, from being their slaves, and I broke the bars of your yoke and caused you to walk upright.\n\t\t\t \"'If, however, you do not obey me and keep all these commandments,\n\t\t\t if you reject my statutes and abhor my regulations so that you do not keep all my commandments and you break my covenant,\n\t\t\t I for my part will do this to you: I will inflict horror on you, consumption and fever, which diminish eyesight and drain away the vitality of life. You will sow your seed in vain because your enemies will eat it.\n\t\t\t I will set my face against you. You will be struck down before your enemies, those who hate you will rule over you, and you will flee when there is no one pursuing you.\n\t\t\t \"'If, in spite of all these things, you do not obey me, I will discipline you seven times more on account of your sins.\n\t\t\t I will break your strong pride and make your sky like iron and your land like bronze.\n\t\t\t Your strength will be used up in vain, your land will not give its yield, and the trees of the land will not produce their fruit.\n\t\t\t \"'If you walk in hostility against me and are not willing to obey me, I will increase your affliction seven times according to your sins. \n\t\t\t I will send the wild animals against you and they will bereave you of your children, annihilate your cattle, and diminish your population so that your roads will become deserted.\n\t\t\t \"'If in spite of these things you do not allow yourselves to be disciplined and you walk in hostility against me,\n\t\t\t I myself will also walk in hostility against you and strike you seven times on account of your sins. \n\t\t\t I will bring on you an avenging sword, a covenant vengeance. Although you will gather together into your cities, I will send pestilence among you and you will be given into enemy hands.\n\t\t\t When I break off your supply of bread, ten women will bake your bread in one oven; they will ration your bread by weight, and you will eat and not be satisfied.\n\t\t\t \"'If in spite of this you do not obey me but walk in hostility against me,\n\t\t\t I will walk in hostile rage against you and I myself will also discipline you seven times on account of your sins. \n\t\t\t You will eat the flesh of your sons and the flesh of your daughters.\n\t\t\t I will destroy your high places and cut down your incense altars, and I will stack your dead bodies on top of the lifeless bodies of your idols. I will abhor you.\n\t\t\t I will lay your cities waste and make your sanctuaries desolate, and I will refuse to smell your soothing aromas. \n\t\t\t I myself will make the land desolate and your enemies who live in it will be appalled.\n\t\t\t I will scatter you among the nations and unsheathe the sword after you, so your land will become desolate and your cities will become a waste.\n\t\t\t \"'Then the land will make up for its Sabbaths all the days it lies desolate while you are in the land of your enemies; then the land will rest and make up its Sabbaths. \n\t\t\t All the days of the desolation it will have the rest it did not have on your Sabbaths when you lived on it.\n\t\t\t \"'As for the ones who remain among you, I will bring despair into their hearts in the lands of their enemies. The sound of a blowing leaf will pursue them, and they will flee as one who flees the sword and fall down even though there is no pursuer. \n\t\t\t They will stumble over each other as those who flee before a sword, though there is no pursuer, and there will be no one to take a stand for you before your enemies. \n\t\t\t You will perish among the nations; the land of your enemies will consume you.\n\t\t\t \"'As for the ones who remain among you, they will rot away because of their iniquity in the lands of your enemies, and they will also rot away because of their ancestors' iniquities which are with them. \n\t\t\t However, when they confess their iniquity and their ancestors' iniquity which they committed by trespassing against me, by which they also walked in hostility against me\n\t\t\t (and I myself will walk in hostility against them and bring them into the land of their enemies), and then their uncircumcised hearts become humbled and they make up for their iniquity, \n\t\t\t I will remember my covenant with Jacob and also my covenant with Isaac and also my covenant with Abraham, and I will remember the land. \n\t\t\t The land will be abandoned by them in order that it may make up for its Sabbaths while it is made desolate without them, and they will make up for their iniquity because they have rejected my regulations and have abhorred my statutes. \n\t\t\t In spite of this, however, when they are in the land of their enemies I will not reject them and abhor them to make a complete end of them, to break my covenant with them, for I am the LORD their God.\n\t\t\t I will remember for them the covenant with their ancestors whom I brought out from the land of Egypt in the sight of the nations to be their God. I am the LORD.'\"\n\t\t\t These are the statutes, regulations, and instructions which the LORD established between himself and the Israelites at Mount Sinai through Moses.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses:\n\t\t\t \"Speak to the Israelites and tell them, 'When a man makes a special votive offering based on the conversion value of persons to the LORD,\n\t\t\t the conversion value of the male from twenty years old up to sixty years old is fifty shekels by the standard of the sanctuary shekel.\n\t\t\t If the person is a female, the conversion value is thirty shekels.\n\t\t\t If the person is from five years old up to twenty years old, the conversion value of the male is twenty shekels, and for the female ten shekels.\n\t\t\t If the person is one month old up to five years old, the conversion value of the male is five shekels of silver, and for the female the conversion value is three shekels of silver. \n\t\t\t If the person is from sixty years old and older, if he is a male the conversion value is fifteen shekels, and for the female ten shekels.\n\t\t\t If he is too poor to pay the conversion value, he must stand the person before the priest and the priest will establish his conversion value; according to what the man who made the vow can afford, the priest will establish his conversion value.\n\t\t\t \"'If what is vowed is a kind of animal from which an offering may be presented to the LORD, anything which he gives to the LORD from this kind of animal will be holy. \n\t\t\t He must not replace or exchange it, good for bad or bad for good, and if he does indeed exchange one animal for another animal, then both the original animal and its substitute will be holy. \n\t\t\t If what is vowed is an unclean animal from which an offering must not be presented to the LORD, then he must stand the animal before the priest,\n\t\t\t and the priest will establish its conversion value, whether good or bad. According to the assessed conversion value of the priest, thus it will be. \n\t\t\t If, however, the person who made the vow redeems the animal, he must add one fifth to its conversion value.\n\t\t\t \"'If a man consecrates his house as holy to the LORD, the priest will establish its conversion value, whether good or bad. Just as the priest establishes its conversion value, thus it will stand.\n\t\t\t If the one who consecrates it redeems his house, he must add to it one fifth of its conversion value in silver, and it will belong to him.\n\t\t\t \"'If a man consecrates to the LORD some of his own landed property, the conversion value must be calculated in accordance with the amount of seed needed to sow it, a homer of barley seed being priced at fifty shekels of silver.\n\t\t\t If he consecrates his field in the jubilee year, the conversion value will stand, \n\t\t\t but if he consecrates his field after the jubilee, the priest will calculate the price for him according to the years that are left until the next jubilee year, and it will be deducted from the conversion value. \n\t\t\t If, however, the one who consecrated the field redeems it, he must add to it one fifth of the conversion price and it will belong to him.\n\t\t\t If he does not redeem the field, but sells the field to someone else, he may never redeem it. \n\t\t\t When it reverts in the jubilee, the field will be holy to the LORD like a permanently dedicated field; it will become the priest's property.\n\t\t\t \"'If he consecrates to the LORD a field he has purchased, which is not part of his own landed property, \n\t\t\t the priest will calculate for him the amount of its conversion value until the jubilee year, and he must pay the conversion value on that jubilee day as something that is holy to the LORD. \n\t\t\t In the jubilee year the field will return to the one from whom he bought it, the one to whom it belongs as landed property.\n\t\t\t Every conversion value must be calculated by the standard of the sanctuary shekel; twenty gerahs to the shekel.\n\t\t\t \"'Surely no man may consecrate a firstborn that already belongs to the LORD as a firstborn among the animals; whether it is an ox or a sheep, it belongs to the LORD.\n\t\t\t If, however, it is among the unclean animals, he may ransom it according to its conversion value and must add one fifth to it, but if it is not redeemed it must be sold according to its conversion value.\n\t\t\t \"'Surely anything which a man permanently dedicates to the LORD from all that belongs to him, whether from people, animals, or his landed property, must be neither sold nor redeemed; anything permanently dedicated is most holy to the LORD. \n\t\t\t Any human being who is permanently dedicated must not be ransomed; such a person must be put to death.\n\t\t\t \"'Any tithe of the land, from the grain of the land or from the fruit of the trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD. \n\t\t\t If a man redeems part of his tithe, however, he must add one fifth to it.\n\t\t\t All the tithe of herd or flock, everything which passes under the rod, the tenth one will be holy to the LORD.\n\t\t\t The owner must not examine the animals to distinguish between good and bad, and he must not exchange it. If, however, he does exchange it, both the original animal and its substitute will be holy. It must not be redeemed.'\"\n\t\t\t These are the commandments which the LORD commanded Moses to tell the Israelites at Mount Sinai. \n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now the LORD spoke to Moses in the tent of meeting in the wilderness of Sinai on the first day of the second month of the second year after the Israelites departed from the land of Egypt. He said:\n\t\t\t \"Take a census of the entire Israelite community by their clans and families, counting the name of every individual male.\n\t\t\t You and Aaron are to number all in Israel who can serve in the army, those who are twenty years old or older, by their divisions.\n\t\t\t And to help you there is to be a man from each tribe, each man the head of his family.\n\t\t\t Now these are the names of the men who are to help you: from Reuben, Elizur son of Shedeur;\n\t\t\t from Simeon, Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai;\n\t\t\t from Judah, Nahshon son of Amminadab;\n\t\t\t from Issachar, Nethanel son of Zuar;\n\t\t\t from Zebulun, Eliab son of Helon;\n\t\t\t from the sons of Joseph: from Ephraim, Elishama son of Ammihud; from Manasseh, Gamaliel son of Pedahzur;\n\t\t\t from Benjamin, Abidan son of Gideoni;\n\t\t\t from Dan, Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai;\n\t\t\t from Asher, Pagiel son of Ocran;\n\t\t\t from Gad, Eliasaph son of Deuel;\n\t\t\t from Naphtali, Ahira son of Enan.\"\n\t\t\t These were the ones chosen from the community, leaders of their ancestral tribes. They were the heads of the thousands of Israel.\n\t\t\t So Moses and Aaron took these men who had been mentioned specifically by name,\n\t\t\t and they assembled the entire community together on the first day of the second month. Then the people recorded their ancestry by their clans and families, and the men who were twenty years old or older were listed by name individually,\n\t\t\t just as the LORD had commanded Moses. And so he numbered them in the wilderness of Sinai.\n\t\t\t And they were as follows: The descendants of Reuben, the firstborn son of Israel: According to the records of their clans and families, all the males twenty years old or older who could serve in the army were listed by name individually.\n\t\t\t Those of them who were numbered from the tribe of Reuben were 46,500.\n\t\t\t From the descendants of Simeon: According to the records of their clans and families, all the males numbered of them twenty years old or older who could serve in the army were listed by name individually. \n\t\t\t Those of them who were numbered from the tribe of Simeon were 59,300.\n\t\t\t From the descendants of Gad: According to the records of their clans and families, all the males twenty years old or older who could serve in the army were listed by name. \n\t\t\t Those of them who were numbered from the tribe of Gad were 45,650.\n\t\t\t From the descendants of Judah: According to the records of their clans and families, all the males twenty years old or older who could serve in the army were listed by name.\n\t\t\t Those of them who were numbered from the tribe of Judah were 74,600.\n\t\t\t From the descendants of Issachar: According to the records of their clans and families, all the males twenty years old or older who could serve in the army were listed by name.\n\t\t\t Those of them who were numbered from the tribe of Issachar were 54,400.\n\t\t\t From the descendants of Zebulun: According to the records of their clans and families, all the males twenty years old or older who could serve in the army were listed by name.\n\t\t\t Those of them who were numbered from the tribe of Zebulun were 57,400.\n\t\t\t From the sons of Joseph: From the descendants of Ephraim: According to the records of their clans and families, all the males twenty years old or older who could serve in the army were listed by name.\n\t\t\t Those of them who were numbered from the tribe of Ephraim were 40,500.\n\t\t\t From the descendants of Manasseh: According to the records of their clans and families, all the males twenty years old or older who could serve in the army were listed by name.\n\t\t\t Those of them who were numbered from the tribe of Manasseh were 32,200.\n\t\t\t From the descendants of Benjamin: According to the records of their clans and families, all the males twenty years old or older who could serve in the army were listed by name.\n\t\t\t Those of them who were numbered from the tribe of Benjamin were 35,400.\n\t\t\t From the descendants of Dan: According to the records of their clans and families, all the males twenty years old or older who could serve in the army were listed by name.\n\t\t\t Those of them who were numbered from the tribe of Dan were 62,700.\n\t\t\t From the descendants of Asher: According to the records of their clans and families, all the males twenty years old or older who could serve in the army were listed by name.\n\t\t\t Those of them who were numbered from the tribe of Asher were 41,500.\n\t\t\t From the descendants of Naphtali: According to the records of their clans and families, all the males twenty years old or older who could serve in the army were listed by name. \n\t\t\t Those of them who were numbered from the tribe of Naphtali were 53,400.\n\t\t\t These were the men whom Moses and Aaron numbered along with the twelve leaders of Israel, each of whom was from his own family. \n\t\t\t All the Israelites who were twenty years old or older, who could serve in Israel's army, were numbered according to their families. \n\t\t\t And all those numbered totaled 603,550.\n\t\t\t But the Levites, according to the tribe of their fathers, were not numbered among them. \n\t\t\t The LORD had said to Moses,\n\t\t\t \"Only the tribe of Levi you must not number or count with the other Israelites. \n\t\t\t But appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of the testimony, over all its furnishings and over everything in it. They must carry the tabernacle and all its furnishings; and they must attend to it and camp around it.\n\t\t\t Whenever the tabernacle is to move, the Levites must take it down, and whenever the tabernacle is to be reassembled, the Levites must set it up. Any unauthorized person who approaches it must be killed.\n\t\t\t \"The Israelites will camp according to their divisions, each man in his camp, and each man by his standard.\n\t\t\t But the Levites must camp around the tabernacle of the testimony, so that the LORD's anger will not fall on the Israelite community. The Levites are responsible for the care of the tabernacle of the testimony.\"\n\t\t\t The Israelites did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, that is what they did.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses and to Aaron: \n\t\t\t \"Every one of the Israelites must camp under his standard with the emblems of his family; they must camp at some distance around the tent of meeting.\n\t\t\t \"Now those who will be camping on the east, toward the sunrise, are the divisions of the camp of Judah under their standard. The leader of the people of Judah is Nahshon son of Amminadab. \n\t\t\t Those numbered in his division are 74,600. \n\t\t\t Those who will be camping next to them are the tribe of Issachar. The leader of the people of Issachar is Nethanel son of Zuar. \n\t\t\t Those numbered in his division are 54,400.\n\t\t\t Next will be the tribe of Zebulun. The leader of the people of Zebulun is Eliab son of Helon. \n\t\t\t Those numbered in his division are 57,400.\n\t\t\t All those numbered of the camp of Judah, according to their divisions, are 186,400. They will travel at the front.\n\t\t\t \"On the south will be the divisions of the camp of Reuben under their standard. The leader of the people of Reuben is Elizur son of Shedeur. \n\t\t\t Those numbered in his division are 46,500.\n\t\t\t Those who will be camping next to them are the tribe of Simeon. The leader of the people of Simeon is Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai.\n\t\t\t Those numbered in his division are 59,300.\n\t\t\t Next will be the tribe of Gad. The leader of the people of Gad is Eliasaph son of Deuel.\n\t\t\t Those numbered in his division are 45,650.\n\t\t\t All those numbered of the camp of Reuben, according to their divisions, are 151,450. They will travel second.\n\t\t\t \"Then the tent of meeting with the camp of the Levites will travel in the middle of the camps. They will travel in the same order as they camped, each in his own place under his standard.\n\t\t\t \"On the west will be the divisions of the camp of Ephraim under their standard. The leader of the people of Ephraim is Elishama son of Amihud.\n\t\t\t Those numbered in his division are 40,500.\n\t\t\t Next to them will be the tribe of Manasseh. The leader of the people of Manasseh is Gamaliel son of Pedahzur.\n\t\t\t Those numbered in his division are 32,200.\n\t\t\t Next will be the tribe of Benjamin. The leader of the people of Benjamin is Abidan son of Gideoni. \n\t\t\t Those numbered in his division are 35,400.\n\t\t\t All those numbered of the camp of Ephraim, according to their divisions, are 108,100. They will travel third.\n\t\t\t \"On the north will be the divisions of the camp of Dan, under their standards. The leader of the people of Dan is Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai.\n\t\t\t Those numbered in his division are 62,700.\n\t\t\t Those who will be camping next to them are the tribe of Asher. The leader of the people of Asher is Pagiel son of Ocran.\n\t\t\t Those numbered in his division are 41,500.\n\t\t\t Next will be the tribe of Naphtali. The leader of the people of Naphtali is Ahira son of Enan. \n\t\t\t Those numbered in his division are 53,400.\n\t\t\t All those numbered of the camp of Dan are 157,600. They will travel last, under their standards.\"\n\t\t\t These are the Israelites, numbered according to their families. All those numbered in the camps, by their divisions, are 603,550. \n\t\t\t But the Levites were not numbered among the other Israelites, as the LORD commanded Moses.\n\t\t\t So the Israelites did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses; that is the way they camped under their standards, and that is the way they traveled, each with his clan and family.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now these are the records of Aaron and Moses when the LORD spoke with Moses on Mount Sinai. \n\t\t\t These are the names of the sons of Aaron: Nadab, the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.\n\t\t\t These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the anointed priests, whom he consecrated to minister as priests.\n\t\t\t Nadab and Abihu died before the LORD when they offered strange fire before the LORD in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children. So Eleazar and Ithamar ministered as priests in the presence of Aaron their father.\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses:\n\t\t\t \"Bring the tribe of Levi near, and present them before Aaron the priest, that they may serve him.\n\t\t\t They are responsible for his needs and the needs of the whole community before the tent of meeting, by attending to the service of the tabernacle. \n\t\t\t And they are responsible for all the furnishings of the tent of meeting, and for the needs of the Israelites, as they serve in the tabernacle. \n\t\t\t You are to assign the Levites to Aaron and his sons; they will be assigned exclusively to him out of all the Israelites. \n\t\t\t So you are to appoint Aaron and his sons, and they will be responsible for their priesthood; but the unauthorized person who comes near must be put to death.\"\n\t\t\t Then the LORD spoke to Moses:\n\t\t\t \"Look, I myself have taken the Levites from among the Israelites instead of every firstborn who opens the womb among the Israelites. So the Levites belong to me, \n\t\t\t because all the firstborn are mine. When I destroyed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I set apart for myself all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast. They belong to me. I am the LORD.\"\n\t\t\t Then the LORD spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai:\n\t\t\t \"Number the Levites by their clans and their families; every male from a month old and upward you are to number.\"\n\t\t\t So Moses numbered them according to the word of the LORD, just as he had been commanded.\n\t\t\t These were the sons of Levi by their names: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.\n\t\t\t These are the names of the sons of Gershon by their families: Libni and Shimei.\n\t\t\t The sons of Kohath by their families were: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.\n\t\t\t The sons of Merari by their families were Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites by their clans.\n\t\t\t From Gershon came the family of the Libnites and the family of the Shimeites; these were the families of the Gershonites.\n\t\t\t Those of them who were numbered, counting every male from a month old and upward, were 7,500.\n\t\t\t The families of the Gershonites were to camp behind the tabernacle toward the west.\n\t\t\t Now the leader of the clan of the Gershonites was Eliasaph son of Lael.\n\t\t\t And the responsibilities of the Gershonites in the tent of meeting included the tabernacle, the tent with its covering, the curtain at the entrance of the tent of meeting, \n\t\t\t the hangings of the courtyard, the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard that surrounded the tabernacle and the altar, and their ropes, plus all the service connected with these things.\n\t\t\t From Kohath came the family of the Amramites, the family of the Izharites, the family of the Hebronites, and the family of the Uzzielites; these were the families of the Kohathites.\n\t\t\t Counting every male from a month old and upward, there were 8,600. They were responsible for the care of the sanctuary. \n\t\t\t The families of the Kohathites were to camp on the south side of the tabernacle.\n\t\t\t Now the leader of the clan of the families of the Kohathites was Elizaphan son of Uzziel.\n\t\t\t Their responsibilities included the ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars, and the utensils of the sanctuary with which they ministered, the curtain, and all their service.\n\t\t\t Now the head of all the Levitical leaders was Eleazar son of Aaron the priest. He was appointed over those who were responsible for the sanctuary.\n\t\t\t From Merari came the family of the Mahlites and the family of the Mushites; these were the families of Merari. \n\t\t\t Those of them who were numbered, counting every male from a month old and upward, were 6,200.\n\t\t\t Now the leader of the clan of the families of Merari was Zuriel son of Abihail. These were to camp on the north side of the tabernacle.\n\t\t\t The appointed responsibilities of the Merarites included the frames of the tabernacle, its crossbars, its posts, its sockets, its utensils, plus all the service connected with these things,\n\t\t\t and the pillars of the courtyard all around, with their sockets, their pegs, and their ropes.\n\t\t\t But those who were to camp in front of the tabernacle on the east, in front of the tent of meeting, were Moses, Aaron, and his sons. They were responsible for the needs of the sanctuary and for the needs of the Israelites, but the unauthorized person who approached was to be put to death. \n\t\t\t All who were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron numbered by the word of the LORD, according to their families, every male from a month old and upward, were 22,000.\n\t\t\t Then the LORD said to Moses, \"Number all the firstborn males of the Israelites from a month old and upward, and take the number of their names. \n\t\t\t And take the Levites for me, I am the LORD, instead of all the firstborn males among the Israelites, and the livestock of the Levites instead of all the firstborn of the livestock of the Israelites.\"\n\t\t\t So Moses numbered all the firstborn males among the Israelites, as the LORD had commanded him.\n\t\t\t And all the firstborn males, by the number of the names from a month old and upward, totaled 22,273.\n\t\t\t Then the LORD spoke to Moses:\n\t\t\t \"Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn males among the Israelites, and the livestock of the Levites instead of their livestock. And the Levites will be mine. I am the LORD.\n\t\t\t And for the redemption of the 273 firstborn males of the Israelites who exceed the number of the Levites,\n\t\t\t collect five shekels for each one individually; you are to collect this amount in the currency of the sanctuary shekel (this shekel is twenty gerahs).\n\t\t\t And give the money for the redemption of the excess number of them to Aaron and his sons.\"\n\t\t\t So Moses took the redemption money from those who were in excess of those redeemed by the Levites. \n\t\t\t From the firstborn males of the Israelites he collected the money, 1,365 shekels, according to the sanctuary shekel.\n\t\t\t Moses gave the redemption money to Aaron and his sons, according to the word of the LORD, as the LORD had commanded Moses.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron: \n\t\t\t \"Take a census of the Kohathites from among the Levites, by their families and by their clans, \n\t\t\t from thirty years old and upward to fifty years old, all who enter the company to do the work in the tent of meeting. \n\t\t\t This is the service of the Kohathites in the tent of meeting, relating to the most holy things.\n\t\t\t When it is time for the camp to journey, Aaron and his sons must come and take down the screening curtain and cover the ark of the testimony with it.\n\t\t\t Then they must put over it a covering of fine leather and spread over that a cloth entirely of blue, and then they must insert its poles.\n\t\t\t \"On the table of the presence they must spread a blue cloth, and put on it the dishes, the pans, the bowls, and the pitchers for pouring, and the Bread of the Presence must be on it continually. \n\t\t\t They must spread over them a scarlet cloth, and cover the same with a covering of fine leather; and they must insert its poles.\n\t\t\t \"They must take a blue cloth and cover the lampstand of the light, with its lamps, its wick-trimmers, its trays, and all its oil vessels, with which they service it.\n\t\t\t Then they must put it with all its utensils in a covering of fine leather, and put it on a carrying beam.\n\t\t\t \"They must spread a blue cloth on the gold altar, and cover it with a covering of fine leather; and they must insert its poles.\n\t\t\t Then they must take all the utensils of the service, with which they serve in the sanctuary, put them in a blue cloth, cover them with a covering of fine leather, and put them on a carrying beam.\n\t\t\t Also, they must take away the ashes from the altar and spread a purple cloth over it. \n\t\t\t Then they must place on it all its implements with which they serve there, the trays, the meat forks, the shovels, the basins, and all the utensils of the altar, and they must spread on it a covering of fine leather, and then insert its poles.\n\t\t\t \"When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the sanctuary and all the furnishings of the sanctuary, when the camp is ready to journey, then the Kohathites will come to carry them; but they must not touch any holy thing, or they will die. These are the responsibilities of the Kohathites with the tent of meeting.\n\t\t\t \"The appointed responsibility of Eleazar son of Aaron the priest is for the oil for the light, and the spiced incense, and the daily grain offering, and the anointing oil; he also has the appointed responsibility over all the tabernacle with all that is in it, over the sanctuary and over all its furnishings.\"\n\t\t\t Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron:\n\t\t\t \"Do not allow the tribe of the families of the Kohathites to be cut off from among the Levites; \n\t\t\t but in order that they will live and not die when they approach the most holy things, do this for them: Aaron and his sons will go in and appoint each man to his service and his responsibility. \n\t\t\t But the Kohathites are not to go in to watch while the holy things are being covered, or they will die.\"\n\t\t\t Then the LORD spoke to Moses:\n\t\t\t \"Also take a census of the Gershonites, by their clans and by their families.\n\t\t\t You must number them from thirty years old and upward to fifty years old, all who enter the company to do the work of the tent of meeting.\n\t\t\t This is the service of the families of Gershonites, as they serve and carry it. \n\t\t\t They must carry the curtains for the tabernacle and the tent of meeting with its covering, the covering of fine leather that is over it, the curtains for the entrance of the tent of meeting,\n\t\t\t the hangings for the courtyard, the curtain for the entrance of the gate of the court, which is around the tabernacle and the altar, and their ropes, along with all the furnishings for their service and everything that is made for them. So they are to serve.\n\t\t\t \"All the service of the Gershonites, whether carrying loads or for any of their work, will be at the direction of Aaron and his sons. You will assign them all their tasks as their responsibility. \n\t\t\t This is the service of the families of the Gershonites concerning the tent of meeting. Their responsibilities will be under the authority of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.\n\t\t\t \"As for the sons of Merari, you are to number them by their families and by their clans.\n\t\t\t You must number them from thirty years old and upward to fifty years old, all who enter the company to do the work of the tent of meeting.\n\t\t\t This is what they are responsible to carry as their entire service in the tent of meeting: the frames of the tabernacle, its crossbars, its posts, its sockets, \n\t\t\t and the posts of the surrounding courtyard with their sockets, tent pegs, and ropes, along with all their furnishings and everything for their service. You are to assign by names the items that each man is responsible to carry.\n\t\t\t This is the service of the families of the Merarites, their entire service concerning the tent of meeting, under the authority of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.\"\n\t\t\t So Moses and Aaron and the leaders of the community numbered the Kohathites by their families and by clans,\n\t\t\t from thirty years old and upward to fifty years old, everyone who entered the company for the work in the tent of meeting;\n\t\t\t and those of them numbered by their families were 2,750.\n\t\t\t These were those numbered from the families of the Kohathites, everyone who served in the tent of meeting, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the word of the LORD by the authority of Moses.\n\t\t\t Those numbered from the Gershonites, by their families and by their clans,\n\t\t\t from thirty years old and upward to fifty years old, everyone who entered the company for the work in the tent of meeting,\n\t\t\t those of them numbered by their families, by their clans, were 2,630.\n\t\t\t These were those numbered from the families of the Gershonites, everyone who served in the tent of meeting, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the word of the LORD.\n\t\t\t Those numbered from the families of the Merarites, by their families, by their clans,\n\t\t\t from thirty years old and upward to fifty years old, everyone who entered the company for the work in the tent of meeting,\n\t\t\t those of them numbered by their families were 3,200.\n\t\t\t These are those numbered from the families of the Merarites, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the word of the LORD by the authority of Moses.\n\t\t\t All who were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses, Aaron, and the leaders of Israel numbered by their families and by their clans,\n\t\t\t from thirty years old and upward to fifty years old, everyone who entered to do the work of service and the work of carrying relating to the tent of meeting,\n\t\t\t those of them numbered were 8,580.\n\t\t\t According to the word of the LORD they were numbered, by the authority of Moses, each according to his service and according to what he was to carry. Thus were they numbered by him, as the LORD had commanded Moses.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then the LORD spoke to Moses: \n\t\t\t \"Command the Israelites to expel from the camp every leper, everyone who has a discharge, and whoever becomes defiled by a corpse.\n\t\t\t You must expel both men and women; you must put them outside the camp, so that they will not defile their camps, among which I live.\" \n\t\t\t So the Israelites did so, and expelled them outside the camp. As the LORD had spoken to Moses, so the Israelites did.\n\t\t\t Then the LORD spoke to Moses:\n\t\t\t \"Tell the Israelites, 'When a man or a woman commits any sin that people commit, thereby breaking faith with the LORD, and that person is found guilty,\n\t\t\t then he must confess his sin that he has committed and must make full reparation, add one fifth to it, and give it to whomever he wronged.\n\t\t\t But if the individual has no close relative to whom reparation can be made for the wrong, the reparation for the wrong must be paid to the LORD for the priest, in addition to the ram of atonement by which atonement is made for him. \n\t\t\t Every offering of all the Israelites' holy things that they bring to the priest will be his. \n\t\t\t Every man's holy things will be his; whatever any man gives the priest will be his.'\"\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses: \n\t\t\t \"Speak to the Israelites and tell them, 'If any man's wife goes astray and behaves unfaithfully toward him,\n\t\t\t and a man has sexual relations with her without her husband knowing it, and it is hidden that she has defiled herself, since there was no witness against her, nor was she caught,\n\t\t\t and if jealous feelings come over him and he becomes suspicious of his wife, when she is defiled; or if jealous feelings come over him and he becomes suspicious of his wife, when she is not defiled,\n\t\t\t then the man must bring his wife to the priest, and he must bring the offering required for her, one tenth of an ephah of barley meal; he must not pour olive oil on it or put frankincense on it, because it is a grain offering of suspicion, a grain offering for remembering, for bringing iniquity to remembrance.\n\t\t\t \"'Then the priest will bring her near and have her stand before the LORD. \n\t\t\t The priest will then take holy water in a pottery jar, and take some of the dust that is on the floor of the tabernacle, and put it into the water. \n\t\t\t Then the priest will have the woman stand before the LORD, uncover the woman's head, and put the grain offering for remembering in her hands, which is the grain offering of suspicion. The priest will hold in his hand the bitter water that brings a curse.\n\t\t\t Then the priest will put the woman under oath and say to the her, \"If no other man has had sexual relations with you, and if you have not gone astray and become defiled while under your husband's authority, may you be free from this bitter water that brings a curse.\n\t\t\t But if you have gone astray while under your husband's authority, and if you have defiled yourself and some man other than your husband has had sexual relations with you,.\"\n\t\t\t Then the priest will put the woman under the oath of the curse and will say to the her, \"The LORD make you an attested curse among your people, if the LORD makes your thigh fall away and your abdomen swell;\n\t\t\t and this water that causes the curse will go into your stomach, and make your abdomen swell and your thigh rot.\" Then the woman must say, \"Amen, amen.\"\n\t\t\t \"'Then the priest will write these curses on a scroll and then scrape them off into the bitter water.\n\t\t\t He will make the woman drink the bitter water that brings a curse, and the water that brings a curse will enter her to produce bitterness.\n\t\t\t The priest will take the grain offering of suspicion from the woman's hand, wave the grain offering before the LORD, and bring it to the altar.\n\t\t\t Then the priest will take a handful of the grain offering as its memorial portion, burn it on the altar, and afterward make the woman drink the water.\n\t\t\t When he has made her drink the water, then, if she has defiled herself and behaved unfaithfully toward her husband, the water that brings a curse will enter her to produce bitterness, her abdomen will swell, her thigh will fall away, and the woman will become a curse among her people.\n\t\t\t But if the woman has not defiled herself, and is clean, then she will be free of ill effects and will be able to bear children.\n\t\t\t \"'This is the law for cases of jealousy, when a wife, while under her husband's authority, goes astray and defiles herself, \n\t\t\t or when jealous feelings come over a man and he becomes suspicious of his wife; then he must have the woman stand before the LORD, and the priest will carry out all this law upon her.\n\t\t\t Then the man will be free from iniquity, but that woman will bear the consequences of her iniquity.'\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then the LORD spoke to Moses: \n\t\t\t \"Speak to the Israelites, and tell them, 'When either a man or a woman takes a special vow, to take a vow as a Nazirite, to separate himself to the LORD, \n\t\t\t he must separate himself from wine and strong drink, he must drink neither vinegar made from wine nor vinegar made from strong drink, nor may he drink any juice of grapes, nor eat fresh grapes or raisins.\n\t\t\t All the days of his separation he must not eat anything that is produced by the grapevine, from seed to skin.\n\t\t\t \"'All the days of the vow of his separation no razor may be used on his head until the time is fulfilled for which he separated himself to the LORD. He will be holy, and he must let the locks of hair on his head grow long.\n\t\t\t \"'All the days that he separates himself to the LORD he must not contact a dead body.\n\t\t\t He must not defile himself even for his father or his mother or his brother or his sister if they die, because the separation for his God is on his head. \n\t\t\t All the days of his separation he must be holy to the LORD.\n\t\t\t \"'If anyone dies very suddenly beside him and he defiles his consecrated head, then he must shave his head on the day of his purification, on the seventh day he must shave it.\n\t\t\t On the eighth day he is to bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons to the priest, to the entrance to the tent of meeting. \n\t\t\t Then the priest will offer one for a purification offering and the other as a burnt offering, and make atonement for him, because of his transgression in regard to the corpse. So he must reconsecrate his head on that day.\n\t\t\t He must rededicate to the LORD the days of his separation and bring a male lamb in its first year as a reparation offering, but the former days will not be counted because his separation was defiled.\n\t\t\t \"'Now this is the law of the Nazirite: When the days of his separation are fulfilled, he must be brought to the entrance of the tent of meeting, \n\t\t\t and he must present his offering to the LORD: one male lamb in its first year without blemish for a burnt offering, one ewe lamb in its first year without blemish for a purification offering, one ram without blemish for a peace offering,\n\t\t\t and a basket of bread made without yeast, cakes of fine flour mixed with olive oil, wafers made without yeast and smeared with olive oil, and their grain offering and their drink offerings.\n\t\t\t \"'Then the priest must present all these before the LORD and offer his purification offering and his burnt offering. \n\t\t\t Then he must offer the ram as a peace offering to the LORD, with the basket of bread made without yeast; the priest must also offer his grain offering and his drink offering.\n\t\t\t \"'Then the Nazirite must shave his consecrated head at the entrance to the tent of meeting and must take the hair from his consecrated head and put it on the fire where the peace offering is burning.\n\t\t\t And the priest must take the boiled shoulder of the ram, one cake made without yeast from the basket, and one wafer made without yeast, and put them on the hands of the Nazirite after he has shaved his consecrated head;\n\t\t\t then the priest must wave them as a wave offering before the LORD; it is a holy portion for the priest, together with the breast of the wave offering and the thigh of the raised offering. After this the Nazirite may drink wine.'\n\t\t\t \"This is the law of the Nazirite who vows to the LORD his offering according to his separation, as well as whatever else he can provide. Thus he must fulfill his vow that he makes, according to the law of his separation.\"\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses: \n\t\t\t \"Tell Aaron and his sons, 'This is the way you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them:\n\t\t\t \"The LORD bless you and protect you;\n\t\t\t The LORD make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you;\n\t\t\t The LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.\"'\n\t\t\t So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t When Moses had completed setting up the tabernacle, he anointed it and consecrated it and all its furnishings, and he anointed and consecrated the altar and all its utensils. \n\t\t\t Then the leaders of Israel, the heads of their clans, made an offering. They were the leaders of the tribes; they were the ones who had been supervising the numbering. \n\t\t\t They brought their offering before the LORD, six covered carts and twelve oxen, one cart for every two of the leaders, and an ox for each one; and they presented them in front of the tabernacle.\n\t\t\t Then the LORD spoke to Moses:\n\t\t\t \"Receive these gifts from them, that they may be used in doing the work of the tent of meeting; and you must give them to the Levites, to every man as his service requires.\"\n\t\t\t So Moses accepted the carts and the oxen and gave them to the Levites.\n\t\t\t He gave two carts and four oxen to the Gershonites, as their service required;\n\t\t\t and he gave four carts and eight oxen to the Merarites, as their service required, under the authority of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest. \n\t\t\t But to the Kohathites he gave none, because the service of the holy things, which they carried on their shoulders, was their responsibility.\n\t\t\t The leaders offered gifts for the dedication of the altar when it was anointed. And the leaders presented their offering before the altar.\n\t\t\t For the LORD said to Moses, \"They must present their offering, one leader for each day, for the dedication of the altar.\"\n\t\t\t The one who presented his offering on the first day was Nahshon son of Amminadab, from the tribe of Judah.\n\t\t\t His offering was one silver platter weighing 130 shekels, and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing 70 shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each of them full of fine flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering; \n\t\t\t one gold pan weighing 10 shekels, full of incense;\n\t\t\t one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb in its first year, for a burnt offering;\n\t\t\t one male goat for a purification offering;\n\t\t\t and for the sacrifice of peace offerings: two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Nahshon son of Amminadab.\n\t\t\t On the second day Nethanel son of Zuar, leader of Issachar, presented an offering.\n\t\t\t He offered for his offering one silver platter weighing 130 shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing 70, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each of them full of fine flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering;\n\t\t\t one gold pan weighing 10 shekels, full of incense;\n\t\t\t one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb in its first year, for a burnt offering;\n\t\t\t one male goat for a purification offering;\n\t\t\t and for the sacrifice of peace offerings: two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Nethanel son of Zuar.\n\t\t\t On the third day Eliab son of Helon, leader of the Zebulunites, presented an offering.\n\t\t\t His offering was one silver platter weighing 130 shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing 70 shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each of them full of fine flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering;\n\t\t\t one gold pan weighing 10 shekels, full of incense;\n\t\t\t one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb in its first year, for a burnt offering;\n\t\t\t one male goat for a purification offering;\n\t\t\t and for the sacrifice of peace offerings: two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Eliab son of Helon.\n\t\t\t On the fourth day Elizur son of Shedeur, leader of the Reubenites, presented an offering.\n\t\t\t His offering was one silver platter weighing 130 shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing 70 shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each of them full of fine flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering;\n\t\t\t one gold pan weighing 10 shekels, full of incense;\n\t\t\t one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb in its first year, for a burnt offering;\n\t\t\t one male goat for a purification offering;\n\t\t\t and for the sacrifice of peace offerings: two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Elizur son of Shedeur.\n\t\t\t On the fifth day Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai, leader of the Simeonites, presented an offering.\n\t\t\t His offering was one silver platter weighing 130 shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing 70 shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each of them full of fine flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering;\n\t\t\t one gold pan weighing 10 shekels;\n\t\t\t one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb in its first year, for a burnt offering;\n\t\t\t one male goat for a purification offering;\n\t\t\t and for the sacrifice of peace offerings: two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Sheloumiel son of Zurishaddai.\n\t\t\t On the sixth day Eliasaph son of Deuel, leader of the Gadites, presented an offering.\n\t\t\t His offering was one silver platter weighing 130 shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing 70 shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each of them full of fine flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering;\n\t\t\t one gold pan weighing 10 shekels;\n\t\t\t one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb in its first year, for a burnt offering;\n\t\t\t one male goat for a purification offering;\n\t\t\t and for the sacrifice of peace offerings: two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Eliasaph son of Deuel.\n\t\t\t On the seventh day Elishama son of Ammihud, leader of the Ephraimites, presented an offering.\n\t\t\t His offering was one silver platter weighing 130 shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing 70 shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each of them full of fine flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering;\n\t\t\t one gold pan weighing 10 shekels, full of incense;\n\t\t\t one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb in its first year, for a burnt offering;\n\t\t\t one male goat for a purification offering;\n\t\t\t and for the sacrifice of peace offerings: two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Elishama son of Ammihud.\n\t\t\t On the eighth day Gamaliel son of Pedahzur, leader of the Manassehites, presented an offering.\n\t\t\t His offering was one silver platter weighing 130 shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing 70 shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each of them full of fine flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering;\n\t\t\t one gold pan weighing 10 shekels, full of incense;\n\t\t\t one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb in its first year, for a burnt offering;\n\t\t\t one male goat for a purification offering;\n\t\t\t and for the sacrifice of peace offerings: two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Gamaliel son of Pedahzur.\n\t\t\t On the ninth day Abidan son of Gideoni, leader of the Benjaminites, presented an offering.\n\t\t\t His offering was one silver platter weighing 130 shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing 70 shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each of them full of fine flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering;\n\t\t\t one gold pan weighing 10 shekels, full of incense;\n\t\t\t one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb in its first year, for a burnt offering;\n\t\t\t one male goat for a purification offering;\n\t\t\t and for the sacrifice of peace offerings: two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Abidan son of Gideoni.\n\t\t\t On the tenth day Ahiezer son of Amishaddai, leader of the Danites, presented an offering.\n\t\t\t His offering was one silver platter weighing 130 shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing 70 shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each of them full of fine flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering;\n\t\t\t one gold pan weighing 10 shekels, full of incense;\n\t\t\t one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb in its first year, for a burnt offering;\n\t\t\t one male goat for a purification offering;\n\t\t\t and for the sacrifice of peace offerings: two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Ahiezer son of Amishaddai.\n\t\t\t On the eleventh day Pagiel son of Ocran, leader of the Asherites, presented an offering.\n\t\t\t His offering was one silver platter weighing 130 shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing 70 shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each of them full of fine flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering;\n\t\t\t one gold pan weighing 10 shekels, full of incense;\n\t\t\t one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb in its first year, for a burnt offering;\n\t\t\t one male goat for a purification offering;\n\t\t\t and for the sacrifice of peace offerings: two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Pagiel son of Ocran.\n\t\t\t On the twelfth day Ahira son of Enan, leader of the Naphtalites, presented an offering.\n\t\t\t His offering was one silver platter weighing 130 shekels and one silver sprinkling bowl weighing 70 shekels, both according to the sanctuary shekel, each of them full of fine flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering;\n\t\t\t one gold pan weighing 10 shekels;\n\t\t\t one young bull, one ram, and one male lamb in its first year, for a burnt offering;\n\t\t\t one male goat for a purification offering;\n\t\t\t and for the sacrifice of peace offerings: two bulls, five rams, five male goats, and five lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Ahira son of Enan.\n\t\t\t This was the dedication for the altar from the leaders of Israel, when it was anointed: twelve silver platters, twelve silver sprinkling bowls, and twelve gold pans.\n\t\t\t Each silver platter weighed 130 shekels, and each silver sprinkling bowl weighed 70 shekels. All the silver of the vessels weighed 2,400 shekels, according to the sanctuary shekel.\n\t\t\t The twelve gold pans full of incense weighed 10 shekels each, according to the sanctuary shekel; all the gold of the pans weighed 120 shekels.\n\t\t\t All the animals for the burnt offering were 12 young bulls, 12 rams, 12 male lambs in their first year, with their grain offering, and 12 male goats for a purification offering.\n\t\t\t All the animals for the sacrifice for the peace offering were 24 young bulls, 60 rams, 60 male goats, and 60 lambs in their first year. These were the dedication offerings for the altar after it was anointed.\n\t\t\t Now when Moses went into the tent of meeting to speak with the LORD, he heard the voice speaking to him from above the atonement lid that was on the ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubim. Thus he spoke to him.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses: \n\t\t\t \"Speak to Aaron and tell him, 'When you set up the lamps, the seven lamps are to give light in front of the lampstand.'\"\n\t\t\t And Aaron did so; he set up the lamps to face toward the front of the lampstand, as the LORD commanded Moses.\n\t\t\t This is how the lampstand was made: It was beaten work in gold; from its shaft to its flowers it was beaten work. According to the pattern which the LORD had shown Moses, so he made the lampstand.\n\t\t\t Then the LORD spoke to Moses:\n\t\t\t \"Take the Levites from among the Israelites and purify them.\n\t\t\t And do this to them to purify them: Sprinkle water of purification on them; then have them shave all their body and wash their clothes, and so purify themselves.\n\t\t\t Then they are to take a young bull with its grain offering of fine flour mixed with olive oil; and you are to take a second young bull for a purification offering.\n\t\t\t You are to bring the Levites before the tent of meeting and assemble the entire community of the Israelites.\n\t\t\t Then you are to bring the Levites before the LORD, and the Israelites are to lay their hands on the Levites;\n\t\t\t and Aaron is to offer the Levites before the LORD as a wave offering from the Israelites, that they may do the work of the LORD. \n\t\t\t When the Levites lay their hands on the heads of the bulls, offer the one for a purification offering and the other for a whole burnt offering to the LORD, to make atonement for the Levites. \n\t\t\t You are to have the Levites stand before Aaron and his sons, and then offer them as a wave offering to the LORD. \n\t\t\t And so you are to separate the Levites from among the Israelites, and the Levites will be mine.\n\t\t\t \"After this, the Levites will go in to do the work of the tent of meeting. So you must cleanse them and offer them like a wave offering.\n\t\t\t For they are entirely given to me from among the Israelites. I have taken them for myself instead of all who open the womb, the firstborn sons of all the Israelites. \n\t\t\t For all the firstborn males among the Israelites are mine, both humans and animals; when I destroyed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I set them apart for myself. \n\t\t\t So I have taken the Levites instead of all the firstborn sons among the Israelites.\n\t\t\t I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and his sons from among the Israelites, to do the work for the Israelites in the tent of meeting, and to make atonement for the Israelites, so there will be no plague among the Israelites when the Israelites come near the sanctuary.\"\n\t\t\t So Moses and Aaron and the entire community of the Israelites did this with the Levites. According to all that the LORD commanded Moses concerning the Levites, this is what the Israelites did with them.\n\t\t\t The Levites purified themselves and washed their clothing; then Aaron presented them like a wave offering before the LORD, and Aaron made atonement for them to purify them. \n\t\t\t After this, the Levites went in to do their work in the tent of meeting before Aaron and before his sons. As the LORD had commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so they did.\n\t\t\t Then the LORD spoke to Moses:\n\t\t\t \"This is what pertains to the Levites: At the age of twenty-five years and upward one may begin to join the company in the work of the tent of meeting, \n\t\t\t and at the age of fifty years they must retire from performing the work and may no longer work.\n\t\t\t They may assist their colleagues in the tent of meeting, to attend to needs, but they must do no work. This is the way you must establish the Levites regarding their duties.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the first month of the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt:\n\t\t\t \"The Israelites are to observe the Passover at its appointed time.\n\t\t\t In the fourteenth day of this month, at twilight, you are to observe it at its appointed time; you must keep it in accordance with all its statutes and all its customs.\"\n\t\t\t So Moses instructed the Israelites to observe the Passover. \n\t\t\t And they observed the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month at twilight in the wilderness of Sinai; in accordance with all that the LORD had commanded Moses, so the Israelites did.\n\t\t\t It happened that some men who were ceremonially defiled by the dead body of a man could not keep the Passover on that day, so they came before Moses and before Aaron on that day. \n\t\t\t And those men said to him, \"We are ceremonially defiled by the dead body of a man; why are we kept back from offering the LORD's offering at its appointed time among the Israelites?\"\n\t\t\t So Moses said to them, \"Remain here and I will hear what the LORD will command concerning you.\"\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses:\n\t\t\t \"Tell the Israelites, 'If any of you or of your posterity become ceremonially defiled by touching a dead body, or are on a journey far away, then he may observe the Passover to the LORD. \n\t\t\t They may observe it on the fourteenth day of the second month at twilight; they are to eat it with bread made without yeast and with bitter herbs. \n\t\t\t They must not leave any of it until morning, nor break any of its bones; they must observe it in accordance with every statute of the Passover.\n\t\t\t But the man who is ceremonially clean, and was not on a journey, and fails to keep the Passover, that person must be cut off from his people. Because he did not bring the LORD's offering at its appointed time, that man must bear his sin.\n\t\t\t If a resident foreigner lives among you and wants to keep the Passover to the LORD, he must do so according to the statute of the Passover, and according to its custom. You must have the same statute for the resident foreigner and for the one who was born in the land.'\"\n\t\t\t On the day that the tabernacle was set up, the cloud covered the tabernacle, the tent of the testimony, and from evening until morning there was a fiery appearance over the tabernacle.\n\t\t\t This is the way it used to be continually: The cloud would cover it by day, and there was a fiery appearance by night. \n\t\t\t Whenever the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle, then after that the Israelites would begin their journey; and in whatever place the cloud settled, there the Israelites would make camp. \n\t\t\t At the commandment of the LORD the Israelites would begin their journey, and at the commandment of the LORD they would make camp; as long as the cloud remained settled over the tabernacle they would camp. \n\t\t\t When the cloud remained over the tabernacle many days, then the Israelites obeyed the instructions of the LORD and did not journey.\n\t\t\t When the cloud remained over the tabernacle a number of days, they remained camped according to the LORD's commandment, and according to the LORD's commandment they would journey. \n\t\t\t And when the cloud remained only from evening until morning, when the cloud was taken up the following morning, then they traveled on. Whether by day or by night, when the cloud was taken up they traveled. \n\t\t\t Whether it was for two days, or a month, or a year, that the cloud prolonged its stay over the tabernacle, the Israelites remained camped without traveling; but when it was taken up, they traveled on. \n\t\t\t At the commandment of the LORD they camped, and at the commandment of the LORD they traveled on; they kept the instructions of the LORD according to the commandment of the LORD, by the authority of Moses.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses: \n\t\t\t \"Make two trumpets of silver; you are to make them from a single hammered piece. You will use them for assembling the community and for directing the traveling of the camps. \n\t\t\t When they blow them both, all the community must come to you to the entrance of the tent of meeting.\n\t\t\t \"But if they blow with one trumpet, then the leaders, the heads of the thousands of Israel, must come to you.\n\t\t\t When you blow an alarm, then the camps that are located on the east side must begin to travel.\n\t\t\t And when you blow an alarm the second time, then the camps that are located on the south side must begin to travel. An alarm must be sounded for their journeys. \n\t\t\t But when you assemble the community, you must blow, but you must not sound an alarm.\n\t\t\t The sons of Aaron, the priests, must blow the trumpets; and they will be to you for an eternal ordinance throughout your generations.\n\t\t\t If you go to war in your land against an adversary who opposes you, then you must sound an alarm with the trumpets, and you will be remembered before the LORD your God, and you will be saved from your enemies.\n\t\t\t \"Also in the time when you rejoice, such as on your appointed festivals or at the beginnings of your months, you must blow with your trumpets over your burnt offerings and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings, so that they may become a memorial for you before your God: I am the LORD your God.\"\n\t\t\t On the twentieth day of the second month, in the second year, the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle of the testimony.\n\t\t\t So the Israelites set out on their journeys from the wilderness of Sinai; and the cloud settled in the wilderness of Paran.\n\t\t\t This was the first time they set out on their journey according to the commandment of the LORD, by the authority of Moses.\n\t\t\t The standard of the camp of the Judahites set out first according to their companies, and over his company was Nahshon son of Amminadab.\n\t\t\t Over the company of the tribe of Issacharites was Nathanel son of Zuar,\n\t\t\t and over the company of the tribe of the Zebulunites was Elion son of Helon.\n\t\t\t Then the tabernacle was dismantled, and the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari set out, carrying the tabernacle.\n\t\t\t The standard of the camp of Reuben set out according to their companies; over his company was Elizur son of Shedeur.\n\t\t\t Over the company of the tribe of the Simeonites was Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai,\n\t\t\t and over the company of the tribe of the Gadites was Eliasaph son of Deuel.\n\t\t\t And the Kohathites set out, carrying the articles for the sanctuary; the tabernacle was to be set up before they arrived.\n\t\t\t And the standard of the camp of the Ephraimites set out according to their companies; over his company was Elishama son of Ammihud.\n\t\t\t Over the company of the tribe of the Manassehites was Gamaliel son of Pedahzur,\n\t\t\t and over the company of the tribe of Benjaminites was Abidan son of Gideoni.\n\t\t\t The standard of the camp of the Danites set out, which was the rear guard of all the camps by their companies; over his company was Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai. \n\t\t\t Over the company of the tribe of the Asherites was Pagiel son of Ocran,\n\t\t\t and over the company of the tribe of the Naphtalites was Ahira son of Enan.\n\t\t\t These were the traveling arrangements of the Israelites according to their companies when they traveled.\n\t\t\t Moses said to Hobab son of Reuel, the Midianite, Moses' father-in-law, \"We are journeying to the place about which the LORD said, 'I will give it to you.' Come with us and we will treat you well, for the LORD has promised good things for Israel.\" \n\t\t\t But Hobab said to him, \"I will not go, but I will go instead to my own land and to my kindred.\" \n\t\t\t Moses said, \"Do not leave us, because you know places for us to camp in the wilderness, and you could be our guide.\n\t\t\t And if you come with us, it is certain that whatever good things the LORD will favor us with, we will share with you as well.\"\n\t\t\t So they traveled from the mountain of the LORD three days' journey; and the ark of the covenant of the LORD was traveling before them during the three days' journey, to find a resting place for them. \n\t\t\t And the cloud of the LORD was over them by day, when they traveled from the camp. \n\t\t\t And when the ark traveled, Moses would say, \"Rise up, O LORD! May your enemies be scattered, and may those who hate you flee before you!\"\n\t\t\t And when it came to rest he would say, \"Return, O LORD, to the many thousands of Israel!\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t When the people complained, it displeased the LORD. When the LORD heard it, his anger burned, and so the fire of the LORD burned among them and consumed some of the outer parts of the camp. \n\t\t\t When the people cried to Moses, he prayed to the LORD, and the fire died out.\n\t\t\t So he called the name of that place Taberah because there the fire of the LORD burned among them.\n\t\t\t Now the mixed multitude who were among them craved more desirable foods, and so the Israelites wept again and said, \"If only we had meat to eat!\n\t\t\t We remember the fish we used to eat freely in Egypt, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic. \n\t\t\t But now we are dried up, and there is nothing at all before us except this manna!\" \n\t\t\t (Now the manna was like coriander seed, and its color like the color of bdellium.\n\t\t\t And the people went about and gathered it, and ground it with mills or pounded it in mortars; they baked it in pans and made cakes of it. It tasted like fresh olive oil.\n\t\t\t And when the dew came down on the camp in the night, the manna fell with it.)\n\t\t\t Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, everyone at the door of his tent; and when the anger of the LORD was kindled greatly, Moses was also displeased.\n\t\t\t And Moses said to the LORD, \"Why have you afflicted your servant? Why have I not found favor in your sight, that you lay the burden of this entire people on me? \n\t\t\t Did I conceive this entire people? Did I give birth to them, that you should say to me, 'Carry them in your arms, as a foster father bears a nursing child,' to the land which you swore to their fathers? \n\t\t\t From where shall I get meat to give to this entire people, for they cry to me, 'Give us meat, that we may eat!'\n\t\t\t I am not able to bear this entire people alone, because it is too heavy for me! \n\t\t\t But if you are going to deal with me like this, then kill me immediately. If I have found favor in your sight then do not let me see my trouble.\"\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Moses, \"Gather to me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom you know are elders of the people and officials over them, and bring them to the tent of meeting; let them take their position there with you. \n\t\t\t Then I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take part of the spirit that is on you, and will put it on them, and they will bear some of the burden of the people with you, so that you do not bear it all by yourself.\n\t\t\t \"And say to the people, 'Sanctify yourselves for tomorrow, and you will eat meat, for you have wept in the hearing of the LORD, saying, \"Who will give us meat to eat, for life was good for us in Egypt?\" Therefore the LORD will give you meat, and you will eat. \n\t\t\t You will eat, not just one day, nor two days, nor five days, nor ten days, nor twenty days,\n\t\t\t but a whole month, until it comes out your nostrils and makes you sick, because you have despised the LORD who is among you and have wept before him, saying, \"Why did we ever come out of Egypt?\"'\"\n\t\t\t Moses said, \"The people around me are 600,000 on foot; but you say, 'I will give them meat, that they may eat for a whole month.' \n\t\t\t Would they have enough if the flocks and herds were slaughtered for them? If all the fish of the sea were caught for them, would they have enough?\"\n\t\t\t And the LORD said to Moses, \"Is the LORD's hand shortened? Now you will see whether my word to you will come true or not!\"\n\t\t\t So Moses went out and told the people the words of the LORD. He then gathered seventy men of the elders of the people and had them stand around the tabernacle.\n\t\t\t And the LORD came down in the cloud and spoke to them, and he took some of the Spirit that was on Moses and put it on the seventy elders. When the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied, but did not do so again.\n\t\t\t But two men remained in the camp; one's name was Eldad, and the other's name was Medad. And the spirit rested on them. (Now they were among those in the registration, but had not gone to the tabernacle.) So they prophesied in the camp. \n\t\t\t And a young man ran and told Moses, \"Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp!\" \n\t\t\t Joshua son of Nun, the servant of Moses, one of his choice young men, said, \"My lord Moses, stop them!\"\n\t\t\t Moses said to him, \"Are you jealous for me? I wish that all the LORD's people were prophets, that the LORD would put his Spirit on them!\" \n\t\t\t Then Moses returned to the camp along with the elders of Israel.\n\t\t\t Now a wind went out from the LORD and brought quail from the sea, and let them fall near the camp, about a day's journey on this side, and about a day's journey on the other side, all around the camp, and about three feet high on the surface of the ground.\n\t\t\t And the people stayed up all that day, all that night, and all the next day, and gathered the quail. The one who gathered the least gathered ten homers, and they spread them out for themselves all around the camp. \n\t\t\t But while the meat was still between their teeth, before they chewed it, the anger of the LORD burned against the people, and the LORD struck the people with a very great plague.\n\t\t\t So the name of that place was called Kibroth Hattaavah, because there they buried the people that craved different food.\n\t\t\t The people traveled from Kibroth Hattaavah to Hazeroth, and they stayed at Hazeroth.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman he had married (for he had married an Ethiopian woman). \n\t\t\t They said, \"Has the LORD only spoken through Moses? Has he not also spoken through us?\" And the LORD heard it.\n\t\t\t (Now the man Moses was very humble, more so than any man on the face of the earth.)\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke immediately to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam: \"The three of you come to the tent of meeting.\" So the three of them went.\n\t\t\t And the LORD came down in a pillar of cloud and stood at the entrance of the tent; he then called Aaron and Miriam, and they both came forward.\n\t\t\t The LORD said, \"Hear now my words: If there is a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known to him in a vision; I will speak with him in a dream. \n\t\t\t My servant Moses is not like this; he is faithful in all my house. \n\t\t\t With him I will speak face to face, openly, and not in riddles; and he will see the form of the LORD. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?\" \n\t\t\t The anger of the LORD burned against them, and he departed.\n\t\t\t When the cloud departed from above the tent, Miriam became leprous as snow. Then Aaron looked at Miriam, and she was leprous!\n\t\t\t So Aaron said to Moses, \"O my lord, please do not hold this sin against us, in which we have acted foolishly and have sinned!\n\t\t\t Do not let her be like a baby born dead, whose flesh is half-consumed when it comes out of its mother's womb!\"\n\t\t\t Then Moses cried to the LORD, \"Heal her now, O God.\"\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Moses, \"If her father had only spit in her face, would she not have been disgraced for seven days? Shut her out from the camp seven days, and afterward she can be brought back in again.\"\n\t\t\t So Miriam was shut outside of the camp for seven days, and the people did not journey on until Miriam was brought back in.\n\t\t\t After that the people moved from Hazeroth and camped in the wilderness of Paran.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses: \n\t\t\t \"Send out men to investigate the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites. You are to send one man from each ancestral tribe, each one a leader among them.\" \n\t\t\t So Moses sent them from the wilderness of Paran at the command of the LORD. All of them were leaders of the Israelites.\n\t\t\t Now these were their names: from the tribe of Reuben, Shammua son of Zaccur;\n\t\t\t from the tribe of Simeon, Shaphat son of Hori;\n\t\t\t from the tribe of Judah, Caleb son of Jephunneh;\n\t\t\t from the tribe of Issachar, Igal son of Joseph;\n\t\t\t from the tribe of Ephraim, Hoshea son of Nun;\n\t\t\t from the tribe of Benjamin, Palti son of Raphu;\n\t\t\t from the tribe of Zebulun, Gaddiel son of Sodi;\n\t\t\t from the tribe of Joseph, namely, the tribe of Manasseh, Gaddi son of Susi; \n\t\t\t from the tribe of Dan, Ammiel son of Gemalli;\n\t\t\t from the tribe of Asher, Sethur son of Michael;\n\t\t\t from the tribe of Naphtali, Nahbi son of Vopshi;\n\t\t\t from the tribe of Gad, Geuel son of Maki.\n\t\t\t These are the names of the men whom Moses sent to investigate the land. And Moses gave Hoshea son of Nun the name Joshua.\n\t\t\t When Moses sent them to investigate the land of Canaan, he told them, \"Go up through the Negev, and then go up into the hill country \n\t\t\t and see what the land is like, and whether the people who live in it are strong or weak, few or many, \n\t\t\t and whether the land they live in is good or bad, and whether the cities they inhabit are like camps or fortified cities,\n\t\t\t and whether the land is rich or poor, and whether or not there are forests in it. And be brave, and bring back some of the fruit of the land.\" Now it was the time of year for the first ripe grapes.\n\t\t\t So they went up and investigated the land from the wilderness of Zin to Rehob, at the entrance of Hamath.\n\t\t\t When they went up through the Negev, they came to Hebron where Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, descendants of Anak, were living. (Now Hebron had been built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.) \n\t\t\t When they came to the valley of Eshcol, they cut down from there a branch with one cluster of grapes, and they carried it on a staff between two men, as well as some of the pomegranates and the figs.\n\t\t\t That place was called the Eshcol Valley, because of the cluster of grapes that the Israelites cut from there. \n\t\t\t They returned from investigating the land after forty days.\n\t\t\t They came back to Moses and Aaron and to the whole community of the Israelites in the wilderness of Paran at Kadesh. They reported to the whole community and showed the fruit of the land. \n\t\t\t They told Moses, \"We went to the land where you sent us. It is indeed flowing with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. \n\t\t\t But the inhabitants are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large. Moreover we saw the descendants of Anak there. \n\t\t\t The Amalekites live in the land of the Negev; the Hittites, Jebusites, and Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live by the sea and along the banks of the Jordan.\"\n\t\t\t Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses, saying, \"Let us go up and occupy it, for we are well able to conquer it.\"\n\t\t\t But the men who had gone up with him said, \"We are not able to go up against these people, because they are stronger than we are!\" \n\t\t\t Then they presented the Israelites with a discouraging report of the land they had investigated, saying, \"The land that we passed through to investigate is a land that devours its inhabitants. All the people we saw there are of great stature. \n\t\t\t We even saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak came from the Nephilim), and we seemed liked grasshoppers both to ourselves and to them.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then all the community raised a loud cry, and the people wept that night. \n\t\t\t And all the Israelites murmured against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them, \"If only we had died in the land of Egypt, or if only we had perished in this wilderness! \n\t\t\t Why has the LORD brought us into this land only to be killed by the sword, that our wives and our children should become plunder? Wouldn't it be better for us to return to Egypt?\"\n\t\t\t So they said to one another, \"Let's appoint a leader and return to Egypt.\"\n\t\t\t Then Moses and Aaron fell down with their faces to the ground before the whole assembled community of the Israelites. \n\t\t\t And Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, two of those who had investigated the land, tore their garments.\n\t\t\t They said to the whole community of the Israelites, \"The land we passed through to investigate is an exceedingly good land. \n\t\t\t If the LORD delights in us, then he will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land that is flowing with milk and honey.\n\t\t\t Only do not rebel against the LORD, and do not fear the people of the land, for they are bread for us. Their protection has turned aside from them, but the LORD is with us. Do not fear them!\"\n\t\t\t However, the whole community threatened to stone them. But the glory of the LORD appeared to all the Israelites at the tent of meeting.\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Moses, \"How long will this people despise me, and how long will they not believe in me, in spite of the signs that I have done among them? \n\t\t\t I will strike them with the pestilence, and I will disinherit them; I will make you into a nation that is greater and mightier than they!\"\n\t\t\t Moses said to the LORD, \"When the Egyptians hear it, for you brought up this people by your power from among them,\n\t\t\t then they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land. They have heard that you, LORD, are among this people, that you, LORD, are seen face to face, that your cloud stands over them, and that you go before them by day in a pillar of cloud and in a pillar of fire by night.\n\t\t\t If you kill this entire people at once, then the nations that have heard of your fame will say, \n\t\t\t 'Because the LORD was not able to bring this people into the land that he swore to them, he killed them in the wilderness.'\n\t\t\t So now, let the power of my Lord be great, just as you have said, \n\t\t\t 'The LORD is slow to anger and abounding in loyal love, forgiving iniquity and transgression, but by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children until the third and fourth generations.'\n\t\t\t Please forgive the iniquity of this people according to your great loyal love, just as you have forgiven this people from Egypt even until now.\"\n\t\t\t Then the LORD said, \"I have forgiven them as you asked.\n\t\t\t But truly, as I live, all the earth will be filled with the glory of the LORD. \n\t\t\t For all the people have seen my glory and my signs that I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and yet have tempted me now these ten times, and have not obeyed me,\n\t\t\t they will by no means see the land that I swore to their fathers, nor will any of them who despised me see it. \n\t\t\t Only my servant Caleb, because he had a different spirit and has followed me fully, I will bring him into the land where he had gone, and his descendants will possess it.\n\t\t\t (Now the Amalekites and the Canaanites were living in the valleys.) Tomorrow, turn and journey into the wilderness by the way of the Red Sea.\"\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron:\n\t\t\t \"How long must I bear with this evil congregation that murmurs against me? I have heard the complaints of the Israelites that they murmured against me. \n\t\t\t Say to them, 'As I live, says the LORD, I will surely do to you just what you have spoken in my hearing.\n\t\t\t Your dead bodies will fall in this wilderness, all those of you who were numbered, according to your full number, from twenty years old and upward, who have murmured against me.\n\t\t\t You will by no means enter into the land where I swore to settle you. The only exceptions are Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun. \n\t\t\t But I will bring in your little ones, whom you said would become victims of war, and they will enjoy the land that you have despised. \n\t\t\t But as for you, your dead bodies will fall in this wilderness,\n\t\t\t and your children will wander in the wilderness forty years and suffer for your unfaithfulness, until your dead bodies lie finished in the wilderness. \n\t\t\t According to the number of the days you have investigated this land, forty days, one day for a year, you will suffer for your iniquities, forty years, and you will know what it means to thwart me.\n\t\t\t I, the LORD, have said, \"I will surely do so to all this evil congregation that has gathered together against me. In this wilderness they will be finished, and there they will die!\"'\"\n\t\t\t The men whom Moses sent to investigate the land, who returned and made the whole community murmur against him by producing an evil report about the land, \n\t\t\t those men who produced the evil report about the land, died by the plague before the LORD.\n\t\t\t But Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among the men who went to investigate the land, lived. \n\t\t\t When Moses told these things to all the Israelites, the people mourned greatly.\n\t\t\t And early in the morning they went up to the crest of the hill country, saying, \"Here we are, and we will go up to the place that the LORD commanded, for we have sinned.\"\n\t\t\t But Moses said, \"Why are you now transgressing the commandment of the LORD? It will not succeed! \n\t\t\t Do not go up, for the LORD is not among you, and you will be defeated before your enemies. \n\t\t\t For the Amalekites and the Canaanites are there before you, and you will fall by the sword. Because you have turned away from the LORD, the LORD will not be with you.\"\n\t\t\t But they dared to go up to the crest of the hill, although neither the ark of the covenant of the LORD nor Moses departed from the camp. \n\t\t\t So the Amalekites and the Canaanites who lived in that hill country swooped down and attacked them as far as Hormah.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses: \n\t\t\t \"Speak to the Israelites and tell them, 'When you enter the land where you are to live, which I am giving you,\n\t\t\t and you make an offering by fire to the LORD from the herd or from the flock (whether a burnt offering or a sacrifice for discharging a vow or as a freewill offering or in your solemn feasts) to create a pleasing aroma to the LORD,\n\t\t\t then the one who presents his offering to the LORD must bring a grain offering of one-tenth of an ephah of finely ground flour mixed with one fourth of a hin of olive oil.\n\t\t\t You must also prepare one-fourth of a hin of wine for a drink offering with the burnt offering or the sacrifice for each lamb.\n\t\t\t Or for a ram, you must prepare as a grain offering two-tenths of an ephah of finely ground flour mixed with one-third of a hin of olive oil,\n\t\t\t and for a drink offering you must offer one-third of a hin of wine as a pleasing aroma to the LORD.\n\t\t\t And when you prepare a young bull as a burnt offering or a sacrifice for discharging a vow or as a peace offering to the LORD,\n\t\t\t then a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah of finely ground flour mixed with half a hin of olive oil must be presented with the young bull, \n\t\t\t and you must present as the drink offering half a hin of wine with the fire offering as a pleasing aroma to the LORD.\n\t\t\t This is what is to be done for each ox, or each ram, or each of the male lambs or the goats. \n\t\t\t You must do so for each one according to the number that you prepare.\n\t\t\t \"'Every native-born person must do these things in this way to present an offering made by fire as a pleasing aroma to the LORD.\n\t\t\t If a resident foreigner is living with you, or whoever is among you in future generations, and prepares an offering made by fire as a pleasing aroma to the LORD, he must do it the same way you are to do it.\n\t\t\t One statute must apply to you who belong to the congregation and to the resident foreigner who is living among you, as a permanent statute for your future generations. You and the resident foreigner will be alike before the LORD.\n\t\t\t One law and one custom must apply to you and to the resident foreigner who lives alongside you.'\"\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses:\n\t\t\t \"Speak to the Israelites and tell them, 'When you enter the land to which I am bringing you\n\t\t\t and you eat some of the food of the land, you must offer up a raised offering to the LORD.\n\t\t\t You must offer up a cake of the first of your finely ground flour as a raised offering; as you offer the raised offering of the threshing floor, so you must offer it up. \n\t\t\t You must give to the LORD some of the first of your finely ground flour as a raised offering in your future generations.\n\t\t\t \"'If you sin unintentionally and do not observe all these commandments that the LORD has spoken to Moses,\n\t\t\t all that the LORD has commanded you by the authority of Moses, from the day that the LORD commanded Moses and continuing through your future generations,\n\t\t\t then if anything is done unintentionally without the knowledge of the community, the whole community must prepare one young bull for a burnt offering, for a pleasing aroma to the LORD, along with its grain offering and its customary drink offering, and one male goat for a purification offering.\n\t\t\t And the priest is to make atonement for the whole community of the Israelites, and they will be forgiven, because it was unintentional and they have brought their offering, an offering made by fire to the LORD, and their purification offering before the LORD, for their unintentional offense.\n\t\t\t And the whole community of the Israelites and the resident foreigner who lives among them will be forgiven, since all the people were involved in the unintentional offense.\n\t\t\t \"'If any person sins unintentionally, then he must bring a yearling female goat for a purification offering. \n\t\t\t And the priest must make atonement for the person who sins unintentionally, when he sins unintentionally before the LORD, to make atonement for him, and he will be forgiven.\n\t\t\t You must have one law for the person who sins unintentionally, both for the native-born among the Israelites and for the resident foreigner who lives among them.\n\t\t\t \"'But the person who acts defiantly, whether native-born or a resident foreigner, insults the LORD. That person must be cut off from among his people. \n\t\t\t Because he has despised the word of the LORD and has broken his commandment, that person must be completely cut off. His iniquity will be on him.'\"\n\t\t\t When the Israelites were in the wilderness they found a man gathering wood on the Sabbath day.\n\t\t\t Those who found him gathering wood brought him to Moses and Aaron and to the whole community.\n\t\t\t They put him in custody, because there was no clear instruction about what should be done to him.\n\t\t\t Then the LORD said to Moses, \"The man must surely be put to death; the whole community must stone him with stones outside the camp.\" \n\t\t\t So the whole community took him outside the camp and stoned him to death, just as the LORD commanded Moses.\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses:\n\t\t\t \"Speak to the Israelites and tell them to make tassels for themselves on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and put a blue thread on the tassel of the corners. \n\t\t\t You must have this tassel so that you may look at it and remember all the commandments of the LORD and obey them and so that you do not follow after your own heart and your own eyes that lead you to unfaithfulness.\n\t\t\t Thus you will remember and obey all my commandments and be holy to your God. \n\t\t\t I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God. I am the LORD your God.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now Korah son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth, who were Reubenites, took men\n\t\t\t and rebelled against Moses, along with some of the Israelites, 250 leaders of the community, chosen from the assembly, famous men.\n\t\t\t And they assembled against Moses and Aaron, saying to them, \"You take too much upon yourselves, seeing that the whole community is holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the community of the LORD?\"\n\t\t\t When Moses heard it he fell down with his face to the ground.\n\t\t\t Then he said to Korah and to all his company, \"In the morning the LORD will make known who are his, and who is holy. He will cause that person to approach him; the person he has chosen he will cause to approach him. \n\t\t\t Do this, Korah, you and all your company: Take censers, \n\t\t\t put fire in them, and set incense on them before the LORD tomorrow, and the man whom the LORD chooses will be holy. You take too much upon yourselves, you sons of Levi!\"\n\t\t\t Moses said to Korah, \"Listen now, you sons of Levi!\n\t\t\t Does it seem too small a thing to you that the God of Israel has separated you from the community of Israel to bring you near to himself, to perform the service of the tabernacle of the LORD, and to stand before the community to minister to them?\n\t\t\t He has brought you near and all your brothers, the sons of Levi, with you. Do you now seek the priesthood also? \n\t\t\t Therefore you and all your company have assembled together against the LORD! And Aaron, what is he that you murmur against him?\"\n\t\t\t Then Moses summoned Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, but they said, \"We will not come up.\n\t\t\t Is it a small thing that you have brought us up out of the land that flows with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness? Now do you want to make yourself a prince over us? \n\t\t\t Moreover, you have not brought us into a land that flows with milk and honey, nor given us an inheritance of fields and vineyards. Do you think you can blind these men? We will not come up.\"\n\t\t\t Moses was very angry, and he said to the LORD, \"Have no respect for their offering! I have not taken so much as one donkey from them, nor have I harmed any one of them!\"\n\t\t\t Then Moses said to Korah, \"You and all your company present yourselves before the LORD, you and they, and Aaron, tomorrow.\n\t\t\t And each of you take his censer, put incense in it, and then each of you present his censer before the LORD: 250 censers, along with you, and Aaron, each of you with his censer.\"\n\t\t\t So everyone took his censer, put fire in it, and set incense on it, and stood at the entrance of the tent of meeting, with Moses and Aaron.\n\t\t\t When Korah assembled the whole community against them at the entrance of the tent of meeting, then the glory of the LORD appeared to the whole community.\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron:\n\t\t\t \"Separate yourselves from among this community, that I may consume them in an instant.\" \n\t\t\t Then they threw themselves down with their faces to the ground and said, \"O God, the God of the spirits of all people, will you be angry with the whole community when only one man sins?\"\n\t\t\t So the LORD spoke to Moses:\n\t\t\t \"Tell the community: 'Get away from around the homes of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.'\" \n\t\t\t Then Moses got up and went to Dathan and Abiram; and the elders of Israel went after him. \n\t\t\t And he said to the community, \"Move away from the tents of these wicked men, and do not touch anything they have, lest you be destroyed because of all their sins.\"\n\t\t\t So they got away from the homes of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram on every side, and Dathan and Abiram came out and stationed themselves in the entrances of their tents with their wives, their children, and their toddlers. \n\t\t\t Then Moses said, \"This is how you will know that the LORD has sent me to do all these works, for I have not done them of my own will.\n\t\t\t If these men die a natural death, or if they share the fate of all men, then the LORD has not sent me. \n\t\t\t But if the LORD does something entirely new, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them up along with all that they have, and they go down alive to the grave, then you will know that these men have despised the LORD!\"\n\t\t\t When he had finished speaking all these words, the ground that was under them split open, \n\t\t\t and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them, along with their households, and all Korah's men, and all their goods.\n\t\t\t They and all that they had went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed over them. So they perished from among the community.\n\t\t\t All the Israelites who were around them fled at their cry, for they said, \"What if the earth swallows us too?\" \n\t\t\t Then a fire went out from the LORD and devoured the 250 men who offered incense.\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses: \n\t\t\t \"Tell Eleazar son of Aaron the priest to pick up the censers out of the flame, for they are holy, and then scatter the coals of fire at a distance. \n\t\t\t As for the censers of these men who sinned at the cost of their lives, they must be made into hammered sheets for covering the altar, because they presented them before the LORD and sanctified them. They will become a sign to the Israelites.\" \n\t\t\t So Eleazar the priest took the bronze censers presented by those who had been burned up, and they were hammered out as a covering for the altar.\n\t\t\t It was a memorial for the Israelites, that no outsider who is not a descendant of Aaron should approach to burn incense before the LORD, that he might not become like Korah and his company, just as the LORD had spoken by the authority of Moses.\n\t\t\t But on the next day the whole community of Israelites murmured against Moses and Aaron, saying, \"You have killed the LORD's people!\"\n\t\t\t When the community assembled against Moses and Aaron, they turned toward the tent of meeting, and the cloud covered it, and the glory of the LORD appeared.\n\t\t\t Then Moses and Aaron stood before the tent of meeting.\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses:\n\t\t\t \"Get away from this community, so that I can consume them in an instant!\" But they threw themselves down with their faces to the ground.\n\t\t\t Then Moses said to Aaron, \"Take the censer, put burning coals from the altar in it, place incense on it, and go quickly into the assembly and make atonement for them, for wrath has gone out from the LORD, the plague has begun!\"\n\t\t\t So Aaron did as Moses commanded and ran into the middle of the assembly, where the plague was just beginning among the people. So he placed incense on the coals and made atonement for the people. \n\t\t\t He stood between the dead and the living, and the plague was stopped.\n\t\t\t Now 14,700 people died in the plague, in addition to those who died in the event with Korah.\n\t\t\t Then Aaron returned to Moses at the entrance of the tent of meeting, and the plague was stopped.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses: \n\t\t\t \"Speak to the Israelites, and receive from them a staff from each tribe, one from every tribal leader, twelve staffs; you must write each man's name on his staff. \n\t\t\t You must write Aaron's name on the staff of Levi; for one staff is for the head of every tribe.\n\t\t\t You must place them in the tent of meeting before the ark of the covenant where I meet with you. \n\t\t\t And the staff of the man whom I choose will blossom; so I will rid myself of the complaints of the Israelites, which they murmur against you.\"\n\t\t\t So Moses spoke to the Israelites, and each of their leaders gave him a staff, one for each leader, according to their tribes, twelve staffs; the staff of Aaron was among their staffs.\n\t\t\t Then Moses placed the staffs before the LORD in the tent of the testimony.\n\t\t\t On the next day Moses went into the tent of the testimony, and the staff of Aaron for the house of Levi had sprouted, and brought forth buds, and produced blossoms, and yielded almonds!\n\t\t\t So Moses brought out all the staffs from before the LORD to all the Israelites. They looked at them, and each man took his staff.\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Moses, \"Bring Aaron's staff back before the testimony to be preserved for a sign to the rebels, so that you may bring their murmurings to an end before me, that they will not die.\"\n\t\t\t So Moses did as the LORD commanded him, this is what he did.\n\t\t\t The Israelites said to Moses, \"We are bound to die! We perish, we all perish! \n\t\t\t Anyone who even comes close to the tabernacle of the LORD will die! Are we all to die?\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Aaron, \"You and your sons and your tribe with you must bear the iniquity of the sanctuary, and you and your sons with you must bear the iniquity of your priesthood.\n\t\t\t \"Bring with you your brothers, the tribe of Levi, the tribe of your father, so that they may join with you and minister to you while you and your sons with you are before the tent of the testimony.\n\t\t\t They must be responsible to care for you and to care for the entire tabernacle. However, they must not come near the furnishings of the sanctuary and the altar, or both they and you will die.\n\t\t\t They must join with you, and they will be responsible for the care of the tent of meeting, for all the service of the tent, but no unauthorized person may approach you. \n\t\t\t You will be responsible for the care of the sanctuary and the care of the altar, so that there will be no more wrath on the Israelites. \n\t\t\t I myself have chosen your brothers the Levites from among the Israelites. They are given to you as a gift from the LORD, to perform the duties of the tent of meeting. \n\t\t\t But you and your sons with you are responsible for your priestly duties, for everything at the altar and within the curtain. And you must serve. I give you the priesthood as a gift for service; but the unauthorized person who approaches must be put to death.\"\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Aaron, \"See, I have given you the responsibility for my raised offerings; I have given all the holy things of the Israelites to you as your priestly portion and to your sons as a perpetual ordinance. \n\t\t\t Of all the most holy offerings reserved from the fire this will be yours: Every offering of theirs, whether from every grain offering or from every purification offering or from every reparation offering which they bring to me, will be most holy for you and for your sons. \n\t\t\t You are to eat it as a most holy offering; every male may eat it. It will be holy to you.\n\t\t\t \"And this is yours: the raised offering of their gift, along with all the wave offerings of the Israelites. I have given them to you and to your sons and daughters with you as a perpetual ordinance. Everyone who is ceremonially clean in your household may eat of it.\n\t\t\t \"All the best of the olive oil and all the best of the wine and of the wheat, the first fruits of these things that they give to the LORD, I have given to you.\n\t\t\t And whatever first ripe fruit in their land they bring to the LORD will be yours; everyone who is ceremonially clean in your household may eat of it.\n\t\t\t \"Everything devoted in Israel will be yours. \n\t\t\t The firstborn of every womb which they present to the LORD, whether human or animal, will be yours. Nevertheless, the firstborn sons you must redeem, and the firstborn males of unclean animals you must redeem. \n\t\t\t And those that must be redeemed you are to redeem when they are a month old, according to your estimation, for five shekels of silver according to the sanctuary shekel (which is twenty gerahs).\n\t\t\t But you must not redeem the firstborn of a cow or a sheep or a goat; they are holy. You must splash their blood on the altar and burn their fat for an offering made by fire for a pleasing aroma to the LORD.\n\t\t\t And their meat will be yours, just as the breast and the right hip of the raised offering is yours.\n\t\t\t All the raised offerings of the holy things that the Israelites offer to the LORD, I have given to you, and to your sons and daughters with you, as a perpetual ordinance. It is a covenant of salt forever before the LORD for you and for your descendants with you.\"\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Aaron, \"You will have no inheritance in their land, nor will you have any portion of property among them, I am your portion and your inheritance among the Israelites.\n\t\t\t See, I have given the Levites all the tithes in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they perform, the service of the tent of meeting.\n\t\t\t No longer may the Israelites approach the tent of meeting, or else they will bear their sin and die. \n\t\t\t But the Levites must perform the service of the tent of meeting, and they must bear their iniquity. It will be a perpetual ordinance throughout your generations that among the Israelites the Levites have no inheritance.\n\t\t\t But I have given to the Levites for an inheritance the tithes of the Israelites that are offered to the LORD as a raised offering. That is why I said to them that among the Israelites they are to have no inheritance.\"\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses:\n\t\t\t \"You are to speak to the Levites, and you must tell them, 'When you receive from the Israelites the tithe that I have given you from them as your inheritance, then you are to offer up from it as a raised offering to the LORD a tenth of the tithe. \n\t\t\t And your raised offering will be credited to you as though it were grain from the threshing floor or as new wine from the winepress. \n\t\t\t Thus you are to offer up a raised offering to the LORD of all your tithes which you receive from the Israelites; and you must give the LORD's raised offering from it to Aaron the priest.\n\t\t\t From all your gifts you must offer up every raised offering due the LORD, from all the best of it, and the holiest part of it.'\n\t\t\t \"Therefore you will say to them, 'When you offer up the best of it, then it will be credited to the Levites as the product of the threshing floor and as the product of the winepress. \n\t\t\t And you may eat it in any place, you and your household, because it is your wages for your service in the tent of meeting. \n\t\t\t And you will bear no sin concerning it when you offer up the best of it. And you must not profane the holy things of the Israelites, or else you will die.'\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron: \n\t\t\t \"This is the ordinance of the law which the LORD has commanded: 'Instruct the Israelites to bring you a red heifer without blemish, which has no defect and has never carried a yoke.\n\t\t\t You must give it to Eleazar the priest so that he can take it outside the camp, and it must be slaughtered before him.\n\t\t\t Eleazar the priest is to take some of its blood with his finger, and sprinkle some of the blood seven times directly in front of the tent of meeting. \n\t\t\t Then the heifer must be burned in his sight, its skin, its flesh, its blood, and its offal is to be burned.\n\t\t\t And the priest must take cedar wood, hyssop, and scarlet wool and throw them into the midst of the fire where the heifer is burning.\n\t\t\t Then the priest must wash his clothes and bathe himself in water, and afterward he may come into the camp, but the priest will be ceremonially unclean until evening. \n\t\t\t The one who burns it must wash his clothes in water and bathe himself in water. He will be ceremonially unclean until evening.\n\t\t\t \"'Then a man who is ceremonially clean must gather up the ashes of the red heifer and put them in a ceremonially clean place outside the camp. They must be kept for the community of the Israelites for use in the water of purification, it is a purification for sin.\n\t\t\t The one who gathers the ashes of the heifer must wash his clothes and be ceremonially unclean until evening. This will be a permanent ordinance both for the Israelites and the resident foreigner who lives among them.\n\t\t\t \"'Whoever touches the corpse of any person will be ceremonially unclean seven days. \n\t\t\t He must purify himself with water on the third day and on the seventh day, and so will be clean. But if he does not purify himself on the third day and the seventh day, then he will not be clean. \n\t\t\t Anyone who touches the corpse of any dead person and does not purify himself defiles the tabernacle of the LORD. And that person must be cut off from Israel, because the water of purification was not sprinkled on him. He will be unclean; his uncleanness remains on him.\n\t\t\t \"'This is the law: When a man dies in a tent, anyone who comes into the tent and all who are in the tent will be ceremonially unclean seven days. \n\t\t\t And every open container that has no covering fastened on it is unclean.\n\t\t\t And whoever touches the body of someone killed with a sword in the open fields, or the body of someone who died of natural causes, or a human bone, or a grave, will be unclean seven days.\n\t\t\t \"'For a ceremonially unclean person you must take some of the ashes of the heifer burnt for purification from sin and pour fresh running water over them in a vessel. \n\t\t\t Then a ceremonially clean person must take hyssop, dip it in the water, and sprinkle it on the tent, on all its furnishings, and on the people who were there, or on the one who touched a bone, or one killed, or one who died, or a grave.\n\t\t\t And the clean person must sprinkle the unclean on the third day and on the seventh day; and on the seventh day he must purify him, and then he must wash his clothes, and bathe in water, and he will be clean in the evening. \n\t\t\t But the man who is unclean and does not purify himself, that person must be cut off from among the community, because he has polluted the sanctuary of the LORD; the water of purification was not sprinkled on him, so he is unclean.\n\t\t\t \"'So this will be a perpetual ordinance for them: The one who sprinkles the water of purification must wash his clothes, and the one who touches the water of purification will be unclean until evening.\n\t\t\t And whatever the unclean person touches will be unclean, and the person who touches it will be unclean until evening.'\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then the entire community of Israel entered the wilderness of Zin in the first month, and the people stayed in Kadesh. Miriam died and was buried there.\n\t\t\t And there was no water for the community, and so they gathered themselves together against Moses and Aaron.\n\t\t\t The people contended with Moses, saying, \"If only we had died when our brothers died before the LORD! \n\t\t\t Why have you brought up the LORD's community into this wilderness? So that we and our cattle should die here? \n\t\t\t Why have you brought us up from Egypt only to bring us to this dreadful place? It is no place for grain, or figs, or vines, or pomegranates; nor is there any water to drink!\"\n\t\t\t So Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the entrance to the tent of meeting. They then threw themselves down with their faces to the ground, and the glory of the LORD appeared to them.\n\t\t\t Then the LORD spoke to Moses:\n\t\t\t \"Take the staff and assemble the community, you and Aaron your brother, and then speak to the rock before their eyes. It will pour forth its water, and you will bring water out of the rock for them, and so you will give the community and their beasts water to drink.\"\n\t\t\t So Moses took the staff from before the LORD, just as he commanded him.\n\t\t\t Then Moses and Aaron gathered the community together in front of the rock, and he said to them, \"Listen, you rebels, must we bring water out of this rock for you?\" \n\t\t\t Then Moses raised his hand, and struck the rock twice with his staff. And water came out abundantly. So the community drank, and their beasts drank too.\n\t\t\t Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, \"Because you did not trust me enough to show me as holy before the Israelites, therefore you will not bring this community into the land I have given them.\"\n\t\t\t These are the waters of Meribah, because the Israelites contended with the LORD, and his holiness was maintained among them.\n\t\t\t Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom: \"Thus says your brother Israel: 'You know all the hardships we have experienced,\n\t\t\t how our ancestors went down into Egypt, and we lived in Egypt a long time, and the Egyptians treated us and our ancestors badly.\n\t\t\t So when we cried to the LORD, he heard our voice and sent a messenger, and has brought us up out of Egypt. Now we are here in Kadesh, a town on the edge of your country.\n\t\t\t Please let us pass through your country. We will not pass through the fields or through the vineyards, nor will we drink water from any well. We will go by the King's Highway; we will not turn to the right or the left until we have passed through your region.'\"\n\t\t\t But Edom said to him, \"You will not pass through me, or I will come out against you with the sword.\" \n\t\t\t Then the Israelites said to him, \"We will go along the highway, and if we or our cattle drink any of your water, we will pay for it. We will only pass through on our feet, without doing anything else.\"\n\t\t\t But he said, \"You may not pass through.\" Then Edom came out against them with a large and powerful force.\n\t\t\t So Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border; therefore Israel turned away from him.\n\t\t\t So the entire company of Israelites traveled from Kadesh and came to Mount Hor.\n\t\t\t And the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron in Mount Hor, by the border of the land of Edom. He said:\n\t\t\t \"Aaron will be gathered to his ancestors, for he will not enter into the land I have given to the Israelites because both of you rebelled against my word at the waters of Meribah. \n\t\t\t Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring them up on Mount Hor.\n\t\t\t Remove Aaron's priestly garments and put them on Eleazar his son, and Aaron will be gathered to his ancestors and will die there.\"\n\t\t\t So Moses did as the LORD commanded; and they went up Mount Hor in the sight of the whole community. \n\t\t\t And Moses removed Aaron's garments and put them on his son Eleazar. So Aaron died there on the top of the mountain. And Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain.\n\t\t\t When all the community saw that Aaron was dead, the whole house of Israel mourned for Aaron thirty days.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t When the Canaanite king of Arad who lived in the Negev heard that Israel was approaching along the road to Atharim, he fought against Israel and took some of them prisoner.\n\t\t\t So Israel made a vow to the LORD and said, \"If you will indeed deliver this people into our hand, then we will utterly destroy their cities.\" \n\t\t\t The LORD listened to the voice of Israel and delivered up the Canaanites, and they utterly destroyed them and their cities. So the name of the place was called Hormah.\n\t\t\t Then they traveled from Mount Hor by the road to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom, but the people became impatient along the way. \n\t\t\t And the people spoke against God and against Moses, \"Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness, for there is no bread or water, and we detest this worthless food.\"\n\t\t\t So the LORD sent poisonous snakes among the people, and they bit the people; many people of Israel died. \n\t\t\t Then the people came to Moses and said, \"We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD and against you. Pray to the LORD that he would take away the snakes from us.\" So Moses prayed for the people.\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Moses, \"Make a poisonous snake and set it on a pole. When anyone who is bitten looks at it, he will live.\" \n\t\t\t So Moses made a bronze snake and put it on a pole, so that if a snake had bitten someone, when he looked at the bronze snake he lived.\n\t\t\t The Israelites traveled on and camped in Oboth. \n\t\t\t Then they traveled on from Oboth and camped at Iye Abarim, in the wilderness that is before Moab, on the eastern side.\n\t\t\t From there they moved on and camped in the valley of Zered.\n\t\t\t From there they moved on and camped on the other side of the Arnon, in the wilderness that extends from the regions of the Amorites, for Arnon is the border of Moab, between Moab and the Amorites. \n\t\t\t This is why it is said in the Book of the Wars of the LORD, \"Waheb in Suphah and the wadis, the Arnon\n\t\t\t and the slope of the valleys that extends to the dwelling of Ar, and falls off at the border of Moab.\"\n\t\t\t And from there they traveled to Beer; that is the well where the LORD spoke to Moses, \"Gather the people and I will give them water.\" \n\t\t\t Then Israel sang this song: \"Spring up, O well, sing to it!\n\t\t\t The well which the princes dug, which the leaders of the people opened with their scepters and their staffs.\" And from the wilderness they traveled to Mattanah; \n\t\t\t and from Mattanah to Nahaliel; and from Nahaliel to Bamoth;\n\t\t\t and from Bamoth to the valley that is in the country of Moab, near the top of Pisgah, which overlooks the wilderness.\n\t\t\t Then Israel sent messengers to King Sihon of the Amorites, saying,\n\t\t\t \"Let us pass through your land; we will not turn aside into the fields or into the vineyards, nor will we drink water from any well, but we will go along the King's Highway until we pass your borders.\"\n\t\t\t But Sihon did not permit Israel to pass through his border; he gathered all his forces together and went out against Israel into the wilderness. When he came to Jahaz, he fought against Israel. \n\t\t\t But the Israelites defeated him in battle and took possession of his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, as far as the Ammonites, for the border of the Ammonites was strongly defended. \n\t\t\t So Israel took all these cities; and Israel settled in all the cities of the Amorites, in Heshbon, and in all its villages.\n\t\t\t For Heshbon was the city of King Sihon of the Amorites. Now he had fought against the former king of Moab and had taken all of his land from his control, as far as the Arnon. \n\t\t\t That is why those who speak in proverbs say, \"Come to Heshbon, let it be built. Let the city of Sihon be established!\n\t\t\t For fire went out from Heshbon, a flame from the city of Sihon. It has consumed Ar of Moab and the lords of the high places of Arnon.\n\t\t\t Woe to you, Moab. You are ruined, O people of Chemosh! He has made his sons fugitives, and his daughters the prisoners of King Sihon of the Amorites.\n\t\t\t We have overpowered them; Heshbon has perished as far as Dibon. We have shattered them as far as Nophah, which reaches to Medeba.\"\n\t\t\t So the Israelites lived in the land of the Amorites. \n\t\t\t Moses sent spies to reconnoiter Jaazer, and they captured its villages and dispossessed the Amorites who were there.\n\t\t\t Then they turned and went up by the road to Bashan. And King Og of Bashan and all his forces marched out against them to do battle at Edrei. \n\t\t\t And the LORD said to Moses, \"Do not fear him, for I have delivered him and all his people and his land into your hand. You will do to him what you did to King Sihon of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon.\n\t\t\t So they defeated Og, his sons, and all his people, until there were no survivors, and they possessed his land.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The Israelites traveled on and camped in the plains of Moab on the side of the Jordan River across from Jericho.\n\t\t\t Balak son of Zippor saw all that the Israelites had done to the Amorites.\n\t\t\t And the Moabites were greatly afraid of the people, because they were so numerous. The Moabites were sick with fear because of the Israelites.\n\t\t\t So the Moabites said to the elders of Midian, \"Now this mass of people will lick up everything around us, as the bull devours the grass of the field. Now Balak son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at this time. \n\t\t\t And he sent messengers to Balaam son of Beor at Pethor, which is by the Euphrates River in the land of Amaw, to summon him, saying, \"Look, a nation has come out of Egypt. They cover the face of the earth, and they are settling next to me. \n\t\t\t So now, please come and curse this nation for me, for they are too powerful for me. Perhaps I will prevail so that we may conquer them and drive them out of the land. For I know that whoever you bless is blessed, and whoever you curse is cursed.\"\n\t\t\t So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the fee for divination in their hand. They came to Balaam and reported to him the words of Balak. \n\t\t\t He replied to them, \"Stay here tonight, and I will bring back to you whatever word the LORD may speak to me.\" So the princes of Moab stayed with Balaam. \n\t\t\t And God came to Balaam and said, \"Who are these men with you?\"\n\t\t\t Balaam said to God, \"Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent a message to me, saying,\n\t\t\t \"Look, a nation has come out of Egypt, and it covers the face of the earth. Come now and put a curse on them for me; perhaps I will be able to defeat them and drive them out.\"\n\t\t\t But God said to Balaam, \"You must not go with them; you must not curse the people, for they are blessed.\"\n\t\t\t So Balaam got up in the morning, and said to the princes of Balak, \"Go to your land, for the LORD has refused to permit me to go with you.\" \n\t\t\t So the princes of Moab departed and went back to Balak and said, \"Balaam refused to come with us.\"\n\t\t\t Balak again sent princes, more numerous and more distinguished than the first.\n\t\t\t And they came to Balaam and said to him, \"Thus says Balak son of Zippor: 'Please do not let anything hinder you from coming to me. \n\t\t\t For I will honor you greatly, and whatever you tell me I will do. So come, put a curse on this nation for me.'\"\n\t\t\t Balaam replied to the servants of Balak, \"Even if Balak would give me his palace full of silver and gold, I could not transgress the commandment of the LORD my God to do less or more. \n\t\t\t Now therefore, please stay the night here also, that I may know what more the LORD might say to me.\"\n\t\t\t God came to Balaam that night, and said to him, \"If the men have come to call you, get up and go with them; but the word that I will say to you, that you must do.\"\n\t\t\t So Balaam got up in the morning, saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab.\n\t\t\t Then God's anger was kindled because he went, and the angel of the LORD stood in the road to oppose him. Now he was riding on his donkey and his two servants were with him. \n\t\t\t And the donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with his sword drawn in his hand, so the donkey turned aside from the road and went into the field. But Balaam beat the donkey, to make her turn back to the road.\n\t\t\t Then the angel of the LORD stood in a path among the vineyards, where there was a wall on either side.\n\t\t\t And when the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she pressed herself into the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot against the wall. So he beat her again.\n\t\t\t Then the angel of the LORD went farther, and stood in a narrow place, where there was no way to turn either to the right or to the left.\n\t\t\t When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she crouched down under Balaam. Then Balaam was angry, and he beat his donkey with a staff.\n\t\t\t Then the LORD opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, \"What have I done to you that you have beaten me these three times?\"\n\t\t\t And Balaam said to the donkey, \"You have made me look stupid; I wish there were a sword in my hand, for I would kill you right now.\" \n\t\t\t The donkey said to Balaam, \"Am not I your donkey that you have ridden ever since I was yours until this day? Have I ever attempted to treat you this way?\" And he said, \"No.\" \n\t\t\t Then the LORD opened Balaam's eyes, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way with his sword drawn in his hand; so he bowed his head and threw himself down with his face to the ground.\n\t\t\t The angel of the LORD said to him, \"Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? Look, I came out to oppose you because what you are doing is perverse before me.\n\t\t\t The donkey saw me and turned from me these three times. If she had not turned from me, I would have killed you but saved her alive.\" \n\t\t\t Balaam said to the angel of the LORD, \"I have sinned, for I did not know that you stood against me in the road. So now, if it is evil in your sight, I will go back home.\"\n\t\t\t But the angel of the LORD said to Balaam, \"Go with the men, but you may only speak the word that I will speak to you.\" So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.\n\t\t\t When Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went out to meet him at a city of Moab which was on the border of the Arnon at the boundary of his territory.\n\t\t\t Balak said to Balaam, \"Did I not send again and again to you to summon you? Why did you not come to me? Am I not able to honor you?\"\n\t\t\t Balaam said to Balak, \"Look, I have come to you. Now, am I able to speak just anything? I must speak only the word that God puts in my mouth.\" \n\t\t\t So Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath-huzoth.\n\t\t\t And Balak sacrificed bulls and sheep, and sent some to Balaam, and to the princes who were with him. \n\t\t\t Then on the next morning Balak took Balaam, and brought him up to Bamoth Baal. From there he saw the extent of the nation.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Balaam said to Balak, \"Build me seven altars here, and prepare for me here seven bulls and seven rams.\" \n\t\t\t So Balak did just as Balaam had said. Balak and Balaam then offered on each altar a bull and a ram. \n\t\t\t Balaam said to Balak, \"Station yourself by your burnt offering, and I will go off; perhaps the LORD will come to meet me, and whatever he reveals to me I will tell you.\" Then he went to a deserted height.\n\t\t\t Then God met Balaam, who said to him, \"I have prepared seven altars, and I have offered on each altar a bull and a ram.\" \n\t\t\t Then the LORD put a message in Balaam's mouth and said, \"Return to Balak, and speak what I tell you.\"\n\t\t\t So he returned to him, and he was still standing by his burnt offering, he and all the princes of Moab. \n\t\t\t Then Balaam uttered his oracle, saying, \"Balak, the king of Moab, brought me from Aram, out of the mountains of the east, saying, 'Come, pronounce a curse on Jacob for me; come, denounce Israel.'\n\t\t\t How can I curse one whom God has not cursed, or how can I denounce one whom the LORD has not denounced?\n\t\t\t For from the top of the rocks I see them; from the hills I watch them. Indeed, a nation that lives alone, and it will not be reckoned among the nations.\n\t\t\t Who can count the dust of Jacob, Or number the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the upright, and let the end of my life be like theirs.\"\n\t\t\t Then Balak said to Balaam, \"What have you done to me? I brought you to curse my enemies, but on the contrary you have only blessed them!\"\n\t\t\t Balaam replied, \"Must I not be careful to speak what the LORD has put in my mouth?\"\n\t\t\t Balak said to him, \"Please come with me to another place from which you can observe them. You will see only a part of them, but you will not see all of them. Curse them for me from there.\"\n\t\t\t So Balak brought Balaam to the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah, where he built seven altars and offered a bull and a ram on each altar. \n\t\t\t And Balaam said to Balak, \"Station yourself here by your burnt offering, while I meet the LORD there. \n\t\t\t Then the LORD met Balaam and put a message in his mouth and said, \"Return to Balak, and speak what I tell you.\" \n\t\t\t When Balaam came to him, he was still standing by his burnt offering, along with the princes of Moab. And Balak said to him, \"What has the LORD spoken?\"\n\t\t\t Balaam uttered his oracle, and said, \"Rise up, Balak, and hear; Listen to me, son of Zippor:\n\t\t\t God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a human being, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not make it happen?\n\t\t\t Indeed, I have received a command to bless; he has blessed, and I cannot reverse it.\n\t\t\t He has not looked on iniquity in Jacob, nor has he seen trouble in Israel. The LORD their God is with them; his acclamation as king is among them.\n\t\t\t God brought them out of Egypt. They have, as it were, the strength of a wild bull.\n\t\t\t For there is no spell against Jacob, nor is there any divination against Israel. At this time it must be said of Jacob and of Israel, 'Look at what God has done!'\n\t\t\t Indeed, the people will rise up like a lioness, and like a lion raises himself up; they will not lie down until they eat their prey, and drink the blood of the slain.\"\n\t\t\t Balak said to Balaam, \"Neither curse them at all nor bless them at all!\"\n\t\t\t But Balaam replied to Balak, \"Did I not tell you, 'All that the LORD speaks, I must do'?\"\n\t\t\t Balak said to Balaam, \"Come, please; I will take you to another place. Perhaps it will please God to let you curse them for me from there.\"\n\t\t\t So Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor, that looks toward the wilderness.\n\t\t\t Then Balaam said to Balak, \"Build seven altars here for me, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams.\"\n\t\t\t So Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t When Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not go as at the other times to seek for omens, but he set his face toward the wilderness. \n\t\t\t When Balaam lifted up his eyes, he saw Israel camped tribe by tribe; and the Spirit of God came upon him. \n\t\t\t Then he uttered this oracle: \"The oracle of Balaam son of Beor; the oracle of the man whose eyes are open;\n\t\t\t the oracle of the one who hears the words of God, who sees a vision from the Almighty, although falling flat on the ground with eyes open:\n\t\t\t 'How beautiful are your tents, O Jacob, and your dwelling places, O Israel!\n\t\t\t They are like valleys stretched forth, like gardens by the river's side, like aloes that the LORD has planted, and like cedar trees beside the waters.\n\t\t\t He will pour the water out of his buckets, and their descendants will be like abundant water; their king will be greater than Agag, and their kingdom will be exalted.\n\t\t\t God brought them out of Egypt. They have, as it were, the strength of a young bull; they will devour hostile people and will break their bones and will pierce them through with arrows.\n\t\t\t They crouch and lie down like a lion, and as a lioness, who can stir him? Blessed is the one who blesses you, and cursed is the one who curses you!'\"\n\t\t\t Then Balak became very angry at Balaam, and he struck his hands together. Balak said to Balaam, \"I called you to curse my enemies, and look, you have done nothing but bless them these three times!\n\t\t\t So now, go back where you came from! I said that I would greatly honor you; but now the LORD has stood in the way of your honor.\"\n\t\t\t Balaam said to Balak, \"Did I not also tell your messengers whom you sent to me,\n\t\t\t 'If Balak would give me his palace full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the LORD to do either good or evil of my own will, but whatever the LORD tells me I must speak'?\n\t\t\t And now, I am about to go back to my own people. Come now, and I will advise you as to what this people will do to your people in the future.\"\n\t\t\t Then he uttered this oracle: \"The oracle of Balaam son of Beor; the oracle of the man whose eyes are open;\n\t\t\t the oracle of the one who hears the words of God, and who knows the knowledge of the Most High, who sees a vision from the Almighty, although falling flat on the ground with eyes open:\n\t\t\t 'I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not close at hand. A star will march forth out of Jacob, and a scepter will rise out of Israel. He will crush the skulls of Moab, and the heads of all the sons of Sheth.\n\t\t\t Edom will be a possession, Seir, his enemies, will also be a possession; but Israel will act valiantly.\n\t\t\t A ruler will be established from Jacob; he will destroy the remains of the city.'\"\n\t\t\t Then Balaam looked on Amalek and delivered this oracle: \"Amalek was the first of the nations, but his end will be that he will perish.\"\n\t\t\t Then he looked on the Kenites and uttered this oracle: \"Your dwelling place seems strong, and your nest is set on a rocky cliff.\n\t\t\t Nevertheless the Kenite will be consumed. How long will Asshur take you away captive?\"\n\t\t\t Then he uttered this oracle: \"O, who will survive when God does this!\n\t\t\t Ships will come from the coast of Kittim, and will afflict Asshur, and will afflict Eber, and he will also perish forever.\"\n\t\t\t Balaam got up and departed and returned to his home, and Balak also went his way.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t When Israel lived in Shittim, the people began to commit sexual immorality with the daughters of Moab. \n\t\t\t These women invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods; then the people ate and bowed down to their gods.\n\t\t\t When Israel joined themselves to Baal-peor, the anger of the LORD flared up against Israel.\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Moses, \"Arrest all the leaders of the people, and hang them up before the LORD in broad daylight, so that the fierce anger of the LORD may be turned away from Israel.\" \n\t\t\t So Moses said to the judges of Israel, \"Each of you must execute those of his men who were joined to Baal-peor.\"\n\t\t\t Just then one of the Israelites came and brought to his brothers a Midianite woman in the plain view of Moses and of the whole community of the Israelites, while they were weeping at the entrance of the tent of meeting. \n\t\t\t When Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he got up from among the assembly, took a javelin in his hand, \n\t\t\t and went after the Israelite man into the tent and thrust through the Israelite man and into the woman's abdomen. So the plague was stopped from the Israelites.\n\t\t\t Those that died in the plague were 24,000.\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses:\n\t\t\t \"Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned my anger away from the Israelites, when he manifested such zeal for my sake among them, so that I did not consume the Israelites in my zeal.\n\t\t\t Therefore, announce: 'I am going to give to him my covenant of peace.\n\t\t\t So it will be to him and his descendants after him a covenant of a permanent priesthood, because he has been zealous for his God, and has made atonement for the Israelites.'\"\n\t\t\t Now the name of the Israelite who was stabbed, the one who was stabbed with the Midianite woman, was Zimri son of Salu, a leader of a clan of the Simeonites.\n\t\t\t The name of the Midianite woman who was killed was Cozbi daughter of Zur. He was a leader over the people of a clan of Midian.\n\t\t\t Then the LORD spoke to Moses:\n\t\t\t \"Bring trouble to the Midianites, and destroy them, \n\t\t\t because they bring trouble to you by their treachery with which they have deceived you in the matter of Peor, and in the matter of Cozbi, the daughter of a prince of Midian, their sister, who was killed on the day of the plague that happened as a result of Peor.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t After the plague the LORD said to Moses and to Eleazar son of Aaron the priest,\n\t\t\t \"Take a census of the whole community of Israelites, from twenty years old and upward, by their clans, everyone who can serve in the army of Israel.\"\n\t\t\t So Moses and Eleazar the priest spoke with them in the plains of Moab, by the Jordan River across from Jericho. They said, \n\t\t\t \"Number the people from twenty years old and upward, just as the LORD commanded Moses and the Israelites who went out from the land of Egypt.\"\n\t\t\t Reuben was the firstborn of Israel. The Reubenites: from Hanoch, the family of the Hanochites; from Pallu, the family of the Palluites; \n\t\t\t from Hezron, the family of the Hezronites; from Carmi, the family of the Carmites.\n\t\t\t These were the families of the Reubenites; and those numbered of them were 43,730.\n\t\t\t Pallu's descendant was Eliab. \n\t\t\t Eliab's descendants were Nemuel, Dathan, and Abiram. It was Dathan and Abiram who as leaders of the community rebelled against Moses and Aaron with the followers of Korah when they rebelled against the LORD. \n\t\t\t The earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and Korah at the time that company died, when the fire consumed 250 men. So they became a warning.\n\t\t\t But the descendants of Korah did not die.\n\t\t\t The Simeonites by their families: from Nemuel, the family of the Nemuelites; from Jamin, the family of the Jaminites; from Jakin, the family of the Jakinites;\n\t\t\t from Zerah, the family of the Zerahites; and from Shaul, the family of the Shaulites.\n\t\t\t These were the families of the Simeonites, 22,200.\n\t\t\t The Gadites by their families: from Zephon, the family of the Zephonites; from Haggi, the family of the Haggites; from Shuni, the family of the Shunites;\n\t\t\t from Ozni, the family of the Oznites; from Eri, the family of the Erites; \n\t\t\t from Arod, the family of the Arodites, and from Areli, the family of the Arelites.\n\t\t\t These were the families of the Gadites according to those numbered of them, 40,500.\n\t\t\t The descendants of Judah were Er and Onan, but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan.\n\t\t\t And the Judahites by their families were: from Shelah, the family of the Shelahites; from Perez, the family of the Perezites; and from Zerah, the family of the Zerahites.\n\t\t\t And the Perezites were: from Hezron, the family of the Hezronites; from Hamul, the family of the Hamulites. \n\t\t\t These were the families of Judah according to those numbered of them, 76,500.\n\t\t\t The Issacharites by their families: from Tola, the family of the Tolaites; from Puah, the family of the Puites;\n\t\t\t from Jashub, the family of the Jashubites; and from Shimron, the family of the Shimronites.\n\t\t\t These were the families of Issachar, according to those numbered of them, 64,300.\n\t\t\t The Zebulunites by their families: from Sered, the family of the Sardites; from Elon, the family of the Elonites; from Jahleel, the family of the Jahleelites.\n\t\t\t These were the families of the Zebulunites, according to those numbered of them, 60,500.\n\t\t\t The descendants of Joseph by their families: Manasseh and Ephraim.\n\t\t\t The Manassehites: from Machir, the family of the Machirites (now Machir became the father of Gilead); from Gilead, the family of the Gileadites.\n\t\t\t These were the Gileadites: from Iezer, the family of the Iezerites; from Helek, the family of the Helekites;\n\t\t\t from Asriel, the family of the Asrielites; from Shechem, the family of the Shechemites;\n\t\t\t from Shemida, the family of the Shemidaites; from Hepher, the family of the Hepherites.\n\t\t\t Now Zelophehad son of Hepher had no sons, but only daughters; and the names of the daughters of Zelophehad were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.\n\t\t\t These were the families of Manasseh; those numbered of them were 52,700.\n\t\t\t These are the Ephraimites by their families: from Shuthelah, the family of the Shuthelahites; from Beker, the family of the Bekerites; from Tahan, the family of the Tahanites.\n\t\t\t Now these were the Shuthelahites: from Eran, the family of the Eranites.\n\t\t\t These were the families of the Ephraimites, according to those numbered of them, 32,500. These were the descendants of Joseph by their families.\n\t\t\t The Benjaminites by their families: from Bela, the family of the Belaites; from Ashbel, the family of the Ashbelites; from Ahiram, the family of the Ahiramites;\n\t\t\t from Shupham, the family of the Shuphamites; from Hupham, the family of the Huphamites. \n\t\t\t The descendants of Bela were Ard and Naaman. From Ard, the family of the Ardites; from Naaman, the family of the Naamanites. \n\t\t\t These are the Benjaminites, according to their families, and according to those numbered of them, 45,600.\n\t\t\t These are the Danites by their families: from Shuham, the family of the Shuhamites. These were the families of Dan, according to their families.\n\t\t\t All the families of the Shuhahites according to those numbered of them were 64,400.\n\t\t\t The Asherites by their families: from Imnah, the family of the Imnahites; from Ishvi, the family of the Ishvites; from Beriah, the family of the Beriahites.\n\t\t\t From the Beriahites: from Heber, the family of the Heberites; from Malkiel, the family of the Malkielites.\n\t\t\t Now the name of the daughter of Asher was Serah.\n\t\t\t These are the families of the Asherites, according to those numbered of them, 53,400.\n\t\t\t The Naphtalites by their families: from Jahzeel, the family of the Jahzeelites; from Guni, the family of the Gunites;\n\t\t\t from Jezer, the family of the Jezerites; from Shillem, the family of the Shillemites.\n\t\t\t These were the families of Naphtali according to their families; and those numbered of them were 45,400.\n\t\t\t These were those numbered of the Israelites, 601,730.\n\t\t\t Then the LORD spoke to Moses:\n\t\t\t \"To these the land must be divided as an inheritance according to the number of the names.\n\t\t\t To a larger group you will give a larger inheritance, and to a smaller group you will give a smaller inheritance. To each one its inheritance must be given according to the number of people in it.\n\t\t\t The land must be divided by lot; and they will inherit in accordance with the names of their ancestral tribes.\n\t\t\t Their inheritance must be apportioned by lot among the larger and smaller groups.\n\t\t\t And these are the Levites who were numbered according to their families: from Gershon, the family of the Gershonites; of Kohath, the family of the Kohathites; from Merari, the family of the Merarites.\n\t\t\t These are the families of the Levites: the family of the Libnites, the family of the Hebronites, the family of the Mahlites, the family of the Mushites, the family of the Korahites. Kohath became the father of Amram.\n\t\t\t Now the name of Amram's wife was Jochebed, daughter of Levi, who was born to Levi in Egypt. And to Amram she bore Aaron, Moses, and Miriam their sister. \n\t\t\t And to Aaron were born Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.\n\t\t\t But Nadab and Abihu died when they offered strange fire before the LORD. \n\t\t\t Those of them who were numbered were 23,000, all males from a month old and upward, for they were not numbered among the Israelites; no inheritance was given to them among the Israelites.\n\t\t\t These are those who were numbered by Moses and Eleazar the priest, who numbered the Israelites in the plains of Moab along the Jordan River opposite Jericho.\n\t\t\t But there was not a man among these who had been among those numbered by Moses and Aaron the priest when they numbered the Israelites in the wilderness of Sinai. \n\t\t\t For the LORD had said of them, \"They will surely die in the wilderness.\" And there was not left a single man of them, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then the daughters of Zelophehad son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh of the families of Manasseh, the son Joseph came forward. Now these are the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. \n\t\t\t And they stood before Moses and Eleazar the priest and the leaders of the whole assembly at the entrance to the tent of meeting and said,\n\t\t\t \"Our father died in the wilderness, although he was not part of the company of those that gathered themselves together against the LORD in the company of Korah; but he died for his own sin, and he had no sons. \n\t\t\t Why should the name of our father be lost from among his family because he had no son? Give us a possession among the relatives of our father.\"\n\t\t\t So Moses brought their case before the LORD.\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Moses:\n\t\t\t \"The daughters of Zelophehad have a valid claim. You must indeed give them possession of an inheritance among their father's relatives, and you must transfer the inheritance of their father to them. \n\t\t\t And you must tell the Israelites, 'If a man dies and has no son, then you must transfer his inheritance to his daughter; \n\t\t\t and if he has no daughter, then you are to give his inheritance to his brothers;\n\t\t\t and if he has no brothers, then you are to give his inheritance to his father's brothers;\n\t\t\t and if his father has no brothers, then you are to give his inheritance to his relative nearest to him from his family, and he will possess it. This will be for the Israelites a legal requirement, as the LORD commanded Moses.'\"\n\t\t\t Then the LORD said to Moses, \"Go up this mountain of the Abarim range, and see the land I have given to the Israelites. \n\t\t\t When you have seen it, you will be gathered to your ancestors, as Aaron your brother was gathered to his ancestors.\n\t\t\t For in the wilderness of Zin when the community rebelled against me, you rebelled against my command to show me as holy before their eyes over the water, the water of Meribah in Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.\"\n\t\t\t Then Moses spoke to the LORD:\n\t\t\t \"Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all humankind, appoint a man over the community, \n\t\t\t who will go out before them, and who will come in before them, and who will lead them out, and who will bring them in, so that the community of the LORD may not be like sheep that have no shepherd.\"\n\t\t\t The LORD replied to Moses, \"Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is such a spirit, and lay your hand on him;\n\t\t\t set him before Eleazar the priest and before the whole community, and commission him publicly.\n\t\t\t Then you must delegate some of your authority to him, so that the whole community of the Israelites will be obedient.\n\t\t\t And he will stand before Eleazar the priest, who will seek counsel for him before the LORD by the decision of the Urim. At his command they will go out, and at his command they will come in, he and all the Israelites with him, the whole community.\"\n\t\t\t So Moses did as the LORD commanded him; he took Joshua and set him before Eleazar the priest and before the whole community. \n\t\t\t He laid his hands on him and commissioned him, just as the LORD commanded, by the authority of Moses.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses: \n\t\t\t \"Command the Israelites: 'With regard to my offering, be sure to offer my food for my offering made by fire, as a pleasing aroma to me at its appointed time.'\n\t\t\t You will say to them, 'This is the offering made by fire which you must offer to the LORD: two unblemished lambs one year old each day for a continual burnt offering. \n\t\t\t The first lamb you must offer in the morning, and the second lamb you must offer in the late afternoon,\n\t\t\t with one-tenth of an ephah of finely ground flour as a grain offering mixed with one quarter of a hin of pressed olive oil. \n\t\t\t It is a continual burnt offering that was instituted on Mount Sinai as a pleasing aroma, an offering made by fire to the LORD.\n\t\t\t \"'And its drink offering must be one quarter of a hin for each lamb. You must pour out the strong drink as a drink offering to the LORD in the holy place. \n\t\t\t And the second lamb you must offer in the late afternoon; just as you offered the grain offering and drink offering in the morning, you must offer it as an offering made by fire, as a pleasing aroma to the LORD.\n\t\t\t \"'On the Sabbath day, you must offer two unblemished lambs a year old, and two-tenths of an ephah of finely ground flour as a grain offering, mixed with olive oil, along with its drink offering. \n\t\t\t This is the burnt offering for every Sabbath, besides the continual burnt offering and its drink offering.\n\t\t\t \"'On the first day of each month you must offer as a burnt offering to the LORD two young bulls, one ram, and seven unblemished lambs a year old, \n\t\t\t with three-tenths of an ephah of finely ground flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering for each bull, and two-tenths of an ephah of finely ground flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering for the ram,\n\t\t\t and one-tenth of an ephah of finely ground flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering for each lamb, as a burnt offering for a pleasing aroma, an offering made by fire to the LORD.\n\t\t\t For their drink offerings, include half a hin of wine with each bull, one-third of a hin for the ram, and one-fourth of a hin for each lamb. This is the burnt offering for each month throughout the months of the year. \n\t\t\t And one male goat must be offered to the LORD as a purification offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering and its drink offering.\n\t\t\t \"'On the fourteenth day of the first month is the LORD's Passover.\n\t\t\t And on the fifteenth day of this month is the festival. For seven days bread made without yeast must be eaten.\n\t\t\t And on the first day there is to be a holy assembly; you must do no ordinary work on it.\n\t\t\t \"'But you must offer to the LORD an offering made by fire, a burnt offering of two young bulls, one ram, and seven lambs one year old; they must all be unblemished.\n\t\t\t And their grain offering is to be of finely ground flour mixed with olive oil. For each bull you must offer three-tenths of an ephah, and two-tenths for the ram.\n\t\t\t For each of the seven lambs you are to offer one-tenth of an ephah,\n\t\t\t as well as one goat for a purification offering, to make atonement for you.\n\t\t\t You must offer these in addition to the burnt offering in the morning which is for a continual burnt offering.\n\t\t\t In this manner you must offer daily throughout the seven days the food of the sacrifice made by fire as a sweet aroma to the LORD. It is to be offered in addition to the continual burnt offering and its drink offering.\n\t\t\t On the seventh day you are to have a holy assembly, you must do no regular work.\n\t\t\t \"'Also, on the day of the first fruits, when you bring a new grain offering to the LORD during your Feast of Weeks, you are to have a holy assembly. You must do no ordinary work.\n\t\t\t But you must offer as the burnt offering, as a sweet aroma to the LORD, two young bulls, one ram, seven lambs one year old,\n\t\t\t with their grain offering of finely ground flour mixed with olive oil: three-tenths of an ephah for each bull, two-tenths for the one ram,\n\t\t\t with one-tenth for each of the seven lambs,\n\t\t\t as well as one male goat to make an atonement for you.\n\t\t\t You are to offer them with their drink offerings in addition to the continual burnt offering and its grain offering, they must be unblemished.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t \"'On the first day of the seventh month, you are to hold a holy assembly. You must not do your ordinary work, for it is a day of blowing trumpets for you.\n\t\t\t You must offer a burnt offering as a sweet aroma to the LORD: one young bull, one ram, and seven lambs one year old without blemish.\n\t\t\t \"'Their grain offering is to be of finely ground flour mixed with olive oil, three-tenths of an ephah for the bull, two-tenths of an ephah for the ram,\n\t\t\t and one-tenth for each of the seven lambs,\n\t\t\t with one male goat for a purification offering to make an atonement for you;\n\t\t\t this is in addition to the monthly burnt offering and its grain offering, and the daily burnt offering with its grain offering and their drink offerings as prescribed, as a sweet aroma, a sacrifice made by fire to the LORD.\n\t\t\t \"'On the tenth day of this seventh month you are to have a holy assembly. You must humble yourselves; you must not do any work on it. \n\t\t\t But you must offer a burnt offering as a pleasing aroma to the LORD, one young bull, one ram, and seven lambs one year old, all of them without blemish.\n\t\t\t Their grain offering must be of finely ground flour mixed with olive oil, three-tenths of an ephah for the bull, two-tenths for the ram,\n\t\t\t and one-tenth for each of the seven lambs,\n\t\t\t along with one male goat for a purification offering, in addition to the purification offering for atonement and the continual burnt offering with its grain offering and their drink offerings.\n\t\t\t \"'On the fifteenth day of the seventh month you are to have a holy assembly; you must do no ordinary work, and you must keep a festival to the LORD for seven days.\n\t\t\t You must offer a burnt offering, an offering made by fire as a pleasing aroma to the LORD: thirteen young bulls, two rams, and fourteen lambs each one year old, all of them without blemish.\n\t\t\t Their grain offering must be of finely ground flour mixed with olive oil, three-tenths of an ephah for each of the thirteen bulls, two-tenths of an ephah for each of the two rams,\n\t\t\t and one-tenth for each of the fourteen lambs,\n\t\t\t along with one male goat for a purification offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering with its grain offering and its drink offering.\n\t\t\t \"'On the second day you must offer twelve young bulls, two rams, fourteen lambs one year old, all without blemish,\n\t\t\t and their grain offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number as prescribed,\n\t\t\t along with one male goat for a purification offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering with its grain offering and their drink offerings.\n\t\t\t \"'On the third day you must offer eleven bulls, two rams, fourteen lambs one year old, all without blemish, \n\t\t\t and their grain offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number as prescribed,\n\t\t\t along with one male goat for a purification offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering with its grain offering and its drink offering.\n\t\t\t \"'On the fourth day you must offer ten bulls, two rams, and fourteen lambs one year old, all without blemish,\n\t\t\t and their grain offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number as prescribed,\n\t\t\t along with one male goat for a purification offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering with its grain offering and its drink offering.\n\t\t\t \"'On the fifth day you must offer nine bulls, two rams, and fourteen lambs one year old, all without blemish,\n\t\t\t and their grain offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number as prescribed,\n\t\t\t along with one male goat for a purification offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering with its grain offering and its drink offering.\n\t\t\t \"'On the sixth day you must offer eight bulls, two rams, and fourteen lambs one year old, all without blemish,\n\t\t\t and their grain offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number as prescribed,\n\t\t\t along with one male goat for a purification offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering with its grain offering and its drink offering.\n\t\t\t \"'On the seventh day you must offer seven bulls, two rams, and fourteen lambs one year old, all without blemish,\n\t\t\t and their grain offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number as prescribed,\n\t\t\t along with one male goat for a purification offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering with its grain offering and its drink offering.\n\t\t\t \"'On the eighth day you are to have a holy assembly; you must do no ordinary work on it.\n\t\t\t But you must offer a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, as a pleasing aroma to the LORD, one bull, one ram, seven lambs one year old, all of them without blemish,\n\t\t\t and with their grain offering and their drink offerings for the bull, for the ram, and for the lambs, according to their number as prescribed,\n\t\t\t along with one male goat for a purification offering, in addition to the continual burnt offering with its grain offering and its drink offering.\n\t\t\t \"'These things you must present to the LORD at your appointed times, in addition to your vows and your freewill offerings, as your burnt offerings, your grain offerings, your drink offerings, and your peace offerings.'\"\n\t\t\t So Moses told the Israelites everything, just as the LORD had commanded him.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Moses told the leaders of the tribes concerning the Israelites, \"This is what the LORD has commanded: \n\t\t\t If a man makes a vow to the LORD or takes an oath of binding obligation on himself, he must not break his word, but must do whatever he has promised.\n\t\t\t \"If a young woman who is still living in her father's house makes a vow to the LORD or places herself under an obligation, \n\t\t\t and her father hears of her vow or the obligation to which she has pledged herself, and her father remains silent about her, then all her vows will stand, and every obligation to which she has pledged herself will stand.\n\t\t\t But if her father overrules her when he hears about it, then none of her vows or her obligations which she has pledged for herself will stand. And the LORD will release her from it, because her father overruled her.\n\t\t\t \"And if she marries a husband while under a vow, or she uttered anything impulsively by which she has pledged herself, \n\t\t\t and her husband hears about it, but remains silent about her when he hears about it, then her vows will stand and her obligations which she has pledged for herself will stand.\n\t\t\t But if when her husband hears it he overrules her, then he will nullify the vow she has taken, and whatever she uttered impulsively which she has pledged for herself. And the LORD will release her from it.\n\t\t\t \"But every vow of a widow or of a divorced woman which she has pledged for herself will remain intact.\n\t\t\t If she made the vow in her husband's house or put herself under obligation with an oath,\n\t\t\t and her husband heard about it, but remained silent about her, and did not overrule her, then all her vows will stand, and every obligation which she pledged for herself will stand.\n\t\t\t But if her husband clearly nullifies them when he hears them, then whatever she says by way of vows or obligations will not stand. Her husband has made them void, and the LORD will release her from them.\n\t\t\t \"Any vow or sworn obligation that would bring affliction to her, her husband can confirm or nullify.\n\t\t\t But if her husband remains completely silent about her from day to day, he thus confirms all her vows or all her obligations which she is under; he confirms them because he remained silent about when he heard them.\n\t\t\t But if he should nullify them after he has heard them, then he will bear her iniquity.\"\n\t\t\t These are the statutes that the LORD commanded Moses, relating to a man and his wife, and a father and his young daughter who is still living in her father's house.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses: \n\t\t\t \"Exact vengeance for the Israelites on the Midianites, after that you will be gathered to your people.\"\n\t\t\t So Moses spoke to the people: \"Arm men from among you for the war, to attack the Midianites and to execute the LORD's vengeance on Midian. \n\t\t\t You must send to the battle a thousand men from every tribe throughout all the tribes of Israel.\"\n\t\t\t So a thousand from every tribe, twelve thousand armed for battle in all, were provided out of the thousands of Israel.\n\t\t\t So Moses sent them to the war, one thousand from every tribe, with Phinehas son of Eleazar the priest, who was in charge of the holy articles and the signal trumpets. \n\t\t\t They fought against the Midianites, as the LORD commanded Moses, and they killed every male.\n\t\t\t They killed the kings of Midian in addition to those slain, Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba, five Midianite kings. They also killed Balaam son of Beor with the sword.\n\t\t\t The Israelites took the women of Midian captives along with their little ones, and took all their herds, all their flocks, and all their goods as plunder.\n\t\t\t They burned all their towns where they lived and all their encampments. \n\t\t\t They took all the plunder and all the spoils, both people and animals.\n\t\t\t They brought the captives and the spoils and the plunder to Moses, to Eleazar the priest, and to the Israelite community, to the camp on the plains of Moab, along the Jordan River across from Jericho.\n\t\t\t Moses, Eleazar the priest, and all the leaders of the community went out to meet them outside the camp.\n\t\t\t But Moses was furious with the officers of the army, the commanders over thousands and commanders over hundreds, who had come from service in the war.\n\t\t\t Moses said to them, \"Have you allowed all the women to live?\n\t\t\t Look, these people through the counsel of Balaam caused the Israelites to act treacherously against the LORD in the matter of Peor, which resulted in the plague among the community of the LORD!\n\t\t\t Now therefore kill every boy, and kill every woman who has had sexual intercourse with a man.\n\t\t\t But all the young women who have not had sexual intercourse with a man will be yours.\n\t\t\t \"Any of you who has killed anyone or touched any of the dead, remain outside the camp for seven days; purify yourselves and your captives on the third day, and on the seventh day.\n\t\t\t You must purify each garment and everything that is made of skin, everything made of goat's hair, and everything made of wood.\"\n\t\t\t Then Eleazar the priest said to the men of war who had gone into the battle, \"This is the ordinance of the law that the LORD commanded Moses:\n\t\t\t 'Only the gold, the silver, the bronze, the iron, the tin, and the lead,\n\t\t\t everything that may stand the fire, you are to pass through the fire, and it will be ceremonially clean, but it must still be purified with the water of purification. Anything that cannot withstand the fire you must pass through the water. \n\t\t\t You must wash your clothes on the seventh day, and you will be ceremonially clean, and afterward you may enter the camp.'\"\n\t\t\t Then the LORD spoke to Moses:\n\t\t\t \"You and Eleazar the priest, and all the family leaders of the community, take the sum of the plunder that was captured, both people and animals. \n\t\t\t Divide the plunder into two parts, one for those who took part in the war, who went out to battle, and the other for all the community.\n\t\t\t \"You must exact a tribute for the LORD from the fighting men who went out to battle: one life out of five hundred, from the people, the cattle, and from the donkeys and the sheep. \n\t\t\t You are to take it from their half-share and give it to Eleazar the priest for a raised offering to the LORD.\n\t\t\t From the Israelites' half-share you are to take one portion out of fifty of the people, the cattle, the donkeys, and the sheep, from every kind of animal, and you are to give them to the Levites, who are responsible for the care of the LORD's tabernacle.\"\n\t\t\t So Moses and Eleazar the priest did as the LORD commanded Moses.\n\t\t\t The spoil that remained of the plunder which the fighting men had gathered was 675,000 sheep, \n\t\t\t 72,000 cattle,\n\t\t\t 61,000 donkeys,\n\t\t\t and 32,000 young women who had never had sexual intercourse with a man.\n\t\t\t The half-portion of those who went to war numbered 337,500 sheep;\n\t\t\t the LORD's tribute from the sheep was 675.\n\t\t\t The cattle numbered 36,000; the LORD's tribute was 72. \n\t\t\t The donkeys were 30,500, of which the LORD's tribute was 61.\n\t\t\t The people were 16,000, of which the LORD's tribute was 32 people.\n\t\t\t So Moses gave the tribute, which was the LORD's raised offering, to Eleazar the priest, as the LORD commanded Moses.\n\t\t\t From the Israelites' half-share that Moses had separated from the fighting men,\n\t\t\t there were 337,500 sheep from the portion belonging to the community,\n\t\t\t 36,000 cattle,\n\t\t\t 30,500 donkeys,\n\t\t\t and 16,000 people.\n\t\t\t From the Israelites' share Moses took one of every fifty people and animals and gave them to the Levites who were responsible for the care of the Lord's tabernacle, just as the LORD commanded Moses.\n\t\t\t Then the officers who were over the thousands of the army, the commanders over thousands and the commanders over hundreds, approached Moses\n\t\t\t and said to him, \"Your servants have taken a count of the men who were in the battle, who were under our authority, and not one is missing. \n\t\t\t So we have brought as an offering for the LORD what each man found: gold ornaments, armlets, bracelets, signet rings, earrings, and necklaces, to make atonement for ourselves before the LORD.\"\n\t\t\t Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold from them, all of it in the form of ornaments.\n\t\t\t All the gold of the offering they offered up to the LORD from the commanders of thousands and the commanders of hundreds weighed 16,750 shekels.\n\t\t\t Each soldier had taken plunder for himself.\n\t\t\t So Moses and Eleazar the priest received the gold from the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds and brought it into the tent of meeting as a memorial for the Israelites before the LORD.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now the Reubenites and the Gadites possessed a very large number of cattle. When they saw that the lands of Jazer and Gilead were ideal for cattle,\n\t\t\t the Gadites and the Reubenites came and addressed Moses, Eleazar the priest, and the leaders of the community. They said,\n\t\t\t \"Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sebam, Nebo, and Beon,\n\t\t\t the land that the LORD subdued before the community of Israel, is ideal for cattle, and your servants have cattle.\" \n\t\t\t So they said, \"If we have found favor in your sight, let this land be given to your servants for our inheritance. Do not have us cross the Jordan River.\"\n\t\t\t Moses said to the Gadites and the Reubenites, \"Must your brothers go to war while you remain here? \n\t\t\t Why do you frustrate the intent of the Israelites to cross over into the land which the LORD has given them? \n\t\t\t Your fathers did the same thing when I sent them from Kadesh Barnea to see the land.\n\t\t\t When they went up to the Eshcol Valley and saw the land, they frustrated the intent of the Israelites so that they did not enter the land that the LORD had given them. \n\t\t\t So the anger of the LORD was kindled that day, and he swore,\n\t\t\t 'Because they have not followed me wholeheartedly, not one of the men twenty years old and upward who came from Egypt will see the land that I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, \n\t\t\t except Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite, and Joshua son of Nun, for they followed the LORD wholeheartedly.'\n\t\t\t So the LORD's anger was kindled against the Israelites, and he made them wander in the wilderness for forty years, until all that generation that had done wickedly before the LORD was finished.\n\t\t\t Now look, you are standing in your fathers' place, a brood of sinners, to increase still further the fierce wrath of the LORD against the Israelites.\n\t\t\t For if you turn away from following him, he will once again abandon them in the wilderness, and you will be the reason for their destruction.\"\n\t\t\t Then they came very close to him and said, \"We will build sheep folds here for our flocks and cities for our families,\n\t\t\t but we will maintain ourselves in armed readiness and go before the Israelites until whenever we have brought them to their place. Our descendants will be living in fortified towns as a protection against the inhabitants of the land. \n\t\t\t We will not return to our homes until every Israelite has his inheritance.\n\t\t\t For we will not accept any inheritance on the other side of the Jordan River and beyond, because our inheritance has come to us on this eastern side of the Jordan.\"\n\t\t\t Then Moses replied, \"If you will do this thing, and if you will arm yourselves for battle before the LORD, \n\t\t\t and if all your armed men cross the Jordan before the LORD until he drives out his enemies from his presence\n\t\t\t and the land is subdued before the LORD, then afterward you may return and be free of your obligation to the LORD and to Israel. This land will then be your possession in the LORD's sight.\n\t\t\t \"But if you do not do this, then look, you will have sinned against the LORD. And know that your sin will find you out. \n\t\t\t So build cities for your descendants and pens for your sheep, but do what you have said you would do.\"\n\t\t\t So the Gadites and the Reubenites replied to Moses, \"Your servants will do as my lord commands.\n\t\t\t Our children, our wives, our flocks, and all our livestock will be there in the cities of Gilead,\n\t\t\t but your servants will cross over, every man armed for war, to do battle in the LORD's presence, just as my lord says.\"\n\t\t\t So Moses gave orders about them to Eleazar the priest, to Joshua son of Nun, and to the heads of the families of the Israelite tribes.\n\t\t\t Moses said to them: \"If the Gadites and the Reubenites cross the Jordan with you, each one equipped for battle in the LORD's presence, and you conquer the land, then you must allot them the territory of Gilead as their possession.\n\t\t\t But if they do not cross over with you armed, they must receive possessions among you in Canaan.\"\n\t\t\t Then the Gadites and the Reubenites answered, \"Your servants will do what the LORD has spoken.\n\t\t\t We will cross armed in the LORD's presence into the land of Canaan, and then the possession of our inheritance that we inherit will be ours on this side of the Jordan River.\"\n\t\t\t So Moses gave to the Gadites, the Reubenites, and to half the tribe of Manasseh son of Joseph the realm of King Sihon of the Amorites, and the realm of King Og of Bashan, the entire land with its cities and the territory surrounding them.\n\t\t\t The Gadites rebuilt Dibon, Ataroth, Aroer,\n\t\t\t Atroth Shophan, Jazer, Jogbehah,\n\t\t\t Beth Nimrah, and Beth Haran as fortified cities, and constructed pens for their flocks.\n\t\t\t The Reubenites rebuilt Heshbon, Elealeh, Kiriathaim,\n\t\t\t Nebo, Baal Meon (with a change of name), and Sibmah. They renamed the cities they built.\n\t\t\t The descendants of Machir son of Manasseh went to Gilead, took it, and dispossessed the Amorites who were in it.\n\t\t\t So Moses gave Gilead to Machir, son of Manasseh, and he lived there.\n\t\t\t Now Jair son of Manasseh went and captured their small towns and named them Havvoth Jair.\n\t\t\t Then Nobah went and captured Kenath and its villages and called it Nobah after his own name.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t These are the journeys of the Israelites, who went out of the land of Egypt by their divisions under the authority of Moses and Aaron. \n\t\t\t Moses recorded their departures according to their journeys, by the commandment of the LORD; now these are their journeys according to their departures. \n\t\t\t They departed from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month; on the day after the Passover the Israelites went out defiantly in plain sight of all the Egyptians. \n\t\t\t Now the Egyptians were burying all their firstborn, whom the LORD had killed among them; the LORD also executed judgments on their gods.\n\t\t\t The Israelites traveled from Rameses and camped in Succoth.\n\t\t\t They traveled from Succoth, and camped in Etham, which is on the edge of the wilderness.\n\t\t\t They traveled from Etham, and turned again to Pi-hahiroth, which is before Baal-Zephon; and they camped before Migdal.\n\t\t\t They traveled from Pi-hahiroth, and passed through the middle of the sea into the wilderness, and went three days' journey in the wilderness of Etham, and camped in Marah. \n\t\t\t They traveled from Marah and came to Elim; in Elim there are twelve fountains of water and seventy palm trees, so they camped there.\n\t\t\t They traveled from Elim, and camped by the Red Sea.\n\t\t\t They traveled from the Red Sea and camped in the wilderness of Zin.\n\t\t\t They traveled from the wilderness of Zin and camped in Dophkah.\n\t\t\t And they traveled from Dophkah, and camped in Alush.\n\t\t\t They traveled from Alush and camped at Rephidim, where there was no water for the people to drink.\n\t\t\t They traveled from Rephidim and camped in the wilderness of Sinai.\n\t\t\t They traveled from the desert of Sinai and camped at Kibroth Hattaavah.\n\t\t\t They traveled from Kibroth Hattaavah and camped at Hazeroth.\n\t\t\t They traveled from Hazeroth and camped in Rithmah.\n\t\t\t They traveled from Rithmah and camped at Rimmon-perez.\n\t\t\t They traveled from Rimmon-perez and camped in Libnah.\n\t\t\t They traveled from Libnah and camped at Rissah.\n\t\t\t They traveled from Rissah and camped in Kehelathah.\n\t\t\t They traveled from Kehelathah and camped at Mount Shepher.\n\t\t\t They traveled from Mount Shepher and camped in Haradah.\n\t\t\t They traveled from Haradah and camped in Makheloth.\n\t\t\t They traveled from Makheloth and camped at Tahath.\n\t\t\t They traveled from Tahath and camped at Terah.\n\t\t\t They traveled from Terah and camped in Mithcah.\n\t\t\t They traveled from Mithcah and camped in Hashmonah.\n\t\t\t They traveled from Hashmonah and camped in Moseroth.\n\t\t\t They traveled from Moseroth and camped in Bene-jaakan.\n\t\t\t They traveled from Bene-jaakan and camped at Hor-haggidgad.\n\t\t\t They traveled from Hor-haggidgad and camped in Jotbathah.\n\t\t\t They traveled from Jotbathah and camped in Abronah.\n\t\t\t They traveled from Abronah and camped at Ezion-geber.\n\t\t\t They traveled from Ezion-geber and camped in the wilderness of Zin, which is Kadesh.\n\t\t\t They traveled from Kadesh and camped in Mount Hor at the edge of the land of Edom.\n\t\t\t Aaron the priest ascended Mount Hor at the command of the LORD, and he died there in the fortieth year after the Israelites had come out of the land of Egypt on the first day of the fifth month. \n\t\t\t Now Aaron was 123 years old when he died in Mount Hor.\n\t\t\t The king of Arad, the Canaanite king who lived in the south of the land of Canaan, heard about the approach of the Israelites.\n\t\t\t They traveled from Mount Hor and camped in Zalmonah.\n\t\t\t They traveled from Zalmonah and camped in Punon.\n\t\t\t They traveled from Punon and camped in Oboth.\n\t\t\t They traveled from Oboth and camped in Iye-abarim, on the border of Moab.\n\t\t\t They traveled from Iim and camped in Dibon-gad.\n\t\t\t They traveled from Dibon-gad and camped in Almon-diblathaim.\n\t\t\t They traveled from Almon-diblathaim and camped in the mountains of Abarim before Nebo.\n\t\t\t They traveled from the mountains of Abarim and camped in the plains of Moab by the Jordan River across from Jericho.\n\t\t\t They camped by the Jordan, from Beth-jeshimoth as far as Abel-shittim in the plains of Moab.\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan, across from Jericho. He said:\n\t\t\t \"Speak to the Israelites and tell them, 'When you have crossed the Jordan into the land of Canaan,\n\t\t\t you must drive out all the inhabitants of the land before you. Destroy all their carved images, all their molten images, and demolish their high places. \n\t\t\t You must dispossess the inhabitants of the land and live in it, for I have given you the land to possess it.\n\t\t\t You must divide the land by lot for an inheritance among your families. To a larger group you must give a larger inheritance, and to a smaller group you must give a smaller inheritance. Everyone's inheritance must be in the place where his lot falls. You must inherit according to your ancestral tribes. \n\t\t\t But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land before you, then those whom you allow to remain will be irritants in your eyes and thorns in your side, and will cause you trouble in the land where you will be living.\n\t\t\t And what I intended to do to them I will do to you.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then the LORD spoke to Moses: \n\t\t\t \"Give these instructions to the Israelites, and tell them: 'When you enter Canaan, the land that has been assigned to you as an inheritance, the land of Canaan with its borders, \n\t\t\t your southern border will extend from the wilderness of Zin along the Edomite border, and your southern border will run eastward to the extremity of the Salt Sea, \n\t\t\t and then the border will turn from the south to the Scorpion Ascent, continue to Zin, and then its direction will be from the south to Kadesh Barnea. Then it will go to Hazar Addar and pass over to Azmon. \n\t\t\t There the border will turn from Azmon to the Brook of Egypt, and then its direction is to the sea.\n\t\t\t \"'And for a western border you will have the Great Sea. This will be your western border.\n\t\t\t \"'And this will be your northern border: From the Great Sea you will draw a line to Mount Hor;\n\t\t\t from Mount Hor you will draw a line to Lebo Hamath, and the direction of the border will be to Zedad. \n\t\t\t The border will continue to Ziphron, and its direction will be to Hazar Enan. This will be your northern border.\n\t\t\t \"'For your eastern border you will draw a line from Hazar Enan to Shepham.\n\t\t\t The border will run down from Shepham to Riblah, on the east side of Ain, and the border will descend and reach the eastern side of the Sea of Chinnereth.\n\t\t\t Then the border will continue down the Jordan River and its direction will be to the Salt Sea. This will be your land by its borders that surround it.'\"\n\t\t\t Then Moses commanded the Israelites: \"This is the land which you will inherit by lot, which the LORD has commanded to be given to the nine and a half tribes, \n\t\t\t because the tribe of the Reubenites by their families, the tribe of the Gadites by their families, and half of the tribe of Manasseh have received their inheritance. \n\t\t\t The two and a half tribes have received their inheritance on this side of the Jordan, east of Jericho, toward the sunrise.\"\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Moses:\n\t\t\t \"These are the names of the men who are to allocate the land to you as an inheritance: Eleazar the priest and Joshua son of Nun. \n\t\t\t You must take one leader from every tribe to assist in allocating the land as an inheritance.\n\t\t\t These are the names of the men: from the tribe of Judah, Caleb son of Jephunneh;\n\t\t\t from the tribe of the Simeonites, Shemuel son of Ammihud;\n\t\t\t from the tribe of Benjamin, Elidad son of Kislon;\n\t\t\t and from the tribe of the Danites, a leader, Bukki son of Jogli.\n\t\t\t From the Josephites, Hanniel son of Ephod, a leader from the tribe of Manasseh;\n\t\t\t from the tribe of the Ephraimites, a leader, Kemuel son of Shiphtan;\n\t\t\t from the tribe of the Zebulunites, a leader, Elizaphan son of Parnach;\n\t\t\t from the tribe of the Issacharites, a leader, Paltiel son of Azzan;\n\t\t\t from the tribe of the Asherites, a leader, Ahihud son of Shelomi;\n\t\t\t and from the tribe of the Naphtalites, a leader, Pedahel son of Ammihud.\"\n\t\t\t These are the ones whom the LORD commanded to divide up the inheritance among the Israelites in the land of Canaan.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then the LORD spoke to Moses in the Moabite plains by the Jordan near Jericho. He said: \n\t\t\t \"Instruct the Israelites to give the Levites towns to live in from the inheritance the Israelites will possess. You must also give the Levites grazing land around the towns. \n\t\t\t Thus they will have towns in which to live, and their grazing lands will be for their cattle, for their possessions, and for all their animals.\n\t\t\t The grazing lands around the towns that you will give to the Levites must extend to a distance of 500 yards from the town wall.\n\t\t\t \"You must measure from outside the wall of the town on the east 1,000 yards, and on the south side 1,000 yards, and on the west side 1,000 yards, and on the north side 1,000 yards, with the town in the middle. This territory must belong to them as grazing land for the towns. \n\t\t\t Now from these towns that you will give to the Levites you must select six towns of refuge to which a person who has killed someone may flee. And you must give them forty-two other towns.\n\t\t\t \"So the total of the towns you will give the Levites is forty-eight. You must give these together with their grazing lands.\n\t\t\t The towns you will give must be from the possession of the Israelites. From the larger tribes you must give more; and from the smaller tribes fewer. Each must contribute some of its own towns to the Levites in proportion to the inheritance allocated to each.\n\t\t\t Then the LORD spoke to Moses:\n\t\t\t \"Speak to the Israelites and tell them, 'When you cross over the Jordan River into the land of Canaan, \n\t\t\t you must then designate some towns as towns of refuge for you, to which a person who has killed someone unintentionally may flee.\n\t\t\t And they must stand as your towns of refuge from the avenger in order that the killer may not die until he has stood trial before the community.\n\t\t\t These towns that you must give shall be your six towns for refuge.\n\t\t\t \"You must give three towns on this side of the Jordan, and you must give three towns in the land of Canaan; they must be towns of refuge.\n\t\t\t These six towns will be places of refuge for the Israelites, and for the foreigner, and for the settler among them, so that anyone who kills any person accidentally may flee there.\n\t\t\t \"But if he hits someone with an iron tool so that he dies, he is a murderer. The murderer must surely be put to death. \n\t\t\t If he strikes him by throwing a stone large enough that he could die, and he dies, he is a murderer. The murderer must surely be put to death.\n\t\t\t Or if he strikes him with a wooden hand weapon so that he could die, and he dies, he is a murderer. The murderer must surely be put to death.\n\t\t\t The avenger of blood himself must kill the murderer; when he meets him, he must kill him.\n\t\t\t \"But if he strikes him out of hatred or throws something at him intentionally so that he dies, \n\t\t\t or with enmity he strikes him with his hand and he dies, the one who struck him must surely be put to death, for he is a murderer. The avenger of blood must kill the murderer when he meets him.\n\t\t\t \"But if he strikes him suddenly, without enmity, or throws anything at him unintentionally,\n\t\t\t or with any stone large enough that a man could die, without seeing him, and throws it at him, and he dies, even though he was not his enemy nor sought his harm,\n\t\t\t then the community must judge between the slayer and the avenger of blood according to these decisions.\n\t\t\t The community must deliver the slayer out of the hand of the avenger of blood, and the community must restore him to the town of refuge to which he fled, and he must live there until the death of the high priest, who was anointed with the consecrated oil.\n\t\t\t But if the slayer at any time goes outside the boundary of the town to which he had fled,\n\t\t\t and the avenger of blood finds him outside the borders of the town of refuge, and the avenger of blood kills the slayer, he will not be guilty of blood,\n\t\t\t because the slayer should have stayed in his town of refuge until the death of the high priest. But after the death of the high priest, the slayer may return to the land of his possessions. \n\t\t\t So these things must be a statutory ordinance for you throughout your generations, in all the places where you live.\n\t\t\t \"Whoever kills any person, the murderer must be put to death by the testimony of witnesses; but one witness cannot testify against any person to cause him to be put to death. \n\t\t\t Moreover, you must not accept a ransom for the life of a murderer who is guilty of death; he must surely be put to death.\n\t\t\t And you must not accept a ransom for anyone who has fled to a town of refuge, to allow him to return home and live on his own land before the death of the high priest.\n\t\t\t \"You must not pollute the land where you live, for blood defiles the land, and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed there, except by the blood of the person who shed it.\n\t\t\t Therefore do not defile the land that you will inhabit, in which I live, for I the LORD live among the Israelites.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then the heads of the family groups of the Gileadites, the descendant of Machir, the descendant of Manasseh, who were from the Josephite families, approached and spoke before Moses and the leaders who were the heads of the Israelite families.\n\t\t\t They said, \"The LORD commanded my lord to give the land as an inheritance by lot to the Israelites; and my lord was commanded by the LORD to give the inheritance of our brother Zelophehad to his daughters. \n\t\t\t Now if they should be married to one of the men from another Israelite tribe, their inheritance would be taken from the inheritance of our fathers and added to the inheritance of the tribe into which they marry. As a result, it will be taken from the lot of our inheritance.\n\t\t\t And when the Jubilee of the Israelites is to take place, their inheritance will be added to the inheritance of the tribe into which they marry. So their inheritance will be taken away from the inheritance of our ancestral tribe.\"\n\t\t\t Then Moses gave a ruling to the Israelites by the word of the LORD: \"What the tribe of the Josephites is saying is right. \n\t\t\t This is what the LORD has commanded for Zelophehad's daughters: 'Let them marry whomever they think best, only they must marry within the family of their father's tribe. \n\t\t\t In this way the inheritance of the Israelites will not be transferred from tribe to tribe. But every one of the Israelites must retain the ancestral heritage. \n\t\t\t And every daughter who possesses an inheritance from any of the tribes of the Israelites must become the wife of a man from any family in her father's tribe, so that every Israelite may retain the inheritance of his fathers. \n\t\t\t No inheritance may pass from tribe to tribe. But every one of the tribes of the Israelites must retain its inheritance.\"\n\t\t\t As the LORD had commanded Moses, so the daughters of Zelophehad did.\n\t\t\t For the daughters of Zelophehad, Mahlah, Tirzah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Noah, were married to the sons of their uncles.\n\t\t\t They were married into the families of the Manassehites, the descendants of Joseph, and their inheritance remained in the tribe of their father's family.\n\t\t\t These are the commandments and the decisions that the LORD commanded the Israelites through the authority of Moses, on the plains of Moab by the Jordan River opposite Jericho.\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t This is what Moses said to the assembly of Israel in the Transjordanian wastelands, the arid country opposite Suph, between Paran and Tophel, Laban, Hazeroth, and Di Zahab\n\t\t\t Now it is ordinarily an eleven-day journey from Horeb to Kadesh Barnea by way of Mount Seir.\n\t\t\t However, it was not until the first day of the eleventh month of the fortieth year that Moses addressed the Israelites just as the LORD had instructed him to do. \n\t\t\t This took place after the defeat of King Sihon of the Amorites, whose capital was in Heshbon, and King Og of Bashan, whose capital was in Ashtaroth, specifically in Edrei.\n\t\t\t So it was in the Transjordan, in Moab, that Moses began to deliver these words:\n\t\t\t The LORD our God spoke to us at Horeb and said, \"You have stayed in the area of this mountain long enough. \n\t\t\t Get up now, resume your journey, heading for the Amorite hill country, to all its areas including the arid country, the highlands, the Shephelah, the Negev, and the coastal plain, all of Canaan and Lebanon as far as the Great River, that is, the Euphrates.\n\t\t\t Look! I have already given the land to you. Go, occupy the territory that I, the LORD, promised to give to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and to their descendants.\"\n\t\t\t I also said to you at that time, \"I am no longer able to sustain you by myself.\n\t\t\t The LORD your God has increased your population to the point that you are now as numerous as the very stars of the sky.\n\t\t\t Indeed, may the LORD, the God of your ancestors, make you a thousand times more numerous than you are now, blessing you just as he said he would!\n\t\t\t But how can I alone bear up under the burden of your hardship and strife?\n\t\t\t Select wise and practical men, those known among your tribes, whom I may appoint as your leaders.\" \n\t\t\t You replied to me that what I had said to you was good.\n\t\t\t So I chose as your tribal leaders wise and well-known men, placing them over you as administrators of groups of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens, and also as other tribal officials. \n\t\t\t I furthermore admonished your judges at that time that they should pay attention to issues among your fellow citizens and judge fairly, whether between one citizen and another or a citizen and a resident foreigner.\n\t\t\t They must not discriminate in judgment, but hear the lowly and the great alike. Nor should they be intimidated by human beings, for judgment belongs to God. If the matter being adjudicated is too difficult for them, they should bring it before me for a hearing.\n\t\t\t So I instructed you at that time regarding everything you should do.\n\t\t\t Then we left Horeb and passed through all that immense, forbidding wilderness that you saw on the way to the Amorite hill country as the LORD our God had commanded us to do, finally arriving at Kadesh Barnea.\n\t\t\t Then I said to you, \"You have come to the Amorite hill country which the LORD our God is about to give us. \n\t\t\t Look, he has placed the land in front of you! Go up, take possession of it, just as the LORD, the God of your ancestors, said to do. Do not be afraid or discouraged!\" \n\t\t\t So all of you approached me and said, \"Let's send some men ahead of us to scout out the land and bring us back word as to how we should attack it and what the cities are like there.\"\n\t\t\t I thought this was a good idea, so I sent twelve men from among you, one from each tribe. \n\t\t\t They left and went up to the hill country, coming to the Eshcol Valley, which they scouted out. \n\t\t\t Then they took some of the produce of the land and carried it back down to us. They also brought a report to us, saying, \"The land that the LORD our God is about to give us is good.\"\n\t\t\t You were not willing to go up, however, but instead rebelled against the LORD your God.\n\t\t\t You complained among yourselves privately and said, \"Because the LORD hates us he brought us from Egypt to deliver us over to the Amorites so they could destroy us! \n\t\t\t What is going to happen to us? Our brothers have drained away our courage by describing people who are more numerous and taller than we are, and great cities whose defenses appear to be as high as heaven itself! Moreover, they said they saw Anakites there.\" \n\t\t\t So I responded to you, \"Do not be terrified of them! \n\t\t\t The LORD your God is about to go ahead of you; he will fight for you, just as you saw him do in Egypt\n\t\t\t and in the desert, where you saw him carrying you along like a man carries his son. This he did everywhere you went until you came to this very place.\" \n\t\t\t However, through all this you did not have confidence in the LORD your God,\n\t\t\t the one who was constantly going before you to find places for you to set up camp. He appeared by fire at night and cloud by day, to show you the way you ought to go.\n\t\t\t When the LORD heard you, he became angry and made this vow:\n\t\t\t \"Not a single person of this evil generation will see the good land that I promised to give to your ancestors! \n\t\t\t The exception is Caleb son of Jephunneh; he will see it and I will give him and his descendants the territory on which he has walked, because he has wholeheartedly followed me.\"\n\t\t\t As for me, the LORD was also angry with me on your account. He said, \"You also will not be able to go there.\n\t\t\t However, Joshua son of Nun, your assistant, will go. Encourage him, because he will enable Israel to inherit the land.\n\t\t\t Also, your infants, who you thought would die on the way, and your children, who as yet do not know good from bad, will go there; I will give them the land and they will possess it. \n\t\t\t But as for you, turn back and head for the desert by the way to the Red Sea.\"\n\t\t\t Then you responded to me and admitted, \"We have sinned against the LORD. We will now go up and fight as the LORD our God has told us to do.\" So you each put on your battle gear and prepared to go up to the hill country.\n\t\t\t But the LORD told me: \"Tell them this: 'Do not go up and fight, because I will not be with you and you will be defeated by your enemies.'\"\n\t\t\t I spoke to you, but you did not listen. Instead you rebelled against the LORD and recklessly went up to the hill country. \n\t\t\t The Amorite inhabitants of that area confronted you and chased you like a swarm of bees, striking you down from Seir as far as Hormah.\n\t\t\t Then you came back and wept before the LORD, but he paid no attention to you whatsoever.\n\t\t\t Therefore, you remained at Kadesh for a long time, indeed, for the full time.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then we turned and set out toward the desert land on the way to the Red Sea just as the LORD told me to do, detouring around Mount Seir for a long time. \n\t\t\t At this point the LORD said to me,\n\t\t\t \"You have circled around this mountain long enough; now turn north.\n\t\t\t Instruct these people as follows: 'You are about to cross the border of your relatives the descendants of Esau, who inhabit Seir. They will be afraid of you, so watch yourselves carefully. \n\t\t\t Do not be hostile toward them, because I am not giving you any of their land, not even a footprint, for I have given Mount Seir as an inheritance for Esau. \n\t\t\t You may purchase food to eat and water to drink from them. \n\t\t\t All along the way I, the LORD your God, have blessed your every effort. I have been attentive to your travels through this great wasteland. These forty years I have been with you; you have lacked for nothing.'\"\n\t\t\t So we turned away from our relatives the descendants of Esau, the inhabitants of Seir, turning from the desert route, from Elat and Ezion Geber, and traveling the way of the Moab wastelands. \n\t\t\t Then the LORD said to me, \"Do not harass Moab and provoke them to war, for I will not give you any of their land as your territory. This is because I have given Ar to the descendants of Lot as their possession.\n\t\t\t (The Emites used to live there, a people as powerful, numerous, and tall as the Anakites. \n\t\t\t These people, as well as the Anakites, are also considered Rephaites; the Moabites call them Emites. \n\t\t\t Previously the Horites lived in Seir but the descendants of Esau dispossessed and destroyed them and settled in their place, just as Israel did to the land it came to possess, the land the LORD gave them.)\n\t\t\t Now, get up and cross the Wadi Zered.\" So we did so.\n\t\t\t Now the length of time it took for us to go from Kadesh Barnea to the crossing of Wadi Zered was thirty-eight years, time for all the military men of that generation to die, just as the LORD had vowed to them.\n\t\t\t Indeed, it was the very hand of the LORD that eliminated them from within the camp until they were all gone.\n\t\t\t So it was that after all the military men had been eliminated from the community,\n\t\t\t the LORD said to me,\n\t\t\t \"Today you are going to cross the border of Moab, that is, of Ar.\n\t\t\t But when you come close to the Ammonites, do not harass or provoke them because I am not giving you any of the Ammonites' land as your possession; I have already given it to Lot's descendants as their possession.\n\t\t\t (That also is considered to be a land of the Rephaites. The Rephaites lived there originally; the Ammonites call them Zamzummites.\n\t\t\t They are a people as powerful, numerous, and tall as the Anakites. But the LORD destroyed the Rephaites in advance of the Ammonites, so they dispossessed them and settled down in their place. \n\t\t\t This is exactly what he did for the descendants of Esau who lived in Seir when he destroyed the Horites before them so that they could dispossess them and settle in their area to this very day.\n\t\t\t As for the Avvites who lived in settlements as far west as Gaza, Caphtorites who came from Crete destroyed them and settled down in their place.)\n\t\t\t Get up, make your way across Wadi Arnon. Look! I have already delivered over to you Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land. Go ahead! Take it! Engage him in war! \n\t\t\t This very day I will begin to fill all the people of the earth with dread and to terrify them when they hear about you. They will shiver and shake in anticipation of your approach.\"\n\t\t\t Then I sent messengers from the Kedemoth Desert to King Sihon of Heshbon with an offer of peace: \n\t\t\t \"Let me pass through your land; I will keep strictly to the roadway. I will not turn aside to the right or the left.\n\t\t\t Sell me food for cash so that I can eat and sell me water to drink. Just allow me to go through on foot, \n\t\t\t just as the descendants of Esau who live at Seir and the Moabites who live in Ar did for me, until I cross the Jordan to the land the LORD our God is giving us.\"\n\t\t\t But King Sihon of Heshbon was unwilling to allow us to pass near him because the LORD our God had made him obstinate and stubborn so that he might deliver him over to you this very day. \n\t\t\t The LORD said to me, \"Look! I have already begun to give over Sihon and his land to you. Start right now to take his land as your possession.\"\n\t\t\t When Sihon and all his troops emerged to encounter us in battle at Jahaz,\n\t\t\t the LORD our God delivered him over to us and we struck him down, along with his sons and everyone else.\n\t\t\t At that time we seized all his cities and put every one of them under divine judgment, including even the women and children; we left no survivors. \n\t\t\t We kept only the livestock and plunder from the cities for ourselves.\n\t\t\t From Aroer, which is at the edge of Wadi Arnon (it is the city in the wadi), all the way to Gilead there was not a town able to resist us, the LORD our God gave them all to us.\n\t\t\t However, you did not approach the land of the Ammonites, the Wadi Jabbok, the cities of the hill country, or any place else forbidden by the LORD our God.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Next we set out on the route to Bashan, but King Og of Bashan and his whole army came out to meet us in battle at Edrei.\n\t\t\t The LORD, however, said to me, \"Don't be afraid of him because I have already given him, his whole army, and his land to you. You will do to him exactly what you did to King Sihon of the Amorites who lived in Heshbon.\"\n\t\t\t So the LORD our God did indeed give over to us King Og of Bashan and his whole army and we struck them down until not a single survivor was left.\n\t\t\t We captured all his cities at that time, there was not a town we did not take from them, sixty cities, all the region of Argob, the dominion of Og in Bashan.\n\t\t\t All of these cities were fortified by high walls, gates, and locking bars; in addition there were a great many open villages.\n\t\t\t We put all of these under divine judgment just as we had done to King Sihon of Heshbon, every occupied city, including women and children.\n\t\t\t But all the livestock and plunder from the cities we kept for ourselves.\n\t\t\t So at that time we took the land of the two Amorite kings in the Transjordan from Wadi Arnon to Mount Hermon\n\t\t\t (the Sidonians call Hermon Sirion and the Amorites call it Senir),\n\t\t\t all the cities of the plateau, all of Gilead and Bashan as far as Salecah and Edrei, cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan. \n\t\t\t Only King Og of Bashan was left of the remaining Rephaites. (It is noteworthy that his sarcophagus was made of iron. Does it not, indeed, still remain in Rabbath of the Ammonites? It is thirteen and a half feet long and six feet wide according to standard measure.)\n\t\t\t This is the land we brought under our control at that time: The territory extending from Aroer by the Wadi Arnon and half the Gilead hill country with its cities I gave to the Reubenites and Gadites.\n\t\t\t The rest of Gilead and all of Bashan, the kingdom of Og, I gave to half the tribe of Manasseh. (All the region of Argob, that is, all Bashan, is called the land of Rephaim. \n\t\t\t Jair, son of Manasseh, took all the Argob region as far as the border with the Geshurites and Maacathites (namely Bashan) and called it by his name, Havvoth-Jair, which it retains to this very day.)\n\t\t\t I gave Gilead to Machir.\n\t\t\t To the Reubenites and Gadites I allocated the territory extending from Gilead as far as Wadi Arnon (the exact middle of the wadi was a boundary) all the way to the Wadi Jabbok, the Ammonite border.\n\t\t\t The Arabah and the Jordan River were also a border, from the sea of Chinnereth to the sea of the Arabah (that is, the Salt Sea), beneath the watershed of Pisgah to the east.\n\t\t\t At that time I instructed you as follows: \"The LORD your God has given you this land for your possession. You warriors are to cross over before your fellow Israelites equipped for battle. \n\t\t\t But your wives, children, and livestock (of which I know you have many) may remain in the cities I have given you.\n\t\t\t You must fight until the LORD gives your countrymen victory as he did you and they take possession of the land that the LORD your God is giving them on the other side of the Jordan River. Then each of you may return to his own territory that I have given you.\" \n\t\t\t I also commanded Joshua at the same time, \"You have seen everything the LORD your God did to these two kings; he will do the same to all the kingdoms where you are going.\n\t\t\t Do not be afraid of them, for the LORD your God will personally fight for you.\"\n\t\t\t Moreover, at that time I pleaded with the LORD,\n\t\t\t \"O, Lord GOD, you have begun to show me your greatness and strength. (What god in heaven or earth can rival your works and mighty deeds?) \n\t\t\t Let me please cross over to see the good land on the other side of the Jordan River, this good hill country and the Lebanon!\"\n\t\t\t But the LORD was angry at me because of you and would not listen to me. Instead, he said to me, \"Enough of that! Do not speak to me anymore about this matter. \n\t\t\t Go up to the top of Pisgah and take a good look to the west, north, south, and east, for you will not be allowed to cross the Jordan. \n\t\t\t Commission Joshua, and encourage and strengthen him, because he will lead these people over and will enable them to inherit the land you will see.\" \n\t\t\t So we settled down in the valley opposite Beth Peor.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now, Israel, pay attention to the statutes and ordinances I am about to teach you, so that you might live and go on to enter and take possession of the land that the LORD, the God of your ancestors, is giving you. \n\t\t\t Do not add a thing to what I command you nor subtract from it, so that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God that I am delivering to you. \n\t\t\t You have witnessed what the LORD did at Baal Peor, how he eradicated from your midst everyone who followed Baal Peor.\n\t\t\t But you who remained faithful to the LORD your God are still alive to this very day, every one of you.\n\t\t\t Look! I have taught you statutes and ordinances just as the LORD my God told me to do, so that you might carry them out in the land you are about to enter and possess. \n\t\t\t So be sure to do them, because this will testify of your wise understanding to the people who will learn of all these statutes and say, \"Indeed, this great nation is a very wise people.\" \n\t\t\t In fact, what other great nation has a god so near to them like the LORD our God whenever we call on him?\n\t\t\t And what other great nation has statutes and ordinances as just as this whole law that I am about to share with you today?\n\t\t\t Again, however, pay very careful attention, lest you forget the things you have seen and disregard them for the rest of your life; instead teach them to your children and grandchildren.\n\t\t\t You stood before the LORD your God at Horeb and he said to me, \"Assemble the people before me so that I can tell them my commands. Then they will learn to revere me all the days they live in the land, and they will instruct their children.\" \n\t\t\t You approached and stood at the foot of the mountain, a mountain ablaze to the sky above it and yet dark with a thick cloud.\n\t\t\t Then the LORD spoke to you from the middle of the fire; you heard speech but you could not see anything, only a voice was heard.\n\t\t\t And he revealed to you the covenant he has commanded you to keep, the ten commandments, writing them on two stone tablets. \n\t\t\t Moreover, at that same time the LORD commanded me to teach you statutes and ordinances for you to keep in the land which you are about to enter and possess.\n\t\t\t Be very careful, then, because you saw no form at the time the LORD spoke to you at Horeb from the middle of the fire. \n\t\t\t I say this so you will not corrupt yourselves by making an image in the form of any kind of figure. This includes the likeness of a human male or female,\n\t\t\t any kind of land animal, any bird that flies in the sky,\n\t\t\t anything that crawls on the ground, or any fish in the deep waters of the earth.\n\t\t\t When you look up to the sky and see the sun, moon, and stars, the whole heavenly creation, you must not be seduced to worship and serve them, for the LORD your God has assigned them to all the people of the world.\n\t\t\t You, however, the LORD has selected and brought from Egypt, that iron-smelting furnace, to be his special people as you are today. \n\t\t\t But the LORD became angry with me because of you and vowed that I would never cross the Jordan nor enter the good land that he is about to give you.\n\t\t\t So I must die here in this land; I will not cross the Jordan. But you are going over and will possess that good land. \n\t\t\t Be on guard so that you do not forget the covenant of the LORD your God that he has made with you, and that you do not make an image of any kind, just as he has forbidden you. \n\t\t\t For the LORD your God is a consuming fire; he is a jealous God.\n\t\t\t After you have produced children and grandchildren and have been in the land a long time, if you become corrupt and make an image of any kind and do other evil things before the LORD your God that enrage him,\n\t\t\t I invoke heaven and earth as witnesses against you today that you will surely and swiftly be removed from the very land you are about to cross the Jordan to possess. You will not last long there because you will surely be annihilated. \n\t\t\t Then the LORD will scatter you among the peoples and there will be very few of you among the nations where the LORD will drive you. \n\t\t\t There you will worship gods made by human hands, wood and stone that can neither see, hear, eat, nor smell.\n\t\t\t But if you seek the LORD your God from there, you will find him, if, indeed, you seek him with all your heart and soul.\n\t\t\t In your distress when all these things happen to you in the latter days, if you return to the LORD your God and obey him\n\t\t\t (for he is a merciful God), he will not let you down or destroy you, for he cannot forget the covenant with your ancestors that he confirmed by oath to them.\n\t\t\t Indeed, ask about the distant past, starting from the day God created humankind on the earth, and ask from one end of heaven to the other, whether there has ever been such a great thing as this, or even a rumor of it. \n\t\t\t Have a people ever heard the voice of God speaking from the middle of fire, as you yourselves have, and lived to tell about it?\n\t\t\t Or has God ever before tried to deliver a nation from the middle of another nation, accompanied by judgments, signs, wonders, war, strength, power, and other very terrifying things like the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before your very eyes? \n\t\t\t You have been taught that the LORD alone is God, there is no other besides him.\n\t\t\t From heaven he spoke to you in order to teach you, and on earth he showed you his great fire from which you also heard his words.\n\t\t\t Moreover, because he loved your ancestors, he chose their descendants who followed them and personally brought you out of Egypt with his great power \n\t\t\t to dispossess nations greater and stronger than you and brought you here this day to give you their land as your property.\n\t\t\t Today realize and carefully consider that the LORD is God in heaven above and on earth below, there is no other!\n\t\t\t Keep his statutes and commandments that I am setting forth today so that it may go well with you and your descendants and that you may enjoy longevity in the land that the LORD your God is about to give you as a permanent possession.\n\t\t\t Then Moses selected three cities in the Transjordan, toward the east.\n\t\t\t Anyone who accidentally killed someone without hating him at the time of the accident could flee to one of those cities and be safe. \n\t\t\t These cities are Bezer, in the desert plateau, for the Reubenites; Ramoth in Gilead for the Gadites; and Golan in Bashan for the Manassehites.\n\t\t\t This is the law that Moses set before the Israelites.\n\t\t\t These are the stipulations, statutes, and ordinances that Moses spoke to the Israelites after he had brought them out of Egypt,\n\t\t\t in the Transjordan, in the valley opposite Beth Peor, in the land of King Sihon of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon. (It is he whom Moses and the Israelites attacked after they came out of Egypt.\n\t\t\t They possessed his land and that of King Og of Bashan, both of whom were Amorite kings in the Transjordan, to the east.\n\t\t\t Their territory extended from Aroer at the edge of the Arnon valley as far as Mount Siyon, that is, Hermon,\n\t\t\t including all the Arabah of the Transjordan in the east to the sea of the Arabah, beneath the watershed of Pisgah.)\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then Moses called all the people of Israel together and said to them: \"Listen, Israel, to the statutes and ordinances that I am about to deliver to you today; learn them and be careful to keep them! \n\t\t\t The LORD our God made a covenant with us at Horeb.\n\t\t\t He did not make this covenant with our ancestors but with us, we who are here today, all of us living now. \n\t\t\t The LORD spoke face to face with you at the mountain, from the middle of the fire.\n\t\t\t (I was standing between the LORD and you at that time to reveal to you the message of the LORD, because you were afraid of the fire and would not go up the mountain.) He said:\n\t\t\t \"I am the LORD your God, he who brought you from the land of Egypt, from the place of slavery.\n\t\t\t You must not have any other gods besides me.\n\t\t\t You must not make for yourself an image of anything in heaven above, on earth below, or in the waters beneath.\n\t\t\t You must not worship or serve them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God. I punish the sons, grandsons, and great-grandsons for the sin of the fathers who reject me,\n\t\t\t but I show covenant faithfulness to the thousands who choose me and keep my commandments. \n\t\t\t You must not make use of the name of the LORD your God for worthless purposes, for the LORD will not exonerate anyone who abuses his name that way.\n\t\t\t Be careful to observe the Sabbath day just as the LORD your God has commanded you. \n\t\t\t You are to work and do all your tasks in six days,\n\t\t\t but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. On that day you must not do any work, you, your son, your daughter, your male slave, your female slave, your ox, your donkey, any other animal, or the foreigner who lives with you, so that your male and female slaves, like yourself, may have rest. \n\t\t\t Recall that you were slaves in the land of Egypt and that the LORD your God brought you out of there by strength and power. That is why the LORD your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day. \n\t\t\t Honor your father and your mother just as the LORD your God has commanded you to do, so that your days may be extended and that it may go well with you in the land that he is about to give you. \n\t\t\t You must not murder.\n\t\t\t You must not commit adultery.\n\t\t\t You must not steal.\n\t\t\t You must not offer false testimony against another.\n\t\t\t You must not desire another man's wife, nor should you crave his house, his field, his male and female servants, his ox, his donkey, or anything else he owns.\"\n\t\t\t The LORD said these things to your entire assembly at the mountain from the middle of the fire, the cloud, and the darkness with a loud voice, and that was all he said. Then he inscribed the words on two stone tablets and gave them to me. \n\t\t\t Then, when you heard the voice from the midst of the darkness while the mountain was ablaze, all your tribal leaders and elders approached me.\n\t\t\t You said, \"The LORD our God has shown us his great glory and we have heard him speak from the middle of the fire. It is now clear to us that God can speak to human beings and they can keep on living. \n\t\t\t But now, why should we die, because this intense fire will consume us! If we keep hearing the voice of the LORD our God we will die!\n\t\t\t Who is there from the entire human race who has heard the voice of the living God speaking from the middle of the fire as we have, and has lived? \n\t\t\t You go near so that you can hear everything the LORD our God is saying and then you can tell us whatever he says to you; then we will pay attention and do it.\" \n\t\t\t When the LORD heard you speaking to me, he said to me, \"I have heard what these people have said to you, they have spoken well.\n\t\t\t If only it would really be their desire to fear me and obey all my commandments in the future, so that it may go well with them and their descendants forever.\n\t\t\t Go and tell them, 'Return to your tents!'\n\t\t\t But as for you, remain here with me so I can declare to you all the commandments, statutes, and ordinances that you are to teach them, so that they can carry them out in the land I am about to give them.\"\n\t\t\t Be careful, therefore, to do exactly what the LORD your God has commanded you; do not turn right or left!\n\t\t\t Walk just as he has commanded you so that you may live, that it may go well with you, and that you may live long in the land you are going to possess.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now these are the commandments, statutes, and ordinances that the LORD your God instructed me to teach you so that you may carry them out in the land where you are headed\n\t\t\t and that you may so revere the LORD your God that you will keep all his statutes and commandments that I am giving you, you, your children, and your grandchildren, all your lives, to prolong your days.\n\t\t\t Pay attention, Israel, and be careful to do this so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in number, as the LORD, God of your ancestors, said to you, you will have a land flowing with milk and honey.\n\t\t\t Listen, Israel: The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!\n\t\t\t You must love the LORD your God with your whole mind, your whole being, and all your strength.\n\t\t\t These words I am commanding you today must be kept in mind,\n\t\t\t and you must teach them to your children and speak of them as you sit in your house, as you walk along the road, as you lie down, and as you get up. \n\t\t\t You should tie them as a reminder on your forearm and fasten them as symbols on your forehead. \n\t\t\t Inscribe them on the doorframes of your houses and gates.\n\t\t\t Then when the LORD your God brings you to the land he promised your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to give you, a land with large, fine cities you did not build,\n\t\t\t houses filled with choice things you did not accumulate, hewn out cisterns you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant, and you eat your fill,\n\t\t\t be careful not to forget the LORD who brought you out of Egypt, that place of slavery.\n\t\t\t You must revere the LORD your God, serve him, and take oaths using only his name.\n\t\t\t You must not go after other gods, those of the surrounding peoples, \n\t\t\t for the LORD your God, who is present among you, is a jealous God and his anger will erupt against you and remove you from the land.\n\t\t\t You must not put the LORD your God to the test as you did at Massah.\n\t\t\t Keep his commandments very carefully, as well as the stipulations and statutes he commanded you to observe. \n\t\t\t Do whatever is proper and good before the LORD so that it may go well with you and that you may enter and occupy the good land that he promised your ancestors, \n\t\t\t and that you may drive out all your enemies just as the LORD said.\n\t\t\t When your children ask you later on, \"What are the stipulations, statutes, and ordinances that the LORD our God commanded you?\" \n\t\t\t you must say to them, \"We were Pharaoh's slaves in Egypt, but the LORD brought us out of Egypt in a powerful way.\n\t\t\t And he brought signs and great, devastating wonders on Egypt, on Pharaoh, and on his whole family before our very eyes. \n\t\t\t He delivered us from there so that he could give us the land he had promised our ancestors.\n\t\t\t The LORD commanded us to obey all these statutes and to revere him so that it may always go well for us and he may preserve us, as he has to this day. \n\t\t\t We will be innocent if we carefully keep all these commandments before the LORD our God, just as he demands.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t When the LORD your God brings you to the land that you are going to occupy and forces out many nations before you, Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, seven nations more numerous and powerful than you,\n\t\t\t and he delivers them over to you and you attack them, you must utterly annihilate them. Make no treaty with them and show them no mercy! \n\t\t\t You must not intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons,\n\t\t\t for they will turn your sons away from me to worship other gods. Then the anger of the LORD will erupt against you and he will quickly destroy you.\n\t\t\t Instead, this is what you must do to them: You must tear down their altars, shatter their sacred pillars, cut down their sacred Asherah poles, and burn up their idols. \n\t\t\t For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. He has chosen you to be his people, prized above all others on the face of the earth.\n\t\t\t It is not because you were more numerous than all the other peoples that the LORD favored and chose you, for in fact you were the least numerous of all peoples.\n\t\t\t Rather it is because of his love for you and his faithfulness to the promise he solemnly vowed to your ancestors that the LORD brought you out with great power, redeeming you from the place of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt. \n\t\t\t So realize that the LORD your God is the true God, the faithful God who keeps covenant faithfully with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations, \n\t\t\t but who pays back those who hate him as they deserve and destroys them. He will not ignore those who hate him but will repay them as they deserve! \n\t\t\t So keep the commandments, statutes, and ordinances that I today am commanding you to do.\n\t\t\t If you obey these ordinances and are careful to do them, the LORD your God will faithfully keep covenant with you as he promised your ancestors. \n\t\t\t He will love and bless you, and make you numerous. He will bless you with many children, with the produce of your soil, your grain, your new wine, your oil, the offspring of your oxen, and the young of your flocks in the land which he promised your ancestors to give you.\n\t\t\t You will be blessed beyond all peoples; there will be no barrenness among you or your livestock. \n\t\t\t The LORD will protect you from all sickness, and you will not experience any of the terrible diseases that you knew in Egypt; instead he will inflict them on all those who hate you.\n\t\t\t You must destroy all the people whom the LORD your God is about to deliver over to you; you must not pity them or worship their gods, for that will be a snare to you. \n\t\t\t If you think, \"These nations are more numerous than I, how can I dispossess them?\"\n\t\t\t you must not fear them. You must carefully recall what the LORD your God did to Pharaoh and all Egypt, \n\t\t\t the great judgments you saw, the signs and wonders, the strength and power by which he brought you out, thus the LORD your God will do to all the people you fear.\n\t\t\t Furthermore, the LORD your God will release hornets among them until the very last ones who hide from you perish. \n\t\t\t You must not tremble in their presence, for the LORD your God, who is present among you, is a great and awesome God.\n\t\t\t He, the God who leads you, will expel the nations little by little. You will not be allowed to destroy them all at once lest the wild animals overrun you. \n\t\t\t The LORD your God will give them over to you; he will throw them into a great panic until they are destroyed. \n\t\t\t He will hand over their kings to you and you will erase their very names from memory. Nobody will be able to resist you until you destroy them. \n\t\t\t You must burn the images of their gods, but do not covet the silver and gold that covers them so much that you take it for yourself and thus become ensnared by it; for it is abhorrent to the LORD your God. \n\t\t\t You must not bring any abhorrent thing into your house and thereby become an object of divine wrath along with it. You must absolutely detest and abhor it, for it is an object of divine wrath.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t You must keep carefully all these commandments I am giving you today so that you may live, increase in number, and go in and occupy the land that the LORD promised to your ancestors.\n\t\t\t Remember the whole way by which he has brought you these forty years through the desert so that he might, by humbling you, test you to see if you have it within you to keep his commandments or not. \n\t\t\t So he humbled you by making you hungry and then feeding you with unfamiliar manna. He did this to teach you that humankind cannot live by bread alone, but also by everything that comes from the LORD's mouth.\n\t\t\t Your clothing did not wear out nor did your feet swell all these forty years.\n\t\t\t Be keenly aware that just as a parent disciplines his child, the LORD your God disciplines you. \n\t\t\t So you must keep his commandments, live according to his standards, and revere him. \n\t\t\t For the LORD your God is bringing you to a good land, a land of brooks, springs, and fountains flowing forth in valleys and hills, \n\t\t\t a land of wheat, barley, vines, fig trees, and pomegranates, of olive trees and honey,\n\t\t\t a land where you may eat food in plenty and find no lack of anything, a land whose stones are iron and from whose hills you can mine copper. \n\t\t\t You will eat your fill and then praise the LORD your God because of the good land he has given you.\n\t\t\t Be sure you do not forget the LORD your God by not keeping his commandments, ordinances, and statutes that I am giving you today.\n\t\t\t When you eat your fill, when you build and occupy good houses,\n\t\t\t when your cattle and flocks increase, when you have plenty of silver and gold, and when you have abundance of everything,\n\t\t\t be sure you do not feel self-important and forget the LORD your God who brought you from the land of Egypt, the place of slavery, \n\t\t\t and who brought you through the great, fearful desert of venomous serpents and scorpions, an arid place with no water. He made water flow from a flint rock and \n\t\t\t fed you in the desert with manna (which your ancestors had never before known) so that he might by humbling you test you and eventually bring good to you. \n\t\t\t Be careful not to say, \"My own ability and skill have gotten me this wealth.\" \n\t\t\t You must remember the LORD your God, for he is the one who gives ability to get wealth; if you do this he will confirm his covenant that he made by oath to your ancestors, even as he has to this day. \n\t\t\t Now if you forget the LORD your God at all and follow other gods, worshiping and prostrating yourselves before them, I testify to you today that you will surely be annihilated. \n\t\t\t Just like the nations the LORD is about to destroy from your sight, so he will do to you because you would not obey him.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Listen, Israel: Today you are about to cross the Jordan so you can dispossess the nations there, people greater and stronger than you who live in large cities with extremely high fortifications.\n\t\t\t They include the Anakites, a numerous and tall people whom you know about and of whom it is said, \"Who is able to resist the Anakites?\" \n\t\t\t Understand today that the LORD your God who goes before you is a devouring fire; he will defeat and subdue them before you. You will dispossess and destroy them quickly just as he has told you.\n\t\t\t Do not think to yourself after the LORD your God has driven them out before you, \"Because of my own righteousness the LORD has brought me here to possess this land.\" It is because of the wickedness of these nations that the Lord is driving them out ahead of you.\n\t\t\t It is not because of your righteousness, or even your inner uprightness, that you have come here to possess their land. Instead, because of the wickedness of these nations the LORD your God is driving them out ahead of you in order to confirm the promise he made on oath to your ancestors, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. \n\t\t\t Understand, therefore, that it is not because of your righteousness that the LORD your God is about to give you this good land as a possession, for you are a stubborn people!\n\t\t\t Remember, don't ever forget, how you provoked the LORD your God in the desert; from the time you left the land of Egypt until you came to this place you were constantly rebelling against him.\n\t\t\t At Horeb you provoked him and he was angry enough with you to destroy you.\n\t\t\t When I went up the mountain to receive the stone tablets, the tablets of the covenant that the LORD made with you, I remained there forty days and nights, eating and drinking nothing. \n\t\t\t The LORD gave me the two stone tablets, written by the very finger of God, and on them was everything he said to you at the mountain from the midst of the fire at the time of that assembly.\n\t\t\t Now at the end of the forty days and nights the LORD presented me with the two stone tablets, the tablets of the covenant.\n\t\t\t And he said to me, \"Get up, go down at once from here because your people whom you brought out of Egypt have sinned! They have quickly turned from the way I commanded them and have made for themselves a cast metal image.\"\n\t\t\t Moreover, he said to me, \"I have taken note of these people; they are a stubborn lot! \n\t\t\t Stand aside and I will destroy them, obliterating their very name from memory, and I will make you into a stronger and more numerous nation than they are.\"\n\t\t\t So I turned and went down the mountain while it was blazing with fire; the two tablets of the covenant were in my hands. \n\t\t\t When I looked, you had indeed sinned against the LORD your God and had cast for yourselves a metal calf; you had quickly turned aside from the way he had commanded you! \n\t\t\t I grabbed the two tablets, threw them down, and shattered them before your very eyes. \n\t\t\t Then I again fell down before the LORD for forty days and nights; I ate and drank nothing because of all the sin you had committed, doing such evil before the LORD as to enrage him.\n\t\t\t For I was terrified at the LORD's intense anger that threatened to destroy you. But he listened to me this time as well. \n\t\t\t The LORD was also angry enough at Aaron to kill him, but at that time I prayed for him too. \n\t\t\t As for your sinful thing that you had made, the calf, I took it, melted it down, ground it up until it was as fine as dust, and tossed the dust into the stream that flows down the mountain. \n\t\t\t Moreover, you continued to provoke the LORD at Taberah, Massah, and Kibroth-Hattaavah.\n\t\t\t And when he sent you from Kadesh-Barnea and told you, \"Go up and possess the land I have given you,\" you rebelled against the LORD your God and would neither believe nor obey him. \n\t\t\t You have been rebelling against him from the very first day I knew you!\n\t\t\t I lay flat on the ground before the LORD for forty days and nights, for he had said he would destroy you. \n\t\t\t I prayed to him: O, Lord GOD, do not destroy your people, your valued property that you have powerfully redeemed, whom you brought out of Egypt by your strength.\n\t\t\t Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; ignore the stubbornness, wickedness, and sin of these people.\n\t\t\t Otherwise the people of the land from which you brought us will say, \"The LORD was unable to bring them to the land he promised them, and because of his hatred for them he has brought them out to kill them in the desert.\"\n\t\t\t They are your people, your valued property, whom you brought out with great strength and power.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t At that same time the LORD said to me, \"Carve out for yourself two stone tablets like the first ones and come up the mountain to me; also make for yourself a wooden ark.\n\t\t\t I will write on the tablets the same words that were on the first tablets you broke, and you must put them into the ark.\" \n\t\t\t So I made an ark of acacia wood and carved out two stone tablets just like the first ones. Then I went up the mountain with the two tablets in my hands. \n\t\t\t The LORD then wrote on the tablets the same words, the ten commandments, which he had spoken to you at the mountain from the middle of the fire at the time of that assembly, and he gave them to me. \n\t\t\t Then I turned, went down the mountain, and placed the tablets into the ark I had made, they are still there, just as the LORD commanded me.\n\t\t\t \"During those days the Israelites traveled from Beeroth Bene-Yaaqan to Moserah. There Aaron died and was buried, and his son Eleazar became priest in his place. \n\t\t\t From there they traveled to Gudgodah, and from Gudgodah to Jotbathah, a place of flowing streams. \n\t\t\t At that time the LORD set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the LORD's covenant, to stand before the LORD to serve him, and to formulate blessings in his name, as they do to this very day. \n\t\t\t Therefore Levi has no allotment or inheritance among his brothers; the LORD is his inheritance just as the LORD your God told him. \n\t\t\t As for me, I stayed at the mountain as I did the first time, forty days and nights. The LORD listened to me that time as well and decided not to destroy you.\n\t\t\t Then he said to me, \"Get up, set out leading the people so they may go and possess the land I promised to give to their ancestors.\"\n\t\t\t Now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you except to revere him, to obey all his commandments, to love him, to serve him with all your mind and being,\n\t\t\t and to keep the Lord's commandments and statutes that I am giving you today for your own good? \n\t\t\t The heavens, indeed the highest heavens, belong to the LORD your God, as does the earth and everything in it.\n\t\t\t However, only to your ancestors did he show his loving favor, and he chose you, their descendants, from all peoples, as is apparent today.\n\t\t\t Therefore, cleanse your heart and stop being so stubborn!\n\t\t\t For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, mighty, and awesome God who is unbiased and takes no bribe,\n\t\t\t who justly treats the orphan and widow, and who loves resident foreigners, giving them food and clothing. \n\t\t\t So you must love the resident foreigner because you were foreigners in the land of Egypt.\n\t\t\t Revere the LORD your God, serve him, be loyal to him and take oaths only in his name.\n\t\t\t He is the one you should praise; he is your God, the one who has done these great and awesome things for you that you have seen. \n\t\t\t When your ancestors went down to Egypt, they numbered only seventy, but now the LORD your God has made you as numerous as the stars of the sky.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t You must love the LORD your God and do what he requires; keep his statutes, ordinances, and commandments at all times. \n\t\t\t Bear in mind today that I am not speaking to your children who have not personally experienced the judgments of the LORD your God, which revealed his greatness, strength, and power.\n\t\t\t They did not see the awesome deeds he performed in the midst of Egypt against Pharaoh king of Egypt and his whole land, \n\t\t\t or what he did to the army of Egypt, including their horses and chariots, when he made the waters of the Red Sea overwhelm them while they were pursuing you and he annihilated them.\n\t\t\t They did not see what he did to you in the desert before you reached this place, \n\t\t\t or what he did to Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab the Reubenite, when the earth opened its mouth in the middle of the Israelite camp and swallowed them, their families, their tents, and all the property they brought with them.\n\t\t\t I am speaking to you because you are the ones who saw all the great deeds of the LORD!\n\t\t\t Now pay attention to all the commandments I am giving you today, so that you may be strong enough to enter and possess the land where you are headed,\n\t\t\t and that you may enjoy long life in the land the LORD promised to give to your ancestors and their descendants, a land flowing with milk and honey.\n\t\t\t For the land where you are headed is not like the land of Egypt from which you came, a land where you planted seed and which you irrigated by hand like a vegetable garden. \n\t\t\t Instead, the land you are crossing the Jordan to occupy is one of hills and valleys, a land that drinks in water from the rains,\n\t\t\t a land the LORD your God looks after. He is constantly attentive to it from the beginning to the end of the year.\n\t\t\t Now, if you pay close attention to my commandments that I am giving you today and love the LORD your God and serve him with all your mind and being,\n\t\t\t then he promises, \"I will send rain for your land in its season, the autumn and the spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine, and olive oil. \n\t\t\t I will provide pasture for your livestock and you will eat your fill.\"\n\t\t\t Make sure you do not turn away to serve and worship other gods!\n\t\t\t Then the anger of the LORD will erupt against you and he will close up the sky so that it does not rain. The land will not yield its produce, and you will soon be removed from the good land that the Lord is about to give you.\n\t\t\t Fix these words of mine into your mind and being, and tie them as a reminder on your hands and let them be symbols on your forehead. \n\t\t\t Teach them to your children and speak of them as you sit in your house, as you walk along the road, as you lie down, and as you get up. \n\t\t\t Inscribe them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates\n\t\t\t so that your days and those of your descendants may be extended in the land which the LORD promised to give to your ancestors, like the days of heaven itself.\n\t\t\t For if you carefully observe all of these commandments I am giving you and love the LORD your God, live according to his standards, and remain loyal to him,\n\t\t\t then he will drive out all these nations ahead of you, and you will dispossess nations greater and stronger than you. \n\t\t\t Every place you set your foot will be yours; your border will extend from the desert to Lebanon and from the River (that is, the Euphrates) as far as the Mediterranean Sea.\n\t\t\t Nobody will be able to resist you; the LORD your God will spread the fear and terror of you over the whole land on which you walk, just as he promised you.\n\t\t\t Take note, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse:\n\t\t\t the blessing if you take to heart the commandments of the LORD your God that I am giving you today, \n\t\t\t and the curse if you pay no attention to his commandments and turn from the way I am setting before you today to pursue other gods you have not known. \n\t\t\t When the LORD your God brings you into the land you are to possess, you must pronounce the blessing on Mount Gerizim and the curse on Mount Ebal.\n\t\t\t Are they not across the Jordan River, toward the west, in the land of the Canaanites who live in the Arabah opposite Gilgal near the oak of Moreh? \n\t\t\t For you are about to cross the Jordan to possess the land the LORD your God is giving you, and you will possess and inhabit it.\n\t\t\t Be certain to keep all the statutes and ordinances that I am presenting to you today.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t These are the statutes and ordinances you must be careful to obey as long as you live in the land the LORD, the God of your ancestors, has given you to possess.\n\t\t\t You must by all means destroy all the places where the nations you are about to dispossess worship their gods, on the high mountains and hills and under every leafy tree.\n\t\t\t You must tear down their altars, shatter their sacred pillars, burn up their sacred Asherah poles, and cut down the images of their gods; you must eliminate their very memory from that place. \n\t\t\t You must not worship the LORD your God the way they worship.\n\t\t\t But you must seek only the place he chooses from all your tribes to establish his name as his place of residence, and you must go there. \n\t\t\t And there you must take your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes, the personal offerings you have prepared, your votive offerings, your freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks. \n\t\t\t Both you and your families must feast there before the LORD your God and rejoice in all the output of your labor with which he has blessed you. \n\t\t\t You must not do like we are doing here today, with everyone doing what seems best to him, \n\t\t\t for you have not yet come to the final stop and inheritance the LORD your God is giving you. \n\t\t\t When you do go across the Jordan River and settle in the land he is granting you as an inheritance and you find relief from all the enemies who surround you, you will live in safety.\n\t\t\t Then you must come to the place the LORD your God chooses for his name to reside, bringing everything I am commanding you, your burnt offerings, sacrifices, tithes, the personal offerings you have prepared, and all your choice votive offerings which you devote to him.\n\t\t\t You shall rejoice in the presence of the LORD your God, along with your sons, daughters, male and female servants, and the Levites in your villages (since they have no allotment or inheritance with you).\n\t\t\t Make sure you do not offer burnt offerings in any place you wish,\n\t\t\t for you may do so only in the place the LORD chooses in one of your tribal areas, there you may do everything I am commanding you.\n\t\t\t On the other hand, you may slaughter and eat meat as you please when the LORD your God blesses you in all your villages. Both the ritually pure and impure may eat it, whether it is a gazelle or an ibex.\n\t\t\t However, you must not eat blood, pour it out on the ground like water.\n\t\t\t You will not be allowed to eat in your villages your tithe of grain, new wine, olive oil, the firstborn of your herd and flock, any votive offerings you have vowed, or your freewill and personal offerings.\n\t\t\t Only in the presence of the LORD your God may you eat these, in the place he chooses. This applies to you, your son, your daughter, your male and female servants, and the Levites in your villages. In that place you will rejoice before the LORD your God in all the output of your labor.\n\t\t\t Be careful not to overlook the Levites as long as you live in the land.\n\t\t\t When the LORD your God extends your borders as he said he would do and you say, \"I want to eat meat just as I please,\" you may do so as you wish.\n\t\t\t If the place he chooses to locate his name is too far for you, you may slaughter any of your herd and flock he has given you just as I have stipulated; you may eat them in your villages just as you wish. \n\t\t\t Like you eat the gazelle or ibex, so you may eat these; the ritually impure and pure alike may eat them.\n\t\t\t However, by no means eat the blood, for the blood is life itself, you must not eat the life with the meat!\n\t\t\t You must not eat it! You must pour it out on the ground like water.\n\t\t\t You must not eat it so that it may go well with you and your children after you; you will be doing what is right in the LORD's sight.\n\t\t\t Only the holy things and votive offerings that belong to you, you must pick up and take to the place the LORD will choose.\n\t\t\t You must offer your burnt offerings, both meat and blood, on the altar of the LORD your God; the blood of your other sacrifices you must pour out on his altar while you eat the meat. \n\t\t\t Pay careful attention to all these things I am commanding you so that it may always go well with you and your children after you when you do what is good and right in the sight of the LORD your God.\n\t\t\t When the LORD your God eliminates the nations from the place where you are headed and you dispossess them, you will settle down in their land.\n\t\t\t After they have been destroyed from your presence, be careful not to be ensnared like they are; do not pursue their gods and say, \"How do these nations serve their gods? I will do the same.\"\n\t\t\t You must not worship the LORD your God the way they do! For everything that is abhorrent to him, everything he hates, they have done when worshiping their gods. They even burn up their sons and daughters before their gods!\n\t\t\t You must be careful to do everything I am commanding you. Do not add to it or subtract from it!\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Suppose a prophet or one who foretells by dreams should appear among you and show you a sign or wonder,\n\t\t\t and the sign or wonder should come to pass concerning what he said to you, namely, \"Let us follow other gods\", gods whom you have not previously known, \"and let us serve them.\"\n\t\t\t You must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer, for the LORD your God will be testing you to see if you love him with all your mind and being.\n\t\t\t You must follow the LORD your God and revere only him; and you must observe his commandments, obey him, serve him, and remain loyal to him.\n\t\t\t As for that prophet or dreamer, he must be executed because he encouraged rebellion against the LORD your God who brought you from the land of Egypt, redeeming you from that place of slavery, and because he has tried to entice you from the way the LORD your God has commanded you to go. In this way you must purge out evil from within.\n\t\t\t Suppose your own full brother, your son, your daughter, your beloved wife, or your closest friend should seduce you secretly and encourage you to go and serve other gods that neither you nor your ancestors have previously known,\n\t\t\t the gods of the surrounding people (whether near you or far from you, from one end of the earth to the other). \n\t\t\t You must not give in to him or even listen to him; do not feel sympathy for him or spare him or cover up for him.\n\t\t\t Instead, you must kill him without fail! Your own hand must be the first to strike him, and then the hands of the whole community. \n\t\t\t You must stone him to death because he tried to entice you away from the LORD your God, who delivered you from the land of Egypt, that place of slavery. \n\t\t\t Thus all Israel will hear and be afraid; no longer will they continue to do evil like this among you.\n\t\t\t Suppose you should hear in one of your cities, which the LORD your God is giving you as a place to live, that\n\t\t\t some evil people have departed from among you to entice the inhabitants of their cities, saying, \"Let's go and serve other gods\" (whom you have not known before).\n\t\t\t You must investigate thoroughly and inquire carefully. If it is indeed true that such a disgraceful thing is being done among you,\n\t\t\t you must by all means slaughter the inhabitants of that city with the sword; annihilate with the sword everyone in it, as well as the livestock. \n\t\t\t You must gather all of its plunder into the middle of the plaza and burn the city and all its plunder as a whole burnt offering to the LORD your God. It will be an abandoned ruin forever, it must never be rebuilt again.\n\t\t\t You must not take for yourself anything that has been placed under judgment. Then the LORD will relent from his intense anger, show you compassion, have mercy on you, and multiply you as he promised your ancestors. \n\t\t\t Thus you must obey the LORD your God, keeping all his commandments that I am giving you today and doing what is right before him.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t You are children of the LORD your God. Do not cut yourselves or shave your forehead bald for the sake of the dead. \n\t\t\t For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. He has chosen you to be his people, prized above all others on the face of the earth. \n\t\t\t You must not eat any forbidden thing. \n\t\t\t These are the animals you may eat: the ox, the sheep, the goat,\n\t\t\t the ibex, the gazelle, the deer, the wild goat, the antelope, the wild oryx, and the mountain sheep.\n\t\t\t You may eat any animal that has hooves divided into two parts and that chews the cud.\n\t\t\t However, you may not eat the following animals among those that chew the cud or those that have divided hooves: the camel, the hare, and the rock badger. (Although they chew the cud, they do not have divided hooves and are therefore ritually impure to you). \n\t\t\t Also the pig is ritually impure to you; though it has divided hooves, it does not chew the cud. You may not eat their meat or even touch their remains. \n\t\t\t These you may eat from among water creatures: anything with fins and scales you may eat,\n\t\t\t but whatever does not have fins and scales you may not eat; it is ritually impure to you.\n\t\t\t All ritually clean birds you may eat.\n\t\t\t These are the ones you may not eat: the eagle, the vulture, the black vulture,\n\t\t\t the kite, the black kite, the dayyah after its species, \n\t\t\t every raven after its species,\n\t\t\t the ostrich, the owl, the seagull, the falcon after its species, \n\t\t\t the little owl, the long-eared owl, the white owl,\n\t\t\t the jackdaw, the carrion vulture, the cormorant,\n\t\t\t the stork, the heron after its species, the hoopoe, the bat,\n\t\t\t and any winged thing on the ground are impure to you, they may not be eaten.\n\t\t\t You may eat any clean bird.\n\t\t\t You may not eat any corpse, though you may give it to the resident foreigner who is living in your villages and he may eat it, or you may sell it to a foreigner. You are a people holy to the LORD your God. Do not boil a young goat in its mother's milk.\n\t\t\t You must be certain to tithe all the produce of your seed that comes from the field year after year. \n\t\t\t In the presence of the LORD your God you must eat from the tithe of your grain, your new wine, your olive oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks in the place he chooses to locate his name, so that you may learn to revere the LORD your God always. \n\t\t\t When he blesses you, if the place where he chooses to locate his name is distant, \n\t\t\t you may convert the tithe into money, secure the money, and travel to the place the LORD your God chooses for himself. \n\t\t\t Then you may spend the money however you wish for cattle, sheep, wine, beer, or whatever you desire. You and your household may eat there in the presence of the LORD your God and enjoy it.\n\t\t\t As for the Levites in your villages, you must not ignore them, for they have no allotment or inheritance along with you.\n\t\t\t At the end of every three years you must bring all the tithe of your produce, in that very year, and you must store it up in your villages.\n\t\t\t Then the Levites (because they have no allotment or inheritance with you), the resident foreigners, the orphans, and the widows of your villages may come and eat their fill so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work you do.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t At the end of every seven years you must declare a cancellation of debts. \n\t\t\t This is the nature of the cancellation: Every creditor must remit what he has loaned to another person; he must not force payment from his fellow Israelite, for it is to be recognized as \"the LORD's cancellation of debts.\" \n\t\t\t You may exact payment from a foreigner, but whatever your fellow Israelite owes you, you must remit.\n\t\t\t However, there should not be any poor among you, for the LORD will surely bless you in the land that he is giving you as an inheritance,\n\t\t\t if you carefully obey him by keeping all these commandments that I am giving you today. \n\t\t\t For the LORD your God will bless you just as he has promised; you will lend to many nations but will not borrow from any, and you will rule over many nations but they will not rule over you.\n\t\t\t If a fellow Israelite from one of your villages in the land that the LORD your God is giving you should be poor, you must not harden your heart or be insensitive to his impoverished condition.\n\t\t\t Instead, you must be sure to open your hand to him and generously lend him whatever he needs.\n\t\t\t Be careful lest you entertain the wicked thought that the seventh year, the year of cancellation of debts, has almost arrived, and your attitude be wrong toward your impoverished fellow Israelite and you do not lend him anything; he will cry out to the LORD against you and you will be regarded as having sinned.\n\t\t\t You must by all means lend to him and not be upset by doing it, for because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you attempt. \n\t\t\t There will never cease to be some poor people in the land; therefore, I am commanding you to make sure you open your hand to your fellow Israelites who are needy and poor in your land.\n\t\t\t If your fellow Hebrew, whether male or female, is sold to you and serves you for six years, then in the seventh year you must let that servant go free.\n\t\t\t If you set them free, you must not send them away empty-handed.\n\t\t\t You must supply them generously from your flock, your threshing floor, and your winepress, as the LORD your God has blessed you, you must give to them.\n\t\t\t Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt and the LORD your God redeemed you; therefore, I am commanding you to do this thing today.\n\t\t\t However, if the servant says to you, \"I do not want to leave you,\" because he loves you and your household, since he is well off with you, \n\t\t\t you shall take an awl and pierce a hole through his ear to the door. Then he will become your servant permanently (this applies to your female servant as well). \n\t\t\t You should not consider it difficult to let him go free, for he will have served you for six years, twice the time of a hired worker; the LORD your God will bless you in everything you do.\n\t\t\t You must set apart for the LORD your God every firstborn male born to your herds and flocks. You must not work the firstborn of your bulls or shear the firstborn of your flocks. \n\t\t\t You and your household must eat them annually before the LORD your God in the place he chooses. \n\t\t\t If they have any kind of blemish, lameness, blindness, or anything else, you may not offer them as a sacrifice to the LORD your God.\n\t\t\t You may eat it in your villages, whether you are ritually impure or clean, just as you would eat a gazelle or an ibex. \n\t\t\t However, you must not eat its blood; you must pour it out on the ground like water.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Observe the month Abib and keep the Passover to the LORD your God, for in that month he brought you out of Egypt by night. \n\t\t\t You must sacrifice the Passover animal (from the flock or the herd) to the LORD your God in the place where he chooses to locate his name. \n\t\t\t You must not eat any yeast with it; for seven days you must eat bread made without yeast, symbolic of affliction, for you came out of Egypt hurriedly. You must do this so you will remember for the rest of your life the day you came out of the land of Egypt.\n\t\t\t There must not be a scrap of yeast within your land for seven days, nor can any of the meat you sacrifice on the evening of the first day remain until the next morning.\n\t\t\t You may not sacrifice the Passover in just any of your villages that the LORD your God is giving you, \n\t\t\t but you must sacrifice it in the evening in the place where he chooses to locate his name, at sunset, the time of day you came out of Egypt. \n\t\t\t You must cook and eat it in the place the LORD your God chooses; you may return the next morning to your tents. \n\t\t\t You must eat bread made without yeast for six days. The seventh day you are to hold an assembly for the LORD your God; you must not do any work on that day.\n\t\t\t You must count seven weeks; you must begin to count them from the time you begin to harvest the standing grain. \n\t\t\t Then you are to celebrate the Festival of Weeks before the LORD your God with the voluntary offering that you will bring, in proportion to how he has blessed you. \n\t\t\t You shall rejoice before him, you, your son, your daughter, your male and female slaves, the Levites in your villages, the resident foreigners, the orphans, and the widows among you, in the place where the LORD chooses to locate his name.\n\t\t\t Furthermore, remember that you were a slave in Egypt, and so be careful to observe these statutes.\n\t\t\t You must celebrate the Festival of Temporary Shelters for seven days, at the time of the grain and grape harvest.\n\t\t\t You are to rejoice in your festival, you, your son, your daughter, your male and female slaves, the Levites, the resident foreigners, the orphans, and the widows who are in your villages.\n\t\t\t You are to celebrate the festival seven days before the LORD your God in the place he chooses, for he will bless you in all your productivity and in whatever you do; so you will indeed rejoice! \n\t\t\t Three times a year all your males must appear before the LORD your God in the place he chooses for the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the Festival of Weeks, and the Festival of Temporary Shelters; and they must not appear before him empty-handed. \n\t\t\t Every one of you must give as you are able, according to the blessing of the LORD your God that he has given you.\n\t\t\t You must appoint judges and civil servants for each tribe in all your villages that the LORD your God is giving you, and they must judge the people fairly.\n\t\t\t You must not pervert justice or show favor. Do not take a bribe, for bribes blind the eyes of the wise and distort the words of the righteous.\n\t\t\t You must pursue justice alone so that you may live and inherit the land the LORD your God is giving you.\n\t\t\t You must not plant any kind of tree as a sacred Asherah pole near the altar of the LORD your God which you build for yourself. \n\t\t\t You must not erect a sacred pillar, a thing the LORD your God detests. \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t You must not sacrifice to him a bull or sheep that has a blemish or any other defect, because that is considered offensive to the LORD your God. \n\t\t\t Suppose a man or woman is discovered among you, in one of your villages that the LORD your God is giving you, who sins before the Lord your God and breaks his covenant\n\t\t\t by serving other gods and worshiping them, the sun, moon, or any other heavenly bodies which I have not permitted you to worship.\n\t\t\t When it is reported to you and you hear about it, you must investigate carefully. If it is indeed true that such a disgraceful thing is being done in Israel, \n\t\t\t you must bring to your city gates that man or woman who has done this wicked thing, that very man or woman, and you must stone that person to death.\n\t\t\t At the testimony of two or three witnesses they must be executed. They cannot be put to death on the testimony of only one witness.\n\t\t\t The witnesses must be first to begin the execution, and then all the people are to join in afterward. In this way you will purge evil from among you.\n\t\t\t If a matter is too difficult for you to judge, bloodshed, legal claim, or assault, matters of controversy in your villages, you must leave there and go up to the place the LORD your God chooses.\n\t\t\t You will go to the Levitical priests and the judge in office in those days and seek a solution; they will render a verdict.\n\t\t\t You must then do as they have determined at that place the LORD chooses. Be careful to do just as you are taught.\n\t\t\t You must do what you are instructed, and the verdict they pronounce to you, without fail. Do not deviate right or left from what they tell you.\n\t\t\t The person who pays no attention to the priest currently serving the LORD your God there, or to the verdict, that person must die, so that you may purge evil from Israel.\n\t\t\t Then all the people will hear and be afraid, and not be so presumptuous again.\n\t\t\t When you come to the land the LORD your God is giving you and take it over and live in it and then say, \"I will select a king like all the nations surrounding me,\"\n\t\t\t you must select without fail a king whom the LORD your God chooses. From among your fellow citizens you must appoint a king, you may not designate a foreigner who is not one of your fellow Israelites.\n\t\t\t Moreover, he must not accumulate horses for himself or allow the people to return to Egypt to do so, for the LORD has said you must never again return that way. \n\t\t\t Furthermore, he must not marry many wives lest his affections turn aside, and he must not accumulate much silver and gold. \n\t\t\t When he sits on his royal throne he must make a copy of this law on a scroll given to him by the Levitical priests. \n\t\t\t It must be with him constantly and he must read it as long as he lives, so that he may learn to revere the LORD his God and observe all the words of this law and these statutes and carry them out.\n\t\t\t Then he will not exalt himself above his fellow citizens or turn from the commandments to the right or left, and he and his descendants will enjoy many years ruling over his kingdom in Israel.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The Levitical priests, indeed, the entire tribe of Levi, will have no allotment or inheritance with Israel; they may eat the burnt offerings of the LORD and of his inheritance.\n\t\t\t They will have no inheritance in the midst of their fellow Israelites; the LORD alone is their inheritance, just as he had told them. \n\t\t\t This shall be the priests' fair allotment from the people who offer sacrifices, whether bull or sheep, they must give to the priest the shoulder, the jowls, and the stomach.\n\t\t\t You must give them the best of your grain, new wine, and olive oil, as well as the best of your wool when you shear your flocks. \n\t\t\t For the LORD your God has chosen them and their sons from all your tribes to stand and serve in his name permanently. \n\t\t\t Suppose a Levite comes by his own free will from one of your villages, from any part of Israel where he is living, to the place the LORD chooses \n\t\t\t and serves in the name of the LORD his God like his fellow Levites who stand there before the LORD.\n\t\t\t He must eat the same share they do, despite any profits he may gain from the sale of his family's inheritance.\n\t\t\t When you enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, you must not learn the abhorrent practices of those nations.\n\t\t\t There must never be found among you anyone who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, anyone who practices divination, an omen reader, a soothsayer, a sorcerer,\n\t\t\t one who casts spells, one who conjures up spirits, a practitioner of the occult, or a necromancer.\n\t\t\t Whoever does these things is abhorrent to the LORD and because of these detestable things the LORD your God is about to drive them out from before you. \n\t\t\t You must be blameless before the LORD your God.\n\t\t\t Those nations that you are about to dispossess listen to omen readers and diviners, but the LORD your God has not given you permission to do such things.\n\t\t\t The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites; you must listen to him.\n\t\t\t This accords with what happened at Horeb in the day of the assembly. You asked the LORD your God: \"Please do not make us hear the voice of the LORD our God any more or see this great fire any more lest we die.\" \n\t\t\t The LORD then said to me, \"What they have said is good.\n\t\t\t I will raise up a prophet like you for them from among their fellow Israelites. I will put my words in his mouth and he will speak to them whatever I command.\n\t\t\t I will personally hold responsible anyone who then pays no attention to the words that prophet speaks in my name.\n\t\t\t \"But if any prophet presumes to speak anything in my name that I have not authorized him to speak, or speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet must die. \n\t\t\t Now if you say to yourselves, 'How can we tell that a message is not from the LORD?',\n\t\t\t whenever a prophet speaks in my name and the prediction is not fulfilled, then I have not spoken it; the prophet has presumed to speak it, so you need not fear him.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t When the LORD your God destroys the nations whose land he is about to give you and you dispossess them and settle in their cities and houses, \n\t\t\t you must set apart for yourselves three cities in the middle of your land that the LORD your God is giving you as a possession. \n\t\t\t You shall build a roadway and divide into thirds the whole extent of your land that the LORD your God is providing as your inheritance; anyone who kills another person should flee to the closest of these cities. \n\t\t\t Now this is the law pertaining to one who flees there in order to live, if he has accidentally killed another without hating him at the time of the accident.\n\t\t\t Suppose he goes with someone else to the forest to cut wood and when he raises the ax to cut the tree, the ax head flies loose from the handle and strikes his fellow worker so hard that he dies. The person responsible may then flee to one of these cities to save himself.\n\t\t\t Otherwise the blood avenger will chase after the killer in the heat of his anger, eventually overtake him, and kill him, though this is not a capital case since he did not hate him at the time of the accident. \n\t\t\t Therefore, I am commanding you to set apart for yourselves three cities.\n\t\t\t If the LORD your God enlarges your borders as he promised your ancestors and gives you all the land he pledged to them,\n\t\t\t and then you are careful to observe all these commandments I am giving you today (namely, to love the LORD your God and to always walk in his ways), then you must add three more cities to these three. \n\t\t\t You must not shed innocent blood in your land that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, for that would make you guilty.\n\t\t\t However, suppose a person hates someone else and stalks him, attacks him, kills him, and then flees to one of these cities. \n\t\t\t The elders of his own city must send for him and remove him from there to deliver him over to the blood avenger to die. \n\t\t\t You must not pity him, but purge out the blood of the innocent from Israel, so that it may go well with you.\n\t\t\t You must not encroach on your neighbor's property, which will have been defined in the inheritance you will obtain in the land the LORD your God is giving you.\n\t\t\t A single witness may not testify against another person for any trespass or sin that he commits. A matter may be legally established only on the testimony of two or three witnesses. \n\t\t\t If a false witness testifies against another person and accuses him of a crime,\n\t\t\t then both parties to the controversy must stand before the LORD, that is, before the priests and judges who will be in office in those days. \n\t\t\t The judges will thoroughly investigate the matter, and if the witness should prove to be false and to have given false testimony against the accused,\n\t\t\t you must do to him what he had intended to do to the accused. In this way you will purge evil from among you. \n\t\t\t The rest of the people will hear and become afraid to keep doing such evil among you.\n\t\t\t You must not show pity; the principle will be a life for a life, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a hand for a hand, and a foot for a foot.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t When you go to war against your enemies and see chariotry and troops who outnumber you, do not be afraid of them, for the LORD your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt, is with you. \n\t\t\t As you move forward for battle, the priest will approach and say to the soldiers,\n\t\t\t \"Listen, Israel! Today you are moving forward to do battle with your enemies. Do not be fainthearted. Do not fear and tremble or be terrified because of them,\n\t\t\t for the LORD your God goes with you to fight on your behalf against your enemies to give you victory.\"\n\t\t\t Moreover, the officers are to say to the troops, \"Who among you has built a new house and not dedicated it? He may go home, lest he die in battle and someone else dedicate it. \n\t\t\t Or who among you has planted a vineyard and not benefited from it? He may go home, lest he die in battle and someone else benefit from it.\n\t\t\t Or who among you has become engaged to a woman but has not married her? He may go home, lest he die in battle and someone else marry her.\" \n\t\t\t In addition, the officers are to say to the troops, \"Who among you is afraid and fainthearted? He may go home so that he will not make his fellow soldier's heart as fearful as his own.\" \n\t\t\t Then, when the officers have finished speaking, they must appoint unit commanders to lead the troops.\n\t\t\t When you approach a city to wage war against it, offer it terms of peace.\n\t\t\t If it accepts your terms and submits to you, all the people found in it will become your slaves.\n\t\t\t If it does not accept terms of peace but makes war with you, then you are to lay siege to it.\n\t\t\t The LORD your God will deliver it over to you and you must kill every single male by the sword.\n\t\t\t However, the women, little children, cattle, and anything else in the city, all its plunder, you may take for yourselves as spoil. You may take from your enemies the plunder that the LORD your God has given you.\n\t\t\t This is how you are to deal with all those cities located far from you, those that do not belong to these nearby nations.\n\t\t\t As for the cities of these peoples that the LORD your God is going to give you as an inheritance, you must not allow a single living thing to survive. \n\t\t\t Instead you must utterly annihilate them, the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, just as the LORD your God has commanded you,\n\t\t\t so that they cannot teach you all the abhorrent ways they worship their gods, causing you to sin against the LORD your God. \n\t\t\t If you besiege a city for a long time while attempting to capture it, you must not chop down its trees, for you may eat fruit from them and should not cut them down. A tree in the field is not human that you should besiege it!\n\t\t\t However, you may chop down any tree you know is not suitable for food, and you may use it to build siege works against the city that is making war with you until that city falls.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t If a homicide victim should be found lying in a field in the land the LORD your God is giving you, and no one knows who killed him, \n\t\t\t your elders and judges must go out and measure how far it is to the cities in the vicinity of the corpse.\n\t\t\t Then the elders of the city nearest to the corpse must take from the herd a heifer that has not been worked, that has never pulled with the yoke,\n\t\t\t and bring the heifer down to a wadi with flowing water, to a valley that is neither plowed nor sown. There at the wadi they are to break the heifer's neck. \n\t\t\t Then the Levitical priests will approach (for the LORD your God has chosen them to serve him and to pronounce blessings in his name, and to decide every judicial verdict)\n\t\t\t and all the elders of that city nearest the corpse must wash their hands over the heifer whose neck was broken in the valley.\n\t\t\t Then they must proclaim, \"Our hands have not spilled this blood, nor have we witnessed the crime.\n\t\t\t Do not blame your people Israel whom you redeemed, O LORD, and do not hold them accountable for the bloodshed of an innocent person.\" Then atonement will be made for the bloodshed. \n\t\t\t In this manner you will purge out the guilt of innocent blood from among you, for you must do what is right before the LORD.\n\t\t\t When you go out to do battle with your enemies and the LORD your God allows you to prevail and you take prisoners, \n\t\t\t if you should see among them an attractive woman whom you wish to take as a wife, \n\t\t\t you may bring her back to your house. She must shave her head, trim her nails,\n\t\t\t discard the clothing she was wearing when captured, and stay in your house, lamenting for her father and mother for a full month. After that you may have sexual relations with her and become her husband and she your wife. \n\t\t\t If you are not pleased with her, then you must let her go where she pleases. You cannot in any case sell her; you must not take advantage of her, since you have already humiliated her.\n\t\t\t Suppose a man has two wives, one whom he loves more than the other, and they both bear him sons, with the firstborn being the child of the less loved wife. \n\t\t\t In the day he divides his inheritance he must not appoint as firstborn the son of the favorite wife in place of the other wife's son who is actually the firstborn. \n\t\t\t Rather, he must acknowledge the son of the less loved wife as firstborn and give him the double portion of all he has, for that son is the beginning of his father's procreative power, to him should go the right of the firstborn.\n\t\t\t If a person has a stubborn, rebellious son who pays no attention to his father or mother, and they discipline him to no avail,\n\t\t\t his father and mother must seize him and bring him to the elders at the gate of his city.\n\t\t\t They must declare to the elders of his city, \"Our son is stubborn and rebellious and pays no attention to what we say, he is a glutton and drunkard.\"\n\t\t\t Then all the men of his city must stone him to death. In this way you will purge out wickedness from among you, and all Israel will hear about it and be afraid.\n\t\t\t If a person commits a sin punishable by death and is executed, and you hang the corpse on a tree, \n\t\t\t his body must not remain all night on the tree; instead you must make certain you bury him that same day, for the one who is left exposed on a tree is cursed by God. You must not defile your land which the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t When you see your neighbor's ox or sheep going astray, do not ignore it; you must return it without fail to your neighbor. \n\t\t\t If the owner does not live near you or you do not know who the owner is, then you must corral the animal at your house and let it stay with you until the owner looks for it; then you must return it to him. \n\t\t\t You shall do the same to his donkey, his clothes, or anything else your neighbor has lost and you have found; you must not refuse to get involved.\n\t\t\t When you see your neighbor's donkey or ox fallen along the road, do not ignore it; instead, you must be sure to help him get the animal on its feet again.\n\t\t\t A woman must not wear men's clothing, nor should a man dress up in women's clothing, for anyone who does this is offensive to the LORD your God.\n\t\t\t If you happen to notice a bird's nest along the road, whether in a tree or on the ground, and there are chicks or eggs with the mother bird sitting on them, you must not take the mother from the young.\n\t\t\t You must be sure to let the mother go, but you may take the young for yourself. Do this so that it may go well with you and you may have a long life.\n\t\t\t If you build a new house, you must construct a guard rail around your roof to avoid being culpable in the event someone should fall from it.\n\t\t\t You must not plant your vineyard with two kinds of seed; otherwise the entire yield, both of the seed you plant and the produce of the vineyard, will be defiled.\n\t\t\t You must not plow with an ox and a donkey harnessed together.\n\t\t\t You must not wear clothing made with wool and linen meshed together.\n\t\t\t You shall make yourselves tassels for the four corners of the clothing you wear.\n\t\t\t Suppose a man marries a woman, has sexual relations with her, and then rejects her, \n\t\t\t accusing her of impropriety and defaming her reputation by saying, \"I married this woman but when I had sexual relations with her I discovered she was not a virgin!\" \n\t\t\t Then the father and mother of the young woman must produce the evidence of virginity for the elders of the city at the gate. \n\t\t\t The young woman's father must say to the elders, \"I gave my daughter to this man and he has rejected her. \n\t\t\t Moreover, he has raised accusations of impropriety by saying, 'I discovered your daughter was not a virgin,' but this is the evidence of my daughter's virginity!\" The cloth must then be spread out before the city's elders. \n\t\t\t The elders of that city must then seize the man and punish him. \n\t\t\t They will fine him one hundred shekels of silver and give them to the young woman's father, for the man who made the accusation ruined the reputation of an Israelite virgin. She will then become his wife and he may never divorce her as long as he lives.\n\t\t\t But if the accusation is true and the young woman was not a virgin,\n\t\t\t the men of her city must bring the young woman to the door of her father's house and stone her to death, for she has done a disgraceful thing in Israel by behaving like a prostitute while living in her father's house. In this way you will purge evil from among you.\n\t\t\t If a man is caught having sexual relations with a married woman both the man who had relations with the woman and the woman herself must die; in this way you will purge evil from Israel.\n\t\t\t If a virgin is engaged to a man and another man meets her in the city and has sexual relations with her, \n\t\t\t you must bring the two of them to the gate of that city and stone them to death, the young woman because she did not cry out though in the city and the man because he violated his neighbor's fianc,e; in this way you will purge evil from among you. \n\t\t\t But if the man came across the engaged woman in the field and overpowered her and raped her, then only the rapist must die. \n\t\t\t You must not do anything to the young woman, she has done nothing deserving of death. This case is the same as when someone attacks another person and murders him,\n\t\t\t for the man met her in the field and the engaged woman cried out, but there was no one to rescue her.\n\t\t\t Suppose a man comes across a virgin who is not engaged and overpowers and rapes her and they are discovered. \n\t\t\t The man who has raped her must pay her father fifty shekels of silver and she must become his wife because he has violated her; he may never divorce her as long as he lives.\n\t\t\t A man may not marry his father's former wife and in this way dishonor his father.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t A man with crushed or severed genitals may not enter the assembly of the LORD.\n\t\t\t A person of illegitimate birth may not enter the assembly of the LORD; to the tenth generation no one related to him may do so.\n\t\t\t An Ammonite or Moabite may not enter the assembly of the LORD; to the tenth generation none of their descendants shall ever do so,\n\t\t\t for they did not meet you with food and water on the way as you came from Egypt, and furthermore, they hired Balaam son of Beor of Pethor in Aram Naharaim to curse you. \n\t\t\t But the LORD your God refused to listen to Balaam and changed the curse to a blessing, for the LORD your God loves you. \n\t\t\t You must not seek peace and prosperity for them through all the ages to come.\n\t\t\t You must not hate an Edomite, for he is your relative; you must not hate an Egyptian, for you lived as a foreigner in his land. \n\t\t\t Children of the third generation born to them may enter the assembly of the LORD.\n\t\t\t When you go out as an army against your enemies, guard yourselves against anything impure.\n\t\t\t If there is someone among you who is impure because of some nocturnal emission, he must leave the camp; he may not reenter it immediately. \n\t\t\t When evening arrives he must wash himself with water and then at sunset he may reenter the camp.\n\t\t\t You are to have a place outside the camp to serve as a latrine.\n\t\t\t You must have a spade among your other equipment and when you relieve yourself outside you must dig a hole with the spade and then turn and cover your excrement.\n\t\t\t For the LORD your God walks about in the middle of your camp to deliver you and defeat your enemies for you. Therefore your camp should be holy, so that he does not see anything indecent among you and turn away from you.\n\t\t\t You must not return an escaped slave to his master when he has run away to you.\n\t\t\t Indeed, he may live among you in any place he chooses, in whichever of your villages he prefers; you must not oppress him.\n\t\t\t There must never be a sacred prostitute among the young women of Israel nor a sacred male prostitute among the young men of Israel. \n\t\t\t You must never bring the pay of a female prostitute or the wage of a male prostitute into the temple of the LORD your God in fulfillment of any vow, for both of these are abhorrent to the LORD your God.\n\t\t\t You must not charge interest on a loan to your fellow Israelite, whether on money, food, or anything else that has been loaned with interest. \n\t\t\t You may lend with interest to a foreigner, but not to your fellow Israelite; if you keep this command the LORD your God will bless you in all you undertake in the land you are about to enter to possess.\n\t\t\t When you make a vow to the LORD your God you must not delay in fulfilling it, for otherwise he will surely hold you accountable as a sinner.\n\t\t\t If you refrain from making a vow, it will not be sinful.\n\t\t\t Whatever you vow, you must be careful to do what you have promised, such as what you have vowed to the LORD your God as a freewill offering.\n\t\t\t When you enter the vineyard of your neighbor you may eat as many grapes as you please, but you must not take away any in a container.\n\t\t\t When you go into the ripe grain fields of your neighbor you may pluck off the kernels with your hand, but you must not use a sickle on your neighbor's ripe grain.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t If a man marries a woman and she does not please him because he has found something offensive in her, then he may draw up a divorce document, give it to her, and evict her from his house. \n\t\t\t When she has left him she may go and become someone else's wife. \n\t\t\t If the second husband rejects her and then divorces her, gives her the papers, and evicts her from his house, or if the second husband who married her dies, \n\t\t\t her first husband who divorced her is not permitted to remarry her after she has become ritually impure, for that is offensive to the LORD. You must not bring guilt on the land which the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance.\n\t\t\t When a man is newly married, he need not go into the army nor be obligated in any way; he must be free to stay at home for a full year and bring joy to the wife he has married.\n\t\t\t One must not take either lower or upper millstones as security on a loan, for that is like taking a life itself as security.\n\t\t\t If a man is found kidnapping a person from among his fellow Israelites, and regards him as mere property and sells him, that kidnapper must die. In this way you will purge evil from among you.\n\t\t\t Be careful during an outbreak of leprosy to follow precisely all that the Levitical priests instruct you; as I have commanded them, so you should do. \n\t\t\t Remember what the LORD your God did to Miriam along the way after you left Egypt.\n\t\t\t When you make any kind of loan to your neighbor, you may not go into his house to claim what he is offering as security.\n\t\t\t You must stand outside and the person to whom you are making the loan will bring out to you what he is offering as security.\n\t\t\t If the person is poor you may not use what he gives you as security for a covering.\n\t\t\t You must by all means return to him at sunset the item he gave you as security so that he may sleep in his outer garment and bless you for it; it will be considered a just deed by the LORD your God.\n\t\t\t You must not oppress a lowly and poor servant, whether one from among your fellow Israelites or from the resident foreigners who are living in your land and villages.\n\t\t\t You must pay his wage that very day before the sun sets, for he is poor and his life depends on it. Otherwise he will cry out to the LORD against you, and you will be guilty of sin.\n\t\t\t Fathers must not be put to death for what their children do, nor children for what their fathers do; each must be put to death for his own sin.\n\t\t\t You must not pervert justice due a resident foreigner or an orphan, or take a widow's garment as security for a loan.\n\t\t\t Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the LORD your God redeemed you from there; therefore I am commanding you to do all this.\n\t\t\t Whenever you reap your harvest in your field and leave some unraked grain there, you must not return to get it; it should go to the resident foreigner, orphan, and widow so that the LORD your God may bless all the work you do.\n\t\t\t When you beat your olive tree you must not repeat the procedure; the remaining olives belong to the resident foreigner, orphan, and widow. \n\t\t\t When you gather the grapes of your vineyard you must not do so a second time; they should go to the resident foreigner, orphan, and widow. \n\t\t\t Remember that you were slaves in the land of Egypt; therefore, I am commanding you to do all this.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t If controversy arises between people, they should go to court for judgment. When the judges hear the case, they shall exonerate the innocent but condemn the guilty. \n\t\t\t Then, if the guilty person is sentenced to a beating, the judge shall force him to lie down and be beaten in his presence with the number of blows his wicked behavior deserves.\n\t\t\t The judge may sentence him to forty blows, but no more. If he is struck with more than these, you might view your fellow Israelite with contempt.\n\t\t\t You must not muzzle your ox when it is treading grain.\n\t\t\t If brothers live together and one of them dies without having a son, the dead man's wife must not remarry someone outside the family. Instead, her late husband's brother must go to her, marry her, and perform the duty of a brother-in-law.\n\t\t\t Then the first son she bears will continue the name of the dead brother, thus preventing his name from being blotted out of Israel. \n\t\t\t But if the man does not want to marry his brother's widow, then she must go to the elders at the town gate and say, \"My husband's brother refuses to preserve his brother's name in Israel; he is unwilling to perform the duty of a brother-in-law to me!\" \n\t\t\t Then the elders of his city must summon him and speak to him. If he persists, saying, \"I don't want to marry her,\"\n\t\t\t then his sister-in-law must approach him in view of the elders, remove his sandal from his foot, and spit in his face. She will then respond, \"Thus may it be done to any man who does not maintain his brother's family line!\"\n\t\t\t His family name will be referred to in Israel as \"the family of the one whose sandal was removed.\"\n\t\t\t If two men get into a hand-to-hand fight, and the wife of one of them gets involved to help her husband against his attacker, and she reaches out her hand and grabs his genitals,\n\t\t\t then you must cut off her hand, do not pity her.\n\t\t\t You must not have in your bag different stone weights, a heavy and a light one.\n\t\t\t You must not have in your house different measuring containers, a large and a small one. \n\t\t\t You must have an accurate and correct stone weight and an accurate and correct measuring container, so that your life may be extended in the land the LORD your God is about to give you. \n\t\t\t For anyone who acts dishonestly in these ways is abhorrent to the LORD your God.\n\t\t\t Remember what the Amalekites did to you on your way from Egypt, \n\t\t\t how they met you along the way and cut off all your stragglers in the rear of the march when you were exhausted and tired; they were unafraid of God.\n\t\t\t So when the LORD your God gives you relief from all the enemies who surround you in the land he is giving you as an inheritance, you must wipe out the memory of the Amalekites from under heaven, do not forget!\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t When you enter the land that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, and you occupy it and live in it, \n\t\t\t you must take the first of all the ground's produce you harvest from the land the LORD your God is giving you, place it in a basket, and go to the place where he chooses to locate his name.\n\t\t\t You must go to the priest in office at that time and say to him, \"I declare today to the LORD your God that I have come into the land that the LORD promised to our ancestors to give us.\"\n\t\t\t The priest will then take the basket from you and set it before the altar of the LORD your God. \n\t\t\t Then you must affirm before the LORD YOUR GOD, \"A wandering Aramean was my ancestor, and he went down to Egypt and lived there as a foreigner with a household few in number, but there he became a great, powerful, and numerous people. \n\t\t\t But the Egyptians mistreated and oppressed us, forcing us to do burdensome labor.\n\t\t\t So we cried out to the LORD, the God of our ancestors, and he heard us and saw our humiliation, toil, and oppression. \n\t\t\t Therefore the LORD brought us out of Egypt with tremendous strength and power, as well as with great awe-inspiring signs and wonders. \n\t\t\t Then he brought us to this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey.\n\t\t\t So now, look! I have brought the first of the ground's produce that you, LORD, have given me.\" Then you must set it down before the LORD your God and worship before him.\n\t\t\t You will celebrate all the good things that the LORD your God has given you and your family, along with the Levites and the resident foreigners among you.\n\t\t\t When you finish tithing all your income in the third year (the year of tithing), you must give it to the Levites, the resident foreigners, the orphans, and the widows so that they may eat to their satisfaction in your villages.\n\t\t\t Then you shall say before the LORD your God, \"I have removed the sacred offering from my house and given it to the Levites, the resident foreigners, the orphans, and the widows just as you have commanded me. I have not violated or forgotten your commandments. \n\t\t\t I have not eaten anything when I was in mourning, or removed any of it while ceremonially unclean, or offered any of it to the dead; I have obeyed you and have done everything you have commanded me. \n\t\t\t Look down from your holy dwelling place in heaven and bless your people Israel and the land you have given us, just as you promised our ancestors, a land flowing with milk and honey.\"\n\t\t\t Today the LORD your God is commanding you to keep these statutes and ordinances, something you must do with all your heart and soul.\n\t\t\t Today you have declared the LORD to be your God, and that you will walk in his ways, keep his statutes, commandments, and ordinances, and obey him.\n\t\t\t And today the LORD has declared you to be his special people (as he already promised you) so you may keep all his commandments.\n\t\t\t Then he will elevate you above all the nations he has made and you will receive praise, fame, and honor. You will be a people holy to the LORD your God, as he has said.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people: \"Pay attention to all the commandments I am giving you today. \n\t\t\t When you cross the Jordan River to the land the LORD your God is giving you, you must erect great stones and cover them with plaster. \n\t\t\t Then you must inscribe on them all the words of this law when you cross over, so that you may enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey just as the LORD, the God of your ancestors, said to you. \n\t\t\t So when you cross the Jordan you must erect on Mount Ebal these stones about which I am commanding you today, and you must cover them with plaster. \n\t\t\t Then you must build an altar there to the LORD your God, an altar of stones, do not use an iron tool on them.\n\t\t\t You must build the altar of the LORD your God with whole stones and offer burnt offerings on it to the LORD your God.\n\t\t\t Also you must offer fellowship offerings and eat them there, rejoicing before the LORD your God.\n\t\t\t You must inscribe on the stones all the words of this law, making them clear.\"\n\t\t\t Then Moses and the Levitical priests spoke to all Israel: \"Be quiet and pay attention, Israel. Today you have become the people of the LORD your God.\n\t\t\t You must obey him and keep his commandments and statutes that I am giving you today.\" \n\t\t\t Moreover, Moses commanded the people that day:\n\t\t\t \"The following tribes must stand to bless the people on Mount Gerizim when you cross the Jordan: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin. \n\t\t\t And these other tribes must stand for the curse on Mount Ebal: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.\n\t\t\t \"The Levites will call out to every Israelite with a loud voice: \n\t\t\t 'Cursed is the one who makes a carved or metal image, something abhorrent to the LORD, the work of the craftsman, and sets it up in a secret place.' Then all the people will say, 'Amen!'\n\t\t\t 'Cursed is the one who disrespects his father and mother.' Then all the people will say, 'Amen!' \n\t\t\t 'Cursed is the one who moves his neighbor's boundary marker.' Then all the people will say, 'Amen!'\n\t\t\t 'Cursed is the one who misleads a blind person on the road.' Then all the people will say, 'Amen!'\n\t\t\t 'Cursed is the one who perverts justice for the resident foreigner, the orphan, and the widow.' Then all the people will say, 'Amen!'\n\t\t\t 'Cursed is the one who has sexual relations with his father's former wife, for he dishonors his father.' Then all the people will say, 'Amen!' \n\t\t\t 'Cursed is the one who commits bestiality.' Then all the people will say, 'Amen!' \n\t\t\t 'Cursed is the one who has sexual relations with his sister, the daughter of either his father or mother.' Then all the people will say, 'Amen!'\n\t\t\t 'Cursed is the one who has sexual relations with his mother-in-law.' Then all the people will say, 'Amen!'\n\t\t\t 'Cursed is the one who kills his neighbor in private.' Then all the people will say, 'Amen!' \n\t\t\t 'Cursed is the one who takes a bribe to kill an innocent person.' Then all the people will say, 'Amen!'\n\t\t\t 'Cursed is the one who refuses to keep the words of this law.' Then all the people will say, 'Amen!'\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t \"If you indeed obey the LORD your God and are careful to observe all his commandments I am giving you today, the LORD your God will elevate you above all the nations of the earth. \n\t\t\t All these blessings will come to you in abundance if you obey the LORD your God: \n\t\t\t You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the field.\n\t\t\t Your children will be blessed, as well as the produce of your soil, the offspring of your livestock, the calves of your herds, and the lambs of your flocks. \n\t\t\t Your basket and your mixing bowl will be blessed.\n\t\t\t You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out.\n\t\t\t The LORD will cause your enemies who attack you to be struck down before you; they will attack you from one direction but flee from you in seven different directions. \n\t\t\t The LORD will decree blessing for you with respect to your barns and in everything you do, yes, he will bless you in the land he is giving you.\n\t\t\t The LORD will designate you as his holy people just as he promised you, if you keep his commandments and obey him.\n\t\t\t Then all the peoples of the earth will see that you belong to the LORD, and they will respect you. \n\t\t\t The LORD will greatly multiply your children, the offspring of your livestock, and the produce of your soil in the land which he promised your ancestors he would give you. \n\t\t\t The LORD will open for you his good treasure house, the heavens, to give you rain for the land in its season and to bless all you do; you will lend to many nations but you will not borrow from any. \n\t\t\t The LORD will make you the head and not the tail, and you will always end up at the top and not at the bottom, if you obey his commandments which I am urging you today to be careful to do. \n\t\t\t But you must not turn away from all the commandments I am giving you today, to either the right or left, nor pursue other gods and worship them.\n\t\t\t \"But if you ignore the LORD your God and are not careful to keep all his commandments and statutes I am giving you today, then all these curses will come upon you in full force:\n\t\t\t You will be cursed in the city and cursed in the field.\n\t\t\t Your basket and your mixing bowl will be cursed.\n\t\t\t Your children will be cursed, as well as the produce of your soil, the calves of your herds, and the lambs of your flocks. \n\t\t\t You will be cursed when you come in and cursed when you go out.\n\t\t\t \"The LORD will send on you a curse, confusing you and opposing you in everything you undertake until you are destroyed and quickly perish because of the evil of your deeds, in that you have forsaken me.\n\t\t\t The LORD will plague you with deadly diseases until he has completely removed you from the land you are about to possess. \n\t\t\t He will afflict you with weakness, fever, inflammation, infection, sword, blight, and mildew; these will attack you until you perish. \n\t\t\t The sky above your heads will be bronze and the earth beneath you iron. \n\t\t\t The LORD will make the rain of your land powder and dust; it will come down on you from the sky until you are destroyed.\n\t\t\t \"The LORD will allow you to be struck down before your enemies; you will attack them from one direction but flee from them in seven directions and will become an object of terror to all the kingdoms of the earth. \n\t\t\t Your carcasses will be food for every bird of the sky and wild animal of the earth, and there will be no one to chase them off.\n\t\t\t The LORD will afflict you with the boils of Egypt and with tumors, eczema, and scabies, all of which cannot be healed.\n\t\t\t The LORD will also subject you to madness, blindness, and confusion of mind.\n\t\t\t You will feel your way along at noon like the blind person does in darkness and you will not succeed in anything you do; you will be constantly oppressed and continually robbed, with no one to save you. \n\t\t\t You will be engaged to a woman and another man will rape her. You will build a house but not live in it. You will plant a vineyard but not even begin to use it. \n\t\t\t Your ox will be slaughtered before your very eyes but you will not eat of it. Your donkey will be stolen from you as you watch and will not be returned to you. Your flock of sheep will be given to your enemies and there will be no one to save you.\n\t\t\t Your sons and daughters will be given to another people while you look on in vain all day, and you will be powerless to do anything about it.\n\t\t\t As for the produce of your land and all your labor, a people you do not know will consume it, and you will be nothing but oppressed and crushed for the rest of your lives.\n\t\t\t You will go insane from seeing all this.\n\t\t\t The LORD will afflict you in your knees and on your legs with painful, incurable boils, from the soles of your feet to the top of your head.\n\t\t\t The LORD will force you and your king whom you will appoint over you to go away to a people whom you and your ancestors have not known, and you will serve other gods of wood and stone there. \n\t\t\t You will become an occasion of horror, a proverb, and an object of ridicule to all the peoples to whom the LORD will drive you.\n\t\t\t \"You will take much seed to the field but gather little harvest, because locusts will consume it.\n\t\t\t You will plant vineyards and cultivate them, but you will not drink wine or gather in grapes, because worms will eat them.\n\t\t\t You will have olive trees throughout your territory but you will not anoint yourself with olive oil, because the olives will drop off the trees while still unripe.\n\t\t\t You will bear sons and daughters but not keep them, because they will be taken into captivity.\n\t\t\t Whirring locusts will take over every tree and all the produce of your soil. \n\t\t\t The foreigners who reside among you will become higher and higher over you and you will become lower and lower. \n\t\t\t They will lend to you but you will not lend to them; they will become the head and you will become the tail!\n\t\t\t All these curses will fall on you, pursuing and overtaking you until you are destroyed, because you would not obey the LORD your God by keeping his commandments and statutes that he has given you. \n\t\t\t These curses will be a perpetual sign and wonder with reference to you and your descendants.\n\t\t\t \"Because you have not served the LORD your God joyfully and wholeheartedly with the abundance of everything you have,\n\t\t\t instead in hunger, thirst, nakedness, and poverty you will serve your enemies whom the LORD will send against you. They will place an iron yoke on your neck until they have destroyed you. \n\t\t\t The LORD will raise up a distant nation against you, one from the other side of the earth as the eagle flies, a nation whose language you will not understand, \n\t\t\t a nation of stern appearance that will have no regard for the elderly or pity for the young.\n\t\t\t They will devour the offspring of your livestock and the produce of your soil until you are destroyed. They will not leave you with any grain, new wine, olive oil, calves of your herds, or lambs of your flocks until they have destroyed you. \n\t\t\t They will besiege all of your villages until all of your high and fortified walls collapse, those in which you put your confidence throughout the land. They will besiege all your villages throughout the land the LORD your God has given you.\n\t\t\t You will then eat your own offspring, the flesh of the sons and daughters the LORD your God has given you, because of the severity of the siege by which your enemies will constrict you. \n\t\t\t The man among you who is by nature tender and sensitive will turn against his brother, his beloved wife, and his remaining children.\n\t\t\t He will withhold from all of them his children's flesh that he is eating (since there is nothing else left), because of the severity of the siege by which your enemy will constrict you in your villages. \n\t\t\t Likewise, the most tender and delicate of your women, who would never think of putting even the sole of her foot on the ground because of her daintiness, will turn against her beloved husband, her sons and daughters, \n\t\t\t and will secretly eat her afterbirth and her newborn children (since she has nothing else), because of the severity of the siege by which your enemy will constrict you in your villages.\n\t\t\t \"If you refuse to obey all the words of this law, the things written in this scroll, and refuse to fear this glorious and awesome name, the LORD your God, \n\t\t\t then the LORD will increase your punishments and those of your descendants, great and long-lasting afflictions and severe, enduring illnesses.\n\t\t\t He will infect you with all the diseases of Egypt that you dreaded, and they will persistently afflict you.\n\t\t\t Moreover, the LORD will bring upon you every kind of sickness and plague not mentioned in this scroll of commandments, until you have perished. \n\t\t\t There will be very few of you left, though at one time you were as numerous as the stars in the sky, because you will have disobeyed the LORD your God.\n\t\t\t This is what will happen: Just as the LORD delighted to do good for you and make you numerous, he will take delight in destroying and decimating you. You will be uprooted from the land you are about to possess. \n\t\t\t The LORD will scatter you among all nations, from one end of the earth to the other. There you will worship other gods that neither you nor your ancestors have known, gods of wood and stone.\n\t\t\t Among those nations you will have no rest nor will there be a place of peaceful rest for the soles of your feet, for there the LORD will give you an anxious heart, failing eyesight, and a spirit of despair.\n\t\t\t Your life will hang in doubt before you; you will be terrified by night and day and will have no certainty of surviving from one day to the next.\n\t\t\t In the morning you will say, 'If only it were evening!' And in the evening you will say, 'I wish it were morning!' because of the things you will fear and the things you will see.\n\t\t\t Then the LORD will make you return to Egypt by ship, over a route I said to you that you would never see again. There you will sell yourselves to your enemies as male and female slaves, but no one will buy you.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t These are the words of the covenant that the LORD commanded Moses to make with the people of Israel in the land of Moab, in addition to the covenant he had made with them at Horeb.\n\t\t\t Moses proclaimed to all Israel as follows: \"You have seen all that the LORD did in the land of Egypt to Pharaoh, all his servants, and his land. \n\t\t\t Your eyes have seen the great judgments, those signs and mighty wonders. \n\t\t\t But to this very day the LORD has not given you an understanding mind, perceptive eyes, or discerning ears!\n\t\t\t I have led you through the desert for forty years. Your clothing has not worn out nor have your sandals deteriorated. \n\t\t\t You have eaten no bread and drunk no wine or beer, all so that you might know that I am the LORD your God!\n\t\t\t When you came to this place King Sihon of Heshbon and King Og of Bashan came out to make war and we defeated them.\n\t\t\t Then we took their land and gave it as an inheritance to Reuben, Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh.\n\t\t\t \"Therefore, keep the terms of this covenant and obey them so that you may be successful in everything you do. \n\t\t\t You are standing today, all of you, before the LORD your God, the heads of your tribes, your elders, your officials, every Israelite man,\n\t\t\t your infants, your wives, and the foreigners living in your encampment, those who chop wood and those who carry water,\n\t\t\t so that you may enter by oath into the covenant the LORD your God is making with you today.\n\t\t\t Today he will affirm that you are his people and that he is your God, just as he promised you and as he swore by oath to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. \n\t\t\t It is not with you alone that I am making this covenant by oath,\n\t\t\t but with whoever stands with us here today before the LORD our God as well as those not with us here today.\n\t\t\t \"(For you know how we lived in the land of Egypt and how we crossed through the nations as we traveled.\n\t\t\t You have seen their detestable things and idols of wood, stone, silver, and gold.)\n\t\t\t Beware that the heart of no man, woman, clan, or tribe among you turns away from the LORD our God today to pursue and serve the gods of those nations; beware that there is among you no root producing poisonous and bitter fruit.\n\t\t\t When such a person hears the words of this oath he secretly blesses himself and says, \"I will have peace though I continue to walk with a stubborn spirit.\" This will destroy the watered ground with the parched.\n\t\t\t The LORD will be unwilling to forgive him, and his intense anger will rage against that man; all the curses written in this scroll will fall upon him and the LORD will obliterate his name from memory.\n\t\t\t The LORD will single him out for judgment from all the tribes of Israel according to all the curses of the covenant written in this scroll of the law. \n\t\t\t The generation to come, your descendants who will rise up after you, as well as the foreigner who will come from distant places, will see the afflictions of that land and the illnesses that the LORD has brought on it.\n\t\t\t The whole land will be covered with brimstone, salt, and burning debris; it will not be planted nor will it sprout or produce grass. It will resemble the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim, which the LORD destroyed in his intense anger.\n\t\t\t Then all the nations will ask, \"Why has the LORD done all this to this land? What is this fierce, heated display of anger all about?\" \n\t\t\t Then people will say, \"Because they abandoned the covenant of the LORD, the God of their ancestors, which he made with them when he brought them out of the land of Egypt.\n\t\t\t They went and served other gods and worshiped them, gods they did not know and that he did not permit them to worship.\n\t\t\t That is why the LORD's anger erupted against this land, bringing on it all the curses written in this scroll. \n\t\t\t So the LORD has uprooted them from their land in anger, wrath, and great rage and has deported them to another land, as is clear today.\"\n\t\t\t Secret things belong to the LORD our God, but those that are revealed belong to us and our descendants forever, so that we might obey all the words of this law.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t \"When you have experienced all these things, both the blessings and the curses I have set before you, you will reflect upon them in all the nations where the LORD your God has banished you. \n\t\t\t Then if you and your descendants turn to the LORD your God and obey him with your whole mind and being just as I am commanding you today, \n\t\t\t the LORD your God will reverse your captivity and have pity on you. He will turn and gather you from all the peoples among whom he has scattered you. \n\t\t\t Even if your exiles are in the most distant land, from there the LORD your God will gather you and bring you back. \n\t\t\t Then he will bring you to the land your ancestors possessed and you also will possess it; he will do better for you and multiply you more than he did your ancestors. \n\t\t\t The LORD your God will also cleanse your heart and the hearts of your descendants so that you may love him with all your mind and being and so that you may live. \n\t\t\t Then the LORD your God will put all these curses on your enemies, on those who hate you and persecute you.\n\t\t\t You will return and obey the LORD, keeping all his commandments I am giving you today. \n\t\t\t The LORD your God will make the labor of your hands abundantly successful and multiply your children, the offspring of your cattle, and the produce of your soil. For the LORD your God will once more rejoice over you to make you prosperous just as he rejoiced over your ancestors, \n\t\t\t if you obey the LORD your God and keep his commandments and statutes that are written in this scroll of the law. But you must turn to him with your whole mind and being.\n\t\t\t \"This commandment I am giving you today is not too difficult for you, nor is it too remote. \n\t\t\t It is not in heaven, as though one must say, \"Who will go up to heaven to get it for us and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?\"\n\t\t\t And it is not across the sea, as though one must say, \"Who will cross over to the other side of the sea and get it for us and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?\"\n\t\t\t For the thing is very near you, it is in your mouth and in your mind so that you can do it.\n\t\t\t \"Look! I have set before you today life and prosperity on the one hand, and death and disaster on the other.\n\t\t\t What I am commanding you today is to love the LORD your God, to walk in his ways, and to obey his commandments, his statutes, and his ordinances. Then you will live and become numerous and the LORD your God will bless you in the land which you are about to possess.\n\t\t\t However, if you turn aside and do not obey, but are lured away to worship and serve other gods, \n\t\t\t I declare to you this very day that you will certainly perish! You will not extend your time in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess.\n\t\t\t Today I invoke heaven and earth as a witness against you that I have set life and death, blessing and curse, before you. Therefore choose life so that you and your descendants may live!\n\t\t\t I also call on you to love the LORD your God, to obey him and be loyal to him, for he gives you life and enables you to live continually in the land the LORD promised to give to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then Moses went and spoke these words to all Israel. \n\t\t\t He said to them, \"Today I am a hundred and twenty years old. I am no longer able to get about, and the LORD has said to me, 'You will not cross the Jordan.' \n\t\t\t As for the LORD your God, he is about to cross over before you; he will destroy these nations before you and dispossess them. As for Joshua, he is about to cross before you just as the LORD has said.\n\t\t\t The LORD will do to them just what he did to Sihon and Og, the Amorite kings, and to their land, which he destroyed.\n\t\t\t The LORD will deliver them over to you and you will do to them according to the whole commandment I have given you.\n\t\t\t Be strong and courageous! Do not fear or tremble before them, for the LORD your God is the one who is going with you. He will not fail you or abandon you!\"\n\t\t\t Then Moses called out to Joshua in the presence of all Israel, \"Be strong and courageous, for you will accompany these people to the land that the LORD promised to give their ancestors, and you will enable them to inherit it. \n\t\t\t The LORD is indeed going before you, he will be with you; he will not fail you or abandon you. Do not be afraid or discouraged!\"\n\t\t\t Then Moses wrote down this law and gave it to the Levitical priests, who carry the ark of the LORD's covenant, and to all Israel's elders.\n\t\t\t He commanded them: \"At the end of seven years, at the appointed time of the cancellation of debts, at the Feast of Temporary Shelters,\n\t\t\t when all Israel comes to appear before the LORD your God in the place he chooses, you must read this law before them within their hearing. \n\t\t\t Gather the people, men, women, and children, as well as the resident foreigners in your villages, so they may hear and thus learn about and fear the LORD your God and carefully obey all the words of this law.\n\t\t\t Then their children, who have not known this law, will also hear about and learn to fear the LORD your God for as long as you live in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess.\"\n\t\t\t Then the LORD said to Moses, \"The day of your death is near. Summon Joshua and present yourselves in the tent of meeting so that I can commission him.\" So Moses and Joshua presented themselves in the tent of meeting. \n\t\t\t The LORD appeared in the tent in a pillar of cloud that stood above the door of the tent. \n\t\t\t Then the LORD said to Moses, \"You are about to die, and then these people will begin to prostitute themselves with the foreign gods of the land into which they are going. They will reject me and break my covenant that I have made with them.\n\t\t\t At that time my anger will erupt against them and I will abandon them and hide my face from them until they are devoured. Many disasters and distresses will overcome them so that they will say at that time, 'Have not these disasters overcome us because our God is not among us?'\n\t\t\t But I will certainly hide myself at that time because of all the wickedness they will have done by turning to other gods. \n\t\t\t Now write down for yourselves the following song and teach it to the Israelites. Put it into their very mouths so that this song may serve as my witness against the Israelites!\n\t\t\t For after I have brought them to the land I promised to their ancestors, one flowing with milk and honey, and they eat their fill and become fat, then they will turn to other gods and worship them; they will reject me and break my covenant.\n\t\t\t Then when many disasters and distresses overcome them this song will testify against them, for their descendants will not forget it. I know the intentions they have in mind today, even before I bring them to the land I have promised.\" \n\t\t\t So on that day Moses wrote down this song and taught it to the Israelites,\n\t\t\t and the LORD commissioned Joshua son of Nun, \"Be strong and courageous, for you will take the Israelites to the land I have promised them, and I will be with you.\"\n\t\t\t When Moses finished writing on a scroll the words of this law in their entirety,\n\t\t\t he commanded the Levites who carried the ark of the LORD's covenant, \n\t\t\t \"Take this scroll of the law and place it beside the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God. It will remain there as a witness against you,\n\t\t\t for I know about your rebellion and stubbornness. Indeed, even while I have been living among you to this very day, you have rebelled against the LORD; you will be even more rebellious after my death!\n\t\t\t Gather to me all your tribal elders and officials so I can speak to them directly about these things and call the heavens and the earth to witness against them.\n\t\t\t For I know that after I die you will totally corrupt yourselves and turn away from the path I have commanded you to walk. Disaster will confront you in the days to come because you will act wickedly before the LORD, inciting him to anger because of your actions.\"\n\t\t\t Then Moses recited the words of this song from start to finish in the hearing of the whole assembly of Israel.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Listen, O heavens, and I will speak; hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.\n\t\t\t My teaching will drop like the rain, my sayings will drip like the dew, as rain drops upon the grass, and showers upon new growth.\n\t\t\t For I will proclaim the name of the LORD; you must acknowledge the greatness of our God.\n\t\t\t As for the Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are just. He is a reliable God who is never unjust, he is fair and upright.\n\t\t\t His people have been unfaithful to him; they have not acted like his children, this is their sin. They are a perverse and deceitful generation.\n\t\t\t Is this how you repay the LORD, you foolish, unwise people? Is he not your father, your creator? He has made you and established you.\n\t\t\t Remember the ancient days; bear in mind the years of past generations. Ask your father and he will inform you, your elders, and they will tell you.\n\t\t\t When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance, when he divided up humankind, he set the boundaries of the peoples, according to the number of the heavenly assembly.\n\t\t\t For the LORD's allotment is his people, Jacob is his special possession.\n\t\t\t The LORD found him in a desolate land, in an empty wasteland where animals howl. He continually guarded him and taught him; he continually protected him like the pupil of his eye.\n\t\t\t Like an eagle that stirs up its nest, that hovers over its young, so the LORD spread out his wings and took him, he lifted him up on his pinions.\n\t\t\t The LORD alone was guiding him, no foreign god was with him.\n\t\t\t He enabled him to travel over the high terrain of the land, and he ate of the produce of the fields. He provided honey for him from the cliffs, and olive oil from the hardest of rocks,\n\t\t\t butter from the herd and milk from the flock, along with the fat of lambs, rams and goats of Bashan, along with the best of the kernels of wheat; and from the juice of grapes you drank wine.\n\t\t\t But Jeshurun became fat and kicked, you got fat, thick, and stuffed! Then he deserted the God who made him, and treated the Rock who saved him with contempt.\n\t\t\t They made him jealous with other gods, they enraged him with abhorrent idols.\n\t\t\t They sacrificed to demons, not God, to gods they had not known; to new gods who had recently come along, gods your ancestors had not known about.\n\t\t\t You have forgotten the Rock who fathered you, and put out of mind the God who gave you birth.\n\t\t\t But the LORD took note and despised them because his sons and daughters enraged him.\n\t\t\t He said, \"I will reject them, I will see what will happen to them; for they are a perverse generation, children who show no loyalty.\n\t\t\t They have made me jealous with false gods, enraging me with their worthless gods; so I will make them jealous with a people they do not recognize, with a nation slow to learn I will enrage them.\n\t\t\t For a fire has been kindled by my anger, and it burns to lowest Sheol; it consumes the earth and its produce, and ignites the foundations of the mountains.\n\t\t\t I will increase their disasters, I will use up my arrows on them.\n\t\t\t They will be starved by famine, eaten by plague, and bitterly stung; I will send the teeth of wild animals against them, along with the poison of creatures that crawl in the dust.\n\t\t\t The sword will make people childless outside, and terror will do so inside; they will destroy both the young man and the virgin, the infant and the gray-haired man.\n\t\t\t \"I said, 'I want to cut them in pieces. I want to make people forget they ever existed.\n\t\t\t But I fear the reaction of their enemies, for their adversaries would misunderstand and say, \"Our power is great, and the LORD has not done all this!\"'\n\t\t\t They are a nation devoid of wisdom, and there is no understanding among them.\n\t\t\t I wish that they were wise and could understand this, and that they could comprehend what will happen to them.\"\n\t\t\t How can one man chase a thousand of them, and two pursue ten thousand; unless their Rock had delivered them up, and the LORD had handed them over?\n\t\t\t For our enemies' rock is not like our Rock, as even our enemies concede.\n\t\t\t For their vine is from the stock of Sodom, and from the fields of Gomorrah. Their grapes contain venom, their clusters of grapes are bitter.\n\t\t\t Their wine is snakes' poison, the deadly venom of cobras.\n\t\t\t \"Is this not stored up with me?\" says the LORD, \"Is it not sealed up in my storehouses?\n\t\t\t I will get revenge and pay them back at the time their foot slips; for the day of their disaster is near, and the impending judgment is rushing upon them!\"\n\t\t\t The LORD will judge his people, and will change his plans concerning his servants; when he sees that their power has disappeared, and that no one is left, whether confined or set free.\n\t\t\t He will say, \"Where are their gods, the rock in whom they sought security,\n\t\t\t who ate the best of their sacrifices, and drank the wine of their drink offerings? Let them rise and help you; let them be your refuge!\n\t\t\t \"See now that I, indeed I, am he!\" says the LORD, \"and there is no other god besides me. I kill and give life, I smash and I heal, and none can resist my power.\n\t\t\t For I raise up my hand to heaven, and say, 'As surely as I live forever,\n\t\t\t I will sharpen my lightning-like sword, and my hand will grasp hold of the weapon of judgment; I will execute vengeance on my foes, and repay those who hate me!\n\t\t\t I will make my arrows drunk with blood, and my sword will devour flesh, the blood of the slaughtered and captured, the chief of the enemy's leaders!'\"\n\t\t\t Cry out, O nations, with his people, for he will avenge his servants' blood; he will take vengeance against his enemies, and make atonement for his land and people.\n\t\t\t Then Moses went with Joshua son of Nun and recited all the words of this song to the people. \n\t\t\t When Moses finished reciting all these words to all Israel\n\t\t\t he said to them, \"Keep in mind all the words I am solemnly proclaiming to you today; you must command your children to observe carefully all the words of this law.\n\t\t\t For this is no idle word for you, it is your life! By this word you will live a long time in the land you are about to cross the Jordan to possess.\"\n\t\t\t Then the LORD said to Moses that same day,\n\t\t\t \"Go up to this Abarim hill country, to Mount Nebo (which is in the land of Moab opposite Jericho) and look at the land of Canaan that I am giving to the Israelites as a possession.\n\t\t\t You will die on the mountain that you ascend and join your deceased ancestors, just as Aaron your brother died on Mount Hor and joined his deceased ancestors, \n\t\t\t for both of you rebelled against me among the Israelites at the waters of Meribah Kadesh in the desert of Zin when you did not show me proper respect among the Israelites. \n\t\t\t You will see the land before you, but you will not enter the land that I am giving to the Israelites.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t This is the blessing Moses the man of God pronounced upon the Israelites before his death.\n\t\t\t He said: The LORD came from Sinai and revealed himself to Israel from Seir. He appeared in splendor from Mount Paran, and came forth with ten thousand holy ones. With his right hand he gave a fiery law to them.\n\t\t\t Surely he loves the people; all your holy ones are in your power. And they sit at your feet, each receiving your words.\n\t\t\t Moses delivered to us a law, an inheritance for the assembly of Jacob.\n\t\t\t The LORD was king over Jeshurun, when the leaders of the people assembled, the tribes of Israel together.\n\t\t\t May Reuben live and not die, and may his people multiply.\n\t\t\t And this is the blessing to Judah. He said, Listen, O LORD, to Judah's voice, and bring him to his people. May his power be great, and may you help him against his foes.\n\t\t\t Of Levi he said: Your Thummim and Urim belong to your godly one, whose authority you challenged at Massah, and with whom you argued at the waters of Meribah.\n\t\t\t He said to his father and mother, \"I have not seen him,\" and he did not acknowledge his own brothers or know his own children, for they kept your word, and guarded your covenant.\n\t\t\t They will teach Jacob your ordinances and Israel your law; they will offer incense as a pleasant odor, and a whole offering on your altar.\n\t\t\t Bless, O LORD, his goods, and be pleased with his efforts; undercut the legs of any who attack him, and of those who hate him, so that they cannot stand.\n\t\t\t Of Benjamin he said: The beloved of the LORD will live safely by him; he protects him all the time, and the LORD places him on his chest.\n\t\t\t Of Joseph he said: May the LORD bless his land with the harvest produced by the sky, by the dew, and by the depths crouching beneath;\n\t\t\t with the harvest produced by the daylight and by the moonlight;\n\t\t\t with the best of the ancient mountains and the harvest produced by the age-old hills;\n\t\t\t with the harvest of the earth and its fullness and the pleasure of him who resided in the burning bush. May blessing rest on Joseph's head, and on the top of the head of the one set apart from his brothers.\n\t\t\t May the firstborn of his bull bring him honor, and may his horns be those of a wild ox; with them may he gore all peoples, all the far reaches of the earth. They are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh.\n\t\t\t Of Zebulun he said: Rejoice, Zebulun, when you go outside, and Issachar, when you are in your tents.\n\t\t\t They will summon peoples to the mountain, there they will sacrifice proper sacrifices; for they will enjoy the abundance of the seas, and the hidden treasures of the shores.\n\t\t\t Of Gad he said: Blessed be the one who enlarges Gad. Like a lioness he will dwell; he will tear at an arm, indeed, a scalp.\n\t\t\t He has selected the best part for himself, for the portion of the ruler is set aside there; he came with the leaders of the people, he obeyed the righteous laws of the LORD and his ordinances with Israel.\n\t\t\t Of Dan he said: Dan is a lion's cub; he will leap forth from Bashan.\n\t\t\t Of Naphtali he said: O Naphtali, overflowing with favor, and full of the LORD's blessing, possess the west and south.\n\t\t\t Of Asher he said: Asher is blessed with children, may he be favored by his brothers and may he dip his foot in olive oil.\n\t\t\t The bars of your gates will be made of iron and bronze, and may you have lifelong strength.\n\t\t\t There is no one like God, O Jeshurun, who rides through the sky to help you, on the clouds in majesty.\n\t\t\t The everlasting God is a refuge, and underneath you are his eternal arms; he has driven out enemies before you, and has said, \"Destroy!\"\n\t\t\t Israel lives in safety, the fountain of Jacob is quite secure, in a land of grain and new wine; indeed, its heavens rain down dew.\n\t\t\t You have joy, Israel! Who is like you? You are a people delivered by the LORD, your protective shield and your exalted sword. May your enemies cringe before you; may you trample on their backs.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then Moses ascended from the deserts of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the summit of Pisgah, which is opposite Jericho. The LORD showed him the whole land, Gilead to Dan,\n\t\t\t and all of Naphtali, the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the distant sea, \n\t\t\t the Negev, and the plain of the valley of Jericho, the city of the date palm trees, as far as Zoar.\n\t\t\t Then the LORD said to him, \"This is the land I promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob when I said, 'I will give it to your descendants.' I have let you see it, but you will not cross over there.\"\n\t\t\t So Moses, the servant of the LORD, died there in the land of Moab as the LORD had said.\n\t\t\t He buried him in the land of Moab near Beth Peor, but no one knows his exact burial place to this very day. \n\t\t\t Moses was 120 years old when he died, but his eye was not dull nor had his vitality departed. \n\t\t\t The Israelites mourned for Moses in the deserts of Moab for thirty days; then the days of mourning for Moses ended.\n\t\t\t Now Joshua son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had placed his hands on him; and the Israelites listened to him and did just what the LORD had commanded Moses. \n\t\t\t No prophet ever again arose in Israel like Moses, who knew the LORD face to face.\n\t\t\t He did all the signs and wonders the LORD had sent him to do in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh, all his servants, and the whole land, \n\t\t\t and he displayed great power and awesome might in view of all Israel.\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t After Moses the LORD's servant died, the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses' assistant:\n\t\t\t \"Moses my servant is dead. Get ready! Cross the Jordan River! Lead these people into the land which I am ready to hand over to them.\n\t\t\t I am handing over to you every place you set foot, as I promised Moses.\n\t\t\t Your territory will extend from the wilderness in the south to Lebanon in the north. It will extend all the way to the great River Euphrates in the east (including all of Syria) and all the way to the Mediterranean Sea in the west.\n\t\t\t No one will be able to resist you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not abandon you or leave you alone. \n\t\t\t Be strong and brave! You must lead these people in the conquest of this land that I solemnly promised their ancestors I would hand over to them.\n\t\t\t Make sure you are very strong and brave! Carefully obey all the law my servant Moses charged you to keep! Do not swerve from it to the right or to the left, so that you may be successful in all you do.\n\t\t\t This law scroll must not leave your lips! You must memorize it day and night so you can carefully obey all that is written in it. Then you will prosper and be successful.\n\t\t\t I repeat, be strong and brave! Don't be afraid and don't panic, for I, the LORD your God, am with you in all you do.\"\n\t\t\t Joshua instructed the leaders of the people: \n\t\t\t \"Go through the camp and command the people, 'Prepare your supplies, for within three days you will cross the Jordan River and begin the conquest of the land the LORD your God is ready to hand over to you.'\"\n\t\t\t Joshua told the Reubenites, Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh:\n\t\t\t \"Remember what Moses the LORD's servant commanded you. The LORD your God is giving you a place to settle and is handing this land over to you.\n\t\t\t Your wives, children and cattle may stay in the land that Moses assigned to you east of the Jordan River. But all you warriors must cross over armed for battle ahead of your brothers. You must help them\n\t\t\t until the LORD gives your brothers a place like yours to settle and they conquer the land the LORD your God is ready to hand over to them. Then you may go back to your allotted land and occupy the land Moses the LORD's servant assigned you east of the Jordan.\"\n\t\t\t They told Joshua, \"We will do everything you say. We will go wherever you send us.\n\t\t\t Just as we obeyed Moses, so we will obey you. But may the LORD your God be with you as he was with Moses! \n\t\t\t Any man who rebels against what you say and does not obey all your commands will be executed. But be strong and brave!\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Joshua son of Nun sent two spies out from Shittim secretly and instructed them: \"Find out what you can about the land, especially Jericho.\" They stopped at the house of a prostitute named Rahab and spent the night there.\n\t\t\t The king of Jericho received this report: \"Note well! Israelite men have come here tonight to spy on the land.\" \n\t\t\t So the king of Jericho sent this order to Rahab: \"Turn over the men who came to you, the ones who came to your house, for they have come to spy on the whole land!\"\n\t\t\t But the woman hid the two men and replied, \"Yes, these men were clients of mine, but I didn't know where they came from. \n\t\t\t When it was time to shut the city gate for the night, the men left. I don't know where they were heading. Chase after them quickly, for you have time to catch them!\" \n\t\t\t (Now she had taken them up to the roof and had hidden them in the stalks of flax she had spread out on the roof.) \n\t\t\t Meanwhile the king's men tried to find them on the road to the Jordan River near the fords. The city gate was shut as soon as they set out in pursuit of them.\n\t\t\t Now before the spies went to sleep, Rahab went up to the roof. \n\t\t\t She said to the men, \"I know the LORD is handing this land over to you. We are absolutely terrified of you, and all who live in the land are cringing before you.\n\t\t\t For we heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you left Egypt and how you annihilated the two Amorite kings, Sihon and Og, on the other side of the Jordan.\n\t\t\t When we heard the news we lost our courage and no one could even breathe for fear of you. For the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on earth below! \n\t\t\t So now, promise me this with an oath sworn in the LORD's name. Because I have shown allegiance to you, show allegiance to my family. Give me a solemn pledge\n\t\t\t that you will spare the lives of my father, mother, brothers, sisters, and all who belong to them, and rescue us from death.\" \n\t\t\t The men said to her, \"If you die, may we die too! If you do not report what we've been up to, then, when the LORD hands the land over to us, we will show unswerving allegiance to you.\"\n\t\t\t Then Rahab let them down by a rope through the window. (Her house was built as part of the city wall; she lived in the wall.)\n\t\t\t She told them, \"Head to the hill country, so the ones chasing you don't find you. Hide from them there for three days, long enough for those chasing you to return. Then you can be on your way.\" \n\t\t\t The men said to her, \"We are not bound by this oath you made us swear unless the following conditions are met:\n\t\t\t When we invade the land, tie this red rope in the window through which you let us down, and gather together in your house your father, mother, brothers, and all who live in your father's house.\n\t\t\t Anyone who leaves your house will be responsible for his own death, we are innocent in that case! But if anyone with you in the house is harmed, we will be responsible.\n\t\t\t If you should report what we've been up to, we are not bound by this oath you made us swear.\" \n\t\t\t She said, \"I agree to these conditions.\" She sent them on their way and then tied the red rope in the window. \n\t\t\t They went to the hill country and stayed there for three days, long enough for those chasing them to return. Their pursuers looked all along the way but did not find them.\n\t\t\t Then the two men returned, they came down from the hills, crossed the river, came to Joshua son of Nun, and reported to him all they had discovered.\n\t\t\t They told Joshua, \"Surely the LORD is handing over all the land to us! All who live in the land are cringing before us!\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Bright and early the next morning Joshua and the Israelites left Shittim and came to the Jordan. They camped there before crossing the river.\n\t\t\t After three days the leaders went through the camp\n\t\t\t and commanded the people: \"When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God being carried by the Levitical priests, you must leave here and walk behind it. \n\t\t\t But stay about three thousand feet behind it. Keep your distance so you can see which way you should go, for you have not traveled this way before.\"\n\t\t\t Joshua told the people, \"Ritually consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will perform miraculous deeds among you.\"\n\t\t\t Joshua told the priests, \"Pick up the ark of the covenant and pass on ahead of the people.\" So they picked up the ark of the covenant and went ahead of the people.\n\t\t\t The LORD told Joshua, \"This very day I will begin to honor you before all Israel so they will know that I am with you just as I was with Moses. \n\t\t\t Instruct the priests carrying the ark of the covenant, 'When you reach the bank of the Jordan River, wade into the water.'\"\n\t\t\t Joshua told the Israelites, \"Come here and listen to the words of the LORD your God!\"\n\t\t\t Joshua continued, \"This is how you will know the living God is among you and that he will truly drive out before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jebusites. \n\t\t\t Look! The ark of the covenant of the Ruler of the whole earth is ready to enter the Jordan ahead of you. \n\t\t\t Now select for yourselves twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one per tribe.\n\t\t\t When the feet of the priests carrying the ark of the LORD, the Ruler of the whole earth, touch the water of the Jordan, the water coming downstream toward you will stop flowing and pile up.\"\n\t\t\t So when the people left their tents to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went ahead of them. \n\t\t\t When the ones carrying the ark reached the Jordan and the feet of the priests carrying the ark touched the surface of the water, (the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest time),\n\t\t\t the water coming downstream toward them stopped flowing. It piled up far upstream at Adam (the city near Zarethan); there was no water at all flowing to the sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea). The people crossed the river opposite Jericho.\n\t\t\t The priests carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firmly on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan. All Israel crossed over on dry ground until the entire nation was on the other side.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t When the entire nation was on the other side, the LORD told Joshua, \n\t\t\t \"Select for yourselves twelve men from the people, one per tribe.\n\t\t\t Instruct them, 'Pick up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, from the very place where the priests stand firmly, and carry them over with you and put them in the place where you camp tonight.'\"\n\t\t\t Joshua summoned the twelve men he had appointed from the Israelites, one per tribe.\n\t\t\t Joshua told them, \"Go in front of the ark of the LORD your God to the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to put a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the Israelite tribes.\n\t\t\t The stones will be a reminder to you. When your children ask someday, 'Why are these stones important to you?' \n\t\t\t tell them how the water of the Jordan stopped flowing before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it crossed the Jordan, the water of the Jordan stopped flowing. These stones will be a lasting memorial for the Israelites.\"\n\t\t\t The Israelites did just as Joshua commanded. They picked up twelve stones, according to the number of the Israelite tribes, from the middle of the Jordan as the LORD had instructed Joshua. They carried them over with them to the camp and put them there.\n\t\t\t Joshua also set up twelve stones in the middle of the Jordan in the very place where the priests carrying the ark of the covenant stood. They remain there to this very day.\n\t\t\t Now the priests carrying the ark of the covenant were standing in the middle of the Jordan until everything the Lord had commanded Joshua to tell the people was accomplished, in accordance with all that Moses had commanded Joshua. The people went across quickly,\n\t\t\t and when all the people had finished crossing, the ark of the LORD and the priests crossed as the people looked on.\n\t\t\t The Reubenites, Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh crossed over armed for battle ahead of the Israelites, just as Moses had instructed them.\n\t\t\t About forty thousand battle-ready troops marched past the LORD to fight on the plains of Jericho.\n\t\t\t That day the LORD brought honor to Joshua before all Israel. They respected him all his life, just as they had respected Moses.\n\t\t\t The LORD told Joshua,\n\t\t\t \"Instruct the priests carrying the ark of the covenantal laws to come up from the Jordan.\"\n\t\t\t So Joshua instructed the priests, \"Come up from the Jordan!\"\n\t\t\t The priests carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD came up from the middle of the Jordan, and as soon as they set foot on dry land, the water of the Jordan flowed again and returned to flood stage.\n\t\t\t The people went up from the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month and camped in Gilgal on the eastern border of Jericho.\n\t\t\t Now Joshua set up in Gilgal the twelve stones they had taken from the Jordan. \n\t\t\t He told the Israelites, \"When your children someday ask their fathers, 'What do these stones represent?'\n\t\t\t explain to your children, 'Israel crossed the Jordan River on dry ground.' \n\t\t\t For the LORD your God dried up the water of the Jordan before you while you crossed over. It was just like when the LORD your God dried up the Red Sea before us while we crossed it.\n\t\t\t He has done this so all the nations of the earth might recognize the LORD's power and so you might always obey the LORD your God.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t When all the Amorite kings on the west side of the Jordan and all the Canaanite kings along the seacoast heard how the LORD had dried up the water of the Jordan before the Israelites while they crossed, they lost their courage and could not even breathe for fear of the Israelites.\n\t\t\t At that time the LORD told Joshua, \"Make flint knives and circumcise the Israelites once again.\"\n\t\t\t So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the Israelites on the Hill of the Foreskins.\n\t\t\t This is why Joshua had to circumcise them: All the men old enough to fight when they left Egypt died on the journey through the desert after they left Egypt.\n\t\t\t Now all the men who left were circumcised, but all the sons born on the journey through the desert after they left Egypt were uncircumcised. \n\t\t\t Indeed, for forty years the Israelites traveled through the desert until all the men old enough to fight when they left Egypt, the ones who had disobeyed the LORD, died off. For the LORD had sworn a solemn oath to them that he would not let them see the land he had sworn on oath to give them, a land rich in milk and honey. \n\t\t\t He replaced them with their sons, whom Joshua circumcised. They were uncircumcised; their fathers had not circumcised them along the way. \n\t\t\t When all the men had been circumcised, they stayed there in the camp until they had healed. \n\t\t\t The LORD said to Joshua, \"Today I have taken away the disgrace of Egypt from you.\" So that place is called Gilgal even to this day.\n\t\t\t So the Israelites camped in Gilgal and celebrated the Passover in the evening of the fourteenth day of the month on the plains of Jericho.\n\t\t\t They ate some of the produce of the land the day after the Passover, including unleavened bread and roasted grain.\n\t\t\t The manna stopped appearing the day they ate some of the produce of the land; the Israelites never ate manna again.\n\t\t\t When Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him holding a drawn sword. Joshua approached him and asked him, \"Are you on our side or allied with our enemies?\"\n\t\t\t He answered, \"Truly I am the commander of the LORD's army. Now I have arrived!\" Joshua bowed down with his face to the ground and asked, \"What does my master want to say to his servant?\" \n\t\t\t The commander of the LORD's army answered Joshua, \"Remove your sandals from your feet, because the place where you stand is holy.\" Joshua did so.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now Jericho was shut tightly because of the Israelites. No one was allowed to leave or enter.\n\t\t\t The LORD told Joshua, \"See, I am about to defeat Jericho for you, along with its king and its warriors. \n\t\t\t Have all the warriors march around the city one time; do this for six days. \n\t\t\t Have seven priests carry seven rams' horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day march around the city seven times, while the priests blow the horns. \n\t\t\t When you hear the signal from the ram's horn, have the whole army give a loud battle cry. Then the city wall will collapse and the warriors should charge straight ahead.\"\n\t\t\t So Joshua son of Nun summoned the priests and instructed them, \"Pick up the ark of the covenant, and seven priests must carry seven rams' horns in front of the ark of the LORD.\"\n\t\t\t And he told the army, \"Move ahead and march around the city, with armed troops going ahead of the ark of the LORD.\"\n\t\t\t When Joshua gave the army its orders, the seven priests carrying the seven rams' horns before the LORD moved ahead and blew the horns as the ark of the covenant of the LORD followed behind.\n\t\t\t Armed troops marched ahead of the priests blowing the horns, while the rear guard followed along behind the ark blowing rams' horns.\n\t\t\t Now Joshua had instructed the army, \"Do not give a battle cry or raise your voices; say nothing until the day I tell you, 'Give the battle cry.' Then give the battle cry!\"\n\t\t\t So Joshua made sure they marched the ark of the LORD around the city one time. Then they went back to the camp and spent the night there.\n\t\t\t Bright and early the next morning Joshua had the priests pick up the ark of the LORD.\n\t\t\t The seven priests carrying the seven rams' horns before the ark of the LORD marched along blowing their horns. Armed troops marched ahead of them, while the rear guard followed along behind the ark of the LORD blowing rams' horns.\n\t\t\t They marched around the city one time on the second day, then returned to the camp. They did this six days in all.\n\t\t\t On the seventh day they were up at the crack of dawn and marched around the city as before, only this time they marched around it seven times.\n\t\t\t The seventh time around, the priests blew the rams' horns and Joshua told the army, \"Give the battle cry, for the LORD is handing the city over to you!\n\t\t\t The city and all that is in it must be set apart for the LORD, except for Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house, because she hid the spies we sent. \n\t\t\t But be careful when you are setting apart the riches for the LORD. If you take any of it, you will make the Israelite camp subject to annihilation and cause a disaster.\n\t\t\t All the silver and gold, as well as bronze and iron items, belong to the LORD. They must go into the LORD's treasury.\"\n\t\t\t The rams' horns sounded and when the army heard the signal, they gave a loud battle cry. The wall collapsed and the warriors charged straight ahead into the city and captured it.\n\t\t\t They annihilated with the sword everything that breathed in the city, including men and women, young and old, as well as cattle, sheep, and donkeys. \n\t\t\t Joshua told the two men who had spied on the land, \"Enter the prostitute's house and bring out the woman and all who belong to her as you promised her.\"\n\t\t\t So the young spies went and brought out Rahab, her father, mother, brothers, and all who belonged to her. They brought out her whole family and took them to a place outside the Israelite camp. \n\t\t\t But they burned the city and all that was in it, except for the silver, gold, and bronze and iron items they put in the treasury of the LORD's house.\n\t\t\t Yet Joshua spared Rahab the prostitute, her father's family, and all who belonged to her. She lives in Israel to this very day because she hid the messengers Joshua sent to spy on Jericho.\n\t\t\t At that time Joshua made this solemn declaration: \"The man who attempts to rebuild this city of Jericho will stand condemned before the LORD. He will lose his firstborn son when he lays its foundations and his youngest son when he erects its gates!\"\n\t\t\t The LORD was with Joshua and he became famous throughout the land.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t But the Israelites disobeyed the command about the city's riches. Achan son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, from the tribe of Judah, stole some of the riches. The LORD was furious with the Israelites.\n\t\t\t Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai (which is located near Beth Aven, east of Bethel) and instructed them, \"Go up and spy on the land.\" So the men went up and spied on Ai.\n\t\t\t They returned and reported to Joshua, \"Don't send the whole army. About two or three thousand men are adequate to defeat Ai. Don't tire out the whole army, for Ai is small.\"\n\t\t\t So about three thousand men went up, but they fled from the men of Ai.\n\t\t\t The men of Ai killed about thirty-six of them and chased them from in front of the city gate all the way to the fissures and defeated them on the steep slope. The people's courage melted away like water.\n\t\t\t Joshua tore his clothes; he and the leaders of Israel lay face down on the ground before the ark of the LORD until evening and threw dirt on their heads.\n\t\t\t Joshua prayed, \"O, Master, LORD! Why did you bring these people across the Jordan to hand us over to the Amorites so they could destroy us? \n\t\t\t If only we had been satisfied to live on the other side of the Jordan! O Lord, what can I say now that Israel has retreated before its enemies? \n\t\t\t When the Canaanites and all who live in the land hear about this, they will turn against us and destroy the very memory of us from the earth. What will you do to protect your great reputation?\"\n\t\t\t The LORD responded to Joshua, \"Get up! Why are you lying there face down?\n\t\t\t Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenantal commandment! They have taken some of the riches; they have stolen them and deceitfully put them among their own possessions.\n\t\t\t The Israelites are unable to stand before their enemies; they retreat because they have become subject to annihilation. I will no longer be with you, unless you destroy what has contaminated you.\n\t\t\t Get up! Ritually consecrate the people and tell them this: 'Ritually consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, because the LORD God of Israel says, \"You are contaminated, O Israel! You will not be able to stand before your enemies until you remove what is contaminating you.\"\n\t\t\t In the morning you must approach in tribal order. The tribe the LORD selects must approach by clans. The clan the LORD selects must approach by families. The family the LORD selects must approach man by man.\n\t\t\t The one caught with the riches must be burned up along with all who belong to him, because he violated the LORD's covenant and did such a disgraceful thing in Israel.'\"\n\t\t\t Bright and early the next morning Joshua made Israel approach in tribal order and the tribe of Judah was selected. \n\t\t\t He then made the clans of Judah approach and the clan of the Zerahites was selected. He made the clan of the Zerahites approach and Zabdi was selected.\n\t\t\t He then made Zabdi's family approach man by man and Achan son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, from the tribe of Judah, was selected. \n\t\t\t So Joshua said to Achan, \"My son, honor the LORD God of Israel and give him praise! Tell me what you did; don't hide anything from me!\"\n\t\t\t Achan told Joshua, \"It is true. I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel in this way:\n\t\t\t I saw among the goods we seized a nice robe from Babylon, two hundred silver pieces, and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels. I wanted them, so I took them. They are hidden in the ground right in the middle of my tent with the silver underneath.\"\n\t\t\t Joshua sent messengers who ran to the tent. The things were hidden right in his tent, with the silver underneath.\n\t\t\t They took it all from the middle of the tent, brought it to Joshua and all the Israelites, and placed it before the LORD. \n\t\t\t Then Joshua and all Israel took Achan, son of Zerah, along with the silver, the robe, the bar of gold, his sons, daughters, ox, donkey, sheep, tent, and all that belonged to him and brought them up to the Valley of Disaster.\n\t\t\t Joshua said, \"Why have you brought disaster on us? The LORD will bring disaster on you today!\" All Israel stoned him to death. (They also stoned and burned the others.)\n\t\t\t Then they erected over him a large pile of stones (it remains to this very day) and the LORD's anger subsided. So that place is called the Valley of Disaster to this very day.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The LORD told Joshua, \"Don't be afraid and don't panic! Take the whole army with you and march against Ai! See, I am handing over to you the king of Ai, along with his people, city, and land. \n\t\t\t Do to Ai and its king what you did to Jericho and its king, except you may plunder its goods and cattle. Set an ambush behind the city!\"\n\t\t\t Joshua and the whole army marched against Ai. Joshua selected thirty thousand brave warriors and sent them out at night. \n\t\t\t He told them, \"Look, set an ambush behind the city. Don't go very far from the city; all of you be ready! \n\t\t\t I and all the troops who are with me will approach the city. When they come out to fight us like before, we will retreat from them. \n\t\t\t They will attack us until we have lured them from the city, for they will say, 'They are retreating from us like before.' We will retreat from them. \n\t\t\t Then you rise up from your hiding place and seize the city. The LORD your God will hand it over to you. \n\t\t\t When you capture the city, set it on fire. Do as the LORD says! See, I have given you orders.\"\n\t\t\t Joshua sent them away and they went to their hiding place west of Ai, between Bethel and Ai. Joshua spent that night with the army.\n\t\t\t Bright and early the next morning Joshua gathered the army, and he and the leaders of Israel marched at the head of it to Ai. \n\t\t\t All the troops that were with him marched up and drew near the city. They camped north of Ai on the other side of the valley.\n\t\t\t He took five thousand men and set an ambush west of the city between Bethel and Ai. \n\t\t\t The army was in position, the main army north of the city and the rear guard west of the city. That night Joshua went into the middle of the valley.\n\t\t\t When the king of Ai saw Israel, he and his whole army quickly got up the next day and went out to fight Israel at the meeting place near the Arabah. But he did not realize men were hiding behind the city.\n\t\t\t Joshua and all Israel pretended to be defeated by them and they retreated along the way to the desert.\n\t\t\t All the reinforcements in Ai were ordered to chase them; they chased Joshua and were lured away from the city. \n\t\t\t No men were left in Ai or Bethel; they all went out after Israel. They left the city wide open and chased Israel.\n\t\t\t The LORD told Joshua, \"Hold out toward Ai the curved sword in your hand, for I am handing the city over to you.\" So Joshua held out toward Ai the curved sword in his hand. \n\t\t\t When he held out his hand, the men waiting in ambush rose up quickly from their place and attacked. They entered the city, captured it, and immediately set it on fire. \n\t\t\t When the men of Ai turned around, they saw the smoke from the city ascending into the sky and were so shocked they were unable to flee in any direction. In the meantime the men who were retreating to the desert turned against their pursuers. \n\t\t\t When Joshua and all Israel saw that the men in ambush had captured the city and that the city was going up in smoke, they turned around and struck down the men of Ai. \n\t\t\t At the same time the men who had taken the city came out to fight, and the men of Ai were trapped in the middle. The Israelites struck them down, leaving no survivors or refugees. \n\t\t\t But they captured the king of Ai alive and brought him to Joshua.\n\t\t\t When Israel had finished killing all the men of Ai who had chased them toward the desert (they all fell by the sword), all Israel returned to Ai and put the sword to it. \n\t\t\t Twelve thousand men and women died that day, including all the men of Ai. \n\t\t\t Joshua kept holding out his curved sword until Israel had annihilated all who lived in Ai.\n\t\t\t But Israel did plunder the cattle and the goods of the city, in accordance with the LORD's orders to Joshua.\n\t\t\t Joshua burned Ai and made it a permanently uninhabited mound (it remains that way to this very day).\n\t\t\t He hung the king of Ai on a tree, leaving him exposed until evening. At sunset Joshua ordered that his corpse be taken down from the tree. They threw it down at the entrance of the city gate and erected over it a large pile of stones (it remains to this very day).\n\t\t\t Then Joshua built an altar for the LORD God of Israel on Mount Ebal,\n\t\t\t just as Moses the LORD's servant had commanded the Israelites. As described in the law scroll of Moses, it was made with uncut stones untouched by an iron tool. They offered burnt sacrifices on it and sacrificed tokens of peace.\n\t\t\t There, in the presence of the Israelites, Joshua inscribed on the stones a duplicate of the law written by Moses.\n\t\t\t All the people, rulers, leaders, and judges were standing on either side of the ark, in front of the Levitical priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD. Both resident foreigners and native Israelites were there. Half the people stood in front of Mount Gerizim and the other half in front of Mount Ebal, as Moses the LORD's servant had previously instructed to them to do for the formal blessing ceremony.\n\t\t\t Then Joshua read aloud all the words of the law, including the blessings and the curses, just as they are written in the law scroll. \n\t\t\t Joshua read aloud every commandment Moses had given before the whole assembly of Israel, including the women, children, and resident foreigners who lived among them.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t When the news reached all the kings on the west side of the Jordan, in the hill country, the lowlands, and all along the Mediterranean coast as far as Lebanon (including the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites),\n\t\t\t they formed an alliance to fight against Joshua and Israel.\n\t\t\t When the residents of Gibeon heard what Joshua did to Jericho and Ai, \n\t\t\t they did something clever. They collected some provisions and put worn-out sacks on their donkeys, along with worn-out wineskins that were ripped and patched. \n\t\t\t They had worn-out, patched sandals on their feet and dressed in worn-out clothes. All their bread was dry and hard.\n\t\t\t They came to Joshua at the camp in Gilgal and said to him and the men of Israel, \"We have come from a distant land. Make a treaty with us.\"\n\t\t\t The men of Israel said to the Hivites, \"Perhaps you live near us. So how can we make a treaty with you?\" \n\t\t\t But they said to Joshua, \"We are willing to be your subjects.\" So Joshua said to them, \"Who are you and where do you come from?\" \n\t\t\t They told him, \"Your subjects have come from a very distant land because of the reputation of the LORD your God, for we have heard the news about all he did in Egypt\n\t\t\t and all he did to the two Amorite kings on the other side of the Jordan, King Sihon of Heshbon and King Og of Bashan in Ashtaroth.\n\t\t\t Our leaders and all who live in our land told us, 'Take provisions for your journey and go meet them. Tell them, \"We are willing to be your subjects. Make a treaty with us.\"' \n\t\t\t This bread of ours was warm when we packed it in our homes the day we started out to meet you, but now it is dry and hard.\n\t\t\t These wineskins we filled were brand new, but look how they have ripped. Our clothes and sandals have worn out because it has been a very long journey.\"\n\t\t\t The men examined some of their provisions, but they failed to ask the LORD's advice.\n\t\t\t Joshua made a peace treaty with them and agreed to let them live. The leaders of the community sealed it with an oath.\n\t\t\t Three days after they made the treaty with them, the Israelites found out they were from the local area and lived nearby.\n\t\t\t So the Israelites set out and on the third day arrived at their cities, Gibeon, Kephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath Jearim.\n\t\t\t The Israelites did not attack them because the leaders of the community had sworn an oath to them in the name of the LORD God of Israel. The whole community criticized the leaders,\n\t\t\t but all the leaders told the whole community, \"We swore an oath to them in the name of the LORD God of Israel. So now we can't hurt them! \n\t\t\t We must let them live so we can escape the curse attached to the oath we swore to them.\"\n\t\t\t The leaders then added, \"Let them live.\" So they became woodcutters and water carriers for the whole community, as the leaders had decided.\n\t\t\t Joshua summoned the Gibeonites and said to them, \"Why did you trick us by saying, 'We live far away from you,' when you really live nearby?\n\t\t\t Now you are condemned to perpetual servitude as woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God.\"\n\t\t\t They said to Joshua, \"It was carefully reported to your subjects how the LORD your God commanded Moses his servant to assign you the whole land and to destroy all who live in the land from before you. Because of you we were terrified we would lose our lives, so we did this thing. \n\t\t\t So now we are in your power. Do to us what you think is good and appropriate.\n\t\t\t Joshua did as they said; he kept the Israelites from killing them\n\t\t\t and that day made them woodcutters and water carriers for the community and for the altar of the LORD at the divinely chosen site. (They continue in that capacity to this very day.)\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Adoni-Zedek, king of Jerusalem, heard how Joshua captured Ai and annihilated it and its king as he did Jericho and its king. He also heard how the people of Gibeon made peace with Israel and lived among them. \n\t\t\t All Jerusalem was terrified because Gibeon was a large city, like one of the royal cities. It was larger than Ai and all its men were warriors. \n\t\t\t So King Adoni-Zedek of Jerusalem sent this message to King Hoham of Hebron, King Piram of Jarmuth, King Japhia of Lachish, and King Debir of Eglon:\n\t\t\t \"Come to my aid so we can attack Gibeon, for it has made peace with Joshua and the Israelites.\"\n\t\t\t So the five Amorite kings (the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon) and all their troops gathered together and advanced. They deployed their troops and fought against Gibeon.\n\t\t\t The men of Gibeon sent this message to Joshua at the camp in Gilgal, \"Do not abandon your subjects! Rescue us! Help us! For all the Amorite kings living in the hill country are attacking us.\"\n\t\t\t So Joshua and his whole army, including the bravest warriors, marched up from Gilgal.\n\t\t\t The LORD told Joshua, \"Don't be afraid of them, for I am handing them over to you. Not one of them can resist you.\"\n\t\t\t Joshua attacked them by surprise after marching all night from Gilgal.\n\t\t\t The LORD routed them before Israel. Israel thoroughly defeated them at Gibeon. They chased them up the road to the pass of Beth Horon and struck them down all the way to Azekah and Makkedah.\n\t\t\t As they fled from Israel on the slope leading down from Beth Horon, the LORD threw down on them large hailstones from the sky, all the way to Azekah. They died, in fact, more died from the hailstones than the Israelites killed with the sword.\n\t\t\t The day the LORD delivered the Amorites over to the Israelites, Joshua prayed to the LORD before Israel: \"O sun, stand still over Gibeon! O moon, over the Valley of Aijalon!\"\n\t\t\t The sun stood still and the moon stood motionless while the nation took vengeance on its enemies. The event is recorded in the Scroll of the Upright One. The sun stood motionless in the middle of the sky and did not set for about a full day.\n\t\t\t There has not been a day like it before or since. The LORD obeyed a man, for the LORD fought for Israel! \n\t\t\t Then Joshua and all Israel returned to the camp at Gilgal.\n\t\t\t The five Amorite kings ran away and hid in the cave at Makkedah. \n\t\t\t Joshua was told, \"The five kings have been found hiding in the cave at Makkedah.\"\n\t\t\t Joshua said, \"Roll large stones over the mouth of the cave and post guards in front of it.\n\t\t\t But don't you delay! Chase your enemies and catch them! Don't allow them to retreat to their cities, for the LORD your God is handing them over to you.\"\n\t\t\t Joshua and the Israelites almost totally wiped them out, but some survivors did escape to the fortified cities.\n\t\t\t Then the whole army safely returned to Joshua at the camp in Makkedah. No one dared threaten the Israelites.\n\t\t\t Joshua said, \"Open the cave's mouth and bring the five kings out of the cave to me.\" \n\t\t\t They did as ordered; they brought the five kings out of the cave to him, the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon.\n\t\t\t When they brought the kings out to Joshua, he summoned all the men of Israel and said to the commanders of the troops who accompanied him, \"Come here and put your feet on the necks of these kings.\" So they came up and put their feet on their necks. \n\t\t\t Then Joshua said to them, \"Don't be afraid and don't panic! Be strong and brave, for the LORD will do the same thing to all your enemies you fight. \n\t\t\t Then Joshua executed them and hung them on five trees. They were left hanging on the trees until evening. \n\t\t\t At sunset Joshua ordered his men to take them down from the trees. They threw them into the cave where they had hidden and piled large stones over the mouth of the cave. (They remain to this very day.)\n\t\t\t That day Joshua captured Makkedah and put the sword to it and its king. He annihilated everyone who lived in it; he left no survivors. He did to its king what he had done to the king of Jericho.\n\t\t\t Joshua and all Israel marched from Makkedah to Libnah and fought against it.\n\t\t\t The LORD handed it and its king over to Israel, and Israel put the sword to all who lived there; they left no survivors. They did to its king what they had done to the king of Jericho.\n\t\t\t Joshua and all Israel marched from Libnah to Lachish. He deployed his troops and fought against it. \n\t\t\t The LORD handed Lachish over to Israel and they captured it on the second day. They put the sword to all who lived there, just as they had done to Libnah. \n\t\t\t Then King Horam of Gezer came up to help Lachish, but Joshua struck down him and his army until no survivors remained.\n\t\t\t Joshua and all Israel marched from Lachish to Eglon. They deployed troops and fought against it. \n\t\t\t That day they captured it and put the sword to all who lived there. That day they annihilated it just as they had done to Lachish.\n\t\t\t Joshua and all Israel marched up from Eglon to Hebron and fought against it.\n\t\t\t They captured it and put the sword to its king, all its surrounding cities, and all who lived in it; they left no survivors. As they had done at Eglon, they annihilated it and all who lived there.\n\t\t\t Joshua and all Israel turned to Debir and fought against it.\n\t\t\t They captured it, its king, and all its surrounding cities and put the sword to them. They annihilated everyone who lived there; they left no survivors. They did to Debir and its king what they had done to Libnah and its king and to Hebron.\n\t\t\t Joshua defeated the whole land, including the hill country, the Negev, the lowlands, the slopes, and all their kings. He left no survivors. He annihilated everything that breathed, just as the LORD God of Israel had commanded. \n\t\t\t Joshua conquered the area between Kadesh Barnea and Gaza and the whole region of Goshen, all the way to Gibeon.\n\t\t\t Joshua captured in one campaign all these kings and their lands, for the LORD God of Israel fought for Israel.\n\t\t\t Then Joshua and all Israel returned to the camp at Gilgal.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t When King Jabin of Hazor heard the news, he organized a coalition, including King Jobab of Madon, the king of Shimron, the king of Acshaph, \n\t\t\t and the northern kings who ruled in the hill country, the Arabah south of Kinnereth, the lowlands, and the heights of Dor to the west. \n\t\t\t Canaanites came from the east and west; Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, and Jebusites from the hill country; and Hivites from below Hermon in the area of Mizpah. \n\t\t\t These kings came out with their armies; they were as numerous as the sand on the seashore and had a large number of horses and chariots.\n\t\t\t All these kings gathered and joined forces at the Waters of Merom to fight Israel.\n\t\t\t The LORD told Joshua, \"Don't be afraid of them, for about this time tomorrow I will cause all of them to lie dead before Israel. You must hamstring their horses and burn their chariots.\" \n\t\t\t Joshua and his whole army caught them by surprise at the Waters of Merom and attacked them.\n\t\t\t The LORD handed them over to Israel and they struck them down and chased them all the way to Greater Sidon, Misrephoth Maim, and the Mizpah Valley to the east. They struck them down until no survivors remained. \n\t\t\t Joshua did to them as the LORD had commanded him; he hamstrung their horses and burned their chariots.\n\t\t\t At that time Joshua turned, captured Hazor, and struck down its king with the sword, for Hazor was at that time the leader of all these kingdoms. \n\t\t\t They annihilated everyone who lived there with the sword, no one who breathed remained, and burned Hazor.\n\t\t\t Joshua captured all these royal cities and all their kings and annihilated them with the sword, as Moses the LORD's servant had commanded. \n\t\t\t But Israel did not burn any of the cities located on mounds, except for Hazor; it was the only one Joshua burned. \n\t\t\t The Israelites plundered all the goods of these cities and the cattle, but they totally destroyed all the people and allowed no one who breathed to live. \n\t\t\t Moses the LORD's servant passed on the LORD's commands to Joshua, and Joshua did as he was told. He did not ignore any of the commands the LORD had given Moses.\n\t\t\t Joshua conquered the whole land, including the hill country, all the Negev, all the land of Goshen, the lowlands, the Arabah, the hill country of Israel and its lowlands, \n\t\t\t from Mount Halak on up to Seir, as far as Baal Gad in the Lebanon Valley below Mount Hermon. He captured all their kings and executed them.\n\t\t\t Joshua campaigned against these kings for quite some time.\n\t\t\t No city made peace with the Israelites (except the Hivites living in Gibeon); they had to conquer all of them,\n\t\t\t for the LORD determined to make them obstinate so they would attack Israel. He wanted Israel to annihilate them without mercy, as he had instructed Moses.\n\t\t\t At that time Joshua attacked and eliminated the Anakites from the hill country, from Hebron, Debir, Anab, and all the hill country of Judah and Israel. Joshua annihilated them and their cities.\n\t\t\t No Anakites were left in Israelite territory, though some remained in Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod.\n\t\t\t Joshua conquered the whole land, just as the LORD had promised Moses, and he assigned Israel their tribal portions. Then the land was free of war.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now these are the kings of the land whom the Israelites defeated and drove from their land on the east side of the Jordan, from the Arnon Valley to Mount Hermon, including all the eastern Arabah:\n\t\t\t King Sihon of the Amorites who lived in Heshbon and ruled from Aroer (on the edge of the Arnon Valley), including the city in the middle of the valley and half of Gilead, all the way to the Jabbok Valley bordering Ammonite territory.\n\t\t\t His kingdom included the eastern Arabah from the Sea of Kinnereth to the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea), including the route to Beth Jeshimoth and the area southward below the slopes of Pisgah.\n\t\t\t The territory of King Og of Bashan, one of the few remaining Rephaites, who lived in Ashtaroth and Edrei \n\t\t\t and ruled over Mount Hermon, Salecah, all of Bashan to the border of the Geshurites and Maacathites, and half of Gilead as far as the border of King Sihon of Heshbon.\n\t\t\t Moses the LORD's servant and the Israelites defeated them and Moses the LORD's servant assigned their land to Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh.\n\t\t\t These are the kings of the land whom Joshua and the Israelites defeated on the west side of the Jordan, from Baal Gad in the Lebanon Valley to Mount Halak on up to Seir. Joshua assigned this territory to the Israelite tribes,\n\t\t\t including the hill country, the lowlands, the Arabah, the slopes, the wilderness, and the Negev, the land of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites:\n\t\t\t the king of Jericho (one), the king of Ai, located near Bethel, (one),\n\t\t\t the king of Jerusalem (one), the king of Hebron (one),\n\t\t\t the king of Jarmuth (one), the king of Lachish (one),\n\t\t\t the king of Eglon (one), the king of Gezer (one),\n\t\t\t the king of Debir (one), the king of Geder (one),\n\t\t\t the king of Hormah (one), the king of Arad (one),\n\t\t\t the king of Libnah (one), the king of Adullam (one),\n\t\t\t the king of Makkedah (one), the king of Bethel (one),\n\t\t\t the king of Tappuah (one), the king of Hepher (one),\n\t\t\t the king of Aphek (one), the king of Lasharon (one),\n\t\t\t the king of Madon (one), the king of Hazor (one),\n\t\t\t the king of Shimron Meron (one), the king of Acshaph (one),\n\t\t\t the king of Taanach (one), the king of Megiddo (one),\n\t\t\t the king of Kedesh (one), the king of Jokneam near Carmel (one),\n\t\t\t the king of Dor, near Naphath Dor, (one), the king of Goyim, near Gilgal, (one),\n\t\t\t the king of Tirzah (one), a total of thirty-one kings.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t When Joshua was very old, the LORD told him, \"You are very old, and a great deal of land remains to be conquered. \n\t\t\t This is the land that remains: all the territory of the Philistines and all the Geshurites,\n\t\t\t from the Shihor River east of Egypt northward to the territory of Ekron (it is regarded as Canaanite territory), including the area belonging to the five Philistine lords who ruled in Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron, as well as Avvite land\n\t\t\t to the south; all the Canaanite territory, from Arah in the region of Sidon to Aphek, as far as Amorite territory; \n\t\t\t the territory of Byblos and all Lebanon to the east, from Baal Gad below Mount Hermon to Lebo Hamath.\n\t\t\t I will drive out before the Israelites all who live in the hill country from Lebanon to Misrephoth Maim, all the Sidonians; you be sure to parcel it out to Israel as I instructed you.\"\n\t\t\t Now, divide up this land among the nine tribes and the half-tribe of Manasseh.\"\n\t\t\t The other half of Manasseh, Reuben, and Gad received their allotted tribal lands beyond the Jordan, just as Moses, the LORD's servant, had assigned them. \n\t\t\t Their territory started from Aroer (on the edge of the Arnon Valley), included the city in the middle of the valley, the whole plain of Medeba as far as Dibon, \n\t\t\t and all the cities of King Sihon of the Amorites who ruled in Heshbon, and ended at the Ammonite border.\n\t\t\t Their territory also included Gilead, Geshurite and Maacathite territory, all Mount Hermon, and all Bashan to Salecah,\n\t\t\t the whole kingdom of Og in Bashan, who ruled in Ashtaroth and Edrei. (He was one of the few remaining Rephaites.) Moses defeated them and took their lands.\n\t\t\t But the Israelites did not conquer the Geshurites and Maacathites; Geshur and Maacah live among Israel to this very day. \n\t\t\t However, Moses did not assign land as an inheritance to the Levites; their inheritance is the sacrificial offerings made to the LORD God of Israel, as he instructed them.\n\t\t\t Moses assigned land to the tribe of Reuben by its clans. \n\t\t\t Their territory started at Aroer (on the edge of the Arnon Valley) and included the city in the middle of the valley, the whole plain of Medeba,\n\t\t\t Heshbon and all its surrounding cities on the plain, including Dibon, Bamoth Baal, Beth Baal Meon,\n\t\t\t Jahaz, Kedemoth, Mephaath,\n\t\t\t Kiriathaim, Sibmah, Zereth Shahar on the hill in the valley,\n\t\t\t Beth Peor, the slopes of Pisgah, and Beth Jeshimoth.\n\t\t\t It encompassed all the cities of the plain and the whole realm of King Sihon of the Amorites who ruled in Heshbon. Moses defeated him and the Midianite leaders Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba (they were subjects of Sihon and lived in his territory).\n\t\t\t The Israelites killed Balaam son of Beor, the omen reader, along with the others.\n\t\t\t The border of the tribe of Reuben was the Jordan. The land allotted to the tribe of Reuben by its clans included these cities and their towns.\n\t\t\t Moses assigned land to the tribe of Gad by its clans. \n\t\t\t Their territory included Jazer, all the cities of Gilead, and half of Ammonite territory as far as Aroer near Rabbah. \n\t\t\t Their territory ran from Heshbon to Ramath Mizpah and Betonim, and from Mahanaim to the territory of Debir. \n\t\t\t It included the valley of Beth Haram, Beth Nimrah, Succoth, and Zaphon, and the rest of the realm of King Sihon of Heshbon, the area east of the Jordan to the end of the Sea of Kinnereth.\n\t\t\t The land allotted to the tribe of Gad by its clans included these cities and their towns.\n\t\t\t Moses assigned land to the half-tribe of Manasseh by its clans. \n\t\t\t Their territory started at Mahanaim and encompassed all Bashan, the whole realm of King Og of Bashan, including all sixty cities in Havvoth Jair in Bashan. \n\t\t\t Half of Gilead, Ashtaroth, and Edrei, cities in the kingdom of Og in Bashan, were assigned to the descendants of Makir son of Manasseh, to half the descendants of Makir by their clans.\n\t\t\t These are the land assignments made by Moses on the plains of Moab east of the Jordan River opposite Jericho.\n\t\t\t However, Moses did not assign land as an inheritance to the Levites; their inheritance is the LORD God of Israel, as he instructed them.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The following is a record of the territory assigned to the Israelites in the land of Canaan by Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the Israelite tribal leaders.\n\t\t\t The land assignments to the nine-and-a-half tribes were made by drawing lots, as the LORD had instructed Moses.\n\t\t\t Now Moses had assigned land to the two-and-a-half tribes east of the Jordan, but he assigned no land to the Levites.\n\t\t\t The descendants of Joseph were considered as two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim. The Levites were allotted no territory, though they were assigned cities in which to live, along with the grazing areas for their cattle and possessions.\n\t\t\t The Israelites followed the LORD's instructions to Moses and divided up the land.\n\t\t\t The men of Judah approached Joshua in Gilgal, and Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, \"You know what the LORD said about you and me to Moses, the man of God, at Kadesh Barnea.\n\t\t\t I was forty years old when Moses, the LORD's servant, sent me from Kadesh Barnea to spy on the land and I brought back to him an honest report.\n\t\t\t My countrymen who accompanied me frightened the people, but I remained loyal to the LORD my God.\n\t\t\t That day Moses made this solemn promise: 'Surely the land on which you walked will belong to you and your descendants permanently, for you remained loyal to the LORD your God.' \n\t\t\t So now, look, the LORD has preserved my life, just as he promised, these past forty-five years since the LORD spoke these words to Moses, during which Israel traveled through the wilderness. Now look, I am today eighty-five years old.\n\t\t\t Today I am still as strong as when Moses sent me out. I can fight and go about my daily activities with the same energy I had then.\n\t\t\t Now, assign me this hill country which the LORD promised me at that time! No doubt you heard at that time that the Anakites live there in large, fortified cities. But, assuming the LORD is with me, I will conquer them, as the LORD promised.\" \n\t\t\t Joshua asked God to empower Caleb son of Jephunneh and assigned him Hebron.\n\t\t\t So Hebron remains the assigned land of Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite to this very day because he remained loyal to the LORD God of Israel. \n\t\t\t (Hebron used to be called Kiriath Arba. Arba was a famous Anakite.) Then the land was free of war.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The land allotted to the tribe of Judah by its clans reached to the border of Edom, to the Wilderness of Zin in the Negev far to the south.\n\t\t\t Their southern border started at the southern tip of the Salt Sea,\n\t\t\t extended south of the Scorpion Ascent, crossed to Zin, went up from the south to Kadesh Barnea, crossed to Hezron, went up to Addar, and turned toward Karka. \n\t\t\t It then crossed to Azmon, extended to the Stream of Egypt, and ended at the sea. This was their southern border.\n\t\t\t The eastern border was the Salt Sea to the mouth of the Jordan River. The northern border started north of the Salt Sea at the mouth of the Jordan,\n\t\t\t went up to Beth Hoglah, crossed north of Beth Arabah, and went up to the Stone of Bohan son of Reuben.\n\t\t\t It then went up to Debir from the Valley of Achor, turning northward to Gilgal (which is opposite the Pass of Adummim south of the valley), crossed to the waters of En Shemesh and extended to En Rogel. \n\t\t\t It then went up the Valley of Ben Hinnom to the slope of the Jebusites on the south (that is, Jerusalem), going up to the top of the hill opposite the Valley of Ben Hinnom to the west, which is at the end of the Valley of the Rephaites to the north. \n\t\t\t It then went from the top of the hill to the spring of the waters of Nephtoah, extended to the cities of Mount Ephron, and went to Baalah (that is, Kiriath Jearim).\n\t\t\t It then turned from Baalah westward to Mount Seir, crossed to the slope of Mount Jearim on the north (that is Kesalon), descended to Beth Shemesh, and crossed to Timnah.\n\t\t\t It then extended to the slope of Ekron to the north, went toward Shikkeron, crossed to Mount Baalah, extended to Jabneel, and ended at the sea.\n\t\t\t The western border was the Mediterranean Sea. These were the borders of the tribe of Judah and its clans.\n\t\t\t Caleb son of Jephunneh was assigned Kiriath Arba (that is Hebron) within the tribe of Judah, according to the LORD's instructions to Joshua. (Arba was the father of Anak.)\n\t\t\t Caleb drove out from there three Anakites, Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai, descendants of Anak.\n\t\t\t From there he attacked the people of Debir. (Debir used to be called Kiriath Sepher.) \n\t\t\t Caleb said, \"To the man who attacks and captures Kiriath Sepher I will give my daughter Acsah as a wife.\"\n\t\t\t When Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb's brother, captured it, Caleb gave Acsah his daughter to him as a wife.\n\t\t\t One time Acsah came and charmed her father so that she could ask him for some land. When she got down from her donkey, Caleb said to her, \"What would you like?\" \n\t\t\t She answered, \"Please give me a special present. Since you have given me land in the Negev, now give me springs of water. So he gave her both upper and lower springs.\n\t\t\t This is the land assigned to the tribe of Judah by its clans:\n\t\t\t These cities were located at the southern extremity of Judah's tribal land near the border of Edom: Kabzeel, Eder, Jagur, \n\t\t\t Kinah, Dimonah, Adadah,\n\t\t\t Kedesh, Hazor, Ithnan, \n\t\t\t Ziph, Telem, Bealoth,\n\t\t\t Hazor Hadattah, Kerioth Hezron (that is, Hazor),\n\t\t\t Amam, Shema, Moladah,\n\t\t\t Hazar Gaddah, Heshbon, Beth Pelet,\n\t\t\t Hazar Shual, Beer Sheba, Biziothiah,\n\t\t\t Baalah, Iim, Ezem,\n\t\t\t Eltolad, Kesil, Hormah,\n\t\t\t Ziklag, Madmannah, Sansannah,\n\t\t\t Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ain, and Rimmon, a total of twenty-nine cities and their towns.\n\t\t\t These cities were in the lowlands: Eshtaol, Zorah, Ashnah, \n\t\t\t Zanoah, En Gannim, Tappuah, Enam,\n\t\t\t Jarmuth, Adullam, Socoh, Azekah,\n\t\t\t Shaaraim, Adithaim, and Gederah (or Gederothaim), a total of fourteen cities and their towns.\n\t\t\t Zenan, Hadashah, Migdal Gad,\n\t\t\t Dilean, Mizpah, Joktheel,\n\t\t\t Lachish, Bozkath, Eglon,\n\t\t\t Cabbon, Lahmas, Kitlish,\n\t\t\t Gederoth, Beth Dagon, Naamah, and Makkedah, a total of sixteen cities and their towns.\n\t\t\t Libnah, Ether, Ashan,\n\t\t\t Iphtah, Ashnah, Nezib,\n\t\t\t Keilah, Aczib, and Mareshah, a total of nine cities and their towns.\n\t\t\t Ekron and its surrounding towns and settlements; \n\t\t\t from Ekron westward, all those in the vicinity of Ashdod and their towns;\n\t\t\t Ashdod with its surrounding towns and settlements, and Gaza with its surrounding towns and settlements, as far as the Stream of Egypt and the border at the Mediterranean Sea.\n\t\t\t These cities were in the hill country: Shamir, Jattir, Socoh, \n\t\t\t Dannah, Kiriath Sannah (that is, Debir),\n\t\t\t Anab, Eshtemoh, Anim,\n\t\t\t Goshen, Holon, and Giloh, a total of eleven cities and their towns.\n\t\t\t Arab, Dumah, Eshan, \n\t\t\t Janim, Beth Tappuah, Aphekah,\n\t\t\t Humtah, Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron), and Zior, a total of nine cities and their towns.\n\t\t\t Maon, Carmel, Ziph, Juttah,\n\t\t\t Jezreel, Jokdeam, Zanoah,\n\t\t\t Kain, Gibeah, and Timnah, a total of ten cities and their towns.\n\t\t\t Halhul, Beth Zur, Gedor,\n\t\t\t Maarath, Beth Anoth, and Eltekon, a total of six cities and their towns.\n\t\t\t Kiriath Baal (that is, Kiriath Jearim) and Rabbah, a total of two cities and their towns.\n\t\t\t These cities were in the desert: Beth Arabah, Middin, Secacah, \n\t\t\t Nibshan, the city of Salt, and En Gedi, a total of six cities and their towns.\n\t\t\t The men of Judah were unable to conquer the Jebusites living in Jerusalem. The Jebusites live with the people of Judah in Jerusalem to this very day.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The land allotted to Joseph's descendants extended from the Jordan at Jericho to the waters of Jericho to the east, through the desert and on up from Jericho into the hill country of Bethel.\n\t\t\t The southern border extended from Bethel to Luz, and crossed to Arkite territory at Ataroth. \n\t\t\t It then descended westward to Japhletite territory, as far as the territory of lower Beth Horon and Gezer, and ended at the sea.\n\t\t\t Joseph's descendants, Manasseh and Ephraim, were assigned their land.\n\t\t\t The territory of the tribe of Ephraim by its clans included the following: The border of their assigned land to the east was Ataroth Addar as far as upper Beth Horon. \n\t\t\t It then extended on to the sea, with Micmethath on the north. It turned eastward to Taanath Shiloh and crossed it on the east to Janoah.\n\t\t\t It then descended from Janoah to Ataroth and Naarah, touched Jericho, and extended to the Jordan River.\n\t\t\t From Tappuah it went westward to the Valley of Kanah and ended at the sea. This is the land assigned to the tribe of Ephraim by its clans. \n\t\t\t Also included were the cities set apart for the tribe of Ephraim within Manasseh's territory, along with their towns.\n\t\t\t The Ephraimites did not conquer the Canaanites living in Gezer. The Canaanites live among the Ephraimites to this very day and do hard labor as their servants.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The tribe of Manasseh, Joseph's firstborn son, was also allotted land. The descendants of Makir, Manasseh's firstborn and the father of Gilead, received land, for they were warriors. They were assigned Gilead and Bashan.\n\t\t\t The rest of Manasseh's descendants were also assigned land by their clans, including the descendants of Abiezer, Helek, Asriel, Shechem, Hepher, and Shemida. These are the male descendants of Manasseh son of Joseph by their clans.\n\t\t\t Now Zelophehad son of Hepher, son of Gilead, son of Makir, son of Manasseh, had no sons, only daughters. These are the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.\n\t\t\t They went before Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the leaders and said, \"The LORD told Moses to assign us land among our relatives.\" So Joshua assigned them land among their uncles, as the LORD had commanded.\n\t\t\t Manasseh was allotted ten shares of land, in addition to the land of Gilead and Bashan east of the Jordan, \n\t\t\t for the daughters of Manasseh were assigned land among his sons. The land of Gilead belonged to the rest of the descendants of Manasseh.\n\t\t\t The border of Manasseh went from Asher to Micmethath which is near Shechem. It then went south toward those who live in Tappuah. \n\t\t\t (The land of Tappuah belonged to Manasseh, but Tappuah, located on the border of Manasseh, belonged to the tribe of Ephraim.)\n\t\t\t The border then descended southward to the Valley of Kanah. Ephraim was assigned cities there among the cities of Manasseh, but the border of Manasseh was north of the valley and ended at the sea. \n\t\t\t Ephraim's territory was to the south, and Manasseh's to the north. The sea was Manasseh's western border and their territory touched Asher on the north and Issachar on the east. \n\t\t\t Within Issachar's and Asher's territory Manasseh was assigned Beth Shean, Ibleam, the residents of Dor, En Dor, the residents of Taanach, the residents of Megiddo, the three of Napheth, and the towns surrounding all these cities.\n\t\t\t But the men of Manasseh were unable to conquer these cities; the Canaanites managed to remain in those areas. \n\t\t\t Whenever the Israelites were strong militarily, they forced the Canaanites to do hard labor, but they never totally conquered them.\n\t\t\t The descendants of Joseph said to Joshua, \"Why have you assigned us only one tribal allotment? After all, we have many people, for until now the LORD has enabled us to increase in number.\"\n\t\t\t Joshua replied to them, \"Since you have so many people, go up into the forest and clear out a place to live in the land of the Perizzites and Rephaites, for the hill country of Ephraim is too small for you.\" \n\t\t\t The descendants of Joseph said, \"The whole hill country is inadequate for us, and the Canaanites living down in the valley in Beth Shean and its surrounding towns and in the Valley of Jezreel have chariots with iron-rimmed wheels.\"\n\t\t\t Joshua said to the family of Joseph, to both Ephraim and Manasseh: \"You have many people and great military strength. You will not have just one tribal allotment.\n\t\t\t The whole hill country will be yours; though it is a forest, you can clear it and it will be entirely yours. You can conquer the Canaanites, though they have chariots with iron-rimmed wheels and are strong.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The entire Israelite community assembled at Shiloh and there they set up the tent of meeting. Though they had subdued the land,\n\t\t\t seven Israelite tribes had not been assigned their allotted land.\n\t\t\t So Joshua said to the Israelites: \"How long do you intend to put off occupying the land the LORD God of your ancestors has given you? \n\t\t\t Pick three men from each tribe. I will send them out to walk through the land and make a map of it for me.\n\t\t\t Divide it into seven regions. Judah will stay in its territory in the south, and the family of Joseph in its territory in the north.\n\t\t\t But as for you, map out the land into seven regions and bring it to me. I will draw lots for you here before the LORD our God.\n\t\t\t But the Levites will not have an allotted portion among you, for their inheritance is to serve the LORD. Gad, Reuben, and the half-tribe of Manasseh have already received their allotted land east of the Jordan which Moses the LORD's servant assigned them.\"\n\t\t\t When the men started out, Joshua told those going to map out the land, \"Go, walk through the land, map it out, and return to me. Then I will draw lots for you before the LORD here in Shiloh.\"\n\t\t\t The men journeyed through the land and mapped it and its cities out into seven regions on a scroll. Then they came to Joshua at the camp in Shiloh. \n\t\t\t Joshua drew lots for them in Shiloh before the LORD and divided the land among the Israelites according to their allotted portions.\n\t\t\t The first lot belonged to the tribe of Benjamin by its clans. Their allotted territory was between Judah and Joseph.\n\t\t\t Their northern border started at the Jordan, went up to the slope of Jericho on the north, ascended westward to the hill country, and extended to the desert of Beth Aven. \n\t\t\t It then crossed from there to Luz, to the slope of Luz to the south (that is, Bethel), and descended to Ataroth Addar located on the hill that is south of lower Beth Horon. \n\t\t\t It then turned on the west side southward from the hill near Beth Horon on the south and extended to Kiriath Baal (that is, Kiriath Jearim), a city belonging to the tribe of Judah. This is the western border.\n\t\t\t The southern side started on the edge of Kiriath Jearim and extended westward to the spring of the waters of Nephtoah.\n\t\t\t The border then descended to the edge of the hill country near the Valley of Ben Hinnom located in the Valley of the Rephaites to the north. It descended through the Valley of Hinnom to the slope of the Jebusites to the south and then down to En Rogel.\n\t\t\t It went northward, extending to En Shemesh and Geliloth opposite the Pass of Adummim, and descended to the Stone of Bohan son of Reuben. \n\t\t\t It crossed to the slope in front of the Arabah to the north and descended into the Arabah.\n\t\t\t It then crossed to the slope of Beth Hoglah to the north and ended at the northern tip of the Salt Sea at the mouth of the Jordan River. This was the southern border. \n\t\t\t The Jordan River borders it on the east. These were the borders of the land assigned to the tribe of Benjamin by its clans.\n\t\t\t These cities belonged to the tribe of Benjamin by its clans: Jericho, Beth Hoglah, Emek Keziz, \n\t\t\t Beth Arabah, Zemaraim, Bethel,\n\t\t\t Avvim, Parah, Ophrah,\n\t\t\t Kephar Ammoni, Ophni, and Geba, a total of twelve cities and their towns.\n\t\t\t Gibeon, Ramah, Beeroth,\n\t\t\t Mizpah, Kephirah, Mozah,\n\t\t\t Rekem, Irpeel, Taralah,\n\t\t\t Zelah, Haeleph, the Jebusite city (that is, Jerusalem), Gibeah, and Kiriath, a total of fourteen cities and their towns. This was the land assigned to the tribe of Benjamin by its clans.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The second lot belonged to the tribe of Simeon by its clans.\n\t\t\t Their assigned land included Beer Sheba, Moladah, \n\t\t\t Hazar Shual, Balah, Ezem,\n\t\t\t Eltolad, Bethul, Hormah,\n\t\t\t Ziklag, Beth Marcaboth, Hazar Susah,\n\t\t\t Beth Lebaoth, and Sharuhen, a total of thirteen cities and their towns,\n\t\t\t Ain, Rimmon, Ether, and Ashan, a total of four cities and their towns,\n\t\t\t as well as all the towns around these cities as far as Baalath Beer (Ramah of the Negev). This was the land assigned to the tribe of Simeon by its clans.\n\t\t\t Simeon's assigned land was taken from Judah's allotted portion, for Judah's territory was too large for them; so Simeon was assigned land within Judah.\n\t\t\t The third lot belonged to the tribe of Zebulun by its clans. The border of their territory extended to Sarid. \n\t\t\t Their border went up westward to Maralah and touched Dabbesheth and the valley near Jokneam. \n\t\t\t From Sarid it turned eastward to the territory of Kisloth Tabor, extended to Daberath, and went up to Japhia. \n\t\t\t From there it crossed eastward to Gath Hepher and Eth Kazin and extended to Rimmon, turning toward Neah.\n\t\t\t It then turned on the north to Hannathon and ended at the Valley of Iphtah El.\n\t\t\t Their territory included Kattah, Nahalal, Shimron, Idalah, and Bethlehem; in all they had twelve cities and their towns.\n\t\t\t This was the land assigned to the tribe of Zebulun by its clans, including these cities and their towns.\n\t\t\t The fourth lot belonged to the tribe of Issachar by its clans. \n\t\t\t Their assigned land included Jezreel, Kesulloth, Shunem, \n\t\t\t Hapharaim, Shion, Anaharath,\n\t\t\t Rabbith, Kishion, Ebez,\n\t\t\t Remeth, En Gannim, En Haddah and Beth Pazzez.\n\t\t\t Their border touched Tabor, Shahazumah, and Beth Shemesh, and ended at the Jordan. They had sixteen cities and their towns.\n\t\t\t This was the land assigned to the tribe of Issachar by its clans, including the cities and their towns.\n\t\t\t The fifth lot belonged to the tribe of Asher by its clans. \n\t\t\t Their territory included Helkath, Hali, Beten, Acshaph,\n\t\t\t Alammelech, Amad, and Mishal. Their border touched Carmel to the west and Shihor Libnath.\n\t\t\t It turned eastward toward Beth Dagon, touched Zebulun and the Valley of Iphtah El to the north, as well as the Valley of Emek and Neiel, and extended to Cabul on the north\n\t\t\t and on to Ebron, Rehob, Hammon, and Kanah, as far as Greater Sidon.\n\t\t\t It then turned toward Ramah as far as the fortified city of Tyre, turned to Hosah, and ended at the sea near Hebel, Aczib, \n\t\t\t Umah, Aphek, and Rehob. In all they had twenty-two cities and their towns. \n\t\t\t This was the land assigned to the tribe of Asher by its clans, including these cities and their towns.\n\t\t\t The sixth lot belonged to the tribe of Naphtali by its clans. \n\t\t\t Their border started at Heleph and the oak of Zaanannim, went to Adami Nekeb, Jabneel and on to Lakkum, and ended at the Jordan River.\n\t\t\t It turned westward to Aznoth Tabor, extended from there to Hukok, touched Zebulun on the south, Asher on the west, and the Jordan on the east. \n\t\t\t The fortified cities included Ziddim, Zer, Hammath, Rakkath, Kinnereth,\n\t\t\t Adamah, Ramah, Hazor,\n\t\t\t Kedesh, Edrei, En Hazor,\n\t\t\t Yiron, Migdal El, Horem, Beth Anath, and Beth Shemesh. In all they had nineteen cities and their towns. \n\t\t\t This was the land assigned to the tribe of Naphtali by its clans, including the cities and their towns.\n\t\t\t The seventh lot belonged to the tribe of Dan by its clans. \n\t\t\t Their assigned land included Zorah, Eshtaol, Ir Shemesh,\n\t\t\t Shaalabbin, Aijalon, Ithlah,\n\t\t\t Elon, Timnah, Ekron,\n\t\t\t Eltekeh, Gibbethon, Baalath,\n\t\t\t Jehud, Bene Berak, Gath Rimmon,\n\t\t\t the waters of Jarkon, and Rakkon, including the territory in front of Joppa.\n\t\t\t (The Danites failed to conquer their territory, so they went up and fought with Leshem and captured it. They put the sword to it, took possession of it, and lived in it. They renamed it Dan after their ancestor.)\n\t\t\t This was the land assigned to the tribe of Dan by its clans, including these cities and their towns.\n\t\t\t When they finished dividing the land into its regions, the Israelites gave Joshua son of Nun some land.\n\t\t\t As the LORD had instructed, they gave him the city he requested, Timnath Serah in the Ephraimite hill country. He built up the city and lived in it.\n\t\t\t These are the land assignments which Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the Israelite tribal leaders made by drawing lots in Shiloh before the LORD at the entrance of the tent of meeting. So they finished dividing up the land.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The LORD instructed Joshua:\n\t\t\t \"Have the Israelites select the cities of refuge that I told you about through Moses. \n\t\t\t Anyone who accidentally kills someone can escape there; these cities will be a place of asylum from the avenger of blood. \n\t\t\t The one who committed manslaughter should escape to one of these cities, stand at the entrance of the city gate, and present his case to the leaders of that city. They should then bring him into the city, give him a place to stay, and let him live there.\n\t\t\t When the avenger of blood comes after him, they must not hand over to him the one who committed manslaughter, for he accidentally killed his fellow man without premeditation.\n\t\t\t He must remain in that city until his case is decided by the assembly and the high priest dies. Then the one who committed manslaughter may return home to the city from which he escaped.\"\n\t\t\t So they selected Kedesh in Galilee in the hill country of Naphtali, Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron) in the hill country of Judah. \n\t\t\t Beyond the Jordan east of Jericho they selected Bezer in the desert on the plain belonging to the tribe of Reuben, Ramoth in Gilead belonging to the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan belonging to the tribe of Manasseh. \n\t\t\t These were the cities of refuge appointed for all the Israelites and for resident foreigners living among them. Anyone who accidentally killed someone could escape there and not be executed by the avenger of blood, at least until his case was reviewed by the assembly.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The tribal leaders of the Levites went before Eleazar the priest and Joshua son of Nun and the Israelite tribal leaders\n\t\t\t in Shiloh in the land of Canaan and said, \"The LORD told Moses to assign us cities in which to live along with the grazing areas for our cattle.\"\n\t\t\t So the Israelites assigned these cities and their grazing areas to the Levites from their own holdings, as the LORD had instructed.\n\t\t\t The first lot belonged to the Kohathite clans. The Levites who were descendants of Aaron the priest were allotted thirteen cities from the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin. \n\t\t\t The rest of Kohath's descendants were allotted ten cities from the clans of the tribe of Ephraim, and from the tribe of Dan and the half-tribe of Manasseh.\n\t\t\t Gershon's descendants were allotted thirteen cities from the clans of the tribe of Issachar, and from the tribes of Asher and Naphtali and the half-tribe of Manasseh in Bashan.\n\t\t\t Merari's descendants by their clans were allotted twelve cities from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun.\n\t\t\t So the Israelites assigned to the Levites by lot these cities and their grazing areas, as the LORD had instructed Moses.\n\t\t\t They assigned from the tribes of Judah and Simeon the cities listed below.\n\t\t\t They were assigned to the Kohathite clans of the Levites who were descendants of Aaron, for the first lot belonged to them. \n\t\t\t They assigned them Kiriath Arba (Arba was the father of Anak), that is, Hebron, in the hill country of Judah, along with its surrounding grazing areas.\n\t\t\t (Now the city's fields and surrounding towns they had assigned to Caleb son of Jephunneh as his property.)\n\t\t\t So to the descendants of Aaron the priest they assigned Hebron (a city of refuge for one who committed manslaughter), Libnah,\n\t\t\t Jattir, Eshtemoa,\n\t\t\t Holon, Debir,\n\t\t\t Ain, Juttah, and Beth Shemesh, along with the grazing areas of each, a total of nine cities taken from these two tribes.\n\t\t\t From the tribe of Benjamin they assigned Gibeon, Geba, \n\t\t\t Anathoth, and Almon, along with the grazing areas of each, a total of four cities.\n\t\t\t The priests descended from Aaron received thirteen cities and their grazing areas.\n\t\t\t The rest of the Kohathite clans of the Levites were allotted cities from the tribe of Ephraim.\n\t\t\t They assigned them Shechem (a city of refuge for one who committed manslaughter) in the hill country of Ephraim, Gezer,\n\t\t\t Kibzaim, and Beth Horon, along with the grazing areas of each, a total of four cities.\n\t\t\t From the tribe of Dan they assigned Eltekeh, Gibbethon,\n\t\t\t Aijalon, and Gath Rimmon, along with the grazing areas of each, a total of four cities.\n\t\t\t From the half-tribe of Manasseh they assigned Taanach and Gath Rimmon, along with the grazing areas of each, a total of two cities.\n\t\t\t The rest of the Kohathite clans received ten cities and their grazing areas.\n\t\t\t They assigned to the Gershonite clans of the Levites the following cities: from the half-tribe of Manasseh: Golan in Bashan (a city of refuge for one who committed manslaughter) and Beeshtarah, along with the grazing areas of each, a total of two cities;\n\t\t\t from the tribe of Issachar: Kishon, Daberath,\n\t\t\t Jarmuth, and En Gannim, along with the grazing areas of each, a total of four cities;\n\t\t\t from the tribe of Asher: Mishal, Abdon,\n\t\t\t Helkath, and Rehob, along with the grazing areas of each, a total of four cities;\n\t\t\t from the tribe of Naphtali: Kedesh in Galilee (a city of refuge for one who committed manslaughter), Hammoth Dor, and Kartan, along with the grazing areas of each, a total of three cities.\n\t\t\t The Gershonite clans received thirteen cities and their grazing areas.\n\t\t\t They assigned to the Merarite clans (the remaining Levites) the following cities: from the tribe of Zebulun: Jokneam, Kartah,\n\t\t\t Dimnah, and Nahalal, along with the grazing areas of each, a total of four cities;\n\t\t\t from the tribe of Reuben: Bezer, Jahaz, \n\t\t\t Kedemoth, and Mephaath, along with the grazing areas of each, a total of four cities;\n\t\t\t from the tribe of Gad: Ramoth in Gilead (a city of refuge for one who committed manslaughter), Mahanaim,\n\t\t\t Heshbon, and Jazer, along with the grazing areas of each, a total of four cities.\n\t\t\t The Merarite clans (the remaining Levites) were allotted twelve cities.\n\t\t\t The Levites received within the land owned by the Israelites forty-eight cities in all and their grazing areas. \n\t\t\t Each of these cities had grazing areas around it; they were alike in this regard.\n\t\t\t So the LORD gave Israel all the land he had solemnly promised to their ancestors, and they conquered it and lived in it. \n\t\t\t The LORD made them secure, in fulfillment of all he had solemnly promised their ancestors. None of their enemies could resist them.\n\t\t\t Not one of the LORD's faithful promises to the family of Israel was left unfulfilled; every one was realized.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then Joshua summoned the Reubenites, Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh\n\t\t\t and told them: \"You have carried out all the instructions of Moses the LORD's servant, and you have obeyed all I have told you.\n\t\t\t You have not abandoned your fellow Israelites this entire time, right up to this very day. You have completed the task given you by the LORD your God.\n\t\t\t Now the LORD your God has made your fellow Israelites secure, just as he promised them. So now you may turn around and go to your homes in your own land which Moses the LORD's servant assigned to you east of the Jordan. \n\t\t\t But carefully obey the commands and instructions Moses the LORD's servant gave you. Love the LORD your God, follow all his instructions, obey his commands, be loyal to him, and serve him with all your heart and being!\"\n\t\t\t Joshua rewarded them and sent them on their way; they returned to their homes.\n\t\t\t (Now to one half-tribe of Manasseh, Moses had assigned land in Bashan; and to the other half Joshua had assigned land on the west side of the Jordan with their fellow Israelites.) When Joshua sent them home, he rewarded them, \n\t\t\t saying, \"Take home great wealth, a lot of cattle, silver, gold, bronze, iron, and a lot of clothing. Divide up the goods captured from your enemies with your brothers.\" \n\t\t\t So the Reubenites, Gadites, and half-tribe of Manasseh left the Israelites in Shiloh in the land of Canaan and headed home to their own land in Gilead, which they acquired by the LORD's command through Moses.\n\t\t\t The Reubenites, Gadites, and half-tribe of Manasseh came to Geliloth near the Jordan in the land of Canaan and built there, near the Jordan, an impressive altar.\n\t\t\t The Israelites received this report: \"Look, the Reubenites, Gadites, and half-tribe of Manasseh have built an altar at the entrance to the land of Canaan, at Geliloth near the Jordan on the Israelite side.\"\n\t\t\t When the Israelites heard this, the entire Israelite community assembled at Shiloh to launch an attack against them.\n\t\t\t The Israelites sent Phinehas, son of Eleazar, the priest, to the land of Gilead to the Reubenites, Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh.\n\t\t\t He was accompanied by ten leaders, one from each of the Israelite tribes, each one a family leader among the Israelite clans.\n\t\t\t They went to the land of Gilead to the Reubenites, Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, and said to them:\n\t\t\t \"The entire community of the LORD says, 'Why have you disobeyed the God of Israel by turning back today from following the LORD? You built an altar for yourselves and have rebelled today against the LORD.\n\t\t\t The sin we committed at Peor was bad enough. To this very day we have not purified ourselves; it even brought a plague on the community of the LORD.\n\t\t\t Now today you dare to turn back from following the LORD! You are rebelling today against the LORD; tomorrow he may break out in anger against the entire community of Israel. \n\t\t\t But if your own land is impure, cross over to the LORD's own land, where the LORD himself lives, and settle down among us. But don't rebel against the LORD or us by building for yourselves an altar aside from the altar of the LORD our God. \n\t\t\t When Achan son of Zerah disobeyed the command about the city's riches, the entire Israelite community was judged, though only one man had sinned. He most certainly died for his sin!'\"\n\t\t\t The Reubenites, Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh answered the leaders of the Israelite clans: \n\t\t\t \"El, God, the LORD! El, God, the LORD! He knows the truth! Israel must also know! If we have rebelled or disobeyed the LORD, don't spare us today! \n\t\t\t If we have built an altar for ourselves to turn back from following the LORD by making burnt sacrifices and grain offerings on it, or by offering tokens of peace on it, the LORD himself will punish us.\n\t\t\t We swear we have done this because we were worried that in the future your descendants would say to our descendants, 'What relationship do you have with the LORD God of Israel?\n\t\t\t The LORD made the Jordan a boundary between us and you Reubenites and Gadites. You have no right to worship the LORD.' In this way your descendants might cause our descendants to stop obeying the LORD.\n\t\t\t So we decided to build this altar, not for burnt offerings and sacrifices,\n\t\t\t but as a reminder to us and you, and to our descendants who follow us, that we will honor the LORD in his very presence with burnt offerings, sacrifices, and tokens of peace. Then in the future your descendants will not be able to say to our descendants, 'You have no right to worship the LORD.'\n\t\t\t We said, 'If in the future they say such a thing to us or to our descendants, we will reply, \"See the model of the LORD's altar that our ancestors made, not for burnt offerings or sacrifices, but as a reminder to us and you.\"'\n\t\t\t Far be it from us to rebel against the LORD by turning back today from following after the LORD by building an altar for burnt offerings, sacrifices, and tokens of peace aside from the altar of the LORD our God located in front of his dwelling place!\"\n\t\t\t When Phinehas the priest and the community leaders and clan leaders who accompanied him heard the defense of the Reubenites, Gadites, and the Manassehites, they were satisfied.\n\t\t\t Phinehas, son of Eleazar, the priest, said to the Reubenites, Gadites, and the Manassehites, \"Today we know that the LORD is among us, because you have not disobeyed the LORD in this. Now you have rescued the Israelites from the LORD's judgment.\"\n\t\t\t Phinehas, son of Eleazar, the priest, and the leaders left the Reubenites and Gadites in the land of Gilead and reported back to the Israelites in the land of Canaan.\n\t\t\t The Israelites were satisfied with their report and gave thanks to God. They said nothing more about launching an attack to destroy the land in which the Reubenites and Gadites lived.\n\t\t\t The Reubenites and Gadites named the altar, \"Surely it is a Reminder to us that the LORD is God.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t A long time passed after the LORD made Israel secure from all their enemies, and Joshua was very old.\n\t\t\t So Joshua summoned all Israel, including the elders, rulers, judges, and leaders, and told them: \"I am very old.\n\t\t\t You saw everything the LORD your God did to all these nations on your behalf, for the LORD your God fights for you.\n\t\t\t See, I have parceled out to your tribes these remaining nations, from the Jordan to the Mediterranean Sea in the west, including all the nations I defeated.\n\t\t\t The LORD your God will drive them out from before you and remove them, so you can occupy their land as the LORD your God promised you. \n\t\t\t Be very strong! Carefully obey all that is written in the law scroll of Moses so you won't swerve from it to the right or the left,\n\t\t\t or associate with these nations that remain near you. You must not invoke or make solemn declarations by the names of their gods! You must not worship or bow down to them! \n\t\t\t But you must be loyal to the LORD your God, as you have been to this very day.\n\t\t\t \"The LORD drove out from before you great and mighty nations; no one has been able to resist you to this very day. \n\t\t\t One of you makes a thousand run away, for the LORD your God fights for you as he promised you he would.\n\t\t\t Watch yourselves carefully! Love the LORD your God!\n\t\t\t But if you ever turn away and make alliances with these nations that remain near you, and intermarry with them and establish friendly relations with them,\n\t\t\t know for certain that the LORD our God will no longer drive out these nations from before you. They will trap and ensnare you; they will be a whip that tears your sides and thorns that blind your eyes until you disappear from this good land the LORD your God gave you.\n\t\t\t \"Look, today I am about to die. You know with all your heart and being that not even one of all the faithful promises the LORD your God made to you is left unfulfilled; every one was realized, not one promise is unfulfilled!\n\t\t\t But in the same way every faithful promise the LORD your God made to you has been realized, it is just as certain, if you disobey, that the LORD will bring on you every judgment until he destroys you from this good land which the LORD your God gave you. \n\t\t\t If you violate the covenantal laws of the LORD your God which he commanded you to keep, and follow, worship, and bow down to other gods, the LORD will be very angry with you and you will disappear quickly from the good land which he gave to you.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Joshua assembled all the Israelite tribes at Shechem. He summoned Israel's elders, rulers, judges, and leaders, and they appeared before God.\n\t\t\t Joshua told all the people, \"Here is what the LORD God of Israel says: 'In the distant past your ancestors lived beyond the Euphrates River, including Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor. They worshiped other gods, \n\t\t\t but I took your father Abraham from beyond the Euphrates and brought him into the entire land of Canaan. I made his descendants numerous; I gave him Isaac, \n\t\t\t and to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. To Esau I assigned Mount Seir, while Jacob and his sons went down to Egypt. \n\t\t\t I sent Moses and Aaron, and I struck Egypt down when I intervened in their land. Then I brought you out. \n\t\t\t When I brought your fathers out of Egypt, you arrived at the sea. The Egyptians chased your fathers with chariots and horsemen to the Red Sea.\n\t\t\t Your fathers cried out for help to the LORD; he made the area between you and the Egyptians dark, and then drowned them in the sea. You witnessed with your very own eyes what I did in Egypt. You lived in the wilderness for a long time.\n\t\t\t Then I brought you to the land of the Amorites who lived east of the Jordan. They fought with you, but I handed them over to you; you conquered their land and I destroyed them from before you. \n\t\t\t Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, launched an attack against Israel. He summoned Balaam son of Beor to call down judgment on you. \n\t\t\t I refused to respond to Balaam; he kept prophesying good things about you, and I rescued you from his power.\n\t\t\t You crossed the Jordan and came to Jericho. The leaders of Jericho, as well as the Amorites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hittites, Girgashites, Hivites, and Jebusites, fought with you, but I handed them over to you. \n\t\t\t I sent terror ahead of you to drive out before you the two Amorite kings. I gave you the victory; it was not by your swords or bows.\n\t\t\t I gave you a land in which you had not worked hard; you took up residence in cities you did not build and you are eating the produce of vineyards and olive groves you did not plant.'\n\t\t\t Now obey the LORD and worship him with integrity and loyalty. Put aside the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates and in Egypt and worship the LORD. \n\t\t\t If you have no desire to worship the LORD, choose today whom you will worship, whether it be the gods whom your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. But I and my family will worship the LORD!\"\n\t\t\t The people responded, \"Far be it from us to abandon the LORD so we can worship other gods! \n\t\t\t For the LORD our God took us and our fathers out of slavery in the land of Egypt and performed these awesome miracles before our very eyes. He continually protected us as we traveled and when we passed through nations.\n\t\t\t The LORD drove out from before us all the nations, including the Amorites who lived in the land. So we too will worship the LORD, for he is our God!\"\n\t\t\t Joshua warned the people, \"You will not keep worshiping the LORD, for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God who will not forgive your rebellion or your sins. \n\t\t\t If you abandon the LORD and worship foreign gods, he will turn against you; he will bring disaster on you and destroy you, though he once treated you well.\"\n\t\t\t The people said to Joshua, \"No! We really will worship the LORD!\" \n\t\t\t Joshua said to the people, \"Do you agree to be witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen to worship the LORD?\" They replied, \"We are witnesses!\"\n\t\t\t Joshua said, \"Now put aside the foreign gods that are among you and submit to the LORD God of Israel.\"\n\t\t\t The people said to Joshua, \"We will worship the LORD our God and obey him.\"\n\t\t\t That day Joshua drew up an agreement for the people, and he established rules and regulations for them in Shechem. \n\t\t\t Joshua wrote these words in the Law Scroll of God. He then took a large stone and set it up there under the oak tree near the LORD's shrine.\n\t\t\t Joshua said to all the people, \"Look, this stone will be a witness against you, for it has heard everything the LORD said to us. It will be a witness against you if you deny your God.\" \n\t\t\t When Joshua dismissed the people, they went to their allotted portions of land.\n\t\t\t After all this Joshua son of Nun, the LORD's servant, died at the age of one hundred ten. \n\t\t\t They buried him in his allotted territory in Timnath Serah in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash. \n\t\t\t Israel worshiped the LORD throughout Joshua's lifetime and as long as the elderly men who outlived him remained alive. These men had experienced firsthand everything the LORD had done for Israel.\n\t\t\t The bones of Joseph, which the Israelites had brought up from Egypt, were buried at Shechem in the part of the field that Jacob bought from the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem, for one hundred pieces of money. So it became the inheritance of the tribe of Joseph.\n\t\t\t Eleazar son of Aaron died, and they buried him in Gibeah in the hill country of Ephraim, where his son Phinehas had been assigned land.\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t After Joshua died, the Israelites asked the LORD, \"Who should lead the invasion against the Canaanites and launch the attack?\"\n\t\t\t The LORD said, \"The men of Judah should take the lead. Be sure of this! I am handing the land over to them.\"\n\t\t\t The men of Judah said to their relatives, the men of Simeon, \"Invade our allotted land with us and help us attack the Canaanites. Then we will go with you into your allotted land.\" So the men of Simeon went with them.\n\t\t\t The men of Judah attacked, and the LORD handed the Canaanites and Perizzites over to them. They killed ten thousand men at Bezek. \n\t\t\t They met Adoni-Bezek at Bezek and fought him. They defeated the Canaanites and Perizzites. \n\t\t\t When Adoni-Bezek ran away, they chased him and captured him. Then they cut off his thumbs and big toes.\n\t\t\t Adoni-Bezek said, \"Seventy kings, with thumbs and big toes cut off, used to lick up food scraps under my table. God has repaid me for what I did to them.\" They brought him to Jerusalem, where he died. \n\t\t\t The men of Judah attacked Jerusalem and captured it. They put the sword to it and set the city on fire.\n\t\t\t Later the men of Judah went down to attack the Canaanites living in the hill country, the Negev, and the lowlands.\n\t\t\t The men of Judah attacked the Canaanites living in Hebron. (Hebron used to be called Kiriath Arba.) They killed Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai.\n\t\t\t From there they attacked the people of Debir. (Debir used to be called Kiriath Sepher.) \n\t\t\t Caleb said, \"To the man who attacks and captures Kiriath Sepher I will give my daughter Acsah as a wife.\"\n\t\t\t When Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother, captured it, Caleb gave him his daughter Acsah as a wife.\n\t\t\t One time Acsah came and charmed her father so she could ask him for some land. When she got down from her donkey, Caleb said to her, \"What would you like?\" \n\t\t\t She answered, \"Please give me a special present. Since you have given me land in the Negev, now give me springs of water.\" So Caleb gave her both the upper and lower springs.\n\t\t\t Now the descendants of the Kenite, Moses' father-in-law, went up with the people of Judah from the City of Date Palm Trees to Arad in the desert of Judah, located in the Negev. They went and lived with the people of Judah.\n\t\t\t The men of Judah went with their brothers the men of Simeon and defeated the Canaanites living in Zephath. They wiped out Zephath. So people now call the city Hormah.\n\t\t\t The men of Judah captured Gaza, Ashkelon, Ekron, and the territory surrounding each of these cities.\n\t\t\t The LORD was with the men of Judah. They conquered the hill country, but they could not conquer the people living in the coastal plain, because they had chariots with iron-rimmed wheels.\n\t\t\t Caleb received Hebron, just as Moses had promised. He drove out the three Anakites. \n\t\t\t The men of Benjamin, however, did not conquer the Jebusites living in Jerusalem. The Jebusites live with the people of Benjamin in Jerusalem to this very day.\n\t\t\t When the men of Joseph attacked Bethel, the LORD was with them. \n\t\t\t When the men of Joseph spied out Bethel (it used to be called Luz),\n\t\t\t the spies spotted a man leaving the city. They said to him, \"If you show us a secret entrance into the city, we will reward you.\" \n\t\t\t He showed them a secret entrance into the city, and they put the city to the sword. But they let the man and his extended family leave safely.\n\t\t\t He moved to Hittite country and built a city. He named it Luz, and it has kept that name to this very day.\n\t\t\t The men of Manasseh did not conquer Beth Shan, Taanach, or their surrounding towns. Nor did they conquer the people living in Dor, Ibleam, Megiddo or their surrounding towns. The Canaanites managed to remain in those areas.\n\t\t\t Whenever Israel was strong militarily, they forced the Canaanites to do hard labor, but they never totally conquered them.\n\t\t\t The men of Ephraim did not conquer the Canaanites living in Gezer. The Canaanites lived among them in Gezer.\n\t\t\t The men of Zebulun did not conquer the people living in Kitron and Nahalol. The Canaanites lived among them and were forced to do hard labor.\n\t\t\t The men of Asher did not conquer the people living in Acco or Sidon, nor did they conquer Ahlab, Aczib, Helbah, Aphek, or Rehob.\n\t\t\t The people of Asher live among the Canaanites residing in the land because they did not conquer them.\n\t\t\t The men of Naphtali did not conquer the people living in Beth Shemesh or Beth Anath. They live among the Canaanites residing in the land. The Canaanites living in Beth Shemesh and Beth Anath were forced to do hard labor for them.\n\t\t\t The Amorites forced the people of Dan to live in the hill country. They did not allow them to live in the coastal plain. \n\t\t\t The Amorites managed to remain in Har Heres, Aijalon, and Shaalbim. Whenever the tribe of Joseph was strong militarily, the Amorites were forced to do hard labor. \n\t\t\t The border of Amorite territory ran from the Scorpion Ascent to Sela and on up.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The LORD's angelic messenger went up from Gilgal to Bokim. He said, \"I brought you up from Egypt and led you into the land I had solemnly promised to give to your ancestors. I said, 'I will never break my agreement with you, \n\t\t\t but you must not make an agreement with the people who live in this land. You should tear down the altars where they worship.' But you have disobeyed me. Why would you do such a thing?\n\t\t\t At that time I also warned you, 'If you disobey, I will not drive out the Canaanites before you. They will ensnare you and their gods will lure you away.'\"\n\t\t\t When the LORD's messenger finished speaking these words to all the Israelites, the people wept loudly.\n\t\t\t They named that place Bokim and offered sacrifices to the LORD there.\n\t\t\t When Joshua dismissed the people, the Israelites went to their allotted portions of territory, intending to take possession of the land. \n\t\t\t The people worshiped the LORD throughout Joshua's lifetime and as long as the elderly men who outlived him remained alive. These men had witnessed all the great things the LORD had done for Israel.\n\t\t\t Joshua son of Nun, the LORD's servant, died at the age of one hundred ten.\n\t\t\t The people buried him in his allotted land in Timnath Heres in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash. \n\t\t\t That entire generation passed away; a new generation grew up that had not personally experienced the LORD's presence or seen what he had done for Israel.\n\t\t\t The Israelites did evil before the LORD by worshiping the Baals. \n\t\t\t They abandoned the LORD God of their ancestors who brought them out of the land of Egypt. They followed other gods, the gods of the nations who lived around them. They worshiped them and made the LORD angry.\n\t\t\t They abandoned the LORD and worshiped Baal and the Ashtars.\n\t\t\t The LORD was furious with Israel and handed them over to robbers who plundered them. He turned them over to their enemies who lived around them. They could not withstand their enemies' attacks.\n\t\t\t Whenever they went out to fight, the LORD did them harm, just as he had warned and solemnly vowed he would do. They suffered greatly.\n\t\t\t The LORD raised up leaders who delivered them from these robbers.\n\t\t\t But they did not obey their leaders. Instead they prostituted themselves to other gods and worshiped them. They quickly turned aside from the path their ancestors had walked. Their ancestors had obeyed the LORD's commands, but they did not.\n\t\t\t When the LORD raised up leaders for them, the LORD was with each leader and delivered the people from their enemies while the leader remained alive. The LORD felt sorry for them when they cried out in agony because of what their harsh oppressors did to them.\n\t\t\t When a leader died, the next generation would again act more wickedly than the previous one. They would follow after other gods, worshiping them and bowing down to them. They did not give up their practices or their stubborn ways.\n\t\t\t The LORD was furious with Israel. He said, \"This nation has violated the terms of the agreement I made with their ancestors by disobeying me.\n\t\t\t So I will no longer remove before them any of the nations that Joshua left unconquered when he died.\n\t\t\t Joshua left those nations to test Israel. I wanted to see whether or not the people would carefully walk in the path marked out by the LORD, as their ancestors were careful to do.\" \n\t\t\t This is why the LORD permitted these nations to remain and did not conquer them immediately; he did not hand them over to Joshua.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t These were the nations the LORD permitted to remain so he could use them to test Israel, he wanted to test all those who had not experienced battle against the Canaanites.\n\t\t\t He left those nations simply because he wanted to teach the subsequent generations of Israelites, who had not experienced the earlier battles, how to conduct holy war.\n\t\t\t These were the nations: the five lords of the Philistines, all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites living in Mount Lebanon, from Mount Baal Hermon to Lebo-Hamath.\n\t\t\t They were left to test Israel, so the LORD would know if his people would obey the commands he gave their ancestors through Moses.\n\t\t\t The Israelites lived among the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.\n\t\t\t They took the Canaanites' daughters as wives and gave their daughters to the Canaanites; they worshiped their gods as well.\n\t\t\t The Israelites did evil in the LORD's sight. They forgot the LORD their God and worshiped the Baals and the Asherahs.\n\t\t\t The LORD was furious with Israel and turned them over to King Cushan-Rishathaim of Aram-Naharaim. They were Cushan-Rishathaim's subjects for eight years. \n\t\t\t When the Israelites cried out for help to the LORD, he raised up a deliverer for the Israelites who rescued them. His name was Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother.\n\t\t\t The LORD's spirit empowered him and he led Israel. When he went to do battle, the LORD handed over to him King Cushan-Rishathaim of Aram and he overpowered him.\n\t\t\t The land had rest for forty years; then Othniel son of Kenaz died.\n\t\t\t The Israelites again did evil in the LORD's sight. The LORD gave King Eglon of Moab control over Israel because they had done evil in the LORD's sight. \n\t\t\t Eglon formed alliances with the Ammonites and Amalekites. He came and defeated Israel, and they seized the City of Date Palm Trees. \n\t\t\t The Israelites were subject to King Eglon of Moab for eighteen years.\n\t\t\t When the Israelites cried out for help to the LORD, he raised up a deliverer for them. His name was Ehud son of Gera the Benjaminite, a left-handed man. The Israelites sent him to King Eglon of Moab with their tribute payment.\n\t\t\t Ehud made himself a sword, it had two edges and was eighteen inches long. He strapped it under his coat on his right thigh.\n\t\t\t He brought the tribute payment to King Eglon of Moab. (Now Eglon was a very fat man.)\n\t\t\t After Ehud brought the tribute payment, he dismissed the people who had carried it.\n\t\t\t But he went back once he reached the carved images at Gilgal. He said to Eglon, \"I have a secret message for you, O king.\" Eglon said, \"Be quiet!\" All his attendants left. \n\t\t\t When Ehud approached him, he was sitting in his well-ventilated upper room all by himself. Ehud said, \"I have a message from God for you.\" When Eglon rose up from his seat,\n\t\t\t Ehud reached with his left hand, pulled the sword from his right thigh, and drove it into Eglon's belly. \n\t\t\t The handle went in after the blade, and the fat closed around the blade, for Ehud did not pull the sword out of his belly.\n\t\t\t As Ehud went out into the vestibule, he closed the doors of the upper room behind him and locked them.\n\t\t\t When Ehud had left, Eglon's servants came and saw the locked doors of the upper room. They said, \"He must be relieving himself in the well-ventilated inner room.\"\n\t\t\t They waited so long they were embarrassed, but he still did not open the doors of the upper room. Finally they took the key and opened the doors. Right before their eyes was their master, sprawled out dead on the floor!\n\t\t\t Now Ehud had escaped while they were delaying. When he passed the carved images, he escaped to Seirah.\n\t\t\t When he reached Seirah, he blew a trumpet in the Ephraimite hill country. The Israelites went down with him from the hill country, with Ehud in the lead.\n\t\t\t He said to them, \"Follow me, for the LORD is about to defeat your enemies, the Moabites!\" They followed him, captured the fords of the Jordan River opposite Moab, and did not let anyone cross. \n\t\t\t That day they killed about ten thousand Moabites, all strong, capable warriors; not one escaped.\n\t\t\t Israel humiliated Moab that day, and the land had rest for eighty years.\n\t\t\t After Ehud came Shamgar son of Anath; he killed six hundred Philistines with an oxgoad and, like Ehud, delivered Israel.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The Israelites again did evil in the LORD's sight after Ehud's death. \n\t\t\t The LORD turned them over to King Jabin of Canaan, who ruled in Hazor. The general of his army was Sisera, who lived in Harosheth Haggoyim.\n\t\t\t The Israelites cried out for help to the LORD, because Sisera had nine hundred chariots with iron-rimmed wheels, and he cruelly oppressed the Israelites for twenty years.\n\t\t\t Now Deborah, a prophetess, wife of Lappidoth, was leading Israel at that time. \n\t\t\t She would sit under the Date Palm Tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the Ephraimite hill country. The Israelites would come up to her to have their disputes settled.\n\t\t\t She summoned Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali. She said to him, \"Is it not true that the LORD God of Israel is commanding you? Go, march to Mount Tabor! Take with you ten thousand men from Naphtali and Zebulun! \n\t\t\t I will bring Sisera, the general of Jabin's army, to you at the Kishon River, along with his chariots and huge army. I will hand him over to you.\" \n\t\t\t Barak said to her, \"If you go with me, I will go. But if you do not go with me, I will not go.\"\n\t\t\t She said, \"I will indeed go with you. But you will not gain fame on the expedition you are undertaking, for the LORD will turn Sisera over to a woman.\" Deborah got up and went with Barak to Kedesh. \n\t\t\t Barak summoned men from Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh. Ten thousand men followed him; Deborah went up with him as well. \n\t\t\t Now Heber the Kenite had moved away from the Kenites, the descendants of Hobab, Moses' father-in-law. He lived near the great tree in Zaanannim near Kedesh.\n\t\t\t When Sisera heard that Barak son of Abinoam had gone up to Mount Tabor, \n\t\t\t he ordered all his chariotry, nine hundred chariots with iron-rimmed wheels, and all the troops he had with him to go from Harosheth-Haggoyim to the River Kishon.\n\t\t\t Deborah said to Barak, \"Spring into action, for this is the day the LORD is handing Sisera over to you! Has the LORD not taken the lead?\" Barak quickly went down from Mount Tabor with ten thousand men following him. \n\t\t\t The LORD routed Sisera, all his chariotry, and all his army with the edge of the sword. Sisera jumped out of his chariot and ran away on foot. \n\t\t\t Now Barak chased the chariots and the army all the way to Harosheth Haggoyim. Sisera's whole army died by the edge of the sword; not even one survived!\n\t\t\t Now Sisera ran away on foot to the tent of Jael, wife of Heber the Kenite, for King Jabin of Hazor and the family of Heber the Kenite had made a peace treaty.\n\t\t\t Jael came out to welcome Sisera. She said to him, \"Stop and rest, my lord. Stop and rest with me. Don't be afraid.\" So Sisera stopped to rest in her tent, and she put a blanket over him. \n\t\t\t He said to her, \"Give me a little water to drink, because I'm thirsty.\" She opened a goatskin container of milk and gave him some milk to drink. Then she covered him up again.\n\t\t\t He said to her, \"Stand watch at the entrance to the tent. If anyone comes along and asks you, 'Is there a man here?' say 'No.'\"\n\t\t\t Then Jael wife of Heber took a tent peg in one hand and a hammer in the other. She crept up on him, drove the tent peg through his temple into the ground while he was asleep from exhaustion, and he died. \n\t\t\t Now Barak was chasing Sisera. Jael went out to welcome him. She said to him, \"Come here and I will show you the man you are searching for.\" He went with her into the tent, and there he saw Sisera sprawled out dead with the tent peg in his temple.\n\t\t\t That day God humiliated King Jabin of Canaan before the Israelites.\n\t\t\t Israel's power continued to overwhelm King Jabin of Canaan until they did away with him.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t On that day Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang this victory song:\n\t\t\t \"When the leaders took the lead in Israel, When the people answered the call to war, Praise the LORD!\n\t\t\t Hear, O kings! Pay attention, O rulers! I will sing to the LORD! I will sing to the LORD God of Israel!\n\t\t\t O LORD, when you departed from Seir, when you marched from Edom's plains, the earth shook, the heavens poured down, the clouds poured down rain.\n\t\t\t The mountains trembled before the LORD, the God of Sinai; before the LORD God of Israel.\n\t\t\t In the days of Shamgar son of Anath, in the days of Jael caravans disappeared; travelers had to go on winding side roads.\n\t\t\t Warriors were scarce, they were scarce in Israel, until you arose, Deborah, until you arose as a motherly protector in Israel.\n\t\t\t God chose new leaders, then fighters appeared in the city gates; but, I swear, not a shield or spear could be found, among forty military units in Israel.\n\t\t\t My heart went out to Israel's leaders, to the people who answered the call to war. Praise the LORD!\n\t\t\t You who ride on light-colored female donkeys, who sit on saddle blankets, you who walk on the road, pay attention!\n\t\t\t Hear the sound of those who divide the sheep among the watering places; there they tell of the Lord's victorious deeds, the victorious deeds of his warriors in Israel. Then the LORD's people went down to the city gates,\n\t\t\t Wake up, wake up, Deborah! Wake up, wake up, sing a song! Get up, Barak! Capture your prisoners of war, son of Abinoam!\n\t\t\t Then the survivors came down to the mighty ones; the LORD's people came down to me as warriors.\n\t\t\t They came from Ephraim, who uprooted Amalek, they follow after you, Benjamin, with your soldiers. From Makir leaders came down, from Zebulun came the ones who march carrying an officer's staff.\n\t\t\t Issachar's leaders were with Deborah, the men of Issachar supported Barak; into the valley they were sent under Barak's command. Among the clans of Reuben there was intense heart searching.\n\t\t\t Why do you remain among the sheepfolds, listening to the shepherds playing their pipes for their flocks? As for the clans of Reuben, there was intense searching of heart.\n\t\t\t Gilead stayed put beyond the Jordan River. As for Dan, why did he seek temporary employment in the shipyards? Asher remained on the seacoast, he stayed by his harbors.\n\t\t\t The men of Zebulun were not concerned about their lives; Naphtali charged on to the battlefields.\n\t\t\t Kings came, they fought; the kings of Canaan fought, at Taanach by the waters of Megiddo, but they took no silver as plunder.\n\t\t\t From the sky the stars fought, from their paths in the heavens they fought against Sisera.\n\t\t\t The Kishon River carried them off; the river confronted them, the Kishon River. Step on the necks of the strong!\n\t\t\t The horses' hooves pounded the ground; the stallions galloped madly.\n\t\t\t 'Call judgment down on Meroz,' says the LORD's angelic messenger; 'Be sure to call judgment down on those who live there, because they did not come to help in the LORD's battle, to help in the LORD's battle against the warriors.'\n\t\t\t The most rewarded of women should be Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite! She should be the most rewarded of women who live in tents.\n\t\t\t He asked for water, and she gave him milk; in a bowl fit for a king, she served him curds.\n\t\t\t Her left hand reached for the tent peg, her right hand for the workmen's hammer. She \"hammered\" Sisera, she shattered his skull, she smashed his head, she drove the tent peg through his temple.\n\t\t\t Between her feet he collapsed, he fell limp and was lifeless; between her feet he collapsed and fell limp, in the spot where he collapsed, there he fell limp, violently murdered!\n\t\t\t Through the window she looked; Sisera's mother cried out through the lattice: 'Why is his chariot so slow to return? Why are the hoofbeats of his chariot-horses delayed?'\n\t\t\t The wisest of her ladies answer; indeed she even thinks to herself,\n\t\t\t 'No doubt they are gathering and dividing the plunder, a girl or two for each man to rape! Sisera is grabbing up colorful cloth, he is grabbing up colorful embroidered cloth, two pieces of colorful embroidered cloth, for the neck of the plunderer!'\n\t\t\t May all your enemies perish like this, O LORD! But may those who love you shine like the rising sun at its brightest!\" And the land had rest for forty years.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The Israelites did evil in the LORD's sight, so the LORD turned them over to Midian for seven years. \n\t\t\t The Midianites overwhelmed Israel. Because of Midian the Israelites made shelters for themselves in the hills, as well as caves and strongholds. \n\t\t\t Whenever the Israelites planted their crops, the Midianites, Amalekites, and the people from the east would attack them.\n\t\t\t They invaded the land and devoured its crops all the way to Gaza. They left nothing for the Israelites to eat, and they took away the sheep, oxen, and donkeys. \n\t\t\t When they invaded with their cattle and tents, they were as thick as locusts. Neither they nor their camels could be counted. They came to devour the land. \n\t\t\t Israel was so severely weakened by Midian that the Israelites cried out to the LORD for help.\n\t\t\t When the Israelites cried out to the LORD for help because of Midian,\n\t\t\t he sent a prophet to the Israelites. He said to them, \"This is what the LORD God of Israel says: 'I brought you up from Egypt and took you out of that place of slavery.\n\t\t\t I rescued you from Egypt's power and from the power of all who oppressed you. I drove them out before you and gave their land to you. \n\t\t\t I said to you, \"I am the LORD your God! Do not worship the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are now living!\" But you have disobeyed me.'\"\n\t\t\t The LORD's angelic messenger came and sat down under the oak tree in Ophrah owned by Joash the Abiezrite. He arrived while Joash's son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress so he could hide it from the Midianites.\n\t\t\t The LORD's messenger appeared and said to him, \"The LORD is with you, courageous warrior!\"\n\t\t\t Gideon said to him, \"Pardon me, but if the LORD is with us, why has such disaster overtaken us? Where are all his miraculous deeds our ancestors told us about? They said, 'Did the LORD not bring us up from Egypt?' But now the LORD has abandoned us and handed us over to Midian.\" \n\t\t\t Then the LORD himself turned to him and said, \"You have the strength. Deliver Israel from the power of the Midianites! Have I not sent you?\" \n\t\t\t Gideon said to him, \"But Lord, how can I deliver Israel? Just look! My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the youngest in my family.\"\n\t\t\t The LORD said to him, \"Ah, but I will be with you! You will strike down the whole Midianite army.\"\n\t\t\t Gideon said to him, \"If you really are pleased with me, then give me a sign as proof that it is really you speaking with me. \n\t\t\t Do not leave this place until I come back with a gift and present it to you.\" The LORD said, \"I will stay here until you come back.\"\n\t\t\t Gideon went and prepared a young goat, along with unleavened bread made from an ephah of flour. He put the meat in a basket and the broth in a pot. He brought the food to him under the oak tree and presented it to him. \n\t\t\t God's messenger said to him, \"Put the meat and unleavened bread on this rock, and pour out the broth.\" Gideon did as instructed.\n\t\t\t The LORD's messenger touched the meat and the unleavened bread with the tip of his staff. Fire flared up from the rock and consumed the meat and unleavened bread. The LORD's messenger then disappeared.\n\t\t\t When Gideon realized that it was the LORD's messenger, he said, \"Oh no! Master, LORD! I have seen the LORD's messenger face to face!\" \n\t\t\t The LORD said to him, \"You are safe! Do not be afraid! You are not going to die!\" \n\t\t\t Gideon built an altar for the LORD there, and named it \"The LORD is on friendly terms with me.\" To this day it is still there in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.\n\t\t\t That night the LORD said to him, \"Take the bull from your father's herd, as well as a second bull, one that is seven years old. Pull down your father's Baal altar and cut down the nearby Asherah pole.\n\t\t\t Then build an altar for the LORD your God on the top of this stronghold according to the proper pattern. Take the second bull and offer it as a burnt sacrifice on the wood from the Asherah pole that you cut down.\" \n\t\t\t So Gideon took ten of his servants and did just as the LORD had told him. He was too afraid of his father's family and the men of the city to do it in broad daylight, so he waited until nighttime.\n\t\t\t When the men of the city got up the next morning, they saw the Baal altar pulled down, the nearby Asherah pole cut down, and the second bull sacrificed on the newly built altar. \n\t\t\t They said to one another, \"Who did this?\" They investigated the matter thoroughly and concluded that Gideon son of Joash had done it. \n\t\t\t The men of the city said to Joash, \"Bring out your son, so we can execute him! He pulled down the Baal altar and cut down the nearby Asherah pole.\" \n\t\t\t But Joash said to all those who confronted him, \"Must you fight Baal's battles? Must you rescue him? Whoever takes up his cause will die by morning! If he really is a god, let him fight his own battles! After all, it was his altar that was pulled down.\"\n\t\t\t That very day Gideon's father named him Jerub-Baal, because he had said, \"Let Baal fight with him, for it was his altar that was pulled down.\"\n\t\t\t All the Midianites, Amalekites, and the people from the east assembled. They crossed the Jordan River and camped in the Jezreel Valley. \n\t\t\t The LORD's spirit took control of Gideon. He blew a trumpet, summoning the Abiezrites to follow him.\n\t\t\t He sent messengers throughout Manasseh and summoned them to follow him as well. He also sent messengers throughout Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali, and they came up to meet him.\n\t\t\t Gideon said to God, \"If you really intend to use me to deliver Israel, as you promised, then give me a sign as proof.\n\t\t\t Look, I am putting a wool fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece, and the ground around it is dry, then I will be sure that you will use me to deliver Israel, as you promised.\" \n\t\t\t The LORD did as he asked. When he got up the next morning, he squeezed the fleece, and enough dew dripped from it to fill a bowl.\n\t\t\t Gideon said to God, \"Please do not get angry at me, when I ask for just one more sign. Please allow me one more test with the fleece. This time make only the fleece dry, while the ground around it is covered with dew.\"\n\t\t\t That night God did as he asked. Only the fleece was dry and the ground around it was covered with dew.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Jerub-Baal (that is, Gideon) and his men got up the next morning and camped near the spring of Harod. The Midianites were camped north of them near the hill of Moreh in the valley. \n\t\t\t The LORD said to Gideon, \"You have too many men for me to hand Midian over to you. Israel might brag, 'Our own strength has delivered us.'\n\t\t\t Now, announce to the men, 'Whoever is shaking with fear may turn around and leave Mount Gilead.'\" Twenty-two thousand men went home; ten thousand remained. \n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Gideon again, \"There are still too many men. Bring them down to the water and I will thin the ranks some more. When I say, 'This one should go with you,' pick him to go; when I say, 'This one should not go with you,' do not take him.\"\n\t\t\t So he brought the men down to the water. Then the LORD said to Gideon, \"Separate those who lap the water as a dog laps from those who kneel to drink.\"\n\t\t\t Three hundred men lapped; the rest of the men kneeled to drink water. \n\t\t\t The LORD said to Gideon, \"With the three hundred men who lapped I will deliver the whole army and I will hand Midian over to you. The rest of the men should go home.\"\n\t\t\t The men who were chosen took supplies and their trumpets. Gideon sent all the men of Israel back to their homes; he kept only three hundred men. Now the Midianites were camped down below in the valley.\n\t\t\t That night the LORD said to Gideon, \"Get up! Attack the camp, for I am handing it over to you.\n\t\t\t But if you are afraid to attack, go down to the camp with Purah your servant\n\t\t\t and listen to what they are saying. Then you will be brave and attack the camp.\" So he went down with Purah his servant to where the sentries were guarding the camp.\n\t\t\t Now the Midianites, Amalekites, and the people from the east covered the valley like a swarm of locusts. Their camels could not be counted; they were as innumerable as the sand on the seashore. \n\t\t\t When Gideon arrived, he heard a man telling another man about a dream he had. The man said, \"Look! I had a dream. I saw a stale cake of barley bread rolling into the Midianite camp. It hit a tent so hard it knocked it over and turned it upside down. The tent just collapsed.\"\n\t\t\t The other man said, \"Without a doubt this symbolizes the sword of Gideon son of Joash, the Israelite. God is handing Midian and all the army over to him.\"\n\t\t\t When Gideon heard the report of the dream and its interpretation, he praised God. Then he went back to the Israelite camp and said, \"Get up, for the LORD is handing the Midianite army over to you!\" \n\t\t\t He divided the three hundred men into three units. He gave them all trumpets and empty jars with torches inside them.\n\t\t\t He said to them, \"Watch me and do as I do. Watch closely! I am going to the edge of the camp. Do as I do! \n\t\t\t When I and all who are with me blow our trumpets, you also blow your trumpets all around the camp. Then say, 'For the LORD and for Gideon!'\"\n\t\t\t Gideon took a hundred men to the edge of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, just after they had changed the guards. They blew their trumpets and broke the jars they were carrying.\n\t\t\t All three units blew their trumpets and broke their jars. They held the torches in their left hand and the trumpets in their right. Then they yelled, \"A sword for the LORD and for Gideon!\"\n\t\t\t They stood in order all around the camp. The whole army ran away; they shouted as they scrambled away.\n\t\t\t When the three hundred men blew their trumpets, the LORD caused the Midianites to attack one another with their swords throughout the camp. The army fled to Beth Shittah on the way to Zererah. They went to the border of Abel Meholah near Tabbath.\n\t\t\t Israelites from Naphtali, Asher, and Manasseh answered the call and chased the Midianites.\n\t\t\t Now Gideon sent messengers throughout the Ephraimite hill country who announced, \"Go down and head off the Midianites. Take control of the fords of the streams all the way to Beth Barah and the Jordan River.\" When all the Ephraimites had assembled, they took control of the fords all the way to Beth Barah and the Jordan River. \n\t\t\t They captured the two Midianite generals, Oreb and Zeeb. They executed Oreb on the rock of Oreb and Zeeb in the winepress of Zeeb. They chased the Midianites and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon, who was now on the other side of the Jordan River.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The Ephraimites said to him, \"Why have you done such a thing to us? You did not summon us when you went to fight the Midianites!\" They argued vehemently with him. \n\t\t\t He said to them, \"Now what have I accomplished compared to you? Even Ephraim's leftover grapes are better quality than Abiezer's harvest!\n\t\t\t It was to you that God handed over the Midianite generals, Oreb and Zeeb! What did I accomplish to rival that?\" When he said this, they calmed down.\n\t\t\t Now Gideon and his three hundred men had crossed over the Jordan River, and even though they were exhausted, they were still chasing the Midianites.\n\t\t\t He said to the men of Succoth, \"Give some loaves of bread to the men who are following me, because they are exhausted. I am chasing Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian.\" \n\t\t\t The officials of Succoth said, \"You have not yet overpowered Zebah and Zalmunna. So why should we give bread to your army?\"\n\t\t\t Gideon said, \"Since you will not help, after the LORD hands Zebah and Zalmunna over to me, I will thresh your skin with desert thorns and briers.\" \n\t\t\t He went up from there to Penuel and made the same request. The men of Penuel responded the same way the men of Succoth had.\n\t\t\t He also threatened the men of Penuel, warning, \"When I return victoriously, I will tear down this tower.\"\n\t\t\t Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor with their armies. There were about fifteen thousand survivors from the army of the eastern peoples; a hundred and twenty thousand sword-wielding soldiers had been killed.\n\t\t\t Gideon went up the road of the nomads east of Nobah and Jogbehah and ambushed the surprised army.\n\t\t\t When Zebah and Zalmunna ran away, Gideon chased them and captured the two Midianite kings, Zebah and Zalmunna. He had surprised their entire army.\n\t\t\t Gideon son of Joash returned from the battle by the pass of Heres. \n\t\t\t He captured a young man from Succoth and interrogated him. The young man wrote down for him the names of Succoth's officials and city leaders, seventy-seven men in all.\n\t\t\t He approached the men of Succoth and said, \"Look what I have! Zebah and Zalmunna! You insulted me, saying, 'You have not yet overpowered Zebah and Zalmunna. So why should we give bread to your exhausted men?'\"\n\t\t\t He seized the leaders of the city, along with some desert thorns and briers; he then \"threshed\" the men of Succoth with them.\n\t\t\t He also tore down the tower of Penuel and executed the city's men.\n\t\t\t He said to Zebah and Zalmunna, \"Describe for me the men you killed at Tabor.\" They said, \"They were like you. Each one looked like a king's son.\"\n\t\t\t He said, \"They were my brothers, the sons of my mother. I swear, as surely as the LORD is alive, if you had let them live, I would not kill you.\"\n\t\t\t He ordered Jether his firstborn son, \"Come on! Kill them!\" But Jether was too afraid to draw his sword, because he was still young. \n\t\t\t Zebah and Zalmunna said to Gideon, \"Come on, you strike us, for a man is judged by his strength.\" So Gideon killed Zebah and Zalmunna, and he took the crescent-shaped ornaments which were on the necks of their camels.\n\t\t\t The men of Israel said to Gideon, \"Rule over us, you, your son, and your grandson. For you have delivered us from Midian's power.\"\n\t\t\t Gideon said to them, \"I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you. The LORD will rule over you.\"\n\t\t\t Gideon continued, \"I would like to make one request. Each of you give me an earring from the plunder you have taken.\" (The Midianites had gold earrings because they were Ishmaelites.) \n\t\t\t They said, \"We are happy to give you earrings.\" So they spread out a garment, and each one threw an earring from his plunder onto it. \n\t\t\t The total weight of the gold earrings he requested came to seventeen hundred gold shekels. This was in addition to the crescent-shaped ornaments, jewelry, purple clothing worn by the Midianite kings, and the necklaces on the camels.\n\t\t\t Gideon used all this to make an ephod, which he put in his hometown of Ophrah. All the Israelites prostituted themselves to it by worshiping it there. It became a snare to Gideon and his family.\n\t\t\t The Israelites humiliated Midian; the Midianites' fighting spirit was broken. The land had rest for forty years during Gideon's time.\n\t\t\t Then Jerub-Baal son of Joash went home and settled down.\n\t\t\t Gideon fathered seventy sons through his many wives.\n\t\t\t His concubine, who lived in Shechem, also gave him a son, whom he named Abimelech.\n\t\t\t Gideon son of Joash died at a very old age and was buried in the tomb of his father Joash located in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.\n\t\t\t After Gideon died, the Israelites again prostituted themselves to the Baals. They made Baal-Berith their god. \n\t\t\t The Israelites did not remain true to the LORD their God, who had delivered them from all the enemies who lived around them.\n\t\t\t They did not treat the family of Jerub-Baal (that is, Gideon) fairly in return for all the good he had done for Israel.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now Abimelech son of Jerub-Baal went to Shechem to see his mother's relatives. He said to them and to his mother's entire extended family,\n\t\t\t \"Tell all the leaders of Shechem this: 'Why would you want to have seventy men, all Jerub-Baal's sons, ruling over you, when you can have just one ruler? Recall that I am your own flesh and blood.'\"\n\t\t\t His mother's relatives spoke on his behalf to all the leaders of Shechem and reported his proposal. The leaders were drawn to Abimelech; they said, \"He is our close relative.\"\n\t\t\t They paid him seventy silver shekels out of the temple of Baal-Berith. Abimelech then used the silver to hire some lawless, dangerous men as his followers.\n\t\t\t He went to his father's home in Ophrah and murdered his half-brothers, the seventy legitimate sons of Jerub-Baal, on one stone. Only Jotham, Jerub-Baal's youngest son, escaped, because he hid. \n\t\t\t All the leaders of Shechem and Beth Millo assembled and then went and made Abimelech king by the oak near the pillar in Shechem.\n\t\t\t When Jotham heard the news, he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim. He spoke loudly to the people below, \"Listen to me, leaders of Shechem, so that God may listen to you!\n\t\t\t \"The trees were determined to go out and choose a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, 'Be our king!'\n\t\t\t But the olive tree said to them, 'I am not going to stop producing my oil, which is used to honor gods and men, just to sway above the other trees!'\n\t\t\t \"So the trees said to the fig tree, 'You come and be our king!'\n\t\t\t But the fig tree said to them, 'I am not going to stop producing my sweet figs, my excellent fruit, just to sway above the other trees!'\n\t\t\t \"So the trees said to the grapevine, 'You come and be our king!'\n\t\t\t But the grapevine said to them, 'I am not going to stop producing my wine, which makes gods and men so happy, just to sway above the other trees!'\n\t\t\t \"So all the trees said to the thornbush, 'You come and be our king!'\n\t\t\t The thornbush said to the trees, 'If you really want to choose me as your king, then come along, find safety under my branches! Otherwise may fire blaze from the thornbush and consume the cedars of Lebanon!'\n\t\t\t \"Now, if you have shown loyalty and integrity when you made Abimelech king, if you have done right to Jerub-Baal and his family, if you have properly repaid him,\n\t\t\t my father fought for you; he risked his life and delivered you from Midian's power.\n\t\t\t But you have attacked my father's family today. You murdered his seventy legitimate sons on one stone and made Abimelech, the son of his female slave, king over the leaders of Shechem, just because he is your close relative.\n\t\t\t So if you have shown loyalty and integrity to Jerub-Baal and his family today, then may Abimelech bring you happiness and may you bring him happiness!\n\t\t\t But if not, may fire blaze from Abimelech and consume the leaders of Shechem and Beth Millo! May fire also blaze from the leaders of Shechem and Beth Millo and consume Abimelech!\"\n\t\t\t Then Jotham ran away to Beer and lived there to escape from Abimelech his half-brother.\n\t\t\t Abimelech commanded Israel for three years. \n\t\t\t God sent a spirit to stir up hostility between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem. He made the leaders of Shechem disloyal to Abimelech. \n\t\t\t He did this so the violent deaths of Jerub-Baal's seventy sons might be avenged and Abimelech, their half-brother who murdered them, might have to pay for their spilled blood, along with the leaders of Shechem who helped him murder them.\n\t\t\t The leaders of Shechem rebelled against Abimelech by putting bandits in the hills, who robbed everyone who traveled by on the road. But Abimelech found out about it.\n\t\t\t Gaal son of Ebed came through Shechem with his brothers. The leaders of Shechem transferred their loyalty to him.\n\t\t\t They went out to the field, harvested their grapes, squeezed out the juice, and celebrated. They came to the temple of their god and ate, drank, and cursed Abimelech.\n\t\t\t Gaal son of Ebed said, \"Who is Abimelech and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerub-Baal, and is not Zebul the deputy he appointed? Serve the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem! But why should we serve Abimelech?\n\t\t\t If only these men were under my command, I would get rid of Abimelech!\" He challenged Abimelech, \"Muster your army and come out for battle!\"\n\t\t\t When Zebul, the city commissioner, heard the words of Gaal son of Ebed, he was furious.\n\t\t\t He sent messengers to Abimelech, who was in Arumah, reporting, \"Beware! Gaal son of Ebed and his brothers are coming to Shechem and inciting the city to rebel against you.\n\t\t\t Now, come up at night with your men and set an ambush in the field outside the city.\n\t\t\t In the morning at sunrise quickly attack the city. When he and his men come out to fight you, do what you can to him.\"\n\t\t\t So Abimelech and all his men came up at night and set an ambush outside Shechem, they divided into four units.\n\t\t\t When Gaal son of Ebed came out and stood at the entrance to the city's gate, Abimelech and his men got up from their hiding places.\n\t\t\t Gaal saw the men and said to Zebul, \"Look, men are coming down from the tops of the hills.\" But Zebul said to him, \"You are seeing the shadows on the hills, it just looks like men.\"\n\t\t\t Gaal again said, \"Look, men are coming down from the very center of the land. A unit is coming by way of the Oak Tree of the Diviners.\"\n\t\t\t Zebul said to him, \"Where now are your bragging words, 'Who is Abimelech that we should serve him?' Are these not the men you insulted? Go out now and fight them!\" \n\t\t\t So Gaal led the leaders of Shechem out and fought Abimelech. \n\t\t\t Abimelech chased him, and Gaal ran from him. Many Shechemites fell wounded at the entrance of the gate. \n\t\t\t Abimelech went back to Arumah; Zebul drove Gaal and his brothers out of Shechem.\n\t\t\t The next day the Shechemites came out to the field. When Abimelech heard about it,\n\t\t\t he took his men and divided them into three units and set an ambush in the field. When he saw the people coming out of the city, he attacked and struck them down.\n\t\t\t Abimelech and his units attacked and blocked the entrance to the city's gate. Two units then attacked all the people in the field and struck them down. \n\t\t\t Abimelech fought against the city all that day. He captured the city and killed all the people in it. Then he leveled the city and spread salt over it.\n\t\t\t When all the leaders of the Tower of Shechem heard the news, they went to the stronghold of the temple of El-Berith.\n\t\t\t Abimelech heard that all the leaders of the Tower of Shechem were in one place.\n\t\t\t He and all his men went up on Mount Zalmon. He took an ax in his hand and cut off a tree branch. He put it on his shoulder and said to his men, \"Quickly, do what you have just seen me do!\"\n\t\t\t So each of his men also cut off a branch and followed Abimelech. They put the branches against the stronghold and set fire to it. All the people of the Tower of Shechem died, about a thousand men and women.\n\t\t\t Abimelech moved on to Thebez; he besieged and captured it.\n\t\t\t There was a fortified tower in the center of the city, so all the men and women, as well as the city's leaders, ran into it and locked the entrance. Then they went up to the roof of the tower. \n\t\t\t Abimelech came and attacked the tower. When he approached the entrance of the tower to set it on fire,\n\t\t\t a woman threw an upper millstone down on his head and shattered his skull. \n\t\t\t He quickly called to the young man who carried his weapons, \"Draw your sword and kill me, so they will not say, 'A woman killed him.'\" So the young man stabbed him and he died. \n\t\t\t When the Israelites saw that Abimelech was dead, they went home.\n\t\t\t God repaid Abimelech for the evil he did to his father by murdering his seventy half-brothers.\n\t\t\t God also repaid the men of Shechem for their evil deeds. The curse spoken by Jotham son of Jerub-Baal fell on them.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t After Abimelech's death, Tola son of Puah, grandson of Dodo, from the tribe of Issachar, rose up to deliver Israel. He lived in Shamir in the Ephraimite hill country. \n\t\t\t He led Israel for twenty-three years, then died and was buried in Shamir.\n\t\t\t Jair the Gileadite rose up after him; he led Israel for twenty-two years.\n\t\t\t He had thirty sons who rode on thirty donkeys and possessed thirty cities. To this day these towns are called Havvoth Jair, they are in the land of Gilead.\n\t\t\t Jair died and was buried in Kamon.\n\t\t\t The Israelites again did evil in the LORD's sight. They worshiped the Baals and the Ashtars, as well as the gods of Syria, Sidon, Moab, the Ammonites, and the Philistines. They abandoned the LORD and did not worship him. \n\t\t\t The LORD was furious with Israel and turned them over to the Philistines and Ammonites. \n\t\t\t They ruthlessly oppressed the Israelites that eighteenth year, that is, all the Israelites living east of the Jordan in Amorite country in Gilead.\n\t\t\t The Ammonites crossed the Jordan to fight with Judah, Benjamin, and Ephraim. Israel suffered greatly.\n\t\t\t The Israelites cried out for help to the LORD: \"We have sinned against you. We abandoned our God and worshiped the Baals.\" \n\t\t\t The LORD said to the Israelites, \"Did I not deliver you from Egypt, the Amorites, the Ammonites, the Philistines,\n\t\t\t the Sidonians, Amalek, and Midian when they oppressed you? You cried out for help to me, and I delivered you from their power.\n\t\t\t But since you abandoned me and worshiped other gods, I will not deliver you again. \n\t\t\t Go and cry for help to the gods you have chosen! Let them deliver you from trouble!\"\n\t\t\t But the Israelites said to the LORD, \"We have sinned. You do to us as you see fit, but deliver us today!\"\n\t\t\t They threw away the foreign gods they owned and worshiped the LORD. Finally the LORD grew tired of seeing Israel suffer so much.\n\t\t\t The Ammonites assembled and camped in Gilead; the Israelites gathered together and camped in Mizpah. \n\t\t\t The leaders of Gilead said to one another, \"Who is willing to lead the charge against the Ammonites? He will become the leader of all who live in Gilead!\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a brave warrior. His mother was a prostitute, but Gilead was his father.\n\t\t\t Gilead's wife also gave him sons. When his wife's sons grew up, they made Jephthah leave and said to him, \"You are not going to inherit any of our father's wealth, because you are another woman's son.\" \n\t\t\t So Jephthah left his half-brothers and lived in the land of Tob. Lawless men joined Jephthah's gang and traveled with him.\n\t\t\t It was some time after this when the Ammonites fought with Israel.\n\t\t\t When the Ammonites attacked, the leaders of Gilead asked Jephthah to come back from the land of Tob. \n\t\t\t They said, \"Come, be our commander, so we can fight with the Ammonites.\" \n\t\t\t Jephthah said to the leaders of Gilead, \"But you hated me and made me leave my father's house. Why do you come to me now, when you are in trouble?\" \n\t\t\t The leaders of Gilead said to Jephthah, \"That may be true, but now we pledge to you our loyalty. Come with us and fight with the Ammonites. Then you will become the leader of all who live in Gilead.\"\n\t\t\t Jephthah said to the leaders of Gilead, \"All right! If you take me back to fight with the Ammonites and the LORD gives them to me, I will be your leader.\"\n\t\t\t The leaders of Gilead said to Jephthah, \"The LORD will judge any grievance you have against us, if we do not do as you say.\"\n\t\t\t So Jephthah went with the leaders of Gilead. The people made him their leader and commander. Jephthah repeated the terms of the agreement before the LORD in Mizpah.\n\t\t\t Jephthah sent messengers to the Ammonite king, saying, \"Why have you come against me to attack my land?\" \n\t\t\t The Ammonite king said to Jephthah's messengers, \"Because Israel stole my land when they came up from Egypt, from the Arnon River in the south to the Jabbok River in the north, and as far west as the Jordan. Now return it peaceably!\"\n\t\t\t Jephthah sent messengers back to the Ammonite king\n\t\t\t and said to him, \"This is what Jephthah says, 'Israel did not steal the land of Moab and the land of the Ammonites. \n\t\t\t When they left Egypt, Israel traveled through the desert as far as the Red Sea and then came to Kadesh. \n\t\t\t Israel sent messengers to the king of Edom, saying, \"Please allow us to pass through your land.\" But the king of Edom rejected the request. Israel sent the same request to the king of Moab, but he was unwilling to cooperate. So Israel stayed at Kadesh. \n\t\t\t Then Israel went through the desert and bypassed the land of Edom and the land of Moab. They traveled east of the land of Moab and camped on the other side of the Arnon River; they did not go through Moabite territory (the Arnon was Moab's border). \n\t\t\t Israel sent messengers to King Sihon, the Amorite king who ruled in Heshbon, and said to him, \"Please allow us to pass through your land to our land.\"\n\t\t\t But Sihon did not trust Israel to pass through his territory. He assembled his whole army, camped in Jahaz, and fought with Israel. \n\t\t\t The LORD God of Israel handed Sihon and his whole army over to Israel and they defeated them. Israel took all the land of the Amorites who lived in that land. \n\t\t\t They took all the Amorite territory from the Arnon River on the south to the Jabbok River on the north, from the desert in the east to the Jordan in the west.\n\t\t\t Since the LORD God of Israel has driven out the Amorites before his people Israel, do you think you can just take it from them?\n\t\t\t You have the right to take what Chemosh your god gives you, but we will take the land of all whom the LORD our God has driven out before us.\n\t\t\t Are you really better than Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab? Did he dare to quarrel with Israel? Did he dare to fight with them?\n\t\t\t Israel has been living in Heshbon and its nearby towns, in Aroer and its nearby towns, and in all the cities along the Arnon for three hundred years! Why did you not reclaim them during that time?\n\t\t\t I have not done you wrong, but you are doing wrong by attacking me. May the LORD, the Judge, judge this day between the Israelites and the Ammonites!'\" \n\t\t\t But the Ammonite king disregarded the message sent by Jephthah.\n\t\t\t The LORD's spirit empowered Jephthah. He passed through Gilead and Manasseh and went to Mizpah in Gilead. From there he approached the Ammonites.\n\t\t\t Jephthah made a vow to the LORD, saying, \"If you really do hand the Ammonites over to me,\n\t\t\t then whoever is the first to come through the doors of my house to meet me when I return safely from fighting the Ammonites, he will belong to the LORD and I will offer him up as a burnt sacrifice.\"\n\t\t\t Jephthah approached the Ammonites to fight with them, and the LORD handed them over to him. \n\t\t\t He defeated them from Aroer all the way to Minnith, twenty cities in all, even as far as Abel Keramim! He wiped them out! The Israelites humiliated the Ammonites.\n\t\t\t When Jephthah came home to Mizpah, there was his daughter hurrying out to meet him, dancing to the rhythm of tambourines. She was his only child; except for her he had no son or daughter. \n\t\t\t When he saw her, he ripped his clothes and said, \"Oh no! My daughter! You have completely ruined me! You have brought me disaster! I made an oath to the LORD, and I cannot break it.\"\n\t\t\t She said to him, \"My father, since you made an oath to the LORD, do to me as you promised. After all, the LORD vindicated you before your enemies, the Ammonites.\" \n\t\t\t She then said to her father, \"Please grant me this one wish. For two months allow me to walk through the hills with my friends and mourn my virginity.\"\n\t\t\t He said, \"You may go.\" He permitted her to leave for two months. She went with her friends and mourned her virginity as she walked through the hills.\n\t\t\t After two months she returned to her father, and he did to her as he had vowed. She died a virgin. Her tragic death gave rise to a custom in Israel.\n\t\t\t Every year Israelite women commemorate the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite for four days.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The Ephraimites assembled and crossed over to Zaphon. They said to Jephthah, \"Why did you go and fight with the Ammonites without asking us to go with you? We will burn your house down right over you!\"\n\t\t\t Jephthah said to them, \"My people and I were entangled in controversy with the Ammonites. I asked for your help, but you did not deliver me from their power.\n\t\t\t When I saw that you were not going to help, I risked my life and advanced against the Ammonites, and the LORD handed them over to me. Why have you come up to fight with me today?\" \n\t\t\t Jephthah assembled all the men of Gilead and they fought with Ephraim. The men of Gilead defeated Ephraim, because the Ephraimites insulted them, saying, \"You Gileadites are refugees in Ephraim, living within Ephraim's and Manasseh's territory.\"\n\t\t\t The Gileadites captured the fords of the Jordan River opposite Ephraim. Whenever an Ephraimite fugitive said, \"Let me cross over,\" the men of Gilead asked him, \"Are you an Ephraimite?\" If he said, \"No,\" \n\t\t\t then they said to him, \"Say 'Shibboleth!'\" If he said, \"Sibboleth\" (and could not pronounce the word correctly), they grabbed him and executed him right there at the fords of the Jordan. On that day forty-two thousand Ephraimites fell dead. \n\t\t\t Jephthah led Israel for six years; then he died and was buried in his city in Gilead.\n\t\t\t After him Ibzan of Bethlehem led Israel. \n\t\t\t He had thirty sons. He arranged for thirty of his daughters to be married outside his extended family, and he arranged for thirty young women to be brought from outside as wives for his sons. Ibzan led Israel for seven years; \n\t\t\t then he died and was buried in Bethlehem.\n\t\t\t After him Elon the Zebulunite led Israel for ten years.\n\t\t\t Then Elon the Zebulunite died and was buried in Aijalon in the land of Zebulun.\n\t\t\t After him Abdon son of Hillel the Pirathonite led Israel. \n\t\t\t He had forty sons and thirty grandsons who rode on seventy donkeys. He led Israel for eight years.\n\t\t\t Then Abdon son of Hillel the Pirathonite died and was buried in Pirathon in the land of Ephraim, in the hill country of the Amalekites.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The Israelites again did evil in the LORD's sight, so the LORD handed them over to the Philistines for forty years.\n\t\t\t There was a man named Manoah from Zorah, from the Danite tribe. His wife was infertile and childless.\n\t\t\t The LORD's angelic messenger appeared to the woman and said to her, \"You are infertile and childless, but you will conceive and have a son. \n\t\t\t Now be careful! Do not drink wine or beer, and do not eat any food that will make you ritually unclean.\n\t\t\t Look, you will conceive and have a son. You must never cut his hair, for the child will be dedicated to God from birth. He will begin to deliver Israel from the power of the Philistines.\"\n\t\t\t The woman went and said to her husband, \"A man sent from God came to me! He looked like God's angelic messenger, he was very awesome. I did not ask him where he came from, and he did not tell me his name.\n\t\t\t He said to me, 'Look, you will conceive and have a son. So now, do not drink wine or beer and do not eat any food that will make you ritually unclean. For the child will be dedicated to God from birth till the day he dies.'\"\n\t\t\t Manoah prayed to the LORD, \"Please, Lord, allow the man sent from God to visit us again, so he can teach us how we should raise the child who will be born.\" \n\t\t\t God answered Manoah's prayer. God's angelic messenger visited the woman again while she was sitting in the field. But her husband Manoah was not with her. \n\t\t\t The woman ran at once and told her husband, \"Come quickly, the man who visited me the other day has appeared to me!\" \n\t\t\t So Manoah got up and followed his wife. When he met the man, he said to him, \"Are you the man who spoke to my wife?\" He said, \"Yes.\"\n\t\t\t Manoah said, \"Now, when your announcement comes true, how should the child be raised and what should he do?\"\n\t\t\t The LORD's messenger told Manoah, \"Your wife should pay attention to everything I told her.\n\t\t\t She should not drink anything that the grapevine produces. She must not drink wine or beer, and she must not eat any food that will make her ritually unclean. She should obey everything I commanded her to do.\" \n\t\t\t Manoah said to the LORD's messenger, \"Please stay here awhile, so we can prepare a young goat for you to eat.\"\n\t\t\t The LORD's messenger said to Manoah, \"If I stay, I will not eat your food. But if you want to make a burnt sacrifice to the LORD, you should offer it.\" (He said this because Manoah did not know that he was the LORD's messenger.)\n\t\t\t Manoah said to the LORD's messenger, \"Tell us your name, so we can honor you when your announcement comes true.\"\n\t\t\t The LORD's messenger said to him, \"You should not ask me my name, because you cannot comprehend it.\"\n\t\t\t Manoah took a young goat and a grain offering and offered them on a rock to the LORD. The LORD's messenger did an amazing thing as Manoah and his wife watched.\n\t\t\t As the flame went up from the altar toward the sky, the LORD's messenger went up in it while Manoah and his wife watched. They fell facedown to the ground.\n\t\t\t The LORD's messenger did not appear again to Manoah and his wife. After all this happened Manoah realized that the visitor had been the LORD's messenger.\n\t\t\t Manoah said to his wife, \"We will certainly die, because we have seen a supernatural being!\"\n\t\t\t But his wife said to him, \"If the LORD wanted to kill us, he would not have accepted the burnt offering and the grain offering from us. He would not have shown us all these things, or have spoken to us like this just now.\"\n\t\t\t Manoah's wife gave birth to a son and named him Samson. The child grew and the LORD empowered him. \n\t\t\t The LORD's spirit began to control him in Mahaneh Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Samson went down to Timnah, where a Philistine girl caught his eye.\n\t\t\t When he got home, he told his father and mother, \"A Philistine girl in Timnah has caught my eye. Now get her for my wife.\" \n\t\t\t But his father and mother said to him, \"Certainly you can find a wife among your relatives or among all our people! You should not have to go and get a wife from the uncircumcised Philistines.\" But Samson said to his father, \"Get her for me, because she is the right one for me.\"\n\t\t\t Now his father and mother did not realize this was the LORD's doing, because he was looking for an opportunity to stir up trouble with the Philistines (for at that time the Philistines were ruling Israel).\n\t\t\t Samson went down to Timnah. When he approached the vineyards of Timnah, he saw a roaring young lion attacking him.\n\t\t\t The LORD's spirit empowered him and he tore the lion in two with his bare hands as easily as one would tear a young goat. But he did not tell his father or mother what he had done.\n\t\t\t Samson continued on down to Timnah and spoke to the girl. In his opinion, she was just the right one.\n\t\t\t Some time later, when he went back to marry her, he turned aside to see the lion's remains. He saw a swarm of bees in the lion's carcass, as well as some honey. \n\t\t\t He scooped it up with his hands and ate it as he walked along. When he returned to his father and mother, he offered them some and they ate it. But he did not tell them he had scooped the honey out of the lion's carcass.\n\t\t\t Then Samson's father accompanied him to Timnah for the marriage. Samson hosted a party there, for this was customary for bridegrooms to do. \n\t\t\t When the Philistines saw he had no attendants, they gave him thirty groomsmen who kept him company.\n\t\t\t Samson said to them, \"I will give you a riddle. If you really can solve it during the seven days the party lasts, I will give you thirty linen robes and thirty sets of clothes. \n\t\t\t But if you cannot solve it, you will give me thirty linen robes and thirty sets of clothes.\" They said to him, \"Let us hear your riddle.\"\n\t\t\t He said to them, \"Out of the one who eats came something to eat; out of the strong one came something sweet.\" They could not solve the riddle for three days.\n\t\t\t On the fourth day they said to Samson's bride, \"Trick your husband into giving the solution to the riddle. If you refuse, we will burn up you and your father's family. Did you invite us here to make us poor?\"\n\t\t\t So Samson's bride cried on his shoulder and said, \"You must hate me; you do not love me! You told the young men a riddle, but you have not told me the solution.\" He said to her, \"Look, I have not even told my father or mother. Do you really expect me to tell you?\"\n\t\t\t She cried on his shoulder until the party was almost over. Finally, on the seventh day, he told her because she had nagged him so much. Then she told the young men the solution to the riddle.\n\t\t\t On the seventh day, before the sun set, the men of the city said to him, \"What is sweeter than honey? What is stronger than a lion?\" He said to them, \"If you had not plowed with my heifer, you would not have solved my riddle!\"\n\t\t\t The LORD's spirit empowered him. He went down to Ashkelon and murdered thirty men. He took their clothes and gave them to the men who had solved the riddle. He was furious as he went back home.\n\t\t\t Samson's bride was then given to his best man.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Sometime later, during the wheat harvest, Samson took a young goat as a gift and went to visit his bride. He said to her father, \"I want to have sex with my bride in her bedroom!\" But her father would not let him enter. \n\t\t\t Her father said, \"I really thought you absolutely despised her, so I gave her to your best man. Her younger sister is more attractive than she is. Take her instead!\"\n\t\t\t Samson said to them, \"This time I am justified in doing the Philistines harm!\"\n\t\t\t Samson went and captured three hundred jackals and got some torches. He tied the jackals in pairs by their tails and then tied a torch to each pair.\n\t\t\t He lit the torches and set the jackals loose in the Philistines' standing grain. He burned up the grain heaps and the standing grain, as well as the vineyards and olive groves. \n\t\t\t The Philistines asked, \"Who did this?\" They were told, \"Samson, the Timnite's son-in-law, because the Timnite took Samson's bride and gave her to his best man.\" So the Philistines went up and burned her and her father.\n\t\t\t Samson said to them, \"Because you did this, I will get revenge against you before I quit fighting.\"\n\t\t\t He struck them down and defeated them. Then he went down and lived for a time in the cave in the cliff of Etam.\n\t\t\t The Philistines went up and invaded Judah. They arrayed themselves for battle in Lehi. \n\t\t\t The men of Judah said, \"Why are you attacking us?\" The Philistines said, \"We have come up to take Samson prisoner so we can do to him what he has done to us.\" \n\t\t\t Three thousand men of Judah went down to the cave in the cliff of Etam and said to Samson, \"Do you not know that the Philistines rule over us? Why have you done this to us?\" He said to them, \"I have only done to them what they have done to me.\"\n\t\t\t They said to him, \"We have come down to take you prisoner so we can hand you over to the Philistines.\" Samson said to them, \"Promise me you will not kill me.\" \n\t\t\t They said to him, \"We promise! We will only take you prisoner and hand you over to them. We promise not to kill you.\" They tied him up with two brand new ropes and led him up from the cliff. \n\t\t\t When he arrived in Lehi, the Philistines shouted as they approached him. But the LORD's spirit empowered him. The ropes around his arms were like flax dissolving in fire, and they melted away from his hands. \n\t\t\t He happened to see a solid jawbone of a donkey. He grabbed it and struck down a thousand men. \n\t\t\t Samson then said, \"With the jawbone of a donkey I have left them in heaps; with the jawbone of a donkey I have struck down a thousand men!\"\n\t\t\t When he finished speaking, he threw the jawbone down and named that place Ramath Lehi.\n\t\t\t He was very thirsty, so he cried out to the LORD and said, \"You have given your servant this great victory. But now must I die of thirst and fall into hands of the Philistines?\"\n\t\t\t So God split open the basin at Lehi and water flowed out from it. When he took a drink, his strength was restored and he revived. For this reason he named the spring En Hakkore. It remains in Lehi to this very day. \n\t\t\t Samson led Israel for twenty years during the days of Philistine prominence.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Samson went to Gaza. There he saw a prostitute and went in to have sex with her.\n\t\t\t The Gazites were told, \"Samson has come here!\" So they surrounded the town and hid all night at the city gate, waiting for him to leave. They relaxed all night, thinking, \"He will not leave until morning comes; then we will kill him!\" \n\t\t\t Samson spent half the night with the prostitute; then he got up in the middle of the night and left. He grabbed the doors of the city gate, as well as the two posts, and pulled them right off, bar and all. He put them on his shoulders and carried them up to the top of a hill east of Hebron.\n\t\t\t After this Samson fell in love with a woman named Delilah, who lived in the Sorek Valley.\n\t\t\t The rulers of the Philistines went up to visit her and said to her, \"Trick him! Find out what makes him so strong and how we can subdue him and humiliate him. Each one of us will give you eleven hundred silver pieces.\"\n\t\t\t So Delilah said to Samson, \"Tell me what makes you so strong and how you can be subdued and humiliated.\"\n\t\t\t Samson said to her, \"If they tie me up with seven fresh bowstrings that have not been dried, I will become weak and be just like any other man.\" \n\t\t\t So the rulers of the Philistines brought her seven fresh bowstrings which had not been dried and they tied him up with them.\n\t\t\t They hid in the bedroom and then she said to him, \"The Philistines are here, Samson!\" He snapped the bowstrings as easily as a thread of yarn snaps when it is put close to fire. The secret of his strength was not discovered.\n\t\t\t Delilah said to Samson, \"Look, you deceived me and told me lies! Now tell me how you can be subdued.\" \n\t\t\t He said to her, \"If they tie me tightly with brand new ropes that have never been used, I will become weak and be just like any other man.\" \n\t\t\t So Delilah took new ropes and tied him with them and said to him, \"The Philistines are here, Samson!\" (The Philistines were hiding in the bedroom.) But he tore the ropes from his arms as if they were a piece of thread.\n\t\t\t Delilah said to Samson, \"Up to now you have deceived me and told me lies. Tell me how you can be subdued.\" He said to her, \"If you weave the seven braids of my hair into the fabric on the loom and secure it with the pin, I will become weak and be like any other man.\" \n\t\t\t So she made him go to sleep, wove the seven braids of his hair into the fabric on the loom, fastened it with the pin, and said to him, \"The Philistines are here, Samson!\" He woke up and tore away the pin of the loom and the fabric.\n\t\t\t She said to him, \"How can you say, 'I love you,' when you will not share your secret with me? Three times you have deceived me and have not told me what makes you so strong.\" \n\t\t\t She nagged him every day and pressured him until he was sick to death of it.\n\t\t\t Finally he told her his secret. He said to her, \"My hair has never been cut, for I have been dedicated to God from the time I was conceived. If my head were shaved, my strength would leave me; I would become weak, and be just like all other men.\" \n\t\t\t When Delilah saw that he had told her his secret, she sent for the rulers of the Philistines, saying, \"Come up here again, for he has told me his secret.\" So the rulers of the Philistines went up to visit her, bringing the silver in their hands.\n\t\t\t She made him go to sleep on her lap and then called a man in to shave off the seven braids of his hair. She made him vulnerable and his strength left him. \n\t\t\t She said, \"The Philistines are here, Samson!\" He woke up and thought, \"I will do as I did before and shake myself free.\" But he did not realize that the LORD had left him. \n\t\t\t The Philistines captured him and gouged out his eyes. They brought him down to Gaza and bound him in bronze chains. He became a grinder in the prison.\n\t\t\t His hair began to grow back after it had been shaved off.\n\t\t\t The rulers of the Philistines gathered to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god and to celebrate. They said, \"Our god has handed Samson, our enemy, over to us.\"\n\t\t\t When the people saw him, they praised their god, saying, \"Our god has handed our enemy over to us, the one who ruined our land and killed so many of us!\"\n\t\t\t When they really started celebrating, they said, \"Call for Samson so he can entertain us!\" So they summoned Samson from the prison and he entertained them. They made him stand between two pillars. \n\t\t\t Samson said to the young man who held his hand, \"Position me so I can touch the pillars that support the temple. Then I can lean on them.\" \n\t\t\t Now the temple was filled with men and women, and all the rulers of the Philistines were there. There were three thousand men and women on the roof watching Samson entertain. \n\t\t\t Samson called to the LORD, \"O Master, LORD, remember me! Strengthen me just one more time, O God, so I can get swift revenge against the Philistines for my two eyes!\" \n\t\t\t Samson took hold of the two middle pillars that supported the temple and he leaned against them, with his right hand on one and his left hand on the other. \n\t\t\t Samson said, \"Let me die with the Philistines!\" He pushed hard and the temple collapsed on the rulers and all the people in it. He killed many more people in his death than he had killed during his life.\n\t\t\t His brothers and all his family went down and brought him back. They buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the tomb of Manoah his father. He had led Israel for twenty years.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t There was a man named Micah from the Ephraimite hill country.\n\t\t\t He said to his mother, \"You know the eleven hundred pieces of silver which were stolen from you, about which I heard you pronounce a curse? Look here, I have the silver. I stole it, but now I am giving it back to you.\" His mother said, \"May the LORD reward you, my son!\" \n\t\t\t When he gave back to his mother the eleven hundred pieces of silver, his mother said, \"I solemnly dedicate this silver to the LORD. It will be for my son's benefit. We will use it to make a carved image and a metal image.\"\n\t\t\t When he gave the silver back to his mother, she took two hundred pieces of silver to a silversmith, who made them into a carved image and a metal image. She then put them in Micah's house.\n\t\t\t Now this man Micah owned a shrine. He made an ephod and some personal idols and hired one of his sons to serve as a priest.\n\t\t\t In those days Israel had no king. Each man did what he considered to be right.\n\t\t\t There was a young man from Bethlehem in Judah. He was a Levite who had been temporarily residing among the tribe of Judah.\n\t\t\t This man left the town of Bethlehem in Judah to find another place to live. He came to the Ephraimite hill country and made his way to Micah's house.\n\t\t\t Micah said to him, \"Where do you come from?\" He replied, \"I am a Levite from Bethlehem in Judah. I am looking for a new place to live.\"\n\t\t\t Micah said to him, \"Stay with me. Become my adviser and priest. I will give you ten pieces of silver per year, plus clothes and food.\"\n\t\t\t So the Levite agreed to stay with the man; the young man was like a son to Micah.\n\t\t\t Micah paid the Levite; the young man became his priest and lived in Micah's house. \n\t\t\t Micah said, \"Now I know God will make me rich, because I have this Levite as my priest.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t In those days Israel had no king. And in those days the Danite tribe was looking for a place to settle, because at that time they did not yet have a place to call their own among the tribes of Israel.\n\t\t\t The Danites sent out from their whole tribe five representatives, capable men from Zorah and Eshtaol, to spy out the land and explore it. They said to them, \"Go, explore the land.\" They came to the Ephraimite hill country and spent the night at Micah's house.\n\t\t\t As they approached Micah's house, they recognized the accent of the young Levite. So they stopped there and said to him, \"Who brought you here? What are you doing in this place? What is your business here?\"\n\t\t\t He told them what Micah had done for him, saying, \"He hired me and I became his priest.\" \n\t\t\t They said to him, \"Seek a divine oracle for us, so we can know if we will be successful on our mission.\"\n\t\t\t The priest said to them, \"Go with confidence. The LORD will be with you on your mission.\"\n\t\t\t So the five men journeyed on and arrived in Laish. They noticed that the people there were living securely, like the Sidonians do, undisturbed and unsuspecting. No conqueror was troubling them in any way. They lived far from the Sidonians and had no dealings with anyone.\n\t\t\t When the Danites returned to their tribe in Zorah and Eshtaol, their kinsmen asked them, \"How did it go?\"\n\t\t\t They said, \"Come on, let's attack them, for we saw their land and it is very good. You seem lethargic, but don't hesitate to invade and conquer the land. \n\t\t\t When you invade, you will encounter unsuspecting people. The land is wide! God is handing it over to you, a place that lacks nothing on earth!\"\n\t\t\t So six hundred Danites, fully armed, set out from Zorah and Eshtaol.\n\t\t\t They went up and camped in Kiriath Jearim in Judah. (To this day that place is called Camp of Dan. It is west of Kiriath Jearim.) \n\t\t\t From there they traveled through the Ephraimite hill country and arrived at Micah's house.\n\t\t\t The five men who had gone to spy out the land of Laish said to their kinsmen, \"Do you realize that inside these houses are an ephod, some personal idols, a carved image, and a metal image? Decide now what you want to do.\" \n\t\t\t They stopped there, went inside the young Levite's house (which belonged to Micah), and asked him how he was doing.\n\t\t\t Meanwhile the six hundred Danites, fully armed, stood at the entrance to the gate.\n\t\t\t The five men who had gone to spy out the land broke in and stole the carved image, the ephod, the personal idols, and the metal image, while the priest was standing at the entrance to the gate with the six hundred fully armed men.\n\t\t\t When these men broke into Micah's house and stole the carved image, the ephod, the personal idols, and the metal image, the priest said to them, \"What are you doing?\" \n\t\t\t They said to him, \"Shut up! Put your hand over your mouth and come with us! You can be our adviser and priest. Wouldn't it be better to be a priest for a whole Israelite tribe than for just one man's family?\"\n\t\t\t The priest was happy. He took the ephod, the personal idols, and the carved image and joined the group.\n\t\t\t They turned and went on their way, but they walked behind the children, the cattle, and their possessions.\n\t\t\t After they had gone a good distance from Micah's house, Micah's neighbors gathered together and caught up with the Danites. \n\t\t\t When they called out to the Danites, the Danites turned around and said to Micah, \"Why have you gathered together?\" \n\t\t\t He said, \"You stole my gods that I made, as well as this priest, and then went away. What do I have left? How can you have the audacity to say to me, 'What do you want?'\"\n\t\t\t The Danites said to him, \"Don't say another word to us, or some very angry men will attack you, and you and your family will die.\"\n\t\t\t The Danites went on their way; when Micah realized they were too strong to resist, he turned around and went home.\n\t\t\t Now the Danites took what Micah had made, as well as his priest, and came to Laish, where the people were undisturbed and unsuspecting. They struck them down with the sword and burned the city.\n\t\t\t No one came to the rescue because the city was far from Sidon and they had no dealings with anyone. The city was in a valley near Beth Rehob. The Danites rebuilt the city and occupied it. \n\t\t\t They named it Dan after their ancestor, who was one of Israel's sons. But the city's name used to be Laish. \n\t\t\t The Danites worshiped the carved image. Jonathan, descendant of Gershom, son of Moses, and his descendants served as priests for the tribe of Dan until the time of the exile. \n\t\t\t They worshiped Micah's carved image the whole time God's authorized shrine was in Shiloh.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t In those days Israel had no king. There was a Levite living temporarily in the remote region of the Ephraimite hill country. He acquired a concubine from Bethlehem in Judah.\n\t\t\t However, she got angry at him and went home to her father's house in Bethlehem in Judah. When she had been there four months, \n\t\t\t her husband came after her, hoping he could convince her to return. He brought with him his servant and a pair of donkeys. When she brought him into her father's house and the girl's father saw him, he greeted him warmly.\n\t\t\t His father-in-law, the girl's father, persuaded him to stay with him for three days, and they ate and drank together, and spent the night there.\n\t\t\t On the fourth day they woke up early and the Levite got ready to leave. But the girl's father said to his son-in-law, \"Have a bite to eat for some energy, then you can go.\" \n\t\t\t So the two of them sat down and had a meal together. Then the girl's father said to the man, \"Why not stay another night and have a good time!\"\n\t\t\t When the man got ready to leave, his father-in-law convinced him to stay another night.\n\t\t\t He woke up early in the morning on the fifth day so he could leave, but the girl's father said, \"Get some energy. Wait until later in the day to leave!\" So they ate a meal together. \n\t\t\t When the man got ready to leave with his concubine and his servant, his father-in-law, the girl's father, said to him, \"Look! The day is almost over! Stay another night! Since the day is over, stay another night here and have a good time. You can get up early tomorrow and start your trip home.\"\n\t\t\t But the man did not want to stay another night. He left and traveled as far as Jebus (that is, Jerusalem). He had with him a pair of saddled donkeys and his concubine.\n\t\t\t When they got near Jebus, it was getting quite late and the servant said to his master, \"Come on, let's stop at this Jebusite city and spend the night in it.\" \n\t\t\t But his master said to him, \"We should not stop at a foreign city where non-Israelites live. We will travel on to Gibeah.\" \n\t\t\t He said to his servant, \"Come on, we will go into one of the other towns and spend the night in Gibeah or Ramah.\" \n\t\t\t So they traveled on, and the sun went down when they were near Gibeah in the territory of Benjamin.\n\t\t\t They stopped there and decided to spend the night in Gibeah. They came into the city and sat down in the town square, but no one invited them to spend the night.\n\t\t\t But then an old man passed by, returning at the end of the day from his work in the field. The man was from the Ephraimite hill country; he was living temporarily in Gibeah. (The residents of the town were Benjaminites.)\n\t\t\t When he looked up and saw the traveler in the town square, the old man said, \"Where are you heading? Where do you come from?\" \n\t\t\t The Levite said to him, \"We are traveling from Bethlehem in Judah to the remote region of the Ephraimite hill country. That's where I'm from. I had business in Bethlehem in Judah, but now I'm heading home. But no one has invited me into their home. \n\t\t\t We have enough straw and grain for our donkeys, and there is enough food and wine for me, your female servant, and the young man who is with your servants. We lack nothing.\" \n\t\t\t The old man said, \"Everything is just fine! I will take care of all your needs. But don't spend the night in the town square.\" \n\t\t\t So he brought him to his house and fed the donkeys. They washed their feet and had a meal.\n\t\t\t They were having a good time, when suddenly some men of the city, some good-for-nothings, surrounded the house and kept beating on the door. They said to the old man who owned the house, \"Send out the man who came to visit you so we can have sex with him.\"\n\t\t\t The man who owned the house went outside and said to them, \"No, my brothers! Don't do this wicked thing! After all, this man is a guest in my house. Don't do such a disgraceful thing!\n\t\t\t Here are my virgin daughter and my guest's concubine. I will send them out and you can abuse them and do to them whatever you like. But don't do such a disgraceful thing to this man!\"\n\t\t\t The men refused to listen to him, so the Levite grabbed his concubine and made her go outside. They raped her and abused her all night long until morning. They let her go at dawn.\n\t\t\t The woman arrived back at daybreak and was sprawled out on the doorstep of the house where her master was staying until it became light.\n\t\t\t When her master got up in the morning, opened the doors of the house, and went outside to start on his journey, there was the woman, his concubine, sprawled out on the doorstep of the house with her hands on the threshold. \n\t\t\t He said to her, \"Get up, let's leave!\" But there was no response. He put her on the donkey and went home.\n\t\t\t When he got home, he took a knife, grabbed his concubine, and carved her up into twelve pieces. Then he sent the pieces throughout Israel.\n\t\t\t Everyone who saw the sight said, \"Nothing like this has happened or been witnessed during the entire time since the Israelites left the land of Egypt! Take careful note of it! Discuss it and speak!\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t All the Israelites from Dan to Beer Sheba and from the land of Gilead left their homes and assembled together before the LORD at Mizpah. \n\t\t\t The leaders of all the people from all the tribes of Israel took their places in the assembly of God's people, which numbered four hundred thousand sword-wielding foot soldiers. \n\t\t\t The Benjaminites heard that the Israelites had gone up to Mizpah. Then the Israelites said, \"Explain how this wicked thing happened!\"\n\t\t\t The Levite, the husband of the murdered woman, spoke up, \"I and my concubine stopped in Gibeah in the territory of Benjamin to spend the night. \n\t\t\t The leaders of Gibeah attacked me and at night surrounded the house where I was staying. They wanted to kill me; instead they abused my concubine so badly that she died. \n\t\t\t I grabbed hold of my concubine and carved her up and sent the pieces throughout the territory occupied by Israel, because they committed such an unthinkable atrocity in Israel.\n\t\t\t All you Israelites, make a decision here!\"\n\t\t\t All Israel rose up in unison and said, \"Not one of us will go home! Not one of us will return to his house! \n\t\t\t Now this is what we will do to Gibeah: We will attack the city as the lot dictates.\n\t\t\t We will take ten of every group of a hundred men from all the tribes of Israel (and a hundred of every group of a thousand, and a thousand of every group of ten thousand) to get supplies for the army. When they arrive in Gibeah of Benjamin they will punish them for the atrocity which they committed in Israel.\"\n\t\t\t So all the men of Israel gathered together at the city as allies.\n\t\t\t The tribes of Israel sent men throughout the tribe of Benjamin, saying, \"How could such a wicked thing take place?\n\t\t\t Now, hand over the good-for-nothings in Gibeah so we can execute them and purge Israel of wickedness.\" But the Benjaminites refused to listen to their Israelite brothers. \n\t\t\t The Benjaminites came from their cities and assembled at Gibeah to make war against the Israelites. \n\t\t\t That day the Benjaminites mustered from their cities twenty-six thousand sword-wielding soldiers, besides seven hundred well-trained soldiers from Gibeah.\n\t\t\t Among this army were seven hundred specially-trained left-handed soldiers. Each one could sling a stone and hit even the smallest target.\n\t\t\t The men of Israel (not counting Benjamin) had mustered four hundred thousand sword-wielding soldiers, every one an experienced warrior.\n\t\t\t The Israelites went up to Bethel and asked God, \"Who should lead the charge against the Benjaminites?\" The LORD said, \"Judah should lead.\" \n\t\t\t The Israelites got up the next morning and moved against Gibeah. \n\t\t\t The men of Israel marched out to fight Benjamin; they arranged their battle lines against Gibeah. \n\t\t\t The Benjaminites attacked from Gibeah and struck down twenty-two thousand Israelites that day.\n\t\t\t The Israelite army took heart and once more arranged their battle lines, in the same place where they had taken their positions the day before. \n\t\t\t The Israelites went up and wept before the LORD until evening. They asked the LORD, \"Should we again march out to fight the Benjaminites, our brothers?\" The LORD said, \"Attack them!\"\n\t\t\t So the Israelites marched toward the Benjaminites the next day. \n\t\t\t The Benjaminites again attacked them from Gibeah and struck down eighteen thousand sword-wielding Israelite soldiers.\n\t\t\t So all the Israelites, the whole army, went up to Bethel. They wept and sat there before the LORD; they did not eat anything that day until evening. They offered up burnt sacrifices and tokens of peace to the LORD. \n\t\t\t The Israelites asked the LORD (for the ark of God's covenant was there in those days;\n\t\t\t Phinehas son of Eleazar, son of Aaron, was serving the LORD in those days), \"Should we once more march out to fight the Benjaminites our brothers, or should we quit?\" The LORD said, \"Attack, for tomorrow I will hand them over to you.\"\n\t\t\t So Israel hid men in ambush outside Gibeah.\n\t\t\t The Israelites attacked the Benjaminites the next day; they took their positions against Gibeah just as they had done before. \n\t\t\t The Benjaminites attacked the army, leaving the city unguarded. They began to strike down their enemy just as they had done before. On the main roads (one leads to Bethel, the other to Gibeah) and in the field, they struck down about thirty Israelites. \n\t\t\t Then the Benjaminites said, \"They are defeated just as before.\" But the Israelites said, \"Let's retreat and lure them away from the city into the main roads.\" \n\t\t\t All the men of Israel got up from their places and took their positions at Baal Tamar, while the Israelites hiding in ambush jumped out of their places west of Gibeah.\n\t\t\t Ten thousand men, well-trained soldiers from all Israel, then made a frontal assault against Gibeah, the battle was fierce. But the Benjaminites did not realize that disaster was at their doorstep.\n\t\t\t The LORD annihilated Benjamin before Israel; the Israelites struck down that day 25,100 sword-wielding Benjaminites.\n\t\t\t Then the Benjaminites saw they were defeated. The Israelites retreated before Benjamin, because they had confidence in the men they had hid in ambush outside Gibeah. \n\t\t\t The men hiding in ambush made a mad dash to Gibeah. They attacked and put the sword to the entire city. \n\t\t\t The Israelites and the men hiding in ambush had arranged a signal. When the men hiding in ambush sent up a smoke signal from the city, \n\t\t\t the Israelites counterattacked. Benjamin had begun to strike down the Israelites; they struck down about thirty men. They said, \"There's no doubt about it! They are totally defeated as in the earlier battle.\" \n\t\t\t But when the signal, a pillar of smoke, began to rise up from the city, the Benjaminites turned around and saw the whole city going up in a cloud of smoke that rose high into the sky.\n\t\t\t When the Israelites turned around, the Benjaminites panicked because they could see that disaster was on their doorstep.\n\t\t\t They retreated before the Israelites, taking the road to the wilderness. But the battle overtook them as men from the surrounding cities struck them down.\n\t\t\t They surrounded the Benjaminites, chased them from Nohah, and annihilated them all the way to a spot east of Geba.\n\t\t\t Eighteen thousand Benjaminites, all of them capable warriors, fell dead.\n\t\t\t The rest turned and ran toward the wilderness, heading toward the cliff of Rimmon. But the Israelites caught five thousand of them on the main roads. They stayed right on their heels all the way to Gidom and struck down two thousand more. \n\t\t\t That day twenty-five thousand sword-wielding Benjaminites fell in battle, all of them capable warriors.\n\t\t\t Six hundred survivors turned and ran away to the wilderness, to the cliff of Rimmon. They stayed there four months.\n\t\t\t The Israelites returned to the Benjaminite towns and put the sword to them. They wiped out the cities, the animals, and everything they could find. They set fire to every city in their path.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The Israelites had taken an oath in Mizpah, saying, \"Not one of us will allow his daughter to marry a Benjaminite.\"\n\t\t\t So the people came to Bethel and sat there before God until evening, weeping loudly and uncontrollably.\n\t\t\t They said, \"Why, O LORD God of Israel, has this happened in Israel?\" An entire tribe has disappeared from Israel today!\"\n\t\t\t The next morning the people got up early and built an altar there. They offered up burnt sacrifices and token of peace.\n\t\t\t The Israelites asked, \"Who from all the Israelite tribes has not assembled before the LORD?\" They had made a solemn oath that whoever did not assemble before the LORD at Mizpah must certainly be executed.\n\t\t\t The Israelites regretted what had happened to their brother Benjamin. They said, \"Today we cut off an entire tribe from Israel! \n\t\t\t How can we find wives for those who are left? After all, we took an oath in the LORD's name not to give them our daughters as wives.\" \n\t\t\t So they asked, \"Who from all the Israelite tribes did not assemble before the LORD at Mizpah?\" Now it just so happened no one from Jabesh Gilead had come to the gathering.\n\t\t\t When they took roll call, they noticed none of the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead were there. \n\t\t\t So the assembly sent 12,000 capable warriors against Jabesh Gilead. They commanded them, \"Go and kill with your swords the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead, including the women and little children. \n\t\t\t Do this: exterminate every male, as well as every woman who has had sexual relations with a male. But spare the lives of any virgins.\" So they did as instructed.\n\t\t\t They found among the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead four hundred young girls who were virgins, they had never had sexual relations with a male. They brought them back to the camp at Shiloh in the land of Canaan.\n\t\t\t The entire assembly sent messengers to the Benjaminites at the cliff of Rimmon and assured them they would not be harmed.\n\t\t\t The Benjaminites returned at that time, and the Israelites gave to them the women they had spared from Jabesh Gilead. But there were not enough to go around.\n\t\t\t The people regretted what had happened to Benjamin because the LORD had weakened the Israelite tribes. \n\t\t\t The leaders of the assembly said, \"How can we find wives for those who are left? After all, the Benjaminite women have been wiped out. \n\t\t\t The remnant of Benjamin must be preserved. An entire Israelite tribe should not be wiped out.\n\t\t\t But we can't allow our daughters to marry them, for the Israelites took an oath, saying, 'Whoever gives a woman to a Benjaminite will be destroyed!'\n\t\t\t However, there is an annual festival to the LORD in Shiloh, which is north of Bethel (east of the main road that goes up from Bethel to Shechem) and south of Lebonah.\" \n\t\t\t So they commanded the Benjaminites, \"Go hide in the vineyards,\n\t\t\t and keep your eyes open. When you see the daughters of Shiloh coming out to dance in the celebration, jump out from the vineyards. Each one of you, catch yourself a wife from among the daughters of Shiloh and then go home to the land of Benjamin. \n\t\t\t When their fathers or brothers come and protest to us, we'll say to them, \"Do us a favor and let them be, for we could not get each one a wife through battle. Don't worry about breaking your oath! You would only be guilty if you had voluntarily given them wives.'\"\n\t\t\t The Benjaminites did as instructed. They abducted two hundred of the dancing girls to be their wives. They went home to their own territory, rebuilt their cities, and settled down.\n\t\t\t Then the Israelites dispersed from there to their respective tribal and clan territories. Each went from there to his own property.\n\t\t\t In those days Israel had no king. Each man did what he considered to be right.\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t During the time of the judges there was a famine in the land of Judah. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah went to live as a resident foreigner in the region of Moab, along with his wife and two sons.\n\t\t\t (Now the man's name was Elimelech, his wife was Naomi, and his two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. They were of the clan of Ephrath from Bethlehem in Judah.) They entered the region of Moab and settled there.\n\t\t\t Sometime later Naomi's husband Elimelech died, so she and her two sons were left alone. \n\t\t\t So her sons married Moabite women. (One was named Orpah and the other Ruth.) And they continued to live there about ten years. \n\t\t\t Then Naomi's two sons, Mahlon and Kilion, also died. So the woman was left all alone, bereaved of her two children as well as her husband!\n\t\t\t So she decided to return home from the region of Moab, accompanied by her daughters-in-law, because while she was living in Moab she had heard that the LORD had shown concern for his people, reversing the famine by providing abundant crops.\n\t\t\t Now as she and her two daughters-in-law began to leave the place where she had been living to return to the land of Judah,\n\t\t\t Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, \"Listen to me! Each of you should return to your mother's home! May the LORD show you the same kind of devotion that you have shown to your deceased husbands and to me!\n\t\t\t May the LORD enable each of you to find security in the home of a new husband!\" Then she kissed them goodbye and they wept loudly.\n\t\t\t But they said to her, \"No! We will return with you to your people.\"\n\t\t\t But Naomi replied, \"Go back home, my daughters! There is no reason for you to return to Judah with me! I am no longer capable of giving birth to sons who might become your husbands!\n\t\t\t Go back home, my daughters! For I am too old to get married again. Even if I thought that there was hope that I could get married tonight and conceive sons,\n\t\t\t surely you would not want to wait until they were old enough to marry! Surely you would not remain unmarried all that time! No, my daughters, you must not return with me. For my intense suffering is too much for you to bear. For the LORD is afflicting me!\"\n\t\t\t Again they wept loudly. Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth clung tightly to her.\n\t\t\t So Naomi said, \"Look, your sister-in-law is returning to her people and to her god. Follow your sister-in-law back home!\" \n\t\t\t But Ruth replied, \"Stop urging me to abandon you! For wherever you go, I will go. Wherever you live, I will live. Your people will become my people, and your God will become my God.\n\t\t\t Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD punish me severely if I do not keep my promise! Only death will be able to separate me from you!\"\n\t\t\t When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped trying to dissuade her.\n\t\t\t So the two of them journeyed together until they arrived in Bethlehem. When they entered Bethlehem, the whole village was excited about their arrival. The women of the village said, \"Can this be Naomi?\"\n\t\t\t But she replied to them, \"Don't call me 'Naomi'! Call me 'Mara' because the Sovereign One has treated me very harshly.\n\t\t\t I left here full, but the LORD has caused me to return empty-handed. Why do you call me 'Naomi,' seeing that the LORD has opposed me, and the Sovereign One has caused me to suffer?\"\n\t\t\t So Naomi returned, accompanied by her Moabite daughter-in-law Ruth, who came back with her from the region of Moab. (Now they arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.)\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now Naomi had a relative on her husband's side of the family named Boaz. He was a wealthy, prominent man from the clan of Elimelech.\n\t\t\t One day Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, \"Let me go to the fields so I can gather grain behind whoever permits me to do so.\" Naomi replied, \"You may go, my daughter.\" \n\t\t\t So Ruth went and gathered grain in the fields behind the harvesters. Now she just happened to end up in the portion of the field belonging to Boaz, who was from the clan of Elimelech.\n\t\t\t Now at that very moment, Boaz arrived from Bethlehem and greeted the harvesters, \"May the LORD be with you!\" They replied, \"May the LORD bless you!\" \n\t\t\t Boaz asked his servant in charge of the harvesters, \"To whom does this young woman belong?\"\n\t\t\t The servant in charge of the harvesters replied, \"She's the young Moabite woman who came back with Naomi from the region of Moab.\n\t\t\t She asked, 'May I follow the harvesters and gather grain among the bundles?' Since she arrived she has been working hard from this morning until now, except for sitting in the resting hut a short time.\"\n\t\t\t So Boaz said to Ruth, \"Listen carefully, my dear! Do not leave to gather grain in another field. You need not go beyond the limits of this field. You may go along beside my female workers.\n\t\t\t Take note of the field where the men are harvesting and follow behind with the female workers. I will tell the men to leave you alone. When you are thirsty, you may go to the water jars and drink some of the water the servants draw.\"\n\t\t\t Ruth knelt before him with her forehead to the ground and said to him, \"Why are you so kind and so attentive to me, even though I am a foreigner?\"\n\t\t\t Boaz replied to her, \"I have been given a full report of all that you have done for your mother-in-law following the death of your husband, how you left your father and your mother, as well as your homeland, and came to live among people you did not know previously.\n\t\t\t May the LORD reward your efforts! May your acts of kindness be repaid fully by the LORD God of Israel, from whom you have sought protection!\"\n\t\t\t She said, \"You really are being kind to me, sir, for you have reassured and encouraged me, your servant, even though I am not one of your servants!\"\n\t\t\t Later during the mealtime Boaz said to her, \"Come here and have some food! Dip your bread in the vinegar!\" So she sat down beside the harvesters. Then he handed her some roasted grain. She ate until she was full and saved the rest.\n\t\t\t When she got up to gather grain, Boaz told his male servants, \"Let her gather grain even among the bundles! Don't chase her off!\n\t\t\t Make sure you pull out ears of grain for her and drop them so she can gather them up. Don't tell her not to!\"\n\t\t\t So she gathered grain in the field until evening. When she threshed what she had gathered, it came to about thirty pounds of barley!\n\t\t\t She carried it back to town, and her mother-in-law saw how much grain she had gathered. Then Ruth gave her the roasted grain she had saved from mealtime.\n\t\t\t Her mother-in-law asked her, \"Where did you gather grain today? Where did you work? May the one who took notice of you be rewarded!\" So Ruth told her mother-in-law with whom she had worked. She said, \"The name of the man with whom I worked today is Boaz.\" \n\t\t\t Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, \"May he be rewarded by the LORD because he has shown loyalty to the living on behalf of the dead!\" Then Naomi said to her, \"This man is a close relative of ours; he is our guardian.\"\n\t\t\t Ruth the Moabite replied, \"He even told me, 'You may go along beside my servants until they have finished gathering all my harvest!'\"\n\t\t\t Naomi then said to her daughter-in-law Ruth, \"It is good, my daughter, that you should go out to work with his female servants. That way you will not be harmed, which could happen in another field.\"\n\t\t\t So Ruth worked beside Boaz's female servants, gathering grain until the end of the barley harvest as well as the wheat harvest. After that she stayed home with her mother-in-law.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t At that time, Naomi, her mother-in-law, said to her, \"My daughter, I must find a home for you so you will be secure.\n\t\t\t Now Boaz, with whose female servants you worked, is our close relative. Look, tonight he is winnowing barley at the threshing floor.\n\t\t\t So bathe yourself, rub on some perfumed oil, and get dressed up. Then go down to the threshing floor. But don't let the man know you're there until he finishes his meal.\n\t\t\t When he gets ready to go to sleep, take careful notice of the place where he lies down. Then go, uncover his legs, and lie down beside him. He will tell you what you should do.\"\n\t\t\t Ruth replied to Naomi, \"I will do everything you have told me to do.\"\n\t\t\t So she went down to the threshing floor and did everything her mother-in-law had instructed her to do.\n\t\t\t When Boaz had finished his meal and was feeling satisfied, he lay down to sleep at the far end of the grain heap. Then Ruth crept up quietly, uncovered his legs, and lay down beside him.\n\t\t\t In the middle of the night he was startled and turned over. Now he saw a woman lying beside him!\n\t\t\t He said, \"Who are you?\" She replied, \"I am Ruth, your servant. Marry your servant, for you are a guardian of the family interests.\"\n\t\t\t He said, \"May you be rewarded by the LORD, my dear! This act of devotion is greater than what you did before. For you have not sought to marry one of the young men, whether rich or poor.\n\t\t\t Now, my dear, don't worry! I intend to do for you everything you propose, for everyone in the village knows that you are a worthy woman.\n\t\t\t Now yes, it is true that I am a guardian, but there is another guardian who is a closer relative than I am. \n\t\t\t Remain here tonight. Then in the morning, if he agrees to marry you, fine, let him do so. But if he does not want to do so, I promise, as surely as the LORD lives, to marry you. Sleep here until morning.\"\n\t\t\t So she slept beside him until morning. She woke up while it was still dark. Boaz thought, \"No one must know that a woman visited the threshing floor.\"\n\t\t\t Then he said, \"Hold out the shawl you are wearing and grip it tightly.\" As she held it tightly, he measured out about sixty pounds of barley into the shawl and put it on her shoulders. Then he went into town, \n\t\t\t and she returned to her mother-in-law. When Ruth returned to her mother-in-law, Naomi asked, \"How did things turn out for you, my daughter?\" Ruth told her about all the man had done for her.\n\t\t\t She said, \"He gave me these sixty pounds of barley, for he said to me, 'Do not go to your mother-in-law empty-handed.'\"\n\t\t\t Then Naomi said, \"Stay put, my daughter, until you know how the matter turns out. For the man will not rest until he has taken care of the matter today.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now Boaz went up to the village gate and sat there. Then along came the guardian whom Boaz had mentioned to Ruth! Boaz said, \"Come here and sit down, 'John Doe'!\" So he came and sat down.\n\t\t\t Boaz chose ten of the village leaders and said, \"Sit down here!\" So they sat down. \n\t\t\t Then Boaz said to the guardian, \"Naomi, who has returned from the region of Moab, is selling the portion of land that belongs to our relative Elimelech. \n\t\t\t So I am legally informing you: Acquire it before those sitting here and before the leaders of my people! If you want to exercise your right to redeem it, then do so. But if not, then tell me so I will know. For you possess the first option to redeem it; I am next in line after you.\" He replied, \"I will redeem it.\" \n\t\t\t Then Boaz said, \"When you acquire the field from Naomi, you must also acquire Ruth the Moabite, the wife of our deceased relative, in order to preserve his family name by raising up a descendant who will inherit his property.\"\n\t\t\t The guardian said, \"Then I am unable to redeem it, for I would ruin my own inheritance in that case. You may exercise my redemption option, for I am unable to redeem it.\"\n\t\t\t (Now this used to be the customary way to finalize a transaction involving redemption in Israel: A man would remove his sandal and give it to the other party. This was a legally binding act in Israel.) \n\t\t\t So the guardian said to Boaz, \"You may acquire it,\" and he removed his sandal.\n\t\t\t Then Boaz said to the leaders and all the people, \"You are witnesses today that I have acquired from Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech, Kilion, and Mahlon.\n\t\t\t I have also acquired Ruth the Moabite, the wife of Mahlon, as my wife to raise up a descendant who will inherit his property so the name of the deceased might not disappear from among his relatives and from his village. You are witnesses today.\" \n\t\t\t All the people who were at the gate and the elders replied, \"We are witnesses. May the LORD make the woman who is entering your home like Rachel and Leah, both of whom built up the house of Israel! May you prosper in Ephrathah and become famous in Bethlehem.\n\t\t\t May your family become like the family of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, through the descendants the LORD gives you by this young woman.\"\n\t\t\t So Boaz married Ruth and had sexual relations with her. The LORD enabled her to conceive and she gave birth to a son. \n\t\t\t The village women said to Naomi, \"May the LORD be praised because he has not left you without a guardian today! May he become famous in Israel!\n\t\t\t He will encourage you and provide for you when you are old, for your daughter-in-law, who loves you, has given him birth. She is better to you than seven sons!\" \n\t\t\t Naomi took the child and placed him on her lap; she became his caregiver.\n\t\t\t The neighbor women named him, saying, \"A son has been born to Naomi.\" They named him Obed. Now he became the father of Jesse, David's father!\n\t\t\t These are the descendants of Perez: Perez was the father of Hezron, \n\t\t\t Hezron was the father of Ram, Ram was the father of Amminadab,\n\t\t\t Amminadab was the father of Nachshon, Nachshon was the father of Salmah,\n\t\t\t Salmon was the father of Boaz, Boaz was the father of Obed, \n\t\t\t Obed was the father of Jesse, and Jesse was the father of David.\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t There was a man from Ramathaim Zophim, from the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah. He was the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. \n\t\t\t He had two wives; the name of the first was Hannah and the name of the second was Peninnah. Now Peninnah had children, but Hannah was childless.\n\t\t\t Year after year this man would go up from his city to worship and to sacrifice to the LORD of hosts at Shiloh. It was there that the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phineas, served as the LORD's priests. \n\t\t\t Whenever the day came for Elkanah to sacrifice, he used to give meat portions to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters.\n\t\t\t But he would give a double portion to Hannah, because he especially loved her. Now the LORD had not enabled her to have children.\n\t\t\t Her rival wife used to upset her and make her worry, for the LORD had not enabled her to have children. \n\t\t\t Peninnah would behave this way year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the LORD's house, Peninnah would upset her so that she would weep and refuse to eat. \n\t\t\t Finally her husband Elkanah said to her, \"Hannah, why do you weep and not eat? Why are you so sad? Am I not better to you than ten sons?\"\n\t\t\t On one occasion in Shiloh, after they had finished eating and drinking, Hannah got up. (Now at the time Eli the priest was sitting in his chair by the doorpost of the LORD's temple.) \n\t\t\t She was very upset as she prayed to the LORD, and she was weeping uncontrollably.\n\t\t\t She made a vow saying, \"O LORD of hosts, if you will look with compassion on the suffering of your female servant, remembering me and not forgetting your servant, and give a male child to your servant, then I will dedicate him to the LORD all the days of his life. His hair will never be cut.\"\n\t\t\t As she continued praying to the LORD, Eli was watching her mouth. \n\t\t\t Now Hannah was speaking from her heart. Although her lips were moving, her voice was inaudible. Eli therefore thought she was drunk.\n\t\t\t So he said to her, \"How often do you intend to get drunk? Put away your wine!\"\n\t\t\t But Hannah replied, \"That's not the way it is, my lord! I am under a great deal of stress. I have drunk neither wine nor beer. Rather, I have poured out my soul to the LORD. \n\t\t\t Don't consider your servant a wicked woman, for until now I have spoken from my deep pain and anguish.\"\n\t\t\t Eli replied, \"Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant the request that you have asked of him.\"\n\t\t\t She said, \"May I, your servant, find favor in your sight.\" So the woman went her way and got something to eat. Her face no longer looked sad.\n\t\t\t They got up early the next morning and after worshiping the LORD, they returned to their home at Ramah. Elkanah had marital relations with his wife Hannah, and the LORD remembered her. \n\t\t\t After some time Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, thinking, \"I asked the LORD for him.\n\t\t\t This man Elkanah went up with all his family to make the yearly sacrifice to the LORD and to keep his vow,\n\t\t\t but Hannah did not go up with them. Instead she told her husband, \"Once the boy is weaned, I will bring him and appear before the LORD, and he will remain there from then on.\"\n\t\t\t So her husband Elkanah said to her, \"Do what you think best. Stay until you have weaned him. May the LORD fulfill his promise.\" So the woman stayed and nursed her son until she had weaned him.\n\t\t\t Once she had weaned him, she took him up with her, along with three bulls, an ephah of flour, and a container of wine. She brought him to the LORD's house at Shiloh, even though he was young.\n\t\t\t Once the bull had been slaughtered, they brought the boy to Eli.\n\t\t\t She said, \"Just as surely as you are alive, my lord, I am the woman who previously stood here with you in order to pray to the LORD.\n\t\t\t I prayed for this boy, and the LORD has given me the request that I asked of him.\n\t\t\t Now I dedicate him to the LORD. From this time on he is dedicated to the LORD.\" Then they worshiped the LORD there.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Hannah prayed, \"My heart rejoices in the LORD; my horn is exalted high because of the LORD. I loudly denounce my enemies, for I am happy that you delivered me.\n\t\t\t No one is holy like the LORD! There is no one other than you! There is no rock like our God!\n\t\t\t Don't keep speaking so arrogantly, letting proud talk come out of your mouth! For the LORD is a God who knows; he evaluates what people do.\n\t\t\t The bows of warriors are shattered, but those who stumble find their strength reinforced.\n\t\t\t Those who are well-fed hire themselves out to earn food, but the hungry no longer lack. Even the barren woman gives birth to seven, but the one with many children withers away.\n\t\t\t The LORD both kills and gives life; he brings down to the grave and raises up.\n\t\t\t The LORD impoverishes and makes wealthy; he humbles and he exalts.\n\t\t\t He lifts the weak from the dust; he raises the poor from the ash heap to seat them with princes and to bestow on them an honored position. The foundations of the earth belong to the LORD, and he has placed the world on them.\n\t\t\t He watches over his holy ones, but the wicked are made speechless in the darkness, for it is not by one's own strength that one prevails.\n\t\t\t The LORD shatters his adversaries; he thunders against them from the heavens. The LORD executes judgment to the ends of the earth. He will strengthen his king and exalt the power of his anointed one.\"\n\t\t\t Then Elkanah went back home to Ramah. But the boy was serving the LORD under the supervision of Eli the priest.\n\t\t\t The sons of Eli were wicked men. They did not recognize the LORD's authority.\n\t\t\t Now the priests would always treat the people in the following way: Whenever anyone was making a sacrifice, while the meat was boiling, the priest's attendant would come with a three-pronged fork in his hand. \n\t\t\t He would jab it into the basin, kettle, caldron, or pot, and everything that the fork brought up the priest would take for himself. This is what they used to do to all the Israelites when they came there to Shiloh.\n\t\t\t Even before they burned the fat, the priest's attendant would come and say to the person who was making the sacrifice, \"Hand over some meat for the priest to roast! He won't take boiled meat from you, but only raw.\"\n\t\t\t If the individual said to him, \"First let the fat be burned away, and then take for yourself whatever you wish,\" he would say, \"No! Hand it over right now! If you don't, I will take it forcibly!\"\n\t\t\t The sin of these young men was very great in the LORD's sight, for they treated the LORD's offering with contempt.\n\t\t\t Now Samuel was ministering before the LORD. The boy was dressed in a linen ephod.\n\t\t\t His mother used to make him a small robe and bring it up to him at regular intervals when she would go up with her husband to make the annual sacrifice.\n\t\t\t Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife saying, \"May the LORD raise up for you descendants from this woman to replace the one that she dedicated to the LORD.\" Then they would go to their home. \n\t\t\t So the LORD graciously attended to Hannah, and she was able to conceive and gave birth to three sons and two daughters. The boy Samuel grew up at the LORD's sanctuary.\n\t\t\t Now Eli was very old when he heard about everything that his sons used to do to all the people of Israel and how they used to have sex with the women who were stationed at the entrance to the tent of meeting. \n\t\t\t He said to them, \"Why do you behave in this way? For I hear about these evil things from all these people. \n\t\t\t This ought not to be, my sons! For the report that I hear circulating among the LORD's people is not good. \n\t\t\t If a man sins against a man, one may appeal to God on his behalf. But if a man sins against the LORD, who then will intercede for him?\" But Eli's sons would not listen to their father, for the LORD had decided to kill them.\n\t\t\t Now the boy Samuel was growing up and finding favor both with the LORD and with people.\n\t\t\t A man of God came to Eli and said to him, \"This is what the LORD says: 'Did I not plainly reveal myself to your ancestor's house when they were in Egypt in the house of Pharaoh? \n\t\t\t I chose your ancestor from all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to offer sacrifice on my altar, to burn incense, and to bear the ephod before me. I gave to your ancestor's house all the fire offerings made by the Israelites. \n\t\t\t Why are you scorning my sacrifice and my offering that I commanded for my dwelling place? You have honored your sons more than you have me by having made yourselves fat from the best parts of all the offerings of my people Israel.'\n\t\t\t Therefore the LORD, the God of Israel, says, 'I really did say that your house and your ancestor's house would serve me forever.' But now the LORD says, 'May it never be! For I will honor those who honor me, but those who despise me will be cursed! \n\t\t\t In fact, days are coming when I will remove your strength and the strength of your father's house. There will not be an old man in your house! \n\t\t\t You will see trouble in my dwelling place! Israel will experience blessings, but there will not be an old man in your house for all time.\n\t\t\t Any one of you that I do not cut off from my altar, I will cause your eyes to fail and will cause you grief. All of those born to your family will die in the prime of life.\n\t\t\t This will be a confirming sign for you that will be fulfilled through your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas: in a single day they both will die! \n\t\t\t Then I will raise up for myself a faithful priest. He will do what is in my heart and soul. I will build for him a secure dynasty and he will serve my chosen one for all time.\n\t\t\t Everyone who remains in your house will come to bow before him for a little money and for a scrap of bread. Each will say, 'Assign me to a priestly task so I can eat a scrap of bread.'\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now the boy Samuel continued serving the LORD under Eli's supervision. Word from the LORD was rare in those days; revelatory visions were infrequent.\n\t\t\t Eli's eyes had begun to fail, so that he was unable to see well. At that time he was lying down in his place,\n\t\t\t and the lamp of God had not yet been extinguished. Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD as well; the ark of God was also there.\n\t\t\t The LORD called to Samuel, and he replied, \"Here I am!\"\n\t\t\t Then he ran to Eli and said, \"Here I am, for you called me.\" But Eli said, \"I didn't call you. Go back and lie down.\" So he went back and lay down.\n\t\t\t The LORD again called, \"Samuel!\" So Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, \"Here I am, for you called me.\" But Eli said, \"I didn't call you, my son. Go back and lie down.\"\n\t\t\t Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD; the word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him.\n\t\t\t Then the LORD called Samuel a third time. So he got up and went to Eli and said, \"Here I am, for you called me!\" Eli then realized that it was the LORD who was calling the boy.\n\t\t\t So Eli said to Samuel, \"Go back and lie down. When he calls you, say, \"Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.\" So Samuel went back and lay down in his place.\n\t\t\t Then the LORD came and stood nearby, calling as he had previously done, \"Samuel! Samuel!\" Samuel replied, \"Speak, for your servant is listening!\"\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Samuel, \"Look! I am about to do something in Israel; when anyone hears about it, both of his ears will tingle. \n\t\t\t On that day I will carry out against Eli everything that I spoke about his house, from start to finish!\n\t\t\t You should tell him that I am about to judge his house forever because of the sin that he knew about. For his sons were cursing God, and he did not rebuke them.\n\t\t\t Therefore I swore an oath to the house of Eli, 'The sin of the house of Eli can never be forgiven by sacrifice or by grain offering.'\"\n\t\t\t So Samuel lay down until morning. Then he opened the doors of the LORD's house. But Samuel was afraid to tell Eli about the vision.\n\t\t\t However, Eli called Samuel and said, \"Samuel, my son!\" He replied, \"Here I am.\"\n\t\t\t Eli said, \"What message did he speak to you? Don't conceal it from me. God will judge you severely if you conceal from me anything that he said to you!\"\n\t\t\t So Samuel told him everything. He did not hold back anything from him. Eli said, \"The LORD will do what he pleases.\"\n\t\t\t Samuel continued to grow, and the LORD was with him. None of his prophecies fell to the ground unfulfilled.\n\t\t\t All Israel from Dan to Beer Sheba realized that Samuel was confirmed as a prophet of the LORD.\n\t\t\t Then the LORD again appeared in Shiloh, for it was in Shiloh that the LORD had revealed himself to Samuel through the word of the LORD.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Samuel revealed the word of the LORD to all Israel. Then the Israelites went out to fight the Philistines. They camped at Ebenezer, and the Philistines camped at Aphek. \n\t\t\t The Philistines arranged their forces to fight Israel. As the battle spread out, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who killed about four thousand men in the battle line in the field.\n\t\t\t When the army came back to the camp, the elders of Israel said, \"Why did the LORD let us be defeated today by the Philistines? Let's take with us the ark of the covenant of the LORD from Shiloh. When it is with us, it will save us from the hand of our enemies.\n\t\t\t So the army sent to Shiloh, and they took from there the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts who sits between the cherubim. Now the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phineas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God. \n\t\t\t When the ark of the covenant of the LORD arrived at the camp, all Israel shouted so loudly that the ground shook.\n\t\t\t When the Philistines heard the sound of the shout, they said, \"What is this loud shout in the camp of the Hebrews?\" Then they realized that the ark of the LORD had arrived at the camp.\n\t\t\t The Philistines were scared because they thought that gods had come to the camp. They said, \"Too bad for us! We've never seen anything like this! \n\t\t\t Too bad for us! Who can deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? These are the gods who struck the Egyptians with all sorts of plagues in the desert!\n\t\t\t Be strong and act like men, you Philistines, or else you will wind up serving the Hebrews the way they have served you! Act like men and fight!\"\n\t\t\t So the Philistines fought. Israel was defeated; they all ran home. The slaughter was very great; thirty thousand foot soldiers fell in battle.\n\t\t\t The ark of God was taken, and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phineas, were killed.\n\t\t\t On that day a Benjaminite ran from the battle lines and came to Shiloh. His clothes were torn and dirt was on his head. \n\t\t\t When he arrived in Shiloh, Eli was sitting in his chair watching by the side of the road, for he was very worried about the ark of God. As the man entered the city to give his report, the whole city cried out.\n\t\t\t When Eli heard the outcry, he said, \"What is this commotion?\" The man quickly came and told Eli. \n\t\t\t Now Eli was ninety-eight years old and his eyes looked straight ahead; he was unable to see.\n\t\t\t The man said to Eli, \"I am the one who came from the battle lines! Just today I fled from the battle lines!\" Eli asked, \"How did things go, my son?\" \n\t\t\t The messenger replied, \"Israel has fled from the Philistines! The army has suffered a great defeat! Your two sons, Hophni and Phineas, are dead! The ark of God has been captured!\"\n\t\t\t When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell backward from his chair beside the gate. He broke his neck and died, for he was old and heavy. He had judged Israel for forty years.\n\t\t\t His daughter-in-law, the wife of Phineas, was pregnant and close to giving birth. When she heard that the ark of God was captured and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she doubled over and gave birth. But her labor pains were too much for her.\n\t\t\t As she was dying, the women who were there with her said, \"Don't be afraid! You have given birth to a son!\" But she did not reply or pay any attention.\n\t\t\t She named the boy Ichabod, saying, \"The glory has departed from Israel,\" referring to the capture of the ark of God and the deaths of her father-in-law and her husband. \n\t\t\t She said, \"The glory has departed from Israel, because the ark of God has been captured.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now the Philistines had captured the ark of God and brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod.\n\t\t\t The Philistines took the ark of God and brought it into the temple of Dagon, where they positioned it beside Dagon.\n\t\t\t When the residents of Ashdod got up early the next day, Dagon was lying on the ground before the ark of the LORD. So they took Dagon and set him back in his place. \n\t\t\t But when they got up early the following day, Dagon was again lying on the ground before the ark of the LORD. The head of Dagon and his two hands were sheared off and were lying at the threshold. Only Dagon's body was left intact.\n\t\t\t (For this reason, to this very day, neither Dagon's priests nor anyone else who enters Dagon's temple step on Dagon's threshold in Ashdod.)\n\t\t\t The LORD attacked the residents of Ashdod severely, bringing devastation on them. He struck the people of both Ashdod and the surrounding area with sores.\n\t\t\t When the people of Ashdod saw what was happening, they said, \"The ark of the God of Israel should not remain with us, for he has attacked both us and our god Dagon!\"\n\t\t\t So they assembled all the leaders of the Philistines and asked, \"What should we do with the ark of the God of Israel?\" They replied, \"The ark of the God of Israel should be moved to Gath.\" So they moved the ark of the God of Israel.\n\t\t\t But after it had been moved the LORD attacked that city as well, causing a great deal of panic. He struck all the people of that city with sores.\n\t\t\t So they sent the ark of God to Ekron. But when the ark of God arrived at Ekron, the residents of Ekron cried out saying, \"They have brought the ark of the God of Israel here to kill our people!\"\n\t\t\t So they assembled all the leaders of the Philistines and said, \"Get the ark of the God of Israel out of here! Let it go back to its own place so that it won't kill us and our people!\" The terror of death was throughout the entire city; God was attacking them very severely there.\n\t\t\t The people who did not die were struck with sores; the city's cry for help went all the way up to heaven.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t When the ark of the LORD had been in the land of the Philistines for seven months,\n\t\t\t the Philistines called the priests and the omen readers, saying, \"What should we do with the ark of the LORD? Advise us as to how we should send it back to its place.\"\n\t\t\t They replied, \"If you are going to send the ark of the God of Israel back, don't send it away empty. Be sure to return it with a guilt offering. Then you will be healed, and you will understand why his hand is not removed from you.\"\n\t\t\t They inquired, \"What is the guilt offering that we should send to him?\" They replied, \"The Philistine leaders number five. So send five gold sores and five gold mice, for it is the same plague that has afflicted both you and your leaders.\n\t\t\t You should make images of the sores and images of the mice that are destroying the land. You should honor the God of Israel. Perhaps he will release his grip on you, your gods, and your land.\n\t\t\t Why harden your hearts like the Egyptians and Pharaoh did? When God treated them harshly, didn't the Egyptians send the Israelites on their way?\n\t\t\t So now go and make a new cart. Get two cows that have calves and that have never had a yoke placed on them. Harness the cows to the cart and take their calves from them back to their stalls.\n\t\t\t Then take the ark of the LORD and place it on the cart, and put in a chest beside it the gold objects you are sending to him as a guilt offering. You should then send it on its way.\n\t\t\t But keep an eye on it. If it should go up by the way of its own border to Beth Shemesh, then he has brought this great calamity on us. But if that is not the case, then we will know that it was not his hand that struck us; rather, it just happened to us by accident.\"\n\t\t\t So the men did as instructed. They took two cows that had calves and harnessed them to a cart; they also removed their calves to their stalls. \n\t\t\t They put the ark of the LORD on the cart, along with the chest, the gold mice, and the images of the sores.\n\t\t\t Then the cows went directly on the road to Beth Shemesh. They went along, mooing as they went; they turned neither to the right nor to the left. The leaders of the Philistines were walking along behind them all the way to the border of Beth Shemesh.\n\t\t\t Now the residents of Beth Shemesh were harvesting wheat in the valley. When they looked up and saw the ark, they were pleased at the sight.\n\t\t\t The cart was coming to the field of Joshua, who was from Beth Shemesh. It paused there near a big stone. Then they cut up the wood of the cart and offered the cows as a burnt offering to the LORD.\n\t\t\t The Levites took down the ark of the LORD and the chest that was with it, which contained the gold objects. They placed them near the big stone. At that time the people of Beth Shemesh offered burnt offerings and made sacrifices to the LORD.\n\t\t\t The five leaders of the Philistines watched what was happening and then returned to Ekron on the same day.\n\t\t\t These are the gold sores that the Philistines brought as a guilt offering to the LORD, one for each of the following cities: Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron.\n\t\t\t The gold mice corresponded in number to all the Philistine cities of the five leaders, from the fortified cities to hamlet villages, to greater Abel, where they positioned the ark of the LORD until this very day in the field of Joshua who was from Beth Shemesh.\n\t\t\t But the LORD struck down some of the people of Beth Shemesh because they had looked into the ark of the LORD; he struck down 50,070 of the men. The people grieved because the LORD had struck the people with a hard blow. \n\t\t\t The residents of Beth Shemesh asked, \"Who is able to stand before the LORD, this holy God? To whom will the ark go up from here?\"\n\t\t\t So they sent messengers to the residents of Kiriath Jearim, saying, \"The Philistines have returned the ark of the LORD. Come down here and take it back home with you.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then the people of Kiriath Jearim came and took the ark of the LORD; they brought it to the house of Abinadab located on the hill. They consecrated Eleazar his son to guard the ark of the LORD.\n\t\t\t It was quite a long time, some twenty years in all, that the ark stayed at Kiriath Jearim. All the people of Israel longed for the LORD.\n\t\t\t Samuel said to all the people of Israel, \"If you are really turning to the LORD with all your hearts, remove from among you the foreign gods and the images of Ashtoreth. Give your hearts to the LORD and serve only him. Then he will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.\"\n\t\t\t So the Israelites removed the Baals and images of Ashtoreth. They served only the LORD.\n\t\t\t Then Samuel said, \"Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray to the LORD on your behalf.\"\n\t\t\t After they had assembled at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out before the LORD. They fasted on that day, and they confessed there, \"We have sinned against the LORD.\" So Samuel led the people of Israel at Mizpah.\n\t\t\t When the Philistines heard that the Israelites had gathered at Mizpah, the leaders of the Philistines went up against Israel. When the Israelites heard about this, they were afraid of the Philistines.\n\t\t\t The Israelites said to Samuel, \"Keep crying out to the LORD our God so that he may save us from the hand of the Philistines!\" \n\t\t\t So Samuel took a nursing lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the LORD. Samuel cried out to the LORD on Israel's behalf, and the LORD answered him.\n\t\t\t As Samuel was offering burnt offerings, the Philistines approached to do battle with Israel. But on that day the LORD thundered loudly against the Philistines. He caused them to panic, and they were defeated by Israel.\n\t\t\t Then the men of Israel left Mizpah and chased the Philistines, striking them down all the way to an area below Beth Car.\n\t\t\t Samuel took a stone and placed it between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, \"Up to here the LORD has helped us.\" \n\t\t\t So the Philistines were defeated; they did not invade Israel again. The hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.\n\t\t\t The cities that the Philistines had captured from Israel were returned to Israel, from Ekron to Gath. Israel also delivered their territory from the control of the Philistines. There was also peace between Israel and the Amorites. \n\t\t\t So Samuel led Israel all the days of his life. \n\t\t\t Year after year he used to travel the circuit of Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah; he used to judge Israel in all of these places. \n\t\t\t Then he would return to Ramah, because his home was there. He also judged Israel there and built an altar to the LORD there.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t In his old age Samuel appointed his sons as judges over Israel.\n\t\t\t The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second son was Abijah. They were judges in Beer Sheba.\n\t\t\t But his sons did not follow his ways. Instead, they made money dishonestly, accepted bribes, and perverted justice.\n\t\t\t So all the elders of Israel gathered together and approached Samuel at Ramah.\n\t\t\t They said to him, \"Look, you are old, and your sons don't follow your ways. So now appoint over us a king to lead us, just like all the other nations have.\"\n\t\t\t But this request displeased Samuel, for they said, \"Give us a king to lead us.\" So Samuel prayed to the LORD. \n\t\t\t The LORD said to Samuel, \"Do everything the people request of you. For it is not you that they have rejected, but it is me that they have rejected as their king. \n\t\t\t Just as they have done from the day that I brought them up from Egypt until this very day, they have rejected me and have served other gods. This is what they are also doing to you. \n\t\t\t So now do as they say. But seriously warn them and make them aware of the policies of the king who will rule over them.\"\n\t\t\t So Samuel spoke all the words of the LORD to the people who were asking him for a king.\n\t\t\t He said, \"Here are the policies of the king who will rule over you: He will conscript your sons and put them in his chariot forces and in his cavalry; they will run in front of his chariot.\n\t\t\t He will appoint for himself leaders of thousands and leaders of fifties, as well as those who plow his ground, reap his harvest, and make his weapons of war and his chariot equipment. \n\t\t\t He will take your daughters to be ointment makers, cooks, and bakers.\n\t\t\t He will take your best fields and vineyards and give them to his own servants.\n\t\t\t He will demand a tenth of your seed and of the produce of your vineyards and give it to his administrators and his servants. \n\t\t\t He will take your male and female servants, as well as your best cattle and your donkeys, and assign them for his own use.\n\t\t\t He will demand a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will be his servants.\n\t\t\t In that day you will cry out because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the LORD won't answer you in that day.\"\n\t\t\t But the people refused to heed Samuel's warning. Instead they said, \"No! There will be a king over us! \n\t\t\t We will be like all the other nations. Our king will judge us and lead us and fight our battles.\"\n\t\t\t So Samuel listened to everything the people said and then reported it to the LORD.\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Samuel, \"Do as they say and install a king over them.\" Then Samuel said to the men of Israel, \"Each of you go back to his own city.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t There was a Benjaminite man named Kish son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah of Benjamin. He was a prominent person.\n\t\t\t He had a son named Saul, a handsome young man. There was no one among the Israelites more handsome than he was; he stood head and shoulders above all the people.\n\t\t\t The donkeys of Saul's father Kish wandered off, so Kish said to his son Saul, \"Take one of the servants with you and go look for the donkeys.\"\n\t\t\t So Saul crossed through the hill country of Ephraim, passing through the land of Shalisha, but they did not find them. So they crossed through the land of Shaalim, but they were not there. Then he crossed through the land of Benjamin, and still they did not find them.\n\t\t\t When they came to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant who was with him, \"Come on, let's head back before my father quits worrying about the donkeys and becomes anxious about us!\"\n\t\t\t But the servant said to him, \"Look, there is a man of God in this town. He is highly respected. Everything that he says really happens. Now let's go there. Perhaps he will tell us where we should go from here.\"\n\t\t\t So Saul said to his servant, \"All right, we can go. But what can we bring the man, since the food in our bags is used up? We have no gift to take to the man of God. What do we have?\" \n\t\t\t The servant went on to answer Saul, \"Look, I happen to have in my hand a quarter shekel of silver. I will give it to the man of God and he will tell us where we should go.\"\n\t\t\t (Now it used to be in Israel that whenever someone went to inquire of God he would say, \"Come on, let's go to the seer.\" For today's prophet used to be called a seer.)\n\t\t\t So Saul said to his servant, \"That's a good idea! Come on. Let's go.\" So they went to the town where the man of God was.\n\t\t\t As they were going up the ascent to the town, they met some girls coming out to draw water. They said to them, \"Is this where the seer is?\"\n\t\t\t They replied, \"Yes, straight ahead! But hurry now, for he came to the town today, and the people are making a sacrifice at the high place.\n\t\t\t When you enter the town, you can find him before he goes up to the high place to eat. The people won't eat until he arrives, for he must bless the sacrifice. Once that happens, those who have been invited will eat. Now go on up, for this is the time when you can find him!\"\n\t\t\t So they went up to the town. As they were heading for the middle of the town, Samuel was coming in their direction to go up to the high place. \n\t\t\t Now the day before Saul arrived, the LORD had told Samuel: \n\t\t\t \"At this time tomorrow I will send to you a man from the land of Benjamin. You must consecrate him as a leader over my people Israel. He will save my people from the hand of the Philistines. For I have looked with favor on my people. Their cry has reached me!\"\n\t\t\t When Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said, \"Here is the man that I told you about! He will rule over my people.\" \n\t\t\t As Saul approached Samuel in the middle of the gate, he said, \"Please tell me where the seer's house is.\"\n\t\t\t Samuel replied to Saul, \"I am the seer! Go up in front of me to the high place! Today you will eat with me and in the morning I will send you away. I will tell you everything that you are thinking.\n\t\t\t Don't be concerned about the donkeys that you lost three days ago, for they have been found. Whom does all Israel desire? Is it not you, and all your father's family?\"\n\t\t\t Saul replied, \"Am I not a Benjaminite, from the smallest of Israel's tribes, and is not my family clan the smallest of all the tribes of Benjamin? Why do you speak to me in this way?\"\n\t\t\t Then Samuel brought Saul and his servant into the room and gave them a place at the head of those who had been invited. There were about thirty people present. \n\t\t\t Samuel said to the cook, \"Give me the portion of meat that I gave to you, the one I asked you to keep with you.\"\n\t\t\t So the cook picked up the leg and brought it and set it in front of Saul. Samuel said, \"What was kept is now set before you! Eat, for it has been kept for you for this meeting time, from the time I said, 'I have invited the people.'\" So Saul ate with Samuel that day.\n\t\t\t When they came down from the high place to the town, Samuel spoke with Saul on the roof.\n\t\t\t They got up at dawn and Samuel called to Saul on the roof, \"Get up, so I can send you on your way.\" So Saul got up and the two of them, he and Samuel, went outside.\n\t\t\t While they were going down to the edge of town, Samuel said to Saul, \"Tell the servant to go on ahead of us.\" So he did. Samuel then said, \"You remain here awhile, so I can inform you of God's message.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then Samuel took a small container of olive oil and poured it on Saul's head. Samuel kissed him and said, \"The LORD has chosen you to lead his people Israel! You will rule over the LORD's people and you will deliver them from the power of the enemies who surround them. This will be your sign that the LORD has chosen you as leader over his inheritance.\n\t\t\t When you leave me today, you will find two men near Rachel's tomb at Zelzah on Benjamin's border. They will say to you, 'The donkeys you have gone looking for have been found. Your father is no longer concerned about the donkeys but has become anxious about you two! He is asking, \"What should I do about my son?\"'\n\t\t\t \"As you continue on from there, you will come to the tall tree of Tabor. At that point three men who are going up to God at Bethel will meet you. One of them will be carrying three young goats, one of them will be carrying three round loaves of bread, and one of them will be carrying a container of wine. \n\t\t\t They will ask you how you're doing and will give you two loaves of bread. You will accept them.\n\t\t\t Afterward you will go to Gibeah of God, where there are Philistine officials. When you enter the town, you will meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place. They will have harps, tambourines, flutes, and lyres, and they will be prophesying. \n\t\t\t Then the spirit of the LORD will rush upon you and you will prophesy with them. You will be changed into a different person.\n\t\t\t \"When these signs have taken place, do whatever your hand finds to do, for God will be with you.\n\t\t\t You will go down to Gilgal before me. I am going to join you there to offer burnt offerings and to make peace offerings. You should wait for seven days, until I arrive and tell you what to do.\"\n\t\t\t As Saul turned to leave Samuel, God changed his inmost person. All these signs happened on that very day. \n\t\t\t When Saul and his servant arrived at Gibeah, a company of prophets was coming out to meet him. Then the spirit of God rushed upon Saul and he prophesied among them. \n\t\t\t When everyone who had known him previously saw him prophesying with the prophets, the people all asked one another, \"What on earth has happened to the son of Kish? Does even Saul belong with the prophets?\"\n\t\t\t A man who was from there replied, \"And who is their father?\" Therefore this became a proverb: \"Is even Saul among the prophets?\"\n\t\t\t When Saul had finished prophesying, he went to the high place.\n\t\t\t Saul's uncle asked him and his servant, \"Where did you go?\" Saul replied, \"To look for the donkeys. But when we realized they were lost, we went to Samuel.\" \n\t\t\t Saul's uncle said, \"Tell me what Samuel said to you.\"\n\t\t\t Saul said to his uncle, \"He assured us that the donkeys had been found.\" But Saul did not tell him what Samuel had said about the matter of kingship.\n\t\t\t Then Samuel called the people together before the LORD at Mizpah.\n\t\t\t He said to the Israelites, \"This is what the LORD God of Israel says, 'I brought Israel up from Egypt and I delivered you from the power of the Egyptians and from the power of all the kingdoms that oppressed you. \n\t\t\t But today you have rejected your God who saves you from all your trouble and distress. You have said, \"No! Appoint a king over us.\" Now take your positions before the LORD by your tribes and by your clans.'\"\n\t\t\t Then Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near, and the tribe of Benjamin was chosen by lot.\n\t\t\t Then he brought the tribe of Benjamin near by its families, and the family of Matri was chosen by lot. At last Saul son of Kish was chosen by lot. But when they looked for him, he was nowhere to be found.\n\t\t\t So they inquired again of the LORD, \"Has the man arrived here yet?\" The LORD said, \"He has hidden himself among the equipment.\"\n\t\t\t So they ran and brought him from there. When he took his position among the people, he stood head and shoulders above them all.\n\t\t\t Then Samuel said to all the people, \"Do you see the one whom the LORD has chosen? Indeed, there is no one like him among all the people!\" All the people shouted out, \"Long live the king!\"\n\t\t\t Then Samuel talked to the people about how the kingship would work. He wrote it all down on a scroll and set it before the LORD. Then Samuel sent all the people away to their homes. \n\t\t\t Even Saul went to his home in Gibeah. With him went some brave men whose hearts God had touched.\n\t\t\t But some wicked men said, \"How can this man save us?\" They despised him and did not even bring him a gift. But Saul said nothing about it.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Nahash the Ammonite marched against Jabesh Gilead. All the men of Jabesh Gilead said to Nahash, \"Make a treaty with us and we will serve you.\"\n\t\t\t But Nahash the Ammonite said to them, \"The only way I will make a treaty with you is if you let me gouge out the right eye of every one of you and in so doing humiliate all Israel!\"\n\t\t\t The elders of Jabesh said to him, \"Leave us alone for seven days so that we can send messengers throughout the territory of Israel. If there is no one who can deliver us, we will come out voluntarily to you.\"\n\t\t\t When the messengers went to Gibeah (where Saul lived) and informed the people of these matters, all the people wept loudly.\n\t\t\t Now Saul was walking behind the oxen as he came from the field. Saul asked, \"What has happened to the people? Why are they weeping?\" So they told him about the men of Jabesh.\n\t\t\t The Spirit of God rushed upon Saul when he heard these words, and he became very angry.\n\t\t\t He took a pair of oxen and cut them up. Then he sent the pieces throughout the territory of Israel by the hand of messengers, who said, \"Whoever does not go out after Saul and after Samuel should expect this to be done to his oxen!\" Then the terror of the LORD fell on the people, and they went out as one army.\n\t\t\t When Saul counted them at Bezek, the Israelites were 300,000 strong and the men of Judah numbered 30,000.\n\t\t\t They said to the messengers who had come, \"Here's what you should say to the men of Jabesh Gilead: 'Tomorrow deliverance will come to you when the sun is fully up.'\" When the messengers went and told the men of Jabesh Gilead, they were happy.\n\t\t\t The men of Jabesh said, \"Tomorrow we will come out to you and you can do with us whatever you wish.\"\n\t\t\t The next day Saul placed the people in three groups. They went to the Ammonite camp during the morning watch and struck them down until the hottest part of the day. The survivors scattered; no two of them remained together.\n\t\t\t Then the people said to Samuel, \"Who were the ones asking, 'Will Saul reign over us?' Hand over those men so we may execute them!\"\n\t\t\t But Saul said, \"No one will be killed on this day. For today the LORD has given Israel a victory!\"\n\t\t\t Samuel said to the people, \"Come on! Let's go to Gilgal and renew the kingship there.\"\n\t\t\t So all the people went to Gilgal, where they established Saul as king in the LORD's presence. They offered up peace offerings there in the LORD's presence. Saul and all the Israelites were very happy.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Samuel said to all Israel, \"I have done everything you requested. I have given you a king.\n\t\t\t Now look! This king walks before you. As for me, I am old and gray, though my sons are here with you. I have walked before you from the time of my youth till the present day.\n\t\t\t Here I am. Bring a charge against me before the LORD and before his chosen king. Whose ox have I taken? Whose donkey have I taken? Whom have I wronged? Whom have I oppressed? From whose hand have I taken a bribe so that I would overlook something? Tell me, and I will return it to you!\"\n\t\t\t They replied, \"You have not wronged us or oppressed us. You have not taken anything from the hand of anyone.\"\n\t\t\t He said to them, \"The LORD is witness against you, and his chosen king is witness this day, that you have not found any reason to accuse me.\" They said, \"He is witness!\"\n\t\t\t Samuel said to the people, \"The LORD is the one who chose Moses and Aaron and who brought your ancestors up from the land of Egypt. \n\t\t\t Now take your positions, so I may confront you before the LORD regarding all the LORD's just actions toward you and your ancestors.\n\t\t\t When Jacob entered Egypt, your ancestors cried out to the LORD. The LORD sent Moses and Aaron, and they led your ancestors out of Egypt and settled them in this place.\n\t\t\t \"But they forgot the LORD their God, so he gave them into the hand of Sisera, the general in command of Hazor's army, and into the hand of the Philistines and into the hand of the king of Moab, and they fought against them. \n\t\t\t Then they cried out to the LORD and admitted, 'We have sinned, for we have forsaken the LORD and have served the Baals and the images of Ashtoreth. Now deliver us from the hand of our enemies so that we may serve you.'\n\t\t\t So the LORD sent Jerub-Baal, Barak, Jephthah, and Samuel, and he delivered you from the hand of the enemies all around you, and you were able to live securely.\n\t\t\t \"When you saw that King Nahash of the Ammonites was advancing against you, you said to me, 'No! A king will rule over us', even though the LORD your God is your king!\n\t\t\t Now look! Here is the king you have chosen, the one that you asked for! Look, the LORD has given you a king!\n\t\t\t If you fear the LORD, serving him and obeying him and not rebelling against what he says, and if both you and the king who rules over you follow the LORD your God, all will be well.\n\t\t\t But if you don't obey the LORD and rebel against what the LORD says, the hand of the LORD will be against both you and your king.\n\t\t\t \"So now, take your positions and watch this great thing that the LORD is about to do in your sight.\n\t\t\t Is this not the time of the wheat harvest? I will call on the LORD so that he makes it thunder and rain. Realize and see what a great sin you have committed before the LORD by asking for a king for yourselves.\"\n\t\t\t So Samuel called to the LORD, and the LORD made it thunder and rain that day. All the people were very afraid of both the LORD and Samuel.\n\t\t\t All the people said to Samuel, \"Pray to the LORD your God on behalf of us, your servants, so we won't die, for we have added to all our sins by asking for a king.\"\n\t\t\t Then Samuel said to the people, \"Don't be afraid. You have indeed sinned. However, don't turn aside from the LORD. Serve the LORD with all your heart. \n\t\t\t You should not turn aside after empty things that can't profit and can't deliver, since they are empty.\n\t\t\t The LORD will not abandon his people because he wants to uphold his great reputation. The LORD was pleased to make you his own people. \n\t\t\t As far as I am concerned, far be it from me to sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you! I will instruct you in the way that is good and upright.\n\t\t\t However, fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart. Just look at the great things he has done for you!\n\t\t\t But if you continue to do evil, both you and your king will be swept away.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Saul was [thirty] years old when he began to reign; he ruled over Israel for [forty] years. \n\t\t\t Saul selected for himself three thousand men from Israel. Two thousand of these were with Saul at Micmash and in the hill country of Bethel; the remaining thousand were with Jonathan at Gibeah in the territory of Benjamin. He sent all the rest of the people back home.\n\t\t\t Jonathan attacked the Philistine outpost that was at Geba and the Philistines heard about it. Then Saul alerted all the land saying, \"Let the Hebrews pay attention!\" \n\t\t\t All Israel heard this message, \"Saul has attacked the Philistine outpost, and now Israel is repulsive to the Philistines!\" So the people were summoned to join Saul at Gilgal.\n\t\t\t For the battle with Israel the Philistines had amassed 3,000 chariots, 6,000 horsemen, and an army as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They went up and camped at Micmash, east of Beth Aven. \n\t\t\t The men of Israel realized they had a problem because their army was hard pressed. So the army hid in caves, thickets, cliffs, strongholds, and cisterns. \n\t\t\t Some of the Hebrews crossed over the Jordan River to the land of Gad and Gilead. But Saul stayed at Gilgal; the entire army that was with him was terrified. \n\t\t\t He waited for seven days, the time period indicated by Samuel. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and the army began to abandon Saul.\n\t\t\t So Saul said, \"Bring me the burnt offering and the peace offerings.\" Then he offered a burnt offering.\n\t\t\t Just when he had finished offering the burnt offering, Samuel appeared on the scene. Saul went out to meet him and to greet him.\n\t\t\t But Samuel said, \"What have you done?\" Saul replied, \"When I saw that the army had started to abandon me and that you didn't come at the appointed time and that the Philistines had assembled at Micmash, \n\t\t\t I thought, 'Now the Philistines will come down on me at Gilgal and I have not sought the LORD's favor.' So I felt obligated to offer the burnt offering.\"\n\t\t\t Then Samuel said to Saul, \"You have made a foolish choice! You have not obeyed the commandment that the LORD your God gave you. Had you done that, the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever! \n\t\t\t But now your kingdom will not continue! The LORD has sought out for himself a man who is loyal to him and the LORD has appointed him to be leader over his people, for you have not obeyed what the LORD commanded you.\"\n\t\t\t Then Samuel set out and went up from Gilgal to Gibeah in the territory of Benjamin. Saul mustered the army that remained with him; there were about six hundred men. \n\t\t\t Saul, his son Jonathan, and the army that remained with them stayed in Gibeah in the territory of Benjamin, while the Philistines camped in Micmash.\n\t\t\t Raiding bands went out from the camp of the Philistines in three groups. One band turned toward the road leading to Ophrah by the land of Shual;\n\t\t\t another band turned toward the road leading to Beth Horon; and yet another band turned toward the road leading to the border that overlooks the valley of Zeboim in the direction of the desert.\n\t\t\t A blacksmith could not be found in all the land of Israel, for the Philistines had said, \"This will prevent the Hebrews from making swords and spears.\"\n\t\t\t So all Israel had to go down to the Philistines in order to get their plowshares, cutting instruments, axes, and sickles sharpened. \n\t\t\t They charged two-thirds of a shekel to sharpen plowshares and cutting instruments, and a third of a shekel to sharpen picks and axes, and to set ox goads. \n\t\t\t So on the day of the battle no sword or spear was to be found in the hand of anyone in the army that was with Saul and Jonathan. No one but Saul and his son Jonathan had them.\n\t\t\t A garrison of the Philistines had gone out to the pass at Micmash.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then one day Jonathan son of Saul said to his armor bearer, \"Come on, let's go over to the Philistine garrison that is opposite us.\" But he did not let his father know.\n\t\t\t Now Saul was sitting under a pomegranate tree in Migron, on the outskirts of Gibeah. The army that was with him numbered about six hundred men.\n\t\t\t Now Ahijah was carrying an ephod. He was the son of Ahitub, who was the brother of Ichabod and a son of Phineas, son of Eli, the priest of the LORD in Shiloh. The army was unaware that Jonathan had left.\n\t\t\t Now there was a steep cliff on each side of the pass through which Jonathan intended to go to reach the Philistine garrison. One cliff was named Bozez, the other Seneh.\n\t\t\t The cliff to the north was closer to Micmash, the one to the south closer to Geba.\n\t\t\t Jonathan said to his armor bearer, \"Come on, let's go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised men. Perhaps the LORD will intervene for us. Nothing can prevent the LORD from delivering, whether by many or by a few.\" \n\t\t\t His armor bearer said to him, \"Do everything that is on your mind. Do as you're inclined. I'm with you all the way!\"\n\t\t\t Jonathan replied, \"All right! We'll go over to these men and fight them. \n\t\t\t If they say to us, 'Stay put until we approach you,' we will stay right there and not go up to them. \n\t\t\t But if they say, 'Come up against us,' we will go up. For in that case the LORD has given them into our hand, it will be a sign to us.\"\n\t\t\t When they made themselves known to the Philistine garrison, the Philistines said, \"Look! The Hebrews are coming out of the holes in which they hid themselves.\" \n\t\t\t Then the men of the garrison said to Jonathan and his armor bearer, \"Come on up to us so we can teach you a thing or two!\" Then Jonathan said to his armor bearer, \"Come up behind me, for the LORD has given them into the hand of Israel!\"\n\t\t\t Jonathan crawled up on his hands and feet, with his armor bearer following behind him. Jonathan struck down the Philistines, while his armor bearer came along behind him and killed them.\n\t\t\t In this initial skirmish Jonathan and his armor bearer struck down about twenty men in an area that measured half an acre.\n\t\t\t Then fear overwhelmed those who were in the camp, those who were in the field, all the army in the garrison, and the raiding bands. They trembled and the ground shook. This fear was caused by God.\n\t\t\t Saul's watchmen at Gibeah in the territory of Benjamin looked on as the crowd of soldiers seemed to melt away first in one direction and then in another.\n\t\t\t So Saul said to the army that was with him, \"Muster the troops and see who is no longer with us.\" When they mustered the troops, Jonathan and his armor bearer were not there. \n\t\t\t So Saul said to Ahijah, \"Bring near the ephod,\" for he was at that time wearing the ephod.\n\t\t\t While Saul spoke to the priest, the panic in the Philistines' camp was becoming greater and greater. So Saul said to the priest, \"Withdraw your hand!\"\n\t\t\t Saul and all the army that was with him assembled and marched into battle, where they found the Philistines in total panic killing one another with their swords.\n\t\t\t The Hebrews who had earlier gone over to the Philistine side joined the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan. \n\t\t\t When all the Israelites who had hidden themselves in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines had fled, they too pursued them in battle.\n\t\t\t So the LORD delivered Israel that day, and the battle shifted over to Beth Aven.\n\t\t\t Now the men of Israel were hard pressed that day, for Saul had made the army agree to this oath: \"Cursed be the man who eats food before evening! I will get my vengeance on my enemies!\" So no one in the army ate anything.\n\t\t\t Now the whole army entered the forest and there was honey on the ground.\n\t\t\t When the army entered the forest, they saw the honey flowing, but no one ate any of it, for the army was afraid of the oath. \n\t\t\t But Jonathan had not heard about the oath his father had made the army take. He extended the end of his staff that was in his hand and dipped it in the honeycomb. When he ate it, his eyes gleamed.\n\t\t\t Then someone from the army informed him, \"Your father put the army under a strict oath saying, 'Cursed be the man who eats food today!' That is why the army is tired.\" \n\t\t\t Then Jonathan said, \"My father has caused trouble for the land. See how my eyes gleamed when I tasted just a little of this honey. \n\t\t\t Certainly if the army had eaten some of the enemies' provisions that they came across today, would not the slaughter of the Philistines have been even greater?\"\n\t\t\t On that day the army struck down the Philistines from Micmash to Aijalon, and they became very tired.\n\t\t\t So the army rushed greedily on the plunder, confiscating sheep, cattle, and calves. They slaughtered them right on the ground, and the army ate them blood and all.\n\t\t\t Now it was reported to Saul, \"Look, the army is sinning against the LORD by eating even the blood.\" He said, \"All of you have broken the covenant! Roll a large stone over here to me.\" \n\t\t\t Then Saul said, \"Scatter out among the army and say to them, 'Each of you bring to me your ox and sheep and slaughter them in this spot and eat. But don't sin against the LORD by eating the blood.\" So that night each one brought his ox and slaughtered it there.\n\t\t\t Then Saul built an altar for the LORD; it was the first time he had built an altar for the LORD.\n\t\t\t Saul said, \"Let's go down after the Philistines at night; we will rout them until the break of day. We won't leave any of them alive!\" They replied, \"Do whatever seems best to you.\" But the priest said, \"Let's approach God here.\" \n\t\t\t So Saul asked God, \"Should I go down after the Philistines? Will you deliver them into the hand of Israel?\" But he did not answer him that day.\n\t\t\t Then Saul said, \"All you leaders of the army come here. Find out how this sin occurred today. \n\t\t\t For as surely as the LORD, the deliverer of Israel, lives, even if it turns out to be my own son Jonathan, he will certainly die!\" But no one from the army said anything.\n\t\t\t Then he said to all Israel, \"You will be on one side, and I and my son Jonathan will be on the other side.\" The army replied to Saul, \"Do whatever you think is best.\"\n\t\t\t Then Saul said, \"O LORD God of Israel! If this sin has been committed by me or by my son Jonathan, then, O LORD God of Israel, respond with Urim. But if this sin has been committed by your people Israel, respond with Thummim.\" Then Jonathan and Saul were indicated by lot, while the army was exonerated.\n\t\t\t Then Saul said, \"Cast the lot between me and my son Jonathan!\" Jonathan was indicated by lot.\n\t\t\t So Saul said to Jonathan, \"Tell me what you have done.\" Jonathan told him, \"I used the end of the staff that was in my hand to taste a little honey. I must die!\"\n\t\t\t Saul said, \"God will punish me severely if Jonathan doesn't die!\"\n\t\t\t But the army said to Saul, \"Should Jonathan, who won this great victory in Israel, die? May it never be! As surely as the LORD lives, not a single hair of his head will fall to the ground! For it is with the help of God that he has acted today.\" So the army rescued Jonathan from death.\n\t\t\t Then Saul stopped chasing the Philistines, and the Philistines went back home.\n\t\t\t After Saul had secured his royal position over Israel, he fought against all their enemies on all sides, the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines. In every direction that he turned he was victorious.\n\t\t\t He fought bravely, striking down the Amalekites and delivering Israel from the hand of its enemies.\n\t\t\t The sons of Saul were Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malki-Shua. He had two daughters; the older one was named Merab and the younger Michal. \n\t\t\t The name of Saul's wife was Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz. The name of the general in command of his army was Abner son of Ner, Saul's uncle.\n\t\t\t Kish was the father of Saul, and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel.\n\t\t\t There was fierce war with the Philistines all the days of Saul. So whenever Saul saw anyone who was a warrior or a brave individual, he would conscript him.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then Samuel said to Saul, \"I was the one the LORD sent to anoint you as king over his people Israel. Now listen to what the LORD says.\n\t\t\t Here is what the LORD of hosts says: 'I carefully observed how the Amalekites opposed Israel along the way when Israel came up from Egypt. \n\t\t\t So go now and strike down the Amalekites. Destroy everything that they have. Don't spare them. Put them to death, man, woman, child, infant, ox, sheep, camel, and donkey alike.'\"\n\t\t\t So Saul assembled the army and mustered them at Telaim. There were 200,000 foot soldiers and 10,000 men of Judah. \n\t\t\t Saul proceeded to the city of Amalek, where he set an ambush in the wadi.\n\t\t\t Saul said to the Kenites, \"Go on and leave! Go down from among the Amalekites! Otherwise I will sweep you away with them! After all, you were kind to all the Israelites when they came up from Egypt.\" So the Kenites withdrew from among the Amalekites.\n\t\t\t Then Saul struck down the Amalekites all the way from Havilah to Shur, which is next to Egypt. \n\t\t\t He captured King Agag of the Amalekites alive, but he executed all Agag's people with the sword. \n\t\t\t However, Saul and the army spared Agag, along with the best of the flock, the cattle, the fatlings, and the lambs, as well as everything else that was of value. They were not willing to slaughter them. But they did slaughter everything that was despised and worthless.\n\t\t\t Then the word of the LORD came to Samuel:\n\t\t\t \"I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned away from me and has not done what I told him to do.\" Samuel became angry and he cried out to the LORD all that night.\n\t\t\t Then Samuel got up early to meet Saul the next morning. But Samuel was informed, \"Saul has gone to Carmel where he is setting up a monument for himself. Then Samuel left and went down to Gilgal.\"\n\t\t\t When Samuel came to him, Saul said to him, \"May the LORD bless you! I have done what the LORD said.\"\n\t\t\t Samuel replied, \"If that is the case, then what is this sound of sheep in my ears and the sound of cattle that I hear?\" \n\t\t\t Saul said, \"They were brought from the Amalekites; the army spared the best of the flocks and cattle to sacrifice to the LORD our God. But everything else we slaughtered.\"\n\t\t\t Then Samuel said to Saul, \"Wait a minute! Let me tell you what the LORD said to me last night.\" Saul said to him, \"Tell me.\" \n\t\t\t Samuel said, \"Is it not true that when you were insignificant in your own eyes, you became head of the tribes of Israel? The LORD chose you as king over Israel. \n\t\t\t The LORD sent you on a campaign saying, 'Go and exterminate those sinful Amalekites! Fight against them until you have destroyed them.' \n\t\t\t Why haven't you obeyed the LORD? Instead you have greedily rushed upon the plunder! You have done what is wrong in the LORD's estimation.\"\n\t\t\t Then Saul said to Samuel, \"But I have obeyed the LORD! I went on the campaign the LORD sent me on. I brought back King Agag of the Amalekites after exterminating the Amalekites. \n\t\t\t But the army took from the plunder some of the sheep and cattle, the best of what was to be slaughtered, to sacrifice to the LORD your God in Gilgal.\"\n\t\t\t Then Samuel said, \"Does the LORD take pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as he does in obedience? Certainly, obedience is better than sacrifice; paying attention is better than the fat of rams.\n\t\t\t For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and presumption is like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you as king.\"\n\t\t\t Then Saul said to Samuel, \"I have sinned, for I have disobeyed what the LORD commanded and what you said as well. For I was afraid of the army, and I followed their wishes.\n\t\t\t Now please forgive my sin! Go back with me so I can worship the LORD.\"\n\t\t\t Samuel said to Saul, \"I will not go back with you, for you have rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD has rejected you from being king over Israel!\"\n\t\t\t When Samuel turned to leave, Saul grabbed the edge of his robe and it tore. \n\t\t\t Samuel said to him, \"The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you this day and has given it to one of your colleagues who is better than you!\n\t\t\t The Preeminent One of Israel does not go back on his word or change his mind, for he is not a human being who changes his mind.\"\n\t\t\t Saul again replied, \"I have sinned. But please honor me before the elders of my people and before Israel. Go back with me so I may worship the LORD your God.\" \n\t\t\t So Samuel followed Saul back, and Saul worshiped the LORD.\n\t\t\t Then Samuel said, \"Bring me King Agag of the Amalekites.\" So Agag came to him trembling, thinking to himself, \"Surely death is bitter!\"\n\t\t\t Samuel said, \"Just as your sword left women childless, so your mother will be the most bereaved among women!\" Then Samuel hacked Agag to pieces there in Gilgal before the LORD.\n\t\t\t Then Samuel went to Ramah, while Saul went up to his home in Gibeah of Saul.\n\t\t\t Until the day he died Samuel did not see Saul again. Samuel did, however, mourn for Saul, but the LORD regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Samuel, \"How long do you intend to mourn for Saul? I have rejected him as king over Israel. Fill your horn with olive oil and go! I am sending you to Jesse in Bethlehem, for I have selected a king for myself from among his sons.\"\n\t\t\t Samuel replied, \"How can I go? Saul will hear about it and kill me!\" But the LORD said, \"Take a heifer with you and say, 'I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.' \n\t\t\t Then invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you should do. You will anoint for me the one I point out to you.\"\n\t\t\t Samuel did what the LORD told him. When he arrived in Bethlehem, the elders of the city were afraid to meet him. They said, \"Do you come in peace?\" \n\t\t\t He replied, \"Yes, in peace. I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Consecrate yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.\" So he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.\n\t\t\t When they arrived, Samuel noticed Eliab and said to himself, \"Surely, here before the LORD stands his chosen king!\"\n\t\t\t But the LORD said to Samuel, \"Don't be impressed by his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. God does not view things the way men do. People look on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.\"\n\t\t\t Then Jesse called Abinadab and presented him to Samuel. But Samuel said, \"The LORD has not chosen this one, either.\" \n\t\t\t Then Jesse presented Shammah. But Samuel said, \"The LORD has not chosen this one either.\" \n\t\t\t Jesse presented seven of his sons to Samuel. But Samuel said to Jesse, \"The LORD has not chosen any of these.\" \n\t\t\t Then Samuel said to Jesse, \"Is that all of the young men?\" Jesse replied, \"There is still the youngest one, but he's taking care of the flock.\" Samuel said to Jesse, \"Send and get him, for we cannot turn our attention to other things until he comes here.\"\n\t\t\t So Jesse had him brought in. Now he was ruddy, with attractive eyes and a handsome appearance. The LORD said, \"Go and anoint him. This is the one!\" \n\t\t\t So Samuel took the horn full of olive oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers. The Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day onward. Then Samuel got up and went to Ramah.\n\t\t\t Now the Spirit of the LORD had turned away from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD tormented him. \n\t\t\t Then Saul's servants said to him, \"Look, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you!\"\n\t\t\t Let our lord instruct his servants who are here before you to look for a man who knows how to play the lyre. Then whenever the evil spirit from God comes upon you, he can play the lyre and you will feel better.\"\n\t\t\t So Saul said to his servants, \"Find me a man who plays well and bring him to me.\" \n\t\t\t One of his attendants replied, \"I have seen a son of Jesse in Bethlehem who knows how to play the lyre. He is a brave warrior and is articulate and handsome, for the LORD is with him.\"\n\t\t\t So Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, \"Send me your son David, who is out with the sheep.\n\t\t\t So Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a container of wine, and a young goat and sent them to Saul with his son David. \n\t\t\t David came to Saul and stood before him. Saul liked him a great deal, and he became his armor bearer. \n\t\t\t Then Saul sent word to Jesse saying, \"Let David be my servant, for I really like him.\"\n\t\t\t So whenever the spirit from God would come upon Saul, David would take his lyre and play it. This would bring relief to Saul and make him feel better. Then the evil spirit would leave him alone.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The Philistines gathered their troops for battle. They assembled at Socoh in Judah. They camped in Ephes Dammim, between Socoh and Azekah. \n\t\t\t Saul and the Israelite army assembled and camped in the valley of Elah, where they arranged their battle lines to fight against the Philistines. \n\t\t\t The Philistines were standing on one hill, and the Israelites on another hill, with the valley between them.\n\t\t\t Then a champion came out from the camp of the Philistines. His name was Goliath; he was from Gath. He was close to seven feet tall.\n\t\t\t He had a bronze helmet on his head and was wearing scale body armor. The weight of his bronze body armor was five thousand shekels.\n\t\t\t He had bronze shin guards on his legs, and a bronze javelin was slung over his shoulders. \n\t\t\t The shaft of his spear was like a weaver's beam, and the iron point of his spear weighed six hundred shekels. His shield bearer was walking before him.\n\t\t\t Goliath stood and called to Israel's troops, \"Why do you come out to prepare for battle? Am I not the Philistine, and are you not the servants of Saul? Choose for yourselves a man so he may come down to me! \n\t\t\t If he is able to fight with me and strike me down, we will become your servants. But if I prevail against him and strike him down, you will become our servants and will serve us.\"\n\t\t\t Then the Philistine said, \"I defy Israel's troops this day! Give me a man so we can fight each other!\" \n\t\t\t When Saul and all the Israelites heard these words of the Philistine, they were upset and very afraid.\n\t\t\t Now David was the son of this Ephrathite named Jesse from Bethlehem in Judah. He had eight sons, and in Saul's days he was old and well advanced in years.\n\t\t\t Jesse's three oldest sons had followed Saul to war. The names of the three sons who went to war were Eliab, his firstborn, Abinadab, the second oldest, and Shammah, the third oldest. \n\t\t\t Now David was the youngest. While the three oldest sons followed Saul,\n\t\t\t David was going back and forth from Saul in order to care for his father's sheep in Bethlehem.\n\t\t\t Meanwhile for forty days the Philistine approached every morning and evening and took his position.\n\t\t\t Jesse said to his son David, \"Take your brothers this ephah of roasted grain and these ten loaves of bread; go quickly to the camp to your brothers.\n\t\t\t Also take these ten portions of cheese to their commanding officer. Find out how your brothers are doing and bring back their pledge that they received the goods.\n\t\t\t They are with Saul and the whole Israelite army in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.\"\n\t\t\t So David got up early in the morning and entrusted the flock to someone else who would watch over it. After loading up, he went just as Jesse had instructed him. He arrived at the camp as the army was going out to the battle lines shouting its battle cry.\n\t\t\t Israel and the Philistines drew up their battle lines opposite one another.\n\t\t\t After David had entrusted his cargo to the care of the supply officer, he ran to the battlefront. When he arrived, he asked his brothers how they were doing. \n\t\t\t As he was speaking with them, the champion named Goliath, the Philistine from Gath, was coming up from the battle lines of the Philistines. He spoke the way he usually did, and David heard it. \n\t\t\t When all the men of Israel saw this man, they retreated from his presence and were very afraid.\n\t\t\t The men of Israel said, \"Have you seen this man who is coming up? He does so to defy Israel. But the king will make the man who can strike him down very wealthy! He will give him his daughter in marriage, and he will make his father's house exempt from tax obligations in Israel.\"\n\t\t\t David asked the men who were standing near him, \"What will be done for the man who strikes down this Philistine and frees Israel from this humiliation? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he defies the armies of the living God?\" \n\t\t\t The soldiers told him what had been promised, saying, \"This is what will be done for the man who can strike him down.\"\n\t\t\t When David's oldest brother Eliab heard him speaking to the men, he became angry with David and said, \"Why have you come down here? To whom did you entrust those few sheep in the desert? I am familiar with your pride and deceit! You have come down here to watch the battle!\"\n\t\t\t David replied, \"What have I done now? Can't I say anything?\"\n\t\t\t Then he turned from those who were nearby to someone else and asked the same question, but they gave him the same answer as before. \n\t\t\t When David's words were overheard and reported to Saul, he called for him.\n\t\t\t David said to Saul, \"Don't let anyone be discouraged. Your servant will go and fight this Philistine!\" \n\t\t\t But Saul replied to David, \"You aren't able to go against this Philistine and fight him! You're just a boy! He has been a warrior from his youth!\"\n\t\t\t David replied to Saul, \"Your servant has been a shepherd for his father's flock. Whenever a lion or bear would come and carry off a sheep from the flock,\n\t\t\t I would go out after it, strike it down, and rescue the sheep from its mouth. If it rose up against me, I would grab it by its jaw, strike it, and kill it.\n\t\t\t Your servant has struck down both the lion and the bear. This uncircumcised Philistine will be just like one of them. For he has defied the armies of the living God!\" \n\t\t\t David went on to say, \"The LORD who delivered me from the lion and the bear will also deliver me from the hand of this Philistine!\" Then Saul said to David, \"Go! The LORD will be with you.\"\n\t\t\t Then Saul clothed David with his own fighting attire and put a bronze helmet on his head. He also put body armor on him.\n\t\t\t David strapped on his sword over his fighting attire and tried to walk around, but he was not used to them. David said to Saul, \"I can't walk in these things, for I'm not used to them.\" So David removed them. \n\t\t\t He took his staff in his hand, picked out five smooth stones from the stream, placed them in the pouch of his shepherd's bag, took his sling in hand, and approached the Philistine.\n\t\t\t The Philistine kept coming closer to David, with his shield bearer walking in front of him. \n\t\t\t When the Philistine looked carefully at David, he despised him, for he was only a ruddy and handsome boy.\n\t\t\t The Philistine said to David, \"Am I a dog, that you are coming after me with sticks?\" Then the Philistine cursed David by his gods. \n\t\t\t The Philistine said to David, \"Come here to me, so I can give your flesh to the birds of the sky and the wild animals of the field!\"\n\t\t\t But David replied to the Philistine, \"You are coming against me with sword and spear and javelin. But I am coming against you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel's armies, whom you have defied!\n\t\t\t This very day the LORD will deliver you into my hand! I will strike you down and cut off your head. This day I will give the corpses of the Philistine army to the birds of the sky and the wild animals of the land. Then all the land will realize that Israel has a God\n\t\t\t and all this assembly will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves! For the battle is the LORD's, and he will deliver you into our hand.\"\n\t\t\t The Philistine drew steadily closer to David to attack him, while David quickly ran toward the battle line to attack the Philistine.\n\t\t\t David reached his hand into the bag and took out a stone. He slung it, striking the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank deeply into his forehead, and he fell down with his face to the ground.\n\t\t\t David prevailed over the Philistine with just the sling and the stone. He struck down the Philistine and killed him. David did not even have a sword in his hand.\n\t\t\t David ran and stood over the Philistine. He grabbed Goliath's sword, drew it from its sheath, killed him, and cut off his head with it. When the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they ran away.\n\t\t\t Then the men of Israel and Judah charged forward, shouting a battle cry. They chased the Philistines to the valley and to the very gates of Ekron. The Philistine corpses lay fallen along the Shaaraim road to Gath and Ekron. \n\t\t\t When the Israelites returned from their hot pursuit of the Philistines, they looted their camp.\n\t\t\t David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem, and he put Goliath's weapons in his tent.\n\t\t\t Now as Saul watched David going out to fight the Philistine, he asked Abner, the general in command of the army, \"Whose son is this young man, Abner?\" Abner replied, \"As surely as you live, O king, I don't know.\" \n\t\t\t The king said, \"Find out whose son this boy is!\"\n\t\t\t So when David returned from striking down the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul. He still had the head of the Philistine in his hand.\n\t\t\t Saul said to him, \"Whose son are you, young man?\" David replied, \"I am the son of your servant Jesse in Bethlehem.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t When David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan and David became bound together in close friendship. Jonathan loved David as much as he did his own life.\n\t\t\t Saul retained David on that day and did not allow him to return to his father's house. \n\t\t\t Jonathan made a covenant with David, for he loved him as much as he did his own life.\n\t\t\t Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with the rest of his gear, including his sword, his bow, and even his belt.\n\t\t\t On every mission on which Saul sent him, David achieved success. So Saul appointed him over the men of war. This pleased not only all the army, but also Saul's servants.\n\t\t\t When the men arrived after David returned from striking down the Philistine, the women from all the cities of Israel came out singing and dancing to meet King Saul. They were happy as they played their tambourines and three-stringed instruments.\n\t\t\t The women who were playing the music sang, \"Saul has struck down his thousands, but David his tens of thousands!\"\n\t\t\t This made Saul very angry. The statement displeased him and he thought, \"They have attributed to David tens of thousands, but to me they have attributed only thousands. What does he lack, except the kingdom?\" \n\t\t\t So Saul was keeping an eye on David from that day onward.\n\t\t\t The next day an evil spirit from God rushed upon Saul and he prophesied within his house. Now David was playing the lyre that day. There was a spear in Saul's hand, \n\t\t\t and Saul threw the spear, thinking, \"I'll nail David to the wall!\" But David escaped from him on two different occasions.\n\t\t\t So Saul feared David, because the LORD was with him but had departed from Saul.\n\t\t\t Saul removed David from his presence and made him a commanding officer. David led the army out to battle and back.\n\t\t\t Now David achieved success in all he did, for the LORD was with him.\n\t\t\t When Saul saw how very successful he was, he was afraid of him.\n\t\t\t But all Israel and Judah loved David, for he was the one leading them out to battle and back.\n\t\t\t Then Saul said to David, \"Here's my oldest daughter, Merab. I want to give her to you in marriage. Only be a brave warrior for me and fight the battles of the LORD.\" For Saul thought, \"There's no need for me to raise my hand against him. Let it be the hand of the Philistines!\"\n\t\t\t David said to Saul, \"Who am I? Who are my relatives or the clan of my father in Israel that I should become the king's son-in-law?\" \n\t\t\t When the time came for Merab, Saul's daughter, to be given to David, she instead was given in marriage to Adriel, who was from Meholah.\n\t\t\t Now Michal, Saul's daughter, loved David. When they told Saul about this, it pleased him. \n\t\t\t Saul said, \"I will give her to him so that she may become a snare to him and the hand of the Philistines may be against him.\" So Saul said to David, \"Today is the second time for you to become my son-in-law.\"\n\t\t\t Then Saul instructed his servants, \"Tell David secretly, 'The king is pleased with you, and all his servants like you. So now become the king's son-in-law.\"\n\t\t\t So Saul's servants spoke these words privately to David. David replied, \"Is becoming the king's son-in-law something insignificant to you? I'm just a poor and lightly-esteemed man!\"\n\t\t\t When Saul's servants reported what David had said,\n\t\t\t Saul replied, \"Here is what you should say to David: 'There is nothing that the king wants as a price for the bride except a hundred Philistine foreskins, so that he can be avenged of his enemies.'\" (Now Saul was thinking that he could kill David by the hand of the Philistines.)\n\t\t\t So his servants told David these things and David agreed to become the king's son-in-law. Now the specified time had not yet expired\n\t\t\t when David, along with his men, went out and struck down two hundred Philistine men. David brought their foreskins and presented all of them to the king so he could become the king's son-in-law. Saul then gave him his daughter Michal in marriage.\n\t\t\t When Saul realized that the LORD was with David and that his daughter Michal loved David,\n\t\t\t Saul became even more afraid of him. Saul continued to be at odds with David from then on.\n\t\t\t Then the leaders of the Philistines would march out, and as often as they did so, David achieved more success than all of Saul's servants. His name was held in high esteem.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then Saul told his son Jonathan and all his servants to kill David. But Saul's son Jonathan liked David very much.\n\t\t\t So Jonathan told David, \"My father Saul is trying to kill you. So be careful tomorrow morning. Find a hiding place and stay in seclusion.\n\t\t\t I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are. I will speak about you to my father. When I find out what the problem is, I will let you know.\"\n\t\t\t So Jonathan spoke on David's behalf to his father Saul. He said to him, \"The king should not sin against his servant David, for he has not sinned against you. On the contrary, his actions have been very beneficial for you. \n\t\t\t He risked his life when he struck down the Philistine and the LORD gave all Israel a great victory. When you saw it, you were happy. So why would you sin against innocent blood by putting David to death for no reason?\"\n\t\t\t Saul accepted Jonathan's advice and took an oath, \"As surely as the LORD lives, he will not be put to death.\" \n\t\t\t Then Jonathan called David and told him all these things. Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he served him as he had done formerly.\n\t\t\t Now once again there was war. So David went out to fight the Philistines. He defeated them thoroughly and they ran away from him.\n\t\t\t Then an evil spirit from the LORD came upon Saul. He was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand, while David was playing the lyre.\n\t\t\t Saul tried to nail David to the wall with the spear, but he escaped from Saul's presence and the spear drove into the wall. David escaped quickly that night.\n\t\t\t Saul sent messengers to David's house to guard it and to kill him in the morning. Then David's wife Michal told him, \"If you do not save yourself tonight, tomorrow you will be dead!\" \n\t\t\t So Michal lowered David through the window, and he ran away and escaped.\n\t\t\t Then Michal took a household idol and put it on the bed. She put a quilt made of goat's hair over its head and then covered the idol with a garment. \n\t\t\t When Saul sent messengers to arrest David, she said, \"He's sick.\"\n\t\t\t Then Saul sent the messengers back to see David, saying, \"Bring him up to me on his bed so I can kill him.\"\n\t\t\t When the messengers came, they found only the idol on the bed and the quilt made of goat's hair at its head.\n\t\t\t Saul said to Michal, \"Why have you deceived me this way by sending my enemy away? Now he has escaped!\" Michal replied to Saul, \"He said to me, 'Help me get away or else I will kill you!'\"\n\t\t\t Now David had run away and escaped. He went to Samuel in Ramah and told him everything that Saul had done to him. Then he and Samuel went and stayed at Naioth.\n\t\t\t It was reported to Saul saying, \"David is at Naioth in Ramah.\"\n\t\t\t So Saul sent messengers to capture David. When they saw a company of prophets prophesying with Samuel standing there as their leader, the spirit of God came upon Saul's messengers, and they also prophesied.\n\t\t\t When it was reported to Saul, he sent more messengers, but they prophesied too. So Saul sent messengers a third time, but they also prophesied.\n\t\t\t Finally Saul himself went to Ramah. When he arrived at the large cistern that is in Secu, he asked, \"Where are Samuel and David?\" They said, \"At Naioth in Ramah.\"\n\t\t\t So Saul went to Naioth in Ramah. The Spirit of God came upon him as well, and he walked along prophesying until he came to Naioth in Ramah.\n\t\t\t He even stripped off his clothes and prophesied before Samuel. He lay there naked all that day and night. (For that reason it is asked, \"Is Saul also among the prophets?\")\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t David fled from Naioth in Ramah. He came to Jonathan and asked, \"What have I done? What is my offense? How have I sinned before your father? For he is seeking my life!\"\n\t\t\t Jonathan said to him, \"By no means are you going to die! My father does nothing large or small without making me aware of it. Why would my father hide this matter from me? It just won't happen!\"\n\t\t\t Taking an oath, David again said, \"Your father is very much aware of the fact that I have found favor with you, and he has thought, 'Don't let Jonathan know about this, or he will be upset.' But as surely as the LORD lives and you live, there is about one step between me and death!\"\n\t\t\t Jonathan replied to David, \"Tell me what I can do for you.\"\n\t\t\t David said to Jonathan, \"Tomorrow is the new moon, and I am certainly expected to join the king for a meal. You must send me away so I can hide in the field until the third evening from now. \n\t\t\t If your father happens to miss me, you should say, 'David urgently requested me to let him go to his city Bethlehem, for there is an annual sacrifice there for his entire family.' \n\t\t\t If he should then say, 'That's fine,' then your servant is safe. But if he becomes very angry, be assured that he has decided to harm me.\n\t\t\t You must be loyal to your servant, for you have made a covenant with your servant in the LORD's name. If I am guilty, you yourself kill me! Why bother taking me to your father?\"\n\t\t\t Jonathan said, \"Far be it from you to suggest this! If I were at all aware that my father had decided to harm you, wouldn't I tell you about it?\"\n\t\t\t David said to Jonathan, \"Who will tell me if your father answers you harshly?\"\n\t\t\t Jonathan said to David, \"Come on. Let's go out to the field.\" When the two of them had gone out into the field,\n\t\t\t Jonathan said to David, \"The LORD God of Israel is my witness. I will feel out my father about this time the day after tomorrow. If he is favorably inclined toward David, will I not then send word to you and let you know?\n\t\t\t But if my father intends to do you harm, may the LORD do all this and more to Jonathan, if I don't let you know and send word to you so you can go safely on your way. May the LORD be with you, as he was with my father. \n\t\t\t While I am still alive, extend to me the loyalty of the LORD, or else I will die!\n\t\t\t Don't ever cut off your loyalty to my family, not even when the LORD has cut off every one of David's enemies from the face of the earth\n\t\t\t and called David's enemies to account.\" So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David.\n\t\t\t Jonathan once again took an oath with David, because he loved him. In fact Jonathan loved him as much as he did his own life.\n\t\t\t Jonathan said to him, \"Tomorrow is the new moon, and you will be missed, for your seat will be empty.\n\t\t\t On the third day you should go down quickly and come to the place where you hid yourself the day this all started. Stay near the stone Ezel. \n\t\t\t I will shoot three arrows near it, as though I were shooting at a target.\n\t\t\t When I send a boy after them, I will say, \"Go and find the arrows.\" If I say to the boy, 'Look, the arrows are on this side of you; get them,' then come back. For as surely as the LORD lives, you will be safe and there will no problem. \n\t\t\t But if I say to the boy, \"Look, the arrows are on the other side of you,' get away. For in that case the LORD has sent you away.\n\t\t\t With regard to the matter that you and I discussed, the LORD is the witness between us forever!\"\n\t\t\t So David hid in the field. When the new moon came, the king sat down to eat his meal.\n\t\t\t The king sat down in his usual place by the wall, with Jonathan opposite him and Abner at his side. But David's place was vacant. \n\t\t\t However, Saul said nothing about it that day, for he thought, \"Something has happened to make him ceremonially unclean. Yes, he must be unclean.\" \n\t\t\t But the next morning, the second day of the new moon, David's place was still vacant. So Saul said to his son Jonathan, \"Why has Jesse's son not come to the meal yesterday or today?\"\n\t\t\t Jonathan replied to Saul, \"David urgently requested that he be allowed to go to Bethlehem.\n\t\t\t He said, 'Permit me to go, for we are having a family sacrifice in the city, and my brother urged me to be there. So now, if I have found favor with you, let me go to see my brothers.' For that reason he has not come to the king's table.\"\n\t\t\t Saul became angry with Jonathan and said to him, \"You stupid traitor! Don't I realize that to your own disgrace and to the disgrace of your mother's nakedness you have chosen this son of Jesse? \n\t\t\t For as long as this son of Jesse is alive on the earth, you and your kingdom will not be established. Now, send some men and bring him to me. For he is as good as dead!\"\n\t\t\t Jonathan responded to his father Saul, \"Why should he be put to death? What has he done?\"\n\t\t\t Then Saul threw his spear at Jonathan in order to strike him down. So Jonathan was convinced that his father had decided to kill David. \n\t\t\t Jonathan got up from the table enraged. He did not eat any food on that second day of the new moon, for he was upset that his father had humiliated David.\n\t\t\t The next morning Jonathan, along with a young servant, went out to the field to meet David.\n\t\t\t He said to his servant, \"Run, find the arrows that I am about to shoot.\" As the servant ran, Jonathan shot the arrow beyond him. \n\t\t\t When the servant came to the place where Jonathan had shot the arrow, Jonathan called out to the servant, \"Isn't the arrow further beyond you?\" \n\t\t\t Jonathan called out to the servant, \"Hurry! Go faster! Don't delay!\" Jonathan's servant retrieved the arrow and came back to his master.\n\t\t\t (Now the servant did not understand any of this. Only Jonathan and David knew what was going on.)\n\t\t\t Then Jonathan gave his equipment to the servant who was with him. He said to him, \"Go, take these things back to the city.\"\n\t\t\t When the servant had left, David got up from beside the mound, knelt with his face to the ground, and bowed three times. Then they kissed each other and they both wept, especially David. \n\t\t\t Jonathan said to David, \"Go in peace, for the two of us have sworn together in the name of the LORD saying, 'The LORD will be between me and you and between my descendants and your descendants forever.'\" Then David got up and left, while Jonathan went back to the city.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t David went to Ahimelech the priest in Nob. Ahimelech was shaking with fear when he met David, and said to him, \"Why are you by yourself with no one accompanying you?\" \n\t\t\t David replied to Ahimelech the priest, \"The king instructed me to do something, but he said to me, 'Don't let anyone know the reason I am sending you or the instructions I have given you.' I have told my soldiers to wait at a certain place.\n\t\t\t Now what do you have at your disposal? Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever can be found.\"\n\t\t\t The priest replied to David, \"I don't have any ordinary bread at my disposal. Only holy bread is available, and then only if your soldiers have abstained from sexual relations with women.\"\n\t\t\t David said to the priest, \"Certainly women have been kept away from us, just as on previous occasions when I have set out. The soldiers' equipment is holy, even on an ordinary journey. How much more so will they be holy today, along with their equipment!\"\n\t\t\t So the priest gave him holy bread, for there was no bread there other than the bread of the Presence. It had been removed from before the LORD in order to replace it with hot bread on the day it had been taken away.\n\t\t\t (One of Saul's servants was there that day, detained before the LORD. His name was Doeg the Edomite, who was in charge of Saul's shepherds.)\n\t\t\t David said to Ahimelech, \"Is there no sword or spear here at your disposal? I don't have my own sword or equipment in hand due to the urgency of the king's instructions.\"\n\t\t\t The priest replied, \"The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you struck down in the valley of Elah, is wrapped in a garment behind the ephod. If you wish, take it for yourself. Other than that, there's nothing here.\" David said, \"There's nothing like it! Give it to me!\"\n\t\t\t So on that day David arose and fled from Saul. He went to King Achish of Gath.\n\t\t\t The servants of Achish said to him, \"Isn't this David, the king of the land? Isn't he the one that they sing about when they dance, saying, 'Saul struck down his thousands, But David his tens of thousands'?\"\n\t\t\t David thought about what they said and was very afraid of King Achish of Gath. \n\t\t\t He altered his behavior in their presence. Since he was in their power, he pretended to be insane, making marks on the doors of the gate and letting his saliva run down his beard.\n\t\t\t Achish said to his servants, \"Look at this madman! Why did you bring him to me?\n\t\t\t Do I have a shortage of fools, that you have brought me this man to display his insanity in front of me? Should this man enter my house?\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t So David left there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and the rest of his father's family learned about it, they went down there to him. \n\t\t\t All those who were in trouble or owed someone money or were discontented gathered around him, and he became their leader. He had about four hundred men with him.\n\t\t\t Then David went from there to Mizpah in Moab, where he said to the king of Moab, \"Please let my father and mother stay with you until I know what God is going to do for me.\" \n\t\t\t So he had them stay with the king of Moab; they stayed with him the whole time that David was in the stronghold. \n\t\t\t Then Gad the prophet said to David, \"Don't stay in the stronghold. Go to the land of Judah.\" So David left and went to the forest of Hereth.\n\t\t\t But Saul found out the whereabouts of David and the men who were with him. Now Saul was sitting at Gibeah under the tamarisk tree at an elevated location with his spear in hand and all his servants stationed around him. \n\t\t\t Saul said to his servants who were stationed around him, \"Listen up, you Benjaminites! Is Jesse's son giving fields and vineyards to all of you? Or is he making all of you commanders and officers?\n\t\t\t For all of you have conspired against me! No one informs me when my own son makes an agreement with this son of Jesse! Not one of you feels sorry for me or informs me that my own son has commissioned my own servant to hide in ambush against me, as is the case today!\"\n\t\t\t But Doeg the Edomite, who had stationed himself with the servants of Saul, replied, \"I saw this son of Jesse come to Ahimelech son of Ahitub at Nob.\n\t\t\t He inquired of the LORD for him and gave him provisions. He also gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.\"\n\t\t\t Then the king arranged for a meeting with the priest Ahimelech son of Ahitub and all the priests of his father's house who were at Nob. They all came to the king.\n\t\t\t Then Saul said, \"Listen, son of Ahitub.\" He replied, \"Here I am, my lord.\"\n\t\t\t Saul said to him, \"Why have you conspired against me, you and this son of Jesse? You gave him bread and a sword and inquired of God on his behalf, so that he opposes me and waits in ambush, as is the case today!\"\n\t\t\t Ahimelech replied to the king, \"Who among all your servants is faithful like David? He is the king's son-in-law, the leader of your bodyguard, and honored in your house!\n\t\t\t Was it just today that I began to inquire of God on his behalf? Far be it from me! The king should not accuse his servant or any of my father's house. For your servant is not aware of all this, not in whole or in part!\"\n\t\t\t But the king said, \"You will surely die, Ahimelech, you and all your father's house!\n\t\t\t Then the king said to the messengers who were stationed beside him, \"Turn and kill the priests of the LORD, for they too have sided with David! They knew he was fleeing, but they did not inform me.\" But the king's servants refused to harm the priests of the LORD.\n\t\t\t Then the king said to Doeg, \"You turn and strike down the priests!\" So Doeg the Edomite turned and struck down the priests. He killed on that day eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod. \n\t\t\t As for Nob, the city of the priests, he struck down with the sword men and women, children and infants, oxen, donkeys, and sheep, all with the sword.\n\t\t\t But one of the sons of Ahimelech son of Ahitub escaped and fled to David. His name was Abiathar.\n\t\t\t Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the priests of the LORD.\n\t\t\t Then David said to Abiathar, \"I knew that day when Doeg the Edomite was there that he would certainly tell Saul! I am guilty of all the deaths in your father's house! \n\t\t\t Stay with me. Don't be afraid! Whoever seeks my life is seeking your life as well. You are secure with me.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t They told David, \"The Philistines are fighting in Keilah and are looting the threshing floors.\"\n\t\t\t So David asked the LORD, \"Should I go and strike down these Philistines?\" The LORD said to David, \"Go, strike down the Philistines and deliver Keilah.\"\n\t\t\t But David's men said to him, \"We are afraid while we are still here in Judah! What will it be like if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?\"\n\t\t\t So David asked the LORD once again. But again the LORD replied, \"Arise, go down to Keilah, for I will give the Philistines into your hand.\"\n\t\t\t So David and his men went to Keilah and fought the Philistines. He took away their cattle and thoroughly defeated them. David delivered the inhabitants of Keilah.\n\t\t\t Now when Abiathar son of Ahimelech had fled to David at Keilah, he had brought with him an ephod.\n\t\t\t When Saul was told that David had come to Keilah, Saul said, \"God has delivered him into my hand, for he has boxed himself into a corner by entering a city with two barred gates.\"\n\t\t\t So Saul mustered all his army to go down to Keilah and besiege David and his men.\n\t\t\t When David realized that Saul was planning to harm him, he told Abiathar the priest, \"Bring the ephod!\" \n\t\t\t Then David said, \"O LORD God of Israel, your servant has clearly heard that Saul is planning to come to Keilah to destroy the city because of me. \n\t\t\t Will the leaders of Keilah deliver me into his hand? Will Saul come down as your servant has heard? O LORD God of Israel, please inform your servant!\" Then the LORD said, \"He will come down.\"\n\t\t\t David asked, \"Will the leaders of Keilah deliver me and my men into Saul's hand?\" The LORD said, \"They will deliver you over.\"\n\t\t\t So David and his men, who numbered about six hundred, set out and left Keilah; they moved around from one place to another. When told that David had escaped from Keilah, Saul called a halt to his expedition. \n\t\t\t David stayed in the strongholds that were in the desert and in the hill country of the desert of Ziph. Saul looked for him all the time, but God did not deliver David into his hand. \n\t\t\t David realized that Saul had come out to seek his life; at that time David was in Horesh in the desert of Ziph.\n\t\t\t Then Jonathan son of Saul left and went to David at Horesh. He encouraged him through God. \n\t\t\t He said to him, \"Don't be afraid! For the hand of my father Saul cannot find you. You will rule over Israel, and I will be your second in command. Even my father Saul realizes this.\"\n\t\t\t When the two of them had made a covenant before the LORD, David stayed on at Horesh, but Jonathan went to his house.\n\t\t\t Then the Ziphites went up to Saul at Gibeah and said, \"Isn't David hiding among us in the strongholds at Horesh on the hill of Hakilah, south of Jeshimon?\n\t\t\t Now at your own discretion, O king, come down. Delivering him into the king's hand will be our responsibility.\"\n\t\t\t Saul replied, \"May you be blessed by the LORD, for you have had compassion on me.\n\t\t\t Go and make further arrangements. Determine precisely where he is and who has seen him there, for I am told that he is extremely cunning. \n\t\t\t Locate precisely all the places where he hides and return to me with dependable information. Then I will go with you. If he is in the land, I will find him among all the thousands of Judah.\"\n\t\t\t So they left and went to Ziph ahead of Saul. Now David and his men were in the desert of Maon, in the Arabah to the south of Jeshimon.\n\t\t\t Saul and his men went to look for him. But David was informed and went down to the rock and stayed in the desert of Maon. When Saul heard about it, he pursued David in the desert of Maon. \n\t\t\t Saul 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, but Saul and his men were surrounding David and his men so they could capture them.\n\t\t\t But a messenger came to Saul saying, \"Come quickly, for the Philistines have raided the land!\"\n\t\t\t So Saul stopped pursuing David and went to confront the Philistines. Therefore that place is called Sela Hammahlekoth.\n\t\t\t Then David went up from there and stayed in the strongholds of En Gedi.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t When Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, they told him, \"Look, David is in the desert of En Gedi.\"\n\t\t\t So Saul took three thousand select men from all Israel and went to find David and his men in the region of the rocks of the mountain goats.\n\t\t\t He came to the sheepfolds by the road, where there was a cave. Saul went into it to relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the recesses of the cave.\n\t\t\t David's men said to him, \"This is the day about which the LORD said to you, 'I will give your enemy into your hand, and you can do to him whatever seems appropriate to you.'\" So David got up and quietly cut off an edge of Saul's robe. \n\t\t\t Afterward David's conscience bothered him because he had cut off an edge of Saul's robe. \n\t\t\t He said to his men, \"May the LORD keep me far away from doing such a thing to my lord, who is the LORD's chosen one, by extending my hand against him. After all, he is the LORD's chosen one.\"\n\t\t\t David restrained his men with these words and did not allow them to rise up against Saul. Then Saul left the cave and started down the road.\n\t\t\t Afterward David got up and went out of the cave. He called out after Saul, \"My lord, O king!\" When Saul looked behind him, David kneeled down and bowed with his face to the ground.\n\t\t\t David said to Saul, \"Why do you pay attention when men say, 'David is seeking to do you harm'?\n\t\t\t Today your own eyes see how the LORD delivered you, this very day, into my hands in the cave. Some told me to kill you, but I had pity on you and said, 'I will not extend my hand against my lord, for he is the LORD's chosen one.'\n\t\t\t Look, my father, and see the edge of your robe in my hand! When I cut off the edge of your robe, I didn't kill you. So realize and understand that I am not planning evil or rebellion. Even though I have not sinned against you, you are waiting in ambush to take my life. \n\t\t\t May the LORD judge between the two of us, and may the LORD vindicate me over you, but my hand will not be against you.\n\t\t\t It's like the old proverb says: 'From evil people evil proceeds.' But my hand will not be against you.\n\t\t\t Who has the king of Israel come out after? Who is it that you are pursuing? A dead dog? A single flea?\n\t\t\t May the LORD be our judge and arbiter. May he see and arbitrate my case and deliver me from your hands!\"\n\t\t\t When David finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, \"Is that your voice, my son David?\" Then Saul wept loudly.\n\t\t\t He said to David, \"You are more innocent than I, for you have treated me well, even though I have tried to harm you!\n\t\t\t You have explained today how you have treated me well. The LORD delivered me into your hand, but you did not kill me.\n\t\t\t Now if a man finds his enemy, does he send him on his way in good shape? May the LORD repay you with good this day for what you have done to me.\n\t\t\t Now look, I realize that you will in fact be king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand.\n\t\t\t So now swear to me in the LORD's name that you will not kill my descendants after me or destroy my name from the house of my father.\"\n\t\t\t David promised Saul this on oath. Then Saul went to his house, and David and his men went up to the stronghold.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Samuel died, and all Israel assembled and mourned him. They buried him at his home in Ramah. Then David left and went down to the desert of Paran.\n\t\t\t There was a man in Maon whose business was in Carmel. This man was very wealthy; he owned three thousand sheep and a thousand goats. At that time he was shearing his sheep in Carmel. \n\t\t\t The man's name was Nabal, and his wife's name was Abigail. She was both wise and beautiful, but the man was harsh and his deeds were evil. He was a Calebite.\n\t\t\t When David heard in the desert that Nabal was shearing his sheep,\n\t\t\t he sent ten servants, saying to them, \"Go up to Carmel to see Nabal and give him greetings in my name.\n\t\t\t Then you will say to my brother, \"Peace to you and your house! Peace to all that is yours! \n\t\t\t Now I hear that they are shearing sheep for you. When your shepherds were with us, we neither insulted them nor harmed them the whole time they were in Carmel.\n\t\t\t Ask your own servants; they can tell you! May my servants find favor in your sight, for we have come at the time of a holiday. Please provide us, your servants and your son David, with whatever you can spare.\"\n\t\t\t So David's servants went and spoke all these words to Nabal in David's name. Then they paused.\n\t\t\t But Nabal responded to David's servants, \"Who is David, and who is this son of Jesse? This is a time when many servants are breaking away from their masters!\n\t\t\t Should I take my bread and my water and my meat that I have slaughtered for my shearers and give them to these men? I don't even know where they came from!\"\n\t\t\t So David's servants went on their way. When they had returned, they came and told David all these things. \n\t\t\t Then David instructed his men, \"Each of you strap on your sword!\" So each one strapped on his sword, and David also strapped on his sword. About four hundred men followed David up, while two hundred stayed behind with the equipment.\n\t\t\t But one of the servants told Nabal's wife Abigail, \"David sent messengers from the desert to greet our lord, but he screamed at them. \n\t\t\t These men were very good to us. They did not insult us, nor did we sustain any loss during the entire time we were together in the field. \n\t\t\t Both night and day they were a protective wall for us the entire time we were with them, while we were tending our flocks.\n\t\t\t Now be aware of this, and see what you can do. For disaster has been planned for our lord and his entire household. He is such a wicked person that no one tells him anything!\"\n\t\t\t So Abigail quickly took two hundred loaves of bread, two containers of wine, five prepared sheep, five seahs of roasted grain, a hundred bunches of raisins, and two hundred lumps of pressed figs. She loaded them on donkeys \n\t\t\t and said to her servants, \"Go on ahead of me. I will come after you.\" But she did not tell her husband Nabal.\n\t\t\t Riding on her donkey, she went down under cover of the mountain. David and his men were coming down to meet her, and she encountered them.\n\t\t\t Now David had been thinking, \"In vain I guarded everything that belonged to this man in the desert. I didn't take anything from him. But he has repaid my good with evil. \n\t\t\t God will severely punish David, if I leave alive until morning even one male from all those who belong to him!\"\n\t\t\t When Abigail saw David, she got down quickly from the donkey, threw herself down before David, and bowed to the ground.\n\t\t\t Falling at his feet, she said, \"My lord, I accept all the guilt! But please let your female servant speak with my lord! Please listen to the words of your servant!\n\t\t\t My lord should not pay attention to this wicked man Nabal. He simply lives up to his name! His name means 'fool,' and he is indeed foolish! But I, your servant, did not see the servants my lord sent.\n\t\t\t \"Now, my lord, as surely as the LORD lives and as surely as you live, it is the LORD who has kept you from shedding blood and taking matters into your own hands. Now may your enemies and those who seek to harm my lord be like Nabal.\n\t\t\t Now let this present that your servant has brought to my lord be given to the servants who follow my lord. \n\t\t\t Please forgive the sin of your servant, for the LORD will certainly establish the house of my lord, because my lord fights the battles of the LORD. May no evil be found in you all your days!\n\t\t\t When someone sets out to chase you and to take your life, the life of my lord will be wrapped securely in the bag of the living by the LORD your God. But he will sling away the lives of your enemies from the sling's pocket! \n\t\t\t The LORD will do for my lord everything that he promised you, and he will make you a leader over Israel. \n\t\t\t Your conscience will not be overwhelmed with guilt for having poured out innocent blood and for having taken matters into your own hands. When the LORD has granted my lord success, please remember your servant.\"\n\t\t\t Then David said to Abigail, \"Praised be the LORD, the God of Israel, who has sent you this day to meet me! \n\t\t\t Praised be your good judgment! May you yourself be rewarded for having prevented me this day from shedding blood and taking matters into my own hands! \n\t\t\t Otherwise, as surely as the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, he who has prevented me from harming you, if you had not come so quickly to meet me, by morning's light not even one male belonging to Nabal would have remained alive!\"\n\t\t\t Then David took from her hand what she had brought to him. He said to her, \"Go back to your home in peace. Be assured that I have listened to you and responded favorably.\"\n\t\t\t When Abigail went back to Nabal, he was holding a banquet in his house like that of the king. Nabal was having a good time and was very intoxicated. She told him absolutely nothing until morning's light. \n\t\t\t In the morning, when Nabal was sober, his wife told him about these matters. He had a stroke and was paralyzed.\n\t\t\t After about ten days the LORD struck Nabal down and he died.\n\t\t\t When David heard that Nabal had died, he said, \"Praised be the LORD who has vindicated me and avenged the insult that I suffered from Nabal! The LORD has kept his servant from doing evil, and he has repaid Nabal for his evil deeds.\" Then David sent word to Abigail and asked her to become his wife.\n\t\t\t So the servants of David went to Abigail at Carmel and said to her, \"David has sent us to you to bring you back to be his wife.\"\n\t\t\t She arose, bowed her face toward the ground, and said, \"Your female servant, like a lowly servant, will wash the feet of the servants of my lord.\" \n\t\t\t Then Abigail quickly went and mounted her donkey, with five of her female servants accompanying her. She followed David's messengers and became his wife.\n\t\t\t David had also married Ahinoam from Jezreel; the two of them became his wives. \n\t\t\t (Now Saul had given his daughter Michal, David's wife, to Paltiel son of Laish, who was from Gallim.)\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah and said, \"Isn't David hiding on the hill of Hakilah near Jeshimon?\" \n\t\t\t So Saul arose and went down to the desert of Ziph, accompanied by three thousand select men of Israel, to look for David in the desert of Ziph.\n\t\t\t Saul camped by the road on the hill of Hakilah near Jeshimon, but David was staying in the desert. When he realized that Saul had come to the desert to find him, \n\t\t\t David sent scouts and verified that Saul had indeed arrived.\n\t\t\t So David set out and went to the place where Saul was camped. David saw the place where Saul and Abner son of Ner, the general in command of his army, were sleeping. Now Saul was lying in the entrenchment, and the army was camped all around him.\n\t\t\t David said to Ahimelech the Hittite and Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, \"Who will go down with me to Saul in the camp?\" Abishai replied, \"I will go down with you.\"\n\t\t\t So David and Abishai approached the army at night and found Saul lying asleep in the entrenchment with his spear stuck in the ground by his head. Abner and the army were lying all around him.\n\t\t\t Abishai said to David, \"Today God has delivered your enemy into your hands. Now let me drive the spear right through him into the ground with one swift jab! A second jab won't be necessary!\"\n\t\t\t But David said to Abishai, \"Don't kill him! Who can extend his hand against the LORD's chosen one and remain guiltless?\" \n\t\t\t David went on to say, \"As the LORD lives, the LORD himself will strike him down. Either his day will come and he will die, or he will go down into battle and be swept away.\n\t\t\t But may the LORD prevent me from extending my hand against the LORD's chosen one! Now take the spear by Saul's head and the jug of water, and let's get out of here!\"\n\t\t\t So David took the spear and the jug of water by Saul's head, and they got out of there. No one saw them or was aware of their presence or woke up. All of them were asleep, for the LORD had caused a deep sleep to fall on them.\n\t\t\t Then David crossed to the other side and stood on the top of the hill some distance away; there was a considerable distance between them.\n\t\t\t David called to the army and to Abner son of Ner, \"Won't you answer, Abner?\" Abner replied, \"Who are you, that you have called to the king?\"\n\t\t\t David said to Abner, \"Aren't you a man? After all, who is like you in Israel? Why then haven't you protected your lord the king? One of the soldiers came to kill your lord the king.\n\t\t\t This failure on your part isn't good! As surely as the LORD lives, you people who have not protected your lord, the LORD's chosen one, are as good as dead! Now look where the king's spear and the jug of water that was by his head are!\"\n\t\t\t When Saul recognized David's voice, he said, \"Is that your voice, my son David?\" David replied, \"Yes, it's my voice, my lord the king.\"\n\t\t\t He went on to say, \"Why is my lord chasing his servant? What have I done? What wrong have I done?\n\t\t\t So let my lord the king now listen to the words of his servant. If the LORD has incited you against me, may he take delight in an offering. But if men have instigated this, may they be cursed before the LORD! For they have driven me away this day from being united with the LORD's inheritance, saying, 'Go on, serve other gods!' \n\t\t\t Now don't let my blood fall to the ground away from the LORD's presence, for the king of Israel has gone out to look for a flea the way one looks for a partridge in the hill country.\"\n\t\t\t Saul replied, \"I have sinned. Come back, my son David. I won't harm you, for you treated my life with value this day. I have behaved foolishly and have made a very terrible mistake!\"\n\t\t\t David replied, \"Here is the king's spear! Let one of your servants cross over and get it.\n\t\t\t The LORD rewards each man for his integrity and loyalty. Even though today the LORD delivered you into my hand, I was not willing to extend my hand against the LORD's chosen one.\n\t\t\t In the same way that I valued your life this day, may the LORD value my life and deliver me from all danger.\" \n\t\t\t Saul replied to David, \"May you be rewarded, my son David! You will without question be successful!\" So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t David thought to himself, \"One of these days I'm going to be swept away by the hand of Saul! There is nothing better for me than to escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will despair of searching for me through all the territory of Israel and I will escape from his hand.\"\n\t\t\t So David left and crossed over to King Achish son of Maoch of Gath accompanied by his six hundred men.\n\t\t\t David settled with Achish in Gath, along with his men and their families. David had with him his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelite and Abigail the Carmelite, Nabal's widow. \n\t\t\t When Saul learned that David had fled to Gath, he did not mount a new search for him.\n\t\t\t David said to Achish, \"If I have found favor with you, let me be given a place in one of the country towns so that I can live there. Why should your servant settle in the royal city with you?\"\n\t\t\t So Achish gave him Ziklag on that day. (For that reason Ziklag has belonged to the kings of Judah until this very day.)\n\t\t\t The length of time that David lived in the Philistine countryside was a year and four months.\n\t\t\t Then David and his men went up and raided the Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites. (They had been living in that land for a long time, from the approach to Shur as far as the land of Egypt.) \n\t\t\t When David would attack a district, he would leave neither man nor woman alive. He would take sheep, cattle, donkeys, camels, and clothing and would then go back to Achish. \n\t\t\t When Achish would ask, \"Where did you raid today?\" David would say, \"The Negev of Judah\" or \"The Negev of Jeharmeel\" or \"The Negev of the Kenites.\" \n\t\t\t Neither man nor woman would David leave alive so as to bring them back to Gath. He was thinking, \"This way they can't tell on us, saying, 'This is what David did.'\" Such was his practice the entire time that he lived in the country of the Philistines. \n\t\t\t So Achish trusted David, thinking to himself, \"He is really hated among his own people in Israel! From now on he will be my servant.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t In those days the Philistines gathered their troops for war in order to fight Israel. Achish said to David, \"You should fully understand that you and your men must go with me into the battle.\"\n\t\t\t David replied to Achish, \"That being the case, you will come to know what your servant can do!\" Achish said to David, \"Then I will make you my bodyguard from now on.\"\n\t\t\t Now Samuel had died, and all Israel had lamented over him and had buried him in Ramah, his hometown. In the meantime Saul had removed the mediums and magicians from the land. \n\t\t\t The Philistines assembled; they came and camped at Shunem. Saul mustered all Israel and camped at Gilboa.\n\t\t\t When Saul saw the camp of the Philistines, he was absolutely terrified.\n\t\t\t So Saul inquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him, not by dreams nor by Urim nor by the prophets.\n\t\t\t So Saul instructed his servants, \"Find me a woman who is a medium, so that I may go to her and inquire of her.\" His servants replied to him, \"There is a woman who is a medium in Endor.\"\n\t\t\t So Saul disguised himself and put on other clothing and left, accompanied by two of his men. They came to the woman at night and said, \"Use your ritual pit to conjure up for me the one I tell you.\"\n\t\t\t But the woman said to him, \"Look, you are aware of what Saul has done; he has removed the mediums and magicians from the land! Why are you trapping me so you can put me to death?\" \n\t\t\t But Saul swore an oath to her by the LORD, \"As surely as the LORD lives, you will not incur guilt in this matter!\"\n\t\t\t The woman replied, \"Who is it that I should bring up for you?\" He said, \"Bring up for me Samuel.\"\n\t\t\t When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out loudly. The woman said to Saul, \"Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!\" \n\t\t\t The king said to her, \"Don't be afraid! What have you seen?\" The woman replied to Saul, \"I have seen one like a god coming up from the ground!\" \n\t\t\t He said to her, \"What about his appearance?\" She said, \"An old man is coming up! He is wrapped in a robe!\" Then Saul realized it was Samuel, and he bowed his face toward the ground and kneeled down.\n\t\t\t Samuel said to Saul, \"Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?\" Saul replied, \"I am terribly troubled! The Philistines are fighting against me and God has turned away from me. He does not answer me, not by the prophets nor by dreams. So I have called on you to tell me what I should do.\"\n\t\t\t Samuel said, \"Why are you asking me, now that the LORD has turned away from you and has become your enemy?\n\t\t\t The LORD has done exactly as I prophesied! The LORD has torn the kingdom from your hand and has given it to your neighbor David! \n\t\t\t Since you did not obey the LORD and did not carry out his fierce anger against the Amalekites, the LORD has done this thing to you today. \n\t\t\t The LORD will hand you and Israel over to the Philistines! Tomorrow both you and your sons will be with me. The LORD will also hand the army of Israel over to the Philistines!\"\n\t\t\t Saul quickly fell full length on the ground and was very afraid because of Samuel's words. He was completely drained of energy, not having eaten anything all that day and night. \n\t\t\t When the woman came to Saul and saw how terrified he was, she said to him, \"Your servant has done what you asked. I took my life into my own hands and did what you told me.\n\t\t\t Now it's your turn to listen to your servant! Let me set before you a bit of bread so that you can eat. When you regain your strength, you can go on your way.\"\n\t\t\t But he refused, saying, \"I won't eat!\" Both his servants and the woman urged him to eat, so he gave in. He got up from the ground and sat down on the bed. \n\t\t\t Now the woman had a well-fed calf at her home that she quickly slaughtered. Taking some flour, she kneaded bread and baked it without leaven. \n\t\t\t She brought it to Saul and his servants, and they ate. Then they arose and left that same night.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The Philistines assembled all their troops at Aphek, while Israel camped at the spring that is in Jezreel. \n\t\t\t When the leaders of the Philistines were passing in review at the head of their units of hundreds and thousands, David and his men were passing in review in the rear with Achish.\n\t\t\t The leaders of the Philistines asked, \"What about these Hebrews?\" Achish said to the leaders of the Philistines, \"Isn't this David, the servant of King Saul of Israel, who has been with me for quite some time? I have found no fault with him from the day of his defection until the present time!\"\n\t\t\t But the leaders of the Philistines became angry with him and said to him, \"Send the man back! Let him return to the place that you assigned him! Don't let him go down with us into the battle, for he might become our adversary in the battle. What better way to please his lord than with the heads of these men?\n\t\t\t Isn't this David, of whom they sang as they danced, 'Saul has struck down his thousands, but David his tens of thousands'?\"\n\t\t\t So Achish summoned David and said to him, \"As surely as the LORD lives, you are an honest man, and I am glad to have you serving with me in the army. I have found no fault with you from the day that you first came to me until the present time. But in the opinion of the leaders, you are not reliable.\n\t\t\t So turn and leave in peace. You must not do anything that the leaders of the Philistines consider improper!\"\n\t\t\t But David said to Achish, \"What have I done? What have you found in your servant from the day that I first came into your presence until the present time, that I shouldn't go and fight the enemies of my lord the king?\"\n\t\t\t Achish replied to David, \"I am convinced that you are as reliable as the angel of God! However, the leaders of the Philistines have said, 'He must not go up with us in the battle.' \n\t\t\t So get up early in the morning along with the servants of your lord who have come with you. When you get up early in the morning, as soon as it is light enough to see, leave.\"\n\t\t\t So David and his men got up early in the morning to return to the land of the Philistines, but the Philistines went up to Jezreel.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t On the third day David and his men came to Ziklag. Now the Amalekites had raided the Negev and Ziklag. They attacked Ziklag and burned it.\n\t\t\t They took captive the women who were in it, from the youngest to the oldest, but they did not kill anyone. They simply carried them off and went on their way.\n\t\t\t When David and his men came to the city, they found it burned. Their wives, sons, and daughters had been taken captive. \n\t\t\t Then David and the men who were with him wept loudly until they could weep no more.\n\t\t\t David's two wives had been taken captive, Ahinoam the Jezreelite and Abigail the Carmelite, Nabal's widow.\n\t\t\t David was very upset, for the men were thinking of stoning him; each man grieved bitterly over his sons and daughters. But David drew strength from the LORD his God.\n\t\t\t Then David said to the priest Abiathar son of Ahimelech, \"Bring me the ephod.\" So Abiathar brought the ephod to David.\n\t\t\t David inquired of the LORD, saying, \"Should I pursue this raiding band? Will I overtake them?\" He said to him, \"Pursue, for you will certainly overtake them and carry out a rescue!\"\n\t\t\t So David went, accompanied by his six hundred men. When he came to the Wadi Besor, those who were in the rear stayed there.\n\t\t\t David and four hundred men continued the pursuit, but two hundred men who were too exhausted to cross the Wadi Besor stayed there.\n\t\t\t Then they found an Egyptian in the field and brought him to David. They gave him bread to eat and water to drink.\n\t\t\t They gave him a slice of pressed figs and two bunches of raisins to eat. This greatly refreshed him, for he had not eaten food or drunk water for three days and three nights. \n\t\t\t David said to him, \"To whom do you belong, and where are you from?\" The young man said, \"I am an Egyptian, the servant of an Amalekite man. My master abandoned me when I was ill for three days.\n\t\t\t We conducted a raid on the Negev of the Kerethites, on the area of Judah, and on the Negev of Caleb. We burned Ziklag.\"\n\t\t\t David said to him, \"Can you take us down to this raiding party?\" He said, \"Swear to me by God that you will not kill me or hand me over to my master, and I will take you down to this raiding party.\"\n\t\t\t So he took David down, and they found them spread out over the land. They were eating and drinking and enjoying themselves because of all the loot they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from the land of Judah. \n\t\t\t But David struck them down from twilight until the following evening. None of them escaped, with the exception of four hundred young men who got away on camels.\n\t\t\t David retrieved everything the Amalekites had taken; he also rescued his two wives. \n\t\t\t There was nothing missing, whether small or great. He retrieved sons and daughters, the plunder, and everything else they had taken. David brought everything back. \n\t\t\t David took all the flocks and herds and drove them in front of the rest of the animals. People were saying, \"This is David's plunder!\"\n\t\t\t Then David approached the two hundred men who had been too exhausted to go with him, those whom they had left at the Wadi Besor. They went out to meet David and the people who were with him. When David approached the people, he asked how they were doing. \n\t\t\t But all the evil and worthless men among those who had gone with David said, \"Since they didn't go with us, we won't give them any of the loot we retrieved! They may take only their wives and children. Let them lead them away and be gone!\"\n\t\t\t But David said, \"No! You shouldn't do this, my brothers. Look at what the LORD has given us! He has protected us and has delivered into our hands the raiding party that came against us. \n\t\t\t Who will listen to you in this matter? The portion of the one who went down into the battle will be the same as the portion of the one who remained with the equipment! Let their portions be the same!\"\n\t\t\t From that time onward it was a binding ordinance for Israel, right up to the present time.\n\t\t\t When David came to Ziklag, he sent some of the plunder to the elders of Judah who were his friends, saying, \"Here's a gift for you from the looting of the LORD's enemies!\" \n\t\t\t The gift was for those in the following locations: for those in Bethel, Ramoth Negev, and Jattir; \n\t\t\t for those in Aroer, Siphmoth, Eshtemoa,\n\t\t\t and Racal; for those in the cities of the Jerahmeelites and Kenites;\n\t\t\t for those in Hormah, Bor Ashan, Athach,\n\t\t\t and Hebron; and for those in whatever other places David and his men had traveled.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now the Philistines were fighting against Israel. The men of Israel fled from the Philistines and many of them fell dead on Mount Gilboa.\n\t\t\t The Philistines stayed right on the heels of Saul and his sons. They struck down Saul's sons Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malki-Shua. \n\t\t\t Saul himself was in the thick of the battle; the archers spotted him and wounded him severely.\n\t\t\t Saul said to his armor bearer, \"Draw your sword and stab me with it! Otherwise these uncircumcised people will come, stab me, and torture me.\" But his armor bearer refused to do it, because he was very afraid. So Saul took his sword and fell on it.\n\t\t\t When his armor bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell on his own sword and died with him.\n\t\t\t So Saul, his three sons, his armor bearer, and all his men died together that day.\n\t\t\t When the men of Israel who were in the valley and across the Jordan saw that the men of Israel had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned the cities and fled. The Philistines came and occupied them.\n\t\t\t The next day, when the Philistines came to strip loot from the corpses, they discovered Saul and his three sons lying dead on Mount Gilboa. \n\t\t\t They cut off Saul's head and stripped him of his armor. They sent messengers to announce the news in the temple of their idols and among their people throughout the surrounding land of the Philistines. \n\t\t\t They placed Saul's armor in the temple of the Ashtoreths and hung his corpse on the city wall of Beth Shan.\n\t\t\t When the residents of Jabesh Gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul,\n\t\t\t all their warriors set out and traveled throughout the night. They took Saul's corpse and the corpses of his sons from the city wall of Beth Shan and went to Jabesh, where they burned them. \n\t\t\t They took the bones and buried them under the tamarisk tree at Jabesh; then they fasted for seven days.\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t After the death of Saul, when David had returned from defeating the Amalekites, he stayed at Ziklag for two days. \n\t\t\t On the third day a man arrived from the camp of Saul with his clothes torn and dirt on his head. When he approached David, the man threw himself to the ground.\n\t\t\t David asked him, \"Where are you coming from?\" He replied, \"I have escaped from the camp of Israel.\"\n\t\t\t David inquired, \"How were things going? Tell me!\" He replied, \"The people fled from the battle and many of them fell dead. Even Saul and his son Jonathan are dead!\" \n\t\t\t David said to the young man who was telling him this, \"How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?\"\n\t\t\t The young man who was telling him this said, \"I just happened to be on Mount Gilboa and came across Saul leaning on his spear for support. The chariots and leaders of the horsemen were in hot pursuit of him. \n\t\t\t When he turned around and saw me, he called out to me. I answered, 'Here I am!'\n\t\t\t He asked me, 'Who are you?' I told him, 'I'm an Amalekite.' \n\t\t\t He said to me, 'Stand over me and finish me off! I'm very dizzy, even though I'm still alive.'\n\t\t\t So I stood over him and put him to death, since I knew that he couldn't live in such a condition. Then I took the crown which was on his head and the bracelet which was on his arm. I have brought them here to my lord.\"\n\t\t\t David then grabbed his own clothes and tore them, as did all the men who were with him. \n\t\t\t They lamented and wept and fasted until evening because Saul, his son Jonathan, the LORD's people, and the house of Israel had fallen by the sword.\n\t\t\t David said to the young man who told this to him, \"Where are you from?\" He replied, \"I am an Amalekite, the son of a resident foreigner.\"\n\t\t\t David replied to him, \"How is it that you were not afraid to reach out your hand to destroy the LORD's anointed?\"\n\t\t\t Then David called one of the soldiers and said, \"Come here and strike him down!\" So he struck him down, and he died. \n\t\t\t David said to him, \"Your blood be on your own head! Your own mouth has testified against you, saying 'I have put the LORD's anointed to death.'\"\n\t\t\t Then David chanted this lament over Saul and his son Jonathan.\n\t\t\t (He gave instructions that the people of Judah should be taught \"The Bow.\" Indeed, it is written down in the Book of Yashar.)\n\t\t\t The beauty of Israel lies slain on your high places! How the mighty have fallen!\n\t\t\t Don't report it in Gath, don't spread the news in the streets of Ashkelon, or the daughters of the Philistines will rejoice, the daughters of the uncircumcised will celebrate!\n\t\t\t O mountains of Gilboa, may there be no dew or rain on you, nor fields of grain offerings! For it was there that the shield of warriors was defiled; the shield of Saul lies neglected without oil.\n\t\t\t From the blood of the slain, from the fat of warriors, the bow of Jonathan was not turned away. The sword of Saul never returned empty.\n\t\t\t Saul and Jonathan were greatly loved during their lives, and not even in their deaths were they separated. They were swifter than eagles, stronger than lions.\n\t\t\t O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet as well as jewelry, who put gold jewelry on your clothes.\n\t\t\t How the warriors have fallen in the midst of battle! Jonathan lies slain on your high places!\n\t\t\t I grieve over you, my brother Jonathan! You were very dear to me. Your love was more special to me than the love of women.\n\t\t\t How the warriors have fallen! The weapons of war are destroyed!\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Afterward David inquired of the LORD, \"Should I go up to one of the cities of Judah?\" The LORD told him, \"Go up.\" David asked, \"Where should I go?\" The LORD replied, \"To Hebron.\" \n\t\t\t So David went up, along with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelite and Abigail, formerly the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.\n\t\t\t David also brought along the men who were with him, each with his family. They settled in the cities of Hebron. \n\t\t\t The men of Judah came and there they anointed David as king over the people of Judah. David was told, \"The people of Jabesh Gilead are the ones who buried Saul.\" \n\t\t\t So David sent messengers to the people of Jabesh Gilead and told them, \"May you be blessed by the LORD because you have shown this kindness to your lord Saul by burying him. \n\t\t\t Now may the LORD show you true kindness! I also will reward you, because you have done this deed. \n\t\t\t Now be courageous and prove to be valiant warriors, for your lord Saul is dead. The people of Judah have anointed me as king over them.\"\n\t\t\t Now Abner son of Ner, the general in command of Saul's army, had taken Saul's son Ish-bosheth and had brought him to Mahanaim. \n\t\t\t He appointed him king over Gilead, the Geshurites, Jezreel, Ephraim, Benjamin, and all Israel. \n\t\t\t Ish-bosheth son of Saul was forty years old when he began to rule over Israel. He ruled two years. However, the people of Judah followed David. \n\t\t\t David was king in Hebron over the people of Judah for seven and a half years.\n\t\t\t Then Abner son of Ner and the servants of Ish-bosheth son of Saul went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.\n\t\t\t Joab son of Zeruiah and the servants of David also went out and confronted them at the pool of Gibeon. One group stationed themselves on one side of the pool, and the other group on the other side of the pool.\n\t\t\t Abner said to Joab, \"Let the soldiers get up and fight before us.\" Joab said, \"So be it!\"\n\t\t\t So they got up and crossed over by number: twelve belonging to Benjamin and to Ish-bosheth son of Saul, and twelve from the servants of David.\n\t\t\t As they grappled with one another, each one stabbed his opponent with his sword and they fell dead together. So that place is called the Field of Flints; it is in Gibeon.\n\t\t\t Now the battle was very severe that day; Abner and the men of Israel were overcome by David's soldiers.\n\t\t\t The three sons of Zeruiah were there, Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. (Now Asahel was as quick on his feet as one of the gazelles in the field.)\n\t\t\t Asahel chased Abner, without turning to the right or to the left as he followed Abner.\n\t\t\t Then Abner turned and asked, \"Is that you, Asahel?\" He replied, \"Yes it is!\"\n\t\t\t Abner said to him, \"Turn aside to your right or to your left. Capture one of the soldiers and take his equipment for yourself!\" But Asahel was not willing to turn aside from following him. \n\t\t\t So Abner spoke again to Asahel, \"Turn aside from following me! I do not want to strike you to the ground. How then could I show my face in the presence of Joab your brother?\" \n\t\t\t But Asahel refused to turn aside. So Abner struck him in the abdomen with the back end of his spear. The spear came out his back; Asahel collapsed on the spot and died there right before Abner. Everyone who now comes to the place where Asahel fell dead pauses in respect.\n\t\t\t So Joab and Abishai chased Abner. At sunset they came to the hill of Ammah near Giah on the way to the wilderness of Gibeon.\n\t\t\t The Benjaminites formed their ranks behind Abner and were like a single army, standing at the top of a certain hill.\n\t\t\t Then Abner called out to Joab, \"Must the sword devour forever? Don't you realize that this will turn bitter in the end? When will you tell the people to turn aside from pursuing their brothers?\"\n\t\t\t Joab replied, \"As surely as God lives, if you had not said this, it would have been morning before the people would have abandoned pursuit of their brothers!\" \n\t\t\t Then Joab blew the ram's horn and all the people stopped in their tracks. They stopped chasing Israel and ceased fighting.\n\t\t\t Abner and his men went through the Arabah all that night. They crossed the Jordan River and went through the whole region of Bitron and came to Mahanaim.\n\t\t\t Now Joab returned from chasing Abner and assembled all the people. Nineteen of David's soldiers were missing, in addition to Asahel.\n\t\t\t But David's soldiers had slaughtered the Benjaminites and Abner's men, in all, 360 men had died!\n\t\t\t They took Asahel's body and buried him in his father's tomb at Bethlehem. Joab and his men then traveled all that night and reached Hebron by dawn. \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t However, the war was prolonged between the house of Saul and the house of David. David was becoming steadily stronger, while the house of Saul was becoming increasingly weaker.\n\t\t\t Now sons were born to David in Hebron. His firstborn was Amnon, born to Ahinoam the Jezreelite.\n\t\t\t His second son was Kileab, born to Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite. His third son was Absalom, the son of Maacah daughter of King Talmai of Geshur. \n\t\t\t His fourth son was Adonijah, the son of Haggith. His fifth son was Shephatiah, the son of Abitail.\n\t\t\t His sixth son was Ithream, born to David's wife Eglah. These sons were all born to David in Hebron.\n\t\t\t As the war continued between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner was becoming more influential in the house of Saul. \n\t\t\t Now Saul had a concubine named Rizpah daughter of Aiah. Ish-bosheth said to Abner, \"Why did you have sexual relations with my father's concubine?\"\n\t\t\t These words of Ish-bosheth really angered Abner and he said, \"Am I the head of a dog that belongs to Judah? This very day I am demonstrating loyalty to the house of Saul your father and to his relatives and his friends! I have not betrayed you into the hand of David. Yet you have accused me of sinning with this woman today!\n\t\t\t God will severely judge Abner if I do not do for David exactly what the LORD has promised him,\n\t\t\t namely, to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and to establish the throne of David over Israel and over Judah all the way from Dan to Beer Sheba!\"\n\t\t\t Ish-bosheth was unable to answer Abner with even a single word because he was afraid of him.\n\t\t\t Then Abner sent messengers to David saying, \"To whom does the land belong? Make an agreement with me, and I will do whatever I can to cause all Israel to turn to you.\" \n\t\t\t So David said, \"Good! I will make an agreement with you. I ask only one thing from you. You will not see my face unless you bring Saul's daughter Michal when you come to visit me.\"\n\t\t\t David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth son of Saul with this demand: \"Give me my wife Michal whom I acquired for a hundred Philistine foreskins.\" \n\t\t\t So Ish-bosheth took her from her husband Paltiel son of Laish. \n\t\t\t Her husband went along behind her, weeping all the way to Bahurim. Finally Abner said to him, \"Go back!\" So he returned home.\n\t\t\t Abner advised the elders of Israel, \"Previously you were wanting David to be your king.\n\t\t\t Act now! For the LORD has said to David, 'By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel from the Philistines and from all their enemies.'\"\n\t\t\t Then Abner spoke privately with the Benjaminites. Abner also went to Hebron to inform David privately of all that Israel and the entire house of Benjamin had agreed to.\n\t\t\t When Abner, accompanied by twenty men, came to David in Hebron, David prepared a banquet for Abner and the men who were with him.\n\t\t\t Abner said to David, \"Let me leave so that I may go and gather all Israel to my lord the king so that they may make an agreement with you. Then you will rule over all that you desire.\" So David sent Abner away, and he left in peace.\n\t\t\t Now David's soldiers and Joab were coming back from a raid, bringing a great deal of plunder with them. Abner was no longer with David in Hebron, for David had sent him away and he had left in peace. \n\t\t\t When Joab and all the army that was with him arrived, Joab was told: \"Abner the son of Ner came to the king; he sent him away, and he left in peace!\"\n\t\t\t So Joab went to the king and said, \"What have you done? Abner has come to you! Why would you send him away? Now he's gone on his way!\n\t\t\t You know Abner the son of Ner! Surely he came here to spy on you and to determine when you leave and when you return and to discover everything that you are doing!\"\n\t\t\t Then Joab left David and sent messengers after Abner. They brought him back from the well of Sirah. (But David was not aware of it.)\n\t\t\t When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside at the gate as if to speak privately with him. Joab then stabbed him in the abdomen and killed him, avenging the shed blood of his brother Asahel.\n\t\t\t When David later heard about this, he said, \"I and my kingdom are forever innocent before the LORD of the shed blood of Abner son of Ner!\n\t\t\t May his blood whirl over the head of Joab and the entire house of his father! May the males of Joab's house never cease to have someone with a running sore or a skin disease or one who works at the spindle or one who falls by the sword or one who lacks food!\"\n\t\t\t So Joab and his brother Abishai killed Abner, because he had killed their brother Asahel in Gibeon during the battle.\n\t\t\t David instructed Joab and all the people who were with him, \"Tear your clothes! Put on sackcloth! Lament before Abner!\" Now King David followed behind the funeral bier. \n\t\t\t So they buried Abner in Hebron. The king cried loudly over Abner's grave and all the people wept too. \n\t\t\t The king chanted the following lament for Abner: \"Should Abner have died like a fool?\n\t\t\t Your hands were not bound, and your feet were not put into irons. You fell the way one falls before criminals.\" All the people wept over him again. \n\t\t\t Then all the people came and encouraged David to eat food while it was still day. But David took an oath saying, \"God will punish me severely if I taste bread or anything whatsoever before the sun sets!\"\n\t\t\t All the people noticed this and it pleased them. In fact, everything the king did pleased all the people. \n\t\t\t All the people and all Israel realized on that day that the killing of Abner son of Ner was not done at the king's instigation.\n\t\t\t Then the king said to his servants, \"Do you not realize that a great leader has fallen this day in Israel? \n\t\t\t Today I am weak, even though I am anointed as king. These men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too much for me to bear! May the LORD punish appropriately the one who has done this evil thing!\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t When Ish-bosheth the son of Saul heard that Abner had died in Hebron, he was very disheartened, and all Israel was afraid. \n\t\t\t Now Saul's son had two men who were in charge of raiding units; one was named Baanah and the other Recab. They were sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, who was a Benjaminite. (Beeroth is regarded as belonging to Benjamin, \n\t\t\t for the Beerothites fled to Gittaim and have remained there as resident foreigners until the present time.)\n\t\t\t Now Saul's son Jonathan had a son who was crippled in both feet. He was five years old when the news about Saul and Jonathan arrived from Jezreel. His nurse picked him up and fled, but in her haste to get away, he fell and was injured. Mephibosheth was his name.\n\t\t\t Now the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Recab and Baanah, went at the hottest part of the day to the home of Ish-bosheth, as he was enjoying his midday rest.\n\t\t\t They entered the house under the pretense of getting wheat and mortally wounded him in the stomach. Then Recab and his brother Baanah escaped.\n\t\t\t They had entered the house while Ish-bosheth was resting on his bed in his bedroom. They mortally wounded him and then cut off his head. Taking his head, they traveled on the way of the Arabah all that night. \n\t\t\t They brought the head of Ish-bosheth to David in Hebron, saying to the king, \"Look! The head of Ish-bosheth son of Saul, your enemy who sought your life! The LORD has granted vengeance to my lord the king this day against Saul and his descendants!\"\n\t\t\t David replied to Recab and his brother Baanah, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, \"As surely as the LORD lives, who has delivered my life from all adversity,\n\t\t\t when someone told me that Saul was dead, even though he thought he was bringing good news, I seized him and killed him in Ziklag. That was the good news I gave to him!\n\t\t\t Surely when wicked men have killed an innocent man as he slept in his own house, should I not now require his blood from your hands and remove you from the earth?\"\n\t\t\t So David issued orders to the soldiers and they put them to death. Then they cut off their hands and feet and hung them near the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ish-bosheth and buried it in the tomb of Abner in Hebron.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron saying, \"Look, we are your very flesh and blood!\n\t\t\t In the past, when Saul was our king, you were the real leader in Israel. The LORD said to you, 'You will shepherd my people Israel; you will rule over Israel.'\"\n\t\t\t When all the leaders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, King David made an agreement with them in Hebron before the LORD. They designated David as king over Israel. \n\t\t\t David was thirty years old when he began to reign and he reigned for forty years.\n\t\t\t In Hebron he reigned over Judah for seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned for thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah.\n\t\t\t Then the king and his men advanced to Jerusalem against the Jebusites who lived in the land. The Jebusites said to David, \"You cannot invade this place! Even the blind and the lame will turn you back, saying, 'David cannot invade this place!'\"\n\t\t\t But David captured the fortress of Zion (that is, the city of David).\n\t\t\t David said on that day, \"Whoever attacks the Jebusites must approach the 'lame' and the 'blind' who are David's enemies by going through the water tunnel.\" For this reason it is said, \"The blind and the lame cannot enter the palace.\"\n\t\t\t So David lived in the fortress and called it the City of David. David built all around it, from the terrace inwards.\n\t\t\t David's power grew steadily, for the LORD God who commands armies was with him.\n\t\t\t King Hiram of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedar logs, carpenters, and stonemasons. They built a palace for David. \n\t\t\t David realized that the LORD had established him as king over Israel and that he had elevated his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.\n\t\t\t David married more concubines and wives from Jerusalem after he arrived from Hebron. Even more sons and daughters were born to David.\n\t\t\t These are the names of children born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,\n\t\t\t Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia,\n\t\t\t Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.\n\t\t\t When the Philistines heard that David had been designated king over Israel, they all went up to search for David. When David heard about it, he went down to the fortress. \n\t\t\t Now the Philistines had arrived and spread out in the valley of Rephaim.\n\t\t\t So David asked the LORD, \"Should I march up against the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?\" The LORD said to David, \"March up, for I will indeed hand the Philistines over to you.\"\n\t\t\t So David marched against Baal Perazim and defeated them there. Then he said, \"The LORD has burst out against my enemies like water bursts out.\" So he called the name of that place Baal Perazim.\n\t\t\t The Philistines abandoned their idols there, and David and his men picked them up.\n\t\t\t The Philistines again came up and spread out in the valley of Rephaim.\n\t\t\t So David asked the LORD what he should do. This time the LORD said to him, \"Don't march straight up. Instead, circle around behind them and come against them opposite the trees.\n\t\t\t When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the trees, act decisively. For at that moment the LORD is going before you to strike down the army of the Philistines.\" \n\t\t\t David did just as the LORD commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines from Gibeon all the way to Gezer.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t David again assembled all the best men in Israel, thirty thousand in number. \n\t\t\t David and all the men who were with him traveled to Baalah in Judah to bring up from there the ark of God which is called by the name of the LORD of hosts, who sits enthroned between the cherubim that are on it. \n\t\t\t They loaded the ark of God on a new cart and carried it from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were guiding the new cart.\n\t\t\t They brought it with the ark of God up from the house of Abinadab on the hill. Ahio was walking in front of the ark, \n\t\t\t while David and all Israel were energetically celebrating before the LORD, singing and playing various stringed instruments, tambourines, rattles, and cymbals.\n\t\t\t When they arrived at the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached out and grabbed hold of the ark of God, because the oxen stumbled. \n\t\t\t The LORD was so furious with Uzzah, he killed him on the spot for his negligence. He died right there beside the ark of God.\n\t\t\t David was angry because the LORD attacked Uzzah; so he called that place Perez Uzzah, which remains its name to this very day. \n\t\t\t David was afraid of the LORD that day and said, \"How will the ark of the LORD ever come to me?\"\n\t\t\t So David was no longer willing to bring the ark of the LORD to be with him in the City of David. David left it in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite.\n\t\t\t The ark of the LORD remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite for three months. The LORD blessed Obed-Edom and all his family.\n\t\t\t David was told, \"The LORD has blessed the family of Obed-Edom and everything he owns because of the ark of God.\" So David went and joyfully brought the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David. \n\t\t\t Those who carried the ark of the LORD took six steps and then David sacrificed an ox and a fatling calf. \n\t\t\t Now David, wearing a linen ephod, was dancing with all his strength before the LORD.\n\t\t\t David and all Israel were bringing up the ark of the LORD, shouting and blowing trumpets.\n\t\t\t As the ark of the LORD entered the City of David, Saul's daughter Michal looked out the window. When she saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, she despised him.\n\t\t\t They brought the ark of the LORD and put it in its place in the middle of the tent that David had pitched for it. Then David offered burnt sacrifices and peace offerings before the LORD. \n\t\t\t When David finished offering the burnt sacrifices and peace offerings, he pronounced a blessing over the people in the name of the LORD of hosts.\n\t\t\t He then handed out to each member of the entire assembly of Israel, both men and women, a portion of bread, a date cake, and a raisin cake. Then all the people went home.\n\t\t\t When David went home to pronounce a blessing on his own house, Michal, Saul's daughter, came out to meet him. She said, \"How the king of Israel has distinguished himself this day! He has exposed himself today before his servants' slave girls the way a vulgar fool might do!\"\n\t\t\t David replied to Michal, \"It was before the LORD! I was celebrating before the LORD, who chose me over your father and his entire family and appointed me as leader over the LORD's people Israel. \n\t\t\t I am willing to shame and humiliate myself even more than this! But with the slave girls whom you mentioned let me be distinguished!\" \n\t\t\t Now Michal, Saul's daughter, had no children to the day of her death.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The king settled into his palace, for the LORD gave him relief from all his enemies on all sides.\n\t\t\t The king said to Nathan the prophet, \"Look! I am living in a palace made from cedar, while the ark of God sits in the middle of a tent.\"\n\t\t\t Nathan replied to the king, \"You should go and do whatever you have in mind, for the LORD is with you.\" \n\t\t\t That night the LORD told Nathan,\n\t\t\t \"Go, tell my servant David: 'This is what the LORD says: Do you really intend to build a house for me to live in?\n\t\t\t I have not lived in a house from the time I brought the Israelites up from Egypt to the present day. Instead, I was traveling with them and living in a tent.\n\t\t\t Wherever I moved among all the Israelites, I did not say to any of the leaders whom I appointed to care for my people Israel, \"Why have you not built me a house made from cedar?\"'\n\t\t\t \"So now, say this to my servant David: 'This is what the LORD of hosts says: I took you from the pasture and from your work as a shepherd to make you leader of my people Israel.\n\t\t\t I was with you wherever you went, and I defeated all your enemies before you. Now I will make you as famous as the great men of the earth.\n\t\t\t I will establish a place for my people Israel and settle them there; they will live there and not be disturbed any more. Violent men will not oppress them again, as they did in the beginning \n\t\t\t and during the time when I appointed judges to lead my people Israel. Instead, I will give you relief from all your enemies. The LORD declares to you that he himself will build a dynastic house for you. \n\t\t\t When the time comes for you to die, I will raise up your descendant, one of your own sons, to succeed you, and I will establish his kingdom. \n\t\t\t He will build a house for my name, and I will make his dynasty permanent.\n\t\t\t I will become his father and he will become my son. When he sins, I will correct him with the rod of men and with wounds inflicted by human beings.\n\t\t\t But my loyal love will not be removed from him as I removed it from Saul, whom I removed from before you.\n\t\t\t Your house and your kingdom will stand before me permanently; your dynasty will be permanent.'\" \n\t\t\t Nathan told David all these words that were revealed to him.\n\t\t\t King David went in, sat before the LORD, and said, \"Who am I, O LORD God, and what is my family, that you should have brought me to this point? \n\t\t\t And you didn't stop there, O LORD God! You have also spoken about the future of your servant's family. Is this your usual way of dealing with men, O LORD God? \n\t\t\t What more can David say to you? You have given your servant special recognition, O LORD God! \n\t\t\t For the sake of your promise and according to your purpose you have done this great thing in order to reveal it to your servant.\n\t\t\t Therefore you are great, O LORD God, for there is none like you! There is no God besides you! What we have heard is true!\n\t\t\t Who is like your people, Israel, a unique nation on the earth? Their God went to claim a nation for himself and to make a name for himself! You did great and awesome acts for your land, before your people whom you delivered for yourself from the Egyptian empire and its gods.\n\t\t\t You made Israel your very own people for all time. You, O LORD, became their God. \n\t\t\t So now, O LORD God, make this promise you have made about your servant and his family a permanent reality. Do as you promised,\n\t\t\t so you may gain lasting fame, as people say, 'The LORD of hosts is God over Israel!' The dynasty of your servant David will be established before you, \n\t\t\t for you, O LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, have told your servant, 'I will build you a dynastic house.' That is why your servant has had the courage to pray this prayer to you. \n\t\t\t Now, O sovereign LORD, you are the true God! May your words prove to be true! You have made this good promise to your servant!\n\t\t\t Now be willing to bless your servant's dynasty so that it may stand permanently before you, for you, O sovereign LORD, have spoken. By your blessing may your servant's dynasty be blessed on into the future!\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Later David defeated the Philistines and subdued them. David took Metheg Ammah from the Philistines.\n\t\t\t He defeated the Moabites. He made them lie on the ground and then used a rope to measure them off. He put two-thirds of them to death and spared the other third. The Moabites became David's subjects and brought tribute.\n\t\t\t David defeated King Hadadezer son of Rehob of Zobah when he came to reestablish his authority over the Euphrates River. \n\t\t\t David seized from him 1,700 charioteers and 20,000 infantrymen. David cut the hamstrings of all but a hundred of the chariot horses.\n\t\t\t The Arameans of Damascus came to help King Hadadezer of Zobah, but David killed 22,000 of the Arameans.\n\t\t\t David placed garrisons in the territory of the Arameans of Damascus; the Arameans became David's subjects and brought tribute. The LORD protected David wherever he campaigned.\n\t\t\t David took the golden shields that belonged to Hadadezer's servants and brought them to Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t From Tebah and Berothai, Hadadezer's cities, King David took a great deal of bronze.\n\t\t\t When King Toi of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer,\n\t\t\t he sent his son Joram to King David to extend his best wishes and to pronounce a blessing on him for his victory over Hadadezer, for Toi had been at war with Hadadezer. He brought with him various items made of silver, gold, and bronze.\n\t\t\t King David dedicated these things to the LORD, along with the dedicated silver and gold that he had taken from all the nations that he had subdued, \n\t\t\t including Aram, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, and Amelek. This also included some of the plunder taken from King Hadadezer son of Rehob of Zobah.\n\t\t\t David became famous when he returned from defeating the Arameans in the Valley of Salt, he defeated 18,000 in all. \n\t\t\t He placed garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites became David's subjects. The LORD protected David wherever he campaigned. \n\t\t\t David reigned over all Israel; he guaranteed justice for all his people.\n\t\t\t Joab son of Zeruiah was general in command of the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was secretary; \n\t\t\t Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were priests; Seraiah was scribe; \n\t\t\t Benaiah son of Jehoida supervised the Kerithites and Pelethites; and David's sons were priests.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then David asked, \"Is anyone still left from the family of Saul, so that I may extend kindness to him for the sake of Jonathan?\"\n\t\t\t Now there was a servant from Saul's house named Ziba, so he was summoned to David. The king asked him, \"Are you Ziba?\" He replied, \"At your service.\"\n\t\t\t The king asked, \"Is there not someone left from Saul's family, that I may extend God's kindness to him?\" Ziba said to the king, \"One of Jonathan's sons is left; both of his feet are crippled.\" \n\t\t\t The king asked him, \"Where is he?\" Ziba told the king, \"He is at the house of Makir son of Ammiel in Lo Debar.\n\t\t\t So King David had him brought from the house of Makir son of Ammiel in Lo Debar. \n\t\t\t When Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, he bowed low with his face toward the ground. David said, \"Mephibosheth?\" He replied, \"Yes, at your service.\"\n\t\t\t David said to him, \"Don't be afraid, because I will certainly extend kindness to you for the sake of Jonathan your father. You will be a regular guest at my table.\"\n\t\t\t Then Mephibosheth bowed and said, \"Of what importance am I, your servant, that you show regard for a dead dog like me?\"\n\t\t\t Then the king summoned Ziba, Saul's attendant, and said to him, \"Everything that belonged to Saul and to his entire house I hereby give to your master's grandson.\n\t\t\t You will cultivate the land for him, you and your sons and your servants. You will bring its produce and it will be food for your master's grandson to eat. But Mephibosheth, your master's grandson, will be a regular guest at my table.\" (Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.)\n\t\t\t Ziba said to the king, \"Your servant will do everything that my lord the king has instructed his servant to do.\" So Mephibosheth was a regular guest at David's table, just as though he were one of the king's sons.\n\t\t\t Now Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Mica. All the members of Ziba's household were Mephibosheth's servants.\n\t\t\t Mephibosheth was living in Jerusalem, for he was a regular guest at the king's table. But both his feet were crippled.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Later the king of the Ammonites died and his son Hanun succeeded him.\n\t\t\t David said, \"I will express my loyalty to Hanun son of Nahash just as his father was loyal to me.\" So David sent his servants with a message expressing sympathy over his father's death. When David's servants entered the land of the Ammonites, \n\t\t\t the Ammonite officials said to their lord Hanun, \"Do you really think David is trying to honor your father by sending these messengers to express his sympathy? No, David has sent his servants to you to get information about the city and spy on it so they can overthrow it!\"\n\t\t\t So Hanun seized David's servants and shaved off half of each one's beard. He cut the lower part of their robes off so that their buttocks were exposed, and then sent them away. \n\t\t\t Messengers told David what had happened, so he summoned them, for the men were thoroughly humiliated. The king said, \"Stay in Jericho until your beards have grown again; then you may come back.\"\n\t\t\t When the Ammonites realized that David was disgusted with them, they sent and hired 20,000 foot soldiers from Aram Beth Rehob and Aram Zobah, in addition to 1,000 men from the king of Maacah and 12,000 men from Ish-tob.\n\t\t\t When David heard the news, he sent Joab and the entire army to meet them.\n\t\t\t The Ammonites marched out and were deployed for battle at the entrance of the city gate, while the men from Aram Zobah, Rehob, Ish-tob, and Maacah were by themselves in the field.\n\t\t\t When Joab saw that the battle would be fought on two fronts, he chose some of Israel's best men and deployed them against the Arameans.\n\t\t\t He put his brother Abishai in charge of the rest of the army and they were deployed against the Ammonites. \n\t\t\t Joab said, \"If the Arameans start to overpower me, you come to my rescue. If the Ammonites start to overpower you, I will come to your rescue. \n\t\t\t Be strong! Let's fight bravely for the sake of our people and the cities of our God! The LORD will do what he decides is best!\"\n\t\t\t So Joab and his men marched out to do battle with the Arameans, and they fled before him. \n\t\t\t When the Ammonites saw the Arameans flee, they fled before his brother Abishai and went into the city. Joab withdrew from fighting the Ammonites and returned to Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t When the Arameans realized that they had been defeated by Israel, they consolidated their forces.\n\t\t\t Then Hadadezer sent for Arameans from beyond the Euphrates River, and they came to Helam. Shobach, the general in command of Hadadezer's army, led them.\n\t\t\t When David was informed, he gathered all Israel, crossed the Jordan River, and came to Helam. The Arameans deployed their forces against David and fought with him. \n\t\t\t The Arameans fled before Israel. David killed 700 Aramean charioteers and 40,000 foot soldiers. He also struck down Shobach, the general in command of the army, who died there.\n\t\t\t When all the kings who were subject to Hadadezer saw they were defeated by Israel, they made peace with Israel and became subjects of Israel. The Arameans were no longer willing to help the Ammonites.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t In the spring of the year, at the time when kings normally conduct wars, David sent out Joab with his officers and the entire Israelite army. They defeated the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David stayed behind in Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of his palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. Now this woman was very attractive.\n\t\t\t So David sent someone to inquire about the woman. The messenger said, \"Isn't this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?\"\n\t\t\t David sent some messengers to get her. She came to him and he had sexual relations with her. (Now at that time she was in the process of purifying herself from her menstrual uncleanness.) Then she returned to her home. \n\t\t\t The woman conceived and then sent word to David saying, \"I'm pregnant.\"\n\t\t\t So David sent a message to Joab that said, \"Send me Uriah the Hittite.\" So Joab sent Uriah to David.\n\t\t\t When Uriah came to him, David asked about how Joab and the army were doing and how the campaign was going.\n\t\t\t Then David said to Uriah, \"Go down to your home and relax.\" When Uriah left the palace, the king sent a gift to him.\n\t\t\t But Uriah stayed at the door of the palace with all the servants of his lord. He did not go down to his house.\n\t\t\t So they informed David, \"Uriah has not gone down to his house.\" So David said to Uriah, \"Haven't you just arrived from a journey? Why haven't you gone down to your house?\"\n\t\t\t Uriah replied to David, \"The ark and Israel and Judah reside in temporary shelters, and my lord Joab and my lord's soldiers are camping in the open field. Should I go to my house to eat and drink and have marital relations with my wife? As surely as you are alive, I will not do this thing!\" \n\t\t\t So David said to Uriah, \"Stay here another day. Tomorrow I will send you back.\" So Uriah stayed in Jerusalem both that day and the following one.\n\t\t\t Then David summoned him. He ate and drank with him, and got him drunk. But in the evening he went out to sleep on his bed with the servants of his lord; he did not go down to his own house.\n\t\t\t In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it with Uriah.\n\t\t\t In the letter he wrote: \"Station Uriah in the thick of the battle and then withdraw from him so he will be cut down and killed.\"\n\t\t\t So as Joab kept watch on the city, he stationed Uriah at the place where he knew the best enemy soldiers were. \n\t\t\t When the men of the city came out and fought with Joab, some of David's soldiers fell in battle. Uriah the Hittite also died.\n\t\t\t Then Joab sent a full battle report to David.\n\t\t\t He instructed the messenger as follows: \"When you finish giving the battle report to the king,\n\t\t\t if the king becomes angry and asks you, 'Why did you go so close to the city to fight? Didn't you realize they would shoot from the wall?\n\t\t\t Who struck down Abimelech the son of Jerub-Besheth? Didn't a woman throw an upper millstone down on him from the wall so that he died in Thebez? Why did you go so close to the wall?' just say to him, 'Your servant Uriah the Hittite is also dead.'\"\n\t\t\t So the messenger departed. When he arrived, he informed David of all the news that Joab had sent with him.\n\t\t\t The messenger said to David, \"The men overpowered us and attacked us in the field. But we forced them to retreat all the way to the door of the city gate. \n\t\t\t Then the archers shot at your servants from the wall and some of the king's soldiers died. Your servant Uriah the Hittite is also dead.\" \n\t\t\t David said to the messenger, \"Tell Joab, 'Don't let this thing upset you. There is no way to anticipate whom the sword will cut down. Press the battle against the city and conquer it.' Encourage him with these words.\"\n\t\t\t When Uriah's wife heard that her husband Uriah was dead, she mourned for him.\n\t\t\t When the time of mourning passed, David had her brought to his palace. She became his wife and she bore him a son. But what David had done upset the LORD.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t So the LORD sent Nathan to David. When he came to David, Nathan said, \"There were two men in a certain city, one rich and the other poor. \n\t\t\t The rich man had a great many flocks and herds.\n\t\t\t But the poor man had nothing except for a little lamb he had acquired. He raised it, and it grew up alongside him and his children. It used to eat his food, drink from his cup, and sleep in his arms. It was just like a daughter to him.\n\t\t\t \"When a traveler arrived at the rich man's home, he did not want to use one of his own sheep or cattle to feed the traveler who had come to visit him. Instead, he took the poor man's lamb and cooked it for the man who had come to visit him.\"\n\t\t\t Then David became very angry at this man. He said to Nathan, \"As surely as the LORD lives, the man who did this deserves to die!\n\t\t\t Because he committed this cold-hearted crime, he must pay for the lamb four times over!\"\n\t\t\t Nathan said to David, \"You are that man! This is what the LORD God of Israel says: 'I chose you to be king over Israel and I rescued you from the hand of Saul. \n\t\t\t I gave you your master's house, and put your master's wives into your arms. I also gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if all that somehow seems insignificant, I would have given you so much more as well! \n\t\t\t Why have you shown contempt for the word of the LORD by doing evil in my sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and you have taken his wife as your own! You have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. \n\t\t\t So now the sword will never depart from your house. For you have despised me by taking the wife of Uriah the Hittite as your own!'\n\t\t\t This is what the LORD says: 'I am about to bring disaster on you from inside your own household! Right before your eyes I will take your wives and hand them over to your companion. He will have sexual relations with your wives in broad daylight!\n\t\t\t Although you have acted in secret, I will do this thing before all Israel, and in broad daylight.'\"\n\t\t\t Then David exclaimed to Nathan, \"I have sinned against the LORD!\" Nathan replied to David, \"Yes, and the LORD has forgiven your sin. You are not going to die. \n\t\t\t Nonetheless, because you have treated the LORD with such contempt in this matter, the son who has been born to you will certainly die.\"\n\t\t\t Then Nathan went to his home. The LORD struck the child that Uriah's wife had borne to David, and the child became very ill.\n\t\t\t Then David prayed to God for the child and fasted. He would even go and spend the night lying on the ground. \n\t\t\t The elders of his house stood over him and tried to lift him from the ground, but he was unwilling, and refused to eat food with them.\n\t\t\t On the seventh day the child died. But the servants of David were afraid to inform him that the child had died, for they said, \"While the child was still alive he would not listen to us when we spoke to him. How can we tell him that the child is dead? He will do himself harm!\"\n\t\t\t When David saw that his servants were whispering to one another, he realized that the child was dead. So David asked his servants, \"Is the child dead?\" They replied, \"Yes, he's dead.\" \n\t\t\t So David got up from the ground, bathed, put on oil, and changed his clothes. He went to the house of the LORD and worshiped. Then, when he entered his palace, he requested that food be brought to him, and he ate.\n\t\t\t His servants said to him, \"What is this that you have done? While the child was still alive, you fasted and wept. Once the child was dead you got up and ate food!\" \n\t\t\t He replied, \"While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept because I thought, 'Perhaps the LORD will show pity and the child will live. \n\t\t\t But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Am I able to bring him back? I will go to him, but he cannot return to me!'\"\n\t\t\t So David comforted his wife Bathsheba. He went to her and had marital relations with her. She gave birth to a son, and David named him Solomon. Now the LORD loved the child\n\t\t\t and sent word through Nathan the prophet that he should be named Jedidiah for the LORD's sake.\n\t\t\t So Joab fought against Rabbah of the Ammonites and captured the royal city. \n\t\t\t Joab then sent messengers to David, saying, \"I have fought against Rabbah and have captured the water supply of the city.\n\t\t\t So now assemble the rest of the army and besiege the city and capture it. Otherwise I will capture the city and it will be named for me.\"\n\t\t\t So David assembled all the army and went to Rabbah and fought against it and captured it.\n\t\t\t He took the crown of their king from his head, it was gold, weighed about seventy-five pounds, and held a precious stone, and it was placed on David's head. He also took from the city a great deal of plunder.\n\t\t\t He removed the people who were in it and made them do hard labor with saws, iron picks, and iron axes, putting them to work at the brick kiln. This was his policy with all the Ammonite cities. Then David and all the army returned to Jerusalem.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now David's son Absalom had a beautiful sister named Tamar. In the course of time David's son Amnon fell madly in love with her.\n\t\t\t But Amnon became frustrated because he was so lovesick over his sister Tamar. For she was a virgin, and to Amnon it seemed out of the question to do anything to her.\n\t\t\t Now Amnon had a friend named Jonadab, the son of David's brother Shimeah. Jonadab was a very crafty man.\n\t\t\t He asked Amnon, \"Why are you, the king's son, so depressed every morning? Can't you tell me?\" So Amnon said to him, \"I'm in love with Tamar the sister of my brother Absalom.\" \n\t\t\t Jonadab replied to him, \"Lie down on your bed and pretend to be sick. When your father comes in to see you, say to him, 'Please let my sister Tamar come in so she can fix some food for me. Let her prepare the food in my sight so I can watch. Then I will eat from her hand.'\"\n\t\t\t So Amnon lay down and pretended to be sick. When the king came in to see him, Amnon said to the king, \"Please let my sister Tamar come in so she can make a couple of cakes in my sight. Then I will eat from her hand.\"\n\t\t\t So David sent Tamar to the house saying, \"Please go to the house of Amnon your brother and prepare some food for him.\"\n\t\t\t So Tamar went to the house of Amnon her brother, who was lying down. She took the dough, kneaded it, made some cakes while he watched, and baked them.\n\t\t\t But when she took the pan and set it before him, he refused to eat. Instead Amnon said, \"Get everyone out of here!\" So everyone left.\n\t\t\t Then Amnon said to Tamar, \"Bring the cakes into the bedroom; then I will eat from your hand.\" So Tamar took the cakes that she had prepared and brought them to her brother Amnon in the bedroom.\n\t\t\t As she brought them to him to eat, he grabbed her and said to her, \"Come on! Get in bed with me, my sister!\"\n\t\t\t But she said to him, \"No, my brother! Don't humiliate me! This just isn't done in Israel! Don't do this foolish thing!\n\t\t\t How could I ever be rid of my humiliation? And you would be considered one of the fools in Israel! Just speak to the king, for he will not withhold me from you.\" \n\t\t\t But he refused to listen to her. He overpowered her and humiliated her by raping her.\n\t\t\t Then Amnon greatly despised her. His disdain toward her surpassed the love he had previously felt toward her. Amnon said to her, \"Get up and leave!\"\n\t\t\t But she said to him, \"No I won't, for sending me away now would be worse than what you did to me earlier!\" But he refused to listen to her. \n\t\t\t He called his personal attendant and said to him, \"Take this woman out of my sight and lock the door behind her!\" \n\t\t\t (Now she was wearing a long robe, for this is what the king's virgin daughters used to wear.) So Amnon's attendant removed her and bolted the door behind her. \n\t\t\t Then Tamar put ashes on her head and tore the long robe she was wearing. She put her hands on her head and went on her way, wailing as she went.\n\t\t\t Her brother Absalom said to her, \"Was Amnon your brother with you? Now be quiet, my sister. He is your brother. Don't take it so seriously!\" Tamar, devastated, lived in the house of her brother Absalom.\n\t\t\t Now King David heard about all these things and was very angry.\n\t\t\t But Absalom said nothing to Amnon, either bad or good, yet Absalom hated Amnon because he had humiliated his sister Tamar.\n\t\t\t Two years later Absalom's sheepshearers were in Baal Hazor, near Ephraim. Absalom invited all the king's sons. \n\t\t\t Then Absalom went to the king and said, \"My shearers have begun their work. Let the king and his servants go with me.\"\n\t\t\t But the king said to Absalom, \"No, my son. We shouldn't all go. We shouldn't burden you in that way.\" Though Absalom pressed him, the king was not willing to go. Instead, David blessed him.\n\t\t\t Then Absalom said, \"If you will not go, then let my brother Amnon go with us.\" The king replied to him, \"Why should he go with you?\" \n\t\t\t But when Absalom pressed him, he sent Amnon and all the king's sons along with him.\n\t\t\t Absalom instructed his servants, \"Look! When Amnon is drunk and I say to you, 'Strike Amnon down,' kill him then and there. Don't fear! Is it not I who have given you these instructions? Be strong and courageous!\"\n\t\t\t So Absalom's servants did to Amnon exactly what Absalom had instructed. Then all the king's sons got up; each one rode away on his mule and fled.\n\t\t\t While they were still on their way, the following report reached David: \"Absalom has killed all the king's sons; not one of them is left!\"\n\t\t\t Then the king stood up and tore his garments and lay down on the ground. All his servants were standing there with torn garments as well.\n\t\t\t Jonadab, the son of David's brother Shimeah, said, \"My lord should not say, 'They have killed all the young men who are the king's sons.' For only Amnon is dead. This is what Absalom has talked about from the day that Amnon humiliated his sister Tamar. \n\t\t\t Now don't let my lord the king be concerned about the report that has come saying, 'All the king's sons are dead.' It is only Amnon who is dead.\"\n\t\t\t In the meantime Absalom fled. When the servant who was the watchman looked up, he saw many people coming from the west on a road beside the hill. \n\t\t\t Jonadab said to the king, \"Look! The king's sons have come! It's just as I said!\"\n\t\t\t Just as he finished speaking, the king's sons arrived, wailing and weeping. The king and all his servants wept loudly as well. \n\t\t\t But Absalom fled and went to King Talmai son of Ammihud of Geshur. And David grieved over his son every day.\n\t\t\t After Absalom fled and went to Geshur, he remained there for three years.\n\t\t\t The king longed to go to Absalom, for he had since been consoled over the death of Amnon.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now Joab son of Zeruiah realized that the king longed to see Absalom. \n\t\t\t So Joab sent to Tekoa and brought from there a wise woman. He told her, \"Pretend to be in mourning and put on garments for mourning. Don't anoint yourself with oil. Instead, act like a woman who has been mourning for the dead for some time.\n\t\t\t Go to the king and speak to him in the following fashion.\" Then Joab told her what to say.\n\t\t\t So the Tekoan woman went to the king. She bowed down with her face to the ground in deference to him and said, \"Please help me, O king!\" \n\t\t\t The king replied to her, \"What do you want?\" She answered, \"I am a widow; my husband is dead. \n\t\t\t Your servant has two sons. When the two of them got into a fight in the field, there was no one present who could intervene. One of them struck the other and killed him. \n\t\t\t Now the entire family has risen up against your servant, saying, 'Turn over the one who struck down his brother, so that we can execute him and avenge the death of his brother whom he killed. In so doing we will also destroy the heir.' They want to extinguish my remaining coal, leaving no one on the face of the earth to carry on the name of my husband.\"\n\t\t\t Then the king told the woman, \"Go to your home. I will give instructions concerning your situation.\"\n\t\t\t The Tekoan woman said to the king, \"My lord the king, let any blame fall on me and on the house of my father. But let the king and his throne be innocent!\"\n\t\t\t The king said, \"Bring to me whoever speaks to you, and he won't bother you again!\"\n\t\t\t She replied, \"In that case, let the king invoke the name of the LORD your God so that the avenger of blood may not kill! Then they will not destroy my son!\" He replied, \"As surely as the LORD lives, not a single hair of your son's head will fall to the ground.\"\n\t\t\t Then the woman said, \"Please permit your servant to speak to my lord the king about another matter.\" He replied, \"Tell me.\"\n\t\t\t The woman said, \"Why have you devised something like this against God's people? When the king speaks in this fashion, he makes himself guilty, for the king has not brought back the one he has banished.\n\t\t\t Certainly we must die, and are like water spilled on the ground that cannot be gathered up again. But God does not take away life; instead he devises ways for the banished to be restored.\n\t\t\t I have now come to speak with my lord the king about this matter, because the people have made me fearful. But your servant said, 'I will speak to the king! Perhaps the king will do what his female servant asks. \n\t\t\t Yes! The king may listen and deliver his female servant from the hand of the man who seeks to remove both me and my son from the inheritance God has given us!'\n\t\t\t So your servant said, 'May the word of my lord the king be my security, for my lord the king is like the angel of God when it comes to deciding between right and wrong! May the LORD your God be with you!'\"\n\t\t\t Then the king replied to the woman, \"Don't hide any information from me when I question you.\" The woman said, \"Let my lord the king speak!\"\n\t\t\t The king said, \"Did Joab put you up to all of this?\" The woman answered, \"As surely as you live, my lord the king, there is no deviation to the right or to the left from all that my lord the king has said. For your servant Joab gave me instructions. He has put all these words in your servant's mouth. \n\t\t\t Your servant Joab did this so as to change this situation. But my lord has wisdom like that of the angel of God, and knows everything that is happening in the land.\"\n\t\t\t Then the king said to Joab, \"All right! I will do this thing! Go and bring back the young man Absalom! \n\t\t\t Then Joab bowed down with his face toward the ground and thanked the king. Joab said, \"Today your servant knows that I have found favor in your sight, my lord the king, because the king has granted the request of your servant!\"\n\t\t\t So Joab got up and went to Geshur and brought Absalom back to Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t But the king said, \"Let him go over to his own house. He may not see my face.\" So Absalom went over to his own house; he did not see the king's face.\n\t\t\t Now in all Israel everyone acknowledged that there was no man as handsome as Absalom. From the sole of his feet to the top of his head he was perfect in appearance.\n\t\t\t When he would shave his head, at the end of every year he used to shave his head, for it grew too long and he would shave it, he used to weigh the hair of his head at three pounds according to the king's weight.\n\t\t\t Absalom had three sons and one daughter, whose name was Tamar. She was a very attractive woman.\n\t\t\t Absalom lived in Jerusalem for two years without seeing the king's face.\n\t\t\t Then Absalom sent a message to Joab asking him to send him to the king, but Joab was not willing to come to him. So he sent a second message to him, but he still was not willing to come.\n\t\t\t So he said to his servants, \"Look, Joab has a portion of field adjacent to mine and he has some barley there. Go and set it on fire.\" So Absalom's servants set Joab's portion of the field on fire.\n\t\t\t Then Joab got up and came to Absalom's house. He said to him, \"Why did your servants set my portion of field on fire?\"\n\t\t\t Absalom said to Joab, \"Look, I sent a message to you saying, 'Come here so that I can send you to the king with this message: \"Why have I come from Geshur? It would be better for me if I were still there.\"' Let me now see the face of the king. If I am at fault, let him put me to death!\"\n\t\t\t So Joab went to the king and informed him. The king summoned Absalom, and he came to the king. Absalom bowed down before the king with his face toward the ground and the king kissed him.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Some time later Absalom managed to acquire a chariot and horses, as well as fifty men to serve as his royal guard.\n\t\t\t Now Absalom used to get up early and stand beside the road that led to the city gate. Whenever anyone came by who had a complaint to bring to the king for arbitration, Absalom would call out to him, \"What city are you from?\" The person would answer, \"I, your servant, am from one of the tribes of Israel.\" \n\t\t\t Absalom would then say to him, \"Look, your claims are legitimate and appropriate. But there is no representative of the king who will listen to you.\" \n\t\t\t Absalom would then say, \"If only they would make me a judge in the land! Then everyone who had a judicial complaint could come to me and I would make sure he receives a just settlement.\"\n\t\t\t When someone approached to bow before him, Absalom would extend his hand and embrace him and kiss him. \n\t\t\t Absalom acted this way toward everyone in Israel who came to the king for justice. In this way Absalom won the loyalty of the citizens of Israel.\n\t\t\t After four years Absalom said to the king, \"Let me go and repay my vow that I made to the LORD while I was in Hebron. \n\t\t\t For I made this vow when I was living in Geshur in Aram: 'If the LORD really does allow me to return to Jerusalem, I will serve the LORD.'\" \n\t\t\t The king replied to him, \"Go in peace.\" So Absalom got up and went to Hebron.\n\t\t\t Then Absalom sent spies through all the tribes of Israel who said, \"When you hear the sound of the horn, you may assume that Absalom rules in Hebron.\" \n\t\t\t Now two hundred men had gone with Absalom from Jerusalem. Since they were invited, they went naively and were unaware of what Absalom was planning.\n\t\t\t While he was offering sacrifices, Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's adviser, to come from his city, Giloh. The conspiracy was gaining momentum, and the people were starting to side with Absalom.\n\t\t\t Then a messenger came to David and reported, \"The men of Israel are loyal to Absalom!\"\n\t\t\t So David said to all his servants who were with him in Jerusalem, \"Come on! Let's escape! Otherwise no one will be delivered from Absalom! Go immediately, or else he will quickly overtake us and bring disaster on us and kill the city's residents with the sword.\"\n\t\t\t The king's servants replied to the king, \"We will do whatever our lord the king decides.\"\n\t\t\t So the king and all the members of his royal court set out on foot, though the king left behind ten concubines to attend to the palace.\n\t\t\t The king and all the people set out on foot, pausing at a spot some distance away. \n\t\t\t All his servants were leaving with him, along with all the Kerethites, all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, some six hundred men who had come on foot from Gath. They were leaving with the king.\n\t\t\t Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, \"Why should you come with us? Go back and stay with the new king, for you are a foreigner and an exile from your own country.\n\t\t\t It seems like you arrived just yesterday. Today should I make you wander around by going with us? I go where I must go. But as for you, go back and take your men with you. May genuine loyal love protect you!\"\n\t\t\t But Ittai replied to the king, \"As surely as the LORD lives and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king is, whether dead or alive, there I will be as well!\" \n\t\t\t So David said to Ittai, \"Come along then.\" So Ittai the Gittite went along, accompanied by all his men and all the dependents who were with him.\n\t\t\t All the land was weeping loudly as all these people were leaving. As the king was crossing over the Kidron Valley, all the people were leaving on the road that leads to the desert. \n\t\t\t Zadok and all the Levites who were with him were carrying the ark of the covenant of God. When they positioned the ark of God, Abiathar offered sacrifices until all the people had finished leaving the city.\n\t\t\t Then the king said to Zadok, \"Take the ark of God back to the city. If I find favor in the LORD's sight he will bring me back and enable me to see both it and his dwelling place again.\n\t\t\t However, if he should say, 'I do not take pleasure in you,' then he will deal with me in a way that he considers appropriate.\"\n\t\t\t The king said to Zadok the priest, \"Are you a seer? Go back to the city in peace! Your son Ahimaaz and Abiathar's son Jonathan may go with you and Abiathar.\n\t\t\t Look, I will be waiting at the fords of the desert until word from you reaches me.\" \n\t\t\t So Zadok and Abiathar took the ark of God back to Jerusalem and remained there.\n\t\t\t As David was going up the Mount of Olives, he was weeping as he went; his head was covered and his feet were bare. All the people who were with him also had their heads covered and were weeping as they went up.\n\t\t\t Now David had been told, \"Ahithophel has sided with the conspirators who are with Absalom. So David prayed, \"Make the advice of Ahithophel foolish, O LORD!\"\n\t\t\t When David reached the summit, where he used to worship God, Hushai the Arkite met him with his clothes torn and dirt on his head.\n\t\t\t David said to him, \"If you leave with me you will be a burden to me. \n\t\t\t But you will be able to counter the advice of Ahithophel if you go back to the city and say to Absalom, 'I will be your servant, O king! Previously I was your father's servant, and now I will be your servant.'\n\t\t\t Zadok and Abiathar the priests will be there with you. Everything you hear in the king's palace you must tell Zadok and Abiathar the priests. \n\t\t\t Furthermore, their two sons are there with them, Zadok's son Ahimaaz and Abiathar's son Jonathan. You must send them to me with any information you hear.\"\n\t\t\t So David's friend Hushai arrived in the city, just as Absalom was entering Jerusalem.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t When David had gone a short way beyond the summit, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth was there to meet him. He had a couple of donkeys that were saddled, and on them were two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred raisin cakes, a hundred baskets of summer fruit, and a container of wine.\n\t\t\t The king asked Ziba, \"Why did you bring these things?\" Ziba replied, \"The donkeys are for the king's family to ride on, the loaves of bread and the summer fruit are for the attendants to eat, and the wine is for those who get exhausted in the desert.\"\n\t\t\t The king asked, \"Where is your master's grandson?\" Ziba replied to the king, \"He remains in Jerusalem, for he said, 'Today the house of Israel will give back to me my grandfather's kingdom.'\" \n\t\t\t The king said to Ziba, \"Everything that was Mephibosheth's now belongs to you.\" Ziba replied, \"I bow before you. May I find favor in your sight, my lord the king.\"\n\t\t\t Then King David reached Bahurim. There a man from Saul's extended family named Shimei son of Gera came out, yelling curses as he approached.\n\t\t\t He threw stones at David and all of King David's servants, as well as all the people and the soldiers who were on his right and on his left.\n\t\t\t As he yelled curses, Shimei said, \"Leave! Leave! You man of bloodshed, you wicked man!\n\t\t\t The LORD has punished you for all the spilled blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you rule. Now the LORD has given the kingdom into the hand of your son Absalom. Disaster has overtaken you, for you are a man of bloodshed!\"\n\t\t\t Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, \"Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and cut off his head!\"\n\t\t\t But the king said, \"What do we have in common, you sons of Zeruiah? If he curses because the LORD has said to him, 'Curse David!', who can say to him, 'Why have you done this?'\" \n\t\t\t Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, \"My own son, my very own flesh and blood, is trying to take my life. So also now this Benjaminite! Leave him alone so that he can curse, for the LORD has spoken to him. \n\t\t\t Perhaps the LORD will notice my affliction and this day grant me good in place of his curse.\"\n\t\t\t So David and his men went on their way. But Shimei kept going along the side of the hill opposite him, yelling curses as he threw stones and dirt at them.\n\t\t\t The king and all the people who were with him arrived exhausted at their destination, where David refreshed himself.\n\t\t\t Now when Absalom and all the men of Israel arrived in Jerusalem, Ahithophel was with him. \n\t\t\t When David's friend Hushai the Arkite came to Absalom, Hushai said to him, \"Long live the king! Long live the king!\"\n\t\t\t Absalom said to Hushai, \"Do you call this loyalty to your friend? Why didn't you go with your friend?\"\n\t\t\t Hushai replied to Absalom, \"No, I will be loyal to the one whom the LORD, these people, and all the men of Israel have chosen.\n\t\t\t Moreover, whom should I serve? Should it not be his son? Just as I served your father, so I will serve you.\"\n\t\t\t Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, \"Give us your advice. What should we do?\"\n\t\t\t Ahithophel replied to Absalom, \"Have sex with your father's concubines whom he left to care for the palace. All Israel will hear that you have made yourself repulsive to your father. Then your followers will be motivated to support you.\"\n\t\t\t So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and Absalom had sex with his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel.\n\t\t\t In those days Ahithophel's advice was considered as valuable as a prophetic revelation. Both David and Absalom highly regarded the advice of Ahithophel.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Ahithophel said to Absalom, \"Let me pick out twelve thousand men. Then I will go and pursue David this very night.\n\t\t\t When I catch up with him he will be exhausted and worn out. I will rout him, and the entire army that is with him will flee. I will kill only the king\n\t\t\t and will bring the entire army back to you. In exchange for the life of the man you are seeking, you will get back everyone. The entire army will return unharmed.\"\n\t\t\t This seemed like a good idea to Absalom and to all the leaders of Israel. \n\t\t\t But Absalom said, \"Call for Hushai the Arkite, and let's hear what he has to say.\"\n\t\t\t So Hushai came to Absalom. Absalom said to him, \"Here is what Ahithophel has advised. Should we follow his advice? If not, what would you recommend?\"\n\t\t\t Hushai replied to Absalom, \"Ahithophel's advice is not sound this time.\"\n\t\t\t Hushai went on to say, \"You know your father and his men, they are soldiers and are as dangerous as a bear out in the wild that has been robbed of her cubs. Your father is an experienced soldier; he will not stay overnight with the army.\n\t\t\t At this very moment he is hiding out in one of the caves or in some other similar place. If it should turn out that he attacks our troops first, whoever hears about it will say, 'Absalom's army has been slaughtered!' \n\t\t\t If that happens even the bravest soldier, one who is lion-hearted, will virtually melt away. For all Israel knows that your father is a warrior and that those who are with him are brave.\n\t\t\t My advice therefore is this: Let all Israel from Dan to Beer Sheba, in number like the sand by the sea!, be mustered to you, and you lead them personally into battle.\n\t\t\t We will come against him wherever he happens to be found. We will descend on him like the dew falls on the ground. Neither he nor any of the men who are with him will be spared alive, not one of them!\n\t\t\t If he regroups in a city, all Israel will take up ropes to that city and drag it down to the valley, so that not a single pebble will be left there!\"\n\t\t\t Then Absalom and all the men of Israel said, \"The advice of Hushai the Arkite sounds better than the advice of Ahithophel.\" Now the LORD had decided to frustrate the sound advice of Ahithophel, so that the LORD could bring disaster on Absalom.\n\t\t\t Then Hushai reported to Zadok and Abiathar the priests, \"Here is what Ahithophel has advised Absalom and the leaders of Israel to do, and here is what I have advised. \n\t\t\t Now send word quickly to David and warn him, \"Don't spend the night at the fords of the desert tonight. Instead, be sure you cross over, or else the king and everyone who is with him may be overwhelmed.\"\n\t\t\t Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying in En Rogel. A female servant would go and inform them, and they would then go and inform King David. It was not advisable for them to be seen going into the city.\n\t\t\t But a young man saw them on one occasion and informed Absalom. So the two of them quickly departed and went to the house of a man in Bahurim. There was a well in his courtyard, and they got down in it.\n\t\t\t His wife then took the covering and spread it over the top of the well and scattered some grain over it. No one was aware of what she had done.\n\t\t\t When the servants of Absalom approached the woman at her home, they asked, \"Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?\" The woman replied to them, \"They crossed over the stream.\" Absalom's men searched but did not find them, so they returned to Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t After the men had left, Ahimaaz and Jonathan climbed out of the well. Then they left and informed King David. They advised David, \"Get up and cross the stream quickly, for Ahithophel has devised a plan to catch you.\"\n\t\t\t So David and all the people who were with him got up and crossed the Jordan River. By dawn there was not one person left who had not crossed the Jordan.\n\t\t\t When Ahithophel realized that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and returned to his house in his hometown. After setting his household in order, he hanged himself. So he died and was buried in the grave of his father.\n\t\t\t Meanwhile David had gone to Mahanaim, while Absalom and all the men of Israel had crossed the Jordan River.\n\t\t\t Absalom had made Amasa general in command of the army in place of Joab. (Now Amasa was the son of an Israelite man named Jether, who had married Abigail the daughter of Nahash and sister of Zeruiah, Joab's mother.) \n\t\t\t The army of Israel and Absalom camped in the land of Gilead.\n\t\t\t When David came to Mahanaim, Shobi the son of Nahash from Rabbah of the Ammonites, Makir the son of Ammiel from Lo Debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim\n\t\t\t brought bedding, basins, and pottery utensils. They also brought food for David and all who were with him, including wheat, barley, flour, roasted grain, beans, lentils,\n\t\t\t honey, curds, flocks, and cheese. For they said, \"The people are no doubt hungry, tired, and thirsty there in the desert.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t David assembled the army that was with him. He appointed leaders of thousands and leaders of hundreds.\n\t\t\t David then sent out the army, a third under the leadership of Joab, a third under the leadership of Joab's brother Abishai son of Zeruiah, and a third under the leadership of Ittai the Gittite. The king said to the troops, \"I too will indeed march out with you.\"\n\t\t\t But the soldiers replied, \"You should not do this! For if we should have to make a rapid retreat, they won't be too concerned about us. Even if half of us should die, they won't be too concerned about us. But you are like ten thousand of us! So it is better if you remain in the city for support.\" \n\t\t\t Then the king said to them, \"I will do whatever seems best to you.\" So the king stayed beside the city gate, while all the army marched out by hundreds and by thousands.\n\t\t\t The king gave this order to Joab, Abishai, and Ittai: \"For my sake deal gently with the young man Absalom.\" Now the entire army was listening when the king gave all the leaders this order concerning Absalom.\n\t\t\t Then the army marched out to the field to fight against Israel. The battle took place in the forest of Ephraim.\n\t\t\t The army of Israel was defeated there by David's men. The slaughter there was great that day, 20,000 soldiers were killed.\n\t\t\t The battle there was spread out over the whole area, and the forest consumed more soldiers than the sword devoured that day.\n\t\t\t Then Absalom happened to come across David's men. Now as Absalom was riding on his mule, it went under the branches of a large oak tree. His head got caught in the oak and he was suspended in midair, while the mule he had been riding kept going.\n\t\t\t When one of the men saw this, he reported it to Joab saying, \"I saw Absalom hanging in an oak tree. \n\t\t\t Joab replied to the man who was telling him this, \"What! You saw this? Why didn't you strike him down right on the spot? I would have given you ten pieces of silver and a commemorative belt!\"\n\t\t\t The man replied to Joab, \"Even if I were receiving a thousand pieces of silver, I would not strike the king's son! In our very presence the king gave this order to you and Abishai and Ittai, 'Protect the young man Absalom for my sake.'\n\t\t\t If I had acted at risk of my own life, and nothing is hidden from the king!, you would have abandoned me.\"\n\t\t\t Joab replied, \"I will not wait around like this for you!\" He took three spears in his hand and thrust them into the middle of Absalom while he was still alive in the middle of the oak tree.\n\t\t\t Then ten soldiers who were Joab's armor bearers struck Absalom and finished him off.\n\t\t\t Then Joab blew the trumpet and the army turned back from chasing Israel, for Joab had called for the army to halt. \n\t\t\t They took Absalom, threw him into a large pit in the forest, and stacked a huge pile of stones over him. In the meantime all the Israelite soldiers fled to their homes.\n\t\t\t Prior to this Absalom had set up a monument and dedicated it to himself in the King's Valley, reasoning \"I have no son who will carry on my name.\" He named the monument after himself, and to this day it is known as Absalom's Memorial.\n\t\t\t Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, \"Let me run and give the king the good news that the LORD has vindicated him before his enemies.\"\n\t\t\t But Joab said to him, \"You will not be a bearer of good news today. You will bear good news some other day, but not today, for the king's son is dead.\"\n\t\t\t Then Joab said to the Cushite, \"Go and tell the king what you have seen.\" After bowing to Joab, the Cushite ran off.\n\t\t\t Ahimaaz the son of Zadok again spoke to Joab, \"Whatever happens, let me go after the Cushite.\" But Joab said, \"Why is it that you want to go, my son? You have no good news that will bring you a reward.\"\n\t\t\t But he said, \"Whatever happens, I want to go!\" So Joab said to him, \"Then go!\" So Ahimaaz ran by the way of the Jordan plain, and he passed the Cushite.\n\t\t\t Now David was sitting between the inner and outer gates, and the watchman went up to the roof over the gate at the wall. When he looked, he saw a man running by himself. \n\t\t\t So the watchman called out and informed the king. The king said, \"If he is by himself, he brings good news.\" The runner came ever closer.\n\t\t\t Then the watchman saw another man running. The watchman called out to the gatekeeper, \"There is another man running by himself.\" The king said, \"This one also is bringing good news.\"\n\t\t\t The watchman said, \"It appears to me that the first runner is Ahimaaz son of Zadok.\" The king said, \"He is a good man, and he comes with good news.\"\n\t\t\t Then Ahimaaz called out and said to the king, \"Greetings!\" He bowed down before the king with his face toward the ground and said, \"May the LORD your God be praised because he has defeated the men who opposed my lord the king!\"\n\t\t\t The king replied, \"How is the young man Absalom?\" Ahimaaz replied, \"I saw a great deal of confusion when Joab was sending the king's servant and me, your servant, but I don't know what it was all about.\"\n\t\t\t The king said, \"Turn aside and take your place here.\" So he turned aside and waited.\n\t\t\t Then the Cushite arrived and said, \"May my lord the king now receive the good news! The LORD has vindicated you today and delivered you from the hand of all who have rebelled against you!\"\n\t\t\t The king asked the Cushite, \"How is the young man Absalom?\" The Cushite replied, \"May the enemies of my lord the king and all who have plotted against you be like that young man!\"\n\t\t\t The king then became very upset. He went up to the upper room over the gate and wept. As he went he said, \"My son, Absalom! My son, my son, Absalom! If only I could have died in your place! Absalom, my son, my son!\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Joab was told, \"The king is weeping and mourning over Absalom.\"\n\t\t\t So the victory of that day was turned to mourning as far as all the people were concerned. For the people heard on that day, \"The king is grieved over his son.\"\n\t\t\t That day the people stole away to go to the city the way people who are embarrassed steal away in fleeing from battle.\n\t\t\t The king covered his face and cried out loudly, \"My son, Absalom! Absalom, my son, my son!\"\n\t\t\t So Joab visited the king at his home. He said, \"Today you have embarrassed all your servants who have saved your life this day, as well as the lives of your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your concubines. \n\t\t\t You seem to love your enemies and hate your friends! For you have as much as declared today that leaders and servants don't matter to you. I realize now that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead today, it would be all right with you.\n\t\t\t So get up now and go out and give some encouragement to your servants. For I swear by the LORD that if you don't go out there, not a single man will stay here with you tonight! This disaster will be worse for you than any disaster that has overtaken you from your youth right to the present time!\"\n\t\t\t So the king got up and sat at the city gate. When all the people were informed that the king was sitting at the city gate, they all came before him. But the Israelite soldiers had all fled to their own homes.\n\t\t\t All the people throughout all the tribes of Israel were arguing among themselves saying, \"The king delivered us from the hand of our enemies. He rescued us from the hand of the Philistines, but now he has fled from the land because of Absalom.\n\t\t\t But Absalom, whom we anointed as our king, has died in battle. So now why do you hesitate to bring the king back?\"\n\t\t\t Then King David sent a message to Zadok and Abiathar the priests saying, \"Tell the elders of Judah, 'Why should you delay any further in bringing the king back to his palace, when everything Israel is saying has come to the king's attention.\n\t\t\t You are my brothers, my very own flesh and blood! Why should you delay any further in bringing the king back?'\n\t\t\t Say to Amasa, 'Are you not my flesh and blood? God will punish me severely, if from this time on you are not the commander of my army in place of Joab!'\"\n\t\t\t He won over the hearts of all the men of Judah as though they were one man. Then they sent word to the king saying, \"Return, you and all your servants as well.\" \n\t\t\t So the king returned and came to the Jordan River. Now the people of Judah had come to Gilgal to meet the king and to help him cross the Jordan.\n\t\t\t Shimei son of Gera the Benjaminite from Bahurim came down quickly with the men of Judah to meet King David.\n\t\t\t There were a thousand men from Benjamin with him, along with Ziba the servant of Saul's household, and with him his fifteen sons and twenty servants. They hurriedly crossed the Jordan within sight of the king. \n\t\t\t They crossed at the ford in order to help the king's household cross and to do whatever he thought appropriate. Now after he had crossed the Jordan, Shimei son of Gera threw himself down before the king.\n\t\t\t He said to the king, \"Don't think badly of me, my lord, and don't recall the sin of your servant on the day when you, my lord the king, left Jerusalem! Please don't call it to mind! \n\t\t\t For I, your servant, know that I sinned, and I have come today as the first of all the house of Joseph to come down to meet my lord the king.\"\n\t\t\t Abishai son of Zeruiah replied, \"For this should not Shimei be put to death? After all, he cursed the LORD's anointed!\"\n\t\t\t But David said, \"What do we have in common, you sons of Zeruiah? You are like my enemy today! Should anyone be put to death in Israel today? Don't you realize that today I am king over Israel?\" \n\t\t\t The king said to Shimei, \"You won't die.\" The king vowed an oath concerning this.\n\t\t\t Now Mephibosheth, Saul's grandson, came down to meet the king. From the day the king had left until the day he safely returned, Mephibosheth had not cared for his feet nor trimmed his mustache nor washed his clothes.\n\t\t\t When he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, the king asked him, \"Why didn't you go with me, Mephibosheth?\"\n\t\t\t He replied, \"My lord the king, my servant deceived me! I said, 'Let me get my donkey saddled so that I can ride on it and go with the king,' for I am lame. \n\t\t\t But my servant has slandered me to my lord the king. But my lord the king is like an angel of God. Do whatever seems appropriate to you.\n\t\t\t After all, there was no one in the entire house of my grandfather who did not deserve death from my lord the king. But instead you allowed me to eat at your own table! What further claim do I have to ask the king for anything?\"\n\t\t\t Then the king replied to him, \"Why should you continue speaking like this? You and Ziba will inherit the field together.\"\n\t\t\t Mephibosheth said to the king, \"Let him have the whole thing! My lord the king has returned safely to his house!\"\n\t\t\t Now when Barzillai the Gileadite had come down from Rogelim, he crossed the Jordan with the king so he could send him on his way from there.\n\t\t\t But Barzillai was very old, eighty years old, in fact, and he had taken care of the king when he stayed in Mahanaim, for he was a very rich man.\n\t\t\t So the king said to Barzillai, \"Cross over with me, and I will take care of you while you are with me in Jerusalem.\"\n\t\t\t Barzillai replied to the king, \"How many days do I have left to my life, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem?\n\t\t\t I am presently eighty years old. Am I able to discern good and bad? Can I taste what I eat and drink? Am I still able to hear the voices of male and female singers? Why should I continue to be a burden to my lord the king? \n\t\t\t I will cross the Jordan with the king and go a short distance. Why should the king reward me in this way? \n\t\t\t Let me return so that I may die in my own city near the grave of my father and my mother. But look, here is your servant Kimham. Let him cross over with my lord the king. Do for him whatever seems appropriate to you.\"\n\t\t\t The king replied, \"Kimham will cross over with me, and I will do for him whatever I deem appropriate. And whatever you choose, I will do for you.\"\n\t\t\t So all the people crossed the Jordan, as did the king. After the king had kissed him and blessed him, Barzillai returned to his home.\n\t\t\t When the king crossed over to Gilgal, Kimham crossed over with him. Now all the soldiers of Judah along with half of the soldiers of Israel had helped the king cross over.\n\t\t\t Then all the men of Israel began coming to the king. They asked the king, \"Why did our brothers, the men of Judah, sneak the king away and help the king and his household cross the Jordan, and not only him but all of David's men as well?\"\n\t\t\t All the men of Judah replied to the men of Israel, \"Because the king is our close relative! Why are you so upset about this? Have we eaten at the king's expense? Or have we misappropriated anything for our own use?\" \n\t\t\t The men of Israel replied to the men of Judah, \"We have ten shares in the king, and we have a greater claim on David than you do! Why do you want to curse us? Weren't we the first to suggest bringing back our king?\" But the comments of the men of Judah were more severe than those of the men of Israel.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now a wicked man named Sheba son of Bicri, a Benjaminite, happened to be there. He blew the trumpet and said, \"We have no share in David; we have no inheritance in this son of Jesse! Every man go home, O Israel!\"\n\t\t\t So all the men of Israel deserted David and followed Sheba son of Bicri. But the men of Judah stuck by their king all the way from the Jordan River to Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t Then David went to his palace in Jerusalem. The king took the ten concubines he had left to care for the palace and placed them under confinement. Though he provided for their needs, he did not have sexual relations with them. They remained in confinement until the day they died, living out the rest of their lives as widows.\n\t\t\t Then the king said to Amasa, \"Call the men of Judah together for me in three days, and you be present here with them too.\" \n\t\t\t So Amasa went out to call Judah together. But in doing so he took longer than the time that the king had allotted him.\n\t\t\t Then David said to Abishai, \"Now Sheba son of Bicri will cause greater disaster for us than Absalom did! Take your lord's servants and pursue him. Otherwise he will secure fortified cities for himself and get away from us.\"\n\t\t\t So Joab's men, accompanied by the Kerethites, the Pelethites, and all the warriors, left Jerusalem to pursue Sheba son of Bicri.\n\t\t\t When they were near the big rock that is in Gibeon, Amasa came to them. Now Joab was dressed in military attire and had a dagger in its sheath belted to his waist. When he advanced, it fell out.\n\t\t\t Joab said to Amasa, \"How are you, my brother?\" With his right hand Joab took hold of Amasa's beard as if to greet him with a kiss.\n\t\t\t Amasa did not protect himself from the knife in Joab's other hand, and Joab stabbed him in the abdomen, causing Amasa's intestines to spill out on the ground. There was no need to stab him again; the first blow was fatal. Then Joab and his brother Abishai pursued Sheba son of Bicri.\n\t\t\t One of Joab's soldiers who stood over Amasa said, \"Whoever is for Joab and whoever is for David, follow Joab!\" \n\t\t\t Amasa was squirming in his own blood in the middle of the path, and this man had noticed that all the soldiers stopped. Having noticed that everyone who came across Amasa stopped, the man pulled him away from the path and into the field and threw a garment over him. \n\t\t\t Once he had removed Amasa from the path, everyone followed Joab to pursue Sheba son of Bicri.\n\t\t\t Sheba traveled through all the tribes of Israel to Abel of Beth Maacah and all the Berite region. When they had assembled, they too joined him. \n\t\t\t So Joab's men came and laid siege against him in Abel of Beth Maacah. They prepared a siege ramp outside the city which stood against its outer rampart. As all of Joab's soldiers were trying to break through the wall so that it would collapse, \n\t\t\t a wise woman called out from the city, \"Listen up! Listen up! Tell Joab, 'Come near so that I may speak to you.'\"\n\t\t\t When he approached her, the woman asked, \"Are you Joab?\" He replied, \"I am.\" She said to him, \"Listen to the words of your servant.\" He said, \"Go ahead. I'm listening.\"\n\t\t\t She said, \"In the past they would always say, 'Let them inquire in Abel,' and that is how they settled things.\n\t\t\t I represent the peaceful and the faithful in Israel. You are attempting to destroy an important city in Israel. Why should you swallow up the LORD's inheritance?\"\n\t\t\t Joab answered, \"Get serious! I don't want to swallow up or destroy anything! \n\t\t\t That's not the way things are. There is a man from the hill country of Ephraim named Sheba son of Bicri. He has rebelled against King David. Give me just this one man, and I will leave the city.\" The woman said to Joab, \"This very minute his head will be thrown over the wall to you!\"\n\t\t\t Then the woman went to all the people with her wise advice and they cut off Sheba's head and threw it out to Joab. Joab blew the trumpet, and his men dispersed from the city, each going to his own home. Joab returned to the king in Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t Now Joab was the general in command of all the army of Israel. Benaiah the son of Jehoida was over the Kerethites and the Perethites.\n\t\t\t Adoniram was supervisor of the work crews. Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the secretary. \n\t\t\t Sheva was the scribe, and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests.\n\t\t\t Ira the Jairite was David's personal priest.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t During David's reign there was a famine for three consecutive years. So David inquired of the LORD. The LORD said, \"It is because of Saul and his bloodstained family, because he murdered the Gibeonites.\"\n\t\t\t So the king summoned the Gibeonites and spoke with them. (Now the Gibeonites were not descendants of Israel; they were a remnant of the Amorites. The Israelites had made a promise to them, but Saul tried to kill them because of his zeal for the people of Israel and Judah.) \n\t\t\t David said to the Gibeonites, \"What can I do for you, and how can I make amends so that you will bless the LORD's inheritance?\"\n\t\t\t The Gibeonites said to him, \"We have no claim to silver or gold from Saul or from his family, nor would we be justified in putting to death anyone in Israel.\" David asked, \"What then are you asking me to do for you?\" \n\t\t\t They replied to the king, \"As for this man who exterminated us and who schemed against us so that we were destroyed and left without status throughout all the borders of Israel,\n\t\t\t let seven of his male descendants be turned over to us, and we will execute them before the LORD in Gibeah of Saul, who was the LORD's chosen one.\" The king replied, \"I will turn them over.\"\n\t\t\t The king had mercy on Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, in light of the LORD's oath that had been taken between David and Jonathan son of Saul.\n\t\t\t So the king took Armoni and Mephibosheth, the two sons of Aiah's daughter Rizpah whom she had born to Saul, and the five sons of Saul's daughter Merab whom she had born to Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite. \n\t\t\t He turned them over to the Gibeonites, and they executed them on a hill before the LORD. The seven of them died together; they were put to death during harvest time, during the first days of the beginning of the barley harvest.\n\t\t\t Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and spread it out for herself on a rock. From the beginning of the harvest until the rain fell on them, she did not allow the birds of the air to feed on them by day, nor the wild animals by night. \n\t\t\t When David was told what Rizpah daughter of Aiah, Saul's concubine, had done,\n\t\t\t he went and took the bones of Saul and of his son Jonathan from the leaders of Jabesh Gilead. (They had secretly taken them from the plaza at Beth Shan. It was there that Philistines publicly exposed their corpses after they had killed Saul at Gilboa.) \n\t\t\t David brought the bones of Saul and of Jonathan his son from there; they also gathered up the bones of those who had been executed.\n\t\t\t They buried the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan in the land of Benjamin at Zela in the grave of his father Kish. After they had done everything that the king had commanded, God responded to their prayers for the land.\n\t\t\t Another battle was fought between the Philistines and Israel. So David went down with his soldiers and fought the Philistines. David became exhausted. \n\t\t\t Now Ishbi-Benob, one of the descendants of Rapha, had a spear that weighed three hundred bronze shekels, and he was armed with a new weapon. He had said that he would kill David. \n\t\t\t But Abishai the son of Zeruiah came to David's aid, striking the Philistine down and killing him. Then David's men took an oath saying, \"You will not go out to battle with us again! You must not extinguish the lamp of Israel!\"\n\t\t\t Later there was another battle with the Philistines, this time in Gob. On that occasion Sibbekai the Hushathite killed Saph, who was one of the descendants of Rapha.\n\t\t\t Yet another battle occurred with the Philistines in Gob. On that occasion Elhanan the son of Jair the Bethlehemite killed the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver's beam. \n\t\t\t Yet another battle occurred in Gath. On that occasion there was a large man who had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot, twenty-four in all! He too was a descendant of Rapha. \n\t\t\t When he taunted Israel, Jonathan, the son of David's brother Shimeah, killed him.\n\t\t\t These four were the descendants of Rapha who lived in Gath; they were killed by David and his soldiers.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t David sang to the LORD the words of this song when the LORD rescued him from the power of all his enemies, including Saul.\n\t\t\t He said: \"The LORD is my high ridge, my stronghold, my deliverer.\n\t\t\t My God is my rocky summit where I take shelter, my shield, the horn that saves me, my stronghold, my refuge, my savior. You save me from violence!\n\t\t\t I called to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I was delivered from my enemies.\n\t\t\t The waves of death engulfed me; the currents of chaos overwhelmed me.\n\t\t\t The ropes of Sheol tightened around me; the snares of death trapped me.\n\t\t\t In my distress I called to the LORD; I called to my God. From his heavenly temple he heard my voice; he listened to my cry for help.\n\t\t\t The earth heaved and shook; the foundations of the sky trembled. They heaved because he was angry.\n\t\t\t Smoke ascended from his nose; fire devoured as it came from his mouth; he hurled down fiery coals.\n\t\t\t He made the sky sink as he descended; a thick cloud was under his feet.\n\t\t\t He mounted a winged angel and flew; he glided on the wings of the wind.\n\t\t\t He shrouded himself in darkness, in thick rain clouds.\n\t\t\t From the brightness in front of him came coals of fire.\n\t\t\t The LORD thundered from the sky; the sovereign One shouted loudly.\n\t\t\t He shot arrows and scattered them, lightning and routed them.\n\t\t\t The depths of the sea were exposed; the inner regions of the world were uncovered by the LORD's battle cry, by the powerful breath from his nose.\n\t\t\t He reached down from above and grabbed me; he pulled me from the surging water.\n\t\t\t He rescued me from my strong enemy, from those who hate me, for they were too strong for me.\n\t\t\t They confronted me in my day of calamity, but the LORD helped me.\n\t\t\t He brought me out into a wide open place; he delivered me because he was pleased with me.\n\t\t\t The LORD repaid me for my godly deeds; he rewarded my blameless behavior.\n\t\t\t For I have obeyed the LORD's commands; I have not rebelled against my God.\n\t\t\t For I am aware of all his regulations, and I do not reject his rules.\n\t\t\t I was blameless before him; I kept myself from sinning.\n\t\t\t The LORD rewarded me for my godly deeds; he took notice of my blameless behavior.\n\t\t\t You prove to be loyal to one who is faithful; you prove to be trustworthy to one who is innocent.\n\t\t\t You prove to be reliable to one who is blameless, but you prove to be deceptive to one who is perverse.\n\t\t\t You deliver oppressed people, but you watch the proud and bring them down.\n\t\t\t Indeed, you are my lamp, LORD. The LORD illumines the darkness around me.\n\t\t\t Indeed, with your help I can charge against an army; by my God's power I can jump over a wall.\n\t\t\t The one true God acts in a faithful manner; the LORD's promise is reliable; he is a shield to all who take shelter in him.\n\t\t\t Indeed, who is God besides the LORD? Who is a protector besides our God?\n\t\t\t The one true God is my mighty refuge; he removes the obstacles in my way.\n\t\t\t He gives me the agility of a deer; he enables me to negotiate the rugged terrain.\n\t\t\t He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend even the strongest bow.\n\t\t\t You give me your protective shield; your willingness to help enables me to prevail.\n\t\t\t You widen my path; my feet do not slip.\n\t\t\t I chase my enemies and destroy them; I do not turn back until I wipe them out.\n\t\t\t I wipe them out and beat them to death; they cannot get up; they fall at my feet.\n\t\t\t You give me strength for battle; you make my foes kneel before me.\n\t\t\t You make my enemies retreat; I destroy those who hate me.\n\t\t\t They cry out, but there is no one to help them; they cry out to the LORD, but he does not answer them.\n\t\t\t I grind them as fine as the dust of the ground; I crush them and stomp on them like clay in the streets.\n\t\t\t You rescue me from a hostile army; you preserve me as a leader of nations; people over whom I had no authority are now my subjects.\n\t\t\t Foreigners are powerless before me; when they hear of my exploits, they submit to me.\n\t\t\t Foreigners lose their courage; they shake with fear as they leave their strongholds.\n\t\t\t The LORD is alive! My protector is praiseworthy! The God who delivers me is exalted as king!\n\t\t\t The one true God completely vindicates me; he makes nations submit to me.\n\t\t\t He delivers me from my enemies; you snatch me away from those who attack me; you rescue me from violent men.\n\t\t\t So I will give you thanks, O LORD, before the nations! I will sing praises to you.\n\t\t\t He gives his chosen king magnificent victories; he is faithful to his chosen ruler, to David and to his descendants forever!\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t These are the final words of David: \"The oracle of David son of Jesse, the oracle of the man raised up as the ruler chosen by the God of Jacob, Israel's beloved singer of songs:\n\t\t\t The LORD's spirit spoke through me; his word was on my tongue.\n\t\t\t The God of Israel spoke, the protector of Israel spoke to me. The one who rules fairly among men, the one who rules in the fear of God,\n\t\t\t is like the light of morning when the sun comes up, a morning in which there are no clouds. He is like the brightness after rain that produces grass from the earth.\n\t\t\t My dynasty is approved by God, for he has made a perpetual covenant with me, arranged in all its particulars and secured. He always delivers me, and brings all I desire to fruition.\n\t\t\t But evil people are like thorns, all of them are tossed away, for they cannot be held in the hand.\n\t\t\t The one who touches them must use an iron instrument or the wooden shaft of a spear. They are completely burned up right where they lie!\"\n\t\t\t These are the names of David's warriors: Josheb-Basshebeth, a Tahkemonite, was head of the officers. He killed eight hundred men with his spear in one battle.\n\t\t\t Next in command was Eleazar son of Dodo, the son of Ahohi. He was one of the three warriors who were with David when they defied the Philistines who were assembled there for battle. When the men of Israel retreated,\n\t\t\t he stood his ground and fought the Philistines until his hand grew so tired that it seemed stuck to his sword. The LORD gave a great victory on that day. When the army returned to him, the only thing left to do was to plunder the corpses.\n\t\t\t Next in command was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. When the Philistines assembled at Lehi, where there happened to be an area of a field that was full of lentils, the army retreated before the Philistines. \n\t\t\t But he made a stand in the middle of that area. He defended it and defeated the Philistines; the LORD gave them a great victory.\n\t\t\t At the time of the harvest three of the thirty leaders went down to David at the cave of Adullam. A band of Philistines was camped in the valley of Rephaim. \n\t\t\t David was in the stronghold at the time, while a Philistine garrison was in Bethlehem.\n\t\t\t David was thirsty and said, \"How I wish someone would give me some water to drink from the cistern in Bethlehem near the gate!\"\n\t\t\t So the three elite warriors broke through the Philistine forces and drew some water from the cistern in Bethlehem near the gate. They carried it back to David, but he refused to drink it. He poured it out as a drink offering to the LORD\n\t\t\t and said, \"O LORD, I will not do this! It is equivalent to the blood of the men who risked their lives by going.\" So he refused to drink it. Such were the exploits of the three elite warriors.\n\t\t\t Abishai son of Zeruiah, the brother of Joab, was head of the three. He killed three hundred men with his spear and gained fame among the three.\n\t\t\t From the three he was given honor and he became their officer, even though he was not one of the three.\n\t\t\t Benaiah son of Jehoida was a brave warrior from Kabzeel who performed great exploits. He struck down the two sons of Ariel of Moab. He also went down and killed a lion in a cistern on a snowy day. \n\t\t\t He also killed an impressive-looking Egyptian. The Egyptian wielded a spear, while Benaiah attacked him with a club. He grabbed the spear out of the Egyptian's hand and killed him with his own spear. \n\t\t\t Such were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoida, who gained fame among the three elite warriors.\n\t\t\t He received honor from the thirty warriors, though he was not one of the three elite warriors. David put him in charge of his bodyguard.\n\t\t\t Included with the thirty were the following: Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem,\n\t\t\t Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,\n\t\t\t Helez the Paltite, Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa,\n\t\t\t Abiezer the Anathothite, Mebunnai the Hushathite,\n\t\t\t Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite,\n\t\t\t Heled son of Baanah the Netophathite, Ittai son of Ribai from Gibeah in Benjamin, \n\t\t\t Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai from the wadis of Gaash,\n\t\t\t Abi-Albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite,\n\t\t\t Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan\n\t\t\t son of Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam son of Sharar the Hararite, \n\t\t\t Eliphelet son of Ahasbai the Maacathite, Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,\n\t\t\t Hezrai the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite, \n\t\t\t Igal son of Nathan from Zobah, Bani the Gadite,\n\t\t\t Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite (the armor-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah), \n\t\t\t Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite\n\t\t\t and Uriah the Hittite. Altogether there were thirty-seven.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The LORD's anger again raged against Israel, and he incited David against them, saying, \"Go count Israel and Judah.\"\n\t\t\t The king told Joab, the general in command of his army, \"Go through all the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beer Sheba and muster the army, so I may know the size of the army.\"\n\t\t\t Joab replied to the king, \"May the LORD your God make the army a hundred times larger right before the eyes of my lord the king! But why does my master the king want to do this?\"\n\t\t\t But the king's edict stood, despite the objections of Joab and the leaders of the army. So Joab and the leaders of the army left the king's presence in order to muster the Israelite army.\n\t\t\t They crossed the Jordan and camped at Aroer, on the south side of the city, at the wadi of Gad, near Jazer. \n\t\t\t Then they went on to Gilead and to the region of Tahtim Hodshi, coming to Dan Jaan and on around to Sidon.\n\t\t\t Then they went to the fortress of Tyre and all the cities of the Hivites and the Canaanites. Then they went on to the Negev of Judah, to Beer Sheba. \n\t\t\t They went through all the land and after nine months and twenty days came back to Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t Joab reported the number of warriors to the king. In Israel there were 800,000 sword-wielding warriors, and in Judah there were 500,000 soldiers.\n\t\t\t David felt guilty after he had numbered the army. David said to the LORD, \"I have sinned greatly by doing this! Now, O LORD, please remove the guilt of your servant, for I have acted very foolishly.\"\n\t\t\t When David got up the next morning, the LORD had already spoken to Gad the prophet, David's seer: \n\t\t\t \"Go, tell David, 'This is what the LORD says: I am offering you three forms of judgment. Pick one of them and I will carry it out against you.'\"\n\t\t\t Gad went to David and told him, \"Shall seven years of famine come upon your land? Or shall you flee for three months from your enemy with him in hot pursuit? Or shall there be three days of plague in your land? Now decide what I should tell the one who sent me.\" \n\t\t\t David said to Gad, \"I am very upset! I prefer that we be attacked by the LORD, for his mercy is great; I do not want to be attacked by men!\"\n\t\t\t So the LORD sent a plague through Israel from the morning until the completion of the appointed time. Seventy thousand men died from Dan to Beer Sheba.\n\t\t\t When the angel extended his hand to destroy Jerusalem, the LORD relented from his judgment. He told the angel who was killing the people, \"That's enough! Stop now!\" (Now the LORD's angel was near the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.)\n\t\t\t When he saw the angel who was destroying the people, David said to the LORD, \"Look, it is I who have sinned and done this evil thing! As for these sheep, what have they done? Attack me and my family.\"\n\t\t\t So Gad went to David that day and told him, \"Go up and build an altar for the LORD on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.\"\n\t\t\t So David went up as Gad instructed him to do, according to the LORD's instructions.\n\t\t\t When Araunah looked out and saw the king and his servants approaching him, he went out and bowed to the king with his face to the ground. \n\t\t\t Araunah said, \"Why has my lord the king come to his servant?\" David replied, \"To buy from you the threshing floor so I can build an altar for the LORD, so that the plague may be removed from the people.\"\n\t\t\t Araunah told David, \"My lord the king may take whatever he wishes and offer it. Look! Here are oxen for burnt offerings, and threshing sledges and harnesses for wood. \n\t\t\t I, the servant of my lord the king, give it all to the king!\" Araunah also told the king, \"May the LORD your God show you favor!\" \n\t\t\t But the king said to Araunah, \"No, I insist on buying it from you! I will not offer to the LORD my God burnt sacrifices that cost me nothing.\" So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty pieces of silver.\n\t\t\t Then David built an altar for the LORD there and offered burnt sacrifices and peace offerings. And the LORD accepted prayers for the land, and the plague was removed from Israel.\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t King David was very old; even when they covered him with blankets, he could not get warm. \n\t\t\t His servants advised him, \"A young virgin must be found for our master, the king, to take care of the king's needs and serve as his nurse. She can also sleep with you and keep our master, the king, warm.\"\n\t\t\t So they looked through all Israel for a beautiful young woman and found Abishag, a Shunammite, and brought her to the king. \n\t\t\t The young woman was very beautiful; she became the king's nurse and served him, but the king did not have sexual relations with her.\n\t\t\t Now Adonijah, son of David and Haggith, was promoting himself, boasting, \"I will be king!\" He managed to acquire chariots and horsemen, as well as fifty men to serve as his royal guard.\n\t\t\t (Now his father had never corrected him by saying, \"Why do you do such things?\" He was also very handsome and had been born right after Absalom.)\n\t\t\t He collaborated with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, and they supported him.\n\t\t\t But Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and David's elite warriors did not ally themselves with Adonijah.\n\t\t\t Adonijah sacrificed sheep, cattle, and fattened steers at the Stone of Zoheleth near En Rogel. He invited all his brothers, the king's sons, as well as all the men of Judah, the king's servants.\n\t\t\t But he did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, the elite warriors, or his brother Solomon.\n\t\t\t Nathan said to Bathsheba, Solomon's mother, \"Has it been reported to you that Haggith's son Adonijah has become king behind our master David's back?\n\t\t\t Now let me give you some advice as to how you can save your life and your son Solomon's life. \n\t\t\t Visit King David and say to him, 'My master, O king, did you not solemnly promise your servant, \"Surely your son Solomon will be king after me; he will sit on my throne\"? So why has Adonijah become king?'\n\t\t\t While you are still there speaking to the king, I will arrive and verify your report.\"\n\t\t\t So Bathsheba visited the king in his private quarters. (The king was very old, and Abishag the Shunammite was serving the king.) \n\t\t\t Bathsheba bowed down on the floor before the king. The king said, \"What do you want?\" \n\t\t\t She replied to him, \"My master, you swore an oath to your servant by the LORD your God, 'Solomon your son will be king after me and he will sit on my throne.'\n\t\t\t But now, look, Adonijah has become king! But you, my master the king, are not even aware of it!\n\t\t\t He has sacrificed many cattle, steers, and sheep and has invited all the king's sons, Abiathar the priest, and Joab, the commander of the army, but he has not invited your servant Solomon.\n\t\t\t Now, my master, O king, all Israel is watching anxiously to see who is named to succeed my master the king on the throne.\n\t\t\t If a decision is not made, when my master the king is buried with his ancestors, my son Solomon and I will be considered state criminals.\"\n\t\t\t Just then, while she was still speaking to the king, Nathan the prophet arrived. \n\t\t\t The king was told, \"Nathan the prophet is here.\" Nathan entered and bowed before the king with his face to the floor.\n\t\t\t Nathan said, \"My master, O king, did you announce, 'Adonijah will be king after me; he will sit on my throne'?\n\t\t\t For today he has gone down and sacrificed many cattle, steers, and sheep and has invited all the king's sons, the army commanders, and Abiathar the priest. At this moment they are having a feast in his presence, and they have declared, 'Long live King Adonijah!'\n\t\t\t But he did not invite me, your servant, or Zadok the priest, or Benaiah son of Jehoiada, or your servant Solomon.\n\t\t\t Has my master the king authorized this without informing your servants who should succeed my master the king on his throne?\"\n\t\t\t King David responded, \"Summon Bathsheba!\" She came and stood before the king.\n\t\t\t The king swore an oath: \"As certainly as the LORD lives (he who has rescued me from every danger), \n\t\t\t I will keep today the oath I swore to you by the LORD God of Israel: 'Surely Solomon your son will be king after me; he will sit in my place on my throne.'\" \n\t\t\t Bathsheba bowed down to the king with her face to the floor and said, \"May my master, King David, live forever!\"\n\t\t\t King David said, \"Summon Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada.\" They came before the king, \n\t\t\t and he told them, \"Take your master's servants with you, put my son Solomon on my mule, and lead him down to Gihon.\n\t\t\t There Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet will anoint him king over Israel; then blow the trumpet and declare, 'Long live King Solomon!' \n\t\t\t Then follow him up as he comes and sits on my throne. He will be king in my place; I have decreed that he will be ruler over Israel and Judah.\" \n\t\t\t Benaiah son of Jehoiada responded to the king: \"So be it! May the LORD God of my master the king confirm it!\n\t\t\t As the LORD is with my master the king, so may he be with Solomon, and may he make him an even greater king than my master King David!\"\n\t\t\t So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the Kerethites, and the Pelethites went down, put Solomon on King David's mule, and led him to Gihon. \n\t\t\t Zadok the priest took a horn filled with olive oil from the tent and poured it on Solomon; the trumpet was blown and all the people declared, \"Long live King Solomon!\" \n\t\t\t All the people followed him up, playing flutes and celebrating so loudly they made the ground shake.\n\t\t\t Now Adonijah and all his guests heard the commotion just as they had finished eating. When Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he asked, \"Why is there such a noisy commotion in the city?\"\n\t\t\t As he was still speaking, Jonathan son of Abiathar the priest arrived. Adonijah said, \"Come in, for an important man like you must be bringing good news.\"\n\t\t\t Jonathan replied to Adonijah: \"No! Our master King David has made Solomon king. \n\t\t\t The king sent with him Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the Kerethites, and the Pelethites and they put him on the king's mule.\n\t\t\t Then Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anointed him king in Gihon. They went up from there rejoicing, and the city is in an uproar. That is the sound you hear. \n\t\t\t Furthermore, Solomon has assumed the royal throne.\n\t\t\t The king's servants have even come to congratulate our master King David, saying, 'May your God make Solomon more famous than you and make him an even greater king than you!' Then the king leaned on the bed \n\t\t\t and said this: 'The LORD God of Israel is worthy of praise because today he has placed a successor on my throne and allowed me to see it.'\"\n\t\t\t All of Adonijah's guests panicked; they jumped up and rushed off their separate ways. \n\t\t\t Adonijah feared Solomon, so he got up and went and grabbed hold of the horns of the altar.\n\t\t\t Solomon was told, \"Look, Adonijah fears you; see, he has taken hold of the horns of the altar, saying, 'May King Solomon solemnly promise me today that he will not kill his servant with the sword.'\" \n\t\t\t Solomon said, \"If he is a loyal subject, not a hair of his head will be harmed, but if he is found to be a traitor, he will die.\" \n\t\t\t King Solomon sent men to bring him down from the altar. He came and bowed down to King Solomon, and Solomon told him, \"Go home.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t When David was close to death, he told Solomon his son: \n\t\t\t \"I am about to die. Be strong and become a man! \n\t\t\t Do the job the LORD your God has assigned you by following his instructions and obeying his rules, commandments, regulations, and laws as written in the law of Moses. Then you will succeed in all you do and seek to accomplish,\n\t\t\t and the LORD will fulfill his promise to me, 'If your descendants watch their step and live faithfully in my presence with all their heart and being, then,' he promised, 'you will not fail to have a successor on the throne of Israel.'\n\t\t\t \"You know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me, how he murdered two commanders of the Israelite armies, Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether. During peacetime he struck them down like he would in battle; when he shed their blood as if in battle, he stained his own belt and the sandals on his feet.\n\t\t\t Do to him what you think is appropriate, but don't let him live long and die a peaceful death.\n\t\t\t \"Treat fairly the sons of Barzillai of Gilead and provide for their needs, because they helped me when I had to flee from your brother Absalom.\n\t\t\t \"Note well, you still have to contend with Shimei son of Gera, the Benjaminite from Bahurim, who tried to call down upon me a horrible judgment when I went to Mahanaim. He came down and met me at the Jordan, and I solemnly promised him by the LORD, 'I will not strike you down with the sword.' \n\t\t\t But now don't treat him as if he were innocent. You are a wise man and you know how to handle him; make sure he has a bloody death.\"\n\t\t\t Then David passed away and was buried in the city of David.\n\t\t\t David reigned over Israel forty years; he reigned in Hebron seven years, and in Jerusalem thirty-three years.\n\t\t\t Solomon sat on his father David's throne, and his royal authority was firmly solidified.\n\t\t\t Haggith's son Adonijah visited Bathsheba, Solomon's mother. She asked, \"Do you come in peace?\" He answered, \"Yes.\"\n\t\t\t He added, \"I have something to say to you.\" She replied, \"Speak.\" \n\t\t\t He said, \"You know that the kingdom was mine and all Israel considered me king. But then the kingdom was given to my brother, for the LORD decided it should be his.\n\t\t\t Now I'd like to ask you for just one thing. Please don't refuse me.\" She said, \"Go ahead and ask.\"\n\t\t\t He said, \"Please ask King Solomon if he would give me Abishag the Shunammite as a wife, for he won't refuse you.\"\n\t\t\t Bathsheba replied, \"That's fine, I'll speak to the king on your behalf.\"\n\t\t\t So Bathsheba visited King Solomon to speak to him on Adonijah's behalf. The king got up to greet her, bowed to her, and then sat on his throne. He ordered a throne to be brought for the king's mother, and she sat at his right hand. \n\t\t\t She said, \"I would like to ask you for just one small favor. Please don't refuse me.\" He said, \"Go ahead and ask, my mother, for I would not refuse you.\" \n\t\t\t She said, \"Allow Abishag the Shunammite to be given to your brother Adonijah as a wife.\"\n\t\t\t King Solomon answered his mother, \"Why just request Abishag the Shunammite for him? Since he is my older brother, you should also request the kingdom for him, for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab son of Zeruiah!\"\n\t\t\t King Solomon then swore an oath by the LORD, \"May God judge me severely, if Adonijah does not pay for this request with his life!\n\t\t\t Now, as certainly as the LORD lives (he who made me secure, allowed me to sit on my father David's throne, and established a dynasty for me as he promised), Adonijah will be executed today!\" \n\t\t\t King Solomon then sent Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and he killed Adonijah.\n\t\t\t The king then told Abiathar the priest, \"Go back to your property in Anathoth. You deserve to die, but today I will not kill you because you did carry the ark of the sovereign LORD before my father David and you suffered with my father through all his difficult times.\"\n\t\t\t Solomon dismissed Abiathar from his position as priest of the LORD, fulfilling the decree of judgment the LORD made in Shiloh against the family of Eli.\n\t\t\t When the news reached Joab (for Joab had supported Adonijah, although he had not supported Absalom), he ran to the tent of the LORD and grabbed hold of the horns of the altar.\n\t\t\t When King Solomon heard that Joab had run to the tent of the LORD and was right there beside the altar, he ordered Benaiah son of Jehoiada, \"Go, strike him down.\" \n\t\t\t When Benaiah arrived at the tent of the LORD, he said to him, \"The king says, 'Come out!'\" But he replied, \"No, I will die here!\" So Benaiah sent word to the king and reported Joab's reply.\n\t\t\t The king told him, \"Do as he said! Strike him down and bury him. Take away from me and from my father's family the guilt of Joab's murderous, bloody deeds.\n\t\t\t May the LORD punish him for the blood he shed; behind my father David's back he struck down and murdered with the sword two men who were more innocent and morally upright than he, Abner son of Ner, commander of Israel's army, and Amasa son of Jether, commander of Judah's army.\n\t\t\t May Joab and his descendants be perpetually guilty of their shed blood, but may the LORD give perpetual peace to David, his descendants, his family, and his dynasty.\"\n\t\t\t So Benaiah son of Jehoiada went up and executed Joab; he was buried at his home in the wilderness. \n\t\t\t The king appointed Benaiah son of Jehoiada to take his place at the head of the army, and the king appointed Zadok the priest to take Abiathar's place.\n\t\t\t Next the king summoned Shimei and told him, \"Build yourself a house in Jerusalem and live there, but you may not leave there to go anywhere!\n\t\t\t If you ever do leave and cross the Kidron Valley, know for sure that you will certainly die! You will be responsible for your own death.\"\n\t\t\t Shimei said to the king, \"My master the king's proposal is acceptable. Your servant will do as you say.\" So Shimei lived in Jerusalem for a long time.\n\t\t\t Three years later two of Shimei's servants ran away to King Achish son of Maacah of Gath. Shimei was told, \"Look, your servants are in Gath.\"\n\t\t\t So Shimei got up, saddled his donkey, and went to Achish at Gath to find his servants; Shimei went and brought back his servants from Gath.\n\t\t\t When Solomon was told that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath and had then returned,\n\t\t\t the king summoned Shimei and said to him, \"You will recall that I made you take an oath by the LORD, and I solemnly warned you, 'If you ever leave and go anywhere, know for sure that you will certainly die.' You said to me, 'The proposal is acceptable; I agree to it.'\n\t\t\t Why then have you broken the oath you made before the LORD and disobeyed the order I gave you?\"\n\t\t\t Then the king said to Shimei, \"You are well aware of the way you mistreated my father David. The LORD will punish you for what you did.\n\t\t\t But King Solomon will be empowered and David's dynasty will endure permanently before the LORD.\" \n\t\t\t The king then gave the order to Benaiah son of Jehoiada who went and executed Shimei. So Solomon took firm control of the kingdom.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Solomon made an alliance by marriage with Pharaoh, king of Egypt; he married Pharaoh's daughter. He brought her to the City of David until he could finish building his residence and the temple of the LORD and the wall around Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t Now the people were offering sacrifices at the high places, because in those days a temple had not yet been built to honor the LORD.\n\t\t\t Solomon demonstrated his loyalty to the LORD by following the practices of his father David, except that he offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places.\n\t\t\t The king went to Gibeon to offer sacrifices, for it had the most prominent of the high places. Solomon would offer up a thousand burnt sacrifices on the altar there.\n\t\t\t One night in Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream. God said, \"Tell me what I should give you.\" \n\t\t\t Solomon replied, \"You demonstrated great loyalty to your servant, my father David, as he served you faithfully, properly, and sincerely. You have maintained this great loyalty to this day by allowing his son to sit on his throne.\n\t\t\t Now, O LORD my God, you have made your servant king in my father David's place, even though I am only a young man and am inexperienced.\n\t\t\t Your servant stands among your chosen people; they are a great nation that is too numerous to count or number. \n\t\t\t So give your servant a discerning mind so he can make judicial decisions for your people and distinguish right from wrong. Otherwise no one is able to make judicial decisions for this great nation of yours.\"\n\t\t\t The Lord was pleased that Solomon made this request.\n\t\t\t God said to him, \"Because you asked for the ability to make wise judicial decisions, and not for long life, or riches, or vengeance on your enemies,\n\t\t\t I grant your request, and give you a wise and discerning mind superior to that of anyone who has preceded or will succeed you.\n\t\t\t Furthermore, I am giving you what you did not request, riches and honor so that you will be the greatest king of your generation.\n\t\t\t If you follow my instructions by obeying my rules and regulations, just as your father David did, then I will grant you long life.\"\n\t\t\t Solomon then woke up and realized it was a dream. He went to Jerusalem, stood before the ark of the Lord's covenant, offered up burnt sacrifices, presented peace offerings, and held a feast for all his servants.\n\t\t\t Then two prostitutes came to the king and stood before him.\n\t\t\t One of the women said, \"My master, this woman and I live in the same house. I had a baby while she was with me in the house.\n\t\t\t Then three days after I had my baby, this woman also had a baby. We were alone; there was no one else in the house except the two of us.\n\t\t\t This woman's child suffocated during the night when she rolled on top of him. \n\t\t\t She got up in the middle of the night and took my son from my side, while your servant was sleeping. She put him in her arms, and put her dead son in my arms.\n\t\t\t I got up in the morning to nurse my son, and there he was, dead! But when I examined him carefully in the morning, I realized it was not my baby.\"\n\t\t\t The other woman said, \"No! My son is alive; your son is dead!\" But the first woman replied, \"No, your son is dead; my son is alive.\" Each presented her case before the king.\n\t\t\t The king said, \"One says, 'My son is alive; your son is dead,' while the other says, 'No, your son is dead; my son is alive.'\"\n\t\t\t The king ordered, \"Get me a sword!\" So they placed a sword before the king.\n\t\t\t The king then said, \"Cut the living child in two, and give half to one and half to the other!\"\n\t\t\t The real mother spoke up to the king, for her motherly instincts were aroused. She said, \"My master, give her the living child! Whatever you do, don't kill him!\" But the other woman said, \"Neither one of us will have him! Let them cut him in two!\" \n\t\t\t The king responded, \"Give the first woman the living child; don't kill him. She is the mother.\"\n\t\t\t When all Israel heard about the judicial decision which the king had rendered, they respected the king, for they realized that he possessed supernatural wisdom to make judicial decisions.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t King Solomon ruled over all Israel.\n\t\t\t These were his officials: Azariah son of Zadok was the priest.\n\t\t\t Elihoreph and Ahijah, the sons of Shisha, wrote down what happened. Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was in charge of the records.\n\t\t\t Benaiah son of Jehoiada was commander of the army. Zadok and Abiathar were priests.\n\t\t\t Azariah son of Nathan was supervisor of the district governors. Zabud son of Nathan was a priest and adviser to the king.\n\t\t\t Ahishar was supervisor of the palace. Adoniram son of Abda was supervisor of the work crews.\n\t\t\t Solomon had twelve district governors appointed throughout Israel who acquired supplies for the king and his palace. Each was responsible for one month in the year.\n\t\t\t These were their names: Ben-Hur was in charge of the hill country of Ephraim.\n\t\t\t Ben-Deker was in charge of Makaz, Shaalbim, Beth Shemesh, and Elon Beth Hanan.\n\t\t\t Ben-Hesed was in charge of Arubboth; he controlled Socoh and all the territory of Hepher.\n\t\t\t Ben-Abinadab was in charge of Naphath Dor. (He was married to Solomon's daughter Taphath.)\n\t\t\t Baana son of Ahilud was in charge of Taanach and Megiddo, as well as all of Beth Shan next to Zarethan below Jezreel, from Beth Shan to Abel Meholah and on past Jokmeam.\n\t\t\t Ben-Geber was in charge of Ramoth Gilead; he controlled the tent villages of Jair son of Manasseh in Gilead, as well as the region of Argob in Bashan, including sixty large walled cities with bronze bars locking their gates.\n\t\t\t Ahinadab son of Iddo was in charge of Mahanaim.\n\t\t\t Ahimaaz was in charge of Naphtali. (He married Solomon's daughter Basemath.)\n\t\t\t Baana son of Hushai was in charge of Asher and Aloth.\n\t\t\t Jehoshaphat son of Paruah was in charge of Issachar.\n\t\t\t Shimei son of Ela was in charge of Benjamin.\n\t\t\t Geber son of Uri was in charge of the land of Gilead (the territory which had once belonged to King Sihon of the Amorites and to King Og of Bashan). He was sole governor of the area.\n\t\t\t The people of Judah and Israel were as innumerable as the sand on the seashore; they had plenty to eat and drink and were happy.\n\t\t\t Solomon ruled all the kingdoms from the Euphrates River to the land of the Philistines, as far as the border of Egypt. These kingdoms paid tribute as Solomon's subjects throughout his lifetime.\n\t\t\t Each day Solomon's royal court consumed thirty cors of finely milled flour, sixty cors of cereal, \n\t\t\t ten calves fattened in the stall, twenty calves from the pasture, and a hundred sheep, not to mention rams, gazelles, deer, and well-fed birds. \n\t\t\t His royal court was so large because he ruled over all the kingdoms west of the Euphrates River from Tiphsah to Gaza; he was at peace with all his neighbors.\n\t\t\t All the people of Judah and Israel had security; everyone from Dan to Beer Sheba enjoyed the produce of their vines and fig trees throughout Solomon's lifetime.\n\t\t\t Solomon had 4,000 stalls for his chariot horses and 12,000 horses. \n\t\t\t The district governors acquired supplies for King Solomon and all who ate in his royal palace. Each was responsible for one month in the year; they made sure nothing was lacking. \n\t\t\t Each one also brought to the assigned location his quota of barley and straw for the various horses.\n\t\t\t God gave Solomon wisdom and very great discernment; the breadth of his understanding was as infinite as the sand on the seashore. \n\t\t\t Solomon was wiser than all the men of the east and all the sages of Egypt.\n\t\t\t He was wiser than any man, including Ethan the Ezrahite or Heman, Calcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol. He was famous in all the neighboring nations.\n\t\t\t He composed 3,000 proverbs and 1,005 songs. \n\t\t\t He produced manuals on botany, describing every kind of plant, from the cedars of Lebanon to the hyssop that grows on walls. He also produced manuals on biology, describing animals, birds, insects, and fish. \n\t\t\t People from all nations came to hear Solomon's display of wisdom; they came from all the kings of the earth who heard about his wisdom.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t King Hiram of Tyre sent messengers to Solomon when he heard that he had been anointed king in his father's place. (Hiram had always been an ally of David.) \n\t\t\t Solomon then sent this message to Hiram:\n\t\t\t \"You know that my father David was unable to build a temple to honor the LORD his God, for he was busy fighting battles on all fronts while the LORD subdued his enemies.\n\t\t\t But now the LORD my God has made me secure on all fronts; there is no adversary or dangerous threat.\n\t\t\t So I have decided to build a temple to honor the LORD my God, as the LORD instructed my father David, 'Your son, whom I will put on your throne in your place, is the one who will build a temple to honor me.'\n\t\t\t So now order some cedars of Lebanon to be cut for me. My servants will work with your servants. I will pay your servants whatever you say is appropriate, for you know that we have no one among us who knows how to cut down trees like the Sidonians.\"\n\t\t\t When Hiram heard Solomon's message, he was very happy. He said, \"The LORD is worthy of praise today because he has given David a wise son to rule over this great nation.\" \n\t\t\t Hiram then sent this message to Solomon: \"I received the message you sent to me. I will give you all the cedars and evergreens you need.\n\t\t\t My servants will bring the timber down from Lebanon to the sea. I will send it by sea in raft-like bundles to the place you designate. There I will separate the logs and you can carry them away. In exchange you will supply the food I need for my royal court.\"\n\t\t\t So Hiram supplied the cedars and evergreens Solomon needed,\n\t\t\t and Solomon supplied Hiram annually with 20,000 cors of wheat as provision for his royal court, as well as 20,000 baths of pure olive oil.\n\t\t\t So the LORD gave Solomon wisdom, as he had promised him. And Hiram and Solomon were at peace and made a treaty.\n\t\t\t King Solomon conscripted work crews from throughout Israel, 30,000 men in all. \n\t\t\t He sent them to Lebanon in shifts of 10,000 men per month. They worked in Lebanon for one month, and then spent two months at home. Adoniram was supervisor of the work crews. \n\t\t\t Solomon also had 70,000 common laborers and 80,000 stonecutters in the hills, \n\t\t\t besides 3,300 officials who supervised the workers.\n\t\t\t By royal order they supplied large valuable stones in order to build the temple's foundation with chiseled stone. \n\t\t\t Solomon's and Hiram's construction workers, along with men from Byblos, did the chiseling and prepared the wood and stones for the building of the temple.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t In the four hundred and eightieth year after the Israelites left Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, during the month Ziv (the second month), he began building the LORD's temple. \n\t\t\t The temple King Solomon built for the LORD was 90 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 45 feet high. \n\t\t\t The porch in front of the main hall of the temple was 30 feet long, corresponding to the width of the temple. It was 15 feet wide, extending out from the front of the temple. \n\t\t\t He made framed windows for the temple.\n\t\t\t He built an extension all around the walls of the temple's main hall and holy place and constructed side rooms in it.\n\t\t\t The bottom floor of the extension was seven and a half feet wide, the middle floor nine feet wide, and the third floor ten and a half feet wide. He made ledges on the temple's outer walls so the beams would not have to be inserted into the walls.\n\t\t\t As the temple was being built, only stones shaped at the quarry were used; the sound of hammers, pickaxes, or any other iron tool was not heard at the temple while it was being built. \n\t\t\t The entrance to the bottom level of side rooms was on the south side of the temple; stairs went up to the middle floor and then on up to the third floor. \n\t\t\t He finished building the temple and covered it with rafters and boards made of cedar.\n\t\t\t He built an extension all around the temple; it was seven and a half feet high and it was attached to the temple by cedar beams.\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Solomon: \n\t\t\t \"As for this temple you are building, if you follow my rules, observe my regulations, and obey all my commandments, I will fulfill through you the promise I made to your father David.\n\t\t\t I will live among the Israelites and will not abandon my people Israel.\"\n\t\t\t So Solomon finished building the temple.\n\t\t\t He constructed the walls inside the temple with cedar planks; he paneled the inside with wood from the floor of the temple to the rafters of the ceiling. He covered the temple floor with boards made from the wood of evergreens. \n\t\t\t He built a wall 30 feet in from the rear of the temple as a partition for an inner sanctuary that would be the most holy place. He paneled the wall with cedar planks from the floor to the rafters.\n\t\t\t The main hall in front of the inner sanctuary was 60 feet long.\n\t\t\t The inside of the temple was all cedar and was adorned with carvings of round ornaments and of flowers in bloom. Everything was cedar; no stones were visible.\n\t\t\t He prepared the inner sanctuary inside the temple so that the ark of the covenant of the LORD could be placed there.\n\t\t\t The inner sanctuary was 30 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 30 feet high. He plated it with gold, as well as the cedar altar.\n\t\t\t Solomon plated the inside of the temple with gold. He hung golden chains in front of the inner sanctuary and plated the inner sanctuary with gold. \n\t\t\t He plated the entire inside of the temple with gold, as well as the altar inside the inner sanctuary.\n\t\t\t In the inner sanctuary he made two cherubs of olive wood; each stood 15 feet high. \n\t\t\t Each of the first cherub's wings was seven and a half feet long; its entire wingspan was 15 feet.\n\t\t\t The second cherub also had a wingspan of 15 feet; it was identical to the first in measurements and shape.\n\t\t\t Each cherub stood 15 feet high.\n\t\t\t He put the cherubs in the inner sanctuary of the temple. Their wings were spread out. One of the first cherub's wings touched one wall and one of the other cherub's wings touched the opposite wall. The first cherub's other wing touched the second cherub's other wing in the middle of the room.\n\t\t\t He plated the cherubs with gold.\n\t\t\t On all the walls around the temple, inside and out, he carved cherubs, palm trees, and flowers in bloom. \n\t\t\t He plated the floor of the temple with gold, inside and out.\n\t\t\t He made doors of olive wood at the entrance to the inner sanctuary; the pillar on each doorpost was five-sided.\n\t\t\t On the two doors made of olive wood he carved cherubs, palm trees, and flowers in bloom, and he plated them with gold. He plated the cherubs and the palm trees with hammered gold.\n\t\t\t In the same way he made doorposts of olive wood for the entrance to the main hall, only with four-sided pillars.\n\t\t\t He also made two doors out of wood from evergreens; each door had two folding leaves.\n\t\t\t He carved cherubs, palm trees, and flowers in bloom and plated them with gold, leveled out over the carvings.\n\t\t\t He built the inner courtyard with three rows of chiseled stones and a row of cedar beams.\n\t\t\t In the month Ziv of the fourth year of Solomon's reign the foundation was laid for the LORD's temple. \n\t\t\t In the eleventh year, in the month Bul (the eighth month) the temple was completed in accordance with all its specifications and blueprints. It took seven years to build.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Solomon took thirteen years to build his palace.\n\t\t\t He named it \"The Palace of the Lebanon Forest\"; it was 150 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high. It had four rows of cedar pillars and cedar beams above the pillars.\n\t\t\t The roof above the beams supported by the pillars was also made of cedar; there were forty-five beams, fifteen per row.\n\t\t\t There were three rows of windows arranged in sets of three.\n\t\t\t All of the entrances were rectangular in shape and they were arranged in sets of three.\n\t\t\t He made a colonnade 75 feet long and 45 feet wide. There was a porch in front of this and pillars and a roof in front of the porch.\n\t\t\t He also made a throne room, called \"The Hall of Judgment,\" where he made judicial decisions. It was paneled with cedar from the floor to the rafters.\n\t\t\t The palace where he lived was constructed in a similar way. He also constructed a palace like this hall for Pharaoh's daughter, whom he had married.\n\t\t\t All of these were built with the best stones, chiseled to the right size and cut with a saw on all sides, from the foundation to the edge of the roof and from the outside to the great courtyard.\n\t\t\t The foundation was made of large valuable stones, measuring either 15 feet or 12 feet.\n\t\t\t Above the foundation the best stones, chiseled to the right size, were used along with cedar. \n\t\t\t Around the great courtyard were three rows of chiseled stones and one row of cedar beams, like the inner courtyard of the LORD's temple and the hall of the palace.\n\t\t\t King Solomon sent for Hiram of Tyre.\n\t\t\t He was the son of a widow from the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a craftsman in bronze from Tyre. He had the skill and knowledge to make all kinds of works of bronze. He reported to King Solomon and did all the work he was assigned.\n\t\t\t He fashioned two bronze pillars; each pillar was 27 feet high and 18 feet in circumference. \n\t\t\t He made two bronze tops for the pillars; each was seven-and-a-half feet high.\n\t\t\t The latticework on the tops of the pillars was adorned with ornamental wreaths and chains; the top of each pillar had seven groupings of ornaments.\n\t\t\t When he made the pillars, there were two rows of pomegranate-shaped ornaments around the latticework covering the top of each pillar.\n\t\t\t The tops of the two pillars in the porch were shaped like lilies and were six feet high.\n\t\t\t On the top of each pillar, right above the bulge beside the latticework, there were two hundred pomegranate-shaped ornaments arranged in rows all the way around.\n\t\t\t He set up the pillars on the porch in front of the main hall. He erected one pillar on the right side and called it Jakin; he erected the other pillar on the left side and called it Boaz.\n\t\t\t The tops of the pillars were shaped like lilies. So the construction of the pillars was completed.\n\t\t\t He also made the large bronze basin called \"The Sea.\" It measured 15 feet from rim to rim, was circular in shape, and stood seven-and-a-half feet high. Its circumference was 45 feet.\n\t\t\t Under the rim all the way around it were round ornaments arranged in settings 15 feet long. The ornaments were in two rows and had been cast with \"The Sea.\"\n\t\t\t \"The Sea\" stood on top of twelve bulls. Three faced northward, three westward, three southward, and three eastward. \"The Sea\" was placed on top of them, and they all faced outward.\n\t\t\t It was four fingers thick and its rim was like that of a cup shaped like a lily blossom. It could hold about 12,000 gallons.\n\t\t\t He also made ten bronze movable stands. Each stand was six feet long, six feet wide, and four-and-a-half feet high. \n\t\t\t The stands were constructed with frames between the joints.\n\t\t\t On these frames and joints were ornamental lions, bulls, and cherubs. Under the lions and bulls were decorative wreaths.\n\t\t\t Each stand had four bronze wheels with bronze axles and four supports. Under the basin the supports were fashioned on each side with wreaths.\n\t\t\t Inside the stand was a round opening that was a foot-and-a-half deep; it had a support that was two and one-quarter feet long. On the edge of the opening were carvings in square frames.\n\t\t\t The four wheels were under the frames and the crossbars of the axles were connected to the stand. Each wheel was two and one-quarter feet high. \n\t\t\t The wheels were constructed like chariot wheels; their crossbars, rims, spokes, and hubs were made of cast metal.\n\t\t\t Each stand had four supports, one per side projecting out from the stand.\n\t\t\t On top of each stand was a round opening three-quarters of a foot deep; there were also supports and frames on top of the stands. \n\t\t\t He engraved ornamental cherubs, lions, and palm trees on the plates of the supports and frames wherever there was room, with wreaths all around. \n\t\t\t He made the ten stands in this way. All of them were cast in one mold and were identical in measurements and shape.\n\t\t\t He also made ten bronze basins, each of which could hold about 240 gallons. Each basin was six feet in diameter; there was one basin for each stand. \n\t\t\t He put five basins on the south side of the temple and five on the north side. He put \"The Sea\" on the south side, in the southeast corner.\n\t\t\t Hiram also made basins, shovels, and bowls. He finished all the work on the LORD's temple he had been assigned by King Solomon.\n\t\t\t He made the two pillars, the two bowl-shaped tops of the pillars, the latticework for the bowl-shaped tops of the two pillars,\n\t\t\t the four hundred pomegranate-shaped ornaments for the latticework of the two pillars (each latticework had two rows of these ornaments at the bowl-shaped top of the pillar),\n\t\t\t the ten movable stands with their ten basins,\n\t\t\t the big bronze basin called \"The Sea\" with its twelve bulls underneath,\n\t\t\t and the pots, shovels, and bowls. All these items King Solomon assigned Hiram to make for the LORD's temple were made from polished bronze. \n\t\t\t The king had them cast in earth foundries in the region of the Jordan between Succoth and Zarethan. \n\t\t\t Solomon left all these items unweighed; there were so many of them they did not weigh the bronze.\n\t\t\t Solomon also made all these items for the LORD's temple: the gold altar, the gold table on which was kept the Bread of the Presence,\n\t\t\t the pure gold lampstands at the entrance to the inner sanctuary (five on the right and five on the left), the gold flower-shaped ornaments, lamps, and tongs,\n\t\t\t the pure gold bowls, trimming shears, basins, pans, and censers, and the gold door sockets for the inner sanctuary (the most holy place) and for the doors of the main hall of the temple.\n\t\t\t When King Solomon finished constructing the LORD's temple, he put the holy items that belonged to his father David (the silver, gold, and other articles) in the treasuries of the LORD's temple.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then Solomon convened in Jerusalem Israel's elders, all the leaders of the Israelite tribes and families, so they could witness the transferal of the ark of the LORD's covenant from the city of David (that is, Zion).\n\t\t\t All the men of Israel assembled before King Solomon during the festival in the month Ethanim (the seventh month). \n\t\t\t When all Israel's elders had arrived, the priests lifted the ark.\n\t\t\t The priests and Levites carried the ark of the LORD, the tent of meeting, and all the holy items in the tent.\n\t\t\t Now King Solomon and all the Israelites who had assembled with him went on ahead of the ark and sacrificed more sheep and cattle than could be counted or numbered.\n\t\t\t The priests brought the ark of the LORD's covenant to its assigned place in the inner sanctuary of the temple, in the most holy place, under the wings of the cherubs. \n\t\t\t The cherubs' wings extended over the place where the ark sat; the cherubs overshadowed the ark and its poles.\n\t\t\t The poles were so long their ends were visible from the holy place in front of the inner sanctuary, but they could not be seen from beyond that point. They have remained there to this very day. \n\t\t\t There was nothing in the ark except the two stone tablets Moses had placed there in Horeb. It was there that the LORD made an agreement with the Israelites after he brought them out of the land of Egypt. \n\t\t\t Once the priests left the holy place, a cloud filled the LORD's temple.\n\t\t\t The priests could not carry out their duties because of the cloud; the LORD's glory filled his temple.\n\t\t\t Then Solomon said, \"The LORD has said that he lives in thick darkness.\n\t\t\t O LORD, truly I have built a lofty temple for you, a place where you can live permanently.\" \n\t\t\t Then the king turned around and pronounced a blessing over the whole Israelite assembly as they stood there.\n\t\t\t He said, \"The LORD God of Israel is worthy of praise because he has fulfilled what he promised my father David. \n\t\t\t He told David, 'Since the day I brought my people Israel out of Egypt, I have not chosen a city from all the tribes of Israel to build a temple in which to live. But I have chosen David to lead my people Israel.' \n\t\t\t Now my father David had a strong desire to build a temple to honor the LORD God of Israel.\n\t\t\t The LORD told my father David, 'It is right for you to have a strong desire to build a temple to honor me.\n\t\t\t But you will not build the temple; your very own son will build the temple for my honor.'\n\t\t\t The LORD has kept the promise he made. I have taken my father David's place and have occupied the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised. I have built this temple for the honor of the LORD God of Israel \n\t\t\t and set up in it a place for the ark containing the covenant the LORD made with our ancestors when he brought them out of the land of Egypt.\"\n\t\t\t Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in front of the entire assembly of Israel and spread out his hands toward the sky.\n\t\t\t He prayed: \"O LORD, God of Israel, there is no god like you in heaven above or on earth below! You maintain covenantal loyalty to your servants who obey you with sincerity.\n\t\t\t You have kept your word to your servant, my father David; this very day you have fulfilled what you promised.\n\t\t\t Now, O LORD, God of Israel, keep the promise you made to your servant, my father David, when you said, 'You will never fail to have a successor ruling before me on the throne of Israel, provided that your descendants watch their step and serve me as you have done.'\n\t\t\t Now, O God of Israel, may the promise you made to your servant, my father David, be realized.\n\t\t\t \"God does not really live on the earth! Look, if the sky and the highest heaven cannot contain you, how much less this temple I have built! \n\t\t\t But respond favorably to your servant's prayer and his request for help, O LORD my God. Answer the desperate prayer your servant is presenting to you today. \n\t\t\t Night and day may you watch over this temple, the place where you promised you would live. May you answer your servant's prayer for this place.\n\t\t\t Respond to the request of your servant and your people Israel for this place. Hear from inside your heavenly dwelling place and respond favorably.\n\t\t\t \"When someone is accused of sinning against his neighbor and the latter pronounces a curse on the alleged offender before your altar in this temple, be willing to forgive the accused if the accusation is false.\n\t\t\t Listen from heaven and make a just decision about your servants' claims. Condemn the guilty party, declare the other innocent, and give both of them what they deserve.\n\t\t\t \"The time will come when your people Israel are defeated by an enemy because they sinned against you. If they come back to you, renew their allegiance to you, and pray for your help in this temple, \n\t\t\t then listen from heaven, forgive the sin of your people Israel, and bring them back to the land you gave to their ancestors.\n\t\t\t \"The time will come when the skies are shut up tightly and no rain falls because your people sinned against you. When they direct their prayers toward this place, renew their allegiance to you, and turn away from their sin because you punish them, \n\t\t\t then listen from heaven and forgive the sin of your servants, your people Israel. Certainly you will then teach them the right way to live and send rain on your land that you have given your people to possess.\n\t\t\t \"The time will come when the land suffers from a famine, a plague, blight and disease, or a locust invasion, or when their enemy lays siege to the cities of the land, or when some other type of plague or epidemic occurs. \n\t\t\t When all your people Israel pray and ask for help, as they acknowledge their pain and spread out their hands toward this temple, \n\t\t\t then listen from your heavenly dwelling place, forgive their sin, and act favorably toward each one based on your evaluation of his motives. (Indeed you are the only one who can correctly evaluate the motives of all people.)\n\t\t\t Then they will obey you throughout their lifetimes as they live on the land you gave to our ancestors.\n\t\t\t \"Foreigners, who do not belong to your people Israel, will come from a distant land because of your reputation.\n\t\t\t When they hear about your great reputation and your ability to accomplish mighty deeds, they will come and direct their prayers toward this temple. \n\t\t\t Then listen from your heavenly dwelling place and answer all the prayers of the foreigners. Then all the nations of the earth will acknowledge your reputation, obey you like your people Israel do, and recognize that this temple I built belongs to you.\n\t\t\t \"When you direct your people to march out and fight their enemies, and they direct their prayers to the LORD toward his chosen city and this temple I built for your honor,\n\t\t\t then listen from heaven to their prayers for help and vindicate them.\n\t\t\t \"The time will come when your people will sin against you (for there is no one who is sinless!) and you will be angry with them and deliver them over to their enemies, who will take them as prisoners to their own land, whether far away or close by.\n\t\t\t When your people come to their senses in the land where they are held prisoner, they will repent and beg for your mercy in the land of their imprisonment, admitting, 'We have sinned and gone astray; we have done evil.' \n\t\t\t When they return to you with all their heart and being in the land where they are held prisoner, and direct their prayers to you toward the land you gave to their ancestors, your chosen city, and the temple I built for your honor,\n\t\t\t then listen from your heavenly dwelling place to their prayers for help and vindicate them.\n\t\t\t Forgive all the rebellious acts of your sinful people and cause their captors to have mercy on them.\n\t\t\t After all, they are your people and your special possession whom you brought out of Egypt, from the middle of the iron-smelting furnace.\n\t\t\t \"May you be attentive to your servant's and your people Israel's requests for help and may you respond to all their prayers to you.\n\t\t\t After all, you picked them out of all the nations of the earth to be your special possession, just as you, O sovereign LORD, announced through your servant Moses when you brought our ancestors out of Egypt.\"\n\t\t\t When Solomon finished presenting all these prayers and requests to the LORD, he got up from before the altar of the LORD where he had kneeled and spread out his hands toward the sky.\n\t\t\t When he stood up, he pronounced a blessing over the entire assembly of Israel, saying in a loud voice:\n\t\t\t \"The LORD is worthy of praise because he has made Israel his people secure just as he promised! Not one of all the faithful promises he made through his servant Moses is left unfulfilled!\n\t\t\t May the LORD our God be with us, as he was with our ancestors. May he not abandon us or leave us.\n\t\t\t May he make us submissive, so we can follow all his instructions and obey the commandments, rules, and regulations he commanded our ancestors. \n\t\t\t May the LORD our God be constantly aware of these requests of mine I have presented to him, so that he might vindicate his servant and his people Israel as the need arises. \n\t\t\t Then all the nations of the earth will recognize that the LORD is the only genuine God.\n\t\t\t May you demonstrate wholehearted devotion to the LORD our God by following his rules and obeying his commandments, as you are presently doing.\"\n\t\t\t The king and all Israel with him were presenting sacrifices to the LORD.\n\t\t\t Solomon offered as peace offerings to the LORD 22,000 cattle and 120,000 sheep. Then the king and all the Israelites dedicated the LORD's temple. \n\t\t\t That day the king consecrated the middle of the courtyard that is in front of the LORD's temple. He offered there burnt sacrifices, grain offerings, and the fat from the peace offerings, because the bronze altar that stood before the LORD was too small to hold all these offerings.\n\t\t\t At that time Solomon and all Israel with him celebrated a festival before the LORD our God for two entire weeks. This great assembly included people from all over the land, from Lebo Hamath in the north to the Brook of Egypt in the south.\n\t\t\t On the fifteenth day after the festival started, he dismissed the people. They asked God to empower the king and then went to their homes, happy and content because of all the good the LORD had done for his servant David and his people Israel.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t After Solomon finished building the LORD's temple, the royal palace, and all the other construction projects he had planned,\n\t\t\t the LORD appeared to Solomon a second time, in the same way he had appeared to him at Gibeon.\n\t\t\t The LORD said to him, \"I have answered your prayer and your request for help that you made to me. I have consecrated this temple you built by making it my permanent home; I will be constantly present there.\n\t\t\t You must serve me with integrity and sincerity, just as your father David did. Do everything I commanded and obey my rules and regulations.\n\t\t\t Then I will allow your dynasty to rule over Israel permanently, just as I promised your father David, 'You will not fail to have a successor on the throne of Israel.'\n\t\t\t \"But if you or your sons ever turn away from me, fail to obey the regulations and rules I instructed you to keep, and decide to serve and worship other gods,\n\t\t\t then I will remove Israel from the land I have given them, I will abandon this temple I have consecrated with my presence, and Israel will be mocked and ridiculed among all the nations. \n\t\t\t This temple will become a heap of ruins; everyone who passes by it will be shocked and will hiss out their scorn, saying, 'Why did the LORD do this to this land and this temple?' \n\t\t\t Others will then answer, 'Because they abandoned the LORD their God, who led their ancestors out of Egypt. They embraced other gods whom they worshiped and served. That is why the LORD has brought all this disaster down on them.'\"\n\t\t\t After twenty years, during which Solomon built the LORD's temple and the royal palace,\n\t\t\t King Solomon gave King Hiram of Tyre twenty cities in the region of Galilee, because Hiram had supplied Solomon with cedars, evergreens, and all the gold he wanted. \n\t\t\t When Hiram went out from Tyre to inspect the cities Solomon had given him, he was not pleased with them.\n\t\t\t Hiram asked, \"Why did you give me these cities, my friend?\" He called that area the region of Cabul, a name which it has retained to this day.\n\t\t\t Hiram had sent to the king one hundred twenty talents of gold.\n\t\t\t Here are the details concerning the work crews King Solomon conscripted to build the LORD's temple, his palace, the terrace, the wall of Jerusalem, and the cities of Hazor, Megiddo, and Gezer. \n\t\t\t (Pharaoh, king of Egypt, had attacked and captured Gezer. He burned it and killed the Canaanites who lived in the city. He gave it as a wedding present to his daughter, who had married Solomon.)\n\t\t\t Solomon built up Gezer, lower Beth Horon,\n\t\t\t Baalath, Tadmor in the wilderness,\n\t\t\t all the storage cities that belonged to him, and the cities where chariots and horses were kept. He built whatever he wanted in Jerusalem, Lebanon, and throughout his entire kingdom.\n\t\t\t Now several non-Israelite peoples were left in the land after the conquest of Joshua, including the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.\n\t\t\t Their descendants remained in the land (the Israelites were unable to wipe them out completely). Solomon conscripted them for his work crews, and they continue in that role to this very day.\n\t\t\t Solomon did not assign Israelites to these work crews; the Israelites served as his soldiers, attendants, officers, charioteers, and commanders of his chariot forces.\n\t\t\t These men were also in charge of Solomon's work projects; there were a total of 550 men who supervised the workers.\n\t\t\t Solomon built the terrace as soon as Pharaoh's daughter moved up from the city of David to the palace Solomon built for her.\n\t\t\t Three times a year Solomon offered burnt offerings and peace offerings on the altar he had built for the LORD, burning incense along with them before the LORD. He made the temple his official worship place.\n\t\t\t King Solomon also built ships in Ezion Geber, which is located near Elat in the land of Edom, on the shore of the Red Sea. \n\t\t\t Hiram sent his fleet and some of his sailors, who were well acquainted with the sea, to serve with Solomon's men.\n\t\t\t They sailed to Ophir, took from there four hundred twenty talents of gold, and then brought them to King Solomon.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t When the queen of Sheba heard about Solomon, she came to challenge him with difficult questions.\n\t\t\t She arrived in Jerusalem with a great display of pomp, bringing with her camels carrying spices, a very large quantity of gold, and precious gems. She visited Solomon and discussed with him everything that was on her mind. \n\t\t\t Solomon answered all her questions; there was no question too complex for the king.\n\t\t\t When the queen of Sheba saw for herself Solomon's extensive wisdom, the palace he had built, \n\t\t\t the food in his banquet hall, his servants and attendants, their robes, his cupbearers, and his burnt offerings which he presented in the LORD's temple, she was amazed.\n\t\t\t She said to the king, \"The report I heard in my own country about your wise sayings and insight was true! \n\t\t\t I did not believe these things until I came and saw them with my own eyes. Indeed, I didn't hear even half the story! Your wisdom and wealth surpass what was reported to me. \n\t\t\t Your attendants, who stand before you at all times and hear your wise sayings, are truly happy!\n\t\t\t May the LORD your God be praised because he favored you by placing you on the throne of Israel! Because of the LORD's eternal love for Israel, he made you king so you could make just and right decisions.\"\n\t\t\t She gave the king 120 talents of gold, a very large quantity of spices, and precious gems. The quantity of spices the queen of Sheba gave King Solomon has never been matched.\n\t\t\t (Hiram's fleet, which carried gold from Ophir, also brought from Ophir a very large quantity of fine timber and precious gems.\n\t\t\t With the timber the king made supports for the LORD's temple and for the royal palace and stringed instruments for the musicians. No one has seen so much of this fine timber to this very day.)\n\t\t\t King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba everything she requested, besides what he had freely offered her. Then she left and returned to her homeland with her attendants.\n\t\t\t Solomon received 666 talents of gold per year,\n\t\t\t besides what he collected from the merchants, traders, Arabian kings, and governors of the land. \n\t\t\t King Solomon made two hundred large shields of hammered gold; 600 measures of gold were used for each shield. \n\t\t\t He also made three hundred small shields of hammered gold; three minas of gold were used for each of these shields. The king placed them in the Palace of the Lebanon Forest.\n\t\t\t The king made a large throne decorated with ivory and overlaid it with pure gold.\n\t\t\t There were six steps leading up to the throne, and the back of it was rounded on top. The throne had two armrests with a statue of a lion standing on each side.\n\t\t\t There were twelve statues of lions on the six steps, one lion at each end of each step. There was nothing like it in any other kingdom.\n\t\t\t All of King Solomon's cups were made of gold, and all the household items in the Palace of the Lebanon Forest were made of pure gold. There were no silver items, for silver was not considered very valuable in Solomon's time.\n\t\t\t Along with Hiram's fleet, the king had a fleet of large merchant ships that sailed the sea. Once every three years the fleet came into port with cargoes of gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.\n\t\t\t King Solomon was wealthier and wiser than any of the kings of the earth.\n\t\t\t Everyone in the world wanted to visit Solomon to see him display his God-given wisdom.\n\t\t\t Year after year visitors brought their gifts, which included items of silver, items of gold, clothes, perfume, spices, horses, and mules.\n\t\t\t Solomon accumulated chariots and horses. He had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horses. He kept them in assigned cities and in Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t The king made silver as plentiful in Jerusalem as stones; cedar was as plentiful as sycamore fig trees are in the lowlands.\n\t\t\t Solomon acquired his horses from Egypt and from Que; the king's traders purchased them from Que. \n\t\t\t They paid 600 silver pieces for each chariot from Egypt and 150 silver pieces for each horse. They also sold chariots and horses to all the kings of the Hittites and to the kings of Syria.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t King Solomon fell in love with many foreign women (besides Pharaoh's daughter), including Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites.\n\t\t\t They came from nations about which the LORD had warned the Israelites, \"You must not establish friendly relations with them! If you do, they will surely shift your allegiance to their gods.\" But Solomon was irresistibly attracted to them.\n\t\t\t He had 700 royal wives and 300 concubines; his wives had a powerful influence over him.\n\t\t\t When Solomon became old, his wives shifted his allegiance to other gods; he was not wholeheartedly devoted to the LORD his God, as his father David had been.\n\t\t\t Solomon worshiped the Sidonian goddess Astarte and the detestable Ammonite god Milcom.\n\t\t\t Solomon did evil in the LORD's sight; he did not remain loyal to the LORD, like his father David had. \n\t\t\t Furthermore, on the hill east of Jerusalem Solomon built a high place for the detestable Moabite god Chemosh and for the detestable Ammonite god Milcom.\n\t\t\t He built high places for all his foreign wives so they could burn incense and make sacrifices to their gods.\n\t\t\t The LORD was angry with Solomon because he had shifted his allegiance away from the LORD, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him on two occasions\n\t\t\t and had warned him about this very thing, so that he would not follow other gods. But he did not obey the LORD's command. \n\t\t\t So the LORD said to Solomon, \"Because you insist on doing these things and have not kept the covenantal rules I gave you, I will surely tear the kingdom away from you and give it to your servant. \n\t\t\t However, for your father David's sake I will not do this while you are alive. I will tear it away from your son's hand instead.\n\t\t\t But I will not tear away the entire kingdom; I will leave your son one tribe for my servant David's sake and for the sake of my chosen city Jerusalem.\"\n\t\t\t The LORD brought against Solomon an enemy, Hadad the Edomite, a descendant of the Edomite king. \n\t\t\t During David's campaign against Edom, Joab, the commander of the army, while on a mission to bury the dead, killed every male in Edom. \n\t\t\t For six months Joab and the entire Israelite army stayed there until they had exterminated every male in Edom.\n\t\t\t Hadad, who was only a small boy at the time, escaped with some of his father's Edomite servants and headed for Egypt.\n\t\t\t They went from Midian to Paran; they took some men from Paran and went to Egypt. Pharaoh, king of Egypt, supplied him with a house and food and even assigned him some land.\n\t\t\t Pharaoh liked Hadad so well he gave him his sister-in-law (Queen Tahpenes' sister) as a wife.\n\t\t\t Tahpenes' sister gave birth to his son, named Genubath. Tahpenes raised him in Pharaoh's palace; Genubath grew up in Pharaoh's palace among Pharaoh's sons. \n\t\t\t While in Egypt Hadad heard that David had passed away and that Joab, the commander of the army, was dead. So Hadad asked Pharaoh, \"Give me permission to leave so I can return to my homeland.\" \n\t\t\t Pharaoh said to him, \"What do you lack here that makes you want to go to your homeland?\" Hadad replied, \"Nothing, but please give me permission to leave.\"\n\t\t\t God also brought against Solomon another enemy, Rezon son of Eliada who had run away from his master, King Hadadezer of Zobah. \n\t\t\t He gathered some men and organized a raiding band. When David tried to kill them, they went to Damascus, where they settled down and gained control of the city. \n\t\t\t He was Israel's enemy throughout Solomon's reign and, like Hadad, caused trouble. He loathed Israel and ruled over Syria.\n\t\t\t Jeroboam son of Nebat, one of Solomon's servants, rebelled against the king. He was an Ephraimite from Zeredah whose mother was a widow named Zeruah. \n\t\t\t This is what prompted him to rebel against the king: Solomon built a terrace and he closed up a gap in the wall of the city of his father David.\n\t\t\t Jeroboam was a talented man; when Solomon saw that the young man was an accomplished worker, he made him the leader of the work crew from the tribe of Joseph. \n\t\t\t At that time, when Jeroboam had left Jerusalem, the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite met him on the road; the two of them were alone in the open country. Ahijah was wearing a brand new robe, \n\t\t\t and he grabbed the robe and tore it into twelve pieces. \n\t\t\t Then he told Jeroboam, \"Take ten pieces, for this is what the LORD God of Israel says: 'Look, I am about to tear the kingdom from Solomon's hand and I will give ten tribes to you.\n\t\t\t He will retain one tribe, for my servant David's sake and for the sake of Jerusalem, the city I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel.\n\t\t\t I am taking the kingdom from him because they have abandoned me and worshiped the Sidonian goddess Astarte, the Moabite god Chemosh, and the Ammonite god Milcom. They have not followed my instructions by doing what I approve and obeying my rules and regulations, like Solomon's father David did.\n\t\t\t I will not take the whole kingdom from his hand. I will allow him to be ruler for the rest of his life for the sake of my chosen servant David who kept my commandments and rules.\n\t\t\t I will take the kingdom from the hand of his son and give ten tribes to you.\n\t\t\t I will leave his son one tribe so my servant David's dynasty may continue to serve me in Jerusalem, the city I have chosen as my home.\n\t\t\t I will select you; you will rule over all you desire to have and you will be king over Israel. \n\t\t\t You must obey all I command you to do, follow my instructions, do what I approve, and keep my rules and commandments, like my servant David did. Then I will be with you and establish for you a lasting dynasty, as I did for David; I will give you Israel. \n\t\t\t I will humiliate David's descendants because of this, but not forever.\"\n\t\t\t Solomon tried to kill Jeroboam, but Jeroboam escaped to Egypt and found refuge with King Shishak of Egypt. He stayed in Egypt until Solomon died.\n\t\t\t The rest of the events of Solomon's reign, including all his accomplishments and his wise decisions, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of Solomon.\n\t\t\t Solomon ruled over all Israel from Jerusalem for forty years. \n\t\t\t Then Solomon passed away and was buried in the city of his father David. His son Rehoboam replaced him as king.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Rehoboam traveled to Shechem, for all Israel had gathered in Shechem to make Rehoboam king. \n\t\t\t When Jeroboam son of Nebat heard the news, he was still in Egypt, where he had fled from King Solomon and had been living ever since.\n\t\t\t They sent for him, and Jeroboam and the whole Israelite assembly came and spoke to Rehoboam, saying, \n\t\t\t \"Your father made us work too hard. Now if you lighten the demands he made and don't make us work as hard, we will serve you.\"\n\t\t\t He said to them, \"Go away for three days, then return to me.\" So the people went away.\n\t\t\t King Rehoboam consulted with the older advisers who had served his father Solomon when he had been alive. He asked them, \"How do you advise me to answer these people?\" \n\t\t\t They said to him, \"Today if you show a willingness to help these people and grant their request, they will be your servants from this time forward.\"\n\t\t\t But Rehoboam rejected their advice and consulted the young advisers who served him, with whom he had grown up.\n\t\t\t He asked them, \"How do you advise me to respond to these people who said to me, 'Lessen the demands your father placed on us'?\"\n\t\t\t The young advisers with whom Rehoboam had grown up said to him, \"Say this to these people who have said to you, 'Your father made us work hard, but now lighten our burden.' Say this to them: 'I am a lot harsher than my father!\n\t\t\t My father imposed heavy demands on you; I will make them even heavier. My father punished you with ordinary whips; I will punish you with whips that really sting your flesh.'\"\n\t\t\t Jeroboam and all the people reported to Rehoboam on the third day, just as the king had ordered when he said, \"Return to me on the third day.\" \n\t\t\t The king responded to the people harshly. He rejected the advice of the older men\n\t\t\t and followed the advice of the younger ones. He said, \"My father imposed heavy demands on you; I will make them even heavier. My father punished you with ordinary whips; I will punish you with whips that really sting your flesh.\"\n\t\t\t The king refused to listen to the people, because the LORD was instigating this turn of events so that he might bring to pass the prophetic announcement he had made through Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam son of Nebat.\n\t\t\t When all Israel saw that the king refused to listen to them, the people answered the king, \"We have no portion in David, no share in the son of Jesse! Return to your homes, O Israel! Now, look after your own dynasty, O David!\" So Israel returned to their homes.\n\t\t\t (Rehoboam continued to rule over the Israelites who lived in the cities of Judah.)\n\t\t\t King Rehoboam sent Adoniram, the supervisor of the work crews, out after them, but all Israel stoned him to death. King Rehoboam managed to jump into his chariot and escape to Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t So Israel has been in rebellion against the Davidic dynasty to this very day.\n\t\t\t When all Israel heard that Jeroboam had returned, they summoned him to the assembly and made him king over all Israel. No one except the tribe of Judah remained loyal to the Davidic dynasty.\n\t\t\t When Rehoboam arrived in Jerusalem, he summoned 180,000 skilled warriors from all of Judah and the tribe of Benjamin to attack Israel and restore the kingdom to Rehoboam son of Solomon. \n\t\t\t But God told Shemaiah the prophet,\n\t\t\t \"Say this to King Rehoboam son of Solomon of Judah, and to all Judah and Benjamin, as well as the rest of the people,\n\t\t\t 'The LORD says this: \"Do not attack and make war with your brothers, the Israelites. Each of you go home, for I have caused this to happen.\"'\" They obeyed the LORD and went home as the LORD had ordered them to do.\n\t\t\t Jeroboam built up Shechem in the Ephraimite hill country and lived there. From there he went out and built up Penuel. \n\t\t\t Jeroboam then thought to himself: \"Now the Davidic dynasty could regain the kingdom.\n\t\t\t If these people go up to offer sacrifices in the LORD's temple in Jerusalem, their loyalty could shift to their former master, King Rehoboam of Judah. They might kill me and return to King Rehoboam of Judah.\" \n\t\t\t After the king had consulted with his advisers, he made two golden calves. Then he said to the people, \"It is too much trouble for you to go up to Jerusalem. Look, Israel, here are your gods who brought you up from the land of Egypt.\" \n\t\t\t He put one in Bethel and the other in Dan. \n\t\t\t This caused Israel to sin; the people went to Bethel and Dan to worship the calves.\n\t\t\t He built temples on the high places and appointed as priests people who were not Levites. \n\t\t\t Jeroboam inaugurated a festival on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, like the festival celebrated in Judah. On the altar in Bethel he offered sacrifices to the calves he had made. In Bethel he also appointed priests for the high places he had made.\n\t\t\t On the fifteenth day of the eighth month (a date he had arbitrarily chosen) Jeroboam offered sacrifices on the altar he had made in Bethel. He inaugurated a festival for the Israelites and went up to the altar to offer sacrifices. \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Just then a prophet from Judah, sent by the LORD, arrived in Bethel, as Jeroboam was standing near the altar ready to offer a sacrifice.\n\t\t\t With the authority of the LORD he cried out against the altar, \"O altar, altar! This is what the LORD says, 'Look, a son named Josiah will be born to the Davidic dynasty. He will sacrifice on you the priests of the high places who offer sacrifices on you. Human bones will be burned on you.'\"\n\t\t\t That day he also announced a sign, \"This is the sign the LORD has predetermined: The altar will be split open and the ashes on it will fall to the ground.\"\n\t\t\t When the king heard what the prophet cried out against the altar in Bethel, Jeroboam, standing at the altar, extended his hand and ordered, \"Seize him!\" The hand he had extended shriveled up and he could not pull it back. \n\t\t\t The altar split open and the ashes fell from the altar to the ground, in fulfillment of the sign the prophet had announced with the LORD's authority.\n\t\t\t The king pled with the prophet, \"Seek the favor of the LORD your God and pray for me, so that my hand may be restored.\" So the prophet sought the LORD's favor and the king's hand was restored to its former condition.\n\t\t\t The king then said to the prophet, \"Come home with me and have something to eat. I'd like to give a present.\"\n\t\t\t But the prophet said to the king, \"Even if you were to give me half your possessions, I could not go with you and eat and drink in this place. \n\t\t\t For the LORD gave me strict orders, 'Do not eat or drink there and do not go home the way you came.'\" \n\t\t\t So he started back on another road; he did not travel back on the same road he had taken to Bethel.\n\t\t\t Now there was an old prophet living in Bethel. When his sons came home, they told their father everything the prophet had done in Bethel that day and all the words he had spoken to the king.\n\t\t\t Their father asked them, \"Which road did he take?\" His sons showed him the road the prophet from Judah had taken. \n\t\t\t He then told his sons, \"Saddle the donkey for me.\" When they had saddled the donkey for him, he mounted it\n\t\t\t and took off after the prophet, whom he found sitting under an oak tree. He asked him, \"Are you the prophet from Judah?\" He answered, \"Yes, I am.\" \n\t\t\t He then said to him, \"Come home with me and eat something.\"\n\t\t\t But he replied, \"I can't go back with you or eat and drink with you in this place. \n\t\t\t For the LORD gave me strict orders, 'Do not eat or drink there; do not go back the way you came.'\" \n\t\t\t The old prophet then said, \"I too am a prophet like you. An angel told me with the LORD's authority, 'Bring him back with you to your house so he can eat and drink.'\" But he was lying to him.\n\t\t\t So the prophet went back with him and ate and drank in his house.\n\t\t\t While they were sitting at the table, the LORD spoke through the old prophet\n\t\t\t and he cried out to the prophet from Judah, \"This is what the LORD says, 'You have rebelled against the LORD and have not obeyed the command the LORD your God gave you. \n\t\t\t You went back and ate and drank in this place, even though he said to you, \"Do not eat or drink there.\" Therefore your corpse will not be buried in your ancestral tomb.'\"\n\t\t\t When the prophet from Judah finished his meal, the old prophet saddled his visitor's donkey for him.\n\t\t\t As the prophet from Judah was traveling, a lion attacked him on the road and killed him. His corpse was lying on the road, and the donkey and the lion just stood there beside it.\n\t\t\t Some men came by and saw the corpse lying in the road with the lion standing beside it. They went and reported what they had seen in the city where the old prophet lived. \n\t\t\t When the old prophet who had invited him to his house heard the news, he said, \"It is the prophet who rebelled against the LORD. The LORD delivered him over to the lion and it ripped him up and killed him, just as the LORD warned him.\"\n\t\t\t He told his sons, \"Saddle my donkey,\" and they did so.\n\t\t\t He went and found the corpse lying in the road with the donkey and the lion standing beside it; the lion had neither eaten the corpse nor attacked the donkey. \n\t\t\t The old prophet picked up the corpse of the prophet, put it on the donkey, and brought it back. The old prophet then entered the city to mourn him and to bury him. \n\t\t\t He put the corpse into his own tomb, and they mourned over him, saying, \"Ah, my brother!\" \n\t\t\t After he buried him, he said to his sons, \"When I die, bury me in the tomb where the prophet is buried; put my bones right beside his bones, \n\t\t\t for the prophecy he announced with the LORD's authority against the altar in Bethel and against all the temples on the high places in the cities of the north will certainly be fulfilled.\"\n\t\t\t After this happened, Jeroboam still did not change his evil ways; he continued to appoint common people as priests at the high places. Anyone who wanted the job he consecrated as a priest.\n\t\t\t This sin caused Jeroboam's dynasty to come to an end and to be destroyed from the face of the earth.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t At that time Jeroboam's son Abijah became sick. \n\t\t\t Jeroboam told his wife, \"Disguise yourself so that people cannot recognize you are Jeroboam's wife. Then go to Shiloh; Ahijah the prophet, who told me I would rule over this nation, lives there.\n\t\t\t Take ten loaves of bread, some small cakes, and a container of honey and visit him. He will tell you what will happen to the boy.\"\n\t\t\t Jeroboam's wife did as she was told. She went to Shiloh and visited Ahijah. Now Ahijah could not see; he had lost his eyesight in his old age.\n\t\t\t But the LORD had told Ahijah, \"Look, Jeroboam's wife is coming to find out from you what will happen to her son, for he is sick. Tell her so-and-so. When she comes, she will be in a disguise.\"\n\t\t\t When Ahijah heard the sound of her footsteps as she came through the door, he said, \"Come on in, wife of Jeroboam! Why are you pretending to be someone else? I have been commissioned to give you bad news.\n\t\t\t Go, tell Jeroboam, 'This is what the LORD God of Israel says: \"I raised you up from among the people and made you ruler over my people Israel. \n\t\t\t I tore the kingdom away from the Davidic dynasty and gave it to you. But you are not like my servant David, who kept my commandments and followed me wholeheartedly by doing only what I approve.\n\t\t\t You have sinned more than all who came before you. You went and angered me by making other gods, formed out of metal; you have completely disregarded me.\n\t\t\t So I am ready to bring disaster on the dynasty of Jeroboam. I will cut off every last male belonging to Jeroboam in Israel, including even the weak and incapacitated. I will burn up the dynasty of Jeroboam, just as one burns manure until it is completely consumed.\n\t\t\t Dogs will eat the members of your family who die in the city, and the birds of the sky will eat the ones who die in the country.\"' Indeed, the LORD has announced it!\n\t\t\t \"As for you, get up and go home. When you set foot in the city, the boy will die.\n\t\t\t All Israel will mourn him and bury him. He is the only one in Jeroboam's family who will receive a decent burial, for he is the only one in whom the LORD God of Israel found anything good. \n\t\t\t The LORD will raise up a king over Israel who will cut off Jeroboam's dynasty. It is ready to happen!\n\t\t\t The LORD will attack Israel, making it like a reed that sways in the water. He will remove Israel from this good land he gave to their ancestors and scatter them beyond the Euphrates River, because they angered the LORD by making Asherah poles.\n\t\t\t He will hand Israel over to their enemies because of the sins which Jeroboam committed and which he made Israel commit.\"\n\t\t\t So Jeroboam's wife got up and went back to Tirzah. As she crossed the threshold of the house, the boy died. \n\t\t\t All Israel buried him and mourned for him, just as the LORD had predicted through his servant the prophet Ahijah.\n\t\t\t The rest of the events of Jeroboam's reign, including the details of his battles and rule, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Israel.\n\t\t\t Jeroboam ruled for twenty-two years; then he passed away. His son Nadab replaced him as king.\n\t\t\t Now Rehoboam son of Solomon ruled in Judah. He was forty-one years old when he became king and he ruled for seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city the LORD chose from all the tribes of Israel to be his home. His mother was an Ammonite woman named Naamah.\n\t\t\t Judah did evil in the sight of the LORD. They made him more jealous by their sins than their ancestors had done.\n\t\t\t They even built for themselves high places, sacred pillars, and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every green tree.\n\t\t\t There were also male cultic prostitutes in the land. They committed the same horrible sins as the nations that the LORD had driven out from before the Israelites.\n\t\t\t In King Rehoboam's fifth year, King Shishak of Egypt attacked Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t He took away the treasures of the LORD's temple and of the royal palace; he took everything, including all the golden shields that Solomon had made.\n\t\t\t King Rehoboam made bronze shields to replace them and assigned them to the officers of the royal guard who protected the entrance to the royal palace. \n\t\t\t Whenever the king visited the LORD's temple, the royal guard carried them and then brought them back to the guardroom.\n\t\t\t The rest of the events of Rehoboam's reign, including his accomplishments, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Judah.\n\t\t\t Rehoboam and Jeroboam were continually at war with each other.\n\t\t\t Rehoboam passed away and was buried with his ancestors in the city of David. His mother was an Ammonite named Naamah. His son Abijah replaced him as king.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t In the eighteenth year of the reign of Jeroboam son of Nebat, Abijah became king over Judah. \n\t\t\t He ruled for three years in Jerusalem. His mother was Maacah, the daughter of Abishalom.\n\t\t\t He followed all the sinful practices of his father before him. He was not wholeheartedly devoted to the LORD his God, as his ancestor David had been.\n\t\t\t Nevertheless for David's sake the LORD his God maintained his dynasty in Jerusalem by giving him a son to succeed him and by protecting Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t He did this because David had done what he approved and had not disregarded any of his commandments his entire lifetime, except for the incident involving Uriah the Hittite. \n\t\t\t Rehoboam and Jeroboam were continually at war with each other throughout Abijah's lifetime. \n\t\t\t The rest of the events of Abijah's reign, including all his accomplishments, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Judah. Abijah and Jeroboam had been at war with each other. \n\t\t\t Abijah passed away and was buried in the city of David. His son Asa replaced him as king.\n\t\t\t In the twentieth year of Jeroboam's reign over Israel, Asa became the king of Judah.\n\t\t\t He ruled for forty-one years in Jerusalem. His grandmother was Maacah daughter of Abishalom. \n\t\t\t Asa did what the LORD approved like his ancestor David had done. \n\t\t\t He removed the male cultic prostitutes from the land and got rid of all the disgusting idols his ancestors had made. \n\t\t\t He also removed Maacah his grandmother from her position as queen because she had made a loathsome Asherah pole. Asa cut down her Asherah pole and burned it in the Kidron Valley. \n\t\t\t The high places were not eliminated, yet Asa was wholeheartedly devoted to the LORD throughout his lifetime.\n\t\t\t He brought the holy items that he and his father had made into the LORD's temple, including the silver, gold, and other articles.\n\t\t\t Now Asa and King Baasha of Israel were continually at war with each other.\n\t\t\t King Baasha of Israel attacked Judah and established Ramah as a military outpost to prevent anyone from leaving or entering the land of King Asa of Judah.\n\t\t\t Asa took all the silver and gold that was left in the treasuries of the LORD's temple and of the royal palace and handed it to his servants. He then told them to deliver it to Ben Hadad son of Tabrimmon, the son of Hezion, king of Syria, ruler in Damascus, along with this message: \n\t\t\t \"I want to make a treaty with you, like the one our fathers made. See, I have sent you silver and gold as a present. Break your treaty with King Baasha of Israel, so he will retreat from my land.\"\n\t\t\t Ben Hadad accepted King Asa's offer and ordered his army commanders to attack the cities of Israel. They conquered Ijon, Dan, Abel Beth Maacah, and all the territory of Naphtali, including the region of Kinnereth.\n\t\t\t When Baasha heard the news, he stopped fortifying Ramah and settled down in Tirzah. \n\t\t\t King Asa ordered all the men of Judah (no exemptions were granted) to carry away the stones and wood that Baasha had used to build Ramah. King Asa used the materials to build up Geba (in Benjamin) and Mizpah.\n\t\t\t The rest of the events of Asa's reign, including all his successes and accomplishments, as well as a record of the cities he built, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Judah. Yet when he was very old he developed a foot disease.\n\t\t\t Asa passed away and was buried with his ancestors in the city of his ancestor David. His son Jehoshaphat replaced him as king.\n\t\t\t In the second year of Asa's reign over Judah, Jeroboam's son Nadab became the king of Israel; he ruled Israel for two years.\n\t\t\t He did evil in the sight of the LORD. He followed in his father's footsteps and encouraged Israel to sin.\n\t\t\t Baasha son of Ahijah, from the tribe of Issachar, conspired against Nadab and assassinated him in Gibbethon, which was in Philistine territory. This happened while Nadab and all the Israelite army were besieging Gibbethon. \n\t\t\t Baasha killed him in the third year of Asa's reign over Judah and replaced him as king.\n\t\t\t When he became king, he executed Jeroboam's entire family. He wiped out everyone who breathed, just as the LORD had predicted through his servant Ahijah the Shilonite. \n\t\t\t This happened because of the sins which Jeroboam committed and which he made Israel commit. These sins angered the LORD God of Israel.\n\t\t\t The rest of the events of Nadab's reign, including all his accomplishments, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Israel.\n\t\t\t Asa and King Nadab of Israel were continually at war with each other.\n\t\t\t In the third year of Asa's reign over Judah, Baasha son of Ahijah became king over all Israel in Tirzah; he ruled for twenty-four years.\n\t\t\t He did evil in the sight of the LORD; he followed in Jeroboam's footsteps and encouraged Israel to sin.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Jehu son of Hanani received from the LORD this message predicting Baasha's downfall:\n\t\t\t \"I raised you up from the dust and made you ruler over my people Israel. Yet you followed in Jeroboam's footsteps and encouraged my people Israel to sin; their sins have made me angry.\n\t\t\t So I am ready to burn up Baasha and his family, and make your family like the family of Jeroboam son of Nebat. \n\t\t\t Dogs will eat the members of Baasha's family who die in the city, and the birds of the sky will eat the ones who die in the country.\"\n\t\t\t The rest of the events of Baasha's reign, including his accomplishments and successes, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Israel.\n\t\t\t Baasha passed away and was buried in Tirzah. His son Elah replaced him as king. \n\t\t\t The prophet Jehu son of Hanani received from the LORD the message predicting the downfall of Baasha and his family because of all the evil Baasha had done in the sight of the LORD. His actions angered the LORD (including the way he had destroyed Jeroboam's dynasty), so that his family ended up like Jeroboam's.\n\t\t\t In the twenty-sixth year of King Asa's reign over Judah, Baasha's son Elah became king over Israel; he ruled in Tirzah for two years.\n\t\t\t His servant Zimri, a commander of half of his chariot force, conspired against him. While Elah was drinking heavily at the house of Arza, who supervised the palace in Tirzah, \n\t\t\t Zimri came in and struck him dead. (This happened in the twenty-seventh year of Asa's reign over Judah.) Zimri replaced Elah as king.\n\t\t\t When he became king and occupied the throne, he killed Baasha's entire family. He did not spare any male belonging to him; he killed his relatives and his friends.\n\t\t\t Zimri destroyed Baasha's entire family, just as the LORD had predicted to Baasha through Jehu the prophet. \n\t\t\t This happened because of all the sins which Baasha and his son Elah committed and which they made Israel commit. They angered the LORD God of Israel with their worthless idols.\n\t\t\t The rest of the events of Elah's reign, including all his accomplishments, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Israel.\n\t\t\t In the twenty-seventh year of Asa's reign over Judah, Zimri became king over Israel; he ruled for seven days in Tirzah. Zimri's revolt took place while the army was deployed in Gibbethon, which was in Philistine territory. \n\t\t\t While deployed there, the army received this report: \"Zimri has conspired against the king and assassinated him.\" So all Israel made Omri, the commander of the army, king over Israel that very day in the camp. \n\t\t\t Omri and all Israel went up from Gibbethon and besieged Tirzah.\n\t\t\t When Zimri saw that the city was captured, he went into the fortified area of the royal palace. He set the palace on fire and died in the flames.\n\t\t\t This happened because of the sins he committed. He did evil in the sight of the LORD and followed in Jeroboam's footsteps and encouraged Israel to continue sinning.\n\t\t\t The rest of the events of Zimri's reign, including the details of his revolt, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Israel.\n\t\t\t At that time the people of Israel were divided in their loyalties. Half the people supported Tibni son of Ginath and wanted to make him king; the other half supported Omri.\n\t\t\t Omri's supporters were stronger than those who supported Tibni son of Ginath. Tibni died; Omri became king.\n\t\t\t In the thirty-first year of Asa's reign over Judah, Omri became king over Israel. He ruled for twelve years, six of them in Tirzah.\n\t\t\t He purchased the hill of Samaria from Shemer for two talents of silver. He launched a construction project there and named the city he built after Shemer, the former owner of the hill of Samaria. \n\t\t\t Omri did more evil in the sight of the LORD than all who were before him. \n\t\t\t He followed in the footsteps of Jeroboam son of Nebat and encouraged Israel to sin; they angered the LORD God of Israel with their worthless idols.\n\t\t\t The rest of the events of Omri's reign, including his accomplishments and successes, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Israel.\n\t\t\t Omri passed away and was buried in Samaria. His son Ahab replaced him as king.\n\t\t\t In the thirty-eighth year of Asa's reign over Judah, Omri's son Ahab became king over Israel. Ahab son of Omri ruled over Israel for twenty-two years in Samaria.\n\t\t\t Ahab son of Omri did more evil in the sight of the LORD than all who were before him. \n\t\t\t As if following in the sinful footsteps of Jeroboam son of Nebat were not bad enough, he married Jezebel the daughter of King Ethbaal of the Sidonians. Then he worshiped and bowed to Baal.\n\t\t\t He set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal he had built in Samaria.\n\t\t\t Ahab also made an Asherah pole; he did more to anger the LORD God of Israel than all the kings of Israel who were before him.\n\t\t\t During Ahab's reign, Hiel the Bethelite rebuilt Jericho. Abiram, his firstborn son, died when he laid the foundation; Segub, his youngest son, died when he erected its gates, just as the LORD had warned through Joshua son of Nun.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, \"As certainly as the LORD God of Israel lives (whom I serve), there will be no dew or rain in the years ahead unless I give the command.\"\n\t\t\t The LORD told him:\n\t\t\t \"Leave here and travel eastward. Hide out in the Kerith Valley near the Jordan.\n\t\t\t Drink from the stream; I have already told the ravens to bring you food there.\" \n\t\t\t So he did as the LORD told him; he went and lived in the Kerith Valley near the Jordan. \n\t\t\t The ravens would bring him bread and meat each morning and evening, and he would drink from the stream.\n\t\t\t After a while, the stream dried up because there had been no rain in the land. \n\t\t\t The LORD told him,\n\t\t\t \"Get up, go to Zarephath in Sidonian territory, and live there. I have already told a widow who lives there to provide for you.\" \n\t\t\t So he got up and went to Zarephath. When he went through the city gate, there was a widow gathering wood. He called out to her, \"Please give me a cup of water, so I can take a drink.\" \n\t\t\t As she went to get it, he called out to her, \"Please bring me a piece of bread.\"\n\t\t\t She said, \"As certainly as the LORD your God lives, I have no food, except for a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a jug. Right now I am gathering a couple of sticks for a fire. Then I'm going home to make one final meal for my son and myself. After we have eaten that, we will die of starvation.\"\n\t\t\t Elijah said to her, \"Don't be afraid. Go and do as you planned. But first make a small cake for me and bring it to me; then make something for yourself and your son. \n\t\t\t For this is what the LORD God of Israel says, 'The jar of flour will not be empty and the jug of oil will not run out until the day the LORD makes it rain on the surface of the ground.'\"\n\t\t\t She went and did as Elijah told her; there was always enough food for Elijah and for her and her family.\n\t\t\t The jar of flour was never empty and the jug of oil never ran out, just as the LORD had promised through Elijah.\n\t\t\t After this the son of the woman who owned the house got sick. His illness was so severe he could no longer breathe. \n\t\t\t She asked Elijah, \"Why, prophet, have you come to me to confront me with my sin and kill my son?\" \n\t\t\t He said to her, \"Hand me your son.\" He took him from her arms, carried him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him down on his bed.\n\t\t\t Then he called out to the LORD, \"O LORD, my God, are you also bringing disaster on this widow I am staying with by killing her son?\"\n\t\t\t He stretched out over the boy three times and called out to the LORD, \"O LORD, my God, please let this boy's breath return to him.\"\n\t\t\t The LORD answered Elijah's prayer; the boy's breath returned to him and he lived.\n\t\t\t Elijah took the boy, brought him down from the upper room to the house, and handed him to his mother. Elijah then said, \"See, your son is alive!\"\n\t\t\t The woman said to Elijah, \"Now I know that you are a prophet and that the LORD really does speak through you.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Some time later, in the third year of the famine, the LORD told Elijah, \"Go, make an appearance before Ahab, so I may send rain on the surface of the ground.\" \n\t\t\t So Elijah went to make an appearance before Ahab. Now the famine was severe in Samaria.\n\t\t\t So Ahab summoned Obadiah, who supervised the palace. (Now Obadiah was a very loyal follower of the LORD.\n\t\t\t When Jezebel was killing the LORD's prophets, Obadiah took one hundred prophets and hid them in two caves in two groups of fifty. He also brought them food and water.) \n\t\t\t Ahab told Obadiah, \"Go through the land to all the springs and valleys. Maybe we can find some grazing areas so we can keep the horses and mules alive and not have to kill some of the animals.\" \n\t\t\t They divided up the land between them; Ahab went one way and Obadiah went the other.\n\t\t\t As Obadiah was traveling along, Elijah met him. When he recognized him, he fell facedown to the ground and said, \"Is it really you, my master, Elijah?\" \n\t\t\t He replied, \"Yes, go and say to your master, 'Elijah is back.'\"\n\t\t\t Obadiah said, \"What sin have I committed that you are ready to hand your servant over to Ahab for execution?\n\t\t\t As certainly as the LORD your God lives, my master has sent to every nation and kingdom in an effort to find you. When they say, 'He's not here,' he makes them swear an oath that they could not find you. \n\t\t\t Now you say, 'Go and say to your master, \"Elijah is back.\"'\n\t\t\t But when I leave you, the LORD's spirit will carry you away so I can't find you. If I go tell Ahab I've seen you, he won't be able to find you and he will kill me. That would not be fair, because your servant has been a loyal follower of the LORD from my youth. \n\t\t\t Certainly my master is aware of what I did when Jezebel was killing the LORD's prophets. I hid one hundred of the LORD's prophets in two caves in two groups of fifty and I brought them food and water. \n\t\t\t Now you say, 'Go and say to your master, \"Elijah is back,\"' but he will kill me.\" \n\t\t\t But Elijah said, \"As certainly as the LORD WHO RULES OVER ALL lives (whom I serve), I will make an appearance before him today.\"\n\t\t\t When Obadiah went and informed Ahab, the king went to meet Elijah.\n\t\t\t When Ahab saw Elijah, he said to him, \"Is it really you, the one who brings disaster on Israel?\" \n\t\t\t Elijah replied, \"I have not brought disaster on Israel. But you and your father's dynasty have, by abandoning the LORD's commandments and following the Baals. \n\t\t\t Now send out messengers and assemble all Israel before me at Mount Carmel, as well as the 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of Asherah whom Jezebel supports.\n\t\t\t Ahab sent messengers to all the Israelites and had the prophets assemble at Mount Carmel.\n\t\t\t Elijah approached all the people and said, \"How long are you going to be paralyzed by indecision? If the LORD is the true God, then follow him, but if Baal is, follow him!\" But the people did not say a word. \n\t\t\t Elijah said to them: \"I am the only prophet of the LORD who is left, but there are 450 prophets of Baal. \n\t\t\t Let them bring us two bulls. Let them choose one of the bulls for themselves, cut it up into pieces, and place it on the wood. But they must not set it on fire. I will do the same to the other bull and place it on the wood. But I will not set it on fire.\n\t\t\t Then you will invoke the name of your god, and I will invoke the name of the LORD. The god who responds with fire will demonstrate that he is the true God.\" All the people responded, \"This will be a fair test.\"\n\t\t\t Elijah told the prophets of Baal, \"Choose one of the bulls for yourselves and go first, for you are the majority. Invoke the name of your god, but do not light a fire.\"\n\t\t\t So they took a bull, as he had suggested, and prepared it. They invoked the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, \"Baal, answer us.\" But there was no sound and no answer. They jumped around on the altar they had made.\n\t\t\t At noon Elijah mocked them, \"Yell louder! After all, he is a god; he may be deep in thought, or perhaps he stepped out for a moment or has taken a trip. Perhaps he is sleeping and needs to be awakened.\"\n\t\t\t So they yelled louder and, in accordance with their prescribed ritual, mutilated themselves with swords and spears until their bodies were covered with blood.\n\t\t\t Throughout the afternoon they were in an ecstatic frenzy, but there was no sound, no answer, and no response.\n\t\t\t Elijah then told all the people, \"Approach me.\" So all the people approached him. He repaired the altar of the LORD that had been torn down.\n\t\t\t Then Elijah took twelve stones, corresponding to the number of tribes that descended from Jacob, to whom the LORD had said, \"Israel will be your new name.\"\n\t\t\t With the stones he constructed an altar for the LORD. Around the altar he made a trench large enough to contain two seahs of seed. \n\t\t\t He arranged the wood, cut up the bull, and placed it on the wood.\n\t\t\t Then he said, \"Fill four water jars and pour the water on the offering and the wood.\" When they had done so, he said, \"Do it again.\" So they did it again. Then he said, \"Do it a third time.\" So they did it a third time. \n\t\t\t The water flowed down all sides of the altar and filled the trench.\n\t\t\t When it was time for the evening offering, Elijah the prophet approached the altar and prayed: \"O LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, prove today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command.\n\t\t\t Answer me, O LORD, answer me, so these people will know that you, O LORD, are the true God and that you are winning back their allegiance.\"\n\t\t\t Then fire from the LORD fell from the sky. It consumed the offering, the wood, the stones, and the dirt, and licked up the water in the trench. \n\t\t\t When all the people saw this, they threw themselves down with their faces to the ground and said, \"The LORD is the true God! The LORD is the true God!\" \n\t\t\t Elijah told them, \"Seize the prophets of Baal! Don't let even one of them escape!\" So they seized them, and Elijah led them down to the Kishon Valley and executed them there.\n\t\t\t Then Elijah told Ahab, \"Go on up and eat and drink, for the sound of a heavy rainstorm can be heard.\"\n\t\t\t So Ahab went on up to eat and drink, while Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel. He bent down toward the ground and put his face between his knees.\n\t\t\t He told his servant, \"Go on up and look in the direction of the sea.\" So he went on up, looked, and reported, \"There is nothing.\" Seven times Elijah sent him to look.\n\t\t\t The seventh time the servant said, \"Look, a small cloud, the size of the palm of a man's hand, is rising up from the sea.\" Elijah then said, \"Go and tell Ahab, 'Hitch up the chariots and go down, so that the rain won't overtake you.'\"\n\t\t\t Meanwhile the sky was covered with dark clouds, the wind blew, and there was a heavy rainstorm. Ahab rode toward Jezreel. \n\t\t\t Now the LORD energized Elijah with power; he tucked his robe into his belt and ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, including a detailed account of how he killed all the prophets with the sword.\n\t\t\t Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah with this warning, \"May the gods judge me severely if by this time tomorrow I do not take your life as you did theirs!\"\n\t\t\t Elijah was afraid, so he got up and fled for his life to Beer Sheba in Judah. He left his servant there, \n\t\t\t while he went a day's journey into the desert. He went and sat down under a shrub and asked the LORD to take his life: \"I've had enough! Now, O LORD, take my life. After all, I'm no better than my ancestors.\"\n\t\t\t He stretched out and fell asleep under the shrub. All of a sudden an angelic messenger touched him and said, \"Get up and eat.\" \n\t\t\t He looked and right there by his head was a cake baking on hot coals and a jug of water. He ate and drank and then slept some more.\n\t\t\t The LORD's angelic messenger came back again, touched him, and said, \"Get up and eat, for otherwise you won't be able to make the journey.\"\n\t\t\t So he got up and ate and drank. That meal gave him the strength to travel forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God.\n\t\t\t He went into a cave there and spent the night. All of a sudden the LORD spoke to him, \"Why are you here, Elijah?\"\n\t\t\t He answered, \"I have been absolutely loyal to the LORD, the sovereign God, even though the Israelites have abandoned the agreement they made with you, torn down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left and now they want to take my life.\"\n\t\t\t The LORD said, \"Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD. Look, the LORD is ready to pass by.\" A very powerful wind went before the LORD, digging into the mountain and causing landslides, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the windstorm there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake.\n\t\t\t After the earthquake, there was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. After the fire, there was a soft whisper.\n\t\t\t When Elijah heard it, he covered his face with his robe and went out and stood at the entrance to the cave. All of a sudden a voice asked him, \"Why are you here, Elijah?\" \n\t\t\t He answered, \"I have been absolutely loyal to the LORD, the sovereign God, even though the Israelites have abandoned the agreement they made with you, torn down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left and now they want to take my life.\"\n\t\t\t The LORD said to him, \"Go back the way you came and then head for the Desert of Damascus. Go and anoint Hazael king over Syria.\n\t\t\t You must anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to take your place as prophet.\n\t\t\t Jehu will kill anyone who escapes Hazael's sword, and Elisha will kill anyone who escapes Jehu's sword.\n\t\t\t I still have left in Israel seven thousand followers who have not bowed their knees to Baal or kissed the images of him.\"\n\t\t\t Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve pairs of oxen; he was near the twelfth pair. Elijah passed by him and threw his robe over him.\n\t\t\t He left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, \"Please let me kiss my father and mother goodbye, then I will follow you.\" Elijah said to him, \"Go back! Indeed, what have I done to you?\" \n\t\t\t Elisha went back and took his pair of oxen and slaughtered them. He cooked the meat over a fire that he made by burning the harness and yoke. He gave the people meat and they ate. Then he got up and followed Elijah and became his assistant.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now King Ben Hadad of Syria assembled all his army, along with thirty-two other kings with their horses and chariots. He marched against Samaria and besieged and attacked it.\n\t\t\t He sent messengers to King Ahab of Israel, who was in the city.\n\t\t\t He said to him, \"This is what Ben Hadad says, 'Your silver and your gold are mine, as well as the best of your wives and sons.'\"\n\t\t\t The king of Israel replied, \"It is just as you say, my master, O king. I and all I own belong to you.\"\n\t\t\t The messengers came again and said, \"This is what Ben Hadad says, 'I sent this message to you, \"You must give me your silver, gold, wives, and sons.\"\n\t\t\t But now at this time tomorrow I will send my servants to you and they will search through your palace and your servants' houses. They will carry away all your valuables.\"\n\t\t\t The king of Israel summoned all the leaders of the land and said, \"Notice how this man is looking for trouble. Indeed, he demanded my wives, sons, silver, and gold, and I did not resist him.\" \n\t\t\t All the leaders and people said to him, \"Do not give in or agree to his demands.\"\n\t\t\t So he said to the messengers of Ben Hadad, \"Say this to my master, the king, 'I will give you everything you demanded at first from your servant, but I am unable to agree to this latest demand.'\" So the messengers went back and gave their report.\n\t\t\t Ben Hadad sent another message to him, \"May the gods judge me severely if there is enough dirt left in Samaria for my soldiers to scoop up in their hands.\"\n\t\t\t The king of Israel replied, \"Tell him the one who puts on his battle gear should not boast like one who is taking it off.\"\n\t\t\t When Ben Hadad received this reply, he and the other kings were drinking in their quarters. He ordered his servants, \"Get ready to attack!\" So they got ready to attack the city.\n\t\t\t Now a prophet visited King Ahab of Israel and said, \"This is what the LORD says, 'Do you see this huge army? Look, I am going to hand it over to you this very day. Then you will know that I am the LORD.'\" \n\t\t\t Ahab asked, \"By whom will this be accomplished?\" He answered, \"This is what the LORD says, 'By the servants of the district governors.'\" Ahab asked, \"Who will launch the attack?\" He answered, \"You will.\"\n\t\t\t So Ahab assembled the 232 servants of the district governors. After that he assembled all the Israelite army, numbering 7,000.\n\t\t\t They marched out at noon, while Ben Hadad and the thirty-two kings allied with him were drinking heavily in their quarters.\n\t\t\t The servants of the district governors led the march. When Ben Hadad sent messengers, they reported back to him, \"Men are marching out of Samaria.\"\n\t\t\t He ordered, \"Whether they come in peace or to do battle, take them alive.\"\n\t\t\t They marched out of the city with the servants of the district governors in the lead and the army behind them.\n\t\t\t Each one struck down an enemy soldier; the Syrians fled and Israel chased them. King Ben Hadad of Syria escaped on horseback with some horsemen. \n\t\t\t Then the king of Israel marched out and struck down the horses and chariots; he thoroughly defeated Syria.\n\t\t\t The prophet visited the king of Israel and instructed him, \"Go, fortify your defenses. Determine what you must do, for in the spring the king of Syria will attack you.\" \n\t\t\t Now the advisers of the king of Syria said to him: \"Their God is a god of the mountains. That's why they overpowered us. But if we fight them in the plains, we will certainly overpower them. \n\t\t\t So do this: Dismiss the kings from their command, and replace them with military commanders.\n\t\t\t Muster an army like the one you lost, with the same number of horses and chariots. Then we will fight them in the plains; we will certainly overpower them.\" He approved their plan and did as they advised.\n\t\t\t In the spring Ben Hadad mustered the Syrian army and marched to Aphek to fight Israel.\n\t\t\t When the Israelites had mustered and had received their supplies, they marched out to face them in battle. When the Israelites deployed opposite them, they were like two small flocks of goats, but the Syrians filled the land. \n\t\t\t The prophet visited the king of Israel and said, \"This is what the LORD says: 'Because the Syrians said, \"The LORD is a god of the mountains and not a god of the valleys,\" I will hand over to you this entire huge army. Then you will know that I am the LORD.'\"\n\t\t\t The armies were deployed opposite each other for seven days. On the seventh day the battle began, and the Israelites killed 100,000 Syrian foot soldiers in one day.\n\t\t\t The remaining 27,000 ran to Aphek and went into the city, but the wall fell on them. Now Ben Hadad ran into the city and hid in an inner room.\n\t\t\t His advisers said to him, \"Look, we have heard that the kings of the Israelite dynasty are kind. Allow us to put sackcloth around our waists and ropes on our heads and surrender to the king of Israel. Maybe he will spare our lives.\" \n\t\t\t So they put sackcloth around their waists and ropes on their heads and went to the king of Israel. They said, \"Your servant Ben Hadad says, 'Please let me live!'\" Ahab replied, \"Is he still alive? He is my brother.\"\n\t\t\t The men took this as a good omen and quickly accepted his offer, saying, \"Ben Hadad is your brother.\" Ahab then said, \"Go, get him.\" So Ben Hadad came out to him, and Ahab pulled him up into his chariot. \n\t\t\t Ben Hadad said, \"I will return the cities my father took from your father. You may set up markets in Damascus, just as my father did in Samaria.\" Ahab then said, \"I want to make a treaty with you before I dismiss you.\" So he made a treaty with him and then dismissed him.\n\t\t\t One of the members of the prophetic guild, speaking with divine authority, ordered his companion, \"Wound me!\" But the man refused to wound him. \n\t\t\t So the prophet said to him, \"Because you have disobeyed the LORD, as soon as you leave me a lion will kill you.\" When he left him, a lion attacked and killed him. \n\t\t\t He found another man and said, \"Wound me!\" So the man wounded him severely.\n\t\t\t The prophet then went and stood by the road, waiting for the king. He also disguised himself by putting a bandage down over his eyes.\n\t\t\t When the king passed by, he called out to the king, \"Your servant went out into the heat of the battle, and then a man turned aside and brought me a prisoner. He told me, 'Guard this prisoner. If he ends up missing for any reason, you will pay with your life or with a talent of silver.'\n\t\t\t Well, it just so happened that while your servant was doing this and that, he disappeared.\" The king of Israel said to him, \"Your punishment is already determined by your own testimony.\"\n\t\t\t The prophet quickly removed the bandage from his eyes and the king of Israel recognized he was one of the prophets. \n\t\t\t The prophet then said to him, \"This is what the LORD says, 'Because you released a man I had determined should die, you will pay with your life and your people will suffer instead of his people.'\"\n\t\t\t The king of Israel went home to Samaria bitter and angry.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t After this the following episode took place. Naboth the Jezreelite owned a vineyard in Jezreel adjacent to the palace of King Ahab of Samaria.\n\t\t\t Ahab said to Naboth, \"Give me your vineyard so I can make a vegetable garden out of it, for it is adjacent to my palace. I will give you an even better vineyard in its place, or if you prefer, I will pay you silver for it.\"\n\t\t\t But Naboth replied to Ahab, \"The LORD forbid that I should sell you my ancestral inheritance.\"\n\t\t\t So Ahab went into his palace, bitter and angry that Naboth the Jezreelite had said, \"I will not sell to you my ancestral inheritance.\" He lay down on his bed, pouted, and would not eat. \n\t\t\t Then his wife Jezebel came in and said to him, \"Why do you have a bitter attitude and refuse to eat?\"\n\t\t\t He answered her, \"While I was talking to Naboth the Jezreelite, I said to him, 'Sell me your vineyard for silver, or if you prefer, I will give you another vineyard in its place.' But he said, 'I will not sell you my vineyard.'\"\n\t\t\t His wife Jezebel said to him, \"You are the king of Israel! Get up, eat some food, and have a good time. I will get the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite for you.\"\n\t\t\t She wrote out orders, signed Ahab's name to them, and sealed them with his seal. She then sent the orders to the leaders and to the nobles who lived in Naboth's city.\n\t\t\t This is what she wrote: \"Observe a time of fasting and seat Naboth in front of the people. \n\t\t\t Also seat two villains opposite him and have them testify, 'You cursed God and the king.' Then take him out and stone him to death.\"\n\t\t\t The men of the city, the leaders and the nobles who lived there, followed the written orders Jezebel had sent them.\n\t\t\t They observed a time of fasting and put Naboth in front of the people.\n\t\t\t The two villains arrived and sat opposite him. Then the villains testified against Naboth right before the people, saying, \"Naboth cursed God and the king.\" So they dragged him outside the city and stoned him to death.\n\t\t\t Then they reported to Jezebel, \"Naboth has been stoned to death.\"\n\t\t\t When Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned to death, she said to Ahab, \"Get up, take possession of the vineyard Naboth the Jezreelite refused to sell you for silver, for Naboth is no longer alive; he's dead.\" \n\t\t\t When Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, he got up and went down to take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.\n\t\t\t The LORD told Elijah the Tishbite:\n\t\t\t \"Get up, go down and meet King Ahab of Israel who lives in Samaria. He is at the vineyard of Naboth; he has gone down there to take possession of it.\n\t\t\t Say to him, 'This is what the LORD says: \"Haven't you committed murder and taken possession of the property of the deceased?\"' Then say to him, 'This is what the LORD says: \"In the spot where dogs licked up Naboth's blood they will also lick up your blood, yes, yours!\"'\"\n\t\t\t When Elijah arrived, Ahab said to him, \"So, you have found me, my enemy!\" Elijah replied, \"I have found you, because you are committed to doing evil in the sight of the LORD. \n\t\t\t The LORD says, 'Look, I am ready to bring disaster on you. I will destroy you and cut off every last male belonging to Ahab in Israel, including even the weak and incapacitated.\n\t\t\t I will make your dynasty like those of Jeroboam son of Nebat and Baasha son of Ahijah because you angered me and made Israel sin.'\n\t\t\t The LORD says this about Jezebel, 'Dogs will devour Jezebel by the outer wall of Jezreel.' \n\t\t\t As for Ahab's family, dogs will eat the ones who die in the city, and the birds of the sky will eat the ones who die in the country.\" \n\t\t\t (There had never been anyone like Ahab, who was firmly committed to doing evil in the sight of the LORD, urged on by his wife Jezebel.\n\t\t\t He was so wicked he worshiped the disgusting idols, just like the Amorites whom the LORD had driven out from before the Israelites.)\n\t\t\t When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and fasted. He slept in sackcloth and walked around dejected.\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite,\n\t\t\t \"Have you noticed how Ahab shows remorse before me? Because he shows remorse before me, I will not bring disaster on his dynasty during his lifetime, but during the reign of his son.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t There was no war between Syria and Israel for three years.\n\t\t\t In the third year King Jehoshaphat of Judah came down to visit the king of Israel. \n\t\t\t The king of Israel said to his servants, \"Surely you recognize that Ramoth Gilead belongs to us, though we are hesitant to reclaim it from the king of Syria.\"\n\t\t\t Then he said to Jehoshaphat, \"Will you go with me to attack Ramoth Gilead?\" Jehoshaphat replied to the king of Israel, \"I will support you; my army and horses are at your disposal.\"\n\t\t\t Then Jehoshaphat added, \"First seek an oracle from the LORD.\"\n\t\t\t So the king of Israel assembled about four hundred prophets and asked them, \"Should I attack Ramoth Gilead or not?\" They said, \"Attack! The sovereign one will hand it over to the king.\" \n\t\t\t But Jehoshaphat asked, \"Is there not a prophet of the LORD still here, that we may ask him?\"\n\t\t\t The king of Israel answered Jehoshaphat, \"There is still one man through whom we can seek the LORD's will. But I despise him because he does not prophesy prosperity for me, but disaster. His name is Micaiah son of Imlah. Jehoshaphat said, \"The king should not say such things.\" \n\t\t\t The king of Israel summoned an official and said, \"Quickly bring Micaiah son of Imlah.\"\n\t\t\t Now the king of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah were sitting on their respective thrones, dressed in their robes, at the threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria. All the prophets were prophesying before them. \n\t\t\t Zedekiah son of Kenaanah made iron horns and said, \"This is what the LORD says, 'With these you will gore Syria until they are destroyed.'\"\n\t\t\t All the prophets were prophesying the same, saying, \"Attack Ramoth Gilead! You will succeed; the LORD will hand it over to the king.\"\n\t\t\t Now the messenger who went to summon Micaiah said to him, \"Look, the prophets are in complete agreement that the king will succeed. Your words must agree with theirs; you must predict success.\"\n\t\t\t But Micaiah said, \"As certainly as the LORD lives, I will say what the LORD tells me to say.\"\n\t\t\t When he came before the king, the king asked him, \"Micaiah, should we attack Ramoth Gilead or not?\" He answered him, \"Attack! You will succeed; the LORD will hand it over to the king.\"\n\t\t\t The king said to him, \"How many times must I make you solemnly promise in the name of the LORD to tell me only the truth?\"\n\t\t\t Micaiah said, \"I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains like sheep that have no shepherd. Then the LORD said, 'They have no master. They should go home in peace.'\" \n\t\t\t The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, \"Didn't I tell you he does not prophesy prosperity for me, but disaster?\"\n\t\t\t Micaiah said, \"That being the case, hear the word of the LORD. I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, with all the heavenly assembly standing on his right and on his left. \n\t\t\t The LORD said, 'Who will deceive Ahab, so he will attack Ramoth Gilead and die there?' One said this and another that. \n\t\t\t Then a spirit stepped forward and stood before the LORD. He said, 'I will deceive him.' The LORD asked him, 'How?' \n\t\t\t He replied, 'I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouths of all his prophets.' The LORD said, 'Deceive and overpower him. Go out and do as you have proposed.' \n\t\t\t So now, look, the LORD has placed a lying spirit in the mouths of all these prophets of yours; but the LORD has decreed disaster for you.\"\n\t\t\t Zedekiah son of Kenaanah approached, hit Micaiah on the jaw, and said, \"Which way did the LORD's spirit go when he went from me to speak to you?\"\n\t\t\t Micaiah replied, \"Look, you will see in the day when you go into an inner room to hide.\"\n\t\t\t Then the king of Israel said, \"Take Micaiah and return him to Amon the city official and Joash the king's son.\n\t\t\t Say, 'This is what the king says, \"Put this man in prison. Give him only a little bread and water until I safely return.\"'\"\n\t\t\t Micaiah said, \"If you really do safely return, then the LORD has not spoken through me.\" Then he added, \"Take note, all you people.\"\n\t\t\t The king of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah attacked Ramoth Gilead.\n\t\t\t The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, \"I will disguise myself and then enter into the battle; but you wear your royal robes.\" So the king of Israel disguised himself and then entered into the battle. \n\t\t\t Now the king of Syria had ordered his thirty-two chariot commanders, \"Do not fight common soldiers or high-ranking officers; fight only the king of Israel.\" \n\t\t\t When the chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat, they said, \"He must be the king of Israel.\" So they turned and attacked him, but Jehoshaphat cried out.\n\t\t\t When the chariot commanders realized he was not the king of Israel, they turned away from him.\n\t\t\t Now an archer shot an arrow at random, and it struck the king of Israel between the plates of his armor. The king ordered his charioteer, \"Turn around and take me from the battle line, because I'm wounded.\" \n\t\t\t While the battle raged throughout the day, the king stood propped up in his chariot opposite the Syrians. He died in the evening; the blood from the wound ran down into the bottom of the chariot.\n\t\t\t As the sun was setting, a cry went through the camp, \"Each one should return to his city and to his homeland.\"\n\t\t\t So the king died and was taken to Samaria, where they buried him.\n\t\t\t They washed off the chariot at the pool of Samaria (this was where the prostitutes bathed); dogs licked his blood, just as the LORD had said would happen.\n\t\t\t The rest of the events of Ahab's reign, including a record of his accomplishments and how he built a luxurious palace and various cities, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Israel.\n\t\t\t Ahab passed away. His son Ahaziah replaced him as king.\n\t\t\t In the fourth year of King Ahab's reign over Israel, Asa's son Jehoshaphat became king over Judah.\n\t\t\t Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he became king and he reigned for twenty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother was Azubah, the daughter of Shilhi. \n\t\t\t He followed in his father Asa's footsteps and was careful to do what the LORD approved. However, the high places were not eliminated; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense on the high places.\n\t\t\t Jehoshaphat was also at peace with the king of Israel.\n\t\t\t The rest of the events of Jehoshaphat's reign, including his successes and military exploits, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Judah.\n\t\t\t He removed from the land any male cultic prostitutes who had managed to survive the reign of his father Asa.\n\t\t\t There was no king in Edom at this time; a governor ruled.\n\t\t\t Jehoshaphat built a fleet of large merchant ships to travel to Ophir for gold, but they never made the voyage because they were shipwrecked in Ezion Geber. \n\t\t\t Then Ahaziah son of Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, \"Let my sailors join yours in the fleet,\" but Jehoshaphat refused.\n\t\t\t Jehoshaphat passed away and was buried with his ancestors in the city of his ancestor David. His son Jehoram replaced him as king.\n\t\t\t In the seventeenth year of King Jehoshaphat's reign over Judah, Ahab's son Ahaziah became king over Israel in Samaria. He ruled for two years over Israel.\n\t\t\t He did evil in the sight of the LORD and followed in the footsteps of his father and mother; like Jeroboam son of Nebat, he encouraged Israel to sin.\n\t\t\t He worshiped and bowed down to Baal, angering the LORD God of Israel just as his father had done.\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t After Ahab died, Moab rebelled against Israel.\n\t\t\t Ahaziah fell through a window lattice in his upper chamber in Samaria and was injured. He sent messengers with these orders, \"Go, ask Baal Zebub, the god of Ekron, if I will survive this injury.\"\n\t\t\t But the LORD's angelic messenger told Elijah the Tishbite, \"Get up, go to meet the messengers from the king of Samaria. Say this to them: 'You must think there is no God in Israel! That explains why you are on your way to seek an oracle from Baal Zebub the god of Ekron.\n\t\t\t Therefore this is what the LORD says, \"You will not leave the bed you lie on, for you will certainly die!\"'\" So Elijah went on his way.\n\t\t\t When the messengers returned to the king, he asked them, \"Why have you returned?\" \n\t\t\t They replied, \"A man came up to meet us. He told us, \"Go back to the king who sent you and tell him, 'This is what the LORD says: \"You must think there is no God in Israel! That explains why you are sending for an oracle from Baal Zebub, the god of Ekron. Therefore you will not leave the bed you lie on, for you will certainly die.\"'\" \n\t\t\t The king asked them, \"Describe the appearance of this man who came up to meet you and told you these things.\" \n\t\t\t They replied, \"He was a hairy man and had a leather belt tied around his waist.\" The king said, \"He is Elijah the Tishbite.\"\n\t\t\t The king sent a captain and his fifty soldiers to retrieve Elijah. The captain went up to him, while he was sitting on the top of a hill. He told him, \"Prophet, the king says, 'Come down!'\" \n\t\t\t Elijah replied to the captain, \"If I am indeed a prophet, may fire come down from the sky and consume you and your fifty soldiers!\" Fire then came down from the sky and consumed him and his fifty soldiers.\n\t\t\t The king sent another captain and his fifty soldiers to retrieve Elijah. He went up and told him, \"Prophet, this is what the king says, 'Come down at once!'\"\n\t\t\t Elijah replied to them, \"If I am indeed a prophet, may fire come down from the sky and consume you and your fifty soldiers!\" Fire from God came down from the sky and consumed him and his fifty soldiers.\n\t\t\t The king sent a third captain and his fifty soldiers. This third captain went up and fell on his knees before Elijah. He begged for mercy, \"Prophet, please have respect for my life and for the lives of these fifty servants of yours. \n\t\t\t Indeed, fire came down from the sky and consumed the two captains who came before me, along with their men. So now, please have respect for my life.\" \n\t\t\t The LORD's angelic messenger said to Elijah, \"Go down with him. Don't be afraid of him.\" So he got up and went down with him to the king.\n\t\t\t Elijah said to the king, \"This is what the LORD says, 'You sent messengers to seek an oracle from Baal Zebub, the god of Ekron. You must think there is no God in Israel from whom you can seek an oracle! Therefore you will not leave the bed you lie on, for you will certainly die.'\"\n\t\t\t He died just as the LORD had prophesied through Elijah. In the second year of the reign of King Jehoram son of Jehoshaphat over Judah, Ahaziah's brother Jehoram replaced him as king of Israel, because he had no son.\n\t\t\t The rest of the events of Ahaziah's reign, including his accomplishments, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Israel.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Just before the LORD took Elijah up to heaven in a windstorm, Elijah and Elisha were traveling from Gilgal. \n\t\t\t Elijah told Elisha, \"Stay here, for the LORD has sent me to Bethel.\" But Elisha said, \"As certainly as the LORD lives and as you live, I will not leave you.\" So they went down to Bethel. \n\t\t\t Some members of the prophetic guild in Bethel came out to Elisha and said, \"Do you know that today the LORD is going to take your master from you?\" He answered, \"Yes, I know. Be quiet.\"\n\t\t\t Elijah said to him, \"Elisha, stay here, for the LORD has sent me to Jericho.\" But he replied, \"As certainly as the LORD lives and as you live, I will not leave you.\" So they went to Jericho. \n\t\t\t Some members of the prophetic guild in Jericho approached Elisha and said, \"Do you know that today the LORD is going to take your master from you?\" He answered, \"Yes, I know. Be quiet.\"\n\t\t\t Elijah said to him, \"Stay here, for the LORD has sent me to the Jordan.\" But he replied, \"As certainly as the LORD lives and as you live, I will not leave you.\" So they traveled on together.\n\t\t\t The fifty members of the prophetic guild went and stood opposite them at a distance, while Elijah and Elisha stood by the Jordan. \n\t\t\t Elijah took his cloak, folded it up, and hit the water with it. The water divided, and the two of them crossed over on dry ground.\n\t\t\t When they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, \"What can I do for you, before I am taken away from you?\" Elisha answered, \"May I receive a double portion of the prophetic spirit that energizes you.\"\n\t\t\t Elijah replied, \"That's a difficult request! If you see me taken from you, may it be so, but if you don't, it will not happen.\"\n\t\t\t As they were walking along and talking, suddenly a fiery chariot pulled by fiery horses appeared. They went between Elijah and Elisha, and Elijah went up to heaven in a windstorm. \n\t\t\t While Elisha was watching, he was crying out, \"My father, my father! The chariot and horsemen of Israel!\" Then he could no longer see him. He grabbed his clothes and tore them in two. \n\t\t\t He picked up Elijah's cloak, which had fallen off him, and went back and stood on the shore of the Jordan.\n\t\t\t He took the cloak that had fallen off Elijah, hit the water with it, and said, \"Where is the LORD, THE God of Elijah?\" When he hit the water, it divided and Elisha crossed over.\n\t\t\t When the members of the prophetic guild in Jericho, who were standing at a distance, saw him do this, they said, \"The spirit that energized Elijah rests upon Elisha.\" They went to meet him and bowed down to the ground before him. \n\t\t\t They said to him, \"Look, there are fifty capable men with your servants. Let them go and look for your master, for the wind sent from the LORD may have carried him away and dropped him on one of the hills or in one of the valleys.\" But Elisha replied, \"Don't send them out.\" \n\t\t\t But they were so insistent, he became embarrassed. So he said, \"Send them out.\" They sent the fifty men out and they looked for three days, but could not find Elijah.\n\t\t\t When they came back, Elisha was staying in Jericho. He said to them, \"Didn't I tell you, 'Don't go'?\"\n\t\t\t The men of the city said to Elisha, \"Look, the city has a good location, as our master can see. But the water is bad and the land doesn't produce crops.\"\n\t\t\t Elisha said, \"Get me a new jar and put some salt in it.\" So they got it. \n\t\t\t He went out to the spring and threw the salt in. Then he said, \"This is what the LORD says, 'I have purified this water. It will no longer cause death or fail to produce crops.\"\n\t\t\t The water has been pure to this very day, just as Elisha prophesied.\n\t\t\t He went up from there to Bethel. As he was traveling up the road, some young boys came out of the city and made fun of him, saying, \"Go on up, baldy! Go on up, baldy!\" \n\t\t\t When he turned around and saw them, he called God's judgment down on them. Two female bears came out of the woods and ripped forty-two of the boys to pieces. \n\t\t\t From there he traveled to Mount Carmel and then back to Samaria.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t In the eighteenth year of King Jehoshaphat's reign over Judah, Ahab's son Jehoram became king over Israel in Samaria; he ruled for twelve years. \n\t\t\t He did evil in the sight of the LORD, but not to the same degree as his father and mother. He did remove the sacred pillar of Baal that his father had made.\n\t\t\t Yet he persisted in the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who encouraged Israel to sin; he did not turn from them.\n\t\t\t Now King Mesha of Moab was a sheep breeder. He would send as tribute to the king of Israel 100,000 male lambs and the wool of 100,000 rams. \n\t\t\t When Ahab died, the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel.\n\t\t\t At that time King Jehoram left Samaria and assembled all Israel for war.\n\t\t\t He sent this message to King Jehoshaphat of Judah: \"The king of Moab has rebelled against me. Will you fight with me against Moab?\" Jehoshaphat replied, \"I will join you in the campaign; my army and horses are at your disposal.\"\n\t\t\t He then asked, \"Which invasion route are we going to take?\" Jehoram answered, \"By the road through the Desert of Edom.\" \n\t\t\t So the kings of Israel, Judah, and Edom set out together. They wandered around on the road for seven days and finally ran out of water for the men and animals they had with them. \n\t\t\t The king of Israel said, \"Oh no! Certainly the LORD has summoned these three kings so that he can hand them over to the king of Moab!\" \n\t\t\t Jehoshaphat asked, \"Is there no prophet of the LORD here that we might seek the LORD's direction?\" One of the servants of the king of Israel answered, \"Elisha son of Shapat is here; he used to be Elijah's servant.\"\n\t\t\t Jehoshaphat said, \"The LORD speaks through him.\" So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to visit him.\n\t\t\t Elisha said to the king of Israel, \"Why are you here? Go to your father's prophets or your mother's prophets!\" The king of Israel replied to him, \"No, for the LORD is the one who summoned these three kings so that he can hand them over to Moab.\" \n\t\t\t Elisha said, \"As certainly as the LORD who rules over all lives (whom I serve), if I did not respect King Jehoshaphat of Judah, I would not pay attention to you or acknowledge you.\n\t\t\t But now, get me a musician.\" When the musician played, the LORD energized him,\n\t\t\t and he said, \"This is what the LORD says, 'Make many cisterns in this valley,'\n\t\t\t for this is what the LORD says, 'You will not feel any wind or see any rain, but this valley will be full of water and you and your cattle and animals will drink.' \n\t\t\t This is an easy task for the LORD; he will also hand Moab over to you. \n\t\t\t You will defeat every fortified city and every important city. You must chop down every productive tree, stop up all the springs, and cover all the cultivated land with stones.\"\n\t\t\t Sure enough, the next morning, at the time of the morning sacrifice, water came flowing down from Edom and filled the land.\n\t\t\t Now all Moab had heard that the kings were attacking, so everyone old enough to fight was mustered and placed at the border.\n\t\t\t When they got up early the next morning, the sun was shining on the water. To the Moabites, who were some distance away, the water looked red like blood.\n\t\t\t The Moabites said, \"It's blood! The kings are totally destroyed! They have struck one another down! Now, Moab, seize the plunder!\" \n\t\t\t When they approached the Israelite camp, the Israelites rose up and struck down the Moabites, who then ran from them. The Israelites thoroughly defeated Moab. \n\t\t\t They tore down the cities and each man threw a stone into every cultivated field until they were covered. They stopped up every spring and chopped down every productive tree. Only Kir Hareseth was left intact, but the slingers surrounded it and attacked it.\n\t\t\t When the king of Moab realized he was losing the battle, he and 700 swordsmen tried to break through and attack the king of Edom, but they failed. \n\t\t\t So he took his firstborn son, who was to succeed him as king, and offered him up as a burnt sacrifice on the wall. There was an outburst of divine anger against Israel, so they broke off the attack and returned to their homeland.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now a wife of one of the prophets appealed to Elisha for help, saying, \"Your servant, my husband is dead. You know that your servant was a loyal follower of the LORD. Now the creditor is coming to take away my two boys to be his servants.\" \n\t\t\t Elisha said to her, \"What can I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?\" She answered, \"Your servant has nothing in the house except a small jar of olive oil.\"\n\t\t\t He said, \"Go and ask all your neighbors for empty containers. Get as many as you can.\n\t\t\t Go and close the door behind you and your sons. Pour the olive oil into all the containers; set aside each one when you have filled it.\" \n\t\t\t So she left him and closed the door behind her and her sons. As they were bringing the containers to her, she was pouring the olive oil.\n\t\t\t When the containers were full, she said to one of her sons, \"Bring me another container.\" But he answered her, \"There are no more.\" Then the olive oil stopped flowing.\n\t\t\t She went and told the prophet. He said, \"Go, sell the olive oil. Repay your creditor, and then you and your sons can live off the rest of the profit.\"\n\t\t\t One day Elisha traveled to Shunem, where a prominent woman lived. She insisted that he stop for a meal. So whenever he was passing through, he would stop in there for a meal.\n\t\t\t She said to her husband, \"Look, I'm sure that the man who regularly passes through here is a very special prophet.\n\t\t\t Let's make a small private upper room and furnish it with a bed, table, chair, and lamp. When he visits us, he can stay there.\"\n\t\t\t One day Elisha came for a visit; he went into the upper room and rested.\n\t\t\t He told his servant Gehazi, \"Ask the Shunammite woman to come here.\" So he did so and she came to him.\n\t\t\t Elisha said to Gehazi, \"Tell her, 'Look, you have treated us with such great respect. What can I do for you? Can I put in a good word for you with the king or the commander of the army?'\" She replied, \"I'm quite secure.\"\n\t\t\t So he asked Gehazi, \"What can I do for her?\" Gehazi replied, \"She has no son, and her husband is old.\" \n\t\t\t Elisha told him, \"Ask her to come here.\" So he did so and she came and stood in the doorway.\n\t\t\t He said, \"About this time next year you will be holding a son.\" She said, \"No, my master! O prophet, do not lie to your servant!\" \n\t\t\t The woman did conceive, and at the specified time the next year she gave birth to a son, just as Elisha had told her.\n\t\t\t The boy grew and one day he went out to see his father who was with the harvest workers.\n\t\t\t He said to his father, \"My head! My head!\" His father told a servant, \"Carry him to his mother.\" \n\t\t\t So he picked him up and took him to his mother. He sat on her lap until noon and then died. \n\t\t\t She went up and laid him down on the prophet's bed. She shut the door behind her and left.\n\t\t\t She called to her husband, \"Send me one of the servants and one of the donkeys, so I can go see the prophet quickly and then return.\"\n\t\t\t He said, \"Why do you want to go see him today? It is not the new moon or the Sabbath.\" She said, \"Everything's fine.\"\n\t\t\t She saddled the donkey and told her servant, \"Lead on. Do not stop unless I say so.\"\n\t\t\t So she went to visit the prophet at Mount Carmel. When he saw her at a distance, he said to his servant Gehazi, \"Look, it's the Shunammite woman. \n\t\t\t Now, run to meet her and ask her, 'Are you well? Are your husband and the boy well?'\" She told Gehazi, \"Everything's fine.\" \n\t\t\t But when she reached the prophet on the mountain, she grabbed hold of his feet. Gehazi came near to push her away, but the prophet said, \"Leave her alone, for she is very upset. The LORD has kept the matter hidden from me; he didn't tell me about it.\" \n\t\t\t She said, \"Did I ask my master for a son? Didn't I say, 'Don't mislead me?'\"\n\t\t\t Elisha told Gehazi, \"Tuck your robes into your belt, take my staff, and go! Don't stop to exchange greetings with anyone! Place my staff on the child's face.\" \n\t\t\t The mother of the child said, \"As certainly as the LORD lives and as you live, I will not leave you.\" So Elisha got up and followed her back.\n\t\t\t Now Gehazi went on ahead of them. He placed the staff on the child's face, but there was no sound or response. When he came back to Elisha he told him, \"The child did not wake up.\" \n\t\t\t When Elisha arrived at the house, there was the child lying dead on his bed. \n\t\t\t He went in by himself and closed the door. Then he prayed to the LORD. \n\t\t\t He got up on the bed and spread his body out over the boy; he put his mouth on the boy's mouth, his eyes over the boy's eyes, and the palms of his hands against the boy's palms. He bent down over him, and the boy's skin grew warm. \n\t\t\t Elisha went back and walked around in the house. Then he got up on the bed again and bent down over him. The child sneezed seven times and opened his eyes. \n\t\t\t Elisha called to Gehazi and said, \"Get the Shunammite woman.\" So he did so and she came to him. He said to her, \"Take your son.\" \n\t\t\t She came in, fell at his feet, and bowed down. Then she picked up her son and left.\n\t\t\t Now Elisha went back to Gilgal, while there was famine in the land. Some of the prophets were visiting him and he told his servant, \"Put the big pot on the fire and boil some stew for the prophets.\"\n\t\t\t Someone went out to the field to gather some herbs and found a wild vine. He picked some of its fruit, enough to fill up the fold of his robe. He came back, cut it up, and threw the slices into the stew pot, not knowing they were harmful.\n\t\t\t The stew was poured out for the men to eat. When they ate some of the stew, they cried out, \"Death is in the pot, O prophet!\" They could not eat it. \n\t\t\t He said, \"Get some flour.\" Then he threw it into the pot and said, \"Now pour some out for the men so they may eat.\" There was no longer anything harmful in the pot.\n\t\t\t Now a man from Baal Shalisha brought some food for the prophet, twenty loaves of bread made from the firstfruits of the barley harvest, as well as fresh ears of grain. Elisha said, \"Set it before the people so they may eat.\"\n\t\t\t But his attendant said, \"How can I feed a hundred men with this?\" He replied, \"Set it before the people so they may eat, for this is what the LORD says, 'They will eat and have some left over.'\"\n\t\t\t So he set it before them; they ate and had some left over, just as the LORD predicted.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now Naaman, the commander of the king of Syria's army, was esteemed and respected by his master, for through him the LORD had given Syria military victories. But this great warrior had a skin disease.\n\t\t\t Raiding parties went out from Syria and took captive from the land of Israel a young girl, who became a servant to Naaman's wife.\n\t\t\t She told her mistress, \"If only my master were in the presence of the prophet who is in Samaria! Then he would cure him of his skin disease.\"\n\t\t\t Naaman went and told his master what the girl from the land of Israel had said. \n\t\t\t The king of Syria said, \"Go! I will send a letter to the king of Israel.\" So Naaman went, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten suits of clothes. \n\t\t\t He brought the letter to king of Israel. It read: \"This is a letter of introduction for my servant Naaman, whom I have sent to be cured of his skin disease.\" \n\t\t\t When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, \"Am I God? Can I kill or restore life? Why does he ask me to cure a man of his skin disease? Certainly you must see that he is looking for an excuse to fight me!\"\n\t\t\t When Elisha the prophet heard that the king had torn his clothes, he sent this message to the king, \"Why did you tear your clothes? Send him to me so he may know there is a prophet in Israel.\" \n\t\t\t So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood in the doorway of Elisha's house.\n\t\t\t Elisha sent out a messenger who told him, \"Go and wash seven times in the Jordan; your skin will be restored and you will be healed.\" \n\t\t\t Naaman went away angry. He said, \"Look, I thought for sure he would come out, stand there, invoke the name of the LORD his God, wave his hand over the area, and cure the skin disease.\n\t\t\t The rivers of Damascus, the Abana and Pharpar, are better than any of the waters of Israel! Could I not wash in them and be healed?\" So he turned around and went away angry. \n\t\t\t His servants approached and said to him, \"O master, if the prophet had told you to do some difficult task, you would have been willing to do it. It seems you should be happy that he simply said, \"Wash and you will be healed.\"\n\t\t\t So he went down and dipped in the Jordan seven times, as the prophet had instructed. His skin became as smooth as a young child's and he was healed.\n\t\t\t He and his entire entourage returned to the prophet. Naaman came and stood before him. He said, \"For sure I know that there is no God in all the earth except in Israel! Now, please accept a gift from your servant.\" \n\t\t\t But Elisha replied, \"As certainly as the LORD lives (whom I serve), I will take nothing from you.\" Naaman insisted that he take it, but he refused. \n\t\t\t Naaman said, \"If not, then please give your servant a load of dirt, enough for a pair of mules to carry, for your servant will never again offer a burnt offering or sacrifice to a god other than the LORD.\n\t\t\t May the LORD forgive your servant for this one thing: When my master enters the temple of Rimmon to worship, and he leans on my arm and I bow down in the temple of Rimmon, may the LORD forgive your servant for this.\"\n\t\t\t Elisha said to him, \"Go in peace.\" When he had gone a short distance,\n\t\t\t Gehazi, the prophet Elisha's servant, thought, \"Look, my master did not accept what this Syrian Naaman offered him. As certainly as the LORD lives, I will run after him and accept something from him.\" \n\t\t\t So Gehazi ran after Naaman. When Naaman saw someone running after him, he got down from his chariot to meet him and asked, \"Is everything all right?\"\n\t\t\t He answered, \"Everything is fine. My master sent me with this message, 'Look, two servants of the prophets just arrived from the Ephraimite hill country. Please give them a talent of silver and two suits of clothes.'\" \n\t\t\t Naaman said, \"Please accept two talents of silver. He insisted, and tied up two talents of silver in two bags, along with two suits of clothes. He gave them to two of his servants and they carried them for Gehazi.\n\t\t\t When he arrived at the hill, he took them from the servants and put them in the house. Then he sent the men on their way.\n\t\t\t When he came and stood before his master, Elisha asked him, \"Where have you been, Gehazi?\" He answered, \"Your servant hasn't been anywhere.\"\n\t\t\t Elisha replied, \"I was there in spirit when a man turned and got down from his chariot to meet you. This is not the proper time to accept silver or to accept clothes, olive groves, vineyards, sheep, cattle, and male and female servants.\n\t\t\t Therefore Naaman's skin disease will afflict you and your descendants forever!\" When Gehazi went out from his presence, his skin was as white as snow.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Some of the prophets said to Elisha, \"Look, the place where we meet with you is too cramped for us. \n\t\t\t Let's go to the Jordan. Each of us will get a log from there and we will build a meeting place for ourselves there.\" He said, \"Go.\"\n\t\t\t One of them said, \"Please come along with your servants.\" He replied, \"All right, I'll come.\"\n\t\t\t So he went with them. When they arrived at the Jordan, they started cutting down trees.\n\t\t\t As one of them was felling a log, the ax head dropped into the water. He shouted, \"Oh no, my master! It was borrowed!\" \n\t\t\t The prophet asked, \"Where did it drop in?\" When he showed him the spot, Elisha cut off a branch, threw it in at that spot, and made the ax head float.\n\t\t\t He said, \"Lift it out.\" So he reached out his hand and grabbed it.\n\t\t\t Now the king of Syria was at war with Israel. He consulted his advisers, who said, \"Invade at such and such a place.\" \n\t\t\t But the prophet sent this message to the king of Israel, \"Make sure you don't pass through this place because Syria is invading there.\"\n\t\t\t So the king of Israel sent a message to the place the prophet had pointed out, warning it to be on its guard. This happened on several occasions.\n\t\t\t This made the king of Syria upset. So he summoned his advisers and said to them, \"One of us must be helping the king of Israel.\"\n\t\t\t One of his advisers said, \"No, my master, O king. The prophet Elisha who lives in Israel keeps telling the king of Israel the things you say in your bedroom.\"\n\t\t\t The king ordered, \"Go, find out where he is, so I can send some men to capture him.\" The king was told, \"He is in Dothan.\" \n\t\t\t So he sent horses and chariots there, along with a good-sized army. They arrived during the night and surrounded the city.\n\t\t\t The prophet's attendant got up early in the morning. When he went outside there was an army surrounding the city, along with horses and chariots. He said to Elisha, \"Oh no, my master! What will we do?\" \n\t\t\t He replied, \"Don't be afraid, for our side outnumbers them.\"\n\t\t\t Then Elisha prayed, \"O LORD, open his eyes so he can see.\" The LORD opened the servant's eyes and he saw that the hill was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. \n\t\t\t As they approached him, Elisha prayed to the LORD, \"Strike these people with blindness.\" The LORD struck them with blindness as Elisha requested.\n\t\t\t Then Elisha said to them, \"This is not the right road or city. Follow me, and I will lead you to the man you're looking for.\" He led them to Samaria.\n\t\t\t When they had entered Samaria, Elisha said, \"O LORD, open their eyes, so they can see.\" The LORD opened their eyes and they saw that they were in the middle of Samaria.\n\t\t\t When the king of Israel saw them, he asked Elisha, \"Should I strike them down, my master?\"\n\t\t\t He replied, \"Do not strike them down! You did not capture them with your sword or bow, so what gives you the right to strike them down? Give them some food and water, so they can eat and drink and then go back to their master.\" \n\t\t\t So he threw a big banquet for them and they ate and drank. Then he sent them back to their master. After that no Syrian raiding parties again invaded the land of Israel.\n\t\t\t Later King Ben Hadad of Syria assembled his entire army and attacked and besieged Samaria.\n\t\t\t Samaria's food supply ran out. They laid siege to it so long that a donkey's head was selling for eighty shekels of silver and a quarter of a kab of dove's droppings for five shekels of silver.\n\t\t\t While the king of Israel was passing by on the city wall, a woman shouted to him, \"Help us, my master, O king!\"\n\t\t\t He replied, \"No, let the LORD help you. How can I help you? The threshing floor and winepress are empty.\"\n\t\t\t Then the king asked her, \"What's your problem?\" She answered, \"This woman said to me, 'Hand over your son; we'll eat him today and then eat my son tomorrow.'\n\t\t\t So we boiled my son and ate him. Then I said to her the next day, 'Hand over your son and we'll eat him.' But she hid her son!\"\n\t\t\t When the king heard what the woman said, he tore his clothes. As he was passing by on the wall, the people could see he was wearing sackcloth under his clothes.\n\t\t\t Then he said, \"May God judge me severely if Elisha son of Shaphat still has his head by the end of the day!\"\n\t\t\t Now Elisha was sitting in his house with the community leaders. The king sent a messenger on ahead, but before he arrived, Elisha said to the leaders, \"Do you realize this assassin intends to cut off my head?\" Look, when the messenger arrives, shut the door and lean against it. His master will certainly be right behind him.\"\n\t\t\t He was still talking to them when the messenger approached and said, \"Look, the LORD is responsible for this disaster! Why should I continue to wait for the LORD to help?\" \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Elisha replied, \"Hear the word of the LORD! This is what the LORD says, 'About this time tomorrow a seah of finely milled flour will sell for a shekel and two seahs of barley for a shekel at the gate of Samaria.'\" \n\t\t\t An officer who was the king's right-hand man responded to the prophet, \"Look, even if the LORD made it rain by opening holes in the sky, could this happen so soon?\" Elisha said, \"Look, you will see it happen with your own eyes, but you will not eat any of the food!\"\n\t\t\t Now four men with a skin disease were sitting at the entrance of the city gate. They said to one another, \"Why are we just sitting here waiting to die?\n\t\t\t If we go into the city, we'll die of starvation, and if we stay here we'll die! So come on, let's defect to the Syrian camp! If they spare us, we'll live; if they kill us, well, we were going to die anyway.\"\n\t\t\t So they started toward the Syrian camp at dusk. When they reached the edge of the Syrian camp, there was no one there. \n\t\t\t The LORD had caused the Syrian camp to hear the sound of chariots and horses and a large army. Then they said to one another, \"Look, the king of Israel has paid the kings of the Hittites and Egypt to attack us!\"\n\t\t\t So they got up and fled at dusk, leaving behind their tents, horses, and donkeys. They left the camp as it was and ran for their lives.\n\t\t\t When the men with a skin disease reached the edge of the camp, they entered a tent and had a meal. They also took some silver, gold, and clothes and went and hid it all. Then they went back and entered another tent. They looted it and went and hid what they had taken. \n\t\t\t Then they said to one another, \"It's not right what we're doing! This is a day to celebrate, but we haven't told anyone. If we wait until dawn, we'll be punished. So come on, let's go and inform the royal palace.\" \n\t\t\t So they went and called out to the gatekeepers of the city. They told them, \"We entered the Syrian camp and there was no one there. We didn't even hear a man's voice. But the horses and donkeys are still tied up, and the tents remain up.\"\n\t\t\t The gatekeepers relayed the news to the royal palace.\n\t\t\t The king got up in the night and said to his advisers, \"I will tell you what the Syrians have done to us. They know we are starving, so they left the camp and hid in the field, thinking, 'When they come out of the city, we will capture them alive and enter the city.'\" \n\t\t\t One of his advisers replied, \"Pick some men and have them take five of the horses that are left in the city. (Even if they are killed, their fate will be no different than that of all the Israelite people, we're all going to die!) Let's send them out so we can know for sure what's going on.\"\n\t\t\t So they picked two horsemen and the king sent them out to track the Syrian army. He ordered them, \"Go and find out what's going on.\"\n\t\t\t So they tracked them as far as the Jordan. The road was filled with clothes and equipment that the Syrians had discarded in their haste. The scouts went back and told the king. \n\t\t\t Then the people went out and looted the Syrian camp. A seah of finely milled flour sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel, just as the LORD had said they would.\n\t\t\t Now the king had placed the officer who was his right-hand man at the city gate. When the people rushed out, they trampled him to death in the gate. This fulfilled the prophet's word which he had spoken when the king tried to arrest him.\n\t\t\t The prophet told the king, \"Two seahs of barley will sell for a shekel, and a seah of finely milled flour for a shekel; this will happen about this time tomorrow in the gate of Samaria.\"\n\t\t\t But the officer replied to the prophet, \"Look, even if the LORD made it rain by opening holes in the sky, could this happen so soon?\" Elisha said, \"Look, you will see it happen with your own eyes, but you will not eat any of the food!\"\n\t\t\t This is exactly what happened to him. The people trampled him to death in the city gate.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now Elisha advised the woman whose son he had brought back to life, \"You and your family should go and live somewhere else for a while, for the LORD has decreed that a famine will overtake the land for seven years.\" \n\t\t\t So the woman did as the prophet said. She and her family went and lived in the land of the Philistines for seven years. \n\t\t\t After seven years the woman returned from the land of the Philistines and went to ask the king to give her back her house and field.\n\t\t\t Now the king was talking to Gehazi, the prophet's servant, and said, \"Tell me all the great things which Elisha has done.\" \n\t\t\t While Gehazi was telling the king how Elisha had brought the dead back to life, the woman whose son he had brought back to life came to ask the king for her house and field. Gehazi said, \"My master, O king, this is the very woman and this is her son whom Elisha brought back to life!\" \n\t\t\t The king asked the woman about it, and she gave him the details. The king assigned a eunuch to take care of her request and ordered him, \"Give her back everything she owns, as well as the amount of crops her field produced from the day she left the land until now.\"\n\t\t\t Elisha traveled to Damascus while King Ben Hadad of Syria was sick. The king was told, \"The prophet has come here.\" \n\t\t\t So the king told Hazael, \"Take a gift and go visit the prophet. Request from him an oracle from the LORD. Ask him, 'Will I recover from this sickness?'\" \n\t\t\t So Hazael went to visit Elisha. He took along a gift, as well as forty camel loads of all the fine things of Damascus. When he arrived, he stood before him and said, \"Your son, King Ben Hadad of Syria, has sent me to you with this question, 'Will I recover from this sickness?'\" \n\t\t\t Elisha said to him, \"Go and tell him, 'You will surely recover,' but the LORD has revealed to me that he will surely die.\" \n\t\t\t Elisha just stared at him until Hazael became uncomfortable. Then the prophet started crying. \n\t\t\t Hazael asked, \"Why are you crying, my master?\" He replied, \"Because I know the trouble you will cause the Israelites. You will set fire to their fortresses, kill their young men with the sword, smash their children to bits, and rip open their pregnant women.\"\n\t\t\t Hazael said, \"How could your servant, who is as insignificant as a dog, accomplish this great military victory?\" Elisha answered, \"The LORD has revealed to me that you will be the king of Syria.\"\n\t\t\t He left Elisha and went to his master. Ben Hadad asked him, \"What did Elisha tell you?\" Hazael replied, \"He told me you would surely recover.\" \n\t\t\t The next day Hazael took a piece of cloth, dipped it in water, and spread it over Ben Hadad's face until he died. Then Hazael replaced him as king.\n\t\t\t In the fifth year of the reign of Israel's King Joram, son of Ahab, Jehoshaphat's son Jehoram became king over Judah.\n\t\t\t He was thirty-two years old when he became king and he reigned for eight years in Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t He followed in the footsteps of the kings of Israel, just as Ahab's dynasty had done, for he married Ahab's daughter. He did evil in the sight of the LORD. \n\t\t\t But the LORD was unwilling to destroy Judah. He preserved Judah for the sake of his servant David to whom he had promised a perpetual dynasty.\n\t\t\t During his reign Edom freed themselves from Judah's control and set up their own king.\n\t\t\t Joram crossed over to Zair with all his chariots. The Edomites, who had surrounded him, attacked at night and defeated him and his chariot officers. The Israelite army retreated to their homeland.\n\t\t\t So Edom has remained free from Judah's control to this very day. At that same time Libnah also rebelled.\n\t\t\t The rest of the events of Joram's reign, including a record of his accomplishments, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Judah.\n\t\t\t Joram passed away and was buried with his ancestors in the city of David. His son Ahaziah replaced him as king.\n\t\t\t In the twelfth year of the reign of Israel's King Joram, son of Ahab, Jehoram's son Ahaziah became king over Judah.\n\t\t\t Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he became king and he reigned for one year in Jerusalem. His mother was Athaliah, the granddaughter of King Omri of Israel. \n\t\t\t He followed in the footsteps of Ahab's dynasty and did evil in the sight of the LORD, like Ahab's dynasty, for he was related to Ahab's family.\n\t\t\t He joined Ahab's son Joram in a battle against King Hazael of Syria at Ramoth Gilead in which the Syrians defeated Joram.\n\t\t\t King Joram returned to Jezreel to recover from the wounds he received from the Syrians in Ramah when he fought against King Hazael of Syria. King Ahaziah son of Jehoram of Judah went down to visit Joram son of Ahab in Jezreel, for he was ill.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now Elisha the prophet summoned a member of the prophetic guild and told him, \"Tuck your robes into your belt, take this container of olive oil in your hand, and go to Ramoth Gilead. \n\t\t\t When you arrive there, look for Jehu son of Jehoshaphat son of Nimshi and take him aside into an inner room.\n\t\t\t Take the container of olive oil, pour it over his head, and say, 'This is what the LORD says, \"I have designated you as king over Israel.\"' Then open the door and run away quickly!\"\n\t\t\t So the young prophet went to Ramoth Gilead. \n\t\t\t When he arrived, the officers of the army were sitting there. So he said, \"I have a message for you, O officer.\" Jehu asked, \"For which one of us?\" He replied, \"For you, O officer.\"\n\t\t\t So Jehu got up and went inside. Then the prophet poured the olive oil on his head and said to him, \"This is what the LORD God of Israel says, 'I have designated you as king over the LORD's people Israel. \n\t\t\t You will destroy the family of your master Ahab. I will get revenge against Jezebel for the shed blood of my servants the prophets and for the shed blood of all the LORD's servants.\n\t\t\t Ahab's entire family will die. I will cut off every last male belonging to Ahab in Israel, including even the weak and incapacitated.\n\t\t\t I will make Ahab's dynasty like those of Jeroboam son of Nebat and Baasha son of Ahijah. \n\t\t\t Dogs will devour Jezebel on the plot of ground in Jezreel; she will not be buried.'\" Then he opened the door and ran away.\n\t\t\t When Jehu rejoined his master's servants, they asked him, \"Is everything all right? Why did this madman visit you?\" He replied, \"Ah, it's not important. You know what kind of man he is and the kinds of things he says.\"\n\t\t\t But they said, \"You're lying! Tell us what he said.\" So he told them what he had said. He also related how he had said, \"This is what the LORD says, 'I have designated you as king over Israel.'\" \n\t\t\t Each of them quickly took off his cloak and they spread them out at Jehu's feet on the steps. The trumpet was blown and they shouted, \"Jehu is king!\" \n\t\t\t Then Jehu son of Jehoshaphat son of Nimshi conspired against Joram. Now Joram had been in Ramoth Gilead with the whole Israelite army, guarding against an invasion by King Hazael of Syria. \n\t\t\t But King Joram had returned to Jezreel to recover from the wounds he received from the Syrians when he fought against King Hazael of Syria. Jehu told his supporters, \"If you really want me to be king, then don't let anyone escape from the city to go and warn Jezreel.\" \n\t\t\t Jehu drove his chariot to Jezreel, for Joram was recuperating there. (Now King Ahaziah of Judah had come down to visit Joram.)\n\t\t\t Now the watchman was standing on the tower in Jezreel and saw Jehu's troops approaching. He said, \"I see troops!\" Jehoram ordered, \"Send a rider out to meet them and have him ask, 'Is everything all right?'\"\n\t\t\t So the horseman went to meet him and said, \"This is what the king says, 'Is everything all right?'\" Jehu replied, \"None of your business! Follow me.\" The watchman reported, \"The messenger reached them, but hasn't started back.\" \n\t\t\t So he sent a second horseman out to them and he said, \"This is what the king says, 'Is everything all right?'\" Jehu replied, \"None of your business! Follow me.\" \n\t\t\t The watchman reported, \"He reached them, but hasn't started back. The one who drives the lead chariot drives like Jehu son of Nimshi; he drives recklessly.\"\n\t\t\t Jehoram ordered, \"Hitch up my chariot.\" When his chariot had been hitched up, King Jehoram of Israel and King Ahaziah of Judah went out in their respective chariots to meet Jehu. They met up with him in the plot of land that had once belonged to Naboth of Jezreel.\n\t\t\t When Jehoram saw Jehu, he asked, \"Is everything all right, Jehu?\" He replied, \"How can everything be all right as long as your mother Jezebel promotes idolatry and pagan practices?\"\n\t\t\t Jehoram turned his chariot around and took off. He said to Ahaziah, \"It's a trap, Ahaziah!\" \n\t\t\t Jehu aimed his bow and shot an arrow right between Jehoram's shoulders. The arrow went through his heart and he fell to his knees in his chariot. \n\t\t\t Jehu ordered his officer Bidkar, \"Pick him up and throw him into the part of the field that once belonged to Naboth of Jezreel. Remember, you and I were riding together behind his father Ahab, when the LORD pronounced this judgment on him, \n\t\t\t '\"Know for sure that I saw the shed blood of Naboth and his sons yesterday,\" says the LORD, \"and that I will give you what you deserve right here in this plot of land,\" says the LORD.' So now pick him up and throw him into this plot of land, just as the LORD said.\"\n\t\t\t When King Ahaziah of Judah saw what happened, he took off up the road to Beth Haggan. Jehu chased him and ordered, \"Shoot him too.\" They shot him while he was driving his chariot up the ascent of Gur near Ibleam. He fled to Megiddo and died there. \n\t\t\t His servants took his body back to Jerusalem and buried him in his tomb with his ancestors in the city of David. \n\t\t\t Ahaziah had become king over Judah in the eleventh year of Joram son of Ahab.\n\t\t\t Jehu approached Jezreel. When Jezebel heard the news, she put on some eye liner, fixed up her hair, and leaned out the window. \n\t\t\t When Jehu came through the gate, she said, \"Is everything all right, Zimri, murderer of his master?\"\n\t\t\t He looked up at the window and said, \"Who is on my side? Who?\" Two or three eunuchs looked down at him. \n\t\t\t He said, \"Throw her down!\" So they threw her down, and when she hit the ground, her blood splattered against the wall and the horses, and Jehu drove his chariot over her.\n\t\t\t He went inside and had a meal. Then he said, \"Dispose of this accursed woman's corpse. Bury her, for after all, she was a king's daughter.\"\n\t\t\t But when they went to bury her, they found nothing left but the skull, feet, and palms of the hands. \n\t\t\t When they went back and told him, he said, \"The LORD's word through his servant, Elijah the Tishbite, has come to pass. He warned, 'In the plot of land at Jezreel, dogs will devour Jezebel's flesh. \n\t\t\t Jezebel's corpse will be like manure on the surface of the ground in the plot of land at Jezreel. People will not be able to even recognize her.'\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Ahab had seventy sons living in Samaria. So Jehu wrote letters and sent them to Samaria to the leading officials of Jezreel and to the guardians of Ahab's dynasty. This is what the letters said,\n\t\t\t \"You have with you the sons of your master, chariots and horses, a fortified city, and weapons. So when this letter arrives,\n\t\t\t pick the best and most capable of your master's sons, place him on his father's throne, and defend your master's dynasty.\"\n\t\t\t They were absolutely terrified and said, \"Look, two kings could not stop him! How can we?\"\n\t\t\t So the palace supervisor, the city commissioner, the leaders, and the guardians sent this message to Jehu, \"We are your subjects! Whatever you say, we will do. We will not make anyone king. Do what you consider proper.\"\n\t\t\t He wrote them a second letter, saying, \"If you are really on my side and are willing to obey me, then take the heads of your master's sons and come to me in Jezreel at this time tomorrow.\" Now the king had seventy sons, and the prominent men of the city were raising them. \n\t\t\t When they received the letter, they seized the king's sons and executed all seventy of them. They put their heads in baskets and sent them to him in Jezreel. \n\t\t\t The messenger came and told Jehu, \"They have brought the heads of the king's sons.\" Jehu said, \"Stack them in two piles at the entrance of the city gate until morning.\" \n\t\t\t In the morning he went out and stood there. Then he said to all the people, \"You are innocent. I conspired against my master and killed him. But who struck down all of these men?\n\t\t\t Therefore take note that not one of the judgments the LORD announced against Ahab's dynasty has failed to materialize. The LORD had done what he announced through his servant Elijah.\"\n\t\t\t Then Jehu killed all who were left of Ahab's family in Jezreel, and all his nobles, close friends, and priests. He left no survivors.\n\t\t\t Jehu then left there and set out for Samaria. While he was traveling through Beth Eked of the Shepherds, \n\t\t\t Jehu encountered the relatives of King Ahaziah of Judah. He asked, \"Who are you?\" They replied, \"We are Ahaziah's relatives. We have come down to see how the king's sons and the queen mother's sons are doing.\" \n\t\t\t He said, \"Capture them alive!\" So they captured them alive and then executed all forty-two of them in the cistern at Beth Eked. He left no survivors.\n\t\t\t When he left there, he met Jehonadab, son of Rekab, who had been looking for him. Jehu greeted him and asked, \"Are you as committed to me as I am to you?\" Jehonadab answered, \"I am!\" Jehu replied, \"If so, give me your hand.\" So he offered his hand and Jehu pulled him up into the chariot.\n\t\t\t Jehu said, \"Come with me and see how zealous I am for the LORD's cause.\" So he took him along in his chariot. \n\t\t\t He went to Samaria and exterminated all the members of Ahab's family who were still alive in Samaria, just as the LORD had announced to Elijah.\n\t\t\t Jehu assembled all the people and said to them, \"Ahab worshiped Baal a little; Jehu will worship him with great devotion.\n\t\t\t So now, bring to me all the prophets of Baal, as well as all his servants and priests. None of them must be absent, for I am offering a great sacrifice to Baal. Any of them who fail to appear will lose their lives.\" But Jehu was tricking them so he could destroy the servants of Baal. \n\t\t\t Then Jehu ordered, \"Make arrangements for a celebration for Baal.\" So they announced it. \n\t\t\t Jehu sent invitations throughout Israel, and all the servants of Baal came; not one was absent. They arrived at the temple of Baal and filled it up from end to end.\n\t\t\t Jehu ordered the one who was in charge of the wardrobe, \"Bring out robes for all the servants of Baal.\" So he brought out robes for them. \n\t\t\t Then Jehu and Jehonadab son of Rekab went to the temple of Baal. Jehu said to the servants of Baal, \"Make sure there are no servants of the LORD here with you; there must be only servants of Baal.\"\n\t\t\t They went inside to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings. Now Jehu had stationed eighty men outside. He had told them, \"If any of the men inside get away, you will pay with your lives!\"\n\t\t\t When he finished offering the burnt sacrifice, Jehu ordered the royal guard and officers, \"Come in and strike them down! Don't let any escape!\" So the royal guard and officers struck them down with the sword and left their bodies lying there. Then they entered the inner sanctuary of the temple of Baal.\n\t\t\t They hauled out the sacred pillar of the temple of Baal and burned it.\n\t\t\t They demolished the sacred pillar of Baal and the temple of Baal; it is used as a latrine to this very day. \n\t\t\t So Jehu eradicated Baal worship from Israel.\n\t\t\t However, Jehu did not repudiate the sins which Jeroboam son of Nebat had encouraged Israel to commit; the golden calves remained in Bethel and Dan.\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Jehu, \"You have done well. You have accomplished my will and carried out my wishes with regard to Ahab's dynasty. Therefore four generations of your descendants will rule over Israel.\"\n\t\t\t But Jehu did not carefully and wholeheartedly obey the law of the LORD God of Israel. He did not repudiate the sins which Jeroboam had encouraged Israel to commit.\n\t\t\t In those days the LORD began to reduce the size of Israel's territory. Hazael attacked their eastern border.\n\t\t\t He conquered all the land of Gilead, including the territory of Gad, Reuben, and Manasseh, extending all the way from the Aroer in the Arnon Valley through Gilead to Bashan.\n\t\t\t The rest of the events of Jehu's reign, including all his accomplishments and successes, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Israel.\n\t\t\t Jehu passed away and was buried in Samaria. His son Jehoahaz replaced him as king. \n\t\t\t Jehu reigned over Israel for twenty-eight years in Samaria.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she was determined to destroy the entire royal line.\n\t\t\t So Jehosheba, the daughter of King Joram and sister of Ahaziah, took Ahaziah's son Joash and sneaked him away from the rest of the royal descendants who were to be executed. She hid him and his nurse in the room where the bed covers were stored. So he was hidden from Athaliah and escaped execution.\n\t\t\t He hid out with his nurse in the LORD's temple for six years, while Athaliah was ruling over the land.\n\t\t\t In the seventh year Jehoiada summoned the officers of the units of hundreds of the Carians and the royal bodyguard. He met with them in the LORD's temple. He made an agreement with them and made them swear an oath of allegiance in the LORD's temple. Then he showed them the king's son. \n\t\t\t He ordered them, \"This is what you must do. One third of the unit that is on duty during the Sabbath will guard the royal palace.\n\t\t\t Another third of you will be stationed at the Foundation Gate. Still another third of you will be stationed at the gate behind the royal guard. You will take turns guarding the palace.\n\t\t\t The two units who are off duty on the Sabbath will guard the LORD's temple and protect the king.\n\t\t\t You must surround the king. Each of you must hold his weapon in his hand. Whoever approaches your ranks must be killed. You must accompany the king wherever he goes.\"\n\t\t\t The officers of the units of hundreds did just as Jehoiada the priest ordered. Each of them took his men, those who were on duty during the Sabbath as well as those who were off duty on the Sabbath, and reported to Jehoiada the priest. \n\t\t\t The priest gave to the officers of the units of hundreds King David's spears and the shields that were kept in the LORD's temple.\n\t\t\t The royal bodyguard took their stations, each holding his weapon in his hand. They lined up from the south side of the temple to the north side and stood near the altar and the temple, surrounding the king.\n\t\t\t Jehoiada led out the king's son and placed on him the crown and the royal insignia. They proclaimed him king and poured olive oil on his head. They clapped their hands and cried out, \"Long live the king!\"\n\t\t\t When Athaliah heard the royal guard shout, she joined the crowd at the LORD's temple. \n\t\t\t Then she saw the king standing by the pillar, according to custom. The officers stood beside the king with their trumpets and all the people of the land were celebrating and blowing trumpets. Athaliah tore her clothes and screamed, \"Treason, treason!\"\n\t\t\t Jehoiada the priest ordered the officers of the units of hundreds, who were in charge of the army, \"Bring her outside the temple to the guards. Put the sword to anyone who follows her.\" The priest gave this order because he had decided she should not be executed in the LORD's temple.\n\t\t\t They seized her and took her into the precincts of the royal palace through the horses' entrance. There she was executed.\n\t\t\t Jehoiada then drew up a covenant between the LORD and the king and people, stipulating that they should be loyal to the LORD.\n\t\t\t All the people of the land went and demolished the temple of Baal. They smashed its altars and idols to bits. They killed Mattan the priest of Baal in front of the altar. Jehoiada the priest then placed guards at the LORD's temple. \n\t\t\t He took the officers of the units of hundreds, the Carians, the royal bodyguard, and all the people of land, and together they led the king down from the LORD's temple. They entered the royal palace through the Gate of the Royal Bodyguard, and the king sat down on the royal throne.\n\t\t\t All the people of the land celebrated, for the city had rest now that they had killed Athaliah with the sword in the royal palace.\n\t\t\t Jehoash was seven years old when he began to reign. \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t In Jehu's seventh year Jehoash became king; he reigned for forty years in Jerusalem. His mother was Zibiah, who was from Beer Sheba. \n\t\t\t Throughout his lifetime Jehoash did what the LORD approved, just as Jehoiada the priest taught him. \n\t\t\t But the high places were not eliminated; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense on the high places.\n\t\t\t Jehoash said to the priests, \"I place at your disposal all the consecrated silver that has been brought to the LORD's temple, including the silver collected from the census tax, the silver received from those who have made vows, and all the silver that people have voluntarily contributed to the LORD's temple.\n\t\t\t The priests should receive the silver they need from the treasurers and repair any damage to the temple they discover.\"\n\t\t\t By the twenty-third year of King Jehoash's reign the priests had still not repaired the damage to the temple.\n\t\t\t So King Jehoash summoned Jehoiada the priest along with the other priests, and said to them, \"Why have you not repaired the damage to the temple? Now, take no more silver from your treasurers unless you intend to use it to repair the damage.\"\n\t\t\t The priests agreed not to collect silver from the people and relieved themselves of personal responsibility for the temple repairs.\n\t\t\t Jehoiada the priest took a chest and drilled a hole in its lid. He placed it on the right side of the altar near the entrance of the LORD's temple. The priests who guarded the entrance would put into it all the silver brought to the LORD's temple. \n\t\t\t When they saw the chest was full of silver, the royal secretary and the high priest counted the silver that had been brought to the LORD's temple and bagged it up.\n\t\t\t They would then hand over the silver that had been weighed to the construction foremen assigned to the LORD's temple. They hired carpenters and builders to work on the LORD's temple, \n\t\t\t as well as masons and stonecutters. They bought wood and chiseled stone to repair the damage to the LORD's temple and also paid for all the other expenses.\n\t\t\t The silver brought to the LORD's temple was not used for silver bowls, trimming shears, basins, trumpets, or any kind of gold or silver implements.\n\t\t\t It was handed over to the foremen who used it to repair the LORD's temple. \n\t\t\t They did not audit the treasurers who disbursed the funds to the foremen, for they were honest.\n\t\t\t (The silver collected in conjunction with reparation offerings and sin offerings was not brought to the LORD's temple; it belonged to the priests.)\n\t\t\t At that time King Hazael of Syria attacked Gath and captured it. Hazael then decided to attack Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t King Jehoash of Judah collected all the sacred items that his ancestors Jehoshaphat, Jehoram, and Ahaziah, kings of Judah, had consecrated, as well as his own sacred items and all the gold that could be found in the treasuries of the LORD's temple and the royal palace. He sent it all to King Hazael of Syria, who then withdrew from Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t The rest of the events of Joash's reign, including all his accomplishments, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Judah.\n\t\t\t His servants conspired against him and murdered Joash at Beth-Millo, on the road that goes down to Silla.\n\t\t\t His servants Jozabad son of Shimeath and Jehozabad son of Shomer murdered him. He was buried with his ancestors in the city of David. His son Amaziah replaced him as king.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t In the twenty-third year of the reign of Judah's King Joash son of Ahaziah, Jehu's son Jehoahaz became king over Israel. He reigned in Samaria for seventeen years. \n\t\t\t He did evil in the sight of the LORD. He continued in the sinful ways of Jeroboam son of Nebat who had encouraged Israel to sin; he did not repudiate those sins.\n\t\t\t The LORD was furious with Israel and handed them over to King Hazael of Syria and to Hazael's son Ben Hadad for many years.\n\t\t\t Jehoahaz asked for the LORD's mercy and the LORD responded favorably, for he saw that Israel was oppressed by the king of Syria.\n\t\t\t The LORD provided a deliverer for Israel and they were freed from Syria's power. The Israelites once more lived in security.\n\t\t\t But they did not repudiate the sinful ways of the family of Jeroboam, who encouraged Israel to sin; they continued in those sins. There was even an Asherah pole standing in Samaria. \n\t\t\t Jehoahaz had no army left except for fifty horsemen, ten chariots, and 10,000 foot soldiers. The king of Syria had destroyed his troops and trampled on them like dust.\n\t\t\t The rest of the events of Jehoahaz's reign, including all his accomplishments and successes, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Israel.\n\t\t\t Jehoahaz passed away and was buried in Samaria. His son Joash replaced him as king.\n\t\t\t In the thirty-seventh year of King Joash's reign over Judah, Jehoahaz's son Jehoash became king over Israel. He reigned in Samaria for sixteen years. \n\t\t\t He did evil in the sight of the LORD. He did not repudiate the sinful ways of Jeroboam son of Nebat who encouraged Israel to sin; he continued in those sins.\n\t\t\t The rest of the events of Joash's reign, including all his accomplishments and his successful war with King Amaziah of Judah, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Israel.\n\t\t\t Joash passed away and Jeroboam succeeded him on the throne. Joash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.\n\t\t\t Now Elisha had a terminal illness. King Joash of Israel went down to visit him. He wept before him and said, \"My father, my father! The chariot and horsemen of Israel!\"\n\t\t\t Elisha told him, \"Take a bow and some arrows,\" and he did so.\n\t\t\t Then Elisha told the king of Israel, \"Aim the bow.\" He did so, and Elisha placed his hands on the king's hands. \n\t\t\t Elisha said, \"Open the east window,\" and he did so. Elisha said, \"Shoot!\" and he did so. Elisha said, \"This arrow symbolizes the victory the LORD will give you over Syria. You will annihilate Syria in Aphek!\"\n\t\t\t Then Elisha said, \"Take the arrows,\" and he did so. He told the king of Israel, \"Strike the ground!\" He struck the ground three times and stopped. \n\t\t\t The prophet got angry at him and said, \"If you had struck the ground five or six times, you would have annihilated Syria! But now, you will defeat Syria only three times.\"\n\t\t\t Elisha died and was buried. Moabite raiding parties invaded the land at the beginning of the year.\n\t\t\t One day some men were burying a man when they spotted a raiding party. So they threw the dead man into Elisha's tomb. When the body touched Elisha's bones, the dead man came to life and stood on his feet.\n\t\t\t Now King Hazael of Syria oppressed Israel throughout Jehoahaz's reign.\n\t\t\t But the LORD had mercy on them and felt pity for them. He extended his favor to them because of the promise he had made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He has been unwilling to destroy them or remove them from his presence to this very day.\n\t\t\t When King Hazael of Syria died, his son Ben Hadad replaced him as king.\n\t\t\t Jehoahaz's son Jehoash took back from Ben Hadad son of Hazael the cities that he had taken from his father Jehoahaz in war. Joash defeated him three times and recovered the Israelite cities.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t In the second year of the reign of Israel's King Joash son of Joahaz, Joash's son Amaziah became king over Judah. \n\t\t\t He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned for twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother was Jehoaddan, who was from Jerusalem. \n\t\t\t He did what the LORD approved, but not like David his father. He followed the example of his father Joash.\n\t\t\t But the high places were not eliminated; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense on the high places.\n\t\t\t When he had secured control of the kingdom, he executed the servants who had assassinated his father.\n\t\t\t But he did not execute the sons of the assassins. He obeyed the LORD's commandment as recorded in the law scroll of Moses, \"Fathers must not be put to death for what their sons do, and sons must not be put to death for what their fathers do. A man must be put to death only for his own sin.\"\n\t\t\t He defeated 10,000 Edomites in the Salt Valley; he captured Sela in battle and renamed it Joktheel, a name it has retained to this very day. \n\t\t\t Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash son of Jehoahaz son of Jehu, king of Israel. He said, \"Come, let's meet face to face.\"\n\t\t\t King Jehoash of Israel sent this message back to King Amaziah of Judah, \"A thornbush in Lebanon sent this message to a cedar in Lebanon, 'Give your daughter to my son as a wife.' Then a wild animal of Lebanon came by and trampled down the thorn.\n\t\t\t You thoroughly defeated Edom and it has gone to your head! Gloat over your success, but stay in your palace. Why bring calamity on yourself? Why bring down yourself and Judah along with you?\"\n\t\t\t But Amaziah would not heed the warning, so King Jehoash of Israel attacked. He and King Amaziah of Judah met face to face in Beth Shemesh of Judah. \n\t\t\t Judah was defeated by Israel, and each man ran back home.\n\t\t\t King Jehoash of Israel captured King Amaziah of Judah, son of Jehoash son of Ahaziah, in Beth Shemesh. He attacked Jerusalem and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the Gate of Ephraim to the Corner Gate, a distance of about six hundred feet.\n\t\t\t He took away all the gold and silver, all the items found in the LORD's temple and in the treasuries of the royal palace, and some hostages. Then he went back to Samaria. (\n\t\t\t The rest of the events of Jehoash's reign, including all his accomplishments and his successful war with King Amaziah of Judah, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Israel.\n\t\t\t Jehoash passed away and was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel. His son Jeroboam replaced him as king.)\n\t\t\t King Amaziah son of Joash of Judah lived for fifteen years after the death of King Jehoash son of Jehoahaz of Israel.\n\t\t\t The rest of the events of Amaziah's reign are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Judah.\n\t\t\t Conspirators plotted against him in Jerusalem, so he fled to Lachish. But they sent assassins after him and they killed him there. \n\t\t\t His body was carried back by horses and he was buried in Jerusalem with his ancestors in the city of David. \n\t\t\t All the people of Judah took Azariah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in his father Amaziah's place.\n\t\t\t Azariah built up Elat and restored it to Judah after the king had passed away.\n\t\t\t In the fifteenth year of the reign of Judah's King Amaziah, son of Joash, Jeroboam son of Joash became king over Israel. He reigned for forty-one years in Samaria.\n\t\t\t He did evil in the sight of the LORD; he did not repudiate the sinful ways of Jeroboam son of Nebat who encouraged Israel to sin. \n\t\t\t He restored the border of Israel from Lebo Hamath in the north to the sea of the Arabah in the south, in accordance with the word of the LORD God of Israel announced through his servant Jonah son of Amittai, the prophet from Gath Hepher. \n\t\t\t The LORD saw Israel's intense suffering; everyone was weak and incapacitated and Israel had no deliverer.\n\t\t\t The LORD had not decreed that he would blot out Israel's memory from under heaven, so he delivered them through Jeroboam son of Joash.\n\t\t\t The rest of the events of Jeroboam's reign, including all his accomplishments, his military success in restoring Israelite control over Damascus and Hamath, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Israel.\n\t\t\t Jeroboam passed away and was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel. His son Zechariah replaced him as king.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t In the twenty-seventh year of King Jeroboam's reign over Israel, Amaziah's son Azariah became king over Judah.\n\t\t\t He was sixteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned for fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jecholiah, who was from Jerusalem. \n\t\t\t He did what the LORD approved, just as his father Amaziah had done.\n\t\t\t But the high places were not eliminated; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense on the high places.\n\t\t\t The LORD afflicted the king with an illness; he suffered from a skin disease until the day he died. He lived in separate quarters, while his son Jotham was in charge of the palace and ruled over the people of the land.\n\t\t\t The rest of the events of Azariah's reign, including all his accomplishments, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Judah.\n\t\t\t Azariah passed away and was buried with his ancestors in the city of David. His son Jotham replaced him as king.\n\t\t\t In the thirty-eighth year of King Azariah's reign over Judah, Jeroboam's son Zechariah became king over Israel. He reigned in Samaria for six months. \n\t\t\t He did evil in the sight of the LORD, as his ancestors had done. He did not repudiate the sinful ways of Jeroboam son of Nebat who encouraged Israel to sin. \n\t\t\t Shallum son of Jabesh conspired against him; he assassinated him in Ibleam and took his place as king. \n\t\t\t The rest of the events of Zechariah's reign are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Israel.\n\t\t\t His assassination brought to fulfillment the LORD's word to Jehu, \"Four generations of your descendants will rule over Israel.\" That is exactly what happened.\n\t\t\t Shallum son of Jabesh became king in the thirty-ninth year of King Uzziah's reign over Judah. He reigned for one month in Samaria. \n\t\t\t Menahem son of Gadi went up from Tirzah to Samaria and attacked Shallum son of Jabesh. He killed him and took his place as king. \n\t\t\t The rest of the events of Shallum's reign, including the conspiracy he organized, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Israel.\n\t\t\t At that time Menahem came from Tirzah and attacked Tiphsah. He struck down all who lived in the city and the surrounding territory, because they would not surrender. He even ripped open the pregnant women.\n\t\t\t In the thirty-ninth year of King Azariah's reign over Judah, Menahem son of Gadi became king over Israel. He reigned for twelve years in Samaria.\n\t\t\t He did evil in the sight of the LORD; he did not repudiate the sinful ways of Jeroboam son of Nebat who encouraged Israel to sin. During his reign,\n\t\t\t Pul king of Assyria invaded the land, and Menahem paid him a thousand talents of silver to gain his support and to solidify his control of the kingdom.\n\t\t\t Menahem got this silver by taxing all the wealthy men in Israel; he took fifty shekels of silver from each one of them and paid it to the king of Assyria. Then the king of Assyria left; he did not stay there in the land.\n\t\t\t The rest of the events of Menahem's reign, including all his accomplishments, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Israel.\n\t\t\t Menahem passed away and his son Pekahiah replaced him as king.\n\t\t\t In the fiftieth year of King Azariah's reign over Judah, Menahem's son Pekahiah became king over Israel. He reigned in Samaria for two years. \n\t\t\t He did evil in the sight of the LORD; he did not repudiate the sinful ways of Jeroboam son of Nebat who encouraged Israel to sin. \n\t\t\t His officer Pekah son of Remaliah conspired against him. He and fifty Gileadites assassinated Pekahiah, as well as Argob and Arieh, in Samaria in the fortress of the royal palace. Pekah then took his place as king.\n\t\t\t The rest of the events of Pekahiah's reign, including all his accomplishments, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Israel.\n\t\t\t In the fifty-second year of King Azariah's reign over Judah, Pekah son of Remaliah became king over Israel. He reigned in Samaria for twenty years.\n\t\t\t He did evil in the sight of the LORD; he did not repudiate the sinful ways of Jeroboam son of Nebat who encouraged Israel to sin. \n\t\t\t During Pekah's reign over Israel, King Tiglath-pileser of Assyria came and captured Ijon, Abel Beth Maacah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, Gilead, and Galilee, including all the territory of Naphtali. He deported the people to Assyria. \n\t\t\t Hoshea son of Elah conspired against Pekah son of Remaliah. He assassinated him and took his place as king, in the twentieth year of the reign of Jotham son of Uzziah.\n\t\t\t The rest of the events of Pekah's reign, including all his accomplishments, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Israel.\n\t\t\t In the second year of the reign of Israel's King Pekah son of Remaliah, Uzziah's son Jotham became king over Judah.\n\t\t\t He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned for sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother was Jerusha the daughter of Zadok.\n\t\t\t He did what the LORD approved, just as his father Uzziah had done.\n\t\t\t But the high places were not eliminated; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense on the high places. He built the Upper Gate to the LORD's temple.\n\t\t\t The rest of the events of Jotham's reign, including his accomplishments, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Judah.\n\t\t\t In those days the LORD prompted King Rezin of Syria and Pekah son of Remaliah to attack Judah.\n\t\t\t Jotham passed away and was buried with his ancestors in the city of his ancestor David. His son Ahaz replaced him as king.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t In the seventeenth year of the reign of Pekah son of Remaliah, Jotham's son Ahaz became king over Judah.\n\t\t\t Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned for sixteen years in Jerusalem. He did not do what pleased the LORD his God, in contrast to his ancestor David.\n\t\t\t He followed in the footsteps of the kings of Israel. He passed his son through the fire, a horrible sin practiced by the nations whom the LORD drove out from before the Israelites. \n\t\t\t He offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places, on the hills, and under every green tree.\n\t\t\t At that time King Rezin of Syria and King Pekah son of Remaliah of Israel attacked Jerusalem. They besieged Ahaz, but were unable to conquer him.\n\t\t\t (At that time King Rezin of Syria recovered Elat for Syria; he drove the Judahites from there. Syrians arrived in Elat and live there to this very day.) \n\t\t\t Ahaz sent messengers to King Tiglath-pileser of Assyria, saying, \"I am your servant and your dependent. March up and rescue me from the power of the king of Syria and the king of Israel, who have attacked me.\" \n\t\t\t Then Ahaz took the silver and gold that were in the LORD's temple and in the treasuries of the royal palace and sent it as tribute to the king of Assyria. \n\t\t\t The king of Assyria responded favorably to his request; he attacked Damascus and captured it. He deported the people to Kir and executed Rezin.\n\t\t\t When King Ahaz went to meet with King Tiglath-pileser of Assyria in Damascus, he saw the altar there. King Ahaz sent to Uriah the priest a drawing of the altar and a blueprint for its design.\n\t\t\t Uriah the priest built an altar in conformity to the plans King Ahaz had sent from Damascus. Uriah the priest finished it before King Ahaz arrived back from Damascus.\n\t\t\t When the king arrived back from Damascus and saw the altar, he approached it and offered a sacrifice on it.\n\t\t\t He offered his burnt sacrifice and his grain offering. He poured out his libation and sprinkled the blood from his peace offerings on the altar.\n\t\t\t He moved the bronze altar that stood in the LORD's presence from the front of the temple (between the altar and the LORD's temple) and put it on the north side of the new altar. \n\t\t\t King Ahaz ordered Uriah the priest, \"On the large altar offer the morning burnt sacrifice, the evening grain offering, the royal burnt sacrifices and grain offering, the burnt sacrifice for all the people of Israel, their grain offering, and their libations. Sprinkle all the blood of the burnt sacrifice and other sacrifices on it. The bronze altar will be for my personal use.\"\n\t\t\t So Uriah the priest did exactly as King Ahaz ordered.\n\t\t\t King Ahaz took off the frames of the movable stands, and removed the basins from them. He took \"The Sea\" down from the bronze bulls that supported it and put it on the pavement. \n\t\t\t He also removed the Sabbath awning that had been built in the temple and the king's outer entranceway, on account of the king of Assyria.\n\t\t\t The rest of the events of Ahaz's reign, including his accomplishments, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Judah.\n\t\t\t Ahaz passed away and was buried with his ancestors in the city of David. His son Hezekiah replaced him as king.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t In the twelfth year of King Ahaz's reign over Judah, Hoshea son of Elah became king over Israel. He reigned in Samaria for nine years. \n\t\t\t He did evil in the sight of the LORD, but not to the same degree as the Israelite kings who preceded him. \n\t\t\t King Shalmaneser of Assyria threatened him; Hoshea became his subject and paid him tribute. \n\t\t\t The king of Assyria discovered that Hoshea was planning a revolt. Hoshea had sent messengers to King So of Egypt and had not sent his annual tribute to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria arrested him and imprisoned him.\n\t\t\t The king of Assyria marched through the whole land. He attacked Samaria and besieged it for three years. \n\t\t\t In the ninth year of Hoshea's reign, the king of Assyria captured Samaria and deported the people of Israel to Assyria. He settled them in Halah, along the Habor (the river of Gozan), and in the cities of the Medes.\n\t\t\t This happened because the Israelites sinned against the LORD their God, who brought them up from the land of Egypt and freed them from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt. They worshiped other gods; \n\t\t\t they observed the practices of the nations whom the LORD had driven out from before Israel, and followed the example of the kings of Israel.\n\t\t\t The Israelites said things about the LORD their God that were not right. They built high places in all their cities, from the watchtower to the fortress.\n\t\t\t They set up sacred pillars and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every green tree.\n\t\t\t They burned incense on all the high places just like the nations whom the LORD had driven away from before them. Their evil practices made the LORD angry.\n\t\t\t They worshiped the disgusting idols in blatant disregard of the LORD's command.\n\t\t\t The LORD solemnly warned Israel and Judah through all his prophets and all the seers, \"Turn back from your evil ways; obey my commandments and rules that are recorded in the law. I ordered your ancestors to keep this law and sent my servants the prophets to remind you of its demands.\"\n\t\t\t But they did not pay attention and were as stubborn as their ancestors, who had not trusted the LORD their God. \n\t\t\t They rejected his rules, the covenant he had made with their ancestors, and the laws he had commanded them to obey. They paid allegiance to worthless idols, and so became worthless to the LORD. They copied the practices of the surrounding nations in blatant disregard of the LORD's command.\n\t\t\t They abandoned all the commandments of the LORD their God; they made two metal calves and an Asherah pole, bowed down to all the stars in the sky, and worshiped Baal. \n\t\t\t They passed their sons and daughters through the fire, and practiced divination and omen reading. They committed themselves to doing evil in the sight of the LORD and made him angry.\n\t\t\t So the LORD was furious with Israel and rejected them; only the tribe of Judah was left. \n\t\t\t Judah also failed to keep the commandments of the LORD their God; they followed Israel's example.\n\t\t\t So the LORD rejected all of Israel's descendants; he humiliated them and handed them over to robbers, until he had thrown them from his presence. \n\t\t\t He tore Israel away from David's dynasty, and Jeroboam son of Nebat became their king. Jeroboam drove Israel away from the LORD and encouraged them to commit a serious sin.\n\t\t\t The Israelites followed in the sinful ways of Jeroboam son of Nebat and did not repudiate them. \n\t\t\t Finally the LORD rejected Israel just as he had warned he would do through all his servants the prophets. Israel was deported from its land to Assyria and remains there to this very day.\n\t\t\t The king of Assyria brought foreigners from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sepharvaim and settled them in the cities of Samaria in place of the Israelites. They took possession of Samaria and lived in its cities. \n\t\t\t When they first moved in, they did not worship the LORD. So the LORD sent lions among them and the lions were killing them. \n\t\t\t The king of Assyria was told, \"The nations whom you deported and settled in the cities of Samaria do not know the requirements of the God of the land, so he has sent lions among them. They are killing the people because they do not know the requirements of the God of the land.\" \n\t\t\t So the king of Assyria ordered, \"Take back one of the priests whom you deported from there. He must settle there and teach them the requirements of the God of the land.\"\n\t\t\t So one of the priests whom they had deported from Samaria went back and settled in Bethel. He taught them how to worship the LORD.\n\t\t\t But each of these nations made its own gods and put them in the shrines on the high places that the people of Samaria had made. Each nation did this in the cities where they lived.\n\t\t\t The people from Babylon made Succoth Benoth, the people from Cuth made Nergal, the people from Hamath made Ashima,\n\t\t\t the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burned their sons in the fire as an offering to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim. \n\t\t\t At the same time they worshiped the LORD. They appointed some of their own people to serve as priests in the shrines on the high places.\n\t\t\t They were worshiping the LORD and at the same time serving their own gods in accordance with the practices of the nations from which they had been deported.\n\t\t\t To this very day they observe their earlier practices. They do not worship the LORD; they do not obey the rules, regulations, law, and commandments that the LORD gave the descendants of Jacob, whom he renamed Israel. \n\t\t\t The LORD made an agreement with them and instructed them, \"You must not worship other gods. Do not bow down to them, serve them, or offer sacrifices to them. \n\t\t\t Instead you must worship the LORD, who brought you up from the land of Egypt by his great power and military ability; bow down to him and offer sacrifices to him. \n\t\t\t You must carefully obey at all times the rules, regulations, law, and commandments he wrote down for you. You must not worship other gods.\n\t\t\t You must never forget the agreement I made with you, and you must not worship other gods.\n\t\t\t Instead you must worship the LORD your God; then he will rescue you from the power of all your enemies.\"\n\t\t\t But they pay no attention; instead they observe their earlier practices. \n\t\t\t These nations are worshiping the LORD and at the same time serving their idols; their sons and grandsons do just as their fathers have done, to this very day.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t In the third year of the reign of Israel's King Hoshea son of Elah, Ahaz's son Hezekiah became king over Judah.\n\t\t\t He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother was Abi, the daughter of Zechariah. \n\t\t\t He did what the LORD approved, just as his ancestor David had done.\n\t\t\t He eliminated the high places, smashed the sacred pillars to bits, and cut down the Asherah pole. He also demolished the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had been offering incense to it; it was called Nehushtan.\n\t\t\t He trusted in the LORD God of Israel; in this regard there was none like him among the kings of Judah either before or after.\n\t\t\t He was loyal to the LORD and did not abandon him. He obeyed the commandments which the LORD had given to Moses. \n\t\t\t The LORD was with him; he succeeded in all his endeavors. He rebelled against the king of Assyria and refused to submit to him.\n\t\t\t He defeated the Philistines as far as Gaza and its territory, from the watchtower to the city fortress.\n\t\t\t In the fourth year of King Hezekiah's reign (it was the seventh year of the reign of Israel's King Hoshea, son of Elah), King Shalmaneser of Assyria marched up against Samaria and besieged it. \n\t\t\t After three years he captured it (in the sixth year of Hezekiah's reign); in the ninth year of King Hoshea's reign over Israel Samaria was captured.\n\t\t\t The king of Assyria deported the people of Israel to Assyria. He settled them in Halah, along the Habor (the river of Gozan), and in the cities of the Medes. \n\t\t\t This happened because they did not obey the LORD their God and broke his agreement with them. They did not pay attention to and obey all that Moses, the LORD's servant, had commanded.\n\t\t\t In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah's reign, King Sennacherib of Assyria marched up against all the fortified cities of Judah and captured them.\n\t\t\t King Hezekiah of Judah sent this message to the king of Assyria, who was at Lachish, \"I have violated our treaty. If you leave, I will do whatever you demand.\" So the king of Assyria demanded that King Hezekiah of Judah pay three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold. \n\t\t\t Hezekiah gave him all the silver in the LORD's temple and in the treasuries of the royal palace. \n\t\t\t At that time King Hezekiah of Judah stripped the metal overlays from the doors of the LORD's temple and from the posts which he had plated and gave them to the king of Assyria.\n\t\t\t The king of Assyria sent his commanding general, the chief eunuch, and the chief adviser from Lachish to King Hezekiah in Jerusalem, along with a large army. They went up and arrived at Jerusalem. They went and stood at the conduit of the upper pool which is located on the road to the field where they wash and dry cloth.\n\t\t\t They summoned the king, so Eliakim son of Hilkiah, the palace supervisor, accompanied by Shebna the scribe and Joah son of Asaph, the secretary, went out to meet them.\n\t\t\t The chief adviser said to them, \"Tell Hezekiah: 'This is what the great king, the king of Assyria, says: \"What is your source of confidence?\n\t\t\t Your claim to have a strategy and military strength is just empty talk. In whom are you trusting that you would dare to rebel against me? \n\t\t\t Now look, you must be trusting in Egypt, that splintered reed staff. If a man leans for support on it, it punctures his hand and wounds him. That is what Pharaoh king of Egypt does to all who trust in him.\n\t\t\t Perhaps you will tell me, 'We are trusting in the LORD our God.' But Hezekiah is the one who eliminated his high places and altars and then told the people of Judah and Jerusalem, 'You must worship at this altar in Jerusalem.'\n\t\t\t Now make a deal with my master the king of Assyria, and I will give you two thousand horses, provided you can find enough riders for them. \n\t\t\t Certainly you will not refuse one of my master's minor officials and trust in Egypt for chariots and horsemen.\n\t\t\t Furthermore it was by the command of the LORD that I marched up against this place to destroy it. The LORD told me, 'March up against this land and destroy it.'\"'\"\n\t\t\t Eliakim son of Hilkiah, Shebna, and Joah said to the chief adviser, \"Speak to your servants in Aramaic, for we understand it. Don't speak with us in the Judahite dialect in the hearing of the people who are on the wall.\" \n\t\t\t But the chief adviser said to them, \"My master did not send me to speak these words only to your master and to you. His message is also for the men who sit on the wall, for they will eat their own excrement and drink their own urine along with you.\"\n\t\t\t The chief adviser then stood there and called out loudly in the Judahite dialect, \"Listen to the message of the great king, the king of Assyria. \n\t\t\t This is what the king says: 'Don't let Hezekiah mislead you, for he is not able to rescue you from my hand!\n\t\t\t Don't let Hezekiah talk you into trusting in the LORD when he says, \"The LORD will certainly rescue us; this city will not be handed over to the king of Assyria.\"\n\t\t\t Don't listen to Hezekiah!' For this is what the king of Assyria says, 'Send me a token of your submission and surrender to me. Then each of you may eat from his own vine and fig tree and drink water from his own cistern, \n\t\t\t until I come and take you to a land just like your own, a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of olive trees and honey. Then you will live and not die. Don't listen to Hezekiah, for he is misleading you when he says, \"The LORD will rescue us.\"\n\t\t\t Have any of the gods of the nations actually rescued his land from the power of the king of Assyria?\n\t\t\t Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah? Indeed, did any gods rescue Samaria from my power?\n\t\t\t Who among all the gods of the lands has rescued their lands from my power? So how can the LORD rescue Jerusalem from my power?'\"\n\t\t\t The people were silent and did not respond, for the king had ordered, \"Don't respond to him.\"\n\t\t\t Eliakim son of Hilkiah, the palace supervisor, accompanied by Shebna the scribe and Joah son of Asaph, the secretary, went to Hezekiah with their clothes torn and reported to him what the chief adviser had said. \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t When King Hezekiah heard this, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and went to the LORD's temple.\n\t\t\t He sent Eliakim the palace supervisor, Shebna the scribe, and the leading priests, clothed in sackcloth, with this message to the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz: \n\t\t\t \"This is what Hezekiah says: 'This is a day of distress, insults, and humiliation, as when a baby is ready to leave the birth canal, but the mother lacks the strength to push it through.\n\t\t\t Perhaps the LORD your God will hear all these things the chief adviser has spoken on behalf of his master, the king of Assyria, who sent him to taunt the living God. When the LORD your God hears, perhaps he will punish him for the things he has said. So pray for this remnant that remains.'\"\n\t\t\t When King Hezekiah's servants came to Isaiah,\n\t\t\t Isaiah said to them, \"Tell your master this: 'This is what the LORD says: \"Don't be afraid because of the things you have heard, these insults the king of Assyria's servants have hurled against me.\n\t\t\t Look, I will take control of his mind; he will receive a report and return to his own land. I will cut him down with a sword in his own land.\"'\"\n\t\t\t When the chief adviser heard the king of Assyria had departed from Lachish, he left and went to Libnah, where the king was campaigning.\n\t\t\t The king heard that King Tirhakah of Ethiopia was marching out to fight him. He again sent messengers to Hezekiah, ordering them: \n\t\t\t \"Tell King Hezekiah of Judah this: 'Don't let your God in whom you trust mislead you when he says, \"Jerusalem will not be handed over to the king of Assyria.\" \n\t\t\t Certainly you have heard how the kings of Assyria have annihilated all lands. Do you really think you will be rescued?\n\t\t\t Were the nations whom my ancestors destroyed, the nations of Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, and the people of Eden in Telassar, rescued by their gods?\n\t\t\t Where are the king of Hamath, the king of Arpad, and the king of Lair, Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah?'\"\n\t\t\t Hezekiah took the letter from the messengers and read it. Then Hezekiah went up to the LORD's temple and spread it out before the LORD. \n\t\t\t Hezekiah prayed before the LORD: \"LORD God of Israel, who is enthroned on the cherubs! You alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You made the sky and the earth. \n\t\t\t Pay attention, LORD, and hear! Open your eyes, LORD, and observe! Listen to the message Sennacherib sent and how he taunts the living God!\n\t\t\t It is true, LORD, that the kings of Assyria have destroyed the nations and their lands.\n\t\t\t They have burned the gods of the nations, for they are not really gods, but only the product of human hands manufactured from wood and stone. That is why the Assyrians could destroy them.\n\t\t\t Now, O LORD our God, rescue us from his power, so that all the kingdoms of the earth will know that you, LORD, are the only God.\"\n\t\t\t Isaiah son of Amoz sent this message to Hezekiah: \"This is what the LORD God of Israel says: 'I have heard your prayer concerning King Sennacherib of Assyria.\n\t\t\t This is what the LORD says about him: \"The virgin daughter Zion despises you, she makes fun of you; Daughter Jerusalem shakes her head after you.\n\t\t\t Whom have you taunted and hurled insults at? At whom have you shouted, and looked so arrogantly? At the Holy One of Israel!\n\t\t\t Through your messengers you taunted the sovereign master, 'With my many chariots I climbed up the high mountains, the slopes of Lebanon. I cut down its tall cedars, and its best evergreens. I invaded its most remote regions, its thickest woods.\n\t\t\t I dug wells and drank water in foreign lands. With the soles of my feet I dried up all the rivers of Egypt.'\n\t\t\t Certainly you must have heard! Long ago I worked it out, In ancient times I planned it; and now I am bringing it to pass. The plan is this: Fortified cities will crash into heaps of ruins.\n\t\t\t Their residents are powerless, they are terrified and ashamed. They are as short-lived as plants in the field, or green vegetation. They are as short-lived as grass on the rooftops when it is scorched by the east wind.\n\t\t\t I know where you live, and everything you do.\n\t\t\t Because you rage against me, and the uproar you create has reached my ears; I will put my hook in your nose, and my bridle between your lips, and I will lead you back the way you came.\"\n\t\t\t This will be your confirmation that I have spoken the truth: This year you will eat what grows wild, and next year what grows on its own from that. But in the third year you will plant seed and harvest crops; you will plant vines and consume their produce.\n\t\t\t Those who remain in Judah will take root in the ground and bear fruit.\n\t\t\t For a remnant will leave Jerusalem; survivors will come out of Mount Zion. The intense devotion of the sovereign LORD to his people will accomplish this.\n\t\t\t So this is what the LORD says about the king of Assyria: \"He will not enter this city, nor will he shoot an arrow here. He will not attack it with his shield-carrying warriors, nor will he build siege works against it.\n\t\t\t He will go back the way he came. He will not enter this city,\" says the LORD.\n\t\t\t I will shield this city and rescue it for the sake of my reputation and because of my promise to David my servant.'\"\n\t\t\t That very night the LORD's messenger went out and killed 185,000 men in the Assyrian camp. When they got up early the next morning, there were all the corpses.\n\t\t\t So King Sennacherib of Assyria broke camp and went on his way. He went home and stayed in Nineveh.\n\t\t\t One day, as he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisroch, his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer struck him down with the sword. They escaped to the land of Ararat; his son Esarhaddon replaced him as king.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t In those days Hezekiah was stricken with a terminal illness. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz visited him and told him, \"This is what the LORD says, 'Give your household instructions, for you are about to die; you will not get well.'\"\n\t\t\t He turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD,\n\t\t\t \"Please, LORD. Remember how I have served you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion, and how I have carried out your will.\" Then Hezekiah wept bitterly.\n\t\t\t Isaiah was still in the middle courtyard when the LORD told him,\n\t\t\t \"Go back and tell Hezekiah, the leader of my people: 'This is what the LORD God of your ancestor David says: \"I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Look, I will heal you. The day after tomorrow you will go up to the LORD's temple. \n\t\t\t I will add fifteen years to your life and rescue you and this city from the king of Assyria. I will shield this city for the sake of my reputation and because of my promise to David my servant.\"'\"\n\t\t\t Isaiah ordered, \"Get a fig cake.\" So they did as he ordered and placed it on the ulcerated sore, and he recovered.\n\t\t\t Hezekiah had said to Isaiah, \"What is the confirming sign that the LORD will heal me and that I will go up to the LORD's temple the day after tomorrow?\"\n\t\t\t Isaiah replied, \"This is your sign from the LORD confirming that the LORD will do what he has said. Do you want the shadow to move ahead ten steps or to go back ten steps?\"\n\t\t\t Hezekiah answered, \"It is easy for the shadow to lengthen ten steps, but not for it to go back ten steps.\" \n\t\t\t Isaiah the prophet called out to the LORD, and the LORD made the shadow go back ten steps on the stairs of Ahaz.\n\t\t\t At that time Merodach-Baladan son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a gift to Hezekiah, for he had heard that Hezekiah was ill. \n\t\t\t Hezekiah welcomed them and showed them his whole storehouse, with its silver, gold, spices, and high quality olive oil, as well as his armory and everything in his treasuries. Hezekiah showed them everything in his palace and in his whole kingdom.\n\t\t\t Isaiah the prophet visited King Hezekiah and asked him, \"What did these men say? Where do they come from?\" Hezekiah replied, \"They come from the distant land of Babylon.\"\n\t\t\t Isaiah asked, \"What have they seen in your palace?\" Hezekiah replied, \"They have seen everything in my palace. I showed them everything in my treasuries.\" \n\t\t\t Isaiah said to Hezekiah, \"Listen to the word of the LORD,\n\t\t\t 'Look, a time is coming when everything in your palace and the things your ancestors have accumulated to this day will be carried away to Babylon; nothing will be left,' says the LORD. \n\t\t\t 'Some of your very own descendants whom you father will be taken away and will be made eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.'\" \n\t\t\t Hezekiah said to Isaiah, \"The LORD's word which you have announced is appropriate.\" Then he added, \"At least there will be peace and stability during my lifetime.\"\n\t\t\t The rest of the events of Hezekiah's reign and all his accomplishments, including how he built a pool and conduit to bring water into the city, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Judah.\n\t\t\t Hezekiah passed away and his son Manasseh replaced him as king.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned for fifty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother was Hephzibah. \n\t\t\t He did evil in the sight of the LORD and committed the same horrible sins practiced by the nations whom the LORD drove out from before the Israelites. \n\t\t\t He rebuilt the high places that his father Hezekiah had destroyed; he set up altars for Baal and made an Asherah pole just like King Ahab of Israel had done. He bowed down to all the stars in the sky and worshiped them. \n\t\t\t He built altars in the LORD's temple, about which the LORD had said, \"Jerusalem will be my home.\"\n\t\t\t In the two courtyards of the LORD's temple he built altars for all the stars in the sky.\n\t\t\t He passed his son through the fire and practiced divination and omen reading. He set up a ritual pit to conjure up underworld spirits, and appointed magicians to supervise it. He did a great amount of evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking him to anger.\n\t\t\t He put an idol of Asherah he had made in the temple, about which the LORD had said to David and to his son Solomon, \"This temple in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will be my permanent home.\n\t\t\t I will not make Israel again leave the land I gave to their ancestors, provided that they carefully obey all I commanded them, the whole law my servant Moses ordered them to obey.\" \n\t\t\t But they did not obey, and Manasseh misled them so that they sinned more than the nations whom the LORD had destroyed from before the Israelites.\n\t\t\t So the LORD announced through his servants the prophets: \n\t\t\t \"King Manasseh of Judah has committed horrible sins. He has sinned more than the Amorites before him and has encouraged Judah to sin by worshiping his disgusting idols.\n\t\t\t So this is what the LORD God of Israel says, 'I am about to bring disaster on Jerusalem and Judah. The news will reverberate in the ears of those who hear about it.\n\t\t\t I will destroy Jerusalem the same way I did Samaria and the dynasty of Ahab. I will wipe Jerusalem clean, just as one wipes a plate on both sides.\n\t\t\t I will abandon this last remaining tribe among my people and hand them over to their enemies; they will be plundered and robbed by all their enemies,\n\t\t\t because they have done evil in my sight and have angered me from the time their ancestors left Egypt right up to this very day!'\"\n\t\t\t Furthermore Manasseh killed so many innocent people, he stained Jerusalem with their blood from end to end, in addition to encouraging Judah to sin by doing evil in the sight of the LORD.\n\t\t\t The rest of the events of Manasseh's reign and all his accomplishments, as well as the sinful acts he committed, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Judah.\n\t\t\t Manasseh passed away and was buried in his palace garden, the garden of Uzzah, and his son Amon replaced him as king.\n\t\t\t Amon was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned for two years in Jerusalem. His mother was Meshullemeth, the daughter of Haruz, from Jotbah. \n\t\t\t He did evil in the sight of the LORD, just like his father Manasseh had done. \n\t\t\t He followed in the footsteps of his father and worshiped and bowed down to the disgusting idols which his father had worshiped.\n\t\t\t He abandoned the LORD God of his ancestors and did not follow the LORD's instructions.\n\t\t\t Amon's servants conspired against him and killed the king in his palace.\n\t\t\t The people of the land executed all those who had conspired against King Amon, and they made his son Josiah king in his place.\n\t\t\t The rest of Amon's accomplishments are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Judah.\n\t\t\t He was buried in his tomb in the garden of Uzzah, and his son Josiah replaced him as king.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned for thirty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother was Jedidah, daughter of Adaiah, from Bozkath.\n\t\t\t He did what the LORD approved and followed in his ancestor David's footsteps; he did not deviate to the right or the left.\n\t\t\t In the eighteenth year of King Josiah's reign, the king sent the scribe Shaphan son of Azaliah, son of Meshullam, to the LORD's temple with these orders:\n\t\t\t \"Go up to Hilkiah the high priest and have him melt down the silver that has been brought by the people to the LORD's temple and has been collected by the guards at the door. \n\t\t\t Have them hand it over to the construction foremen assigned to the LORD's temple. They in turn should pay the temple workers to repair it,\n\t\t\t including craftsmen, builders, and masons, and should buy wood and chiseled stone for the repair work.\n\t\t\t Do not audit the foremen who disburse the silver, for they are honest.\"\n\t\t\t Hilkiah the high priest informed Shaphan the scribe, \"I found the law scroll in the LORD's temple.\" Hilkiah gave the scroll to Shaphan and he read it.\n\t\t\t Shaphan the scribe went to the king and reported, \"Your servants melted down the silver in the temple and handed it over to the construction foremen assigned to the LORD's temple.\"\n\t\t\t Then Shaphan the scribe told the king, \"Hilkiah the priest has given me a scroll.\" Shaphan read it out loud before the king.\n\t\t\t When the king heard the words of the law scroll, he tore his clothes.\n\t\t\t The king ordered Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Acbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the king's servant,\n\t\t\t \"Go, seek an oracle from the LORD for me and the people, for all Judah. Find out about the words of this scroll that has been discovered. For the LORD's fury has been ignited against us, because our ancestors have not obeyed the words of this scroll by doing all that it instructs us to do.\"\n\t\t\t So Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Acbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shullam son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, the supervisor of the wardrobe. (She lived in Jerusalem in the Mishneh district.) They stated their business,\n\t\t\t and she said to them: \"This is what the LORD God of Israel says: 'Say this to the man who sent you to me:\n\t\t\t \"This is what the LORD says: 'I am about to bring disaster on this place and its residents, the details of which are recorded in the scroll which the king of Judah has read.\n\t\t\t This will happen because they have abandoned me and offered sacrifices to other gods, angering me with all the idols they have made. My anger will ignite against this place and will not be extinguished!'\" \n\t\t\t Say this to the king of Judah, who sent you to seek an oracle from the LORD: \"This is what the LORD God of Israel says concerning the words you have heard:\n\t\t\t 'You displayed a sensitive spirit and humbled yourself before the LORD when you heard how I intended to make this place and its residents into an appalling example of an accursed people. You tore your clothes and wept before me, and I have heard you,' says the LORD. \n\t\t\t 'Therefore I will allow you to die and be buried in peace. You will not have to witness all the disaster I will bring on this place.'\"'\" Then they reported back to the king.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The king summoned all the leaders of Judah and Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t The king went up to the LORD's temple, accompanied by all the people of Judah, all the residents of Jerusalem, the priests, and the prophets. All the people were there, from the youngest to the oldest. He read aloud all the words of the scroll of the covenant that had been discovered in the LORD's temple. \n\t\t\t The king stood by the pillar and renewed the covenant before the LORD, agreeing to follow the LORD and to obey his commandments, laws, and rules with all his heart and being, by carrying out the terms of this covenant recorded on this scroll. All the people agreed to keep the covenant.\n\t\t\t The king ordered Hilkiah the high priest, the high-ranking priests, and the guards to bring out of the LORD's temple all the items that were used in the worship of Baal, Asherah, and all the stars of the sky. The king burned them outside of Jerusalem in the terraces of Kidron, and carried their ashes to Bethel.\n\t\t\t He eliminated the pagan priests whom the kings of Judah had appointed to offer sacrifices on the high places in the cities of Judah and in the area right around Jerusalem. (They offered sacrifices to Baal, the sun god, the moon god, the constellations, and all the stars in the sky.) \n\t\t\t He removed the Asherah pole from the LORD's temple and took it outside Jerusalem to the Kidron Valley, where he burned it. He smashed it to dust and then threw the dust in the public graveyard.\n\t\t\t He tore down the quarters of the male cultic prostitutes in the LORD's temple, where women were weaving shrines for Asherah.\n\t\t\t He brought all the priests from the cities of Judah and ruined the high places where the priests had offered sacrifices, from Geba to Beer Sheba. He tore down the high place of the goat idols situated at the entrance of the gate of Joshua, the city official, on the left side of the city gate. \n\t\t\t (Now the priests of the high places did not go up to the altar of the LORD in Jerusalem, but they did eat unleavened cakes among their fellow priests.)\n\t\t\t The king ruined Topheth in the Valley of Ben Hinnom so that no one could pass his son or his daughter through the fire to Molech.\n\t\t\t He removed from the entrance to the LORD's temple the statues of horses that the kings of Judah had placed there in honor of the sun god. (They were kept near the room of Nathan Melech the eunuch, which was situated among the courtyards.) He burned up the chariots devoted to the sun god.\n\t\t\t The king tore down the altars the kings of Judah had set up on the roof of Ahaz's upper room, as well as the altars Manasseh had set up in the two courtyards of the LORD's temple. He crushed them up and threw the dust in the Kidron Valley. \n\t\t\t The king ruined the high places east of Jerusalem, south of the Mount of Destruction, that King Solomon of Israel had built for the detestable Sidonian goddess Astarte, the detestable Moabite god Chemosh, and the horrible Ammonite god Milcom. \n\t\t\t He smashed the sacred pillars to bits, cut down the Asherah pole, and filled those shrines with human bones.\n\t\t\t He also tore down the altar in Bethel at the high place made by Jeroboam son of Nebat, who encouraged Israel to sin. He burned all the combustible items at that high place and crushed them to dust; including the Asherah pole.\n\t\t\t When Josiah turned around, he saw the tombs there on the hill. So he ordered the bones from the tombs to be brought; he burned them on the altar and defiled it. This fulfilled the LORD's announcement made by the prophet while Jeroboam stood by the altar during a festival. King Josiah turned and saw the grave of the prophet who had foretold this.\n\t\t\t He asked, \"What is this grave marker I see?\" The men from the city replied, \"It's the grave of the prophet who came from Judah and foretold these very things you have done to the altar of Bethel.\" \n\t\t\t The king said, \"Leave it alone! No one must touch his bones.\" So they left his bones undisturbed, as well as the bones of the Israelite prophet buried beside him.\n\t\t\t Josiah also removed all the shrines on the high places in the cities of Samaria. The kings of Israel had made them and angered the LORD. He did to them what he had done to the high place in Bethel.\n\t\t\t He sacrificed all the priests of the high places on the altars located there, and burned human bones on them. Then he returned to Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t The king ordered all the people, \"Observe the Passover of the LORD your God, as prescribed in this scroll of the covenant.\"\n\t\t\t He issued this edict because a Passover like this had not been observed since the days of the judges; it was neglected for the entire period of the kings of Israel and Judah.\n\t\t\t But in the eighteenth year of King Josiah's reign, such a Passover of the LORD was observed in Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t Josiah also got rid of the ritual pits used to conjure up spirits, the magicians, personal idols, disgusting images, and all the detestable idols that had appeared in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem. In this way he carried out the terms of the law recorded on the scroll that Hilkiah the priest had discovered in the LORD's temple. \n\t\t\t No king before or after repented before the LORD as he did, with his whole heart, soul, and being in accordance with the whole law of Moses.\n\t\t\t Yet the LORD's great anger against Judah did not subside; he was still infuriated by all the things Manasseh had done.\n\t\t\t The LORD announced, \"I will also spurn Judah, just as I spurned Israel. I will reject this city that I chose, both Jerusalem and the temple, about which I said, \"I will live there.\"\n\t\t\t The rest of the events of Josiah's reign and all his accomplishments are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Judah.\n\t\t\t During Josiah's reign Pharaoh Necho king of Egypt marched toward the Euphrates River to help the king of Assyria. King Josiah marched out to fight him, but Necho killed him at Megiddo when he saw him. \n\t\t\t His servants transported his dead body from Megiddo in a chariot and brought it to Jerusalem, where they buried him in his tomb. The people of the land took Josiah's son Jehoahaz, poured olive oil on his head, and made him king in his father's place.\n\t\t\t Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he became king, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. His mother was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah, from Libnah. \n\t\t\t He did evil in the sight of the LORD as his ancestors had done.\n\t\t\t Pharaoh Necho imprisoned him in Riblah in the land of Hamath and prevented him from ruling in Jerusalem. He imposed on the land a special tax of one hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold. \n\t\t\t Pharaoh Necho made Josiah's son Eliakim king in Josiah's place, and changed his name to Jehoiakim. He took Jehoahaz to Egypt, where he died.\n\t\t\t Jehoiakim paid Pharaoh the required amount of silver and gold, but to meet Pharaoh's demands Jehoiakim had to tax the land. He collected an assessed amount from each man among the people of the land in order to pay Pharaoh Necho.\n\t\t\t Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned for eleven years in Jerusalem. His mother was Zebidah the daughter of Pedaiah, from Rumah. \n\t\t\t He did evil in the sight of the LORD as his ancestors had done.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t During Jehoiakim's reign, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon attacked. Jehoiakim was his subject for three years, but then he rebelled against him.\n\t\t\t The LORD sent against him Babylonian, Syrian, Moabite, and Ammonite raiding bands; he sent them to destroy Judah, as he had warned he would do through his servants the prophets.\n\t\t\t Just as the LORD had announced, he rejected Judah because of all the sins which Manasseh had committed.\n\t\t\t Because he killed innocent people and stained Jerusalem with their blood, the LORD was unwilling to forgive them.\n\t\t\t The rest of the events of Jehoiakim's reign and all his accomplishments, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Judah.\n\t\t\t He passed away and his son Jehoiachin replaced him as king. \n\t\t\t The king of Egypt did not march out from his land again, for the king of Babylon conquered all the territory that the king of Egypt had formerly controlled between the Brook of Egypt and the Euphrates River.\n\t\t\t Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he became king, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. His mother was Nehushta the daughter of Elnathan, from Jerusalem. \n\t\t\t He did evil in the sight of the LORD as his ancestors had done.\n\t\t\t At that time the generals of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon marched to Jerusalem and besieged the city.\n\t\t\t King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came to the city while his generals were besieging it.\n\t\t\t King Jehoiachin of Judah, along with his mother, his servants, his officials, and his eunuchs surrendered to the king of Babylon. The king of Babylon, in the eighth year of his reign, took Jehoiachin prisoner. \n\t\t\t Nebuchadnezzar took from there all the riches in the treasuries of the LORD's temple and of the royal palace. He removed all the gold items which King Solomon of Israel had made for the LORD's temple, just as the LORD had warned.\n\t\t\t He deported all the residents of Jerusalem, including all the officials and all the soldiers \n\t\t\t He deported Jehoiachin from Jerusalem to Babylon, along with the king's mother and wives, his eunuchs, and the high-ranking officials of the land.\n\t\t\t The king of Babylon deported to Babylon all the soldiers (there were 7,000), as well as 1,000 craftsmen and metal workers. This included all the best warriors.\n\t\t\t The king of Babylon made Mattaniah, Jehoiachin's uncle, king in Jehoiachin's place. He renamed him Zedekiah.\n\t\t\t Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he ruled for eleven years in Jerusalem. His mother was Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah, from Libnah. \n\t\t\t He did evil in the sight of the LORD, as Jehoiakim had done.\n\t\t\t What follows is a record of what happened to Jerusalem and Judah because of the LORD's anger; he finally threw them out of his presence. Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon. \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t So King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came against Jerusalem with his whole army and set up camp outside it. They built siege ramps all around it. He arrived on the tenth day of the tenth month in the ninth year of Zedekiah's reign.\n\t\t\t The city remained under siege until King Zedekiah's eleventh year.\n\t\t\t By the ninth day of the fourth month the famine in the city was so severe the residents had no food. \n\t\t\t The enemy broke through the city walls, and all the soldiers tried to escape. They left the city during the night. They went through the gate between the two walls that is near the king's garden. (The Babylonians were all around the city.) Then they headed for the Jordan Valley.\n\t\t\t But the Babylonian army chased after the king. They caught up with him in the plains of Jericho, and his entire army deserted him. \n\t\t\t They captured the king and brought him up to the king of Babylon at Riblah, where he passed sentence on him. \n\t\t\t Zedekiah's sons were executed while Zedekiah was forced to watch. The king of Babylon then had Zedekiah's eyes put out, bound him in bronze chains, and carried him off to Babylon.\n\t\t\t On the seventh day of the fifth month, in the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, Nebuzaradan, the captain of the royal guard who served the king of Babylon, arrived in Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t He burned down the LORD's temple, the royal palace, and all the houses in Jerusalem, including every large house.\n\t\t\t The whole Babylonian army that came with the captain of the royal guard tore down the walls that surrounded Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t Nebuzaradan, the captain of the royal guard, deported the rest of the people who were left in the city, those who had deserted to the king of Babylon, and the rest of the craftsmen.\n\t\t\t But he left behind some of the poor of the land and gave them fields and vineyards.\n\t\t\t The Babylonians broke the two bronze pillars in the LORD's temple, as well as the movable stands and the big bronze basin called the \"The Sea.\" They took the bronze to Babylon. \n\t\t\t They also took the pots, shovels, trimming shears, pans, and all the bronze utensils used by the priests.\n\t\t\t The captain of the royal guard took the golden and silver censers and basins. \n\t\t\t The bronze of the items that King Solomon made for the LORD's temple, including the two pillars, the big bronze basin called \"The Sea,\" the twelve bronze bulls under \"The Sea,\" and the movable stands, was too heavy to be weighed.\n\t\t\t Each of the pillars was about twenty-seven feet high. The bronze top of one pillar was about four and a half feet high and had bronze latticework and pomegranate shaped ornaments all around it. The second pillar with its latticework was like it.\n\t\t\t The captain of the royal guard took Seraiah the chief priest and Zephaniah, the priest who was second in rank, and the three doorkeepers.\n\t\t\t From the city he took a eunuch who was in charge of the soldiers, five of the king's advisers who were discovered in the city, an official army secretary who drafted citizens for military service, and sixty citizens from the people of the land who were discovered in the city.\n\t\t\t Nebuzaradan, captain of the royal guard, took them and brought them to the king of Babylon at Riblah.\n\t\t\t The king of Babylon ordered them to be executed at Riblah in the territory of Hamath. So Judah was deported from its land.\n\t\t\t Now King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, as governor over the people whom he allowed to remain in the land of Judah.\n\t\t\t All of the officers of the Judahite army and their troops heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah to govern. So they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah. The officers who came were Ishmael son of Nethaniah, Johanan son of Kareah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, and Jaazaniah son of the Maacathite. \n\t\t\t Gedaliah took an oath so as to give them and their troops some assurance of safety. He said, \"You don't need to be afraid to submit to the Babylonian officials. Settle down in the land and submit to the king of Babylon. Then things will go well for you.\" \n\t\t\t But in the seventh month Ishmael son of Nethaniah, son of Elishama, who was a member of the royal family, came with ten of his men and murdered Gedaliah, as well as the Judeans and Babylonians who were with him at Mizpah. \n\t\t\t Then all the people, from the youngest to the oldest, as well as the army officers, left for Egypt, because they were afraid of what the Babylonians might do.\n\t\t\t In the thirty-seventh year of the exile of King Jehoiachin of Judah, on the twenty-seventh day of the twelfth month, King Evil-Merodach of Babylon, in the first year of his reign, pardoned King Jehoiachin of Judah and released him from prison. \n\t\t\t He spoke kindly to him and gave him a more prestigious position than the other kings who were with him in Babylon. \n\t\t\t Jehoiachin took off his prison clothes and ate daily in the king's presence for the rest of his life. \n\t\t\t He was given daily provisions by the king for the rest of his life until the day he died.\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Adam, Seth, Enosh,\n\t\t\t Kenan, Mahalalel, Jered,\n\t\t\t Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech,\n\t\t\t Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.\n\t\t\t The sons of Japheth: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras.\n\t\t\t The sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah.\n\t\t\t The sons of Javan: Elishah, Tarshish, the Kittites, and the Rodanites.\n\t\t\t The sons of Ham: Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan.\n\t\t\t The sons of Cush: Seba, Havilah, Sabta, Raamah, and Sabteca. The sons of Raamah: Sheba and Dedan.\n\t\t\t Cush was the father of Nimrod, who established himself as a mighty warrior on earth.\n\t\t\t Mizraim was the father of the Ludites, Anamites, Lehabites, Naphtuhites,\n\t\t\t Pathrusites, Casluhites (from whom the Philistines descended), and the Caphtorites.\n\t\t\t Canaan was the father of Sidon, his firstborn, and Heth,\n\t\t\t as well as the Jebusites, Amorites, Girgashites,\n\t\t\t Hivites, Arkites, Sinites,\n\t\t\t Arvadites, Zemarites, and Hamathites.\n\t\t\t The sons of Shem: Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud, and Aram. The sons of Aram: Uz, Hul, Gether, and Meshech.\n\t\t\t Arphaxad was the father of Shelah, and Shelah was the father of Eber.\n\t\t\t Two sons were born to Eber: the first was named Peleg, for during his lifetime the earth was divided; his brother's name was Joktan.\n\t\t\t Joktan was the father of Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah,\n\t\t\t Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah,\n\t\t\t Ebal, Abimael, Sheba, \n\t\t\t Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab. All these were the sons of Joktan.\n\t\t\t Shem, Arphaxad, Shelah,\n\t\t\t Eber, Peleg, Reu,\n\t\t\t Serug, Nahor, Terah,\n\t\t\t Abram (that is, Abraham).\n\t\t\t The sons of Abraham: Isaac and Ishmael.\n\t\t\t These were their descendants: Ishmael's firstborn son was Nebaioth; the others were Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, \n\t\t\t Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadad, Tema,\n\t\t\t Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. These were the sons of Ishmael.\n\t\t\t The sons to whom Keturah, Abraham's concubine, gave birth: Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, Shuah. The sons of Jokshan: Sheba and Dedan.\n\t\t\t The sons of Midian: Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the sons of Keturah.\n\t\t\t Abraham was the father of Isaac. The sons of Isaac: Esau and Israel.\n\t\t\t The sons of Esau: Eliphaz, Reuel, Jeush, Jalam, and Korah.\n\t\t\t The sons of Eliphaz: Teman, Omar, Zephi, Gatam, Kenaz, and (by Timna) Amalek.\n\t\t\t The sons of Reuel: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah.\n\t\t\t The sons of Seir: Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan.\n\t\t\t The sons of Lotan: Hori and Homam. (Timna was Lotan's sister.)\n\t\t\t The sons of Shobal: Alyan, Manahath, Ebal, Shephi, and Onam. The sons of Zibeon: Aiah and Anah.\n\t\t\t The son of Anah: Dishon. The sons of Dishon: Hamran, Eshban, Ithran, and Keran.\n\t\t\t The sons of Ezer: Bilhan, Zaavan, Jaakan. The sons of Dishan: Uz and Aran.\n\t\t\t These were the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before any king ruled over the Israelites: Bela son of Beor; the name of his city was Dinhabah.\n\t\t\t When Bela died, Jobab son of Zerah from Bozrah, succeeded him.\n\t\t\t When Jobab died, Husham from the land of the Temanites succeeded him.\n\t\t\t When Husham died, Hadad son of Bedad succeeded him. He struck down the Midianites in the plains of Moab; the name of his city was Avith.\n\t\t\t When Hadad died, Samlah from Masrekah succeeded him.\n\t\t\t When Samlah died, Shaul from Rehoboth on the river succeeded him.\n\t\t\t When Shaul died, Baal-Hanan son of Achbor succeeded him.\n\t\t\t When Baal-Hanan died, Hadad succeeded him; the name of his city was Pai. His wife was Mehetabel, daughter of Matred, daughter of Me-Zahab.\n\t\t\t Hadad died. The tribal chiefs of Edom were: Timna, Alvah, Jetheth,\n\t\t\t Oholibamah, Elah, Pinon,\n\t\t\t Kenaz, Teman, Mibzar,\n\t\t\t Magdiel, Iram. These were the tribal chiefs of Edom.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t These were the sons of Israel: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah; Issachar and Zebulun;\n\t\t\t Dan, Joseph, and Benjamin; Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.\n\t\t\t The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, and Shelah. These three were born to him by Bathshua, a Canaanite woman. Er, Judah's firstborn, displeased the LORD, so the LORD killed him.\n\t\t\t Tamar, Judah's daughter-in-law, bore to him Perez and Zerah. Judah had five sons in all.\n\t\t\t The sons of Perez: Hezron and Hamul.\n\t\t\t The sons of Zerah: Zimri, Ethan, Heman, Kalkol, Dara, five in all.\n\t\t\t The son of Carmi: Achan, who brought the disaster on Israel when he stole what was devoted to God.\n\t\t\t The son of Ethan: Azariah.\n\t\t\t The sons born to Hezron: Jerahmeel, Ram, and Caleb.\n\t\t\t Ram was the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab was the father of Nahshon, the tribal chief of Judah.\n\t\t\t Nahshon was the father of Salma, and Salma was the father of Boaz. \n\t\t\t Boaz was the father of Obed, and Obed was the father of Jesse.\n\t\t\t Jesse was the father of Eliab, his firstborn; Abinadab was born second, Shimea third,\n\t\t\t Nethanel fourth, Raddai fifth,\n\t\t\t Ozem sixth, David seventh.\n\t\t\t Their sisters were Zeruiah and Abigail. Zeruiah's three sons were Abshai, Joab, and Asahel. \n\t\t\t Abigail bore Amasa, whose father was Jether the Ishmaelite.\n\t\t\t Caleb son of Hezron fathered sons by his wife Azubah (also known as Jerioth). Her sons were Jesher, Shobab, and Ardon. \n\t\t\t When Azubah died, Caleb married Ephrath, who bore him Hur. \n\t\t\t Hur was the father of Uri, and Uri was the father of Bezalel.\n\t\t\t Later Hezron had sexual relations with the daughter of Makir, the father of Gilead. (He had married her when he was sixty years old.) She bore him Segub. \n\t\t\t Segub was the father of Jair, who owned twenty-three cities in the land of Gilead.\n\t\t\t (Geshur and Aram captured the towns of Jair, along with Kenath and its sixty surrounding towns.) All these were descendants of Makir, the father of Gilead.\n\t\t\t After Hezron's death, Caleb had sexual relations with Ephrath, his father Hezron's widow, and she bore to him Ashhur the father of Tekoa.\n\t\t\t The sons of Jerahmeel, Hezron's firstborn, were Ram, the firstborn, Bunah, Oren, Ozem, and Ahijah.\n\t\t\t Jerahmeel had another wife named Atarah; she was Onam's mother.\n\t\t\t The sons of Ram, Jerahmeel's firstborn, were Maaz, Jamin, and Eker.\n\t\t\t The sons of Onam were Shammai and Jada. The sons of Shammai: Nadab and Abishur.\n\t\t\t Abishur's wife was Abihail, who bore him Ahban and Molid.\n\t\t\t The sons of Nadab: Seled and Appaim. (Seled died without having sons.)\n\t\t\t The son of Appaim: Ishi. The son of Ishi: Sheshan. The son of Sheshan: Ahlai.\n\t\t\t The sons of Jada, Shammai's brother: Jether and Jonathan. (Jether died without having sons.)\n\t\t\t The sons of Jonathan: Peleth and Zaza. These were the descendants of Jerahmeel.\n\t\t\t Sheshan had no sons, only daughters. Sheshan had an Egyptian servant named Jarha.\n\t\t\t Sheshan gave his daughter to his servant Jarha as a wife; she bore him Attai.\n\t\t\t Attai was the father of Nathan, and Nathan was the father of Zabad.\n\t\t\t Zabad was the father of Ephlal, and Ephlal was the father of Obed.\n\t\t\t Obed was the father of Jehu, and Jehu was the father of Azariah.\n\t\t\t Azariah was the father of Helez, and Helez was the father of Eleasah.\n\t\t\t Eleasah was the father of Sismai, and Sismai was the father of Shallum.\n\t\t\t Shallum was the father of Jekamiah, and Jekamiah was the father of Elishama.\n\t\t\t The sons of Caleb, Jerahmeel's brother: His firstborn Mesha, the father of Ziph, and his second son Mareshah, the father of Hebron.\n\t\t\t The sons of Hebron: Korah, Tappuah, Rekem, and Shema.\n\t\t\t Shema was the father of Raham, the father of Jorkeam. Rekem was the father of Shammai.\n\t\t\t Shammai's son was Maon, who was the father of Beth-Zur.\n\t\t\t Caleb's concubine Ephah bore Haran, Moza, and Gazez. Haran was the father of Gazez.\n\t\t\t The sons of Jahdai: Regem, Jotham, Geshan, Pelet, Ephah, and Shaaph.\n\t\t\t Caleb's concubine Maacah bore Sheber and Tirhanah.\n\t\t\t She also bore Shaaph the father of Madmannah and Sheva the father of Machbenah and Gibea. Caleb's daughter was Achsah.\n\t\t\t These were the descendants of Caleb. The sons of Hur, the firstborn of Ephrath: Shobal, the father of Kiriath Jearim,\n\t\t\t Salma, the father of Bethlehem, Hareph, the father of Beth-Gader.\n\t\t\t The sons of Shobal, the father of Kiriath Jearim, were Haroeh, half of the Manahathites,\n\t\t\t the clans of Kiriath Jearim, the Ithrites, Puthites, Shumathites, and Mishraites. (The Zorathites and Eshtaolites descended from these groups.)\n\t\t\t The sons of Salma: Bethlehem, the Netophathites, Atroth Beth-Joab, half the Manahathites, the Zorites,\n\t\t\t and the clans of the scribes who lived in Jabez: the Tirathites, Shimeathites, and Sucathites. These are the Kenites who descended from Hammath, the father of Beth-Rechab.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t These were the sons of David who were born to him in Hebron: The firstborn was Amnon, whose mother was Ahinoam from Jezreel; the second was Daniel, whose mother was Abigail from Carmel;\n\t\t\t the third was Absalom whose mother was Maacah, daughter of King Talmai of Geshur; the fourth was Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith;\n\t\t\t the fifth was Shephatiah, whose mother was Abital; the sixth was Ithream, whose mother was Eglah.\n\t\t\t These six were born to David in Hebron, where he ruled for seven years and six months. He ruled thirty-three years in Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t These were the sons born to him in Jerusalem: Shimea, Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon, the mother of these four was Bathsheba the daughter of Ammiel.\n\t\t\t The other nine were Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet,\n\t\t\t Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia,\n\t\t\t Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.\n\t\t\t These were all the sons of David, not counting the sons of his concubines. Tamar was their sister.\n\t\t\t Solomon's son was Rehoboam, followed by Abijah his son, Asa his son, Jehoshaphat his son,\n\t\t\t Joram his son, Ahaziah his son, Joash his son,\n\t\t\t Amaziah his son, Azariah his son, Jotham his son,\n\t\t\t Ahaz his son, Hezekiah his son, Manasseh his son,\n\t\t\t Amon his son, Josiah his son.\n\t\t\t The sons of Josiah: Johanan was the firstborn; Jehoiakim was born second; Zedekiah third; and Shallum fourth.\n\t\t\t The sons of Jehoiakim: his son Jehoiachin and his son Zedekiah.\n\t\t\t The sons of Jehoiachin the exile: Shealtiel his son,\n\t\t\t Malkiram, Pedaiah, Shenazzar, Jekamiah, Hoshama, and Nedabiah.\n\t\t\t The sons of Pedaiah: Zerubbabel and Shimei. The sons of Zerubbabel: Meshullam and Hananiah. Shelomith was their sister.\n\t\t\t The five others were Hashubah, Ohel, Berechiah, Hasadiah, and Jushab-Hesed.\n\t\t\t The descendants of Hananiah: Pelatiah, Jeshaiah, the sons of Rephaiah, of Arnan, of Obadiah, and of Shecaniah.\n\t\t\t The descendants of Shecaniah: Shemaiah and his sons: Hattush, Igal, Bariah, Neariah, and Shaphat, six in all.\n\t\t\t The sons of Neariah: Elioenai, Hizkiah, and Azrikam, three in all.\n\t\t\t The sons of Elioenai: Hodaviah, Eliashib, Pelaiah, Akkub, Johanan, Delaiah, and Anani, seven in all.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The descendants of Judah: Perez, Hezron, Carmi, Hur, and Shobal.\n\t\t\t Reaiah the son of Shobal was the father of Jahath, and Jahath was the father of Ahumai and Lahad. These were the clans of the Zorathites.\n\t\t\t These were the sons of Etam: Jezreel, Ishma, and Idbash. Their sister was Hazzelelponi.\n\t\t\t Penuel was the father of Gedor, and Ezer was the father of Hushah. These were the descendants of Hur, the firstborn of Ephrathah and the father of Bethlehem.\n\t\t\t Ashhur the father of Tekoa had two wives, Helah and Naarah.\n\t\t\t Naarah bore him Ahuzzam, Hepher, Temeni, and Haahashtari. These were the sons of Naarah.\n\t\t\t The sons of Helah: Zereth, Zohar, Ethnan,\n\t\t\t and Koz, who was the father of Anub, Hazzobebah, and the clans of Aharhel the son of Harum.\n\t\t\t Jabez was more respected than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, for she said, \"I experienced pain when I gave birth to him.\"\n\t\t\t Jabez called out to the God of Israel, \"If only you would greatly bless me and expand my territory! May your hand be with me! Keep me from harm so I might not endure pain!\" God answered his prayer.\n\t\t\t Kelub, the brother of Shuhah, was the father of Mehir, who was the father of Eshton.\n\t\t\t Eshton was the father of Beth-Rapha, Paseah, and Tehinnah, the father of Ir Nahash. These were the men of Recah.\n\t\t\t The sons of Kenaz: Othniel and Seraiah. The sons of Othniel: Hathath and Meonothai.\n\t\t\t Meonothai was the father of Ophrah. Seraiah was the father of Joab, the father of those who live in Ge Harashim, who were craftsmen.\n\t\t\t The sons of Caleb son of Jephunneh: Iru, Elah, and Naam. The son of Elah: Kenaz.\n\t\t\t The sons of Jehallelel: Ziph, Ziphah, Tiria, and Asarel.\n\t\t\t The sons of Ezrah: Jether, Mered, Epher, and Jalon. Mered's wife Bithiah gave birth to Miriam, Shammai, and Ishbah, the father of Eshtemoa. \n\t\t\t (His Judahite wife gave birth to Jered the father of Gedor, Heber the father of Soco, and Jekuthiel the father of Zanoah.) These were the sons of Pharaoh's daughter Bithiah, whom Mered married.\n\t\t\t The sons of Hodiah's wife, the sister of Naham: the father of Keilah the Garmite, and Eshtemoa the Maacathite.\n\t\t\t The sons of Shimon: Amnon, Rinnah, Ben-Hanan, and Tilon. The descendants of Ishi: Zoheth and Ben Zoheth.\n\t\t\t The sons of Shelah son of Judah: Er the father of Lecah, Laadah the father of Mareshah, the clans of the linen workers at Beth-Ashbea,\n\t\t\t Jokim, the men of Cozeba, and Joash and Saraph, both of whom ruled in Moab and Jashubi Lehem. (This information is from ancient records.)\n\t\t\t They were the potters who lived in Netaim and Gederah; they lived there and worked for the king.\n\t\t\t The descendants of Simeon: Nemuel, Jamin, Jarib, Zerah, Shaul,\n\t\t\t his son Shallum, his son Mibsam, and his son Mishma.\n\t\t\t The descendants of Mishma: His son Hammuel, his son Zaccur, and his son Shimei.\n\t\t\t Shimei had sixteen sons and six daughters. But his brothers did not have many sons, so their whole clan was not as numerous as the sons of Judah.\n\t\t\t They lived in Beer Sheba, Moladah, Hazar Shual,\n\t\t\t Bilhah, Ezem, Tolad,\n\t\t\t Bethuel, Hormah, Ziklag,\n\t\t\t Beth Marcaboth, Hazar Susim, Beth Biri, and Shaaraim. These were their towns until the reign of David.\n\t\t\t Their settlements also included Etam, Ain, Rimmon, Tochen, and Ashan, five towns.\n\t\t\t They also lived in all the settlements that surrounded these towns as far as Baal. These were their settlements; they kept genealogical records.\n\t\t\t Their clan leaders were: Meshobab, Jamlech, Joshah son of Amaziah,\n\t\t\t Joel, Jehu son of Joshibiah (son of Seraiah, son of Asiel),\n\t\t\t Eleoenai, Jaakobah, Jeshohaiah, Asaiah, Adiel, Jesimiel, Benaiah,\n\t\t\t Ziza son of Shipi (son of Allon, son of Jedaiah, son of Shimri, son of Shemaiah).\n\t\t\t These who are named above were the leaders of their clans. Their extended families increased greatly in numbers.\n\t\t\t They went to the entrance of Gedor, to the east of the valley, looking for pasture for their sheep.\n\t\t\t They found fertile and rich pasture; the land was very broad, undisturbed and peaceful. Indeed some Hamites had been living there prior to that.\n\t\t\t The men whose names are listed came during the time of King Hezekiah of Judah and attacked the Hamites' settlements, as well as the Meunites they discovered there, and they wiped them out to this very day. They dispossessed them, for they found pasture for their sheep there. \n\t\t\t Five hundred men of Simeon, led by Pelatiah, Neariah, Rephaiah, and Uzziel, the sons of Ishi, went to the hill country of Seir\n\t\t\t and defeated the rest of the Amalekite refugees; they live there to this very day.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The sons of Reuben, Israel's firstborn, (Now he was the firstborn, but when he defiled his father's bed, his rights as firstborn were given to the sons of Joseph, Israel's son. So Reuben is not listed as firstborn in the genealogical records.\n\t\t\t Though Judah was the strongest among his brothers and a leader descended from him, the right of the firstborn belonged to Joseph.)\n\t\t\t The sons of Reuben, Israel's firstborn: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.\n\t\t\t The descendants of Joel: His son Shemaiah, his son Gog, his son Shimei,\n\t\t\t his son Micah, his son Reaiah, his son Baal,\n\t\t\t and his son Beerah, whom King Tiglath-pileser of Assyria carried into exile. Beerah was the tribal leader of Reuben.\n\t\t\t His brothers by their clans, as listed in their genealogical records: The leader Jeiel, Zechariah,\n\t\t\t and Bela son of Azaz, son of Shema, son of Joel. They lived in Aroer as far as Nebo and Baal Meon.\n\t\t\t In the east they settled as far as the entrance to the desert that stretches to the Euphrates River, for their cattle had increased in numbers in the land of Gilead.\n\t\t\t During the time of Saul they attacked the Hagrites and defeated them. They took over their territory in the entire eastern region of Gilead.\n\t\t\t The descendants of Gad lived near them in the land of Bashan, as far as Salecah.\n\t\t\t They included Joel the leader, Shapham the second in command, Janai, and Shaphat in Bashan.\n\t\t\t Their relatives, listed according to their families, included Michael, Meshullam, Sheba, Jorai, Jacan, Zia, and Eber, seven in all.\n\t\t\t These were the sons of Abihail son of Huri, son of Jaroah, son of Gilead, son of Michael, son of Jeshishai, son of Jahdo, son of Buz.\n\t\t\t Ahi son of Abdiel, son of Guni, was the leader of the family.\n\t\t\t They lived in Gilead, in Bashan and its surrounding settlements, and in the pasturelands of Sharon to their very borders.\n\t\t\t All of them were listed in the genealogical records in the time of King Jotham of Judah and in the time of King Jeroboam of Israel.\n\t\t\t The Reubenites, Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh had 44,760 men in their combined armies, warriors who carried shields and swords, were equipped with bows, and were trained for war.\n\t\t\t They attacked the Hagrites, Jetur, Naphish, and Nodab. \n\t\t\t They received divine help in fighting them, and the Hagrites and all their allies were handed over to them. They cried out to God during the battle; he responded to their prayers because they trusted in him.\n\t\t\t They seized the Hagrites' animals, including 50,000 camels, 250,000 sheep, and 2,000 donkeys. They also took captive 100,000 people. \n\t\t\t Because God fought for them, they killed many of the enemy. They dispossessed the Hagrites and lived in their land until the exile.\n\t\t\t The half-tribe of Manasseh settled in the land from Bashan as far as Baal Hermon, Senir, and Mount Hermon. They grew in number.\n\t\t\t These were the leaders of their families: Epher, Ishi, Eliel, Azriel, Jeremiah, Hodaviah, and Jahdiel. They were skilled warriors, men of reputation, and leaders of their families.\n\t\t\t But they were unfaithful to the God of their ancestors and worshiped instead the gods of the native peoples whom God had destroyed before them. \n\t\t\t So the God of Israel stirred up King Pul of Assyria (that is, King Tiglath-pileser of Assyria), and he carried away the Reubenites, Gadites, and half-tribe of Manasseh and took them to Halah, Habor, Hara, and the river of Gozan, where they remain to this very day.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.\n\t\t\t The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.\n\t\t\t The children of Amram: Aaron, Moses, and Miriam. The sons of Aaron: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.\n\t\t\t Eleazar was the father of Phinehas, and Phinehas was the father of Abishua.\n\t\t\t Abishua was the father of Bukki, and Bukki was the father of Uzzi.\n\t\t\t Uzzi was the father of Zerahiah, and Zerahiah was the father of Meraioth.\n\t\t\t Meraioth was the father of Amariah, and Amariah was the father of Ahitub.\n\t\t\t Ahitub was the father of Zadok, and Zadok was the father of Ahimaaz.\n\t\t\t Ahimaaz was the father of Azariah, and Azariah was the father of Johanan.\n\t\t\t Johanan was the father of Azariah, who served as a priest in the temple Solomon built in Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t Azariah was the father of Amariah, and Amariah was the father of Ahitub.\n\t\t\t Ahitub was the father of Zadok, and Zadok was the father of Shallum.\n\t\t\t Shallum was the father of Hilkiah, and Hilkiah was the father of Azariah.\n\t\t\t Azariah was the father of Seraiah, and Seraiah was the father of Jehozadak.\n\t\t\t Jehozadak went into exile when the LORD sent the people of Judah and Jerusalem into exile by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar.\n\t\t\t The sons of Levi: Gershom, Kohath, and Merari.\n\t\t\t These are the names of the sons Gershom: Libni and Shimei.\n\t\t\t The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.\n\t\t\t The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. These are the clans of the Levites by their families.\n\t\t\t To Gershom: His son Libni, his son Jahath, his son Zimmah,\n\t\t\t his son Joah, his son Iddo, his son Zerah, and his son Jeatherai.\n\t\t\t The sons of Kohath: His son Amminadab, his son Korah, his son Assir, \n\t\t\t his son Elkanah, his son Ebiasaph, his son Assir,\n\t\t\t his son Tahath, his son Uriel, his son Uzziah, and his son Shaul.\n\t\t\t The sons of Elkanah: Amasai, Ahimoth,\n\t\t\t his son Elkanah, his son Zophai, his son Nahath, \n\t\t\t his son Eliab, his son Jeroham, and his son Elkanah.\n\t\t\t The sons of Samuel: Joel the firstborn and Abijah the second oldest.\n\t\t\t The descendants of Merari: Mahli, his son Libni, his son Shimei, his son Uzzah,\n\t\t\t his son Shimea, his son Haggiah, and his son Asaiah.\n\t\t\t These are the men David put in charge of music in the LORD's sanctuary, after the ark was placed there. \n\t\t\t They performed music before the sanctuary of the meeting tent until Solomon built the LORD's temple in Jerusalem. They carried out their tasks according to regulations.\n\t\t\t These are the ones who served along with their sons: From the Kohathites: Heman the musician, son of Joel, son of Samuel,\n\t\t\t son of Elkanah, son of Jeroham, son of Eliel, son of Toah,\n\t\t\t son of Zuph, son of Elkanah, son of Mahath, son of Amasai,\n\t\t\t son of Elkanah, son of Joel, son of Azariah, son of Zephaniah,\n\t\t\t son of Tahath, son of Assir, son of Ebiasaph, son of Korah,\n\t\t\t son of Izhar, son of Kohath, son of Levi, son of Israel.\n\t\t\t Serving beside him was his fellow Levite Asaph, son of Berechiah, son of Shimea, \n\t\t\t son of Michael, son of Baaseiah, son of Malkijah, \n\t\t\t son of Ethni, son of Zerah, son of Adaiah,\n\t\t\t son of Ethan, son of Zimmah, son of Shimei,\n\t\t\t son of Jahath, son of Gershom, son of Levi.\n\t\t\t Serving beside them were their fellow Levites, the descendants of Merari, led by Ethan, son of Kishi, son of Abdi, son of Malluch, \n\t\t\t son of Hashabiah, son of Amaziah, son of Hilkiah,\n\t\t\t son of Amzi, son of Bani, son of Shemer,\n\t\t\t son of Mahli, son of Mushi, son of Merari, son of Levi.\n\t\t\t The rest of their fellow Levites were assigned to perform the remaining tasks at God's sanctuary.\n\t\t\t But Aaron and his descendants offered sacrifices on the altar for burnt offerings and on the altar for incense as they had been assigned to do in the most holy sanctuary. They made atonement for Israel, just as God's servant Moses had ordered.\n\t\t\t These were the descendants of Aaron: His son Eleazar, his son Phinehas, his son Abishua,\n\t\t\t his son Bukki, his son Uzzi, his son Zerahiah,\n\t\t\t his son Meraioth, his son Amariah, his son Ahitub,\n\t\t\t his son Zadok, and his son Ahimaaz.\n\t\t\t These were the areas where Aaron's descendants lived: The following belonged to the Kohathite clan, for they received the first allotment:\n\t\t\t They were allotted Hebron in the territory of Judah, as well as its surrounding pasturelands.\n\t\t\t (But the city's land and nearby towns were allotted to Caleb son of Jephunneh.)\n\t\t\t The descendants of Aaron were also allotted as cities of refuge Hebron, Libnah and its pasturelands, Jattir, Eshtemoa and its pasturelands,\n\t\t\t Hilez and its pasturelands, Debir and its pasturelands, \n\t\t\t Ashan and its pasturelands, and Beth Shemesh and its pasturelands.\n\t\t\t Within the territory of the tribe of Benjamin they were allotted Geba and its pasturelands, Alemeth and its pasturelands, and Anathoth and its pasturelands. Their clans were allotted thirteen cities in all. \n\t\t\t The rest of Kohath's descendants were allotted ten cities in the territory of the half-tribe of Manasseh.\n\t\t\t The clans of Gershom's descendants received thirteen cities within the territory of the tribes of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and Manasseh (in Bashan).\n\t\t\t The clans of Merari's descendants were allotted twelve cities within the territory of the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun.\n\t\t\t So the Israelites gave to the Levites these cities and their pasturelands.\n\t\t\t They allotted these previously named cities from the territory of the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin.\n\t\t\t The clans of Kohath's descendants also received territory within the tribe of Ephraim.\n\t\t\t They were allotted as cities of refuge Shechem and its pasturelands (in the hill country of Ephraim), Gezer and its pasturelands, \n\t\t\t Jokmeam and its pasturelands, Beth Horon and its pasturelands,\n\t\t\t Aijalon and its pasturelands, and Gath Rimmon and its pasturelands.\n\t\t\t Within the territory of the half-tribe of Manasseh, the rest of Kohath's descendants received Aner and its pasturelands and Bileam and its pasturelands.\n\t\t\t The following belonged to Gershom's descendants: Within the territory of the half-tribe of Manasseh: Golan in Bashan and its pasturelands and Ashtaroth and its pasturelands.\n\t\t\t Within the territory of the tribe of Issachar: Kedesh and its pasturelands, Daberath and its pasturelands,\n\t\t\t Ramoth and its pasturelands, and Anem and its pasturelands.\n\t\t\t Within the territory of the tribe of Asher: Mashal and its pasturelands, Abdon and its pasturelands,\n\t\t\t Hukok and its pasturelands, and Rehob and its pasturelands.\n\t\t\t Within the territory of the tribe of Naphtali: Kedesh in Galilee and its pasturelands, Hammon and its pasturelands, and Kiriathaim and its pasturelands.\n\t\t\t The following belonged to the rest of Merari's descendants: Within the territory of the tribe of Zebulun: Rimmono and its pasturelands, and Tabor and its pasturelands.\n\t\t\t Within the territory of the tribe of Reuben across the Jordan River east of Jericho: Bezer in the desert and its pasturelands, Jahzah and its pasturelands, \n\t\t\t Kedemoth and its pasturelands, and Mephaath and its pasturelands.\n\t\t\t Within the territory of the tribe of Gad: Ramoth in Gilead and its pasturelands, Mahanaim and its pasturelands,\n\t\t\t Heshbon and its pasturelands, and Jazer and its pasturelands.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The sons of Issachar: Tola, Puah, Jashub, and Shimron, four in all.\n\t\t\t The sons of Tola: Uzzi, Rephaiah, Jeriel, Jahmai, Jibsam, and Samuel. They were leaders of their families. In the time of David there were 22,600 warriors listed in Tola's genealogical records.\n\t\t\t The son of Uzzi: Izrachiah. The sons of Izrahiah: Michael, Obadiah, Joel, and Isshiah. All five were leaders.\n\t\t\t According to the genealogical records of their families, they had 36,000 warriors available for battle, for they had numerous wives and sons.\n\t\t\t Altogether the genealogical records of the clans of Issachar listed 87,000 warriors.\n\t\t\t The sons of Benjamin: Bela, Beker, and Jediael, three in all.\n\t\t\t The sons of Bela: Ezbon, Uzzi, Uzziel, Jerimoth, and Iri. The five of them were leaders of their families. There were 22,034 warriors listed in their genealogical records.\n\t\t\t The sons of Beker: Zemirah, Joash, Eliezer, Elioenai, Omri, Jeremoth, Abijah, Anathoth, and Alameth. All these were the sons of Beker.\n\t\t\t There were 20,200 family leaders and warriors listed in their genealogical records.\n\t\t\t The son of Jediael: Bilhan. The sons of Bilhan: Jeush, Benjamin, Ehud, Kenaanah, Zethan, Tarshish, and Ahishahar. \n\t\t\t All these were the sons of Jediael. Listed in their genealogical records were 17,200 family leaders and warriors who were capable of marching out to battle.\n\t\t\t The Shuppites and Huppites were descendants of Ir; the Hushites were descendants of Aher.\n\t\t\t The sons of Naphtali: Jahziel, Guni, Jezer, and Shallum, sons of Bilhah.\n\t\t\t The sons of Manasseh: Asriel, who was born to Manasseh's Aramean concubine. She also gave birth to Makir the father of Gilead. \n\t\t\t Now Makir married a wife from the Huppites and Shuppites. (His sister's name was Maacah.) Zelophehad was Manasseh's second son; he had only daughters.\n\t\t\t Maacah, Makir's wife, gave birth to a son, whom she named Peresh. His brother was Sheresh, and his sons were Ulam and Rekem.\n\t\t\t The son of Ulam: Bedan. These were the sons of Gilead, son of Makir, son of Manasseh.\n\t\t\t His sister Hammoleketh gave birth to Ishhod, Abiezer, and Mahlah.\n\t\t\t The sons of Shemida were Ahian, Shechem, Likhi, and Aniam.\n\t\t\t The descendants of Ephraim: Shuthelah, his son Bered, his son Tahath, his son Eleadah, his son Tahath,\n\t\t\t his son Zabad, his son Shuthelah (Ezer and Elead were killed by the men of Gath, who were natives of the land, when they went down to steal their cattle.\n\t\t\t Their father Ephraim mourned for them many days and his brothers came to console him.\n\t\t\t He had sexual relations with his wife; she became pregnant and gave birth to a son. Ephraim named him Beriah because tragedy had come to his family.\n\t\t\t His daughter was Sheerah, who built Lower and Upper Beth Horon, as well as Uzzen Sheerah),\n\t\t\t his son Rephah, his son Resheph, his son Telah, his son Tahan, \n\t\t\t his son Ladan, his son Ammihud, his son Elishama,\n\t\t\t his son Nun, and his son Joshua.\n\t\t\t Their property and settlements included Bethel and its surrounding towns, Naaran to the east, Gezer and its surrounding towns to the west, and Shechem and its surrounding towns as far as Ayyah and its surrounding towns. \n\t\t\t On the border of Manasseh's territory were Beth-Shean and its surrounding towns, Taanach and its surrounding towns, Megiddo and its surrounding towns, and Dor and its surrounding towns. The descendants of Joseph, Israel's son, lived here.\n\t\t\t The sons of Asher: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, and Beriah. Serah was their sister.\n\t\t\t The sons of Beriah: Heber and Malkiel, who was the father of Birzaith.\n\t\t\t Heber was the father of Japhlet, Shomer, Hotham, and Shua their sister.\n\t\t\t The sons of Japhlet: Pasach, Bimhal, and Ashvath. These were Japhlet's sons.\n\t\t\t The sons of his brother Shemer: Rohgah, Hubbah, and Aram.\n\t\t\t The sons of his brother Helem: Zophah, Imna, Shelesh, and Amal.\n\t\t\t The sons of Zophah: Suah, Harnepher, Shual, Beri, Imrah,\n\t\t\t Bezer, Hod, Shamma, Shilshah, Ithran, and Beera.\n\t\t\t The sons of Jether: Jephunneh, Pispah, and Ara.\n\t\t\t The sons of Ulla: Arah, Hanniel, and Rizia.\n\t\t\t All these were the descendants of Asher. They were the leaders of their families, the most capable men, who were warriors and served as head chiefs. There were 26,000 warriors listed in their genealogical records as capable of doing battle.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Benjamin was the father of Bela, his firstborn; Ashbel was born second, Aharah third, \n\t\t\t Nohah fourth, and Rapha fifth.\n\t\t\t Bela's sons were Addar, Gera, Abihud,\n\t\t\t Abishua, Naaman, Ahoah,\n\t\t\t Gera, Shephuphan, and Huram.\n\t\t\t These were the descendants of Ehud who were leaders of the families living in Geba who were forced to move to Manahath:\n\t\t\t Naaman, Ahijah, and Gera, who moved them. Gera was the father of Uzzah and Ahihud.\n\t\t\t Shaharaim fathered sons in Moab after he divorced his wives Hushim and Baara.\n\t\t\t By his wife Hodesh he fathered Jobab, Zibia, Mesha, Malkam,\n\t\t\t Jeuz, Sakia, and Mirmah. These were his sons; they were family leaders.\n\t\t\t By Hushim he fathered Abitub and Elpaal.\n\t\t\t The sons of Elpaal: Eber, Misham, Shemed (who built Ono and Lod, as well as its surrounding towns),\n\t\t\t Beriah, and Shema. They were leaders of the families living in Aijalon and chased out the inhabitants of Gath.\n\t\t\t Ahio, Shashak, Jeremoth,\n\t\t\t Zebadiah, Arad, Eder,\n\t\t\t Michael, Ishpah, and Joha were the sons of Beriah.\n\t\t\t Zebadiah, Meshullam, Hizki, Heber,\n\t\t\t Ishmerai, Izliah, and Jobab were the sons of Elpaal.\n\t\t\t Jakim, Zikri, Zabdi,\n\t\t\t Elienai, Zillethai, Eliel,\n\t\t\t Adaiah, Beraiah, and Shimrath were the sons of Shimei.\n\t\t\t Ishpan, Eber, Eliel,\n\t\t\t Abdon, Zikri, Hanan,\n\t\t\t Hananiah, Elam, Anthothijah,\n\t\t\t Iphdeiah, and Penuel were the sons of Shashak.\n\t\t\t Shamsherai, Shechariah, Athaliah,\n\t\t\t Jaareshiah, Elijah, and Zikri were the sons of Jeroham.\n\t\t\t These were the family leaders listed in the genealogical records; they lived in Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t The father of Gibeon lived in Gibeon; his wife's name was Maacah. \n\t\t\t His firstborn son was Abdon, followed by Zur, Kish, Baal, Nadab,\n\t\t\t Gedor, Ahio, Zeker, and Mikloth.\n\t\t\t Mikloth was the father of Shimeah. They also lived near their relatives in Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t Ner was the father of Kish, and Kish was the father of Saul. Saul was the father of Jonathan, Malki-Shua, Abinadab, and Eshbaal.\n\t\t\t The son of Jonathan: Meribbaal. Meribbaal was the father of Micah.\n\t\t\t The sons of Micah: Pithon, Melech, Tarea, and Ahaz.\n\t\t\t Ahaz was the father of Jehoaddah, and Jehoaddah was the father of Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri. Zimri was the father of Moza,\n\t\t\t and Moza was the father of Binea. His son was Raphah, whose son was Eleasah, whose son was Azel.\n\t\t\t Azel had six sons: Azrikam his firstborn, followed by Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan. All these were the sons of Azel.\n\t\t\t The sons of his brother Eshek: Ulam was his firstborn, Jeush second, and Eliphelet third.\n\t\t\t The sons of Ulam were warriors who were adept archers. They had many sons and grandsons, a total of 150. All these were the descendants of Benjamin.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Genealogical records were kept for all Israel; they are recorded in the Scroll of the Kings of Israel. The people of Judah were carried away to Babylon because of their unfaithfulness. \n\t\t\t The first to resettle on their property and in their cities were some Israelites, priests, Levites, and temple servants.\n\t\t\t Some from the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, and Ephraim and Manasseh settled in Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t The settlers included: Uthai son of Ammihud, son of Omri, son of Imri, son of Bani, who was a descendant of Perez son of Judah.\n\t\t\t From the Shilonites: Asaiah the firstborn and his sons.\n\t\t\t From the descendants of Zerah: Jeuel. Their relatives numbered 690.\n\t\t\t From the descendants of Benjamin: Sallu son of Meshullam, son of Hodaviah, son of Hassenuah;\n\t\t\t Ibneiah son of Jeroham; Elah son of Uzzi, son of Mikri; and Meshullam son of Shephatiah, son of Reuel, son of Ibnijah.\n\t\t\t Their relatives, listed in their genealogical records, numbered 956. All these men were leaders of their families.\n\t\t\t From the priests: Jedaiah; Jehoiarib; Jakin;\n\t\t\t Azariah son of Hilkiah, son of Meshullam, son of Zadok, son of Meraioth, son of Ahitub the leader in God's temple;\n\t\t\t Adaiah son of Jeroham, son of Pashhur, son of Malkijah; and Maasai son of Adiel, son of Jahzerah, son of Meshullam, son of Meshillemith, son of Immer.\n\t\t\t Their relatives, who were leaders of their families, numbered 1,760. They were capable men who were assigned to carry out the various tasks of service in God's temple.\n\t\t\t From the Levites: Shemaiah son of Hasshub, son of Azrikam, son of Hashabiah a descendant of Merari;\n\t\t\t Bakbakkar; Heresh; Galal; Mattaniah son of Mika, son of Zikri, son of Asaph;\n\t\t\t Obadiah son of Shemaiah, son of Galal, son of Jeduthun; and Berechiah son of Asa, son of Elkanah, who lived among the settlements of the Netophathites.\n\t\t\t The gatekeepers were: Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, Ahiman, and their brothers. Shallum was the leader;\n\t\t\t he serves to this day at the King's Gate on the east. These were the gatekeepers from the camp of the descendants of Levi.\n\t\t\t Shallum son of Kore, son of Ebiasaph, son of Korah, and his relatives from his family (the Korahites) were assigned to guard the entrance to the sanctuary. Their ancestors had guarded the entrance to the LORD's dwelling place.\n\t\t\t Phinehas son of Eleazar had been their leader in earlier times, and the LORD was with him.\n\t\t\t Zechariah son of Meshelemiah was the guard at the entrance to the meeting tent.\n\t\t\t All those selected to be gatekeepers at the entrances numbered 212. Their names were recorded in the genealogical records of their settlements. David and Samuel the prophet had appointed them to their positions.\n\t\t\t They and their descendants were assigned to guard the gates of the LORD's sanctuary (that is, the tabernacle).\n\t\t\t The gatekeepers were posted on all four sides, east, west, north, and south.\n\t\t\t Their relatives, who lived in their settlements, came from time to time and served with them for seven-day periods.\n\t\t\t The four head gatekeepers, who were Levites, were assigned to guard the storerooms and treasuries in God's sanctuary.\n\t\t\t They would spend the night in their posts all around God's sanctuary, for they were assigned to guard it and would open it with the key every morning. \n\t\t\t Some of them were in charge of the articles used by those who served; they counted them when they brought them in and when they brought them out.\n\t\t\t Some of them were in charge of the equipment and articles of the sanctuary, as well as the flour, wine, olive oil, incense, and spices. \n\t\t\t (But some of the priests mixed the spices.)\n\t\t\t Mattithiah, a Levite, the firstborn son of Shallum the Korahite, was in charge of baking the bread for offerings. \n\t\t\t Some of the Kohathites, their relatives, were in charge of preparing the bread that is displayed each Sabbath.\n\t\t\t The musicians and Levite family leaders stayed in rooms at the sanctuary and were exempt from other duties, for day and night they had to carry out their assigned tasks. \n\t\t\t These were the family leaders of the Levites, as listed in their genealogical records. They lived in Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t Jeiel (the father of Gibeon) lived in Gibeon. His wife was Maacah.\n\t\t\t His firstborn son was Abdon, followed by Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner, Nadab,\n\t\t\t Gedor, Ahio, Zechariah, and Mikloth.\n\t\t\t Mikloth was the father of Shimeam. They also lived near their relatives in Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t Ner was the father of Kish, and Kish was the father of Saul. Saul was the father of Jonathan, Malki-Shua, Abinadab, and Eshbaal.\n\t\t\t The son of Jonathan: Meribbaal, who was the father of Micah.\n\t\t\t The sons of Micah: Pithon, Melech, Tahrea, and Ahaz.\n\t\t\t Ahaz was the father of Jarah, and Jarah was the father of Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri. Zimri was the father of Moza, \n\t\t\t and Moza was the father of Binea. His son was Rephaiah, whose son was Eleasah, whose son was Azel.\n\t\t\t Azel had six sons: Azrikam his firstborn, followed by Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan. These were the sons of Azel.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now the Philistines fought against Israel. The Israelites fled before the Philistines and many of them fell dead on Mount Gilboa.\n\t\t\t The Philistines stayed right on the heels of Saul and his sons. They struck down Saul's sons Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malki-Shua.\n\t\t\t The battle was thick around Saul; the archers spotted him and wounded him.\n\t\t\t Saul told his armor bearer, \"Draw your sword and stab me with it. Otherwise these uncircumcised people will come and torture me.\" But his armor bearer refused to do it, because he was very afraid. So Saul took the sword and fell on it. \n\t\t\t When his armor bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell on his sword and died.\n\t\t\t So Saul and his three sons died; his whole household died together. \n\t\t\t When all the Israelites who were in the valley saw that the army had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned their cities and fled. The Philistines came and occupied them.\n\t\t\t The next day, when the Philistines came to strip loot from the corpses, they discovered Saul and his sons lying dead on Mount Gilboa.\n\t\t\t They stripped his corpse, and then carried off his head and his armor. They sent messengers throughout the land of the Philistines proclaiming the news to their idols and their people.\n\t\t\t They placed his armor in the temple of their gods and hung his head in the temple of Dagon. \n\t\t\t When all the residents of Jabesh Gilead heard about everything the Philistines had done to Saul,\n\t\t\t all the warriors went and recovered the bodies of Saul and his sons and brought them to Jabesh. They buried their remains under the oak tree in Jabesh and fasted for seven days.\n\t\t\t So Saul died because he was unfaithful to the LORD and did not obey the LORD's instructions; he even tried to conjure up underworld spirits.\n\t\t\t He did not seek the LORD's guidance, so the LORD killed him and transferred the kingdom to David son of Jesse.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t All Israel joined David at Hebron and said, \"Look, we are your very flesh and blood!\n\t\t\t In the past, even when Saul was king, you were Israel's commanding general. The LORD your God said to you, 'You will shepherd my people Israel; you will rule over my people Israel.'\"\n\t\t\t When all the leaders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, David made an agreement with them in Hebron before the LORD. They anointed David king over Israel, just as the LORD had announced through Samuel.\n\t\t\t David and the whole Israelite army advanced to Jerusalem (that is, Jebus). (The Jebusites, the land's original inhabitants, lived there.)\n\t\t\t The residents of Jebus said to David, \"You cannot invade this place!\" But David captured the fortress of Zion (that is, the City of David).\n\t\t\t David said, \"Whoever attacks the Jebusites first will become commanding general!\" So Joab son of Zeruiah attacked first and became commander.\n\t\t\t David lived in the fortress; for this reason it is called the City of David.\n\t\t\t He built up the city around it, from the terrace to the surrounding walls; Joab restored the rest of the city. \n\t\t\t David's power steadily grew, for the LORD who commands armies was with him.\n\t\t\t These were the leaders of David's warriors who helped establish and stabilize his rule over all Israel, in accordance with the LORD's word.\n\t\t\t This is the list of David's warriors: Jashobeam, a Hacmonite, was head of the officers. He killed three hundred men with his spear in a single battle.\n\t\t\t Next in command was Eleazar son of Dodo the Ahohite. He was one of the three elite warriors. \n\t\t\t He was with David in Pas Dammim when the Philistines assembled there for battle. In an area of the field that was full of barley, the army retreated before the Philistines, \n\t\t\t but then they made a stand in the middle of that area. They defended it and defeated the Philistines; the LORD gave them a great victory.\n\t\t\t Three of the thirty leaders went down to David at the rocky cliff at the cave of Adullam, while a Philistine force was camped in the Valley of Rephaim.\n\t\t\t David was in the stronghold at the time, while a Philistine garrison was in Bethlehem.\n\t\t\t David was thirsty and said, \"How I wish someone would give me some water to drink from the cistern in Bethlehem near the city gate!\" \n\t\t\t So the three elite warriors broke through the Philistine forces and drew some water from the cistern in Bethlehem near the city gate. They carried it back to David, but David refused to drink it. He poured it out as a drink offering to the LORD\n\t\t\t and said, \"God forbid that I should do this! Should I drink the blood of these men who risked their lives?\" Because they risked their lives to bring it to him, he refused to drink it. Such were the exploits of the three elite warriors.\n\t\t\t Abishai the brother of Joab was head of the three elite warriors. He killed three hundred men with his spear and gained fame along with the three elite warriors.\n\t\t\t From the three he was given double honor and he became their officer, even though he was not one of them.\n\t\t\t Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a brave warrior from Kabzeel who performed great exploits. He struck down the two sons of Ariel of Moab; he also went down and killed a lion inside a cistern on a snowy day. \n\t\t\t He even killed an Egyptian who was seven and a half feet tall. The Egyptian had a spear as big as the crossbeam of a weaver's loom; Benaiah attacked him with a club. He grabbed the spear out of the Egyptian's hand and killed him with his own spear. \n\t\t\t Such were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada, who gained fame along with the three elite warriors.\n\t\t\t He received honor from the thirty warriors, though he was not one of the three elite warriors. David put him in charge of his bodyguard.\n\t\t\t The mighty warriors were: Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan son of Dodo, from Bethlehem,\n\t\t\t Shammoth the Harorite, Helez the Pelonite,\n\t\t\t Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, Abiezer the Anathothite,\n\t\t\t Sibbekai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite,\n\t\t\t Maharai the Netophathite, Heled son of Baanah the Netophathite,\n\t\t\t Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah in Benjaminite territory, Benaiah the Pirathonite,\n\t\t\t Hurai from the valleys of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite,\n\t\t\t Azmaveth the Baharumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite,\n\t\t\t the sons of Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan son of Shageh the Hararite,\n\t\t\t Ahiam son of Sakar the Hararite, Eliphal son of Ur,\n\t\t\t Hepher the Mekerathite, Ahijah the Pelonite,\n\t\t\t Hezro the Carmelite, Naarai son of Ezbai,\n\t\t\t Joel the brother of Nathan, Mibhar son of Hagri,\n\t\t\t Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, the armor-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah,\n\t\t\t Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,\n\t\t\t Uriah the Hittite, Zabad son of Achli,\n\t\t\t Adina son of Shiza the Reubenite, leader of the Reubenites and the thirty warriors with him,\n\t\t\t Hanan son of Maacah, Joshaphat the Mithnite,\n\t\t\t Uzzia the Ashterathite, Shama and Jeiel, the sons of Hotham the Aroerite,\n\t\t\t Jediael son of Shimri, and Joha his brother, the Tizite,\n\t\t\t Eliel the Mahavite, and Jeribai and Joshaviah, the sons of Elnaam, and Ithmah the Moabite,\n\t\t\t Eliel, and Obed, and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t These were the men who joined David in Ziklag, when he was banished from the presence of Saul son of Kish. (They were among the warriors who assisted him in battle. \n\t\t\t They were armed with bows and could shoot arrows or sling stones right or left-handed. They were fellow tribesmen of Saul from Benjamin.) These were:\n\t\t\t Ahiezer, the leader, and Joash, the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite; Jeziel and Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth; Berachah, Jehu the Anathothite,\n\t\t\t Ishmaiah the Gibeonite, one of the thirty warriors and their leader, Jeremiah, Jahaziel, Johanan, Jozabad the Gederathite,\n\t\t\t Eluzai, Jerimoth, Bealiah, Shemariah, Shephatiah the Haruphite,\n\t\t\t Elkanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Joezer, and Jashobeam, who were Korahites,\n\t\t\t and Joelah and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham from Gedor.\n\t\t\t Some of the Gadites joined David at the stronghold in the desert. They were warriors who were trained for battle; they carried shields and spears. They were as fierce as lions and could run as quickly as gazelles across the hills.\n\t\t\t Ezer was the leader, Obadiah the second in command, Eliab the third,\n\t\t\t Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the fifth,\n\t\t\t Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh,\n\t\t\t Johanan the eighth, Elzabad the ninth,\n\t\t\t Jeremiah the tenth, and Machbannai the eleventh.\n\t\t\t These Gadites were military leaders; the least led a hundred men, the greatest a thousand.\n\t\t\t They crossed the Jordan River in the first month, when it was overflowing its banks, and routed those living in all the valleys to the east and west.\n\t\t\t Some from Benjamin and Judah also came to David's stronghold.\n\t\t\t David went out to meet them and said, \"If you come to me in peace and want to help me, then I will make an alliance with you. But if you come to betray me to my enemies when I have not harmed you, may the God of our ancestors take notice and judge!\" \n\t\t\t But a spirit empowered Amasai, the leader of the thirty warriors, and he said: \"We are yours, O David! We support you, O son of Jesse! May you greatly prosper! May those who help you prosper! Indeed your God helps you!\" So David accepted them and made them leaders of raiding bands.\n\t\t\t Some men from Manasseh joined David when he went with the Philistines to fight against Saul. (But in the end they did not help the Philistines because, after taking counsel, the Philistine lords sent David away, saying: \"It would be disastrous for us if he deserts to his master Saul.\")\n\t\t\t When David went to Ziklag, the men of Manasseh who joined him were Adnach, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai, leaders of a thousand soldiers each in the tribe of Manasseh. \n\t\t\t They helped David fight against raiding bands, for all of them were warriors and leaders in the army.\n\t\t\t Each day men came to help David until his army became very large.\n\t\t\t The following is a record of the armed warriors who came with their leaders and joined David in Hebron in order to make David king in Saul's place, in accordance with the LORD's decree:\n\t\t\t From Judah came 6,800 trained warriors carrying shields and spears.\n\t\t\t From Simeon there were 7,100 warriors.\n\t\t\t From Levi there were 4,600.\n\t\t\t Jehoiada, the leader of Aaron's descendants, brought 3,700 men with him,\n\t\t\t along with Zadok, a young warrior, and twenty-two leaders from his family.\n\t\t\t From Benjamin, Saul's tribe, there were 3,000, most of whom, up to that time, had been loyal to Saul.\n\t\t\t From Ephraim there were 20,800 warriors, who had brought fame to their families.\n\t\t\t From the half tribe of Manasseh there were 18,000 who had been designated by name to come and make David king.\n\t\t\t From Issachar there were 200 leaders and all their relatives at their command, they understood the times and knew what Israel should do.\n\t\t\t From Zebulun there were 50,000 warriors who were prepared for battle, equipped with all kinds of weapons, and ready to give their undivided loyalty.\n\t\t\t From Naphtali there were 1,000 officers, along with 37,000 men carrying shields and spears.\n\t\t\t From Dan there were 28,600 men prepared for battle.\n\t\t\t From Asher there were 40,000 warriors prepared for battle.\n\t\t\t From the other side of the Jordan, from Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh, there were 120,000 men armed with all kinds of weapons.\n\t\t\t All these men were warriors who were ready to march. They came to Hebron to make David king over all Israel by acclamation; all the rest of the Israelites also were in agreement that David should become king.\n\t\t\t They spent three days feasting there with David, for their relatives had given them provisions. \n\t\t\t Also their neighbors, from as far away as Issachar, Zebulun, and Naphtali, were bringing food on donkeys, camels, mules, and oxen. There were large supplies of flour, fig cakes, raisins, wine, olive oil, beef, and lamb, for Israel was celebrating.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t David consulted with his military officers, including those who led groups of a thousand and those who led groups of a hundred.\n\t\t\t David said to the whole Israelite assembly, \"If you so desire and the LORD our God approves, let's spread the word to our brothers who remain in all the regions of Israel, and to the priests and Levites in their cities, so they may join us. \n\t\t\t Let's move the ark of our God back here, for we did not seek his will throughout Saul's reign.\"\n\t\t\t The whole assembly agreed to do this, for the proposal seemed right to all the people.\n\t\t\t So David assembled all Israel from the Shihor River in Egypt to Lebo Hamath, to bring the ark of God from Kiriath Jearim. \n\t\t\t David and all Israel went up to Baalah (that is, Kiriath Jearim) in Judah to bring up from there the ark of God the LORD, who sits enthroned between the cherubim, the ark that is called by his name.\n\t\t\t They transported the ark on a new cart from the house of Abinadab; Uzzah and Ahio were guiding the cart,\n\t\t\t while David and all Israel were energetically celebrating before God, singing and playing various stringed instruments, tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets. \n\t\t\t When they arrived at the threshing floor of Kidon, Uzzah reached out his hand to take hold of the ark, because the oxen stumbled.\n\t\t\t The LORD was so furious with Uzzah, he killed him, because he reached out his hand and touched the ark. He died right there before God.\n\t\t\t David was angry because the LORD attacked Uzzah; so he called that place Perez Uzzah, which remains its name to this very day. \n\t\t\t David was afraid of God that day and said, \"How will I ever be able to bring the ark of God up here?\"\n\t\t\t So David did not move the ark to the City of David; he left it in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. \n\t\t\t The ark of God remained in Obed-Edom's house for three months; the LORD blessed Obed-Edom's family and everything that belonged to him.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t King Hiram of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedar logs, stonemasons, and carpenters to build a palace for him. \n\t\t\t David realized that the LORD had established him as king over Israel and that he had elevated his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.\n\t\t\t In Jerusalem David married more wives and fathered more sons and daughters. \n\t\t\t These are the names of children born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,\n\t\t\t Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet,\n\t\t\t Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia,\n\t\t\t Elishama, Beeliada, and Eliphelet.\n\t\t\t When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king of all Israel, all the Philistines marched up to confront him. When David heard about it, he marched out against them. \n\t\t\t Now the Philistines had come and raided the Valley of Rephaim. \n\t\t\t David asked God, \"Should I march up against the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?\" The LORD said to him, \"March up! I will hand them over to you!\"\n\t\t\t So they marched against Baal Perazim and David defeated them there. David said, \"Using me as his instrument, God has burst out against my enemies like water bursts out.\" So that place is called Baal Perazim.\n\t\t\t The Philistines left their idols there, so David ordered that they be burned.\n\t\t\t The Philistines again raided the valley.\n\t\t\t So David again asked God what he should do. This time God told him, \"Don't march up after them; circle around them and come against them in front of the trees.\n\t\t\t When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the trees, then attack. For at that moment the LORD is going before you to strike down the army of the Philistines.\" \n\t\t\t David did just as God commanded him, and they struck down the Philistine army from Gibeon to Gezer.\n\t\t\t So David became famous in all the lands; the LORD caused all the nations to fear him.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t David constructed buildings in the City of David; he then prepared a place for the ark of God and pitched a tent for it.\n\t\t\t Then David said, \"Only the Levites may carry the ark of God, for the LORD chose them to carry the ark of the LORD and to serve before him perpetually.\n\t\t\t David assembled all Israel at Jerusalem to bring the ark of the LORD up to the place he had prepared for it. \n\t\t\t David gathered together the descendants of Aaron and the Levites:\n\t\t\t From the descendants of Kohath: Uriel the leader and 120 of his relatives.\n\t\t\t From the descendants of Merari: Asaiah the leader and 220 of his relatives.\n\t\t\t From the descendants of Gershom: Joel the leader and 130 of his relatives.\n\t\t\t From the descendants of Elizaphan: Shemaiah the leader and 200 of his relatives.\n\t\t\t From the descendants of Hebron: Eliel the leader and 80 of his relatives.\n\t\t\t From the descendants of Uzziel: Amminadab the leader and 112 of his relatives.\n\t\t\t David summoned the priests Zadok and Abiathar, along with the Levites Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab.\n\t\t\t He told them: \"You are the leaders of the Levites' families. You and your relatives must consecrate yourselves and bring the ark of the LORD God of Israel up to the place I have prepared for it.\n\t\t\t The first time you did not carry it; that is why the LORD God attacked us, because we did not ask him about the proper way to carry it.\"\n\t\t\t The priests and Levites consecrated themselves so they could bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel.\n\t\t\t The descendants of Levi carried the ark of God on their shoulders with poles, just as Moses had ordered according to the divine command.\n\t\t\t David told the leaders of the Levites to appoint some of their relatives as musicians; they were to play various instruments, including stringed instruments and cymbals, and to sing loudly and joyfully.\n\t\t\t So the Levites appointed Heman son of Joel; one of his relatives, Asaph son of Berechiah; one of the descendants of Merari, Ethan son of Kushaiah; \n\t\t\t along with some of their relatives who were second in rank, including Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, and Jeiel, the gatekeepers.\n\t\t\t The musicians Heman, Asaph, and Ethan were to sound the bronze cymbals;\n\t\t\t Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah were to play the harps according to the alamoth style;\n\t\t\t Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah were to play the lyres according to the sheminith style, as led by the director; \n\t\t\t Kenaniah, the leader of the Levites, was in charge of transport, for he was well-informed on this matter;\n\t\t\t Berechiah and Elkanah were guardians of the ark; \n\t\t\t Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer the priests were to blow the trumpets before the ark of God; Obed-Edom and Jehiel were also guardians of the ark.\n\t\t\t So David, the leaders of Israel, and the commanders of units of a thousand went to bring up the ark of the LORD's covenant from the house of Obed-Edom with celebration.\n\t\t\t When God helped the Levites who were carrying the ark of the LORD's covenant, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams.\n\t\t\t David was wrapped in a linen robe, as were all the Levites carrying the ark, the musicians, and Kenaniah the supervisor of transport and the musicians; David also wore a linen ephod.\n\t\t\t All Israel brought up the ark of the LORD's covenant; they were shouting, blowing trumpets, sounding cymbals, and playing stringed instruments.\n\t\t\t As the ark of the LORD's covenant entered the City of David, Michal, Saul's daughter, looked out the window. When she saw King David jumping and celebrating, she despised him.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t They brought the ark of God and put it in the middle of the tent David had pitched for it. Then they offered burnt sacrifices and peace offerings before God. \n\t\t\t When David finished offering burnt sacrifices and peace offerings, he pronounced a blessing over the people in the LORD's name.\n\t\t\t He then handed out to each Israelite man and woman a loaf of bread, a date cake, and a raisin cake.\n\t\t\t He appointed some of the Levites to serve before the ark of the LORD, to offer prayers, songs of thanks, and hymns to the LORD God of Israel.\n\t\t\t Asaph was the leader and Zechariah second in command, followed by Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-Edom, and Jeiel. They were to play stringed instruments; Asaph was to sound the cymbals;\n\t\t\t and the priests Benaiah and Jahaziel were to blow trumpets regularly before the ark of God's covenant.\n\t\t\t That day David first gave to Asaph and his colleagues this song of thanks to the LORD:\n\t\t\t Give thanks to the LORD! Call on his name! Make known his accomplishments among the nations!\n\t\t\t Sing to him! Make music to him! Tell about all his miraculous deeds!\n\t\t\t Boast about his holy name! Let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice!\n\t\t\t Seek the LORD and the strength he gives! Seek his presence continually!\n\t\t\t Recall the miraculous deeds he performed, his mighty acts and the judgments he decreed,\n\t\t\t O children of Israel, God's servant, you descendants of Jacob, God's chosen ones!\n\t\t\t He is the LORD our God; he carries out judgment throughout the earth.\n\t\t\t Remember continually his covenantal decree, the promise he made to a thousand generations,\n\t\t\t the promise he made to Abraham, the promise he made by oath to Isaac!\n\t\t\t He gave it to Jacob as a decree, to Israel as a lasting promise,\n\t\t\t saying, \"To you I will give the land of Canaan as the portion of your inheritance.\"\n\t\t\t When they were few in number, just a very few, and foreign residents within it,\n\t\t\t they wandered from nation to nation, and from one kingdom to another.\n\t\t\t He let no one oppress them, he disciplined kings for their sake,\n\t\t\t saying, \"Don't touch my anointed ones! Don't harm my prophets!\"\n\t\t\t Sing to the LORD, all the earth! Announce every day how he delivers!\n\t\t\t Tell the nations about his splendor, tell all the nations about his miraculous deeds!\n\t\t\t For the LORD is great and certainly worthy of praise, he is more awesome than all gods.\n\t\t\t For all the gods of the nations are worthless, but the LORD made the heavens.\n\t\t\t Majestic splendor emanates from him, he is the source of strength and joy.\n\t\t\t Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the nations, ascribe to the LORD splendor and strength!\n\t\t\t Ascribe to the LORD the splendor he deserves! Bring an offering and enter his presence! Worship the LORD in holy attire!\n\t\t\t Tremble before him, all the earth! The world is established, it cannot be moved.\n\t\t\t Let the heavens rejoice, and the earth be happy! Let the nations say, 'The LORD reigns!'\n\t\t\t Let the sea and everything in it shout! Let the fields and everything in them celebrate!\n\t\t\t Then let the trees of the forest shout with joy before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth!\n\t\t\t Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good and his loyal love endures.\n\t\t\t Say this prayer: \"Deliver us, O God who delivers us! Gather us! Rescue us from the nations! Then we will give thanks to your holy name, and boast about your praiseworthy deeds.\"\n\t\t\t May the LORD God of Israel be praised, in the future and forevermore. Then all the people said, \"We agree! Praise the LORD!\"\n\t\t\t David left Asaph and his colleagues there before the ark of the LORD's covenant to serve before the ark regularly and fulfill each day's requirements,\n\t\t\t including Obed-Edom and sixty-eight colleagues. Obed-Edom son of Jeduthun and Hosah were gatekeepers.\n\t\t\t Zadok the priest and his fellow priests served before the LORD's tabernacle at the worship center in Gibeon, \n\t\t\t regularly offering burnt sacrifices to the LORD on the altar for burnt sacrifice, morning and evening, according to what is prescribed in the law of the LORD which he charged Israel to observe.\n\t\t\t Joining them were Heman, Jeduthun, and the rest of those chosen and designated by name to give thanks to the LORD. (For his loyal love endures!)\n\t\t\t Heman and Jeduthun were in charge of the music, including the trumpets, cymbals, and the other musical instruments used in praising God. The sons of Jeduthun guarded the entrance.\n\t\t\t Then all the people returned to their homes, and David went to pronounce a blessing on his family.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t When David had settled into his palace, he said to Nathan the prophet, \"Look, I am living in a palace made from cedar, while the ark of the LORD's covenant is under a tent.\"\n\t\t\t Nathan said to David, \"You should do whatever you have in mind, for God is with you.\"\n\t\t\t That night God told Nathan the prophet,\n\t\t\t \"Go, tell my servant David: 'This is what the LORD says: \"You must not build me a house in which to live.\n\t\t\t For I have not lived in a house from the time I brought Israel up from Egypt to the present day. I have lived in a tent that has been in various places.\n\t\t\t Wherever I moved throughout Israel, I did not say to any of the leaders whom I appointed to care for my people Israel, 'Why have you not built me a house made from cedar?'\"'\n\t\t\t \"So now, say this to my servant David: 'This is what the LORD who commands armies says: \"I took you from the pasture and from your work as a shepherd to make you a leader of my people Israel.\n\t\t\t I was with you wherever you went and I defeated all your enemies before you. Now I will make you as famous as the great men of the earth.\n\t\t\t I will establish a place for my people Israel and settle them there; they will live there and not be disturbed anymore. Violent men will not oppress them again, as they did in the beginning\n\t\t\t and during the time when I appointed judges to lead my people Israel. I will subdue all your enemies. \"'\"I declare to you that the LORD will build a dynastic house for you! \n\t\t\t When the time comes for you to die, I will raise up your descendant, one of your own sons, to succeed you, and I will establish his kingdom. \n\t\t\t He will build me a house, and I will make his dynasty permanent.\n\t\t\t I will become his father and he will become my son. I will never withhold my loyal love from him, as I withheld it from the one who ruled before you.\n\t\t\t I will put him in permanent charge of my house and my kingdom; his dynasty will be permanent.\"'\"\n\t\t\t Nathan told David all these words that were revealed to him.\n\t\t\t David went in, sat before the LORD, and said: \"Who am I, O LORD God, and what is my family, that you should have brought me to this point? \n\t\t\t And you did not stop there, O God! You have also spoken about the future of your servant's family. You have revealed to me what men long to know, O LORD God. \n\t\t\t What more can David say to you? You have honored your servant; you have given your servant special recognition.\n\t\t\t O LORD, for the sake of your servant and according to your will, you have done this great thing in order to reveal your greatness.\n\t\t\t O LORD, there is none like you; there is no God besides you! What we heard is true!\n\t\t\t And who is like your people, Israel, a unique nation in the earth? Their God went to claim a nation for himself! You made a name for yourself by doing great and awesome deeds when you drove out nations before your people whom you had delivered from the Egyptian empire and its gods.\n\t\t\t You made Israel your very own nation for all time. You, O LORD, became their God. \n\t\t\t So now, O LORD, may the promise you made about your servant and his family become a permanent reality! Do as you promised,\n\t\t\t so it may become a reality and you may gain lasting fame, as people say, 'The LORD who commands armies is the God of Israel.' David's dynasty will be established before you, \n\t\t\t for you, my God, have revealed to your servant that you will build a dynasty for him. That is why your servant has had the courage to pray to you.\n\t\t\t Now, O LORD, you are the true God; you have made this good promise to your servant.\n\t\t\t Now you are willing to bless your servant's dynasty so that it may stand permanently before you, for you, O LORD, have blessed it and it will be blessed from now on into the future.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Later David defeated the Philistines and subdued them. He took Gath and its surrounding towns away from the Philistines.\n\t\t\t He defeated the Moabites; the Moabites became David's subjects and brought tribute.\n\t\t\t David defeated King Hadadezer of Zobah as far as Hamath, when he went to extend his authority to the Euphrates River.\n\t\t\t David seized from him 1,000 chariots, 7,000 charioteers, and 20,000 infantrymen. David cut the hamstrings of all but a hundred of Hadadezer's chariot horses.\n\t\t\t The Arameans of Damascus came to help King Hadadezer of Zobah, but David killed 22,000 of the Arameans.\n\t\t\t David placed garrisons in the territory of the Arameans of Damascus; the Arameans became David's subjects and brought tribute. The LORD protected David wherever he campaigned.\n\t\t\t David took the golden shields which Hadadezer's servants had carried and brought them to Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t From Tibhath and Kun, Hadadezer's cities, David took a great deal of bronze. (Solomon used it to make the big bronze basin called \"The Sea,\" the pillars, and other bronze items.\n\t\t\t When King Tou of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire army of King Hadadezer of Zobah, \n\t\t\t he sent his son Hadoram to King David to extend his best wishes and to pronounce a blessing on him for his victory over Hadadezer, for Tou had been at war with Hadadezer. He also sent various items made of gold, silver, and bronze.\n\t\t\t King David dedicated these things to the LORD, along with the silver and gold which he had carried off from all the nations, including Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, and Amalek.\n\t\t\t Abishai son of Zeruiah killed 18,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt. \n\t\t\t He placed garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites became David's subjects. The LORD protected David wherever he campaigned.\n\t\t\t David reigned over all Israel; he guaranteed justice for all his people.\n\t\t\t Joab son of Zeruiah was commanding general of the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was secretary; \n\t\t\t Zadok son of Ahitub and Abimelech son of Abiathar were priests; Shavsha was scribe; \n\t\t\t Benaiah son of Jehoiada supervised the Kerethites and Pelethites; and David's sons were the king's leading officials.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Later King Nahash of the Ammonites died and his son succeeded him.\n\t\t\t David said, \"I will express my loyalty to Hanun son of Nahash, for his father was loyal to me.\" So David sent messengers to express his sympathy over his father's death. When David's servants entered Ammonite territory to visit Hanun and express the king's sympathy,\n\t\t\t the Ammonite officials said to Hanun, \"Do you really think David is trying to honor your father by sending these messengers to express his sympathy? No, his servants have come to you so they can get information and spy out the land!\"\n\t\t\t So Hanun seized David's servants and shaved their beards off. He cut off the lower part of their robes so that their buttocks were exposed and then sent them away. \n\t\t\t Messengers came and told David what had happened to the men, so he summoned them, for the men were thoroughly humiliated. The king said, \"Stay in Jericho until your beards grow again; then you may come back.\"\n\t\t\t When the Ammonites realized that David was disgusted with them, Hanun and the Ammonites sent 1,000 talents of silver to hire chariots and charioteers from Aram Naharaim, Aram Maacah, and Zobah.\n\t\t\t They hired 32,000 chariots, along with the king of Maacah and his army, who came and camped in front of Medeba. The Ammonites also assembled from their cities and marched out to do battle.\n\t\t\t When David heard the news, he sent Joab and the entire army to meet them.\n\t\t\t The Ammonites marched out and were deployed for battle at the entrance to the city, while the kings who had come were by themselves in the field.\n\t\t\t When Joab saw that the battle would be fought on two fronts, he chose some of Israel's best men and deployed them against the Arameans.\n\t\t\t He put his brother Abishai in charge of the rest of the army and they were deployed against the Ammonites.\n\t\t\t Joab said, \"If the Arameans start to overpower me, you come to my rescue. If the Ammonites start to overpower you, I will come to your rescue.\n\t\t\t Be strong! Let's fight bravely for the sake of our people and the cities of our God! The LORD will do what he decides is best!\"\n\t\t\t So Joab and his men marched toward the Arameans to do battle, and they fled before him. \n\t\t\t When the Ammonites saw the Arameans flee, they fled before Joab's brother Abishai and withdrew into the city. Joab went back to Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t When the Arameans realized they had been defeated by Israel, they sent for reinforcements from beyond the Euphrates River, led by Shophach the commanding general of Hadadezer's army.\n\t\t\t When David was informed, he gathered all Israel, crossed the Jordan River, and marched against them. David deployed his army against the Arameans for battle and they fought against him.\n\t\t\t The Arameans fled before Israel. David killed 7,000 Aramean charioteers and 40,000 infantrymen; he also killed Shophach the commanding general. \n\t\t\t When Hadadezer's subjects saw they were defeated by Israel, they made peace with David and became his subjects. The Arameans were no longer willing to help the Ammonites.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t In the spring, at the time when kings normally conduct wars, Joab led the army into battle and devastated the land of the Ammonites. He went and besieged Rabbah, while David stayed in Jerusalem. Joab defeated Rabbah and tore it down.\n\t\t\t David took the crown from the head of their king and wore it (its weight was a talent of gold and it was set with precious stones). He took a large amount of plunder from the city. \n\t\t\t He removed the city's residents and made them do hard labor with saws, iron picks, and axes. This was his policy with all the Ammonite cities. Then David and all the army returned to Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t Later there was a battle with the Philistines in Gezer. At that time Sibbekai the Hushathite killed Sippai, one of the descendants of the Rephaim, and the Philistines were subdued.\n\t\t\t There was another battle with the Philistines in which Elhanan son of Jair the Bethlehemite killed the brother of Goliath the Gittite, whose spear had a shaft as big as the crossbeam of a weaver's loom.\n\t\t\t In a battle in Gath there was a large man who had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot, twenty-four in all! He too was a descendant of Rapha.\n\t\t\t When he taunted Israel, Jonathan son of Shimea, David's brother, killed him.\n\t\t\t These were the descendants of Rapha who lived in Gath; they were killed by the hand of David and his soldiers.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t An adversary opposed Israel, inciting David to count how many warriors Israel had.\n\t\t\t David told Joab and the leaders of the army, \"Go, count the number of warriors from Beer Sheba to Dan. Then bring back a report to me so I may know how many we have.\"\n\t\t\t Joab replied, \"May the LORD make his army a hundred times larger! My master, O king, do not all of them serve my master? Why does my master want to do this? Why bring judgment on Israel?\"\n\t\t\t But the king's edict stood, despite Joab's objections. So Joab left and traveled throughout Israel before returning to Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t Joab reported to David the number of warriors. In all Israel there were 1,100,000 sword-wielding soldiers; Judah alone had 470,000 sword-wielding soldiers.\n\t\t\t Now Joab did not number Levi and Benjamin, for the king's edict disgusted him. \n\t\t\t God was also offended by it, so he attacked Israel.\n\t\t\t David said to God, \"I have sinned greatly by doing this! Now, please remove the guilt of your servant, for I have acted very foolishly.\"\n\t\t\t The LORD told Gad, David's prophet,\n\t\t\t \"Go, tell David, 'This is what the LORD says: \"I am offering you three forms of judgment from which to choose. Pick one of them.\"'\"\n\t\t\t Gad went to David and told him, \"This is what the LORD says: 'Pick one of these:\n\t\t\t three years of famine, or three months being chased by your enemies and struck down by their swords, or three days being struck down by the LORD, during which a plague will invade the land and the LORD's messenger will destroy throughout Israel's territory.' Now, decide what I should tell the one who sent me.\"\n\t\t\t David said to Gad, \"I am very upset! I prefer to be attacked by the LORD, for his mercy is very great; I do not want to be attacked by men!\"\n\t\t\t So the LORD sent a plague through Israel, and 70,000 Israelite men died.\n\t\t\t God sent an angel to ravage Jerusalem. As he was doing so, the LORD watched and relented from his judgment. He told the angel who was destroying, \"That's enough! Stop now!\" Now the LORD's angel was standing near the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.\n\t\t\t David looked up and saw the LORD's messenger standing between the earth and sky with his sword drawn and in his hand, stretched out over Jerusalem. David and the leaders, covered with sackcloth, threw themselves down with their faces to the ground.\n\t\t\t David said to God, \"Was I not the one who decided to number the army? I am the one who sinned and committed this awful deed! As for these sheep, what have they done? O LORD my God, attack me and my family, but remove the plague from your people!\"\n\t\t\t So the LORD's messenger told Gad to instruct David to go up and build an altar for the LORD on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. \n\t\t\t So David went up as Gad instructed him to do in the name of the LORD.\n\t\t\t While Ornan was threshing wheat, he turned and saw the messenger, and he and his four sons hid themselves.\n\t\t\t When David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David; he came out from the threshing floor and bowed to David with his face to the ground. \n\t\t\t David said to Ornan, \"Sell me the threshing floor so I can build on it an altar for the LORD, I'll pay top price, so that the plague may be removed from the people.\"\n\t\t\t Ornan told David, \"You can have it! My master, the king, may do what he wants. Look, I am giving you the oxen for burnt sacrifices, the threshing sledges for wood, and the wheat for an offering. I give it all to you.\" \n\t\t\t King David replied to Ornan, \"No, I insist on buying it for top price. I will not offer to the LORD what belongs to you or offer a burnt sacrifice that cost me nothing.\n\t\t\t So David bought the place from Ornan for 600 pieces of gold.\n\t\t\t David built there an altar to the LORD and offered burnt sacrifices and peace offerings. He called out to the LORD, and the LORD responded by sending fire from the sky and consuming the burnt sacrifice on the altar. \n\t\t\t The LORD ordered the messenger to put his sword back into its sheath.\n\t\t\t At that time, when David saw that the LORD responded to him at the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite, he sacrificed there.\n\t\t\t Now the LORD's tabernacle (which Moses had made in the wilderness) and the altar for burnt sacrifices were at that time at the worship center in Gibeon. \n\t\t\t But David could not go before it to seek God's will, for he was afraid of the sword of the LORD's messenger.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t David then said, \"This is the place where the temple of the LORD God will be, along with the altar for burnt sacrifices for Israel.\"\n\t\t\t David ordered the resident foreigners in the land of Israel to be called together. He appointed some of them to be stonecutters to chisel stones for the building of God's temple.\n\t\t\t David supplied a large amount of iron for the nails of the doors of the gates and for braces, more bronze than could be weighed,\n\t\t\t and more cedar logs than could be counted. (The Sidonians and Tyrians had brought a large amount of cedar logs to David.)\n\t\t\t David said, \"My son Solomon is just an inexperienced young man, and the temple to be built for the LORD must be especially magnificent so it will become famous and be considered splendid by all the nations. Therefore I will make preparations for its construction.\" So David made extensive preparations before he died.\n\t\t\t He summoned his son Solomon and charged him to build a temple for the LORD God of Israel.\n\t\t\t David said to Solomon: \"My son, I really wanted to build a temple to honor the LORD my God. \n\t\t\t But the LORD said to me: 'You have spilled a great deal of blood and fought many battles. You must not build a temple to honor me, for you have spilled a great deal of blood on the ground before me. \n\t\t\t Look, you will have a son, who will be a peaceful man. I will give him rest from all his enemies on every side. Indeed, Solomon will be his name; I will give Israel peace and quiet during his reign.\n\t\t\t He will build a temple to honor me; he will become my son, and I will become his father. I will grant to his dynasty permanent rule over Israel.'\n\t\t\t \"Now, my son, may the LORD be with you! May you succeed and build a temple for the LORD your God, just as he announced you would.\n\t\t\t Only may the LORD give you insight and understanding when he places you in charge of Israel, so you may obey the law of the LORD your God. \n\t\t\t Then you will succeed, if you carefully obey the rules and regulations which the LORD ordered Moses to give to Israel. Be strong and brave! Don't be afraid and don't panic!\n\t\t\t Now, look, I have made every effort to supply what is needed to build the LORD's temple. I have stored up 100,000 talents of gold, 1,000,000 talents of silver, and so much bronze and iron it cannot be weighed, as well as wood and stones. Feel free to add more!\n\t\t\t You also have available many workers, including stonecutters, masons, carpenters, and an innumerable array of workers who are skilled \n\t\t\t in using gold, silver, bronze, and iron. Get up and begin the work! May the LORD be with you!\"\n\t\t\t David ordered all the officials of Israel to support his son Solomon. \n\t\t\t He told them, \"The LORD your God is with you! He has made you secure on every side, for he handed over to me the inhabitants of the region and the region is subdued before the LORD and his people. \n\t\t\t Now seek the LORD your God wholeheartedly and with your entire being! Get up and build the sanctuary of the LORD God! Then you can bring the ark of the LORD's covenant and the holy items dedicated to God's service into the temple that is built to honor the LORD.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t When David was old and approaching the end of his life, he made his son Solomon king over Israel.\n\t\t\t David assembled all the leaders of Israel, along with the priests and the Levites. \n\t\t\t The Levites who were thirty years old and up were counted; there were 38,000 men.\n\t\t\t David said, \"Of these, 24,000 are to direct the work of the LORD's temple; 6,000 are to be officials and judges; \n\t\t\t 4,000 are to be gatekeepers; and 4,000 are to praise the LORD with the instruments I supplied for worship.\"\n\t\t\t David divided them into groups corresponding to the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.\n\t\t\t The Gershonites included Ladan and Shimei.\n\t\t\t The sons of Ladan: Jehiel the oldest, Zetham, and Joel, three in all.\n\t\t\t The sons of Shimei: Shelomoth, Haziel, and Haran, three in all. These were the leaders of the family of Ladan.\n\t\t\t The sons of Shimei: Jahath, Zina, Jeush, and Beriah. These were Shimei's sons, four in all.\n\t\t\t Jahath was the oldest and Zizah the second oldest. Jeush and Beriah did not have many sons, so they were considered one family with one responsibility.\n\t\t\t The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, four in all.\n\t\t\t The sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses. Aaron and his descendants were chosen on a permanent basis to consecrate the most holy items, to offer sacrifices before the LORD, to serve him, and to praise his name.\n\t\t\t The descendants of Moses the man of God were considered Levites.\n\t\t\t The sons of Moses: Gershom and Eliezer.\n\t\t\t The son of Gershom: Shebuel the oldest.\n\t\t\t The son of Eliezer was Rehabiah, the oldest. Eliezer had no other sons, but Rehabiah had many descendants.\n\t\t\t The son of Izhar: Shelomith the oldest.\n\t\t\t The sons of Hebron: Jeriah the oldest, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth.\n\t\t\t The sons of Uzziel: Micah the oldest, and Isshiah the second.\n\t\t\t The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. The sons of Mahli: Eleazar and Kish.\n\t\t\t Eleazar died without having sons; he had only daughters. The sons of Kish, their cousins, married them.\n\t\t\t The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jeremoth, three in all.\n\t\t\t These were the descendants of Levi according to their families, that is, the leaders of families as counted and individually listed who carried out assigned tasks in the LORD's temple and were twenty years old and up.\n\t\t\t For David said, \"The LORD God of Israel has given his people rest and has permanently settled in Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t So the Levites no longer need to carry the tabernacle or any of the items used in its service.\"\n\t\t\t According to David's final instructions, the Levites twenty years old and up were counted.\n\t\t\t Their job was to help Aaron's descendants in the service of the LORD's temple. They were to take care of the courtyards, the rooms, ceremonial purification of all holy items, and other jobs related to the service of God's temple.\n\t\t\t They also took care of the bread that is displayed, the flour for offerings, the unleavened wafers, the round cakes, the mixing, and all the measuring.\n\t\t\t They also stood in a designated place every morning and offered thanks and praise to the LORD. They also did this in the evening \n\t\t\t and whenever burnt sacrifices were offered to the LORD on the Sabbath and at new moon festivals and assemblies. A designated number were to serve before the LORD regularly in accordance with regulations.\n\t\t\t They were in charge of the meeting tent and the holy place, and helped their relatives, the descendants of Aaron, in the service of the LORD's temple.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The divisions of Aaron's descendants were as follows: The sons of Aaron: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.\n\t\t\t Nadab and Abihu died before their father did; they had no sons. Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests.\n\t\t\t David, Zadok (a descendant of Eleazar), and Ahimelech (a descendant of Ithamar) divided them into groups to carry out their assigned responsibilities.\n\t\t\t The descendants of Eleazar had more leaders than the descendants of Ithamar, so they divided them up accordingly; the descendants of Eleazar had sixteen leaders, while the descendants of Ithamar had eight.\n\t\t\t They divided them by lots, for there were officials of the holy place and officials designated by God among the descendants of both Eleazar and Ithamar.\n\t\t\t The scribe Shemaiah son of Nethanel, a Levite, wrote down their names before the king, the officials, Zadok the priest, Ahimelech son of Abiathar, and the leaders of the priestly and Levite families. One family was drawn by lot from Eleazar, and then the next from Ithamar.\n\t\t\t The first lot went to Jehoiarib, the second to Jedaiah,\n\t\t\t the third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim,\n\t\t\t the fifth to Malkijah, the sixth to Mijamin,\n\t\t\t the seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah,\n\t\t\t the ninth to Jeshua, the tenth to Shecaniah,\n\t\t\t the eleventh to Eliashib, the twelfth to Jakim,\n\t\t\t the thirteenth to Huppah, the fourteenth to Jeshebeab,\n\t\t\t the fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to Immer,\n\t\t\t the seventeenth to Hezir, the eighteenth to Happizzez,\n\t\t\t the nineteenth to Pethahiah, the twentieth to Jehezkel,\n\t\t\t the twenty-first to Jakin, the twenty-second to Gamul,\n\t\t\t the twenty-third to Delaiah, the twenty-fourth to Maaziah.\n\t\t\t This was the order in which they carried out their assigned responsibilities when they entered the LORD's temple, according to the regulations given them by their ancestor Aaron, just as the LORD God of Israel had instructed him.\n\t\t\t The rest of the Levites included: Shubael from the sons of Amram, Jehdeiah from the sons of Shubael,\n\t\t\t the firstborn Isshiah from Rehabiah and the sons of Rehabiah,\n\t\t\t Shelomoth from the Izharites, Jahath from the sons of Shelomoth.\n\t\t\t The sons of Hebron: Jeriah, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth.\n\t\t\t The son of Uzziel: Micah; Shamir from the sons of Micah.\n\t\t\t The brother of Micah: Isshiah. Zechariah from the sons of Isshiah.\n\t\t\t The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. The son of Jaaziah: Beno.\n\t\t\t The sons of Merari, from Jaaziah: Beno, Shoham, Zaccur, and Ibri.\n\t\t\t From Mahli: Eleazar, who had no sons.\n\t\t\t From Kish: Jerahmeel.\n\t\t\t The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jerimoth. These were the Levites, listed by their families.\n\t\t\t Just like their relatives, the descendants of Aaron, they also cast lots before King David, Zadok, Ahimelech, the leaders of families, the priests, and the Levites. The families of the oldest son cast lots along with the those of the youngest.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t David and the army officers selected some of the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun to prophesy as they played stringed instruments and cymbals. The following men were assigned this responsibility:\n\t\t\t From the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asarelah. The sons of Asaph were supervised by Asaph, who prophesied under the king's supervision.\n\t\t\t From the sons of Jeduthun: Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six in all, under supervision of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied as he played a harp, giving thanks and praise to the LORD.\n\t\t\t From the sons of Heman: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, Romamti-Ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth. \n\t\t\t All these were the sons of Heman, the king's prophet. God had promised him these sons in order to make him prestigious. God gave Heman fourteen sons and three daughters.\n\t\t\t All of these were under the supervision of their fathers; they were musicians in the LORD's temple, playing cymbals and stringed instruments as they served in God's temple. Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman were under the supervision of the king.\n\t\t\t They and their relatives, all of them skilled and trained to make music to the LORD, numbered two hundred eighty-eight.\n\t\t\t They cast lots to determine their responsibilities, oldest as well as youngest, teacher as well as student.\n\t\t\t The first lot went to Asaph's son Joseph and his relatives and sons, twelve in all, the second to Gedaliah and his relatives and sons, twelve in all,\n\t\t\t the third to Zaccur and his sons and relatives, twelve in all,\n\t\t\t the fourth to Izri and his sons and relatives, twelve in all,\n\t\t\t the fifth to Nethaniah and his sons and relatives, twelve in all,\n\t\t\t the sixth to Bukkiah and his sons and relatives, twelve in all,\n\t\t\t the seventh to Jesharelah and his sons and relatives, twelve in all,\n\t\t\t the eighth to Jeshaiah and his sons and relatives, twelve in all,\n\t\t\t the ninth to Mattaniah and his sons and relatives, twelve in all,\n\t\t\t the tenth to Shimei and his sons and relatives, twelve in all,\n\t\t\t the eleventh to Azarel and his sons and relatives, twelve in all,\n\t\t\t the twelfth to Hashabiah and his sons and relatives, twelve in all,\n\t\t\t the thirteenth to Shubael and his sons and relatives, twelve in all,\n\t\t\t the fourteenth to Mattithiah and his sons and relatives, twelve in all,\n\t\t\t the fifteenth to Jerimoth and his sons and relatives, twelve in all,\n\t\t\t the sixteenth to Hananiah and his sons and relatives, twelve in all,\n\t\t\t the seventeenth to Joshbekashah and his sons and relatives, twelve in all,\n\t\t\t the eighteenth to Hanani and his sons and relatives, twelve in all,\n\t\t\t the nineteenth to Mallothi and his sons and relatives, twelve in all,\n\t\t\t the twentieth to Eliathah and his sons and relatives, twelve in all,\n\t\t\t the twenty-first to Hothir and his sons and relatives, twelve in all,\n\t\t\t the twenty-second to Giddalti and his sons and relatives, twelve in all,\n\t\t\t the twenty-third to Mahazioth and his sons and relatives, twelve in all,\n\t\t\t the twenty-fourth to Romamti-Ezer and his sons and relatives, twelve in all.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The divisions of the gatekeepers: From the Korahites: Meshelemiah, son of Kore, one of the sons of Asaph.\n\t\t\t Meshelemiah's sons: The firstborn Zechariah, the second Jediael, the third Zebadiah, the fourth Jathniel,\n\t\t\t the fifth Elam, the sixth Jehohanan, and the seventh Elihoenai.\n\t\t\t Obed-Edom's sons: The firstborn Shemaiah, the second Jehozabad, the third Joah, the fourth Sakar, the fifth Nethanel,\n\t\t\t the sixth Ammiel, the seventh Issachar, and the eighth Peullethai. (Indeed, God blessed Obed-Edom.)\n\t\t\t His son Shemaiah also had sons, who were leaders of their families, for they were highly respected.\n\t\t\t The sons of Shemaiah: Othni, Rephael, Obed, and Elzabad. His relatives Elihu and Semakiah were also respected.\n\t\t\t All these were the descendants of Obed-Edom. They and their sons and relatives were respected men, capable of doing their responsibilities. There were sixty-two of them related to Obed-Edom.\n\t\t\t Meshelemiah had sons and relatives who were respected, eighteen in all.\n\t\t\t Hosah, one of the descendants of Merari, had sons: The firstborn Shimri (he was not actually the firstborn, but his father gave him that status),\n\t\t\t the second Hilkiah, the third Tebaliah, and the fourth Zechariah. All of Hosah's sons and relatives numbered thirteen.\n\t\t\t These divisions of the gatekeepers, corresponding to their leaders, had assigned responsibilities, like their relatives, as they served in the LORD's temple.\n\t\t\t They cast lots, both young and old, according to their families, to determine which gate they would be responsible for.\n\t\t\t The lot for the east gate went to Shelemiah. They then cast lots for his son Zechariah, a wise adviser, and the lot for the north gate went to him. \n\t\t\t Obed-Edom was assigned the south gate, and his sons were assigned the storehouses.\n\t\t\t Shuppim and Hosah were assigned the west gate, along with the Shalleketh gate on the upper road. One guard was adjacent to another.\n\t\t\t Each day there were six Levites posted on the east, four on the north, and four on the south. At the storehouses they were posted in pairs.\n\t\t\t At the court on the west there were four posted on the road and two at the court.\n\t\t\t These were the divisions of the gatekeepers who were descendants of Korah and Merari.\n\t\t\t Their fellow Levites were in charge of the storehouses in God's temple and the storehouses containing consecrated items. \n\t\t\t The descendants of Ladan, who were descended from Gershon through Ladan and were leaders of the families of Ladan the Gershonite, included Jehieli\n\t\t\t and the sons of Jehieli, Zetham and his brother Joel. They were in charge of the storehouses in the LORD's temple.\n\t\t\t As for the Amramites, Izharites, Hebronites, and Uzzielites:\n\t\t\t Shebuel son of Gershom, the son of Moses, was the supervisor of the storehouses. \n\t\t\t His relatives through Eliezer included: Rehabiah his son, Jeshaiah his son, Joram his son, Zikri his son, and Shelomith his son. \n\t\t\t Shelomith and his relatives were in charge of all the storehouses containing the consecrated items dedicated by King David, the family leaders who led units of a thousand and a hundred, and the army officers. \n\t\t\t They had dedicated some of the plunder taken in battles to be used for repairs on the LORD's temple.\n\t\t\t They were also in charge of everything dedicated by Samuel the prophet, Saul son of Kish, Abner son of Ner, and Joab son of Zeruiah; Shelomith and his relatives were in charge of everything that had been dedicated.\n\t\t\t As for the Izharites: Kenaniah and his sons were given responsibilities outside the temple as officers and judges over Israel.\n\t\t\t As for the Hebronites: Hashabiah and his relatives, 1,700 respected men, were assigned responsibilities in Israel west of the Jordan; they did the LORD's work and the king's service.\n\t\t\t As for the Hebronites: Jeriah was the leader of the Hebronites according to the genealogical records. In the fortieth year of David's reign, they examined the records and discovered there were highly respected men in Jazer in Gilead. \n\t\t\t Jeriah had 2,700 relatives who were respected family leaders. King David placed them in charge of the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh; they took care of all matters pertaining to God and the king.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t What follows is a list of Israelite family leaders and commanders of units of a thousand and a hundred, as well as their officers who served the king in various matters. Each division was assigned to serve for one month during the year; each consisted of 24,000 men.\n\t\t\t Jashobeam son of Zabdiel was in charge of the first division, which was assigned the first month. His division consisted of 24,000 men.\n\t\t\t He was a descendant of Perez; he was in charge of all the army officers for the first month.\n\t\t\t Dodai the Ahohite was in charge of the division assigned the second month; Mikloth was the next in rank. His division consisted of 24,000 men.\n\t\t\t The third army commander, assigned the third month, was Benaiah son of Jehoiada the priest. He was the leader of his division, which consisted of 24,000 men.\n\t\t\t Benaiah was the leader of the thirty warriors and his division; his son was Ammizabad.\n\t\t\t The fourth, assigned the fourth month, was Asahel, brother of Joab; his son Zebadiah succeeded him. His division consisted of 24,000 men.\n\t\t\t The fifth, assigned the fifth month, was the commander Shamhuth the Izrahite. His division consisted of 24,000 men.\n\t\t\t The sixth, assigned the sixth month, was Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite. His division consisted of 24,000 men.\n\t\t\t The seventh, assigned the seventh month, was Helez the Pelonite, an Ephraimite. His division consisted of 24,000 men.\n\t\t\t The eighth, assigned the eighth month, was Sibbekai the Hushathite, a Zerahite. His division consisted of 24,000 men.\n\t\t\t The ninth, assigned the ninth month, was Abiezer the Anathothite, a Benjaminite. His division consisted of 24,000 men.\n\t\t\t The tenth, assigned the tenth month, was Maharai the Netophathite, a Zerahite. His division consisted of 24,000 men.\n\t\t\t The eleventh, assigned the eleventh month, was Benaiah the Pirathonite, an Ephraimite. His division consisted of 24,000 men.\n\t\t\t The twelfth, assigned the twelfth month, was Heldai the Netophathite, a descendant of Othniel. His division consisted of 24,000 men.\n\t\t\t The officers of the Israelite tribes: Eliezer son of Zikri was the leader of the Reubenites, Shephatiah son of Maacah led the Simeonites,\n\t\t\t Hashabiah son of Kemuel led the Levites, Zadok led the descendants of Aaron,\n\t\t\t Elihu, a brother of David, led Judah, Omri son of Michael led Issachar,\n\t\t\t Ishmaiah son of Obadiah led Zebulun, Jerimoth son of Azriel led Naphtali,\n\t\t\t Hoshea son of Azaziah led the Ephraimites, Joel son of Pedaiah led the half-tribe of Manasseh,\n\t\t\t Iddo son of Zechariah led the half-tribe of Manasseh in Gilead, Jaasiel son of Abner led Benjamin,\n\t\t\t Azarel son of Jeroham led Dan. These were the commanders of the Israelite tribes.\n\t\t\t David did not count the males twenty years old and under, for the LORD had promised to make Israel as numerous as the stars in the sky.\n\t\t\t Joab son of Zeruiah started to count the men but did not finish. God was angry with Israel because of this, so the number was not recorded in the scroll called The Annals of King David.\n\t\t\t Azmaveth son of Adiel was in charge of the king's storehouses; Jonathan son of Uzziah was in charge of the storehouses in the field, in the cities, in the towns, and in the towers.\n\t\t\t Ezri son of Kelub was in charge of the field workers who farmed the land.\n\t\t\t Shimei the Ramathite was in charge of the vineyards; Zabdi the Shiphmite was in charge of the wine stored in the vineyards.\n\t\t\t Baal-Hanan the Gederite was in charge of the olive and sycamore trees in the lowlands; Joash was in charge of the storehouses of olive oil.\n\t\t\t Shitrai the Sharonite was in charge of the cattle grazing in Sharon; Shaphat son of Adlai was in charge of the cattle in the valleys.\n\t\t\t Obil the Ishmaelite was in charge of the camels; Jehdeiah the Meronothite was in charge of the donkeys.\n\t\t\t Jaziz the Hagrite was in charge of the sheep. All these were the officials in charge of King David's property.\n\t\t\t Jonathan, David's uncle, was a wise adviser and scribe; Jehiel son of Hacmoni cared for the king's sons.\n\t\t\t Ahithophel was the king's adviser; Hushai the Arkite was the king's confidant.\n\t\t\t Ahithophel was succeeded by Jehoiada son of Benaiah and by Abiathar. Joab was the commanding general of the king's army.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t David assembled in Jerusalem all the officials of Israel, including the commanders of the tribes, the commanders of the army divisions that served the king, the commanders of units of a thousand and a hundred, the officials who were in charge of all the property and livestock of the king and his sons, the eunuchs, and the warriors, including the most skilled of them.\n\t\t\t King David rose to his feet and said: \"Listen to me, my brothers and my people. I wanted to build a temple where the ark of the LORD's covenant could be placed as a footstool for our God. I have made the preparations for building it. \n\t\t\t But God said to me, 'You must not build a temple to honor me, for you are a warrior and have spilled blood.' \n\t\t\t The LORD God of Israel chose me out of my father's entire family to become king over Israel and have a permanent dynasty. Indeed, he chose Judah as leader, and my father's family within Judah, and then he picked me out from among my father's sons and made me king over all Israel.\n\t\t\t From all the many sons the LORD has given me, he chose Solomon my son to rule on his behalf over Israel.\n\t\t\t He said to me, 'Solomon your son is the one who will build my temple and my courts, for I have chosen him to become my son and I will become his father.\n\t\t\t I will establish his kingdom permanently, if he remains committed to obeying my commands and regulations, as you are doing this day.'\n\t\t\t So now, in the sight of all Israel, the LORD's assembly, and in the hearing of our God, I say this: Carefully observe all the commands of the LORD your God, so that you may possess this good land and may leave it as a permanent inheritance for your children after you.\n\t\t\t \"And you, Solomon my son, obey the God of your father and serve him with a submissive attitude and a willing spirit, for the LORD examines all minds and understands every motive of one's thoughts. If you seek him, he will let you find him, but if you abandon him, he will reject you permanently. \n\t\t\t Realize now that the LORD has chosen you to build a temple as his sanctuary. Be strong and do it!\"\n\t\t\t David gave to his son Solomon the blueprints for the temple porch, its buildings, its treasuries, its upper areas, its inner rooms, and the room for atonement. \n\t\t\t He gave him the blueprints of all he envisioned for the courts of the LORD's temple, all the surrounding rooms, the storehouses of God's temple, and the storehouses for the holy items.\n\t\t\t He gave him the regulations for the divisions of priests and Levites, for all the assigned responsibilities within the LORD's temple, and for all the items used in the service of the LORD's temple.\n\t\t\t He gave him the prescribed weight for all the gold items to be used in various types of service in the LORD's temple, for all the silver items to be used in various types of service,\n\t\t\t for the gold lampstands and their gold lamps, including the weight of each lampstand and its lamps, for the silver lampstands, including the weight of each lampstand and its lamps, according to the prescribed use of each lampstand,\n\t\t\t for the gold used in the display tables, including the amount to be used in each table, for the silver to be used in the silver tables,\n\t\t\t for the pure gold used for the meat forks, bowls, and jars, for the small gold bowls, including the weight for each bowl, for the small silver bowls, including the weight for each bowl,\n\t\t\t and for the refined gold of the incense altar. He gave him the blueprint for the seat of the gold cherubim that spread their wings and provide shelter for the ark of the LORD's covenant.\n\t\t\t David said, \"All of this I put in writing as the LORD directed me and gave me insight regarding the details of the blueprints.\"\n\t\t\t David said to his son Solomon: \"Be strong and brave! Do it! Don't be afraid and don't panic! For the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not leave you or abandon you before all the work for the service of the LORD's temple is finished. \n\t\t\t Here are the divisions of the priests and Levites who will perform all the service of God's temple. All the willing and skilled men are ready to assist you in all the work and perform their service. The officials and all the people are ready to follow your instructions.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t King David said to the entire assembly: \"My son Solomon, the one whom God has chosen, is just an inexperienced young man, and the task is great, for this palace is not for man, but for the LORD God. \n\t\t\t So I have made every effort to provide what is needed for the temple of my God, including the gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, as well as a large amount of onyx, settings of antimony and other stones, all kinds of precious stones, and alabaster. \n\t\t\t Now, to show my commitment to the temple of my God, I donate my personal treasure of gold and silver to the temple of my God, in addition to all that I have already supplied for this holy temple.\n\t\t\t This includes 3,000 talents of gold from Ophir and 7,000 talents of refined silver for overlaying the walls of the buildings, \n\t\t\t for gold and silver items, and for all the work of the craftsmen. Who else wants to contribute to the LORD today?\"\n\t\t\t The leaders of the families, the leaders of the Israelite tribes, the commanders of units of a thousand and a hundred, and the supervisors of the king's work contributed willingly.\n\t\t\t They donated for the service of God's temple 5,000 talents and ten thousand darics of gold, 10,000 talents of silver, 18,000 talents of bronze, and 100,000 talents of iron. \n\t\t\t All who possessed precious stones donated them to the treasury of the LORD's temple, which was under the supervision of Jehiel the Gershonite. \n\t\t\t The people were delighted with their donations, for they contributed to the LORD with a willing attitude; King David was also very happy.\n\t\t\t David praised the LORD before the entire assembly: \"O LORD God of our father Israel, you deserve praise forevermore!\n\t\t\t O LORD, you are great, mighty, majestic, magnificent, glorious, and sovereign over all the sky and earth! You have dominion and exalt yourself as the ruler of all. \n\t\t\t You are the source of wealth and honor; you rule over all. You possess strength and might to magnify and give strength to all.\n\t\t\t Now, our God, we give thanks to you and praise your majestic name!\n\t\t\t \"But who am I and who are my people, that we should be in a position to contribute this much? Indeed, everything comes from you, and we have simply given back to you what is yours.\n\t\t\t For we are resident foreigners and nomads in your presence, like all our ancestors; our days are like a shadow on the earth, without security.\n\t\t\t O LORD our God, all this wealth, which we have collected to build a temple for you to honor your holy name, comes from you; it all belongs to you.\n\t\t\t I know, my God, that you examine thoughts and are pleased with integrity. With pure motives I contribute all this; and now I look with joy as your people who have gathered here contribute to you. \n\t\t\t O LORD God of our ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, maintain the motives of your people and keep them devoted to you.\n\t\t\t Make my son Solomon willing to obey your commands, rules, and regulations, and to complete building the palace for which I have made preparations.\"\n\t\t\t David told the entire assembly: \"Praise the LORD your God!\" So the entire assembly praised the LORD God of their ancestors; they bowed down and stretched out flat on the ground before the LORD and the king.\n\t\t\t The next day they made sacrifices and offered burnt sacrifices to the LORD \n\t\t\t They held a feast before the LORD that day and celebrated. Then they designated Solomon, David's son, as king a second time; before the LORD they anointed him as ruler and Zadok as priest.\n\t\t\t Solomon sat on the LORD's throne as king in place of his father David; he was successful and all Israel was loyal to him.\n\t\t\t All the officers and warriors, as well as all of King David's sons, pledged their allegiance to King Solomon.\n\t\t\t The LORD greatly magnified Solomon before all Israel and bestowed on him greater majesty than any king of Israel before him.\n\t\t\t David son of Jesse reigned over all Israel.\n\t\t\t He reigned over Israel forty years; he reigned in Hebron seven years and in Jerusalem thirty-three years. \n\t\t\t He died at a good old age, having enjoyed long life, wealth, and honor. His son Solomon succeeded him.\n\t\t\t King David's accomplishments, from start to finish, are recorded in the Annals of Samuel the prophet, the Annals of Nathan the prophet, and the Annals of Gad the prophet.\n\t\t\t Recorded there are all the facts about his reign and accomplishments, and an account of the events that involved him, Israel, and all the neighboring kingdoms.\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Solomon son of David solidified his royal authority, for the LORD his God was with him and magnified him greatly.\n\t\t\t Solomon addressed all Israel, including those who commanded units of a thousand and a hundred, the judges, and all the leaders of all Israel who were heads of families.\n\t\t\t Solomon and the entire assembly went to the worship center in Gibeon, for the tent where they met God was located there, which Moses the LORD's servant had made in the wilderness. \n\t\t\t (Now David had brought up the ark of God from Kiriath Jearim to the place he had prepared for it, for he had pitched a tent for it in Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t But the bronze altar made by Bezalel son of Uri, son of Hur, was in front of the LORD's tabernacle. Solomon and the entire assembly prayed to him there.) \n\t\t\t Solomon went up to the bronze altar before the LORD which was at the meeting tent, and he offered up a thousand burnt sacrifices.\n\t\t\t That night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, \"Tell me what I should give you.\" \n\t\t\t Solomon replied to God, \"You demonstrated great loyalty to my father David and have made me king in his place. \n\t\t\t Now, LORD God, may your promise to my father David be realized, for you have made me king over a great nation as numerous as the dust of the earth. \n\t\t\t Now give me wisdom and discernment so I can effectively lead this nation. Otherwise no one is able to make judicial decisions for this great nation of yours.\"\n\t\t\t God said to Solomon, \"Because you desire this, and did not ask for riches, wealth, and honor, or for vengeance on your enemies, and because you did not ask for long life, but requested wisdom and discernment so you can make judicial decisions for my people over whom I have made you king, \n\t\t\t you are granted wisdom and discernment. Furthermore I am giving you riches, wealth, and honor surpassing that of any king before or after you.\"\n\t\t\t Solomon left the meeting tent at the worship center in Gibeon and went to Jerusalem, where he reigned over Israel.\n\t\t\t Solomon accumulated chariots and horses. He had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horses. He kept them in assigned cities and in Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t The king made silver and gold as plentiful in Jerusalem as stones; cedar was as plentiful as sycamore fig trees are in the lowlands.\n\t\t\t Solomon acquired his horses from Egypt and from Que; the king's traders purchased them from Que. \n\t\t\t They paid 600 silver pieces for each chariot from Egypt, and 150 silver pieces for each horse. They also sold chariots and horses to all the kings of the Hittites and to the kings of Syria.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Solomon ordered a temple to be built to honor the LORD, as well as a royal palace for himself.\n\t\t\t Solomon had 70,000 common laborers and 80,000 stonecutters in the hills, in addition to 3,600 supervisors.\n\t\t\t Solomon sent a message to King Huram of Tyre: \"Help me as you did my father David, when you sent him cedar logs for the construction of his palace.\n\t\t\t Look, I am ready to build a temple to honor the LORD my God and to dedicate it to him in order to burn fragrant incense before him, to set out the bread that is regularly displayed, and to offer burnt sacrifices each morning and evening, and on Sabbaths, new moon festivals, and at other times appointed by the LORD our God. This is something Israel must do on a permanent basis.\n\t\t\t I will build a great temple, for our God is greater than all gods.\n\t\t\t Of course, who can really build a temple for him, since the sky and the highest heavens cannot contain him? Who am I that I should build him a temple! It will really be only a place to offer sacrifices before him.\n\t\t\t \"Now send me a man who is skilled in working with gold, silver, bronze, and iron, as well as purple, crimson, and violet colored fabrics, and who knows how to engrave. He will work with my skilled craftsmen here in Jerusalem and Judah, whom my father David provided. \n\t\t\t Send me cedars, evergreens, and algum trees from Lebanon, for I know your servants are adept at cutting down trees in Lebanon. My servants will work with your servants \n\t\t\t to supply me with large quantities of timber, for I am building a great, magnificent temple.\n\t\t\t Look, I will pay your servants who cut the timber 20,000 kors of ground wheat, 20,000 kors of barley, 120,000 gallons of wine, and 120,000 gallons of olive oil.\"\n\t\t\t King Huram of Tyre sent this letter to Solomon: \"Because the LORD loves his people, he has made you their king.\" \n\t\t\t Huram also said, \"Worthy of praise is the LORD God of Israel, who made the sky and the earth! He has given David a wise son who has discernment and insight and will build a temple for the LORD, as well as a royal palace for himself.\n\t\t\t Now I am sending you Huram Abi, a skilled and capable man,\n\t\t\t whose mother is a Danite and whose father is a Tyrian. He knows how to work with gold, silver, bronze, iron, stones, and wood, as well as purple, violet, white, and crimson fabrics. He knows how to do all kinds of engraving and understands any design given to him. He will work with your skilled craftsmen and the skilled craftsmen of my lord David your father. \n\t\t\t Now let my lord send to his servants the wheat, barley, olive oil, and wine he has promised;\n\t\t\t we will get all the timber you need from Lebanon and bring it in raft-like bundles by sea to Joppa. You can then haul it on up to Jerusalem.\"\n\t\t\t Solomon took a census of all the male resident foreigners in the land of Israel, after the census his father David had taken. There were 153,600 in all. \n\t\t\t He designated 70,000 as common laborers, 80,000 as stonecutters in the hills, and 3,600 as supervisors to make sure the people completed the work.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Solomon began building the LORD's temple in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the LORD had appeared to his father David. This was the place that David prepared at the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. \n\t\t\t He began building on the second day of the second month of the fourth year of his reign.\n\t\t\t Solomon laid the foundation for God's temple; its length (determined according to the old standard of measure) was 90 feet, and its width 30 feet.\n\t\t\t The porch in front of the main hall was 30 feet long, corresponding to the width of the temple, and its height was 30 feet. He plated the inside with pure gold. \n\t\t\t He paneled the main hall with boards made from evergreen trees and plated it with fine gold, decorated with palm trees and chains.\n\t\t\t He decorated the temple with precious stones; the gold he used came from Parvaim.\n\t\t\t He overlaid the temple's rafters, thresholds, walls and doors with gold; he carved decorative cherubim on the walls.\n\t\t\t He made the most holy place; its length was 30 feet, corresponding to the width of the temple, and its width 30 feet. He plated it with 600 talents of fine gold. \n\t\t\t The gold nails weighed 50 shekels; he also plated the upper areas with gold.\n\t\t\t In the most holy place he made two images of cherubim and plated them with gold.\n\t\t\t The combined wing span of the cherubs was 30 feet. One of the first cherub's wings was seven and one-half feet long and touched one wall of the temple; its other wing was also seven and one-half feet long and touched one of the second cherub's wings.\n\t\t\t Likewise one of the second cherub's wings was seven and one-half feet long and touched the other wall of the temple; its other wing was also seven and one-half feet long and touched one of the first cherub's wings.\n\t\t\t The combined wingspan of these cherubim was 30 feet. They stood upright, facing inward.\n\t\t\t He made the curtain out of violet, purple, crimson, and white fabrics, and embroidered on it decorative cherubim.\n\t\t\t In front of the temple he made two pillars which had a combined length of 52, feet, with each having a plated capital seven and one-half feet high.\n\t\t\t He made ornamental chains and put them on top of the pillars. He also made one hundred pomegranate-shaped ornaments and arranged them within the chains. \n\t\t\t He set up the pillars in front of the temple, one on the right side and the other on the left. He named the one on the right Jachin, and the one on the left Boaz.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t He made a bronze altar, 30 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 15 feet high. \n\t\t\t He also made the big bronze basin called \"The Sea.\" It measured 15 feet from rim to rim, was circular in shape, and stood seven and one-half feet high. Its circumference was 45 feet.\n\t\t\t Images of bulls were under it all the way around, ten every eighteen inches all the way around. The bulls were in two rows and had been cast with \"The Sea.\" \n\t\t\t \"The Sea\" stood on top of twelve bulls. Three faced northward, three westward, three southward, and three eastward. \"The Sea\" was placed on top of them, and they all faced outward.\n\t\t\t It was four fingers thick and its rim was like that of a cup shaped like a lily blossom. It could hold 18,000 gallons.\n\t\t\t He made ten washing basins; he put five on the south side and five on the north side. In them they rinsed the items used for burnt sacrifices; the priests washed in \"The Sea.\"\n\t\t\t He made ten gold lampstands according to specifications and put them in the temple, five on the right and five on the left.\n\t\t\t He made ten tables and set them in the temple, five on the right and five on the left. He also made one hundred gold bowls.\n\t\t\t He made the courtyard of the priests and the large enclosure and its doors; he plated their doors with bronze. \n\t\t\t He put \"The Sea\" on the south side, in the southeast corner.\n\t\t\t Huram Abi made the pots, shovels, and bowls. He finished all the work on God's temple he had been assigned by King Solomon.\n\t\t\t He made the two pillars, the two bowl-shaped tops of the pillars, the latticework for the bowl-shaped tops of the two pillars, \n\t\t\t the four hundred pomegranate-shaped ornaments for the latticework of the two pillars (each latticework had two rows of these ornaments at the bowl-shaped top of the pillar),\n\t\t\t the ten movable stands with their ten basins, \n\t\t\t the big bronze basin called \"The Sea\" with its twelve bulls underneath,\n\t\t\t and the pots, shovels, and meat forks. All the items King Solomon assigned Huram Abi to make for the LORD's temple were made from polished bronze. \n\t\t\t The king had them cast in earthen foundries in the region of the Jordan between Succoth and Zarethan. \n\t\t\t Solomon made so many of these items they did not weigh the bronze.\n\t\t\t Solomon also made these items for God's temple: the gold altar, the tables on which the Bread of the Presence was kept, \n\t\t\t the pure gold lampstands and their lamps which burned as specified at the entrance to the inner sanctuary,\n\t\t\t the pure gold flower-shaped ornaments, lamps, and tongs,\n\t\t\t the pure gold trimming shears, basins, pans, and censers, and the gold door sockets for the inner sanctuary (the most holy place) and for the doors of the main hall of the temple.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t When Solomon had finished constructing the LORD's temple, he put the holy items that belonged to his father David (the silver, gold, and all the other articles) in the treasuries of God's temple.\n\t\t\t Then Solomon convened Israel's elders, all the leaders of the Israelite tribes and families, in Jerusalem, so they could witness the transferal of the ark of the covenant of the LORD from the City of David (that is, Zion).\n\t\t\t All the men of Israel assembled before the king during the festival in the seventh month.\n\t\t\t When all Israel's elders had arrived, the Levites lifted the ark.\n\t\t\t The priests and Levites carried the ark, the tent where God appeared to his people, and all the holy items in the tent.\n\t\t\t Now King Solomon and all the Israelites who had assembled with him went on ahead of the ark and sacrificed more sheep and cattle than could be counted or numbered.\n\t\t\t The priests brought the ark of the covenant of the LORD to its assigned place in the inner sanctuary of the temple, in the most holy place under the wings of the cherubs. \n\t\t\t The cherubs' wings extended over the place where the ark sat; the cherubs overshadowed the ark and its poles.\n\t\t\t The poles were so long their ends extending out from the ark were visible from in front of the inner sanctuary, but they could not be seen from beyond that point. They have remained there to this very day. \n\t\t\t There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets Moses had placed there in Horeb. (It was there that the LORD made an agreement with the Israelites after he brought them out of the land of Egypt.)\n\t\t\t The priests left the holy place. All the priests who participated had consecrated themselves, no matter which division they represented.\n\t\t\t All the Levites who were musicians, including Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun, and their sons and relatives, wore linen. They played cymbals and stringed instruments as they stood east of the altar. They were accompanied by 120 priests who blew trumpets.\n\t\t\t The trumpeters and musicians played together, praising and giving thanks to the LORD. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and other instruments, they loudly praised the LORD, singing: \"Certainly he is good; certainly his loyal love endures!\" Then a cloud filled the LORD's temple.\n\t\t\t The priests could not carry out their duties because of the cloud; the LORD's splendor filled God's temple.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then Solomon said, \"The LORD has said that he lives in thick darkness.\n\t\t\t O LORD, I have built a lofty temple for you, a place where you can live permanently.\" \n\t\t\t Then the king turned around and pronounced a blessing over the whole Israelite assembly as they stood there.\n\t\t\t He said, \"The LORD God of Israel is worthy of praise because he has fulfilled what he promised my father David. \n\t\t\t He told David, 'Since the day I brought my people out of the land of Egypt, I have not chosen a city from all the tribes of Israel to build a temple in which to live. Nor did I choose a man as leader of my people Israel. \n\t\t\t But now I have chosen Jerusalem as a place to live, and I have chosen David to lead my people Israel.' \n\t\t\t Now my father David had a strong desire to build a temple to honor the LORD God of Israel.\n\t\t\t The LORD told my father David, 'It is right for you to have a strong desire to build a temple to honor me.\n\t\t\t But you will not build the temple; your very own son will build the temple for my honor.'\n\t\t\t The LORD has kept the promise he made. I have taken my father David's place and have occupied the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised. I have built this temple for the honor of the LORD God of Israel\n\t\t\t and set up in it a place for the ark containing the covenant the LORD made with the Israelites.\"\n\t\t\t He stood before the altar of the LORD in front of the entire assembly of Israel and spread out his hands.\n\t\t\t Solomon had made a bronze platform and had placed it in the middle of the enclosure. It was seven and one-half feet long, seven and one-half feet wide, and four and one-half feet high. He stood on it and then got down on his knees in front of the entire assembly of Israel. He spread out his hands toward the sky, \n\t\t\t and prayed: \"O LORD God of Israel, there is no god like you in heaven or on earth! You maintain covenantal loyalty to your servants who obey you with sincerity.\n\t\t\t You have kept your word to your servant, my father David; this very day you have fulfilled what you promised.\n\t\t\t Now, O LORD God of Israel, keep the promise you made to your servant, my father David, when you said, 'You will never fail to have a successor ruling before me on the throne of Israel, provided that your descendants watch their step and obey my law as you have done.'\n\t\t\t Now, O LORD God of Israel, may the promise you made to your servant David be realized.\n\t\t\t \"God does not really live with humankind on the earth! Look, if the sky and the highest heaven cannot contain you, how much less this temple I have built! \n\t\t\t But respond favorably to your servant's prayer and his request for help, O LORD my God. Answer the desperate prayer your servant is presenting to you.\n\t\t\t Night and day may you watch over this temple, the place where you promised you would live. May you answer your servant's prayer for this place.\n\t\t\t Respond to the requests of your servant and your people Israel for this place. Hear from your heavenly dwelling place and respond favorably and forgive.\n\t\t\t \"When someone is accused of sinning against his neighbor and the latter pronounces a curse on the alleged offender before your altar in this temple,\n\t\t\t listen from heaven and make a just decision about your servants' claims. Condemn the guilty party, declare the other innocent, and give both of them what they deserve.\n\t\t\t \"If your people Israel are defeated by an enemy because they sinned against you, then if they come back to you, renew their allegiance to you, and pray for your help before you in this temple, \n\t\t\t then listen from heaven, forgive the sin of your people Israel, and bring them back to the land you gave to them and their ancestors.\n\t\t\t \"The time will come when the skies are shut up tightly and no rain falls because your people sinned against you. When they direct their prayers toward this place, renew their allegiance to you, and turn away from their sin because you punish them, \n\t\t\t then listen from heaven and forgive the sin of your servants, your people Israel. Certainly you will then teach them the right way to live and send rain on your land that you have given your people to possess.\n\t\t\t \"The time will come when the land suffers from a famine, a plague, blight, and disease, or a locust invasion, or when their enemy lays siege to the cities of the land, or when some other type of plague or epidemic occurs. \n\t\t\t When all your people Israel pray and ask for help, as they acknowledge their intense pain and spread out their hands toward this temple, \n\t\t\t then listen from your heavenly dwelling place, forgive their sin, and act favorably toward each one based on your evaluation of their motives. (Indeed you are the only one who can correctly evaluate the motives of all people.)\n\t\t\t Then they will honor you by obeying you throughout their lifetimes as they live on the land you gave to our ancestors.\n\t\t\t \"Foreigners, who do not belong to your people Israel, will come from a distant land because of your great reputation and your ability to accomplish mighty deeds; they will come and direct their prayers toward this temple. \n\t\t\t Then listen from your heavenly dwelling place and answer all the prayers of the foreigners. Then all the nations of the earth will acknowledge your reputation, obey you like your people Israel do, and recognize that this temple I built belongs to you.\n\t\t\t \"When you direct your people to march out and fight their enemies, and they direct their prayers to you toward this chosen city and this temple I built for your honor,\n\t\t\t then listen from heaven to their prayers for help and vindicate them.\n\t\t\t \"The time will come when your people will sin against you (for there is no one who is sinless!) and you will be angry at them and deliver them over to their enemies, who will take them as prisoners to their land, whether far away or close by. \n\t\t\t When your people come to their senses in the land where they are held prisoner, they will repent and beg for your mercy in the land of their imprisonment, admitting, 'We have sinned and gone astray, we have done evil!'\n\t\t\t When they return to you with all their heart and being in the land where they are held prisoner and direct their prayers toward the land you gave to their ancestors, your chosen city, and the temple I built for your honor,\n\t\t\t then listen from your heavenly dwelling place to their prayers for help, vindicate them, and forgive your sinful people.\n\t\t\t \"Now, my God, may you be attentive and responsive to the prayers offered in this place.\n\t\t\t Now ascend, O LORD God, to your resting place, you and the ark of your strength! May your priests, O LORD God, experience your deliverance! May your loyal followers rejoice in the prosperity you give!\n\t\t\t O LORD God, do not reject your chosen ones! Remember the faithful promises you made to your servant David!\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the LORD's splendor filled the temple. \n\t\t\t The priests were unable to enter the LORD's temple because the LORD's splendor filled the LORD's temple.\n\t\t\t When all the Israelites saw the fire come down and the LORD's splendor over the temple, they got on their knees with their faces downward toward the pavement. They worshiped and gave thanks to the LORD, saying, \"Certainly he is good; certainly his loyal love endures!\"\n\t\t\t The king and all the people were presenting sacrifices to the LORD.\n\t\t\t King Solomon sacrificed 22,000 cattle and 120,000 sheep. Then the king and all the people dedicated God's temple.\n\t\t\t The priests stood in their assigned spots, along with the Levites who had the musical instruments used for praising the LORD. (These were the ones King David made for giving thanks to the LORD and which were used by David when he offered praise, saying, \"Certainly his loyal love endures.\") Opposite the Levites, the priests were blowing the trumpets, while all Israel stood there. \n\t\t\t Solomon consecrated the middle of the courtyard that is in front of the LORD's temple. He offered burnt sacrifices, grain offerings, and the fat from the peace offerings there, because the bronze altar that Solomon had made was too small to hold all these offerings.\n\t\t\t At that time Solomon and all Israel with him celebrated a festival for seven days. This great assembly included people from Lebo Hamath in the north to the Brook of Egypt in the south.\n\t\t\t On the eighth day they held an assembly, for they had dedicated the altar for seven days and celebrated the festival for seven more days.\n\t\t\t On the twenty-third day of the seventh month, Solomon sent the people home. They left happy and contented because of the good the LORD had done for David, Solomon, and his people Israel.\n\t\t\t After Solomon finished building the LORD's temple and the royal palace, and accomplished all his plans for the LORD's temple and his royal palace,\n\t\t\t the LORD appeared to Solomon at night and said to him: \"I have answered your prayer and chosen this place to be my temple where sacrifices are to be made.\n\t\t\t When I close up the sky so that it doesn't rain, or command locusts to devour the land's vegetation, or send a plague among my people, \n\t\t\t if my people, who belong to me, humble themselves, pray, seek to please me, and repudiate their sinful practices, then I will respond from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.\n\t\t\t Now I will be attentive and responsive to the prayers offered in this place.\n\t\t\t Now I have chosen and consecrated this temple by making it my permanent home; I will be constantly present there.\n\t\t\t You must serve me as your father David did. Do everything I commanded and obey my rules and regulations.\n\t\t\t Then I will establish your dynasty, just as I promised your father David, 'You will not fail to have a successor ruling over Israel.'\n\t\t\t \"But if you people ever turn away from me, fail to obey the regulations and rules I instructed you to keep, and decide to serve and worship other gods,\n\t\t\t then I will remove you from my land I have given you, I will abandon this temple I have consecrated with my presence, and I will make you an object of mockery and ridicule among all the nations. \n\t\t\t As for this temple, which was once majestic, everyone who passes by it will be shocked and say, 'Why did the LORD do this to this land and this temple?' \n\t\t\t Others will then answer, 'Because they abandoned the LORD God of their ancestors, who led them out of Egypt. They embraced other gods whom they worshiped and served. That is why he brought all this disaster down on them.'\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t After twenty years, during which Solomon built the LORD's temple and his royal palace,\n\t\t\t Solomon rebuilt the cities that Huram had given him and settled Israelites there. \n\t\t\t Solomon went to Hamath Zobah and seized it.\n\t\t\t He built up Tadmor in the wilderness and all the storage cities he had built in Hamath.\n\t\t\t He made upper Beth Horon and lower Beth Horon fortified cities with walls and barred gates,\n\t\t\t and built up Baalath, all the storage cities that belonged to him, and all the cities where chariots and horses were kept. He built whatever he wanted in Jerusalem, Lebanon, and throughout his entire kingdom.\n\t\t\t Now several non-Israelite peoples were left in the land after the conquest of Joshua, including the Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.\n\t\t\t Their descendants remained in the land (the Israelites were unable to wipe them out). Solomon conscripted them for his work crews and they continue in that role to this very day.\n\t\t\t Solomon did not assign Israelites to these work crews; the Israelites served as his soldiers, officers, charioteers, and commanders of his chariot forces.\n\t\t\t These men worked for Solomon as supervisors; there were a total of 250 of them who were in charge of the people.\n\t\t\t Solomon moved Pharaoh's daughter up from the City of David to the palace he had built for her, for he said, \"My wife must not live in the palace of King David of Israel, for the places where the ark of the LORD has entered are holy.\"\n\t\t\t Then Solomon offered burnt sacrifices to the LORD on the altar of the LORD which he had built in front of the temple's porch.\n\t\t\t He observed the daily requirements for sacrifices that Moses had specified for Sabbaths, new moon festivals, and the three annual celebrations, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks, and the Feast of Temporary Shelters.\n\t\t\t As his father David had decreed, Solomon appointed the divisions of the priests to do their assigned tasks, the Levitical orders to lead worship and help the priests with their daily tasks, and the divisions of the gatekeepers to serve at their assigned gates. This was what David the man of God had ordered.\n\t\t\t They did not neglect any detail of the king's orders pertaining to the priests, Levites, and treasuries.\n\t\t\t All the work ordered by Solomon was completed, from the day the foundation of the LORD's temple was laid until it was finished; the LORD's temple was completed.\n\t\t\t Then Solomon went to Ezion Geber and to Elat on the coast in the land of Edom.\n\t\t\t Huram sent him ships and some of his sailors, men who were well acquainted with the sea. They sailed with Solomon's men to Ophir, and took from there 450 talents of gold, which they brought back to King Solomon.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t When the queen of Sheba heard about Solomon, she came to challenge him with difficult questions. She arrived in Jerusalem with a great display of pomp, bringing with her camels carrying spices, a very large quantity of gold, and precious gems. She visited Solomon and discussed with him everything that was on her mind. \n\t\t\t Solomon answered all her questions; there was no question too complex for the king.\n\t\t\t When the queen of Sheba saw for herself Solomon's extensive wisdom, the palace he had built, \n\t\t\t the food in his banquet hall, his servants and attendants in their robes, his cupbearers in their robes, and his burnt sacrifices which he presented in the LORD's temple, she was amazed.\n\t\t\t She said to the king, \"The report I heard in my own country about your wise sayings and insight was true! \n\t\t\t I did not believe these things until I came and saw them with my own eyes. Indeed, I didn't hear even half the story! Your wisdom surpasses what was reported to me. \n\t\t\t Your attendants, who stand before you at all times and hear your wise sayings, are truly happy!\n\t\t\t May the LORD your God be praised because he favored you by placing you on his throne as the one ruling on his behalf! Because of your God's love for Israel and his lasting commitment to them, he made you king over them so you could make just and right decisions.\"\n\t\t\t She gave the king 120 talents of gold and a very large quantity of spices and precious gems. The quantity of spices the queen of Sheba gave King Solomon has never been matched.\n\t\t\t (Huram's servants, aided by Solomon's servants, brought gold from Ophir, as well as fine timber and precious gems. \n\t\t\t With the timber the king made steps for the LORD's temple and royal palace as well as stringed instruments for the musicians. No one had seen anything like them in the land of Judah prior to that.)\n\t\t\t King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba everything she requested, more than what she had brought him. Then she left and returned to her homeland with her attendants.\n\t\t\t Solomon received 666 talents of gold per year,\n\t\t\t besides what he collected from the merchants and traders. All the Arabian kings and the governors of the land also brought gold and silver to Solomon. \n\t\t\t King Solomon made two hundred large shields of hammered gold; 600 measures of hammered gold were used for each shield. \n\t\t\t He also made three hundred small shields of hammered gold; 300 measures of gold were used for each of those shields. The king placed them in the Palace of the Lebanon Forest.\n\t\t\t The king made a large throne decorated with ivory and overlaid it with pure gold.\n\t\t\t There were six steps leading up to the throne, and a gold footstool was attached to the throne. The throne had two armrests with a statue of a lion standing on each side.\n\t\t\t There were twelve statues of lions on the six steps, one lion at each end of each step. There was nothing like it in any other kingdom.\n\t\t\t All of King Solomon's cups were made of gold, and all the household items in the Palace of the Lebanon Forest were made of pure gold. There were no silver items, for silver was not considered very valuable in Solomon's time.\n\t\t\t The king had a fleet of large merchant ships manned by Huram's men that sailed the sea. Once every three years the fleet came into port with cargoes of gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks.\n\t\t\t King Solomon was wealthier and wiser than any of the kings of the earth.\n\t\t\t All the kings of the earth wanted to visit Solomon to see him display his God-given wisdom.\n\t\t\t Year after year visitors brought their gifts, which included items of silver, items of gold, clothes, perfume, spices, horses, and mules.\n\t\t\t Solomon had 4,000 stalls for his chariot horses and 12,000 horses. He kept them in assigned cities and in Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t He ruled all the kingdoms from the Euphrates River to the land of the Philistines as far as the border of Egypt. \n\t\t\t The king made silver as plentiful in Jerusalem as stones; cedar was as plentiful as sycamore fig trees are in the lowlands.\n\t\t\t Solomon acquired horses from Egypt and from all the lands.\n\t\t\t The rest of the events of Solomon's reign, from start to finish, are recorded in the Annals of Nathan the Prophet, the Prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and the Vision of Iddo the Seer pertaining to Jeroboam son of Nebat.\n\t\t\t Solomon ruled over all Israel from Jerusalem for forty years.\n\t\t\t Then Solomon passed away and was buried in the city of his father David. His son Rehoboam replaced him as king.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Rehoboam traveled to Shechem, for all Israel had gathered in Shechem to make Rehoboam king. \n\t\t\t When Jeroboam son of Nebat heard the news, he was still in Egypt, where he had fled from King Solomon. Jeroboam returned from Egypt.\n\t\t\t They sent for him and Jeroboam and all Israel came and spoke to Rehoboam, saying, \n\t\t\t \"Your father made us work too hard! Now if you lighten the demands he made and don't make us work as hard, we will serve you.\"\n\t\t\t He said to them, \"Go away for three days, then return to me.\" So the people went away.\n\t\t\t King Rehoboam consulted with the older advisers who had served his father Solomon when he had been alive. He asked them, \"How do you advise me to answer these people?\" \n\t\t\t They said to him, \"If you are fair to these people, grant their request, and are cordial to them, they will be your servants from this time forward.\"\n\t\t\t But Rehoboam rejected their advice and consulted the young advisers who served him, with whom he had grown up.\n\t\t\t He asked them, \"How do you advise me to respond to these people who said to me, 'Lessen the demands your father placed on us'?\"\n\t\t\t The young advisers with whom Rehoboam had grown up said to him, \"Say this to these people who have said to you, 'Your father made us work hard, but now lighten our burden', say this to them: 'I am a lot harsher than my father!\n\t\t\t My father imposed heavy demands on you; I will make them even heavier. My father punished you with ordinary whips; I will punish you with whips that really sting your flesh.'\"\n\t\t\t Jeroboam and all the people reported to Rehoboam on the third day, just as the king had ordered when he said, \"Return to me on the third day.\"\n\t\t\t The king responded to the people harshly. He rejected the advice of the older men \n\t\t\t and followed the advice of the younger ones. He said, \"My father imposed heavy demands on you; I will make them even heavier. My father punished you with ordinary whips; I will punish you with whips that really sting your flesh.\"\n\t\t\t The king refused to listen to the people, because God was instigating this turn of events so that he might bring to pass the prophetic announcement he had made through Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam son of Nebat.\n\t\t\t When all Israel saw that the king refused to listen to them, the people answered the king, \"We have no portion in David, no share in the son of Jesse! Return to your homes, O Israel! Now, look after your own dynasty, O David!\" So all Israel returned to their homes.\n\t\t\t (Rehoboam continued to rule over the Israelites who lived in the cities of Judah.)\n\t\t\t King Rehoboam sent Hadoram, the supervisor of the work crews, out after them, but the Israelites stoned him to death. King Rehoboam managed to jump into his chariot and escape to Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t So Israel has been in rebellion against the Davidic dynasty to this very day.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t When Rehoboam arrived in Jerusalem, he summoned 180,000 skilled warriors from Judah and Benjamin to attack Israel and restore the kingdom to Rehoboam. \n\t\t\t But the LORD told Shemaiah the prophet,\n\t\t\t \"Say this to King Rehoboam son of Solomon of Judah and to all the Israelites in Judah and Benjamin,\n\t\t\t 'The LORD says this: \"Do not attack and make war with your brothers. Each of you go home, for I have caused this to happen.\"'\" They obeyed the LORD and called off the attack against Jeroboam.\n\t\t\t Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem; he built up these fortified cities throughout Judah: \n\t\t\t Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa, \n\t\t\t Beth Zur, Soco, Adullam,\n\t\t\t Gath, Mareshah, Ziph,\n\t\t\t Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah,\n\t\t\t Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron. These were the fortified cities in Judah and Benjamin.\n\t\t\t He fortified these cities and placed officers in them, as well as storehouses of food, olive oil, and wine.\n\t\t\t In each city there were shields and spears; he strongly fortified them. Judah and Benjamin belonged to him.\n\t\t\t The priests and Levites who lived throughout Israel supported him, no matter where they resided.\n\t\t\t The Levites even left their pasturelands and their property behind and came to Judah and Jerusalem, for Jeroboam and his sons prohibited them from serving as the LORD's priests.\n\t\t\t Jeroboam appointed his own priests to serve at the worship centers and to lead in the worship of the goat idols and calf idols he had made.\n\t\t\t Those among all the Israelite tribes who were determined to worship the LORD God of Israel followed them to Jerusalem to sacrifice to the LORD God of their ancestors.\n\t\t\t They supported the kingdom of Judah and were loyal to Rehoboam son of Solomon for three years; they followed the edicts of David and Solomon for three years.\n\t\t\t Rehoboam married Mahalath the daughter of David's son Jerimoth and of Abihail, the daughter of Jesse's son Eliab. \n\t\t\t She bore him sons named Jeush, Shemariah, and Zaham.\n\t\t\t He later married Maacah the daughter of Absalom. She bore to him Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith.\n\t\t\t Rehoboam loved Maacah daughter of Absalom more than his other wives and concubines. He had eighteen wives and sixty concubines; he fathered twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters.\n\t\t\t Rehoboam appointed Abijah son of Maacah as the leader over his brothers, for he intended to name him his successor.\n\t\t\t He wisely placed some of his many sons throughout the regions of Judah and Benjamin in the various fortified cities. He supplied them with abundant provisions and acquired many wives for them.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t After Rehoboam's rule was established and solidified, he and all Israel rejected the law of the LORD.\n\t\t\t Because they were unfaithful to the LORD, in King Rehoboam's fifth year, King Shishak of Egypt attacked Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t He had 1,200 chariots, 60,000 horsemen, and an innumerable number of soldiers who accompanied him from Egypt, including Libyans, Sukkites, and Cushites.\n\t\t\t He captured the fortified cities of Judah and marched against Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t Shemaiah the prophet visited Rehoboam and the leaders of Judah who were assembled in Jerusalem because of Shishak. He said to them, \"This is what the LORD says: 'You have rejected me, so I have rejected you and will hand you over to Shishak.'\"\n\t\t\t The leaders of Israel and the king humbled themselves and said, \"The LORD is just.\"\n\t\t\t When the LORD saw that they humbled themselves, he gave this message to Shemaiah: \"They have humbled themselves, so I will not destroy them. I will deliver them soon. My anger will not be unleashed against Jerusalem through Shishak. \n\t\t\t Yet they will become his subjects, so they can experience how serving me differs from serving the surrounding nations.\"\n\t\t\t King Shishak of Egypt attacked Jerusalem and took away the treasures of the LORD's temple and of the royal palace; he took everything, including the gold shields that Solomon had made.\n\t\t\t King Rehoboam made bronze shields to replace them and assigned them to the officers of the royal guard who protected the entrance to the royal palace. \n\t\t\t Whenever the king visited the LORD's temple, the royal guards carried them and then brought them back to the guardroom.\n\t\t\t So when Rehoboam humbled himself, the LORD relented from his anger and did not annihilate him; Judah experienced some good things.\n\t\t\t King Rehoboam solidified his rule in Jerusalem; he was forty-one years old when he became king and he ruled for seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city the LORD chose from all the tribes of Israel to be his home. Rehoboam's mother was an Ammonite named Naamah. \n\t\t\t He did evil because he was not determined to follow the LORD.\n\t\t\t The events of Rehoboam's reign, from start to finish, are recorded in the Annals of Shemaiah the prophet and of Iddo the seer that include genealogical records. \n\t\t\t Then Rehoboam passed away and was buried in the City of David. His son Abijah replaced him as king.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t In the eighteenth year of the reign of King Jeroboam, Abijah became king over Judah.\n\t\t\t He ruled for three years in Jerusalem. His mother was Michaiah, the daughter of Uriel from Gibeah. There was war between Abijah and Jeroboam.\n\t\t\t Abijah launched the attack with 400,000 well-trained warriors, while Jeroboam deployed against him 800,000 well-trained warriors.\n\t\t\t Abijah ascended Mount Zemaraim, in the Ephraimite hill country, and said: \"Listen to me, Jeroboam and all Israel!\n\t\t\t Don't you realize that the LORD God of Israel has given David and his dynasty lasting dominion over Israel by a formal agreement?\n\t\t\t Jeroboam son of Nebat, a servant of Solomon son of David, rose up and rebelled against his master.\n\t\t\t Lawless good-for-nothing men gathered around him and conspired against Rehoboam son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was an inexperienced young man and could not resist them. \n\t\t\t Now you are declaring that you will resist the LORD's rule through the Davidic dynasty. You have a huge army, and bring with you the gold calves that Jeroboam made for you as gods. \n\t\t\t But you banished the LORD's priests, Aaron's descendants, and the Levites, and appointed your own priests just as the surrounding nations do! Anyone who comes to consecrate himself with a young bull or seven rams becomes a priest of these fake gods!\n\t\t\t But as for us, the LORD is our God and we have not rejected him. Aaron's descendants serve as the LORD's priests and the Levites assist them with the work.\n\t\t\t They offer burnt sacrifices to the LORD every morning and every evening, along with fragrant incense. They arrange the Bread of the Presence on a ritually clean table and light the lamps on the gold lampstand every evening. Certainly we are observing the LORD our God's regulations, but you have rejected him. \n\t\t\t Now look, God is with us as our leader. His priests are ready to blow the trumpets to signal the attack against you. You Israelites, don't fight against the LORD God of your ancestors, for you will not win!\"\n\t\t\t Now Jeroboam had sent some men to ambush the Judahite army from behind. The main army was in front of the Judahite army; the ambushers were behind it. \n\t\t\t The men of Judah turned around and realized they were being attacked from the front and the rear. So they cried out for help to the LORD. The priests blew their trumpets, \n\t\t\t and the men of Judah gave the battle cry. As the men of Judah gave the battle cry, the LORD struck down Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah. \n\t\t\t The Israelites fled from before the Judahite army, and God handed them over to the men of Judah.\n\t\t\t Abijah and his army thoroughly defeated them; 500,000 well-trained Israelite men fell dead.\n\t\t\t That day the Israelites were defeated; the men of Judah prevailed because they relied on the LORD God of their ancestors.\n\t\t\t Abijah chased Jeroboam; he seized from him these cities: Bethel and its surrounding towns, Jeshanah and its surrounding towns, and Ephron and its surrounding towns. \n\t\t\t Jeroboam did not regain power during the reign of Abijah. The LORD struck him down and he died. \n\t\t\t Abijah's power grew; he had fourteen wives and fathered twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters.\n\t\t\t The rest of the events of Abijah's reign, including his deeds and sayings, are recorded in the writings of the prophet Iddo.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Abijah passed away and was buried in the City of David. His son Asa replaced him as king. During his reign the land had rest for ten years.\n\t\t\t Asa did what the LORD his God desired and approved.\n\t\t\t He removed the pagan altars and the high places, smashed the sacred pillars, and cut down the Asherah poles.\n\t\t\t He ordered Judah to seek the LORD God of their ancestors and to observe his law and commands.\n\t\t\t He removed the high places and the incense altars from all the cities of Judah. The kingdom had rest under his rule.\n\t\t\t He built fortified cities throughout Judah, for the land was at rest and there was no war during those years; the LORD gave him peace.\n\t\t\t He said to the people of Judah: \"Let's build these cities and fortify them with walls, towers, and barred gates. The land remains ours because we have followed the LORD our God and he has made us secure on all sides.\" So they built the cities and prospered.\n\t\t\t Asa had an army of 300,000 men from Judah, equipped with large shields and spears. He also had 280,000 men from Benjamin who carried small shields and were adept archers; they were all skilled warriors.\n\t\t\t Zerah the Cushite marched against them with an army of 1,000,000 men and 300 chariots. He arrived at Mareshah, \n\t\t\t and Asa went out to oppose him. They deployed for battle in the Valley of Zephathah near Mareshah.\n\t\t\t Asa prayed to the LORD his God: \"O LORD, there is no one but you who can help the weak when they are vastly outnumbered. Help us, O LORD our God, for we rely on you and have marched on your behalf against this huge army. O LORD our God, don't let men prevail against you!\"\n\t\t\t The LORD struck down the Cushites before Asa and Judah. The Cushites fled,\n\t\t\t and Asa and his army chased them as far as Gerar. The Cushites were wiped out; they were shattered before the LORD and his army. The men of Judah carried off a huge amount of plunder. \n\t\t\t They defeated all the cities surrounding Gerar, for the LORD caused them to panic. The men of Judah looted all the cities, for they contained a huge amount of goods.\n\t\t\t They also attacked the tents of the herdsmen in charge of the livestock. They carried off many sheep and camels and then returned to Jerusalem.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t God's Spirit came upon Azariah son of Oded.\n\t\t\t He met Asa and told him, \"Listen to me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin! The LORD is with you when you are loyal to him. If you seek him, he will respond to you, but if you reject him, he will reject you. \n\t\t\t For a long time Israel had no true God, or priest to instruct them, or law. \n\t\t\t Because of their distress, they turned back to the LORD God of Israel. They sought him and he responded to them.\n\t\t\t In those days no one could travel safely, for total chaos had overtaken all the people of the surrounding lands.\n\t\t\t One nation was crushed by another, and one city by another, for God caused them to be in great turmoil.\n\t\t\t But as for you, be strong and don't get discouraged, for your work will be rewarded.\"\n\t\t\t When Asa heard these words and the prophecy of Oded the prophet, he was encouraged. He removed the detestable idols from the entire land of Judah and Benjamin and from the cities he had seized in the Ephraimite hill country. He repaired the altar of the LORD in front of the porch of the LORD's temple.\n\t\t\t He assembled all Judah and Benjamin, as well as the settlers from Ephraim, Manasseh, and Simeon who had come to live with them. Many people from Israel had come there to live when they saw that the LORD his God was with him. \n\t\t\t They assembled in Jerusalem in the third month of the fifteenth year of Asa's reign.\n\t\t\t At that time they sacrificed to the LORD some of the plunder they had brought back, including 700 head of cattle and 7,000 sheep.\n\t\t\t They solemnly agreed to seek the LORD God of their ancestors with their whole heart and being. \n\t\t\t Anyone who would not seek the LORD God of Israel would be executed, whether they were young or old, male or female. \n\t\t\t They swore their allegiance to the LORD, shouting their approval loudly and sounding trumpets and horns.\n\t\t\t All Judah was happy about the oath, because they made the vow with their whole heart. They willingly sought the LORD and he responded to them. He made them secure on every side.\n\t\t\t King Asa also removed Maacah his grandmother from her position as queen mother because she had made a loathsome Asherah pole. Asa cut down her Asherah pole and crushed and burned it in the Kidron Valley. \n\t\t\t The high places were not eliminated from Israel, yet Asa was wholeheartedly devoted to the LORD throughout his lifetime.\n\t\t\t He brought the holy items that his father and he had made into God's temple, including the silver, gold, and other articles.\n\t\t\t There was no more war until the thirty-fifth year of Asa's reign.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t In the thirty-sixth year of Asa's reign, King Baasha of Israel attacked Judah, and he established Ramah as a military outpost to prevent anyone from leaving or entering the land of King Asa of Judah.\n\t\t\t Asa took all the silver and gold that was left in the treasuries of the LORD's temple and of the royal palace and sent it to King Ben Hadad of Syria, ruler in Damascus, along with this message:\n\t\t\t \"I want to make a treaty with you, like the one our fathers made. See, I have sent you silver and gold. Break your treaty with King Baasha of Israel, so he will retreat from my land.\"\n\t\t\t Ben Hadad accepted King Asa's offer and ordered his army commanders to attack the cities of Israel. They conquered Ijon, Dan, Abel Maim, and all the storage cities of Naphtali. \n\t\t\t When Baasha heard the news, he stopped fortifying Ramah and abandoned the project.\n\t\t\t King Asa ordered all the men of Judah to carry away the stones and wood that Baasha had used to build Ramah. He used the materials to build up Geba and Mizpah.\n\t\t\t At that time Hanani the prophet visited King Asa of Judah and said to him: \"Because you relied on the king of Syria and did not rely on the LORD your God, the army of the king of Syria has escaped from your hand. \n\t\t\t Did not the Cushites and Libyans have a huge army with chariots and a very large number of horsemen? But when you relied on the LORD, he handed them over to you!\n\t\t\t Certainly the LORD watches the whole earth carefully and is ready to strengthen those who are devoted to him. You have acted foolishly in this matter; from now on you will have war. \n\t\t\t Asa was so angry at the prophet, he put him in jail. Asa also oppressed some of the people at that time.\n\t\t\t The events of Asa's reign, from start to finish, are recorded in the Scroll of the Kings of Judah and Israel.\n\t\t\t In the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa developed a foot disease. Though his disease was severe, he did not seek the LORD, but only the doctors.\n\t\t\t Asa passed away in the forty-first year of his reign. \n\t\t\t He was buried in the tomb he had carved out in the City of David. They laid him to rest on a bier covered with spices and assorted mixtures of ointments. They made a huge bonfire to honor him.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t His son Jehoshaphat replaced him as king and solidified his rule over Israel.\n\t\t\t He placed troops in all of Judah's fortified cities and posted garrisons throughout the land of Judah and in the cities of Ephraim that his father Asa had seized.\n\t\t\t The LORD was with Jehoshaphat because he followed in his ancestor David's footsteps at the beginning of his reign. He did not seek the Baals, \n\t\t\t but instead sought the God of his ancestors and obeyed his commands, unlike the Israelites.\n\t\t\t The LORD made his kingdom secure; all Judah brought tribute to Jehoshaphat, and he became very wealthy and greatly respected.\n\t\t\t He was committed to following the LORD; he even removed the high places and Asherah poles from Judah.\n\t\t\t In the third year of his reign he sent his officials Ben-Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah to teach in the cities of Judah.\n\t\t\t They were accompanied by the Levites Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tob-Adonijah, and by the priests Elishama and Jehoram.\n\t\t\t They taught throughout Judah, taking with them the scroll of the law of the LORD. They traveled to all the cities of Judah and taught the people.\n\t\t\t The LORD put fear into all the kingdoms surrounding Judah; they did not make war with Jehoshaphat. \n\t\t\t Some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat tribute, including a load of silver. The Arabs brought him 7,700 rams and 7,700 goats from their flocks.\n\t\t\t Jehoshaphat's power kept increasing. He built fortresses and storage cities throughout Judah.\n\t\t\t He had many supplies stored in the cities of Judah and an army of skilled warriors stationed in Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t These were their divisions by families: There were a thousand officers from Judah. Adnah the commander led 300,000 skilled warriors,\n\t\t\t Jehochanan the commander led 280,000,\n\t\t\t and Amasiah son of Zikri, who volunteered to serve the LORD, led 200,000 skilled warriors.\n\t\t\t From Benjamin, Eliada, a skilled warrior, led 200,000 men who were equipped with bows and shields,\n\t\t\t and Jehozabad led 180,000 trained warriors.\n\t\t\t These were the ones who served the king, besides those whom the king placed in the fortified cities throughout Judah.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Jehoshaphat was very wealthy and greatly respected. He made an alliance by marriage with Ahab,\n\t\t\t and after several years went down to visit Ahab in Samaria. Ahab slaughtered many sheep and cattle to honor Jehoshaphat and those who came with him. He persuaded him to join in an attack against Ramoth Gilead.\n\t\t\t King Ahab of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, \"Will you go with me to attack Ramoth Gilead?\" Jehoshaphat replied to the king of Israel, \"I will support you; my army is at your disposal and will support you in battle.\"\n\t\t\t Then Jehoshaphat added, \"First seek an oracle from the LORD.\"\n\t\t\t So the king of Israel assembled 400 prophets and asked them, \"Should we attack Ramoth Gilead or not?\" They said, \"Attack! God will hand it over to the king.\" \n\t\t\t But Jehoshaphat asked, \"Is there not a prophet of the LORD still here, that we may ask him?\"\n\t\t\t The king of Israel answered Jehoshaphat, \"There is still one man through whom we can seek the LORD's will. But I despise him because he does not prophesy prosperity for me, but always disaster. His name is Micaiah son of Imlah. Jehoshaphat said, \"The king should not say such things!\" \n\t\t\t The king of Israel summoned an officer and said, \"Quickly bring Micaiah son of Imlah.\"\n\t\t\t Now the king of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah were sitting on their respective thrones, dressed in their royal robes, at the threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria. All the prophets were prophesying before them. \n\t\t\t Zedekiah son of Kenaanah made iron horns and said, \"This is what the LORD says, 'With these you will gore Syria until they are destroyed!'\"\n\t\t\t All the prophets were prophesying the same, saying, \"Attack Ramoth Gilead! You will succeed; the LORD will hand it over to the king!\"\n\t\t\t Now the messenger who went to summon Micaiah said to him, \"Look, the prophets are in complete agreement that the king will succeed. Your words must agree with theirs; you must predict success!\"\n\t\t\t But Micaiah said, \"As certainly as the LORD lives, I will say what my God tells me to say!\"\n\t\t\t Micaiah came before the king and the king asked him, \"Micaiah, should we attack Ramoth Gilead or not?\" He answered him, \"Attack! You will succeed; they will be handed over to you.\"\n\t\t\t The king said to him, \"How many times must I make you solemnly promise in the name of the LORD to tell me only the truth?\" \n\t\t\t Micaiah replied, \"I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains like sheep that have no shepherd. Then the LORD said, 'They have no master. They should go home in peace.'\" \n\t\t\t The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, \"Didn't I tell you he does not prophesy prosperity for me, but disaster?\"\n\t\t\t Micaiah said, \"That being the case, hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, with all the heavenly assembly standing on his right and on his left. \n\t\t\t The LORD said, 'Who will deceive King Ahab of Israel, so he will attack Ramoth Gilead and die there?' One said this and another that.\n\t\t\t Then a spirit stepped forward and stood before the LORD. He said, 'I will deceive him.' The LORD asked him, 'How?' \n\t\t\t He replied, 'I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouths of all his prophets.' The LORD said, 'Deceive and overpower him. Go out and do as you have proposed.' \n\t\t\t So now, look, the LORD has placed a lying spirit in the mouths of all these prophets of yours; but the LORD has decreed disaster for you.\"\n\t\t\t Zedekiah son of Kenaanah approached, hit Micaiah on the jaw, and said, \"Which way did the LORD's spirit go when he went from me to speak to you?\"\n\t\t\t Micaiah replied, \"Look, you will see in the day when you go into an inner room to hide.\"\n\t\t\t Then the king of Israel said, \"Take Micaiah and return him to Amon the city official and Joash the king's son.\n\t\t\t Say, 'This is what the king says: \"Put this man in prison. Give him only a little bread and water until I return safely.\"'\" \n\t\t\t Micaiah said, \"If you really do return safely, then the LORD has not spoken through me!\" Then he added, \"Take note, all you people.\"\n\t\t\t The king of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah attacked Ramoth Gilead.\n\t\t\t The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, \"I will disguise myself and then enter the battle; but you wear your royal attire.\" So the king of Israel disguised himself and they entered the battle.\n\t\t\t Now the king of Syria had ordered his chariot commanders, \"Do not fight common soldiers or high ranking officers; fight only the king of Israel!\" \n\t\t\t When the chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat, they said, \"He must be the king of Israel!\" So they turned and attacked him, but Jehoshaphat cried out. The LORD helped him; God lured them away from him.\n\t\t\t When the chariot commanders realized he was not the king of Israel, they turned away from him.\n\t\t\t Now an archer shot an arrow at random and it struck the king of Israel between the plates of his armor. The king ordered his charioteer, \"Turn around and take me from the battle line, for I am wounded.\" \n\t\t\t While the battle raged throughout the day, the king stood propped up in his chariot opposite the Syrians. He died in the evening as the sun was setting.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t When King Jehoshaphat of Judah returned home safely to Jerusalem,\n\t\t\t the prophet Jehu son of Hanani confronted him; he said to King Jehoshaphat, \"Is it right to help the wicked and be an ally of those who oppose the LORD? Because you have done this the LORD is angry with you!\n\t\t\t Nevertheless you have done some good things; you removed the Asherah poles from the land and you were determined to follow the LORD.\"\n\t\t\t Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem. He went out among the people from Beer Sheba to the hill country of Ephraim and encouraged them to follow the LORD God of their ancestors.\n\t\t\t He appointed judges throughout the land and in each of the fortified cities of Judah.\n\t\t\t He told the judges, \"Be careful what you do, for you are not judging for men, but for the LORD, who will be with you when you make judicial decisions. \n\t\t\t Respect the LORD and make careful decisions, for the LORD our God disapproves of injustice, partiality, and bribery.\"\n\t\t\t In Jerusalem Jehoshaphat appointed some Levites, priests, and Israelite family leaders to judge on behalf of the LORD and to settle disputes among the residents of Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t He commanded them: \"Carry out your duties with respect for the LORD, with honesty, and with pure motives.\n\t\t\t Whenever your countrymen who live in the cities bring a case before you (whether it involves a violent crime or other matters related to the law, commandments, rules, and regulations), warn them that they must not sin against the LORD. If you fail to do so, God will be angry with you and your colleagues; but if you obey, you will be free of guilt.\n\t\t\t You will report to Amariah the chief priest in all matters pertaining to the LORD's law, and to Zebadiah son of Ishmael, the leader of the family of Judah, in all matters pertaining to the king. The Levites will serve as officials before you. Confidently carry out your duties! May the LORD be with those who do well!\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Later the Moabites and Ammonites, along with some of the Meunites, attacked Jehoshaphat. \n\t\t\t Messengers arrived and reported to Jehoshaphat, \"A huge army is attacking you from the other side of the Dead Sea, from the direction of Edom. Look, they are in Hazezon Tamar (that is, En Gedi).\" \n\t\t\t Jehoshaphat was afraid, so he decided to seek the LORD's advice. He decreed that all Judah should observe a fast. \n\t\t\t The people of Judah assembled to ask for the LORD's help; they came from all the cities of Judah to ask for the LORD's help.\n\t\t\t Jehoshaphat stood before the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem at the LORD's temple, in front of the new courtyard. \n\t\t\t He prayed: \"O LORD God of our ancestors, you are the God who lives in heaven and rules over all the kingdoms of the nations. You possess strength and power; no one can stand against you. \n\t\t\t Our God, you drove out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and gave it as a permanent possession to the descendants of your friend Abraham. \n\t\t\t They settled down in it and built in it a temple to honor you, saying, \n\t\t\t 'If disaster comes on us in the form of military attack, judgment, plague, or famine, we will stand in front of this temple before you, for you are present in this temple. We will cry out to you for help in our distress, so that you will hear and deliver us.' \n\t\t\t Now the Ammonites, Moabites, and men from Mount Seir are coming! When Israel came from the land of Egypt, you did not allow them to invade these lands. They bypassed them and did not destroy them. \n\t\t\t Look how they are repaying us! They come to drive us out of our allotted land which you assigned to us!\n\t\t\t Our God, will you not judge them? For we are powerless against this huge army that attacks us! We don't know what we should do; we look to you for help.\"\n\t\t\t All the men of Judah were standing before the LORD, along with their infants, wives, and children. \n\t\t\t Then in the midst of the assembly, the LORD's Spirit came upon Jachaziel son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite and descendant of Asaph.\n\t\t\t He said: \"Pay attention, all you people of Judah, residents of Jerusalem, and King Jehoshaphat! This is what the LORD says to you: 'Don't be afraid and don't panic because of this huge army! For the battle is not yours, but God's. \n\t\t\t Tomorrow march down against them as they come up the Ascent of Ziz. You will find them at the end of the ravine in front of the Desert of Jeruel. \n\t\t\t You will not fight in this battle. Take your positions, stand, and watch the LORD deliver you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Don't be afraid and don't panic! Tomorrow march out toward them; the LORD is with you!'\"\n\t\t\t Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face toward the ground, and all the people of Judah and the residents of Jerusalem fell down before the LORD and worshiped him.\n\t\t\t Then some Levites, from the Kohathites and Korahites, got up and loudly praised the LORD God of Israel.\n\t\t\t Early the next morning they marched out to the Desert of Tekoa. When they were ready to march, Jehoshaphat stood up and said: \"Listen to me, you people of Judah and residents of Jerusalem! Trust in the LORD your God and you will be safe! Trust in the message of his prophets and you will win.\" \n\t\t\t He met with the people and appointed musicians to play before the LORD and praise his majestic splendor. As they marched ahead of the warriors they said: \"Give thanks to the LORD, for his loyal love endures.\"\n\t\t\t When they began to shout and praise, the LORD suddenly attacked the Ammonites, Moabites, and men from Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated. \n\t\t\t The Ammonites and Moabites attacked the men from Mount Seir and annihilated them. When they had finished off the men of Seir, they attacked and destroyed one another.\n\t\t\t When the men of Judah arrived at the observation post overlooking the desert and looked at the huge army, they saw dead bodies on the ground; there were no survivors!\n\t\t\t Jehoshaphat and his men went to gather the plunder; they found a huge amount of supplies, clothing and valuable items. They carried away everything they could. There was so much plunder, it took them three days to haul it off.\n\t\t\t On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Berachah, where they praised the LORD. So that place is called the Valley of Berachah to this very day. \n\t\t\t Then all the men of Judah and Jerusalem returned joyfully to Jerusalem with Jehoshaphat leading them; the LORD had given them reason to rejoice over their enemies.\n\t\t\t They entered Jerusalem to the sound of stringed instruments and trumpets and proceeded to the temple of the LORD.\n\t\t\t All the kingdoms of the surrounding lands were afraid of God when they heard how the LORD had fought against Israel's enemies. \n\t\t\t Jehoshaphat's kingdom enjoyed peace; his God made him secure on every side.\n\t\t\t Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he became king and he reigned for twenty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother was Azubah, the daughter of Shilhi. \n\t\t\t He followed in his father Asa's footsteps and was careful to do what the LORD approved.\n\t\t\t However, the high places were not eliminated; the people were still not devoted to the God of their ancestors.\n\t\t\t The rest of the events of Jehoshaphat's reign, from start to finish, are recorded in the Annals of Jehu son of Hanani which are included in Scroll of the Kings of Israel.\n\t\t\t Later King Jehoshaphat of Judah made an alliance with King Ahaziah of Israel, who did evil. \n\t\t\t They agreed to make large seagoing merchant ships; they built the ships in Ezion Geber. \n\t\t\t Eliezer son of Dodavahu from Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, \"Because you made an alliance with Ahaziah, the LORD will shatter what you have made.\" The ships were wrecked and unable to go to sea.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Jehoshaphat passed away and was buried with his ancestors in the City of David. His son Jehoram replaced him as king.\n\t\t\t His brothers, Jehoshaphat's sons, were Azariah, Jechiel, Zechariah, Azariahu, Michael, and Shephatiah. All of these were sons of King Jehoshaphat of Israel.\n\t\t\t Their father gave them many presents, including silver, gold, and other precious items, along with fortified cities in Judah. But he gave the kingdom to Jehoram because he was the firstborn.\n\t\t\t Jehoram took control of his father's kingdom and became powerful. Then he killed all his brothers, as well as some of the officials of Israel. \n\t\t\t Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king and he reigned for eight years in Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t He followed in the footsteps of the kings of Israel, just as Ahab's dynasty had done, for he married Ahab's daughter. He did evil in the sight of the LORD. \n\t\t\t But the LORD was unwilling to destroy David's dynasty because of the promise he had made to give David a perpetual dynasty.\n\t\t\t During Jehoram's reign Edom freed themselves from Judah's control and set up their own king.\n\t\t\t Jehoram crossed over to Zair with his officers and all his chariots. The Edomites, who had surrounded him, attacked at night and defeated him and his chariot officers.\n\t\t\t So Edom has remained free from Judah's control to this very day. At that same time Libnah also rebelled and freed themselves from Judah's control because Jehoram rejected the LORD God of his ancestors.\n\t\t\t He also built high places on the hills of Judah; he encouraged the residents of Jerusalem to be unfaithful to the LORD and led Judah away from the LORD.\n\t\t\t Jehoram received this letter from Elijah the prophet: \"This is what the LORD God of your ancestor David says: 'You have not followed in the footsteps of your father Jehoshaphat and of King Asa of Judah,\n\t\t\t but have instead followed in the footsteps of the kings of Israel. You encouraged the people of Judah and the residents of Jerusalem to be unfaithful to the LORD, just as the family of Ahab does in Israel. You also killed your brothers, members of your father's family, who were better than you. \n\t\t\t So look, the LORD is about to severely afflict your people, your sons, your wives, and all you own. \n\t\t\t And you will get a serious, chronic intestinal disease which will cause your intestines to come out.\"\n\t\t\t The LORD stirred up against Jehoram the Philistines and the Arabs who lived beside the Cushites. \n\t\t\t They attacked Judah and swept through it. They carried off everything they found in the royal palace, including his sons and wives. None of his sons was left, except for his youngest, Ahaziah. \n\t\t\t After all this happened, the LORD afflicted him with an incurable intestinal disease.\n\t\t\t After about two years his intestines came out because of the disease, so that he died a very painful death. His people did not make a bonfire to honor him, as they had done for his ancestors.\n\t\t\t Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. No one regretted his death; he was buried in the City of David, but not in the royal tombs.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The residents of Jerusalem made his youngest son Ahaziah king in his place, for the raiding party that invaded the city with the Arabs had killed all the older sons. So Ahaziah son of Jehoram became king of Judah. \n\t\t\t Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he became king and he reigned for one year in Jerusalem. His mother was Athaliah, the granddaughter of Omri. \n\t\t\t He followed in the footsteps of Ahab's dynasty, for his mother gave him evil advice.\n\t\t\t He did evil in the sight of the LORD like Ahab's dynasty because, after his father's death, they gave him advice that led to his destruction. \n\t\t\t He followed their advice and joined Ahab's son King Joram of Israel in a battle against King Hazael of Syria at Ramoth Gilead in which the Syrians defeated Joram.\n\t\t\t Joram returned to Jezreel to recover from the wounds he received from the Syrians in Ramah when he fought against King Hazael of Syria. Ahaziah son of King Jehoram of Judah went down to visit Joram son of Ahab in Jezreel, because he had been wounded.\n\t\t\t God brought about Ahaziah's downfall through his visit to Joram. When Ahaziah arrived, he went out with Joram to meet Jehu son of Nimshi, whom the LORD had commissioned to wipe out Ahab's family.\n\t\t\t While Jehu was dishing out punishment to Ahab's family, he discovered the officials of Judah and the sons of Ahaziah's relatives who were serving Ahaziah and killed them.\n\t\t\t He looked for Ahaziah, who was captured while hiding in Samaria. They brought him to Jehu and then executed him. They did give him a burial, for they reasoned, \"He is the son of Jehoshaphat, who sought the LORD with his whole heart.\" There was no one in Ahaziah's family strong enough to rule in his place.\n\t\t\t When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she was determined to destroy the entire royal line of Judah.\n\t\t\t So Jehoshabeath, the daughter of King Jehoram, took Ahaziah's son Joash and sneaked him away from the rest of the royal descendants who were to be executed. She hid him and his nurse in the room where the bed covers were stored. So Jehoshabeath the daughter of King Jehoram, wife of Jehoiada the priest and sister of Ahaziah, hid him from Athaliah so she could not execute him. \n\t\t\t He remained in hiding in God's temple for six years, while Athaliah was ruling over the land.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t In the seventh year Jehoiada made a bold move. He made a pact with the officers of the units of hundreds: Azariah son of Jehoram, Ishmael son of Jehochanan, Azariah son of Obed, Maaseiah son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat son of Zikri. \n\t\t\t They traveled throughout Judah and assembled the Levites from all the cities of Judah, as well as the Israelite family leaders. They came to Jerusalem,\n\t\t\t and the whole assembly made a covenant with the king in the temple of God. Jehoiada said to them, \"The king's son will rule, just as the LORD promised David's descendants. \n\t\t\t This is what you must do. One third of you priests and Levites who are on duty during the Sabbath will guard the doors.\n\t\t\t Another third of you will be stationed at the royal palace and still another third at the Foundation Gate. All the others will stand in the courtyards of the LORD's temple. \n\t\t\t No one must enter the LORD's temple except the priests and Levites who are on duty. They may enter because they are ceremonially pure. All the others should carry out their assigned service to the LORD.\n\t\t\t The Levites must surround the king. Each of you must hold his weapon in his hand. Whoever tries to enter the temple must be killed. You must accompany the king wherever he goes.\"\n\t\t\t The Levites and all the men of Judah did just as Jehoiada the priest ordered. Each of them took his men, those who were on duty during the Sabbath as well as those who were off duty on the Sabbath. Jehoiada the priest did not release his divisions from their duties. \n\t\t\t Jehoiada the priest gave to the officers of the units of hundreds King David's spears and shields that were kept in God's temple. \n\t\t\t He placed the men at their posts, each holding his weapon in his hand. They lined up from the south side of the temple to the north side and stood near the altar and the temple, surrounding the king.\n\t\t\t Jehoiada and his sons led out the king's son and placed on him the crown and the royal insignia. They proclaimed him king and poured olive oil on his head. They declared, \"Long live the king!\"\n\t\t\t When Athaliah heard the royal guard shouting and praising the king, she joined the crowd at the LORD's temple. \n\t\t\t Then she saw the king standing by his pillar at the entrance. The officers and trumpeters stood beside the king and all the people of the land were celebrating and blowing trumpets, and the musicians with various instruments were leading the celebration. Athaliah tore her clothes and yelled, \"Treason! Treason!\"\n\t\t\t Jehoiada the priest sent out the officers of the units of hundreds, who were in charge of the army, and ordered them, \"Bring her outside the temple to the guards. Put the sword to anyone who follows her.\" The priest gave this order because he had decided she should not be executed in the LORD's temple.\n\t\t\t They seized her and took her into the precincts of the royal palace through the horses' entrance. There they executed her.\n\t\t\t Jehoiada then drew up a covenant stipulating that he, all the people, and the king should be loyal to the LORD.\n\t\t\t All the people went and demolished the temple of Baal. They smashed its altars and idols. They killed Mattan the priest of Baal in front of the altars. \n\t\t\t Jehoiada then assigned the duties of the LORD's temple to the priests, the Levites whom David had assigned to the LORD's temple. They were responsible for offering burnt sacrifices to the LORD with joy and music, according to the law of Moses and the edict of David. \n\t\t\t He posted guards at the gates of the LORD's temple, so no one who was ceremonially unclean in any way could enter.\n\t\t\t He summoned the officers of the units of hundreds, the nobles, the rulers of the people, and all the people of land, and he then led the king down from the LORD's temple. They entered the royal palace through the Upper Gate and seated the king on the royal throne. \n\t\t\t All the people of the land celebrated, for the city had rest now that they had killed Athaliah.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Joash was seven years old when he began to reign. He reigned for forty years in Jerusalem. His mother was Zibiah, who was from Beer Sheba. \n\t\t\t Joash did what the LORD approved throughout the lifetime of Jehoiada the priest. \n\t\t\t Jehoiada chose two wives for him who gave him sons and daughters.\n\t\t\t Joash was determined to repair the LORD's temple.\n\t\t\t He assembled the priests and Levites and ordered them, \"Go out to the cities of Judah and collect the annual quota of silver from all Israel for repairs on the temple of your God. Be quick about it!\" But the Levites delayed.\n\t\t\t So the king summoned Jehoiada the chief priest, and said to him, \"Why have you not made the Levites collect from Judah and Jerusalem the tax authorized by Moses the LORD's servant and by the assembly of Israel at the tent containing the tablets of the law?\"\n\t\t\t (Wicked Athaliah and her sons had broken into God's temple and used all the holy items of the LORD's temple in their worship of the Baals.)\n\t\t\t The king ordered a chest to be made and placed outside the gate of the LORD's temple.\n\t\t\t An edict was sent throughout Judah and Jerusalem requiring the people to bring to the LORD the tax that Moses, God's servant, imposed on Israel in the wilderness.\n\t\t\t All the officials and all the people gladly brought their silver and threw it into the chest until it was full.\n\t\t\t Whenever the Levites brought the chest to the royal accountant and they saw there was a lot of silver, the royal scribe and the accountant of the high priest emptied the chest and then took it back to its place. They went through this routine every day and collected a large amount of silver.\n\t\t\t The king and Jehoiada gave it to the construction foremen assigned to the LORD's temple. They hired carpenters and craftsmen to repair the LORD's temple, as well as those skilled in working with iron and bronze to restore the LORD's temple. \n\t\t\t They worked hard and made the repairs. They followed the measurements specified for God's temple and restored it.\n\t\t\t When they were finished, they brought the rest of the silver to the king and Jehoiada. They used it to make items for the LORD's temple, including items used in the temple service and for burnt sacrifices, pans, and various other gold and silver items. Throughout Jehoiada's lifetime, burnt sacrifices were offered regularly in the LORD's temple.\n\t\t\t Jehoiada grew old and died at the age of 130.\n\t\t\t He was buried in the City of David with the kings, because he had accomplished good in Israel and for God and his temple.\n\t\t\t After Jehoiada died, the officials of Judah visited the king and declared their loyalty to him. The king listened to their advice.\n\t\t\t They abandoned the temple of the LORD God of their ancestors, and worshiped the Asherah poles and idols. Because of this sinful activity, God was angry with Judah and Jerusalem. \n\t\t\t The LORD sent prophets among them to lead them back to him. They warned the people, but they would not pay attention. \n\t\t\t God's Spirit energized Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest. He stood up before the people and said to them, \"This is what God says: 'Why are you violating the commands of the LORD? You will not be prosperous! Because you have rejected the LORD, he has rejected you!'\" \n\t\t\t They plotted against him and by royal decree stoned him to death in the courtyard of the LORD's temple.\n\t\t\t King Joash disregarded the loyalty his father Jehoiada had shown him and killed Jehoiada's son. As Zechariah was dying, he said, \"May the LORD take notice and seek vengeance!\"\n\t\t\t At the beginning of the year the Syrian army attacked Joash and invaded Judah and Jerusalem. They wiped out all the leaders of the people and sent all the plunder they gathered to the king of Damascus. \n\t\t\t Even though the invading Syrian army was relatively weak, the LORD handed over to them Judah's very large army, for the people of Judah had abandoned the LORD God of their ancestors. The Syrians gave Joash what he deserved.\n\t\t\t When they withdrew, they left Joash badly wounded. His servants plotted against him because of what he had done to the son of Jehoiada the priest. They murdered him on his bed. Thus he died and was buried in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings. \n\t\t\t The conspirators were Zabad son of Shimeath (an Ammonite woman) and Jehozabad son of Shimrith (a Moabite woman).\n\t\t\t The list of Joash's sons, the many prophetic oracles pertaining to him, and the account of his building project on God's temple are included in the record of the Scroll of the Kings. His son Amaziah replaced him as king.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned for twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother was Jehoaddan, who was from Jerusalem. \n\t\t\t He did what the LORD approved, but not with wholehearted devotion.\n\t\t\t When he had secured control of the kingdom, he executed the servants who had assassinated his father.\n\t\t\t However, he did not execute their sons. He obeyed the LORD's commandment as recorded in the law scroll of Moses, \"Fathers must not be executed for what their sons do, and sons must not be executed for what their fathers do. A man must be executed only for his own sin.\"\n\t\t\t Amaziah assembled the people of Judah and assigned them by families to the commanders of units of a thousand and the commanders of units of a hundred for all Judah and Benjamin. He counted those twenty years old and up and discovered there were 300,000 young men of fighting age equipped with spears and shields.\n\t\t\t He hired 100,000 Israelite warriors for a hundred talents of silver.\n\t\t\t But a prophet visited him and said: \"O king, the Israelite troops must not go with you, for the LORD is not with Israel or any of the Ephraimites.\n\t\t\t Even if you go and fight bravely in battle, God will defeat you before the enemy. God is capable of helping or defeating.\"\n\t\t\t Amaziah asked the prophet: \"But what should I do about the hundred talents of silver I paid the Israelite troops?\" The prophet replied, \"The LORD is capable of giving you more than that.\" \n\t\t\t So Amaziah dismissed the troops that had come to him from Ephraim and sent them home. They were very angry at Judah and returned home incensed. \n\t\t\t Amaziah boldly led his army to the Valley of Salt, where he defeated 10,000 Edomites.\n\t\t\t The men of Judah captured 10,000 men alive. They took them to the top of a cliff and threw them over. All the captives fell to their death.\n\t\t\t Now the troops Amaziah had dismissed and had not allowed to fight in the battle raided the cities of Judah from Samaria to Beth Horon. They killed 3,000 people and carried off a large amount of plunder.\n\t\t\t When Amaziah returned from defeating the Edomites, he brought back the gods of the people of Seir and made them his personal gods. He bowed down before them and offered them sacrifices. \n\t\t\t The LORD was angry at Amaziah and sent a prophet to him, who said, \"Why are you following these gods that could not deliver their own people from your power?\"\n\t\t\t While he was speaking, Amaziah said to him, \"Did we appoint you to be a royal counselor? Stop prophesying or else you will be killed!\" So the prophet stopped, but added, \"I know that the LORD has decided to destroy you, because you have done this thing and refused to listen to my advice.\"\n\t\t\t After King Amaziah of Judah consulted with his advisers, he sent this message to the king of Israel, Joash son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, \"Come, face me on the battlefield.\"\n\t\t\t King Joash of Israel sent this message back to King Amaziah of Judah, \"A thorn bush in Lebanon sent this message to a cedar in Lebanon, 'Give your daughter to my son as a wife.' Then a wild animal of Lebanon came by and trampled down the thorn bush.\n\t\t\t You defeated Edom and it has gone to your head. Gloat over your success, but stay in your palace. Why bring calamity on yourself? Why bring down yourself and Judah along with you?\"\n\t\t\t But Amaziah did not heed the warning, for God wanted to hand them over to Joash because they followed the gods of Edom.\n\t\t\t So King Joash of Israel attacked. He and King Amaziah of Judah faced each other on the battlefield in Beth Shemesh of Judah. \n\t\t\t Judah was defeated by Israel, and each man ran back home.\n\t\t\t King Joash of Israel captured King Amaziah of Judah, son of Joash son of Jehoahaz, in Beth Shemesh and brought him to Jerusalem. He broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the Gate of Ephraim to the Corner Gate, a distance of about six hundred feet.\n\t\t\t He took away all the gold and silver, all the items found in God's temple that were in the care of Obed-Edom, the riches in the royal palace, and some hostages. Then he went back to Samaria.\n\t\t\t King Amaziah son of Joash of Judah lived for fifteen years after the death of King Joash son of Jehoahaz of Israel.\n\t\t\t The rest of the events of Amaziah's reign, from start to finish, are recorded in the Scroll of the Kings of Judah and Israel.\n\t\t\t From the time Amaziah turned from following the LORD, conspirators plotted against him in Jerusalem, so he fled to Lachish. But they sent assassins after him and they killed him there. \n\t\t\t His body was carried back by horses, and he was buried in Jerusalem with his ancestors in the City of David.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t All the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in his father Amaziah's place. \n\t\t\t Uzziah built up Elat and restored it to Judah after King Amaziah had passed away.\n\t\t\t Uzziah was sixteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned for fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jecholiah, who was from Jerusalem. \n\t\t\t He did what the LORD approved, just as his father Amaziah had done.\n\t\t\t He followed God during the lifetime of Zechariah, who taught him how to honor God. As long as he followed the LORD, God caused him to succeed.\n\t\t\t Uzziah attacked the Philistines and broke down the walls of Gath, Jabneh, and Ashdod. He built cities in the region of Ashdod and throughout Philistine territory.\n\t\t\t God helped him in his campaigns against the Philistines, the Arabs living in Gur Baal, and the Meunites. \n\t\t\t The Ammonites paid tribute to Uzziah and his fame reached the border of Egypt, for he grew in power.\n\t\t\t Uzziah built and fortified towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate, Valley Gate, and at the Angle.\n\t\t\t He built towers in the desert and dug many cisterns, for he owned many herds in the lowlands and on the plain. He had workers in the fields and vineyards in the hills and in Carmel, for he loved agriculture.\n\t\t\t Uzziah had an army of skilled warriors trained for battle. They were organized by divisions according to the muster rolls made by Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the officer under the authority of Hananiah, a royal official.\n\t\t\t The total number of family leaders who led warriors was 2,600.\n\t\t\t They commanded an army of 307,500 skilled and able warriors who were ready to defend the king against his enemies. \n\t\t\t Uzziah supplied shields, spears, helmets, breastplates, bows, and slingstones for the entire army.\n\t\t\t In Jerusalem he made war machines carefully designed to shoot arrows and large stones from the towers and corners of the walls. He became very famous, for he received tremendous support and became powerful.\n\t\t\t But once he became powerful, his pride destroyed him. He disobeyed the LORD his God. He entered the LORD's temple to offer incense on the incense altar. \n\t\t\t Azariah the priest and eighty other brave priests of the LORD followed him in.\n\t\t\t They confronted King Uzziah and said to him, \"It is not proper for you, Uzziah, to offer incense to the LORD. That is the responsibility of the priests, the descendants of Aaron, who are consecrated to offer incense. Leave the sanctuary, for you have disobeyed and the LORD God will not honor you!\" \n\t\t\t Uzziah, who had an incense censer in his hand, became angry. While he was ranting and raving at the priests, a skin disease appeared on his forehead right there in front of the priests in the LORD's temple near the incense altar. \n\t\t\t When Azariah the high priest and the other priests looked at him, there was a skin disease on his forehead. They hurried him out of there; even the king himself wanted to leave quickly because the LORD had afflicted him. \n\t\t\t King Uzziah suffered from a skin disease until the day he died. He lived in separate quarters, afflicted by a skin disease and banned from the LORD's temple. His son Jotham was in charge of the palace and ruled over the people of the land.\n\t\t\t The rest of the events of Uzziah's reign, from start to finish, were recorded by the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz.\n\t\t\t Uzziah passed away and was buried near his ancestors in a cemetery belonging to the kings. (This was because he had a skin disease.) His son Jotham replaced him as king.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Jotham was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned for sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother was Jerusha the daughter of Zadok. \n\t\t\t He did what the LORD approved, just as his father Uzziah had done. (He did not, however, have the audacity to enter the temple.) Yet the people were still sinning.\n\t\t\t He built the Upper Gate to the LORD's temple and did a lot of work on the wall in the area known as Ophel.\n\t\t\t He built cities in the hill country of Judah and fortresses and towers in the forests.\n\t\t\t He launched a military campaign against the king of the Ammonites and defeated them. That year the Ammonites paid him 100 talents of silver, 10,000 kors of wheat, and 10,000 kors of barley. The Ammonites also paid this same amount of annual tribute the next two years.\n\t\t\t Jotham grew powerful because he was determined to please the LORD his God.\n\t\t\t The rest of the events of Jotham's reign, including all his military campaigns and his accomplishments, are recorded in the scroll of the kings of Israel and Judah.\n\t\t\t He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned for sixteen years in Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t Jotham passed away and was buried in the City of David. His son Ahaz replaced him as king.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned for sixteen years in Jerusalem. He did not do what pleased the LORD, in contrast to his ancestor David.\n\t\t\t He followed in the footsteps of the kings of Israel; he also made images of the Baals. \n\t\t\t He offered sacrifices in the Valley of Ben-Hinnom and passed his sons through the fire, a horrible sin practiced by the nations whom the LORD drove out before the Israelites. \n\t\t\t He offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places, on the hills, and under every green tree.\n\t\t\t The LORD his God handed him over to the king of Syria. The Syrians defeated him and deported many captives to Damascus. He was also handed over to the king of Israel, who thoroughly defeated him.\n\t\t\t In one day King Pekah son of Remaliah of Israel killed 120,000 warriors in Judah, because they had abandoned the LORD God of their ancestors.\n\t\t\t Zikri, an Ephraimite warrior, killed the king's son Maaseiah, Azrikam, the supervisor of the palace, and Elkanah, the king's second-in-command.\n\t\t\t The Israelites seized from their brothers 200,000 wives, sons, and daughters. They also carried off a huge amount of plunder and took it back to Samaria.\n\t\t\t Oded, a prophet of the LORD, was there. He went to meet the army as they arrived in Samaria and said to them: \"Look, because the LORD God of your ancestors was angry with Judah he handed them over to you. You have killed them so mercilessly that God has taken notice.\n\t\t\t And now you are planning to enslave the people of Judah and Jerusalem. Yet are you not also guilty before the LORD your God? \n\t\t\t Now listen to me! Send back those you have seized from your brothers, for the LORD is very angry at you!\"\n\t\t\t So some of the Ephraimite family leaders, Azariah son of Jehochanan, Berechiah son of Meshillemoth, Jechizkiah son of Shallum, and Amasa son of Hadlai confronted those returning from the battle. \n\t\t\t They said to them, \"Don't bring those captives here! Are you planning on making us even more sinful and guilty before the LORD? Our guilt is already great and the LORD is very angry at Israel.\"\n\t\t\t So the soldiers released the captives and the plunder before the officials and the entire assembly.\n\t\t\t Men were assigned to take the prisoners and find clothes among the plunder for those who were naked. So they clothed them, supplied them with sandals, gave them food and drink, and provided them with oil to rub on their skin. They put the ones who couldn't walk on donkeys. They brought them back to their brothers at Jericho, the city of the date palm trees, and then returned to Samaria.\n\t\t\t At that time King Ahaz asked the king of Assyria for help. \n\t\t\t The Edomites had again invaded and defeated Judah and carried off captives.\n\t\t\t The Philistines had raided the cities of Judah in the lowlands and the Negev. They captured and settled in Beth Shemesh, Aijalon, Gederoth, Soco and its surrounding villages, Timnah and its surrounding villages, and Gimzo and its surrounding villages. \n\t\t\t The LORD humiliated Judah because of King Ahaz of Israel, for he encouraged Judah to sin and was very unfaithful to the LORD. \n\t\t\t King Tiglath-pileser of Assyria came, but he gave him more trouble than support.\n\t\t\t Ahaz gathered riches from the LORD's temple, the royal palace, and the officials and gave them to the king of Assyria, but that did not help.\n\t\t\t During his time of trouble King Ahaz was even more unfaithful to the LORD.\n\t\t\t He offered sacrifices to the gods of Damascus whom he thought had defeated him. He reasoned, \"Since the gods of the kings of Damascus helped them, I will sacrifice to them so they will help me.\" But they caused him and all Israel to stumble. \n\t\t\t Ahaz gathered the items in God's temple and removed them. He shut the doors of the LORD's temple and erected altars on every street corner in Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t In every city throughout Judah he set up high places to offer sacrifices to other gods. He angered the LORD God of his ancestors.\n\t\t\t The rest of the events of Ahaz's reign, including his accomplishments from start to finish, are recorded in the Scroll of the Kings of Judah and Israel.\n\t\t\t Ahaz passed away and was buried in the City of David; they did not bring him to the tombs of the kings of Israel. His son Hezekiah replaced him as king.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Hezekiah was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah. \n\t\t\t He did what the LORD approved, just as his ancestor David had done.\n\t\t\t In the first month of the first year of his reign, he opened the doors of the LORD's temple and repaired them.\n\t\t\t He brought in the priests and Levites and assembled them in the square on the east side.\n\t\t\t He said to them: \"Listen to me, you Levites! Now consecrate yourselves, so you can consecrate the temple of the LORD God of your ancestors! Remove from the sanctuary what is ceremonially unclean! \n\t\t\t For our fathers were unfaithful; they did what is evil in the sight of the LORD our God and abandoned him! They turned away from the LORD's dwelling place and rejected him.\n\t\t\t They closed the doors of the temple porch and put out the lamps; they did not offer incense or burnt sacrifices in the sanctuary of the God of Israel.\n\t\t\t The LORD was angry at Judah and Jerusalem and made them an appalling object of horror at which people hiss out their scorn, as you can see with your own eyes. \n\t\t\t Look, our fathers died violently and our sons, daughters, and wives were carried off because of this. \n\t\t\t Now I intend to make a covenant with the LORD God of Israel, so that he may relent from his raging anger.\n\t\t\t My sons, do not be negligent now, for the LORD has chosen you to serve in his presence and offer sacrifices.\"\n\t\t\t The following Levites prepared to carry out the king's orders: From the Kohathites: Mahath son of Amasai and Joel son of Azariah; from the Merarites: Kish son of Abdi and Azariah son of Jehallelel; from the Gershonites: Joah son of Zimmah and Eden son of Joah;\n\t\t\t from the descendants of Elizaphan: Shimri and Jeiel; from the descendants of Asaph: Zechariah and Mattaniah;\n\t\t\t from the descendants of Heman: Jehiel and Shimei; from the descendants of Jeduthun: Shemaiah and Uzziel.\n\t\t\t They assembled their brothers and consecrated themselves. Then they went in to purify the LORD's temple, just as the king had ordered, in accordance with the word of the LORD. \n\t\t\t The priests then entered the LORD's temple to purify it; they brought out to the courtyard of the LORD's temple every ceremonially unclean thing they discovered inside. The Levites took them out to the Kidron Valley.\n\t\t\t On the first day of the first month they began consecrating; by the eighth day of the month they reached the porch of the LORD's temple. For eight more days they consecrated the LORD's temple. On the sixteenth day of the first month they were finished. \n\t\t\t They went to King Hezekiah and said: \"We have purified the entire temple of the LORD, including the altar of burnt sacrifice and all its equipment, and the table for the Bread of the Presence and all its equipment.\n\t\t\t We have prepared and consecrated all the items that King Ahaz removed during his reign when he acted unfaithfully. They are in front of the altar of the LORD.\"\n\t\t\t Early the next morning King Hezekiah assembled the city officials and went up to the LORD's temple.\n\t\t\t They brought seven bulls, seven rams, seven lambs, and seven goats as a sin offering for the kingdom, the sanctuary, and Judah. The king told the priests, the descendants of Aaron, to offer burnt sacrifices on the altar of the LORD. \n\t\t\t They slaughtered the bulls, and the priests took the blood and splashed it on the altar. Then they slaughtered the rams and splashed the blood on the altar; next they slaughtered the lambs and splashed the blood on the altar.\n\t\t\t Finally they brought the goats for the sin offering before the king and the assembly, and they placed their hands on them.\n\t\t\t Then the priests slaughtered them. They offered their blood as a sin offering on the altar to make atonement for all Israel, because the king had decreed that the burnt sacrifice and sin offering were for all Israel.\n\t\t\t King Hezekiah stationed the Levites in the LORD's temple with cymbals and stringed instruments, just as David, Gad the king's prophet, and Nathan the prophet had ordered. (The LORD had actually given these orders through his prophets.) \n\t\t\t The Levites had David's musical instruments and the priests had trumpets. \n\t\t\t Hezekiah ordered the burnt sacrifice to be offered on the altar. As they began to offer the sacrifice, they also began to sing to the LORD, accompanied by the trumpets and the musical instruments of King David of Israel.\n\t\t\t The entire assembly worshiped, as the singers sang and the trumpeters played. They continued until the burnt sacrifice was completed.\n\t\t\t When the sacrifices were completed, the king and all who were with him bowed down and worshiped.\n\t\t\t King Hezekiah and the officials told the Levites to praise the LORD, using the psalms of David and Asaph the prophet. So they joyfully offered praise and bowed down and worshiped. \n\t\t\t Hezekiah said, \"Now you have consecrated yourselves to the LORD. Come and bring sacrifices and thank offerings to the LORD's temple.\" So the assembly brought sacrifices and thank offerings, and whoever desired to do so brought burnt sacrifices.\n\t\t\t The assembly brought a total of 70 bulls, 100 rams, and 200 lambs as burnt sacrifices to the LORD,\n\t\t\t and 600 bulls and 3,000 sheep were consecrated. \n\t\t\t But there were not enough priests to skin all the animals, so their brothers, the Levites, helped them until the work was finished and the priests could consecrate themselves. (The Levites had been more conscientious about consecrating themselves than the priests.)\n\t\t\t There was a large number of burnt sacrifices, as well as fat from the peace offerings and drink offerings that accompanied the burnt sacrifices. So the service of the LORD's temple was reinstituted.\n\t\t\t Hezekiah and all the people were happy about what God had done for them, for it had been done quickly.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Hezekiah sent messages throughout Israel and Judah; he even wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasseh, summoning them to come to the LORD's temple in Jerusalem and observe a Passover celebration for the LORD God of Israel. \n\t\t\t The king, his officials, and the entire assembly in Jerusalem decided to observe the Passover in the second month.\n\t\t\t They were unable to observe it at the regular time because not enough priests had consecrated themselves and the people had not assembled in Jerusalem. \n\t\t\t The proposal seemed appropriate to the king and the entire assembly. \n\t\t\t So they sent an edict throughout Israel from Beer Sheba to Dan, summoning the people to come and observe a Passover for the LORD God of Israel in Jerusalem, for they had not observed it on a nationwide scale as prescribed in the law.\n\t\t\t Messengers delivered the letters from the king and his officials throughout Israel and Judah. This royal edict read: \"O Israelites, return to the LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, so he may return to you who have been spared from the kings of Assyria.\n\t\t\t Don't be like your fathers and brothers who were unfaithful to the LORD God of their ancestors, provoking him to destroy them, as you can see. \n\t\t\t Now, don't be stubborn like your fathers! Submit to the LORD and come to his sanctuary which he has permanently consecrated. Serve the LORD your God so that he might relent from his raging anger.\n\t\t\t For if you return to the LORD, your brothers and sons will be shown mercy by their captors and return to this land. The LORD your God is merciful and compassionate; he will not reject you if you return to him.\"\n\t\t\t The messengers journeyed from city to city through the land of Ephraim and Manasseh as far as Zebulun, but people mocked and ridiculed them.\n\t\t\t But some men from Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t In Judah God moved the people to unite and carry out the edict the king and the officers had issued at the LORD's command.\n\t\t\t A huge crowd assembled in Jerusalem to observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread in the second month.\n\t\t\t They removed the altars in Jerusalem; they also removed all the incense altars and threw them into the Kidron Valley.\n\t\t\t They slaughtered the Passover lamb on the fourteenth day of the second month. The priests and Levites were ashamed, so they consecrated themselves and brought burnt sacrifices to the LORD's temple.\n\t\t\t They stood at their posts according to the regulations outlined in the law of Moses, the man of God. The priests were splashing the blood as the Levites handed it to them.\n\t\t\t Because many in the assembly had not consecrated themselves, the Levites slaughtered the Passover lambs of all who were ceremonially unclean and could not consecrate their sacrifice to the LORD.\n\t\t\t The majority of the many people from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun were ceremonially unclean, yet they ate the Passover in violation of what is prescribed in the law. For Hezekiah prayed for them, saying: \"May the LORD, who is good, forgive\n\t\t\t everyone who has determined to follow God, the LORD God of his ancestors, even if he is not ceremonially clean according to the standards of the temple.\"\n\t\t\t The LORD responded favorably to Hezekiah and forgave the people.\n\t\t\t The Israelites who were in Jerusalem observed the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days with great joy. The Levites and priests were praising the LORD every day with all their might.\n\t\t\t Hezekiah expressed his appreciation to all the Levites, who demonstrated great skill in serving the LORD. They feasted for the seven days of the festival, and were making peace offerings and giving thanks to the LORD God of their ancestors.\n\t\t\t The entire assembly then decided to celebrate for seven more days; so they joyfully celebrated for seven more days.\n\t\t\t King Hezekiah of Judah supplied 1,000 bulls and 7,000 sheep for the assembly, while the officials supplied them with 1,000 bulls and 10,000 sheep. Many priests consecrated themselves. \n\t\t\t The celebration included the entire assembly of Judah, the priests, the Levites, the entire assembly of those who came from Israel, the resident foreigners who came from the land of Israel, and the residents of Judah. \n\t\t\t There was a great celebration in Jerusalem, unlike anything that had occurred in Jerusalem since the time of King Solomon son of David of Israel.\n\t\t\t The priests and Levites got up and pronounced blessings on the people. The LORD responded favorably to them as their prayers reached his holy dwelling place in heaven.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t When all this was over, the Israelites who were in the cities of Judah went out and smashed the sacred pillars, cut down the Asherah poles, and demolished all the high places and altars throughout Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh. Then all the Israelites returned to their own homes in their cities.\n\t\t\t Hezekiah appointed the divisions of the priests and Levites to do their assigned tasks, to offer burnt sacrifices and present offerings and to serve, give thanks, and offer praise in the gates of the LORD's sanctuary.\n\t\t\t The king contributed some of what he owned for burnt sacrifices, including the morning and evening burnt sacrifices and the burnt sacrifices made on Sabbaths, new moon festivals, and at other appointed times prescribed in the law of the LORD. \n\t\t\t He ordered the people living in Jerusalem to contribute the portion prescribed for the priests and Levites so they might be obedient to the law of the LORD. \n\t\t\t When the edict was issued, the Israelites freely contributed the initial portion of their grain, wine, olive oil, honey, and all the produce of their fields. They brought a tenth of everything, which added up to a huge amount. \n\t\t\t The Israelites and people of Judah who lived in the cities of Judah also contributed a tenth of their cattle and sheep, as well as a tenth of the holy items consecrated to the LORD their God. They brought them and placed them in many heaps.\n\t\t\t In the third month they began piling their contributions in heaps and finished in the seventh month. \n\t\t\t When Hezekiah and the officials came and saw the heaps, they praised the LORD and pronounced blessings on his people Israel.\n\t\t\t When Hezekiah asked the priests and Levites about the heaps,\n\t\t\t Azariah, the head priest from the family of Zadok, said to him, \"Since the contributions began arriving in the LORD's temple, we have had plenty to eat and have a large quantity left over. For the LORD has blessed his people, and this large amount remains.\"\n\t\t\t Hezekiah ordered that storerooms be prepared in the LORD's temple. When this was done,\n\t\t\t they brought in the contributions, tithes, and consecrated items that had been offered. Konaniah, a Levite, was in charge of all this, assisted by his brother Shimei. \n\t\t\t Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel, Jerimoth, Jozabad, Eliel, Ismakiah, Mahath, and Benaiah worked under the supervision of Konaniah and his brother Shimei, as directed by King Hezekiah and Azariah, the supervisor of God's temple.\n\t\t\t Kore son of Imnah, a Levite and the guard on the east side, was in charge of the voluntary offerings made to God and disbursed the contributions made to the LORD and the consecrated items.\n\t\t\t In the cities of the priests, Eden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah faithfully assisted him in making disbursements to their fellow priests according to their divisions, regardless of age.\n\t\t\t They made disbursements to all the males three years old and up who were listed in the genealogical records, to all who would enter the LORD's temple to serve on a daily basis and fulfill their duties as assigned to their divisions.\n\t\t\t They made disbursements to the priests listed in the genealogical records by their families, and to the Levites twenty years old and up, according to their duties as assigned to their divisions,\n\t\t\t and to all the infants, wives, sons, and daughters of the entire assembly listed in the genealogical records, for they faithfully consecrated themselves.\n\t\t\t As for the descendants of Aaron, the priests who lived in the outskirts of all their cities, men were assigned to disburse portions to every male among the priests and to every Levite listed in the genealogical records.\n\t\t\t This is what Hezekiah did throughout Judah. He did what the LORD his God considered good and right and faithful.\n\t\t\t He wholeheartedly and successfully reinstituted service in God's temple and obedience to the law, in order to follow his God.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t After these faithful deeds were accomplished, King Sennacherib of Assyria invaded Judah. He besieged the fortified cities, intending to seize them.\n\t\t\t When Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had invaded and intended to attack Jerusalem,\n\t\t\t he consulted with his advisers and military officers about stopping up the springs outside the city, and they supported him. \n\t\t\t A large number of people gathered together and stopped up all the springs and the stream that flowed through the district. They reasoned, \"Why should the kings of Assyria come and find plenty of water?\" \n\t\t\t Hezekiah energetically rebuilt every broken wall. He erected towers and an outer wall, and fortified the terrace of the City of David. He made many weapons and shields.\n\t\t\t He appointed military officers over the army and assembled them in the square at the city gate. He encouraged them, saying, \n\t\t\t \"Be strong and brave! Don't be afraid and don't panic because of the king of Assyria and this huge army that is with him! We have with us one who is stronger than those who are with him.\n\t\t\t He has with him mere human strength, but the LORD our God is with us to help us and fight our battles!\" The army was encouraged by the words of King Hezekiah of Judah.\n\t\t\t Afterward King Sennacherib of Assyria, while attacking Lachish with all his military might, sent his messengers to Jerusalem. The message was for King Hezekiah of Judah and all the people of Judah who were in Jerusalem. It read: \n\t\t\t \"This is what King Sennacherib of Assyria says: 'Why are you so confident that you remain in Jerusalem while it is under siege?\n\t\t\t Hezekiah says, \"The LORD our God will rescue us from the power of the king of Assyria.\" But he is misleading you and you will die of hunger and thirst!\n\t\t\t Hezekiah is the one who eliminated the LORD's high places and altars and then told Judah and Jerusalem, \"At one altar you must worship and offer sacrifices.\" \n\t\t\t Are you not aware of what I and my predecessors have done to all the nations of the surrounding lands? Have the gods of the surrounding lands actually been able to rescue their lands from my power?\n\t\t\t Who among all the gods of these nations whom my predecessors annihilated was able to rescue his people from my power?\n\t\t\t Now don't let Hezekiah deceive you or mislead you like this. Don't believe him, for no god of any nation or kingdom has been able to rescue his people from my power or the power of my predecessors. So how can your gods rescue you from my power?'\"\n\t\t\t Sennacherib's servants further insulted the LORD God and his servant Hezekiah. \n\t\t\t He wrote letters mocking the LORD God of Israel and insulting him with these words: \"The gods of the surrounding nations could not rescue their people from my power. Neither can Hezekiah's god rescue his people from my power.\"\n\t\t\t They called out loudly in the Judahite dialect to the people of Jerusalem who were on the wall, trying to scare and terrify them so they could seize the city.\n\t\t\t They talked about the God of Jerusalem as if he were one of the man-made gods of the nations of the earth.\n\t\t\t King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz prayed about this and cried out to heaven.\n\t\t\t The LORD sent a messenger and he wiped out all the soldiers, princes, and officers in the army of the king of Assyria. So Sennacherib returned home humiliated. When he entered the temple of his god, some of his own sons struck him down with the sword. \n\t\t\t The LORD delivered Hezekiah and the residents of Jerusalem from the power of King Sennacherib of Assyria and from all the other nations. He made them secure on every side.\n\t\t\t Many were bringing presents to the LORD in Jerusalem and precious gifts to King Hezekiah of Judah. From that time on he was respected by all the nations.\n\t\t\t In those days Hezekiah was stricken with a terminal illness. He prayed to the LORD, who answered him and gave him a sign confirming that he would be healed.\n\t\t\t But Hezekiah was ungrateful; he had a proud attitude, provoking God to be angry at him, as well as Judah and Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t But then Hezekiah and the residents of Jerusalem humbled themselves and abandoned their pride, and the LORD was not angry with them for the rest of Hezekiah's reign.\n\t\t\t Hezekiah was very wealthy and greatly respected. He made storehouses for his silver, gold, precious stones, spices, and all his other valuable possessions.\n\t\t\t He made storerooms for the harvest of grain, wine, and olive oil, and stalls for all his various kinds of livestock and his flocks.\n\t\t\t He built royal cities and owned a large number of sheep and cattle, for God gave him a huge amount of possessions.\n\t\t\t Hezekiah dammed up the source of the waters of the Upper Gihon and directed them down to the west side of the City of David. Hezekiah succeeded in all that he did.\n\t\t\t So when the envoys arrived from the Babylonian officials to visit him and inquire about the sign that occurred in the land, God left him alone to test him, in order to know his true motives.\n\t\t\t The rest of the events of Hezekiah's reign, including his faithful deeds, are recorded in the vision of the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz, included in the Scroll of the Kings of Judah and Israel.\n\t\t\t Hezekiah passed away and was buried on the ascent of the tombs of the descendants of David. All the people of Judah and the residents of Jerusalem buried him with great honor. His son Manasseh replaced him as king.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned for fifty-five years in Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t He did evil in the sight of the LORD and committed the same horrible sins practiced by the nations whom the LORD drove out ahead of the Israelites. \n\t\t\t He rebuilt the high places that his father Hezekiah had destroyed; he set up altars for the Baals and made Asherah poles. He bowed down to all the stars in the sky and worshiped them. \n\t\t\t He built altars in the LORD's temple, about which the LORD had said, \"Jerusalem will be my permanent home.\"\n\t\t\t In the two courtyards of the LORD's temple he built altars for all the stars in the sky.\n\t\t\t He passed his sons through the fire in the Valley of Ben-Hinnom and practiced divination, omen reading, and sorcery. He set up a ritual pit to conjure up underworld spirits and appointed magicians to supervise it. He did a great amount of evil in the sight of the LORD and angered him.\n\t\t\t He put an idolatrous image he had made in God's temple, about which God had said to David and to his son Solomon, \"This temple in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, will be my permanent home.\n\t\t\t I will not make Israel again leave the land I gave to their ancestors, provided that they carefully obey all I commanded them, the whole law, the rules and regulations given to Moses.\" \n\t\t\t But Manasseh misled the people of Judah and the residents of Jerusalem so that they sinned more than the nations whom the LORD had destroyed ahead of the Israelites.\n\t\t\t The LORD confronted Manasseh and his people, but they paid no attention. \n\t\t\t So the LORD brought against them the commanders of the army of the king of Assyria. They seized Manasseh, put hooks in his nose, bound him with bronze chains, and carried him away to Babylon. \n\t\t\t In his pain Manasseh asked the LORD his God for mercy and truly humbled himself before the God of his ancestors.\n\t\t\t When he prayed to the LORD, the LORD responded to him and answered favorably his cry for mercy. The LORD brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom. Then Manasseh realized that the LORD is the true God.\n\t\t\t After this Manasseh built up the outer wall of the City of David on the west side of the Gihon in the valley to the entrance of the Fish Gate and all around the terrace; he made it much higher. He placed army officers in all the fortified cities in Judah.\n\t\t\t He removed the foreign gods and images from the LORD's temple and all the altars he had built on the hill of the LORD's temple and in Jerusalem; he threw them outside the city.\n\t\t\t He erected the altar of the LORD and offered on it peace offerings and thank offerings. He told the people of Judah to serve the LORD God of Israel. \n\t\t\t The people continued to offer sacrifices at the high places, but only to the LORD their God.\n\t\t\t The rest of the events of Manasseh's reign, including his prayer to his God and the words the prophets spoke to him in the name of the LORD God of Israel, are recorded in the Annals of the Kings of Israel. \n\t\t\t The Annals of the Prophets include his prayer, give an account of how the LORD responded to it, record all his sins and unfaithful acts, and identify the sites where he built high places and erected Asherah poles and idols before he humbled himself.\n\t\t\t Manasseh passed away and was buried in his palace. His son Amon replaced him as king.\n\t\t\t Amon was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned for two years in Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t He did evil in the sight of the LORD, just like his father Manasseh had done. He offered sacrifices to all the idols his father Manasseh had made, and worshiped them. \n\t\t\t He did not humble himself before the LORD as his father Manasseh had done. Amon was guilty of great sin.\n\t\t\t His servants conspired against him and killed him in his palace.\n\t\t\t The people of the land executed all who had conspired against King Amon, and they made his son Josiah king in his place.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned for thirty-one years in Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t He did what the LORD approved and followed in his ancestor David's footsteps; he did not deviate to the right or the left.\n\t\t\t In the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, he began to seek the God of his ancestor David. In his twelfth year he began ridding Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, Asherah poles, idols, and images. \n\t\t\t He ordered the altars of the Baals to be torn down, and broke the incense altars that were above them. He smashed the Asherah poles, idols and images, crushed them up and sprinkled the dust over the tombs of those who had sacrificed to them. \n\t\t\t He burned the bones of the pagan priests on their altars; he purified Judah and Jerusalem. \n\t\t\t In the cities of Manasseh, Ephraim, and Simeon, as far as Naphtali, and in the ruins around them, \n\t\t\t he tore down the altars and Asherah poles, demolished the idols, and smashed all the incense altars throughout the land of Israel. Then he returned to Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t In the eighteenth year of his reign, he continued his policy of purifying the land and the temple. He sent Shaphan son of Azaliah, Maaseiah the city official, and Joah son of Joahaz the secretary to repair the temple of the LORD his God. \n\t\t\t They went to Hilkiah the high priest and gave him the silver that had been brought to God's temple. The Levites who guarded the door had collected it from the people of Manasseh and Ephraim and from all who were left in Israel, as well as from all the people of Judah and Benjamin and the residents of Jerusalem. \n\t\t\t They handed it over to the construction foremen assigned to the LORD's temple. They in turn paid the temple workers to restore and repair it.\n\t\t\t They gave money to the craftsmen and builders to buy chiseled stone and wood for the braces and rafters of the buildings that the kings of Judah had allowed to fall into disrepair.\n\t\t\t The men worked faithfully. Their supervisors were Jahath and Obadiah (Levites descended from Merari), as well as Zechariah and Meshullam (descendants of Kohath). The Levites, all of whom were skilled musicians,\n\t\t\t supervised the laborers and all the foremen on their various jobs. Some of the Levites were scribes, officials, and guards.\n\t\t\t When they took out the silver that had been brought to the LORD's temple, Hilkiah the priest found the law scroll the LORD had given to Moses.\n\t\t\t Hilkiah informed Shaphan the scribe, \"I found the law scroll in the LORD's temple.\" Hilkiah gave the scroll to Shaphan.\n\t\t\t Shaphan brought the scroll to the king and reported, \"Your servants are doing everything assigned to them. \n\t\t\t They melted down the silver in the LORD's temple and handed it over to the supervisors of the construction foremen.\"\n\t\t\t Then Shaphan the scribe told the king, \"Hilkiah the priest has given me a scroll.\" Shaphan read it out loud before the king.\n\t\t\t When the king heard the words of the law scroll, he tore his clothes.\n\t\t\t The king ordered Hilkiah, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Abdon son of Micah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the king's servant, \n\t\t\t \"Go, seek an oracle from the LORD for me and those who remain in Israel and Judah. Find out about the words of this scroll that has been discovered. For the LORD's fury has been ignited against us, because our ancestors have not obeyed the word of the LORD by doing all that this scroll instructs!\"\n\t\t\t So Hilkiah and the others sent by the king went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum son of Tokhath, the son of Hasrah, the supervisor of the wardrobe. (She lived in Jerusalem in the Mishneh district.) They stated their business,\n\t\t\t and she said to them: \"This is what the LORD God of Israel says: 'Say this to the man who sent you to me:\n\t\t\t \"This is what the LORD says: 'I am about to bring disaster on this place and its residents, the details of which are recorded in the scroll which they read before the king of Judah.\n\t\t\t This will happen because they have abandoned me and offered sacrifices to other gods, angering me with all the idols they have made. My anger will ignite against this place and will not be extinguished!'\" \n\t\t\t Say this to the king of Judah, who sent you to seek an oracle from the LORD: \"This is what the LORD God of Israel says concerning the words you have heard:\n\t\t\t 'You displayed a sensitive spirit and humbled yourself before God when you heard his words concerning this place and its residents. You humbled yourself before me, tore your clothes and wept before me, and I have heard you,' says the LORD. \n\t\t\t 'Therefore I will allow you to die and be buried in peace. You will not have to witness all the disaster I will bring on this place and its residents.'\"'\" Then they reported back to the king.\n\t\t\t The king summoned all the leaders of Judah and Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t The king went up to the LORD's temple, accompanied by all the people of Judah, the residents of Jerusalem, the priests, and the Levites. All the people were there, from the oldest to the youngest. He read aloud all the words of the scroll of the covenant that had been discovered in the LORD's temple.\n\t\t\t The king stood by his pillar and renewed the covenant before the LORD, agreeing to follow the LORD and to obey his commandments, laws, and rules with all his heart and being, by carrying out the terms of this covenant recorded on this scroll. \n\t\t\t He made all who were in Jerusalem and Benjamin agree to it. The residents of Jerusalem acted in accordance with the covenant of God, the God of their ancestors. \n\t\t\t Josiah removed all the detestable idols from all the areas belonging to the Israelites and encouraged all who were in Israel to worship the LORD their God. Throughout the rest of his reign they did not turn aside from following the LORD God of their ancestors.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Josiah observed a Passover festival for the LORD in Jerusalem. They slaughtered the Passover lambs on the fourteenth day of the first month. \n\t\t\t He appointed the priests to fulfill their duties and encouraged them to carry out their service in the LORD's temple.\n\t\t\t He told the Levites, who instructed all Israel about things consecrated to the LORD, \"Place the holy ark in the temple which King Solomon son of David of Israel built. Don't carry it on your shoulders. Now serve the LORD your God and his people Israel!\n\t\t\t Prepare yourselves by your families according to your divisions, as instructed by King David of Israel and his son Solomon. \n\t\t\t Stand in the sanctuary and, together with the Levites, represent the family divisions of your countrymen.\n\t\t\t Slaughter the Passover lambs, consecrate yourselves, and make preparations for your countrymen to do what the LORD commanded through Moses.\"\n\t\t\t From his own royal flocks and herds, Josiah supplied the people with 30,000 lambs and goats for the Passover sacrifice, as well as 3,000 cattle.\n\t\t\t His officials also willingly contributed to the people, priests, and Levites. Hilkiah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, the leaders of God's temple, supplied 2,600 Passover sacrifices and 300 cattle.\n\t\t\t Konaniah and his brothers Shemaiah and Nethanel, along with Hashabiah, Jeiel, and Jozabad, the officials of the Levites, supplied the Levites with 5,000 Passover sacrifices and 500 cattle.\n\t\t\t Preparations were made, and the priests stood at their posts and the Levites in their divisions as prescribed by the king. \n\t\t\t They slaughtered the Passover lambs and the priests splashed the blood, while the Levites skinned the animals. \n\t\t\t They reserved the burnt offerings and the cattle for the family divisions of the people to present to the LORD, as prescribed in the scroll of Moses.\n\t\t\t They cooked the Passover sacrifices over the open fire as prescribed and cooked the consecrated offerings in pots, kettles, and pans. They quickly served them to all the people.\n\t\t\t Afterward they made preparations for themselves and for the priests, because the priests, the descendants of Aaron, were offering burnt sacrifices and fat portions until evening. The Levites made preparations for themselves and for the priests, the descendants of Aaron.\n\t\t\t The musicians, the descendants of Asaph, manned their posts, as prescribed by David, Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun the king's prophet. The guards at the various gates did not need to leave their posts, for their fellow Levites made preparations for them. \n\t\t\t So all the preparations for the LORD's service were made that day, as the Passover was observed and the burnt sacrifices were offered on the altar of the LORD, as prescribed by King Josiah.\n\t\t\t So the Israelites who were present observed the Passover at that time, as well as the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days.\n\t\t\t A Passover like this had not been observed in Israel since the days of Samuel the prophet. None of the kings of Israel had observed a Passover like the one celebrated by Josiah, the priests, the Levites, all the people of Judah and Israel who were there, and the residents of Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t This Passover was observed in the eighteenth year of Josiah's reign.\n\t\t\t After Josiah had done all this for the temple, King Necho of Egypt marched up to do battle at Carchemish on the Euphrates River. Josiah marched out to oppose him. \n\t\t\t Necho sent messengers to him, saying, \"Why are you opposing me, O king of Judah? I am not attacking you today, but the kingdom with which I am at war. God told me to hurry. Stop opposing God, who is with me, or else he will destroy you.\"\n\t\t\t But Josiah did not turn back from him; he disguised himself for battle. He did not take seriously the words of Necho which he had received from God; he went to fight him in the Plain of Megiddo.\n\t\t\t Archers shot King Josiah; the king ordered his servants, \"Take me out of this chariot, for I am seriously wounded.\" \n\t\t\t So his servants took him out of the chariot, put him in another chariot that he owned, and brought him to Jerusalem, where he died. He was buried in the tombs of his ancestors; all the people of Judah and Jerusalem mourned Josiah. \n\t\t\t Jeremiah composed laments for Josiah which all the male and female singers use to mourn Josiah to this very day. It has become customary in Israel to sing these; they are recorded in the Book of Laments.\n\t\t\t The rest of the events of Josiah's reign, including the faithful acts he did in obedience to what is written in the law of the LORD\n\t\t\t and his accomplishments, from start to finish, are recorded in the Scroll of the Kings of Israel and Judah.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The people of the land took Jehoahaz son of Josiah and made him king in his father's place in Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he became king, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t The king of Egypt prevented him from ruling in Jerusalem and imposed on the land a special tax of one hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold. \n\t\t\t The king of Egypt made Jehoahaz's brother Eliakim king over Judah and Jerusalem, and changed his name to Jehoiakim. Necho seized his brother Jehoahaz and took him to Egypt.\n\t\t\t Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned for eleven years in Jerusalem. He did evil in the sight of the LORD his God. \n\t\t\t King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon attacked him, bound him with bronze chains, and carried him away to Babylon. \n\t\t\t Nebuchadnezzar took some of the items in the LORD's temple to Babylon and put them in his palace there.\n\t\t\t The rest of the events of Jehoiakim's reign, including the horrible sins he committed and his shortcomings, are recorded in the Scroll of the Kings of Israel and Judah. His son Jehoiachin replaced him as king.\n\t\t\t Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he became king, and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem. He did evil in the sight of the LORD. \n\t\t\t At the beginning of the year King Nebuchadnezzar ordered him to be brought to Babylon, along with the valuable items in the LORD's temple. In his place he made his relative Zedekiah king over Judah and Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he ruled for eleven years in Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t He did evil in the sight of the LORD his God. He did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, the LORD's spokesman. \n\t\t\t He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him vow allegiance in the name of God. He was stubborn and obstinate, and refused to return to the LORD God of Israel. \n\t\t\t All the leaders of the priests and people became more unfaithful and committed the same horrible sins practiced by the nations. They defiled the LORD's temple which he had consecrated in Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t The LORD God of their ancestors continually warned them through his messengers, for he felt compassion for his people and his dwelling place. \n\t\t\t But they mocked God's messengers, despised his warnings, and ridiculed his prophets. Finally the LORD got very angry at his people and there was no one who could prevent his judgment.\n\t\t\t He brought against them the king of the Babylonians, who slaughtered their young men in their temple. He did not spare young men or women, or even the old and aging. God handed everyone over to him.\n\t\t\t He carried away to Babylon all the items in God's temple, whether large or small, as well as what was in the treasuries of the LORD's temple and in the treasuries of the king and his officials.\n\t\t\t They burned down the LORD's temple and tore down the wall of Jerusalem. They burned all its fortified buildings and destroyed all its valuable items. \n\t\t\t He deported to Babylon all who escaped the sword. They served him and his sons until the Persian kingdom rose to power.\n\t\t\t This took place to fulfill the LORD's message delivered through Jeremiah. The land experienced its sabbatical years; it remained desolate for seventy years, as prophesied.\n\t\t\t In the first year of the reign of King Cyrus of Persia, in fulfillment of the promise he delivered through Jeremiah, the LORD moved King Cyrus of Persia to issue a written decree throughout his kingdom. \n\t\t\t It read: \"This is what King Cyrus of Persia says: 'The LORD God of the heavens has given to me all the kingdoms of the earth. He has appointed me to build for him a temple in Jerusalem in Judah. May the LORD your God energize you who belong to his people, so you may be able to go back there!\"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t In the first year of King Cyrus of Persia, in order to fulfill the LORD'S message spoken through Jeremiah, the LORD stirred the mind of King Cyrus of Persia. He disseminated a proclamation throughout his entire kingdom, announcing in a written edict the following:\n\t\t\t \"Thus says King Cyrus of Persia: \"'The LORD God of heaven has given me all the kingdoms of the earth. He has instructed me to build a temple for him in Jerusalem, which is in Judah.\n\t\t\t Anyone from his people among you (may his God be with him!) may go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and may build the temple of the LORD God of Israel, he is the God who is in Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t Anyone who survives in any of those places where he is a resident foreigner must be helped by his neighbors with silver, gold, equipment, and animals, along with voluntary offerings for the temple of God which is in Jerusalem.'\"\n\t\t\t Then the leaders of Judah and Benjamin, along with the priests and the Levites, all those whose mind God had stirred, got ready to go up in order to build the temple of the LORD in Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t All their neighbors assisted them with silver utensils, gold, equipment, animals, and expensive gifts, not to mention all the voluntary offerings.\n\t\t\t Then King Cyrus brought out the vessels of the LORD's temple which Nebuchadnezzar had brought from Jerusalem and had displayed in the temple of his gods. \n\t\t\t King Cyrus of Persia entrusted them to Mithredath the treasurer, who counted them out to Sheshbazzar the leader of the Judahite exiles.\n\t\t\t The inventory of these items was as follows: 30 gold basins, 1,000 silver basins, 29 silver utensils,\n\t\t\t 30 gold bowls, 410 other silver bowls, and 1,000 other vessels.\n\t\t\t All these gold and silver vessels totaled 5,400. Sheshbazzar brought them all along when the captives were brought up from Babylon to Jerusalem.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t These are the people of the province who were going up, from the captives of the exile whom King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had forced into exile in Babylon. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own city. \n\t\t\t They came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah. The number of Israelites was as follows:\n\t\t\t the descendants of Parosh: 2,172;\n\t\t\t the descendants of Shephatiah: 372;\n\t\t\t the descendants of Arah: 775;\n\t\t\t the descendants of Pahath-Moab (from the line of Jeshua and Joab): 2,812;\n\t\t\t the descendants of Elam: 1,254;\n\t\t\t the descendants of Zattu: 945;\n\t\t\t the descendants of Zaccai: 760;\n\t\t\t the descendants of Bani: 642;\n\t\t\t the descendants of Bebai: 623;\n\t\t\t the descendants of Azgad: 1,222;\n\t\t\t the descendants of Adonikam: 666;\n\t\t\t the descendants of Bigvai: 2,056;\n\t\t\t the descendants of Adin: 454;\n\t\t\t the descendants of Ater (through Hezekiah): 98;\n\t\t\t the descendants of Bezai: 323;\n\t\t\t the descendants of Jorah: 112;\n\t\t\t the descendants of Hashum: 223;\n\t\t\t the descendants of Gibbar: 95.\n\t\t\t The men of Bethlehem: 123;\n\t\t\t the men of Netophah: 56;\n\t\t\t the men of Anathoth: 128;\n\t\t\t the men of the family of Azmaveth: 42;\n\t\t\t the men of Kiriath Jearim, Kephirah and Beeroth: 743;\n\t\t\t the men of Ramah and Geba: 621;\n\t\t\t the men of Micmash: 122;\n\t\t\t the men of Bethel and Ai: 223;\n\t\t\t the descendants of Nebo: 52;\n\t\t\t the descendants of Magbish: 156;\n\t\t\t the descendants of the other Elam: 1,254;\n\t\t\t the descendants of Harim: 320;\n\t\t\t the men of Lod, Hadid, and Ono: 725;\n\t\t\t the men of Jericho: 345;\n\t\t\t the descendants of Senaah: 3,630.\n\t\t\t The priests: the descendants of Jedaiah (through the family of Jeshua): 973;\n\t\t\t the descendants of Immer: 1,052;\n\t\t\t the descendants of Pashhur: 1,247;\n\t\t\t the descendants of Harim: 1,017.\n\t\t\t The Levites: the descendants of Jeshua and Kadmiel (through the line of Hodaviah): 74.\n\t\t\t The singers: the descendants of Asaph: 128.\n\t\t\t The gatekeepers: the descendants of Shallum, the descendants of Ater, the descendants of Talmon, the descendants of Akkub, the descendants of Hatita, and the descendants of Shobai: 139.\n\t\t\t The temple servants: the descendants of Ziha, the descendants of Hasupha, the descendants of Tabbaoth,\n\t\t\t the descendants of Keros, the descendants of Siaha, the descendants of Padon,\n\t\t\t the descendants of Lebanah, the descendants of Hagabah, the descendants of Akkub,\n\t\t\t the descendants of Hagab, the descendants of Shalmai, the descendants of Hanan,\n\t\t\t the descendants of Giddel, the descendants of Gahar, the descendants of Reaiah,\n\t\t\t the descendants of Rezin, the descendants of Nekoda, the descendants of Gazzam,\n\t\t\t the descendants of Uzzah, the descendants of Paseah, the descendants of Besai,\n\t\t\t the descendants of Asnah, the descendants of Meunim, the descendants of Nephussim,\n\t\t\t the descendants of Bakbuk, the descendants of Hakupha, the descendants of Harhur,\n\t\t\t the descendants of Bazluth, the descendants of Mehida, the descendants of Harsha,\n\t\t\t the descendants of Barkos, the descendants of Sisera, the descendants of Temah,\n\t\t\t the descendants of Neziah, and the descendants of Hatipha.\n\t\t\t The descendants of the servants of Solomon: the descendants of Sotai, the descendants of Hassophereth, the descendants of Peruda,\n\t\t\t the descendants of Jaala, the descendants of Darkon, the descendants of Giddel,\n\t\t\t the descendants of Shephatiah, the descendants of Hattil, the descendants of Pokereth-Hazzebaim, and the descendants of Ami.\n\t\t\t All the temple servants and the descendants of the servants of Solomon: 392.\n\t\t\t These are the ones that came up from Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Kerub, Addon, and Immer (although they were unable to certify their family connection or their ancestry, as to whether they really were from Israel):\n\t\t\t the descendants of Delaiah, the descendants of Tobiah, and the descendants of Nekoda: 652.\n\t\t\t And from among the priests: the descendants of Hobaiah, the descendants of Hakkoz, and the descendants of Barzillai (who had taken a wife from the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite and was called by that name). \n\t\t\t They searched for their records in the genealogical materials, but did not find them. They were therefore excluded from the priesthood. \n\t\t\t The governor instructed them not to eat any of the sacred food until there was a priest who could consult the Urim and Thummim.\n\t\t\t The entire group numbered 42,360,\n\t\t\t not counting their male and female servants, who numbered 7,337. They also had 200 male and female singers \n\t\t\t and 736 horses, 245 mules,\n\t\t\t 435 camels, and 6,720 donkeys.\n\t\t\t When they came to the LORD's temple in Jerusalem, some of the family leaders offered voluntary offerings for the temple of God in order to rebuild it on its site. \n\t\t\t As they were able, they gave to the treasury for this work 61,000 drachmas of gold, 5,000 minas of silver, and 100 priestly robes.\n\t\t\t The priests, the Levites, some of the people, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the temple servants lived in their towns, and all the rest of Israel lived in their towns.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t When the seventh month arrived and the Israelites were living in their towns, the people assembled in Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t Then Jeshua the son of Jozadak and his priestly colleagues and Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and his colleagues started to build the altar of the God of Israel so they could offer burnt offerings on it as required by the law of Moses the man of God. \n\t\t\t They established the altar on its foundations, even though they were in terror of the local peoples, and they offered burnt offerings on it to the LORD, both the morning and the evening offerings. \n\t\t\t They observed the Festival of Temporary Shelters as required and offered the proper number of daily burnt offerings according to the requirement for each day. \n\t\t\t Afterward they offered the continual burnt offerings and those for the new moons and those for all the holy assemblies of the LORD and all those that were being voluntarily offered to the LORD.\n\t\t\t From the first day of the seventh month they began to offer burnt offerings to the LORD. However, the LORD's temple was not at that time established.\n\t\t\t So they provided money for the masons and carpenters, and food, beverages, and olive oil for the people of Sidon and Tyre, so that they would bring cedar timber from Lebanon to the seaport at Joppa, in accord with the edict of King Cyrus of Persia. \n\t\t\t In the second year after they had come to the temple of God in Jerusalem, in the second month, Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak initiated the work, along with the rest of their associates, the priests and the Levites, and all those who were coming to Jerusalem from the exile. They appointed the Levites who were at least twenty years old to take charge of the work on the LORD's temple.\n\t\t\t So Jeshua appointed both his sons and his relatives, Kadmiel and his sons (the sons of Yehudah), to take charge of the workers in the temple of God, along with the sons of Henadad, their sons, and their relatives the Levites.\n\t\t\t When the builders established the LORD's temple, the priests, ceremonially attired and with their clarions, and the Levites (the sons of Asaph) with their cymbals, stood to praise the LORD according to the instructions left by King David of Israel.\n\t\t\t With antiphonal response they sang, praising and glorifying the LORD: \"For he is good; his loyal love toward Israel is forever.\" All the people gave a loud shout as they praised the LORD when the temple of the LORD was established.\n\t\t\t Many of the priests, the Levites, and the leaders, older people who had seen with their own eyes the former temple while it was still established, were weeping loudly, and many others raised their voice in a joyous shout.\n\t\t\t People were unable to tell the difference between the sound of joyous shouting and the sound of the people's weeping, for the people were shouting so loudly that the sound was heard a long way off.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin learned that the former exiles were building a temple for the LORD God of Israel, \n\t\t\t they came to Zerubbabel and the leaders and said to them, \"Let us help you build, for like you we seek your God and we have been sacrificing to him from the time of King Esarhaddon of Assyria, who brought us here.\"\n\t\t\t But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the rest of the leaders of Israel said to them, \"You have no right to help us build the temple of our God. We will build it by ourselves for the LORD God of Israel, just as King Cyrus, the king of Persia, has commanded us.\" \n\t\t\t Then the local people began to discourage the people of Judah and to dishearten them from building. \n\t\t\t They were hiring advisers to oppose them, so as to frustrate their plans, throughout the time of King Cyrus of Persia until the reign of King Darius of Persia.\n\t\t\t At the beginning of the reign of Ahasuerus they filed an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t And during the reign of Artaxerxes, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of their colleagues wrote to King Artaxerxes of Persia. This letter was first written in Aramaic but then translated. [Aramaic:]\n\t\t\t Rehum the commander and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter concerning Jerusalem to King Artaxerxes as follows: \n\t\t\t From Rehum the commander, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their colleagues, the judges, the rulers, the officials, the secretaries, the Erechites, the Babylonians, the people of Susa (that is, the Elamites),\n\t\t\t and the rest of nations whom the great and noble Ashurbanipal deported and settled in the cities of Samaria and other places in Trans-Euphrates.\n\t\t\t (This is a copy of the letter they sent to him:) \"To King Artaxerxes, from your servants in Trans-Euphrates: \n\t\t\t Now let the king be aware that the Jews who came up to us from you have gone to Jerusalem. They are rebuilding that rebellious and odious city. They are completing its walls and repairing its foundations. \n\t\t\t Let the king also be aware that if this city is built and its walls are completed, no more tax, custom, or toll will be paid, and the royal treasury will suffer loss. \n\t\t\t In light of the fact that we are loyal to the king, and since it does not seem appropriate to us that the king should sustain damage, we are sending the king this information\n\t\t\t so that he may initiate a search of the records of his predecessors and discover in those records that this city is rebellious and injurious to both kings and provinces, producing internal revolts from long ago. It is for this very reason that this city was destroyed. \n\t\t\t We therefore are informing the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are completed, you will not retain control of this portion of Trans-Euphrates.\"\n\t\t\t The king sent the following response: \"To Rehum the commander, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their colleagues who live in Samaria and other parts of Trans-Euphrates: Greetings!\n\t\t\t The letter you sent to us has been translated and read in my presence.\n\t\t\t So I gave orders, and it was determined that this city from long ago has been engaging in insurrection against kings. It has continually engaged in rebellion and revolt.\n\t\t\t Powerful kings have been over Jerusalem who ruled throughout the entire Trans-Euphrates and who were the beneficiaries of tribute, custom, and toll. \n\t\t\t Now give orders that these men cease their work and that this city not be rebuilt until such time as I so instruct.\n\t\t\t Exercise appropriate caution so that there is no negligence in this matter. Why should danger increase to the point that kings sustain damage?\"\n\t\t\t Then, as soon as the copy of the letter from King Artaxerxes was read in the presence of Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their colleagues, they proceeded promptly to the Jews in Jerusalem and stopped them with threat of armed force.\n\t\t\t So the work on the temple of God in Jerusalem came to a halt. It remained halted until the second year of the reign of King Darius of Persia.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then the prophets Haggai and Zechariah son of Iddo prophesied concerning the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel who was over them. \n\t\t\t Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak began to rebuild the temple of God in Jerusalem. The prophets of God were with them, supporting them.\n\t\t\t At that time Tattenai governor of Trans-Euphrates, Shethar-Bozenai, and their colleagues came to them and asked, \"Who gave you authority to rebuild this temple and to complete this structure?\"\n\t\t\t They also asked them, \"What are the names of the men who are building this edifice?\" \n\t\t\t But God was watching over the elders of Judah, and they were not stopped until a report could be dispatched to Darius and a letter could be sent back concerning this.\n\t\t\t This is a copy of the letter that Tattenai governor of Trans-Euphrates, Shethar-Bozenai, and his colleagues who were the officials of Trans-Euphrates sent to King Darius.\n\t\t\t The report they sent to him was written as follows: \"To King Darius: All greetings!\n\t\t\t Let it be known to the king that we have gone to the province of Judah, to the temple of the great God. It is being built with large stones, and timbers are being placed in the walls. This work is being done with all diligence and is prospering in their hands. \n\t\t\t We inquired of those elders, asking them, 'Who gave you the authority to rebuild this temple and to complete this structure?'\n\t\t\t We also inquired of their names in order to inform you, so that we might write the names of the men who were their leaders.\n\t\t\t They responded to us in the following way: 'We are servants of the God of heaven and earth. We are rebuilding the temple which was previously built many years ago. A great king of Israel built it and completed it. \n\t\t\t But after our ancestors angered the God of heaven, he delivered them into the hands of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this temple and exiled the people to Babylon.\n\t\t\t But in the first year of King Cyrus of Babylon, King Cyrus enacted a decree to rebuild this temple of God. \n\t\t\t Even the gold and silver vessels of the temple of God that Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple in Jerusalem and had brought to the palace of Babylon, even those things King Cyrus brought from the palace of Babylon and presented to a man by the name of Sheshbazzar whom he had appointed as governor.\n\t\t\t He said to him, \"Take these vessels and go deposit them in the temple in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be rebuilt in its proper location.\"\n\t\t\t Then this Sheshbazzar went and laid the foundations of the temple of God in Jerusalem. From that time to the present moment it has been in the process of being rebuilt, although it is not yet finished.'\n\t\t\t \"Now if the king is so inclined, let a search be conducted in the royal archives there in Babylon in order to determine whether King Cyrus did in fact issue orders for this temple of God to be rebuilt in Jerusalem. Then let the king send us a decision concerning this matter.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t So Darius the king issued orders, and they searched in the archives of the treasury which were deposited there in Babylon. \n\t\t\t A scroll was found in the citadel of Ecbatana which is in the province of Media, and it was inscribed as follows: \"Memorandum: \n\t\t\t In the first year of his reign, King Cyrus gave orders concerning the temple of God in Jerusalem: 'Let the temple be rebuilt as a place where sacrifices are offered. Let its foundations be set in place. Its height is to be ninety feet and its width ninety feet,\n\t\t\t with three layers of large stones and one layer of timber. The expense is to be subsidized by the royal treasury.\n\t\t\t Furthermore let the gold and silver vessels of the temple of God, which Nebuchadnezzar brought from the temple in Jerusalem and carried to Babylon, be returned and brought to their proper place in the temple in Jerusalem. Let them be deposited in the temple of God.'\n\t\t\t \"Now Tattenai governor of Trans-Euphrates, Shethar Bozenai, and their colleagues, the officials of Trans-Euphrates, all of you stay far away from there!\n\t\t\t Leave the work on this temple of God alone. Let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews rebuild this temple of God in its proper place.\n\t\t\t \"I also hereby issue orders as to what you are to do with those elders of the Jews in order to rebuild this temple of God. From the royal treasury, from the taxes of Trans-Euphrates the complete costs are to be given to these men, so that there may be no interruption of the work.\n\t\t\t Whatever is needed, whether oxen or rams or lambs or burnt offerings for the God of heaven or wheat or salt or wine or oil, as required by the priests who are in Jerusalem, must be given to them daily without any neglect,\n\t\t\t so that they may be offering incense to the God of heaven and may be praying for the good fortune of the king and his family.\n\t\t\t \"I hereby give orders that if anyone changes this directive a beam is to be pulled out from his house and he is to be raised up and impaled on it, and his house is to be reduced to a rubbish heap for this indiscretion.\n\t\t\t May God who makes his name to reside there overthrow any king or nation who reaches out to cause such change so as to destroy this temple of God in Jerusalem. I, Darius, have given orders. Let them be carried out with precision!\"\n\t\t\t Then Tattenai governor of Trans-Euphrates, Shethar-Bozenai, and their colleagues acted accordingly, with precision, just as Darius the king had given instructions.\n\t\t\t The elders of the Jews continued building and prospering, while at the same time Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo continued prophesying. They built and brought it to completion by the command of the God of Israel and by the command of Cyrus and Darius and Artaxerxes king of Persia. \n\t\t\t They finished this temple on the third day of the month Adar, which is the sixth year of the reign of King Darius.\n\t\t\t The people of Israel, the priests, the Levites, and the rest of the exiles, observed the dedication of this temple of God with joy.\n\t\t\t For the dedication of this temple of God they offered one hundred bulls, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs, and twelve male goats for the sin of all Israel, according to the number of the tribes of Israel.\n\t\t\t They appointed the priests by their divisions and the Levites by their divisions over the worship of God at Jerusalem, in accord with the book of Moses. \n\t\t\t The exiles observed the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month. \n\t\t\t The priests and the Levites had purified themselves, every last one, and they all were ceremonially pure. They sacrificed the Passover lamb for all the exiles, for their colleagues the priests, and for themselves. \n\t\t\t The Israelites who were returning from the exile ate it, along with all those who had joined them in separating themselves from the uncleanness of the nations of the land to seek the LORD God of Israel. \n\t\t\t They observed the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days with joy, for the LORD had given them joy and had changed the opinion of the king of Assyria toward them, so that he assisted them in the work on the temple of God, the God of Israel.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now after these things had happened, during the reign of King Artaxerxes of Persia, Ezra came up from Babylon. Ezra was the son of Seraiah, who was the son of Azariah, who was the son of Hilkiah, \n\t\t\t who was the son of Shallum, who was the son of Zadok, who was the son of Ahitub,\n\t\t\t who was the son of Amariah, who was the son of Azariah, who was the son of Meraioth,\n\t\t\t who was the son of Zerahiah, who was the son of Uzzi, who was the son of Bukki,\n\t\t\t who was the son of Abishua, who was the son of Phinehas, who was the son of Eleazar, who was the son of Aaron the chief priest.\n\t\t\t This Ezra is the one who came up from Babylon. He was a scribe who was skilled in the law of Moses which the LORD God of Israel had given. The king supplied him with everything he requested, for the hand of the LORD his God was on him.\n\t\t\t In the seventh year of King Artaxerxes, Ezra brought up to Jerusalem some of the Israelites and some of the priests, the Levites, the attendants, the gatekeepers, and the temple servants.\n\t\t\t He entered Jerusalem in the fifth month of the seventh year of the king.\n\t\t\t On the first day of the first month he had determined to make the ascent from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month he arrived at Jerusalem, for the good hand of his God was on him. \n\t\t\t Now Ezra had dedicated himself to the study of the law of the LORD, to its observance, and to teaching its statutes and judgments in Israel.\n\t\t\t What follows is a copy of the letter that King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priestly scribe. Ezra was a scribe in matters pertaining to the commandments of the LORD and his statutes over Israel:\n\t\t\t \"Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, a scribe of the perfect law of the God of heaven: \n\t\t\t I have now issued a decree that anyone in my kingdom from the people of Israel, even the priests and Levites, who wishes to do so may go up with you to Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t You are authorized by the king and his seven advisers to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of your God which is in your possession,\n\t\t\t and to bring silver and gold which the king and his advisers have freely contributed to the God of Israel, who resides in Jerusalem,\n\t\t\t along with all the silver and gold that you may collect throughout all the province of Babylon and the contributions of the people and the priests for the temple of their God which is in Jerusalem. \n\t\t\t With this money you should be sure to purchase bulls, rams, and lambs, along with the appropriate meal offerings and libations. You should bring them to the altar of the temple of your God which is in Jerusalem. \n\t\t\t You may do whatever seems appropriate to you and your colleagues with the rest of the silver and the gold, in keeping with the will of your God. \n\t\t\t Deliver to the God of Jerusalem the vessels that are given to you for the service of the temple of your God. \n\t\t\t The rest of the needs for the temple of your God that you may have to supply, you may do so from the royal treasury.\n\t\t\t \"I, King Artaxerxes, hereby issue orders to all the treasurers of Trans-Euphrates, that you precisely execute all that Ezra the priestly scribe of the law of the God of heaven may request of you,\n\t\t\t up to 100 talents of silver, 100 cors of wheat, 100 baths of wine, 100 baths of olive oil, and unlimited salt. \n\t\t\t Everything that the God of heaven has required should be precisely done for the temple of the God of heaven. Why should there be wrath against the empire of the king and his sons? \n\t\t\t Furthermore, be aware of the fact that you have no authority to impose tax, tribute, or toll on any of the priests, the Levites, the musicians, the doorkeepers, the temple servants, or the attendants at the temple of this God.\n\t\t\t \"Now you, Ezra, in keeping with the wisdom of your God which you possess, appoint judges and court officials who can arbitrate cases on behalf of all the people who are in Trans-Euphrates who know the laws of your God. Those who do not know this law should be taught. \n\t\t\t Everyone who does not observe both the law of your God and the law of the king will be completely liable to the appropriate penalty, whether it is death or banishment or confiscation of property or detainment in prison.\"\n\t\t\t Blessed be the LORD God of our fathers, who so moved in the heart of the king to so honor the temple of the LORD which is in Jerusalem! \n\t\t\t He has also conferred his favor on me before the king, his advisers, and all the influential leaders of the king. I gained strength as the hand of the LORD my God was on me, and I gathered leaders from Israel to go up with me.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t These are the leaders and those enrolled with them by genealogy who were coming up with me from Babylon during the reign of King Artaxerxes:\n\t\t\t from the descendants of Phinehas, Gershom; from the descendants of Ithamar, Daniel; from the descendants of David, Hattush\n\t\t\t the son of Shecaniah; from the descendants of Parosh, Zechariah, and with him were enrolled by genealogy 150 men;\n\t\t\t from the descendants of Pahath-Moab, Eliehoenai son of Zerahiah, and with him 200 men;\n\t\t\t from the descendants of Zattu, Shecaniah son of Jahaziel, and with him 300 men;\n\t\t\t from the descendants of Adin, Ebed son of Jonathan, and with him 50 men;\n\t\t\t from the descendants of Elam, Jeshaiah son of Athaliah, and with him 70 men;\n\t\t\t from the descendants of Shephatiah, Zebadiah son of Michael, and with him 80 men;\n\t\t\t from the descendants of Joab, Obadiah son of Jehiel, and with him 218 men;\n\t\t\t from the descendants of Bani, Shelomith son of Josiphiah, and with him 160 men;\n\t\t\t from the descendants of Bebai, Zechariah son of Bebai, and with him 28 men;\n\t\t\t from the descendants of Azgad, Johanan son of Hakkatan, and with him 110 men;\n\t\t\t from the descendants of Adonikam there were the latter ones. Their names were Eliphelet, Jeuel, and Shemaiah, and with them 60 men;\n\t\t\t from the descendants of Bigvai, Uthai, and Zaccur, and with them 70 men.\n\t\t\t I had them assemble at the canal that flows toward Ahava, and we camped there for three days. I observed that the people and the priests were present, but I found no Levites there. \n\t\t\t So I sent for Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah, and Meshullam, who were leaders, and Joiarib and Elnathan, who were teachers. \n\t\t\t I sent them to Iddo, who was the leader in the place called Casiphia. I told them what to say to Iddo and his relatives, who were the temple servants in Casiphia, so they would bring us attendants for the temple of our God.\n\t\t\t Due to the fact that the good hand of our God was on us, they brought us a skilled man, from the descendants of Mahli the son of Levi son of Israel. This man was Sherebiah, who was accompanied by his sons and brothers, 18 men, \n\t\t\t and Hashabiah, along with Jeshaiah from the descendants of Merari, with his brothers and their sons, 20 men,\n\t\t\t and some of the temple servants that David and his officials had established for the work of the Levites, 220 of them. They were all designated by name.\n\t\t\t I called for a fast there by the Ahava Canal, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and seek from him a safe journey for us, our children, and all our property. \n\t\t\t I was embarrassed to request soldiers and horsemen from the king to protect us from the enemy along the way, because we had said to the king, \"The good hand of our God is on everyone who is seeking him, but his great anger is against everyone who forsakes him.\" \n\t\t\t So we fasted and prayed to our God about this, and he answered us.\n\t\t\t Then I set apart twelve of the leading priests, together with Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their brothers,\n\t\t\t and I weighed out to them the silver, the gold, and the vessels intended for the temple of our God, items that the king, his advisers, his officials, and all Israel who were present had contributed.\n\t\t\t I weighed out to them 650 talents of silver, silver vessels worth 100 talents, 100 talents of gold, \n\t\t\t 20 gold bowls worth 1,000 darics, and two exquisite vessels of gleaming bronze, as valuable as gold.\n\t\t\t Then I said to them, \"You are holy to the LORD, just as these vessels are holy. The silver and the gold are a voluntary offering to the LORD, the God of your fathers.\n\t\t\t Be careful with them and protect them, until you weigh them out before the leading priests and the Levites and the family leaders of Israel in Jerusalem, in the storerooms of the temple of the LORD.\"\n\t\t\t Then the priests and the Levites took charge of the silver, the gold, and the vessels that had been weighed out, to transport them to Jerusalem to the temple of our God.\n\t\t\t On the twelfth day of the first month we began traveling from the Ahava Canal to go to Jerusalem. The hand of our God was on us, and he delivered us from our enemy and from bandits along the way.\n\t\t\t So we came to Jerusalem, and we stayed there for three days.\n\t\t\t On the fourth day we weighed out the silver, the gold, and the vessels in the house of our God into the care of Meremoth son of Uriah, the priest, and Eleazar son of Phinehas, who were accompanied by Jozabad son of Jeshua and Noadiah son of Binnui, who were Levites.\n\t\t\t Everything was verified by number and by weight, and the total weight was written down at that time.\n\t\t\t The exiles who were returning from the captivity offered burnt offerings to the God of Israel, twelve bulls for all Israel, ninety-six rams, seventy-seven male lambs, along with twelve male goats as a sin offering. All this was a burnt offering to the LORD.\n\t\t\t Then they presented the decrees of the king to the king's satraps and to the governors of Trans-Euphrates, who gave help to the people and to the temple of God.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now when these things had been completed, the leaders approached me and said, \"The people of Israel, the priests, and the Levites have not separated themselves from the local residents who practice detestable things similar to those of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites. \n\t\t\t Indeed, they have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy race has become intermingled with the local residents. Worse still, the leaders and the officials have been at the forefront of all of this!\"\n\t\t\t When I heard this report, I tore my tunic and my robe and ripped out some of the hair from my head and beard. Then I sat down, quite devastated.\n\t\t\t Everyone who held the words of the God of Israel in awe gathered around me because of the unfaithful acts of the people of the exile. Devastated, I continued to sit there until the evening offering.\n\t\t\t At the time of the evening offering I got up from my self-abasement, with my tunic and robe torn, and then dropped to my knees and spread my hands to the LORD my God. \n\t\t\t I prayed, \"O my God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift my face to you, my God! For our iniquities have climbed higher than our heads, and our guilt extends to the heavens.\n\t\t\t From the days of our fathers until this very day our guilt has been great. Because of our iniquities we, along with our kings and priests, have been delivered over by the local kings to sword, captivity, plunder, and embarrassment, right up to the present time.\n\t\t\t \"But now briefly we have received mercy from the LORD our God, in that he has left us a remnant and has given us a secure position in his holy place. Thus our God has enlightened our eyes and has given us a little relief in our time of servitude. \n\t\t\t Although we are slaves, our God has not abandoned us in our servitude. He has extended kindness to us in the sight of the kings of Persia, in that he has revived us to restore the temple of our God and to raise up its ruins and to give us a protective wall in Judah and Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t \"And now what are we able to say after this, our God? For we have forsaken your commandments\n\t\t\t which you commanded us through your servants the prophets with these words: 'The land that you are entering to possess is a land defiled by the impurities of the local residents! With their abominations they have filled it from one end to the other with their filthiness. \n\t\t\t Therefore do not give your daughters in marriage to their sons, and do not take their daughters in marriage for your sons. Do not ever seek their peace or welfare, so that you may be strong and may eat the good of the land and may leave it as an inheritance for your children forever.'\n\t\t\t \"Everything that has happened to us has come about because of our wicked actions and our great guilt. Even so, our God, you have exercised restraint toward our iniquities and have given us a remnant such as this. \n\t\t\t Shall we once again break your commandments and intermarry with these abominable peoples? Would you not be so angered by us that you would wipe us out, with no survivor or remnant?\n\t\t\t O LORD God of Israel, you are righteous, for we are left as a remnant this day. Indeed, we stand before you in our guilt. However, because of this guilt no one can really stand before you.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t While Ezra was praying and confessing, weeping and throwing himself to the ground before the temple of God, a very large crowd of Israelites, men, women, and children alike, gathered around him. The people wept loudly.\n\t\t\t Then Shecaniah son of Jehiel, from the descendants of Elam, addressed Ezra: \"We have been unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women from the local peoples. Nonetheless, there is still hope for Israel in this regard.\n\t\t\t Therefore let us enact a covenant with our God to send away all these women and their offspring, in keeping with your counsel, my lord, and that of those who respect the commandments of our God. And let it be done according to the law. \n\t\t\t Get up, for this matter concerns you. We are with you, so be strong and act decisively!\"\n\t\t\t So Ezra got up and made the leading priests and Levites and all Israel take an oath to carry out this plan. And they all took a solemn oath. \n\t\t\t Then Ezra got up from in front of the temple of God and went to the room of Jehohanan son of Eliashib. While he stayed there, he did not eat food or drink water, for he was in mourning over the infidelity of the exiles.\n\t\t\t A proclamation was circulated throughout Judah and Jerusalem that all the exiles were to be assembled in Jerusalem. \n\t\t\t Everyone who did not come within three days would thereby forfeit all his property, in keeping with the counsel of the officials and the elders. Furthermore, he himself would be excluded from the assembly of the exiles.\n\t\t\t All the men of Judah and Benjamin were gathered in Jerusalem within the three days. (It was in the ninth month, on the twentieth day of that month.) All the people sat in the square at the temple of God, trembling because of this matter and because of the rains.\n\t\t\t Then Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, \"You have behaved in an unfaithful manner by taking foreign wives! This has contributed to the guilt of Israel.\n\t\t\t Now give praise to the LORD God of your fathers, and do his will. Separate yourselves from the local residents and from these foreign wives.\"\n\t\t\t All the assembly replied in a loud voice: \"We will do just as you have said!\n\t\t\t However, the people are numerous and it is the rainy season. We are unable to stand here outside. Furthermore, this business cannot be resolved in a day or two, for we have sinned greatly in this matter. \n\t\t\t Let our leaders take steps on behalf of all the assembly. Let all those in our towns who have married foreign women come at an appointed time, and with them the elders of each town and its judges, until the hot anger of our God is turned away from us in this matter.\"\n\t\t\t Only Jonathan son of Asahel and Jahzeiah son of Tikvah were against this, assisted by Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite. \n\t\t\t So the exiles proceeded accordingly. Ezra the priest separated out by name men who were leaders in their family groups. They sat down to consider this matter on the first day of the tenth month, \n\t\t\t and on the first day of the first month they finished considering all the men who had married foreign wives.\n\t\t\t It was determined that from the descendants of the priests, the following had taken foreign wives: from the descendants of Jeshua son of Jozadak, and his brothers: Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah. \n\t\t\t (They gave their word to send away their wives; their guilt offering was a ram from the flock for their guilt.)\n\t\t\t From the descendants of Immer: Hanani and Zebadiah.\n\t\t\t From the descendants of Harim: Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel, and Uzziah.\n\t\t\t From the descendants of Pashhur: Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad, and Elasah.\n\t\t\t From the Levites: Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah (also known as Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.\n\t\t\t From the singers: Eliashib. From the gatekeepers: Shallum, Telem, and Uri.\n\t\t\t From the Israelites: from the descendants of Parosh: Ramiah, Izziah, Malkijah, Mijamin, Eleazar, Malkijah, and Benaiah.\n\t\t\t From the descendants of Elam: Mattaniah, Zechariah, Jehiel, Abdi, Jeremoth, and Elijah.\n\t\t\t From the descendants of Zattu: Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, Jeremoth, Zabad, and Aziza.\n\t\t\t From the descendants of Bebai: Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai.\n\t\t\t From the descendants of Bani: Meshullam, Malluch, Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal, and Jeremoth.\n\t\t\t From the descendants of Pahath-Moab: Adna, Kelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, Binnui, and Manasseh.\n\t\t\t From the descendants of Harim: Eliezer, Ishijah, Malkijah, Shemaiah, Shimeon, \n\t\t\t Benjamin, Malluch, and Shemariah.\n\t\t\t From the descendants of Hashum: Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei.\n\t\t\t From the descendants of Bani: Maadai, Amram, Uel,\n\t\t\t Benaiah, Bedeiah, Keluhi,\n\t\t\t Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib,\n\t\t\t Mattaniah, Mattenai, and Jaasu.\n\t\t\t From the descendants of Binnui: Shimei, \n\t\t\t Shelemiah, Nathan, Adaiah,\n\t\t\t Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai,\n\t\t\t Azarel, Shelemiah, Shemariah,\n\t\t\t Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph.\n\t\t\t From the descendants of Nebo: Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jaddai, Joel, and Benaiah.\n\t\t\t All these had taken foreign wives, and some of them also had children by these women.\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t These are the words of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah: It so happened that in the month of Kislev, in the twentieth year, I was in Susa the citadel. \n\t\t\t Hanani, who was one of my relatives, along with some of the men from Judah, came to me, and I asked them about the Jews who had escaped and had survived the exile, and about Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t They said to me, \"The remnant that remains from the exile there in the province are experiencing considerable adversity and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem lies breached, and its gates have been burned down!\"\n\t\t\t When I heard these things I sat down abruptly, crying and mourning for several days. I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven. \n\t\t\t Then I said, \"Please, O LORD God of heaven, great and awesome God, who keeps his loving covenant with those who love him and obey his commandments, \n\t\t\t may your ear be attentive and your eyes be open to hear the prayer of your servant that I am praying to you today throughout both day and night on behalf of your servants the Israelites. I am confessing the sins of the Israelites that we have committed against you, both I myself and my family have sinned.\n\t\t\t We have behaved corruptly against you, not obeying the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments that you commanded your servant Moses.\n\t\t\t Please recall the word you commanded your servant Moses: 'If you act unfaithfully, I will scatter you among the nations.\n\t\t\t But if you repent and obey my commandments and do them, then even if your dispersed people are in the most remote location, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen for my name to reside.' \n\t\t\t They are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your mighty strength and by your powerful hand.\n\t\t\t Please, O Lord, listen attentively to the prayer of your servant and to the prayer of your servants who take pleasure in showing respect to your name. Grant your servant success today and show compassion to me in the presence of this man.\" Now I was cupbearer for the king.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then in the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was brought to me, I took the wine and gave it to the king. Previously I had not been depressed in the king's presence.\n\t\t\t So the king said to me, \"Why do you appear to be depressed when you aren't sick? What can this be other than sadness of heart?\" This made me very fearful.\n\t\t\t I replied to the king, \"O king, live forever! Why would I not appear dejected when the city with the graves of my ancestors lies desolate and its gates destroyed by fire?\" \n\t\t\t The king responded, \"What is it you are seeking?\" Then I quickly prayed to the God of heaven \n\t\t\t and said to the king, \"If the king is so inclined and if your servant has found favor in your sight, dispatch me to Judah, to the city with the graves of my ancestors, so that I can rebuild it.\" \n\t\t\t Then the king, with his consort sitting beside him, replied, \"How long would your trip take, and when would you return?\" Since the king was amenable to dispatching me, I gave him a time. \n\t\t\t I said to the king, \"If the king is so inclined, let him give me letters for the governors of Trans-Euphrates that will enable me to travel safely until I reach Judah, \n\t\t\t and a letter for Asaph the keeper of the king's nature preserve, so that he will give me timber for beams for the gates of the fortress adjacent to the temple and for the city wall and for the house to which I go.\" So the king granted me these requests, for the good hand of my God was on me. \n\t\t\t Then I went to the governors of Trans-Euphrates, and I presented to them the letters from the king. The king had sent with me officers of the army and horsemen.\n\t\t\t When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard all this, they were very displeased that someone had come to seek benefit for the Israelites.\n\t\t\t So I came to Jerusalem. When I had been there for three days, \n\t\t\t I got up during the night, along with a few men who were with me. But I did not tell anyone what my God was putting on my heart to do for Jerusalem. There were no animals with me, except for the one I was riding. \n\t\t\t I proceeded through the Valley Gate by night, in the direction of the Well of the Dragons and the Dung Gate, inspecting the walls of Jerusalem that had been breached and its gates that had been destroyed by fire. \n\t\t\t I passed on to the Gate of the Well and the King's Pool, where there was not enough room for my animal to pass with me.\n\t\t\t I continued up the valley during the night, inspecting the wall. Then I turned back and came to the Valley Gate, and so returned.\n\t\t\t The officials did not know where I had gone or what I had been doing, for up to this point I had not told any of the Jews or the priests or the nobles or the officials or the rest of the workers.\n\t\t\t Then I said to them, \"You see the problem that we have: Jerusalem is desolate and its gates are burned. Come on! Let's rebuild the wall of Jerusalem so that this reproach will not continue.\"\n\t\t\t Then I related to them how the good hand of my God was on me and what the king had said to me. Then they replied, \"Let's begin rebuilding right away!\" So they readied themselves for this good project. \n\t\t\t But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard all this, they derided us and expressed contempt toward us. They said, \"What is this you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?\" \n\t\t\t I responded to them by saying, \"The God of heaven will prosper us. We his servants will start the rebuilding. But you have no just or ancient right in Jerusalem.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then Eliashib the high priest and his priestly colleagues arose and built the Sheep Gate. They dedicated it and erected its doors, working as far as the Tower of the Hundred and the Tower of Hananel. \n\t\t\t The men of Jericho built adjacent to it, and Zaccur son of Imri built adjacent to them.\n\t\t\t The sons of Hassenaah rebuilt the Fish Gate. They laid its beams and positioned its doors, its bolts, and its bars.\n\t\t\t Meremoth son of Uriah, the son of Hakoz, worked on the section adjacent to them. Meshullam son of Berechiah the son of Meshezabel worked on the section next to them. And Zadok son of Baana worked on the section adjacent to them.\n\t\t\t The men of Tekoa worked on the section adjacent to them, but their town leaders would not assist with the work of their master.\n\t\t\t Joiada son of Paseah and Meshullam son of Besodeiah worked on the Jeshanah Gate. They laid its beams and positioned its doors, its bolts, and its bars. \n\t\t\t Adjacent to them worked Melatiah the Gibeonite and Jadon the Meronothite, who were men of Gibeon and Mizpah. These towns were under the jurisdiction of the governor of Trans-Euphrates. \n\t\t\t Uzziel son of Harhaiah, a member of the goldsmiths' guild, worked on the section adjacent to him. Hananiah, a member of the perfumers' guild, worked on the section adjacent to him. They plastered the city wall of Jerusalem as far as the Broad Wall. \n\t\t\t Rephaiah son of Hur, head of a half-district of Jerusalem, worked on the section adjacent to them.\n\t\t\t Jedaiah son of Harumaph worked on the section adjacent to them opposite his house, and Hattush son of Hashabneiah worked on the section adjacent to him. \n\t\t\t Malkijah son of Harim and Hasshub son of Pahath-Moab worked on another section and the Tower of the Fire Pots.\n\t\t\t Shallum son of Hallohesh, head of a half-district of Jerusalem, worked on the section adjacent to him, assisted by his daughters.\n\t\t\t Hanun and the residents of Zanoah worked on the Valley Gate. They rebuilt it and positioned its doors, its bolts, and its bars, in addition to working on fifteen hundred feet of the wall as far as the Dung Gate.\n\t\t\t Malkijah son of Recab, head of the district of Beth Hakkerem, worked on the Dung Gate. He rebuilt it and positioned its doors, its bolts, and its bars.\n\t\t\t Shallun son of Col-Hozeh, head of the district of Mizpah, worked on the Fountain Gate. He rebuilt it, put on its roof, and positioned its doors, its bolts, and its bars. In addition, he rebuilt the wall of the Pool of Siloam, by the royal garden, as far as the steps that go down from the City of David.\n\t\t\t Nehemiah son of Azbuk, head of a half-district of Beth Zur, worked after him as far as the tombs of David and the artificial pool and the House of the Warriors.\n\t\t\t After him the Levites worked, Rehum son of Bani and after him Hashabiah, head of half the district of Keilah, for his district.\n\t\t\t After him their relatives worked, Binnui son of Henadad, head of a half-district of Keilah.\n\t\t\t Adjacent to him Ezer son of Jeshua, head of Mizpah, worked on another section, opposite the ascent to the armory at the buttress.\n\t\t\t After him Baruch son of Zabbai worked on another section, from the buttress to the door of the house of Eliashib the high priest.\n\t\t\t After him Meremoth son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz, worked on another section from the door of Eliashib's house to the end of it.\n\t\t\t After him the priests worked, men of the nearby district.\n\t\t\t After them Benjamin and Hasshub worked opposite their house. After them Azariah son of Maaseiah, the son of Ananiah, worked near his house.\n\t\t\t After him Binnui son of Henadad worked on another section, from the house of Azariah to the buttress and the corner.\n\t\t\t After him Palal son of Uzai worked opposite the buttress and the tower that protrudes from the upper palace of the court of the guard. After him Pedaiah son of Parosh\n\t\t\t and the temple servants who were living on Ophel worked up to the area opposite the Water Gate toward the east and the protruding tower. \n\t\t\t After them the men of Tekoa worked on another section, from opposite the great protruding tower to the wall of Ophel.\n\t\t\t Above the Horse Gate the priests worked, each in front of his house.\n\t\t\t After them Zadok son of Immer worked opposite his house, and after him Shemaiah son of Shecaniah, guard at the East Gate, worked.\n\t\t\t After him Hananiah son of Shelemiah, and Hanun, the sixth son of Zalaph, worked on another section. After them Meshullam son of Berechiah worked opposite his quarters. \n\t\t\t After him Malkijah, one of the goldsmiths, worked as far as the house of the temple servants and the traders, opposite the Inspection Gate, and up to the room above the corner. \n\t\t\t And between the room above the corner and the Sheep Gate the goldsmiths and traders worked.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall he became angry and was quite upset. He derided the Jews, \n\t\t\t and in the presence of his colleagues and the army of Samaria he said, \"What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they be left to themselves? Will they again offer sacrifice? Will they finish this in a day? Can they bring these burnt stones to life again from piles of dust?\"\n\t\t\t Then Tobiah the Ammonite, who was close by, said, \"If even a fox were to climb up on what they are building, it would break down their wall of stones!\"\n\t\t\t Hear, O our God, for we are despised! Return their reproach on their own head! Reduce them to plunder in a land of exile!\n\t\t\t Do not cover their iniquity, and do not wipe out their sin from before them. For they have bitterly offended the builders!\n\t\t\t So we rebuilt the wall, and the entire wall was joined together up to half its height. The people were enthusiastic in their work.\n\t\t\t When Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the people of Ashdod heard that the restoration of the walls of Jerusalem had moved ahead and that the breaches had begun to be closed, they were very angry. \n\t\t\t All of them conspired together to move with armed forces against Jerusalem and to create a disturbance in it. \n\t\t\t So we prayed to our God and stationed a guard to protect against them both day and night. \n\t\t\t Then those in Judah said, \"The strength of the laborers has failed! The debris is so great that we are unable to rebuild the wall.\"\n\t\t\t Our adversaries also boasted, \"Before they are aware or anticipate anything, we will come in among them and kill them, and we will bring this work to a halt!\"\n\t\t\t So it happened that the Jews who were living near them came and warned us repeatedly about all the schemes they were plotting against us.\n\t\t\t So I stationed people at the lower places behind the wall in the exposed places. I stationed the people by families, with their swords, spears, and bows. \n\t\t\t When I had made an inspection, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people, \"Don't be afraid of them. Remember the great and awesome Lord, and fight on behalf of your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your families!\"\n\t\t\t It so happened that when our adversaries heard that we were aware of these matters, God frustrated their intentions. Then all of us returned to the wall, each to his own work. \n\t\t\t From that day forward, half of my men were doing the work and half of them were taking up spears, shields, bows, and body armor. Now the officers were behind all the people of Judah \n\t\t\t who were rebuilding the wall. Those who were carrying loads did so by keeping one hand on the work and the other on their weapon. \n\t\t\t The builders to a man had their swords strapped to their sides while they were building. But the trumpeter remained with me.\n\t\t\t I said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people, \"The work is demanding and extensive, and we are spread out on the wall, far removed from one another. \n\t\t\t Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, gather there with us. Our God will fight for us!\"\n\t\t\t So we worked on, with half holding spears, from dawn till dusk.\n\t\t\t At that time I instructed the people, \"Let every man and his coworker spend the night in Jerusalem and let them be guards for us by night and workers by day. \n\t\t\t We did not change clothes, not I, nor my relatives, nor my workers, nor the watchmen who were with me. Each had his weapon, even when getting a drink of water.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then there was a great outcry from the people and their wives against their fellow Jews.\n\t\t\t There were those who said, \"With our sons and daughters, we are many. We must obtain grain in order to eat and stay alive.\" \n\t\t\t There were others who said, \"We are putting up our fields, our vineyards, and our houses as collateral in order to obtain grain during the famine.\"\n\t\t\t Then there were those who said, \"We have borrowed money to pay our taxes to the king on our fields and our vineyards. \n\t\t\t And now, though we share the same flesh and blood as our fellow countrymen, and our children are just like their children, still we have found it necessary to subject our sons and daughters to slavery. Some of our daughters have been subjected to slavery, while we are powerless to help, since our fields and vineyards now belong to other people.\"\n\t\t\t I was very angry when I heard their outcry and these complaints.\n\t\t\t I considered these things carefully and then registered a complaint with the wealthy and the officials. I said to them, \"Each one of you is seizing the collateral from your own countrymen!\" Because of them I called for a great public assembly. \n\t\t\t I said to them, \"To the extent possible we have bought back our fellow Jews who had been sold to the Gentiles. But now you yourselves want to sell your own countrymen, so that we can then buy them back!\" They were utterly silent, and could find nothing to say.\n\t\t\t Then I said, \"The thing that you are doing is wrong! Should you not conduct yourselves in the fear of our God in order to avoid the reproach of the Gentiles who are our enemies? \n\t\t\t Even I and my relatives and my associates are lending them money and grain. But let us abandon this practice of seizing collateral!\n\t\t\t This very day return to them their fields, their vineyards, their olive trees, and their houses, along with the interest that you are exacting from them on the money, the grain, the new wine, and the olive oil.\"\n\t\t\t They replied, \"We will return these things, and we will no longer demand anything from them. We will do just as you say.\" Then I called the priests and made the wealthy and the officials swear to do what had been promised.\n\t\t\t I also shook out my garment, and I said, \"In this way may God shake out from his house and his property every person who does not carry out this matter. In this way may he be shaken out and emptied!\" All the assembly replied, \"So be it!\" and they praised the LORD. Then the people did as they had promised.\n\t\t\t From the day that I was appointed governor in the land of Judah, that is, from the twentieth year until the thirty-second year of King Artaxerxes, twelve years in all, neither I nor my relatives ate the food allotted to the governor.\n\t\t\t But the former governors who preceded me had burdened the people and had taken food and wine from them, in addition to forty shekels of silver. Their associates were also domineering over the people. But I did not behave in this way, due to my fear of God. \n\t\t\t I gave myself to the work on this wall, without even purchasing a field. All my associates were gathered there for the work.\n\t\t\t There were 150 Jews and officials who dined with me routinely, in addition to those who came to us from the nations all around us. \n\t\t\t Every day one ox, six select sheep, and some birds were prepared for me, and every ten days all kinds of wine in abundance. Despite all this I did not require the food allotted to the governor, for the work was demanding on this people.\n\t\t\t Please remember me for good, O my God, for all that I have done for this people.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t When Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies heard that I had rebuilt the wall and no breach remained in it (even though up to that time I had not positioned doors in the gates),\n\t\t\t Sanballat and Geshem sent word to me saying, \"Come on! Let's set up a time to meet together at Kephirim in the plain of Ono.\" Now they intended to do me harm.\n\t\t\t So I sent messengers to them saying, \"I am engaged in an important work, and I am unable to come down. Why should the work come to a halt when I leave it to come down to you?\" \n\t\t\t They contacted me four times in this way, and I responded the same way each time.\n\t\t\t The fifth time that Sanballat sent his assistant to me in this way, he had an open letter in his hand.\n\t\t\t Written in it were the following words: \"Among the nations it is rumored (and Geshem has substantiated this) that you and the Jews have intentions of revolting, and for this reason you are building the wall. Furthermore, according to these rumors you are going to become their king.\n\t\t\t You have also established prophets to announce in Jerusalem on your behalf, 'We have a king in Judah!' Now the king is going to hear about these rumors. So come on! Let's talk about this.\"\n\t\t\t I sent word back to him, \"We are not engaged in these activities you are describing. All of this is a figment of your imagination.\"\n\t\t\t All of them were wanting to scare us, supposing, \"Their hands will grow slack from the work, and it won't get done.\" So now, strengthen my hands!\n\t\t\t Then I went to the house of Shemaiah son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel. He was confined to his home. He said, \"Let's set up a time to meet in the house of God, within the temple. Let's close the doors of the temple, for they are coming to kill you. It will surely be at night that they will come to kill you.\"\n\t\t\t But I replied, \"Should a man like me run away? Would someone like me flee to the temple in order to save his life? I will not go!\" \n\t\t\t I recognized the fact that God had not sent him, for he had spoken the prophecy against me as a hired agent of Tobiah and Sanballat.\n\t\t\t He had been hired to scare me so that I would do this and thereby sin. They would thus bring reproach on me and I would be discredited.\n\t\t\t Remember, O my God, Tobiah and Sanballat in light of these actions of theirs, also Noadiah the prophetess and the other prophets who were trying to scare me!\n\t\t\t So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth day of Elul, in just fifty-two days.\n\t\t\t When all our enemies heard and all the nations who were around us saw this, they were greatly disheartened. They knew that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God.\n\t\t\t In those days the aristocrats of Judah repeatedly sent letters to Tobiah, and responses from Tobiah were repeatedly coming to them.\n\t\t\t For many in Judah had sworn allegiance to him, because he was the son-in-law of Shecaniah son of Arah. His son Jonathan had married the daughter of Meshullam son of Berechiah. \n\t\t\t They were telling me about his good deeds and then taking back to him the things I said. Tobiah, on the other hand, sent letters in order to scare me.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t When the wall had been rebuilt and I had positioned the doors, and the gatekeepers, the singers, and the Levites had been appointed,\n\t\t\t I then put in charge over Jerusalem my brother Hanani and Hananiah the chief of the citadel, for he was a faithful man and feared God more than many do. \n\t\t\t I said to them, \"The gates of Jerusalem must not be opened in the early morning, until those who are standing guard close the doors and lock them. Position residents of Jerusalem as guards, some at their guard stations and some near their homes.\" \n\t\t\t Now the city was spread out and large, and there were not a lot of people in it. At that time houses had not been rebuilt. \n\t\t\t My God placed it on my heart to gather the leaders, the officials, and the ordinary people so they could be enrolled on the basis of genealogy. I found the genealogical records of those who had formerly returned. Here is what I found written in that record:\n\t\t\t These are the people of the province who returned from the captivity of the exiles, whom King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had forced into exile. They returned to Jerusalem and to Judah, each to his own city. \n\t\t\t They came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, and Baanah. The number of Israelite men was as follows:\n\t\t\t the descendants of Parosh, 2,172;\n\t\t\t the descendants of Shephatiah, 372;\n\t\t\t the descendants of Arah, 652;\n\t\t\t the descendants of Pahath-Moab (from the line of Jeshua and Joab), 2,818;\n\t\t\t the descendants of Elam, 1,254;\n\t\t\t the descendants of Zattu, 845;\n\t\t\t the descendants of Zaccai, 760;\n\t\t\t the descendants of Binnui, 648;\n\t\t\t the descendants of Bebai, 628;\n\t\t\t the descendants of Azgad, 2,322;\n\t\t\t the descendants of Adonikam, 667;\n\t\t\t the descendants of Bigvai, 2,067;\n\t\t\t the descendants of Adin, 655;\n\t\t\t the descendants of Ater (through Hezekiah), 98;\n\t\t\t the descendants of Hashum, 328;\n\t\t\t the descendants of Bezai, 324;\n\t\t\t the descendants of Harif, 112;\n\t\t\t the descendants of Gibeon, 95;\n\t\t\t The men of Bethlehem and Netophah, 188;\n\t\t\t the men of Anathoth, 128;\n\t\t\t the men of the family of Azmaveth, 42;\n\t\t\t the men of Kiriath Jearim, Kephirah, and Beeroth, 743;\n\t\t\t the men of Ramah and Geba, 621;\n\t\t\t the men of Micmash, 122;\n\t\t\t the men of Bethel and Ai, 123;\n\t\t\t the men of the other Nebo, 52;\n\t\t\t the descendants of the other Elam, 1,254;\n\t\t\t the descendants of Harim, 320;\n\t\t\t the descendants of Jericho, 345;\n\t\t\t the descendants of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, 721;\n\t\t\t the descendants of Senaah, 3,930.\n\t\t\t The priests: the descendants of Jedaiah (through the family of Jeshua), 973;\n\t\t\t the descendants of Immer, 1,052;\n\t\t\t the descendants of Pashhur, 1,247;\n\t\t\t the descendants of Harim, 1,017.\n\t\t\t The Levites: the descendants of Jeshua (through Kadmiel, through the line of Hodaviah), 74.\n\t\t\t The singers: the descendants of Asaph, 148.\n\t\t\t The gatekeepers: the descendants of Shallum, the descendants of Ater, the descendants of Talmon, the descendants of Akkub, the descendants of Hatita, and the descendants of Shobai, 138.\n\t\t\t The temple servants: the descendants of Ziha, the descendants of Hasupha, the descendants of Tabbaoth,\n\t\t\t the descendants of Keros, the descendants of Sia, the descendants of Padon,\n\t\t\t the descendants of Lebanah, the descendants of Hagabah, the descendants of Shalmai,\n\t\t\t the descendants of Hanan, the descendants of Giddel, the descendants of Gahar,\n\t\t\t the descendants of Reaiah, the descendants of Rezin, the descendants of Nekoda,\n\t\t\t the descendants of Gazzam, the descendants of Uzzah, the descendants of Paseah,\n\t\t\t the descendants of Besai, the descendants of Meunim, the descendants of Nephussim,\n\t\t\t the descendants of Bakbuk, the descendants of Hakupha, the descendants of Harhur,\n\t\t\t the descendants of Bazluth, the descendants of Mehida, the descendants of Harsha,\n\t\t\t the descendants of Barkos, the descendants of Sisera, the descendants of Temah,\n\t\t\t the descendants of Neziah, the descendants of Hatipha.\n\t\t\t The descendants of the servants of Solomon: the descendants of Sotai, the descendants of Sophereth, the descendants of Perida,\n\t\t\t the descendants of Jaala, the descendants of Darkon, the descendants of Giddel,\n\t\t\t the descendants of Shephatiah, the descendants of Hattil, the descendants of Pokereth-Hazzebaim, and the descendants of Amon.\n\t\t\t All the temple servants and the descendants of the servants of Solomon, 392.\n\t\t\t These are the ones who came up from Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Kerub, Addon, and Immer (although they were unable to certify their family connection or their ancestry, as to whether they were really from Israel):\n\t\t\t the descendants of Delaiah, the descendants of Tobiah, and the descendants of Nekoda, 642.\n\t\t\t And from among the priests: the descendants of Hobaiah, the descendants of Hakkoz, and the descendants of Barzillai (who had married a woman from the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite and was called by that name).\n\t\t\t They searched for their records in the genealogical materials, but none were found. They were therefore excluded from the priesthood. \n\t\t\t The governor instructed them not to eat any of the sacred food until there was a priest who could consult the Urim and Thummim.\n\t\t\t The entire group numbered 42,360,\n\t\t\t not counting their 7,337 male and female servants. They also had 245 male and female singers.\n\t\t\t They had 736 horses, 245 mules,\n\t\t\t 435 camels, and 6,720 donkeys. \n\t\t\t Some of the family leaders contributed to the work. The governor contributed to the treasury 1,000 gold drachmas, 50 bowls, and 530 priestly garments. \n\t\t\t Some of the family leaders gave to the project treasury 20,000 gold drachmas and 2,200 silver minas.\n\t\t\t What the rest of the people gave amounted to 20,000 gold drachmas, 2,000 silver minas, and 67 priestly garments.\n\t\t\t The priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, some of the people, the temple servants, and all the rest of Israel lived in their cities. When the seventh month arrived and the Israelites were settled in their cities,\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t all the people gathered together in the plaza which was in front of the Water Gate. They asked Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses which the LORD had commanded Israel. \n\t\t\t So Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly which included men and women and all those able to understand what they heard. (This happened on the first day of the seventh month.)\n\t\t\t So he read it before the plaza in front of the Water Gate from dawn till noon before the men and women and those children who could understand. All the people were eager to hear the book of the law.\n\t\t\t Ezra the scribe stood on a towering wooden platform constructed for this purpose. Standing near him on his right were Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Masseiah. On his left were Pedaiah, Mishael, Malkijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam. \n\t\t\t Ezra opened the book in plain view of all the people, for he was elevated above all the people. When he opened the book, all the people stood up. \n\t\t\t Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God, and all the people replied \"Amen! Amen!\" as they lifted their hands. Then they bowed down and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.\n\t\t\t Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah, all of whom were Levites, were teaching the people the law, as the people remained standing.\n\t\t\t They read from the book of God's law, explaining it and imparting insight. Thus the people gained understanding from what was read.\n\t\t\t Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priestly scribe, and the Levites who were imparting understanding to the people said to all of them, \"This day is holy to the LORD your God. Do not mourn or weep.\" For all the people had been weeping when they heard the words of the law. \n\t\t\t He said to them, \"Go and eat delicacies and drink sweet drinks and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared. For this day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.\"\n\t\t\t Then the Levites quieted all the people saying, \"Be quiet, for this day is holy. Do not grieve.\"\n\t\t\t So all the people departed to eat and drink and to share their food with others and to enjoy tremendous joy, for they had gained insight in the matters that had been made known to them.\n\t\t\t On the second day of the month the family leaders met with Ezra the scribe, together with all the people, the priests, and the Levites, to consider the words of the law. \n\t\t\t They discovered written in the law that the LORD had commanded through Moses that the Israelites should live in temporary shelters during the festival of the seventh month, \n\t\t\t and that they should make a proclamation and disseminate this message in all their cities and in Jerusalem: \"Go to the hill country and bring back olive branches and branches of wild olive trees, myrtle trees, date palms, and other leafy trees to construct temporary shelters, as it is written.\"\n\t\t\t So the people went out and brought these things back and constructed temporary shelters for themselves, each on his roof and in his courtyard and in the courtyards of the temple of God and in the plaza of the Water Gate and the plaza of the Ephraim Gate. \n\t\t\t So all the assembly which had returned from the exile constructed temporary shelters and lived in them. The Israelites had not done so from the days of Joshua son of Nun until that day. Everyone experienced very great joy.\n\t\t\t Ezra read in the book of the law of God day by day, from the first day to the last. They observed the festival for seven days, and on the eighth day they held an assembly as was required.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t On the twenty-fourth day of this same month the Israelites assembled; they were fasting and wearing sackcloth, their heads covered with dust.\n\t\t\t Those truly of Israelite descent separated from all the foreigners, standing and confessing their sins and the iniquities of their ancestors.\n\t\t\t For one-fourth of the day they stood in their place and read from the book of the law of the LORD their God, and for another fourth they were confessing their sins and worshiping the LORD their God. \n\t\t\t Then the Levites, Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Kenani, stood on the steps and called out loudly to the LORD their God.\n\t\t\t The Levites, Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said, \"Stand up and bless the LORD your God!\" \"May you be blessed, O LORD our God, from age to age. May your glorious name be blessed; may it be lifted up above all blessing and praise.\n\t\t\t You alone are the LORD. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, along with all their multitude of stars, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You impart life to them all, and the multitudes of heaven worship you.\n\t\t\t \"You are the LORD God who chose Abram and brought him forth from Ur of the Chaldeans. You changed his name to Abraham.\n\t\t\t When you perceived that his heart was faithful toward you, you established a covenant with him to give his descendants the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, and the Girgashites. You have fulfilled your promise, for you are righteous.\n\t\t\t \"You saw the affliction of our ancestors in Egypt, and you heard their cry at the Red Sea.\n\t\t\t You performed awesome signs against Pharaoh, against his servants, and against all the people of his land, for you knew that the Egyptians had acted presumptuously against them. You made for yourself a name that is celebrated to this day. \n\t\t\t You split the sea before them, and they crossed through the sea on dry ground! But you threw their pursuers into the depths, like a stone into surging waters. \n\t\t\t You guided them with a pillar of cloud by day and with a pillar of fire by night to illumine for them the path they were to travel.\n\t\t\t \"You came down on Mount Sinai and spoke with them from heaven. You provided them with just judgments, true laws, and good statutes and commandments.\n\t\t\t You made known to them your holy Sabbath; you issued commandments, statutes, and law to them through Moses your servant. \n\t\t\t You provided bread from heaven for them in their time of hunger, and you brought forth water from the rock for them in their time of thirst. You told them to enter in order to possess the land that you had sworn to give them.\n\t\t\t \"But they, our ancestors, behaved presumptuously; they rebelled and did not obey your commandments.\n\t\t\t They refused to obey and did not recall your miracles that you had performed among them. Instead, they rebelled and appointed a leader to return to their bondage in Egypt. But you are a God of forgiveness, merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and unfailing in your loyal love. You did not abandon them,\n\t\t\t even when they made a cast image of a calf for themselves and said, 'This is your God who brought you up from Egypt,' or when they committed atrocious blasphemies.\n\t\t\t \"Due to your great compassion you did not abandon them in the desert. The pillar of cloud did not stop guiding them in the path by day, nor did the pillar of fire stop illuminating for them by night the path on which they should travel. \n\t\t\t You imparted your good Spirit to instruct them. You did not withhold your manna from their mouths; you provided water for their thirst.\n\t\t\t For forty years you sustained them. Even in the desert they never lacked anything. Their clothes did not wear out and their feet did not swell.\n\t\t\t \"You gave them kingdoms and peoples, and you allocated them to every corner of the land. They inherited the land of King Sihon of Heshbon and the land of King Og of Bashan. \n\t\t\t You multiplied their descendants like the stars of the sky. You brought them to the land you had told their ancestors to enter in order to possess.\n\t\t\t Their descendants entered and possessed the land. You subdued before them the Canaanites who were the inhabitants of the land. You delivered them into their hand, together with their kings and the peoples of the land, to deal with as they pleased. \n\t\t\t They captured fortified cities and fertile land. They took possession of houses full of all sorts of good things, wells previously dug, vineyards, olive trees, and fruit trees in abundance. They ate until they were full and grew fat. They enjoyed to the full your great goodness.\n\t\t\t \"Nonetheless they grew disobedient and rebelled against you; they disregarded your law. They killed your prophets who had solemnly admonished them in order to cause them to return to you. They committed atrocious blasphemies. \n\t\t\t Therefore you delivered them into the hand of their adversaries, who oppressed them. But in the time of their distress they called to you, and you heard from heaven. In your abundant compassion you provided them with deliverers to rescue them from their adversaries.\n\t\t\t \"Then, when they were at rest again, they went back to doing evil before you. Then you abandoned them to their enemies, and they gained dominion over them. When they again cried out to you, in your compassion you heard from heaven and rescued them time and again.\n\t\t\t And you solemnly admonished them in order to return them to your law, but they behaved presumptuously and did not obey your commandments. They sinned against your ordinances, those by which an individual, if he obeys them, will live. They boldly turned from you; they rebelled and did not obey.\n\t\t\t You prolonged your kindness with them for many years, and you solemnly admonished them by your Spirit through your prophets. Still they paid no attention, so you delivered them into the hands of the neighboring peoples.\n\t\t\t However, due to your abundant mercy you did not do away with them altogether; you did not abandon them. For you are a merciful and compassionate God.\n\t\t\t \"So now, our God, the great, powerful, and awesome God, who keeps covenant fidelity, do not regard as inconsequential all the hardship that has befallen us, our kings, our leaders, our priests, our prophets, our ancestors, and all your people, from the days of the kings of Assyria until this very day!\n\t\t\t You are righteous with regard to all that has happened to us, for you have acted faithfully. It is we who have been in the wrong! \n\t\t\t Our kings, our leaders, our priests, and our ancestors have not kept your law. They have not paid attention to your commandments or your testimonies by which you have solemnly admonished them.\n\t\t\t Even when they were in their kingdom and benefiting from your incredible goodness that you had lavished on them in the spacious and fertile land you had set before them, they did not serve you, nor did they turn from their evil practices.\n\t\t\t \"So today we are slaves! In the very land you gave to our ancestors to eat its fruit and to enjoy its good things, we are slaves!\n\t\t\t Its abundant produce goes to the kings you have placed over us due to our sins. They rule over our bodies and our livestock as they see fit, and we are in great distress!\n\t\t\t \"Because of all of this we are entering into a binding covenant in written form; our leaders, our Levites, and our priests have affixed their names on the sealed document.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t On the sealed documents were the following names: Nehemiah the governor, son of Hacaliah, along with Zedekiah,\n\t\t\t Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah,\n\t\t\t Pashhur, Amariah, Malkijah,\n\t\t\t Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch,\n\t\t\t Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah,\n\t\t\t Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch,\n\t\t\t Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin,\n\t\t\t Maaziah, Bilgai, and Shemaiah. These were the priests.\n\t\t\t The Levites were as follows: Jeshua son of Azaniah, Binnui of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel.\n\t\t\t Their colleagues were as follows: Shebaniah, Hodiah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan,\n\t\t\t Mica, Rehob, Hashabiah,\n\t\t\t Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah,\n\t\t\t Hodiah, Bani, and Beninu.\n\t\t\t The leaders of the people were as follows: Parosh, Pahath-Moab, Elam, Zattu, Bani,\n\t\t\t Bunni, Azgad, Bebai,\n\t\t\t Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin,\n\t\t\t Ater, Hezekiah, Azzur,\n\t\t\t Hodiah, Hashum, Bezai,\n\t\t\t Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai,\n\t\t\t Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir,\n\t\t\t Meshezabel, Zadok, Jaddua,\n\t\t\t Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah,\n\t\t\t Hoshea, Hananiah, Hasshub,\n\t\t\t Hallohesh, Pilha, Shobek,\n\t\t\t Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah,\n\t\t\t Ahiah, Hanan, Anan,\n\t\t\t Malluch, Harim, and Baanah.\n\t\t\t \"Now the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the temple attendants, and all those who have separated themselves from the neighboring peoples because of the law of God, along with their wives, their sons, and their daughters, all of whom are able to understand,\n\t\t\t hereby participate with their colleagues the town leaders and enter into a curse and an oath to adhere to the law of God which was given through Moses the servant of God, and to obey carefully all the commandments of the LORD our Lord, along with his ordinances and his statutes.\n\t\t\t \"We will not give our daughters in marriage to the neighboring peoples, and we will not take their daughters in marriage for our sons.\n\t\t\t We will not buy on the Sabbath or on a holy day from the neighboring peoples who bring their wares and all kinds of grain to sell on the Sabbath day. We will let the fields lie fallow every seventh year, and we will cancel every loan.\n\t\t\t We accept responsibility for fulfilling the commands to give one third of a shekel each year for the work of the temple of our God, \n\t\t\t for the loaves of presentation and for the regular grain offerings and regular burnt offerings, for the Sabbaths, for the new moons, for the appointed meetings, for the holy offerings, for the sin offerings to make atonement for Israel, and for all the work of the temple of our God.\n\t\t\t \"We, the priests, the Levites, and the people, have cast lots concerning the wood offerings, to bring them to the temple of our God according to our families at the designated times year by year to burn on the altar of the LORD our God, as is written in the law.\n\t\t\t We also accept responsibility for bringing the first fruits of our land and the first fruits of every fruit tree year by year to the temple of the LORD. \n\t\t\t We also accept responsibility, as is written in the law, for bringing the firstborn of our sons and our cattle and the firstborn of our herds and of our flocks to the temple of our God, to the priests who are ministering in the temple of our God.\n\t\t\t We will also bring the first of our coarse meal, of our contributions, of the fruit of every tree, of new wine, and of olive oil to the priests at the storerooms of the temple of our God, along with a tenth of the produce of our land to the Levites, for the Levites are the ones who collect the tithes in all the cities where we work.\n\t\t\t A priest of Aaron's line will be with the Levites when the Levites collect the tithes, and the Levites will bring up a tenth of the tithes to the temple of our God, to the storerooms of the treasury. \n\t\t\t The Israelites and the Levites will bring the contribution of the grain, the new wine, and the olive oil to the storerooms where the utensils of the sanctuary are kept, and where the priests who minister stay, along with the gatekeepers and the singers. We will not neglect the temple of our God.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t So the leaders of the people settled in Jerusalem, while the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of every ten to settle in Jerusalem, the holy city, while the other nine remained in other cities. \n\t\t\t The people gave their blessing on all the men who volunteered to settle in Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t These are the provincial leaders who settled in Jerusalem. (While other Israelites, the priests, the Levites, the temple attendants, and the sons of the servants of Solomon settled in the cities of Judah, each on his own property in their cities, \n\t\t\t some of the descendants of Judah and some of the descendants of Benjamin settled in Jerusalem.) Of the descendants of Judah: Athaiah son of Uzziah, the son of Zechariah, the son of Amariah, the son of Shephatiah, the son of Mahalalel, from the descendants of Perez;\n\t\t\t and Maaseiah son of Baruch, the son of Col-Hozeh, the son of Hazaiah, the son of Adaiah, the son of Joiarib, the son of Zechariah, from the descendants of Shelah.\n\t\t\t The sum total of the descendants of Perez who were settling in Jerusalem was 468 exceptional men.\n\t\t\t These are the descendants of Benjamin: Sallu son of Meshullam, the son of Joed, the son of Pedaiah, the son of Kolaiah, the son of Maaseiah, the son of Ithiel, the son of Jeshaiah,\n\t\t\t and his followers, Gabbai and Sallai, 928 in all.\n\t\t\t Joel son of Zicri was the officer in charge of them, and Judah son of Hassenuah was second-in-command over the city.\n\t\t\t From the priests: Jedaiah son of Joiarib, Jakin,\n\t\t\t Seraiah son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, supervisor in the temple of God,\n\t\t\t and their colleagues who were carrying out work for the temple, 822; and Adaiah son of Jeroham, the son of Pelaliah, the son of Amzi, the son of Zechariah, the son of Pashhur, the son of Malkijah,\n\t\t\t and his colleagues who were heads of families, 242; and Amashsai son of Azarel, the son of Ahzai, the son of Meshillemoth, the son of Immer,\n\t\t\t and his colleagues who were exceptional men, 128. The officer over them was Zabdiel the son of Haggedolim.\n\t\t\t From the Levites: Shemaiah son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Bunni;\n\t\t\t Shabbethai and Jozabad, leaders of the Levites, were in charge of the external work for the temple of God;\n\t\t\t Mattaniah son of Mica, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, the praise leader who led in thanksgiving and prayer; Bakbukiah, second among his colleagues; and Abda son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun. \n\t\t\t The sum total of the Levites in the holy city was 284.\n\t\t\t And the gatekeepers: Akkub, Talmon and their colleagues who were guarding the gates, 172.\n\t\t\t And the rest of the Israelites, with the priests and the Levites, were in all the cities of Judah, each on his own property.\n\t\t\t The temple attendants were living on Ophel, and Ziha and Gishpa were over them.\n\t\t\t The overseer of the Levites in Jerusalem was Uzzi son of Bani, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Mica. He was one of Asaph's descendants who were the singers responsible for the service of the temple of God.\n\t\t\t For they were under royal orders which determined their activity day by day.\n\t\t\t Pethahiah son of Meshezabel, one of the descendants of Zerah son of Judah, was an adviser to the king in every matter pertaining to the people.\n\t\t\t As for the settlements with their fields, some of the people of Judah settled in Kiriath Arba and its neighboring villages, in Dibon and its villages, in Jekabzeel and its settlements, \n\t\t\t in Jeshua, in Moladah, in Beth Pelet,\n\t\t\t in Hazar Shual, in Beer Sheba and its villages,\n\t\t\t in Ziklag, in Meconah and its villages,\n\t\t\t in En Rimmon, in Zorah, in Jarmuth,\n\t\t\t Zanoah, Adullam and their settlements, in Lachish and its fields, and in Azekah and its villages. So they were encamped from Beer Sheba to the Valley of Hinnom.\n\t\t\t Some of the descendants of Benjamin settled in Geba, Micmash, Aija, Bethel and its villages, \n\t\t\t in Anathoth, Nob, and Ananiah,\n\t\t\t in Hazor, Ramah, and Gittaim, \n\t\t\t in Hadid, Zeboim, and Neballat,\n\t\t\t in Lod, Ono, and the Valley of the Craftsmen.\n\t\t\t Some of the Judean divisions of the Levites settled in Benjamin.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t These are the priests and Levites who returned with Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra, \n\t\t\t Amariah, Malluch, Hattush,\n\t\t\t Shecaniah, Rehum, Meremoth,\n\t\t\t Iddo, Ginnethon, Abijah,\n\t\t\t Mijamin, Moadiah, Bilgah,\n\t\t\t Shemaiah, Joiarib, Jedaiah,\n\t\t\t Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, and Jedaiah. These were the leaders of the priests and their colleagues in the days of Jeshua.\n\t\t\t And the Levites: Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah, who together with his colleagues was in charge of the songs of thanksgiving. \n\t\t\t Bakbukiah and Unni, their colleagues, stood opposite them in the services.\n\t\t\t Jeshua was the father of Joiakim, Joiakim was the father of Eliashib, Eliashib was the father of Joiada, \n\t\t\t Joiada was the father of Jonathan, and Jonathan was the father of Jaddua.\n\t\t\t In the days of Joiakim, these were the priests who were leaders of the families: of Seraiah, Meraiah; of Jeremiah, Hananiah;\n\t\t\t of Ezra, Meshullam; of Amariah, Jehohanan;\n\t\t\t of Malluch, Jonathan; of Shecaniah, Joseph; \n\t\t\t of Harim, Adna; of Meremoth, Helkai; \n\t\t\t of Iddo, Zechariah; of Ginnethon, Meshullam; \n\t\t\t of Abijah, Zicri; of Miniamin and of Moadiah, Piltai; \n\t\t\t of Bilgah, Shammua; of Shemaiah, Jehonathan;\n\t\t\t of Joiarib, Mattenai; of Jedaiah, Uzzi;\n\t\t\t of Sallu, Kallai; of Amok, Eber; \n\t\t\t of Hilkiah, Hashabiah; of Jedaiah, Nethanel.\n\t\t\t As for the Levites, in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, Johanan and Jaddua the heads of families were recorded, as were the priests during the reign of Darius the Persian. \n\t\t\t The descendants of Levi were recorded in the Book of the Chronicles as heads of families up to the days of Johanan son of Eliashib. \n\t\t\t And the leaders of the Levites were Hashabiah, Sherebiah, Jeshua son of Kadmiel, and their colleagues, who stood opposite them to offer praise and thanks, one contingent corresponding to the other, as specified by David the man of God.\n\t\t\t Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, and Akkub were gatekeepers who were guarding the storerooms at the gates.\n\t\t\t These all served in the days of Joiakim son of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor and of Ezra the priestly scribe.\n\t\t\t At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, they sought out the Levites from all the places they lived to bring them to Jerusalem to celebrate the dedication joyfully with songs of thanksgiving and songs accompanied by cymbals, harps, and lyres. \n\t\t\t The singers were also assembled from the district around Jerusalem and from the settlements of the Netophathites \n\t\t\t and from Beth Gilgal and from the fields of Geba and Azmaveth, for the singers had built settlements for themselves around Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t When the priests and Levites had purified themselves, they purified the people, the gates, and the wall.\n\t\t\t I brought the leaders of Judah up on top of the wall, and I appointed two large choirs to give thanks. One was to proceed on the top of the wall southward toward the Dung Gate. \n\t\t\t Going after them were Hoshaiah, half the leaders of Judah,\n\t\t\t Azariah, Ezra, Meshullam,\n\t\t\t Judah, Benjamin, Shemaiah, Jeremiah,\n\t\t\t some of the priests with trumpets, Zechariah son of Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Micaiah, the son of Zaccur, the son of Asaph, \n\t\t\t and his colleagues, Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah, and Hanani, with musical instruments of David the man of God. (Ezra the scribe led them.)\n\t\t\t They went over the Fountain Gate and continued directly up the steps of the City of David on the ascent to the wall. They passed the house of David and continued on to the Water Gate toward the east.\n\t\t\t The second choir was proceeding in the opposite direction. I followed them, along with half the people, on top of the wall, past the Tower of the Ovens to the Broad Wall, \n\t\t\t over the Ephraim Gate, the Jeshanah Gate, the Fish Gate, the Tower of Hananel, and the Tower of the Hundred, to the Sheep Gate. They stopped at the Gate of the Guard.\n\t\t\t Then the two choirs that gave thanks took their stations in the temple of God. I did also, along with half the officials with me, \n\t\t\t and the priests, Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah, with their trumpets,\n\t\t\t and also Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malkijah, Elam, and Ezer. The choirs sang loudly under the direction of Jezrahiah. \n\t\t\t And on that day they offered great sacrifices and rejoiced, for God had given them great joy. The women and children also rejoiced. The rejoicing in Jerusalem could be heard from far away.\n\t\t\t On that day men were appointed over the storerooms for the contributions, first fruits, and tithes, to gather into them from the fields of the cities the portions prescribed by the law for the priests and the Levites, for the people of Judah took delight in the priests and Levites who were ministering.\n\t\t\t They performed the service of their God and the service of purification, along with the singers and gatekeepers, according to the commandment of David and his son Solomon. \n\t\t\t For long ago, in the days of David and Asaph, there had been directors for the singers and for the songs of praise and thanks to God. \n\t\t\t So in the days of Zerubbabel and in the days of Nehemiah, all Israel was contributing the portions for the singers and gatekeepers, according to the daily need. They also set aside the portion for the Levites, and the Levites set aside the portion for the descendants of Aaron.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t On that day the book of Moses was read aloud in the hearing of the people. They found written in it that no Ammonite or Moabite may ever enter the assembly of God, \n\t\t\t for they had not met the Israelites with food and water, but instead had hired Balaam to curse them. (Our God, however, turned the curse into blessing.) \n\t\t\t When they heard the law, they removed from Israel all who were of mixed ancestry.\n\t\t\t But prior to this time, Eliashib the priest, a relative of Tobiah, had been appointed over the storerooms of the temple of our God. \n\t\t\t He made for himself a large storeroom where previously they had been keeping the grain offering, the incense, and the vessels, along with the tithes of the grain, the new wine, and the olive oil as commanded for the Levites, the singers, the gate keepers, and the offering for the priests.\n\t\t\t During all this time I was not in Jerusalem, for in the thirty-second year of King Artaxerxes of Babylon, I had gone back to the king. After some time I had requested leave of the king, \n\t\t\t and I returned to Jerusalem. Then I discovered the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah by supplying him with a storeroom in the courts of the temple of God.\n\t\t\t I was very upset, and I threw all of Tobiah's household possessions out of the storeroom.\n\t\t\t Then I gave instructions that the storerooms should be purified, and I brought back the equipment of the temple of God, along with the grain offering and the incense.\n\t\t\t I also discovered that the grain offerings for the Levites had not been provided, and that as a result the Levites and the singers who performed this work had all gone off to their fields.\n\t\t\t So I registered a complaint with the leaders, asking \"Why is the temple of God neglected?\" Then I gathered them and reassigned them to their positions.\n\t\t\t Then all of Judah brought the tithe of the grain, the new wine, and the olive oil to the storerooms.\n\t\t\t I gave instructions that Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe, and a certain Levite named Pedaiah be put in charge of the storerooms, and that Hanan son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah, be their assistant, for they were regarded as trustworthy. It was then their responsibility to oversee the distribution to their colleagues.\n\t\t\t Please remember me for this, O my God, and do not wipe out the kindness that I have done for the temple of my God and for its services!\n\t\t\t In those days I saw people in Judah treading winepresses on the Sabbath, bringing in heaps of grain and loading them onto donkeys, along with wine, grapes, figs, and all kinds of loads, and bringing them to Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. So I warned them on the day that they sold these provisions.\n\t\t\t The people from Tyre who lived there were bringing fish and all kinds of merchandise and were selling it on the Sabbath to the people of Judah, and in Jerusalem, of all places!\n\t\t\t So I registered a complaint with the nobles of Judah, saying to them, \"What is this evil thing that you are doing, profaning the Sabbath day?\n\t\t\t Isn't this the way your ancestors acted, causing our God to bring on them and on this city all this misfortune? And now you are causing even more wrath on Israel, profaning the Sabbath like this!\"\n\t\t\t When the evening shadows began to fall on the gates of Jerusalem before the Sabbath, I ordered the doors to be closed. I further directed that they were not to be opened until after the Sabbath. I positioned some of my young men at the gates so that no load could enter on the Sabbath day. \n\t\t\t The traders and sellers of all kinds of merchandise spent the night outside Jerusalem once or twice.\n\t\t\t But I warned them and said, \"Why do you spend the night by the wall? If you repeat this, I will forcibly remove you!\" From that time on they did not show up on the Sabbath.\n\t\t\t Then I directed the Levites to purify themselves and come and guard the gates in order to keep the Sabbath day holy. For this please remember me, O my God, and have pity on me in keeping with your great love.\n\t\t\t Also in those days I saw the men of Judah who had married women from Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab.\n\t\t\t Half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod (or the language of one of the other peoples mentioned) and were unable to speak the language of Judah.\n\t\t\t So I entered a complaint with them. I called down a curse on them, and I struck some of the men and pulled out their hair. I had them swear by God saying, \"You will not marry off your daughters to their sons, and you will not take any of their daughters as wives for your sons or for yourselves!\n\t\t\t Was it not because of things like these that King Solomon of Israel sinned? Among the many nations there was no king like him. He was loved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel. But the foreign wives made even him sin! \n\t\t\t Should we then in your case hear that you do all this great evil, thereby being unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign wives?\"\n\t\t\t Now one of the sons of Joiada son of Eliashib the high priest was a son-in-law of Sanballat the Horonite. So I banished him from my sight.\n\t\t\t Please remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, the covenant of the priesthood, and the Levites.\n\t\t\t So I purified them of everything foreign, and I assigned specific duties to the priests and the Levites. \n\t\t\t I also provided for the wood offering at the appointed times and also for the first fruits. Please remember me for good, O my God.\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The following events happened in the days of Ahasuerus. (I am referring to that Ahasuerus who used to rule over a hundred and twenty-seven provinces extending all the way from India to Ethiopia.)\n\t\t\t In those days, as King Ahasuerus sat on his royal throne in Susa the citadel,\n\t\t\t in the third year of his reign he provided a banquet for all his officials and his servants. The army of Persia and Media was present, as well as the nobles and the officials of the provinces.\n\t\t\t He displayed the riches of his royal glory and the splendor of his majestic greatness for a lengthy period of time, a hundred and eighty days, to be exact!\n\t\t\t When those days were completed, the king then provided a seven-day banquet for all the people who were present in Susa the citadel, for those of highest standing to the most lowly. It was held in the court located in the garden of the royal palace. \n\t\t\t The furnishings included linen and purple curtains hung by cords of the finest linen and purple wool on silver rings, alabaster columns, gold and silver couches displayed on a floor made of valuable stones of alabaster, mother-of-pearl, and mineral stone. \n\t\t\t Drinks were served in golden containers, all of which differed from one another. Royal wine was available in abundance at the king's expense. \n\t\t\t There were no restrictions on the drinking, for the king had instructed all of his supervisors that they should do as everyone so desired.\n\t\t\t Queen Vashti also gave a banquet for the women in King Ahasuerus' royal palace.\n\t\t\t On the seventh day, as King Ahasuerus was feeling the effects of the wine, he ordered Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven eunuchs who attended him,\n\t\t\t to bring Queen Vashti into the king's presence wearing her royal high turban. He wanted to show the people and the officials her beauty, for she was very attractive.\n\t\t\t But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king's bidding conveyed through the eunuchs. Then the king became extremely angry, and his rage consumed him.\n\t\t\t The king then inquired of the wise men who were discerners of the times, for it was the royal custom to confer with all those who were proficient in laws and legalities.\n\t\t\t Those who were closest to him were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan. These men were the seven officials of Persia and Media who saw the king on a regular basis and had the most prominent offices in the kingdom. \n\t\t\t The king asked, \"By law, what should be done to Queen Vashti in light of the fact that she has not obeyed the instructions of King Ahasuerus conveyed through the eunuchs?\"\n\t\t\t Memucan then replied to the king and the officials, \"The wrong of Queen Vashti is not against the king alone, but against all the officials and all the people who are throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus.\n\t\t\t For the matter concerning the queen will spread to all the women, leading them to treat their husbands with contempt, saying, 'When King Ahasuerus gave orders to bring Queen Vashti into his presence, she would not come.'\n\t\t\t And this very day the noble ladies of Persia and Media who have heard the matter concerning the queen will respond in the same way to all the royal officials, and there will be more than enough contempt and anger!\n\t\t\t If the king is so inclined, let a royal edict go forth from him, and let it be written in the laws of Persia and Media that cannot be repealed, that Vashti may not come into the presence of King Ahasuerus, and let the king convey her royalty to another who is more deserving than she.\n\t\t\t And let the king's decision which he will enact be disseminated throughout all his kingdom, vast though it is. Then all the women will give honor to their husbands, from the most prominent to the lowly.\"\n\t\t\t The matter seemed appropriate to the king and the officials. So the king acted on the advice of Memucan.\n\t\t\t He sent letters throughout all the royal provinces, to each province according to its own script and to each people according to its own language, that every man should be ruling his family and should be speaking the language of his own people.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t When these things had been accomplished and the rage of King Ahasuerus had diminished, he remembered Vashti and what she had done and what had been decided against her. \n\t\t\t The king's servants who attended him said, \"Let a search be conducted in the king's behalf for attractive young women.\n\t\t\t And let the king appoint officers throughout all the provinces of his kingdom to gather all the attractive young women to Susa the citadel, to the harem under the authority of Hegai, the king's eunuch who oversees the women, and let him provide whatever cosmetics they desire.\n\t\t\t Let the young woman whom the king finds most attractive become queen in place of Vashti.\" This seemed like a good idea to the king, so he acted accordingly.\n\t\t\t Now there happened to be a Jewish man in Susa the citadel whose name was Mordecai. He was the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjaminite, \n\t\t\t who had been taken into exile from Jerusalem with the captives who had been carried into exile with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had taken into exile. \n\t\t\t Now he was acting as the guardian of Hadassah (that is, Esther), the daughter of his uncle, for neither her father nor her mother was alive. This young woman was very attractive and had a beautiful figure. When her father and mother died, Mordecai had raised her as if she were his own daughter.\n\t\t\t It so happened that when the king's edict and his law became known many young women were taken to Susa the citadel to be placed under the authority of Hegai. Esther also was taken to the royal palace to be under the authority of Hegai, who was overseeing the women. \n\t\t\t This young woman pleased him, and she found favor with him. He quickly provided her with her cosmetics and her rations; he also provided her with the seven specially chosen young women who were from the palace. He then transferred her and her young women to the best quarters in the harem.\n\t\t\t Now Esther had not disclosed her people or her lineage, for Mordecai had instructed her not to do so.\n\t\t\t And day after day Mordecai used to walk back and forth in front of the court of the harem in order to learn how Esther was doing and what might happen to her.\n\t\t\t At the end of the twelve months that were required for the women, when the turn of each young woman arrived to go to King Ahasuerus, for in this way they had to fulfill their time of cosmetic treatment: six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with perfume and various ointments used by women,\n\t\t\t the woman would go to the king in the following way: Whatever she asked for would be provided for her to take with her from the harem to the royal palace.\n\t\t\t In the evening she went, and in the morning she returned to a separate part of the harem, to the authority of Shaashgaz the king's eunuch who was overseeing the concubines. She would not go back to the king unless the king was pleased with her and she was requested by name.\n\t\t\t When it became the turn of Esther daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai (who had raised her as if she were his own daughter) to go to the king, she did not request anything except what Hegai the king's eunuch, who was overseer of the women, had recommended. Yet Esther met with the approval of all who saw her.\n\t\t\t Then Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus at his royal residence in the tenth month (that is, the month of Tebeth) in the seventh year of his reign. \n\t\t\t And the king loved Esther more than all the other women, and she met with his loving approval more than all the other young women. So he placed the royal high turban on her head and appointed her queen in place of Vashti. \n\t\t\t Then the king prepared a large banquet for all his officials and his servants, it was actually Esther's banquet. He also set aside a holiday for the provinces, and he provided for offerings at the king's expense.\n\t\t\t Now when the young women were being gathered again, Mordecai was sitting at the king's gate.\n\t\t\t Esther was still not divulging her lineage or her people, just as Mordecai had instructed her. Esther continued to do whatever Mordecai said, just as she had done when he was raising her.\n\t\t\t In those days while Mordecai was sitting at the king's gate, Bigthan and Teresh, two of the king's eunuchs who protected the entrance, became angry and plotted to assassinate King Ahasuerus. \n\t\t\t When Mordecai learned of the conspiracy, he informed Queen Esther, and Esther told the king in Mordecai's behalf.\n\t\t\t The king then had the matter investigated and, finding it to be so, had the two conspirators hanged on a gallows. It was then recorded in the daily chronicles in the king's presence.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Some time later King Ahasuerus promoted Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, exalting him and setting his position above that of all the officials who were with him. \n\t\t\t As a result, all the king's servants who were at the king's gate were bowing and paying homage to Haman, for the king had so commanded. However, Mordecai did not bow, nor did he pay him homage.\n\t\t\t Then the servants of the king who were at the king's gate asked Mordecai, \"Why are you violating the king's commandment?\"\n\t\t\t And after they had spoken to him day after day without his paying any attention to them, they informed Haman to see whether this attitude on Mordecai's part would be permitted. Furthermore, he had disclosed to them that he was a Jew.\n\t\t\t When Haman saw that Mordecai was not bowing or paying homage to him, he was filled with rage. \n\t\t\t But the thought of striking out against Mordecai alone was repugnant to him, for he had been informed of the identity of Mordecai's people. So Haman sought to destroy all the Jews (that is, the people of Mordecai) who were in all the kingdom of Ahasuerus.\n\t\t\t In the first month (that is, the month of Nisan), in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus' reign, pur (that is, the lot) was cast before Haman in order to determine a day and a month. It turned out to be the twelfth month (that is, the month of Adar).\n\t\t\t Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, \"There is a particular people that is dispersed and spread among the inhabitants throughout all the provinces of your kingdom whose laws differ from those of all other peoples. Furthermore, they do not observe the king's laws. It is not appropriate for the king to provide a haven for them.\n\t\t\t If the king is so inclined, let an edict be issued to destroy them. I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to be conveyed to the king's treasuries for the officials who carry out this business.\"\n\t\t\t So the king removed his signet ring from his hand and gave it to Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, who was hostile toward the Jews. \n\t\t\t The king replied to Haman, \"Keep your money, and do with those people whatever you wish.\"\n\t\t\t So the royal scribes were summoned in the first month, on the thirteenth day of the month. Everything Haman commanded was written to the king's satraps and governors who were in every province and to the officials of every people, province by province according to its script and people by people according to its language. In the name of King Ahasuerus it was written and sealed with the king's signet ring. \n\t\t\t Letters were sent by the runners to all the king's provinces stating that they should destroy, kill, and annihilate all the Jews, from youth to elderly, both women and children, on a particular day, namely the thirteenth day of the twelfth month (that is, the month of Adar), and to loot and plunder their possessions. \n\t\t\t A copy of this edict was to be presented as law throughout every province; it was to be made known to all the inhabitants, so that they would be prepared for this day. \n\t\t\t The messengers scurried forth with the king's order. The edict was issued in Susa the citadel. While the king and Haman sat down to drink, the city of Susa was in an uproar!\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now when Mordecai became aware of all that had been done, he tore his garments and put on sackcloth and ashes. He went out into the city, crying out in a loud and bitter voice. \n\t\t\t But he went no further than the king's gate, for no one was permitted to enter the king's gate clothed in sackcloth.\n\t\t\t Throughout each and every province where the king's edict and law were announced there was considerable mourning among the Jews, along with fasting, weeping, and sorrow. Sackcloth and ashes were characteristic of many. \n\t\t\t When Esther's female attendants and her eunuchs came and informed her about Mordecai's behavior, the queen was overcome with anguish. Although she sent garments for Mordecai to put on so that he could remove his sackcloth, he would not accept them. \n\t\t\t So Esther called for Hathach, one of the king's eunuchs who had been placed at her service, and instructed him to find out the cause and reason for Mordecai's behavior.\n\t\t\t So Hathach went to Mordecai at the plaza of the city in front of the king's gate.\n\t\t\t Then Mordecai related to him everything that had happened to him, even the specific amount of money that Haman had offered to pay to the king's treasuries for the Jews to be destroyed.\n\t\t\t He also gave him a written copy of the law that had been disseminated in Susa for their destruction so that he could show it to Esther and talk to her about it. He also gave instructions that she should go to the king to implore him and petition him on behalf of her people. \n\t\t\t So Hathach returned and related Mordecai's instructions to Esther.\n\t\t\t Then Esther replied to Hathach with instructions for Mordecai:\n\t\t\t \"All the servants of the king and the people of the king's provinces know that there is only one law applicable to any man or woman who comes uninvited to the king in the inner court, that person will be put to death, unless the king extends to him the gold scepter, permitting him to be spared. Now I have not been invited to come to the king for some thirty days!\"\n\t\t\t When Esther's reply was conveyed to Mordecai, \n\t\t\t he said to take back this answer to Esther: \n\t\t\t \"Don't imagine that because you are part of the king's household you will be the one Jew who will escape. If you keep quiet at this time, liberation and protection for the Jews will appear from another source, while you and your father's household perish. It may very well be that you have achieved royal status for such a time as this!\"\n\t\t\t Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai:\n\t\t\t \"Go, assemble all the Jews who are found in Susa and fast in my behalf. Don't eat and don't drink for three days, night or day. My female attendants and I will also fast in the same way. Afterward I will go to the king, even though it violates the law. If I perish, I perish!\"\n\t\t\t So Mordecai set out to do everything that Esther had instructed him.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t It so happened that on the third day Esther put on her royal attire and stood in the inner court of the palace, opposite the king's quarters. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the palace, opposite the entrance.\n\t\t\t When the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she met with his approval. The king extended to Esther the gold scepter that was in his hand, and Esther approached and touched the end of the scepter.\n\t\t\t The king said to her, \"What is on your mind, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even as much as half the kingdom will be given to you!\"\n\t\t\t Esther replied, \"If the king is so inclined, let the king and Haman come today to the banquet that I have prepared for him.\" \n\t\t\t The king replied, \"Find Haman quickly so that we can do as Esther requests.\" So the king and Haman went to the banquet that Esther had prepared.\n\t\t\t While at the banquet of wine, the king said to Esther, \"What is your request? It shall be given to you. What is your petition? Ask for as much as half the kingdom, and it shall be done!\"\n\t\t\t Esther responded, \"My request and my petition is this: \n\t\t\t If I have found favor in the king's sight and if the king is inclined to grant my request and perform my petition, let the king and Haman come tomorrow to the banquet that I will prepare for them. At that time I will do as the king wishes.\n\t\t\t Now Haman went forth that day pleased and very much encouraged. But when Haman saw Mordecai at the king's gate, and he did not rise nor tremble in his presence, Haman was filled with rage toward Mordecai. \n\t\t\t But Haman restrained himself and went on to his home. He then sent for his friends to join him, along with his wife Zeresh. \n\t\t\t Haman then recounted to them his fabulous wealth, his many sons, and how the king had magnified him and exalted him over the king's other officials and servants. \n\t\t\t Haman said, \"Furthermore, Queen Esther invited only me to accompany the king to the banquet that she prepared! And also tomorrow I am invited along with the king. \n\t\t\t Yet all of this fails to satisfy me so long as I have to see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate.\"\n\t\t\t Haman's wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, \"Have a gallows seventy-five feet high built, and in the morning tell the king that Mordecai should be hanged on it. Then go with the king to the banquet contented.\" It seemed like a good idea to Haman, so he had the gallows built.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Throughout that night the king was unable to sleep, so he asked for the book containing the historical records to be brought. As the records were being read in the king's presence, \n\t\t\t it was found written that Mordecai had disclosed that Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's eunuchs who guarded the entrance, had plotted to assassinate King Ahasuerus.\n\t\t\t The king asked, \"What great honor was bestowed on Mordecai because of this?\" The king's attendants who served him responded, \"Not a thing was done for him.\"\n\t\t\t Then the king said, \"Who is that in the courtyard?\" Now Haman had come to the outer courtyard of the palace to suggest that the king hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had constructed for him.\n\t\t\t The king's attendants said to him, \"It is Haman who is standing in the courtyard.\" The king said, \"Let him enter.\"\n\t\t\t So Haman came in, and the king said to him, \"What should be done for the man whom the king wishes to honor?\" Haman thought to himself, \"Who is it that the king would want to honor more than me?\" \n\t\t\t So Haman said to the king, \"For the man whom the king wishes to honor,\n\t\t\t let them bring royal attire which the king himself has worn and a horse on which the king himself has ridden, one bearing the royal insignia!\n\t\t\t Then let this clothing and this horse be given to one of the king's noble officials. Let him then clothe the man whom the king wishes to honor, and let him lead him about through the plaza of the city on the horse, calling before him, 'So shall it be done to the man whom the king wishes to honor!'\"\n\t\t\t The king then said to Haman, \"Go quickly! Take the clothing and the horse, just as you have described, and do as you just indicated to Mordecai the Jew who sits at the king's gate. Don't neglect a single thing of all that you have said.\"\n\t\t\t So Haman took the clothing and the horse, and he clothed Mordecai. He led him about on the horse throughout the plaza of the city, calling before him, \"So shall it be done to the man whom the king wishes to honor!\"\n\t\t\t Then Mordecai again sat at the king's gate, while Haman hurried away to his home, mournful and with a veil over his head.\n\t\t\t Haman then related to his wife Zeresh and to all his friends everything that had happened to him. These wise men, along with his wife Zeresh, said to him, \"If indeed this Mordecai before whom you have begun to fall is Jewish, you will not prevail against him. No, you will surely fall before him!\"\n\t\t\t While they were still speaking with him, the king's eunuchs arrived. They quickly brought Haman to the banquet that Esther had prepared.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t So the king and Haman came to dine with Queen Esther. \n\t\t\t On the second day of the banquet of wine the king asked Esther, \"What is your request, Queen Esther? It shall be granted to you. And what is your petition? Ask up to half the kingdom, and it shall be done!\"\n\t\t\t Queen Esther replied, \"If I have met with your approval, O king, and if the king is so inclined, grant me my life as my request, and my people as my petition. \n\t\t\t For we have been sold, both I and my people, to destruction and to slaughter and to annihilation! If we had simply been sold as male and female slaves, I would have remained silent, for such distress would not have been sufficient for troubling the king.\"\n\t\t\t Then King Ahasuerus responded to Queen Esther, \"Who is this individual? Where is this person to be found who is presumptuous enough to act in this way?\"\n\t\t\t Esther replied, \"The oppressor and enemy is this evil Haman!\" Then Haman became terrified in the presence of the king and queen.\n\t\t\t In rage the king arose from the banquet of wine and withdrew to the palace garden. Meanwhile, Haman stood to beg Queen Esther for his life, for he realized that the king had now determined a catastrophic end for him.\n\t\t\t When the king returned from the palace garden to the banquet of wine, Haman was throwing himself down on the couch where Esther was lying. The king exclaimed, \"Will he also attempt to rape the queen while I am still in the building!\" As these words left the king's mouth, they covered Haman's face.\n\t\t\t Harbona, one of the king's eunuchs, said, \"Indeed, there is the gallows that Haman made for Mordecai, who spoke out in the king's behalf. It stands near Haman's home and is seventy-five feet high.\" The king said, \"Hang him on it!\" \n\t\t\t So they hanged Haman on the very gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. The king's rage then abated.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t On that same day King Ahasuerus gave the estate of Haman, that adversary of the Jews, to Queen Esther. Now Mordecai had come before the king, for Esther had revealed how he was related to her. \n\t\t\t The king then removed his signet ring (the very one he had taken back from Haman) and gave it to Mordecai. And Esther designated Mordecai to be in charge of Haman's estate.\n\t\t\t Then Esther again spoke with the king, falling at his feet. She wept and begged him for mercy, that he might nullify the evil of Haman the Agagite which he had intended against the Jews.\n\t\t\t When the king extended to Esther the gold scepter, she arose and stood before the king.\n\t\t\t She said, \"If the king is so inclined and if I have met with his approval and if the matter is agreeable to the king and if I am attractive to him, let an edict be written rescinding those recorded intentions of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, which he wrote in order to destroy the Jews who are throughout all the king's provinces. \n\t\t\t For how can I watch the calamity that will befall my people, and how can I watch the destruction of my relatives?\"\n\t\t\t King Ahasuerus replied to Queen Esther and to Mordecai the Jew, \"Look, I have already given Haman's estate to Esther, and he has been hanged on the gallows because he took hostile action against the Jews. \n\t\t\t Now you write in the king's name whatever in your opinion is appropriate concerning the Jews and seal it with the king's signet ring. Any decree that is written in the king's name and sealed with the king's signet ring cannot be rescinded.\n\t\t\t The king's scribes were quickly summoned, in the third month (that is, the month of Sivan), on the twenty-third day. They wrote out everything that Mordecai instructed to the Jews and to the satraps and the governors and the officials of the provinces all the way from India to Ethiopia, a hundred and twenty-seven provinces in all, to each province in its own script and to each people in their own language, and to the Jews according to their own script and their own language.\n\t\t\t Mordecai wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed it with the king's signet ring. He then sent letters by couriers on horses, who rode royal horses that were very swift.\n\t\t\t The king thereby allowed the Jews who were in every city to assemble and to stand up for themselves, to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate any army of whatever people or province that should become their adversaries, including their women and children, and to confiscate their property.\n\t\t\t This was to take place on a certain day throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, namely, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month (that is, the month of Adar).\n\t\t\t A copy of the edict was to be presented as law throughout each and every province and made known to all peoples, so that the Jews might be prepared on that day to avenge themselves from their enemies.\n\t\t\t The couriers who were riding the royal horses went forth with the king's edict without delay. And the law was presented in Susa the citadel as well.\n\t\t\t Now Mordecai went out from the king's presence in purple and white royal attire, with a large golden crown and a purple linen mantle. The city of Susa shouted with joy.\n\t\t\t For the Jews there was radiant happiness and joyous honor.\n\t\t\t Throughout every province and throughout every city where the king's edict and his law arrived, the Jews experienced happiness and joy, banquets and holidays. Many of the resident peoples pretended to be Jews, because the fear of the Jews had overcome them.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t In the twelfth month (that is, the month of Adar), on its thirteenth day, the edict of the king and his law were to be executed. It was on this day that the enemies of the Jews had supposed that they would gain power over them. But contrary to expectations, the Jews gained power over their enemies.\n\t\t\t The Jews assembled themselves in their cities throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus to strike out against those who were seeking their harm. No one was able to stand before them, for dread of them fell on all the peoples.\n\t\t\t All the officials of the provinces, the satraps, the governors and those who performed the king's business were assisting the Jews, for the dread of Mordecai had fallen on them.\n\t\t\t Mordecai was of high rank in the king's palace, and word about him was spreading throughout all the provinces. His influence continued to become greater and greater.\n\t\t\t The Jews struck all their enemies with the sword, bringing death and destruction, and they did as they pleased with their enemies.\n\t\t\t In Susa the citadel the Jews killed and destroyed five hundred men.\n\t\t\t In addition, they also killed Parshandatha, Dalphon, Aspatha,\n\t\t\t Poratha, Adalia, Aridatha,\n\t\t\t Parmashta, Arisai, Aridai, and Vaizatha,\n\t\t\t the ten sons of Haman son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews. But they did not confiscate their property.\n\t\t\t On that same day the number of those killed in Susa the citadel was brought to the king's attention.\n\t\t\t Then the king said to Queen Esther, \"In Susa the citadel the Jews have killed and destroyed five hundred men and the ten sons of Haman! What then have they done in the rest of the king's provinces? What is your request? It shall be given to you. What other petition do you have? It shall be done.\"\n\t\t\t Esther replied, \"If the king is so inclined, let the Jews who are in Susa be permitted to act tomorrow also according to today's law, and let them hang the ten sons of Haman on the gallows.\"\n\t\t\t So the king issued orders for this to be done. A law was passed in Susa, and the ten sons of Haman were hanged.\n\t\t\t The Jews who were in Susa then assembled on the fourteenth day of the month of Adar, and they killed three hundred men in Susa. But they did not confiscate their property.\n\t\t\t The rest of the Jews who were throughout the provinces of the king assembled in order to stand up for themselves and to have rest from their enemies. They killed seventy-five thousand of their adversaries, but they did not confiscate their property. \n\t\t\t All of this happened on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar. They then rested on the fourteenth day and made it a day for banqueting and happiness.\n\t\t\t But the Jews who were in Susa assembled on the thirteenth and fourteenth days, and rested on the fifteenth, making it a day for banqueting and happiness.\n\t\t\t This is why the Jews who are in the rural country, those who live in rural cities, set aside the fourteenth day of the month of Adar as a holiday for happiness, banqueting, holiday, and sending gifts to one another.\n\t\t\t Mordecai wrote these matters down and sent letters to all the Jews who were throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, both near and far,\n\t\t\t to have them observe the fourteenth and the fifteenth day of the month of Adar each year\n\t\t\t as the time when the Jews gave themselves rest from their enemies, the month when their trouble was turned to happiness and their mourning to a holiday. These were to be days of banqueting, happiness, sending gifts to one another, and providing for the poor.\n\t\t\t So the Jews committed themselves to continue what they had begun to do and to what Mordecai had written to them.\n\t\t\t For Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had devised plans against the Jews to destroy them. He had cast pur (that is, the lot) in order to afflict and destroy them.\n\t\t\t But when the matter came to the king's attention, the king gave written orders that Haman's evil intentions that he had devised against the Jews should fall on his own head. He and his sons were hanged on the gallows. \n\t\t\t For this reason these days are known as Purim, after the name of pur.\n\t\t\t Therefore, because of the account found in this letter and what they had faced in this regard and what had happened to them, the Jews established as binding on themselves, their descendants, and all who joined their company that they should observe these two days without fail, just as written and at the appropriate time on an annual basis.\n\t\t\t These days were to be remembered and to be celebrated in every generation and in every family, every province, and every city. The Jews were not to fail to observe these days of Purim; the remembrance of them was not to cease among their descendants.\n\t\t\t So Queen Esther, the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew wrote with full authority to confirm this second letter about Purim. \n\t\t\t Letters were sent to all the Jews in the hundred and twenty-seven provinces of the empire of Ahasuerus, words of true peace,\n\t\t\t to establish these days of Purim in their proper times, just as Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther had established, and just as they had established both for themselves and their descendants, matters pertaining to fasting and lamentation.\n\t\t\t Esther's command established these matters of Purim, and the matter was officially recorded.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t King Ahasuerus then imposed forced labor on the land and on the coastlands of the sea.\n\t\t\t Now all the actions carried out under his authority and his great achievements, along with an exact statement concerning the greatness of Mordecai, whom the king promoted, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Media and Persia?\n\t\t\t Mordecai the Jew was second only to King Ahasuerus. He was the highest-ranking Jew, and he was admired by his numerous relatives. He worked enthusiastically for the good of his people and was an advocate for the welfare of all his descendants.\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job. And that man was pure and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil.\n\t\t\t Seven sons and three daughters were born to him.\n\t\t\t His possessions included 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, and 500 female donkeys; in addition he had a very great household. Thus he was the greatest of all the people in the east.\n\t\t\t Now his sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one in turn, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and to drink with them. \n\t\t\t When the days of their feasting were finished, Job would send for them and sanctify them; he would get up early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job thought, \"Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.\" This was Job's customary practice.\n\t\t\t Now the day came when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also arrived among them.\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Satan, \"Where have you come from?\" And Satan answered the LORD, \"From roving about on the earth, and from walking back and forth across it.\"\n\t\t\t So the LORD said to Satan, \"Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one like him on the earth, a pure and upright man, one who fears God and turns away from evil.\"\n\t\t\t Then Satan answered the LORD, \"Is it for nothing that Job fears God?\n\t\t\t Have you not made a hedge around him and his household and all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his livestock have increased in the land. \n\t\t\t But extend your hand and strike everything he has, and he will no doubt curse you to your face!\"\n\t\t\t So the LORD said to Satan, \"All right then, everything he has is in your power. Only do not extend your hand against the man himself!\" So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.\n\t\t\t Now the day came when Job's sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house, \n\t\t\t and a messenger came to Job, saying, \"The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing beside them, \n\t\t\t and the Sabeans swooped down and carried them all away, and they killed the servants with the sword! And I, only I alone, escaped to tell you!\"\n\t\t\t While this one was still speaking, another messenger arrived and said, \"The fire of God has fallen from heaven and has burned up the sheep and the servants, it has consumed them! And I, only I alone, escaped to tell you!\"\n\t\t\t While this one was still speaking another messenger arrived and said, \"The Chaldeans formed three bands and made a raid on the camels and carried them all away, and they killed the servants with the sword! And I, only I alone, escaped to tell you!\"\n\t\t\t While this one was still speaking another messenger arrived and said, \"Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house,\n\t\t\t and suddenly a great wind swept across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they died! And I, only I alone, escaped to tell you!\"\n\t\t\t Then Job got up and tore his robe. He shaved his head, and then he threw himself down with his face to the ground.\n\t\t\t He said, \"Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will return there. The LORD gives, and the LORD takes away. May the name of the LORD be blessed!\" \n\t\t\t In all this Job did not sin, nor did he charge God with moral impropriety.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Again the day came when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also arrived among them to present himself before the LORD.\n\t\t\t And the LORD said to Satan, \"Where do you come from?\" Satan answered the LORD, \"From roving about on the earth, and from walking back and forth across it.\"\n\t\t\t Then the LORD said to Satan, \"Have you considered my servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a pure and upright man, one who fears God and turns away from evil. And he still holds firmly to his integrity, so that you stirred me up to destroy him without reason.\"\n\t\t\t But Satan answered the LORD, \"Skin for skin! Indeed, a man will give up all that he has to save his life!\n\t\t\t But extend your hand and strike his bone and his flesh, and he will no doubt curse you to your face!\"\n\t\t\t So the LORD said to Satan, \"All right, he is in your power; only preserve his life.\"\n\t\t\t So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD, and he afflicted Job with a malignant ulcer from the sole of his feet to the top of his head.\n\t\t\t Job took a shard of broken pottery to scrape himself with while he was sitting among the ashes.\n\t\t\t Then his wife said to him, \"Are you still holding firmly to your integrity? Curse God, and die!\"\n\t\t\t But he replied, \"You're talking like one of the godless women would do! Should we receive what is good from God, and not also receive what is evil?\" In all this Job did not sin by what he said.\n\t\t\t When Job's three friends heard about all this calamity that had happened to him, each of them came from his own country, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. They met together to come to show sympathy for him and to console him.\n\t\t\t But when they gazed intently from a distance but did not recognize him, they began to weep loudly. Each of them tore his robes, and they threw dust into the air over their heads.\n\t\t\t Then they sat down with him on the ground for seven days and seven nights, yet no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his pain was very great. II. Job's Dialogue With His Friends\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t After this Job opened his mouth and cursed the day he was born.\n\t\t\t Job spoke up and said:\n\t\t\t \"Let the day on which I was born perish, and the night that said, 'A man has been conceived!'\n\t\t\t That day, let it be darkness; let not God on high regard it, nor let light shine on it!\n\t\t\t Let darkness and the deepest shadow claim it; let a cloud settle on it; let whatever blackens the day terrify it!\n\t\t\t That night, let darkness seize it; let it not be included among the days of the year; let it not enter among the number of the months!\n\t\t\t Indeed, let that night be barren; let no shout of joy penetrate it!\n\t\t\t Let those who curse the day curse it, those who are prepared to rouse Leviathan.\n\t\t\t Let its morning stars be darkened; let it wait for daylight but find none, nor let it see the first rays of dawn,\n\t\t\t because it did not shut the doors of my mother's womb on me, nor did it hide trouble from my eyes!\n\t\t\t \"Why did I not die at birth, and why did I not expire as I came out of the womb?\n\t\t\t Why did the knees welcome me, and why were there two breasts that I might nurse at them?\n\t\t\t For now I would be lying down and would be quiet, I would be asleep and then at peace\n\t\t\t with kings and counselors of the earth who built for themselves places now desolate,\n\t\t\t or with princes who possessed gold, who filled their palaces with silver.\n\t\t\t Or why was I not buried like a stillborn infant, like infants who have never seen the light?\n\t\t\t There the wicked cease from turmoil, and there the weary are at rest.\n\t\t\t There the prisoners relax together; they do not hear the voice of the oppressor.\n\t\t\t Small and great are there, and the slave is free from his master.\n\t\t\t \"Why does God give light to one who is in misery, and life to those whose soul is bitter,\n\t\t\t to those who wait for death that does not come, and search for it more than for hidden treasures,\n\t\t\t who rejoice even to jubilation, and are exultant when they find the grave?\n\t\t\t Why is light given to a man whose way is hidden, and whom God has hedged in?\n\t\t\t For my sighing comes in place of my food, and my groanings flow forth like water.\n\t\t\t For the very thing I dreaded has happened to me, and what I feared has come upon me.\n\t\t\t I have no ease, I have no quietness; I cannot rest; turmoil has come upon me.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered:\n\t\t\t \"If someone should attempt a word with you, will you be impatient? But who can refrain from speaking?\n\t\t\t Look, you have instructed many; you have strengthened feeble hands.\n\t\t\t Your words have supported those who stumbled, and you have strengthened the knees that gave way.\n\t\t\t But now the same thing comes to you, and you are discouraged; it strikes you, and you are terrified.\n\t\t\t Is not your piety your confidence, and your blameless ways your hope?\n\t\t\t Call to mind now: Who, being innocent, ever perished? And where were upright people ever destroyed?\n\t\t\t Even as I have seen, those who plow iniquity and those who sow trouble reap the same.\n\t\t\t By the breath of God they perish, and by the blast of his anger they are consumed.\n\t\t\t There is the roaring of the lion and the growling of the young lion, but the teeth of the young lions are broken.\n\t\t\t The mighty lion perishes for lack of prey, and the cubs of the lioness are scattered.\n\t\t\t \"Now a word was secretly brought to me, and my ear caught a whisper of it.\n\t\t\t In the troubling thoughts of the dreams in the night when a deep sleep falls on men,\n\t\t\t a trembling gripped me, and a terror!, and made all my bones shake.\n\t\t\t Then a breath of air passes by my face; it makes the hair of my flesh stand up.\n\t\t\t It stands still, but I cannot recognize its appearance; an image is before my eyes, and I hear a murmuring voice:\n\t\t\t \"Is a mortal man righteous before God? Or a man pure before his Creator?\n\t\t\t If God puts no trust in his servants and attributes folly to his angels,\n\t\t\t how much more to those who live in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, who are crushed like a moth?\n\t\t\t They are destroyed between morning and evening; they perish forever without anyone regarding it.\n\t\t\t Is not their excess wealth taken away from them? They die, yet without attaining wisdom.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t \"Call now! Is there anyone who will answer you? To which of the holy ones will you turn?\n\t\t\t For wrath kills the foolish person, and anger slays the silly one.\n\t\t\t I myself have seen the fool taking root, but suddenly I cursed his place of residence.\n\t\t\t His children are far from safety, and they are crushed at the place where judgment is rendered, nor is there anyone to deliver them.\n\t\t\t The hungry eat up his harvest, and take it even from behind the thorns, and the thirsty swallow up their fortune.\n\t\t\t For evil does not come up from the dust, nor does trouble spring up from the ground,\n\t\t\t but people are born to trouble, as surely as the sparks fly upward.\n\t\t\t \"But as for me, I would seek God, and to God I would set forth my case.\n\t\t\t He does great and unsearchable things, marvelous things without number;\n\t\t\t he gives rain on the earth, and sends water on the fields;\n\t\t\t he sets the lowly on high, that those who mourn are raised to safety.\n\t\t\t He frustrates the plans of the crafty so that their hands cannot accomplish what they had planned!\n\t\t\t He catches the wise in their own craftiness, and the counsel of the cunning is brought to a quick end.\n\t\t\t They meet with darkness in the daytime, and grope about in the noontime as if it were night.\n\t\t\t So he saves from the sword that comes from their mouth, even the poor from the hand of the powerful.\n\t\t\t Thus the poor have hope, and iniquity shuts its mouth.\n\t\t\t \"Therefore, blessed is the man whom God corrects, so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.\n\t\t\t For he wounds, but he also bandages; he strikes, but his hands also heal.\n\t\t\t He will deliver you from six calamities; yes, in seven no evil will touch you.\n\t\t\t In time of famine he will redeem you from death, and in time of war from the power of the sword.\n\t\t\t You will be protected from malicious gossip, and will not be afraid of the destruction when it comes.\n\t\t\t You will laugh at destruction and famine and need not be afraid of the beasts of the earth.\n\t\t\t For you will have a pact with the stones of the field, and the wild animals will be at peace with you.\n\t\t\t And you will know that your home will be secure, and when you inspect your domains, you will not be missing anything.\n\t\t\t You will also know that your children will be numerous, and your descendants like the grass of the earth.\n\t\t\t You will come to your grave in a full age, As stacks of grain are harvested in their season.\n\t\t\t Look, we have investigated this, so it is true. Hear it, and apply it for your own good.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then Job responded:\n\t\t\t \"Oh, if only my grief could be weighed, and my misfortune laid on the scales too!\n\t\t\t But because it is heavier than the sand of the sea, that is why my words have been wild.\n\t\t\t For the arrows of the Almighty are within me; my spirit drinks their poison; God's sudden terrors are arrayed against me.\n\t\t\t \"Does the wild donkey bray when it is near grass? Or does the ox low near its fodder?\n\t\t\t Can food that is tasteless be eaten without salt? Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?\n\t\t\t I have refused to touch such things; they are like loathsome food to me.\n\t\t\t \"Oh that my request would be realized, and that God would grant me what I long for!\n\t\t\t And that God would be willing to crush me, that he would let loose his hand and kill me.\n\t\t\t Then I would yet have my comfort, then I would rejoice, in spite of pitiless pain, for I have not concealed the words of the Holy One.\n\t\t\t What is my strength, that I should wait? and what is my end, that I should prolong my life?\n\t\t\t Is my strength like that of stones? or is my flesh made of bronze?\n\t\t\t Is not my power to help myself nothing, and has not every resource been driven from me?\n\t\t\t \"To the one in despair, kindness should come from his friend even if he forsakes the fear of the Almighty.\n\t\t\t My brothers have been as treacherous as a seasonal stream, and as the riverbeds of the intermittent streams that flow away.\n\t\t\t They are dark because of ice; snow is piled up over them.\n\t\t\t When they are scorched, they dry up, when it is hot, they vanish from their place.\n\t\t\t Caravans turn aside from their routes; they go into the wasteland and perish.\n\t\t\t The caravans of Tema looked intently for these streams; the traveling merchants of Sheba hoped for them.\n\t\t\t They were distressed, because each one had been so confident; they arrived there, but were disappointed.\n\t\t\t For now you have become like these streams that are no help; you see a terror, and are afraid.\n\t\t\t \"Have I ever said, 'Give me something, and from your fortune make gifts in my favor'?\n\t\t\t Or 'Deliver me from the enemy's power, and from the hand of tyrants ransom me'?\n\t\t\t \"Teach me and I, for my part, will be silent; explain to me how I have been mistaken.\n\t\t\t How painful are honest words! But what does your reproof prove?\n\t\t\t Do you intend to criticize mere words, and treat the words of a despairing man as wind?\n\t\t\t Yes, you would gamble for the fatherless, and auction off your friend.\n\t\t\t \"Now then, be good enough to look at me; and I will not lie to your face!\n\t\t\t Relent, let there be no falsehood; reconsider, for my righteousness is intact!\n\t\t\t Is there any falsehood on my lips? Can my mouth not discern evil things?\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t \"Does not humanity have hard service on earth? Are not their days also like the days of a hired man?\n\t\t\t Like a servant longing for the evening shadow, and like a hired man looking for his wages,\n\t\t\t thus I have been made to inherit months of futility, and nights of sorrow have been appointed to me.\n\t\t\t If I lie down, I say, 'When will I arise?', and the night stretches on and I toss and turn restlessly until the day dawns.\n\t\t\t My body is clothed with worms and dirty scabs; my skin is broken and festering.\n\t\t\t My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle and they come to an end without hope.\n\t\t\t Remember that my life is but a breath, that my eyes will never again see happiness.\n\t\t\t The eye of him who sees me now will see me no more; your eyes will look for me, but I will be gone.\n\t\t\t As a cloud is dispersed and then disappears, so the one who goes down to the grave does not come up again.\n\t\t\t He returns no more to his house, nor does his place of residence know him any more.\n\t\t\t \"Therefore, I will not refrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.\n\t\t\t Am I the sea, or the creature of the deep, that you must put me under guard?\n\t\t\t If I say, \"My bed will comfort me, my couch will ease my complaint,\"\n\t\t\t then you scare me with dreams and terrify me with visions,\n\t\t\t so that I would prefer strangling, and death more than life.\n\t\t\t I loathe it; I do not want to live forever; leave me alone, for my days are a vapor!\n\t\t\t \"What is mankind that you make so much of them, and that you pay attention to them?\n\t\t\t And that you visit them every morning, and try them every moment?\n\t\t\t Will you never look away from me, will you not let me alone long enough to swallow my spittle?\n\t\t\t If I have sinned, what have I done to you, O watcher of men? Why have you set me as your target? Have I become a burden to you?\n\t\t\t And why do you not pardon my transgression, and take away my iniquity? For now I will lie down in the dust, and you will seek me diligently, but I will be gone.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then Bildad the Shuhite spoke up and said:\n\t\t\t \"How long will you speak these things, seeing that the words of your mouth are like a great wind?\n\t\t\t Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert what is right?\n\t\t\t If your children sinned against him, he gave them over to the penalty of their sin.\n\t\t\t But if you will look to God, and make your supplication to the Almighty,\n\t\t\t if you become pure and upright, even now he will rouse himself for you, and will restore your righteous abode.\n\t\t\t Your beginning will seem so small, since your future will flourish.\n\t\t\t \"For inquire now of the former generation, and pay attention to the findings of their ancestors;\n\t\t\t For we were born yesterday and do not have knowledge, since our days on earth are but a shadow.\n\t\t\t Will they not instruct you and speak to you, and bring forth words from their understanding?\n\t\t\t Can the papyrus plant grow tall where there is no marsh? Can reeds flourish without water?\n\t\t\t While they are still beginning to flower and not ripe for cutting, they can wither away faster than any grass!\n\t\t\t Such is the destiny of all who forget God; the hope of the godless perishes,\n\t\t\t whose trust is in something futile, whose security is a spider's web.\n\t\t\t He leans against his house but it does not hold up, he takes hold of it but it does not stand.\n\t\t\t He is a well-watered plant in the sun, its shoots spread over its garden.\n\t\t\t It wraps its roots around a heap of stones and it looks for a place among stones.\n\t\t\t If he is uprooted from his place, then that place will disown him, saying, 'I have never seen you!'\n\t\t\t Indeed, this is the joy of his way, and out of the earth others spring up.\n\t\t\t \"Surely, God does not reject a blameless man, nor does he grasp the hand of the evildoers.\n\t\t\t He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with gladness.\n\t\t\t Those who hate you will be clothed with shame, and the tent of the wicked will be no more.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then Job answered:\n\t\t\t \"Truly, I know that this is so. But how can a human be just before God?\n\t\t\t If someone wishes to contend with him, he cannot answer him one time in a thousand.\n\t\t\t He is wise in heart and mighty in strength, who has resisted him and remained safe?\n\t\t\t He who removes mountains suddenly, who overturns them in his anger;\n\t\t\t he who shakes the earth out of its place so that its pillars tremble;\n\t\t\t he who commands the sun and it does not shine and seals up the stars;\n\t\t\t he alone spreads out the heavens, and treads on the waves of the sea;\n\t\t\t he makes the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the constellations of the southern sky;\n\t\t\t he does great and unsearchable things, and wonderful things without number.\n\t\t\t If he passes by me, I cannot see him, if he goes by, I cannot perceive him.\n\t\t\t If he snatches away, who can turn him back? Who dares to say to him, 'What are you doing?'\n\t\t\t God does not restrain his anger; under him the helpers of Rahab lie crushed.\n\t\t\t \"How much less, then, can I answer him and choose my words to argue with him!\n\t\t\t Although I am innocent, I could not answer him; I could only plead with my judge for mercy.\n\t\t\t If I summoned him, and he answered me, I would not believe that he would be listening to my voice,\n\t\t\t he who crushes me with a tempest, and multiplies my wounds for no reason.\n\t\t\t He does not allow me to recover my breath, for he fills me with bitterness.\n\t\t\t If it is a matter of strength, most certainly he is the strong one! And if it is a matter of justice, he will say, 'Who will summon me?'\n\t\t\t Although I am innocent, my mouth would condemn me; although I am blameless, it would declare me perverse.\n\t\t\t I am blameless. I do not know myself. I despise my life.\n\t\t\t \"It is all one! That is why I say, 'He destroys the blameless and the guilty.'\n\t\t\t If a scourge brings sudden death, he mocks at the despair of the innocent.\n\t\t\t If a land has been given into the hand of a wicked man, he covers the faces of its judges; if it is not he, then who is it?\n\t\t\t \"My days are swifter than a runner, they speed by without seeing happiness.\n\t\t\t They glide by like reed boats, like an eagle that swoops down on its prey.\n\t\t\t If I say, 'I will forget my complaint, I will change my expression and be cheerful,'\n\t\t\t I dread all my sufferings, for I know that you do not hold me blameless.\n\t\t\t If I am guilty, why then weary myself in vain?\n\t\t\t If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands clean with lye,\n\t\t\t then you plunge me into a slimy pit and my own clothes abhor me.\n\t\t\t For he is not a human being like I am, that I might answer him, that we might come together in judgment.\n\t\t\t Nor is there an arbiter between us, who might lay his hand on us both,\n\t\t\t who would take his rod away from me so that his terror would not make me afraid.\n\t\t\t Then would I speak and not fear him, but it is not so with me.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t \"I am weary of my life; I will complain without restraint; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.\n\t\t\t I will say to God, 'Do not condemn me; tell me why you are contending with me.'\n\t\t\t Is it good for you to oppress, to despise the work of your hands, while you smile on the schemes of the wicked?\n\t\t\t \"Do you have eyes of flesh, or do you see as a human being sees?\n\t\t\t Are your days like the days of a mortal, or your years like the years of a mortal,\n\t\t\t that you must search out my iniquity, and inquire about my sin,\n\t\t\t although you know that I am not guilty, and that there is no one who can deliver out of your hand?\n\t\t\t \"Your hands have shaped me and made me, but now you destroy me completely.\n\t\t\t Remember that you have made me as with the clay; will you return me to dust?\n\t\t\t Did you not pour me out like milk, and curdle me like cheese?\n\t\t\t You clothed me with skin and flesh and knit me together with bones and sinews.\n\t\t\t You gave me life and favor, and your intervention watched over my spirit.\n\t\t\t \"But these things you have concealed in your heart; I know that this is with you:\n\t\t\t If I sinned, then you would watch me and you would not acquit me of my iniquity.\n\t\t\t If I am guilty, woe to me, and if I am innocent, I cannot lift my head; I am full of shame, and satiated with my affliction.\n\t\t\t If I lift myself up, you hunt me as a fierce lion, and again you display your power against me.\n\t\t\t You bring new witnesses against me, and increase your anger against me; relief troops come against me.\n\t\t\t \"Why then did you bring me out from the womb? I should have died and no eye would have seen me!\n\t\t\t I should have been as though I had never existed; I should have been carried right from the womb to the grave!\n\t\t\t Are not my days few? Cease, then, and leave me alone, that I may find a little comfort,\n\t\t\t before I depart, never to return, to the land of darkness and the deepest shadow,\n\t\t\t to the land of utter darkness, like the deepest darkness, and the deepest shadow and disorder, where even the light is like darkness.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then Zophar the Naamathite spoke up and said:\n\t\t\t \"Should not this abundance of words be answered, or should this talkative man be vindicated?\n\t\t\t Will your idle talk reduce people to silence, and will no one rebuke you when you mock?\n\t\t\t For you have said, 'My teaching is flawless, and I am pure in your sight.'\n\t\t\t But if only God would speak, if only he would open his lips against you,\n\t\t\t and reveal to you the secrets of wisdom, for true wisdom has two sides, so that you would know that God has forgiven some of your sins.\n\t\t\t \"Can you discover the essence of God? Can you find out the perfection of the Almighty?\n\t\t\t It is higher than the heavens, what can you do? It is deeper than Sheol, what can you know?\n\t\t\t Its measure is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.\n\t\t\t If he comes by and confines you and convenes a court, then who can prevent him?\n\t\t\t For he knows deceitful men; when he sees evil, will he not consider it?\n\t\t\t But an empty man will become wise, when a wild donkey's colt is born a human being.\n\t\t\t \"As for you, if you prove faithful, and if you stretch out your hands toward him,\n\t\t\t if iniquity is in your hand, put it far away, and do not let evil reside in your tents.\n\t\t\t For then you will lift up your face without blemish; you will be securely established and will not fear.\n\t\t\t For you will forget your trouble; you will remember it like water that has flowed away.\n\t\t\t And life will be brighter than the noonday; though there be darkness, it will be like the morning.\n\t\t\t And you will be secure, because there is hope; you will be protected and will take your rest in safety.\n\t\t\t You will lie down with no one to make you afraid, and many will seek your favor.\n\t\t\t But the eyes of the wicked fail, and escape eludes them; their one hope is to breathe their last.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then Job answered:\n\t\t\t \"Without a doubt you are the people, and wisdom will die with you.\n\t\t\t I also have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you. Who does not know such things as these?\n\t\t\t I am a laughingstock to my friends, I, who called on God and whom he answered, a righteous and blameless man is a laughingstock!\n\t\t\t For calamity, there is derision (according to the ideas of the fortunate), a fate for those whose feet slip!\n\t\t\t But the tents of robbers are peaceful, and those who provoke God are confident, who carry their god in their hands.\n\t\t\t \"But now, ask the animals and they will teach you, or the birds of the sky and they will tell you.\n\t\t\t Or speak to the earth and it will teach you, or let the fish of the sea declare to you.\n\t\t\t Which of all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this,\n\t\t\t in whose hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all the human race.\n\t\t\t Does not the ear test words, as the tongue tastes food?\n\t\t\t Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding?\n\t\t\t \"With God are wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are his.\n\t\t\t If he tears down, it cannot be rebuilt; if he imprisons a person, there is no escape.\n\t\t\t If he holds back the waters, then they dry up; if he releases them, they destroy the land.\n\t\t\t With him are strength and prudence; both the one who goes astray and the one who misleads are his.\n\t\t\t He leads counselors away stripped and makes judges into fools.\n\t\t\t He loosens the bonds of kings and binds a loincloth around their waist.\n\t\t\t He leads priests away stripped and overthrows the potentates.\n\t\t\t He deprives the trusted advisers of speech and takes away the discernment of elders.\n\t\t\t He pours contempt on noblemen and disarms the powerful.\n\t\t\t He reveals the deep things of darkness, and brings deep shadows into the light.\n\t\t\t He makes nations great, and destroys them; he extends the boundaries of nations and disperses them.\n\t\t\t He deprives the leaders of the earth of their understanding; he makes them wander in a trackless desert waste.\n\t\t\t They grope about in darkness without light; he makes them stagger like drunkards.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t \"Indeed, my eyes have seen all this, my ears have heard and understood it.\n\t\t\t What you know, I know also; I am not inferior to you!\n\t\t\t But I wish to speak to the Almighty, and I desire to argue my case with God.\n\t\t\t But you, however, are inventors of lies; all of you are worthless physicians!\n\t\t\t If only you would keep completely silent! For you, that would be wisdom.\n\t\t\t \"Listen now to my argument, and be attentive to my lips' contentions.\n\t\t\t Will you speak wickedly on God's behalf? Will you speak deceitfully for him?\n\t\t\t Will you show him partiality? Will you argue the case for God?\n\t\t\t Would it turn out well if he would examine you? Or as one deceives a man would you deceive him?\n\t\t\t He would certainly rebuke you if you secretly showed partiality!\n\t\t\t Would not his splendor terrify you and the fear he inspires fall on you?\n\t\t\t Your maxims are proverbs of ashes; your defenses are defenses of clay.\n\t\t\t \"Refrain from talking with me so that I may speak; then let come to me what may.\n\t\t\t Why do I put myself in peril, and take my life in my hands?\n\t\t\t Even if he slays me, I will hope in him; I will surely defend my ways to his face!\n\t\t\t Moreover, this will become my deliverance, for no godless person would come before him.\n\t\t\t Listen carefully to my words; let your ears be attentive to my explanation.\n\t\t\t See now, I have prepared my case; I know that I am right.\n\t\t\t Who will contend with me? If anyone can, I will be silent and die.\n\t\t\t Only in two things spare me, O God, and then I will not hide from your face:\n\t\t\t Remove your hand far from me and stop making me afraid with your terror.\n\t\t\t Then call, and I will answer, or I will speak, and you respond to me.\n\t\t\t How many are my iniquities and sins? Show me my transgression and my sin.\n\t\t\t Why do you hide your face and regard me as your enemy?\n\t\t\t Do you wish to torment a windblown leaf and chase after dry chaff?\n\t\t\t For you write down bitter things against me and cause me to inherit the sins of my youth.\n\t\t\t And you put my feet in the stocks and you watch all my movements; you put marks on the soles of my feet.\n\t\t\t So I waste away like something rotten, like a garment eaten by moths.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t \"Man, born of woman, lives but a few days, and they are full of trouble.\n\t\t\t He grows up like a flower and then withers away; he flees like a shadow, and does not remain.\n\t\t\t Do you fix your eye on such a one? And do you bring me before you for judgment?\n\t\t\t Who can make a clean thing come from an unclean? No one!\n\t\t\t Since man's days are determined, the number of his months is under your control; you have set his limit and he cannot pass it.\n\t\t\t Look away from him and let him desist, until he fulfills his time like a hired man.\n\t\t\t \"But there is hope for a tree: If it is cut down, it will sprout again, and its new shoots will not fail.\n\t\t\t Although its roots may grow old in the ground and its stump begins to die in the soil,\n\t\t\t at the scent of water it will flourish and put forth shoots like a new plant.\n\t\t\t But man dies and is powerless; he expires, and where is he?\n\t\t\t As water disappears from the sea, or a river drains away and dries up,\n\t\t\t so man lies down and does not rise; until the heavens are no more, they will not awake nor arise from their sleep.\n\t\t\t \"O that you would hide me in Sheol, and conceal me till your anger has passed! O that you would set me a time and then remember me!\n\t\t\t If a man dies, will he live again? All the days of my hard service I will wait until my release comes.\n\t\t\t You will call and I, I will answer you; you will long for the creature you have made.\n\t\t\t \"Surely now you count my steps; then you would not mark my sin.\n\t\t\t My offenses would be sealed up in a bag; you would cover over my sin.\n\t\t\t But as a mountain falls away and crumbles, and as a rock will be removed from its place,\n\t\t\t as water wears away stones, and torrents wash away the soil, so you destroy man's hope.\n\t\t\t You overpower him once for all, and he departs; you change his appearance and send him away.\n\t\t\t If his sons are honored, he does not know it; if they are brought low, he does not see it.\n\t\t\t Only his flesh has pain for himself, and he mourns for himself.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered:\n\t\t\t \"Does a wise man answer with blustery knowledge, or fill his belly with the east wind?\n\t\t\t Does he argue with useless talk, with words that have no value in them?\n\t\t\t But you even break off piety, and hinder meditation before God.\n\t\t\t Your sin inspires your mouth; you choose the language of the crafty.\n\t\t\t Your own mouth condemns you, not I; your own lips testify against you.\n\t\t\t \"Were you the first man ever born? Were you brought forth before the hills?\n\t\t\t Do you listen in on God's secret council? Do you limit wisdom to yourself?\n\t\t\t What do you know that we don't know? What do you understand that we don't understand?\n\t\t\t The gray-haired and the aged are on our side, men far older than your father.\n\t\t\t Are God's consolations too trivial for you; or a word spoken in gentleness to you?\n\t\t\t Why has your heart carried you away, and why do your eyes flash,\n\t\t\t when you turn your rage against God and allow such words to escape from your mouth?\n\t\t\t What is man that he should be pure, or one born of woman, that he should be righteous?\n\t\t\t If God places no trust in his holy ones, if even the heavens are not pure in his eyes,\n\t\t\t how much less man, who is abominable and corrupt, who drinks in evil like water!\n\t\t\t \"I will explain to you; listen to me, and what I have seen, I will declare,\n\t\t\t what wise men declare, hiding nothing, from the tradition of their ancestors,\n\t\t\t to whom alone the land was given when no foreigner passed among them.\n\t\t\t All his days the wicked man suffers torment, throughout the number of the years that are stored up for the tyrant.\n\t\t\t Terrifying sounds fill his ears; in a time of peace marauders attack him.\n\t\t\t He does not expect to escape from darkness; he is marked for the sword;\n\t\t\t he wanders about, food for vultures; he knows that the day of darkness is at hand.\n\t\t\t Distress and anguish terrify him; they prevail against him like a king ready to launch an attack,\n\t\t\t for he stretches out his hand against God, and vaunts himself against the Almighty,\n\t\t\t defiantly charging against him with a thick, strong shield!\n\t\t\t Because he covered his face with fat, and made his hips bulge with fat,\n\t\t\t he lived in ruined towns and in houses where no one lives, where they are ready to crumble into heaps.\n\t\t\t He will not grow rich, and his wealth will not endure, nor will his possessions spread over the land.\n\t\t\t He will not escape the darkness; a flame will wither his shoots and he will depart by the breath of God's mouth.\n\t\t\t Let him not trust in what is worthless, deceiving himself; for worthlessness will be his reward.\n\t\t\t Before his time he will be paid in full, and his branches will not flourish.\n\t\t\t Like a vine he will let his sour grapes fall, and like an olive tree he will shed his blossoms.\n\t\t\t For the company of the godless is barren, and fire consumes the tents of those who accept bribes.\n\t\t\t They conceive trouble and bring forth evil; their belly prepares deception.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then Job replied:\n\t\t\t \"I have heard many things like these before. What miserable comforters are you all!\n\t\t\t Will there be an end to your windy words? Or what provokes you that you answer?\n\t\t\t I also could speak like you, if you were in my place; I could pile up words against you and I could shake my head at you.\n\t\t\t But I would strengthen you with my words; comfort from my lips would bring you relief.\n\t\t\t \"But if I speak, my pain is not relieved, and if I refrain from speaking, how much of it goes away?\n\t\t\t Surely now he has worn me out, you have devastated my entire household.\n\t\t\t You have seized me, and it has become a witness; my leanness has risen up against me and testifies against me.\n\t\t\t His anger has torn me and persecuted me; he has gnashed at me with his teeth; my adversary locks his eyes on me.\n\t\t\t People have opened their mouths against me, they have struck my cheek in scorn; they unite together against me.\n\t\t\t God abandons me to evil men, and throws me into the hands of wicked men.\n\t\t\t I was in peace, and he has shattered me. He has seized me by the neck and crushed me. He has made me his target;\n\t\t\t his archers surround me. Without pity he pierces my kidneys and pours out my gall on the ground.\n\t\t\t He breaks through against me, time and time again; he rushes against me like a warrior.\n\t\t\t I have sewed sackcloth on my skin, and buried my horn in the dust;\n\t\t\t my face is reddened because of weeping, and on my eyelids there is a deep darkness,\n\t\t\t although there is no violence in my hands and my prayer is pure.\n\t\t\t \"O earth, do not cover my blood, nor let there be a secret place for my cry.\n\t\t\t Even now my witness is in heaven; my advocate is on high.\n\t\t\t My intercessor is my friend as my eyes pour out tears to God;\n\t\t\t and he contends with God on behalf of man as a man pleads for his friend.\n\t\t\t For the years that lie ahead are few, and then I will go on the way of no return.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t My spirit is broken, my days have faded out, the grave awaits me.\n\t\t\t Surely mockery is with me; my eyes must dwell on their hostility.\n\t\t\t Make then my pledge with you. Who else will put up security for me?\n\t\t\t Because you have closed their minds to understanding, therefore you will not exalt them.\n\t\t\t If a man denounces his friends for personal gain, the eyes of his children will fail.\n\t\t\t He has made me a byword to people, I am the one in whose face they spit.\n\t\t\t My eyes have grown dim with grief; my whole frame is but a shadow.\n\t\t\t Upright men are appalled at this; the innocent man is troubled with the godless.\n\t\t\t But the righteous man holds to his way, and the one with clean hands grows stronger.\n\t\t\t \"But turn, all of you, and come now! I will not find a wise man among you.\n\t\t\t My days have passed, my plans are shattered, even the desires of my heart.\n\t\t\t These men change night into day; they say, 'The light is near in the face of darkness.'\n\t\t\t If I hope for the grave to be my home, if I spread out my bed in darkness,\n\t\t\t If I cry to corruption, 'You are my father,' and to the worm, 'My Mother,' or 'My sister,'\n\t\t\t where then is my hope? And my hope, who sees it?\n\t\t\t Will it go down to the barred gates of death? Will we descend together into the dust?\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then Bildad the Shuhite answered:\n\t\t\t \"How long until you make an end of words? You must consider, and then we can talk.\n\t\t\t Why should we be regarded as beasts, and considered stupid in your sight?\n\t\t\t You who tear yourself to pieces in your anger, will the earth be abandoned for your sake? Or will a rock be moved from its place?\n\t\t\t \"Yes, the lamp of the wicked is extinguished; his flame of fire does not shine.\n\t\t\t The light in his tent grows dark; his lamp above him is extinguished.\n\t\t\t His vigorous steps are restricted, and his own counsel throws him down.\n\t\t\t For he has been thrown into a net by his feet and he wanders into a mesh.\n\t\t\t A trap seizes him by the heel; a snare grips him.\n\t\t\t A rope is hidden for him on the ground and a trap for him lies on the path.\n\t\t\t Terrors frighten him on all sides and dog his every step.\n\t\t\t Calamity is hungry for him, and misfortune is ready at his side.\n\t\t\t It eats away parts of his skin; the most terrible death devours his limbs.\n\t\t\t He is dragged from the security of his tent, and marched off to the king of terrors.\n\t\t\t Fire resides in his tent; over his residence burning sulfur is scattered.\n\t\t\t Below his roots dry up, and his branches wither above.\n\t\t\t His memory perishes from the earth, he has no name in the land.\n\t\t\t He is driven from light into darkness and is banished from the world.\n\t\t\t He has neither children nor descendants among his people, no survivor in those places he once stayed.\n\t\t\t People of the west are appalled at his fate; people of the east are seized with horror, saying,\n\t\t\t 'Surely such is the residence of an evil man; and this is the place of one who has not known God.'\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then Job answered:\n\t\t\t \"How long will you torment me and crush me with your words?\n\t\t\t These ten times you have been reproaching me; you are not ashamed to attack me!\n\t\t\t But even if it were true that I have erred, my error remains solely my concern!\n\t\t\t If indeed you would exalt yourselves above me and plead my disgrace against me,\n\t\t\t know then that God has wronged me and encircled me with his net.\n\t\t\t \"If I cry out, 'Violence!' I receive no answer; I cry for help, but there is no justice.\n\t\t\t He has blocked my way so I cannot pass, and has set darkness over my paths.\n\t\t\t He has stripped me of my honor and has taken the crown off my head.\n\t\t\t He tears me down on every side until I perish; he uproots my hope like one uproots a tree.\n\t\t\t Thus his anger burns against me, and he considers me among his enemies.\n\t\t\t His troops advance together; they throw up a siege ramp against me, and they camp around my tent.\n\t\t\t \"He has put my relatives far from me; my acquaintances only turn away from me.\n\t\t\t My kinsmen have failed me; my friends have forgotten me.\n\t\t\t My guests and my servant girls consider me a stranger; I am a foreigner in their eyes.\n\t\t\t I summon my servant, but he does not respond, even though I implore him with my own mouth.\n\t\t\t My breath is repulsive to my wife; I am loathsome to my brothers.\n\t\t\t Even youngsters have scorned me; when I get up, they scoff at me.\n\t\t\t All my closest friends detest me; and those whom I love have turned against me.\n\t\t\t My bones stick to my skin and my flesh; I have escaped alive with only the skin of my teeth.\n\t\t\t Have pity on me, my friends, have pity on me, for the hand of God has struck me.\n\t\t\t Why do you pursue me like God does? Will you never be satiated with my flesh?\n\t\t\t \"O that my words were written down, O that they were written on a scroll,\n\t\t\t that with an iron chisel and with lead they were engraved in a rock forever!\n\t\t\t As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and that as the last he will stand upon the earth.\n\t\t\t And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God,\n\t\t\t whom I will see for myself, and whom my own eyes will behold, and not another. My heart grows faint within me.\n\t\t\t If you say, 'How we will pursue him, since the root of the trouble is found in him!'\n\t\t\t Fear the sword yourselves, for wrath brings the punishment by the sword, so that you may know that there is judgment.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then Zophar the Naamathite answered:\n\t\t\t \"This is why my troubled thoughts bring me back, because of my feelings within me.\n\t\t\t When I hear a reproof that dishonors me, then my understanding prompts me to answer.\n\t\t\t \"Surely you know that it has been from old, ever since humankind was placed on the earth,\n\t\t\t that the elation of the wicked is brief, the joy of the godless lasts but a moment.\n\t\t\t Even though his stature reaches to the heavens and his head touches the clouds,\n\t\t\t he will perish forever, like his own excrement; those who used to see him will say, 'Where is he?'\n\t\t\t Like a dream he flies away, never again to be found, and like a vision of the night he is put to flight.\n\t\t\t People who had seen him will not see him again, and the place where he was will recognize him no longer.\n\t\t\t His sons must recompense the poor; his own hands must return his wealth.\n\t\t\t His bones were full of his youthful vigor, but that vigor will lie down with him in the dust.\n\t\t\t \"If evil is sweet in his mouth and he hides it under his tongue,\n\t\t\t if he retains it for himself and does not let it go, and holds it fast in his mouth,\n\t\t\t his food is turned sour in his stomach; it becomes the venom of serpents within him.\n\t\t\t The wealth that he consumed he vomits up, God will make him throw it out of his stomach.\n\t\t\t He sucks the poison of serpents; the fangs of a viper kill him.\n\t\t\t He will not look on the streams, the rivers, which are the torrents of honey and butter.\n\t\t\t He gives back the ill-gotten gain without assimilating it; he will not enjoy the wealth from his commerce.\n\t\t\t For he has oppressed the poor and abandoned them; he has seized a house which he did not build.\n\t\t\t For he knows no satisfaction in his appetite; he does not let anything he desires escape.\n\t\t\t \"Nothing is left for him to devour; that is why his prosperity does not last.\n\t\t\t In the fullness of his sufficiency, distress overtakes him. the full force of misery will come upon him.\n\t\t\t \"While he is filling his belly, God sends his burning anger against him, and rains down his blows upon him.\n\t\t\t If he flees from an iron weapon, then an arrow from a bronze bow pierces him.\n\t\t\t When he pulls it out and it comes out of his back, the gleaming point out of his liver, terrors come over him.\n\t\t\t Total darkness waits to receive his treasures; a fire which has not been kindled will consume him and devour what is left in his tent.\n\t\t\t The heavens reveal his iniquity; the earth rises up against him.\n\t\t\t A flood will carry off his house, rushing waters on the day of God's wrath.\n\t\t\t Such is the lot God allots the wicked, and the heritage of his appointment from God.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then Job answered:\n\t\t\t \"Listen carefully to my words; let this be the consolation you offer me.\n\t\t\t Bear with me and I will speak, and after I have spoken you may mock.\n\t\t\t Is my complaint against a man? If so, why should I not be impatient?\n\t\t\t Look at me and be appalled; put your hands over your mouths.\n\t\t\t For, when I think about this, I am terrified and my body feels a shudder.\n\t\t\t \"Why do the wicked go on living, grow old, even increase in power?\n\t\t\t Their children are firmly established in their presence, their offspring before their eyes.\n\t\t\t Their houses are safe and without fear; and no rod of punishment from God is upon them.\n\t\t\t Their bulls breed without fail; their cows calve and do not miscarry.\n\t\t\t They allow their children to run like a flock; their little ones dance about.\n\t\t\t They sing to the accompaniment of tambourine and harp, and make merry to the sound of the flute.\n\t\t\t They live out their years in prosperity and go down to the grave in peace.\n\t\t\t So they say to God, 'Turn away from us! We do not want to know your ways.\n\t\t\t Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? What would we gain if we were to pray to him?'\n\t\t\t But their prosperity is not their own doing. The counsel of the wicked is far from me!\n\t\t\t \"How often is the lamp of the wicked extinguished? How often does their misfortune come upon them? How often does God apportion pain to them in his anger?\n\t\t\t How often are they like straw before the wind, and like chaff swept away by a whirlwind?\n\t\t\t You may say, 'God stores up a man's punishment for his children!' Instead let him repay the man himself so that he may know it!\n\t\t\t Let his own eyes see his destruction; let him drink of the anger of the Almighty.\n\t\t\t For what is his interest in his home after his death, when the number of his months has been broken off?\n\t\t\t Can anyone teach God knowledge, since he judges those that are on high?\n\t\t\t \"One man dies in his full vigor, completely secure and prosperous,\n\t\t\t his body well nourished, and the marrow of his bones moist.\n\t\t\t And another man dies in bitterness of soul, never having tasted anything good.\n\t\t\t Together they lie down in the dust, and worms cover over them both.\n\t\t\t \"Yes, I know what you are thinking, the schemes by which you would wrong me.\n\t\t\t For you say, 'Where now is the nobleman's house, and where are the tents in which the wicked lived?'\n\t\t\t Have you never questioned those who travel the roads? Do you not recognize their accounts,\n\t\t\t that the evil man is spared from the day of his misfortune, that he is delivered from the day of God's wrath?\n\t\t\t No one denounces his conduct to his face; no one repays him for what he has done.\n\t\t\t And when he is carried to the tombs, and watch is kept over the funeral mound,\n\t\t\t The clods of the torrent valley are sweet to him; behind him everybody follows in procession, and before him goes a countless throng.\n\t\t\t So how can you console me with your futile words? Nothing is left of your answers but deception!\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered:\n\t\t\t \"Is it to God that a strong man is of benefit? Is it to him that even a wise man is profitable?\n\t\t\t Is it of any special benefit to the Almighty that you should be righteous, or is it any gain to him that you make your ways blameless?\n\t\t\t Is it because of your piety that he rebukes you and goes to judgment with you?\n\t\t\t Is not your wickedness great and is there no end to your iniquity?\n\t\t\t \"For you took pledges from your brothers for no reason, and you stripped the clothing from the naked.\n\t\t\t You gave the weary no water to drink and from the hungry you withheld food.\n\t\t\t Although you were a powerful man, owning land, an honored man living on it,\n\t\t\t you sent widows away empty-handed, and the arms of the orphans you crushed.\n\t\t\t That is why snares surround you, and why sudden fear terrifies you,\n\t\t\t why it is so dark you cannot see, and why a flood of water covers you.\n\t\t\t \"Is not God on high in heaven? And see the lofty stars, how high they are!\n\t\t\t But you have said, 'What does God know? Does he judge through such deep darkness?\n\t\t\t Thick clouds are a veil for him, so he does not see us, as he goes back and forth in the vault of heaven.'\n\t\t\t Will you keep to the old path that evil men have walked,\n\t\t\t men who were carried off before their time, when the flood was poured out on their foundations?\n\t\t\t They were saying to God, 'Turn away from us,' and 'What can the Almighty do to us?'\n\t\t\t But it was he who filled their houses with good things, yet the counsel of the wicked was far from me.\n\t\t\t The righteous see their destruction and rejoice; the innocent mock them scornfully, saying,\n\t\t\t 'Surely our enemies are destroyed, and fire consumes their wealth.'\n\t\t\t \"Reconcile yourself with God, and be at peace with him; in this way your prosperity will be good.\n\t\t\t Accept instruction from his mouth and store up his words in your heart.\n\t\t\t If you return to the Almighty, you will be built up; if you remove wicked behavior far from your tent,\n\t\t\t and throw your gold in the dust, your gold of Ophir among the rocks in the ravines,\n\t\t\t then the Almighty himself will be your gold, and the choicest silver for you.\n\t\t\t Surely then you will delight yourself in the Almighty, and will lift up your face toward God.\n\t\t\t You will pray to him and he will hear you, and you will fulfill your vows to him.\n\t\t\t Whatever you decide on a matter, it will be established for you, and light will shine on your ways.\n\t\t\t When people are brought low and you say 'Lift them up!' then he will save the downcast;\n\t\t\t he will deliver even someone who is not innocent, who will escape through the cleanness of your hands.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then Job answered:\n\t\t\t \"Even today my complaint is still bitter; his hand is heavy despite my groaning.\n\t\t\t O that I knew where I might find him, that I could come to his place of residence!\n\t\t\t I would lay out my case before him and fill my mouth with arguments.\n\t\t\t I would know with what words he would answer me, and understand what he would say to me.\n\t\t\t Would he contend with me with great power? No, he would only pay attention to me.\n\t\t\t There an upright person could present his case before him, and I would be delivered forever from my judge.\n\t\t\t \"If I go to the east, he is not there, and to the west, yet I do not perceive him.\n\t\t\t In the north when he is at work, I do not see him; when he turns to the south, I see no trace of him.\n\t\t\t But he knows the pathway that I take; if he tested me, I would come forth like gold.\n\t\t\t My feet have followed his steps closely; I have kept to his way and have not turned aside.\n\t\t\t I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my allotted portion.\n\t\t\t But he is unchangeable, and who can change him? Whatever he has desired, he does.\n\t\t\t For he fulfills his decree against me, and many such things are his plans.\n\t\t\t That is why I am terrified in his presence; when I consider, I am afraid because of him.\n\t\t\t Indeed, God has made my heart faint; the Almighty has terrified me.\n\t\t\t Yet I have not been silent because of the darkness, because of the thick darkness that covered my face.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t \"Why are times not appointed by the Almighty? Why do those who know him not see his days?\n\t\t\t Men move boundary stones; they seize the flock and pasture them.\n\t\t\t They drive away the orphan's donkey; they take the widow's ox as a pledge.\n\t\t\t They turn the needy from the pathway, and the poor of the land hide themselves together.\n\t\t\t Like wild donkeys in the desert they go out to their labor, seeking diligently for food; the wasteland provides food for them and for their children.\n\t\t\t They reap fodder in the field, and glean in the vineyard of the wicked.\n\t\t\t They spend the night naked because they lack clothing; they have no covering against the cold.\n\t\t\t They are soaked by mountain rains and huddle in the rocks because they lack shelter.\n\t\t\t The fatherless child is snatched from the breast, the infant of the poor is taken as a pledge.\n\t\t\t They go about naked, without clothing, and go hungry while they carry the sheaves.\n\t\t\t They press out the olive oil between the rows of olive trees; they tread the winepresses while they are thirsty.\n\t\t\t From the city the dying groan, and the wounded cry out for help, but God charges no one with wrongdoing.\n\t\t\t There are those who rebel against the light; they do not know its ways and they do not stay on its paths.\n\t\t\t Before daybreak the murderer rises up; he kills the poor and the needy; in the night he is like a thief.\n\t\t\t And the eye of the adulterer watches for the twilight, thinking, 'No eye can see me,' and covers his face with a mask.\n\t\t\t In the dark the robber breaks into houses, but by day they shut themselves in; they do not know the light.\n\t\t\t For all of them, the morning is to them like deep darkness; they are friends with the terrors of darkness.\n\t\t\t \"You say, 'He is foam on the face of the waters; their portion of the land is cursed so that no one goes to their vineyard.\n\t\t\t The drought as well as the heat carry away the melted snow; so the grave takes away those who have sinned.\n\t\t\t The womb forgets him, the worm feasts on him, no longer will he be remembered. Like a tree, wickedness will be broken down.\n\t\t\t He preys on the barren and childless woman, and does not treat the widow well.\n\t\t\t But God drags off the mighty by his power; when God rises up against him, he has no faith in his life.\n\t\t\t God may let them rest in a feeling of security, but he is constantly watching all their ways.\n\t\t\t They are exalted for a little while, and then they are gone, they are brought low like all others, and gathered in, and like a head of grain they are cut off.'\n\t\t\t \"If this is not so, who can prove me a liar and reduce my words to nothing?\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then Bildad the Shuhite answered:\n\t\t\t \"Dominion and awesome might belong to God; he establishes peace in his heights.\n\t\t\t Can his armies be numbered? On whom does his light not rise?\n\t\t\t How then can a human being be righteous before God? How can one born of a woman be pure?\n\t\t\t If even the moon is not bright, and the stars are not pure as far as he is concerned,\n\t\t\t how much less a mortal man, who is but a maggot, a son of man, who is only a worm!\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then Job replied:\n\t\t\t \"How you have helped the powerless! How you have saved the person who has no strength!\n\t\t\t How you have advised the one without wisdom, and abundantly revealed your insight!\n\t\t\t To whom did you utter these words? And whose spirit has come forth from your mouth?\n\t\t\t \"The dead tremble, those beneath the waters and all that live in them.\n\t\t\t The underworld is naked before God; the place of destruction lies uncovered.\n\t\t\t He spreads out the northern skies over empty space; he suspends the earth on nothing.\n\t\t\t He locks the waters in his clouds, and the clouds do not burst with the weight of them.\n\t\t\t He conceals the face of the full moon, shrouding it with his clouds.\n\t\t\t He marks out the horizon on the surface of the waters as a boundary between light and darkness.\n\t\t\t The pillars of the heavens tremble and are amazed at his rebuke.\n\t\t\t By his power he stills the sea; by his wisdom he cut Rahab the great sea monster to pieces.\n\t\t\t By his breath the skies became fair; his hand pierced the fleeing serpent.\n\t\t\t Indeed, these are but the outer fringes of his ways! How faint is the whisper we hear of him! But who can understand the thunder of his power?\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t And Job took up his discourse again:\n\t\t\t \"As surely as God lives, who has denied me justice, the Almighty, who has made my life bitter,\n\t\t\t for while my spirit is still in me, and the breath from God is in my nostrils,\n\t\t\t my lips will not speak wickedness, and my tongue will whisper no deceit.\n\t\t\t I will never declare that you three are in the right; until I die, I will not set aside my integrity!\n\t\t\t I will maintain my righteousness and never let it go; my conscience will not reproach me for as long as I live.\n\t\t\t \"May my enemy be like the wicked, my adversary like the unrighteous.\n\t\t\t For what hope does the godless have when he is cut off, when God takes away his life?\n\t\t\t Does God listen to his cry when distress overtakes him?\n\t\t\t Will he find delight in the Almighty? Will he call out to God at all times?\n\t\t\t I will teach you about the power of God; What is on the Almighty's mind I will not conceal.\n\t\t\t If you yourselves have all seen this, Why in the world do you continue this meaningless talk?\n\t\t\t This is the portion of the wicked man allotted by God, the inheritance that evildoers receive from the Almighty.\n\t\t\t If his children increase, it is for the sword! His offspring never have enough to eat.\n\t\t\t Those who survive him are buried by the plague, and their widows do not mourn for them.\n\t\t\t If he piles up silver like dust and stores up clothing like mounds of clay,\n\t\t\t what he stores up a righteous man will wear, and an innocent man will inherit his silver.\n\t\t\t The house he builds is as fragile as a moth's cocoon, like a hut that a watchman has made.\n\t\t\t He goes to bed wealthy, but will do so no more. When he opens his eyes, it is all gone.\n\t\t\t Terrors overwhelm him like a flood; at night a whirlwind carries him off.\n\t\t\t The east wind carries him away, and he is gone; it sweeps him out of his place.\n\t\t\t It hurls itself against him without pity as he flees headlong from its power.\n\t\t\t It claps its hands at him in derision and hisses him away from his place. III. Job's Search for Wisdom\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t \"Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined.\n\t\t\t Iron is taken from the ground, and rock is poured out as copper.\n\t\t\t Man puts an end to the darkness; he searches the farthest recesses for the ore in the deepest darkness.\n\t\t\t Far from where people live he sinks a shaft, in places travelers have long forgotten, far from other people he dangles and sways.\n\t\t\t The earth, from which food comes, is overturned below as though by fire;\n\t\t\t a place whose stones are sapphires and which contains dust of gold;\n\t\t\t a hidden path no bird of prey knows, no falcon's eye has spotted it.\n\t\t\t Proud beasts have not set foot on it, and no lion has passed along it.\n\t\t\t On the flinty rock man has set to work with his hand; he has overturned mountains at their bases.\n\t\t\t He has cut out channels through the rocks; his eyes have spotted every precious thing.\n\t\t\t He has searched the sources of the rivers and what was hidden he has brought into the light.\n\t\t\t \"But wisdom, where can it be found? Where is the place of understanding?\n\t\t\t Mankind does not know its place; it cannot be found in the land of the living.\n\t\t\t The deep says, 'It is not with me.' And the sea says, 'It is not with me.'\n\t\t\t Fine gold cannot be given in exchange for it, nor can its price be weighed out in silver.\n\t\t\t It cannot be measured out for purchase with the gold of Ophir, with precious onyx or sapphires.\n\t\t\t Neither gold nor crystal can be compared with it, nor can a vase of gold match its worth.\n\t\t\t Of coral and jasper no mention will be made; the price of wisdom is more than pearls.\n\t\t\t The topaz of Cush cannot be compared with it; it cannot be purchased with pure gold.\n\t\t\t \"But wisdom, where does it come from? Where is the place of understanding?\n\t\t\t For it has been hidden from the eyes of every living creature, and from the birds of the sky it has been concealed.\n\t\t\t Destruction and Death say, 'With our ears we have heard a rumor about where it can be found.'\n\t\t\t God understands the way to it, and he alone knows its place.\n\t\t\t For he looks to the ends of the earth and observes everything under the heavens.\n\t\t\t When he made the force of the wind and measured the waters with a gauge.\n\t\t\t When he imposed a limit for the rain, and a path for the thunderstorm,\n\t\t\t then he looked at wisdom and assessed its value; he established it and examined it closely.\n\t\t\t And he said to mankind, 'The fear of the LORD, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.'\" IV. Job's Concluding Soliloquy\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then Job continued his speech:\n\t\t\t \"O that I could be as I was in the months now gone, in the days when God watched over me,\n\t\t\t when he caused his lamp to shine upon my head, and by his light I walked through darkness;\n\t\t\t just as I was in my most productive time, when God's intimate friendship was experienced in my tent,\n\t\t\t when the Almighty was still with me and my children were around me;\n\t\t\t when my steps were bathed with butter and the rock poured out for me streams of olive oil!\n\t\t\t When I went out to the city gate and secured my seat in the public square,\n\t\t\t the young men would see me and step aside, and the old men would get up and remain standing;\n\t\t\t the chief men refrained from talking and covered their mouths with their hands;\n\t\t\t the voices of the nobles fell silent, and their tongues stuck to the roof of their mouths.\n\t\t\t \"As soon as the ear heard these things, it blessed me, and when the eye saw them, it bore witness to me,\n\t\t\t for I rescued the poor who cried out for help, and the orphan who had no one to assist him;\n\t\t\t the blessing of the dying man descended on me, and I made the widow's heart rejoice;\n\t\t\t I put on righteousness and it clothed me, my just dealing was like a robe and a turban;\n\t\t\t I was eyes for the blind and feet for the lame;\n\t\t\t I was a father to the needy, and I investigated the case of the person I did not know;\n\t\t\t I broke the fangs of the wicked, and made him drop his prey from his teeth.\n\t\t\t \"Then I thought, 'I will die in my own home, my days as numerous as the grains of sand.\n\t\t\t My roots reach the water, and the dew lies on my branches all night long.\n\t\t\t My glory will always be fresh in me, and my bow ever new in my hand.'\n\t\t\t \"People listened to me and waited silently; they kept silent for my advice.\n\t\t\t After I had spoken, they did not respond; my words fell on them drop by drop.\n\t\t\t They waited for me as people wait for the rain, and they opened their mouths as for the spring rains.\n\t\t\t If I smiled at them, they hardly believed it; and they did not cause the light of my face to darken.\n\t\t\t I chose the way for them and sat as their chief; I lived like a king among his troops; I was like one who comforts mourners.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t \"But now they mock me, those who are younger than I, whose fathers I disdained too much to put with my sheep dogs.\n\t\t\t Moreover, the strength of their hands, what use was it to me? Men whose strength had perished;\n\t\t\t gaunt with want and hunger, they would gnaw the parched land, in former time desolate and waste.\n\t\t\t By the brush they would gather herbs from the salt marshes, and the root of the broom tree was their food.\n\t\t\t They were banished from the community, people shouted at them like they would shout at thieves,\n\t\t\t so that they had to live in the dry stream beds, in the holes of the ground, and among the rocks.\n\t\t\t They brayed like animals among the bushes and were huddled together under the nettles.\n\t\t\t Sons of senseless and nameless people, they were driven out of the land with whips.\n\t\t\t \"And now I have become their taunt song; I have become a byword among them.\n\t\t\t They detest me and maintain their distance; they do not hesitate to spit in my face.\n\t\t\t Because God has untied my tent cord and afflicted me, people throw off all restraint in my presence.\n\t\t\t On my right the young rabble rise up; they drive me from place to place, and build up siege ramps against me.\n\t\t\t They destroy my path; they succeed in destroying me without anyone assisting them.\n\t\t\t They come in as through a wide breach; amid the crash they come rolling in.\n\t\t\t Terrors are turned loose on me; they drive away my honor like the wind, and like a cloud my deliverance has passed away.\n\t\t\t \"And now my soul pours itself out within me; days of suffering take hold of me.\n\t\t\t Night pierces my bones; my gnawing pains never cease.\n\t\t\t With great power God grasps my clothing; he binds me like the collar of my tunic.\n\t\t\t He has flung me into the mud, and I have come to resemble dust and ashes.\n\t\t\t I cry out to you, but you do not answer me; I stand up, and you only look at me.\n\t\t\t You have become cruel to me; with the strength of your hand you attack me.\n\t\t\t You pick me up on the wind and make me ride on it; you toss me about in the storm.\n\t\t\t I know that you are bringing me to death, to the meeting place for all the living.\n\t\t\t \"Surely one does not stretch out his hand against a broken man when he cries for help in his distress.\n\t\t\t Have I not wept for the unfortunate? Was not my soul grieved for the poor?\n\t\t\t But when I hoped for good, trouble came; when I expected light, then darkness came.\n\t\t\t My heart is in turmoil unceasingly; the days of my affliction confront me.\n\t\t\t I go about blackened, but not by the sun; in the assembly I stand up and cry for help.\n\t\t\t I have become a brother to jackals and a companion of ostriches.\n\t\t\t My skin has turned dark on me; my body is hot with fever.\n\t\t\t My harp is used for mourning and my flute for the sound of weeping.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t \"I made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I entertain thoughts against a virgin?\n\t\t\t What then would be one's lot from God above, one's heritage from the Almighty on high?\n\t\t\t Is it not misfortune for the unjust, and disaster for those who work iniquity?\n\t\t\t Does he not see my ways and count all my steps?\n\t\t\t If I have walked in falsehood, and if my foot has hastened to deceit,\n\t\t\t let him weigh me with honest scales; then God will discover my integrity.\n\t\t\t If my footsteps have strayed from the way, if my heart has gone after my eyes, or if anything has defiled my hands,\n\t\t\t then let me sow and let another eat, and let my crops be uprooted.\n\t\t\t If my heart has been enticed by a woman, and I have lain in wait at my neighbor's door,\n\t\t\t then let my wife turn the millstone for another man, and may other men have sexual relations with her.\n\t\t\t For I would have committed a shameful act, an iniquity to be judged.\n\t\t\t For it is a fire that devours even to Destruction, and it would uproot all my harvest.\n\t\t\t \"If I have disregarded the right of my male servants or my female servants when they disputed with me,\n\t\t\t then what will I do when God confronts me in judgment; when he intervenes, how will I respond to him?\n\t\t\t Did not the one who made me in the womb make them? Did not the same one form us in the womb?\n\t\t\t If I have refused to give the poor what they desired, or caused the eyes of the widow to fail,\n\t\t\t If I ate my morsel of bread myself, and did not share any of it with orphans,\n\t\t\t but from my youth I raised the orphan like a father, and from my mother's womb I guided the widow!\n\t\t\t If I have seen anyone about to perish for lack of clothing, or a poor man without a coat,\n\t\t\t whose heart did not bless me as he warmed himself with the fleece of my sheep,\n\t\t\t if I have raised my hand to vote against the orphan, when I saw my support in the court,\n\t\t\t then let my arm fall from the shoulder, let my arm be broken off at the socket.\n\t\t\t For the calamity from God was a terror to me, and by reason of his majesty I was powerless.\n\t\t\t \"If I have put my confidence in gold or said to pure gold, 'You are my security!'\n\t\t\t if I have rejoiced because of the extent of my wealth, or because of the great wealth my hand had gained,\n\t\t\t if I looked at the sun when it was shining, and the moon advancing as a precious thing,\n\t\t\t so that my heart was secretly enticed, and my hand threw them a kiss from my mouth,\n\t\t\t then this also would be iniquity to be judged, for I would have been false to God above.\n\t\t\t If I have rejoiced over the misfortune of my enemy or exulted because calamity found him,\n\t\t\t I have not even permitted my mouth to sin by asking for his life through a curse,\n\t\t\t if the members of my household have never said, 'If only there were someone who has not been satisfied from Job's meat!',\n\t\t\t But no stranger had to spend the night outside, for I opened my doors to the traveler,\n\t\t\t if I have covered my transgressions as men do, by hiding iniquity in my heart,\n\t\t\t because I was terrified of the great multitude, and the contempt of families terrified me, so that I remained silent and would not go outdoors,\n\t\t\t \"If only I had someone to hear me! Here is my signature, let the Almighty answer me! If only I had an indictment that my accuser had written.\n\t\t\t Surely I would wear it proudly on my shoulder, I would bind it on me like a crown;\n\t\t\t I would give him an accounting of my steps; like a prince I would approach him.\n\t\t\t \"If my land cried out against me and all its furrows wept together,\n\t\t\t if I have eaten its produce without paying, or caused the death of its owners,\n\t\t\t then let thorns sprout up in place of wheat, and in place of barley, weeds!\" The words of Job are ended. V. The Speeches of Elihu\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t So these three men refused to answer Job further, because he was righteous in his own eyes. \n\t\t\t Then Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, became very angry. He was angry with Job for justifying himself rather than God.\n\t\t\t With Job's three friends he was also angry, because they could not find an answer, and so declared Job guilty.\n\t\t\t Now Elihu had waited before speaking to Job, because the others were older than he was. \n\t\t\t But when Elihu saw that the three men had no further reply, he became very angry.\n\t\t\t So Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite spoke up: \"I am young, but you are elderly; that is why I was fearful, and afraid to explain to you what I know.\n\t\t\t I said to myself, 'Age should speak, and length of years should make wisdom known.'\n\t\t\t But it is a spirit in people, the breath of the Almighty, that makes them understand.\n\t\t\t It is not the aged who are wise, nor old men who understand what is right.\n\t\t\t Therefore I say, 'Listen to me. I, even I, will explain what I know.'\n\t\t\t Look, I waited for you to speak; I listened closely to your wise thoughts, while you were searching for words.\n\t\t\t Now I was paying you close attention, yet there was no one proving Job wrong, not one of you was answering his statements!\n\t\t\t So do not say, 'We have found wisdom! God will refute him, not man!'\n\t\t\t Job has not directed his words to me, and so I will not reply to him with your arguments.\n\t\t\t \"They are dismayed and cannot answer any more; they have nothing left to say.\n\t\t\t And I have waited. But because they do not speak, because they stand there and answer no more,\n\t\t\t I too will answer my part, I too will explain what I know.\n\t\t\t For I am full of words, and the spirit within me constrains me.\n\t\t\t Inside I am like wine which has no outlet, like new wineskins ready to burst!\n\t\t\t I will speak, so that I may find relief; I will open my lips, so that I may answer.\n\t\t\t I will not show partiality to anyone, nor will I confer a title on any man.\n\t\t\t for I do not know how to give honorary titles, if I did, my Creator would quickly do away with me.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t \"But now, O Job, listen to my words, and hear everything I have to say!\n\t\t\t See now, I have opened my mouth; my tongue in my mouth has spoken.\n\t\t\t My words come from the uprightness of my heart, and my lips will utter knowledge sincerely.\n\t\t\t The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.\n\t\t\t Reply to me, if you can; set your arguments in order before me and take your stand!\n\t\t\t Look, I am just like you in relation to God; I too have been molded from clay.\n\t\t\t Therefore no fear of me should terrify you, nor should my pressure be heavy on you.\n\t\t\t \"Indeed, you have said in my hearing (I heard the sound of the words!):\n\t\t\t 'I am pure, without transgression; I am clean and have no iniquity.\n\t\t\t Yet God finds occasions with me; he regards me as his enemy!\n\t\t\t He puts my feet in shackles; he watches closely all my paths.'\n\t\t\t Now in this, you are not right, I answer you, for God is greater than a human being.\n\t\t\t Why do you contend against him, that he does not answer all a person's words?\n\t\t\t \"For God speaks, the first time in one way, the second time in another, though a person does not perceive it.\n\t\t\t In a dream, a night vision, when deep sleep falls on people as they sleep in their beds.\n\t\t\t Then he gives a revelation to people, and terrifies them with warnings,\n\t\t\t to turn a person from his sin, and to cover a person's pride.\n\t\t\t He spares a person's life from corruption, his very life from crossing over the river.\n\t\t\t Or a person is chastened by pain on his bed, and with the continual strife of his bones,\n\t\t\t so that his life loathes food, and his soul rejects appetizing fare.\n\t\t\t His flesh wastes away from sight, and his bones, which were not seen, are easily visible.\n\t\t\t He draws near to the place of corruption, and his life to the messengers of death.\n\t\t\t If there is an angel beside him, one mediator out of a thousand, to tell a person what constitutes his uprightness;\n\t\t\t and if God is gracious to him and says, 'Spare him from going down to the place of corruption, I have found a ransom for him,'\n\t\t\t then his flesh is restored like a youth's; he returns to the days of his youthful vigor.\n\t\t\t He entreats God, and God delights in him, he sees God's face with rejoicing, and God restores to him his righteousness.\n\t\t\t That person sings to others, saying: 'I have sinned and falsified what is right, but I was not punished according to what I deserved.\n\t\t\t He redeemed my life from going down to the place of corruption, and my life sees the light!'\n\t\t\t \"Indeed, God does all these things, twice, three times, in his dealings with a person,\n\t\t\t to turn back his life from the place of corruption, that he may be enlightened with the light of life.\n\t\t\t Pay attention, Job, listen to me; be silent, and I will speak.\n\t\t\t If you have any words, reply to me; speak, for I want to justify you.\n\t\t\t If not, you listen to me; be silent, and I will teach you wisdom.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Elihu answered:\n\t\t\t \"Listen to my words, you wise men; hear me, you learned men.\n\t\t\t For the ear assesses words as the mouth tastes food.\n\t\t\t Let us evaluate for ourselves what is right; let us come to know among ourselves what is good.\n\t\t\t For Job says, 'I am innocent, but God turns away my right.\n\t\t\t Concerning my right, should I lie? My wound is incurable, although I am without transgression.'\n\t\t\t What man is like Job, who drinks derision like water!\n\t\t\t He goes about in company with evildoers, he goes along with wicked men.\n\t\t\t For he says, 'It does not profit a man when he makes his delight with God.'\n\t\t\t \"Therefore, listen to me, you men of understanding. Far be it from God to do wickedness, from the Almighty to do evil.\n\t\t\t For he repays a person for his work, and according to the conduct of a person, he causes the consequences to find him.\n\t\t\t Indeed, in truth, God does not act wickedly, and the Almighty does not pervert justice.\n\t\t\t Who entrusted to him the earth? And who put him over the whole world?\n\t\t\t If God were to set his heart on it, and gather in his spirit and his breath,\n\t\t\t all flesh would perish together and human beings would return to dust.\n\t\t\t \"If you have understanding, listen to this, hear what I have to say.\n\t\t\t Do you really think that one who hates justice can govern? And will you declare guilty the supremely righteous One,\n\t\t\t who says to a king, 'Worthless man' and to nobles, 'Wicked men,'\n\t\t\t who shows no partiality to princes, and does not take note of the rich more than the poor, because all of them are the work of his hands?\n\t\t\t In a moment they die, in the middle of the night, people are shaken and they pass away. The mighty are removed effortlessly.\n\t\t\t For his eyes are on the ways of an individual, he observes all a person's steps.\n\t\t\t There is no darkness, and no deep darkness, where evildoers can hide themselves.\n\t\t\t For he does not still consider a person, that he should come before God in judgment.\n\t\t\t He shatters the great without inquiry, and sets up others in their place.\n\t\t\t Therefore, he knows their deeds, he overthrows them in the night and they are crushed.\n\t\t\t He strikes them for their wickedness, in a place where people can see,\n\t\t\t because they have turned away from following him, and have not understood any of his ways,\n\t\t\t so that they caused the cry of the poor to come before him, so that he hears the cry of the needy.\n\t\t\t But if God is quiet, who can condemn him? If he hides his face, then who can see him? Yet he is over the individual and the nation alike,\n\t\t\t so that the godless man should not rule, and not lay snares for the people.\n\t\t\t \"Has anyone said to God, 'I have endured chastisement, but I will not act wrongly any more.\n\t\t\t Teach me what I cannot see. If I have done evil, I will do so no more.'\n\t\t\t Is it your opinion that God should recompense it, because you reject this? But you must choose, and not I, so tell us what you know.\n\t\t\t Men of understanding say to me, any wise man listening to me says,\n\t\t\t that Job speaks without knowledge and his words are without understanding.\n\t\t\t But Job will be tested to the end, because his answers are like those of wicked men.\n\t\t\t For he adds transgression to his sin; in our midst he claps his hands, and multiplies his words against God.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then Elihu answered:\n\t\t\t \"Do you think this to be just: when you say, 'My right before God.'\n\t\t\t But you say, 'What will it profit you,' and, 'What do I gain by not sinning?'\n\t\t\t I will reply to you, and to your friends with you.\n\t\t\t Gaze at the heavens and see; consider the clouds, which are higher than you!\n\t\t\t If you sin, how does it affect God? If your transgressions are many, what does it do to him?\n\t\t\t If you are righteous, what do you give to God, or what does he receive from your hand?\n\t\t\t Your wickedness affects only a person like yourself, and your righteousness only other people.\n\t\t\t \"People cry out because of the excess of oppression; they cry out for help because of the power of the mighty.\n\t\t\t But no one says, 'Where is God, my Creator, who gives songs in the night,\n\t\t\t who teaches us more than the wild animals of the earth, and makes us wiser than the birds of the sky?'\n\t\t\t Then they cry out, but he does not answer, because of the arrogance of the wicked.\n\t\t\t Surely it is an empty cry, God does not hear it; the Almighty does not take notice of it.\n\t\t\t How much less, then, when you say that you do not perceive him, that the case is before him and you are waiting for him!\n\t\t\t And further, when you say that his anger does not punish, and that he does not know transgression!\n\t\t\t So Job opens his mouth to no purpose; without knowledge he multiplies words.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Elihu said further:\n\t\t\t \"Be patient with me a little longer and I will instruct you, for I still have words to speak on God's behalf.\n\t\t\t With my knowledge I will speak comprehensively, and to my Creator I will ascribe righteousness.\n\t\t\t For in truth, my words are not false; it is one complete in knowledge who is with you.\n\t\t\t Indeed, God is mighty; and he does not despise people, he is mighty, and firm in his intent.\n\t\t\t He does not allow the wicked to live, but he gives justice to the poor.\n\t\t\t He does not take his eyes off the righteous; but with kings on the throne he seats the righteous and exalts them forever.\n\t\t\t But if they are bound in chains, and held captive by the cords of affliction,\n\t\t\t then he reveals to them what they have done, and their transgressions, that they were behaving proudly.\n\t\t\t And he reveals this for correction, and says that they must turn from evil.\n\t\t\t If they obey and serve him, they live out their days in prosperity and their years in pleasantness.\n\t\t\t But if they refuse to listen, they pass over the river of death, and expire without knowledge.\n\t\t\t The godless at heart nourish anger, they do not cry out even when he binds them.\n\t\t\t They die in their youth, and their life ends among the male cultic prostitutes.\n\t\t\t He delivers the afflicted by their afflictions, he reveals himself to them by their suffering.\n\t\t\t And surely, he drew you from the mouth of distress, to a wide place, unrestricted, and to the comfort of your table filled with rich food.\n\t\t\t But now you are preoccupied with the judgment due the wicked, judgment and justice take hold of you.\n\t\t\t Be careful that no one entices you with riches; do not let a large bribe turn you aside.\n\t\t\t Would your wealth sustain you, so that you would not be in distress, even all your mighty efforts?\n\t\t\t Do not long for the cover of night to drag people away from their homes.\n\t\t\t Take heed, do not turn to evil, for because of this you have been tested by affliction.\n\t\t\t Indeed, God is exalted in his power; who is a teacher like him?\n\t\t\t Who has prescribed his ways for him? Or said to him, 'You have done what is wicked'?\n\t\t\t Remember to extol his work, which people have praised in song.\n\t\t\t All humanity has seen it; people gaze on it from afar.\n\t\t\t \"Yes, God is great, beyond our knowledge! The number of his years is unsearchable.\n\t\t\t He draws up drops of water; they distill the rain into its mist,\n\t\t\t which the clouds pour down and shower on humankind abundantly.\n\t\t\t Who can understand the spreading of the clouds, the thunderings of his pavilion?\n\t\t\t See how he scattered his lightning about him; he has covered the depths of the sea.\n\t\t\t It is by these that he judges the nations and supplies food in abundance.\n\t\t\t With his hands he covers the lightning, and directs it against its target.\n\t\t\t His thunder announces the coming storm, the cattle also, concerning the storm's approach.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t At this also my heart pounds and leaps from its place.\n\t\t\t Listen carefully to the thunder of his voice, to the rumbling that proceeds from his mouth.\n\t\t\t Under the whole heaven he lets it go, even his lightning to the far corners of the earth.\n\t\t\t After that a voice roars; he thunders with an exalted voice, and he does not hold back his lightning bolts when his voice is heard.\n\t\t\t God thunders with his voice in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding.\n\t\t\t For to the snow he says, 'Fall to earth,' and to the torrential rains, 'Pour down.'\n\t\t\t He causes everyone to stop working, so that all people may know his work.\n\t\t\t The wild animals go to their lairs, and in their dens they remain.\n\t\t\t A tempest blows out from its chamber, icy cold from the driving winds.\n\t\t\t The breath of God produces ice, and the breadth of the waters freeze solid.\n\t\t\t He loads the clouds with moisture; he scatters his lightning through the clouds.\n\t\t\t The clouds go round in circles, wheeling about according to his plans, to carry out all that he commands them over the face of the whole inhabited world.\n\t\t\t Whether it is for punishment for his land, or whether it is for mercy, he causes it to find its mark.\n\t\t\t \"Pay attention to this, Job! Stand still and consider the wonders God works.\n\t\t\t Do you know how God commands them, how he makes lightning flash in his storm cloud?\n\t\t\t Do you know about the balancing of the clouds, that wondrous activity of him who is perfect in knowledge?\n\t\t\t You, whose garments are hot when the earth is still because of the south wind,\n\t\t\t will you, with him, spread out the clouds, solid as a mirror of molten metal?\n\t\t\t Tell us what we should say to him. We cannot prepare a case because of the darkness.\n\t\t\t Should he be informed that I want to speak? If a man speaks, surely he would be swallowed up!\n\t\t\t But now, the sun cannot be looked at, it is bright in the skies, after a wind passed and swept the clouds away.\n\t\t\t From the north he comes in golden splendor; around God is awesome majesty.\n\t\t\t As for the Almighty, we cannot attain to him! He is great in power, but justice and abundant righteousness he does not oppress.\n\t\t\t Therefore people fear him, for he does not regard all the wise in heart.\" VI. The Divine Speeches\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind:\n\t\t\t \"Who is this who darkens counsel with words without knowledge?\n\t\t\t Get ready for a difficult task like a man; I will question you and you will inform me!\n\t\t\t \"Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you possess understanding!\n\t\t\t Who set its measurements, if you know, or who stretched a measuring line across it?\n\t\t\t On what were its bases set, or who laid its cornerstone,\n\t\t\t when the morning stars sang in chorus, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?\n\t\t\t \"Who shut up the sea with doors when it burst forth, coming out of the womb,\n\t\t\t when I made the storm clouds its garment, and thick darkness its swaddling band,\n\t\t\t when I prescribed its limits, and set in place its bolts and doors,\n\t\t\t when I said, 'To here you may come and no farther, here your proud waves will be confined'?\n\t\t\t Have you ever in your life commanded the morning, or made the dawn know its place,\n\t\t\t that it might seize the corners of the earth, and shake the wicked out of it?\n\t\t\t The earth takes shape like clay under a seal; its features are dyed like a garment.\n\t\t\t Then from the wicked the light is withheld, and the arm raised in violence is broken.\n\t\t\t Have you gone to the springs that fill the sea, or walked about in the recesses of the deep?\n\t\t\t Have the gates of death been revealed to you? Have you seen the gates of deepest darkness?\n\t\t\t Have you considered the vast expanses of the earth? Tell me, if you know it all!\n\t\t\t \"In what direction does light reside, and darkness, where is its place,\n\t\t\t that you may take them to their borders and perceive the pathways to their homes?\n\t\t\t You know, for you were born before them; and the number of your days is great!\n\t\t\t Have you entered the storehouse of the snow, or seen the armory of the hail,\n\t\t\t which I reserve for the time of trouble, for the day of war and battle?\n\t\t\t In what direction is lightning dispersed, or the east winds scattered over the earth?\n\t\t\t Who carves out a channel for the heavy rains, and a path for the rumble of thunder,\n\t\t\t to cause it to rain on an uninhabited land, a desert where there are no human beings,\n\t\t\t to satisfy a devastated and desolate land, and to cause it to sprout with vegetation?\n\t\t\t Does the rain have a father, or who has fathered the drops of the dew?\n\t\t\t From whose womb does the ice emerge, and the frost from the sky, who gives birth to it,\n\t\t\t when the waters become hard like stone, when the surface of the deep is frozen solid?\n\t\t\t Can you tie the bands of the Pleiades, or release the cords of Orion?\n\t\t\t Can you lead out the constellations in their seasons, or guide the Bear with its cubs?\n\t\t\t Do you know the laws of the heavens, or can you set up their rule over the earth?\n\t\t\t Can you raise your voice to the clouds so that a flood of water covers you?\n\t\t\t Can you send out lightning bolts, and they go? Will they say to you, 'Here we are'?\n\t\t\t Who has put wisdom in the heart, or has imparted understanding to the mind?\n\t\t\t Who by wisdom can count the clouds, and who can tip over the water jars of heaven,\n\t\t\t when the dust hardens into a mass, and the clumps of earth stick together?\n\t\t\t \"Do you hunt prey for the lioness, and satisfy the appetite of the lions,\n\t\t\t when they crouch in their dens, when they wait in ambush in the thicket?\n\t\t\t Who prepares prey for the raven, when its young cry out to God and wander about for lack of food?\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t \"Are you acquainted with the way the mountain goats give birth? Do you watch as the wild deer give birth to their young?\n\t\t\t Do you count the months they must fulfill, and do you know the time they give birth?\n\t\t\t They crouch, they bear their young, they bring forth the offspring they have carried.\n\t\t\t Their young grow strong, and grow up in the open; they go off, and do not return to them.\n\t\t\t Who let the wild donkey go free? Who released the bonds of the donkey,\n\t\t\t to whom I appointed the steppe for its home, the salt wastes as its dwelling place?\n\t\t\t It scorns the tumult in the town; it does not hear the shouts of a driver.\n\t\t\t It ranges the hills as its pasture, and searches after every green plant.\n\t\t\t Is the wild ox willing to be your servant? Will it spend the night at your feeding trough?\n\t\t\t Can you bind the wild ox to a furrow with its rope, will it till the valleys, following after you?\n\t\t\t Will you rely on it because its strength is great? Will you commit your labor to it?\n\t\t\t Can you count on it to bring in your grain, and gather the grain to your threshing floor?\n\t\t\t \"The wings of the ostrich flap with joy, but are they the pinions and plumage of a stork?\n\t\t\t For she leaves her eggs on the ground, and lets them be warmed on the soil.\n\t\t\t She forgets that a foot might crush them, or that a wild animal might trample them.\n\t\t\t She is harsh with her young, as if they were not hers; she is unconcerned about the uselessness of her labor.\n\t\t\t For God deprived her of wisdom, and did not impart understanding to her.\n\t\t\t But as soon as she springs up, she laughs at the horse and its rider.\n\t\t\t \"Do you give the horse its strength? Do you clothe its neck with a mane?\n\t\t\t Do you make it leap like a locust? Its proud neighing is terrifying!\n\t\t\t It paws the ground in the valley, exulting mightily, it goes out to meet the weapons.\n\t\t\t It laughs at fear and is not dismayed; it does not shy away from the sword.\n\t\t\t On it the quiver rattles; the lance and javelin flash.\n\t\t\t In excitement and impatience it consumes the ground; it cannot stand still when the trumpet is blown.\n\t\t\t At the sound of the trumpet, it says, 'Aha!' And from a distance it catches the scent of battle, the thunderous shouting of commanders, and the battle cries.\n\t\t\t \"Is it by your understanding that the hawk soars, and spreads its wings toward the south?\n\t\t\t Is it at your command that the eagle soars, and builds its nest on high?\n\t\t\t It lives on a rock and spends the night there, on a rocky crag and a fortress.\n\t\t\t From there it spots its prey, its eyes gaze intently from a distance.\n\t\t\t And its young ones devour the blood, and where the dead carcasses are, there it is.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then the LORD answered Job:\n\t\t\t \"Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him? Let the person who accuses God give him an answer!\"\n\t\t\t Then Job answered the LORD:\n\t\t\t \"Indeed, I am completely unworthy, how could I reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth to silence myself.\n\t\t\t I have spoken once, but I cannot answer; twice, but I will say no more.\"\n\t\t\t Then the LORD answered Job from the whirlwind:\n\t\t\t \"Get ready for a difficult task like a man. I will question you and you will inform me!\n\t\t\t Would you indeed annul my justice? Would you declare me guilty so that you might be right?\n\t\t\t Do you have an arm as powerful as God's, and can you thunder with a voice like his?\n\t\t\t Adorn yourself, then, with majesty and excellency, and clothe yourself with glory and honor!\n\t\t\t Scatter abroad the abundance of your anger. Look at every proud man and bring him low;\n\t\t\t Look at every proud man and abase him; crush the wicked on the spot!\n\t\t\t Hide them in the dust together, imprison them in the grave.\n\t\t\t Then I myself will acknowledge to you that your own right hand can save you.\n\t\t\t \"Look now at Behemoth, which I made as I made you; it eats grass like the ox.\n\t\t\t Look at its strength in its loins, and its power in the muscles of its belly.\n\t\t\t It makes its tail stiff like a cedar, the sinews of its thighs are tightly wound.\n\t\t\t Its bones are tubes of bronze, its limbs like bars of iron.\n\t\t\t It ranks first among the works of God, the One who made it has furnished it with a sword.\n\t\t\t For the hills bring it food, where all the wild animals play.\n\t\t\t Under the lotus trees it lies, in the secrecy of the reeds and the marsh.\n\t\t\t The lotus trees conceal it in their shadow; the poplars by the stream conceal it.\n\t\t\t If the river rages, it is not disturbed, it is secure, though the Jordan should surge up to its mouth.\n\t\t\t Can anyone catch it by its eyes, or pierce its nose with a snare?\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t \"Can you pull in Leviathan with a hook, and tie down its tongue with a rope?\n\t\t\t Can you put a cord through its nose, or pierce its jaw with a hook?\n\t\t\t Will it make numerous supplications to you, will it speak to you with tender words?\n\t\t\t Will it make a pact with you, so you could take it as your slave for life?\n\t\t\t Can you play with it, like a bird, or tie it on a leash for your girls?\n\t\t\t Will partners bargain for it? Will they divide it up among the merchants?\n\t\t\t Can you fill its hide with harpoons or its head with fishing spears?\n\t\t\t If you lay your hand on it, you will remember the fight, and you will never do it again!\n\t\t\t See, his expectation is wrong, he is laid low even at the sight of it.\n\t\t\t Is it not fierce when it is awakened? Who is he, then, who can stand before it?\n\t\t\t (Who has confronted me that I should repay? Everything under heaven belongs to me!)\n\t\t\t I will not keep silent about its limbs, and the extent of its might, and the grace of its arrangement.\n\t\t\t Who can uncover its outer covering? Who can penetrate to the inside of its armor?\n\t\t\t Who can open the doors of its mouth? Its teeth all around are fearsome.\n\t\t\t Its back has rows of shields, shut up closely together as with a seal;\n\t\t\t each one is so close to the next that no air can come between them.\n\t\t\t They lock tightly together, one to the next; they cling together and cannot be separated.\n\t\t\t Its snorting throws out flashes of light; its eyes are like the red glow of dawn.\n\t\t\t Out of its mouth go flames, sparks of fire shoot forth!\n\t\t\t Smoke streams from its nostrils as from a boiling pot over burning rushes.\n\t\t\t Its breath sets coals ablaze and a flame shoots from its mouth.\n\t\t\t Strength lodges in its neck, and despair runs before it.\n\t\t\t The folds of its flesh are tightly joined; they are firm on it, immovable.\n\t\t\t Its heart is hard as rock, hard as a lower millstone.\n\t\t\t When it rises up, the mighty are terrified, at its thrashing about they withdraw.\n\t\t\t Whoever strikes it with a sword will have no effect, nor with the spear, arrow, or dart.\n\t\t\t It regards iron as straw and bronze as rotten wood.\n\t\t\t Arrows do not make it flee; slingstones become like chaff to it.\n\t\t\t A club is counted as a piece of straw; it laughs at the rattling of the lance.\n\t\t\t Its underparts are the sharp points of potsherds, it leaves its mark in the mud like a threshing sledge.\n\t\t\t It makes the deep boil like a cauldron and stirs up the sea like a pot of ointment,\n\t\t\t It leaves a glistening wake behind it; one would think the deep had a head of white hair.\n\t\t\t The likes of it is not on earth, a creature without fear.\n\t\t\t It looks on every haughty being; it is king over all that are proud.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then Job answered the LORD:\n\t\t\t \"I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted;\n\t\t\t you asked, 'Who is this who darkens counsel without knowledge?' But I have declared without understanding things too wonderful for me to know.\n\t\t\t You said, 'Pay attention, and I will speak; I will question you, and you will answer me.'\n\t\t\t I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye has seen you.\n\t\t\t Therefore I despise myself, and I repent in dust and ashes! VII. The Epilogue\n\t\t\t After the LORD had spoken these things to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite, \"My anger is stirred up against you and your two friends, because you have not spoken about me what is right, as my servant Job has. \n\t\t\t So now take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and offer a burnt offering for yourselves. And my servant Job will intercede for you, and I will respect him, so that I do not deal with you according to your folly, because you have not spoken about me what is right, as my servant Job has.\"\n\t\t\t So they went, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite, and did just as the LORD had told them; and the LORD had respect for Job.\n\t\t\t So the LORD restored what Job had lost after he prayed for his friends, and the LORD doubled all that had belonged to Job. \n\t\t\t So they came to him, all his brothers and sisters and all who had known him before, and they dined with him in his house. They comforted him and consoled him for all the trouble the LORD had brought on him, and each one gave him a piece of silver and a gold ring.\n\t\t\t So the LORD blessed the second part of Job's life more than the first. He had 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 yoke of oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys.\n\t\t\t And he also had seven sons and three daughters. \n\t\t\t The first daughter he named Jemimah, the second Keziah, and the third Keren-Happuch.\n\t\t\t Nowhere in all the land could women be found who were as beautiful as Job's daughters, and their father granted them an inheritance alongside their brothers.\n\t\t\t After this Job lived 140 years; he saw his children and their children to the fourth generation.\n\t\t\t And so Job died, old and full of days.\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t How blessed is the one who does not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand in the pathway with sinners, or sit in the assembly of scoffers!\n\t\t\t Instead he finds pleasure in obeying the LORD's commands; he meditates on his commands day and night.\n\t\t\t He is like a tree planted by flowing streams; it yields its fruit at the proper time, and its leaves never fall off. He succeeds in everything he attempts.\n\t\t\t Not so with the wicked! Instead they are like wind-driven chaff.\n\t\t\t For this reason the wicked cannot withstand judgment, nor can sinners join the assembly of the godly.\n\t\t\t Certainly the LORD guards the way of the godly, but the way of the wicked ends in destruction.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Why do the nations rebel? Why are the countries devising plots that will fail?\n\t\t\t The kings of the earth form a united front; the rulers collaborate against the LORD and his anointed king.\n\t\t\t They say, \"Let's tear off the shackles they've put on us! Let's free ourselves from their ropes!\"\n\t\t\t The one enthroned in heaven laughs in disgust; the Lord taunts them.\n\t\t\t Then he angrily speaks to them and terrifies them in his rage, saying,\n\t\t\t \"I myself have installed my king on Zion, my holy hill.\"\n\t\t\t The king says, \"I will announce the LORD'S decree. He said to me: 'You are my son! This very day I have become your father!\n\t\t\t Ask me, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance, the ends of the earth as your personal property.\n\t\t\t You will break them with an iron scepter; you will smash them like a potter's jar!'\"\n\t\t\t So now, you kings, do what is wise; you rulers of the earth, submit to correction!\n\t\t\t Serve the LORD in fear! Repent in terror!\n\t\t\t Give sincere homage! Otherwise he will be angry, and you will die because of your behavior, when his anger quickly ignites. How blessed are all who take shelter in him!\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [A psalm of David, written when he fled from his son Absalom.] LORD, how numerous are my enemies! Many attack me.\n\t\t\t Many say about me, \"God will not deliver him.\" (Selah)\n\t\t\t But you, LORD, are a shield that protects me; you are my glory and the one who restores me.\n\t\t\t To the LORD I cried out, and he answered me from his holy hill. (Selah)\n\t\t\t I rested and slept; I awoke, for the LORD protects me.\n\t\t\t I am not afraid of the multitude of people who attack me from all directions.\n\t\t\t Rise up, LORD! Deliver me, my God! Yes, you will strike all my enemies on the jaw; you will break the teeth of the wicked.\n\t\t\t The LORD delivers; you show favor to your people. (Selah)\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [For the music director, to be accompanied by stringed instruments; a psalm of David.] When I call out, answer me, O God who vindicates me! Though I am hemmed in, you will lead me into a wide, open place. Have mercy on me and respond to my prayer!\n\t\t\t You men, how long will you try to turn my honor into shame? How long will you love what is worthless and search for what is deceptive? (Selah)\n\t\t\t Realize that the LORD shows the godly special favor; the LORD responds when I cry out to him.\n\t\t\t Tremble with fear and do not sin! Meditate as you lie in bed, and repent of your ways! (Selah)\n\t\t\t Offer the prescribed sacrifices and trust in the LORD!\n\t\t\t Many say, \"Who can show us anything good?\" Smile upon us, LORD!\n\t\t\t You make me happier than those who have abundant grain and wine.\n\t\t\t I will lie down and sleep peacefully, for you, LORD, make me safe and secure.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [For the music director, to be accompanied by wind instruments; a psalm of David.] Listen to what I say, LORD! Carefully consider my complaint!\n\t\t\t Pay attention to my cry for help, my king and my God, for I am praying to you!\n\t\t\t LORD, in the morning you will hear me; in the morning I will present my case to you and then wait expectantly for an answer.\n\t\t\t Certainly you are not a God who approves of evil; evil people cannot dwell with you.\n\t\t\t Arrogant people cannot stand in your presence; you hate all who behave wickedly.\n\t\t\t You destroy liars; the LORD despises violent and deceitful people.\n\t\t\t But as for me, because of your great faithfulness I will enter your house; I will bow down toward your holy temple as I worship you.\n\t\t\t LORD, lead me in your righteousness because of those who wait to ambush me, remove the obstacles in the way in which you are guiding me!\n\t\t\t For they do not speak the truth; their stomachs are like the place of destruction, their throats like an open grave, their tongues like a steep slope leading into it.\n\t\t\t Condemn them, O God! May their own schemes be their downfall! Drive them away because of their many acts of insurrection, for they have rebelled against you.\n\t\t\t But may all who take shelter in you be happy! May they continually shout for joy! Shelter them so that those who are loyal to you may rejoice!\n\t\t\t Certainly you reward the godly, LORD. Like a shield you protect them in your good favor.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [For the music director, to be accompanied by stringed instruments, according to the sheminith style; a psalm of David.] LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger! Do not discipline me in your raging fury!\n\t\t\t Have mercy on me, LORD, for I am frail! Heal me, LORD, for my bones are shaking!\n\t\t\t I am absolutely terrified, and you, LORD, how long will this continue?\n\t\t\t Relent, LORD, rescue me! Deliver me because of your faithfulness!\n\t\t\t For no one remembers you in the realm of death, In Sheol who gives you thanks?\n\t\t\t I am exhausted as I groan; all night long I drench my bed in tears; my tears saturate the cushion beneath me.\n\t\t\t My eyes grow dim from suffering; they grow weak because of all my enemies.\n\t\t\t Turn back from me, all you who behave wickedly, for the LORD has heard the sound of my weeping!\n\t\t\t The LORD has heard my appeal for mercy; the LORD has accepted my prayer.\n\t\t\t May all my enemies be humiliated and absolutely terrified! May they turn back and be suddenly humiliated!\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [A musical composition by David, which he sang to the LORD concerning a Benjaminite named Cush.] O LORD my God, in you I have taken shelter. Deliver me from all who chase me! Rescue me!\n\t\t\t Otherwise they will rip me to shreds like a lion; they will tear me to bits and no one will be able to rescue me.\n\t\t\t O LORD my God, if I have done what they say, or am guilty of unjust actions,\n\t\t\t or have wronged my ally, or helped his lawless enemy,\n\t\t\t may an enemy relentlessly chase me and catch me; may he trample me to death and leave me lying dishonored in the dust. (Selah)\n\t\t\t Stand up angrily, LORD! Rise up with raging fury against my enemies! Wake up for my sake and execute the judgment you have decreed for them!\n\t\t\t The countries are assembled all around you; take once more your rightful place over them!\n\t\t\t The LORD judges the nations. Vindicate me, LORD, because I am innocent, because I am blameless, O Exalted One!\n\t\t\t May the evil deeds of the wicked come to an end! But make the innocent secure, O righteous God, you who examine inner thoughts and motives!\n\t\t\t The Exalted God is my shield, the one who delivers the morally upright.\n\t\t\t God is a just judge; he is angry throughout the day.\n\t\t\t If a person does not repent, God sharpens his sword and prepares to shoot his bow.\n\t\t\t He prepares to use deadly weapons against him; he gets ready to shoot flaming arrows.\n\t\t\t See the one who is pregnant with wickedness, who conceives destructive plans, and gives birth to harmful lies,\n\t\t\t he digs a pit and then falls into the hole he has made.\n\t\t\t He becomes the victim of his own destructive plans and the violence he intended for others falls on his own head.\n\t\t\t I will thank the LORD for his justice; I will sing praises to the sovereign LORD!\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [For the music director, according to the gittith style; a psalm of David.] O LORD, our Lord, how magnificent is your reputation throughout the earth! You reveal your majesty in the heavens above!\n\t\t\t From the mouths of children and nursing babies you have ordained praise on account of your adversaries, so that you might put an end to the vindictive enemy.\n\t\t\t When I look up at the heavens, which your fingers made, and see the moon and the stars, which you set in place,\n\t\t\t Of what importance is the human race, that you should notice them? Of what importance is mankind, that you should pay attention to them,\n\t\t\t and make them a little less than the heavenly beings? You grant mankind honor and majesty;\n\t\t\t you appoint them to rule over your creation; you have placed everything under their authority,\n\t\t\t including all the sheep and cattle, as well as the wild animals,\n\t\t\t the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea and everything that moves through the currents of the seas.\n\t\t\t O LORD, our Lord, how magnificent is your reputation throughout the earth!\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [For the music director; according to the alumoth-labben style; a psalm of David.] I will thank the LORD with all my heart! I will tell about all your amazing deeds!\n\t\t\t I will be happy and rejoice in you! I will sing praises to you, O sovereign One!\n\t\t\t When my enemies turn back, they trip and are defeated before you.\n\t\t\t For you defended my just cause; from your throne you pronounced a just decision.\n\t\t\t You terrified the nations with your battle cry; you destroyed the wicked; you permanently wiped out all memory of them.\n\t\t\t The enemy's cities have been reduced to permanent ruins; you destroyed their cities; all memory of the enemies has perished.\n\t\t\t But the LORD rules forever; he reigns in a just manner.\n\t\t\t He judges the world fairly; he makes just legal decisions for the nations.\n\t\t\t Consequently the LORD provides safety for the oppressed; he provides safety in times of trouble.\n\t\t\t Your loyal followers trust in you, for you, LORD, do not abandon those who seek your help.\n\t\t\t Sing praises to the LORD, who rules in Zion! Tell the nations what he has done!\n\t\t\t For the one who takes revenge against murderers took notice of the oppressed; he did not overlook their cry for help\n\t\t\t when they prayed: \"Have mercy on me, LORD! See how I am oppressed by those who hate me, O one who can snatch me away from the gates of death!\n\t\t\t Then I will tell about all your praiseworthy acts; in the gates of Daughter Zion I will rejoice because of your deliverance.\"\n\t\t\t The nations fell into the pit they had made; their feet were caught in the net they had hidden.\n\t\t\t The LORD revealed himself; he accomplished justice; the wicked were ensnared by their own actions. (Higgaion. Selah)\n\t\t\t The wicked are turned back and sent to Sheol; this is the destiny of all the nations that ignore God,\n\t\t\t for the needy are not permanently ignored, the hopes of the oppressed are not forever dashed.\n\t\t\t Rise up, LORD! Don't let men be defiant! May the nations be judged in your presence!\n\t\t\t Terrify them, LORD! Let the nations know they are mere mortals! (Selah)\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Why, LORD, do you stand far off? Why do you pay no attention during times of trouble?\n\t\t\t The wicked arrogantly chase the oppressed; the oppressed are trapped by the schemes the wicked have dreamed up.\n\t\t\t Yes, the wicked man boasts because he gets what he wants; the one who robs others curses and rejects the LORD.\n\t\t\t The wicked man is so arrogant he always thinks, \"God won't hold me accountable; he doesn't care.\"\n\t\t\t He is secure at all times. He has no regard for your commands; he disdains all his enemies.\n\t\t\t He says to himself, \"I will never be upended, because I experience no calamity.\"\n\t\t\t His mouth is full of curses and deceptive, harmful words; his tongue injures and destroys.\n\t\t\t He waits in ambush near the villages; in hidden places he kills the innocent. His eyes look for some unfortunate victim.\n\t\t\t He lies in ambush in a hidden place, like a lion in a thicket; he lies in ambush, waiting to catch the oppressed; he catches the oppressed by pulling in his net.\n\t\t\t His victims are crushed and beaten down; they are trapped in his sturdy nets.\n\t\t\t He says to himself, \"God overlooks it; he does not pay attention; he never notices.\"\n\t\t\t Rise up, LORD! O God, strike him down! Do not forget the oppressed!\n\t\t\t Why does the wicked man reject God? He says to himself, \"You will not hold me accountable.\"\n\t\t\t You have taken notice, for you always see one who inflicts pain and suffering. The unfortunate victim entrusts his cause to you; you deliver the fatherless.\n\t\t\t Break the arm of the wicked and evil man! Hold him accountable for his wicked deeds, which he thought you would not discover.\n\t\t\t The LORD rules forever! The nations are driven out of his land.\n\t\t\t LORD, you have heard the request of the oppressed; you make them feel secure because you listen to their prayer.\n\t\t\t You defend the fatherless and oppressed, so that mere mortals may no longer terrorize them.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [For the music director; by David.] In the LORD I have taken shelter. How can you say to me, \"Flee to a mountain like a bird!\n\t\t\t For look, the wicked prepare their bows, they put their arrows on the strings, to shoot in the darkness at the morally upright.\n\t\t\t When the foundations are destroyed, what can the godly accomplish?\"\n\t\t\t The LORD is in his holy temple; the LORD's throne is in heaven. His eyes watch; his eyes examine all people.\n\t\t\t The LORD approves of the godly, but he hates the wicked and those who love to do violence.\n\t\t\t May the LORD rain down burning coals and brimstone on the wicked! A whirlwind is what they deserve!\n\t\t\t Certainly the LORD is just; he rewards godly deeds; the upright will experience his favor.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [For the music director; according to the sheminith style; a psalm of David.] Deliver, LORD! For the godly have disappeared; people of integrity have vanished.\n\t\t\t People lie to one another; they flatter and deceive.\n\t\t\t May the LORD cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that boasts!\n\t\t\t They say, \"We speak persuasively; we know how to flatter and boast. Who is our master?\"\n\t\t\t \"Because of the violence done to the oppressed, because of the painful cries of the needy, I will spring into action,\" says the LORD. \"I will provide the safety they so desperately desire.\"\n\t\t\t The LORD's words are absolutely reliable. They are as untainted as silver purified in a furnace on the ground, where it is thoroughly refined.\n\t\t\t You, LORD, will protect them; you will continually shelter each one from these evil people,\n\t\t\t for the wicked seem to be everywhere, when people promote evil.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [For the music director; a psalm of David.] How long, LORD, will you continue to ignore me? How long will you pay no attention to me?\n\t\t\t How long must I worry, and suffer in broad daylight? How long will my enemy gloat over me?\n\t\t\t Look at me! Answer me, O LORD my God! Revive me, or else I will die!\n\t\t\t Then my enemy will say, \"I have defeated him!\" Then my foes will rejoice because I am upended.\n\t\t\t But I trust in your faithfulness. May I rejoice because of your deliverance!\n\t\t\t I will sing praises to the LORD when he vindicates me.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [For the music director; by David.] Fools say to themselves, \"There is no God.\" They sin and commit evil deeds; none of them does what is right.\n\t\t\t The LORD looks down from heaven at the human race, to see if there is anyone who is wise and seeks God.\n\t\t\t Everyone rejects God; they are all morally corrupt. None of them does what is right, not even one!\n\t\t\t All those who behave wickedly do not understand, those who devour my people as if they were eating bread, and do not call out to the LORD.\n\t\t\t They are absolutely terrified, for God defends the godly.\n\t\t\t You want to humiliate the oppressed, even though the LORD is their shelter.\n\t\t\t I wish the deliverance of Israel would come from Zion! When the LORD restores the well-being of his people, may Jacob rejoice, may Israel be happy!\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [A psalm of David.] LORD, who may be a guest in your home? Who may live on your holy hill?\n\t\t\t Whoever lives a blameless life, does what is right, and speaks honestly.\n\t\t\t He does not slander, or do harm to others, or insult his neighbor.\n\t\t\t He despises a reprobate, but honors the LORD's loyal followers. He makes firm commitments and does not renege on his promise.\n\t\t\t He does not charge interest when he lends his money. He does not take bribes to testify against the innocent. The one who lives like this will never be upended.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [A prayer of David.] Protect me, O God, for I have taken shelter in you.\n\t\t\t I say to the LORD, \"You are the Lord, my only source of well-being.\"\n\t\t\t As for God's chosen people who are in the land, and the leading officials I admired so much,\n\t\t\t their troubles multiply, they desire other gods. I will not pour out drink offerings of blood to their gods, nor will I make vows in the name of their gods.\n\t\t\t LORD, you give me stability and prosperity; you make my future secure.\n\t\t\t It is as if I have been given fertile fields or received a beautiful tract of land.\n\t\t\t I will praise the LORD who guides me; yes, during the night I reflect and learn.\n\t\t\t I constantly trust in the LORD; because he is at my right hand, I will not be upended.\n\t\t\t So my heart rejoices and I am happy; My life is safe.\n\t\t\t You will not abandon me to Sheol; you will not allow your faithful follower to see the Pit.\n\t\t\t You lead me in the path of life; I experience absolute joy in your presence; you always give me sheer delight.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [A prayer of David.] LORD, consider my just cause! Pay attention to my cry for help! Listen to the prayer I sincerely offer!\n\t\t\t Make a just decision on my behalf! Decide what is right!\n\t\t\t You have scrutinized my inner motives; you have examined me during the night. You have carefully evaluated me, but you find no sin. I am determined I will say nothing sinful.\n\t\t\t As for the actions of people, just as you have commanded, I have not followed in the footsteps of violent men.\n\t\t\t I carefully obey your commands; I do not deviate from them.\n\t\t\t I call to you for you will answer me, O God. Listen to me! Hear what I say!\n\t\t\t Accomplish awesome, faithful deeds, you who powerfully deliver those who look to you for protection from their enemies.\n\t\t\t Protect me as you would protect the pupil of your eye! Hide me in the shadow of your wings!\n\t\t\t Protect me from the wicked men who attack me, my enemies who crowd around me for the kill.\n\t\t\t They are calloused; they speak arrogantly.\n\t\t\t They attack me, now they surround me; they intend to throw me to the ground.\n\t\t\t He is like a lion that wants to tear its prey to bits, like a young lion crouching in hidden places.\n\t\t\t Rise up, LORD! Confront him! Knock him down! Use your sword to rescue me from the wicked man!\n\t\t\t LORD, use your power to deliver me from these murderers, from the murderers of this world! They enjoy prosperity; you overwhelm them with the riches they desire. They have many children, and leave their wealth to their offspring.\n\t\t\t As for me, because I am innocent I will see your face; when I awake you will reveal yourself to me.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [For the music director; by the LORD's servant David, who sang to the LORD the words of this song when the LORD rescued him from the power of all his enemies, including Saul.] He said: \"I love you, LORD, my source of strength!\n\t\t\t The LORD is my high ridge, my stronghold, my deliverer. My God is my rocky summit where I take shelter, my shield, the horn that saves me, and my refuge.\n\t\t\t I called to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I was delivered from my enemies.\n\t\t\t The waves of death engulfed me, the currents of chaos overwhelmed me.\n\t\t\t The ropes of Sheol tightened around me, the snares of death trapped me.\n\t\t\t In my distress I called to the LORD; I cried out to my God. From his heavenly temple he heard my voice; he listened to my cry for help.\n\t\t\t The earth heaved and shook; the roots of the mountains trembled; they heaved because he was angry.\n\t\t\t Smoke ascended from his nose; fire devoured as it came from his mouth; he hurled down fiery coals.\n\t\t\t He made the sky sink as he descended; a thick cloud was under his feet.\n\t\t\t He mounted a winged angel and flew; he glided on the wings of the wind.\n\t\t\t He shrouded himself in darkness, in thick rain clouds.\n\t\t\t From the brightness in front of him came hail and fiery coals.\n\t\t\t The LORD thundered in the sky; the sovereign One shouted.\n\t\t\t He shot his arrows and scattered them, many lightning bolts and routed them.\n\t\t\t The depths of the sea were exposed; the inner regions of the world were uncovered by your battle cry, LORD, by the powerful breath from your nose.\n\t\t\t He reached down from above and took hold of me; he pulled me from the surging water.\n\t\t\t He rescued me from my strong enemy, from those who hate me, for they were too strong for me.\n\t\t\t They confronted me in my day of calamity, but the LORD helped me.\n\t\t\t He brought me out into a wide open place; he delivered me because he was pleased with me.\n\t\t\t The LORD repaid me for my godly deeds; he rewarded my blameless behavior.\n\t\t\t For I have obeyed the LORD's commands; I have not rebelled against my God.\n\t\t\t For I am aware of all his regulations, and I do not reject his rules.\n\t\t\t I was innocent before him, and kept myself from sinning.\n\t\t\t The LORD rewarded me for my godly deeds; he took notice of my blameless behavior.\n\t\t\t You prove to be loyal to one who is faithful; you prove to be trustworthy to one who is innocent.\n\t\t\t You prove to be reliable to one who is blameless, but you prove to be deceptive to one who is perverse.\n\t\t\t For you deliver oppressed people, but you bring down those who have a proud look.\n\t\t\t Indeed, you are my lamp, LORD. My God illuminates the darkness around me.\n\t\t\t Indeed, with your help I can charge against an army; by my God's power I can jump over a wall.\n\t\t\t The one true God acts in a faithful manner; the LORD's promise is reliable; he is a shield to all who take shelter in him.\n\t\t\t Indeed, who is God besides the LORD? Who is a protector besides our God?\n\t\t\t The one true God gives me strength; he removes the obstacles in my way.\n\t\t\t He gives me the agility of a deer; he enables me to negotiate the rugged terrain.\n\t\t\t He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend even the strongest bow.\n\t\t\t You give me your protective shield; your right hand supports me; your willingness to help enables me to prevail.\n\t\t\t You widen my path; my feet do not slip.\n\t\t\t I chase my enemies and catch them; I do not turn back until I wipe them out.\n\t\t\t I beat them to death; they fall at my feet.\n\t\t\t You give me strength for battle; you make my foes kneel before me.\n\t\t\t You make my enemies retreat; I destroy those who hate me.\n\t\t\t They cry out, but there is no one to help them; they cry out to the LORD, but he does not answer them.\n\t\t\t I grind them as fine windblown dust; I beat them underfoot like clay in the streets.\n\t\t\t You rescue me from a hostile army; you make me a leader of nations; people over whom I had no authority are now my subjects.\n\t\t\t When they hear of my exploits, they submit to me. Foreigners are powerless before me;\n\t\t\t foreigners lose their courage; they shake with fear as they leave their strongholds.\n\t\t\t The LORD is alive! My protector is praiseworthy! The God who delivers me is exalted as king!\n\t\t\t The one true God completely vindicates me; he makes nations submit to me.\n\t\t\t He delivers me from my enemies; you snatch me away from those who attack me; you rescue me from violent men.\n\t\t\t So I will give you thanks before the nations, O LORD! I will sing praises to you!\n\t\t\t He gives his chosen king magnificent victories; he is faithful to his chosen ruler, to David and his descendants forever.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [For the music director; a psalm of David.] The heavens declare the glory of God; the sky displays his handiwork.\n\t\t\t Day after day it speaks out; night after night it reveals his greatness.\n\t\t\t There is no actual speech or word, nor is its voice literally heard.\n\t\t\t Yet its voice echoes throughout the earth; its words carry to the distant horizon. In the sky he has pitched a tent for the sun.\n\t\t\t Like a bridegroom it emerges from its chamber; like a strong man it enjoys running its course.\n\t\t\t It emerges from the distant horizon, and goes from one end of the sky to the other; nothing can escape its heat.\n\t\t\t The law of the LORD is perfect and preserves one's life. The rules set down by the LORD are reliable and impart wisdom to the inexperienced.\n\t\t\t The LORD's precepts are fair and make one joyful. The LORD's commands are pure and give insight for life.\n\t\t\t The commands to fear the LORD are right and endure forever. The judgments given by the LORD are trustworthy and absolutely just.\n\t\t\t They are of greater value than gold, than even a great amount of pure gold; they bring greater delight than honey, than even the sweetest honey from a honeycomb.\n\t\t\t Yes, your servant finds moral guidance there; those who obey them receive a rich reward.\n\t\t\t Who can know all his errors? Please do not punish me for sins I am unaware of.\n\t\t\t Moreover, keep me from committing flagrant sins; do not allow such sins to control me. Then I will be blameless, and innocent of blatant rebellion.\n\t\t\t May my words and my thoughts be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my sheltering rock and my redeemer.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [For the music director; a psalm of David.] May the LORD answer you when you are in trouble; may the God of Jacob make you secure!\n\t\t\t May he send you help from his temple; from Zion may he give you support!\n\t\t\t May he take notice of your offerings; may he accept your burnt sacrifice! (Selah)\n\t\t\t May he grant your heart's desire; may he bring all your plans to pass!\n\t\t\t Then we will shout for joy over your victory; we will rejoice in the name of our God! May the LORD grant all your requests!\n\t\t\t Now I am sure that the LORD will deliver his chosen king; he will intervene for him from his holy heavenly temple, and display his mighty ability to deliver.\n\t\t\t Some trust in chariots and others in horses, but we depend on the LORD our God.\n\t\t\t They will fall down, but we will stand firm.\n\t\t\t The LORD will deliver the king; he will answer us when we call to him for help!\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [For the music director; a psalm of David.] O LORD, the king rejoices in the strength you give; he takes great delight in the deliverance you provide.\n\t\t\t You grant him his heart's desire; you do not refuse his request. (Selah)\n\t\t\t For you bring him rich blessings; you place a golden crown on his head.\n\t\t\t He asked you to sustain his life, and you have granted him long life and an enduring dynasty.\n\t\t\t Your deliverance brings him great honor; you give him majestic splendor.\n\t\t\t For you grant him lasting blessings; you give him great joy by allowing him into your presence.\n\t\t\t For the king trusts in the LORD, and because of the sovereign LORD's faithfulness he is not upended.\n\t\t\t You prevail over all your enemies; your power is too great for those who hate you.\n\t\t\t You burn them up like a fiery furnace when you appear; the LORD angrily devours them; the fire consumes them.\n\t\t\t You destroy their offspring from the earth, their descendants from among the human race.\n\t\t\t Yes, they intend to do you harm; they dream up a scheme, but they do not succeed.\n\t\t\t For you make them retreat when you shoot your arrows at them.\n\t\t\t Rise up, O LORD, in strength! We will sing and praise your power!\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [For the music director; according to the tune \"Morning Doe;\" a psalm of David.] My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? I groan in prayer, but help seems far away.\n\t\t\t My God, I cry out during the day, but you do not answer, and during the night my prayers do not let up.\n\t\t\t You are holy; you sit as king receiving the praises of Israel.\n\t\t\t In you our ancestors trusted; they trusted in you and you rescued them.\n\t\t\t To you they cried out, and they were saved; in you they trusted and they were not disappointed.\n\t\t\t But I am a worm, not a man; people insult me and despise me.\n\t\t\t All who see me taunt me; they mock me and shake their heads.\n\t\t\t They say, \"Commit yourself to the LORD! Let the LORD rescue him! Let the LORD deliver him, for he delights in him.\"\n\t\t\t Yes, you are the one who brought me out from the womb and made me feel secure on my mother's breasts.\n\t\t\t I have been dependent on you since birth; from the time I came out of my mother's womb you have been my God.\n\t\t\t Do not remain far away from me, for trouble is near and I have no one to help me.\n\t\t\t Many bulls surround me; powerful bulls of Bashan hem me in.\n\t\t\t They open their mouths to devour me like a roaring lion that rips its prey.\n\t\t\t My strength drains away like water; all my bones are dislocated; my heart is like wax; it melts away inside me.\n\t\t\t The roof of my mouth is as dry as a piece of pottery; my tongue sticks to my gums. You set me in the dust of death.\n\t\t\t Yes, wild dogs surround me, a gang of evil men crowd around me; like a lion they pin my hands and feet.\n\t\t\t I can count all my bones; my enemies are gloating over me in triumph.\n\t\t\t They are dividing up my clothes among themselves; they are rolling dice for my garments.\n\t\t\t But you, O LORD, do not remain far away! You are my source of strength! Hurry and help me!\n\t\t\t Deliver me from the sword! Save my life from the claws of the wild dogs!\n\t\t\t Rescue me from the mouth of the lion, and from the horns of the wild oxen! You have answered me!\n\t\t\t I will declare your name to my countrymen! In the middle of the assembly I will praise you!\n\t\t\t You loyal followers of the LORD, praise him! All you descendants of Jacob, honor him! All you descendants of Israel, stand in awe of him!\n\t\t\t For he did not despise or detest the suffering of the oppressed; he did not ignore him; when he cried out to him, he responded.\n\t\t\t You are the reason I offer praise in the great assembly; I will fulfill my promises before the LORD's loyal followers.\n\t\t\t Let the oppressed eat and be filled! Let those who seek his help praise the LORD! May you live forever!\n\t\t\t Let all the people of the earth acknowledge the LORD and turn to him! Let all the nations worship you!\n\t\t\t For the LORD is king and rules over the nations.\n\t\t\t All of the thriving people of the earth will join the celebration and worship; all those who are descending into the grave will bow before him, including those who cannot preserve their lives.\n\t\t\t A whole generation will serve him; they will tell the next generation about the sovereign Lord.\n\t\t\t They will come and tell about his saving deeds; they will tell a future generation what he has accomplished.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [A psalm of David.] The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.\n\t\t\t He takes me to lush pastures, he leads me to refreshing water.\n\t\t\t He restores my strength. He leads me down the right paths for the sake of his reputation.\n\t\t\t Even when I must walk through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for you are with me; your rod and your staff reassure me.\n\t\t\t You prepare a feast before me in plain sight of my enemies. You refresh my head with oil; my cup is completely full.\n\t\t\t Surely your goodness and faithfulness will pursue me all my days, and I will live in the LORD's house for the rest of my life.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [A psalm of David.] The LORD owns the earth and all it contains, the world and all who live in it.\n\t\t\t For he set its foundation upon the seas, and established it upon the ocean currents.\n\t\t\t Who is allowed to ascend the mountain of the LORD? Who may go up to his holy dwelling place?\n\t\t\t The one whose deeds are blameless and whose motives are pure, who does not lie, or make promises with no intention of keeping them.\n\t\t\t Such godly people are rewarded by the LORD, and vindicated by the God who delivers them.\n\t\t\t Such purity characterizes the people who seek his favor, Jacob's descendants, who pray to him. (Selah)\n\t\t\t Look up, you gates! Rise up, you eternal doors! Then the majestic king will enter!\n\t\t\t Who is this majestic king? The LORD who is strong and mighty! The LORD who is mighty in battle!\n\t\t\t Look up, you gates! Rise up, you eternal doors! Then the majestic king will enter!\n\t\t\t Who is this majestic king? The LORD who commands armies! He is the majestic king! (Selah)\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [By David.] O LORD, I come before you in prayer.\n\t\t\t My God, I trust in you. Please do not let me be humiliated; do not let my enemies triumphantly rejoice over me!\n\t\t\t Certainly none who rely on you will be humiliated. Those who deal in treachery will be thwarted and humiliated.\n\t\t\t Make me understand your ways, O LORD! Teach me your paths!\n\t\t\t Guide me into your truth and teach me. For you are the God who delivers me; on you I rely all day long.\n\t\t\t Remember your compassionate and faithful deeds, O LORD, for you have always acted in this manner.\n\t\t\t Do not hold against me the sins of my youth or my rebellious acts! Because you are faithful to me, extend to me your favor, O LORD!\n\t\t\t The LORD is both kind and fair; that is why he teaches sinners the right way to live.\n\t\t\t May he show the humble what is right! May he teach the humble his way!\n\t\t\t The LORD always proves faithful and reliable to those who follow the demands of his covenant.\n\t\t\t For the sake of your reputation, O LORD, forgive my sin, because it is great.\n\t\t\t The LORD shows his faithful followers the way they should live.\n\t\t\t They experience his favor; their descendants inherit the land.\n\t\t\t The LORD's loyal followers receive his guidance, and he reveals his covenantal demands to them.\n\t\t\t I continually look to the LORD for help, for he will free my feet from the enemy's net.\n\t\t\t Turn toward me and have mercy on me, for I am alone and oppressed!\n\t\t\t Deliver me from my distress; rescue me from my suffering!\n\t\t\t See my pain and suffering! Forgive all my sins!\n\t\t\t Watch my enemies, for they outnumber me; they hate me and want to harm me.\n\t\t\t Protect me and deliver me! Please do not let me be humiliated, for I have taken shelter in you!\n\t\t\t May integrity and godliness protect me, for I rely on you!\n\t\t\t O God, rescue Israel from all their distress!\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [By David.] Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have integrity, and I trust in the LORD without wavering.\n\t\t\t Examine me, O LORD, and test me! Evaluate my inner thoughts and motives!\n\t\t\t For I am ever aware of your faithfulness, and your loyalty continually motivates me.\n\t\t\t I do not associate with deceitful men, or consort with those who are dishonest.\n\t\t\t I hate the mob of evil men, and do not associate with the wicked.\n\t\t\t I maintain a pure lifestyle, so I can appear before your altar, O LORD,\n\t\t\t to give you thanks, and to tell about all your amazing deeds.\n\t\t\t O LORD, I love the temple where you live, the place where your splendor is revealed.\n\t\t\t Do not sweep me away with sinners, or execute me along with violent people,\n\t\t\t who are always ready to do wrong or offer a bribe.\n\t\t\t But I have integrity! Rescue me and have mercy on me!\n\t\t\t I am safe, and among the worshipers I will praise the LORD.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [By David.] The LORD delivers and vindicates me! I fear no one! The LORD protects my life! I am afraid of no one!\n\t\t\t When evil men attack me to devour my flesh, when my adversaries and enemies attack me, they stumble and fall.\n\t\t\t Even when an army is deployed against me, I do not fear. Even when war is imminent, I remain confident.\n\t\t\t I have asked the LORD for one thing, this is what I desire! I want to live in the LORD's house all the days of my life, so I can gaze at the splendor of the LORD and contemplate in his temple.\n\t\t\t He will surely give me shelter in the day of danger; he will hide me in his home; he will place me on an inaccessible rocky summit.\n\t\t\t Now I will triumph over my enemies who surround me! I will offer sacrifices in his dwelling place and shout for joy! I will sing praises to the LORD!\n\t\t\t Hear me, O LORD, when I cry out! Have mercy on me and answer me!\n\t\t\t My heart tells me to pray to you, and I do pray to you, O LORD.\n\t\t\t Do not reject me! Do not push your servant away in anger! You are my deliverer! Do not forsake or abandon me, O God who vindicates me!\n\t\t\t Even if my father and mother abandoned me, the LORD would take me in.\n\t\t\t Teach me how you want me to live; lead me along a level path because of those who wait to ambush me!\n\t\t\t Do not turn me over to my enemies, for false witnesses who want to destroy me testify against me.\n\t\t\t Where would I be if I did not believe I would experience the LORD's favor in the land of the living?\n\t\t\t Rely on the LORD! Be strong and confident! Rely on the LORD!\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [By David.] To you, O LORD, I cry out! My protector, do not ignore me! If you do not respond to me, I will join those who are descending into the grave.\n\t\t\t Hear my plea for mercy when I cry out to you for help, when I lift my hands toward your holy temple!\n\t\t\t Do not drag me away with evil men, with those who behave wickedly, who talk so friendly to their neighbors, while they plan to harm them!\n\t\t\t Pay them back for their evil deeds! Pay them back for what they do! Punish them!\n\t\t\t For they do not understand the LORD's actions, or the way he carries out justice. The LORD will permanently demolish them.\n\t\t\t The LORD deserves praise, for he has heard my plea for mercy!\n\t\t\t The LORD strengthens and protects me; I trust in him with all my heart. I am rescued and my heart is full of joy; I will sing to him in gratitude.\n\t\t\t The LORD strengthens his people; he protects and delivers his chosen king.\n\t\t\t Deliver your people! Empower the nation that belongs to you! Care for them like a shepherd and carry them in your arms at all times!\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [A psalm of David.] Acknowledge the LORD, you heavenly beings, acknowledge the LORD's majesty and power!\n\t\t\t Acknowledge the majesty of the LORD's reputation! Worship the LORD in holy attire!\n\t\t\t The LORD's shout is heard over the water; the majestic God thunders, the LORD appears over the surging water.\n\t\t\t The LORD's shout is powerful, the LORD's shout is majestic.\n\t\t\t The LORD's shout breaks the cedars, the LORD shatters the cedars of Lebanon.\n\t\t\t He makes Lebanon skip like a calf and Sirion like a young ox.\n\t\t\t The LORD's shout strikes with flaming fire.\n\t\t\t The LORD's shout shakes the wilderness, the LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.\n\t\t\t The LORD's shout bends the large trees and strips the leaves from the forests. Everyone in his temple says, \"Majestic!\"\n\t\t\t The LORD sits enthroned over the engulfing waters, the LORD sits enthroned as the eternal king.\n\t\t\t The LORD gives his people strength; the LORD grants his people security.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [A psalm, a song used at the dedication of the temple; by David.] I will praise you, O LORD, for you lifted me up, and did not allow my enemies to gloat over me.\n\t\t\t O LORD my God, I cried out to you and you healed me.\n\t\t\t O LORD, you pulled me up from Sheol; you rescued me from among those descending into the grave.\n\t\t\t Sing to the LORD, you faithful followers of his; give thanks to his holy name.\n\t\t\t For his anger lasts only a brief moment, and his good favor restores one's life. One may experience sorrow during the night, but joy arrives in the morning.\n\t\t\t In my self-confidence I said, \"I will never be upended.\"\n\t\t\t O LORD, in your good favor you made me secure. Then you rejected me and I was terrified.\n\t\t\t To you, O LORD, I cried out; I begged the Lord for mercy:\n\t\t\t \"What profit is there in taking my life, in my descending into the Pit? Can the dust of the grave praise you? Can it declare your loyalty?\n\t\t\t Hear, O LORD, and have mercy on me! O LORD, deliver me!\"\n\t\t\t Then you turned my lament into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and covered me with joy.\n\t\t\t So now my heart will sing to you and not be silent; O LORD my God, I will always give thanks to you.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [For the music director; a psalm of David.] In you, O LORD, I have taken shelter! Never let me be humiliated! Vindicate me by rescuing me!\n\t\t\t Listen to me! Quickly deliver me! Be my protector and refuge, a stronghold where I can be safe!\n\t\t\t For you are my high ridge and my stronghold; for the sake of your own reputation you lead me and guide me.\n\t\t\t You will free me from the net they hid for me, for you are my place of refuge.\n\t\t\t Into your hand I entrust my life; you will rescue me, O LORD, the faithful God.\n\t\t\t I hate those who serve worthless idols, but I trust in the LORD.\n\t\t\t I will be happy and rejoice in your faithfulness, because you notice my pain and you are aware of how distressed I am.\n\t\t\t You do not deliver me over to the power of the enemy; you enable me to stand in a wide open place.\n\t\t\t Have mercy on me, for I am in distress! My eyes grow dim from suffering. I have lost my strength.\n\t\t\t For my life nears its end in pain; my years draw to a close as I groan. My strength fails me because of my sin, and my bones become brittle.\n\t\t\t Because of all my enemies, people disdain me; my neighbors are appalled by my suffering, those who know me are horrified by my condition; those who see me in the street run away from me.\n\t\t\t I am forgotten, like a dead man no one thinks about; I am regarded as worthless, like a broken jar.\n\t\t\t For I hear what so many are saying, the terrifying news that comes from every direction. When they plot together against me, they figure out how they can take my life.\n\t\t\t But I trust in you, O LORD! I declare, \"You are my God!\"\n\t\t\t You determine my destiny! Rescue me from the power of my enemies and those who chase me.\n\t\t\t Smile on your servant! Deliver me because of your faithfulness!\n\t\t\t O LORD, do not let me be humiliated, for I call out to you! May evil men be humiliated! May they go wailing to the grave!\n\t\t\t May lying lips be silenced, lips that speak defiantly against the innocent with arrogance and contempt!\n\t\t\t How great is your favor, which you store up for your loyal followers! In plain sight of everyone you bestow it on those who take shelter in you.\n\t\t\t You hide them with you, where they are safe from the attacks of men; you conceal them in a shelter, where they are safe from slanderous attacks.\n\t\t\t The LORD deserves praise for he demonstrated his amazing faithfulness to me when I was besieged by enemies.\n\t\t\t I jumped to conclusions and said, \"I am cut off from your presence!\" But you heard my plea for mercy when I cried out to you for help.\n\t\t\t Love the LORD, all you faithful followers of his! The LORD protects those who have integrity, but he pays back in full the one who acts arrogantly.\n\t\t\t Be strong and confident, all you who wait on the LORD!\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [By David; a well-written song.] How blessed is the one whose rebellious acts are forgiven, whose sin is pardoned!\n\t\t\t How blessed is the one whose wrongdoing the LORD does not punish, in whose spirit there is no deceit.\n\t\t\t When I refused to confess my sin, my whole body wasted away, while I groaned in pain all day long.\n\t\t\t For day and night you tormented me; you tried to destroy me in the intense heat of summer. (Selah)\n\t\t\t Then I confessed my sin; I no longer covered up my wrongdoing. I said, \"I will confess my rebellious acts to the LORD.\" And then you forgave my sins. (Selah)\n\t\t\t For this reason every one of your faithful followers should pray to you while there is a window of opportunity. Certainly when the surging water rises, it will not reach them.\n\t\t\t You are my hiding place; you protect me from distress. You surround me with shouts of joy from those celebrating deliverance. (Selah)\n\t\t\t I will instruct and teach you about how you should live. I will advise you as I look you in the eye.\n\t\t\t Do not be like an unintelligent horse or mule, which will not obey you unless they are controlled by a bridle and bit.\n\t\t\t An evil person suffers much pain, but the LORD's faithfulness overwhelms the one who trusts in him.\n\t\t\t Rejoice in the LORD and be happy, you who are godly! Shout for joy, all you who are morally upright!\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t You godly ones, shout for joy because of the LORD! It is appropriate for the morally upright to offer him praise.\n\t\t\t Give thanks to the LORD with the harp! Sing to him to the accompaniment of a ten-stringed instrument!\n\t\t\t Sing to him a new song! Play skillfully as you shout out your praises to him!\n\t\t\t For the LORD's decrees are just, and everything he does is fair.\n\t\t\t The LORD promotes equity and justice; the LORD's faithfulness extends throughout the earth.\n\t\t\t By the LORD's decree the heavens were made; by a mere word from his mouth all the stars in the sky were created.\n\t\t\t He piles up the water of the sea; he puts the oceans in storehouses.\n\t\t\t Let the whole earth fear the LORD! Let all who live in the world stand in awe of him!\n\t\t\t For he spoke, and it came into existence, he issued the decree, and it stood firm.\n\t\t\t The LORD frustrates the decisions of the nations; he nullifies the plans of the peoples.\n\t\t\t The LORD's decisions stand forever; his plans abide throughout the ages.\n\t\t\t How blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people whom he has chosen to be his special possession.\n\t\t\t The LORD watches from heaven; he sees all people.\n\t\t\t From the place where he lives he looks carefully at all the earth's inhabitants.\n\t\t\t He is the one who forms every human heart, and takes note of all their actions.\n\t\t\t No king is delivered by his vast army; a warrior is not saved by his great might.\n\t\t\t A horse disappoints those who trust in it for victory; despite its great strength, it cannot deliver.\n\t\t\t Look, the LORD takes notice of his loyal followers, those who wait for him to demonstrate his faithfulness\n\t\t\t by saving their lives from death and sustaining them during times of famine.\n\t\t\t We wait for the LORD; he is our deliverer and shield.\n\t\t\t For our hearts rejoice in him, for we trust in his holy name.\n\t\t\t May we experience your faithfulness, O LORD, for we wait for you.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [Written by David, when he pretended to be insane before Abimelech, causing the king to send him away.] I will praise the LORD at all times; my mouth will continually praise him.\n\t\t\t I will boast in the LORD; let the oppressed hear and rejoice!\n\t\t\t Magnify the LORD with me! Let's praise his name together!\n\t\t\t I sought the LORD's help and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.\n\t\t\t Those who look to him for help are happy; their faces are not ashamed.\n\t\t\t This oppressed man cried out and the LORD heard; he saved him from all his troubles.\n\t\t\t The LORD's angel camps around the LORD's loyal followers and delivers them.\n\t\t\t Taste and see that the LORD is good! How blessed is the one who takes shelter in him!\n\t\t\t Remain loyal to the LORD, you chosen people of his, for his loyal followers lack nothing!\n\t\t\t Even young lions sometimes lack food and are hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.\n\t\t\t Come children! Listen to me! I will teach you what it means to fear the LORD.\n\t\t\t Do you want to really live? Would you love to live a long, happy life?\n\t\t\t Then make sure you don't speak evil words or use deceptive speech!\n\t\t\t Turn away from evil and do what is right! Strive for peace and promote it!\n\t\t\t The LORD pays attention to the godly and hears their cry for help.\n\t\t\t But the LORD opposes evildoers and wipes out all memory of them from the earth.\n\t\t\t The godly cry out and the LORD hears; he saves them from all their troubles.\n\t\t\t The LORD is near the brokenhearted; he delivers those who are discouraged.\n\t\t\t The godly face many dangers, but the LORD saves them from each one of them.\n\t\t\t He protects all his bones; not one of them is broken.\n\t\t\t Evil people self-destruct; those who hate the godly are punished.\n\t\t\t The LORD rescues his servants; all who take shelter in him escape punishment.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [By David.] O LORD, fight those who fight with me! Attack those who attack me!\n\t\t\t Grab your small shield and large shield, and rise up to help me!\n\t\t\t Use your spear and lance against those who chase me! Assure me with these words: \"I am your deliverer!\"\n\t\t\t May those who seek my life be embarrassed and humiliated! May those who plan to harm me be turned back and ashamed!\n\t\t\t May they be like wind-driven chaff, as the LORD's angel attacks them!\n\t\t\t May their path be dark and slippery, as the LORD's angel chases them!\n\t\t\t I did not harm them, but they hid a net to catch me and dug a pit to trap me.\n\t\t\t Let destruction take them by surprise! Let the net they hid catch them! Let them fall into destruction!\n\t\t\t Then I will rejoice in the LORD and be happy because of his deliverance.\n\t\t\t With all my strength I will say, \"O LORD, who can compare to you? You rescue the oppressed from those who try to overpower them; the oppressed and needy from those who try to rob them.\"\n\t\t\t Violent men perjure themselves, and falsely accuse me.\n\t\t\t They repay me evil for the good I have done; I am overwhelmed with sorrow.\n\t\t\t When they were sick, I wore sackcloth, and refrained from eating food. (If I am lying, may my prayers go unanswered!)\n\t\t\t I mourned for them as I would for a friend or my brother. I bowed down in sorrow as if I were mourning for my mother.\n\t\t\t But when I stumbled, they rejoiced and gathered together; they gathered together to ambush me. They tore at me without stopping to rest.\n\t\t\t When I tripped, they taunted me relentlessly, and tried to bite me.\n\t\t\t O Lord, how long are you going to just stand there and watch this? Rescue me from their destructive attacks; guard my life from the young lions!\n\t\t\t Then I will give you thanks in the great assembly; I will praise you before a large crowd of people!\n\t\t\t Do not let those who are my enemies for no reason gloat over me! Do not let those who hate me without cause carry out their wicked schemes!\n\t\t\t For they do not try to make peace with others, but plan ways to deceive those who are unsuspecting.\n\t\t\t They are ready to devour me; they say, \"Aha! Aha! We've got you!\"\n\t\t\t But you take notice, LORD! O Lord, do not remain far away from me!\n\t\t\t Rouse yourself, wake up and vindicate me! My God and Lord, defend my just cause!\n\t\t\t Vindicate me by your justice, O LORD my God! Do not let them gloat over me!\n\t\t\t Do not let them say to themselves, \"Aha! We have what we wanted!\" Do not let them say, \"We have devoured him!\"\n\t\t\t May those who want to harm me be totally embarrassed and ashamed! May those who arrogantly taunt me be covered with shame and humiliation!\n\t\t\t May those who desire my vindication shout for joy and rejoice! May they continually say, \"May the LORD be praised, for he wants his servant to be secure.\"\n\t\t\t Then I will tell others about your justice, and praise you all day long.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [For the music director; written by the LORD's servant, David; an oracle.] An evil man is rebellious to the core. He does not fear God,\n\t\t\t for he is too proud to recognize and give up his sin.\n\t\t\t The words he speaks are sinful and deceitful; he does not care about doing what is wise and right.\n\t\t\t He plans ways to sin while he lies in bed; he is committed to a sinful lifestyle; he does not reject what is evil.\n\t\t\t O LORD, your loyal love reaches to the sky; your faithfulness to the clouds.\n\t\t\t Your justice is like the highest mountains, your fairness like the deepest sea; you preserve mankind and the animal kingdom.\n\t\t\t How precious is your loyal love, O God! The human race finds shelter under your wings.\n\t\t\t They are filled with food from your house, and you allow them to drink from the river of your delicacies.\n\t\t\t For you are the one who gives and sustains life.\n\t\t\t Extend your loyal love to your faithful followers, and vindicate the morally upright!\n\t\t\t Do not let arrogant men overtake me, or let evil men make me homeless!\n\t\t\t I can see the evildoers! They have fallen! They have been knocked down and are unable to get up!\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [By David.] Do not fret when wicked men seem to succeed! Do not envy evildoers!\n\t\t\t For they will quickly dry up like grass, and wither away like plants.\n\t\t\t Trust in the LORD and do what is right! Settle in the land and maintain your integrity!\n\t\t\t Then you will take delight in the LORD, and he will answer your prayers.\n\t\t\t Commit your future to the LORD! Trust in him, and he will act on your behalf.\n\t\t\t He will vindicate you in broad daylight, and publicly defend your just cause.\n\t\t\t Wait patiently for the LORD! Wait confidently for him! Do not fret over the apparent success of a sinner, a man who carries out wicked schemes!\n\t\t\t Do not be angry and frustrated! Do not fret! That only leads to trouble!\n\t\t\t Wicked men will be wiped out, but those who rely on the LORD are the ones who will possess the land.\n\t\t\t Evil men will soon disappear; you will stare at the spot where they once were, but they will be gone.\n\t\t\t But the oppressed will possess the land and enjoy great prosperity.\n\t\t\t Evil men plot against the godly and viciously attack them.\n\t\t\t The Lord laughs in disgust at them, for he knows that their day is coming.\n\t\t\t Evil men draw their swords and prepare their bows, to bring down the oppressed and needy, and to slaughter those who are godly.\n\t\t\t Their swords will pierce their own hearts, and their bows will be broken.\n\t\t\t The little bit that a godly man owns is better than the wealth of many evil men,\n\t\t\t for evil men will lose their power, but the LORD sustains the godly.\n\t\t\t The LORD watches over the innocent day by day and they possess a permanent inheritance.\n\t\t\t They will not be ashamed when hard times come; when famine comes they will have enough to eat.\n\t\t\t But evil men will die; the LORD's enemies will be incinerated, they will go up in smoke.\n\t\t\t Evil men borrow, but do not repay their debt, but the godly show compassion and are generous.\n\t\t\t Surely those favored by the LORD will possess the land, but those rejected by him will be wiped out.\n\t\t\t The LORD grants success to the one whose behavior he finds commendable.\n\t\t\t Even if he trips, he will not fall headlong, for the LORD holds his hand.\n\t\t\t I was once young, now I am old. I have never seen a godly man abandoned, or his children forced to search for food.\n\t\t\t All day long he shows compassion and lends to others, and his children are blessed.\n\t\t\t Turn away from evil! Do what is right! Then you will enjoy lasting security.\n\t\t\t For the LORD promotes justice, and never abandons his faithful followers. They are permanently secure, but the children of evil men are wiped out.\n\t\t\t The godly will possess the land and will dwell in it permanently.\n\t\t\t The godly speak wise words and promote justice.\n\t\t\t The law of their God controls their thinking; their feet do not slip.\n\t\t\t Evil men set an ambush for the godly and try to kill them.\n\t\t\t But the LORD does not surrender the godly, or allow them to be condemned in a court of law.\n\t\t\t Rely on the LORD! Obey his commands! Then he will permit you to possess the land; you will see the demise of evil men.\n\t\t\t I have seen ruthless evil men growing in influence, like a green tree grows in its native soil.\n\t\t\t But then one passes by, and suddenly they have disappeared! I looked for them, but they could not be found.\n\t\t\t Take note of the one who has integrity! Observe the godly! For the one who promotes peace has a future.\n\t\t\t Sinful rebels are totally destroyed; evil men have no future.\n\t\t\t But the LORD delivers the godly; he protects them in times of trouble.\n\t\t\t The LORD helps them and rescues them; he rescues them from evil men and delivers them, for they seek his protection.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [A psalm of David, written to get God's attention.] O LORD, do not continue to rebuke me in your anger! Do not continue to punish me in your raging fury!\n\t\t\t For your arrows pierce me, and your hand presses me down.\n\t\t\t My whole body is sick because of your judgment; I am deprived of health because of my sin.\n\t\t\t For my sins overwhelm me; like a heavy load, they are too much for me to bear.\n\t\t\t My wounds are infected and starting to smell, because of my foolish sins.\n\t\t\t I am dazed and completely humiliated; all day long I walk around mourning.\n\t\t\t For I am overcome with shame and my whole body is sick.\n\t\t\t I am numb with pain and severely battered; I groan loudly because of the anxiety I feel.\n\t\t\t O Lord, you understand my heart's desire; my groaning is not hidden from you.\n\t\t\t My heart beats quickly; my strength leaves me; I can hardly see.\n\t\t\t Because of my condition, even my friends and acquaintances keep their distance; my neighbors stand far away.\n\t\t\t Those who seek my life try to entrap me; those who want to harm me speak destructive words; all day long they say deceitful things.\n\t\t\t But I am like a deaf man, I hear nothing; I am like a mute who cannot speak.\n\t\t\t I am like a man who cannot hear and is incapable of arguing his defense.\n\t\t\t Yet I wait for you, O LORD! You will respond, O Lord, my God!\n\t\t\t I have prayed for deliverance, because otherwise they will gloat over me; when my foot slips they will arrogantly taunt me.\n\t\t\t For I am about to stumble, and I am in constant pain.\n\t\t\t Yes, I confess my wrongdoing, and I am concerned about my sins.\n\t\t\t But those who are my enemies for no reason are numerous; those who hate me without cause outnumber me.\n\t\t\t They repay me evil for the good I have done; though I have tried to do good to them, they hurl accusations at me.\n\t\t\t Do not abandon me, O LORD! My God, do not remain far away from me!\n\t\t\t Hurry and help me, O Lord, my deliverer!\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [For the music director, Jeduthun; a psalm of David.] I decided, \"I will watch what I say and make sure I do not sin with my tongue. I will put a muzzle over my mouth while in the presence of an evil man.\"\n\t\t\t I was stone silent; I held back the urge to speak. My frustration grew;\n\t\t\t my anxiety intensified. As I thought about it, I became impatient. Finally I spoke these words:\n\t\t\t \"O LORD, help me understand my mortality and the brevity of life! Let me realize how quickly my life will pass!\n\t\t\t Look, you make my days short-lived, and my life span is nothing from your perspective. Surely all people, even those who seem secure, are nothing but vapor.\n\t\t\t Surely people go through life as mere ghosts. Surely they accumulate worthless wealth without knowing who will eventually haul it away.\"\n\t\t\t But now, O Lord, upon what am I relying? You are my only hope!\n\t\t\t Deliver me from all my sins of rebellion! Do not make me the object of fools' insults!\n\t\t\t I am silent and cannot open my mouth because of what you have done.\n\t\t\t Please stop wounding me! You have almost beaten me to death!\n\t\t\t You severely discipline people for their sins; like a moth you slowly devour their strength. Surely all people are a mere vapor. (Selah)\n\t\t\t Hear my prayer, O LORD! Listen to my cry for help! Do not ignore my sobbing! For I am dependent on you, like one residing outside his native land; I am at your mercy, just as all my ancestors were.\n\t\t\t Turn your angry gaze away from me, so I can be happy before I pass away.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [For the music director; By David, a psalm.] I relied completely on the LORD, and he turned toward me and heard my cry for help.\n\t\t\t He lifted me out of the watery pit, out of the slimy mud. He placed my feet on a rock and gave me secure footing.\n\t\t\t He gave me reason to sing a new song, praising our God. May many see what God has done, so that they might swear allegiance to him and trust in the LORD!\n\t\t\t How blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD and does not seek help from the proud or from liars!\n\t\t\t O LORD, my God, you have accomplished many things; you have done amazing things and carried out your purposes for us. No one can thwart you! I want to declare them and talk about them, but they are too numerous to recount!\n\t\t\t Receiving sacrifices and offerings are not your primary concern. You make that quite clear to me! You do not ask for burnt sacrifices and sin offerings.\n\t\t\t Then I say, \"Look! I come! What is written in the scroll pertains to me.\n\t\t\t I want to do what pleases you, my God. Your law dominates my thoughts.\"\n\t\t\t I have told the great assembly about your justice. Look! I spare no words! O LORD, you know this is true.\n\t\t\t I have not failed to tell about your justice; I spoke about your reliability and deliverance; I have not neglected to tell the great assembly about your loyal love and faithfulness.\n\t\t\t O LORD, you do not withhold your compassion from me. May your loyal love and faithfulness continually protect me!\n\t\t\t For innumerable dangers surround me. My sins overtake me so I am unable to see; they outnumber the hairs of my head so my strength fails me.\n\t\t\t Please be willing, O LORD, to rescue me! O LORD, hurry and help me!\n\t\t\t May those who are trying to snatch away my life be totally embarrassed and ashamed! May those who want to harm me be turned back and ashamed!\n\t\t\t May those who say to me, \"Aha! Aha!\" be humiliated and disgraced!\n\t\t\t May all those who seek you be happy and rejoice in you! May those who love to experience your deliverance say continually, \"May the LORD be praised!\"\n\t\t\t I am oppressed and needy! May the Lord pay attention to me! You are my helper and my deliverer! O my God, do not delay!\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [For the music director; a psalm of David.] How blessed is the one who treats the poor properly! When trouble comes, the LORD delivers him.\n\t\t\t May the LORD protect him and save his life! May he be blessed in the land! Do not turn him over to his enemies!\n\t\t\t The LORD supports him on his sickbed; you completely heal him from his illness.\n\t\t\t As for me, I said: \"O LORD, have mercy on me! Heal me, for I have sinned against you!\n\t\t\t My enemies ask this cruel question about me, 'When will he finally die and be forgotten?'\n\t\t\t When someone comes to visit, he pretends to be friendly; he thinks of ways to defame me, and when he leaves he slanders me.\n\t\t\t All who hate me whisper insults about me to one another; they plan ways to harm me.\n\t\t\t They say, 'An awful disease overwhelms him, and now that he is bed-ridden he will never recover.'\n\t\t\t Even my close friend whom I trusted, he who shared meals with me, has turned against me.\n\t\t\t As for you, O LORD, have mercy on me and raise me up, so I can pay them back!\"\n\t\t\t By this I know that you are pleased with me, for my enemy does not triumph over me.\n\t\t\t As for me, you uphold me because of my integrity; you allow me permanent access to your presence.\n\t\t\t The LORD God of Israel deserves praise in the future and forevermore! We agree! We agree! Book 2 (Psalms 42-72)\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [For the music director; a well-written song by the Korahites.] As a deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God!\n\t\t\t I thirst for God, for the living God. I say, \"When will I be able to go and appear in God's presence?\"\n\t\t\t I cannot eat, I weep day and night; all day long they say to me, \"Where is your God?\"\n\t\t\t I will remember and weep! For I was once walking along with the great throng to the temple of God, shouting and giving thanks along with the crowd as we celebrated the holy festival.\n\t\t\t Why are you depressed, O my soul? Why are you upset? Wait for God! For I will again give thanks to my God for his saving intervention.\n\t\t\t I am depressed, so I will pray to you while I am trapped here in the region of the upper Jordan, from Hermon, from Mount Mizar.\n\t\t\t One deep stream calls out to another at the sound of your waterfalls; all your billows and waves overwhelm me.\n\t\t\t By day the LORD decrees his loyal love, and by night he gives me a song, a prayer to the living God.\n\t\t\t I will pray to God, my high ridge: \"Why do you ignore me? Why must I walk around mourning because my enemies oppress me?\"\n\t\t\t My enemies' taunts cut into me to the bone, as they say to me all day long, \"Where is your God?\"\n\t\t\t Why are you depressed, O my soul? Why are you upset? Wait for God! For I will again give thanks to my God for his saving intervention.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Vindicate me, O God! Fight for me against an ungodly nation! Deliver me from deceitful and evil men!\n\t\t\t For you are the God who shelters me. Why do you reject me? Why must I walk around mourning because my enemies oppress me?\n\t\t\t Reveal your light and your faithfulness! They will lead me, they will escort me back to your holy hill, and to the place where you live.\n\t\t\t Then I will go to the altar of God, to the God who gives me ecstatic joy, so that I express my thanks to you, O God, my God, with a harp.\n\t\t\t Why are you depressed, O my soul? Why are you upset? Wait for God! For I will again give thanks to my God for his saving intervention.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [For the music director; by the Korahites, a well-written song.] O God, we have clearly heard; our ancestors have told us what you did in their days, in ancient times.\n\t\t\t You, by your power, defeated nations and settled our fathers on their land; you crushed the people living there and enabled our ancestors to occupy it.\n\t\t\t For they did not conquer the land by their swords, and they did not prevail by their strength, but rather by your power, strength and good favor, for you were partial to them.\n\t\t\t You are my king, O God! Decree Jacob's deliverance!\n\t\t\t By your power we will drive back our enemies; by your strength we will trample down our foes!\n\t\t\t For I do not trust in my bow, and I do not prevail by my sword.\n\t\t\t For you deliver us from our enemies; you humiliate those who hate us.\n\t\t\t In God I boast all day long, and we will continually give thanks to your name. (Selah)\n\t\t\t But you rejected and embarrassed us! You did not go into battle with our armies.\n\t\t\t You made us retreat from the enemy. Those who hate us take whatever they want from us.\n\t\t\t You handed us over like sheep to be eaten; you scattered us among the nations.\n\t\t\t You sold your people for a pittance; you did not ask a high price for them.\n\t\t\t You made us an object of disdain to our neighbors; those who live on our borders taunt and insult us.\n\t\t\t You made us an object of ridicule among the nations; foreigners treat us with contempt.\n\t\t\t All day long I feel humiliated and am overwhelmed with shame,\n\t\t\t before the vindictive enemy who ridicules and insults me.\n\t\t\t All this has happened to us, even though we have not rejected you or violated your covenant with us.\n\t\t\t We have not been unfaithful, nor have we disobeyed your commands.\n\t\t\t Yet you have battered us, leaving us a heap of ruins overrun by wild dogs; you have covered us with darkness.\n\t\t\t If we had rejected our God, and spread out our hands in prayer to another god,\n\t\t\t would not God discover it, for he knows one's thoughts?\n\t\t\t Yet because of you we are killed all day long; we are treated like sheep at the slaughtering block.\n\t\t\t Rouse yourself! Why do you sleep, O Lord? Wake up! Do not reject us forever!\n\t\t\t Why do you look the other way, and ignore the way we are oppressed and mistreated?\n\t\t\t For we lie in the dirt, with our bellies pressed to the ground.\n\t\t\t Rise up and help us! Rescue us because of your loyal love!\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [For the music director; according to the tune of \"Lilies;\" by the Korahites, a well-written poem, a love song.] My heart is stirred by a beautiful song. I say, \"I have composed this special song for the king; my tongue is as skilled as the stylus of an experienced scribe.\"\n\t\t\t You are the most handsome of all men! You speak in an impressive and fitting manner! For this reason God grants you continual blessings.\n\t\t\t Strap your sword to your thigh, O warrior! Appear in your majestic splendor!\n\t\t\t Appear in your majesty and be victorious! Ride forth for the sake of what is right, on behalf of justice! Then your right hand will accomplish mighty acts!\n\t\t\t Your arrows are sharp and penetrate the hearts of the king's enemies. Nations fall at your feet.\n\t\t\t Your throne, O God, is permanent. The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of justice.\n\t\t\t You love justice and hate evil. For this reason God, your God has anointed you with the oil of joy, elevating you above your companions.\n\t\t\t All your garments are perfumed with myrrh, aloes, and cassia. From the luxurious palaces comes the music of stringed instruments that makes you happy.\n\t\t\t Princesses are among your honored guests, your bride stands at your right hand, wearing jewelry made with gold from Ophir.\n\t\t\t Listen, O princess! Observe and pay attention! Forget your homeland and your family!\n\t\t\t Then the king will be attracted by your beauty. After all, he is your master! Submit to him!\n\t\t\t Rich people from Tyre will seek your favor by bringing a gift.\n\t\t\t The princess looks absolutely magnificent, decked out in pearls and clothed in a brocade trimmed with gold.\n\t\t\t In embroidered robes she is escorted to the king. Her attendants, the maidens of honor who follow her, are led before you.\n\t\t\t They are bubbling with joy as they walk in procession and enter the royal palace.\n\t\t\t Your sons will carry on the dynasty of your ancestors; you will make them princes throughout the land.\n\t\t\t I will proclaim your greatness through the coming years, then the nations will praise you forever.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [For the music director; by the Korahites; according to the alamoth style; a song.] God is our strong refuge; he is truly our helper in times of trouble.\n\t\t\t For this reason we do not fear when the earth shakes, and the mountains tumble into the depths of the sea,\n\t\t\t when its waves crash and foam, and the mountains shake before the surging sea. (Selah)\n\t\t\t The river's channels bring joy to the city of God, the special, holy dwelling place of the sovereign One.\n\t\t\t God lives within it, it cannot be moved. God rescues it at the break of dawn.\n\t\t\t Nations are in uproar, kingdoms are overthrown. God gives a shout, the earth dissolves.\n\t\t\t The LORD who commands armies is on our side! The God of Jacob is our protector! (Selah)\n\t\t\t Come! Witness the exploits of the LORD, who brings devastation to the earth!\n\t\t\t He brings an end to wars throughout the earth; he shatters the bow and breaks the spear; he burns the shields with fire.\n\t\t\t He says, \"Stop your striving and recognize that I am God! I will be exalted over the nations! I will be exalted over the earth!\"\n\t\t\t The LORD who commands armies is on our side! The God of Jacob is our protector! (Selah)\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [For the music director; by the Korahites; a psalm.] All you nations, clap your hands! Shout out to God in celebration!\n\t\t\t For the sovereign LORD is awe-inspiring; he is the great king who rules the whole earth!\n\t\t\t He subdued nations beneath us and countries under our feet.\n\t\t\t He picked out for us a special land to be a source of pride for Jacob, whom he loves. (Selah)\n\t\t\t God has ascended his throne amid loud shouts; the LORD has ascended his throne amid the blaring of ram's horns.\n\t\t\t Sing to God! Sing! Sing to our king! Sing!\n\t\t\t For God is king of the whole earth! Sing a well-written song!\n\t\t\t God reigns over the nations! God sits on his holy throne!\n\t\t\t The nobles of the nations assemble, along with the people of the God of Abraham, for God has authority over the rulers of the earth. He is highly exalted!\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [A song, a psalm by the Korahites.] The LORD is great and certainly worthy of praise in the city of our God, his holy hill.\n\t\t\t It is lofty and pleasing to look at, a source of joy to the whole earth. Mount Zion resembles the peaks of Zaphon; it is the city of the great king.\n\t\t\t God is in its fortresses; he reveals himself as its defender.\n\t\t\t For look, the kings assemble; they advance together.\n\t\t\t As soon as they see, they are shocked; they are terrified, they quickly retreat.\n\t\t\t Look at them shake uncontrollably, like a woman writhing in childbirth.\n\t\t\t With an east wind you shatter the large ships.\n\t\t\t We heard about God's mighty deeds, now we have seen them, in the city of the LORD, the invincible Warrior, in the city of our God. God makes it permanently secure. (Selah)\n\t\t\t We reflect on your loyal love, O God, within your temple.\n\t\t\t The praise you receive as far away as the ends of the earth is worthy of your reputation, O God. You execute justice!\n\t\t\t Mount Zion rejoices; the towns of Judah are happy, because of your acts of judgment.\n\t\t\t Walk around Zion! Encircle it! Count its towers!\n\t\t\t Consider its defenses! Walk through its fortresses, so you can tell the next generation about it!\n\t\t\t For God, our God, is our defender forever! He guides us!\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [For the music director, a psalm by the Korahites.] Listen to this, all you nations! Pay attention, all you inhabitants of the world!\n\t\t\t Pay attention, all you people, both rich and poor!\n\t\t\t I will declare a wise saying; I will share my profound thoughts.\n\t\t\t I will learn a song that imparts wisdom; I will then sing my insightful song to the accompaniment of a harp.\n\t\t\t Why should I be afraid in times of trouble, when the sinful deeds of deceptive men threaten to overwhelm me?\n\t\t\t They trust in their wealth and boast in their great riches.\n\t\t\t Certainly a man cannot rescue his brother; he cannot pay God an adequate ransom price\n\t\t\t (the ransom price for a human life is too high, and people go to their final destiny),\n\t\t\t so that he might continue to live forever and not experience death.\n\t\t\t Surely one sees that even wise people die; fools and spiritually insensitive people all pass away and leave their wealth to others.\n\t\t\t Their grave becomes their permanent residence, their eternal dwelling place. They name their lands after themselves,\n\t\t\t but, despite their wealth, people do not last, they are like animals that perish.\n\t\t\t This is the destiny of fools, and of those who approve of their philosophy. (Selah)\n\t\t\t They will travel to Sheol like sheep, with death as their shepherd. The godly will rule over them when the day of vindication dawns; Sheol will consume their bodies and they will no longer live in impressive houses.\n\t\t\t But God will rescue my life from the power of Sheol; certainly he will pull me to safety. (Selah)\n\t\t\t Do not be afraid when a man becomes rich and his wealth multiplies!\n\t\t\t For he will take nothing with him when he dies; his wealth will not follow him down into the grave.\n\t\t\t He pronounces this blessing on himself while he is alive: \"May men praise you, for you have done well!\"\n\t\t\t But he will join his ancestors; they will never again see the light of day.\n\t\t\t Wealthy people do not understand; they are like animals that perish.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [A psalm by Asaph.] El, God, the LORD speaks, and summons the earth to come from the east and west.\n\t\t\t From Zion, the most beautiful of all places, God comes in splendor.\n\t\t\t Our God approaches and is not silent; consuming fire goes ahead of him and all around him a storm rages.\n\t\t\t He summons the heavens above, as well as the earth, so that he might judge his people.\n\t\t\t He says: \"Assemble my covenant people before me, those who ratified a covenant with me by sacrifice!\"\n\t\t\t The heavens declare his fairness, for God is judge. (Selah)\n\t\t\t He says: \"Listen my people! I am speaking! Listen Israel! I am accusing you! I am God, your God!\n\t\t\t I am not condemning you because of your sacrifices, or because of your burnt sacrifices that you continually offer me.\n\t\t\t I do not need to take a bull from your household or goats from your sheepfolds.\n\t\t\t For every wild animal in the forest belongs to me, as well as the cattle that graze on a thousand hills.\n\t\t\t I keep track of every bird in the hills, and the insects of the field are mine.\n\t\t\t Even if I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and all it contains belong to me.\n\t\t\t Do I eat the flesh of bulls? Do I drink the blood of goats?\n\t\t\t Present to God a thank-offering! Repay your vows to the sovereign One!\n\t\t\t Pray to me when you are in trouble! I will deliver you, and you will honor me!\"\n\t\t\t God says this to the evildoer: \"How can you declare my commands, and talk about my covenant?\n\t\t\t For you hate instruction and reject my words.\n\t\t\t When you see a thief, you join him; you associate with men who are unfaithful to their wives.\n\t\t\t You do damage with words, and use your tongue to deceive.\n\t\t\t You plot against your brother; you slander your own brother.\n\t\t\t When you did these things, I was silent, so you thought I was exactly like you. But now I will condemn you and state my case against you!\n\t\t\t Carefully consider this, you who reject God! Otherwise I will rip you to shreds and no one will be able to rescue you.\n\t\t\t Whoever presents a thank-offering honors me. To whoever obeys my commands, I will reveal my power to deliver.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [For the music director; a psalm of David, written when Nathan the prophet confronted him after David's affair with Bathsheba.] Have mercy on me, O God, because of your loyal love! Because of your great compassion, wipe away my rebellious acts!\n\t\t\t Wash away my wrongdoing! Cleanse me of my sin!\n\t\t\t For I am aware of my rebellious acts; I am forever conscious of my sin.\n\t\t\t Against you, you above all, I have sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. So you are just when you confront me; you are right when you condemn me.\n\t\t\t Look, I was guilty of sin from birth, a sinner the moment my mother conceived me.\n\t\t\t Look, you desire integrity in the inner man; you want me to possess wisdom.\n\t\t\t Sprinkle me with water and I will be pure; wash me and I will be whiter than snow.\n\t\t\t Grant me the ultimate joy of being forgiven! May the bones you crushed rejoice!\n\t\t\t Hide your face from my sins! Wipe away all my guilt!\n\t\t\t Create for me a pure heart, O God! Renew a resolute spirit within me!\n\t\t\t Do not reject me! Do not take your Holy Spirit away from me!\n\t\t\t Let me again experience the joy of your deliverance! Sustain me by giving me the desire to obey!\n\t\t\t Then I will teach rebels your merciful ways, and sinners will turn to you.\n\t\t\t Rescue me from the guilt of murder, O God, the God who delivers me! Then my tongue will shout for joy because of your deliverance.\n\t\t\t O Lord, give me the words! Then my mouth will praise you.\n\t\t\t Certainly you do not want a sacrifice, or else I would offer it; you do not desire a burnt sacrifice.\n\t\t\t The sacrifices God desires are a humble spirit, O God, a humble and repentant heart you will not reject.\n\t\t\t Because you favor Zion, do what is good for her! Fortify the walls of Jerusalem!\n\t\t\t Then you will accept the proper sacrifices, burnt sacrifices and whole offerings; then bulls will be sacrificed on your altar.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [For the music director; a well-written song by David. It was written when Doeg the Edomite went and informed Saul: \"David has arrived at the home of Ahimelech.\"] Why do you boast about your evil plans, O powerful man? God's loyal love protects me all day long!\n\t\t\t Your tongue carries out your destructive plans; it is as effective as a sharp razor, O deceiver.\n\t\t\t You love evil more than good, lies more than speaking the truth. (Selah)\n\t\t\t You love to use all the words that destroy, and the tongue that deceives.\n\t\t\t Yet God will make you a permanent heap of ruins. He will scoop you up and remove you from your home; he will uproot you from the land of the living. (Selah)\n\t\t\t When the godly see this, they will be filled with awe, and will mock the evildoer, saying:\n\t\t\t \"Look, here is the man who would not make God his protector! He trusted in his great wealth and was confident about his plans to destroy others.\"\n\t\t\t But I am like a flourishing olive tree in the house of God; I continually trust in God's loyal love.\n\t\t\t I will continually thank you when you execute judgment; I will rely on you, for your loyal followers know you are good.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [For the music director; according to the machalath style; a well-written song by David.] Fools say to themselves, \"There is no God.\" They sin and commit evil deeds; none of them does what is right.\n\t\t\t God looks down from heaven at the human race, to see if there is anyone who is wise and seeks God.\n\t\t\t Everyone rejects God; they are all morally corrupt. None of them does what is right, not even one!\n\t\t\t All those who behave wickedly do not understand, those who devour my people as if they were eating bread, and do not call out to God.\n\t\t\t They are absolutely terrified, even by things that do not normally cause fear. For God annihilates those who attack you. You are able to humiliate them because God has rejected them.\n\t\t\t I wish the deliverance of Israel would come from Zion! When God restores the well-being of his people, may Jacob rejoice, may Israel be happy!\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [For the music director, to be accompanied by stringed instruments; a well-written song by David. It was written when the Ziphites came and informed Saul: \"David is hiding with us.\"] O God, deliver me by your name! Vindicate me by your power!\n\t\t\t O God, listen to my prayer! Pay attention to what I say!\n\t\t\t For foreigners attack me; ruthless men, who do not respect God, seek my life. (Selah)\n\t\t\t Look, God is my deliverer! The Lord is among those who support me.\n\t\t\t May those who wait to ambush me be repaid for their evil! As a demonstration of your faithfulness, destroy them!\n\t\t\t With a freewill offering I will sacrifice to you! I will give thanks to your name, O LORD, for it is good!\n\t\t\t Surely he rescues me from all trouble, and I triumph over my enemies.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [For the music director, to be accompanied by stringed instruments; a well-written song by David.] Listen, O God, to my prayer! Do not ignore my appeal for mercy!\n\t\t\t Pay attention to me and answer me! I am so upset and distressed, I am beside myself,\n\t\t\t because of what the enemy says, and because of how the wicked pressure me, for they hurl trouble down upon me and angrily attack me.\n\t\t\t My heart beats violently within me; the horrors of death overcome me.\n\t\t\t Fear and panic overpower me; terror overwhelms me.\n\t\t\t I say, \"I wish I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and settle in a safe place!\n\t\t\t Look, I will escape to a distant place; I will stay in the wilderness. (Selah)\n\t\t\t I will hurry off to a place that is safe from the strong wind and the gale.\"\n\t\t\t Confuse them, O Lord! Frustrate their plans! For I see violence and conflict in the city.\n\t\t\t Day and night they walk around on its walls, while wickedness and destruction are within it.\n\t\t\t Disaster is within it; violence and deceit do not depart from its public square.\n\t\t\t Indeed, it is not an enemy who insults me, or else I could bear it; it is not one who hates me who arrogantly taunts me, or else I could hide from him.\n\t\t\t But it is you, a man like me, my close friend in whom I confided.\n\t\t\t We would share personal thoughts with each other; in God's temple we would walk together among the crowd.\n\t\t\t May death destroy them! May they go down alive into Sheol! For evil is in their dwelling place and in their midst.\n\t\t\t As for me, I will call out to God, and the LORD will deliver me.\n\t\t\t During the evening, morning, and noontime I will lament and moan, and he will hear me.\n\t\t\t He will rescue me and protect me from those who attack me, even though they greatly outnumber me.\n\t\t\t God, the one who has reigned as king from long ago, will hear and humiliate them. (Selah) They refuse to change, and do not fear God.\n\t\t\t He attacks his friends; he breaks his solemn promises to them.\n\t\t\t His words are as smooth as butter, but he harbors animosity in his heart. His words seem softer than oil, but they are really like sharp swords.\n\t\t\t Throw your burden upon the LORD, and he will sustain you. He will never allow the godly to be upended.\n\t\t\t But you, O God, will bring them down to the deep Pit. Violent and deceitful people will not live even half a normal lifespan. But as for me, I trust in you.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [For the music director; according to the yonath-elem-rechovim style; a prayer of David, written when the Philistines captured him in Gath.] Have mercy on me, O God, for men are attacking me! All day long hostile enemies are tormenting me.\n\t\t\t Those who anticipate my defeat attack me all day long. Indeed, many are fighting against me, O Exalted One.\n\t\t\t When I am afraid, I trust in you.\n\t\t\t In God, I boast in his promise, in God I trust, I am not afraid. What can mere men do to me?\n\t\t\t All day long they cause me trouble; they make a habit of plotting my demise.\n\t\t\t They stalk and lurk; they watch my every step, as they prepare to take my life.\n\t\t\t Because they are bent on violence, do not let them escape! In your anger bring down the nations, O God!\n\t\t\t You keep track of my misery. Put my tears in your leather container! Are they not recorded in your scroll?\n\t\t\t My enemies will turn back when I cry out to you for help; I know that God is on my side.\n\t\t\t In God, I boast in his promise, in the LORD, I boast in his promise,\n\t\t\t in God I trust, I am not afraid. What can mere men do to me?\n\t\t\t I am obligated to fulfill the vows I made to you, O God; I will give you the thank-offerings you deserve,\n\t\t\t when you deliver my life from death. You keep my feet from stumbling, so that I might serve God as I enjoy life.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [For the music director; according to the al-tashcheth style; a prayer of David, written when he fled from Saul into the cave.] Have mercy on me, O God! Have mercy on me! For in you I have taken shelter. In the shadow of your wings I take shelter until trouble passes.\n\t\t\t I cry out for help to the sovereign God, to the God who vindicates me.\n\t\t\t May he send help from heaven and deliver me from my enemies who hurl insults! (Selah) May God send his loyal love and faithfulness!\n\t\t\t I am surrounded by lions; I lie down among those who want to devour me; men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are a sharp sword.\n\t\t\t Rise up above the sky, O God! May your splendor cover the whole earth!\n\t\t\t They have prepared a net to trap me; I am discouraged. They have dug a pit for me. They will fall into it! (Selah)\n\t\t\t I am determined, O God! I am determined! I will sing and praise you!\n\t\t\t Awake, my soul! Awake, O stringed instrument and harp! I will wake up at dawn!\n\t\t\t I will give you thanks before the nations, O Master! I will sing praises to you before foreigners!\n\t\t\t For your loyal love extends beyond the sky, and your faithfulness reaches the clouds.\n\t\t\t Rise up above the sky, O God! May your splendor cover the whole earth!\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [For the music director; according to the al-tashcheth style; a prayer of David.] Do you rulers really pronounce just decisions? Do you judge people fairly?\n\t\t\t No! You plan how to do what is unjust; you deal out violence in the earth.\n\t\t\t The wicked turn aside from birth; liars go astray as soon as they are born.\n\t\t\t Their venom is like that of a snake, like a deaf serpent that does not hear,\n\t\t\t that does not respond to the magicians, or to a skilled snake-charmer.\n\t\t\t O God, break the teeth in their mouths! Smash the jawbones of the lions, O LORD!\n\t\t\t Let them disappear like water that flows away! Let them wither like grass!\n\t\t\t Let them be like a snail that melts away as it moves along! Let them be like stillborn babies that never see the sun!\n\t\t\t Before the kindling is even placed under your pots, he will sweep it away along with both the raw and cooked meat.\n\t\t\t The godly will rejoice when they see vengeance carried out; they will bathe their feet in the blood of the wicked.\n\t\t\t Then observers will say, \"Yes indeed, the godly are rewarded! Yes indeed, there is a God who judges in the earth!\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [For the music director; according to the al-tashcheth style; a prayer of David, written when Saul sent men to surround his house and murder him.] Deliver me from my enemies, my God! Protect me from those who attack me!\n\t\t\t Deliver me from evildoers! Rescue me from violent men!\n\t\t\t For look, they wait to ambush me; powerful men stalk me, but not because I have rebelled or sinned, O LORD.\n\t\t\t Though I have done nothing wrong, they are anxious to attack. Spring into action and help me! Take notice of me!\n\t\t\t You, O LORD God, the invincible warrior, the God of Israel, rouse yourself and punish all the nations! Have no mercy on any treacherous evildoers! (Selah)\n\t\t\t They return in the evening; they growl like a dog and prowl around outside the city.\n\t\t\t Look, they hurl insults at me and openly threaten to kill me, for they say, \"Who hears?\"\n\t\t\t But you, O LORD, laugh in disgust at them; you taunt all the nations.\n\t\t\t You are my source of strength! I will wait for you! For God is my refuge.\n\t\t\t The God who loves me will help me; God will enable me to triumph over my enemies.\n\t\t\t Do not strike them dead suddenly, because then my people might forget the lesson. Use your power to make them homeless vagabonds and then bring them down, O Lord who shields us!\n\t\t\t They speak sinful words. So let them be trapped by their own pride and by the curses and lies they speak!\n\t\t\t Angrily wipe them out! Wipe them out so they vanish! Let them know that God rules in Jacob and to the ends of the earth! (Selah)\n\t\t\t They return in the evening; they growl like a dog and prowl around outside the city.\n\t\t\t They wander around looking for something to eat; they refuse to sleep until they are full.\n\t\t\t As for me, I will sing about your strength; I will praise your loyal love in the morning. For you are my refuge and my place of shelter when I face trouble.\n\t\t\t You are my source of strength! I will sing praises to you! For God is my refuge, the God who loves me.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [For the music director; according to the shushan-eduth style; a prayer of David written to instruct others. It was written when he fought against Aram Naharaim and Aram-Zobah. That was when Joab turned back and struck down 12,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt.] O God, you have rejected us. You suddenly turned on us in your anger. Please restore us!\n\t\t\t You made the earth quake; you split it open. Repair its breaches, for it is ready to fall.\n\t\t\t You have made your people experience hard times; you have made us drink intoxicating wine.\n\t\t\t You have given your loyal followers a rallying flag, so that they might seek safety from the bow. (Selah)\n\t\t\t Deliver by your power and answer me, so that the ones you love may be safe.\n\t\t\t God has spoken in his sanctuary: \"I will triumph! I will parcel out Shechem; the Valley of Succoth I will measure off.\n\t\t\t Gilead belongs to me, as does Manasseh! Ephraim is my helmet, Judah my royal scepter.\n\t\t\t Moab is my washbasin. I will make Edom serve me. I will shout in triumph over Philistia.\"\n\t\t\t Who will lead me into the fortified city? Who will bring me to Edom?\n\t\t\t Have you not rejected us, O God? O God, you do not go into battle with our armies.\n\t\t\t Give us help against the enemy, for any help men might offer is futile.\n\t\t\t By God's power we will conquer; he will trample down our enemies.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [For the music director; to be played on a stringed instrument; written by David.] O God, hear my cry for help! Pay attention to my prayer!\n\t\t\t From the most remote place on earth I call out to you in my despair. Lead me up to an inaccessible rocky summit!\n\t\t\t Indeed, you are my shelter, a strong tower that protects me from the enemy.\n\t\t\t I will be a permanent guest in your home; I will find shelter in the protection of your wings. (Selah)\n\t\t\t For you, O God, hear my vows; you grant me the reward that belongs to your loyal followers.\n\t\t\t Give the king long life! Make his lifetime span several generations!\n\t\t\t May he reign forever before God! Decree that your loyal love and faithfulness should protect him.\n\t\t\t Then I will sing praises to your name continually, as I fulfill my vows day after day.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [For the music director, Jeduthun; a psalm of David.] For God alone I patiently wait; he is the one who delivers me.\n\t\t\t He alone is my protector and deliverer. He is my refuge; I will not be upended.\n\t\t\t How long will you threaten a man? All of you are murderers, as dangerous as a leaning wall or an unstable fence.\n\t\t\t They spend all their time planning how to bring him down. They love to use deceit; they pronounce blessings with their mouths, but inwardly they utter curses. (Selah)\n\t\t\t Patiently wait for God alone, my soul! For he is the one who gives me confidence.\n\t\t\t He alone is my protector and deliverer. He is my refuge; I will not be upended.\n\t\t\t God delivers me and exalts me; God is my strong protector and my shelter.\n\t\t\t Trust in him at all times, you people! Pour out your hearts before him! God is our shelter! (Selah)\n\t\t\t Men are nothing but a mere breath; human beings are unreliable. When they are weighed in the scales, all of them together are lighter than air.\n\t\t\t Do not trust in what you can gain by oppression! Do not put false confidence in what you can gain by robbery! If wealth increases, do not become attached to it!\n\t\t\t God has declared one principle; two principles I have heard: God is strong,\n\t\t\t and you, O Lord, demonstrate loyal love. For you repay men for what they do.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [A psalm of David, written when he was in the Judean wilderness.] O God, you are my God! I long for you! My soul thirsts for you, my flesh yearns for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water.\n\t\t\t Yes, in the sanctuary I have seen you, and witnessed your power and splendor.\n\t\t\t Because experiencing your loyal love is better than life itself, my lips will praise you.\n\t\t\t For this reason I will praise you while I live; in your name I will lift up my hands.\n\t\t\t As if with choice meat you satisfy my soul. My mouth joyfully praises you,\n\t\t\t whenever I remember you on my bed, and think about you during the nighttime hours.\n\t\t\t For you are my deliverer; under your wings I rejoice.\n\t\t\t My soul pursues you; your right hand upholds me.\n\t\t\t Enemies seek to destroy my life, but they will descend into the depths of the earth.\n\t\t\t Each one will be handed over to the sword; their corpses will be eaten by jackals.\n\t\t\t But the king will rejoice in God; everyone who takes oaths in his name will boast, for the mouths of those who speak lies will be shut up.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [For the music director; a psalm of David.] Listen to me, O God, as I offer my lament! Protect my life from the enemy's terrifying attacks.\n\t\t\t Hide me from the plots of evil men, from the crowd of evildoers.\n\t\t\t They sharpen their tongues like a sword; they aim their arrow, a slanderous charge,\n\t\t\t in order to shoot down the innocent in secluded places. They shoot at him suddenly and are unafraid of retaliation.\n\t\t\t They encourage one another to carry out their evil deed. They plan how to hide snares, and boast, \"Who will see them?\"\n\t\t\t They devise unjust schemes; they disguise a well-conceived plot. Man's inner thoughts cannot be discovered.\n\t\t\t But God will shoot at them; suddenly they will be wounded by an arrow.\n\t\t\t Their slander will bring about their demise. All who see them will shudder,\n\t\t\t and all people will fear. They will proclaim what God has done, and reflect on his deeds.\n\t\t\t The godly will rejoice in the LORD and take shelter in him. All the morally upright will boast.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [For the music director; a psalm of David, a song.] Praise awaits you, O God, in Zion. Vows made to you are fulfilled.\n\t\t\t You hear prayers; all people approach you.\n\t\t\t Our record of sins overwhelms me, but you forgive our acts of rebellion.\n\t\t\t How blessed is the one whom you choose, and allow to live in your palace courts. May we be satisfied with the good things of your house, your holy palace.\n\t\t\t You answer our prayers by performing awesome acts of deliverance, O God, our savior. All the ends of the earth trust in you, as well as those living across the wide seas.\n\t\t\t You created the mountains by your power, and demonstrated your strength.\n\t\t\t You calm the raging seas and their roaring waves, as well as the commotion made by the nations.\n\t\t\t Even those living in the most remote areas are awestruck by your acts; you cause those living in the east and west to praise you.\n\t\t\t You visit the earth and give it rain; you make it rich and fertile with overflowing streams full of water. You provide grain for them, for you prepare the earth to yield its crops.\n\t\t\t You saturate its furrows, and soak its plowed ground. With rain showers you soften its soil, and make its crops grow.\n\t\t\t You crown the year with your good blessings, and you leave abundance in your wake.\n\t\t\t The pastures in the wilderness glisten with moisture, and the hills are clothed with joy.\n\t\t\t The meadows are clothed with sheep, and the valleys are covered with grain. They shout joyfully, yes, they sing.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [For the music director; a song, a psalm.] Shout out praise to God, all the earth!\n\t\t\t Sing praises about the majesty of his reputation! Give him the honor he deserves!\n\t\t\t Say to God: \"How awesome are your deeds! Because of your great power your enemies cower in fear before you.\n\t\t\t All the earth worships you and sings praises to you! They sing praises to your name!\" (Selah)\n\t\t\t Come and witness God's exploits! His acts on behalf of people are awesome!\n\t\t\t He turned the sea into dry land; they passed through the river on foot. Let us rejoice in him there!\n\t\t\t He rules by his power forever; he watches the nations. Stubborn rebels should not exalt themselves. (Selah)\n\t\t\t Praise our God, you nations! Loudly proclaim his praise!\n\t\t\t He preserves our lives and does not allow our feet to slip.\n\t\t\t For you, O God, tested us; you purified us like refined silver.\n\t\t\t You led us into a trap; you caused us to suffer.\n\t\t\t You allowed men to ride over our heads; we passed through fire and water, but you brought us out into a wide open place.\n\t\t\t I will enter your temple with burnt sacrifices; I will fulfill the vows I made to you,\n\t\t\t which my lips uttered and my mouth spoke when I was in trouble.\n\t\t\t I will offer up to you fattened animals as burnt sacrifices, along with the smell of sacrificial rams. I will offer cattle and goats. (Selah)\n\t\t\t Come! Listen, all you who are loyal to God! I will declare what he has done for me.\n\t\t\t I cried out to him for help and praised him with my tongue.\n\t\t\t If I had harbored sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.\n\t\t\t However, God heard; he listened to my prayer.\n\t\t\t God deserves praise, for he did not reject my prayer or abandon his love for me!\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [For the music director; to be accompanied by stringed instruments; a psalm, a song.] May God show us his favor and bless us! May he smile on us! (Selah)\n\t\t\t Then those living on earth will know what you are like; all nations will know how you deliver your people.\n\t\t\t Let the nations thank you, O God! Let all the nations thank you!\n\t\t\t Let foreigners rejoice and celebrate! For you execute justice among the nations, and govern the people living on earth. (Selah)\n\t\t\t Let the nations thank you, O God! Let all the nations thank you!\n\t\t\t The earth yields its crops. May God, our God, bless us!\n\t\t\t May God bless us! Then all the ends of the earth will give him the honor he deserves.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [For the music director; by David, a psalm, a song.] God springs into action! His enemies scatter; his adversaries run from him.\n\t\t\t As smoke is driven away by the wind, so you drive them away. As wax melts before fire, so the wicked are destroyed before God.\n\t\t\t But the godly are happy; they rejoice before God and are overcome with joy.\n\t\t\t Sing to God! Sing praises to his name! Exalt the one who rides on the clouds! For the LORD is his name! Rejoice before him!\n\t\t\t He is a father to the fatherless and an advocate for widows. God rules from his holy palace.\n\t\t\t God settles those who have been deserted in their own homes; he frees prisoners and grants them prosperity. But sinful rebels live in the desert.\n\t\t\t O God, when you lead your people into battle, when you march through the desert, (Selah)\n\t\t\t the earth shakes, yes, the heavens pour down rain before God, the God of Sinai, before God, the God of Israel.\n\t\t\t O God, you cause abundant showers to fall on your chosen people. When they are tired, you sustain them,\n\t\t\t for you live among them. You sustain the oppressed with your good blessings, O God.\n\t\t\t The Lord speaks; many, many women spread the good news.\n\t\t\t Kings leading armies run away, they run away! The lovely lady of the house divides up the loot.\n\t\t\t When you lie down among the sheepfolds, the wings of the dove are covered with silver and with glittering gold.\n\t\t\t When the sovereign judge scatters kings, let it snow on Zalmon!\n\t\t\t The mountain of Bashan is a towering mountain; the mountain of Bashan is a mountain with many peaks.\n\t\t\t Why do you look with envy, O mountains with many peaks, at the mountain where God has decided to live? Indeed the LORD will live there permanently!\n\t\t\t God has countless chariots; they number in the thousands. The Lord comes from Sinai in holy splendor.\n\t\t\t You ascend on high, you have taken many captives. You receive tribute from men, including even sinful rebels. Indeed the LORD God lives there!\n\t\t\t The Lord deserves praise! Day after day he carries our burden, the God who delivers us. (Selah)\n\t\t\t Our God is a God who delivers; the LORD, the sovereign Lord, can rescue from death.\n\t\t\t Indeed God strikes the heads of his enemies, the hairy foreheads of those who persist in rebellion.\n\t\t\t The Lord says, \"I will retrieve them from Bashan, I will bring them back from the depths of the sea,\n\t\t\t so that your feet may stomp in their blood, and your dogs may eat their portion of the enemies' corpses.\"\n\t\t\t They see your processions, O God, the processions of my God, my king, who marches along in holy splendor.\n\t\t\t Singers walk in front; musicians follow playing their stringed instruments, in the midst of young women playing tambourines.\n\t\t\t In your large assemblies praise God, the LORD, in the assemblies of Israel!\n\t\t\t There is little Benjamin, their ruler, and the princes of Judah in their robes, along with the princes of Zebulun and the princes of Naphtali.\n\t\t\t God has decreed that you will be powerful. O God, you who have acted on our behalf, demonstrate your power,\n\t\t\t as you come out of your temple in Jerusalem! Kings bring tribute to you.\n\t\t\t Sound your battle cry against the wild beast of the reeds, and the nations that assemble like a herd of calves led by bulls! They humble themselves and offer gold and silver as tribute. God scatters the nations that like to do battle.\n\t\t\t They come with red cloth from Egypt, Ethiopia voluntarily offers tribute to God.\n\t\t\t O kingdoms of the earth, sing to God! Sing praises to the Lord, (Selah)\n\t\t\t to the one who rides through the sky from ancient times! Look! He thunders loudly.\n\t\t\t Acknowledge God's power, his sovereignty over Israel, and the power he reveals in the skies!\n\t\t\t You are awe-inspiring, O God, as you emerge from your holy temple! It is the God of Israel who gives the people power and strength. God deserves praise!\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [For the music director; according to the tune of \"Lilies;\" by David.] Deliver me, O God, for the water has reached my neck.\n\t\t\t I sink into the deep mire where there is no solid ground; I am in deep water, and the current overpowers me.\n\t\t\t I am exhausted from shouting for help; my throat is sore; my eyes grow tired of looking for my God.\n\t\t\t Those who hate me without cause are more numerous than the hairs of my head. Those who want to destroy me, my enemies for no reason, outnumber me. They make me repay what I did not steal!\n\t\t\t O God, you are aware of my foolish sins; my guilt is not hidden from you.\n\t\t\t Let none who rely on you be disgraced because of me, O sovereign LORD and king! Let none who seek you be ashamed because of me, O God of Israel!\n\t\t\t For I suffer humiliation for your sake and am thoroughly disgraced.\n\t\t\t My own brothers treat me like a stranger; they act as if I were a foreigner.\n\t\t\t Certainly zeal for your house consumes me; I endure the insults of those who insult you.\n\t\t\t I weep and refrain from eating food, which causes others to insult me.\n\t\t\t I wear sackcloth and they ridicule me.\n\t\t\t Those who sit at the city gate gossip about me; drunkards mock me in their songs.\n\t\t\t O LORD, may you hear my prayer and be favorably disposed to me! O God, because of your great loyal love, answer me with your faithful deliverance!\n\t\t\t Rescue me from the mud! Don't let me sink! Deliver me from those who hate me, from the deep water!\n\t\t\t Don't let the current overpower me! Don't let the deep swallow me up! Don't let the pit devour me!\n\t\t\t Answer me, O LORD, for your loyal love is good! Because of your great compassion, turn toward me!\n\t\t\t Do not ignore your servant, for I am in trouble! Answer me right away!\n\t\t\t Come near me and redeem me! Because of my enemies, rescue me!\n\t\t\t You know how I am insulted, humiliated and disgraced; you can see all my enemies.\n\t\t\t Their insults are painful and make me lose heart; I look for sympathy, but receive none, for comforters, but find none.\n\t\t\t They put bitter poison into my food, and to quench my thirst they give me vinegar to drink.\n\t\t\t May their dining table become a trap before them! May it be a snare for that group of friends!\n\t\t\t May their eyes be blinded! Make them shake violently!\n\t\t\t Pour out your judgment on them! May your raging anger overtake them!\n\t\t\t May their camp become desolate, their tents uninhabited!\n\t\t\t For they harass the one whom you discipline; they spread the news about the suffering of those whom you punish.\n\t\t\t Hold them accountable for all their sins! Do not vindicate them!\n\t\t\t May their names be deleted from the scroll of the living! Do not let their names be listed with the godly!\n\t\t\t I am oppressed and suffering! O God, deliver and protect me!\n\t\t\t I will sing praises to God's name! I will magnify him as I give him thanks!\n\t\t\t That will please the LORD more than an ox or a bull with horns and hooves.\n\t\t\t The oppressed look on, let them rejoice! You who seek God, may you be encouraged!\n\t\t\t For the LORD listens to the needy; he does not despise his captive people.\n\t\t\t Let the heavens and the earth praise him, along with the seas and everything that swims in them!\n\t\t\t For God will deliver Zion and rebuild the cities of Judah, and his people will again live in them and possess Zion.\n\t\t\t The descendants of his servants will inherit it, and those who are loyal to him will live in it.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [For the music director; by David; written to get God's attention.] O God, please be willing to rescue me! O LORD, hurry and help me!\n\t\t\t May those who are trying to take my life be embarrassed and ashamed! May those who want to harm me be turned back and ashamed!\n\t\t\t May those who say, \"Aha! Aha!\" be driven back and disgraced!\n\t\t\t May all those who seek you be happy and rejoice in you! May those who love to experience your deliverance say continually, \"May God be praised!\"\n\t\t\t I am oppressed and needy! O God, hurry to me! You are my helper and my deliverer! O LORD, do not delay!\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t In you, O LORD, I have taken shelter! Never let me be humiliated!\n\t\t\t Vindicate me by rescuing me! Listen to me! Deliver me!\n\t\t\t Be my protector and refuge, a stronghold where I can be safe! For you are my high ridge and my stronghold.\n\t\t\t My God, rescue me from the power of the wicked, from the hand of the cruel oppressor!\n\t\t\t For you give me confidence, O Lord; O LORD, I have trusted in you since I was young.\n\t\t\t I have leaned on you since birth; you pulled me from my mother's womb. I praise you continually.\n\t\t\t Many are appalled when they see me, but you are my secure shelter.\n\t\t\t I praise you constantly and speak of your splendor all day long.\n\t\t\t Do not reject me in my old age! When my strength fails, do not abandon me!\n\t\t\t For my enemies talk about me; those waiting for a chance to kill me plot my demise.\n\t\t\t They say, \"God has abandoned him. Run and seize him, for there is no one who will rescue him!\"\n\t\t\t O God, do not remain far away from me! My God, hurry and help me!\n\t\t\t May my accusers be humiliated and defeated! May those who want to harm me be covered with scorn and disgrace!\n\t\t\t As for me, I will wait continually, and will continue to praise you.\n\t\t\t I will tell about your justice, and all day long proclaim your salvation, though I cannot fathom its full extent.\n\t\t\t I will come and tell about the mighty acts of the sovereign LORD. I will proclaim your justice, yours alone.\n\t\t\t O God, you have taught me since I was young, and I am still declaring your amazing deeds.\n\t\t\t Even when I am old and gray, O God, do not abandon me, until I tell the next generation about your strength, and those coming after me about your power.\n\t\t\t Your justice, O God, extends to the skies above; you have done great things. O God, who can compare to you?\n\t\t\t Though you have allowed me to experience much trouble and distress, revive me once again! Bring me up once again from the depths of the earth!\n\t\t\t Raise me to a position of great honor! Turn and comfort me!\n\t\t\t I will express my thanks to you with a stringed instrument, praising your faithfulness, O my God! I will sing praises to you accompanied by a harp, O Holy One of Israel!\n\t\t\t My lips will shout for joy! Yes, I will sing your praises! I will praise you when you rescue me!\n\t\t\t All day long my tongue will also tell about your justice, for those who want to harm me will be embarrassed and ashamed.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [For Solomon.] O God, grant the king the ability to make just decisions! Grant the king's son the ability to make fair decisions!\n\t\t\t Then he will judge your people fairly, and your oppressed ones equitably.\n\t\t\t The mountains will bring news of peace to the people, and the hills will announce justice.\n\t\t\t He will defend the oppressed among the people; he will deliver the children of the poor and crush the oppressor.\n\t\t\t People will fear you as long as the sun and moon remain in the sky, for generation after generation.\n\t\t\t He will descend like rain on the mown grass, like showers that drench the earth.\n\t\t\t During his days the godly will flourish; peace will prevail as long as the moon remains in the sky.\n\t\t\t May he rule from sea to sea, and from the Euphrates River to the ends of the earth!\n\t\t\t Before him the coastlands will bow down, and his enemies will lick the dust.\n\t\t\t The kings of Tarshish and the coastlands will offer gifts; the kings of Sheba and Seba will bring tribute.\n\t\t\t All kings will bow down to him; all nations will serve him.\n\t\t\t For he will rescue the needy when they cry out for help, and the oppressed who have no defender.\n\t\t\t He will take pity on the poor and needy; the lives of the needy he will save.\n\t\t\t From harm and violence he will defend them; he will value their lives.\n\t\t\t May he live! May they offer him gold from Sheba! May they continually pray for him! May they pronounce blessings on him all day long!\n\t\t\t May there be an abundance of grain in the earth; on the tops of the mountains may it sway! May its fruit trees flourish like the forests of Lebanon! May its crops be as abundant as the grass of the earth!\n\t\t\t May his fame endure! May his dynasty last as long as the sun remains in the sky! May they use his name when they formulate their blessings! May all nations consider him to be favored by God!\n\t\t\t The LORD God, the God of Israel, deserves praise! He alone accomplishes amazing things!\n\t\t\t His glorious name deserves praise forevermore! May his majestic splendor fill the whole earth! We agree! We agree!\n\t\t\t This collection of the prayers of David son of Jesse ends here. Book 3 (Psalms 73-89)\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [A psalm by Asaph.] Certainly God is good to Israel, and to those whose motives are pure!\n\t\t\t But as for me, my feet almost slipped; my feet almost slid out from under me.\n\t\t\t For I envied those who are proud, as I observed the prosperity of the wicked.\n\t\t\t For they suffer no pain; their bodies are strong and well-fed.\n\t\t\t They are immune to the trouble common to men; they do not suffer as other men do.\n\t\t\t Arrogance is their necklace, and violence their clothing.\n\t\t\t Their prosperity causes them to do wrong; their thoughts are sinful.\n\t\t\t They mock and say evil things; they proudly threaten violence.\n\t\t\t They speak as if they rule in heaven, and lay claim to the earth.\n\t\t\t Therefore they have more than enough food to eat, and even suck up the water of the sea.\n\t\t\t They say, \"How does God know what we do? Is the sovereign one aware of what goes on?\"\n\t\t\t Take a good look! This is what the wicked are like, those who always have it so easy and get richer and richer.\n\t\t\t I concluded, \"Surely in vain I have kept my motives pure and maintained a pure lifestyle.\n\t\t\t I suffer all day long, and am punished every morning.\"\n\t\t\t If I had publicized these thoughts, I would have betrayed your loyal followers.\n\t\t\t When I tried to make sense of this, it was troubling to me.\n\t\t\t Then I entered the precincts of God's temple, and understood the destiny of the wicked.\n\t\t\t Surely you put them in slippery places; you bring them down to ruin.\n\t\t\t How desolate they become in a mere moment! Terrifying judgments make their demise complete!\n\t\t\t They are like a dream after one wakes up. O Lord, when you awake you will despise them.\n\t\t\t Yes, my spirit was bitter, and my insides felt sharp pain.\n\t\t\t I was ignorant and lacked insight; I was as senseless as an animal before you.\n\t\t\t But I am continually with you; you hold my right hand.\n\t\t\t You guide me by your wise advice, and then you will lead me to a position of honor.\n\t\t\t Whom do I have in heaven but you? I desire no one but you on earth.\n\t\t\t My flesh and my heart may grow weak, but God always protects my heart and gives me stability.\n\t\t\t Yes, look! Those far from you die; you destroy everyone who is unfaithful to you.\n\t\t\t But as for me, God's presence is all I need. I have made the sovereign LORD my shelter, as I declare all the things you have done.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [A well-written song by Asaph.] Why, O God, have you permanently rejected us? Why does your anger burn against the sheep of your pasture?\n\t\t\t Remember your people whom you acquired in ancient times, whom you rescued so they could be your very own nation, as well as Mount Zion, where you dwell!\n\t\t\t Hurry and look at the permanent ruins, and all the damage the enemy has done to the temple!\n\t\t\t Your enemies roar in the middle of your sanctuary; they set up their battle flags.\n\t\t\t They invade like lumberjacks swinging their axes in a thick forest.\n\t\t\t And now they are tearing down all its engravings with axes and crowbars.\n\t\t\t They set your sanctuary on fire; they desecrate your dwelling place by knocking it to the ground.\n\t\t\t They say to themselves, \"We will oppress all of them.\" They burn down all the places where people worship God in the land.\n\t\t\t We do not see any signs of God's presence; there are no longer any prophets and we have no one to tell us how long this will last.\n\t\t\t How long, O God, will the adversary hurl insults? Will the enemy blaspheme your name forever?\n\t\t\t Why do you remain inactive? Intervene and destroy him!\n\t\t\t But God has been my king from ancient times, performing acts of deliverance on the earth.\n\t\t\t You destroyed the sea by your strength; you shattered the heads of the sea monster in the water.\n\t\t\t You crushed the heads of Leviathan; you fed him to the people who live along the coast.\n\t\t\t You broke open the spring and the stream; you dried up perpetually flowing rivers.\n\t\t\t You established the cycle of day and night; you put the moon and sun in place.\n\t\t\t You set up all the boundaries of the earth; you created the cycle of summer and winter.\n\t\t\t Remember how the enemy hurls insults, O LORD, and how a foolish nation blasphemes your name!\n\t\t\t Do not hand the life of your dove over to a wild animal! Do not continue to disregard the lives of your oppressed people!\n\t\t\t Remember your covenant promises, for the dark regions of the earth are full of places where violence rules.\n\t\t\t Do not let the afflicted be turned back in shame! Let the oppressed and poor praise your name!\n\t\t\t Rise up, O God! Defend your honor! Remember how fools insult you all day long!\n\t\t\t Do not disregard what your enemies say, or the unceasing shouts of those who defy you.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [For the music director; according to the al-tashcheth style; a psalm of Asaph; a song.] We give thanks to you, O God! We give thanks! You reveal your presence; people tell about your amazing deeds.\n\t\t\t God says, \"At the appointed times, I judge fairly.\n\t\t\t When the earth and all its inhabitants dissolve in fear, I make its pillars secure.\" (Selah)\n\t\t\t I say to the proud, \"Do not be proud,\" and to the wicked, \"Do not be so confident of victory!\n\t\t\t Do not be so certain you have won! Do not speak with your head held so high!\n\t\t\t For victory does not come from the east or west, or from the wilderness.\n\t\t\t For God is the judge! He brings one down and exalts another.\n\t\t\t For the LORD holds in his hand a cup full of foaming wine mixed with spices, and pours it out. Surely all the wicked of the earth will slurp it up and drink it to its very last drop.\"\n\t\t\t As for me, I will continually tell what you have done; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob!\n\t\t\t God says, \"I will bring down all the power of the wicked; the godly will be victorious.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [For the music director; to be accompanied by stringed instruments; a psalm of Asaph, a song.] God has revealed himself in Judah; in Israel his reputation is great.\n\t\t\t He lives in Salem; he dwells in Zion.\n\t\t\t There he shattered the arrows, the shield, the sword, and the rest of the weapons of war. (Selah)\n\t\t\t You shine brightly and reveal your majesty, as you descend from the hills where you killed your prey.\n\t\t\t The bravehearted were plundered; they \"fell asleep.\" All the warriors were helpless.\n\t\t\t At the sound of your battle cry, O God of Jacob, both rider and horse \"fell asleep.\"\n\t\t\t You are awesome! Yes, you! Who can withstand your intense anger?\n\t\t\t From heaven you announced what their punishment would be. The earth was afraid and silent\n\t\t\t when God arose to execute judgment, and to deliver all the oppressed of the earth. (Selah)\n\t\t\t Certainly your angry judgment upon men will bring you praise; you reveal your anger in full measure.\n\t\t\t Make vows to the LORD your God and repay them! Let all those who surround him bring tribute to the awesome one!\n\t\t\t He humbles princes; the kings of the earth regard him as awesome.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [For the music director, Jeduthun; a psalm of Asaph.] I will cry out to God and call for help! I will cry out to God and he will pay attention to me.\n\t\t\t In my time of trouble I sought the Lord. I kept my hand raised in prayer throughout the night. I refused to be comforted.\n\t\t\t I said, \"I will remember God while I groan; I will think about him while my strength leaves me.\" (Selah)\n\t\t\t You held my eyelids open; I was troubled and could not speak.\n\t\t\t I thought about the days of old, about ancient times.\n\t\t\t I said, \"During the night I will remember the song I once sang; I will think very carefully.\" I tried to make sense of what was happening.\n\t\t\t I asked, \"Will the Lord reject me forever? Will he never again show me his favor?\n\t\t\t Has his loyal love disappeared forever? Has his promise failed forever?\n\t\t\t Has God forgotten to be merciful? Has his anger stifled his compassion?\"\n\t\t\t Then I said, \"I am sickened by the thought that the sovereign One might become inactive.\n\t\t\t I will remember the works of the LORD. Yes, I will remember the amazing things you did long ago!\n\t\t\t I will think about all you have done; I will reflect upon your deeds!\"\n\t\t\t O God, your deeds are extraordinary! What god can compare to our great God?\n\t\t\t You are the God who does amazing things; you have revealed your strength among the nations.\n\t\t\t You delivered your people by your strength, the children of Jacob and Joseph. (Selah)\n\t\t\t The waters saw you, O God, the waters saw you and trembled. Yes, the depths of the sea shook with fear.\n\t\t\t The clouds poured down rain; the skies thundered. Yes, your arrows flashed about.\n\t\t\t Your thunderous voice was heard in the wind; the lightning bolts lit up the world; the earth trembled and shook.\n\t\t\t You walked through the sea; you passed through the surging waters, but left no footprints.\n\t\t\t You led your people like a flock of sheep, by the hand of Moses and Aaron.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [A well-written song by Asaph.] Pay attention, my people, to my instruction! Listen to the words I speak!\n\t\t\t I will sing a song that imparts wisdom; I will make insightful observations about the past.\n\t\t\t What we have heard and learned, that which our ancestors have told us,\n\t\t\t we will not hide from their descendants. We will tell the next generation about the LORD's praiseworthy acts, about his strength and the amazing things he has done.\n\t\t\t He established a rule in Jacob; he set up a law in Israel. He commanded our ancestors to make his deeds known to their descendants,\n\t\t\t so that the next generation, children yet to be born, might know about them. They will grow up and tell their descendants about them.\n\t\t\t Then they will place their confidence in God. They will not forget the works of God, and they will obey his commands.\n\t\t\t Then they will not be like their ancestors, who were a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation that was not committed and faithful to God.\n\t\t\t The Ephraimites were armed with bows, but they retreated in the day of battle.\n\t\t\t They did not keep their covenant with God, and they refused to obey his law.\n\t\t\t They forgot what he had done, the amazing things he had shown them.\n\t\t\t He did amazing things in the sight of their ancestors, in the land of Egypt, in the region of Zoan.\n\t\t\t He divided the sea and led them across it; he made the water stand in a heap.\n\t\t\t He led them with a cloud by day, and with the light of a fire all night long.\n\t\t\t He broke open rocks in the wilderness, and gave them enough water to fill the depths of the sea.\n\t\t\t He caused streams to flow from the rock, and made the water flow like rivers.\n\t\t\t Yet they continued to sin against him, and rebelled against the sovereign One in the desert.\n\t\t\t They willfully challenged God by asking for food to satisfy their appetite.\n\t\t\t They insulted God, saying, \"Is God really able to give us food in the wilderness?\n\t\t\t Yes, he struck a rock and water flowed out, streams gushed forth. But can he also give us food? Will he provide meat for his people?\"\n\t\t\t When the LORD heard this, he was furious. A fire broke out against Jacob, and his anger flared up against Israel,\n\t\t\t because they did not have faith in God, and did not trust his ability to deliver them.\n\t\t\t He gave a command to the clouds above, and opened the doors in the sky.\n\t\t\t He rained down manna for them to eat; he gave them the grain of heaven.\n\t\t\t Man ate the food of the mighty ones. He sent them more than enough to eat.\n\t\t\t He brought the east wind through the sky, and by his strength led forth the south wind.\n\t\t\t He rained down meat on them like dust, birds as numerous as the sand on the seashores.\n\t\t\t He caused them to fall right in the middle of their camp, all around their homes.\n\t\t\t They ate until they were stuffed; he gave them what they desired.\n\t\t\t They were not yet filled up, their food was still in their mouths,\n\t\t\t when the anger of God flared up against them. He killed some of the strongest of them; he brought the young men of Israel to their knees.\n\t\t\t Despite all this, they continued to sin, and did not trust him to do amazing things.\n\t\t\t So he caused them to die unsatisfied and filled with terror.\n\t\t\t When he struck them down, they sought his favor; they turned back and longed for God.\n\t\t\t They remembered that God was their protector, and that the sovereign God was their deliverer.\n\t\t\t But they deceived him with their words, and lied to him.\n\t\t\t They were not really committed to him, and they were unfaithful to his covenant.\n\t\t\t Yet he is compassionate. He forgives sin and does not destroy. He often holds back his anger, and does not stir up his fury.\n\t\t\t He remembered that they were made of flesh, and were like a wind that blows past and does not return.\n\t\t\t How often they rebelled against him in the wilderness, and insulted him in the desert!\n\t\t\t They again challenged God, and offended the Holy One of Israel.\n\t\t\t They did not remember what he had done, how he delivered them from the enemy,\n\t\t\t when he performed his awesome deeds in Egypt, and his acts of judgment in the region of Zoan.\n\t\t\t He turned their rivers into blood, and they could not drink from their streams.\n\t\t\t He sent swarms of biting insects against them, as well as frogs that overran their land.\n\t\t\t He gave their crops to the grasshopper, the fruit of their labor to the locust.\n\t\t\t He destroyed their vines with hail, and their sycamore-fig trees with driving rain.\n\t\t\t He rained hail down on their cattle, and hurled lightning bolts down on their livestock.\n\t\t\t His raging anger lashed out against them, He sent fury, rage, and trouble as messengers who bring disaster.\n\t\t\t He sent his anger in full force; he did not spare them from death; he handed their lives over to destruction.\n\t\t\t He struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, the firstfruits of their reproductive power in the tents of Ham.\n\t\t\t Yet he brought out his people like sheep; he led them through the wilderness like a flock.\n\t\t\t He guided them safely along, while the sea covered their enemies.\n\t\t\t He brought them to the border of his holy land, to this mountainous land which his right hand acquired.\n\t\t\t He drove the nations out from before them; he assigned them their tribal allotments and allowed the tribes of Israel to settle down.\n\t\t\t Yet they challenged and defied the sovereign God, and did not obey his commands.\n\t\t\t They were unfaithful and acted as treacherously as their ancestors; they were as unreliable as a malfunctioning bow.\n\t\t\t They made him angry with their pagan shrines, and made him jealous with their idols.\n\t\t\t God heard and was angry; he completely rejected Israel.\n\t\t\t He abandoned the sanctuary at Shiloh, the tent where he lived among men.\n\t\t\t He allowed the symbol of his strong presence to be captured; he gave the symbol of his splendor into the hand of the enemy.\n\t\t\t He delivered his people over to the sword, and was angry with his chosen nation.\n\t\t\t Fire consumed their young men, and their virgins remained unmarried.\n\t\t\t Their priests fell by the sword, but their widows did not weep.\n\t\t\t But then the Lord awoke from his sleep; he was like a warrior in a drunken rage.\n\t\t\t He drove his enemies back; he made them a permanent target for insults.\n\t\t\t He rejected the tent of Joseph; he did not choose the tribe of Ephraim.\n\t\t\t He chose the tribe of Judah, and Mount Zion, which he loves.\n\t\t\t He made his sanctuary as enduring as the heavens above; as secure as the earth, which he established permanently.\n\t\t\t He chose David, his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds.\n\t\t\t He took him away from following the mother sheep, and made him the shepherd of Jacob, his people, and of Israel, his chosen nation.\n\t\t\t David cared for them with pure motives; he led them with skill.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [A psalm of Asaph.] O God, foreigners have invaded your chosen land; they have polluted your holy temple and turned Jerusalem into a heap of ruins.\n\t\t\t They have given the corpses of your servants to the birds of the sky; the flesh of your loyal followers to the beasts of the earth.\n\t\t\t They have made their blood flow like water all around Jerusalem, and there is no one to bury them.\n\t\t\t We have become an object of disdain to our neighbors; those who live on our borders taunt and insult us.\n\t\t\t How long will this go on, O LORD? Will you stay angry forever? How long will your rage burn like fire?\n\t\t\t Pour out your anger on the nations that do not acknowledge you, on the kingdoms that do not pray to you!\n\t\t\t For they have devoured Jacob and destroyed his home.\n\t\t\t Do not hold us accountable for the sins of earlier generations! Quickly send your compassion our way, for we are in serious trouble!\n\t\t\t Help us, O God, our deliverer! For the sake of your glorious reputation, rescue us! Forgive our sins for the sake of your reputation!\n\t\t\t Why should the nations say, \"Where is their God?\" Before our very eyes may the shed blood of your servants be avenged among the nations!\n\t\t\t Listen to the painful cries of the prisoners! Use your great strength to set free those condemned to die!\n\t\t\t Pay back our neighbors in full! May they be insulted the same way they insulted you, O Lord!\n\t\t\t Then we, your people, the sheep of your pasture, will continually thank you. We will tell coming generations of your praiseworthy acts.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [For the music director; according to the shushan-eduth style; a psalm of Asaph.] O shepherd of Israel, pay attention, you who lead Joseph like a flock of sheep! You who sit enthroned above the winged angels, reveal your splendor!\n\t\t\t In the sight of Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh reveal your power! Come and deliver us!\n\t\t\t O God, restore us! Smile on us! Then we will be delivered!\n\t\t\t O LORD God, invincible warrior! How long will you remain angry at your people while they pray to you?\n\t\t\t You have given them tears as food; you have made them drink tears by the measure.\n\t\t\t You have made our neighbors dislike us, and our enemies insult us.\n\t\t\t O God, invincible warrior, restore us! Smile on us! Then we will be delivered!\n\t\t\t You uprooted a vine from Egypt; you drove out nations and transplanted it.\n\t\t\t You cleared the ground for it; it took root, and filled the land.\n\t\t\t The mountains were covered by its shadow, the highest cedars by its branches.\n\t\t\t Its branches reached the Mediterranean Sea, and its shoots the Euphrates River.\n\t\t\t Why did you break down its walls, so that all who pass by pluck its fruit?\n\t\t\t The wild boars of the forest ruin it; the insects of the field feed on it.\n\t\t\t O God, invincible warrior, come back! Look down from heaven and take notice! Take care of this vine,\n\t\t\t the root your right hand planted, the shoot you made to grow!\n\t\t\t It is burned and cut down. They die because you are displeased with them.\n\t\t\t May you give support to the one you have chosen, to the one whom you raised up for yourself!\n\t\t\t Then we will not turn away from you. Revive us and we will pray to you!\n\t\t\t O LORD God, invincible warrior, restore us! Smile on us! Then we will be delivered!\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [For the music director; according to the gittith style; by Asaph.] Shout for joy to God, our source of strength! Shout out to the God of Jacob!\n\t\t\t Sing a song and play the tambourine, the pleasant sounding harp, and the ten-stringed instrument!\n\t\t\t Sound the ram's horn on the day of the new moon, and on the day of the full moon when our festival begins.\n\t\t\t For observing the festival is a requirement for Israel; it is an ordinance given by the God of Jacob.\n\t\t\t He decreed it as a regulation in Joseph, when he attacked the land of Egypt. I heard a voice I did not recognize.\n\t\t\t It said: \"I removed the burden from his shoulder; his hands were released from holding the basket.\n\t\t\t In your distress you called out and I rescued you. I answered you from a dark thundercloud. I tested you at the waters of Meribah. (Selah)\n\t\t\t I said, 'Listen, my people! I will warn you! O Israel, if only you would obey me!\n\t\t\t There must be no other god among you. You must not worship a foreign god.\n\t\t\t I am the LORD, your God, the one who brought you out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide and I will fill it!'\n\t\t\t But my people did not obey me; Israel did not submit to me.\n\t\t\t I gave them over to their stubborn desires; they did what seemed right to them.\n\t\t\t If only my people would obey me! If only Israel would keep my commands!\n\t\t\t Then I would quickly subdue their enemies, and attack their adversaries.\"\n\t\t\t (May those who hate the LORD cower in fear before him! May they be permanently humiliated!)\n\t\t\t \"I would feed Israel the best wheat, and would satisfy your appetite with honey from the rocky cliffs.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [A psalm of Asaph.] God stands in the assembly of El; in the midst of the gods he renders judgment.\n\t\t\t He says, \"How long will you make unjust legal decisions and show favoritism to the wicked? (Selah)\n\t\t\t Defend the cause of the poor and the fatherless! Vindicate the oppressed and suffering!\n\t\t\t Rescue the poor and needy! Deliver them from the power of the wicked!\n\t\t\t They neither know nor understand. They stumble around in the dark, while all the foundations of the earth crumble.\n\t\t\t I thought, 'You are gods; all of you are sons of the Most High.'\n\t\t\t Yet you will die like mortals; you will fall like all the other rulers.\"\n\t\t\t Rise up, O God, and execute judgment on the earth! For you own all the nations.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [A song, a psalm of Asaph.] O God, do not be silent! Do not ignore us! Do not be inactive, O God!\n\t\t\t For look, your enemies are making a commotion; those who hate you are hostile.\n\t\t\t They carefully plot against your people, and make plans to harm the ones you cherish.\n\t\t\t They say, \"Come on, let's annihilate them so they are no longer a nation! Then the name of Israel will be remembered no more.\"\n\t\t\t Yes, they devise a unified strategy; they form an alliance against you.\n\t\t\t It includes the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites, Moab and the Hagrites,\n\t\t\t Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek, Philistia and the inhabitants of Tyre.\n\t\t\t Even Assyria has allied with them, lending its strength to the descendants of Lot. (Selah)\n\t\t\t Do to them as you did to Midian, as you did to Sisera and Jabin at the Kishon River!\n\t\t\t They were destroyed at Endor; their corpses were like manure on the ground.\n\t\t\t Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb, and all their rulers like Zebah and Zalmunna,\n\t\t\t who said, \"Let's take over the pastures of God!\"\n\t\t\t O my God, make them like dead thistles, like dead weeds blown away by the wind!\n\t\t\t Like the fire that burns down the forest, or the flames that consume the mountainsides,\n\t\t\t chase them with your gale winds, and terrify them with your windstorm.\n\t\t\t Cover their faces with shame, so they might seek you, O LORD.\n\t\t\t May they be humiliated and continually terrified! May they die in shame!\n\t\t\t Then they will know that you alone are the LORD, the sovereign king over all the earth.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [For the music director; according to the gittith style; written by the Korahites, a psalm.] How lovely is the place where you live, O LORD WHO RULES OVER ALL!\n\t\t\t I desperately want to be in the courts of the LORD's temple. My heart and my entire being shout for joy to the living God.\n\t\t\t Even the birds find a home there, and the swallow builds a nest, where she can protect her young near your altars, O LORD WHO RULES OVER ALL, my king and my God.\n\t\t\t How blessed are those who live in your temple and praise you continually! (Selah)\n\t\t\t How blessed are those who find their strength in you, and long to travel the roads that lead to your temple!\n\t\t\t As they pass through the Baca Valley, he provides a spring for them. The rain even covers it with pools of water.\n\t\t\t They are sustained as they travel along; each one appears before God in Zion.\n\t\t\t O LORD, sovereign God, hear my prayer! Listen, O God of Jacob! (Selah)\n\t\t\t O God, take notice of our shield! Show concern for your chosen king!\n\t\t\t Certainly spending just one day in your temple courts is better than spending a thousand elsewhere. I would rather stand at the entrance to the temple of my God than live in the tents of the wicked.\n\t\t\t For the LORD God is our sovereign protector. The LORD bestows favor and honor; he withholds no good thing from those who have integrity.\n\t\t\t O LORD WHO RULES OVER ALL, how blessed are those who trust in you!\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [For the music director; written by the Korahites, a psalm.] O LORD, you showed favor to your land; you restored the well-being of Jacob.\n\t\t\t You pardoned the wrongdoing of your people; you forgave all their sin. (Selah)\n\t\t\t You withdrew all your fury; you turned back from your raging anger.\n\t\t\t Restore us, O God our deliverer! Do not be displeased with us!\n\t\t\t Will you stay mad at us forever? Will you remain angry throughout future generations?\n\t\t\t Will you not revive us once more? Then your people will rejoice in you!\n\t\t\t O LORD, show us your loyal love! Bestow on us your deliverance!\n\t\t\t I will listen to what God the LORD says. For he will make peace with his people, his faithful followers. Yet they must not return to their foolish ways.\n\t\t\t Certainly his loyal followers will soon experience his deliverance; then his splendor will again appear in our land.\n\t\t\t Loyal love and faithfulness meet; deliverance and peace greet each other with a kiss.\n\t\t\t Faithfulness grows from the ground, and deliverance looks down from the sky.\n\t\t\t Yes, the LORD will bestow his good blessings, and our land will yield its crops.\n\t\t\t Deliverance goes before him, and prepares a pathway for him.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [A prayer of David.] Listen O LORD! Answer me! For I am oppressed and needy.\n\t\t\t Protect me, for I am loyal! O my God, deliver your servant, who trusts in you!\n\t\t\t Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I cry out to you all day long!\n\t\t\t Make your servant glad, for to you, O Lord, I pray!\n\t\t\t Certainly O Lord, you are kind and forgiving, and show great faithfulness to all who cry out to you.\n\t\t\t O LORD, hear my prayer! Pay attention to my plea for mercy!\n\t\t\t In my time of trouble I cry out to you, for you will answer me.\n\t\t\t None can compare to you among the gods, O Lord! Your exploits are incomparable!\n\t\t\t All the nations, whom you created, will come and worship you, O Lord. They will honor your name.\n\t\t\t For you are great and do amazing things. You alone are God.\n\t\t\t O LORD, teach me how you want me to live! Then I will obey your commands. Make me wholeheartedly committed to you!\n\t\t\t O Lord, my God, I will give you thanks with my whole heart! I will honor your name continually!\n\t\t\t For you will extend your great loyal love to me, and will deliver my life from the depths of Sheol.\n\t\t\t O God, arrogant men attack me; a gang of ruthless men, who do not respect you, seek my life.\n\t\t\t But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and merciful God. You are patient and demonstrate great loyal love and faithfulness.\n\t\t\t Turn toward me and have mercy on me! Give your servant your strength! Deliver your slave!\n\t\t\t Show me evidence of your favor! Then those who hate me will see it and be ashamed, for you, O LORD, will help me and comfort me.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [Written by the Korahites; a psalm, a song.] The LORD's city is in the holy hills.\n\t\t\t The LORD loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwelling places of Jacob.\n\t\t\t People say wonderful things about you, O city of God. (Selah)\n\t\t\t I mention Rahab and Babylon to my followers. Here are Philistia and Tyre, along with Ethiopia. It is said of them, \"This one was born there.\"\n\t\t\t But it is said of Zion's residents, \"Each one of these was born in her, and the sovereign One makes her secure.\"\n\t\t\t The LORD writes in the census book of the nations, \"This one was born there.\" (Selah)\n\t\t\t As for the singers, as well as the pipers, all of them sing within your walls.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [A song, a psalm written by the Korahites; for the music director; according to the machalath-leannoth style; a well-written song by Heman the Ezrachite.] O LORD God who delivers me! By day I cry out and at night I pray before you.\n\t\t\t Listen to my prayer! Pay attention to my cry for help!\n\t\t\t For my life is filled with troubles and I am ready to enter Sheol.\n\t\t\t They treat me like those who descend into the grave. I am like a helpless man,\n\t\t\t adrift among the dead, like corpses lying in the grave, whom you remember no more, and who are cut off from your power.\n\t\t\t You place me in the lowest regions of the pit, in the dark places, in the watery depths.\n\t\t\t Your anger bears down on me, and you overwhelm me with all your waves. (Selah)\n\t\t\t You cause those who know me to keep their distance; you make me an appalling sight to them. I am trapped and cannot get free.\n\t\t\t My eyes grow weak because of oppression. I call out to you, O LORD, all day long; I spread out my hands in prayer to you.\n\t\t\t Do you accomplish amazing things for the dead? Do the departed spirits rise up and give you thanks? (Selah)\n\t\t\t Is your loyal love proclaimed in the grave, or your faithfulness in the place of the dead?\n\t\t\t Are your amazing deeds experienced in the dark region, or your deliverance in the land of oblivion?\n\t\t\t As for me, I cry out to you, O LORD; in the morning my prayer confronts you.\n\t\t\t O LORD, why do you reject me, and pay no attention to me?\n\t\t\t I am oppressed and have been on the verge of death since my youth. I have been subjected to your horrors and am numb with pain.\n\t\t\t Your anger overwhelms me; your terrors destroy me.\n\t\t\t They surround me like water all day long; they join forces and encircle me.\n\t\t\t You cause my friends and neighbors to keep their distance; those who know me leave me alone in the darkness.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [A well-written song by Ethan the Ezrachite.] I will sing continually about the LORD's faithful deeds; to future generations I will proclaim your faithfulness.\n\t\t\t For I say, \"Loyal love is permanently established; in the skies you set up your faithfulness.\"\n\t\t\t The LORD said, \"I have made a covenant with my chosen one; I have made a promise on oath to David, my servant:\n\t\t\t 'I will give you an eternal dynasty and establish your throne throughout future generations.'\" (Selah)\n\t\t\t O LORD, the heavens praise your amazing deeds, as well as your faithfulness in the angelic assembly.\n\t\t\t For who in the skies can compare to the LORD? Who is like the LORD among the heavenly beings,\n\t\t\t a God who is honored in the great angelic assembly, and more awesome than all who surround him?\n\t\t\t O LORD, sovereign God! Who is strong like you, O LORD? Your faithfulness surrounds you.\n\t\t\t You rule over the proud sea. When its waves surge, you calm them.\n\t\t\t You crushed the Proud One and killed it; with your strong arm you scattered your enemies.\n\t\t\t The heavens belong to you, as does the earth. You made the world and all it contains.\n\t\t\t You created the north and the south. Tabor and Hermon rejoice in your name.\n\t\t\t Your arm is powerful, your hand strong, your right hand victorious.\n\t\t\t Equity and justice are the foundation of your throne. Loyal love and faithfulness characterize your rule.\n\t\t\t How blessed are the people who worship you! O LORD, they experience your favor.\n\t\t\t They rejoice in your name all day long, and are vindicated by your justice.\n\t\t\t For you give them splendor and strength. By your favor we are victorious.\n\t\t\t For our shield belongs to the LORD, our king to the Holy One of Israel.\n\t\t\t Then you spoke through a vision to your faithful followers and said: \"I have energized a warrior; I have raised up a young man from the people.\n\t\t\t I have discovered David, my servant. With my holy oil I have anointed him as king.\n\t\t\t My hand will support him, and my arm will strengthen him.\n\t\t\t No enemy will be able to exact tribute from him; a violent oppressor will not be able to humiliate him.\n\t\t\t I will crush his enemies before him; I will strike down those who hate him.\n\t\t\t He will experience my faithfulness and loyal love, and by my name he will win victories.\n\t\t\t I will place his hand over the sea, his right hand over the rivers.\n\t\t\t He will call out to me, 'You are my father, my God, and the protector who delivers me.'\n\t\t\t I will appoint him to be my firstborn son, the most exalted of the earth's kings.\n\t\t\t I will always extend my loyal love to him, and my covenant with him is secure.\n\t\t\t I will give him an eternal dynasty, and make his throne as enduring as the skies above.\n\t\t\t If his sons reject my law and disobey my regulations,\n\t\t\t if they break my rules and do not keep my commandments,\n\t\t\t I will punish their rebellion by beating them with a club, their sin by inflicting them with bruises.\n\t\t\t But I will not remove my loyal love from him, nor be unfaithful to my promise.\n\t\t\t I will not break my covenant or go back on what I promised.\n\t\t\t Once and for all I have vowed by my own holiness, I will never deceive David.\n\t\t\t His dynasty will last forever. His throne will endure before me, like the sun,\n\t\t\t it will remain stable, like the moon, his throne will endure like the skies.\" (Selah)\n\t\t\t But you have spurned and rejected him; you are angry with your chosen king.\n\t\t\t You have repudiated your covenant with your servant; you have thrown his crown to the ground.\n\t\t\t You have broken down all his walls; you have made his strongholds a heap of ruins.\n\t\t\t All who pass by have robbed him; he has become an object of disdain to his neighbors.\n\t\t\t You have allowed his adversaries to be victorious, and all his enemies to rejoice.\n\t\t\t You turn back his sword from the adversary, and have not sustained him in battle.\n\t\t\t You have brought to an end his splendor, and have knocked his throne to the ground.\n\t\t\t You have cut short his youth, and have covered him with shame. (Selah)\n\t\t\t How long, O LORD, will this last? Will you remain hidden forever? Will your anger continue to burn like fire?\n\t\t\t Take note of my brief lifespan! Why do you make all people so mortal?\n\t\t\t No man can live on without experiencing death, or deliver his life from the power of Sheol. (Selah)\n\t\t\t Where are your earlier faithful deeds, O Lord, the ones performed in accordance with your reliable oath to David?\n\t\t\t Take note, O Lord, of the way your servants are taunted, and of how I must bear so many insults from people!\n\t\t\t Your enemies, O LORD, hurl insults; they insult your chosen king as they dog his footsteps.\n\t\t\t The LORD deserves praise forevermore! We agree! We agree! Book 4 (Psalms 90-106)\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [A prayer of Moses, the man of God.] O Lord, you have been our protector through all generations!\n\t\t\t Even before the mountains came into existence, or you brought the world into being, you were the eternal God.\n\t\t\t You make mankind return to the dust, and say, \"Return, O people!\"\n\t\t\t Yes, in your eyes a thousand years are like yesterday that quickly passes, or like one of the divisions of the nighttime.\n\t\t\t You bring their lives to an end and they \"fall asleep.\" In the morning they are like the grass that sprouts up;\n\t\t\t in the morning it glistens and sprouts up; at evening time it withers and dries up.\n\t\t\t Yes, we are consumed by your anger; we are terrified by your wrath.\n\t\t\t You are aware of our sins; you even know about our hidden sins.\n\t\t\t Yes, throughout all our days we experience your raging fury; the years of our lives pass quickly, like a sigh.\n\t\t\t The days of our lives add up to seventy years, or eighty, if one is especially strong. But even one's best years are marred by trouble and oppression. Yes, they pass quickly and we fly away.\n\t\t\t Who can really fathom the intensity of your anger? Your raging fury causes people to fear you.\n\t\t\t So teach us to consider our mortality, so that we might live wisely.\n\t\t\t Turn back toward us, O LORD! How long must this suffering last? Have pity on your servants!\n\t\t\t Satisfy us in the morning with your loyal love! Then we will shout for joy and be happy all our days!\n\t\t\t Make us happy in proportion to the days you have afflicted us, in proportion to the years we have experienced trouble!\n\t\t\t May your servants see your work! May their sons see your majesty!\n\t\t\t May our sovereign God extend his favor to us! Make our endeavors successful! Yes, make them successful!\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t As for you, the one who lives in the shelter of the sovereign One, and resides in the protective shadow of the mighty king,\n\t\t\t I say this about the LORD, my shelter and my stronghold, my God in whom I trust,\n\t\t\t he will certainly rescue you from the snare of the hunter and from the destructive plague.\n\t\t\t He will shelter you with his wings; you will find safety under his wings. His faithfulness is like a shield or a protective wall.\n\t\t\t You need not fear the terrors of the night, the arrow that flies by day,\n\t\t\t the plague that comes in the darkness, or the disease that comes at noon.\n\t\t\t Though a thousand may fall beside you, and a multitude on your right side, it will not reach you.\n\t\t\t Certainly you will see it with your very own eyes, you will see the wicked paid back.\n\t\t\t For you have taken refuge in the LORD, my shelter, the sovereign One.\n\t\t\t No harm will overtake you; no illness will come near your home.\n\t\t\t For he will order his angels to protect you in all you do.\n\t\t\t They will lift you up in their hands, so you will not slip and fall on a stone.\n\t\t\t You will subdue a lion and a snake; you will trample underfoot a young lion and a serpent.\n\t\t\t The LORD says, \"Because he is devoted to me, I will deliver him; I will protect him because he is loyal to me.\n\t\t\t When he calls out to me, I will answer him. I will be with him when he is in trouble; I will rescue him and bring him honor.\n\t\t\t I will satisfy him with long life, and will let him see my salvation.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [A psalm; a song for the Sabbath day.] It is fitting to thank the LORD, and to sing praises to your name, O sovereign One!\n\t\t\t It is fitting to proclaim your loyal love in the morning, and your faithfulness during the night,\n\t\t\t to the accompaniment of a ten-stringed instrument and a lyre, to the accompaniment of the meditative tone of the harp.\n\t\t\t For you, O LORD, have made me happy by your work. I will sing for joy because of what you have done.\n\t\t\t How great are your works, O LORD! Your plans are very intricate!\n\t\t\t The spiritually insensitive do not recognize this; the fool does not understand this.\n\t\t\t When the wicked sprout up like grass, and all the evildoers glisten, it is so that they may be annihilated.\n\t\t\t But you, O LORD, reign forever!\n\t\t\t Indeed, look at your enemies, O LORD! Indeed, look at how your enemies perish! All the evildoers are scattered!\n\t\t\t You exalt my horn like that of a wild ox. I am covered with fresh oil.\n\t\t\t I gloat in triumph over those who tried to ambush me; I hear the defeated cries of the evil foes who attacked me.\n\t\t\t The godly grow like a palm tree; they grow high like a cedar in Lebanon.\n\t\t\t Planted in the LORD's house, they grow in the courts of our God.\n\t\t\t They bear fruit even when they are old; they are filled with vitality and have many leaves.\n\t\t\t So they proclaim that the LORD, my protector, is just and never unfair.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The LORD reigns! He is robed in majesty, the LORD is robed, he wears strength around his waist. Indeed, the world is established, it cannot be moved.\n\t\t\t Your throne has been secure from ancient times; you have always been king.\n\t\t\t The waves roar, O LORD, the waves roar, the waves roar and crash.\n\t\t\t Above the sound of the surging water, and the mighty waves of the sea, the LORD sits enthroned in majesty.\n\t\t\t The rules you set down are completely reliable. Holiness aptly adorns your house, O LORD, forever.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t O LORD, the God who avenges! O God who avenges, reveal your splendor!\n\t\t\t Rise up, O judge of the earth! Pay back the proud!\n\t\t\t O LORD, how long will the wicked, how long will the wicked celebrate?\n\t\t\t They spew out threats and speak defiantly; all the evildoers boast.\n\t\t\t O LORD, they crush your people; they oppress the nation that belongs to you.\n\t\t\t They kill the widow and the one residing outside his native land, and they murder the fatherless.\n\t\t\t Then they say, \"The LORD does not see this; the God of Jacob does not take notice of it.\"\n\t\t\t Take notice of this, you ignorant people! You fools, when will you ever understand?\n\t\t\t Does the one who makes the human ear not hear? Does the one who forms the human eye not see?\n\t\t\t Does the one who disciplines the nations not punish? He is the one who imparts knowledge to human beings!\n\t\t\t The LORD knows that peoples' thoughts are morally bankrupt.\n\t\t\t How blessed is the one whom you instruct, O LORD, the one whom you teach from your law,\n\t\t\t in order to protect him from times of trouble, until the wicked are destroyed.\n\t\t\t Certainly the LORD does not forsake his people; he does not abandon the nation that belongs to him.\n\t\t\t For justice will prevail, and all the morally upright will be vindicated.\n\t\t\t Who will rise up to defend me against the wicked? Who will stand up for me against the evildoers?\n\t\t\t If the LORD had not helped me, I would have laid down in the silence of death.\n\t\t\t If I say, \"My foot is slipping,\" your loyal love, O LORD, supports me.\n\t\t\t When worries threaten to overwhelm me, your soothing touch makes me happy.\n\t\t\t Cruel rulers are not your allies, those who make oppressive laws.\n\t\t\t They conspire against the blameless, and condemn to death the innocent.\n\t\t\t But the LORD will protect me, and my God will shelter me.\n\t\t\t He will pay them back for their sin. He will destroy them because of their evil; the LORD our God will destroy them.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Come! Let's sing for joy to the LORD! Let's shout out praises to our protector who delivers us!\n\t\t\t Let's enter his presence with thanksgiving! Let's shout out to him in celebration!\n\t\t\t For the LORD is a great God, a great king who is superior to all gods.\n\t\t\t The depths of the earth are in his hand, and the mountain peaks belong to him.\n\t\t\t The sea is his, for he made it. His hands formed the dry land.\n\t\t\t Come! Let's bow down and worship! Let's kneel before the LORD, our creator!\n\t\t\t For he is our God; we are the people of his pasture, the sheep he owns. Today, if only you would obey him!\n\t\t\t He says, \"Do not be stubborn like they were at Meribah, like they were that day at Massah in the wilderness,\n\t\t\t where your ancestors challenged my authority, and tried my patience, even though they had seen my work.\n\t\t\t For forty years I was continually disgusted with that generation, and I said, 'These people desire to go astray; they do not obey my commands.'\n\t\t\t So I made a vow in my anger, 'They will never enter into the resting place I had set aside for them.'\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Sing to the LORD a new song! Sing to the LORD, all the earth!\n\t\t\t Sing to the LORD! Praise his name! Announce every day how he delivers!\n\t\t\t Tell the nations about his splendor! Tell all the nations about his amazing deeds!\n\t\t\t For the LORD is great and certainly worthy of praise; he is more awesome than all gods.\n\t\t\t For all the gods of the nations are worthless, but the LORD made the sky.\n\t\t\t Majestic splendor emanates from him; his sanctuary is firmly established and beautiful.\n\t\t\t Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the nations, ascribe to the LORD splendor and strength!\n\t\t\t Ascribe to the LORD the splendor he deserves! Bring an offering and enter his courts!\n\t\t\t Worship the LORD in holy attire! Tremble before him, all the earth!\n\t\t\t Say among the nations, \"The LORD reigns! The world is established, it cannot be moved. He judges the nations fairly.\"\n\t\t\t Let the sky rejoice, and the earth be happy! Let the sea and everything in it shout!\n\t\t\t Let the fields and everything in them celebrate! Then let the trees of the forest shout with joy\n\t\t\t before the LORD, for he comes! For he comes to judge the earth! He judges the world fairly, and the nations in accordance with his justice.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The LORD reigns! Let the earth be happy! Let the many coastlands rejoice!\n\t\t\t Dark clouds surround him; equity and justice are the foundation of his throne.\n\t\t\t Fire goes before him; on every side it burns up his enemies.\n\t\t\t His lightning bolts light up the world; the earth sees and trembles.\n\t\t\t The mountains melt like wax before the LORD, before the Lord of the whole earth.\n\t\t\t The sky declares his justice, and all the nations see his splendor.\n\t\t\t All who worship idols are ashamed, those who boast about worthless idols. All the gods bow down before him.\n\t\t\t Zion hears and rejoices, the towns of Judah are happy, because of your judgments, O LORD.\n\t\t\t For you, O LORD, are the sovereign king over the whole earth; you are elevated high above all gods.\n\t\t\t You who love the LORD, hate evil! He protects the lives of his faithful followers; he delivers them from the power of the wicked.\n\t\t\t The godly bask in the light; the morally upright experience joy.\n\t\t\t You godly ones, rejoice in the LORD! Give thanks to his holy name.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [A psalm.] Sing to the LORD a new song, for he performs amazing deeds! His right hand and his mighty arm accomplish deliverance.\n\t\t\t The LORD demonstrates his power to deliver; in the sight of the nations he reveals his justice.\n\t\t\t He remains loyal and faithful to the family of Israel. All the ends of the earth see our God deliver us.\n\t\t\t Shout out praises to the LORD, all the earth! Break out in a joyful shout and sing!\n\t\t\t Sing to the LORD accompanied by a harp, accompanied by a harp and the sound of music!\n\t\t\t With trumpets and the blaring of the ram's horn, shout out praises before the king, the LORD!\n\t\t\t Let the sea and everything in it shout, along with the world and those who live in it!\n\t\t\t Let the rivers clap their hands! Let the mountains sing in unison\n\t\t\t before the LORD! For he comes to judge the earth! He judges the world fairly, and the nations in a just manner.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The LORD reigns! The nations tremble. He sits enthroned above the winged angels; the earth shakes.\n\t\t\t The LORD is elevated in Zion; he is exalted over all the nations.\n\t\t\t Let them praise your great and awesome name! He is holy!\n\t\t\t The king is strong; he loves justice. You ensure that legal decisions will be made fairly; you promote justice and equity in Jacob.\n\t\t\t Praise the LORD our God! Worship before his footstool! He is holy!\n\t\t\t Moses and Aaron were among his priests; Samuel was one of those who prayed to him. They prayed to the LORD and he answered them.\n\t\t\t He spoke to them from a pillar of cloud; they obeyed his regulations and the ordinance he gave them.\n\t\t\t O LORD our God, you answered them. They found you to be a forgiving God, but also one who punished their sinful deeds.\n\t\t\t Praise the LORD our God! Worship on his holy hill, for the LORD our God is holy!\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [A thanksgiving psalm.] Shout out praises to the LORD, all the earth!\n\t\t\t Worship the LORD with joy! Enter his presence with joyful singing!\n\t\t\t Acknowledge that the LORD is God! He made us and we belong to him; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.\n\t\t\t Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give him thanks! Praise his name!\n\t\t\t For the LORD is good. His loyal love endures, and he is faithful through all generations.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [A psalm of David.] I will sing about loyalty and justice! To you, O LORD, I will sing praises!\n\t\t\t I will walk in the way of integrity. When will you come to me? I will conduct my business with integrity in the midst of my palace.\n\t\t\t I will not even consider doing what is dishonest. I hate doing evil; I will have no part of it.\n\t\t\t I will have nothing to do with a perverse person; I will not permit evil.\n\t\t\t I will destroy anyone who slanders his neighbor in secret. I will not tolerate anyone who has a cocky demeanor and an arrogant attitude.\n\t\t\t I will favor the honest people of the land, and allow them to live with me. Those who walk in the way of integrity will attend me.\n\t\t\t Deceitful people will not live in my palace. Liars will not be welcome in my presence.\n\t\t\t Each morning I will destroy all the wicked people in the land, and remove all evildoers from the city of the LORD.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [The prayer of an oppressed man, as he grows faint and pours out his lament before the LORD.] O LORD, hear my prayer! Pay attention to my cry for help!\n\t\t\t Do not ignore me in my time of trouble! Listen to me! When I call out to you, quickly answer me!\n\t\t\t For my days go up in smoke, and my bones are charred like a fireplace.\n\t\t\t My heart is parched and withered like grass, for I am unable to eat food.\n\t\t\t Because of the anxiety that makes me groan, my bones protrude from my skin.\n\t\t\t I am like an owl in the wilderness; I am like a screech owl among the ruins.\n\t\t\t I stay awake; I am like a solitary bird on a roof.\n\t\t\t All day long my enemies taunt me; those who mock me use my name in their curses.\n\t\t\t For I eat ashes as if they were bread, and mix my drink with my tears,\n\t\t\t because of your anger and raging fury. Indeed, you pick me up and throw me away.\n\t\t\t My days are coming to an end, and I am withered like grass.\n\t\t\t But you, O LORD, rule forever, and your reputation endures.\n\t\t\t You will rise up and have compassion on Zion. For it is time to have mercy on her, for the appointed time has come.\n\t\t\t Indeed, your servants take delight in her stones, and feel compassion for the dust of her ruins.\n\t\t\t The nations will respect the reputation of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth will respect his splendor,\n\t\t\t when the LORD rebuilds Zion, and reveals his splendor,\n\t\t\t when he responds to the prayer of the destitute, and does not reject their request.\n\t\t\t The account of his intervention will be recorded for future generations; people yet to be born will praise the LORD.\n\t\t\t For he will look down from his sanctuary above; from heaven the LORD will look toward earth,\n\t\t\t in order to hear the painful cries of the prisoners, and to set free those condemned to die,\n\t\t\t so they may proclaim the name of the LORD in Zion, and praise him in Jerusalem,\n\t\t\t when the nations gather together, and the kingdoms pay tribute to the LORD.\n\t\t\t He has taken away my strength in the middle of life; he has cut short my days.\n\t\t\t I say, \"O my God, please do not take me away in the middle of my life! You endure through all generations.\n\t\t\t In earlier times you established the earth; the skies are your handiwork.\n\t\t\t They will perish, but you will endure. They will wear out like a garment; like clothes you will remove them and they will disappear.\n\t\t\t But you remain; your years do not come to an end.\n\t\t\t The children of your servants will settle down here, and their descendants will live securely in your presence.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [By David.] Praise the LORD, O my soul! With all that is within me, praise his holy name!\n\t\t\t Praise the LORD, O my soul! Do not forget all his kind deeds!\n\t\t\t He is the one who forgives all your sins, who heals all your diseases,\n\t\t\t who delivers your life from the Pit, who crowns you with his loyal love and compassion,\n\t\t\t who satisfies your life with good things, so your youth is renewed like an eagle's.\n\t\t\t The LORD does what is fair, and executes justice for all the oppressed.\n\t\t\t The LORD revealed his faithful acts to Moses, his deeds to the Israelites.\n\t\t\t The LORD is compassionate and merciful; he is patient and demonstrates great loyal love.\n\t\t\t He does not always accuse, and does not stay angry.\n\t\t\t He does not deal with us as our sins deserve; he does not repay us as our misdeeds deserve.\n\t\t\t For as the skies are high above the earth, so his loyal love towers over his faithful followers.\n\t\t\t As far as the eastern horizon is from the west, so he removes the guilt of our rebellious actions from us.\n\t\t\t As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on his faithful followers.\n\t\t\t For he knows what we are made of; he realizes we are made of clay.\n\t\t\t A person's life is like grass. Like a flower in the field it flourishes,\n\t\t\t but when the hot wind blows by, it disappears, and one can no longer even spot the place where it once grew.\n\t\t\t But the LORD continually shows loyal love to his faithful followers, and is faithful to their descendants,\n\t\t\t to those who keep his covenant, who are careful to obey his commands.\n\t\t\t The LORD has established his throne in heaven; his kingdom extends over everything.\n\t\t\t Praise the LORD, you angels of his, you powerful warriors who carry out his decrees and obey his orders!\n\t\t\t Praise the LORD, all you warriors of his, you servants of his who carry out his desires!\n\t\t\t Praise the LORD, all that he has made, in all the regions of his kingdom! Praise the LORD, O my soul!\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Praise the LORD, O my soul! O LORD my God, you are magnificent. You are robed in splendor and majesty.\n\t\t\t He covers himself with light as if it were a garment. He stretches out the skies like a tent curtain,\n\t\t\t and lays the beams of the upper rooms of his palace on the rain clouds. He makes the clouds his chariot, and travels along on the wings of the wind.\n\t\t\t He makes the winds his messengers, and the flaming fire his attendant.\n\t\t\t He established the earth on its foundations; it will never be upended.\n\t\t\t The watery deep covered it like a garment; the waters reached above the mountains.\n\t\t\t Your shout made the waters retreat; at the sound of your thunderous voice they hurried off,\n\t\t\t as the mountains rose up, and the valleys went down, to the place you appointed for them.\n\t\t\t You set up a boundary for them that they could not cross, so that they would not cover the earth again.\n\t\t\t He turns springs into streams; they flow between the mountains.\n\t\t\t They provide water for all the animals in the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst.\n\t\t\t The birds of the sky live beside them; they chirp among the bushes.\n\t\t\t He waters the mountains from the upper rooms of his palace; the earth is full of the fruit you cause to grow.\n\t\t\t He provides grass for the cattle, and crops for people to cultivate, so they can produce food from the ground,\n\t\t\t as well as wine that makes people feel so good, and so they can have oil to make their faces shine, as well as food that sustains people's lives.\n\t\t\t The trees of the LORD receive all the rain they need, the cedars of Lebanon which he planted,\n\t\t\t where the birds make nests, near the evergreens in which the herons live.\n\t\t\t The wild goats live in the high mountains; the rock badgers find safety in the cliffs.\n\t\t\t He made the moon to mark the months, and the sun sets according to a regular schedule.\n\t\t\t You make it dark and night comes, during which all the beasts of the forest prowl around.\n\t\t\t The lions roar for prey, seeking their food from God.\n\t\t\t When the sun rises, they withdraw and sleep in their dens.\n\t\t\t Men then go out to do their work, and labor away until evening.\n\t\t\t How many living things you have made, O LORD! You have exhibited great skill in making all of them; the earth is full of the living things you have made.\n\t\t\t Over here is the deep, wide sea, which teems with innumerable swimming creatures, living things both small and large.\n\t\t\t The ships travel there, and over here swims the whale you made to play in it.\n\t\t\t All of your creatures wait for you to provide them with food on a regular basis.\n\t\t\t You give food to them and they receive it; you open your hand and they are filled with food.\n\t\t\t When you ignore them, they panic. When you take away their life's breath, they die and return to dust.\n\t\t\t When you send your life-giving breath, they are created, and you replenish the surface of the ground.\n\t\t\t May the splendor of the LORD endure! May the LORD find pleasure in the living things he has made!\n\t\t\t He looks down on the earth and it shakes; he touches the mountains and they start to smolder.\n\t\t\t I will sing to the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God as long as I exist!\n\t\t\t May my thoughts be pleasing to him! I will rejoice in the LORD.\n\t\t\t May sinners disappear from the earth, and the wicked vanish! Praise the LORD, O my soul! Praise the LORD!\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Give thanks to the LORD! Call on his name! Make known his accomplishments among the nations!\n\t\t\t Sing to him! Make music to him! Tell about all his miraculous deeds!\n\t\t\t Boast about his holy name! Let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice!\n\t\t\t Seek the LORD and the strength he gives! Seek his presence continually!\n\t\t\t Recall the miraculous deeds he performed, his mighty acts and the judgments he decreed,\n\t\t\t O children of Abraham, God's servant, you descendants of Jacob, God's chosen ones!\n\t\t\t He is the LORD our God; he carries out judgment throughout the earth.\n\t\t\t He always remembers his covenantal decree, the promise he made to a thousand generations,\n\t\t\t the promise he made to Abraham, the promise he made by oath to Isaac!\n\t\t\t He gave it to Jacob as a decree, to Israel as a lasting promise,\n\t\t\t saying, \"To you I will give the land of Canaan as the portion of your inheritance.\"\n\t\t\t When they were few in number, just a very few, and resident aliens within it,\n\t\t\t they wandered from nation to nation, and from one kingdom to another.\n\t\t\t He let no one oppress them; he disciplined kings for their sake,\n\t\t\t saying, \"Don't touch my chosen ones! Don't harm my prophets!\"\n\t\t\t He called down a famine upon the earth; he cut off all the food supply.\n\t\t\t He sent a man ahead of them, Joseph was sold as a servant.\n\t\t\t The shackles hurt his feet; his neck was placed in an iron collar,\n\t\t\t until the time when his prediction came true. The LORD's word proved him right.\n\t\t\t The king authorized his release; the ruler of nations set him free.\n\t\t\t He put him in charge of his palace, and made him manager of all his property,\n\t\t\t giving him authority to imprison his officials and to teach his advisers.\n\t\t\t Israel moved to Egypt; Jacob lived for a time in the land of Ham.\n\t\t\t The LORD made his people very fruitful, and made them more numerous than their enemies.\n\t\t\t He caused them to hate his people, and to mistreat his servants.\n\t\t\t He sent his servant Moses, and Aaron, whom he had chosen.\n\t\t\t They executed his miraculous signs among them, and his amazing deeds in the land of Ham.\n\t\t\t He made it dark; they did not disobey his orders.\n\t\t\t He turned their water into blood, and killed their fish.\n\t\t\t Their land was overrun by frogs, which even got into the rooms of their kings.\n\t\t\t He ordered flies to come; gnats invaded their whole territory.\n\t\t\t He sent hail along with the rain; there was lightning in their land.\n\t\t\t He destroyed their vines and fig trees, and broke the trees throughout their territory.\n\t\t\t He ordered locusts to come, innumerable grasshoppers.\n\t\t\t They ate all the vegetation in their land, and devoured the crops of their fields.\n\t\t\t He struck down all the firstborn in their land, the firstfruits of their reproductive power.\n\t\t\t He brought his people out enriched with silver and gold; none of his tribes stumbled.\n\t\t\t Egypt was happy when they left, for they were afraid of them.\n\t\t\t He spread out a cloud for a cover, and provided a fire to light up the night.\n\t\t\t They asked for food, and he sent quails; he satisfied them with food from the sky.\n\t\t\t He opened up a rock and water flowed out; a river ran through dry regions.\n\t\t\t Yes, he remembered the sacred promise he made to Abraham his servant.\n\t\t\t When he led his people out, they rejoiced; his chosen ones shouted with joy.\n\t\t\t He handed the territory of nations over to them, and they took possession of what other peoples had produced,\n\t\t\t so that they might keep his commands and obey his laws. Praise the LORD!\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Praise the LORD! Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, and his loyal love endures!\n\t\t\t Who can adequately recount the LORD's mighty acts, or relate all his praiseworthy deeds?\n\t\t\t How blessed are those who promote justice, and do what is right all the time!\n\t\t\t Remember me, O LORD, when you show favor to your people! Pay attention to me, when you deliver,\n\t\t\t so I may see the prosperity of your chosen ones, rejoice along with your nation, and boast along with the people who belong to you.\n\t\t\t We have sinned like our ancestors; we have done wrong, we have done evil.\n\t\t\t Our ancestors in Egypt failed to appreciate your miraculous deeds, they failed to remember your many acts of loyal love, and they rebelled at the sea, by the Red Sea.\n\t\t\t Yet he delivered them for the sake of his reputation, that he might reveal his power.\n\t\t\t He shouted at the Red Sea and it dried up; he led them through the deep water as if it were a desert.\n\t\t\t He delivered them from the power of the one who hated them, and rescued them from the power of the enemy.\n\t\t\t The water covered their enemies; not even one of them survived.\n\t\t\t They believed his promises; they sang praises to him.\n\t\t\t They quickly forgot what he had done; they did not wait for his instructions.\n\t\t\t In the wilderness they had an insatiable craving for meat; they challenged God in the desert.\n\t\t\t He granted their request, then struck them with a disease.\n\t\t\t In the camp they resented Moses, and Aaron, the LORD's holy priest.\n\t\t\t The earth opened up and swallowed Dathan; it engulfed the group led by Abiram.\n\t\t\t Fire burned their group; the flames scorched the wicked.\n\t\t\t They made an image of a calf at Horeb, and worshiped a metal idol.\n\t\t\t They traded their majestic God for the image of an ox that eats grass.\n\t\t\t They rejected the God who delivered them, the one who performed great deeds in Egypt,\n\t\t\t amazing feats in the land of Ham, mighty acts by the Red Sea.\n\t\t\t He threatened to destroy them, but Moses, his chosen one, interceded with him and turned back his destructive anger.\n\t\t\t They rejected the fruitful land; they did not believe his promise.\n\t\t\t They grumbled in their tents; they did not obey the LORD.\n\t\t\t So he made a solemn vow that he would make them die in the desert,\n\t\t\t make their descendants die among the nations, and scatter them among foreign lands.\n\t\t\t They worshiped Baal of Peor, and ate sacrifices offered to the dead.\n\t\t\t They made the LORD angry by their actions, and a plague broke out among them.\n\t\t\t Phinehas took a stand and intervened, and the plague subsided.\n\t\t\t This brought him a reward, an eternal gift.\n\t\t\t They made him angry by the waters of Meribah, and Moses suffered because of them,\n\t\t\t for they aroused his temper, and he spoke rashly.\n\t\t\t They did not destroy the nations, as the LORD had commanded them to do.\n\t\t\t They mixed in with the nations and learned their ways.\n\t\t\t They worshiped their idols, which became a snare to them.\n\t\t\t They sacrificed their sons and daughters to demons.\n\t\t\t They shed innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan. The land was polluted by bloodshed.\n\t\t\t They were defiled by their deeds, and unfaithful in their actions.\n\t\t\t So the LORD was angry with his people and despised the people who belong to him.\n\t\t\t He handed them over to the nations, and those who hated them ruled over them.\n\t\t\t Their enemies oppressed them; they were subject to their authority.\n\t\t\t Many times he delivered them, but they had a rebellious attitude, and degraded themselves by their sin.\n\t\t\t Yet he took notice of their distress, when he heard their cry for help.\n\t\t\t He remembered his covenant with them, and relented because of his great loyal love.\n\t\t\t He caused all their conquerors to have pity on them.\n\t\t\t Deliver us, O LORD, our God! Gather us from among the nations! Then we will give thanks to your holy name, and boast about your praiseworthy deeds.\n\t\t\t The LORD God of Israel deserves praise, in the future and forevermore. Let all the people say, \"We agree! Praise the LORD!\" Book 5 (Psalms 107-150)\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, and his loyal love endures!\n\t\t\t Let those delivered by the LORD speak out, those whom he delivered from the power of the enemy,\n\t\t\t and gathered from foreign lands, from east and west, from north and south.\n\t\t\t They wandered through the wilderness on a desert road; they found no city in which to live.\n\t\t\t They were hungry and thirsty; they fainted from exhaustion.\n\t\t\t They cried out to the LORD in their distress; he delivered them from their troubles.\n\t\t\t He led them on a level road, that they might find a city in which to live.\n\t\t\t Let them give thanks to the LORD for his loyal love, and for the amazing things he has done for people!\n\t\t\t For he has satisfied those who thirst, and those who hunger he has filled with food.\n\t\t\t They sat in utter darkness, bound in painful iron chains,\n\t\t\t because they had rebelled against God's commands, and rejected the instructions of the sovereign king.\n\t\t\t So he used suffering to humble them; they stumbled and no one helped them up.\n\t\t\t They cried out to the LORD in their distress; he delivered them from their troubles.\n\t\t\t He brought them out of the utter darkness, and tore off their shackles.\n\t\t\t Let them give thanks to the LORD for his loyal love, and for the amazing things he has done for people!\n\t\t\t For he shattered the bronze gates, and hacked through the iron bars.\n\t\t\t They acted like fools in their rebellious ways, and suffered because of their sins.\n\t\t\t They lost their appetite for all food, and they drew near the gates of death.\n\t\t\t They cried out to the LORD in their distress; he delivered them from their troubles.\n\t\t\t He sent them an assuring word and healed them; he rescued them from the pits where they were trapped.\n\t\t\t Let them give thanks to the LORD for his loyal love, and for the amazing things he has done for people!\n\t\t\t Let them present thank offerings, and loudly proclaim what he has done!\n\t\t\t Some traveled on the sea in ships, and carried cargo over the vast waters.\n\t\t\t They witnessed the acts of the LORD, his amazing feats on the deep water.\n\t\t\t He gave the order for a windstorm, and it stirred up the waves of the sea.\n\t\t\t They reached up to the sky, then dropped into the depths. The sailors' strength left them because the danger was so great.\n\t\t\t They swayed and staggered like a drunk, and all their skill proved ineffective.\n\t\t\t They cried out to the LORD in their distress; he delivered them from their troubles.\n\t\t\t He calmed the storm, and the waves grew silent.\n\t\t\t The sailors rejoiced because the waves grew quiet, and he led them to the harbor they desired.\n\t\t\t Let them give thanks to the LORD for his loyal love, and for the amazing things he has done for people!\n\t\t\t Let them exalt him in the assembly of the people! Let them praise him in the place where the leaders preside!\n\t\t\t He turned streams into a desert, springs of water into arid land,\n\t\t\t and a fruitful land into a barren place, because of the sin of its inhabitants.\n\t\t\t As for his people, he turned a desert into a pool of water, and a dry land into springs of water.\n\t\t\t He allowed the hungry to settle there, and they established a city in which to live.\n\t\t\t They cultivated fields, and planted vineyards, which yielded a harvest of fruit.\n\t\t\t He blessed them so that they became very numerous. He would not allow their cattle to decrease in number.\n\t\t\t As for their enemies, they decreased in number and were beaten down, because of painful distress and suffering.\n\t\t\t He would pour contempt upon princes, and he made them wander in a wasteland with no road.\n\t\t\t Yet he protected the needy from oppression, and cared for his families like a flock of sheep.\n\t\t\t When the godly see this, they rejoice, and every sinner shuts his mouth.\n\t\t\t Whoever is wise, let him take note of these things! Let them consider the LORD's acts of loyal love!\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [A song, a psalm of David.] I am determined, O God! I will sing and praise you with my whole heart.\n\t\t\t Awake, O stringed instrument and harp! I will wake up at dawn!\n\t\t\t I will give you thanks before the nations, O LORD! I will sing praises to you before foreigners!\n\t\t\t For your loyal love extends beyond the sky, and your faithfulness reaches the clouds.\n\t\t\t Rise up above the sky, O God! May your splendor cover the whole earth!\n\t\t\t Deliver by your power and answer me, so that the ones you love may be safe.\n\t\t\t God has spoken in his sanctuary: \"I will triumph! I will parcel out Shechem, the valley of Succoth I will measure off.\n\t\t\t Gilead belongs to me, as does Manasseh! Ephraim is my helmet, Judah my royal scepter.\n\t\t\t Moab is my wash basin. I will make Edom serve me. I will shout in triumph over Philistia.\"\n\t\t\t Who will lead me into the fortified city? Who will bring me to Edom?\n\t\t\t Have you not rejected us, O God? O God, you do not go into battle with our armies.\n\t\t\t Give us help against the enemy, for any help men might offer is futile.\n\t\t\t By God's power we will conquer; he will trample down our enemies.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [For the music director, a psalm of David.] O God whom I praise, do not ignore me!\n\t\t\t For they say cruel and deceptive things to me; they lie to me.\n\t\t\t They surround me and say hateful things; they attack me for no reason.\n\t\t\t They repay my love with accusations, but I continue to pray.\n\t\t\t They repay me evil for good, and hate for love.\n\t\t\t Appoint an evil man to testify against him! May an accuser stand at his right side!\n\t\t\t When he is judged, he will be found guilty! Then his prayer will be regarded as sinful.\n\t\t\t May his days be few! May another take his job!\n\t\t\t May his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow!\n\t\t\t May his children roam around begging, asking for handouts as they leave their ruined home!\n\t\t\t May the creditor seize all he owns! May strangers loot his property!\n\t\t\t May no one show him kindness! May no one have compassion on his fatherless children!\n\t\t\t May his descendants be cut off! May the memory of them be wiped out by the time the next generation arrives!\n\t\t\t May his ancestors' sins be remembered by the LORD! May his mother's sin not be forgotten!\n\t\t\t May the LORD be constantly aware of them, and cut off the memory of his children from the earth!\n\t\t\t For he never bothered to show kindness; he harassed the oppressed and needy, and killed the disheartened.\n\t\t\t He loved to curse others, so those curses have come upon him. He had no desire to bless anyone, so he has experienced no blessings.\n\t\t\t He made cursing a way of life, so curses poured into his stomach like water and seeped into his bones like oil.\n\t\t\t May a curse attach itself to him, like a garment one puts on, or a belt one wears continually!\n\t\t\t May the LORD repay my accusers in this way, those who say evil things about me!\n\t\t\t O sovereign LORD, intervene on my behalf for the sake of your reputation! Because your loyal love is good, deliver me!\n\t\t\t For I am oppressed and needy, and my heart beats violently within me.\n\t\t\t I am fading away like a shadow at the end of the day; I am shaken off like a locust.\n\t\t\t I am so starved my knees shake; I have turned into skin and bones.\n\t\t\t I am disdained by them. When they see me, they shake their heads.\n\t\t\t Help me, O LORD my God! Because you are faithful to me, deliver me!\n\t\t\t Then they will realize this is your work, and that you, LORD, have accomplished it.\n\t\t\t They curse, but you will bless. When they attack, they will be humiliated, but your servant will rejoice.\n\t\t\t My accusers will be covered with shame, and draped in humiliation as if it were a robe.\n\t\t\t I will thank the LORD profusely, in the middle of a crowd I will praise him,\n\t\t\t because he stands at the right hand of the needy, to deliver him from those who threaten his life.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [A psalm of David.] Here is the LORD's proclamation to my lord: \"Sit down at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool!\"\n\t\t\t The LORD extends your dominion from Zion. Rule in the midst of your enemies!\n\t\t\t Your people willingly follow you when you go into battle. On the holy hills at sunrise the dew of your youth belongs to you.\n\t\t\t The LORD makes this promise on oath and will not revoke it: \"You are an eternal priest after the pattern of Melchizedek.\"\n\t\t\t O sovereign LORD, at your right hand he strikes down kings in the day he unleashes his anger.\n\t\t\t He executes judgment against the nations; he fills the valleys with corpses; he shatters their heads over the vast battlefield.\n\t\t\t From the stream along the road he drinks; then he lifts up his head.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Praise the LORD! I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart, in the assembly of the godly and the congregation.\n\t\t\t The LORD's deeds are great, eagerly awaited by all who desire them.\n\t\t\t His work is majestic and glorious, and his faithfulness endures forever.\n\t\t\t He does amazing things that will be remembered; the LORD is merciful and compassionate.\n\t\t\t He gives food to his faithful followers; he always remembers his covenant.\n\t\t\t He announced that he would do mighty deeds for his people, giving them a land that belonged to other nations.\n\t\t\t His acts are characterized by faithfulness and justice; all his precepts are reliable.\n\t\t\t They are forever firm, and should be faithfully and properly carried out.\n\t\t\t He delivered his people; he ordained that his covenant be observed forever. His name is holy and awesome.\n\t\t\t To obey the LORD is the fundamental principle for wise living; all who carry out his precepts acquire good moral insight. He will receive praise forever.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Praise the LORD! How blessed is the one who obeys the LORD, who takes great delight in keeping his commands.\n\t\t\t His descendants will be powerful on the earth; the godly will be blessed.\n\t\t\t His house contains wealth and riches; his integrity endures.\n\t\t\t In the darkness a light shines for the godly, for each one who is merciful, compassionate, and just.\n\t\t\t It goes well for the one who generously lends money, and conducts his business honestly.\n\t\t\t For he will never be upended; others will always remember one who is just.\n\t\t\t He does not fear bad news. He is confident; he trusts in the LORD.\n\t\t\t His resolve is firm; he will not succumb to fear before he looks in triumph on his enemies.\n\t\t\t He generously gives to the needy; his integrity endures. He will be vindicated and honored.\n\t\t\t When the wicked see this, they will worry; they will grind their teeth in frustration and melt away; the desire of the wicked will perish.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Praise the LORD! Praise, you servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD!\n\t\t\t May the LORD's name be praised now and forevermore!\n\t\t\t From east to west the LORD's name is deserving of praise.\n\t\t\t The LORD is exalted over all the nations; his splendor reaches beyond the sky.\n\t\t\t Who can compare to the LORD our God, who sits on a high throne?\n\t\t\t He bends down to look at the sky and the earth.\n\t\t\t He raises the poor from the dirt, and lifts up the needy from the garbage pile,\n\t\t\t that he might seat him with princes, with the princes of his people.\n\t\t\t He makes the barren woman of the family a happy mother of children. Praise the LORD!\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t When Israel left Egypt, when the family of Jacob left a foreign nation behind,\n\t\t\t Judah became his sanctuary, Israel his kingdom.\n\t\t\t The sea looked and fled; the Jordan River turned back.\n\t\t\t The mountains skipped like rams, the hills like lambs.\n\t\t\t Why do you flee, O sea? Why do you turn back, O Jordan River?\n\t\t\t Why do you skip like rams, O mountains, like lambs, O hills?\n\t\t\t Tremble, O earth, before the Lord, before the God of Jacob,\n\t\t\t who turned a rock into a pool of water, a hard rock into springs of water!\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Not to us, O LORD, not to us! But to your name bring honor, for the sake of your loyal love and faithfulness.\n\t\t\t Why should the nations say, \"Where is their God?\"\n\t\t\t Our God is in heaven! He does whatever he pleases!\n\t\t\t Their idols are made of silver and gold, they are man-made.\n\t\t\t They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see,\n\t\t\t ears, but cannot hear, noses, but cannot smell,\n\t\t\t hands, but cannot touch, feet, but cannot walk. They cannot even clear their throats.\n\t\t\t Those who make them will end up like them, as will everyone who trusts in them.\n\t\t\t O Israel, trust in the LORD! He is their deliverer and protector.\n\t\t\t O family of Aaron, trust in the LORD! He is their deliverer and protector.\n\t\t\t You loyal followers of the LORD, trust in the LORD! He is their deliverer and protector.\n\t\t\t The LORD takes notice of us, he will bless, he will bless the family of Israel, he will bless the family of Aaron.\n\t\t\t He will bless his loyal followers, both young and old.\n\t\t\t May he increase your numbers, yours and your children's!\n\t\t\t May you be blessed by the LORD, the creator of heaven and earth!\n\t\t\t The heavens belong to the LORD, but the earth he has given to mankind.\n\t\t\t The dead do not praise the LORD, nor do any of those who descend into the silence of death.\n\t\t\t But we will praise the LORD now and forevermore. Praise the LORD!\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t I love the LORD because he heard my plea for mercy,\n\t\t\t and listened to me. As long as I live, I will call to him when I need help.\n\t\t\t The ropes of death tightened around me, the snares of Sheol confronted me. I was confronted with trouble and sorrow.\n\t\t\t I called on the name of the LORD, \"Please LORD, rescue my life!\"\n\t\t\t The LORD is merciful and fair; our God is compassionate.\n\t\t\t The LORD protects the untrained; I was in serious trouble and he delivered me.\n\t\t\t Rest once more, my soul, for the LORD has vindicated you.\n\t\t\t Yes, LORD, you rescued my life from death, and kept my feet from stumbling.\n\t\t\t I will serve the LORD in the land of the living.\n\t\t\t I had faith when I said, \"I am severely oppressed.\"\n\t\t\t I rashly declared, \"All men are liars.\"\n\t\t\t How can I repay the LORD for all his acts of kindness to me?\n\t\t\t I will celebrate my deliverance, and call on the name of the LORD.\n\t\t\t I will fulfill my vows to the LORD before all his people.\n\t\t\t The LORD values the lives of his faithful followers.\n\t\t\t Yes, LORD! I am indeed your servant; I am your lowest slave. You saved me from death.\n\t\t\t I will present a thank offering to you, and call on the name of the LORD.\n\t\t\t I will fulfill my vows to the LORD before all his people,\n\t\t\t in the courts of the LORD's temple, in your midst, O Jerusalem. Praise the LORD!\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Praise the LORD, all you nations! Applaud him, all you foreigners!\n\t\t\t For his loyal love towers over us, and the LORD's faithfulness endures. Praise the LORD!\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good and his loyal love endures!\n\t\t\t Let Israel say, \"Yes, his loyal love endures!\"\n\t\t\t Let the family of Aaron say, \"Yes, his loyal love endures!\"\n\t\t\t Let the loyal followers of the LORD say, \"Yes, his loyal love endures!\"\n\t\t\t In my distress I cried out to the LORD. The LORD answered me and put me in a wide open place.\n\t\t\t The LORD is on my side, I am not afraid! What can people do to me?\n\t\t\t The LORD is on my side as my helper. I look in triumph on those who hate me.\n\t\t\t It is better to take shelter in the LORD than to trust in people.\n\t\t\t It is better to take shelter in the LORD than to trust in princes.\n\t\t\t All the nations surrounded me. Indeed, in the name of the LORD I pushed them away.\n\t\t\t They surrounded me, yes, they surrounded me. Indeed, in the name of the LORD I pushed them away.\n\t\t\t They surrounded me like bees. But they disappeared as quickly as a fire among thorns. Indeed, in the name of the LORD I pushed them away.\n\t\t\t \"You aggressively attacked me and tried to knock me down, but the LORD helped me.\n\t\t\t The LORD gives me strength and protects me; he has become my deliverer.\"\n\t\t\t They celebrate deliverance in the tents of the godly. The LORD's right hand conquers,\n\t\t\t the LORD's right hand gives victory, the LORD's right hand conquers.\n\t\t\t I will not die, but live, and I will proclaim what the LORD has done.\n\t\t\t The LORD severely punished me, but he did not hand me over to death.\n\t\t\t Open for me the gates of the just king's temple! I will enter through them and give thanks to the LORD.\n\t\t\t This is the LORD's gate, the godly enter through it.\n\t\t\t I will give you thanks, for you answered me, and have become my deliverer.\n\t\t\t The stone which the builders discarded has become the cornerstone.\n\t\t\t This is the LORD's work. We consider it amazing!\n\t\t\t This is the day the LORD has brought about. We will be happy and rejoice in it.\n\t\t\t Please LORD, deliver! Please LORD, grant us success!\n\t\t\t May the one who comes in the name of the LORD be blessed! We will pronounce blessings on you in the LORD's temple.\n\t\t\t The LORD is God and he has delivered us. Tie the offering with ropes to the horns of the altar!\n\t\t\t You are my God and I will give you thanks! You are my God and I will praise you!\n\t\t\t Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good and his loyal love endures!&u05D0; (Alef)\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t How blessed are those whose actions are blameless, who obey the law of the LORD.\n\t\t\t How blessed are those who observe his rules, and seek him with all their heart,\n\t\t\t who, moreover, do no wrong, but follow in his footsteps.\n\t\t\t You demand that your precepts be carefully kept.\n\t\t\t If only I were predisposed to keep your statutes!\n\t\t\t Then I would not be ashamed, if I were focused on all your commands.\n\t\t\t I will give you sincere thanks, when I learn your just regulations.\n\t\t\t I will keep your statutes. Do not completely abandon me!&u05D1; (Bet)\n\t\t\t How can a young person maintain a pure life? By guarding it according to your instructions!\n\t\t\t With all my heart I seek you. Do not allow me to stray from your commands!\n\t\t\t In my heart I store up your words, so I might not sin against you.\n\t\t\t You deserve praise, O LORD! Teach me your statutes!\n\t\t\t With my lips I proclaim all the regulations you have revealed.\n\t\t\t I rejoice in the lifestyle prescribed by your rules as if they were riches of all kinds.\n\t\t\t I will meditate on your precepts and focus on your behavior.\n\t\t\t I find delight in your statutes; I do not forget your instructions.&u05D2; (Gimel)\n\t\t\t Be kind to your servant! Then I will live and keep your instructions.\n\t\t\t Open my eyes so I can truly see the marvelous things in your law!\n\t\t\t I am like a foreigner in this land. Do not hide your commands from me!\n\t\t\t I desperately long to know your regulations at all times.\n\t\t\t You reprimand arrogant people. Those who stray from your commands are doomed.\n\t\t\t Spare me shame and humiliation, for I observe your rules.\n\t\t\t Though rulers plot and slander me, your servant meditates on your statutes.\n\t\t\t Yes, I find delight in your rules; they give me guidance.&u05D3; (Dalet)\n\t\t\t I collapse in the dirt. Revive me with your word!\n\t\t\t I told you about my ways and you answered me. Teach me your statutes!\n\t\t\t Help me to understand what your precepts mean! Then I can meditate on your marvelous teachings.\n\t\t\t I collapse from grief. Sustain me by your word!\n\t\t\t Remove me from the path of deceit! Graciously give me your law!\n\t\t\t I choose the path of faithfulness; I am committed to your regulations.\n\t\t\t I hold fast to your rules. O LORD, do not let me be ashamed!\n\t\t\t I run along the path of your commands, for you enable me to do so.&u05D4; (He)\n\t\t\t Teach me, O LORD, the lifestyle prescribed by your statutes, so that I might observe it continually.\n\t\t\t Give me understanding so that I might observe your law, and keep it with all my heart.\n\t\t\t Guide me in the path of your commands, for I delight to walk in it.\n\t\t\t Give me a desire for your rules, rather than for wealth gained unjustly.\n\t\t\t Turn my eyes away from what is worthless! Revive me with your word!\n\t\t\t Confirm to your servant your promise, which you made to the one who honors you.\n\t\t\t Take away the insults that I dread! Indeed, your regulations are good.\n\t\t\t Look, I long for your precepts. Revive me with your deliverance!&u05D5; (Vav)\n\t\t\t May I experience your loyal love, O LORD, and your deliverance, as you promised.\n\t\t\t Then I will have a reply for the one who insults me, for I trust in your word.\n\t\t\t Do not completely deprive me of a truthful testimony, for I await your justice.\n\t\t\t Then I will keep your law continually now and for all time.\n\t\t\t I will be secure, for I seek your precepts.\n\t\t\t I will speak about your regulations before kings and not be ashamed.\n\t\t\t I will find delight in your commands, which I love.\n\t\t\t I will lift my hands to your commands, which I love, and I will meditate on your statutes.&u05D6; (Zayin)\n\t\t\t Remember your word to your servant, for you have given me hope.\n\t\t\t This is what comforts me in my trouble, for your promise revives me.\n\t\t\t Arrogant people do nothing but scoff at me. Yet I do not turn aside from your law.\n\t\t\t I remember your ancient regulations, O LORD, and console myself.\n\t\t\t Rage takes hold of me because of the wicked, those who reject your law.\n\t\t\t Your statutes have been my songs in the house where I live.\n\t\t\t I remember your name during the night, O LORD, and I will keep your law.\n\t\t\t This has been my practice, for I observe your precepts.&u05D7; (Khet)\n\t\t\t The LORD is my source of security. I have determined to follow your instructions.\n\t\t\t I seek your favor with all my heart. Have mercy on me as you promised!\n\t\t\t I consider my actions and follow your rules.\n\t\t\t I keep your commands eagerly and without delay.\n\t\t\t The ropes of the wicked tighten around me, but I do not forget your law.\n\t\t\t In the middle of the night I arise to thank you for your just regulations.\n\t\t\t I am a friend to all your loyal followers, and to those who keep your precepts.\n\t\t\t O LORD, your loyal love fills the earth. Teach me your statutes!&u05D8; (Tet)\n\t\t\t You are good to your servant, O LORD, just as you promised.\n\t\t\t Teach me proper discernment and understanding! For I consider your commands to be reliable.\n\t\t\t Before I was afflicted I used to stray off, but now I keep your instructions.\n\t\t\t You are good and you do good. Teach me your statutes!\n\t\t\t Arrogant people smear my reputation with lies, but I observe your precepts with all my heart.\n\t\t\t Their hearts are calloused, but I find delight in your law.\n\t\t\t It was good for me to suffer, so that I might learn your statutes.\n\t\t\t The law you have revealed is more important to me than thousands of pieces of gold and silver.&u05D9; (Yod)\n\t\t\t Your hands made me and formed me. Give me understanding so that I might learn your commands.\n\t\t\t Your loyal followers will be glad when they see me, for I find hope in your word.\n\t\t\t I know, LORD, that your regulations are just. You disciplined me because of your faithful devotion to me.\n\t\t\t May your loyal love console me, as you promised your servant.\n\t\t\t May I experience your compassion, so I might live! For I find delight in your law.\n\t\t\t May the arrogant be humiliated, for they have slandered me! But I meditate on your precepts.\n\t\t\t May your loyal followers turn to me, those who know your rules.\n\t\t\t May I be fully committed to your statutes, so that I might not be ashamed.&u05DB; (Kaf)\n\t\t\t I desperately long for your deliverance. I find hope in your word.\n\t\t\t My eyes grow tired as I wait for your promise to be fulfilled. I say, \"When will you comfort me?\"\n\t\t\t For I am like a wineskin dried up in smoke. I do not forget your statutes.\n\t\t\t How long must your servant endure this? When will you judge those who pursue me?\n\t\t\t The arrogant dig pits to trap me, which violates your law.\n\t\t\t All your commands are reliable. I am pursued without reason. Help me!\n\t\t\t They have almost destroyed me here on the earth, but I do not reject your precepts.\n\t\t\t Revive me with your loyal love, that I might keep the rules you have revealed.&u05DC; (Lamed)\n\t\t\t O LORD, your instructions endure; they stand secure in heaven.\n\t\t\t You demonstrate your faithfulness to all generations. You established the earth and it stood firm.\n\t\t\t Today they stand firm by your decrees, for all things are your servants.\n\t\t\t If I had not found encouragement in your law, I would have died in my sorrow.\n\t\t\t I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have revived me.\n\t\t\t I belong to you. Deliver me! For I seek your precepts.\n\t\t\t The wicked prepare to kill me, yet I concentrate on your rules.\n\t\t\t I realize that everything has its limits, but your commands are beyond full comprehension.&u05DE; (Mem)\n\t\t\t O how I love your law! All day long I meditate on it.\n\t\t\t Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, for I am always aware of them.\n\t\t\t I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your rules.\n\t\t\t I am more discerning than those older than I, for I observe your precepts.\n\t\t\t I stay away from the evil path, so that I might keep your instructions.\n\t\t\t I do not turn aside from your regulations, for you teach me.\n\t\t\t Your words are sweeter in my mouth than honey!\n\t\t\t Your precepts give me discernment. Therefore I hate all deceitful actions.&u05E0; (Nun)\n\t\t\t Your word is a lamp to walk by, and a light to illumine my path.\n\t\t\t I have vowed and solemnly sworn to keep your just regulations.\n\t\t\t I am suffering terribly. O LORD, revive me with your word!\n\t\t\t O LORD, please accept the freewill offerings of my praise! Teach me your regulations!\n\t\t\t My life is in continual danger, but I do not forget your law.\n\t\t\t The wicked lay a trap for me, but I do not wander from your precepts.\n\t\t\t I claim your rules as my permanent possession, for they give me joy.\n\t\t\t I am determined to obey your statutes at all times, to the very end.&u05E1; (Samek)&u05B9;119:113 I hate people with divided loyalties, but I love your law.\n\t\t\t \n\t\t\t You are my hiding place and my shield. I find hope in your word.\n\t\t\t Turn away from me, you evil men, so that I can observe the commands of my God.\n\t\t\t Sustain me as you promised, so that I will live. Do not disappoint me!\n\t\t\t Support me, so that I will be delivered. Then I will focus on your statutes continually.\n\t\t\t You despise all who stray from your statutes, for they are deceptive and unreliable.\n\t\t\t You remove all the wicked of the earth like slag. Therefore I love your rules.\n\t\t\t My body trembles because I fear you; I am afraid of your judgments.&u05E2; (Ayin)\n\t\t\t I do what is fair and right. Do not abandon me to my oppressors!\n\t\t\t Guarantee the welfare of your servant! Do not let the arrogant oppress me!\n\t\t\t My eyes grow tired as I wait for your deliverance, for your reliable promise to be fulfilled.\n\t\t\t Show your servant your loyal love! Teach me your statutes!\n\t\t\t I am your servant. Give me insight, so that I can understand your rules.\n\t\t\t It is time for the LORD to act, they break your law!\n\t\t\t For this reason I love your commands more than gold, even purest gold.\n\t\t\t For this reason I carefully follow all your precepts. I hate all deceitful actions.&u05E4; (Pe)\n\t\t\t Your rules are marvelous. Therefore I observe them.\n\t\t\t Your instructions are a doorway through which light shines. They give insight to the untrained.\n\t\t\t I open my mouth and pant, because I long for your commands.\n\t\t\t Turn toward me and extend mercy to me, as you typically do to your loyal followers.\n\t\t\t Direct my steps by your word! Do not let any sin dominate me!\n\t\t\t Deliver me from oppressive men, so that I can keep your precepts.\n\t\t\t Smile on your servant! Teach me your statutes!\n\t\t\t Tears stream down from my eyes, because people do not keep your law.&u05E6; (Tsade)\n\t\t\t You are just, O LORD, and your judgments are fair.\n\t\t\t The rules you impose are just, and absolutely reliable.\n\t\t\t My zeal consumes me, for my enemies forget your instructions.\n\t\t\t Your word is absolutely pure, and your servant loves it!\n\t\t\t I am insignificant and despised, yet I do not forget your precepts.\n\t\t\t Your justice endures, and your law is reliable.\n\t\t\t Distress and hardship confront me, yet I find delight in your commands.\n\t\t\t Your rules remain just. Give me insight so that I can live.&u05E7; (Qof)\n\t\t\t I cried out with all my heart, \"Answer me, O LORD! I will observe your statutes.\"\n\t\t\t I cried out to you, \"Deliver me, so that I can keep your rules.\"\n\t\t\t I am up before dawn crying for help. I find hope in your word.\n\t\t\t My eyes anticipate the nighttime hours, so that I can meditate on your word.\n\t\t\t Listen to me because of your loyal love! O LORD, revive me, as you typically do!\n\t\t\t Those who are eager to do wrong draw near; they are far from your law.\n\t\t\t You are near, O LORD, and all your commands are reliable.\n\t\t\t I learned long ago that you ordained your rules to last.&u05E8; (Resh)\n\t\t\t See my pain and rescue me! For I do not forget your law.\n\t\t\t Fight for me and defend me! Revive me with your word!\n\t\t\t The wicked have no chance for deliverance, for they do not seek your statutes.\n\t\t\t Your compassion is great, O LORD. Revive me, as you typically do!\n\t\t\t The enemies who chase me are numerous. Yet I do not turn aside from your rules.\n\t\t\t I take note of the treacherous and despise them, because they do not keep your instructions.\n\t\t\t See how I love your precepts! O LORD, revive me with your loyal love!\n\t\t\t Your instructions are totally reliable; all your just regulations endure.&u05E9;&u05C2;/&u05E9;&u05C1; (Sin/Shin)\n\t\t\t Rulers pursue me for no reason, yet I am more afraid of disobeying your instructions.\n\t\t\t I rejoice in your instructions, like one who finds much plunder.\n\t\t\t I hate and despise deceit; I love your law.\n\t\t\t Seven times a day I praise you because of your just regulations.\n\t\t\t Those who love your law are completely secure; nothing causes them to stumble.\n\t\t\t I hope for your deliverance, O LORD, and I obey your commands.\n\t\t\t I keep your rules; I love them greatly.\n\t\t\t I keep your precepts and rules, for you are aware of everything I do.&u05EA; (Tav)\n\t\t\t Listen to my cry for help, O LORD! Give me insight by your word!\n\t\t\t Listen to my appeal for mercy! Deliver me, as you promised.\n\t\t\t May praise flow freely from my lips, for you teach me your statutes.\n\t\t\t May my tongue sing about your instructions, for all your commands are just.\n\t\t\t May your hand help me, for I choose to obey your precepts.\n\t\t\t I long for your deliverance, O LORD; I find delight in your law.\n\t\t\t May I live and praise you! May your regulations help me!\n\t\t\t I have wandered off like a lost sheep. Come looking for your servant, for I do not forget your commands.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [A song of ascents.] In my distress I cried out to the LORD and he answered me.\n\t\t\t I said, \"O LORD, rescue me from those who lie with their lips and those who deceive with their tongue.\n\t\t\t How will he severely punish you, you deceptive talker?\n\t\t\t Here's how! With the sharp arrows of warriors, with arrowheads forged over the hot coals.\n\t\t\t How miserable I am! For I have lived temporarily in Meshech; I have resided among the tents of Kedar.\n\t\t\t For too long I have had to reside with those who hate peace.\n\t\t\t I am committed to peace, but when I speak, they want to make war.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [A song of ascents.] I look up toward the hills. From where does my help come?\n\t\t\t My help comes from the LORD, the Creator of heaven and earth!\n\t\t\t May he not allow your foot to slip! May your protector not sleep!\n\t\t\t Look! Israel's protector does not sleep or slumber!\n\t\t\t The LORD is your protector; the LORD is the shade at your right hand.\n\t\t\t The sun will not harm you by day, or the moon by night.\n\t\t\t The LORD will protect you from all harm; he will protect your life.\n\t\t\t The LORD will protect you in all you do, now and forevermore.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [A song of ascents, by David.] I was glad because they said to me, \"We will go to the LORD's temple.\"\n\t\t\t Our feet are standing inside your gates, O Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t Jerusalem is a city designed to accommodate an assembly.\n\t\t\t The tribes go up there, the tribes of the LORD, where it is required that Israel give thanks to the name of the LORD.\n\t\t\t Indeed, the leaders sit there on thrones and make legal decisions, on the thrones of the house of David.\n\t\t\t Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! May those who love her prosper!\n\t\t\t May there be peace inside your defenses, and prosperity inside your fortresses!\n\t\t\t For the sake of my brothers and my neighbors I will say, \"May there be peace in you!\"\n\t\t\t For the sake of the temple of the LORD our God I will pray for you to prosper.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [A song of ascents.] I look up toward you, the one enthroned in heaven.\n\t\t\t Look, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a female servant look to the hand of her mistress, so my eyes will look to the LORD, our God, until he shows us favor.\n\t\t\t Show us favor, O LORD, show us favor! For we have had our fill of humiliation, and then some.\n\t\t\t We have had our fill of the taunts of the self-assured, of the contempt of the proud.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [A song of ascents, by David.] \"If the LORD had not been on our side\", let Israel say this!,\n\t\t\t if the LORD had not been on our side, when men attacked us,\n\t\t\t they would have swallowed us alive, when their anger raged against us.\n\t\t\t The water would have overpowered us; the current would have overwhelmed us.\n\t\t\t The raging water would have overwhelmed us.\n\t\t\t The LORD deserves praise, for he did not hand us over as prey to their teeth.\n\t\t\t We escaped with our lives, like a bird from a hunter's snare. The snare broke, and we escaped.\n\t\t\t Our deliverer is the LORD, the Creator of heaven and earth.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [A song of ascents.] Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion; it cannot be upended and will endure forever.\n\t\t\t As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds his people, now and forevermore.\n\t\t\t Indeed, the scepter of a wicked king will not settle upon the allotted land of the godly. Otherwise the godly might do what is wrong.\n\t\t\t Do good, O LORD, to those who are good, to the morally upright!\n\t\t\t As for those who are bent on traveling a sinful path, may the LORD remove them, along with those who behave wickedly! May Israel experience peace!\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [A song of ascents.] When the LORD restored the well-being of Zion, we thought we were dreaming.\n\t\t\t At that time we laughed loudly and shouted for joy. At that time the nations said, \"The LORD has accomplished great things for these people.\"\n\t\t\t The LORD did indeed accomplish great things for us. We were happy.\n\t\t\t O LORD, restore our well-being, just as the streams in the arid south are replenished.\n\t\t\t Those who shed tears as they plant will shout for joy when they reap the harvest.\n\t\t\t The one who weeps as he walks along, carrying his bag of seed, will certainly come in with a shout of joy, carrying his sheaves of grain.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [A song of ascents, by Solomon.] If the LORD does not build a house, then those who build it work in vain. If the LORD does not guard a city, then the watchman stands guard in vain.\n\t\t\t It is vain for you to rise early, come home late, and work so hard for your food. Yes, he can provide for those whom he loves even when they sleep.\n\t\t\t Yes, sons are a gift from the LORD, the fruit of the womb is a reward.\n\t\t\t Sons born during one's youth are like arrows in a warrior's hand.\n\t\t\t How blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! They will not be put to shame when they confront enemies at the city gate.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [A song of ascents.] How blessed is every one of the LORD's loyal followers, each one who keeps his commands!\n\t\t\t You will eat what you worked so hard to grow. You will be blessed and secure.\n\t\t\t Your wife will be like a fruitful vine in the inner rooms of your house; your children will be like olive branches, as they sit all around your table.\n\t\t\t Yes indeed, the man who fears the LORD will be blessed in this way.\n\t\t\t May the LORD bless you from Zion, that you might see Jerusalem prosper all the days of your life,\n\t\t\t and that you might see your grandchildren. May Israel experience peace!\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [A song of ascents.] \"Since my youth they have often attacked me,\" let Israel say.\n\t\t\t \"Since my youth they have often attacked me, but they have not defeated me.\n\t\t\t The plowers plowed my back; they made their furrows long.\n\t\t\t The LORD is just; he cut the ropes of the wicked.\"\n\t\t\t May all who hate Zion be humiliated and turned back!\n\t\t\t May they be like the grass on the rooftops which withers before one can even pull it up,\n\t\t\t which cannot fill the reaper's hand, or the lap of the one who gathers the grain!\n\t\t\t Those who pass by will not say, \"May you experience the LORD's blessing! We pronounce a blessing on you in the name of the LORD.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [A song of ascents.] From the deep water I cry out to you, O LORD.\n\t\t\t O Lord, listen to me! Pay attention to my plea for mercy!\n\t\t\t If you, O LORD, were to keep track of sins, O Lord, who could stand before you?\n\t\t\t But you are willing to forgive, so that you might be honored.\n\t\t\t I rely on the LORD, I rely on him with my whole being; I wait for his assuring word.\n\t\t\t I yearn for the Lord, more than watchmen do for the morning, yes, more than watchmen do for the morning.\n\t\t\t O Israel, hope in the LORD, for the LORD exhibits loyal love, and is more than willing to deliver.\n\t\t\t He will deliver Israel from all the consequences of their sins.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [A song of ascents, by David.] O LORD, my heart is not proud, nor do I have a haughty look. I do not have great aspirations, or concern myself with things that are beyond me.\n\t\t\t Indeed I am composed and quiet, like a young child carried by its mother; I am content like the young child I carry.\n\t\t\t O Israel, hope in the LORD now and forevermore!\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [A song of ascents.] O LORD, for David's sake remember all his strenuous effort,\n\t\t\t and how he made a vow to the LORD, and swore an oath to the powerful ruler of Jacob.\n\t\t\t He said, \"I will not enter my own home, or get into my bed.\n\t\t\t I will not allow my eyes to sleep, or my eyelids to slumber,\n\t\t\t until I find a place for the LORD, a fine dwelling place for the powerful ruler of Jacob.\"\n\t\t\t Look, we heard about it in Ephrathah, we found it in the territory of Jaar.\n\t\t\t Let us go to his dwelling place! Let us worship before his footstool!\n\t\t\t Ascend, O LORD, to your resting place, you and the ark of your strength!\n\t\t\t May your priests be clothed with integrity! May your loyal followers shout for joy!\n\t\t\t For the sake of David, your servant, do not reject your chosen king!\n\t\t\t The LORD made a reliable promise to David; he will not go back on his word. He said, \"I will place one of your descendants on your throne.\n\t\t\t If your sons keep my covenant and the rules I teach them, their sons will also sit on your throne forever.\"\n\t\t\t Certainly the LORD has chosen Zion; he decided to make it his home.\n\t\t\t He said, \"This will be my resting place forever; I will live here, for I have chosen it.\n\t\t\t I will abundantly supply what she needs; I will give her poor all the food they need.\n\t\t\t I will protect her priests, and her godly people will shout exuberantly.\n\t\t\t There I will make David strong; I have determined that my chosen king's dynasty will continue.\n\t\t\t I will humiliate his enemies, and his crown will shine.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [A song of ascents, by David.] Look! How good and how pleasant it is when brothers live together!\n\t\t\t It is like fine oil poured on the head which flows down the beard, Aaron's beard, and then flows down his garments.\n\t\t\t It is like the dew of Hermon, which flows down upon the hills of Zion. Indeed that is where the LORD has decreed a blessing will be available, eternal life.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [A song of ascents.] Attention! Praise the LORD, all you servants of the LORD, who serve in the LORD's temple during the night.\n\t\t\t Lift your hands toward the sanctuary and praise the LORD!\n\t\t\t May the LORD, the Creator of heaven and earth, bless you from Zion!\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Praise the LORD! Praise the name of the LORD! Offer praise, you servants of the LORD,\n\t\t\t who serve in the LORD's temple, in the courts of the temple of our God.\n\t\t\t Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good! Sing praises to his name, for it is pleasant!\n\t\t\t Indeed, the LORD has chosen Jacob for himself, Israel to be his special possession.\n\t\t\t Yes, I know the LORD is great, and our Lord is superior to all gods.\n\t\t\t He does whatever he pleases in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all the ocean depths.\n\t\t\t He causes the clouds to arise from the end of the earth, makes lightning bolts accompany the rain, and brings the wind out of his storehouses.\n\t\t\t He struck down the firstborn of Egypt, including both men and animals.\n\t\t\t He performed awesome deeds and acts of judgment in your midst, O Egypt, against Pharaoh and all his servants.\n\t\t\t He defeated many nations, and killed mighty kings,\n\t\t\t Sihon, king of the Amorites, and Og, king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan.\n\t\t\t He gave their land as an inheritance, as an inheritance to Israel his people.\n\t\t\t O LORD, your name endures, your reputation, O LORD, lasts.\n\t\t\t For the LORD vindicates his people, and has compassion on his servants.\n\t\t\t The nations' idols are made of silver and gold, they are man-made.\n\t\t\t They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see,\n\t\t\t and ears, but cannot hear. Indeed, they cannot breathe.\n\t\t\t Those who make them will end up like them, as will everyone who trusts in them.\n\t\t\t O family of Israel, praise the LORD! O family of Aaron, praise the LORD!\n\t\t\t O family of Levi, praise the LORD! You loyal followers of the LORD, praise the LORD!\n\t\t\t The LORD deserves praise in Zion, he who dwells in Jerusalem. Praise the LORD!\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his loyal love endures.\n\t\t\t Give thanks to the God of gods, for his loyal love endures.\n\t\t\t Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his loyal love endures,\n\t\t\t to the one who performs magnificent, amazing deeds all by himself, for his loyal love endures,\n\t\t\t to the one who used wisdom to make the heavens, for his loyal love endures,\n\t\t\t to the one who spread out the earth over the water, for his loyal love endures,\n\t\t\t to the one who made the great lights, for his loyal love endures,\n\t\t\t the sun to rule by day, for his loyal love endures,\n\t\t\t the moon and stars to rule by night, for his loyal love endures,\n\t\t\t to the one who struck down the firstborn of Egypt, for his loyal love endures,\n\t\t\t and led Israel out from their midst, for his loyal love endures,\n\t\t\t with a strong hand and an outstretched arm, for his loyal love endures,\n\t\t\t to the one who divided the Red Sea in two, for his loyal love endures,\n\t\t\t and led Israel through its midst, for his loyal love endures,\n\t\t\t and tossed Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea, for his loyal love endures,\n\t\t\t to the one who led his people through the wilderness, for his loyal love endures,\n\t\t\t to the one who struck down great kings, for his loyal love endures,\n\t\t\t and killed powerful kings, for his loyal love endures,\n\t\t\t Sihon, king of the Amorites, for his loyal love endures,\n\t\t\t Og, king of Bashan, for his loyal love endures,\n\t\t\t and gave their land as an inheritance, for his loyal love endures,\n\t\t\t as an inheritance to Israel his servant, for his loyal love endures,\n\t\t\t to the one who remembered us when we were down, for his loyal love endures,\n\t\t\t and snatched us away from our enemies, for his loyal love endures,\n\t\t\t to the one who gives food to all living things, for his loyal love endures.\n\t\t\t Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his loyal love endures!\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t By the rivers of Babylon we sit down and weep when we remember Zion.\n\t\t\t On the poplars in her midst we hang our harps,\n\t\t\t for there our captors ask us to compose songs; those who mock us demand that we be happy, saying: \"Sing for us a song about Zion!\"\n\t\t\t How can we sing a song to the LORD in a foreign land?\n\t\t\t If I forget you, O Jerusalem, may my right hand be crippled!\n\t\t\t May my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth, if I do not remember you, and do not give Jerusalem priority over whatever gives me the most joy.\n\t\t\t Remember, O LORD, what the Edomites did on the day Jerusalem fell. They said, \"Tear it down, tear it down, right to its very foundation!\"\n\t\t\t O daughter Babylon, soon to be devastated! How blessed will be the one who repays you for what you dished out to us!\n\t\t\t How blessed will be the one who grabs your babies and smashes them on a rock!\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [By David.] I will give you thanks with all my heart; before the heavenly assembly I will sing praises to you.\n\t\t\t I will bow down toward your holy temple, and give thanks to your name, because of your loyal love and faithfulness, for you have exalted your promise above the entire sky.\n\t\t\t When I cried out for help, you answered me. You made me bold and energized me.\n\t\t\t Let all the kings of the earth give thanks to you, O LORD, when they hear the words you speak.\n\t\t\t Let them sing about the LORD's deeds, for the LORD's splendor is magnificent.\n\t\t\t Though the LORD is exalted, he takes note of the lowly, and recognizes the proud from far away.\n\t\t\t Even when I must walk in the midst of danger, you revive me. You oppose my angry enemies, and your right hand delivers me.\n\t\t\t The LORD avenges me. O LORD, your loyal love endures. Do not abandon those whom you have made!\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [For the music director, a psalm of David.] O LORD, you examine me and know.\n\t\t\t You know when I sit down and when I get up; even from far away you understand my motives.\n\t\t\t You carefully observe me when I travel or when I lie down to rest; you are aware of everything I do.\n\t\t\t Certainly my tongue does not frame a word without you, O LORD, being thoroughly aware of it.\n\t\t\t You squeeze me in from behind and in front; you place your hand on me.\n\t\t\t Your knowledge is beyond my comprehension; it is so far beyond me, I am unable to fathom it.\n\t\t\t Where can I go to escape your spirit? Where can I flee to escape your presence?\n\t\t\t If I were to ascend to heaven, you would be there. If I were to sprawl out in Sheol, there you would be.\n\t\t\t If I were to fly away on the wings of the dawn, and settle down on the other side of the sea,\n\t\t\t even there your hand would guide me, your right hand would grab hold of me.\n\t\t\t If I were to say, \"Certainly the darkness will cover me, and the light will turn to night all around me,\"\n\t\t\t even the darkness is not too dark for you to see, and the night is as bright as day; darkness and light are the same to you.\n\t\t\t Certainly you made my mind and heart; you wove me together in my mother's womb.\n\t\t\t I will give you thanks because your deeds are awesome and amazing. You knew me thoroughly;\n\t\t\t my bones were not hidden from you, when I was made in secret and sewed together in the depths of the earth.\n\t\t\t Your eyes saw me when I was inside the womb. All the days ordained for me were recorded in your scroll before one of them came into existence.\n\t\t\t How difficult it is for me to fathom your thoughts about me, O God! How vast is their sum total!\n\t\t\t If I tried to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. Even if I finished counting them, I would still have to contend with you.\n\t\t\t If only you would kill the wicked, O God! Get away from me, you violent men!\n\t\t\t They rebel against you and act deceitfully; your enemies lie.\n\t\t\t O LORD, do I not hate those who hate you, and despise those who oppose you?\n\t\t\t I absolutely hate them, they have become my enemies!\n\t\t\t Examine me, and probe my thoughts! Test me, and know my concerns!\n\t\t\t See if there is any idolatrous tendency in me, and lead me in the reliable ancient path!\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [For the music director; a psalm of David.] O LORD, rescue me from wicked men! Protect me from violent men,\n\t\t\t who plan ways to harm me. All day long they stir up conflict.\n\t\t\t Their tongues wound like a serpent; a viper's venom is behind their lips. (Selah)\n\t\t\t O LORD, shelter me from the power of the wicked! Protect me from violent men, who plan to knock me over.\n\t\t\t Proud men hide a snare for me; evil men spread a net by the path; they set traps for me. (Selah)\n\t\t\t I say to the LORD, \"You are my God.\" O LORD, pay attention to my plea for mercy!\n\t\t\t O sovereign LORD, my strong deliverer, you shield my head in the day of battle.\n\t\t\t O LORD, do not let the wicked have their way! Do not allow their plan to succeed when they attack! (Selah)\n\t\t\t As for the heads of those who surround me, may the harm done by their lips overwhelm them!\n\t\t\t May he rain down fiery coals upon them! May he throw them into the fire! From bottomless pits they will not escape.\n\t\t\t A slanderer will not endure on the earth; calamity will hunt down a violent man and strike him down.\n\t\t\t I know that the LORD defends the cause of the oppressed and vindicates the poor.\n\t\t\t Certainly the godly will give thanks to your name; the morally upright will live in your presence.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [A psalm of David.] O LORD, I cry out to you. Come quickly to me! Pay attention to me when I cry out to you!\n\t\t\t May you accept my prayer like incense, my uplifted hands like the evening offering!\n\t\t\t O LORD, place a guard on my mouth! Protect the opening of my lips!\n\t\t\t Do not let me have evil desires, or participate in sinful activities with men who behave wickedly. I will not eat their delicacies.\n\t\t\t May the godly strike me in love and correct me! May my head not refuse choice oil! Indeed, my prayer is a witness against their evil deeds.\n\t\t\t They will be thrown down the side of a cliff by their judges. They will listen to my words, for they are pleasant.\n\t\t\t As when one plows and breaks up the soil, so our bones are scattered at the mouth of Sheol.\n\t\t\t Surely I am looking to you, O sovereign LORD. In you I take shelter. Do not expose me to danger!\n\t\t\t Protect me from the snare they have laid for me, and the traps the evildoers have set.\n\t\t\t Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I escape.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [A well-written song by David, when he was in the cave; a prayer.] To the LORD I cry out; to the LORD I plead for mercy.\n\t\t\t I pour out my lament before him; I tell him about my troubles.\n\t\t\t Even when my strength leaves me, you watch my footsteps. In the path where I walk they have hidden a trap for me.\n\t\t\t Look to the right and see! No one cares about me. I have nowhere to run; no one is concerned about my life.\n\t\t\t I cry out to you, O LORD; I say, \"You are my shelter, my security in the land of the living.\"\n\t\t\t Listen to my cry for help, for I am in serious trouble! Rescue me from those who chase me, for they are stronger than I am.\n\t\t\t Free me from prison, that I may give thanks to your name. Because of me the godly will assemble, for you will vindicate me.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [A psalm of David.] O LORD, hear my prayer! Pay attention to my plea for help! Because of your faithfulness and justice, answer me!\n\t\t\t Do not sit in judgment on your servant, for no one alive is innocent before you.\n\t\t\t Certainly my enemies chase me. They smash me into the ground. They force me to live in dark regions, like those who have been dead for ages.\n\t\t\t My strength leaves me; I am absolutely shocked.\n\t\t\t I recall the old days; I meditate on all you have done; I reflect on your accomplishments.\n\t\t\t I spread my hands out to you in prayer; my soul thirsts for you in a parched land.\n\t\t\t Answer me quickly, LORD! My strength is fading. Do not reject me, or I will join those descending into the grave.\n\t\t\t May I hear about your loyal love in the morning, for I trust in you. Show me the way I should go, because I long for you.\n\t\t\t Rescue me from my enemies, O LORD! I run to you for protection.\n\t\t\t Teach me to do what pleases you, for you are my God. May your kind presence lead me into a level land.\n\t\t\t O LORD, for the sake of your reputation, revive me! Because of your justice, rescue me from trouble!\n\t\t\t As a demonstration of your loyal love, destroy my enemies! Annihilate all who threaten my life, for I am your servant.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [By David.] The LORD, my protector, deserves praise, the one who trains my hands for battle, and my fingers for war,\n\t\t\t who loves me and is my stronghold, my refuge and my deliverer, my shield and the one in whom I take shelter, who makes nations submit to me.\n\t\t\t O LORD, of what importance is the human race, that you should notice them? Of what importance is mankind, that you should be concerned about them?\n\t\t\t People are like a vapor, their days like a shadow that disappears.\n\t\t\t O LORD, make the sky sink and come down! Touch the mountains and make them smolder!\n\t\t\t Hurl lightning bolts and scatter them! Shoot your arrows and rout them!\n\t\t\t Reach down from above! Grab me and rescue me from the surging water, from the power of foreigners,\n\t\t\t who speak lies, and make false promises.\n\t\t\t O God, I will sing a new song to you! Accompanied by a ten-stringed instrument, I will sing praises to you,\n\t\t\t the one who delivers kings, and rescued David his servant from a deadly sword.\n\t\t\t Grab me and rescue me from the power of foreigners, who speak lies, and make false promises.\n\t\t\t Then our sons will be like plants, that quickly grow to full size. Our daughters will be like corner pillars, carved like those in a palace.\n\t\t\t Our storehouses will be full, providing all kinds of food. Our sheep will multiply by the thousands and fill our pastures.\n\t\t\t Our cattle will be weighted down with produce. No one will break through our walls, no one will be taken captive, and there will be no terrified cries in our city squares.\n\t\t\t How blessed are the people who experience these things! How blessed are the people whose God is the LORD!\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t [A psalm of praise, by David.] I will extol you, my God, O king! I will praise your name continually!\n\t\t\t Every day I will praise you! I will praise your name continually!\n\t\t\t The LORD is great and certainly worthy of praise! No one can fathom his greatness!\n\t\t\t One generation will praise your deeds to another, and tell about your mighty acts!\n\t\t\t I will focus on your honor and majestic splendor, and your amazing deeds!\n\t\t\t They will proclaim the power of your awesome acts! I will declare your great deeds!\n\t\t\t They will talk about the fame of your great kindness, and sing about your justice.\n\t\t\t The LORD is merciful and compassionate; he is patient and demonstrates great loyal love.\n\t\t\t The LORD is good to all, and has compassion on all he has made.\n\t\t\t All he has made will give thanks to the LORD. Your loyal followers will praise you.\n\t\t\t They will proclaim the splendor of your kingdom; they will tell about your power,\n\t\t\t so that mankind might acknowledge your mighty acts, and the majestic splendor of your kingdom.\n\t\t\t Your kingdom is an eternal kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations.\n\t\t\t The LORD supports all who fall, and lifts up all who are bent over.\n\t\t\t Everything looks to you in anticipation, and you provide them with food on a regular basis.\n\t\t\t You open your hand, and fill every living thing with the food they desire.\n\t\t\t The LORD is just in all his actions, and exhibits love in all he does.\n\t\t\t The LORD is near all who cry out to him, all who cry out to him sincerely.\n\t\t\t He satisfies the desire of his loyal followers; he hears their cry for help and delivers them.\n\t\t\t The LORD protects those who love him, but he destroys all the wicked.\n\t\t\t My mouth will praise the LORD. Let all who live praise his holy name forever!\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD, O my soul!\n\t\t\t I will praise the LORD as long as I live! I will sing praises to my God as long as I exist!\n\t\t\t Do not trust in princes, or in human beings, who cannot deliver!\n\t\t\t Their life's breath departs, they return to the ground; on that day their plans die.\n\t\t\t How blessed is the one whose helper is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God,\n\t\t\t the one who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who remains forever faithful,\n\t\t\t vindicates the oppressed, and gives food to the hungry. The LORD releases the imprisoned.\n\t\t\t The LORD gives sight to the blind. The LORD lifts up all who are bent over. The LORD loves the godly.\n\t\t\t The LORD protects those residing outside their native land; he lifts up the fatherless and the widow, but he opposes the wicked.\n\t\t\t The LORD rules forever, your God, O Zion, throughout the generations to come! Praise the LORD!\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Praise the LORD, for it is good to sing praises to our God! Yes, praise is pleasant and appropriate!\n\t\t\t The LORD rebuilds Jerusalem, and gathers the exiles of Israel.\n\t\t\t He heals the brokenhearted, and bandages their wounds.\n\t\t\t He counts the number of the stars; he names all of them.\n\t\t\t Our Lord is great and has awesome power; there is no limit to his wisdom.\n\t\t\t The LORD lifts up the oppressed, but knocks the wicked to the ground.\n\t\t\t Offer to the LORD a song of thanks! Sing praises to our God to the accompaniment of a harp!\n\t\t\t He covers the sky with clouds, provides the earth with rain, and causes grass to grow on the hillsides.\n\t\t\t He gives food to the animals, and to the young ravens when they chirp.\n\t\t\t He is not enamored with the strength of a horse, nor is he impressed by the warrior's strong legs.\n\t\t\t The LORD takes delight in his faithful followers, and in those who wait for his loyal love.\n\t\t\t Extol the LORD, O Jerusalem! Praise your God, O Zion!\n\t\t\t For he makes the bars of your gates strong. He blesses your children within you.\n\t\t\t He brings peace to your territory. He abundantly provides for you the best grain.\n\t\t\t He sends his command through the earth; swiftly his order reaches its destination.\n\t\t\t He sends the snow that is white like wool; he spreads the frost that is white like ashes.\n\t\t\t He throws his hailstones like crumbs. Who can withstand the cold wind he sends?\n\t\t\t He then orders it all to melt; he breathes on it, and the water flows.\n\t\t\t He proclaims his word to Jacob, his statutes and regulations to Israel.\n\t\t\t He has not done so with any other nation; they are not aware of his regulations. Praise the LORD!\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD from the sky! Praise him in the heavens!\n\t\t\t Praise him, all his angels! Praise him, all his heavenly assembly!\n\t\t\t Praise him, O sun and moon! Praise him, all you shiny stars!\n\t\t\t Praise him, O highest heaven, and you waters above the sky!\n\t\t\t Let them praise the name of the LORD, for he gave the command and they came into existence.\n\t\t\t He established them so they would endure; he issued a decree that will not be revoked.\n\t\t\t Praise the LORD from the earth, you sea creatures and all you ocean depths,\n\t\t\t O fire and hail, snow and clouds, O stormy wind that carries out his orders,\n\t\t\t you mountains and all you hills, you fruit trees and all you cedars,\n\t\t\t you animals and all you cattle, you creeping things and birds,\n\t\t\t you kings of the earth and all you nations, you princes and all you leaders on the earth,\n\t\t\t you young men and young women, you elderly, along with you children!\n\t\t\t Let them praise the name of the LORD, for his name alone is exalted; his majesty extends over the earth and sky.\n\t\t\t He has made his people victorious, and given all his loyal followers reason to praise, the Israelites, the people who are close to him. Praise the LORD!\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Praise the LORD! Sing to the LORD a new song! Praise him in the assembly of the godly!\n\t\t\t Let Israel rejoice in their Creator! Let the people of Zion delight in their king!\n\t\t\t Let them praise his name with dancing! Let them sing praises to him to the accompaniment of the tambourine and harp!\n\t\t\t For the LORD takes delight in his people; he exalts the oppressed by delivering them.\n\t\t\t Let the godly rejoice because of their vindication! Let them shout for joy upon their beds!\n\t\t\t May they praise God while they hold a two-edged sword in their hand,\n\t\t\t in order to take revenge on the nations, and punish foreigners.\n\t\t\t They bind their kings in chains, and their nobles in iron shackles,\n\t\t\t and execute the judgment to which their enemies have been sentenced. All his loyal followers will be vindicated. Praise the LORD!\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Praise the LORD! Praise God in his sanctuary! Praise him in the sky, which testifies to his strength!\n\t\t\t Praise him for his mighty acts! Praise him for his surpassing greatness!\n\t\t\t Praise him with the blast of the horn! Praise him with the lyre and the harp!\n\t\t\t Praise him with the tambourine and with dancing! Praise him with stringed instruments and the flute!\n\t\t\t Praise him with loud cymbals! Praise him with clanging cymbals!\n\t\t\t Let everything that has breath praise the LORD! Praise the LORD!\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The Proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:\n\t\t\t To learn wisdom and moral instruction, and to discern wise counsel.\n\t\t\t To receive moral instruction in skillful living, in righteousness, justice, and equity.\n\t\t\t To impart shrewdness to the morally naive, and a discerning plan to the young person.\n\t\t\t (Let the wise also hear and gain instruction, and let the discerning acquire guidance!)\n\t\t\t To discern the meaning of a proverb and a parable, the sayings of the wise and their riddles.\n\t\t\t Fearing the LORD is the beginning of moral knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.\n\t\t\t Listen, my child, to the instruction from your father, and do not forsake the teaching from your mother.\n\t\t\t For they will be like an elegant garland on your head, and like pendants around your neck.\n\t\t\t My child, if sinners try to entice you, do not consent!\n\t\t\t If they say, \"Come with us! We will lie in wait to shed blood; we will ambush an innocent person capriciously.\n\t\t\t We will swallow them alive like Sheol, those full of vigor like those going down to the Pit.\n\t\t\t We will seize all kinds of precious wealth; we will fill our houses with plunder.\n\t\t\t Join with us! We will all share equally in what we steal.\"\n\t\t\t My child, do not go down their way, withhold yourself from their path;\n\t\t\t for they are eager to inflict harm, and they hasten to shed blood.\n\t\t\t Surely it is futile to spread a net in plain sight of any bird,\n\t\t\t but these men lie in wait for their own blood, they ambush their own lives!\n\t\t\t Such are the ways of all who gain profit unjustly; it takes away the life of those who obtain it!\n\t\t\t Wisdom calls out in the street, she shouts loudly in the plazas;\n\t\t\t at the head of the noisy streets she calls, in the entrances of the gates in the city she utters her words:\n\t\t\t \"How long will you simpletons love naivet,? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge?\n\t\t\t If only you will respond to my rebuke, then I will pour out my thoughts to you and I will make my words known to you.\n\t\t\t However, because I called but you refused to listen, because I stretched out my hand but no one paid attention,\n\t\t\t because you neglected all my advice, and did not comply with my rebuke,\n\t\t\t so I myself will laugh when disaster strikes you, I will mock when what you dread comes,\n\t\t\t when what you dread comes like a whirlwind, and disaster strikes you like a devastating storm, when distressing trouble comes on you.\n\t\t\t Then they will call to me, but I will not answer; they will diligently seek me, but they will not find me.\n\t\t\t Because they hated moral knowledge, and did not choose to fear the LORD,\n\t\t\t they did not comply with my advice, they spurned all my rebuke.\n\t\t\t Therefore they will eat from the fruit of their way, and they will be stuffed full of their own counsel.\n\t\t\t For the waywardness of the simpletons will kill them, and the careless ease of fools will destroy them.\n\t\t\t But the one who listens to me will live in security, and will be at ease from the dread of harm.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t My child, if you receive my words, and store up my commands within you,\n\t\t\t by making your ear attentive to wisdom, and by turning your heart to understanding,\n\t\t\t indeed, if you call out for discernment, raise your voice for understanding,\n\t\t\t if you seek it like silver, and search for it like hidden treasure,\n\t\t\t then you will understand how to fear the LORD, and you will discover knowledge about God.\n\t\t\t For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth comes knowledge and understanding.\n\t\t\t He stores up effective counsel for the upright, and is like a shield for those who live with integrity,\n\t\t\t to guard the paths of the righteous and to protect the way of his pious ones.\n\t\t\t Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good way.\n\t\t\t For wisdom will enter your heart, and moral knowledge will be attractive to you.\n\t\t\t Discretion will protect you, understanding will guard you,\n\t\t\t to deliver you from the way of the wicked, from those speaking perversity,\n\t\t\t who leave the upright paths to walk on the dark ways,\n\t\t\t who delight in doing evil, they rejoice in perverse evil;\n\t\t\t whose paths are morally crooked, and who are devious in their ways;\n\t\t\t to deliver you from the adulteress, from the sexually loose woman who speaks flattering words;\n\t\t\t who leaves the husband from her younger days, and forgets her marriage covenant made before God.\n\t\t\t For her house sinks down to death, and her paths lead to the place of the departed spirits.\n\t\t\t None who go in to her will return, nor will they reach the paths of life.\n\t\t\t So you will walk in the way of good people, and will keep on the paths of the righteous.\n\t\t\t For the upright will reside in the land, and those with integrity will remain in it,\n\t\t\t but the wicked will be removed from the land, and the treacherous will be torn away from it.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t My child, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments,\n\t\t\t for they will provide a long and full life, and they will add well-being to you.\n\t\t\t Do not let truth and mercy leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.\n\t\t\t Then you will find favor and good understanding, in the sight of God and people.\n\t\t\t Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding.\n\t\t\t Acknowledge him in all your ways, and he will make your paths straight.\n\t\t\t Do not be wise in your own estimation; fear the LORD and turn away from evil.\n\t\t\t This will bring healing to your body, and refreshment to your inner self.\n\t\t\t Honor the LORD from your wealth and from the first fruits of all your crops;\n\t\t\t then your barns will be filled completely, and your vats will overflow with new wine.\n\t\t\t My child, do not despise discipline from the LORD, and do not loathe his rebuke.\n\t\t\t For the LORD disciplines those he loves, just as a father disciplines the son in whom he delights.\n\t\t\t Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who obtains understanding.\n\t\t\t For her benefit is more profitable than silver, and her gain is better than gold.\n\t\t\t She is more precious than rubies, and none of the things you desire can compare with her.\n\t\t\t Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.\n\t\t\t Her ways are very pleasant, and all her paths are peaceful.\n\t\t\t She is like a tree of life to those who obtain her, and everyone who grasps hold of her will be blessed.\n\t\t\t By wisdom the LORD laid the foundation of the earth; he established the heavens by understanding.\n\t\t\t By his knowledge the primordial sea was broken open, and the clouds drip down dew.\n\t\t\t My child, do not let them escape from your sight; safeguard sound wisdom and discretion.\n\t\t\t So they will give life to you, and grace to adorn your neck.\n\t\t\t Then you will walk on your way with security, and you will not stumble.\n\t\t\t When you lie down you will not be filled with fear; when you lie down your sleep will be pleasant.\n\t\t\t You will not be afraid of sudden disaster, or when destruction overtakes the wicked;\n\t\t\t for the LORD will be the source of your confidence, and he will guard your foot from being caught in a trap.\n\t\t\t Do not withhold good from those who need it, when you have the ability to help.\n\t\t\t Do not say to your neighbor, \"Go! Return tomorrow and I will give it,\" when you have it with you at the time.\n\t\t\t Do not plot evil against your neighbor when he dwells by you unsuspectingly.\n\t\t\t Do not accuse anyone without legitimate cause, if he has not treated you wrongly.\n\t\t\t Do not envy a violent man, and do not choose to imitate any of his ways;\n\t\t\t for one who goes astray is an abomination to the LORD, but he reveals his intimate counsel to the upright.\n\t\t\t The LORD's curse is on the household of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the righteous.\n\t\t\t Although he is scornful to arrogant scoffers, yet he shows favor to the humble.\n\t\t\t The wise inherit honor, but he holds fools up to public contempt.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Listen, children, to a father's instruction, and pay attention so that you may gain discernment.\n\t\t\t Because I give you good instruction, do not forsake my teaching.\n\t\t\t When I was a son to my father, a tender only child before my mother,\n\t\t\t he taught me, and he said to me: \"Let your heart lay hold of my words; keep my commands so that you will live.\n\t\t\t Acquire wisdom, acquire understanding; do not forget and do not turn aside from the words I speak.\n\t\t\t Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will guard you.\n\t\t\t Wisdom is supreme, so acquire wisdom, and whatever you acquire, acquire understanding!\n\t\t\t Esteem her highly and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her.\n\t\t\t She will place a fair garland on your head; she will bestow a beautiful crown on you.\"\n\t\t\t Listen, my child, and accept my words, so that the years of your life will be many.\n\t\t\t I will guide you in the way of wisdom and I will lead you in upright paths.\n\t\t\t When you walk, your steps will not be hampered, and when you run, you will not stumble.\n\t\t\t Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; protect it, because it is your life.\n\t\t\t Do not enter the path of the wicked or walk in the way of those who are evil.\n\t\t\t Avoid it, do not go on it; turn away from it, and go on.\n\t\t\t For they cannot sleep unless they cause harm; they are robbed of sleep until they make someone stumble.\n\t\t\t For they eat bread gained from wickedness and drink wine obtained from violence.\n\t\t\t But the path of the righteous is like the bright morning light, growing brighter and brighter until full day.\n\t\t\t The way of the wicked is like gloomy darkness; they do not know what causes them to stumble.\n\t\t\t My child, pay attention to my words; listen attentively to my sayings.\n\t\t\t Do not let them depart from your sight, guard them within your heart;\n\t\t\t for they are life to those who find them and healing to one's entire body.\n\t\t\t Guard your heart with all vigilance, for from it are the sources of life.\n\t\t\t Remove perverse speech from your mouth; keep devious talk far from your lips.\n\t\t\t Let your eyes look directly in front of you and let your gaze look straight before you.\n\t\t\t Make the path for your feet level, so that all your ways may be established.\n\t\t\t Do not turn to the right or to the left; turn yourself away from evil.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t My child, be attentive to my wisdom, pay close attention to my understanding,\n\t\t\t in order to safeguard discretion, and that your lips may guard knowledge.\n\t\t\t For the lips of the adulterous woman drip honey, and her seductive words are smoother than olive oil,\n\t\t\t but in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword.\n\t\t\t Her feet go down to death; her steps lead straight to the grave.\n\t\t\t Lest she should make level the path leading to life, her paths are unstable but she does not know it.\n\t\t\t So now, children, listen to me; do not turn aside from the words I speak.\n\t\t\t Keep yourself far from her, and do not go near the door of her house,\n\t\t\t lest you give your vigor to others and your years to a cruel person,\n\t\t\t lest strangers devour your strength, and your labor benefit another man's house.\n\t\t\t And at the end of your life you will groan when your flesh and your body are wasted away.\n\t\t\t And you will say, \"How I hated discipline! My heart spurned reproof!\n\t\t\t For I did not obey my teachers and I did not heed my instructors.\n\t\t\t I almost came to complete ruin in the midst of the whole congregation!\"\n\t\t\t Drink water from your own cistern and running water from your own well.\n\t\t\t Should your springs be dispersed outside, your streams of water in the wide plazas?\n\t\t\t Let them be for yourself alone, and not for strangers with you.\n\t\t\t May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in your young wife,\n\t\t\t a loving doe, a graceful deer; may her breasts satisfy you at all times, may you be captivated by her love always.\n\t\t\t But why should you be captivated, my son, by an adulteress, and embrace the bosom of a different woman?\n\t\t\t For the ways of a person are in front of the LORD's eyes, and the LORD weighs all that person's paths.\n\t\t\t The wicked will be captured by his own iniquities, and he will be held by the cords of his own sin.\n\t\t\t He will die because there was no discipline; because of the greatness of his folly he will reel.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t My child, if you have made a pledge for your neighbor, and have become a guarantor for a stranger,\n\t\t\t if you have been ensnared by the words you have uttered, and have been caught by the words you have spoken,\n\t\t\t then, my child, do this in order to deliver yourself, because you have fallen into your neighbor's power: go, humble yourself, and appeal firmly to your neighbor.\n\t\t\t Permit no sleep to your eyes or slumber to your eyelids.\n\t\t\t Deliver yourself like a gazelle from a snare, and like a bird from the trap of the fowler.\n\t\t\t Go to the ant, you sluggard; observe its ways and be wise!\n\t\t\t It has no commander, overseer, or ruler,\n\t\t\t yet it prepares its food in the summer; it gathers at the harvest what it will eat.\n\t\t\t How long, you sluggard, will you lie there? When will you rise from your sleep?\n\t\t\t A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to relax,\n\t\t\t and your poverty will come like a robber, and your need like an armed man.\n\t\t\t A worthless and wicked person walks around saying perverse things;\n\t\t\t he winks with his eyes, signals with his feet, and points with his fingers;\n\t\t\t he plots evil with perverse thoughts in his heart, he spreads contention at all times.\n\t\t\t Therefore, his disaster will come suddenly; in an instant he will be broken, and there will be no remedy.\n\t\t\t There are six things that the LORD hates, even seven things that are an abomination to him:\n\t\t\t haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,\n\t\t\t a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift to run to evil,\n\t\t\t a false witness who pours out lies, and a person who spreads discord among family members.\n\t\t\t My child, guard the commands of your father and do not forsake the instruction of your mother.\n\t\t\t Bind them on your heart continually; fasten them around your neck.\n\t\t\t When you walk about, they will guide you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; when you wake up, they will talk to you.\n\t\t\t For the commandments are like a lamp, instruction is like a light, and rebukes of discipline are like the road leading to life,\n\t\t\t by keeping you from the evil woman, from the smooth tongue of the loose woman.\n\t\t\t Do not lust in your heart for her beauty, and do not let her captivate you with her alluring eyes;\n\t\t\t for on account of a prostitute one is brought down to a loaf of bread, but the wife of another man preys on your precious life.\n\t\t\t Can a man hold fire against his chest without burning his clothes?\n\t\t\t Can a man walk on hot coals without scorching his feet?\n\t\t\t So it is with the one who has sex with his neighbor's wife; no one who touches her will escape punishment.\n\t\t\t People do not despise a thief when he steals to fulfill his need when he is hungry.\n\t\t\t Yet if he is caught he must repay seven times over, he might even have to give all the wealth of his house.\n\t\t\t A man who commits adultery with a woman lacks wisdom, whoever does it destroys his own life.\n\t\t\t He will be beaten and despised, and his reproach will not be wiped away;\n\t\t\t for jealousy kindles a husband's rage, and he will not show mercy when he takes revenge.\n\t\t\t He will not consider any compensation; he will not be willing, even if you multiply the compensation.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t My child, keep my words and treasure up my commands in your own keeping.\n\t\t\t Keep my commands so that you may live, and obey my instruction as your most prized possession.\n\t\t\t Bind them on your forearm; write them on the tablet of your heart.\n\t\t\t Say to wisdom, \"You are my sister,\" and call understanding a close relative,\n\t\t\t so that they may keep you from the adulterous woman, from the loose woman who flatters you with her words.\n\t\t\t For at the window of my house through my window lattice I looked out\n\t\t\t and I saw among the naive, I discerned among the youths, a young man who lacked wisdom.\n\t\t\t He was passing by the street near her corner, making his way along the road to her house\n\t\t\t in the twilight, the evening, in the dark of the night.\n\t\t\t Suddenly a woman came out to meet him! She was dressed like a prostitute and with secret intent.\n\t\t\t (She is loud and rebellious, she does not remain at home,\n\t\t\t at one time outside, at another in the wide plazas, and by every corner she lies in wait.)\n\t\t\t So she grabbed him and kissed him, and with a bold expression she said to him,\n\t\t\t \"I have fresh meat at home; today I have fulfilled my vows!\n\t\t\t That is why I came out to meet you, to look for you, and I found you!\n\t\t\t I have spread my bed with elegant coverings, with richly colored fabric from Egypt.\n\t\t\t I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.\n\t\t\t Come, let's drink deeply of lovemaking until morning, let's delight ourselves with sexual intercourse.\n\t\t\t For my husband is not at home; he has gone on a journey of some distance.\n\t\t\t He has taken a bag of money with him; he will not return until the end of the month.\"\n\t\t\t She persuaded him with persuasive words; with her smooth talk she compelled him.\n\t\t\t Suddenly he went after her like an ox that goes to the slaughter, like a stag prancing into a trapper's snare\n\t\t\t till an arrow pierces his liver, like a bird hurrying into a trap, and he does not know that it will cost him his life.\n\t\t\t So now, sons, listen to me, and pay attention to the words I speak.\n\t\t\t Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways, do not wander into her pathways;\n\t\t\t for she has brought down many fatally wounded, and all those she has slain are many.\n\t\t\t Her house is the way to the grave, going down to the chambers of death.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice?\n\t\t\t At the top of the elevated places along the way, at the intersection of the paths she takes her stand;\n\t\t\t beside the gates opening into the city, at the entrance of the doorways she cries out:\n\t\t\t \"To you, O people, I call out, and my voice calls to all mankind.\n\t\t\t You who are naive, discern wisdom! And you fools, understand discernment!\n\t\t\t Listen, for I will speak excellent things, and my lips will utter what is right.\n\t\t\t For my mouth speaks truth, and my lips hate wickedness.\n\t\t\t All the words of my mouth are righteous; there is nothing in them twisted or crooked.\n\t\t\t All of them are clear to the discerning and upright to those who find knowledge.\n\t\t\t Receive my instruction rather than silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold.\n\t\t\t For wisdom is better than rubies, and desirable things cannot be compared to her.\n\t\t\t \"I, wisdom, live with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion.\n\t\t\t The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; I hate arrogant pride and the evil way and perverse utterances.\n\t\t\t Counsel and sound wisdom belong to me; I possess understanding and might.\n\t\t\t Kings reign by means of me, and potentates decree righteousness;\n\t\t\t by me princes rule, as well as nobles and all righteous judges.\n\t\t\t I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.\n\t\t\t Riches and honor are with me, long-lasting wealth and righteousness.\n\t\t\t My fruit is better than the purest gold, and what I produce is better than choice silver.\n\t\t\t I walk in the path of righteousness, in the pathway of justice,\n\t\t\t that I may cause those who love me to inherit wealth, and that I may fill their treasuries.\n\t\t\t The LORD created me as the beginning of his works, before his deeds of long ago.\n\t\t\t From eternity I was appointed, from the beginning, from before the world existed.\n\t\t\t When there were no deep oceans I was born, when there were no springs overflowing with water;\n\t\t\t before the mountains were set in place, before the hills, I was born,\n\t\t\t before he made the earth and its fields, or the beginning of the dust of the world.\n\t\t\t When he established the heavens, I was there; when he marked out the horizon over the face of the deep,\n\t\t\t when he established the clouds above, when the fountains of the deep grew strong,\n\t\t\t when he gave the sea his decree that the waters should not pass over his command, when he marked out the foundations of the earth,\n\t\t\t then I was beside him as a master craftsman, and I was his delight day by day, rejoicing before him at all times,\n\t\t\t rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth, and delighting in its people.\n\t\t\t \"So now, children, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways.\n\t\t\t Listen to my instruction so that you may be wise, and do not neglect it.\n\t\t\t Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching at my doors day by day, waiting beside my doorway.\n\t\t\t For the one who finds me finds life and receives favor from the LORD.\n\t\t\t But the one who does not find me brings harm to himself; all who hate me love death.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Wisdom has built her house; she has carved out its seven pillars.\n\t\t\t She has prepared her meat, she has mixed her wine; she also has arranged her table.\n\t\t\t She has sent out her female servants; she calls out on the highest places of the city.\n\t\t\t \"Whoever is naive, let him turn in here,\" she says to those who lack understanding.\n\t\t\t \"Come, eat some of my food, and drink some of the wine I have mixed.\n\t\t\t Abandon your foolish ways so that you may live, and proceed in the way of understanding.\"\n\t\t\t Whoever corrects a mocker is asking for insult; whoever reproves a wicked person receives abuse.\n\t\t\t Do not reprove a mocker or he will hate you; reprove a wise person and he will love you.\n\t\t\t Give instruction to a wise person, and he will become wiser still; teach a righteous person and he will add to his learning.\n\t\t\t The beginning of wisdom is to fear the LORD, and acknowledging the Holy One is understanding.\n\t\t\t For because of me your days will be many, and years will be added to your life.\n\t\t\t If you are wise, you are wise to your own advantage, but if you are a mocker, you alone must bear it.\n\t\t\t The woman called Folly is brash, she is naive and does not know anything.\n\t\t\t So she sits at the door of her house, on a seat at the highest point of the city,\n\t\t\t calling out to those who are passing by her in the way, who go straight on their way.\n\t\t\t \"Whoever is simple, let him turn in here,\" she says to those who lack understanding.\n\t\t\t \"Stolen waters are sweet, and food obtained in secret is pleasant!\"\n\t\t\t But they do not realize that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of the grave.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The Proverbs of Solomon: A wise child makes a father rejoice, but a foolish child is a grief to his mother.\n\t\t\t Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit, but righteousness delivers from mortal danger.\n\t\t\t The LORD satisfies the appetite of the righteous, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.\n\t\t\t The one who is lazy becomes poor, but the one who works diligently becomes wealthy.\n\t\t\t The one who gathers crops in the summer is a wise son, but the one who sleeps during the harvest is a son who brings shame to himself.\n\t\t\t Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but the speech of the wicked conceals violence.\n\t\t\t The memory of the righteous is a blessing, but the reputation of the wicked will rot.\n\t\t\t The wise person accepts instructions, but the one who speaks foolishness will come to ruin.\n\t\t\t The one who conducts himself in integrity will live securely, but the one who behaves perversely will be found out.\n\t\t\t The one who winks his eye causes trouble, and the one who speaks foolishness will come to ruin.\n\t\t\t The teaching of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the speech of the wicked conceals violence.\n\t\t\t Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers all transgressions.\n\t\t\t Wisdom is found in the words of the discerning person, but the one who lacks wisdom will be disciplined.\n\t\t\t Those who are wise store up knowledge, but foolish speech leads to imminent destruction.\n\t\t\t The wealth of a rich person is like a fortified city, but the poor are brought to ruin by their poverty.\n\t\t\t The reward which the righteous receive is life; the recompense which the wicked receive is judgment.\n\t\t\t The one who heeds instruction is on the way to life, but the one who rejects rebuke goes astray.\n\t\t\t The one who conceals hatred utters lies, and the one who spreads slander is certainly a fool.\n\t\t\t When words abound, transgression is inevitable, but the one who restrains his words is wise.\n\t\t\t What the righteous say is like the best silver, but what the wicked think is of little value.\n\t\t\t The teaching of the righteous feeds many, but fools die for lack of wisdom.\n\t\t\t The blessing from the LORD makes a person rich, and he adds no sorrow to it.\n\t\t\t Carrying out a wicked scheme is enjoyable to a fool, and so is wisdom for the one who has discernment.\n\t\t\t What the wicked fears will come on him; what the righteous desire will be granted.\n\t\t\t When the storm passes through, the wicked are swept away, but the righteous are an everlasting foundation.\n\t\t\t Like vinegar to the teeth and like smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to those who send him.\n\t\t\t Fearing the LORD prolongs life, but the life span of the wicked will be shortened.\n\t\t\t The hope of the righteous is joy, but the expectation of the wicked will remain unfulfilled.\n\t\t\t The way of the LORD is like a stronghold for the upright, but it is destruction to evildoers.\n\t\t\t The righteous will never be moved, but the wicked will not inhabit the land.\n\t\t\t The speech of the righteous bears the fruit of wisdom, but the one who speaks perversion will be destroyed.\n\t\t\t The lips of the righteous know what is pleasing, but the speech of the wicked is perverse.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The LORD abhors dishonest scales, but an accurate weight is his elight.\n\t\t\t When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.\n\t\t\t The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the unfaithful destroys them.\n\t\t\t Wealth does not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from mortal danger.\n\t\t\t The righteousness of the blameless will make straight their way, but the wicked person will fall by his own wickedness.\n\t\t\t The righteousness of the upright will deliver them, but the faithless will be captured by their own desires.\n\t\t\t When a wicked person dies, his expectation perishes, and the hope of his strength perishes.\n\t\t\t The righteous person is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked turns up in his stead.\n\t\t\t With his speech the godless person destroys his neighbor, but by knowledge the righteous will be delivered.\n\t\t\t When the righteous do well, the city rejoices; when the wicked perish, there is joy.\n\t\t\t A city is exalted by the blessing provided from the upright, but it is destroyed by the counsel of the wicked.\n\t\t\t The one who denounces his neighbor lacks wisdom, but the one who has discernment keeps silent.\n\t\t\t The one who goes about slandering others reveals secrets, but the one who is trustworthy conceals a matter.\n\t\t\t When there is no guidance a nation falls, but there is success in the abundance of counselors.\n\t\t\t The one who puts up security for a stranger will surely have trouble, but whoever avoids shaking hands will be secure.\n\t\t\t A generous woman gains honor, and ruthless men seize wealth.\n\t\t\t A kind person benefits himself, but a cruel person brings himself trouble.\n\t\t\t The wicked person earns deceitful wages, but the one who sows righteousness reaps a genuine reward.\n\t\t\t True righteousness leads to life, but the one who pursues evil pursues it to his own death.\n\t\t\t The LORD abhors those who are perverse in heart, but those who are blameless in their ways are his delight.\n\t\t\t Be assured that the evil person will certainly be punished, but the descendants of the righteous will not suffer unjust judgment.\n\t\t\t Like a gold ring in a pig's snout is a beautiful woman who rejects discretion.\n\t\t\t What the righteous desire leads only to good, but what the wicked hope for leads to wrath.\n\t\t\t One person is generous and yet grows more wealthy, but another withholds more than he should and comes to poverty.\n\t\t\t A generous person will be enriched, and the one who provides water for others will himself be satisfied.\n\t\t\t People will curse the one who withholds grain, but they will praise the one who sells it.\n\t\t\t The one who diligently seeks good seeks favor, but the one who searches for evil, it will come to him.\n\t\t\t The one who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.\n\t\t\t The one who troubles his family will inherit nothing, and the fool will be a servant to the wise person.\n\t\t\t The fruit of the righteous is like a tree producing life, and the one who wins souls is wise.\n\t\t\t If the righteous are recompensed on earth, how much more the wicked sinner!\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The one who loves discipline loves knowledge, but the one who hates reproof is stupid.\n\t\t\t A good person obtains favor from the LORD, but the LORD condemns a person with wicked schemes.\n\t\t\t No one can be established through wickedness, but a righteous root cannot be moved.\n\t\t\t A noble wife is the crown of her husband, but the wife who acts shamefully is like rottenness in his bones.\n\t\t\t The plans of the righteous are just; the counsels of the wicked are deceitful.\n\t\t\t The words of the wicked lie in wait to shed innocent blood, but the words of the upright will deliver them.\n\t\t\t The wicked are overthrown and perish, but the righteous household will stand.\n\t\t\t A person is praised in accordance with his wisdom, but the one who has a twisted mind is despised.\n\t\t\t Better is a person of humble standing who nevertheless has a servant, than one who pretends to be somebody important yet has no food.\n\t\t\t A righteous person cares for the life of his animal, but even the most compassionate acts of the wicked are cruel.\n\t\t\t The one who works his field will have plenty of food, but whoever chases daydreams lacks wisdom.\n\t\t\t The wicked person desires a stronghold, but the righteous root endures.\n\t\t\t The evil person is ensnared by the transgression of his speech, but the righteous person escapes out of trouble.\n\t\t\t A person will be satisfied with good from the fruit of his words, and the work of his hands will be rendered to him.\n\t\t\t The way of a fool is right in his own opinion, but the one who listens to advice is wise.\n\t\t\t A fool's annoyance is known at once, but the prudent overlooks an insult.\n\t\t\t The faithful witness tells what is right, but a false witness speaks deceit.\n\t\t\t Speaking recklessly is like the thrusts of a sword, but the words of the wise bring healing.\n\t\t\t The one who tells the truth will endure forever, but the one who lies will last only for a moment.\n\t\t\t Deceit is in the heart of those who plot evil, but those who promote peace have joy.\n\t\t\t The righteous do not encounter any harm, but the wicked are filled with calamity.\n\t\t\t The LORD abhors a person who lies, but those who deal truthfully are his delight.\n\t\t\t The shrewd person conceals knowledge, but foolish people publicize folly.\n\t\t\t The diligent person will rule, but the slothful will become a slave.\n\t\t\t Anxiety in a person's heart weighs him down, but an encouraging word brings him joy.\n\t\t\t The righteous person is cautious in his friendship, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.\n\t\t\t The lazy person does not roast his prey, but personal possessions are precious to the diligent.\n\t\t\t In the path of righteousness there is life, but another path leads to death.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t A wise son accepts his father's discipline, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.\n\t\t\t From the fruit of his speech a person eats good things, but the faithless desire the fruit of violence.\n\t\t\t The one who guards his words guards his life, but whoever is talkative will come to ruin.\n\t\t\t The appetite of the sluggard craves but gets nothing, but the desire of the diligent will be abundantly satisfied.\n\t\t\t The righteous person hates anything false, but the wicked person acts in shameful disgrace.\n\t\t\t Righteousness guards the one who lives with integrity, but wickedness overthrows the sinner.\n\t\t\t There is one who pretends to be rich and yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor and yet possesses great wealth.\n\t\t\t The ransom of a person's life is his wealth, but the poor person hears no threat.\n\t\t\t The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked goes out.\n\t\t\t With pride comes only contention, but wisdom is with the well-advised.\n\t\t\t Wealth gained quickly will dwindle away, but the one who gathers it little by little will become rich.\n\t\t\t Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is like a tree of life.\n\t\t\t The one who despises instruction will pay the penalty, but whoever esteems instruction will be rewarded.\n\t\t\t Instruction from the wise is like a life-giving fountain, to turn a person from deadly snares.\n\t\t\t Keen insight wins favor, but the conduct of the unfaithful is harsh.\n\t\t\t Every shrewd person acts with knowledge, but a fool displays his folly.\n\t\t\t An unreliable messenger falls into trouble, but a faithful envoy brings healing.\n\t\t\t The one who neglects discipline ends up in poverty and shame, but the one who accepts reproof is honored.\n\t\t\t A desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but fools abhor turning away from evil.\n\t\t\t The one who associates with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.\n\t\t\t Calamity pursues sinners, but prosperity rewards the righteous.\n\t\t\t A benevolent person leaves an inheritance for his grandchildren, but the wealth of a sinner is stored up for the righteous.\n\t\t\t There is abundant food in the field of the poor, but it is swept away by injustice.\n\t\t\t The one who spares his rod hates his child, but the one who loves his child is diligent in disciplining him.\n\t\t\t The righteous has enough food to satisfy his appetite, but the belly of the wicked lacks food.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Every wise woman builds her household, but a foolish woman tears it down with her own hands.\n\t\t\t The one who walks in his uprightness fears the LORD, but the one who is perverted in his ways despises him.\n\t\t\t In the speech of a fool is a rod for his back, but the words of the wise protect them.\n\t\t\t Where there are no oxen, the feeding trough is clean, but an abundant harvest is produced by strong oxen.\n\t\t\t A truthful witness does not lie, but a false witness breathes out lies.\n\t\t\t The scorner seeks wisdom but finds none, but understanding is easy for a discerning person.\n\t\t\t Leave the presence of a foolish person, or you will not understand wise counsel.\n\t\t\t The wisdom of the shrewd person is to discern his way, but the folly of fools is deception.\n\t\t\t Fools mock at reparation, but among the upright there is favor.\n\t\t\t The heart knows its own bitterness, and with its joy no one else can share.\n\t\t\t The household of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the upright will flourish.\n\t\t\t There is a way that seems right to a person, but its end is the way that leads to death.\n\t\t\t Even in laughter the heart may ache, and the end of joy may be grief.\n\t\t\t The backslider will be paid back from his own ways, but a good person will be rewarded for his.\n\t\t\t A naive person believes everything, but the shrewd person discerns his steps.\n\t\t\t A wise person is cautious and turns from evil, but a fool throws off restraint and is overconfident.\n\t\t\t A person who has a quick temper does foolish things, and a person with crafty schemes is hated.\n\t\t\t The naive inherit folly, but the shrewd are crowned with knowledge.\n\t\t\t Those who are evil will bow before those who are good, and the wicked will bow at the gates of the righteous.\n\t\t\t A poor person is disliked even by his neighbors, but those who love the rich are many.\n\t\t\t The one who despises his neighbor sins, but whoever is kind to the needy is blessed.\n\t\t\t Do not those who devise evil go astray? But those who plan good exhibit faithful covenant love.\n\t\t\t In all hard work there is profit, but merely talking about it only brings poverty.\n\t\t\t The crown of the wise is their riches, but the folly of fools is folly.\n\t\t\t A truthful witness rescues lives, but the one who breathes lies brings deception.\n\t\t\t In the fear of the LORD one has strong confidence, and it will be a refuge for his children.\n\t\t\t The fear of the LORD is like a life-giving fountain, to turn people from deadly snares.\n\t\t\t A king's glory is the abundance of people, but the lack of subjects is the ruin of a ruler.\n\t\t\t The one who is slow to anger has great understanding, but the one who has a quick temper exalts folly.\n\t\t\t A tranquil spirit revives the body, but envy is rottenness to the bones.\n\t\t\t The one who oppresses the poor insults his Creator, but whoever shows favor to the needy honors him.\n\t\t\t The wicked will be thrown down in his trouble, but the righteous have refuge even in the threat of death.\n\t\t\t Wisdom rests in the heart of the discerning; it is known even in the heart of fools.\n\t\t\t Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.\n\t\t\t The king shows favor to a wise servant, but his wrath falls on one who acts shamefully.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t A gentle response turns away anger, but a harsh word stirs up wrath.\n\t\t\t The tongue of the wise treats knowledge correctly, but the mouth of the fool spouts out folly.\n\t\t\t The eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on those who are evil and those who are good.\n\t\t\t Speech that heals is like a life-giving tree, but a perverse tongue breaks the spirit.\n\t\t\t A fool rejects his father's discipline, but whoever heeds reproof shows good sense.\n\t\t\t In the house of the righteous is abundant wealth, but the income of the wicked brings trouble.\n\t\t\t The lips of the wise spread knowledge, but not so the heart of fools.\n\t\t\t The LORD abhors the sacrifices of the wicked, but the prayer of the upright pleases him.\n\t\t\t The LORD abhors the way of the wicked, but he loves those who pursue righteousness.\n\t\t\t Severe discipline is for the one who abandons the way; the one who hates reproof will die.\n\t\t\t Death and Destruction are before the LORD, how much more the hearts of humans!\n\t\t\t The scorner does not love one who corrects him; he will not go to the wise.\n\t\t\t A joyful heart makes the face cheerful, but by a painful heart the spirit is broken.\n\t\t\t The discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of fools feeds on folly.\n\t\t\t All the days of the afflicted are bad, but one with a cheerful heart has a continual feast.\n\t\t\t Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great wealth and turmoil with it.\n\t\t\t Better a meal of vegetables where there is love than a fattened ox where there is hatred.\n\t\t\t A quick-tempered person stirs up dissension, but one who is slow to anger calms a quarrel.\n\t\t\t The way of the sluggard is like a hedge of thorns, but the path of the upright is like a highway.\n\t\t\t A wise child brings joy to his father, but a foolish person despises his mother.\n\t\t\t Folly is a joy to one who lacks sense, but one who has understanding follows an upright course.\n\t\t\t Plans fail when there is no counsel, but with abundant advisers they are established.\n\t\t\t A person has joy in giving an appropriate answer, and a word at the right time, how good it is!\n\t\t\t The path of life is upward for the wise person, to keep him from going downward to Sheol.\n\t\t\t The LORD tears down the house of the proud, but he maintains the boundaries of the widow.\n\t\t\t The LORD abhors the plans of the wicked, but pleasant words are pure.\n\t\t\t The one who is greedy for gain troubles his household, but whoever hates bribes will live.\n\t\t\t The heart of the righteous considers how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.\n\t\t\t The LORD is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous.\n\t\t\t A bright look brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the body.\n\t\t\t The person who hears the reproof that leads to life is at home among the wise.\n\t\t\t The one who refuses correction despises himself, but whoever hears reproof acquires understanding.\n\t\t\t The fear of the LORD provides wise instruction, and before honor comes humility.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The intentions of the heart belong to a man, but the answer of the tongue comes from the LORD.\n\t\t\t All a person's ways seem right in his own opinion, but the LORD evaluates the motives.\n\t\t\t Commit your works to the LORD, and your plans will be established.\n\t\t\t The LORD works everything for its own ends, even the wicked for the day of disaster.\n\t\t\t The LORD abhors every arrogant person; rest assured that they will not go unpunished.\n\t\t\t Through loyal love and truth iniquity is appeased; through fearing the LORD one avoids evil.\n\t\t\t When a person's ways are pleasing to the LORD, he even reconciles his enemies to himself.\n\t\t\t Better to have a little with righteousness than to have abundant income without justice.\n\t\t\t A person plans his course, but the LORD directs his steps.\n\t\t\t The divine verdict is in the words of the king, his pronouncements must not act treacherously against justice.\n\t\t\t Honest scales and balances are from the LORD; all the weights in the bag are his handiwork.\n\t\t\t Doing wickedness is an abomination to kings, because a throne is established in righteousness.\n\t\t\t The delight of kings is righteous counsel, and they love the one who speaks uprightly.\n\t\t\t A king's wrath is like a messenger of death, but a wise person appeases it.\n\t\t\t In the light of the king's face there is life, and his favor is like the clouds of the spring rain.\n\t\t\t How much better it is to acquire wisdom than gold; to acquire understanding is more desirable than silver.\n\t\t\t The highway of the upright is to turn away from evil; the one who guards his way safeguards his life.\n\t\t\t Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.\n\t\t\t It is better to be lowly in spirit with the afflicted than to share the spoils with the proud.\n\t\t\t The one who deals wisely in a matter will find success, and blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD.\n\t\t\t The one who is wise in heart is called discerning, and kind speech increases persuasiveness.\n\t\t\t Insight is like a life-giving fountain to the one who possesses it, but folly leads to the discipline of fools.\n\t\t\t A wise person's heart makes his speech wise and it adds persuasiveness to his words.\n\t\t\t Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.\n\t\t\t There is a way that seems right to a person, but its end is the way that leads to death.\n\t\t\t A laborer's appetite works on his behalf, for his hunger urges him to work.\n\t\t\t A wicked scoundrel digs up evil, and his slander is like a scorching fire.\n\t\t\t A perverse person spreads dissension, and a gossip separates the closest friends.\n\t\t\t A violent person entices his neighbor, and leads him down a path that is terrible.\n\t\t\t The one who winks his eyes devises perverse things, and one who compresses his lips brings about evil.\n\t\t\t Gray hair is like a crown of glory; it is attained in the path of righteousness.\n\t\t\t Better to be slow to anger than to be a mighty warrior, and one who controls his temper is better than one who captures a city.\n\t\t\t The dice are thrown into the lap, but their every decision is from the LORD.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Better is a dry crust of bread where there is quietness than a house full of feasting with strife.\n\t\t\t A servant who acts wisely will rule over an heir who behaves shamefully, and will share the inheritance along with the relatives.\n\t\t\t The crucible is for refining silver and the furnace is for gold, likewise the LORD tests hearts.\n\t\t\t One who acts wickedly pays attention to evil counsel; a liar listens to a malicious tongue.\n\t\t\t The one who mocks the poor insults his Creator; whoever rejoices over disaster will not go unpunished.\n\t\t\t Grandchildren are like a crown to the elderly, and the glory of children is their parents.\n\t\t\t Excessive speech is not becoming for a fool; how much less are lies for a ruler!\n\t\t\t A bribe works like a charm for the one who offers it; in whatever he does he succeeds.\n\t\t\t The one who forgives an offense seeks love, but whoever repeats a matter separates close friends.\n\t\t\t A rebuke makes a greater impression on a discerning person than a hundred blows on a fool.\n\t\t\t An evil person seeks only rebellion, and so a cruel messenger will be sent against him.\n\t\t\t It is better for a person to meet a mother bear being robbed of her cubs, than to encounter a fool in his folly.\n\t\t\t As for the one who repays evil for good, evil will not leave his house.\n\t\t\t Starting a quarrel is like letting out water; stop it before strife breaks out!\n\t\t\t The one who acquits the guilty and the one who condemns the innocent, both of them are an abomination to the LORD.\n\t\t\t Of what use is money in the hand of a fool, since he has no intention of acquiring wisdom?\n\t\t\t A friend loves at all times, and a relative is born to help in adversity.\n\t\t\t The one who lacks wisdom strikes hands in pledge, and puts up financial security for his neighbor.\n\t\t\t The one who loves a quarrel loves transgression; whoever builds his gate high seeks destruction.\n\t\t\t The one who has a perverse heart does not find good, and the one who is deceitful in speech falls into trouble.\n\t\t\t Whoever brings a fool into the world does so to his grief, and the father of a fool has no joy.\n\t\t\t A cheerful heart brings good healing, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.\n\t\t\t A wicked person receives a bribe secretly to pervert the ways of justice.\n\t\t\t Wisdom is directly in front of the discerning person, but the eyes of a fool run to the ends of the earth.\n\t\t\t A foolish child is a grief to his father, and bitterness to the mother who bore him.\n\t\t\t It is terrible to punish a righteous person, and to flog honorable men is wrong.\n\t\t\t The truly wise person restrains his words, and the one who stays calm is discerning.\n\t\t\t Even a fool who remains silent is considered wise, and the one who holds his tongue is deemed discerning.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t One who has isolated himself seeks his own desires; he rejects all sound judgment.\n\t\t\t A fool takes no pleasure in understanding but only in disclosing what is on his mind.\n\t\t\t When a wicked person arrives, contempt shows up with him, and with shame comes a reproach.\n\t\t\t The words of a person's mouth are like deep waters, and the fountain of wisdom is like a flowing brook.\n\t\t\t It is terrible to show partiality to the wicked, by depriving a righteous man of justice.\n\t\t\t The lips of a fool enter into strife, and his mouth invites a flogging.\n\t\t\t The mouth of a fool is his ruin, and his lips are a snare for his life.\n\t\t\t The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down into the person's innermost being.\n\t\t\t The one who is slack in his work is a brother to one who destroys.\n\t\t\t The name of the LORD is like a strong tower; the righteous person runs to it and is set safely on high.\n\t\t\t The wealth of a rich person is like a strong city, and it is like a high wall in his imagination.\n\t\t\t Before destruction the heart of a person is proud, but humility comes before honor.\n\t\t\t The one who gives an answer before he listens, that is his folly and his shame.\n\t\t\t A person's spirit sustains him through sickness, but who can bear a crushed spirit?\n\t\t\t The discerning person acquires knowledge, and the wise person seeks knowledge.\n\t\t\t A person's gift makes room for him, and leads him before important people.\n\t\t\t The first to state his case seems right, until his opponent begins to cross-examine him.\n\t\t\t A toss of a coin ends disputes, and settles the issue between strong opponents.\n\t\t\t A relative offended is harder to reach than a strong city, and disputes are like the barred gates of a fortified citadel.\n\t\t\t From the fruit of a person's mouth his stomach is satisfied, with the product of his lips is he satisfied.\n\t\t\t Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love its use will eat its fruit.\n\t\t\t The one who finds a wife finds what is enjoyable, and receives a pleasurable gift from the LORD.\n\t\t\t A poor person makes supplications, but a rich man answers harshly.\n\t\t\t A person who has friends may be harmed by them, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is perverse in his speech and is a fool.\n\t\t\t It is dangerous to have zeal without knowledge, and the one who acts hastily makes poor choices.\n\t\t\t A person's folly subverts his way, and his heart rages against the LORD.\n\t\t\t Wealth adds many friends, but a poor person is separated from his friend.\n\t\t\t A false witness will not go unpunished, and the one who spouts out lies will not escape punishment.\n\t\t\t Many people entreat the favor of a generous person, and everyone is the friend of the person who gives gifts.\n\t\t\t All the relatives of a poor person hate him; how much more do his friends avoid him, he pursues them with words, but they do not respond.\n\t\t\t The one who acquires wisdom loves himself; the one who preserves understanding will prosper.\n\t\t\t A false witness will not go unpunished, and the one who spouts out lies will perish.\n\t\t\t Luxury is not appropriate for a fool; how much less for a servant to rule over princes!\n\t\t\t A person's wisdom makes him slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.\n\t\t\t A king's wrath is like the roar of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass.\n\t\t\t A foolish child is the ruin of his father, and a contentious wife is like a constant dripping.\n\t\t\t A house and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is from the LORD.\n\t\t\t Laziness brings on a deep sleep, and the idle person will go hungry.\n\t\t\t The one who obeys commandments guards his life; the one who despises his ways will die.\n\t\t\t The one who is gracious to the poor lends to the LORD, and the LORD will repay him for his good deed.\n\t\t\t Discipline your child, for there is hope, but do not set your heart on causing his death.\n\t\t\t A person with great anger bears the penalty, but if you deliver him from it once, you will have to do it again.\n\t\t\t Listen to advice and receive discipline, that you may become wise by the end of your life.\n\t\t\t There are many plans in a person's mind, but it is the counsel of the LORD which will stand.\n\t\t\t What is desirable for a person is to show loyal love, and a poor person is better than a liar.\n\t\t\t Fearing the LORD leads to life, and one who does so will live satisfied; he will not be afflicted by calamity.\n\t\t\t The sluggard plunges his hand in the dish, and he will not even bring it back to his mouth!\n\t\t\t Flog a scorner, and as a result the simpleton will learn prudence; correct a discerning person, and as a result he will understand knowledge.\n\t\t\t The one who robs his father and chases away his mother is a son who brings shame and disgrace.\n\t\t\t If you stop listening to instruction, my child, you will stray from the words of knowledge.\n\t\t\t A crooked witness scorns justice, and the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity.\n\t\t\t Judgments are prepared for scorners, and floggings for the backs of fools.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Wine is a mocker and strong drink is a brawler; whoever goes astray by them is not wise.\n\t\t\t The king's terrifying anger is like the roar of a lion; whoever provokes him sins against himself.\n\t\t\t It is an honor for a person to cease from strife, but every fool quarrels.\n\t\t\t The sluggard will not plow during the planting season, so at harvest time he looks for the crop but has nothing.\n\t\t\t Counsel in a person's heart is like deep water, but an understanding person draws it out.\n\t\t\t Many people profess their loyalty, but a faithful person, who can find?\n\t\t\t The righteous person behaves in integrity; blessed are his children after him.\n\t\t\t A king sitting on the throne to judge separates out all evil with his eyes.\n\t\t\t Who can say, \"I have kept my heart clean; I am pure from my sin\"?\n\t\t\t Diverse weights and diverse measures, the LORD abhors both of them.\n\t\t\t Even a young man is known by his actions, whether his activity is pure and whether it is right.\n\t\t\t The ear that hears and the eye that sees, the LORD has made them both.\n\t\t\t Do not love sleep, lest you become impoverished; open your eyes so that you might be satisfied with food.\n\t\t\t \"It's worthless! It's worthless!\" says the buyer, but when he goes on his way, he boasts.\n\t\t\t There is gold, and an abundance of rubies, but words of knowledge are like a precious jewel.\n\t\t\t Take a man's garment when he has given security for a stranger, and when he gives surety for strangers, hold him in pledge.\n\t\t\t Bread gained by deceit tastes sweet to a person, but afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel.\n\t\t\t Plans are established by counsel, so make war with guidance.\n\t\t\t The one who goes about gossiping reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with someone who is always opening his mouth.\n\t\t\t The one who curses his father and his mother, his lamp will be extinguished in the blackest darkness.\n\t\t\t An inheritance gained easily in the beginning will not be blessed in the end.\n\t\t\t Do not say, \"I will pay back evil!\" Wait for the LORD, so that he may vindicate you.\n\t\t\t The LORD abhors differing weights, and dishonest scales are wicked.\n\t\t\t The steps of a person are ordained by the LORD, so how can anyone understand his own way?\n\t\t\t It is a snare for a person to rashly cry, \"Holy!\" and only afterward to consider what he has vowed.\n\t\t\t A wise king separates out the wicked; he turns the threshing wheel over them.\n\t\t\t The human spirit is like the lamp of the LORD, searching all his innermost parts.\n\t\t\t Loyal love and truth preserve a king, and his throne is upheld by loyal love.\n\t\t\t The glory of young men is their strength, and the splendor of old men is gray hair.\n\t\t\t Beatings and wounds cleanse away evil, and floggings cleanse the innermost being.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD like channels of water; he turns it wherever he wants.\n\t\t\t All of a person's ways seem right in his own opinion, but the LORD evaluates the motives.\n\t\t\t To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.\n\t\t\t Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the agricultural product of the wicked is sin.\n\t\t\t The plans of the diligent lead only to plenty, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.\n\t\t\t Making a fortune by a lying tongue is like a vapor driven back and forth; they seek death.\n\t\t\t The violence done by the wicked will drag them away because they refuse to do what is right.\n\t\t\t The way of the guilty person is devious, but as for the pure, his way is upright.\n\t\t\t It is better to live on a corner of the housetop than in a house in company with a quarrelsome wife.\n\t\t\t The appetite of the wicked desires evil; his neighbor is shown no favor in his eyes.\n\t\t\t When a scorner is punished, the naive becomes wise; when a wise person is instructed, he gains knowledge.\n\t\t\t The Righteous One considers the house of the wicked; he overthrows the wicked to their ruin.\n\t\t\t The one who shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and will not be answered.\n\t\t\t A gift given in secret subdues anger, and a bribe given secretly subdues strong wrath.\n\t\t\t Doing justice brings joy to the righteous and terror to those who do evil.\n\t\t\t The one who wanders from the way of wisdom will end up in the company of the departed.\n\t\t\t The one who loves pleasure will be a poor person; whoever loves wine and anointing oil will not be rich.\n\t\t\t The wicked become a ransom for the righteous, and the faithless are taken in the place of the upright.\n\t\t\t It is better to live in a desert land than with a quarrelsome and easily-provoked woman.\n\t\t\t There is desirable treasure and olive oil in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish person devours all he has.\n\t\t\t The one who pursues righteousness and love finds life, bounty, and honor.\n\t\t\t The wise person can scale the city of the mighty and bring down the stronghold in which they trust.\n\t\t\t The one who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps his life from troubles.\n\t\t\t A proud and arrogant person, whose name is \"Scoffer,\" acts with overbearing pride.\n\t\t\t What the sluggard desires will kill him, for his hands refuse to work.\n\t\t\t All day long he craves greedily, but the righteous gives and does not hold back.\n\t\t\t The wicked person's sacrifice is an abomination; how much more when he brings it with evil intent!\n\t\t\t A lying witness will perish, but the one who reports accurately speaks forever.\n\t\t\t A wicked person shows boldness with his face, but as for the upright, he discerns his ways.\n\t\t\t There is no wisdom and there is no understanding, and there is no counsel against the LORD.\n\t\t\t A horse is prepared for the day of battle, but the victory is from the LORD.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t A good name is to be chosen rather than great wealth, good favor more than silver or gold.\n\t\t\t The rich and the poor meet together; the LORD is the creator of them both.\n\t\t\t A shrewd person sees danger and hides himself, but the naive keep right on going and suffer for it.\n\t\t\t The reward for humility and fearing the LORD is riches and honor and life.\n\t\t\t Thorns and snares are in the path of the perverse, but the one who guards himself keeps far from them.\n\t\t\t Train a child in the way that he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.\n\t\t\t The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.\n\t\t\t The one who sows iniquity will reap trouble, and the rod of his fury will end.\n\t\t\t A generous person will be blessed, for he gives some of his food to the poor.\n\t\t\t Drive out the scorner and contention will leave; strife and insults will cease.\n\t\t\t The one who loves a pure heart and whose speech is gracious, the king will be his friend.\n\t\t\t The eyes of the LORD guard knowledge, but he overthrows the words of the faithless person.\n\t\t\t The sluggard says, \"There is a lion outside! I will be killed in the middle of the streets!\"\n\t\t\t The mouth of an adulteress is like a deep pit; the one against whom the LORD is angry will fall into it.\n\t\t\t Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him.\n\t\t\t The one who oppresses the poor to increase his own gain and the one who gives to the rich, both end up only in poverty.\n\t\t\t Incline your ear and listen to the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my instruction.\n\t\t\t For it is pleasing if you keep these sayings within you, and they are ready on your lips.\n\t\t\t So that your confidence may be in the LORD, I am making them known to you today, even you.\n\t\t\t Have I not written thirty sayings for you, sayings of counsel and knowledge,\n\t\t\t to show you true and reliable words, so that you may give accurate answers to those who sent you?\n\t\t\t Do not exploit a poor person because he is poor and do not crush the needy in court,\n\t\t\t for the LORD will plead their case and will rob those who are robbing them.\n\t\t\t Do not make friends with an angry person, and do not associate with a wrathful person,\n\t\t\t lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.\n\t\t\t Do not be one who strikes hands in pledge or who puts up security for debts.\n\t\t\t If you do not have enough to pay, your bed will be taken right out from under you!\n\t\t\t Do not move an ancient boundary stone which was put in place by your ancestors.\n\t\t\t Do you see a person skilled in his work? He will take his position before kings; he will not take his position before obscure people.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t When you sit down to eat with a ruler, consider carefully what is before you,\n\t\t\t and put a knife to your throat if you possess a large appetite.\n\t\t\t Do not crave that ruler's delicacies, for that food is deceptive.\n\t\t\t Do not wear yourself out to become rich; be wise enough to restrain yourself.\n\t\t\t When you gaze upon riches, they are gone, for they surely make wings for themselves, and fly off into the sky like an eagle!\n\t\t\t Do not eat the food of a stingy person, do not crave his delicacies;\n\t\t\t for he is like someone calculating the cost in his mind. \"Eat and drink,\" he says to you, but his heart is not with you;\n\t\t\t you will vomit up the little bit you have eaten, and will have wasted your pleasant words.\n\t\t\t Do not speak in the ears of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.\n\t\t\t Do not move an ancient boundary stone, or take over the fields of the fatherless,\n\t\t\t for their Protector is strong; he will plead their case against you.\n\t\t\t Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to the words of knowledge.\n\t\t\t Do not withhold discipline from a child; even if you strike him with the rod, he will not die.\n\t\t\t If you strike him with the rod, you will deliver him from death.\n\t\t\t My child, if your heart is wise, then my heart also will be glad;\n\t\t\t my soul will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.\n\t\t\t Do not let your heart envy sinners, but rather be zealous in fearing the LORD all the time.\n\t\t\t For surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.\n\t\t\t Listen, my child, and be wise, and guide your heart on the right way.\n\t\t\t Do not spend time among drunkards, among those who eat too much meat,\n\t\t\t because drunkards and gluttons become impoverished, and drowsiness clothes them with rags.\n\t\t\t Listen to your father who begot you, and do not despise your mother when she is old.\n\t\t\t Acquire truth and do not sell it, wisdom, and discipline, and understanding.\n\t\t\t The father of a righteous person will rejoice greatly; whoever fathers a wise child will have joy in him.\n\t\t\t May your father and your mother have joy; may she who bore you rejoice.\n\t\t\t Give me your heart, my son, and let your eyes observe my ways;\n\t\t\t for a prostitute is like a deep pit; a harlot is like a narrow well.\n\t\t\t Indeed, she lies in wait like a robber, and increases the unfaithful among men.\n\t\t\t Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaints? Who has wounds without cause? Who has dullness of the eyes?\n\t\t\t Those who linger over wine, those who go looking for mixed wine.\n\t\t\t Do not look on the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly.\n\t\t\t Afterward it bites like a snake, and stings like a viper.\n\t\t\t Your eyes will see strange things, and your mind will speak perverse things.\n\t\t\t And you will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea, and like one who lies down on the top of the rigging.\n\t\t\t You will say, \"They have struck me, but I am not harmed! They beat me, but I did not know it! When will I awake? I will look for another drink.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Do not envy evil people, do not desire to be with them;\n\t\t\t for their hearts contemplate violence, and their lips speak harm.\n\t\t\t By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established;\n\t\t\t by knowledge its rooms are filled with all kinds of precious and pleasing treasures.\n\t\t\t A wise warrior is strong, and a man of knowledge makes his strength stronger;\n\t\t\t for with guidance you wage your war, and with numerous advisers there is victory.\n\t\t\t Wisdom is unattainable for a fool; in court he does not open his mouth.\n\t\t\t The one who plans to do evil will be called a scheming person.\n\t\t\t A foolish scheme is sin, and the scorner is an abomination to people.\n\t\t\t If you faint in the day of trouble, your strength is small!\n\t\t\t Deliver those being taken away to death, and hold back those slipping to the slaughter.\n\t\t\t If you say, \"But we did not know about this,\" does not the one who evaluates hearts consider? Does not the one who guards your life know? Will he not repay each person according to his deeds?\n\t\t\t Eat honey, my child, for it is good, and honey from the honeycomb is sweet to your taste.\n\t\t\t Likewise, know that wisdom is sweet to your soul; if you find it, you will have a future, and your hope will not be cut off.\n\t\t\t Do not lie in wait like the wicked against the place where the righteous live; do not assault his home.\n\t\t\t Although a righteous person may fall seven times, he gets up again, but the wicked will be brought down by calamity.\n\t\t\t Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and when he stumbles do not let your heart rejoice,\n\t\t\t lest the LORD see it, and be displeased, and turn his wrath away from him.\n\t\t\t Do not fret because of evil people or be envious of wicked people,\n\t\t\t for the evil person has no future, and the lamp of the wicked will be extinguished.\n\t\t\t Fear the LORD, my child, as well as the king, and do not associate with rebels,\n\t\t\t for suddenly their destruction will overtake them, and who knows the ruinous judgment both the LORD and the king can bring?\n\t\t\t These sayings also are from the wise: To show partiality in judgment is terrible:\n\t\t\t The one who says to the guilty, \"You are innocent,\" peoples will curse him, and nations will denounce him.\n\t\t\t But there will be delight for those who convict the guilty, and a pleasing blessing will come on them.\n\t\t\t Like a kiss on the lips is the one who gives an honest answer.\n\t\t\t Establish your work outside and get your fields ready; afterward build your house.\n\t\t\t Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause, and do not deceive with your words.\n\t\t\t Do not say, \"I will do to him just as he has done to me; I will pay him back according to what he has done.\"\n\t\t\t I passed by the field of a sluggard, by the vineyard of one who lacks wisdom.\n\t\t\t I saw that thorns had grown up all over it, the ground was covered with weeds, and its stone wall was broken down.\n\t\t\t When I saw this, I gave careful consideration to it; I received instruction from what I saw:\n\t\t\t \"A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to relax,\n\t\t\t and your poverty will come like a bandit, and your need like an armed robber.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of King Hezekiah of Judah copied:\n\t\t\t It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, and it is the glory of a king to search out a matter.\n\t\t\t As the heaven is high and the earth is deep so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.\n\t\t\t Remove the dross from the silver, and material for the silversmith will emerge;\n\t\t\t remove the wicked from before the king, and his throne will be established in righteousness.\n\t\t\t Do not honor yourself before the king, and do not stand in the place of great men;\n\t\t\t for it is better for him to say to you, \"Come up here,\" than to put you lower before a prince, whom your eyes have seen.\n\t\t\t Do not go out hastily to litigation, or what will you do afterward when your neighbor puts you to shame?\n\t\t\t When you argue a case with your neighbor, do not reveal the secret of another person,\n\t\t\t lest the one who hears it put you to shame and your infamy will never go away.\n\t\t\t Like apples of gold in settings of silver, so is a word skillfully spoken.\n\t\t\t Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover to the ear of the one who listens.\n\t\t\t Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to those who send him, for he refreshes the heart of his masters.\n\t\t\t Like cloudy skies and wind that produce no rain, so is the one who boasts of a gift not given.\n\t\t\t Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a soft tongue can break a bone.\n\t\t\t When you find honey, eat only what is sufficient for you, lest you become stuffed with it and vomit it up.\n\t\t\t Don't set foot too frequently in your neighbor's house, lest he become weary of you and hate you.\n\t\t\t Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow, so is the one who testifies against his neighbor as a false witness.\n\t\t\t Like a bad tooth or a foot out of joint, so is confidence in an unfaithful person at the time of trouble.\n\t\t\t Like one who takes off a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar poured on soda, so is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.\n\t\t\t If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink,\n\t\t\t for you will heap coals of fire on his head, and the LORD will reward you.\n\t\t\t The north wind brings forth rain, and a gossiping tongue brings forth an angry look.\n\t\t\t It is better to live on a corner of the housetop than in a house in company with a quarrelsome wife.\n\t\t\t Like cold water to a weary person, so is good news from a distant land.\n\t\t\t Like a muddied spring and a polluted well, so is a righteous person who gives way before the wicked.\n\t\t\t It is not good to eat too much honey, nor is it honorable for people to seek their own glory.\n\t\t\t Like a city that is broken down and without a wall, so is a person who cannot control his temper.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool.\n\t\t\t Like a fluttering bird or like a flying swallow, so a curse without cause does not come to rest.\n\t\t\t A whip for the horse and a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools!\n\t\t\t Do not answer a fool according to his folly, lest you yourself also be like him.\n\t\t\t Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own estimation.\n\t\t\t Like cutting off the feet or drinking violence, so is sending a message by the hand of a fool.\n\t\t\t Like legs that hang limp from the lame, so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.\n\t\t\t Like tying a stone in a sling, so is giving honor to a fool.\n\t\t\t Like a thorn that goes into the hand of a drunkard, so is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.\n\t\t\t Like an archer who wounds at random, so is the one who hires a fool or hires any passer-by.\n\t\t\t Like a dog that returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.\n\t\t\t Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.\n\t\t\t The sluggard says, \"There is a lion in the road! A lion in the streets!\"\n\t\t\t Like a door that turns on its hinges, so a sluggard turns on his bed.\n\t\t\t The sluggard plunges his hand in the dish; he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.\n\t\t\t The sluggard is wiser in his own estimation than seven people who respond with good sense.\n\t\t\t Like one who grabs a wild dog by the ears, so is the person passing by who becomes furious over a quarrel not his own.\n\t\t\t Like a madman who shoots firebrands and deadly arrows,\n\t\t\t so is a person who deceives his neighbor, and says, \"Was I not only joking?\"\n\t\t\t Where there is no wood, a fire goes out, and where there is no gossip, contention ceases.\n\t\t\t Like charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire, so is a contentious person to kindle strife.\n\t\t\t The words of a gossip are like delicious morsels; they go down into a person's innermost being.\n\t\t\t Like a coating of glaze over earthenware are fervent lips with an evil heart.\n\t\t\t The one who hates others disguises it with his lips, but he stores up deceit within him.\n\t\t\t When he speaks graciously, do not believe him, for there are seven abominations within him.\n\t\t\t Though his hatred may be concealed by deceit, his evil will be uncovered in the assembly.\n\t\t\t The one who digs a pit will fall into it; the one who rolls a stone, it will come back on him.\n\t\t\t A lying tongue hates those crushed by it, and a flattering mouth works ruin.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Do not boast about tomorrow; for you do not know what a day may bring forth.\n\t\t\t Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; someone else, and not your own lips.\n\t\t\t A stone is heavy and sand is weighty, but vexation by a fool is more burdensome than the two of them.\n\t\t\t Wrath is cruel and anger is overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy?\n\t\t\t Better is open rebuke than hidden love.\n\t\t\t Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are excessive.\n\t\t\t The one whose appetite is satisfied loathes honey, but to the hungry mouth every bitter thing is sweet.\n\t\t\t Like a bird that wanders from its nest, so is a person who wanders from his home.\n\t\t\t Ointment and incense make the heart rejoice, likewise the sweetness of one's friend from sincere counsel.\n\t\t\t Do not forsake your friend and your father's friend, and do not enter your brother's house in the day of your disaster; a neighbor nearby is better than a brother far away.\n\t\t\t Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad, so that I may answer anyone who taunts me.\n\t\t\t A shrewd person sees danger and hides himself, but the naive keep right on going and suffer for it.\n\t\t\t Take a man's garment when he has given security for a stranger, and when he gives surety for a stranger, hold him in pledge.\n\t\t\t If someone blesses his neighbor with a loud voice early in the morning, it will be counted as a curse to him.\n\t\t\t A continual dripping on a rainy day and a contentious wife are alike.\n\t\t\t Whoever hides her hides the wind or grasps oil with his right hand.\n\t\t\t As iron sharpens iron, so a person sharpens his friend.\n\t\t\t The one who tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and whoever takes care of his master will be honored.\n\t\t\t As in water the face is reflected as a face, so a person's heart reflects the person.\n\t\t\t As Death and Destruction are never satisfied, so the eyes of a person are never satisfied.\n\t\t\t As the crucible is for silver and the furnace is for gold, so a person is proved by the praise he receives.\n\t\t\t If you should pound the fool in the mortar among the grain with the pestle, his foolishness would not depart from him.\n\t\t\t Pay careful attention to the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds,\n\t\t\t for riches do not last forever, nor does a crown last from generation to generation.\n\t\t\t When the hay is removed and new grass appears, and the grass from the hills is gathered in,\n\t\t\t the lambs will be for your clothing, and the goats will be for the price of a field.\n\t\t\t And there will be enough goat's milk for your food, for the food of your household, and for the sustenance of your servant girls.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The wicked person flees when there is no one pursuing, but the righteous person is as confident as a lion.\n\t\t\t When a country is rebellious it has many princes, but by someone who is discerning and knowledgeable order is maintained.\n\t\t\t A poor person who oppresses the weak is like a driving rain without food.\n\t\t\t Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but those who keep the law contend with them.\n\t\t\t Evil people do not understand justice, but those who seek the LORD understand it all.\n\t\t\t A poor person who walks in his integrity is better than one who is perverse in his ways even though he is rich.\n\t\t\t The one who keeps the law is a discerning child, but a companion of gluttons brings shame to his parents.\n\t\t\t The one who increases his wealth by increasing interest gathers it for someone who is gracious to the needy.\n\t\t\t The one who turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination.\n\t\t\t The one who leads the upright astray in an evil way will himself fall into his own pit, but the blameless will inherit what is good.\n\t\t\t A rich person is wise in his own eyes, but a discerning poor person can evaluate him properly.\n\t\t\t When the righteous rejoice, great is the glory, but when the wicked rise to power, people are sought out.\n\t\t\t The one who covers his transgressions will not prosper, but whoever confesses them and forsakes them will find mercy.\n\t\t\t Blessed is the one who is always cautious, but whoever hardens his heart will fall into evil.\n\t\t\t Like a roaring lion or a roving bear, so is a wicked ruler over a poor people.\n\t\t\t The prince who is a great oppressor lacks wisdom, but the one who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.\n\t\t\t The one who is tormented by the murder of another will flee to the pit; let no one support him.\n\t\t\t The one who walks blamelessly will be delivered, but whoever is perverse in his ways will fall at once.\n\t\t\t The one who works his land will be satisfied with food, but whoever chases daydreams will have his fill of poverty.\n\t\t\t A faithful person will have an abundance of blessings, but the one who hastens to gain riches will not go unpunished.\n\t\t\t To show partiality is terrible, for a person will transgress over the smallest piece of bread.\n\t\t\t The stingy person hastens after riches and does not know that poverty will overtake him.\n\t\t\t The one who reproves another will in the end find more favor than the one who flatters with the tongue.\n\t\t\t The one who robs his father and mother and says, \"There is no transgression,\" is a companion to the one who destroys.\n\t\t\t The greedy person stirs up dissension, but the one who trusts in the LORD will prosper.\n\t\t\t The one who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but the one who walks in wisdom will escape.\n\t\t\t The one who gives to the poor will not lack, but whoever shuts his eyes to them will receive many curses.\n\t\t\t When the wicked gain control, people hide themselves, but when they perish, the righteous increase.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The one who stiffens his neck after numerous rebukes will suddenly be destroyed without remedy.\n\t\t\t When the righteous become numerous, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan.\n\t\t\t The man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father, but whoever associates with prostitutes wastes his wealth.\n\t\t\t A king brings stability to a land by justice, but one who exacts tribute tears it down.\n\t\t\t The one who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his steps.\n\t\t\t In the transgression of an evil person there is a snare, but a righteous person can sing and rejoice.\n\t\t\t The righteous person cares for the legal rights of the poor; the wicked does not understand such knowledge.\n\t\t\t Scornful people inflame a city, but those who are wise turn away wrath.\n\t\t\t If a wise person goes to court with a foolish person, there is no peace whether he is angry or laughs.\n\t\t\t Bloodthirsty people hate someone with integrity; as for the upright, they seek his life.\n\t\t\t A fool lets fly with all his temper, but a wise person keeps it back.\n\t\t\t If a ruler listens to lies, all his ministers will be wicked.\n\t\t\t The poor person and the oppressor have this in common: the LORD gives light to the eyes of them both.\n\t\t\t If a king judges the poor in truth, his throne will be established forever.\n\t\t\t A rod and reproof impart wisdom, but a child who is unrestrained brings shame to his mother.\n\t\t\t When the wicked increase, transgression increases, but the righteous will see their downfall.\n\t\t\t Discipline your child, and he will give you rest; he will bring you happiness.\n\t\t\t When there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but the one who keeps the law, blessed is he!\n\t\t\t A servant cannot be corrected by words, for although he understands, there is no answer.\n\t\t\t Do you see someone who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.\n\t\t\t If someone pampers his servant from youth, he will be a weakling in the end.\n\t\t\t An angry person stirs up dissension, and a wrathful person is abounding in transgression.\n\t\t\t A person's pride will bring him low, but one who has a lowly spirit will gain honor.\n\t\t\t Whoever shares with a thief is his own enemy; he hears the oath to testify, but does not talk.\n\t\t\t The fear of people becomes a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD will be set on high.\n\t\t\t Many people seek the face of a ruler, but it is from the LORD that one receives justice.\n\t\t\t An unjust person is an abomination to the righteous, and the one who lives an upright life is an abomination to the wicked.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The words of Agur, the son of Jakeh; an oracle: This man says to Ithiel, to Ithiel and to Ukal:\n\t\t\t Surely I am more brutish than any other human being, and I do not have human understanding;\n\t\t\t I have not learned wisdom, nor do I have knowledge of the Holy One.\n\t\t\t Who has ascended into heaven, and then descended? Who has gathered up the winds in his fists? Who has bound up the waters in his cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son's name?, if you know!\n\t\t\t Every word of God is purified; he is like a shield for those who take refuge in him.\n\t\t\t Do not add to his words, lest he reprove you, and prove you to be a liar.\n\t\t\t Two things I ask from you; do not refuse me before I die:\n\t\t\t Remove falsehood and lies far from me; do not give me poverty or riches, feed me with my allotted portion of bread,\n\t\t\t lest I become satisfied and act deceptively and say, \"Who is the LORD?\" Or lest I become poor and steal and demean the name of my God.\n\t\t\t Do not slander a servant to his master, lest he curse you, and you are found guilty.\n\t\t\t There is a generation who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers.\n\t\t\t There is a generation who are pure in their own eyes and yet are not washed from their filthiness.\n\t\t\t There is a generation whose eyes are so lofty, and whose eyelids are lifted up disdainfully.\n\t\t\t There is a generation whose teeth are like swords and whose molars are like knives to devour the poor from the earth and the needy from among the human race.\n\t\t\t The leech has two daughters: \"Give! Give!\" There are three things that are never satisfied, four that never say, \"Enough\",\n\t\t\t the grave, the barren womb, land that is not satisfied with water, and fire that never says, \"Enough!\"\n\t\t\t The eye that mocks at a father and despises obeying a mother, the ravens of the valley will peck it out and the young vultures will eat it.\n\t\t\t There are three things that are too wonderful for me, four that I do not understand:\n\t\t\t the way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a snake on a rock, the way of a ship in the sea, and the way of a man with a woman.\n\t\t\t This is the way of an adulterous woman: she eats and wipes her mouth and says, \"I have not done wrong.\"\n\t\t\t Under three things the earth trembles, and under four things it cannot bear up:\n\t\t\t under a servant who becomes king, under a fool who is stuffed with food,\n\t\t\t under an unloved woman who is married, and under a female servant who dispossesses her mistress.\n\t\t\t There are four things on earth that are small, but they are exceedingly wise:\n\t\t\t ants are creatures with little strength, but they prepare their food in the summer;\n\t\t\t rock badgers are creatures with little power, but they make their homes in the crags;\n\t\t\t locusts have no king, but they all go forward by ranks;\n\t\t\t a lizard you can catch with the hand, but it gets into the palaces of the king.\n\t\t\t There are three things that are magnificent in their step, four things that move about magnificently:\n\t\t\t a lion, mightiest of the beasts, who does not retreat from anything;\n\t\t\t a strutting rooster, a male goat, and a king with his army around him.\n\t\t\t If you have done foolishly by exalting yourself or if you have planned evil, put your hand over your mouth!\n\t\t\t For as the churning of milk produces butter and as punching the nose produces blood, so stirring up anger produces strife.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The words of King Lemuel, an oracle that his mother taught him:\n\t\t\t O my son, O son of my womb, O son of my vows,\n\t\t\t Do not give your strength to women, nor your ways to that which ruins kings.\n\t\t\t It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to crave strong drink,\n\t\t\t lest they drink and forget what is decreed, and remove from all the poor their legal rights.\n\t\t\t Give strong drink to the one who is perishing, and wine to those who are bitterly distressed;\n\t\t\t let them drink and forget their poverty, and remember their misery no more.\n\t\t\t Open your mouth on behalf of those unable to speak, for the legal rights of all the dying.\n\t\t\t Open your mouth, judge in righteousness, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.\n\t\t\t Who can find a wife of noble character? For her value is far more than rubies.\n\t\t\t The heart of her husband has confidence in her, and he has no lack of gain.\n\t\t\t She brings him good and not evil all the days of her life.\n\t\t\t She obtains wool and flax, and she is pleased to work with her hands.\n\t\t\t She is like the merchant ships; she brings her food from afar.\n\t\t\t She also gets up while it is still night, and provides food for her household and a portion to her female servants.\n\t\t\t She considers a field and buys it; from her own income she plants a vineyard.\n\t\t\t She begins her work vigorously, and she strengthens her arms.\n\t\t\t She knows that her merchandise is good, and her lamp does not go out in the night.\n\t\t\t Her hands take hold of the distaff, and her hands grasp the spindle.\n\t\t\t She extends her hand to the poor, and reaches out her hand to the needy.\n\t\t\t She is not afraid of the snow for her household, for all of her household are clothed with scarlet.\n\t\t\t She makes for herself coverlets; her clothing is fine linen and purple.\n\t\t\t Her husband is well-known in the city gate when he sits with the elders of the land.\n\t\t\t She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes.\n\t\t\t She is clothed with strength and honor, and she can laugh at the time to come.\n\t\t\t She opens her mouth with wisdom, and loving instruction is on her tongue.\n\t\t\t She watches over the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness.\n\t\t\t Her children rise up and call her blessed, her husband also praises her:\n\t\t\t \"Many daughters have done valiantly, but you surpass them all!\"\n\t\t\t Charm is deceitful and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the LORD will be praised.\n\t\t\t Give her credit for what she has accomplished, and let her works praise her in the city gates.\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The words of the Teacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem:\n\t\t\t \"Futile! Futile!\" laments the Teacher, \"Absolutely futile! Everything is futile!\"\n\t\t\t What benefit do people get from all the effort which they expend on earth?\n\t\t\t A generation comes and a generation goes, but the earth remains the same through the ages.\n\t\t\t The sun rises and the sun sets; it hurries away to a place from which it rises again.\n\t\t\t The wind goes to the south and circles around to the north; round and round the wind goes and on its rounds it returns.\n\t\t\t All the streams flow into the sea, but the sea is not full, and to the place where the streams flow, there they will flow again.\n\t\t\t All this monotony is tiresome; no one can bear to describe it: The eye is never satisfied with seeing, nor is the ear ever content with hearing.\n\t\t\t What exists now is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done; there is nothing truly new on earth.\n\t\t\t Is there anything about which someone can say, \"Look at this! It is new!\"? It was already done long ago, before our time.\n\t\t\t No one remembers the former events, nor will anyone remember the events that are yet to happen; they will not be remembered by the future generations.\n\t\t\t I, the Teacher, have been king over Israel in Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t I decided to carefully and thoroughly examine all that has been accomplished on earth. I concluded: God has given people a burdensome task that keeps them occupied.\n\t\t\t I reflected on everything that is accomplished by man on earth, and I concluded: Everything he has accomplished is futile, like chasing the wind!\n\t\t\t What is bent cannot be straightened, and what is missing cannot be supplied.\n\t\t\t I thought to myself, \"I have become much wiser than any of my predecessors who ruled over Jerusalem; I have acquired much wisdom and knowledge.\"\n\t\t\t So I decided to discern the benefit of wisdom and knowledge over foolish behavior and ideas; however, I concluded that even this endeavor is like trying to chase the wind!\n\t\t\t For with great wisdom comes great frustration; whoever increases his knowledge merely increases his heartache.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t I thought to myself, \"Come now, I will try self-indulgent pleasure to see if it is worthwhile.\" But I found that it also is futile.\n\t\t\t I said of partying, \"It is folly,\" and of self-indulgent pleasure, \"It accomplishes nothing!\"\n\t\t\t I thought deeply about the effects of indulging myself with wine (all the while my mind was guiding me with wisdom) and the effects of behaving foolishly, so that I might discover what is profitable for people to do on earth during the few days of their lives.\n\t\t\t I increased my possessions: I built houses for myself; I planted vineyards for myself.\n\t\t\t I designed royal gardens and parks for myself, and I planted all kinds of fruit trees in them.\n\t\t\t I constructed pools of water for myself, to irrigate my grove of flourishing trees.\n\t\t\t I purchased male and female slaves, and I owned slaves who were born in my house; I also possessed more livestock, both herds and flocks, than any of my predecessors in Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t I also amassed silver and gold for myself, as well as valuable treasures taken from kingdoms and provinces. I acquired male singers and female singers for myself, and what gives a man sensual delight, a harem of beautiful concubines!\n\t\t\t So I was far wealthier than all my predecessors in Jerusalem, yet I maintained my objectivity:\n\t\t\t I did not restrain myself from getting whatever I wanted; I did not deny myself anything that would bring me pleasure. So all my accomplishments gave me joy; this was my reward for all my effort.\n\t\t\t Yet when I reflected on everything I had accomplished and on all the effort that I had expended to accomplish it, I concluded: \"All these achievements and possessions are ultimately profitless, like chasing the wind! There is nothing gained from them on earth.\"\n\t\t\t Next, I decided to consider wisdom, as well as foolish behavior and ideas. For what more can the king's successor do than what the king has already done?\n\t\t\t I realized that wisdom is preferable to folly, just as light is preferable to darkness:\n\t\t\t The wise man can see where he is going, but the fool walks in darkness. Yet I also realized that the same fate happens to them both.\n\t\t\t So I thought to myself, \"The fate of the fool will happen even to me! Then what did I gain by becoming so excessively wise?\" So I lamented to myself, \"The benefits of wisdom are ultimately meaningless!\"\n\t\t\t For the wise man, like the fool, will not be remembered for very long, because in the days to come, both will already have been forgotten. Alas, the wise man dies, just like the fool!\n\t\t\t So I loathed life because what happens on earth seems awful to me; for all the benefits of wisdom are futile, like chasing the wind.\n\t\t\t So I loathed all the fruit of my effort, for which I worked so hard on earth, because I must leave it behind in the hands of my successor.\n\t\t\t Who knows if he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will be master over all the fruit of my labor for which I worked so wisely on earth! This also is futile!\n\t\t\t So I began to despair about all the fruit of my labor for which I worked so hard on earth.\n\t\t\t For a man may do his work with wisdom, knowledge, and skill; however, he must hand over the fruit of his labor as an inheritance to someone else who did not work for it. This also is futile, and an awful injustice!\n\t\t\t What does a man acquire from all his labor and from the anxiety that accompanies his toil on earth?\n\t\t\t For all day long his work produces pain and frustration, and even at night his mind cannot relax! This also is futile!\n\t\t\t There is nothing better for people than to eat and drink, and to find enjoyment in their work. I also perceived that this ability to find enjoyment comes from God.\n\t\t\t For no one can eat and drink or experience joy apart from him.\n\t\t\t For to the one who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy, but to the sinner, he gives the task of amassing wealth, only to give it to the one who pleases God. This task of the wicked is futile, like chasing the wind!\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t For everything there is an appointed time, and an appropriate time for every activity on earth:\n\t\t\t A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to uproot what was planted;\n\t\t\t A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;\n\t\t\t A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.\n\t\t\t A time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;\n\t\t\t A time to search, and a time to give something up as lost; a time to keep, and a time to throw away;\n\t\t\t A time to rip, and a time to sew; a time to keep silent, and a time to speak.\n\t\t\t A time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.\n\t\t\t What benefit can a worker gain from his toil?\n\t\t\t I have observed the burden that God has given to people to keep them occupied.\n\t\t\t God has made everything fit beautifully in its appropriate time, but he has also placed ignorance in the human heart so that people cannot discover what God has ordained, from the beginning to the end of their lives.\n\t\t\t I have concluded that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to enjoy themselves as long as they live,\n\t\t\t and also that everyone should eat and drink, and find enjoyment in all his toil, for these things are a gift from God.\n\t\t\t I also know that whatever God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it, and nothing taken away from it. God has made it this way, so that men will fear him.\n\t\t\t Whatever exists now has already been, and whatever will be has already been; for God will seek to do again what has occurred in the past.\n\t\t\t I saw something else on earth: In the place of justice, there was wickedness, and in the place of fairness, there was wickedness.\n\t\t\t I thought to myself, \"God will judge both the righteous and the wicked; for there is an appropriate time for every activity, and there is a time of judgment for every deed.\n\t\t\t I also thought to myself, \"It is for the sake of people, so God can clearly show them that they are like animals.\n\t\t\t For the fate of humans and the fate of animals are the same: As one dies, so dies the other; both have the same breath. There is no advantage for humans over animals, for both are fleeting.\n\t\t\t Both go to the same place, both come from the dust, and to dust both return.\n\t\t\t Who really knows if the human spirit ascends upward, and the animal's spirit descends into the earth?\n\t\t\t So I perceived there is nothing better than for people to enjoy their work, because that is their reward; for who can show them what the future holds?\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t So I again considered all the oppression that continually occurs on earth. This is what I saw: The oppressed were in tears, but no one was comforting them; no one delivers them from the power of their oppressors.\n\t\t\t So I considered those who are dead and gone more fortunate than those who are still alive.\n\t\t\t But better than both is the one who has not been born and has not seen the evil things that are done on earth.\n\t\t\t Then I considered all the skillful work that is done: Surely it is nothing more than competition between one person and another. This also is profitless, like chasing the wind.\n\t\t\t The fool folds his hands and does no work, so he has nothing to eat but his own flesh.\n\t\t\t Better is one handful with some rest than two hands full of toil and chasing the wind.\n\t\t\t So I again considered another futile thing on earth:\n\t\t\t A man who is all alone with no companion, he has no children nor siblings; yet there is no end to all his toil, and he is never satisfied with riches. He laments, \"For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?\" This also is futile and a burdensome task!\n\t\t\t Two people are better than one, because they can reap more benefit from their labor.\n\t\t\t For if they fall, one will help his companion up, but pity the person who falls down and has no one to help him up.\n\t\t\t Furthermore, if two lie down together, they can keep each other warm, but how can one person keep warm by himself?\n\t\t\t Although an assailant may overpower one person, two can withstand him. Moreover, a three-stranded cord is not quickly broken.\n\t\t\t A poor but wise youth is better than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to receive advice.\n\t\t\t For he came out of prison to become king, even though he had been born poor in what would become his kingdom.\n\t\t\t I considered all the living who walk on earth, as well as the successor who would arise in his place.\n\t\t\t There is no end to all the people nor to the past generations, yet future generations will not rejoice in him. This also is profitless and like chasing the wind.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Be careful what you do when you go to the temple of God; draw near to listen rather than to offer a sacrifice like fools, for they do not realize that they are doing wrong.\n\t\t\t Do not be rash with your mouth or hasty in your heart to bring up a matter before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth! Therefore, let your words be few.\n\t\t\t Just as dreams come when there are many cares, so the rash vow of a fool occurs when there are many words.\n\t\t\t When you make a vow to God, do not delay in paying it. For God takes no pleasure in fools: Pay what you vow!\n\t\t\t It is better for you not to vow than to vow and not pay it.\n\t\t\t Do not let your mouth cause you to sin, and do not tell the priest, \"It was a mistake!\" Why make God angry at you so that he would destroy the work of your hands?\"\n\t\t\t Just as there is futility in many dreams, so also in many words. Therefore, fear God!\n\t\t\t If you see the extortion of the poor, or the perversion of justice and fairness in the government, do not be astonished by the matter. For the high official is watched by a higher official, and there are higher ones over them!\n\t\t\t The produce of the land is seized by all of them, even the king is served by the fields.\n\t\t\t The one who loves money will never be satisfied with money, he who loves wealth will never be satisfied with his income. This also is futile.\n\t\t\t When someone's prosperity increases, those who consume it also increase; so what does its owner gain, except that he gets to see it with his eyes?\n\t\t\t The sleep of the laborer is pleasant, whether he eats little or much, but the wealth of the rich will not allow him to sleep.\n\t\t\t Here is a misfortune on earth that I have seen: Wealth hoarded by its owner to his own misery.\n\t\t\t Then that wealth was lost through bad luck; although he fathered a son, he has nothing left to give him.\n\t\t\t Just as he came forth from his mother's womb, naked will he return as he came, and he will take nothing in his hand that he may carry away from his toil.\n\t\t\t This is another misfortune: Just as he came, so will he go. What did he gain from toiling for the wind?\n\t\t\t Surely, he ate in darkness every day of his life, and he suffered greatly with sickness and anger.\n\t\t\t I have seen personally what is the only beneficial and appropriate course of action for people: to eat and drink, and find enjoyment in all their hard work on earth during the few days of their life which God has given them, for this is their reward.\n\t\t\t To every man whom God has given wealth, and possessions, he has also given him the ability to eat from them, to receive his reward and to find enjoyment in his toil; these things are the gift of God.\n\t\t\t For he does not think much about the fleeting days of his life because God keeps him preoccupied with the joy he derives from his activity.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Here is another misfortune that I have seen on earth, and it weighs heavily on people:\n\t\t\t God gives a man riches, property, and wealth so that he lacks nothing that his heart desires, yet God does not enable him to enjoy the fruit of his labor, instead, someone else enjoys it! This is fruitless and a grave misfortune.\n\t\t\t Even if a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years, even if he lives a long, long time, but cannot enjoy his prosperity, even if he were to live forever, I would say, \"A stillborn child is better off than he is!\"\n\t\t\t Though the stillborn child came into the world for no reason and departed into darkness, though its name is shrouded in darkness,\n\t\t\t though it never saw the light of day nor knew anything, yet it has more rest than that man,\n\t\t\t if he should live a thousand years twice, yet does not enjoy his prosperity. For both of them die!\n\t\t\t All of man's labor is for nothing more than to fill his stomach, yet his appetite is never satisfied!\n\t\t\t So what advantage does a wise man have over a fool? And what advantage does a pauper gain by knowing how to survive?\n\t\t\t It is better to be content with what the eyes can see than for one's heart always to crave more. This continual longing is futile, like chasing the wind.\n\t\t\t Whatever has happened was foreordained, and what happens to a person was also foreknown. It is useless for him to argue with God about his fate because God is more powerful than he is.\n\t\t\t The more one argues with words, the less he accomplishes. How does that benefit him?\n\t\t\t For no one knows what is best for a person during his life, during the few days of his fleeting life, for they pass away like a shadow. Nor can anyone tell him what the future will hold for him on earth.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t A good reputation is better than precious perfume; likewise, the day of one's death is better than the day of one's birth.\n\t\t\t It is better to go to a funeral than a feast. For death is the destiny of every person, and the living should take this to heart.\n\t\t\t Sorrow is better than laughter, because sober reflection is good for the heart.\n\t\t\t The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of merrymaking.\n\t\t\t It is better for a person to receive a rebuke from those who are wise than to listen to the song of fools.\n\t\t\t For like the crackling of quick-burning thorns under a cooking pot, so is the laughter of the fool. This kind of folly also is useless.\n\t\t\t Surely oppression can turn a wise person into a fool; likewise, a bribe corrupts the heart.\n\t\t\t The end of a matter is better than its beginning; likewise, patience is better than pride.\n\t\t\t Do not let yourself be quickly provoked, for anger resides in the lap of fools.\n\t\t\t Do not say, \"Why were the old days better than these days?\" for it is not wise to ask that.\n\t\t\t Wisdom, like an inheritance, is a good thing; it benefits those who see the light of day.\n\t\t\t For wisdom provides protection, just as money provides protection. But the advantage of knowledge is this: Wisdom preserves the life of its owner.\n\t\t\t Consider the work of God: For who can make straight what he has bent?\n\t\t\t In times of prosperity be joyful, but in times of adversity consider this: God has made one as well as the other, so that no one can discover what the future holds.\n\t\t\t During the days of my fleeting life I have seen both of these things: Sometimes a righteous person dies prematurely in spite of his righteousness, and sometimes a wicked person lives long in spite of his evil deeds.\n\t\t\t So do not be excessively righteous or excessively wise; otherwise you might be disappointed.\n\t\t\t Do not be excessively wicked and do not be a fool; otherwise you might die before your time.\n\t\t\t It is best to take hold of one warning without letting go of the other warning; for the one who fears God will follow both warnings.\n\t\t\t Wisdom gives a wise person more protection than ten rulers in a city.\n\t\t\t For there is not one truly righteous person on the earth who continually does good and never sins.\n\t\t\t Also, do not pay attention to everything that people say; otherwise, you might even hear your servant cursing you.\n\t\t\t For you know in your own heart that you also have cursed others many times.\n\t\t\t I have examined all this by wisdom; I said, \"I am determined to comprehend this\", but it was beyond my grasp.\n\t\t\t Whatever has happened is beyond human understanding; it is far deeper than anyone can fathom.\n\t\t\t I tried to understand, examine, and comprehend the role of wisdom in the scheme of things, and to understand the stupidity of wickedness and the insanity of folly.\n\t\t\t I discovered this: More bitter than death is the kind of woman who is like a hunter's snare; her heart is like a hunter's net and her hands are like prison chains. The man who pleases God escapes her, but the sinner is captured by her.\n\t\t\t The Teacher says: I discovered this while trying to discover the scheme of things, item by item.\n\t\t\t What I have continually sought, I have not found; I have found only one upright man among a thousand, but I have not found one upright woman among all of them.\n\t\t\t This alone have I discovered: God made humankind upright, but they have sought many evil schemes.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Who is a wise person? Who knows the solution to a problem? A person's wisdom brightens his appearance, and softens his harsh countenance.\n\t\t\t Obey the king's command, because you took an oath before God to be loyal to him.\n\t\t\t Do not rush out of the king's presence in haste, do not delay when the matter is unpleasant, for he can do whatever he pleases.\n\t\t\t Surely the king's authority is absolute; no one can say to him, \"What are you doing?\"\n\t\t\t Whoever obeys his command will not experience harm, and a wise person knows the proper time and procedure.\n\t\t\t For there is a proper time and procedure for every matter, for the oppression of the king is severe upon his victim.\n\t\t\t Surely no one knows the future, and no one can tell another person what will happen.\n\t\t\t Just as no one has power over the wind to restrain it, so no one has power over the day of his death. Just as no one can be discharged during the battle, so wickedness cannot rescue the wicked.\n\t\t\t While applying my mind to everything that happens in this world, I have seen all this: Sometimes one person dominates other people to their harm.\n\t\t\t Not only that, but I have seen the wicked approaching and entering the temple, and as they left the holy temple, they boasted in the city that they had done so. This also is an enigma.\n\t\t\t When a sentence is not executed at once against a crime, the human heart is encouraged to do evil.\n\t\t\t Even though a sinner might commit a hundred crimes and still live a long time, yet I know that it will go well with God-fearing people, for they stand in fear before him.\n\t\t\t But it will not go well with the wicked, nor will they prolong their days like a shadow, because they do not stand in fear before God.\n\t\t\t Here is another enigma that occurs on earth: Sometimes there are righteous people who get what the wicked deserve, and sometimes there are wicked people who get what the righteous deserve. I said, \"This also is an enigma.\"\n\t\t\t So I recommend the enjoyment of life, for there is nothing better on earth for a person to do except to eat, drink, and enjoy life. So joy will accompany him in his toil during the days of his life which God gives him on earth.\n\t\t\t When I tried to gain wisdom and to observe the activity on earth, even though it prevents anyone from sleeping day or night,\n\t\t\t then I discerned all that God has done: No one really comprehends what happens on earth. Despite all human efforts to discover it, no one can ever grasp it. Even if a wise person claimed that he understood, he would not really comprehend it.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t So I reflected on all this, attempting to clear it all up. I concluded that the righteous and the wise, as well as their works, are in the hand of God; whether a person will be loved or hated, no one knows what lies ahead.\n\t\t\t Everyone shares the same fate, the righteous and the wicked, the good and the bad, the ceremonially clean and unclean, those who offer sacrifices and those who do not. What happens to the good person, also happens to the sinner; what happens to those who make vows, also happens to those who are afraid to make vows.\n\t\t\t This is the unfortunate fact about everything that happens on earth: the same fate awaits everyone. In addition to this, the hearts of all people are full of evil, and there is folly in their hearts during their lives, then they die.\n\t\t\t But whoever is among the living has hope; a live dog is better than a dead lion.\n\t\t\t For the living know that they will die, but the dead do not know anything; they have no further reward, and even the memory of them disappears.\n\t\t\t What they loved, as well as what they hated and envied, perished long ago, and they no longer have a part in anything that happens on earth.\n\t\t\t Go, eat your food with joy, and drink your wine with a happy heart, because God has already approved your works.\n\t\t\t Let your clothes always be white, and do not spare precious ointment on your head.\n\t\t\t Enjoy life with your beloved wife during all the days of your fleeting life that God has given you on earth during all your fleeting days; for that is your reward in life and in your burdensome work on earth.\n\t\t\t Whatever you find to do with your hands, do it with all your might, because there is neither work nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom in the grave, the place where you will eventually go.\n\t\t\t Again, I observed this on the earth: the race is not always won by the swiftest, the battle is not always won by the strongest; prosperity does not always belong to those who are the wisest, wealth does not always belong to those who are the most discerning, nor does success always come to those with the most knowledge, for time and chance may overcome them all.\n\t\t\t Surely, no one knows his appointed time! Like fish that are caught in a deadly net, and like birds that are caught in a snare, just like them, all people are ensnared at an unfortunate time that falls upon them suddenly.\n\t\t\t This is what I also observed about wisdom on earth, and it is a great burden to me:\n\t\t\t There was once a small city with a few men in it, and a mighty king attacked it, besieging it and building strong siege works against it.\n\t\t\t However, a poor but wise man lived in the city, and he could have delivered the city by his wisdom, but no one listened to that poor man.\n\t\t\t So I concluded that wisdom is better than might, but a poor man's wisdom is despised; no one ever listens to his advice.\n\t\t\t The words of the wise are heard in quiet, more than the shouting of a ruler is heard among fools.\n\t\t\t Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner can destroy much that is good.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t One dead fly makes the perfumer's ointment give off a rancid stench, so a little folly can outweigh much wisdom.\n\t\t\t A wise person's good sense protects him, but a fool's lack of sense leaves him vulnerable.\n\t\t\t Even when a fool walks along the road he lacks sense, and shows everyone what a fool he is.\n\t\t\t If the anger of the ruler flares up against you, do not resign from your position, for a calm response can undo great offenses.\n\t\t\t I have seen another misfortune on the earth: It is an error a ruler makes.\n\t\t\t Fools are placed in many positions of authority, while wealthy men sit in lowly positions.\n\t\t\t I have seen slaves on horseback and princes walking on foot like slaves.\n\t\t\t One who digs a pit may fall into it, and one who breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.\n\t\t\t One who quarries stones may be injured by them; one who splits logs may be endangered by them.\n\t\t\t If an iron axhead is blunt and a workman does not sharpen its edge, he must exert a great deal of effort; so wisdom has the advantage of giving success.\n\t\t\t If the snake should bite before it is charmed, the snake charmer is in trouble.\n\t\t\t The words of a wise person win him favor, but the words of a fool are self-destructive.\n\t\t\t At the beginning his words are foolish and at the end his talk is wicked madness,\n\t\t\t yet a fool keeps on babbling. No one knows what will happen; who can tell him what will happen in the future?\n\t\t\t The toil of a stupid fool wears him out, because he does not even know the way to the city.\n\t\t\t Woe to you, O land, when your king is childish, and your princes feast in the morning!\n\t\t\t Blessed are you, O land, when your king is the son of nobility, and your princes feast at the proper time, with self-control and not in drunkenness.\n\t\t\t Because of laziness the roof caves in, and because of idle hands the house leaks.\n\t\t\t Feasts are made for laughter, and wine makes life merry, but money is the answer for everything.\n\t\t\t Do not curse a king even in your thoughts, and do not curse the rich while in your bedroom; for a bird might report what you are thinking, or some winged creature might repeat your words.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Send your grain overseas, for after many days you will get a return.\n\t\t\t Divide your merchandise among seven or even eight investments, for you do not know what calamity may happen on earth.\n\t\t\t If the clouds are full of rain, they will empty themselves on the earth, and whether a tree falls to the south or to the north, the tree will lie wherever it falls.\n\t\t\t He who watches the wind will not sow, and he who observes the clouds will not reap.\n\t\t\t Just as you do not know the path of the wind, or how the bones form in the womb of a pregnant woman, so you do not know the work of God who makes everything.\n\t\t\t Sow your seed in the morning, and do not stop working until the evening; for you do not know which activity will succeed, whether this one or that one, or whether both will prosper equally.\n\t\t\t Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for a person to see the sun.\n\t\t\t So, if a man lives many years, let him rejoice in them all, but let him remember that the days of darkness will be many, all that is about to come is obscure.\n\t\t\t Rejoice, young man, while you are young, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Follow the impulses of your heart and the desires of your eyes, but know that God will judge your motives and actions.\n\t\t\t Banish emotional stress from your mind. and put away pain from your body; for youth and the prime of life are fleeting.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t So remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the difficult days come, and the years draw near when you will say, \"I have no pleasure in them\";\n\t\t\t before the sun and the light of the moon and the stars grow dark, and the clouds disappear after the rain;\n\t\t\t when those who keep watch over the house begin to tremble, and the virile men begin to stoop over, and the grinders begin to cease because they grow few, and those who look through the windows grow dim,\n\t\t\t and the doors along the street are shut; when the sound of the grinding mill grows low, and one is awakened by the sound of a bird, and all their songs grow faint,\n\t\t\t and they are afraid of heights and the dangers in the street; the almond blossoms grow white, and the grasshopper drags itself along, and the caper berry shrivels up, because man goes to his eternal home, and the mourners go about in the streets,\n\t\t\t before the silver cord is removed, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at the well, or the water wheel is broken at the cistern,\n\t\t\t and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the life's breath returns to God who gave it.\n\t\t\t \"Absolutely futile!\" laments the Teacher, \"All of these things are futile!\"\n\t\t\t Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also taught knowledge to the people; he carefully evaluated and arranged many proverbs.\n\t\t\t The Teacher sought to find delightful words, and to write accurately truthful sayings.\n\t\t\t The words of the sages are like prods, and the collected sayings are like firmly fixed nails; they are given by one shepherd.\n\t\t\t Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them. There is no end to the making of many books, and much study is exhausting to the body.\n\t\t\t Having heard everything, I have reached this conclusion: Fear God and keep his commandments, because this is the whole duty of man.\n\t\t\t For God will evaluate every deed, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Solomon's Most Excellent Love Song.\n\t\t\t Oh, how I wish you would kiss me passionately! For your lovemaking is more delightful than wine.\n\t\t\t The fragrance of your colognes is delightful; your name is like the finest perfume. No wonder the young women adore you!\n\t\t\t Draw me after you; let us hurry! May the king bring me into his bedroom chambers! We will rejoice and delight in you; we will praise your love more than wine. How rightly the young women adore you!\n\t\t\t I am dark but lovely, O maidens of Jerusalem, dark like the tents of Qedar, lovely like the tent curtains of Salmah.\n\t\t\t Do not stare at me because I am dark, for the sun has burned my skin. My brothers were angry with me; they made me the keeper of the vineyards. Alas, my own vineyard I could not keep!\n\t\t\t Tell me, O you whom my heart loves, where do you pasture your sheep? Where do you rest your sheep during the midday heat? Tell me lest I wander around beside the flocks of your companions!\n\t\t\t If you do not know, O most beautiful of women, simply follow the tracks of my flock, and pasture your little lambs beside the tents of the shepherds.\n\t\t\t O my beloved, you are like a mare among Pharaoh's stallions.\n\t\t\t Your cheeks are beautiful with ornaments; your neck is lovely with strings of jewels.\n\t\t\t We will make for you gold ornaments studded with silver.\n\t\t\t While the king was at his banqueting table, my nard gave forth its fragrance.\n\t\t\t My beloved is like a fragrant pouch of myrrh spending the night between my breasts.\n\t\t\t My beloved is like a cluster of henna blossoms in the vineyards of En-Gedi.\n\t\t\t Oh, how beautiful you are, my beloved! Oh, how beautiful you are! Your eyes are like doves!\n\t\t\t Oh, how handsome you are, my lover! Oh, how delightful you are! The lush foliage is our canopied bed;\n\t\t\t the cedars are the beams of our bedroom chamber; the pines are the rafters of our bedroom.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t I am a meadow flower from Sharon, a lily from the valleys.\n\t\t\t Like a lily among the thorns, so is my darling among the maidens.\n\t\t\t Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest, so is my beloved among the young men. I delight to sit in his shade, and his fruit is sweet to my taste.\n\t\t\t He brought me into the banquet hall, and he looked at me lovingly.\n\t\t\t Sustain me with raisin cakes, refresh me with apples, for I am faint with love. The Double Refrain: Embracing and Adjuration\n\t\t\t His left hand caresses my head, and his right hand stimulates me.\n\t\t\t I adjure you, O maidens of Jerusalem, by the gazelles and by the young does of the open fields: Do not awaken or arouse love until it pleases!\n\t\t\t Listen! My lover is approaching! Look! Here he comes, leaping over the mountains, bounding over the hills!\n\t\t\t My lover is like a gazelle or a young stag. Look! There he stands behind our wall, gazing through the window, peering through the lattice.\n\t\t\t My lover spoke to me, saying: \"Arise, my darling; My beautiful one, come away with me!\n\t\t\t Look! The winter has passed, the winter rains are over and gone.\n\t\t\t The pomegranates have appeared in the land, the time for pruning and singing has come; the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.\n\t\t\t The fig tree has budded, the vines have blossomed and give off their fragrance. Arise, come away my darling; my beautiful one, come away with me!\"\n\t\t\t O my dove, in the clefts of the rock, in the hiding places of the mountain crags, let me see your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely.\n\t\t\t Catch the foxes for us, the little foxes, that ruin the vineyards, for our vineyard is in bloom.\n\t\t\t My lover is mine and I am his; he grazes among the lilies.\n\t\t\t Until the dawn arrives and the shadows flee, turn, my beloved, be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountain gorges.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t All night long on my bed I longed for my lover. I longed for him but he never appeared.\n\t\t\t \"I will arise and look all around throughout the town, and throughout the streets and squares; I will search for my beloved.\" I searched for him but I did not find him.\n\t\t\t The night watchmen found me, the ones who guard the city walls. \"Have you seen my beloved?\"\n\t\t\t Scarcely had I passed them by when I found my beloved! I held onto him tightly and would not let him go until I brought him to my mother's house, to the bedroom chamber of the one who conceived me.\n\t\t\t I admonish you, O maidens of Jerusalem, by the gazelles and by the young does of the open fields: \"Do not awake or arouse love until it pleases!\"\n\t\t\t Who is this coming up from the desert like a column of smoke, like a fragrant billow of myrrh and frankincense, every kind of fragrant powder of the traveling merchants?\n\t\t\t Look! It is Solomon's portable couch! It is surrounded by sixty warriors, some of Israel's mightiest warriors.\n\t\t\t All of them are skilled with a sword, well-trained in the art of warfare. Each has his sword at his side, to guard against the terrors of the night.\n\t\t\t King Solomon made a sedan chair for himself of wood imported from Lebanon.\n\t\t\t Its posts were made of silver; its back was made of gold. Its seat was upholstered with purple wool; its interior was inlaid with leather by the maidens of Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t Come out, O maidens of Zion, and gaze upon King Solomon! He is wearing the crown with which his mother crowned him on his wedding day, on the most joyous day of his life!\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Oh, you are beautiful, my darling! Oh, you are beautiful! Your eyes behind your veil are like doves. Your hair is like a flock of female goats descending from Mount Gilead.\n\t\t\t Your teeth are like a flock of newly-shorn sheep coming up from the washing place; each of them has a twin, and not one of them is missing.\n\t\t\t Your lips are like a scarlet thread; your mouth is lovely. Your forehead behind your veil is like a slice of pomegranate.\n\t\t\t Your neck is like the tower of David built with courses of stones; one thousand shields are hung on it, all shields of valiant warriors.\n\t\t\t Your two breasts are like two fawns, twins of the gazelle grazing among the lilies.\n\t\t\t Until the dawn arrives and the shadows flee, I will go up to the mountain of myrrh, and to the hill of frankincense.\n\t\t\t You are altogether beautiful, my darling! There is no blemish in you!\n\t\t\t Come with me from Lebanon, my bride, come with me from Lebanon. Descend from the crest of Amana, from the top of Senir, the summit of Hermon, from the lions' dens and the mountain haunts of the leopards.\n\t\t\t You have stolen my heart, my sister, my bride! You have stolen my heart with one glance of your eyes, with one jewel of your necklace.\n\t\t\t How delightful is your love, my sister, my bride! How much better is your love than wine; the fragrance of your perfume is better than any spice!\n\t\t\t Your lips drip sweetness like the honeycomb, my bride, honey and milk are under your tongue. The fragrance of your garments is like the fragrance of Lebanon.\n\t\t\t You are a locked garden, my sister, my bride; you are an enclosed spring, a sealed-up fountain.\n\t\t\t Your shoots are a royal garden full of pomegranates with choice fruits: henna with nard,\n\t\t\t nard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon with every kind of spice, myrrh and aloes with all the finest spices.\n\t\t\t You are a garden spring, a well of fresh water flowing down from Lebanon.\n\t\t\t Awake, O north wind; come, O south wind! Blow on my garden so that its fragrant spices may send out their sweet smell. May my beloved come into his garden and eat its delightful fruit!\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t I have entered my garden, O my sister, my bride; I have gathered my myrrh with my balsam spice. I have eaten my honeycomb and my honey; I have drunk my wine and my milk! Eat, friends, and drink! Drink freely, O lovers!\n\t\t\t I was asleep, but my mind was dreaming. Listen! My lover is knocking at the door! \"Open for me, my sister, my darling, my dove, my flawless one! My head is drenched with dew, my hair with the dampness of the night.\"\n\t\t\t \"I have already taken off my robe, must I put it on again? I have already washed my feet, must I soil them again?\"\n\t\t\t My lover thrust his hand through the hole, and my feelings were stirred for him.\n\t\t\t I arose to open for my beloved; my hands dripped with myrrh, my fingers flowed with myrrh on the handles of the lock.\n\t\t\t I opened for my beloved, but my lover had already turned and gone away. I fell into despair when he departed. I looked for him but did not find him; I called him but he did not answer me.\n\t\t\t The watchmen found me as they made their rounds in the city. They beat me, they bruised me; they took away my cloak, those watchmen on the walls!\n\t\t\t O maidens of Jerusalem, I command you, If you find my beloved, what will you tell him? Tell him that I am lovesick!\n\t\t\t Why is your beloved better than others, O most beautiful of women? Why is your beloved better than others, that you would command us in this manner?\n\t\t\t My beloved is dazzling and ruddy; he stands out in comparison to all other men.\n\t\t\t His head is like the most pure gold. His hair is curly, black like a raven.\n\t\t\t His eyes are like doves by streams of water, washed in milk, mounted like jewels.\n\t\t\t His cheeks are like garden beds full of balsam trees yielding perfume. His lips are like lilies dripping with drops of myrrh.\n\t\t\t His arms are like rods of gold set with chrysolite. His abdomen is like polished ivory inlaid with sapphires.\n\t\t\t His legs are like pillars of marble set on bases of pure gold. His appearance is like Lebanon, choice as its cedars.\n\t\t\t His mouth is very sweet; he is totally desirable. This is my beloved! This is my companion, O maidens of Jerusalem!\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Where has your beloved gone, O most beautiful among women? Where has your beloved turned? Tell us, that we may seek him with you.\n\t\t\t My beloved has gone down to his garden, to the flowerbeds of balsam spices, to graze in the gardens, and to gather lilies.\n\t\t\t I am my lover's and my lover is mine; he grazes among the lilies.\n\t\t\t My darling, you are as beautiful as Tirzah, as lovely as Jerusalem, as awe-inspiring as bannered armies!\n\t\t\t Turn your eyes away from me, they overwhelm me! Your hair is like a flock of goats descending from Mount Gilead.\n\t\t\t Your teeth are like a flock of sheep coming up from the washing; each has its twin; not one of them is missing.\n\t\t\t Like a slice of pomegranate is your forehead behind your veil.\n\t\t\t There may be sixty queens, and eighty concubines, and young women without number.\n\t\t\t But she is unique! My dove, my perfect one! She is the special daughter of her mother, she is the favorite of the one who bore her. The maidens saw her and complimented her; the queens and concubines praised her:\n\t\t\t \"Who is this who appears like the dawn? Beautiful as the moon, bright as the sun, awe-inspiring as the stars in procession?\"\n\t\t\t I went down to the orchard of walnut trees, to look for the blossoms of the valley, to see if the vines had budded or if the pomegranates were in bloom.\n\t\t\t I was beside myself with joy! There please give me your myrrh, O daughter of my princely people.\n\t\t\t Turn, turn, O Perfect One! Turn, turn, that I may stare at you! Why do you gaze upon the Perfect One like the dance of the Mahanaim?\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t How beautiful are your sandaled feet, O nobleman's daughter! The curves of your thighs are like jewels, the work of the hands of a master craftsman.\n\t\t\t Your navel is a round mixing bowl, may it never lack mixed wine! Your belly is a mound of wheat, encircled by lilies.\n\t\t\t Your two breasts are like two fawns, twins of a gazelle.\n\t\t\t Your neck is like a tower made of ivory. Your eyes are the pools in Heshbon by the gate of Bath-Rabbim. Your nose is like the tower of Lebanon overlooking Damascus.\n\t\t\t Your head crowns you like Mount Carmel. The locks of your hair are like royal tapestries, the king is held captive in its tresses!\n\t\t\t How beautiful you are! How lovely, O love, with your delights!\n\t\t\t Your stature is like a palm tree, and your breasts are like clusters of grapes.\n\t\t\t I want to climb the palm tree, and take hold of its fruit stalks. May your breasts be like the clusters of grapes, and may the fragrance of your breath be like apricots!\n\t\t\t May your mouth be like the best wine, flowing smoothly for my beloved, gliding gently over our lips as we sleep together.\n\t\t\t I am my beloved's, and he desires me!\n\t\t\t Come, my beloved, let us go to the countryside; let us spend the night in the villages.\n\t\t\t Let us rise early to go to the vineyards, to see if the vines have budded, to see if their blossoms have opened, if the pomegranates are in bloom, there I will give you my love.\n\t\t\t The mandrakes send out their fragrance; over our door is every delicacy, both new and old, which I have stored up for you, my lover.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Oh, how I wish you were my little brother, nursing at my mother's breasts; if I saw you outside, I could kiss you, surely no one would despise me!\n\t\t\t I would lead you and bring you to my mother's house, the one who taught me. I would give you spiced wine to drink, the nectar of my pomegranates.\n\t\t\t His left hand caresses my head, and his right hand stimulates me.\n\t\t\t I admonish you, O maidens of Jerusalem: \"Do not arouse or awaken love until it pleases!\"\n\t\t\t Who is this coming up from the desert, leaning on her beloved? Under the apple tree I aroused you; there your mother conceived you, there she who bore you was in labor of childbirth.\n\t\t\t Set me like a cylinder seal over your heart, like a signet on your arm. For love is as strong as death, passion is as unrelenting as Sheol. Its flames burst forth, it is a blazing flame.\n\t\t\t Surging waters cannot quench love; floodwaters cannot overflow it. If someone were to offer all his possessions to buy love, the offer would be utterly despised.\n\t\t\t We have a little sister, and as yet she has no breasts. What shall we do for our sister on the day when she is spoken for?\n\t\t\t If she is a wall, we will build on her a battlement of silver; but if she is a door, we will barricade her with boards of cedar.\n\t\t\t I was a wall, and my breasts were like fortress towers. Then I found favor in his eyes.\n\t\t\t Solomon had a vineyard at Baal-Hamon; he leased out the vineyard to those who maintained it. Each was to bring a thousand shekels of silver for its fruit.\n\t\t\t My vineyard, which belongs to me, is at my disposal alone. The thousand shekels belong to you, O Solomon, and two hundred shekels belong to those who maintain it for its fruit.\n\t\t\t O you who stay in the gardens, my companions are listening attentively for your voice; let me be the one to hear it!\n\t\t\t Make haste, my beloved! Be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of spices.\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Here is the message about Judah and Jerusalem that was revealed to Isaiah son of Amoz during the time when Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah reigned over Judah.\n\t\t\t Listen, O heavens, pay attention, O earth! For the LORD speaks: \"I raised children, I brought them up, but they have rebelled against me!\n\t\t\t An ox recognizes its owner, a donkey recognizes where its owner puts its food; but Israel does not recognize me, my people do not understand.\"\n\t\t\t The sinful nation is as good as dead, the people weighed down by evil deeds. They are offspring who do wrong, children who do wicked things. They have abandoned the LORD, and rejected the Holy One of Israel. They are alienated from him.\n\t\t\t Why do you insist on being battered? Why do you continue to rebel? Your head has a massive wound, your whole body is weak.\n\t\t\t From the soles of your feet to your head, there is no spot that is unharmed. There are only bruises, cuts, and open wounds. They have not been cleansed or bandaged, nor have they been treated with olive oil.\n\t\t\t Your land is devastated, your cities burned with fire. Right before your eyes your crops are being destroyed by foreign invaders. They leave behind devastation and destruction.\n\t\t\t Daughter Zion is left isolated, like a hut in a vineyard, or a shelter in a cucumber field; she is a besieged city.\n\t\t\t If the LORD who commands armies had not left us a few survivors, we would have quickly become like Sodom, we would have become like Gomorrah.\n\t\t\t Listen to the LORD's word, you leaders of Sodom! Pay attention to our God's rebuke, people of Gomorrah!\n\t\t\t \"Of what importance to me are your many sacrifices?\" says the LORD. \"I am stuffed with burnt sacrifices of rams and the fat from steers. The blood of bulls, lambs, and goats I do not want.\n\t\t\t When you enter my presence, do you actually think I want this, animals trampling on my courtyards?\n\t\t\t Do not bring any more meaningless offerings; I consider your incense detestable! You observe new moon festivals, Sabbaths, and convocations, but I cannot tolerate sin-stained celebrations!\n\t\t\t I hate your new moon festivals and assemblies; they are a burden that I am tired of carrying.\n\t\t\t When you spread out your hands in prayer, I look the other way; when you offer your many prayers, I do not listen, because your hands are covered with blood.\n\t\t\t Wash! Cleanse yourselves! Remove your sinful deeds from my sight. Stop sinning!\n\t\t\t Learn to do what is right! Promote justice! Give the oppressed reason to celebrate! Take up the cause of the orphan! Defend the rights of the widow!\n\t\t\t Come, let's consider your options,\" says the LORD. \"Though your sins have stained you like the color red, you can become white like snow; though they are as easy to see as the color scarlet, you can become white like wool.\n\t\t\t If you have a willing attitude and obey, then you will again eat the good crops of the land.\n\t\t\t But if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.\" Know for certain that the LORD has spoken.\n\t\t\t How tragic that the once-faithful city has become a prostitute! She was once a center of justice, fairness resided in her, but now only murderers.\n\t\t\t Your silver has become scum, your beer is diluted with water.\n\t\t\t Your officials are rebels, they associate with thieves. All of them love bribery, and look for payoffs. They do not take up the cause of the orphan, or defend the rights of the widow.\n\t\t\t Therefore, the sovereign LORD who commands armies, the powerful ruler of Israel, says this: \"Ah, I will seek vengeance against my adversaries, I will take revenge against my enemies.\n\t\t\t I will attack you; I will purify your metal with flux. I will remove all your slag.\n\t\t\t I will reestablish honest judges as in former times, wise advisers as in earlier days. Then you will be called, 'The Just City, Faithful Town.'\"\n\t\t\t Zion will be freed by justice, and her returnees by righteousness.\n\t\t\t All rebellious sinners will be shattered, those who abandon the LORD will perish.\n\t\t\t Indeed, they will be ashamed of the sacred trees you find so desirable; you will be embarrassed because of the sacred orchards where you choose to worship.\n\t\t\t For you will be like a tree whose leaves wither, like an orchard that is unwatered.\n\t\t\t The powerful will be like a thread of yarn, their deeds like a spark; both will burn together, and no one will put out the fire.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Here is the message about Judah and Jerusalem that was revealed to Isaiah son of Amoz.\n\t\t\t In the future the mountain of the LORD's temple will endure as the most important of mountains, and will be the most prominent of hills. All the nations will stream to it,\n\t\t\t many peoples will come and say, \"Come, let us go up to the LORD's mountain, to the temple of the God of Jacob, so he can teach us his requirements, and we can follow his standards.\" For Zion will be the center for moral instruction; the LORD will issue edicts from Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t He will judge disputes between nations; he will settle cases for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks. Nations will not take up the sword against other nations, and they will no longer train for war.\n\t\t\t O descendants of Jacob, come, let us walk in the LORD's guiding light.\n\t\t\t Indeed, O LORD, you have abandoned your people, the descendants of Jacob. For diviners from the east are everywhere; they consult omen readers like the Philistines do. Plenty of foreigners are around.\n\t\t\t Their land is full of gold and silver; there is no end to their wealth. Their land is full of horses; there is no end to their chariots.\n\t\t\t Their land is full of worthless idols; they worship the product of their own hands, what their own fingers have fashioned.\n\t\t\t Men bow down to them in homage, they lie flat on the ground in worship. Don't spare them!\n\t\t\t Go up into the rocky cliffs, hide in the ground. Get away from the dreadful judgment of the LORD, from his royal splendor!\n\t\t\t Proud men will be brought low, arrogant men will be humiliated; the LORD alone will be exalted in that day.\n\t\t\t Indeed, the LORD who commands armies has planned a day of judgment, for all the high and mighty, for all who are proud, they will be humiliated;\n\t\t\t for all the cedars of Lebanon, that are so high and mighty, for all the oaks of Bashan;\n\t\t\t for all the tall mountains, for all the high hills,\n\t\t\t for every high tower, for every fortified wall,\n\t\t\t for all the large ships, for all the impressive ships.\n\t\t\t Proud men will be humiliated, arrogant men will be brought low; the LORD alone will be exalted in that day.\n\t\t\t The worthless idols will be completely eliminated.\n\t\t\t They will go into caves in the rocky cliffs and into holes in the ground, trying to escape the dreadful judgment of the LORD and his royal splendor, when he rises up to terrify the earth.\n\t\t\t At that time men will throw their silver and gold idols, which they made for themselves to worship, into the caves where rodents and bats live,\n\t\t\t so they themselves can go into the crevices of the rocky cliffs and the openings under the rocky overhangs, trying to escape the dreadful judgment of the LORD and his royal splendor, when he rises up to terrify the earth.\n\t\t\t Stop trusting in human beings, whose life's breath is in their nostrils. For why should they be given special consideration?\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Look, the sovereign LORD who commands armies is about to remove from Jerusalem and Judah every source of security, including all the food and water,\n\t\t\t the mighty men and warriors, judges and prophets, omen readers and leaders,\n\t\t\t captains of groups of fifty, the respected citizens, advisers and those skilled in magical arts, and those who know incantations.\n\t\t\t The LORD says, \"I will make youths their officials; malicious young men will rule over them.\n\t\t\t The people will treat each other harshly; men will oppose each other; neighbors will fight. Youths will proudly defy the elderly and riffraff will challenge those who were once respected.\n\t\t\t Indeed, a man will grab his brother right in his father's house and say, 'You own a coat, you be our leader! This heap of ruins will be under your control.'\n\t\t\t At that time the brother will shout, 'I am no doctor, I have no food or coat in my house; don't make me a leader of the people!'\"\n\t\t\t Jerusalem certainly stumbles, Judah falls, for their words and their actions offend the LORD; they rebel against his royal authority.\n\t\t\t The look on their faces testifies to their guilt; like the people of Sodom they openly boast of their sin. Too bad for them! For they bring disaster on themselves.\n\t\t\t Tell the innocent it will go well with them, for they will be rewarded for what they have done.\n\t\t\t Too bad for the wicked sinners! For they will get exactly what they deserve.\n\t\t\t Oppressors treat my people cruelly; creditors rule over them. My people's leaders mislead them; they give you confusing directions.\n\t\t\t The LORD takes his position to judge; he stands up to pass sentence on his people.\n\t\t\t The LORD comes to pronounce judgment on the leaders of his people and their officials. He says, \"It is you who have ruined the vineyard! You have stashed in your houses what you have stolen from the poor.\n\t\t\t Why do you crush my people and grind the faces of the poor?\" The sovereign LORD who commands armies has spoken.\n\t\t\t The LORD says, \"The women of Zion are proud. They walk with their heads high and flirt with their eyes. They skip along and the jewelry on their ankles jingles.\n\t\t\t So the sovereign master will afflict the foreheads of Zion's women with skin diseases, the LORD will make the front of their heads bald.\"\n\t\t\t At that time the sovereign master will remove their beautiful ankle jewelry, neck ornaments, crescent shaped ornaments, \n\t\t\t earrings, bracelets, veils,\n\t\t\t headdresses, ankle ornaments, sashes, sachets, amulets, \n\t\t\t rings, nose rings,\n\t\t\t festive dresses, robes, shawls, purses,\n\t\t\t garments, vests, head coverings, and gowns.\n\t\t\t A putrid stench will replace the smell of spices, a rope will replace a belt, baldness will replace braided locks of hair, a sackcloth garment will replace a fine robe, and a prisoner's brand will replace beauty.\n\t\t\t Your men will fall by the sword, your strong men will die in battle.\n\t\t\t Her gates will mourn and lament; deprived of her people, she will sit on the ground.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Seven women will grab hold of one man at that time. They will say, \"We will provide our own food, we will provide our own clothes; but let us belong to you, take away our shame!\"\n\t\t\t At that time the crops given by the LORD will bring admiration and honor; the produce of the land will be a source of pride and delight to those who remain in Israel.\n\t\t\t Those remaining in Zion, those left in Jerusalem, will be called \"holy,\" all in Jerusalem who are destined to live.\n\t\t\t At that time the sovereign master will wash the excrement from Zion's women, he will rinse the bloodstains from Jerusalem's midst, as he comes to judge and to bring devastation.\n\t\t\t Then the LORD will create over all of Mount Zion and over its convocations a cloud and smoke by day and a bright flame of fire by night; indeed a canopy will accompany the LORD's glorious presence.\n\t\t\t By day it will be a shelter to provide shade from the heat, as well as safety and protection from the heavy downpour.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t I will sing to my love, a song to my lover about his vineyard. My love had a vineyard on a fertile hill.\n\t\t\t He built a hedge around it, removed its stones, and planted a vine. He built a tower in the middle of it, and constructed a winepress. He waited for it to produce edible grapes, but it produced sour ones instead.\n\t\t\t So now, residents of Jerusalem, people of Judah, you decide between me and my vineyard!\n\t\t\t What more can I do for my vineyard beyond what I have already done? When I waited for it to produce edible grapes, why did it produce sour ones instead?\n\t\t\t Now I will inform you what I am about to do to my vineyard: I will remove its hedge and turn it into pasture, I will break its wall and allow animals to graze there.\n\t\t\t I will make it a wasteland; no one will prune its vines or hoe its ground, and thorns and briers will grow there. I will order the clouds not to drop any rain on it.\n\t\t\t Indeed Israel is the vineyard of the LORD who commands armies, the people of Judah are the cultivated place in which he took delight. He waited for justice, but look what he got, disobedience! He waited for fairness, but look what he got, cries for help!\n\t\t\t Those who accumulate houses are as good as dead, those who also accumulate landed property until there is no land left, and you are the only landowners remaining within the land.\n\t\t\t The LORD who commands armies told me this: \"Many houses will certainly become desolate, large, impressive houses will have no one living in them.\n\t\t\t Indeed, a large vineyard will produce just a few gallons, and enough seed to yield several bushels will produce less than a bushel.\"\n\t\t\t Those who get up early to drink beer are as good as dead, those who keep drinking long after dark until they are intoxicated with wine.\n\t\t\t They have stringed instruments, tambourines, flutes, and wine at their parties. So they do not recognize what the LORD is doing, they do not perceive what he is bringing about.\n\t\t\t Therefore my people will be deported because of their lack of understanding. Their leaders will have nothing to eat, their masses will have nothing to drink.\n\t\t\t So Death will open up its throat, and open wide its mouth; Zion's dignitaries and masses will descend into it, including those who revel and celebrate within her.\n\t\t\t Men will be humiliated, they will be brought low; the proud will be brought low.\n\t\t\t The LORD who commands armies will be exalted when he punishes, the sovereign God's authority will be recognized when he judges.\n\t\t\t Lambs will graze as if in their pastures, amid the ruins the rich sojourners will graze.\n\t\t\t Those who pull evil along using cords of emptiness are as good as dead, who pull sin as with cart ropes.\n\t\t\t They say, \"Let him hurry, let him act quickly, so we can see; let the plan of the Holy One of Israel take shape and come to pass, then we will know it!\"\n\t\t\t Those who call evil good and good evil are as good as dead, who turn darkness into light and light into darkness, who turn bitter into sweet and sweet into bitter.\n\t\t\t Those who think they are wise are as good as dead, those who think they possess understanding.\n\t\t\t Those who are champions at drinking wine are as good as dead, who display great courage when mixing strong drinks.\n\t\t\t They pronounce the guilty innocent for a payoff, they ignore the just cause of the innocent.\n\t\t\t Therefore, as flaming fire devours straw, and dry grass disintegrates in the flames, so their root will rot, and their flower will blow away like dust. For they have rejected the law of the LORD who commands armies, they have spurned the commands of the Holy One of Israel.\n\t\t\t So the LORD is furious with his people; he lifts his hand and strikes them. The mountains shake, and corpses lie like manure in the middle of the streets. Despite all this, his anger does not subside, and his hand is ready to strike again.\n\t\t\t He lifts a signal flag for a distant nation, he whistles for it to come from the far regions of the earth. Look, they come quickly and swiftly.\n\t\t\t None tire or stumble, they don't stop to nap or sleep. They don't loosen their belts, or unstrap their sandals to rest.\n\t\t\t Their arrows are sharpened, and all their bows are prepared. The hooves of their horses are hard as flint, and their chariot wheels are like a windstorm.\n\t\t\t Their roar is like a lion's; they roar like young lions. They growl and seize their prey; they drag it away and no one can come to the rescue.\n\t\t\t At that time they will growl over their prey, it will sound like sea waves crashing against rocks. One will look out over the land and see the darkness of disaster, clouds will turn the light into darkness.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t In the year of King Uzziah's death, I saw the sovereign master seated on a high, elevated throne. The hem of his robe filled the temple. \n\t\t\t Seraphs stood over him; each one had six wings. With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and they used the remaining two to fly. \n\t\t\t They called out to one another, \"Holy, holy, holy is the Lord who commands armies! His majestic splendor fills the entire earth!\" \n\t\t\t The sound of their voices shook the door frames, and the temple was filled with smoke.\n\t\t\t I said, \"Too bad for me! I am destroyed, for my lips are contaminated by sin, and I live among people whose lips are contaminated by sin. My eyes have seen the king, the LORD who commands armies.\"\n\t\t\t But then one of the seraphs flew toward me. In his hand was a hot coal he had taken from the altar with tongs.\n\t\t\t He touched my mouth with it and said, \"Look, this coal has touched your lips. Your evil is removed; your sin is forgiven.\"\n\t\t\t I heard the voice of the sovereign master say, \"Whom will I send? Who will go on our behalf?\" I answered, \"Here I am, send me!\" \n\t\t\t He said, \"Go and tell these people: 'Listen continually, but don't understand! Look continually, but don't perceive!'\n\t\t\t Make the hearts of these people calloused; make their ears deaf and their eyes blind! Otherwise they might see with their eyes and hear with their ears, their hearts might understand and they might repent and be healed.\"\n\t\t\t I replied, \"How long, sovereign master?\" He said, \"Until cities are in ruins and unpopulated, and houses are uninhabited, and the land is ruined and devastated,\n\t\t\t and the LORD has sent the people off to a distant place, and the very heart of the land is completely abandoned.\n\t\t\t Even if only a tenth of the people remain in the land, it will again be destroyed, like one of the large sacred trees or an Asherah pole, when a sacred pillar on a high place is thrown down. That sacred pillar symbolizes the special chosen family.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t During the reign of Ahaz son of Jotham, son of Uzziah, king of Judah, King Rezin of Syria and King Pekah son of Remaliah of Israel marched up to Jerusalem to do battle, but they were unable to prevail against it.\n\t\t\t It was reported to the family of David, \"Syria has allied with Ephraim.\" They and their people were emotionally shaken, just as the trees of the forest shake before the wind.\n\t\t\t So the LORD told Isaiah, \"Go out with your son Shear-jashub and meet Ahaz at the end of the conduit of the upper pool which is located on the road to the field where they wash and dry cloth.\n\t\t\t Tell him, 'Make sure you stay calm! Don't be afraid! Don't be intimidated by these two stubs of smoking logs, or by the raging anger of Rezin, Syria, and the son of Remaliah. \n\t\t\t Syria has plotted with Ephraim and the son of Remaliah to bring about your demise.\n\t\t\t They say, \"Let's attack Judah, terrorize it, and conquer it. Then we'll set up the son of Tabeel as its king.\"\n\t\t\t For this reason the sovereign master, the LORD, says: \"It will not take place; it will not happen.\n\t\t\t For Syria's leader is Damascus, and the leader of Damascus is Rezin. Within sixty-five years Ephraim will no longer exist as a nation.\n\t\t\t Ephraim's leader is Samaria, and Samaria's leader is the son of Remaliah. If your faith does not remain firm, then you will not remain secure.\"\n\t\t\t The LORD again spoke to Ahaz:\n\t\t\t \"Ask for a confirming sign from the LORD your God. You can even ask for something miraculous.\"\n\t\t\t But Ahaz responded, \"I don't want to ask; I don't want to put the LORD to a test.\"\n\t\t\t So Isaiah replied, \"Pay attention, family of David. Do you consider it too insignificant to try the patience of men? Is that why you are also trying the patience of my God? \n\t\t\t For this reason the sovereign master himself will give you a confirming sign. Look, this young woman is about to conceive and will give birth to a son. You, young woman, will name him Immanuel.\n\t\t\t He will eat sour milk and honey, which will help him know how to reject evil and choose what is right. \n\t\t\t Here is why this will be so: Before the child knows how to reject evil and choose what is right, the land whose two kings you fear will be desolate.\n\t\t\t The LORD will bring on you, your people, and your father's family a time unlike any since Ephraim departed from Judah, the king of Assyria!\"\n\t\t\t At that time the LORD will whistle for flies from the distant streams of Egypt and for bees from the land of Assyria.\n\t\t\t All of them will come and make their home in the ravines between the cliffs, and in the crevices of the cliffs, in all the thorn bushes, and in all the watering holes.\n\t\t\t At that time the sovereign master will use a razor hired from the banks of the Euphrates River, the king of Assyria, to shave the head and the pubic hair; it will also shave off the beard. \n\t\t\t At that time a man will keep alive a young cow from the herd and a couple of goats. \n\t\t\t From the abundance of milk they produce, he will have sour milk for his meals. Indeed, everyone left in the heart of the land will eat sour milk and honey. \n\t\t\t At that time every place where there had been a thousand vines worth a thousand shekels will be overrun with thorns and briers. \n\t\t\t With bow and arrow men will hunt there, for the whole land will be covered with thorns and briers. \n\t\t\t They will stay away from all the hills that were cultivated, for fear of the thorns and briers. Cattle will graze there and sheep will trample on them.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The LORD told me, \"Take a large tablet and inscribe these words on it with an ordinary stylus: 'Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz.'\n\t\t\t Then I will summon as my reliable witnesses Uriah the priest and Zechariah son of Jeberekiah.\" \n\t\t\t I then had sexual relations with the prophetess; she conceived and gave birth to a son. The LORD told me, \"Name him Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz,\n\t\t\t for before the child knows how to cry out, 'My father' or 'My mother,' the wealth of Damascus and the plunder of Samaria will be carried off by the king of Assyria.\"\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to me again:\n\t\t\t \"These people have rejected the gently flowing waters of Shiloah and melt in fear over Rezin and the son of Remaliah.\n\t\t\t So look, the sovereign master is bringing up against them the turbulent and mighty waters of the Euphrates River, the king of Assyria and all his majestic power. It will reach flood stage and overflow its banks.\n\t\t\t It will spill into Judah, flooding and engulfing, as it reaches to the necks of its victims. He will spread his wings out over your entire land, O Immanuel.\"\n\t\t\t You will be broken, O nations; you will be shattered! Pay attention, all you distant lands of the earth! Get ready for battle, and you will be shattered! Get ready for battle, and you will be shattered!\n\t\t\t Devise your strategy, but it will be thwarted! Issue your orders, but they will not be executed! For God is with us!\n\t\t\t Indeed this is what the LORD told me. He took hold of me firmly and warned me not to act like these people:\n\t\t\t \"Do not say, 'Conspiracy,' every time these people say the word. Don't be afraid of what scares them; don't be terrified.\n\t\t\t You must recognize the authority of the LORD who commands armies. He is the one you must respect; he is the one you must fear.\n\t\t\t He will become a sanctuary, but a stone that makes a person trip, and a rock that makes one stumble, to the two houses of Israel. He will become a trap and a snare to the residents of Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t Many will stumble over the stone and the rock, and will fall and be seriously injured, and will be ensnared and captured.\"\n\t\t\t Tie up the scroll as legal evidence, seal the official record of God's instructions and give it to my followers.\n\t\t\t I will wait patiently for the LORD, who has rejected the family of Jacob; I will wait for him.\n\t\t\t Look, I and the sons whom the LORD has given me are reminders and object lessons in Israel, sent from the LORD who commands armies, who lives on Mount Zion.\n\t\t\t They will say to you, \"Seek oracles at the pits used to conjure up underworld spirits, from the magicians who chirp and mutter incantations. Should people not seek oracles from their gods, by asking the dead about the destiny of the living?\"\n\t\t\t Then you must recall the LORD's instructions and the prophetic testimony of what would happen. Certainly they say such things because their minds are spiritually darkened.\n\t\t\t They will pass through the land destitute and starving. Their hunger will make them angry, and they will curse their king and their God as they look upward. \n\t\t\t When one looks out over the land, he sees distress and darkness, gloom and anxiety, darkness and people forced from the land.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The gloom will be dispelled for those who were anxious. In earlier times he humiliated the land of Zebulun, and the land of Naphtali; but now he brings honor to the way of the sea, the region beyond the Jordan, and Galilee of the nations.\n\t\t\t The people walking in darkness see a bright light; light shines on those who live in a land of deep darkness.\n\t\t\t You have enlarged the nation; you give them great joy. They rejoice in your presence as harvesters rejoice; as warriors celebrate when they divide up the plunder.\n\t\t\t For their oppressive yoke and the club that strikes their shoulders, the cudgel the oppressor uses on them, you have shattered, as in the day of Midian's defeat.\n\t\t\t Indeed every boot that marches and shakes the earth and every garment dragged through blood is used as fuel for the fire.\n\t\t\t For a child has been born to us, a son has been given to us. He shoulders responsibility and is called: Extraordinary Strategist, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.\n\t\t\t His dominion will be vast and he will bring immeasurable prosperity. He will rule on David's throne and over David's kingdom, establishing it and strengthening it by promoting justice and fairness, from this time forward and forevermore. The LORD's intense devotion to his people will accomplish this.\n\t\t\t The sovereign master decreed judgment on Jacob, and it fell on Israel.\n\t\t\t All the people were aware of it, the people of Ephraim and those living in Samaria. Yet with pride and an arrogant attitude, they said,\n\t\t\t \"The bricks have fallen, but we will rebuild with chiseled stone; the sycamore fig trees have been cut down, but we will replace them with cedars.\"\n\t\t\t Then the LORD provoked their adversaries to attack them, he stirred up their enemies,\n\t\t\t Syria from the east, and the Philistines from the west, they gobbled up Israelite territory. Despite all this, his anger does not subside, and his hand is ready to strike again.\n\t\t\t The people did not return to the one who struck them, they did not seek reconciliation with the LORD who commands armies.\n\t\t\t So the LORD cut off Israel's head and tail, both the shoots and stalk in one day.\n\t\t\t The leaders and the highly respected people are the head, the prophets who teach lies are the tail.\n\t\t\t The leaders of this nation were misleading people, and the people being led were destroyed.\n\t\t\t So the sovereign master was not pleased with their young men, he took no pity on their orphans and widows; for the whole nation was godless and did wicked things, every mouth was speaking disgraceful words. Despite all this, his anger does not subside, and his hand is ready to strike again.\n\t\t\t For evil burned like a fire, it consumed thorns and briers; it burned up the thickets of the forest, and they went up in smoke.\n\t\t\t Because of the anger of the LORD who commands armies, the land was scorched, and the people became fuel for the fire. People had no compassion on one another.\n\t\t\t They devoured on the right, but were still hungry, they ate on the left, but were not satisfied. People even ate the flesh of their own arm!\n\t\t\t Manasseh fought against Ephraim, and Ephraim against Manasseh; together they fought against Judah. Despite all this, his anger does not subside, and his hand is ready to strike again.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Those who enact unjust policies are as good as dead, those who are always instituting unfair regulations,\n\t\t\t to keep the poor from getting fair treatment, and to deprive the oppressed among my people of justice, so they can steal what widows own, and loot what belongs to orphans.\n\t\t\t What will you do on judgment day, when destruction arrives from a distant place? To whom will you run for help? Where will you leave your wealth?\n\t\t\t You will have no place to go, except to kneel with the prisoners, or to fall among those who have been killed. Despite all this, his anger does not subside, and his hand is ready to strike again.\n\t\t\t Assyria, the club I use to vent my anger, is as good as dead, a cudgel with which I angrily punish.\n\t\t\t I sent him against a godless nation, I ordered him to attack the people with whom I was angry, to take plunder and to carry away loot, to trample them down like dirt in the streets.\n\t\t\t But he does not agree with this, his mind does not reason this way, for his goal is to destroy, and to eliminate many nations.\n\t\t\t Indeed, he says: \"Are not my officials all kings?\n\t\t\t Is not Calneh like Carchemish? Hamath like Arpad? Samaria like Damascus?\n\t\t\t I overpowered kingdoms ruled by idols, whose carved images were more impressive than Jerusalem's or Samaria's.\n\t\t\t As I have done to Samaria and its idols, so I will do to Jerusalem and its idols.\"\n\t\t\t But when the sovereign master finishes judging Mount Zion and Jerusalem, then I will punish the king of Assyria for what he has proudly planned and for the arrogant attitude he displays.\n\t\t\t For he says: \"By my strong hand I have accomplished this, by my strategy that I devised. I invaded the territory of nations, and looted their storehouses. Like a mighty conqueror, I brought down rulers.\n\t\t\t My hand discovered the wealth of the nations, as if it were in a nest, as one gathers up abandoned eggs, I gathered up the whole earth. There was no wing flapping, or open mouth chirping.\"\n\t\t\t Does an ax exalt itself over the one who wields it, or a saw magnify itself over the one who cuts with it? As if a scepter should brandish the one who raises it, or a staff should lift up what is not made of wood!\n\t\t\t For this reason the sovereign master, the LORD who commands armies, will make his healthy ones emaciated. His majestic glory will go up in smoke.\n\t\t\t The light of Israel will become a fire, their Holy One will become a flame; it will burn and consume the Assyrian king's briers and his thorns in one day.\n\t\t\t The splendor of his forest and his orchard will be completely destroyed, as when a sick man's life ebbs away.\n\t\t\t There will be so few trees left in his forest, a child will be able to count them.\n\t\t\t At that time those left in Israel, those who remain of the family of Jacob, will no longer rely on a foreign leader that abuses them. Instead they will truly rely on the LORD, the Holy One of Israel.\n\t\t\t A remnant will come back, a remnant of Jacob, to the mighty God.\n\t\t\t For though your people, Israel, are as numerous as the sand on the seashore, only a remnant will come back. Destruction has been decreed; just punishment is about to engulf you.\n\t\t\t The sovereign master, the LORD who commands armies, is certainly ready to carry out the decreed destruction throughout the land.\n\t\t\t So here is what the sovereign master, the LORD who commands armies, says: \"My people who live in Zion, do not be afraid of Assyria, even though they beat you with a club and lift their cudgel against you as Egypt did.\n\t\t\t For very soon my fury will subside, and my anger will be directed toward their destruction.\" \n\t\t\t The LORD who commands armies is about to beat them with a whip, similar to the way he struck down Midian at the rock of Oreb. He will use his staff against the sea, lifting it up as he did in Egypt.\n\t\t\t At that time the LORD will remove their burden from your shoulders, and their yoke from your neck; the yoke will be taken off because your neck will be too large.\n\t\t\t They attacked Aiath, moved through Migron, depositing their supplies at Micmash.\n\t\t\t They went through the pass, spent the night at Geba. Ramah trembled, Gibeah of Saul ran away.\n\t\t\t Shout out, daughter of Gallim! Pay attention, Laishah! Answer her, Anathoth!\n\t\t\t Madmenah flees, the residents of Gebim have hidden.\n\t\t\t This very day, standing in Nob, they shake their fist at Daughter Zion's mountain, at the hill of Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t Look, the sovereign master, the LORD who commands armies, is ready to cut off the branches with terrifying power. The tallest trees will be cut down, the loftiest ones will be brought low.\n\t\t\t The thickets of the forest will be chopped down with an ax, and mighty Lebanon will fall.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t A shoot will grow out of Jesse's root stock, a bud will sprout from his roots.\n\t\t\t The LORD's spirit will rest on him, a spirit that gives extraordinary wisdom, a spirit that provides the ability to execute plans, a spirit that produces absolute loyalty to the LORD.\n\t\t\t He will take delight in obeying the LORD. He will not judge by mere appearances, or make decisions on the basis of hearsay.\n\t\t\t He will treat the poor fairly, and make right decisions for the downtrodden of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and order the wicked to be executed.\n\t\t\t Justice will be like a belt around his waist, integrity will be like a belt around his hips.\n\t\t\t A wolf will reside with a lamb, and a leopard will lie down with a young goat; an ox and a young lion will graze together, as a small child leads them along.\n\t\t\t A cow and a bear will graze together, their young will lie down together. A lion, like an ox, will eat straw.\n\t\t\t A baby will play over the hole of a snake; over the nest of a serpent an infant will put his hand.\n\t\t\t They will no longer injure or destroy on my entire royal mountain. For there will be universal submission to the LORD's sovereignty, just as the waters completely cover the sea.\n\t\t\t At that time a root from Jesse will stand like a signal flag for the nations. Nations will look to him for guidance, and his residence will be majestic. \n\t\t\t At that time the sovereign master will again lift his hand to reclaim the remnant of his people from Assyria, Egypt, Pathros, Cush, Elam, Shinar, Hamath, and the seacoasts.\n\t\t\t He will lift a signal flag for the nations; he will gather Israel's dispersed people and assemble Judah's scattered people from the four corners of the earth.\n\t\t\t Ephraim's jealousy will end, and Judah's hostility will be eliminated. Ephraim will no longer be jealous of Judah, and Judah will no longer be hostile toward Ephraim.\n\t\t\t They will swoop down on the Philistine hills to the west; together they will loot the people of the east. They will take over Edom and Moab, and the Ammonites will be their subjects.\n\t\t\t The LORD will divide the gulf of the Egyptian Sea; he will wave his hand over the Euphrates River and send a strong wind, he will turn it into seven dried-up streams, and enable them to walk across in their sandals.\n\t\t\t There will be a highway leading out of Assyria for the remnant of his people, just as there was for Israel, when they went up from the land of Egypt.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t At that time you will say: \"I praise you, O LORD, for even though you were angry with me, your anger subsided, and you consoled me.\n\t\t\t Look, God is my deliverer! I will trust in him and not fear. For the LORD gives me strength and protects me; he has become my deliverer.\"\n\t\t\t Joyfully you will draw water from the springs of deliverance.\n\t\t\t At that time you will say: \"Praise the LORD! Ask him for help! Publicize his mighty acts among the nations! Make it known that he is unique!\n\t\t\t Sing to the LORD, for he has done magnificent things, let this be known throughout the earth!\n\t\t\t Cry out and shout for joy, O citizens of Zion, for the Holy One of Israel acts mightily among you!\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t This is a message about Babylon that God revealed to Isaiah son of Amoz:\n\t\t\t On a bare hill raise a signal flag, shout to them, wave your hand, so they might enter the gates of the princes!\n\t\t\t I have given orders to my chosen soldiers; I have summoned the warriors through whom I will vent my anger, my boasting, arrogant ones.\n\t\t\t There is a loud noise on the mountains, it sounds like a large army! There is great commotion among the kingdoms, nations are being assembled! The LORD who commands armies is mustering forces for battle.\n\t\t\t They come from a distant land, from the horizon. It is the LORD with his instruments of judgment, coming to destroy the whole earth.\n\t\t\t Wail, for the LORD's day of judgment is near; it comes with all the destructive power of the sovereign judge.\n\t\t\t For this reason all hands hang limp, every human heart loses its courage.\n\t\t\t They panic, cramps and pain seize hold of them like those of a woman who is straining to give birth. They look at one another in astonishment; their faces are flushed red.\n\t\t\t Look, the LORD's day of judgment is coming; it is a day of cruelty and savage, raging anger, destroying the earth and annihilating its sinners.\n\t\t\t Indeed the stars in the sky and their constellations no longer give out their light; the sun is darkened as soon as it rises, and the moon does not shine.\n\t\t\t I will punish the world for its evil, and wicked people for their sin. I will put an end to the pride of the insolent, I will bring down the arrogance of tyrants.\n\t\t\t I will make human beings more scarce than pure gold, and people more scarce than gold from Ophir.\n\t\t\t So I will shake the heavens, and the earth will shake loose from its foundation, because of the fury of the LORD who commands armies, in the day he vents his raging anger.\n\t\t\t Like a frightened gazelle or a sheep with no shepherd, each will turn toward home, each will run to his homeland.\n\t\t\t Everyone who is caught will be stabbed; everyone who is seized will die by the sword.\n\t\t\t Their children will be smashed to pieces before their very eyes; their houses will be looted and their wives raped.\n\t\t\t Look, I am stirring up the Medes to attack them; they are not concerned about silver, nor are they interested in gold.\n\t\t\t Their arrows will cut young men to ribbons; they have no compassion on a person's offspring, they will not look with pity on children.\n\t\t\t Babylon, the most admired of kingdoms, the Chaldeans' source of honor and pride, will be destroyed by God just as Sodom and Gomorrah were.\n\t\t\t No one will live there again; no one will ever reside there again. No bedouin will camp there, no shepherds will rest their flocks there.\n\t\t\t Wild animals will rest there, the ruined houses will be full of hyenas. Ostriches will live there, wild goats will skip among the ruins.\n\t\t\t Wild dogs will yip in her ruined fortresses, jackals will yelp in the once-splendid palaces. Her time is almost up, her days will not be prolonged.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The LORD will certainly have compassion on Jacob; he will again choose Israel as his special people and restore them to their land. Resident foreigners will join them and unite with the family of Jacob.\n\t\t\t Nations will take them and bring them back to their own place. Then the family of Jacob will make foreigners their servants as they settle in the LORD's land. They will make their captors captives and rule over the ones who oppressed them. \n\t\t\t When the LORD gives you relief from your suffering and anxiety, and from the hard labor which you were made to perform, \n\t\t\t you will taunt the king of Babylon with these words: \"Look how the oppressor has met his end! Hostility has ceased!\n\t\t\t The LORD has broken the club of the wicked, the scepter of rulers.\n\t\t\t It furiously struck down nations with unceasing blows. It angrily ruled over nations, oppressing them without restraint.\n\t\t\t The whole earth rests and is quiet; they break into song.\n\t\t\t The evergreens also rejoice over your demise, as do the cedars of Lebanon, singing, 'Since you fell asleep, no woodsman comes up to chop us down!'\n\t\t\t Sheol below is stirred up about you, ready to meet you when you arrive. It rouses the spirits of the dead for you, all the former leaders of the earth; it makes all the former kings of the nations rise from their thrones.\n\t\t\t All of them respond to you, saying: 'You too have become weak like us! You have become just like us!\n\t\t\t Your splendor has been brought down to Sheol, as well as the sound of your stringed instruments. You lie on a bed of maggots, with a blanket of worms over you.\n\t\t\t Look how you have fallen from the sky, O shining one, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the ground, O conqueror of the nations!\n\t\t\t You said to yourself, \"I will climb up to the sky. Above the stars of El I will set up my throne. I will rule on the mountain of assembly on the remote slopes of Zaphon.\n\t\t\t I will climb up to the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High!\"\n\t\t\t But you were brought down to Sheol, to the remote slopes of the pit.\n\t\t\t Those who see you stare at you, they look at you carefully, thinking: \"Is this the man who shook the earth, the one who made kingdoms tremble?\n\t\t\t Is this the one who made the world like a desert, who ruined its cities, and refused to free his prisoners so they could return home?\"'\n\t\t\t As for all the kings of the nations, all of them lie down in splendor, each in his own tomb.\n\t\t\t But you have been thrown out of your grave like a shoot that is thrown away. You lie among the slain, among those who have been slashed by the sword, among those headed for the stones of the pit, as if you were a mangled corpse.\n\t\t\t You will not be buried with them, because you destroyed your land and killed your people. The offspring of the wicked will never be mentioned again.\n\t\t\t Prepare to execute his sons for the sins their ancestors have committed. They must not rise up and take possession of the earth, or fill the surface of the world with cities.\"\n\t\t\t \"I will rise up against them,\" says the LORD who commands armies. \"I will blot out all remembrance of Babylon and destroy all her people, including the offspring she produces,\" says the LORD.\n\t\t\t \"I will turn her into a place that is overrun with wild animals and covered with pools of stagnant water. I will get rid of her, just as one sweeps away dirt with a broom,\" says the LORD who commands armies.\n\t\t\t The LORD who commands armies makes this solemn vow: \"Be sure of this: Just as I have intended, so it will be; just as I have planned, it will happen.\n\t\t\t I will break Assyria in my land, I will trample them underfoot on my hills. Their yoke will be removed from my people, the burden will be lifted from their shoulders.\n\t\t\t This is the plan I have devised for the whole earth; my hand is ready to strike all the nations.\"\n\t\t\t Indeed, the LORD who commands armies has a plan, and who can possibly frustrate it? His hand is ready to strike, and who can possibly stop it?\n\t\t\t In the year King Ahaz died, this message was revealed:\n\t\t\t Don't be so happy, all you Philistines, just because the club that beat you has been broken! For a viper will grow out of the serpent's root, and its fruit will be a darting adder.\n\t\t\t The poor will graze in my pastures; the needy will rest securely. But I will kill your root by famine; it will put to death all your survivors.\n\t\t\t Wail, O city gate! Cry out, O city! Melt with fear, all you Philistines! For out of the north comes a cloud of smoke, and there are no stragglers in its ranks.\n\t\t\t How will they respond to the messengers of this nation? Indeed, the LORD has made Zion secure; the oppressed among his people will find safety in her.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Here is a message about Moab: Indeed, in a night it is devastated, Ar of Moab is destroyed! Indeed, in a night it is devastated, Kir of Moab is destroyed!\n\t\t\t They went up to the temple, the people of Dibon went up to the high places to lament. Because of what happened to Nebo and Medeba, Moab wails. Every head is shaved bare, every beard is trimmed off.\n\t\t\t In their streets they wear sackcloth; on their roofs and in their town squares all of them wail, they fall down weeping.\n\t\t\t The people of Heshbon and Elealeh cry out, their voices are heard as far away as Jahaz. For this reason Moab's soldiers shout in distress; their courage wavers.\n\t\t\t My heart cries out because of Moab's plight, and for the fugitives stretched out as far as Zoar and Eglath Shelishiyah. For they weep as they make their way up the ascent of Luhith; they loudly lament their demise on the road to Horonaim.\n\t\t\t For the waters of Nimrim are gone; the grass is dried up, the vegetation has disappeared, and there are no plants.\n\t\t\t For this reason what they have made and stored up, they carry over the Stream of the Poplars.\n\t\t\t Indeed, the cries of distress echo throughout Moabite territory; their wailing can be heard in Eglaim and Beer Elim.\n\t\t\t Indeed, the waters of Dimon are full of blood! Indeed, I will heap even more trouble on Dimon. A lion will attack the Moabite fugitives and the people left in the land.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Send rams as tribute to the ruler of the land, from Sela in the desert to the hill of Daughter Zion.\n\t\t\t At the fords of the Arnon the Moabite women are like a bird that flies about when forced from its nest.\n\t\t\t \"Bring a plan, make a decision! Provide some shade in the middle of the day! Hide the fugitives! Do not betray the one who tries to escape!\n\t\t\t Please let the Moabite fugitives live among you. Hide them from the destroyer!\" Certainly the one who applies pressure will cease, the destroyer will come to an end, those who trample will disappear from the earth.\n\t\t\t Then a trustworthy king will be established; he will rule in a reliable manner, this one from David's family. He will be sure to make just decisions and will be experienced in executing justice.\n\t\t\t We have heard about Moab's pride, their great arrogance, their boasting, pride, and excess. But their boastful claims are empty!\n\t\t\t So Moab wails over its demise, they all wail! Completely devastated, they moan about what has happened to the raisin cakes of Kir Hareseth.\n\t\t\t For the fields of Heshbon are dried up, as well as the vines of Sibmah. The rulers of the nations trample all over its vines, which reach Jazer and spread to the desert; their shoots spread out and cross the sea.\n\t\t\t So I weep along with Jazer over the vines of Sibmah. I will saturate you with my tears, Heshbon and Elealeh, for the conquering invaders shout triumphantly over your fruit and crops.\n\t\t\t Joy and happiness disappear from the orchards, and in the vineyards no one rejoices or shouts; no one treads out juice in the wine vats, I have brought the joyful shouts to an end.\n\t\t\t So my heart constantly sighs for Moab, like the strumming of a harp, my inner being sighs for Kir Hareseth.\n\t\t\t When the Moabites plead with all their might at their high places, and enter their temples to pray, their prayers will be ineffective!\n\t\t\t This is the message the LORD previously announced about Moab.\n\t\t\t Now the LORD makes this announcement: \"Within exactly three years Moab's splendor will disappear, along with all her many people; there will be just a few, insignificant survivors left.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Here is a message about Damascus: \"Look, Damascus is no longer a city, it is a heap of ruins!\n\t\t\t The cities of Aroer are abandoned. They will be used for herds, which will lie down there in peace.\n\t\t\t Fortified cities will disappear from Ephraim, and Damascus will lose its kingdom. The survivors in Syria will end up like the splendor of the Israelites,\" says the LORD who commands armies.\n\t\t\t \"At that time Jacob's splendor will be greatly diminished, and he will become skin and bones.\n\t\t\t It will be as when one gathers the grain harvest, and his hand gleans the ear of grain. It will be like one gathering the ears of grain in the Valley of Rephaim.\n\t\t\t There will be some left behind, like when an olive tree is beaten, two or three ripe olives remain toward the very top, four or five on its fruitful branches,\" says the LORD God of Israel.\n\t\t\t At that time men will trust in their creator; they will depend on the Holy One of Israel.\n\t\t\t They will no longer trust in the altars their hands made, or depend on the Asherah poles and incense altars their fingers made.\n\t\t\t At that time their fortified cities will be like the abandoned summits of the Amorites, which they abandoned because of the Israelites; there will be desolation.\n\t\t\t For you ignore the God who rescues you; you pay no attention to your strong protector. So this is what happens: You cultivate beautiful plants and plant exotic vines.\n\t\t\t The day you begin cultivating, you do what you can to make it grow; the morning you begin planting, you do what you can to make it sprout. Yet the harvest will disappear in the day of disease and incurable pain.\n\t\t\t The many nations massing together are as good as dead, those who make a commotion as loud as the roaring of the sea's waves. The people making such an uproar are as good as dead, those who make an uproar as loud as the roaring of powerful waves.\n\t\t\t Though these people make an uproar as loud as the roaring of powerful waves, when he shouts at them, they will flee to a distant land, driven before the wind like dead weeds on the hills, or like dead thistles before a strong gale.\n\t\t\t In the evening there is sudden terror; by morning they vanish. This is the fate of those who try to plunder us, the destiny of those who try to loot us!\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The land of buzzing wings is as good as dead, the one beyond the rivers of Cush,\n\t\t\t that sends messengers by sea, who glide over the water's surface in boats made of papyrus. Go, you swift messengers, to a nation of tall, smooth-skinned people, to a people that are feared far and wide, to a nation strong and victorious, whose land rivers divide.\n\t\t\t All you who live in the world, who reside on the earth, you will see a signal flag raised on the mountains; you will hear a trumpet being blown.\n\t\t\t For this is what the LORD has told me: \"I will wait and watch from my place, like scorching heat produced by the sunlight, like a cloud of mist in the heat of harvest.\"\n\t\t\t For before the harvest, when the bud has sprouted, and the ripening fruit appears, he will cut off the unproductive shoots with pruning knives; he will prune the tendrils.\n\t\t\t They will all be left for the birds of the hills and the wild animals; the birds will eat them during the summer, and all the wild animals will eat them during the winter.\n\t\t\t At that time tribute will be brought to the LORD who commands armies, by a people that are tall and smooth-skinned, a people that are feared far and wide, a nation strong and victorious, whose land rivers divide. The tribute will be brought to the place where the LORD who commands armies has chosen to reside, on Mount Zion.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Here is a message about Egypt: Look, the LORD rides on a swift-moving cloud and approaches Egypt. The idols of Egypt tremble before him; the Egyptians lose their courage.\n\t\t\t \"I will provoke civil strife in Egypt, brothers will fight with each other, as will neighbors, cities, and kingdoms.\n\t\t\t The Egyptians will panic, and I will confuse their strategy. They will seek guidance from the idols and from the spirits of the dead, from the pits used to conjure up underworld spirits, and from the magicians.\n\t\t\t I will hand Egypt over to a harsh master; a powerful king will rule over them,\" says the sovereign master, the LORD who commands armies.\n\t\t\t The water of the sea will be dried up, and the river will dry up and be empty.\n\t\t\t The canals will stink; the streams of Egypt will trickle and then dry up; the bulrushes and reeds will decay,\n\t\t\t along with the plants by the mouth of the river. All the cultivated land near the river will turn to dust and be blown away.\n\t\t\t The fishermen will mourn and lament, all those who cast a fishhook into the river, and those who spread out a net on the water's surface will grieve.\n\t\t\t Those who make clothes from combed flax will be embarrassed; those who weave will turn pale.\n\t\t\t Those who make cloth will be demoralized; all the hired workers will be depressed.\n\t\t\t The officials of Zoan are nothing but fools; Pharaoh's wise advisers give stupid advice. How dare you say to Pharaoh, \"I am one of the sages, one well-versed in the writings of the ancient kings?\"\n\t\t\t But where, oh where, are your wise men? Let them tell you, let them find out what the LORD who commands armies has planned for Egypt.\n\t\t\t The officials of Zoan are fools, the officials of Memphis are misled; the rulers of her tribes lead Egypt astray.\n\t\t\t The LORD has made them undiscerning; they lead Egypt astray in all she does, so that she is like a drunk sliding around in his own vomit.\n\t\t\t Egypt will not be able to do a thing, head or tail, shoots and stalk.\n\t\t\t At that time the Egyptians will be like women. They will tremble and fear because the LORD who commands armies brandishes his fist against them.\n\t\t\t The land of Judah will humiliate Egypt. Everyone who hears about Judah will be afraid because of what the LORD who commands armies is planning to do to them.\n\t\t\t At that time five cities in the land of Egypt will speak the language of Canaan and swear allegiance to the LORD who commands armies. One will be called the City of the Sun.\n\t\t\t At that time there will be an altar for the LORD in the middle of the land of Egypt, as well as a sacred pillar dedicated to the LORD at its border. \n\t\t\t It will become a visual reminder in the land of Egypt of the LORD who commands armies. When they cry out to the LORD because of oppressors, he will send them a deliverer and defender who will rescue them. \n\t\t\t The LORD will reveal himself to the Egyptians, and they will acknowledge the LORD's authority at that time. They will present sacrifices and offerings; they will make vows to the LORD and fulfill them.\n\t\t\t The LORD will strike Egypt, striking and then healing them. They will turn to the LORD and he will listen to their prayers and heal them.\n\t\t\t At that time there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria. The Assyrians will visit Egypt, and the Egyptians will visit Assyria. The Egyptians and Assyrians will worship together.\n\t\t\t At that time Israel will be the third member of the group, along with Egypt and Assyria, and will be a recipient of blessing in the earth.\n\t\t\t The LORD who commands armies will pronounce a blessing over the earth, saying, \"Blessed be my people, Egypt, and the work of my hands, Assyria, and my special possession, Israel!\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The LORD revealed the following message during the year in which King Sargon of Assyria sent his commanding general to Ashdod, and he fought against it and captured it.\n\t\t\t At that time the LORD announced through Isaiah son of Amoz: \"Go, remove the sackcloth from your waist and take your sandals off your feet.\" He did as instructed and walked around in undergarments and barefoot.\n\t\t\t Later the LORD explained, \"In the same way that my servant Isaiah has walked around in undergarments and barefoot for the past three years, as an object lesson and omen pertaining to Egypt and Cush,\n\t\t\t so the king of Assyria will lead away the captives of Egypt and the exiles of Cush, both young and old. They will be in undergarments and barefoot, with the buttocks exposed; the Egyptians will be publicly humiliated.\n\t\t\t Those who put their hope in Cush and took pride in Egypt will be afraid and embarrassed.\n\t\t\t At that time those who live on this coast will say, 'Look what has happened to our source of hope to whom we fled for help, expecting to be rescued from the king of Assyria! How can we escape now?'\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Here is a message about the Desert by the Sea: Like strong winds blowing in the south, one invades from the desert, from a land that is feared.\n\t\t\t I have received a distressing message: \"The deceiver deceives, the destroyer destroys. Attack, you Elamites! Lay siege, you Medes! I will put an end to all the groaning!\"\n\t\t\t For this reason my stomach churns; cramps overwhelm me like the contractions of a woman in labor. I am disturbed by what I hear, horrified by what I see.\n\t\t\t My heart palpitates, I shake in fear; the twilight I desired has brought me terror.\n\t\t\t Arrange the table, lay out the carpet, eat and drink! Get up, you officers, smear oil on the shields!\n\t\t\t For this is what the sovereign master has told me: \"Go, post a guard! He must report what he sees.\n\t\t\t When he sees chariots, teams of horses, riders on donkeys, riders on camels, he must be alert, very alert.\"\n\t\t\t Then the guard cries out: \"On the watchtower, O sovereign master, I stand all day long; at my post I am stationed every night.\n\t\t\t Look what's coming! A charioteer, a team of horses.\" When questioned, he replies, \"Babylon has fallen, fallen! All the idols of her gods lie shattered on the ground!\"\n\t\t\t O my downtrodden people, crushed like stalks on the threshing floor, what I have heard from the LORD who commands armies, the God of Israel, I have reported to you.\n\t\t\t Here is a message about Dumah: Someone calls to me from Seir, \"Watchman, what is left of the night? Watchman, what is left of the night?\"\n\t\t\t The watchman replies, \"Morning is coming, but then night. If you want to ask, ask; come back again.\"\n\t\t\t Here is a message about Arabia: In the thicket of Arabia you spend the night, you Dedanite caravans.\n\t\t\t Bring out some water for the thirsty. You who live in the land of Tema, bring some food for the fugitives.\n\t\t\t For they flee from the swords, from the drawn sword and from the battle-ready bow and from the severity of the battle.\n\t\t\t For this is what the sovereign master has told me: \"Within exactly one year all the splendor of Kedar will come to an end. \n\t\t\t Just a handful of archers, the warriors of Kedar, will be left.\" Indeed, the LORD God of Israel has spoken.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Here is a message about the Valley of Vision: What is the reason that all of you go up to the rooftops?\n\t\t\t The noisy city is full of raucous sounds; the town is filled with revelry. Your slain were not cut down by the sword; they did not die in battle.\n\t\t\t All your leaders ran away together, they fled to a distant place; all your refugees were captured together, they were captured without a single arrow being shot.\n\t\t\t So I say: \"Don't look at me! I am weeping bitterly. Don't try to console me concerning the destruction of my defenseless people.\"\n\t\t\t For the sovereign master, the LORD who commands armies, has planned a day of panic, defeat, and confusion. In the Valley of Vision people shout and cry out to the hill.\n\t\t\t The Elamites picked up the quiver, and came with chariots and horsemen; the men of Kir prepared the shield.\n\t\t\t Your very best valleys were full of chariots; horsemen confidently took their positions at the gate.\n\t\t\t They removed the defenses of Judah. At that time you looked for the weapons in the House of the Forest.\n\t\t\t You saw the many breaks in the walls of the city of David; you stored up water in the lower pool.\n\t\t\t You counted the houses in Jerusalem, and demolished houses so you could have material to reinforce the wall.\n\t\t\t You made a reservoir between the two walls for the water of the old pool, but you did not trust in the one who made it; you did not depend on the one who formed it long ago!\n\t\t\t At that time the sovereign master, the LORD who commands armies, called for weeping and mourning, for shaved heads and sackcloth.\n\t\t\t But look, there is outright celebration! You say, \"Kill the ox and slaughter the sheep, eat meat and drink wine. Eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!\"\n\t\t\t The LORD who commands armies told me this: \"Certainly this sin will not be forgiven as long as you live,\" says the sovereign master, the LORD who commands armies.\n\t\t\t This is what the sovereign master, the LORD who commands armies, says: \"Go visit this administrator, Shebna, who supervises the palace, and tell him:\n\t\t\t 'What right do you have to be here? What relatives do you have buried here? Why do you chisel out a tomb for yourself here? He chisels out his burial site in an elevated place, he carves out his tomb on a cliff.\n\t\t\t Look, the LORD will throw you far away, you mere man! He will wrap you up tightly.\n\t\t\t He will wind you up tightly into a ball and throw you into a wide, open land. There you will die, and there with you will be your impressive chariots, which bring disgrace to the house of your master.\n\t\t\t I will remove you from your office; you will be thrown down from your position.\n\t\t\t \"At that time I will summon my servant Eliakim, son of Hilkiah. \n\t\t\t I will put your robe on him, tie your belt around him, and transfer your authority to him. He will become a protector of the residents of Jerusalem and of the people of Judah. \n\t\t\t I will place the key to the house of David on his shoulder. When he opens the door, no one can close it; when he closes the door, no one can open it. \n\t\t\t I will fasten him like a peg into a solid place; he will bring honor and respect to his father's family.\n\t\t\t His father's family will gain increasing prominence because of him, including the offspring and the offshoots. All the small containers, including the bowls and all the jars will hang from this peg.'\n\t\t\t \"At that time,\" says the LORD who commands armies, \"the peg fastened into a solid place will come loose. It will be cut off and fall, and the load hanging on it will be cut off.\" Indeed, the LORD has spoken.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Here is a message about Tyre: Wail, you large ships, for the port is too devastated to enter! From the land of Cyprus this news is announced to them.\n\t\t\t Lament, you residents of the coast, you merchants of Sidon who travel over the sea, whose agents sail over \n\t\t\t the deep waters! Grain from the Shihor region, crops grown near the Nile she receives; she is the trade center of the nations.\n\t\t\t Be ashamed, O Sidon, for the sea says this, O fortress of the sea: \"I have not gone into labor or given birth; I have not raised young men or brought up young women.\"\n\t\t\t When the news reaches Egypt, they will be shaken by what has happened to Tyre.\n\t\t\t Travel to Tarshish! Wail, you residents of the coast!\n\t\t\t Is this really your boisterous city whose origins are in the distant past, and whose feet led her to a distant land to reside?\n\t\t\t Who planned this for royal Tyre, whose merchants are princes, whose traders are the dignitaries of the earth?\n\t\t\t The LORD who commands armies planned it, to dishonor the pride that comes from all her beauty, to humiliate all the dignitaries of the earth.\n\t\t\t Daughter Tarshish, travel back to your land, as one crosses the Nile; there is no longer any marketplace in Tyre.\n\t\t\t The LORD stretched out his hand over the sea, he shook kingdoms; he gave the order to destroy Canaan's fortresses.\n\t\t\t He said, \"You will no longer celebrate, oppressed virgin daughter Sidon! Get up, travel to Cyprus, but you will find no relief there.\"\n\t\t\t Look at the land of the Chaldeans, these people who have lost their identity! The Assyrians have made it a home for wild animals. They erected their siege towers, demolished its fortresses, and turned it into a heap of ruins.\n\t\t\t Wail, you large ships, for your fortress is destroyed!\n\t\t\t At that time Tyre will be forgotten for seventy years, the typical life span of a king. At the end of seventy years Tyre will try to attract attention again, like the prostitute in the popular song:\n\t\t\t \"Take the harp, go through the city, forgotten prostitute! Play it well, play lots of songs, so you'll be noticed!\"\n\t\t\t At the end of seventy years the LORD will revive Tyre. She will start making money again by selling her services to all the earth's kingdoms.\n\t\t\t Her profits and earnings will be set apart for the LORD. They will not be stored up or accumulated, for her profits will be given to those who live in the LORD's presence and will be used to purchase large quantities of food and beautiful clothes.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Look, the LORD is ready to devastate the earth and leave it in ruins; he will mar its surface and scatter its inhabitants.\n\t\t\t Everyone will suffer, the priest as well as the people, the master as well as the servant, the elegant lady as well as the female attendant, the seller as well as the buyer, the borrower as well as the lender, the creditor as well as the debtor.\n\t\t\t The earth will be completely devastated and thoroughly ransacked. For the LORD has decreed this judgment.\n\t\t\t The earth dries up and withers, the world shrivels up and withers; the prominent people of the earth fade away.\n\t\t\t The earth is defiled by its inhabitants, for they have violated laws, disregarded the regulation, and broken the permanent treaty.\n\t\t\t So a treaty curse devours the earth; its inhabitants pay for their guilt. This is why the inhabitants of the earth disappear, and are reduced to just a handful of people.\n\t\t\t The new wine dries up, the vines shrivel up, all those who like to celebrate groan.\n\t\t\t The happy sound of the tambourines stops, the revelry of those who celebrate comes to a halt, the happy sound of the harp ceases.\n\t\t\t They no longer sing and drink wine; the beer tastes bitter to those who drink it.\n\t\t\t The ruined town is shattered; all of the houses are shut up tight.\n\t\t\t They howl in the streets because of what happened to the wine; all joy turns to sorrow; celebrations disappear from the earth.\n\t\t\t The city is left in ruins; the gate is reduced to rubble.\n\t\t\t This is what will happen throughout the earth, among the nations. It will be like when they beat an olive tree, and just a few olives are left at the end of the harvest.\n\t\t\t They lift their voices and shout joyfully; they praise the majesty of the LORD in the west.\n\t\t\t So in the east extol the LORD, along the seacoasts extol the fame of the LORD God of Israel.\n\t\t\t From the ends of the earth we hear songs, the Just One is majestic. But I say, \"I'm wasting away! I'm wasting away! I'm doomed! Deceivers deceive, deceivers thoroughly deceive!\"\n\t\t\t Terror, pit, and snare are ready to overtake you inhabitants of the earth!\n\t\t\t The one who runs away from the sound of the terror will fall into the pit; the one who climbs out of the pit, will be trapped by the snare. For the floodgates of the heavens are opened up and the foundations of the earth shake.\n\t\t\t The earth is broken in pieces, the earth is ripped to shreds, the earth shakes violently.\n\t\t\t The earth will stagger around like a drunk; it will sway back and forth like a hut in a windstorm. Its sin will weigh it down, and it will fall and never get up again.\n\t\t\t At that time the LORD will punish the heavenly forces in the heavens and the earthly kings on the earth.\n\t\t\t They will be imprisoned in a pit, locked up in a prison, and after staying there for a long time, they will be punished.\n\t\t\t The full moon will be covered up, the bright sun will be darkened; for the LORD who commands armies will rule on Mount Zion in Jerusalem in the presence of his assembly, in majestic splendor.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t O LORD, you are my God! I will exalt you in praise, I will extol your fame. For you have done extraordinary things, and executed plans made long ago exactly as you decreed.\n\t\t\t Indeed, you have made the city into a heap of rubble, the fortified town into a heap of ruins; the fortress of foreigners is no longer a city, it will never be rebuilt.\n\t\t\t So a strong nation will extol you; the towns of powerful nations will fear you.\n\t\t\t For you are a protector for the poor, a protector for the needy in their distress, a shelter from the rainstorm, a shade from the heat. Though the breath of tyrants is like a winter rainstorm,\n\t\t\t like heat in a dry land, you humble the boasting foreigners. Just as the shadow of a cloud causes the heat to subside, so he causes the song of tyrants to cease.\n\t\t\t The LORD who commands armies will hold a banquet for all the nations on this mountain. At this banquet there will be plenty of meat and aged wine, tender meat and choicest wine.\n\t\t\t On this mountain he will swallow up the shroud that is over all the peoples, the woven covering that is over all the nations;\n\t\t\t he will swallow up death permanently. The sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from every face, and remove his people's disgrace from all the earth. Indeed, the LORD has announced it!\n\t\t\t At that time they will say, \"Look, here is our God! We waited for him and he delivered us. Here is the LORD! We waited for him. Let's rejoice and celebrate his deliverance!\"\n\t\t\t For the LORD's power will make this mountain secure. Moab will be trampled down where it stands, as a heap of straw is trampled down in a manure pile.\n\t\t\t Moab will spread out its hands in the middle of it, just as a swimmer spreads his hands to swim; the LORD will bring down Moab's pride as it spreads its hands.\n\t\t\t The fortified city (along with the very tops of your walls) he will knock down, he will bring it down, he will throw it down to the dusty ground.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t At that time this song will be sung in the land of Judah: \"We have a strong city! The LORD's deliverance, like walls and a rampart, makes it secure.\n\t\t\t Open the gates so a righteous nation can enter, one that remains trustworthy.\n\t\t\t You keep completely safe the people who maintain their faith, for they trust in you.\n\t\t\t Trust in the LORD from this time forward, even in Yah, the LORD, an enduring protector!\n\t\t\t Indeed, the LORD knocks down those who live in a high place, he brings down an elevated town; he brings it down to the ground, he throws it down to the dust.\n\t\t\t It is trampled underfoot by the feet of the oppressed, by the soles of the poor.\"\n\t\t\t The way of the righteous is level, the path of the righteous that you make is straight.\n\t\t\t Yes, as your judgments unfold, O LORD, we wait for you. We desire your fame and reputation to grow.\n\t\t\t I look for you during the night, my spirit within me seeks you at dawn, for when your judgments come upon the earth, those who live in the world learn about justice.\n\t\t\t If the wicked are shown mercy, they do not learn about justice. Even in a land where right is rewarded, they act unjustly; they do not see the LORD's majesty revealed.\n\t\t\t O LORD, you are ready to act, but they don't even notice. They will see and be put to shame by your angry judgment against humankind, yes, fire will consume your enemies.\n\t\t\t O LORD, you make us secure, for even all we have accomplished, you have done for us.\n\t\t\t O LORD, our God, masters other than you have ruled us, but we praise your name alone.\n\t\t\t The dead do not come back to life, the spirits of the dead do not rise. That is because you came in judgment and destroyed them, you wiped out all memory of them.\n\t\t\t You have made the nation larger, O LORD, you have made the nation larger and revealed your splendor, you have extended all the borders of the land.\n\t\t\t O LORD, in distress they looked for you; they uttered incantations because of your discipline.\n\t\t\t As when a pregnant woman gets ready to deliver and strains and cries out because of her labor pains, so were we because of you, O LORD.\n\t\t\t We were pregnant, we strained, we gave birth, as it were, to wind. We cannot produce deliverance on the earth; people to populate the world are not born.\n\t\t\t Your dead will come back to life; your corpses will rise up. Wake up and shout joyfully, you who live in the ground! For you will grow like plants drenched with the morning dew, and the earth will bring forth its dead spirits.\n\t\t\t Go, my people! Enter your inner rooms! Close your doors behind you! Hide for a little while, until his angry judgment is over!\n\t\t\t For look, the LORD is coming out of the place where he lives, to punish the sin of those who live on the earth. The earth will display the blood shed on it; it will no longer cover up its slain.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t At that time the LORD will punish with his destructive, great, and powerful sword Leviathan the fast-moving serpent, Leviathan the squirming serpent; he will kill the sea monster.\n\t\t\t When that time comes, sing about a delightful vineyard!\n\t\t\t I, the LORD, protect it; I water it regularly. I guard it night and day, so no one can harm it.\n\t\t\t I am not angry. I wish I could confront some thorns and briers! Then I would march against them for battle; I would set them all on fire,\n\t\t\t unless they became my subjects and made peace with me; let them make peace with me.\n\t\t\t The time is coming when Jacob will take root; Israel will blossom and grow branches. The produce will fill the surface of the world.\n\t\t\t Has the LORD struck down Israel like he did their oppressors? Has Israel been killed like their enemies?\n\t\t\t When you summon her for divorce, you prosecute her; he drives her away with his strong wind in the day of the east wind.\n\t\t\t So in this way Jacob's sin will be forgiven, and this is how they will show they are finished sinning: They will make all the stones of the altars like crushed limestone, and the Asherah poles and the incense altars will no longer stand.\n\t\t\t For the fortified city is left alone; it is a deserted settlement and abandoned like the desert. Calves graze there; they lie down there and eat its branches bare.\n\t\t\t When its branches get brittle, they break; women come and use them for kindling. For these people lack understanding, therefore the one who made them has no compassion on them; the one who formed them has no mercy on them.\n\t\t\t At that time the LORD will shake the tree, from the Euphrates River to the Stream of Egypt. Then you will be gathered up one by one, O Israelites.\n\t\t\t At that time a large trumpet will be blown, and the ones lost in the land of Assyria will come, as well as the refugees in the land of Egypt. They will worship the LORD on the holy mountain in Jerusalem.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The splendid crown of Ephraim's drunkards is doomed, the withering flower, its beautiful splendor, situated at the head of a rich valley, the crown of those overcome with wine.\n\t\t\t Look, the sovereign master sends a strong, powerful one. With the force of a hailstorm or a destructive windstorm, with the might of a driving, torrential rainstorm, he will knock that crown to the ground with his hand.\n\t\t\t The splendid crown of Ephraim's drunkards will be trampled underfoot.\n\t\t\t The withering flower, its beautiful splendor, situated at the head of a rich valley, will be like an early fig before harvest, as soon as someone notices it, he grabs it and swallows it.\n\t\t\t At that time the LORD who commands armies will become a beautiful crown and a splendid diadem for the remnant of his people.\n\t\t\t He will give discernment to the one who makes judicial decisions, and strength to those who defend the city from attackers.\n\t\t\t Even these men stagger because of wine, they stumble around because of beer, priests and prophets stagger because of beer, they are confused because of wine, they stumble around because of beer; they stagger while seeing prophetic visions, they totter while making legal decisions.\n\t\t\t Indeed, all the tables are covered with vomit; no place is untouched.\n\t\t\t Who is the LORD trying to teach? To whom is he explaining a message? Those just weaned from milk! Those just taken from their mother's breast!\n\t\t\t Indeed, they will hear meaningless gibberish, senseless babbling, a syllable here, a syllable there.\n\t\t\t For with mocking lips and a foreign tongue he will speak to these people.\n\t\t\t In the past he said to them, \"This is where security can be found. Provide security for the one who is exhausted! This is where rest can be found.\" But they refused to listen.\n\t\t\t So the LORD's word to them will sound like meaningless gibberish, senseless babbling, a syllable here, a syllable there. As a result, they will fall on their backsides when they try to walk, and be injured, ensnared, and captured.\n\t\t\t Therefore, listen to the LORD's word, you who mock, you rulers of these people who reside in Jerusalem!\n\t\t\t For you say, \"We have made a treaty with death, with Sheol we have made an agreement. When the overwhelming judgment sweeps by it will not reach us. For we have made a lie our refuge, we have hidden ourselves in a deceitful word.\"\n\t\t\t Therefore, this is what the sovereign master, the LORD, says: \"Look, I am laying a stone in Zion, an approved stone, set in place as a precious cornerstone for the foundation. The one who maintains his faith will not panic.\n\t\t\t I will make justice the measuring line, fairness the plumb line; hail will sweep away the unreliable refuge, the floodwaters will overwhelm the hiding place.\n\t\t\t Your treaty with death will be dissolved; your agreement with Sheol will not last. When the overwhelming judgment sweeps by, you will be overrun by it.\n\t\t\t Whenever it sweeps by, it will overtake you; indeed, every morning it will sweep by, it will come through during the day and the night.\" When this announcement is understood, it will cause nothing but terror.\n\t\t\t For the bed is too short to stretch out on, and the blanket is too narrow to wrap around oneself.\n\t\t\t For the LORD will rise up, as he did at Mount Perazim, he will rouse himself, as he did in the Valley of Gibeon, to accomplish his work, his peculiar work, to perform his task, his strange task.\n\t\t\t So now, do not mock, or your chains will become heavier! For I have heard a message about decreed destruction, from the sovereign master, the LORD who commands armies, against the entire land.\n\t\t\t Pay attention and listen to my message! Be attentive and listen to what I have to say!\n\t\t\t Does a farmer just keep on plowing at planting time? Does he keep breaking up and harrowing his ground?\n\t\t\t Once he has leveled its surface, does he not scatter the seed of the caraway plant, sow the seed of the cumin plant, and plant the wheat, barley, and grain in their designated places?\n\t\t\t His God instructs him; he teaches him the principles of agriculture.\n\t\t\t Certainly caraway seed is not threshed with a sledge, nor is the wheel of a cart rolled over cumin seed. Certainly caraway seed is beaten with a stick, and cumin seed with a flail.\n\t\t\t Grain is crushed, though one certainly does not thresh it forever. The wheel of one's wagon rolls over it, but his horses do not crush it.\n\t\t\t This also comes from the LORD who commands armies, who gives supernatural guidance and imparts great wisdom.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Ariel is as good as dead, Ariel, the town David besieged! Keep observing your annual rituals, celebrate your festivals on schedule.\n\t\t\t I will threaten Ariel, and she will mourn intensely and become like an altar hearth before me.\n\t\t\t I will lay siege to you on all sides; I will besiege you with troops; I will raise siege works against you.\n\t\t\t You will fall; while lying on the ground you will speak; from the dust where you lie, your words will be heard. Your voice will sound like a spirit speaking from the underworld; from the dust you will chirp as if muttering an incantation.\n\t\t\t But the horde of invaders will be like fine dust, the horde of tyrants like chaff that is blown away. It will happen suddenly, in a flash.\n\t\t\t Judgment will come from the LORD who commands armies, accompanied by thunder, earthquake, and a loud noise, by a strong gale, a windstorm, and a consuming flame of fire.\n\t\t\t It will be like a dream, a night vision. There will be a horde from all the nations that fight against Ariel, those who attack her and her stronghold and besiege her.\n\t\t\t It will be like a hungry man dreaming that he is eating, only to awaken and find that his stomach is empty. It will be like a thirsty man dreaming that he is drinking, only to awaken and find that he is still weak and his thirst unquenched. So it will be for the horde from all the nations that fight against Mount Zion.\n\t\t\t You will be shocked and amazed! You are totally blind! They are drunk, but not because of wine; they stagger, but not because of beer.\n\t\t\t For the LORD has poured out on you a strong urge to sleep deeply. He has shut your eyes (the prophets), and covered your heads (the seers).\n\t\t\t To you this entire prophetic revelation is like words in a sealed scroll. When they hand it to one who can read and say, \"Read this,\" he responds, \"I can't, because it is sealed.\" \n\t\t\t Or when they hand the scroll to one who can't read and say, \"Read this,\" he says, \"I can't read.\"\n\t\t\t The sovereign master says, \"These people say they are loyal to me; they say wonderful things about me, but they are not really loyal to me. Their worship consists of nothing but man-made ritual.\n\t\t\t Therefore I will again do an amazing thing for these people, an absolutely extraordinary deed. Wise men will have nothing to say, the sages will have no explanations.\"\n\t\t\t Those who try to hide their plans from the LORD are as good as dead, who do their work in secret and boast, \"Who sees us? Who knows what we're doing?\"\n\t\t\t Your thinking is perverse! Should the potter be regarded as clay? Should the thing made say about its maker, \"He didn't make me\"? Or should the pottery say about the potter, \"He doesn't understand\"?\n\t\t\t In just a very short time Lebanon will turn into an orchard, and the orchard will be considered a forest.\n\t\t\t At that time the deaf will be able to hear words read from a scroll, and the eyes of the blind will be able to see through deep darkness.\n\t\t\t The downtrodden will again rejoice in the LORD; the poor among humankind will take delight in the Holy One of Israel.\n\t\t\t For tyrants will disappear, those who taunt will vanish, and all those who love to do wrong will be eliminated,\n\t\t\t those who bear false testimony against a person, who entrap the one who arbitrates at the city gate and deprive the innocent of justice by making false charges.\n\t\t\t So this is what the LORD, the one who delivered Abraham, says to the family of Jacob: \"Jacob will no longer be ashamed; their faces will no longer show their embarrassment.\n\t\t\t For when they see their children, whom I will produce among them, they will honor my name. They will honor the Holy One of Jacob; they will respect the God of Israel.\n\t\t\t Those who stray morally will gain understanding; those who complain will acquire insight.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t \"The rebellious children are as good as dead,\" says the LORD, \"those who make plans without consulting me, who form alliances without consulting my Spirit, and thereby compound their sin.\n\t\t\t They travel down to Egypt without seeking my will, seeking Pharaoh's protection, and looking for safety in Egypt's protective shade.\n\t\t\t But Pharaoh's protection will bring you nothing but shame, and the safety of Egypt's protective shade nothing but humiliation.\n\t\t\t Though his officials are in Zoan and his messengers arrive at Hanes,\n\t\t\t all will be put to shame because of a nation that cannot help them, who cannot give them aid or help, but only shame and disgrace.\"\n\t\t\t This is a message about the animals in the Negev: Through a land of distress and danger, inhabited by lionesses and roaring lions, by snakes and darting adders, they transport their wealth on the backs of donkeys, their riches on the humps of camels, to a nation that cannot help them.\n\t\t\t Egypt is totally incapable of helping. For this reason I call her 'Proud one who is silenced.'\"\n\t\t\t Now go, write it down on a tablet in their presence, inscribe it on a scroll, so that it might be preserved for a future time as an enduring witness.\n\t\t\t For these are rebellious people, they are lying children, children unwilling to obey the LORD's law.\n\t\t\t They say to the visionaries, \"See no more visions!\" and to the seers, \"Don't relate messages to us about what is right! Tell us nice things, relate deceptive messages.\n\t\t\t Turn aside from the way, stray off the path. Remove from our presence the Holy One of Israel.\"\n\t\t\t For this reason this is what the Holy One of Israel says: \"You have rejected this message; you trust instead in your ability to oppress and trick, and rely on that kind of behavior.\n\t\t\t So this sin will become your downfall. You will be like a high wall that bulges and cracks and is ready to collapse; it crumbles suddenly, in a flash.\n\t\t\t It shatters in pieces like a clay jar, so shattered to bits that none of it can be salvaged. Among its fragments one cannot find a shard large enough to scoop a hot coal from a fire or to skim off water from a cistern.\"\n\t\t\t For this is what the master, the LORD, the Holy One of Israel says: \"If you repented and patiently waited for me, you would be delivered; if you calmly trusted in me you would find strength, but you are unwilling.\n\t\t\t You say, 'No, we will flee on horses,' so you will indeed flee. You say, 'We will ride on fast horses,' so your pursuers will be fast.\n\t\t\t One thousand will scurry at the battle cry of one enemy soldier; at the battle cry of five enemy soldiers you will all run away, until the remaining few are as isolated as a flagpole on a mountaintop or a signal flag on a hill.\"\n\t\t\t For this reason the LORD is ready to show you mercy; he sits on his throne, ready to have compassion on you. Indeed, the LORD is a just God; all who wait for him in faith will be blessed.\n\t\t\t For people will live in Zion; in Jerusalem you will weep no more. When he hears your cry of despair, he will indeed show you mercy; when he hears it, he will respond to you.\n\t\t\t The sovereign master will give you distress to eat and suffering to drink; but your teachers will no longer be hidden; your eyes will see them.\n\t\t\t You will hear a word spoken behind you, saying, \"This is the correct way, walk in it,\" whether you are heading to the right or the left.\n\t\t\t You will desecrate your silver-plated idols and your gold-plated images. You will throw them away as if they were a menstrual rag, saying to them, \"Get out!\"\n\t\t\t He will water the seed you plant in the ground, and the ground will produce crops in abundance. At that time your cattle will graze in wide pastures.\n\t\t\t The oxen and donkeys used in plowing will eat seasoned feed winnowed with a shovel and pitchfork.\n\t\t\t On every high mountain and every high hill there will be streams flowing with water, at the time of great slaughter when the fortified towers collapse.\n\t\t\t The light of the full moon will be like the sun's glare and the sun's glare will be seven times brighter, like the light of seven days, when the LORD binds up his people's fractured bones and heals their severe wound.\n\t\t\t Look, the name of the LORD comes from a distant place in raging anger and awesome splendor. He speaks angrily and his word is like destructive fire.\n\t\t\t His battle cry overwhelms like a flooding river that reaches one's neck. He shakes the nations in a sieve that isolates the chaff; he puts a bit into the mouth of the nations and leads them to destruction.\n\t\t\t You will sing as you do in the evening when you are celebrating a festival. You will be happy like one who plays a flute as he goes to the mountain of the LORD, the Rock who shelters Israel.\n\t\t\t The LORD will give a mighty shout and intervene in power, with furious anger and flaming, destructive fire, with a driving rainstorm and hailstones.\n\t\t\t Indeed, the LORD's shout will shatter Assyria; he will beat them with a club.\n\t\t\t Every blow from his punishing cudgel, with which the LORD will beat them, will be accompanied by music from the tambourine and harp, and he will attack them with his weapons.\n\t\t\t For the burial place is already prepared; it has been made deep and wide for the king. The firewood is piled high on it. The LORD's breath, like a stream flowing with brimstone, will ignite it.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Those who go down to Egypt for help are as good as dead, those who rely on war horses, and trust in Egypt's many chariots and in their many, many horsemen. But they do not rely on the Holy One of Israel and do not seek help from the LORD.\n\t\t\t Yet he too is wise and he will bring disaster; he does not retract his decree. He will attack the wicked nation, and the nation that helps those who commit sin.\n\t\t\t The Egyptians are mere humans, not God; their horses are made of flesh, not spirit. The LORD will strike with his hand; the one who helps will stumble and the one being helped will fall. Together they will perish.\n\t\t\t Indeed, this is what the LORD says to me: \"The LORD will be like a growling lion, like a young lion growling over its prey. Though a whole group of shepherds gathers against it, it is not afraid of their shouts or intimidated by their yelling. In this same way the LORD who commands armies will descend to do battle on Mount Zion and on its hill.\n\t\t\t Just as birds hover over a nest, so the LORD who commands armies will protect Jerusalem. He will protect and deliver it; as he passes over he will rescue it.\n\t\t\t You Israelites! Return to the one against whom you have so blatantly rebelled!\n\t\t\t For at that time everyone will get rid of the silver and gold idols your hands sinfully made.\n\t\t\t Assyria will fall by a sword, but not one human-made; a sword not made by humankind will destroy them. They will run away from this sword and their young men will be forced to do hard labor.\n\t\t\t They will surrender their stronghold because of fear; their officers will be afraid of the LORD's battle flag.\" This is what the LORD says, the one whose fire is in Zion, whose firepot is in Jerusalem.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Look, a king will promote fairness; officials will promote justice.\n\t\t\t Each of them will be like a shelter from the wind and a refuge from a rainstorm; like streams of water in a dry region and like the shade of a large cliff in a parched land.\n\t\t\t Eyes will no longer be blind and ears will be attentive.\n\t\t\t The mind that acts rashly will possess discernment and the tongue that stutters will speak with ease and clarity.\n\t\t\t A fool will no longer be called honorable; a deceiver will no longer be called principled.\n\t\t\t For a fool speaks disgraceful things; his mind plans out sinful deeds. He commits godless deeds and says misleading things about the LORD; he gives the hungry nothing to satisfy their appetite and gives the thirsty nothing to drink.\n\t\t\t A deceiver's methods are evil; he dreams up evil plans to ruin the poor with lies, even when the needy are in the right.\n\t\t\t An honorable man makes honorable plans; his honorable character gives him security.\n\t\t\t You complacent women, get up and listen to me! You carefree daughters, pay attention to what I say!\n\t\t\t In a year's time you carefree ones will shake with fear, for the grape harvest will fail, and the fruit harvest will not arrive.\n\t\t\t Tremble, you complacent ones! Shake with fear, you carefree ones! Strip off your clothes and expose yourselves, put sackcloth on your waist!\n\t\t\t Mourn over the field, over the delightful fields and the fruitful vine!\n\t\t\t Mourn over the land of my people, which is overgrown with thorns and briers, and over all the once-happy houses in the city filled with revelry.\n\t\t\t For the fortress is neglected; the once-crowded city is abandoned. Hill and watchtower are permanently uninhabited. Wild donkeys love to go there, and flocks graze there.\n\t\t\t This desolation will continue until new life is poured out on us from heaven. Then the desert will become an orchard and the orchard will be considered a forest.\n\t\t\t Justice will settle down in the desert and fairness will live in the orchard.\n\t\t\t Fairness will produce peace and result in lasting security.\n\t\t\t My people will live in peaceful settlements, in secure homes, and in safe, quiet places.\n\t\t\t Even if the forest is destroyed and the city is annihilated,\n\t\t\t you will be blessed, you who plant seed by all the banks of the streams, you who let your ox and donkey graze.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The destroyer is as good as dead, you who have not been destroyed! The deceitful one is as good as dead, the one whom others have not deceived! When you are through destroying, you will be destroyed; when you finish deceiving, others will deceive you!\n\t\t\t LORD, be merciful to us! We wait for you. Give us strength each morning! Deliver us when distress comes.\n\t\t\t The nations run away when they hear a loud noise; the nations scatter when you spring into action!\n\t\t\t Your plunder disappears as if locusts were eating it; they swarm over it like locusts!\n\t\t\t The LORD is exalted, indeed, he lives in heaven; he fills Zion with justice and fairness.\n\t\t\t He is your constant source of stability; he abundantly provides safety and great wisdom; he gives all this to those who fear him.\n\t\t\t Look, ambassadors cry out in the streets; messengers sent to make peace weep bitterly.\n\t\t\t Highways are empty, there are no travelers. Treaties are broken, witnesses are despised, human life is treated with disrespect.\n\t\t\t The land dries up and withers away; the forest of Lebanon shrivels up and decays. Sharon is like the desert; Bashan and Carmel are parched.\n\t\t\t \"Now I will rise up,\" says the LORD. \"Now I will exalt myself; now I will magnify myself.\n\t\t\t You conceive straw, you give birth to chaff; your breath is a fire that destroys you.\n\t\t\t The nations will be burned to ashes; like thorn bushes that have been cut down, they will be set on fire.\n\t\t\t You who are far away, listen to what I have done! You who are close by, recognize my strength!\"\n\t\t\t Sinners are afraid in Zion; panic grips the godless. They say, 'Who among us can coexist with destructive fire? Who among us can coexist with unquenchable fire?'\n\t\t\t The one who lives uprightly and speaks honestly; the one who refuses to profit from oppressive measures and rejects a bribe; the one who does not plot violent crimes and does not seek to harm others,\n\t\t\t This is the person who will live in a secure place; he will find safety in the rocky, mountain strongholds; he will have food and a constant supply of water.\n\t\t\t You will see a king in his splendor; you will see a wide land.\n\t\t\t Your mind will recall the terror you experienced, and you will ask yourselves, \"Where is the scribe? Where is the one who weighs the money? Where is the one who counts the towers?\"\n\t\t\t You will no longer see a defiant people whose language you do not comprehend, whose derisive speech you do not understand.\n\t\t\t Look at Zion, the city where we hold religious festivals! You will see Jerusalem, a peaceful settlement, a tent that stays put; its stakes will never be pulled up; none of its ropes will snap in two.\n\t\t\t Instead the LORD will rule there as our mighty king. Rivers and wide streams will flow through it; no war galley will enter; no large ships will sail through.\n\t\t\t For the LORD, our ruler, the LORD, our commander, the LORD, our king, he will deliver us.\n\t\t\t Though at this time your ropes are slack, the mast is not secured, and the sail is not unfurled, at that time you will divide up a great quantity of loot; even the lame will drag off plunder.\n\t\t\t No resident of Zion will say, \"I am ill\"; the people who live there will have their sin forgiven.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Come near, you nations, and listen! Pay attention, you people! The earth and everything it contains must listen, the world and everything that lives in it.\n\t\t\t For the LORD is angry at all the nations and furious with all their armies. He will annihilate them and slaughter them.\n\t\t\t Their slain will be left unburied, their corpses will stink; the hills will soak up their blood.\n\t\t\t All the stars in the sky will fade away, the sky will roll up like a scroll; all its stars will wither, like a leaf withers and falls from a vine or a fig withers and falls from a tree.\n\t\t\t He says, \"Indeed, my sword has slaughtered heavenly powers. Look, it now descends on Edom, on the people I will annihilate in judgment.\"\n\t\t\t The LORD's sword is dripping with blood, it is covered with fat; it drips with the blood of young rams and goats and is covered with the fat of rams' kidneys. For the LORD is holding a sacrifice in Bozrah, a bloody slaughter in the land of Edom.\n\t\t\t Wild oxen will be slaughtered along with them, as well as strong bulls. Their land is drenched with blood, their soil is covered with fat.\n\t\t\t For the LORD has planned a day of revenge, a time when he will repay Edom for her hostility toward Zion.\n\t\t\t Edom's streams will be turned into pitch and her soil into brimstone; her land will become burning pitch.\n\t\t\t Night and day it will burn; its smoke will ascend continually. Generation after generation it will be a wasteland and no one will ever pass through it again.\n\t\t\t Owls and wild animals will live there, all kinds of wild birds will settle in it. The LORD will stretch out over her the measuring line of ruin and the plumb line of destruction.\n\t\t\t Her nobles will have nothing left to call a kingdom and all her officials will disappear.\n\t\t\t Her fortresses will be overgrown with thorns; thickets and weeds will grow in her fortified cities. Jackals will settle there; ostriches will live there.\n\t\t\t Wild animals and wild dogs will congregate there; wild goats will bleat to one another. Yes, nocturnal animals will rest there and make for themselves a nest.\n\t\t\t Owls will make nests and lay eggs there; they will hatch them and protect them. Yes, hawks will gather there, each with its mate.\n\t\t\t Carefully read the scroll of the LORD! Not one of these creatures will be missing, none will lack a mate. For the LORD has issued the decree, and his own spirit gathers them.\n\t\t\t He assigns them their allotment; he measures out their assigned place. They will live there permanently; they will settle in it through successive generations.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Let the desert and dry region be happy; let the wilderness rejoice and bloom like a lily!\n\t\t\t Let it richly bloom; let it rejoice and shout with delight! It is given the grandeur of Lebanon, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon. They will see the grandeur of the LORD, the splendor of our God.\n\t\t\t Strengthen the hands that have gone limp, steady the knees that shake!\n\t\t\t Tell those who panic, \"Be strong! Do not fear! Look, your God comes to avenge! With divine retribution he comes to deliver you.\"\n\t\t\t Then blind eyes will open, deaf ears will hear.\n\t\t\t Then the lame will leap like a deer, the mute tongue will shout for joy; for water will flow in the desert, streams in the wilderness.\n\t\t\t The dry soil will become a pool of water, the parched ground springs of water. Where jackals once lived and sprawled out, grass, reeds, and papyrus will grow.\n\t\t\t A thoroughfare will be there, it will be called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not travel on it; it is reserved for those authorized to use it, fools will not stray into it.\n\t\t\t No lions will be there, no ferocious wild animals will be on it, they will not be found there. Those delivered from bondage will travel on it,\n\t\t\t those whom the LORD has ransomed will return that way. They will enter Zion with a happy shout. Unending joy will crown them, happiness and joy will overwhelm them; grief and suffering will disappear.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah's reign, King Sennacherib of Assyria marched up against all the fortified cities of Judah and captured them. \n\t\t\t The king of Assyria sent his chief adviser from Lachish to King Hezekiah in Jerusalem, along with a large army. The chief adviser stood at the conduit of the upper pool which is located on the road to the field where they wash and dry cloth.\n\t\t\t Eliakim son of Hilkiah, the palace supervisor, accompanied by Shebna the scribe and Joah son of Asaph, the secretary, went out to meet him.\n\t\t\t The chief adviser said to them, \"Tell Hezekiah: 'This is what the great king, the king of Assyria, says: \"What is your source of confidence?\n\t\t\t Your claim to have a strategy and military strength is just empty talk. In whom are you trusting, that you would dare to rebel against me?\n\t\t\t Look, you must be trusting in Egypt, that splintered reed staff. If someone leans on it for support, it punctures his hand and wounds him. That is what Pharaoh king of Egypt does to all who trust in him!\n\t\t\t Perhaps you will tell me, 'We are trusting in the LORD our God.' But Hezekiah is the one who eliminated his high places and altars and then told the people of Judah and Jerusalem, 'You must worship at this altar.'\n\t\t\t Now make a deal with my master the king of Assyria, and I will give you two thousand horses, provided you can find enough riders for them.\n\t\t\t Certainly you will not refuse one of my master's minor officials and trust in Egypt for chariots and horsemen.\n\t\t\t Furthermore it was by the command of the LORD that I marched up against this land to destroy it. The LORD told me, 'March up against this land and destroy it!'\"'\"\n\t\t\t Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah said to the chief adviser, \"Speak to your servants in Aramaic, for we understand it. Don't speak with us in the Judahite dialect in the hearing of the people who are on the wall.\" \n\t\t\t But the chief adviser said, \"My master did not send me to speak these words only to your master and to you. His message is also for the men who sit on the wall, for they will eat their own excrement and drink their own urine along with you!\"\n\t\t\t The chief adviser then stood there and called out loudly in the Judahite dialect, \"Listen to the message of the great king, the king of Assyria. \n\t\t\t This is what the king says: 'Don't let Hezekiah mislead you, for he is not able to rescue you!\n\t\t\t Don't let Hezekiah talk you into trusting in the LORD by saying, \"The LORD will certainly rescue us; this city will not be handed over to the king of Assyria.\"\n\t\t\t Don't listen to Hezekiah!' For this is what the king of Assyria says, 'Send me a token of your submission and surrender to me. Then each of you may eat from his own vine and fig tree and drink water from his own cistern, \n\t\t\t until I come and take you to a land just like your own, a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards.\n\t\t\t Hezekiah is misleading you when he says, \"The LORD will rescue us.\" Has any of the gods of the nations rescued his land from the power of the king of Assyria?\n\t\t\t Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim? Indeed, did any gods rescue Samaria from my power?\n\t\t\t Who among all the gods of these lands have rescued their lands from my power? So how can the LORD rescue Jerusalem from my power?'\"\n\t\t\t They were silent and did not respond, for the king had ordered, \"Don't respond to him.\"\n\t\t\t Eliakim son of Hilkiah, the palace supervisor, accompanied by Shebna the scribe and Joah son of Asaph, the secretary, went to Hezekiah with their clothes torn in grief and reported to him what the chief adviser had said. \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t When King Hezekiah heard this, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and went to the LORD's temple. \n\t\t\t Eliakim the palace supervisor, Shebna the scribe, and the leading priests, clothed in sackcloth, sent this message to the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz: \n\t\t\t \"This is what Hezekiah says: 'This is a day of distress, insults, and humiliation, as when a baby is ready to leave the birth canal, but the mother lacks the strength to push it through.\n\t\t\t Perhaps the LORD your God will hear all these things the chief adviser has spoken on behalf of his master, the king of Assyria, who sent him to taunt the living God. When the LORD your God hears, perhaps he will punish him for the things he has said. So pray for this remnant that remains.'\"\n\t\t\t When King Hezekiah's servants came to Isaiah,\n\t\t\t Isaiah said to them, \"Tell your master this: 'This is what the LORD says: \"Don't be afraid because of the things you have heard, these insults the king of Assyria's servants have hurled against me.\n\t\t\t Look, I will take control of his mind; he will receive a report and return to his own land. I will cut him down with a sword in his own land.\"'\"\n\t\t\t When the chief adviser heard the king of Assyria had departed from Lachish, he left and went to Libnah, where the king was campaigning.\n\t\t\t The king heard that King Tirhakah of Ethiopia was marching out to fight him. He again sent messengers to Hezekiah, ordering them: \n\t\t\t \"Tell King Hezekiah of Judah this: 'Don't let your God in whom you trust mislead you when he says, \"Jerusalem will not be handed over to the king of Assyria.\"\n\t\t\t Certainly you have heard how the kings of Assyria have annihilated all lands. Do you really think you will be rescued?\n\t\t\t Were the nations whom my predecessors destroyed, the nations of Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, and the people of Eden in Telassar, rescued by their gods?\n\t\t\t Where are the king of Hamath, the king of Arpad, and the kings of Lair, Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah?'\"\n\t\t\t Hezekiah took the letter from the messengers and read it. Then Hezekiah went up to the LORD's temple and spread it out before the LORD. \n\t\t\t Hezekiah prayed before the LORD:\n\t\t\t \"O LORD who commands armies, O God of Israel, who is enthroned on the cherubim! You alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You made the sky and the earth. \n\t\t\t Pay attention, LORD, and hear! Open your eyes, LORD, and observe! Listen to this entire message Sennacherib sent and how he taunts the living God!\n\t\t\t It is true, LORD, that the kings of Assyria have destroyed all the nations and their lands. \n\t\t\t They have burned the gods of the nations, for they are not really gods, but only the product of human hands manufactured from wood and stone. That is why the Assyrians could destroy them.\n\t\t\t Now, O LORD our God, rescue us from his power, so all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone are the LORD.\"\n\t\t\t Isaiah son of Amoz sent this message to Hezekiah: \"This is what the LORD God of Israel says: 'Because you prayed to me concerning King Sennacherib of Assyria,\n\t\t\t this is what the LORD says about him: \"The virgin daughter Zion despises you, she makes fun of you; daughter Jerusalem shakes her head after you.\n\t\t\t Whom have you taunted and hurled insults at? At whom have you shouted and looked so arrogantly? At the Holy One of Israel!\n\t\t\t Through your messengers you taunted the sovereign master, 'With my many chariots I climbed up the high mountains, the slopes of Lebanon. I cut down its tall cedars and its best evergreens. I invaded its most remote regions, its thickest woods.\n\t\t\t I dug wells and drank water. With the soles of my feet I dried up all the rivers of Egypt.'\n\t\t\t Certainly you must have heard! Long ago I worked it out, in ancient times I planned it, and now I am bringing it to pass. The plan is this: Fortified cities will crash into heaps of ruins.\n\t\t\t Their residents are powerless; they are terrified and ashamed. They are as short-lived as plants in the field or green vegetation. They are as short-lived as grass on the rooftops when it is scorched by the east wind.\n\t\t\t I know where you live and everything you do and how you rage against me.\n\t\t\t Because you rage against me and the uproar you create has reached my ears, I will put my hook in your nose, and my bridle between your lips, and I will lead you back the way you came.\"\n\t\t\t \"This will be your reminder that I have spoken the truth: This year you will eat what grows wild, and next year what grows on its own. But the year after that you will plant seed and harvest crops; you will plant vines and consume their produce.\n\t\t\t Those who remain in Judah will take root in the ground and bear fruit.\n\t\t\t \"For a remnant will leave Jerusalem; survivors will come out of Mount Zion. The intense devotion of the LORD who commands armies will accomplish this.\n\t\t\t So this is what the LORD says about the king of Assyria: 'He will not enter this city, nor will he shoot an arrow here. He will not attack it with his shielded warriors, nor will he build siege works against it.\n\t\t\t He will go back the way he came, he will not enter this city,' says the LORD.\n\t\t\t I will shield this city and rescue it for the sake of my reputation and because of my promise to David my servant.\"'\"\n\t\t\t The LORD's messenger went out and killed 185,000 troops in the Assyrian camp. When they got up early the next morning, there were all the corpses!\n\t\t\t So King Sennacherib of Assyria broke camp and went on his way. He went home and stayed in Nineveh.\n\t\t\t One day, as he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisroch, his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer struck him down with the sword. They ran away to the land of Ararat; his son Esarhaddon replaced him as king.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t In those days Hezekiah was stricken with a terminal illness. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz visited him and told him, \"This is what the LORD says, 'Give instructions to your household, for you are about to die; you will not get well.'\" \n\t\t\t Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD,\n\t\t\t \"Please, LORD. Remember how I have served you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion, and how I have carried out your will.\" Then Hezekiah wept bitterly.\n\t\t\t The LORD told Isaiah,\n\t\t\t \"Go and tell Hezekiah: 'This is what the LORD God of your ancestor David says: \"I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Look, I will add fifteen years to your life, \n\t\t\t and rescue you and this city from the king of Assyria. I will shield this city.\"'\"\n\t\t\t Isaiah replied, \"This is your sign from the LORD confirming that the LORD will do what he has said: \n\t\t\t Look, I will make the shadow go back ten steps on the stairs of Ahaz.\" And then the shadow went back ten steps.\n\t\t\t This is the prayer of King Hezekiah of Judah when he was sick and then recovered from his illness:\n\t\t\t \"I thought, 'In the middle of my life I must walk through the gates of Sheol, I am deprived of the rest of my years.'\n\t\t\t \"I thought, 'I will no longer see the LORD in the land of the living, I will no longer look on humankind with the inhabitants of the world.\n\t\t\t My dwelling place is removed and taken away from me like a shepherd's tent. I rolled up my life like a weaver rolls cloth; from the loom he cuts me off. You turn day into night and end my life.\n\t\t\t I cry out until morning; like a lion he shatters all my bones; you turn day into night and end my life.\n\t\t\t Like a swallow or a thrush I chirp, I coo like a dove; my eyes grow tired from looking up to the sky. O sovereign master, I am oppressed; help me!\n\t\t\t What can I say? He has decreed and acted. I will walk slowly all my years because I am overcome with grief.\n\t\t\t O sovereign master, your decrees can give men life; may years of life be restored to me. Restore my health and preserve my life.'\n\t\t\t \"Look, the grief I experienced was for my benefit. You delivered me from the pit of oblivion. For you removed all my sins from your sight.\n\t\t\t Indeed Sheol does not give you thanks; death does not praise you. Those who descend into the pit do not anticipate your faithfulness.\n\t\t\t The living person, the living person, he gives you thanks, as I do today. A father tells his sons about your faithfulness.\n\t\t\t The LORD is about to deliver me, and we will celebrate with music for the rest of our lives in the LORD's temple.\"\n\t\t\t Isaiah ordered, \"Let them take a fig cake and apply it to the ulcerated sore and he will get well.\" \n\t\t\t Hezekiah said, \"What is the confirming sign that I will go up to the LORD's temple?\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t At that time Merodach-Baladan son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a gift to Hezekiah, for he heard that Hezekiah had been ill and had recovered.\n\t\t\t Hezekiah welcomed them and showed them his storehouse with its silver, gold, spices, and high-quality olive oil, as well as his whole armory and everything in his treasuries. Hezekiah showed them everything in his palace and in his whole kingdom.\n\t\t\t Isaiah the prophet visited King Hezekiah and asked him, \"What did these men say? Where do they come from?\" Hezekiah replied, \"They come from the distant land of Babylon.\"\n\t\t\t Isaiah asked, \"What have they seen in your palace?\" Hezekiah replied, \"They have seen everything in my palace. I showed them everything in my treasuries.\" \n\t\t\t Isaiah said to Hezekiah, \"Listen to the word of the LORD who commands armies:\n\t\t\t 'Look, a time is coming when everything in your palace and the things your ancestors have accumulated to this day will be carried away to Babylon; nothing will be left,' says the LORD. \n\t\t\t 'Some of your very own descendants whom you father will be taken away and will be made eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.'\" \n\t\t\t Hezekiah said to Isaiah, \"The LORD's word which you have announced is appropriate.\" Then he thought, \"For there will be peace and stability during my lifetime.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t \"Comfort, comfort my people,\" says your God.\n\t\t\t \"Speak kindly to Jerusalem, and tell her that her time of warfare is over, that her punishment is completed. For the LORD has made her pay double for all her sins.\"\n\t\t\t A voice cries out, \"In the wilderness clear a way for the LORD; construct in the desert a road for our God.\n\t\t\t Every valley must be elevated, and every mountain and hill leveled. The rough terrain will become a level plain, the rugged landscape a wide valley.\n\t\t\t The splendor of the LORD will be revealed, and all people will see it at the same time. For the LORD has decreed it.\"\n\t\t\t A voice says, \"Cry out!\" Another asks, \"What should I cry out?\" The first voice responds: \"All people are like grass, and all their promises are like the flowers in the field.\n\t\t\t The grass dries up, the flowers wither, when the wind sent by the LORD blows on them. Surely humanity is like grass.\n\t\t\t The grass dries up, the flowers wither, but the decree of our God is forever reliable.\"\n\t\t\t Go up on a high mountain, O herald Zion! Shout out loudly, O herald Jerusalem! Shout, don't be afraid! Say to the towns of Judah, \"Here is your God!\"\n\t\t\t Look, the sovereign LORD comes as a victorious warrior; his military power establishes his rule. Look, his reward is with him; his prize goes before him.\n\t\t\t Like a shepherd he tends his flock; he gathers up the lambs with his arm; he carries them close to his heart; he leads the ewes along.\n\t\t\t Who has measured out the waters in the hollow of his hand, or carefully measured the sky, or carefully weighed the soil of the earth, or weighed the mountains in a balance, or the hills on scales?\n\t\t\t Who comprehends the mind of the LORD, or gives him instruction as his counselor?\n\t\t\t From whom does he receive directions? Who teaches him the correct way to do things, or imparts knowledge to him, or instructs him in skillful design?\n\t\t\t Look, the nations are like a drop in a bucket; they are regarded as dust on the scales. He lifts the coastlands as if they were dust.\n\t\t\t Not even Lebanon could supply enough firewood for a sacrifice; its wild animals would not provide enough burnt offerings.\n\t\t\t All the nations are insignificant before him; they are regarded as absolutely nothing.\n\t\t\t To whom can you compare God? To what image can you liken him?\n\t\t\t A craftsman casts an idol; a metalsmith overlays it with gold and forges silver chains for it.\n\t\t\t To make a contribution one selects wood that will not rot; he then seeks a skilled craftsman to make an idol that will not fall over.\n\t\t\t Do you not know? Do you not hear? Has it not been told to you since the very beginning? Have you not understood from the time the earth's foundations were made?\n\t\t\t He is the one who sits on the earth's horizon; its inhabitants are like grasshoppers before him. He is the one who stretches out the sky like a thin curtain, and spreads it out like a pitched tent.\n\t\t\t He is the one who reduces rulers to nothing; he makes the earth's leaders insignificant.\n\t\t\t Indeed, they are barely planted; yes, they are barely sown; yes, they barely take root in the earth, and then he blows on them, causing them to dry up, and the wind carries them away like straw.\n\t\t\t \"To whom can you compare me? Whom do I resemble?\" says the Holy One.\n\t\t\t Look up at the sky! Who created all these heavenly lights? He is the one who leads out their ranks; he calls them all by name. Because of his absolute power and awesome strength, not one of them is missing.\n\t\t\t Why do you say, Jacob, Why do you say, Israel, \"The LORD is not aware of what is happening to me, My God is not concerned with my vindication\"?\n\t\t\t Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is an eternal God, the creator of the whole earth. He does not get tired or weary; there is no limit to his wisdom.\n\t\t\t He gives strength to those who are tired; to the ones who lack power, he gives renewed energy.\n\t\t\t Even youths get tired and weary; even strong young men clumsily stumble.\n\t\t\t But those who wait for the LORD's help find renewed strength; they rise up as if they had eagles' wings, they run without growing weary, they walk without getting tired.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t \"Listen to me in silence, you coastlands! Let the nations find renewed strength! Let them approach and then speak; let us come together for debate!\n\t\t\t Who stirs up this one from the east? Who officially commissions him for service? He hands nations over to him, and enables him to subdue kings. He makes them like dust with his sword, like windblown straw with his bow.\n\t\t\t He pursues them and passes by unharmed; he advances with great speed.\n\t\t\t Who acts and carries out decrees? Who summons the successive generations from the beginning? I, the LORD, am present at the very beginning, and at the very end, I am the one.\n\t\t\t The coastlands see and are afraid; the whole earth trembles; they approach and come.\n\t\t\t They help one another; one says to the other, 'Be strong!'\n\t\t\t The craftsman encourages the metalsmith, the one who wields the hammer encourages the one who pounds on the anvil. He approves the quality of the welding, and nails it down so it won't fall over.\"\n\t\t\t \"You, my servant Israel, Jacob whom I have chosen, offspring of Abraham my friend,\n\t\t\t you whom I am bringing back from the earth's extremities, and have summoned from the remote regions, I told you, \"You are my servant.\" I have chosen you and not rejected you.\n\t\t\t Don't be afraid, for I am with you! Don't be frightened, for I am your God! I strengthen you, yes, I help you, yes, I uphold you with my saving right hand!\n\t\t\t Look, all who were angry at you will be ashamed and humiliated; your adversaries will be reduced to nothing and perish.\n\t\t\t When you will look for your opponents, you will not find them; your enemies will be reduced to absolutely nothing.\n\t\t\t For I am the LORD your God, the one who takes hold of your right hand, who says to you, 'Don't be afraid, I am helping you.'\n\t\t\t Don't be afraid, despised insignificant Jacob, men of Israel. I am helping you,\" says the LORD, your protector, the Holy One of Israel.\n\t\t\t \"Look, I am making you like a sharp threshing sledge, new and double-edged. You will thresh the mountains and crush them; you will make the hills like straw.\n\t\t\t You will winnow them and the wind will blow them away; the wind will scatter them. You will rejoice in the LORD; you will boast in the Holy One of Israel.\n\t\t\t The oppressed and the poor look for water, but there is none; their tongues are parched from thirst. I, the LORD, will respond to their prayers; I, the God of Israel, will not abandon them.\n\t\t\t I will make streams flow down the slopes and produce springs in the middle of the valleys. I will turn the desert into a pool of water and the arid land into springs.\n\t\t\t I will make cedars, acacias, myrtles, and olive trees grow in the wilderness; I will make evergreens, firs, and cypresses grow together in the desert.\n\t\t\t I will do this so people will observe and recognize, so they will pay attention and understand that the LORD's power has accomplished this, and that the Holy One of Israel has brought it into being.\"\n\t\t\t \"Present your argument,\" says the LORD. \"Produce your evidence,\" says Jacob's king.\n\t\t\t \"Let them produce evidence! Let them tell us what will happen! Tell us about your earlier predictive oracles, so we may examine them and see how they were fulfilled. Or decree for us some future events!\n\t\t\t Predict how future events will turn out, so we might know you are gods. Yes, do something good or bad, so we might be frightened and in awe.\n\t\t\t Look, you are nothing, and your accomplishments are nonexistent; the one who chooses to worship you is disgusting.\n\t\t\t I have stirred up one out of the north and he advances, one from the eastern horizon who prays in my name. He steps on rulers as if they were clay, like a potter treading the clay.\n\t\t\t Who decreed this from the beginning, so we could know? Who announced it ahead of time, so we could say, 'He's correct'? Indeed, none of them decreed it! Indeed, none of them announced it! Indeed, no one heard you say anything!\n\t\t\t I first decreed to Zion, 'Look, here's what will happen!' I sent a herald to Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t I look, but there is no one, among them there is no one who serves as an adviser, that I might ask questions and receive answers.\n\t\t\t Look, all of them are nothing, their accomplishments are nonexistent; their metal images lack any real substance.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t \"Here is my servant whom I support, my chosen one in whom I take pleasure. I have placed my spirit on him; he will make just decrees for the nations.\n\t\t\t He will not cry out or shout; he will not publicize himself in the streets.\n\t\t\t A crushed reed he will not break, a dim wick he will not extinguish; he will faithfully make just decrees.\n\t\t\t He will not grow dim or be crushed before establishing justice on the earth; the coastlands will wait in anticipation for his decrees.\"\n\t\t\t This is what the true God, the LORD, says, the one who created the sky and stretched it out, the one who fashioned the earth and everything that lives on it, the one who gives breath to the people on it, and life to those who live on it:\n\t\t\t \"I, the LORD, officially commission you; I take hold of your hand. I protect you and make you a covenant mediator for people, and a light to the nations,\n\t\t\t to open blind eyes, to release prisoners from dungeons, those who live in darkness from prisons.\n\t\t\t I am the LORD! That is my name! I will not share my glory with anyone else, or the praise due me with idols.\n\t\t\t Look, my earlier predictive oracles have come to pass; now I announce new events. Before they begin to occur, I reveal them to you.\"\n\t\t\t Sing to the LORD a brand new song! Praise him from the horizon of the earth, you who go down to the sea, and everything that lives in it, you coastlands and those who live there!\n\t\t\t Let the desert and its cities shout out, the towns where the nomads of Kedar live! Let the residents of Sela shout joyfully; let them shout loudly from the mountaintops.\n\t\t\t Let them give the LORD the honor he deserves; let them praise his deeds in the coastlands.\n\t\t\t The LORD emerges like a hero, like a warrior he inspires himself for battle; he shouts, yes, he yells, he shows his enemies his power.\n\t\t\t \"I have been inactive for a long time; I kept quiet and held back. Like a woman in labor I groan; I pant and gasp.\n\t\t\t I will make the trees on the mountains and hills wither up; I will dry up all their vegetation. I will turn streams into islands, and dry up pools of water.\n\t\t\t I will lead the blind along an unfamiliar way; I will guide them down paths they have never traveled. I will turn the darkness in front of them into light, and level out the rough ground. This is what I will do for them. I will not abandon them.\n\t\t\t Those who trust in idols will turn back and be utterly humiliated, those who say to metal images, 'You are our gods.'\"\n\t\t\t \"Listen, you deaf ones! Take notice, you blind ones!\n\t\t\t My servant is truly blind, my messenger is truly deaf. My covenant partner, the servant of the LORD, is truly blind.\n\t\t\t You see many things, but don't comprehend; their ears are open, but do not hear.\"\n\t\t\t The LORD wanted to exhibit his justice by magnifying his law and displaying it.\n\t\t\t But these people are looted and plundered; all of them are trapped in pits and held captive in prisons. They were carried away as loot with no one to rescue them; they were carried away as plunder, and no one says, \"Bring that back!\"\n\t\t\t Who among you will pay attention to this? Who will listen attentively in the future?\n\t\t\t Who handed Jacob over to the robber? Who handed Israel over to the looters? Was it not the LORD, against whom we sinned? They refused to follow his commands; they disobeyed his law.\n\t\t\t So he poured out his fierce anger on them, along with the devastation of war. Its flames encircled them, but they did not realize it; it burned against them, but they did notice.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now, this is what the LORD says, the one who created you, O Jacob, and formed you, O Israel: \"Don't be afraid, for I will protect you. I call you by name, you are mine.\n\t\t\t When you pass through the waters, I am with you; when you pass through the streams, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not harm you.\n\t\t\t For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your deliverer. I have handed over Egypt as a ransom price, Ethiopia and Seba in place of you.\n\t\t\t Since you are precious and special in my sight, and I love you, I will hand over people in place of you, nations in place of your life.\n\t\t\t Don't be afraid, for I am with you. From the east I will bring your descendants; from the west I will gather you.\n\t\t\t I will say to the north, 'Hand them over!' and to the south, 'Don't hold any back!' Bring my sons from distant lands, and my daughters from the remote regions of the earth,\n\t\t\t everyone who belongs to me, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed, yes, whom I made!\n\t\t\t Bring out the people who are blind, even though they have eyes, those who are deaf, even though they have ears!\n\t\t\t All nations gather together, the peoples assemble. Who among them announced this? Who predicted earlier events for us? Let them produce their witnesses to testify they were right; let them listen and affirm, 'It is true.'\n\t\t\t You are my witnesses,\" says the LORD, \"my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may consider and believe in me, and understand that I am he. No god was formed before me, and none will outlive me.\n\t\t\t I, I am the LORD, and there is no deliverer besides me.\n\t\t\t I decreed and delivered and proclaimed, and there was no other god among you. You are my witnesses,\" says the LORD, \"that I am God.\n\t\t\t From this day forward I am he; no one can deliver from my power; I will act, and who can prevent it?\"\n\t\t\t This is what the LORD says, your protector, the Holy One of Israel: \"For your sake I send to Babylon and make them all fugitives, turning the Babylonians' joyful shouts into mourning songs.\n\t\t\t I am the LORD, your Holy One, the one who created Israel, your king.\"\n\t\t\t This is what the LORD says, the one who made a road through the sea, a pathway through the surging waters,\n\t\t\t the one who led chariots and horses to destruction, together with a mighty army. They fell down, never to rise again; they were extinguished, put out like a burning wick:\n\t\t\t \"Don't remember these earlier events; don't recall these former events.\n\t\t\t \"Look, I am about to do something new. Now it begins to happen! Do you not recognize it? Yes, I will make a road in the desert and paths in the wilderness.\n\t\t\t The wild animals of the desert honor me, the jackals and ostriches, because I put water in the desert and streams in the wilderness, to quench the thirst of my chosen people,\n\t\t\t the people whom I formed for myself, so they might praise me.\"\n\t\t\t \"But you did not call for me, O Jacob; you did not long for me, O Israel.\n\t\t\t You did not bring me lambs for your burnt offerings; you did not honor me with your sacrifices. I did not burden you with offerings; I did not make you weary by demanding incense.\n\t\t\t You did not buy me aromatic reeds; you did not present to me the fat of your sacrifices. Yet you burdened me with your sins; you made me weary with your evil deeds.\n\t\t\t I, I am the one who blots out your rebellious deeds for my sake; your sins I do not remember.\n\t\t\t Remind me of what happened! Let's debate! You, prove to me that you are right!\n\t\t\t The father of your nation sinned; your spokesmen rebelled against me.\n\t\t\t So I defiled your holy princes, and handed Jacob over to destruction, and subjected Israel to humiliating abuse.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t \"Now, listen, Jacob my servant, Israel whom I have chosen!\"\n\t\t\t This is what the LORD, the one who made you, says, the one who formed you in the womb and helps you: \"Don't be afraid, my servant Jacob, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen!\n\t\t\t For I will pour water on the parched ground and cause streams to flow on the dry land. I will pour my spirit on your offspring and my blessing on your children.\n\t\t\t They will sprout up like a tree in the grass, like poplars beside channels of water.\n\t\t\t One will say, 'I belong to the LORD,' and another will use the name 'Jacob.' One will write on his hand, 'The LORD's,' and use the name 'Israel.'\"\n\t\t\t This is what the LORD, Israel's king, says, their protector, the LORD who commands armies: \"I am the first and I am the last, there is no God but me.\n\t\t\t Who is like me? Let him make his claim! Let him announce it and explain it to me, since I established an ancient people, let them announce future events!\n\t\t\t Don't panic! Don't be afraid! Did I not tell you beforehand and decree it? You are my witnesses! Is there any God but me? There is no other sheltering rock; I know of none.\n\t\t\t All who form idols are nothing; the things in which they delight are worthless. Their witnesses cannot see; they recognize nothing, so they are put to shame.\n\t\t\t Who forms a god and casts an idol that will prove worthless?\n\t\t\t Look, all his associates will be put to shame; the craftsmen are mere humans. Let them all assemble and take their stand! They will panic and be put to shame.\n\t\t\t A blacksmith works with his tool and forges metal over the coals. He forms it with hammers; he makes it with his strong arm. He gets hungry and loses his energy; he drinks no water and gets tired.\n\t\t\t A carpenter takes measurements; he marks out an outline of its form; he scrapes it with chisels, and marks it with a compass. He patterns it after the human form, like a well-built human being, and puts it in a shrine.\n\t\t\t He cuts down cedars and acquires a cypress or an oak. He gets trees from the forest; he plants a cedar and the rain makes it grow.\n\t\t\t A man uses it to make a fire; he takes some of it and warms himself. Yes, he kindles a fire and bakes bread. Then he makes a god and worships it; he makes an idol and bows down to it.\n\t\t\t Half of it he burns in the fire, over that half he cooks meat; he roasts a meal and fills himself. Yes, he warms himself and says, 'Ah! I am warm as I look at the fire.'\n\t\t\t With the rest of it he makes a god, his idol; he bows down to it and worships it. He prays to it, saying, 'Rescue me, for you are my god!'\n\t\t\t They do not comprehend or understand, for their eyes are blind and cannot see; their minds do not discern.\n\t\t\t No one thinks to himself, nor do they comprehend or understand and say to themselves: 'I burned half of it in the fire, yes, I baked bread over the coals; I roasted meat and ate it. With the rest of it should I make a disgusting idol? Should I bow down to dry wood?'\n\t\t\t He feeds on ashes; his deceived mind misleads him. He cannot rescue himself, nor does he say, 'Is this not a false god I hold in my right hand?'\n\t\t\t Remember these things, O Jacob, O Israel, for you are my servant. I formed you to be my servant; O Israel, I will not forget you!\n\t\t\t I remove the guilt of your rebellious deeds as if they were a cloud, the guilt of your sins as if they were a cloud. Come back to me, for I protect you.\"\n\t\t\t Shout for joy, O sky, for the LORD intervenes; shout out, you subterranean regions of the earth. O mountains, give a joyful shout; you too, O forest and all your trees! For the LORD protects Jacob; he reveals his splendor through Israel.\n\t\t\t This is what the LORD, your protector, says, the one who formed you in the womb: \"I am the LORD, who made everything, who alone stretched out the sky, who fashioned the earth all by myself,\n\t\t\t who frustrates the omens of the empty talkers and humiliates the omen readers, who overturns the counsel of the wise men and makes their advice seem foolish,\n\t\t\t who fulfills the oracles of his prophetic servants and brings to pass the announcements of his messengers, who says about Jerusalem, 'She will be inhabited,' and about the towns of Judah, 'They will be rebuilt, her ruins I will raise up,'\n\t\t\t who says to the deep sea, 'Be dry! I will dry up your sea currents,'\n\t\t\t who commissions Cyrus, the one I appointed as shepherd to carry out all my wishes and to decree concerning Jerusalem, 'She will be rebuilt,' and concerning the temple, 'It will be reconstructed.'\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t This is what the LORD says to his chosen one, to Cyrus, whose right hand I hold in order to subdue nations before him, and disarm kings, to open doors before him, so gates remain unclosed:\n\t\t\t \"I will go before you and level mountains. Bronze doors I will shatter and iron bars I will hack through.\n\t\t\t I will give you hidden treasures, riches stashed away in secret places, so you may recognize that I am the LORD, the one who calls you by name, the God of Israel.\n\t\t\t For the sake of my servant Jacob, Israel, my chosen one, I call you by name and give you a title of respect, even though you do not recognize me.\n\t\t\t I am the LORD, I have no peer, there is no God but me. I arm you for battle, even though you do not recognize me.\n\t\t\t I do this so people will recognize from east to west that there is no God but me; I am the LORD, I have no peer.\n\t\t\t I am the one who forms light and creates darkness; the one who brings about peace and creates calamity. I am the LORD, who accomplishes all these things.\n\t\t\t O sky, rain down from above! Let the clouds send down showers of deliverance! Let the earth absorb it so salvation may grow, and deliverance may sprout up along with it. I, the LORD, create it.\n\t\t\t One who argues with his creator is in grave danger, one who is like a mere shard among the other shards on the ground! The clay should not say to the potter, \"What in the world are you doing? Your work lacks skill!\"\n\t\t\t Danger awaits one who says to his father, \"What in the world are you fathering?\" and to his mother, \"What in the world are you bringing forth?\"\n\t\t\t This is what the LORD says, the Holy One of Israel, the one who formed him, concerning things to come: \"How dare you question me about my children! How dare you tell me what to do with the work of my own hands!\n\t\t\t I made the earth, I created the people who live on it. It was me, my hands stretched out the sky, I give orders to all the heavenly lights.\n\t\t\t It is me, I stir him up and commission him; I will make all his ways level. He will rebuild my city; he will send my exiled people home, but not for a price or a bribe,\" says the LORD who commands armies.\n\t\t\t This is what the LORD says: \"The profit of Egypt and the revenue of Ethiopia, along with the Sabeans, those tall men, will be brought to you and become yours. They will walk behind you, coming along in chains. They will bow down to you and pray to you: 'Truly God is with you; he has no peer; there is no other God!'\"\n\t\t\t Yes, you are a God who keeps hidden, O God of Israel, deliverer!\n\t\t\t They will all be ashamed and embarrassed; those who fashion idols will all be humiliated.\n\t\t\t Israel will be delivered once and for all by the LORD; you will never again be ashamed or humiliated.\n\t\t\t For this is what the LORD says, the one who created the sky, he is the true God, the one who formed the earth and made it; he established it, he did not create it without order, he formed it to be inhabited, \"I am the LORD, I have no peer.\n\t\t\t I have not spoken in secret, in some hidden place. I did not tell Jacob's descendants, 'Seek me in vain!' I am the LORD, the one who speaks honestly, who makes reliable announcements.\n\t\t\t Gather together and come! Approach together, you refugees from the nations! Those who carry wooden idols know nothing, those who pray to a god that cannot deliver.\n\t\t\t Tell me! Present the evidence! Let them consult with one another! Who predicted this in the past? Who announced it beforehand? Was it not I, the LORD? I have no peer, there is no God but me, a God who vindicates and delivers; there is none but me.\n\t\t\t Turn to me so you can be delivered, all you who live in the earth's remote regions! For I am God, and I have no peer.\n\t\t\t I solemnly make this oath, what I say is true and reliable: 'Surely every knee will bow to me, every tongue will solemnly affirm;\n\t\t\t they will say about me, \"Yes, the LORD is a powerful deliverer.\"'\" All who are angry at him will cower before him.\n\t\t\t All the descendants of Israel will be vindicated by the LORD and will boast in him.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Bel kneels down, Nebo bends low. Their images weigh down animals and beasts. Your heavy images are burdensome to tired animals.\n\t\t\t Together they bend low and kneel down; they are unable to rescue the images; they themselves head off into captivity.\n\t\t\t \"Listen to me, O family of Jacob, all you who are left from the family of Israel, you who have been carried from birth, you who have been supported from the time you left the womb.\n\t\t\t Even when you are old, I will take care of you, even when you have gray hair, I will carry you. I made you and I will support you; I will carry you and rescue you.\n\t\t\t To whom can you compare and liken me? Tell me whom you think I resemble, so we can be compared!\n\t\t\t Those who empty out gold from a purse and weigh out silver on the scale hire a metalsmith, who makes it into a god. They then bow down and worship it.\n\t\t\t They put it on their shoulder and carry it; they put it in its place and it just stands there; it does not move from its place. Even when someone cries out to it, it does not reply; it does not deliver him from his distress.\n\t\t\t Remember this, so you can be brave! Think about it, you rebels!\n\t\t\t Remember what I accomplished in antiquity! Truly I am God, I have no peer; I am God, and there is none like me,\n\t\t\t who announces the end from the beginning and reveals beforehand what has not yet occurred, who says, 'My plan will be realized, I will accomplish what I desire,'\n\t\t\t who summons an eagle from the east, from a distant land, one who carries out my plan. Yes, I have decreed, yes, I will bring it to pass; I have formulated a plan, yes, I will carry it out.\n\t\t\t Listen to me, you stubborn people, you who distance yourself from doing what is right.\n\t\t\t I am bringing my deliverance near, it is not far away; I am bringing my salvation near, it does not wait. I will save Zion; I will adorn Israel with my splendor.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t \"Fall down! Sit in the dirt, O virgin daughter Babylon! Sit on the ground, not on a throne, O daughter of the Babylonians! Indeed, you will no longer be called delicate and pampered.\n\t\t\t Pick up millstones and grind flour! Remove your veil, strip off your skirt, expose your legs, cross the streams!\n\t\t\t Let your private parts be exposed! Your genitals will be on display! I will get revenge; I will not have pity on anyone,\"\n\t\t\t says our protector, the LORD who commands armies is his name, the Holy One of Israel.\n\t\t\t \"Sit silently! Go to a hiding place, O daughter of the Babylonians! Indeed, you will no longer be called 'Queen of kingdoms.'\n\t\t\t I was angry at my people; I defiled my special possession and handed them over to you. You showed them no mercy; you even placed a very heavy burden on old people.\n\t\t\t You said, 'I will rule forever as permanent queen!' You did not think about these things; you did not consider how it would turn out.\n\t\t\t So now, listen to this, O one who lives so lavishly, who lives securely, who says to herself, 'I am unique! No one can compare to me! I will never have to live as a widow; I will never lose my children.'\n\t\t\t Both of these will come upon you suddenly, in one day! You will lose your children and be widowed. You will be overwhelmed by these tragedies, despite your many incantations and your numerous amulets.\n\t\t\t You were complacent in your evil deeds; you thought, 'No one sees me.' Your self-professed wisdom and knowledge lead you astray, when you say, 'I am unique! No one can compare to me!'\n\t\t\t Disaster will overtake you; you will not know how to charm it away. Destruction will fall on you; you will not be able to appease it. Calamity will strike you suddenly, before you recognize it.\n\t\t\t Persist in trusting your amulets and your many incantations, which you have faithfully recited since your youth! Maybe you will be successful, maybe you will scare away disaster.\n\t\t\t You are tired out from listening to so much advice. Let them take their stand, the ones who see omens in the sky, who gaze at the stars, who make monthly predictions, let them rescue you from the disaster that is about to overtake you!\n\t\t\t Look, they are like straw, which the fire burns up; they cannot rescue themselves from the heat of the flames. There are no coals to warm them, no firelight to enjoy.\n\t\t\t They will disappoint you, those you have so faithfully dealt with since your youth. Each strays off in his own direction, leaving no one to rescue you.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Listen to this, O family of Jacob, you who are called by the name 'Israel,' and are descended from Judah, who take oaths in the name of the LORD, and invoke the God of Israel, but not in an honest and just manner.\n\t\t\t Indeed, they live in the holy city; they trust in the God of Israel, whose name is the LORD who commands armies.\n\t\t\t \"I announced events beforehand, I issued the decrees and made the predictions; suddenly I acted and they came to pass.\n\t\t\t I did this because I know how stubborn you are. Your neck muscles are like iron and your forehead like bronze.\n\t\t\t I announced them to you beforehand; before they happened, I predicted them for you, so you could never say, 'My image did these things, my idol, my cast image, decreed them.'\n\t\t\t You have heard; now look at all the evidence! Will you not admit that what I say is true? From this point on I am announcing to you new events that are previously unrevealed and you do not know about.\n\t\t\t Now they come into being, not in the past; before today you did not hear about them, so you could not say, 'Yes, I know about them.'\n\t\t\t You did not hear, you do not know, you were not told beforehand. For I know that you are very deceitful; you were labeled a rebel from birth.\n\t\t\t For the sake of my reputation I hold back my anger; for the sake of my prestige I restrain myself from destroying you.\n\t\t\t Look, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have purified you in the furnace of misery.\n\t\t\t For my sake alone I will act, for how can I allow my name to be defiled? I will not share my glory with anyone else!\n\t\t\t Listen to me, O Jacob, Israel, whom I summoned! I am the one; I am present at the very beginning and at the very end.\n\t\t\t Yes, my hand founded the earth; my right hand spread out the sky. I summon them; they stand together.\n\t\t\t All of you, gather together and listen! Who among them announced these things? The LORD's ally will carry out his desire against Babylon; he will exert his power against the Babylonians.\n\t\t\t I, I have spoken, yes, I have summoned him; I lead him and he will succeed.\n\t\t\t Approach me! Listen to this! From the very first I have not spoken in secret; when it happens, I am there.\" So now, the sovereign LORD has sent me, accompanied by his spirit.\n\t\t\t This is what the LORD, your protector, says, the Holy One of Israel: \"I am the LORD your God, who teaches you how to succeed, who leads you in the way you should go.\n\t\t\t If only you had obeyed my commandments, prosperity would have flowed to you like a river, deliverance would have come to you like the waves of the sea.\n\t\t\t Your descendants would have been as numerous as sand, and your children like its granules. Their name would not have been cut off and eliminated from my presence.\n\t\t\t Leave Babylon! Flee from the Babylonians! Announce it with a shout of joy! Make this known! Proclaim it throughout the earth! Say, 'The LORD protects his servant Jacob.\n\t\t\t They do not thirst as he leads them through dry regions; he makes water flow out of a rock for them; he splits open a rock and water flows out.'\n\t\t\t There will be no prosperity for the wicked,\" says the LORD.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Listen to me, you coastlands! Pay attention, you people who live far away! The LORD summoned me from birth; he commissioned me when my mother brought me into the world.\n\t\t\t He made my mouth like a sharp sword, he hid me in the hollow of his hand; he made me like a sharpened arrow, he hid me in his quiver.\n\t\t\t He said to me, \"You are my servant, Israel, through whom I will reveal my splendor.\"\n\t\t\t But I thought, \"I have worked in vain; I have expended my energy for absolutely nothing.\" But the LORD will vindicate me; my God will reward me.\n\t\t\t So now the LORD says, the one who formed me from birth to be his servant, he did this to restore Jacob to himself, so that Israel might be gathered to him; and I will be honored in the LORD's sight, for my God is my source of strength,\n\t\t\t he says, \"Is it too insignificant a task for you to be my servant, to reestablish the tribes of Jacob, and restore the remnant of Israel? I will make you a light to the nations, so you can bring my deliverance to the remote regions of the earth.\"\n\t\t\t This is what the LORD, the protector of Israel, their Holy One, says to the one who is despised and rejected by nations, a servant of rulers: \"Kings will see and rise in respect, princes will bow down, because of the faithful LORD, the Holy One of Israel who has chosen you.\"\n\t\t\t This is what the LORD says: \"At the time I decide to show my favor, I will respond to you; in the day of deliverance I will help you; I will protect you and make you a covenant mediator for people, to rebuild the land and to reassign the desolate property.\n\t\t\t You will say to the prisoners, 'Come out,' and to those who are in dark dungeons, 'Emerge.' They will graze beside the roads; on all the slopes they will find pasture.\n\t\t\t They will not be hungry or thirsty; the sun's oppressive heat will not beat down on them, for one who has compassion on them will guide them; he will lead them to springs of water.\n\t\t\t I will make all my mountains into a road; I will construct my roadways.\"\n\t\t\t Look, they come from far away! Look, some come from the north and west, and others from the land of Sinim!\n\t\t\t Shout for joy, O sky! Rejoice, O earth! Let the mountains give a joyful shout! For the LORD consoles his people and shows compassion to the oppressed.\n\t\t\t \"Zion said, 'The LORD has abandoned me, the sovereign master has forgotten me.'\n\t\t\t Can a woman forget her baby who nurses at her breast? Can she withhold compassion from the child she has borne? Even if mothers were to forget, I could never forget you!\n\t\t\t Look, I have inscribed your name on my palms; your walls are constantly before me.\n\t\t\t Your children hurry back, while those who destroyed and devastated you depart.\n\t\t\t Look all around you! All of them gather to you. As surely as I live,\" says the LORD, \"you will certainly wear all of them like jewelry; you will put them on as if you were a bride.\n\t\t\t Yes, your land lies in ruins; it is desolate and devastated. But now you will be too small to hold your residents, and those who devoured you will be far away.\n\t\t\t Yet the children born during your time of bereavement will say within your hearing, 'This place is too cramped for us, make room for us so we can live here.'\n\t\t\t Then you will think to yourself, 'Who bore these children for me? I was bereaved and barren, dismissed and divorced. Who raised these children? Look, I was left all alone; where did these children come from?'\"\n\t\t\t This is what the sovereign LORD says: \"Look I will raise my hand to the nations; I will raise my signal flag to the peoples. They will bring your sons in their arms and carry your daughters on their shoulders.\n\t\t\t Kings will be your children's guardians; their princesses will nurse your children. With their faces to the ground they will bow down to you and they will lick the dirt on your feet. Then you will recognize that I am the LORD; those who wait patiently for me are not put to shame.\n\t\t\t Can spoils be taken from a warrior, or captives be rescued from a conqueror?\n\t\t\t Indeed,\" says the LORD, \"captives will be taken from a warrior; spoils will be rescued from a conqueror. I will oppose your adversary and I will rescue your children.\n\t\t\t I will make your oppressors eat their own flesh; they will get drunk on their own blood, as if it were wine. Then all humankind will recognize that I am the LORD, your deliverer, your protector, the powerful ruler of Jacob.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t This is what the LORD says: \"Where is your mother's divorce certificate by which I divorced her? Or to which of my creditors did I sell you? Look, you were sold because of your sins; because of your rebellious acts I divorced your mother.\n\t\t\t Why does no one challenge me when I come? Why does no one respond when I call? Is my hand too weak to deliver you? Do I lack the power to rescue you? Look, with a mere shout I can dry up the sea; I can turn streams into a desert, so the fish rot away and die from lack of water.\n\t\t\t I can clothe the sky in darkness; I can cover it with sackcloth.\"\n\t\t\t The sovereign LORD has given me the capacity to be his spokesman, so that I know how to help the weary. He wakes me up every morning; he makes me alert so I can listen attentively as disciples do.\n\t\t\t The sovereign LORD has spoken to me clearly; I have not rebelled, I have not turned back.\n\t\t\t I offered my back to those who attacked, my jaws to those who tore out my beard; I did not hide my face from insults and spitting.\n\t\t\t But the sovereign LORD helps me, so I am not humiliated. For that reason I am steadfastly resolved; I know I will not be put to shame.\n\t\t\t The one who vindicates me is close by. Who dares to argue with me? Let us confront each other! Who is my accuser? Let him challenge me!\n\t\t\t Look, the sovereign LORD helps me. Who dares to condemn me? Look, all of them will wear out like clothes; a moth will eat away at them.\n\t\t\t Who among you fears the LORD? Who obeys his servant? Whoever walks in deep darkness, without light, should trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God.\n\t\t\t Look, all of you who start a fire and who equip yourselves with flaming arrows, walk in the light of the fire you started and among the flaming arrows you ignited! This is what you will receive from me: you will lie down in a place of pain.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t \"Listen to me, you who pursue godliness, who seek the LORD! Look at the rock from which you were chiseled, at the quarry from which you were dug!\n\t\t\t Look at Abraham, your father, and Sarah, who gave you birth. When I summoned him, he was a lone individual, but I blessed him and gave him numerous descendants.\n\t\t\t Certainly the LORD will console Zion; he will console all her ruins. He will make her wilderness like Eden, her desert like the Garden of the LORD. Happiness and joy will be restored to her, thanksgiving and the sound of music.\n\t\t\t Pay attention to me, my people! Listen to me, my people! For I will issue a decree, I will make my justice a light to the nations.\n\t\t\t I am ready to vindicate, I am ready to deliver, I will establish justice among the nations. The coastlands wait patiently for me; they wait in anticipation for the revelation of my power.\n\t\t\t Look up at the sky! Look at the earth below! For the sky will dissipate like smoke, and the earth will wear out like clothes; its residents will die like gnats. But the deliverance I give is permanent; the vindication I provide will not disappear.\n\t\t\t Listen to me, you who know what is right, you people who are aware of my law! Don't be afraid of the insults of men; don't be discouraged because of their abuse!\n\t\t\t For a moth will eat away at them like clothes; a clothes moth will devour them like wool. But the vindication I provide will be permanent; the deliverance I give will last.\"\n\t\t\t Wake up! Wake up! Clothe yourself with strength, O arm of the LORD! Wake up as in former times, as in antiquity! Did you not smash the Proud One? Did you not wound the sea monster?\n\t\t\t Did you not dry up the sea, the waters of the great deep? Did you not make a path through the depths of the sea, so those delivered from bondage could cross over?\n\t\t\t Those whom the LORD has ransomed will return; they will enter Zion with a happy shout. Unending joy will crown them, happiness and joy will overwhelm them; grief and suffering will disappear.\n\t\t\t \"I, I am the one who consoles you. Why are you afraid of mortal men, of mere human beings who are as short-lived as grass?\n\t\t\t Why do you forget the LORD, who made you, who stretched out the sky and founded the earth? Why do you constantly tremble all day long at the anger of the oppressor, when he makes plans to destroy? Where is the anger of the oppressor?\n\t\t\t The one who suffers will soon be released; he will not die in prison, he will not go hungry.\n\t\t\t I am the LORD your God, who churns up the sea so that its waves surge. The LORD who commands armies is his name!\n\t\t\t I commission you as my spokesman; I cover you with the palm of my hand, to establish the sky and to found the earth, to say to Zion, 'You are my people.'\"\n\t\t\t Wake up! Wake up! Get up, O Jerusalem! You drank from the cup the LORD passed to you, which was full of his anger! You drained dry the goblet full of intoxicating wine.\n\t\t\t There was no one to lead her among all the children she bore; there was no one to take her by the hand among all the children she raised.\n\t\t\t These double disasters confronted you. But who feels sorry for you? Destruction and devastation, famine and sword. But who consoles you?\n\t\t\t Your children faint; they lie at the head of every street like an antelope in a snare. They are left in a stupor by the LORD's anger, by the battle cry of your God.\n\t\t\t So listen to this, oppressed one, who is drunk, but not from wine!\n\t\t\t This is what your sovereign master, the LORD your God, says: \"Look, I have removed from your hand the cup of intoxicating wine, the goblet full of my anger. You will no longer have to drink it.\n\t\t\t I will put it into the hand of your tormentors who said to you, 'Lie down, so we can walk over you.' You made your back like the ground, and like the street for those who walked over you.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Wake up! Wake up! Clothe yourself with strength, O Zion! Put on your beautiful clothes, O Jerusalem, holy city! For uncircumcised and unclean pagans will no longer invade you.\n\t\t\t Shake off the dirt! Get up, captive Jerusalem! Take off the iron chains around your neck, O captive daughter Zion!\n\t\t\t For this is what the LORD says: \"You were sold for nothing, and you will not be redeemed for money.\"\n\t\t\t For this is what the sovereign LORD says: \"In the beginning my people went to live temporarily in Egypt; Assyria oppressed them for no good reason.\n\t\t\t And now, what do we have here?\" says the LORD. \"Indeed my people have been carried away for nothing, those who rule over them taunt,\" says the LORD, \"and my name is constantly slandered all day long.\n\t\t\t For this reason my people will know my name, for this reason they will know at that time that I am the one who says, 'Here I am.'\"\n\t\t\t How delightful it is to see approaching over the mountains the feet of a messenger who announces peace, a messenger who brings good news, who announces deliverance, who says to Zion, \"Your God reigns!\"\n\t\t\t Listen, your watchmen shout; in unison they shout for joy, for they see with their very own eyes the LORD's return to Zion.\n\t\t\t In unison give a joyful shout, O ruins of Jerusalem! For the LORD consoles his people; he protects Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t The LORD reveals his royal power in the sight of all the nations; the entire earth sees our God deliver.\n\t\t\t Leave! Leave! Get out of there! Don't touch anything unclean! Get out of it! Stay pure, you who carry the LORD's holy items!\n\t\t\t Yet do not depart quickly or leave in a panic. For the LORD goes before you; the God of Israel is your rear guard.\n\t\t\t \"Look, my servant will succeed! He will be elevated, lifted high, and greatly exalted,\n\t\t\t (just as many were horrified by the sight of you) he was so disfigured he no longer looked like a man;\n\t\t\t his form was so marred he no longer looked human, so now he will startle many nations. Kings will be shocked by his exaltation, for they will witness something unannounced to them, and they will understand something they had not heard about.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Who would have believed what we just heard? When was the LORD's power revealed through him?\n\t\t\t He sprouted up like a twig before God, like a root out of parched soil; he had no stately form or majesty that might catch our attention, no special appearance that we should want to follow him.\n\t\t\t He was despised and rejected by people, one who experienced pain and was acquainted with illness; people hid their faces from him; he was despised, and we considered him insignificant.\n\t\t\t But he lifted up our illnesses, he carried our pain; even though we thought he was being punished, attacked by God, and afflicted for something he had done.\n\t\t\t He was wounded because of our rebellious deeds, crushed because of our sins; he endured punishment that made us well; because of his wounds we have been healed.\n\t\t\t All of us had wandered off like sheep; each of us had strayed off on his own path, but the LORD caused the sin of all of us to attack him.\n\t\t\t He was treated harshly and afflicted, but he did not even open his mouth. Like a lamb led to the slaughtering block, like a sheep silent before her shearers, he did not even open his mouth.\n\t\t\t He was led away after an unjust trial, but who even cared? Indeed, he was cut off from the land of the living; because of the rebellion of his own people he was wounded.\n\t\t\t They intended to bury him with criminals, but he ended up in a rich man's tomb, because he had committed no violent deeds, nor had he spoken deceitfully.\n\t\t\t Though the LORD desired to crush him and make him ill, once restitution is made, he will see descendants and enjoy long life, and the LORD's purpose will be accomplished through him.\n\t\t\t Having suffered, he will reflect on his work, he will be satisfied when he understands what he has done. \"My servant will acquit many, for he carried their sins.\n\t\t\t So I will assign him a portion with the multitudes, he will divide the spoils of victory with the powerful, because he willingly submitted to death and was numbered with the rebels, when he lifted up the sin of many and intervened on behalf of the rebels.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t \"Shout for joy, O barren one who has not given birth! Give a joyful shout and cry out, you who have not been in labor! For the children of the desolate one are more numerous than the children of the married woman,\" says the LORD.\n\t\t\t Make your tent larger, stretch your tent curtains farther out! Spare no effort, lengthen your ropes, and pound your stakes deep.\n\t\t\t For you will spread out to the right and to the left; your children will conquer nations and will resettle desolate cities.\n\t\t\t Don't be afraid, for you will not be put to shame! Don't be intimidated, for you will not be humiliated! You will forget about the shame you experienced in your youth; you will no longer remember the disgrace of your abandonment.\n\t\t\t For your husband is the one who made you, the LORD who commands armies is his name. He is your protector, the Holy One of Israel. He is called \"God of the entire earth.\"\n\t\t\t \"Indeed, the LORD will call you back like a wife who has been abandoned and suffers from depression, like a young wife when she has been rejected,\" says your God.\n\t\t\t \"For a short time I abandoned you, but with great compassion I will gather you.\n\t\t\t In a burst of anger I rejected you momentarily, but with lasting devotion I will have compassion on you,\" says your protector, the LORD.\n\t\t\t \"As far as I am concerned, this is like in Noah's time, when I vowed that the waters of Noah's flood would never again cover the earth. In the same way I have vowed that I will not be angry at you or shout at you.\n\t\t\t Even if the mountains are removed and the hills displaced, my devotion will not be removed from you, nor will my covenant of friendship be displaced,\" says the LORD, the one who has compassion on you.\n\t\t\t \"O afflicted one, driven away, and unconsoled! Look, I am about to set your stones in antimony and I lay your foundation with lapis-lazuli.\n\t\t\t I will make your pinnacles out of gems, your gates out of beryl, and your outer wall out of beautiful stones.\n\t\t\t All your children will be followers of the LORD, and your children will enjoy great prosperity.\n\t\t\t You will be reestablished when I vindicate you. You will not experience oppression; indeed, you will not be afraid. You will not be terrified, for nothing frightening will come near you.\n\t\t\t If anyone dares to challenge you, it will not be my doing! Whoever tries to challenge you will be defeated.\n\t\t\t Look, I create the craftsman, who fans the coals into a fire and forges a weapon. I create the destroyer so he might devastate.\n\t\t\t No weapon forged to be used against you will succeed; you will refute everyone who tries to accuse you. This is what the LORD will do for his servants, I will vindicate them,\" says the LORD.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t \"Hey, all who are thirsty, come to the water! You who have no money, come! Buy and eat! Come! Buy wine and milk without money and without cost!\n\t\t\t Why pay money for something that will not nourish you? Why spend your hard-earned money on something that will not satisfy? Listen carefully to me and eat what is nourishing! Enjoy fine food!\n\t\t\t Pay attention and come to me! Listen, so you can live! Then I will make an unconditional covenantal promise to you, just like the reliable covenantal promises I made to David.\n\t\t\t Look, I made him a witness to nations, a ruler and commander of nations.\"\n\t\t\t Look, you will summon nations you did not previously know; nations that did not previously know you will run to you, because of the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he bestows honor on you.\n\t\t\t Seek the LORD while he makes himself available; call to him while he is nearby!\n\t\t\t The wicked need to abandon their lifestyle and sinful people their plans. They should return to the LORD, and he will show mercy to them, and to their God, for he will freely forgive them.\n\t\t\t \"Indeed, my plans are not like your plans, and my deeds are not like your deeds,\n\t\t\t for just as the sky is higher than the earth, so my deeds are superior to your deeds and my plans superior to your plans.\n\t\t\t The rain and snow fall from the sky and do not return, but instead water the earth and make it produce and yield crops, and provide seed for the planter and food for those who must eat.\n\t\t\t In the same way, the promise that I make does not return to me, having accomplished nothing. No, it is realized as I desire and is fulfilled as I intend.\"\n\t\t\t Indeed you will go out with joy; you will be led along in peace; the mountains and hills will give a joyful shout before you, and all the trees in the field will clap their hands.\n\t\t\t Evergreens will grow in place of thorn bushes, firs will grow in place of nettles; they will be a monument to the LORD, a permanent reminder that will remain.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t This is what the LORD says, \"Promote justice! Do what is right! For I am ready to deliver you; I am ready to vindicate you openly.\n\t\t\t The people who do this will be blessed, the people who commit themselves to obedience, who observe the Sabbath and do not defile it, who refrain from doing anything that is wrong.\n\t\t\t No foreigner who becomes a follower of the LORD should say, 'The LORD will certainly exclude me from his people.' The eunuch should not say, 'Look, I am like a dried-up tree.'\"\n\t\t\t For this is what the LORD says: \"For the eunuchs who observe my Sabbaths and choose what pleases me and are faithful to my covenant,\n\t\t\t I will set up within my temple and my walls a monument that will be better than sons and daughters. I will set up a permanent monument for them that will remain.\n\t\t\t As for foreigners who become followers of the LORD and serve him, who love the name of the LORD and want to be his servants, all who observe the Sabbath and do not defile it, and who are faithful to my covenant,\n\t\t\t I will bring them to my holy mountain; I will make them happy in the temple where people pray to me. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar, for my temple will be known as a temple where all nations may pray.\"\n\t\t\t The sovereign LORD says this, the one who gathers the dispersed of Israel: \"I will still gather them up.\"\n\t\t\t All you wild animals in the fields, come and devour, all you wild animals in the forest!\n\t\t\t All their watchmen are blind, they are unaware. All of them are like mute dogs, unable to bark. They pant, lie down, and love to snooze.\n\t\t\t The dogs have big appetites; they are never full. They are shepherds who have no understanding; they all go their own way, each one looking for monetary gain.\n\t\t\t Each one says, 'Come on, I'll get some wine! Let's guzzle some beer! Tomorrow will be just like today! We'll have everything we want!'\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The godly perish, but no one cares. Honest people disappear, when no one minds that the godly disappear because of evil.\n\t\t\t Those who live uprightly enter a place of peace; they rest on their beds.\n\t\t\t But approach, you sons of omen readers, you offspring of adulteresses and prostitutes!\n\t\t\t At whom are you laughing? At whom are you opening your mouth and sticking out your tongue? You are the children of rebels, the offspring of liars,\n\t\t\t you who practice ritual sex under the oaks and every green tree, who slaughter children near the streams under the rocky overhangs.\n\t\t\t Among the smooth stones of the stream are the idols you love; they, they are the object of your devotion. You pour out liquid offerings to them, you make an offering. Because of these things I will seek vengeance.\n\t\t\t On every high, elevated hill you prepare your bed; you go up there to offer sacrifices.\n\t\t\t Behind the door and doorpost you put your symbols. Indeed, you depart from me and go up and invite them into bed with you. You purchase favors from them, you love their bed, and gaze longingly on their genitals.\n\t\t\t You take olive oil as tribute to your king, along with many perfumes. You send your messengers to a distant place; you go all the way to Sheol.\n\t\t\t Because of the long distance you must travel, you get tired, but you do not say, 'I give up.' You get renewed energy, so you don't collapse.\n\t\t\t Whom are you worried about? Whom do you fear, that you would act so deceitfully and not remember me or think about me? Because I have been silent for so long, you are not afraid of me.\n\t\t\t I will denounce your so-called righteousness and your deeds, but they will not help you.\n\t\t\t When you cry out for help, let your idols help you! The wind blows them all away, a breeze carries them away. But the one who looks to me for help will inherit the land and will have access to my holy mountain.\"\n\t\t\t He says, \"Build it! Build it! Clear a way! Remove all the obstacles out of the way of my people!\"\n\t\t\t For this is what the high and exalted one says, the one who rules forever, whose name is holy: \"I dwell in an exalted and holy place, but also with the discouraged and humiliated, in order to cheer up the humiliated and to encourage the discouraged.\n\t\t\t For I will not be hostile forever or perpetually angry, for then man's spirit would grow faint before me, the life-giving breath I created.\n\t\t\t I was angry because of their sinful greed; I attacked them and angrily rejected them, yet they remained disobedient and stubborn.\n\t\t\t I have seen their behavior, but I will heal them and give them rest, and I will once again console those who mourn.\n\t\t\t I am the one who gives them reason to celebrate. Complete prosperity is available both to those who are far away and those who are nearby,\" says the LORD, \"and I will heal them.\n\t\t\t But the wicked are like a surging sea that is unable to be quiet; its waves toss up mud and sand.\n\t\t\t There will be no prosperity,\" says my God, \"for the wicked.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t \"Shout loudly! Don't be quiet! Yell as loud as a trumpet! Confront my people with their rebellious deeds; confront Jacob's family with their sin!\n\t\t\t They seek me day after day; they want to know my requirements, like a nation that does what is right and does not reject the law of their God. They ask me for just decrees; they want to be near God.\n\t\t\t They lament, 'Why don't you notice when we fast? Why don't you pay attention when we humble ourselves?' Look, at the same time you fast, you satisfy your selfish desires, you oppress your workers.\n\t\t\t Look, your fasting is accompanied by arguments, brawls, and fistfights. Do not fast as you do today, trying to make your voice heard in heaven.\n\t\t\t Is this really the kind of fasting I want? Do I want a day when people merely humble themselves, bowing their heads like a reed and stretching out on sackcloth and ashes? Is this really what you call a fast, a day that is pleasing to the LORD?\n\t\t\t No, this is the kind of fast I want. I want you to remove the sinful chains, to tear away the ropes of the burdensome yoke, to set free the oppressed, and to break every burdensome yoke.\n\t\t\t I want you to share your food with the hungry and to provide shelter for homeless, oppressed people. When you see someone naked, clothe him! Don't turn your back on your own flesh and blood!\n\t\t\t Then your light will shine like the sunrise; your restoration will quickly arrive; your godly behavior will go before you, and the LORD's splendor will be your rear guard.\n\t\t\t Then you will call out, and the LORD will respond; you will cry out, and he will reply, 'Here I am.' You must remove the burdensome yoke from among you and stop pointing fingers and speaking sinfully.\n\t\t\t You must actively help the hungry and feed the oppressed. Then your light will dispel the darkness, and your darkness will be transformed into noonday.\n\t\t\t The LORD will continually lead you; he will feed you even in parched regions. He will give you renewed strength, and you will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring that continually produces water.\n\t\t\t Your perpetual ruins will be rebuilt; you will reestablish the ancient foundations. You will be called, 'The one who repairs broken walls, the one who makes the streets inhabitable again.'\n\t\t\t You must observe the Sabbath rather than doing anything you please on my holy day. You must look forward to the Sabbath and treat the LORD's holy day with respect. You must treat it with respect by refraining from your normal activities, and by refraining from your selfish pursuits and from making business deals.\n\t\t\t Then you will find joy in your relationship to the LORD, and I will give you great prosperity, and cause crops to grow on the land I gave to your ancestor Jacob.\" Know for certain that the LORD has spoken.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Look, the LORD's hand is not too weak to deliver you; his ear is not too deaf to hear you.\n\t\t\t But your sinful acts have alienated you from your God; your sins have caused him to reject you and not listen to your prayers.\n\t\t\t For your hands are stained with blood and your fingers with sin; your lips speak lies, your tongue utters malicious words.\n\t\t\t No one is concerned about justice; no one sets forth his case truthfully. They depend on false words and tell lies; they conceive of oppression and give birth to sin.\n\t\t\t They hatch the eggs of a poisonous snake and spin a spider's web. Whoever eats their eggs will die, a poisonous snake is hatched.\n\t\t\t Their webs cannot be used for clothing; they cannot cover themselves with what they make. Their deeds are sinful; they commit violent crimes.\n\t\t\t They are eager to do evil, quick to shed innocent blood. Their thoughts are sinful; they crush and destroy.\n\t\t\t They are unfamiliar with peace; their deeds are unjust. They use deceitful methods, and whoever deals with them is unfamiliar with peace.\n\t\t\t For this reason deliverance is far from us and salvation does not reach us. We wait for light, but see only darkness; we wait for a bright light, but live in deep darkness.\n\t\t\t We grope along the wall like the blind, we grope like those who cannot see; we stumble at noontime as if it were evening. Though others are strong, we are like dead men.\n\t\t\t We all growl like bears, we coo mournfully like doves; we wait for deliverance, but there is none, for salvation, but it is far from us.\n\t\t\t For you are aware of our many rebellious deeds, and our sins testify against us; indeed, we are aware of our rebellious deeds; we know our sins all too well.\n\t\t\t We have rebelled and tried to deceive the LORD; we turned back from following our God. We stir up oppression and rebellion; we tell lies we concocted in our minds.\n\t\t\t Justice is driven back; godliness stands far off. Indeed, honesty stumbles in the city square and morality is not even able to enter.\n\t\t\t Honesty has disappeared; the one who tries to avoid evil is robbed. The LORD watches and is displeased, for there is no justice.\n\t\t\t He sees there is no advocate; he is shocked that no one intervenes. So he takes matters into his own hands; his desire for justice drives him on.\n\t\t\t He wears his desire for justice like body armor, and his desire to deliver is like a helmet on his head. He puts on the garments of vengeance and wears zeal like a robe.\n\t\t\t He repays them for what they have done, dispensing angry judgment to his adversaries and punishing his enemies. He repays the coastlands.\n\t\t\t In the west, people respect the LORD's reputation; in the east they recognize his splendor. For he comes like a rushing stream driven on by wind sent from the LORD.\n\t\t\t \"A protector comes to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their rebellious deeds,\" says the LORD.\n\t\t\t \"As for me, this is my promise to them,\" says the LORD. \"My spirit, who is upon you, and my words, which I have placed in your mouth, will not depart from your mouth or from the mouths of your children and descendants from this time forward,\" says the LORD.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t \"Arise! Shine! For your light arrives! The splendor of the LORD shines on you!\n\t\t\t For, look, darkness covers the earth and deep darkness covers the nations, but the LORD shines on you; his splendor appears over you.\n\t\t\t Nations come to your light, kings to your bright light.\n\t\t\t Look all around you! They all gather and come to you, your sons come from far away and your daughters are escorted by guardians.\n\t\t\t Then you will look and smile, you will be excited and your heart will swell with pride. For the riches of distant lands will belong to you and the wealth of nations will come to you.\n\t\t\t Camel caravans will cover your roads, young camels from Midian and Ephah. All the merchants of Sheba will come, bringing gold and incense and singing praises to the LORD.\n\t\t\t All the sheep of Kedar will be gathered to you; the rams of Nebaioth will be available to you as sacrifices. They will go up on my altar acceptably, and I will bestow honor on my majestic temple.\n\t\t\t Who are these who float along like a cloud, who fly like doves to their shelters?\n\t\t\t Indeed, the coastlands look eagerly for me, the large ships are in the lead, bringing your sons from far away, along with their silver and gold, to honor the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has bestowed honor on you.\n\t\t\t Foreigners will rebuild your walls; their kings will serve you. Even though I struck you down in my anger, I will restore my favor and have compassion on you.\n\t\t\t Your gates will remain open at all times; they will not be shut during the day or at night, so that the wealth of nations may be delivered, with their kings leading the way.\n\t\t\t Indeed, nations or kingdoms that do not serve you will perish; such nations will be totally destroyed.\n\t\t\t The splendor of Lebanon will come to you, its evergreens, firs, and cypresses together, to beautify my palace; I will bestow honor on my throne room.\n\t\t\t The children of your oppressors will come bowing to you; all who treated you with disrespect will bow down at your feet. They will call you, 'The City of the LORD, Zion of the Holy One of Israel.'\n\t\t\t You were once abandoned and despised, with no one passing through, but I will make you a permanent source of pride and joy to coming generations.\n\t\t\t You will drink the milk of nations; you will nurse at the breasts of kings. Then you will recognize that I, the LORD, am your deliverer, your protector, the powerful ruler of Jacob.\n\t\t\t Instead of bronze, I will bring you gold, instead of iron, I will bring you silver, instead of wood, I will bring you bronze, instead of stones, I will bring you iron. I will make prosperity your overseer, and vindication your sovereign ruler.\n\t\t\t Sounds of violence will no longer be heard in your land, or the sounds of destruction and devastation within your borders. You will name your walls, 'Deliverance,' and your gates, 'Praise.'\n\t\t\t The sun will no longer supply light for you by day, nor will the moon's brightness shine on you; the LORD will be your permanent source of light, the splendor of your God will shine upon you.\n\t\t\t Your sun will no longer set; your moon will not disappear; the LORD will be your permanent source of light; your time of sorrow will be over.\n\t\t\t All of your people will be godly; they will possess the land permanently. I will plant them like a shoot; they will be the product of my labor, through whom I reveal my splendor.\n\t\t\t The least of you will multiply into a thousand; the smallest of you will become a large nation. When the right time comes, I the LORD will quickly do this!\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The spirit of the sovereign LORD is upon me, because the LORD has chosen me. He has commissioned me to encourage the poor, to help the brokenhearted, to decree the release of captives, and the freeing of prisoners,\n\t\t\t to announce the year when the LORD will show his favor, the day when our God will seek vengeance, to console all who mourn,\n\t\t\t to strengthen those who mourn in Zion, by giving them a turban, instead of ashes, oil symbolizing joy, instead of mourning, a garment symbolizing praise, instead of discouragement. They will be called oaks of righteousness, trees planted by the LORD to reveal his splendor.\n\t\t\t They will rebuild the perpetual ruins and restore the places that were desolate; they will reestablish the ruined cities, the places that have been desolate since ancient times.\n\t\t\t \"Foreigners will take care of your sheep; foreigners will work in your fields and vineyards.\n\t\t\t You will be called, 'the LORD's priests, servants of our God.' You will enjoy the wealth of nations and boast about the riches you receive from them.\n\t\t\t Instead of shame, you will get a double portion; instead of humiliation, they will rejoice over the land they receive. Yes, they will possess a double portion in their land and experience lasting joy.\n\t\t\t For I, the LORD, love justice and hate robbery and sin. I will repay them because of my faithfulness; I will make a permanent covenant with them.\n\t\t\t Their descendants will be known among the nations, their offspring among the peoples. All who see them will recognize that the LORD has blessed them.\"\n\t\t\t I will greatly rejoice in the LORD; I will be overjoyed because of my God. For he clothes me in garments of deliverance; he puts on me a robe symbolizing vindication. I look like a bridegroom when he wears a turban as a priest would; I look like a bride when she puts on her jewelry.\n\t\t\t For just as the ground produces its crops and a garden yields its produce, so the sovereign LORD will cause deliverance to grow, and give his people reason to praise him in the sight of all the nations.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t \"For the sake of Zion I will not be silent; for the sake of Jerusalem I will not be quiet, until her vindication shines brightly and her deliverance burns like a torch.\"\n\t\t\t Nations will see your vindication, and all kings your splendor. You will be called by a new name that the LORD himself will give you.\n\t\t\t You will be a majestic crown in the hand of the LORD, a royal turban in the hand of your God.\n\t\t\t You will no longer be called, \"Abandoned,\" and your land will no longer be called \"Desolate.\" Indeed, you will be called \"My Delight is in Her,\" and your land \"Married.\" For the LORD will take delight in you, and your land will be married to him.\n\t\t\t As a young man marries a young woman, so your sons will marry you. As a bridegroom rejoices over a bride, so your God will rejoice over you.\n\t\t\t I post watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; they should keep praying all day and all night. You who pray to the LORD, don't be silent!\n\t\t\t Don't allow him to rest until he reestablishes Jerusalem, until he makes Jerusalem the pride of the earth.\n\t\t\t The LORD swears an oath by his right hand, by his strong arm: \"I will never again give your grain to your enemies as food, and foreigners will not drink your wine, which you worked hard to produce.\n\t\t\t But those who harvest the grain will eat it, and will praise the LORD. Those who pick the grapes will drink the wine in the courts of my holy sanctuary.\"\n\t\t\t Come through! Come through the gates! Prepare the way for the people! Build it! Build the roadway! Remove the stones! Lift a signal flag for the nations!\n\t\t\t Look, the LORD announces to the entire earth: \"Say to Daughter Zion, 'Look, your deliverer comes! Look, his reward is with him and his reward goes before him!'\"\n\t\t\t They will be called, \"The Holy People, the Ones Protected by the LORD.\" You will be called, \"Sought After, City Not Abandoned.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Who is this who comes from Edom, dressed in bright red, coming from Bozrah? Who is this one wearing royal attire, who marches confidently because of his great strength? \"It is I, the one who announces vindication, and who is able to deliver!\"\n\t\t\t Why are your clothes red? Why do you look like someone who has stomped on grapes in a vat?\n\t\t\t \"I have stomped grapes in the winepress all by myself; no one from the nations joined me. I stomped on them in my anger; I trampled them down in my rage. Their juice splashed on my garments, and stained all my clothes.\n\t\t\t For I looked forward to the day of vengeance, and then payback time arrived.\n\t\t\t I looked, but there was no one to help; I was shocked because there was no one offering support. So my right arm accomplished deliverance; my raging anger drove me on.\n\t\t\t I trampled nations in my anger, I made them drunk in my rage, I splashed their blood on the ground.\"\n\t\t\t I will tell of the faithful acts of the LORD, of the LORD's praiseworthy deeds. I will tell about all the LORD did for us, the many good things he did for the family of Israel, because of his compassion and great faithfulness.\n\t\t\t He said, \"Certainly they will be my people, children who are not disloyal.\" He became their deliverer.\n\t\t\t Through all that they suffered, he suffered too. The messenger sent from his very presence delivered them. In his love and mercy he protected them; he lifted them up and carried them throughout ancient times.\n\t\t\t But they rebelled and offended his holy Spirit, so he turned into an enemy and fought against them.\n\t\t\t His people remembered the ancient times. Where is the one who brought them up out of the sea, along with the shepherd of his flock? Where is the one who placed his holy Spirit among them,\n\t\t\t the one who made his majestic power available to Moses, who divided the water before them, gaining for himself a lasting reputation,\n\t\t\t who led them through the deep water? Like a horse running on flat land they did not stumble.\n\t\t\t Like an animal that goes down into a valley to graze, so the Spirit of the LORD granted them rest. In this way you guided your people, gaining for yourself an honored reputation.\n\t\t\t Look down from heaven and take notice, from your holy, majestic palace! Where are your zeal and power? Do not hold back your tender compassion!\n\t\t\t For you are our father, though Abraham does not know us and Israel does not recognize us. You, LORD, are our father; you have been called our protector from ancient times.\n\t\t\t Why, LORD, do you make us stray from your ways, and make our minds stubborn so that we do not obey you? Return for the sake of your servants, the tribes of your inheritance!\n\t\t\t For a short time your special nation possessed a land, but then our adversaries knocked down your holy sanctuary.\n\t\t\t We existed from ancient times, but you did not rule over them, they were not your subjects.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t If only you would tear apart the sky and come down! The mountains would tremble before you!\n\t\t\t As when fire ignites dry wood, or fire makes water boil, let your adversaries know who you are, and may the nations shake at your presence!\n\t\t\t When you performed awesome deeds that took us by surprise, you came down, and the mountains trembled before you.\n\t\t\t Since ancient times no one has heard or perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who intervenes for those who wait for him.\n\t\t\t You assist those who delight in doing what is right, who observe your commandments. Look, you were angry because we violated them continually. How then can we be saved?\n\t\t\t We are all like one who is unclean, all our so-called righteous acts are like a menstrual rag in your sight. We all wither like a leaf; our sins carry us away like the wind.\n\t\t\t No one invokes your name, or makes an effort to take hold of you. For you have rejected us and handed us over to our own sins.\n\t\t\t Yet, LORD, you are our father. We are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the product of your labor.\n\t\t\t LORD, do not be too angry! Do not hold our sins against us continually! Take a good look at your people, at all of us!\n\t\t\t Your chosen cities have become a desert; Zion has become a desert, Jerusalem is a desolate ruin.\n\t\t\t Our holy temple, our pride and joy, the place where our ancestors praised you, has been burned with fire; all our prized possessions have been destroyed.\n\t\t\t In light of all this, how can you still hold back, LORD? How can you be silent and continue to humiliate us?\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t \"I made myself available to those who did not ask for me; I appeared to those who did not look for me. I said, 'Here I am! Here I am!' to a nation that did not invoke my name.\n\t\t\t I spread out my hands all day long to my rebellious people, who lived in a way that is morally unacceptable, and who did what they desired.\n\t\t\t These people continually and blatantly offend me as they sacrifice in their sacred orchards and burn incense on brick altars.\n\t\t\t They sit among the tombs and keep watch all night long. They eat pork, and broth from unclean sacrificial meat is in their pans.\n\t\t\t They say, 'Keep to yourself! Don't get near me, for I am holier than you!' These people are like smoke in my nostrils, like a fire that keeps burning all day long.\n\t\t\t Look, I have decreed: I will not keep silent, but will pay them back; I will pay them back exactly what they deserve,\n\t\t\t for your sins and your ancestors' sins,\" says the LORD. \"Because they burned incense on the mountains and offended me on the hills, I will punish them in full measure.\"\n\t\t\t This is what the LORD says: \"When juice is discovered in a cluster of grapes, someone says, 'Don't destroy it, for it contains juice.' So I will do for the sake of my servants, I will not destroy everyone.\n\t\t\t I will bring forth descendants from Jacob, and from Judah people to take possession of my mountains. My chosen ones will take possession of the land; my servants will live there.\n\t\t\t Sharon will become a pasture for sheep, and the Valley of Achor a place where cattle graze; they will belong to my people, who seek me.\n\t\t\t But as for you who abandon the LORD and forget about worshiping at my holy mountain, who prepare a feast for the god called 'Fortune,' and fill up wine jugs for the god called 'Destiny',\n\t\t\t I predestine you to die by the sword, all of you will kneel down at the slaughtering block, because I called to you, and you did not respond, I spoke and you did not listen. You did evil before me; you chose to do what displeases me.\"\n\t\t\t So this is what the sovereign LORD says: \"Look, my servants will eat, but you will be hungry! Look, my servants will drink, but you will be thirsty! Look, my servants will rejoice, but you will be humiliated!\n\t\t\t Look, my servants will shout for joy as happiness fills their hearts! But you will cry out as sorrow fills your hearts; you will wail because your spirits will be crushed.\n\t\t\t Your names will live on in the curse formulas of my chosen ones. The sovereign LORD will kill you, but he will give his servants another name.\n\t\t\t Whoever pronounces a blessing in the earth will do so in the name of the faithful God; whoever makes an oath in the earth will do so in the name of the faithful God. For past problems will be forgotten; I will no longer think about them.\n\t\t\t For look, I am ready to create new heavens and a new earth! The former ones will not be remembered; no one will think about them anymore.\n\t\t\t But be happy and rejoice forevermore over what I am about to create! For look, I am ready to create Jerusalem to be a source of joy, and her people to be a source of happiness.\n\t\t\t Jerusalem will bring me joy, and my people will bring me happiness. The sound of weeping or cries of sorrow will never be heard in her again.\n\t\t\t Never again will one of her infants live just a few days or an old man die before his time. Indeed, no one will die before the age of a hundred, anyone who fails to reach the age of a hundred will be considered cursed.\n\t\t\t They will build houses and live in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit.\n\t\t\t No longer will they build a house only to have another live in it, or plant a vineyard only to have another eat its fruit, for my people will live as long as trees, and my chosen ones will enjoy to the fullest what they have produced.\n\t\t\t They will not work in vain, or give birth to children that will experience disaster. For the LORD will bless their children and their descendants.\n\t\t\t Before they even call out, I will respond; while they are still speaking, I will hear.\n\t\t\t A wolf and a lamb will graze together; a lion, like an ox, will eat straw, and a snake's food will be dirt. They will no longer injure or destroy on my entire royal mountain,\" says the LORD.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t This is what the LORD says: \"The heavens are my throne and the earth is my footstool. Where then is the house you will build for me? Where is the place where I will rest?\n\t\t\t My hand made them; that is how they came to be,\" says the LORD. I show special favor to the humble and contrite, who respect what I have to say.\n\t\t\t The one who slaughters a bull also strikes down a man; the one who sacrifices a lamb also breaks a dog's neck; the one who presents an offering includes pig's blood with it; the one who offers incense also praises an idol. They have decided to behave this way; they enjoy these disgusting practices.\n\t\t\t So I will choose severe punishment for them; I will bring on them what they dread, because I called, and no one responded, I spoke and they did not listen. They did evil before me; they chose to do what displeases me.\"\n\t\t\t Hear the word of the LORD, you who respect what he has to say! Your countrymen, who hate you and exclude you, supposedly for the sake of my name, say, \"May the LORD be glorified, then we will witness your joy.\" But they will be put to shame.\n\t\t\t The sound of battle comes from the city; the sound comes from the temple! It is the sound of the LORD paying back his enemies.\n\t\t\t Before she goes into labor, she gives birth! Before her contractions begin, she delivers a boy!\n\t\t\t Who has ever heard of such a thing? Who has ever seen this? Can a country be brought forth in one day? Can a nation be born in a single moment? Yet as soon as Zion goes into labor she gives birth to sons!\n\t\t\t \"Do I bring a baby to the birth opening and then not deliver it?\" asks the LORD. \"Or do I bring a baby to the point of delivery and then hold it back?\" asks your God.\n\t\t\t Be happy for Jerusalem and rejoice with her, all you who love her! Share in her great joy, all you who have mourned over her!\n\t\t\t For you will nurse from her satisfying breasts and be nourished; you will feed with joy from her milk-filled breasts.\n\t\t\t For this is what the LORD says: \"Look, I am ready to extend to her prosperity that will flow like a river, the riches of nations will flow into her like a stream that floods its banks. You will nurse from her breast and be carried at her side; you will play on her knees.\n\t\t\t As a mother consoles a child, so I will console you, and you will be consoled over Jerusalem.\"\n\t\t\t When you see this, you will be happy, and you will be revived. The LORD will reveal his power to his servants and his anger to his enemies.\n\t\t\t For look, the LORD comes with fire, his chariots come like a windstorm, to reveal his raging anger, his battle cry, and his flaming arrows.\n\t\t\t For the LORD judges all humanity with fire and his sword; the LORD will kill many.\n\t\t\t \"As for those who consecrate and ritually purify themselves so they can follow their leader and worship in the sacred orchards, those who eat the flesh of pigs and other disgusting creatures, like mice, they will all be destroyed together,\" says the LORD.\n\t\t\t \"I hate their deeds and thoughts! So I am coming to gather all the nations and ethnic groups; they will come and witness my splendor. \n\t\t\t I will perform a mighty act among them and then send some of those who remain to the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, Lud (known for its archers), Tubal, Javan, and to the distant coastlands that have not heard about me or seen my splendor. They will tell the nations of my splendor.\n\t\t\t They will bring back all your countrymen from all the nations as an offering to the LORD. They will bring them on horses, in chariots, in wagons, on mules, and on camels to my holy hill Jerusalem,\" says the LORD, \"just as the Israelites bring offerings to the LORD's temple in ritually pure containers.\n\t\t\t And I will choose some of them as priests and Levites,\" says the LORD.\n\t\t\t \"For just as the new heavens and the new earth I am about to make will remain standing before me,\" says the LORD, \"so your descendants and your name will remain.\n\t\t\t From one month to the next and from one Sabbath to the next, all people will come to worship me,\" says the LORD. \n\t\t\t \"They will go out and observe the corpses of those who rebelled against me, for the maggots that eat them will not die, and the fire that consumes them will not die out. All people will find the sight abhorrent.\"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The following is a record of what Jeremiah son of Hilkiah prophesied. He was one of the priests who lived at Anathoth in the territory of the tribe of Benjamin. \n\t\t\t The LORD began to speak to him in the thirteenth year that Josiah son of Amon ruled over Judah. \n\t\t\t The LORD also spoke to him when Jehoiakim son of Josiah ruled over Judah, and he continued to speak to him until the fifth month of the eleventh year that Zedekiah son of Josiah ruled over Judah. That was when the people of Jerusalem were taken into exile.\n\t\t\t The LORD said to me,\n\t\t\t \"Before I formed you in your mother's womb I chose you. Before you were born I set you apart. I appointed you to be a prophet to the nations.\"\n\t\t\t I answered, \"Oh, Lord GOD, I really do not know how to speak well enough for that, for I am too young.\"\n\t\t\t The LORD said to me, \"Do not say, 'I am too young.' But go to whomever I send you and say whatever I tell you. \n\t\t\t Do not be afraid of those to whom I send you, for I will be with you to protect you,\" says the LORD. \n\t\t\t Then the LORD reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, \"I will most assuredly give you the words you are to speak for me.\n\t\t\t Know for certain that I hereby give you the authority to announce to nations and kingdoms that they will be uprooted and torn down, destroyed and demolished, rebuilt and firmly planted.\"\n\t\t\t Later the LORD asked me, \"What do you see, Jeremiah?\" I answered, \"I see a branch of an almond tree.\"\n\t\t\t Then the LORD said, \"You have observed correctly. This means I am watching to make sure my threats are carried out.\"\n\t\t\t The LORD again asked me, \"What do you see?\" I answered, \"I see a pot of boiling water; it is tipped toward us from the north.\"\n\t\t\t Then the LORD said, \"This means destruction will break out from the north on all who live in the land. \n\t\t\t For I will soon summon all the peoples of the kingdoms of the north,\" says the LORD. \"They will come and their kings will set up their thrones near the entrances of the gates of Jerusalem. They will attack all the walls surrounding it, and all the towns in Judah.\n\t\t\t In this way I will pass sentence on the people of Jerusalem and Judah because of all their wickedness. For they rejected me and offered sacrifices to other gods, worshiping what they made with their own hands.\"\n\t\t\t \"But you, Jeremiah, get yourself ready! Go and tell these people everything I instruct you to say. Do not be terrified of them, or I will give you good reason to be terrified of them.\n\t\t\t I, the LORD, hereby promise to make you as strong as a fortified city, an iron pillar, and a bronze wall. You will be able to stand up against all who live in the land, including the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests and all the people of the land. \n\t\t\t They will attack you but they will not be able to overcome you, for I will be with you to rescue you,\" says the LORD.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to me. He said:\n\t\t\t \"Go and declare in the hearing of the people of Jerusalem: 'This is what the LORD says: \"I have fond memories of you, how devoted you were to me in your early years. I remember how you loved me like a new bride; you followed me through the wilderness, through a land that had never been planted. \n\t\t\t Israel was set apart to the LORD; they were like the first fruits of a harvest to him. All who tried to devour them were punished; disaster came upon them,\" says the LORD.'\"\n\t\t\t Now listen to what the Lord has to say, you descendants of Jacob, all you family groups from the nation of Israel.\n\t\t\t This is what the Lord says: \"What fault could your ancestors have possibly found in me that they strayed so far from me? They paid allegiance to worthless idols, and so became worthless to me.\n\t\t\t They did not ask: 'Where is the LORD who delivered us out of Egypt, who brought us through the wilderness, through a land of desert sands and rift valleys, through a land of drought and deep darkness, through a land in which no one travels, and where no one lives?'\n\t\t\t I brought you into a fertile land so you could enjoy its fruits and its rich bounty. But when you entered my land, you defiled it; you made the land I call my own loathsome to me.\n\t\t\t Your priests did not ask, 'Where is the LORD?' Those responsible for teaching my law did not really know me. Your rulers rebelled against me. Your prophets prophesied in the name of the god Baal. They all worshiped idols that could not help them.\n\t\t\t \"So, once more I will state my case against you,\" says the LORD. \"I will also state it against your children and grandchildren.\n\t\t\t Go west across the sea to the coasts of Cyprus and see. Send someone east to Kedar and have them look carefully. See if such a thing as this has ever happened:\n\t\t\t Has a nation ever changed its gods (even though they are not really gods at all)? But my people have exchanged me, their glorious God, for a god that cannot help them at all!\n\t\t\t Be amazed at this, O heavens! Be shocked and utterly dumbfounded,\" says the LORD.\n\t\t\t \"Do so because my people have committed a double wrong: they have rejected me, the fountain of life-giving water, and they have dug cisterns for themselves, cracked cisterns which cannot even hold water.\"\n\t\t\t \"Israel is not a slave, is he? He was not born into slavery, was he? If not, why then is he being carried off?\n\t\t\t Like lions his enemies roar victoriously over him; they raise their voices in triumph. They have laid his land waste; his cities have been burned down and deserted.\n\t\t\t Even the soldiers from Memphis and Tahpanhes have cracked your skulls, people of Israel.\n\t\t\t You have brought all this on yourself, Israel, by deserting the LORD your God when he was leading you along the right path.\n\t\t\t What good will it do you then to go down to Egypt to seek help from the Egyptians? What good will it do you to go over to Assyria to seek help from the Assyrians?\n\t\t\t Your own wickedness will bring about your punishment. Your unfaithful acts will bring down discipline on you. Know, then, and realize how utterly harmful it was for you to reject me, the LORD your God, to show no respect for me,\" says the Lord GOD who rules over all.\n\t\t\t \"Indeed, long ago you threw off my authority and refused to be subject to me. You said, 'I will not serve you.' Instead, you gave yourself to other gods on every high hill and under every green tree, like a prostitute sprawls out before her lovers.\n\t\t\t I planted you in the land like a special vine of the very best stock. Why in the world have you turned into something like a wild vine that produces rotten, foul-smelling grapes?\n\t\t\t You can try to wash away your guilt with a strong detergent. You can use as much soap as you want. But the stain of your guilt is still there for me to see,\" says the Lord GOD.\n\t\t\t \"How can you say, 'I have not made myself unclean. I have not paid allegiance to the gods called Baal.' Just look at the way you have behaved in the Valley of Hinnom! Think about the things you have done there! You are like a flighty, young female camel that rushes here and there, crisscrossing its path.\n\t\t\t You are like a wild female donkey brought up in the wilderness. In her lust she sniffs the wind to get the scent of a male. No one can hold her back when she is in heat. None of the males need wear themselves out chasing after her. At mating time she is easy to find.\n\t\t\t Do not chase after other gods until your shoes wear out and your throats become dry. But you say, 'It is useless for you to try and stop me because I love those foreign gods and want to pursue them!'\n\t\t\t Just as a thief has to suffer dishonor when he is caught, so the people of Israel will suffer dishonor for what they have done. So will their kings and officials, their priests and their prophets.\n\t\t\t They say to a wooden idol, 'You are my father.' They say to a stone image, 'You gave birth to me.' Yes, they have turned away from me instead of turning to me. Yet when they are in trouble, they say, 'Come and save us!'\n\t\t\t But where are the gods you made for yourselves? Let them save you when you are in trouble. The sad fact is that you have as many gods as you have towns, Judah.\n\t\t\t \"Why do you try to refute me? All of you have rebelled against me,\" says the LORD.\n\t\t\t \"It did no good for me to punish your people. They did not respond to such correction. You slaughtered your prophets like a voracious lion.\"\n\t\t\t You people of this generation, listen to what the LORD says. \"Have I been like a wilderness to you, Israel? Have I been like a dark and dangerous land to you? Why then do you say, 'We are free to wander. We will not come to you any more?'\n\t\t\t Does a young woman forget to put on her jewels? Does a bride forget to put on her bridal attire? But my people have forgotten me for more days than can even be counted.\n\t\t\t \"My, how good you have become at chasing after your lovers! Why, you could even teach prostitutes a thing or two!\n\t\t\t Even your clothes are stained with the lifeblood of the poor who had not done anything wrong; you did not catch them breaking into your homes. Yet, in spite of all these things you have done,\n\t\t\t you say, 'I have not done anything wrong, so the LORD cannot really be angry with me any more.' But, watch out! I will bring down judgment on you because you say, 'I have not committed any sin.'\n\t\t\t Why do you constantly go about changing your political allegiances? You will get no help from Egypt just as you got no help from Assyria.\n\t\t\t Moreover, you will come away from Egypt with your hands covering your faces in sorrow and shame because the LORD will not allow your reliance on them to be successful and you will not gain any help from them.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t \"If a man divorces his wife and she leaves him and becomes another man's wife, he may not take her back again. Doing that would utterly defile the land. But you, Israel, have given yourself as a prostitute to many gods. So what makes you think you can return to me?\" says the LORD.\n\t\t\t \"Look up at the hilltops and consider this. You have had sex with other gods on every one of them. You waited for those gods like a thief lying in wait in the desert. You defiled the land by your wicked prostitution to other gods.\n\t\t\t That is why the rains have been withheld, and the spring rains have not come. Yet in spite of this you are obstinate as a prostitute. You refuse to be ashamed of what you have done.\n\t\t\t Even now you say to me, 'You are my father! You have been my faithful companion ever since I was young.\n\t\t\t You will not always be angry with me, will you? You will not be mad at me forever, will you?' That is what you say, but you continually do all the evil that you can.\"\n\t\t\t When Josiah was king of Judah, the LORD said to me, \"Jeremiah, you have no doubt seen what wayward Israel has done. You have seen how she went up to every high hill and under every green tree to give herself like a prostitute to other gods.\n\t\t\t Yet even after she had done all that, I thought that she might come back to me. But she did not. Her sister, unfaithful Judah, saw what she did.\n\t\t\t She also saw that I gave wayward Israel her divorce papers and sent her away because of her adulterous worship of other gods. Even after her unfaithful sister Judah had seen this, she still was not afraid, and she too went and gave herself like a prostitute to other gods.\n\t\t\t Because she took her prostitution so lightly, she defiled the land through her adulterous worship of gods made of wood and stone.\n\t\t\t In spite of all this, Israel's sister, unfaithful Judah, has not turned back to me with any sincerity; she has only pretended to do so,\" says the LORD. \n\t\t\t Then the LORD said to me, \"Under the circumstances, wayward Israel could even be considered less guilty than unfaithful Judah.\n\t\t\t \"Go and shout this message to my people in the countries in the north. Tell them, 'Come back to me, wayward Israel,' says the LORD. 'I will not continue to look on you with displeasure. For I am merciful,' says the LORD. 'I will not be angry with you forever.\n\t\t\t However, you must confess that you have done wrong, and that you have rebelled against the LORD your God. You must confess that you have given yourself to foreign gods under every green tree, and have not obeyed my commands,' says the LORD.\n\t\t\t \"Come back to me, my wayward sons,\" says the LORD, \"for I am your true master. If you do, I will take one of you from each town and two of you from each family group, and I will bring you back to Zion. \n\t\t\t I will give you leaders who will be faithful to me. They will lead you with knowledge and insight. \n\t\t\t In those days, your population will greatly increase in the land. At that time,\" says the LORD, \"people will no longer talk about having the ark that contains the LORD's covenant with us. They will not call it to mind, remember it, or miss it. No, that will not be done any more!\n\t\t\t At that time the city of Jerusalem will be called the LORD's throne. All nations will gather there in Jerusalem to honor the LORD's name. They will no longer follow the stubborn inclinations of their own evil hearts.\n\t\t\t At that time the nation of Judah and the nation of Israel will be reunited. Together they will come back from a land in the north to the land that I gave to your ancestors as a permanent possession. \"\n\t\t\t \"I thought to myself, 'Oh what a joy it would be for me to treat you like a son! What a joy it would be for me to give you a pleasant land, the most beautiful piece of property there is in all the world!' I thought you would call me, 'Father' and would never cease being loyal to me.\n\t\t\t But, you have been unfaithful to me, nation of Israel, like an unfaithful wife who has left her husband,\" says the LORD.\n\t\t\t \"A noise is heard on the hilltops. It is the sound of the people of Israel crying and pleading to their gods. Indeed they have followed sinful ways; they have forgotten to be true to the LORD their God.\n\t\t\t Come back to me, you wayward people. I want to cure your waywardness. Say, 'Here we are. We come to you because you are the LORD our God.\n\t\t\t We know our noisy worship of false gods on the hills and mountains did not help us. We know that the LORD our God is the only one who can deliver Israel.\n\t\t\t From earliest times our worship of that shameful god, Baal, has taken away all that our ancestors worked for. It has taken away our flocks and our herds, and even our sons and daughters.\n\t\t\t Let us acknowledge our shame. Let us bear the disgrace that we deserve. For we have sinned against the LORD our God, both we and our ancestors. From earliest times to this very day we have not obeyed the LORD our God.'\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t \"If you, Israel, want to come back,\" says the LORD, \"if you want to come back to me you must get those disgusting idols out of my sight and must no longer go astray.\n\t\t\t You must be truthful, honest and upright when you take an oath saying, 'As surely as the LORD lives!' If you do, the nations will pray to be as blessed by him as you are and will make him the object of their boasting.\"\n\t\t\t Yes, the LORD has this to say to the people of Judah and Jerusalem: \"Like a farmer breaking up hard unplowed ground, you must break your rebellious will and make a new beginning; just as a farmer must clear away thorns lest the seed is wasted, you must get rid of the sin that is ruining your lives.\n\t\t\t Just as ritual circumcision cuts away the foreskin as an external symbol of dedicated covenant commitment, you must genuinely dedicate yourselves to the LORD and get rid of everything that hinders your commitment to me, people of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem. If you do not, my anger will blaze up like a flaming fire against you that no one will be able to extinguish. That will happen because of the evil you have done.\"\n\t\t\t The LORD said, \"Announce this in Judah and proclaim it in Jerusalem: 'Sound the trumpet throughout the land!' Shout out loudly, 'Gather together! Let us flee into the fortified cities!'\n\t\t\t Raise a signal flag that tells people to go to Zion. Run for safety! Do not delay! For I am about to bring disaster out of the north. It will bring great destruction.\n\t\t\t Like a lion that has come up from its lair the one who destroys nations has set out from his home base. He is coming out to lay your land waste. Your cities will become ruins and lie uninhabited.\n\t\t\t So put on sackcloth! Mourn and wail, saying, 'The fierce anger of the LORD has not turned away from us!'\"\n\t\t\t \"When this happens,\" says the LORD, \"the king and his officials will lose their courage. The priests will be struck with horror, and the prophets will be speechless in astonishment.\"\n\t\t\t In response to all this I said, \"Ah, Lord GOD, you have surely allowed the people of Judah and Jerusalem to be deceived by those who say, 'You will be safe!' But in fact a sword is already at our throats.\"\n\t\t\t \"At that time the people of Judah and Jerusalem will be told, 'A scorching wind will sweep down from the hilltops in the desert on my dear people. It will not be a gentle breeze for winnowing the grain and blowing away the chaff.\n\t\t\t No, a wind too strong for that will come at my bidding. Yes, even now I, myself, am calling down judgment on them.'\n\t\t\t Look! The enemy is approaching like gathering clouds. The roar of his chariots is like that of a whirlwind. His horses move more swiftly than eagles.\" I cry out, \"We are doomed, for we will be destroyed!\"\n\t\t\t \"Oh people of Jerusalem, purify your hearts from evil so that you may yet be delivered. How long will you continue to harbor up wicked schemes within you?\n\t\t\t For messengers are coming, heralding disaster, from the city of Dan and from the hills of Ephraim.\n\t\t\t They are saying, 'Announce to the surrounding nations, \"The enemy is coming!\" Proclaim this message to Jerusalem: \"Those who besiege cities are coming from a distant land. They are ready to raise the battle cry against the towns in Judah.\"'\n\t\t\t They will surround Jerusalem like men guarding a field because they have rebelled against me,\" says the LORD.\n\t\t\t \"The way you have lived and the things you have done will bring this on you. This is the punishment you deserve, and it will be painful indeed. The pain will be so bad it will pierce your heart.\"\n\t\t\t I said, \"Oh, the feeling in the pit of my stomach! I writhe in anguish. Oh, the pain in my heart! My heart pounds within me. I cannot keep silent. For I hear the sound of the trumpet; the sound of the battle cry pierces my soul!\n\t\t\t I see one destruction after another taking place, so that the whole land lies in ruins. I see our tents suddenly destroyed, their curtains torn down in a mere instant.\n\t\t\t \"How long must I see the enemy's battle flags and hear the military signals of their bugles?\"\n\t\t\t The LORD answered, \"This will happen because my people are foolish. They do not know me. They are like children who have no sense. They have no understanding. They are skilled at doing evil. They do not know how to do good.\"\n\t\t\t \"I looked at the land and saw that it was an empty wasteland. I looked up at the sky, and its light had vanished.\n\t\t\t I looked at the mountains and saw that they were shaking. All the hills were swaying back and forth!\n\t\t\t I looked and saw that there were no more people, and that all the birds in the sky had flown away.\n\t\t\t I looked and saw that the fruitful land had become a desert and that all of the cities had been laid in ruins. The LORD had brought this all about because of his blazing anger.\n\t\t\t All this will happen because the LORD said, \"The whole land will be desolate; however, I will not completely destroy it.\n\t\t\t Because of this the land will mourn and the sky above will grow black. For I have made my purpose known and I will not relent or turn back from carrying it out.\"\n\t\t\t At the sound of the approaching horsemen and archers the people of every town will flee. Some of them will hide in the thickets. Others will climb up among the rocks. All the cities will be deserted. No one will remain in them.\n\t\t\t And you, Zion, city doomed to destruction, you accomplish nothing by wearing a beautiful dress, decking yourself out in jewels of gold, and putting on eye shadow! You are making yourself beautiful for nothing. Your lovers spurn you. They want to kill you.\n\t\t\t In fact, I hear a cry like that of a woman in labor, a cry of anguish like that of a woman giving birth to her first baby. It is the cry of Daughter Zion gasping for breath, reaching out for help, saying, \"I am done in! My life is ebbing away before these murderers!\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The LORD said, \"Go up and down through the streets of Jerusalem. Look around and see for yourselves. Search through its public squares. See if any of you can find a single person who deals honestly and tries to be truthful. If you can, then I will not punish this city.\n\t\t\t These people make promises in the name of the LORD. But the fact is, what they swear to is really a lie.\"\n\t\t\t LORD, I know you look for faithfulness. But even when you punish these people, they feel no remorse. Even when you nearly destroy them, they refuse to be corrected. They have become as hardheaded as a rock. They refuse to change their ways.\n\t\t\t I thought, \"Surely it is only the ignorant poor who act this way. They act like fools because they do not know what the LORD demands. They do not know what their God requires of them.\n\t\t\t I will go to the leaders and speak with them. Surely they know what the LORD demands. Surely they know what their God requires of them.\" Yet all of them, too, have rejected his authority and refuse to submit to him.\n\t\t\t So like a lion from the thicket their enemies will kill them. Like a wolf from the desert they will destroy them. Like a leopard they will lie in wait outside their cities and totally destroy anyone who ventures out. For they have rebelled so much and done so many unfaithful things.\n\t\t\t The LORD asked, \"How can I leave you unpunished, Jerusalem? Your people have rejected me and have worshiped gods that are not gods at all. Even though I supplied all their needs, they were like an unfaithful wife to me. They went flocking to the houses of prostitutes.\n\t\t\t They are like lusty, well-fed stallions. Each of them lusts after his neighbor's wife.\n\t\t\t I will surely punish them for doing such things!\" says the LORD. \"I will surely bring retribution on such a nation as this!\"\n\t\t\t The LORD commanded the enemy, \"March through the vineyards of Israel and Judah and ruin them. But do not destroy them completely. Strip off their branches for these people do not belong to the LORD.\n\t\t\t For the nations of Israel and Judah have been very unfaithful to me,\" says the LORD.\n\t\t\t \"These people have denied what the LORD says. They have said, 'That is not so! No harm will come to us. We will not experience war and famine.\n\t\t\t The prophets will prove to be full of wind. The LORD has not spoken through them. So, let what they say happen to them.'\"\n\t\t\t Because of that, the LORD, the God who rules over all, said to me, \"Because these people have spoken like this, I will make the words that I put in your mouth like fire. And I will make this people like wood which the fiery judgments you speak will burn up.\"\n\t\t\t The LORD says, \"Listen, nation of Israel! I am about to bring a nation from far away to attack you. It will be a nation that was founded long ago and has lasted for a long time. It will be a nation whose language you will not know. Its people will speak words that you will not be able to understand.\n\t\t\t All of its soldiers are strong and mighty. Their arrows will send you to your grave.\n\t\t\t They will eat up your crops and your food. They will kill off your sons and your daughters. They will eat up your sheep and your cattle. They will destroy your vines and your fig trees. Their weapons will batter down the fortified cities you trust in.\n\t\t\t Yet even then I will not completely destroy you,\" says the LORD. \n\t\t\t \"So then, Jeremiah, when your people ask, 'Why has the LORD our God done all this to us?' tell them, 'It is because you rejected me and served foreign gods in your own land. So you must serve foreigners in a land that does not belong to you.'\n\t\t\t \"Proclaim this message among the descendants of Jacob. Make it known throughout Judah.\n\t\t\t Tell them: 'Hear this, you foolish people who have no understanding, who have eyes but do not discern, who have ears but do not perceive:\n\t\t\t \"You should fear me!\" says the LORD. \"You should tremble in awe before me! I made the sand to be a boundary for the sea, a permanent barrier that it can never cross. Its waves may roll, but they can never prevail. They may roar, but they can never cross beyond that boundary.\"\n\t\t\t But these people have stubborn and rebellious hearts. They have turned aside and gone their own way.\n\t\t\t They do not say to themselves, \"Let us revere the LORD our God. It is he who gives us the autumn rains and the spring rains at the proper time. It is he who assures us of the regular weeks of harvest.\"\n\t\t\t Your misdeeds have stopped these things from coming. Your sins have deprived you of my bounty.'\n\t\t\t \"Indeed, there are wicked scoundrels among my people. They lie in wait like bird catchers hiding in ambush. They set deadly traps to catch people.\n\t\t\t Like a cage filled with the birds that have been caught, their houses are filled with the gains of their fraud and deceit. That is how they have gotten so rich and powerful.\n\t\t\t That is how they have grown fat and sleek. There is no limit to the evil things they do. They do not plead the cause of the fatherless in such a way as to win it. They do not defend the rights of the poor.\n\t\t\t I will certainly punish them for doing such things!\" says the LORD. \"I will certainly bring retribution on such a nation as this!\n\t\t\t \"Something horrible and shocking is going on in the land of Judah:\n\t\t\t The prophets prophesy lies. The priests exercise power by their own authority. And my people love to have it this way. But they will not be able to help you when the time of judgment comes!\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t \"Run for safety, people of Benjamin! Get out of Jerusalem! Sound the trumpet in Tekoa! Light the signal fires at Beth Hakkerem! For disaster lurks out of the north; it will bring great destruction.\n\t\t\t I will destroy Daughter Zion, who is as delicate and defenseless as a young maiden.\n\t\t\t Kings will come against it with their armies. They will encamp in siege all around it. Each of them will devastate the portion assigned to him.\n\t\t\t They will say, 'Prepare to do battle against it! Come on! Let's attack it at noon!' But later they will say, 'Oh, oh! Too bad! The day is almost over and the shadows of evening are getting long.\n\t\t\t So come on, let's go ahead and attack it by night and destroy all its fortified buildings.'\n\t\t\t All of this is because the LORD who rules over all has said: 'Cut down the trees around Jerusalem and build up a siege ramp against its walls. This is the city which is to be punished. Nothing but oppression happens in it.\n\t\t\t As a well continually pours out fresh water so it continually pours out wicked deeds. Sounds of violence and destruction echo throughout it. All I see are sick and wounded people.'\n\t\t\t So take warning, Jerusalem, or I will abandon you in disgust and make you desolate, a place where no one can live.\"\n\t\t\t This is what the LORD who rules over all said to me: \"Those who remain in Israel will be like the grapes thoroughly gleaned from a vine. So go over them again, as though you were a grape harvester passing your hand over the branches one last time.\"\n\t\t\t I answered, \"Who would listen if I spoke to them and warned them? Their ears are so closed that they cannot hear! Indeed, what the LORD says is offensive to them. They do not like it at all.\n\t\t\t I am as full of anger as you are, LORD, I am tired of trying to hold it in.\" The LORD answered, \"Vent it, then, on the children who play in the street and on the young men who are gathered together. Husbands and wives are to be included, as well as the old and those who are advanced in years.\n\t\t\t Their houses will be turned over to others as will their fields and their wives. For I will unleash my power against those who live in this land,\" says the LORD.\n\t\t\t \"That is because, from the least important to the most important of them, all of them are greedy for dishonest gain. Prophets and priests alike, all of them practice deceit.\n\t\t\t They offer only superficial help for the harm my people have suffered. They say, 'Everything will be all right!' But everything is not all right!\n\t\t\t Are they ashamed because they have done such shameful things? No, they are not at all ashamed. They do not even know how to blush! So they will die, just like others have died. They will be brought to ruin when I punish them,\" says the LORD.\n\t\t\t The LORD said to his people: \"You are standing at the crossroads. So consider your path. Ask where the old, reliable paths are. Ask where the path is that leads to blessing and follow it. If you do, you will find rest for your souls.\" But they said, \"We will not follow it!\"\n\t\t\t The LORD said, \"I appointed prophets as watchmen to warn you, saying: 'Pay attention to the warning sound of the trumpet!'\" But they said, \"We will not pay attention!\"\n\t\t\t So the LORD said, \"Hear, you nations! Be witnesses and take note of what will happen to these people.\n\t\t\t Hear this, you peoples of the earth: 'Take note! I am about to bring disaster on these people. It will come as punishment for their scheming. For they have paid no attention to what I have said, and they have rejected my law.\n\t\t\t I take no delight when they offer up to me frankincense that comes from Sheba or sweet-smelling cane imported from a faraway land. I cannot accept the burnt offerings they bring me. I get no pleasure from the sacrifices they offer to me.'\n\t\t\t So, this is what the LORD says: 'I will assuredly make these people stumble to their doom. Parents and children will stumble and fall to their destruction. Friends and neighbors will die.'\n\t\t\t \"This is what the LORD says: 'Beware! An army is coming from a land in the north. A mighty nation is stirring into action in faraway parts of the earth.\n\t\t\t Its soldiers are armed with bows and spears. They are cruel and show no mercy. They sound like the roaring sea as they ride forth on their horses. Lined up in formation like men going into battle to attack you, Daughter Zion.'\"\n\t\t\t The people cry out, \"We have heard reports about them! We have become helpless with fear! Anguish grips us, agony like that of a woman giving birth to a baby!\n\t\t\t Do not go out into the countryside. Do not travel on the roads. For the enemy is there with sword in hand. They are spreading terror everywhere.\"\n\t\t\t So I said, \"Oh, my dear people, put on sackcloth and roll in ashes. Mourn with painful sobs as though you had lost your only child. For any moment now that destructive army will come against us.\"\n\t\t\t The LORD said to me, \"I have made you like a metal assayer to test my people like ore. You are to observe them and evaluate how they behave.\"\n\t\t\t I reported, \"All of them are the most stubborn of rebels! They are as hard as bronze or iron. They go about telling lies. They all deal corruptly.\n\t\t\t The fiery bellows of judgment burn fiercely. But there is too much dross to be removed. The process of refining them has proved useless. The wicked have not been purged.\n\t\t\t They are regarded as 'rejected silver' because the LORD rejects them.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Jeremiah:\n\t\t\t \"Stand in the gate of the LORD's temple and proclaim this message: 'Listen, all you people of Judah who have passed through these gates to worship the LORD. Hear what the LORD has to say. \n\t\t\t The LORD God of Israel who rules over all says: Change the way you have been living and do what is right. If you do, I will allow you to continue to live in this land.\n\t\t\t Stop putting your confidence in the false belief that says, \"We are safe! The temple of the LORD is here! The temple of the LORD is here! The temple of the LORD is here!\"\n\t\t\t You must change the way you have been living and do what is right. You must treat one another fairly.\n\t\t\t Stop oppressing foreigners who live in your land, children who have lost their fathers, and women who have lost their husbands. Stop killing innocent people in this land. Stop paying allegiance to other gods. That will only bring about your ruin.\n\t\t\t If you stop doing these things, I will allow you to continue to live in this land which I gave to your ancestors as a lasting possession.\n\t\t\t \"'But just look at you! You are putting your confidence in a false belief that will not deliver you.\n\t\t\t You steal. You murder. You commit adultery. You lie when you swear on oath. You sacrifice to the god Baal. You pay allegiance to other gods whom you have not previously known. \n\t\t\t Then you come and stand in my presence in this temple I have claimed as my own and say, \"We are safe!\" You think you are so safe that you go on doing all those hateful sins!\n\t\t\t Do you think this temple I have claimed as my own is to be a hideout for robbers? You had better take note! I have seen for myself what you have done! says the LORD. \n\t\t\t So, go to the place in Shiloh where I allowed myself to be worshiped in the early days. See what I did to it because of the wicked things my people Israel did. \n\t\t\t You also have done all these things, says the LORD, and I have spoken to you over and over again. But you have not listened! You have refused to respond when I called you to repent!\n\t\t\t So I will destroy this temple which I have claimed as my own, this temple that you are trusting to protect you. I will destroy this place that I gave to you and your ancestors, just like I destroyed Shiloh.\n\t\t\t And I will drive you out of my sight just like I drove out your relatives, the people of Israel.'\"\n\t\t\t Then the LORD said, \"As for you, Jeremiah, do not pray for these people! Do not cry out to me or petition me on their behalf! Do not plead with me to save them, because I will not listen to you. \n\t\t\t Do you see what they are doing in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem?\n\t\t\t Children are gathering firewood, fathers are building fires with it, and women are mixing dough to bake cakes to offer to the goddess they call the Queen of Heaven. They are also pouring out drink offerings to other gods. They seem to do all this just to trouble me. \n\t\t\t But I am not really the one being troubled!\" says the LORD. \"Rather they are bringing trouble on themselves to their own shame!\n\t\t\t So,\" the Lord GOD says, \"my raging fury will be poured out on this land. It will be poured out on human beings and animals, on trees and crops. And it will burn like a fire which cannot be extinguished.\"\n\t\t\t The LORD said to the people of Judah, \"The LORD God of Israel who rules over all says: 'You might as well go ahead and add the meat of your burnt offerings to that of the other sacrifices and eat it, too!\n\t\t\t Consider this: When I spoke to your ancestors after I brought them out of Egypt, I did not merely give them commands about burnt offerings and sacrifices. \n\t\t\t I also explicitly commanded them: \"Obey me. If you do, I will be your God and you will be my people. Live exactly the way I tell you and things will go well with you.\" \n\t\t\t But they did not listen to me or pay any attention to me. They followed the stubborn inclinations of their own wicked hearts. They acted worse and worse instead of better.\n\t\t\t From the time your ancestors departed the land of Egypt until now, I sent my servants the prophets to you again and again, day after day.\n\t\t\t But your ancestors did not listen to me nor pay attention to me. They became obstinate and were more wicked than even their own forefathers.'\"\n\t\t\t Then the LORD said to me, \"When you tell them all this, they will not listen to you. When you call out to them, they will not respond to you.\n\t\t\t So tell them: 'This is a nation that has not obeyed the LORD their God and has not accepted correction. Faithfulness is nowhere to be found in it. These people do not even profess it anymore.\n\t\t\t So, mourn, you people of this nation. Cut off your hair and throw it away. Sing a song of mourning on the hilltops. For the LORD has decided to reject and forsake this generation that has provoked his wrath!'\"\n\t\t\t The LORD says, \"I have rejected them because the people of Judah have done what I consider evil. They have set up their disgusting idols in the temple which I have claimed for my own and have defiled it. \n\t\t\t They have also built places of worship in a place called Topheth in the Valley of Ben Hinnom so that they can sacrifice their sons and daughters by fire. That is something I never commanded them to do! Indeed, it never even entered my mind to command such a thing!\n\t\t\t So, watch out!\" says the LORD. \"The time will soon come when people will no longer call those places Topheth or the Valley of Ben Hinnom. But they will call that valley the Valley of Slaughter and they will bury so many people in Topheth they will run out of room.\n\t\t\t Then the dead bodies of these people will be left on the ground for the birds and wild animals to eat. There will not be any survivors to scare them away. \n\t\t\t I will put an end to the sounds of joy and gladness, or the glad celebration of brides and grooms throughout the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem. For the whole land will become a desolate wasteland.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The LORD says, \"When that time comes, the bones of the kings of Judah and its leaders, the bones of the priests and prophets and of all the other people who lived in Jerusalem will be dug up from their graves.\n\t\t\t They will be spread out and exposed to the sun, the moon and the stars. These are things they adored and served, things to which they paid allegiance, from which they sought guidance, and worshiped. The bones of these people will never be regathered and reburied. They will be like manure used to fertilize the ground.\n\t\t\t However, I will leave some of these wicked people alive and banish them to other places. But wherever these people who survive may go, they will wish they had died rather than lived,\" says the LORD who rules over all.\n\t\t\t The LORD said to me, \"Tell them, 'The LORD says, Do people not get back up when they fall down? Do they not turn around when they go the wrong way?\n\t\t\t Why, then, do these people of Jerusalem continually turn away from me in apostasy? They hold fast to their deception. They refuse to turn back to me.\n\t\t\t I have listened to them very carefully, but they do not speak honestly. None of them regrets the evil he has done. None of them says, \"I have done wrong!\" All of them persist in their own wayward course like a horse charging recklessly into battle.\n\t\t\t Even the stork knows when it is time to move on. The turtledove, swallow, and crane recognize the normal times for their migration. But my people pay no attention to what I, the LORD, require of them.\n\t\t\t How can you say, \"We are wise! We have the law of the LORD\"? The truth is, those who teach it have used their writings to make it say what it does not really mean.\n\t\t\t Your wise men will be put to shame. They will be dumbfounded and be brought to judgment. Since they have rejected the word of the LORD, what wisdom do they really have?\n\t\t\t So I will give their wives to other men and their fields to new owners. For from the least important to the most important of them, all of them are greedy for dishonest gain. Prophets and priests alike, all practice deceit.\n\t\t\t They offer only superficial help for the hurt my dear people have suffered. They say, \"Everything will be all right!\" But everything is not all right!\n\t\t\t Are they ashamed because they have done such disgusting things? No, they are not at all ashamed! They do not even know how to blush! So they will die just like others have died. They will be brought to ruin when I punish them, says the LORD.\n\t\t\t I will take away their harvests, says the LORD. There will be no grapes on their vines. There will be no figs on their fig trees. Even the leaves on their trees will wither. The crops that I gave them will be taken away.'\"\n\t\t\t The people say, \"Why are we just sitting here? Let us gather together inside the fortified cities. Let us at least die there fighting, since the LORD our God has condemned us to die. He has condemned us to drink the poison waters of judgment because we have sinned against him.\n\t\t\t We hoped for good fortune, but nothing good has come of it. We hoped for a time of relief, but instead we experience terror.\n\t\t\t The snorting of the enemy's horses is already being heard in the city of Dan. The sound of the neighing of their stallions causes the whole land to tremble with fear. They are coming to destroy the land and everything in it! They are coming to destroy the cities and everyone who lives in them!\"\n\t\t\t The LORD says, \"Yes indeed, I am sending an enemy against you that will be like poisonous snakes which cannot be charmed away. And they will inflict fatal wounds on you.\"\n\t\t\t Then I said, \"There is no cure for my grief! I am sick at heart!\n\t\t\t I hear my dear people crying out throughout the length and breadth of the land. They are crying, 'Is the LORD no longer in Zion? Is her divine King no longer there?'\" The LORD answers, \"Why then do they provoke me to anger with their images, with their worthless foreign idols?\"\n\t\t\t \"They cry, 'Harvest time has come and gone, and the summer is over, and still we have not been delivered.'\n\t\t\t My heart is crushed because my dear people are being crushed. I go about crying and grieving. I am overwhelmed with dismay.\n\t\t\t There is still medicinal ointment available in Gilead! There is still a physician there! Why then have my dear people not been restored to health?\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t I wish that my head were a well full of water and my eyes were a fountain full of tears! If they were, I could cry day and night for those of my dear people who have been killed.\n\t\t\t I wish I had a lodging place in the desert where I could spend some time like a weary traveler. Then I would desert my people and walk away from them because they are all unfaithful to God, a congregation of people that has been disloyal to him.\n\t\t\t The LORD says, \"These people are like soldiers who have readied their bows. Their tongues are always ready to shoot out lies. They have become powerful in the land, but they have not done so by honest means. Indeed, they do one evil thing after another and do not pay attention to me.\n\t\t\t Everyone must be on his guard around his friends. He must not even trust any of his relatives. For every one of them will find some way to cheat him. And all of his friends will tell lies about him.\n\t\t\t One friend deceives another and no one tells the truth. These people have trained themselves to tell lies. They do wrong and are unable to repent.\n\t\t\t They do one act of violence after another, and one deceitful thing after another. They refuse to pay attention to me,\" says the LORD.\n\t\t\t Therefore the LORD who rules over all says, \"I will now purify them in the fires of affliction and test them. The wickedness of my dear people has left me no choice. What else can I do?\n\t\t\t Their tongues are like deadly arrows. They are always telling lies. Friendly words for their neighbors come from their mouths. But their minds are thinking up ways to trap them.\n\t\t\t I will certainly punish them for doing such things!\" says the LORD. \"I will certainly bring retribution on such a nation as this!\"\n\t\t\t I said, \"I will weep and mourn for the grasslands on the mountains, I will sing a mournful song for the pastures in the wilderness because they are so scorched no one travels through them. The sound of livestock is no longer heard there. Even the birds in the sky and the wild animals in the fields have fled and are gone.\"\n\t\t\t The LORD said, \"I will make Jerusalem a heap of ruins. Jackals will make their home there. I will destroy the towns of Judah so that no one will be able to live in them.\"\n\t\t\t I said, \"Who is wise enough to understand why this has happened? Who has a word from the LORD that can explain it? Why does the land lie in ruins? Why is it as scorched as a desert through which no one travels?\"\n\t\t\t The LORD answered, \"This has happened because these people have rejected my laws which I gave them. They have not obeyed me or followed those laws.\n\t\t\t Instead they have followed the stubborn inclinations of their own hearts. They have paid allegiance to the gods called Baal, as their fathers taught them to do. \n\t\t\t So then, listen to what I, the LORD God of Israel who rules over all, say. 'I will make these people eat the bitter food of suffering and drink the poison water of judgment.\n\t\t\t I will scatter them among nations that neither they nor their ancestors have known anything about. I will send people chasing after them with swords until I have destroyed them.'\"\n\t\t\t The LORD who rules over all told me to say to this people, \"Take note of what I say. Call for the women who mourn for the dead! Summon those who are the most skilled at it!\"\n\t\t\t I said, \"Indeed, let them come quickly and sing a song of mourning for us. Let them wail loudly until tears stream from our own eyes and our eyelids overflow with water.\n\t\t\t For the sound of wailing is soon to be heard in Zion. They will wail, 'We are utterly ruined! We are completely disgraced! For our houses have been torn down and we must leave our land.'\"\n\t\t\t I said, \"So now, you wailing women, hear what the LORD says. Open your ears to the words from his mouth. Teach your daughters this mournful song, and each of you teach your neighbor this lament.\n\t\t\t 'Death has climbed in through our windows. It has entered into our fortified houses. It has taken away our children who play in the streets. It has taken away our young men who gather in the city squares.'\n\t\t\t Tell your daughters and neighbors, 'The LORD says, \"The dead bodies of people will lie scattered everywhere like manure scattered on a field. They will lie scattered on the ground like grain that has been cut down but has not been gathered.\"'\"\n\t\t\t The LORD says, \"Wise people should not boast that they are wise. Powerful people should not boast that they are powerful. Rich people should not boast that they are rich.\n\t\t\t If people want to boast, they should boast about this: They should boast that they understand and know me. They should boast that they know and understand that I, the LORD, act out of faithfulness, fairness, and justice in the earth and that I desire people to do these things,\" says the LORD.\n\t\t\t The LORD says, \"Watch out! The time is soon coming when I will punish all those who are circumcised only in the flesh.\n\t\t\t That is, I will punish the Egyptians, the Judeans, the Edomites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, and all the desert people who cut their hair short at the temples. I will do so because none of the people of those nations are really circumcised in the LORD's sight. Moreover, none of the people of Israel are circumcised when it comes to their hearts.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t You people of Israel, listen to what the LORD has to say to you.\n\t\t\t The LORD says, \"Do not start following pagan religious practices. Do not be in awe of signs that occur in the sky even though the nations hold them in awe.\n\t\t\t For the religion of these people is worthless. They cut down a tree in the forest, and a craftsman makes it into an idol with his tools.\n\t\t\t He decorates it with overlays of silver and gold. He uses hammer and nails to fasten it together so that it will not fall over.\n\t\t\t Such idols are like scarecrows in a cucumber field. They cannot talk. They must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not be afraid of them because they cannot hurt you. And they do not have any power to help you.\"\n\t\t\t I said, \"There is no one like you, LORD. You are great. And you are renowned for your power.\n\t\t\t Everyone should revere you, O King of all nations, because you deserve to be revered. For there is no one like you among any of the wise people of the nations nor among any of their kings.\n\t\t\t The people of those nations are both stupid and foolish. Instruction from a wooden idol is worthless!\n\t\t\t Hammered-out silver is brought from Tarshish and gold is brought from Uphaz to cover those idols. They are the handiwork of carpenters and goldsmiths. They are clothed in blue and purple clothes. They are all made by skillful workers.\n\t\t\t The LORD is the only true God. He is the living God and the everlasting King. When he shows his anger the earth shakes. None of the nations can stand up to his fury.\n\t\t\t You people of Israel should tell those nations this: 'These gods did not make heaven and earth. They will disappear from the earth and from under the heavens.'\n\t\t\t The LORD is the one who by his power made the earth. He is the one who by his wisdom established the world. And by his understanding he spread out the skies.\n\t\t\t When his voice thunders, the heavenly ocean roars. He makes the clouds rise from the far-off horizons. He makes the lightning flash out in the midst of the rain. He unleashes the wind from the places where he stores it.\n\t\t\t All these idolaters will prove to be stupid and ignorant. Every goldsmith will be disgraced by the idol he made. For the image he forges is merely a sham. There is no breath in any of those idols.\n\t\t\t They are worthless, mere objects to be mocked. When the time comes to punish them, they will be destroyed.\n\t\t\t The LORD, who is the inheritance of Jacob's descendants, is not like them. He is the one who created everything. And the people of Israel are those he claims as his own. He is known as the LORD who rules over all.\"\n\t\t\t Gather your belongings together and prepare to leave the land, you people of Jerusalem who are being besieged.\n\t\t\t For the LORD says, \"I will now throw out those who live in this land. I will bring so much trouble on them that they will actually feel it.\"\n\t\t\t And I cried out, \"We are doomed! Our wound is severe! We once thought, 'This is only an illness. And we will be able to bear it!'\n\t\t\t But our tents have been destroyed. The ropes that held them in place have been ripped apart. Our children are gone and are not coming back. There is no survivor to put our tents back up, no one left to hang their tent curtains in place.\n\t\t\t For our leaders are stupid. They have not sought the LORD's advice. So they do not act wisely, and the people they are responsible for have all been scattered.\n\t\t\t Listen! News is coming even now. The rumble of a great army is heard approaching from a land in the north. It is coming to turn the towns of Judah into rubble, places where only jackals live.\n\t\t\t LORD, we know that people do not control their own destiny. It is not in their power to determine what will happen to them.\n\t\t\t Correct us, LORD, but only in due measure. Do not punish us in anger or you will reduce us to nothing.\n\t\t\t Vent your anger on the nations that do not acknowledge you. Vent it on the peoples who do not worship you. For they have destroyed the people of Jacob. They have completely destroyed them and left their homeland in utter ruin.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Jeremiah:\n\t\t\t \"Hear the terms of the covenant I made with Israel and pass them on to the people of Judah and the citizens of Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t Tell them that the LORD, the God of Israel, says, 'Anyone who does not keep the terms of the covenant will be under a curse.\n\t\t\t Those are the terms that I charged your ancestors to keep when I brought them out of Egypt, that place which was like an iron-smelting furnace. I said at that time, \"Obey me and carry out the terms of the agreement exactly as I commanded you. If you do, you will be my people and I will be your God.\n\t\t\t Then I will keep the promise I swore on oath to your ancestors to give them a land flowing with milk and honey.\" That is the very land that you still live in today.'\" And I responded, \"Amen! Let it be so, LORD!\"\n\t\t\t The LORD said to me, \"Announce all the following words in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem: 'Listen to the terms of my covenant with you and carry them out! \n\t\t\t For I solemnly warned your ancestors to obey me. I warned them again and again, ever since I delivered them out of Egypt until this very day. \n\t\t\t But they did not listen to me or pay any attention to me! Each one of them followed the stubborn inclinations of his own wicked heart. So I brought on them all the punishments threatened in the covenant because they did not carry out its terms as I commanded them to do.'\"\n\t\t\t The LORD said to me, \"The people of Judah and the citizens of Jerusalem have plotted rebellion against me!\n\t\t\t They have gone back to the evil ways of their ancestors of old who refused to obey what I told them. They, too, have paid allegiance to other gods and worshiped them. Both the nation of Israel and the nation of Judah have violated the covenant I made with their ancestors.\n\t\t\t So I, the LORD, say this: 'I will soon bring disaster on them which they will not be able to escape! When they cry out to me for help, I will not listen to them. \n\t\t\t Then those living in the towns of Judah and in Jerusalem will go and cry out for help to the gods to whom they have been sacrificing. However, those gods will by no means be able to save them when disaster strikes them. \n\t\t\t This is in spite of the fact that the people of Judah have as many gods as they have towns and the citizens of Jerusalem have set up as many altars to sacrifice to that disgusting god, Baal, as they have streets in the city!'\n\t\t\t So, Jeremiah, do not pray for these people. Do not cry out to me or petition me on their behalf. Do not plead with me to save them. For I will not listen to them when they call out to me for help when disaster strikes them.\"\n\t\t\t The LORD says to the people of Judah, \"What right do you have to be in my temple, my beloved people? Many of you have done wicked things. Can your acts of treachery be so easily canceled by sacred offerings that you take joy in doing evil even while you make them?\n\t\t\t I, the LORD, once called you a thriving olive tree, one that produced beautiful fruit. But I will set you on fire, fire that will blaze with a mighty roar. Then all your branches will be good for nothing.\n\t\t\t For though I, the LORD who rules over all, planted you in the land, I now decree that disaster will come on you because the nations of Israel and Judah have done evil and have made me angry by offering sacrifices to the god Baal.\"\n\t\t\t The LORD gave me knowledge, that I might have understanding. Then he showed me what the people were doing.\n\t\t\t Before this I had been like a docile lamb ready to be led to the slaughter. I did not know they were making plans to kill me. I did not know they were saying, \"Let's destroy the tree along with its fruit! Let's remove Jeremiah from the world of the living so people will not even be reminded of him any more.\"\n\t\t\t So I said to the LORD, \"O LORD who rules over all, you are a just judge! You examine people's hearts and minds. I want to see you pay them back for what they have done because I trust you to vindicate my cause.\"\n\t\t\t Then the LORD told me about some men from Anathoth who were threatening to kill me. They had threatened, \"Stop prophesying in the name of the LORD or we will kill you!\"\n\t\t\t So the LORD who rules over all said, \"I will surely punish them! Their young men will be killed in battle. Their sons and daughters will die of starvation. \n\t\t\t Not one of them will survive. I will bring disaster on those men from Anathoth who threatened you. A day of reckoning is coming for them.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t LORD, you have always been fair whenever I have complained to you. However, I would like to speak with you about the disposition of justice. Why are wicked people successful? Why do all dishonest people have such easy lives?\n\t\t\t You plant them like trees and they put down their roots. They grow prosperous and are very fruitful. They always talk about you, but they really care nothing about you.\n\t\t\t But you, LORD, know all about me. You watch me and test my devotion to you. Drag these wicked men away like sheep to be slaughtered! Appoint a time when they will be killed!\n\t\t\t How long must the land be parched and the grass in every field be withered? How long must the animals and the birds die because of the wickedness of the people who live in this land? For these people boast, \"God will not see what happens to us.\"\n\t\t\t The LORD answered, \"If you have raced on foot against men and they have worn you out, how will you be able to compete with horses? And if you feel secure only in safe and open country, how will you manage in the thick undergrowth along the Jordan River?\n\t\t\t As a matter of fact, even your own brothers and the members of your own family have betrayed you too. Even they have plotted to do away with you. So do not trust them even when they say kind things to you.\n\t\t\t \"I will abandon my nation. I will forsake the people I call my own. I will turn my beloved people over to the power of their enemies.\n\t\t\t The people I call my own have turned on me like a lion in the forest. They have roared defiantly at me. So I will treat them as though I hate them.\n\t\t\t The people I call my own attack me like birds of prey or like hyenas. But other birds of prey are all around them. Let all the nations gather together like wild beasts. Let them come and destroy these people I call my own.\n\t\t\t Many foreign rulers will ruin the land where I planted my people. They will trample all over my chosen land. They will turn my beautiful land into a desolate wasteland.\n\t\t\t They will lay it waste. It will lie parched and empty before me. The whole land will be laid waste. But no one living in it will pay any heed.\n\t\t\t A destructive army will come marching over the hilltops in the desert. For the LORD will use them as his destructive weapon against everyone from one end of the land to the other. No one will be safe.\n\t\t\t My people will sow wheat, but will harvest weeds. They will work until they are exhausted, but will get nothing from it. They will be disappointed in their harvests because the LORD will take them away in his fierce anger.\n\t\t\t \"I, the LORD, also have something to say concerning the wicked nations who surround my land and have attacked and plundered the land that I gave to my people as a permanent possession. I say: 'I will uproot the people of those nations from their lands and I will free the people of Judah who have been taken there.\n\t\t\t But after I have uprooted the people of those nations, I will relent and have pity on them. I will restore the people of each of those nations to their own lands and to their own country. \n\t\t\t But they must make sure you learn to follow the religious practices of my people. Once they taught my people to swear their oaths using the name of the god Baal. But then, they must swear oaths using my name, saying, \"As surely as the LORD lives, I swear.\" If they do these things, then they will be included among the people I call my own.\n\t\t\t But I will completely uproot and destroy any of those nations that will not pay heed,'\" says the LORD.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The LORD said to me, \"Go and buy some linen shorts and put them on. Do not put them in water.\"\n\t\t\t So I bought the shorts as the LORD had told me to do and put them on.\n\t\t\t Then the LORD spoke to me again and said,\n\t\t\t \"Take the shorts that you bought and are wearing and go at once to Perath. Bury the shorts there in a crack in the rocks.\" \n\t\t\t So I went and buried them at Perath as the LORD had ordered me to do. \n\t\t\t Many days later the LORD said to me, \"Go at once to Perath and get the shorts I ordered you to bury there.\" \n\t\t\t So I went to Perath and dug up the shorts from the place where I had buried them. I found that they were ruined; they were good for nothing.\n\t\t\t Then the LORD said to me,\n\t\t\t \"I, the LORD, say: 'This shows how I will ruin the highly exalted position in which Judah and Jerusalem take pride. \n\t\t\t These wicked people refuse to obey what I have said. They follow the stubborn inclinations of their own hearts and pay allegiance to other gods by worshiping and serving them. So they will become just like these linen shorts which are good for nothing.\n\t\t\t For,' I say, 'just as shorts cling tightly to a person's body, so I bound the whole nation of Israel and the whole nation of Judah tightly to me.' I intended for them to be my special people and to bring me fame, honor, and praise. But they would not obey me.\n\t\t\t \"So tell them, 'The LORD, the God of Israel, says, \"Every wine jar is made to be filled with wine.\"' And they will probably say to you, 'Do you not think we know that every wine jar is supposed to be filled with wine?' \n\t\t\t Then tell them, 'The LORD says, \"I will soon fill all the people who live in this land with stupor. I will also fill the kings from David's dynasty, the priests, the prophets, and the citizens of Jerusalem with stupor.\n\t\t\t And I will smash them like wine bottles against one another, children and parents alike. I will not show any pity, mercy, or compassion. Nothing will keep me from destroying them,' says the LORD.\"\n\t\t\t Then I said to the people of Judah, \"Listen and pay attention! Do not be arrogant! For the LORD has spoken.\n\t\t\t Show the LORD your God the respect that is due him. Do it before he brings the darkness of disaster. Do it before you stumble into distress like a traveler on the mountains at twilight. Do it before he turns the light of deliverance you hope for into the darkness and gloom of exile.\n\t\t\t But if you will not pay attention to this warning, I will weep alone because of your arrogant pride. I will weep bitterly and my eyes will overflow with tears because you, the LORD's flock, will be carried into exile.\"\n\t\t\t The LORD told me, \"Tell the king and the queen mother, 'Surrender your thrones, for your glorious crowns will be removed from your heads.\n\t\t\t The gates of the towns in southern Judah will be shut tight. No one will be able to go in or out of them. All Judah will be carried off into exile. They will be completely carried off into exile.'\"\n\t\t\t Then I said, \"Look up, Jerusalem, and see the enemy that is coming from the north. Where now is the flock of people that were entrusted to your care? Where now are the 'sheep' that you take such pride in?\n\t\t\t What will you say when the LORD appoints as rulers over you those allies that you, yourself, had actually prepared as such? Then anguish and agony will grip you like that of a woman giving birth to a baby.\n\t\t\t You will probably ask yourself, 'Why have these things happened to me? Why have I been treated like a disgraced adulteress whose skirt has been torn off and her limbs exposed?' It is because you have sinned so much.\n\t\t\t But there is little hope for you ever doing good, you who are so accustomed to doing evil. Can an Ethiopian change the color of his skin? Can a leopard remove its spots?\n\t\t\t \"The LORD says, 'That is why I will scatter your people like chaff that is blown away by a desert wind.\n\t\t\t This is your fate, the destiny to which I have appointed you, because you have forgotten me and have trusted in false gods.\n\t\t\t So I will pull your skirt up over your face and expose you to shame like a disgraced adulteress!\n\t\t\t People of Jerusalem, I have seen your adulterous worship, your shameless prostitution to, and your lustful pursuit of, other gods. I have seen your disgusting acts of worship on the hills throughout the countryside. You are doomed to destruction! How long will you continue to be unclean?'\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Jeremiah about the drought.\n\t\t\t \"The people of Judah are in mourning. The people in her cities are pining away. They lie on the ground expressing their sorrow. Cries of distress come up to me from Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t The leading men of the cities send their servants for water. They go to the cisterns, but they do not find any water there. They return with their containers empty. Disappointed and dismayed, they bury their faces in their hands.\n\t\t\t They are dismayed because the ground is cracked because there has been no rain in the land. The farmers, too, are dismayed and bury their faces in their hands.\n\t\t\t Even the doe abandons her newborn fawn in the field because there is no grass.\n\t\t\t Wild donkeys stand on the hilltops and pant for breath like jackals. Their eyes are strained looking for food, because there is none to be found.\"\n\t\t\t Then I said, \"O LORD, intervene for the honor of your name even though our sins speak out against us. Indeed, we have turned away from you many times. We have sinned against you.\n\t\t\t You have been the object of Israel's hopes. You have saved them when they were in trouble. Why have you become like a resident foreigner in the land? Why have you become like a traveler who only stops in to spend the night?\n\t\t\t Why should you be like someone who is helpless, like a champion who cannot save anyone? You are indeed with us, and we belong to you. Do not abandon us!\"\n\t\t\t Then the LORD spoke about these people. \"They truly love to go astray. They cannot keep from running away from me. So I am not pleased with them. I will now call to mind the wrongs they have done and punish them for their sins.\"\n\t\t\t Then the LORD said to me, \"Do not pray for good to come to these people!\n\t\t\t Even if they fast, I will not hear their cries for help. Even if they offer burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Instead, I will kill them through wars, famines, and plagues.\"\n\t\t\t Then I said, \"Oh, Lord GOD, look! The prophets are telling them that you said, 'You will not experience war or suffer famine. I will give you lasting peace and prosperity in this land.'\"\n\t\t\t Then the LORD said to me, \"Those prophets are prophesying lies while claiming my authority! I did not send them. I did not commission them. I did not speak to them. They are prophesying to these people false visions, worthless predictions, and the delusions of their own mind. \n\t\t\t I did not send those prophets, though they claim to be prophesying in my name. They may be saying, 'No war or famine will happen in this land.' But I, the LORD, say this about them: 'War and starvation will kill those prophets.'\n\t\t\t The people to whom they are prophesying will die through war and famine. Their bodies will be thrown out into the streets of Jerusalem and there will be no one to bury them. This will happen to the men and their wives, their sons, and their daughters. For I will pour out on them the destruction they deserve.\"\n\t\t\t \"Tell these people this, Jeremiah: 'My eyes overflow with tears day and night without ceasing. For my people, my dear children, have suffered a crushing blow. They have suffered a serious wound.\n\t\t\t If I go out into the countryside, I see those who have been killed in battle. If I go into the city, I see those who are sick because of starvation. For both prophet and priest go about their own business in the land without having any real understanding.'\"\n\t\t\t Then I said, \"LORD, have you completely rejected the nation of Judah? Do you despise the city of Zion? Why have you struck us with such force that we are beyond recovery? We hope for peace, but nothing good has come of it. We hope for a time of relief from our troubles, but experience terror.\n\t\t\t LORD, we confess that we have been wicked. We confess that our ancestors have done wrong. We have indeed sinned against you.\n\t\t\t For the honor of your name, do not treat Jerusalem with contempt. Do not treat with disdain the place where your glorious throne sits. Be mindful of your covenant with us. Do not break it!\n\t\t\t Do any of the worthless idols of the nations cause rain to fall? Do the skies themselves send showers? Is it not you, O Lord our God, who does this? So we put our hopes in you because you alone do all this.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then the LORD said to me, \"Even if Moses and Samuel stood before me pleading for these people, I would not feel pity for them! Get them away from me! Tell them to go away!\n\t\t\t If they ask you, 'Where should we go?' tell them the LORD says this: \"Those who are destined to die of disease will go to death by disease. Those who are destined to die in war will go to death in war. Those who are destined to die of starvation will go to death by starvation. Those who are destined to go into exile will go into exile.\"\n\t\t\t \"I will punish them in four different ways: I will have war kill them. I will have dogs drag off their dead bodies. I will have birds and wild beasts devour and destroy their corpses.\n\t\t\t I will make all the people in all the kingdoms of the world horrified at what has happened to them because of what Hezekiah's son Manasseh, king of Judah, did in Jerusalem.\"\n\t\t\t The LORD cried out, \"Who in the world will have pity on you, Jerusalem? Who will grieve over you? Who will stop long enough to inquire about how you are doing?\n\t\t\t I, the LORD, say: 'You people have deserted me! You keep turning your back on me.' So I have unleashed my power against you and have begun to destroy you. I have grown tired of feeling sorry for you!\"\n\t\t\t The LORD continued, \"In every town in the land I will purge them like straw blown away by the wind. I will destroy my people. I will kill off their children. I will do so because they did not change their behavior.\n\t\t\t Their widows will become in my sight more numerous than the grains of sand on the seashores. At noontime I will bring a destroyer against the mothers of their young men. I will cause anguish and terror to fall suddenly upon them.\n\t\t\t The mother who had seven children will grow faint. All the breath will go out of her. Her pride and joy will be taken from her in the prime of their life. It will seem as if the sun had set while it was still day. She will suffer shame and humiliation. I will cause any of them who are still left alive to be killed in war by the onslaughts of their enemies,\" says the LORD.\n\t\t\t I said, \"Oh, mother, how I regret that you ever gave birth to me! I am always starting arguments and quarrels with the people of this land. I have not lent money to anyone and I have not borrowed from anyone. Yet all of these people are treating me with contempt.\"\n\t\t\t The LORD said, \"Jerusalem, I will surely send you away for your own good. I will surely bring the enemy upon you in a time of trouble and distress.\n\t\t\t Can you people who are like iron and bronze break that iron fist from the north?\n\t\t\t I will give away your wealth and your treasures as plunder. I will give it away free of charge for the sins you have committed throughout your land.\n\t\t\t I will make you serve your enemies in a land that you know nothing about. For my anger is like a fire that will burn against you.\"\n\t\t\t I said, \"LORD, you know how I suffer. Take thought of me and care for me. Pay back for me those who have been persecuting me. Do not be so patient with them that you allow them to kill me. Be mindful of how I have put up with their insults for your sake.\n\t\t\t As your words came to me I drank them in, and they filled my heart with joy and happiness because I belong to you.\n\t\t\t I did not spend my time in the company of other people, laughing and having a good time. I stayed to myself because I felt obligated to you and because I was filled with anger at what they had done.\n\t\t\t Why must I continually suffer such painful anguish? Why must I endure the sting of their insults like an incurable wound? Will you let me down when I need you like a brook one goes to for water, but that cannot be relied on?\"\n\t\t\t Because of this, the LORD said, \"You must repent of such words and thoughts! If you do, I will restore you to the privilege of serving me. If you say what is worthwhile instead of what is worthless, I will again allow you to be my spokesman. They must become as you have been. You must not become like them.\n\t\t\t I will make you as strong as a wall to these people, a fortified wall of bronze. They will attack you, but they will not be able to overcome you. For I will be with you to rescue you and deliver you,\" says the LORD.\n\t\t\t \"I will deliver you from the power of the wicked. I will free you from the clutches of violent people.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The LORD said to me,\n\t\t\t \"Do not get married and do not have children here in this land.\n\t\t\t For I, the LORD, tell you what will happen to the children who are born here in this land and to the men and women who are their mothers and fathers.\n\t\t\t They will die of deadly diseases. No one will mourn for them. They will not be buried. Their dead bodies will lie like manure spread on the ground. They will be killed in war or die of starvation. Their corpses will be food for the birds and wild animals.\n\t\t\t \"Moreover I, the LORD, tell you: 'Do not go into a house where they are having a funeral meal. Do not go there to mourn and express your sorrow for them. For I have stopped showing them my good favor, my love, and my compassion. I, the LORD, so affirm it!\n\t\t\t Rich and poor alike will die in this land. They will not be buried or mourned. People will not cut their bodies or shave off their hair to show their grief for them.\n\t\t\t No one will take any food to those who mourn for the dead to comfort them. No one will give them any wine to drink to console them for the loss of their father or mother.\n\t\t\t \"'Do not go to a house where people are feasting and sit down to eat and drink with them either.\n\t\t\t For I, the LORD God of Israel who rules over all, tell you what will happen. I will put an end to the sounds of joy and gladness, to the glad celebration of brides and grooms in this land. You and the rest of the people will live to see this happen.'\"\n\t\t\t \"When you tell these people about all this, they will undoubtedly ask you, 'Why has the LORD threatened us with such great disaster? What wrong have we done? What sin have we done to offend the LORD our God?' \n\t\t\t Then tell them that the LORD says, 'It is because your ancestors rejected me and paid allegiance to other gods. They have served them and worshiped them. But they have rejected me and not obeyed my law.\n\t\t\t And you have acted even more wickedly than your ancestors! Each one of you has followed the stubborn inclinations of your own wicked heart and not obeyed me.\n\t\t\t So I will throw you out of this land into a land that neither you nor your ancestors have ever known. There you must worship other gods day and night, for I will show you no mercy.'\"\n\t\t\t Yet I, the LORD, say: \"A new time will certainly come. People now affirm their oaths with 'I swear as surely as the LORD lives who delivered the people of Israel out of Egypt.' \n\t\t\t But in that time they will affirm them with 'I swear as surely as the LORD lives who delivered the people of Israel from the land of the north and from all the other lands where he had banished them.' At that time I will bring them back to the land I gave their ancestors.\"\n\t\t\t But for now I, the LORD, say: \"I will send many enemies who will catch these people like fishermen. After that I will send others who will hunt them out like hunters from all the mountains, all the hills, and the crevices in the rocks.\n\t\t\t For I see everything they do. Their wicked ways are not hidden from me. Their sin is not hidden away where I cannot see it.\n\t\t\t Before I restore them I will punish them in full for their sins and the wrongs they have done. For they have polluted my land with the lifeless statues of their disgusting idols. They have filled the land I have claimed as my own with their detestable idols.\"\n\t\t\t Then I said, \"LORD, you give me strength and protect me. You are the one I can run to for safety when I am in trouble. Nations from all over the earth will come to you and say, 'Our ancestors had nothing but false gods, worthless idols that could not help them at all.\n\t\t\t Can people make their own gods? No, what they make are not gods at all.\"\n\t\t\t The LORD said, \"So I will now let this wicked people know, I will let them know my mighty power in judgment. Then they will know that my name is the LORD.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The sin of Judah is engraved with an iron chisel on their stone-hard hearts. It is inscribed with a diamond point on the horns of their altars.\n\t\t\t Their children are always thinking about their altars and their sacred poles dedicated to the goddess Asherah, set up beside the green trees on the high hills\n\t\t\t and on the mountains and in the fields. I will give your wealth and all your treasures away as plunder. I will give it away as the price for the sins you have committed throughout your land.\n\t\t\t You will lose your hold on the land which I gave to you as a permanent possession. I will make you serve your enemies in a land that you know nothing about. For you have made my anger burn like a fire that will never be put out.\"\n\t\t\t The LORD says, \"I will put a curse on people who trust in mere human beings, who depend on mere flesh and blood for their strength, and whose hearts have turned away from the LORD.\n\t\t\t They will be like a shrub in the desert. They will not experience good things even when they happen. It will be as though they were growing in the desert, in a salt land where no one can live.\n\t\t\t My blessing is on those people who trust in me, who put their confidence in me.\n\t\t\t They will be like a tree planted near a stream whose roots spread out toward the water. It has nothing to fear when the heat comes. Its leaves are always green. It has no need to be concerned in a year of drought. It does not stop bearing fruit.\n\t\t\t The human mind is more deceitful than anything else. It is incurably bad. Who can understand it?\n\t\t\t I, the LORD, probe into people's minds. I examine people's hearts. I deal with each person according to how he has behaved. I give them what they deserve based on what they have done.\n\t\t\t The person who gathers wealth by unjust means is like the partridge that broods over eggs but does not hatch them. Before his life is half over he will lose his ill-gotten gains. At the end of his life it will be clear he was a fool.\"\n\t\t\t Then I said, \"LORD, from the very beginning you have been seated on your glorious throne on high. You are the place where we can find refuge.\n\t\t\t You are the one in whom Israel may find hope. All who leave you will suffer shame. Those who turn away from you will be consigned to the nether world. For they have rejected you, the LORD, the fountain of life.\n\t\t\t LORD, grant me relief from my suffering so that I may have some relief. Rescue me from those who persecute me so that I may be rescued.\n\t\t\t Listen to what they are saying to me. They are saying, \"Where are the things the LORD threatens us with? Come on! Let's see them happen!\"\n\t\t\t But I have not pestered you to bring disaster. I have not desired the time of irreparable devastation. You know that. You are fully aware of every word that I have spoken.\n\t\t\t Do not cause me dismay! You are my source of safety in times of trouble.\n\t\t\t May those who persecute me be disgraced. Do not let me be disgraced. May they be dismayed. Do not let me be dismayed. Bring days of disaster on them. Bring on them the destruction they deserve.\"\n\t\t\t The LORD told me, \"Go and stand in the People's Gate through which the kings of Judah enter and leave the city. Then go and stand in all the other gates of the city of Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t As you stand in those places announce, 'Listen, all you people who pass through these gates. Listen, all you kings of Judah, all you people of Judah and all you citizens of Jerusalem. Listen to what the LORD says.\n\t\t\t The LORD says, 'Be very careful if you value your lives! Do not carry any loads in through the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. \n\t\t\t Do not carry any loads out of your houses or do any work on the Sabbath day. But observe the Sabbath day as a day set apart to the LORD, as I commanded your ancestors.\n\t\t\t Your ancestors, however, did not listen to me or pay any attention to me. They stubbornly refused to pay attention or to respond to any discipline.' \n\t\t\t The LORD says, 'You must make sure to obey me. You must not bring any loads through the gates of this city on the Sabbath day. You must set the Sabbath day apart to me. You must not do any work on that day. \n\t\t\t If you do this, then the kings and princes who follow in David's succession and ride in chariots or on horses will continue to enter through these gates, as well as their officials and the people of Judah and the citizens of Jerusalem. This city will always be filled with people.\n\t\t\t Then people will come here from the towns in Judah, from the villages surrounding Jerusalem, from the territory of Benjamin, from the western foothills, from the southern hill country, and from the southern part of Judah. They will come bringing offerings to the temple of the LORD: burnt offerings, sacrifices, grain offerings, and incense along with their thank offerings.\n\t\t\t But you must obey me and set the Sabbath day apart to me. You must not carry any loads in through the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. If you disobey, I will set the gates of Jerusalem on fire. It will burn down all the fortified dwellings in Jerusalem and no one will be able to put it out.'\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Jeremiah:\n\t\t\t \"Go down at once to the potter's house. I will speak to you further there.\"\n\t\t\t So I went down to the potter's house and found him working at his wheel.\n\t\t\t Now and then there would be something wrong with the pot he was molding from the clay with his hands. So he would rework the clay into another kind of pot as he saw fit.\n\t\t\t Then the LORD said to me,\n\t\t\t \"I, the LORD, say: 'O nation of Israel, can I not deal with you as this potter deals with the clay? In my hands, you, O nation of Israel, are just like the clay in this potter's hand.' \n\t\t\t There are times, Jeremiah, when I threaten to uproot, tear down, and destroy a nation or kingdom.\n\t\t\t But if that nation I threatened stops doing wrong, I will cancel the destruction I intended to do to it. \n\t\t\t And there are times when I promise to build up and establish a nation or kingdom. \n\t\t\t But if that nation does what displeases me and does not obey me, then I will cancel the good I promised to do to it.\n\t\t\t So now, tell the people of Judah and the citizens of Jerusalem this: The LORD says, 'I am preparing to bring disaster on you! I am making plans to punish you. So, every one of you, stop the evil things you have been doing. Correct the way you have been living and do what is right.'\n\t\t\t But they just keep saying, 'We do not care what you say! We will do whatever we want to do! We will continue to behave wickedly and stubbornly!'\"\n\t\t\t Therefore, the LORD says, \"Ask the people of other nations whether they have heard of anything like this. Israel should have been like a virgin. But she has done something utterly revolting!\n\t\t\t Does the snow ever completely vanish from the rocky slopes of Lebanon? Do the cool waters from those distant mountains ever cease to flow?\n\t\t\t Yet my people have forgotten me and offered sacrifices to worthless idols! This makes them stumble along in the way they live and leave the old reliable path of their fathers. They have left them to walk in bypaths, in roads that are not smooth and level.\n\t\t\t So their land will become an object of horror. People will forever hiss out their scorn over it. All who pass that way will be filled with horror and will shake their heads in derision.\n\t\t\t I will scatter them before their enemies like dust blowing in front of a burning east wind. I will turn my back on them and not look favorably on them when disaster strikes them.\"\n\t\t\t Then some people said, \"Come on! Let us consider how to deal with Jeremiah! There will still be priests to instruct us, wise men to give us advice, and prophets to declare God's word. Come on! Let's bring charges against him and get rid of him! Then we will not need to pay attention to anything he says.\"\n\t\t\t Then I said, \"LORD, pay attention to me. Listen to what my enemies are saying.\n\t\t\t Should good be paid back with evil? Yet they are virtually digging a pit to kill me. Just remember how I stood before you pleading on their behalf to keep you from venting your anger on them.\n\t\t\t So let their children die of starvation. Let them be cut down by the sword. Let their wives lose their husbands and children. Let the older men die of disease and the younger men die by the sword in battle.\n\t\t\t Let cries of terror be heard in their houses when you send bands of raiders unexpectedly to plunder them. For they have virtually dug a pit to capture me and have hidden traps for me to step into.\n\t\t\t But you, LORD, know all their plots to kill me. Do not pardon their crimes! Do not ignore their sins as though you had erased them! Let them be brought down in defeat before you! Deal with them while you are still angry!\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The LORD told Jeremiah, \"Go and buy a clay jar from a potter. Take with you some of the leaders of the people and some of the leaders of the priests. \n\t\t\t Go out to the part of the Hinnom Valley which is near the entrance of the Potsherd Gate. Announce there what I tell you.\n\t\t\t Say, 'Listen to what the LORD says, you kings of Judah and citizens of Jerusalem! The LORD God of Israel who rules over all says, \"I will bring a disaster on this place that will make the ears of everyone who hears about it ring!\n\t\t\t I will do so because these people have rejected me and have defiled this place. They have offered sacrifices in it to other gods which neither they nor their ancestors nor the kings of Judah knew anything about. They have filled it with the blood of innocent children.\n\t\t\t They have built places here for worship of the god Baal so that they could sacrifice their children as burnt offerings to him in the fire. Such sacrifices are something I never commanded them to make! They are something I never told them to do! Indeed, such a thing never even entered my mind! \n\t\t\t So I, the LORD, say: \"The time will soon come that people will no longer call this place Topheth or the Hinnom Valley. But they will call this valley the Valley of Slaughter! \n\t\t\t In this place I will thwart the plans of the people of Judah and Jerusalem. I will deliver them over to the power of their enemies who are seeking to kill them. They will die by the sword at the hands of their enemies. I will make their dead bodies food for the birds and wild beasts to eat. \n\t\t\t I will make this city an object of horror, a thing to be hissed at. All who pass by it will be filled with horror and will hiss out their scorn because of all the disasters that have happened to it.\n\t\t\t I will reduce the people of this city to desperate straits during the siege imposed on it by their enemies who are seeking to kill them. I will make them so desperate that they will eat the flesh of their own sons and daughters and the flesh of one another.\"'\"\n\t\t\t The LORD continued, \"Now break the jar in front of those who have come here with you. \n\t\t\t Tell them the LORD who rules over all says, 'I will do just as Jeremiah has done. I will smash this nation and this city as though it were a potter's vessel which is broken beyond repair. The dead will be buried here in Topheth until there is no more room to bury them.'\n\t\t\t I, the LORD, say: 'That is how I will deal with this city and its citizens. I will make it like Topheth. \n\t\t\t The houses in Jerusalem and the houses of the kings of Judah will be defiled by dead bodies just like this place, Topheth. For they offered sacrifice to the stars and poured out drink offerings to other gods on the roofs of those houses.'\"\n\t\t\t Then Jeremiah left Topheth where the LORD had sent him to give that prophecy. He went to the LORD's temple and stood in its courtyard and called out to all the people. \n\t\t\t \"The LORD God of Israel who rules over all says, 'I will soon bring on this city and all the towns surrounding it all the disaster I threatened to do to it. I will do so because they have stubbornly refused to pay any attention to what I have said!'\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now Pashhur son of Immer heard Jeremiah prophesy these things. He was the priest who was chief of security in the LORD's temple. \n\t\t\t When he heard Jeremiah's prophecy, he had the prophet flogged. Then he put him in the stocks which were at the Upper Gate of Benjamin in the LORD's temple.\n\t\t\t But the next day Pashhur released Jeremiah from the stocks. When he did, Jeremiah said to him, \"The LORD's name for you is not 'Pashhur' but 'Terror is Everywhere.'\n\t\t\t For the LORD says, 'I will make both you and your friends terrified of what will happen to you. You will see all of them die by the swords of their enemies. I will hand all the people of Judah over to the king of Babylon. He will carry some of them away into exile in Babylon and he will kill others of them with the sword. \n\t\t\t I will hand over all the wealth of this city to their enemies. I will hand over to them all the fruits of the labor of the people of this city and all their prized possessions, as well as all the treasures of the kings of Judah. Their enemies will seize it all as plunder and carry it off to Babylon. \n\t\t\t You, Pashhur, and all your household will go into exile in Babylon. You will die there and you will be buried there. The same thing will happen to all your friends to whom you have prophesied lies.'\"\n\t\t\t LORD, you coerced me into being a prophet, and I allowed you to do it. You overcame my resistance and prevailed over me. Now I have become a constant laughingstock. Everyone ridicules me.\n\t\t\t For whenever I prophesy, I must cry out, \"Violence and destruction are coming!\" This message from the LORD has made me an object of continual insults and derision.\n\t\t\t Sometimes I think, \"I will make no mention of his message. I will not speak as his messenger any more.\" But then his message becomes like a fire locked up inside of me, burning in my heart and soul. I grow weary of trying to hold it in; I cannot contain it.\n\t\t\t I hear many whispering words of intrigue against me. Those who would cause me terror are everywhere! They are saying, \"Come on, let's publicly denounce him!\" All my so-called friends are just watching for something that would lead to my downfall. They say, \"Perhaps he can be enticed into slipping up, so we can prevail over him and get our revenge on him.\n\t\t\t But the LORD is with me to help me like an awe-inspiring warrior. Therefore those who persecute me will fail and will not prevail over me. They will be thoroughly disgraced because they did not succeed. Their disgrace will never be forgotten.\n\t\t\t O LORD who rules over all, you test and prove the righteous. You see into people's hearts and minds. Pay them back for what they have done because I trust you to vindicate my cause.\n\t\t\t Sing to the LORD! Praise the LORD! For he rescues the oppressed from the clutches of evildoers.\n\t\t\t Cursed be the day I was born! May that day not be blessed when my mother gave birth to me.\n\t\t\t Cursed be the man who made my father very glad when he brought him the news that a baby boy had been born to him!\n\t\t\t May that man be like the cities that the LORD destroyed without showing any mercy. May he hear a cry of distress in the morning and a battle cry at noon.\n\t\t\t For he did not kill me before I came from the womb, making my pregnant mother's womb my grave forever.\n\t\t\t Why did I ever come forth from my mother's womb? All I experience is trouble and grief, and I spend my days in shame.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Jeremiah when King Zedekiah sent to him Pashhur son of Malkijah and the priest Zephaniah son of Maaseiah. Zedekiah sent them to Jeremiah to ask,\n\t\t\t \"Please ask the LORD to come and help us, because King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon is attacking us. Maybe the LORD will perform one of his miracles as in times past and make him stop attacking us and leave.\"\n\t\t\t Jeremiah answered them, \"Tell Zedekiah\n\t\t\t that the LORD, the God of Israel, says, 'The forces at your disposal are now outside the walls fighting against King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and the Babylonians who have you under siege. I will gather those forces back inside the city.\n\t\t\t In anger, in fury, and in wrath I myself will fight against you with my mighty power and great strength!\n\t\t\t I will kill everything living in Jerusalem, people and animals alike! They will die from terrible diseases. \n\t\t\t Then I, the LORD, promise that I will hand over King Zedekiah of Judah, his officials, and any of the people who survive the war, starvation, and disease. I will hand them over to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and to their enemies who want to kill them. He will slaughter them with the sword. He will not show them any mercy, compassion, or pity.'\n\t\t\t \"But tell the people of Jerusalem that the LORD says, 'I will give you a choice between two courses of action. One will result in life; the other will result in death.\n\t\t\t Those who stay in this city will die in battle or of starvation or disease. Those who leave the city and surrender to the Babylonians who are besieging it will live. They will escape with their lives.\n\t\t\t For I, the LORD, say that I am determined not to deliver this city but to bring disaster on it. It will be handed over to the king of Babylon and he will destroy it with fire.'\"\n\t\t\t The LORD told me to say to the royal court of Judah, \"Listen to what the LORD says,\n\t\t\t O royal family descended from David. The LORD says: 'See to it that people each day are judged fairly. Deliver those who have been robbed from those who oppress them. Otherwise, my wrath will blaze out against you. It will burn like a fire that cannot be put out because of the evil that you have done.\n\t\t\t Listen, you who sit enthroned above the valley on a rocky plateau. I am opposed to you,' says the LORD. 'You boast, \"No one can swoop down on us. No one can penetrate into our places of refuge.\"\n\t\t\t But I will punish you as your deeds deserve,' says the LORD. 'I will set fire to your palace; it will burn up everything around it.'\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The LORD told me, \"Go down to the palace of the king of Judah. Give him a message from me there.\n\t\t\t Say: 'Listen, O king of Judah who follows in David's succession. You, your officials, and your subjects who pass through the gates of this palace must listen to what the LORD says.\n\t\t\t The LORD says, \"Do what is just and right. Deliver those who have been robbed from those who oppress them. Do not exploit or mistreat foreigners who live in your land, children who have no fathers, or widows. Do not kill innocent people in this land. \n\t\t\t If you are careful to obey these commands, then the kings who follow in David's succession and ride in chariots or on horses will continue to come through the gates of this palace, as will their officials and their subjects.\n\t\t\t But, if you do not obey these commands, I solemnly swear that this palace will become a pile of rubble. I, the LORD, affirm it!\"\n\t\t\t \"'For the LORD says concerning the palace of the king of Judah, \"This place looks like a veritable forest of Gilead to me. It is like the wooded heights of Lebanon in my eyes. But I swear that I will make it like a wilderness whose towns have all been deserted.\n\t\t\t I will send men against it to destroy it with their axes and hatchets. They will hack up its fine cedar panels and columns and throw them into the fire.\n\t\t\t \"'People from other nations will pass by this city. They will ask one another, \"Why has the LORD done such a thing to this great city?\"\n\t\t\t The answer will come back, \"It is because they broke their covenant with the LORD their God and worshiped and served other gods.\"\n\t\t\t \"'Do not weep for the king who was killed. Do not grieve for him. But weep mournfully for the king who has gone into exile. For he will never return to see his native land again.\n\t\t\t \"'For the LORD has spoken about Shallum son of Josiah, who succeeded his father as king of Judah but was carried off into exile. He has said, \"He will never return to this land.\n\t\t\t For he will die in the country where they took him as a captive. He will never see this land again.\"\n\t\t\t \"'Sure to be judged is the king who builds his palace using injustice and treats people unfairly while adding its upper rooms. He makes his countrymen work for him for nothing. He does not pay them for their labor.\n\t\t\t He says, \"I will build myself a large palace with spacious upper rooms.\" He cuts windows in its walls, panels it with cedar, and paints its rooms red.\n\t\t\t Does it make you any more of a king that you outstrip everyone else in building with cedar? Just think about your father. He was content that he had food and drink. He did what was just and right. So things went well with him.\n\t\t\t He upheld the cause of the poor and needy. So things went well for Judah.' The LORD says, 'That is a good example of what it means to know me.'\n\t\t\t But you are always thinking and looking for ways to increase your wealth by dishonest means. Your eyes and your heart are set on killing some innocent person and committing fraud and oppression.\n\t\t\t So the LORD has this to say about Josiah's son, King Jehoiakim of Judah: People will not mourn for him, saying, \"This makes me sad, my brother! This makes me sad, my sister!\" They will not mourn for him, saying, \"Poor, poor lord! Poor, poor majesty!\"\n\t\t\t He will be left unburied just like a dead donkey. His body will be dragged off and thrown outside the gates of Jerusalem.'\"\n\t\t\t People of Jerusalem, go up to Lebanon and cry out in mourning. Go to the land of Bashan and cry out loudly. Cry out in mourning from the mountains of Moab. For your allies have all been defeated.\n\t\t\t While you were feeling secure I gave you warning. But you said, \"I refuse to listen to you.\" That is the way you have acted from your earliest history onward. Indeed, you have never paid attention to me.\n\t\t\t My judgment will carry off all your leaders like a storm wind! Your allies will go into captivity. Then you will certainly be disgraced and put to shame because of all the wickedness you have done.\n\t\t\t You may feel as secure as a bird nesting in the cedars of Lebanon. But oh how you will groan when the pains of judgment come on you. They will be like those of a woman giving birth to a baby.\n\t\t\t The LORD says, \"As surely as I am the living God, you, Jeconiah, king of Judah, son of Jehoiakim, will not be the earthly representative of my authority. Indeed, I will take that right away from you.\n\t\t\t I will hand you over to those who want to take your life and of whom you are afraid. I will hand you over to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and his Babylonian soldiers. \n\t\t\t I will force you and your mother who gave you birth into exile. You will be exiled to a country where neither of you were born, and you will both die there. \n\t\t\t You will never come back to this land to which you will long to return!\"\n\t\t\t This man, Jeconiah, will be like a broken pot someone threw away. He will be like a clay vessel that no one wants. Why will he and his children be forced into exile? Why will they be thrown out into a country they know nothing about?\n\t\t\t O land of Judah, land of Judah, land of Judah! Listen to what the LORD has to say!\n\t\t\t The LORD says, \"Enroll this man in the register as though he were childless. Enroll him as a man who will not enjoy success during his lifetime. For none of his sons will succeed in occupying the throne of David or ever succeed in ruling over Judah.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The LORD says, \"The leaders of my people are sure to be judged. They were supposed to watch over my people like shepherds watch over their sheep. But they are causing my people to be destroyed and scattered.\n\t\t\t So the LORD God of Israel has this to say about the leaders who are ruling over his people: \"You have caused my people to be dispersed and driven into exile. You have not taken care of them. So I will punish you for the evil that you have done. I, the LORD, affirm it!\n\t\t\t Then I myself will regather those of my people who are still alive from all the countries where I have driven them. I will bring them back to their homeland. They will greatly increase in number. \n\t\t\t I will install rulers over them who will care for them. Then they will no longer need to fear or be terrified. None of them will turn up missing. I, the LORD, promise it!\n\t\t\t \"I, the LORD, promise that a new time will certainly come when I will raise up for them a righteous branch, a descendant of David. He will rule over them with wisdom and understanding and will do what is just and right in the land.\n\t\t\t Under his rule Judah will enjoy safety and Israel will live in security. This is the name he will go by: 'The LORD has provided us with justice.'\n\t\t\t \"So I, the LORD, say: 'A new time will certainly come. People now affirm their oaths with \"I swear as surely as the LORD lives who delivered the people of Israel out of Egypt.\" \n\t\t\t But at that time they will affirm them with \"I swear as surely as the LORD lives who delivered the descendants of the former nation of Israel from the land of the north and from all the other lands where he had banished them.\" At that time they will live in their own land.'\"\n\t\t\t Here is what the LORD says concerning the false prophets: My heart and my mind are deeply disturbed. I tremble all over. I am like a drunk person, like a person who has had too much wine, because of the way the LORD and his holy word are being mistreated.\n\t\t\t For the land is full of people unfaithful to him. They live wicked lives and they misuse their power. So the land is dried up because it is under his curse. The pastures in the wilderness are withered.\n\t\t\t Moreover, the LORD says, \"Both the prophets and priests are godless. I have even found them doing evil in my temple!\n\t\t\t So the paths they follow will be dark and slippery. They will stumble and fall headlong. For I will bring disaster on them. A day of reckoning is coming for them.\" The LORD affirms it!\n\t\t\t The LORD says, \"I saw the prophets of Samaria doing something that was disgusting. They prophesied in the name of the god Baal and led my people Israel astray.\n\t\t\t But I see the prophets of Jerusalem doing something just as shocking. They are unfaithful to me and continually prophesy lies. So they give encouragement to people who are doing evil, with the result that they do not stop their evildoing. I consider all of them as bad as the people of Sodom, and the citizens of Jerusalem as bad as the people of Gomorrah.\n\t\t\t So then I, the LORD who rules over all, have something to say concerning the prophets of Jerusalem: 'I will make these prophets eat the bitter food of suffering and drink the poison water of judgment. For the prophets of Jerusalem are the reason that ungodliness has spread throughout the land.'\"\n\t\t\t The LORD who rules over all says to the people of Jerusalem: \"Do not listen to what those prophets are saying to you. They are filling you with false hopes. They are reporting visions of their own imaginations, not something the LORD has given them to say.\n\t\t\t They continually say to those who reject what the LORD has said, 'Things will go well for you!' They say to all those who follow the stubborn inclinations of their own hearts, 'Nothing bad will happen to you!'\n\t\t\t Yet which of them has ever stood in the LORD's inner circle so they could see and hear what he has to say? Which of them have ever paid attention or listened to what he has said?\n\t\t\t But just watch! The wrath of the LORD will come like a storm! Like a raging storm it will rage down on the heads of those who are wicked.\n\t\t\t The anger of the LORD will not turn back until he has fully carried out his intended purposes. In days to come you people will come to understand this clearly.\n\t\t\t I did not send those prophets. Yet they were in a hurry to give their message. I did not tell them anything. Yet they prophesied anyway.\n\t\t\t But if they had stood in my inner circle, they would have proclaimed my message to my people. They would have caused my people to turn from their wicked ways and stop doing the evil things they are doing.\n\t\t\t Do you people think that I am some local deity and not the transcendent God?\" the LORD asks.\n\t\t\t \"Do you really think anyone can hide himself where I cannot see him?\" the LORD asks. \"Do you not know that I am everywhere?\" the LORD asks.\n\t\t\t The LORD says, \"I have heard what those prophets who are prophesying lies in my name are saying. They are saying, 'I have had a dream! I have had a dream!'\n\t\t\t Those prophets are just prophesying lies. They are prophesying the delusions of their own minds.\n\t\t\t How long will they go on plotting to make my people forget who I am through the dreams they tell one another? That is just as bad as what their ancestors did when they forgot who I am by worshiping the god Baal.\n\t\t\t Let the prophet who has had a dream go ahead and tell his dream. Let the person who has received my message report that message faithfully. What is like straw cannot compare to what is like grain! I, the LORD, affirm it!\n\t\t\t My message is like a fire that purges dross! It is like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces! I, the LORD, so affirm it!\n\t\t\t So I, the LORD, affirm that I am opposed to those prophets who steal messages from one another that they claim are from me.\n\t\t\t I, the LORD, AFFIRM that I am opposed to those prophets who are using their own tongues to declare, 'The LORD declares,.'\n\t\t\t I, the LORD, affirm that I am opposed to those prophets who dream up lies and report them. They are misleading my people with their reckless lies. I did not send them. I did not commission them. They are not helping these people at all. I, the LORD, affirm it!\"\n\t\t\t The LORD said to me, \"Jeremiah, when one of these people, or a prophet, or a priest asks you, 'What burdensome message do you have from the LORD?' Tell them, 'You are the burden, and I will cast you away. I, the LORD, affirm it!\n\t\t\t I will punish any prophet, priest, or other person who says \"The LORD's message is burdensome.\" I will punish both that person and his whole family.'\"\n\t\t\t So I, Jeremiah, tell you, \"Each of you people should say to his friend or his relative, 'How did the LORD answer? Or what did the LORD say?'\n\t\t\t You must no longer say that the LORD's message is burdensome. For what is 'burdensome' really pertains to what a person himself says. You are misrepresenting the words of our God, the living God, the LORD who rules over all.\n\t\t\t Each of you should merely ask the prophet, 'What answer did the LORD give you? Or what did the LORD say?'\n\t\t\t But just suppose you continue to say, 'The message of the LORD is burdensome.' Here is what the LORD says will happen: 'I sent word to you that you must not say, \"The LORD's message is burdensome.\" But you used the words \"The LORD's message is burdensome\" anyway.\n\t\t\t So I will carry you far off and throw you away. I will send both you and the city I gave to you and to your ancestors out of my sight.\n\t\t\t I will bring on you lasting shame and lasting disgrace which will never be forgotten!'\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The LORD showed me two baskets of figs sitting before his temple. This happened after King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon deported Jehoiakim's son, King Jeconiah of Judah. He deported him and the leaders of Judah, along with the craftsmen and metal workers, and took them to Babylon.\n\t\t\t One basket had very good-looking figs in it. They looked like those that had ripened early. The other basket had very bad-looking figs in it, so bad they could not be eaten. \n\t\t\t The LORD said to me, \"What do you see, Jeremiah?\" I answered, \"I see figs. The good ones look very good. But the bad ones look very bad, so bad that they cannot be eaten.\"\n\t\t\t The LORD said to me,\n\t\t\t \"I, the LORD, the God of Israel, say: 'The exiles whom I sent away from here to the land of Babylon are like those good figs. I consider them to be good. \n\t\t\t I will look after their welfare and will restore them to this land. There I will build them up and will not tear them down. I will plant them firmly in the land and will not uproot them.\n\t\t\t I will give them the desire to acknowledge that I am the LORD. I will be their God and they will be my people. For they will wholeheartedly return to me.'\n\t\t\t \"I, the LORD, also solemnly assert: 'King Zedekiah of Judah, his officials, and the people who remain in Jerusalem or who have gone to live in Egypt are like those bad figs. I consider them to be just like those bad figs that are so bad they cannot be eaten.\n\t\t\t I will bring such disaster on them that all the kingdoms of the earth will be horrified. I will make them an object of reproach, a proverbial example of disaster. I will make them an object of ridicule, an example to be used in curses. That is how they will be remembered wherever I banish them.\n\t\t\t I will bring war, starvation, and disease on them until they are completely destroyed from the land I gave them and their ancestors.'\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t In the fourth year that Jehoiakim son of Josiah was king of Judah, the LORD spoke to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah. (That was the same as the first year that Nebuchadnezzar was king of Babylon.)\n\t\t\t So the prophet Jeremiah spoke to all the people of Judah and to all the people who were living in Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t \"For the last twenty-three years, from the thirteenth year that Josiah son of Amon was ruling in Judah until now, the LORD has been speaking to me. I told you over and over again what he said. But you would not listen. \n\t\t\t Over and over again the LORD has sent his servants the prophets to you. But you have not listened or paid attention.\n\t\t\t He said through them, 'Each of you must turn from your wicked ways and stop doing the evil things you are doing. If you do, I will allow you to continue to live here in the land that I gave to you and your ancestors as a lasting possession.\n\t\t\t Do not pay allegiance to other gods and worship and serve them. Do not make me angry by the things that you do. Then I will not cause you any harm.' \n\t\t\t So, now the LORD says, 'You have not listened to me. But you have made me angry by the things that you have done. Thus you have brought harm on yourselves.'\n\t\t\t \"Therefore, the LORD who rules over all says, 'You have not listened to what I said.\n\t\t\t So I, the LORD, affirm that I will send for all the peoples of the north and my servant, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. I will bring them against this land and its inhabitants and all the nations that surround it. I will utterly destroy this land, its inhabitants, and all the nations that surround it and make them everlasting ruins. I will make them objects of horror and hissing scorn.\n\t\t\t I will put an end to the sounds of joy and gladness, to the glad celebration of brides and grooms in these lands. I will put an end to the sound of people grinding meal. I will put an end to lamps shining in their houses.\n\t\t\t This whole area will become a desolate wasteland. These nations will be subject to the king of Babylon for seventy years.'\n\t\t\t \"'But when the seventy years are over, I will punish the king of Babylon and his nation for their sins. I will make the land of Babylon an everlasting ruin. I, the LORD, affirm it!\n\t\t\t I will bring on that land everything that I said I would. I will bring on it everything that is written in this book. I will bring on it everything that Jeremiah has prophesied against all the nations.\n\t\t\t For many nations and great kings will make slaves of the king of Babylon and his nation too. I will repay them for all they have done!'\"\n\t\t\t So the LORD, the God of Israel, spoke to me in a vision. \"Take this cup from my hand. It is filled with the wine of my wrath. Take it and make the nations to whom I send you drink it. \n\t\t\t When they have drunk it, they will stagger to and fro and act insane. For I will send wars sweeping through them.\"\n\t\t\t So I took the cup from the LORD's hand. I made all the nations to whom he sent me drink the wine of his wrath.\n\t\t\t I made Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, its kings and its officials drink it. I did it so Judah would become a ruin. I did it so Judah, its kings, and its officials would become an object of horror and of hissing scorn, an example used in curses. Such is already becoming the case!\n\t\t\t I made all of these other people drink it: Pharaoh, king of Egypt; his attendants, his officials, his people, \n\t\t\t the foreigners living in Egypt; all the kings of the land of Uz; all the kings of the land of the Philistines, the people of Ashkelon, Gaza, Ekron, the people who had been left alive from Ashdod;\n\t\t\t all the people of Edom, Moab, Ammon;\n\t\t\t all the kings of Tyre, all the kings of Sidon; all the kings of the coastlands along the sea;\n\t\t\t the people of Dedan, Tema, Buz, all the desert people who cut their hair short at the temples;\n\t\t\t all the kings of Arabia who live in the desert; \n\t\t\t all the kings of Zimri; all the kings of Elam; all the kings of Media;\n\t\t\t all the kings of the north, whether near or far from one another; and all the other kingdoms which are on the face of the earth. After all of them have drunk the wine of the LORD's wrath, the king of Babylon must drink it.\n\t\t\t Then the LORD said to me, \"Tell them that the LORD God of Israel who rules over all says, 'Drink this cup until you get drunk and vomit. Drink until you fall down and can't get up. For I will send wars sweeping through you.'\n\t\t\t If they refuse to take the cup from your hand and drink it, tell them that the LORD who rules over all says 'You most certainly must drink it!\n\t\t\t For take note, I am already beginning to bring disaster on the city that I call my own. So how can you possibly avoid being punished? You will not go unpunished! For I am proclaiming war against all who live on the earth. I, the LORD who rules over all, affirm it!'\n\t\t\t \"Then, Jeremiah, make the following prophecy against them: 'Like a lion about to attack, the LORD will roar from the heights of heaven; from his holy dwelling on high he will roar loudly. He will roar mightily against his land. He will shout in triumph like those stomping juice from the grapes against all those who live on the earth.\n\t\t\t The sounds of battle will resound to the ends of the earth. For the LORD will bring charges against the nations. He will pass judgment on all humankind and will hand the wicked over to be killed in war.' The LORD so affirms it!\n\t\t\t The LORD who rules over all says, 'Disaster will soon come on one nation after another. A mighty storm of military destruction is rising up from the distant parts of the earth.'\n\t\t\t Those who have been killed by the LORD at that time will be scattered from one end of the earth to the other. They will not be mourned over, gathered up, or buried. Their dead bodies will lie scattered over the ground like manure.\n\t\t\t Wail and cry out in anguish, you rulers! Roll in the dust, you who shepherd flocks of people! The time for you to be slaughtered has come. You will lie scattered and fallen like broken pieces of fine pottery.\n\t\t\t The leaders will not be able to run away and hide. The shepherds of the flocks will not be able to escape.\n\t\t\t Listen to the cries of anguish of the leaders. Listen to the wails of the shepherds of the flocks. They are wailing because the LORD is about to destroy their lands.\n\t\t\t Their peaceful dwelling places will be laid waste by the fierce anger of the LORD.\n\t\t\t The LORD is like a lion who has left his lair. So their lands will certainly be laid waste by the warfare of the oppressive nation and by the fierce anger of the LORD.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Jeremiah at the beginning of the reign of Josiah's son, King Jehoiakim of Judah. \n\t\t\t The LORD said, \"Go stand in the courtyard of the LORD's temple. Speak out to all the people who are coming from the towns of Judah to worship in the LORD's temple. Tell them everything I command you to tell them. Do not leave out a single word! \n\t\t\t Maybe they will pay attention and each of them will stop living the evil way they do. If they do that, then I will forgo destroying them as I had intended to do because of the wicked things they have been doing.\n\t\t\t Tell them that the LORD says, 'You must obey me! You must live according to the way I have instructed you in my laws.\n\t\t\t You must pay attention to the exhortations of my servants the prophets. I have sent them to you over and over again. But you have not paid any attention to them. \n\t\t\t If you do not obey me, then I will do to this temple what I did to Shiloh. And I will make this city an example to be used in curses by people from all the nations on the earth.'\"\n\t\t\t The priests, the prophets, and all the people heard Jeremiah say these things in the LORD's temple.\n\t\t\t Jeremiah had just barely finished saying all the LORD had commanded him to say to all the people. All at once some of the priests, the prophets, and the people grabbed him and shouted, \"You deserve to die!\n\t\t\t How dare you claim the LORD's authority to prophesy such things! How dare you claim his authority to prophesy that this temple will become like Shiloh and that this city will become an uninhabited ruin!\" Then all the people crowded around Jeremiah.\n\t\t\t However, some of the officials of Judah heard about what was happening and they rushed up to the LORD's temple from the royal palace. They set up court at the entrance of the New Gate of the LORD's temple.\n\t\t\t Then the priests and the prophets made their charges before the officials and all the people. They said, \"This man should be condemned to die because he prophesied against this city. You have heard him do so with your own ears.\"\n\t\t\t Then Jeremiah made his defense before all the officials and all the people. \"The LORD sent me to prophesy everything you have heard me say against this temple and against this city. \n\t\t\t But correct the way you have been living and do what is right. Obey the LORD your God. If you do, the LORD will forgo destroying you as he threatened he would.\n\t\t\t As to my case, I am in your power. Do to me what you deem fair and proper. \n\t\t\t But you should take careful note of this: If you put me to death, you will bring on yourselves and this city and those who live in it the guilt of murdering an innocent man. For the LORD has sent me to speak all this where you can hear it. That is the truth!\"\n\t\t\t Then the officials and all the people rendered their verdict to the priests and the prophets. They said, \"This man should not be condemned to die. For he has spoken to us under the authority of the LORD our God.\"\n\t\t\t Then some of the elders of Judah stepped forward and spoke to all the people gathered there. They said, \n\t\t\t \"Micah from Moresheth prophesied during the time Hezekiah was king of Judah. He told all the people of Judah, 'The LORD who rules over all says, \"Zion will become a plowed field. Jerusalem will become a pile of rubble. The temple mount will become a mere wooded ridge.\"'\n\t\t\t King Hezekiah and all the people of Judah did not put him to death, did they? Did not Hezekiah show reverence for the LORD and seek the LORD's favor? Did not the LORD forgo destroying them as he threatened he would? But we are on the verge of bringing great disaster on ourselves.\"\n\t\t\t Now there was another man who prophesied as the LORD's representative against this city and this land just as Jeremiah did. His name was Uriah son of Shemaiah from Kiriath Jearim.\n\t\t\t When the king and all his bodyguards and officials heard what he was prophesying, the king sought to have him executed. But Uriah found out about it and fled to Egypt out of fear.\n\t\t\t However, King Jehoiakim sent some men to Egypt, including Elnathan son of Achbor,\n\t\t\t and they brought Uriah back from there. They took him to King Jehoiakim, who had him executed and had his body thrown into the burial place of the common people.\n\t\t\t However, Ahikam son of Shaphan used his influence to keep Jeremiah from being handed over and executed by the people.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Jeremiah early in the reign of Josiah's son, King Zedekiah of Judah.\n\t\t\t The LORD told me, \"Make a yoke out of leather straps and wooden crossbars and put it on your neck. \n\t\t\t Use it to send messages to the kings of Edom, Moab, Ammon, Tyre, and Sidon. Send them through the envoys who have come to Jerusalem to King Zedekiah of Judah.\n\t\t\t Charge them to give their masters a message from me. Tell them, 'The LORD God of Israel who rules over all says to give your masters this message.\n\t\t\t \"I made the earth and the people and animals on it by my mighty power and great strength, and I give it to whomever I see fit.\n\t\t\t I have at this time placed all these nations of yours under the power of my servant, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. I have even made all the wild animals subject to him.\n\t\t\t All nations must serve him and his son and grandson until the time comes for his own nation to fall. Then many nations and great kings will in turn subjugate Babylon.\n\t\t\t But suppose a nation or a kingdom will not be subject to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. Suppose it will not submit to the yoke of servitude to him. I, the LORD, affirm that I will punish that nation. I will use the king of Babylon to punish it with war, starvation, and disease until I have destroyed it.\n\t\t\t So do not listen to your prophets or to those who claim to predict the future by divination, by dreams, by consulting the dead, or by practicing magic. They keep telling you, 'You do not need to be subject to the king of Babylon.' \n\t\t\t Do not listen to them, because their prophecies are lies. Listening to them will only cause you to be taken far away from your native land. I will drive you out of your country and you will die in exile.\n\t\t\t Things will go better for the nation that submits to the yoke of servitude to the king of Babylon and is subject to him. I will leave that nation in its native land. Its people can continue to farm it and live in it. I, the LORD, affirm it!\"'\"\n\t\t\t I told King Zedekiah of Judah the same thing. I said, \"Submit to the yoke of servitude to the king of Babylon. Be subject to him and his people. Then you will continue to live. \n\t\t\t There is no reason why you and your people should die in war or from starvation or disease! That's what the LORD says will happen to any nation that will not be subject to the king of Babylon. \n\t\t\t Do not listen to the prophets who are telling you that you do not need to serve the king of Babylon. For they are prophesying lies to you. \n\t\t\t For I, the LORD, affirm that I did not send them. They are prophesying lies to you. If you listen to them, I will drive you and the prophets who are prophesying lies out of the land and you will all die in exile.\"\n\t\t\t I also told the priests and all the people, \"The LORD says, 'Do not listen to what your prophets are saying. They are prophesying to you that the valuable articles taken from the LORD's temple will be brought back from Babylon very soon. But they are prophesying a lie to you. \n\t\t\t Do not listen to them. Be subject to the king of Babylon. Then you will continue to live. Why should this city be made a pile of rubble?'\"\n\t\t\t I also told them, \"If they are really prophets and the LORD is speaking to them, let them pray earnestly to the LORD who rules over all. Let them plead with him not to let the valuable articles that are still left in the LORD's temple, in the royal palace, and in Jerusalem be taken away to Babylon. \n\t\t\t For the LORD who rules over all has already spoken about the two bronze pillars, the large bronze basin called 'The Sea,' and the movable bronze stands. He has already spoken about the rest of the valuable articles that are left in this city. \n\t\t\t He has already spoken about these things that King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon did not take away when he carried Jehoiakim's son King Jeconiah of Judah and the nobles of Judah and Jerusalem away as captives.\n\t\t\t Indeed, the LORD God of Israel who rules over all has already spoken about the valuable articles that are left in the LORD's temple, in the royal palace of Judah, and in Jerusalem. \n\t\t\t He has said, 'They will be carried off to Babylon. They will remain there until it is time for me to show consideration for them again. Then I will bring them back and restore them to this place.' I, the LORD, affirm this!\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The following events occurred in that same year, early in the reign of King Zedekiah of Judah. To be more precise, it was the fifth month of the fourth year of his reign. The prophet Hananiah son of Azzur, who was from Gibeon, spoke to Jeremiah in the LORD's temple in the presence of the priests and all the people.\n\t\t\t \"The LORD God of Israel who rules over all says, 'I will break the yoke of servitude to the king of Babylon. \n\t\t\t Before two years are over, I will bring back to this place everything that King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon took from it and carried away to Babylon.\n\t\t\t I will also bring back to this place Jehoiakim's son King Jeconiah of Judah and all the exiles who were taken to Babylon.' Indeed, the LORD affirms, 'I will break the yoke of servitude to the king of Babylon.'\"\n\t\t\t Then the prophet Jeremiah responded to the prophet Hananiah in the presence of the priests and all the people who were standing in the LORD's temple.\n\t\t\t The prophet Jeremiah said, \"Amen! May the LORD do all this! May the LORD make your prophecy come true! May he bring back to this place from Babylon all the valuable articles taken from the LORD's temple and the people who were carried into exile.\n\t\t\t But listen to what I say to you and to all these people.\n\t\t\t From earliest times, the prophets who preceded you and me invariably prophesied war, disaster, and plagues against many countries and great kingdoms. \n\t\t\t So if a prophet prophesied peace and prosperity, it was only known that the LORD truly sent him when what he prophesied came true.\"\n\t\t\t The prophet Hananiah then took the yoke off the prophet Jeremiah's neck and broke it.\n\t\t\t Then he spoke up in the presence of all the people. \"The LORD says, 'In the same way I will break the yoke of servitude of all the nations to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon before two years are over.'\" After he heard this, the prophet Jeremiah departed and went on his way.\n\t\t\t But shortly after the prophet Hananiah had broken the yoke off the prophet Jeremiah's neck, the LORD spoke to Jeremiah.\n\t\t\t \"Go and tell Hananiah that the LORD says, 'You have indeed broken the wooden yoke. But you have only succeeded in replacing it with an iron one!\n\t\t\t For the LORD God of Israel who rules over all says, \"I have put an irresistible yoke of servitude on all these nations so they will serve King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. And they will indeed serve him. I have even given him control over the wild animals.\"'\"\n\t\t\t Then the prophet Jeremiah told the prophet Hananiah, \"Listen, Hananiah! The LORD did not send you! You are making these people trust in a lie!\n\t\t\t So the LORD says, 'I will most assuredly remove you from the face of the earth. You will die this very year because you have counseled rebellion against the LORD.'\"\n\t\t\t In the seventh month of that very same year the prophet Hananiah died.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The prophet Jeremiah sent a letter to the exiles Nebuchadnezzar had carried off from Jerusalem to Babylon. It was addressed to the elders who were left among the exiles, to the priests, to the prophets, and to all the other people who were exiled in Babylon.\n\t\t\t He sent it after King Jeconiah, the queen mother, the palace officials, the leaders of Judah and Jerusalem, the craftsmen, and the metal workers had been exiled from Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t He sent it with Elasah son of Shaphan and Gemariah son of Hilkiah. King Zedekiah of Judah had sent these men to Babylon to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. The letter said:\n\t\t\t \"The LORD God of Israel who rules over all says to all those he sent into exile to Babylon from Jerusalem,\n\t\t\t 'Build houses and settle down. Plant gardens and eat what they produce.\n\t\t\t Marry and have sons and daughters. Find wives for your sons and allow your daughters get married so that they too can have sons and daughters. Grow in number; do not dwindle away.\n\t\t\t Work to see that the city where I sent you as exiles enjoys peace and prosperity. Pray to the LORD for it. For as it prospers you will prosper.'\n\t\t\t \"For the LORD God of Israel who rules over all says, 'Do not let the prophets or those among you who claim to be able to predict the future by divination deceive you. And do not pay any attention to the dreams that you are encouraging them to dream. \n\t\t\t They are prophesying lies to you and claiming my authority to do so. But I did not send them. I, the LORD, affirm it!'\n\t\t\t \"For the LORD says, 'Only when the seventy years of Babylonian rule are over will I again take up consideration for you. Then I will fulfill my gracious promise to you and restore you to your homeland.\n\t\t\t For I know what I have planned for you,' says the LORD. 'I have plans to prosper you, not to harm you. I have plans to give you a future filled with hope.\n\t\t\t When you call out to me and come to me in prayer, I will hear your prayers.\n\t\t\t When you seek me in prayer and worship, you will find me available to you. If you seek me with all your heart and soul,\n\t\t\t I will make myself available to you,' says the LORD. 'Then I will reverse your plight and will regather you from all the nations and all the places where I have exiled you,' says the LORD. 'I will bring you back to the place from which I exiled you.'\n\t\t\t \"You say, 'The LORD has raised up prophets of good news for us here in Babylon.' \n\t\t\t But just listen to what the LORD has to say about the king who occupies David's throne and all your fellow countrymen who are still living in this city of Jerusalem and were not carried off into exile with you. \n\t\t\t The LORD who rules over all says, 'I will bring war, starvation, and disease on them. I will treat them like figs that are so rotten they cannot be eaten. \n\t\t\t I will chase after them with war, starvation, and disease. I will make all the kingdoms of the earth horrified at what happens to them. I will make them examples of those who are cursed, objects of horror, hissing scorn, and ridicule among all the nations where I exile them. \n\t\t\t For they have not paid attention to what I said to them through my servants the prophets whom I sent to them over and over again,' says the LORD. 'And you exiles have not paid any attention to them either,' says the LORD.\n\t\t\t 'So pay attention to what I, the LORD, have said, all you exiles whom I have sent to Babylon from Jerusalem.'\n\t\t\t \"The LORD God of Israel who rules over all also has something to say about Ahab son of Kolaiah and Zedekiah son of Maaseiah, who are prophesying lies to you and claiming my authority to do so. 'I will hand them over to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and he will execute them before your very eyes. \n\t\t\t And all the exiles of Judah who are in Babylon will use them as examples when they put a curse on anyone. They will say, \"May the LORD treat you like Zedekiah and Ahab whom the king of Babylon roasted to death in the fire!\"\n\t\t\t This will happen to them because they have done what is shameful in Israel. They have committed adultery with their neighbors' wives and have spoken lies while claiming my authority. They have spoken words that I did not command them to speak. I know what they have done. I have been a witness to it,' says the LORD.\"\n\t\t\t The LORD told Jeremiah, \"Tell Shemaiah the Nehelamite\n\t\t\t that the LORD God of Israel who rules over all has a message for him. Tell him, 'On your own initiative you sent a letter to the priest Zephaniah son of Maaseiah and to all the other priests and to all the people in Jerusalem. In your letter you said to Zephaniah,\n\t\t\t \"The LORD has made you priest in place of Jehoiada. He has put you in charge in the LORD's temple of controlling any lunatic who pretends to be a prophet. And it is your duty to put any such person in the stocks with an iron collar around his neck.\n\t\t\t You should have reprimanded Jeremiah from Anathoth who is pretending to be a prophet among you!\n\t\t\t For he has even sent a message to us here in Babylon. He wrote and told us, \"You will be there a long time. Build houses and settle down. Plant gardens and eat what they produce.\"'\"\n\t\t\t Zephaniah the priest read that letter to the prophet Jeremiah.\n\t\t\t Then the LORD spoke to Jeremiah.\n\t\t\t \"Send a message to all the exiles in Babylon. Tell them, 'The LORD has spoken about Shemaiah the Nehelamite. \"Shemaiah has spoken to you as a prophet even though I did not send him. He is making you trust in a lie.\n\t\t\t Because he has done this,\" the LORD says, \"I will punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite and his whole family. There will not be any of them left to experience the good things that I will do for my people. I, the LORD, affirm it! For he counseled rebellion against the LORD.\"'\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Jeremiah.\n\t\t\t \"The LORD God of Israel says, 'Write everything that I am about to tell you in a scroll.\n\t\t\t For I, the LORD, affirm that the time will come when I will reverse the plight of my people, Israel and Judah,' says the LORD. 'I will bring them back to the land I gave their ancestors and they will take possession of it once again.'\"\n\t\t\t So here is what the LORD has to say about Israel and Judah.\n\t\t\t Yes, here is what he says: \"You hear cries of panic and of terror; there is no peace in sight.\n\t\t\t Ask yourselves this and consider it carefully: Have you ever seen a man give birth to a baby? Why then do I see all these strong men grabbing their stomachs in pain like a woman giving birth? And why do their faces turn so deathly pale?\n\t\t\t Alas, what a terrible time of trouble it is! There has never been any like it. It is a time of trouble for the descendants of Jacob, but some of them will be rescued out of it.\n\t\t\t When the time for them to be rescued comes,\" says the LORD who rules over all, \"I will rescue you from foreign subjugation. I will deliver you from captivity. Foreigners will then no longer subjugate them.\n\t\t\t But they will be subject to the LORD their God and to the Davidic ruler whom I will raise up as king over them.\n\t\t\t So I, the LORD, tell you not to be afraid, you descendants of Jacob, my servants. Do not be terrified, people of Israel. For I will rescue you and your descendants from a faraway land where you are captives. The descendants of Jacob will return to their land and enjoy peace. They will be secure and no one will terrify them.\n\t\t\t For I, the LORD, affirm that I will be with you and will rescue you. I will completely destroy all the nations where I scattered you. But I will not completely destroy you. I will indeed discipline you, but only in due measure. I will not allow you to go entirely unpunished.\"\n\t\t\t Moreover, the LORD says to the people of Zion, \"Your injuries are incurable; your wounds are severe.\n\t\t\t There is no one to plead your cause. There are no remedies for your wounds. There is no healing for you.\n\t\t\t All your allies have abandoned you. They no longer have any concern for you. For I have attacked you like an enemy would. I have chastened you cruelly. For your wickedness is so great and your sin is so much.\n\t\t\t Why do you complain about your injuries, that your pain is incurable? I have done all this to you because your wickedness is so great and your sin is so much.\n\t\t\t But all who destroyed you will be destroyed. All your enemies will go into exile. Those who plundered you will be plundered. I will cause those who pillaged you to be pillaged.\n\t\t\t Yes, I will restore you to health. I will heal your wounds. I, the LORD, affirm it! For you have been called an outcast, Zion, whom no one cares for.\"\n\t\t\t The LORD says, \"I will restore the ruined houses of the descendants of Jacob. I will show compassion on their ruined homes. Every city will be rebuilt on its former ruins. Every fortified dwelling will occupy its traditional site.\n\t\t\t Out of those places you will hear songs of thanksgiving and the sounds of laughter and merriment. I will increase their number and they will not dwindle away. I will bring them honor and they will no longer be despised.\n\t\t\t The descendants of Jacob will enjoy their former privileges. Their community will be reestablished in my favor and I will punish all who try to oppress them.\n\t\t\t One of their own people will be their leader. Their ruler will come from their own number. I will invite him to approach me, and he will do so. For no one would dare approach me on his own. I, the LORD, affirm it!\n\t\t\t Then you will again be my people and I will be your God.\n\t\t\t Just watch! The wrath of the LORD will come like a storm. Like a raging storm it will rage down on the heads of those who are wicked.\n\t\t\t The anger of the LORD will not turn back until he has fully carried out his intended purposes. In days to come you will come to understand this.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t At that time I will be the God of all the clans of Israel and they will be my people. I, the LORD, affirm it!\"\n\t\t\t The LORD says, \"The people of Israel who survived death at the hands of the enemy will find favor in the wilderness as they journey to find rest for themselves.\n\t\t\t In a far-off land the LORD will manifest himself to them. He will say to them, 'I have loved you with an everlasting love. That is why I have continued to be faithful to you.\n\t\t\t I will rebuild you, my dear children Israel, so that you will once again be built up. Once again you will take up the tambourine and join in the happy throng of dancers.\n\t\t\t Once again you will plant vineyards on the hills of Samaria. Those who plant them will once again enjoy their fruit.\n\t\t\t Yes, a time is coming when watchmen will call out on the mountains of Ephraim, \"Come! Let us go to Zion to worship the LORD our God!\"'\"\n\t\t\t Moreover, the LORD says, \"Sing for joy for the descendants of Jacob. Utter glad shouts for that foremost of the nations. Make your praises heard. Then say, 'LORD, rescue your people. Deliver those of Israel who remain alive.'\n\t\t\t Then I will reply, 'I will bring them back from the land of the north. I will gather them in from the distant parts of the earth. Blind and lame people will come with them, so will pregnant women and women about to give birth. A vast throng of people will come back here.\n\t\t\t They will come back shedding tears of contrition. I will bring them back praying prayers of repentance. I will lead them besides streams of water, along smooth paths where they will never stumble. I will do this because I am Israel's father; Ephraim is my firstborn son.'\"\n\t\t\t Hear what the LORD has to say, O nations. Proclaim it in the faraway lands along the sea. Say, \"The one who scattered Israel will regather them. He will watch over his people like a shepherd watches over his flock.\"\n\t\t\t For the LORD will rescue the descendants of Jacob. He will secure their release from those who had overpowered them.\n\t\t\t They will come and shout for joy on Mount Zion. They will be radiant with joy over the good things the LORD provides, the grain, the fresh wine, the olive oil, the young sheep and calves he has given to them. They will be like a well-watered garden and will not grow faint or weary any more.\n\t\t\t The LORD says, \"At that time young women will dance and be glad. Young men and old men will rejoice. I will turn their grief into gladness. I will give them comfort and joy in place of their sorrow.\n\t\t\t I will provide the priests with abundant provisions. My people will be filled to the full with the good things I provide.\"\n\t\t\t The LORD says, \"A sound is heard in Ramah, a sound of crying in bitter grief. It is the sound of Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because her children are gone.\"\n\t\t\t The LORD says to her, \"Stop crying! Do not shed any more tears! For your heartfelt repentance will be rewarded. Your children will return from the land of the enemy. I, the LORD, affirm it!\n\t\t\t Indeed, there is hope for your posterity. Your children will return to their own territory. I, the LORD, affirm it!\n\t\t\t I have indeed heard the people of Israel say mournfully, 'We were like a calf untrained to the yoke. You disciplined us and we learned from it. Let us come back to you and we will do so, for you are the LORD our God.\n\t\t\t For after we turned away from you we repented. After we came to our senses we beat our breasts in sorrow. We are ashamed and humiliated because of the disgraceful things we did previously.'\n\t\t\t Indeed, the people of Israel are my dear children. They are the children I take delight in. For even though I must often rebuke them, I still remember them with fondness. So I am deeply moved with pity for them and will surely have compassion on them. I, the LORD, affirm it!\n\t\t\t I will say, 'My dear children of Israel, keep in mind the road you took when you were carried off. Mark off in your minds the landmarks. Make a mental note of telltale signs marking the way back. Return, my dear children of Israel. Return to these cities of yours.\n\t\t\t How long will you vacillate, you who were once like an unfaithful daughter? For I, the LORD, promise to bring about something new on the earth, something as unique as a woman protecting a man!'\"\n\t\t\t The LORD God of Israel who rules over all says, \"I will restore the people of Judah to their land and to their towns. When I do, they will again say of Jerusalem, 'May the LORD bless you, you holy mountain, the place where righteousness dwells.'\n\t\t\t The land of Judah will be inhabited by people who live in its towns as well as by farmers and shepherds with their flocks.\n\t\t\t I will fully satisfy the needs of those who are weary and fully refresh the souls of those who are faint.\n\t\t\t Then they will say, 'Under these conditions I can enjoy sweet sleep when I wake up and look around.'\"\n\t\t\t \"Indeed, a time is coming,\" says the LORD, \"when I will cause people and animals to sprout up in the lands of Israel and Judah.\n\t\t\t In the past I saw to it that they were uprooted and torn down, that they were destroyed and demolished. But now I will see to it that they are built up and firmly planted. I, the LORD, affirm it!\"\n\t\t\t \"When that time comes, people will no longer say, 'The parents have eaten sour grapes, but the children's teeth have grown numb.'\n\t\t\t Rather, each person will die for his own sins. The teeth of the person who eats the sour grapes will themselves grow numb.\n\t\t\t \"Indeed, a time is coming,\" says the LORD, \"when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah.\n\t\t\t It will not be like the old covenant that I made with their ancestors when I delivered them from Egypt. For they violated that covenant, even though I was like a faithful husband to them,\" says the LORD.\n\t\t\t \"But I will make a new covenant with the whole nation of Israel after I plant them back in the land,\" says the LORD. \"I will put my law within them and write it on their hearts and minds. I will be their God and they will be my people.\n\t\t\t \"People will no longer need to teach their neighbors and relatives to know me. For all of them, from the least important to the most important, will know me,\" says the LORD. \"For I will forgive their sin and will no longer call to mind the wrong they have done.\"\n\t\t\t The LORD has made a promise to Israel. He promises it as the one who fixed the sun to give light by day and the moon and stars to give light by night. He promises it as the one who stirs up the sea so that its waves roll. He promises it as the one who is known as the LORD who rules over all.\n\t\t\t The LORD affirms, \"The descendants of Israel will not cease forever to be a nation in my sight. That could only happen if the fixed ordering of the heavenly lights were to cease to operate before me.\"\n\t\t\t The LORD says, \"I will not reject all the descendants of Israel because of all that they have done. That could only happen if the heavens above could be measured or the foundations of the earth below could all be explored,\" says the LORD.\n\t\t\t \"Indeed a time is coming,\" says the LORD, \"when the city of Jerusalem will be rebuilt as my special city. It will be built from the Tower of Hananel westward to the Corner Gate.\n\t\t\t The boundary line will extend beyond that, straight west from there to the Hill of Gareb and then turn southward to Goah.\n\t\t\t The whole valley where dead bodies and sacrificial ashes are thrown and all the terraced fields out to the Kidron Valley on the east as far north as the Horse Gate will be included within this city that is sacred to the LORD. The city will never again be torn down or destroyed.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t In the tenth year that Zedekiah was ruling over Judah the LORD spoke to Jeremiah. That was the same as the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar. 32:2 Now at that time, the armies of the king of Babylon were besieging Jerusalem. The prophet Jeremiah was confined in the courtyard of the guardhouse attached to the royal palace of Judah.\n\t\t\t \n\t\t\t For King Zedekiah had confined Jeremiah there after he had reproved him for prophesying as he did. He had asked Jeremiah, \"Why do you keep prophesying these things? Why do you keep saying that the LORD says, 'I will hand this city over to the king of Babylon? I will let him capture it.\n\t\t\t King Zedekiah of Judah will not escape from the Babylonians. He will certainly be handed over to the king of Babylon. He must answer personally to the king of Babylon and confront him face to face.\n\t\t\t Zedekiah will be carried off to Babylon and will remain there until I have fully dealt with him. I, the LORD, affirm it! Even if you continue to fight against the Babylonians, you cannot win.'\"\n\t\t\t So now, Jeremiah said, \"The LORD told me,\n\t\t\t 'Hanamel, the son of your uncle Shallum, will come to you soon. He will say to you, \"Buy my field at Anathoth because you are entitled as my closest relative to buy it.\"'\n\t\t\t Now it happened just as the LORD had said! My cousin Hanamel came to me in the courtyard of the guardhouse. He said to me, 'Buy my field which is at Anathoth in the territory of the tribe of Benjamin. Buy it for yourself since you are entitled as my closest relative to take possession of it for yourself.' When this happened, I recognized that the LORD had indeed spoken to me. \n\t\t\t So I bought the field at Anathoth from my cousin Hanamel. I weighed out seven ounces of silver and gave it to him to pay for it.\n\t\t\t I signed the deed of purchase, sealed it, and had some men serve as witnesses to the purchase. I weighed out the silver for him on a scale. \n\t\t\t There were two copies of the deed of purchase. One was sealed and contained the order of transfer and the conditions of purchase. The other was left unsealed. \n\t\t\t I took both copies of the deed of purchase and gave them to Baruch son of Neriah, the son of Mahseiah. I gave them to him in the presence of my cousin Hanamel, the witnesses who had signed the deed of purchase, and all the Judeans who were housed in the courtyard of the guardhouse. \n\t\t\t In the presence of all these people I instructed Baruch,\n\t\t\t 'The LORD God of Israel who rules over all says, \"Take these documents, both the sealed copy of the deed of purchase and the unsealed copy. Put them in a clay jar so that they may be preserved for a long time to come.\"'\n\t\t\t For the LORD God of Israel who rules over all says, \"Houses, fields, and vineyards will again be bought in this land.\"'\n\t\t\t \"After I had given the copies of the deed of purchase to Baruch son of Neriah, I prayed to the LORD,\n\t\t\t 'Oh, Lord GOD, you did indeed make heaven and earth by your mighty power and great strength. Nothing is too hard for you! \n\t\t\t You show unfailing love to thousands. But you also punish children for the sins of their parents. You are the great and powerful God who is known as the LORD who rules over all.\n\t\t\t You plan great things and you do mighty deeds. You see everything people do. You reward each of them for the way they live and for the things they do.\n\t\t\t You did miracles and amazing deeds in the land of Egypt which have had lasting effect. By this means you gained both in Israel and among humankind a renown that lasts to this day.\n\t\t\t You used your mighty power and your great strength to perform miracles and amazing deeds and to bring great terror on the Egyptians. By this means you brought your people Israel out of the land of Egypt.\n\t\t\t You kept the promise that you swore on oath to their ancestors. You gave them a land flowing with milk and honey.\n\t\t\t But when they came in and took possession of it, they did not obey you or live as you had instructed them. They did not do anything that you commanded them to do. So you brought all this disaster on them. \n\t\t\t Even now siege ramps have been built up around the city in order to capture it. War, starvation, and disease are sure to make the city fall into the hands of the Babylonians who are attacking it. LORD, you threatened that this would happen. Now you can see that it is already taking place.\n\t\t\t The city is sure to fall into the hands of the Babylonians. Yet, in spite of this, you, Lord GOD, have said to me, \"Buy that field with silver and have the transaction legally witnessed.\"'\"\n\t\t\t The LORD answered Jeremiah.\n\t\t\t \"I am the LORD, the God of all humankind. There is, indeed, nothing too difficult for me.\n\t\t\t Therefore I, the LORD, say: 'I will indeed hand this city over to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and the Babylonian army. They will capture it. \n\t\t\t The Babylonian soldiers that are attacking this city will break into it and set it on fire. They will burn it down along with the houses where people have made me angry by offering sacrifices to the god Baal and by pouring out drink offerings to other gods on their rooftops.\n\t\t\t This will happen because the people of Israel and Judah have repeatedly done what displeases me from their earliest history until now and because they have repeatedly made me angry by the things they have done. I, the LORD, affirm it!\n\t\t\t This will happen because the people of this city have aroused my anger and my wrath since the time they built it until now. They have made me so angry that I am determined to remove it from my sight. \n\t\t\t I am determined to do so because the people of Israel and Judah have made me angry with all their wickedness, they, their kings, their officials, their priests, their prophets, and especially the people of Judah and the citizens of Jerusalem have done this wickedness.\n\t\t\t They have turned away from me instead of turning to me. I tried over and over again to instruct them, but they did not listen and respond to correction.\n\t\t\t They set up their disgusting idols in the temple which I have claimed for my own and defiled it. \n\t\t\t They built places of worship for the god Baal in the Valley of Ben Hinnom so that they could sacrifice their sons and daughters to the god Molech. Such a disgusting practice was not something I commanded them to do! It never even entered my mind to command them to do such a thing! So Judah is certainly liable for punishment.'\n\t\t\t \"You and your people are right in saying, 'War, starvation, and disease are sure to make this city fall into the hands of the king of Babylon.' But now I, the LORD God of Israel, have something further to say about this city:\n\t\t\t 'I will certainly regather my people from all the countries where I will have exiled them in my anger, fury, and great wrath. I will bring them back to this place and allow them to live here in safety. \n\t\t\t They will be my people, and I will be their God.\n\t\t\t I will give them a single-minded purpose to live in a way that always shows respect for me. They will want to do that for their own good and the good of the children who descend from them. \n\t\t\t I will make a lasting covenant with them that I will never stop doing good to them. I will fill their hearts and minds with respect for me so that they will never again turn away from me.\n\t\t\t I will take delight in doing good to them. I will faithfully and wholeheartedly plant them firmly in the land.'\n\t\t\t \"For I, the LORD, say: 'I will surely bring on these people all the good fortune that I am hereby promising them. I will be just as sure to do that as I have been in bringing all this great disaster on them.\n\t\t\t You and your people are saying that this land will become desolate, uninhabited by either people or animals. You are saying that it will be handed over to the Babylonians. But fields will again be bought in this land.\n\t\t\t Fields will again be bought with silver, and deeds of purchase signed, sealed, and witnessed. This will happen in the territory of Benjamin, the villages surrounding Jerusalem, the towns in Judah, the southern hill country, the western foothills, and southern Judah. For I will restore them to their land. I, the LORD, affirm it!'\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Jeremiah a second time while he was still confined in the courtyard of the guardhouse.\n\t\t\t \"I, the LORD, do these things. I, the LORD, form the plan to bring them about. I am known as the LORD. I say to you, \n\t\t\t 'Call on me in prayer and I will answer you. I will show you great and mysterious things which you still do not know about.' \n\t\t\t For I, the LORD God of Israel, have something more to say about the houses in this city and the royal buildings which have been torn down for defenses against the siege ramps and military incursions of the Babylonians:\n\t\t\t 'The defenders of the city will go out and fight with the Babylonians. But they will only fill those houses and buildings with the dead bodies of the people that I will kill in my anger and my wrath. That will happen because I have decided to turn my back on this city on account of the wicked things they have done.\n\t\t\t But I will most surely heal the wounds of this city and restore it and its people to health. I will show them abundant peace and security. \n\t\t\t I will restore Judah and Israel and will rebuild them as they were in days of old.\n\t\t\t I will purify them from all the sin that they committed against me. I will forgive all their sins which they committed in rebelling against me.\n\t\t\t All the nations will hear about all the good things which I will do to them. This city will bring me fame, honor, and praise before them for the joy that I bring it. The nations will tremble in awe at all the peace and prosperity that I will provide for it.'\n\t\t\t \"I, the LORD, say: 'You and your people are saying about this place, \"It lies in ruins. There are no people or animals in it.\" That is true. The towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem will soon be desolate, uninhabited either by people or by animals. But happy sounds will again be heard in these places. \n\t\t\t Once again there will be sounds of joy and gladness and the glad celebrations of brides and grooms. Once again people will bring their thank offerings to the temple of the LORD and will say, \"Give thanks to the LORD who rules over all. For the LORD is good and his unfailing love lasts forever.\" For I, the LORD, affirm that I will restore the land to what it was in days of old.'\n\t\t\t \"I, the LORD who rules over all, say: 'This place will indeed lie in ruins. There will be no people or animals in it. But there will again be in it and in its towns sheepfolds where shepherds can rest their sheep. \n\t\t\t I, the LORD, say that shepherds will once again count their sheep as they pass into the fold. They will do this in all the towns in the southern hill country, the western foothills, the southern hill country, the territory of Benjamin, the villages surrounding Jerusalem, and the towns of Judah.'\n\t\t\t \"I, the LORD, affirm: 'The time will certainly come when I will fulfill my gracious promise concerning the nations of Israel and Judah.\n\t\t\t In those days and at that time I will raise up for them a righteous descendant of David. \"'He will do what is just and right in the land. \n\t\t\t Under his rule Judah will enjoy safety and Jerusalem will live in security. At that time Jerusalem will be called \"The LORD has provided us with justice.\"\n\t\t\t For I, the LORD, promise: \"David will never lack a successor to occupy the throne over the nation of Israel.\n\t\t\t Nor will the Levitical priests ever lack someone to stand before me and continually offer up burnt offerings, sacrifice cereal offerings, and offer the other sacrifices.\"'\"\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke further to Jeremiah.\n\t\t\t \"I, LORD, make the following promise: 'I have made a covenant with the day and with the night that they will always come at their proper times. Only if you people could break that covenant \n\t\t\t could my covenant with my servant David and my covenant with the Levites ever be broken. So David will by all means always have a descendant to occupy his throne as king and the Levites will by all means always have priests who will minister before me.\n\t\t\t I will make the children who follow one another in the line of my servant David very numerous. I will also make the Levites who minister before me very numerous. I will make them all as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sands which are on the seashore.'\"\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke still further to Jeremiah.\n\t\t\t \"You have surely noticed what these people are saying, haven't you? They are saying, 'The LORD has rejected the two families of Israel and Judah that he chose.' So they have little regard that my people will ever again be a nation.\n\t\t\t But I, the LORD, make the following promise: I have made a covenant governing the coming of day and night. I have established the fixed laws governing heaven and earth. \n\t\t\t Just as surely as I have done this, so surely will I never reject the descendants of Jacob. Nor will I ever refuse to choose one of my servant David's descendants to rule over the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Indeed, I will restore them and show mercy to them.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Jeremiah while King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon was attacking Jerusalem and the towns around it with a large army. This army consisted of troops from his own army and from the kingdoms and peoples of the lands under his dominion.\n\t\t\t The LORD God of Israel told Jeremiah to go and give King Zedekiah of Judah a message. He told Jeremiah to tell him, \"The LORD says, 'I am going to hand this city over to the king of Babylon and he will burn it down. \n\t\t\t You yourself will not escape his clutches, but will certainly be captured and handed over to him. You must confront the king of Babylon face to face and answer to him personally. Then you must go to Babylon. \n\t\t\t However, listen to what I, the LORD, promise you, King Zedekiah of Judah. I, the LORD, promise that you will not die in battle or be executed.\n\t\t\t You will die a peaceful death. They will burn incense at your burial just as they did at the burial of your ancestors, the former kings who preceded you. They will mourn for you, saying, \"Poor, poor master!\" Indeed, you have my own word on this. I, the LORD, affirm it!'\"\n\t\t\t The prophet Jeremiah told all this to King Zedekiah of Judah in Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t He did this while the army of the king of Babylon was attacking Jerusalem and the cities of Lachish and Azekah. He was attacking these cities because they were the only fortified cities of Judah which were still holding out.\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Jeremiah after King Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people in Jerusalem to grant their slaves their freedom. \n\t\t\t Everyone was supposed to free their male and female Hebrew slaves. No one was supposed to keep a fellow Judean enslaved.\n\t\t\t All the people and their leaders had agreed to this. They had agreed to free their male and female slaves and not keep them enslaved any longer. They originally complied with the covenant and freed them.\n\t\t\t But later they had changed their minds. They had taken back their male and female slaves that they had freed and forced them to be slaves again.\n\t\t\t That was when the LORD spoke to Jeremiah,\n\t\t\t \"The LORD God of Israel has a message for you. 'I made a covenant with your ancestors when I brought them out of Egypt where they had been slaves. It stipulated,\n\t\t\t \"Every seven years each of you must free any fellow Hebrews who have sold themselves to you. After they have served you for six years, you shall set them free.\" But your ancestors did not obey me or pay any attention to me.\n\t\t\t Recently, however, you yourselves showed a change of heart and did what is pleasing to me. You granted your fellow countrymen their freedom and you made a covenant to that effect in my presence in the house that I have claimed for my own.\n\t\t\t But then you turned right around and showed that you did not honor me. Each of you took back your male and female slaves whom you had freed as they desired, and you forced them to be your slaves again.\n\t\t\t So I, the LORD, say: \"You have not really obeyed me and granted freedom to your neighbor and fellow countryman. Therefore, I will grant you freedom, the freedom to die in war, or by starvation or disease. I, the LORD, affirm it! I will make all the kingdoms of the earth horrified at what happens to you.\n\t\t\t I will punish those people who have violated their covenant with me. I will make them like the calf they cut in two and passed between its pieces. I will do so because they did not keep the terms of the covenant they made in my presence.\n\t\t\t I will punish the leaders of Judah and Jerusalem, the court officials, the priests, and all the other people of the land who passed between the pieces of the calf.\n\t\t\t I will hand them over to their enemies who want to kill them. Their dead bodies will become food for the birds and the wild animals.\n\t\t\t I will also hand King Zedekiah of Judah and his officials over to their enemies who want to kill them. I will hand them over to the army of the king of Babylon, even though they have temporarily withdrawn from attacking you.\n\t\t\t For I, the LORD, affirm that I will soon give the order and bring them back to this city. They will fight against it and capture it and burn it down. I will also make the towns of Judah desolate so that there will be no one living in them.\"'\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Jeremiah when Jehoiakim son of Josiah was ruling over Judah.\n\t\t\t \"Go to the Rechabite community. Invite them to come into one of the side rooms of the LORD's temple and offer them some wine to drink.\" \n\t\t\t So I went and got Jaazaniah son of Jeremiah the grandson of Habazziniah, his brothers, all his sons, and all the rest of the Rechabite community.\n\t\t\t I took them to the LORD's temple. I took them into the room where the disciples of the prophet Hanan son of Igdaliah stayed. That room was next to the one where the temple officers stayed and above the room where Maaseiah son of Shallum, one of the doorkeepers of the temple, stayed. \n\t\t\t Then I set cups and pitchers full of wine in front of the members of the Rechabite community and said to them, \"Have some wine.\"\n\t\t\t But they answered, \"We do not drink wine because our ancestor Jonadab son of Rechab commanded us not to. He told us, 'You and your children must never drink wine.\n\t\t\t Do not build houses. Do not plant crops. Do not plant a vineyard or own one. Live in tents all your lives. If you do these things you will live a long time in the land that you wander about on.'\n\t\t\t We and our wives and our sons and daughters have obeyed everything our ancestor Jonadab commanded us. We have never drunk wine.\n\t\t\t We have not built any houses to live in. We do not own any vineyards, fields, or crops.\n\t\t\t We have lived in tents. We have obeyed our ancestor Jonadab and done exactly as he commanded us.\n\t\t\t But when King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon invaded the land we said, 'Let's get up and go to Jerusalem to get away from the Babylonian and Aramean armies.' That is why we are staying here in Jerusalem.\"\n\t\t\t Then the LORD spoke to Jeremiah.\n\t\t\t The LORD God of Israel who rules over all told him, \"Go and speak to the people of Judah and the citizens of Jerusalem. Tell them, 'I, the LORD, say: \"You must learn a lesson from this about obeying what I say!\n\t\t\t Jonadab son of Rechab ordered his descendants not to drink wine. His orders have been carried out. To this day his descendants have drunk no wine because they have obeyed what their ancestor commanded them. But I have spoken to you over and over again, but you have not obeyed me!\n\t\t\t I sent all my servants the prophets to warn you over and over again. They said, \"Every one of you, stop doing the evil things you have been doing and do what is right. Do not pay allegiance to other gods and worship them. Then you can continue to live in this land that I gave to you and your ancestors.\" But you did not pay any attention or listen to me. \n\t\t\t Yes, the descendants of Jonadab son of Rechab have carried out the orders that their ancestor gave them. But you people have not obeyed me! \n\t\t\t So I, the LORD, the God who rules over all, the God of Israel, say: \"I will soon bring on Judah and all the citizens of Jerusalem all the disaster that I threatened to bring on them. I will do this because I spoke to them but they did not listen. I called out to them but they did not answer.\"'\"\n\t\t\t Then Jeremiah spoke to the Rechabite community, \"The LORD God of Israel who rules over all says, 'You have obeyed the orders of your ancestor Jonadab. You have followed all his instructions. You have done exactly as he commanded you.' \n\t\t\t So the LORD God of Israel who rules over all says, 'Jonadab son of Rechab will never lack a male descendant to serve me.'\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Jeremiah in the fourth year that Jehoiakim son of Josiah was ruling over Judah.\n\t\t\t \"Get a scroll. Write on it everything I have told you to say about Israel, Judah, and all the other nations since I began to speak to you in the reign of Josiah until now.\n\t\t\t Perhaps when the people of Judah hear about all the disaster I intend to bring on them, they will all stop doing the evil things they have been doing. If they do, I will forgive their sins and the wicked things they have done.\"\n\t\t\t So Jeremiah summoned Baruch son of Neriah. Then Jeremiah dictated to Baruch everything the LORD had told him to say and Baruch wrote it all down in a scroll.\n\t\t\t Then Jeremiah told Baruch, \"I am no longer allowed to go into the LORD's temple. \n\t\t\t So you go there the next time all the people of Judah come in from their towns to fast in the LORD's temple. Read out loud where all of them can hear you what I told you the LORD said, which you wrote in the scroll.\n\t\t\t Perhaps then they will ask the LORD for mercy and will all stop doing the evil things they have been doing. For the LORD has threatened to bring great anger and wrath against these people.\"\n\t\t\t So Baruch son of Neriah did exactly what the prophet Jeremiah had told him to do. He read what the LORD had said from the scroll in the temple of the LORD.\n\t\t\t All the people living in Jerusalem and all the people who came into Jerusalem from the towns of Judah came to observe a fast before the LORD. The fast took place in the ninth month of the fifth year that Jehoiakim son of Josiah was ruling over Judah.\n\t\t\t At that time Baruch went into the temple of the LORD. He stood in the entrance of the room of Gemariah the son of Shaphan who had been the royal secretary. That room was in the upper court near the entrance of the New Gate. There, where all the people could hear him, he read from the scroll what Jeremiah had said.\n\t\t\t Micaiah, who was the son of Gemariah and the grandson of Shaphan, heard Baruch read from the scroll everything the LORD had said.\n\t\t\t He went down to the chamber of the royal secretary in the king's palace and found all the court officials in session there. Elishama the royal secretary, Delaiah son of Shemaiah, Elnathan son of Achbor, Gemariah son of Shaphan, Zedekiah son of Hananiah, and all the other officials were seated there. \n\t\t\t Micaiah told them everything he had heard Baruch read from the scroll in the hearing of the people.\n\t\t\t All the officials sent Jehudi, who was the son of Nethaniah and the grandson of Cushi, to Baruch. They ordered him to tell Baruch, \"Come here and bring with you the scroll you read in the hearing of the people.\" So Baruch son of Neriah went to them, carrying the scroll in his hand.\n\t\t\t They said to him, \"Please sit down and read it to us.\" So Baruch sat down and read it to them.\n\t\t\t When they had heard it all, they expressed their alarm to one another. Then they said to Baruch, \"We must certainly give the king a report about everything you have read!\"\n\t\t\t Then they asked Baruch, \"How did you come to write all these words? Do they actually come from Jeremiah's mouth?\"\n\t\t\t Baruch answered, \"Yes, they came from his own mouth. He dictated all these words to me and I wrote them down in ink on this scroll.\"\n\t\t\t Then the officials said to Baruch, \"You and Jeremiah must go and hide. You must not let anyone know where you are.\"\n\t\t\t The officials put the scroll in the room of Elishama, the royal secretary, for safekeeping. Then they went to the court and reported everything to the king.\n\t\t\t The king sent Jehudi to get the scroll. He went and got it from the room of Elishama, the royal secretary. Then he himself read it to the king and all the officials who were standing around him. \n\t\t\t Since it was the ninth month of the year, the king was sitting in his winter quarters. A fire was burning in the firepot in front of him.\n\t\t\t As soon as Jehudi had read three or four columns of the scroll, the king would cut them off with a penknife and throw them on the fire in the firepot. He kept doing so until the whole scroll was burned up in the fire.\n\t\t\t Neither he nor any of his attendants showed any alarm when they heard all that had been read. Nor did they tear their clothes to show any grief or sorrow.\n\t\t\t The king did not even listen to Elnathan, Delaiah, and Gemariah, who had urged him not to burn the scroll.\n\t\t\t He also ordered Jerahmeel, who was one of the royal princes, Seraiah son of Azriel, and Shelemiah son of Abdeel to arrest the scribe Baruch and the prophet Jeremiah. However, the LORD hid them.\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Jeremiah after Jehoiakim had burned the scroll containing what Jeremiah had spoken and Baruch had written down.\n\t\t\t \"Get another scroll and write on it everything that was written on the original scroll that King Jehoiakim of Judah burned. \n\t\t\t Tell King Jehoiakim of Judah, 'The LORD says, \"You burned the scroll. You asked Jeremiah, 'How dare you write in this scroll that the king of Babylon will certainly come and destroy this land and wipe out all the people and animals on it?'\"\n\t\t\t So the LORD says concerning King Jehoiakim of Judah, \"None of his line will occupy the throne of David. His dead body will be thrown out to be exposed to scorching heat by day and frost by night.\n\t\t\t I will punish him and his descendants and the officials who serve him for the wicked things they have done. I will bring on them, the citizens of Jerusalem, and the people of Judah all the disaster that I threatened to do to them. I will punish them because I threatened them but they still paid no heed.\"'\"\n\t\t\t Then Jeremiah got another scroll and gave it to the scribe Baruch son of Neriah. As Jeremiah dictated, Baruch wrote on this scroll everything that had been on the scroll that King Jehoiakim of Judah burned in the fire. They also added on this scroll several other messages of the same kind.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Zedekiah son of Josiah succeeded Jeconiah son of Jehoiakim as king. He was elevated to the throne of the land of Judah by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon.\n\t\t\t Neither he nor the officials who served him nor the people of Judah paid any attention to what the LORD said through the prophet Jeremiah.\n\t\t\t King Zedekiah sent Jehucal son of Shelemiah and the priest Zephaniah son of Maaseiah to the prophet Jeremiah. He told them to say, \"Please pray to the LORD our God on our behalf.\" \n\t\t\t (Now Jeremiah had not yet been put in prison. So he was still free to come and go among the people as he pleased.\n\t\t\t At that time the Babylonian forces had temporarily given up their siege against Jerusalem. They had had it under siege, but withdrew when they heard that the army of Pharaoh had set out from Egypt.)\n\t\t\t The LORD gave the prophet Jeremiah a message for them. He told him to tell them,\n\t\t\t \"The LORD God of Israel says, 'Give a message to the king of Judah who sent you to ask me to help him. Tell him, \"The army of Pharaoh that was on its way to help you will go back home to Egypt.\n\t\t\t Then the Babylonian forces will return. They will attack the city and will capture it and burn it down. \n\t\t\t Moreover, I, the LORD, warn you not to deceive yourselves into thinking that the Babylonian forces will go away and leave you alone. For they will not go away.\n\t\t\t For even if you were to defeat all the Babylonian forces fighting against you so badly that only wounded men were left lying in their tents, they would get up and burn this city down.\"'\"\n\t\t\t The following events also occurred while the Babylonian forces had temporarily withdrawn from Jerusalem because the army of Pharaoh was coming. \n\t\t\t Jeremiah started to leave Jerusalem to go to the territory of Benjamin. He wanted to make sure he got his share of the property that was being divided up among his family there.\n\t\t\t But he only got as far as the Benjamin Gate. There an officer in charge of the guards named Irijah, who was the son of Shelemiah and the grandson of Hananiah, stopped him. He seized Jeremiah and said, \"You are deserting to the Babylonians!\"\n\t\t\t Jeremiah answered, \"That's a lie! I am not deserting to the Babylonians.\" But Irijah would not listen to him. Irijah put Jeremiah under arrest and took him to the officials. \n\t\t\t The officials were very angry at Jeremiah. They had him flogged and put in prison in the house of Jonathan, the royal secretary, which they had converted into a place for confining prisoners.\n\t\t\t So Jeremiah was put in prison in a cell in the dungeon in Jonathan's house. He was kept there for a long time. \n\t\t\t Then King Zedekiah had him brought to the palace. There he questioned him privately and asked him, \"Is there any message from the LORD?\" Jeremiah answered, \"Yes, there is.\" Then he announced, \"You will be handed over to the king of Babylon.\"\n\t\t\t Then Jeremiah asked King Zedekiah, \"What crime have I committed against you, or the officials who serve you, or the people of Judah? What have I done to make you people throw me into prison?\n\t\t\t Where now are the prophets who prophesied to you that the king of Babylon would not attack you or this land? \n\t\t\t But now please listen, your royal Majesty, and grant my plea for mercy. Do not send me back to the house of Jonathan, the royal secretary. If you do, I will die there.\"\n\t\t\t Then King Zedekiah ordered that Jeremiah be committed to the courtyard of the guardhouse. He also ordered that a loaf of bread be given to him every day from the baker's street until all the bread in the city was gone. So Jeremiah was kept in the courtyard of the guardhouse.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now Shephatiah son of Mattan, Gedaliah son of Pashhur, Jehucal son of Shelemiah, and Pashhur son of Malkijah had heard the things that Jeremiah had been telling the people. They had heard him say, \n\t\t\t \"The LORD says, 'Those who stay in this city will die in battle or of starvation or disease. Those who leave the city and surrender to the Babylonians will live. They will escape with their lives.'\"\n\t\t\t They had also heard him say, \"The LORD says, 'This city will certainly be handed over to the army of the king of Babylon. They will capture it.'\"\n\t\t\t So these officials said to the king, \"This man must be put to death. For he is demoralizing the soldiers who are left in the city as well as all the other people there by these things he is saying. This man is not seeking to help these people but is trying to harm them.\"\n\t\t\t King Zedekiah said to them, \"Very well, you can do what you want with him. For I cannot do anything to stop you.\"\n\t\t\t So the officials took Jeremiah and put him in the cistern of Malkijah, one of the royal princes, that was in the courtyard of the guardhouse. There was no water in the cistern, only mud. So when they lowered Jeremiah into the cistern with ropes he sank in the mud.\n\t\t\t An Ethiopian, Ebed Melech, a court official in the royal palace, heard that Jeremiah had been put in the cistern. While the king was holding court at the Benjamin Gate, \n\t\t\t Ebed Melech departed the palace and went to speak to the king. He said to him,\n\t\t\t \"Your royal Majesty, those men have been very wicked in all that they have done to the prophet Jeremiah. They have thrown him into a cistern and he is sure to die of starvation there because there is no food left in the city.\n\t\t\t Then the king gave Ebed Melech the Ethiopian the following order: \"Take thirty men with you from here and go pull the prophet Jeremiah out of the cistern before he dies.\" \n\t\t\t So Ebed Melech took the men with him and went to a room under the treasure room in the palace. He got some worn-out clothes and old rags from there and let them down by ropes to Jeremiah in the cistern. \n\t\t\t Ebed Melech called down to Jeremiah, \"Put these rags and worn-out clothes under your armpits to pad the ropes. Jeremiah did as Ebed Melech instructed.\n\t\t\t So they pulled Jeremiah up from the cistern with ropes. Jeremiah, however, still remained confined to the courtyard of the guardhouse.\n\t\t\t Some time later Zedekiah sent and had Jeremiah brought to him at the third entrance of the LORD's temple. The king said to Jeremiah, \"I would like to ask you a question. Do not hide anything from me when you answer.\"\n\t\t\t Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, \"If I answer you, you will certainly kill me. If I give you advice, you will not listen to me.\" \n\t\t\t So King Zedekiah made a secret promise to Jeremiah and sealed it with an oath. He promised, \"As surely as the LORD lives who has given us life and breath, I promise you this: I will not kill you or hand you over to those men who want to kill you.\"\n\t\t\t Then Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, \"The LORD, the God who rules over all, the God of Israel, says, 'You must surrender to the officers of the king of Babylon. If you do, your life will be spared and this city will not be burned down. Indeed, you and your whole family will be spared. \n\t\t\t But if you do not surrender to the officers of the king of Babylon, this city will be handed over to the Babylonians and they will burn it down. You yourself will not escape from them.'\"\n\t\t\t Then King Zedekiah said to Jeremiah, \"I am afraid of the Judeans who have deserted to the Babylonians. The Babylonians might hand me over to them and they will torture me.\"\n\t\t\t Then Jeremiah answered, \"You will not be handed over to them. Please obey the LORD by doing what I have been telling you. Then all will go well with you and your life will be spared.\n\t\t\t But if you refuse to surrender, the LORD has shown me a vision of what will happen. Here is what I saw:\n\t\t\t All the women who are left in the royal palace of Judah will be led out to the officers of the king of Babylon. They will taunt you saying, 'Your trusted friends misled you; they have gotten the best of you. Now that your feet are stuck in the mud, they have turned their backs on you.'\n\t\t\t \"All your wives and your children will be turned over to the Babylonians. You yourself will not escape from them but will be captured by the king of Babylon. This city will be burned down.\"\n\t\t\t Then Zedekiah told Jeremiah, \"Do not let anyone know about the conversation we have had. If you do, you will die.\n\t\t\t The officials may hear that I have talked with you. They may come to you and say, 'Tell us what you said to the king and what the king said to you. Do not hide anything from us. If you do, we will kill you.'\n\t\t\t If they do this, tell them, 'I was pleading with the king not to send me back to die in the dungeon of Jonathan's house.'\"\n\t\t\t All the officials did indeed come and question Jeremiah. He told them exactly what the king had instructed him to say. They stopped questioning him any further because no one had actually heard their conversation.\n\t\t\t So Jeremiah remained confined in the courtyard of the guardhouse until the day Jerusalem was captured. The following events occurred when Jerusalem was captured.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came against Jerusalem with his whole army and laid siege to it. The siege began in the tenth month of the ninth year that Zedekiah ruled over Judah.\n\t\t\t It lasted until the ninth day of the fourth month of Zedekiah's eleventh year. On that day they broke through the city walls. \n\t\t\t Then Nergal-Sharezer of Samgar, Nebo-Sarsekim, who was a chief officer, Nergal-Sharezer, who was a high official, and all the other officers of the king of Babylon came and set up quarters in the Middle Gate.\n\t\t\t When King Zedekiah of Judah and all his soldiers saw them, they tried to escape. They departed from the city during the night. They took a path through the king's garden and passed out through the gate between the two walls. Then they headed for the Jordan Valley.\n\t\t\t But the Babylonian army chased after them. They caught up with Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho and captured him. They took him to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon at Riblah in the territory of Hamath and Nebuchadnezzar passed sentence on him there. \n\t\t\t There at Riblah the king of Babylon had Zedekiah's sons put to death while Zedekiah was forced to watch. The king of Babylon also had all the nobles of Judah put to death.\n\t\t\t Then he had Zedekiah's eyes put out and had him bound in chains to be led off to Babylon. \n\t\t\t The Babylonians burned down the royal palace, the temple of the LORD, and the people's homes, and they tore down the wall of Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t Then Nebuzaradan, the captain of the royal guard, took captive the rest of the people who were left in the city. He carried them off to Babylon along with the people who had deserted to him.\n\t\t\t But he left behind in the land of Judah some of the poor people who owned nothing. He gave them fields and vineyards at that time.\n\t\t\t Now King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had issued orders concerning Jeremiah. He had passed them on through Nebuzaradan, the captain of his royal guard,\n\t\t\t \"Find Jeremiah and look out for him. Do not do anything to harm him, but do with him whatever he tells you.\" \n\t\t\t So Nebuzaradan, the captain of the royal guard, Nebushazban, who was a chief officer, Nergal-Sharezer, who was a high official, and all the other officers of the king of Babylon \n\t\t\t sent and had Jeremiah brought from the courtyard of the guardhouse. They turned him over to Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam and the grandson of Shaphan, to take him home with him. But Jeremiah stayed among the people.\n\t\t\t Now the LORD had spoken to Jeremiah while he was still confined in the courtyard of the guardhouse,\n\t\t\t \"Go and tell Ebed-Melech the Ethiopian, 'The LORD God of Israel who rules over all says, \"I will carry out against this city what I promised. It will mean disaster and not good fortune for it. When that disaster happens, you will be there to see it.\n\t\t\t But I will rescue you when it happens. I, the LORD, affirm it! You will not be handed over to those whom you fear.\n\t\t\t I will certainly save you. You will not fall victim to violence. You will escape with your life because you trust in me. I, the LORD, affirm it!\"'\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Jeremiah after Nebuzaradan the captain of the royal guard had set him free at Ramah. He had taken him there in chains along with all the people from Jerusalem and Judah who were being carried off to exile to Babylon. \n\t\t\t The captain of the royal guard took Jeremiah aside and said to him, \"The LORD your God threatened this place with this disaster.\n\t\t\t Now he has brought it about. The LORD has done just as he threatened to do. This disaster has happened because you people sinned against the LORD and did not obey him.\n\t\t\t But now, Jeremiah, today I will set you free from the chains on your wrists. If you would like to come to Babylon with me, come along and I will take care of you. But if you prefer not to come to Babylon with me, you are not required to do so. You are free to go anywhere in the land you want to go. Go wherever you choose.\"\n\t\t\t Before Jeremiah could turn to leave, the captain of the guard added, \"Go back to Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam and grandson of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon appointed to govern the towns of Judah. Go back and live with him among the people. Or go wherever else you choose.\" Then the captain of the guard gave Jeremiah some food and a present and let him go. \n\t\t\t So Jeremiah went to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah and lived there with him. He stayed there to live among the people who had been left in the land of Judah.\n\t\t\t Now some of the officers of the Judean army and their troops had been hiding in the countryside. They heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam to govern the country. They also heard that he had been put in charge over the men, women, and children from the poorer classes of the land who had not been carried off into exile in Babylon.\n\t\t\t So all these officers and their troops came to Gedaliah at Mizpah. The officers who came were Ishmael son of Nethaniah, Johanan and Jonathan the sons of Kareah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth, the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, and Jezaniah son of the Maacathite.\n\t\t\t Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam and grandson of Shaphan, took an oath so as to give them and their troops some assurance of safety. \"Do not be afraid to submit to the Babylonians. Settle down in the land and submit to the king of Babylon. Then things will go well for you. \n\t\t\t I for my part will stay at Mizpah to represent you before the Babylonians whenever they come to us. You for your part go ahead and harvest the wine, the dates, the figs, and the olive oil, and store them in jars. Go ahead and settle down in the towns that you have taken over.\"\n\t\t\t Moreover, all the Judeans who were in Moab, Ammon, Edom, and all the other countries heard what had happened. They heard that the king of Babylon had allowed some people to stay in Judah and that he had appointed Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam and grandson of Shaphan, to govern them.\n\t\t\t So all these Judeans returned to the land of Judah from the places where they had been scattered. They came to Gedaliah at Mizpah. Thus they harvested a large amount of wine and dates and figs.\n\t\t\t Johanan and all the officers of the troops that had been hiding in the open country came to Gedaliah at Mizpah.\n\t\t\t They said to him, \"Are you at all aware that King Baalis of Ammon has sent Ishmael son of Nethaniah to kill you?\" But Gedaliah son of Ahikam would not believe them. \n\t\t\t Then Johanan son of Kareah spoke privately to Gedaliah there at Mizpah, \"Let me go and kill Ishmael the son of Nethaniah before anyone knows about it. Otherwise he will kill you and all the Judeans who have rallied around you will be scattered. Then what remains of Judah will disappear.\" \n\t\t\t But Gedaliah son of Ahikam said to Johanan son of Kareah, \"Do not do that because what you are saying about Ishmael is not true.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t But in the seventh month Ishmael, the son of Nethaniah and grandson of Elishama who was a member of the royal family and had been one of Zedekiah's chief officers, came with ten of his men to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah. While they were eating a meal together with him there at Mizpah, \n\t\t\t Ishmael son of Nethaniah and the ten men who were with him stood up, pulled out their swords, and killed Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam and grandson of Shaphan. Thus Ishmael killed the man that the king of Babylon had appointed to govern the country.\n\t\t\t Ishmael also killed all the Judeans who were with Gedaliah at Mizpah and the Babylonian soldiers who happened to be there.\n\t\t\t On the day after Gedaliah had been murdered, before anyone even knew about it,\n\t\t\t eighty men arrived from Shechem, Shiloh, and Samaria. They had shaved off their beards, torn their clothes, and cut themselves to show they were mourning. They were carrying grain offerings and incense to present at the temple of the LORD in Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t Ishmael son of Nethaniah went out from Mizpah to meet them. He was pretending to cry as he walked along. When he met them, he said to them, \"Come with me to meet Gedaliah son of Ahikam.\"\n\t\t\t But as soon as they were inside the city, Ishmael son of Nethaniah and the men who were with him slaughtered them and threw their bodies in a cistern. \n\t\t\t But there were ten men among them who said to Ishmael, \"Do not kill us. For we will give you the stores of wheat, barley, olive oil, and honey we have hidden in a field. So he spared their lives and did not kill them along with the rest.\n\t\t\t Now the cistern where Ishmael threw all the dead bodies of those he had killed was a large one that King Asa had constructed as part of his defenses against King Baasha of Israel. Ishmael son of Nethaniah filled it with dead bodies.\n\t\t\t Then Ishmael took captive all the people who were still left alive in Mizpah. This included the royal princesses and all the rest of the people in Mizpah that Nebuzaradan, the captain of the royal guard, had put under the authority of Gedaliah son of Ahikam. Ishmael son of Nethaniah took all these people captive and set out to cross over to the Ammonites.\n\t\t\t Johanan son of Kareah and all the army officers who were with him heard about all the atrocities that Ishmael son of Nethaniah had committed. \n\t\t\t So they took all their troops and went to fight against Ishmael son of Nethaniah. They caught up with him near the large pool at Gibeon. \n\t\t\t When all the people that Ishmael had taken captive saw Johanan son of Kareah and all the army officers with him, they were glad. \n\t\t\t All those people that Ishmael had taken captive from Mizpah turned and went over to Johanan son of Kareah.\n\t\t\t But Ishmael son of Nethaniah managed to escape from Johanan along with eight of his men, and he went on over to Ammon.\n\t\t\t Johanan son of Kareah and all the army officers who were with him led off all the people who had been left alive at Mizpah. They had rescued them from Ishmael son of Nethaniah after he killed Gedaliah son of Ahikam. They led off the men, women, children, soldiers, and court officials whom they had brought away from Gibeon.\n\t\t\t They set out to go to Egypt to get away from the Babylonians, but stopped at Geruth Kimham near Bethlehem.\n\t\t\t They were afraid of what the Babylonians might do because Ishmael son of Nethaniah had killed Gedaliah son of Ahikam, whom the king of Babylon had appointed to govern the country.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then all the army officers, including Johanan son of Kareah and Jezaniah son of Hoshaiah and all the people of every class, went to the prophet Jeremiah. \n\t\t\t They said to him, \"Please grant our request and pray to the LORD your God for all those of us who are still left alive here. For, as you yourself can see, there are only a few of us left out of the many there were before.\n\t\t\t Pray that the LORD your God will tell us where we should go and what we should do.\"\n\t\t\t The prophet Jeremiah answered them, \"Agreed! I will indeed pray to the LORD your God as you have asked. I will tell you everything the LORD replies in response to you. I will not keep anything back from you.\" \n\t\t\t They answered Jeremiah, \"May the LORD be a true and faithful witness against us if we do not do just as the LORD sends you to tell us to do. \n\t\t\t We will obey what the LORD our God to whom we are sending you tells us to do. It does not matter whether we like what he tells us or not. We will obey what he tells us to do so that things will go well for us.\"\n\t\t\t Ten days later the LORD spoke to Jeremiah.\n\t\t\t So Jeremiah summoned Johanan son of Kareah and all the army officers who were with him and all the people of every class.\n\t\t\t Then Jeremiah said to them, \"You sent me to the LORD God of Israel to make your request known to him. Here is what he says to you:\n\t\t\t 'If you will just stay in this land, I will build you up. I will not tear you down. I will firmly plant you. I will not uproot you. For I am filled with sorrow because of the disaster that I have brought on you.\n\t\t\t Do not be afraid of the king of Babylon whom you now fear. Do not be afraid of him because I will be with you to save you and to rescue you from his power. I, the LORD, affirm it!\n\t\t\t I will have compassion on you so that he in turn will have mercy on you and allow you to return to your land.'\n\t\t\t \"You must not disobey the LORD your God by saying, 'We will not stay in this land.'\n\t\t\t You must not say, 'No, we will not stay. Instead we will go and live in the land of Egypt where we will not face war, or hear the enemy's trumpet calls, or starve for lack of food.'\n\t\t\t If you people who remain in Judah do that, then listen to what the LORD says. The LORD God of Israel who rules over all says, 'If you are so determined to go to Egypt that you go and settle there, \n\t\t\t the wars you fear will catch up with you there in the land of Egypt. The starvation you are worried about will follow you there to Egypt. You will die there.\n\t\t\t All the people who are determined to go and settle in Egypt will die from war, starvation, or disease. No one will survive or escape the disaster I will bring on them.'\n\t\t\t For the LORD God of Israel who rules over all says, 'If you go to Egypt, I will pour out my wrath on you just as I poured out my anger and wrath on the citizens of Jerusalem. You will become an object of horror and ridicule, an example of those who have been cursed and that people use in pronouncing a curse. You will never see this place again.'\n\t\t\t \"The LORD has told you people who remain in Judah, 'Do not go to Egypt.' Be very sure of this: I warn you here and now.\n\t\t\t You are making a fatal mistake. For you sent me to the LORD your God and asked me, 'Pray to the LORD our God for us. Tell us what the LORD our God says and we will do it.'\n\t\t\t This day I have told you what he said. But you do not want to obey the LORD by doing what he sent me to tell you.\n\t\t\t So now be very sure of this: You will die from war, starvation, or disease in the place where you want to go and live.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Jeremiah finished telling all the people all these things the LORD their God had sent him to tell them.\n\t\t\t Then Azariah son of Hoshaiah, Johanan son of Kareah, and other arrogant men said to Jeremiah, \"You are telling a lie! The LORD our God did not send you to tell us, 'You must not go to Egypt and settle there.' \n\t\t\t But Baruch son of Neriah is stirring you up against us. He wants to hand us over to the Babylonians so that they will kill us or carry us off into exile in Babylon.\" \n\t\t\t So Johanan son of Kareah, all the army officers, and all the rest of the people did not obey the LORD's command to stay in the land.\n\t\t\t Instead Johanan son of Kareah and all the army officers led off all the Judean remnant who had come back to live in the land of Judah from all the nations where they had been scattered.\n\t\t\t They also led off all the men, women, children, and royal princesses that Nebuzaradan, the captain of the royal guard, had left with Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam and grandson of Shaphan. This included the prophet Jeremiah and Baruch son of Neriah. \n\t\t\t They went on to Egypt because they refused to obey the LORD, and came to Tahpanhes.\n\t\t\t At Tahpanhes the LORD spoke to Jeremiah.\n\t\t\t \"Take some large stones and bury them in the mortar of the clay pavement at the entrance of Pharaoh's residence here in Tahpanhes. Do it while the people of Judah present there are watching.\n\t\t\t Then tell them, 'The LORD God of Israel who rules over all says, \"I will bring my servant King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. I will set his throne over these stones which I have buried. He will pitch his royal tent over them. \n\t\t\t He will come and attack Egypt. Those who are destined to die of disease will die of disease. Those who are destined to be carried off into exile will be carried off into exile. Those who are destined to die in war will die in war.\n\t\t\t He will set fire to the temples of the gods of Egypt. He will burn their gods or carry them off as captives. He will pick Egypt clean like a shepherd picks the lice from his clothing. He will leave there unharmed.\n\t\t\t He will demolish the sacred pillars in the temple of the sun in Egypt and will burn down the temples of the gods of Egypt.\"'\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Jeremiah concerning all the Judeans who were living in the land of Egypt, those in Migdol, Tahpanhes, Memphis, and in the region of southern Egypt.\n\t\t\t \"The LORD God of Israel who rules over all says, 'You have seen all the disaster I brought on Jerusalem and all the towns of Judah. Indeed, they now lie in ruins and are deserted.\n\t\t\t This happened because of the wickedness the people living there did. They made me angry by worshiping and offering sacrifice to other gods whom neither they nor you nor your ancestors previously knew.\n\t\t\t I sent my servants the prophets to you people over and over again warning you not to do this disgusting thing I hate.\n\t\t\t But the people of Jerusalem and Judah would not listen or pay any attention. They would not stop the wickedness they were doing nor quit sacrificing to other gods.\n\t\t\t So my anger and my wrath were poured out and burned like a fire through the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem. That is why they have become the desolate ruins that they are today.'\n\t\t\t \"So now the LORD, the God who rules over all, the God of Israel, asks, 'Why will you do such great harm to yourselves? Why should every man, woman, child, and baby of yours be destroyed from the midst of Judah? Why should you leave yourselves without a remnant? \n\t\t\t That is what will result from your making me angry by what you are doing. You are making me angry by sacrificing to other gods here in the land of Egypt where you live. You will be destroyed for doing that! You will become an example used in curses and an object of ridicule among all the nations of the earth.\n\t\t\t Have you forgotten all the wicked things that have been done in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem by your ancestors, by the kings of Judah and their wives, by you and your wives? \n\t\t\t To this day your people have shown no contrition! They have not revered me nor followed the laws and statutes I commanded you and your ancestors.'\n\t\t\t \"Because of this, the LORD God of Israel who rules over all says, 'I am determined to bring disaster on you, even to the point of destroying all the Judeans here.\n\t\t\t I will see to it that all the Judean remnant that was determined to go and live in the land of Egypt will be destroyed. Here in the land of Egypt they will fall in battle or perish from starvation. People of every class will die in war or from starvation. They will become an object of horror and ridicule, an example of those who have been cursed and that people use in pronouncing a curse.\n\t\t\t I will punish those who live in the land of Egypt with war, starvation, and disease just as I punished Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t None of the Judean remnant who have come to live in the land of Egypt will escape or survive to return to the land of Judah. Though they long to return and live there, none of them shall return except a few fugitives.'\"\n\t\t\t Then all the men who were aware that their wives were sacrificing to other gods, as well as all their wives, answered Jeremiah. There was a great crowd of them representing all the people who lived in northern and southern Egypt. They answered, \n\t\t\t \"We will not listen to what you claim the LORD has spoken to us!\n\t\t\t Instead we will do everything we vowed we would do. We will sacrifice and pour out drink offerings to the goddess called the Queen of Heaven just as we and our ancestors, our kings, and our leaders previously did in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem. For then we had plenty of food, were well-off, and had no troubles.\n\t\t\t But ever since we stopped sacrificing and pouring out drink offerings to the Queen of Heaven, we have been in great need. Our people have died in wars or of starvation.\"\n\t\t\t The women added, \"We did indeed sacrifice and pour out drink offerings to the Queen of Heaven. But it was with the full knowledge and approval of our husbands that we made cakes in her image and poured out drink offerings to her.\"\n\t\t\t Then Jeremiah replied to all the people, both men and women, who responded to him in this way.\n\t\t\t \"The LORD did indeed remember and call to mind what you did! He remembered the sacrifices you and your ancestors, your kings, your leaders, and all the rest of the people of the land offered to other gods in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t Finally the LORD could no longer endure your wicked deeds and the disgusting things you did. That is why your land has become the desolate, uninhabited ruin that it is today. That is why it has become a proverbial example used in curses.\n\t\t\t You have sacrificed to other gods! You have sinned against the LORD! You have not obeyed the LORD! You have not followed his laws, his statutes, and his decrees! That is why this disaster that is evident to this day has happened to you.\"\n\t\t\t Then Jeremiah spoke to all the people, particularly to all the women. \"Listen to what the LORD has to say all you people of Judah who are in Egypt. \n\t\t\t The LORD God of Israel who rules over all says, 'You women have confirmed by your actions what you vowed with your lips! You said, \"We will certainly carry out our vows to sacrifice and pour out drink offerings to the Queen of Heaven.\" Well, then fulfill your vows! Carry them out!'\n\t\t\t But listen to what the LORD has to say, all you people of Judah who are living in the land of Egypt. The LORD says, 'I hereby swear by my own great name that none of the people of Judah who are living anywhere in Egypt will ever again invoke my name in their oaths! Never again will any of them use it in an oath saying, \"As surely as the Lord GOD lives,.\"\n\t\t\t I will indeed see to it that disaster, not prosperity, happens to them. All the people of Judah who are in the land of Egypt will die in war or from starvation until not one of them is left. \n\t\t\t Some who survive in battle will return to the land of Judah from the land of Egypt. But they will be very few indeed! Then the Judean remnant who have come to live in the land of Egypt will know whose word proves true, mine or theirs.' \n\t\t\t Moreover the LORD says, 'I will make something happen to prove that I will punish you in this place. I will do it so that you will know that my threats to bring disaster on you will prove true.\n\t\t\t I, the LORD, promise that I will hand Pharaoh Hophra king of Egypt over to his enemies who are seeking to kill him. I will do that just as surely as I handed King Zedekiah of Judah over to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, his enemy who was seeking to kill him.'\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The prophet Jeremiah spoke to Baruch son of Neriah while he was writing down in a scroll the words that Jeremiah spoke to him. This happened in the fourth year that Jehoiakim son of Josiah was ruling over Judah.\n\t\t\t \"The LORD God of Israel has a message for you, Baruch.\n\t\t\t 'You have said, \"I feel so hopeless! For the LORD has added sorrow to my suffering. I am worn out from groaning. I can't find any rest.\"'\"\n\t\t\t The LORD told Jeremiah, \"Tell Baruch, 'The LORD says, \"I am about to tear down what I have built and to uproot what I have planted. I will do this throughout the whole earth.\n\t\t\t Are you looking for great things for yourself? Do not look for such things. For I, the LORD, affirm that I am about to bring disaster on all humanity. But I will allow you to escape with your life wherever you go.\"'\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Jeremiah about the nations.\n\t\t\t He spoke about Egypt and the army of Pharaoh Necho king of Egypt which was encamped along the Euphrates River at Carchemish. Now this was the army that King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon defeated in the fourth year that Jehoiakim son of Josiah was ruling over Judah.\n\t\t\t \"Fall into ranks with your shields ready! Prepare to march into battle!\n\t\t\t Harness the horses to the chariots! Mount your horses! Put on your helmets and take your positions! Sharpen you spears! Put on your armor!\n\t\t\t What do I see?\" says the LORD. \"The soldiers are terrified. They are retreating. They have been defeated. They are overcome with terror; they desert quickly without looking back.\n\t\t\t But even the swiftest cannot get away. Even the strongest cannot escape. There in the north by the Euphrates River they stumble and fall in defeat.\n\t\t\t \"Who is this that rises like the Nile, like its streams turbulent at flood stage?\n\t\t\t Egypt rises like the Nile, like its streams turbulent at flood stage. Egypt says, 'I will arise and cover the earth. I will destroy cities and the people who inhabit them.'\n\t\t\t Go ahead and charge into battle, you horsemen! Drive furiously, you charioteers! Let the soldiers march out into battle, those from Ethiopia and Libya who carry shields, and those from Lydia who are armed with the bow.\n\t\t\t But that day belongs to the Lord God who rules over all. It is the day when he will pay back his enemies. His sword will devour them until its appetite is satisfied! It will drink their blood until it is full! For the Lord GOD who rules over all will offer them up as a sacrifice in the land of the north by the Euphrates River.\n\t\t\t Go up to Gilead and get medicinal ointment, you dear poor people of Egypt. But it will prove useless no matter how much medicine you use; there will be no healing for you.\n\t\t\t The nations will hear of your devastating defeat. your cries of distress will echo throughout the earth. In the panic of their flight one soldier will trip over another and both of them will fall down defeated.\"\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to the prophet Jeremiah about Nebuchadnezzar coming to attack the land of Egypt.\n\t\t\t \"Make an announcement throughout Egypt. Proclaim it in Migdol, Memphis, and Tahpanhes. 'Take your positions and prepare to do battle. For the enemy army is destroying all the nations around you.'\n\t\t\t Why will your soldiers be defeated? They will not stand because I, the LORD, will thrust them down.\n\t\t\t I will make many stumble. They will fall over one another in their hurry to flee. They will say, 'Get up! Let's go back to our own people. Let's go back to our homelands because the enemy is coming to destroy us.'\n\t\t\t There at home they will say, 'Pharaoh king of Egypt is just a big noise! He has let the most opportune moment pass by.'\n\t\t\t I the King, whose name is the LORD who rules over all, swear this: I swear as surely as I live that a conqueror is coming. He will be as imposing as Mount Tabor is among the mountains, as Mount Carmel is against the backdrop of the sea.\n\t\t\t Pack your bags for exile, you inhabitants of poor dear Egypt. For Memphis will be laid waste. It will lie in ruins and be uninhabited.\n\t\t\t Egypt is like a beautiful young cow. But northern armies will attack her like swarms of stinging flies.\n\t\t\t Even her mercenaries will prove to be like pampered, well-fed calves. For they too will turn and run away. They will not stand their ground when the time for them to be destroyed comes, the time for them to be punished.\n\t\t\t Egypt will run away, hissing like a snake, as the enemy comes marching up in force. They will come against her with axes as if they were woodsmen chopping down trees.\n\t\t\t The population of Egypt is like a vast, impenetrable forest. But I, the LORD, affirm that the enemy will cut them down. For those who chop them down will be more numerous than locusts. They will be too numerous to count.\n\t\t\t Poor dear Egypt will be put to shame. She will be handed over to the people from the north.\"\n\t\t\t The LORD God of Israel who rules over all says, \"I will punish Amon, the god of Thebes. I will punish Egypt, its gods, and its kings. I will punish Pharaoh and all who trust in him.\n\t\t\t I will hand them over to Nebuchadnezzar and his troops, who want to kill them. But later on, people will live in Egypt again as they did in former times. I, the LORD, affirm it!\"\n\t\t\t \"You descendants of Jacob, my servants, do not be afraid; do not be terrified, people of Israel. For I will rescue you and your descendants from the faraway lands where you are captives. The descendants of Jacob will return to their land and enjoy peace. They will be secure and no one will terrify them.\n\t\t\t I, the LORD, tell you not to be afraid, you descendants of Jacob, my servant, for I am with you. Though I completely destroy all the nations where I scatter you, I will not completely destroy you. I will indeed discipline you but only in due measure. I will not allow you to go entirely unpunished.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to the prophet Jeremiah about the Philistines before Pharaoh attacked Gaza.\n\t\t\t \"Look! Enemies are gathering in the north like water rising in a river. They will be like an overflowing stream. They will overwhelm the whole country and everything in it like a flood. They will overwhelm the cities and their inhabitants. People will cry out in alarm. Everyone living in the country will cry out in pain.\n\t\t\t Fathers will hear the hoofbeats of the enemies' horses, the clatter of their chariots and the rumbling of their wheels. They will not turn back to save their children because they will be paralyzed with fear.\n\t\t\t For the time has come to destroy all the Philistines. The time has come to destroy all the help that remains for Tyre and Sidon. For I, the LORD, will destroy the Philistines, that remnant that came from the island of Crete.\n\t\t\t The people of Gaza will shave their heads in mourning. The people of Ashkelon will be struck dumb. How long will you gash yourselves to show your sorrow, you who remain of Philistia's power?\n\t\t\t How long will you cry out, 'Oh, sword of the LORD, how long will it be before you stop killing? Go back into your sheath! Stay there and rest!'\n\t\t\t But how can it rest when I, the LORD, have given it orders? I have ordered it to attack the people of Ashkelon and the seacoast.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The LORD God of Israel who rules over all spoke about Moab. \"Sure to be judged is Nebo! Indeed, it will be destroyed! Kiriathaim will suffer disgrace. It will be captured! Its fortress will suffer disgrace. It will be torn down!\n\t\t\t People will not praise Moab any more. The enemy will capture Heshbon and plot how to destroy Moab, saying, 'Come, let's put an end to that nation!' City of Madmen, you will also be destroyed. A destructive army will march against you.\n\t\t\t Cries of anguish will arise in Horonaim, 'Oh, the ruin and great destruction!'\n\t\t\t \"Moab will be crushed. Her children will cry out in distress.\n\t\t\t Indeed they will climb the slopes of Luhith, weeping continually as they go. For on the road down to Horonaim they will hear the cries of distress over the destruction.\n\t\t\t They will hear, 'Run! Save yourselves! Even if you must be like a lonely shrub in the desert!'\n\t\t\t \"Moab, you trust in the things you do and in your riches. So you too will be conquered. Your god Chemosh will go into exile along with his priests and his officials.\n\t\t\t The destroyer will come against every town. Not one town will escape. The towns in the valley will be destroyed. The cities on the high plain will be laid waste. I, the LORD, have spoken!\n\t\t\t Set up a gravestone for Moab, for it will certainly be laid in ruins! Its cities will be laid waste and become uninhabited.\"\n\t\t\t A curse on anyone who is lax in doing the LORD's work! A curse on anyone who keeps from carrying out his destruction!\n\t\t\t \"From its earliest days Moab has lived undisturbed. It has never been taken into exile. Its people are like wine allowed to settle undisturbed on its dregs, never poured out from one jar to another. They are like wine which tastes like it always did, whose aroma has remained unchanged.\n\t\t\t But the time is coming when I will send men against Moab who will empty it out. They will empty the towns of their people, then will lay those towns in ruins. I, the LORD, affirm it!\n\t\t\t The people of Moab will be disappointed by their god Chemosh. They will be as disappointed as the people of Israel were when they put their trust in the calf god at Bethel.\n\t\t\t How can you men of Moab say, 'We are heroes, men who are mighty in battle?'\n\t\t\t Moab will be destroyed. Its towns will be invaded. Its finest young men will be slaughtered. I, the King, the LORD who rules over all, affirm it!\n\t\t\t Moab's destruction is at hand. Disaster will come on it quickly.\n\t\t\t Mourn for that nation, all you nations living around it, all of you nations that know of its fame. Mourn and say, 'Alas, its powerful influence has been broken! Its glory and power have been done away!'\n\t\t\t Come down from your place of honor; sit on the dry ground, you who live in Dibon. For the one who will destroy Moab will attack you; he will destroy your fortifications.\n\t\t\t You who live in Aroer, stand by the road and watch. Question the man who is fleeing and the woman who is escaping. Ask them, 'What has happened?'\n\t\t\t They will answer, 'Moab is disgraced, for it has fallen! Wail and cry out in mourning! Announce along the Arnon River that Moab has been destroyed.'\n\t\t\t \"Judgment will come on the cities on the high plain: on Holon, Jahzah, and Mephaath, \n\t\t\t on Dibon, Nebo, and Beth Diblathaim,\n\t\t\t on Kiriathaim, Beth Gamul, and Beth Meon,\n\t\t\t on Kerioth and Bozrah. It will come on all the towns of Moab, both far and near.\n\t\t\t Moab's might will be crushed. Its power will be broken. I, the LORD, affirm it!\n\t\t\t \"Moab has vaunted itself against me. So make him drunk with the wine of my wrath until he splashes around in his own vomit, until others treat him as a laughingstock.\n\t\t\t For did not you people of Moab laugh at the people of Israel? Did you think that they were nothing but thieves, that you shook your head in contempt every time you talked about them?\n\t\t\t Leave your towns, you inhabitants of Moab. Go and live in the cliffs. Be like a dove that makes its nest high on the sides of a ravine.\n\t\t\t I have heard how proud the people of Moab are, I know how haughty they are. I have heard how arrogant, proud, and haughty they are, what a high opinion they have of themselves.\n\t\t\t I, the LORD, affirm that I know how arrogant they are. But their pride is ill-founded. Their boastings will prove to be false.\n\t\t\t So I will weep with sorrow for Moab. I will cry out in sadness for all of Moab. I will moan for the people of Kir Heres.\n\t\t\t I will weep for the grapevines of Sibmah just like the town of Jazer weeps over them. Their branches once spread as far as the Dead Sea. They reached as far as the town of Jazer. The destroyer will ravage her fig, date, and grape crops.\n\t\t\t Joy and gladness will disappear from the fruitful land of Moab. I will stop the flow of wine from the winepresses. No one will stomp on the grapes there and shout for joy. The shouts there will be shouts of soldiers, not the shouts of those making wine.\n\t\t\t Cries of anguish raised from Heshbon and Elealeh will be sounded as far as Jahaz. They will be sounded from Zoar as far as Horonaim and Eglath Shelishiyah. For even the waters of Nimrim will be dried up.\n\t\t\t I will put an end in Moab to those who make offerings at her places of worship. I will put an end to those who sacrifice to other gods. I, the LORD, affirm it!\n\t\t\t So my heart moans for Moab like a flute playing a funeral song. Yes, like a flute playing a funeral song, my heart moans for the people of Kir Heres. For the wealth they have gained will perish.\n\t\t\t For all of them will shave their heads in mourning. They will all cut off their beards to show their sorrow. They will all make gashes in their hands. They will all put on sackcloth.\n\t\t\t On all the housetops in Moab and in all its public squares there will be nothing but mourning. For I will break Moab like an unwanted jar. I, the LORD, affirm it!\n\t\t\t Oh, how shattered Moab will be! Oh, how her people will wail! Oh, how she will turn away in shame! Moab will become an object of ridicule, a terrifying sight to all the nations that surround her.\"\n\t\t\t For the LORD says, \"Look! Like an eagle with outspread wings a nation will swoop down on Moab.\n\t\t\t Her towns will be captured. Her fortresses will be taken. At that time the soldiers of Moab will be frightened like a woman in labor.\n\t\t\t Moab will be destroyed and no longer be a nation, because she has vaunted herself against the LORD.\n\t\t\t Terror, pits, and traps are in store for the people who live in Moab. I, the LORD, affirm it!\n\t\t\t Anyone who flees at the sound of terror will fall into a pit. Anyone who climbs out of the pit will be caught in a trap. For the time is coming when I will punish the people of Moab. I, the LORD, affirm it!\n\t\t\t In the shadows of the walls of Heshbon those trying to escape will stand helpless. For a fire will burst forth from Heshbon. Flames will shoot out from the former territory of Sihon. They will burn the foreheads of the people of Moab, the skulls of those war-loving people.\n\t\t\t Moab, you are doomed! You people who worship Chemosh will be destroyed. Your sons will be taken away captive. Your daughters will be carried away into exile.\n\t\t\t Yet in days to come I will reverse Moab's ill fortune.\" says the LORD. The judgment against Moab ends here.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke about the Ammonites. \"Do you think there are not any people of the nation of Israel remaining? Do you think there are not any of them remaining to reinherit their land? Is that why you people who worship the god Milcom have taken possession of the territory of Gad and live in his cities?\n\t\t\t Because you did that, I, the LORD, affirm that a time is coming when I will make Rabbah, the capital city of Ammon, hear the sound of the battle cry. It will become a mound covered with ruins. Its villages will be burned to the ground. Then Israel will take back its land from those who took their land from them. I, the Lord, affirm it!\n\t\t\t Wail, you people in Heshbon, because Ai in Ammon is destroyed. Cry out in anguish, you people in the villages surrounding Rabbah. Put on sackcloth and cry out in mourning. Run about covered with gashes. For your god Milcom will go into exile along with his priests and officials.\n\t\t\t Why do you brag about your great power? Your power is ebbing away, you rebellious people of Ammon, who trust in your riches and say, 'Who would dare to attack us?'\n\t\t\t I will bring terror on you from every side,\" says the Lord GOD who rules over all. \"You will be scattered in every direction. No one will gather the fugitives back together.\n\t\t\t Yet in days to come I will reverse Ammon's ill fortune.\" says the LORD.\n\t\t\t The LORD who rules over all spoke about Edom. \"Is wisdom no longer to be found in Teman? Can Edom's counselors not give her any good advice? Has all of their wisdom turned bad?\n\t\t\t Turn and flee! Take up refuge in remote places, you people who live in Dedan. For I will bring disaster on the descendants of Esau. I have decided it is time for me to punish them.\n\t\t\t If grape pickers came to pick your grapes, would they not leave a few grapes behind? If robbers came at night, would they not pillage only what they needed?\n\t\t\t But I will strip everything away from Esau's descendants. I will uncover their hiding places so they cannot hide. Their children, relatives, and neighbors will all be destroyed. Not one of them will be left!\n\t\t\t Leave your orphans behind and I will keep them alive. Your widows too can depend on me.\"\n\t\t\t For the LORD says, \"If even those who did not deserve to drink from the cup of my wrath must drink from it, do you think you will go unpunished? You will not go unpunished, but must certainly drink from the cup of my wrath.\n\t\t\t For I solemnly swear,\" says the LORD, \"that Bozrah will become a pile of ruins. It will become an object of horror and ridicule, an example to be used in curses. All the towns around it will lie in ruins forever.\"\n\t\t\t I said, \"I have heard a message from the LORD. A messenger has been sent among the nations to say, 'Gather your armies and march out against her! Prepare to do battle with her!'\"\n\t\t\t The LORD says to Edom, \"I will certainly make you small among nations. I will make you despised by all humankind.\n\t\t\t The terror you inspire in others and the arrogance of your heart have deceived you. You may make your home in the clefts of the rocks; you may occupy the highest places in the hills. But even if you made your home where the eagles nest, I would bring you down from there,\" says the LORD.\n\t\t\t \"Edom will become an object of horror. All who pass by it will be filled with horror; they will hiss out their scorn because of all the disasters that have happened to it.\n\t\t\t Edom will be destroyed like Sodom and Gomorrah and the towns that were around them. No one will live there. No human being will settle in it,\" says the LORD.\n\t\t\t \"A lion coming up from the thick undergrowth along the Jordan scatters the sheep in the pastureland around it. So too I will chase the Edomites off their land. Then I will appoint over it whomever I choose. For there is no one like me, and there is no one who can call me to account. There is no ruler who can stand up against me.\n\t\t\t So listen to what I, the LORD, have planned against Edom, what I intend to do to the people who live in Teman. Their little ones will be dragged off. I will completely destroy their land because of what they have done.\n\t\t\t The people of the earth will quake when they hear of their downfall. Their cries of anguish will be heard all the way to the Gulf of Aqaba.\n\t\t\t Look! Like an eagle with outspread wings, a nation will soar up and swoop down on Bozrah. At that time the soldiers of Edom will be as fearful as a woman in labor.\"\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke about Damascus. \"The people of Hamath and Arpad will be dismayed because they have heard bad news. Their courage will melt away because of worry. Their hearts will not be able to rest.\n\t\t\t The people of Damascus will lose heart and turn to flee. Panic will grip them. Pain and anguish will seize them like a woman in labor.\n\t\t\t How deserted will that once-famous city be, that city that was once filled with joy!\n\t\t\t For her young men will fall in her city squares. All her soldiers will be destroyed at that time,\" says the LORD who rules over all.\n\t\t\t \"I will set fire to the walls of Damascus; it will burn up the palaces of Ben Hadad.\"\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke about Kedar and the kingdoms of Hazor that King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon conquered. \"Army of Babylon, go and attack Kedar. Lay waste those who live in the eastern desert.\n\t\t\t Their tents and their flocks will be taken away. Their tent curtains, equipment, and camels will be carried off. People will shout to them, 'Terror is all around you!'\"\n\t\t\t The LORD says, \"Flee quickly, you who live in Hazor. Take up refuge in remote places. For King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon has laid out plans to attack you. He has formed his strategy on how to defeat you.\"\n\t\t\t The LORD says, \"Army of Babylon, go and attack a nation that lives in peace and security. They have no gates or walls to protect them. They live all alone.\n\t\t\t Their camels will be taken as plunder. Their vast herds will be taken as spoil. I will scatter to the four winds those desert peoples who cut their hair short at the temples. I will bring disaster against them from every direction,\" says the LORD.\n\t\t\t \"Hazor will become a permanent wasteland, a place where only jackals live. No one will live there. No human being will settle in it.\"\n\t\t\t Early in the reign of King Zedekiah of Judah, the LORD spoke to the prophet Jeremiah about Elam.\n\t\t\t The LORD who rules over all said, \"I will kill all the archers of Elam, who are the chief source of her military might.\n\t\t\t I will cause enemies to blow through Elam from every direction like the winds blowing in from the four quarters of heaven. I will scatter the people of Elam to the four winds. There will not be any nation where the refugees of Elam will not go.\n\t\t\t I will make the people of Elam terrified of their enemies, who are seeking to kill them. I will vent my fierce anger and bring disaster upon them,\" says the LORD. \"I will send armies chasing after them until I have completely destroyed them.\n\t\t\t I will establish my sovereignty over Elam. I will destroy their king and their leaders,\" says the LORD.\n\t\t\t \"Yet in days to come I will reverse Elam's ill fortune.\" says the LORD.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke concerning Babylon and the land of Babylonia through the prophet Jeremiah.\n\t\t\t \"Announce the news among the nations! Proclaim it! Signal for people to pay attention! Declare the news! Do not hide it! Say: 'Babylon will be captured. Bel will be put to shame. Marduk will be dismayed. Babylon's idols will be put to shame. Her disgusting images will be dismayed.\n\t\t\t For a nation from the north will attack Babylon. It will lay her land waste. People and animals will flee out of it. No one will inhabit it.'\n\t\t\t \"When that time comes,\" says the LORD, \"the people of Israel and Judah will return to the land together. They will come back with tears of repentance as they seek the LORD their God.\n\t\t\t They will ask the way to Zion; they will turn their faces toward it. They will come and bind themselves to the LORD in a lasting covenant that will never be forgotten.\n\t\t\t \"My people have been lost sheep. Their shepherds have allow them to go astray. They have wandered around in the mountains. They have roamed from one mountain and hill to another. They have forgotten their resting place.\n\t\t\t All who encountered them devoured them. Their enemies who did this said, 'We are not liable for punishment! For those people have sinned against the LORD, their true pasture. They have sinned against the LORD in whom their ancestors trusted.'\n\t\t\t \"People of Judah, get out of Babylon quickly! Leave the land of Babylonia! Be the first to depart! Be like the male goats that lead the herd.\n\t\t\t For I will rouse into action and bring against Babylon a host of mighty nations from the land of the north. They will set up their battle lines against her. They will come from the north and capture her. Their arrows will be like a skilled soldier who does not return from the battle empty-handed.\n\t\t\t Babylonia will be plundered. Those who plunder it will take all they want,\" says the LORD.\n\t\t\t \"People of Babylonia, you plundered my people. That made you happy and glad. You frolic about like calves in a pasture. Your joyous sounds are like the neighs of a stallion.\n\t\t\t But Babylonia will be put to great shame. The land where you were born will be disgraced. Indeed, Babylonia will become the least important of all nations. It will become a dry and barren desert.\n\t\t\t After I vent my wrath on it Babylon will be uninhabited. It will be totally desolate. All who pass by will be filled with horror and will hiss out their scorn because of all the disasters that have happened to it.\n\t\t\t \"Take up your battle positions all around Babylon, all you soldiers who are armed with bows. Shoot all your arrows at her! Do not hold any back! For she has sinned against the LORD.\n\t\t\t Shout the battle cry from all around the city. She will throw up her hands in surrender. Her towers will fall. Her walls will be torn down. Because I, the LORD, am wreaking revenge, take out your vengeance on her! Do to her as she has done!\n\t\t\t Kill all the farmers who sow the seed in the land of Babylon. Kill all those who wield the sickle at harvest time. Let all the foreigners return to their own people. Let them hurry back to their own lands to escape destruction by that enemy army.\n\t\t\t \"The people of Israel are like scattered sheep which lions have chased away. First the king of Assyria devoured them. Now last of all King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon has gnawed their bones.\n\t\t\t So I, the LORD God of Israel who rules over all, say: 'I will punish the king of Babylon and his land just as I punished the king of Assyria.\n\t\t\t But I will restore the flock of Israel to their own pasture. They will graze on Mount Carmel and the land of Bashan. They will eat until they are full on the hills of Ephraim and the land of Gilead.\n\t\t\t When that time comes, no guilt will be found in Israel. No sin will be found in Judah. For I will forgive those of them I have allowed to survive. I, the LORD, affirm it!'\"\n\t\t\t The LORD says, \"Attack the land of Merathaim and the people who live in Pekod! Pursue, kill, and completely destroy them! Do just as I have commanded you!\n\t\t\t The noise of battle can be heard in the land of Babylonia. There is the sound of great destruction.\n\t\t\t Babylon hammered the whole world to pieces. But see how that 'hammer' has been broken and shattered! See what an object of horror Babylon has become among the nations!\n\t\t\t I set a trap for you, Babylon; you were caught before you knew it. You fought against me. So you were found and captured.\n\t\t\t I have opened up the place where my weapons are stored. I have brought out the weapons for carrying out my wrath. For I, the Lord GOD who rules over all, have work to carry out in the land of Babylonia.\n\t\t\t Come from far away and attack Babylonia! Open up the places where she stores her grain! Pile her up in ruins! Destroy her completely! Do not leave anyone alive!\n\t\t\t Kill all her soldiers! Let them be slaughtered! They are doomed, for their day of reckoning has come, the time for them to be punished.\"\n\t\t\t Listen! Fugitives and refugees are coming from the land of Babylon. They are coming to Zion to declare there how the LORD our God is getting revenge, getting revenge for what they have done to his temple.\n\t\t\t \"Call for archers to come against Babylon! Summon against her all who draw the bow! Set up camp all around the city! Do not allow anyone to escape! Pay her back for what she has done. Do to her what she has done to others. For she has proudly defied me, the Holy One of Israel.\n\t\t\t So her young men will fall in her city squares. All her soldiers will be destroyed at that time,\" says the LORD.\n\t\t\t \"Listen! I am opposed to you, you proud city,\" says the Lord GOD who rules over all. \"Indeed, your day of reckoning has come, the time when I will punish you.\n\t\t\t You will stumble and fall, you proud city; no one will help you get up. I will set fire to your towns; it will burn up everything that surrounds you.\"\n\t\t\t The LORD who rules over all says, \"The people of Israel are oppressed. So too are the people of Judah. All those who took them captive are holding them prisoners. They refuse to set them free.\n\t\t\t But the one who will rescue them is strong. He is known as the LORD who rules over all. He will strongly champion their cause. As a result he will bring peace and rest to the earth, but trouble and turmoil to the people who inhabit Babylonia.\n\t\t\t \"Destructive forces will come against the Babylonians,\" says the LORD. \"They will come against the people who inhabit Babylonia, against her leaders and her men of wisdom.\n\t\t\t Destructive forces will come against her false prophets; they will be shown to be fools! Destructive forces will come against her soldiers; they will be filled with terror!\n\t\t\t Destructive forces will come against her horses and her chariots. Destructive forces will come against all the foreign troops within her; they will be as frightened as women! Destructive forces will come against her treasures; they will be taken away as plunder!\n\t\t\t A drought will come upon her land; her rivers and canals will be dried up. All of this will happen because her land is filled with idols. Her people act like madmen because of those idols they fear.\n\t\t\t Therefore desert creatures and jackals will live there. Ostriches will dwell in it too. But no people will ever live there again. No one will dwell there for all time to come.\n\t\t\t I will destroy Babylonia just like I did Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighboring towns. No one will live there. No human being will settle in it,\" says the LORD.\n\t\t\t \"Look! An army is about to come from the north. A mighty nation and many kings are stirring into action in faraway parts of the earth.\n\t\t\t Its soldiers are armed with bows and spears. They are cruel and show no mercy. They sound like the roaring sea as they ride forth on their horses. Lined up in formation like men going into battle, they are coming against you, fair Babylon!\n\t\t\t The king of Babylon will become paralyzed with fear when he hears news of their coming. Anguish will grip him, agony like that of a woman giving birth to a baby.\n\t\t\t \"A lion coming up from the thick undergrowth along the Jordan scatters the sheep in the pastureland around it. So too I will chase the Babylonians off of their land. Then I will appoint over it whomever I choose. For there is no one like me. There is no one who can call me to account. There is no ruler that can stand up against me.\n\t\t\t So listen to what I, the LORD, have planned against Babylon, what I intend to do to the people who inhabit the land of Babylonia. Their little ones will be dragged off. I will completely destroy their land because of what they have done.\n\t\t\t The people of the earth will quake when they hear Babylon has been captured. Her cries of anguish will be heard by the other nations.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The LORD says, \"I will cause a destructive wind to blow against Babylon and the people who inhabit Babylonia.\n\t\t\t I will send people to winnow Babylonia like a wind blowing away chaff. They will winnow her and strip her land bare. This will happen when they come against her from every direction, when it is time to destroy her.\n\t\t\t Do not give her archers time to string their bows or to put on their coats of armor. Do not spare any of her young men. Completely destroy her whole army.\n\t\t\t Let them fall slain in the land of Babylonia, mortally wounded in the streets of her cities.\n\t\t\t \"For Israel and Judah will not be forsaken by their God, the LORD who rules over all. For the land of Babylonia is full of guilt against the Holy One of Israel.\n\t\t\t Get out of Babylonia quickly, you foreign people. Flee to save your lives. Do not let yourselves be killed because of her sins. For it is time for the LORD to wreak his revenge. He will pay Babylonia back for what she has done.\n\t\t\t Babylonia had been a gold cup in the LORD's hand. She had made the whole world drunk. The nations had drunk from the wine of her wrath. So they have all gone mad.\n\t\t\t But suddenly Babylonia will fall and be destroyed. Cry out in mourning over it! Get medicine for her wounds! Perhaps she can be healed!\n\t\t\t Foreigners living there will say, 'We tried to heal her, but she could not be healed. Let's leave Babylonia and each go back to his own country. For judgment on her will be vast in its proportions. It will be like it is piled up to heaven, stacked up into the clouds.'\n\t\t\t The exiles from Judah will say, 'The LORD has brought about a great deliverance for us! Come on, let's go and proclaim in Zion what the LORD our God has done!'\n\t\t\t \"Sharpen your arrows! Fill your quivers! The LORD will arouse a spirit of hostility in the kings of Media. For he intends to destroy Babylonia. For that is how the LORD will get his revenge, how he will get his revenge for the Babylonians' destruction of his temple.\n\t\t\t Give the signal to attack Babylon's wall! Bring more guards! Post them all around the city! Put men in ambush! For the LORD will do what he has planned. He will do what he said he would do to the people of Babylon.\n\t\t\t \"You who live along the rivers of Babylon, the time of your end has come. You who are rich in plundered treasure, it is time for your lives to be cut off.\n\t\t\t The LORD who rules over all has solemnly sworn, 'I will fill your land with enemy soldiers. They will swarm over it like locusts. They will raise up shouts of victory over it.'\n\t\t\t He is the one who by his power made the earth. He is the one who by his wisdom fixed the world in place, by his understanding he spread out the heavens.\n\t\t\t When his voice thunders, the waters in the heavens roar. He makes the clouds rise from the far-off horizons. He makes the lightning flash out in the midst of the rain. He unleashes the wind from the places where he stores it.\n\t\t\t All idolaters will prove to be stupid and ignorant. Every goldsmith will be disgraced by the idol he made. For the image he forges is merely a sham. There is no breath in any of those idols.\n\t\t\t They are worthless, objects to be ridiculed. When the time comes to punish them, they will be destroyed.\n\t\t\t The LORD, who is the portion of the descendants of Jacob, is not like them. For he is the one who created everything, including the people of Israel whom he claims as his own. He is known as the LORD who rules over all.\n\t\t\t \"Babylon, you are my war club, my weapon for battle. I used you to smash nations. I used you to destroy kingdoms.\n\t\t\t I used you to smash horses and their riders. I used you to smash chariots and their drivers.\n\t\t\t I used you to smash men and women. I used you to smash old men and young men. I used you to smash young men and young women.\n\t\t\t I used you to smash shepherds and their flocks. I used you to smash farmers and their teams of oxen. I used you to smash governors and leaders.\"\n\t\t\t \"But I will repay Babylon and all who live in Babylonia for all the wicked things they did in Zion right before the eyes of you Judeans,\" says the LORD.\n\t\t\t The LORD says, \"Beware! I am opposed to you, Babylon! You are like a destructive mountain that destroys all the earth. I will unleash my power against you; I will roll you off the cliffs and make you like a burned-out mountain.\n\t\t\t No one will use any of your stones as a cornerstone. No one will use any of them in the foundation of his house. For you will lie desolate forever,\" says the LORD.\n\t\t\t \"Raise up battle flags throughout the lands. Sound the trumpets calling the nations to do battle. Prepare the nations to do battle against Babylonia. Call for these kingdoms to attack her: Ararat, Minni, and Ashkenaz. Appoint a commander to lead the attack. Send horses against her like a swarm of locusts.\n\t\t\t Prepare the nations to do battle against her. Prepare the kings of the Medes. Prepare their governors and all their leaders. Prepare all the countries they rule to do battle against her.\n\t\t\t The earth will tremble and writhe in agony. For the LORD will carry out his plan. He plans to make the land of Babylonia a wasteland where no one lives.\n\t\t\t The soldiers of Babylonia will stop fighting. They will remain in their fortified cities. They will lose their strength to do battle. They will be as frightened as women. The houses in her cities will be set on fire. The gates of her cities will be broken down.\n\t\t\t One runner after another will come to the king of Babylon. One messenger after another will come bringing news. They will bring news to the king of Babylon that his whole city has been captured.\n\t\t\t They will report that the fords have been captured, the reed marshes have been burned, the soldiers are terrified.\n\t\t\t For the LORD God of Israel who rules over all says, 'Fair Babylon will be like a threshing floor which has been trampled flat for harvest. The time for her to be cut down and harvested will come very soon.'\n\t\t\t \"King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon devoured me and drove my people out. Like a monster from the deep he swallowed me. He filled his belly with my riches. He made me an empty dish. He completely cleaned me out.\"\n\t\t\t The person who lives in Zion says, \"May Babylon pay for the violence done to me and to my relatives.\" Jerusalem says, \"May those living in Babylonia pay for the bloodshed of my people.\"\n\t\t\t Therefore the LORD says, \"I will stand up for your cause. I will pay the Babylonians back for what they have done to you. I will dry up their sea. I will make their springs run dry.\n\t\t\t Babylon will become a heap of ruins. Jackals will make their home there. It will become an object of horror and of hissing scorn, a place where no one lives.\n\t\t\t The Babylonians are all like lions roaring for prey. They are like lion cubs growling for something to eat.\n\t\t\t When their appetites are all stirred up, I will set out a banquet for them. I will make them drunk so that they will pass out, they will fall asleep forever, they will never wake up,\" says the LORD.\n\t\t\t \"I will lead them off to be slaughtered like lambs, rams, and male goats.\"\n\t\t\t \"See how Babylon has been captured! See how the pride of the whole earth has been taken! See what an object of horror Babylon has become among the nations!\n\t\t\t The sea has swept over Babylon. She has been covered by a multitude of its waves.\n\t\t\t The towns of Babylonia have become heaps of ruins. She has become a dry and barren desert. No one lives in those towns any more. No one even passes through them.\n\t\t\t I will punish the god Bel in Babylon. I will make him spit out what he has swallowed. The nations will not come streaming to him any longer. Indeed, the walls of Babylon will fall.\"\n\t\t\t \"Get out of Babylon, my people! Flee to save your lives from the fierce anger of the LORD!\n\t\t\t Do not lose your courage or become afraid because of the reports that are heard in the land. For a report will come in one year. Another report will follow it in the next. There will be violence in the land with ruler fighting against ruler.\"\n\t\t\t \"So the time will certainly come when I will punish the idols of Babylon. Her whole land will be put to shame. All her mortally wounded will collapse in her midst.\n\t\t\t Then heaven and earth and all that is in them will sing for joy over Babylon. For destroyers from the north will attack it,\" says the LORD.\n\t\t\t \"Babylon must fall because of the Israelites she has killed, just as the earth's mortally wounded fell because of Babylon.\n\t\t\t You who have escaped the sword, go, do not delay. Remember the LORD in a faraway land. Think about Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t 'We are ashamed because we have been insulted. Our faces show our disgrace. For foreigners have invaded the holy rooms in the LORD's temple.'\n\t\t\t Yes, but the time will certainly come,\" says the LORD, \"when I will punish her idols. Throughout her land the mortally wounded will groan.\n\t\t\t Even if Babylon climbs high into the sky and fortifies her elevated stronghold, I will send destroyers against her,\" says the LORD.\n\t\t\t Cries of anguish will come from Babylon, the sound of great destruction from the land of the Babylonians.\n\t\t\t For the LORD is ready to destroy Babylon, and put an end to her loud noise. Their waves will roar like turbulent waters. They will make a deafening noise.\n\t\t\t For a destroyer is attacking Babylon. Her warriors will be captured; their bows will be broken. For the LORD is a God who punishes; he pays back in full.\n\t\t\t \"I will make her officials and wise men drunk, along with her governors, leaders, and warriors. They will fall asleep forever and never wake up,\" says the King whose name is the LORD who rules over all.\n\t\t\t This is what the LORD who rules over all says, \"Babylon's thick wall will be completely demolished. Her high gates will be set on fire. The peoples strive for what does not satisfy. The nations grow weary trying to get what will be destroyed.\"\n\t\t\t This is the order Jeremiah the prophet gave to Seraiah son of Neriah, son of Mahseiah, when he went to King Zedekiah of Judah in Babylon during the fourth year of his reign. (Seraiah was a quartermaster.)\n\t\t\t Jeremiah recorded on one scroll all the judgments that would come upon Babylon, all these prophecies written about Babylon.\n\t\t\t Then Jeremiah said to Seraiah, \"When you arrive in Babylon, make sure you read aloud all these prophecies.\n\t\t\t Then say, 'O LORD, you have announced that you will destroy this place so that no people or animals live in it any longer. Certainly it will lie desolate forever!'\n\t\t\t When you finish reading this scroll aloud, tie a stone to it and throw it into the middle of the Euphrates River.\n\t\t\t Then say, 'In the same way Babylon will sink and never rise again because of the judgments I am ready to bring upon her; they will grow faint.'\" The prophecies of Jeremiah end here.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he ruled in Jerusalem for eleven years. His mother's name was Hamutal daughter of Jeremiah, from Libnah. \n\t\t\t He did what displeased the LORD just as Jehoiakim had done.\n\t\t\t What follows is a record of what happened to Jerusalem and Judah because of the LORD's anger when he drove them out of his sight. Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon. \n\t\t\t King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came against Jerusalem with his whole army and set up camp outside it. They built siege ramps all around it. He arrived on the tenth day of the tenth month in the ninth year that Zedekiah ruled over Judah.\n\t\t\t The city remained under siege until Zedekiah's eleventh year.\n\t\t\t By the ninth day of the fourth month the famine in the city was so severe the residents had no food. \n\t\t\t They broke through the city walls, and all the soldiers tried to escape. They left the city during the night. They went through the gate between the two walls that is near the king's garden. (The Babylonians had the city surrounded.) Then they headed for the Jordan Valley.\n\t\t\t But the Babylonian army chased after the king. They caught up with Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho, and his entire army deserted him. \n\t\t\t They captured him and brought him up to the king of Babylon at Riblah in the territory of Hamath and he passed sentence on him there. \n\t\t\t The king of Babylon had Zedekiah's sons put to death while Zedekiah was forced to watch. He also had all the nobles of Judah put to death there at Riblah.\n\t\t\t He had Zedekiah's eyes put out and had him bound in chains. Then the king of Babylon had him led off to Babylon and he was imprisoned there until the day he died.\n\t\t\t On the tenth day of the fifth month, in the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, Nebuzaradan, the captain of the royal guard who served the king of Babylon, arrived in Jerusalem. \n\t\t\t He burned down the LORD's temple, the royal palace, and all the houses in Jerusalem, including every large house.\n\t\t\t The whole Babylonian army that came with the captain of the royal guard tore down the walls that surrounded Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t Nebuzaradan, the captain of the royal guard, took into exile some of the poor, the rest of the people who remained in the city, those who had deserted to him, and the rest of the craftsmen.\n\t\t\t But he left behind some of the poor and gave them fields and vineyards.\n\t\t\t The Babylonians broke the two bronze pillars in the temple of the LORD, as well as the movable stands and the large bronze basin called the \"The Sea.\" They took all the bronze to Babylon.\n\t\t\t They also took the pots, shovels, trimming shears, basins, pans, and all the bronze utensils used by the priests.\n\t\t\t The captain of the royal guard took the gold and silver bowls, censers, basins, pots, lampstands, pans, and vessels.\n\t\t\t The bronze of the items that King Solomon made for the LORD's temple (including the two pillars, the large bronze basin called \"The Sea,\" the twelve bronze bulls under \"The Sea,\" and the movable stands) was too heavy to be weighed.\n\t\t\t Each of the pillars was about 27 feet high, about 18 feet in circumference, three inches thick, and hollow. \n\t\t\t The bronze top of one pillar was about seven and one-half feet high and had bronze latticework and pomegranate-shaped ornaments all around it. The second pillar with its pomegranate-shaped ornaments was like it. \n\t\t\t There were ninety-six pomegranate-shaped ornaments on the sides; in all there were one hundred pomegranate-shaped ornaments over the latticework that went around it.\n\t\t\t The captain of the royal guard took Seraiah the chief priest, Zephaniah the priest who was second in rank, and the three doorkeepers.\n\t\t\t From the city he took an official who was in charge of the soldiers, seven of the king's advisers who were discovered in the city, an official army secretary who drafted citizens for military service, and sixty citizens who were discovered in the middle of the city. \n\t\t\t Nebuzaradan, the captain of the royal guard, took them and brought them to the king of Babylon at Riblah.\n\t\t\t The king of Babylon ordered them to be executed at Riblah in the territory of Hamath. So Judah was taken into exile away from its land. \n\t\t\t Here is the official record of the number of people Nebuchadnezzar carried into exile: In the seventh year, 3,023 Jews; \n\t\t\t in Nebuchadnezzar's eighteenth year, 832 people from Jerusalem; \n\t\t\t in Nebuchadnezzar's twenty-third year, Nebuzaradan, the captain of the royal guard, carried into exile 745 Judeans. In all 4,600 people went into exile.\n\t\t\t In the thirty-seventh year of the exile of King Jehoiachin of Judah, on the twenty-fifth day of the twelfth month, Evil-Merodach, in the first year of his reign, pardoned King Jehoiachin of Judah and released him from prison. \n\t\t\t He spoke kindly to him and gave him a more prestigious position than the other kings who were with him in Babylon. \n\t\t\t Jehoiachin took off his prison clothes and ate daily in the king's presence for the rest of his life. \n\t\t\t He was given daily provisions by the king of Babylon for the rest of his life until the day he died.\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Alas! The city once full of people now sits all alone! The prominent lady among the nations has become a widow! The princess who once ruled the provinces has become a forced laborer!&u05D1; (Bet)\n\t\t\t She weeps bitterly at night; tears stream down her cheeks. She has no one to comfort her among all her lovers. All her friends have betrayed her; they have become her enemies.&u05D2; (Gimel)\n\t\t\t Judah has departed into exile under affliction and harsh oppression. She lives among the nations; she has found no resting place. All who pursued her overtook her in narrow straits.&u05D3; (Dalet)\n\t\t\t The roads to Zion mourn because no one travels to the festivals. All her city gates are deserted; her priests groan. Her virgins grieve; she is in bitter anguish!&u05D4; (He)\n\t\t\t Her foes subjugated her; her enemies are at ease. For the LORD afflicted her because of her many acts of rebellion. Her children went away captive before the enemy.&u05D5; (Vav)\n\t\t\t All of Daughter Zion's splendor has departed. Her leaders became like deer; they found no pasture, so they were too exhausted to escape from the hunter.&u05D6; (Zayin)\n\t\t\t Jerusalem remembers, when she became a poor homeless person, all her treasures that she owned in days of old. When her people fell into an enemy's grip, none of her allies came to her rescue. Her enemies gloated over her; they sneered at her downfall.&u05D7; (Khet)\n\t\t\t Jerusalem committed terrible sin; therefore she became an object of scorn. All who admired her have despised her because they have seen her nakedness. She groans aloud and turns away in shame.&u05D8; (Tet)\n\t\t\t Her menstrual flow has soiled her clothing; she did not consider the consequences of her sin. Her demise was astonishing, and there was no one to comfort her. She cried, \"Look, O LORD, on my affliction because my enemy boasts!\"&u05D9; (Yod)\n\t\t\t An enemy grabbed all her valuables. Indeed she watched in horror as Gentiles invaded her holy temple, those whom you had commanded: \"They must not enter your assembly place.\"&u05DB; (Kaf)\n\t\t\t All her people groaned as they searched for a morsel of bread. They exchanged their valuables for just enough food to stay alive. \"Look, O LORD! Consider that I have become worthless!\"&u05DC; (Lamed)\n\t\t\t Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by on the road? Look and see! Is there any pain like mine? The Lord has afflicted me, he has inflicted it on me when he burned with anger.&u05DE; (Mem)\n\t\t\t He sent down fire into my bones, and it overcame them. He spread out a trapper's net for my feet; he made me turn back. He has made me desolate; I am faint all day long.&u05E0; (Nun)\n\t\t\t My sins are bound around my neck like a yoke; they are fastened together by his hand. He has placed his yoke on my neck; he has sapped my strength. The Lord has handed me over to those whom I cannot resist.&u05E1; (Samek)\n\t\t\t He rounded up all my mighty ones; The Lord did this in my midst. He summoned an assembly against me to shatter my young men. The Lord has stomped like grapes the virgin daughter, Judah.&u05E2; (Ayin)\n\t\t\t I weep because of these things; my eyes flow with tears. For there is no one in sight who can comfort me or encourage me. My children are desolated because an enemy has prevailed.&u05E4; (Pe)\n\t\t\t Zion spread out her hands, but there is no one to comfort her. The LORD has issued a decree against Jacob; his neighbors have become his enemies. Jerusalem has become like filthy garbage in their midst.&u05E6; (Tsade)\n\t\t\t The LORD is right to judge me! Yes, I rebelled against his commands. Please listen, all you nations, and look at my suffering! My young women and men have gone into exile.&u05E7; (Qof)\n\t\t\t I called for my lovers, but they had deceived me. My priests and my elders perished in the city. Truly they had searched for food to keep themselves alive.&u05E8; (Resh)\n\t\t\t Look, O LORD! I am distressed; my stomach is in knots! My heart is pounding inside me. Yes, I was terribly rebellious! Out in the street the sword bereaves a mother of her children; Inside the house death is present.&u05E9; (Sin/Shin)\n\t\t\t They have heard that I groan, yet there is no one to comfort me. All my enemies have heard of my trouble; they are glad that you have brought it about. Bring about the day of judgment that you promised so that they may end up like me!&u05EA; (Tav)\n\t\t\t Let all their wickedness come before you; afflict them just as you have afflicted me because of all my acts of rebellion. For my groans are many, and my heart is sick with sorrow.&u05D0; (Alef)\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Alas! The Lord has covered Daughter Zion with his anger. He has thrown down the splendor of Israel from heaven to earth; he did not protect his temple when he displayed his anger.&u05D1; (Bet)\n\t\t\t The Lord destroyed mercilessly all the homes of Jacob's descendants. In his anger he tore down the fortified cities of Daughter Judah. He knocked to the ground and humiliated the kingdom and its rulers.&u05D2; (Gimel)\n\t\t\t In fierce anger he destroyed the whole army of Israel. He withdrew his right hand as the enemy attacked. He was like a raging fire in the land of Jacob; it consumed everything around it.&u05D3; (Dalet)\n\t\t\t He prepared his bow like an enemy; his right hand was ready to shoot. Like a foe he killed everyone, even our strong young men; he has poured out his anger like fire on the tent of Daughter Zion.&u05D4; (He)\n\t\t\t The Lord, like an enemy, destroyed Israel. He destroyed all her palaces; he ruined her fortified cities. He made everyone in Daughter Judah mourn and lament.&u05D5; (Vav)\n\t\t\t He destroyed his temple as if it were a vineyard; he destroyed his appointed meeting place. The LORD has made those in Zion forget both the festivals and the Sabbaths. In his fierce anger he has spurned both king and priest.&u05D6; (Zayin)\n\t\t\t The Lord rejected his altar and abhorred his temple. He handed over to the enemy her palace walls; the enemy shouted in the LORD'S temple as if it were a feast day.&u05D7; (Khet)\n\t\t\t The LORD was determined to tear down Daughter Zion's wall. He prepared to knock it down; he did not withdraw his hand from destroying. He made the ramparts and fortified walls lament; together they mourned their ruin.&u05D8; (Tet)\n\t\t\t Her city gates have fallen to the ground; he smashed to bits the bars that lock her gates. Her king and princes were taken into exile; there is no more guidance available. As for her prophets, they no longer receive a vision from the LORD.&u05D9; (Yod)\n\t\t\t The elders of Daughter Zion sit on the ground in silence. They have thrown dirt on their heads; They have dressed in sackcloth. Jerusalem's young women stare down at the ground.&u05DB; (Kaf)\n\t\t\t My eyes are worn out from weeping; my stomach is in knots. My heart is poured out on the ground due to the destruction of my helpless people; children and infants faint in the town squares.&u05DC; (Lamed)\n\t\t\t Children say to their mothers, \"Where are food and drink?\" They faint like a wounded warrior in the city squares. They die slowly in their mothers' arms.&u05DE; (Mem)\n\t\t\t With what can I equate you? To what can I compare you, O Daughter Jerusalem? To what can I liken you so that I might comfort you, O Virgin Daughter Zion? Your wound is as deep as the sea. Who can heal you?&u05E0; (Nun)\n\t\t\t Your prophets saw visions for you that were worthless lies. They failed to expose your sin so as to restore your fortunes. They saw oracles for you that were worthless lies.&u05E1; (Samek)\n\t\t\t All who passed by on the road clapped their hands to mock you. They sneered and shook their heads at Daughter Jerusalem. \"Ha! Is this the city they called 'The perfection of beauty, the source of joy of the whole earth!'?\"&u05E4; (Pe)\n\t\t\t All your enemies gloated over you. They sneered and gnashed their teeth; they said, \"We have destroyed her! Ha! We have waited a long time for this day. We have lived to see it!\"&u05E2; (Ayin)\n\t\t\t The LORD has done what he planned; he has fulfilled his promise that he threatened long ago: He has overthrown you without mercy and has enabled the enemy to gloat over you; he has exalted your adversaries' power.&u05E6; (Tsade)\n\t\t\t Cry out from your heart to the Lord, O wall of Daughter Zion! Make your tears flow like a river all day and all night long! Do not rest; do not let your tears stop!&u05E7; (Qof)\n\t\t\t Get up! Cry out in the night when the night watches start! Pour out your heart like water before the face of the Lord! Lift up your hands to him for your children's lives; they are fainting at every street corner.&u05E8; (Resh)\n\t\t\t Look, O LORD! Consider! Whom have you ever afflicted like this? Should women eat their offspring, their healthy infants? Should priest and prophet be killed in the Lord's sanctuary?&u05E9; (Sin/Shin)\n\t\t\t The young boys and old men lie dead on the ground in the streets. My young women and my young men have fallen by the sword. You killed them when you were angry; you slaughtered them without mercy.&u05EA; (Tav)\n\t\t\t As if it were a feast day, you call enemies to terrify me on every side. On the day of the Lord's anger no one escaped or survived. My enemy has finished off those healthy infants whom I bore and raised.&u05D0; (Alef)\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t I am the man who has experienced affliction from the rod of his wrath.\n\t\t\t He drove me into captivity and made me walk in darkness and not light.\n\t\t\t He repeatedly attacks me, he turns his hand against me all day long.&u05D1; (Bet)\n\t\t\t He has made my mortal skin waste away; he has broken my bones.\n\t\t\t He has besieged and surrounded me with bitter hardship.\n\t\t\t He has made me reside in deepest darkness like those who died long ago.&u05D2; (Gimel)\n\t\t\t He has walled me in so that I cannot get out; he has weighted me down with heavy prison chains.\n\t\t\t Also, when I cry out desperately for help, he has shut out my prayer.\n\t\t\t He has blocked every road I take with a wall of hewn stones; he has made every path impassable.&u05D3; (Dalet)\n\t\t\t To me he is like a bear lying in ambush, like a hidden lion stalking its prey.\n\t\t\t He has obstructed my paths and torn me to pieces; he has made me desolate.\n\t\t\t He drew his bow and made me the target for his arrow.&u05D4; (He)\n\t\t\t He shot his arrows into my heart.\n\t\t\t I have become the laughingstock of all people, their mocking song all day long.\n\t\t\t He has given me my fill of bitter herbs and made me drunk with bitterness.&u05D5; (Vav)\n\t\t\t He ground my teeth in gravel; he trampled me in the dust.\n\t\t\t I am deprived of peace; I have forgotten what happiness is.\n\t\t\t So I said, \"My endurance has expired; I have lost all hope of deliverance from the LORD.\"&u05D6; (Zayin)\n\t\t\t Remember my impoverished and homeless condition, which is a bitter poison.\n\t\t\t I continually think about this, and I am depressed.\n\t\t\t But this I call to mind; therefore I have hope:&u05D7; (Khet)\n\t\t\t The LORD's loyal kindness never ceases; his compassions never end.\n\t\t\t They are fresh every morning; your faithfulness is abundant!\n\t\t\t \"My portion is the Lord,\" I have said to myself, so I will put my hope in him.&u05D8; (Tet)\n\t\t\t The LORD is good to those who trust in him, to the one who seeks him.\n\t\t\t It is good to wait patiently for deliverance from the LORD.\n\t\t\t It is good for a man to bear the yoke while he is young.&u05D9; (Yod)\n\t\t\t Let a person sit alone in silence, when the LORD is disciplining him.\n\t\t\t Let him bury his face in the dust; perhaps there is hope.\n\t\t\t Let him offer his cheek to the one who hits him; let him have his fill of insults.&u05DB; (Kaf)\n\t\t\t For the Lord will not reject us forever.\n\t\t\t Though he causes us grief, he then has compassion on us according to the abundance of his loyal kindness.\n\t\t\t For he is not predisposed to afflict or to grieve people.&u05DC; (Lamed)\n\t\t\t To crush underfoot all the earth's prisoners,\n\t\t\t to deprive a person of his rights in the presence of the Most High,\n\t\t\t to defraud a person in a lawsuit, the Lord does not approve of such things!&u05DE; (Mem)\n\t\t\t Whose command was ever fulfilled unless the Lord decreed it?\n\t\t\t Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that everything comes, both calamity and blessing?\n\t\t\t Why should any living person complain when punished for his sins?&u05E0; (Nun)\n\t\t\t Let us carefully examine our ways, and let us return to the LORD.\n\t\t\t Let us lift up our hearts and our hands to God in heaven:\n\t\t\t \"We have blatantly rebelled; you have not forgiven.\"&u05E1; (Samek)\n\t\t\t You shrouded yourself with anger and then pursued us; you killed without mercy.\n\t\t\t You shrouded yourself with a cloud so that no prayer can get through.\n\t\t\t You make us like filthy scum in the estimation of the nations.&u05E4; (Pe)\n\t\t\t All our enemies have gloated over us;\n\t\t\t Panic and pitfall have come upon us, devastation and destruction.\n\t\t\t Streams of tears flow from my eyes because my people are destroyed.&u05E2; (Ayin)\n\t\t\t Tears flow from my eyes and will not stop; there will be no break\n\t\t\t until the LORD looks down from heaven and sees what has happened.\n\t\t\t What my eyes see grieves me, all the suffering of the daughters in my city.&u05E6; (Tsade)\n\t\t\t For no good reason my enemies hunted me down like a bird.\n\t\t\t They shut me up in a pit and threw stones at me.\n\t\t\t The waters closed over my head; I thought I was about to die.&u05E7; (Qof)\n\t\t\t I have called on your name, O LORD, from the deepest pit.\n\t\t\t You heard my plea: \"Do not close your ears to my cry for relief!\"\n\t\t\t You came near on the day I called to you; you said, \"Do not fear!\"&u05E8; (Resh)\n\t\t\t O Lord, you championed my cause, you redeemed my life.\n\t\t\t You have seen the wrong done to me, O LORD; pronounce judgment on my behalf!\n\t\t\t You have seen all their vengeance, all their plots against me.&u05E9; (Sin/Shin)\n\t\t\t You have heard their taunts, O LORD, all their plots against me.\n\t\t\t My assailants revile and conspire against me all day long.\n\t\t\t Watch them from morning to evening; I am the object of their mocking songs.&u05EA; (Tav)\n\t\t\t Pay them back what they deserve, O LORD, according to what they have done.\n\t\t\t Give them a distraught heart; may your curse be on them!\n\t\t\t Pursue them in anger and eradicate them from under the LORD's heaven.&u05D0; (Alef)\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Alas! Gold has lost its luster; pure gold loses value. Jewels are scattered on every street corner.&u05D1; (Bet)\n\t\t\t The precious sons of Zion were worth their weight in gold, Alas!, but now they are treated like broken clay pots, made by a potter.&u05D2; (Gimel)\n\t\t\t Even the jackals nurse their young at their breast, but my people are cruel, like ostriches in the desert.&u05D3; (Dalet)\n\t\t\t The infant's tongue sticks to the roof of its mouth due to thirst; little children beg for bread, but no one gives them even a morsel.&u05D4; (He)\n\t\t\t Those who once feasted on delicacies are now starving to death in the streets. Those who grew up wearing expensive clothes are now dying amid garbage.&u05D5; (Vav)\n\t\t\t The punishment of my people exceeded that of of Sodom, which was overthrown in a moment with no one to help her.&u05D6; (Zayin)\n\t\t\t Her consecrated ones were brighter than snow, whiter than milk; their bodies more ruddy than corals, their hair like lapis lazuli.&u05D7; (Khet)\n\t\t\t Now their appearance is darker than soot; they are not recognized in the streets. Their skin has shriveled on their bones; it is dried up, like tree bark.&u05D8; (Tet)\n\t\t\t Those who died by the sword are better off than those who die of hunger, those who waste away, struck down from lack of food.&u05D9; (Yod)\n\t\t\t The hands of tenderhearted women cooked their own children, who became their food, when my people were destroyed.&u05DB; (Kaf)\n\t\t\t The LORD fully vented his wrath; he poured out his fierce anger. He started a fire in Zion; it consumed her foundations.&u05DC; (Lamed)\n\t\t\t Neither the kings of the earth nor the people of the lands ever thought that enemy or foe would enter the gates of Jerusalem.&u05DE; (Mem)\n\t\t\t But it happened due to the sins of her prophets and the iniquities of her priests, who poured out in her midst the blood of the righteous.&u05E0; (Nun)\n\t\t\t They wander blindly through the streets, defiled by the blood they shed, while no one dares to touch their garments.&u05E1; (Samek)\n\t\t\t People cry to them, \"Turn away! You are unclean! Turn away! Turn away! Don't touch us!\" So they have fled and wander about; but the nations say, \"They may not stay here any longer.\"&u05E4; (Pe)\n\t\t\t The LORD himself has scattered them; he no longer watches over them. They did not honor the priests; they did not show favor to the elders.&u05E2; (Ayin)\n\t\t\t Our eyes continually failed us as we looked in vain for help. From our watchtowers we watched for a nation that could not rescue us.&u05E6; (Tsade)\n\t\t\t Our enemies hunted us down at every step so that we could not walk about in our streets. Our end drew near, our days were numbered, for our end had come!&u05E7; (Qof)\n\t\t\t Those who pursued us were swifter than eagles in the sky. They chased us over the mountains; they ambushed us in the wilderness.&u05E8; (Resh)\n\t\t\t Our very life breath, the LORD's anointed king, was caught in their traps, of whom we thought, \"Under his protection we will survive among the nations.\"&u05E9; (Sin/Shin)\n\t\t\t Rejoice and be glad for now, O people of Edom, who reside in the land of Uz. But the cup of judgment will pass to you also; you will get drunk and take off your clothes.&u05EA; (Tav)\n\t\t\t O people of Zion, your punishment will come to an end; he will not prolong your exile. But, O people of Edom, he will punish your sin and reveal your offenses!\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t O LORD, reflect on what has happened to us; consider and look at our disgrace.\n\t\t\t Our inheritance is turned over to strangers; foreigners now occupy our homes.\n\t\t\t We have become fatherless orphans; our mothers have become widows.\n\t\t\t We must pay money for our own water; we must buy our own wood at a steep price.\n\t\t\t We are pursued, they are breathing down our necks; we are weary and have no rest.\n\t\t\t We have submitted to Egypt and Assyria in order to buy food to eat.\n\t\t\t Our forefathers sinned and are dead, but we suffer their punishment.\n\t\t\t Slaves rule over us; there is no one to rescue us from their power.\n\t\t\t At the risk of our lives we get our food because robbers lurk in the countryside.\n\t\t\t Our skin is hot as an oven due to a fever from hunger.\n\t\t\t They raped women in Zion, virgins in the towns of Judah.\n\t\t\t Princes were hung by their hands; elders were mistreated.\n\t\t\t The young men perform menial labor; boys stagger from their labor.\n\t\t\t The elders are gone from the city gate; the young men have stopped playing their music.\n\t\t\t Our hearts no longer have any joy; our dancing is turned to mourning.\n\t\t\t The crown has fallen from our head; woe to us, for we have sinned!\n\t\t\t Because of this, our hearts are sick; because of these things, we can hardly see through our tears.\n\t\t\t For wild animals are prowling over Mount Zion, which lies desolate.\n\t\t\t But you, O LORD, reign forever; your throne endures from generation to generation.\n\t\t\t Why do you keep on forgetting us? Why do you forsake us so long?\n\t\t\t Bring us back to yourself, O LORD, so that we may return to you; renew our life as in days before,\n\t\t\t unless you have utterly rejected us and are angry with us beyond measure.\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t In the thirtieth year, on the fifth day of the fourth month, while I was among the exiles at the Kebar River, the heavens opened and I saw a divine vision.\n\t\t\t (On the fifth day of the month, it was the fifth year of King Jehoiachin's exile,\n\t\t\t the word of the LORD came to the priest Ezekiel the son of Buzi, at the Kebar River in the land of the Babylonians. The hand of the LORD came on him there).\n\t\t\t As I watched, I noticed a windstorm coming from the north, an enormous cloud, with lightning flashing, such that bright light rimmed it and came from it like glowing amber from the middle of a fire.\n\t\t\t In the fire were what looked like four living beings. In their appearance they had human form,\n\t\t\t but each had four faces and four wings.\n\t\t\t Their legs were straight, but the soles of their feet were like calves' feet. They gleamed like polished bronze. \n\t\t\t They had human hands under their wings on their four sides. As for the faces and wings of the four of them, \n\t\t\t their wings touched each other; they did not turn as they moved, but went straight ahead.\n\t\t\t Their faces had this appearance: Each of the four had the face of a man, with the face of a lion on the right, the face of an ox on the left and also the face of an eagle.\n\t\t\t Their wings were spread out above them; each had two wings touching the wings of one of the other beings on either side and two wings covering their bodies.\n\t\t\t Each moved straight ahead, wherever the spirit would go, they would go, without turning as they went.\n\t\t\t In the middle of the living beings was something like burning coals of fire or like torches. It moved back and forth among the living beings. It was bright, and lightning was flashing out of the fire.\n\t\t\t The living beings moved backward and forward as quickly as flashes of lightning.\n\t\t\t Then I looked, and I saw one wheel on the ground beside each of the four beings.\n\t\t\t The appearance of the wheels and their construction was like gleaming jasper, and all four wheels looked alike. Their structure was like a wheel within a wheel.\n\t\t\t When they moved they would go in any of the four directions they faced without turning as they moved.\n\t\t\t Their rims were high and awesome, and the rims of all four wheels were full of eyes all around.\n\t\t\t When the living beings moved, the wheels beside them moved; when the living beings rose up from the ground, the wheels rose up too.\n\t\t\t Wherever the spirit would go, they would go, and the wheels would rise up beside them because the spirit of the living being was in the wheel. \n\t\t\t When the living beings moved, the wheels moved, and when they stopped moving, the wheels stopped. When they rose up from the ground, the wheels rose up from the ground; the wheels rose up beside them because the spirit of the living being was in the wheel.\n\t\t\t Over the heads of the living beings was something like a platform, glittering awesomely like ice, stretched out over their heads.\n\t\t\t Under the platform their wings were stretched out, each toward the other. Each of the beings also had two wings covering its body. \n\t\t\t When they moved, I heard the sound of their wings, it was like the sound of rushing waters, or the voice of the Almighty, or the tumult of an army. When they stood still, they lowered their wings.\n\t\t\t Then there was a voice from above the platform over their heads when they stood still.\n\t\t\t Above the platform over their heads was something like a sapphire shaped like a throne. High above on the throne was a form that appeared to be a man.\n\t\t\t I saw an amber glow like a fire enclosed all around from his waist up. From his waist down I saw something that looked like fire. There was a brilliant light around it, \n\t\t\t like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds after the rain. This was the appearance of the surrounding brilliant light; it looked like the glory of the LORD. When I saw it, I threw myself face down, and I heard a voice speaking.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t He said to me, \"Son of man, stand on your feet and I will speak with you.\" \n\t\t\t As he spoke to me, a wind came into me and stood me on my feet, and I heard the one speaking to me.\n\t\t\t He said to me, \"Son of man, I am sending you to the house of Israel, to rebellious nations who have rebelled against me; both they and their fathers have revolted against me to this very day. \n\t\t\t The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and hard-hearted, and you must say to them, 'This is what the sovereign LORD says.'\n\t\t\t And as for them, whether they listen or not, for they are a rebellious house, they will know that a prophet has been among them.\n\t\t\t But you, son of man, do not fear them, and do not fear their words, even though briers and thorns surround you and you live among scorpions, do not fear their words and do not be terrified of the looks they give you, for they are a rebellious house!\n\t\t\t You must speak my words to them whether they listen or not, for they are rebellious.\n\t\t\t As for you, son of man, listen to what I am saying to you: Do not rebel like that rebellious house! Open your mouth and eat what I am giving you.\"\n\t\t\t Then I looked and realized a hand was stretched out to me, and in it was a written scroll.\n\t\t\t He unrolled it before me, and it had writing on the front and back; written on it were laments, mourning, and woe.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t He said to me, \"Son of man, eat what you see in front of you, eat this scroll, and then go and speak to the house of Israel.\"\n\t\t\t So I opened my mouth and he fed me the scroll.\n\t\t\t He said to me, \"Son of man, feed your stomach and fill your belly with this scroll I am giving to you.\" So I ate it, and it was sweet like honey in my mouth.\n\t\t\t He said to me, \"Son of man, go to the house of Israel and speak my words to them.\n\t\t\t For you are not being sent to a people of unintelligible speech and difficult language, but to the house of Israel,\n\t\t\t not to many peoples of unintelligible speech and difficult language, whose words you cannot understand, surely if I had sent you to them, they would listen to you!\n\t\t\t But the house of Israel is unwilling to listen to you, because they are not willing to listen to me, for the whole house of Israel is hard-headed and hard-hearted.\n\t\t\t \"I have made your face adamant to match their faces, and your forehead hard to match their foreheads. \n\t\t\t I have made your forehead harder than flint, like diamond! Do not fear them or be terrified of the looks they give you, for they are a rebellious house.\"\n\t\t\t And he said to me, \"Son of man, take all my words that I speak to you to heart and listen carefully.\n\t\t\t Go to the exiles, to your fellow countrymen, and speak to them, say to them, 'This is what the sovereign LORD says,' whether they pay attention or not.\"\n\t\t\t Then a wind lifted me up and I heard a great rumbling sound behind me as the glory of the LORD rose from its place,\n\t\t\t and the sound of the living beings' wings brushing against each other, and the sound of the wheels alongside them, a great rumbling sound.\n\t\t\t A wind lifted me up and carried me away. I went bitterly, my spirit full of fury, and the hand of the LORD rested powerfully on me. \n\t\t\t I came to the exiles at Tel Abib, who lived by the Kebar River. I sat dumbfounded among them there, where they were living, for seven days.\n\t\t\t At the end of seven days the word of the LORD came to me:\n\t\t\t \"Son of man, I have appointed you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you must give them a warning from me. \n\t\t\t When I say to the wicked, \"You will certainly die,\" and you do not warn him, you do not speak out to warn the wicked to turn from his wicked deed and wicked lifestyle so that he may live, that wicked person will die for his iniquity, but I will hold you accountable for his death.\n\t\t\t But as for you, if you warn the wicked and he does not turn from his wicked deed and from his wicked lifestyle, he will die for his iniquity but you will have saved your own life.\n\t\t\t \"When a righteous person turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and I set an obstacle before him, he will die. If you have not warned him, he will die for his sin. The righteous deeds he performed will not be considered, but I will hold you accountable for his death.\n\t\t\t However, if you warn the righteous person not to sin, and he does not sin, he will certainly live because he was warned, and you will have saved your own life.\"\n\t\t\t The hand of the LORD rested on me there, and he said to me, \"Get up, go out to the valley, and I will speak with you there.\" \n\t\t\t So I got up and went out to the valley, and the glory of the LORD was standing there, just like the glory I had seen by the Kebar River, and I threw myself face down.\n\t\t\t Then a wind came into me and stood me on my feet. The LORD spoke to me and said, \"Go shut yourself in your house. \n\t\t\t As for you, son of man, they will put ropes on you and tie you up with them, so you cannot go out among them.\n\t\t\t I will make your tongue stick to the roof of your mouth so that you will be silent and unable to reprove them, for they are a rebellious house. \n\t\t\t But when I speak with you, I will loosen your tongue and you must say to them, 'This is what the sovereign LORD says.' Those who listen will listen, but the indifferent will refuse, for they are a rebellious house.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t \"And you, son of man, take a brick and set it in front of you. Inscribe a city on it, Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t Lay siege to it! Build siege works against it. Erect a siege ramp against it! Post soldiers outside it and station battering rams around it. \n\t\t\t Then for your part take an iron frying pan and set it up as an iron wall between you and the city. Set your face toward it. It is to be under siege; you are to besiege it. This is a sign for the house of Israel.\n\t\t\t \"Also for your part lie on your left side and place the iniquity of the house of Israel on it. For the number of days you lie on your side you will bear their iniquity.\n\t\t\t I have determined that the number of the years of their iniquity are to be the number of days for you, 390 days. So bear the iniquity of the house of Israel.\n\t\t\t \"When you have completed these days, then lie down a second time, but on your right side, and bear the iniquity of the house of Judah 40 days, I have assigned one day for each year.\n\t\t\t You must turn your face toward the siege of Jerusalem with your arm bared and prophesy against it.\n\t\t\t Look here, I will tie you up with ropes, so you cannot turn from one side to the other until you complete the days of your siege.\n\t\t\t \"As for you, take wheat, barley, beans, lentils, millet, and spelt, put them in a single container, and make food from them for yourself. For the same number of days that you lie on your side, 390 days, you will eat it.\n\t\t\t The food you eat will be eight ounces a day by weight; you must eat it at fixed times. \n\t\t\t And you must drink water by measure, a pint and a half; you must drink it at fixed times. \n\t\t\t And you must eat the food like you would a barley cake. You must bake it in front of them over a fire made with dried human excrement.\"\n\t\t\t And the LORD said, \"This is how the people of Israel will eat their unclean food among the nations where I will banish them.\"\n\t\t\t And I said, \"Ah, sovereign LORD, I have never been ceremonially defiled before. I have never eaten a carcass or an animal torn by wild beasts; from my youth up, unclean meat has never entered my mouth.\"\n\t\t\t So he said to me, \"All right then, I will substitute cow's manure instead of human excrement. You will cook your food over it.\"\n\t\t\t Then he said to me, \"Son of man, I am about to remove the bread supply in Jerusalem. They will eat their bread ration anxiously, and they will drink their water ration in terror \n\t\t\t because they will lack bread and water. Each one will be terrified, and they will rot for their iniquity.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t \"As for you, son of man, take a sharp sword and use it as a barber's razor. Shave off some of the hair from your head and your beard. Then take scales and divide up the hair you cut off. \n\t\t\t Burn a third of it in the fire inside the city when the days of your siege are completed. Take a third and slash it with a sword all around the city. Scatter a third to the wind, and I will unleash a sword behind them.\n\t\t\t But take a few strands of hair from those and tie them in the ends of your garment.\n\t\t\t Again, take more of them and throw them into the fire, and burn them up. From there a fire will spread to all the house of Israel.\n\t\t\t \"This is what the sovereign LORD says: This is Jerusalem; I placed her in the center of the nations with countries all around her.\n\t\t\t Then she defied my regulations and my statutes, becoming more wicked than the nations and the countries around her. Indeed, they have rejected my regulations, and they do not follow my statutes.\n\t\t\t \"Therefore this is what the sovereign LORD says: Because you are more arrogant than the nations around you, you have not followed my statutes and have not carried out my regulations. You have not even carried out the regulations of the nations around you!\n\t\t\t \"Therefore this is what the sovereign LORD says: I, even I, am against you, and I will execute judgment among you while the nations watch.\n\t\t\t I will do to you what I have never done before and will never do again because of all your abominable practices.\n\t\t\t Therefore fathers will eat their sons within you, Jerusalem, and sons will eat their fathers. I will execute judgments on you, and I will scatter any survivors to the winds.\n\t\t\t \"Therefore, as surely as I live, says the sovereign LORD, because you defiled my sanctuary with all your detestable idols and with all your abominable practices, I will withdraw; my eye will not pity you, nor will I spare you. \n\t\t\t A third of your people will die of plague or be overcome by the famine within you. A third of your people will fall by the sword surrounding you, and a third I will scatter to the winds. I will unleash a sword behind them. \n\t\t\t Then my anger will be fully vented; I will exhaust my rage on them, and I will be appeased. Then they will know that I, the LORD, have spoken in my jealousy when I have fully vented my rage against them.\n\t\t\t \"I will make you desolate and an object of scorn among the nations around you, in the sight of everyone who passes by.\n\t\t\t You will be an object of scorn and taunting, a prime example of destruction among the nations around you when I execute judgments against you in anger and raging fury. I, the LORD, have spoken! \n\t\t\t I will shoot against them deadly, destructive arrows of famine, which I will shoot to destroy you. I will prolong a famine on you and will remove the bread supply.\n\t\t\t I will send famine and wild beasts against you and they will take your children from you. Plague and bloodshed will overwhelm you, and I will bring a sword against you. I, the LORD, have spoken!\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD came to me:\n\t\t\t \"Son of man, turn toward the mountains of Israel and prophesy against them: \n\t\t\t Say, 'Mountains of Israel, Hear the word of the sovereign LORD! This is what the sovereign LORD says to the mountains and the hills, to the ravines and the valleys: I am bringing a sword against you, and I will destroy your high places.\n\t\t\t Your altars will be ruined and your incense altars will be broken. I will throw down your slain in front of your idols.\n\t\t\t I will place the corpses of the people of Israel in front of their idols, and I will scatter your bones around your altars. \n\t\t\t In all your dwellings, the cities will be laid waste and the high places ruined so that your altars will be laid waste and ruined, your idols will be shattered and demolished, your incense altars will be broken down, and your works wiped out.\n\t\t\t The slain will fall among you and then you will know that I am the LORD.\n\t\t\t \"'But I will spare some of you. Some will escape the sword when you are scattered in foreign lands.\n\t\t\t Then your survivors will remember me among the nations where they are exiled. They will realize how I was crushed by their unfaithful heart which turned from me and by their eyes which lusted after their idols. They will loathe themselves because of the evil they have done and because of all their abominable practices. \n\t\t\t They will know that I am the LORD; my threats to bring this catastrophe on them were not empty.'\n\t\t\t \"'This is what the sovereign LORD says: Clap your hands, stamp your feet, and say, \"Ah!\" because of all the evil, abominable practices of the house of Israel, for they will fall by the sword, famine, and pestilence.\n\t\t\t The one far away will die by pestilence, the one close by will fall by the sword, and whoever is left and has escaped these will die by famine. I will fully vent my rage against them. \n\t\t\t Then you will know that I am the LORD, when their dead lie among their idols around their altars, on every high hill and all the mountaintops, under every green tree and every leafy oak, the places where they have offered fragrant incense to all their idols.\n\t\t\t I will stretch out my hand against them and make the land a desolate waste from the wilderness to Riblah, in all the places where they live. Then they will know that I am the LORD!\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD came to me:\n\t\t\t \"You, son of man, this is what the sovereign LORD says to the land of Israel: An end! The end is coming on the four corners of the land!\n\t\t\t The end is now upon you, and I will release my anger against you; I will judge you according to your behavior, I will hold you accountable for all your abominable practices. \n\t\t\t My eye will not pity you; I will not spare you. For I will hold you responsible for your behavior, and you will suffer the consequences of your abominable practices. Then you will know that I am the LORD!\n\t\t\t \"This is what the sovereign LORD says: A disaster, a one-of-a-kind disaster, is coming!\n\t\t\t An end comes, the end comes! It has awakened against you, the end is upon you! Look, it is coming!\n\t\t\t Doom is coming upon you who live in the land! The time is coming, the day is near. There are sounds of tumult, not shouts of joy, on the mountains.\n\t\t\t Soon now I will pour out my rage on you; I will fully vent my anger against you. I will judge you according to your behavior. I will hold you accountable for all your abominable practices. \n\t\t\t My eye will not pity you; I will not spare you. For your behavior I will hold you accountable, and you will suffer the consequences of your abominable practices. Then you will know that it is I, the LORD, who is striking you.\n\t\t\t \"Look, the day! Look, it is coming! Doom has gone out! The staff has budded, pride has blossomed!\n\t\t\t Violence has grown into a staff that supports wickedness. Not one of them will be left, not from their crowd, not from their wealth, not from their prominence.\n\t\t\t The time has come; the day has struck! The customer should not rejoice, nor the seller mourn; for divine wrath comes against their whole crowd. \n\t\t\t The customer will no longer pay the seller while both parties are alive, for the vision against their whole crowd will not be revoked. Each person, for his iniquity, will fail to preserve his life.\n\t\t\t \"They have blown the trumpet and everyone is ready, but no one goes to battle, because my anger is against their whole crowd.\n\t\t\t The sword is outside; pestilence and famine are inside the house. Whoever is in the open field will die by the sword, and famine and pestilence will consume everyone in the city.\n\t\t\t Their survivors will escape to the mountains and become like doves of the valleys; all of them will moan, each one for his iniquity.\n\t\t\t All of their hands will hang limp; their knees will be wet with urine.\n\t\t\t They will wear sackcloth, terror will cover them; shame will be on all their faces, and all of their heads will be shaved bald.\n\t\t\t They will discard their silver in the streets, and their gold will be treated like filth. Their silver and gold will not be able to deliver them on the day of the LORD's fury. They will not satisfy their hunger or fill their stomachs because their wealth was the obstacle leading to their iniquity.\n\t\t\t They rendered the beauty of his ornaments into pride, and with it they made their abominable images, their detestable idols. Therefore I will render it filthy to them.\n\t\t\t I will give it to foreigners as loot, to the world's wicked ones as plunder, and they will desecrate it.\n\t\t\t I will turn my face away from them and they will desecrate my treasured place. Vandals will enter it and desecrate it.\n\t\t\t (Make the chain, because the land is full of murder and the city is full of violence.) \n\t\t\t I will bring the most wicked of the nations and they will take possession of their houses. I will put an end to the arrogance of the strong, and their sanctuaries will be desecrated. \n\t\t\t Terror is coming! They will seek peace, but find none. \n\t\t\t Disaster after disaster will come, and one rumor after another. They will seek a vision from a prophet; priestly instruction will disappear, along with counsel from the elders.\n\t\t\t The king will mourn and the prince will be clothed with shuddering; the hands of the people of the land will tremble. Based on their behavior I will deal with them, and by their standard of justice I will judge them. Then they will know that I am the LORD!\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t In the sixth year, in the sixth month, on the fifth of the month, as I was sitting in my house with the elders of Judah sitting in front of me, the hand of the sovereign LORD seized me.\n\t\t\t As I watched, I noticed a form that appeared to be a man. From his waist downward was something like fire, and from his waist upward something like a brightness, like an amber glow.\n\t\t\t He stretched out the form of a hand and grabbed me by a lock of hair on my head. Then a wind lifted me up between the earth and sky and brought me to Jerusalem by means of divine visions, to the door of the inner gate which faces north where the statue which provokes to jealousy was located. \n\t\t\t Then I perceived that the glory of the God of Israel was there, as in the vision I had seen earlier in the valley.\n\t\t\t He said to me, \"Son of man, look up toward the north.\" So I looked up toward the north, and I noticed to the north of the altar gate was this statue of jealousy at the entrance.\n\t\t\t He said to me, \"Son of man, do you see what they are doing, the great abominations that the people of Israel are practicing here, to drive me far from my sanctuary? But you will see greater abominations than these!\"\n\t\t\t He brought me to the entrance of the court, and as I watched, I noticed a hole in the wall.\n\t\t\t He said to me, \"Son of man, dig into the wall.\" So I dug into the wall and discovered a doorway.\n\t\t\t He said to me, \"Go in and see the evil abominations they are practicing here.\"\n\t\t\t So I went in and looked. I noticed every figure of creeping thing and beast, detestable images, and every idol of the house of Israel, engraved on the wall all around.\n\t\t\t Seventy men from the elders of the house of Israel (with Jaazaniah son of Shaphan standing among them) were standing in front of them, each with a censer in his hand, and fragrant vapors from a cloud of incense were swirling upward.\n\t\t\t He said to me, \"Do you see, son of man, what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the dark, each in the chamber of his idolatrous images? For they think, 'The LORD does not see us! The LORD has abandoned the land!'\" \n\t\t\t He said to me, \"You will see them practicing even greater abominations!\"\n\t\t\t Then he brought me to the entrance of the north gate of the LORD's house. I noticed women sitting there weeping for Tammuz.\n\t\t\t He said to me, \"Do you see this, son of man? You will see even greater abominations than these!\"\n\t\t\t Then he brought me to the inner court of the LORD's house. Right there at the entrance to the LORD's temple, between the porch and the altar, were about twenty-five men with their backs to the LORD's temple, facing east, they were worshiping the sun toward the east!\n\t\t\t He said to me, \"Do you see, son of man? Is it a trivial thing that the house of Judah commits these abominations they are practicing here? For they have filled the land with violence and provoked me to anger still further. Look, they are putting the branch to their nose!\n\t\t\t Therefore I will act with fury! My eye will not pity them nor will I spare them. When they have shouted in my ears, I will not listen to them.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then he shouted in my ears, \"Approach, you who are to visit destruction on the city, each with his destructive weapon in his hand!\" \n\t\t\t Next, I noticed six men coming from the direction of the upper gate which faces north, each with his war club in his hand. Among them was a man dressed in linen with a writing kit at his side. They came and stood beside the bronze altar.\n\t\t\t Then the glory of the God of Israel went up from the cherub where it had rested to the threshold of the temple. He called to the man dressed in linen who had the writing kit at his side. \n\t\t\t The LORD said to him, \"Go through the city of Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of the people who moan and groan over all the abominations practiced in it.\"\n\t\t\t While I listened, he said to the others, \"Go through the city after him and strike people down; do no let your eye pity nor spare anyone! \n\t\t\t Old men, young men, young women, little children, and women, wipe them out! But do not touch anyone who has the mark. Begin at my sanctuary!\" So they began with the elders who were at the front of the temple.\n\t\t\t He said to them, \"Defile the temple and fill the courtyards with corpses. Go!\" So they went out and struck people down throughout the city.\n\t\t\t While they were striking them down, I was left alone, and I threw myself face down and cried out, \"Ah, sovereign LORD! Will you destroy the entire remnant of Israel when you pour out your fury on Jerusalem?\"\n\t\t\t He said to me, \"The sin of the house of Israel and Judah is extremely great; the land is full of murder, and the city is full of corruption, for they say, 'The LORD has abandoned the land, and the LORD does not see!'\n\t\t\t But as for me, my eye will not pity them nor will I spare them; I hereby repay them for what they have done.\"\n\t\t\t Next I noticed the man dressed in linen with the writing kit at his side bringing back word: \"I have done just as you commanded me.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t As I watched, I saw on the platform above the top of the cherubim something like a sapphire, resembling the shape of a throne, appearing above them. \n\t\t\t The LORD said to the man dressed in linen, \"Go between the wheelwork underneath the cherubim. Fill your hands with burning coals from among the cherubim and scatter them over the city.\" He went as I watched.\n\t\t\t (The cherubim were standing on the south side of the temple when the man went in, and a cloud filled the inner court.) \n\t\t\t Then the glory of the LORD arose from the cherub and moved to the threshold of the temple. The temple was filled with the cloud while the court was filled with the brightness of the LORD's glory.\n\t\t\t The sound of the wings of the cherubim could be heard from the outer court, like the sound of the sovereign God when he speaks.\n\t\t\t When the LORD commanded the man dressed in linen, \"Take fire from within the wheelwork, from among the cherubim,\" the man went in and stood by one of the wheels.\n\t\t\t Then one of the cherubim stretched out his hand toward the fire which was among the cherubim. He took some and put it into the hands of the man dressed in linen, who took it and left. \n\t\t\t (The cherubim appeared to have the form of human hands under their wings.)\n\t\t\t As I watched, I noticed four wheels by the cherubim, one wheel beside each cherub; the wheels gleamed like jasper.\n\t\t\t As for their appearance, all four of them looked the same, something like a wheel within a wheel.\n\t\t\t When they moved, they would go in any of the four directions they faced without turning as they moved; in the direction the head would turn they would follow without turning as they moved, \n\t\t\t along with their entire bodies, their backs, their hands, and their wings. The wheels of the four of them were full of eyes all around. \n\t\t\t As for their wheels, they were called \"the wheelwork\" as I listened. \n\t\t\t Each of the cherubim had four faces: The first was the face of a cherub, the second that of a man, the third that of a lion, and the fourth that of an eagle.\n\t\t\t The cherubim rose up; these were the living beings I saw at the Kebar River. \n\t\t\t When the cherubim moved, the wheels moved beside them; when the cherubim spread their wings to rise from the ground, the wheels did not move from their side.\n\t\t\t When the cherubim stood still, the wheels stood still, and when they rose up, the wheels rose up with them, for the spirit of the living beings was in the wheels.\n\t\t\t Then the glory of the LORD moved away from the threshold of the temple and stopped above the cherubim.\n\t\t\t The cherubim spread their wings, and they rose up from the earth while I watched (when they went the wheels went alongside them). They stopped at the entrance to the east gate of the LORD's temple as the glory of the God of Israel hovered above them.\n\t\t\t These were the living creatures which I saw at the Kebar River underneath the God of Israel; I knew that they were cherubim. \n\t\t\t Each had four faces; each had four wings and the form of human hands under the wings.\n\t\t\t As for the form of their faces, they were the faces whose appearance I had seen at the Kebar River. Each one moved straight ahead.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t A wind lifted me up and brought me to the east gate of the Lord's temple that faces the east. There, at the entrance of the gate, I noticed twenty-five men. Among them I saw Jaazaniah son of Azzur and Pelatiah son of Benaiah, officials of the people.\n\t\t\t The LORD said to me, \"Son of man, these are the men who plot evil and give wicked advice in this city. \n\t\t\t They say, 'The time is not near to build houses; the city is a cooking pot and we are the meat in it.' \n\t\t\t Therefore, prophesy against them! Prophesy, son of man!\"\n\t\t\t Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon me and said to me, \"Say: This is what the LORD says: 'This is what you are thinking, O house of Israel; I know what goes through your minds.\n\t\t\t You have killed many people in this city; you have filled its streets with corpses.'\n\t\t\t Therefore, this is what the sovereign LORD says: 'The corpses you have dumped in the midst of the city are the meat, and this city is the cooking pot, but I will take you out of it.\n\t\t\t You fear the sword, so the sword I will bring against you,' declares the sovereign LORD.\n\t\t\t 'But I will take you out of the city. And I will hand you over to foreigners. I will execute judgments on you. \n\t\t\t You will die by the sword; I will judge you at the border of Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD.\n\t\t\t This city will not be a cooking pot for you, and you will not be meat within it; I will judge you at the border of Israel. \n\t\t\t Then you will know that I am the LORD, whose statutes you have not followed and whose regulations you have not carried out. Instead you have behaved according to the regulations of the nations around you!'\"\n\t\t\t Now, while I was prophesying, Pelatiah son of Benaiah died. Then I threw myself face down and cried out with a loud voice, \"Alas, sovereign LORD! You are completely wiping out the remnant of Israel!\"\n\t\t\t Then the word of the LORD came to me:\n\t\t\t \"Son of man, your brothers, your relatives, and the whole house of Israel, all of them are those to whom the inhabitants of Jerusalem have said, 'They have gone far away from the LORD; to us this land has been given as a possession.'\n\t\t\t \"Therefore say: 'This is what the sovereign LORD says: Although I have removed them far away among the nations and have dispersed them among the countries, I have been a little sanctuary for them among the lands where they have gone.'\n\t\t\t \"Therefore say: 'This is what the sovereign LORD says: When I regather you from the peoples and assemble you from the lands where you have been dispersed, I will give you back the country of Israel.'\n\t\t\t \"When they return to it, they will remove from it all its detestable things and all its abominations.\n\t\t\t I will give them one heart and I will put a new spirit within them; I will remove the hearts of stone from their bodies and I will give them tender hearts,\n\t\t\t so that they may follow my statutes and observe my regulations and carry them out. Then they will be my people, and I will be their God.\n\t\t\t But those whose hearts are devoted to detestable things and abominations, I hereby repay them for what they have done, says the sovereign LORD.\"\n\t\t\t Then the cherubim spread their wings with their wheels alongside them while the glory of the God of Israel hovered above them. \n\t\t\t The glory of the LORD rose up from within the city and stopped over the mountain east of it. \n\t\t\t Then a wind lifted me up and carried me to the exiles in Babylonia, in the vision given to me by the Spirit of God. Then the vision I had seen went up from me.\n\t\t\t So I told the exiles everything the LORD had shown me.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD came to me:\n\t\t\t \"Son of man, you are living in the midst of a rebellious house. They have eyes to see, but do not see, and ears to hear, but do not hear, because they are a rebellious house.\n\t\t\t \"Therefore, son of man, pack up your belongings as if for exile. During the day, while they are watching, pretend to go into exile. Go from where you live to another place. Perhaps they will understand, although they are a rebellious house. \n\t\t\t Bring out your belongings packed for exile during the day while they are watching. And go out at evening, while they are watching, as if for exile.\n\t\t\t While they are watching, dig a hole in the wall and carry your belongings out through it.\n\t\t\t While they are watching, raise your baggage onto your shoulder and carry it out in the dark. You must cover your face so that you cannot see the ground because I have made you an object lesson to the house of Israel.\"\n\t\t\t So I did just as I was commanded. I carried out my belongings packed for exile during the day, and at evening I dug myself a hole through the wall with my hands. I went out in the darkness, carrying my baggage on my shoulder while they watched.\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD came to me in the morning:\n\t\t\t \"Son of man, has not the house of Israel, that rebellious house, said to you, 'What are you doing?'\n\t\t\t Say to them, 'This is what the sovereign LORD says: The prince will raise this burden in Jerusalem, and all the house of Israel within it.'\n\t\t\t Say, 'I am an object lesson for you. Just as I have done, it will be done to them; they will go into exile and captivity.'\n\t\t\t \"The prince who is among them will raise his belongings onto his shoulder in darkness, and will go out. He will dig a hole in the wall to leave through. He will cover his face so that he cannot see the land with his eyes. \n\t\t\t But I will throw my net over him, and he will be caught in my snare. I will bring him to Babylon, the land of the Chaldeans (but he will not see it), and there he will die.\n\t\t\t All his retinue, his attendants and his troops, I will scatter to every wind; I will unleash a sword behind them.\n\t\t\t \"Then they will know that I am the LORD when I disperse them among the nations and scatter them among foreign countries.\n\t\t\t But I will let a small number of them survive the sword, famine, and pestilence, so that they can confess all their abominable practices to the nations where they go. Then they will know that I am the LORD.\"\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD came to me:\n\t\t\t \"Son of man, eat your bread with trembling, and drink your water with anxious shaking. \n\t\t\t Then say to the people of the land, 'This is what the sovereign LORD says about the inhabitants of Jerusalem and of the land of Israel: They will eat their bread with anxiety and drink their water in fright, for their land will be stripped bare of all it contains because of the violence of all who live in it.\n\t\t\t The inhabited towns will be left in ruins and the land will be devastated. Then you will know that I am the LORD.'\"\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD came to me:\n\t\t\t \"Son of man, what is this proverb you have in the land of Israel, 'The days pass slowly, and every vision fails'?\n\t\t\t Therefore tell them, 'This is what the sovereign LORD says: I hereby end this proverb; they will not recite it in Israel any longer.' But say to them, 'The days are at hand when every vision will be fulfilled.\n\t\t\t For there will no longer be any false visions or flattering omens amidst the house of Israel.\n\t\t\t For I, the LORD, will speak. Whatever word I speak will be accomplished. It will not be delayed any longer. Indeed in your days, O rebellious house, I will speak the word and accomplish it, declares the sovereign LORD.'\"\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD came to me:\n\t\t\t \"Take note, son of man, the house of Israel is saying, 'The vision that he sees is for distant days; he is prophesying about the far future.'\n\t\t\t Therefore say to them, 'This is what the sovereign LORD says: None of my words will be delayed any longer! The word I speak will come to pass, declares the sovereign LORD.'\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then the word of the LORD came to me:\n\t\t\t \"Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who are now prophesying. Say to the prophets who prophesy from their imagination: 'Hear the word of the LORD! \n\t\t\t This is what the sovereign LORD says: Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit but have seen nothing!\n\t\t\t Your prophets have become like jackals among the ruins, O Israel.\n\t\t\t You have not gone up in the breaks in the wall, nor repaired a wall for the house of Israel that it would stand strong in the battle on the day of the LORD.\n\t\t\t They see delusion and their omens are a lie. They say, \"the LORD declares,\" though the LORD has not sent them; yet they expect their word to be confirmed.\n\t\t\t Have you not seen a false vision and announced a lying omen when you say, \"the LORD declares,\" although I myself never spoke?\n\t\t\t \"'Therefore, this is what the sovereign LORD says: Because you have spoken false words and forecast delusion, look, I am against you, declares the sovereign LORD. \n\t\t\t My hand will be against the prophets who see delusion and announce lying omens. They will not be included in the council of my people, nor be written in the registry of the house of Israel, nor enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the sovereign LORD.\n\t\t\t \"'This is because they have led my people astray saying, \"All is well,\" when things are not well. When anyone builds a wall without mortar, they coat it with whitewash. \n\t\t\t Tell the ones who coat it with whitewash that it will fall. When there is a deluge of rain, hailstones will fall and a violent wind will break out.\n\t\t\t When the wall has collapsed, people will ask you, \"Where is the whitewash you coated it with?\"\n\t\t\t \"'Therefore this is what the sovereign LORD says: In my rage I will make a violent wind break out. In my anger there will be a deluge of rain and hailstones in destructive fury.\n\t\t\t I will break down the wall you coated with whitewash and knock it to the ground so that its foundation is exposed. When it falls you will be destroyed beneath it, and you will know that I am the LORD. \n\t\t\t I will vent my rage against the wall, and against those who coated it with whitewash. Then I will say to you, \"The wall is no more and those who whitewashed it are no more,\n\t\t\t those prophets of Israel who would prophesy about Jerusalem and would see visions of peace for it, when there was no peace,\" declares the sovereign LORD.'\n\t\t\t \"As for you, son of man, turn toward the daughters of your people who are prophesying from their imagination. Prophesy against them \n\t\t\t and say 'This is what the sovereign LORD says: Woe to those who sew bands on all their wrists and make headbands for heads of every size to entrap people's lives! Will you entrap my people's lives, yet preserve your own lives? \n\t\t\t You have profaned me among my people for handfuls of barley and scraps of bread. You have put to death people who should not die and kept alive those who should not live by your lies to my people, who listen to lies!\n\t\t\t \"'Therefore, this is what the sovereign LORD says: Take note that I am against your wristbands with which you entrap people's lives like birds. I will tear them from your arms and will release the people's lives, which you hunt like birds. \n\t\t\t I will tear off your headbands and rescue my people from your power; they will no longer be prey in your hands. Then you will know that I am the LORD. \n\t\t\t This is because you have disheartened the righteous person with lies (although I have not grieved him), and because you have encouraged the wicked person not to turn from his evil conduct and preserve his life.\n\t\t\t Therefore you will no longer see false visions and practice divination. I will rescue my people from your power, and you will know that I am the LORD.'\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then some men from Israel's elders came to me and sat down in front of me.\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD came to me:\n\t\t\t \"Son of man, these men have erected their idols in their hearts and placed the obstacle leading to their iniquity right before their faces. Should I really allow them to seek me? \n\t\t\t Therefore speak to them and say to them, 'This is what the sovereign LORD says: When any one from the house of Israel erects his idols in his heart and sets the obstacle leading to his iniquity before his face, and then consults a prophet, I the LORD am determined to answer him personally according to the enormity of his idolatry.\n\t\t\t I will do this in order to capture the hearts of the house of Israel, who have alienated themselves from me on account of all their idols.'\n\t\t\t \"Therefore say to the house of Israel, 'This is what the sovereign LORD says: Return! Turn from your idols, and turn your faces away from your abominations.\n\t\t\t For when anyone from the house of Israel, or the foreigner who lives in Israel, separates himself from me and erects his idols in his heart and sets the obstacle leading to his iniquity before his face, and then consults a prophet to seek something from me, I the LORD am determined to answer him personally.\n\t\t\t I will set my face against that person and will make him an object lesson and a byword and will cut him off from among my people. Then you will know that I am the LORD.\n\t\t\t \"'As for the prophet, if he is made a fool by being deceived into speaking a prophetic word, I, the LORD, have made a fool of that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand against him and destroy him from among my people Israel.\n\t\t\t They will bear their punishment; the punishment of the one who sought an oracle will be the same as the punishment of the prophet who gave it\n\t\t\t so that the house of Israel will no longer go astray from me, nor continue to defile themselves by all their sins. They will be my people and I will be their God, declares the sovereign LORD.'\"\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD came to me:\n\t\t\t \"Son of man, suppose a country sins against me by being unfaithful, and I stretch out my hand against it, cut off its bread supply, cause famine to come on it, and kill both people and animals.\n\t\t\t Even if these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they would save only their own lives by their righteousness, declares the sovereign LORD.\n\t\t\t \"Suppose I were to send wild animals through the land and kill its children, leaving it desolate, without travelers due to the wild animals.\n\t\t\t Even if these three men were in it, as surely as I live, declares the sovereign LORD, they could not save their own sons or daughters; they would save only their own lives, and the land would become desolate.\n\t\t\t \"Or suppose I were to bring a sword against that land and say, 'Let a sword pass through the land,' and I were to kill both people and animals.\n\t\t\t Even if these three men were in it, as surely as I live, declares the sovereign LORD, they could not save their own sons or daughters, they would save only their own lives.\n\t\t\t \"Or suppose I were to send a plague into that land, and pour out my rage on it with bloodshed, killing both people and animals.\n\t\t\t Even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, as surely as I live, declares the sovereign LORD, they could not save their own son or daughter; they would save only their own lives by their righteousness.\n\t\t\t \"For this is what the sovereign LORD says: How much worse will it be when I send my four terrible judgments, sword, famine, wild animals, and plague, to Jerusalem to kill both people and animals!\n\t\t\t Yet some survivors will be left in it, sons and daughters who will be brought out. They will come out to you, and when you see their behavior and their deeds, you will be consoled about the catastrophe I have brought on Jerusalem, for everything I brought on it.\n\t\t\t They will console you when you see their behavior and their deeds, because you will know that it was not without reason that I have done everything which I have done in it, declares the sovereign LORD.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD came to me:\n\t\t\t \"Son of man, of all the woody branches among the trees of the forest, what happens to the wood of the vine?\n\t\t\t Can wood be taken from it to make anything useful? Or can anyone make a peg from it to hang things on?\n\t\t\t No! It is thrown in the fire for fuel; when the fire has burned up both ends of it and it is charred in the middle, will it be useful for anything? \n\t\t\t Indeed! If it was not made into anything useful when it was whole, how much less can it be made into anything when the fire has burned it up and it is charred?\n\t\t\t \"Therefore, this is what the sovereign LORD says: Like the wood of the vine is among the trees of the forest which I have provided as fuel for the fire, so I will provide the residents of Jerusalem as fuel.\n\t\t\t I will set my face against them, although they have escaped from the fire, the fire will still consume them! Then you will know that I am the LORD, when I set my face against them.\n\t\t\t I will make the land desolate because they have acted unfaithfully, declares the sovereign LORD.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD came to me:\n\t\t\t \"Son of man, confront Jerusalem with her abominable practices \n\t\t\t and say, 'This is what the sovereign LORD says to Jerusalem: Your origin and your birth were in the land of the Canaanites; your father was an Amorite and your mother a Hittite.\n\t\t\t As for your birth, on the day you were born your umbilical cord was not cut, nor were you washed in water; you were certainly not rubbed down with salt, nor wrapped with blankets.\n\t\t\t No eye took pity on you to do even one of these things for you to spare you; you were thrown out into the open field because you were detested on the day you were born.\n\t\t\t \"'I passed by you and saw you kicking around helplessly in your blood. I said to you as you lay there in your blood, \"Live!\" I said to you as you lay there in your blood, \"Live!\"\n\t\t\t I made you plentiful like sprouts in a field; you grew tall and came of age so that you could wear jewelry. Your breasts had formed and your hair had grown, but you were still naked and bare.\n\t\t\t \"'Then I passed by you and watched you, noticing that you had reached the age for love. I spread my cloak over you and covered your nakedness. I swore a solemn oath to you and entered into a marriage covenant with you, declares the sovereign LORD, and you became mine.\n\t\t\t \"'Then I bathed you in water, washed the blood off you, and anointed you with fragrant oil.\n\t\t\t I dressed you in embroidered clothing and put fine leather sandals on your feet. I wrapped you with fine linen and covered you with silk.\n\t\t\t I adorned you with jewelry. I put bracelets on your hands and a necklace around your neck.\n\t\t\t I put a ring in your nose, earrings on your ears, and a beautiful crown on your head.\n\t\t\t You were adorned with gold and silver, while your clothing was of fine linen, silk, and embroidery. You ate the finest flour, honey, and olive oil. You became extremely beautiful and attained the position of royalty.\n\t\t\t Your fame spread among the nations because of your beauty; your beauty was perfect because of the splendor which I bestowed on you, declares the sovereign LORD.\n\t\t\t \"'But you trusted in your beauty and capitalized on your fame by becoming a prostitute. You offered your sexual favors to every man who passed by so that your beauty became his. \n\t\t\t You took some of your clothing and made for yourself decorated high places; you engaged in prostitution on them. You went to him to become his.\n\t\t\t You also took your beautiful jewelry, made of my gold and my silver I had given to you, and made for yourself male images and engaged in prostitution with them. \n\t\t\t You took your embroidered clothing and used it to cover them; you offered my olive oil and my incense to them.\n\t\t\t As for my food that I gave you, the fine flour, olive oil, and honey I fed you, you placed it before them as a soothing aroma. That is exactly what happened, declares the sovereign LORD.\n\t\t\t \"'You took your sons and your daughters whom you bore to me and you sacrificed them as food for the idols to eat. As if your prostitution not enough, \n\t\t\t you slaughtered my children and sacrificed them to the idols.\n\t\t\t And with all your abominable practices and prostitution you did not remember the days of your youth when you were naked and bare, kicking around in your blood.\n\t\t\t \"'After all of your evil, \"Woe! Woe to you!\" declares the sovereign LORD,\n\t\t\t you built yourself a chamber and put up a pavilion in every public square. \n\t\t\t At the head of every street you erected your pavilion and you disgraced your beauty when you spread your legs to every passerby and multiplied your promiscuity. \n\t\t\t You engaged in prostitution with the Egyptians, your sexually aroused neighbors, multiplying your promiscuity and provoking me to anger. \n\t\t\t So see here, I have stretched out my hand against you and cut off your rations. I have delivered you into the power of those who hate you, the daughters of the Philistines, who were ashamed by your obscene conduct.\n\t\t\t You engaged in prostitution with the Assyrians because your sexual desires were insatiable; you prostituted yourself with them and yet you were still not satisfied.\n\t\t\t Then you multiplied your promiscuity to the land of merchants, Babylonia, but you were not satisfied there either.\n\t\t\t \"'How sick is your heart, declares the sovereign LORD, when you perform all of these acts, the deeds of a bold prostitute.\n\t\t\t When you built your chamber at the head of every street and put up your pavilion in every public square, you were not like a prostitute, because you scoffed at payment.\n\t\t\t \"'Adulterous wife, who prefers strangers instead of her own husband!\n\t\t\t All prostitutes receive payment, but instead you give gifts to every one of your lovers. You bribe them to come to you from all around for your sexual favors! \n\t\t\t You were different from other prostitutes because no one solicited you. When you gave payment and no payment was given to you, you became the opposite!\n\t\t\t \"'Therefore O prostitute, hear the word of the LORD:\n\t\t\t This is what the sovereign LORD says: Because your lust was poured out and your nakedness was uncovered in your prostitution with your lovers, and because of all your detestable idols, and because of the blood of your children you have given to them, \n\t\t\t therefore, take note: I am about to gather all your lovers whom you enjoyed, both all those you loved and all those you hated. I will gather them against you from all around, and I will expose your nakedness to them, and they will see all your nakedness.\n\t\t\t I will punish you as an adulteress and murderer deserves. I will avenge your bloody deeds with furious rage.\n\t\t\t I will give you into their hands and they will destroy your chambers and tear down your pavilions. They will strip you of your clothing and take your beautiful jewelry and leave you naked and bare.\n\t\t\t They will summon a mob who will stone you and hack you in pieces with their swords.\n\t\t\t They will burn down your houses and execute judgments on you in front of many women. Thus I will put a stop to your prostitution, and you will no longer give gifts to your clients.\n\t\t\t I will exhaust my rage on you, and then my fury will turn from you. I will calm down and no longer be angry.\n\t\t\t \"'Because you did not remember the days of your youth and have enraged me with all these deeds, I hereby repay you for what you have done, declares the sovereign LORD. Have you not engaged in prostitution on top of all your other abominable practices?\n\t\t\t \"'Observe, everyone who quotes proverbs will quote this proverb about you: \"Like mother, like daughter.\"\n\t\t\t You are the daughter of your mother, who detested her husband and her sons, and you are the sister of your sisters who detested their husbands and their sons. Your mother was a Hittite and your father an Amorite.\n\t\t\t Your older sister was Samaria, who lived north of you with her daughters, and your younger sister, who lived south of you, was Sodom with her daughters. \n\t\t\t Have you not copied their behavior and practiced their abominable deeds? In a short time you became even more depraved in all your conduct than they were! \n\t\t\t As surely as I live, declares the sovereign LORD, your sister Sodom and her daughters never behaved as wickedly as you and your daughters have behaved.\n\t\t\t \"'See here, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters had majesty, abundance of food, and enjoyed carefree ease, but they did not help the poor and needy.\n\t\t\t They were haughty and practiced abominable deeds before me. Therefore when I saw it I removed them.\n\t\t\t Samaria has not committed half the sins you have; you have done more abominable deeds than they did. You have made your sisters appear righteous with all the abominable things you have done. \n\t\t\t So now, bear your disgrace, because you have given your sisters reason to justify their behavior. Because the sins you have committed were more abominable than those of your sisters; they have become more righteous than you. So now, be ashamed and bear the disgrace of making your sisters appear righteous.\n\t\t\t \"'I will restore their fortunes, the fortunes of Sodom and her daughters, and the fortunes of Samaria and her daughters (along with your fortunes among them),\n\t\t\t so that you may bear your disgrace and be ashamed of all you have done in consoling them.\n\t\t\t As for your sisters, Sodom and her daughters will be restored to their former status, Samaria and her daughters will be restored to their former status, and you and your daughters will be restored to your former status.\n\t\t\t In your days of majesty, was not Sodom your sister a byword in your mouth, \n\t\t\t before your evil was exposed? Now you have become an object of scorn to the daughters of Aram and all those around her and to the daughters of the Philistines, those all around you who despise you.\n\t\t\t You must bear your punishment for your obscene conduct and your abominable practices, declares the LORD.\n\t\t\t \"'For this is what the sovereign LORD says: I will deal with you according to what you have done when you despised your oath by breaking your covenant.\n\t\t\t Yet I will remember the covenant I made with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish a lasting covenant with you. \n\t\t\t Then you will remember your conduct, and be ashamed when you receive your older and younger sisters. I will give them to you as daughters, but not on account of my covenant with you.\n\t\t\t I will establish my covenant with you, and then you will know that I am the LORD.\n\t\t\t Then you will remember, be ashamed, and remain silent when I make atonement for all you have done, declares the sovereign LORD.'\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD came to me:\n\t\t\t \"Son of man, offer a riddle, and tell a parable to the house of Israel. \n\t\t\t Say to them: 'This is what the sovereign LORD says: \"'A great eagle with broad wings, long feathers, with full plumage which was multi-hued, came to Lebanon and took the top of the cedar.\n\t\t\t He plucked off its topmost shoot; he brought it to a land of merchants and planted it in a city of traders.\n\t\t\t He took one of the seedlings of the land, placed it in a cultivated plot; a shoot by abundant water, like a willow he planted it.\n\t\t\t It sprouted and became a vine, spreading low to the ground; its branches turning toward him, its roots were under itself. So it became a vine; it produced shoots and sent out branches.\n\t\t\t \"'There was another great eagle with broad wings and thick plumage. Now this vine twisted its roots toward him and sent its branches toward him to be watered from the soil where it was planted.\n\t\t\t In a good field, by abundant waters, it was planted to grow branches, bear fruit, and become a beautiful vine.\n\t\t\t \"'Say to them: This is what the sovereign LORD says: \"'Will it prosper? Will he not rip out its roots and cause its fruit to rot and wither? All its foliage will wither. No strong arm or large army will be needed to pull it out by its roots.\n\t\t\t Consider! It is planted, but will it prosper? Will it not wither completely when the east wind blows on it? Will it not wither in the soil where it sprouted?'\"\n\t\t\t Then the word of the LORD came to me:\n\t\t\t \"Say to the rebellious house of Israel: 'Don't you know what these things mean?' Say: 'See here, the king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and took her king and her officials prisoner and brought them to himself in Babylon. \n\t\t\t He took one from the royal family, made a treaty with him, and put him under oath. He then took the leaders of the land \n\t\t\t so it would be a lowly kingdom which could not rise on its own but must keep its treaty with him in order to stand.\n\t\t\t But this one from Israel's royal family rebelled against the king of Babylon by sending his emissaries to Egypt to obtain horses and a large army. Will he prosper? Will the one doing these things escape? Can he break the covenant and escape?\n\t\t\t \"'As surely as I live, declares the sovereign LORD, surely in the city of the king who crowned him, whose oath he despised and whose covenant he broke, in the middle of Babylon he will die!\n\t\t\t Pharaoh with his great army and mighty horde will not help him in battle, when siege ramps are erected and siege-walls are built to kill many people. \n\t\t\t He despised the oath by breaking the covenant. Take note, he gave his promise and did all these things, he will not escape!\n\t\t\t \"'Therefore this is what the sovereign LORD says: As surely as I live, I will certainly repay him for despising my oath and breaking my covenant! \n\t\t\t I will throw my net over him and he will be caught in my snare; I will bring him to Babylon and judge him there because of the unfaithfulness he committed against me.\n\t\t\t All the choice men among his troops will die by the sword and the survivors will be scattered to every wind. Then you will know that I, the LORD, have spoken!\n\t\t\t \"'This is what the sovereign LORD says: \"'I will take a sprig from the lofty top of the cedar and plant it. I will pluck from the top one of its tender twigs; I myself will plant it on a high and lofty mountain.\n\t\t\t I will plant it on a high mountain of Israel, and it will raise branches and produce fruit and become a beautiful cedar. Every bird will live under it; Every winged creature will live in the shade of its branches.\n\t\t\t All the trees of the field will know that I am the LORD. I make the high tree low; I raise up the low tree. I make the green tree wither, and I make the dry tree sprout. I, the LORD, have spoken, and I will do it!'\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD came to me:\n\t\t\t \"What do you mean by quoting this proverb concerning the land of Israel, \"'The fathers eat sour grapes And the children's teeth become numb?'\n\t\t\t \"As surely as I live, declares the sovereign LORD, you will not quote this proverb in Israel anymore! \n\t\t\t Indeed! All lives are mine, the life of the father as well as the life of the son is mine. The one who sins will die.\n\t\t\t \"Suppose a man is righteous. He practices what is just and right,\n\t\t\t does not eat pagan sacrifices on the mountains or pray to the idols of the house of Israel, does not defile his neighbor's wife, does not have sexual relations with a woman during her period, \n\t\t\t does not oppress anyone, but gives the debtor back whatever was given in pledge, does not commit robbery, but gives his bread to the hungry and clothes the naked, \n\t\t\t does not engage in usury or charge interest, but refrains from wrongdoing, promotes true justice between men, \n\t\t\t and follows my statutes and observes my regulations by carrying them out. That man is righteous; he will certainly live, declares the sovereign LORD.\n\t\t\t \"Suppose such a man has a violent son who sheds blood and does any of these things mentioned previously \n\t\t\t (though the father did not do any of them). He eats pagan sacrifices on the mountains, defiles his neighbor's wife, \n\t\t\t oppresses the poor and the needy, commits robbery, does not give back what was given in pledge, prays to idols, performs abominable acts, \n\t\t\t engages in usury and charges interest. Will he live? He will not! Because he has done all these abominable deeds he will certainly die. He will bear the responsibility for his own death.\n\t\t\t \"But suppose he in turn has a son who notices all the sins his father commits, considers them, and does not follow his father's example.\n\t\t\t He does not eat pagan sacrifices on the mountains, does not pray to the idols of the house of Israel, does not defile his neighbor's wife,\n\t\t\t does not oppress anyone or keep what has been given in pledge, does not commit robbery, gives his food to the hungry, and clothes the naked,\n\t\t\t refrains from wrongdoing, does not engage in usury or charge interest, carries out my regulations and follows my statutes. He will not die for his father's iniquity; he will surely live.\n\t\t\t As for his father, because he practices extortion, robs his brother, and does what is not good among his people, he will die for his iniquity.\n\t\t\t \"Yet you say, 'Why should the son not suffer for his father's iniquity?' When the son does what is just and right, and observes all my statutes and carries them out, he will surely live.\n\t\t\t The person who sins is the one who will die. A son will not suffer for his father's iniquity, and a father will not suffer for his son's iniquity; the righteous person will be judged according to his righteousness, and the wicked person according to his wickedness.\n\t\t\t \"But if the wicked person turns from all the sin he has committed and observes all my statutes and does what is just and right, he will surely live; he will not die.\n\t\t\t None of the sins he has committed will be held against him; because of the righteousness he has done, he will live. \n\t\t\t Do I actually delight in the death of the wicked, declares the sovereign LORD? Do I not prefer that he turn from his wicked conduct and live?\n\t\t\t \"But if a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and practices wrongdoing according to all the abominable practices the wicked carry out, will he live? All his righteous acts will not be remembered; because of the unfaithful acts he has done and the sin he has committed, he will die.\n\t\t\t \"Yet you say, 'The Lord's conduct is unjust!' Hear, O house of Israel: Is my conduct unjust? Is it not your conduct that is unjust? \n\t\t\t When a righteous person turns back from his righteousness and practices wrongdoing, he will die for it; because of the wrongdoing he has done, he will die. \n\t\t\t When a wicked person turns from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he will preserve his life.\n\t\t\t Because he considered and turned from all the sins he had done, he will surely live; he will not die. \n\t\t\t Yet the house of Israel says, 'The Lord's conduct is unjust!' Is my conduct unjust, O house of Israel? Is it not your conduct that is unjust?\n\t\t\t \"Therefore I will judge each person according to his conduct, O house of Israel, declares the sovereign LORD. Repent and turn from all your wickedness; then it will not be an obstacle leading to iniquity.\n\t\t\t Throw away all your sins you have committed and fashion yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why should you die, O house of Israel? \n\t\t\t For I take no delight in the death of anyone, declares the sovereign LORD. Repent and live!\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t \"And you, sing a lament for the princes of Israel, \n\t\t\t and say: \"'What a lioness was your mother among the lions! She lay among young lions; she reared her cubs.\n\t\t\t She reared one of her cubs; he became a young lion. He learned to tear prey; he devoured people.\n\t\t\t The nations heard about him; he was trapped in their pit. They brought him with hooks to the land of Egypt.\n\t\t\t \"'When she realized that she waited in vain, her hope was lost. She took another of her cubs and made him a young lion.\n\t\t\t He walked about among the lions; he became a young lion. He learned to tear prey; he devoured people.\n\t\t\t He broke down their strongholds and devastated their cities. The land and everything in it was frightened at the sound of his roaring.\n\t\t\t The nations, the surrounding regions, attacked him. They threw their net over him; he was caught in their pit.\n\t\t\t They put him in a collar with hooks; they brought him to the king of Babylon; they brought him to prison so that his voice would not be heard any longer on the mountains of Israel.\n\t\t\t \"'Your mother was like a vine in your vineyard, planted by water. It was fruitful and full of branches because it was well-watered.\n\t\t\t Its boughs were strong, fit for rulers' scepters; it reached up into the clouds. It stood out because of its height and its many branches.\n\t\t\t But it was plucked up in anger; it was thrown down to the ground. The east wind dried up its fruit; its strong branches broke off and withered, a fire consumed them.\n\t\t\t Now it is planted in the wilderness, in a dry and thirsty land.\n\t\t\t A fire has gone out from its branch; it has consumed its shoot and its fruit. No strong branch was left in it, nor a scepter to rule.' This is a lament song, and has become a lament song.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t In the seventh year, in the fifth month, on the tenth of the month, some of the elders of Israel came to seek the LORD, and they sat down in front of me. \n\t\t\t The word of the LORD came to me:\n\t\t\t \"Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel, and tell them: 'This is what the sovereign LORD says: Are you coming to seek me? As surely as I live, I will not allow you to seek me, declares the sovereign LORD.' \n\t\t\t \"Are you willing to pronounce judgment? Are you willing to pronounce judgment, son of man? Then confront them with the abominable practices of their fathers, \n\t\t\t and say to them: \"'This is what the sovereign LORD says: On the day I chose Israel I swore to the descendants of the house of Jacob and made myself known to them in the land of Egypt. I swore to them, \"I am the LORD your God.\"\n\t\t\t On that day I swore to bring them out of the land of Egypt to a land which I had picked out for them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the most beautiful of all lands. \n\t\t\t I said to them, \"Each of you must get rid of the detestable idols you keep before you, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt; I am the LORD your God.\" \n\t\t\t But they rebelled against me, and refused to listen to me; no one got rid of their detestable idols, nor did they abandon the idols of Egypt. Then I decided to pour out my rage on them and fully vent my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt. \n\t\t\t I acted for the sake of my reputation, so that I would not be profaned before the nations among whom they lived, before whom I revealed myself by bringing them out of the land of Egypt.\n\t\t\t \"'So I brought them out of the land of Egypt and led them to the wilderness.\n\t\t\t I gave them my statutes and revealed my regulations to them. The one who carries them out will live by them!\n\t\t\t I also gave them my Sabbaths as a reminder of our relationship, so that they would know that I, the LORD, sanctify them.\n\t\t\t But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness; they did not follow my statutes and they rejected my regulations (the one who obeys them will live by them), and they utterly desecrated my Sabbaths. So I decided to pour out my rage on them in the wilderness and destroy them.\n\t\t\t I acted for the sake of my reputation, so that I would not be profaned before the nations in whose sight I had brought them out.\n\t\t\t I also swore to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them to the land I had given them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the most beautiful of all lands.\n\t\t\t I did this because they rejected my regulations, did not follow my statutes, and desecrated my Sabbaths; for their hearts followed their idols.\n\t\t\t Yet I had pity on them and did not destroy them, so I did not make an end of them in the wilderness.\n\t\t\t \"'But I said to their children in the wilderness, \"Do not follow the practices of your fathers; do not observe their regulations, nor defile yourselves with their idols. \n\t\t\t I am the LORD your God; follow my statutes, observe my regulations, and carry them out.\n\t\t\t Treat my Sabbaths as holy and they will be a reminder of our relationship, and then you will know that I am the LORD your God.\" \n\t\t\t \"'But the children rebelled against me, did not follow my statutes, did not observe my regulations by carrying them out (the one who obeys them will live by them), and desecrated my Sabbaths. I decided to pour out my rage on them and fully vent my anger against them in the wilderness. \n\t\t\t But I refrained from doing so, and acted instead for the sake of my reputation, so that I would not be profaned before the nations in whose sight I had brought them out. \n\t\t\t I also swore to them in the wilderness that I would scatter them among the nations and disperse them throughout the lands.\n\t\t\t I did this because they did not observe my regulations, they rejected my statutes, they desecrated my Sabbaths, and their eyes were fixed on their fathers' idols. \n\t\t\t I also gave them decrees which were not good and regulations by which they could not live. \n\t\t\t I declared them to be defiled because of their sacrifices, they caused all their first born to pass through the fire, so that I would devastate them, so that they will know that I am the LORD.'\n\t\t\t \"Therefore, speak to the house of Israel, son of man, and tell them, 'This is what the sovereign LORD says: In this way too your fathers blasphemed me when they were unfaithful to me.\n\t\t\t I brought them to the land which I swore to give them, but whenever they saw any high hill or leafy tree, they offered their sacrifices there and presented the offerings that provoke me to anger. They offered their soothing aroma there and poured out their drink offerings. \n\t\t\t So I said to them, What is this high place you go to?'\" (So it is called \"High Place\" to this day.)\n\t\t\t \"Therefore say to the house of Israel, 'This is what the sovereign LORD says: Will you defile yourselves like your fathers and engage in prostitution with detestable idols? \n\t\t\t When you present your sacrifices, when you make your sons pass through the fire, you defile yourselves with all your idols to this very day. Will I allow you to seek me, O house of Israel? As surely as I live, declares the sovereign LORD, I will not allow you to seek me!\n\t\t\t \"'What you plan will never happen. You say, \"We will be like the nations, like the clans of the lands, who serve gods of wood and stone.\"\n\t\t\t As surely as I live, declares the sovereign LORD, with a powerful hand and an outstretched arm, and with an outpouring of rage, I will be king over you. \n\t\t\t I will bring you out from the nations, and will gather you from the lands where you are scattered, with a powerful hand and an outstretched arm and with an outpouring of rage!\n\t\t\t I will bring you into the wilderness of the nations, and there I will enter into judgment with you face to face.\n\t\t\t Just as I entered into judgment with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will enter into judgment with you, declares the sovereign LORD.\n\t\t\t I will make you pass under the shepherd's staff, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant. \n\t\t\t I will eliminate from among you the rebels and those who revolt against me. I will bring them out from the land where they have been residing, but they will not come to the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD.\n\t\t\t \"'As for you, O house of Israel, this is what the sovereign LORD says: Each of you go and serve your idols, if you will not listen to me. But my holy name will not be profaned again by your sacrifices and your idols. \n\t\t\t For there on my holy mountain, the high mountain of Israel, declares the sovereign LORD, all the house of Israel will serve me, all of them in the land. I will accept them there, and there I will seek your contributions and your choice gifts, with all your holy things.\n\t\t\t When I bring you out from the nations and gather you from the lands where you are scattered, I will accept you along with your soothing aroma. I will display my holiness among you in the sight of the nations.\n\t\t\t Then you will know that I am the LORD when I bring you to the land of Israel, to the land I swore to give to your fathers. \n\t\t\t And there you will remember your conduct and all your deeds by which you defiled yourselves. You will despise yourselves because of all the evil deeds you have done. \n\t\t\t Then you will know that I am the LORD, when I deal with you for the sake of my reputation and not according to your wicked conduct and corrupt deeds, O house of Israel, declares the sovereign LORD.'\"\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD came to me: \n\t\t\t \"Son of man, turn toward the south, and speak out against the south. Prophesy against the open scrub land of the Negev, \n\t\t\t and say to the scrub land of the Negev, 'Hear the word of the LORD: This is what the sovereign LORD says: Look here, I am about to start a fire in you, and it will devour every green tree and every dry tree in you. The flaming fire will not be extinguished, and the whole surface of the ground from the Negev to the north will be scorched by it. \n\t\t\t And everyone will see that I, the LORD, have burned it; it will not be extinguished.'\"\n\t\t\t Then I said, \"O sovereign LORD! They are saying of me, 'Does he not simply speak in eloquent figures of speech?'\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD came to me: \n\t\t\t \"Son of man, turn toward Jerusalem and speak out against the sanctuaries. Prophesy against the land of Israel \n\t\t\t and say to them, 'This is what the LORD says: Look, I am against you. I will draw my sword from its sheath and cut off from you both the righteous and the wicked.\n\t\t\t Because I will cut off from you both the righteous and the wicked, my sword will go out from its sheath against everyone from the south to the north. \n\t\t\t Then everyone will know that I am the LORD, who drew my sword from its sheath, it will not be sheathed again!'\n\t\t\t \"And you, son of man, groan with an aching heart and bitterness; groan before their eyes. \n\t\t\t When they ask you, 'Why are you groaning?' you will reply, 'Because of the report that has come. Every heart will melt with fear and every hand will be limp; everyone will faint and every knee will be wet with urine.' Pay attention, it is coming and it will happen, declares the sovereign LORD.\"\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD came to me:\n\t\t\t \"Son of man, prophesy and say: 'This is what the Lord says: \"'A sword, a sword is sharpened, and also polished.\n\t\t\t It is sharpened for slaughter, it is polished to flash like lightning! \"'Should we rejoice in the scepter of my son? No! The sword despises every tree!\n\t\t\t \"'He gave it to be polished, to be grasped in the hand, the sword is sharpened, it is polished, giving it into the hand of the executioner.\n\t\t\t Cry out and moan, son of man, for it is wielded against my people; against all the princes of Israel. They are delivered up to the sword, along with my people. Therefore, strike your thigh.\n\t\t\t \"'For testing will come, and what will happen when the scepter, which the sword despises, is no more? declares the sovereign LORD.'\n\t\t\t \"And you, son of man, prophesy, and clap your hands together. Let the sword strike twice, even three times! It is a sword for slaughter, a sword for the great slaughter surrounding them.\n\t\t\t So hearts melt with fear and many stumble. At all their gates I have stationed the sword for slaughter. Ah! It is made to flash, it is drawn for slaughter!\n\t\t\t Cut sharply on the right! Swing to the left, wherever your edge is appointed to strike.\n\t\t\t I too will clap my hands together, I will exhaust my rage; I the LORD have spoken.\"\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD came to me:\n\t\t\t \"You, son of man, mark out two routes for the king of Babylon's sword to take; both of them will originate in a single land. Make a signpost and put it at the beginning of the road leading to the city.\n\t\t\t Mark out the routes for the sword to take: \"Rabbah of the Ammonites\" and \"Judah with Jerusalem in it.\"\n\t\t\t For the king of Babylon stands at the fork in the road at the head of the two routes. He looks for omens: He shakes arrows, he consults idols, he examines animal livers.\n\t\t\t Into his right hand comes the portent for Jerusalem, to set up battering rams, to give the signal for slaughter, to shout out the battle cry, to set up battering rams against the gates, to erect a siege ramp, to build a siege wall.\n\t\t\t But those in Jerusalem will view it as a false omen. They have sworn solemn oaths, but the king of Babylon will accuse them of violations in order to seize them.\n\t\t\t \"Therefore this is what the sovereign LORD says: 'Because you have brought up your own guilt by uncovering your transgressions and revealing your sins through all your actions, for this reason you will be taken by force.\n\t\t\t \"'As for you, profane and wicked prince of Israel, whose day has come, the time of final punishment,\n\t\t\t this is what the sovereign LORD says: Tear off the turban, take off the crown! Things must change! Exalt the lowly, bring down the proud!\n\t\t\t A total ruin I will make it! It will come to an end when the one arrives to whom I have assigned judgment.'\n\t\t\t \"As for you, son of man, prophesy and say, 'This is what the sovereign LORD says concerning the Ammonites and their coming humiliation; say: \"'A sword, a sword drawn for slaughter, polished to consume, to flash like lightning,\n\t\t\t while seeing false visions for you and reading lying omens for you, to place that sword on the necks of the profane wicked, whose day has come, the time of final punishment.\n\t\t\t Return it to its sheath! In the place where you were created, in your native land, I will judge you.\n\t\t\t I will pour out my anger on you; the fire of my fury I will blow on you. I will hand you over to brutal men, who are skilled in destruction.\n\t\t\t You will become fuel for the fire, your blood will stain the middle of the land; you will no longer be remembered, for I, the LORD, have spoken.'\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD came to me:\n\t\t\t \"As for you, son of man, are you willing to pronounce judgment, are you willing to pronounce judgment on the bloody city? Then confront her with all her abominable deeds!\n\t\t\t Then say, 'This is what the sovereign LORD says: O city, who spills blood within herself (which brings on her doom), and who makes herself idols (which results in impurity),\n\t\t\t you are guilty because of the blood you shed and defiled by the idols you made. You have hastened the day of your doom; the end of your years has come. Therefore I will make you an object of scorn to the nations, an object to be mocked by all lands. \n\t\t\t Those both near and far from you will mock you, you with your bad reputation, full of turmoil.\n\t\t\t \"'See how each of the princes of Israel living within you has used his authority to shed blood.\n\t\t\t They have treated father and mother with contempt within you; they have oppressed the foreigner among you; they have wronged the orphan and the widow within you. \n\t\t\t You have despised my holy things and desecrated my Sabbaths!\n\t\t\t Slanderous men shed blood within you. Those who live within you eat pagan sacrifices on the mountains; they commit obscene acts among you.\n\t\t\t They have sex with their father's wife within you; they violate women during their menstrual period within you.\n\t\t\t One commits an abominable act with his neighbor's wife; another obscenely defiles his daughter-in-law; another violates his sister, his father's daughter, within you.\n\t\t\t They take bribes within you to shed blood. You engage in usury and charge interest; you extort money from your neighbors. You have forgotten me, declares the sovereign LORD.\n\t\t\t \"'See, I strike my hands together at the dishonest profit you have made, and at the bloodshed they have done among you. \n\t\t\t Can your heart endure, or can your hands be strong when I deal with you? I, the LORD, have spoken, and I will do it!\n\t\t\t I will scatter you among the nations and disperse you among various countries; I will remove your impurity from you.\n\t\t\t You will be profaned within yourself in the sight of the nations; then you will know that I am the LORD.'\"\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD came to me:\n\t\t\t \"Son of man, the house of Israel has become slag to me. All of them are like bronze, tin, iron, and lead in the furnace; they are the worthless slag of silver. \n\t\t\t Therefore this is what the sovereign LORD says: 'Because all of you have become slag, look out!, I am about to gather you in the middle of Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t As silver, bronze, iron, lead, and tin are gathered in a furnace so that the fire can melt them, so I will gather you in my anger and in my rage. I will deposit you there and melt you. \n\t\t\t I will gather you and blow on you with the fire of my fury, and you will be melted in it.\n\t\t\t As silver is melted in a furnace, so you will be melted in it, and you will know that I, the LORD, have poured out my anger on you.'\"\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD came to me:\n\t\t\t \"Son of man, say to her: 'You are a land that receives no rain or showers in the day of my anger.'\n\t\t\t Her princes within her are like a roaring lion tearing its prey; they have devoured lives. They take away riches and valuable things; they have made many women widows within it. \n\t\t\t Her priests abuse my law and have desecrated my holy things. They do not distinguish between the holy and the profane, or recognize any distinction between the unclean and the clean. They ignore my Sabbaths and I am profaned in their midst. \n\t\t\t Her officials are like wolves in her midst rending their prey, shedding blood and destroying lives, so they can get dishonest profit.\n\t\t\t Her prophets coat their messages with whitewash. They see false visions and announce lying omens for them, saying, 'This is what the sovereign LORD says,' when the LORD has not spoken. \n\t\t\t The people of the land have practiced extortion and committed robbery. They have wronged the poor and needy; they have oppressed the foreigner who lives among them and denied them justice.\n\t\t\t \"I looked for a man from among them who would repair the wall and stand in the gap before me on behalf of the land, so that I would not destroy it, but I found no one.\n\t\t\t So I have poured my anger on them, and destroyed them with the fire of my fury. I hereby repay them for what they have done, declares the sovereign LORD.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD came to me:\n\t\t\t \"Son of man, there were two women who were daughters of the same mother.\n\t\t\t They engaged in prostitution in Egypt; in their youth they engaged in prostitution. Their breasts were squeezed there; lovers fondled their virgin nipples there. \n\t\t\t Oholah was the name of the older and Oholibah the name of her younger sister. They became mine, and gave birth to sons and daughters. Oholah is Samaria and Oholibah is Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t \"Oholah engaged in prostitution while she was mine. She lusted after her lovers, the Assyrians, warriors\n\t\t\t clothed in blue, governors and officials, all of them desirable young men, horsemen riding on horses.\n\t\t\t She bestowed her sexual favors on them; all of them were the choicest young men of Assyria. She defiled herself with all whom she desired, with all their idols.\n\t\t\t She did not abandon the prostitution she had practiced in Egypt; for in her youth men had sex with her, fondled her virgin breasts, and ravished her.\n\t\t\t Therefore I handed her over to her lovers, the Assyrians for whom she lusted. \n\t\t\t They exposed her nakedness, seized her sons and daughters, and killed her with the sword. She became notorious among women, and they executed judgments against her.\n\t\t\t \"Her sister Oholibah watched this, but she became more corrupt in her lust than her sister had been, and her acts of prostitution were more numerous than those of her sister. \n\t\t\t She lusted after the Assyrians, governors and officials, warriors in full armor, horsemen riding on horses, all of them desirable young men.\n\t\t\t I saw that she was defiled; both of them followed the same path.\n\t\t\t But she increased her prostitution. She saw men carved on the wall, images of the Chaldeans carved in bright red,\n\t\t\t wearing belts on their waists and flowing turbans on their heads, all of them looking like officers, the image of Babylonians whose native land is Chaldea. \n\t\t\t When she saw them, she lusted after them and sent messengers to them in Chaldea.\n\t\t\t The Babylonians crawled into bed with her. They defiled her with their lust; after she was defiled by them, she became disgusted with them. \n\t\t\t When she lustfully exposed her nakedness, I was disgusted with her, just as I had been disgusted with her sister. \n\t\t\t Yet she increased her prostitution, remembering the days of her youth when she engaged in prostitution in the land of Egypt.\n\t\t\t She lusted after their genitals, as large as those of donkeys, and their seminal emission was as strong as that of stallions.\n\t\t\t This is how you assessed the obscene conduct of your youth, when the Egyptians fondled your nipples and squeezed your young breasts.\n\t\t\t \"Therefore, Oholibah, this is what the sovereign LORD says: Look here, I am about to stir up against you the lovers with whom you were disgusted; I will bring them against you from every side: \n\t\t\t the Babylonians and all the Chaldeans, Pekod, Shoa, and Koa, and all the Assyrians with them, desirable young men, all of them governors and officials, officers and nobles, all of them riding on horses. \n\t\t\t They will attack you with weapons, chariots, wagons, and with a huge army; they will array themselves against you on every side with large shields, small shields, and helmets. I will assign them the task of judgment; they will punish you according to their laws.\n\t\t\t I will direct my jealous anger against you, and they will deal with you in rage. They will cut off your nose and your ears, and your survivors will die by the sword. They will seize your sons and daughters, and your survivors will be consumed by fire. \n\t\t\t They will strip your clothes off you and take away your beautiful jewelry.\n\t\t\t So I will put an end to your obscene conduct and your prostitution which you have practiced in the land of Egypt. You will not seek their help or remember Egypt anymore.\n\t\t\t \"For this is what the sovereign LORD says: Look here, I am about to deliver you over to those whom you hate, to those with whom you were disgusted. \n\t\t\t They will treat you with hatred, take away all you have labored for, and leave you naked and bare. Your nakedness will be exposed, just as when you engaged in prostitution and obscene conduct.\n\t\t\t I will do these things to you because you engaged in prostitution with the nations, polluting yourself with their idols. \n\t\t\t You have followed the ways of your sister, so I will place her cup of judgment in your hand. \n\t\t\t \"This is what the sovereign LORD says: \"You will drink your sister's deep and wide cup; you will be scorned and derided, for it holds a great deal. \n\t\t\t You will be overcome by drunkenness and sorrow. The cup of your sister Samaria is a cup of horror and desolation. \n\t\t\t You will drain it dry, gnaw its pieces, and tear out your breasts, for I have spoken, declares the sovereign LORD.\n\t\t\t \"Therefore this is what the sovereign LORD says: Because you have forgotten me and completely disregarded me, you must bear now the punishment for your obscene conduct and prostitution.\"\n\t\t\t The LORD said to me: \"Son of man, are you willing to pronounce judgment on Oholah and Oholibah? Then declare to them their abominable deeds! \n\t\t\t For they have committed adultery and blood is on their hands. They have committed adultery with their idols, and their sons, whom they bore to me, they have passed through the fire as food to their idols.\n\t\t\t Moreover, they have done this to me: In the very same day they desecrated my sanctuary and profaned my Sabbaths. \n\t\t\t On the same day they slaughtered their sons for their idols, they came to my sanctuary to desecrate it. This is what they have done in the middle of my house.\n\t\t\t \"They even sent for men from far away; when the messenger arrived, those men set out. For them you bathed, painted your eyes, and decorated yourself with jewelry. \n\t\t\t You sat on a magnificent couch, with a table arranged in front of it where you placed my incense and my olive oil.\n\t\t\t The sound of a carefree crowd accompanied her, including all kinds of men; even Sabeans were brought from the desert. The sisters put bracelets on their wrists and beautiful crowns on their heads. \n\t\t\t Then I said about the one worn out by adultery, 'Now they will commit immoral acts with her.'\n\t\t\t They had sex with her as one does with a prostitute. In this way they had sex with Oholah and Oholibah, promiscuous women. \n\t\t\t But upright men will punish them appropriately for their adultery and bloodshed, because they are adulteresses and blood is on their hands.\n\t\t\t \"For this is what the sovereign LORD says: Bring up an army against them and subject them to terror and plunder. \n\t\t\t That army will pelt them with stones and slash them with their swords; they will kill their sons and daughters and burn their houses.\n\t\t\t I will put an end to the obscene conduct in the land; all the women will learn a lesson from this and not engage in obscene conduct.\n\t\t\t They will repay you for your obscene conduct, and you will be punished for idol worship. Then you will know that I am the sovereign LORD.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD came to me in the ninth year, in the tenth month, on the tenth day of the month:\n\t\t\t \"Son of man, write down the name of this day, this very day. The king of Babylon has laid siege to Jerusalem this very day. \n\t\t\t Recite a proverb to this rebellious house and say to them, 'This is what the sovereign LORD says: \"'Set on the pot, set it on, pour water in it too;\n\t\t\t add the pieces of meat to it, every good piece, the thigh and the shoulder; fill it with choice bones.\n\t\t\t Take the choice bone of the flock, heap up bones under it; boil rapidly, and boil its bones in it.\n\t\t\t \"'Therefore this is what the sovereign LORD says: Woe to the city of bloodshed, the pot whose rot is in it, whose rot has not been removed from it! Empty it piece by piece. No lot has fallen on it.\n\t\t\t For her blood was in it; she poured it on an exposed rock; she did not pour it on the ground to cover it up with dust.\n\t\t\t To arouse anger, to take vengeance, I have placed her blood on an exposed rock so that it cannot be covered up.\n\t\t\t \"'Therefore this is what the sovereign LORD says: Woe to the city of bloodshed! I will also make the pile high.\n\t\t\t Pile up the bones, kindle the fire; cook the meat well, mix in the spices, let the bones be charred.\n\t\t\t Set the empty pot on the coals, until it becomes hot and its copper glows, until its uncleanness melts within it and its rot is consumed.\n\t\t\t It has tried my patience; yet its thick rot is not removed from it. Subject its rot to the fire!\n\t\t\t You mix uncleanness with obscene conduct. I tried to cleanse you, but you are not clean. You will not be cleansed from your uncleanness until I have exhausted my anger on you.\n\t\t\t \"'I the LORD have spoken; judgment is coming and I will act! I will not relent, or show pity, or be sorry! I will judge you according to your conduct and your deeds, declares the sovereign LORD.'\"\n\t\t\t The word of LORD came to me:\n\t\t\t \"Son of man, realize that I am about to take the delight of your eyes away from you with a jolt, but you must not mourn or weep or shed tears. \n\t\t\t Groan in silence for the dead, but do not perform mourning rites. Bind on your turban and put your sandals on your feet. Do not cover your lip and do not eat food brought by others.\"\n\t\t\t So I spoke to the people in the morning, and my wife died in the evening. In the morning I acted just as I was commanded. \n\t\t\t Then the people said to me, \"Will you not tell us what these things you are doing mean for us?\"\n\t\t\t So I said to them: \"The word of the LORD came to me:\n\t\t\t Say to the house of Israel, 'This is what the sovereign LORD says: Realize I am about to desecrate my sanctuary, the source of your confident pride, the object in which your eyes delight, and your life's passion. Your very own sons and daughters whom you have left behind will die by the sword.\n\t\t\t Then you will do as I have done: You will not cover your lip or eat food brought by others.\n\t\t\t Your turbans will be on your heads and your sandals on your feet; you will not mourn or weep, but you will rot for your iniquities and groan among yourselves. \n\t\t\t Ezekiel will be an object lesson for you; you will do all that he has done. When it happens, then you will know that I am the sovereign LORD.'\n\t\t\t \"And you, son of man, this is what will happen on the day I take from them their stronghold, their beautiful source of joy, the object in which their eyes delight, and the main concern of their lives, as well as their sons and daughters:\n\t\t\t On that day a fugitive will come to you to report the news.\n\t\t\t On that day you will be able to speak again; you will talk with the fugitive and be silent no longer. You will be an object lesson for them, and they will know that I am the LORD.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD came to me:\n\t\t\t \"Son of man, turn toward the Ammonites and prophesy against them. \n\t\t\t Say to the Ammonites, 'Hear the word of the sovereign LORD: This is what the sovereign LORD says: You said \"Aha!\" about my sanctuary when it was desecrated, about the land of Israel when it was made desolate, and about the house of Judah when they went into exile.\n\t\t\t So take note, I am about to make you slaves of the tribes of the east. They will make camps among you and pitch their tents among you. They will eat your fruit and drink your milk. \n\t\t\t I will make Rabbah a pasture for camels and Ammon a resting place for sheep. Then you will know that I am the LORD. \n\t\t\t For this is what the sovereign LORD says: Because you clapped your hands, stamped your feet, and rejoiced with intense scorn over the land of Israel, \n\t\t\t take note, I have stretched out my hand against you, and I will hand you over as plunder to the nations. I will cut you off from the peoples and make you perish from the lands. I will destroy you; then you will know that I am the LORD.'\"\n\t\t\t \"This is what the sovereign LORD says: 'Moab and Seir say, \"Look, the house of Judah is like all the other nations.\" \n\t\t\t So look, I am about to open up Moab's flank, eliminating the cities, including its frontier cities, the beauty of the land, Beth Jeshimoth, Baal Meon, and Kiriathaim.\n\t\t\t I will hand it over, along with the Ammonites, to the tribes of the east, so that the Ammonites will no longer be remembered among the nations. \n\t\t\t I will execute judgments against Moab. Then they will know that I am the LORD.'\"\n\t\t\t \"This is what the sovereign LORD says: 'Edom has taken vengeance against the house of Judah; they have made themselves fully culpable by taking vengeance on them.\n\t\t\t So this is what the sovereign LORD says: I will stretch out my hand against Edom, and I will kill the people and animals within her, and I will make her desolate; from Teman to Dedan they will die by the sword. \n\t\t\t I will exact my vengeance upon Edom by the hand of my people Israel. They will carry out in Edom my anger and rage; they will experience my vengeance, declares the sovereign LORD.'\"\n\t\t\t \"This is what the sovereign LORD says: 'The Philistines have exacted merciless revenge, showing intense scorn in their effort to destroy Judah with unrelenting hostility.\n\t\t\t So this is what the sovereign LORD says: Take note, I am about to stretch out my hand against the Philistines. I will kill the Cherethites and destroy those who remain on the seacoast. \n\t\t\t I will exact great vengeance upon them with angry rebukes. Then they will know that I am the LORD, when I exact my vengeance upon them.'\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t In the eleventh year, on the first day of the month, the word of the LORD came to me: \n\t\t\t \"Son of man, because Tyre has said about Jerusalem, 'Aha, the gateway of the peoples is broken; it has swung open to me. I will become rich, now that she has been destroyed,' \n\t\t\t therefore this is what the sovereign LORD says: Look, I am against you, O Tyre! I will bring up many nations against you, as the sea brings up its waves. \n\t\t\t They will destroy the walls of Tyre and break down her towers. I will scrape her soil from her and make her a bare rock. \n\t\t\t She will be a place where fishing nets are spread, surrounded by the sea. For I have spoken, declares the sovereign LORD. She will become plunder for the nations,\n\t\t\t and her daughters who are in the field will be slaughtered by the sword. Then they will know that I am the LORD.\n\t\t\t \"For this is what the sovereign LORD says: Take note that I am about to bring King Nebuchadrezzar of Babylon, king of kings, against Tyre from the north, with horses, chariots, and horsemen, an army and hordes of people. \n\t\t\t He will kill your daughters in the field with the sword. He will build a siege wall against you, erect a siege ramp against you, and raise a great shield against you.\n\t\t\t He will direct the blows of his battering rams against your walls and tear down your towers with his weapons.\n\t\t\t He will cover you with the dust kicked up by his many horses. Your walls will shake from the noise of the horsemen, wheels, and chariots when he enters your gates like those who invade through a city's broken walls.\n\t\t\t With his horses' hoofs he will trample all your streets. He will kill your people with the sword, and your strong pillars will tumble down to the ground.\n\t\t\t They will steal your wealth and loot your merchandise. They will tear down your walls and destroy your luxurious homes. Your stones, your trees, and your soil he will throw into the water.\n\t\t\t I will silence the noise of your songs; the sound of your harps will be heard no more. \n\t\t\t I will make you a bare rock; you will be a place where fishing nets are spread. You will never be built again, for I, the LORD, have spoken, declares the sovereign LORD.\n\t\t\t \"This is what the sovereign LORD says to Tyre: Oh, how the coastlands will shake at the sound of your fall, when the wounded groan, at the massive slaughter in your midst!\n\t\t\t All the princes of the sea will vacate their thrones. They will remove their robes and strip off their embroidered clothes; they will clothe themselves with trembling. They will sit on the ground; they will tremble continually and be shocked at what has happened to you.\n\t\t\t They will sing this lament over you: \"'How you have perished, you have vanished from the seas, O renowned city, once mighty in the sea, she and her inhabitants, who spread their terror!\n\t\t\t Now the coastlands will tremble on the day of your fall; the coastlands by the sea will be terrified by your passing.'\n\t\t\t \"For this is what the sovereign LORD says: When I make you desolate like the uninhabited cities, when I bring up the deep over you and the surging waters overwhelm you, \n\t\t\t then I will bring you down to bygone people, to be with those who descend to the pit. I will make you live in the lower parts of the earth, among the primeval ruins, with those who descend to the pit, so that you will not be inhabited or stand in the land of the living.\n\t\t\t I will bring terrors on you, and you will be no more! Though you are sought after, you will never be found again, declares the sovereign LORD.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD came to me:\n\t\t\t \"You, son of man, sing a lament for Tyre.\n\t\t\t Say to Tyre, who sits at the entrance of the sea, merchant to the peoples on many coasts, 'This is what the sovereign LORD says: \"'O Tyre, you have said, \"I am perfectly beautiful.\"\n\t\t\t Your borders are in the heart of the seas; your builders have perfected your beauty.\n\t\t\t They crafted all your planks out of fir trees from Senir; they took a cedar from Lebanon to make your mast.\n\t\t\t They made your oars from oaks of Bashan; they made your deck with cypresses from the Kittean isles.\n\t\t\t Fine linen from Egypt, woven with patterns, was used for your sail to serve as your banner; blue and purple from the coastlands of Elishah was used for your deck's awning.\n\t\t\t The leaders of Sidon and Arvad were your rowers; your skilled men, O Tyre, were your captains.\n\t\t\t The elders of Gebal and her skilled men were within you, mending cracks; all the ships of the sea and their mariners were within you to trade for your merchandise.\n\t\t\t Men of Persia, Lud, and Put were in your army, men of war. They hung shield and helmet on you; they gave you your splendor.\n\t\t\t The Arvadites joined your army on your walls all around, and the Gammadites were in your towers. They hung their quivers on your walls all around; they perfected your beauty.\n\t\t\t \"'Tarshish was your trade partner because of your abundant wealth; they exchanged silver, iron, tin, and lead for your products. \n\t\t\t Javan, Tubal, and Meshech were your clients; they exchanged slaves and bronze items for your merchandise.\n\t\t\t Beth Togarmah exchanged horses, chargers, and mules for your products. \n\t\t\t The Dedanites were your clients. Many coastlands were your customers; they paid you with ivory tusks and ebony. \n\t\t\t Edom was your trade partner because of the abundance of your goods; they exchanged turquoise, purple, embroidered work, fine linen, coral, and rubies for your products. \n\t\t\t Judah and the land of Israel were your clients; they traded wheat from Minnith, millet, honey, olive oil, and balm for your merchandise. \n\t\t\t Damascus was your trade partner because of the abundance of your goods and of all your wealth: wine from Helbon, white wool from Zahar,\n\t\t\t and casks of wine from Izal they exchanged for your products. Wrought iron, cassia, and sweet cane were among your merchandise. \n\t\t\t Dedan was your client in saddlecloths for riding.\n\t\t\t Arabia and all the princes of Kedar were your trade partners; for lambs, rams, and goats they traded with you.\n\t\t\t The merchants of Sheba and Raamah engaged in trade with you; they traded the best kinds of spices along with precious stones and gold for your products.\n\t\t\t Haran, Kanneh, Eden, merchants from Sheba, Asshur, and Kilmad were your clients.\n\t\t\t They traded with you choice garments, purple clothes and embroidered work, and multicolored carpets, bound and reinforced with cords; these were among your merchandise.\n\t\t\t The ships of Tarshish were the transports for your merchandise. \"'So you were filled and weighed down in the heart of the seas.\n\t\t\t Your rowers have brought you into surging waters. The east wind has wrecked you in the heart of the seas.\n\t\t\t Your wealth, products, and merchandise, your sailors and captains, your ship's carpenters, your merchants, and all your fighting men within you, along with all your crew who are in you, will fall into the heart of the seas on the day of your downfall.\n\t\t\t At the sound of your captains' cry the waves will surge;\n\t\t\t They will descend from their ships, all who handle the oar, the sailors and all the sea captains, they will stand on the land.\n\t\t\t They will lament loudly over you and cry bitterly. They will throw dust on their heads and roll in the ashes;\n\t\t\t they will tear out their hair because of you and put on sackcloth, and they will weep bitterly over you with intense mourning.\n\t\t\t As they wail they will lament over you, chanting: \"Who was like Tyre, like a tower in the midst of the sea?\"\n\t\t\t When your products went out from the seas, you satisfied many peoples; with the abundance of your wealth and merchandise you enriched the kings of the earth.\n\t\t\t Now you are wrecked by the seas, in the depths of the waters; your merchandise and all your company have sunk along with you.\n\t\t\t All the inhabitants of the coastlands are shocked at you, and their kings are horribly afraid, their faces are troubled.\n\t\t\t The traders among the peoples hiss at you; you have become a horror, and will be no more.'\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD came to me:\n\t\t\t \"Son of man, say to the prince of Tyre, 'This is what the sovereign LORD says: \"'Your heart is proud and you said, \"I am a god; I sit in the seat of gods, in the heart of the seas\", yet you are a man and not a god, though you think you are godlike.\n\t\t\t Look, you are wiser than Daniel; no secret is hidden from you.\n\t\t\t By your wisdom and understanding you have gained wealth for yourself; you have amassed gold and silver in your treasuries.\n\t\t\t By your great skill in trade you have increased your wealth, and your heart is proud because of your wealth.\n\t\t\t \"'Therefore this is what the sovereign LORD says: Because you think you are godlike,\n\t\t\t I am about to bring foreigners against you, the most terrifying of nations. They will draw their swords against the grandeur made by your wisdom, and they will defile your splendor.\n\t\t\t They will bring you down to the pit, and you will die violently in the heart of the seas.\n\t\t\t Will you still say, \"I am a god,\" before the one who kills you, though you are a man and not a god, when you are in the power of those who wound you?\n\t\t\t You will die the death of the uncircumcised by the hand of foreigners; for I have spoken, declares the sovereign LORD.'\"\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD came to me:\n\t\t\t \"Son of man, sing a lament for the king of Tyre, and say to him, 'This is what the sovereign LORD says: \"'You were the sealer of perfection, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty.\n\t\t\t You were in Eden, the garden of God. Every precious stone was your covering, the ruby, topaz, and emerald, the chrysolite, onyx, and jasper, the sapphire, turquoise, and beryl; your settings and mounts were made of gold. On the day you were created they were prepared.\n\t\t\t I placed you there with an anointed guardian cherub; you were on the holy mountain of God; you walked about amidst fiery stones.\n\t\t\t You were blameless in your behavior from the day you were created, until sin was discovered in you.\n\t\t\t In the abundance of your trade you were filled with violence, and you sinned; so I defiled you and banished you from the mountain of God, the guardian cherub expelled you from the midst of the stones of fire.\n\t\t\t Your heart was proud because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom on account of your splendor. I threw you down to the ground; I placed you before kings, that they might see you.\n\t\t\t By the multitude of your iniquities, through the sinfulness of your trade, you desecrated your sanctuaries. So I drew fire out from within you; it consumed you, and I turned you to ashes on the earth before the eyes of all who saw you.\n\t\t\t All who know you among the peoples are shocked at you; you have become terrified and will be no more.'\"\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD came to me:\n\t\t\t \"Son of man, turn toward Sidon and prophesy against it. \n\t\t\t Say, 'This is what the sovereign LORD says: \"'Look, I am against you, Sidon, and I will magnify myself in your midst. Then they will know that I am the LORD when I execute judgments on her and reveal my sovereign power in her.\n\t\t\t I will send a plague into the city and bloodshed into its streets; the slain will fall within it, by the sword that attacks it from every side. Then they will know that I am the LORD.\n\t\t\t \"'No longer will Israel suffer from the sharp briers or painful thorns of all who surround and scorn them. Then they will know that I am the sovereign LORD.\n\t\t\t \"'This is what the sovereign LORD says: When I regather the house of Israel from the peoples where they are dispersed, I will reveal my sovereign power over them in the sight of the nations, and they will live in their land that I gave to my servant Jacob. \n\t\t\t They will live securely in it; they will build houses and plant vineyards. They will live securely when I execute my judgments on all those who scorn them and surround them. Then they will know that I am the LORD their God.'\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t In the tenth year, in the tenth month, on the twelfth day of the month, the word of the LORD came to me: \n\t\t\t \"Son of man, turn toward Pharaoh king of Egypt, and prophesy against him and against all Egypt. \n\t\t\t Tell them, 'This is what the sovereign LORD says: \"'Look, I am against you, Pharaoh king of Egypt, the great monster lying in the midst of its waterways, who has said, \"My Nile is my own, I made it for myself.\"\n\t\t\t I will put hooks in your jaws and stick the fish of your waterways to your scales. I will haul you up from the midst of your waterways, and all the fish of your waterways will stick to your scales.\n\t\t\t I will leave you in the wilderness, you and all the fish of your waterways; you will fall in the open field and will not be gathered up or collected. I have given you as food to the beasts of the earth and the birds of the skies.\n\t\t\t Then all those living in Egypt will know that I am the LORD because they were a reed staff for the house of Israel;\n\t\t\t when they grasped you with their hand, you broke and tore their shoulders, and when they leaned on you, you splintered and caused their legs to be unsteady.\n\t\t\t \"'Therefore, this is what the sovereign LORD says: Look, I am about to bring a sword against you, and I will kill every person and every animal. \n\t\t\t The land of Egypt will become a desolate ruin. Then they will know that I am the LORD. Because he said, \"The Nile is mine and I made it,\"\n\t\t\t I am against you and your waterways. I will turn the land of Egypt into an utter desolate ruin from Migdol to Syene, as far as the border with Ethiopia. \n\t\t\t No human foot will pass through it, and no animal's foot will pass through it; it will be uninhabited for forty years.\n\t\t\t I will turn the land of Egypt into a desolation in the midst of desolate lands; for forty years her cities will lie desolate in the midst of ruined cities. I will scatter Egypt among the nations and disperse them among foreign countries.\n\t\t\t \"'For this is what the sovereign LORD says: At the end of forty years I will gather Egypt from the peoples where they were scattered. \n\t\t\t I will restore the fortunes of Egypt, and will bring them back to the land of Pathros, to the land of their origin; there they will be an insignificant kingdom. \n\t\t\t It will be the most insignificant of the kingdoms; it will never again exalt itself over the nations. I will make them so small that they will not rule over the nations.\n\t\t\t It will never again be Israel's source of confidence, but a reminder of how they sinned by turning to Egypt for help. Then they will know that I am the sovereign LORD.'\"\n\t\t\t In the twenty-seventh year, in the first month, on the first day of the month, the word of the LORD came to me: \n\t\t\t \"Son of man, King Nebuchadrezzar of Babylon made his army labor hard against Tyre. Every head was rubbed bald and every shoulder rubbed bare; yet he and his army received no wages from Tyre for the work he carried out against it. \n\t\t\t Therefore this is what the sovereign LORD says: Look, I am about to give the land of Egypt to King Nebuchadrezzar of Babylon. He will carry off her wealth, capture her loot, and seize her plunder; it will be his army's wages.\n\t\t\t I have given him the land of Egypt as his compensation for attacking Tyre, because they did it for me, declares the sovereign LORD.\n\t\t\t On that day I will make Israel powerful, and I will give you the right to be heard among them. Then they will know that I am the LORD.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD came to me:\n\t\t\t \"Son of man, prophesy and say, 'This is what the sovereign LORD says: \"'Wail, \"Alas, the day is here!\"\n\t\t\t For the day is near, the day of the LORD is near; it will be a day of storm clouds, it will be a time of judgment for the nations.\n\t\t\t A sword will come against Egypt and panic will overtake Ethiopia when the slain fall in Egypt and they carry away her wealth and dismantle her foundations.\n\t\t\t Ethiopia, Put, Lud, all the foreigners, Libya, and the people of the covenant land will die by the sword along with them.\n\t\t\t \"'This is what the LORD says: Egypt's supporters will fall; her confident pride will crumble. From Migdol to Syene they will die by the sword within her, declares the sovereign LORD.\n\t\t\t They will be desolate among desolate lands, and their cities will be among ruined cities.\n\t\t\t They will know that I am the LORD when I ignite a fire in Egypt and all her allies are defeated.\n\t\t\t On that day messengers will go out from me in ships to frighten overly confident Ethiopia; panic will overtake them on the day of Egypt's doom; for beware, it is coming!\n\t\t\t \"'This is what the sovereign LORD says: I will put an end to the hordes of Egypt, by the hand of King Nebuchadrezzar of Babylon.\n\t\t\t He and his people with him, the most terrifying of the nations, will be brought there to destroy the land. They will draw their swords against Egypt, and fill the land with corpses.\n\t\t\t I will dry up the waterways and hand the land over to evil men. I will make the land and everything in it desolate by the hand of foreigners. I, the LORD, have spoken!\n\t\t\t \"'This is what the sovereign LORD says: I will destroy the idols, and put an end to the gods of Memphis. There will no longer be a prince from the land of Egypt; so I will make the land of Egypt fearful.\n\t\t\t I will desolate Pathros, I will ignite a fire in Zoan, and I will execute judgments on Thebes.\n\t\t\t I will pour out my anger upon Pelusium, the stronghold of Egypt; I will cut off the hordes of Thebes.\n\t\t\t I will ignite a fire in Egypt; Syene will writhe in agony, Thebes will be broken down, and Memphis will face enemies every day.\n\t\t\t The young men of On and of Pi-beseth will die by the sword; and the cities will go into captivity.\n\t\t\t In Tahpanhes the day will be dark when I break the yoke of Egypt there. Her confident pride will cease within her; a cloud will cover her, and her daughters will go into captivity.\n\t\t\t I will execute judgments on Egypt. Then they will know that I am the LORD.'\"\n\t\t\t In the eleventh year, in the first month, on the seventh day of the month, the word of the LORD came to me: \n\t\t\t \"Son of man, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Look, it has not been bandaged for healing or set with a dressing so that it might become strong enough to grasp a sword.\n\t\t\t Therefore this is what the sovereign LORD says: Look, I am against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and I will break his arms, the strong arm and the broken one, and I will make the sword drop from his hand. \n\t\t\t I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and disperse them among foreign countries.\n\t\t\t I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, and I will place my sword in his hand, but I will break the arms of Pharaoh, and he will groan like the fatally wounded before the king of Babylon.\n\t\t\t I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, but the arms of Pharaoh will fall limp. Then they will know that I am the LORD when I place my sword in the hand of the king of Babylon and he extends it against the land of Egypt.\n\t\t\t I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations and disperse them among foreign countries. Then they will know that I am the LORD.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t In the eleventh year, in the third month, on the first day of the month, the word of the LORD came to me: \n\t\t\t \"Son of man, say to Pharaoh king of Egypt and his hordes: \"'Who are you like in your greatness?\n\t\t\t Consider Assyria, a cedar in Lebanon, with beautiful branches, like a forest giving shade, and extremely tall; its top reached into the clouds.\n\t\t\t The water made it grow; underground springs made it grow tall. Rivers flowed all around the place it was planted, while smaller channels watered all the trees of the field.\n\t\t\t Therefore it grew taller than all the trees of the field; its boughs grew large and its branches grew long, because of the plentiful water in its shoots.\n\t\t\t All the birds of the sky nested in its boughs; under its branches all the beasts of the field gave birth, in its shade all the great nations lived.\n\t\t\t It was beautiful in its loftiness, in the length of its branches; for its roots went down deep to plentiful waters.\n\t\t\t The cedars in the garden of God could not eclipse it, nor could the fir trees match its boughs; the plane trees were as nothing compared to its branches; no tree in the garden of God could rival its beauty.\n\t\t\t I made it beautiful with its many branches; all the trees of Eden, in the garden of God, envied it.\n\t\t\t \"'Therefore this is what the sovereign LORD says: Because it was tall in stature, and its top reached into the clouds, and it was proud of its height,\n\t\t\t I gave it over to the leader of the nations. He has judged it thoroughly, as its sinfulness deserves. I have thrown it out. \n\t\t\t Foreigners from the most terrifying nations have cut it down and left it to lie there on the mountains. In all the valleys its branches have fallen, and its boughs lie broken in the ravines of the land. All the peoples of the land have departed from its shade and left it. \n\t\t\t On its ruins all the birds of the sky will live, and all the wild animals will walk on its branches.\n\t\t\t For this reason no watered trees will grow so tall; their tops will not reach into the clouds, nor will the well-watered ones grow that high. For all of them have been appointed to die in the lower parts of the earth; they will be among mere mortals, with those who descend to the pit.\n\t\t\t \"'This is what the sovereign LORD says: On the day it went down to Sheol I caused observers to lament. I covered it with the deep and held back its rivers; its plentiful water was restrained. I clothed Lebanon in black for it, and all the trees of the field wilted because of it. \n\t\t\t I made the nations shake at the sound of its fall, when I threw it down to Sheol, along with those who descend to the pit. Then all the trees of Eden, the choicest and the best of Lebanon, all that were well-watered, were comforted in the earth below. \n\t\t\t Those who lived in its shade, its allies among the nations, also went down with it to Sheol, to those killed by the sword. \n\t\t\t Which of the trees of Eden was like you in majesty and loftiness? You will be brought down with the trees of Eden to the lower parts of the earth; you will lie among the uncircumcised, with those killed by the sword! This is what will happen to Pharaoh and all his hordes, declares the sovereign LORD.'\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t In the twelfth year, in the twelfth month, on the first of the month, the word of the LORD came to me: \n\t\t\t \"Son of man, sing a lament for Pharaoh king of Egypt, and say to him: \"'You were like a lion among the nations, but you are a monster in the seas; you thrash about in your streams, stir up the water with your feet, and muddy your streams.\n\t\t\t \"'This is what the sovereign LORD says: \"'I will throw my net over you in the assembly of many peoples; and they will haul you up in my dragnet.\n\t\t\t I will leave you on the ground, I will fling you on the open field, I will allow all the birds of the sky to settle on you, and I will permit all the wild animals to gorge themselves on you.\n\t\t\t I will put your flesh on the mountains, and fill the valleys with your maggot-infested carcass.\n\t\t\t I will drench the land with the flow of your blood up to the mountains, and the ravines will be full of your blood.\n\t\t\t When I extinguish you, I will cover the sky; I will darken its stars. I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon will not shine.\n\t\t\t I will darken all the lights in the sky over you, and I will darken your land, declares the sovereign LORD.\n\t\t\t I will disturb many peoples, when I bring about your destruction among the nations, among countries you do not know.\n\t\t\t I will shock many peoples with you, and their kings will shiver with horror because of you. When I brandish my sword before them, every moment each one will tremble for his life, on the day of your fall.\n\t\t\t \"'For this is what the sovereign LORD says: \"'The sword of the king of Babylon will attack you.\n\t\t\t By the swords of the mighty warriors I will cause your hordes to fall, all of them are the most terrifying among the nations. They will devastate the pride of Egypt, and all its hordes will be destroyed.\n\t\t\t I will destroy all its cattle beside the plentiful waters; and no human foot will disturb the waters again, nor will the hooves of cattle disturb them.\n\t\t\t Then I will make their waters calm, and will make their streams flow like olive oil, declares the sovereign LORD.\n\t\t\t When I turn the land of Egypt into desolation and the land is destitute of everything that fills it, when I strike all those who live in it, then they will know that I am the LORD.'\n\t\t\t This is a lament; they will chant it. The daughters of the nations will chant it. They will chant it over Egypt and over all her hordes, declares the sovereign LORD.\"\n\t\t\t In the twelfth year, on the fifteenth day of the month, the word of the LORD came to me: \n\t\t\t \"Son of man, wail over the horde of Egypt. Bring it down; bring her and the daughters of powerful nations down to the lower parts of the earth, along with those who descend to the pit. \n\t\t\t Say to them, 'Whom do you surpass in beauty? Go down and be laid to rest with the uncircumcised!' \n\t\t\t They will fall among those killed by the sword. The sword is drawn; they carry her and all her hordes away.\n\t\t\t The bravest of the warriors will speak to him from the midst of Sheol along with his allies, saying: 'The uncircumcised have come down; they lie still, killed by the sword.'\n\t\t\t \"Assyria is there with all her assembly around her grave, all of them struck down by the sword.\n\t\t\t Their graves are located in the remote slopes of the pit. Her assembly is around her grave, all of them struck down by the sword, those who spread terror in the land of the living.\n\t\t\t \"Elam is there with all her hordes around her grave; all of them struck down by the sword. They went down uncircumcised to the lower parts of the earth, those who spread terror in the land of the living. Now they will bear their shame with those who descend to the pit.\n\t\t\t Among the dead they have made a bed for her, along with all her hordes around her grave. All of them are uncircumcised, killed by the sword, for their terror had spread in the land of the living. They bear their shame along with those who descend to the pit; they are placed among the dead.\n\t\t\t \"Meshech-Tubal is there, along with all her hordes around her grave. All of them are uncircumcised, killed by the sword, for they spread their terror in the land of the living. \n\t\t\t They do not lie with the fallen warriors of ancient times, who went down to Sheol with their weapons of war, having their swords placed under their heads and their shields on their bones, when the terror of these warriors was in the land of the living.\n\t\t\t \"But as for you, in the midst of the uncircumcised you will be broken, and you will lie with those killed by the sword.\n\t\t\t \"Edom is there with her kings and all her princes. Despite their might they are laid with those killed by the sword; they lie with the uncircumcised and those who descend to the pit.\n\t\t\t \"All the leaders of the north are there, along with all the Sidonians; despite their might they have gone down in shameful terror with the dead. They lie uncircumcised with those killed by the sword, and bear their shame with those who descend to the pit.\n\t\t\t \"Pharaoh will see them and be consoled over all his hordes who were killed by the sword, Pharaoh and all his army, declares the sovereign LORD.\n\t\t\t Indeed, I terrified him in the land of the living, yet he will lie in the midst of the uncircumcised with those killed by the sword, Pharaoh and all his hordes, declares the sovereign LORD.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD came to me:\n\t\t\t \"Son of man, speak to your people, and say to them, 'Suppose I bring a sword against the land, and the people of the land take one man from their borders and make him their watchman. \n\t\t\t He sees the sword coming against the land, blows the trumpet, and warns the people,\n\t\t\t but there is one who hears the sound of the trumpet yet does not heed the warning. Then the sword comes and sweeps him away. He will be responsible for his own death.\n\t\t\t He heard the sound of the trumpet but did not heed the warning, so he is responsible for himself. If he had heeded the warning, he would have saved his life. \n\t\t\t But suppose the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people. Then the sword comes and takes one of their lives. He is swept away for his iniquity, but I will hold the watchman accountable for that person's death.'\n\t\t\t \"As for you, son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you must warn them on my behalf. \n\t\t\t When I say to the wicked, 'O wicked man, you must certainly die,' and you do not warn the wicked about his behavior, the wicked man will die for his iniquity, but I will hold you accountable for his death.\n\t\t\t But if you warn the wicked man to change his behavior, and he refuses to change, he will die for his iniquity, but you have saved your own life.\n\t\t\t \"And you, son of man, say to the house of Israel, 'This is what you have said: \"Our rebellious acts and our sins have caught up with us, and we are wasting away because of them. How then can we live?\"' \n\t\t\t Say to them, 'As surely as I live, declares the sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but prefer that the wicked change his behavior and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil deeds! Why should you die, O house of Israel?'\n\t\t\t \"And you, son of man, say to your people, 'The righteousness of the righteous will not deliver him if he rebels. As for the wicked, his wickedness will not make him stumble if he turns from it. The righteous will not be able to live by his righteousness if he sins.'\n\t\t\t Suppose I tell the righteous that he will certainly live, but he becomes confident in his righteousness and commits iniquity. None of his righteous deeds will be remembered; because of the iniquity he has committed he will die.\n\t\t\t Suppose I say to the wicked, 'You must certainly die,' but he turns from his sin and does what is just and right.\n\t\t\t He returns what was taken in pledge, pays back what he has stolen, and follows the statutes that give life, committing no iniquity. He will certainly live, he will not die.\n\t\t\t None of the sins he has committed will be counted against him. He has done what is just and right; he will certainly live.\n\t\t\t \"Yet your people say, 'The behavior of the Lord is not right,' when it is their behavior that is not right. \n\t\t\t When a righteous man turns from his godliness and commits iniquity, he will die for it.\n\t\t\t When the wicked turns from his sin and does what is just and right, he will live because of it.\n\t\t\t Yet you say, 'The behavior of the Lord is not right.' House of Israel, I will judge each of you according to his behavior.\"\n\t\t\t In the twelfth year of our exile, in the tenth month, on the fifth of the month, a refugee came to me from Jerusalem saying, \"The city has been defeated!\"\n\t\t\t Now the hand of the LORD had been on me the evening before the refugee reached me, but the LORD opened my mouth by the time the refugee arrived in the morning; he opened my mouth and I was no longer unable to speak.\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD came to me:\n\t\t\t \"Son of man, the ones living in these ruins in the land of Israel are saying, 'Abraham was only one man, yet he possessed the land, but we are many; surely the land has been given to us for a possession.'\n\t\t\t Therefore say to them, 'This is what the sovereign LORD says: You eat the meat with the blood still in it, pray to your idols, and shed blood. Do you really think you will possess the land? \n\t\t\t You rely on your swords and commit abominable deeds; each of you defiles his neighbor's wife. Will you possess the land?'\n\t\t\t \"This is what you must say to them, 'This is what the sovereign LORD says: As surely as I live, those living in the ruins will die by the sword, those in the open field I will give to the wild beasts for food, and those who are in the strongholds and caves will die of disease. \n\t\t\t I will turn the land into a desolate ruin; her confident pride will come to an end. The mountains of Israel will be so desolate no one will pass through them.\n\t\t\t Then they will know that I am the LORD when I turn the land into a desolate ruin because of all the abominable deeds they have committed.'\n\t\t\t \"But as for you, son of man, your people (who are talking about you by the walls and at the doors of the houses) say to one another, 'Come hear the word that comes from the LORD.' \n\t\t\t They come to you in crowds, and they sit in front of you as my people. They hear your words, but do not obey them. For they talk lustfully, and their heart is set on their own advantage.\n\t\t\t Realize that to them you are like a sensual song, a beautiful voice and skilled musician. They hear your words, but they do not obey them.\n\t\t\t When all this comes true, and it certainly will, then they will know that a prophet was among them.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD came to me:\n\t\t\t \"Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy, and say to them, to the shepherds: 'This is what the sovereign LORD says: Woe to the shepherds of Israel who have been feeding themselves! Should not shepherds feed the flock?\n\t\t\t You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the choice animals, but you do not feed the sheep!\n\t\t\t You have not strengthened the weak, healed the sick, bandaged the injured, brought back the strays, or sought the lost, but with force and harshness you have ruled over them. \n\t\t\t They were scattered because they had no shepherd, and they became food for every wild beast.\n\t\t\t My sheep wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. My sheep were scattered over the entire face of the earth with no one looking or searching for them.\n\t\t\t \"'Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD:\n\t\t\t As surely as I live, declares the sovereign LORD, my sheep have become prey and have become food for all the wild beasts. There was no shepherd, and my shepherds did not search for my flock, but fed themselves and did not feed my sheep,\n\t\t\t Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD:\n\t\t\t This is what the sovereign LORD says: Look, I am against the shepherds, and I will demand my sheep from their hand. I will no longer let them be shepherds; the shepherds will not feed themselves anymore. I will rescue my sheep from their mouth, so that they will no longer be food for them.\n\t\t\t \"'For this is what the sovereign LORD says: Look, I myself will search for my sheep and seek them out.\n\t\t\t As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his scattered sheep, so I will seek out my flock. I will rescue them from all the places where they have been scattered on a cloudy, dark day.\n\t\t\t I will bring them out from among the peoples and gather them from foreign countries; I will bring them to their own land. I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the streams and all the inhabited places of the land.\n\t\t\t In a good pasture I will feed them; the mountain heights of Israel will be their pasture. There they will lie down in a lush pasture, and they will feed on rich grass on the mountains of Israel. \n\t\t\t I myself will feed my sheep and I myself will make them lie down, declares the sovereign LORD.\n\t\t\t I will seek the lost and bring back the strays; I will bandage the injured and strengthen the sick, but the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them, with judgment!\n\t\t\t \"'As for you, my sheep, this is what the sovereign LORD says: Look, I am about to judge between one sheep and another, between rams and goats.\n\t\t\t Is it not enough for you to feed on the good pasture, that you must trample the rest of your pastures with your feet? When you drink clean water, must you muddy the rest of the water by trampling it with your feet?\n\t\t\t As for my sheep, they must eat what you trampled with your feet, and drink what you have muddied with your feet!\n\t\t\t \"'Therefore, this is what the sovereign LORD says to them: Look, I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep.\n\t\t\t Because you push with your side and your shoulder, and thrust your horns at all the weak sheep until you scatter them abroad,\n\t\t\t I will save my sheep; they will no longer be prey. I will judge between one sheep and another.\n\t\t\t I will set one shepherd over them, and he will feed them, namely, my servant David. He will feed them and will be their shepherd.\n\t\t\t I, the LORD, will be their God, and my servant David will be prince among them; I, the LORD, have spoken!\n\t\t\t \"'I will make a covenant of peace with them and will rid the land of wild beasts, so that they can live securely in the wilderness and even sleep in the woods.\n\t\t\t I will turn them and the regions around my hill into a blessing. I will make showers come down in their season; they will be showers that bring blessing.\n\t\t\t The trees of the field will yield their fruit and the earth will yield its crops. They will live securely on their land; they will know that I am the LORD, when I break the bars of their yoke and rescue them from the hand of those who enslaved them.\n\t\t\t They will no longer be prey for the nations and the wild beasts will not devour them. They will live securely and no one will make them afraid.\n\t\t\t I will prepare for them a healthy planting. They will no longer be victims of famine in the land and will no longer bear the insults of the nations. \n\t\t\t Then they will know that I, the LORD their God, am with them, and that they are my people, the house of Israel, declares the sovereign LORD.\n\t\t\t And you, my sheep, the sheep of my pasture, are my people, and I am your God, declares the sovereign LORD.'\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD came to me:\n\t\t\t \"Son of man, turn toward Mount Seir, and prophesy against it. \n\t\t\t Say to it, 'This is what the sovereign LORD says: \"'Look, I am against you, Mount Seir; I will stretch out my hand against you and turn you into a desolate ruin.\n\t\t\t I will lay waste your cities; and you will become desolate. Then you will know that I am the LORD!\n\t\t\t \"'You have shown unrelenting hostility and poured the people of Israel onto the blades of a sword at the time of their calamity, at the time of their final punishment. \n\t\t\t Therefore, as surely as I live, declares the sovereign LORD, I will subject you to bloodshed, and bloodshed will pursue you. Since you did not hate bloodshed, bloodshed will pursue you.\n\t\t\t I will turn Mount Seir into a desolate ruin; I will cut off from it the one who passes through or returns. \n\t\t\t I will fill its mountains with its dead; on your hills and in your valleys and in all your ravines, those killed by the sword will fall.\n\t\t\t I will turn you into a perpetual desolation, and your cities will not be inhabited. Then you will know that I am the LORD.\n\t\t\t \"'You said, \"These two nations, these two lands will be mine, and we will possess them,\", although the LORD was there,\n\t\t\t therefore, as surely as I live, declares the sovereign LORD, I will deal with you according to your anger, and according to your envy, by which you acted spitefully against them. I will reveal myself to them when I judge you.\n\t\t\t Then you will know that I, the LORD, have heard all the insults you spoke against the mountains of Israel, saying, \"They are desolate, they have been given to us for food.\"\n\t\t\t You exalted yourselves against me with your speech and hurled many insults against me, I have heard them all!\n\t\t\t This is what the sovereign LORD says: While the whole earth rejoices, I will turn you into a desolation.\n\t\t\t As you rejoiced over the inheritance of the house of Israel because it was desolate, so will I deal with you, you will be desolate, Mount Seir, and all of Edom, all of it! Then they will know that I am the LORD.'\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t \"As for you, son of man, prophesy to the mountains of Israel, and say: 'O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the LORD!\n\t\t\t This is what the sovereign LORD says: The enemy has spoken against you, saying \"Aha!\" and, \"The ancient heights have become our property!\"' \n\t\t\t So prophesy and say: 'This is what the sovereign LORD says: Surely because they have made you desolate and crushed you from all directions, so that you have become the property of the rest of the nations, and have become the subject of gossip and slander among the people, \n\t\t\t therefore, O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the sovereign LORD: This is what the sovereign LORD says to the mountains and hills, the ravines and valleys, and to the desolate ruins and the abandoned cities that have become prey and an object of derision to the rest of the nations round about,\n\t\t\t therefore this is what the sovereign LORD says: Surely I have spoken in the fire of my zeal against the rest of the nations, and against all Edom, who with great joy and utter contempt have made my land their property and prey, because of its pasture.'\n\t\t\t \"Therefore prophesy concerning the land of Israel, and say to the mountains and hills, the ravines and valleys, 'This is what the sovereign LORD says: Look, I have spoken in my zeal and in my anger, because you have endured the insults of the nations.\n\t\t\t So this is what the sovereign LORD says: I vow that the nations around you will endure insults as well.\n\t\t\t \"'But you, mountains of Israel, will grow your branches, and bear your fruit for my people Israel; for they will arrive soon.\n\t\t\t For indeed, I am on your side; I will turn to you, and you will be plowed and planted. \n\t\t\t I will multiply your people, the whole house of Israel, all of it. The cities will be populated and the ruins rebuilt.\n\t\t\t I will increase the number of people and animals on you; they will increase and be fruitful. I will cause you to be inhabited as in ancient times, and will do more good for you than at the beginning of your history. Then you will know that I am the LORD. \n\t\t\t I will lead people, my people Israel, across you; they will possess you and you will become their inheritance. No longer will you bereave them of their children.\n\t\t\t \"'This is what the sovereign LORD says: Because they are saying to you, \"You are a devourer of men, and bereave your nation of children,\"\n\t\t\t therefore you will no longer devour people and no longer bereave your nation of children, declares the sovereign LORD.\n\t\t\t I will no longer subject you to the nations' insults; no longer will you bear the shame of the peoples, and no longer will you bereave your nation, declares the sovereign LORD.'\"\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD came to me:\n\t\t\t \"Son of man, when the house of Israel was living on their own land, they defiled it by their behavior and their deeds. In my sight their behavior was like the uncleanness of a woman having her monthly period. \n\t\t\t So I poured my anger on them because of the blood they shed on the land and because of the idols with which they defiled it.\n\t\t\t I scattered them among the nations; they were dispersed throughout foreign countries. In accordance with their behavior and their deeds I judged them.\n\t\t\t But when they arrived in the nations where they went, they profaned my holy name. It was said of them, 'These are the people of the LORD, yet they have departed from his land.'\n\t\t\t I was concerned for my holy reputation which the house of Israel profaned among the nations where they went.\n\t\t\t \"Therefore say to the house of Israel, 'This is what the sovereign LORD says: It is not for your sake that I am about to act, O house of Israel, but for the sake of my holy reputation which you profaned among the nations where you went. \n\t\t\t I will magnify my great name that has been profaned among the nations, that you have profaned among them. The nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the sovereign LORD, when I magnify myself among you in their sight.\n\t\t\t \"'I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries; then I will bring you to your land.\n\t\t\t I will sprinkle you with pure water and you will be clean from all your impurities. I will purify you from all your idols. \n\t\t\t I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit within you. I will remove the heart of stone from your body and give you a heart of flesh.\n\t\t\t I will put my Spirit within you; I will take the initiative and you will obey my statutes and carefully observe my regulations.\n\t\t\t Then you will live in the land I gave to your fathers; you will be my people, and I will be your God.\n\t\t\t I will save you from all your uncleanness. I will call for the grain and multiply it; I will not bring a famine on you.\n\t\t\t I will multiply the fruit of the trees and the produce of the fields, so that you will never again suffer the disgrace of famine among the nations.\n\t\t\t Then you will remember your evil behavior and your deeds which were not good; you will loathe yourselves on account of your sins and your abominable deeds. \n\t\t\t Understand that it is not for your sake I am about to act, declares the sovereign LORD. Be ashamed and embarrassed by your behavior, O house of Israel.\n\t\t\t \"'This is what the sovereign LORD says: In the day I cleanse you from all your sins, I will populate the cities and the ruins will be rebuilt.\n\t\t\t The desolate land will be plowed, instead of being desolate in the sight of everyone who passes by.\n\t\t\t They will say, \"This desolate land has become like the garden of Eden; the ruined, desolate, and destroyed cities are now fortified and inhabited.\"\n\t\t\t Then the nations which remain around you will know that I, the LORD, have rebuilt the ruins and replanted what was desolate. I, the LORD, have spoken, and I will do it!'\n\t\t\t \"This is what the sovereign LORD says: I will allow the house of Israel to ask me to do this for them: I will multiply their people like sheep.\n\t\t\t Like the sheep for offerings, like the sheep of Jerusalem during her appointed feasts, so will the ruined cities be filled with flocks of people. Then they will know that I am the LORD.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The hand of the LORD was on me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the LORD and placed me in the midst of the valley, and it was full of bones. \n\t\t\t He made me walk all around among them. I realized there were a great many bones in the valley and they were very dry. \n\t\t\t He said to me, \"Son of man, can these bones live?\" I said to him, \"Sovereign Lord, you know.\"\n\t\t\t Then he said to me, \"Prophesy over these bones, and tell them: 'Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.\n\t\t\t This is what the sovereign LORD says to these bones: Look, I am about to infuse breath into you and you will live.\n\t\t\t I will put tendons on you and muscles over you and will cover you with skin; I will put breath in you and you will live. Then you will know that I am the LORD.'\"\n\t\t\t So I prophesied as I was commanded. There was a sound when I prophesied, I heard a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to bone.\n\t\t\t As I watched, I saw tendons on them, then muscles appeared, and skin covered over them from above, but there was no breath in them.\n\t\t\t He said to me, \"Prophesy to the breath,, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath: 'This is what the sovereign LORD says: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these corpses so that they may live.'\"\n\t\t\t So I prophesied as I was commanded, and the breath came into them; they lived and stood on their feet, an extremely great army.\n\t\t\t Then he said to me, \"Son of man, these bones are all the house of Israel. Look, they are saying, 'Our bones are dry, our hope has perished; we are cut off.'\n\t\t\t Therefore prophesy, and tell them, 'This is what the sovereign LORD says: Look, I am about to open your graves and will raise you from your graves, my people. I will bring you to the land of Israel.\n\t\t\t Then you will know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves and raise you from your graves, my people.\n\t\t\t I will place my breath in you and you will live; I will give you rest in your own land. Then you will know that I am the LORD, I have spoken and I will act, declares the LORD.'\"\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD came to me:\n\t\t\t \"As for you, son of man, take one branch, and write on it, 'For Judah, and for the Israelites associated with him.' Then take another branch and write on it, 'For Joseph, the branch of Ephraim and all the house of Israel associated with him.'\n\t\t\t Join them as one stick; they will be as one in your hand. \n\t\t\t When your people say to you, 'Will you not tell us what these things mean?' \n\t\t\t tell them, 'This is what the sovereign LORD says: Look, I am about to take the branch of Joseph which is in the hand of Ephraim and the tribes of Israel associated with him, and I will place them on the stick of Judah, and make them into one stick, they will be one in my hand.'\n\t\t\t The sticks you write on will be in your hand in front of them.\n\t\t\t Then tell them, 'This is what the sovereign LORD says: Look, I am about to take the Israelites from among the nations where they have gone. I will gather them from round about and bring them to their land.\n\t\t\t I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel, and one king will rule over them all. They will never again be two nations and never again be divided into two kingdoms.\n\t\t\t They will not defile themselves with their idols, their detestable things, and all their rebellious deeds. I will save them from all their unfaithfulness by which they sinned. I will purify them; they will become my people and I will become their God.\n\t\t\t \"'My servant David will be king over them; there will be one shepherd for all of them. They will follow my regulations and carefully observe my statutes.\n\t\t\t They will live in the land I gave to my servant Jacob, in which your fathers lived; they will live in it, they and their children and their grandchildren forever. David my servant will be prince over them forever.\n\t\t\t I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be a perpetual covenant with them. I will establish them, increase their numbers, and place my sanctuary among them forever. \n\t\t\t My dwelling place will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be my people.\n\t\t\t Then, when my sanctuary is among them forever, the nations will know that I, the LORD, sanctify Israel.'\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD came to me:\n\t\t\t \"Son of man, turn toward Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. Prophesy against him \n\t\t\t and say: 'This is what the sovereign LORD says: Look, I am against you, Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. \n\t\t\t I will turn you around, put hooks into your jaws, and bring you out with all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them fully armed, a great company with shields of different types, all of them armed with swords. \n\t\t\t Persia, Ethiopia, and Put are with them, all of them with shields and helmets. \n\t\t\t They are joined by Gomer with all its troops, and by Beth Togarmah from the remote parts of the north with all its troops, many peoples are with you.\n\t\t\t \"'Be ready and stay ready, you and all your companies assembled around you, and be a guard for them.\n\t\t\t After many days you will be summoned; in the latter years you will come to a land restored from the ravages of war, with many peoples gathered on the mountains of Israel that had long been in ruins. Its people were brought out from the peoples, and all of them will be living securely. \n\t\t\t You will advance; you will come like a storm. You will be like a cloud covering the earth, you, all your troops, and the many other peoples with you.\n\t\t\t \"'This is what the sovereign LORD says: On that day thoughts will come into your mind, and you will devise an evil plan. \n\t\t\t You will say, \"I will invade a land of unwalled towns; I will advance against those living quietly in security, all of them living without walls and barred gates,\n\t\t\t to loot and plunder, to attack the inhabited ruins and the people gathered from the nations, who are acquiring cattle and goods, who live at the center of the earth.\" \n\t\t\t Sheba and Dedan and the traders of Tarshish with all its young warriors will say to you, \"Have you come to loot? Have you assembled your armies to plunder, to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to haul away a great amount of spoils?\"'\n\t\t\t \"Therefore, prophesy, son of man, and say to Gog: 'This is what the sovereign LORD says: On that day when my people Israel are living securely, you will take notice\n\t\t\t and come from your place, from the remote parts of the north, you and many peoples with you, all of them riding on horses, a great company and a vast army.\n\t\t\t You will advance against my people Israel like a cloud covering the earth. In the latter days I will bring you against my land so that the nations may acknowledge me, when before their eyes I magnify myself through you, O Gog.\n\t\t\t \"'This is what the sovereign LORD says: Are you the one of whom I spoke in former days by my servants the prophets of Israel, who prophesied in those days that I would bring you against them? \n\t\t\t On that day, when Gog invades the land of Israel, declares the sovereign LORD, my rage will mount up in my anger. \n\t\t\t In my zeal, in the fire of my fury, I declare that on that day there will be a great earthquake in the land of Israel. \n\t\t\t The fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the wild beasts, all the things that creep on the ground, and all people who live on the face of the earth will shake at my presence. The mountains will topple, the cliffs will fall, and every wall will fall to the ground. \n\t\t\t I will call for a sword to attack Gog on all my mountains, declares the sovereign LORD; every man's sword will be against his brother. \n\t\t\t I will judge him with plague and bloodshed. I will rain down on him, his troops and the many peoples who are with him a torrential downpour, hailstones, fire, and brimstone.\n\t\t\t I will exalt and magnify myself; I will reveal myself before many nations. Then they will know that I am the LORD.'\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t \"As for you, son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say: 'This is what the sovereign LORD says: Look, I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal!\n\t\t\t I will turn you around and drag you along; I will lead you up from the remotest parts of the north and bring you against the mountains of Israel. \n\t\t\t I will knock your bow out of your left hand and make your arrows fall from your right hand.\n\t\t\t You will fall dead on the mountains of Israel, you and all your troops and the people who are with you. I give you as food to every kind of bird and every wild beast.\n\t\t\t You will fall dead in the open field; for I have spoken, declares the sovereign LORD.\n\t\t\t I will send fire on Magog and those who live securely in the coastlands; then they will know that I am the LORD.\n\t\t\t \"'I will make my holy name known in the midst of my people Israel; I will not let my holy name be profaned anymore. Then the nations will know that I am the LORD, the Holy One of Israel.\n\t\t\t Realize that it is coming and it will be done, declares the sovereign LORD. It is the day I have spoken about.\n\t\t\t \"'Then those who live in the cities of Israel will go out and use the weapons for kindling, the shields, bows and arrows, war clubs and spears, they will burn them for seven years.\n\t\t\t They will not need to take wood from the field or cut down trees from the forests, because they will make fires with the weapons. They will take the loot from those who looted them and seize the plunder of those who plundered them, declares the sovereign LORD.\n\t\t\t \"'On that day I will assign Gog a grave in Israel. It will be the valley of those who travel east of the sea; it will block the way of the travelers. There they will bury Gog and all his horde; they will call it the valley of Hamon-Gog.\n\t\t\t For seven months Israel will bury them, in order to cleanse the land. \n\t\t\t All the people of the land will bury them, and it will be a memorial for them on the day I magnify myself, declares the sovereign LORD. \n\t\t\t They will designate men to scout continually through the land, burying those who remain on the surface of the ground, in order to cleanse it. They will search for seven full months. \n\t\t\t When the scouts survey the land and see a human bone, they will place a sign by it, until those assigned to burial duty have buried it in the valley of Hamon-Gog. \n\t\t\t (A city by the name of Hamonah will also be there.) They will cleanse the land.'\n\t\t\t \"As for you, son of man, this is what the sovereign LORD says: Tell every kind of bird and every wild beast: 'Assemble and come! Gather from all around to my slaughter which I am going to make for you, a great slaughter on the mountains of Israel! You will eat flesh and drink blood. \n\t\t\t You will eat the flesh of warriors and drink the blood of the princes of the earth, the rams, lambs, goats, and bulls, all of them fattened animals of Bashan.\n\t\t\t You will eat fat until you are full, and drink blood until you are drunk, at my slaughter which I have made for you. \n\t\t\t You will fill up at my table with horses and charioteers, with warriors and all the soldiers,' declares the sovereign LORD.\n\t\t\t \"I will display my majesty among the nations. All the nations will witness the judgment I have executed, and the power I have exhibited among them. \n\t\t\t Then the house of Israel will know that I am the LORD their God, from that day forward.\n\t\t\t The nations will know that the house of Israel went into exile due to their iniquity, for they were unfaithful to me. So I hid my face from them and handed them over to their enemies; all of them died by the sword. \n\t\t\t According to their uncleanness and rebellion I have dealt with them, and I hid my face from them.\n\t\t\t \"Therefore this is what the sovereign LORD says: Now I will restore the fortunes of Jacob, and I will have mercy on the entire house of Israel. I will be zealous for my holy name. \n\t\t\t They will bear their shame for all their unfaithful acts against me, when they live securely on their land with no one to make them afraid.\n\t\t\t When I have brought them back from the peoples and gathered them from the countries of their enemies, I will magnify myself among them in the sight of many nations.\n\t\t\t Then they will know that I am the LORD their God, because I sent them into exile among the nations, and then gathered them into their own land. I will not leave any of them in exile any longer. \n\t\t\t I will no longer hide my face from them, when I pour out my Spirit on the house of Israel, declares the sovereign LORD.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t In the twenty-fifth year of our exile, at the beginning of the year, on the tenth day of the month, in the fourteenth year after the city was struck down, on this very day, the hand of the LORD was on me, and he brought me there.\n\t\t\t By means of divine visions he brought me to the land of Israel and placed me on a very high mountain, and on it was a structure like a city, to the south. \n\t\t\t When he brought me there, I saw a man whose appearance was like bronze, with a linen cord and a measuring stick in his hand. He was standing in the gateway. \n\t\t\t The man said to me, \"Son of man, watch closely, listen carefully, and pay attention to everything I show you, for you have been brought here so that I can show it to you. Tell the house of Israel everything you see.\"\n\t\t\t I saw a wall all around the outside of the temple. In the man's hand was a measuring stick 10, feet long. He measured the thickness of the wall as 10, feet, and its height as 10, feet. \n\t\t\t Then he went to the gate facing east. He climbed its steps and measured the threshold of the gate as 10, feet deep.\n\t\t\t The alcoves were 10, feet long and 10, feet wide; between the alcoves were 8, feet. The threshold of the gate by the porch of the gate facing inward was 10, feet. \n\t\t\t Then he measured the porch of the gate facing inward as 10, feet.\n\t\t\t He measured the porch of the gate as 14 feet, and its jambs as 3, feet; the porch of the gate faced inward. \n\t\t\t There were three alcoves on each side of the east gate; the three had the same measurement, and the jambs on either side had the same measurement.\n\t\t\t He measured the width of the entrance of the gateway as 17, feet, and the length of the gateway as 22, feet.\n\t\t\t There was a barrier in front of the alcoves, 1, feet on either side; the alcoves were 10, feet on either side. \n\t\t\t He measured the gateway from the roof of one alcove to the roof of the other, a width of 43, feet from one entrance to the opposite one. \n\t\t\t He measured the porch at 105 feet high; the gateway went all around to the jamb of the courtyard. \n\t\t\t From the front of the entrance gate to the porch of the inner gate was 87, feet.\n\t\t\t There were closed windows toward the alcoves and toward their jambs within the gate all around, and likewise for the porches. There were windows all around the inside, and on each jamb were decorative palm trees.\n\t\t\t Then he brought me to the outer court. I saw chambers there, and a pavement made for the court all around; thirty chambers faced the pavement. \n\t\t\t The pavement was beside the gates, corresponding to the length of the gates; this was the lower pavement.\n\t\t\t Then he measured the width from before the lower gate to the front of the exterior of the inner court as 175 feet on the east and on the north.\n\t\t\t He measured the length and width of the gate of the outer court which faces north.\n\t\t\t Its alcoves, three on each side, and its jambs and porches had the same measurement as the first gate; 87, feet long and 43, feet wide. \n\t\t\t Its windows, its porches, and its decorative palm trees had the same measurement as the gate which faced east. Seven steps led up to it, and its porch was in front of them.\n\t\t\t Opposite the gate on the north and the east was a gate of the inner court; he measured the distance from gate to gate at 175 feet.\n\t\t\t Then he led me toward the south. I saw a gate on the south. He measured its jambs and its porches; they had the same dimensions as the others. \n\t\t\t There were windows all around it and its porches, like the windows of the others; 87, feet long and 43, feet wide. \n\t\t\t There were seven steps going up to it; its porches were in front of them. It had decorative palm trees on its jambs, one on either side.\n\t\t\t The inner court had a gate toward the south; he measured it from gate to gate toward the south as 175 feet.\n\t\t\t Then he brought me to the inner court by the south gate. He measured the south gate; it had the same dimensions as the others.\n\t\t\t Its alcoves, its jambs, and its porches had the same dimensions as the others, and there were windows all around it and its porches; its length was 87, feet and its width 43, feet.\n\t\t\t There were porches all around, 43, feet long and 8, feet wide. \n\t\t\t Its porches faced the outer court, and decorative palm trees were on its jambs, and its stairway had eight steps.\n\t\t\t Then he brought me to the inner court on the east side. He measured the gate; it had the same dimensions as the others.\n\t\t\t Its alcoves, its jambs, and its porches had the same dimensions as the others, and there were windows all around it and its porches; its length was 87, feet and its width 43, feet.\n\t\t\t Its porches faced the outer court, it had decorative palm trees on its jambs, and its stairway had eight steps.\n\t\t\t Then he brought me to the north gate, and he measured it; it had the same dimensions as the others,\n\t\t\t its alcoves, its jambs, and its porches. It had windows all around it; its length was 87, feet and its width 43, feet.\n\t\t\t Its jambs faced the outer court, and it had decorative palm trees on its jambs, on either side, and its stairway had eight steps.\n\t\t\t There was a chamber with its door by the porch of the gate; there they washed the burnt offering. \n\t\t\t In the porch of the gate were two tables on either side on which to slaughter the burnt offering, the sin offering, and the guilt offering.\n\t\t\t On the outside of the porch as one goes up at the entrance of the north gate were two tables, and on the other side of the porch of the gate were two tables.\n\t\t\t Four tables were on each side of the gate, eight tables on which the sacrifices were to be slaughtered.\n\t\t\t The four tables for the burnt offering were of carved stone, 32 inches long, 32 inches wide, and 21 inches high. They would put the instruments which they used to slaughter the burnt offering and the sacrifice on them. \n\t\t\t There were hooks three inches long, fastened in the house all around, and on the tables was the flesh of the offering.\n\t\t\t On the outside of the inner gate were chambers for the singers of the inner court, one at the side of the north gate facing south, and the other at the side of the south gate facing north. \n\t\t\t He said to me, \"This chamber which faces south is for the priests who keep charge of the temple,\n\t\t\t and the chamber which faces north is for the priests who keep charge of the altar. These are the descendants of Zadok, from the descendants of Levi, who may approach the LORD to minister to him.\"\n\t\t\t He measured the court as a square 175 feet long and 175 feet wide; the altar was in front of the temple.\n\t\t\t Then he brought me to the porch of the temple and measured the jambs of the porch as 8, feet on either side, and the width of the gate was 24, feet and the sides were 5, feet on each side. \n\t\t\t The length of the porch was 35 feet and the width 19, feet; steps led up to it, and there were pillars beside the jambs on either side.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then he brought me to the outer sanctuary, and measured the jambs; the jambs were 10, feet wide on each side. \n\t\t\t The width of the entrance was 17, feet, and the sides of the entrance were 8, feet on each side. He measured the length of the outer sanctuary as 70 feet, and its width as 35 feet.\n\t\t\t Then he went into the inner sanctuary and measured the jambs of the entrance as 3, feet, the entrance as 10, feet, and the width of the entrance as 12, feet\n\t\t\t Then he measured its length as 35 feet, and its width as 35 feet, before the outer sanctuary. He said to me, \"This is the most holy place.\"\n\t\t\t Then he measured the wall of the temple as 10, feet, and the width of the side chambers as 7 feet, all around the temple. \n\t\t\t The side chambers were in three stories, one above the other, thirty in each story. There were offsets in the wall all around to serve as supports for the side chambers, so that the supports were not in the wall of the temple.\n\t\t\t The side chambers surrounding the temple were wider at each successive story; for the structure surrounding the temple went up story by story all around the temple. For this reason the width of the temple increased as it went up, and one went up from the lowest story to the highest by the way of the middle story.\n\t\t\t I saw that the temple had a raised platform all around; the foundations of the side chambers were a full measuring stick of 10, feet high. \n\t\t\t The width of the outer wall of the side chambers was 8, feet, and the open area between the side chambers of the temple \n\t\t\t and the chambers of the court was 35 feet in width all around the temple on every side. \n\t\t\t There were entrances from the side chambers toward the open area, one entrance toward the north, and another entrance toward the south; the width of the open area was 8, feet all around.\n\t\t\t The building that was facing the temple courtyard at the west side was 122, feet wide; the wall of the building was 8, feet all around, and its length 157, feet.\n\t\t\t Then he measured the temple as 175 feet long, the courtyard of the temple and the building and its walls as 175 feet long, \n\t\t\t and also the width of the front of the temple and the courtyard on the east as 175 feet.\n\t\t\t Then he measured the length of the building facing the courtyard at the rear of the temple, with its galleries on either side as 175 feet. The interior of the outer sanctuary and the porch of the court,\n\t\t\t as well as the thresholds, narrow windows and galleries all around on three sides facing the threshold were paneled with wood all around, from the ground up to the windows (now the windows were covered),\n\t\t\t to the space above the entrance, to the inner room, and on the outside, and on all the walls in the inner room and outside, by measurement.\n\t\t\t It was made with cherubim and decorative palm trees, with a palm tree between each cherub. Each cherub had two faces:\n\t\t\t a human face toward the palm tree on one side and a lion's face toward the palm tree on the other side. They were carved on the whole temple all around;\n\t\t\t from the ground to the area above the entrance, cherubim and decorative palm trees were carved on the wall of the outer sanctuary.\n\t\t\t The doorposts of the outer sanctuary were square. In front of the sanctuary one doorpost looked just like the other.\n\t\t\t The altar was of wood, 5, feet high, with its length 3, feet; its corners, its length, and its walls were of wood. He said to me, \"This is the table that is before the LORD.\" \n\t\t\t The outer sanctuary and the inner sanctuary each had a double door.\n\t\t\t Each of the doors had two leaves, two swinging leaves; two leaves for one door and two leaves for the other. \n\t\t\t On the doors of the outer sanctuary were carved cherubim and palm trees, like those carved on the walls, and there was a canopy of wood on the front of the outside porch.\n\t\t\t There were narrow windows and decorative palm trees on either side of the side walls of the porch; this is what the side chambers of the temple and the canopies were like.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then he led me out to the outer court, toward the north, and brought me to the chamber which was opposite the courtyard and opposite the building on the north.\n\t\t\t Its length was 175 feet on the north side, and its width 87, feet.\n\t\t\t Opposite the 35 feet that belonged to the inner court, and opposite the pavement which belonged to the outer court, gallery faced gallery in the three stories. \n\t\t\t In front of the chambers was a walkway on the inner side, 17, feet wide at a distance of 1, feet, and their entrances were on the north. \n\t\t\t Now the upper chambers were narrower, because the galleries took more space from them than from the lower and middle chambers of the building.\n\t\t\t For they were in three stories and had no pillars like the pillars of the courts; therefore the upper chambers were set back from the ground more than the lower and upper ones. \n\t\t\t As for the outer wall by the side of the chambers, toward the outer court facing the chambers, it was 87, feet long. \n\t\t\t For the chambers on the outer court were 87, feet long, while those facing the temple were 175 feet long. \n\t\t\t Below these chambers was a passage on the east side as one enters from the outer court.\n\t\t\t At the beginning of the wall of the court toward the south, facing the courtyard and the building, were chambers \n\t\t\t with a passage in front of them. They looked like the chambers on the north. Of the same length and width, and all their exits according to their arrangements and entrances\n\t\t\t were the chambers which were toward the south. There was an opening at the head of the passage, the passage in front of the corresponding wall toward the east when one enters.\n\t\t\t Then he said to me, \"The north chambers and the south chambers which face the courtyard are holy chambers where the priests who approach the LORD will eat the most holy offerings. There they will place the most holy offerings, the grain offering, the sin offering, and the guilt offering, because the place is holy.\n\t\t\t When the priests enter, then they will not go out from the sanctuary to the outer court without taking off their garments in which they minister, for these are holy; they will put on other garments, then they will go near the places where the people are.\"\n\t\t\t Now when he had finished measuring the interior of the temple, he led me out by the gate which faces east and measured all around.\n\t\t\t He measured the east side with the measuring stick as 875 feet by the measuring stick. \n\t\t\t He measured the north side as 875 feet by the measuring stick.\n\t\t\t He measured the south side as 875 feet by the measuring stick.\n\t\t\t He turned to the west side and measured 875 feet by the measuring stick.\n\t\t\t He measured it on all four sides. It had a wall around it, 875 feet long and 875 feet wide, to separate the holy and common places.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then he brought me to the gate that faced toward the east.\n\t\t\t I saw the glory of the God of Israel coming from the east; the sound was like that of rushing water; and the earth radiated his glory. \n\t\t\t It was like the vision I saw when he came to destroy the city, and the vision I saw by the Kebar River. I threw myself face down. \n\t\t\t The glory of the LORD came into the temple by way of the gate that faces east.\n\t\t\t Then a wind lifted me up and brought me to the inner court; I watched the glory of the LORD filling the temple.\n\t\t\t I heard someone speaking to me from the temple, while the man was standing beside me.\n\t\t\t He said to me: \"Son of man, this is the place of my throne and the place for the soles of my feet, where I will live among the people of Israel forever. The house of Israel will no longer profane my holy name, neither they nor their kings, by their spiritual prostitution or by the pillars of their kings set up when they die.\n\t\t\t When they placed their threshold by my threshold and their doorpost by my doorpost, with only the wall between me and them, they profaned my holy name by the abominable deeds they committed. So I consumed them in my anger.\n\t\t\t Now they must put away their spiritual prostitution and the pillars of their kings far from me, and then I will live among them forever.\n\t\t\t \"As for you, son of man, describe the temple to the house of Israel, so that they will be ashamed of their sins and measure the pattern.\n\t\t\t When they are ashamed of all that they have done, make known to them the design of the temple, its pattern, its exits and entrances, and its whole design, all its statutes, its entire design, and all its laws; write it all down in their sight, so that they may observe its entire design and all its statutes and do them.\n\t\t\t \"This is the law of the temple: The entire area on top of the mountain all around will be most holy. Indeed, this is the law of the temple.\n\t\t\t \"And these are the measurements of the altar: Its base is 1, feet high, and 1, feet wide, and its border nine inches on its edge. This is to be the height of the altar. \n\t\t\t From the base of the ground to the lower edge is 3, feet, and the width 1, feet; and from the smaller ledge to the larger edge, 7 feet, and the width 1, feet; \n\t\t\t and the altar hearth, 7 feet, and from the altar hearth four horns projecting upward.\n\t\t\t Now the altar hearth is a perfect square, 21 feet long and 21 feet wide. \n\t\t\t The ledge is 24, feet long and 24, feet wide on four sides; the border around it is 10, inches, and its surrounding base 1, feet. Its steps face east.\"\n\t\t\t Then he said to me: \"Son of man, this is what the sovereign LORD says: These are the statutes of the altar: On the day it is built to offer up burnt offerings on it and to sprinkle blood on it,\n\t\t\t you will give a young bull for a sin offering to the Levitical priests who are descended from Zadok, who approach me to minister to me, declares the sovereign LORD.\n\t\t\t You will take some of its blood, and place it on the four horns of the altar, on the four corners of the ledge, and on the border all around; you will cleanse it and make atonement for it.\n\t\t\t You will also take the bull for the sin offering, and it will be burned in the appointed place in the temple, outside the sanctuary.\n\t\t\t \"On the second day, you will offer a male goat without blemish for a sin offering. They will purify the altar just as they purified it with the bull.\n\t\t\t When you have finished purifying it, you will offer an unblemished young bull and an unblemished ram from the flock.\n\t\t\t You will present them before the LORD, and the priests will scatter salt on them and offer them up as a burnt offering to the LORD.\n\t\t\t \"For seven days you will provide every day a goat for a sin offering; a young bull and a ram from the flock, both without blemish, will be provided.\n\t\t\t For seven days they will make atonement for the altar and cleanse it, so they will consecrate it.\n\t\t\t When the prescribed period is over, on the eighth day and thereafter the priests will offer up on the altar your burnt offerings and your peace offerings; I will accept you, declares the sovereign LORD.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then he brought me back by way of the outer gate of the sanctuary which faces east, but it was shut.\n\t\t\t The LORD said to me: \"This gate will be shut; it will not be opened, and no one will enter by it. For the LORD, the God of Israel, has entered by it; therefore it will remain shut.\n\t\t\t Only the prince may sit in it to eat a sacrificial meal before the LORD; he will enter by way of the porch of the gate and will go out by the same way.\"\n\t\t\t Then he brought me by way of the north gate to the front of the temple. As I watched, I noticed the glory of the LORD filling the LORD's temple, and I threw myself face down. \n\t\t\t The LORD said to me: \"Son of man, pay attention, watch closely and listen carefully to everything I tell you concerning all the statutes of the LORD's house and all its laws. Pay attention to the entrances to the temple with all the exits of the sanctuary. \n\t\t\t Say to the rebellious, to the house of Israel, 'This is what the sovereign LORD says: Enough of all your abominable practices, O house of Israel! \n\t\t\t When you bring foreigners, those uncircumcised in heart and in flesh, into my sanctuary, you desecrate it, even my house, when you offer my food, the fat and the blood. You have broken my covenant by all your abominable practices.\n\t\t\t You have not kept charge of my holy things, but you have assigned foreigners to keep charge of my sanctuary for you. \n\t\t\t This is what the sovereign LORD says: No foreigner, who is uncircumcised in heart and flesh among all the foreigners who are among the people of Israel, will enter into my sanctuary.\n\t\t\t \"'But the Levites who went far from me, straying off from me after their idols when Israel went astray, will be responsible for their sin. \n\t\t\t Yet they will be ministers in my sanctuary, having oversight at the gates of the temple, and serving the temple. They will slaughter the burnt offerings and the sacrifices for the people, and they will stand before them to minister to them.\n\t\t\t Because they used to minister to them before their idols, and became a sinful obstacle to the house of Israel, consequently I have made a vow concerning them, declares the sovereign LORD, that they will be responsible for their sin. \n\t\t\t They will not come near me to serve me as priest, nor will they come near any of my holy things, the things which are most sacred. They will bear the shame of the abominable deeds they have committed.\n\t\t\t Yet I will appoint them to keep charge of the temple, all of its service and all that will be done in it.\n\t\t\t \"'But the Levitical priests, the descendants of Zadok who kept the charge of my sanctuary when the people of Israel went astray from me, will approach me to minister to me; they will stand before me to offer me the fat and the blood, declares the sovereign LORD. \n\t\t\t They will enter my sanctuary, and approach my table to minister to me; they will keep my charge.\n\t\t\t \"'When they enter the gates of the inner court, they must wear linen garments; they must not have any wool on them when they minister in the inner gates of the court and in the temple.\n\t\t\t Linen turbans will be on their heads and linen undergarments will be around their waists; they must not bind themselves with anything that causes sweat.\n\t\t\t When they go out to the outer court to the people, they must remove the garments they were ministering in, and place them in the holy chambers; they must put on other garments so that they will not transmit holiness to the people with their garments.\n\t\t\t \"'They must not shave their heads nor let their hair grow long; they must only trim their heads. \n\t\t\t No priest may drink wine when he enters the inner court.\n\t\t\t They must not marry a widow or a divorcee, but they may marry a virgin from the house of Israel or a widow who is a priest's widow. \n\t\t\t Moreover, they will teach my people the difference between the holy and the common, and show them how to distinguish between the ceremonially unclean and the clean.\n\t\t\t \"'In a controversy they will act as judges; they will judge according to my ordinances. They will keep my laws and my statutes regarding all my appointed festivals and will observe my Sabbaths.\n\t\t\t \"'They must not come near a dead person or they will be defiled; however, for father, mother, son, daughter, brother or sister, they may defile themselves. \n\t\t\t After a priest has become ceremonially clean, they must count off a period of seven days for him. \n\t\t\t On the day he enters the sanctuary, into the inner court to serve in the sanctuary, he must offer his sin offering, declares the sovereign LORD.\n\t\t\t \"'This will be their inheritance: I am their inheritance, and you must give them no property in Israel; I am their property.\n\t\t\t They may eat the grain offering, the sin offering, and the guilt offering, and every devoted thing in Israel will be theirs.\n\t\t\t The first of all the first fruits and all contributions of any kind will be for the priests; you will also give to the priest the first portion of your dough, so that a blessing may rest on your house. \n\t\t\t The priests will not eat any bird or animal that has died a natural death or was torn to pieces by a wild animal.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t \"'When you allot the land as an inheritance, you will offer an allotment to the LORD, a holy portion from the land; the length will be eight and a quarter miles and the width three and one-third miles. This entire area will be holy.\n\t\t\t Of this area a square 875 feet by 875 feet will be designated for the sanctuary, with 87, feet set aside for its open space round about. \n\t\t\t From this measured area you will measure a length of eight and a quarter miles and a width of three and one-third miles; in it will be the sanctuary, the most holy place. \n\t\t\t It will be a holy portion of the land; it will be for the priests, the ministers of the sanctuary who approach the LORD to minister to him. It will be a place for their houses and a holy place for the sanctuary.\n\t\t\t An area eight and a quarter miles in length and three and one-third miles in width will be for the Levites, who minister at the temple, as the place for the cities in which they will live.\n\t\t\t \"'Alongside the portion set apart as the holy allotment, you will allot for the city an area one and two-thirds miles wide and eight and a quarter miles long; it will be for the whole house of Israel.\n\t\t\t \"'For the prince there will be land on both sides of the holy allotment and the allotted city, alongside the holy allotment and the allotted city, on the west side and on the east side; it will be comparable in length to one of the portions, from the west border to the east border\n\t\t\t of the land. This will be his property in Israel. My princes will no longer oppress my people, but the land will be allotted to the house of Israel according to their tribes.\n\t\t\t \"'This is what the sovereign LORD says: Enough, you princes of Israel! Put away violence and destruction, and do what is just and right. Put an end to your evictions of my people, declares the sovereign LORD. \n\t\t\t You must use just balances, a just dry measure (an ephah), and a just liquid measure (a bath).\n\t\t\t The dry and liquid measures will be the same, the bath will contain a tenth of a homer, and the ephah a tenth of a homer; the homer will be the standard measure. \n\t\t\t The shekel will be twenty gerahs. Sixty shekels will be a mina for you.\n\t\t\t \"'This is the offering you must offer: a sixth of an ephah from a homer of wheat; a sixth of an ephah from a homer of barley,\n\t\t\t and as the prescribed portion of olive oil, one tenth of a bath from each kor (which is ten baths or a homer, for ten baths make a homer);\n\t\t\t and one sheep from each flock of two hundred, from the watered places of Israel, for a grain offering, burnt offering, and peace offering, to make atonement for them, declares the sovereign LORD.\n\t\t\t All the people of the land will contribute to this offering for the prince of Israel. \n\t\t\t It will be the duty of the prince to provide the burnt offerings, the grain offering, and the drink offering at festivals, on the new moons and Sabbaths, at all the appointed feasts of the house of Israel; he will provide the sin offering, the grain offering, the burnt offering, and the peace offerings to make atonement for the house of Israel.\n\t\t\t \"'This is what the sovereign LORD says: In the first month, on the first day of the month, you must take an unblemished young bull and purify the sanctuary.\n\t\t\t The priest will take some of the blood of the sin offering and place it on the doorpost of the temple, on the four corners of the ledge of the altar, and on the doorpost of the gate of the inner court.\n\t\t\t This is what you must do on the seventh day of the month for anyone who sins inadvertently or through ignorance; so you will make atonement for the temple.\n\t\t\t \"'In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, you will celebrate the Passover, and for seven days bread made without yeast will be eaten.\n\t\t\t On that day the prince will provide for himself and for all the people of the land a bull for a sin offering.\n\t\t\t And during the seven days of the feast he will provide as a burnt offering to the LORD seven bulls and seven rams, all without blemish, on each of the seven days, and a male goat daily for a sin offering.\n\t\t\t He will provide as a grain offering an ephah for each bull, an ephah for each ram, and a gallon of olive oil for each ephah of grain.\n\t\t\t In the seventh month, on the fifteenth day of the month, at the feast, he will make the same provisions for the sin offering, burnt offering, and grain offering, and for the olive oil, for the seven days.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t \"'This is what the sovereign LORD says: The gate of the inner court that faces east will be closed six working days, but on the Sabbath day it will be opened and on the day of the new moon it will be opened. \n\t\t\t The prince will enter by way of the porch of the gate from the outside, and will stand by the doorpost of the gate. The priests will provide his burnt offering and his peace offerings, and he will bow down at the threshold of the gate and then go out. But the gate will not be closed until evening.\n\t\t\t The people of the land will bow down at the entrance of that gate before the LORD on the Sabbaths and on the new moons.\n\t\t\t The burnt offering which the prince will offer to the LORD on the Sabbath day will be six unblemished lambs and one unblemished ram.\n\t\t\t The grain offering will be an ephah with the ram, and the grain offering with the lambs will be as much as he is able to give, and a gallon of olive oil with an ephah. \n\t\t\t On the day of the new moon he will offer an unblemished young bull, and six lambs and a ram, all without blemish. \n\t\t\t He will provide a grain offering: an ephah with the bull and an ephah with the ram, and with the lambs as much as he wishes, and a gallon of olive oil with each ephah of grain.\n\t\t\t When the prince enters, he will come by way of the porch of the gate and will go out the same way.\n\t\t\t \"'When the people of the land come before the LORD at the appointed feasts, whoever enters by way of the north gate to worship will go out by way of the south gate; whoever enters by way of the south gate will go out by way of the north gate. No one will return by way of the gate they entered but will go out straight ahead.\n\t\t\t When they come in, the prince will come in with them, and when they go out, he will go out.\n\t\t\t \"'At the festivals and at the appointed feasts the grain offering will be an ephah with the bull and an ephah with the ram, and with the lambs as much as one is able, and a gallon of olive oil with each ephah of grain.\n\t\t\t When the prince provides a freewill offering, a burnt offering, or peace offerings as a voluntary offering to the LORD, the gate facing east will be opened for him, and he will provide his burnt offering and his peace offerings just as he did on the Sabbath. Then he will go out, and the gate will be closed after he goes out.\n\t\t\t \"'You will provide a lamb a year old without blemish for a burnt offering daily to the LORD; morning by morning he will provide it. \n\t\t\t And you will provide a grain offering with it morning by morning, a sixth of an ephah, and a third of a gallon of olive oil to moisten the choice flour, as a grain offering to the LORD; this is a perpetual statute. \n\t\t\t Thus they will provide the lamb, the grain offering, and the olive oil morning by morning, as a perpetual burnt offering.\n\t\t\t \"'This is what the sovereign LORD says: If the prince should give a gift to one of his sons as his inheritance, it will belong to his sons, it is their property by inheritance. \n\t\t\t But if he gives a gift from his inheritance to one of his servants, it will be his until the year of liberty; then it will revert to the prince. His inheritance will only remain with his sons. \n\t\t\t The prince will not take away any of the people's inheritance by oppressively removing them from their property. He will give his sons an inheritance from his own possessions so that my people will not be scattered, each from his own property.'\"\n\t\t\t Then he brought me through the entrance, which was at the side of the gate, into the holy chambers for the priests which faced north. There I saw a place at the extreme western end. \n\t\t\t He said to me, \"This is the place where the priests will boil the guilt offering and the sin offering, and where they will bake the grain offering, so that they do not bring them out to the outer court to transmit holiness to the people.\"\n\t\t\t Then he brought me out to the outer court and led me past the four corners of the court, and I noticed that in every corner of the court there was a court. \n\t\t\t In the four corners of the court were small courts, 70 feet in length and 52, feet in width; the four were all the same size. \n\t\t\t There was a row of masonry around each of the four courts, and places for boiling offerings were made under the rows all around.\n\t\t\t Then he said to me, \"These are the houses for boiling, where the ministers of the temple boil the sacrifices of the people.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then he brought me back to the entrance of the temple. I noticed that water was flowing from under the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was flowing down from under the right side of the temple, from south of the altar. \n\t\t\t He led me out by way of the north gate and brought me around the outside of the outer gate that faces toward the east; I noticed that the water was trickling out from the south side.\n\t\t\t When the man went out toward the east with a measuring line in his hand, he measured 1,750 feet, and then he led me through water, which was ankle deep. \n\t\t\t Again he measured 1,750 feet and led me through the water, which was now knee deep. Once more he measured 1,750 feet and led me through the water, which was waist deep.\n\t\t\t Again he measured 1,750 feet and it was a river I could not cross, for the water had risen; it was deep enough to swim in, a river that could not be crossed.\n\t\t\t He said to me, \"Son of man, have you seen this?\" Then he led me back to the bank of the river.\n\t\t\t When I had returned, I noticed a vast number of trees on the banks of the river, on both sides. \n\t\t\t He said to me, \"These waters go out toward the eastern region and flow down into the Arabah; when they enter the Dead Sea, where the sea is stagnant, the waters become fresh.\n\t\t\t Every living creature which swarms where the river flows will live; there will be many fish, for these waters flow there. It will become fresh and everything will live where the river flows. \n\t\t\t Fishermen will stand beside it; from Engedi to En-eglaim they will spread nets. They will catch many kinds of fish, like the fish of the Great Sea.\n\t\t\t But its swamps and its marshes will not become fresh; they will remain salty.\n\t\t\t On both sides of the river's banks, every kind of tree will grow for food. Their leaves will not wither nor will their fruit fail, but they will bear fruit every month, because their water source flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food and their leaves for healing.\"\n\t\t\t This is what the sovereign LORD says: \"Here are the borders you will observe as you allot the land to the twelve tribes of Israel. (Joseph will have two portions.)\n\t\t\t You must divide it equally just as I vowed to give it to your forefathers; this land will be assigned as your inheritance.\n\t\t\t \"This will be the border of the land: On the north side, from the Great Sea by way of Hethlon to the entrance of Zedad;\n\t\t\t Hamath, Berothah, Sibraim, which is between the border of Damascus and the border of Hamath, as far as Hazer-hattikon, which is on the border of Hauran.\n\t\t\t The border will run from the sea to Hazar-enan, at the border of Damascus, and on the north is the border of Hamath. This is the north side.\n\t\t\t On the east side, between Hauran and Damascus, and between Gilead and the land of Israel, will be the Jordan. You will measure from the border to the eastern sea. This is the east side.\n\t\t\t On the south side it will run from Tamar to the waters of Meribath Kadesh, the river, to the Great Sea. This is the south side. \n\t\t\t On the west side the Great Sea will be the boundary to a point opposite Lebo-hamath. This is the west side.\n\t\t\t \"This is how you will divide this land for yourselves among the tribes of Israel.\n\t\t\t You must allot it as an inheritance among yourselves and for the foreigners who reside among you, who have fathered sons among you. You must treat them as native-born among the people of Israel; they will be allotted an inheritance with you among the tribes of Israel.\n\t\t\t In whatever tribe the foreigner resides, there you will give him his inheritance,\" declares the sovereign LORD.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t \"These are the names of the tribes: From the northern end beside the road of Hethlon to Lebo-hamath, as far as Hazar-enan (which is on the border of Damascus, toward the north beside Hamath), extending from the east side to the west, Dan will have one portion.\n\t\t\t Next to the border of Dan, from the east side to the west, Asher will have one portion. \n\t\t\t Next to the border of Asher from the east side to the west, Naphtali will have one portion.\n\t\t\t Next to the border of Naphtali from the east side to the west, Manasseh will have one portion.\n\t\t\t Next to the border of Manasseh from the east side to the west, Ephraim will have one portion.\n\t\t\t Next to the border of Ephraim from the east side to the west, Reuben will have one portion.\n\t\t\t Next to the border of Reuben from the east side to the west, Judah will have one portion.\n\t\t\t \"Next to the border of Judah from the east side to the west will be the allotment you must set apart. It is to be eight and a quarter miles wide, and the same length as one of the tribal portions, from the east side to the west; the sanctuary will be in the middle of it. \n\t\t\t The allotment you set apart to the LORD will be eight and a quarter miles in length and three and one-third miles in width. \n\t\t\t These will be the allotments for the holy portion: for the priests, toward the north eight and a quarter miles in length, toward the west three and one-third miles in width, toward the east three and one-third miles in width, and toward the south eight and a quarter miles in length; the sanctuary of the LORD will be in the middle. \n\t\t\t This will be for the priests who are set apart from the descendants of Zadok who kept my charge and did not go astray when the people of Israel strayed off, like the Levites did.\n\t\t\t It will be their portion from the allotment of the land, a most holy place, next to the border of the Levites.\n\t\t\t \"Alongside the border of the priests, the Levites will have an allotment eight and a quarter miles in length and three and one-third miles in width. The whole length will be eight and a quarter miles and the width three and one-third miles.\n\t\t\t They must not sell or exchange any of it; they must not transfer this choice portion of land, for it is set apart to the LORD.\n\t\t\t \"The remainder, one and two-thirds miles in width and eight and a quarter miles in length, will be for common use by the city, for houses and for open space. The city will be in the middle of it; \n\t\t\t these will be its measurements: The north side will be one and one-half miles, the south side one and one-half miles, the east side one and one-half miles, and the west side one and one-half miles. \n\t\t\t The city will have open spaces: On the north there will be 437, feet, on the south 437, feet, on the east 437, feet, and on the west 437, feet. \n\t\t\t The remainder of the length alongside the holy allotment will be three and one-third miles to the east and three and one-third miles toward the west, and it will be beside the holy allotment. Its produce will be for food for the workers of the city. \n\t\t\t The workers of the city from all the tribes of Israel will cultivate it.\n\t\t\t The whole allotment will be eight and a quarter miles square, you must set apart the holy allotment with the possession of the city.\n\t\t\t \"The rest, on both sides of the holy allotment and the property of the city, will belong to the prince. Extending from the eight and a quarter miles of the holy allotment to the east border, and westward from the eight and a quarter miles to the west border, alongside the portions, it will belong to the prince. The holy allotment and the sanctuary of the temple will be in the middle of it. \n\t\t\t The property of the Levites and of the city will be in the middle of that which belongs to the prince. The portion between the border of Judah and the border of Benjamin will be for the prince.\n\t\t\t \"As for the rest of the tribes: From the east side to the west side, Benjamin will have one portion.\n\t\t\t Next to the border of Benjamin, from the east side to the west side, Simeon will have one portion.\n\t\t\t Next to the border of Simeon, from the east side to the west side, Issachar will have one portion.\n\t\t\t Next to the border of Issachar, from the east side to the west side, Zebulun will have one portion.\n\t\t\t Next to the border of Zebulun, from the east side to the west side, Gad will have one portion.\n\t\t\t Next to the border of Gad, at the south side, the border will run from Tamar to the waters of Meribath Kadesh, to the Stream of Egypt and on to the Great Sea. \n\t\t\t This is the land which you will allot to the tribes of Israel, and these are their portions, declares the sovereign LORD.\n\t\t\t \"These are the exits of the city: On the north side, one and one-half miles by measure, \n\t\t\t the gates of the city will be named for the tribes of Israel; there will be three gates to the north: one gate for Reuben, one gate for Judah, and one gate for Levi. \n\t\t\t On the east side, one and one-half miles in length, there will be three gates: one gate for Joseph, one gate for Benjamin, and one gate for Dan.\n\t\t\t On the south side, one and one-half miles by measure, there will be three gates: one gate for Simeon, one gate for Issachar, and one gate for Zebulun.\n\t\t\t On the west side, one and one-half miles in length, there will be three gates: one gate for Gad, one gate for Asher, and one gate for Naphtali.\n\t\t\t The circumference of the city will be six miles. The name of the city from that day forward will be: 'The LORD Is There.'\"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t In the third year of the reign of King Jehoiakim of Judah, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon advanced against Jerusalem and laid it under siege.\n\t\t\t Now the Lord delivered King Jehoiakim of Judah into his power, along with some of the vessels of the temple of God. He brought them to the land of Babylonia to the temple of his god and put the vessels in the treasury of his god.\n\t\t\t The king commanded Ashpenaz, who was in charge of his court officials, to choose some of the Israelites who were of royal and noble descent,\n\t\t\t young men in whom there was no physical defect and who were handsome, well versed in all kinds of wisdom, well educated and having keen insight, and who were capable of entering the king's royal service, and to teach them the literature and language of the Babylonians.\n\t\t\t So the king assigned them a daily ration from his royal delicacies and from the wine he himself drank. They were to be trained for the next three years. At the end of that time they were to enter the king's service.\n\t\t\t As it turned out, among these young men were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.\n\t\t\t But the overseer of the court officials renamed them. He gave Daniel the name Belteshazzar, Hananiah he named Shadrach, Mishael he named Meshach, and Azariah he named Abednego.\n\t\t\t But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the royal delicacies or the royal wine. He therefore asked the overseer of the court officials for permission not to defile himself. \n\t\t\t Then God made the overseer of the court officials sympathetic to Daniel.\n\t\t\t But he responded to Daniel, \"I fear my master the king. He is the one who has decided your food and drink. What would happen if he saw that you looked malnourished in comparison to the other young men your age? If that happened, you would endanger my life with the king!\" \n\t\t\t Daniel then spoke to the warden whom the overseer of the court officials had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: \n\t\t\t \"Please test your servants for ten days by providing us with some vegetables to eat and water to drink.\n\t\t\t Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who are eating the royal delicacies; deal with us in light of what you see.\" \n\t\t\t So the warden agreed to their proposal and tested them for ten days.\n\t\t\t At the end of the ten days their appearance was better and their bodies were healthier than all the young men who had been eating the royal delicacies. \n\t\t\t So the warden removed the delicacies and the wine from their diet and gave them a diet of vegetables instead. \n\t\t\t Now as for these four young men, God endowed them with knowledge and skill in all sorts of literature and wisdom, and Daniel had insight into all kinds of visions and dreams.\n\t\t\t When the time appointed by the king arrived, the overseer of the court officials brought them into Nebuchadnezzar's presence. \n\t\t\t When the king spoke with them, he did not find among the entire group anyone like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, or Azariah. So they entered the king's service.\n\t\t\t In every matter of wisdom and insight the king asked them about, he found them to be ten times better than any of the magicians and astrologers that were in his entire empire. \n\t\t\t Now Daniel lived on until the first year of Cyrus the king.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t In the second year of his reign Nebuchadnezzar had many dreams. His mind was disturbed and he suffered from insomnia.\n\t\t\t The king issued an order to summon the magicians, astrologers, sorcerers, and wise men in order to explain his dreams to him. So they came and awaited the king's instructions.\n\t\t\t The king told them, \"I have had a dream, and I am anxious to understand the dream.\" \n\t\t\t The wise men replied to the king: [What follows is in Aramaic] \"O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will disclose its interpretation.\"\n\t\t\t The king replied to the wise men, \"My decision is firm. If you do not inform me of both the dream and its interpretation, you will be dismembered and your homes reduced to rubble! \n\t\t\t But if you can disclose the dream and its interpretation, you will receive from me gifts, a reward, and considerable honor. So disclose to me the dream and its interpretation!\"\n\t\t\t They again replied, \"Let the king inform us of the dream; then we will disclose its interpretation.\" \n\t\t\t The king replied, \"I know for sure that you are attempting to gain time, because you see that my decision is firm.\n\t\t\t If you don't inform me of the dream, there is only one thing that is going to happen to you. For you have agreed among yourselves to report to me something false and deceitful until such time as things might change. So tell me the dream, and I will have confidence that you can disclose its interpretation.\"\n\t\t\t The wise men replied to the king, \"There is no man on earth who is able to disclose the king's secret, for no king, regardless of his position and power, has ever requested such a thing from any magician, astrologer, or wise man. \n\t\t\t What the king is asking is too difficult, and no one exists who can disclose it to the king, except for the gods, but they don't live among mortals!\"\n\t\t\t Because of this the king got furiously angry and gave orders to destroy all the wise men of Babylon. \n\t\t\t So a decree went out, and the wise men were about to be executed. They also sought Daniel and his friends so that they could be executed.\n\t\t\t Then Daniel spoke with prudent counsel to Arioch, who was in charge of the king's executioners and who had gone out to execute the wise men of Babylon.\n\t\t\t He inquired of Arioch the king's deputy, \"Why is the decree from the king so urgent?\" Then Arioch informed Daniel about the matter. \n\t\t\t So Daniel went in and requested the king to grant him time, that he might disclose the interpretation to the king. \n\t\t\t Then Daniel went to his home and informed his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah of the matter.\n\t\t\t He asked them to pray for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery so that he and his friends would not be destroyed along with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. \n\t\t\t Then in a night vision the mystery was revealed to Daniel. So Daniel praised the God of heaven, \n\t\t\t saying, \"Let the name of God be praised forever and ever, for wisdom and power belong to him.\n\t\t\t He changes times and seasons, deposing some kings and establishing others. He gives wisdom to the wise; he imparts knowledge to those with understanding;\n\t\t\t he reveals deep and hidden things. He knows what is in the darkness, and light resides with him.\n\t\t\t O God of my fathers, I acknowledge and glorify you, for you have bestowed wisdom and power on me. Now you have enabled me to understand what I requested from you. For you have enabled me to understand the king's dilemma.\"\n\t\t\t Then Daniel went in to see Arioch (whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon). He came and said to him, \"Don't destroy the wise men of Babylon! Escort me to the king, and I will disclose the interpretation to him!\"\n\t\t\t So Arioch quickly ushered Daniel into the king's presence, saying to him, \"I have found a man from the captives of Judah who can make known the interpretation to the king.\" \n\t\t\t The king then asked Daniel (whose name was also Belteshazzar), \"Are you able to make known to me the dream that I saw, as well as its interpretation?\"\n\t\t\t Daniel replied to the king, \"The mystery that the king is asking about is such that no wise men, astrologers, magicians, or diviners can possibly disclose it to the king.\n\t\t\t However, there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in the times to come. The dream and the visions you had while lying on your bed are as follows.\n\t\t\t \"As for you, O king, while you were in your bed your thoughts turned to future things. The revealer of mysteries has made known to you what will take place. \n\t\t\t As for me, this mystery was revealed to me not because I possess more wisdom than any other living person, but so that the king may understand the interpretation and comprehend the thoughts of your mind.\n\t\t\t \"You, O king, were watching as a great statue, one of impressive size and extraordinary brightness, was standing before you. Its appearance caused alarm.\n\t\t\t As for that statue, its head was of fine gold, its chest and arms were of silver, its belly and thighs were of bronze.\n\t\t\t Its legs were of iron; its feet were partly of iron and partly of clay.\n\t\t\t You were watching as a stone was cut out, but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its iron and clay feet, breaking them in pieces. \n\t\t\t Then the iron, clay, bronze, silver, and gold were broken in pieces without distinction and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors that the wind carries away. Not a trace of them could be found. But the stone that struck the statue became a large mountain that filled the entire earth. \n\t\t\t This was the dream. Now we will set forth before the king its interpretation.\n\t\t\t \"You, O king, are the king of kings. The God of heaven has granted you sovereignty, power, strength, and honor.\n\t\t\t Wherever human beings, wild animals, and birds of the sky live, he has given them into your power. He has given you authority over them all. You are the head of gold.\n\t\t\t Now after you another kingdom will arise, one inferior to yours. Then a third kingdom, one of bronze, will rule in all the earth. \n\t\t\t Then there will be a fourth kingdom, one strong like iron. Just like iron breaks in pieces and shatters everything, and as iron breaks in pieces all of these metals, so it will break in pieces and crush the others.\n\t\t\t In that you were seeing feet and toes partly of wet clay and partly of iron, so this will be a divided kingdom. Some of the strength of iron will be in it, for you saw iron mixed with wet clay.\n\t\t\t In that the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of clay, the latter stages of this kingdom will be partly strong and partly fragile.\n\t\t\t And in that you saw iron mixed with wet clay, so people will be mixed with one another without adhering to one another, just as iron does not mix with clay. \n\t\t\t In the days of those kings the God of heaven will raise up an everlasting kingdom that will not be destroyed and a kingdom that will not be left to another people. It will break in pieces and bring about the demise of all these kingdoms. But it will stand forever.\n\t\t\t You saw that a stone was cut from a mountain, but not by human hands; it smashed the iron, bronze, clay, silver, and gold into pieces. The great God has made known to the king what will occur in the future. The dream is certain, and its interpretation is reliable.\"\n\t\t\t Then King Nebuchadnezzar bowed down with his face to the ground and paid homage to Daniel. He gave orders to offer sacrifice and incense to him. \n\t\t\t The king replied to Daniel, \"Certainly your God is a God of gods and Lord of kings and revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery!\"\n\t\t\t Then the king elevated Daniel to high position and bestowed on him many marvelous gifts. He granted him authority over the entire province of Babylon and made him the main prefect over all the wise men of Babylon.\n\t\t\t And at Daniel's request, the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego over the administration of the province of Babylon. Daniel himself served in the king's court.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t King Nebuchadnezzar had a golden statue made. It was ninety feet tall and nine feet wide. He erected it on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. \n\t\t\t Then King Nebuchadnezzar sent out a summons to assemble the satraps, prefects, governors, counselors, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the other authorities of the province to attend the dedication of the statue that he had erected. \n\t\t\t So the satraps, prefects, governors, counselors, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the other provincial authorities assembled for the dedication of the statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had erected. They were standing in front of the statue that Nebuchadnezzar had erected.\n\t\t\t Then the herald made a loud proclamation: \"To you, O peoples, nations, and language groups, the following command is given:\n\t\t\t When you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, trigon, harp, pipes, and all kinds of music, you must bow down and pay homage to the golden statue that King Nebuchadnezzar has erected. \n\t\t\t Whoever does not bow down and pay homage will immediately be thrown into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire!\" \n\t\t\t Therefore when they all heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, trigon, harp, pipes, and all kinds of music, all the peoples, nations, and language groups began bowing down and paying homage to the golden statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had erected.\n\t\t\t Now at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and brought malicious accusations against the Jews. \n\t\t\t They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, \"O king, live forever!\n\t\t\t You have issued an edict, O king, that everyone must bow down and pay homage to the golden statue when they hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, trigon, harp, pipes, and all kinds of music.\n\t\t\t And whoever does not bow down and pay homage must be thrown into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire.\n\t\t\t But there are Jewish men whom you appointed over the administration of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and these men have not shown proper respect to you, O king. They don't serve your gods and they don't pay homage to the golden statue that you have erected.\"\n\t\t\t Then Nebuchadnezzar in a fit of rage demanded that they bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego before him. So they brought them before the king. \n\t\t\t Nebuchadnezzar said to them, \"Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you don't serve my gods and that you don't pay homage to the golden statue that I erected?\n\t\t\t Now if you are ready, when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, trigon, harp, pipes, and all kinds of music, you must bow down and pay homage to the statue that I had made. If you don't pay homage to it, you will immediately be thrown into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire. Now, who is that god who can rescue you from my power?\"\n\t\t\t Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied to King Nebuchadnezzar, \"We do not need to give you a reply concerning this. \n\t\t\t If our God whom we are serving exists, he is able to rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire, and he will rescue us, O king, from your power as well. \n\t\t\t But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we don't serve your gods, and we will not pay homage to the golden statue that you have erected.\"\n\t\t\t Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with rage, and his disposition changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He gave orders to heat the furnace seven times hotter than it was normally heated. \n\t\t\t He ordered strong soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and to throw them into the furnace of blazing fire. \n\t\t\t So those men were tied up while still wearing their cloaks, trousers, turbans, and other clothes, and were thrown into the furnace of blazing fire. \n\t\t\t But since the king's command was so urgent, and the furnace was so excessively hot, the men who escorted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were killed by the leaping flames.\n\t\t\t But those three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell into the furnace of blazing fire while still securely bound.\n\t\t\t Then King Nebuchadnezzar was startled and quickly got up. He said to his ministers, \"Wasn't it three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?\" They replied to the king, \"For sure, O king.\" \n\t\t\t He answered, \"But I see four men, untied and walking around in the midst of the fire! No harm has come to them! And the appearance of the fourth is like that of a god!\"\n\t\t\t Then Nebuchadnezzar approached the door of the furnace of blazing fire. He called out, \"Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the most high God, come out! Come here!\" Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego emerged from the fire.\n\t\t\t Once the satraps, prefects, governors, and ministers of the king had gathered around, they saw that those men were physically unharmed by the fire. The hair of their heads was not singed, nor were their trousers damaged. Not even the smell of fire was to be found on them!\n\t\t\t Nebuchadnezzar exclaimed, \"Praised be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent forth his angel and has rescued his servants who trusted in him, ignoring the edict of the king and giving up their bodies rather than serve or pay homage to any god other than their God! \n\t\t\t I hereby decree that any people, nation, or language group that blasphemes the god of Shadrach, Meshach, or Abednego will be dismembered and his home reduced to rubble! For there exists no other god who can deliver in this way.\" \n\t\t\t Then Nebuchadnezzar promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t \"King Nebuchadnezzar, to all peoples, nations, and language groups that live in all the land: Peace and prosperity!\n\t\t\t I am delighted to tell you about the signs and wonders that the most high God has done for me.\n\t\t\t \"How great are his signs! How mighty are his wonders! His kingdom will last forever, and his authority continues from one generation to the next.\"\n\t\t\t I, Nebuchadnezzar, was relaxing in my home, living luxuriously in my palace. \n\t\t\t I saw a dream that frightened me badly. The things I imagined while lying on my bed, these visions of my mind, were terrifying me.\n\t\t\t So I issued an order for all the wise men of Babylon to be brought before me so that they could make known to me the interpretation of the dream.\n\t\t\t When the magicians, astrologers, wise men, and diviners entered, I recounted the dream for them. But they were unable to make known its interpretation to me.\n\t\t\t Later Daniel entered (whose name is Belteshazzar after the name of my god, and in whom there is a spirit of the holy gods). I recounted the dream for him as well, \n\t\t\t saying, \"Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, in whom I know there to be a spirit of the holy gods and whom no mystery baffles, consider my dream that I saw and set forth its interpretation! \n\t\t\t Here are the visions of my mind while I was on my bed. While I was watching, there was a tree in the middle of the land. It was enormously tall.\n\t\t\t The tree grew large and strong. Its top reached far into the sky; it could be seen from the borders of all the land.\n\t\t\t Its foliage was attractive and its fruit plentiful; on it there was food enough for all. Under it the wild animals used to seek shade, and in its branches the birds of the sky used to nest. All creatures used to feed themselves from it.\n\t\t\t While I was watching in my mind's visions on my bed, a holy sentinel came down from heaven.\n\t\t\t He called out loudly as follows: 'Chop down the tree and lop off its branches! Strip off its foliage and scatter its fruit! Let the animals flee from under it and the birds from its branches!\n\t\t\t But leave its taproot in the ground, with a band of iron and bronze around it surrounded by the grass of the field. Let it become damp with the dew of the sky, and let it live with the animals in the grass of the land.\n\t\t\t Let his mind be altered from that of a human being, and let an animal's mind be given to him, and let seven periods of time go by for him.\n\t\t\t This announcement is by the decree of the sentinels; this decision is by the pronouncement of the holy ones, so that those who are alive may understand that the Most High has authority over human kingdoms, and he bestows them on whomever he wishes. He establishes over them even the lowliest of human beings.'\n\t\t\t \"This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw. Now you, Belteshazzar, declare its interpretation, for none of the wise men in my kingdom are able to make known to me the interpretation. But you can do so, for a spirit of the holy gods is in you.\"\n\t\t\t Then Daniel (whose name is also Belteshazzar) was upset for a brief time; his thoughts were alarming him. The king said, \"Belteshazzar, don't let the dream and its interpretation alarm you.\" But Belteshazzar replied, \"Sir, if only the dream were for your enemies and its interpretation applied to your adversaries! \n\t\t\t The tree that you saw that grew large and strong, whose top reached to the sky, and which could be seen in all the land, \n\t\t\t whose foliage was attractive and its fruit plentiful, and from which there was food available for all, under whose branches wild animals used to live, and in whose branches birds of the sky used to nest,\n\t\t\t it is you, O king! For you have become great and strong. Your greatness is such that it reaches to heaven, and your authority to the ends of the earth. \n\t\t\t As for the king seeing a holy sentinel coming down from heaven and saying, 'Chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave its taproot in the ground, with a band of iron and bronze around it, surrounded by the grass of the field. Let it become damp with the dew of the sky, and let it live with the wild animals, until seven periods of time go by for him',\n\t\t\t this is the interpretation, O king! It is the decision of the Most High that this has happened to my lord the king.\n\t\t\t You will be driven from human society, and you will live with the wild animals. You will be fed grass like oxen, and you will become damp with the dew of the sky. Seven periods of time will pass by for you, before you understand that the Most High is ruler over human kingdoms and gives them to whomever he wishes. \n\t\t\t They said to leave the taproot of the tree, for your kingdom will be restored to you when you come to understand that heaven rules. \n\t\t\t Therefore, O king, may my advice be pleasing to you. Break away from your sins by doing what is right, and from your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor. Perhaps your prosperity will be prolonged.\"\n\t\t\t Now all of this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. \n\t\t\t After twelve months, he happened to be walking around on the battlements of the royal palace of Babylon. \n\t\t\t The king uttered these words: \"Is this not the great Babylon that I have built for a royal residence by my own mighty strength and for my majestic honor?\"\n\t\t\t While these words were still on the king's lips, a voice came down from heaven: \"It is hereby announced to you, King Nebuchadnezzar, that your kingdom has been removed from you! \n\t\t\t You will be driven from human society, and you will live with the wild animals. You will be fed grass like oxen, and seven periods of time will pass by for you before you understand that the Most High is ruler over human kingdoms and gives them to whomever he wishes.\"\n\t\t\t Now in that very moment this pronouncement about Nebuchadnezzar came true. He was driven from human society, he ate grass like oxen, and his body became damp with the dew of the sky, until his hair became long like an eagle's feathers, and his nails like a bird's claws.\n\t\t\t But at the end of the appointed time I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up toward heaven, and my sanity returned to me. I extolled the Most High, and I praised and glorified the one who lives forever. For his authority is an everlasting authority, and his kingdom extends from one generation to the next.\n\t\t\t All the inhabitants of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he wishes with the army of heaven and with those who inhabit the earth. No one slaps his hand and says to him, 'What have you done?'\n\t\t\t At that time my sanity returned to me. I was restored to the honor of my kingdom, and my splendor returned to me. My ministers and my nobles were seeking me out, and I was reinstated over my kingdom. I became even greater than before. \n\t\t\t Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, for all his deeds are right and his ways are just. He is able to bring down those who live in pride.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t King Belshazzar prepared a great banquet for a thousand of his nobles, and he was drinking wine in front of them all.\n\t\t\t While under the influence of the wine, Belshazzar issued an order to bring in the gold and silver vessels, the ones that Nebuchadnezzar his father had confiscated from the temple in Jerusalem, so that the king and his nobles, together with his wives and his concubines, could drink from them.\n\t\t\t So they brought the gold and silver vessels that had been confiscated from the temple, the house of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his nobles, together with his wives and concubines, drank from them. \n\t\t\t As they drank wine, they praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.\n\t\t\t At that very moment the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the royal palace wall, opposite the lampstand. The king was watching the back of the hand that was writing. \n\t\t\t Then all the color drained from the king's face and he became alarmed. The joints of his hips gave way, and his knees began knocking together. \n\t\t\t The king called out loudly to summon the astrologers, wise men, and diviners. The king proclaimed to the wise men of Babylon that anyone who could read this inscription and disclose its interpretation would be clothed in purple and have a golden collar placed on his neck and be third ruler in the kingdom.\n\t\t\t So all the king's wise men came in, but they were unable to read the writing or to make known its interpretation to the king. \n\t\t\t Then King Belshazzar was very terrified, and he was visibly shaken. His nobles were completely dumbfounded.\n\t\t\t Due to the noise caused by the king and his nobles, the queen mother then entered the banquet room. She said, \"O king, live forever! Don't be alarmed! Don't be shaken! \n\t\t\t There is a man in your kingdom who has within him a spirit of the holy gods. In the days of your father, he proved to have insight, discernment, and wisdom like that of the gods. King Nebuchadnezzar your father appointed him chief of the magicians, astrologers, wise men, and diviners.\n\t\t\t Thus there was found in this man Daniel, whom the king renamed Belteshazzar, an extraordinary spirit, knowledge, and skill to interpret dreams, solve riddles, and decipher knotty problems. Now summon Daniel, and he will disclose the interpretation.\"\n\t\t\t So Daniel was brought in before the king. The king said to Daniel, \"Are you that Daniel who is one of the captives of Judah, whom my father the king brought from Judah?\n\t\t\t I have heard about you, how there is a spirit of the gods in you, and how you have insight, discernment, and extraordinary wisdom. \n\t\t\t Now the wise men and astrologers were brought before me to read this writing and make known to me its interpretation. But they were unable to disclose the interpretation of the message.\n\t\t\t However, I have heard that you are able to provide interpretations and to decipher knotty problems. Now if you are able to read this writing and make known to me its interpretation, you will wear purple and have a golden collar around your neck and be third ruler in the kingdom.\"\n\t\t\t But Daniel replied to the king, \"Keep your gifts, and give your rewards to someone else! However, I will read the writing for the king and make known its interpretation. \n\t\t\t As for you, O king, the most high God bestowed on your father Nebuchadnezzar a kingdom, greatness, honor, and majesty.\n\t\t\t Due to the greatness that he bestowed on him, all peoples, nations, and language groups were trembling with fear before him. He killed whom he wished, he spared whom he wished, he exalted whom he wished, and he brought low whom he wished. \n\t\t\t And when his mind became arrogant and his spirit filled with pride, he was deposed from his royal throne and his honor was removed from him. \n\t\t\t He was driven from human society, his mind was changed to that of an animal, he lived with the wild donkeys, he was fed grass like oxen, and his body became damp with the dew of the sky, until he came to understand that the most high God rules over human kingdoms, and he appoints over them whomever he wishes.\n\t\t\t \"But you, his son Belshazzar, have not humbled yourself, although you knew all this. \n\t\t\t Instead, you have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven. You brought before you the vessels from his temple, and you and your nobles, together with your wives and concubines, drank wine from them. You praised the gods of silver, gold, bronze, iron, wood, and stone, gods that cannot see or hear or comprehend! But you have not glorified the God who has in his control your very breath and all your ways!\n\t\t\t Therefore the palm of a hand was sent from him, and this writing was inscribed.\n\t\t\t \"This is the writing that was inscribed: MENE, MENE, TEQEL, and PHARSIN.\n\t\t\t This is the interpretation of the words: As for mene, God has numbered your kingdom's days and brought it to an end.\n\t\t\t As for teqel, you are weighed on the balances and found to be lacking.\n\t\t\t As for peres, your kingdom is divided and given over to the Medes and Persians.\"\n\t\t\t Then, on Belshazzar's orders, Daniel was clothed in purple, a golden collar was placed around his neck, and he was proclaimed third ruler in the kingdom. \n\t\t\t And in that very night Belshazzar, the Babylonian king, was killed.\n\t\t\t So Darius the Mede took control of the kingdom when he was about sixty-two years old.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t It seemed like a good idea to Darius to appoint over the kingdom 120 satraps who would be in charge of the entire kingdom. \n\t\t\t Over them would be three supervisors, one of whom was Daniel. These satraps were accountable to them, so that the king's interests might not incur damage. \n\t\t\t Now this Daniel was distinguishing himself above the other supervisors and the satraps, for he had an extraordinary spirit. In fact, the king intended to appoint him over the entire kingdom.\n\t\t\t Consequently the supervisors and satraps were trying to find some pretext against Daniel in connection with administrative matters. But they were unable to find any such damaging evidence, because he was trustworthy and guilty of no negligence or corruption.\n\t\t\t So these men concluded, \"We won't find any pretext against this man Daniel unless it is in connection with the law of his God.\"\n\t\t\t So these supervisors and satraps came by collusion to the king and said to him, \"O King Darius, live forever! \n\t\t\t To all the supervisors of the kingdom, the prefects, satraps, counselors, and governors it seemed like a good idea for a royal edict to be issued and an interdict to be enforced. For the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or human other than you, O king, should be thrown into a den of lions. \n\t\t\t Now let the king issue a written interdict so that it cannot be altered, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be changed.\n\t\t\t So King Darius issued the written interdict.\n\t\t\t When Daniel realized that a written decree had been issued, he entered his home, where the windows in his upper room opened toward Jerusalem. Three times daily he was kneeling and offering prayers and thanks to his God just as he had been accustomed to do previously. \n\t\t\t Then those officials who had gone to the king came by collusion and found Daniel praying and asking for help before his God. \n\t\t\t So they approached the king and said to him, \"Did you not issue an edict to the effect that for the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or human other than to you, O king, would be thrown into a den of lions?\" The king replied, \"That is correct, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be changed.\" \n\t\t\t Then they said to the king, \"Daniel, who is one of the captives from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or to the edict that you issued. Three times daily he offers his prayer.\"\n\t\t\t When the king heard this, he was very upset and began thinking about how he might rescue Daniel. Until late afternoon he was struggling to find a way to rescue him. \n\t\t\t Then those men came by collusion to the king and said to him, \"Recall, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no edict or decree that the king issues can be changed.\"\n\t\t\t So the king gave the order, and Daniel was brought and thrown into a den of lions. The king consoled Daniel by saying, \"Your God whom you continually serve will rescue you!\" \n\t\t\t Then a stone was brought and placed over the opening to the den. The king sealed it with his signet ring and with those of his nobles so that nothing could be changed with regard to Daniel. \n\t\t\t Then the king departed to his palace. But he spent the night without eating, and no diversions were brought to him. He was unable to sleep.\n\t\t\t In the morning, at the earliest sign of daylight, the king got up and rushed to the lions' den.\n\t\t\t As he approached the den, he called out to Daniel in a worried voice, \"Daniel, servant of the living God, was your God whom you continually serve able to rescue you from the lions?\"\n\t\t\t Then Daniel spoke to the king, \"O king, live forever! \n\t\t\t My God sent his angel and closed the lions' mouths so that they have not harmed me, because I was found to be innocent before him. Nor have I done any harm to you, O king.\"\n\t\t\t Then the king was delighted and gave an order to haul Daniel up from the den. So Daniel was hauled up out of the den. He had no injury of any kind, because he had trusted in his God.\n\t\t\t The king gave another order, and those men who had maliciously accused Daniel were brought and thrown into the lions' den, they, their children, and their wives. They did not even reach the bottom of the den before the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.\n\t\t\t Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and language groups who were living in all the land: \"Peace and prosperity!\n\t\t\t I have issued an edict that throughout all the dominion of my kingdom people are to revere and fear the God of Daniel. \"For he is the living God; he endures forever. His kingdom will not be destroyed; his authority is forever.\n\t\t\t He rescues and delivers and performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions!\"\n\t\t\t So this Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t In the first year of King Belshazzar of Babylon, Daniel had a dream filled with visions while he was lying on his bed. Then he wrote down the dream in summary fashion.\n\t\t\t Daniel explained: \"I was watching in my vision during the night as the four winds of the sky were stirring up the great sea.\n\t\t\t Then four large beasts came up from the sea; they were different from one another.\n\t\t\t \"The first one was like a lion with eagles' wings. As I watched, its wings were pulled off and it was lifted up from the ground. It was made to stand on two feet like a human being, and a human mind was given to it.\n\t\t\t \"Then a second beast appeared, like a bear. It was raised up on one side, and there were three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. It was told, 'Get up and devour much flesh!'\n\t\t\t \"After these things, as I was watching, another beast like a leopard appeared, with four bird-like wings on its back. This beast had four heads, and ruling authority was given to it.\n\t\t\t \"After these things, as I was watching in the night visions a fourth beast appeared, one dreadful, terrible, and very strong. It had two large rows of iron teeth. It devoured and crushed, and anything that was left it trampled with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that came before it, and it had ten horns.\n\t\t\t \"As I was contemplating the horns, another horn, a small one, came up between them, and three of the former horns were torn out by the roots to make room for it. This horn had eyes resembling human eyes and a mouth speaking arrogant things.\n\t\t\t \"While I was watching, thrones were set up, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His attire was white like snow; the hair of his head was like lamb's wool. His throne was ablaze with fire and its wheels were all aflame.\n\t\t\t A river of fire was streaming forth and proceeding from his presence. Many thousands were ministering to him; Many tens of thousands stood ready to serve him. The court convened and the books were opened.\n\t\t\t \"Then I kept on watching because of the arrogant words of the horn that was speaking. I was watching until the beast was killed and its body destroyed and thrown into the flaming fire. \n\t\t\t As for the rest of the beasts, their ruling authority had already been removed, though they were permitted to go on living for a time and a season. \n\t\t\t I was watching in the night visions, \"And with the clouds of the sky one like a son of man was approaching. He went up to the Ancient of Days and was escorted before him.\n\t\t\t To him was given ruling authority, honor, and sovereignty. All peoples, nations, and language groups were serving him. His authority is eternal and will not pass away. His kingdom will not be destroyed.\n\t\t\t \"As for me, Daniel, my spirit was distressed, and the visions of my mind were alarming me. \n\t\t\t I approached one of those standing nearby and asked him about the meaning of all this. So he spoke with me and revealed to me the interpretation of the vision:\n\t\t\t 'These large beasts, which are four in number, represent four kings who will arise from the earth.\n\t\t\t The holy ones of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will take possession of the kingdom forever and ever.'\n\t\t\t \"Then I wanted to know the meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others. It was very dreadful, with two rows of iron teeth and bronze claws, and it devoured, crushed, and trampled anything that was left with its feet.\n\t\t\t I also wanted to know the meaning of the ten horns on its head, and of that other horn which came up and before which three others fell. This was the horn that had eyes and a mouth speaking arrogant things, whose appearance was more formidable than the others.\n\t\t\t While I was watching, that horn began to wage war against the holy ones and was defeating them, \n\t\t\t until the Ancient of Days arrived and judgment was rendered in favor of the holy ones of the Most High. Then the time came for the holy ones to take possession of the kingdom.\n\t\t\t \"This is what he told me: 'The fourth beast means that there will be a fourth kingdom on earth that will differ from all the other kingdoms. It will devour all the earth and will trample and crush it.\n\t\t\t The ten horns mean that ten kings will arise from that kingdom. Another king will arise after them, but he will be different from the earlier ones. He will humiliate three kings.\n\t\t\t He will speak words against the Most High. He will harass the holy ones of the Most High continually. His intention will be to change times established by law. They will be delivered into his hand For a time, times, and half a time.\n\t\t\t But the court will convene, and his ruling authority will be removed, destroyed and abolished forever!\n\t\t\t Then the kingdom, authority, and greatness of the kingdoms under all of heaven will be delivered to the people of the holy ones of the Most High. His kingdom is an eternal kingdom; all authorities will serve him and obey him.'\n\t\t\t \"This is the conclusion of the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts troubled me greatly, and the color drained from my face. But I kept the matter to myself.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t In the third year of King Belshazzar's reign, a vision appeared to me, Daniel, after the one that had appeared to me previously.\n\t\t\t In this vision I saw myself in Susa the citadel, which is located in the province of Elam. In the vision I saw myself at the Ulai Canal.\n\t\t\t I looked up and saw a ram with two horns standing at the canal. Its two horns were both long, but one was longer than the other. The longer one was coming up after the shorter one. \n\t\t\t I saw that the ram was butting westward, northward, and southward. No animal was able to stand before it, and there was none who could deliver from its power. It did as it pleased and acted arrogantly.\n\t\t\t While I was contemplating all this, a male goat was coming from the west over the surface of all the land without touching the ground. This goat had a conspicuous horn between its eyes. \n\t\t\t It came to the two-horned ram that I had seen standing beside the canal and rushed against it with raging strength.\n\t\t\t I saw it approaching the ram. It went into a fit of rage against the ram and struck it and broke off its two horns. The ram had no ability to resist it. The goat hurled the ram to the ground and trampled it. No one could deliver the ram from its power.\n\t\t\t The male goat acted even more arrogantly. But no sooner had the large horn become strong than it was broken, and there arose four conspicuous horns in its place, extending toward the four winds of the sky.\n\t\t\t From one of them came a small horn. But it grew to be very big, toward the south and the east and toward the beautiful land.\n\t\t\t It grew so big it reached the army of heaven, and it brought about the fall of some of the army and some of the stars to the ground, where it trampled them. \n\t\t\t It also acted arrogantly against the Prince of the army, from whom the daily sacrifice was removed and whose sanctuary was thrown down. \n\t\t\t The army was given over, along with the daily sacrifice, in the course of his sinful rebellion. It hurled truth to the ground and enjoyed success.\n\t\t\t Then I heard a holy one speaking. Another holy one said to the one who was speaking, \"To what period of time does the vision pertain, this vision concerning the daily sacrifice and the destructive act of rebellion and the giving over of both the sanctuary and army to be trampled?\"\n\t\t\t He said to me, \"To 2,300 evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary will be put right again.\"\n\t\t\t While I, Daniel, was watching the vision, I sought to understand it. Now one who appeared to be a man was standing before me.\n\t\t\t Then I heard a human voice coming from between the banks of the Ulai. It called out, \"Gabriel, enable this person to understand the vision.\" \n\t\t\t So he approached the place where I was standing. As he came, I felt terrified and fell flat on the ground. Then he said to me, \"Understand, son of man, that the vision pertains to the time of the end.\" \n\t\t\t As he spoke with me, I fell into a trance with my face to the ground. But he touched me and stood me upright.\n\t\t\t Then he said, \"I am going to inform you about what will happen in the latter time of wrath, for the vision pertains to the appointed time of the end. \n\t\t\t The ram that you saw with the two horns stands for the kings of Media and Persia.\n\t\t\t The male goat is the king of Greece, and the large horn between its eyes is the first king. \n\t\t\t The horn that was broken and in whose place there arose four others stands for four kingdoms that will arise from his nation, though they will not have his strength. \n\t\t\t Toward the end of their rule, when rebellious acts are complete, a rash and deceitful king will arise.\n\t\t\t His power will be great, but it will not be by his strength alone. He will cause terrible destruction. He will be successful in what he undertakes. He will destroy powerful people and the people of the holy ones.\n\t\t\t By his treachery he will succeed through deceit. He will have an arrogant attitude, and he will destroy many who are unaware of his schemes. He will rise up against the Prince of princes, yet he will be broken apart, but not by human agency.\n\t\t\t The vision of the evenings and mornings that was told to you is correct. But you should seal up the vision, for it refers to a time many days from now.\"\n\t\t\t I, Daniel, was exhausted and sick for days. Then I got up and again carried out the king's business. But I was astonished at the vision, and there was no one to explain it.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t In the first year of Darius son of Ahasuerus, who was of Median descent and who had been appointed king over the Babylonian empire,\n\t\t\t in the first year of his reign I, Daniel, came to understand from the sacred books that, according to the word of the LORD disclosed to the prophet Jeremiah, the years for the fulfilling of the desolation of Jerusalem were seventy in number.\n\t\t\t So I turned my attention to the Lord God to implore him by prayer and requests, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.\n\t\t\t I prayed to the LORD my God, confessing in this way: \"O Lord, great and awesome God who is faithful to his covenant with those who love him and keep his commandments,\n\t\t\t we have sinned! We have done what is wrong and wicked; we have rebelled by turning away from your commandments and standards.\n\t\t\t We have not paid attention to your servants the prophets, who spoke by your authority to our kings, our leaders, and our ancestors, and to all the inhabitants of the land as well.\n\t\t\t \"You are righteous, O Lord, but we are humiliated this day, the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and all Israel, both near and far away in all the countries in which you have scattered them, because they have behaved unfaithfully toward you.\n\t\t\t O LORD, we have been humiliated, our kings, our leaders, and our ancestors, because we have sinned against you.\n\t\t\t Yet the Lord our God is compassionate and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him. \n\t\t\t We have not obeyed the LORD our God by living according to his laws that he set before us through his servants the prophets.\n\t\t\t \"All Israel has broken your law and turned away by not obeying you. Therefore you have poured out on us the judgment solemnly threatened in the law of Moses the servant of God, for we have sinned against you.\n\t\t\t He has carried out his threats against us and our rulers who were over us by bringing great calamity on us, what has happened to Jerusalem has never been equaled under all heaven!\n\t\t\t Just as it is written in the law of Moses, so all this calamity has come on us. Still we have not tried to pacify the LORD our God by turning back from our sin and by seeking wisdom from your reliable moral standards.\n\t\t\t The LORD was mindful of the calamity, and he brought it on us. For the LORD our God is just in all he has done, and we have not obeyed him.\n\t\t\t \"Now, O Lord our God, who brought your people out of the land of Egypt with great power and made a name for yourself that is remembered to this day, we have sinned and behaved wickedly.\n\t\t\t O Lord, according to all your justice, please turn your raging anger away from your city Jerusalem, your holy mountain. For due to our sins and the iniquities of our ancestors, Jerusalem and your people are mocked by all our neighbors.\n\t\t\t \"So now, our God, accept the prayer and requests of your servant, and show favor to your devastated sanctuary for your own sake.\n\t\t\t Listen attentively, my God, and hear! Open your eyes and look on our desolated ruins and the city called by your name. For it is not because of our own righteous deeds that we are praying to you, but because your compassion is abundant.\n\t\t\t O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, pay attention, and act! Don't delay, for your own sake, O my God! For your city and your people are called by your name.\"\n\t\t\t While I was still speaking and praying, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel and presenting my request before the LORD my God concerning his holy mountain,\n\t\t\t yes, while I was still praying, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen previously in a vision, was approaching me in my state of extreme weariness, around the time of the evening offering. \n\t\t\t He spoke with me, instructing me as follows: \"Daniel, I have now come to impart understanding to you. \n\t\t\t At the beginning of your requests a message went out, and I have come to convey it to you, for you are of great value in God's sight. Therefore consider the message and understand the vision:\n\t\t\t \"Seventy weeks have been determined concerning your people and your holy city to put an end to rebellion, to bring sin to completion, to atone for iniquity, to bring in perpetual righteousness, to seal up the prophetic vision, and to anoint a most holy place.\n\t\t\t So know and understand: From the issuing of the command to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until an anointed one, a prince arrives, there will be a period of seven weeks and sixty-two weeks. It will again be built, with plaza and moat, but in distressful times.\n\t\t\t Now after the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one will be cut off and have nothing. As for the city and the sanctuary, the people of the coming prince will destroy them. But his end will come speedily like a flood. Until the end of the war that has been decreed there will be destruction.\n\t\t\t He will confirm a covenant with many for one week. But in the middle of that week he will bring sacrifices and offerings to a halt. On the wing of abominations will come one who destroys, until the decreed end is poured out on the one who destroys.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t In the third year of King Cyrus of Persia a message was revealed to Daniel (who was also called Belteshazzar). This message was true and concerned a great war. He understood the message and gained insight by the vision.\n\t\t\t In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three whole weeks.\n\t\t\t I ate no choice food; no meat or wine came to my lips, nor did I anoint myself with oil until the end of those three weeks.\n\t\t\t On the twenty-fourth day of the first month I was beside the great river, the Tigris.\n\t\t\t I looked up and saw a man clothed in linen; around his waist was a belt made of gold from Upaz.\n\t\t\t His body resembled yellow jasper, and his face had an appearance like lightning. His eyes were like blazing torches; his arms and feet had the gleam of polished bronze. His voice thundered forth like the sound of a large crowd.\n\t\t\t Only I, Daniel, saw the vision; the men who were with me did not see it. On the contrary, they were overcome with fright and ran away to hide. \n\t\t\t I alone was left to see this great vision. My strength drained from me, and my vigor disappeared; I was without energy.\n\t\t\t I listened to his voice, and as I did so I fell into a trance-like sleep with my face to the ground. \n\t\t\t Then a hand touched me and set me on my hands and knees.\n\t\t\t He said to me, \"Daniel, you are of great value. Understand the words that I am about to speak to you. So stand up, for I have now been sent to you.\" When he said this to me, I stood up shaking. \n\t\t\t Then he said to me, \"Don't be afraid, Daniel, for from the very first day you applied your mind to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard. I have come in response to your words. \n\t\t\t However, the prince of the kingdom of Persia was opposing me for twenty-one days. But Michael, one of the leading princes, came to help me, because I was left there with the kings of Persia. \n\t\t\t Now I have come to help you understand what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision pertains to future days.\"\n\t\t\t While he was saying this to me, I was flat on the ground and unable to speak. \n\t\t\t Then one who appeared to be a human being was touching my lips. I opened my mouth and started to speak, saying to the one who was standing before me, \"Sir, due to the vision, anxiety has gripped me and I have no strength. \n\t\t\t How, sir, am I able to speak with you? My strength is gone, and I am breathless.\" \n\t\t\t Then the one who appeared to be a human being touched me again and strengthened me. \n\t\t\t He said to me, \"Don't be afraid, you who are valued. Peace be to you! Be strong! Be really strong!\" When he spoke to me, I was strengthened. I said, \"Sir, you may speak now, for you have given me strength.\" \n\t\t\t He said, \"Do you know why I have come to you? Now I am about to return to engage in battle with the prince of Persia. When I go, the prince of Greece is coming. \n\t\t\t However, I will first tell you what is written in a dependable book. (There is no one who strengthens me against these princes, except Michael your prince. \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t And in the first year of Darius the Mede, I stood to strengthen him and to provide protection for him.) \n\t\t\t Now I will tell you the truth. \"Three more kings will arise for Persia. Then a fourth king will be unusually rich, more so than all who preceded him. When he has amassed power through his riches, he will stir up everyone against the kingdom of Greece. \n\t\t\t Then a powerful king will arise, exercising great authority and doing as he pleases. \n\t\t\t Shortly after his rise to power, his kingdom will be broken up and distributed toward the four winds of the sky, but not to his posterity or with the authority he exercised, for his kingdom will be uprooted and distributed to others besides these.\n\t\t\t \"Then the king of the south and one of his subordinates will grow strong. His subordinate will resist him and will rule a kingdom greater than his.\n\t\t\t After some years have passed, they will form an alliance. Then the daughter of the king of the south will come to the king of the north to make an agreement, but she will not retain her power, nor will he continue in his strength. She, together with the one who brought her, her child, and her benefactor will all be delivered over at that time.\n\t\t\t \"There will arise in his place one from her family line who will come against their army and will enter the stronghold of the king of the north and will move against them successfully.\n\t\t\t He will also take their gods into captivity to Egypt, along with their cast images and prized utensils of silver and gold. Then he will withdraw for some years from the king of the north. \n\t\t\t Then the king of the north will advance against the empire of the king of the south, but will withdraw to his own land.\n\t\t\t His sons will wage war, mustering a large army which will advance like an overflowing river and carrying the battle all the way to the enemy's fortress.\n\t\t\t \"Then the king of the south will be enraged and will march out to fight against the king of the north, who will also muster a large army, but that army will be delivered into his hand.\n\t\t\t When the army is taken away, the king of the south will become arrogant. He will be responsible for the death of thousands and thousands of people, but he will not continue to prevail.\n\t\t\t For the king of the north will again muster an army, one larger than before. At the end of some years he will advance with a huge army and enormous supplies.\n\t\t\t \"In those times many will oppose the king of the south. Those who are violent among your own people will rise up in confirmation of the vision, but they will falter. \n\t\t\t Then the king of the north will advance and will build siege mounds and capture a well-fortified city. The forces of the south will not prevail, not even his finest contingents. They will have no strength to prevail. \n\t\t\t The one advancing against him will do as he pleases, and no one will be able to stand before him. He will prevail in the beautiful land, and its annihilation will be within his power.\n\t\t\t His intention will be to come with the strength of his entire kingdom, and he will form alliances. He will give the king of the south a daughter in marriage in order to destroy the kingdom, but it will not turn out to his advantage.\n\t\t\t Then he will turn his attention to the coastal regions and will capture many of them. But a commander will bring his shameful conduct to a halt; in addition, he will make him pay for his shameful conduct.\n\t\t\t He will then turn his attention to the fortresses of his own land, but he will stumble and fall, not to be found again.\n\t\t\t There will arise after him one who will send out an exactor of tribute to enhance the splendor of the kingdom, but after a few days he will be destroyed, though not in anger or battle.\n\t\t\t \"Then there will arise in his place a despicable person to whom the royal honor has not been rightfully conferred. He will come on the scene in a time of prosperity and will seize the kingdom through deceit. \n\t\t\t Armies will be suddenly swept away in defeat before him; both they and a covenant leader will be destroyed.\n\t\t\t After entering into an alliance with him, he will behave treacherously; he will ascend to power with only a small force.\n\t\t\t In a time of prosperity for the most productive areas of the province he will come and accomplish what neither his fathers nor their fathers accomplished. He will distribute loot, spoils, and property to his followers, and he will devise plans against fortified cities, but not for long.\n\t\t\t He will rouse his strength and enthusiasm against the king of the south with a large army. The king of the south will wage war with a large and very powerful army, but he will not be able to prevail because of the plans devised against him. \n\t\t\t Those who share the king's fine food will attempt to destroy him, and his army will be swept away; many will be killed in battle. \n\t\t\t These two kings, their minds filled with evil intentions, will trade lies with one another at the same table. But it will not succeed, for there is still an end at the appointed time. \n\t\t\t Then the king of the north will return to his own land with much property. His mind will be set against the holy covenant. He will take action, and then return to his own land. \n\t\t\t At an appointed time he will again invade the south, but this latter visit will not turn out the way the former one did.\n\t\t\t The ships of Kittim will come against him, leaving him disheartened. He will turn back and direct his indignation against the holy covenant. He will return and honor those who forsake the holy covenant. \n\t\t\t His forces will rise up and profane the fortified sanctuary, stopping the daily sacrifice. In its place they will set up the abomination that causes desolation. \n\t\t\t Then with smooth words he will defile those who have rejected the covenant. But the people who are loyal to their God will act valiantly.\n\t\t\t These who are wise among the people will teach the masses. However, they will fall by the sword and by the flame, and they will be imprisoned and plundered for some time.\n\t\t\t When they stumble, they will be granted some help. But many will unite with them deceitfully.\n\t\t\t Even some of the wise will stumble, resulting in their refinement, purification, and cleansing until the time of the end, for it is still for the appointed time.\n\t\t\t \"Then the king will do as he pleases. He will exalt and magnify himself above every deity and he will utter presumptuous things against the God of gods. He will succeed until the time of wrath is completed, for what has been decreed must occur.\n\t\t\t He will not respect the gods of his fathers, not even the god loved by women. He will not respect any god; he will elevate himself above them all.\n\t\t\t What he will honor is a god of fortresses, a god his fathers did not acknowledge he will honor with gold, silver, valuable stones, and treasured commodities.\n\t\t\t He will attack mighty fortresses, aided by a foreign deity. To those who recognize him he will grant considerable honor. He will place them in authority over many people, and he will parcel out land for a price.\n\t\t\t \"At the time of the end the king of the south will attack him. Then the king of the north will storm against him with chariots, horsemen, and a large armada of ships. He will invade lands, passing through them like an overflowing river.\n\t\t\t Then he will enter the beautiful land. Many will fall, but these will escape: Edom, Moab, and the Ammonite leadership. \n\t\t\t He will extend his power against other lands; the land of Egypt will not escape.\n\t\t\t He will have control over the hidden stores of gold and silver, as well as all the treasures of Egypt. Libyans and Ethiopians will submit to him.\n\t\t\t But reports will trouble him from the east and north, and he will set out in a tremendous rage to destroy and wipe out many.\n\t\t\t He will pitch his royal tents between the seas toward the beautiful holy mountain. But he will come to his end, with no one to help him.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t \"At that time Michael, the great prince who watches over your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress unlike any other from the nation's beginning up to that time. But at that time your own people, all those whose names are found written in the book, will escape.\n\t\t\t Many of those who sleep in the dusty ground will awake, some to everlasting life, and others to shame and everlasting abhorrence.\n\t\t\t But the wise will shine like the brightness of the heavenly expanse. And those bringing many to righteousness will be like the stars forever and ever.\n\t\t\t \"But you, Daniel, close up these words and seal the book until the time of the end. Many will dash about, and knowledge will increase.\"\n\t\t\t I, Daniel, watched as two others stood there, one on each side of the river.\n\t\t\t One said to the man clothed in linen who was above the waters of the river, \"When will the end of these wondrous events occur?\"\n\t\t\t Then I heard the man clothed in linen who was over the waters of the river as he raised both his right and left hands to the sky and made an oath by the one who lives forever: \"It is for a time, times, and half a time. Then, when the power of the one who shatters the holy people has been exhausted, all these things will be finished.\"\n\t\t\t I heard, but I did not understand. So I said, \"Sir, what will happen after these things?\" \n\t\t\t He said, \"Go, Daniel. For these matters are closed and sealed until the time of the end.\n\t\t\t Many will be purified, made clean, and refined, but the wicked will go on being wicked. None of the wicked will understand, though the wise will understand.\n\t\t\t From the time that the daily sacrifice is removed and the abomination that causes desolation is set in place, there are 1,290 days. \n\t\t\t Blessed is the one who waits and attains to the 1,335 days.\n\t\t\t But you should go your way until the end. You will rest and then at the end of the days you will arise to receive what you have been allotted.\"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t This is the word of the LORD which was revealed to Hosea son of Beeri during the time when Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah ruled Judah, and during the time when Jeroboam son of Joash ruled Israel.\n\t\t\t When the LORD first spoke through Hosea, he said to him, \"Go marry a prostitute who will bear illegitimate children conceived through prostitution, because the nation continually commits spiritual prostitution by turning away from the LORD.\" \n\t\t\t So Hosea married Gomer, the daughter of Diblaim. Then she conceived and gave birth to a son for him. \n\t\t\t Then the LORD said to Hosea, \"Name him 'Jezreel,' because in a little while I will punish the dynasty of Jehu on account of the bloodshed in the valley of Jezreel, and I will put an end to the kingdom of Israel.\n\t\t\t At that time, I will destroy the military power of Israel in the valley of Jezreel.\"\n\t\t\t She conceived again and gave birth to a daughter. Then the LORD said to him, \"Name her 'No Pity' (Lo-Ruhamah) because I will no longer have pity on the nation of Israel. For I will certainly not forgive their guilt.\n\t\t\t But I will have pity on the nation of Judah. I will deliver them by the LORD their God; I will not deliver them by the warrior's bow, by sword, by military victory, by chariot horses, or by chariots.\"\n\t\t\t When she had weaned 'No Pity' (Lo-Ruhamah) she conceived again and gave birth to another son. \n\t\t\t Then the LORD said: \"Name him 'Not My People' (Lo-Ammi), because you are not my people and I am not your God.\"\n\t\t\t However, in the future the number of the people of Israel will be like the sand of the sea which can be neither measured nor numbered. Although it was said to them, \"You are not my people,\" it will be said to them, \"You are children of the living God!\" \n\t\t\t Then the people of Judah and the people of Israel will be gathered together. They will appoint for themselves one leader, and will flourish in the land. Certainly, the day of Jezreel will be great! \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then you will call your brother, \"My People\" (Ammi)! You will call your sister, \"Pity\" (Ruhamah)!\n\t\t\t Plead earnestly with your mother (for she is not my wife, and I am not her husband), so that she might put an end to her adulterous lifestyle, and turn away from her sexually immoral behavior.\n\t\t\t Otherwise, I will strip her naked, and expose her like she was when she was born. I will turn her land into a wilderness and make her country a parched land, so that I might kill her with thirst.\n\t\t\t I will have no pity on her children, because they are children conceived in adultery.\n\t\t\t For their mother has committed adultery; she who conceived them has acted shamefully. For she said, \"I will seek out my lovers; they are the ones who give me my bread and my water, my wool, my flax, my olive oil, and my wine.\n\t\t\t Therefore, I will soon fence her in with thorns; I will wall her in so that she cannot find her way.\n\t\t\t Then she will pursue her lovers, but she will not catch them; she will seek them, but she will not find them. Then she will say, \"I will go back to my husband, because I was better off then than I am now.\"\n\t\t\t Yet until now she has refused to acknowledge that I was the one who gave her the grain, the new wine, and the olive oil; and that it was I who lavished on her the silver and gold, which they used in worshiping Baal!\n\t\t\t Therefore, I will take back my grain during the harvest time and my new wine when it ripens; I will take away my wool and my flax which I had provided in order to clothe her.\n\t\t\t Soon I will expose her lewd nakedness in front of her lovers, and no one will be able to rescue her from me!\n\t\t\t I will put an end to all her celebration: her annual religious festivals, monthly new moon celebrations, and weekly Sabbath festivities, all her appointed festivals.\n\t\t\t I will destroy her vines and fig trees, about which she said, \"These are my wages for prostitution that my lovers gave to me!\" I will turn her cultivated vines and fig trees into an uncultivated thicket, so that wild animals will devour them.\n\t\t\t \"I will punish her for the festival days when she burned incense to the Baal idols; she adorned herself with earrings and jewelry, and went after her lovers, but she forgot me!\" says the LORD.\n\t\t\t However, in the future I will allure her; I will lead her back into the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her.\n\t\t\t From there I will give back her vineyards to her, and turn the \"Valley of Trouble\" into an \"Opportunity for Hope.\" There she will sing as she did when she was young, when she came up from the land of Egypt.\n\t\t\t \"At that time,\" declares the LORD, \"you will call, 'My husband'; you will never again call me, 'My master.'\n\t\t\t For I will remove the names of the Baal idols from your lips, so that you will never again utter their names!\"\n\t\t\t \"At that time I will make a covenant for them with the wild animals, the birds of the air, and the creatures that crawl on the ground. I will abolish the warrior's bow and sword, that is, every weapon of warfare, from the land, and I will allow them to live securely.\"\n\t\t\t I will commit myself to you forever; I will commit myself to you in righteousness and justice, in steadfast love and tender compassion.\n\t\t\t I will commit myself to you in faithfulness; then you will acknowledge the LORD.\"\n\t\t\t \"At that time, I will willingly respond,\" declares the LORD. \"I will respond to the sky, and the sky will respond to the ground;\n\t\t\t then the ground will respond to the grain, the new wine, and the olive oil; and they will respond to 'God Plants' (Jezreel)!\n\t\t\t Then I will plant her as my own in the land. I will have pity on 'No Pity' (Lo-Ruhamah). I will say to 'Not My People' (Lo-Ammi), 'You are my people!' And he will say, 'You are my God!'\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The LORD said to me, \"Go, show love to your wife again, even though she loves another man and continually commits adultery. Likewise, the LORD loves the Israelites although they turn to other gods and love to offer raisin cakes to idols.\"\n\t\t\t So I paid fifteen shekels of silver and about seven bushels of barley to purchase her. \n\t\t\t Then I told her, \"You must live with me many days; you must not commit adultery or have sexual intercourse with another man, and I also will wait for you.\" \n\t\t\t For the Israelites must live many days without a king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred fertility pillar, without ephod or idols. \n\t\t\t Afterward, the Israelites will turn and seek the LORD their God and their Davidic king. Then they will submit to the LORD in fear and receive his blessings in the future.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Hear the word of the LORD, you Israelites! For the LORD has a covenant lawsuit against the people of Israel. For there is neither faithfulness nor loyalty in the land, nor do they acknowledge God.\n\t\t\t There is only cursing, lying, murder, stealing, and adultery. They resort to violence and bloodshed.\n\t\t\t Therefore the land will mourn, and all its inhabitants will perish. The wild animals, the birds of the sky, and even the fish in the sea will perish.\n\t\t\t Do not let anyone accuse or contend against anyone else: for my case is against you priests!\n\t\t\t You stumble day and night, and the false prophets stumble with you; You have destroyed your own people!\n\t\t\t You have destroyed my people by failing to acknowledge me! Because you refuse to acknowledge me, I will reject you as my priests. Because you reject the law of your God, I will reject your descendants.\n\t\t\t The more the priests increased in numbers, the more they rebelled against me. They have turned their glorious calling into a shameful disgrace!\n\t\t\t They feed on the sin offerings of my people; their appetites long for their iniquity!\n\t\t\t I will deal with the people and priests together: I will punish them both for their ways, and I will repay them for their deeds.\n\t\t\t They will eat, but not be satisfied; they will engage in prostitution, but not increase in numbers; because they have abandoned the LORD by pursuing other gods.\n\t\t\t Old and new wine take away the understanding of my people.\n\t\t\t They consult their wooden idols, and their diviner's staff answers with an oracle. The wind of prostitution blows them astray; they commit spiritual adultery against their God.\n\t\t\t They sacrifice on the mountaintops, and burn offerings on the hills; they sacrifice under oak, poplar, and terebinth, because their shade is so pleasant. As a result, your daughters have become cult prostitutes, and your daughters-in-law commit adultery!\n\t\t\t I will not punish your daughters when they commit prostitution, nor your daughters-in-law when they commit adultery. For the men consort with harlots, they sacrifice with temple prostitutes. It is true: \"A people that lacks understanding will come to ruin!\"\n\t\t\t Although you, O Israel, commit adultery, do not let Judah become guilty! Do not journey to Gilgal! Do not go up to Beth Aven! Do not swear, \"As surely as the LORD lives!\"\n\t\t\t Israel has rebelled like a stubborn heifer! Soon the LORD will put them out to pasture like a lamb in a broad field!\n\t\t\t Ephraim has attached himself to idols; Do not go near him!\n\t\t\t They consume their alcohol, then engage in cult prostitution; they dearly love their shameful behavior.\n\t\t\t A whirlwind has wrapped them in its wings; they will be brought to shame because of their idolatrous worship.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Hear this, you priests! Pay attention, you Israelites! Listen closely, O king! For judgment is about to overtake you! For you were like a trap to Mizpah, like a net spread out to catch Tabor.\n\t\t\t Those who revolt are knee-deep in slaughter, but I will discipline them all.\n\t\t\t I know Ephraim all too well; the evil of Israel is not hidden from me. For you have engaged in prostitution, O Ephraim; Israel has defiled itself.\n\t\t\t Their wicked deeds do not allow them to return to their God; because a spirit of idolatry controls their heart, and they do not acknowledge the LORD.\n\t\t\t The arrogance of Israel testifies against it; Israel and Ephraim will be overthrown because of their iniquity. Even Judah will be brought down with them.\n\t\t\t Although they bring their flocks and herds to seek the favor of the LORD, They will not find him, he has withdrawn himself from them!\n\t\t\t They have committed treason against the LORD, because they bore illegitimate children. Soon the new moon festival will devour them and their fields.\n\t\t\t Blow the ram's horn in Gibeah! Sound the trumpet in Ramah! Sound the alarm in Beth Aven! Tremble in fear, O Benjamin!\n\t\t\t Ephraim will be ruined in the day of judgment! What I am declaring to the tribes of Israel will certainly take place!\n\t\t\t The princes of Judah are like those who move boundary markers. I will pour out my rage on them like a torrential flood!\n\t\t\t Ephraim will be oppressed, crushed under judgment, because he was determined to pursue worthless idols.\n\t\t\t I will be like a moth to Ephraim, like wood rot to the house of Judah.\n\t\t\t When Ephraim saw his sickness and Judah saw his wound, then Ephraim turned to Assyria, and begged its great king for help. But he will not be able to heal you! He cannot cure your wound!\n\t\t\t I will be like a lion to Ephraim, like a young lion to the house of Judah. I myself will tear them to pieces, then I will carry them off, and no one will be able to rescue them!\n\t\t\t Then I will return again to my lair until they have suffered their punishment. Then they will seek me; in their distress they will earnestly seek me.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t \"Come on! Let's return to the LORD! He himself has torn us to pieces, but he will heal us! He has injured us, but he will bandage our wounds!\n\t\t\t He will restore us in a very short time; he will heal us in a little while, so that we may live in his presence.\n\t\t\t So let us acknowledge him! Let us seek to acknowledge the LORD! He will come to our rescue as certainly as the appearance of the dawn, as certainly as the winter rain comes, as certainly as the spring rain that waters the land.\"\n\t\t\t What am I going to do with you, O Ephraim? What am I going to do with you, O Judah? For your faithfulness is as fleeting as the morning mist; it disappears as quickly as dawn's dew!\n\t\t\t Therefore, I will certainly cut you into pieces at the hands of the prophets; I will certainly kill you in fulfillment of my oracles of judgment; for my judgment will come forth like the light of the dawn.\n\t\t\t For I delight in faithfulness, not simply in sacrifice; I delight in acknowledging God, not simply in whole burnt offerings.\n\t\t\t At Adam they broke the covenant; Oh how they were unfaithful to me!\n\t\t\t Gilead is a city full of evildoers; its streets are stained with bloody footprints!\n\t\t\t The company of priests is like a gang of robbers, lying in ambush to pounce on a victim. They commit murder on the road to Shechem; they have done heinous crimes!\n\t\t\t I have seen a disgusting thing in the temple of Israel: there Ephraim practices temple prostitution and Judah defiles itself.\n\t\t\t I have appointed a time to reap judgment for you also, O Judah! Whenever I want to restore the fortunes of my people,\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t whenever I want to heal Israel, the sin of Ephraim is revealed, and the evil deeds of Samaria are exposed. For they do what is wrong; thieves break into houses, and gangs rob people out in the streets.\n\t\t\t They do not realize that I remember all of their wicked deeds. Their evil deeds have now surrounded them; their sinful deeds are always before me.\n\t\t\t The royal advisers delight the king with their evil schemes, the princes make him glad with their lies.\n\t\t\t They are all like bakers, they are like a smoldering oven; they are like a baker who does not stoke the fire until the kneaded dough is ready for baking.\n\t\t\t At the celebration of their king, his princes become inflamed with wine; they conspire with evildoers.\n\t\t\t They approach him, all the while plotting against him. Their hearts are like an oven; their anger smolders all night long, but in the morning it bursts into a flaming fire.\n\t\t\t All of them are blazing like an oven; they devour their rulers. All of their kings fall, and none of them call on me!\n\t\t\t Ephraim has mixed itself like flour among the nations; Ephraim is like a ruined cake of bread that is scorched on one side.\n\t\t\t Foreigners are consuming what his strenuous labor produced, but he does not recognize it! His head is filled with gray hair, but he does not realize it!\n\t\t\t The arrogance of Israel testifies against him, yet they refuse to return to the LORD their God! In spite of all this they refuse to seek him!\n\t\t\t Ephraim has been like a dove, easily deceived and lacking discernment. They called to Egypt for help; they turned to Assyria for protection.\n\t\t\t I will throw my bird net over them while they are flying, I will bring them down like birds in the sky; I will discipline them when I hear them flocking together.\n\t\t\t Woe to them! For they have fled from me! Destruction to them! For they have rebelled against me! I want to deliver them, but they have lied to me.\n\t\t\t They do not pray to me, but howl in distress on their beds; They slash themselves for grain and new wine, but turn away from me.\n\t\t\t Although I trained and strengthened them, they plot evil against me!\n\t\t\t They turn to Baal; they are like an unreliable bow. Their leaders will fall by the sword because their prayers to Baal have made me angry. So people will disdain them in the land of Egypt.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Sound the alarm! An eagle looms over the temple of the LORD! For they have broken their covenant with me, and have rebelled against my law.\n\t\t\t Israel cries out to me, \"My God, we acknowledge you!\"\n\t\t\t But Israel has rejected what is morally good; so an enemy will pursue him.\n\t\t\t They enthroned kings without my consent! They appointed princes without my approval! They made idols out of their silver and gold, but they will be destroyed!\n\t\t\t O Samaria, he has rejected your calf idol! My anger burns against them! They will not survive much longer without being punished, even though they are Israelites!\n\t\t\t That idol was made by a workman, it is not God! The calf idol of Samaria will be broken to bits.\n\t\t\t They sow the wind, and so they will reap the whirlwind! The stalk does not have any standing grain; it will not produce any flour. Even if it were to yield grain, foreigners would swallow it all up.\n\t\t\t Israel will be swallowed up among the nations; they will be like a worthless piece of pottery.\n\t\t\t They have gone up to Assyria, like a wild donkey that wanders off. Ephraim has hired prostitutes as lovers.\n\t\t\t Even though they have hired lovers among the nations, I will soon gather them together for judgment. Then they will begin to waste away under the oppression of a mighty king.\n\t\t\t Although Ephraim has built many altars for sin offerings, these have become altars for sinning!\n\t\t\t I spelled out my law for him in great detail, but they regard it as something totally unknown to them!\n\t\t\t They offer up sacrificial gifts to me, and eat the meat, but the LORD does not accept their sacrifices. Soon he will remember their wrongdoing, he will punish their sins, and they will return to Egypt.\n\t\t\t Israel has forgotten his Maker and built royal palaces, and Judah has built many fortified cities. But I will send fire on their cities; it will consume their royal citadels.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t O Israel, do not rejoice jubilantly like the nations, for you are unfaithful to your God. You love to receive a prostitute's wages on all the floors where you thresh your grain.\n\t\t\t Threshing floors and wine vats will not feed the people, and new wine only deceives them.\n\t\t\t They will not remain in the LORD's land. Ephraim will return to Egypt; they will eat ritually unclean food in Assyria.\n\t\t\t They will not pour out drink offerings of wine to the LORD; they will not please him with their sacrifices. Their sacrifices will be like bread eaten while in mourning; all those who eat them will make themselves ritually unclean. For their bread will be only to satisfy their appetite; it will not come into the temple of the LORD.\n\t\t\t So what will you do on the festival day, on the festival days of the LORD?\n\t\t\t Look! Even if they flee from the destruction, Egypt will take hold of them, and Memphis will bury them. The weeds will inherit the silver they treasure, thorn bushes will occupy their homes.\n\t\t\t The time of judgment is about to arrive! The time of retribution is imminent! Let Israel know! The prophet is considered a fool, the inspired man is viewed as a madman, because of the multitude of your sins and your intense animosity.\n\t\t\t The prophet is a watchman over Ephraim on behalf of God, yet traps are laid for him along all of his paths; animosity rages against him in the land of his God.\n\t\t\t They have sunk deep into corruption as in the days of Gibeah. He will remember their wrongdoing. He will repay them for their sins.\n\t\t\t When I found Israel, it was like finding grapes in the wilderness. I viewed your ancestors like an early fig on a fig tree in its first season. Then they came to Baal-Peor and they dedicated themselves to shame, they became as detestable as what they loved.\n\t\t\t Ephraim will be like a bird; what they value will fly away. They will not bear children, they will not enjoy pregnancy, they will not even conceive!\n\t\t\t Even if they raise their children, I will take away every last one of them. Woe to them! For I will turn away from them.\n\t\t\t Just as lion cubs are born predators, so Ephraim will bear his sons for slaughter.\n\t\t\t Give them, O LORD, what will you give them? Give them wombs that miscarry, and breasts that cannot nurse!\n\t\t\t Because of all their evil in Gilgal, I hate them there. On account of their evil deeds, I will drive them out of my land. I will no longer love them; all their rulers are rebels.\n\t\t\t Ephraim will be struck down, their root will be dried up; they will not yield any fruit. Even if they do bear children, I will kill their precious offspring.\n\t\t\t My God will reject them, for they have not obeyed him; so they will be fugitives among the nations.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Israel was a fertile vine that yielded fruit. As his fruit multiplied, he multiplied altars to Baal. As his land prospered, they adorned the fertility pillars.\n\t\t\t Their heart is slipping; soon they will be punished for their guilt. The LORD will break their altars; he will completely destroy their fertility pillars.\n\t\t\t Very soon they will say, \"We have no king since we did not fear the LORD. But what can a king do for us anyway?\"\n\t\t\t They utter empty words, taking false oaths and making empty agreements. Therefore legal disputes sprout up like poisonous weeds in the furrows of a plowed field.\n\t\t\t The inhabitants of Samaria will lament over the calf idol of Beth Aven. Its people will mourn over it; its idolatrous priests will wail over it, because its splendor will be taken from them into exile.\n\t\t\t Even the calf idol will be carried to Assyria, as tribute for the great king. Ephraim will be disgraced; Israel will be put to shame because of its wooden idol.\n\t\t\t Samaria and its king will be carried off like a twig on the surface of the waters.\n\t\t\t The high places of the \"House of Wickedness\" will be destroyed; it is the place where Israel sins. Thorns and thistles will grow up over its altars. Then they will say to the mountains, \"Cover us!\" and to the hills, \"Fall on us!\"\n\t\t\t O Israel, you have sinned since the time of Gibeah, and there you have remained. Did not war overtake the evildoers in Gibeah?\n\t\t\t When I please, I will discipline them; I will gather nations together to attack them, to bind them in chains for their two sins.\n\t\t\t Ephraim was a well-trained heifer who loved to thresh grain; I myself put a fine yoke on her neck. I will harness Ephraim. Let Judah plow! Let Jacob break up the unplowed ground for himself!\n\t\t\t Sow righteousness for yourselves, reap unfailing love. Break up the unplowed ground for yourselves, for it is time to seek the LORD, until he comes and showers deliverance on you.\n\t\t\t But you have plowed wickedness; you have reaped injustice; you have eaten the fruit of deception. Because you have depended on your chariots; you have relied on your many warriors.\n\t\t\t The roar of battle will rise against your people; all your fortresses will be devastated, just as Shalman devastated Beth Arbel on the day of battle, when mothers were dashed to the ground with their children.\n\t\t\t So will it happen to you, O Bethel, because of your great wickedness! When that day dawns, the king of Israel will be destroyed.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t When Israel was a young man, I loved him like a son, and I summoned my son out of Egypt.\n\t\t\t But the more I summoned them, the farther they departed from me. They sacrificed to the Baal idols and burned incense to images.\n\t\t\t Yet it was I who led Ephraim, I took them by the arm; but they did not acknowledge that I had healed them.\n\t\t\t I led them with leather cords, with leather ropes; I lifted the yoke from their neck, and gently fed them.\n\t\t\t They will return to Egypt! Assyria will rule over them because they refuse to repent!\n\t\t\t A sword will flash in their cities, it will destroy the bars of their city gates, and will devour them in their fortresses.\n\t\t\t My people are obsessed with turning away from me; they call to Baal, but he will never exalt them!\n\t\t\t How can I give you up, O Ephraim? How can I surrender you, O Israel? How can I treat you like Admah? How can I make you like Zeboiim? I have had a change of heart! All my tender compassions are aroused!\n\t\t\t I cannot carry out my fierce anger! I cannot totally destroy Ephraim! Because I am God, and not man, the Holy One among you, I will not come in wrath!\n\t\t\t He will roar like a lion, and they will follow the LORD; when he roars, his children will come trembling from the west.\n\t\t\t They will return in fear and trembling like birds from Egypt, like doves from Assyria, and I will settle them in their homes,\" declares the LORD.\n\t\t\t Ephraim has surrounded me with lies; the house of Israel has surrounded me with deceit. But Judah still roams about with God; he remains faithful to the Holy One.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Ephraim continually feeds on the wind; he chases the east wind all day; he multiplies lies and violence. They make treaties with Assyria, and send olive oil as tribute to Egypt.\n\t\t\t The LORD also has a covenant lawsuit against Judah; he will punish Jacob according to his ways and repay him according to his deeds.\n\t\t\t In the womb he attacked his brother; in his manly vigor he struggled with God.\n\t\t\t He struggled with an angel and prevailed; he wept and begged for his favor. He found God at Bethel, and there he spoke with him!\n\t\t\t As for the LORD God Almighty, the LORD is the name by which he is remembered!\n\t\t\t But you must return to your God, by maintaining love and justice, and by waiting for your God to return to you.\n\t\t\t The businessmen love to cheat; they use dishonest scales.\n\t\t\t Ephraim boasts, \"I am very rich! I have become wealthy! In all that I have done to gain my wealth, no one can accuse me of any offense that is actually sinful.\"\n\t\t\t \"I am the LORD your God who brought you out of Egypt; I will make you live in tents again as in the days of old.\n\t\t\t I spoke to the prophets; I myself revealed many visions; I spoke in parables through the prophets.\"\n\t\t\t Is there idolatry in Gilead? Certainly its inhabitants will come to nothing! Do they sacrifice bulls in Gilgal? Surely their altars will be like stones heaped up on a plowed field!\n\t\t\t Jacob fled to the country of Aram, then Israel worked to acquire a wife; he tended sheep to pay for her.\n\t\t\t The LORD brought Israel out of Egypt by a prophet, and due to a prophet Israel was preserved alive.\n\t\t\t But Ephraim bitterly provoked him to anger; so he will hold him accountable for the blood he has shed, his Lord will repay him for the contempt he has shown.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t When Ephraim spoke, there was terror; he was exalted in Israel, but he became guilty by worshiping Baal and died.\n\t\t\t Even now they persist in sin! They make metal images for themselves, idols that they skillfully fashion from their own silver; all of them are nothing but the work of craftsmen! There is a saying about them: \"Those who sacrifice to the calf idol are calf kissers!\"\n\t\t\t Therefore they will disappear like the morning mist, like early morning dew that evaporates, like chaff that is blown away from a threshing floor, like smoke that disappears through an open window.\n\t\t\t But I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt. Therefore, you must not acknowledge any God but me; except me there is no Savior.\n\t\t\t I cared for you in the wilderness, in the dry desert where no water was.\n\t\t\t When they were fed, they became satisfied; when they were satisfied, they became proud; as a result, they forgot me!\n\t\t\t So I will pounce on them like a lion; like a leopard I will lurk by the path.\n\t\t\t I will attack them like a bear robbed of her cubs, I will rip open their chests. I will devour them there like a lion, like a wild animal would tear them apart.\n\t\t\t I will destroy you, O Israel! Who is there to help you?\n\t\t\t Where then is your king, that he may save you in all your cities? Where are your rulers for whom you asked, saying, \"Give me a king and princes\"?\n\t\t\t I granted you a king in my anger, and I will take him away in my wrath!\n\t\t\t The punishment of Ephraim has been decreed; his punishment is being stored up for the future.\n\t\t\t The labor pains of a woman will overtake him, but the baby will lack wisdom; when the time arrives, he will not come out of the womb!\n\t\t\t Will I deliver them from the power of Sheol? No, I will not! Will I redeem them from death? No, I will not! O Death, bring on your plagues! O Sheol, bring on your destruction! My eyes will not show any compassion!\n\t\t\t Even though he flourishes like a reed plant, a scorching east wind will come, a wind from the LORD rising up from the desert. As a result, his spring will dry up; his well will become dry. That wind will spoil all his delightful foods in the containers in his storehouse.\n\t\t\t Samaria will be held guilty, because she rebelled against her God. They will fall by the sword, their infants will be dashed to the ground, their pregnant women will be ripped open.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God, for your sin has been your downfall!\n\t\t\t Return to the LORD and repent! Say to him: \"Completely forgive our iniquity; accept our penitential prayer, that we may offer the praise of our lips as sacrificial bulls.\n\t\t\t Assyria cannot save us; we will not ride warhorses. We will never again say, 'Our gods' to what our own hands have made. For only you will show compassion to Orphan Israel!\"\n\t\t\t \"I will heal their waywardness and love them freely, for my anger will turn away from them.\n\t\t\t I will be like the dew to Israel; he will blossom like a lily, he will send down his roots like a cedar of Lebanon.\n\t\t\t His young shoots will grow; his splendor will be like an olive tree, his fragrance like a cedar of Lebanon.\n\t\t\t People will reside again in his shade; they will plant and harvest grain in abundance. They will blossom like a vine, and his fame will be like the wine from Lebanon.\n\t\t\t O Ephraim, I do not want to have anything to do with idols anymore! I will answer him and care for him. I am like a luxuriant cypress tree; your fruitfulness comes from me!\n\t\t\t Who is wise? Let him discern these things! Who is discerning? Let him understand them! For the ways of the LORD are right; the godly walk in them, but in them the rebellious stumble.\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t This is the LORD's message that was given to Joel the son of Pethuel:\n\t\t\t Listen to this, you elders; pay attention, all inhabitants of the land. Has anything like this ever happened in your whole life or in the lifetime of your ancestors?\n\t\t\t Tell your children about it, have your children tell their children, and their children the following generation.\n\t\t\t What the gazam-locust left the 'arbeh-locust consumed, what the 'arbeh-locust left the yeleq-locust consumed, and what the yeleq-locust left the hasil-locust consumed!\n\t\t\t Wake up, you drunkards, and weep! Wail, all you wine drinkers, because the sweet wine has been taken away from you.\n\t\t\t For a nation has invaded our land. There are so many of them they are too numerous to count. Their teeth are like those of a lion; they tear apart their prey like a lioness.\n\t\t\t They have destroyed our vines; they have turned our fig trees into mere splinters. They have completely stripped off the bark and thrown them aside; the twigs are stripped bare.\n\t\t\t Wail like a young virgin clothed in sackcloth, lamenting the death of her husband-to-be.\n\t\t\t No one brings grain offerings or drink offerings to the temple of the LORD anymore. So the priests, those who serve the LORD, are in mourning.\n\t\t\t The crops of the fields have been destroyed. The ground is in mourning because the grain has perished. The fresh wine has dried up; the olive oil languishes.\n\t\t\t Be distressed, farmers; wail, vinedressers, over the wheat and the barley. For the harvest of the field has perished.\n\t\t\t The vine has dried up; the fig tree languishes, the pomegranate, date, and apple as well. In fact, all the trees of the field have dried up. Indeed, the joy of the people has dried up!\n\t\t\t Get dressed and lament, you priests! Wail, you who minister at the altar! Come, spend the night in sackcloth, you servants of my God, because no one brings grain offerings or drink offerings to the temple of your God anymore.\n\t\t\t Announce a holy fast; proclaim a sacred assembly. Gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land to the temple of the LORD your God, and cry out to the LORD.\n\t\t\t How awful that day will be! For the day of the LORD is near; it will come as destruction from the Divine Destroyer.\n\t\t\t Our food has been cut off right before our eyes! There is no longer any joy or gladness in the temple of our God!\n\t\t\t The grains of seed have shriveled beneath their shovels. Storehouses have been decimated and granaries have been torn down, for the grain has dried up.\n\t\t\t Listen to the cattle groan! The herds of livestock wander around in confusion because they have no pasture. Even the flocks of sheep are suffering.\n\t\t\t To you, O LORD, I call out for help, for fire has burned up the grassy pastures, flames have razed all the trees in the fields.\n\t\t\t Even the wild animals cry out to you; for the river beds have dried up; fire has destroyed the grassy pastures.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm signal on my holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land shake with fear, for the day of the LORD is about to come. Indeed, it is near!\n\t\t\t It will be a day of dreadful darkness, a day of foreboding storm clouds, like blackness spread over the mountains. It is a huge and powerful army, there has never been anything like it ever before, and there will not be anything like it for many generations to come!\n\t\t\t Like fire they devour everything in their path; a flame blazes behind them. The land looks like the Garden of Eden before them, but behind them there is only a desolate wilderness, for nothing escapes them!\n\t\t\t They look like horses; they charge ahead like war horses.\n\t\t\t They sound like chariots rumbling over mountain tops, like the crackling of blazing fire consuming stubble, like the noise of a mighty army being drawn up for battle.\n\t\t\t People writhe in fear when they see them. All of their faces turn pale with fright.\n\t\t\t They charge like warriors; they scale walls like soldiers. Each one proceeds on his course; they do not alter their path.\n\t\t\t They do not jostle one another; each of them marches straight ahead. They burst through the city defenses and do not break ranks.\n\t\t\t They rush into the city; they scale its walls. They climb up into the houses; they go in through the windows like a thief.\n\t\t\t The earth quakes before them; the sky reverberates. The sun and the moon grow dark; the stars refuse to shine.\n\t\t\t The voice of the LORD thunders as he leads his army. Indeed, his warriors are innumerable; Surely his command is carried out! Yes, the day of the LORD is awesome and very terrifying, who can survive it?\n\t\t\t \"Yet even now,\" the LORD says, \"return to me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning. Tear your hearts, not just your garments!\"\n\t\t\t Return to the LORD your God, for he is merciful and compassionate, slow to anger and boundless in loyal love, often relenting from calamitous punishment.\n\t\t\t Who knows? Perhaps he will be compassionate and grant a reprieve, and leave blessing in his wake, a meal offering and a drink offering for you to offer to the LORD your God!\n\t\t\t Blow the trumpet in Zion. Announce a holy fast; proclaim a sacred assembly!\n\t\t\t Gather the people; sanctify an assembly! Gather the elders; gather the children and the nursing infants. Let the bridegroom come out from his bedroom and the bride from her private quarters.\n\t\t\t Let the priests, those who serve the LORD, weep from the vestibule all the way back to the altar. Let them say, \"Have pity, O LORD, on your people; please do not turn over your inheritance to be mocked, to become a proverb among the nations. Why should it be said among the peoples, \"Where is their God?\"\n\t\t\t Then the LORD became zealous for his land; he had compassion on his people.\n\t\t\t The LORD responded to his people, \"Look! I am about to restore your grain as well as fresh wine and olive oil. You will be fully satisfied. I will never again make you an object of mockery among the nations.\n\t\t\t I will remove the one from the north far from you. I will drive him out to a dry and desolate place. Those in front will be driven eastward into the Dead Sea, and those in back westward into the Mediterranean Sea. His stench will rise up as a foul smell.\" Indeed, the LORD has accomplished great things.\n\t\t\t Do not fear, my land! Rejoice and be glad, because the LORD has accomplished great things!\n\t\t\t Do not fear, wild animals! For the pastures of the wilderness are again green with grass. Indeed, the trees bear their fruit; the fig tree and the vine yield to their fullest.\n\t\t\t Citizens of Zion, rejoice! Be glad because of what the LORD your God has done! For he has given to you the early rains as vindication. He has sent to you the rains, both the early and the late rains as formerly.\n\t\t\t The threshing floors are full of grain; the vats overflow with fresh wine and olive oil.\n\t\t\t I will make up for the years that the 'arbeh-locust consumed your crops, the yeleq-locust, the hasil-locust, and the gazam-locust, my great army that I sent against you.\n\t\t\t You will have plenty to eat, and your hunger will be fully satisfied; you will praise the name of the LORD your God, who has acted wondrously in your behalf. My people will never again be put to shame.\n\t\t\t You will be convinced that I am in the midst of Israel. I am the LORD your God; there is no other. My people will never again be put to shame.\n\t\t\t After all of this I will pour out my Spirit on all kinds of people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your elderly will have revelatory dreams; your young men will see prophetic visions.\n\t\t\t Even on male and female servants I will pour out my Spirit in those days.\n\t\t\t I will produce portents both in the sky and on the earth, blood, fire, and columns of smoke.\n\t\t\t The sunlight will be turned to darkness and the moon to the color of blood, before the day of the LORD comes, that great and terrible day!\n\t\t\t It will so happen that everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be delivered. For on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be those who survive, just as the LORD has promised; the remnant will be those whom the LORD will call.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t For look! In those days and at that time I will return the exiles to Judah and Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t Then I will gather all the nations, and bring them down to the valley of Jehoshaphat. I will enter into judgment against them there concerning my people Israel who are my inheritance, whom they scattered among the nations. They partitioned my land,\n\t\t\t and they cast lots for my people. They traded a boy for a prostitute; they sold a little girl for wine so they could drink.\n\t\t\t Why are you doing these things to me, Tyre and Sidon? Are you trying to get even with me, land of Philistia? I will very quickly repay you for what you have done!\n\t\t\t For you took my silver and my gold and brought my precious valuables to your own palaces.\n\t\t\t You sold Judeans and Jerusalemites to the Greeks, removing them far from their own country.\n\t\t\t Look! I am rousing them from that place to which you sold them. I will repay you for what you have done!\n\t\t\t I will sell your sons and daughters to the people of Judah. They will sell them to the Sabeans, a nation far away. Indeed, the LORD has spoken!\n\t\t\t Proclaim this among the nations: \"Prepare for a holy war! Call out the warriors! Let all these fighting men approach and attack!\n\t\t\t Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears! Let the weak say, 'I too am a warrior!'\n\t\t\t Lend your aid and come, all you surrounding nations, and gather yourselves to that place.\" Bring down, O LORD, your warriors!\n\t\t\t Let the nations be roused and let them go up to the valley of Jehoshaphat, for there I will sit in judgment on all the surrounding nations.\n\t\t\t Rush forth with the sickle, for the harvest is ripe! Come, stomp the grapes, for the winepress is full! The vats overflow. Indeed, their evil is great!\n\t\t\t Crowds, great crowds are in the valley of decision, for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision!\n\t\t\t The sun and moon are darkened; the stars withhold their brightness.\n\t\t\t The LORD roars from Zion; from Jerusalem his voice bellows out. The heavens and the earth shake. But the LORD is a refuge for his people; he is a stronghold for the citizens of Israel.\n\t\t\t You will be convinced that I the LORD am your God, dwelling on Zion, my holy mountain. Jerusalem will be holy, conquering armies will no longer pass through it.\n\t\t\t On that day the mountains will drip with sweet wine, and the hills will flow with milk. All the dry stream beds of Judah will flow with water. A spring will flow out from the temple of the LORD, watering the Valley of Acacia Trees.\n\t\t\t Egypt will be desolate and Edom will be a desolate wilderness, because of the violence they did to the people of Judah, in whose land they shed innocent blood.\n\t\t\t But Judah will reside securely forever, and Jerusalem will be secure from one generation to the next.\n\t\t\t I will avenge their blood which I had not previously acquitted. It is the LORD who dwells in Zion!\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The following is a record of what Amos prophesied. He was one of the herdsmen from Tekoa. These prophecies about Israel were revealed to him during the time of King Uzziah of Judah and King Jeroboam son of Joash of Israel, two years before the earthquake.\n\t\t\t Amos said: \"The LORD comes roaring out of Zion; from Jerusalem he comes bellowing! The shepherds' pastures wilt; the summit of Carmel withers.\"\n\t\t\t This is what the LORD says: \"Because Damascus has committed three crimes, make that four!, I will not revoke my decree of judgment. They ripped through Gilead like threshing sledges with iron teeth.\n\t\t\t So I will set Hazael's house on fire; fire will consume Ben Hadad's fortresses.\n\t\t\t I will break the bar on the gate of Damascus. I will remove the ruler from Wicked Valley, the one who holds the royal scepter from Beth Eden. The people of Aram will be deported to Kir.\" The LORD has spoken!\n\t\t\t This is what the LORD says: \"Because Gaza has committed three crimes, make that four!, I will not revoke my decree of judgment. They deported a whole community and sold them to Edom.\n\t\t\t So I will set Gaza's city wall on fire; fire will consume her fortresses.\n\t\t\t I will remove the ruler from Ashdod, the one who holds the royal scepter from Ashkelon. I will strike Ekron with my hand; the rest of the Philistines will also die.\" The sovereign LORD has spoken!\n\t\t\t This is what the LORD says: \"Because Tyre has committed three crimes, make that four!, I will not revoke my decree of judgment. They sold a whole community to Edom; they failed to observe a treaty of brotherhood.\n\t\t\t So I will set fire to Tyre's city wall; fire will consume her fortresses.\"\n\t\t\t This is what the LORD says: \"Because Edom has committed three crimes, make that four!, I will not revoke my decree of judgment. He chased his brother with a sword; he wiped out his allies. In his anger he tore them apart without stopping to rest; in his fury he relentlessly attacked them.\n\t\t\t So I will set Teman on fire; fire will consume Bozrah's fortresses.\"\n\t\t\t This is what the LORD says: \"Because the Ammonites have committed three crimes, make that four!, I will not revoke my decree of judgment. They ripped open Gilead's pregnant women so they could expand their territory.\n\t\t\t So I will set fire to Rabbah's city wall; fire will consume her fortresses. War cries will be heard on the day of battle; a strong gale will blow on the day of the windstorm.\n\t\t\t Ammon's king will be deported; he and his officials will be carried off together.\" The LORD has spoken!\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t This is what the LORD says: \"Because Moab has committed three crimes, make that four!, I will not revoke my decree of judgment. They burned the bones of Edom's king into lime.\n\t\t\t So I will set Moab on fire, and it will consume Kerioth's fortresses. Moab will perish in the heat of battle amid war cries and the blaring of the ram's horn.\n\t\t\t I will remove Moab's leader; I will kill all Moab's officials with him.\" The LORD has spoken!\n\t\t\t This is what the LORD says: \"Because Judah has committed three covenant transgressions, make that four!, I will not revoke my decree of judgment. They rejected the LORD's law; they did not obey his commands. Their false gods, to which their fathers were loyal, led them astray.\n\t\t\t So I will set Judah on fire, and it will consume Jerusalem's fortresses.\"\n\t\t\t This is what the LORD says: \"Because Israel has committed three covenant transgressions, make that four!, I will not revoke my decree of judgment. They sold the innocent for silver, the needy for a pair of sandals.\n\t\t\t They trample on the dirt-covered heads of the poor; they push the destitute away. A man and his father go to the same girl; in this way they show disrespect for my moral purity.\n\t\t\t They stretch out on clothing seized as collateral; they do so right beside every altar! They drink wine bought with the fines they have levied; they do so right in the temple of their God!\n\t\t\t For Israel's sake I destroyed the Amorites. They were as tall as cedars and as strong as oaks, but I destroyed the fruit on their branches and their roots in the ground.\n\t\t\t I brought you up from the land of Egypt; I led you through the wilderness for forty years so you could take the Amorites' land as your own.\n\t\t\t I made some of your sons prophets and some of your young men Nazirites. Is this not true, you Israelites?\" The LORD is speaking!\n\t\t\t \"But you made the Nazirites drink wine; you commanded the prophets, 'Do not prophesy!'\n\t\t\t Look! I will press you down, like a cart loaded down with grain presses down.\n\t\t\t Fast runners will find no place to hide; strong men will have no strength left; warriors will not be able to save their lives.\n\t\t\t Archers will not hold their ground; fast runners will not save their lives, nor will those who ride horses.\n\t\t\t Bravehearted warriors will run away naked in that day.\" The LORD is speaking!\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Listen, you Israelites, to this message which the LORD is proclaiming against you! This message is for the entire clan I brought up from the land of Egypt: \n\t\t\t \"I have chosen you alone from all the clans of the earth. Therefore I will punish you for all your sins.\"\n\t\t\t Do two walk together without having met?\n\t\t\t Does a lion roar in the woods if he has not cornered his prey? Does a young lion bellow from his den if he has not caught something?\n\t\t\t Does a bird swoop down into a trap on the ground if there is no bait? Does a trap spring up from the ground unless it has surely caught something?\n\t\t\t If an alarm sounds in a city, do people not fear? If disaster overtakes a city, is the LORD not responsible?\n\t\t\t Certainly the sovereign LORD does nothing without first revealing his plan to his servants the prophets.\n\t\t\t A lion has roared! Who is not afraid? The sovereign LORD has spoken! Who can refuse to prophesy?\n\t\t\t Make this announcement in the fortresses of Ashdod and in the fortresses in the land of Egypt. Say this: \"Gather on the hills around Samaria! Observe the many acts of violence taking place within the city, the oppressive deeds occurring in it.\"\n\t\t\t \"They do not know how to do what is right.\" (The LORD is speaking.) \"They store up the spoils of destructive violence in their fortresses.\n\t\t\t Therefore,\" says the sovereign LORD, \"an enemy will encircle the land. He will take away your power; your fortresses will be looted.\"\n\t\t\t This is what the LORD says: \"Just as a shepherd salvages from the lion's mouth a couple of leg bones or a piece of an ear, so the Israelites who live in Samaria will be salvaged. They will be left with just a corner of a bed, and a part of a couch.\"\n\t\t\t Listen and warn the family of Jacob! The sovereign LORD, the God who commands armies, is speaking!\n\t\t\t \"Certainly when I punish Israel for their covenant transgressions, I will destroy Bethel's altars. The horns of the altar will be cut off and fall to the ground.\n\t\t\t I will destroy both the winter and summer houses. The houses filled with ivory will be ruined, the great houses will be swept away.\" The LORD is speaking!\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Listen to this message, you cows of Bashan who live on Mount Samaria! You oppress the poor; you crush the needy. You say to your husbands, \"Bring us more to drink!\"\n\t\t\t The sovereign LORD confirms this oath by his own holy character: \"Certainly the time is approaching when you will be carried away in baskets, every last one of you in fishermen's pots.\n\t\t\t Each of you will go straight through the gaps in the walls; you will be thrown out toward Harmon.\" The LORD is speaking!\n\t\t\t \"Go to Bethel and rebel! At Gilgal rebel some more! Bring your sacrifices in the morning, your tithes on the third day!\n\t\t\t Burn a thank offering of bread made with yeast! Make a public display of your voluntary offerings! For you love to do this, you Israelites.\" The sovereign LORD is speaking!\n\t\t\t \"But surely I gave you no food to eat in any of your cities; you lacked food everywhere you live. Still you did not come back to me.\" The LORD is speaking!\n\t\t\t \"I withheld rain from you three months before the harvest. I gave rain to one city, but not to another. One field would get rain, but the field that received no rain dried up.\n\t\t\t People from two or three cities staggered into one city to get water, but remained thirsty. Still you did not come back to me.\" The LORD is speaking!\n\t\t\t \"I destroyed your crops with blight and disease. Locusts kept devouring your orchards, vineyards, fig trees, and olive trees. Still you did not come back to me.\" The LORD is speaking!\n\t\t\t \"I sent against you a plague like one of the Egyptian plagues. I killed your young men with the sword, along with the horses you had captured. I made the stench from the corpses rise up into your nostrils. Still you did not come back to me.\" The LORD is speaking!\n\t\t\t \"I overthrew some of you the way God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. You were like a burning stick snatched from the flames. Still you did not come back to me.\" The LORD is speaking!\n\t\t\t \"Therefore this is what I will do to you, Israel. Because I will do this to you, prepare to meet your God, Israel!\n\t\t\t For here he is! He formed the mountains and created the wind. He reveals his plans to men. He turns the dawn into darkness and marches on the heights of the earth. The LORD, the God who commands armies, is his name!\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Listen to this funeral song I am ready to sing about you, family of Israel:\n\t\t\t \"The virgin Israel has fallen down and will not get up again. She is abandoned on her own land with no one to help her get up.\"\n\t\t\t The sovereign LORD says this: \"The city that marches out with a thousand soldiers will have only a hundred left; the town that marches out with a hundred soldiers will have only ten left for the family of Israel.\"\n\t\t\t The LORD says this to the family of Israel: \"Seek me so you can live!\n\t\t\t Do not seek Bethel! Do not visit Gilgal! Do not journey down to Beer Sheba! For the people of Gilgal will certainly be carried into exile; and Bethel will become a place where disaster abounds.\"\n\t\t\t Seek the LORD so you can live! Otherwise he will break out like fire against Joseph's family; the fire will consume and no one will be able to quench it and save Bethel.\n\t\t\t The Israelites turn justice into bitterness; they throw what is fair and right to the ground.\n\t\t\t (But there is one who made the constellations Pleiades and Orion; he can turn the darkness into morning and daylight into night. He summons the water of the seas and pours it out on the earth's surface. The LORD is his name!\n\t\t\t He flashes destruction down upon the strong so that destruction overwhelms the fortified places.)\n\t\t\t The Israelites hate anyone who arbitrates at the city gate; they despise anyone who speaks honestly.\n\t\t\t Therefore, because you make the poor pay taxes on their crops and exact a grain tax from them, you will not live in the houses you built with chiseled stone, nor will you drink the wine from the fine vineyards you planted.\n\t\t\t Certainly I am aware of your many rebellious acts and your numerous sins. You torment the innocent, you take bribes, and you deny justice to the needy at the city gate.\n\t\t\t For this reason whoever is smart keeps quiet in such a time, for it is an evil time.\n\t\t\t Seek good and not evil so you can live! Then the LORD, the God who commands armies, just might be with you, as you claim he is.\n\t\t\t Hate what is wrong, love what is right! Promote justice at the city gate! Maybe the LORD, the God who commands armies, will have mercy on those who are left from Joseph.\n\t\t\t Because of Israel's sins this is what the LORD, the God who commands armies, the sovereign One, says: \"In all the squares there will be wailing, in all the streets they will mourn the dead. They will tell the field workers to lament and the professional mourners to wail.\n\t\t\t In all the vineyards there will be wailing, for I will pass through your midst,\" says the LORD.\n\t\t\t Woe to those who wish for the day of the LORD! Why do you want the LORD's day of judgment to come? It will bring darkness, not light.\n\t\t\t Disaster will be inescapable, as if a man ran from a lion only to meet a bear, then escaped into a house, leaned his hand against the wall, and was bitten by a poisonous snake.\n\t\t\t Don't you realize the LORD's day of judgment will bring darkness, not light, gloomy blackness, not bright light?\n\t\t\t \"I absolutely despise your festivals! I get no pleasure from your religious assemblies!\n\t\t\t Even if you offer me burnt and grain offerings, I will not be satisfied; I will not look with favor on your peace offerings of fattened calves.\n\t\t\t Take away from me your noisy songs; I don't want to hear the music of your stringed instruments.\n\t\t\t Justice must flow like torrents of water, righteous actions like a stream that never dries up.\n\t\t\t You did not bring me sacrifices and grain offerings during the forty years you spent in the wilderness, family of Israel.\n\t\t\t You will pick up your images of Sikkuth, your king, and Kiyyun, your star god, which you made for yourselves,\n\t\t\t and I will drive you into exile beyond Damascus,\" says the LORD. He is called the God who commands armies!\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Woe to those who live in ease in Zion, to those who feel secure on Mount Samaria. They think of themselves as the elite class of the best nation. The family of Israel looks to them for leadership.\n\t\t\t They say to the people: \"Journey over to Calneh and look at it! Then go from there to Hamath-Rabbah! Then go down to Gath of the Philistines! Are they superior to our two kingdoms? Is their territory larger than yours?\"\n\t\t\t You refuse to believe a day of disaster will come, but you establish a reign of violence.\n\t\t\t They lie around on beds decorated with ivory, and sprawl out on their couches. They eat lambs from the flock, and calves from the middle of the pen.\n\t\t\t They sing to the tune of stringed instruments; like David they invent musical instruments.\n\t\t\t They drink wine from sacrificial bowls, and pour the very best oils on themselves. Yet they are not concerned over the ruin of Joseph.\n\t\t\t Therefore they will now be the first to go into exile, and the religious banquets where they sprawl on couches will end.\n\t\t\t The sovereign LORD confirms this oath by his very own life. The LORD, the God who commands armies, is speaking: \"I despise Jacob's arrogance; I hate their fortresses. I will hand over to their enemies the city of Samaria and everything in it.\"\n\t\t\t If ten men are left in one house, they too will die.\n\t\t\t When their close relatives, the ones who will burn the corpses, pick up their bodies to remove the bones from the house, they will say to anyone who is in the inner rooms of the house, \"Is anyone else with you?\" He will respond, \"Be quiet! Don't invoke the LORD's name!\"\n\t\t\t Indeed, look! The LORD is giving the command. He will smash the large house to bits, and the small house into little pieces.\n\t\t\t Can horses run on rocky cliffs? Can one plow the sea with oxen? Yet you have turned justice into a poisonous plant, and the fruit of righteous actions into a bitter plant.\n\t\t\t You are happy because you conquered Lo-Debar. You say, \"Did we not conquer Karnaim by our own power?\"\n\t\t\t \"Look! I am about to bring a nation against you, family of Israel.\" The LORD, the God who commands armies, is speaking. \"They will oppress you all the way from Lebo-Hamath to the Stream of the Arabah.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The sovereign LORD showed me this: I saw him making locusts just as the crops planted late were beginning to sprout. (The crops planted late sprout after the royal harvest.)\n\t\t\t When they had completely consumed the earth's vegetation, I said, \"Sovereign LORD, forgive Israel! How can Jacob survive? He is too weak!\"\n\t\t\t The LORD decided not to do this. \"It will not happen,\" the LORD said.\n\t\t\t The sovereign LORD showed me this: I saw the sovereign LORD summoning a shower of fire. It consumed the great deep and devoured the fields.\n\t\t\t I said, \"Sovereign LORD, stop! How can Jacob survive? He is too weak!\"\n\t\t\t The LORD decided not to do this. The sovereign LORD said, \"This will not happen either.\"\n\t\t\t He showed me this: I saw the sovereign One standing by a tin wall holding tin in his hand. \n\t\t\t The LORD said to me, \"What do you see, Amos?\" I said, \"Tin.\" The sovereign One then said, \"Look, I am about to place tin among my people Israel. I will no longer overlook their sin.\n\t\t\t Isaac's centers of worship will become desolate; Israel's holy places will be in ruins. I will attack Jeroboam's dynasty with the sword.\"\n\t\t\t Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent this message to King Jeroboam of Israel: \"Amos is conspiring against you in the very heart of the kingdom of Israel! The land cannot endure all his prophecies.\n\t\t\t As a matter of fact, Amos is saying this: 'Jeroboam will die by the sword and Israel will certainly be carried into exile away from its land.'\"\n\t\t\t Amaziah then said to Amos, \"Leave, you visionary! Run away to the land of Judah! Earn your living and prophesy there! \n\t\t\t Don't prophesy at Bethel any longer, for a royal temple and palace are here!\"\n\t\t\t Amos replied to Amaziah, \"I was not a prophet by profession. No, I was a herdsman who also took care of sycamore fig trees.\n\t\t\t Then the LORD took me from tending flocks and gave me this commission, 'Go! Prophesy to my people Israel!' \n\t\t\t So now listen to the LORD's message! You say, 'Don't prophesy against Israel! Don't preach against the family of Isaac!'\n\t\t\t \"Therefore this is what the LORD says: 'Your wife will become a prostitute in the streets and your sons and daughters will die violently. Your land will be given to others and you will die in a foreign land. Israel will certainly be carried into exile away from its land.'\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The sovereign LORD showed me this: I saw a basket of summer fruit.\n\t\t\t He said, \"What do you see, Amos?\" I replied, \"A basket of summer fruit.\" Then the LORD said to me, \"The end has come for my people Israel! I will no longer overlook their sins.\n\t\t\t The women singing in the temple will wail in that day.\" The sovereign LORD is speaking. \"There will be many corpses littered everywhere! Be quiet!\"\n\t\t\t Listen to this, you who trample the needy, and do away with the destitute in the land.\n\t\t\t You say, \"When will the new moon festival be over, so we can sell grain? When will the Sabbath end, so we can open up the grain bins? We're eager to sell less for a higher price, and to cheat the buyer with rigged scales!\n\t\t\t We're eager to trade silver for the poor, a pair of sandals for the needy! We want to mix in some chaff with the grain!\"\n\t\t\t The LORD confirms this oath by the arrogance of Jacob: \"I swear I will never forget all you have done!\n\t\t\t Because of this the earth will quake, and all who live in it will mourn. The whole earth will rise like the River Nile, it will surge upward and then grow calm, like the Nile in Egypt.\n\t\t\t In that day,\" says the sovereign LORD, \"I will make the sun set at noon, and make the earth dark in the middle of the day.\n\t\t\t I will turn your festivals into funerals, and all your songs into funeral dirges. I will make everyone wear funeral clothes and cause every head to be shaved bald. I will make you mourn as if you had lost your only son; when it ends it will indeed have been a bitter day.\n\t\t\t Be certain of this, the time is coming,\" says the sovereign LORD, \"when I will send a famine through the land, not a shortage of food or water but an end to divine revelation!\n\t\t\t People will stagger from sea to sea, and from the north around to the east. They will wander about looking for a revelation from the LORD, but they will not find any.\n\t\t\t In that day your beautiful young women and your young men will faint from thirst.\n\t\t\t These are the ones who now take oaths in the name of the sinful idol goddess of Samaria. They vow, 'As surely as your god lives, O Dan,' or 'As surely as your beloved one lives, O Beer Sheba!' But they will fall down and not get up again.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t I saw the sovereign One standing by the altar and he said, \"Strike the tops of the support pillars, so the thresholds shake! Knock them down on the heads of all the people, and I will kill the survivors with the sword. No one will be able to run away; no one will be able to escape.\n\t\t\t Even if they could dig down into the netherworld, my hand would pull them up from there. Even if they could climb up to heaven, I would drag them down from there.\n\t\t\t Even if they were to hide on the top of Mount Carmel, I would hunt them down and take them from there. Even if they tried to hide from me at the bottom of the sea, from there I would command the Sea Serpent to bite them.\n\t\t\t Even when their enemies drive them into captivity, from there I will command the sword to kill them. I will not let them out of my sight; they will experience disaster, not prosperity.\"\n\t\t\t The sovereign LORD who commands armies will do this. He touches the earth and it dissolves; all who live on it mourn. The whole earth rises like the River Nile, and then grows calm like the Nile in Egypt.\n\t\t\t He builds the upper rooms of his palace in heaven and sets its foundation supports on the earth. He summons the water of the sea and pours it out on the earth's surface. The LORD is his name.\n\t\t\t \"You Israelites are just like the Ethiopians in my sight,\" says the LORD. \"Certainly I brought Israel up from the land of Egypt, but I also brought the Philistines from Caphtor and the Arameans from Kir.\n\t\t\t Look, the sovereign LORD is watching the sinful nation, and I will destroy it from the face of the earth. But I will not completely destroy the family of Jacob,\" says the LORD.\n\t\t\t \"For look, I am giving a command and I will shake the family of Israel together with all the nations. It will resemble a sieve being shaken, when not even a pebble falls to the ground.\n\t\t\t All the sinners among my people will die by the sword, the ones who say, 'Disaster will not come near, it will not confront us.'\n\t\t\t \"In that day I will rebuild the collapsing hut of David. I will seal its gaps, repair its ruins, and restore it to what it was like in days gone by.\n\t\t\t As a result they will conquer those left in Edom and all the nations subject to my rule.\" The LORD, who is about to do this, is speaking!\n\t\t\t \"Be sure of this, the time is coming,\" says the LORD, \"when the plowman will catch up to the reaper and the one who stomps the grapes will overtake the planter. Juice will run down the slopes, it will flow down all the hillsides.\n\t\t\t I will bring back my people, Israel; they will rebuild the cities lying in rubble and settle down. They will plant vineyards and drink the wine they produce; they will grow orchards and eat the fruit they produce.\n\t\t\t I will plant them on their land and they will never again be uprooted from the land I have given them,\" says the LORD your God. \n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The vision that Obadiah saw. The Lord GOD says this concerning Edom: We have heard a report from the LORD. An envoy was sent among the nations, saying, \"Arise! Let us make war against Edom!\"\n\t\t\t The LORD says, \"Look! I will make you a weak nation; you will be greatly despised!\n\t\t\t Your presumptuous heart has deceived you, you who reside in the safety of the rocky cliffs, whose home is high in the mountains. You think to yourself, 'No one can bring me down to the ground!'\n\t\t\t Even if you were to soar high like an eagle, even if you were to make your nest among the stars, I can bring you down even from there!\" says the LORD.\n\t\t\t \"If thieves came to rob you during the night, they would steal only as much as they wanted! If grape pickers came to harvest your vineyards, they would leave some behind for the poor! But you will be totally destroyed!\n\t\t\t How the people of Esau will be thoroughly plundered! Their hidden valuables will be ransacked!\n\t\t\t All your allies will force you from your homeland! Your treaty partners will deceive you and overpower you. Your trusted friends will set an ambush for you that will take you by surprise!\n\t\t\t At that time,\" the LORD says, \"I will destroy the wise sages of Edom! the advisers from Esau's mountain!\n\t\t\t Your warriors will be shattered, O Teman, so that everyone will be destroyed from Esau's mountain!\n\t\t\t \"Because you violently slaughtered your relatives, the people of Jacob, shame will cover you, and you will be destroyed forever.\n\t\t\t You stood aloof while strangers took his army captive, and foreigners advanced to his gates. When they cast lots over Jerusalem, you behaved as though you were in league with them.\n\t\t\t You should not have gloated when your relatives suffered calamity. You should not have rejoiced over the people of Judah when they were destroyed. You should not have boasted when they suffered adversity.\n\t\t\t You should not have entered the city of my people when they experienced distress. You should not have joined in gloating over their misfortune when they suffered distress. You should not have looted their wealth when they endured distress.\n\t\t\t You should not have stood at the fork in the road to slaughter those trying to escape. You should not have captured their refugees when they suffered adversity.\n\t\t\t \"For the day of the LORD is approaching for all the nations! Just as you have done, so it will be done to you. You will get exactly what your deeds deserve.\n\t\t\t For just as you have drunk on my holy mountain, so all the nations will drink continually. They will drink, and they will gulp down; they will be as though they had never been.\n\t\t\t But on Mount Zion there will be a remnant of those who escape, and it will be a holy place once again. The descendants of Jacob will conquer those who had conquered them.\n\t\t\t The descendants of Jacob will be a fire, and the descendants of Joseph a flame. The descendants of Esau will be like stubble. They will burn them up and devour them. There will not be a single survivor of the descendants of Esau!\" Indeed, the LORD has spoken it.\n\t\t\t The people of the Negev will take possession of Esau's mountain, and the people of the Shephelah will take possession of the land of the Philistines. They will also take possession of the territory of Ephraim and the territory of Samaria, and the people of Benjamin will take possession of Gilead.\n\t\t\t The exiles of this fortress of the people of Israel will take possession of what belongs to the people of Canaan, as far as Zarephath, and the exiles of Jerusalem who are in Sepharad will take possession of the towns of the Negev.\n\t\t\t Those who have been delivered will go up on Mount Zion in order to rule over Esau's mountain. Then the LORD will reign as King!\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Jonah son of Amittai,\n\t\t\t \"Go immediately to Nineveh, that large capital city, and announce judgment against its people because their wickedness has come to my attention.\"\n\t\t\t Instead, Jonah immediately headed off to Tarshish to escape from the commission of the LORD. He traveled to Joppa and found a merchant ship heading to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went aboard it to go with them to Tarshish far away from the LORD.\n\t\t\t But the LORD hurled a powerful wind on the sea. Such a violent tempest arose on the sea that the ship threatened to break up!\n\t\t\t The sailors were so afraid that each cried out to his own god and they flung the ship's cargo overboard to make the ship lighter. Jonah, meanwhile, had gone down into the hold below deck, had lain down, and was sound asleep.\n\t\t\t The ship's captain approached him and said, \"What are you doing asleep? Get up! Cry out to your god! Perhaps your god might take notice of us so that we might not die!\" \n\t\t\t The sailors said to one another, \"Come on, let's cast lots to find out whose fault it is that this disaster has overtaken us. \" So they cast lots, and Jonah was singled out.\n\t\t\t They said to him, \"Tell us, whose fault is it that this disaster has overtaken us? What's your occupation? Where do you come from? What's your country? And who are your people?\"\n\t\t\t He said to them, \"I am a Hebrew! And I worship the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.\" \n\t\t\t Hearing this, the men became even more afraid and said to him, \"What have you done?\" (The men said this because they knew that he was trying to escape from the LORD, because he had previously told them.)\n\t\t\t Because the storm was growing worse and worse, they said to him, \"What should we do to you to make the sea calm down for us?\" \n\t\t\t He said to them, \"Pick me up and throw me into the sea to make the sea quiet down, because I know it's my fault you are in this severe storm.\" \n\t\t\t Instead, they tried to row back to land, but they were not able to do so because the storm kept growing worse and worse.\n\t\t\t So they cried out to the LORD, \"Oh, please, LORD, don't let us die on account of this man! Don't hold us guilty of shedding innocent blood. After all, you, LORD, have done just as you pleased.\"\n\t\t\t So they picked Jonah up and threw him into the sea, and the sea stopped raging.\n\t\t\t The men feared the LORD greatly, and earnestly vowed to offer lavish sacrifices to the Lord. 1:17 The LORD sent a huge fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the stomach of the fish three days and three nights.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from the stomach of the fish\n\t\t\t and said, \"I called out to the LORD from my distress, and he answered me; from the belly of Sheol I cried out for help, and you heard my prayer.\n\t\t\t You threw me into the deep waters, into the middle of the sea; the ocean current engulfed me; all the mighty waves you sent swept over me.\n\t\t\t I thought I had been banished from your sight, that I would never again see your holy temple!\n\t\t\t Water engulfed me up to my neck; the deep ocean surrounded me; seaweed was wrapped around my head.\n\t\t\t I went down to the very bottoms of the mountains; the gates of the netherworld barred me in forever; but you brought me up from the Pit, O LORD, my God.\n\t\t\t When my life was ebbing away, I called out to the LORD, and my prayer came to your holy temple.\n\t\t\t Those who worship worthless idols forfeit the mercy that could be theirs.\n\t\t\t But as for me, I promise to offer a sacrifice to you with a public declaration of praise; I will surely do what I have promised. Salvation belongs to the LORD!\"\n\t\t\t Then the LORD commanded the fish and it disgorged Jonah on dry land.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Jonah a second time, \n\t\t\t \"Go immediately to Nineveh, that large city, and proclaim to it the message that I tell you.\" \n\t\t\t So Jonah went immediately to Nineveh, as the LORD had said. (Now Nineveh was an enormous city, it required three days to walk through it!)\n\t\t\t When Jonah began to enter the city one day's walk, he announced, \"At the end of forty days, Nineveh will be overthrown!\"\n\t\t\t The people of Nineveh believed in God, and they declared a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them.\n\t\t\t When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he got up from his throne, took off his royal robe, put on sackcloth, and sat on ashes. \n\t\t\t He issued a proclamation and said, \"In Nineveh, by the decree of the king and his nobles: No human or animal, cattle or sheep, is to taste anything; they must not eat and they must not drink water. \n\t\t\t Every person and animal must put on sackcloth and must cry earnestly to God, and everyone must turn from their evil way of living and from the violence that they do.\n\t\t\t Who knows? Perhaps God might be willing to change his mind and relent and turn from his fierce anger so that we might not die.\"\n\t\t\t When God saw their actions, they turned from their evil way of living!, God relented concerning the judgment he had threatened them with and he did not destroy them.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t This displeased Jonah terribly and he became very angry.\n\t\t\t He prayed to the LORD and said, \"Oh, LORD, this is just what I thought would happen when I was in my own country. This is what I tried to prevent by attempting to escape to Tarshish!, because I knew that you are gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in mercy, and one who relents concerning threatened judgment.\n\t\t\t So now, LORD, kill me instead, because I would rather die than live!\"\n\t\t\t The LORD said, \"Are you really so very angry?\"\n\t\t\t Jonah left the city and sat down east of it. He made a shelter for himself there and sat down under it in the shade to see what would happen to the city.\n\t\t\t The LORD God appointed a little plant and caused it to grow up over Jonah to be a shade over his head to rescue him from his misery. Now Jonah was very delighted about the little plant.\n\t\t\t So God sent a worm at dawn the next day, and it attacked the little plant so that it dried up. \n\t\t\t When the sun began to shine, God sent a hot east wind. So the sun beat down on Jonah's head, and he grew faint. So he despaired of life, and said, \"I would rather die than live!\"\n\t\t\t God said to Jonah, \"Are you really so very angry about the little plant?\" And he said, \"I am as angry as I could possibly be!\"\n\t\t\t The LORD said, \"You were upset about this little plant, something for which you have not worked nor did you do anything to make it grow. It grew up overnight and died the next day.\n\t\t\t Should I not be even more concerned about Nineveh, this enormous city? There are more than one hundred twenty thousand people in it who do not know right from wrong, as well as many animals!\"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t This is the prophetic message that the LORD gave to Micah of Moresheth. He delivered this message during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. The prophecies pertain to Samaria and Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t Listen, all you nations! Pay attention, all inhabitants of earth! The sovereign LORD will testify against you; the LORD will accuse you from his majestic palace.\n\t\t\t Look, the LORD is coming out of his dwelling place! He will descend and march on the earth's mountaintops!\n\t\t\t The mountains will disintegrate beneath him, and the valleys will be split in two. The mountains will melt like wax in a fire, the rocks will slide down like water cascading down a steep slope.\n\t\t\t All this is because of Jacob's rebellion and the sins of the nation of Israel. How has Jacob rebelled, you ask? Samaria epitomizes their rebellion! Where are Judah's pagan worship centers, you ask? They are right in Jerusalem!\n\t\t\t \"I will turn Samaria into a heap of ruins in an open field, vineyards will be planted there! I will tumble the rubble of her stone walls down into the valley, and tear down her fortifications to their foundations.\n\t\t\t All her carved idols will be smashed to pieces; all her metal cult statues will be destroyed by fire. I will make a waste heap of all her images. Since she gathered the metal as a prostitute collects her wages, the idols will become a prostitute's wages again.\"\n\t\t\t For this reason I will mourn and wail; I will walk around barefoot and without my outer garments. I will howl like a wild dog, and screech like an owl.\n\t\t\t For Samaria's disease is incurable. It has infected Judah; it has spread to the leadership of my people and has even contaminated Jerusalem!\n\t\t\t Don't spread the news in Gath! Don't shed even a single tear! In Beth Leaphrah sit in the dust!\n\t\t\t Residents of Shaphir, pass by in nakedness and humiliation! The residents of Zaanan can't leave their city. Beth Ezel mourns, \"He takes from you what he desires.\"\n\t\t\t Indeed, the residents of Maroth hope for something good to happen, though the LORD has sent disaster against the city of Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t Residents of Lachish, hitch the horses to the chariots! You influenced Daughter Zion to sin, for Israel's rebellious deeds can be traced back to you!\n\t\t\t Therefore you will have to say farewell to Moresheth Gath. The residents of Achzib will be as disappointing as a dried up well to the kings of Israel.\n\t\t\t Residents of Mareshah, a conqueror will attack you, the leaders of Israel shall flee to Adullam.\n\t\t\t Shave your heads bald as you mourn for the children you love; shave your foreheads as bald as an eagle, for they are taken from you into exile.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Those who devise sinful plans are as good as dead, those who dream about doing evil as they lie in bed. As soon as morning dawns they carry out their plans, because they have the power to do so.\n\t\t\t They confiscate the fields they desire, and seize the houses they want. They defraud people of their homes, and deprive people of the land they have inherited.\n\t\t\t Therefore the LORD says this: \"Look, I am devising disaster for this nation! It will be like a yoke from which you cannot free your neck. You will no longer walk proudly, for it will be a time of catastrophe.\n\t\t\t In that day people will sing this taunt song to you, they will mock you with this lament: 'We are completely destroyed; they sell off the property of my people. How they remove it from me! They assign our fields to the conqueror.'\n\t\t\t Therefore no one will assign you land in the LORD's community.\n\t\t\t 'Don't preach with such impassioned rhetoric,' they say excitedly. 'These prophets should not preach of such things; we will not be overtaken by humiliation.'\n\t\t\t Does the family of Jacob say, 'The LORD's patience can't be exhausted, he would never do such things'? To be sure, my commands bring a reward for those who obey them,\n\t\t\t but you rise up as an enemy against my people. You steal a robe from a friend, from those who pass by peacefully as if returning from a war.\n\t\t\t You wrongly evict widows among my people from their cherished homes. You defraud their children of their prized inheritance.\n\t\t\t But you are the ones who will be forced to leave! For this land is not secure! Sin will thoroughly destroy it!\n\t\t\t If a lying windbag should come and say, 'I'll promise you blessings of wine and beer,' he would be just the right preacher for these people!\n\t\t\t I will certainly gather all of you, O Jacob, I will certainly assemble those Israelites who remain. I will bring them together like sheep in a fold, like a flock in the middle of a pasture; they will be so numerous that they will make a lot of noise.\n\t\t\t The one who can break through barriers will lead them out they will break out, pass through the gate, and leave. Their king will advance before them, The LORD himself will lead them.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t I said, \"Listen, you leaders of Jacob, you rulers of the nation of Israel! You ought to know what is just,\n\t\t\t yet you hate what is good, and love what is evil. You flay my people's skin and rip the flesh from their bones.\n\t\t\t You devour my people's flesh, strip off their skin, and crush their bones. You chop them up like flesh in a pot, like meat in a kettle.\n\t\t\t Someday these sinners will cry to the LORD for help, but he will not answer them. He will hide his face from them at that time, because they have done such wicked deeds.\"\n\t\t\t This is what the LORD says: \"The prophets who mislead my people are as good as dead. If someone gives them enough to eat, they offer an oracle of peace. But if someone does not give them food, they are ready to declare war on him.\n\t\t\t Therefore night will fall, and you will receive no visions; it will grow dark, and you will no longer be able to read the omens. The sun will set on these prophets, and the daylight will turn to darkness over their heads.\n\t\t\t The prophets will be ashamed; the omen readers will be humiliated. All of them will cover their mouths, for they will receive no divine oracles.\"\n\t\t\t But I am full of the courage that the LORD's Spirit gives, and have a strong commitment to justice. This enables me to confront Jacob with its rebellion, and Israel with its sin.\n\t\t\t Listen to this, you leaders of the family of Jacob, you rulers of the nation of Israel! You hate justice and pervert all that is right.\n\t\t\t You build Zion through bloody crimes, Jerusalem through unjust violence.\n\t\t\t Her leaders take bribes when they decide legal cases, her priests proclaim rulings for profit, and her prophets read omens for pay. Yet they claim to trust the LORD and say, \"The LORD is among us. Disaster will not overtake us!\"\n\t\t\t Therefore, because of you, Zion will be plowed up like a field, Jerusalem will become a heap of ruins, and the Temple Mount will become a hill overgrown with brush!\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t In the future the LORD's Temple Mount will be the most important mountain of all; it will be more prominent than other hills. People will stream to it.\n\t\t\t Many nations will come, saying, \"Come on! Let's go up to the LORD's mountain, to the temple of Jacob's God, so he can teach us his commands and we can live by his laws.\" For Zion will be the source of instruction; the LORD's teachings will proceed from Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t He will arbitrate between many peoples and settle disputes between many distant nations. They will beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks. Nations will not use weapons against other nations, and they will no longer train for war.\n\t\t\t Each will sit under his own grapevine or under his own fig tree without any fear. The LORD who commands armies has decreed it.\n\t\t\t Though all the nations follow their respective gods, we will follow the LORD our God forever.\n\t\t\t \"In that day,\" says the LORD, \"I will gather the lame, and assemble the outcasts whom I injured.\n\t\t\t I will transform the lame into the nucleus of a new nation, and those far off into a mighty nation. The LORD will reign over them on Mount Zion, from that day forward and forevermore.\"\n\t\t\t As for you, watchtower for the flock, fortress of Daughter Zion, your former dominion will be restored, the sovereignty that belongs to Daughter Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t Jerusalem, why are you now shouting so loudly? Has your king disappeared? Has your wise leader been destroyed? Is this why pain grips you as if you were a woman in labor?\n\t\t\t Twist and strain, Daughter Zion, as if you were in labor! For you will leave the city and live in the open field. You will go to Babylon, but there you will be rescued. There the LORD will deliver you from the power of your enemies.\n\t\t\t Many nations have now assembled against you. They say, \"Jerusalem must be desecrated, so we can gloat over Zion!\"\n\t\t\t But they do not know what the LORD is planning; they do not understand his strategy. He has gathered them like stalks of grain to be threshed at the threshing floor.\n\t\t\t \"Get up and thresh, Daughter Zion! For I will give you iron horns; I will give you bronze hooves, and you will crush many nations.\" You will devote to the LORD the spoils you take from them, and dedicate their wealth to the sovereign Ruler of the whole earth.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t But now slash yourself, daughter surrounded by soldiers! We are besieged! With a scepter they strike Israel's ruler on the side of his face.\n\t\t\t As for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, seemingly insignificant among the clans of Judah, from you a king will emerge who will rule over Israel on my behalf, one whose origins are in the distant past.\n\t\t\t So the LORD will hand the people of Israel over to their enemies until the time when the woman in labor gives birth. Then the rest of the king's countrymen will return to be reunited with the people of Israel.\n\t\t\t He will assume his post and shepherd the people by the LORD's strength, by the sovereign authority of the LORD his God. They will live securely, for at that time he will be honored even in the distant regions of the earth.\n\t\t\t He will give us peace. Should the Assyrians try to invade our land and attempt to set foot in our fortresses, we will send against them seven shepherd-rulers, make that eight commanders.\n\t\t\t They will rule the land of Assyria with the sword, the land of Nimrod with a drawn sword. Our king will rescue us from the Assyrians should they attempt to invade our land and try to set foot in our territory.\n\t\t\t Those survivors from Jacob will live in the midst of many nations. They will be like the dew the LORD sends, like the rain on the grass, that does not hope for men to come or wait around for humans to arrive.\n\t\t\t Those survivors from Jacob will live among the nations, in the midst of many peoples. They will be like a lion among the animals of the forest, like a young lion among the flocks of sheep, which attacks when it passes through; it rips its prey and there is no one to stop it.\n\t\t\t Lift your hand triumphantly against your adversaries; may all your enemies be destroyed!\n\t\t\t \"In that day,\" says the LORD, \"I will destroy your horses from your midst, and smash your chariots.\n\t\t\t I will destroy the cities of your land, and tear down all your fortresses.\n\t\t\t I will remove the sorcery that you practice, and you will no longer have omen readers living among you.\n\t\t\t I will remove your idols and sacred pillars from your midst; you will no longer worship what your own hands made.\n\t\t\t I will uproot your images of Asherah from your midst, and destroy your idols.\n\t\t\t I will angrily seek vengeance on the nations that do not obey me.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Listen to what the LORD says: \"Get up! Defend yourself before the mountains! Present your case before the hills!\"\n\t\t\t Hear the LORD's accusation, you mountains, you enduring foundations of the earth! For the LORD has a case against his people; he has a dispute with Israel!\n\t\t\t \"My people, how have I wronged you? How have I wearied you? Answer me!\n\t\t\t In fact, I brought you up from the land of Egypt, I delivered you from that place of slavery. I sent Moses, Aaron, and Miriam to lead you.\n\t\t\t My people, recall how King Balak of Moab planned to harm you, how Balaam son of Beor responded to him. Recall how you journeyed from Shittim to Gilgal, so you might acknowledge that the LORD has treated you fairly.\"\n\t\t\t With what should I enter the LORD's presence? With what should I bow before the sovereign God? Should I enter his presence with burnt offerings, with year-old calves?\n\t\t\t Will the LORD accept a thousand rams, or ten thousand streams of olive oil? Should I give him my firstborn child as payment for my rebellion, my offspring, my own flesh and blood, for my sin?\n\t\t\t He has told you, O man, what is good, and what the LORD really wants from you: He wants you to promote justice, to be faithful, and to live obediently before your God.\n\t\t\t Listen! The LORD is calling to the city! It is wise to respect your authority, O LORD! Listen, O nation, and those assembled in the city!\n\t\t\t \"I will not overlook, O sinful house, the dishonest gain you have hoarded away, or the smaller-than-standard measure I hate so much.\n\t\t\t I do not condone the use of rigged scales, or a bag of deceptive weights.\n\t\t\t The city's rich men think nothing of resorting to violence; her inhabitants lie, their tongues speak deceptive words.\n\t\t\t I will strike you brutally and destroy you because of your sin.\n\t\t\t You will eat, but not be satisfied. Even if you have the strength to overtake some prey, you will not be able to carry it away; if you do happen to carry away something, I will deliver it over to the sword.\n\t\t\t You will plant crops, but will not harvest them; you will squeeze oil from the olives, but you will have no oil to rub on your bodies; you will squeeze juice from the grapes, but you will have no wine to drink.\n\t\t\t You implement the regulations of Omri, and all the practices of Ahab's dynasty; you follow their policies. Therefore I will make you an appalling sight, the city's inhabitants will be taunted derisively, and nations will mock all of you.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t I am depressed! Indeed, it is as if the summer fruit has been gathered, and the grapes have been harvested. There is no grape cluster to eat, no fresh figs that I crave so much.\n\t\t\t Faithful men have disappeared from the land; there are no godly men left. They all wait in ambush so they can shed blood; they hunt their own brother with a net.\n\t\t\t They are determined to be experts at doing evil; government officials and judges take bribes, prominent men make demands, and they all do what is necessary to satisfy them.\n\t\t\t The best of them is like a thorn; the most godly among them are more dangerous than a row of thorn bushes. The day you try to avoid by posting watchmen, your appointed time of punishment, is on the way, and then you will experience confusion.\n\t\t\t Do not rely on a friend; do not trust a companion! Don't even share secrets with the one who lies in your arms!\n\t\t\t For a son thinks his father is a fool, a daughter challenges her mother, and a daughter-in-law her mother-in-law; a man's enemies are his own servants.\n\t\t\t But I will keep watching for the LORD; I will wait for the God who delivers me. My God will hear my lament.\n\t\t\t My enemies, do not gloat over me! Though I have fallen, I will get up. Though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light.\n\t\t\t I must endure the LORD's anger, for I have sinned against him. But then he will defend my cause, and accomplish justice on my behalf. He will lead me out into the light; I will experience firsthand his deliverance.\n\t\t\t When my enemies see this, they will be covered with shame. They say to me, \"Where is the LORD your God?\" I will gloat over them. Then they will be trampled down like mud in the streets.\n\t\t\t It will be a day for rebuilding your walls; in that day your boundary will be extended.\n\t\t\t In that day people will come to you from Assyria as far as Egypt, from Egypt as far as the Euphrates River, from the seacoasts and the mountains.\n\t\t\t The earth will become desolate because of what its inhabitants have done.\n\t\t\t Shepherd your people with your shepherd's rod, the flock that belongs to you, the one that lives alone in a thicket, in the midst of a pastureland. Allow them to graze in Bashan and Gilead, as they did in the old days.\n\t\t\t \"As in the days when you departed from the land of Egypt, I will show you miraculous deeds.\"\n\t\t\t Nations will see this and be disappointed by all their strength, they will put their hands over their mouths, and act as if they were deaf.\n\t\t\t They will lick the dust like a snake, like serpents crawling on the ground. They will come trembling from their strongholds to the LORD our God; they will be terrified of you.\n\t\t\t There is no other God like you! You forgive sin and pardon the rebellion of those who remain among your people. You do not remain angry forever, but delight in showing loyal love.\n\t\t\t You will once again have mercy on us; you will conquer our evil deeds; you will hurl our sins into the depths of the sea.\n\t\t\t You will be loyal to Jacob and extend your loyal love to Abraham, which you promised on oath to our ancestors in ancient times.\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The oracle against Nineveh; the book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite:\n\t\t\t The LORD is a zealous and avenging God; the LORD is avenging and very angry. The LORD takes vengeance against his foes; he sustains his rage against his enemies.\n\t\t\t The LORD is slow to anger but great in power; the LORD will certainly not allow the wicked to go unpunished. He marches out in the whirlwind and the raging storm; dark storm clouds billow like dust under his feet.\n\t\t\t He shouts a battle cry against the sea and makes it dry up; he makes all the rivers run dry. Bashan and Carmel wither; the blossom of Lebanon withers.\n\t\t\t The mountains tremble before him, the hills convulse; the earth is laid waste before him, the world and all its inhabitants are laid waste.\n\t\t\t No one can withstand his indignation! No one can resist his fierce anger! His wrath is poured out like volcanic fire, boulders are broken up as he approaches.\n\t\t\t The LORD is good, indeed, he is a fortress in time of distress, and he protects those who seek refuge in him.\n\t\t\t But with an overwhelming flood he will make a complete end of Nineveh; he will drive his enemies into darkness.\n\t\t\t Whatever you plot against the LORD, he will completely destroy! Distress will not arise a second time.\n\t\t\t Surely they will be totally consumed like entangled thorn bushes, like the drink of drunkards, like very dry stubble.\n\t\t\t From you, O Nineveh, one has marched forth who plots evil against the LORD, a wicked military strategist.\n\t\t\t This is what the LORD says: \"Even though they are powerful, and what is more, even though their army is numerous, nevertheless, they will be destroyed and trickle away! Although I afflicted you, I will afflict you no more.\n\t\t\t And now, I will break Assyria's yoke bar from your neck; I will tear apart the shackles that are on you.\"\n\t\t\t The LORD has issued a decree against you: \"Your dynasty will come to an end. I will destroy the idols and images in the temples of your gods. I will desecrate your grave, because you are accursed!\"\n\t\t\t Look! A herald is running on the mountains! A messenger is proclaiming deliverance: \"Celebrate your sacred festivals, O Judah! Fulfill your sacred vows to praise God! For never again will the wicked Assyrians invade you, they have been completely destroyed.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The watchmen of Nineveh shout: \"An enemy who will scatter you is marching out to attack you!\" \"Guard the rampart! Watch the road! Prepare yourselves for battle! Muster your mighty strength!\"\n\t\t\t For the LORD will restore the majesty of Jacob, as well as the majesty of Israel, though their enemies have plundered them and have destroyed their fields.\n\t\t\t The shields of his warriors are dyed red; the mighty soldiers are dressed in scarlet garments. The metal fittings of the chariots shine like fire on the day of battle; the soldiers brandish their spears.\n\t\t\t The chariots race madly through the streets, they rush back and forth in the broad plazas; they look like lightning bolts, they dash here and there like flashes of lightning.\n\t\t\t The commander orders his officers; they stumble as they advance; they rush to the city wall and they set up the covered siege tower.\n\t\t\t The sluice gates are opened; the royal palace is deluged and dissolves.\n\t\t\t Nineveh is taken into exile and is led away; her slave girls moan like doves while they beat their breasts.\n\t\t\t Nineveh was like a pool of water throughout her days, but now her people are running away; she cries out: \"Stop! Stop!\", but no one turns back.\n\t\t\t Her conquerors cry out: \"Plunder the silver! Plunder the gold!\" There is no end to the treasure; riches of every kind of precious thing.\n\t\t\t Destruction, devastation, and desolation! Their hearts faint, their knees tremble, each stomach churns, each face turns pale!\n\t\t\t Where now is the den of the lions, the feeding place of the young lions, where the lion, lioness, and lion cub once prowled and no one disturbed them?\n\t\t\t The lion tore apart as much prey as his cubs needed and strangled prey to provide food for his lionesses; he filled his lairs with prey and his dens with torn flesh.\n\t\t\t \"I am against you!\" declares the LORD who commands armies: \"I will burn your chariots with fire; the sword will devour your young lions; you will no longer prey upon the land; the voices of your messengers will no longer be heard.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Woe to the city guilty of bloodshed! She is full of lies; she is filled with plunder; she has hoarded her spoil!\n\t\t\t The chariot drivers will crack their whips; the chariot wheels will shake the ground; the chariot horses will gallop; the war chariots will bolt forward!\n\t\t\t The charioteers will charge ahead; their swords will flash and their spears will glimmer! There will be many people slain; there will be piles of the dead, and countless casualties, so many that people will stumble over the corpses.\n\t\t\t \"Because you have acted like a wanton prostitute, a seductive mistress who practices sorcery, who enslaves nations by her harlotry, and entices peoples by her sorcery,\n\t\t\t I am against you,\" declares the LORD who commands armies. \"I will strip off your clothes! I will show your nakedness to the nations and your shame to the kingdoms;\n\t\t\t I will pelt you with filth; I will treat you with contempt; I will make you a public spectacle.\n\t\t\t Everyone who sees you will turn away from you in disgust; they will say, 'Nineveh has been devastated! Who will lament for her?' There will be no one to comfort you!\"\n\t\t\t You are no more secure than Thebes, she was located on the banks of the Nile; the waters surrounded her, her rampart was the sea, the water was her wall.\n\t\t\t Cush and Egypt had limitless strength; Put and the Libyans were among her allies.\n\t\t\t Yet she went into captivity as an exile; even her infants were smashed to pieces at the head of every street. They cast lots for her nobility; all her dignitaries were bound with chains.\n\t\t\t You too will act like drunkards; you will go into hiding; you too will seek refuge from the enemy.\n\t\t\t All your fortifications will be like fig trees with first-ripe fruit: If they are shaken, their figs will fall into the mouth of the eater!\n\t\t\t Your warriors will be like women in your midst; the gates of your land will be wide open to your enemies; fire will consume the bars of your gates.\n\t\t\t Draw yourselves water for a siege! Strengthen your fortifications! Trample the mud and tread the clay! Make mud bricks to strengthen your walls!\n\t\t\t There the fire will consume you; the sword will cut you down; it will devour you like the young locust would. Multiply yourself like the young locust; multiply yourself like the flying locust!\n\t\t\t Increase your merchants more than the stars of heaven! They are like the young locust which sheds its skin and flies away.\n\t\t\t Your courtiers are like locusts, your officials are like a swarm of locusts! They encamp in the walls on a cold day, yet when the sun rises, they fly away; and no one knows where they are.\n\t\t\t Your shepherds are sleeping, O king of Assyria! Your officers are slumbering! Your people are scattered like sheep on the mountains and there is no one to regather them!\n\t\t\t Your destruction is like an incurable wound; your demise is like a fatal injury! All who hear what has happened to you will clap their hands for joy, for no one ever escaped your endless cruelty!\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The following is the message which God revealed to Habakkuk the prophet:\n\t\t\t How long, LORD, must I cry for help? But you do not listen! I call out to you, \"Violence!\" But you do not intervene!\n\t\t\t Why do you force me to witness injustice? Why do you put up with wrongdoing? Destruction and violence confront me; conflict is present and one must endure strife.\n\t\t\t For this reason the law lacks power, and justice is never carried out. Indeed, the wicked intimidate the innocent. For this reason justice is perverted.\n\t\t\t \"Look at the nations and pay attention! You will be shocked and amazed! For I will do something in your lifetime that you will not believe even though you are forewarned.\n\t\t\t Look, I am about to empower the Babylonians, that ruthless and greedy nation. They sweep across the surface of the earth, seizing dwelling places that do not belong to them.\n\t\t\t They are frightening and terrifying; they decide for themselves what is right.\n\t\t\t Their horses are faster than leopards and more alert than wolves in the desert. Their horses gallop, their horses come a great distance; like a vulture they swoop down quickly to devour their prey.\n\t\t\t All of them intend to do violence; every face is determined. They take prisoners as easily as one scoops up sand.\n\t\t\t They mock kings and laugh at rulers. They laugh at every fortified city; they build siege ramps and capture them.\n\t\t\t They sweep by like the wind and pass on. But the one who considers himself a god will be held guilty.\"\n\t\t\t LORD, you have been active from ancient times; my sovereign God, you are immortal. LORD, you have made them your instrument of judgment. Protector, you have appointed them as your instrument of punishment.\n\t\t\t You are too just to tolerate evil; you are unable to condone wrongdoing. So why do you put up with such treacherous people? Why do you say nothing when the wicked devour those more righteous than they are?\n\t\t\t You made people like fish in the sea, like animals in the sea that have no ruler.\n\t\t\t The Babylonian tyrant pulls them all up with a fishhook; he hauls them in with his throw net. When he catches them in his dragnet, he is very happy.\n\t\t\t Because of his success he offers sacrifices to his throw net and burns incense to his dragnet; for because of them he has plenty of food, and more than enough to eat.\n\t\t\t Will he then continue to fill and empty his throw net? Will he always destroy nations and spare none?\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t I will stand at my watch post; I will remain stationed on the city wall. I will keep watching, so I can see what he says to me and can know how I should answer when he counters my argument.\n\t\t\t The LORD responded: \"Write down this message! Record it legibly on tablets, so the one who announces it may read it easily.\n\t\t\t For the message is a witness to what is decreed; it gives reliable testimony about how matters will turn out. Even if the message is not fulfilled right away, wait patiently; for it will certainly come to pass, it will not arrive late.\n\t\t\t Look, the one whose desires are not upright will faint from exhaustion, but the person of integrity will live because of his faithfulness.\n\t\t\t Indeed, wine will betray the proud, restless man! His appetite is as big as Sheol's; like death, he is never satisfied. He gathers all the nations; he seizes all peoples.\n\t\t\t \"But all these nations will someday taunt him and ridicule him with proverbial sayings: 'The one who accumulates what does not belong to him is as good as dead (How long will this go on?), he who gets rich by extortion!'\n\t\t\t Your creditors will suddenly attack; those who terrify you will spring into action, and they will rob you.\n\t\t\t Because you robbed many countries, all who are left among the nations will rob you. You have shed human blood and committed violent acts against lands, cities, and those who live in them.\n\t\t\t The one who builds his house by unjust gain is as good as dead. He does this so he can build his nest way up high and escape the clutches of disaster.\n\t\t\t Your schemes will bring shame to your house. Because you destroyed many nations, you will self-destruct.\n\t\t\t For the stones in the walls will cry out, and the wooden rafters will answer back.\n\t\t\t The one who builds a city by bloodshed is as good as dead, he who starts a town by unjust deeds.\n\t\t\t Be sure of this! The LORD who commands armies has decreed: The nations' efforts will go up in smoke; their exhausting work will be for nothing.\n\t\t\t For recognition of the LORD's sovereign majesty will fill the earth just as the waters fill up the sea.\n\t\t\t \"You who force your neighbor to drink wine are as good as dead, you who make others intoxicated by forcing them to drink from the bowl of your furious anger, so you can look at their genitals.\n\t\t\t But you will become drunk with shame, not majesty. Now it is your turn to drink and expose your uncircumcised foreskin! The cup of wine in the LORD's right hand is coming to you, and disgrace will replace your majestic glory!\n\t\t\t For you will pay in full for your violent acts against Lebanon; terrifying judgment will come upon you because of the way you destroyed the wild animals living there. You have shed human blood and committed violent acts against lands, cities, and those who live in them.\n\t\t\t What good is an idol? Why would a craftsman make it? What good is a metal image that gives misleading oracles? Why would its creator place his trust in it and make such mute, worthless things?\n\t\t\t The one who says to wood, 'Wake up!' is as good as dead, he who says to speechless stone, 'Awake!' Can it give reliable guidance? It is overlaid with gold and silver; it has no life's breath inside it.\n\t\t\t But the LORD is in his majestic palace. The whole earth is speechless in his presence!\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t This is a prayer of Habakkuk the prophet:\n\t\t\t LORD, I have heard the report of what you did; I am awed, LORD, by what you accomplished. In our time repeat those deeds; in our time reveal them again. But when you cause turmoil, remember to show us mercy!\n\t\t\t God comes from Teman, the sovereign one from Mount Paran. Selah. His splendor covers the skies, his glory fills the earth.\n\t\t\t He is as bright as lightning; a two-pronged lightning bolt flashes from his hand. This is the outward display of his power.\n\t\t\t Plague goes before him; pestilence marches right behind him.\n\t\t\t He takes his battle position and shakes the earth; with a mere look he frightens the nations. The ancient mountains disintegrate; the primeval hills are flattened. He travels on the ancient roads.\n\t\t\t I see the tents of Cushan overwhelmed by trouble; the tent curtains of the land of Midian are shaking.\n\t\t\t Is the LORD mad at the rivers? Are you angry with the rivers? Are you enraged at the sea? Is this why you climb into your horse-drawn chariots, your victorious chariots?\n\t\t\t Your bow is ready for action; you commission your arrows. Selah. You cause flash floods on the earth's surface.\n\t\t\t When the mountains see you, they shake. The torrential downpour sweeps through. The great deep shouts out; it lifts its hands high.\n\t\t\t The sun and moon stand still in their courses; the flash of your arrows drives them away, the bright light of your lightning-quick spear.\n\t\t\t You furiously stomp on the earth, you angrily trample down the nations.\n\t\t\t You march out to deliver your people, to deliver your special servant. You strike the leader of the wicked nation, laying him open from the lower body to the neck. Selah.\n\t\t\t You pierce the heads of his warriors with a spear. They storm forward to scatter us; they shout with joy as if they were plundering the poor with no opposition.\n\t\t\t But you trample on the sea with your horses, on the surging, raging waters.\n\t\t\t I listened and my stomach churned; the sound made my lips quiver. My frame went limp, as if my bones were decaying, and I shook as I tried to walk. I long for the day of distress to come upon the people who attack us.\n\t\t\t When the fig tree does not bud, and there are no grapes on the vines; when the olive trees do not produce, and the fields yield no crops; when the sheep disappear from the pen, and there are no cattle in the stalls,\n\t\t\t I will rejoice because of the LORD; I will be happy because of the God who delivers me!\n\t\t\t The sovereign LORD is my source of strength. He gives me the agility of a deer; he enables me to negotiate the rugged terrain. (This prayer is for the song leader. It is to be accompanied by stringed instruments.)\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t This is the prophetic message that the LORD gave to Zephaniah son of Cushi, son of Gedaliah, son of Amariah, son of Hezekiah. Zephaniah delivered this message during the reign of King Josiah son of Amon of Judah:\n\t\t\t \"I will destroy everything from the face of the earth,\" says the LORD.\n\t\t\t \"I will destroy people and animals; I will destroy the birds in the sky and the fish in the sea. (The idolatrous images of these creatures will be destroyed along with evil people.) I will remove humanity from the face of the earth,\" says the LORD.\n\t\t\t \"I will attack Judah and all who live in Jerusalem. I will remove from this place every trace of Baal worship, as well as the very memory of the pagan priests.\n\t\t\t I will remove those who worship the stars in the sky from their rooftops, those who swear allegiance to the LORD while taking oaths in the name of their 'king,'\n\t\t\t and those who turn their backs on the LORD and do not want the LORD's help or guidance.\"\n\t\t\t Be silent before the Lord GOD, for the LORD's day of judgment is almost here. The LORD has prepared a sacrificial meal; he has ritually purified his guests.\n\t\t\t \"On the day of the LORD's sacrificial meal, I will punish the princes and the king's sons, and all who wear foreign styles of clothing.\n\t\t\t On that day I will punish all who leap over the threshold, who fill the house of their master with wealth taken by violence and deceit.\n\t\t\t On that day,\" says the LORD, \"a loud cry will go up from the Fish Gate, wailing from the city's newer district, and a loud crash from the hills.\n\t\t\t Wail, you who live in the market district, for all the merchants will disappear and those who count money will be removed.\n\t\t\t At that time I will search through Jerusalem with lamps. I will punish the people who are entrenched in their sin, those who think to themselves, 'The LORD neither rewards nor punishes.'\n\t\t\t Their wealth will be stolen and their houses ruined! They will not live in the houses they have built, nor will they drink the wine from the vineyards they have planted.\n\t\t\t The LORD's great day of judgment is almost here; it is approaching very rapidly! There will be a bitter sound on the LORD's day of judgment; at that time warriors will cry out in battle.\n\t\t\t That day will be a day of God's anger, a day of distress and hardship, a day of devastation and ruin, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and dark skies,\n\t\t\t a day of trumpet blasts and battle cries. Judgment will fall on the fortified cities and the high corner towers.\n\t\t\t I will bring distress on the people and they will stumble like blind men, for they have sinned against the LORD. Their blood will be poured out like dirt; their flesh will be scattered like manure.\n\t\t\t Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD's angry judgment. The whole earth will be consumed by his fiery wrath. Indeed, he will bring terrifying destruction on all who live on the earth.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Bunch yourselves together like straw, you undesirable nation,\n\t\t\t before God's decree becomes reality and the day of opportunity disappears like windblown chaff, before the LORD's raging anger overtakes you, before the day of the LORD's angry judgment overtakes you!\n\t\t\t Seek the LORD's favor, all you humble people of the land who have obeyed his commands! Strive to do what is right! Strive to be humble! Maybe you will be protected on the day of the LORD's angry judgment.\n\t\t\t Indeed, Gaza will be deserted and Ashkelon will become a heap of ruins. Invaders will drive away the people of Ashdod by noon, and Ekron will be overthrown.\n\t\t\t Those who live by the sea, the people who came from Crete, are as good as dead. The LORD has decreed your downfall, Canaan, land of the Philistines: \"I will destroy everyone who lives there!\"\n\t\t\t The seacoast will be used as pasture lands by the shepherds and as pens for their flocks.\n\t\t\t Those who are left from the kingdom of Judah will take possession of it. By the sea they will graze, in the houses of Ashkelon they will lie down in the evening, for the LORD their God will intervene for them and restore their prosperity.\n\t\t\t \"I have heard Moab's taunts and the Ammonites' insults. They taunted my people and verbally harassed those living in Judah.\n\t\t\t Therefore, as surely as I live,\" says the LORD who commands armies, the God of Israel, \"be certain that Moab will become like Sodom and the Ammonites like Gomorrah. They will be overrun by weeds, filled with salt pits, and permanently desolate. Those of my people who are left will plunder their belongings; those who are left in Judah will take possession of their land.\"\n\t\t\t This is how they will be repaid for their arrogance, for they taunted and verbally harassed the people of the LORD who commands armies.\n\t\t\t The LORD will terrify them, for he will weaken all the gods of the earth. All the distant nations will worship the LORD in their own lands.\n\t\t\t \"You Ethiopians will also die by my sword!\"\n\t\t\t The LORD will attack the north and destroy Assyria. He will make Nineveh a heap of ruins; it will be as barren as the desert.\n\t\t\t Flocks and herds will lie down in the middle of it, as well as every kind of wild animal. Owls will sleep in the tops of its support pillars; they will hoot through the windows. Rubble will cover the thresholds; even the cedar work will be exposed to the elements.\n\t\t\t This is how the once-proud city will end up, the city that was so secure. She thought to herself, \"I am unique! No one can compare to me!\" What a heap of ruins she has become, a place where wild animals live! Everyone who passes by her taunts her and shakes his fist.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The filthy, stained city is as good as dead; the city filled with oppressors is finished!\n\t\t\t She is disobedient; she refuses correction. She does not trust the LORD; she does not seek the advice of her God.\n\t\t\t Her princes are as fierce as roaring lions; her rulers are as hungry as wolves in the desert, who completely devour their prey by morning.\n\t\t\t Her prophets are proud; they are deceitful men. Her priests defile what is holy; they break God's laws.\n\t\t\t The just LORD resides within her; he commits no unjust acts. Every morning he reveals his justice. At dawn he appears without fail. Yet the unjust know no shame.\n\t\t\t \"I destroyed nations; their walled cities are in ruins. I turned their streets into ruins; no one passes through them. Their cities are desolate; no one lives there.\n\t\t\t I thought, 'Certainly you will respect me! Now you will accept correction!' If she had done so, her home would not be destroyed by all the punishments I have threatened. But they eagerly sinned in everything they did.\n\t\t\t Therefore you must wait patiently for me,\" says the LORD, \"for the day when I attack and take plunder. I have decided to gather nations together and assemble kingdoms, so I can pour out my fury on them, all my raging anger. For the whole earth will be consumed by my fiery anger.\n\t\t\t Know for sure that I will then enable the nations to give me acceptable praise. All of them will invoke the LORD's name when they pray, and will worship him in unison.\n\t\t\t From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia, those who pray to me will bring me tribute.\n\t\t\t In that day you will not be ashamed of all your rebelliousness against me, for then I will remove from your midst those who proudly boast, and you will never again be arrogant on my holy hill.\n\t\t\t I will leave in your midst a humble and meek group of people, and they will find safety in the LORD's presence.\n\t\t\t The Israelites who remain will not act deceitfully. They will not lie, and a deceitful tongue will not be found in their mouth. Indeed, they will graze peacefully like sheep and lie down; no one will terrify them.\"\n\t\t\t Shout for joy, Daughter Zion! Shout out, Israel! Be happy and boast with all your heart, Daughter Jerusalem!\n\t\t\t The LORD has removed the judgment against you; he has turned back your enemy. Israel's king, the LORD, is in your midst! You no longer need to fear disaster.\n\t\t\t On that day they will say to Jerusalem, \"Don't be afraid, Zion! Your hands must not be paralyzed from panic!\n\t\t\t The LORD your God is in your midst; he is a warrior who can deliver. He takes great delight in you; he renews you by his love; he shouts for joy over you.\"\n\t\t\t \"As for those who grieve because they cannot attend the festivals, I took them away from you; they became tribute and were a source of shame to you.\n\t\t\t Look, at that time I will deal with those who mistreated you. I will rescue the lame sheep and gather together the scattered sheep. I will take away their humiliation and make the whole earth admire and respect them.\n\t\t\t At that time I will lead you, at the time I gather you together. Be sure of this! I will make all the nations of the earth respect and admire you when you see me restore you,\" says the LORD.\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t On the first day of the sixth month of King Darius' second year, the LORD spoke this message through the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to the high priest Joshua son of Jehozadak:\n\t\t\t The LORD who rules over all says this: \"These people have said, 'The time for rebuilding the LORD's temple has not yet come.'\"\n\t\t\t So the LORD spoke through the prophet Haggai as follows:\n\t\t\t \"Is it right for you to live in richly paneled houses while my temple is in ruins?\n\t\t\t Here then is what the LORD who rules over all says: 'Think carefully about what you are doing.\n\t\t\t You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but are never filled. You drink, but are still thirsty. You put on clothes, but are not warm. Those who earn wages end up with holes in their money bags.'\"\n\t\t\t \"Moreover, the LORD who rules over all says: 'Pay close attention to these things also.\n\t\t\t Go up to the hill country and bring back timber to build the temple. Then I will be pleased and honored,' says the LORD. \n\t\t\t 'You expected a large harvest, but instead there was little, and when you brought it home it disappeared right away. Why?' asks the LORD who rules over all. 'Because my temple remains in ruins, thanks to each of you favoring his own house!\n\t\t\t This is why the sky has held back its dew and the earth its produce.\n\t\t\t Moreover, I have called for a drought that will affect the fields, the hill country, the grain, new wine, fresh olive oil, and everything that grows from the ground; it also will harm people, animals, and everything they produce.'\"\n\t\t\t Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and the high priest Joshua son of Jehozadak, along with the whole remnant of the people, obeyed the LORD their God. They responded favorably to the message of the prophet Haggai, who spoke just as the LORD their God had instructed him, and the people began to respect the LORD.\n\t\t\t Then Haggai, the LORD's messenger, spoke the LORD's word to the people: \"I am with you!\" says the LORD. \n\t\t\t So the LORD energized and encouraged Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, the high priest Joshua son of Jehozadak, and the whole remnant of the people. They came and worked on the temple of their God, the LORD who rules over all. \n\t\t\t This took place on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month of King Darius' second year.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t On the twenty-first day of the seventh month, the LORD spoke again through the prophet Haggai:\n\t\t\t \"Ask the following questions to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, the high priest Joshua son of Jehozadak, and the remnant of the people: \n\t\t\t 'Who among you survivors saw the former splendor of this temple? How does it look to you now? Isn't it nothing by comparison? \n\t\t\t Even so, take heart, Zerubbabel,' says the LORD. 'Take heart, Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and all you citizens of the land,' says the LORD, 'and begin to work. For I am with you,' says the LORD who rules over all. \n\t\t\t 'Do not fear, because I made a promise to your ancestors when they left Egypt, and my spirit even now testifies to you.'\n\t\t\t Moreover, the LORD who rules over all says: 'In just a little while I will once again shake the sky and the earth, the sea and the dry ground. \n\t\t\t I will also shake up all the nations, and they will offer their treasures; then I will fill this temple with glory,' says the LORD who rules over all.\n\t\t\t 'The silver and gold will be mine,' says the LORD who rules over all.\n\t\t\t 'The future splendor of this temple will be greater than that of former times,' the LORD who rules over all declares, 'and in this place I will give peace.'\"\n\t\t\t On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month of Darius' second year, the LORD spoke again to the prophet Haggai:\n\t\t\t \"The LORD who rules over all says, 'Ask the priests about the law.\n\t\t\t If someone carries holy meat in a fold of his garment and that fold touches bread, a boiled dish, wine, olive oil, or any other food, will that item become holy?'\" The priests answered, \"It will not.\" \n\t\t\t Then Haggai asked, \"If a person who is ritually unclean because of touching a dead body comes in contact with one of these items, will it become unclean?\" The priests answered, \"It will be unclean.\"\n\t\t\t Then Haggai responded, \"'The people of this nation are unclean in my sight,' says the LORD. 'And so is all their effort; everything they offer is also unclean.\n\t\t\t Now therefore reflect carefully on the recent past, before one stone was laid on another in the LORD's temple.\n\t\t\t From that time when one came expecting a heap of twenty measures, there were only ten; when one came to the wine vat to draw out fifty measures from it, there were only twenty. \n\t\t\t I struck all the products of your labor with blight, disease, and hail, and yet you brought nothing to me,' says the LORD. \n\t\t\t 'Think carefully about the past: from today, the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, to the day work on the temple of the LORD was resumed, think about it.\n\t\t\t The seed is still in the storehouse, isn't it? And the vine, fig tree, pomegranate, and olive tree have not produced. Nevertheless, from today on I will bless you.'\"\n\t\t\t Then the LORD spoke again to Haggai on the twenty-fourth day of the month:\n\t\t\t Tell Zerubbabel governor of Judah: 'I am ready to shake the sky and the earth. \n\t\t\t I will overthrow royal thrones and shatter the might of earthly kingdoms. I will overthrow chariots and those who ride them, and horses and their riders will fall as people kill one another.\n\t\t\t On that day,' says the LORD who rules over all, 'I will take you, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, my servant,' says the LORD, 'and I will make you like a signet ring, for I have chosen you,' says the LORD who rules over all.\"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t In the eighth month of Darius' second year, the word of the LORD came to the prophet Zechariah, son of Berechiah son of Iddo, as follows:\n\t\t\t The LORD was very angry with your ancestors.\n\t\t\t Therefore say to the people: The LORD who rules over all says, \"Turn to me,\" says the LORD who rules over all, \"and I will turn to you,\" says the LORD who rules over all. \n\t\t\t \"Do not be like your ancestors, to whom the former prophets called out, saying, 'The LORD who rules over all says, \"Turn now from your evil wickedness,\"' but they would by no means obey me,\" says the LORD.\n\t\t\t \"As for your ancestors, where are they? And did the prophets live forever?\n\t\t\t But have my words and statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, not outlived your fathers? Then they paid attention and confessed, 'The LORD who rules over all has indeed done what he said he would do to us, because of our sinful ways.'\"\n\t\t\t On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, the month Shebat, in Darius' second year, the word of the LORD came to the prophet Zechariah son of Berechiah son of Iddo, as follows:\n\t\t\t I was attentive that night and saw a man seated on a red horse that stood among some myrtle trees in the ravine. Behind him were red, sorrel, and white horses.\n\t\t\t Then I asked one nearby, \"What are these, sir?\" The angelic messenger who replied to me said, \"I will show you what these are.\" \n\t\t\t Then the man standing among the myrtle trees spoke up and said, \"These are the ones whom the LORD has sent to walk about on the earth.\" \n\t\t\t The riders then agreed with the angel of the LORD, who was standing among the myrtle trees, \"We have been walking about on the earth, and now everything is at rest and quiet.\" \n\t\t\t The angel of the LORD then asked, \"LORD who rules over all, how long before you have compassion on Jerusalem and the other cities of Judah which you have been so angry with for these seventy years?\"\n\t\t\t The LORD then addressed good, comforting words to the angelic messenger who was speaking to me.\n\t\t\t Turning to me, the messenger then said, \"Cry out that the LORD who rules over all says, 'I am very much moved for Jerusalem and for Zion. \n\t\t\t But I am greatly displeased with the nations that take my grace for granted. I was a little displeased with them, but they have only made things worse for themselves.\n\t\t\t \"'Therefore,' says the LORD, 'I have become compassionate toward Jerusalem and will rebuild my temple in it,' says the LORD who rules over all. 'Once more a surveyor's measuring line will be stretched out over Jerusalem.' \n\t\t\t Speak up again with the message of the LORD who rules over all: 'My cities will once more overflow with prosperity, and once more the LORD will comfort Zion and validate his choice of Jerusalem.'\"\n\t\t\t Once again I looked and this time I saw four horns. \n\t\t\t So I asked the angelic messenger who spoke with me, \"What are these?\" He replied, \"These are the horns that have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.\"\n\t\t\t Next the LORD showed me four blacksmiths.\n\t\t\t I asked, \"What are these going to do?\" He answered, \"These horns are the ones that have scattered Judah so that there is no one to be seen. But the blacksmiths have come to terrify Judah's enemies and cut off the horns of the nations that have thrust themselves against the land of Judah in order to scatter its people.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t I looked again, and there was a man with a measuring line in his hand.\n\t\t\t I asked, \"Where are you going?\" He replied, \"To measure Jerusalem in order to determine its width and its length.\" \n\t\t\t At this point the angelic messenger who spoke to me went out, and another messenger came to meet him \n\t\t\t and said to him, \"Hurry, speak to this young man as follows: 'Jerusalem will no longer be enclosed by walls because of the multitude of people and animals there. \n\t\t\t But I (the LORD says) will be a wall of fire surrounding Jerusalem and the source of glory in her midst.'\"\n\t\t\t \"You there! Flee from the northland!\" says the LORD, \"for like the four winds of heaven I have scattered you,\" says the LORD. \n\t\t\t \"Escape, Zion, you who live among the Babylonians!\"\n\t\t\t For the LORD who rules over all says to me that for his own glory he has sent me to the nations that plundered you, for anyone who touches you touches the pupil of his eye.\n\t\t\t \"I am about to punish them in such a way,\" he says, \"that they will be looted by their own slaves.\" Then you will know that the LORD who rules over all has sent me.\n\t\t\t \"Sing out and be happy, Zion my daughter! For look, I have come; I will settle in your midst,\" says the LORD. \n\t\t\t \"Many nations will join themselves to the LORD on the day of salvation, and they will also be my people. Indeed, I will settle in the midst of you all.\" Then you will know that the LORD who rules over all has sent me to you. \n\t\t\t The LORD will take possession of Judah as his portion in the holy land and he will choose Jerusalem once again. \n\t\t\t Be silent in the LORD's presence, all people everywhere, for he is being moved to action in his holy dwelling place.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Next I saw Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, with Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. \n\t\t\t The LORD said to Satan, \"May the LORD rebuke you, Satan! May the LORD, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Isn't this man like a burning stick snatched from the fire?\" \n\t\t\t Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood there before the angel. \n\t\t\t The angel spoke up to those standing all around, \"Remove his filthy clothes.\" Then he said to Joshua, \"I have freely forgiven your iniquity and will dress you in fine clothing.\" \n\t\t\t Then I spoke up, \"Let a clean turban be put on his head.\" So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him, while the angel of the LORD stood nearby.\n\t\t\t Then the angel of the LORD exhorted Joshua solemnly:\n\t\t\t \"The LORD who rules over all says, 'If you live and work according to my requirements, you will be able to preside over my temple and attend to my courtyards, and I will allow you to come and go among these others who are standing by you. \n\t\t\t Listen now, Joshua the high priest, both you and your colleagues who are sitting before you, all of you are a symbol that I am about to introduce my servant, the Branch.\n\t\t\t As for the stone I have set before Joshua, on the one stone there are seven eyes. I am about to engrave an inscription on it,' says the LORD who rules over all, 'to the effect that I will remove the iniquity of this land in a single day.\n\t\t\t In that day,' says the LORD who rules over all, 'everyone will invite his friend to fellowship under his vine and under his fig tree.'\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The angelic messenger who had been speaking with me then returned and woke me, as a person is wakened from sleep. \n\t\t\t He asked me, \"What do you see?\" I replied, \"I see a menorah of pure gold with a receptacle at the top and seven lamps, with fourteen pipes going to the lamps. \n\t\t\t There are also two olive trees beside it, one on the right of the receptacle and the other on the left.\"\n\t\t\t Then I asked the messenger who spoke with me, \"What are these, sir?\" \n\t\t\t He replied, \"Don't you know what these are?\" So I responded, \"No, sir.\"\n\t\t\t Therefore he told me, \"These signify the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by strength and not by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD who rules over all.\"\n\t\t\t \"What are you, you great mountain? Because of Zerubbabel you will become a level plain! And he will bring forth the temple capstone with shoutings of 'Grace! Grace!' because of this.\" \n\t\t\t Moreover, the word of the LORD came to me as follows:\n\t\t\t \"The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundations of this temple, and his hands will complete it.\" Then you will know that the LORD who rules over all has sent me to you. \n\t\t\t For who dares make light of small beginnings? These seven eyes will joyfully look on the tin tablet in Zerubbabel's hand. (These are the eyes of the LORD, which constantly range across the whole earth.)\n\t\t\t Next I asked the messenger, \"What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the menorah?\"\n\t\t\t Before he could reply I asked again, \"What are these two extensions of the olive trees, which are emptying out the golden oil through the two golden pipes?\" \n\t\t\t He replied, \"Don't you know what these are?\" And I said, \"No, sir.\"\n\t\t\t So he said, \"These are the two anointed ones who stand by the Lord of the whole earth.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then I turned to look, and there was a flying scroll!\n\t\t\t Someone asked me, \"What do you see?\" I replied, \"I see a flying scroll thirty feet long and fifteen feet wide.\"\n\t\t\t The speaker went on to say, \"This is a curse traveling across the whole earth. For example, according to the curse whoever steals will be removed from the community; or on the other hand (according to the curse) whoever swears falsely will suffer the same fate.\" \n\t\t\t \"I will send it out,\" says the LORD who rules over all, \"and it will enter the house of the thief and of the person who swears falsely in my name. It will land in the middle of his house and destroy both timber and stones.\"\n\t\t\t After this the angelic messenger who had been speaking to me went out and said, \"Look, see what is leaving.\" \n\t\t\t I asked, \"What is it?\" And he replied, \"It is a basket for measuring grain that is moving away from here.\" Moreover, he said, \"This is their 'eye' throughout all the earth.\" \n\t\t\t Then a round lead cover was raised up, revealing a woman sitting inside the basket.\n\t\t\t He then said, \"This woman represents wickedness,\" and he pushed her down into the basket and placed the lead cover on top.\n\t\t\t Then I looked again and saw two women going forth with the wind in their wings (they had wings like those of a stork) and they lifted up the basket between the earth and the sky. \n\t\t\t I asked the messenger who was speaking to me, \"Where are they taking the basket?\"\n\t\t\t He replied, \"To build a temple for her in the land of Babylonia. When it is finished, she will be placed there in her own residence.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Once more I looked, and this time I saw four chariots emerging from between two mountains of bronze.\n\t\t\t Harnessed to the first chariot were red horses, to the second black horses,\n\t\t\t to the third white horses, and to the fourth spotted horses, all of them strong.\n\t\t\t Then I asked the angelic messenger who was speaking with me, \"What are these, sir?\" \n\t\t\t The messenger replied, \"These are the four spirits of heaven that have been presenting themselves before the Lord of all the earth.\n\t\t\t The chariot with the black horses is going to the north country and the white ones are going after them, but the spotted ones are going to the south country.\n\t\t\t All these strong ones are scattering; they have sought permission to go and walk about over the earth.\" The Lord had said, \"Go! Walk about over the earth!\" So they are doing so.\n\t\t\t Then he cried out to me, \"Look! The ones going to the northland have brought me peace about the northland.\"\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD came to me as follows:\n\t\t\t \"Choose some people from among the exiles, namely, Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah, all of whom have come from Babylon, and when you have done so go to the house of Josiah son of Zephaniah.\n\t\t\t Then take some silver and gold to make a crown and set it on the head of Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. \n\t\t\t Then say to him, 'The LORD who rules over all says, \"Look, here is the man whose name is Branch, who will sprout up from his place and build the temple of the LORD.\n\t\t\t Indeed, he will build the temple of the LORD, and he will be clothed in splendor, sitting as king on his throne. Moreover, there will be a priest with him on his throne and they will see eye to eye on everything. \n\t\t\t The crown will then be turned over to Helem, Tobijah, Jedaiah, and Hen son of Zephaniah as a memorial in the temple of the LORD. \n\t\t\t Then those who are far away will come and build the temple of the LORD so that you may know that the LORD who rules over all has sent me to you. This will all come to pass if you completely obey the voice of the LORD your God.\"'\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t In King Darius' fourth year, on the fourth day of Kislev, the ninth month, the word of the LORD came to Zechariah. \n\t\t\t Now the people of Bethel had sent Sharezer and Regem-Melech and their companions to seek the LORD's favor \n\t\t\t by asking both the priests of the temple of the LORD WHO RULES OVER ALL and the prophets, \"Should we weep in the fifth month, fasting as we have done over the years?\" \n\t\t\t The word of the LORD who rules over all then came to me,\n\t\t\t \"Speak to all the people and priests of the land as follows: 'When you fasted and lamented in the fifth and seventh months through all these seventy years, did you truly fast for me, for me, indeed?\n\t\t\t And now when you eat and drink, are you not doing so for yourselves?'\"\n\t\t\t Should you not have obeyed the words that the LORD cried out through the former prophets when Jerusalem was peacefully inhabited and her surrounding cities, the Negev, and the Shephelah were also populated?\n\t\t\t Again the word of the LORD came to Zechariah:\n\t\t\t \"The LORD who rules over all said, 'Exercise true judgment and show brotherhood and compassion to each other.\n\t\t\t You must not oppress the widow, the orphan, the foreigner, or the poor, nor should anyone secretly plot evil against his fellow human being.'\n\t\t\t \"But they refused to pay attention, turning away stubbornly and stopping their ears so they could not hear.\n\t\t\t Indeed, they made their heart as hard as diamond, so that they could not obey the Torah and the other words the LORD who rules over all had sent by his Spirit through the former prophets. Therefore, the LORD who rules over all had poured out great wrath.\n\t\t\t \"'It then came about that just as I cried out, but they would not obey, so they will cry out, but I will not listen,' the LORD LORD WHO RULES OVER ALL had said. \n\t\t\t 'Rather, I will sweep them away in a storm into all the nations they are not familiar with.' Thus the land had become desolate because of them, with no one crossing through or returning, for they had made the fruitful land a waste.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then the word of the LORD who rules over all came to me as follows: \n\t\t\t \"The LORD who rules over all says, 'I am very much concerned for Zion; indeed, I am so concerned for her that my rage will fall on those who hurt her.'\n\t\t\t The Lord says, 'I have returned to Zion and will live within Jerusalem. Now Jerusalem will be called \"truthful city,\" \"mountain of the LORD who rules over all,\" \"holy mountain.\"' \n\t\t\t Moreover, the LORD who rules over all says, 'Old men and women will once more live in the plazas of Jerusalem, each one leaning on a cane because of advanced age.\n\t\t\t And the streets of the city will be full of boys and girls playing.\n\t\t\t And,' says the LORD who rules over all, 'though such a thing may seem to be difficult in the opinion of the small community of those days, will it also appear difficult to me?' asks the LORD who rules over all.\n\t\t\t \"The LORD who rules over all asserts, 'I am about to save my people from the lands of the east and the west.\n\t\t\t And I will bring them to settle within Jerusalem. They will be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and righteousness.'\n\t\t\t \"The LORD who rules over all also says, 'Gather strength, you who are listening to these words today from the mouths of the prophets who were there at the founding of the house of the LORD who rules over all, so that the temple might be built. \n\t\t\t Before that time there was no compensation for man or animal, nor was there any relief from adversity for those who came and went, because I had pitted everybody, each one, against everyone else.\n\t\t\t But I will be different now to this remnant of my people from the way I was in those days,' says the LORD who rules over all,\n\t\t\t 'for there will be a peaceful time of sowing, the vine will produce its fruit and the ground its yield, and the skies will rain down dew. Then I will allow the remnant of my people to possess all these things. \n\t\t\t And it will come about that just as you (both Judah and Israel) were a curse to the nations, so I will save you and you will be a blessing. Do not be afraid! Instead, be strong!'\n\t\t\t \"For the LORD who rules over all says, 'As I had planned to hurt you when your fathers made me angry,' says the LORD who rules over all, 'and I was not sorry, \n\t\t\t so, to the contrary, I have planned in these days to do good to Jerusalem and Judah, do not fear!\n\t\t\t These are the things you must do: Speak the truth, each of you, to one another. Practice true and righteous judgment in your courts.\n\t\t\t Do not plan evil in your hearts against one another. Do not favor a false oath, these are all things that I hate,' says the LORD.\"\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD who rules over all came to me as follows:\n\t\t\t \"The LORD who rules over all says, 'The fast of the fourth, fifth, seventh, and tenth months will become joyful and happy, pleasant feasts for the house of Judah, so love truth and peace.' \n\t\t\t The LORD who rules over all says, 'It will someday come to pass that people, residents of many cities, will come.\n\t\t\t The inhabitants of one will go to another and say, \"Let's go up at once to ask the favor of the LORD, to seek the LORD who rules over all. Indeed, I'll go with you.\"'\n\t\t\t Many peoples and powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to seek the LORD who rules over all and to ask his favor.\n\t\t\t The LORD who rules over all says, 'In those days ten people from all languages and nations will grasp hold of, indeed, grab, the robe of one Jew and say, \"Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.\"'\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t An oracle of the word of the LORD concerning the land of Hadrach, with its focus on Damascus: The eyes of all humanity, especially of the tribes of Israel, are toward the LORD,\n\t\t\t as are those of Hamath also, which adjoins Damascus, and Tyre and Sidon, though they consider themselves to be very wise. \n\t\t\t Tyre built herself a fortification and piled up silver like dust and gold like the mud of the streets!\n\t\t\t Nevertheless the Lord will evict her and shove her fortifications into the sea, she will be consumed by fire.\n\t\t\t Ashkelon will see and be afraid; Gaza will be in great anguish, as will Ekron, for her hope will have been dried up. Gaza will lose her king, and Ashkelon will no longer be inhabited. \n\t\t\t A mongrel people will live in Ashdod, for I will greatly humiliate the Philistines.\n\t\t\t I will take away their abominable religious practices; then those who survive will become a community of believers in our God, like a clan in Judah, and Ekron will be like the Jebusites. \n\t\t\t Then I will surround my temple to protect it like a guard from anyone crossing back and forth; so no one will cross over against them anymore as an oppressor, for now I myself have seen it.\n\t\t\t Rejoice greatly, daughter of Zion! Shout, daughter of Jerusalem! Look! Your king is coming to you: he is legitimate and victorious, humble and riding on a donkey, on a young donkey, the foal of a female donkey.\n\t\t\t I will remove the chariot from Ephraim and the warhorse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow will be removed. Then he will announce peace to the nations. His dominion will be from sea to sea and from the Euphrates River to the ends of the earth.\n\t\t\t Moreover, as for you, because of our covenant relationship secured with blood, I will release your prisoners from the waterless pit.\n\t\t\t Return to the stronghold, you prisoners, with hope; today I declare that I will return double what was taken from you.\n\t\t\t I will bend Judah as my bow; I will load the bow with Ephraim, my arrow! I will stir up your sons, Zion, against yours, Greece, and I will make you, Zion, like a warrior's sword.\n\t\t\t Then the LORD will appear above them, and his arrow will shoot forth like lightning; the Lord GOD will blow the trumpet and will sally forth on the southern storm winds.\n\t\t\t The LORD who rules over all will guard them, and they will prevail and overcome with sling stones. Then they will drink, and will become noisy like drunkards, full like the sacrificial basin or like the corners of the altar.\n\t\t\t On that day the LORD their God will deliver them as the flock of his people, for they are the precious stones of a crown sparkling over his land.\n\t\t\t How precious and fair! Grain will make the young men flourish and new wine the young women.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Ask the LORD for rain in the season of the late spring rains, the LORD who causes thunderstorms, and he will give everyone showers of rain and green growth in the field.\n\t\t\t For the household gods have spoken wickedness, the soothsayers have seen a lie, and as for the dreamers, they have disclosed emptiness and give comfort in vain. Therefore the people set out like sheep and become scattered because they have no shepherd.\n\t\t\t I am enraged at the shepherds and will punish the lead-goats. For the LORD who rules over all has brought blessing to his flock, the house of Judah, and will transform them into his majestic warhorse.\n\t\t\t From him will come the cornerstone, the wall peg, the battle bow, and every ruler.\n\t\t\t And they will be like warriors trampling the mud of the streets in battle. They will fight, for the LORD will be with them, and will defeat the enemy cavalry.\n\t\t\t \"I (says the LORD) will strengthen the kingdom of Judah and deliver the people of Joseph and will bring them back because of my compassion for them. They will be as though I had never rejected them, for I am the LORD their God and therefore I will hear them.\n\t\t\t The Ephraimites will be like warriors and will rejoice as if they had drunk wine. Their children will see it and rejoice; they will celebrate in the things of the LORD.\n\t\t\t I will signal for them and gather them, for I have already redeemed them; then they will become as numerous as they were before.\n\t\t\t Though I scatter them among the nations, they will remember in far-off places, they and their children will sprout forth and return.\n\t\t\t I will bring them back from Egypt and gather them from Assyria. I will bring them to the lands of Gilead and Lebanon, for there will not be enough room for them in their own land. \n\t\t\t The LORD will cross the sea of storms and will calm its turbulence. The depths of the Nile will dry up, the pride of Assyria will be humbled, and the domination of Egypt will be no more. \n\t\t\t Thus I will strengthen them by my power, and they will walk about in my name,\" says the LORD.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Open your gates, Lebanon, so that the fire may consume your cedars.\n\t\t\t Howl, fir tree, because the cedar has fallen; the majestic trees have been destroyed. Howl, oaks of Bashan, because the impenetrable forest has fallen.\n\t\t\t Listen to the howling of shepherds, because their magnificence has been destroyed. Listen to the roaring of young lions, because the thickets of the Jordan have been devastated.\n\t\t\t The LORD my God says this: \"Shepherd the flock set aside for slaughter.\n\t\t\t Those who buy them slaughter them and are not held guilty; those who sell them say, 'Blessed be the LORD, for I am rich.' Their own shepherds have no compassion for them. \n\t\t\t Indeed, I will no longer have compassion on the people of the land,\" says the LORD, \"but instead I will turn every last person over to his neighbor and his king. They will devastate the land, and I will not deliver it from them.\"\n\t\t\t So I began to shepherd the flock destined for slaughter, the most afflicted of all the flock. Then I took two staffs, calling one \"Pleasantness\" and the other \"Binders,\" and I tended the flock. \n\t\t\t Next I eradicated the three shepherds in one month, for I ran out of patience with them and, indeed, they detested me as well. \n\t\t\t I then said, \"I will not shepherd you. What is to die, let it die, and what is to be eradicated, let it be eradicated. As for those who survive, let them eat each other's flesh!\"\n\t\t\t Then I took my staff \"Pleasantness\" and cut it in two to annul my covenant that I had made with all the people.\n\t\t\t So it was annulled that very day, and then the most afflicted of the flock who kept faith with me knew that that was the word of the LORD.\n\t\t\t Then I said to them, \"If it seems good to you, pay me my wages, but if not, forget it.\" So they weighed out my payment, thirty pieces of silver.\n\t\t\t The LORD then said to me, \"Throw to the potter that exorbitant sum at which they valued me!\" So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them to the potter at the temple of the LORD. \n\t\t\t Then I cut the second staff \"Binders\" in two in order to annul the covenant of brotherhood between Judah and Israel.\n\t\t\t Again the LORD said to me, \"Take up once more the equipment of a foolish shepherd.\n\t\t\t Indeed, I am about to raise up a shepherd in the land who will not take heed to the sheep headed to slaughter, will not seek the scattered, and will not heal the injured. Moreover, he will not nourish the one that is healthy but instead will eat the meat of the fat sheep and tear off their hooves.\n\t\t\t Woe to the worthless shepherd who abandons the flock! May a sword fall on his arm and his right eye! May his arm wither completely away, and his right eye become completely blind!\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The revelation of the word of the LORD concerning Israel: The LORD, he who stretches out the heavens and lays the foundations of the earth, who forms the human spirit within a person, says,\n\t\t\t \"I am about to make Jerusalem a cup that brings dizziness to all the surrounding nations; indeed, Judah will also be included when Jerusalem is besieged. \n\t\t\t Moreover, on that day I will make Jerusalem a heavy burden for all the nations, and all who try to carry it will be seriously injured; yet all the peoples of the earth will be assembled against it. \n\t\t\t In that day,\" says the LORD, \"I will strike every horse with confusion and its rider with madness. I will pay close attention to the house of Judah, but will strike all the horses of the nations with blindness. \n\t\t\t Then the leaders of Judah will say to themselves, 'The inhabitants of Jerusalem are a means of strength to us through their God, the LORD who rules over all.'\n\t\t\t On that day I will make the leaders of Judah like an igniter among sticks and a burning torch among sheaves, and they will burn up all the surrounding nations right and left. Then the people of Jerusalem will settle once more in their place, the city of Jerusalem. \n\t\t\t The LORD also will deliver the homes of Judah first, so that the splendor of the kingship of David and of the people of Jerusalem may not exceed that of Judah. \n\t\t\t On that day the LORD himself will defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the weakest among them will be like mighty David, and the dynasty of David will be like God, like the angel of the LORD before them.\n\t\t\t So on that day I will set out to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.\"\n\t\t\t \"I will pour out on the kingship of David and the population of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication so that they will look to me, the one they have pierced. They will lament for him as one laments for an only son, and there will be a bitter cry for him like the bitter cry for a firstborn.\n\t\t\t On that day the lamentation in Jerusalem will be as great as the lamentation at Hadad-Rimmon in the plain of Megiddo.\n\t\t\t The land will mourn, clan by clan, the clan of the royal household of David by itself and their wives by themselves; the clan of the family of Nathan by itself and their wives by themselves;\n\t\t\t the clan of the descendants of Levi by itself and their wives by themselves; and the clan of the Shimeites by itself and their wives by themselves,\n\t\t\t all the clans that remain, each separately with their wives.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t \"In that day there will be a fountain opened up for the dynasty of David and the people of Jerusalem to cleanse them from sin and impurity.\n\t\t\t And also on that day,\" says the LORD who rules over all, \"I will remove the names of the idols from the land and they will never again be remembered. Moreover, I will remove the prophets and the unclean spirit from the land. \n\t\t\t Then, if anyone prophesies in spite of this, his father and mother to whom he was born will say to him, 'You cannot live, for you lie in the name of the LORD.' Then his father and mother to whom he was born will run him through with a sword when he prophesies.\n\t\t\t \"Therefore, on that day each prophet will be ashamed of his vision when he prophesies and will no longer wear the hairy garment of a prophet to deceive the people.\n\t\t\t Instead he will say, 'I am no prophet, indeed, I am a farmer, for a man has made me his indentured servant since my youth.'\n\t\t\t Then someone will ask him, 'What are these wounds on your chest?' and he will answer, 'Some that I received in the house of my friends.'\n\t\t\t \"Awake, sword, against my shepherd, against the man who is my associate,\" says the LORD who rules over all. Strike the shepherd that the flock may be scattered; I will turn my hand against the insignificant ones.\n\t\t\t It will happen in all the land, says the LORD, that two-thirds of the people in it will be cut off and die, but one-third will be left in it.\n\t\t\t Then I will bring the remaining third into the fire; I will refine them like silver is refined and will test them like gold is tested. They will call on my name and I will answer; I will say, 'These are my people,' and they will say, 'The LORD is my God.'\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t A day of the LORD is about to come when your possessions will be divided as plunder in your midst. \n\t\t\t For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to wage war; the city will be taken, its houses plundered, and the women raped. Then half of the city will go into exile, but the remainder of the people will not be taken away.\n\t\t\t Then the LORD will go to battle and fight against those nations, just as he fought battles in ancient days.\n\t\t\t On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives which lies to the east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in half from east to west, leaving a great valley. Half the mountain will move northward and the other half southward.\n\t\t\t Then you will escape through my mountain valley, for the mountains will extend to Azal. Indeed, you will flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of King Uzziah of Judah. Then the LORD my God will come with all his holy ones with him. \n\t\t\t On that day there will be no light, the sources of light in the heavens will congeal.\n\t\t\t It will happen in one day (a day known to the LORD); not in the day or the night, but in the evening there will be light.\n\t\t\t Moreover, on that day living waters will flow out from Jerusalem, half of them to the eastern sea and half of them to the western sea; it will happen both in summer and in winter.\n\t\t\t The LORD will then be king over all the earth. In that day the LORD will be seen as one with a single name.\n\t\t\t All the land will change and become like the Arabah from Geba to Rimmon, south of Jerusalem; and Jerusalem will be raised up and will stay in its own place from the Benjamin Gate to the site of the First Gate and on to the Corner Gate, and from the Tower of Hananel to the royal winepresses.\n\t\t\t And people will settle there, and there will no longer be the threat of divine extermination, Jerusalem will dwell in security.\n\t\t\t But this will be the nature of the plague with which the LORD will strike all the nations that have fought against Jerusalem: Their flesh will decay while they stand on their feet, their eyes will rot away in their sockets, and their tongues will dissolve in their mouths.\n\t\t\t On that day there will be great confusion from the LORD among them; they will seize each other and attack one another violently.\n\t\t\t Moreover, Judah will fight at Jerusalem, and the wealth of all the surrounding nations will be gathered up, gold, silver, and clothing in great abundance.\n\t\t\t This is the kind of plague that will devastate horses, mules, camels, donkeys, and all the other animals in those camps.\n\t\t\t Then all who survive from all the nations that came to attack Jerusalem will go up annually to worship the King, the LORD who rules over all, and to observe the Feast of Tabernacles.\n\t\t\t But if any of the nations anywhere on earth refuse to go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD who rules over all, they will get no rain. \n\t\t\t If the Egyptians will not do so, they will get no rain, instead there will be the kind of plague which the LORD inflicts on any nations that do not go up to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles.\n\t\t\t This will be the punishment of Egypt and of all nations that do not go up to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles.\n\t\t\t On that day the bells of the horses will bear the inscription \"HOLY TO THE LORD.\" The cooking pots in the LORD's temple will be as holy as the bowls in front of the altar.\n\t\t\t Every cooking pot in Jerusalem and Judah will become holy in the sight of the LORD who rules over all, so that all who offer sacrifices may come and use some of them to boil their sacrifices in them. On that day there will no longer be a Canaanite in the house of the LORD who rules over all. \n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t What follows is divine revelation. The word of the LORD came to Israel through Malachi:\n\t\t\t \"I have shown love to you,\" says the LORD, but you say, \"How have you shown love to us?\" \"Esau was Jacob's brother,\" the LORD explains, \"yet I chose Jacob\n\t\t\t and rejected Esau. I turned Esau's mountains into a deserted wasteland and gave his territory to the wild jackals.\"\n\t\t\t Edom says, \"Though we are devastated, we will once again build the ruined places.\" So the LORD who rules over all responds, \"They indeed may build, but I will overthrow. They will be known as the land of evil, the people with whom the LORD is permanently displeased. \n\t\t\t Your eyes will see it, and then you will say, 'May the LORD be magnified even beyond the border of Israel!'\"\n\t\t\t \"A son naturally honors his father and a slave respects his master. If I am your father, where is my honor? If I am your master, where is my respect? The LORD who rules over all asks you this, you priests who make light of my name! But you reply, 'How have we made light of your name?' \n\t\t\t You are offering improper sacrifices on my altar, yet you ask, 'How have we offended you?' By treating the table of the LORD as if it is of no importance! \n\t\t\t For when you offer blind animals as a sacrifice, is that not wrong? And when you offer the lame and sick, is that not wrong as well? Indeed, try offering them to your governor! Will he be pleased with you or show you favor?\" asks the LORD who rules over all. \n\t\t\t But now plead for God's favor that he might be gracious to us. \"With this kind of offering in your hands, how can he be pleased with you?\" asks the LORD who rules over all.\n\t\t\t \"I wish that one of you would close the temple doors, so that you no longer would light useless fires on my altar. I am not pleased with you,\" says the LORD who rules over all, \"and I will no longer accept an offering from you. \n\t\t\t For from the east to the west my name will be great among the nations. Incense and pure offerings will be offered in my name everywhere, for my name will be great among the nations,\" says the LORD who rules over all. \n\t\t\t \"But you are profaning it by saying that the table of the Lord is common and its offerings despicable. \n\t\t\t You also say, 'How tiresome it is.' You turn up your nose at it,\" says the LORD who rules over all, \"and instead bring what is stolen, lame, or sick. You bring these things for an offering! Should I accept this from you?\" asks the LORD. \n\t\t\t \"There will be harsh condemnation for the hypocrite who has a valuable male animal in his flock but vows and sacrifices something inferior to the Lord. For I am a great king,\" says the LORD who rules over all, \"and my name is awesome among the nations.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t \"Now, you priests, this commandment is for you.\n\t\t\t If you do not listen and take seriously the need to honor my name,\" says the LORD who rules over all, \"I will send judgment on you and turn your blessings into curses, indeed, I have already done so because you are not taking it to heart.\n\t\t\t I am about to discipline your children and will spread offal on your faces, the very offal produced at your festivals, and you will be carried away along with it. \n\t\t\t Then you will know that I sent this commandment to you so that my covenant may continue to be with Levi,\" says the LORD who rules over all. \n\t\t\t \"My covenant with him was designed to bring life and peace. I gave its statutes to him to fill him with awe, and he indeed revered me and stood in awe before me.\n\t\t\t He taught what was true; sinful words were not found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and integrity, and he turned many people away from sin. \n\t\t\t For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge of sacred things, and people should seek instruction from him because he is the messenger of the LORD who rules over all.\n\t\t\t You, however, have turned from the way. You have caused many to violate the law; you have corrupted the covenant with Levi,\" says the LORD who rules over all. \n\t\t\t \"Therefore, I have caused you to be ignored and belittled before all people to the extent to which you are not following after me and are showing partiality in your instruction.\"\n\t\t\t Do we not all have one father? Did not one God create us? Why do we betray one another, in this way making light of the covenant of our ancestors? \n\t\t\t Judah has become disloyal, and unspeakable sins have been committed in Israel and Jerusalem. For Judah has profaned the holy things that the LORD loves and has turned to a foreign god!\n\t\t\t May the LORD cut off from the community of Jacob every last person who does this, as well as the person who presents improper offerings to the LORD who rules over all!\n\t\t\t You also do this: You cover the altar of the LORD with tears as you weep and groan, because he no longer pays any attention to the offering nor accepts it favorably from you. \n\t\t\t Yet you ask, \"Why?\" The LORD is testifying against you on behalf of the wife you married when you were young, to whom you have become unfaithful even though she is your companion and wife by law.\n\t\t\t No one who has even a small portion of the Spirit in him does this. What did our ancestor do when seeking a child from God? Be attentive, then, to your own spirit, for one should not be disloyal to the wife he took in his youth.\n\t\t\t \"I hate divorce,\" says the LORD God of Israel, \"and the one who is guilty of violence,\" says the LORD who rules over all. \"Pay attention to your conscience, and do not be unfaithful.\"\n\t\t\t You have wearied the LORD with your words. But you say, \"How have we wearied him?\" Because you say, \"Everyone who does evil is good in the Lord's opinion, and he delights in them,\" or \"Where is the God of justice?\" \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t \"I am about to send my messenger, who will clear the way before me. Indeed, the Lord you are seeking will suddenly come to his temple, and the messenger of the covenant, whom you long for, is certainly coming,\" says the LORD who rules over all.\n\t\t\t Who can endure the day of his coming? Who can keep standing when he appears? For he will be like a refiner's fire, like a launderer's soap. \n\t\t\t He will act like a refiner and purifier of silver and will cleanse the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then they will offer the LORD a proper offering.\n\t\t\t The offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the LORD as in former times and years past.\n\t\t\t \"I will come to you in judgment. I will be quick to testify against those who practice divination, those who commit adultery, those who break promises, and those who exploit workers, widows, and orphans, who refuse to help the immigrant and in this way show they do not fear me,\" says the LORD who rules over all.\n\t\t\t \"Since, I, the LORD, do not go back on my promises, you, sons of Jacob, have not perished. \n\t\t\t From the days of your ancestors you have ignored my commandments and have not kept them! Return to me, and I will return to you,\" says the LORD who rules over all. \"But you say, 'How should we return?' \n\t\t\t Can a person rob God? You indeed are robbing me, but you say, 'How are we robbing you?' In tithes and contributions!\n\t\t\t You are bound for judgment because you are robbing me, this whole nation is guilty.\n\t\t\t \"Bring the entire tithe into the storehouse so that there may be food in my temple. Test me in this matter,\" says the LORD who rules over all, \"to see if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until there is no room for it all. \n\t\t\t Then I will stop the plague from ruining your crops, and the vine will not lose its fruit before harvest,\" says the LORD who rules over all. \n\t\t\t \"All nations will call you happy, for you indeed will live in a delightful land,\" says the LORD who rules over all.\n\t\t\t \"You have criticized me sharply,\" says the LORD, \"but you ask, 'How have we criticized you?' \n\t\t\t You have said, 'It is useless to serve God. How have we been helped by keeping his requirements and going about like mourners before the LORD who rules over all?\n\t\t\t So now we consider the arrogant to be happy; indeed, those who practice evil are successful. In fact, those who challenge God escape!'\"\n\t\t\t Then those who respected the LORD spoke to one another, and the LORD took notice. A scroll was prepared before him in which were recorded the names of those who respected the LORD and honored his name. \n\t\t\t \"They will belong to me,\" says the LORD who rules over all, \"in the day when I prepare my own special property. I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him. \n\t\t\t Then once more you will see that I make a distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between the one who serves God and the one who does not.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t \"For indeed the day is coming, burning like a furnace, and all the arrogant evildoers will be chaff. The coming day will burn them up,\" says the LORD who rules over all. \"It will not leave even a root or branch. \n\t\t\t But for you who respect my name, the sun of vindication will rise with healing wings, and you will skip about like calves released from the stall. \n\t\t\t You will trample on the wicked, for they will be like ashes under the soles of your feet on the day which I am preparing,\" says the LORD who rules over all.\n\t\t\t \"Remember the law of my servant Moses, to whom at Horeb I gave rules and regulations for all Israel to obey.\n\t\t\t Look, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and terrible day of the LORD arrives. \n\t\t\t He will encourage fathers and their children to return to me, so that I will not come and strike the earth with judgment.\"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t This is the record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.\n\t\t\t Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, \n\t\t\t Judah the father of Perez and Zerah (by Tamar), Perez the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram,\n\t\t\t Ram the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon,\n\t\t\t Salmon the father of Boaz (by Rahab), Boaz the father of Obed (by Ruth), Obed the father of Jesse,\n\t\t\t and Jesse the father of David the king. David was the father of Solomon (by the wife of Uriah),\n\t\t\t Solomon the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, Abijah the father of Asa,\n\t\t\t Asa the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, Joram the father of Uzziah,\n\t\t\t Uzziah the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, Ahaz the father of Hezekiah,\n\t\t\t Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amon, Amon the father of Josiah,\n\t\t\t and Josiah the father of Jeconiah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon.\n\t\t\t After the deportation to Babylon, Jeconiah became the father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, \n\t\t\t Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, Abiud the father of Eliakim, Eliakim the father of Azor,\n\t\t\t Azor the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of Achim, Achim the father of Eliud,\n\t\t\t Eliud the father of Eleazar, Eleazar the father of Matthan, Matthan the father of Jacob,\n\t\t\t and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, by whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ.\n\t\t\t So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon, fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to Christ, fourteen generations.\n\t\t\t Now the birth of Jesus Christ happened this way. While his mother Mary was engaged to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. \n\t\t\t Because Joseph, her husband to be, was a righteous man, and because he did not want to disgrace her, he intended to divorce her privately. \n\t\t\t When he had contemplated this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, \"Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. \n\t\t\t She will give birth to a son and you will name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.\" \n\t\t\t This all happened so that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet would be fulfilled:\n\t\t\t \"Look! The virgin will conceive and bear a son, and they will call him Emmanuel,\" which means \"God with us.\"\n\t\t\t When Joseph awoke from sleep he did what the angel of the Lord told him. He took his wife, \n\t\t\t but did not have marital relations with her until she gave birth to a son, whom he named Jesus.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, in the time of King Herod, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem\n\t\t\t saying, \"Where is the one who is born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.\" \n\t\t\t When King Herod heard this he was alarmed, and all Jerusalem with him. \n\t\t\t After assembling all the chief priests and experts in the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. \n\t\t\t \"In Bethlehem of Judea,\" they said, \"for it is written this way by the prophet:\n\t\t\t 'And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are in no way least among the rulers of Judah, for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.'\"\n\t\t\t Then Herod privately summoned the wise men and determined from them when the star had appeared. \n\t\t\t He sent them to Bethlehem and said, \"Go and look carefully for the child. When you find him, inform me so that I can go and worship him as well.\" \n\t\t\t After listening to the king they left, and once again the star they saw when it rose led them until it stopped above the place where the child was. \n\t\t\t When they saw the star they shouted joyfully.\n\t\t\t As they came into the house and saw the child with Mary his mother, they bowed down and worshiped him. They opened their treasure boxes and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.\n\t\t\t After being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they went back by another route to their own country.\n\t\t\t After they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, \"Get up, take the child and his mother and flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to look for the child to kill him.\" \n\t\t\t Then he got up, took the child and his mother during the night, and went to Egypt. \n\t\t\t He stayed there until Herod died. In this way what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet was fulfilled: \"I called my Son out of Egypt.\"\n\t\t\t When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he became enraged. He sent men to kill all the children in Bethlehem and throughout the surrounding region from the age of two and under, according to the time he had learned from the wise men. \n\t\t\t Then what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled:\n\t\t\t \"A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud wailing, Rachel weeping for her children, and she did not want to be comforted, because they were gone.\"\n\t\t\t After Herod had died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt \n\t\t\t saying, \"Get up, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who were seeking the child's life are dead.\"\n\t\t\t So he got up and took the child and his mother and returned to the land of Israel. \n\t\t\t But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. After being warned in a dream, he went to the regions of Galilee. \n\t\t\t He came to a town called Nazareth and lived there. Then what had been spoken by the prophets was fulfilled, that Jesus would be called a Nazarene.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t In those days John the Baptist came into the wilderness of Judea proclaiming, \n\t\t\t \"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.\" \n\t\t\t For he is the one about whom Isaiah the prophet had spoken: \"The voice of one shouting in the wilderness, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make his paths straight.'\"\n\t\t\t Now John wore clothing made from camel's hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his diet consisted of locusts and wild honey.\n\t\t\t Then people from Jerusalem, as well as all Judea and all the region around the Jordan, were going out to him, \n\t\t\t and he was baptizing them in the Jordan River as they confessed their sins.\n\t\t\t But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, \"You offspring of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? \n\t\t\t Therefore produce fruit that proves your repentance, \n\t\t\t and don't think you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I tell you that God can raise up children for Abraham from these stones!\n\t\t\t Even now the ax is laid at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.\n\t\t\t \"I baptize you with water, for repentance, but the one coming after me is more powerful than I am, I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.\n\t\t\t His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clean out his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the storehouse, but the chaff he will burn up with inextinguishable fire.\"\n\t\t\t Then Jesus came from Galilee to John to be baptized by him in the Jordan River.\n\t\t\t But John tried to prevent him, saying, \"I need to be baptized by you, and yet you come to me?\" \n\t\t\t So Jesus replied to him, \"Let it happen now, for it is right for us to fulfill all righteousness.\" Then John yielded to him. \n\t\t\t After Jesus was baptized, just as he was coming up out of the water, the heavens opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming on him. \n\t\t\t And a voice from heaven said, \"This is my one dear Son; in him I take great delight.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. \n\t\t\t After he fasted forty days and forty nights he was famished.\n\t\t\t The tempter came and said to him, \"If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become bread.\"\n\t\t\t But he answered, \"It is written, 'Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'\"\n\t\t\t Then the devil took him to the holy city, had him stand on the highest point of the temple, \n\t\t\t and said to him, \"If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written, 'He will command his angels concerning you' and 'with their hands they will lift you up, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'\"\n\t\t\t Jesus said to him, \"Once again it is written: 'You are not to put the Lord your God to the test.'\"\n\t\t\t Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their grandeur.\n\t\t\t And he said to him, \"I will give you all these things if you throw yourself to the ground and worship me.\" \n\t\t\t Then Jesus said to him, \"Go away, Satan! For it is written: 'You are to worship the Lord your God and serve only him.'\"\n\t\t\t Then the devil left him, and angels came and began ministering to his needs.\n\t\t\t Now when Jesus heard that John had been imprisoned, he went into Galilee.\n\t\t\t While in Galilee, he moved from Nazareth to make his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, \n\t\t\t so that what was spoken by Isaiah the prophet would be fulfilled:\n\t\t\t \"Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way by the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles,\n\t\t\t the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light, and on those who sit in the region and shadow of death a light has dawned.\"\n\t\t\t From that time Jesus began to preach this message: \"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.\"\n\t\t\t As he was walking by the Sea of Galilee he saw two brothers, Simon (called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea (for they were fishermen).\n\t\t\t He said to them, \"Follow me, and I will turn you into fishers of people.\"\n\t\t\t They left their nets immediately and followed him.\n\t\t\t Going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in a boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. Then he called them. \n\t\t\t They immediately left the boat and their father and followed him.\n\t\t\t Jesus went throughout all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of disease and sickness among the people.\n\t\t\t So a report about him spread throughout Syria. People brought to him all who suffered with various illnesses and afflictions, those who had seizures, paralytics, and those possessed by demons, and he healed them. \n\t\t\t And large crowds followed him from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan River.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t When he saw the crowds, he went up the mountain. After he sat down his disciples came to him. \n\t\t\t Then he began to teach them by saying:\n\t\t\t \"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them.\n\t\t\t \"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.\n\t\t\t \"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.\n\t\t\t \"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.\n\t\t\t \"Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.\n\t\t\t \"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.\n\t\t\t \"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God.\n\t\t\t \"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them.\n\t\t\t \"Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil things about you falsely on account of me. \n\t\t\t Rejoice and be glad because your reward is great in heaven, for they persecuted the prophets before you in the same way.\n\t\t\t \"You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its flavor, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled on by people. \n\t\t\t You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill cannot be hidden.\n\t\t\t People do not light a lamp and put it under a basket but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. \n\t\t\t In the same way, let your light shine before people, so that they can see your good deeds and give honor to your Father in heaven.\n\t\t\t \"Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have not come to abolish these things but to fulfill them.\n\t\t\t I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth pass away not the smallest letter or stroke of a letter will pass from the law until everything takes place. \n\t\t\t So anyone who breaks one of the least of these commands and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever obeys them and teaches others to do so will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.\n\t\t\t For I tell you, unless your righteousness goes beyond that of the experts in the law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.\n\t\t\t \"You have heard that it was said to an older generation, 'Do not murder,' and 'whoever murders will be subjected to judgment.' \n\t\t\t But I say to you that anyone who is angry with a brother will be subjected to judgment. And whoever insults a brother will be brought before the council, and whoever says 'Fool' will be sent to fiery hell.\n\t\t\t So then, if you bring your gift to the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you,\n\t\t\t leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother and then come and present your gift.\n\t\t\t Reach agreement quickly with your accuser while on the way to court, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the warden, and you will be thrown into prison. \n\t\t\t I tell you the truth, you will never get out of there until you have paid the last penny!\n\t\t\t \"You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.'\n\t\t\t But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to desire her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.\n\t\t\t If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away! It is better to lose one of your members than to have your whole body thrown into hell.\n\t\t\t If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away! It is better to lose one of your members than to have your whole body go into hell.\n\t\t\t \"It was said, 'Whoever divorces his wife must give her a legal document.'\n\t\t\t But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.\n\t\t\t \"Again, you have heard that it was said to an older generation, 'Do not break an oath, but fulfill your vows to the Lord.'\n\t\t\t But I say to you, do not take oaths at all, not by heaven, because it is the throne of God,\n\t\t\t not by earth, because it is his footstool, and not by Jerusalem, because it is the city of the great King. \n\t\t\t Do not take an oath by your head, because you are not able to make one hair white or black.\n\t\t\t Let your word be 'Yes, yes' or 'No, no.' More than this is from the evil one.\n\t\t\t \"You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.'\n\t\t\t But I say to you, do not resist the evildoer. But whoever strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other to him as well.\n\t\t\t And if someone wants to sue you and to take your tunic, give him your coat also. \n\t\t\t And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two. \n\t\t\t Give to the one who asks you, and do not reject the one who wants to borrow from you.\n\t\t\t \"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor' and 'hate your enemy.' \n\t\t\t But I say to you, love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you, \n\t\t\t so that you may be like your Father in heaven, since he causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. \n\t\t\t For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Even the tax collectors do the same, don't they? \n\t\t\t And if you only greet your brothers, what more do you do? Even the Gentiles do the same, don't they?\n\t\t\t So then, be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t \"Be careful not to display your righteousness merely to be seen by people. Otherwise you have no reward with your Father in heaven. \n\t\t\t Thus whenever you do charitable giving, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in synagogues and on streets so that people will praise them. I tell you the truth, they have their reward.\n\t\t\t But when you do your giving, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,\n\t\t\t so that your gift may be in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.\n\t\t\t \"Whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray while standing in synagogues and on street corners so that people can see them. Truly I say to you, they have their reward.\n\t\t\t But whenever you pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.\n\t\t\t When you pray, do not babble repetitiously like the Gentiles, because they think that by their many words they will be heard. \n\t\t\t Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. \n\t\t\t So pray this way: Our Father in heaven, may your name be honored,\n\t\t\t may your kingdom come, may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.\n\t\t\t Give us today our daily bread,\n\t\t\t and forgive us our debts, as we ourselves have forgiven our debtors.\n\t\t\t And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.\n\t\t\t \"For if you forgive others their sins, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. \n\t\t\t But if you do not forgive others, your Father will not forgive you your sins.\n\t\t\t \"When you fast, do not look sullen like the hypocrites, for they make their faces unattractive so that people will see them fasting. I tell you the truth, they have their reward. \n\t\t\t When you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, \n\t\t\t so that it will not be obvious to others when you are fasting, but only to your Father who is in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.\n\t\t\t \"Do not accumulate for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. \n\t\t\t But accumulate for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.\n\t\t\t For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.\n\t\t\t \"The eye is the lamp of the body. If then your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light. \n\t\t\t But if your eye is diseased, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!\n\t\t\t \"No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.\n\t\t\t \"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Isn't there more to life than food and more to the body than clothing? \n\t\t\t Look at the birds in the sky: They do not sow, or reap, or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren't you more valuable than they are? \n\t\t\t And which of you by worrying can add even one hour to his life?\n\t\t\t Why do you worry about clothing? Think about how the flowers of the field grow; they do not work or spin. \n\t\t\t Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these!\n\t\t\t And if this is how God clothes the wild grass, which is here today and tomorrow is tossed into the fire to heat the oven, won't he clothe you even more, you people of little faith? \n\t\t\t So then, don't worry saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear?'\n\t\t\t For the unconverted pursue these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. \n\t\t\t But above all pursue his kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. \n\t\t\t So then, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of its own.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t \"Do not judge so that you will not be judged.\n\t\t\t For by the standard you judge you will be judged, and the measure you use will be the measure you receive.\n\t\t\t Why do you see the speck in your brother's eye, but fail to see the beam of wood in your own? \n\t\t\t Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye,' while there is a beam in your own?\n\t\t\t You hypocrite! First remove the beam from your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.\n\t\t\t Do not give what is holy to dogs or throw your pearls before pigs; otherwise they will trample them under their feet and turn around and tear you to pieces.\n\t\t\t \"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened for you. \n\t\t\t For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. \n\t\t\t Is there anyone among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? \n\t\t\t Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?\n\t\t\t If you then, although you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! \n\t\t\t In everything, treat others as you would want them to treat you, for this fulfills the law and the prophets.\n\t\t\t \"Enter through the narrow gate, because the gate is wide and the way is spacious that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.\n\t\t\t But the gate is narrow and the way is difficult that leads to life, and there are few who find it.\n\t\t\t \"Watch out for false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are voracious wolves.\n\t\t\t You will recognize them by their fruit. Grapes are not gathered from thorns or figs from thistles, are they?\n\t\t\t In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. \n\t\t\t A good tree is not able to bear bad fruit, nor a bad tree to bear good fruit.\n\t\t\t Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.\n\t\t\t So then, you will recognize them by their fruit.\n\t\t\t \"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter into the kingdom of heaven, only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.\n\t\t\t On that day, many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, didn't we prophesy in your name, and in your name cast out demons and do many powerful deeds?' \n\t\t\t Then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you. Go away from me, you lawbreakers!'\n\t\t\t \"Everyone who hears these words of mine and does them is like a wise man who built his house on rock. \n\t\t\t The rain fell, the flood came, and the winds beat against that house, but it did not collapse because it had been founded on rock. \n\t\t\t Everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.\n\t\t\t The rain fell, the flood came, and the winds beat against that house, and it collapsed; it was utterly destroyed!\"\n\t\t\t When Jesus finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed by his teaching, \n\t\t\t because he taught them like one who had authority, not like their experts in the law.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t After he came down from the mountain, large crowds followed him.\n\t\t\t And a leper approached, and bowed low before him, saying, \"Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.\" \n\t\t\t He stretched out his hand and touched him saying, \"I am willing. Be clean!\" Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.\n\t\t\t Then Jesus said to him, \"See that you do not speak to anyone, but go, show yourself to a priest, and bring the offering that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.\"\n\t\t\t When he entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him asking for help:\n\t\t\t \"Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, in terrible anguish.\"\n\t\t\t Jesus said to him, \"I will come and heal him.\" \n\t\t\t But the centurion replied, \"Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. Instead, just say the word and my servant will be healed. \n\t\t\t For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I say to this one, 'Go' and he goes, and to another 'Come' and he comes, and to my slave 'Do this' and he does it.\"\n\t\t\t When Jesus heard this he was amazed and said to those who followed him, \"I tell you the truth, I have not found such faith in anyone in Israel! \n\t\t\t I tell you, many will come from the east and west to share the banquet with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, \n\t\t\t but the sons of the kingdom will be thrown out into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.\"\n\t\t\t Then Jesus said to the centurion, \"Go; just as you believed, it will be done for you.\" And the servant was healed at that hour.\n\t\t\t Now when Jesus entered Peter's house, he saw his mother-in-law lying down, sick with a fever. \n\t\t\t He touched her hand, and the fever left her. Then she got up and began to serve them. \n\t\t\t When it was evening, many demon-possessed people were brought to him. He drove out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick.\n\t\t\t In this way what was spoken by Isaiah the prophet was fulfilled: \"He took our weaknesses and carried our diseases.\"\n\t\t\t Now when Jesus saw a large crowd around him, he gave orders to go to the other side of the lake.\n\t\t\t Then an expert in the law came to him and said, \"Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.\"\n\t\t\t Jesus said to him, \"Foxes have dens, and the birds in the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.\"\n\t\t\t Another of the disciples said to him, \"Lord, let me first go and bury my father.\" \n\t\t\t But Jesus said to him, \"Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.\"\n\t\t\t As he got into the boat, his disciples followed him.\n\t\t\t And a great storm developed on the sea so that the waves began to swamp the boat. But he was asleep.\n\t\t\t So they came and woke him up saying, \"Lord, save us! We are about to die!\" \n\t\t\t But he said to them, \"Why are you cowardly, you people of little faith?\" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it was dead calm. \n\t\t\t And the men were amazed and said, \"What sort of person is this? Even the winds and the sea obey him!\"\n\t\t\t When he came to the other side, to the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were extremely violent, so that no one was able to pass by that way. \n\t\t\t They cried out, \"Son of God, leave us alone! Have you come here to torment us before the time?\"\n\t\t\t A large herd of pigs was feeding some distance from them. \n\t\t\t Then the demons begged him, \"If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.\" \n\t\t\t And he said, \"Go!\" So they came out and went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep slope into the lake and drowned in the water. \n\t\t\t The herdsmen ran off, went into the town, and told everything that had happened to the demon-possessed men. \n\t\t\t Then the entire town came out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they begged him to leave their region.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t After getting into a boat he crossed to the other side and came to his own town.\n\t\t\t Just then some people brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, \"Have courage, son! Your sins are forgiven.\"\n\t\t\t Then some of the experts in the law said to themselves, \"This man is blaspheming!\"\n\t\t\t When Jesus saw their reaction he said, \"Why do you respond with evil in your hearts?\n\t\t\t Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven' or to say, 'Stand up and walk'? \n\t\t\t But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins\", then he said to the paralytic, \"Stand up, take your stretcher, and go home.\"\n\t\t\t And he stood up and went home.\n\t\t\t When the crowd saw this, they were afraid and honored God who had given such authority to men.\n\t\t\t As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax booth. \"Follow me,\" he said to him. And he got up and followed him. \n\t\t\t As Jesus was having a meal in Matthew's house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with Jesus and his disciples. \n\t\t\t When the Pharisees saw this they said to his disciples, \"Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?\"\n\t\t\t When Jesus heard this he said, \"Those who are healthy don't need a physician, but those who are sick do.\n\t\t\t Go and learn what this saying means: 'I want mercy and not sacrifice.' For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.\"\n\t\t\t Then John's disciples came to Jesus and asked, \"Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples don't fast?\" \n\t\t\t Jesus said to them, \"The wedding guests cannot mourn while the bridegroom is with them, can they? But the days are coming when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and then they will fast.\n\t\t\t No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, because the patch will pull away from the garment and the tear will be worse.\n\t\t\t And no one pours new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the skins burst and the wine is spilled out and the skins are destroyed. Instead they put new wine into new wineskins and both are preserved.\"\n\t\t\t As he was saying these things, a ruler came, bowed low before him, and said, \"My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her and she will live.\"\n\t\t\t Jesus and his disciples got up and followed him.\n\t\t\t But a woman who had been suffering from a hemorrhage for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak.\n\t\t\t For she kept saying to herself, \"If only I touch his cloak, I will be healed.\"\n\t\t\t But when Jesus turned and saw her he said, \"Have courage, daughter! Your faith has made you well.\" And the woman was healed from that hour. \n\t\t\t When Jesus entered the ruler's house and saw the flute players and the disorderly crowd,\n\t\t\t he said, \"Go away, for the girl is not dead but asleep.\" And they began making fun of him.\n\t\t\t But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and gently took her by the hand, and the girl got up.\n\t\t\t And the news of this spread throughout that region.\n\t\t\t As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, shouting, \"Have mercy on us, Son of David!\"\n\t\t\t When he went into the house, the blind men came to him. Jesus said to them, \"Do you believe that I am able to do this?\" They said to him, \"Yes, Lord.\" \n\t\t\t Then he touched their eyes saying, \"Let it be done for you according to your faith.\"\n\t\t\t And their eyes were opened. Then Jesus sternly warned them, \"See that no one knows about this.\"\n\t\t\t But they went out and spread the news about him throughout that entire region.\n\t\t\t As they were going away, a man who could not talk and was demon-possessed was brought to him.\n\t\t\t After the demon was cast out, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowds were amazed and said, \"Never has anything like this been seen in Israel!\"\n\t\t\t But the Pharisees said, \"By the ruler of demons he casts out demons.\"\n\t\t\t Then Jesus went throughout all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and sickness.\n\t\t\t When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were bewildered and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. \n\t\t\t Then he said to his disciples, \"The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.\n\t\t\t Therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Jesus called his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits so they could cast them out and heal every kind of disease and sickness.\n\t\t\t Now these are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (called Peter), and Andrew his brother; James son of Zebedee and John his brother; \n\t\t\t Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;\n\t\t\t Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.\n\t\t\t Jesus sent out these twelve, instructing them as follows: \"Do not go to Gentile regions and do not enter any Samaritan town.\n\t\t\t Go instead to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. \n\t\t\t As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near!'\n\t\t\t Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give. \n\t\t\t Do not take gold, silver, or copper in your belts,\n\t\t\t no bag for the journey, or an extra tunic, or sandals or staff, for the worker deserves his provisions. \n\t\t\t Whenever you enter a town or village, find out who is worthy there and stay with them until you leave.\n\t\t\t As you enter the house, give it greetings.\n\t\t\t And if the house is worthy, let your peace come on it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.\n\t\t\t And if anyone will not welcome you or listen to your message, shake the dust off your feet as you leave that house or that town. \n\t\t\t I tell you the truth, it will be more bearable for the region of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town!\n\t\t\t \"I am sending you out like sheep surrounded by wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. \n\t\t\t Beware of people, because they will hand you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues.\n\t\t\t And you will be brought before governors and kings because of me, as a witness to them and the Gentiles. \n\t\t\t Whenever they hand you over for trial, do not worry about how to speak or what to say, for what you should say will be given to you at that time.\n\t\t\t For it is not you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.\n\t\t\t \"Brother will hand over brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise against parents and have them put to death. \n\t\t\t And you will be hated by everyone because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.\n\t\t\t Whenever they persecute you in one place, flee to another. I tell you the truth, you will not finish going through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.\n\t\t\t \"A disciple is not greater than his teacher, nor a slave greater than his master. \n\t\t\t It is enough for the disciple to become like his teacher, and the slave like his master. If they have called the head of the house 'Beelzebul,' how much more will they defame the members of his household!\n\t\t\t \"Do not be afraid of them, for nothing is hidden that will not be revealed, and nothing is secret that will not be made known. \n\t\t\t What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light, and what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the housetops.\n\t\t\t Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the one who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.\n\t\t\t Aren't two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father's will.\n\t\t\t Even all the hairs on your head are numbered.\n\t\t\t So do not be afraid; you are more valuable than many sparrows.\n\t\t\t \"Whoever, then, acknowledges me before people, I will acknowledge before my Father in heaven. \n\t\t\t But whoever denies me before people, I will deny him also before my Father in heaven.\n\t\t\t \"Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace but a sword. \n\t\t\t For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law,\n\t\t\t and a man's enemies will be the members of his household.\n\t\t\t \"Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.\n\t\t\t And whoever does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. \n\t\t\t Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life because of me will find it.\n\t\t\t \"Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.\n\t\t\t Whoever receives a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet's reward. Whoever receives a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive a righteous person's reward. \n\t\t\t And whoever gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple, I tell you the truth, he will never lose his reward.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their towns.\n\t\t\t Now when John heard in prison about the deeds Christ had done, he sent his disciples to ask a question:\n\t\t\t \"Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?\" \n\t\t\t Jesus answered them, \"Go tell John what you hear and see:\n\t\t\t The blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news proclaimed to them. \n\t\t\t Blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.\"\n\t\t\t While they were going away, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: \"What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?\n\t\t\t What did you go out to see? A man dressed in fancy clothes? Look, those who wear fancy clothes are in the homes of kings!\n\t\t\t What did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. \n\t\t\t This is the one about whom it is written: 'Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.'\n\t\t\t \"I tell you the truth, among those born of women, no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he is. \n\t\t\t From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and forceful people lay hold of it.\n\t\t\t For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John appeared.\n\t\t\t And if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah, who is to come.\n\t\t\t The one who has ears had better listen!\n\t\t\t \"To what should I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces who call out to one another,\n\t\t\t 'We played the flute for you, yet you did not dance; we wailed in mourning, yet you did not weep.'\n\t\t\t For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon!'\n\t\t\t The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Look at him, a glutton and a drunk, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' But wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.\"\n\t\t\t Then Jesus began to criticize openly the cities in which he had done many of his miracles, because they did not repent. \n\t\t\t \"Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the miracles done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. \n\t\t\t But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you!\n\t\t\t And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? No, you will be thrown down to Hades! For if the miracles done among you had been done in Sodom, it would have continued to this day. \n\t\t\t But I tell you, it will be more bearable for the region of Sodom on the day of judgment than for you!\"\n\t\t\t At that time Jesus said, \"I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent, and revealed them to little children. \n\t\t\t Yes, Father, for this was your gracious will.\n\t\t\t All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son decides to reveal him. \n\t\t\t Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.\n\t\t\t Take my yoke on you and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. \n\t\t\t For my yoke is easy to bear, and my load is not hard to carry.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t At that time Jesus went through the grain fields on a Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, and they began to pick heads of wheat and eat them. \n\t\t\t But when the Pharisees saw this they said to him, \"Look, your disciples are doing what is against the law to do on the Sabbath.\" \n\t\t\t He said to them, \"Haven't you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry,\n\t\t\t how he entered the house of God and they ate the sacred bread, which was against the law for him or his companions to eat, but only for the priests?\n\t\t\t Or have you not read in the law that the priests in the temple desecrate the Sabbath and yet are not guilty?\n\t\t\t I tell you that something greater than the temple is here. \n\t\t\t If you had known what this means: 'I want mercy and not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the innocent. \n\t\t\t For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.\"\n\t\t\t Then Jesus left that place and entered their synagogue.\n\t\t\t A man was there who had a withered hand. And they asked Jesus, \"Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?\" so that they could accuse him. \n\t\t\t He said to them, \"Would not any one of you, if he had one sheep that fell into a pit on the Sabbath, take hold of it and lift it out?\n\t\t\t How much more valuable is a person than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.\"\n\t\t\t Then he said to the man, \"Stretch out your hand.\" He stretched it out and it was restored, as healthy as the other. \n\t\t\t But the Pharisees went out and plotted against him, as to how they could assassinate him.\n\t\t\t Now when Jesus learned of this, he went away from there. Great crowds followed him, and he healed them all. \n\t\t\t But he sternly warned them not to make him known.\n\t\t\t This fulfilled what was spoken by Isaiah the prophet:\n\t\t\t \"Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I take great delight. I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations.\n\t\t\t He will not quarrel or cry out, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets.\n\t\t\t He will not break a bruised reed or extinguish a smoldering wick, until he brings justice to victory.\n\t\t\t And in his name the Gentiles will hope.\"\n\t\t\t Then they brought to him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute. Jesus healed him so that he could speak and see.\n\t\t\t All the crowds were amazed and said, \"Could this one be the Son of David?\"\n\t\t\t But when the Pharisees heard this they said, \"He does not cast out demons except by the power of Beelzebul, the ruler of demons!\" \n\t\t\t Now when Jesus realized what they were thinking, he said to them, \"Every kingdom divided against itself is destroyed, and no town or house divided against itself will stand. \n\t\t\t So if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? \n\t\t\t And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? For this reason they will be your judges. \n\t\t\t But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has already overtaken you. \n\t\t\t How else can someone enter a strong man's house and steal his property, unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can thoroughly plunder the house.\n\t\t\t Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.\n\t\t\t For this reason I tell you, people will be forgiven for every sin and blasphemy, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. \n\t\t\t Whoever 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 age to come.\n\t\t\t \"Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is known by its fruit. \n\t\t\t Offspring of vipers! How are you able to say anything good, since you are evil? For the mouth speaks from what fills the heart.\n\t\t\t The good person brings good things out of his good treasury, and the evil person brings evil things out of his evil treasury.\n\t\t\t I tell you that on the day of judgment, people will give an account for every worthless word they speak. \n\t\t\t For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.\"\n\t\t\t Then some of the experts in the law along with some Pharisees answered him, \"Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.\" \n\t\t\t But he answered them, \"An evil and adulterous generation asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. \n\t\t\t For just as Jonah was in the belly of the huge fish 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.\n\t\t\t The people of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented when Jonah preached to them, and now, something greater than Jonah is here!\n\t\t\t The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and now, something greater than Solomon is here!\n\t\t\t \"When an unclean spirit goes out of a person, it passes through waterless places looking for rest but does not find it. \n\t\t\t Then it says, 'I will return to the home I left.' When it returns, it finds the house empty, swept clean, and put in order.\n\t\t\t Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they go in and live there, so the last state of that person is worse than the first. It will be that way for this evil generation as well!\"\n\t\t\t While Jesus was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and brothers came and stood outside, asking to speak to him. \n\t\t\t Someone told him, \"Look, your mother and your brothers are standing outside wanting to speak to you.\" \n\t\t\t To the one who had said this, Jesus replied, \"Who is my mother and who are my brothers?\" \n\t\t\t And pointing toward his disciples he said, \"Here are my mother and my brothers! \n\t\t\t For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t On that day after Jesus went out of the house, he sat by the lake.\n\t\t\t And such a large crowd gathered around him that he got into a boat to sit while the whole crowd stood on the shore. \n\t\t\t He told them many things in parables, saying: \"Listen! A sower went out to sow.\n\t\t\t And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. \n\t\t\t Other seeds fell on rocky ground where they did not have much soil. They sprang up quickly because the soil was not deep.\n\t\t\t But when the sun came up, they were scorched, and because they did not have sufficient root, they withered.\n\t\t\t Other seeds fell among the thorns, and they grew up and choked them.\n\t\t\t But other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundred times as much, some sixty, and some thirty.\n\t\t\t The one who has ears had better listen!\"\n\t\t\t Then the disciples came to him and said, \"Why do you speak to them in parables?\"\n\t\t\t He replied, \"You have been given the opportunity to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but they have not. \n\t\t\t For whoever has will be given more, and will have an abundance. But whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.\n\t\t\t For this reason I speak to them in parables: Although they see they do not see, and although they hear they do not hear nor do they understand.\n\t\t\t And concerning them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says: 'You will listen carefully yet will never understand, you will look closely yet will never comprehend.\n\t\t\t For the heart of this people has become dull; they are hard of hearing, and they have shut their eyes, so that they would not see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.'\n\t\t\t \"But your eyes are blessed because they see, and your ears because they hear. \n\t\t\t For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.\n\t\t\t \"So listen to the parable of the sower:\n\t\t\t When anyone hears the word about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches what was sown in his heart; this is the seed sown along the path. \n\t\t\t The seed sown on rocky ground is the person who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy. \n\t\t\t But he has no root in himself and does not endure; when trouble or persecution comes because of the word, immediately he falls away. \n\t\t\t The seed sown among thorns is the person who hears the word, but worldly cares and the seductiveness of wealth choke the word, so it produces nothing. \n\t\t\t But as for the seed sown on good soil, this is the person who hears the word and understands. He bears fruit, yielding a hundred, sixty, or thirty times what was sown.\"\n\t\t\t He presented them with another parable: \"The kingdom of heaven is like a person who sowed good seed in his field. \n\t\t\t But while everyone was sleeping, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. \n\t\t\t When the plants sprouted and bore grain, then the weeds also appeared. \n\t\t\t So the slaves of the owner came and said to him, 'Sir, didn't you sow good seed in your field? Then where did the weeds come from?' \n\t\t\t He said, 'An enemy has done this.' So the slaves replied, 'Do you want us to go and gather them?' \n\t\t\t But he said, 'No, since in gathering the weeds you may uproot the wheat with them.\n\t\t\t Let both grow together until the harvest. At harvest time I will tell the reapers, \"First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned, but then gather the wheat into my barn.\"'\"\n\t\t\t He gave them another parable: \"The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. \n\t\t\t It is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest garden plant and becomes a tree, so that the wild birds come and nest in its branches.\"\n\t\t\t He told them another parable: \"The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed with three measures of flour until all the dough had risen.\"\n\t\t\t Jesus spoke all these things in parables to the crowds; he did not speak to them without a parable.\n\t\t\t This fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet: \"I will open my mouth in parables, I will announce what has been hidden from the foundation of the world.\"\n\t\t\t Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples came to him saying, \"Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.\"\n\t\t\t He answered, \"The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. \n\t\t\t The field is the world and the good seed are the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, \n\t\t\t and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels.\n\t\t\t As the weeds are collected and burned with fire, so it will be at the end of the age. \n\t\t\t The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather from his kingdom everything that causes sin as well as all lawbreakers.\n\t\t\t They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. \n\t\t\t Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. The one who has ears had better listen!\n\t\t\t \"The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure, hidden in a field, that a person found and hid. Then because of joy he went and sold all that he had and bought that field.\n\t\t\t \"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls.\n\t\t\t When he found a pearl of great value, he went out and sold everything he had and bought it.\n\t\t\t \"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was cast into the sea that caught all kinds of fish.\n\t\t\t When it was full, they pulled it ashore, sat down, and put the good fish into containers and threw the bad away.\n\t\t\t It will be this way at the end of the age. Angels will come and separate the evil from the righteous\n\t\t\t and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.\n\t\t\t \"Have you understood all these things?\" They replied, \"Yes.\"\n\t\t\t Then he said to them, \"Therefore every expert in the law who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his treasure what is new and old.\"\n\t\t\t Now when Jesus finished these parables, he moved on from there. \n\t\t\t Then he came to his hometown and began to teach the people in their synagogue. They were astonished and said, \"Where did this man get such wisdom and miraculous powers? \n\t\t\t Isn't this the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother named Mary? And aren't his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? \n\t\t\t And aren't all his sisters here with us? Where did he get all this?\"\n\t\t\t And so they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, \"A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own house.\"\n\t\t\t And he did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t At that time Herod the tetrarch heard reports about Jesus, \n\t\t\t and he said to his servants, \"This is John the Baptist. He has been raised from the dead! And because of this, miraculous powers are at work in him.\"\n\t\t\t For Herod had arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, \n\t\t\t because John had repeatedly told him, \"It is not lawful for you to have her.\"\n\t\t\t Although Herod wanted to kill John, he feared the crowd because they accepted John as a prophet. \n\t\t\t But on Herod's birthday, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod,\n\t\t\t so much that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. \n\t\t\t Instructed by her mother, she said, \"Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter.\"\n\t\t\t Although it grieved the king, because of his oath and the dinner guests he commanded it to be given. \n\t\t\t So he sent and had John beheaded in the prison. \n\t\t\t His head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother. \n\t\t\t Then John's disciples came and took the body and buried it and went and told Jesus.\n\t\t\t Now when Jesus heard this he went away from there privately in a boat to an isolated place. But when the crowd heard about it, they followed him on foot from the towns.\n\t\t\t As he got out he saw the large crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.\n\t\t\t When evening arrived, his disciples came to him saying, \"This is an isolated place and the hour is already late. Send the crowds away so that they can go into the villages and buy food for themselves.\" \n\t\t\t But he replied, \"They don't need to go. You give them something to eat.\" \n\t\t\t They said to him, \"We have here only five loaves and two fish.\" \n\t\t\t \"Bring them here to me,\" he replied.\n\t\t\t Then he instructed the crowds to sit down on the grass. He took the five loaves and two fish, and looking up to heaven he gave thanks and broke the loaves. He gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds.\n\t\t\t They all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up the broken pieces left over, twelve baskets full.\n\t\t\t Not counting women and children, there were about five thousand men who ate.\n\t\t\t Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, while he dispersed the crowds. \n\t\t\t And after he sent the crowds away, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone.\n\t\t\t Meanwhile the boat, already far from land, was taking a beating from the waves because the wind was against it. \n\t\t\t As the night was ending, Jesus came to them walking on the sea.\n\t\t\t When the disciples saw him walking on the water they were terrified and said, \"It's a ghost!\" and cried out with fear. \n\t\t\t But immediately Jesus spoke to them: \"Have courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.\" \n\t\t\t Peter said to him, \"Lord, if it is you, order me to come to you on the water.\"\n\t\t\t So he said, \"Come.\" Peter got out of the boat, walked on the water, and came toward Jesus.\n\t\t\t But when he saw the strong wind he became afraid. And starting to sink, he cried out, \"Lord, save me!\" \n\t\t\t Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, \"You of little faith, why did you doubt?\"\n\t\t\t When they went up into the boat, the wind ceased.\n\t\t\t Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, \"Truly you are the Son of God.\"\n\t\t\t After they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret.\n\t\t\t When the people there recognized him, they sent word into all the surrounding area, and they brought all their sick to him.\n\t\t\t They begged him if they could only touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then Pharisees and experts in the law came from Jerusalem to Jesus and said,\n\t\t\t \"Why do your disciples disobey the tradition of the elders? For they don't wash their hands when they eat.\"\n\t\t\t He answered them, \"And why do you disobey the commandment of God because of your tradition? \n\t\t\t For God said, 'Honor your father and mother' and 'Whoever insults his father or mother must be put to death.'\n\t\t\t But you say, 'If someone tells his father or mother, \"Whatever help you would have received from me is given to God,\"\n\t\t\t he does not need to honor his father.' You have nullified the word of God on account of your tradition. \n\t\t\t Hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied correctly about you when he said,\n\t\t\t 'This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me,\n\t\t\t and they worship me in vain, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'\"\n\t\t\t Then he called the crowd to him and said, \"Listen and understand. \n\t\t\t What defiles a person is not what goes into the mouth; it is what comes out of the mouth that defiles a person.\" \n\t\t\t Then the disciples came to him and said, \"Do you know that when the Pharisees heard this saying they were offended?\"\n\t\t\t And he replied, \"Every plant that my heavenly Father did not plant will be uprooted. \n\t\t\t Leave them! They are blind guides. If someone who is blind leads another who is blind, both will fall into a pit.\"\n\t\t\t But Peter said to him, \"Explain this parable to us.\" \n\t\t\t Jesus said, \"Even after all this, are you still so foolish? \n\t\t\t Don't you understand that whatever goes into the mouth enters the stomach and then passes out into the sewer?\n\t\t\t But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these things defile a person.\n\t\t\t For out of the heart come evil ideas, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.\n\t\t\t These are the things that defile a person; it is not eating with unwashed hands that defiles a person.\"\n\t\t\t After going out from there, Jesus went to the region of Tyre and Sidon.\n\t\t\t A Canaanite woman from that area came and cried out, \"Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is horribly demon-possessed!\" \n\t\t\t But he did not answer her a word. Then his disciples came and begged him, \"Send her away, because she keeps on crying out after us.\"\n\t\t\t So he answered, \"I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.\" \n\t\t\t But she came and bowed down before him and said, \"Lord, help me!\" \n\t\t\t \"It is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs,\" he said.\n\t\t\t \"Yes, Lord,\" she replied, \"but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table.\" \n\t\t\t Then Jesus answered her, \"Woman, your faith is great! Let what you want be done for you.\" And her daughter was healed from that hour.\n\t\t\t When he left there, Jesus went along the Sea of Galilee. Then he went up a mountain, where he sat down.\n\t\t\t Then large crowds came to him bringing with them the lame, blind, crippled, mute, and many others. They laid them at his feet, and he healed them. \n\t\t\t As a result, the crowd was amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled healthy, the lame walking, and the blind seeing, and they praised the God of Israel.\n\t\t\t Then Jesus called the disciples and said, \"I have compassion on the crowd, because they have already been here with me three days and they have nothing to eat. I don't want to send them away hungry since they may faint on the way.\" \n\t\t\t The disciples said to him, \"Where can we get enough bread in this desolate place to satisfy so great a crowd?\"\n\t\t\t Jesus said to them, \"How many loaves do you have?\" They replied, \"Seven, and a few small fish.\"\n\t\t\t After instructing the crowd to sit down on the ground,\n\t\t\t he took the seven loaves and the fish, and after giving thanks, he broke them and began giving them to the disciples, who then gave them to the crowds.\n\t\t\t They all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full. \n\t\t\t Not counting children and women, there were four thousand men who ate.\n\t\t\t After sending away the crowd, he got into the boat and went to the region of Magadan.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now when the Pharisees and Sadducees came to test Jesus, they asked him to show them a sign from heaven.\n\t\t\t He said, \"When evening comes you say, 'It will be fair weather, because the sky is red,' \n\t\t\t and in the morning, 'It will be stormy today, because the sky is red and darkening.' You know how to judge correctly the appearance of the sky, but you cannot evaluate the signs of the times. \n\t\t\t A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.\" Then he left them and went away.\n\t\t\t When the disciples went to the other side, they forgot to take bread.\n\t\t\t \"Watch out,\" Jesus said to them, \"beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.\"\n\t\t\t So they began to discuss this among themselves, saying, \"It is because we brought no bread.\" \n\t\t\t When Jesus learned of this, he said, \"You who have such little faith! Why are you arguing among yourselves about having no bread? \n\t\t\t Do you still not understand? Don't you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you took up?\n\t\t\t Or the seven loaves for the four thousand and how many baskets you took up?\n\t\t\t How could you not understand that I was not speaking to you about bread? But beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees!\"\n\t\t\t Then they understood that he had not told them to be on guard against the yeast in bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.\n\t\t\t When Jesus came to the area of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, \"Who do people say that the Son of Man is?\" \n\t\t\t They answered, \"Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.\" \n\t\t\t He said to them, \"But who do you say that I am?\"\n\t\t\t Simon Peter answered, \"You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.\" \n\t\t\t And Jesus answered him, \"You are blessed, Simon son of Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father in heaven! \n\t\t\t And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. \n\t\t\t I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever you release on earth will have been released in heaven.\"\n\t\t\t Then he instructed his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ.\n\t\t\t From that time on Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests, and experts in the law, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. \n\t\t\t So Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him: \"God forbid, Lord! This must not happen to you!\" \n\t\t\t But he turned and said to Peter, \"Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me, because you are not setting your mind on God's interests, but on man's.\"\n\t\t\t Then Jesus said to his disciples, \"If anyone wants to become my follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. \n\t\t\t For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. \n\t\t\t For what does it benefit a person if he gains the whole world but forfeits his life? Or what can a person give in exchange for his life? \n\t\t\t For the Son of Man will come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.\n\t\t\t I tell you the truth, there are some standing here who will not experience death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Six days later Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John the brother of James, and led them privately up a high mountain. \n\t\t\t And he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. \n\t\t\t Then Moses and Elijah also appeared before them, talking with him. \n\t\t\t So Peter said to Jesus, \"Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you want, I will make three shelters, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.\"\n\t\t\t While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, \"This is my one dear Son, in whom I take great delight. Listen to him!\"\n\t\t\t When the disciples heard this, they were overwhelmed with fear and threw themselves down with their faces to the ground.\n\t\t\t But Jesus came and touched them. \"Get up,\" he said. \"Do not be afraid.\"\n\t\t\t When they looked up, all they saw was Jesus alone.\n\t\t\t As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, \"Do not tell anyone about the vision until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.\" \n\t\t\t The disciples asked him, \"Why then do the experts in the law say that Elijah must come first?\" \n\t\t\t He answered, \"Elijah does indeed come first and will restore all things. \n\t\t\t And I tell you that Elijah has already come. Yet they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they wanted. In the same way, the Son of Man will suffer at their hands.\" \n\t\t\t Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them about John the Baptist.\n\t\t\t When they came to the crowd, a man came to him, knelt before him, \n\t\t\t and said, \"Lord, have mercy on my son, because he has seizures and suffers terribly, for he often falls into the fire and into the water. \n\t\t\t I brought him to your disciples, but they were not able to heal him.\" \n\t\t\t Jesus answered, \"You unbelieving and perverse generation! How much longer must I be with you? How much longer must I endure you? Bring him here to me.\" \n\t\t\t Then Jesus rebuked the demon and it came out of him, and the boy was healed from that moment. \n\t\t\t Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, \"Why couldn't we cast it out?\" \n\t\t\t He told them, \"It was because of your little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; nothing will be impossible for you.\"\n\t\t\t \n\t\t\t When they gathered together in Galilee, Jesus told them, \"The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men.\n\t\t\t They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised.\" And they became greatly distressed.\n\t\t\t After they arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the temple tax came to Peter and said, \"Your teacher pays the double drachma tax, doesn't he?\" \n\t\t\t He said, \"Yes.\" When Peter came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, \"What do you think, Simon? From whom do earthly kings collect tolls or taxes, from their sons or from foreigners?\"\n\t\t\t After he said, \"From foreigners,\" Jesus said to him, \"Then the sons are free. \n\t\t\t But so that we don't offend them, go to the lake and throw out a hook. Take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth, you will find a four drachma coin. Take that and give it to them for me and you.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t At that time the disciples came to Jesus saying, \"Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?\"\n\t\t\t He called a child, had him stand among them,\n\t\t\t and said, \"I tell you the truth, unless you turn around and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven! \n\t\t\t Whoever then humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.\n\t\t\t And whoever welcomes a child like this in my name welcomes me.\n\t\t\t \"But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a huge millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the open sea.\n\t\t\t Woe to the world because of stumbling blocks! It is necessary that stumbling blocks come, but woe to the person through whom they come. \n\t\t\t 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 crippled or lame than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. \n\t\t\t And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into fiery hell.\n\t\t\t \"See that you do not disdain one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.\n\t\t\t \n\t\t\t What do you think? If someone owns a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go look for the one that went astray?\n\t\t\t And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he will rejoice more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. \n\t\t\t In the same way, your Father in heaven is not willing that one of these little ones be lost.\n\t\t\t \"If your brother sins, go and show him his fault when the two of you are alone. If he listens to you, you have regained your brother. \n\t\t\t But if he does not listen, take one or two others with you, so that at the testimony of two or three witnesses every matter may be established.\n\t\t\t If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. If he refuses to listen to the church, treat him like a Gentile or a tax collector.\n\t\t\t \"I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever you release on earth will have been released in heaven. \n\t\t\t Again, I tell you the truth, if two of you on earth agree about whatever you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you.\n\t\t\t For where two or three are assembled in my name, I am there among them.\"\n\t\t\t Then Peter came to him and said, \"Lord, how many times must I forgive my brother who sins against me? As many as seven times?\" \n\t\t\t Jesus said to him, \"Not seven times, I tell you, but seventy-seven times!\n\t\t\t \"For this reason, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his slaves.\n\t\t\t As he began settling his accounts, a man who owed ten thousand talents was brought to him. \n\t\t\t Because he was not able to repay it, the lord ordered him to be sold, along with his wife, children, and whatever he possessed, and repayment to be made. \n\t\t\t Then the slave threw himself to the ground before him, saying, 'Be patient with me, and I will repay you everything.' \n\t\t\t The lord had compassion on that slave and released him, and forgave him the debt.\n\t\t\t After he went out, that same slave found one of his fellow slaves who owed him one hundred silver coins. So he grabbed him by the throat and started to choke him, saying, 'Pay back what you owe me!'\n\t\t\t Then his fellow slave threw himself down and begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will repay you.' \n\t\t\t But he refused. Instead, he went out and threw him in prison until he repaid the debt.\n\t\t\t When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were very upset and went and told their lord everything that had taken place. \n\t\t\t Then his lord called the first slave and said to him, 'Evil slave! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me! \n\t\t\t Should you not have shown mercy to your fellow slave, just as I showed it to you?'\n\t\t\t And in anger his lord turned him over to the prison guards to torture him until he repaid all he owed. \n\t\t\t So also my heavenly Father will do to you, if each of you does not forgive your brother from your heart.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now when Jesus finished these sayings, he left Galilee and went to the region of Judea beyond the Jordan River.\n\t\t\t Large crowds followed him, and he healed them there.\n\t\t\t Then some Pharisees came to him in order to test him. They asked, \"Is it lawful to divorce a wife for any cause?\"\n\t\t\t He answered, \"Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator made them male and female,\n\t\t\t and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and will be united with his wife, and the two will become one flesh'?\n\t\t\t So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.\"\n\t\t\t They said to him, \"Why then did Moses command us to give a certificate of dismissal and to divorce her?\"\n\t\t\t Jesus said to them, \"Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because of your hard hearts, but from the beginning it was not this way.\n\t\t\t Now I say to you that whoever divorces his wife, except for immorality, and marries another commits adultery.\"\n\t\t\t The disciples said to him, \"If this is the case of a husband with a wife, it is better not to marry!\" \n\t\t\t He said to them, \"Not everyone can accept this statement, except those to whom it has been given.\n\t\t\t For there are some eunuchs who were that way from birth, and some who were made eunuchs by others, and some who became eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who is able to accept this should accept it.\"\n\t\t\t Then little children were brought to him for him to lay his hands on them and pray. But the disciples scolded those who brought them.\n\t\t\t But Jesus said, \"Let the little children come to me and do not try to stop them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.\"\n\t\t\t And he placed his hands on them and went on his way.\n\t\t\t Now someone came up to him and said, \"Teacher, what good thing must I do to gain eternal life?\" \n\t\t\t He said to him, \"Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.\"\n\t\t\t \"Which ones?\" he asked. Jesus replied, \"Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony,\n\t\t\t honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as yourself.\"\n\t\t\t The young man said to him, \"I have wholeheartedly obeyed all these laws. What do I still lack?\" \n\t\t\t Jesus said to him, \"If you wish to be perfect, go sell your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.\" \n\t\t\t But when the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he was very rich.\n\t\t\t Then Jesus said to his disciples, \"I tell you the truth, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven! \n\t\t\t Again I say, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter into the kingdom of God.\" \n\t\t\t The disciples were greatly astonished when they heard this and said, \"Then who can be saved?\"\n\t\t\t Jesus looked at them and replied, \"This is impossible for mere humans, but for God all things are possible.\" \n\t\t\t Then Peter said to him, \"Look, we have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?\" \n\t\t\t Jesus said to them, \"I tell you the truth: In the age when all things are renewed, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. \n\t\t\t And whoever has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. \n\t\t\t But many who are first will be last, and the last first.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t \"For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. \n\t\t\t And after agreeing with the workers for the standard wage, he sent them into his vineyard. \n\t\t\t When it was about nine o'clock in the morning, he went out again and saw others standing around in the marketplace without work. \n\t\t\t He said to them, 'You go into the vineyard too, and I will give you whatever is right.'\n\t\t\t So they went. When he went out again about noon and three o'clock that afternoon, he did the same thing. \n\t\t\t And about five o'clock that afternoon he went out and found others standing around, and said to them, 'Why are you standing here all day without work?' \n\t\t\t They said to him, 'Because no one hired us.' He said to them, 'You go and work in the vineyard too.'\n\t\t\t When it was evening the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, 'Call the workers and give the pay starting with the last hired until the first.' \n\t\t\t When those hired about five o'clock came, each received a full day's pay.\n\t\t\t And when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more. But each one also received the standard wage.\n\t\t\t When they received it, they began to complain against the landowner, \n\t\t\t saying, 'These last fellows worked one hour, and you have made them equal to us who bore the hardship and burning heat of the day.'\n\t\t\t And the landowner replied to one of them, 'Friend, I am not treating you unfairly. Didn't you agree with me to work for the standard wage?\n\t\t\t Take what is yours and go. I want to give to this last man the same as I gave to you. \n\t\t\t Am I not permitted to do what I want with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?'\n\t\t\t So the last will be first, and the first last.\"\n\t\t\t As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve aside privately and said to them on the way, \n\t\t\t \"Look, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the experts in the law. They will condemn him to death, \n\t\t\t and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged severely and crucified. Yet on the third day, he will be raised.\"\n\t\t\t Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to him with her sons, and kneeling down she asked him for a favor.\n\t\t\t He said to her, \"What do you want?\" She replied, \"Permit these two sons of mine to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.\" \n\t\t\t Jesus answered, \"You don't know what you are asking! Are you able to drink the cup I am about to drink?\" They said to him, \"We are able.\"\n\t\t\t He told them, \"You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right and at my left is not mine to give. Rather, it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.\"\n\t\t\t Now when the other ten heard this, they were angry with the two brothers. \n\t\t\t But Jesus called them and said, \"You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in high positions use their authority over them.\n\t\t\t It must not be this way among you! Instead whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant,\n\t\t\t and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave,\n\t\t\t just as the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.\"\n\t\t\t As they were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed them. \n\t\t\t Two blind men were sitting by the road. When they heard that Jesus was passing by, they shouted, \"Have mercy on us, Lord, Son of David!\"\n\t\t\t The crowd scolded them to get them to be quiet. But they shouted even more loudly, \"Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!\" \n\t\t\t Jesus stopped, called them, and said, \"What do you want me to do for you?\"\n\t\t\t They said to him, \"Lord, let our eyes be opened.\"\n\t\t\t Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now when they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, \n\t\t\t telling them, \"Go to the village ahead of you. Right away you will find a donkey tied there, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. \n\t\t\t If anyone says anything to you, you are to say, 'The Lord needs them,' and he will send them at once.\" \n\t\t\t This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet:\n\t\t\t \"Tell the people of Zion, 'Look, your king is coming to you, unassuming and seated on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.'\"\n\t\t\t So the disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. \n\t\t\t They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. \n\t\t\t A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road. Others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. \n\t\t\t The crowds that went ahead of him and those following kept shouting, \"Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!\" \n\t\t\t As he entered Jerusalem the whole city was thrown into an uproar, saying, \"Who is this?\" \n\t\t\t And the crowds were saying, \"This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee.\"\n\t\t\t Then Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all those who were selling and buying in the temple courts, and turned over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves. \n\t\t\t And he said to them, \"It is written, 'My house will be called a house of prayer,' but you are turning it into a den of robbers!\"\n\t\t\t The blind and lame came to him in the temple courts, and he healed them.\n\t\t\t But when the chief priests and the experts in the law saw the wonderful things he did and heard the children crying out in the temple courts, \"Hosanna to the Son of David,\" they became indignant \n\t\t\t and said to him, \"Do you hear what they are saying?\" Jesus said to them, \"Yes. Have you never read, 'Out of the mouths of children and nursing infants you have prepared praise for yourself'?\"\n\t\t\t And leaving them, he went out of the city to Bethany and spent the night there.\n\t\t\t Now early in the morning, as he returned to the city, he was hungry.\n\t\t\t After noticing a fig tree by the road he went to it, but found nothing on it except leaves. He said to it, \"Never again will there be fruit from you!\" And the fig tree withered at once. \n\t\t\t When the disciples saw it they were amazed, saying, \"How did the fig tree wither so quickly?\"\n\t\t\t Jesus answered them, \"I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only will you do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, 'Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,' it will happen.\n\t\t\t And whatever you ask in prayer, if you believe, you will receive.\"\n\t\t\t Now after Jesus entered the temple courts, the chief priests and elders of the people came up to him as he was teaching and said, \"By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?\" \n\t\t\t Jesus answered them, \"I will also ask you one question. If you answer me then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. \n\t\t\t Where did John's baptism come from? From heaven or from people?\" They discussed this among themselves, saying, \"If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say, 'Then why did you not believe him?' \n\t\t\t But if we say, 'From people,' we fear the crowd, for they all consider John to be a prophet.\"\n\t\t\t So they answered Jesus, \"We don't know.\" Then he said to them, \"Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.\n\t\t\t \"What do you think? A man had two sons. He went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work in the vineyard today.' \n\t\t\t The boy answered, 'I will not.' But later he had a change of heart and went. \n\t\t\t The father went to the other son and said the same thing. This boy answered, 'I will, sir,' but did not go. \n\t\t\t Which of the two did his father's will?\" They said, \"The first.\" Jesus said to them, \"I tell you the truth, tax collectors and prostitutes will go ahead of you into the kingdom of God! \n\t\t\t For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him. But the tax collectors and prostitutes did believe. Although you saw this, you did not later change your minds and believe him.\n\t\t\t \"Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a fence around it, dug a pit for its winepress, and built a watchtower. Then he leased it to tenant farmers and went on a journey. \n\t\t\t When the harvest time was near, he sent his slaves to the tenants to collect his portion of the crop.\n\t\t\t But the tenants seized his slaves, beat one, killed another, and stoned another. \n\t\t\t Again he sent other slaves, more than the first, and they treated them the same way.\n\t\t\t Finally he sent his son to them, saying, 'They will respect my son.' \n\t\t\t But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, 'This is the heir. Come, let's kill him and get his inheritance!'\n\t\t\t So they seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. \n\t\t\t Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?\"\n\t\t\t They said to him, \"He will utterly destroy those evil men! Then he will lease the vineyard to other tenants who will give him his portion at the harvest.\"\n\t\t\t Jesus said to them, \"Have you never read in the scriptures: 'The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is from the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes'?\n\t\t\t For this reason I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. \n\t\t\t The one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, and the one on whom it falls will be crushed.\"\n\t\t\t When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they realized that he was speaking about them. \n\t\t\t They wanted to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowds, because the crowds regarded him as a prophet.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: \n\t\t\t \"The kingdom of heaven can be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son.\n\t\t\t He sent his slaves to summon those who had been invited to the banquet, but they would not come. \n\t\t\t Again he sent other slaves, saying, 'Tell those who have been invited, \"Look! The feast I have prepared for you is ready. My oxen and fattened cattle have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.\"'\n\t\t\t But they were indifferent and went away, one to his farm, another to his business.\n\t\t\t The rest seized his slaves, insolently mistreated them, and killed them. \n\t\t\t The king was furious! He sent his soldiers, and they put those murderers to death and set their city on fire. \n\t\t\t Then he said to his slaves, 'The wedding is ready, but the ones who had been invited were not worthy.\n\t\t\t So go into the main streets and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.'\n\t\t\t And those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all they found, both bad and good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.\n\t\t\t But when the king came in to see the wedding guests, he saw a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes.\n\t\t\t And he said to him, 'Friend, how did you get in here without wedding clothes?' But he had nothing to say.\n\t\t\t Then the king said to his attendants, 'Tie him up hand and foot and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth!'\n\t\t\t For many are called, but few are chosen.\"\n\t\t\t Then the Pharisees went out and planned together to entrap him with his own words.\n\t\t\t They sent to him their disciples along with the Herodians, saying, \"Teacher, we know that you are truthful, and teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You do not court anyone's favor because you show no partiality.\n\t\t\t Tell us then, what do you think? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?\"\n\t\t\t But Jesus realized their evil intentions and said, \"Hypocrites! Why are you testing me?\n\t\t\t Show me the coin used for the tax.\" So they brought him a denarius.\n\t\t\t Jesus said to them, \"Whose image is this, and whose inscription?\"\n\t\t\t They replied, \"Caesar's.\" He said to them, \"Then give to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.\"\n\t\t\t Now when they heard this they were stunned, and they left him and went away.\n\t\t\t The same day Sadducees (who say there is no resurrection) came to him and asked him,\n\t\t\t \"Teacher, Moses said, 'If a man dies without having children, his brother must marry the widow and father children for his brother.'\n\t\t\t Now there were seven brothers among us. The first one married and died, and since he had no children he left his wife to his brother.\n\t\t\t The second did the same, and the third, down to the seventh.\n\t\t\t Last of all, the woman died. \n\t\t\t In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife of the seven will she be? For they all had married her.\"\n\t\t\t Jesus answered them, \"You are deceived, because you don't know the scriptures or the power of God.\n\t\t\t For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. \n\t\t\t Now as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God,\n\t\t\t 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? He is not the God of the dead but of the living!\"\n\t\t\t When the crowds heard this, they were amazed at his teaching.\n\t\t\t Now when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they assembled together.\n\t\t\t And one of them, an expert in religious law, asked him a question to test him: \n\t\t\t \"Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?\"\n\t\t\t Jesus said to him, \"'Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.'\n\t\t\t This is the first and greatest commandment. \n\t\t\t The second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'\n\t\t\t All the law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.\"\n\t\t\t While the Pharisees were assembled, Jesus asked them a question:\n\t\t\t \"What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?\" They said, \"The son of David.\"\n\t\t\t He said to them, \"How then does David by the Spirit call him 'Lord,' saying,\n\t\t\t 'The Lord said to my lord, \"Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet\"'?\n\t\t\t If David then calls him 'Lord,' how can he be his son?\"\n\t\t\t No one was able to answer him a word, and from that day on no one dared to question him any longer.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples,\n\t\t\t \"The experts in the law and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat. \n\t\t\t Therefore pay attention to what they tell you and do it. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they teach.\n\t\t\t They tie up heavy loads, hard to carry, and put them on men's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing even to lift a finger to move them. \n\t\t\t They do all their deeds to be seen by people, for they make their phylacteries wide and their tassels long. \n\t\t\t They love the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues\n\t\t\t and elaborate greetings in the marketplaces, and to have people call them 'Rabbi.' \n\t\t\t But you are not to be called 'Rabbi,' for you have one Teacher and you are all brothers.\n\t\t\t And call no one your 'father' on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven.\n\t\t\t Nor are you to be called 'teacher,' for you have one teacher, the Christ.\n\t\t\t The greatest among you will be your servant. \n\t\t\t And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.\n\t\t\t \"But woe to you, experts in the law and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You keep locking people out of the kingdom of heaven! For you neither enter nor permit those trying to enter to go in.\n\t\t\t \n\t\t\t \"Woe to you, experts in the law and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You cross land and sea to make one convert, and when you get one, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves!\n\t\t\t \"Woe to you, blind guides, who say, 'Whoever swears by the temple is bound by nothing. But whoever swears by the gold of the temple is bound by the oath.' \n\t\t\t Blind fools! Which is greater, the gold or the temple that makes the gold sacred?\n\t\t\t And, 'Whoever swears by the altar is bound by nothing. But if anyone swears by the gift on it he is bound by the oath.' \n\t\t\t You are blind! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred?\n\t\t\t So whoever swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it.\n\t\t\t And whoever swears by the temple swears by it and the one who dwells in it.\n\t\t\t And whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and the one who sits on it.\n\t\t\t \"Woe to you, experts in the law and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You give a tenth of mint, dill, and cumin, yet you neglect what is more important in the law, justice, mercy, and faithfulness! You should have done these things without neglecting the others.\n\t\t\t Blind guides! You strain out a gnat yet swallow a camel!\n\t\t\t \"Woe to you, experts in the law and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. \n\t\t\t Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup, so that the outside may become clean too!\n\t\t\t \"Woe to you, experts in the law and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs that look beautiful on the outside but inside are full of the bones of the dead and of everything unclean.\n\t\t\t In the same way, on the outside you look righteous to people, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.\n\t\t\t \"Woe to you, experts in the law and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous. \n\t\t\t And you say, 'If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have participated with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.' \n\t\t\t By saying this you testify against yourselves that you are descendants of those who murdered the prophets.\n\t\t\t Fill up then the measure of your ancestors!\n\t\t\t You snakes, you offspring of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?\n\t\t\t \"For this reason I am sending you prophets and wise men and experts in the law, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town, \n\t\t\t so that on you will come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. \n\t\t\t I tell you the truth, this generation will be held responsible for all these things!\n\t\t\t \"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those who are sent to you! How often I have longed to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you would have none of it!\n\t\t\t Look, your house is left to you desolate!\n\t\t\t For I tell you, you will not see me from now until you say, 'Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!'\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now as Jesus was going out of the temple courts and walking away, his disciples came to show him the temple buildings.\n\t\t\t And he said to them, \"Do you see all these things? I tell you the truth, not one stone will be left on another. All will be torn down!\"\n\t\t\t As he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, his disciples came to him privately and said, \"Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?\" \n\t\t\t Jesus answered them, \"Watch out that no one misleads you. \n\t\t\t For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and they will mislead many. \n\t\t\t You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. Make sure that you are not alarmed, for this must happen, but the end is still to come.\n\t\t\t For nation will rise up in arms against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. \n\t\t\t All these things are the beginning of birth pains.\n\t\t\t \"Then they will hand you over to be persecuted and will kill you. You will be hated by all the nations because of my name.\n\t\t\t Then many will be led into sin, and they will betray one another and hate one another. \n\t\t\t And many false prophets will appear and deceive many, \n\t\t\t and because lawlessness will increase so much, the love of many will grow cold.\n\t\t\t But the person who endures to the end will be saved.\n\t\t\t And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached throughout the whole inhabited earth as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.\n\t\t\t \"So when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken about by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand),\n\t\t\t then those in Judea must flee to the mountains. \n\t\t\t The one on the roof must not come down to take anything out of his house, \n\t\t\t and the one in the field must not turn back to get his cloak.\n\t\t\t Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing their babies in those days! \n\t\t\t Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. \n\t\t\t For then there will be great suffering unlike anything that has happened from the beginning of the world until now, or ever will happen.\n\t\t\t And if those days had not been cut short, no one would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.\n\t\t\t Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'There he is!' do not believe him. \n\t\t\t For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. \n\t\t\t Remember, I have told you ahead of time. \n\t\t\t So then, if someone says to you, 'Look, he is in the wilderness,' do not go out, or 'Look, he is in the inner rooms,' do not believe him.\n\t\t\t For just like the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so the coming of the Son of Man will be.\n\t\t\t Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.\n\t\t\t \"Immediately after the suffering of those days, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of heaven will be shaken.\n\t\t\t Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man arriving on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. \n\t\t\t And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet blast, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.\n\t\t\t \"Learn this parable from the fig tree: Whenever its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. \n\t\t\t So also you, when you see all these things, know that he is near, right at the door. \n\t\t\t I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. \n\t\t\t Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.\n\t\t\t \"But as for that day and hour no one knows it, not even the angels in heaven, except the Father alone.\n\t\t\t For just like the days of Noah were, so the coming of the Son of Man will be. \n\t\t\t For in those days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark. \n\t\t\t And they knew nothing until the flood came and took them all away. It will be the same at the coming of the Son of Man.\n\t\t\t Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one left.\n\t\t\t There will be two women grinding grain with a mill; one will be taken and one left.\n\t\t\t \"Therefore stay alert, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. \n\t\t\t But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have been alert and would not have let his house be broken into. \n\t\t\t Therefore you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.\n\t\t\t \"Who then is the faithful and wise slave, whom the master has put in charge of his household, to give the other slaves their food at the proper time? \n\t\t\t Blessed is that slave whom the master finds at work when he comes. \n\t\t\t I tell you the truth, the master will put him in charge of all his possessions. \n\t\t\t But if that evil slave should say to himself, 'My master is staying away a long time,' \n\t\t\t and he begins to beat his fellow slaves and to eat and drink with drunkards,\n\t\t\t then the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not foresee,\n\t\t\t and will cut him in two, and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t \"At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.\n\t\t\t Five of the virgins were foolish, and five were wise. \n\t\t\t When the foolish ones took their lamps, they did not take extra olive oil with them. \n\t\t\t But the wise ones took flasks of olive oil with their lamps.\n\t\t\t When the bridegroom was delayed a long time, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. \n\t\t\t But at midnight there was a shout, 'Look, the bridegroom is here! Come out to meet him.'\n\t\t\t Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps.\n\t\t\t The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.' \n\t\t\t 'No,' they replied. 'There won't be enough for you and for us. Go instead to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.' \n\t\t\t But while they had gone to buy it, the bridegroom arrived, and those who were ready went inside with him to the wedding banquet. Then the door was shut. \n\t\t\t Later, the other virgins came too, saying, 'Lord, lord! Let us in!'\n\t\t\t But he replied, 'I tell you the truth, I do not know you!' \n\t\t\t Therefore stay alert, because you do not know the day or the hour.\n\t\t\t \"For it is like a man going on a journey, who summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them. \n\t\t\t To one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. \n\t\t\t The one who had received five talents went off right away and put his money to work and gained five more. \n\t\t\t In the same way, the one who had two gained two more.\n\t\t\t But the one who had received one talent went out and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money in it.\n\t\t\t After a long time, the master of those slaves came and settled his accounts with them. \n\t\t\t The one who had received the five talents came and brought five more, saying, 'Sir, you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.' \n\t\t\t His master answered, 'Well done, good and faithful slave! You have been faithful in a few things. I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master.' \n\t\t\t The one with the two talents also came and said, 'Sir, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more.' \n\t\t\t His master answered, 'Well done, good and faithful slave! You have been faithful with a few things. I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master.'\n\t\t\t Then the one who had received the one talent came and said, 'Sir, I knew that you were a hard man, harvesting where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed,\n\t\t\t so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.' \n\t\t\t But his master answered, 'Evil and lazy slave! So you knew that I harvest where I didn't sow and gather where I didn't scatter? \n\t\t\t Then you should have deposited my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received my money back with interest!\n\t\t\t Therefore take the talent from him and give it to the one who has ten.\n\t\t\t For the one who has will be given more, and he will have more than enough. But the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.\n\t\t\t And throw that worthless slave into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'\n\t\t\t \"When the Son of Man comes in his glory and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. \n\t\t\t All the nations will be assembled before him, and he will separate people one from another like a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. \n\t\t\t He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. \n\t\t\t Then the king will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.\n\t\t\t For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,\n\t\t\t I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.'\n\t\t\t Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? \n\t\t\t When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or naked and clothe you? \n\t\t\t When did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?' \n\t\t\t And the king will answer them, 'I tell you the truth, just as you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of mine, you did it for me.'\n\t\t\t \"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire that has been prepared for the devil and his angels! \n\t\t\t For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink.\n\t\t\t I was a stranger and you did not receive me as a guest, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.'\n\t\t\t Then they too will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not give you whatever you needed?' \n\t\t\t Then he will answer them, 'I tell you the truth, just as you did not do it for one of the least of these, you did not do it for me.' \n\t\t\t And these will depart into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he told his disciples, \n\t\t\t \"You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.\"\n\t\t\t Then the chief priests and the elders of the people met together in the palace of the high priest, who was named Caiaphas.\n\t\t\t They planned to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him. \n\t\t\t But they said, \"Not during the feast, so that there won't be a riot among the people.\"\n\t\t\t Now while Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper,\n\t\t\t a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of expensive perfumed oil, and she poured it on his head as he was at the table.\n\t\t\t When the disciples saw this, they became indignant and said, \"Why this waste? \n\t\t\t It could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor!\" \n\t\t\t When Jesus learned of this, he said to them, \"Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a good service for me. \n\t\t\t For you will always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me!\n\t\t\t When she poured this oil on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial.\n\t\t\t I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.\"\n\t\t\t Then one of the twelve, the one named Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests\n\t\t\t and said, \"What will you give me to betray him into your hands?\" So they set out thirty silver coins for him. \n\t\t\t From that time on, Judas began looking for an opportunity to betray him.\n\t\t\t Now on the first day of the feast of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus and said, \"Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?\"\n\t\t\t He said, \"Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, 'The Teacher says, \"My time is near. I will observe the Passover with my disciples at your house.\"'\"\n\t\t\t So the disciples did as Jesus had instructed them, and they prepared the Passover. \n\t\t\t When it was evening, he took his place at the table with the twelve.\n\t\t\t And while they were eating he said, \"I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me.\"\n\t\t\t They became greatly distressed and each one began to say to him, \"Surely not I, Lord?\"\n\t\t\t He answered, \"The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. \n\t\t\t The Son of Man will go as it is written about him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would be better for him if he had never been born.\"\n\t\t\t Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, \"Surely not I, Rabbi?\" Jesus replied, \"You have said it yourself.\"\n\t\t\t While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after giving thanks he broke it, gave it to his disciples, and said, \"Take, eat, this is my body.\" \n\t\t\t And after taking the cup and giving thanks, he gave it to them, saying, \"Drink from it, all of you,\n\t\t\t for this is my blood, the blood of the covenant, that is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. \n\t\t\t I tell you, from now on I will not drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.\" \n\t\t\t After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.\n\t\t\t Then Jesus said to them, \"This night you will all fall away because of me, for it is written: 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.'\n\t\t\t But after I am raised, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.\"\n\t\t\t Peter said to him, \"If they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away!\" \n\t\t\t Jesus said to him, \"I tell you the truth, on this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.\" \n\t\t\t Peter said to him, \"Even if I must die with you, I will never deny you.\" And all the disciples said the same thing.\n\t\t\t Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to the disciples, \"Sit here while I go over there and pray.\"\n\t\t\t He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and became anguished and distressed.\n\t\t\t Then he said to them, \"My soul is deeply grieved, even to the point of death. Remain here and stay awake with me.\"\n\t\t\t Going a little farther, he threw himself down with his face to the ground and prayed, \"My Father, if possible, let this cup pass from me! Yet not what I will, but what you will.\" \n\t\t\t Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. He said to Peter, \"So, couldn't you stay awake with me for one hour? \n\t\t\t Stay awake and pray that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.\"\n\t\t\t He went away a second time and prayed, \"My Father, if this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will must be done.\" \n\t\t\t He came again and found them sleeping; they could not keep their eyes open.\n\t\t\t So leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same thing once more.\n\t\t\t Then he came to the disciples and said to them, \"Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is approaching, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.\n\t\t\t Get up, let us go. Look! My betrayer is approaching!\"\n\t\t\t While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent by the chief priests and elders of the people.\n\t\t\t (Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, \"The one I kiss is the man. Arrest him!\")\n\t\t\t Immediately he went up to Jesus and said, \"Greetings, Rabbi,\" and kissed him.\n\t\t\t Jesus said to him, \"Friend, do what you are here to do.\" Then they came and took hold of Jesus and arrested him. \n\t\t\t But one of those with Jesus grabbed his sword, drew it out, and struck the high priest's slave, cutting off his ear.\n\t\t\t Then Jesus said to him, \"Put your sword back in its place! For all who take hold of the sword will die by the sword.\n\t\t\t Or do you think that I cannot call on my Father, and that he would send me more than twelve legions of angels right now? \n\t\t\t How then would the scriptures that say it must happen this way be fulfilled?\"\n\t\t\t At that moment Jesus said to the crowd, \"Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me like you would an outlaw? Day after day I sat teaching in the temple courts, yet you did not arrest me. \n\t\t\t But this has happened so that the scriptures of the prophets would be fulfilled.\" Then all the disciples left him and fled.\n\t\t\t Now the ones who had arrested Jesus led him to Caiaphas, the high priest, in whose house the experts in the law and the elders had gathered. \n\t\t\t But Peter was following him from a distance, all the way to the high priest's courtyard. After going in, he sat with the guards to see the outcome. \n\t\t\t The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were trying to find false testimony against Jesus so that they could put him to death. \n\t\t\t But they did not find anything, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward \n\t\t\t and declared, \"This man said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.'\" \n\t\t\t So the high priest stood up and said to him, \"Have you no answer? What is this that they are testifying against you?\" \n\t\t\t But Jesus was silent. The high priest said to him, \"I charge you under oath by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.\" \n\t\t\t Jesus said to him, \"You have said it yourself. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.\"\n\t\t\t Then the high priest tore his clothes and declared, \"He has blasphemed! Why do we still need witnesses? Now you have heard the blasphemy! \n\t\t\t What is your verdict?\" They answered, \"He is guilty and deserves death.\" \n\t\t\t Then they spat in his face and struck him with their fists. And some slapped him,\n\t\t\t saying, \"Prophesy for us, you Christ! Who hit you?\"\n\t\t\t Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A slave girl came to him and said, \"You also were with Jesus the Galilean.\" \n\t\t\t But he denied it in front of them all: \"I don't know what you're talking about!\" \n\t\t\t When he went out to the gateway, another slave girl saw him and said to the people there, \"This man was with Jesus the Nazarene.\" \n\t\t\t He denied it again with an oath, \"I do not know the man!\"\n\t\t\t After a little while, those standing there came up to Peter and said, \"You really are one of them too, even your accent gives you away!\"\n\t\t\t At that he began to curse, and he swore with an oath, \"I do not know the man!\" At that moment a rooster crowed.\n\t\t\t Then Peter remembered what Jesus had said: \"Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.\" And he went outside and wept bitterly.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t When it was early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people plotted against Jesus to execute him. \n\t\t\t They tied him up, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate the governor.\n\t\t\t Now when Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus had been condemned, he regretted what he had done and returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and the elders,\n\t\t\t saying, \"I have sinned by betraying innocent blood!\" But they said, \"What is that to us? You take care of it yourself!\"\n\t\t\t So Judas threw the silver coins into the temple and left. Then he went out and hanged himself. \n\t\t\t The chief priests took the silver and said, \"It is not lawful to put this into the temple treasury, since it is blood money.\" \n\t\t\t After consulting together they bought the Potter's Field with it, as a burial place for foreigners. \n\t\t\t For this reason that field has been called the \"Field of Blood\" to this day.\n\t\t\t Then what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: \"They took the thirty silver coins, the price of the one whose price had been set by the people of Israel,\n\t\t\t and they gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord commanded me.\"\n\t\t\t Then Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, \"Are you the king of the Jews?\" Jesus said, \"You say so.\"\n\t\t\t But when he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he did not respond.\n\t\t\t Then Pilate said to him, \"Don't you hear how many charges they are bringing against you?\"\n\t\t\t But he did not answer even one accusation, so that the governor was quite amazed.\n\t\t\t During the feast the governor was accustomed to release one prisoner to the crowd, whomever they wanted. \n\t\t\t At that time they had in custody a notorious prisoner named Jesus Barabbas. \n\t\t\t So after they had assembled, Pilate said to them, \"Whom do you want me to release for you, Jesus Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Christ?\"\n\t\t\t (For he knew that they had handed him over because of envy.)\n\t\t\t As he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent a message to him: \"Have nothing to do with that innocent man; I have suffered greatly as a result of a dream about him today.\" \n\t\t\t But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus killed.\n\t\t\t The governor asked them, \"Which of the two do you want me to release for you?\" And they said, \"Barabbas!\" \n\t\t\t Pilate said to them, \"Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Christ?\" They all said, \"Crucify him!\"\n\t\t\t He asked, \"Why? What wrong has he done?\" But they shouted more insistently, \"Crucify him!\"\n\t\t\t When Pilate saw that he could do nothing, but that instead a riot was starting, he took some water, washed his hands before the crowd and said, \"I am innocent of this man's blood. You take care of it yourselves!\"\n\t\t\t In reply all the people said, \"Let his blood be on us and on our children!\" \n\t\t\t Then he released Barabbas for them. But after he had Jesus flogged, he handed him over to be crucified.\n\t\t\t Then the governor's soldiers took Jesus into the governor's residence and gathered the whole cohort around him. \n\t\t\t They stripped him and put a scarlet robe around him, \n\t\t\t and after braiding a crown of thorns, they put it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand, and kneeling down before him, they mocked him: \"Hail, king of the Jews!\"\n\t\t\t They spat on him and took the staff and struck him repeatedly on the head. \n\t\t\t When they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes back on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.\n\t\t\t As they were going out, they found a man from Cyrene named Simon, whom they forced to carry his cross.\n\t\t\t They came to a place called Golgotha (which means \"Place of the Skull\")\n\t\t\t and offered Jesus wine mixed with gall to drink. But after tasting it, he would not drink it. \n\t\t\t When they had crucified him, they divided his clothes by throwing dice.\n\t\t\t Then they sat down and kept guard over him there.\n\t\t\t Above his head they put the charge against him, which read: \"This is Jesus, the king of the Jews.\" \n\t\t\t Then two outlaws were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left.\n\t\t\t Those who passed by defamed him, shaking their heads \n\t\t\t and saying, \"You who can destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are God's Son, come down from the cross!\" \n\t\t\t In the same way even the chief priests, together with the experts in the law and elders, were mocking him:\n\t\t\t \"He saved others, but he cannot save himself! He is the king of Israel! If he comes down now from the cross, we will believe in him! \n\t\t\t He trusts in God, let God, if he wants to, deliver him now because he said, 'I am God's Son'!\"\n\t\t\t The robbers who were crucified with him also spoke abusively to him.\n\t\t\t Now from noon until three, darkness came over all the land.\n\t\t\t At about three o'clock Jesus shouted with a loud voice, \"Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?\" that is, \"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?\"\n\t\t\t When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, \"This man is calling for Elijah.\" \n\t\t\t Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge, filled it with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink. \n\t\t\t But the rest said, \"Leave him alone! Let's see if Elijah will come to save him.\"\n\t\t\t Then Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and gave up his spirit.\n\t\t\t Just then the temple curtain was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks were split apart. \n\t\t\t And tombs were opened, and the bodies of many saints who had died were raised. \n\t\t\t (They came out of the tombs after his resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.) \n\t\t\t Now when the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and what took place, they were extremely terrified and said, \"Truly this one was God's Son!\" \n\t\t\t Many women who had followed Jesus from Galilee and given him support were also there, watching from a distance. \n\t\t\t Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.\n\t\t\t Now when it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who was also a disciple of Jesus.\n\t\t\t He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered that it be given to him. \n\t\t\t Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,\n\t\t\t and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut in the rock. Then he rolled a great stone across the entrance of the tomb and went away. \n\t\t\t (Now Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there, opposite the tomb.)\n\t\t\t The next day (which is after the day of preparation) the chief priests and the Pharisees assembled before Pilate \n\t\t\t and said, \"Sir, we remember that while that deceiver was still alive he said, 'After three days I will rise again.'\n\t\t\t So give orders to secure the tomb until the third day. Otherwise his disciples may come and steal his body and say to the people, 'He has been raised from the dead,' and the last deception will be worse than the first.\"\n\t\t\t Pilate said to them, \"Take a guard of soldiers. Go and make it as secure as you can.\" \n\t\t\t So they went with the soldiers of the guard and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now after the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.\n\t\t\t Suddenly there was a severe earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descending from heaven came and rolled away the stone and sat on it. \n\t\t\t His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. \n\t\t\t The guards were shaken and became like dead men because they were so afraid of him. \n\t\t\t But the angel said to the women, \"Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.\n\t\t\t He is not here, for he has been raised, just as he said. Come and see the place where he was lying. \n\t\t\t Then go quickly and tell his disciples, 'He has been raised from the dead. He is going ahead of you into Galilee. You will see him there.' Listen, I have told you!\" \n\t\t\t So they left the tomb quickly, with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. \n\t\t\t But Jesus met them, saying, \"Greetings!\" They came to him, held on to his feet and worshiped him. \n\t\t\t Then Jesus said to them, \"Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee. They will see me there.\"\n\t\t\t While they were going, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests everything that had happened. \n\t\t\t After they had assembled with the elders and formed a plan, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, \n\t\t\t telling them, \"You are to say, 'His disciples came at night and stole his body while we were asleep.' \n\t\t\t If this matter is heard before the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.\"\n\t\t\t So they took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story is told among the Jews to this day.\n\t\t\t So the eleven disciples went to Galilee to the mountain Jesus had designated. \n\t\t\t When they saw him, they worshiped him, but some doubted.\n\t\t\t Then Jesus came up and said to them, \"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. \n\t\t\t Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,\n\t\t\t teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.\"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.\n\t\t\t As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, \"Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way,\n\t\t\t the voice of one shouting in the wilderness, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make his paths straight.'\"\n\t\t\t In the wilderness John the baptizer began preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.\n\t\t\t People from the whole Judean countryside and all of Jerusalem were going out to him, and he was baptizing them in the Jordan River as they confessed their sins.\n\t\t\t John wore a garment made of camel's hair with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.\n\t\t\t He proclaimed, \"One more powerful than I am is coming after me; I am not worthy to bend down and untie the strap of his sandals. \n\t\t\t I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.\"\n\t\t\t Now in those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan River.\n\t\t\t And just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens splitting apart and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.\n\t\t\t And a voice came from heaven: \"You are my one dear Son; in you I take great delight.\"\n\t\t\t The Spirit immediately drove him into the wilderness.\n\t\t\t He was in the wilderness forty days, enduring temptations from Satan. He was with wild animals, and angels were ministering to his needs.\n\t\t\t Now after John was imprisoned, Jesus went into Galilee and proclaimed the gospel of God.\n\t\t\t He said, \"The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the gospel!\" \n\t\t\t As he went along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew, Simon's brother, casting a net into the sea (for they were fishermen).\n\t\t\t Jesus said to them, \"Follow me, and I will turn you into fishers of people.\"\n\t\t\t They left their nets immediately and followed him.\n\t\t\t Going on a little farther, he saw James, the son of Zebedee, and John his brother in their boat mending nets. \n\t\t\t Immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.\n\t\t\t Then they went to Capernaum. When the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. \n\t\t\t The people there were amazed by his teaching, because he taught them like one who had authority, not like the experts in the law.\n\t\t\t Just then there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit, and he cried out,\n\t\t\t \"Leave us alone, Jesus the Nazarene! Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God!\"\n\t\t\t But Jesus rebuked him: \"Silence! Come out of him!\"\n\t\t\t After throwing him into convulsions, the unclean spirit cried out with a loud voice and came out of him.\n\t\t\t They were all amazed so that they asked each other, \"What is this? A new teaching with authority! He even commands the unclean spirits and they obey him.\"\n\t\t\t So the news about him spread quickly throughout all the region around Galilee.\n\t\t\t Now as soon as they left the synagogue, they entered Simon and Andrew's house, with James and John. \n\t\t\t Simon's mother-in-law was lying down, sick with a fever, so they spoke to Jesus at once about her.\n\t\t\t He came and raised her up by gently taking her hand. Then the fever left her and she began to serve them. \n\t\t\t When it was evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were sick and demon-possessed.\n\t\t\t The whole town gathered by the door.\n\t\t\t So he healed many who were sick with various diseases and drove out many demons. But he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.\n\t\t\t Then Jesus got up early in the morning when it was still very dark, departed, and went out to a deserted place, and there he spent time in prayer.\n\t\t\t Simon and his companions searched for him.\n\t\t\t When they found him, they said, \"Everyone is looking for you.\"\n\t\t\t He replied, \"Let us go elsewhere, into the surrounding villages, so that I can preach there too. For that is what I came out here to do.\"\n\t\t\t So he went into all of Galilee preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.\n\t\t\t Now a leper came to him and fell to his knees, asking for help. \"If you are willing, you can make me clean,\" he said. \n\t\t\t Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, \"I am willing. Be clean!\" \n\t\t\t The leprosy left him at once, and he was clean.\n\t\t\t Immediately Jesus sent the man away with a very strong warning. \n\t\t\t He told him, \"See that you do not say anything to anyone, but go, show yourself to a priest, and bring the offering that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.\"\n\t\t\t But as the man went out he began to announce it publicly and spread the story widely, so that Jesus was no longer able to enter any town openly but stayed outside in remote places. Still they kept coming to him from everywhere.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now after some days, when he returned to Capernaum, the news spread that he was at home. \n\t\t\t So many gathered that there was no longer any room, not even by the door, and he preached the word to them. \n\t\t\t Some people came bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them.\n\t\t\t When they were not able to bring him in because of the crowd, they removed the roof above Jesus. Then, after tearing it out, they lowered the stretcher the paralytic was lying on. \n\t\t\t When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, \"Son, your sins are forgiven.\"\n\t\t\t Now some of the experts in the law were sitting there, turning these things over in their minds:\n\t\t\t \"Why does this man speak this way? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?\" \n\t\t\t Now immediately, when Jesus realized in his spirit that they were contemplating such thoughts, he said to them, \"Why are you thinking such things in your hearts?\n\t\t\t Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Stand up, take your stretcher, and walk'? \n\t\t\t But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,\", he said to the paralytic,\n\t\t\t \"I tell you, stand up, take your stretcher, and go home.\"\n\t\t\t And immediately the man stood up, took his stretcher, and went out in front of them all. They were all amazed and glorified God, saying, \"We have never seen anything like this!\"\n\t\t\t Jesus went out again by the sea. The whole crowd came to him, and he taught them. \n\t\t\t As he went along, he saw Levi, the son of Alphaeus, sitting at the tax booth. \"Follow me,\" he said to him. And he got up and followed him. \n\t\t\t As Jesus was having a meal in Levi's home, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. \n\t\t\t When the experts in the law and the Pharisees saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, they said to his disciples, \"Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?\"\n\t\t\t When Jesus heard this he said to them, \"Those who are healthy don't need a physician, but those who are sick do. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.\"\n\t\t\t Now John's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. So they came to Jesus and said, \"Why do the disciples of John and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples don't fast?\" \n\t\t\t Jesus said to them, \"The wedding guests cannot fast while the bridegroom is with them, can they? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they do not fast. \n\t\t\t But the days are coming when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and at that time they will fast. \n\t\t\t No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; otherwise, the patch pulls away from it, the new from the old, and the tear becomes worse.\n\t\t\t And no one pours new wine into old wineskins; otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the skins will be destroyed. Instead new wine is poured into new wineskins.\"\n\t\t\t Jesus was going through the grain fields on a Sabbath, and his disciples began to pick some heads of wheat as they made their way. \n\t\t\t So the Pharisees said to him, \"Look, why are they doing what is against the law on the Sabbath?\" \n\t\t\t He said to them, \"Have you never read what David did when he was in need and he and his companions were hungry,\n\t\t\t how he entered the house of God when Abiathar was high priest and ate the sacred bread, which is against the law for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to his companions?\"\n\t\t\t Then he said to them, \"The Sabbath was made for people, not people for the Sabbath. \n\t\t\t For this reason the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then Jesus entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who had a withered hand.\n\t\t\t They watched Jesus closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they could accuse him. \n\t\t\t So he said to the man who had the withered hand, \"Stand up among all these people.\"\n\t\t\t Then he said to them, \"Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath, or evil, to save a life or destroy it?\" But they were silent. \n\t\t\t After looking around at them in anger, grieved by the hardness of their hearts, he said to the man, \"Stretch out your hand.\" He stretched it out, and his hand was restored.\n\t\t\t So the Pharisees went out immediately and began plotting with the Herodians, as to how they could assassinate him.\n\t\t\t Then Jesus went away with his disciples to the sea, and a great multitude from Galilee followed him. And from Judea, \n\t\t\t Jerusalem, Idumea, beyond the Jordan River, and around Tyre and Sidon a great multitude came to him when they heard about the things he had done. \n\t\t\t Because of the crowd, he told his disciples to have a small boat ready for him so the crowd would not press toward him. \n\t\t\t For he had healed many, so that all who were afflicted with diseases pressed toward him in order to touch him.\n\t\t\t And whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, \"You are the Son of God.\"\n\t\t\t But he sternly ordered them not to make him known.\n\t\t\t Now Jesus went up the mountain and called for those he wanted, and they came to him. \n\t\t\t He appointed twelve (whom he named apostles), so that they would be with him and he could send them to preach\n\t\t\t and to have authority to cast out demons.\n\t\t\t He appointed twelve: To Simon he gave the name Peter; \n\t\t\t to James and his brother John, the sons of Zebedee, he gave the name Boanerges (that is, \"sons of thunder\");\n\t\t\t and Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot,\n\t\t\t and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.\n\t\t\t Now Jesus went home, and a crowd gathered so that they were not able to eat. \n\t\t\t When his family heard this they went out to restrain him, for they said, \"He is out of his mind.\" \n\t\t\t The experts in the law who came down from Jerusalem said, \"He is possessed by Beelzebul,\" and, \"By the ruler of demons he casts out demons.\" \n\t\t\t So he called them and spoke to them in parables: \"How can Satan cast out Satan? \n\t\t\t If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom will not be able to stand. \n\t\t\t If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.\n\t\t\t And if Satan rises against himself and is divided, he is not able to stand and his end has come.\n\t\t\t But no one is able to enter a strong man's house and steal his property unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can thoroughly plunder his house.\n\t\t\t I tell you the truth, people will be forgiven for all sins, even all the blasphemies they utter.\n\t\t\t But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven, but is guilty of an eternal sin\"\n\t\t\t (because they said, \"He has an unclean spirit\").\n\t\t\t Then Jesus' mother and his brothers came. Standing outside, they sent word to him, to summon him. \n\t\t\t A crowd was sitting around him and they said to him, \"Look, your mother and your brothers are outside looking for you.\" \n\t\t\t He answered them and said, \"Who are my mother and my brothers?\"\n\t\t\t And looking at those who were sitting around him in a circle, he said, \"Here are my mother and my brothers! \n\t\t\t For whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Again he began to teach by the lake. Such a large crowd gathered around him that he got into a boat on the lake and sat there while the whole crowd was on the shore by the lake. \n\t\t\t He taught them many things in parables, and in his teaching said to them: \n\t\t\t \"Listen! A sower went out to sow.\n\t\t\t And as he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. \n\t\t\t Other seed fell on rocky ground where it did not have much soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep.\n\t\t\t When the sun came up it was scorched, and because it did not have sufficient root, it withered. \n\t\t\t Other seed fell among the thorns, and they grew up and choked it, and it did not produce grain. \n\t\t\t But other seed fell on good soil and produced grain, sprouting and growing; some yielded thirty times as much, some sixty, and some a hundred times.\" \n\t\t\t And he said, \"Whoever has ears to hear had better listen!\"\n\t\t\t When he was alone, those around him with the twelve asked him about the parables.\n\t\t\t He said to them, \"The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those outside, everything is in parables,\n\t\t\t so that although they look they may look but not see, and although they hear they may hear but not understand, so they may not repent and be forgiven.\"\n\t\t\t He said to them, \"Don't you understand this parable? Then how will you understand any parable? \n\t\t\t The sower sows the word.\n\t\t\t These are the ones on the path where the word is sown: Whenever they hear, immediately Satan comes and snatches the word that was sown in them. \n\t\t\t These are the ones sown on rocky ground: As soon as they hear the word, they receive it with joy.\n\t\t\t But they have no root in themselves and do not endure. Then, when trouble or persecution comes because of the word, immediately they fall away. \n\t\t\t Others are the ones sown among thorns: They are those who hear the word,\n\t\t\t but worldly cares, the seductiveness of wealth, and the desire for other things come in and choke the word, and it produces nothing. \n\t\t\t But these are the ones sown on good soil: They hear the word and receive it and bear fruit, one thirty times as much, one sixty, and one a hundred.\"\n\t\t\t He also said to them, \"A lamp isn't brought to be put under a basket or under a bed, is it? Isn't it to be placed on a lampstand? \n\t\t\t For nothing is hidden except to be revealed, and nothing concealed except to be brought to light. \n\t\t\t If anyone has ears to hear, he had better listen!\"\n\t\t\t And he said to them, \"Take care about what you hear. The measure you use will be the measure you receive, and more will be added to you. \n\t\t\t For whoever has will be given more, but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.\"\n\t\t\t He also said, \"The kingdom of God is like someone who spreads seed on the ground.\n\t\t\t He goes to sleep and gets up, night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how.\n\t\t\t By itself the soil produces a crop, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head.\n\t\t\t And when the grain is ripe, he sends in the sickle because the harvest has come.\"\n\t\t\t He also asked, \"To what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable can we use to present it?\n\t\t\t It is like a mustard seed that when sown in the ground, even though it is the smallest of all the seeds in the ground,\n\t\t\t when it is sown, it grows up, becomes the greatest of all garden plants, and grows large branches so that the wild birds can nest in its shade.\"\n\t\t\t So with many parables like these, he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear. \n\t\t\t He did not speak to them without a parable. But privately he explained everything to his own disciples.\n\t\t\t On that day, when evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, \"Let's go across to the other side of the lake.\"\n\t\t\t So after leaving the crowd, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat, and other boats were with him.\n\t\t\t Now a great windstorm developed and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was nearly swamped. \n\t\t\t But he was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. They woke him up and said to him, \"Teacher, don't you care that we are about to die?\" \n\t\t\t So he got up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, \"Be quiet! Calm down!\" Then the wind stopped, and it was dead calm. \n\t\t\t And he said to them, \"Why are you cowardly? Do you still not have faith?\"\n\t\t\t They were overwhelmed by fear and said to one another, \"Who then is this? Even the wind and sea obey him!\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t So they came to the other side of the lake, to the region of the Gerasenes.\n\t\t\t Just as Jesus was getting out of the boat, a man with an unclean spirit came from the tombs and met him.\n\t\t\t He lived among the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain.\n\t\t\t For his hands and feet had often been bound with chains and shackles, but he had torn the chains apart and broken the shackles in pieces. No one was strong enough to subdue him. \n\t\t\t Each night and every day among the tombs and in the mountains, he would cry out and cut himself with stones.\n\t\t\t When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and bowed down before him.\n\t\t\t Then he cried out with a loud voice, \"Leave me alone, Jesus, Son of the Most High God! I implore you by God, do not torment me!\"\n\t\t\t (For Jesus had said to him, \"Come out of that man, you unclean spirit!\")\n\t\t\t Jesus asked him, \"What is your name?\" And he said, \"My name is Legion, for we are many.\" \n\t\t\t He begged Jesus repeatedly not to send them out of the region. \n\t\t\t There on the hillside, a great herd of pigs was feeding. \n\t\t\t And the demonic spirits begged him, \"Send us into the pigs. Let us enter them.\" \n\t\t\t Jesus gave them permission. So the unclean spirits came out and went into the pigs. Then the herd rushed down the steep slope into the lake, and about two thousand were drowned in the lake.\n\t\t\t Now the herdsmen ran off and spread the news in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. \n\t\t\t They came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, the one who had the \"Legion\", and they were afraid.\n\t\t\t Those who had seen what had happened to the demon-possessed man reported it, and they also told about the pigs.\n\t\t\t Then they asked Jesus to leave their region. \n\t\t\t As he was getting into the boat the man who had been demon-possessed asked if he could go with him. \n\t\t\t But Jesus did not permit him to do so. Instead, he said to him, \"Go to your home and to your people and tell them what the Lord has done for you, that he had mercy on you.\" \n\t\t\t So he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis what Jesus had done for him, and all were amazed.\n\t\t\t When Jesus had crossed again in a boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around him, and he was by the sea.\n\t\t\t Then one of the synagogue rulers, named Jairus, came up, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet. \n\t\t\t He asked him urgently, \"My little daughter is near death. Come and lay your hands on her so that she may be healed and live.\"\n\t\t\t Jesus went with him, and a large crowd followed and pressed around him.\n\t\t\t Now a woman was there who had been suffering from a hemorrhage for twelve years.\n\t\t\t She had endured a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all that she had. Yet instead of getting better, she grew worse.\n\t\t\t When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak,\n\t\t\t for she kept saying, \"If only I touch his clothes, I will be healed.\"\n\t\t\t At once the bleeding stopped, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. \n\t\t\t Jesus knew at once that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and said, \"Who touched my clothes?\"\n\t\t\t His disciples said to him, \"You see the crowd pressing against you and you say, 'Who touched me?'\"\n\t\t\t But he looked around to see who had done it. \n\t\t\t Then the woman, with fear and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before him and told him the whole truth.\n\t\t\t He said to her, \"Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your disease.\"\n\t\t\t While he was still speaking, people came from the synagogue ruler's house saying, \"Your daughter has died. Why trouble the teacher any longer?\" \n\t\t\t But Jesus, paying no attention to what was said, told the synagogue ruler, \"Do not be afraid; just believe.\"\n\t\t\t He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. \n\t\t\t They came to the house of the synagogue ruler where he saw noisy confusion and people weeping and wailing loudly.\n\t\t\t When he entered he said to them, \"Why are you distressed and weeping? The child is not dead but asleep.\"\n\t\t\t And they began making fun of him. But he put them all outside and he took the child's father and mother and his own companions and went into the room where the child was.\n\t\t\t Then, gently taking the child by the hand, he said to her, \"Talitha koum,\" which means, \"Little girl, I say to you, get up.\"\n\t\t\t The girl got up at once and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). They were completely astonished at this.\n\t\t\t He strictly ordered that no one should know about this, and told them to give her something to eat.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now Jesus left that place and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. \n\t\t\t When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue. Many who heard him were astonished, saying, \"Where did he get these ideas? And what is this wisdom that has been given to him? What are these miracles that are done through his hands? \n\t\t\t Isn't this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And aren't his sisters here with us?\" And so they took offense at him. \n\t\t\t Then Jesus said to them, \"A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown, and among his relatives, and in his own house.\" \n\t\t\t He was not able to do a miracle there, except to lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them.\n\t\t\t And he was amazed because of their unbelief. Then he went around among the villages and taught.\n\t\t\t Jesus called the twelve and began to send them out two by two. He gave them authority over the unclean spirits.\n\t\t\t He instructed them to take nothing for the journey except a staff, no bread, no bag, no money in their belts,\n\t\t\t and to put on sandals but not to wear two tunics.\n\t\t\t He said to them, \"Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave the area. \n\t\t\t If a place will not welcome you or listen to you, as you go out from there, shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.\" \n\t\t\t So they went out and preached that all should repent. \n\t\t\t They cast out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.\n\t\t\t Now King Herod heard this, for Jesus' name had become known. Some were saying, \"John the baptizer has been raised from the dead, and because of this, miraculous powers are at work in him.\" \n\t\t\t Others said, \"He is Elijah.\" Others said, \"He is a prophet, like one of the prophets from the past.\"\n\t\t\t But when Herod heard this, he said, \"John, whom I beheaded, has been raised!\"\n\t\t\t For Herod himself had sent men, arrested John, and bound him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, because Herod had married her. \n\t\t\t For John had repeatedly told Herod, \"It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife.\"\n\t\t\t So Herodias nursed a grudge against him and wanted to kill him. But she could not \n\t\t\t because Herod stood in awe of John and protected him, since he knew that John was a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard him, he was thoroughly baffled, and yet he liked to listen to John.\n\t\t\t But a suitable day came, when Herod gave a banquet on his birthday for his court officials, military commanders, and leaders of Galilee. \n\t\t\t When his daughter Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests. The king said to the girl, \"Ask me for whatever you want and I will give it to you.\" \n\t\t\t He swore to her, \"Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom.\"\n\t\t\t So she went out and said to her mother, \"What should I ask for?\" Her mother said, \"The head of John the baptizer.\"\n\t\t\t Immediately she hurried back to the king and made her request: \"I want the head of John the Baptist on a platter immediately.\" \n\t\t\t Although it grieved the king deeply, he did not want to reject her request because of his oath and his guests. \n\t\t\t So the king sent an executioner at once to bring John's head, and he went and beheaded John in prison. \n\t\t\t He brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother.\n\t\t\t When John's disciples heard this, they came and took his body and placed it in a tomb.\n\t\t\t Then the apostles gathered around Jesus and told him everything they had done and taught. \n\t\t\t He said to them, \"Come with me privately to an isolated place and rest a while\" (for many were coming and going, and there was no time to eat).\n\t\t\t So they went away by themselves in a boat to some remote place.\n\t\t\t But many saw them leaving and recognized them, and they hurried on foot from all the towns and arrived there ahead of them.\n\t\t\t As Jesus came ashore he saw the large crowd and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he taught them many things.\n\t\t\t When it was already late, his disciples came to him and said, \"This is an isolated place and it is already very late. \n\t\t\t Send them away so that they can go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy something for themselves to eat.\"\n\t\t\t But he answered them, \"You give them something to eat.\" And they said, \"Should we go and buy bread for two hundred silver coins and give it to them to eat?\" \n\t\t\t He said to them, \"How many loaves do you have? Go and see.\" When they found out, they said, \"Five, and two fish.\"\n\t\t\t Then he directed them all to sit down in groups on the green grass.\n\t\t\t So they reclined in groups of hundreds and fifties.\n\t\t\t He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. He gave them to his disciples to serve the people, and he divided the two fish among them all. \n\t\t\t They all ate and were satisfied,\n\t\t\t and they picked up the broken pieces and fish that were left over, twelve baskets full.\n\t\t\t Now there were five thousand men who ate the bread.\n\t\t\t Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dispersed the crowd. \n\t\t\t After saying good-bye to them, he went to the mountain to pray.\n\t\t\t When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea and he was alone on the land.\n\t\t\t He saw them straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. As the night was ending, he came to them walking on the sea, for he wanted to pass by them.\n\t\t\t When they saw him walking on the water they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, \n\t\t\t for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them: \"Have courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.\" \n\t\t\t Then he went up with them into the boat, and the wind ceased. They were completely astonished,\n\t\t\t because they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.\n\t\t\t After they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and anchored there. \n\t\t\t As they got out of the boat, people immediately recognized Jesus.\n\t\t\t They ran through that whole region and began to bring the sick on mats to wherever he was rumored to be.\n\t\t\t And wherever he would go, into villages, towns, or countryside, they would place the sick in the marketplaces, and would ask him if they could just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now the Pharisees and some of the experts in the law who came from Jerusalem gathered around him. \n\t\t\t And they saw that some of Jesus' disciples ate their bread with unclean hands, that is, unwashed.\n\t\t\t (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they perform a ritual washing, holding fast to the tradition of the elders. \n\t\t\t And when they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. They hold fast to many other traditions: the washing of cups, pots, kettles, and dining couches.)\n\t\t\t The Pharisees and the experts in the law asked him, \"Why do your disciples not live according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with unwashed hands?\" \n\t\t\t He said to them, \"Isaiah prophesied correctly about you hypocrites, as it is written: 'This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.\n\t\t\t They worship me in vain, teaching as doctrine the commandments of men.'\n\t\t\t Having no regard for the command of God, you hold fast to human tradition.\"\n\t\t\t He also said to them, \"You neatly reject the commandment of God in order to set up your tradition. \n\t\t\t For Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother,' and, 'Whoever insults his father or mother must be put to death.'\n\t\t\t But you say that if anyone tells his father or mother, 'Whatever help you would have received from me is corban' (that is, a gift for God), \n\t\t\t then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother.\n\t\t\t Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like this.\"\n\t\t\t Then he called the crowd again and said to them, \"Listen to me, everyone, and understand. \n\t\t\t There is nothing outside of a person that can defile him by going into him. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles him.\"\n\t\t\t \n\t\t\t Now when Jesus had left the crowd and entered the house, his disciples asked him about the parable. \n\t\t\t He said to them, \"Are you so foolish? Don't you understand that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him?\n\t\t\t For it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and then goes out into the sewer.\" (This means all foods are clean.)\n\t\t\t He said, \"What comes out of a person defiles him.\n\t\t\t For from within, out of the human heart, come evil ideas, sexual immorality, theft, murder,\n\t\t\t adultery, greed, evil, deceit, debauchery, envy, slander, pride, and folly.\n\t\t\t All these evils come from within and defile a person.\"\n\t\t\t After Jesus left there, he went to the region of Tyre. When he went into a house, he did not want anyone to know, but he was not able to escape notice. \n\t\t\t Instead, a woman whose young daughter had an unclean spirit immediately heard about him and came and fell at his feet. \n\t\t\t The woman was a Greek, of Syrophoenician origin. She asked him to cast the demon out of her daughter. \n\t\t\t He said to her, \"Let the children be satisfied first, for it is not right to take the children's bread and to throw it to the dogs.\"\n\t\t\t She answered, \"Yes, Lord, but even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs.\"\n\t\t\t Then he said to her, \"Because you said this, you may go. The demon has left your daughter.\" \n\t\t\t She went home and found the child lying on the bed, and the demon gone.\n\t\t\t Then Jesus went out again from the region of Tyre and came through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee in the region of the Decapolis.\n\t\t\t They brought to him a deaf man who had difficulty speaking, and they asked him to place his hands on him.\n\t\t\t After Jesus took him aside privately, away from the crowd, he put his fingers in the man's ears, and after spitting, he touched his tongue.\n\t\t\t Then he looked up to heaven and said with a sigh, \"Ephphatha\" (that is, \"Be opened\").\n\t\t\t And immediately the man's ears were opened, his tongue loosened, and he spoke plainly. \n\t\t\t Jesus ordered them not to tell anything. But as much as he ordered them not to do this, they proclaimed it all the more.\n\t\t\t People were completely astounded and said, \"He has done everything well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t In those days there was another large crowd with nothing to eat. So Jesus called his disciples and said to them, \n\t\t\t \"I have compassion on the crowd, because they have already been here with me three days, and they have nothing to eat.\n\t\t\t If I send them home hungry, they will faint on the way, and some of them have come from a great distance.\"\n\t\t\t His disciples answered him, \"Where can someone get enough bread in this desolate place to satisfy these people?\"\n\t\t\t He asked them, \"How many loaves do you have?\" They replied, \"Seven.\"\n\t\t\t Then he directed the crowd to sit down on the ground. After he took the seven loaves and gave thanks, he broke them and began giving them to the disciples to serve. So they served the crowd. \n\t\t\t They also had a few small fish. After giving thanks for these, he told them to serve these as well.\n\t\t\t Everyone ate and was satisfied, and they picked up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full. \n\t\t\t There were about four thousand who ate. Then he dismissed them.\n\t\t\t Immediately he got into a boat with his disciples and went to the district of Dalmanutha.\n\t\t\t Then the Pharisees came and began to argue with Jesus, asking for a sign from heaven to test him. \n\t\t\t Sighing deeply in his spirit he said, \"Why does this generation look for a sign? I tell you the truth, no sign will be given to this generation.\" \n\t\t\t Then he left them, got back into the boat, and went to the other side.\n\t\t\t Now they had forgotten to take bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat. \n\t\t\t And Jesus ordered them, \"Watch out! Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod!\" \n\t\t\t So they began to discuss with one another about having no bread.\n\t\t\t When he learned of this, Jesus said to them, \"Why are you arguing about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Have your hearts been hardened? \n\t\t\t Though you have eyes, don't you see? And though you have ears, can't you hear? Don't you remember? \n\t\t\t When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of pieces did you pick up?\" They replied, \"Twelve.\"\n\t\t\t \"When I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many baskets full of pieces did you pick up?\" They replied, \"Seven.\" \n\t\t\t Then he said to them, \"Do you still not understand?\"\n\t\t\t Then they came to Bethsaida. They brought a blind man to Jesus and asked him to touch him. \n\t\t\t He took the blind man by the hand and brought him outside of the village. Then he spit on his eyes, placed his hands on his eyes and asked, \"Do you see anything?\" \n\t\t\t Regaining his sight he said, \"I see people, but they look like trees walking.\" \n\t\t\t Then Jesus placed his hands on the man's eyes again. And he opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. \n\t\t\t Jesus sent him home, saying, \"Do not even go into the village.\"\n\t\t\t Then Jesus and his disciples went to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked his disciples, \"Who do people say that I am?\" \n\t\t\t They said, \"John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and still others, one of the prophets.\" \n\t\t\t He asked them, \"But who do you say that I am?\" Peter answered him, \"You are the Christ.\"\n\t\t\t Then he warned them not to tell anyone about him.\n\t\t\t Then Jesus began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and experts in the law, and be killed, and after three days rise again. \n\t\t\t He spoke openly about this. So Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. \n\t\t\t But after turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, \"Get behind me, Satan. You are not setting your mind on God's interests, but on man's.\"\n\t\t\t Then Jesus called the crowd, along with his disciples, and said to them, \"If anyone wants to become my follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. \n\t\t\t For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and for the gospel will save it. \n\t\t\t For what benefit is it for a person to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his life? \n\t\t\t What can a person give in exchange for his life?\n\t\t\t For if anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.\" \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t And he said to them, \"I tell you the truth, there are some standing here who will not experience death before they see the kingdom of God come with power.\"\n\t\t\t Six days later Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John and led them alone up a high mountain privately. And he was transfigured before them,\n\t\t\t and his clothes became radiantly white, more so than any launderer in the world could bleach them.\n\t\t\t Then Elijah appeared before them along with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. \n\t\t\t So Peter said to Jesus, \"Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us make three shelters, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.\"\n\t\t\t (For they were afraid, and he did not know what to say.)\n\t\t\t Then a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came from the cloud, \"This is my one dear Son. Listen to him!\"\n\t\t\t Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more except Jesus.\n\t\t\t As they were coming down from the mountain, he gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead.\n\t\t\t They kept this statement to themselves, discussing what this rising from the dead meant.\n\t\t\t Then they asked him, \"Why do the experts in the law say that Elijah must come first?\"\n\t\t\t He said to them, \"Elijah does indeed come first, and restores all things. And why is it written that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be despised?\n\t\t\t But I tell you that Elijah has certainly come, and they did to him whatever they wanted, just as it is written about him.\"\n\t\t\t When they came to the disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and experts in the law arguing with them. \n\t\t\t When the whole crowd saw him, they were amazed and ran at once and greeted him. \n\t\t\t He asked them, \"What are you arguing about with them?\"\n\t\t\t A member of the crowd said to him, \"Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that makes him mute.\n\t\t\t Whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to cast it out, but they were not able to do so.\"\n\t\t\t He answered them, \"You unbelieving generation! How much longer must I be with you? How much longer must I endure you? Bring him to me.\" \n\t\t\t So they brought the boy to him. When the spirit saw him, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell on the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. \n\t\t\t Jesus asked his father, \"How long has this been happening to him?\" And he said, \"From childhood. \n\t\t\t It has often thrown him into fire or water to destroy him. But if you are able to do anything, have compassion on us and help us.\"\n\t\t\t Then Jesus said to him, \"'If you are able?' All things are possible for the one who believes.\" \n\t\t\t Immediately the father of the boy cried out and said, \"I believe; help my unbelief!\"\n\t\t\t Now when Jesus saw that a crowd was quickly gathering, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, \"Mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.\" \n\t\t\t It shrieked, threw him into terrible convulsions, and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, \"He is dead!\" \n\t\t\t But Jesus gently took his hand and raised him to his feet, and he stood up.\n\t\t\t Then, after he went into the house, his disciples asked him privately, \"Why couldn't we cast it out?\" \n\t\t\t He told them, \"This kind can come out only by prayer.\"\n\t\t\t They went out from there and passed through Galilee. But Jesus did not want anyone to know, \n\t\t\t for he was teaching his disciples and telling them, \"The Son of Man will be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.\"\n\t\t\t But they did not understand this statement and were afraid to ask him.\n\t\t\t Then they came to Capernaum. After Jesus was inside the house he asked them, \"What were you discussing on the way?\" \n\t\t\t But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest.\n\t\t\t After he sat down, he called the twelve and said to them, \"If anyone wants to be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.\"\n\t\t\t He took a little child and had him stand among them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them,\n\t\t\t \"Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.\"\n\t\t\t John said to him, \"Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him because he was not following us.\"\n\t\t\t But Jesus said, \"Do not stop him, because no one who does a miracle in my name will be able soon afterward to say anything bad about me.\n\t\t\t For whoever is not against us is for us.\n\t\t\t For I tell you the truth, whoever gives you a cup of water because you bear Christ's name will never lose his reward.\n\t\t\t \"If anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a huge millstone tied around his neck and to be thrown into the sea. \n\t\t\t If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off! It is better for you to enter into life crippled than to have two hands and go into hell, to the unquenchable fire.\n\t\t\t \n\t\t\t If your foot causes you to sin, cut it off! It is better to enter life lame than to have two feet and be thrown into hell.\n\t\t\t \n\t\t\t If your eye causes you to sin, tear it out! It is better to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, \n\t\t\t where their worm never dies and the fire is never quenched.\n\t\t\t Everyone will be salted with fire.\n\t\t\t Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then Jesus left that place and went to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan River. Again crowds gathered to him, and again, as was his custom, he taught them. \n\t\t\t Then some Pharisees came, and to test him they asked, \"Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?\"\n\t\t\t He answered them, \"What did Moses command you?\" \n\t\t\t They said, \"Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of dismissal and to divorce her.\"\n\t\t\t But Jesus said to them, \"He wrote this commandment for you because of your hard hearts.\n\t\t\t But from the beginning of creation he made them male and female.\n\t\t\t For this reason a man will leave his father and mother,\n\t\t\t and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one flesh. \n\t\t\t Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.\"\n\t\t\t In the house once again, the disciples asked him about this.\n\t\t\t So he told them, \"Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her. \n\t\t\t And if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.\"\n\t\t\t Now people were bringing little children to him for him to touch, but the disciples scolded those who brought them.\n\t\t\t But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, \"Let the little children come to me and do not try to stop them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.\n\t\t\t I tell you the truth, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.\" \n\t\t\t After he took the children in his arms, he placed his hands on them and blessed them.\n\t\t\t Now as Jesus was starting out on his way, someone ran up to him, fell on his knees, and said, \"Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?\"\n\t\t\t Jesus said to him, \"Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. \n\t\t\t You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.'\"\n\t\t\t The man said to him, \"Teacher, I have wholeheartedly obeyed all these laws since my youth.\"\n\t\t\t As Jesus looked at him, he felt love for him and said, \"You lack one thing. Go, sell whatever you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.\" \n\t\t\t But at this statement, the man looked sad and went away sorrowful, for he was very rich.\n\t\t\t Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, \"How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!\" \n\t\t\t The disciples were astonished at these words. But again Jesus said to them, \"Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! \n\t\t\t It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.\" \n\t\t\t They were even more astonished and said to one another, \"Then who can be saved?\"\n\t\t\t Jesus looked at them and replied, \"This is impossible for mere humans, but not for God; all things are possible for God.\"\n\t\t\t Peter began to speak to him, \"Look, we have left everything to follow you!\"\n\t\t\t Jesus said, \"I tell you the truth, there is no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for my sake and for the sake of the gospel \n\t\t\t who will not receive in this age a hundred times as much, homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, fields, all with persecutions, and in the age to come, eternal life.\n\t\t\t But many who are first will be last, and the last first.\"\n\t\t\t They were on the way, going up to Jerusalem. Jesus was going ahead of them, and they were amazed, but those who followed were afraid. He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them what was going to happen to him. \n\t\t\t \"Look, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and experts in the law. They will condemn him to death and will turn him over to the Gentiles. \n\t\t\t They will mock him, spit on him, flog him severely, and kill him. Yet after three days, he will rise again.\"\n\t\t\t Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him and said, \"Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask.\" \n\t\t\t He said to them, \"What do you want me to do for you?\"\n\t\t\t They said to him, \"Permit one of us to sit at your right hand and the other at your left in your glory.\"\n\t\t\t But Jesus said to them, \"You don't know what you are asking! Are you able to drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I experience?\"\n\t\t\t They said to him, \"We are able.\" Then Jesus said to them, \"You will drink the cup I drink, and you will be baptized with the baptism I experience, \n\t\t\t but to sit at my right or at my left is not mine to give. It is for those for whom it has been prepared.\"\n\t\t\t Now when the other ten heard this, they became angry with James and John. \n\t\t\t Jesus called them and said to them, \"You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in high positions use their authority over them.\n\t\t\t But it is not this way among you. Instead whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant,\n\t\t\t and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of all. \n\t\t\t For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.\"\n\t\t\t They came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus the son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the road. \n\t\t\t When he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to shout, \"Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!\" \n\t\t\t Many scolded him to get him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, \"Son of David, have mercy on me!\" \n\t\t\t Jesus stopped and said, \"Call him.\" So they called the blind man and said to him, \"Have courage! Get up! He is calling you.\" \n\t\t\t He threw off his cloak, jumped up, and came to Jesus.\n\t\t\t Then Jesus said to him, \"What do you want me to do for you?\" The blind man replied, \"Rabbi, let me see again.\"\n\t\t\t Jesus said to him, \"Go, your faith has healed you.\" Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the road.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now as they approached Jerusalem, near Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples \n\t\t\t and said to them, \"Go to the village ahead of you. As soon as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. \n\t\t\t If anyone says to you, 'Why are you doing this?' say, 'The Lord needs it and will send it back here soon.'\" \n\t\t\t So they went and found a colt tied at a door, outside in the street, and untied it. \n\t\t\t Some people standing there said to them, \"What are you doing, untying that colt?\"\n\t\t\t They replied as Jesus had told them, and the bystanders let them go. \n\t\t\t Then they brought the colt to Jesus, threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it.\n\t\t\t Many spread their cloaks on the road and others spread branches they had cut in the fields.\n\t\t\t Both those who went ahead and those who followed kept shouting, \"Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!\n\t\t\t Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!\"\n\t\t\t Then Jesus entered Jerusalem and went to the temple. And after looking around at everything, he went out to Bethany with the twelve since it was already late.\n\t\t\t Now the next day, as they went out from Bethany, he was hungry. \n\t\t\t After noticing in the distance a fig tree with leaves, he went to see if he could find any fruit on it. When he came to it he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. \n\t\t\t He said to it, \"May no one ever eat fruit from you again.\" And his disciples heard it.\n\t\t\t Then they came to Jerusalem. Jesus entered the temple area and began to drive out those who were selling and buying in the temple courts. He turned over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves, \n\t\t\t and he would not permit anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts.\n\t\t\t Then he began to teach them and said, \"Is it not written: 'My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations'? But you have turned it into a den of robbers!\"\n\t\t\t The chief priests and the experts in the law heard it and they considered how they could assassinate him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed by his teaching. \n\t\t\t When evening came, Jesus and his disciples went out of the city.\n\t\t\t In the morning as they passed by, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots.\n\t\t\t Peter remembered and said to him, \"Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered.\"\n\t\t\t Jesus said to them, \"Have faith in God.\n\t\t\t I tell you the truth, if someone says to this mountain, 'Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. \n\t\t\t For this reason I tell you, whatever you pray and ask for, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.\n\t\t\t Whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven will also forgive you your sins.\"\n\t\t\t \n\t\t\t They came again to Jerusalem. While Jesus was walking in the temple courts, the chief priests, the experts in the law, and the elders came up to him \n\t\t\t and said, \"By what authority are you doing these things? Or who gave you this authority to do these things?\" \n\t\t\t Jesus said to them, \"I will ask you one question. Answer me and I will tell you by what authority I do these things:\n\t\t\t John's baptism, was it from heaven or from people? Answer me.\"\n\t\t\t They discussed with one another, saying, \"If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say, 'Then why did you not believe him?'\n\t\t\t But if we say, 'From people, '\" (they feared the crowd, for they all considered John to be truly a prophet).\n\t\t\t So they answered Jesus, \"We don't know.\" Then Jesus said to them, \"Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then he began to speak to them in parables: \"A man planted a vineyard. He put a fence around it, dug a pit for its winepress, and built a watchtower. Then he leased it to tenant farmers and went on a journey. \n\t\t\t At harvest time he sent a slave to the tenants to collect from them his portion of the crop.\n\t\t\t But those tenants seized his slave, beat him, and sent him away empty-handed.\n\t\t\t So he sent another slave to them again. This one they struck on the head and treated outrageously. \n\t\t\t He sent another, and that one they killed. This happened to many others, some of whom were beaten, others killed.\n\t\t\t He had one left, his one dear son. Finally he sent him to them, saying, 'They will respect my son.' \n\t\t\t But those tenants said to one another, 'This is the heir. Come, let's kill him and the inheritance will be ours!'\n\t\t\t So they seized him, killed him, and threw his body out of the vineyard.\n\t\t\t What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others.\n\t\t\t Have you not read this scripture: 'The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.\n\t\t\t This is from the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes'?\"\n\t\t\t Now they wanted to arrest him (but they feared the crowd), because they realized that he told this parable against them. So they left him and went away.\n\t\t\t Then they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to trap him with his own words.\n\t\t\t When they came they said to him, \"Teacher, we know that you are truthful and do not court anyone's favor, because you show no partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay or shouldn't we?\" \n\t\t\t But he saw through their hypocrisy and said to them, \"Why are you testing me? Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.\" \n\t\t\t So they brought one, and he said to them, \"Whose image is this, and whose inscription?\" They replied, \"Caesar's.\" \n\t\t\t Then Jesus said to them, \"Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.\" And they were utterly amazed at him.\n\t\t\t Sadducees (who say there is no resurrection) also came to him and asked him,\n\t\t\t \"Teacher, Moses wrote for us: 'If a man's brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, that man must marry the widow and father children for his brother.'\n\t\t\t There were seven brothers. The first one married, and when he died he had no children.\n\t\t\t The second married her and died without any children, and likewise the third.\n\t\t\t None of the seven had children. Finally, the woman died too.\n\t\t\t In the resurrection, when they rise again, whose wife will she be? For all seven had married her.\"\n\t\t\t Jesus said to them, \"Aren't you deceived for this reason, because you don't know the scriptures or the power of God? \n\t\t\t For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. \n\t\t\t Now as for the dead being raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the bush, how God said to him, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'?\n\t\t\t He is not the God of the dead but of the living. You are badly mistaken!\"\n\t\t\t Now one of the experts in the law came and heard them debating. When he saw that Jesus answered them well, he asked him, \"Which commandment is the most important of all?\" \n\t\t\t Jesus answered, \"The most important is: 'Listen, Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.\n\t\t\t Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.'\n\t\t\t The second is: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these.\" \n\t\t\t The expert in the law said to him, \"That is true, Teacher; you are right to say that he is one, and there is no one else besides him.\n\t\t\t And to love him with all your heart, with all your mind, and with all your strength and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.\" \n\t\t\t When Jesus saw that he had answered thoughtfully, he said to him, \"You are not far from the kingdom of God.\" Then no one dared any longer to question him.\n\t\t\t While Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, he said, \"How is it that the experts in the law say that the Christ is David's son?\n\t\t\t David himself, by the Holy Spirit, said, 'The Lord said to my lord, \"Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet.\"'\n\t\t\t If David himself calls him 'Lord,' how can he be his son?\" And the large crowd was listening to him with delight.\n\t\t\t In his teaching Jesus also said, \"Watch out for the experts in the law. They like walking around in long robes and elaborate greetings in the marketplaces, \n\t\t\t and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. \n\t\t\t They devour widows' property, and as a show make long prayers. These men will receive a more severe punishment.\"\n\t\t\t Then he sat down opposite the offering box, and watched the crowd putting coins into it. Many rich people were throwing in large amounts. \n\t\t\t And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, worth less than a penny. \n\t\t\t He called his disciples and said to them, \"I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the offering box than all the others.\n\t\t\t For they all gave out of their wealth. But she, out of her poverty, put in what she had to live on, everything she had.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now as Jesus was going out of the temple courts, one of his disciples said to him, \"Teacher, look at these tremendous stones and buildings!\"\n\t\t\t Jesus said to him, \"Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left on another. All will be torn down!\"\n\t\t\t So while he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, \n\t\t\t \"Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that all these things are about to take place?\" \n\t\t\t Jesus began to say to them, \"Watch out that no one misleads you. \n\t\t\t Many will come in my name, saying, 'I am he,' and they will mislead many. \n\t\t\t When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. These things must happen, but the end is still to come.\n\t\t\t For nation will rise up in arms against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines. These are but the beginning of birth pains.\n\t\t\t \"You must watch out for yourselves. You will be handed over to councils and beaten in the synagogues. You will stand before governors and kings because of me, as a witness to them. \n\t\t\t First the gospel must be preached to all nations.\n\t\t\t When they arrest you and hand you over for trial, do not worry about what to speak. But say whatever is given you at that time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit. \n\t\t\t Brother will hand over brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise against parents and have them put to death. \n\t\t\t You will be hated by everyone because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.\n\t\t\t \"But when you see the abomination of desolation standing where it should not be (let the reader understand), then those in Judea must flee to the mountains. \n\t\t\t The one on the roof must not come down or go inside to take anything out of his house.\n\t\t\t The one in the field must not turn back to get his cloak.\n\t\t\t Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing their babies in those days!\n\t\t\t Pray that it may not be in winter.\n\t\t\t For in those days there will be suffering unlike anything that has happened from the beginning of the creation that God created until now, or ever will happen. \n\t\t\t And if the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would be saved. But because of the elect, whom he chose, he has cut them short. \n\t\t\t Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'Look, there he is!' do not believe him. \n\t\t\t For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, the elect. \n\t\t\t Be careful! I have told you everything ahead of time.\n\t\t\t \"But in those days, after that suffering, the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light; \n\t\t\t the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.\n\t\t\t Then everyone will see the Son of Man arriving in the clouds with great power and glory. \n\t\t\t Then he will send angels and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.\n\t\t\t \"Learn this parable from the fig tree: Whenever its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near.\n\t\t\t So also you, when you see these things happening, know that he is near, right at the door. \n\t\t\t I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. \n\t\t\t Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.\n\t\t\t \"But as for that day or hour no one knows it, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, except the Father.\n\t\t\t Watch out! Stay alert! For you do not know when the time will come. \n\t\t\t It is like a man going on a journey. He left his house and put his slaves in charge, assigning to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to stay alert.\n\t\t\t Stay alert, then, because you do not know when the owner of the house will return, whether during evening, at midnight, when the rooster crows, or at dawn,\n\t\t\t or else he might find you asleep when he returns suddenly.\n\t\t\t What I say to you I say to everyone: Stay alert!\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Two days before the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the chief priests and the experts in the law were trying to find a way to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him.\n\t\t\t For they said, \"Not during the feast, so there won't be a riot among the people.\"\n\t\t\t Now while Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, reclining at the table, a woman came with an alabaster jar of costly aromatic oil from pure nard. After breaking open the jar, she poured it on his head. \n\t\t\t But some who were present indignantly said to one another, \"Why this waste of expensive ointment? \n\t\t\t It could have been sold for more than three hundred silver coins and the money given to the poor!\" So they spoke angrily to her. \n\t\t\t But Jesus said, \"Leave her alone. Why are you bothering her? She has done a good service for me.\n\t\t\t For you will always have the poor with you, and you can do good for them whenever you want. But you will not always have me!\n\t\t\t She did what she could. She anointed my body beforehand for burial.\n\t\t\t I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.\"\n\t\t\t Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus into their hands.\n\t\t\t When they heard this, they were delighted and promised to give him money. So Judas began looking for an opportunity to betray him.\n\t\t\t Now on the first day of the feast of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed, Jesus' disciples said to him, \"Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?\"\n\t\t\t He sent two of his disciples and told them, \"Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. \n\t\t\t Wherever he enters, tell the owner of the house, 'The Teacher says, \"Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?\"'\n\t\t\t He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.\"\n\t\t\t So the disciples left, went into the city, and found things just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.\n\t\t\t Then, when it was evening, he came to the house with the twelve. \n\t\t\t While they were at the table eating, Jesus said, \"I tell you the truth, one of you eating with me will betray me.\"\n\t\t\t They were distressed, and one by one said to him, \"Surely not I?\"\n\t\t\t He said to them, \"It is one of the twelve, one who dips his hand with me into the bowl.\n\t\t\t For the Son of Man will go as it is written about him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would be better for him if he had never been born.\"\n\t\t\t While they were eating, he took bread, and after giving thanks he broke it, gave it to them, and said, \"Take it. This is my body.\"\n\t\t\t And after taking the cup and giving thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it.\n\t\t\t He said to them, \"This is my blood, the blood of the covenant, that is poured out for many. \n\t\t\t I tell you the truth, I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.\"\n\t\t\t After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.\n\t\t\t Then Jesus said to them, \"You will all fall away, for it is written, 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.'\n\t\t\t But after I am raised, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.\"\n\t\t\t Peter said to him, \"Even if they all fall away, I will not!\"\n\t\t\t Jesus said to him, \"I tell you the truth, today, this very night, before a rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.\"\n\t\t\t But Peter insisted emphatically, \"Even if I must die with you, I will never deny you.\" And all of them said the same thing.\n\t\t\t Then they went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, \"Sit here while I pray.\" \n\t\t\t He took Peter, James, and John with him, and became very troubled and distressed. \n\t\t\t He said to them, \"My soul is deeply grieved, even to the point of death. Remain here and stay alert.\"\n\t\t\t Going a little farther, he threw himself to the ground and prayed that if it were possible the hour would pass from him.\n\t\t\t He said, \"Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Take this cup away from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.\"\n\t\t\t Then he came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, \"Simon, are you sleeping? Couldn't you stay awake for one hour? \n\t\t\t Stay awake and pray that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.\"\n\t\t\t He went away again and prayed the same thing.\n\t\t\t When he came again he found them sleeping; they could not keep their eyes open. And they did not know what to tell him.\n\t\t\t He came a third time and said to them, \"Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough of that! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. \n\t\t\t Get up, let us go. Look! My betrayer is approaching!\"\n\t\t\t Right away, while Jesus was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived. With him came a crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent by the chief priests and experts in the law and elders. \n\t\t\t (Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, \"The one I kiss is the man. Arrest him and lead him away under guard.\")\n\t\t\t When Judas arrived, he went up to Jesus immediately and said, \"Rabbi!\" and kissed him. \n\t\t\t Then they took hold of him and arrested him. \n\t\t\t One of the bystanders drew his sword and struck the high priest's slave, cutting off his ear. \n\t\t\t Jesus said to them, \"Have you come with swords and clubs to arrest me like you would an outlaw?\n\t\t\t Day after day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts, yet you did not arrest me. But this has happened so that the scriptures would be fulfilled.\" \n\t\t\t Then all the disciples left him and fled. \n\t\t\t A young man was following him, wearing only a linen cloth. They tried to arrest him,\n\t\t\t but he ran off naked, leaving his linen cloth behind.\n\t\t\t Then they led Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests and elders and experts in the law came together. \n\t\t\t And Peter had followed him from a distance, up to the high priest's courtyard. He was sitting with the guards and warming himself by the fire. \n\t\t\t The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death, but they did not find anything.\n\t\t\t Many gave false testimony against him, but their testimony did not agree.\n\t\t\t Some stood up and gave this false testimony against him:\n\t\t\t \"We heard him say, 'I will destroy this temple made with hands and in three days build another not made with hands.'\"\n\t\t\t Yet even on this point their testimony did not agree.\n\t\t\t Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, \"Have you no answer? What is this that they are testifying against you?\" \n\t\t\t But he was silent and did not answer. Again the high priest questioned him, \"Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?\" \n\t\t\t \"I am,\" said Jesus, \"and you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power and coming with the clouds of heaven.\"\n\t\t\t Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, \"Why do we still need witnesses?\n\t\t\t You have heard the blasphemy! What is your verdict?\" They all condemned him as deserving death. \n\t\t\t Then some began to spit on him, and to blindfold him, and to strike him with their fists, saying, \"Prophesy!\" The guards also took him and beat him.\n\t\t\t Now while Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the high priest's slave girls came by. \n\t\t\t When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked directly at him and said, \"You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus.\"\n\t\t\t But he denied it: \"I don't even understand what you're talking about!\" Then he went out to the gateway, and a rooster crowed.\n\t\t\t When the slave girl saw him, she began again to say to the bystanders, \"This man is one of them.\"\n\t\t\t But he denied it again. A short time later the bystanders again said to Peter, \"You must be one of them, because you are also a Galilean.\" \n\t\t\t Then he began to curse, and he swore with an oath, \"I do not know this man you are talking about!\"\n\t\t\t Immediately a rooster crowed a second time. Then Peter remembered what Jesus had said to him: \"Before a rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.\" And he broke down and wept.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Early in the morning, after forming a plan, the chief priests with the elders and the experts in the law and the whole Sanhedrin tied Jesus up, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate.\n\t\t\t So Pilate asked him, \"Are you the king of the Jews?\" He replied, \"You say so.\"\n\t\t\t Then the chief priests began to accuse him repeatedly. \n\t\t\t So Pilate asked him again, \"Have you nothing to say? See how many charges they are bringing against you!\" \n\t\t\t But Jesus made no further reply, so that Pilate was amazed.\n\t\t\t During the feast it was customary to release one prisoner to the people, whomever they requested. \n\t\t\t A man named Barabbas was imprisoned with rebels who had committed murder during an insurrection.\n\t\t\t Then the crowd came up and began to ask Pilate to release a prisoner for them, as was his custom.\n\t\t\t So Pilate asked them, \"Do you want me to release the king of the Jews for you?\" \n\t\t\t (For he knew that the chief priests had handed him over because of envy.)\n\t\t\t But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release Barabbas instead. \n\t\t\t So Pilate spoke to them again, \"Then what do you want me to do with the one you call king of the Jews?\" \n\t\t\t They shouted back, \"Crucify him!\" \n\t\t\t Pilate asked them, \"Why? What has he done wrong?\" But they shouted more insistently, \"Crucify him!\"\n\t\t\t Because he wanted to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas for them. Then, after he had Jesus flogged, he handed him over to be crucified.\n\t\t\t So the soldiers led him into the palace (that is, the governor's residence) and called together the whole cohort.\n\t\t\t They put a purple cloak on him and after braiding a crown of thorns, they put it on him. \n\t\t\t They began to salute him: \"Hail, king of the Jews!\"\n\t\t\t Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Then they knelt down and paid homage to him. \n\t\t\t When they had finished mocking him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes back on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.\n\t\t\t The soldiers forced a passerby to carry his cross, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country (he was the father of Alexander and Rufus).\n\t\t\t They brought Jesus to a place called Golgotha (which is translated, \"Place of the Skull\").\n\t\t\t They offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. \n\t\t\t Then they crucified him and divided his clothes, throwing dice for them, to decide what each would take. \n\t\t\t It was nine o'clock in the morning when they crucified him. \n\t\t\t The inscription of the charge against him read, \"The king of the Jews.\" \n\t\t\t And they crucified two outlaws with him, one on his right and one on his left.\n\t\t\t \n\t\t\t Those who passed by defamed him, shaking their heads and saying, \"Aha! You who can destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days,\n\t\t\t save yourself and come down from the cross!\"\n\t\t\t In the same way even the chief priests, together with the experts in the law, were mocking him among themselves: \"He saved others, but he cannot save himself!\n\t\t\t Let the Christ, the king of Israel, come down from the cross now, that we may see and believe!\" Those who were crucified with him also spoke abusively to him.\n\t\t\t Now when it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon.\n\t\t\t Around three o'clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, \"Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?\" which means, \"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?\"\n\t\t\t When some of the bystanders heard it they said, \"Listen, he is calling for Elijah!\"\n\t\t\t Then someone ran, filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink, saying, \"Leave him alone! Let's see if Elijah will come to take him down!\" \n\t\t\t But Jesus cried out with a loud voice and breathed his last.\n\t\t\t And the temple curtain was torn in two, from top to bottom. \n\t\t\t Now when the centurion, who stood in front of him, saw how he died, he said, \"Truly this man was God's Son!\" \n\t\t\t There were also women, watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. \n\t\t\t When he was in Galilee, they had followed him and given him support. Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem were there too.\n\t\t\t Now when evening had already come, since it was the day of preparation (that is, the day before the Sabbath),\n\t\t\t Joseph of Arimathea, a highly regarded member of the council, who was himself looking forward to the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.\n\t\t\t Pilate was surprised that he was already dead. He called the centurion and asked him if he had been dead for some time. \n\t\t\t When Pilate was informed by the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph. \n\t\t\t After Joseph bought a linen cloth and took down the body, he wrapped it in the linen and placed it in a tomb cut out of the rock. Then he rolled a stone across the entrance of the tomb.\n\t\t\t Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where the body was placed.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought aromatic spices so that they might go and anoint him. \n\t\t\t And very early on the first day of the week, at sunrise, they went to the tomb.\n\t\t\t They had been asking each other, \"Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?\"\n\t\t\t But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled back. \n\t\t\t Then as they went into the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. \n\t\t\t But he said to them, \"Do not be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has been raised! He is not here. Look, there is the place where they laid him. \n\t\t\t But go, tell his disciples, even Peter, that he is going ahead of you into Galilee. You will see him there, just as he told you.\"\n\t\t\t Then they went out and ran from the tomb, for terror and bewilderment had seized them. And they said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid. is the place where they laid him.\n\t\t\t [[Early on the first day of the week, after he arose, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had driven out seven demons.\n\t\t\t She went out and told those who were with him, while they were mourning and weeping.\n\t\t\t And when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe.\n\t\t\t After this he appeared in a different form to two of them while they were on their way to the country.\n\t\t\t They went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them.\n\t\t\t Then he appeared to the eleven themselves, while they were eating, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen him resurrected.\n\t\t\t He said to them, \"Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.\n\t\t\t The one who believes and is baptized will be saved, but the one who does not believe will be condemned.\n\t\t\t These signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new languages;\n\t\t\t they will pick up snakes with their hands, and whatever poison they drink will not harm them; they will place their hands on the sick and they will be well.\" \n\t\t\t After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.\n\t\t\t They went out and proclaimed everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word through the accompanying signs.]]\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now many have undertaken to compile an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, \n\t\t\t like the accounts passed on to us by those who were eyewitnesses and servants of the word from the beginning.\n\t\t\t So it seemed good to me as well, because I have followed all things carefully from the beginning, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, \n\t\t\t so that you may know for certain the things you were taught.\n\t\t\t During the reign of Herod king of Judea, there lived a priest named Zechariah who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah, and he had a wife named Elizabeth, who was a descendant of Aaron.\n\t\t\t They were both righteous in the sight of God, following all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly.\n\t\t\t But they did not have a child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both very old.\n\t\t\t Now while Zechariah was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty,\n\t\t\t he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the holy place of the Lord and burn incense. \n\t\t\t Now the whole crowd of people were praying outside at the hour of the incense offering.\n\t\t\t An angel of the Lord, standing on the right side of the altar of incense, appeared to him. \n\t\t\t And Zechariah, visibly shaken when he saw the angel, was seized with fear.\n\t\t\t But the angel said to him, \"Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son; you will name him John.\n\t\t\t Joy and gladness will come to you, and many will rejoice at his birth,\n\t\t\t for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must never drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth.\n\t\t\t He will turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. \n\t\t\t And he will go as forerunner before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared for him.\"\n\t\t\t Zechariah said to the angel, \"How can I be sure of this? For I am an old man, and my wife is old as well.\"\n\t\t\t The angel answered him, \"I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. \n\t\t\t And now, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time, you will be silent, unable to speak, until the day these things take place.\"\n\t\t\t Now the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they began to wonder why he was delayed in the holy place.\n\t\t\t When he came out, he was not able to speak to them. They realized that he had seen a vision in the holy place, because he was making signs to them and remained unable to speak.\n\t\t\t When his time of service was over, he went to his home.\n\t\t\t After some time his wife Elizabeth became pregnant, and for five months she kept herself in seclusion. She said,\n\t\t\t \"This is what the Lord has done for me at the time when he has been gracious to me, to take away my disgrace among people.\"\n\t\t\t In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,\n\t\t\t to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, a descendant of David, and the virgin's name was Mary. \n\t\t\t The angel came to her and said, \"Greetings, favored one, the Lord is with you!\"\n\t\t\t But she was greatly troubled by his words and began to wonder about the meaning of this greeting.\n\t\t\t So the angel said to her, \"Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God! \n\t\t\t Listen: You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus.\n\t\t\t He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. \n\t\t\t He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will never end.\" \n\t\t\t Mary said to the angel, \"How will this be, since I have not had sexual relations with a man?\" \n\t\t\t The angel replied, \"The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called the Son of God.\n\t\t\t \"And look, your relative Elizabeth has also become pregnant with a son in her old age, although she was called barren, she is now in her sixth month!\n\t\t\t For nothing will be impossible with God.\" \n\t\t\t So Mary said, \"Yes, I am a servant of the Lord; let this happen to me according to your word.\" Then the angel departed from her.\n\t\t\t In those days Mary got up and went hurriedly into the hill country, to a town of Judah,\n\t\t\t and entered Zechariah's house and greeted Elizabeth.\n\t\t\t When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.\n\t\t\t She exclaimed with a loud voice, \"Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child in your womb! \n\t\t\t And who am I that the mother of my Lord should come and visit me? \n\t\t\t For the instant the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.\n\t\t\t And blessed is she who believed that what was spoken to her by the Lord would be fulfilled.\"\n\t\t\t And Mary said, \"My soul exalts the Lord,\n\t\t\t and my spirit has begun to rejoice in God my Savior,\n\t\t\t because he has looked upon the humble state of his servant. For from now on all generations will call me blessed,\n\t\t\t because he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name;\n\t\t\t from generation to generation he is merciful to those who fear him.\n\t\t\t He has demonstrated power with his arm; he has scattered those whose pride wells up from the sheer arrogance of their hearts.\n\t\t\t He has brought down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up those of lowly position;\n\t\t\t he has filled the hungry with good things, and has sent the rich away empty.\n\t\t\t He has helped his servant Israel, remembering his mercy,\n\t\t\t as he promised to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.\"\n\t\t\t So Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then returned to her home.\n\t\t\t Now the time came for Elizabeth to have her baby, and she gave birth to a son.\n\t\t\t Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.\n\t\t\t On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they wanted to name him Zechariah after his father. \n\t\t\t But his mother replied, \"No! He must be named John.\"\n\t\t\t They said to her, \"But none of your relatives bears this name.\"\n\t\t\t So they made signs to the baby's father, inquiring what he wanted to name his son.\n\t\t\t He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, \"His name is John.\" And they were all amazed.\n\t\t\t Immediately Zechariah's mouth was opened and his tongue released, and he spoke, blessing God. \n\t\t\t All their neighbors were filled with fear, and throughout the entire hill country of Judea all these things were talked about.\n\t\t\t All who heard these things kept them in their hearts, saying, \"What then will this child be?\" For the Lord's hand was indeed with him.\n\t\t\t Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied,\n\t\t\t \"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, because he has come to help and has redeemed his people.\n\t\t\t For he has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David,\n\t\t\t as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from long ago,\n\t\t\t that we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us.\n\t\t\t He has done this to show mercy to our ancestors, and to remember his holy covenant,\n\t\t\t the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham. This oath grants\n\t\t\t that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies, may serve him without fear,\n\t\t\t in holiness and righteousness before him for as long as we live.\n\t\t\t And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High. For you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,\n\t\t\t to give his people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins.\n\t\t\t Because of our God's tender mercy the dawn will break upon us from on high\n\t\t\t to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.\"\n\t\t\t And the child kept growing and becoming strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day he was revealed to Israel.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus to register all the empire for taxes. \n\t\t\t This was the first registration, taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria. \n\t\t\t Everyone went to his own town to be registered. \n\t\t\t So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David. \n\t\t\t He went to be registered with Mary, who was promised in marriage to him, and who was expecting a child. \n\t\t\t While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child.\n\t\t\t And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.\n\t\t\t Now there were shepherds nearby living out in the field, keeping guard over their flock at night.\n\t\t\t An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were absolutely terrified.\n\t\t\t But the angel said to them, \"Do not be afraid! Listen carefully, for I proclaim to you good news that brings great joy to all the people: \n\t\t\t Today your Savior is born in the city of David. He is Christ the Lord. \n\t\t\t This will be a sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger.\"\n\t\t\t Suddenly a vast, heavenly army appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,\n\t\t\t \"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among people with whom he is pleased!\"\n\t\t\t When the angels left them and went back to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, \"Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, that the Lord has made known to us.\" \n\t\t\t So they hurried off and located Mary and Joseph, and found the baby lying in a manger.\n\t\t\t When they saw him, they related what they had been told about this child, \n\t\t\t and all who heard it were astonished at what the shepherds said. \n\t\t\t But Mary treasured up all these words, pondering in her heart what they might mean.\n\t\t\t So the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen; everything was just as they had been told.\n\t\t\t At the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was named Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.\n\t\t\t Now when the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, Joseph and Mary brought Jesus up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord \n\t\t\t (just as it is written in the law of the Lord, \"Every firstborn male will be set apart to the Lord\"),\n\t\t\t and to offer a sacrifice according to what is specified in the law of the Lord, a pair of doves or two young pigeons.\n\t\t\t Now there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon who was righteous and devout, looking for the restoration of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.\n\t\t\t It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ.\n\t\t\t So Simeon, directed by the Spirit, came into the temple courts, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what was customary according to the law,\n\t\t\t Simeon took him in his arms and blessed God, saying,\n\t\t\t \"Now, according to your word, Sovereign Lord, permit your servant to depart in peace.\n\t\t\t For my eyes have seen your salvation\n\t\t\t that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples:\n\t\t\t a light, for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.\"\n\t\t\t So the child's father and mother were amazed at what was said about him. \n\t\t\t Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, \"Listen carefully: This child is destined to be the cause of the falling and rising of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be rejected.\n\t\t\t Indeed, as a result of him the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed, and a sword will pierce your own soul as well!\"\n\t\t\t There was also a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old, having been married to her husband for seven years until his death. \n\t\t\t She had lived as a widow since then for eighty-four years. She never left the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day.\n\t\t\t At that moment, she came up to them and began to give thanks to God and to speak about the child to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t So when Joseph and Mary had performed everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.\n\t\t\t And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom, and the favor of God was upon him.\n\t\t\t Now Jesus' parents went to Jerusalem every year for the feast of the Passover.\n\t\t\t When he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. \n\t\t\t But when the feast was over, as they were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, \n\t\t\t but (because they assumed that he was in their group of travelers) they went a day's journey. Then they began to look for him among their relatives and acquaintances.\n\t\t\t When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him. \n\t\t\t After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. \n\t\t\t And all who heard Jesus were astonished at his understanding and his answers. \n\t\t\t When his parents saw him, they were overwhelmed. His mother said to him, \"Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been looking for you anxiously.\"\n\t\t\t But he replied, \"Why were you looking for me? Didn't you know that I must be in my Father's house?\"\n\t\t\t Yet his parents did not understand the remark he made to them. \n\t\t\t Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. But his mother kept all these things in her heart.\n\t\t\t And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and with people.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip was tetrarch of the region of Iturea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene, \n\t\t\t during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness.\n\t\t\t He went into all the region around the Jordan River, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.\n\t\t\t As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, \"The voice of one shouting in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make his paths straight.\n\t\t\t Every valley will be filled, and every mountain and hill will be brought low, and the crooked will be made straight, and the rough ways will be made smooth,\n\t\t\t and all humanity will see the salvation of God.'\"\n\t\t\t So John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, \"You offspring of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? \n\t\t\t Therefore produce fruit that proves your repentance, and don't begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I tell you that God can raise up children for Abraham from these stones!\n\t\t\t Even now the ax is laid at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.\"\n\t\t\t So the crowds were asking him, \"What then should we do?\" \n\t\t\t John answered them, \"The person who has two tunics must share with the person who has none, and the person who has food must do likewise.\" \n\t\t\t Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, \"Teacher, what should we do?\" \n\t\t\t He told them, \"Collect no more than you are required to.\"\n\t\t\t Then some soldiers also asked him, \"And as for us, what should we do?\" He told them, \"Take money from no one by violence or by false accusation, and be content with your pay.\"\n\t\t\t While the people were filled with anticipation and they all wondered whether perhaps John could be the Christ,\n\t\t\t John answered them all, \"I baptize you with water, but one more powerful than I am is coming, I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.\n\t\t\t His winnowing fork is in his hand to clean out his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his storehouse, but the chaff he will burn up with inextinguishable fire.\"\n\t\t\t And in this way, with many other exhortations, John proclaimed good news to the people. \n\t\t\t But when John rebuked Herod the tetrarch because of Herodias, his brother's wife, and because of all the evil deeds that he had done, \n\t\t\t Herod added this to them all: He locked up John in prison.\n\t\t\t Now when all the people were baptized, Jesus also was baptized. And while he was praying, the heavens opened, \n\t\t\t and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, \"You are my one dear Son; in you I take great delight.\"\n\t\t\t So Jesus, when he began his ministry, was about thirty years old. He was the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli, \n\t\t\t the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph,\n\t\t\t the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai,\n\t\t\t the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda,\n\t\t\t the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri,\n\t\t\t the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er,\n\t\t\t the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi,\n\t\t\t the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim,\n\t\t\t the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David,\n\t\t\t the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Sala, the son of Nahshon, \n\t\t\t the son of Amminadab, the son of Admin, the son of Arni, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah, \n\t\t\t the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, \n\t\t\t the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah,\n\t\t\t the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, \n\t\t\t the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel, the son of Kenan,\n\t\t\t the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan River and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness,\n\t\t\t where for forty days he endured temptations from the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when they were completed, he was famished. \n\t\t\t The devil said to him, \"If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.\"\n\t\t\t Jesus answered him, \"It is written, 'Man does not live by bread alone.'\"\n\t\t\t Then the devil led him up to a high place and showed him in a flash all the kingdoms of the world. \n\t\t\t And he said to him, \"To you I will grant this whole realm, and the glory that goes along with it, for it has been relinquished to me, and I can give it to anyone I wish.\n\t\t\t So then, if you will worship me, all this will be yours.\" \n\t\t\t Jesus answered him, \"It is written, 'You are to worship the Lord your God and serve only him.'\"\n\t\t\t Then the devil brought him to Jerusalem, had him stand on the highest point of the temple, and said to him, \"If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here,\n\t\t\t for it is written, 'He will command his angels concerning you, to protect you,'\n\t\t\t and 'with their hands they will lift you up, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'\"\n\t\t\t Jesus answered him, \"It is said, 'You are not to put the Lord your God to the test.'\"\n\t\t\t So when the devil had completed every temptation, he departed from him until a more opportune time.\n\t\t\t Then Jesus, in the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and news about him spread throughout the surrounding countryside.\n\t\t\t He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by all.\n\t\t\t Now Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read,\n\t\t\t and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,\n\t\t\t \"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and the regaining of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed,\n\t\t\t to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.\"\n\t\t\t Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fixed on him. \n\t\t\t Then he began to tell them, \"Today this scripture has been fulfilled even as you heard it being read.\"\n\t\t\t All were speaking well of him, and were amazed at the gracious words coming out of his mouth. They said, \"Isn't this Joseph's son?\" \n\t\t\t Jesus said to them, \"No doubt you will quote to me the proverb, 'Physician, heal yourself!' and say, 'What we have heard that you did in Capernaum, do here in your hometown too.'\" \n\t\t\t And he added, \"I tell you the truth, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown. \n\t\t\t But in truth I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in Elijah's days, when the sky was shut up three and a half years, and there was a great famine over all the land. \n\t\t\t Yet Elijah was sent to none of them, but only to a woman who was a widow at Zarephath in Sidon.\n\t\t\t And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, yet none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.\"\n\t\t\t When they heard this, all the people in the synagogue were filled with rage. \n\t\t\t They got up, forced him out of the town, and brought him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they could throw him down the cliff.\n\t\t\t But he passed through the crowd and went on his way.\n\t\t\t So he went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and on the Sabbath he began to teach the people.\n\t\t\t They were amazed at his teaching, because he spoke with authority.\n\t\t\t Now in the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, \n\t\t\t \"Ha! Leave us alone, Jesus the Nazarene! Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.\"\n\t\t\t But Jesus rebuked him: \"Silence! Come out of him!\" Then, after the demon threw the man down in their midst, he came out of him without hurting him.\n\t\t\t They were all amazed and began to say to one another, \"What's happening here? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!\" \n\t\t\t So the news about him spread into all areas of the region.\n\t\t\t After Jesus left the synagogue, he entered Simon's house. Now Simon's mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Jesus to help her.\n\t\t\t So he stood over her, commanded the fever, and it left her. Immediately she got up and began to serve them.\n\t\t\t As the sun was setting, all those who had any relatives sick with various diseases brought them to Jesus. He placed his hands on every one of them and healed them. \n\t\t\t Demons also came out of many, crying out, \"You are the Son of God!\" But he rebuked them, and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ.\n\t\t\t The next morning Jesus departed and went to a deserted place. Yet the crowds were seeking him, and they came to him and tried to keep him from leaving them. \n\t\t\t But Jesus said to them, \"I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns too, for that is what I was sent to do.\"\n\t\t\t So he continued to preach in the synagogues of Judea.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, and the crowd was pressing around him to hear the word of God. \n\t\t\t He saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gotten out of them and were washing their nets. \n\t\t\t He got into one of the boats, which was Simon's, and asked him to put out a little way from the shore. Then Jesus sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. \n\t\t\t When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, \"Put out into the deep water and lower your nets for a catch.\" \n\t\t\t Simon answered, \"Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing! But at your word I will lower the nets.\"\n\t\t\t When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets started to tear.\n\t\t\t So they motioned to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both boats, so that they were about to sink.\n\t\t\t But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, \"Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!\"\n\t\t\t For Peter and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, \n\t\t\t and so were James and John, Zebedee's sons, who were Simon's business partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, \"Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.\"\n\t\t\t So when they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him.\n\t\t\t While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came to him who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he bowed down with his face to the ground and begged him, \"Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.\" \n\t\t\t So he stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, \"I am willing. Be clean!\" And immediately the leprosy left him. \n\t\t\t Then he ordered the man to tell no one, but commanded him, \"Go and show yourself to a priest, and bring the offering for your cleansing, as Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.\"\n\t\t\t But the news about him spread even more, and large crowds were gathering together to hear him and to be healed of their illnesses. \n\t\t\t Yet Jesus himself frequently withdrew to the wilderness and prayed.\n\t\t\t Now on one of those days, while he was teaching, there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting nearby (who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem), and the power of the Lord was with him to heal. \n\t\t\t Just then some men showed up, carrying a paralyzed man on a stretcher. They were trying to bring him in and place him before Jesus.\n\t\t\t But since they found no way to carry him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down on the stretcher through the roof tiles right in front of Jesus.\n\t\t\t When Jesus saw their faith he said, \"Friend, your sins are forgiven.\"\n\t\t\t Then the experts in the law and the Pharisees began to think to themselves, \"Who is this man who is uttering blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?\" \n\t\t\t When Jesus perceived their hostile thoughts, he said to them, \"Why are you raising objections within yourselves? \n\t\t\t Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Stand up and walk'? \n\t\t\t But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins\", he said to the paralyzed man, \"I tell you, stand up, take your stretcher and go home.\"\n\t\t\t Immediately he stood up before them, picked up the stretcher he had been lying on, and went home, glorifying God. \n\t\t\t Then astonishment seized them all, and they glorified God. They were filled with awe, saying, \"We have seen incredible things today.\"\n\t\t\t After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the tax booth. \"Follow me,\" he said to him. \n\t\t\t And he got up and followed him, leaving everything behind.\n\t\t\t Then Levi gave a great banquet in his house for Jesus, and there was a large crowd of tax collectors and others sitting at the table with them. \n\t\t\t But the Pharisees and their experts in the law complained to his disciples, saying, \"Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?\"\n\t\t\t Jesus answered them, \"Those who are well don't need a physician, but those who are sick do.\n\t\t\t I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.\"\n\t\t\t Then they said to him, \"John's disciples frequently fast and pray, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours continue to eat and drink.\"\n\t\t\t So Jesus said to them, \"You cannot make the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them, can you?\n\t\t\t But those days are coming, and when the bridegroom is taken from them, at that time they will fast.\" \n\t\t\t He also told them a parable: \"No one tears a patch from a new garment and sews it on an old garment. If he does, he will have torn the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old.\n\t\t\t And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins and will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed. \n\t\t\t Instead new wine must be poured into new wineskins.\n\t\t\t No one after drinking old wine wants the new, for he says, 'The old is good enough.'\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Jesus was going through the grain fields on a Sabbath, and his disciples picked some heads of wheat, rubbed them in their hands, and ate them.\n\t\t\t But some of the Pharisees said, \"Why are you doing what is against the law on the Sabbath?\" \n\t\t\t Jesus answered them, \"Haven't you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry,\n\t\t\t how he entered the house of God, took and ate the sacred bread, which is not lawful for any to eat but the priests alone, and gave it to his companions?\"\n\t\t\t Then he said to them, \"The Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.\"\n\t\t\t On another Sabbath, Jesus entered the synagogue and was teaching. Now a man was there whose right hand was withered.\n\t\t\t The experts in the law and the Pharisees watched Jesus closely to see if he would heal on the Sabbath, so that they could find a reason to accuse him. \n\t\t\t But he knew their thoughts, and said to the man who had the withered hand, \"Get up and stand here.\" So he rose and stood there. \n\t\t\t Then Jesus said to them, \"I ask you, is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath or to do evil, to save a life or to destroy it?\"\n\t\t\t After looking around at them all, he said to the man, \"Stretch out your hand.\" The man did so, and his hand was restored.\n\t\t\t But they were filled with mindless rage and began debating with one another what they would do to Jesus.\n\t\t\t Now it was during this time that Jesus went out to the mountain to pray, and he spent all night in prayer to God.\n\t\t\t When morning came, he called his disciples and chose twelve of them, whom he also named apostles:\n\t\t\t Simon (whom he named Peter), and his brother Andrew; and James, John, Philip, Bartholomew,\n\t\t\t Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot,\n\t\t\t Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.\n\t\t\t Then he came down with them and stood on a level place. And a large number of his disciples had gathered along with a vast multitude from all over Judea, from Jerusalem, and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon. They came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases, \n\t\t\t and those who suffered from unclean spirits were cured. \n\t\t\t The whole crowd was trying to touch him, because power was coming out from him and healing them all.\n\t\t\t Then he looked up at his disciples and said: \"Blessed are you who are poor, for the kingdom of God belongs to you.\n\t\t\t \"Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. \"Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.\n\t\t\t \"Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you and insult you and reject you as evil on account of the Son of Man! \n\t\t\t Rejoice in that day, and jump for joy, because your reward is great in heaven. For their ancestors did the same things to the prophets.\n\t\t\t \"But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your comfort already.\n\t\t\t \"Woe to you who are well satisfied with food now, for you will be hungry. \"Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep.\n\t\t\t \"Woe to you when all people speak well of you, for their ancestors did the same things to the false prophets.\n\t\t\t \"But I say to you who are listening: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, \n\t\t\t bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. \n\t\t\t To the person who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other as well, and from the person who takes away your coat, do not withhold your tunic either.\n\t\t\t Give to everyone who asks you, and do not ask for your possessions back from the person who takes them away. \n\t\t\t Treat others in the same way that you would want them to treat you.\n\t\t\t \"If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.\n\t\t\t And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same.\n\t\t\t And if you lend to those from whom you hope to be repaid, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, so that they may be repaid in full.\n\t\t\t But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to ungrateful and evil people.\n\t\t\t Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.\n\t\t\t \"Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven. \n\t\t\t Give, and it will be given to you: A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be poured into your lap. For the measure you use will be the measure you receive.\"\n\t\t\t He also told them a parable: \"Someone who is blind cannot lead another who is blind, can he? Won't they both fall into a pit? \n\t\t\t A disciple is not greater than his teacher, but everyone when fully trained will be like his teacher. \n\t\t\t Why do you see the speck in your brother's eye, but fail to see the beam of wood in your own? \n\t\t\t How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me remove the speck from your eye,' while you yourself don't see the beam in your own? You hypocrite! First remove the beam from your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.\n\t\t\t \"For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, \n\t\t\t for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thorns, nor are grapes picked from brambles.\n\t\t\t The good person out of the good treasury of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasury produces evil, for his mouth speaks from what fills his heart.\n\t\t\t \"Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and don't do what I tell you?\n\t\t\t \"Everyone who comes to me and listens to my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what he is like:\n\t\t\t He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep, and laid the foundation on bedrock. When a flood came, the river burst against that house but could not shake it, because it had been well built.\n\t\t\t But the person who hears and does not put my words into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the river burst against that house, it collapsed immediately, and was utterly destroyed!\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t After Jesus had finished teaching all this to the people, he entered Capernaum.\n\t\t\t A centurion there had a slave who was highly regarded, but who was sick and at the point of death. \n\t\t\t When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to him, asking him to come and heal his slave. \n\t\t\t When they came to Jesus, they urged him earnestly, \"He is worthy to have you do this for him, \n\t\t\t because he loves our nation, and even built our synagogue.\"\n\t\t\t So Jesus went with them. When he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to say to him, \"Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. \n\t\t\t That is why I did not presume to come to you. Instead, say the word, and my servant must be healed.\n\t\t\t For I too am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me. I say to this one, 'Go,' and he goes, and to another, 'Come,' and he comes, and to my slave, 'Do this,' and he does it.\"\n\t\t\t When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him. He turned and said to the crowd that followed him, \"I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith!\"\n\t\t\t So when those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the slave well.\n\t\t\t Soon afterward Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went with him. \n\t\t\t As he approached the town gate, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother (who was a widow), and a large crowd from the town was with her.\n\t\t\t When the Lord saw her, he had compassion for her and said to her, \"Do not weep.\"\n\t\t\t Then he came up and touched the bier, and those who carried it stood still. He said, \"Young man, I say to you, get up!\" \n\t\t\t So the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.\n\t\t\t Fear seized them all, and they began to glorify God, saying, \"A great prophet has appeared among us!\" and \"God has come to help his people!\" \n\t\t\t This report about Jesus circulated throughout Judea and all the surrounding country.\n\t\t\t John's disciples informed him about all these things. So John called two of his disciples \n\t\t\t and sent them to Jesus to ask, \"Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?\" \n\t\t\t When the men came to Jesus, they said, \"John the Baptist has sent us to you to ask, 'Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?'\"\n\t\t\t At that very time Jesus cured many people of diseases, sicknesses, and evil spirits, and granted sight to many who were blind. \n\t\t\t So he answered them, \"Go tell John what you have seen and heard: The blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have good news proclaimed to them. \n\t\t\t Blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.\"\n\t\t\t When John's messengers had gone, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: \"What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?\n\t\t\t What did you go out to see? A man dressed in fancy clothes? Look, those who wear fancy clothes and live in luxury are in kings' courts!\n\t\t\t What did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. \n\t\t\t This is the one about whom it is written, 'Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.'\n\t\t\t I tell you, among those born of women no one is greater than John. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he is.\" \n\t\t\t (Now all the people who heard this, even the tax collectors, acknowledged God's justice, because they had been baptized with John's baptism. \n\t\t\t However, the Pharisees and the experts in religious law rejected God's purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.)\n\t\t\t \"To what then should I compare the people of this generation, and what are they like? \n\t\t\t They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to one another, 'We played the flute for you, yet you did not dance; we wailed in mourning, yet you did not weep.'\n\t\t\t For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, 'He has a demon!'\n\t\t\t The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, 'Look at him, a glutton and a drunk, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!'\n\t\t\t But wisdom is vindicated by all her children.\"\n\t\t\t Now one of the Pharisees asked Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went into the Pharisee's house and took his place at the table.\n\t\t\t Then when a woman of that town, who was a sinner, learned that Jesus was dining at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfumed oil.\n\t\t\t As she stood behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. She wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and anointed them with the perfumed oil. \n\t\t\t Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, \"If this man were a prophet, he would know who and what kind of woman this is who is touching him, that she is a sinner.\" \n\t\t\t So Jesus answered him, \"Simon, I have something to say to you.\" He replied, \"Say it, Teacher.\" \n\t\t\t \"A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed him five hundred silver coins, and the other fifty.\n\t\t\t When they could not pay, he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?\"\n\t\t\t Simon answered, \"I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled.\" Jesus said to him, \"You have judged rightly.\" \n\t\t\t Then, turning toward the woman, he said to Simon, \"Do you see this woman? I entered your house. You gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. \n\t\t\t You gave me no kiss of greeting, but from the time I entered she has not stopped kissing my feet. \n\t\t\t You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with perfumed oil. \n\t\t\t Therefore I tell you, her sins, which were many, are forgiven, thus she loved much; but the one who is forgiven little loves little.\" \n\t\t\t Then Jesus said to her, \"Your sins are forgiven.\"\n\t\t\t But those who were at the table with him began to say among themselves, \"Who is this, who even forgives sins?\" \n\t\t\t He said to the woman, \"Your faith has saved you; go in peace.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Some time afterward he went on through towns and villages, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The twelve were with him, \n\t\t\t and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and disabilities: Mary (called Magdalene), from whom seven demons had gone out, \n\t\t\t and Joanna the wife of Cuza (Herod's household manager), Susanna, and many others who provided for them out of their own resources.\n\t\t\t While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from one town after another, he spoke to them in a parable: \n\t\t\t \"A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell along the path and was trampled on, and the wild birds devoured it.\n\t\t\t Other seed fell on rock, and when it came up, it withered because it had no moisture. \n\t\t\t Other seed fell among the thorns, and they grew up with it and choked it. \n\t\t\t But other seed fell on good soil and grew, and it produced a hundred times as much grain.\" As he said this, he called out, \"The one who has ears to hear had better listen!\"\n\t\t\t Then his disciples asked him what this parable meant.\n\t\t\t He said, \"You have been given the opportunity to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so that although they see they may not see, and although they hear they may not understand.\n\t\t\t \"Now the parable means this: The seed is the word of God. \n\t\t\t Those along the path are the ones who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. \n\t\t\t Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in a time of testing fall away.\n\t\t\t As for the seed that fell among thorns, these are the ones who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the worries and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature.\n\t\t\t But as for the seed that landed on good soil, these are the ones who, after hearing the word, cling to it with an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with steadfast endurance.\n\t\t\t \"No one lights a lamp and then covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a lampstand so that those who come in can see the light.\n\t\t\t For nothing is hidden that will not be revealed, and nothing concealed that will not be made known and brought to light. \n\t\t\t So listen carefully, for whoever has will be given more, but whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken from him.\"\n\t\t\t Now Jesus' mother and his brothers came to him, but they could not get near him because of the crowd. \n\t\t\t So he was told, \"Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.\" \n\t\t\t But he replied to them, \"My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.\"\n\t\t\t One day Jesus got into a boat with his disciples and said to them, \"Let's go across to the other side of the lake.\" So they set out, \n\t\t\t and as they sailed he fell asleep. Now a violent windstorm came down on the lake, and the boat started filling up with water, and they were in danger. \n\t\t\t They came and woke him, saying, \"Master, Master, we are about to die!\" So he got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waves; they died down, and it was calm. \n\t\t\t Then he said to them, \"Where is your faith?\" But they were afraid and amazed, saying to one another, \"Who then is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him!\"\n\t\t\t So they sailed over to the region of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. \n\t\t\t As Jesus stepped ashore, a certain man from the town met him who was possessed by demons. For a long time this man had worn no clothes and had not lived in a house, but among the tombs. \n\t\t\t When he saw Jesus, he cried out, fell down before him, and shouted with a loud voice, \"Leave me alone, Jesus, Son of the Most High God! I beg you, do not torment me!\" \n\t\t\t For Jesus had started commanding the evil spirit to come out of the man. (For it had seized him many times, so he would be bound with chains and shackles and kept under guard. But he would break the restraints and be driven by the demon into deserted places.)\n\t\t\t Jesus then asked him, \"What is your name?\" He said, \"Legion,\" because many demons had entered him. \n\t\t\t And they began to beg him not to order them to depart into the abyss.\n\t\t\t Now a large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, and the demonic spirits begged Jesus to let them go into them. He gave them permission.\n\t\t\t So the demons came out of the man and went into the pigs, and the herd of pigs rushed down the steep slope into the lake and drowned. \n\t\t\t When the herdsmen saw what had happened, they ran off and spread the news in the town and countryside. \n\t\t\t So the people went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus. They found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus' feet, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. \n\t\t\t Those who had seen it told them how the man who had been demon-possessed had been healed.\n\t\t\t Then all the people of the Gerasenes and the surrounding region asked Jesus to leave them alone, for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and left.\n\t\t\t The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, \n\t\t\t \"Return to your home, and declare what God has done for you.\" So he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole town what Jesus had done for him.\n\t\t\t Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, because they were all waiting for him. \n\t\t\t Then a man named Jairus, who was a ruler of the synagogue, came up. Falling at Jesus' feet, he pleaded with him to come to his house, \n\t\t\t because he had an only daughter, about twelve years old, and she was dying. As Jesus was on his way, the crowds pressed around him.\n\t\t\t Now a woman was there who had been suffering from a hemorrhage for twelve years but could not be healed by anyone. \n\t\t\t She came up behind Jesus and touched the edge of his cloak, and at once the bleeding stopped. \n\t\t\t Then Jesus asked, \"Who was it who touched me?\" When they all denied it, Peter said, \"Master, the crowds are surrounding you and pressing against you!\" \n\t\t\t But Jesus said, \"Someone touched me, for I know that power has gone out from me.\" \n\t\t\t When the woman saw that she could not escape notice, she came trembling and fell down before him. In the presence of all the people, she explained why she had touched him and how she had been immediately healed. \n\t\t\t Then he said to her, \"Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace.\"\n\t\t\t While he was still speaking, someone from the synagogue ruler's house came and said, \"Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the teacher any longer.\" \n\t\t\t But when Jesus heard this, he told him, \"Do not be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.\"\n\t\t\t Now when he came to the house, Jesus did not let anyone go in with him except Peter, John, and James, and the child's father and mother. \n\t\t\t Now they were all wailing and mourning for her, but he said, \"Stop your weeping; she is not dead but asleep.\" \n\t\t\t And they began making fun of him, because they knew that she was dead.\n\t\t\t But Jesus gently took her by the hand and said, \"Child, get up.\" \n\t\t\t Her spirit returned, and she got up immediately. Then he told them to give her something to eat. \n\t\t\t Her parents were astonished, but he ordered them to tell no one what had happened.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t After Jesus called the twelve together, he gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, \n\t\t\t and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.\n\t\t\t He said to them, \"Take nothing for your journey, no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, and do not take an extra tunic.\n\t\t\t Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave the area.\n\t\t\t Wherever they do not receive you, as you leave that town, shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.\"\n\t\t\t Then they departed and went throughout the villages, proclaiming the good news and healing people everywhere.\n\t\t\t Now Herod the tetrarch heard about everything that was happening, and he was thoroughly perplexed, because some people were saying that John had been raised from the dead, \n\t\t\t while others were saying that Elijah had appeared, and still others that one of the prophets of long ago had risen.\n\t\t\t Herod said, \"I had John beheaded, but who is this about whom I hear such things?\" So Herod wanted to learn about Jesus.\n\t\t\t When the apostles returned, they told Jesus everything they had done. Then he took them with him and they withdrew privately to a town called Bethsaida.\n\t\t\t But when the crowds found out, they followed him. He welcomed them, spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and cured those who needed healing.\n\t\t\t Now the day began to draw to a close, so the twelve came and said to Jesus, \"Send the crowd away, so they can go into the surrounding villages and countryside and find lodging and food, because we are in an isolated place.\"\n\t\t\t But he said to them, \"You give them something to eat.\" They replied, \"We have no more than five loaves and two fish, unless we go and buy food for all these people.\"\n\t\t\t (Now about five thousand men were there.) Then he said to his disciples, \"Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.\" \n\t\t\t So they did as Jesus directed, and the people all sat down.\n\t\t\t Then he took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven he gave thanks and broke them. He gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. \n\t\t\t They all ate and were satisfied, and what was left over was picked up, twelve baskets of broken pieces.\n\t\t\t Once when Jesus was praying by himself, and his disciples were nearby, he asked them, \"Who do the crowds say that I am?\"\n\t\t\t They answered, \"John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others that one of the prophets of long ago has risen.\"\n\t\t\t Then he said to them, \"But who do you say that I am?\" Peter answered, \"The Christ of God.\" \n\t\t\t But he forcefully commanded them not to tell this to anyone,\n\t\t\t saying, \"The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and experts in the law, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.\"\n\t\t\t Then he said to them all, \"If anyone wants to become my follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me. \n\t\t\t For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. \n\t\t\t For what does it benefit a person if he gains the whole world but loses or forfeits himself? \n\t\t\t For whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. \n\t\t\t But I tell you most certainly, there are some standing here who will not experience death before they see the kingdom of God.\"\n\t\t\t Now about eight days after these sayings, Jesus took with him Peter, John, and James, and went up the mountain to pray. \n\t\t\t As he was praying, the appearance of his face was transformed, and his clothes became very bright, a brilliant white.\n\t\t\t Then two men, Moses and Elijah, began talking with him.\n\t\t\t They appeared in glorious splendor and spoke about his departure that he was about to carry out at Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t Now Peter and those with him were quite sleepy, but as they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. \n\t\t\t Then as the men were starting to leave, Peter said to Jesus, \"Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us make three shelters, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah\", not knowing what he was saying.\n\t\t\t As he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. \n\t\t\t Then a voice came from the cloud, saying, \"This is my Son, my Chosen One. Listen to him!\"\n\t\t\t After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. So they kept silent and told no one at that time anything of what they had seen.\n\t\t\t Now on the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a large crowd met him. \n\t\t\t Then a man from the crowd cried out, \"Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, he is my only child!\n\t\t\t A spirit seizes him, and he suddenly screams; it throws him into convulsions and causes him to foam at the mouth. It hardly ever leaves him alone, torturing him severely. \n\t\t\t I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not do so.\"\n\t\t\t Jesus answered, \"You unbelieving and perverse generation! How much longer must I be with you and endure you? Bring your son here.\" \n\t\t\t As the boy was approaching, the demon threw him to the ground and shook him with convulsions. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. \n\t\t\t Then they were all astonished at the mighty power of God. But while the entire crowd was amazed at everything Jesus was doing, he said to his disciples, \n\t\t\t \"Take these words to heart, for the Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men.\"\n\t\t\t But they did not understand this statement; its meaning had been concealed from them, so that they could not grasp it. Yet they were afraid to ask him about this statement.\n\t\t\t Now an argument started among the disciples as to which of them might be the greatest. \n\t\t\t But when Jesus discerned their innermost thoughts, he took a child, had him stand by his side, \n\t\t\t and said to them, \"Whoever welcomes this child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me, for the one who is least among you all is the one who is great.\"\n\t\t\t John answered, \"Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him because he is not a disciple along with us.\" \n\t\t\t But Jesus said to him, \"Do not stop him, for whoever is not against you is for you.\"\n\t\t\t Now when the days drew near for him to be taken up, Jesus set out resolutely to go to Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t He sent messengers on ahead of him. As they went along, they entered a Samaritan village to make things ready in advance for him, \n\t\t\t but the villagers refused to welcome him, because he was determined to go to Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t Now when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, \"Lord, do you want us to call fire to come down from heaven and consume them?\"\n\t\t\t But Jesus turned and rebuked them,\n\t\t\t and they went on to another village.\n\t\t\t As they were walking along the road, someone said to him, \"I will follow you wherever you go.\"\n\t\t\t Jesus said to him, \"Foxes have dens and the birds in the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.\"\n\t\t\t Jesus said to another, \"Follow me.\" But he replied, \"Lord, first let me go and bury my father.\" \n\t\t\t But Jesus said to him, \"Let the dead bury their own dead, but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.\"\n\t\t\t Yet another said, \"I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say goodbye to my family.\"\n\t\t\t Jesus said to him, \"No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him two by two into every town and place where he himself was about to go. \n\t\t\t He said to them, \"The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest. \n\t\t\t Go! I am sending you out like lambs surrounded by wolves.\n\t\t\t Do not carry a money bag, a traveler's bag, or sandals, and greet no one on the road.\n\t\t\t Whenever you enter a house, first say, 'May peace be on this house!' \n\t\t\t And if a peace-loving person is there, your peace will remain on him, but if not, it will return to you.\n\t\t\t Stay in that same house, eating and drinking what they give you, for the worker deserves his pay. Do not move around from house to house. \n\t\t\t Whenever you enter a town and the people welcome you, eat what is set before you. \n\t\t\t Heal the sick in that town and say to them, 'The kingdom of God has come upon you!' \n\t\t\t But whenever you enter a town and the people do not welcome you, go into its streets and say, \n\t\t\t 'Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this: The kingdom of God has come.'\n\t\t\t I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town!\n\t\t\t \"Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. \n\t\t\t But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon in the judgment than for you!\n\t\t\t And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? No, you will be thrown down to Hades!\n\t\t\t \"The one who listens to you listens to me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects the one who sent me.\"\n\t\t\t Then the seventy-two returned with joy, saying, \"Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name!\"\n\t\t\t So he said to them, \"I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. \n\t\t\t Look, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions and on the full force of the enemy, and nothing will hurt you. \n\t\t\t Nevertheless, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names stand written in heaven.\"\n\t\t\t On that same occasion Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, \"I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your gracious will.\n\t\t\t All things have been given to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son decides to reveal him.\"\n\t\t\t Then Jesus turned to his disciples and said privately, \"Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! \n\t\t\t For I tell you that many prophets and kings longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.\"\n\t\t\t Now an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus, saying, \"Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?\"\n\t\t\t He said to him, \"What is written in the law? How do you understand it?\"\n\t\t\t The expert answered, \"Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself.\"\n\t\t\t Jesus said to him, \"You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.\"\n\t\t\t But the expert, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, \"And who is my neighbor?\" \n\t\t\t Jesus replied, \"A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him up, and went off, leaving him half dead.\n\t\t\t Now by chance a priest was going down that road, but when he saw the injured man he passed by on the other side.\n\t\t\t So too a Levite, when he came up to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. \n\t\t\t But a Samaritan who was traveling came to where the injured man was, and when he saw him, he felt compassion for him.\n\t\t\t He went up 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. \n\t\t\t The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, 'Take care of him, and whatever else you spend, I will repay you when I come back this way.'\n\t\t\t Which of these three do you think became a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?\" \n\t\t\t The expert in religious law said, \"The one who showed mercy to him.\" So Jesus said to him, \"Go and do the same.\"\n\t\t\t Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him as a guest.\n\t\t\t She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to what he said. \n\t\t\t But Martha was distracted with all the preparations she had to make, so she came up to him and said, \"Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do all the work alone? Tell her to help me.\" \n\t\t\t But the Lord answered her, \"Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things, \n\t\t\t but one thing is needed. Mary has chosen the best part; it will not be taken away from her.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he stopped, one of his disciples said to him, \"Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.\" \n\t\t\t So he said to them, \"When you pray, say: Father, may your name be honored; may your kingdom come.\n\t\t\t Give us each day our daily bread,\n\t\t\t and forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And do not lead us into temptation.\"\n\t\t\t Then he said to them, \"Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread,\n\t\t\t because a friend of mine has stopped here while on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him.' \n\t\t\t Then he will reply from inside, 'Do not bother me. The door is already shut, and my children and I are in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything.'\n\t\t\t I tell you, even though the man inside will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of the first man's sheer persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs.\n\t\t\t \"So I tell you: Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. \n\t\t\t For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. \n\t\t\t What father among you, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead of a fish? \n\t\t\t Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?\n\t\t\t If you then, although you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!\"\n\t\t\t Now he was casting out a demon that was mute. When the demon had gone out, the man who had been mute began to speak, and the crowds were amazed. \n\t\t\t But some of them said, \"By the power of Beelzebul, the ruler of demons, he casts out demons.\" \n\t\t\t Others, to test him, began asking for a sign from heaven. \n\t\t\t But Jesus, realizing their thoughts, said to them, \"Every kingdom divided against itself is destroyed, and a divided household falls.\n\t\t\t So if Satan too is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? I ask you this because you claim that I cast out demons by Beelzebul.\n\t\t\t Now if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. \n\t\t\t But if I cast out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has already overtaken you. \n\t\t\t When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his possessions are safe.\n\t\t\t But when a stronger man attacks and conquers him, he takes away the first man's armor on which the man relied and divides up his plunder.\n\t\t\t Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.\n\t\t\t \"When an unclean spirit goes out of a person, it passes through waterless places looking for rest but not finding any. Then it says, 'I will return to the home I left.'\n\t\t\t When it returns, it finds the house swept clean and put in order.\n\t\t\t Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they go in and live there, so the last state of that person is worse than the first.\"\n\t\t\t As he said these things, a woman in the crowd spoke out to him, \"Blessed is the womb that bore you and the breasts at which you nursed!\"\n\t\t\t But he replied, \"Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it!\"\n\t\t\t As the crowds were increasing, Jesus began to say, \"This generation is a wicked generation; it looks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.\n\t\t\t For just as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so the Son of Man will be a sign to this generation.\n\t\t\t The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with the people of this generation and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and now, something greater than Solomon is here!\n\t\t\t The people of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented when Jonah preached to them, and now, something greater than Jonah is here!\n\t\t\t \"No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a hidden place or under a basket, but on a lampstand, so that those who come in can see the light. \n\t\t\t Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is diseased, your body is full of darkness. \n\t\t\t Therefore see to it that the light in you is not darkness. \n\t\t\t If then your whole body is full of light, with no part in the dark, it will be as full of light as when the light of a lamp shines on you.\"\n\t\t\t As he spoke, a Pharisee invited Jesus to have a meal with him, so he went in and took his place at the table.\n\t\t\t The Pharisee was astonished when he saw that Jesus did not first wash his hands before the meal. \n\t\t\t But the Lord said to him, \"Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.\n\t\t\t You fools! Didn't the one who made the outside make the inside as well?\n\t\t\t But give from your heart to those in need, and then everything will be clean for you.\n\t\t\t \"But woe to you Pharisees! You give a tenth of your mint, rue, and every herb, yet you neglect justice and love for God! But you should have done these things without neglecting the others.\n\t\t\t Woe to you Pharisees! You love the best seats in the synagogues and elaborate greetings in the marketplaces! \n\t\t\t Woe to you! You are like unmarked graves, and people walk over them without realizing it!\"\n\t\t\t One of the experts in religious law answered him, \"Teacher, when you say these things you insult us too.\"\n\t\t\t But Jesus replied, \"Woe to you experts in religious law as well! You load people down with burdens difficult to bear, yet you yourselves refuse to touch the burdens with even one of your fingers! \n\t\t\t Woe to you! You build the tombs of the prophets whom your ancestors killed. \n\t\t\t So you testify that you approve of the deeds of your ancestors, because they killed the prophets and you build their tombs!\n\t\t\t For this reason also the wisdom of God said, 'I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and persecute,' \n\t\t\t so that this generation may be held accountable for the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the beginning of the world,\n\t\t\t from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, it will be charged against this generation. \n\t\t\t Woe to you experts in religious law! You have taken away the key to knowledge! You did not go in yourselves, and you hindered those who were going in.\"\n\t\t\t When he went out from there, the experts in the law and the Pharisees began to oppose him bitterly, and to ask him hostile questions about many things,\n\t\t\t plotting against him, to catch him in something he might say.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Meanwhile, when many thousands of the crowd had gathered so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, \"Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.\n\t\t\t Nothing is hidden that will not be revealed, and nothing is secret that will not be made known. \n\t\t\t So then whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms will be proclaimed from the housetops.\n\t\t\t \"I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more they can do. \n\t\t\t But I will warn you whom you should fear: Fear the one who, after the killing, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him! \n\t\t\t Aren't five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten before God. \n\t\t\t In fact, even the hairs on your head are all numbered. Do not be afraid; you are more valuable than many sparrows.\n\t\t\t \"I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before God's angels. \n\t\t\t But the one who denies me before men will be denied before God's angels.\n\t\t\t And everyone 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.\n\t\t\t But when they bring you before the synagogues, the rulers, and the authorities, do not worry about how you should make your defense or what you should say,\n\t\t\t for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that moment what you must say.\"\n\t\t\t Then someone from the crowd said to him, \"Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.\" \n\t\t\t But Jesus said to him, \"Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator between you two?\"\n\t\t\t Then he said to them, \"Watch out and guard yourself from all types of greed, because one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.\" \n\t\t\t He then told them a parable: \"The land of a certain rich man produced an abundant crop, \n\t\t\t so he thought to himself, 'What should I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?'\n\t\t\t Then he said, 'I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. \n\t\t\t And I will say to myself, \"You have plenty of goods stored up for many years; relax, eat, drink, celebrate!\"' \n\t\t\t But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded back from you, but who will get what you have prepared for yourself?'\n\t\t\t So it is with the one who stores up riches for himself, but is not rich toward God.\"\n\t\t\t Then Jesus said to his disciples, \"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. \n\t\t\t For there is more to life than food, and more to the body than clothing.\n\t\t\t Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn, yet God feeds them. How much more valuable are you than the birds!\n\t\t\t And which of you by worrying can add an hour to his life?\n\t\t\t So if you cannot do such a very little thing as this, why do you worry about the rest? \n\t\t\t Consider how the flowers grow; they do not work or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these! \n\t\t\t And if this is how God clothes the wild grass, which is here today and tomorrow is tossed into the fire to heat the oven, how much more will he clothe you, you people of little faith! \n\t\t\t So do not be overly concerned about what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not worry about such things.\n\t\t\t For all the nations of the world pursue these things, and your Father knows that you need them. \n\t\t\t Instead, pursue his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.\n\t\t\t \"Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father is well pleased to give you the kingdom. \n\t\t\t Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide yourselves purses that do not wear out, a treasure in heaven that never decreases, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys.\n\t\t\t For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.\n\t\t\t \"Get dressed for service and keep your lamps burning;\n\t\t\t be like people waiting for their master to come back from the wedding celebration, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. \n\t\t\t Blessed are those slaves whom their master finds alert when he returns! I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve, have them take their place at the table, and will come and wait on them!\n\t\t\t Even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night and finds them alert, blessed are those slaves!\n\t\t\t But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. \n\t\t\t You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.\"\n\t\t\t Then Peter said, \"Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for everyone?\"\n\t\t\t The Lord replied, \"Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his household servants, to give them their allowance of food at the proper time? \n\t\t\t Blessed is that slave whom his master finds at work when he returns. \n\t\t\t I tell you the truth, the master will put him in charge of all his possessions. \n\t\t\t But if that slave should say to himself, 'My master is delayed in returning,' and he begins to beat the other slaves, both men and women, and to eat, drink, and get drunk, \n\t\t\t then the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not foresee, and will cut him in two, and assign him a place with the unfaithful.\n\t\t\t That servant who knew his master's will but did not get ready or do what his master asked will receive a severe beating. \n\t\t\t But the one who did not know his master's will and did things worthy of punishment will receive a light beating. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required, and from the one who has been entrusted with much, even more will be asked.\n\t\t\t \"I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!\n\t\t\t I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is finished! \n\t\t\t Do you think I have come to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division!\n\t\t\t For from now on there will be five in one household divided, three against two and two against three. \n\t\t\t They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.\"\n\t\t\t Jesus also said to the crowds, \"When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, 'A rainstorm is coming,' and it does. \n\t\t\t And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, 'There will be scorching heat,' and there is. \n\t\t\t You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky, but how can you not know how to interpret the present time?\n\t\t\t \"And why don't you judge for yourselves what is right? \n\t\t\t As you are going with your accuser before the magistrate, make an effort to settle with him on the way, so that he will not drag you before the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. \n\t\t\t I tell you, you will never get out of there until you have paid the very last cent!\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now there were some present on that occasion who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.\n\t\t\t He answered them, \"Do you think these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered these things? \n\t\t\t No, I tell you! But unless you repent, you will all perish as well!\n\t\t\t Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower in Siloam fell on them, do you think they were worse offenders than all the others who live in Jerusalem?\n\t\t\t No, I tell you! But unless you repent you will all perish as well!\"\n\t\t\t Then Jesus told this parable: \"A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. \n\t\t\t So he said to the worker who tended the vineyard, 'For three years now, I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and each time I inspect it I find none. Cut it down! Why should it continue to deplete the soil?' \n\t\t\t But the worker answered him, 'Sir, leave it alone this year too, until I dig around it and put fertilizer on it. \n\t\t\t Then if it bears fruit next year, very well, but if not, you can cut it down.'\"\n\t\t\t Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath, \n\t\t\t and a woman was there who had been disabled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten herself up completely.\n\t\t\t When Jesus saw her, he called her to him and said, \"Woman, you are freed from your infirmity.\"\n\t\t\t Then he placed his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God. \n\t\t\t But the president of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the crowd, \"There are six days on which work should be done! So come and be healed on those days, and not on the Sabbath day.\" \n\t\t\t Then the Lord answered him, \"You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from its stall, and lead it to water?\n\t\t\t Then shouldn't this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen long years, be released from this imprisonment on the Sabbath day?\" \n\t\t\t When he said this all his adversaries were humiliated, but the entire crowd was rejoicing at all the wonderful things he was doing.\n\t\t\t Thus Jesus asked, \"What is the kingdom of God like? To what should I compare it? \n\t\t\t It is like a mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the wild birds nested in its branches.\"\n\t\t\t Again he said, \"To what should I compare the kingdom of God?\n\t\t\t It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed with three measures of flour until all the dough had risen.\"\n\t\t\t Then Jesus traveled throughout towns and villages, teaching and making his way toward Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t Someone asked him, \"Lord, will only a few be saved?\" So he said to them, \n\t\t\t \"Exert every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. \n\t\t\t Once the head of the house gets up and shuts the door, then you will stand outside and start to knock on the door and beg him, 'Lord, let us in!' But he will answer you, 'I don't know where you come from.'\n\t\t\t Then you will begin to say, 'We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.'\n\t\t\t But he will reply, 'I don't know where you come from! Go away from me, all you evildoers!'\n\t\t\t There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves thrown out.\n\t\t\t Then people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and take their places at the banquet table in the kingdom of God.\n\t\t\t But indeed, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.\"\n\t\t\t At that time, some Pharisees came up and said to Jesus, \"Get away from here, because Herod wants to kill you.\" \n\t\t\t But he said to them, \"Go and tell that fox, 'Look, I am casting out demons and performing healings today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will complete my work.\n\t\t\t Nevertheless I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the next day, because it is impossible that a prophet should be killed outside Jerusalem.'\n\t\t\t O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those who are sent to you! How often I have longed to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you would have none of it!\n\t\t\t Look, your house is forsaken! And I tell you, you will not see me until you say, 'Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!'\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now one Sabbath when Jesus went to dine at the house of a leader of the Pharisees, they were watching him closely. \n\t\t\t There right in front of him was a man suffering from dropsy.\n\t\t\t So Jesus asked the experts in religious law and the Pharisees, \"Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?\" \n\t\t\t But they remained silent. So Jesus took hold of the man, healed him, and sent him away.\n\t\t\t Then he said to them, \"Which of you, if you have a son or an ox that has fallen into a well on a Sabbath day, will not immediately pull him out?\" \n\t\t\t But they could not reply to this.\n\t\t\t Then when Jesus noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, he told them a parable. He said to them,\n\t\t\t \"When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, because a person more distinguished than you may have been invited by your host.\n\t\t\t So the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, 'Give this man your place.' Then, ashamed, you will begin to move to the least important place. \n\t\t\t But when you are invited, go and take the least important place, so that when your host approaches he will say to you, 'Friend, move up here to a better place.' Then you will be honored in the presence of all who share the meal with you. \n\t\t\t For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.\"\n\t\t\t He said also to the man who had invited him, \"When you host a dinner or a banquet, don't invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors so you can be invited by them in return and get repaid. \n\t\t\t But when you host an elaborate meal, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind.\n\t\t\t Then you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.\"\n\t\t\t When one of those at the meal with Jesus heard this, he said to him, \"Blessed is everyone who will feast in the kingdom of God!\"\n\t\t\t But Jesus said to him, \"A man once gave a great banquet and invited many guests.\n\t\t\t At the time for the banquet he sent his slave to tell those who had been invited, 'Come, because everything is now ready.' \n\t\t\t But one after another they all began to make excuses. The first said to him, 'I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please excuse me.'\n\t\t\t Another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going out to examine them. Please excuse me.' \n\t\t\t Another said, 'I just got married, and I cannot come.'\n\t\t\t So the slave came back and reported this to his master. Then the master of the household was furious and said to his slave, 'Go out quickly to the streets and alleys of the city, and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.' \n\t\t\t Then the slave said, 'Sir, what you instructed has been done, and there is still room.'\n\t\t\t So the master said to his slave, 'Go out to the highways and country roads and urge people to come in, so that my house will be filled.\n\t\t\t For I tell you, not one of those individuals who were invited will taste my banquet!'\"\n\t\t\t Now large crowds were accompanying Jesus, and turning to them he said, \n\t\t\t \"If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother, and wife and children, and brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. \n\t\t\t Whoever does not carry his own cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. \n\t\t\t For which of you, wanting to build a tower, doesn't sit down first and compute the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? \n\t\t\t Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish the tower, all who see it will begin to make fun of him. \n\t\t\t They will say, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish!'\n\t\t\t Or what king, going out to confront another king in battle, will not sit down first and determine whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? \n\t\t\t If he cannot succeed, he will send a representative while the other is still a long way off and ask for terms of peace.\n\t\t\t In the same way therefore not one of you can be my disciple if he does not renounce all his own possessions.\n\t\t\t \"Salt is good, but if salt loses its flavor, how can its flavor be restored? \n\t\t\t It is of no value for the soil or for the manure pile; it is to be thrown out. The one who has ears to hear had better listen!\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming to hear him. \n\t\t\t But the Pharisees and the experts in the law were complaining, \"This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.\"\n\t\t\t So Jesus told them this parable:\n\t\t\t \"Which one of you, if he has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, would not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go look for the one that is lost until he finds it?\n\t\t\t Then when he has found it, he places it on his shoulders, rejoicing. \n\t\t\t Returning home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, telling them, 'Rejoice with me, because I have found my sheep that was lost.' \n\t\t\t I tell you, in the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need to repent.\n\t\t\t \"Or what woman, if she has ten silver coins and loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search thoroughly until she finds it? \n\t\t\t Then when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.' \n\t\t\t In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of God's angels over one sinner who repents.\"\n\t\t\t Then Jesus said, \"A man had two sons. \n\t\t\t The younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the estate that will belong to me.' So he divided his assets between them.\n\t\t\t After a few days, the younger son gathered together all he had and left on a journey to a distant country, and there he squandered his wealth with a wild lifestyle. \n\t\t\t Then after he had spent everything, a severe famine took place in that country, and he began to be in need. \n\t\t\t So he went and worked for one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs.\n\t\t\t He was longing to eat the carob pods the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. \n\t\t\t But when he came to his senses he said, 'How many of my father's hired workers have food enough to spare, but here I am dying from hunger! \n\t\t\t I will get up and go to my father and say to him, \"Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. \n\t\t\t I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired workers.\"' \n\t\t\t So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way from home his father saw him, and his heart went out to him; he ran and hugged his son and kissed him.\n\t\t\t Then his son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'\n\t\t\t But the father said to his slaves, 'Hurry! Bring the best robe, and put it on him! Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet! \n\t\t\t Bring the fattened calf and kill it! Let us eat and celebrate, \n\t\t\t because this son of mine was dead, and is alive again, he was lost and is found!' So they began to celebrate.\n\t\t\t \"Now his older son was in the field. As he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. \n\t\t\t So he called one of the slaves and asked what was happening. \n\t\t\t The slave replied, 'Your brother has returned, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he got his son back safe and sound.' \n\t\t\t But the older son became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and appealed to him, \n\t\t\t but he answered his father, 'Look! These many years I have worked like a slave for you, and I never disobeyed your commands. Yet you never gave me even a goat so that I could celebrate with my friends! \n\t\t\t But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your assets with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!' \n\t\t\t Then the father said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and everything that belongs to me is yours. \n\t\t\t It was appropriate to celebrate and be glad, for your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost and is found.'\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Jesus also said to the disciples, \"There was a rich man who was informed of accusations that his manager was wasting his assets. \n\t\t\t So he called the manager in and said to him, 'What is this I hear about you? Turn in the account of your administration, because you can no longer be my manager.' \n\t\t\t Then the manager said to himself, 'What should I do, since my master is taking my position away from me? I'm not strong enough to dig, and I'm too ashamed to beg. \n\t\t\t I know what to do so that when I am put out of management, people will welcome me into their homes.'\n\t\t\t So he contacted his master's debtors one by one. He asked the first, 'How much do you owe my master?' \n\t\t\t The man replied, 'A hundred measures of olive oil.' The manager said to him, 'Take your bill, sit down quickly, and write fifty.'\n\t\t\t Then he said to another, 'And how much do you owe?' The second man replied, 'A hundred measures of wheat.' The manager said to him, 'Take your bill, and write eighty.'\n\t\t\t The master commended the dishonest manager because he acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their contemporaries than the people of light. \n\t\t\t And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by how you use worldly wealth, so that when it runs out you will be welcomed into the eternal homes.\n\t\t\t \"The one who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and the one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. \n\t\t\t If then you haven't been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will entrust you with the true riches?\n\t\t\t And if you haven't been trustworthy with someone else's property, who will give you your own?\n\t\t\t No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.\"\n\t\t\t The Pharisees (who loved money) heard all this and ridiculed him. \n\t\t\t But Jesus said to them, \"You are the ones who justify yourselves in men's eyes, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly prized among men is utterly detestable in God's sight.\n\t\t\t \"The law and the prophets were in force until John; since then, the good news of the kingdom of God has been proclaimed, and everyone is urged to enter it.\n\t\t\t But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tiny stroke of a letter in the law to become void.\n\t\t\t \"Everyone who divorces his wife and marries someone else commits adultery, and the one who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery.\n\t\t\t \"There was a rich man who dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. \n\t\t\t But at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus whose body was covered with sores,\n\t\t\t who longed to eat what fell from the rich man's table. In addition, the dogs came and licked his sores.\n\t\t\t \"Now the poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried.\n\t\t\t And in hell, as he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far off with Lazarus at his side.\n\t\t\t So he called out, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in anguish in this fire.'\n\t\t\t But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things and Lazarus likewise bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in anguish.\n\t\t\t Besides all this, a great chasm has been fixed between us, so that those who want to cross over from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us.' \n\t\t\t So the rich man said, 'Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's house\n\t\t\t (for I have five brothers) to warn them so that they don't come into this place of torment.' \n\t\t\t But Abraham said, 'They have Moses and the prophets; they must respond to them.' \n\t\t\t Then the rich man said, 'No, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.' \n\t\t\t He replied to him, 'If they do not respond to Moses and the prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.'\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Jesus said to his disciples, \"Stumbling blocks are sure to come, but woe to the one through whom they come! \n\t\t\t It would be better for him to have a millstone tied around his neck and be thrown into the sea than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin.\n\t\t\t Watch yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him. If he repents, forgive him. \n\t\t\t Even if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times returns to you saying, 'I repent,' you must forgive him.\"\n\t\t\t The apostles said to the Lord, \"Increase our faith!\"\n\t\t\t So the Lord replied, \"If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this black mulberry tree, 'Be pulled out by the roots and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you.\n\t\t\t \"Would any one of you say to your slave who comes in from the field after plowing or shepherding sheep, 'Come at once and sit down for a meal'?\n\t\t\t Won't the master instead say to him, 'Get my dinner ready, and make yourself ready to serve me while I eat and drink. Then you may eat and drink'? \n\t\t\t He won't thank the slave because he did what he was told, will he?\n\t\t\t So you too, when you have done everything you were commanded to do, should say, 'We are slaves undeserving of special praise; we have only done what was our duty.'\"\n\t\t\t Now on the way to Jerusalem, Jesus was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. \n\t\t\t As he was entering a village, ten men with leprosy met him. They stood at a distance, \n\t\t\t raised their voices and said, \"Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.\" \n\t\t\t When he saw them he said, \"Go and show yourselves to the priests.\" And as they went along, they were cleansed. \n\t\t\t Then one of them, when he saw he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. \n\t\t\t He fell with his face to the ground at Jesus' feet and thanked him. (Now he was a Samaritan.)\n\t\t\t Then Jesus said, \"Were not ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? \n\t\t\t Was no one found to turn back and give praise to God except this foreigner?\"\n\t\t\t Then he said to the man, \"Get up and go your way. Your faith has made you well.\"\n\t\t\t Now at one point the Pharisees asked Jesus when the kingdom of God was coming, so he answered, \"The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed, \n\t\t\t nor will they say, 'Look, here it is!' or 'There!' For indeed, the kingdom of God is in your midst.\"\n\t\t\t Then he said to the disciples, \"The days are coming when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. \n\t\t\t Then people will say to you, 'Look, there he is!' or 'Look, here he is!' Do not go out or chase after them.\n\t\t\t For just like the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day.\n\t\t\t But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. \n\t\t\t Just as it was in the days of Noah, so too it will be in the days of the Son of Man. \n\t\t\t People were eating, they were drinking, they were marrying, they were being given in marriage, right up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all.\n\t\t\t Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot, people were eating, drinking, buying, selling, planting, building; \n\t\t\t but on the day Lot went out from Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all.\n\t\t\t It will be the same on the day the Son of Man is revealed.\n\t\t\t On that day, anyone who is on the roof, with his goods in the house, must not come down to take them away, and likewise the person in the field must not turn back. \n\t\t\t Remember Lot's wife!\n\t\t\t Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will preserve it. \n\t\t\t I tell you, in that night there will be two people in one bed; one will be taken and the other left.\n\t\t\t There will be two women grinding grain together; one will be taken and the other left.\"\n\t\t\t \n\t\t\t Then the disciples said to him, \"Where, Lord?\" He replied to them, \"Where the dead body is, there the vultures will gather.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then Jesus told them a parable to show them they should always pray and not lose heart.\n\t\t\t He said, \"In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected people.\n\t\t\t There was also a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, 'Give me justice against my adversary.' \n\t\t\t For a while he refused, but later on he said to himself, 'Though I neither fear God nor have regard for people,\n\t\t\t yet because this widow keeps on bothering me, I will give her justice, or in the end she will wear me out by her unending pleas.'\"\n\t\t\t And the Lord said, \"Listen to what the unrighteous judge says!\n\t\t\t Won't God give justice to his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he delay long to help them? \n\t\t\t I tell you, he will give them justice speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?\"\n\t\t\t Jesus also told this parable to some who were confident that they were righteous and looked down on everyone else. \n\t\t\t \"Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.\n\t\t\t The Pharisee stood and prayed about himself like this: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other people: extortionists, unrighteous people, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.\n\t\t\t I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of everything I get.'\n\t\t\t The tax collector, however, stood far off and would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, be merciful to me, sinner that I am!'\n\t\t\t I tell you that this man went down to his home justified rather than the Pharisee. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.\"\n\t\t\t Now people were even bringing their babies to him for him to touch. But when the disciples saw it, they began to scold those who brought them.\n\t\t\t But Jesus called for the children, saying, \"Let the little children come to me and do not try to stop them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.\n\t\t\t I tell you the truth, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.\"\n\t\t\t Now a certain ruler asked him, \"Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?\"\n\t\t\t Jesus said to him, \"Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. \n\t\t\t You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.'\"\n\t\t\t The man replied, \"I have wholeheartedly obeyed all these laws since my youth.\"\n\t\t\t When Jesus heard this, he said to him, \"One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.\" \n\t\t\t But when the man heard this he became very sad, for he was extremely wealthy. \n\t\t\t When Jesus noticed this, he said, \"How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!\n\t\t\t In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.\" \n\t\t\t Those who heard this said, \"Then who can be saved?\"\n\t\t\t He replied, \"What is impossible for mere humans is possible for God.\" \n\t\t\t And Peter said, \"Look, we have left everything we own to follow you!\"\n\t\t\t Then Jesus said to them, \"I tell you the truth, there is no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of God's kingdom \n\t\t\t who will not receive many times more in this age, and in the age to come, eternal life.\"\n\t\t\t Then Jesus took the twelve aside and said to them, \"Look, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished.\n\t\t\t For he will be handed over to the Gentiles; he will be mocked, mistreated, and spat on.\n\t\t\t They will flog him severely and kill him. Yet on the third day he will rise again.\" \n\t\t\t But the twelve understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what Jesus meant.\n\t\t\t As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the road begging. \n\t\t\t When he heard a crowd going by, he asked what was going on.\n\t\t\t They told him, \"Jesus the Nazarene is passing by.\" \n\t\t\t So he called out, \"Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!\" \n\t\t\t And those who were in front scolded him to get him to be quiet, but he shouted even more, \"Son of David, have mercy on me!\"\n\t\t\t So Jesus stopped and ordered the beggar to be brought to him. When the man came near, Jesus asked him, \n\t\t\t \"What do you want me to do for you?\" He replied, \"Lord, let me see again.\"\n\t\t\t Jesus said to him, \"Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.\"\n\t\t\t And immediately he regained his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they too gave praise to God.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through it. \n\t\t\t Now a man named Zacchaeus was there; he was a chief tax collector and was rich. \n\t\t\t He was trying to get a look at Jesus, but being a short man he could not see over the crowd.\n\t\t\t So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, because Jesus was going to pass that way. \n\t\t\t And when Jesus came to that place, he looked up and said to him, \"Zacchaeus, come down quickly, because I must stay at your house today.\"\n\t\t\t So he came down quickly and welcomed Jesus joyfully.\n\t\t\t And when the people saw it, they all complained, \"He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.\"\n\t\t\t But Zacchaeus stopped and said to the Lord, \"Look, Lord, half of my possessions I now give to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone of anything, I am paying back four times as much!\"\n\t\t\t Then Jesus said to him, \"Today salvation has come to this household, because he too is a son of Abraham!\n\t\t\t For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.\"\n\t\t\t While the people were listening to these things, Jesus proceeded to tell a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear immediately. \n\t\t\t Therefore he said, \"A nobleman went to a distant country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return.\n\t\t\t And he summoned ten of his slaves, gave them ten minas, and said to them, 'Do business with these until I come back.' \n\t\t\t But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, 'We do not want this man to be king over us!'\n\t\t\t When he returned after receiving the kingdom, he summoned these slaves to whom he had given the money. He wanted to know how much they had earned by trading. \n\t\t\t So the first one came before him and said, 'Sir, your mina has made ten minas more.' \n\t\t\t And the king said to him, 'Well done, good slave! Because you have been faithful in a very small matter, you will have authority over ten cities.' \n\t\t\t Then the second one came and said, 'Sir, your mina has made five minas.' \n\t\t\t So the king said to him, 'And you are to be over five cities.' \n\t\t\t Then another slave came and said, 'Sir, here is your mina that I put away for safekeeping in a piece of cloth.\n\t\t\t For I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man. You withdraw what you did not deposit and reap what you did not sow.' \n\t\t\t The king said to him, 'I will judge you by your own words, you wicked slave! So you knew, did you, that I was a severe man, withdrawing what I didn't deposit and reaping what I didn't sow? \n\t\t\t Why then didn't you put my money in the bank, so that when I returned I could have collected it with interest?' \n\t\t\t And he said to his attendants, 'Take the mina from him, and give it to the one who has ten.'\n\t\t\t But they said to him, 'Sir, he has ten minas already!'\n\t\t\t 'I tell you that everyone who has will be given more, but from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.\n\t\t\t But as for these enemies of mine who did not want me to be their king, bring them here and slaughter them in front of me!'\"\n\t\t\t After Jesus had said this, he continued on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t Now when he approached Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, \n\t\t\t telling them, \"Go to the village ahead of you. When you enter it, you will find a colt tied there that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. \n\t\t\t If anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' just say, 'The Lord needs it.'\" \n\t\t\t So those who were sent ahead found it exactly as he had told them. \n\t\t\t As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, \"Why are you untying that colt?\" \n\t\t\t They replied, \"The Lord needs it.\"\n\t\t\t Then they brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt, and had Jesus get on it. \n\t\t\t As he rode along, they spread their cloaks on the road. \n\t\t\t As he approached the road leading down from the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen:\n\t\t\t \"Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!\" \n\t\t\t But some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, \"Teacher, rebuke your disciples.\"\n\t\t\t He answered, \"I tell you, if they keep silent, the very stones will cry out!\"\n\t\t\t Now when Jesus approached and saw the city, he wept over it, \n\t\t\t saying, \"If you had only known on this day, even you, the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. \n\t\t\t For the days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and surround you and close in on you from every side. \n\t\t\t They will demolish you, you and your children within your walls, and they will not leave within you one stone on top of another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation from God.\"\n\t\t\t Then Jesus entered the temple courts and began to drive out those who were selling things there,\n\t\t\t saying to them, \"It is written, 'My house will be a house of prayer,' but you have turned it into a den of robbers!\"\n\t\t\t Jesus was teaching daily in the temple courts. The chief priests and the experts in the law and the prominent leaders among the people were seeking to assassinate him, \n\t\t\t but they could not find a way to do it, for all the people hung on his words.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now one day, as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple courts and proclaiming the gospel, the chief priests and the experts in the law with the elders came up\n\t\t\t and said to him, \"Tell us: By what authority are you doing these things? Or who it is who gave you this authority?\" \n\t\t\t He answered them, \"I will also ask you a question, and you tell me: \n\t\t\t John's baptism, was it from heaven or from people?\"\n\t\t\t So they discussed it with one another, saying, \"If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say, 'Why did you not believe him?' \n\t\t\t But if we say, 'From people,' all the people will stone us, because they are convinced that John was a prophet.\"\n\t\t\t So they replied that they did not know where it came from. \n\t\t\t Then Jesus said to them, \"Neither will I tell you by whose authority I do these things.\"\n\t\t\t Then he began to tell the people this parable: \"A man planted a vineyard, leased it to tenant farmers, and went on a journey for a long time. \n\t\t\t When harvest time came, he sent a slave to the tenants so that they would give him his portion of the crop. However, the tenants beat his slave and sent him away empty-handed. \n\t\t\t So he sent another slave. They beat this one too, treated him outrageously, and sent him away empty-handed.\n\t\t\t So he sent still a third. They even wounded this one, and threw him out.\n\t\t\t Then the owner of the vineyard said, 'What should I do? I will send my one dear son; perhaps they will respect him.' \n\t\t\t But when the tenants saw him, they said to one another, 'This is the heir; let's kill him so the inheritance will be ours!'\n\t\t\t So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? \n\t\t\t He will come and destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others.\" When the people heard this, they said, \"May this never happen!\"\n\t\t\t But Jesus looked straight at them and said, \"Then what is the meaning of that which is written: 'The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone'?\n\t\t\t Everyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, and the one on whom it falls will be crushed.\"\n\t\t\t Then the experts in the law and the chief priests wanted to arrest him that very hour, because they realized he had told this parable against them. But they were afraid of the people.\n\t\t\t Then they watched him carefully and sent spies who pretended to be sincere. They wanted to take advantage of what he might say so that they could deliver him up to the authority and jurisdiction of the governor. \n\t\t\t Thus they asked him, \"Teacher, we know that you speak and teach correctly, and show no partiality, but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.\n\t\t\t Is it right for us to pay the tribute tax to Caesar or not?\" \n\t\t\t But Jesus perceived their deceit and said to them, \n\t\t\t \"Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?\" They said, \"Caesar's.\" \n\t\t\t So he said to them, \"Then give to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.\"\n\t\t\t Thus they were unable in the presence of the people to trap him with his own words. And stunned by his answer, they fell silent.\n\t\t\t Now some Sadducees (who contend that there is no resurrection) came to him. \n\t\t\t They asked him, \"Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies leaving a wife but no children, that man must marry the widow and father children for his brother.\n\t\t\t Now there were seven brothers. The first one married a woman and died without children. \n\t\t\t The second\n\t\t\t and then the third married her, and in this same way all seven died, leaving no children.\n\t\t\t Finally the woman died too.\n\t\t\t In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For all seven had married her.\"\n\t\t\t So Jesus said to them, \"The people of this age marry and are given in marriage. \n\t\t\t But those who are regarded as worthy to share in that age and in the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage.\n\t\t\t In fact, they can no longer die, because they are equal to angels and are sons of God, since they are sons of the resurrection. \n\t\t\t But even Moses revealed that the dead are raised in the passage about the bush, where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.\n\t\t\t Now he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for all live before him.\"\n\t\t\t Then some of the experts in the law answered, \"Teacher, you have spoken well!\"\n\t\t\t For they did not dare any longer to ask him anything.\n\t\t\t But he said to them, \"How is it that they say that the Christ is David's son?\n\t\t\t For David himself says in the book of Psalms, 'The Lord said to my lord, \"Sit at my right hand,\n\t\t\t until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.\"'\n\t\t\t If David then calls him 'Lord,' how can he be his son?\"\n\t\t\t As all the people were listening, Jesus said to his disciples, \n\t\t\t \"Beware of the experts in the law. They like walking around in long robes, and they love elaborate greetings in the marketplaces and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. \n\t\t\t They devour widows' property, and as a show make long prayers. They will receive a more severe punishment.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box.\n\t\t\t He also saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins.\n\t\t\t He said, \"I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put in more than all of them.\n\t\t\t For they all offered their gifts out of their wealth. But she, out of her poverty, put in everything she had to live on.\"\n\t\t\t Now while some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and offerings, Jesus said, \n\t\t\t \"As for these things that you are gazing at, the days will come when not one stone will be left on another. All will be torn down!\"\n\t\t\t So they asked him, \"Teacher, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that these things are about to take place?\"\n\t\t\t He said, \"Watch out that you are not misled. For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am he,' and, 'The time is near.' Do not follow them! \n\t\t\t And when you hear of wars and rebellions, do not be afraid. For these things must happen first, but the end will not come at once.\"\n\t\t\t Then he said to them, \"Nation will rise up in arms against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. \n\t\t\t There will be great earthquakes, and famines and plagues in various places, and there will be terrifying sights and great signs from heaven. \n\t\t\t But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you, handing you over to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. \n\t\t\t This will be a time for you to serve as witnesses.\n\t\t\t Therefore be resolved not to rehearse ahead of time how to make your defense. \n\t\t\t For I will give you the words along with the wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. \n\t\t\t You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends, and they will have some of you put to death. \n\t\t\t You will be hated by everyone because of my name.\n\t\t\t Yet not a hair of your head will perish.\n\t\t\t By your endurance you will gain your lives.\n\t\t\t \"But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. \n\t\t\t Then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. Those who are inside the city must depart. Those who are out in the country must not enter it, \n\t\t\t because these are days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written. \n\t\t\t Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing their babies in those days! For there will be great distress on the earth and wrath against this people. \n\t\t\t They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led away as captives among all nations. Jerusalem will be trampled down by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.\n\t\t\t \"And there will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth nations will be in distress, anxious over the roaring of the sea and the surging waves. \n\t\t\t People will be fainting from fear and from the expectation of what is coming on the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.\n\t\t\t Then they will see the Son of Man arriving in a cloud with power and great glory. \n\t\t\t But when these things begin to happen, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.\"\n\t\t\t Then he told them a parable: \"Look at the fig tree and all the other trees.\n\t\t\t When they sprout leaves, you see for yourselves and know that summer is now near. \n\t\t\t So also you, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near. \n\t\t\t I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. \n\t\t\t Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.\n\t\t\t \"But be on your guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day close down upon you suddenly like a trap.\n\t\t\t For it will overtake all who live on the face of the whole earth.\n\t\t\t But stay alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that must happen, and to stand before the Son of Man.\"\n\t\t\t So every day Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, but at night he went and stayed on the Mount of Olives.\n\t\t\t And all the people came to him early in the morning to listen to him in the temple courts.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which is called the Passover, was approaching. \n\t\t\t The chief priests and the experts in the law were trying to find some way to execute Jesus, for they were afraid of the people.\n\t\t\t Then Satan entered Judas, the one called Iscariot, who was one of the twelve.\n\t\t\t He went away and discussed with the chief priests and officers of the temple guard how he might betray Jesus, handing him over to them.\n\t\t\t They were delighted and arranged to give him money.\n\t\t\t So Judas agreed and began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus when no crowd was present.\n\t\t\t Then the day for the feast of Unleavened Bread came, on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed.\n\t\t\t Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, \"Go and prepare the Passover for us to eat.\"\n\t\t\t They said to him, \"Where do you want us to prepare it?\" \n\t\t\t He said to them, \"Listen, when you have entered the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him into the house that he enters,\n\t\t\t and tell the owner of the house, 'The Teacher says to you, \"Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?\"' \n\t\t\t Then he will show you a large furnished room upstairs. Make preparations there.\"\n\t\t\t So they went and found things just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.\n\t\t\t Now when the hour came, Jesus took his place at the table and the apostles joined him.\n\t\t\t And he said to them, \"I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. \n\t\t\t For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.\"\n\t\t\t Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he said, \"Take this and divide it among yourselves. \n\t\t\t For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.\"\n\t\t\t Then he took bread, and after giving thanks he broke it and gave it to them, saying, \"This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.\" \n\t\t\t And in the same way he took the cup after they had eaten, saying, \"This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.\n\t\t\t \"But look, the hand of the one who betrays me is with me on the table.\n\t\t\t For the Son of Man is to go just as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!\" \n\t\t\t So they began to question one another as to which of them it could possibly be who would do this.\n\t\t\t A dispute also started among them over which of them was to be regarded as the greatest.\n\t\t\t So Jesus said to them, \"The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in authority over them are called 'benefactors.'\n\t\t\t Not so with you; instead the one who is greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like the one who serves.\n\t\t\t For who is greater, the one who is seated at the table, or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is seated at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.\n\t\t\t \"You are the ones who have remained with me in my trials. \n\t\t\t Thus I grant to you a kingdom, just as my Father granted to me, \n\t\t\t that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.\n\t\t\t \"Simon, Simon, pay attention! Satan has demanded to have you all, to sift you like wheat,\n\t\t\t but I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. When you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.\"\n\t\t\t But Peter said to him, \"Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death!\"\n\t\t\t Jesus replied, \"I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow today until you have denied three times that you know me.\"\n\t\t\t Then Jesus said to them, \"When I sent you out with no money bag, or traveler's bag, or sandals, you didn't lack anything, did you?\" They replied, \"Nothing.\" \n\t\t\t He said to them, \"But now, the one who has a money bag must take it, and likewise a traveler's bag too. And the one who has no sword must sell his cloak and buy one. \n\t\t\t For I tell you that this scripture must be fulfilled in me, 'And he was counted with the transgressors.' For what is written about me is being fulfilled.\"\n\t\t\t So they said, \"Look, Lord, here are two swords.\" Then he told them, \"It is enough.\"\n\t\t\t Then Jesus went out and made his way, as he customarily did, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. \n\t\t\t When he came to the place, he said to them, \"Pray that you will not fall into temptation.\"\n\t\t\t He went away from them about a stone's throw, knelt down, and prayed,\n\t\t\t \"Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me. Yet not my will but yours be done.\" [ \n\t\t\t Then an angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.\n\t\t\t And in his anguish he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.]\n\t\t\t When he got up from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping, exhausted from grief. \n\t\t\t So he said to them, \"Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you will not fall into temptation!\"\n\t\t\t While he was still speaking, suddenly a crowd appeared, and the man named Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He walked up to Jesus to kiss him.\n\t\t\t But Jesus said to him, \"Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?\"\n\t\t\t When those who were around him saw what was about to happen, they said, \"Lord, should we use our swords?\"\n\t\t\t Then one of them struck the high priest's slave, cutting off his right ear.\n\t\t\t But Jesus said, \"Enough of this!\" And he touched the man's ear and healed him. \n\t\t\t Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders who had come out to get him, \"Have you come out with swords and clubs like you would against an outlaw?\n\t\t\t Day after day when I was with you in the temple courts, you did not arrest me. But this is your hour, and that of the power of darkness!\"\n\t\t\t Then they arrested Jesus, led him away, and brought him into the high priest's house. But Peter was following at a distance. \n\t\t\t When they had made a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them.\n\t\t\t Then a slave girl, seeing him as he sat in the firelight, stared at him and said, \"This man was with him too!\" \n\t\t\t But Peter denied it: \"Woman, I don't know him!\" \n\t\t\t Then a little later someone else saw him and said, \"You are one of them too.\" But Peter said, \"Man, I am not!\" \n\t\t\t And after about an hour still another insisted, \"Certainly this man was with him, because he too is a Galilean.\"\n\t\t\t But Peter said, \"Man, I don't know what you're talking about!\" At that moment, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed.\n\t\t\t Then the Lord turned and looked straight at Peter, and Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, \"Before a rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.\" \n\t\t\t And he went outside and wept bitterly.\n\t\t\t Now the men who were holding Jesus under guard began to mock him and beat him. \n\t\t\t They blindfolded him and asked him repeatedly, \"Prophesy! Who hit you?\"\n\t\t\t They also said many other things against him, reviling him.\n\t\t\t When day came, the council of the elders of the people gathered together, both the chief priests and the experts in the law. Then they led Jesus away to their council\n\t\t\t and said, \"If you are the Christ, tell us.\" But he said to them, \"If I tell you, you will not believe, \n\t\t\t and if I ask you, you will not answer. \n\t\t\t But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.\" \n\t\t\t So they all said, \"Are you the Son of God, then?\" He answered them, \"You say that I am.\" \n\t\t\t Then they said, \"Why do we need further testimony? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips!\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then the whole group of them rose up and brought Jesus before Pilate.\n\t\t\t They began to accuse him, saying, \"We found this man subverting our nation, forbidding us to pay the tribute tax to Caesar and claiming that he himself is Christ, a king.\" \n\t\t\t So Pilate asked Jesus, \"Are you the king of the Jews?\" He replied, \"You say so.\"\n\t\t\t Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, \"I find no basis for an accusation against this man.\" \n\t\t\t But they persisted in saying, \"He incites the people by teaching throughout all Judea. It started in Galilee and ended up here!\"\n\t\t\t Now when Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean.\n\t\t\t When he learned that he was from Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him over to Herod, who also happened to be in Jerusalem at that time. \n\t\t\t When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had long desired to see him, because he had heard about him and was hoping to see him perform some miraculous sign.\n\t\t\t So Herod questioned him at considerable length; Jesus gave him no answer. \n\t\t\t The chief priests and the experts in the law were there, vehemently accusing him.\n\t\t\t Even Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him. Then, dressing him in elegant clothes, Herod sent him back to Pilate. \n\t\t\t That very day Herod and Pilate became friends with each other, for prior to this they had been enemies.\n\t\t\t Then Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people, \n\t\t\t and said to them, \"You brought me this man as one who was misleading the people. When I examined him before you, I did not find this man guilty of anything you accused him of doing. \n\t\t\t Neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us. Look, he has done nothing deserving death.\n\t\t\t I will therefore have him flogged and release him.\"\n\t\t\t \n\t\t\t But they all shouted out together, \"Take this man away! Release Barabbas for us!\" \n\t\t\t (This was a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city, and for murder.)\n\t\t\t Pilate addressed them once again because he wanted to release Jesus. \n\t\t\t But they kept on shouting, \"Crucify, crucify him!\" \n\t\t\t A third time he said to them, \"Why? What wrong has he done? I have found him guilty of no crime deserving death. I will therefore flog him and release him.\" \n\t\t\t But they were insistent, demanding with loud shouts that he be crucified. And their shouts prevailed. \n\t\t\t So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted. \n\t\t\t He released the man they asked for, who had been thrown in prison for insurrection and murder. But he handed Jesus over to their will.\n\t\t\t As they led him away, they seized Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country. They placed the cross on his back and made him carry it behind Jesus.\n\t\t\t A great number of the people followed him, among them women who were mourning and wailing for him. \n\t\t\t But Jesus turned to them and said, \"Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. \n\t\t\t For this is certain: The days are coming when they will say, 'Blessed are the barren, the wombs that never bore children, and the breasts that never nursed!'\n\t\t\t Then they will begin to say to the mountains, 'Fall on us!' and to the hills, 'Cover us!'\n\t\t\t For if such things are done when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?\"\n\t\t\t Two other criminals were also led away to be executed with him. \n\t\t\t So when they came to the place that is called \"The Skull,\" they crucified him there, along with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. \n\t\t\t [But Jesus said, \"Father, forgive them, for they don't know what they are doing.\"] Then they threw dice to divide his clothes.\n\t\t\t The people also stood there watching, but the rulers ridiculed him, saying, \"He saved others. Let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, his chosen one!\" \n\t\t\t The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine,\n\t\t\t and saying, \"If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself!\" \n\t\t\t There was also an inscription over him, \"This is the king of the Jews.\"\n\t\t\t One of the criminals who was hanging there railed at him, saying, \"Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!\" \n\t\t\t But the other rebuked him, saying, \"Don't you fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?\n\t\t\t And we rightly so, for we are getting what we deserve for what we did, but this man has done nothing wrong.\"\n\t\t\t Then he said, \"Jesus, remember me when you come in your kingdom.\" \n\t\t\t And Jesus said to him, \"I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.\"\n\t\t\t It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon,\n\t\t\t because the sun's light failed. The temple curtain was torn in two. \n\t\t\t Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, \"Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!\" And after he said this he breathed his last.\n\t\t\t Now when the centurion saw what had happened, he praised God and said, \"Certainly this man was innocent!\"\n\t\t\t And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts.\n\t\t\t And all those who knew Jesus stood at a distance, and the women who had followed him from Galilee saw these things.\n\t\t\t Now there was a man named Joseph who was a member of the council, a good and righteous man. \n\t\t\t (He had not consented to their plan and action.) He was from the Judean town of Arimathea, and was looking forward to the kingdom of God.\n\t\t\t He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. \n\t\t\t Then he took it down, wrapped it in a linen cloth, and placed it in a tomb cut out of the rock, where no one had yet been buried.\n\t\t\t It was the day of preparation and the Sabbath was beginning.\n\t\t\t The women who had accompanied Jesus from Galilee followed, and they saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. \n\t\t\t Then they returned and prepared aromatic spices and perfumes. On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now on the first day of the week, at early dawn, the women went to the tomb, taking the aromatic spices they had prepared. \n\t\t\t They found that the stone had been rolled away from the tomb,\n\t\t\t but when they went in, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.\n\t\t\t While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men stood beside them in dazzling attire. \n\t\t\t The women were terribly frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, \"Why do you look for the living among the dead? \n\t\t\t He is not here, but has been raised! Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee,\n\t\t\t that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.\"\n\t\t\t Then the women remembered his words,\n\t\t\t and when they returned from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. \n\t\t\t Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles. \n\t\t\t But these words seemed like pure nonsense to them, and they did not believe them. \n\t\t\t But Peter got up and ran to the tomb. He bent down and saw only the strips of linen cloth; then he went home, wondering what had happened.\n\t\t\t Now that very day two of them were on their way to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t They were talking to each other about all the things that had happened. \n\t\t\t While they were talking and debating these things, Jesus himself approached and began to accompany them \n\t\t\t (but their eyes were kept from recognizing him).\n\t\t\t Then he said to them, \"What are these matters you are discussing so intently as you walk along?\" And they stood still, looking sad. \n\t\t\t Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, \"Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who doesn't know the things that have happened there in these days?\" \n\t\t\t He said to them, \"What things?\" \"The things concerning Jesus the Nazarene,\" they replied, \"a man who, with his powerful deeds and words, proved to be a prophet before God and all the people;\n\t\t\t and how our chief priests and rulers handed him over to be condemned to death, and crucified him. \n\t\t\t But we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. Not only this, but it is now the third day since these things happened. \n\t\t\t Furthermore, some women of our group amazed us. They were at the tomb early this morning, \n\t\t\t and when they did not find his body, they came back and said they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. \n\t\t\t Then some of those who were with us went to the tomb, and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see him.\"\n\t\t\t So he said to them, \"You foolish people, how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!\n\t\t\t Wasn't it necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and enter into his glory?\" \n\t\t\t Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things written about himself in all the scriptures.\n\t\t\t So they approached the village where they were going. He acted as though he wanted to go farther,\n\t\t\t but they urged him, \"Stay with us, because it is getting toward evening and the day is almost done.\" So he went in to stay with them.\n\t\t\t When he had taken his place at the table with them, he took the bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. \n\t\t\t At this point their eyes were opened and they recognized him. Then he vanished out of their sight. \n\t\t\t They said to each other, \"Didn't our hearts burn within us while he was speaking with us on the road, while he was explaining the scriptures to us?\" \n\t\t\t So they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem. They found the eleven and those with them gathered together \n\t\t\t and saying, \"The Lord has really risen, and has appeared to Simon!\"\n\t\t\t Then they told what had happened on the road, and how they recognized him when he broke the bread.\n\t\t\t While they were saying these things, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, \"Peace be with you.\"\n\t\t\t But they were startled and terrified, thinking they saw a ghost.\n\t\t\t Then he said to them, \"Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? \n\t\t\t Look at my hands and my feet; it's me! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones like you see I have.\" \n\t\t\t When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.\n\t\t\t And while they still could not believe it (because of their joy) and were amazed, he said to them, \"Do you have anything here to eat?\"\n\t\t\t So they gave him a piece of broiled fish, \n\t\t\t and he took it and ate it in front of them.\n\t\t\t Then he said to them, \"These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the psalms must be fulfilled.\" \n\t\t\t Then he opened their minds so they could understand the scriptures,\n\t\t\t and said to them, \"Thus it stands written that the Christ would suffer and would rise from the dead on the third day, \n\t\t\t and repentance for the forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t You are witnesses of these things. \n\t\t\t And look, I am sending you what my Father promised. But stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.\"\n\t\t\t Then Jesus led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands, he blessed them. \n\t\t\t Now during the blessing he departed and was taken up into heaven.\n\t\t\t So they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy,\n\t\t\t and were continually in the temple courts blessing God.\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was fully God.\n\t\t\t The Word was with God in the beginning. \n\t\t\t All things were created by him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created.\n\t\t\t In him was life, and the life was the light of mankind.\n\t\t\t And the light shines on in the darkness, but the darkness has not mastered it.\n\t\t\t A man came, sent from God, whose name was John.\n\t\t\t He came as a witness to testify about the light, so that everyone might believe through him. \n\t\t\t He himself was not the light, but he came to testify about the light. \n\t\t\t The true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.\n\t\t\t He was in the world, and the world was created by him, but the world did not recognize him.\n\t\t\t He came to what was his own, but his own people did not receive him.\n\t\t\t But to all who have received him, those who believe in his name, he has given the right to become God's children\n\t\t\t , children not born by human parents or by human desire or a husband's decision, but by God.\n\t\t\t Now the Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We saw his glory, the glory of the one and only, full of grace and truth, who came from the Father.\n\t\t\t John testified about him and shouted out, \"This one was the one about whom I said, 'He who comes after me is greater than I am, because he existed before me.'\" \n\t\t\t For we have all received from his fullness one gracious gift after another.\n\t\t\t For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came about through Jesus Christ. \n\t\t\t No one has ever seen God. The only one, himself God, who is in closest fellowship with the Father, has made God known.\n\t\t\t Now this was John's testimony when the Jewish leaders sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, \"Who are you?\"\n\t\t\t He confessed, he did not deny but confessed, \"I am not the Christ!\"\n\t\t\t So they asked him, \"Then who are you? Are you Elijah?\" He said, \"I am not!\" \"Are you the Prophet?\" He answered, \"No!\" \n\t\t\t Then they said to him, \"Who are you? Tell us so that we can give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?\"\n\t\t\t John said, \"I am the voice of one shouting in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way for the Lord,' as Isaiah the prophet said.\"\n\t\t\t (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.)\n\t\t\t So they asked John, \"Why then are you baptizing if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?\"\n\t\t\t John answered them, \"I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not recognize,\n\t\t\t who is coming after me. I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandal!\" \n\t\t\t These things happened in Bethany across the Jordan River where John was baptizing.\n\t\t\t On the next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, \"Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! \n\t\t\t This is the one about whom I said, 'After me comes a man who is greater than I am, because he existed before me.' \n\t\t\t I did not recognize him, but I came baptizing with water so that he could be revealed to Israel.\"\n\t\t\t Then John testified, \"I saw the Spirit descending like a dove from heaven, and it remained on him.\n\t\t\t And I did not recognize him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'The one on whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining, this is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.'\n\t\t\t I have both seen and testified that this man is the Chosen One of God.\"\n\t\t\t Again the next day John was standing there with two of his disciples.\n\t\t\t Gazing at Jesus as he walked by, he said, \"Look, the Lamb of God!\"\n\t\t\t When John's two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus.\n\t\t\t Jesus turned around and saw them following and said to them, \"What do you want?\" So they said to him, \"Rabbi\" (which is translated Teacher), \"where are you staying?\" \n\t\t\t Jesus answered, \"Come and you will see.\" So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. Now it was about four o'clock in the afternoon.\n\t\t\t Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two disciples who heard what John said and followed Jesus.\n\t\t\t He first found his own brother Simon and told him, \"We have found the Messiah!\" (which is translated Christ).\n\t\t\t Andrew brought Simon to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, \"You are Simon, the son of John. You will be called Cephas\" (which is translated Peter).\n\t\t\t On the next day Jesus wanted to set out for Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, \"Follow me.\" \n\t\t\t (Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the town of Andrew and Peter.) \n\t\t\t Philip found Nathanael and told him, \"We have found the one Moses wrote about in the law, and the prophets also wrote about, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.\"\n\t\t\t Nathanael replied, \"Can anything good come out of Nazareth?\" Philip replied, \"Come and see.\"\n\t\t\t Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and exclaimed, \"Look, a true Israelite in whom there is no deceit!\"\n\t\t\t Nathanael asked him, \"How do you know me?\" Jesus replied, \"Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.\" \n\t\t\t Nathanael answered him, \"Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel!\"\n\t\t\t Jesus said to him, \"Because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You will see greater things than these.\"\n\t\t\t He continued, \"I tell all of you the solemn truth, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now on the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there, \n\t\t\t and Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding.\n\t\t\t When the wine ran out, Jesus' mother said to him, \"They have no wine left.\"\n\t\t\t Jesus replied, \"Woman, why are you saying this to me? My time has not yet come.\" \n\t\t\t His mother told the servants, \"Whatever he tells you, do it.\"\n\t\t\t Now there were six stone water jars there for Jewish ceremonial washing, each holding twenty or thirty gallons.\n\t\t\t Jesus told the servants, \"Fill the water jars with water.\" So they filled them up to the very top. \n\t\t\t Then he told them, \"Now draw some out and take it to the head steward,\" and they did. \n\t\t\t When the head steward tasted the water that had been turned to wine, not knowing where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), he called the bridegroom \n\t\t\t and said to him, \"Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the cheaper wine when the guests are drunk. You have kept the good wine until now!\" \n\t\t\t Jesus did this as the first of his miraculous signs, in Cana of Galilee. In this way he revealed his glory, and his disciples believed in him.\n\t\t\t After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother and brothers and his disciples, and they stayed there a few days. \n\t\t\t Now the Jewish feast of Passover was near, so Jesus went up to Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t He found in the temple courts those who were selling oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers sitting at tables.\n\t\t\t So he made a whip of cords and drove them all out of the temple courts, with the sheep and the oxen. He scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. \n\t\t\t To those who sold the doves he said, \"Take these things away from here! Do not make my Father's house a marketplace!\"\n\t\t\t His disciples remembered that it was written, \"Zeal for your house will devour me.\"\n\t\t\t So then the Jewish leaders responded, \"What sign can you show us, since you are doing these things?\"\n\t\t\t Jesus replied, \"Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up again.\" \n\t\t\t Then the Jewish leaders said to him, \"This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and are you going to raise it up in three days?\" \n\t\t\t But Jesus was speaking about the temple of his body.\n\t\t\t So after he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the scripture and the saying that Jesus had spoken.\n\t\t\t Now while Jesus was in Jerusalem at the feast of the Passover, many people believed in his name because they saw the miraculous signs he was doing.\n\t\t\t But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people.\n\t\t\t He did not need anyone to testify about man, for he knew what was in man.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now a certain man, a Pharisee named Nicodemus, who was a member of the Jewish ruling council,\n\t\t\t came to Jesus at night and said to him, \"Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs that you do unless God is with him.\" \n\t\t\t Jesus replied, \"I tell you the solemn truth, unless a person is born from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God.\"\n\t\t\t Nicodemus said to him, \"How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter his mother's womb and be born a second time, can he?\"\n\t\t\t Jesus answered, \"I tell you the solemn truth, unless a person is born of water and spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. \n\t\t\t What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. \n\t\t\t Do not be amazed that I said to you, 'You must all be born from above.'\n\t\t\t The wind blows wherever it will, and you hear the sound it makes, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.\"\n\t\t\t Nicodemus replied, \"How can these things be?\"\n\t\t\t Jesus answered, \"Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you don't understand these things?\n\t\t\t I tell you the solemn truth, we speak about what we know and testify about what we have seen, but you people do not accept our testimony.\n\t\t\t If I have told you people about earthly things and you don't believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things?\n\t\t\t No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.\n\t\t\t Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up,\n\t\t\t so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.\"\n\t\t\t For this is the way God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.\n\t\t\t For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world should be saved through him. \n\t\t\t The one who believes in him is not condemned. The one who does not believe has been condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God.\n\t\t\t Now this is the basis for judging: that the light has come into the world and people loved the darkness rather than the light, because their deeds were evil. \n\t\t\t For everyone who does evil deeds hates the light and does not come to the light, so that their deeds will not be exposed.\n\t\t\t But the one who practices the truth comes to the light, so that it may be plainly evident that his deeds have been done in God.\n\t\t\t After this, Jesus and his disciples came into Judean territory, and there he spent time with them and was baptizing. \n\t\t\t John was also baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming to him and being baptized. \n\t\t\t (For John had not yet been thrown into prison.)\n\t\t\t Now a dispute came about between some of John's disciples and a certain Jew concerning ceremonial washing.\n\t\t\t So they came to John and said to him, \"Rabbi, the one who was with you on the other side of the Jordan River, about whom you testified, see, he is baptizing, and everyone is flocking to him!\"\n\t\t\t John replied, \"No one can receive anything unless it has been given to him from heaven. \n\t\t\t You yourselves can testify that I said, 'I am not the Christ,' but rather, 'I have been sent before him.' \n\t\t\t The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands by and listens for him, rejoices greatly when he hears the bridegroom's voice. This then is my joy, and it is complete.\n\t\t\t He must become more important while I become less important.\"\n\t\t\t The one who comes from above is superior to all. The one who is from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks about earthly things. The one who comes from heaven is superior to all.\n\t\t\t He testifies about what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony.\n\t\t\t The one who has accepted his testimony has confirmed clearly that God is truthful.\n\t\t\t For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for he does not give the Spirit sparingly.\n\t\t\t The Father loves the Son and has placed all things under his authority.\n\t\t\t The one who believes in the Son has eternal life. The one who rejects the Son will not see life, but God's wrath remains on him.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now when Jesus knew that the Pharisees had heard that he was winning and baptizing more disciples than John \n\t\t\t (although Jesus himself was not baptizing, but his disciples were),\n\t\t\t he left Judea and set out once more for Galilee.\n\t\t\t But he had to pass through Samaria.\n\t\t\t Now he came to a Samaritan town called Sychar, near the plot of land that Jacob had given to his son Joseph.\n\t\t\t Jacob's well was there, so Jesus, since he was tired from the journey, sat right down beside the well. It was about noon.\n\t\t\t A Samaritan woman came to draw water. Jesus said to her, \"Give me some water to drink.\" \n\t\t\t (For his disciples had gone off into the town to buy supplies.)\n\t\t\t So the Samaritan woman said to him, \"How can you, a Jew, ask me, a Samaritan woman, for water to drink?\" (For Jews use nothing in common with Samaritans.)\n\t\t\t Jesus answered her, \"If you had known the gift of God and who it is who said to you, 'Give me some water to drink,' you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.\"\n\t\t\t \"Sir,\" the woman said to him, \"you have no bucket and the well is deep; where then do you get this living water?\n\t\t\t Surely you're not greater than our ancestor Jacob, are you? For he gave us this well and drank from it himself, along with his sons and his livestock.\"\n\t\t\t Jesus replied, \"Everyone who drinks some of this water will be thirsty again. \n\t\t\t But whoever drinks some of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again, but the water that I will give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up to eternal life.\" \n\t\t\t The woman said to him, \"Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water.\"\n\t\t\t He said to her, \"Go call your husband and come back here.\"\n\t\t\t The woman replied, \"I have no husband.\" Jesus said to her, \"Right you are when you said, 'I have no husband,'\n\t\t\t for you have had five husbands, and the man you are living with now is not your husband. This you said truthfully!\"\n\t\t\t The woman said to him, \"Sir, I see that you are a prophet. \n\t\t\t Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you people say that the place where people must worship is in Jerusalem.\"\n\t\t\t Jesus said to her, \"Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. \n\t\t\t You people worship what you do not know. We worship what we know, because salvation is from the Jews.\n\t\t\t But a time is coming, and now is here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such people to be his worshipers.\n\t\t\t God is spirit, and the people who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.\" \n\t\t\t The woman said to him, \"I know that Messiah is coming\" (the one called Christ); \"whenever he comes, he will tell us everything.\"\n\t\t\t Jesus said to her, \"I, the one speaking to you, am he.\"\n\t\t\t Now at that very moment his disciples came back. They were shocked because he was speaking with a woman. However, no one said, \"What do you want?\" or \"Why are you speaking with her?\" \n\t\t\t Then the woman left her water jar, went off into the town and said to the people,\n\t\t\t \"Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Surely he can't be the Messiah, can he?\"\n\t\t\t So they left the town and began coming to him.\n\t\t\t Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, \"Rabbi, eat something.\"\n\t\t\t But he said to them, \"I have food to eat that you know nothing about.\"\n\t\t\t So the disciples began to say to one another, \"No one brought him anything to eat, did they?\"\n\t\t\t Jesus said to them, \"My food is to do the will of the one who sent me and to complete his work.\n\t\t\t Don't you say, 'There are four more months and then comes the harvest?' I tell you, look up and see that the fields are already white for harvest! \n\t\t\t The one who reaps receives pay and gathers fruit for eternal life, so that the one who sows and the one who reaps can rejoice together. \n\t\t\t For in this instance the saying is true, 'One sows and another reaps.' \n\t\t\t I sent you to reap what you did not work for; others have labored and you have entered into their labor.\"\n\t\t\t Now many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the report of the woman who testified, \"He told me everything I ever did.\" \n\t\t\t So when the Samaritans came to him, they began asking him to stay with them. He stayed there two days, \n\t\t\t and because of his word many more believed. \n\t\t\t They said to the woman, \"No longer do we believe because of your words, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this one really is the Savior of the world.\"\n\t\t\t After the two days he departed from there to Galilee.\n\t\t\t (For Jesus himself had testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country.)\n\t\t\t So when he came to Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him because they had seen all the things he had done in Jerusalem at the feast (for they themselves had gone to the feast).\n\t\t\t Now he came again to Cana in Galilee where he had made the water wine. In Capernaum there was a certain royal official whose son was sick. \n\t\t\t When he heard that Jesus had come back from Judea to Galilee, he went to him and begged him to come down and heal his son, who was about to die. \n\t\t\t So Jesus said to him, \"Unless you people see signs and wonders you will never believe!\"\n\t\t\t \"Sir,\" the official said to him, \"come down before my child dies.\"\n\t\t\t Jesus told him, \"Go home; your son will live.\" The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and set off for home.\n\t\t\t While he was on his way down, his slaves met him and told him that his son was going to live. \n\t\t\t So he asked them the time when his condition began to improve, and they told him, \"Yesterday at one o'clock in the afternoon the fever left him.\" \n\t\t\t Then the father realized that it was the very time Jesus had said to him, \"Your son will live,\" and he himself believed along with his entire household. \n\t\t\t Jesus did this as his second miraculous sign when he returned from Judea to Galilee.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t After this there was a Jewish feast, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool called Bethzatha in Aramaic, which has five covered walkways.\n\t\t\t A great number of sick, blind, lame, and paralyzed people were lying in these walkways.\n\t\t\t \n\t\t\t Now a man was there who had been disabled for thirty-eight years.\n\t\t\t When Jesus saw him lying there and when he realized that the man had been disabled a long time already, he said to him, \"Do you want to become well?\"\n\t\t\t The sick man answered him, \"Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up. While I am trying to get into the water, someone else goes down there before me.\" \n\t\t\t Jesus said to him, \"Stand up! Pick up your mat and walk.\" \n\t\t\t Immediately the man was healed, and he picked up his mat and started walking. (Now that day was a Sabbath.)\n\t\t\t So the Jewish leaders said to the man who had been healed, \"It is the Sabbath, and you are not permitted to carry your mat.\"\n\t\t\t But he answered them, \"The man who made me well said to me, 'Pick up your mat and walk.'\" \n\t\t\t They asked him, \"Who is the man who said to you, 'Pick up your mat and walk'?\"\n\t\t\t But the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had slipped out, since there was a crowd in that place.\n\t\t\t After this Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, \"Look, you have become well. Don't sin any more, lest anything worse happen to you.\" \n\t\t\t The man went away and informed the Jewish leaders that Jesus was the one who had made him well.\n\t\t\t Now because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders began persecuting him. \n\t\t\t So he told them, \"My Father is working until now, and I too am working.\"\n\t\t\t For this reason the Jewish leaders were trying even harder to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was also calling God his own Father, thus making himself equal with God.\n\t\t\t So Jesus answered them, \"I tell you the solemn truth, the Son can do nothing on his own initiative, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, the Son does likewise.\n\t\t\t For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything he does, and will show him greater deeds than these, so that you will be amazed.\n\t\t\t For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whomever he wishes.\n\t\t\t Furthermore, the Father does not judge anyone, but has assigned all judgment to the Son, \n\t\t\t so that all people will honor the Son just as they honor the Father. The one who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.\n\t\t\t \"I tell you the solemn truth, the one who hears my message and believes the one who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned, but has crossed over from death to life. \n\t\t\t I tell you the solemn truth, a time is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.\n\t\t\t For just as the Father has life in himself, thus he has granted the Son to have life in himself,\n\t\t\t and he has granted the Son authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man.\n\t\t\t \"Do not be amazed at this, because a time is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice \n\t\t\t and will come out, the ones who have done what is good to the resurrection resulting in life, and the ones who have done what is evil to the resurrection resulting in condemnation.\n\t\t\t I can do nothing on my own initiative. Just as I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I do not seek my own will, but the will of the one who sent me.\n\t\t\t \"If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true.\n\t\t\t There is another who testifies about me, and I know the testimony he testifies about me is true. \n\t\t\t You have sent to John, and he has testified to the truth. \n\t\t\t (I do not accept human testimony, but I say this so that you may be saved.) \n\t\t\t He was a lamp that was burning and shining, and you wanted to rejoice greatly for a short time in his light.\n\t\t\t \"But I have a testimony greater than that from John. For the deeds that the Father has assigned me to complete, the deeds I am now doing, testify about me that the Father has sent me.\n\t\t\t And the Father who sent me has himself testified about me. You people have never heard his voice nor seen his form at any time,\n\t\t\t nor do you have his word residing in you, because you do not believe the one whom he sent.\n\t\t\t You study the scriptures thoroughly because you think in them you possess eternal life, and it is these same scriptures that testify about me, \n\t\t\t but you are not willing to come to me so that you may have life.\n\t\t\t \"I do not accept praise from people,\n\t\t\t but I know you, that you do not have the love of God within you. \n\t\t\t I have come in my Father's name, and you do not accept me. If someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him. \n\t\t\t How can you believe, if you accept praise from one another and don't seek the praise that comes from the only God?\n\t\t\t \"Do not suppose that I will accuse you before the Father. The one who accuses you is Moses, in whom you have placed your hope.\n\t\t\t If you believed Moses, you would believe me, because he wrote about me. \n\t\t\t But if you do not believe what Moses wrote, how will you believe my words?\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee (also called the Sea of Tiberias).\n\t\t\t A large crowd was following him because they were observing the miraculous signs he was performing on the sick.\n\t\t\t So Jesus went on up the mountainside and sat down there with his disciples. \n\t\t\t (Now the Jewish feast of the Passover was near.)\n\t\t\t Then Jesus, when he looked up and saw that a large crowd was coming to him, said to Philip, \"Where can we buy bread so that these people may eat?\" \n\t\t\t (Now Jesus said this to test him, for he knew what he was going to do.)\n\t\t\t Philip replied, \"Two hundred silver coins worth of bread would not be enough for them, for each one to get a little.\" \n\t\t\t One of Jesus' disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him, \n\t\t\t \"Here is a boy who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what good are these for so many people?\"\n\t\t\t Jesus said, \"Have the people sit down.\" (Now there was a lot of grass in that place.) So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. \n\t\t\t Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed the bread to those who were seated. He then did the same with the fish, as much as they wanted. \n\t\t\t When they were all satisfied, Jesus said to his disciples, \"Gather up the broken pieces that are left over, so that nothing is wasted.\" \n\t\t\t So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with broken pieces from the five barley loaves left over by the people who had eaten.\n\t\t\t Now when the people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus performed, they began to say to one another, \"This is certainly the Prophet who is to come into the world.\"\n\t\t\t Then Jesus, because he knew they were going to come and seize him by force to make him king, withdrew again up the mountainside alone.\n\t\t\t Now when evening came, his disciples went down to the lake,\n\t\t\t got into a boat, and started to cross the lake to Capernaum. (It had already become dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them.)\n\t\t\t By now a strong wind was blowing and the sea was getting rough.\n\t\t\t Then, when they had rowed about three or four miles, they caught sight of Jesus walking on the lake, approaching the boat, and they were frightened. \n\t\t\t But he said to them, \"It is I. Do not be afraid.\"\n\t\t\t Then they wanted to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat came to the land where they had been heading.\n\t\t\t The next day the crowd that remained on the other side of the lake realized that only one small boat had been there, and that Jesus had not boarded it with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. \n\t\t\t But some boats from Tiberias came to shore near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks.\n\t\t\t So when the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and came to Capernaum looking for Jesus.\n\t\t\t When they found him on the other side of the lake, they said to him, \"Rabbi, when did you get here?\"\n\t\t\t Jesus replied, \"I tell you the solemn truth, you are looking for me not because you saw miraculous signs, but because you ate all the loaves of bread you wanted.\n\t\t\t Do not work for the food that disappears, but for the food that remains to eternal life, the food which the Son of Man will give to you. For God the Father has put his seal of approval on him.\"\n\t\t\t So then they said to him, \"What must we do to accomplish the deeds God requires?\"\n\t\t\t Jesus replied, \"This is the deed God requires, to believe in the one whom he sent.\"\n\t\t\t So they said to him, \"Then what miraculous sign will you perform, so that we may see it and believe you? What will you do?\n\t\t\t Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, just as it is written, 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'\"\n\t\t\t Then Jesus told them, \"I tell you the solemn truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but my Father is giving you the true bread from heaven. \n\t\t\t For the bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.\" \n\t\t\t So they said to him, \"Sir, give us this bread all the time!\"\n\t\t\t Jesus said to them, \"I am the bread of life. The one who comes to me will never go hungry, and the one who believes in me will never be thirsty.\n\t\t\t But I told you that you have seen me and still do not believe. \n\t\t\t Everyone whom the Father gives me will come to me, and the one who comes to me I will never send away.\n\t\t\t For I have come down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me.\n\t\t\t Now this is the will of the one who sent me, that I should not lose one person of every one he has given me, but raise them all up at the last day.\n\t\t\t For this is the will of my Father, for everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him to have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.\"\n\t\t\t Then the Jews who were hostile to Jesus began complaining about him because he said, \"I am the bread that came down from heaven,\" \n\t\t\t and they said, \"Isn't this Jesus the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, 'I have come down from heaven'?\"\n\t\t\t Jesus replied, \"Do not complain about me to one another.\n\t\t\t No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. \n\t\t\t It is written in the prophets, 'And they will all be taught by God.' Everyone who hears and learns from the Father comes to me. \n\t\t\t (Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God, he has seen the Father.)\n\t\t\t I tell you the solemn truth, the one who believes has eternal life.\n\t\t\t I am the bread of life.\n\t\t\t Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. \n\t\t\t This is the bread that has come down from heaven, so that a person may eat from it and not die. \n\t\t\t I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats from this bread he will live forever. The bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.\"\n\t\t\t Then the Jews who were hostile to Jesus began to argue with one another, \"How can this man give us his flesh to eat?\" \n\t\t\t Jesus said to them, \"I tell you the solemn truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in yourselves. \n\t\t\t The one who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.\n\t\t\t For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. \n\t\t\t The one who eats my flesh and drinks my blood resides in me, and I in him.\n\t\t\t Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so the one who consumes me will live because of me. \n\t\t\t This is the bread that came down from heaven; it is not like the bread your ancestors ate, but then later died. The one who eats this bread will live forever.\"\n\t\t\t Jesus said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.\n\t\t\t Then many of his disciples, when they heard these things, said, \"This is a difficult saying! Who can understand it?\"\n\t\t\t When Jesus was aware that his disciples were complaining about this, he said to them, \"Does this cause you to be offended?\n\t\t\t Then what if you see the Son of Man ascending where he was before?\n\t\t\t The Spirit is the one who gives life; human nature is of no help! The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.\n\t\t\t But there are some of you who do not believe.\" (For Jesus had already known from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.)\n\t\t\t So Jesus added, \"Because of this I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has allowed him to come.\"\n\t\t\t After this many of his disciples quit following him and did not accompany him any longer. \n\t\t\t So Jesus said to the twelve, \"You don't want to go away too, do you?\"\n\t\t\t Simon Peter answered him, \"Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life.\n\t\t\t We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God!\"\n\t\t\t Jesus replied, \"Didn't I choose you, the twelve, and yet one of you is the devil?\"\n\t\t\t (Now he said this about Judas son of Simon Iscariot, for Judas, one of the twelve, was going to betray him.)\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t After this Jesus traveled throughout Galilee. He stayed out of Judea because the Jewish leaders wanted to kill him.\n\t\t\t Now the Jewish feast of Tabernacles was near.\n\t\t\t So Jesus' brothers advised him, \"Leave here and go to Judea so your disciples may see your miracles that you are performing.\n\t\t\t For no one who seeks to make a reputation for himself does anything in secret. If you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.\" \n\t\t\t (For not even his own brothers believed in him.)\n\t\t\t So Jesus replied, \"My time has not yet arrived, but you are ready at any opportunity!\n\t\t\t The world cannot hate you, but it hates me, because I am testifying about it that its deeds are evil.\n\t\t\t You go up to the feast yourselves. I am not going up to this feast because my time has not yet fully arrived.\"\n\t\t\t When he had said this, he remained in Galilee.\n\t\t\t But when his brothers had gone up to the feast, then Jesus himself also went up, not openly but in secret.\n\t\t\t So the Jewish leaders were looking for him at the feast, asking, \"Where is he?\"\n\t\t\t There was a lot of grumbling about him among the crowds. Some were saying, \"He is a good man,\" but others, \"He deceives the common people.\"\n\t\t\t However, no one spoke openly about him for fear of the Jewish leaders.\n\t\t\t When the feast was half over, Jesus went up to the temple courts and began to teach.\n\t\t\t Then the Jewish leaders were astonished and said, \"How does this man know so much when he has never had formal instruction?\"\n\t\t\t So Jesus replied, \"My teaching is not from me, but from the one who sent me.\n\t\t\t If anyone wants to do God's will, he will know about my teaching, whether it is from God or whether I speak from my own authority.\n\t\t\t The person who speaks on his own authority desires to receive honor for himself; the one who desires the honor of the one who sent him is a man of integrity, and there is no unrighteousness in him. \n\t\t\t Hasn't Moses given you the law? Yet not one of you keeps the law! Why do you want to kill me?\"\n\t\t\t The crowd answered, \"You're possessed by a demon! Who is trying to kill you?\"\n\t\t\t Jesus replied, \"I performed one miracle and you are all amazed.\n\t\t\t However, because Moses gave you the practice of circumcision (not that it came from Moses, but from the forefathers), you circumcise a male child on the Sabbath. \n\t\t\t But if a male child is circumcised on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses is not broken, why are you angry with me because I made a man completely well on the Sabbath? \n\t\t\t Do not judge according to external appearance, but judge with proper judgment.\"\n\t\t\t Then some of the residents of Jerusalem began to say, \"Isn't this the man they are trying to kill? \n\t\t\t Yet here he is, speaking publicly, and they are saying nothing to him. Do the rulers really know that this man is the Christ?\n\t\t\t But we know where this man comes from. Whenever the Christ comes, no one will know where he comes from.\"\n\t\t\t Then Jesus, while teaching in the temple courts, cried out, \"You both know me and know where I come from! And I have not come on my own initiative, but the one who sent me is true. You do not know him,\n\t\t\t but I know him, because I have come from him and he sent me.\"\n\t\t\t So then they tried to seize Jesus, but no one laid a hand on him, because his time had not yet come. \n\t\t\t Yet many of the crowd believed in him and said, \"Whenever the Christ comes, he won't perform more miraculous signs than this man did, will he?\"\n\t\t\t The Pharisees heard the crowd murmuring these things about Jesus, so the chief priests and the Pharisees sent officers to arrest him.\n\t\t\t Then Jesus said, \"I will be with you for only a little while longer, and then I am going to the one who sent me. \n\t\t\t You will look for me but will not find me, and where I am you cannot come.\"\n\t\t\t Then the Jewish leaders said to one another, \"Where is he going to go that we cannot find him? He is not going to go to the Jewish people dispersed among the Greeks and teach the Greeks, is he?\n\t\t\t What did he mean by saying, 'You will look for me but will not find me, and where I am you cannot come'?\"\n\t\t\t On the last day of the feast, the greatest day, Jesus stood up and shouted out, \"If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me, and \n\t\t\t let the one who believes in me drink. Just as the scripture says, 'From within him will flow rivers of living water.'\"\n\t\t\t (Now he said this about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were going to receive, for the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.)\n\t\t\t When they heard these words, some of the crowd began to say, \"This really is the Prophet!\"\n\t\t\t Others said, \"This is the Christ!\" But still others said, \"No, for the Christ doesn't come from Galilee, does he?\n\t\t\t Don't the scriptures say that the Christ is a descendant of David and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?\"\n\t\t\t So there was a division in the crowd because of Jesus.\n\t\t\t Some of them were wanting to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him.\n\t\t\t Then the officers returned to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, \"Why didn't you bring him back with you?\"\n\t\t\t The officers replied, \"No one ever spoke like this man!\"\n\t\t\t Then the Pharisees answered, \"You haven't been deceived too, have you?\n\t\t\t None of the rulers or the Pharisees have believed in him, have they?\n\t\t\t But this rabble who do not know the law are accursed!\"\n\t\t\t Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus before and who was one of the rulers, said,\n\t\t\t \"Our law doesn't condemn a man unless it first hears from him and learns what he is doing, does it?\"\n\t\t\t They replied, \"You aren't from Galilee too, are you? Investigate carefully and you will see that no prophet comes from Galilee!\"\n\t\t\t [[ And each one departed to his own house. \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.\n\t\t\t Early in the morning he came to the temple courts again. All the people came to him, and he sat down and began to teach them. \n\t\t\t The experts in the law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught committing adultery. They made her stand in front of them \n\t\t\t and said to Jesus, \"Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of adultery. \n\t\t\t In the law Moses commanded us to stone to death such women. What then do you say?\" \n\t\t\t (Now they were asking this in an attempt to trap him, so that they could bring charges against him.) Jesus bent down and wrote on the ground with his finger.\n\t\t\t When they persisted in asking him, he stood up straight and replied, \"Whoever among you is guiltless may be the first to throw a stone at her.\" \n\t\t\t Then he bent over again and wrote on the ground.\n\t\t\t Now when they heard this, they began to drift away one at a time, starting with the older ones, until Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. \n\t\t\t Jesus stood up straight and said to her, \"Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?\" \n\t\t\t She replied, \"No one, Lord.\" And Jesus said, \"I do not condemn you either. Go, and from now on do not sin any more.\"]]\n\t\t\t Then Jesus spoke out again, \"I am the light of the world. The one who follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.\" \n\t\t\t So the Pharisees objected, \"You testify about yourself; your testimony is not true!\"\n\t\t\t Jesus answered, \"Even if I testify about myself, my testimony is true, because I know where I came from and where I am going. But you people do not know where I came from or where I am going.\n\t\t\t You people judge by outward appearances; I do not judge anyone.\n\t\t\t But if I judge, my evaluation is accurate, because I am not alone when I judge, but I and the Father who sent me do so together.\n\t\t\t It is written in your law that the testimony of two men is true.\n\t\t\t I testify about myself and the Father who sent me testifies about me.\"\n\t\t\t Then they began asking him, \"Who is your father?\" Jesus answered, \"You do not know either me or my Father. If you knew me you would know my Father too.\"\n\t\t\t (Jesus spoke these words near the offering box while he was teaching in the temple courts. No one seized him because his time had not yet come.)\n\t\t\t Then Jesus said to them again, \"I am going away, and you will look for me but will die in your sin. Where I am going you cannot come.\" \n\t\t\t So the Jewish leaders began to say, \"Perhaps he is going to kill himself, because he says, 'Where I am going you cannot come.'\" \n\t\t\t Jesus replied, \"You people are from below; I am from above. You people are from this world; I am not from this world. \n\t\t\t Thus I told you that you will die in your sins. For unless you believe that I am he, you will die in your sins.\"\n\t\t\t So they said to him, \"Who are you?\" Jesus replied, \"What I have told you from the beginning. \n\t\t\t I have many things to say and to judge about you, but the Father who sent me is truthful, and the things I have heard from him I speak to the world.\"\n\t\t\t (They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father.)\n\t\t\t Then Jesus said, \"When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and I do nothing on my own initiative, but I speak just what the Father taught me.\n\t\t\t And the one who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, because I always do those things that please him.\" \n\t\t\t While he was saying these things, many people believed in him.\n\t\t\t Then Jesus said to those Judeans who had believed him, \"If you continue to follow my teaching, you are really my disciples \n\t\t\t and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.\"\n\t\t\t \"We are descendants of Abraham,\" they replied, \"and have never been anyone's slaves! How can you say, 'You will become free'?\" \n\t\t\t Jesus answered them, \"I tell you the solemn truth, everyone who practices sin is a slave of sin. \n\t\t\t The slave does not remain in the family forever, but the son remains forever.\n\t\t\t So if the son sets you free, you will be really free. \n\t\t\t I know that you are Abraham's descendants. But you want to kill me, because my teaching makes no progress among you.\n\t\t\t I am telling you the things I have seen while with the Father; as for you, practice the things you have heard from the Father!\"\n\t\t\t They answered him, \"Abraham is our father!\" Jesus replied, \"If you are Abraham's children, you would be doing the deeds of Abraham. \n\t\t\t But now you are trying to kill me, a man who has told you the truth I heard from God. Abraham did not do this!\n\t\t\t You people are doing the deeds of your father.\" Then they said to Jesus, \"We were not born as a result of immorality! We have only one Father, God himself.\" \n\t\t\t Jesus replied, \"If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come from God and am now here. I have not come on my own initiative, but he sent me.\n\t\t\t Why don't you understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot accept my teaching.\n\t\t\t You people are from your father the devil, and you want to do what your father desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not uphold the truth, because there is no truth in him. Whenever he lies, he speaks according to his own nature, because he is a liar and the father of lies.\n\t\t\t But because I am telling you the truth, you do not believe me. \n\t\t\t Who among you can prove me guilty of any sin? If I am telling you the truth, why don't you believe me? \n\t\t\t The one who belongs to God listens and responds to God's words. You don't listen and respond, because you don't belong to God.\"\n\t\t\t The Judeans replied, \"Aren't we correct in saying that you are a Samaritan and are possessed by a demon?\"\n\t\t\t Jesus answered, \"I am not possessed by a demon, but I honor my Father, and yet you dishonor me.\n\t\t\t I am not trying to get praise for myself. There is one who demands it, and he also judges.\n\t\t\t I tell you the solemn truth, if anyone obeys my teaching, he will never see death.\"\n\t\t\t Then the Judeans responded, \"Now we know you're possessed by a demon! Both Abraham and the prophets died, and yet you say, 'If anyone obeys my teaching, he will never experience death.'\n\t\t\t You aren't greater than our father Abraham who died, are you? And the prophets died too! Who do you claim to be?\" \n\t\t\t Jesus replied, \"If I glorify myself, my glory is worthless. The one who glorifies me is my Father, about whom you people say, 'He is our God.' \n\t\t\t Yet you do not know him, but I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you. But I do know him, and I obey his teaching.\n\t\t\t Your father Abraham was overjoyed to see my day, and he saw it and was glad.\"\n\t\t\t Then the Judeans replied, \"You are not yet fifty years old! Have you seen Abraham?\" \n\t\t\t Jesus said to them, \"I tell you the solemn truth, before Abraham came into existence, I am!\"\n\t\t\t Then they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out from the temple area.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now as Jesus was passing by, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. \n\t\t\t His disciples asked him, \"Rabbi, who committed the sin that caused him to be born blind, this man or his parents?\"\n\t\t\t Jesus answered, \"Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but he was born blind so that the acts of God may be revealed through what happens to him.\n\t\t\t We must perform the deeds of the one who sent me as long as it is daytime. Night is coming when no one can work. \n\t\t\t As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.\"\n\t\t\t Having said this, he spat on the ground and made some mud with the saliva. He smeared the mud on the blind man's eyes \n\t\t\t and said to him, \"Go wash in the pool of Siloam\" (which is translated \"sent\"). So the blind man went away and washed, and came back seeing.\n\t\t\t Then the neighbors and the people who had seen him previously as a beggar began saying, \"Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?\" \n\t\t\t Some people said, \"This is the man!\" while others said, \"No, but he looks like him.\" The man himself kept insisting, \"I am the one!\"\n\t\t\t So they asked him, \"How then were you made to see?\"\n\t\t\t He replied, \"The man called Jesus made mud, smeared it on my eyes and told me, 'Go to Siloam and wash.' So I went and washed, and was able to see.\"\n\t\t\t They said to him, \"Where is that man?\" He replied, \"I don't know.\"\n\t\t\t They brought the man who used to be blind to the Pharisees.\n\t\t\t (Now the day on which Jesus made the mud and caused him to see was a Sabbath.)\n\t\t\t So the Pharisees asked him again how he had gained his sight. He replied, \"He put mud on my eyes and I washed, and now I am able to see.\"\n\t\t\t Then some of the Pharisees began to say, \"This man is not from God, because he does not observe the Sabbath.\" But others said, \"How can a man who is a sinner perform such miraculous signs?\" Thus there was a division among them. \n\t\t\t So again they asked the man who used to be blind, \"What do you say about him, since he caused you to see?\" \"He is a prophet,\" the man replied.\n\t\t\t Now the Jewish religious leaders refused to believe that he had really been blind and had gained his sight until at last they summoned the parents of the man who had become able to see.\n\t\t\t They asked the parents, \"Is this your son, whom you say was born blind? Then how does he now see?\" \n\t\t\t So his parents replied, \"We know that this is our son and that he was born blind. \n\t\t\t But we do not know how he is now able to see, nor do we know who caused him to see. Ask him, he is a mature adult. He will speak for himself.\" \n\t\t\t (His parents said these things because they were afraid of the Jewish religious leaders. For the Jewish leaders had already agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus to be the Christ would be put out of the synagogue.\n\t\t\t For this reason his parents said, \"He is a mature adult, ask him.\")\n\t\t\t Then they summoned the man who used to be blind a second time and said to him, \"Promise before God to tell the truth. We know that this man is a sinner.\" \n\t\t\t He replied, \"I do not know whether he is a sinner. I do know one thing, that although I was blind, now I can see.\"\n\t\t\t Then they said to him, \"What did he do to you? How did he cause you to see?\"\n\t\t\t He answered, \"I told you already and you didn't listen. Why do you want to hear it again? You people don't want to become his disciples too, do you?\"\n\t\t\t They heaped insults on him, saying, \"You are his disciple! We are disciples of Moses! \n\t\t\t We know that God has spoken to Moses! We do not know where this man comes from!\" \n\t\t\t The man replied, \"This is a remarkable thing, that you don't know where he comes from, and yet he caused me to see!\n\t\t\t We know that God doesn't listen to sinners, but if anyone is devout and does his will, God listens to him.\n\t\t\t Never before has anyone heard of someone causing a man born blind to see.\n\t\t\t If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.\" \n\t\t\t They replied, \"You were born completely in sinfulness, and yet you presume to teach us?\" So they threw him out.\n\t\t\t Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, so he found the man and said to him, \"Do you believe in the Son of Man?\"\n\t\t\t The man replied, \"And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?\" \n\t\t\t Jesus told him, \"You have seen him; he is the one speaking with you.\" [ \n\t\t\t He said, \"Lord, I believe,\" and he worshiped him.\n\t\t\t Jesus said,] \"For judgment I have come into this world, so that those who do not see may gain their sight, and the ones who see may become blind.\"\n\t\t\t Some of the Pharisees who were with him heard this and asked him, \"We are not blind too, are we?\"\n\t\t\t Jesus replied, \"If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin, but now because you claim that you can see, your guilt remains.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t \"I tell you the solemn truth, the one who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs in some other way, is a thief and a robber. \n\t\t\t The one who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.\n\t\t\t The doorkeeper opens the door for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.\n\t\t\t When he has brought all his own sheep out, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they recognize his voice. \n\t\t\t They will never follow a stranger, but will run away from him, because they do not recognize the stranger's voice.\"\n\t\t\t Jesus told them this parable, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.\n\t\t\t So Jesus said to them again, \"I tell you the solemn truth, I am the door for the sheep.\n\t\t\t All who came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.\n\t\t\t I am the door. If anyone enters through me, he will be saved, and will come in and go out, and find pasture.\n\t\t\t The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come so that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.\n\t\t\t \"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. \n\t\t\t The hired hand, who is not a shepherd and does not own sheep, sees the wolf coming and abandons the sheep and runs away. So the wolf attacks the sheep and scatters them. \n\t\t\t Because he is a hired hand and is not concerned about the sheep, he runs away.\n\t\t\t \"I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me,\n\t\t\t just as the Father knows me and I know the Father, and I lay down my life for the sheep.\n\t\t\t I have other sheep that do not come from this sheepfold. I must bring them too, and they will listen to my voice, so that there will be one flock and one shepherd. \n\t\t\t This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life, so that I may take it back again.\n\t\t\t No one takes it away from me, but 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 commandment I received from my Father.\"\n\t\t\t Another sharp division took place among the Jewish people because of these words. \n\t\t\t Many of them were saying, \"He is possessed by a demon and has lost his mind! Why do you listen to him?\" \n\t\t\t Others said, \"These are not the words of someone possessed by a demon. A demon cannot cause the blind to see, can it?\"\n\t\t\t Then came the feast of the Dedication in Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple area in Solomon's Portico.\n\t\t\t The Jewish leaders surrounded him and asked, \"How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.\"\n\t\t\t Jesus replied, \"I told you and you do not believe. The deeds I do in my Father's name testify about me. \n\t\t\t But you refuse to believe because you are not my sheep.\n\t\t\t My sheep listen to my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.\n\t\t\t I give them eternal life, and they will never perish; no one will snatch them from my hand. \n\t\t\t My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one can snatch them from my Father's hand. \n\t\t\t The Father and I are one.\"\n\t\t\t The Jewish leaders picked up rocks again to stone him to death. \n\t\t\t Jesus said to them, \"I have shown you many good deeds from the Father. For which one of them are you going to stone me?\" \n\t\t\t The Jewish leaders replied, \"We are not going to stone you for a good deed but for blasphemy, because you, a man, are claiming to be God.\"\n\t\t\t Jesus answered, \"Is it not written in your law, 'I said, you are gods'?\n\t\t\t If those people to whom the word of God came were called 'gods' (and the scripture cannot be broken),\n\t\t\t do you say about the one whom the Father set apart and sent into the world, 'You are blaspheming,' because I said, 'I am the Son of God'?\n\t\t\t If I do not perform the deeds of my Father, do not believe me. \n\t\t\t But if I do them, even if you do not believe me, believe the deeds, so that you may come to know and understand that I am in the Father and the Father is in me.\" \n\t\t\t Then they attempted again to seize him, but he escaped their clutches.\n\t\t\t Jesus went back across the Jordan River again to the place where John had been baptizing at an earlier time, and he stayed there. \n\t\t\t Many came to him and began to say, \"John performed no miraculous sign, but everything John said about this man was true!\" \n\t\t\t And many believed in Jesus there.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now a certain man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village where Mary and her sister Martha lived.\n\t\t\t (Now it was Mary who anointed the Lord with perfumed oil and wiped his feet dry with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)\n\t\t\t So the sisters sent a message to Jesus, \"Lord, look, the one you love is sick.\" \n\t\t\t When Jesus heard this, he said, \"This sickness will not lead to death, but to God's glory, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.\"\n\t\t\t (Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.)\n\t\t\t So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he remained in the place where he was for two more days. \n\t\t\t Then after this, he said to his disciples, \"Let us go to Judea again.\"\n\t\t\t The disciples replied, \"Rabbi, the Jewish leaders were just now trying to stone you to death! Are you going there again?\" \n\t\t\t Jesus replied, \"Are there not twelve hours in a day? If anyone walks around in the daytime, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world.\n\t\t\t But if anyone walks around at night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.\"\n\t\t\t After he said this, he added, \"Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep. But I am going there to awaken him.\" \n\t\t\t Then the disciples replied, \"Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.\" \n\t\t\t (Now Jesus had been talking about his death, but they thought he had been talking about real sleep.)\n\t\t\t Then Jesus told them plainly, \"Lazarus has died,\n\t\t\t and I am glad for your sake that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.\" \n\t\t\t So Thomas (called Didymus) said to his fellow disciples, \"Let us go too, so that we may die with him.\"\n\t\t\t When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had been in the tomb four days already.\n\t\t\t (Now Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem,\n\t\t\t so many of the Jewish people of the region had come to Martha and Mary to console them over the loss of their brother.)\n\t\t\t So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary was sitting in the house.\n\t\t\t Martha said to Jesus, \"Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. \n\t\t\t But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will grant you.\"\n\t\t\t Jesus replied, \"Your brother will come back to life again.\"\n\t\t\t Martha said, \"I know that he will come back to life again in the resurrection at the last day.\" \n\t\t\t Jesus said to her, \"I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live even if he dies, \n\t\t\t and the one who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?\" \n\t\t\t She replied, \"Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God who comes into the world.\"\n\t\t\t And when she had said this, Martha went and called her sister Mary, saying privately, \"The Teacher is here and is asking for you.\"\n\t\t\t So when Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. \n\t\t\t (Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still in the place where Martha had come out to meet him.)\n\t\t\t Then the people who were with Mary in the house consoling her saw her get up quickly and go out. They followed her, because they thought she was going to the tomb to weep there.\n\t\t\t Now when Mary came to the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said to him, \"Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.\"\n\t\t\t When Jesus saw her weeping, and the people who had come with her weeping, he was intensely moved in spirit and greatly distressed.\n\t\t\t He asked, \"Where have you laid him?\" They replied, \"Lord, come and see.\" \n\t\t\t Jesus wept.\n\t\t\t Thus the people who had come to mourn said, \"Look how much he loved him!\" \n\t\t\t But some of them said, \"This is the man who caused the blind man to see! Couldn't he have done something to keep Lazarus from dying?\"\n\t\t\t Jesus, intensely moved again, came to the tomb. (Now it was a cave, and a stone was placed across it.)\n\t\t\t Jesus said, \"Take away the stone.\" Martha, the sister of the deceased, replied, \"Lord, by this time the body will have a bad smell, because he has been buried four days.\"\n\t\t\t Jesus responded, \"Didn't I tell you that if you believe, you would see the glory of God?\" \n\t\t\t So they took away the stone. Jesus looked upward and said, \"Father, I thank you that you have listened to me.\n\t\t\t I knew that you always listen to me, but I said this for the sake of the crowd standing around here, that they may believe that you sent me.\" \n\t\t\t When he had said this, he shouted in a loud voice, \"Lazarus, come out!\" \n\t\t\t The one who had died came out, his feet and hands tied up with strips of cloth, and a cloth wrapped around his face. Jesus said to them, \"Unwrap him and let him go.\"\n\t\t\t Then many of the people, who had come with Mary and had seen the things Jesus did, believed in him. \n\t\t\t But some of them went to the Pharisees and reported to them what Jesus had done. \n\t\t\t So the chief priests and the Pharisees called the council together and said, \"What are we doing? For this man is performing many miraculous signs. \n\t\t\t If we allow him to go on in this way, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away our sanctuary and our nation.\"\n\t\t\t Then one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said, \"You know nothing at all! \n\t\t\t You do not realize that it is more to your advantage to have one man die for the people than for the whole nation to perish.\"\n\t\t\t (Now he did not say this on his own, but because he was high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the Jewish nation,\n\t\t\t and not for the Jewish nation only, but to gather together into one the children of God who are scattered.)\n\t\t\t So from that day they planned together to kill him.\n\t\t\t Thus Jesus no longer went around publicly among the Judeans, but went away from there to the region near the wilderness, to a town called Ephraim, and stayed there with his disciples. \n\t\t\t Now the Jewish feast of Passover was near, and many people went up to Jerusalem from the rural areas before the Passover to cleanse themselves ritually.\n\t\t\t Thus they were looking for Jesus, and saying to one another as they stood in the temple courts, \"What do you think? That he won't come to the feast?\"\n\t\t\t (Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that anyone who knew where Jesus was should report it, so that they could arrest him.)\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom he had raised from the dead. \n\t\t\t So they prepared a dinner for Jesus there. Martha was serving, and Lazarus was among those present at the table with him. \n\t\t\t Then Mary took three quarters of a pound of expensive aromatic oil from pure nard and anointed the feet of Jesus. She then wiped his feet dry with her hair. (Now the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfumed oil.)\n\t\t\t But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was going to betray him) said, \n\t\t\t \"Why wasn't this oil sold for three hundred silver coins and the money given to the poor?\" \n\t\t\t (Now Judas said this not because he was concerned about the poor, but because he was a thief. As keeper of the money box, he used to steal what was put into it.)\n\t\t\t So Jesus said, \"Leave her alone. She has kept it for the day of my burial.\n\t\t\t For you will always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me!\"\n\t\t\t Now a large crowd of Judeans learned that Jesus was there, and so they came not only because of him but also to see Lazarus whom he had raised from the dead.\n\t\t\t So the chief priests planned to kill Lazarus too,\n\t\t\t for on account of him many of the Jewish people from Jerusalem were going away and believing in Jesus.\n\t\t\t The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him. They began to shout, \"Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the king of Israel!\" \n\t\t\t Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written, \n\t\t\t \"Do not be afraid, people of Zion; look, your king is coming, seated on a donkey's colt!\"\n\t\t\t (His disciples did not understand these things when they first happened, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about him and that these things had happened to him.)\n\t\t\t So the crowd who had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead were continuing to testify about it.\n\t\t\t Because they had heard that Jesus had performed this miraculous sign, the crowd went out to meet him. \n\t\t\t Thus the Pharisees said to one another, \"You see that you can do nothing. Look, the world has run off after him!\"\n\t\t\t Now some Greeks were among those who had gone up to worship at the feast. \n\t\t\t So these approached Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and requested, \"Sir, we would like to see Jesus.\"\n\t\t\t Philip went and told Andrew, and they both went and told Jesus. \n\t\t\t Jesus replied, \"The time has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.\n\t\t\t I tell you the solemn truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains by itself alone. But if it dies, it produces much grain.\n\t\t\t The one who loves his life destroys it, and the one who hates his life in this world guards it for eternal life. \n\t\t\t If anyone wants to serve me, he must follow me, and where I am, my servant will be too. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.\n\t\t\t \"Now my soul is greatly distressed. And what should I say? 'Father, deliver me from this hour'? No, but for this very reason I have come to this hour.\n\t\t\t Father, glorify your name.\" Then a voice came from heaven, \"I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.\" \n\t\t\t The crowd that stood there and heard the voice said that it had thundered. Others said that an angel had spoken to him.\n\t\t\t Jesus said, \"This voice has not come for my benefit but for yours. \n\t\t\t Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out.\n\t\t\t And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.\" \n\t\t\t (Now he said this to indicate clearly what kind of death he was going to die.)\n\t\t\t Then the crowd responded, \"We have heard from the law that the Christ will remain forever. How can you say, 'The Son of Man must be lifted up'? Who is this Son of Man?\" \n\t\t\t Jesus replied, \"The light is with you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness may not overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. \n\t\t\t While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become sons of light.\" When Jesus had said these things, he went away and hid himself from them.\n\t\t\t Although Jesus had performed so many miraculous signs before them, they still refused to believe in him, \n\t\t\t so that the word of Isaiah the prophet would be fulfilled. He said, \"Lord, who has believed our message, and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?\"\n\t\t\t For this reason they could not believe, because again Isaiah said,\n\t\t\t \"He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, so that they would not see with their eyes and understand with their heart, and turn to me, and I would heal them.\"\n\t\t\t Isaiah said these things because he saw Christ's glory, and spoke about him.\n\t\t\t Nevertheless, even among the rulers many believed in him, but because of the Pharisees they would not confess Jesus to be the Christ, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue.\n\t\t\t For they loved praise from men more than praise from God.\n\t\t\t But Jesus shouted out, \"The one who believes in me does not believe in me, but in the one who sent me,\n\t\t\t and the one who sees me sees the one who sent me.\n\t\t\t I have come as a light into the world, so that everyone who believes in me should not remain in darkness.\n\t\t\t If anyone hears my words and does not obey them, I do not judge him. For I have not come to judge the world, but to save the world.\n\t\t\t The one who rejects me and does not accept my words has a judge; the word I have spoken will judge him at the last day. \n\t\t\t For I have not spoken from my own authority, but the Father himself who sent me has commanded me what I should say and what I should speak. \n\t\t\t And I know that his commandment is eternal life. Thus the things I say, I say just as the Father has told me.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Just before the Passover feast, Jesus knew that his time had come to depart from this world to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now loved them to the very end.\n\t\t\t The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, that he should betray Jesus.\n\t\t\t Because Jesus knew that the Father had handed all things over to him, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, \n\t\t\t he got up from the meal, removed his outer clothes, took a towel and tied it around himself.\n\t\t\t He poured water into the washbasin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to dry them with the towel he had wrapped around himself.\n\t\t\t Then he came to Simon Peter. Peter said to him, \"Lord, are you going to wash my feet?\" \n\t\t\t Jesus replied, \"You do not understand what I am doing now, but you will understand after these things.\" \n\t\t\t Peter said to him, \"You will never wash my feet!\" Jesus replied, \"If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.\"\n\t\t\t Simon Peter said to him, \"Lord, wash not only my feet, but also my hands and my head!\" \n\t\t\t Jesus replied, \"The one who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean. And you disciples are clean, but not every one of you.\" \n\t\t\t (For Jesus knew the one who was going to betray him. For this reason he said, \"Not every one of you is clean.\")\n\t\t\t So when Jesus had washed their feet and put his outer clothing back on, he took his place at the table again and said to them, \"Do you understand what I have done for you? \n\t\t\t You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and do so correctly, for that is what I am.\n\t\t\t If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you too ought to wash one another's feet.\n\t\t\t For I have given you an example, you should do just as I have done for you.\n\t\t\t I tell you the solemn truth, the slave is not greater than his master, nor is the one who is sent as a messenger greater than the one who sent him. \n\t\t\t If you understand these things, you will be blessed if you do them.\n\t\t\t \"What I am saying does not refer to all of you. I know the ones I have chosen. But this is to fulfill the scripture, 'The one who eats my bread has turned against me.'\n\t\t\t I am telling you this now, before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe that I am he.\n\t\t\t I tell you the solemn truth, whoever accepts the one I send accepts me, and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me.\"\n\t\t\t When he had said these things, Jesus was greatly distressed in spirit, and testified, \"I tell you the solemn truth, one of you will betray me.\"\n\t\t\t The disciples began to look at one another, worried and perplexed to know which of them he was talking about. \n\t\t\t One of his disciples, the one Jesus loved, was at the table to the right of Jesus in a place of honor.\n\t\t\t So Simon Peter gestured to this disciple to ask Jesus who it was he was referring to.\n\t\t\t Then the disciple whom Jesus loved leaned back against Jesus' chest and asked him, \"Lord, who is it?\"\n\t\t\t Jesus replied, \"It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread after I have dipped it in the dish.\" Then he dipped the piece of bread in the dish and gave it to Judas Iscariot, Simon's son. \n\t\t\t And after Judas took the piece of bread, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, \"What you are about to do, do quickly.\" \n\t\t\t (Now none of those present at the table understood why Jesus said this to Judas.\n\t\t\t Some thought that, because Judas had the money box, Jesus was telling him to buy whatever they needed for the feast, or to give something to the poor.)\n\t\t\t Judas took the piece of bread and went out immediately. (Now it was night.)\n\t\t\t When Judas had gone out, Jesus said, \"Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in him. \n\t\t\t If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and he will glorify him right away.\n\t\t\t Children, I am still with you for a little while. You will look for me, and just as I said to the Jewish religious leaders, 'Where I am going you cannot come,' now I tell you the same.\n\t\t\t \"I give you a new commandment, to love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.\n\t\t\t Everyone will know by this that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.\"\n\t\t\t Simon Peter said to him, \"Lord, where are you going?\" Jesus replied, \"Where I am going, you cannot follow me now, but you will follow later.\" \n\t\t\t Peter said to him, \"Lord, why can't I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you!\"\n\t\t\t Jesus answered, \"Will you lay down your life for me? I tell you the solemn truth, the rooster will not crow until you have denied me three times!\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t \"Do not let your hearts be distressed. You believe in God; believe also in me.\n\t\t\t There are many dwelling places in my Father's house. Otherwise, I would have told you, because I am going away to make ready a place for you.\n\t\t\t And if I go and make ready a place for you, I will come again and take you to be with me, so that where I am you may be too. \n\t\t\t And you know the way where I am going.\"\n\t\t\t Thomas said, \"Lord, we don't know where you are going. How can we know the way?\" \n\t\t\t Jesus replied, \"I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. \n\t\t\t If you have known me, you will know my Father too. And from now on you do know him and have seen him.\"\n\t\t\t Philip said, \"Lord, show us the Father, and we will be content.\"\n\t\t\t Jesus replied, \"Have I been with you for so long, and you have not known me, Philip? The person who has seen me has seen the Father! How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? \n\t\t\t Do you not believe 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 initiative, but the Father residing in me performs his miraculous deeds.\n\t\t\t Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father is in me, but if you do not believe me, believe because of the miraculous deeds themselves. \n\t\t\t I tell you the solemn truth, the person who believes in me will perform the miraculous deeds that I am doing, and will perform greater deeds than these, because I am going to the Father. \n\t\t\t And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. \n\t\t\t If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.\n\t\t\t \"If you love me, you will obey my commandments.\n\t\t\t Then I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you forever,\n\t\t\t the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot accept, because it does not see him or know him. But you know him, because he resides with you and will be in you.\n\t\t\t \"I will not abandon you as orphans, I will come to you.\n\t\t\t In a little while the world will not see me any longer, but you will see me; because I live, you will live too. \n\t\t\t You will know at that time that I am in my Father and you are in me and I am in you. \n\t\t\t The person who has my commandments and obeys them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and will reveal myself to him.\"\n\t\t\t \"Lord,\" Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, \"what has happened that you are going to reveal yourself to us and not to the world?\" \n\t\t\t Jesus replied, \"If anyone loves me, he will obey my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and take up residence with him.\n\t\t\t The person who does not love me does not obey my words. And the word you hear is not mine, but the Father's who sent me.\n\t\t\t \"I have spoken these things while staying with you. \n\t\t\t But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and will cause you to remember everything I said to you.\n\t\t\t \"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; I do not give it to you as the world does. Do not let your hearts be distressed or lacking in courage.\n\t\t\t You heard me say to you, 'I am going away and I am coming back to you.' If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I am.\n\t\t\t I have told you now before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe.\n\t\t\t I will not speak with you much longer, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no power over me,\n\t\t\t but I am doing just what the Father commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Get up, let us go from here.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t \"I am the true vine and my Father is the gardener.\n\t\t\t He takes away every branch that does not bear fruit in me. He prunes every branch that bears fruit so that it will bear more fruit.\n\t\t\t You are clean already because of the word that I have spoken to you. \n\t\t\t Remain in me, and I will remain in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me.\n\t\t\t \"I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me, and I in him, bears much fruit, because apart from me you can accomplish nothing.\n\t\t\t If anyone does not remain in me, he is thrown out like a branch, and dries up; and such branches are gathered up and thrown into the fire, and are burned up.\n\t\t\t If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you want, and it will be done for you.\n\t\t\t My Father is honored by this, that you bear much fruit and show that you are my disciples.\n\t\t\t \"Just as the Father has loved me, I have also loved you; remain in my love. \n\t\t\t If you obey my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commandments and remain in his love. \n\t\t\t I have told you these things so that my joy may be in you, and your joy may be complete. \n\t\t\t My commandment is this, to love one another just as I have loved you.\n\t\t\t No one has greater love than this, that one lays down his life for his friends.\n\t\t\t You are my friends if you do what I command you. \n\t\t\t I no longer call you slaves, because the slave does not understand what his master is doing. But I have called you friends, because I have revealed to you everything I heard from my Father. \n\t\t\t You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that remains, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you. \n\t\t\t This I command you, to love one another.\n\t\t\t \"If the world hates you, be aware that it hated me first.\n\t\t\t If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as its own. However, because you do not belong to the world, but I chose you out of the world, for this reason the world hates you.\n\t\t\t Remember what I told you, 'A slave is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they obeyed my word, they will obey yours too. \n\t\t\t But they will do all these things to you on account of my name, because they do not know the one who sent me.\n\t\t\t If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin. But they no longer have any excuse for their sin. \n\t\t\t The one who hates me hates my Father too.\n\t\t\t If I had not performed among them the miraculous deeds that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. But now they have seen the deeds and have hated both me and my Father.\n\t\t\t Now this happened to fulfill the word that is written in their law, 'They hated me without reason.'\n\t\t\t When the Advocate comes, whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me,\n\t\t\t and you also will testify, because you have been with me from the beginning.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t \"I have told you all these things so that you will not fall away.\n\t\t\t They will put you out of the synagogue, yet a time is coming when the one who kills you will think he is offering service to God.\n\t\t\t They will do these things because they have not known the Father or me.\n\t\t\t But I have told you these things so that when their time comes, you will remember that I told you about them. \"I did not tell you these things from the beginning because I was with you.\n\t\t\t But now I am going to the one who sent me, and not one of you is asking me, 'Where are you going?'\n\t\t\t Instead your hearts are filled with sadness because I have said these things to you. \n\t\t\t But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I am going away. For if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you, but if I go, I will send him to you. \n\t\t\t And when he comes, he will prove the world wrong concerning sin and righteousness and judgment,\n\t\t\t concerning sin, because they do not believe in me;\n\t\t\t concerning righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will see me no longer; \n\t\t\t and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been condemned.\n\t\t\t \"I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. \n\t\t\t But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. For he will not speak on his own authority, but will speak whatever he hears, and will tell you what is to come.\n\t\t\t He will glorify me, because he will receive from me what is mine and will tell it to you.\n\t\t\t Everything that the Father has is mine; that is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what is mine and will tell it to you.\n\t\t\t In a little while you will see me no longer; again after a little while, you will see me.\"\n\t\t\t Then some of his disciples said to one another, \"What is the meaning of what he is saying, 'In a little while you will not see me; again after a little while, you will see me,' and, 'because I am going to the Father'?\"\n\t\t\t So they kept on repeating, \"What is the meaning of what he says, 'In a little while'? We do not understand what he is talking about.\"\n\t\t\t Jesus could see that they wanted to ask him about these things, so he said to them, \"Are you asking each other about this, that I said, 'In a little while you will not see me; again after a little while, you will see me'?\n\t\t\t I tell you the solemn truth, you will weep and wail, but the world will rejoice; you will be sad, but your sadness will turn into joy. \n\t\t\t When a woman gives birth, she has distress because her time has come, but when her child is born, she no longer remembers the suffering because of her joy that a human being has been born into the world.\n\t\t\t So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.\n\t\t\t At that time you will ask me nothing. I tell you the solemn truth, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you.\n\t\t\t Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive it, so that your joy may be complete.\n\t\t\t \"I have told you these things in obscure figures of speech; a time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in obscure figures, but will tell you plainly about the Father. \n\t\t\t At that time you will ask in my name, and I do not say that I will ask the Father on your behalf. \n\t\t\t For the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.\n\t\t\t I came from the Father and entered into the world, but in turn, I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.\"\n\t\t\t His disciples said, \"Look, now you are speaking plainly and not in obscure figures of speech!\n\t\t\t Now we know that you know everything and do not need anyone to ask you anything. Because of this we believe that you have come from God.\"\n\t\t\t Jesus replied, \"Do you now believe? \n\t\t\t Look, a time is coming, and has come, when you will be scattered, each one to his own home, and I will be left alone. Yet I am not alone, because my Father is with me.\n\t\t\t I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In the world you have trouble and suffering, but take courage, I have conquered the world.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t When Jesus had finished saying these things, he looked upward to heaven and said, \"Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, so that your Son may glorify you,\n\t\t\t just as you have given him authority over all humanity, so that he may give eternal life to everyone you have given him.\n\t\t\t Now this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you sent.\n\t\t\t I glorified you on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.\n\t\t\t And now, Father, glorify me at your side with the glory I had with you before the world was created.\n\t\t\t \"I have revealed your name to the men you gave me out of the world. They belonged to you, and you gave them to me, and they have obeyed your word. \n\t\t\t Now they understand that everything you have given me comes from you, \n\t\t\t because I have given them the words you have given me. They accepted them and really understand that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. \n\t\t\t I am praying on behalf of them. I am not praying on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those you have given me, because they belong to you.\n\t\t\t Everything I have belongs to you, and everything you have belongs to me, and I have been glorified by them.\n\t\t\t I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them safe in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are one.\n\t\t\t When I was with them I kept them safe and watched over them in your name that you have given me. Not one of them was lost except the one destined for destruction, so that the scripture could be fulfilled.\n\t\t\t But now I am coming to you, and I am saying these things in the world, so they may experience my joy completed in themselves. \n\t\t\t I 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.\n\t\t\t I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but that you keep them safe from the evil one.\n\t\t\t They do not belong to the world just as I do not belong to the world.\n\t\t\t Set them apart in the truth; your word is truth. \n\t\t\t Just as you sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world.\n\t\t\t And I set myself apart on their behalf, so that they too may be truly set apart.\n\t\t\t \"I am not praying only on their behalf, but also on behalf of those who believe in me through their testimony,\n\t\t\t that they will all be one, just as you, Father, are in me and I am in you. I pray that they will be in us, so that the world will believe that you sent me. \n\t\t\t The glory you gave to me I have given to them, that they may be one just as we are one,\n\t\t\t I in them and you in me, that they may be completely one, so that the world will know that you sent me, and you have loved them just as you have loved me.\n\t\t\t \"Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, so that they can see my glory that you gave me because you loved me before the creation of the world.\n\t\t\t Righteous Father, even if the world does not know you, I know you, and these men know that you sent me. \n\t\t\t I made known your name to them, and I will continue to make it known, so that the love you have loved me with may be in them, and I may be in them.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t When he had said these things, Jesus went out with his disciples across the Kidron Valley. There was an orchard there, and he and his disciples went into it. \n\t\t\t (Now Judas, the one who betrayed him, knew the place too, because Jesus had met there many times with his disciples.)\n\t\t\t So Judas obtained a squad of soldiers and some officers of the chief priests and Pharisees. They came to the orchard with lanterns and torches and weapons.\n\t\t\t Then Jesus, because he knew everything that was going to happen to him, came and asked them, \"Who are you looking for?\"\n\t\t\t They replied, \"Jesus the Nazarene.\" He told them, \"I am he.\" (Now Judas, the one who betrayed him, was standing there with them.)\n\t\t\t So when Jesus said to them, \"I am he,\" they retreated and fell to the ground.\n\t\t\t Then Jesus asked them again, \"Who are you looking for?\" And they said, \"Jesus the Nazarene.\" \n\t\t\t Jesus replied, \"I told you that I am he. If you are looking for me, let these men go.\"\n\t\t\t He said this to fulfill the word he had spoken, \"I have not lost a single one of those whom you gave me.\"\n\t\t\t Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, pulled it out and struck the high priest's slave, cutting off his right ear. (Now the slave's name was Malchus.)\n\t\t\t But Jesus said to Peter, \"Put your sword back into its sheath! Am I not to drink the cup that the Father has given me?\"\n\t\t\t Then the squad of soldiers with their commanding officer and the officers of the Jewish leaders arrested Jesus and tied him up.\n\t\t\t They brought him first to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year.\n\t\t\t (Now it was Caiaphas who had advised the Jewish leaders that it was to their advantage that one man die for the people.)\n\t\t\t Simon Peter and another disciple followed them as they brought Jesus to Annas. (Now the other disciple was acquainted with the high priest, and he went with Jesus into the high priest's courtyard.)\n\t\t\t But Simon Peter was left standing outside by the door. So the other disciple who was acquainted with the high priest came out and spoke to the slave girl who watched the door, and brought Peter inside.\n\t\t\t The girl who was the doorkeeper said to Peter, \"You're not one of this man's disciples too, are you?\" He replied, \"I am not.\" \n\t\t\t (Now the slaves and the guards were standing around a charcoal fire they had made, warming themselves because it was cold. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself.)\n\t\t\t While this was happening, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his teaching.\n\t\t\t Jesus replied, \"I have spoken publicly to the world. I always taught in the synagogues and in the temple courts, where all the Jewish people assemble together. I have said nothing in secret. \n\t\t\t Why do you ask me? Ask those who heard what I said. They know what I said.\" \n\t\t\t When Jesus had said this, one of the high priest's officers who stood nearby struck him on the face and said, \"Is that the way you answer the high priest?\" \n\t\t\t Jesus replied, \"If I have said something wrong, confirm what is wrong. But if I spoke correctly, why strike me?\" \n\t\t\t Then Annas sent him, still tied up, to Caiaphas the high priest.\n\t\t\t Meanwhile Simon Peter was standing in the courtyard warming himself. They said to him, \"You aren't one of his disciples too, are you?\" Peter denied it: \"I am not!\" \n\t\t\t One of the high priest's slaves, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, said, \"Did I not see you in the orchard with him?\"\n\t\t\t Then Peter denied it again, and immediately a rooster crowed.\n\t\t\t Then they brought Jesus from Caiaphas to the Roman governor's residence. (Now it was very early morning.) They did not go into the governor's residence so they would not be ceremonially defiled, but could eat the Passover meal. \n\t\t\t So Pilate came outside to them and said, \"What accusation do you bring against this man?\"\n\t\t\t They replied, \"If this man were not a criminal, we would not have handed him over to you.\"\n\t\t\t Pilate told them, \"Take him yourselves and pass judgment on him according to your own law!\" The Jewish leaders replied, \"We cannot legally put anyone to death.\"\n\t\t\t (This happened to fulfill the word Jesus had spoken when he indicated what kind of death he was going to die.)\n\t\t\t So Pilate went back into the governor's residence, summoned Jesus, and asked him, \"Are you the king of the Jews?\"\n\t\t\t Jesus replied, \"Are you saying this on your own initiative, or have others told you about me?\" \n\t\t\t Pilate answered, \"I am not a Jew, am I? Your own people and your chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?\"\n\t\t\t Jesus replied, \"My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my servants would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish authorities. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.\" \n\t\t\t Then Pilate said, \"So you are a king!\" Jesus replied, \"You say that I am a king. For this reason I was born, and for this reason I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.\"\n\t\t\t Pilate asked, \"What is truth?\" When he had said this he went back outside to the Jewish leaders and announced, \"I find no basis for an accusation against him.\n\t\t\t But it is your custom that I release one prisoner for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release for you the king of the Jews?\" \n\t\t\t Then they shouted back, \"Not this man, but Barabbas!\" (Now Barabbas was a revolutionary.)\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged severely.\n\t\t\t The soldiers braided a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and they clothed him in a purple robe.\n\t\t\t They came up to him again and again and said, \"Hail, king of the Jews!\" And they struck him repeatedly in the face.\n\t\t\t Again Pilate went out and said to the Jewish leaders, \"Look, I am bringing him out to you, so that you may know that I find no reason for an accusation against him.\" \n\t\t\t So Jesus came outside, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, \"Look, here is the man!\"\n\t\t\t When the chief priests and their officers saw him, they shouted out, \"Crucify him! Crucify him!\" Pilate said, \"You take him and crucify him! Certainly I find no reason for an accusation against him!\" \n\t\t\t The Jewish leaders replied, \"We have a law, and according to our law he ought to die, because he claimed to be the Son of God!\"\n\t\t\t When Pilate heard what they said, he was more afraid than ever,\n\t\t\t and he went back into the governor's residence and said to Jesus, \"Where do you come from?\" But Jesus gave him no answer. \n\t\t\t So Pilate said, \"Do you refuse to speak to me? Don't you know I have the authority to release you, and to crucify you?\"\n\t\t\t Jesus replied, \"You would have no authority over me at all, unless it was given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of greater sin.\"\n\t\t\t From this point on, Pilate tried to release him. But the Jewish leaders shouted out, \"If you release this man, you are no friend of Caesar! Everyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar!\" \n\t\t\t When Pilate heard these words he brought Jesus outside and sat down on the judgment seat in the place called \"The Stone Pavement\" (Gabbatha in Aramaic).\n\t\t\t (Now it was the day of preparation for the Passover, about noon.) Pilate said to the Jewish leaders, \"Look, here is your king!\"\n\t\t\t Then they shouted out, \"Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him!\" Pilate asked, \"Shall I crucify your king?\" The high priests replied, \"We have no king except Caesar!\" \n\t\t\t Then Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus, \n\t\t\t and carrying his own cross he went out to the place called \"The Place of the Skull\" (called in Aramaic Golgotha).\n\t\t\t There they crucified him along with two others, one on each side, with Jesus in the middle. \n\t\t\t Pilate also had a notice written and fastened to the cross, which read: \"Jesus the Nazarene, the king of the Jews.\" \n\t\t\t Thus many of the Jewish residents of Jerusalem read this notice, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the notice was written in Aramaic, Latin, and Greek. \n\t\t\t Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, \"Do not write, 'The king of the Jews,' but rather, 'This man said, I am king of the Jews.'\" \n\t\t\t Pilate answered, \"What I have written, I have written.\"\n\t\t\t Now when the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and made four shares, one for each soldier, and the tunic remained. (Now the tunic was seamless, woven from top to bottom as a single piece.)\n\t\t\t So the soldiers said to one another, \"Let's not tear it, but throw dice to see who will get it.\" This took place to fulfill the scripture that says, \"They divided my garments among them, and for my clothing they threw dice.\" So the soldiers did these things.\n\t\t\t Now standing beside Jesus' cross were his mother, his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.\n\t\t\t So when Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing there, he said to his mother, \"Woman, look, here is your son!\" \n\t\t\t He then said to his disciple, \"Look, here is your mother!\" From that very time the disciple took her into his own home.\n\t\t\t After this Jesus, realizing that by this time everything was completed, said (in order to fulfill the scripture), \"I am thirsty!\"\n\t\t\t A jar full of sour wine was there, so they put a sponge soaked in sour wine on a branch of hyssop and lifted it to his mouth.\n\t\t\t When he had received the sour wine, Jesus said, \"It is completed!\" Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.\n\t\t\t Then, because it was the day of preparation, so that the bodies should not stay on the crosses on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was an especially important one), the Jewish leaders asked Pilate to have the victims' legs broken and the bodies taken down.\n\t\t\t So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the two men who had been crucified with Jesus, first the one and then the other.\n\t\t\t But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs.\n\t\t\t But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and blood and water flowed out immediately. \n\t\t\t And the person who saw it has testified (and his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth), so that you also may believe. \n\t\t\t For these things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled, \"Not a bone of his will be broken.\"\n\t\t\t And again another scripture says, \"They will look on the one whom they have pierced.\"\n\t\t\t After this, Joseph of Arimathea, a disciple of Jesus (but secretly, because he feared the Jewish leaders), asked Pilate if he could remove the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission, so he went and took the body away.\n\t\t\t Nicodemus, the man who had previously come to Jesus at night, accompanied Joseph, carrying a mixture of myrrh and aloes weighing about seventy-five pounds.\n\t\t\t Then they took Jesus' body and wrapped it, with the aromatic spices, in strips of linen cloth according to Jewish burial customs.\n\t\t\t Now at the place where Jesus was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden was a new tomb where no one had yet been buried.\n\t\t\t And so, because it was the Jewish day of preparation and the tomb was nearby, they placed Jesus' body there.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now very early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been moved away from the entrance.\n\t\t\t So she went running to Simon Peter and the other disciple whom Jesus loved and told them, \"They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don't know where they have put him!\" \n\t\t\t Then Peter and the other disciple set out to go to the tomb.\n\t\t\t The two were running together, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and reached the tomb first.\n\t\t\t He bent down and saw the strips of linen cloth lying there, but he did not go in. \n\t\t\t Then Simon Peter, who had been following him, arrived and went right into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen cloth lying there, \n\t\t\t and the face cloth, which had been around Jesus' head, not lying with the strips of linen cloth but rolled up in a place by itself.\n\t\t\t Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, came in, and he saw and believed.\n\t\t\t (For they did not yet understand the scripture that Jesus must rise from the dead.)\n\t\t\t So the disciples went back to their homes.\n\t\t\t But Mary stood outside the tomb weeping. As she wept, she bent down and looked into the tomb.\n\t\t\t And she saw two angels in white sitting where Jesus' body had been lying, one at the head and one at the feet.\n\t\t\t They said to her, \"Woman, why are you weeping?\" Mary replied, \"They have taken my Lord away, and I do not know where they have put him!\" \n\t\t\t When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus.\n\t\t\t Jesus said to her, \"Woman, why are you weeping? Who are you looking for?\" Because she thought he was the gardener, she said to him, \"Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will take him.\"\n\t\t\t Jesus said to her, \"Mary.\" She turned and said to him in Aramaic, \"Rabboni\" (which means Teacher).\n\t\t\t Jesus replied, \"Do not touch me, for I have not yet ascended to my Father. Go to my brothers and tell them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'\" \n\t\t\t Mary Magdalene came and informed the disciples, \"I have seen the Lord!\" And she told them what Jesus had said to her.\n\t\t\t On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the disciples had gathered together and locked the doors of the place because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, \"Peace be with you.\" \n\t\t\t When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.\n\t\t\t So Jesus said to them again, \"Peace be with you. Just as the Father has sent me, I also send you.\"\n\t\t\t And after he said this, he breathed on them and said, \"Receive the Holy Spirit.\n\t\t\t If you forgive anyone's sins, they are forgiven; if you retain anyone's sins, they are retained.\"\n\t\t\t Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. \n\t\t\t The other disciples told him, \"We have seen the Lord!\" But he replied, \"Unless I see the wounds from the nails in his hands, and put my finger into the wounds from the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will never believe it!\"\n\t\t\t Eight days later the disciples were again together in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, \"Peace be with you!\" \n\t\t\t Then he said to Thomas, \"Put your finger here, and examine my hands. Extend your hand and put it into my side. Do not continue in your unbelief, but believe.\"\n\t\t\t Thomas replied to him, \"My Lord and my God!\"\n\t\t\t Jesus said to him, \"Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are the people who have not seen and yet have believed.\"\n\t\t\t Now Jesus performed many other miraculous signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not recorded in this book.\n\t\t\t But these are recorded so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias. Now this is how he did so.\n\t\t\t Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael (who was from Cana in Galilee), the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples of his were together. \n\t\t\t Simon Peter told them, \"I am going fishing.\" \"We will go with you,\" they replied. They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.\n\t\t\t When it was already very early morning, Jesus stood on the beach, but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.\n\t\t\t So Jesus said to them, \"Children, you don't have any fish, do you?\" They replied, \"No.\" \n\t\t\t He told them, \"Throw your net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.\" So they threw the net, and were not able to pull it in because of the large number of fish.\n\t\t\t Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, \"It is the Lord!\" So Simon Peter, when he heard that it was the Lord, tucked in his outer garment (for he had nothing on underneath it), and plunged into the sea. \n\t\t\t Meanwhile the other disciples came with the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from land, only about a hundred yards.\n\t\t\t When they got out on the beach, they saw a charcoal fire ready with a fish placed on it, and bread. \n\t\t\t Jesus said, \"Bring some of the fish you have just now caught.\" \n\t\t\t So Simon Peter went aboard and pulled the net to shore. It was full of large fish, one hundred fifty-three, but although there were so many, the net was not torn. \n\t\t\t \"Come, have breakfast,\" Jesus said. But none of the disciples dared to ask him, \"Who are you?\" because they knew it was the Lord. \n\t\t\t Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish.\n\t\t\t This was now the third time Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.\n\t\t\t Then when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, \"Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these do?\" He replied, \"Yes, Lord, you know I love you.\" Jesus told him, \"Feed my lambs.\" \n\t\t\t Jesus said a second time, \"Simon, son of John, do you love me?\" He replied, \"Yes, Lord, you know I love you.\" Jesus told him, \"Shepherd my sheep.\" \n\t\t\t Jesus said a third time, \"Simon, son of John, do you love me?\" Peter was distressed that Jesus asked him a third time, \"Do you love me?\" and said, \"Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.\" Jesus replied, \"Feed my sheep.\n\t\t\t I tell you the solemn truth, when you were young, you tied your clothes around you and went wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will tie you up and bring you where you do not want to go.\" \n\t\t\t (Now Jesus said this to indicate clearly by what kind of death Peter was going to glorify God.) After he said this, Jesus told Peter, \"Follow me.\"\n\t\t\t Peter turned around and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them. (This was the disciple who had leaned back against Jesus' chest at the meal and asked, \"Lord, who is the one who is going to betray you?\")\n\t\t\t So when Peter saw him, he asked Jesus, \"Lord, what about him?\" \n\t\t\t Jesus replied, \"If I want him to live until I come back, what concern is that of yours? You follow me!\" \n\t\t\t So the saying circulated among the brothers and sisters that this disciple was not going to die. But Jesus did not say to him that he was not going to die, but rather, \"If I want him to live until I come back, what concern is that of yours?\"\n\t\t\t This is the disciple who testifies about these things and has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true.\n\t\t\t There are many other things that Jesus did. If every one of them were written down, I suppose the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t I wrote the former account, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach \n\t\t\t until the day he was taken up to heaven, after he had given orders by the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. \n\t\t\t To the same apostles also, after his suffering, he presented himself alive with many convincing proofs. He was seen by them over a forty-day period and spoke about matters concerning the kingdom of God. \n\t\t\t While he was with them, he declared, \"Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait there for what my Father promised, which you heard about from me.\n\t\t\t For John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.\"\n\t\t\t So when they had gathered together, they began to ask him, \"Lord, is this the time when you are restoring the kingdom to Israel?\" \n\t\t\t He told them, \"You are not permitted to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. \n\t\t\t But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the farthest parts of the earth.\" \n\t\t\t After he had said this, while they were watching, he was lifted up and a cloud hid him from their sight. \n\t\t\t As they were still staring into the sky while he was going, suddenly two men in white clothing stood near them \n\t\t\t and said, \"Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking up into the sky? This same Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will come back in the same way you saw him go into heaven.\"\n\t\t\t Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mountain called the Mount of Olives (which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey away). \n\t\t\t When they had entered Jerusalem, they went to the upstairs room where they were staying. Peter and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James were there.\n\t\t\t All these continued together in prayer with one mind, together with the women, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.\n\t\t\t In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a gathering of about one hundred and twenty people) and said, \n\t\t\t \"Brothers, the scripture had to be fulfilled that the Holy Spirit foretold through David concerning Judas, who became the guide for those who arrested Jesus,\n\t\t\t for he was counted as one of us and received a share in this ministry.\"\n\t\t\t (Now this man Judas acquired a field with the reward of his unjust deed, and falling headfirst he burst open in the middle and all his intestines gushed out.\n\t\t\t This became known to all who lived in Jerusalem, so that in their own language they called that field Hakeldama, that is, \"Field of Blood.\") \n\t\t\t \"For it is written in the book of Psalms, 'Let his house become deserted, and let there be no one to live in it,' and 'Let another take his position of responsibility.'\n\t\t\t Thus one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time the Lord Jesus associated with us, \n\t\t\t beginning from his baptism by John until the day he was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness of his resurrection together with us.\"\n\t\t\t So they proposed two candidates: Joseph called Barsabbas (also called Justus) and Matthias. \n\t\t\t Then they prayed, \"Lord, you know the hearts of all. Show us which one of these two you have chosen \n\t\t\t to assume the task of this service and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.\"\n\t\t\t Then they cast lots for them, and the one chosen was Matthias; so he was counted with the eleven apostles.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. \n\t\t\t Suddenly a sound like a violent wind blowing came from heaven and filled the entire house where they were sitting. \n\t\t\t And tongues spreading out like a fire appeared to them and came to rest on each one of them. \n\t\t\t All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit, and they began to speak in other languages as the Spirit enabled them.\n\t\t\t Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven residing in Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t When this sound occurred, a crowd gathered and was in confusion, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. \n\t\t\t Completely baffled, they said, \"Aren't all these who are speaking Galileans? \n\t\t\t And how is it that each one of us hears them in our own native language?\n\t\t\t Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and the province of Asia,\n\t\t\t Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene, and visitors from Rome,\n\t\t\t both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs, we hear them speaking in our own languages about the great deeds God has done!\"\n\t\t\t All were astounded and greatly confused, saying to one another, \"What does this mean?\"\n\t\t\t But others jeered at the speakers, saying, \"They are drunk on new wine!\"\n\t\t\t But Peter stood up with the eleven, raised his voice, and addressed them: \"You men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem, know this and listen carefully to what I say. \n\t\t\t In spite of what you think, these men are not drunk, for it is only nine o'clock in the morning.\n\t\t\t But this is what was spoken about through the prophet Joel:\n\t\t\t 'And in the last days it will be,' God says, 'that I will pour out my Spirit on all people, and your sons and your daughters will prophesy, and your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams.\n\t\t\t Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.\n\t\t\t And I will perform wonders in the sky above and miraculous signs on the earth below, blood and fire and clouds of smoke.\n\t\t\t The sun will be changed to darkness and the moon to blood before the great and glorious day of the Lord comes.\n\t\t\t And then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'\n\t\t\t \"Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man clearly attested to you by God with powerful deeds, wonders, and miraculous signs that God performed among you through him, just as you yourselves know,\n\t\t\t this man, who was handed over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you executed by nailing him to a cross at the hands of Gentiles.\n\t\t\t But God raised him up, having released him from the pains of death, because it was not possible for him to be held in its power.\n\t\t\t For David says about him, 'I saw the Lord always in front of me, for he is at my right hand so that I will not be shaken.\n\t\t\t Therefore my heart was glad and my tongue rejoiced; my body also will live in hope,\n\t\t\t because you will not leave my soul in Hades, nor permit your Holy One to experience decay.\n\t\t\t You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of joy with your presence.'\n\t\t\t \"Brothers, I can speak confidently to you about our forefather David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. \n\t\t\t So then, because he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn to him with an oath to seat one of his descendants on his throne,\n\t\t\t David by foreseeing this spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was neither abandoned to Hades, nor did his body experience decay.\n\t\t\t This Jesus God raised up, and we are all witnesses of it.\n\t\t\t So then, exalted to the right hand of God, and having received the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father, he has poured out what you both see and hear. \n\t\t\t For David did not ascend into heaven, but he himself says, 'The Lord said to my lord, \"Sit at my right hand\n\t\t\t until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.\"'\n\t\t\t Therefore let all the house of Israel know beyond a doubt that God has made this Jesus whom you crucified both Lord and Christ.\"\n\t\t\t Now when they heard this, they were acutely distressed and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, \"What should we do, brothers?\" \n\t\t\t Peter said to them, \"Repent, and each one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.\n\t\t\t For the promise is for you and your children, and for all who are far away, as many as the Lord our God will call to himself.\" \n\t\t\t With many other words he testified and exhorted them saying, \"Save yourselves from this perverse generation!\" \n\t\t\t So those who accepted his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand people were added.\n\t\t\t They were devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.\n\t\t\t Reverential awe came over everyone, and many wonders and miraculous signs came about by the apostles. \n\t\t\t All who believed were together and held everything in common, \n\t\t\t and they began selling their property and possessions and distributing the proceeds to everyone, as anyone had need. \n\t\t\t Every day they continued to gather together by common consent in the temple courts, breaking bread from house to house, sharing their food with glad and humble hearts,\n\t\t\t praising God and having the good will of all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number every day those who were being saved.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time for prayer, at three o'clock in the afternoon.\n\t\t\t And a man lame from birth was being carried up, who was placed at the temple gate called \"the Beautiful Gate\" every day so he could beg for money from those going into the temple courts.\n\t\t\t When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple courts, he asked them for money.\n\t\t\t Peter looked directly at him (as did John) and said, \"Look at us!\" \n\t\t\t So the lame man paid attention to them, expecting to receive something from them. \n\t\t\t But Peter said, \"I have no silver or gold, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, stand up and walk!\" \n\t\t\t Then Peter took hold of him by the right hand and raised him up, and at once the man's feet and ankles were made strong.\n\t\t\t He jumped up, stood and began walking around, and he entered the temple courts with them, walking and leaping and praising God. \n\t\t\t All the people saw him walking and praising God, \n\t\t\t and they recognized him as the man who used to sit and ask for donations at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, and they were filled with astonishment and amazement at what had happened to him.\n\t\t\t While the man was hanging on to Peter and John, all the people, completely astounded, ran together to them in the covered walkway called Solomon's Portico.\n\t\t\t When Peter saw this, he declared to the people, \"Men of Israel, why are you amazed at this? Why do you stare at us as if we had made this man walk by our own power or piety? \n\t\t\t The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our forefathers, has glorified his servant Jesus, whom you handed over and rejected in the presence of Pilate after he had decided to release him. \n\t\t\t But you rejected the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a man who was a murderer be released to you. \n\t\t\t You killed the Originator of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this fact we are witnesses!\n\t\t\t And on the basis of faith in Jesus' name, his very name has made this man, whom you see and know, strong. The faith that is through Jesus has given him this complete health in the presence of you all.\n\t\t\t And now, brothers, I know you acted in ignorance, as your rulers did too. \n\t\t\t But the things God foretold long ago through all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he has fulfilled in this way.\n\t\t\t Therefore repent and turn back so that your sins may be wiped out,\n\t\t\t so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and so that he may send the Messiah appointed for you, that is, Jesus.\n\t\t\t This one heaven must receive until the time all things are restored, which God declared from times long ago through his holy prophets. \n\t\t\t Moses said, 'The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your brothers. You must obey him in everything he tells you.\n\t\t\t Every person who does not obey that prophet will be destroyed and thus removed from the people.'\n\t\t\t And all the prophets, from Samuel and those who followed him, have spoken about and announced these days. \n\t\t\t You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your ancestors, saying to Abraham, 'And in your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed.'\n\t\t\t God raised up his servant and sent him first to you, to bless you by turning each one of you from your iniquities.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t While Peter and John were speaking to the people, the priests and the commander of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them, \n\t\t\t angry because they were teaching the people and announcing in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. \n\t\t\t So they seized them and put them in jail until the next day (for it was already evening). \n\t\t\t But many of those who had listened to the message believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.\n\t\t\t On the next day, their rulers, elders, and experts in the law came together in Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t Annas the high priest was there, and Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and others who were members of the high priest's family.\n\t\t\t After making Peter and John stand in their midst, they began to inquire, \"By what power or by what name did you do this?\" \n\t\t\t Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, replied, \"Rulers of the people and elders,\n\t\t\t if we are being examined today for a good deed done to a sick man, by what means this man was healed,\n\t\t\t let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, this man stands before you healthy. \n\t\t\t This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, that has become the cornerstone.\n\t\t\t And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among people by which we must be saved.\"\n\t\t\t When they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and discovered that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they were amazed and recognized these men had been with Jesus. \n\t\t\t And because they saw the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say against this.\n\t\t\t But when they had ordered them to go outside the council, they began to confer with one another, \n\t\t\t saying, \"What should we do with these men? For it is plain to all who live in Jerusalem that a notable miraculous sign has come about through them, and we cannot deny it. \n\t\t\t But to keep this matter from spreading any further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.\" \n\t\t\t And they called them in and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. \n\t\t\t But Peter and John replied, \"Whether it is right before God to obey you rather than God, you decide, \n\t\t\t for it is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard.\" \n\t\t\t After threatening them further, they released them, for they could not find how to punish them on account of the people, because they were all praising God for what had happened. \n\t\t\t For the man, on whom this miraculous sign of healing had been performed, was over forty years old.\n\t\t\t When they were released, Peter and John went to their fellow believers and reported everything the high priests and the elders had said to them. \n\t\t\t When they heard this, they raised their voices to God with one mind and said, \"Master of all, you who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and everything that is in them, \n\t\t\t who said by the Holy Spirit through your servant David our forefather, 'Why do the nations rage, and the peoples plot foolish things?\n\t\t\t The kings of the earth stood together, and the rulers assembled together, against the Lord and against his Christ.'\n\t\t\t \"For indeed both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, assembled together in this city against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed,\n\t\t\t to do as much as your power and your plan had decided beforehand would happen. \n\t\t\t And now, Lord, pay attention to their threats, and grant to your servants to speak your message with great courage,\n\t\t\t while you extend your hand to heal, and to bring about miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.\" \n\t\t\t When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God courageously.\n\t\t\t The group of those who believed were of one heart and mind, and no one said that any of his possessions was his own, but everything was held in common.\n\t\t\t With great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was on them all. \n\t\t\t For there was no one needy among them, because those who were owners of land or houses were selling them and bringing the proceeds from the sales \n\t\t\t and placing them at the apostles' feet. The proceeds were distributed to each, as anyone had need. \n\t\t\t So Joseph, a Levite who was a native of Cyprus, called by the apostles Barnabas (which is translated \"son of encouragement\"),\n\t\t\t sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and placed it at the apostles' feet.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now a man named Ananias, together with Sapphira his wife, sold a piece of property.\n\t\t\t He kept back for himself part of the proceeds with his wife's knowledge; he brought only part of it and placed it at the apostles' feet. \n\t\t\t But Peter said, \"Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back for yourself part of the proceeds from the sale of the land? \n\t\t\t Before it was sold, did it not belong to you? And when it was sold, was the money not at your disposal? How have you thought up this deed in your heart? You have not lied to people but to God!\"\n\t\t\t When Ananias heard these words he collapsed and died, and great fear gripped all who heard about it. \n\t\t\t So the young men came, wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him. \n\t\t\t After an interval of about three hours, his wife came in, but she did not know what had happened.\n\t\t\t Peter said to her, \"Tell me, were the two of you paid this amount for the land?\" Sapphira said, \"Yes, that much.\" \n\t\t\t Peter then told her, \"Why have you agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look! The feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out!\"\n\t\t\t At once she collapsed at his feet and died. So when the young men came in, they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. \n\t\t\t Great fear gripped the whole church and all who heard about these things.\n\t\t\t Now many miraculous signs and wonders came about among the people through the hands of the apostles. By common consent they were all meeting together in Solomon's Portico.\n\t\t\t None of the rest dared to join them, but the people held them in high honor.\n\t\t\t More and more believers in the Lord were added to their number, crowds of both men and women. \n\t\t\t Thus they even carried the sick out into the streets, and put them on cots and pallets, so that when Peter came by at least his shadow would fall on some of them. \n\t\t\t A crowd of people from the towns around Jerusalem also came together, bringing the sick and those troubled by unclean spirits. They were all being healed.\n\t\t\t Now the high priest rose up, and all those with him (that is, the religious party of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy.\n\t\t\t They laid hands on the apostles and put them in a public jail. \n\t\t\t But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison, led them out, and said,\n\t\t\t \"Go and stand in the temple courts and proclaim to the people all the words of this life.\" \n\t\t\t When they heard this, they entered the temple courts at daybreak and began teaching. Now when the high priest and those who were with him arrived, they summoned the Sanhedrin, that is, the whole high council of the Israelites, and sent to the jail to have the apostles brought before them.\n\t\t\t But the officers who came for them did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported,\n\t\t\t \"We found the jail locked securely and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside.\" \n\t\t\t Now when the commander of the temple guard and the chief priests heard this report, they were greatly puzzled concerning it, wondering what this could be. \n\t\t\t But someone came and reported to them, \"Look! The men you put in prison are standing in the temple courts and teaching the people!\" \n\t\t\t Then the commander of the temple guard went with the officers and brought the apostles without the use of force (for they were afraid of being stoned by the people).\n\t\t\t When they had brought them, they stood them before the council, and the high priest questioned them, \n\t\t\t saying, \"We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name. Look, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man's blood on us!\"\n\t\t\t But Peter and the apostles replied, \"We must obey God rather than people.\n\t\t\t The God of our forefathers raised up Jesus, whom you seized and killed by hanging him on a tree.\n\t\t\t God exalted him to his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.\n\t\t\t And we are witnesses of these events, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.\"\n\t\t\t Now when they heard this, they became furious and wanted to execute them.\n\t\t\t But a Pharisee whose name was Gamaliel, a teacher of the law who was respected by all the people, stood up in the council and ordered the men to be put outside for a short time. \n\t\t\t Then he said to the council, \"Men of Israel, pay close attention to what you are about to do to these men. \n\t\t\t For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and nothing came of it.\n\t\t\t After him Judas the Galilean arose in the days of the census, and incited people to follow him in revolt. He too was killed, and all who followed him were scattered. \n\t\t\t So in this case I say to you, stay away from these men and leave them alone, because if this plan or this undertaking originates with people, it will come to nothing,\n\t\t\t but if it is from God, you will not be able to stop them, or you may even be found fighting against God.\" He convinced them,\n\t\t\t and they summoned the apostles and had them beaten. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus and released them. \n\t\t\t So they left the council rejoicing because they had been considered worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name.\n\t\t\t And every day both in the temple courts and from house to house, they did not stop teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus was the Christ.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now in those days, when the disciples were growing in number, a complaint arose on the part of the Greek-speaking Jews against the native Hebraic Jews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.\n\t\t\t So the twelve called the whole group of the disciples together and said, \"It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to wait on tables.\n\t\t\t But carefully select from among you, brothers, seven men who are well-attested, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this necessary task.\n\t\t\t But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.\"\n\t\t\t The proposal pleased the entire group, so they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a Gentile convert to Judaism from Antioch.\n\t\t\t They stood these men before the apostles, who prayed and placed their hands on them. \n\t\t\t The word of God continued to spread, the number of disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly, and a large group of priests became obedient to the faith.\n\t\t\t Now Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and miraculous signs among the people. \n\t\t\t But some men from the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, as well as some from Cilicia and the province of Asia, stood up and argued with Stephen. \n\t\t\t Yet they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke. \n\t\t\t Then they secretly instigated some men to say, \"We have heard this man speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God.\" \n\t\t\t They incited the people, the elders, and the experts in the law; then they approached Stephen, seized him, and brought him before the council.\n\t\t\t They brought forward false witnesses who said, \"This man does not stop saying things against this holy place and the law.\n\t\t\t For we have heard him saying that Jesus the Nazarene will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses handed down to us.\" \n\t\t\t All who were sitting in the council looked intently at Stephen and saw his face was like the face of an angel.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then the high priest said, \"Are these things true?\"\n\t\t\t So he replied, \"Brothers and fathers, listen to me. The God of glory appeared to our forefather Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he settled in Haran, \n\t\t\t and said to him, 'Go out from your country and from your relatives, and come to the land I will show you.'\n\t\t\t Then he went out from the country of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. After his father died, God made him move to this country where you now live. \n\t\t\t He did not give any of it to him for an inheritance, not even a foot of ground, yet God promised to give it to him as his possession, and to his descendants after him, even though Abraham as yet had no child.\n\t\t\t But God spoke as follows: 'Your descendants will be foreigners in a foreign country, whose citizens will enslave them and mistreat them for four hundred years.\n\t\t\t But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves,' said God, 'and after these things they will come out of there and worship me in this place.'\n\t\t\t Then God gave Abraham the covenant of circumcision, and so he became the father of Isaac and circumcised him when he was eight days old, and Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob of the twelve patriarchs.\n\t\t\t The patriarchs, because they were jealous of Joseph, sold him into Egypt. But God was with him, \n\t\t\t and rescued him from all his troubles, and granted him favor and wisdom in the presence of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who made him ruler over Egypt and over all his household. \n\t\t\t Then a famine occurred throughout Egypt and Canaan, causing great suffering, and our ancestors could not find food. \n\t\t\t So when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent our ancestors there the first time. \n\t\t\t On their second visit Joseph made himself known to his brothers again, and Joseph's family became known to Pharaoh. \n\t\t\t So Joseph sent a message and invited his father Jacob and all his relatives to come, seventy-five people in all.\n\t\t\t So Jacob went down to Egypt and died there, along with our ancestors,\n\t\t\t and their bones were later moved to Shechem and placed in the tomb that Abraham had bought for a certain sum of money from the sons of Hamor in Shechem.\n\t\t\t \"But as the time drew near for God to fulfill the promise he had declared to Abraham, the people increased greatly in number in Egypt, \n\t\t\t until another king who did not know about Joseph ruled over Egypt.\n\t\t\t This was the one who exploited our people and was cruel to our ancestors, forcing them to abandon their infants so they would die.\n\t\t\t At that time Moses was born, and he was beautiful to God. For three months he was brought up in his father's house, \n\t\t\t and when he had been abandoned, Pharaoh's daughter adopted him and brought him up as her own son. \n\t\t\t So Moses was trained in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in his words and deeds.\n\t\t\t But when he was about forty years old, it entered his mind to visit his fellow countrymen the Israelites.\n\t\t\t When he saw one of them being hurt unfairly, Moses came to his defense and avenged the person who was mistreated by striking down the Egyptian. \n\t\t\t He thought his own people would understand that God was delivering them through him, but they did not understand.\n\t\t\t The next day Moses saw two men fighting, and tried to make peace between them, saying, 'Men, you are brothers; why are you hurting one another?' \n\t\t\t But the man who was unfairly hurting his neighbor pushed Moses aside, saying, 'Who made you a ruler and judge over us? \n\t\t\t You don't want to kill me the way you killed the Egyptian yesterday, do you?'\n\t\t\t When the man said this, Moses fled and became a foreigner in the land of Midian, where he became the father of two sons.\n\t\t\t \"After forty years had passed, an angel appeared to him in the desert of Mount Sinai, in the flame of a burning bush.\n\t\t\t When Moses saw it, he was amazed at the sight, and when he approached to investigate, there came the voice of the Lord,\n\t\t\t 'I am the God of your forefathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.' Moses began to tremble and did not dare to look more closely.\n\t\t\t But the Lord said to him, 'Take the sandals off your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.\n\t\t\t I have certainly seen the suffering of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their groaning, and I have come down to rescue them. Now come, I will send you to Egypt.'\n\t\t\t This same Moses they had rejected, saying, 'Who made you a ruler and judge?' God sent as both ruler and deliverer through the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush. \n\t\t\t This man led them out, performing wonders and miraculous signs in the land of Egypt, at the Red Sea, and in the wilderness for forty years. \n\t\t\t This is the Moses who said to the Israelites, 'God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your brothers.'\n\t\t\t This is the man who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him at Mount Sinai, and with our ancestors, and he received living oracles to give to you.\n\t\t\t Our ancestors were unwilling to obey him, but pushed him aside and turned back to Egypt in their hearts, \n\t\t\t saying to Aaron, 'Make us gods who will go in front of us, for this Moses, who led us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has happened to him!'\n\t\t\t At that time they made an idol in the form of a calf, brought a sacrifice to the idol, and began rejoicing in the works of their hands.\n\t\t\t But God turned away from them and gave them over to worship the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets: 'It was not to me that you offered slain animals and sacrifices forty years in the wilderness, was it, house of Israel?\n\t\t\t But you took along the tabernacle of Moloch and the star of the god Rephan, the images you made to worship, but I will deport you beyond Babylon.'\n\t\t\t Our ancestors had the tabernacle of testimony in the wilderness, just as God who spoke to Moses ordered him to make it according to the design he had seen. \n\t\t\t Our ancestors received possession of it and brought it in with Joshua when they dispossessed the nations that God drove out before our ancestors, until the time of David. \n\t\t\t He found favor with God and asked that he could find a dwelling place for the house of Jacob. \n\t\t\t But Solomon built a house for him. \n\t\t\t Yet the Most High does not live in houses made by human hands, as the prophet says,\n\t\t\t 'Heaven is my throne, and earth is the footstool for my feet. What kind of house will you build for me, says the Lord, or what is my resting place?\n\t\t\t Did my hand not make all these things?'\n\t\t\t \"You stubborn people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are always resisting the Holy Spirit, like your ancestors did! \n\t\t\t Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute? They killed those who foretold long ago the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become!\n\t\t\t You received the law by decrees given by angels, but you did not obey it.\"\n\t\t\t When they heard these things, they became furious and ground their teeth at him. \n\t\t\t But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked intently toward heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. \n\t\t\t \"Look!\" he said. \"I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!\" \n\t\t\t But they covered their ears, shouting out with a loud voice, and rushed at him with one intent. \n\t\t\t When they had driven him out of the city, they began to stone him, and the witnesses laid their cloaks at the feet of a young man named Saul. \n\t\t\t They continued to stone Stephen while he prayed, \"Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!\" \n\t\t\t Then he fell to his knees and cried out with a loud voice, \"Lord, do not hold this sin against them!\" When he had said this, he died.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t And Saul agreed completely with killing him. Now on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were forced to scatter throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria. \n\t\t\t Some devout men buried Stephen and made loud lamentation over him.\n\t\t\t But Saul was trying to destroy the church; entering one house after another, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.\n\t\t\t Now those who had been forced to scatter went around proclaiming the good news of the word.\n\t\t\t Philip went down to the main city of Samaria and began proclaiming the Christ to them. \n\t\t\t The crowds were paying attention with one mind to what Philip said, as they heard and saw the miraculous signs he was performing. \n\t\t\t For unclean spirits, crying with loud shrieks, were coming out of many who were possessed, and many paralyzed and lame people were healed. \n\t\t\t So there was great joy in that city.\n\t\t\t Now in that city was a man named Simon, who had been practicing magic and amazing the people of Samaria, claiming to be someone great. \n\t\t\t All the people, from the least to the greatest, paid close attention to him, saying, \"This man is the power of God that is called 'Great.'\"\n\t\t\t And they paid close attention to him because he had amazed them for a long time with his magic.\n\t\t\t But when they believed Philip as he was proclaiming the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they began to be baptized, both men and women. \n\t\t\t Even Simon himself believed, and after he was baptized, he stayed close to Philip constantly, and when he saw the signs and great miracles that were occurring, he was amazed.\n\t\t\t Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. \n\t\t\t These two went down and prayed for them so that they would receive the Holy Spirit. \n\t\t\t (For the Spirit had not yet come upon any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)\n\t\t\t Then Peter and John placed their hands on the Samaritans, and they received the Holy Spirit.\n\t\t\t Now Simon, when he saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, offered them money,\n\t\t\t saying, \"Give me this power too, so that everyone I place my hands on may receive the Holy Spirit.\" \n\t\t\t But Peter said to him, \"May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could acquire God's gift with money! \n\t\t\t You have no share or part in this matter because your heart is not right before God! \n\t\t\t Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that he may perhaps forgive you for the intent of your heart.\n\t\t\t For I see that you are bitterly envious and in bondage to sin.\" \n\t\t\t But Simon replied, \"You pray to the Lord for me so that nothing of what you have said may happen to me.\"\n\t\t\t So after Peter and John had solemnly testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they started back to Jerusalem, proclaiming the good news to many Samaritan villages as they went.\n\t\t\t Then an angel of the Lord said to Philip, \"Get up and go south on the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.\" (This is a desert road.)\n\t\t\t So he got up and went. There he met an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasury. He had come to Jerusalem to worship,\n\t\t\t and was returning home, sitting in his chariot, reading the prophet Isaiah. \n\t\t\t Then the Spirit said to Philip, \"Go over and join this chariot.\"\n\t\t\t So Philip ran up to it and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. He asked him, \"Do you understand what you're reading?\" \n\t\t\t The man replied, \"How in the world can I, unless someone guides me?\" So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. \n\t\t\t Now the passage of scripture the man was reading was this: \"He was led like a sheep to slaughter, and like a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth.\n\t\t\t In humiliation justice was taken from him. Who can describe his posterity? For his life was taken away from the earth.\"\n\t\t\t Then the eunuch said to Philip, \"Please tell me, who is the prophet saying this about, himself or someone else?\"\n\t\t\t So Philip started speaking, and beginning with this scripture proclaimed the good news about Jesus to him. \n\t\t\t Now as they were going along the road, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, \"Look, there is water! What is to stop me from being baptized?\"\n\t\t\t \n\t\t\t So he ordered the chariot to stop, and both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. \n\t\t\t Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him any more, but went on his way rejoicing.\n\t\t\t Philip, however, found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through the area, he proclaimed the good news to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Meanwhile Saul, still breathing out threats to murder the Lord's disciples, went to the high priest \n\t\t\t and requested letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, either men or women, he could bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t As he was going along, approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. \n\t\t\t He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, \"Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?\"\n\t\t\t So he said, \"Who are you, Lord?\" He replied, \"I am Jesus whom you are persecuting!\n\t\t\t But stand up and enter the city and you will be told what you must do.\" \n\t\t\t (Now the men who were traveling with him stood there speechless, because they heard the voice but saw no one.)\n\t\t\t So Saul got up from the ground, but although his eyes were open, he could see nothing. Leading him by the hand, his companions brought him into Damascus. \n\t\t\t For three days he could not see, and he neither ate nor drank anything.\n\t\t\t Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, \"Ananias,\" and he replied, \"Here I am, Lord.\" \n\t\t\t Then the Lord told him, \"Get up and go to the street called 'Straight,' and at Judas' house look for a man from Tarsus named Saul. For he is praying, \n\t\t\t and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and place his hands on him so that he may see again.\" \n\t\t\t But Ananias replied, \"Lord, I have heard from many people about this man, how much harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem, \n\t\t\t and here he has authority from the chief priests to imprison all who call on your name!\"\n\t\t\t But the Lord said to him, \"Go, because this man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel.\n\t\t\t For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.\"\n\t\t\t So Ananias departed and entered the house, placed his hands on Saul and said, \"Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came here, has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.\"\n\t\t\t Immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized,\n\t\t\t and after taking some food, his strength returned. For several days he was with the disciples in Damascus, \n\t\t\t and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, \"This man is the Son of God.\"\n\t\t\t All who heard him were amazed and were saying, \"Is this not the man who in Jerusalem was ravaging those who call on this name, and who had come here to bring them as prisoners to the chief priests?\" \n\t\t\t But Saul became more and more capable, and was causing consternation among the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ.\n\t\t\t Now after some days had passed, the Jews plotted together to kill him, \n\t\t\t but Saul learned of their plot against him. They were also watching the city gates day and night so that they could kill him. \n\t\t\t But his disciples took him at night and let him down through an opening in the wall by lowering him in a basket.\n\t\t\t When he arrived in Jerusalem, he attempted to associate with the disciples, and they were all afraid of him, because they did not believe that he was a disciple. \n\t\t\t But Barnabas took Saul, brought him to the apostles, and related to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken out boldly in the name of Jesus. \n\t\t\t So he was staying with them, associating openly with them in Jerusalem, speaking out boldly in the name of the Lord. \n\t\t\t He was speaking and debating with the Greek-speaking Jews, but they were trying to kill him. \n\t\t\t When the brothers found out about this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus.\n\t\t\t Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria experienced peace and thus was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and in the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, the church increased in numbers.\n\t\t\t Now as Peter was traveling around from place to place, he also came down to the saints who lived in Lydda.\n\t\t\t He found there a man named Aeneas who had been confined to a mattress for eight years because he was paralyzed. \n\t\t\t Peter said to him, \"Aeneas, Jesus the Christ heals you. Get up and make your own bed!\" And immediately he got up. \n\t\t\t All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.\n\t\t\t Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which in translation means Dorcas). She was continually doing good deeds and acts of charity.\n\t\t\t At that time she became sick and died. When they had washed her body, they placed it in an upstairs room. \n\t\t\t Because Lydda was near Joppa, when the disciples heard that Peter was there, they sent two men to him and urged him, \"Come to us without delay.\"\n\t\t\t So Peter got up and went with them, and when he arrived they brought him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him, crying and showing him the tunics and other clothing Dorcas used to make while she was with them. \n\t\t\t But Peter sent them all outside, knelt down, and prayed. Turning to the body, he said, \"Tabitha, get up.\" Then she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up.\n\t\t\t He gave her his hand and helped her get up. Then he called the saints and widows and presented her alive. \n\t\t\t This became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.\n\t\t\t So Peter stayed many days in Joppa with a man named Simon, a tanner.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now there was a man in Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort.\n\t\t\t He was a devout, God-fearing man, as was all his household; he did many acts of charity for the people and prayed to God regularly. \n\t\t\t About three o'clock one afternoon he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God who came in and said to him, \"Cornelius.\" \n\t\t\t Staring at him and becoming greatly afraid, Cornelius replied, \"What is it, Lord?\" The angel said to him, \"Your prayers and your acts of charity have gone up as a memorial before God. \n\t\t\t Now send men to Joppa and summon a man named Simon, who is called Peter.\n\t\t\t This man is staying as a guest with a man named Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.\" \n\t\t\t When the angel who had spoken to him departed, Cornelius called two of his personal servants and a devout soldier from among those who served him,\n\t\t\t and when he had explained everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.\n\t\t\t About noon the next day, while they were on their way and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. \n\t\t\t He became hungry and wanted to eat, but while they were preparing the meal, a trance came over him.\n\t\t\t He saw heaven opened and an object something like a large sheet descending, being let down to earth by its four corners. \n\t\t\t In it were all kinds of four-footed animals and reptiles of the earth and wild birds.\n\t\t\t Then a voice said to him, \"Get up, Peter; slaughter and eat!\" \n\t\t\t But Peter said, \"Certainly not, Lord, for I have never eaten anything defiled and ritually unclean!\"\n\t\t\t The voice spoke to him again, a second time, \"What God has made clean, you must not consider ritually unclean!\"\n\t\t\t This happened three times, and immediately the object was taken up into heaven.\n\t\t\t Now while Peter was puzzling over what the vision he had seen could signify, the men sent by Cornelius had learned where Simon's house was and approached the gate. \n\t\t\t They called out to ask if Simon, known as Peter, was staying there as a guest. \n\t\t\t While Peter was still thinking seriously about the vision, the Spirit said to him, \"Look! Three men are looking for you. \n\t\t\t But get up, go down, and accompany them without hesitation, because I have sent them.\"\n\t\t\t So Peter went down to the men and said, \"Here I am, the person you're looking for. Why have you come?\" \n\t\t\t They said, \"Cornelius the centurion, a righteous and God-fearing man, well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to summon you to his house and to hear a message from you.\" \n\t\t\t So Peter invited them in and entertained them as guests. On the next day he got up and set out with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him. \n\t\t\t The following day he entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting anxiously for them and had called together his relatives and close friends. \n\t\t\t So when Peter came in, Cornelius met him, fell at his feet, and worshiped him. \n\t\t\t But Peter helped him up, saying, \"Stand up. I too am a mere mortal.\"\n\t\t\t Peter continued talking with him as he went in, and he found many people gathered together.\n\t\t\t He said to them, \"You know that it is unlawful for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile, yet God has shown me that I should call no person defiled or ritually unclean.\n\t\t\t Therefore when you sent for me, I came without any objection. Now may I ask why you sent for me?\" \n\t\t\t Cornelius replied, \"Four days ago at this very hour, at three o'clock in the afternoon, I was praying in my house, and suddenly a man in shining clothing stood before me \n\t\t\t and said, 'Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your acts of charity have been remembered before God.\n\t\t\t Therefore send to Joppa and summon Simon, who is called Peter. This man is staying as a guest in the house of Simon the tanner, by the sea.' \n\t\t\t Therefore I sent for you at once, and you were kind enough to come. So now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to say to us.\"\n\t\t\t Then Peter started speaking: \"I now truly understand that God does not show favoritism in dealing with people,\n\t\t\t but in every nation the person who fears him and does what is right is welcomed before him. \n\t\t\t You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, proclaiming the good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all),\n\t\t\t you know what happened throughout Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John announced:\n\t\t\t with respect to Jesus from Nazareth, that God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, because God was with him.\n\t\t\t We are witnesses of all the things he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree,\n\t\t\t but God raised him up on the third day and caused him to be seen,\n\t\t\t not by all the people, but by us, the witnesses God had already chosen, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. \n\t\t\t He commanded us to preach to the people and to warn them that he is the one appointed by God as judge of the living and the dead. \n\t\t\t About him all the prophets testify, that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.\"\n\t\t\t While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all those who heard the message.\n\t\t\t The circumcised believers who had accompanied Peter were greatly astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles, \n\t\t\t for they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, \n\t\t\t \"No one can withhold the water for these people to be baptized, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?\"\n\t\t\t So he gave orders to have them baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay for several days.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now the apostles and the brothers who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles too had accepted the word of God.\n\t\t\t So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers took issue with him, \n\t\t\t saying, \"You went to uncircumcised men and shared a meal with them.\" \n\t\t\t But Peter began and explained it to them point by point, saying,\n\t\t\t \"I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision, an object something like a large sheet descending, being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came to me. \n\t\t\t As I stared I looked into it and saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild animals, reptiles, and wild birds.\n\t\t\t I also heard a voice saying to me, 'Get up, Peter; slaughter and eat!' \n\t\t\t But I said, 'Certainly not, Lord, for nothing defiled or ritually unclean has ever entered my mouth!' \n\t\t\t But the voice replied a second time from heaven, 'What God has made clean, you must not consider ritually unclean!' \n\t\t\t This happened three times, and then everything was pulled up to heaven again.\n\t\t\t At that very moment, three men sent to me from Caesarea approached the house where we were staying.\n\t\t\t The Spirit told me to accompany them without hesitation. These six brothers also went with me, and we entered the man's house. \n\t\t\t He informed us how he had seen an angel standing in his house and saying, 'Send to Joppa and summon Simon, who is called Peter,\n\t\t\t who will speak a message to you by which you and your entire household will be saved.' \n\t\t\t Then as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as he did on us at the beginning.\n\t\t\t And I remembered the word of the Lord, as he used to say, 'John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.'\n\t\t\t Therefore if God gave them the same gift as he also gave us after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to hinder God?\" \n\t\t\t When they heard this, they ceased their objections and praised God, saying, \"So then, God has granted the repentance that leads to life even to the Gentiles.\"\n\t\t\t Now those who had been scattered because of the persecution that took place over Stephen went as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the message to no one but Jews. \n\t\t\t But there were some men from Cyprus and Cyrene among them who came to Antioch and began to speak to the Greeks too, proclaiming the good news of the Lord Jesus. \n\t\t\t The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord. \n\t\t\t A report about them came to the attention of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch.\n\t\t\t When he came and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with devoted hearts,\n\t\t\t because he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith, and a significant number of people were brought to the Lord. \n\t\t\t Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to look for Saul,\n\t\t\t and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught a significant number of people. Now it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians.\n\t\t\t At that time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.\n\t\t\t One of them, named Agabus, got up and predicted by the Spirit that a severe famine was about to come over the whole inhabited world. (This took place during the reign of Claudius.)\n\t\t\t So the disciples, each in accordance with his financial ability, decided to send relief to the brothers living in Judea. \n\t\t\t They did so, sending their financial aid to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t About that time King Herod laid hands on some from the church to harm them.\n\t\t\t He had James, the brother of John, executed with a sword.\n\t\t\t When he saw that this pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter too. (This took place during the feast of Unleavened Bread.)\n\t\t\t When he had seized him, he put him in prison, handing him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him. Herod planned to bring him out for public trial after the Passover. \n\t\t\t So Peter was kept in prison, but those in the church were earnestly praying to God for him.\n\t\t\t On that very night before Herod was going to bring him out for trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, while guards in front of the door were keeping watch over the prison. \n\t\t\t Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared, and a light shone in the prison cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up, saying, \"Get up quickly!\" And the chains fell off Peter's wrists.\n\t\t\t The angel said to him, \"Fasten your belt and put on your sandals.\" Peter did so. Then the angel said to him, \"Put on your cloak and follow me.\" \n\t\t\t Peter went out and followed him; he did not realize that what was happening through the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision.\n\t\t\t After they had passed the first and second guards, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went outside and walked down one narrow street, when at once the angel left him.\n\t\t\t When Peter came to himself, he said, \"Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from everything the Jewish people were expecting to happen.\"\n\t\t\t When Peter realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John Mark, where many people had gathered together and were praying. \n\t\t\t When he knocked at the door of the outer gate, a slave girl named Rhoda answered.\n\t\t\t When she recognized Peter's voice, she was so overjoyed she did not open the gate, but ran back in and told them that Peter was standing at the gate. \n\t\t\t But they said to her, \"You've lost your mind!\" But she kept insisting that it was Peter, and they kept saying, \"It is his angel!\"\n\t\t\t Now Peter continued knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were greatly astonished.\n\t\t\t He motioned to them with his hand to be quiet and then related how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. He said, \"Tell James and the brothers these things,\" and then he left and went to another place.\n\t\t\t At daybreak there was great consternation among the soldiers over what had become of Peter. \n\t\t\t When Herod had searched for him and did not find him, he questioned the guards and commanded that they be led away to execution. Then Herod went down from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there.\n\t\t\t Now Herod was having an angry quarrel with the people of Tyre and Sidon. So they joined together and presented themselves before him. And after convincing Blastus, the king's personal assistant, to help them, they asked for peace, because their country's food supply was provided by the king's country. \n\t\t\t On a day determined in advance, Herod put on his royal robes, sat down on the judgment seat, and made a speech to them. \n\t\t\t But the crowd began to shout, \"The voice of a god, and not of a man!\" \n\t\t\t Immediately an angel of the Lord struck Herod down because he did not give the glory to God, and he was eaten by worms and died.\n\t\t\t But the word of God kept on increasing and multiplying.\n\t\t\t So Barnabas and Saul returned to Jerusalem when they had completed their mission, bringing along with them John Mark.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now there were these prophets and teachers in the church at Antioch: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius the Cyrenian, Manaen (a close friend of Herod the tetrarch from childhood) and Saul.\n\t\t\t While they were serving the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, \"Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.\" \n\t\t\t Then, after they had fasted and prayed and placed their hands on them, they sent them off.\n\t\t\t So Barnabas and Saul, sent out by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus.\n\t\t\t When they arrived in Salamis, they began to proclaim the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. (Now they also had John as their assistant.)\n\t\t\t When they had crossed over the whole island as far as Paphos, they found a magician, a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus,\n\t\t\t who was with the proconsul Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. The proconsul summoned Barnabas and Saul and wanted to hear the word of God.\n\t\t\t But the magician Elymas (for that is the way his name is translated) opposed them, trying to turn the proconsul away from the faith. \n\t\t\t But Saul (also known as Paul), filled with the Holy Spirit, stared straight at him \n\t\t\t and said, \"You who are full of all deceit and all wrongdoing, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord?\n\t\t\t Now look, the hand of the Lord is against you, and you will be blind, unable to see the sun for a time!\" Immediately mistiness and darkness came over him, and he went around seeking people to lead him by the hand. \n\t\t\t Then when the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, because he was greatly astounded at the teaching about the Lord.\n\t\t\t Then Paul and his companions put out to sea from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia, but John left them and returned to Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t Moving on from Perga, they arrived at Pisidian Antioch, and on the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down. \n\t\t\t After the reading from the law and the prophets, the leaders of the synagogue sent them a message, saying, \"Brothers, if you have any message of exhortation for the people, speak it.\"\n\t\t\t So Paul stood up, gestured with his hand and said, \"Men of Israel, and you Gentiles who fear God, listen: \n\t\t\t The God of this people Israel chose our ancestors and made the people great during their stay as foreigners in the country of Egypt, and with uplifted arm he led them out of it. \n\t\t\t For a period of about forty years he put up with them in the wilderness.\n\t\t\t After he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave his people their land as an inheritance.\n\t\t\t All this took about four hundred fifty years. After this he gave them judges until the time of Samuel the prophet. \n\t\t\t Then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul son of Kish, a man from the tribe of Benjamin, who ruled forty years. \n\t\t\t After removing him, God raised up David their king. He testified about him: 'I have found David the son of Jesse to be a man after my heart, who will accomplish everything I want him to do.'\n\t\t\t From the descendants of this man God brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, just as he promised.\n\t\t\t Before Jesus arrived, John had proclaimed a baptism for repentance to all the people of Israel. \n\t\t\t But while John was completing his mission, he said repeatedly, 'What do you think I am? I am not he. But look, one is coming after me. I am not worthy to untie the sandals on his feet!'\n\t\t\t Brothers, descendants of Abraham's family, and those Gentiles among you who fear God, the message of this salvation has been sent to us. \n\t\t\t For the people who live in Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize him, and they fulfilled the sayings of the prophets that are read every Sabbath by condemning him.\n\t\t\t Though they found no basis for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have him executed. \n\t\t\t When they had accomplished everything that was written about him, they took him down from the cross and placed him in a tomb. \n\t\t\t But God raised him from the dead, \n\t\t\t and for many days he appeared to those who had accompanied him from Galilee to Jerusalem. These are now his witnesses to the people. \n\t\t\t And we proclaim to you the good news about the promise to our ancestors,\n\t\t\t that this promise God has fulfilled to us, their children, by raising Jesus, as also it is written in the second psalm, 'You are my Son; today I have fathered you.'\n\t\t\t But regarding the fact that he has raised Jesus from the dead, never again to be in a state of decay, God has spoken in this way: 'I will give you the holy and trustworthy promises made to David.'\n\t\t\t Therefore he also says in another psalm, 'You will not permit your Holy One to experience decay.'\n\t\t\t For David, after he had served God's purpose in his own generation, died, was buried with his ancestors, and experienced decay, \n\t\t\t but the one whom God raised up did not experience decay. \n\t\t\t Therefore let it be known to you, brothers, that through this one forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, \n\t\t\t and by this one everyone who believes is justified from everything from which the law of Moses could not justify you.\n\t\t\t Watch out, then, that what is spoken about by the prophets does not happen to you:\n\t\t\t 'Look, you scoffers; be amazed and perish! For I am doing a work in your days, a work you would never believe, even if someone tells you.'\"\n\t\t\t As Paul and Barnabas were going out, the people were urging them to speak about these things on the next Sabbath. \n\t\t\t When the meeting of the synagogue had broken up, many of the Jews and God-fearing proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who were speaking with them and were persuading them to continue in the grace of God.\n\t\t\t On the next Sabbath almost the whole city assembled together to hear the word of the Lord.\n\t\t\t But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy, and they began to contradict what Paul was saying by reviling him.\n\t\t\t Both Paul and Barnabas replied courageously, \"It was necessary to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we are turning to the Gentiles.\n\t\t\t For this is what the Lord has commanded us: 'I have appointed you to be a light for the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the ends of the earth.'\"\n\t\t\t When the Gentiles heard this, they began to rejoice and praise the word of the Lord, and all who had been appointed for eternal life believed.\n\t\t\t So the word of the Lord was spreading through the entire region. \n\t\t\t But the Jews incited the God-fearing women of high social standing and the prominent men of the city, stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and threw them out of their region. \n\t\t\t So after they shook the dust off their feet in protest against them, they went to Iconium.\n\t\t\t And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The same thing happened in Iconium when Paul and Barnabas went into the Jewish synagogue and spoke in such a way that a large group of both Jews and Greeks believed. \n\t\t\t But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. \n\t\t\t So they stayed there for a considerable time, speaking out courageously for the Lord, who testified to the message of his grace, granting miraculous signs and wonders to be performed through their hands. \n\t\t\t But the population of the city was divided; some sided with the Jews, and some with the apostles. \n\t\t\t When both the Gentiles and the Jews (together with their rulers) made an attempt to mistreat them and stone them,\n\t\t\t Paul and Barnabas learned about it and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and the surrounding region. \n\t\t\t There they continued to proclaim the good news.\n\t\t\t In Lystra sat a man who could not use his feet, lame from birth, who had never walked. \n\t\t\t This man was listening to Paul as he was speaking. When Paul stared intently at him and saw he had faith to be healed, \n\t\t\t he said with a loud voice, \"Stand upright on your feet.\" And the man leaped up and began walking.\n\t\t\t So when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, \"The gods have come down to us in human form!\"\n\t\t\t They began to call Barnabas Zeus and Paul Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. \n\t\t\t The priest of the temple of Zeus, located just outside the city, brought bulls and garlands to the city gates; he and the crowds wanted to offer sacrifices to them.\n\t\t\t But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard about it, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting,\n\t\t\t \"Men, why are you doing these things? We too are men, with human natures just like you! We are proclaiming the good news to you, so that you should turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and everything that is in them. \n\t\t\t In past generations he allowed all the nations to go their own ways, \n\t\t\t yet he did not leave himself without a witness by doing good, by giving you rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying you with food and your hearts with joy.\"\n\t\t\t Even by saying these things, they scarcely persuaded the crowds not to offer sacrifice to them.\n\t\t\t But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and after winning the crowds over, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, presuming him to be dead. \n\t\t\t But after the disciples had surrounded him, he got up and went back into the city. On the next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe.\n\t\t\t After they had proclaimed the good news in that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, to Iconium, and to Antioch.\n\t\t\t They strengthened the souls of the disciples and encouraged them to continue in the faith, saying, \"We must enter the kingdom of God through many persecutions.\"\n\t\t\t When they had appointed elders for them in the various churches, with prayer and fasting they entrusted them to the protection of the Lord in whom they had believed.\n\t\t\t Then they passed through Pisidia and came into Pamphylia,\n\t\t\t and when they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia.\n\t\t\t From there they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work they had now completed.\n\t\t\t When they arrived and gathered the church together, they reported all the things God had done with them, and that he had opened a door of faith for the Gentiles. \n\t\t\t So they spent considerable time with the disciples.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now some men came down from Judea and began to teach the brothers, \"Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.\" \n\t\t\t When Paul and Barnabas had a major argument and debate with them, the church appointed Paul and Barnabas and some others from among them to go up to meet with the apostles and elders in Jerusalem about this point of disagreement.\n\t\t\t So they were sent on their way by the church, and as they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, they were relating at length the conversion of the Gentiles and bringing great joy to all the brothers. \n\t\t\t When they arrived in Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they reported all the things God had done with them.\n\t\t\t But some from the religious party of the Pharisees who had believed stood up and said, \"It is necessary to circumcise the Gentiles and to order them to observe the law of Moses.\"\n\t\t\t Both the apostles and the elders met together to deliberate about this matter. \n\t\t\t After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, \"Brothers, you know that some time ago God chose me to preach to the Gentiles so they would hear the message of the gospel and believe.\n\t\t\t And God, who knows the heart, has testified to them by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us,\n\t\t\t and he made no distinction between them and us, cleansing their hearts by faith. \n\t\t\t So now why are you putting God to the test by placing on the neck of the disciples a yoke that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear? \n\t\t\t On the contrary, we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they are.\"\n\t\t\t The whole group kept quiet and listened to Barnabas and Paul while they explained all the miraculous signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them. \n\t\t\t After they stopped speaking, James replied, \"Brothers, listen to me. \n\t\t\t Simeon has explained how God first concerned himself to select from among the Gentiles a people for his name. \n\t\t\t The words of the prophets agree with this, as it is written,\n\t\t\t 'After this I will return, and I will rebuild the fallen tent of David; I will rebuild its ruins and restore it,\n\t\t\t so that the rest of humanity may seek the Lord, namely, all the Gentiles I have called to be my own,' says the Lord, who makes these things\n\t\t\t known from long ago.\n\t\t\t \"Therefore I conclude that we should not cause extra difficulty for those among the Gentiles who are turning to God, \n\t\t\t but that we should write them a letter telling them to abstain from things defiled by idols and from sexual immorality and from what has been strangled and from blood. \n\t\t\t For Moses has had those who proclaim him in every town from ancient times, because he is read aloud in the synagogues every Sabbath.\"\n\t\t\t Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to send men chosen from among them, Judas called Barsabbas and Silas, leaders among the brothers, to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. \n\t\t\t They sent this letter with them: From the apostles and elders, your brothers, to the Gentile brothers and sisters in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia, greetings!\n\t\t\t Since we have heard that some have gone out from among us with no orders from us and have confused you, upsetting your minds by what they said,\n\t\t\t we have unanimously decided to choose men to send to you along with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul, \n\t\t\t who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.\n\t\t\t Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas who will tell you these things themselves in person.\n\t\t\t For it seemed best to the Holy Spirit and to us not to place any greater burden on you than these necessary rules:\n\t\t\t that you abstain from meat that has been sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what has been strangled and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from doing these things, you will do well. Farewell.\n\t\t\t So when they were dismissed, they went down to Antioch, and after gathering the entire group together, they delivered the letter. \n\t\t\t When they read it aloud, the people rejoiced at its encouragement.\n\t\t\t Both Judas and Silas, who were prophets themselves, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with a long speech.\n\t\t\t After they had spent some time there, they were sent off in peace by the brothers to those who had sent them.\n\t\t\t \n\t\t\t But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and proclaiming (along with many others) the word of the Lord.\n\t\t\t After some days Paul said to Barnabas, \"Let's return and visit the brothers in every town where we proclaimed the word of the Lord to see how they are doing.\"\n\t\t\t Barnabas wanted to bring John called Mark along with them too,\n\t\t\t but Paul insisted that they should not take along this one who had left them in Pamphylia and had not accompanied them in the work. \n\t\t\t They had a sharp disagreement, so that they parted company. Barnabas took along Mark and sailed away to Cyprus,\n\t\t\t but Paul chose Silas and set out, commended to the grace of the Lord by the brothers and sisters.\n\t\t\t He passed through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t He also came to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple named Timothy was there, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but whose father was a Greek.\n\t\t\t The brothers in Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him.\n\t\t\t Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was Greek.\n\t\t\t As they went through the towns, they passed on the decrees that had been decided on by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the Gentile believers to obey.\n\t\t\t So the churches were being strengthened in the faith and were increasing in number every day.\n\t\t\t They went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been prevented by the Holy Spirit from speaking the message in the province of Asia.\n\t\t\t When they came to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them to do this,\n\t\t\t so they passed through Mysia and went down to Troas.\n\t\t\t A vision appeared to Paul during the night: A Macedonian man was standing there urging him, \"Come over to Macedonia and help us!\" \n\t\t\t After Paul saw the vision, we attempted immediately to go over to Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to proclaim the good news to them.\n\t\t\t We put out to sea from Troas and sailed a straight course to Samothrace, the next day to Neapolis,\n\t\t\t and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of that district of Macedonia, a Roman colony. We stayed in this city for some days. \n\t\t\t On the Sabbath day we went outside the city gate to the side of the river, where we thought there would be a place of prayer, and we sat down and began to speak to the women who had assembled there.\n\t\t\t A woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, a God-fearing woman, listened to us. The Lord opened her heart to respond to what Paul was saying. \n\t\t\t After she and her household were baptized, she urged us, \"If you consider me to be a believer in the Lord, come and stay in my house.\" And she persuaded us.\n\t\t\t Now as we were going to the place of prayer, a slave girl met us who had a spirit that enabled her to foretell the future by supernatural means. She brought her owners a great profit by fortune-telling.\n\t\t\t She followed behind Paul and us and kept crying out, \"These men are servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation.\"\n\t\t\t She continued to do this for many days. But Paul became greatly annoyed, and turned and said to the spirit, \"I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!\" And it came out of her at once.\n\t\t\t But when her owners saw their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the authorities. \n\t\t\t When they had brought them before the magistrates, they said, \"These men are throwing our city into confusion. They are Jews \n\t\t\t and are advocating customs that are not lawful for us to accept or practice, since we are Romans.\"\n\t\t\t The crowd joined the attack against them, and the magistrates tore the clothes off Paul and Silas and ordered them to be beaten with rods.\n\t\t\t After they had beaten them severely, they threw them into prison and commanded the jailer to guard them securely. \n\t\t\t Receiving such orders, he threw them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.\n\t\t\t About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the rest of the prisoners were listening to them. \n\t\t\t Suddenly a great earthquake occurred, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. Immediately all the doors flew open, and the bonds of all the prisoners came loose. \n\t\t\t When the jailer woke up and saw the doors of the prison standing open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, because he assumed the prisoners had escaped. \n\t\t\t But Paul called out loudly, \"Do not harm yourself, for we are all here!\" \n\t\t\t Calling for lights, the jailer rushed in and fell down trembling at the feet of Paul and Silas. \n\t\t\t Then he brought them outside and asked, \"Sirs, what must I do to be saved?\" \n\t\t\t They replied, \"Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household.\" \n\t\t\t Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him, along with all those who were in his house. \n\t\t\t At that hour of the night he took them and washed their wounds; then he and all his family were baptized right away.\n\t\t\t The jailer brought them into his house and set food before them, and he rejoiced greatly that he had come to believe in God, together with his entire household.\n\t\t\t At daybreak the magistrates sent their police officers, saying, \"Release those men.\" \n\t\t\t The jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, \"The magistrates have sent orders to release you. So come out now and go in peace.\"\n\t\t\t But Paul said to the police officers, \"They had us beaten in public without a proper trial, even though we are Roman citizens, and they threw us in prison. And now they want to send us away secretly? Absolutely not! They themselves must come and escort us out!\"\n\t\t\t The police officers reported these words to the magistrates. They were frightened when they heard Paul and Silas were Roman citizens\n\t\t\t and came and apologized to them. After they brought them out, they asked them repeatedly to leave the city. \n\t\t\t When they came out of the prison, they entered Lydia's house, and when they saw the brothers, they encouraged them and then departed.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t After they traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue.\n\t\t\t Paul went to the Jews in the synagogue, as he customarily did, and on three Sabbath days he addressed them from the scriptures, \n\t\t\t explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and to rise from the dead, saying, \"This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ.\"\n\t\t\t Some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with a large group of God-fearing Greeks and quite a few prominent women. \n\t\t\t But the Jews became jealous, and gathering together some worthless men from the rabble in the marketplace, they formed a mob and set the city in an uproar. They attacked Jason's house, trying to find Paul and Silas to bring them out to the assembly.\n\t\t\t When they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city officials, screaming, \"These people who have stirred up trouble throughout the world have come here too, \n\t\t\t and Jason has welcomed them as guests! They are all acting against Caesar's decrees, saying there is another king named Jesus!\"\n\t\t\t They caused confusion among the crowd and the city officials who heard these things. \n\t\t\t After the city officials had received bail from Jason and the others, they released them.\n\t\t\t The brothers sent Paul and Silas off to Berea at once, during the night. When they arrived, they went to the Jewish synagogue.\n\t\t\t These Jews were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they eagerly received the message, examining the scriptures carefully every day to see if these things were so. \n\t\t\t Therefore many of them believed, along with quite a few prominent Greek women and men. \n\t\t\t But when the Jews from Thessalonica heard that Paul had also proclaimed the word of God in Berea, they came there too, inciting and disturbing the crowds. \n\t\t\t Then the brothers sent Paul away to the coast at once, but Silas and Timothy remained in Berea.\n\t\t\t Those who accompanied Paul escorted him as far as Athens, and after receiving an order for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they left.\n\t\t\t While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was greatly upset because he saw the city was full of idols. \n\t\t\t So he was addressing the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles in the synagogue, and in the marketplace every day those who happened to be there.\n\t\t\t Also some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers were conversing with him, and some were asking, \"What does this foolish babbler want to say?\" Others said, \"He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign gods.\" (They said this because he was proclaiming the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.)\n\t\t\t So they took Paul and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, \"May we know what this new teaching is that you are proclaiming? \n\t\t\t For you are bringing some surprising things to our ears, so we want to know what they mean.\" \n\t\t\t (All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there used to spend their time in nothing else than telling or listening to something new.)\n\t\t\t So Paul stood before the Areopagus and said, \"Men of Athens, I see that you are very religious in all respects.\n\t\t\t For as I went around and observed closely your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: 'To an unknown god.' Therefore what you worship without knowing it, this I proclaim to you. \n\t\t\t The God who made the world and everything in it, who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by human hands,\n\t\t\t nor is he served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives life and breath and everything to everyone.\n\t\t\t From one man he made every nation of the human race to inhabit the entire earth, determining their set times and the fixed limits of the places where they would live,\n\t\t\t so that they would search for God and perhaps grope around for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. \n\t\t\t For in him we live and move about and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, 'For we too are his offspring.'\n\t\t\t So since we are God's offspring, we should not think the deity is like gold or silver or stone, an image made by human skill and imagination.\n\t\t\t Therefore, although God has overlooked such times of ignorance, he now commands all people everywhere to repent,\n\t\t\t because he has set a day on which he is going to judge the world in righteousness, by a man whom he designated, having provided proof to everyone by raising him from the dead.\"\n\t\t\t Now when they heard about the resurrection from the dead, some began to scoff, but others said, \"We will hear you again about this.\" \n\t\t\t So Paul left the Areopagus.\n\t\t\t But some people joined him and believed. Among them were Dionysius, who was a member of the Areopagus, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t After this Paul departed from Athens and went to Corinth.\n\t\t\t There 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 depart from Rome. Paul approached them, \n\t\t\t and because he worked at the same trade, he stayed with them and worked with them (for they were tentmakers by trade).\n\t\t\t He addressed both Jews and Greeks in the synagogue every Sabbath, attempting to persuade them.\n\t\t\t Now when Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul became wholly absorbed with proclaiming the word, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.\n\t\t\t When they opposed him and reviled him, he protested by shaking out his clothes and said to them, \"Your blood be on your own heads! I am guiltless! From now on I will go to the Gentiles!\" \n\t\t\t Then Paul left the synagogue and went to the house of a person named Titius Justus, a Gentile who worshiped God, whose house was next door to the synagogue. \n\t\t\t Crispus, the president of the synagogue, believed in the Lord together with his entire household, and many of the Corinthians who heard about it believed and were baptized. \n\t\t\t The Lord said to Paul by a vision in the night, \"Do not be afraid, but speak and do not be silent, \n\t\t\t because I am with you, and no one will assault you to harm you, because I have many people in this city.\" \n\t\t\t So he stayed there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.\n\t\t\t Now while Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews attacked Paul together and brought him before the judgment seat,\n\t\t\t saying, \"This man is persuading people to worship God in a way contrary to the law!\" \n\t\t\t But just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio said to the Jews, \"If it were a matter of some crime or serious piece of villainy, I would have been justified in accepting the complaint of you Jews,\n\t\t\t but since it concerns points of disagreement about words and names and your own law, settle it yourselves. I will not be a judge of these things!\" \n\t\t\t Then he had them forced away from the judgment seat.\n\t\t\t So they all seized Sosthenes, the president of the synagogue, and began to beat him in front of the judgment seat. Yet none of these things were of any concern to Gallio.\n\t\t\t Paul, after staying many more days in Corinth, said farewell to the brothers and sailed away to Syria accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. He had his hair cut off at Cenchrea because he had made a vow.\n\t\t\t When they reached Ephesus, Paul left Priscilla and Aquila behind there, but he himself went into the synagogue and addressed the Jews. \n\t\t\t When they asked him to stay longer, he would not consent,\n\t\t\t but said farewell to them and added, \"I will come back to you again if God wills.\" Then he set sail from Ephesus, \n\t\t\t and when he arrived at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church at Jerusalem and then went down to Antioch.\n\t\t\t After he spent some time there, Paul left and went through the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.\n\t\t\t Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, arrived in Ephesus. He was an eloquent speaker, well-versed in the scriptures. \n\t\t\t He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and with great enthusiasm he spoke and taught accurately the facts about Jesus, although he knew only the baptism of John. \n\t\t\t He began to speak out fearlessly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained the way of God to him more accurately. \n\t\t\t When Apollos wanted to cross over to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. When he arrived, he assisted greatly those who had believed by grace, \n\t\t\t for he refuted the Jews vigorously in public debate, demonstrating from the scriptures that the Christ was Jesus.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul went through the inland regions and came to Ephesus. He found some disciples there\n\t\t\t and said to them, \"Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?\" They replied, \"No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.\" \n\t\t\t So Paul said, \"Into what then were you baptized?\" \"Into John's baptism,\" they replied.\n\t\t\t Paul said, \"John baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus.\" \n\t\t\t When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus,\n\t\t\t and when Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they began to speak in tongues and to prophesy.\n\t\t\t (Now there were about twelve men in all.)\n\t\t\t So Paul entered the synagogue and spoke out fearlessly for three months, addressing and convincing them about the kingdom of God.\n\t\t\t But when some were stubborn and refused to believe, reviling the Way before the congregation, he left them and took the disciples with him, addressing them every day in the lecture hall of Tyrannus.\n\t\t\t This went on for two years, so that all who lived in the province of Asia, both Jews and Greeks, heard the word of the Lord.\n\t\t\t God was performing extraordinary miracles by Paul's hands, \n\t\t\t so that when even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his body were brought to the sick, their diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them.\n\t\t\t But some itinerant Jewish exorcists tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were possessed by evil spirits, saying, \"I sternly warn you by Jesus whom Paul preaches.\" \n\t\t\t (Now seven sons of a man named Sceva, a Jewish high priest, were doing this.)\n\t\t\t But the evil spirit replied to them, \"I know about Jesus and I am acquainted with Paul, but who are you?\"\n\t\t\t Then the man who was possessed by the evil spirit jumped on them and beat them all into submission. He prevailed against them so that they fled from that house naked and wounded. \n\t\t\t This became known to all who lived in Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks; fear came over them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was praised.\n\t\t\t Many of those who had believed came forward, confessing and making their deeds known.\n\t\t\t Large numbers of those who had practiced magic collected their books and burned them up in the presence of everyone. When the value of the books was added up, it was found to total fifty thousand silver coins.\n\t\t\t In this way the word of the Lord continued to grow in power and to prevail.\n\t\t\t Now after all these things had taken place, Paul resolved to go to Jerusalem, passing through Macedonia and Achaia. He said, \"After I have been there, I must also see Rome.\"\n\t\t\t So after sending two of his assistants, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, he himself stayed on for a while in the province of Asia.\n\t\t\t At that time a great disturbance took place concerning the Way.\n\t\t\t For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought a great deal of business to the craftsmen. \n\t\t\t He gathered these together, along with the workmen in similar trades, and said, \"Men, you know that our prosperity comes from this business. \n\t\t\t And you see and hear that this Paul has persuaded and turned away a large crowd, not only in Ephesus but in practically all of the province of Asia, by saying that gods made by hands are not gods at all.\n\t\t\t There is danger not only that this business of ours will come into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be regarded as nothing, and she whom all the province of Asia and the world worship will suffer the loss of her greatness.\"\n\t\t\t When they heard this they became enraged and began to shout, \"Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!\" \n\t\t\t The city was filled with the uproar, and the crowd rushed to the theater together, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, the Macedonians who were Paul's traveling companions. \n\t\t\t But when Paul wanted to enter the public assembly, the disciples would not let him. \n\t\t\t Even some of the provincial authorities who were his friends sent a message to him, urging him not to venture into the theater. \n\t\t\t So then some were shouting one thing, some another, for the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had met together.\n\t\t\t Some of the crowd concluded it was about Alexander because the Jews had pushed him to the front. Alexander, gesturing with his hand, was wanting to make a defense before the public assembly.\n\t\t\t But when they recognized that he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison, \"Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!\" for about two hours.\n\t\t\t After the city secretary quieted the crowd, he said, \"Men of Ephesus, what person is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is the keeper of the temple of the great Artemis and of her image that fell from heaven?\n\t\t\t So because these facts are indisputable, you must keep quiet and not do anything reckless.\n\t\t\t For you have brought these men here who are neither temple robbers nor blasphemers of our goddess.\n\t\t\t If then Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a complaint against someone, the courts are open and there are proconsuls; let them bring charges against one another there.\n\t\t\t But if you want anything in addition, it will have to be settled in a legal assembly.\n\t\t\t For we are in danger of being charged with rioting today, since there is no cause we can give to explain this disorderly gathering.\"\n\t\t\t After he had said this, he dismissed the assembly.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t After the disturbance had ended, Paul sent for the disciples, and after encouraging them and saying farewell, he left to go to Macedonia.\n\t\t\t After he had gone through those regions and spoken many words of encouragement to the believers there, he came to Greece,\n\t\t\t where he stayed for three months. Because the Jews had made a plot against him as he was intending to sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia.\n\t\t\t Paul was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, and Timothy, as well as Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia.\n\t\t\t These had gone on ahead and were waiting for us in Troas.\n\t\t\t We sailed away from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and within five days we came to the others in Troas, where we stayed for seven days. \n\t\t\t On the first day of the week, when we met to break bread, Paul began to speak to the people, and because he intended to leave the next day, he extended his message until midnight. \n\t\t\t (Now there were many lamps in the upstairs room where we were meeting.)\n\t\t\t A young man named Eutychus, who was sitting in the window, was sinking into a deep sleep while Paul continued to speak for a long time. Fast asleep, he fell down from the third story and was picked up dead. \n\t\t\t But Paul went down, threw himself on the young man, put his arms around him, and said, \"Do not be distressed, for he is still alive!\"\n\t\t\t Then Paul went back upstairs, and after he had broken bread and eaten, he talked with them a long time, until dawn. Then he left.\n\t\t\t They took the boy home alive and were greatly comforted.\n\t\t\t We went on ahead to the ship and put out to sea for Assos, intending to take Paul aboard there, for he had arranged it this way. He himself was intending to go there by land.\n\t\t\t When he met us in Assos, we took him aboard and went to Mitylene.\n\t\t\t We set sail from there, and on the following day we arrived off Chios. The next day we approached Samos, and the day after that we arrived at Miletus.\n\t\t\t For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus so as not to spend time in the province of Asia, for he was hurrying to arrive in Jerusalem, if possible, by the day of Pentecost.\n\t\t\t From Miletus he sent a message to Ephesus, telling the elders of the church to come to him.\n\t\t\t When they arrived, he said to them, \"You yourselves know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I set foot in the province of Asia,\n\t\t\t serving the Lord with all humility and with tears, and with the trials that happened to me because of the plots of the Jews. \n\t\t\t You know that I did not hold back from proclaiming to you anything that would be helpful, and from teaching you publicly and from house to house, \n\t\t\t testifying to both Jews and Greeks about repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus.\n\t\t\t And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem without knowing what will happen to me there,\n\t\t\t except that the Holy Spirit warns me in town after town that imprisonment and persecutions are waiting for me. \n\t\t\t But I do not consider my life worth anything to myself, so that I may finish my task and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the good news of God's grace.\n\t\t\t \"And now I know that none of you among whom I went around proclaiming the kingdom will see me again. \n\t\t\t Therefore I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of you all.\n\t\t\t For I did not hold back from announcing to you the whole purpose of God. \n\t\t\t Watch out for yourselves and for all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God that he obtained with the blood of his own Son.\n\t\t\t I know that after I am gone fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. \n\t\t\t Even from among your own group men will arise, teaching perversions of the truth to draw the disciples away after them. \n\t\t\t Therefore be alert, remembering that night and day for three years I did not stop warning each one of you with tears. \n\t\t\t And now I entrust you to God and to the message of his grace. This message is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. \n\t\t\t I have desired no one's silver or gold or clothing. \n\t\t\t You yourselves know that these hands of mine provided for my needs and the needs of those who were with me. \n\t\t\t By all these things, I have shown you that by working in this way we must help the weak, and remember the words of the Lord Jesus that he himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'\"\n\t\t\t When he had said these things, he knelt down with them all and prayed. \n\t\t\t They all began to weep loudly, and hugged Paul and kissed him,\n\t\t\t especially saddened by what he had said, that they were not going to see him again. Then they accompanied him to the ship.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t After we tore ourselves away from them, we put out to sea, and sailing a straight course, we came to Cos, on the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara.\n\t\t\t We found a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, went aboard, and put out to sea.\n\t\t\t After we sighted Cyprus and left it behind on our port side, we sailed on to Syria and put in at Tyre, because the ship was to unload its cargo there. \n\t\t\t After we located the disciples, we stayed there seven days. They repeatedly told Paul through the Spirit not to set foot in Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t When our time was over, we left and went on our way. All of them, with their wives and children, accompanied us outside of the city. After kneeling down on the beach and praying,\n\t\t\t we said farewell to one another. Then we went aboard the ship, and they returned to their own homes.\n\t\t\t We continued the voyage from Tyre and arrived at Ptolemais, and when we had greeted the brothers, we stayed with them for one day. \n\t\t\t On the next day we left and came to Caesarea, and entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. \n\t\t\t (He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied.)\n\t\t\t While we remained there for a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.\n\t\t\t He came to us, took Paul's belt, tied his own hands and feet with it, and said, \"The Holy Spirit says this: 'This is the way the Jews in Jerusalem will tie up the man whose belt this is, and will hand him over to the Gentiles.'\"\n\t\t\t When we heard this, both we and the local people begged him not to go up to Jerusalem. \n\t\t\t Then Paul replied, \"What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be tied up, but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.\" \n\t\t\t Because he could not be persuaded, we said no more except, \"The Lord's will be done.\"\n\t\t\t After these days we got ready and started up to Jerusalem. \n\t\t\t Some of the disciples from Caesarea came along with us too, and brought us to the house of Mnason of Cyprus, a disciple from the earliest times, with whom we were to stay. \n\t\t\t When we arrived in Jerusalem, the brothers welcomed us gladly.\n\t\t\t The next day Paul went in with us to see James, and all the elders were there.\n\t\t\t When Paul had greeted them, he began to explain in detail what God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. \n\t\t\t When they heard this, they praised God. Then they said to him, \"You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are who have believed, and they are all ardent observers of the law.\n\t\t\t They have been informed about you, that you teach all the Jews now living among the Gentiles to abandon Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or live according to our customs.\n\t\t\t What then should we do? They will no doubt hear that you have come. \n\t\t\t So do what we tell you: We have four men who have taken a vow;\n\t\t\t take them and purify yourself along with them and pay their expenses, so that they may have their heads shaved. Then everyone will know there is nothing in what they have been told about you, but that you yourself live in conformity with the law.\n\t\t\t But regarding the Gentiles who have believed, we have written a letter, having decided that they should avoid meat that has been sacrificed to idols and blood and what has been strangled and sexual immorality.\" \n\t\t\t Then Paul took the men the next day, and after he had purified himself along with them, he went to the temple and gave notice of the completion of the days of purification, when the sacrifice would be offered for each of them. \n\t\t\t When the seven days were almost over, the Jews from the province of Asia who had seen him in the temple area stirred up the whole crowd and seized him, \n\t\t\t shouting, \"Men of Israel, help! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against our people, our law, and this sanctuary! Furthermore he has brought Greeks into the inner courts of the temple and made this holy place ritually unclean!\"\n\t\t\t (For they had seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with him previously, and they assumed Paul had brought him into the inner temple courts.)\n\t\t\t The whole city was stirred up, and the people rushed together. They seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple courts, and immediately the doors were shut. \n\t\t\t While they were trying to kill him, a report was sent up to the commanding officer of the cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion.\n\t\t\t He immediately took soldiers and centurions and ran down to the crowd. When they saw the commanding officer and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. \n\t\t\t Then the commanding officer came up and arrested him and ordered him to be tied up with two chains; he then asked who he was and what he had done. \n\t\t\t But some in the crowd shouted one thing, and others something else, and when the commanding officer was unable to find out the truth because of the disturbance, he ordered Paul to be brought into the barracks.\n\t\t\t When he came to the steps, Paul had to be carried by the soldiers because of the violence of the mob, \n\t\t\t for a crowd of people followed them, screaming, \"Away with him!\" \n\t\t\t As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the commanding officer, \"May I say something to you?\" The officer replied, \"Do you know Greek?\n\t\t\t Then you're not that Egyptian who started a rebellion and led the four thousand men of the 'Assassins' into the wilderness some time ago?\"\n\t\t\t Paul answered, \"I am a Jew from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of an important city. Please allow me to speak to the people.\" \n\t\t\t When the commanding officer had given him permission, Paul stood on the steps and gestured to the people with his hand. When they had become silent, he addressed them in Aramaic,\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t \"Brothers and fathers, listen to my defense that I now make to you.\" \n\t\t\t (When they heard that he was addressing them in Aramaic, they became even quieter.) Then Paul said, \n\t\t\t \"I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city, educated with strictness under Gamaliel according to the law of our ancestors, and was zealous for God just as all of you are today. \n\t\t\t I persecuted this Way even to the point of death, tying up both men and women and putting them in prison, \n\t\t\t as both 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 on my way to make arrests there and bring the prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished. \n\t\t\t As I was en route and near Damascus, about noon a very bright light from heaven suddenly flashed around me. \n\t\t\t Then I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?' \n\t\t\t I answered, 'Who are you, Lord?' He said to me, 'I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting.'\n\t\t\t Those who were with me saw the light, but did not understand the voice of the one who was speaking to me. \n\t\t\t So I asked, 'What should I do, Lord?' The Lord said to me, 'Get up and go to Damascus; there you will be told about everything that you have been designated to do.' \n\t\t\t Since I could not see because of the brilliance of that light, I came to Damascus led by the hand of those who were with me. \n\t\t\t A man named Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well spoken of by all the Jews who live there,\n\t\t\t came to me and stood beside me and said to me, 'Brother Saul, regain your sight!' And at that very moment I looked up and saw him.\n\t\t\t Then he said, 'The God of our ancestors has already chosen you to know his will, to see the Righteous One, and to hear a command from his mouth, \n\t\t\t because you will be his witness to all people of what you have seen and heard. \n\t\t\t And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized, and have your sins washed away, calling on his name.'\n\t\t\t When I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance\n\t\t\t and saw the Lord saying to me, 'Hurry and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about me.' \n\t\t\t I replied, 'Lord, they themselves know that I imprisoned and beat those in the various synagogues who believed in you. \n\t\t\t And when the blood of your witness Stephen was shed, I myself was standing nearby, approving, and guarding the cloaks of those who were killing him.'\n\t\t\t Then he said to me, 'Go, because I will send you far away to the Gentiles.'\"\n\t\t\t The crowd was listening to him until he said this. Then they raised their voices and shouted, \"Away with this man from the earth! For he should not be allowed to live!\"\n\t\t\t While they were screaming and throwing off their cloaks and tossing dust in the air, \n\t\t\t the commanding officer ordered Paul to be brought back into the barracks. He told them to interrogate Paul by beating him with a lash so that he could find out the reason the crowd was shouting at Paul in this way. \n\t\t\t When they had stretched him out for the lash, Paul said to the centurion standing nearby, \"Is it legal for you to lash a man who is a Roman citizen without a proper trial?\"\n\t\t\t When the centurion heard this, he went to the commanding officer and reported it, saying, \"What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman citizen.\"\n\t\t\t So the commanding officer came and asked Paul, \"Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?\" He replied, \"Yes.\" \n\t\t\t The commanding officer answered, \"I acquired this citizenship with a large sum of money.\" \"But I was even born a citizen,\" Paul replied.\n\t\t\t Then those who were about to interrogate him stayed away from him, and the commanding officer was frightened when he realized that Paul was a Roman citizen and that he had had him tied up.\n\t\t\t The next day, because the commanding officer wanted to know the true reason Paul was being accused by the Jews, he released him and ordered the chief priests and the whole council to assemble. He then brought Paul down and had him stand before them.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Paul looked directly at the council and said, \"Brothers, I have lived my life with a clear conscience before God to this day.\" \n\t\t\t At that the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth. \n\t\t\t Then Paul said to him, \"God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Do you sit there judging me according to the law, and in violation of the law you order me to be struck?\" \n\t\t\t Those standing near him said, \"Do you dare insult God's high priest?\" \n\t\t\t Paul replied, \"I did not realize, brothers, that he was the high priest, for it is written, 'You must not speak evil about a ruler of your people.'\"\n\t\t\t Then when Paul noticed that part of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, he shouted out in the council, \"Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. I am on trial concerning the hope of the resurrection of the dead!\" \n\t\t\t When he said this, an argument began between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. \n\t\t\t (For the Sadducees say there is no resurrection, or angel, or spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.)\n\t\t\t There was a great commotion, and some experts in the law from the party of the Pharisees stood up and protested strongly, \"We find nothing wrong with this man. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?\" \n\t\t\t When the argument became so great the commanding officer feared that they would tear Paul to pieces, he ordered the detachment to go down, take him away from them by force, and bring him into the barracks.\n\t\t\t The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, \"Have courage, for just as you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.\"\n\t\t\t When morning came, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink anything until they had killed Paul. \n\t\t\t There were more than forty of them who formed this conspiracy.\n\t\t\t They went to the chief priests and the elders and said, \"We have bound ourselves with a solemn oath not to partake of anything until we have killed Paul. \n\t\t\t So now you and the council request the commanding officer to bring him down to you, as if you were going to determine his case by conducting a more thorough inquiry. We are ready to kill him before he comes near this place.\"\n\t\t\t But when the son of Paul's sister heard about the ambush, he came and entered the barracks and told Paul. \n\t\t\t Paul called one of the centurions and said, \"Take this young man to the commanding officer, for he has something to report to him.\" \n\t\t\t So the centurion took him and brought him to the commanding officer and said, \"The prisoner Paul called me and asked me to bring this young man to you because he has something to tell you.\" \n\t\t\t The commanding officer took him by the hand, withdrew privately, and asked, \"What is it that you want to report to me?\" \n\t\t\t He replied, \"The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as if they were going to inquire more thoroughly about him. \n\t\t\t So do not let them persuade you to do this, because more than forty of them are lying in ambush for him. They have bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink anything until they have killed him, and now they are ready, waiting for you to agree to their request.\"\n\t\t\t Then the commanding officer sent the young man away, directing him, \"Tell no one that you have reported these things to me.\" \n\t\t\t Then he summoned two of the centurions and said, \"Make ready two hundred soldiers to go to Caesarea along with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen by nine o'clock tonight,\n\t\t\t and provide mounts for Paul to ride so that he may be brought safely to Felix the governor.\"\n\t\t\t He wrote a letter that went like this:\n\t\t\t Claudius Lysias to His Excellency Governor Felix, greetings. \n\t\t\t This man was seized by the Jews and they were about to kill him, when I came up with the detachment and rescued him, because I had learned that he was a Roman citizen.\n\t\t\t Since I wanted to know what charge they were accusing him of, I brought him down to their council.\n\t\t\t I found he was accused with reference to controversial questions about their law, but no charge against him deserved death or imprisonment.\n\t\t\t When I was informed there would be a plot against this man, I sent him to you at once, also ordering his accusers to state their charges against him before you.\n\t\t\t So the soldiers, in accordance with their orders, took Paul and brought him to Antipatris during the night. \n\t\t\t The next day they let the horsemen go on with him, and they returned to the barracks.\n\t\t\t When the horsemen came to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him. \n\t\t\t When the governor had read the letter, he asked what province he was from. When he learned that he was from Cilicia,\n\t\t\t he said, \"I will give you a hearing when your accusers arrive too.\" Then he ordered that Paul be kept under guard in Herod's palace.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t After five days the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and an attorney named Tertullus, and they brought formal charges against Paul to the governor. \n\t\t\t When Paul had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, \"We have experienced a lengthy time of peace through your rule, and reforms are being made in this nation through your foresight.\n\t\t\t Most excellent Felix, we acknowledge this everywhere and in every way with all gratitude.\n\t\t\t But so that I may not delay you any further, I beg you to hear us briefly with your customary graciousness.\n\t\t\t For we have found this man to be a troublemaker, one who stirs up riots among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.\n\t\t\t He even tried to desecrate the temple, so we arrested him.\n\t\t\t \n\t\t\t When you examine him yourself, you will be able to learn from him about all these things we are accusing him of doing.\"\n\t\t\t The Jews also joined in the verbal attack, claiming that these things were true.\n\t\t\t When the governor gestured for him to speak, Paul replied, \"Because I know that you have been a judge over this nation for many years, I confidently make my defense.\n\t\t\t As you can verify for yourself, not more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. \n\t\t\t They did not find me arguing with anyone or stirring up a crowd in the temple courts or in the synagogues or throughout the city,\n\t\t\t nor can they prove to you the things they are accusing me of doing.\n\t\t\t But I confess this to you, that I worship the God of our ancestors according to the Way (which they call a sect), believing everything that is according to the law and that is written in the prophets. \n\t\t\t I have a hope in God (a hope that these men themselves accept too) that there is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous.\n\t\t\t This is the reason I do my best to always have a clear conscience toward God and toward people.\n\t\t\t After several years I came to bring to my people gifts for the poor and to present offerings,\n\t\t\t which I was doing when they found me in the temple, ritually purified, without a crowd or a disturbance.\n\t\t\t But there are some Jews from the province of Asia who should be here before you and bring charges, if they have anything against me. \n\t\t\t Or these men here should tell what crime they found me guilty of when I stood before the council,\n\t\t\t other than this one thing I shouted out while I stood before them: 'I am on trial before you today concerning the resurrection of the dead.'\"\n\t\t\t Then Felix, who understood the facts concerning the Way more accurately, adjourned their hearing, saying, \"When Lysias the commanding officer comes down, I will decide your case.\"\n\t\t\t He ordered the centurion to guard Paul, but to let him have some freedom, and not to prevent any of his friends from meeting his needs.\n\t\t\t Some days later, when Felix arrived with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus.\n\t\t\t While Paul was discussing righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became frightened and said, \"Go away for now, and when I have an opportunity, I will send for you.\" \n\t\t\t At the same time he was also hoping that Paul would give him money, and for this reason he sent for Paul as often as possible and talked with him. \n\t\t\t After two years had passed, Porcius Festus succeeded Felix, and because he wanted to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now three days after Festus arrived in the province, he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea.\n\t\t\t So the chief priests and the most prominent men of the Jews brought formal charges against Paul to him. \n\t\t\t Requesting him to do them a favor against Paul, they urged Festus to summon him to Jerusalem, planning an ambush to kill him along the way. \n\t\t\t Then Festus replied that Paul was being kept at Caesarea, and he himself intended to go there shortly. \n\t\t\t \"So,\" he said, \"let your leaders go down there with me, and if this man has done anything wrong, they may bring charges against him.\"\n\t\t\t After Festus had stayed not more than eight or ten days among them, he went down to Caesarea, and the next day he sat on the judgment seat and ordered Paul to be brought. \n\t\t\t When he arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many serious charges that they were not able to prove.\n\t\t\t Paul said in his defense, \"I have committed no offense against the Jewish law or against the temple or against Caesar.\"\n\t\t\t But Festus, wanting to do the Jews a favor, asked Paul, \"Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and be tried before me there on these charges?\"\n\t\t\t Paul replied, \"I am standing before Caesar's judgment seat, where I should be tried. I have done nothing wrong to the Jews, as you also know very well.\n\t\t\t If then I am in the wrong and have done anything that deserves death, I am not trying to escape dying, but if not one of their charges against me is true, no one can hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!\"\n\t\t\t Then, after conferring with his council, Festus replied, \"You have appealed to Caesar; to Caesar you will go!\"\n\t\t\t After several days had passed, King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea to pay their respects to Festus.\n\t\t\t While they were staying there many days, Festus explained Paul's case to the king to get his opinion, saying, \"There is a man left here as a prisoner by Felix. \n\t\t\t When I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me about him, asking for a sentence of condemnation against him. \n\t\t\t I answered them that it was not the custom of the Romans to hand over anyone before the accused had met his accusers face to face and had been given an opportunity to make a defense against the accusation.\n\t\t\t So after they came back here with me, I did not postpone the case, but the next day I sat on the judgment seat and ordered the man to be brought. \n\t\t\t When his accusers stood up, they did not charge him with any of the evil deeds I had suspected.\n\t\t\t Rather they had several points of disagreement with him about their own religion and about a man named Jesus who was dead, whom Paul claimed to be alive. \n\t\t\t Because I was at a loss how I could investigate these matters, I asked if he were willing to go to Jerusalem and be tried there on these charges.\n\t\t\t But when Paul appealed to be kept in custody for the decision of His Majesty the Emperor, I ordered him to be kept under guard until I could send him to Caesar.\"\n\t\t\t Agrippa said to Festus, \"I would also like to hear the man myself.\" \"Tomorrow,\" he replied, \"you will hear him.\"\n\t\t\t So the next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp and entered the audience hall, along with the senior military officers and the prominent men of the city. When Festus gave the order, Paul was brought in. \n\t\t\t Then Festus said, \"King Agrippa, and all you who are present here with us, you see this man about whom the entire Jewish populace petitioned me both in Jerusalem and here, shouting loudly that he ought not to live any longer. \n\t\t\t But I found that he had done nothing that deserved death, and when he appealed to His Majesty the Emperor, I decided to send him.\n\t\t\t But I have nothing definite to write to my lord about him. Therefore I have brought him before you all, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after this preliminary hearing I may have something to write. \n\t\t\t For it seems unreasonable to me to send a prisoner without clearly indicating the charges against him.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t So Agrippa said to Paul, \"You have permission to speak for yourself.\" Then Paul held out his hand and began his defense:\n\t\t\t \"Regarding all the things I have been accused of by the Jews, King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate that I am about to make my defense before you today, \n\t\t\t because you are especially familiar with all the customs and controversial issues of the Jews. Therefore I ask you to listen to me patiently. \n\t\t\t Now all the Jews know the way I lived from my youth, spending my life from the beginning among my own people and in Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t They know, because they have known me from time past, if they are willing to testify, that according to the strictest party of our religion, I lived as a Pharisee.\n\t\t\t And now I stand here on trial because of my hope in the promise made by God to our ancestors,\n\t\t\t a promise that our twelve tribes hope to attain as they earnestly serve God night and day. Concerning this hope the Jews are accusing me, Your Majesty!\n\t\t\t Why do you people think it is unbelievable that God raises the dead? \n\t\t\t Of course, I myself was convinced that it was necessary to do many things hostile to the name of Jesus the Nazarene. \n\t\t\t And that is what I did in Jerusalem: Not only did I lock up many of the saints in prisons by the authority I received from the chief priests, but I also cast my vote against them when they were sentenced to death.\n\t\t\t I punished them often in all the synagogues and tried to force them to blaspheme. Because I was so furiously enraged at them, I went to persecute them even in foreign cities.\n\t\t\t \"While doing this very thing, as I was going to Damascus with authority and complete power from the chief priests, \n\t\t\t about noon along the road, Your Majesty, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining everywhere around me and those traveling with me. \n\t\t\t When we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? You are hurting yourself by kicking against the goads.'\n\t\t\t So I said, 'Who are you, Lord?' And the Lord replied, 'I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. \n\t\t\t But get up and stand on your feet, for I have appeared to you for this reason, to designate you in advance as a servant and witness to the things you have seen and to the things in which I will appear to you. \n\t\t\t I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you \n\t\t\t to open their eyes so that they turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a share among those who are sanctified by faith in me.'\n\t\t\t \"Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, \n\t\t\t but I declared to those in Damascus first, and then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds consistent with repentance.\n\t\t\t For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple courts and were trying to kill me. \n\t\t\t I have experienced help from God to this day, and so I stand testifying to both small and great, saying nothing except what the prophets and Moses said was going to happen: \n\t\t\t that the Christ was to suffer and be the first to rise from the dead, to proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.\"\n\t\t\t As Paul was saying these things in his defense, Festus exclaimed loudly, \"You have lost your mind, Paul! Your great learning is driving you insane!\" \n\t\t\t But Paul replied, \"I have not lost my mind, most excellent Festus, but am speaking true and rational words. \n\t\t\t For the king knows about these things, and I am speaking freely to him, because I cannot believe that any of these things has escaped his notice, for this was not done in a corner.\n\t\t\t Do you believe the prophets, King Agrippa? I know that you believe.\"\n\t\t\t Agrippa said to Paul, \"In such a short time are you persuading me to become a Christian?\"\n\t\t\t Paul replied, \"I pray to God that whether in a short or a long time not only you but also all those who are listening to me today could become such as I am, except for these chains.\"\n\t\t\t So the king got up, and with him the governor and Bernice and those sitting with them,\n\t\t\t and as they were leaving they said to one another, \"This man is not doing anything deserving death or imprisonment.\" \n\t\t\t Agrippa said to Festus, \"This man could have been released if he had not appealed to Caesar.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t When it was decided we would sail to Italy, they handed over Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion of the Augustan Cohort named Julius. \n\t\t\t We went on board a ship from Adramyttium that was about to sail to various ports along the coast of the province of Asia and put out to sea, accompanied by Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica.\n\t\t\t The next day we put in at Sidon, and Julius, treating Paul kindly, allowed him to go to his friends so they could provide him with what he needed.\n\t\t\t From there we put out to sea and sailed under the lee of Cyprus because the winds were against us. \n\t\t\t After we had sailed across the open sea off Cilicia and Pamphylia, we put in at Myra in Lycia.\n\t\t\t There the centurion found a ship from Alexandria sailing for Italy, and he put us aboard it.\n\t\t\t We sailed slowly for many days and arrived with difficulty off Cnidus. Because the wind prevented us from going any farther, we sailed under the lee of Crete off Salmone.\n\t\t\t With difficulty we sailed along the coast of Crete and came to a place called Fair Havens that was near the town of Lasea.\n\t\t\t Since considerable time had passed and the voyage was now dangerous because the fast was already over, Paul advised them,\n\t\t\t \"Men, I can see the voyage is going to end in disaster and great loss not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.\"\n\t\t\t But the centurion was more convinced by the captain and the ship's owner than by what Paul said.\n\t\t\t Because the harbor was not suitable to spend the winter in, the majority decided to put out to sea from there. They hoped that somehow they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete facing southwest and northwest, and spend the winter there. \n\t\t\t When a gentle south wind sprang up, they thought they could carry out their purpose, so they weighed anchor and sailed close along the coast of Crete. \n\t\t\t Not long after this, a hurricane-force wind called the northeaster blew down from the island.\n\t\t\t When the ship was caught in it and could not head into the wind, we gave way to it and were driven along. \n\t\t\t As we ran under the lee of a small island called Cauda, we were able with difficulty to get the ship's boat under control. \n\t\t\t After the crew had hoisted it aboard, they used supports to undergird the ship. Fearing they would run aground on the Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor, thus letting themselves be driven along. \n\t\t\t The next day, because we were violently battered by the storm, they began throwing the cargo overboard,\n\t\t\t and on the third day they threw the ship's gear overboard with their own hands. \n\t\t\t When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and a violent storm continued to batter us, we finally abandoned all hope of being saved.\n\t\t\t Since many of them had no desire to eat, Paul stood up among them and said, \"Men, you should have listened to me and not put out to sea from Crete, thus avoiding this damage and loss. \n\t\t\t And now I advise you to keep up your courage, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only the ship will be lost.\n\t\t\t For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve came to me\n\t\t\t and said, 'Do not be afraid, Paul! You must stand before Caesar, and God has graciously granted you the safety of all who are sailing with you.'\n\t\t\t Therefore keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will be just as I have been told. \n\t\t\t But we must run aground on some island.\"\n\t\t\t When the fourteenth night had come, while we were being driven across the Adriatic Sea, about midnight the sailors suspected they were approaching some land.\n\t\t\t They took soundings and found the water was twenty fathoms deep; when they had sailed a little farther they took soundings again and found it was fifteen fathoms deep. \n\t\t\t Because they were afraid that we would run aground on the rocky coast, they threw out four anchors from the stern and wished for day to appear.\n\t\t\t Then when the sailors tried to escape from the ship and were lowering the ship's boat into the sea, pretending that they were going to put out anchors from the bow,\n\t\t\t Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, \"Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved.\" \n\t\t\t Then the soldiers cut the ropes of the ship's boat and let it drift away.\n\t\t\t As day was about to dawn, Paul urged them all to take some food, saying, \"Today is the fourteenth day you have been in suspense and have gone without food; you have eaten nothing.\n\t\t\t Therefore I urge you to take some food, for this is important for your survival. For not one of you will lose a hair from his head.\" \n\t\t\t After he said this, Paul took bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all, broke it, and began to eat. \n\t\t\t So all of them were encouraged and took food themselves.\n\t\t\t (We were in all two hundred seventy-six persons on the ship.)\n\t\t\t When they had eaten enough to be satisfied, they lightened the ship by throwing the wheat into the sea.\n\t\t\t When day came, they did not recognize the land, but they noticed a bay with a beach, where they decided to run the ship aground if they could. \n\t\t\t So they slipped the anchors and left them in the sea, at the same time loosening the linkage that bound the steering oars together. Then they hoisted the foresail to the wind and steered toward the beach. \n\t\t\t But they encountered a patch of crosscurrents and ran the ship aground; the bow stuck fast and could not be moved, but the stern was being broken up by the force of the waves. \n\t\t\t Now the soldiers' plan was to kill the prisoners so that none of them would escape by swimming away.\n\t\t\t But the centurion, wanting to save Paul's life, prevented them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land,\n\t\t\t and the rest were to follow, some on planks and some on pieces of the ship. And in this way all were brought safely to land.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t After we had safely reached shore, we learned that the island was called Malta.\n\t\t\t The local inhabitants showed us extraordinary kindness, for they built a fire and welcomed us all because it had started to rain and was cold. \n\t\t\t When Paul had gathered a bundle of brushwood and was putting it on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened itself on his hand. \n\t\t\t When the local people saw the creature hanging from Paul's hand, they said to one another, \"No doubt this man is a murderer! Although he has escaped from the sea, Justice herself has not allowed him to live!\"\n\t\t\t However, Paul shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no harm. \n\t\t\t But they were expecting that he was going to swell up or suddenly drop dead. So after they had waited a long time and had seen nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.\n\t\t\t Now in the region around that place were fields belonging to the chief official of the island, named Publius, who welcomed us and entertained us hospitably as guests for three days. \n\t\t\t The father of Publius lay sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and after praying, placed his hands on him and healed him. \n\t\t\t After this had happened, many of the people on the island who were sick also came and were healed.\n\t\t\t They also bestowed many honors, and when we were preparing to sail, they gave us all the supplies we needed.\n\t\t\t After three months we put out to sea in an Alexandrian ship that had wintered at the island and had the \"Heavenly Twins\" as its figurehead.\n\t\t\t We put in at Syracuse and stayed there three days. \n\t\t\t From there we cast off and arrived at Rhegium, and after one day a south wind sprang up and on the second day we came to Puteoli.\n\t\t\t There we found some brothers and were invited to stay with them seven days. And in this way we came to Rome.\n\t\t\t The brothers from there, when they heard about us, came as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns to meet us. When he saw them, Paul thanked God and took courage. \n\t\t\t When we entered Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with the soldier who was guarding him.\n\t\t\t After three days Paul called the local Jewish leaders together. When they had assembled, he said to them, \"Brothers, although I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our ancestors, from Jerusalem I was handed over as a prisoner to the Romans.\n\t\t\t When they had heard my case, they wanted to release me, because there was no basis for a death sentence against me. \n\t\t\t But when the Jews objected, I was forced to appeal to Caesar, not that I had some charge to bring against my own people.\n\t\t\t So for this reason I have asked to see you and speak with you, for I am bound with this chain because of the hope of Israel.\"\n\t\t\t They replied, \"We have received no letters from Judea about you, nor have any of the brothers come from there and reported or said anything bad about you. \n\t\t\t But we would like to hear from you what you think, for regarding this sect we know that people everywhere speak against it.\"\n\t\t\t They set a day to meet with him, and they came to him where he was staying in even greater numbers. From morning until evening he explained things to them, testifying about the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus from both the law of Moses and the prophets. \n\t\t\t Some were convinced by what he said, but others refused to believe. \n\t\t\t So they began to leave, unable to agree among themselves, after Paul made one last statement: \"The Holy Spirit spoke rightly to your ancestors through the prophet Isaiah \n\t\t\t when he said, 'Go to this people and say, \"You will keep on hearing, but will never understand, and you will keep on looking, but will never perceive.\n\t\t\t For the heart of this people has become dull, and their ears are hard of hearing, and they have closed their eyes, so that they would not see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.\"'\n\t\t\t \"Therefore be advised that this salvation from God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen!\"\n\t\t\t \n\t\t\t Paul lived there two whole years in his own rented quarters and welcomed all who came to him, \n\t\t\t proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with complete boldness and without restriction.\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t From Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God.\n\t\t\t This gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy scriptures, \n\t\t\t concerning his Son who was a descendant of David with reference to the flesh,\n\t\t\t who was appointed the Son-of-God-in-power according to the Holy Spirit by the resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord. \n\t\t\t Through him we have received grace and our apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles on behalf of his name. \n\t\t\t You also are among them, called to belong to Jesus Christ.\n\t\t\t To all those loved by God in Rome, called to be saints: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!\n\t\t\t First of all, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed throughout the whole world. \n\t\t\t For God, whom I serve in my spirit by preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness that I continually remember you \n\t\t\t and I always ask in my prayers, if perhaps now at last I may succeed in visiting you according to the will of God.\n\t\t\t For I long to see you, so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you, \n\t\t\t that is, that we may be mutually comforted by one another's faith, both yours and mine. \n\t\t\t I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that I often intended to come to you (and was prevented until now), so that I may have some fruit even among you, just as I already have among the rest of the Gentiles.\n\t\t\t I am a debtor both to the Greeks and to the barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. \n\t\t\t Thus I am eager also to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome.\n\t\t\t For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is God's power for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.\n\t\t\t For the righteousness of God is revealed in the gospel from faith to faith, just as it is written, \"The righteous by faith will live.\"\n\t\t\t For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of people who suppress the truth by their unrighteousness,\n\t\t\t because what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. \n\t\t\t For since the creation of the world his invisible attributes, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, because they are understood through what has been made. So people are without excuse.\n\t\t\t For although they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or give him thanks, but they became futile in their thoughts and their senseless hearts were darkened. \n\t\t\t Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools \n\t\t\t and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for an image resembling mortal human beings or birds or four-footed animals or reptiles.\n\t\t\t Therefore God gave them over in the desires of their hearts to impurity, to dishonor their bodies among themselves.\n\t\t\t They exchanged the truth of God for a lie and worshiped and served the creation rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.\n\t\t\t For this reason God gave them over to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged the natural sexual relations for unnatural ones,\n\t\t\t and likewise the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed in their passions for one another. Men committed shameless acts with men and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.\n\t\t\t And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what should not be done.\n\t\t\t They are filled with every kind of unrighteousness, wickedness, covetousness, malice. They are rife with envy, murder, strife, deceit, hostility. They are gossips, \n\t\t\t slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, contrivers of all sorts of evil, disobedient to parents,\n\t\t\t senseless, covenant-breakers, heartless, ruthless. \n\t\t\t Although they fully know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but also approve of those who practice them.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Therefore you are without excuse, whoever you are, when you judge someone else. For on whatever grounds you judge another, you condemn yourself, because you who judge practice the same things. \n\t\t\t Now we know that God's judgment is in accordance with truth against those who practice such things. \n\t\t\t And do you think, whoever you are, when you judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself, that you will escape God's judgment? \n\t\t\t Or do you have contempt for the wealth of his kindness, forbearance, and patience, and yet do not know that God's kindness leads you to repentance? \n\t\t\t But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath for yourselves in the day of wrath, when God's righteous judgment is revealed!\n\t\t\t He will reward each one according to his works:\n\t\t\t eternal life to those who by perseverance in good works seek glory and honor and immortality,\n\t\t\t but wrath and anger to those who live in selfish ambition and do not obey the truth but follow unrighteousness. \n\t\t\t There will be affliction and distress on everyone who does evil, on the Jew first and also the Greek,\n\t\t\t but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, for the Jew first and also the Greek. \n\t\t\t For there is no partiality with God.\n\t\t\t For 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. \n\t\t\t For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous before God, but those who do the law will be declared righteous.\n\t\t\t For whenever the Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature the things required by the law, these who do not have the law are a law to themselves. \n\t\t\t They show that the work of the law is written in their hearts, as their conscience bears witness and their conflicting thoughts accuse or else defend them,\n\t\t\t on the day when God will judge the secrets of human hearts, according to my gospel through Christ Jesus.\n\t\t\t But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast of your relationship to God\n\t\t\t and know his will and approve the superior things because you receive instruction from the law,\n\t\t\t and if you are convinced that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, \n\t\t\t an educator of the senseless, a teacher of little children, because you have in the law the essential features of knowledge and of the truth,\n\t\t\t therefore you who teach someone else, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? \n\t\t\t You who tell others not to commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? \n\t\t\t You who boast in the law dishonor God by transgressing the law!\n\t\t\t For just as it is written, \"the name of God is being blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.\"\n\t\t\t For circumcision has its value if you practice the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. \n\t\t\t Therefore if the uncircumcised man obeys the righteous requirements of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision? \n\t\t\t And will not the physically uncircumcised man who keeps the law judge you who, despite the written code and circumcision, transgress the law? \n\t\t\t For a person is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision something that is outward in the flesh,\n\t\t\t but someone is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is of the heart by the Spirit and not by the written code. This person's praise is not from people but from God.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Therefore what advantage does the Jew have, or what is the value of circumcision?\n\t\t\t Actually, there are many advantages. First of all, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God.\n\t\t\t What then? If some did not believe, does their unbelief nullify the faithfulness of God?\n\t\t\t Absolutely not! Let God be proven true, and every human being shown up as a liar, just as it is written: \"so that you will be justified in your words and will prevail when you are judged.\"\n\t\t\t But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? The God who inflicts wrath is not unrighteous, is he? (I am speaking in human terms.)\n\t\t\t Absolutely not! For otherwise how could God judge the world?\n\t\t\t For if by my lie the truth of God enhances his glory, why am I still actually being judged as a sinner? \n\t\t\t And why not say, \"Let us do evil so that good may come of it\"?, as some who slander us allege that we say. (Their condemnation is deserved!)\n\t\t\t What then? Are we better off? Certainly not, for we have already charged that Jews and Greeks alike are all under sin,\n\t\t\t just as it is written: \"There is no one righteous, not even one,\n\t\t\t there is no one who understands, there is no one who seeks God.\n\t\t\t All have turned away, together they have become worthless; there is no one who shows kindness, not even one.\"\n\t\t\t \"Their throats are open graves, they deceive with their tongues, the poison of asps is under their lips.\"\n\t\t\t \"Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.\"\n\t\t\t \"Their feet are swift to shed blood,\n\t\t\t ruin and misery are in their paths,\n\t\t\t and the way of peace they have not known.\"\n\t\t\t \"There is no fear of God before their eyes.\"\n\t\t\t Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world may be held accountable to God. \n\t\t\t For no one is declared righteous before him by the works of the law, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin. \n\t\t\t But now apart from the law the righteousness of God (which is attested by the law and the prophets) has been disclosed,\n\t\t\t namely, the righteousness of God through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction, \n\t\t\t for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.\n\t\t\t But they are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. \n\t\t\t God publicly displayed him at his death as the mercy seat accessible through faith. This was to demonstrate his righteousness, because God in his forbearance had passed over the sins previously committed.\n\t\t\t This was also to demonstrate his righteousness in the present time, so that he would be just and the justifier of the one who lives because of Jesus' faithfulness.\n\t\t\t Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded! By what principle? Of works? No, but by the principle of faith! \n\t\t\t For we consider that a person is declared righteous by faith apart from the works of the law.\n\t\t\t Or is God the God of the Jews only? Is he not the God of the Gentiles too? Yes, of the Gentiles too!\n\t\t\t Since God is one, he will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. \n\t\t\t Do we then nullify the law through faith? Absolutely not! Instead we uphold the law.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t What then shall we say that Abraham, our ancestor according to the flesh, has discovered regarding this matter?\n\t\t\t For if Abraham was declared righteous by the works of the law, he has something to boast about, but not before God.\n\t\t\t For what does the scripture say? \"Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.\"\n\t\t\t Now to the one who works, his pay is not credited due to grace but due to obligation.\n\t\t\t But to the one who does not work, but believes in the one who declares the ungodly righteous, his faith is credited as righteousness.\n\t\t\t So even David himself speaks regarding the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:\n\t\t\t \"Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered;\n\t\t\t blessed is the one against whom the Lord will never count sin.\"\n\t\t\t Is this blessedness then for the circumcision or also for the uncircumcision? For we say, \"faith was credited to Abraham as righteousness.\"\n\t\t\t How then was it credited to him? Was he circumcised at the time, or not? No, he was not circumcised but uncircumcised!\n\t\t\t And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised, so that he would become the father of all those who believe but have never been circumcised, that they too could have righteousness credited to them. \n\t\t\t And he is also the father of the circumcised, who are not only circumcised, but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham possessed when he was still uncircumcised.\n\t\t\t For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would inherit the world was not fulfilled through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. \n\t\t\t For if they become heirs by the law, faith is empty and the promise is nullified.\n\t\t\t For the law brings wrath, because where there is no law there is no transgression either. \n\t\t\t For this reason it is by faith so that it may be by grace, with the result that the promise may be certain to all the descendants, not only to those who are under the law, but also to those who have the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all\n\t\t\t (as it is written, \"I have made you the father of many nations\"). He is our father in the presence of God whom he believed, the God who makes the dead alive and summons the things that do not yet exist as though they already do.\n\t\t\t Against hope Abraham believed in hope with the result that he became the father of many nations according to the pronouncement, \"so will your descendants be.\"\n\t\t\t Without being weak in faith, he considered his own body as dead (because he was about one hundred years old) and the deadness of Sarah's womb. \n\t\t\t He did not waver in unbelief about the promise of God but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God. \n\t\t\t He was fully convinced that what God promised he was also able to do. \n\t\t\t So indeed it was credited to Abraham as righteousness.\n\t\t\t But the statement it was credited to him was not written only for Abraham's sake,\n\t\t\t but also for our sake, to whom it will be credited, those who believe in the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.\n\t\t\t He was given over because of our transgressions and was raised for the sake of our justification.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, \n\t\t\t through whom we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of God's glory. \n\t\t\t Not only this, but we also rejoice in sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, \n\t\t\t and endurance, character, and character, hope.\n\t\t\t And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.\n\t\t\t For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.\n\t\t\t (For rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person perhaps someone might possibly dare to die.)\n\t\t\t But God demonstrates his own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.\n\t\t\t Much more then, because we have now been declared righteous by his blood, we will be saved through him from God's wrath.\n\t\t\t For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, how much more, since we have been reconciled, will we be saved by his life?\n\t\t\t Not only this, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received this reconciliation.\n\t\t\t So then, just as sin entered the world through one man and death through sin, and so death spread to all people because all sinned,\n\t\t\t for before the law was given, sin was in the world, but there is no accounting for sin when there is no law. \n\t\t\t Yet death reigned from Adam until Moses even over those who did not sin in the same way that Adam (who is a type of the coming one) transgressed.\n\t\t\t But the gracious gift is not like the transgression. For if the many died through the transgression of the one man, how much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one man Jesus Christ multiply to the many!\n\t\t\t And the gift is not like the one who sinned. For judgment, resulting from the one transgression, led to condemnation, but the gracious gift from the many failures led to justification. \n\t\t\t For if, by the transgression of the one man, death reigned through the one, how much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, Jesus Christ!\n\t\t\t Consequently, just as condemnation for all people came through one transgression, so too through the one righteous act came righteousness leading to life for all people. \n\t\t\t For just as through the disobedience of the one man many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of one man many will be made righteous. \n\t\t\t Now the law came in so that the transgression may increase, but where sin increased, grace multiplied all the more, \n\t\t\t so that just as sin reigned in death, so also grace will reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t What shall we say then? Are we to remain in sin so that grace may increase?\n\t\t\t Absolutely not! How can we who died to sin still live in it?\n\t\t\t Or do you not know that as many as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?\n\t\t\t Therefore we have been buried with him through baptism into death, in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too may live a new life.\n\t\t\t For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we will certainly also be united in the likeness of his resurrection.\n\t\t\t We know that our old man was crucified with him so that the body of sin would no longer dominate us, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. \n\t\t\t (For someone who has died has been freed from sin.)\n\t\t\t Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.\n\t\t\t We know that since Christ has been raised from the dead, he is never going to die again; death no longer has mastery over him. \n\t\t\t For the death he died, he died to sin once for all, but the life he lives, he lives to God.\n\t\t\t So you too consider yourselves dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.\n\t\t\t Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its desires,\n\t\t\t and do not present your members to sin as instruments to be used for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who are alive from the dead and your members to God as instruments to be used for righteousness. \n\t\t\t For sin will have no mastery over you, because you are not under law but under grace.\n\t\t\t What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Absolutely not!\n\t\t\t Do you not know that if you present yourselves as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or obedience resulting in righteousness?\n\t\t\t But thanks be to God that though you were slaves to sin, you obeyed from the heart that pattern of teaching you were entrusted to, \n\t\t\t and having been freed from sin, you became enslaved to righteousness.\n\t\t\t (I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh.) For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification. \n\t\t\t For when you were slaves of sin, you were free with regard to righteousness.\n\t\t\t So what benefit did you then reap from those things that you are now ashamed of? For the end of those things is death. \n\t\t\t But now, freed from sin and enslaved to God, you have your benefit leading to sanctification, and the end is eternal life. \n\t\t\t For the payoff of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Or do you not know, brothers and sisters (for I am speaking to those who know the law), that the law is lord over a person as long as he lives? \n\t\t\t For a married woman is bound by law to her husband as long as he lives, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law of the marriage.\n\t\t\t So then, if she is joined to another man while her husband is alive, she will be called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law, and if she is joined to another man, she is not an adulteress. \n\t\t\t So, my brothers and sisters, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you could be joined to another, to the one who was raised from the dead, to bear fruit to God.\n\t\t\t For when we were in the flesh, the sinful desires, aroused by the law, were active in the members of our body to bear fruit for death. \n\t\t\t But now we have been released from the law, because we have died to what controlled us, so that we may serve in the new life of the Spirit and not under the old written code.\n\t\t\t What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Absolutely not! Certainly, I would not have known sin except through the law. For indeed I would not have known what it means to desire something belonging to someone else if the law had not said, \"Do not covet.\"\n\t\t\t But sin, seizing the opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of wrong desires. For apart from the law, sin is dead. \n\t\t\t And I was once alive apart from the law, but with the coming of the commandment sin became alive\n\t\t\t and I died. So I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life brought death!\n\t\t\t For sin, seizing the opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it I died.\n\t\t\t So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous, and good.\n\t\t\t Did that which is good, then, become death to me? Absolutely not! But sin, so that it would be shown to be sin, produced death in me through what is good, so that through the commandment sin would become utterly sinful.\n\t\t\t For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am unspiritual, sold into slavery to sin.\n\t\t\t For I don't understand what I am doing. For I do not do what I want, instead, I do what I hate.\n\t\t\t But if I do what I don't want, I agree that the law is good.\n\t\t\t But now it is no longer me doing it, but sin that lives in me.\n\t\t\t For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh. For I want to do the good, but I cannot do it.\n\t\t\t For I do not do the good I want, but I do the very evil I do not want!\n\t\t\t Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer me doing it but sin that lives in me.\n\t\t\t So, I find the law that when I want to do good, evil is present with me.\n\t\t\t For I delight in the law of God in my inner being.\n\t\t\t But I see a different law in my members waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that is in my members.\n\t\t\t Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?\n\t\t\t Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.\n\t\t\t For the law of the life-giving Spirit in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death. \n\t\t\t For God achieved what the law could not do because it was weakened through the flesh. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and concerning sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, \n\t\t\t so that the righteous requirement of the law may be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.\n\t\t\t For those who live according to the flesh have their outlook shaped by the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit have their outlook shaped by the things of the Spirit. \n\t\t\t For the outlook of the flesh is death, but the outlook of the Spirit is life and peace, \n\t\t\t because the outlook of the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to the law of God, nor is it able to do so.\n\t\t\t Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.\n\t\t\t You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, this person does not belong to him. \n\t\t\t But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is your life because of righteousness. \n\t\t\t Moreover if the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, the one who raised Christ from the dead will also make your mortal bodies alive through his Spirit who lives in you.\n\t\t\t So then, brothers and sisters, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh \n\t\t\t (for if you live according to the flesh, you will die), but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body you will live. \n\t\t\t For all who are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God. \n\t\t\t For you did not receive the spirit of slavery leading again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, \"Abba, Father.\" \n\t\t\t The Spirit himself bears witness to our spirit that we are God's children. \n\t\t\t And if children, then heirs (namely, heirs of God and also fellow heirs with Christ), if indeed we suffer with him so we may also be glorified with him.\n\t\t\t For I consider that our present sufferings cannot even be compared to the glory that will be revealed to us. \n\t\t\t For the creation eagerly waits for the revelation of the sons of God.\n\t\t\t For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly but because of God who subjected it, in hope\n\t\t\t that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage of decay into the glorious freedom of God's children.\n\t\t\t For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers together until now.\n\t\t\t Not only this, but we ourselves also, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we eagerly await our adoption, the redemption of our bodies.\n\t\t\t For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees?\n\t\t\t But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with endurance.\n\t\t\t In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how we should pray, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings. \n\t\t\t And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes on behalf of the saints according to God's will. \n\t\t\t And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose, \n\t\t\t because those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.\n\t\t\t And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.\n\t\t\t What then shall we say about these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?\n\t\t\t Indeed, he who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all, how will he not also, along with him, freely give us all things?\n\t\t\t Who will bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. \n\t\t\t Who is the one who will condemn? Christ is the one who died (and more than that, he was raised), who is at the right hand of God, and who also is interceding for us. \n\t\t\t Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will trouble, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?\n\t\t\t As it is written, \"For your sake we encounter death all day long; we were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.\"\n\t\t\t No, in all these things we have complete victory through him who loved us! \n\t\t\t For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor heavenly rulers, nor things that are present, nor things to come, nor powers, \n\t\t\t nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t I am telling the truth in Christ (I am not lying!), for my conscience assures me in the Holy Spirit,\n\t\t\t I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.\n\t\t\t For I could wish that I myself were accursed, cut off from Christ, for the sake of my people, my fellow countrymen,\n\t\t\t who are Israelites. To them belong the adoption as sons, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the temple worship, and the promises. \n\t\t\t To them belong the patriarchs, and from them, by human descent, came the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever! Amen.\n\t\t\t It is not as though the word of God had failed. For not all those who are descended from Israel are truly Israel,\n\t\t\t nor are all the children Abraham's true descendants; rather \"through Isaac will your descendants be counted.\"\n\t\t\t This means it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God; rather, the children of promise are counted as descendants. \n\t\t\t For this is what the promise declared: \"About a year from now I will return and Sarah will have a son.\"\n\t\t\t Not only that, but when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our ancestor Isaac,\n\t\t\t even before they were born or had done anything good or bad (so that God's purpose in election would stand, not by works but by his calling),\n\t\t\t it was said to her, \"The older will serve the younger,\"\n\t\t\t just as it is written: \"Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.\"\n\t\t\t What shall we say then? Is there injustice with God? Absolutely not!\n\t\t\t For he says to Moses: \"I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.\"\n\t\t\t So then, it does not depend on human desire or exertion, but on God who shows mercy. \n\t\t\t For the scripture says to Pharaoh: \"For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may demonstrate my power in you, and that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth.\"\n\t\t\t So then, God has mercy on whom he chooses to have mercy, and he hardens whom he chooses to harden.\n\t\t\t You will say to me then, \"Why does he still find fault? For who has ever resisted his will?\"\n\t\t\t But who indeed are you, a mere human being, to talk back to God? Does what is molded say to the molder, \"Why have you made me like this?\"\n\t\t\t Has the potter no right to make from the same lump of clay one vessel for special use and another for ordinary use?\n\t\t\t But what if God, willing to demonstrate his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience the objects of wrath prepared for destruction?\n\t\t\t And what if he is willing to make known the wealth of his glory on the objects of mercy that he has prepared beforehand for glory,\n\t\t\t even us, whom he has called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles?\n\t\t\t As he also says in Hosea: \"I will call those who were not my people, 'My people,' and I will call her who was unloved, 'My beloved.'\"\n\t\t\t \"And in the very place where it was said to them, 'You are not my people,' there they will be called 'sons of the living God.'\"\n\t\t\t And Isaiah cries out on behalf of Israel, \"Though the number of the children of Israel are as the sand of the sea, only the remnant will be saved, \n\t\t\t for the Lord will execute his sentence on the earth completely and quickly.\"\n\t\t\t Just as Isaiah predicted, \"If the Lord of armies had not left us descendants, we would have become like Sodom, and we would have resembled Gomorrah.\"\n\t\t\t What shall we say then?, that the Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness obtained it, that is, a righteousness that is by faith,\n\t\t\t but Israel even though pursuing a law of righteousness did not attain it.\n\t\t\t Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but (as if it were possible) by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone,\n\t\t\t just as it is written, \"Look, I am laying in Zion a stone that will cause people to stumble and a rock that will make them fall, yet the one who believes in him will not be put to shame.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Brothers and sisters, my heart's desire and prayer to God on behalf of my fellow Israelites is for their salvation. \n\t\t\t For I can testify that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not in line with the truth.\n\t\t\t For ignoring the righteousness that comes from God, and seeking instead to establish their own righteousness, they did not submit to God's righteousness.\n\t\t\t For Christ is the end of the law, with the result that there is righteousness for everyone who believes.\n\t\t\t For Moses writes about the righteousness that is by the law: \"The one who does these things will live by them.\"\n\t\t\t But the righteousness that is by faith says: \"Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?'\" (that is, to bring Christ down) \n\t\t\t or \"Who will descend into the abyss?\" (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). \n\t\t\t But what does it say? \"The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart\" (that is, the word of faith that we preach), \n\t\t\t because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. \n\t\t\t For with the heart one believes and thus has righteousness and with the mouth one confesses and thus has salvation.\n\t\t\t For the scripture says, \"Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.\"\n\t\t\t For there is no distinction between the Jew and the Greek, for the same Lord is Lord of all, who richly blesses all who call on him.\n\t\t\t For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.\n\t\t\t How are they to call on one they have not believed in? And how are they to believe in one they have not heard of? And how are they to hear without someone preaching to them?\n\t\t\t And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, \"How timely is the arrival of those who proclaim the good news.\"\n\t\t\t But not all have obeyed the good news, for Isaiah says, \"Lord, who has believed our report?\"\n\t\t\t Consequently faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the preached word of Christ.\n\t\t\t But I ask, have they not heard? Yes, they have: Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.\n\t\t\t But again I ask, didn't Israel understand? First Moses says, \"I will make you jealous by those who are not a nation; with a senseless nation I will provoke you to anger.\"\n\t\t\t And Isaiah is even bold enough to say, \"I was found by those who did not seek me; I became well known to those who did not ask for me.\"\n\t\t\t But about Israel he says, \"All day long I held out my hands to this disobedient and stubborn people!\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t So I ask, God has not rejected his people, has he? Absolutely not! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin.\n\t\t\t God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew! Do you not know what the scripture says about Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel?\n\t\t\t \"Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars; I alone am left and they are seeking my life!\"\n\t\t\t But what was the divine response to him? \"I have kept for myself seven thousand people who have not bent the knee to Baal.\"\n\t\t\t So in the same way at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace.\n\t\t\t And if it is by grace, it is no longer by works, otherwise grace would no longer be grace.\n\t\t\t What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was diligently seeking, but the elect obtained it. The rest were hardened, \n\t\t\t as it is written, \"God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that would not see and ears that would not hear, to this very day.\"\n\t\t\t And David says, \"Let their table become a snare and trap, a stumbling block and a retribution for them;\n\t\t\t let their eyes be darkened so that they may not see, and make their backs bend continually.\"\n\t\t\t I ask then, they did not stumble into an irrevocable fall, did they? Absolutely not! But by their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make Israel jealous.\n\t\t\t Now if their transgression means riches for the world and their defeat means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full restoration bring?\n\t\t\t Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Seeing that I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry,\n\t\t\t if somehow I could provoke my people to jealousy and save some of them.\n\t\t\t For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?\n\t\t\t If the first portion of the dough offered is holy, then the whole batch is holy, and if the root is holy, so too are the branches.\n\t\t\t Now if some of the branches were broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among them and participated in the richness of the olive root, \n\t\t\t do not boast over the branches. But if you boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you.\n\t\t\t Then you will say, \"The branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.\"\n\t\t\t Granted! They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but fear! \n\t\t\t For if God did not spare the natural branches, perhaps he will not spare you.\n\t\t\t Notice therefore the kindness and harshness of God, harshness toward those who have fallen, but God's kindness toward you, provided you continue in his kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off.\n\t\t\t And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.\n\t\t\t For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these natural branches be grafted back into their own olive tree?\n\t\t\t For I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: A partial hardening has happened to Israel until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. \n\t\t\t And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: \"The Deliverer will come out of Zion; he will remove ungodliness from Jacob.\n\t\t\t And this is my covenant with them, when I take away their sins.\"\n\t\t\t In regard to the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but in regard to election they are dearly loved for the sake of the fathers.\n\t\t\t For the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable.\n\t\t\t Just as you were formerly disobedient to God, but have now received mercy due to their disobedience,\n\t\t\t so they too have now been disobedient in order that, by the mercy shown to you, they too may now receive mercy. \n\t\t\t For God has consigned all people to disobedience so that he may show mercy to them all.\n\t\t\t Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how fathomless his ways!\n\t\t\t For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?\n\t\t\t Or who has first given to God, that God needs to repay him?\n\t\t\t For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever! Amen.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Therefore I exhort you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a sacrifice, alive, holy, and pleasing to God, which is your reasonable service.\n\t\t\t Do not be conformed to this present world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may test and approve what is the will of God, what is good and well-pleasing and perfect.\n\t\t\t For by the grace given to me I say to every one of you not to think more highly of yourself than you ought to think, but to think with sober discernment, as God has distributed to each of you a measure of faith.\n\t\t\t For just as in one body we have many members, and not all the members serve the same function,\n\t\t\t so we who are many are one body in Christ, and individually we are members who belong to one another.\n\t\t\t And we have different gifts according to the grace given to us. If the gift is prophecy, that individual must use it in proportion to his faith. \n\t\t\t If it is service, he must serve; if it is teaching, he must teach;\n\t\t\t if it is exhortation, he must exhort; if it is contributing, he must do so with sincerity; if it is leadership, he must do so with diligence; if it is showing mercy, he must do so with cheerfulness.\n\t\t\t Love must be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil, cling to what is good. \n\t\t\t Be devoted to one another with mutual love, showing eagerness in honoring one another.\n\t\t\t Do not lag in zeal, be enthusiastic in spirit, serve the Lord.\n\t\t\t Rejoice in hope, endure in suffering, persist in prayer.\n\t\t\t Contribute to the needs of the saints, pursue hospitality.\n\t\t\t Bless those who persecute you, bless and do not curse.\n\t\t\t Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.\n\t\t\t Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty but associate with the lowly. Do not be conceited.\n\t\t\t Do not repay anyone evil for evil; consider what is good before all people.\n\t\t\t If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all people.\n\t\t\t Do not avenge yourselves, dear friends, but give place to God's wrath, for it is written, \"Vengeance is mine, I will repay,\" says the Lord. \n\t\t\t Rather, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing this you will be heaping burning coals on his head.\n\t\t\t Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except by God's appointment, and the authorities that exist have been instituted by God. \n\t\t\t So the person who resists such authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will incur judgment \n\t\t\t (for rulers cause no fear for good conduct but for bad). Do you desire not to fear authority? Do good and you will receive its commendation,\n\t\t\t for it is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be in fear, for it does not bear the sword in vain. It is God's servant to administer retribution on the wrongdoer.\n\t\t\t Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of the wrath of the authorities but also because of your conscience.\n\t\t\t For this reason you also pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants devoted to governing.\n\t\t\t Pay everyone what is owed: taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.\n\t\t\t Owe no one anything, except to love one another, for the one who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.\n\t\t\t For the commandments, \"Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not covet,\" (and if there is any other commandment) are summed up in this, \"Love your neighbor as yourself.\"\n\t\t\t Love does no wrong to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.\n\t\t\t And do this because we know the time, that it is already the hour for us to awake from sleep, for our salvation is now nearer than when we became believers. \n\t\t\t The night has advanced toward dawn; the day is near. So then we must lay aside the works of darkness, and put on the weapons of light.\n\t\t\t Let us live decently as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in discord and jealousy.\n\t\t\t Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh to arouse its desires.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now receive the one who is weak in the faith, and do not have disputes over differing opinions.\n\t\t\t One person believes in eating everything, but the weak person eats only vegetables.\n\t\t\t The one who eats everything must not despise the one who does not, and the one who abstains must not judge the one who eats everything, for God has accepted him.\n\t\t\t Who are you to pass judgment on another's servant? Before his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.\n\t\t\t One person regards one day holier than other days, and another regards them all alike. Each must be fully convinced in his own mind. \n\t\t\t The one who observes the day does it for the Lord. The one who eats, eats for the Lord because he gives thanks to God, and the one who abstains from eating abstains for the Lord, and he gives thanks to God. \n\t\t\t For none of us lives for himself and none dies for himself.\n\t\t\t If we live, we live for the Lord; if we die, we die for the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's.\n\t\t\t For this reason Christ died and returned to life, so that he may be the Lord of both the dead and the living.\n\t\t\t But you who eat vegetables only, why do you judge your brother or sister? And you who eat everything, why do you despise your brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.\n\t\t\t For it is written, \"As I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow to me, and every tongue will give praise to God.\"\n\t\t\t Therefore, each of us will give an account of himself to God.\n\t\t\t Therefore we must not pass judgment on one another, but rather determine never to place an obstacle or a trap before a brother or sister.\n\t\t\t I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean in itself; still, it is unclean to the one who considers it unclean.\n\t\t\t For if your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy by your food someone for whom Christ died. \n\t\t\t Therefore do not let what you consider good be spoken of as evil.\n\t\t\t For the kingdom of God does not consist of food and drink, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.\n\t\t\t For the one who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by people.\n\t\t\t So then, let us pursue what makes for peace and for building up one another.\n\t\t\t Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. For although all things are clean, it is wrong to cause anyone to stumble by what you eat. \n\t\t\t It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything that causes your brother to stumble.\n\t\t\t The faith you have, keep to yourself before God. Blessed is the one who does not judge himself by what he approves. \n\t\t\t But the man who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not do so from faith, and whatever is not from faith is sin.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t But we who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak, and not just please ourselves.\n\t\t\t Let each of us please his neighbor for his good to build him up.\n\t\t\t For even Christ did not please himself, but just as it is written, \"The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.\"\n\t\t\t For everything that was written in former times was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and through encouragement of the scriptures we may have hope.\n\t\t\t Now may the God of endurance and comfort give you unity with one another in accordance with Christ Jesus, \n\t\t\t so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.\n\t\t\t Receive one another, then, just as Christ also received you, to God's glory.\n\t\t\t For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of God's truth to confirm the promises made to the fathers,\n\t\t\t and thus the Gentiles glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, \"Because of this I will confess you among the Gentiles, and I will sing praises to your name.\"\n\t\t\t And again it says: \"Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.\"\n\t\t\t And again, \"Praise the Lord all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples praise him.\"\n\t\t\t And again Isaiah says, \"The root of Jesse will come, and the one who rises to rule over the Gentiles, in him will the Gentiles hope.\"\n\t\t\t Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in him, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.\n\t\t\t But I myself am fully convinced about you, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able to instruct one another. \n\t\t\t But I have written more boldly to you on some points so as to remind you, because of the grace given to me by God\n\t\t\t to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles. I serve the gospel of God like a priest, so that the Gentiles may become an acceptable offering, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.\n\t\t\t So I boast in Christ Jesus about the things that pertain to God. \n\t\t\t For I will not dare to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in order to bring about the obedience of the Gentiles, by word and deed, \n\t\t\t in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Spirit of God. So from Jerusalem even as far as Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.\n\t\t\t And in this way I desire to preach where Christ has not been named, so as not to build on another person's foundation,\n\t\t\t but as it is written: \"Those who were not told about him will see, and those who have not heard will understand.\"\n\t\t\t This is the reason I was often hindered from coming to you.\n\t\t\t But now there is nothing more to keep me in these regions, and I have for many years desired to come to you \n\t\t\t when I go to Spain. For I hope to visit you when I pass through and that you will help me on my journey there, after I have enjoyed your company for a while.\n\t\t\t But now I go to Jerusalem to minister to the saints.\n\t\t\t For Macedonia and Achaia are pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t For they were pleased to do this, and indeed they are indebted to the Jerusalem saints. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual things, they are obligated also to minister to them in material things.\n\t\t\t Therefore after I have completed this and have safely delivered this bounty to them, I will set out for Spain by way of you, \n\t\t\t and I know that when I come to you I will come in the fullness of Christ's blessing.\n\t\t\t Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, through our Lord Jesus Christ and through the love of the Spirit, to join fervently with me in prayer to God on my behalf. \n\t\t\t Pray that I may be rescued from those who are disobedient in Judea and that my ministry in Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, \n\t\t\t so that by God's will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company.\n\t\t\t Now may the God of peace be with all of you. Amen.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea, \n\t\t\t so that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints and provide her with whatever help she may need from you, for she has been a great help to many, including me.\n\t\t\t Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, \n\t\t\t who risked their own necks for my life. Not only I, but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them.\n\t\t\t Also greet the church in their house. Greet my dear friend Epenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia.\n\t\t\t Greet Mary, who has worked very hard for you.\n\t\t\t Greet Andronicus and Junia, my compatriots and my fellow prisoners. They are well known to the apostles, and they were in Christ before me. \n\t\t\t Greet Ampliatus, my dear friend in the Lord.\n\t\t\t Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my good friend Stachys.\n\t\t\t Greet Apelles, who is approved in Christ. Greet those who belong to the household of Aristobulus.\n\t\t\t Greet Herodion, my compatriot. Greet those in the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord. \n\t\t\t Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, laborers in the Lord. Greet my dear friend Persis, who has worked hard in the Lord. \n\t\t\t Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother who was also a mother to me.\n\t\t\t Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers and sisters with them. \n\t\t\t Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the believers who are with them. \n\t\t\t Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.\n\t\t\t Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who create dissensions and obstacles contrary to the teaching that you learned. Avoid them! \n\t\t\t For these are the kind who do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By their smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of the naive. \n\t\t\t Your obedience is known to all and thus I rejoice over you. But I want you to be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil.\n\t\t\t The God of peace will quickly crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.\n\t\t\t Timothy, my fellow worker, greets you; so do Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my compatriots.\n\t\t\t I, Tertius, who am writing this letter, greet you in the Lord.\n\t\t\t Gaius, who is host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus the city treasurer and our brother Quartus greet you.\n\t\t\t \n\t\t\t Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that had been kept secret for long ages, \n\t\t\t but now is disclosed, and through the prophetic scriptures has been made known to all the nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith,\n\t\t\t to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be glory forever! Amen.\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t From Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Sosthenes, our brother, \n\t\t\t to the church of God that is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, and called to be saints, with all those in every place who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours.\n\t\t\t Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!\n\t\t\t I always thank my God for you because of the grace of God that was given to you in Christ Jesus.\n\t\t\t For you were made rich in every way in him, in all your speech and in every kind of knowledge,\n\t\t\t just as the testimony about Christ has been confirmed among you,\n\t\t\t so that you do not lack any spiritual gift as you wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ. \n\t\t\t He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. \n\t\t\t God is faithful, by whom you were called into fellowship with his son, Jesus Christ our Lord.\n\t\t\t I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to agree together, to end your divisions, and to be united by the same mind and purpose.\n\t\t\t For members of Chloe's household have made it clear to me, my brothers and sisters, that there are quarrels among you. \n\t\t\t Now I mean this, that each of you is saying, \"I am with Paul,\" or \"I am with Apollos,\" or \"I am with Cephas,\" or \"I am with Christ.\" \n\t\t\t Is Christ divided? Paul wasn't crucified for you, was he? Or were you in fact baptized in the name of Paul?\n\t\t\t I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, \n\t\t\t so that no one can say that you were baptized in my name!\n\t\t\t (I also baptized the household of Stephanus. Otherwise, I do not remember whether I baptized anyone else.)\n\t\t\t For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, and not with clever speech, so that the cross of Christ would not become useless.\n\t\t\t For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.\n\t\t\t For it is written, \"I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and I will thwart the cleverness of the intelligent.\"\n\t\t\t Where is the wise man? Where is the expert in the Mosaic law? Where is the debater of this age? Has God not made the wisdom of the world foolish?\n\t\t\t For since in the wisdom of God the world by its wisdom did not know God, God was pleased to save those who believe by the foolishness of preaching.\n\t\t\t For Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks ask for wisdom,\n\t\t\t but we preach about a crucified Christ, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles. \n\t\t\t But to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.\n\t\t\t For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.\n\t\t\t Think about the circumstances of your call, brothers and sisters. Not many were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were born to a privileged position.\n\t\t\t But God chose what the world thinks foolish to shame the wise, and God chose what the world thinks weak to shame the strong.\n\t\t\t God chose what is low and despised in the world, what is regarded as nothing, to set aside what is regarded as something,\n\t\t\t so that no one can boast in his presence.\n\t\t\t He is the reason you have a relationship with Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, \n\t\t\t so that, as it is written, \"Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t When I came to you, brothers and sisters, I did not come with superior eloquence or wisdom as I proclaimed the testimony of God. \n\t\t\t For I decided to be concerned about nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. \n\t\t\t And I was with you in weakness and in fear and with much trembling.\n\t\t\t My conversation and my preaching were not with persuasive words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power,\n\t\t\t so that your faith would not be based on human wisdom but on the power of God.\n\t\t\t Now we do speak wisdom among the mature, but not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are perishing. \n\t\t\t Instead we speak the wisdom of God, hidden in a mystery, that God determined before the ages for our glory.\n\t\t\t None of the rulers of this age understood it. If they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.\n\t\t\t But just as it is written, \"Things that no eye has seen, or ear heard, or mind imagined, are the things God has prepared for those who love him.\"\n\t\t\t God has revealed these to us by the Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.\n\t\t\t For who among men knows the things of a man except the man's spirit within him? So too, no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.\n\t\t\t Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things that are freely given to us by God.\n\t\t\t And we speak about these things, not with words taught us by human wisdom, but with those taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual things to spiritual people.\n\t\t\t The unbeliever does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him. And he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. \n\t\t\t The one who is spiritual discerns all things, yet he himself is understood by no one. \n\t\t\t For who has known the mind of the Lord, so as to advise him? But we have the mind of Christ.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t So, brothers and sisters, I could not speak to you as spiritual people, but instead as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. \n\t\t\t I fed you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready. In fact, you are still not ready, \n\t\t\t for you are still influenced by the flesh. For since there is still jealousy and dissension among you, are you not influenced by the flesh and behaving like unregenerate people?\n\t\t\t For whenever someone says, \"I am with Paul,\" or \"I am with Apollos,\" are you not merely human?\n\t\t\t What is Apollos, really? Or what is Paul? Servants through whom you came to believe, and each of us in the ministry the Lord gave us.\n\t\t\t I planted, Apollos watered, but God caused it to grow. \n\t\t\t So neither the one who plants counts for anything, nor the one who waters, but God who causes the growth. \n\t\t\t The one who plants and the one who waters work as one, but each will receive his reward according to his work. \n\t\t\t We are coworkers belonging to God. You are God's field, God's building. \n\t\t\t According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master-builder I laid a foundation, but someone else builds on it. And each one must be careful how he builds.\n\t\t\t For no one can lay any foundation other than what is being laid, which is Jesus Christ.\n\t\t\t If anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw,\n\t\t\t each builder's work will be plainly seen, for the Day will make it clear, because it will be revealed by fire. And the fire will test what kind of work each has done.\n\t\t\t If what someone has built survives, he will receive a reward.\n\t\t\t If someone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss. He himself will be saved, but only as through fire.\n\t\t\t Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? \n\t\t\t If someone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, which is what you are.\n\t\t\t Guard against self-deception, each of you. If someone among you thinks he is wise in this age, let him become foolish so that he can become wise. \n\t\t\t For the wisdom of this age is foolishness with God. As it is written, \"He catches the wise in their craftiness.\"\n\t\t\t And again, \"The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.\"\n\t\t\t So then, no more boasting about mere mortals! For everything belongs to you, \n\t\t\t whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future. Everything belongs to you,\n\t\t\t and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t One should think about us this way, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.\n\t\t\t Now what is sought in stewards is that one be found faithful.\n\t\t\t So for me, it is a minor matter that I am judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself.\n\t\t\t For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not acquitted because of this. The one who judges me is the Lord.\n\t\t\t So then, do not judge anything before the time. Wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the motives of hearts. Then each will receive recognition from God.\n\t\t\t I have applied these things to myself and Apollos because of you, brothers and sisters, so that through us you may learn \"not to go beyond what is written,\" so that none of you will be puffed up in favor of the one against the other.\n\t\t\t For who concedes you any superiority? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you received it, why do you boast as though you did not?\n\t\t\t Already you are satisfied! Already you are rich! You have become kings without us! I wish you had become kings so that we could reign with you!\n\t\t\t For, I think, God has exhibited us apostles last of all, as men condemned to die, because we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to people.\n\t\t\t We are fools for Christ, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, we are dishonored!\n\t\t\t To the present hour we are hungry and thirsty, poorly clothed, brutally treated, and without a roof over our heads.\n\t\t\t We do hard work, toiling with our own hands. When we are verbally abused, we respond with a blessing, when persecuted, we endure,\n\t\t\t when people lie about us, we answer in a friendly manner. We are the world's dirt and scum, even now.\n\t\t\t I am not writing these things to shame you, but to correct you as my dear children.\n\t\t\t For though you may have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, because I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel.\n\t\t\t I encourage you, then, be imitators of me.\n\t\t\t For this reason, I have sent Timothy to you, who is my dear and faithful son in the Lord. He will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church. \n\t\t\t Some have become arrogant, as if I were not coming to you. \n\t\t\t But I will come to you soon, if the Lord is willing, and I will find out not only the talk of these arrogant people, but also their power.\n\t\t\t For the kingdom of God is demonstrated not in idle talk but with power.\n\t\t\t What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod of discipline or with love and a spirit of gentleness?\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t It is actually reported that sexual immorality exists among you, the kind of immorality that is not permitted even among the Gentiles, so that someone is cohabiting with his father's wife. \n\t\t\t And you are proud! Shouldn't you have been deeply sorrowful instead and removed the one who did this from among you? \n\t\t\t For even though I am absent physically, I am present in spirit. And I have already judged the one who did this, just as though I were present.\n\t\t\t When you gather together in the name of our Lord Jesus, and I am with you in spirit, along with the power of our Lord Jesus, \n\t\t\t turn this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.\n\t\t\t Your boasting is not good. Don't you know that a little yeast affects the whole batch of dough? \n\t\t\t Clean out the old yeast so that you may be a new batch of dough, you are, in fact, without yeast. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.\n\t\t\t So then, let us celebrate the festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of vice and evil, but with the bread without yeast, the bread of sincerity and truth.\n\t\t\t I wrote you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people.\n\t\t\t In no way did I mean the immoral people of this world, or the greedy and swindlers and idolaters, since you would then have to go out of the world.\n\t\t\t But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who calls himself a Christian who is sexually immoral, or greedy, or an idolater, or verbally abusive, or a drunkard, or a swindler. Do not even eat with such a person. \n\t\t\t For what do I have to do with judging those outside? Are you not to judge those inside?\n\t\t\t But God will judge those outside. Remove the evil person from among you.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t When any of you has a legal dispute with another, does he dare go to court before the unrighteous rather than before the saints?\n\t\t\t Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you not competent to settle trivial suits?\n\t\t\t Do you not know that we will judge angels? Why not ordinary matters!\n\t\t\t So if you have ordinary lawsuits, do you appoint as judges those who have no standing in the church?\n\t\t\t I say this to your shame! Is there no one among you wise enough to settle disputes between fellow Christians?\n\t\t\t Instead, does a Christian sue a Christian, and do this before unbelievers? \n\t\t\t The fact that you have lawsuits among yourselves demonstrates that you have already been defeated. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated?\n\t\t\t But you yourselves wrong and cheat, and you do this to your brothers and sisters!\n\t\t\t Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived! The sexually immoral, idolaters, adulterers, passive homosexual partners, practicing homosexuals,\n\t\t\t thieves, the greedy, drunkards, the verbally abusive, and swindlers will not inherit the kingdom of God. \n\t\t\t Some of you once lived this way. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.\n\t\t\t \"All things are lawful for me\", but not everything is beneficial. \"All things are lawful for me\", but I will not be controlled by anything.\n\t\t\t \"Food is for the stomach and the stomach is for food, but God will do away with both.\" The body is not for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. \n\t\t\t Now God indeed raised the Lord and he will raise us by his power.\n\t\t\t Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Should I take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never!\n\t\t\t Or do you not know that anyone who is united with a prostitute is one body with her? For it is said, \"The two will become one flesh.\"\n\t\t\t But the one united with the Lord is one spirit with him.\n\t\t\t Flee sexual immorality! \"Every sin a person commits is outside of the body\", but the immoral person sins against his own body.\n\t\t\t Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?\n\t\t\t For you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now with regard to the issues you wrote about: \"It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.\"\n\t\t\t But because of immoralities, each man should have relations with his own wife and each woman with her own husband. \n\t\t\t A husband should give to his wife her sexual rights, and likewise a wife to her husband. \n\t\t\t It is not the wife who has the rights to her own body, but the husband. In the same way, it is not the husband who has the rights to his own body, but the wife.\n\t\t\t Do not deprive each other, except by mutual agreement for a specified time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then resume your relationship, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. \n\t\t\t I say this as a concession, not as a command.\n\t\t\t I wish that everyone was as I am. But each has his own gift from God, one this way, another that.\n\t\t\t To the unmarried and widows I say that it is best for them to remain as I am.\n\t\t\t But if they do not have self-control, let them get married. For it is better to marry than to burn with sexual desire.\n\t\t\t To the married I give this command, not I, but the Lord, a wife should not divorce a husband\n\t\t\t (but if she does, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband), and a husband should not divorce his wife.\n\t\t\t To the rest I say, I, not the Lord, if a brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is happy to live with him, he should not divorce her.\n\t\t\t And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is happy to live with her, she should not divorce him.\n\t\t\t For the unbelieving husband is sanctified because of the wife, and the unbelieving wife because of her husband. Otherwise your children are unclean, but now they are holy. \n\t\t\t But if the unbeliever wants a divorce, let it take place. In these circumstances the brother or sister is not bound. God has called you in peace.\n\t\t\t For how do you know, wife, whether you will bring your husband to salvation? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will bring your wife to salvation?\n\t\t\t Nevertheless, as the Lord has assigned to each one, as God has called each person, so must he live. I give this sort of direction in all the churches.\n\t\t\t Was anyone called after he had been circumcised? He should not try to undo his circumcision. Was anyone called who is uncircumcised? He should not get circumcised. \n\t\t\t Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Instead, keeping God's commandments is what counts.\n\t\t\t Let each one remain in that situation in life in which he was called. \n\t\t\t Were you called as a slave? Do not worry about it. But if indeed you are able to be free, make the most of the opportunity. \n\t\t\t For the one who was called in the Lord as a slave is the Lord's freedman. In the same way, the one who was called as a free person is Christ's slave.\n\t\t\t You were bought with a price. Do not become slaves of men.\n\t\t\t In whatever situation someone was called, brothers and sisters, let him remain in it with God.\n\t\t\t With regard to the question about people who have never married, I have no command from the Lord, but I give my opinion as one shown mercy by the Lord to be trustworthy. \n\t\t\t Because of the impending crisis I think it best for you to remain as you are.\n\t\t\t The one bound to a wife should not seek divorce. The one released from a wife should not seek marriage.\n\t\t\t But if you marry, you have not sinned. And if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face difficult circumstances, and I am trying to spare you such problems.\n\t\t\t And I say this, brothers and sisters: The time is short. So then those who have wives should be as those who have none, \n\t\t\t those with tears like those not weeping, those who rejoice like those not rejoicing, those who buy like those without possessions,\n\t\t\t those who use the world as though they were not using it to the full. For the present shape of this world is passing away.\n\t\t\t And I want you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord.\n\t\t\t But a married man is concerned about the things of the world, how to please his wife,\n\t\t\t and he is divided. An unmarried woman or a virgin is concerned about the things of the Lord, to be holy both in body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the things of the world, how to please her husband. \n\t\t\t I am saying this for your benefit, not to place a limitation on you, but so that without distraction you may give notable and constant service to the Lord.\n\t\t\t If anyone thinks he is acting inappropriately toward his virgin, if she is past the bloom of youth and it seems necessary, he should do what he wishes; he does not sin. Let them marry. \n\t\t\t But the man who is firm in his commitment, and is under no necessity but has control over his will, and has decided in his own mind to keep his own virgin, does well.\n\t\t\t So then, the one who marries his own virgin does well, but the one who does not, does better.\n\t\t\t A wife is bound as long as her husband is living. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes (only someone in the Lord). \n\t\t\t But in my opinion, she will be happier if she remains as she is, and I think that I too have the Spirit of God!\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t With regard to food sacrificed to idols, we know that \"we all have knowledge.\" Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. \n\t\t\t If someone thinks he knows something, he does not yet know to the degree that he needs to know.\n\t\t\t But if someone loves God, he is known by God.\n\t\t\t With regard then to eating food sacrificed to idols, we know that \"an idol in this world is nothing,\" and that \"there is no God but one.\"\n\t\t\t If after all there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords),\n\t\t\t yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we live, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we live.\n\t\t\t But this knowledge is not shared by all. And some, by being accustomed to idols in former times, eat this food as an idol sacrifice, and their conscience, because it is weak, is defiled.\n\t\t\t Now food will not bring us close to God. We are no worse if we do not eat and no better if we do.\n\t\t\t But be careful that this liberty of yours does not become a hindrance to the weak.\n\t\t\t For if someone weak sees you who possess knowledge dining in an idol's temple, will not his conscience be \"strengthened\" to eat food offered to idols? \n\t\t\t So by your knowledge the weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed.\n\t\t\t If you sin against your brothers or sisters in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. \n\t\t\t For this reason, if food causes my brother or sister to sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I may not cause one of them to sin.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord?\n\t\t\t If I am not an apostle to others, at least I am to you, for you are the confirming sign of my apostleship in the Lord. \n\t\t\t This is my defense to those who examine me.\n\t\t\t Do we not have the right to financial support?\n\t\t\t Do we not have the right to the company of a believing wife, like the other apostles and the Lord's brothers and Cephas?\n\t\t\t Or do only Barnabas and I lack the right not to work?\n\t\t\t Who ever serves in the army at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat its fruit? Who tends a flock and does not consume its milk?\n\t\t\t Am I saying these things only on the basis of common sense, or does the law not say this as well? \n\t\t\t For it is written in the law of Moses, \"Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.\" God is not concerned here about oxen, is he? \n\t\t\t Or is he not surely speaking for our benefit? It was written for us, because the one plowing and threshing ought to work in hope of enjoying the harvest.\n\t\t\t If we sowed spiritual blessings among you, is it too much to reap material things from you?\n\t\t\t If others receive this right from you, are we not more deserving? But we have not made use of this right. Instead we endure everything so that we may not be a hindrance to the gospel of Christ.\n\t\t\t Don't you know that those who serve in the temple eat food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar receive a part of the offerings? \n\t\t\t In the same way the Lord commanded those who proclaim the gospel to receive their living by the gospel.\n\t\t\t But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing these things so that something will be done for me. In fact, it would be better for me to die than, no one will deprive me of my reason for boasting!\n\t\t\t For if I preach the gospel, I have no reason for boasting, because I am compelled to do this. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!\n\t\t\t For if I do this voluntarily, I have a reward. But if I do it unwillingly, I am entrusted with a responsibility.\n\t\t\t What then is my reward? That when I preach the gospel I may offer the gospel free of charge, and so not make full use of my rights in the gospel.\n\t\t\t For since I am free from all I can make myself a slave to all, in order to gain even more people.\n\t\t\t To the Jews I became like a Jew to gain the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law) to gain those under the law. \n\t\t\t To those free from the law I became like one free from the law (though I am not free from God's law but under the law of Christ) to gain those free from the law.\n\t\t\t To the weak I became weak in order to gain the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that by all means I may save some.\n\t\t\t I do all these things because of the gospel, so that I can be a participant in it.\n\t\t\t Do you not know that all the runners in a stadium compete, but only one receives the prize? So run to win.\n\t\t\t Each competitor must exercise self-control in everything. They do it to receive a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one.\n\t\t\t So I do not run uncertainly or box like one who hits only air.\n\t\t\t Instead I subdue my body and make it my slave, so that after preaching to others I myself will not be disqualified.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea, \n\t\t\t and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, \n\t\t\t and all ate the same spiritual food,\n\t\t\t and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they were all drinking from the spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ.\n\t\t\t But God was not pleased with most of them, for they were cut down in the wilderness.\n\t\t\t These things happened as examples for us, so that we will not crave evil things as they did.\n\t\t\t So do not be idolaters, as some of them were. As it is written, \"The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.\"\n\t\t\t And let us not be immoral, as some of them were, and twenty-three thousand died in a single day.\n\t\t\t And let us not put Christ to the test, as some of them did, and were destroyed by snakes.\n\t\t\t And do not complain, as some of them did, and were killed by the destroying angel.\n\t\t\t These things happened to them as examples and were written for our instruction, on whom the ends of the ages have come.\n\t\t\t So let the one who thinks he is standing be careful that he does not fall.\n\t\t\t No trial has overtaken you that is not faced by others. And God is faithful: He will not let you be tried beyond what you are able to bear, but with the trial will also provide a way out so that you may be able to endure it.\n\t\t\t So then, my dear friends, flee from idolatry.\n\t\t\t I am speaking to thoughtful people. Consider what I say.\n\t\t\t Is not the cup of blessing that we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the bread that we break a sharing in the body of Christ?\n\t\t\t Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all share the one bread.\n\t\t\t Look at the people of Israel. Are not those who eat the sacrifices partners in the altar? \n\t\t\t Am I saying that idols or food sacrificed to them amount to anything?\n\t\t\t No, I mean that what the pagans sacrifice is to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be partners with demons. \n\t\t\t You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot take part in the table of the Lord and the table of demons.\n\t\t\t Or are we trying to provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we really stronger than he is?\n\t\t\t \"Everything is lawful,\" but not everything is beneficial. \"Everything is lawful,\" but not everything builds others up.\n\t\t\t Do not seek your own good, but the good of the other person.\n\t\t\t Eat anything that is sold in the marketplace without questions of conscience,\n\t\t\t for the earth and its abundance are the Lord's.\n\t\t\t If an unbeliever invites you to dinner and you want to go, eat whatever is served without asking questions of conscience.\n\t\t\t But if someone says to you, \"This is from a sacrifice,\" do not eat, because of the one who told you and because of conscience,\n\t\t\t I do not mean yours but the other person's. For why is my freedom being judged by another's conscience?\n\t\t\t If I partake with thankfulness, why am I blamed for the food that I give thanks for? \n\t\t\t So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.\n\t\t\t Do not give offense to Jews or Greeks or to the church of God,\n\t\t\t just as I also try to please everyone in all things. I do not seek my own benefit, but the benefit of many, so that they may be saved. \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.\n\t\t\t I praise you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions just as I passed them on to you. \n\t\t\t But I want you to know that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman, and God is the head of Christ. \n\t\t\t Any man who prays or prophesies with his head covered disgraces his head.\n\t\t\t But any woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered disgraces her head, for it is one and the same thing as having a shaved head.\n\t\t\t For if a woman will not cover her head, she should cut off her hair. But if it is disgraceful for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, she should cover her head.\n\t\t\t For a man should not have his head covered, since he is the image and glory of God. But the woman is the glory of the man.\n\t\t\t For man did not come from woman, but woman from man.\n\t\t\t Neither was man created for the sake of woman, but woman for man.\n\t\t\t For this reason a woman should have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels.\n\t\t\t In any case, in the Lord woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman.\n\t\t\t For just as woman came from man, so man comes through woman. But all things come from God.\n\t\t\t Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered?\n\t\t\t Does not nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace for him,\n\t\t\t but if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair is given to her for a covering.\n\t\t\t If anyone intends to quarrel about this, we have no other practice, nor do the churches of God.\n\t\t\t Now in giving the following instruction I do not praise you, because you come together not for the better but for the worse.\n\t\t\t For in the first place, when you come together as a church I hear there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it.\n\t\t\t For there must in fact be divisions among you, so that those of you who are approved may be evident.\n\t\t\t Now when you come together at the same place, you are not really eating the Lord's Supper.\n\t\t\t For when it is time to eat, everyone proceeds with his own supper. One is hungry and another becomes drunk.\n\t\t\t Do you not have houses so that you can eat and drink? Or are you trying to show contempt for the church of God by shaming those who have nothing? What should I say to you? Should I praise you? I will not praise you for this!\n\t\t\t For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night in which he was betrayed took bread,\n\t\t\t and after he had given thanks he broke it and said, \"This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.\"\n\t\t\t In the same way, he also took the cup after supper, saying, \"This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, every time you drink it, in remembrance of me.\"\n\t\t\t For every time you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.\n\t\t\t For this reason, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.\n\t\t\t A person should examine himself first, and in this way let him eat the bread and drink of the cup. \n\t\t\t For the one who eats and drinks without careful regard for the body eats and drinks judgment against himself. \n\t\t\t That is why many of you are weak and sick, and quite a few are dead.\n\t\t\t But if we examined ourselves, we would not be judged.\n\t\t\t But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned with the world.\n\t\t\t So then, my brothers and sisters, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. \n\t\t\t If anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, so that when you assemble it does not lead to judgment. I will give directions about other matters when I come.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t With regard to spiritual gifts, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed.\n\t\t\t You know that when you were pagans you were often led astray by speechless idols, however you were led.\n\t\t\t So I want you to understand that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, \"Jesus is cursed,\" and no one can say, \"Jesus is Lord,\" except by the Holy Spirit.\n\t\t\t Now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit.\n\t\t\t And there are different ministries, but the same Lord.\n\t\t\t And there are different results, but the same God who produces all of them in everyone.\n\t\t\t To each person the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the benefit of all.\n\t\t\t For one person is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, and another the message of knowledge according to the same Spirit,\n\t\t\t to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,\n\t\t\t to another performance of miracles, to another prophecy, and to another discernment of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues.\n\t\t\t It is one and the same Spirit, distributing as he decides to each person, who produces all these things.\n\t\t\t For just as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so too is Christ.\n\t\t\t For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body. Whether Jews or Greeks or slaves or free, we were all made to drink of the one Spirit. \n\t\t\t For in fact the body is not a single member, but many.\n\t\t\t If the foot says, \"Since I am not a hand, I am not part of the body,\" it does not lose its membership in the body because of that.\n\t\t\t And if the ear says, \"Since I am not an eye, I am not part of the body,\" it does not lose its membership in the body because of that.\n\t\t\t If the whole body were an eye, what part would do the hearing? If the whole were an ear, what part would exercise the sense of smell?\n\t\t\t But as a matter of fact, God has placed each of the members in the body just as he decided.\n\t\t\t If they were all the same member, where would the body be?\n\t\t\t So now there are many members, but one body.\n\t\t\t The eye cannot say to the hand, \"I do not need you,\" nor in turn can the head say to the foot, \"I do not need you.\"\n\t\t\t On the contrary, those members that seem to be weaker are essential,\n\t\t\t and those members we consider less honorable we clothe with greater honor, and our unpresentable members are clothed with dignity,\n\t\t\t but our presentable members do not need this. Instead, God has blended together the body, giving greater honor to the lesser member,\n\t\t\t so that there may be no division in the body, but the members may have mutual concern for one another.\n\t\t\t If one member suffers, everyone suffers with it. If a member is honored, all rejoice with it.\n\t\t\t Now you are Christ's body, and each of you is a member of it.\n\t\t\t And God has placed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, gifts of healing, helps, gifts of leadership, different kinds of tongues.\n\t\t\t Not all are apostles, are they? Not all are prophets, are they? Not all are teachers, are they? Not all perform miracles, do they?\n\t\t\t Not all have gifts of healing, do they? Not all speak in tongues, do they? Not all interpret, do they?\n\t\t\t But you should be eager for the greater gifts. And now I will show you a way that is beyond comparison.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but I do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.\n\t\t\t And if I have prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so that I can remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.\n\t\t\t If I give away everything I own, and if I give over my body in order to boast, but do not have love, I receive no benefit.\n\t\t\t Love is patient, love is kind, it is not envious. Love does not brag, it is not puffed up.\n\t\t\t It is not rude, it is not self-serving, it is not easily angered or resentful.\n\t\t\t It is not glad about injustice, but rejoices in the truth.\n\t\t\t It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.\n\t\t\t Love never ends. But if there are prophecies, they will be set aside; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be set aside.\n\t\t\t For we know in part, and we prophesy in part,\n\t\t\t but when what is perfect comes, the partial will be set aside. \n\t\t\t When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. But when I became an adult, I set aside childish ways. \n\t\t\t For now we see in a mirror indirectly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, just as I have been fully known.\n\t\t\t And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Pursue love and be eager for the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.\n\t\t\t For the one speaking in a tongue does not speak to people but to God, for no one understands; he is speaking mysteries by the Spirit.\n\t\t\t But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouragement, and consolation. \n\t\t\t The one who speaks in a tongue builds himself up, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. \n\t\t\t I wish you all spoke in tongues, but even more that you would prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets so that the church may be strengthened.\n\t\t\t Now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I help you unless I speak to you with a revelation or with knowledge or prophecy or teaching? \n\t\t\t It is similar for lifeless things that make a sound, like a flute or harp. Unless they make a distinction in the notes, how can what is played on the flute or harp be understood?\n\t\t\t If, for example, the trumpet makes an unclear sound, who will get ready for battle?\n\t\t\t It is the same for you. If you do not speak clearly with your tongue, how will anyone know what is being said? For you will be speaking into the air.\n\t\t\t There are probably many kinds of languages in the world, and none is without meaning.\n\t\t\t If then I do not know the meaning of a language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me.\n\t\t\t It is the same with you. Since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, seek to abound in order to strengthen the church.\n\t\t\t So then, one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret.\n\t\t\t If I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unproductive.\n\t\t\t What should I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind. I will sing praises with my spirit, but I will also sing praises with my mind. \n\t\t\t Otherwise, if you are praising God with your spirit, how can someone without the gift say \"Amen\" to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying? \n\t\t\t For you are certainly giving thanks well, but the other person is not strengthened.\n\t\t\t I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you,\n\t\t\t but in the church I want to speak five words with my mind to instruct others, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue.\n\t\t\t Brothers and sisters, do not be children in your thinking. Instead, be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.\n\t\t\t It is written in the law: \"By people with strange tongues and by the lips of strangers I will speak to this people, yet not even in this way will they listen to me,\" says the Lord. \n\t\t\t So then, tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers. Prophecy, however, is not for unbelievers but for believers.\n\t\t\t So if the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and unbelievers or uninformed people enter, will they not say that you have lost your minds?\n\t\t\t But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or uninformed person enters, he will be convicted by all, he will be called to account by all.\n\t\t\t The secrets of his heart are disclosed, and in this way he will fall down with his face to the ground and worship God, declaring, \"God is really among you.\"\n\t\t\t What should you do then, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each one has a song, has a lesson, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all these things be done for the strengthening of the church. \n\t\t\t If someone speaks in a tongue, it should be two, or at the most three, one after the other, and someone must interpret.\n\t\t\t But if there is no interpreter, he should be silent in the church. Let him speak to himself and to God.\n\t\t\t Two or three prophets should speak and the others should evaluate what is said.\n\t\t\t And if someone sitting down receives a revelation, the person who is speaking should conclude.\n\t\t\t For you can all prophesy one after another, so all can learn and be encouraged.\n\t\t\t Indeed, the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets,\n\t\t\t for God is not characterized by disorder but by peace. As in all the churches of the saints,\n\t\t\t the women should be silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak. Rather, let them be in submission, as in fact the law says. \n\t\t\t If they want to find out about something, they should ask their husbands at home, because it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in church.\n\t\t\t Did the word of God begin with you, or did it come to you alone?\n\t\t\t If anyone considers himself a prophet or spiritual person, he should acknowledge that what I write to you is the Lord's command.\n\t\t\t If someone does not recognize this, he is not recognized.\n\t\t\t So then, brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid anyone from speaking in tongues.\n\t\t\t And do everything in a decent and orderly manner.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now I want to make clear for you, brothers and sisters, the gospel that I preached to you, that you received and on which you stand, \n\t\t\t and by which you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message I preached to you, unless you believed in vain.\n\t\t\t For I passed on to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures,\n\t\t\t and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day according to the scriptures, \n\t\t\t and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.\n\t\t\t Then he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.\n\t\t\t Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.\n\t\t\t Last of all, as though to one born at the wrong time, he appeared to me also. \n\t\t\t For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.\n\t\t\t But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me has not been in vain. In fact, I worked harder than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me.\n\t\t\t Whether then it was I or they, this is the way we preach and this is the way you believed.\n\t\t\t Now if Christ is being preached as raised from the dead, how can some of you say there is no resurrection of the dead? \n\t\t\t But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.\n\t\t\t And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is futile and your faith is empty.\n\t\t\t Also, we are found to be false witnesses about God, because we have testified against God that he raised Christ from the dead, when in reality he did not raise him, if indeed the dead are not raised.\n\t\t\t For if the dead are not raised, then not even Christ has been raised.\n\t\t\t And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is useless; you are still in your sins.\n\t\t\t Furthermore, those who have fallen asleep in Christ have also perished. \n\t\t\t For if only in this life we have hope in Christ, we should be pitied more than anyone.\n\t\t\t But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.\n\t\t\t For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also came through a man.\n\t\t\t For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.\n\t\t\t But each in his own order: Christ, the firstfruits; then when Christ comes, those who belong to him.\n\t\t\t Then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, when he has brought to an end all rule and all authority and power. \n\t\t\t For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.\n\t\t\t The last enemy to be eliminated is death.\n\t\t\t For he has put everything in subjection under his feet. But when it says \"everything\" has been put in subjection, it is clear that this does not include the one who put everything in subjection to him. \n\t\t\t And when all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will be subjected to the one who subjected everything to him, so that God may be all in all.\n\t\t\t Otherwise, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, then why are they baptized for them? \n\t\t\t Why too are we in danger every hour?\n\t\t\t Every day I am in danger of death! This is as sure as my boasting in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord. \n\t\t\t If from a human point of view I fought with wild beasts at Ephesus, what did it benefit me? If the dead are not raised, let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.\n\t\t\t Do not be deceived: \"Bad company corrupts good morals.\"\n\t\t\t Sober up as you should, and stop sinning! For some have no knowledge of God, I say this to your shame!\n\t\t\t But someone will say, \"How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?\"\n\t\t\t Fool! What you sow will not come to life unless it dies.\n\t\t\t And what you sow is not the body that is to be, but a bare seed, perhaps of wheat or something else.\n\t\t\t But God gives it a body just as he planned, and to each of the seeds a body of its own.\n\t\t\t All flesh is not the same: People have one flesh, animals have another, birds and fish another.\n\t\t\t And there are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies. The glory of the heavenly body is one sort and the earthly another.\n\t\t\t There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon and another glory of the stars, for star differs from star in glory.\n\t\t\t It is the same with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable, what is raised is imperishable.\n\t\t\t It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power;\n\t\t\t it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.\n\t\t\t So also it is written, \"The first man, Adam, became a living person\"; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. \n\t\t\t However, the spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and then the spiritual.\n\t\t\t The first man is from the earth, made of dust; the second man is from heaven.\n\t\t\t Like the one made of dust, so too are those made of dust, and like the one from heaven, so too those who are heavenly.\n\t\t\t And just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, let us also bear the image of the man of heaven.\n\t\t\t Now this is what I am saying, brothers and sisters: Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. \n\t\t\t Listen, I will tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed,\n\t\t\t in a moment, in the blinking of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. \n\t\t\t For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.\n\t\t\t Now when this perishable puts on the imperishable, and this mortal puts on immortality, then the saying that is written will happen, \"Death has been swallowed up in victory.\"\n\t\t\t \"Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?\"\n\t\t\t The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.\n\t\t\t But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!\n\t\t\t So then, dear brothers and sisters, be firm. Do not be moved! Always be outstanding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t With regard to the collection for the saints, please follow the directions that I gave to the churches of Galatia:\n\t\t\t On the first day of the week, each of you should set aside some income and save it to the extent that God has blessed you, so that a collection will not have to be made when I come. \n\t\t\t Then, when I arrive, I will send those whom you approve with letters of explanation to carry your gift to Jerusalem.\n\t\t\t And if it seems advisable that I should go also, they will go with me.\n\t\t\t But I will come to you after I have gone through Macedonia, for I will be going through Macedonia,\n\t\t\t and perhaps I will stay with you, or even spend the winter, so that you can send me on my journey, wherever I go.\n\t\t\t For I do not want to see you now in passing, since I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord allows.\n\t\t\t But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost, \n\t\t\t because a door of great opportunity stands wide open for me, but there are many opponents.\n\t\t\t Now if Timothy comes, see that he has nothing to fear among you, for he is doing the Lord's work, as I am too.\n\t\t\t So then, let no one treat him with contempt. But send him on his way in peace so that he may come to me. For I am expecting him with the brothers.\n\t\t\t With regard to our brother Apollos: I strongly encouraged him to visit you with the other brothers, but it was simply not his intention to come now. He will come when he has the opportunity.\n\t\t\t Stay alert, stand firm in the faith, show courage, be strong.\n\t\t\t Everything you do should be done in love.\n\t\t\t Now, brothers and sisters, you know about the household of Stephanus, that as the first converts of Achaia, they devoted themselves to ministry for the saints. I urge you \n\t\t\t also to submit to people like this, and to everyone who cooperates in the work and labors hard.\n\t\t\t I was glad about the arrival of Stephanus, Fortunatus, and Achaicus because they have supplied the fellowship with you that I lacked.\n\t\t\t For they refreshed my spirit and yours. So then, recognize people like this.\n\t\t\t The churches in the province of Asia send greetings to you. Aquila and Prisca greet you warmly in the Lord, with the church that meets in their house. \n\t\t\t All the brothers and sisters send greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss.\n\t\t\t I, Paul, send this greeting with my own hand.\n\t\t\t Let anyone who has no love for the Lord be accursed. Our Lord, come!\n\t\t\t The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.\n\t\t\t My love be with all of you in Christ Jesus.\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the church of God that is in Corinth, with all the saints who are in all Achaia.\n\t\t\t Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!\n\t\t\t Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, \n\t\t\t who comforts us in all our troubles so that we may be able to comfort those experiencing any trouble with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.\n\t\t\t For just as the sufferings of Christ overflow toward us, so also our comfort through Christ overflows to you.\n\t\t\t But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort that you experience in your patient endurance of the same sufferings that we also suffer. \n\t\t\t And our hope for you is steadfast because we know that as you share in our sufferings, so also you will share in our comfort. \n\t\t\t For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, regarding the affliction that happened to us in the province of Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of living. \n\t\t\t Indeed we felt as if the sentence of death had been passed against us, so that we would not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead. \n\t\t\t He delivered us from so great a risk of death, and he will deliver us. We have set our hope on him that he will deliver us yet again, \n\t\t\t as you also join in helping us by prayer, so that many people may give thanks to God on our behalf for the gracious gift given to us through the help of many.\n\t\t\t For our reason for confidence is this: the testimony of our conscience, that with pure motives and sincerity which are from God, not by human wisdom but by the grace of God, we conducted ourselves in the world, and all the more toward you.\n\t\t\t For we do not write you anything other than what you can read and also understand. But I hope that you will understand completely\n\t\t\t just as also you have partly understood us, that we are your source of pride just as you also are ours in the day of the Lord Jesus.\n\t\t\t And with this confidence I intended to come to you first so that you would get a second opportunity to see us,\n\t\t\t and through your help to go on into Macedonia and then from Macedonia to come back to you and be helped on our way into Judea by you. \n\t\t\t Therefore when I was planning to do this, I did not do so without thinking about what I was doing, did I? Or do I make my plans according to mere human standards so that I would be saying both \"Yes, yes\" and \"No, no\" at the same time? \n\t\t\t But as God is faithful, our message to you is not \"Yes\" and \"No.\"\n\t\t\t For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, the one who was proclaimed among you by us, by me and Silvanus and Timothy, was not \"Yes\" and \"No,\" but it has always been \"Yes\" in him.\n\t\t\t For every one of God's promises are \"Yes\" in him; therefore also through him the \"Amen\" is spoken, to the glory we give to God.\n\t\t\t But it is God who establishes us together with you in Christ and who anointed us,\n\t\t\t who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a down payment.\n\t\t\t Now I appeal to God as my witness, that to spare you I did not come again to Corinth.\n\t\t\t I do not mean that we rule over your faith, but we are workers with you for your joy, because by faith you stand firm.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t So I made up my own mind not to pay you another painful visit.\n\t\t\t For if I make you sad, who would be left to make me glad but the one I caused to be sad? \n\t\t\t And I wrote this very thing to you, so that when I came I would not have sadness from those who ought to make me rejoice, since I am confident in you all that my joy would be yours. \n\t\t\t For out of great distress and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears, not to make you sad, but to let you know the love that I have especially for you.\n\t\t\t But if anyone has caused sadness, he has not saddened me alone, but to some extent (not to exaggerate) he has saddened all of you as well. \n\t\t\t This punishment on such an individual by the majority is enough for him,\n\t\t\t so that now instead you should rather forgive and comfort him. This will keep him from being overwhelmed by excessive grief to the point of despair.\n\t\t\t Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love for him.\n\t\t\t For this reason also I wrote you: to test you to see if you are obedient in everything. \n\t\t\t If you forgive anyone for anything, I also forgive him, for indeed what I have forgiven (if I have forgiven anything) I did so for you in the presence of Christ,\n\t\t\t so that we may not be exploited by Satan (for we are not ignorant of his schemes). \n\t\t\t Now when I arrived in Troas to proclaim the gospel of Christ, even though the Lord had opened a door of opportunity for me, \n\t\t\t I had no relief in my spirit, because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I said good-bye to them and set out for Macedonia.\n\t\t\t But thanks be to God who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and who makes known through us the fragrance that consists of the knowledge of him in every place. \n\t\t\t For we are a sweet aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing,\n\t\t\t to the latter an odor from death to death, but to the former a fragrance from life to life. And who is adequate for these things?\n\t\t\t For we are not like so many others, hucksters who peddle the word of God for profit, but we are speaking in Christ before God as persons of sincerity, as persons sent from God.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? We don't need letters of recommendation to you or from you as some other people do, do we?\n\t\t\t You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone, \n\t\t\t revealing that you are a letter of Christ, delivered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on stone tablets but on tablets of human hearts.\n\t\t\t Now we have such confidence in God through Christ.\n\t\t\t Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as if it were coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, \n\t\t\t who made us adequate to be servants of a new covenant not based on the letter but on the Spirit, for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.\n\t\t\t But if the ministry that produced death, carved in letters on stone tablets, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not keep their eyes fixed on the face of Moses because of the glory of his face (a glory which was made ineffective),\n\t\t\t how much more glorious will the ministry of the Spirit be?\n\t\t\t For if there was glory in the ministry that produced condemnation, how much more does the ministry that produces righteousness excel in glory! \n\t\t\t For indeed, what had been glorious now has no glory because of the tremendously greater glory of what replaced it.\n\t\t\t For if what was made ineffective came with glory, how much more has what remains come in glory! \n\t\t\t Therefore, since we have such a hope, we behave with great boldness,\n\t\t\t and not like Moses who used to put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from staring at the result of the glory that was made ineffective.\n\t\t\t But their minds were closed. For to this very day, the same veil remains when they hear the old covenant read. It has not been removed because only in Christ is it taken away.\n\t\t\t But until this very day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their minds,\n\t\t\t but when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed.\n\t\t\t Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is present, there is freedom. \n\t\t\t And we all, with unveiled faces reflecting the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another, which is from the Lord, who is the Spirit.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Therefore, since we have this ministry, just as God has shown us mercy, we do not become discouraged.\n\t\t\t But we have rejected shameful hidden deeds, not behaving with deceptiveness or distorting the word of God, but by open proclamation of the truth we commend ourselves to everyone's conscience before God. \n\t\t\t But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing,\n\t\t\t among whom the god of this age has blinded the minds of those who do not believe so they would not see the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God. \n\t\t\t For we do not proclaim ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus' sake. \n\t\t\t For God, who said \"Let light shine out of darkness,\" is the one who shined in our hearts to give us the light of the glorious knowledge of God in the face of Christ.\n\t\t\t But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that the extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us. \n\t\t\t We are experiencing trouble on every side, but are not crushed; we are perplexed, but not driven to despair; \n\t\t\t we are persecuted, but not abandoned; we are knocked down, but not destroyed, \n\t\t\t always carrying around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our body. \n\t\t\t For we who are alive are constantly being handed over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our mortal body.\n\t\t\t As a result, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.\n\t\t\t But since we have the same spirit of faith as that shown in what has been written, \"I believed; therefore I spoke,\" we also believe, therefore we also speak. \n\t\t\t We do so because we know that the one who raised up Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus and will bring us with you into his presence. \n\t\t\t For all these things are for your sake, so that the grace that is including more and more people may cause thanksgiving to increase to the glory of God. \n\t\t\t Therefore we do not despair, but even if our physical body is wearing away, our inner person is being renewed day by day. \n\t\t\t For our momentary, light suffering is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison \n\t\t\t because we are not looking at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen. For what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t For we know that if our earthly house, the tent we live in, is dismantled, we have a building from God, a house not built by human hands, that is eternal in the heavens. \n\t\t\t For in this earthly house we groan, because we desire to put on our heavenly dwelling, \n\t\t\t if indeed, after we have put on our heavenly house, we will not be found naked. \n\t\t\t For we groan while we are in this tent, since we are weighed down, because we do not want to be unclothed, but clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. \n\t\t\t Now the one who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave us the Spirit as a down payment.\n\t\t\t Therefore we are always full of courage, and we know that as long as we are alive here on earth we are absent from the Lord,\n\t\t\t for we live by faith, not by sight. \n\t\t\t Thus we are full of courage and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. \n\t\t\t So then whether we are alive or away, we make it our ambition to please him.\n\t\t\t For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be paid back according to what he has done while in the body, whether good or evil.\n\t\t\t Therefore, because we know the fear of the Lord, we try to persuade people, but we are well known to God, and I hope we are well known to your consciences too. \n\t\t\t We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to be proud of us, so that you may be able to answer those who take pride in outward appearance and not in what is in the heart. \n\t\t\t For if we are out of our minds, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you.\n\t\t\t For the love of Christ controls us, since we have concluded this, that Christ died for all; therefore all have died. \n\t\t\t And he died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised.\n\t\t\t So then from now on we acknowledge no one from an outward human point of view. Even though we have known Christ from such a human point of view, now we do not know him in that way any longer. \n\t\t\t So then, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; what is old has passed away, look, what is new has come!\n\t\t\t And all these things are from God who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and who has given us the ministry of reconciliation.\n\t\t\t In other words, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting people's trespasses against them, and he has given us the message of reconciliation. \n\t\t\t Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His plea through us. We plead with you on Christ's behalf, \"Be reconciled to God!\" \n\t\t\t God made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we would become the righteousness of God.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now because we are fellow workers, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain.\n\t\t\t For he says, \"I heard you at the acceptable time, and in the day of salvation I helped you.\" Look, now is the acceptable time; look, now is the day of salvation! \n\t\t\t We do not give anyone an occasion for taking an offense in anything, so that no fault may be found with our ministry. \n\t\t\t But as God's servants, we have commended ourselves in every way, with great endurance, in persecutions, in difficulties, in distresses, \n\t\t\t in beatings, in imprisonments, in riots, in troubles, in sleepless nights, in hunger, \n\t\t\t by purity, by knowledge, by patience, by benevolence, by the Holy Spirit, by genuine love, \n\t\t\t by truthful teaching, by the power of God, with weapons of righteousness both for the right hand and for the left,\n\t\t\t through glory and dishonor, through slander and praise; regarded as impostors, and yet true; \n\t\t\t as unknown, and yet well-known; as dying and yet, see!, we continue to live; as those who are scourged and yet not executed;\n\t\t\t as sorrowful, but always rejoicing, as poor, but making many rich, as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.\n\t\t\t We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians; our heart has been opened wide to you. \n\t\t\t Our affection for you is not restricted, but you are restricted in your affections for us. \n\t\t\t Now as a fair exchange, I speak as to my children, open wide your hearts to us also.\n\t\t\t Do not become partners with those who do not believe, for what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship does light have with darkness? \n\t\t\t And what agreement does Christ have with Beliar? Or what does a believer share in common with an unbeliever? \n\t\t\t And what mutual agreement does the temple of God have with idols? For we are the temple of the living God, just as God said, \"I will live in them and will walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.\"\n\t\t\t Therefore \"come out from their midst, and be separate,\" says the Lord, \"and touch no unclean thing, and I will welcome you,\n\t\t\t and I will be a father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters,\" says the All-Powerful Lord.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that could defile the body and the spirit, and thus accomplish holiness out of reverence for God.\n\t\t\t Make room for us in your hearts; we have wronged no one, we have ruined no one, we have exploited no one.\n\t\t\t I do not say this to condemn you, for I told you before that you are in our hearts so that we die together and live together with you.\n\t\t\t I have great confidence in you; I take great pride on your behalf. I am filled with encouragement; I am overflowing with joy in the midst of all our suffering. \n\t\t\t For even when we came into Macedonia, our body had no rest at all, but we were troubled in every way, struggles from the outside, fears from within.\n\t\t\t But God, who encourages the downhearted, encouraged us by the arrival of Titus. \n\t\t\t We were encouraged not only by his arrival, but also by the encouragement you gave him, as he reported to us your longing, your mourning, your deep concern for me, so that I rejoiced more than ever. \n\t\t\t For even if I made you sad by my letter, I do not regret having written it (even though I did regret it, for I see that my letter made you sad, though only for a short time). \n\t\t\t Now I rejoice, not because you were made sad, but because you were made sad to the point of repentance. For you were made sad as God intended, so that you were not harmed in any way by us. \n\t\t\t For sadness as intended by God produces a repentance that leads to salvation, leaving no regret, but worldly sadness brings about death.\n\t\t\t For see what this very thing, this sadness as God intended, has produced in you: what eagerness, what defense of yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what deep concern, what punishment! In everything you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter. \n\t\t\t So then, even though I wrote to you, it was not on account of the one who did wrong, or on account of the one who was wronged, but to reveal to you your eagerness on our behalf before God. \n\t\t\t Therefore we have been encouraged. And in addition to our own encouragement, we rejoiced even more at the joy of Titus, because all of you have refreshed his spirit.\n\t\t\t For if I have boasted to him about anything concerning you, I have not been embarrassed by you, but just as everything we said to you was true, so our boasting to Titus about you has proved true as well. \n\t\t\t And his affection for you is much greater when he remembers the obedience of you all, how you welcomed him with fear and trembling. \n\t\t\t I rejoice because in everything I am fully confident in you.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now we make known to you, brothers and sisters, the grace of God given to the churches of Macedonia, \n\t\t\t that during a severe ordeal of suffering, their abundant joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in the wealth of their generosity. \n\t\t\t For I testify, they gave according to their means and beyond their means. They did so voluntarily,\n\t\t\t begging us with great earnestness for the blessing and fellowship of helping the saints. \n\t\t\t And they did this not just as we had hoped, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and to us by the will of God.\n\t\t\t Thus we urged Titus that, just as he had previously begun this work, so also he should complete this act of kindness for you. \n\t\t\t But as you excel in everything, in faith, in speech, in knowledge, and in all eagerness and in the love from us that is in you, make sure that you excel in this act of kindness too.\n\t\t\t I am not saying this as a command, but I am testing the genuineness of your love by comparison with the eagerness of others.\n\t\t\t For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that although he was rich, he became poor for your sakes, so that you by his poverty could become rich. \n\t\t\t So here is my opinion on this matter: It is to your advantage, since you made a good start last year both in your giving and your desire to give, \n\t\t\t to finish what you started, so that just as you wanted to do it eagerly, you can also complete it according to your means.\n\t\t\t For if the eagerness is present, the gift itself is acceptable according to whatever one has, not according to what he does not have. \n\t\t\t For I do not say this so there would be relief for others and suffering for you, but as a matter of equality.\n\t\t\t At the present time, your abundance will meet their need, so that one day their abundance may also meet your need, and thus there may be equality, \n\t\t\t as it is written: \"The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.\"\n\t\t\t But thanks be to God who put in the heart of Titus the same devotion I have for you, \n\t\t\t because he not only accepted our request, but since he was very eager, he is coming to you of his own accord.\n\t\t\t And we are sending along with him the brother who is praised by all the churches for his work in spreading the gospel.\n\t\t\t In addition, this brother has also been chosen by the churches as our traveling companion as we administer this generous gift to the glory of the Lord himself and to show our readiness to help.\n\t\t\t We did this as a precaution so that no one should blame us in regard to this generous gift we are administering. \n\t\t\t For we are concerned about what is right not only before the Lord but also before men.\n\t\t\t And we are sending with them our brother whom we have tested many times and found eager in many matters, but who now is much more eager than ever because of the great confidence he has in you.\n\t\t\t If there is any question about Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you; if there is any question about our brothers, they are messengers of the churches, a glory to Christ. \n\t\t\t Therefore show them openly before the churches the proof of your love and of our pride in you.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t For it is not necessary for me to write you about this service to the saints, \n\t\t\t because I know your eagerness to help. I keep boasting to the Macedonians about this eagerness of yours, that Achaia has been ready to give since last year, and your zeal to participate has stirred up most of them.\n\t\t\t But I am sending these brothers so that our boasting about you may not be empty in this case, so that you may be ready just as I kept telling them. \n\t\t\t For if any of the Macedonians should come with me and find that you are not ready to give, we would be humiliated (not to mention you) by this confidence we had in you.\n\t\t\t Therefore I thought it necessary to urge these brothers to go to you in advance and to arrange ahead of time the generous contribution you had promised, so this may be ready as a generous gift and not as something you feel forced to do.\n\t\t\t My point is this: The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously. \n\t\t\t Each one of you should give just as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, because God loves a cheerful giver. \n\t\t\t And God is able to make all grace overflow to you so that because you have enough of everything in every way at all times, you will overflow in every good work. \n\t\t\t Just as it is written, \"He has scattered widely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness remains forever.\"\n\t\t\t Now God who provides seed for the sower and bread for food will provide and multiply your supply of seed and will cause the harvest of your righteousness to grow. \n\t\t\t You will be enriched in every way so that you may be generous on every occasion, which is producing through us thanksgiving to God, \n\t\t\t because the service of this ministry is not only providing for the needs of the saints but is also overflowing with many thanks to God. \n\t\t\t Through the evidence of this service they will glorify God because of your obedience to your confession in the gospel of Christ and the generosity of your sharing with them and with everyone. \n\t\t\t And in their prayers on your behalf they long for you because of the extraordinary grace God has shown to you.\n\t\t\t Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now I, Paul, appeal to you personally by the meekness and gentleness of Christ (I who am meek when present among you, but am full of courage toward you when away!),\n\t\t\t now I ask that when I am present I may not have to be bold with the confidence that (I expect) I will dare to use against some who consider us to be behaving according to human standards.\n\t\t\t For though we live as human beings, we do not wage war according to human standards,\n\t\t\t for the weapons of our warfare are not human weapons, but are made powerful by God for tearing down strongholds. We tear down arguments\n\t\t\t and every arrogant obstacle that is raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to make it obey Christ.\n\t\t\t We are also ready to punish every act of disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete. \n\t\t\t You are looking at outward appearances. If anyone is confident that he belongs to Christ, he should reflect on this again: Just as he himself belongs to Christ, so too do we. \n\t\t\t For if I boast somewhat more about our authority that the Lord gave us for building you up and not for tearing you down, I will not be ashamed of doing so.\n\t\t\t I do not want to seem as though I am trying to terrify you with my letters,\n\t\t\t because some say, \"His letters are weighty and forceful, but his physical presence is weak and his speech is of no account.\"\n\t\t\t Let such a person consider this: What we say by letters when we are absent, we also are in actions when we are present.\n\t\t\t For we would not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who recommend themselves. But when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding.\n\t\t\t But we will not boast beyond certain limits, but will confine our boasting according to the limits of the work to which God has appointed us, that reaches even as far as you. \n\t\t\t For we were not overextending ourselves, as though we did not reach as far as you, because we were the first to reach as far as you with the gospel about Christ.\n\t\t\t Nor do we boast beyond certain limits in the work done by others, but we hope that as your faith continues to grow, our work may be greatly expanded among you according to our limits,\n\t\t\t so that we may preach the gospel in the regions that lie beyond you, and not boast of work already done in another person's area.\n\t\t\t But the one who boasts must boast in the Lord.\n\t\t\t For it is not the person who commends himself who is approved, but the person the Lord commends.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t I wish that you would be patient with me in a little foolishness, but indeed you are being patient with me!\n\t\t\t For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy, because I promised you in marriage to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. \n\t\t\t But I am afraid that just as the serpent deceived Eve by his treachery, your minds may be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. \n\t\t\t For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus different from the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit than the one you received, or a different gospel than the one you accepted, you put up with it well enough!\n\t\t\t For I consider myself not at all inferior to those \"super-apostles.\"\n\t\t\t And even if I am unskilled in speaking, yet I am certainly not so in knowledge. Indeed, we have made this plain to you in everything in every way. \n\t\t\t Or did I commit a sin by humbling myself so that you could be exalted, because I proclaimed the gospel of God to you free of charge? \n\t\t\t I robbed other churches by receiving support from them so that I could serve you!\n\t\t\t When I was with you and was in need, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia fully supplied my needs. I kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so. \n\t\t\t As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine will not be stopped in the regions of Achaia. \n\t\t\t Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!\n\t\t\t And what I am doing I will continue to do, so that I may eliminate any opportunity for those who want a chance to be regarded as our equals in the things they boast about. \n\t\t\t For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. \n\t\t\t And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. \n\t\t\t Therefore it is not surprising his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will correspond to their actions.\n\t\t\t I say again, let no one think that I am a fool. But if you do, then at least accept me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little. \n\t\t\t What I am saying with this boastful confidence I do not say the way the Lord would. Instead it is, as it were, foolishness. \n\t\t\t Since many are boasting according to human standards, I too will boast. \n\t\t\t For since you are so wise, you put up with fools gladly. \n\t\t\t For you put up with it if someone makes slaves of you, if someone exploits you, if someone takes advantage of you, if someone behaves arrogantly toward you, if someone strikes you in the face. \n\t\t\t (To my disgrace I must say that we were too weak for that!) But whatever anyone else dares to boast about (I am speaking foolishly), I also dare to boast about the same thing.\n\t\t\t Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I.\n\t\t\t Are they servants of Christ? (I am talking like I am out of my mind!) I am even more so: with much greater labors, with far more imprisonments, with more severe beatings, facing death many times.\n\t\t\t Five times I received from the Jews forty lashes less one.\n\t\t\t Three times I was beaten with a rod. Once I received a stoning. Three times I suffered shipwreck. A night and a day I spent adrift in the open sea. \n\t\t\t I have been on journeys many times, in dangers from rivers, in dangers from robbers, in dangers from my own countrymen, in dangers from Gentiles, in dangers in the city, in dangers in the wilderness, in dangers at sea, in dangers from false brothers, \n\t\t\t in hard work and toil, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, many times without food, in cold and without enough clothing.\n\t\t\t Apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxious concern for all the churches. \n\t\t\t Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not burn with indignation? \n\t\t\t If I must boast, I will boast about the things that show my weakness.\n\t\t\t The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is blessed forever, knows I am not lying.\n\t\t\t In Damascus, the governor under King Aretas was guarding the city of Damascus in order to arrest me, \n\t\t\t but I was let down in a rope-basket through a window in the city wall, and escaped his hands.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t It is necessary to go on boasting. Though it is not profitable, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. \n\t\t\t I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago (whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows) was caught up to the third heaven.\n\t\t\t And I know that this man (whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows)\n\t\t\t was caught up into paradise and heard things too sacred to be put into words, things that a person is not permitted to speak. \n\t\t\t On behalf of such an individual I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except about my weaknesses.\n\t\t\t For even if I wish to boast, I will not be a fool, for I would be telling the truth, but I refrain from this so that no one may regard me beyond what he sees in me or what he hears from me, \n\t\t\t even because of the extraordinary character of the revelations. Therefore, so that I would not become arrogant, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to trouble me, so that I would not become arrogant.\n\t\t\t I asked the Lord three times about this, that it would depart from me.\n\t\t\t But he said to me, \"My grace is enough for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.\" So then, I will boast most gladly about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may reside in me. \n\t\t\t Therefore I am content with weaknesses, with insults, with troubles, with persecutions and difficulties for the sake of Christ, for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.\n\t\t\t I have become a fool. You yourselves forced me to do it, for I should have been commended by you. For I lack nothing in comparison to those \"super-apostles,\" even though I am nothing. \n\t\t\t Indeed, the signs of an apostle were performed among you with great perseverance by signs and wonders and powerful deeds.\n\t\t\t For how were you treated worse than the other churches, except that I myself was not a burden to you? Forgive me this injustice! \n\t\t\t Look, for the third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you, because I do not want your possessions, but you. For children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. \n\t\t\t Now I will most gladly spend and be spent for your lives! If I love you more, am I to be loved less? \n\t\t\t But be that as it may, I have not burdened you. Yet because I was a crafty person, I took you in by deceit!\n\t\t\t I have not taken advantage of you through anyone I have sent to you, have I?\n\t\t\t I urged Titus to visit you and I sent our brother along with him. Titus did not take advantage of you, did he? Did we not conduct ourselves in the same spirit? Did we not behave in the same way?\n\t\t\t Have you been thinking all this time that we have been defending ourselves to you? We are speaking in Christ before God, and everything we do, dear friends, is to build you up.\n\t\t\t For I am afraid that somehow when I come I will not find you what I wish, and you will find me not what you wish. I am afraid that somehow there may be quarreling, jealousy, intense anger, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder. \n\t\t\t I am afraid that when I come again, my God may humiliate me before you, and I will grieve for many of those who previously sinned and have not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality, and licentiousness that they have practiced.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t This is the third time I am coming to visit you. By the testimony of two or three witnesses every matter will be established.\n\t\t\t I said before when I was present the second time and now, though absent, I say again to those who sinned previously and to all the rest, that if I come again, I will not spare anyone,\n\t\t\t since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He is not weak toward you but is powerful among you. \n\t\t\t For indeed he was crucified by reason of weakness, but he lives because of God's power. For we also are weak in him, but we will live together with him, because of God's power toward you.\n\t\t\t Put yourselves to the test to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize regarding yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you, unless, indeed, you fail the test!\n\t\t\t And I hope that you will realize that we have not failed the test!\n\t\t\t Now we pray to God that you may not do anything wrong, not so that we may appear to have passed the test, but so that you may do what is right even if we may appear to have failed the test.\n\t\t\t For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the sake of the truth.\n\t\t\t For we rejoice whenever we are weak, but you are strong. And we pray for this: that you may become fully qualified.\n\t\t\t Because of this I am writing these things while absent, so that when I arrive I may not have to deal harshly with you by using my authority, the Lord gave it to me for building up, not for tearing down!\n\t\t\t Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice, set things right, be encouraged, agree with one another, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you. \n\t\t\t Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you. \n\t\t\t The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t From Paul, an apostle (not from men, nor by human agency, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised him from the dead) \n\t\t\t and all the brothers with me, to the churches of Galatia.\n\t\t\t Grace and peace to you from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, \n\t\t\t who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from this present evil age according to the will of our God and Father,\n\t\t\t to whom be glory forever and ever! Amen.\n\t\t\t I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are following a different gospel,\n\t\t\t not that there really is another gospel, but there are some who are disturbing you and wanting to distort the gospel of Christ. \n\t\t\t But even if we (or an angel from heaven) should preach a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be condemned to hell!\n\t\t\t As we have said before, and now I say again, if any one is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, let him be condemned to hell!\n\t\t\t Am I now trying to gain 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 a slave of Christ!\n\t\t\t Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin.\n\t\t\t For I did not receive it or learn it from any human source; instead I received it by a revelation of Jesus Christ.\n\t\t\t For you have heard of my former way of life in Judaism, how I was savagely persecuting the church of God and trying to destroy it. \n\t\t\t I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my nation, and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my ancestors.\n\t\t\t But when the one who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace was pleased \n\t\t\t to reveal his Son in me so that I could preach him among the Gentiles, I did not go to ask advice from any human being,\n\t\t\t nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before me, but right away I departed to Arabia, and then returned to Damascus.\n\t\t\t Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and get information from him, and I stayed with him fifteen days. \n\t\t\t But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord's brother. \n\t\t\t I assure you that, before God, I am not lying about what I am writing to you!\n\t\t\t Afterward I went to the regions of Syria and Cilicia.\n\t\t\t But I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. \n\t\t\t They were only hearing, \"The one who once persecuted us is now proclaiming the good news of the faith he once tried to destroy.\" \n\t\t\t So they glorified God because of me.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then after fourteen years I went up to Jerusalem again with Barnabas, taking Titus along too. \n\t\t\t I went there because of a revelation and presented to them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I did so only in a private meeting with the influential people, to make sure that I was not running, or had not run, in vain.\n\t\t\t Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, although he was a Greek. \n\t\t\t Now this matter arose because of the false brothers with false pretenses who slipped in unnoticed to spy on our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, to make us slaves.\n\t\t\t But we did not surrender to them even for a moment, in order that the truth of the gospel would remain with you.\n\t\t\t But from those who were influential (whatever they were makes no difference to me; God shows no favoritism between people), those influential leaders added nothing to my message.\n\t\t\t On the contrary, when they saw that I was entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised just as Peter was to the circumcised\n\t\t\t (for he who empowered Peter for his apostleship to the circumcised also empowered me for my apostleship to the Gentiles)\n\t\t\t and when James, Cephas, and John, who had a reputation as pillars, recognized the grace that had been given to me, they gave to Barnabas and me the right hand of fellowship, agreeing that we would go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.\n\t\t\t They requested only that we remember the poor, the very thing I also was eager to do.\n\t\t\t But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he had clearly done wrong.\n\t\t\t Until certain people came from James, he had been eating with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he stopped doing this and separated himself because he was afraid of those who were pro-circumcision.\n\t\t\t And the rest of the Jews also joined with him in this hypocrisy, so that even Barnabas was led astray with them by their hypocrisy. \n\t\t\t But when I saw that they were not behaving consistently with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in front of them all, \"If you, although you are a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you try to force the Gentiles to live like Jews?\"\n\t\t\t We are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners,\n\t\t\t yet we know that no one is justified by the works of the law but by the faithfulness of Jesus Christ. And we have come to believe in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by the faithfulness of Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.\n\t\t\t But if while seeking to be justified in Christ we ourselves have also been found to be sinners, is Christ then one who encourages sin? Absolutely not! \n\t\t\t But if I build up again those things I once destroyed, I demonstrate that I am one who breaks God's law.\n\t\t\t For through the law I died to the law so that I may live to God.\n\t\t\t I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So the life I now live in the body, I live because of the faithfulness of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. \n\t\t\t I do not set aside God's grace, because if righteousness could come through the law, then Christ died for nothing!\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t You foolish Galatians! Who has cast a spell on you? Before your eyes Jesus Christ was vividly portrayed as crucified! \n\t\t\t The only thing I want to learn from you is this: Did you receive the Spirit by doing the works of the law or by believing what you heard?\n\t\t\t Are you so foolish? Although you began with the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by human effort?\n\t\t\t Have you suffered so many things for nothing?, if indeed it was for nothing.\n\t\t\t Does God then give you the Spirit and work miracles among you by your doing the works of the law or by your believing what you heard?\n\t\t\t Just as Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,\n\t\t\t so then, understand that those who believe are the sons of Abraham.\n\t\t\t And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, proclaimed the gospel to Abraham ahead of time, saying, \"All the nations will be blessed in you.\"\n\t\t\t So then those who believe are blessed along with Abraham the believer. \n\t\t\t For all who rely on doing the works of the law are under a curse, because it is written, \"Cursed is everyone who does not keep on doing everything written in the book of the law.\"\n\t\t\t Now it is clear no one is justified before God by the law, because the righteous one will live by faith.\n\t\t\t But the law is not based on faith, but the one who does the works of the law will live by them.\n\t\t\t Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us (because it is written, \"Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree\")\n\t\t\t in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles, so that we could receive the promise of the Spirit by faith.\n\t\t\t Brothers and sisters, I offer an example from everyday life: When a covenant has been ratified, even though it is only a human contract, no one can set it aside or add anything to it. \n\t\t\t Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his descendant. Scripture does not say, \"and to the descendants,\" referring to many, but \"and to your descendant,\" referring to one, who is Christ. \n\t\t\t What I am saying is this: The law that came four hundred thirty years later does not cancel a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to invalidate the promise. \n\t\t\t For if the inheritance is based on the law, it is no longer based on the promise, but God graciously gave it to Abraham through the promise.\n\t\t\t Why then was the law given? It was added because of transgressions, until the arrival of the descendant to whom the promise had been made. It was administered through angels by an intermediary.\n\t\t\t Now an intermediary is not for one party alone, but God is one.\n\t\t\t Is the law therefore opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that was able to give life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law.\n\t\t\t But the scripture imprisoned everything and everyone under sin so that the promise could be given, because of the faithfulness of Jesus Christ, to those who believe.\n\t\t\t Now before faith came we were held in custody under the law, being kept as prisoners until the coming faith would be revealed. \n\t\t\t Thus the law had become our guardian until Christ, so that we could be declared righteous by faith. \n\t\t\t But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.\n\t\t\t For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith.\n\t\t\t For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. \n\t\t\t There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.\n\t\t\t And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendants, heirs according to the promise.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now I mean that the heir, as long as he is a minor, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything. \n\t\t\t But he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. \n\t\t\t So also we, when we were minors, were enslaved under the basic forces of the world. \n\t\t\t But when the appropriate time had come, God sent out his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, \n\t\t\t to redeem those who were under the law, so that we may be adopted as sons with full rights.\n\t\t\t And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, who calls \"Abba! Father!\" \n\t\t\t So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if you are a son, then you are also an heir through God.\n\t\t\t Formerly when you did not know God, you were enslaved to beings that by nature are not gods at all.\n\t\t\t But now that you have come to know God (or rather to be known by God), how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless basic forces? Do you want to be enslaved to them all over again?\n\t\t\t You are observing religious days and months and seasons and years. \n\t\t\t I fear for you that my work for you may have been in vain.\n\t\t\t I beg you, brothers and sisters, become like me, because I have become like you. You have done me no wrong!\n\t\t\t But you know it was because of a physical illness that I first proclaimed the gospel to you,\n\t\t\t and though my physical condition put you to the test, you did not despise or reject me. Instead, you welcomed me as though I were an angel of God, as though I were Christ Jesus himself!\n\t\t\t Where then is your sense of happiness now? For I testify about you that if it were possible, you would have pulled out your eyes and given them to me! \n\t\t\t So then, have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?\n\t\t\t They court you eagerly, but for no good purpose; they want to exclude you, so that you would seek them eagerly.\n\t\t\t However, it is good to be sought eagerly for a good purpose at all times, and not only when I am present with you. \n\t\t\t My children, I am again undergoing birth pains until Christ is formed in you!\n\t\t\t I wish I could be with you now and change my tone of voice, because I am perplexed about you.\n\t\t\t Tell me, you who want to be under the law, do you not understand the law?\n\t\t\t For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman. \n\t\t\t But one, the son by the slave woman, was born by natural descent, while the other, the son by the free woman, was born through the promise. \n\t\t\t These things may be treated as an allegory, for these women represent two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai bearing children for slavery; this is Hagar. \n\t\t\t Now Hagar represents Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children.\n\t\t\t But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. \n\t\t\t For it is written: \"Rejoice, O barren woman who does not bear children; break forth and shout, you who have no birth pains, because the children of the desolate woman are more numerous than those of the woman who has a husband.\"\n\t\t\t But you, brothers and sisters, are children of the promise like Isaac. \n\t\t\t But just as at that time the one born by natural descent persecuted the one born according to the Spirit, so it is now. \n\t\t\t But what does the scripture say? \"Throw out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman will not share the inheritance with the son\" of the free woman. \n\t\t\t Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman but of the free woman.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be subject again to the yoke of slavery. \n\t\t\t Listen! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you at all!\n\t\t\t And I testify again to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. \n\t\t\t You who are trying to be declared righteous by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace! \n\t\t\t For through the Spirit, by faith, we wait expectantly for the hope of righteousness.\n\t\t\t For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision carries any weight, the only thing that matters is faith working through love.\n\t\t\t You were running well; who prevented you from obeying the truth? \n\t\t\t This persuasion does not come from the one who calls you! \n\t\t\t A little yeast makes the whole batch of dough rise!\n\t\t\t I am confident in the Lord that you will accept no other view. But the one who is confusing you will pay the penalty, whoever he may be.\n\t\t\t Now, brothers and sisters, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed.\n\t\t\t I wish those agitators would go so far as to castrate themselves!\n\t\t\t For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity to indulge your flesh, but through love serve one another.\n\t\t\t For the whole law can be summed up in a single commandment, namely, \"You must love your neighbor as yourself.\"\n\t\t\t However, if you continually bite and devour one another, beware that you are not consumed by one another. \n\t\t\t But I say, live by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh.\n\t\t\t For the flesh has desires that are opposed to the Spirit, and the Spirit has desires that are opposed to the flesh, for these are in opposition to each other, so that you cannot do what you want. \n\t\t\t But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.\n\t\t\t Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, depravity, \n\t\t\t idolatry, sorcery, hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish rivalries, dissensions, factions, \n\t\t\t envying, murder, drunkenness, carousing, and similar things. I am warning you, as I had warned you before: Those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God!\n\t\t\t But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,\n\t\t\t gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. \n\t\t\t Now those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. \n\t\t\t If we live by the Spirit, let us also behave in accordance with the Spirit. \n\t\t\t Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, being jealous of one another.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Brothers and sisters, if a person is discovered in some sin, you who are spiritual restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness. Pay close attention to yourselves, so that you are not tempted too. \n\t\t\t Carry one another's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.\n\t\t\t For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.\n\t\t\t Let each one examine his own work. Then he can take pride in himself and not compare himself with someone else. \n\t\t\t For each one will carry his own load.\n\t\t\t Now the one who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with the one who teaches it. \n\t\t\t Do not be deceived. God will not be made a fool. For a person will reap what he sows, \n\t\t\t because the person who sows to his own flesh will reap corruption from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit. \n\t\t\t So we must not grow weary in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we do not give up.\n\t\t\t So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who belong to the family of faith.\n\t\t\t See what big letters I make as I write to you with my own hand!\n\t\t\t Those who want to make a good showing in external matters are trying to force you to be circumcised. They do so only to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ. \n\t\t\t For those who are circumcised do not obey the law themselves, but they want you to be circumcised so that they can boast about your flesh.\n\t\t\t But may I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.\n\t\t\t For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything; the only thing that matters is a new creation!\n\t\t\t And all who will behave in accordance with this rule, peace and mercy be on them, and on the Israel of God.\n\t\t\t From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear the marks of Jesus on my body.\n\t\t\t The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen.\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints [in Ephesus], the faithful in Christ Jesus. \n\t\t\t Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!\n\t\t\t Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ.\n\t\t\t For he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world that we may be holy and unblemished in his sight in love.\n\t\t\t He did this by predestining us to adoption as his sons through Jesus Christ, according to the pleasure of his will,\n\t\t\t to the praise of the glory of his grace that he has freely bestowed on us in his dearly loved Son.\n\t\t\t In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace\n\t\t\t that he lavished on us in all wisdom and insight.\n\t\t\t He did this when he revealed to us the secret of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ,\n\t\t\t toward the administration of the fullness of the times, to head up all things in Christ, the things in heaven and the things on earth.\n\t\t\t In Christ we too have been claimed as God's own possession, since we were predestined according to the one purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to the counsel of his will \n\t\t\t so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, would be to the praise of his glory. \n\t\t\t And when you heard the word of truth (the gospel of your salvation), when you believed in Christ, you were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit,\n\t\t\t who is the down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of his glory.\n\t\t\t For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, \n\t\t\t I do not cease to give thanks for you when I remember you in my prayers. \n\t\t\t I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you spiritual wisdom and revelation in your growing knowledge of him,\n\t\t\t , since the eyes of your heart have been enlightened, so that you may know what is the hope of his calling, what is the wealth of his glorious inheritance in the saints,\n\t\t\t and what is the incomparable greatness of his power toward us who believe, as displayed in the exercise of his immense strength.\n\t\t\t This power he exercised in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms\n\t\t\t far above every rule and authority and power and dominion and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.\n\t\t\t And God put all things under Christ's feet, and he gave him to the church as head over all things.\n\t\t\t Now the church is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t And although you were dead in your transgressions and sins, \n\t\t\t in which you formerly lived according to this world's present path, according to the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the ruler of the spirit that is now energizing the sons of disobedience,\n\t\t\t among whom all of us also formerly lived out our lives in the cravings of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath even as the rest,\n\t\t\t But God, being rich in mercy, because of his great love with which he loved us,\n\t\t\t even though we were dead in transgressions, made us alive together with Christ, by grace you are saved!,\n\t\t\t and he raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,\n\t\t\t to demonstrate in the coming ages the surpassing wealth of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. \n\t\t\t For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; \n\t\t\t it is not from works, so that no one can boast.\n\t\t\t For we are his workmanship, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared beforehand so we may do them.\n\t\t\t Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called \"uncircumcision\" by the so-called \"circumcision\" that is performed on the body by human hands,\n\t\t\t that you were at that time without the Messiah, alienated from the citizenship of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. \n\t\t\t But now in Christ Jesus you who used to be far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.\n\t\t\t For he is our peace, the one who made both groups into one and who destroyed the middle wall of partition, the hostility, \n\t\t\t when he nullified in his flesh the law of commandments in decrees. He did this to create in himself one new man out of two, thus making peace, \n\t\t\t and to reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by which the hostility has been killed.\n\t\t\t And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near,\n\t\t\t so that through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. \n\t\t\t So then you are no longer foreigners and noncitizens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of God's household,\n\t\t\t because you have been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone.\n\t\t\t In him the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, \n\t\t\t in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles,\n\t\t\t if indeed you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace that was given to me for you, \n\t\t\t that by revelation the divine secret was made known to me, as I wrote before briefly.\n\t\t\t When reading this, you will be able to understand my insight into this secret of Christ. \n\t\t\t Now this secret was not disclosed to people in former generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit, \n\t\t\t namely, that through the gospel the Gentiles are fellow heirs, fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus. \n\t\t\t I became a servant of this gospel according to the gift of God's grace that was given to me by the exercise of his power.\n\t\t\t To me, less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, to proclaim to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ\n\t\t\t and to enlighten everyone about God's secret plan, a secret that has been hidden for ages in God who has created all things.\n\t\t\t The purpose of this enlightenment is that through the church the multifaceted wisdom of God should now be disclosed to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly realms.\n\t\t\t This was according to the eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, \n\t\t\t in whom we have boldness and confident access to God because of Christ's faithfulness.\n\t\t\t For this reason I ask you not to lose heart because of what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.\n\t\t\t For this reason I kneel before the Father,\n\t\t\t from whom every family in heaven and on the earth is named. \n\t\t\t I pray that according to the wealth of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner person, \n\t\t\t that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, so that, because you have been rooted and grounded in love,\n\t\t\t you may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,\n\t\t\t and thus to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.\n\t\t\t Now to him who by the power that is working within us is able to do far beyond all that we ask or think, \n\t\t\t to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t I, therefore, the prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live worthily of the calling with which you have been called,\n\t\t\t with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, \n\t\t\t making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.\n\t\t\t There is one body and one Spirit, just as you too were called to the one hope of your calling,\n\t\t\t one Lord, one faith, one baptism,\n\t\t\t one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.\n\t\t\t But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of the gift of Christ.\n\t\t\t Therefore it says, \"When he ascended on high he captured captives; he gave gifts to men.\"\n\t\t\t Now what is the meaning of \"he ascended,\" except that he also descended to the lower regions, namely, the earth?\n\t\t\t He, the very one who descended, is also the one who ascended above all the heavens, in order to fill all things.\n\t\t\t It was he who gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,\n\t\t\t to equip the saints for the work of ministry, that is, to build up the body of Christ, \n\t\t\t until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, a mature person, attaining to the measure of Christ's full stature.\n\t\t\t So we are no longer to be children, tossed back and forth by waves and carried about by every wind of teaching by the trickery of people who craftily carry out their deceitful schemes.\n\t\t\t But practicing the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ, who is the head. \n\t\t\t From him the whole body grows, fitted and held together through every supporting ligament. As each one does its part, the body grows in love.\n\t\t\t So I say this, and insist in the Lord, that you no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.\n\t\t\t They are darkened in their understanding, being alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardness of their hearts. \n\t\t\t Because they are callous, they have given themselves over to indecency for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness.\n\t\t\t But you did not learn about Christ like this,\n\t\t\t if indeed you heard about him and were taught in him, just as the truth is in Jesus.\n\t\t\t You were taught with reference to your former way of life to lay aside the old man who is being corrupted in accordance with deceitful desires, \n\t\t\t to be renewed in the spirit of your mind,\n\t\t\t and to put on the new man who has been created in God's image, in righteousness and holiness that comes from truth.\n\t\t\t Therefore, having laid aside falsehood, each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members of one another. \n\t\t\t Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on the cause of your anger.\n\t\t\t Do not give the devil an opportunity.\n\t\t\t The one who steals must steal no longer; rather he must labor, doing good with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with the one who has need.\n\t\t\t You must let no unwholesome word come out of your mouth, but only what is beneficial for the building up of the one in need, that it may give grace to those who hear. \n\t\t\t And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.\n\t\t\t You must put away every kind of bitterness, anger, wrath, quarreling, and evil, slanderous talk.\n\t\t\t Instead, be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ also forgave you.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Therefore, be imitators of God as dearly loved children \n\t\t\t and live in love, just as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God. \n\t\t\t But among you there must not be either sexual immorality, impurity of any kind, or greed, as these are not fitting for the saints.\n\t\t\t Neither should there be vulgar speech, foolish talk, or coarse jesting, all of which are out of character, but rather thanksgiving.\n\t\t\t For you can be confident of this one thing: that no person who is immoral, impure, or greedy (such a person is an idolater) has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.\n\t\t\t Let nobody deceive you with empty words, for because of these things God's wrath comes on the sons of disobedience.\n\t\t\t Therefore do not be partakers with them,\n\t\t\t for you were at one time darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of the light,\n\t\t\t for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth,\n\t\t\t trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. \n\t\t\t Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.\n\t\t\t For the things they do in secret are shameful even to mention. \n\t\t\t But all things being exposed by the light are made evident.\n\t\t\t For everything made evident is light, and for this reason it says: \"Awake, O sleeper! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you!\"\n\t\t\t Therefore be very careful how you live, not as unwise but as wise,\n\t\t\t taking advantage of every opportunity, because the days are evil.\n\t\t\t For this reason do not be foolish, but be wise by understanding what the Lord's will is. \n\t\t\t And do not get drunk with wine, which is debauchery, but be filled by the Spirit,\n\t\t\t speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your hearts to the Lord, \n\t\t\t always giving thanks to God the Father for each other in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, \n\t\t\t and submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.\n\t\t\t Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord, \n\t\t\t because the husband is the head of the wife as also Christ is the head of the church, he himself being the savior of the body.\n\t\t\t But as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.\n\t\t\t Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her \n\t\t\t to sanctify her by cleansing her with the washing of the water by the word, \n\t\t\t so that he may present the church to himself as glorious, not having a stain or wrinkle, or any such blemish, but holy and blameless.\n\t\t\t In the same way husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. \n\t\t\t For no one has ever hated his own body but he feeds it and takes care of it, just as Christ also does the church, \n\t\t\t for we are members of his body.\n\t\t\t For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and will be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.\n\t\t\t This mystery is great, but I am actually speaking with reference to Christ and the church.\n\t\t\t Nevertheless, each one of you must also love his own wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Children, obey your parents in the Lord for this is right. \n\t\t\t \"Honor your father and mother,\" which is the first commandment accompanied by a promise, namely, \n\t\t\t \"that it may go well with you and that you will live a long time on the earth.\"\n\t\t\t Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but raise them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.\n\t\t\t Slaves, obey your human masters with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart as to Christ, \n\t\t\t not like those who do their work only when someone is watching, as people-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ doing the will of God from the heart.\n\t\t\t Obey with enthusiasm, as though serving the Lord and not people, \n\t\t\t because you know that each person, whether slave or free, if he does something good, this will be rewarded by the Lord.\n\t\t\t Masters, treat your slaves the same way, giving up the use of threats, because you know that both you and they have the same master in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.\n\t\t\t Finally, be strengthened in the Lord and in the strength of his power.\n\t\t\t Clothe yourselves with the full armor of God so that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. \n\t\t\t For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens.\n\t\t\t For this reason, take up the full armor of God so that you may be able to stand your ground on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand. \n\t\t\t Stand firm therefore, by fastening the belt of truth around your waist, by putting on the breastplate of righteousness, \n\t\t\t by fitting your feet with the preparation that comes from the good news of peace,\n\t\t\t and in all of this, by taking up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. \n\t\t\t And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. \n\t\t\t With every prayer and petition, pray at all times in the Spirit, and to this end be alert, with all perseverance and requests for all the saints.\n\t\t\t Pray for me also, that I may be given the message when I begin to speak, that I may confidently make known the mystery of the gospel,\n\t\t\t for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may be able to speak boldly as I ought to speak.\n\t\t\t Tychicus, my dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will make everything known to you, so that you too may know about my circumstances, how I am doing. \n\t\t\t I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts.\n\t\t\t Peace to the brothers and sisters, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. \n\t\t\t Grace be with all of those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t From Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the overseers and deacons. \n\t\t\t Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!\n\t\t\t I thank my God every time I remember you.\n\t\t\t I always pray with joy in my every prayer for all of you\n\t\t\t because of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now.\n\t\t\t For I am sure of this very thing, that the one who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. \n\t\t\t For it is right for me to think this about all of you, because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel all of you became partners in God's grace together with me.\n\t\t\t For God is my witness that I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.\n\t\t\t And I pray this, that your love may abound even more and more in knowledge and every kind of insight\n\t\t\t so that you can decide what is best, and thus be sincere and blameless for the day of Christ,\n\t\t\t filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.\n\t\t\t I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that my situation has actually turned out to advance the gospel:\n\t\t\t The whole imperial guard and everyone else knows that I am in prison for the sake of Christ, \n\t\t\t and most of the brothers and sisters, having confidence in the Lord because of my imprisonment, now more than ever dare to speak the word fearlessly.\n\t\t\t Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from goodwill.\n\t\t\t The latter do so from love because they know that I am placed here for the defense of the gospel.\n\t\t\t The former proclaim Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, because they think they can cause trouble for me in my imprisonment.\n\t\t\t What is the result? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is being proclaimed, and in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, \n\t\t\t for I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ. \n\t\t\t My confident hope is that I will in no way be ashamed but that with complete boldness, even now as always, Christ will be exalted in my body, whether I live or die.\n\t\t\t For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain.\n\t\t\t Now if I am to go on living in the body, this will mean productive work for me, yet I don't know which I prefer:\n\t\t\t I feel torn between the two, because I have a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far, \n\t\t\t but it is more vital for your sake that I remain in the body.\n\t\t\t And since I am sure of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for the sake of your progress and joy in the faith,\n\t\t\t so that what you can be proud of may increase because of me in Christ Jesus, when I come back to you.\n\t\t\t Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ so that, whether I come and see you or whether I remain absent, I should hear that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind, by contending side by side for the faith of the gospel,\n\t\t\t and by not being intimidated in any way by your opponents. This is a sign of their destruction, but of your salvation, a sign which is from God.\n\t\t\t For it has been granted to you not only to believe in Christ but also to suffer for him, \n\t\t\t since you are encountering the same conflict that you saw me face and now hear that I am facing.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Therefore, if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort provided by love, any fellowship in the Spirit, any affection or mercy,\n\t\t\t complete my joy and be of the same mind, by having the same love, being united in spirit, and having one purpose. \n\t\t\t Instead of being motivated by selfish ambition or vanity, each of you should, in humility, be moved to treat one another as more important than yourself. \n\t\t\t Each of you should be concerned not only about your own interests, but about the interests of others as well.\n\t\t\t You should have the same attitude toward one another that Christ Jesus had,\n\t\t\t who though he existed in the form of God did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped,\n\t\t\t but emptied himself by taking on the form of a slave, by looking like other men, and by sharing in human nature.\n\t\t\t He humbled himself, by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross!\n\t\t\t As a result God exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name,\n\t\t\t so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,\n\t\t\t and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.\n\t\t\t So then, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence but even more in my absence, continue working out your salvation with awe and reverence,\n\t\t\t for the one bringing forth in you both the desire and the effort, for the sake of his good pleasure, is God.\n\t\t\t Do everything without grumbling or arguing,\n\t\t\t so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without blemish though you live in a crooked and perverse society, in which you shine as lights in the world\n\t\t\t by holding on to the word of life so that on the day of Christ I will have a reason to boast that I did not run in vain nor labor in vain. \n\t\t\t But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice together with all of you.\n\t\t\t And in the same way you also should be glad and rejoice together with me.\n\t\t\t Now I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be encouraged by hearing news about you.\n\t\t\t For there is no one here like him who will readily demonstrate his deep concern for you.\n\t\t\t Others are busy with their own concerns, not those of Jesus Christ.\n\t\t\t But you know his qualifications, that like a son working with his father, he served with me in advancing the gospel.\n\t\t\t So I hope to send him as soon as I know more about my situation,\n\t\t\t though I am confident in the Lord that I too will be coming to see you soon.\n\t\t\t But for now I have considered it necessary to send Epaphroditus to you. For he is my brother, coworker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to me in my need.\n\t\t\t Indeed, he greatly missed all of you and was distressed because you heard that he had been ill.\n\t\t\t In fact he became so ill that he nearly died. But God showed mercy to him, and not to him only, but also to me, so that I would not have grief on top of grief.\n\t\t\t Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you can rejoice and I can be free from anxiety. \n\t\t\t So welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor people like him,\n\t\t\t since it was because of the work of Christ that he almost died. He risked his life so that he could make up for your inability to serve me.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Finally, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! To write this again is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you.\n\t\t\t Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of those who mutilate the flesh!\n\t\t\t For we are the circumcision, the ones who worship by the Spirit of God, exult in Christ Jesus, and do not rely on human credentials\n\t\t\t , though mine too are significant. If someone thinks he has good reasons to put confidence in human credentials, I have more: \n\t\t\t I was circumcised on the eighth day, from the people of Israel and the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews. I lived according to the law as a Pharisee.\n\t\t\t In my zeal for God I persecuted the church. According to the righteousness stipulated in the law I was blameless.\n\t\t\t But these assets I have come to regard as liabilities because of Christ.\n\t\t\t More than that, I now regard all things as liabilities compared to the far greater value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, indeed, I regard them as dung!, that I may gain Christ,\n\t\t\t and be found in him, not because I have my own righteousness derived from the law, but because I have the righteousness that comes by way of Christ's faithfulness, a righteousness from God that is in fact based on Christ's faithfulness.\n\t\t\t My aim is to know him, to experience the power of his resurrection, to share in his sufferings, and to be like him in his death, \n\t\t\t and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.\n\t\t\t Not that I have already attained this, that is, I have not already been perfected, but I strive to lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus also laid hold of me.\n\t\t\t Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have attained this. Instead I am single-minded: Forgetting the things that are behind and reaching out for the things that are ahead, \n\t\t\t with this goal in mind, I strive toward the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. \n\t\t\t Therefore let those of us who are \"perfect\" embrace this point of view. If you think otherwise, God will reveal to you the error of your ways.\n\t\t\t Nevertheless, let us live up to the standard that we have already attained.\n\t\t\t Be imitators of me, brothers and sisters, and watch carefully those who are living this way, just as you have us as an example. \n\t\t\t For many live, about whom I have often told you, and now, with tears, I tell you that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ.\n\t\t\t Their end is destruction, their god is the belly, they exult in their shame, and they think about earthly things.\n\t\t\t But our citizenship is in heaven, and we also await a savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,\n\t\t\t who will transform these humble bodies of ours into the likeness of his glorious body by means of that power by which he is able to subject all things to himself.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t So then, my brothers and sisters, dear friends whom I long to see, my joy and crown, stand in the Lord in this way, my dear friends!\n\t\t\t I appeal to Euodia and to Syntyche to agree in the Lord.\n\t\t\t Yes, I say also to you, true companion, help them. They have struggled together in the gospel ministry along with me and Clement and my other coworkers, whose names are in the book of life. \n\t\t\t Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say, rejoice!\n\t\t\t Let everyone see your gentleness. The Lord is near! \n\t\t\t Do not be anxious about anything. Instead, in every situation, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, tell your requests to God.\n\t\t\t And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.\n\t\t\t Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of respect, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if something is excellent or praiseworthy, think about these things. \n\t\t\t And what you learned and received and heard and saw in me, do these things. And the God of peace will be with you.\n\t\t\t I have great joy in the Lord because now at last you have again expressed your concern for me. (Now I know you were concerned before but had no opportunity to do anything.)\n\t\t\t I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content in any circumstance.\n\t\t\t I have experienced times of need and times of abundance. In any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of contentment, whether I go satisfied or hungry, have plenty or nothing. \n\t\t\t I am able to do all things through the one who strengthens me. \n\t\t\t Nevertheless, you did well to share with me in my trouble.\n\t\t\t And as you Philippians know, at the beginning of my gospel ministry, when I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in this matter of giving and receiving except you alone.\n\t\t\t For even in Thessalonica on more than one occasion you sent something for my need. \n\t\t\t I do not say this because I am seeking a gift. Rather, I seek the credit that abounds to your account. \n\t\t\t For I have received everything, and I have plenty. I have all I need because I received from Epaphroditus what you sent, a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, very pleasing to God.\n\t\t\t And my God will supply your every need according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. \n\t\t\t May glory be given to God our Father forever and ever. Amen.\n\t\t\t Give greetings to all the saints in Christ Jesus. The brothers with me here send greetings. \n\t\t\t All the saints greet you, especially those who belong to Caesar's household.\n\t\t\t The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, \n\t\t\t to the saints, the faithful brothers and sisters in Christ, at Colossae. Grace and peace to you from God our Father!\n\t\t\t We always give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, \n\t\t\t since we heard about your faith in Christ Jesus and the love that you have for all the saints. \n\t\t\t Your faith and love have arisen from the hope laid up for you in heaven, which you have heard about in the message of truth, the gospel\n\t\t\t that has come to you. Just as in the entire world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, so it has also been bearing fruit and growing among you from the first day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth. \n\t\t\t You learned the gospel from Epaphras, our dear fellow slave, a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf,\n\t\t\t who also told us of your love in the Spirit.\n\t\t\t For this reason we also, from the day we heard about you, have not ceased praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, \n\t\t\t so that you may live worthily of the Lord and please him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good deed, growing in the knowledge of God,\n\t\t\t being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might for the display of all patience and steadfastness, joyfully \n\t\t\t giving thanks to the Father who has qualified you to share in the saints' inheritance in the light. \n\t\t\t He delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of the Son he loves,\n\t\t\t in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.\n\t\t\t He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation,\n\t\t\t for all things in heaven and on earth were created by him, all things, whether visible or invisible, whether thrones or dominions, whether principalities or powers, all things were created through him and for him.\n\t\t\t He himself is before all things and all things are held together in him.\n\t\t\t He is the head of the body, the church, as well as the beginning, the firstborn from among the dead, so that he himself may become first in all things.\n\t\t\t For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in the Son\n\t\t\t and through him to reconcile all things to himself by making peace through the blood of his cross, through him, whether things on earth or things in heaven.\n\t\t\t And you were at one time strangers and enemies in your minds as expressed through your evil deeds, \n\t\t\t but now he has reconciled you by his physical body through death to present you holy, without blemish, and blameless before him,\n\t\t\t if indeed you remain in the faith, established and firm, without shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard. This gospel has also been preached in all creation under heaven, and I, Paul, have become its servant.\n\t\t\t Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and I fill up in my physical body, for the sake of his body, the church, what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ.\n\t\t\t I became a servant of the church according to the stewardship from God, given to me for you, in order to complete the word of God,\n\t\t\t that is, the mystery that has been kept hidden from ages and generations, but has now been revealed to his saints.\n\t\t\t God wanted to make known to them the glorious riches of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.\n\t\t\t We proclaim him by instructing and teaching all people with all wisdom so that we may present every person mature in Christ. \n\t\t\t Toward this goal I also labor, struggling according to his power that powerfully works in me.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you, and for those in Laodicea, and for those who have not met me face to face.\n\t\t\t My goal is that their hearts, having been knit together in love, may be encouraged, and that they may have all the riches that assurance brings in their understanding of the knowledge of the mystery of God, namely, Christ,\n\t\t\t in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.\n\t\t\t I say this so that no one will deceive you through arguments that sound reasonable.\n\t\t\t For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your morale and the firmness of your faith in Christ.\n\t\t\t Therefore, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, \n\t\t\t rooted and built up in him and firm in your faith just as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. \n\t\t\t Be careful not to allow anyone to captivate you through an empty, deceitful philosophy that is according to human traditions and the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. \n\t\t\t For in him all the fullness of deity lives in bodily form, \n\t\t\t and you have been filled in him, who is the head over every ruler and authority.\n\t\t\t In him you also were circumcised, not, however, with a circumcision performed by human hands, but by the removal of the fleshly body, that is, through the circumcision done by Christ.\n\t\t\t Having been buried with him in baptism, you also have been raised with him through your faith in the power of God who raised him from the dead. \n\t\t\t And even though you were dead in your transgressions and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he nevertheless made you alive with him, having forgiven all your transgressions. \n\t\t\t He has destroyed what was against us, a certificate of indebtedness expressed in decrees opposed to us. He has taken it away by nailing it to the cross. \n\t\t\t Disarming the rulers and authorities, he has made a public disgrace of them, triumphing over them by the cross.\n\t\t\t Therefore do not let anyone judge you with respect to food or drink, or in the matter of a feast, new moon, or Sabbath days,\n\t\t\t these are only the shadow of the things to come, but the reality is Christ!\n\t\t\t Let no one who delights in humility and the worship of angels pass judgment on you. That person goes on at great lengths about what he has supposedly seen, but he is puffed up with empty notions by his fleshly mind.\n\t\t\t He has not held fast to the head from whom the whole body, supported and knit together through its ligaments and sinews, grows with a growth that is from God.\n\t\t\t If you have died with Christ to the elemental spirits of the world, why do you submit to them as though you lived in the world? \n\t\t\t \"Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!\"\n\t\t\t These are all destined to perish with use, founded as they are on human commands and teachings.\n\t\t\t Even though they have the appearance of wisdom with their self-imposed worship and false humility achieved by an unsparing treatment of the body, a wisdom with no true value, they in reality result in fleshly indulgence.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.\n\t\t\t Keep thinking about things above, not things on the earth,\n\t\t\t for you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.\n\t\t\t When Christ (who is your life) appears, then you too will be revealed in glory with him. \n\t\t\t So put to death whatever in your nature belongs to the earth: sexual immorality, impurity, shameful passion, evil desire, and greed which is idolatry. \n\t\t\t Because of these things the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience.\n\t\t\t You also lived your lives in this way at one time, when you used to live among them. \n\t\t\t But now, put off all such things as anger, rage, malice, slander, abusive language from your mouth. \n\t\t\t Do not lie to one another since you have put off the old man with its practices\n\t\t\t and have been clothed with the new man that is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of the one who created it. \n\t\t\t Here there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all and in all.\n\t\t\t Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with a heart of mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, \n\t\t\t bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if someone happens to have a complaint against anyone else. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also forgive others.\n\t\t\t And to all these virtues add love, which is the perfect bond.\n\t\t\t Let the peace of Christ be in control in your heart (for you were in fact called as one body to this peace), and be thankful. \n\t\t\t Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and exhorting one another with all wisdom, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, all with grace in your hearts to God. \n\t\t\t And whatever you do in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.\n\t\t\t Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. \n\t\t\t Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them.\n\t\t\t Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing in the Lord.\n\t\t\t Fathers, do not provoke your children, so they will not become disheartened. \n\t\t\t Slaves, obey your earthly masters in every respect, not only when they are watching, like those who are strictly people-pleasers, but with a sincere heart, fearing the Lord.\n\t\t\t Whatever you are doing, work at it with enthusiasm, as to the Lord and not for people,\n\t\t\t because you know that you will receive your inheritance from the Lord as the reward. Serve the Lord Christ. \n\t\t\t For the one who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there are no exceptions.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Masters, treat your slaves with justice and fairness, because you know that you also have a master in heaven.\n\t\t\t Be devoted to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving.\n\t\t\t At the same time pray for us too, that God may open a door for the message so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.\n\t\t\t Pray that I may make it known as I should.\n\t\t\t Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunities. \n\t\t\t Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you should answer everyone.\n\t\t\t Tychicus, a dear brother, faithful minister, and fellow slave in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me.\n\t\t\t I sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are doing and that he may encourage your hearts. \n\t\t\t I sent him with Onesimus, the faithful and dear brother, who is one of you. They will tell you about everything here.\n\t\t\t Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, sends you greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas (about whom you received instructions; if he comes to you, welcome him).\n\t\t\t And Jesus who is called Justus also sends greetings. In terms of Jewish converts, these are the only fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me. \n\t\t\t Epaphras, who is one of you and a slave of Christ, greets you. He is always struggling in prayer on your behalf, so that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God. \n\t\t\t For I can testify that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and Hierapolis. \n\t\t\t Our dear friend Luke the physician and Demas greet you.\n\t\t\t Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters who are in Laodicea and to Nympha and the church that meets in her house.\n\t\t\t And after you have read this letter, have it read to the church of Laodicea. In turn, read the letter from Laodicea as well. \n\t\t\t And tell Archippus, \"See to it that you complete the ministry you received in the Lord.\"\n\t\t\t I, Paul, write this greeting by my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t From Paul and Silvanus and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace and peace to you!\n\t\t\t We thank God always for all of you as we mention you constantly in our prayers, \n\t\t\t because we recall in the presence of our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and endurance of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.\n\t\t\t We know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you,\n\t\t\t in that our gospel did not come to you merely in words, but in power and in the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction (surely you recall the character we displayed when we came among you to help you).\n\t\t\t And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, when you received the message with joy that comes from the Holy Spirit, despite great affliction. \n\t\t\t As a result you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. \n\t\t\t For from you the message of the Lord has echoed forth not just in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place reports of your faith in God have spread, so that we do not need to say anything. \n\t\t\t For people everywhere report how you welcomed us and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God \n\t\t\t and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus our deliverer from the coming wrath.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t For you yourselves know, brothers and sisters, about our coming to you, it has not proven to be purposeless.\n\t\t\t But although we suffered earlier and were mistreated in Philippi, as you know, we had the courage in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in spite of much opposition. \n\t\t\t For the appeal we make does not come from error or impurity or with deceit,\n\t\t\t but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we declare it, not to please people but God, who examines our hearts.\n\t\t\t For we never appeared with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed, God is our witness,\n\t\t\t nor to seek glory from people, either from you or from others,\n\t\t\t although we could have imposed our weight as apostles of Christ; instead we became little children among you. Like a nursing mother caring for her own children, \n\t\t\t with such affection for you we were happy to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us. \n\t\t\t For you recall, brothers and sisters, our toil and drudgery: By working night and day so as not to impose a burden on any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God. \n\t\t\t You are witnesses, and so is God, as to how holy and righteous and blameless our conduct was toward you who believe.\n\t\t\t As you know, we treated each one of you as a father treats his own children,\n\t\t\t exhorting and encouraging you and insisting that you live in a way worthy of God who calls you to his own kingdom and his glory.\n\t\t\t And so we too constantly thank God that when you received God's message that you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human message, but as it truly is, God's message, which is at work among you who believe. \n\t\t\t For you became imitators, brothers and sisters, of God's churches in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, because you too suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they in fact did from the Jews, \n\t\t\t who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets and persecuted us severely. They are displeasing to God and are opposed to all people, \n\t\t\t because they hinder us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. Thus they constantly fill up their measure of sins, but wrath has come upon them completely.\n\t\t\t But when we were separated from you, brothers and sisters, for a short time (in presence, not in affection) we became all the more fervent in our great desire to see you in person.\n\t\t\t For we wanted to come to you (I, Paul, in fact tried again and again) but Satan thwarted us. \n\t\t\t For who is our hope or joy or crown to boast of before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not of course you? \n\t\t\t For you are our glory and joy!\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t So when we could bear it no longer, we decided to stay on in Athens alone. \n\t\t\t We sent Timothy, our brother and fellow worker for God in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen you and encourage you about your faith, \n\t\t\t so that no one would be shaken by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this.\n\t\t\t For in fact when we were with you, we were telling you in advance that we would suffer affliction, and so it has happened, as you well know.\n\t\t\t So when I could bear it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith, for fear that the tempter somehow tempted you and our toil had proven useless.\n\t\t\t But now Timothy has come to us from you and given us the good news of your faith and love and that you always think of us with affection and long to see us just as we also long to see you!\n\t\t\t So in all our distress and affliction, we were reassured about you, brothers and sisters, through your faith. \n\t\t\t For now we are alive again, if you stand firm in the Lord. \n\t\t\t For how can we thank God enough for you, for all the joy we feel because of you before our God? \n\t\t\t We pray earnestly night and day to see you in person and make up what may be lacking in your faith.\n\t\t\t Now may God our Father himself and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you.\n\t\t\t And may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we do for you,\n\t\t\t so that your hearts are strengthened in holiness to be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Finally then, brothers and sisters, we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received instruction from us about how you must live and please God (as you are in fact living) that you do so more and more. \n\t\t\t For you know what commands we gave you through the Lord Jesus.\n\t\t\t For this is God's will: that you become holy, that you keep away from sexual immorality, \n\t\t\t that each of you know how to possess his own body in holiness and honor, \n\t\t\t not in lustful passion like the Gentiles who do not know God.\n\t\t\t In this matter no one should violate the rights of his brother or take advantage of him, because the Lord is the avenger in all these cases, as we also told you earlier and warned you solemnly. \n\t\t\t For God did not call us to impurity but in holiness.\n\t\t\t Consequently the one who rejects this is not rejecting human authority but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.\n\t\t\t Now on the topic of brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another. \n\t\t\t And indeed you are practicing it toward all the brothers and sisters in all of Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more,\n\t\t\t to aspire to lead a quiet life, to attend to your own business, and to work with your hands, as we commanded you.\n\t\t\t In this way you will live a decent life before outsiders and not be in need.\n\t\t\t Now we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve like the rest who have no hope.\n\t\t\t For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, so also we believe that God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep as Christians.\n\t\t\t For we tell you this by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will surely not go ahead of those who have fallen asleep. \n\t\t\t For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a shout of command, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. \n\t\t\t Then we who are alive, who are left, will be suddenly caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord. \n\t\t\t Therefore encourage one another with these words.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now on the topic of times and seasons, brothers and sisters, you have no need for anything to be written to you. \n\t\t\t For you know quite well that the day of the Lord will come in the same way as a thief in the night.\n\t\t\t Now when they are saying, \"There is peace and security,\" then sudden destruction comes on them, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will surely not escape. \n\t\t\t But you, brothers and sisters, are not in the darkness for the day to overtake you like a thief would. \n\t\t\t For you all are sons of the light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of the darkness.\n\t\t\t So then we must not sleep as the rest, but must stay alert and sober.\n\t\t\t For those who sleep, sleep at night and those who get drunk are drunk at night.\n\t\t\t But since we are of the day, we must stay sober by putting on the breastplate of faith and love and as a helmet our hope for salvation.\n\t\t\t For God did not destine us for wrath but for gaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. \n\t\t\t He died for us so that whether we are alert or asleep we will come to life together with him. \n\t\t\t Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, just as you are in fact doing.\n\t\t\t Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who labor among you and preside over you in the Lord and admonish you, \n\t\t\t and to esteem them most highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.\n\t\t\t And we urge you, brothers and sisters, admonish the undisciplined, comfort the discouraged, help the weak, be patient toward all. \n\t\t\t See that no one pays back evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good for one another and for all.\n\t\t\t Always rejoice,\n\t\t\t constantly pray,\n\t\t\t in everything give thanks. For this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.\n\t\t\t Do not extinguish the Spirit.\n\t\t\t Do not treat prophecies with contempt.\n\t\t\t But examine all things; hold fast to what is good.\n\t\t\t Stay away from every form of evil.\n\t\t\t Now may the God of peace himself make you completely holy and may your spirit and soul and body be kept entirely blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.\n\t\t\t He who calls you is trustworthy, and he will in fact do this.\n\t\t\t Brothers and sisters, pray for us too. \n\t\t\t Greet all the brothers and sisters with a holy kiss. \n\t\t\t I call on you solemnly in the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers and sisters.\n\t\t\t The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t From Paul and Silvanus and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. \n\t\t\t Grace and peace to you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!\n\t\t\t We ought to thank God always for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith flourishes more and more and the love of each one of you all for one another is ever greater. \n\t\t\t As a result we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and afflictions you are enduring.\n\t\t\t This is evidence of God's righteous judgment, to make you worthy of the kingdom of God, for which in fact you are suffering. \n\t\t\t For it is right for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, \n\t\t\t and to you who are being afflicted to give rest together with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels.\n\t\t\t With flaming fire he will mete out punishment on those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. \n\t\t\t They will undergo the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his strength,\n\t\t\t when he comes to be glorified among his saints and admired on that day among all who have believed, and you did in fact believe our testimony.\n\t\t\t And in this regard we pray for you always, that our God will make you worthy of his calling and fulfill by his power your every desire for goodness and every work of faith, \n\t\t\t that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now regarding the arrival of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to be with him, we ask you, brothers and sisters,\n\t\t\t not to be easily shaken from your composure or disturbed by any kind of spirit or message or letter allegedly from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord is already here. \n\t\t\t Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not arrive until the rebellion comes and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction.\n\t\t\t He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, and as a result he takes his seat in God's temple, displaying himself as God.\n\t\t\t Surely you recall that I used to tell you these things while I was still with you. \n\t\t\t And so you know what holds him back, so that he will be revealed in his own time.\n\t\t\t For the hidden power of lawlessness is already at work. However, the one who holds him back will do so until he is taken out of the way, \n\t\t\t and then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will destroy by the breath of his mouth and wipe out by the manifestation of his arrival. \n\t\t\t The arrival of the lawless one will be by Satan's working with all kinds of miracles and signs and false wonders, \n\t\t\t and with every kind of evil deception directed against those who are perishing, because they found no place in their hearts for the truth so as to be saved. \n\t\t\t Consequently God sends on them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false. \n\t\t\t And so all of them who have not believed the truth but have delighted in evil will be condemned.\n\t\t\t But we ought to thank God always for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. \n\t\t\t He called you to this salvation through our gospel, so that you may possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.\n\t\t\t Therefore, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold on to the traditions that we taught you, whether by speech or by letter.\n\t\t\t Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope,\n\t\t\t encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good thing you do or say.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Finally, pray for us, brothers and sisters, that the Lord's message may spread quickly and be honored as in fact it was among you, \n\t\t\t and that we may be delivered from perverse and evil people. For not all have faith.\n\t\t\t But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one. \n\t\t\t And we are confident about you in the Lord that you are both doing, and will do, what we are commanding.\n\t\t\t Now may the Lord direct your hearts toward the love of God and the endurance of Christ.\n\t\t\t But we command you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from any brother who lives an undisciplined life and not according to the tradition they received from us. \n\t\t\t For you know yourselves how you must imitate us, because we did not behave without discipline among you, \n\t\t\t and we did not eat anyone's food without paying. Instead, in toil and drudgery we worked night and day in order not to burden any of you. \n\t\t\t It was not because we do not have that right, but to give ourselves as an example for you to imitate.\n\t\t\t For even when we were with you, we used to give you this command: \"If anyone is not willing to work, neither should he eat.\"\n\t\t\t For we hear that some among you are living an undisciplined life, not doing their own work but meddling in the work of others.\n\t\t\t Now such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to work quietly and so provide their own food to eat.\n\t\t\t But you, brothers and sisters, do not grow weary in doing what is right. \n\t\t\t But if anyone does not obey our message through this letter, take note of him and do not associate closely with him, so that he may be ashamed.\n\t\t\t Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.\n\t\t\t Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with you all.\n\t\t\t I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand, which is how I write in every letter.\n\t\t\t The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, \n\t\t\t to Timothy, my genuine child in the faith. Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord!\n\t\t\t As I urged you when I was leaving for Macedonia, stay on in Ephesus to instruct certain people not to spread false teachings,\n\t\t\t nor to occupy themselves with myths and interminable genealogies. Such things promote useless speculations rather than God's redemptive plan that operates by faith. \n\t\t\t But the aim of our instruction is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith.\n\t\t\t Some have strayed from these and turned away to empty discussion.\n\t\t\t They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not understand what they are saying or the things they insist on so confidently.\n\t\t\t But we know that the law is good if someone uses it legitimately,\n\t\t\t realizing that law is not intended for a righteous person, but for lawless and rebellious people, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, \n\t\t\t sexually immoral people, practicing homosexuals, kidnappers, liars, perjurers, in fact, for any who live contrary to sound teaching.\n\t\t\t This accords with the glorious gospel of the blessed God that was entrusted to me.\n\t\t\t I am grateful to the one who has strengthened me, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he considered me faithful in putting me into ministry,\n\t\t\t even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor, and an arrogant man. But I was treated with mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief, \n\t\t\t and our Lord's grace was abundant, bringing faith and love in Christ Jesus.\n\t\t\t This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance: \"Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners\", and I am the worst of them!\n\t\t\t But here is why I was treated with mercy: so that in me as the worst, Christ Jesus could demonstrate his utmost patience, as an example for those who are going to believe in him for eternal life. \n\t\t\t Now to the eternal king, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever! Amen.\n\t\t\t I put this charge before you, Timothy my child, in keeping with the prophecies once spoken about you, in order that with such encouragement you may fight the good fight. \n\t\t\t To do this you must hold firmly to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck in regard to the faith. \n\t\t\t Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t First of all, then, I urge that requests, prayers, intercessions, and thanks be offered on behalf of all people,\n\t\t\t even for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. \n\t\t\t Such prayer for all is good and welcomed before God our Savior, \n\t\t\t since he wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. \n\t\t\t For there is one God and one intermediary between God and humanity, Christ Jesus, himself human,\n\t\t\t who gave himself as a ransom for all, revealing God's purpose at his appointed time.\n\t\t\t For this I was appointed a preacher and apostle, I am telling the truth; I am not lying, and a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.\n\t\t\t So I want the men to pray in every place, lifting up holy hands without anger or dispute.\n\t\t\t Likewise the women are to dress in suitable apparel, with modesty and self-control. Their adornment must not be with braided hair and gold or pearls or expensive clothing, \n\t\t\t but with good deeds, as is proper for women who profess reverence for God.\n\t\t\t A woman must learn quietly with all submissiveness. \n\t\t\t But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man. She must remain quiet.\n\t\t\t For Adam was formed first and then Eve.\n\t\t\t And Adam was not deceived, but the woman, because she was fully deceived, fell into transgression.\n\t\t\t But she will be delivered through childbearing, if she continues in faith and love and holiness with self-control.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t This saying is trustworthy: \"If someone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a good work.\" \n\t\t\t The overseer then must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, an able teacher, \n\t\t\t not a drunkard, not violent, but gentle, not contentious, free from the love of money.\n\t\t\t He must manage his own household well and keep his children in control without losing his dignity.\n\t\t\t But if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for the church of God?\n\t\t\t He must not be a recent convert or he may become arrogant and fall into the punishment that the devil will exact.\n\t\t\t And he must be well thought of by those outside the faith, so that he may not fall into disgrace and be caught by the devil's trap.\n\t\t\t Deacons likewise must be dignified, not two-faced, not given to excessive drinking, not greedy for gain, \n\t\t\t holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. \n\t\t\t And these also must be tested first and then let them serve as deacons if they are found blameless.\n\t\t\t Likewise also their wives must be dignified, not slanderous, temperate, faithful in every respect. \n\t\t\t Deacons must be husbands of one wife and good managers of their children and their own households. \n\t\t\t For those who have served well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and great boldness in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.\n\t\t\t I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these instructions to you \n\t\t\t in case I am delayed, to let you know how people ought to conduct themselves in the household of God, because it is the church of the living God, the support and bulwark of the truth. \n\t\t\t And we all agree, our religion contains amazing revelation: He was revealed in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among Gentiles, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now the Spirit explicitly says that in the later times some will desert the faith and occupy themselves with deceiving spirits and demonic teachings,\n\t\t\t influenced by the hypocrisy of liars whose consciences are seared.\n\t\t\t They will prohibit marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.\n\t\t\t For every creation of God is good and no food is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving. \n\t\t\t For it is sanctified by God's word and by prayer.\n\t\t\t By pointing out such things to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, having nourished yourself on the words of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed.\n\t\t\t But reject those myths fit only for the godless and gullible, and train yourself for godliness. \n\t\t\t For \"physical exercise has some value, but godliness is valuable in every way. It holds promise for the present life and for the life to come.\" \n\t\t\t This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance. \n\t\t\t In fact this is why we work hard and struggle, because we have set our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of believers.\n\t\t\t Command and teach these things.\n\t\t\t Let no one look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in your speech, conduct, love, faithfulness, and purity. \n\t\t\t Until I come, give attention to the public reading of scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. \n\t\t\t Do not neglect the spiritual gift you have, given to you and confirmed by prophetic words when the elders laid hands on you.\n\t\t\t Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that everyone will see your progress.\n\t\t\t Be conscientious about how you live and what you teach. Persevere in this, because by doing so you will save both yourself and those who listen to you.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Do not address an older man harshly but appeal to him as a father. Speak to younger men as brothers,\n\t\t\t older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with complete purity.\n\t\t\t Honor widows who are truly in need.\n\t\t\t But if a widow has children or grandchildren, they should first learn to fulfill their duty toward their own household and so repay their parents what is owed them. For this is what pleases God.\n\t\t\t But the widow who is truly in need, and completely on her own, has set her hope on God and continues in her pleas and prayers night and day. \n\t\t\t But the one who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives. \n\t\t\t Reinforce these commands, so that they will be beyond reproach.\n\t\t\t But if someone does not provide for his own, especially his own family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.\n\t\t\t No widow should be put on the list unless she is at least sixty years old, was the wife of one husband,\n\t\t\t and has a reputation for good works: as one who has raised children, practiced hospitality, washed the feet of the saints, helped those in distress, as one who has exhibited all kinds of good works.\n\t\t\t But do not accept younger widows on the list, because their passions may lead them away from Christ and they will desire to marry, \n\t\t\t and so incur judgment for breaking their former pledge.\n\t\t\t And besides that, going around from house to house they learn to be lazy, and they are not only lazy, but also gossips and busybodies, talking about things they should not.\n\t\t\t So I want younger women to marry, raise children, and manage a household, in order to give the adversary no opportunity to vilify us.\n\t\t\t For some have already wandered away to follow Satan.\n\t\t\t If a believing woman has widows in her family, let her help them. The church should not be burdened, so that it may help the widows who are truly in need.\n\t\t\t Elders who provide effective leadership must be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard in speaking and teaching. \n\t\t\t For the scripture says, \"Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,\" and, \"The worker deserves his pay.\"\n\t\t\t Do not accept an accusation against an elder unless it can be confirmed by two or three witnesses.\n\t\t\t Those guilty of sin must be rebuked before all, as a warning to the rest.\n\t\t\t Before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, I solemnly charge you to carry out these commands without prejudice or favoritism of any kind.\n\t\t\t Do not lay hands on anyone hastily and so identify with the sins of others. Keep yourself pure. \n\t\t\t (Stop drinking just water, but use a little wine for your digestion and your frequent illnesses.)\n\t\t\t The sins of some people are obvious, going before them into judgment, but for others, they show up later.\n\t\t\t Similarly good works are also obvious, and the ones that are not cannot remain hidden.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Those who are under the yoke as slaves must regard their own masters as deserving of full respect. This will prevent the name of God and Christian teaching from being discredited.\n\t\t\t But those who have believing masters must not show them less respect because they are brothers. Instead they are to serve all the more, because those who benefit from their service are believers and dearly loved. Teach them and exhort them about these things.\n\t\t\t If someone spreads false teachings and does not agree with sound words (that is, those of our Lord Jesus Christ) and with the teaching that accords with godliness, \n\t\t\t he is conceited and understands nothing, but has an unhealthy interest in controversies and verbal disputes. This gives rise to envy, dissension, slanders, evil suspicions,\n\t\t\t and constant bickering by people corrupted in their minds and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a way of making a profit. \n\t\t\t Now godliness combined with contentment brings great profit.\n\t\t\t For we have brought nothing into this world and so we cannot take a single thing out either. \n\t\t\t But if we have food and shelter, we will be satisfied with that.\n\t\t\t Those who long to be rich, however, stumble into temptation and a trap and many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.\n\t\t\t For the love of money is the root of all evils. Some people in reaching for it have strayed from the faith and stabbed themselves with many pains.\n\t\t\t But you, as a person dedicated to God, keep away from all that. Instead pursue righteousness, godliness, faithfulness, love, endurance, and gentleness. \n\t\t\t Compete well for the faith and lay hold of that eternal life you were called for and made your good confession for in the presence of many witnesses. \n\t\t\t I charge you before God who gives life to all things and Christ Jesus who made his good confession before Pontius Pilate, \n\t\t\t to obey this command without fault or failure until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ \n\t\t\t , whose appearing the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, will reveal at the right time. \n\t\t\t He alone possesses immortality and lives in unapproachable light, whom no human has ever seen or is able to see. To him be honor and eternal power! Amen.\n\t\t\t Command those who are rich in this world's goods not to be haughty or to set their hope on riches, which are uncertain, but on God who richly provides us with all things for our enjoyment. \n\t\t\t Tell them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, to be generous givers, sharing with others.\n\t\t\t In this way they will save up a treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the future and so lay hold of what is truly life.\n\t\t\t O Timothy, protect what has been entrusted to you. Avoid the profane chatter and absurdities of so-called \"knowledge.\"\n\t\t\t By professing it, some have strayed from the faith. Grace be with you all.\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to further the promise of life in Christ Jesus, \n\t\t\t to Timothy, my dear child. Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord!\n\t\t\t I am thankful to God, whom I have served with a clear conscience as my ancestors did, when I remember you in my prayers as I do constantly night and day.\n\t\t\t As I remember your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. \n\t\t\t I recall your sincere faith that was alive first in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice, and I am sure is in you.\n\t\t\t Because of this I remind you to rekindle God's gift that you possess through the laying on of my hands. \n\t\t\t For God did not give us a Spirit of fear but of power and love and self-control. \n\t\t\t So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me, a prisoner for his sake, but by God's power accept your share of suffering for the gospel.\n\t\t\t He is the one who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not based on our works but on his own purpose and grace, granted to us in Christ Jesus before time began,\n\t\t\t but now made visible through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus. He has broken the power of death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel!\n\t\t\t For this gospel I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher.\n\t\t\t Because of this, in fact, I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, because I know the one in whom my faith is set and I am convinced that he is able to protect what has been entrusted to me until that day.\n\t\t\t Hold to the standard of sound words that you heard from me and do so with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.\n\t\t\t Protect that good thing entrusted to you, through the Holy Spirit who lives within us.\n\t\t\t You know that everyone in the province of Asia deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes. \n\t\t\t May the Lord grant mercy to the family of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my imprisonment.\n\t\t\t But when he arrived in Rome, he eagerly searched for me and found me. \n\t\t\t May the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on that day! And you know very well all the ways he served me in Ephesus.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t So you, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.\n\t\t\t And entrust what you heard me say in the presence of many others as witnesses to faithful people who will be competent to teach others as well. \n\t\t\t Take your share of suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. \n\t\t\t No one in military service gets entangled in matters of everyday life; otherwise he will not please the one who recruited him. \n\t\t\t Also, if anyone competes as an athlete, he will not be crowned as the winner unless he competes according to the rules.\n\t\t\t The farmer who works hard ought to have the first share of the crops.\n\t\t\t Think about what I am saying and the Lord will give you understanding of all this.\n\t\t\t Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David; such is my gospel,\n\t\t\t for which I suffer hardship to the point of imprisonment as a criminal, but God's message is not imprisoned!\n\t\t\t So I endure all things for the sake of those chosen by God, that they too may obtain salvation in Christ Jesus and its eternal glory.\n\t\t\t This saying is trustworthy: If we died with him, we will also live with him.\n\t\t\t If we endure, we will also reign with him. If we deny him, he will also deny us.\n\t\t\t If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, since he cannot deny himself.\n\t\t\t Remind people of these things and solemnly charge them before the Lord not to wrangle over words. This is of no benefit; it just brings ruin on those who listen.\n\t\t\t Make every effort to present yourself before God as a proven worker who does not need to be ashamed, teaching the message of truth accurately.\n\t\t\t But avoid profane chatter, because those occupied with it will stray further and further into ungodliness,\n\t\t\t and their message will spread its infection like gangrene. Hymenaeus and Philetus are in this group.\n\t\t\t They have strayed from the truth by saying that the resurrection has already occurred, and they are undermining some people's faith. \n\t\t\t However, God's solid foundation remains standing, bearing this seal: \"The Lord knows those who are his,\" and \"Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from evil.\"\n\t\t\t Now in a wealthy home there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also ones made of wood and of clay, and some are for honorable use, but others for ignoble use.\n\t\t\t So if someone cleanses himself of such behavior, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart, useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. \n\t\t\t But keep away from youthful passions, and pursue righteousness, faithfulness, love, and peace, in company with others who call on the Lord from a pure heart.\n\t\t\t But reject foolish and ignorant controversies, because you know they breed infighting.\n\t\t\t And the Lord's slave must not engage in heated disputes but be kind toward all, an apt teacher, patient, \n\t\t\t correcting opponents with gentleness. Perhaps God will grant them repentance and then knowledge of the truth\n\t\t\t and they will come to their senses and escape the devil's trap where they are held captive to do his will.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t But understand this, that in the last days difficult times will come. \n\t\t\t For people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, \n\t\t\t unloving, irreconcilable, slanderers, without self-control, savage, opposed to what is good,\n\t\t\t treacherous, reckless, conceited, loving pleasure rather than loving God.\n\t\t\t They will maintain the outward appearance of religion but will have repudiated its power. So avoid people like these.\n\t\t\t For some of these insinuate themselves into households and captivate weak women who are overwhelmed with sins and led along by various passions. \n\t\t\t Such women are always seeking instruction, yet never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. \n\t\t\t And just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these people, who have warped minds and are disqualified in the faith, also oppose the truth.\n\t\t\t But they will not go much further, for their foolishness will be obvious to everyone, just like it was with Jannes and Jambres.\n\t\t\t You, however, have followed my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, my faith, my patience, my love, my endurance, \n\t\t\t as well as the persecutions and sufferings that happened to me in Antioch, in Iconium, and in Lystra. I endured these persecutions and the Lord delivered me from them all. \n\t\t\t Now in fact all who want to live godly lives in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.\n\t\t\t But evil people and charlatans will go from bad to worse, deceiving others and being deceived themselves.\n\t\t\t You, however, must continue in the things you have learned and are confident about. You know who taught you\n\t\t\t and how from infancy you have known the holy writings, which are able to give you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.\n\t\t\t Every scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, \n\t\t\t that the person dedicated to God may be capable and equipped for every good work.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom:\n\t\t\t Preach the message, be ready whether it is convenient or not, reprove, rebuke, exhort with complete patience and instruction. \n\t\t\t For there will be a time when people will not tolerate sound teaching. Instead, following their own desires, they will accumulate teachers for themselves, because they have an insatiable curiosity to hear new things.\n\t\t\t And they will turn away from hearing the truth, but on the other hand they will turn aside to myths.\n\t\t\t You, however, be self-controlled in all things, endure hardship, do an evangelist's work, fulfill your ministry. \n\t\t\t For I am already being poured out as an offering, and the time for me to depart is at hand. \n\t\t\t I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith! \n\t\t\t Finally the crown of righteousness is reserved for me. The Lord, the righteous Judge, will award it to me in that day, and not to me only, but also to all who have set their affection on his appearing.\n\t\t\t Make every effort to come to me soon.\n\t\t\t For Demas deserted me, since he loved the present age, and he went to Thessalonica. Crescens went to Galatia and Titus to Dalmatia. \n\t\t\t Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is a great help to me in ministry.\n\t\t\t Now I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus.\n\t\t\t When you come, bring with you the cloak I left in Troas with Carpas and the scrolls, especially the parchments.\n\t\t\t Alexander the coppersmith did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him in keeping with his deeds.\n\t\t\t You be on guard against him too, because he vehemently opposed our words. \n\t\t\t At my first defense no one appeared in my support; instead they all deserted me, may they not be held accountable for it.\n\t\t\t But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message would be fully proclaimed for all the Gentiles to hear. And so I was delivered from the lion's mouth! \n\t\t\t The Lord will deliver me from every evil deed and will bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever! Amen.\n\t\t\t Greetings to Prisca and Aquila and the family of Onesiphorus. \n\t\t\t Erastus stayed in Corinth. Trophimus I left ill in Miletus. \n\t\t\t Make every effort to come before winter. Greetings to you from Eubulus, Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers and sisters.\n\t\t\t The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you.\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t From Paul, a slave of God and apostle of Jesus Christ, to further the faith of God's chosen ones and the knowledge of the truth that is in keeping with godliness, \n\t\t\t in hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the ages began.\n\t\t\t But now in his own time he has made his message evident through the preaching I was entrusted with according to the command of God our Savior. \n\t\t\t To Titus, my genuine son in a common faith. Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior!\n\t\t\t The reason I left you in Crete was to set in order the remaining matters and to appoint elders in every town, as I directed you.\n\t\t\t An elder must be blameless, the husband of one wife, with faithful children who cannot be charged with dissipation or rebellion. \n\t\t\t For the overseer must be blameless as one entrusted with God's work, not arrogant, not prone to anger, not a drunkard, not violent, not greedy for gain. \n\t\t\t Instead he must be hospitable, devoted to what is good, sensible, upright, devout, and self-controlled.\n\t\t\t He must hold firmly to the faithful message as it has been taught, so that he will be able to give exhortation in such healthy teaching and correct those who speak against it.\n\t\t\t For there are many rebellious people, idle talkers, and deceivers, especially those with Jewish connections,\n\t\t\t who must be silenced because they mislead whole families by teaching for dishonest gain what ought not to be taught.\n\t\t\t A certain one of them, in fact, one of their own prophets, said, \"Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.\"\n\t\t\t Such testimony is true. For this reason rebuke them sharply that they may be healthy in the faith\n\t\t\t and not pay attention to Jewish myths and commands of people who reject the truth. \n\t\t\t All is pure to those who are pure. But to those who are corrupt and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their minds and consciences are corrupted.\n\t\t\t They profess to know God but with their deeds they deny him, since they are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for any good deed.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t But as for you, communicate the behavior that goes with sound teaching. \n\t\t\t Older men are to be temperate, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in endurance.\n\t\t\t Older women likewise are to exhibit behavior fitting for those who are holy, not slandering, not slaves to excessive drinking, but teaching what is good.\n\t\t\t In this way they will train the younger women to love their husbands, to love their children, \n\t\t\t to be self-controlled, pure, fulfilling their duties at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the message of God may not be discredited.\n\t\t\t Encourage younger men likewise to be self-controlled,\n\t\t\t showing yourself to be an example of good works in every way. In your teaching show integrity, dignity,\n\t\t\t and a sound message that cannot be criticized, so that any opponent will be at a loss, because he has nothing evil to say about us. \n\t\t\t Slaves are to be subject to their own masters in everything, to do what is wanted and not talk back, \n\t\t\t not pilfering, but showing all good faith, in order to bring credit to the teaching of God our Savior in everything.\n\t\t\t For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people.\n\t\t\t It trains us to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, \n\t\t\t as we wait for the happy fulfillment of our hope in the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.\n\t\t\t He gave himself for us to set us free from every kind of lawlessness and to purify for himself a people who are truly his, who are eager to do good.\n\t\t\t So communicate these things with the sort of exhortation or rebuke that carries full authority. Don't let anyone look down on you.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work. \n\t\t\t They must not slander anyone, but be peaceable, gentle, showing complete courtesy to all people. \n\t\t\t For we too were once foolish, disobedient, misled, enslaved to various passions and desires, spending our lives in evil and envy, hateful and hating one another.\n\t\t\t But \"when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, \n\t\t\t he saved us not by works of righteousness that we have done but on the basis of his mercy, through the washing of the new birth and the renewing of the Holy Spirit,\n\t\t\t whom he poured out on us in full measure through Jesus Christ our Savior. \n\t\t\t And so, since we have been justified by his grace, we become heirs with the confident expectation of eternal life.\"\n\t\t\t This saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on such truths, so that those who have placed their faith in God may be intent on engaging in good works. These things are good and beneficial for all people. \n\t\t\t But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, quarrels, and fights about the law, because they are useless and empty. \n\t\t\t Reject a divisive person after one or two warnings.\n\t\t\t You know that such a person is twisted by sin and is conscious of it himself.\n\t\t\t When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there.\n\t\t\t Make every effort to help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way; make sure they have what they need.\n\t\t\t Here is another way that our people can learn to engage in good works to meet pressing needs and so not be unfruitful. \n\t\t\t Everyone with me greets you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all.\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t From Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon, our dear friend and colaborer, \n\t\t\t to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church that meets in your house. \n\t\t\t Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!\n\t\t\t I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers,\n\t\t\t because I hear of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints.\n\t\t\t I pray that the faith you share with us may deepen your understanding of every blessing that belongs to you in Christ.\n\t\t\t I have had great joy and encouragement because of your love, for the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.\n\t\t\t So, although I have quite a lot of confidence in Christ and could command you to do what is proper,\n\t\t\t I would rather appeal to you on the basis of love, I, Paul, an old man and even now a prisoner for the sake of Christ Jesus,\n\t\t\t I am appealing to you concerning my child, whose spiritual father I have become during my imprisonment, that is, Onesimus,\n\t\t\t who was formerly useless to you, but is now useful to you and me. \n\t\t\t I have sent him (who is my very heart) back to you. \n\t\t\t I wanted to keep him so that he could serve me in your place during my imprisonment for the sake of the gospel.\n\t\t\t However, without your consent I did not want to do anything, so that your good deed would not be out of compulsion, but from your own willingness. \n\t\t\t For perhaps it was for this reason that he was separated from you for a little while, so that you would have him back eternally,\n\t\t\t no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, as a dear brother. He is especially so to me, and even more so to you now, both humanly speaking and in the Lord. \n\t\t\t Therefore if you regard me as a partner, accept him as you would me.\n\t\t\t Now if he has defrauded you of anything or owes you anything, charge what he owes to me. \n\t\t\t I, Paul, have written this letter with my own hand: I will repay it. I could also mention that you owe me your very self. \n\t\t\t Yes, brother, let me have some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.\n\t\t\t Since I was confident that you would obey, I wrote to you, because I knew that you would do even more than what I am asking you to do. \n\t\t\t At the same time also, prepare a place for me to stay, for I hope that through your prayers I will be given back to you.\n\t\t\t Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you. \n\t\t\t Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my colaborers, greet you too. \n\t\t\t May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t After God spoke long ago in various portions and in various ways to our ancestors through the prophets, \n\t\t\t in these last days he has spoken to us in a son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he created the world.\n\t\t\t The Son is the radiance of his glory and the representation of his essence, and he sustains all things by his powerful word, and so when he had accomplished cleansing for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.\n\t\t\t Thus he became so far better than the angels as he has inherited a name superior to theirs.\n\t\t\t For to which of the angels did God ever say, \"You are my son! Today I have fathered you\"? And in another place he says, \"I will be his father and he will be my son.\"\n\t\t\t But when he again brings his firstborn into the world, he says, \"Let all the angels of God worship him!\"\n\t\t\t And he says of the angels, \"He makes his angels spirits and his ministers a flame of fire,\"\n\t\t\t but of the Son he says, \"Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, and a righteous scepter is the scepter of your kingdom.\n\t\t\t You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness. So God, your God, has anointed you over your companions with the oil of rejoicing.\"\n\t\t\t And, \"You founded the earth in the beginning, Lord, and the heavens are the works of your hands.\n\t\t\t They will perish, but you continue. And they will all grow old like a garment,\n\t\t\t and like a robe you will fold them up and like a garment they will be changed, but you are the same and your years will never run out.\"\n\t\t\t But to which of the angels has he ever said, \"Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet\"?\n\t\t\t Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to serve those who will inherit salvation?\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Therefore we must pay closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.\n\t\t\t For if the message spoken through angels proved to be so firm that every violation or disobedience received its just penalty, \n\t\t\t how will we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was first communicated through the Lord and was confirmed to us by those who heard him,\n\t\t\t while God confirmed their witness with signs and wonders and various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.\n\t\t\t For he did not put the world to come, about which we are speaking, under the control of angels. \n\t\t\t Instead someone testified somewhere: \"What is man that you think of him or the son of man that you care for him?\n\t\t\t You made him lower than the angels for a little while. You crowned him with glory and honor.\n\t\t\t You put all things under his control.\" For when he put all things under his control, he left nothing outside of his control. At present we do not yet see all things under his control,\n\t\t\t but we see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by God's grace he would experience death on behalf of everyone. \n\t\t\t For it was fitting for him, for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through sufferings. \n\t\t\t For indeed he who makes holy and those being made holy all have the same origin, and so he is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters,\n\t\t\t saying, \"I will proclaim your name to my brothers; in the midst of the assembly I will praise you.\"\n\t\t\t Again he says, \"I will be confident in him,\" and again, \"Here I am, with the children God has given me.\"\n\t\t\t Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, he likewise shared in their humanity, so that through death he could destroy the one who holds the power of death (that is, the devil), \n\t\t\t and set free those who were held in slavery all their lives by their fear of death.\n\t\t\t For surely his concern is not for angels, but he is concerned for Abraham's descendants.\n\t\t\t Therefore he had to be made like his brothers and sisters in every respect, so that he could become a merciful and faithful high priest in things relating to God, to make atonement for the sins of the people. \n\t\t\t For since he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, partners in a heavenly calling, take note of Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess,\n\t\t\t who is faithful to the one who appointed him, as Moses was also in God's house.\n\t\t\t For he has come to deserve greater glory than Moses, just as the builder of a house deserves greater honor than the house itself!\n\t\t\t For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.\n\t\t\t Now Moses was faithful in all God's house as a servant, to testify to the things that would be spoken. \n\t\t\t But Christ is faithful as a son over God's house. We are of his house, if in fact we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope we take pride in.\n\t\t\t Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, \"Oh, that today you would listen as he speaks!\n\t\t\t \"Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, in the day of testing in the wilderness.\n\t\t\t \"There your fathers tested me and tried me, and they saw my works for forty years.\n\t\t\t \"Therefore, I became provoked at that generation and said, 'Their hearts are always wandering and they have not known my ways.'\n\t\t\t \"As I swore in my anger, 'They will never enter my rest!'\"\n\t\t\t See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has an evil, unbelieving heart that forsakes the living God.\n\t\t\t But exhort one another each day, as long as it is called \"Today,\" that none of you may become hardened by sin's deception.\n\t\t\t For we have become partners with Christ, if in fact we hold our initial confidence firm until the end. \n\t\t\t As it says, \"Oh, that today you would listen as he speaks! Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.\"\n\t\t\t For which ones heard and rebelled? Was it not all who came out of Egypt under Moses' leadership?\n\t\t\t And against whom was God provoked for forty years? Was it not those who sinned, whose dead bodies fell in the wilderness?\n\t\t\t And to whom did he swear they would never enter into his rest, except those who were disobedient?\n\t\t\t So we see that they could not enter because of unbelief.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Therefore we must be wary that, while the promise of entering his rest remains open, none of you may seem to have come short of it. \n\t\t\t For we had good news proclaimed to us just as they did. But the message they heard did them no good, since they did not join in with those who heard it in faith.\n\t\t\t For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said, \"As I swore in my anger, 'They will never enter my rest!'\" And yet God's works were accomplished from the foundation of the world. \n\t\t\t For he has spoken somewhere about the seventh day in this way: \"And God rested on the seventh day from all his works,\"\n\t\t\t but to repeat the text cited earlier: \"They will never enter my rest!\" \n\t\t\t Therefore it remains for some to enter it, yet those to whom it was previously proclaimed did not enter because of disobedience.\n\t\t\t So God again ordains a certain day, \"Today,\" speaking through David after so long a time, as in the words quoted before, \"O, that today you would listen as he speaks! Do not harden your hearts.\" \n\t\t\t For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken afterward about another day. \n\t\t\t Consequently a Sabbath rest remains for the people of God.\n\t\t\t For the one who enters God's rest has also rested from his works, just as God did from his own works. \n\t\t\t Thus we must make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by following the same pattern of disobedience.\n\t\t\t For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any double-edged sword, piercing even to the point of dividing soul from spirit, and joints from marrow; it is able to judge the desires and thoughts of the heart.\n\t\t\t And no creature is hidden from God, but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must render an account.\n\t\t\t Therefore since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession.\n\t\t\t For we do not have a high priest incapable of sympathizing with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way just as we are, yet without sin.\n\t\t\t Therefore let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace whenever we need help.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t For every high priest is taken from among the people and appointed to represent them before God, to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. \n\t\t\t He is able to deal compassionately with those who are ignorant and erring, since he also is subject to weakness,\n\t\t\t and for this reason he is obligated to make sin offerings for himself as well as for the people.\n\t\t\t And no one assumes this honor on his own initiative, but only when called to it by God, as in fact Aaron was.\n\t\t\t So also Christ did not glorify himself in becoming high priest, but the one who glorified him was God, who said to him, \"You are my Son! Today I have fathered you,\"\n\t\t\t as also in another place God says, \"You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.\"\n\t\t\t During his earthly life Christ offered both requests and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death and he was heard because of his devotion. \n\t\t\t Although he was a son, he learned obedience through the things he suffered.\n\t\t\t And by being perfected in this way, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him,\n\t\t\t and he was designated by God as high priest in the order of Melchizedek.\n\t\t\t On this topic we have much to say and it is difficult to explain, since you have become sluggish in hearing. \n\t\t\t For though you should in fact be teachers by this time, you need someone to teach you the beginning elements of God's utterances. You have gone back to needing milk, not solid food. \n\t\t\t For everyone who lives on milk is inexperienced in the message of righteousness, because he is an infant.\n\t\t\t But solid food is for the mature, whose perceptions are trained by practice to discern both good and evil.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Therefore we must progress beyond the elementary instructions about Christ and move on to maturity, not laying this foundation again: repentance from dead works and faith in God,\n\t\t\t teaching about baptisms, laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.\n\t\t\t And this is what we intend to do, if God permits. \n\t\t\t For it is impossible in the case of those who have once been enlightened, tasted the heavenly gift, become partakers of the Holy Spirit,\n\t\t\t tasted the good word of God and the miracles of the coming age,\n\t\t\t and then have committed apostasy, to renew them again to repentance, since they are crucifying the Son of God for themselves all over again and holding him up to contempt. \n\t\t\t For the ground that has soaked up the rain that frequently falls on it and yields useful vegetation for those who tend it receives a blessing from God. \n\t\t\t But if it produces thorns and thistles, it is useless and about to be cursed; its fate is to be burned. \n\t\t\t But in your case, dear friends, even though we speak like this, we are convinced of better things relating to salvation.\n\t\t\t For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love you have demonstrated for his name, in having served and continuing to serve the saints.\n\t\t\t But we passionately want each of you to demonstrate the same eagerness for the fulfillment of your hope until the end,\n\t\t\t so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and perseverance inherit the promises.\n\t\t\t Now when God made his promise to Abraham, since he could swear by no one greater, he swore by himself,\n\t\t\t saying, \"Surely I will bless you greatly and multiply your descendants abundantly.\"\n\t\t\t And so by persevering, Abraham inherited the promise. \n\t\t\t For people swear by something greater than themselves, and the oath serves as a confirmation to end all dispute.\n\t\t\t In the same way God wanted to demonstrate more clearly to the heirs of the promise that his purpose was unchangeable, and so he intervened with an oath, \n\t\t\t so that we who have found refuge in him may find strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us through two unchangeable things, since it is impossible for God to lie.\n\t\t\t We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, sure and steadfast, which reaches inside behind the curtain,\n\t\t\t where Jesus our forerunner entered on our behalf, since he became a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, met Abraham as he was returning from defeating the kings and blessed him.\n\t\t\t To him also Abraham apportioned a tithe of everything. His name first means king of righteousness, then king of Salem, that is, king of peace. \n\t\t\t Without father, without mother, without genealogy, he has neither beginning of days nor end of life but is like the son of God, and he remains a priest for all time.\n\t\t\t But see how great he must be, if Abraham the patriarch gave him a tithe of his plunder. \n\t\t\t And those of the sons of Levi who receive the priestly office have authorization according to the law to collect a tithe from the people, that is, from their fellow countrymen, although they too are descendants of Abraham.\n\t\t\t But Melchizedek who does not share their ancestry collected a tithe from Abraham and blessed the one who possessed the promise. \n\t\t\t Now without dispute the inferior is blessed by the superior,\n\t\t\t and in one case tithes are received by mortal men, while in the other by him who is affirmed to be alive.\n\t\t\t And it could be said that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid a tithe through Abraham.\n\t\t\t For he was still in his ancestor Abraham's loins when Melchizedek met him.\n\t\t\t So if perfection had in fact been possible through the Levitical priesthood, for on that basis the people received the law, what further need would there have been for another priest to arise, said to be in the order of Melchizedek and not in Aaron's order?\n\t\t\t For when the priesthood changes, a change in the law must come as well. \n\t\t\t Yet the one these things are spoken about belongs to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever officiated at the altar. \n\t\t\t For it is clear that our Lord is descended from Judah, yet Moses said nothing about priests in connection with that tribe.\n\t\t\t And this is even clearer if another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek,\n\t\t\t who has become a priest not by a legal regulation about physical descent but by the power of an indestructible life. \n\t\t\t For here is the testimony about him: \"You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.\"\n\t\t\t On the one hand a former command is set aside because it is weak and useless,\n\t\t\t for the law made nothing perfect. On the other hand a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.\n\t\t\t And since this was not done without a sworn affirmation, for the others have become priests without a sworn affirmation,\n\t\t\t but Jesus did so with a sworn affirmation by the one who said to him, \"The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, 'You are a priest forever'\",\n\t\t\t accordingly Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant. \n\t\t\t And the others who became priests were numerous, because death prevented them from continuing in office,\n\t\t\t but he holds his priesthood permanently since he lives forever.\n\t\t\t So he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.\n\t\t\t For it is indeed fitting for us to have such a high priest: holy, innocent, undefiled, separate from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.\n\t\t\t He has no need to do every day what those priests do, to offer sacrifices first for their own sins and then for the sins of the people, since he did this in offering himself once for all.\n\t\t\t For the law appoints as high priests men subject to weakness, but the word of solemn affirmation that came after the law appoints a son made perfect forever.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now the main point of what we are saying is this: We have such a high priest, one who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven,\n\t\t\t a minister in the sanctuary and the true tabernacle that the Lord, not man, set up.\n\t\t\t For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. So this one too had to have something to offer.\n\t\t\t Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest, since there are already priests who offer the gifts prescribed by the law. \n\t\t\t The place where they serve is a sketch and shadow of the heavenly sanctuary, just as Moses was warned by God as he was about to complete the tabernacle. For he says, \"See that you make everything according to the design shown to you on the mountain.\"\n\t\t\t But now Jesus has obtained a superior ministry, since the covenant that he mediates is also better and is enacted on better promises.\n\t\t\t For if that first covenant had been faultless, no one would have looked for a second one.\n\t\t\t But showing its fault, God says to them, \"Look, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will complete a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.\n\t\t\t \"It will not be like the covenant that I made with their fathers, on the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they did not continue in my covenant and I had no regard for them, says the Lord.\n\t\t\t \"For this is the covenant that I will establish with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and I will inscribe them on their hearts. And I will be their God and they will be my people.\n\t\t\t \"And there will be no need at all for each one to teach his countryman or each one to teach his brother saying, 'Know the Lord,' since they will all know me, from the least to the greatest.\n\t\t\t \"For I will be merciful toward their evil deeds, and their sins I will remember no longer.\"\n\t\t\t When he speaks of a new covenant, he makes the first obsolete. Now what is growing obsolete and aging is about to disappear.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now the first covenant, in fact, had regulations for worship and its earthly sanctuary. \n\t\t\t For a tent was prepared, the outer one, which contained the lampstand, the table, and the presentation of the loaves; this is called the holy place. \n\t\t\t And after the second curtain there was a tent called the holy of holies.\n\t\t\t It contained the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered entirely with gold. In this ark were the golden urn containing the manna, Aaron's rod that budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant. \n\t\t\t And above the ark were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Now is not the time to speak of these things in detail. \n\t\t\t So with these things prepared like this, the priests enter continually into the outer tent as they perform their duties. \n\t\t\t But only the high priest enters once a year into the inner tent, and not without blood that he offers for himself and for the sins of the people committed in ignorance.\n\t\t\t The Holy Spirit is making clear that the way into the holy place had not yet appeared as long as the old tabernacle was standing. \n\t\t\t This was a symbol for the time then present, when gifts and sacrifices were offered that could not perfect the conscience of the worshiper.\n\t\t\t They served only for matters of food and drink and various washings; they are external regulations imposed until the new order came.\n\t\t\t But now Christ has come as the high priest of the good things to come. He passed through the greater and more perfect tent not made with hands, that is, not of this creation, \n\t\t\t and he entered once for all into the most holy place not by the blood of goats and calves but by his own blood, and so he himself secured eternal redemption. \n\t\t\t For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a young cow sprinkled on those who are defiled consecrated them and provided ritual purity,\n\t\t\t how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our consciences from dead works to worship the living God.\n\t\t\t And so he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the eternal inheritance he has promised, since he died to set them free from the violations committed under the first covenant.\n\t\t\t For where there is a will, the death of the one who made it must be proven.\n\t\t\t For a will takes effect only at death, since it carries no force while the one who made it is alive.\n\t\t\t So even the first covenant was inaugurated with blood.\n\t\t\t For when Moses had spoken every command to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and goats with water and scarlet wool and hyssop and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people,\n\t\t\t and said, \"This is the blood of the covenant that God has commanded you to keep.\"\n\t\t\t And both the tabernacle and all the utensils of worship he likewise sprinkled with blood.\n\t\t\t Indeed according to the law almost everything was purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.\n\t\t\t So it was necessary for the sketches of the things in heaven to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves required better sacrifices than these. \n\t\t\t For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with hands, the representation of the true sanctuary, but into heaven itself, and he appears now in God's presence for us.\n\t\t\t And he did not enter to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the sanctuary year after year with blood that is not his own, \n\t\t\t for then he would have had to suffer again and again since the foundation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all at the consummation of the ages to put away sin by his sacrifice.\n\t\t\t And just as people are appointed to die once, and then to face judgment,\n\t\t\t so also, after Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many, to those who eagerly await him he will appear a second time, not to bear sin but to bring salvation.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t For the law possesses a shadow of the good things to come but not the reality itself, and is therefore completely unable, by the same sacrifices offered continually, year after year, to perfect those who come to worship.\n\t\t\t For otherwise would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers would have been purified once for all and so have no further consciousness of sin? \n\t\t\t But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year after year. \n\t\t\t For the blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sins.\n\t\t\t So when he came into the world, he said, \"Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me.\n\t\t\t \"Whole burnt offerings and sin-offerings you took no delight in.\n\t\t\t \"Then I said, 'Here I am: I have come, it is written of me in the scroll of the book, to do your will, O God.'\"\n\t\t\t When he says above, \"Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and sin-offerings you did not desire nor did you take delight in them\" (which are offered according to the law), \n\t\t\t then he says, \"Here I am: I have come to do your will.\" He does away with the first to establish the second. \n\t\t\t By his will we have been made holy through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. \n\t\t\t And every priest stands day after day serving and offering the same sacrifices again and again, sacrifices that can never take away sins.\n\t\t\t But when this priest had offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, he sat down at the right hand of God, \n\t\t\t where he is now waiting until his enemies are made a footstool for his feet.\n\t\t\t For by one offering he has perfected for all time those who are made holy.\n\t\t\t And the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us, for after saying,\n\t\t\t \"This is the covenant that I will establish with them after those days, says the Lord. I will put my laws on their hearts and I will inscribe them on their minds,\"\n\t\t\t then he says, \"Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no longer.\"\n\t\t\t Now where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.\n\t\t\t Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, \n\t\t\t by the fresh and living way that he inaugurated for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh,\n\t\t\t and since we have a great priest over the house of God, \n\t\t\t let us draw near with a sincere heart in the assurance that faith brings, because we have had our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water.\n\t\t\t And let us hold unwaveringly to the hope that we confess, for the one who made the promise is trustworthy.\n\t\t\t And let us take thought of how to spur one another on to love and good works,\n\t\t\t not abandoning our own meetings, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and even more so because you see the day drawing near.\n\t\t\t For if we deliberately keep on sinning after receiving the knowledge of the truth, no further sacrifice for sins is left for us,\n\t\t\t but only a certain fearful expectation of judgment and a fury of fire that will consume God's enemies.\n\t\t\t Someone who rejected the law of Moses was put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.\n\t\t\t How much greater punishment do you think that person deserves who has contempt for the Son of God, and profanes the blood of the covenant that made him holy, and insults the Spirit of grace? \n\t\t\t For we know the one who said, \"Vengeance is mine, I will repay,\" and again, \"The Lord will judge his people.\"\n\t\t\t It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.\n\t\t\t But remember the former days when you endured a harsh conflict of suffering after you were enlightened.\n\t\t\t At times you were publicly exposed to abuse and afflictions, and at other times you came to share with others who were treated in that way.\n\t\t\t For in fact you shared the sufferings of those in prison, and you accepted the confiscation of your belongings with joy, because you knew that you certainly had a better and lasting possession. \n\t\t\t So do not throw away your confidence, because it has great reward. \n\t\t\t For you need endurance in order to do God's will and so receive what is promised.\n\t\t\t For just a little longer and he who is coming will arrive and not delay.\n\t\t\t But my righteous one will live by faith, and if he shrinks back, I take no pleasure in him.\n\t\t\t But we are not among those who shrink back and thus perish, but are among those who have faith and preserve their souls.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now faith is being sure of what we hope for, being convinced of what we do not see.\n\t\t\t For by it the people of old received God's commendation.\n\t\t\t By faith we understand that the worlds were set in order at God's command, so that the visible has its origin in the invisible.\n\t\t\t By faith Abel offered God a greater sacrifice than Cain, and through his faith he was commended as righteous, because God commended him for his offerings. And through his faith he still speaks, though he is dead. \n\t\t\t By faith Enoch was taken up so that he did not see death, and he was not to be found because God took him up. For before his removal he had been commended as having pleased God.\n\t\t\t Now without faith it is impossible to please him, for the one who approaches God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.\n\t\t\t By faith Noah, when he was warned about things not yet seen, with reverent regard constructed an ark for the deliverance of his family. Through faith he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.\n\t\t\t By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place he would later receive as an inheritance, and he went out without understanding where he was going.\n\t\t\t By faith he lived as a foreigner in the promised land as though it were a foreign country, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, who were fellow heirs of the same promise. \n\t\t\t For he was looking forward to the city with firm foundations, whose architect and builder is God. \n\t\t\t By faith, even though Sarah herself was barren and he was too old, he received the ability to procreate, because he regarded the one who had given the promise to be trustworthy. \n\t\t\t So in fact children were fathered by one man, and this one as good as dead, like the number of stars in the sky and like the innumerable grains of sand on the seashore.\n\t\t\t These all died in faith without receiving the things promised, but they saw them in the distance and welcomed them and acknowledged that they were strangers and foreigners on the earth. \n\t\t\t For those who speak in such a way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland.\n\t\t\t In fact, if they had been thinking of the land that they had left, they would have had opportunity to return.\n\t\t\t But as it is, they aspire to a better land, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. \n\t\t\t By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac. He had received the promises, yet he was ready to offer up his only son. \n\t\t\t God had told him, \"Through Isaac descendants will carry on your name,\"\n\t\t\t and he reasoned that God could even raise him from the dead, and in a sense he received him back from there. \n\t\t\t By faith also Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning the future.\n\t\t\t By faith Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph and worshiped as he leaned on his staff.\n\t\t\t By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, mentioned the exodus of the sons of Israel and gave instructions about his burial.\n\t\t\t By faith, when Moses was born, his parents hid him for three months, because they saw the child was beautiful and they were not afraid of the king's edict. \n\t\t\t By faith, when he grew up, Moses refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter,\n\t\t\t choosing rather to be ill-treated with the people of God than to enjoy sin's fleeting pleasure.\n\t\t\t He regarded abuse suffered for Christ to be greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for his eyes were fixed on the reward. \n\t\t\t By faith he left Egypt without fearing the king's anger, for he persevered as though he could see the one who is invisible.\n\t\t\t By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that the one who destroyed the firstborn would not touch them. \n\t\t\t By faith they crossed the Red Sea as if on dry ground, but when the Egyptians tried it, they were swallowed up.\n\t\t\t By faith the walls of Jericho fell after the people marched around them for seven days. \n\t\t\t By faith Rahab the prostitute escaped the destruction of the disobedient, because she welcomed the spies in peace.\n\t\t\t And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets.\n\t\t\t Through faith they conquered kingdoms, administered justice, gained what was promised, shut the mouths of lions, \n\t\t\t quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, gained strength in weakness, became mighty in battle, put foreign armies to flight, \n\t\t\t and women received back their dead raised to life. But others were tortured, not accepting release, to obtain resurrection to a better life.\n\t\t\t And others experienced mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment.\n\t\t\t They were stoned, sawed apart, murdered with the sword; they went about in sheepskins and goatskins; they were destitute, afflicted, ill-treated \n\t\t\t (the world was not worthy of them); they wandered in deserts and mountains and caves and openings in the earth.\n\t\t\t And these all were commended for their faith, yet they did not receive what was promised.\n\t\t\t For God had provided something better for us, so that they would be made perfect together with us.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, we must get rid of every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and run with endurance the race set out for us, \n\t\t\t keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy set out for him he endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.\n\t\t\t Think of him who endured such opposition against himself by sinners, so that you may not grow weary in your souls and give up.\n\t\t\t You have not yet resisted to the point of bloodshed in your struggle against sin. \n\t\t\t And have you forgotten the exhortation addressed to you as sons? \"My son, do not scorn the Lord's discipline or give up when he corrects you.\n\t\t\t \"For the Lord disciplines the one he loves and chastises every son he accepts.\"\n\t\t\t Endure your suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is there that a father does not discipline? \n\t\t\t But if you do not experience discipline, something all sons have shared in, then you are illegitimate and are not sons. \n\t\t\t Besides, we have experienced discipline from our earthly fathers and we respected them; shall we not submit ourselves all the more to the Father of spirits and receive life?\n\t\t\t For they disciplined us for a little while as seemed good to them, but he does so for our benefit, that we may share his holiness.\n\t\t\t Now all discipline seems painful at the time, not joyful. But later it produces the fruit of peace and righteousness for those trained by it. \n\t\t\t Therefore, strengthen your listless hands and your weak knees,\n\t\t\t and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but be healed.\n\t\t\t Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness, for without it no one will see the Lord. \n\t\t\t See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God, that no one be like a bitter root springing up and causing trouble, and through him many become defiled. \n\t\t\t And see to it that no one becomes an immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal.\n\t\t\t For you know that later when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no opportunity for repentance, although he sought the blessing with tears. \n\t\t\t For you have not come to something that can be touched, to a burning fire and darkness and gloom and a whirlwind \n\t\t\t and the blast of a trumpet and a voice uttering words such that those who heard begged to hear no more.\n\t\t\t For they could not bear what was commanded: \"If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned.\"\n\t\t\t In fact, the scene was so terrifying that Moses said, \"I shudder with fear.\"\n\t\t\t But you have come to Mount Zion, the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, to the assembly \n\t\t\t and congregation of the firstborn, who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous, who have been made perfect,\n\t\t\t and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks of something better than Abel's does.\n\t\t\t Take care not to refuse the one who is speaking! For if they did not escape when they refused the one who warned them on earth, how much less shall we, if we reject the one who warns from heaven?\n\t\t\t Then his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, \"I will once more shake not only the earth but heaven too.\"\n\t\t\t Now this phrase \"once more\" indicates the removal of what is shaken, that is, of created things, so that what is unshaken may remain.\n\t\t\t So since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us give thanks, and through this let us offer worship pleasing to God in devotion and awe.\n\t\t\t For our God is indeed a devouring fire.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Brotherly love must continue.\n\t\t\t Do not neglect hospitality, because through it some have entertained angels without knowing it.\n\t\t\t Remember those in prison as though you were in prison with them, and those ill-treated as though you too felt their torment.\n\t\t\t Marriage must be honored among all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, for God will judge sexually immoral people and adulterers.\n\t\t\t Your conduct must be free from the love of money and you must be content with what you have, for he has said, \"I will never leave you and I will never abandon you.\"\n\t\t\t So we can say with confidence, \"The Lord is my helper, and I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?\"\n\t\t\t Remember your leaders, who spoke God's message to you; reflect on the outcome of their lives and imitate their faith.\n\t\t\t Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever!\n\t\t\t Do not be carried away by all sorts of strange teachings. For it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not ritual meals, which have never benefited those who participated in them. \n\t\t\t We have an altar that those who serve in the tabernacle have no right to eat from.\n\t\t\t For the bodies of those animals whose blood the high priest brings into the sanctuary as an offering for sin are burned outside the camp. \n\t\t\t Therefore, to sanctify the people by his own blood, Jesus also suffered outside the camp.\n\t\t\t We must go out to him, then, outside the camp, bearing the abuse he experienced.\n\t\t\t For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.\n\t\t\t Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, acknowledging his name.\n\t\t\t And do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for God is pleased with such sacrifices.\n\t\t\t Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls and will give an account for their work. Let them do this with joy and not with complaints, for this would be no advantage for you. \n\t\t\t Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to conduct ourselves rightly in every respect.\n\t\t\t I especially ask you to pray that I may be restored to you very soon.\n\t\t\t Now may the God of peace who by the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep, our Lord Jesus Christ,\n\t\t\t equip you with every good thing to do his will, working in us what is pleasing before him through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever. Amen.\n\t\t\t Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, bear with my message of exhortation, for in fact I have written to you briefly. \n\t\t\t You should know that our brother Timothy has been released. If he comes soon, he will be with me when I see you.\n\t\t\t Greetings to all your leaders and all the saints. Those from Italy send you greetings.\n\t\t\t Grace be with you all.\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t From James, a slave of God and the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes dispersed abroad. Greetings!\n\t\t\t My brothers and sisters, consider it nothing but joy when you fall into all sorts of trials, \n\t\t\t because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance.\n\t\t\t And let endurance have its perfect effect, so that you will be perfect and complete, not deficient in anything.\n\t\t\t But if anyone is deficient in wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without reprimand, and it will be given to him.\n\t\t\t But he must ask in faith without doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed around by the wind.\n\t\t\t For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord,\n\t\t\t since he is a double-minded individual, unstable in all his ways.\n\t\t\t Now the believer of humble means should take pride in his high position.\n\t\t\t But the rich person's pride should be in his humiliation, because he will pass away like a wildflower in the meadow.\n\t\t\t For the sun rises with its heat and dries up the meadow; the petal of the flower falls off and its beauty is lost forever. So also the rich person in the midst of his pursuits will wither away. \n\t\t\t Happy is the one who endures testing, because when he has proven to be genuine, he will receive the crown of life that God promised to those who love him. \n\t\t\t Let no one say when he is tempted, \"I am tempted by God,\" for God cannot be tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one. \n\t\t\t But each one is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desires.\n\t\t\t Then when desire conceives, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is full grown, it gives birth to death.\n\t\t\t Do not be led astray, my dear brothers and sisters.\n\t\t\t All generous giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or the slightest hint of change.\n\t\t\t By his sovereign plan he gave us birth through the message of truth, that we would be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.\n\t\t\t Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters! Let every person be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger. \n\t\t\t For human anger does not accomplish God's righteousness.\n\t\t\t So put away all filth and evil excess and humbly welcome the message implanted within you, which is able to save your souls.\n\t\t\t But be sure you live out the message and do not merely listen to it and so deceive yourselves.\n\t\t\t For if someone merely listens to the message and does not live it out, he is like someone who gazes at his own face in a mirror. \n\t\t\t For he gazes at himself and then goes out and immediately forgets what sort of person he was. \n\t\t\t But the one who peers into the perfect law of liberty and fixes his attention there, and does not become a forgetful listener but one who lives it out, he will be blessed in what he does.\n\t\t\t If someone thinks he is religious yet does not bridle his tongue, and so deceives his heart, his religion is futile.\n\t\t\t Pure and undefiled religion before God the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their misfortune and to keep oneself unstained by the world.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t My brothers and sisters, do not show prejudice if you possess faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ.\n\t\t\t For if someone comes into your assembly wearing a gold ring and fine clothing, and a poor person enters in filthy clothes, \n\t\t\t do you pay attention to the one who is finely dressed and say, \"You sit here in a good place,\" and to the poor person, \"You stand over there,\" or \"Sit on the floor\"?\n\t\t\t If so, have you not made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil motives?\n\t\t\t Listen, my dear brothers and sisters! Did not God choose the poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that he promised to those who love him?\n\t\t\t But you have dishonored the poor! Are not the rich oppressing you and dragging you into the courts? \n\t\t\t Do they not blaspheme the good name of the one you belong to?\n\t\t\t But if you fulfill the royal law as expressed in this scripture, \"You shall love your neighbor as yourself,\" you are doing well. \n\t\t\t But if you show prejudice, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as violators.\n\t\t\t For the one who obeys the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.\n\t\t\t For he who said, \"Do not commit adultery,\" also said, \"Do not murder.\" Now if you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a violator of the law.\n\t\t\t Speak and act as those who will be judged by a law that gives freedom.\n\t\t\t For judgment is merciless for the one who has shown no mercy. But mercy triumphs over judgment.\n\t\t\t What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but does not have works? Can this kind of faith save him?\n\t\t\t If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacks daily food, \n\t\t\t and one of you says to them, \"Go in peace, keep warm and eat well,\" but you do not give them what the body needs, what good is it?\n\t\t\t So also faith, if it does not have works, is dead being by itself.\n\t\t\t But someone will say, \"You have faith and I have works.\" Show me your faith without works and I will show you faith by my works.\n\t\t\t You believe that God is one; well and good. Even the demons believe that, and tremble with fear.\n\t\t\t But would you like evidence, you empty fellow, that faith without works is useless?\n\t\t\t Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?\n\t\t\t You see that his faith was working together with his works and his faith was perfected by works.\n\t\t\t And the scripture was fulfilled that says, \"Now Abraham believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness,\" and he was called God's friend.\n\t\t\t You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.\n\t\t\t And similarly, was not Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she welcomed the messengers and sent them out by another way?\n\t\t\t For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, because you know that we will be judged more strictly.\n\t\t\t For we all stumble in many ways. If someone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect individual, able to control the entire body as well.\n\t\t\t And if we put bits into the mouths of horses to get them to obey us, then we guide their entire bodies.\n\t\t\t Look at ships too: Though they are so large and driven by harsh winds, they are steered by a tiny rudder wherever the pilot's inclination directs.\n\t\t\t So too the tongue is a small part of the body, yet it has great pretensions. Think how small a flame sets a huge forest ablaze. \n\t\t\t And the tongue is a fire! The tongue represents the world of wrongdoing among the parts of our bodies. It pollutes the entire body and sets fire to the course of human existence, and is set on fire by hell.\n\t\t\t For every kind of animal, bird, reptile, and sea creature is subdued and has been subdued by humankind.\n\t\t\t But no human being can subdue the tongue; it is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. \n\t\t\t With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse people made in God's image.\n\t\t\t From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. These things should not be so, my brothers and sisters.\n\t\t\t A spring does not pour out fresh water and bitter water from the same opening, does it?\n\t\t\t Can a fig tree produce olives, my brothers and sisters, or a vine produce figs? Neither can a salt water spring produce fresh water.\n\t\t\t Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct he should show his works done in the gentleness that wisdom brings.\n\t\t\t But if you have bitter jealousy and selfishness in your hearts, do not boast and tell lies against the truth.\n\t\t\t Such wisdom does not come from above but is earthly, natural, demonic. \n\t\t\t For where there is jealousy and selfishness, there is disorder and every evil practice.\n\t\t\t But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and not hypocritical.\n\t\t\t And the fruit that consists of righteousness is planted in peace among those who make peace.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Where do the conflicts and where do the quarrels among you come from? Is it not from this, from your passions that battle inside you?\n\t\t\t You desire and you do not have; you murder and envy and you cannot obtain; you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask;\n\t\t\t you ask and do not receive because you ask wrongly, so you can spend it on your passions.\n\t\t\t Adulterers, do you not know that friendship with the world means hostility toward God? So whoever decides to be the world's friend makes himself God's enemy. \n\t\t\t Or do you think the scripture means nothing when it says, \"The spirit that God caused to live within us has an envious yearning\"?\n\t\t\t But he gives greater grace. Therefore it says, \"God opposes the proud, but he gives grace to the humble.\"\n\t\t\t So submit to God. But resist the devil and he will flee from you.\n\t\t\t Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and make your hearts pure, you double-minded.\n\t\t\t Grieve, mourn, and weep. Turn your laughter into mourning and your joy into despair. \n\t\t\t Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will exalt you.\n\t\t\t Do not speak against one another, brothers and sisters. He who speaks against a fellow believer or judges a fellow believer speaks against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but its judge.\n\t\t\t But there is only one who is lawgiver and judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. On the other hand, who are you to judge your neighbor?\n\t\t\t Come now, you who say, \"Today or tomorrow we will go into this or that town and spend a year there and do business and make a profit.\" \n\t\t\t You do not know about tomorrow. What is your life like? For you are a puff of smoke that appears for a short time and then vanishes. \n\t\t\t You ought to say instead, \"If the Lord is willing, then we will live and do this or that.\" \n\t\t\t But as it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. \n\t\t\t So whoever knows what is good to do and does not do it is guilty of sin.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Come now, you rich! Weep and cry aloud over the miseries that are coming on you. \n\t\t\t Your riches have rotted and your clothing has become moth-eaten.\n\t\t\t Your gold and silver have rusted and their rust will be a witness against you. It will consume your flesh like fire. It is in the last days that you have hoarded treasure!\n\t\t\t Look, the pay you have held back from the workers who mowed your fields cries out against you, and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts.\n\t\t\t You have lived indulgently and luxuriously on the earth. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter.\n\t\t\t You have condemned and murdered the righteous person, although he does not resist you.\n\t\t\t So be patient, brothers and sisters, until the Lord's return. Think of how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the ground and is patient for it until it receives the early and late rains. \n\t\t\t You also be patient and strengthen your hearts, for the Lord's return is near.\n\t\t\t Do not grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be judged. See, the judge stands before the gates!\n\t\t\t As an example of suffering and patience, brothers and sisters, take the prophets who spoke in the Lord's name. \n\t\t\t Think of how we regard as blessed those who have endured. You have heard of Job's endurance and you have seen the Lord's purpose, that the Lord is full of compassion and mercy.\n\t\t\t And above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath. But let your \"Yes\" be yes and your \"No\" be no, so that you may not fall into judgment.\n\t\t\t Is anyone among you suffering? He should pray. Is anyone in good spirits? He should sing praises.\n\t\t\t Is anyone among you ill? He should summon the elders of the church, and they should pray for him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. \n\t\t\t And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.\n\t\t\t So confess your sins to one another and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great effectiveness.\n\t\t\t Elijah was a human being like us, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain and there was no rain on the land for three years and six months! \n\t\t\t Then he prayed again, and the sky gave rain and the land sprouted with a harvest.\n\t\t\t My brothers and sisters, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone turns him back, \n\t\t\t he should know that the one who turns a sinner back from his wandering path will save that person's soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. \n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t From Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to those temporarily residing abroad (in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, the province of Asia, and Bithynia) who are chosen\n\t\t\t according to the foreknowledge of God the Father by being set apart by the Spirit for obedience and for sprinkling with Jesus Christ's blood. May grace and peace be yours in full measure!\n\t\t\t Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he gave us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, \n\t\t\t that is, into an inheritance imperishable, undefiled, and unfading. It is reserved in heaven for you, \n\t\t\t who by God's power are protected through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.\n\t\t\t This brings you great joy, although you may have to suffer for a short time in various trials. \n\t\t\t Such trials show the proven character of your faith, which is much more valuable than gold, gold that is tested by fire, even though it is passing away, and will bring praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.\n\t\t\t You have not seen him, but you love him. You do not see him now but you believe in him, and so you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, \n\t\t\t because you are attaining the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.\n\t\t\t Concerning this salvation, the prophets who predicted the grace that would come to you searched and investigated carefully. \n\t\t\t They probed into what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating when he testified beforehand about the sufferings appointed for Christ and his subsequent glory.\n\t\t\t They were shown that they were serving not themselves but you, in regard to the things now announced to you through those who proclaimed the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things angels long to catch a glimpse of.\n\t\t\t Therefore, get your minds ready for action by being fully sober, and set your hope completely on the grace that will be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed.\n\t\t\t Like obedient children, do not comply with the evil urges you used to follow in your ignorance,\n\t\t\t but, like the Holy One who called you, become holy yourselves in all of your conduct,\n\t\t\t for it is written, \"You shall be holy, because I am holy.\"\n\t\t\t And if you address as Father the one who impartially judges according to each one's work, live out the time of your temporary residence here in reverence. \n\t\t\t You know that from your empty way of life inherited from your ancestors you were ransomed, not by perishable things like silver or gold,\n\t\t\t but by precious blood like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb, namely Christ.\n\t\t\t He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was manifested in these last times for your sake. \n\t\t\t Through him you now trust in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.\n\t\t\t You have purified your souls by obeying the truth in order to show sincere mutual love. So love one another earnestly from a pure heart.\n\t\t\t You have been born anew, not from perishable but from imperishable seed, through the living and enduring word of God.\n\t\t\t For all flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of the grass; the grass withers and the flower falls off,\n\t\t\t but the word of the Lord endures forever. And this is the word that was proclaimed to you.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t So get rid of all evil and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. \n\t\t\t And yearn like newborn infants for pure, spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up to salvation,\n\t\t\t if you have experienced the Lord's kindness.\n\t\t\t So as you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but chosen and priceless in God's sight, \n\t\t\t you yourselves, as living stones, are built up as a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood and to offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. \n\t\t\t For it says in scripture, \"Look, I lay in Zion a stone, a chosen and priceless cornerstone, and whoever believes in him will never be put to shame.\"\n\t\t\t So you who believe see his value, but for those who do not believe, the stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,\n\t\t\t and a stumbling-stone and a rock to trip over. They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.\n\t\t\t But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may proclaim the virtues of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. \n\t\t\t You once were not a people, but now you are God's people. You were shown no mercy, but now you have received mercy.\n\t\t\t Dear friends, I urge you as foreigners and exiles to keep away from fleshly desires that do battle against the soul,\n\t\t\t and maintain good conduct among the non-Christians, so that though they now malign you as wrongdoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God when he appears.\n\t\t\t Be subject to every human institution for the Lord's sake, whether to a king as supreme \n\t\t\t or to governors as those he commissions to punish wrongdoers and praise those who do good. \n\t\t\t For God wants you to silence the ignorance of foolish people by doing good. \n\t\t\t Live as free people, not using your freedom as a pretext for evil, but as God's slaves.\n\t\t\t Honor all people, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the king.\n\t\t\t Slaves, be subject to your masters with all reverence, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are perverse. \n\t\t\t For this finds God's favor, if because of conscience toward God someone endures hardships in suffering unjustly. \n\t\t\t For what credit is it if you sin and are mistreated and endure it? But if you do good and suffer and so endure, this finds favor with God.\n\t\t\t For to this you were called, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving an example for you to follow in his steps.\n\t\t\t He committed no sin nor was deceit found in his mouth.\n\t\t\t When he was maligned, he did not answer back; when he suffered, he threatened no retaliation, but committed himself to God who judges justly. \n\t\t\t He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we may cease from sinning and live for righteousness. By his wounds you were healed.\n\t\t\t For you were going astray like sheep but now you have turned back to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t In the same way, wives, be subject to your own husbands. Then, even if some are disobedient to the word, they will be won over without a word by the way you live,\n\t\t\t when they see your pure and reverent conduct.\n\t\t\t Let your beauty not be external, the braiding of hair and wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes,\n\t\t\t but the inner person of the heart, the lasting beauty of a gentle and tranquil spirit, which is precious in God's sight. \n\t\t\t For in the same way the holy women who hoped in God long ago adorned themselves by being subject to their husbands,\n\t\t\t like Sarah who obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. You become her children when you do what is good and have no fear in doing so.\n\t\t\t Husbands, in the same way, treat your wives with consideration as the weaker partners and show them honor as fellow heirs of the grace of life. In this way nothing will hinder your prayers.\n\t\t\t Finally, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, affectionate, compassionate, and humble. \n\t\t\t Do not return evil for evil or insult for insult, but instead bless others because you were called to inherit a blessing. \n\t\t\t For the one who wants to love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from uttering deceit.\n\t\t\t And he must turn away from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it.\n\t\t\t For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous and his ears are open to their prayer. But the Lord's face is against those who do evil.\n\t\t\t For who is going to harm you if you are devoted to what is good? \n\t\t\t But in fact, if you happen to suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. But do not be terrified of them or be shaken.\n\t\t\t But set Christ apart as Lord in your hearts and always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks about the hope you possess.\n\t\t\t Yet do it with courtesy and respect, keeping a good conscience, so that those who slander your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame when they accuse you.\n\t\t\t For it is better to suffer for doing good, if God wills it, than for doing evil.\n\t\t\t Because Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, to bring you to God, by being put to death in the flesh but by being made alive in the spirit.\n\t\t\t In it he went and preached to the spirits in prison,\n\t\t\t after they were disobedient long ago when God patiently waited in the days of Noah as an ark was being constructed. In the ark a few, that is eight souls, were delivered through water. \n\t\t\t And this prefigured baptism, which now saves you, not the washing off of physical dirt but the pledge of a good conscience to God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,\n\t\t\t who went into heaven and is at the right hand of God with angels and authorities and powers subject to him.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t So, since Christ suffered in the flesh, you also arm yourselves with the same attitude, because the one who has suffered in the flesh has finished with sin,\n\t\t\t in that he spends the rest of his time on earth concerned about the will of God and not human desires. \n\t\t\t For the time that has passed was sufficient for you to do what the non-Christians desire. You lived then in debauchery, evil desires, drunkenness, carousing, drinking bouts, and wanton idolatries.\n\t\t\t So they are astonished when you do not rush with them into the same flood of wickedness, and they vilify you.\n\t\t\t They will face a reckoning before Jesus Christ who stands ready to judge the living and the dead. \n\t\t\t Now it was for this very purpose that the gospel was preached to those who are now dead, so that though they were judged in the flesh by human standards they may live spiritually by God's standards.\n\t\t\t For the culmination of all things is near. So be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of prayer.\n\t\t\t Above all keep your love for one another fervent, because love covers a multitude of sins.\n\t\t\t Show hospitality to one another without complaining. \n\t\t\t Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of the varied grace of God. \n\t\t\t Whoever speaks, let it be with God's words. Whoever serves, do so with the strength that God supplies, so that in everything God will be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.\n\t\t\t Dear friends, do not be astonished that a trial by fire is occurring among you, as though something strange were happening to you. \n\t\t\t But rejoice in the degree that you have shared in the sufferings of Christ, so that when his glory is revealed you may also rejoice and be glad.\n\t\t\t If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory, who is the Spirit of God, rests on you. \n\t\t\t But let none of you suffer as a murderer or thief or criminal or as a troublemaker.\n\t\t\t But if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but glorify God that you bear such a name.\n\t\t\t For it is time for judgment to begin, starting with the house of God. And if it starts with us, what will be the fate of those who are disobedient to the gospel of God? \n\t\t\t And if the righteous are barely saved, what will become of the ungodly and sinners?\n\t\t\t So then let those who suffer according to the will of God entrust their souls to a faithful Creator as they do good.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t So as your fellow elder and a witness of Christ's sufferings and as one who shares in the glory that will be revealed, I urge the elders among you:\n\t\t\t Give a shepherd's care to God's flock among you, exercising oversight not merely as a duty but willingly under God's direction, not for shameful profit but eagerly. \n\t\t\t And do not lord it over those entrusted to you, but be examples to the flock. \n\t\t\t Then when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that never fades away.\n\t\t\t In the same way, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.\n\t\t\t And God will exalt you in due time, if you humble yourselves under his mighty hand\n\t\t\t by casting all your cares on him because he cares for you. \n\t\t\t Be sober and alert. Your enemy the devil, like a roaring lion, is on the prowl looking for someone to devour. \n\t\t\t Resist him, strong in your faith, because you know that your brothers and sisters throughout the world are enduring the same kinds of suffering.\n\t\t\t And, after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace who called you to his eternal glory in Christ will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.\n\t\t\t To him belongs the power forever. Amen.\n\t\t\t Through Silvanus, whom I know to be a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, in order to encourage you and testify that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it.\n\t\t\t The church in Babylon, chosen together with you, greets you, and so does Mark, my son. \n\t\t\t Greet one another with a loving kiss. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t From Simeon Peter, a slave and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ, have been granted a faith just as precious as ours. \n\t\t\t May grace and peace be lavished on you as you grow in the rich knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord!\n\t\t\t I can pray this because his divine power has bestowed on us everything necessary for life and godliness through the rich knowledge of the one who called us by his own glory and excellence. \n\t\t\t Through these things he has bestowed on us his precious and most magnificent promises, so that by means of what was promised you may become partakers of the divine nature, after escaping the worldly corruption that is produced by evil desire.\n\t\t\t For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith excellence, to excellence, knowledge; \n\t\t\t to knowledge, self-control; to self-control, perseverance; to perseverance, godliness; \n\t\t\t to godliness, brotherly affection; to brotherly affection, unselfish love.\n\t\t\t For if these things are really yours and are continually increasing, they will keep you from becoming ineffective and unproductive in your pursuit of knowing our Lord Jesus Christ more intimately.\n\t\t\t But concerning the one who lacks such things, he is blind. That is to say, he is nearsighted, since he has forgotten about the cleansing of his past sins.\n\t\t\t Therefore, brothers and sisters, make every effort to be sure of your calling and election. For by doing this you will never stumble into sin.\n\t\t\t For thus an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be richly provided for you.\n\t\t\t Therefore, I intend to remind you constantly of these things even though you know them and are well established in the truth that you now have. \n\t\t\t Indeed, as long as I am in this tabernacle, I consider it right to stir you up by way of a reminder, \n\t\t\t since I know that my tabernacle will soon be removed, because our Lord Jesus Christ revealed this to me.\n\t\t\t Indeed, I will also make every effort that, after my departure, you have a testimony of these things.\n\t\t\t For we did not follow cleverly concocted fables when we made known to you the power and return of our Lord Jesus Christ; no, we were eyewitnesses of his grandeur.\n\t\t\t For he received honor and glory from God the Father, when that voice was conveyed to him by the Majestic Glory: \"This is my dear Son, in whom I am delighted.\"\n\t\t\t When this voice was conveyed from heaven, we ourselves heard it, for we were with him on the holy mountain.\n\t\t\t Moreover, we possess the prophetic word as an altogether reliable thing. You do well if you pay attention to this as you would to a light shining in a murky place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.\n\t\t\t Above all, you do well if you recognize this: No prophecy of scripture ever comes about by the prophet's own imagination,\n\t\t\t for no prophecy was ever borne of human impulse; rather, men carried along by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t But false prophets arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. These false teachers will infiltrate your midst with destructive heresies, even to the point of denying the Master who bought them. As a result, they will bring swift destruction on themselves. \n\t\t\t And many will follow their debauched lifestyles. Because of these false teachers, the way of truth will be slandered.\n\t\t\t And in their greed they will exploit you with deceptive words. Their condemnation pronounced long ago is not sitting idly by; their destruction is not asleep.\n\t\t\t For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but threw them into hell and locked them up in chains in utter darkness, to be kept until the judgment, \n\t\t\t and if he did not spare the ancient world, but did protect Noah, a herald of righteousness, along with seven others, when God brought a flood on an ungodly world,\n\t\t\t and if he turned to ashes the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah when he condemned them to destruction, having appointed them to serve as an example to future generations of the ungodly,\n\t\t\t and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man in anguish over the debauched lifestyle of lawless men,\n\t\t\t (for while he lived among them day after day, that righteous man was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)\n\t\t\t , if so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from their trials, and to reserve the unrighteous for punishment at the day of judgment, \n\t\t\t especially those who indulge their fleshly desires and who despise authority. Brazen and insolent, they are not afraid to insult the glorious ones,\n\t\t\t yet even angels, who are much more powerful, do not bring a slanderous judgment against them before the Lord.\n\t\t\t But these men, like irrational animals, creatures of instinct, born to be caught and destroyed, do not understand whom they are insulting, and consequently in their destruction they will be destroyed,\n\t\t\t suffering harm as the wages for their harmful ways. By considering it a pleasure to carouse in broad daylight, they are stains and blemishes, indulging in their deceitful pleasures when they feast together with you. \n\t\t\t Their eyes, full of adultery, never stop sinning; they entice unstable people. They have trained their hearts for greed, these cursed children!\n\t\t\t By forsaking the right path they have gone astray, because they followed the way of Balaam son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness,\n\t\t\t yet was rebuked for his own transgression (a dumb donkey, speaking with a human voice, restrained the prophet's madness).\n\t\t\t These men are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm, for whom the utter depths of darkness have been reserved.\n\t\t\t For by speaking high-sounding but empty words they are able to entice, with fleshly desires and with debauchery, people who have just escaped from those who reside in error.\n\t\t\t Although these false teachers promise such people freedom, they themselves are enslaved to immorality. For whatever a person succumbs to, to that he is enslaved.\n\t\t\t For if after they have escaped the filthy things of the world through the rich knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they again get entangled in them and succumb to them, their last state has become worse for them than their first. \n\t\t\t For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than, having known it, to turn back from the holy commandment that had been delivered to them.\n\t\t\t They are illustrations of this true proverb: \"A dog returns to its own vomit,\" and \"A sow, after washing herself, wallows in the mire.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Dear friends, this is already the second letter I have written you, in which I am trying to stir up your pure mind by way of reminder:\n\t\t\t I want you to recall both the predictions foretold by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles.\n\t\t\t Above all, understand this: In the last days blatant scoffers will come, being propelled by their own evil urges\n\t\t\t and saying, \"Where is his promised return? For ever since our ancestors died, all things have continued as they were from the beginning of creation.\" \n\t\t\t For they deliberately suppress this fact, that by the word of God heavens existed long ago and an earth was formed out of water and by means of water. \n\t\t\t Through these things the world existing at that time was destroyed when it was deluged with water. \n\t\t\t But by the same word the present heavens and earth have been reserved for fire, by being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.\n\t\t\t Now, dear friends, do not let this one thing escape your notice, that a single day is like a thousand years with the Lord and a thousand years are like a single day. \n\t\t\t The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some regard slowness, but is being patient toward you, because he does not wish for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.\n\t\t\t But the day of the Lord will come like a thief; when it comes, the heavens will disappear with a horrific noise, and the celestial bodies will melt away in a blaze, and the earth and every deed done on it will be laid bare.\n\t\t\t Since all these things are to melt away in this manner, what sort of people must we be, conducting our lives in holiness and godliness,\n\t\t\t while waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God? Because of this day, the heavens will be burned up and dissolve, and the celestial bodies will melt away in a blaze!\n\t\t\t But, according to his promise, we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness truly resides.\n\t\t\t Therefore, dear friends, since you are waiting for these things, strive to be found at peace, without spot or blemish, when you come into his presence.\n\t\t\t And regard the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as also our dear brother Paul wrote to you, according to the wisdom given to him, \n\t\t\t speaking of these things in all his letters. Some things in these letters are hard to understand, things the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they also do to the rest of the scriptures.\n\t\t\t Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard that you do not get led astray by the error of these unprincipled men and fall from your firm grasp on the truth.\n\t\t\t But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the honor both now and on that eternal day.\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t This is what we proclaim to you: what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and our hands have touched (concerning the word of life,\n\t\t\t and the life was revealed, and we have seen and testify and announce to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us).\n\t\t\t What we have seen and heard we announce to you too, so that you may have fellowship with us (and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ). \n\t\t\t Thus we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.\n\t\t\t Now this is the gospel message we have heard from him and announce to you: God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all.\n\t\t\t If we say we have fellowship with him and yet keep on walking in the darkness, we are lying and not practicing the truth. \n\t\t\t But if we walk 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.\n\t\t\t If we say we do not bear the guilt of sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. \n\t\t\t But if we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous, forgiving us our sins and cleansing us from all unrighteousness. \n\t\t\t If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar and his word is not in us.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t (My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin.) But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous One,\n\t\t\t and he himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for our sins but also for the whole world.\n\t\t\t Now by this we know that we have come to know God: if we keep his commandments. \n\t\t\t The one who says \"I have come to know God\" and yet does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in such a person. \n\t\t\t But whoever obeys his word, truly in this person the love of God has been perfected. By this we know that we are in him. \n\t\t\t The one who says he resides in God ought himself to walk just as Jesus walked.\n\t\t\t Dear friends, I am not writing a new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have already heard. \n\t\t\t On the other hand, I am writing a new commandment to you which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining.\n\t\t\t The one who says he is in the light but still hates his fellow Christian is still in the darkness. \n\t\t\t The one who loves his fellow Christian resides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him.\n\t\t\t But the one who hates his fellow Christian is in the darkness, walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.\n\t\t\t I am writing to you, little children, that your sins have been forgiven because of his name. \n\t\t\t I am writing to you, fathers, that you have known him who has been from the beginning. I am writing to you, young people, that you have conquered the evil one.\n\t\t\t I have written to you, children, that you have known the Father. I have written to you, fathers, that you have known him who has been from the beginning. I have written to you, young people, that you are strong, and the word of God resides in you, and you have conquered the evil one.\n\t\t\t Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him,\n\t\t\t because all that is in the world (the desire of the flesh and the desire of the eyes and the arrogance produced by material possessions) is not from the Father, but is from the world. \n\t\t\t And the world is passing away with all its desires, but the person who does the will of God remains forever.\n\t\t\t Children, it is the last hour, and just as you heard that the antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have appeared. We know from this that it is the last hour. \n\t\t\t They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us, because if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. But they went out from us to demonstrate that all of them do not belong to us.\n\t\t\t Nevertheless you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know.\n\t\t\t I have not written to you that you do not know the truth, but that you do know it, and that no lie is of the truth. \n\t\t\t Who is the liar but the person who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This one is the antichrist: the person who denies the Father and the Son.\n\t\t\t Everyone who denies the Son does not have the Father either. The person who confesses the Son has the Father also.\n\t\t\t As for you, what you have heard from the beginning must remain in you. If what you heard from the beginning remains in you, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. \n\t\t\t Now this is the promise that he himself made to us: eternal life.\n\t\t\t These things I have written to you about those who are trying to deceive you.\n\t\t\t Now as for you, the anointing that you received from him resides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things, it is true and is not a lie. Just as it has taught you, you reside in him.\n\t\t\t And now, little children, remain in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink away from him in shame when he comes back.\n\t\t\t If you know that he is righteous, you also know that everyone who practices righteousness has been fathered by him.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t (See what sort of love the Father has given to us: that we should be called God's children, and indeed we are! For this reason the world does not know us: because it did not know him.\n\t\t\t Dear friends, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that whenever it is revealed we will be like him, because we will see him just as he is.\n\t\t\t And everyone who has this hope focused on him purifies himself, just as Jesus is pure).\n\t\t\t Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; indeed, sin is lawlessness. \n\t\t\t And you know that Jesus was revealed to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. \n\t\t\t Everyone who resides in him does not sin; everyone who sins has neither seen him nor known him. \n\t\t\t Little children, let no one deceive you: The one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as Jesus is righteous. \n\t\t\t The one who practices sin is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was revealed: to destroy the works of the devil. \n\t\t\t Everyone who has been fathered by God does not practice sin, because God's seed resides in him, and thus he is not able to sin, because he has been fathered by God. \n\t\t\t By this the children of God and the children of the devil are revealed: Everyone who does not practice righteousness, the one who does not love his fellow Christian, is not of God.\n\t\t\t For this is the gospel message that you have heard from the beginning: that we should love one another,\n\t\t\t not like Cain who was of the evil one and brutally murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his deeds were evil, but his brother's were righteous.\n\t\t\t Therefore do not be surprised, brothers and sisters, if the world hates you.\n\t\t\t We know that we have crossed over from death to life because we love our fellow Christians. The one who does not love remains in death.\n\t\t\t Everyone who hates his fellow Christian is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him. \n\t\t\t We have come to know love by this: that Jesus laid down his life for us; thus we ought to lay down our lives for our fellow Christians.\n\t\t\t But whoever has the world's possessions and sees his fellow Christian in need and shuts off his compassion against him, how can the love of God reside in such a person?\n\t\t\t Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue but in deed and truth.\n\t\t\t And by this we will know that we are of the truth and will convince our conscience in his presence,\n\t\t\t that if our conscience condemns us, that God is greater than our conscience and knows all things.\n\t\t\t Dear friends, if our conscience does not condemn us, we have confidence in the presence of God,\n\t\t\t and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do the things that are pleasing to him. \n\t\t\t Now this is his commandment: that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he gave us the commandment. \n\t\t\t And the person who keeps his commandments resides in God, and God in him. Now by this we know that God resides in us: by the Spirit he has given us.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to determine if they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. \n\t\t\t By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses Jesus as the Christ who has come in the flesh is from God, \n\t\t\t but every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God, and this is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming, and now is already in the world.\n\t\t\t You are from God, little children, and have conquered them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. \n\t\t\t They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world's perspective and the world listens to them.\n\t\t\t We are from God; the person who knows God listens to us, but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of deceit.\n\t\t\t Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been fathered by God and knows God. \n\t\t\t The person who does not love does not know God, because God is love.\n\t\t\t By this the love of God is revealed in us: that God has sent his one and only Son into the world so that we may live through him. \n\t\t\t In this 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.\n\t\t\t Dear friends, if God so loved us, then we also ought to love one another.\n\t\t\t No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God resides in us, and his love is perfected in us.\n\t\t\t By this we know that we reside in God and he in us: in that he has given us of his Spirit.\n\t\t\t And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.\n\t\t\t If anyone confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God resides in him and he in God. \n\t\t\t And we have come to know and to believe the love that God has in us. God is love, and the one who resides in love resides in God, and God resides in him. \n\t\t\t By this love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment, because just as Jesus is, so also are we in this world. \n\t\t\t There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears punishment has not been perfected in love. \n\t\t\t We love because he loved us first.\n\t\t\t If anyone says \"I love God\" and yet hates his fellow Christian, he is a liar, because the one who does not love his fellow Christian whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.\n\t\t\t And the commandment we have from him is this: that the one who loves God should love his fellow Christian too. \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been fathered by God, and everyone who loves the father loves the child fathered by him.\n\t\t\t By this we know that we love the children of God: whenever we love God and obey his commandments. \n\t\t\t For this is the love of God: that we keep his commandments. And his commandments do not weigh us down, \n\t\t\t because everyone who has been fathered by God conquers the world. This is the conquering power that has conquered the world: our faith.\n\t\t\t Now who is the person who has conquered the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? \n\t\t\t Jesus Christ is the one who came by water and blood, not by the water only, but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.\n\t\t\t For there are three that testify,\n\t\t\t the Spirit and the water and the blood, and these three are in agreement.\n\t\t\t If we accept the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, because this is the testimony of God that he has testified concerning his Son. \n\t\t\t (The one who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself; the one who does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has testified concerning his Son.)\n\t\t\t And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. \n\t\t\t The one who has the Son has this eternal life; the one who does not have the Son of God does not have this eternal life.\n\t\t\t I 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.\n\t\t\t And this is the confidence that we have before him: that whenever we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. \n\t\t\t And if we know that he hears us in regard to whatever we ask, then we know that we have the requests that we have asked from him. \n\t\t\t If anyone sees his fellow Christian committing a sin not resulting in death, he should ask, and God will grant life to the person who commits a sin not resulting in death. There is a sin resulting in death. I do not say that he should ask about that. \n\t\t\t All unrighteousness is sin, but there is sin not resulting in death.\n\t\t\t We know that everyone fathered by God does not sin, but God protects the one he has fathered, and the evil one cannot touch him. \n\t\t\t We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. \n\t\t\t And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us insight to know him who is true, and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. This one is the true God and eternal life. \n\t\t\t Little children, guard yourselves from idols.\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t From the elder, to an elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth (and not I alone, but also all those who know the truth), \n\t\t\t because of the truth that resides in us and will be with us forever. \n\t\t\t Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Son of the Father, in truth and love.\n\t\t\t I rejoiced greatly because I have found some of your children living according to the truth, just as the Father commanded us.\n\t\t\t But now I ask you, lady (not as if I were writing a new commandment to you, but the one we have had from the beginning), that we love one another. \n\t\t\t (Now this is love: that we walk according to his commandments.) This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning; thus you should walk in it.\n\t\t\t For many deceivers have gone out into the world, people who do not confess Jesus as Christ coming in the flesh. This person is the deceiver and the antichrist!\n\t\t\t Watch out, so that you do not lose the things we have worked for, but receive a full reward.\n\t\t\t Everyone who goes on ahead and does not remain in the teaching of Christ does not have God. The one who remains in this teaching has both the Father and the Son. \n\t\t\t If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house and do not give him any greeting,\n\t\t\t because the person who gives him a greeting shares in his evil deeds.\n\t\t\t Though I have many other things to write to you, I do not want to do so with paper and ink, but I hope to come visit you and speak face to face, so that our joy may be complete.\n\t\t\t The children of your elect sister greet you.\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t From the elder, to Gaius my dear brother, whom I love in truth.\n\t\t\t Dear friend, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, just as it is well with your soul.\n\t\t\t For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, just as you are living according to the truth.\n\t\t\t I have no greater joy than this: to hear that my children are living according to the truth.\n\t\t\t Dear friend, you demonstrate faithfulness by whatever you do for the brothers (even though they are strangers). \n\t\t\t They have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God.\n\t\t\t For they have gone forth on behalf of \"The Name,\" accepting nothing from the pagans.\n\t\t\t Therefore we ought to support such people, so that we become coworkers in cooperation with the truth.\n\t\t\t I wrote something to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, does not acknowledge us.\n\t\t\t Therefore, if I come, I will call attention to the deeds he is doing, the bringing of unjustified charges against us with evil words! And not being content with that, he not only refuses to welcome the brothers himself, but hinders the people who want to do so and throws them out of the church!\n\t\t\t Dear friend, do not imitate what is bad but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does what is bad has not seen God.\n\t\t\t Demetrius has been testified to by all, even by the truth itself. We also testify to him, and you know that our testimony is true.\n\t\t\t I have many things to write to you, but I do not wish to write to you with pen and ink.\n\t\t\t But I hope to see you right away, and we will speak face to face.\n\t\t\t Peace be with you. The friends here greet you. Greet the friends there by name. \n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t From Jude, a slave of Jesus Christ and brother of James, to those who are called, wrapped in the love of God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ. \n\t\t\t May mercy, peace, and love be lavished on you!\n\t\t\t Dear friends, although I have been eager to write to you about our common salvation, I now feel compelled instead to write to encourage you to contend earnestly for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.\n\t\t\t For certain men have secretly slipped in among you, men who long ago were marked out for the condemnation I am about to describe, ungodly men who have turned the grace of our God into a license for evil and who deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.\n\t\t\t Now I desire to remind you (even though you have been fully informed of these facts once for all) that Jesus, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, later destroyed those who did not believe.\n\t\t\t You also know that the angels who did not keep within their proper domain but abandoned their own place of residence, he has kept in eternal chains in utter darkness, locked up for the judgment of the great Day. \n\t\t\t So also Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighboring towns, since they indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire in a way similar to these angels, are now displayed as an example by suffering the punishment of eternal fire.\n\t\t\t Yet these men, as a result of their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and insult the glorious ones.\n\t\t\t But even when Michael the archangel was arguing with the devil and debating with him concerning Moses' body, he did not dare to bring a slanderous judgment, but said, \"May the Lord rebuke you!\" \n\t\t\t But these men do not understand the things they slander, and they are being destroyed by the very things that, like irrational animals, they instinctively comprehend.\n\t\t\t Woe to them! For they have traveled down Cain's path, and because of greed have abandoned themselves to Balaam's error; hence, they will certainly perish in Korah's rebellion. \n\t\t\t These men are dangerous reefs at your love feasts, feasting without reverence, feeding only themselves. They are waterless clouds, carried along by the winds; autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, uprooted;\n\t\t\t wild sea waves, spewing out the foam of their shame; wayward stars for whom the utter depths of eternal darkness have been reserved.\n\t\t\t Now Enoch, the seventh in descent beginning with Adam, even prophesied of them, saying, \"Look! The Lord is coming with thousands and thousands of his holy ones, \n\t\t\t to execute judgment on all, and to convict every person of all their thoroughly ungodly deeds that they have committed, and of all the harsh words that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.\"\n\t\t\t These people are grumblers and fault-finders who go wherever their desires lead them, and they give bombastic speeches, enchanting folks for their own gain.\n\t\t\t But you, dear friends, recall the predictions foretold by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ.\n\t\t\t For they said to you, \"In the end time there will come scoffers, propelled by their own ungodly desires.\"\n\t\t\t These people are divisive, worldly, devoid of the Spirit.\n\t\t\t But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith, by praying in the Holy Spirit,\n\t\t\t maintain yourselves in the love of God, while anticipating the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that brings eternal life.\n\t\t\t And have mercy on those who waver;\n\t\t\t save others by snatching them out of the fire; have mercy on others, coupled with a fear of God, hating even the clothes stained by the flesh.\n\t\t\t Now to the one who is able to keep you from falling, and to cause you to stand, rejoicing, without blemish before his glorious presence,\n\t\t\t to the only God our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority, before all time, and now, and for all eternity. Amen.\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must happen very soon. He made it clear by sending his angel to his servant John, \n\t\t\t who then testified to everything that he saw concerning the word of God and the testimony about Jesus Christ. \n\t\t\t Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy aloud, and blessed are those who hear and obey the things written in it, because the time is near!\n\t\t\t From John, to the seven churches that are in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from \"he who is,\" and who was, and who is still to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, \n\t\t\t and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from among the dead, the ruler over the kings of the earth. To the one who loves us and has set us free from our sins at the cost of his own blood\n\t\t\t and has appointed us as a kingdom, as priests serving his God and Father, to him be the glory and the power for ever and ever! Amen.\n\t\t\t (Look! He is returning with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all the tribes on the earth will mourn because of him. This will certainly come to pass! Amen.)\n\t\t\t \"I am the Alpha and the Omega,\" says the Lord God, the one who is, and who was, and who is still to come, the All-Powerful!\n\t\t\t I, John, your brother and the one who shares with you in the persecution, kingdom, and endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony about Jesus.\n\t\t\t I was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day when I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, \n\t\t\t saying: \"Write in a book what you see and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.\"\n\t\t\t I turned to see whose voice was speaking to me, and when I did so, I saw seven golden lampstands, \n\t\t\t and in the midst of the lampstands was one like a son of man. He was dressed in a robe extending down to his feet and he wore a wide golden belt around his chest. \n\t\t\t His head and hair were as white as wool, even as white as snow, and his eyes were like a fiery flame. \n\t\t\t His feet were like polished bronze refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. \n\t\t\t He held seven stars in his right hand, and a sharp double-edged sword extended out of his mouth. His face shone like the sun shining at full strength. \n\t\t\t When I saw him I fell down at his feet as though I were dead, but he placed his right hand on me and said: \"Do not be afraid! I am the first and the last, \n\t\t\t and the one who lives! I was dead, but look, now I am alive, forever and ever, and I hold the keys of death and of Hades!\n\t\t\t Therefore write what you saw, what is, and what will be after these things.\n\t\t\t The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t \"To the angel of the church in Ephesus, write the following: \"This is the solemn pronouncement of the one who has a firm grasp on the seven stars in his right hand, the one who walks among the seven golden lampstands:\n\t\t\t 'I know your works as well as your labor and steadfast endurance, and that you cannot tolerate evil. You have even put to the test those who refer to themselves as apostles (but are not), and have discovered that they are false. \n\t\t\t I am also aware that you have persisted steadfastly, endured much for the sake of my name, and have not grown weary. \n\t\t\t But I have this against you: You have departed from your first love! \n\t\t\t Therefore, remember from what high state you have fallen and repent! Do the deeds you did at the first; if not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, that is, if you do not repent.\n\t\t\t But you do have this going for you: You hate what the Nicolaitans practice, practices I also hate.\n\t\t\t The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers, I will permit him to eat from the tree of life that is in the paradise of God.'\n\t\t\t \"To the angel of the church in Smyrna write the following: \"This is the solemn pronouncement of the one who is the first and the last, the one who was dead, but came to life:\n\t\t\t 'I know the distress you are suffering and your poverty (but you are rich). I also know the slander against you by those who call themselves Jews and really are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. \n\t\t\t Do not be afraid of the things you are about to suffer. The devil is about to have some of you thrown into prison so you may be tested, and you will experience suffering for ten days. Remain faithful even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown that is life itself.\n\t\t\t The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will in no way be harmed by the second death.'\n\t\t\t \"To the angel of the church in Pergamum write the following: \"This is the solemn pronouncement of the one who has the sharp double-edged sword:\n\t\t\t 'I know where you live, where Satan's throne is. Yet you continue to cling to my name and you have not denied your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was killed in your city where Satan lives.\n\t\t\t But I have a few things against you: You have some people there who follow the teaching of Balaam, who instructed Balak to put a stumbling block before the people of Israel so they would eat food sacrificed to idols and commit sexual immorality.\n\t\t\t In the same way, there are also some among you who follow the teaching of the Nicolaitans.\n\t\t\t Therefore, repent! If not, I will come against you quickly and make war against those people with the sword of my mouth. \n\t\t\t The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers, I will give him some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and on that stone will be written a new name that no one can understand except the one who receives it.'\n\t\t\t \"To the angel of the church in Thyatira write the following: \"This is the solemn pronouncement of the Son of God, the one who has eyes like a fiery flame and whose feet are like polished bronze:\n\t\t\t 'I know your deeds: your love, faith, service, and steadfast endurance. In fact, your more recent deeds are greater than your earlier ones. \n\t\t\t But I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and by her teaching deceives my servants to commit sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols.\n\t\t\t I have given her time to repent, but she is not willing to repent of her sexual immorality. \n\t\t\t Look! I am throwing her onto a bed of violent illness, and those who commit adultery with her into terrible suffering, unless they repent of her deeds. \n\t\t\t Furthermore, I will strike her followers with a deadly disease, and then all the churches will know that I am the one who searches minds and hearts. I will repay each one of you what your deeds deserve.\n\t\t\t But to the rest of you in Thyatira, all who do not hold to this teaching (who have not learned the so-called \"deep secrets of Satan\"), to you I say: I do not put any additional burden on you. \n\t\t\t However, hold on to what you have until I come.\n\t\t\t And to the one who conquers and who continues in my deeds until the end, I will give him authority over the nations,\n\t\t\t he will rule them with an iron rod and like clay jars he will break them to pieces,\n\t\t\t just as I have received the right to rule from my Father, and I will give him the morning star.\n\t\t\t The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t \"To the angel of the church in Sardis write the following: \"This is the solemn pronouncement of the one who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars: 'I know your deeds, that you have a reputation that you are alive, but in reality you are dead.\n\t\t\t Wake up then, and strengthen what remains that was about to die, because I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God. \n\t\t\t Therefore, remember what you received and heard, and obey it, and repent. If you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will never know at what hour I will come against you. \n\t\t\t But you have a few individuals in Sardis who have not stained their clothes, and they will walk with me dressed in white, because they are worthy. \n\t\t\t The one who conquers will be dressed like them in white clothing, and I will never erase his name from the book of life, but will declare his name before my Father and before his angels. \n\t\t\t The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'\n\t\t\t \"To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write the following: \"This is the solemn pronouncement of the Holy One, the True One, who holds the key of David, who opens doors no one can shut, and shuts doors no one can open:\n\t\t\t 'I know your deeds. (Look! I have put in front of you an open door that no one can shut.) I know that you have little strength, but you have obeyed my word and have not denied my name. \n\t\t\t Listen! I am going to make those people from the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews yet are not, but are lying, Look, I will make them come and bow down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you.\n\t\t\t Because you have kept my admonition to endure steadfastly, I will also keep you from the hour of testing that is about to come on the whole world to test those who live on the earth. \n\t\t\t I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have so that no one can take away your crown.\n\t\t\t The one who conquers I will make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he will never depart from it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God (the new Jerusalem that comes down out of heaven from my God), and my new name as well. \n\t\t\t The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'\n\t\t\t \"To the angel of the church in Laodicea write the following: \"This is the solemn pronouncement of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the originator of God's creation:\n\t\t\t 'I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either cold or hot! \n\t\t\t So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out of my mouth! \n\t\t\t Because you say, \"I am rich and have acquired great wealth, and need nothing,\" but do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked, \n\t\t\t take my advice and buy gold from me refined by fire so you can become rich! Buy from me white clothing so you can be clothed and your shameful nakedness will not be exposed, and buy eye salve to put on your eyes so you can see! \n\t\t\t All those I love, I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent! \n\t\t\t Listen! I am standing at the door and knocking! If anyone hears my voice and opens the door I will come into his home and share a meal with him, and he with me. \n\t\t\t I will grant the one who conquers permission to sit with me on my throne, just as I too conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. \n\t\t\t The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t After these things I looked, and there was a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet said: \"Come up here so that I can show you what must happen after these things.\" \n\t\t\t Immediately I was in the Spirit, and a throne was standing in heaven with someone seated on it! \n\t\t\t And the one seated on it was like jasper and carnelian in appearance, and a rainbow looking like it was made of emerald encircled the throne. \n\t\t\t In a circle around the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on those thrones were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white clothing and had golden crowns on their heads. \n\t\t\t From the throne came out flashes of lightning and roaring and crashes of thunder. Seven flaming torches, which are the seven spirits of God, were burning in front of the throne \n\t\t\t and in front of the throne was something like a sea of glass, like crystal. In the middle of the throne and around the throne were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back.\n\t\t\t The first living creature was like a lion, the second creature like an ox, the third creature had a face like a man's, and the fourth creature looked like an eagle flying. \n\t\t\t Each one of the four living creatures had six wings and was full of eyes all around and inside. They never rest day or night, saying: \"Holy Holy Holy is the Lord God, the All-Powerful, Who was and who is, and who is still to come!\"\n\t\t\t And whenever the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to the one who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, \n\t\t\t the twenty-four elders throw themselves to the ground before the one who sits on the throne and worship the one who lives forever and ever, and they offer their crowns before his throne, saying:\n\t\t\t \"You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, since you created all things, and because of your will they existed and were created!\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then I saw in the right hand of the one who was seated on the throne a scroll written on the front and back and sealed with seven seals.\n\t\t\t And I saw a powerful angel proclaiming in a loud voice: \"Who is worthy to open the scroll and to break its seals?\"\n\t\t\t But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or look into it. \n\t\t\t So I began weeping bitterly because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. \n\t\t\t Then one of the elders said to me, \"Stop weeping! Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has conquered; thus he can open the scroll and its seven seals.\"\n\t\t\t Then I saw standing in the middle of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the middle of the elders, a Lamb that appeared to have been killed. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. \n\t\t\t Then he came and took the scroll from the right hand of the one who was seated on the throne, \n\t\t\t and when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders threw themselves to the ground before the Lamb. Each of them had a harp and golden bowls full of incense (which are the prayers of the saints).\n\t\t\t They were singing a new song: \"You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals because you were killed, and at the cost of your own blood you have purchased for God persons from every tribe, language, people, and nation.\n\t\t\t You have appointed them as a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.\"\n\t\t\t Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels in a circle around the throne, as well as the living creatures and the elders. Their number was ten thousand times ten thousand, thousands times thousands,\n\t\t\t all of whom were singing in a loud voice: \"Worthy is the lamb who was killed to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and praise!\"\n\t\t\t Then I heard every creature, in heaven, on earth, under the earth, in the sea, and all that is in them, singing: \"To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb be praise, honor, glory, and ruling power forever and ever!\"\n\t\t\t And the four living creatures were saying \"Amen,\" and the elders threw themselves to the ground and worshiped.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t I looked on when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a thunderous voice, \"Come!\"\n\t\t\t So I looked, and here came a white horse! The one who rode it had a bow, and he was given a crown, and as a conqueror he rode out to conquer.\n\t\t\t Then when the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, \"Come!\" \n\t\t\t And another horse, fiery red, came out, and the one who rode it was granted permission to take peace from the earth, so that people would butcher one another, and he was given a huge sword.\n\t\t\t Then when the Lamb opened the third seal I heard the third living creature saying, \"Come!\" So I looked, and here came a black horse! The one who rode it had a balance scale in his hand. \n\t\t\t Then I heard something like a voice from among the four living creatures saying, \"A quart of wheat will cost a day's pay and three quarts of barley will cost a day's pay. But do not damage the olive oil and the wine!\"\n\t\t\t Then when the Lamb opened the fourth seal I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, \"Come!\" \n\t\t\t So I looked and here came a pale green horse! The name of the one who rode it was Death, and Hades followed right behind. They were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill its population with the sword, famine, and disease, and by the wild animals of the earth.\n\t\t\t Now when the Lamb opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been violently killed because of the word of God and because of the testimony they had given. \n\t\t\t They cried out with a loud voice, \"How long, Sovereign Master, holy and true, before you judge those who live on the earth and avenge our blood?\" \n\t\t\t Each of them was given a long white robe and they were told to rest for a little longer, until the full number was reached of both their fellow servants and their brothers who were going to be killed just as they had been.\n\t\t\t Then I looked when the Lamb opened the sixth seal, and a huge earthquake took place; the sun became as black as sackcloth made of hair, and the full moon became blood red;\n\t\t\t and the stars in the sky fell to the earth like a fig tree dropping its unripe figs when shaken by a fierce wind. \n\t\t\t The sky was split apart like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved from its place.\n\t\t\t Then the kings of the earth, the very important people, the generals, the rich, the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. \n\t\t\t They said to the mountains and to the rocks, \"Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one who is seated on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb,\n\t\t\t because the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to withstand it?\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth so no wind could blow on the earth, on the sea, or on any tree.\n\t\t\t Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, who had the seal of the living God. He shouted out with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given permission to damage the earth and the sea:\n\t\t\t \"Do not damage the earth or the sea or the trees until we have put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.\" \n\t\t\t Now I heard the number of those who were marked with the seal, one hundred and forty-four thousand, sealed from all the tribes of the people of Israel:\n\t\t\t From the tribe of Judah, twelve thousand were sealed, from the tribe of Reuben, twelve thousand, from the tribe of Gad, twelve thousand,\n\t\t\t from the tribe of Asher, twelve thousand, from the tribe of Naphtali, twelve thousand, from the tribe of Manasseh, twelve thousand,\n\t\t\t from the tribe of Simeon, twelve thousand, from the tribe of Levi, twelve thousand, from the tribe of Issachar, twelve thousand,\n\t\t\t from the tribe of Zebulun, twelve thousand, from the tribe of Joseph, twelve thousand, from the tribe of Benjamin, twelve thousand were sealed.\n\t\t\t After these things I looked, and here was an enormous crowd that no one could count, made up of persons from every nation, tribe, people, and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb dressed in long white robes, and with palm branches in their hands. \n\t\t\t They were shouting out in a loud voice, \"Salvation belongs to our God, to the one seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!\"\n\t\t\t And all the angels stood there in a circle around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they threw themselves down with their faces to the ground before the throne and worshiped God, \n\t\t\t saying, \"Amen! Praise and glory, and wisdom and thanksgiving, and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!\"\n\t\t\t Then one of the elders asked me, \"These dressed in long white robes, who are they and where have they come from?\"\n\t\t\t So I said to him, \"My lord, you know the answer.\" Then he said to me, \"These are the ones who have come out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb! \n\t\t\t For this reason they are before the throne of God, and they serve him day and night in his temple, and the one seated on the throne will shelter them.\n\t\t\t They will never go hungry or be thirsty again, and the sun will not beat down on them, nor any burning heat,\n\t\t\t because the Lamb in the middle of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Now when the Lamb opened the seventh seal there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. \n\t\t\t Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. \n\t\t\t Another angel holding a golden censer came and was stationed at the altar. A large amount of incense was given to him to offer up, with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar that is before the throne. \n\t\t\t The smoke coming from the incense, along with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel's hand. \n\t\t\t Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it on the earth, and there were crashes of thunder, roaring, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake.\n\t\t\t Now the seven angels holding the seven trumpets prepared to blow them.\n\t\t\t The first angel blew his trumpet, and there was hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was thrown at the earth so that a third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.\n\t\t\t Then the second angel blew his trumpet, and something like a great mountain of burning fire was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea became blood, \n\t\t\t and a third of the creatures living in the sea died, and a third of the ships were completely destroyed.\n\t\t\t Then the third angel blew his trumpet, and a huge star burning like a torch fell from the sky; it landed on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. \n\t\t\t (Now the name of the star is Wormwood.) So a third of the waters became wormwood, and many people died from these waters because they were poisoned.\n\t\t\t Then the fourth angel blew his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, and a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them were darkened. And there was no light for a third of the day and for a third of the night likewise. \n\t\t\t Then I looked, and I heard an eagle flying directly overhead, proclaiming with a loud voice, \"Woe! Woe! Woe to those who live on the earth because of the remaining sounds of the trumpets of the three angels who are about to blow them!\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then the fifth angel blew his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from the sky to the earth, and he was given the key to the shaft of the abyss.\n\t\t\t He opened the shaft of the abyss and smoke rose out of it like smoke from a giant furnace. The sun and the air were darkened with smoke from the shaft. \n\t\t\t Then out of the smoke came locusts onto the earth, and they were given power like that of the scorpions of the earth. \n\t\t\t They were told not to damage the grass of the earth, or any green plant or tree, but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their forehead. \n\t\t\t The locusts were not given permission to kill them, but only to torture them for five months, and their torture was like that of a scorpion when it stings a person.\n\t\t\t In those days people will seek death, but will not be able to find it; they will long to die, but death will flee from them.\n\t\t\t Now the locusts looked like horses equipped for battle. On their heads were something like crowns similar to gold, and their faces looked like men's faces. \n\t\t\t They had hair like women's hair, and their teeth were like lions' teeth. \n\t\t\t They had breastplates like iron breastplates, and the sound of their wings was like the noise of many horse-drawn chariots charging into battle. \n\t\t\t They have tails and stingers like scorpions, and their ability to injure people for five months is in their tails. \n\t\t\t They have as king over them the angel of the abyss, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek, Apollyon.\n\t\t\t The first woe has passed, but two woes are still coming after these things!\n\t\t\t Then the sixth angel blew his trumpet, and I heard a single voice coming from the horns on the golden altar that is before God, \n\t\t\t saying to the sixth angel, the one holding the trumpet, \"Set free the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates!\"\n\t\t\t Then the four angels who had been prepared for this hour, day, month, and year were set free to kill a third of humanity. \n\t\t\t The number of soldiers on horseback was two hundred million; I heard their number. \n\t\t\t Now this is what the horses and their riders looked like in my vision: The riders had breastplates that were fiery red, dark blue, and sulfurous yellow in color. The heads of the horses looked like lions' heads, and fire, smoke, and sulfur came out of their mouths.\n\t\t\t A third of humanity was killed by these three plagues, that is, by the fire, the smoke, and the sulfur that came out of their mouths. \n\t\t\t For the power of the horses resides in their mouths and in their tails, because their tails are like snakes, having heads that inflict injuries. \n\t\t\t The rest of humanity, who had not been killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, so that they did not stop worshiping demons and idols made of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood, idols that cannot see or hear or walk about.\n\t\t\t Furthermore, they did not repent of their murders, of their magic spells, of their sexual immorality, or of their stealing.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then I saw another powerful angel descending from heaven, wrapped in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head; his face was like the sun and his legs were like pillars of fire.\n\t\t\t He held in his hand a little scroll that was open, and he put his right foot on the sea and his left on the land. \n\t\t\t Then he shouted in a loud voice like a lion roaring, and when he shouted, the seven thunders sounded their voices. \n\t\t\t When the seven thunders spoke, I was preparing to write, but just then I heard a voice from heaven say, \"Seal up what the seven thunders spoke and do not write it down.\" \n\t\t\t Then the angel I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven \n\t\t\t and swore by the one who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and what is in it, and the earth and what is in it, and the sea and what is in it, \"There will be no more delay!\n\t\t\t But in the days when the seventh angel is about to blow his trumpet, the mystery of God is completed, just as he has proclaimed to his servants the prophets.\" \n\t\t\t Then the voice I had heard from heaven began to speak to me again, \"Go and take the open scroll in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.\" \n\t\t\t So I went to the angel and asked him to give me the little scroll. He said to me, \"Take the scroll and eat it. It will make your stomach bitter, but it will be as sweet as honey in your mouth.\" \n\t\t\t So I took the little scroll from the angel's hand and ate it, and it did taste as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach became bitter. \n\t\t\t Then they told me: \"You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages, and kings.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then a measuring rod like a staff was given to me, and I was told, \"Get up and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and the ones who worship there. \n\t\t\t But do not measure the outer courtyard of the temple; leave it out, because it has been given to the Gentiles, and they will trample on the holy city for forty-two months. \n\t\t\t And I will grant my two witnesses authority to prophesy for 1,260 days, dressed in sackcloth. \n\t\t\t (These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.)\n\t\t\t If anyone wants to harm them, fire comes out of their mouths and completely consumes their enemies. If anyone wants to harm them, they must be killed this way. \n\t\t\t These two have the power to close up the sky so that it does not rain during the time they are prophesying. They have power to turn the waters to blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague whenever they want. \n\t\t\t When they have completed their testimony, the beast that comes up from the abyss will make war on them and conquer them and kill them. \n\t\t\t Their corpses will lie in the street of the great city that is symbolically called Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was also crucified. \n\t\t\t For three and a half days those from every people, tribe, nation, and language will look at their corpses, because they will not permit them to be placed in a tomb.\n\t\t\t And those who live on the earth will rejoice over them and celebrate, even sending gifts to each other, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth.\n\t\t\t But after three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and tremendous fear seized those who were watching them. \n\t\t\t Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them: \"Come up here!\" So the two prophets went up to heaven in a cloud while their enemies stared at them.\n\t\t\t Just then a major earthquake took place and a tenth of the city collapsed; seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.\n\t\t\t The second woe has come and gone; the third is coming quickly.\n\t\t\t Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven saying: \"The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever.\"\n\t\t\t Then the twenty-four elders who are seated on their thrones before God threw themselves down with their faces to the ground and worshiped God \n\t\t\t with these words: \"We give you thanks, Lord God, the All-Powerful, the one who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and begun to reign.\n\t\t\t The nations were enraged, but your wrath has come, and the time has come for the dead to be judged, and the time has come to give to your servants, the prophets, their reward, as well as to the saints and to those who revere your name, both small and great, and the time has come to destroy those who destroy the earth.\"\n\t\t\t Then the temple of God in heaven was opened and the ark of his covenant was visible within his temple. And there were flashes of lightning, roaring, crashes of thunder, an earthquake, and a great hailstorm.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and with the moon under her feet, and on her head was a crown of twelve stars.\n\t\t\t She was pregnant and was screaming in labor pains, struggling to give birth. \n\t\t\t Then another sign appeared in heaven: a huge red dragon that had seven heads and ten horns, and on its heads were seven diadem crowns.\n\t\t\t Now the dragon's tail swept away a third of the stars in heaven and hurled them to the earth. Then the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that he might devour her child as soon as it was born. \n\t\t\t So the woman gave birth to a son, a male child, who is going to rule over all the nations with an iron rod. Her child was suddenly caught up to God and to his throne, \n\t\t\t and she fled into the wilderness where a place had been prepared for her by God, so she could be taken care of for 1,260 days.\n\t\t\t Then war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. \n\t\t\t But the dragon was not strong enough to prevail, so there was no longer any place left in heaven for him and his angels.\n\t\t\t So that huge dragon, the ancient serpent, the one called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world, was thrown down to the earth, and his angels along with him.\n\t\t\t Then I heard a loud voice in heaven saying, \"The salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the ruling authority of his Christ, have now come, because the accuser of our brothers and sisters, the one who accuses them day and night before our God, has been thrown down.\n\t\t\t But they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die.\n\t\t\t Therefore you heavens rejoice, and all who reside in them! But woe to the earth and the sea because the devil has come down to you! He is filled with terrible anger, for he knows that he only has a little time!\"\n\t\t\t Now when the dragon realized that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. \n\t\t\t But the woman was given the two wings of a giant eagle so that she could fly out into the wilderness, to the place God prepared for her, where she is taken care of, away from the presence of the serpent, for a time, times, and half a time.\n\t\t\t Then the serpent spouted water like a river out of his mouth after the woman in an attempt to sweep her away by a flood, \n\t\t\t but the earth came to her rescue; the ground opened up and swallowed the river that the dragon had spewed from his mouth. \n\t\t\t So the dragon became enraged at the woman and went away to make war on the rest of her children, those who keep God's commandments and hold to the testimony about Jesus.\n\t\t\t And the dragon stood on the sand of the seashore.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads, and on its horns were ten diadem crowns, and on its heads a blasphemous name.\n\t\t\t Now the beast that I saw was like a leopard, but its feet were like a bear's, and its mouth was like a lion's mouth. The dragon gave the beast his power, his throne, and great authority to rule.\n\t\t\t One of the beast's heads appeared to have been killed, but the lethal wound had been healed. And the whole world followed the beast in amazement; \n\t\t\t they worshiped the dragon because he had given ruling authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast too, saying: \"Who is like the beast?\" and \"Who is able to make war against him?\"\n\t\t\t The beast was given a mouth speaking proud words and blasphemies, and he was permitted to exercise ruling authority for forty-two months. \n\t\t\t So the beast opened his mouth to blaspheme against God, to blaspheme both his name and his dwelling place, that is, those who dwell in heaven.\n\t\t\t The beast was permitted to go to war against the saints and conquer them. He was given ruling authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation, \n\t\t\t and all those who live on the earth will worship the beast, everyone whose name has not been written since the foundation of the world in the book of life belonging to the Lamb who was killed.\n\t\t\t If anyone has an ear, he had better listen!\n\t\t\t If anyone is meant for captivity, into captivity he will go. If anyone is to be killed by the sword, then by the sword he must be killed. This requires steadfast endurance and faith from the saints.\n\t\t\t Then I saw another beast coming up from the earth. He had two horns like a lamb, but was speaking like a dragon. \n\t\t\t He exercised all the ruling authority of the first beast on his behalf, and made the earth and those who inhabit it worship the first beast, the one whose lethal wound had been healed. \n\t\t\t He performed momentous signs, even making fire come down from heaven in front of people\n\t\t\t and, by the signs he was permitted to perform on behalf of the beast, he deceived those who live on the earth. He told those who live on the earth to make an image to the beast who had been wounded by the sword, but still lived. \n\t\t\t The second beast was empowered to give life to the image of the first beast so that it could speak, and could cause all those who did not worship the image of the beast to be killed. \n\t\t\t He also caused everyone (small and great, rich and poor, free and slave) to obtain a mark on their right hand or on their forehead.\n\t\t\t Thus no one was allowed to buy or sell things unless he bore the mark of the beast, that is, his name or his number.\n\t\t\t This calls for wisdom: Let the one who has insight calculate the beast's number, for it is man's number, and his number is 666.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then I looked, and here was the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with him were one hundred and forty-four thousand, who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads. \n\t\t\t I also heard a sound coming out of heaven like the sound of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder. Now the sound I heard was like that made by harpists playing their harps,\n\t\t\t and they were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one was able to learn the song except the one hundred and forty-four thousand who had been redeemed from the earth.\n\t\t\t These are the ones who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These were redeemed from humanity as firstfruits to God and to the Lamb, \n\t\t\t and no lie was found on their lips; they are blameless.\n\t\t\t Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, and he had an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth, to every nation, tribe, language, and people.\n\t\t\t He declared in a loud voice: \"Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has arrived, and worship the one who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water!\"\n\t\t\t A second angel followed the first, declaring: \"Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great city! She made all the nations drink of the wine of her immoral passion.\"\n\t\t\t A third angel followed the first two, declaring in a loud voice: \"If anyone worships the beast and his image, and takes the mark on his forehead or his hand,\n\t\t\t that person will also drink of the wine of God's anger that has been mixed undiluted in the cup of his wrath, and he will be tortured with fire and sulfur in front of the holy angels and in front of the Lamb. \n\t\t\t And the smoke from their torture will go up forever and ever, and those who worship the beast and his image will have no rest day or night, along with anyone who receives the mark of his name.\" \n\t\t\t This requires the steadfast endurance of the saints, those who obey God's commandments and hold to their faith in Jesus.\n\t\t\t Then I heard a voice from heaven say, \"Write this: 'Blessed are the dead, those who die in the Lord from this moment on!'\" \"Yes,\" says the Spirit, \"so they can rest from their hard work, because their deeds will follow them.\"\n\t\t\t Then I looked, and a white cloud appeared, and seated on the cloud was one like a son of man! He had a golden crown on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. \n\t\t\t Then another angel came out of the temple, shouting in a loud voice to the one seated on the cloud, \"Use your sickle and start to reap, because the time to reap has come, since the earth's harvest is ripe!\" \n\t\t\t So the one seated on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was reaped.\n\t\t\t Then another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle. \n\t\t\t Another angel, who was in charge of the fire, came from the altar and called in a loud voice to the angel who had the sharp sickle, \"Use your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of grapes off the vine of the earth, because its grapes are now ripe.\"\n\t\t\t So the angel swung his sickle over the earth and gathered the grapes from the vineyard of the earth and tossed them into the great winepress of the wrath of God. \n\t\t\t Then the winepress was stomped outside the city, and blood poured out of the winepress up to the height of horses' bridles for a distance of almost two hundred miles.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then I saw another great and astounding sign in heaven: seven angels who have seven final plagues (they are final because in them God's anger is completed).\n\t\t\t Then I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who had conquered the beast and his image and the number of his name. They were standing by the sea of glass, holding harps given to them by God.\n\t\t\t They sang the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb: \"Great and astounding are your deeds, Lord God, the All-Powerful! Just and true are your ways, King over the nations!\n\t\t\t Who will not fear you, O Lord, and glorify your name, because you alone are holy? All nations will come and worship before you for your righteous acts have been revealed.\"\n\t\t\t After these things I looked, and the temple (the tent of the testimony) was opened in heaven, \n\t\t\t and the seven angels who had the seven plagues came out of the temple, dressed in clean bright linen, wearing wide golden belts around their chests. \n\t\t\t Then one of the four living creatures gave the seven angels seven golden bowls filled with the wrath of God who lives forever and ever, \n\t\t\t and the temple was filled with smoke from God's glory and from his power. Thus no one could enter the temple until the seven plagues from the seven angels were completed.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then I heard a loud voice from the temple declaring to the seven angels: \"Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls containing God's wrath.\"\n\t\t\t So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth. Then ugly and painful sores appeared on the people who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped his image.\n\t\t\t Next, the second angel poured out his bowl on the sea and it turned into blood, like that of a corpse, and every living creature that was in the sea died.\n\t\t\t Then the third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and the springs of water, and they turned into blood. \n\t\t\t Now I heard the angel of the waters saying: \"You are just, the one who is and who was, the Holy One, because you have passed these judgments,\n\t\t\t because they poured out the blood of your saints and prophets, so you have given them blood to drink. They got what they deserved!\"\n\t\t\t Then I heard the altar reply, \"Yes, Lord God, the All-Powerful, your judgments are true and just!\"\n\t\t\t Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was permitted to scorch people with fire. \n\t\t\t Thus people were scorched by the terrible heat, yet they blasphemed the name of God, who has ruling authority over these plagues, and they would not repent and give him glory.\n\t\t\t Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast so that darkness covered his kingdom, and people began to bite their tongues because of their pain. \n\t\t\t They blasphemed the God of heaven because of their sufferings and because of their sores, but nevertheless they still refused to repent of their deeds.\n\t\t\t Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates and dried up its water to prepare the way for the kings from the east.\n\t\t\t Then I saw three unclean spirits that looked like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. \n\t\t\t For they are the spirits of the demons performing signs who go out to the kings of the earth to bring them together for the battle that will take place on the great day of God, the All-Powerful.\n\t\t\t (Look! I will come like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays alert and does not lose his clothes so that he will not have to walk around naked and his shameful condition be seen.)\n\t\t\t Now the spirits gathered the kings and their armies to the place that is called Armageddon in Hebrew.\n\t\t\t Finally the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air and a loud voice came out of the temple from the throne, saying: \"It is done!\" \n\t\t\t Then there were flashes of lightning, roaring, and crashes of thunder, and there was a tremendous earthquake, an earthquake unequaled since humanity has been on the earth, so tremendous was that earthquake.\n\t\t\t The great city was split into three parts and the cities of the nations collapsed. So Babylon the great was remembered before God, and was given the cup filled with the wine made of God's furious wrath.\n\t\t\t Every island fled away and no mountains could be found.\n\t\t\t And gigantic hailstones, weighing about a hundred pounds each, fell from heaven on people, but they blasphemed God because of the plague of hail, since it was so horrendous.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and spoke to me. \"Come,\" he said, \"I will show you the condemnation and punishment of the great prostitute who sits on many waters, \n\t\t\t with whom the kings of the earth committed sexual immorality and the earth's inhabitants got drunk with the wine of her immorality.\"\n\t\t\t So he carried me away in the Spirit to a wilderness, and there I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was full of blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. \n\t\t\t Now the woman was dressed in purple and scarlet clothing, and adorned with gold, precious stones, and pearls. She held in her hand a golden cup filled with detestable things and unclean things from her sexual immorality.\n\t\t\t On her forehead was written a name, a mystery: \"Babylon the Great, the Mother of prostitutes and of the detestable things of the earth.\" \n\t\t\t I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints and the blood of those who testified to Jesus. I was greatly astounded when I saw her. \n\t\t\t But the angel said to me, \"Why are you astounded? I will interpret for you the mystery of the woman and of the beast with the seven heads and ten horns that carries her. \n\t\t\t The beast you saw was, and is not, but is about to come up from the abyss and then go to destruction. The inhabitants of the earth, all those whose names have not been written in the book of life since the foundation of the world, will be astounded when they see that the beast was, and is not, but is to come.\n\t\t\t (This requires a mind that has wisdom.) The seven heads are seven mountains the woman sits on. They are also seven kings: \n\t\t\t five have fallen; one is, and the other has not yet come, but whenever he does come, he must remain for only a brief time. \n\t\t\t The beast that was, and is not, is himself an eighth king and yet is one of the seven, and is going to destruction. \n\t\t\t The ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but will receive ruling authority as kings with the beast for one hour. \n\t\t\t These kings have a single intent, and they will give their power and authority to the beast. \n\t\t\t They will make war with the Lamb, but the Lamb will conquer them, because he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those accompanying the Lamb are the called, chosen, and faithful.\"\n\t\t\t Then the angel said to me, \"The waters you saw (where the prostitute is seated) are peoples, multitudes, nations, and languages. \n\t\t\t The ten horns that you saw, and the beast, these will hate the prostitute and make her desolate and naked. They will consume her flesh and burn her up with fire.\n\t\t\t For God has put into their minds to carry out his purpose by making a decision to give their royal power to the beast until the words of God are fulfilled.\n\t\t\t As for the woman you saw, she is the great city that has sovereignty over the kings of the earth.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t After these things I saw another angel, who possessed great authority, coming down out of heaven, and the earth was lit up by his radiance.\n\t\t\t He shouted with a powerful voice: \"Fallen, fallen, is Babylon the great! She has become a lair for demons, a haunt for every unclean spirit, a haunt for every unclean bird, a haunt for every unclean and detested beast.\n\t\t\t For all the nations have fallen from the wine of her immoral passion, and the kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have gotten rich from the power of her sensual behavior.\"\n\t\t\t Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, \"Come out of her, my people, so you will not take part in her sins and so you will not receive her plagues, \n\t\t\t because her sins have piled up all the way to heaven and God has remembered her crimes.\n\t\t\t Repay her the same way she repaid others; pay her back double corresponding to her deeds. In the cup she mixed, mix double the amount for her. \n\t\t\t As much as she exalted herself and lived in sensual luxury, to this extent give her torment and grief because she said to herself, 'I rule as queen and am no widow; I will never experience grief!' \n\t\t\t For this reason, she will experience her plagues in a single day: disease, mourning, and famine, and she will be burned down with fire, because the Lord God who judges her is powerful!\"\n\t\t\t Then the kings of the earth who committed immoral acts with her and lived in sensual luxury with her will weep and wail for her when they see the smoke from the fire that burns her up.\n\t\t\t They will stand a long way off because they are afraid of her torment, and will say, \"Woe, woe, O great city, Babylon the powerful city! For in a single hour your doom has come!\"\n\t\t\t Then the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn for her because no one buys their cargo any longer,\n\t\t\t cargo such as gold, silver, precious stones, pearls, fine linen, purple cloth, silk, scarlet cloth, all sorts of things made of citron wood, all sorts of objects made of ivory, all sorts of things made of expensive wood, bronze, iron and marble, \n\t\t\t cinnamon, spice, incense, perfumed ointment, frankincense, wine, olive oil and costly flour, wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and four-wheeled carriages, slaves and human lives.\n\t\t\t (The ripe fruit you greatly desired has gone from you, and all your luxury and splendor have gone from you, they will never ever be found again!)\n\t\t\t The merchants who sold these things, who got rich from her, will stand a long way off because they are afraid of her torment. They will weep and mourn, \n\t\t\t saying, \"Woe, woe, O great city, dressed in fine linen, purple and scarlet clothing, and adorned with gold, precious stones, and pearls,\n\t\t\t because in a single hour such great wealth has been destroyed!\" And every ship's captain, and all who sail along the coast, seamen, and all who make their living from the sea, stood a long way off\n\t\t\t and began to shout when they saw the smoke from the fire that burned her up, \"Who is like the great city?\" \n\t\t\t And they threw dust on their heads and were shouting with weeping and mourning, \"Woe, Woe, O great city, in which all those who had ships on the sea got rich from her wealth, because in a single hour she has been destroyed!\"\n\t\t\t (Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints and apostles and prophets, for God has pronounced judgment against her on your behalf!)\n\t\t\t Then one powerful angel picked up a stone like a huge millstone, threw it into the sea, and said, \"With this kind of sudden violent force Babylon the great city will be thrown down and it will never be found again!\n\t\t\t And the sound of the harpists, musicians, flute players, and trumpeters will never be heard in you again. No craftsman who practices any trade will ever be found in you again; the noise of a mill will never be heard in you again.\n\t\t\t Even the light from a lamp will never shine in you again! The voices of the bridegroom and his bride will never be heard in you again. For your merchants were the tycoons of the world, because all the nations were deceived by your magic spells!\n\t\t\t The blood of the saints and prophets was found in her, along with the blood of all those who had been killed on the earth.\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t After these things I heard what sounded like the loud voice of a vast throng in heaven, saying, \"Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God,\n\t\t\t because his judgments are true and just. For he has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her sexual immorality, and has avenged the blood of his servants poured out by her own hands!\"\n\t\t\t Then a second time the crowd shouted, \"Hallelujah!\" The smoke rises from her forever and ever.\n\t\t\t The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures threw themselves to the ground and worshiped God, who was seated on the throne, saying: \"Amen! Hallelujah!\"\n\t\t\t Then a voice came from the throne, saying: \"Praise our God all you his servants, and all you who fear Him, both the small and the great!\"\n\t\t\t Then I heard what sounded like the voice of a vast throng, like the roar of many waters and like loud crashes of thunder. They were shouting: \"Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the All-Powerful, reigns!\n\t\t\t Let us rejoice and exult and give him glory, because the wedding celebration of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.\n\t\t\t She was permitted to be dressed in bright, clean, fine linen\" (for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints).\n\t\t\t Then the angel said to me, \"Write the following: Blessed are those who are invited to the banquet at the wedding celebration of the Lamb!\" He also said to me, \"These are the true words of God.\" \n\t\t\t So I threw myself down at his feet to worship him, but he said, \"Do not do this! I am only a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony about Jesus. Worship God, for the testimony about Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.\"\n\t\t\t Then I saw heaven opened and here came a white horse! The one riding it was called \"Faithful\" and \"True,\" and with justice he judges and goes to war. \n\t\t\t His eyes are like a fiery flame and there are many diadem crowns on his head. He has a name written that no one knows except himself. \n\t\t\t He is dressed in clothing dipped in blood, and he is called the Word of God. \n\t\t\t The armies that are in heaven, dressed in white, clean, fine linen, were following him on white horses. \n\t\t\t From his mouth extends a sharp sword, so that with it he can strike the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod, and he stomps the winepress of the furious wrath of God, the All-Powerful.\n\t\t\t He has a name written on his clothing and on his thigh: \"King of kings and Lord of lords.\"\n\t\t\t Then I saw one angel standing in the sun, and he shouted in a loud voice to all the birds flying high in the sky: \"Come, gather around for the great banquet of God,\n\t\t\t to eat your fill of the flesh of kings, the flesh of generals, the flesh of powerful people, the flesh of horses and those who ride them, and the flesh of all people, both free and slave, and small and great!\"\n\t\t\t Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies assembled to do battle with the one who rode the horse and with his army. \n\t\t\t Now the beast was seized, and along with him the false prophet who had performed the signs on his behalf, signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. Both of them were thrown alive into the lake of fire burning with sulfur.\n\t\t\t The others were killed by the sword that extended from the mouth of the one who rode the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves with their flesh.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then I saw an angel descending from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the abyss and a huge chain. \n\t\t\t He seized the dragon, the ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and tied him up for a thousand years.\n\t\t\t The angel then threw him into the abyss and locked and sealed it so that he could not deceive the nations until the one thousand years were finished. (After these things he must be released for a brief period of time.)\n\t\t\t Then I saw thrones and seated on them were those who had been given authority to judge. I also saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of the testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. These had not worshiped the beast or his image and had refused to receive his mark on their forehead or hand. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. \n\t\t\t (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were finished.) This is the first resurrection. \n\t\t\t Blessed and holy is the one who takes part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.\n\t\t\t Now when the thousand years are finished, Satan will be released from his prison \n\t\t\t and will go out to deceive the nations at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to bring them together for the battle. They are as numerous as the grains of sand in the sea.\n\t\t\t They went up on the broad plain of the earth and encircled the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and devoured them completely.\n\t\t\t And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet are too, and they will be tormented there day and night forever and ever.\n\t\t\t Then I saw a large white throne and the one who was seated on it; the earth and the heaven fled from his presence, and no place was found for them. \n\t\t\t And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne. Then books were opened, and another book was opened, the book of life. So the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to their deeds.\n\t\t\t The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and Death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each one was judged according to his deeds. \n\t\t\t Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.\n\t\t\t If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, that person was thrown into the lake of fire.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and earth had ceased to exist, and the sea existed no more. \n\t\t\t And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, made ready like a bride adorned for her husband.\n\t\t\t And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying: \"Look! The residence of God is among human beings. He will live among them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them.\n\t\t\t He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death will not exist any more, or mourning, or crying, or pain, for the former things have ceased to exist.\"\n\t\t\t And the one seated on the throne said: \"Look! I am making all things new!\" Then he said to me, \"Write it down, because these words are reliable and true.\"\n\t\t\t He also said to me, \"It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the one who is thirsty I will give water free of charge from the spring of the water of life.\n\t\t\t The one who conquers will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be my son. \n\t\t\t But to the cowards, unbelievers, detestable persons, murderers, the sexually immoral, and those who practice magic spells, idol worshipers, and all those who lie, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. That is the second death.\"\n\t\t\t Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven final plagues came and spoke to me, saying, \"Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb!\" \n\t\t\t So he took me away in the Spirit to a huge, majestic mountain and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God. \n\t\t\t The city possesses the glory of God; its brilliance is like a precious jewel, like a stone of crystal-clear jasper.\n\t\t\t It has a massive, high wall with twelve gates, with twelve angels at the gates, and the names of the twelve tribes of the nation of Israel are written on the gates.\n\t\t\t There are three gates on the east side, three gates on the north side, three gates on the south side and three gates on the west side.\n\t\t\t The wall of the city has twelve foundations, and on them are the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.\n\t\t\t The angel who spoke to me had a golden measuring rod with which to measure the city and its foundation stones and wall. \n\t\t\t Now the city is laid out as a square, its length and width the same. He measured the city with the measuring rod at fourteen hundred miles (its length and width and height are equal). \n\t\t\t He also measured its wall, one hundred forty-four cubits according to human measurement, which is also the angel's.\n\t\t\t The city's wall is made of jasper and the city is pure gold, like transparent glass.\n\t\t\t The foundations of the city's wall are decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation is jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, \n\t\t\t the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. \n\t\t\t And the twelve gates are twelve pearls, each one of the gates is made from just one pearl! The main street of the city is pure gold, like transparent glass.\n\t\t\t Now I saw no temple in the city, because the Lord God, the All-Powerful, and the Lamb are its temple.\n\t\t\t The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, because the glory of God lights it up, and its lamp is the Lamb.\n\t\t\t The nations will walk by its light and the kings of the earth will bring their grandeur into it. \n\t\t\t Its gates will never be closed during the day (and there will be no night there).\n\t\t\t They will bring the grandeur and the wealth of the nations into it, \n\t\t\t but nothing ritually unclean will ever enter into it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or practices falsehood, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life.\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, water as clear as crystal, pouring out from the throne of God and of the Lamb,\n\t\t\t flowing down the middle of the city's main street. On each side of the river is the tree of life producing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month of the year. Its leaves are for the healing of the nations. \n\t\t\t And there will no longer be any curse, and the throne of God and the Lamb will be in the city. His servants will worship him, \n\t\t\t and they will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.\n\t\t\t Night will be no more, and they will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, because the Lord God will shine on them, and they will reign forever and ever.\n\t\t\t Then the angel said to me, \"These words are reliable and true. The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must happen soon.\"\n\t\t\t (Look! I am coming soon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy expressed in this book.)\n\t\t\t I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things, and when I heard and saw them, I threw myself down to worship at the feet of the angel who was showing them to me. \n\t\t\t But he said to me, \"Do not do this! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers the prophets, and with those who obey the words of this book. Worship God!\"\n\t\t\t Then he said to me, \"Do not seal up the words of the prophecy contained in this book, because the time is near. \n\t\t\t The evildoer must continue to do evil, and the one who is morally filthy must continue to be filthy. The one who is righteous must continue to act righteously, and the one who is holy must continue to be holy.\"\n\t\t\t (Look! I am coming soon, and my reward is with me to pay each one according to what he has done!\n\t\t\t I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end!)\n\t\t\t Blessed are those who wash their robes so they can have access to the tree of life and can enter into the city by the gates. \n\t\t\t Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the sexually immoral, and the murderers, and the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood!\n\t\t\t \"I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star!\"\n\t\t\t And the Spirit and the bride say, \"Come!\" And let the one who hears say: \"Come!\" And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wants it take the water of life free of charge.\n\t\t\t I testify to the one who hears the words of the prophecy contained in this book: If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. \n\t\t\t And if anyone takes away from the words of this book of prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city that are described in this book.\n\t\t\t The one who testifies to these things says, \"Yes, I am coming soon!\" Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!\n\t\t\t The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all.\n\t\t\n\t\n\n"
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"path": "Quelea/bibles/rsv.xml",
"content": "\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, \r\n\t\t\t the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. \r\n\t\t\t Then God said, \"Let there be light\"; and there was light.\r\n\t\t\t And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness.\r\n\t\t\t God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.\r\n\t\t\t And God said, \"Let there be a dome in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.\"\r\n\t\t\t So God made the dome and separated the waters that were under the dome from the waters that were above the dome. And it was so.\r\n\t\t\t God called the dome Sky. And there was evening and there was morning, the second day.\r\n\t\t\t And God said, \"Let the waters under the sky be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.\" And it was so.\r\n\t\t\t God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good.\r\n\t\t\t Then God said, \"Let the earth put forth vegetation: plants yielding seed, and fruit trees of every kind on earth that bear fruit with the seed in it.\" And it was so.\r\n\t\t\t The earth brought forth vegetation: plants yielding seed of every kind, and trees of every kind bearing fruit with the seed in it. And God saw that it was good.\r\n\t\t\t And there was evening and there was morning, the third day.\r\n\t\t\t And God said, \"Let there be lights in the dome of the sky to separate the day from the night; and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years,\r\n\t\t\t and let them be lights in the dome of the sky to give light upon the earth.\" And it was so.\r\n\t\t\t God made the two great lights-- the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night-- and the stars.\r\n\t\t\t God set them in the dome of the sky to give light upon the earth,\r\n\t\t\t to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good.\r\n\t\t\t And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day.\r\n\t\t\t And God said, \"Let the waters bring forth swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the dome of the sky.\"\r\n\t\t\t So God created the great sea monsters and every living creature that moves, of every kind, with which the waters swarm, and every winged bird of every kind. And God saw that it was good.\r\n\t\t\t God blessed them, saying, \"Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.\"\r\n\t\t\t And there was evening and there was morning, the fifth day.\r\n\t\t\t And God said, \"Let the earth bring forth living creatures of every kind: cattle and creeping things and wild animals of the earth of every kind.\" And it was so.\r\n\t\t\t God made the wild animals of the earth of every kind, and the cattle of every kind, and everything that creeps upon the ground of every kind. And God saw that it was good.\r\n\t\t\t Then God said, \"Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.\" \r\n\t\t\t So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. \r\n\t\t\t God blessed them, and God said to them, \"Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.\"\r\n\t\t\t God said, \"See, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit; you shall have them for food.\r\n\t\t\t And to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.\" And it was so.\r\n\t\t\t God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all their multitude.\r\n\t\t\t And on the seventh day God finished the work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done.\r\n\t\t\t So God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it God rested from all the work that he had done in creation.\r\n\t\t\t These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created. In the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens,\r\n\t\t\t when no plant of the field was yet in the earth and no herb of the field had yet sprung up-- for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was no one to till the ground;\r\n\t\t\t but a stream would rise from the earth, and water the whole face of the ground--\r\n\t\t\t then the LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living being. \r\n\t\t\t And the LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east; and there he put the man whom he had formed.\r\n\t\t\t Out of the ground the LORD God made to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food, the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.\r\n\t\t\t A river flows out of Eden to water the garden, and from there it divides and becomes four branches.\r\n\t\t\t The name of the first is Pishon; it is the one that flows around the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold;\r\n\t\t\t and the gold of that land is good; bdellium and onyx stone are there.\r\n\t\t\t The name of the second river is Gihon; it is the one that flows around the whole land of Cush.\r\n\t\t\t The name of the third river is Tigris, which flows east of Assyria. And the fourth river is the Euphrates.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it.\r\n\t\t\t And the LORD God commanded the man, \"You may freely eat of every tree of the garden;\r\n\t\t\t but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall die.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD God said, \"It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper as his partner.\"\r\n\t\t\t So out of the ground the LORD God formed every animal of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name.\r\n\t\t\t The man gave names to all cattle, and to the birds of the air, and to every animal of the field; but for the man there was not found a helper as his partner. \r\n\t\t\t So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then he took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh.\r\n\t\t\t And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man.\r\n\t\t\t Then the man said, \"This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; this one shall be called Woman, for out of Man this one was taken.\" \r\n\t\t\t Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and clings to his wife, and they become one flesh.\r\n\t\t\t And the man and his wife were both naked, and were not ashamed.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now the serpent was more crafty than any other wild animal that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, \"Did God say, 'You shall not eat from any tree in the garden'?\"\r\n\t\t\t The woman said to the serpent, \"We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden;\r\n\t\t\t but God said, 'You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden, nor shall you touch it, or you shall die.'\"\r\n\t\t\t But the serpent said to the woman, \"You will not die;\r\n\t\t\t for God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.\" \r\n\t\t\t So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate.\r\n\t\t\t Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves.\r\n\t\t\t They heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.\r\n\t\t\t But the LORD God called to the man, and said to him, \"Where are you?\"\r\n\t\t\t He said, \"I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.\"\r\n\t\t\t He said, \"Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?\"\r\n\t\t\t The man said, \"The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD God said to the woman, \"What is this that you have done?\" The woman said, \"The serpent tricked me, and I ate.\"\r\n\t\t\t The LORD God said to the serpent, \"Because you have done this, cursed are you among all animals and among all wild creatures; upon your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life.\r\n\t\t\t I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.\"\r\n\t\t\t To the woman he said, \"I will greatly increase your pangs in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children, yet your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.\"\r\n\t\t\t And to the man he said, \"Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten of the tree about which I commanded you, 'You shall not eat of it,' cursed is the ground because of you; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life; \r\n\t\t\t thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field.\r\n\t\t\t By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; you are dust, and to dust you shall return.\"\r\n\t\t\t The man named his wife Eve, because she was the mother of all living. \r\n\t\t\t And the LORD God made garments of skins for the man and for his wife, and clothed them. \r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD God said, \"See, the man has become like one of us, knowing good and evil; and now, he might reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever\"--\r\n\t\t\t therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from which he was taken.\r\n\t\t\t He drove out the man; and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim, and a sword flaming and turning to guard the way to the tree of life.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now the man knew his wife Eve, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, \"I have produced a man with the help of the LORD.\" \r\n\t\t\t Next she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a tiller of the ground.\r\n\t\t\t In the course of time Cain brought to the LORD an offering of the fruit of the ground,\r\n\t\t\t and Abel for his part brought of the firstlings of his flock, their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and his offering,\r\n\t\t\t but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Cain, \"Why are you angry, and why has your countenance fallen?\r\n\t\t\t If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is lurking at the door; its desire is for you, but you must master it.\"\r\n\t\t\t Cain said to his brother Abel, \"Let us go out to the field.\" And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel, and killed him. \r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD said to Cain, \"Where is your brother Abel?\" He said, \"I do not know; am I my brother's keeper?\"\r\n\t\t\t And the LORD said, \"What have you done? Listen; your brother's blood is crying out to me from the ground!\r\n\t\t\t And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand.\r\n\t\t\t When you till the ground, it will no longer yield to you its strength; you will be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth.\"\r\n\t\t\t Cain said to the LORD, \"My punishment is greater than I can bear!\r\n\t\t\t Today you have driven me away from the soil, and I shall be hidden from your face; I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and anyone who meets me may kill me.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD said to him, \"Not so! Whoever kills Cain will suffer a sevenfold vengeance.\" And the LORD put a mark on Cain, so that no one who came upon him would kill him. \r\n\t\t\t Then Cain went away from the presence of the LORD, and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden. \r\n\t\t\t Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch; and he built a city, and named it Enoch after his son Enoch.\r\n\t\t\t To Enoch was born Irad; and Irad was the father of Mehujael, and Mehujael the father of Methushael, and Methushael the father of Lamech.\r\n\t\t\t Lamech took two wives; the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.\r\n\t\t\t Adah bore Jabal; he was the ancestor of those who live in tents and have livestock.\r\n\t\t\t His brother's name was Jubal; he was the ancestor of all those who play the lyre and pipe.\r\n\t\t\t Zillah bore Tubal-cain, who made all kinds of bronze and iron tools. The sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah.\r\n\t\t\t Lamech said to his wives: \"Adah and Zillah, hear my voice; you wives of Lamech, listen to what I say: I have killed a man for wounding me, a young man for striking me.\r\n\t\t\t If Cain is avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy-sevenfold.\"\r\n\t\t\t Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and named him Seth, for she said, \"God has appointed for me another child instead of Abel, because Cain killed him.\" \r\n\t\t\t To Seth also a son was born, and he named him Enosh. At that time people began to invoke the name of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t This is the list of the descendants of Adam. When God created humankind, he made them in the likeness of God. \r\n\t\t\t Male and female he created them, and he blessed them and named them \"Humankind\" when they were created. \r\n\t\t\t When Adam had lived one hundred thirty years, he became the father of a son in his likeness, according to his image, and named him Seth.\r\n\t\t\t The days of Adam after he became the father of Seth were eight hundred years; and he had other sons and daughters.\r\n\t\t\t Thus all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred thirty years; and he died.\r\n\t\t\t When Seth had lived one hundred five years, he became the father of Enosh.\r\n\t\t\t Seth lived after the birth of Enosh eight hundred seven years, and had other sons and daughters.\r\n\t\t\t Thus all the days of Seth were nine hundred twelve years; and he died.\r\n\t\t\t When Enosh had lived ninety years, he became the father of Kenan.\r\n\t\t\t Enosh lived after the birth of Kenan eight hundred fifteen years, and had other sons and daughters.\r\n\t\t\t Thus all the days of Enosh were nine hundred five years; and he died.\r\n\t\t\t When Kenan had lived seventy years, he became the father of Mahalalel.\r\n\t\t\t Kenan lived after the birth of Mahalalel eight hundred and forty years, and had other sons and daughters.\r\n\t\t\t Thus all the days of Kenan were nine hundred and ten years; and he died.\r\n\t\t\t When Mahalalel had lived sixty-five years, he became the father of Jared.\r\n\t\t\t Mahalalel lived after the birth of Jared eight hundred thirty years, and had other sons and daughters.\r\n\t\t\t Thus all the days of Mahalalel were eight hundred ninety-five years; and he died.\r\n\t\t\t When Jared had lived one hundred sixty-two years he became the father of Enoch.\r\n\t\t\t Jared lived after the birth of Enoch eight hundred years, and had other sons and daughters.\r\n\t\t\t Thus all the days of Jared were nine hundred sixty-two years; and he died.\r\n\t\t\t When Enoch had lived sixty-five years, he became the father of Methuselah.\r\n\t\t\t Enoch walked with God after the birth of Methuselah three hundred years, and had other sons and daughters.\r\n\t\t\t Thus all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty-five years.\r\n\t\t\t Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him.\r\n\t\t\t When Methuselah had lived one hundred eighty-seven years, he became the father of Lamech.\r\n\t\t\t Methuselah lived after the birth of Lamech seven hundred eighty-two years, and had other sons and daughters.\r\n\t\t\t Thus all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty-nine years; and he died.\r\n\t\t\t When Lamech had lived one hundred eighty-two years, he became the father of a son;\r\n\t\t\t he named him Noah, saying, \"Out of the ground that the LORD has cursed this one shall bring us relief from our work and from the toil of our hands.\"\r\n\t\t\t Lamech lived after the birth of Noah five hundred ninety-five years, and had other sons and daughters.\r\n\t\t\t Thus all the days of Lamech were seven hundred seventy-seven years; and he died.\r\n\t\t\t After Noah was five hundred years old, Noah became the father of Shem, Ham, and Japheth.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t When people began to multiply on the face of the ground, and daughters were born to them,\r\n\t\t\t the sons of God saw that they were fair; and they took wives for themselves of all that they chose.\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD said, \"My spirit shall not abide in mortals forever, for they are flesh; their days shall be one hundred twenty years.\" \r\n\t\t\t The Nephilim were on the earth in those days-- and also afterward-- when the sons of God went in to the daughters of humans, who bore children to them. These were the heroes that were of old, warriors of renown.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD saw that the wickedness of humankind was great in the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of their hearts was only evil continually.\r\n\t\t\t And the LORD was sorry that he had made humankind on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart.\r\n\t\t\t So the LORD said, \"I will blot out from the earth the human beings I have created-- people together with animals and creeping things and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.\"\r\n\t\t\t But Noah found favor in the sight of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t These are the descendants of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation; Noah walked with God.\r\n\t\t\t And Noah had three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.\r\n\t\t\t Now the earth was corrupt in God's sight, and the earth was filled with violence.\r\n\t\t\t And God saw that the earth was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted its ways upon the earth.\r\n\t\t\t And God said to Noah, \"I have determined to make an end of all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence because of them; now I am going to destroy them along with the earth.\r\n\t\t\t Make yourself an ark of cypress wood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and out with pitch. \r\n\t\t\t This is how you are to make it: the length of the ark three hundred cubits, its width fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits.\r\n\t\t\t Make a roof for the ark, and finish it to a cubit above; and put the door of the ark in its side; make it with lower, second, and third decks. \r\n\t\t\t For my part, I am going to bring a flood of waters on the earth, to destroy from under heaven all flesh in which is the breath of life; everything that is on the earth shall die.\r\n\t\t\t But I will establish my covenant with you; and you shall come into the ark, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons' wives with you.\r\n\t\t\t And of every living thing, of all flesh, you shall bring two of every kind into the ark, to keep them alive with you; they shall be male and female.\r\n\t\t\t Of the birds according to their kinds, and of the animals according to their kinds, of every creeping thing of the ground according to its kind, two of every kind shall come in to you, to keep them alive.\r\n\t\t\t Also take with you every kind of food that is eaten, and store it up; and it shall serve as food for you and for them.\"\r\n\t\t\t Noah did this; he did all that God commanded him.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD said to Noah, \"Go into the ark, you and all your household, for I have seen that you alone are righteous before me in this generation.\r\n\t\t\t Take with you seven pairs of all clean animals, the male and its mate; and a pair of the animals that are not clean, the male and its mate;\r\n\t\t\t and seven pairs of the birds of the air also, male and female, to keep their kind alive on the face of all the earth.\r\n\t\t\t For in seven days I will send rain on the earth for forty days and forty nights; and every living thing that I have made I will blot out from the face of the ground.\"\r\n\t\t\t And Noah did all that the LORD had commanded him.\r\n\t\t\t Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters came on the earth.\r\n\t\t\t And Noah with his sons and his wife and his sons' wives went into the ark to escape the waters of the flood.\r\n\t\t\t Of clean animals, and of animals that are not clean, and of birds, and of everything that creeps on the ground,\r\n\t\t\t two and two, male and female, went into the ark with Noah, as God had commanded Noah.\r\n\t\t\t And after seven days the waters of the flood came on the earth.\r\n\t\t\t In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on that day all the fountains of the great deep burst forth, and the windows of the heavens were opened.\r\n\t\t\t The rain fell on the earth forty days and forty nights.\r\n\t\t\t On the very same day Noah with his sons, Shem and Ham and Japheth, and Noah's wife and the three wives of his sons entered the ark,\r\n\t\t\t they and every wild animal of every kind, and all domestic animals of every kind, and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, and every bird of every kind-- every bird, every winged creature.\r\n\t\t\t They went into the ark with Noah, two and two of all flesh in which there was the breath of life.\r\n\t\t\t And those that entered, male and female of all flesh, went in as God had commanded him; and the LORD shut him in.\r\n\t\t\t The flood continued forty days on the earth; and the waters increased, and bore up the ark, and it rose high above the earth.\r\n\t\t\t The waters swelled and increased greatly on the earth; and the ark floated on the face of the waters.\r\n\t\t\t The waters swelled so mightily on the earth that all the high mountains under the whole heaven were covered;\r\n\t\t\t the waters swelled above the mountains, covering them fifteen cubits deep.\r\n\t\t\t And all flesh died that moved on the earth, birds, domestic animals, wild animals, all swarming creatures that swarm on the earth, and all human beings;\r\n\t\t\t everything on dry land in whose nostrils was the breath of life died.\r\n\t\t\t He blotted out every living thing that was on the face of the ground, human beings and animals and creeping things and birds of the air; they were blotted out from the earth. Only Noah was left, and those that were with him in the ark.\r\n\t\t\t And the waters swelled on the earth for one hundred fifty days.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t But God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and all the domestic animals that were with him in the ark. And God made a wind blow over the earth, and the waters subsided;\r\n\t\t\t the fountains of the deep and the windows of the heavens were closed, the rain from the heavens was restrained,\r\n\t\t\t and the waters gradually receded from the earth. At the end of one hundred fifty days the waters had abated;\r\n\t\t\t and in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, the ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat.\r\n\t\t\t The waters continued to abate until the tenth month; in the tenth month, on the first day of the month, the tops of the mountains appeared.\r\n\t\t\t At the end of forty days Noah opened the window of the ark that he had made\r\n\t\t\t and sent out the raven; and it went to and fro until the waters were dried up from the earth.\r\n\t\t\t Then he sent out the dove from him, to see if the waters had subsided from the face of the ground;\r\n\t\t\t but the dove found no place to set its foot, and it returned to him to the ark, for the waters were still on the face of the whole earth. So he put out his hand and took it and brought it into the ark with him.\r\n\t\t\t He waited another seven days, and again he sent out the dove from the ark;\r\n\t\t\t and the dove came back to him in the evening, and there in its beak was a freshly plucked olive leaf; so Noah knew that the waters had subsided from the earth.\r\n\t\t\t Then he waited another seven days, and sent out the dove; and it did not return to him any more.\r\n\t\t\t In the six hundred first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were dried up from the earth; and Noah removed the covering of the ark, and looked, and saw that the face of the ground was drying.\r\n\t\t\t In the second month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, the earth was dry.\r\n\t\t\t Then God said to Noah,\r\n\t\t\t \"Go out of the ark, you and your wife, and your sons and your sons' wives with you.\r\n\t\t\t Bring out with you every living thing that is with you of all flesh-- birds and animals and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth-- so that they may abound on the earth, and be fruitful and multiply on the earth.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Noah went out with his sons and his wife and his sons' wives.\r\n\t\t\t And every animal, every creeping thing, and every bird, everything that moves on the earth, went out of the ark by families.\r\n\t\t\t Then Noah built an altar to the LORD, and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.\r\n\t\t\t And when the LORD smelled the pleasing odor, the LORD said in his heart, \"I will never again curse the ground because of humankind, for the inclination of the human heart is evil from youth; nor will I ever again destroy every living creature as I have done.\r\n\t\t\t As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t God blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them, \"Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth.\r\n\t\t\t The fear and dread of you shall rest on every animal of the earth, and on every bird of the air, on everything that creeps on the ground, and on all the fish of the sea; into your hand they are delivered.\r\n\t\t\t Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you; and just as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything.\r\n\t\t\t Only, you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood.\r\n\t\t\t For your own lifeblood I will surely require a reckoning: from every animal I will require it and from human beings, each one for the blood of another, I will require a reckoning for human life.\r\n\t\t\t Whoever sheds the blood of a human, by a human shall that person's blood be shed; for in his own image God made humankind.\r\n\t\t\t And you, be fruitful and multiply, abound on the earth and multiply in it.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him,\r\n\t\t\t \"As for me, I am establishing my covenant with you and your descendants after you,\r\n\t\t\t and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the domestic animals, and every animal of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark. \r\n\t\t\t I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of a flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.\"\r\n\t\t\t God said, \"This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations:\r\n\t\t\t I have set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth.\r\n\t\t\t When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds,\r\n\t\t\t I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh.\r\n\t\t\t When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.\"\r\n\t\t\t God said to Noah, \"This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.\"\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Noah who went out of the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Ham was the father of Canaan.\r\n\t\t\t These three were the sons of Noah; and from these the whole earth was peopled.\r\n\t\t\t Noah, a man of the soil, was the first to plant a vineyard.\r\n\t\t\t He drank some of the wine and became drunk, and he lay uncovered in his tent.\r\n\t\t\t And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside.\r\n\t\t\t Then Shem and Japheth took a garment, laid it on both their shoulders, and walked backward and covered the nakedness of their father; their faces were turned away, and they did not see their father's nakedness.\r\n\t\t\t When Noah awoke from his wine and knew what his youngest son had done to him,\r\n\t\t\t he said, \"Cursed be Canaan; lowest of slaves shall he be to his brothers.\"\r\n\t\t\t He also said, \"Blessed by the LORD my God be Shem; and let Canaan be his slave.\r\n\t\t\t May God make space for Japheth, and let him live in the tents of Shem; and let Canaan be his slave.\" \r\n\t\t\t After the flood Noah lived three hundred fifty years.\r\n\t\t\t All the days of Noah were nine hundred fifty years; and he died.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t These are the descendants of Noah's sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth; children were born to them after the flood.\r\n\t\t\t The descendants of Japheth: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras.\r\n\t\t\t The descendants of Gomer: Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah.\r\n\t\t\t The descendants of Javan: Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Rodanim. \r\n\t\t\t From these the coastland peoples spread. These are the descendants of Japheth in their lands, with their own language, by their families, in their nations. \r\n\t\t\t The descendants of Ham: Cush, Egypt, Put, and Canaan.\r\n\t\t\t The descendants of Cush: Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabteca. The descendants of Raamah: Sheba and Dedan.\r\n\t\t\t Cush became the father of Nimrod; he was the first on earth to become a mighty warrior.\r\n\t\t\t He was a mighty hunter before the LORD; therefore it is said, \"Like Nimrod a mighty hunter before the LORD.\"\r\n\t\t\t The beginning of his kingdom was Babel, Erech, and Accad, all of them in the land of Shinar.\r\n\t\t\t From that land he went into Assyria, and built Nineveh, Rehoboth-ir, Calah, and\r\n\t\t\t Resen between Nineveh and Calah; that is the great city.\r\n\t\t\t Egypt became the father of Ludim, Anamim, Lehabim, Naphtuhim,\r\n\t\t\t Pathrusim, Casluhim, and Caphtorim, from which the Philistines come. \r\n\t\t\t Canaan became the father of Sidon his firstborn, and Heth,\r\n\t\t\t and the Jebusites, the Amorites, the Girgashites,\r\n\t\t\t the Hivites, the Arkites, the Sinites,\r\n\t\t\t the Arvadites, the Zemarites, and the Hamathites. Afterward the families of the Canaanites spread abroad.\r\n\t\t\t And the territory of the Canaanites extended from Sidon, in the direction of Gerar, as far as Gaza, and in the direction of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, as far as Lasha.\r\n\t\t\t These are the descendants of Ham, by their families, their languages, their lands, and their nations.\r\n\t\t\t To Shem also, the father of all the children of Eber, the elder brother of Japheth, children were born.\r\n\t\t\t The descendants of Shem: Elam, Asshur, Arpachshad, Lud, and Aram.\r\n\t\t\t The descendants of Aram: Uz, Hul, Gether, and Mash.\r\n\t\t\t Arpachshad became the father of Shelah; and Shelah became the father of Eber.\r\n\t\t\t To Eber were born two sons: the name of the one was Peleg, for in his days the earth was divided, and his brother's name was Joktan. \r\n\t\t\t Joktan became the father of Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah,\r\n\t\t\t Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah,\r\n\t\t\t Obal, Abimael, Sheba,\r\n\t\t\t Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab; all these were the descendants of Joktan.\r\n\t\t\t The territory in which they lived extended from Mesha in the direction of Sephar, the hill country of the east.\r\n\t\t\t These are the descendants of Shem, by their families, their languages, their lands, and their nations.\r\n\t\t\t These are the families of Noah's sons, according to their genealogies, in their nations; and from these the nations spread abroad on the earth after the flood.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now the whole earth had one language and the same words.\r\n\t\t\t And as they migrated from the east, they came upon a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. \r\n\t\t\t And they said to one another, \"Come, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly.\" And they had brick for stone, and bitumen for mortar.\r\n\t\t\t Then they said, \"Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves; otherwise we shall be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.\"\r\n\t\t\t The LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which mortals had built.\r\n\t\t\t And the LORD said, \"Look, they are one people, and they have all one language; and this is only the beginning of what they will do; nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them.\r\n\t\t\t Come, let us go down, and confuse their language there, so that they will not understand one another's speech.\"\r\n\t\t\t So the LORD scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore it was called Babel, because there the LORD confused the language of all the earth; and from there the LORD scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth. \r\n\t\t\t These are the descendants of Shem. When Shem was one hundred years old, he became the father of Arpachshad two years after the flood;\r\n\t\t\t and Shem lived after the birth of Arpachshad five hundred years, and had other sons and daughters.\r\n\t\t\t When Arpachshad had lived thirty-five years, he became the father of Shelah;\r\n\t\t\t and Arpachshad lived after the birth of Shelah four hundred three years, and had other sons and daughters.\r\n\t\t\t When Shelah had lived thirty years, he became the father of Eber;\r\n\t\t\t and Shelah lived after the birth of Eber four hundred three years, and had other sons and daughters.\r\n\t\t\t When Eber had lived thirty-four years, he became the father of Peleg;\r\n\t\t\t and Eber lived after the birth of Peleg four hundred thirty years, and had other sons and daughters.\r\n\t\t\t When Peleg had lived thirty years, he became the father of Reu;\r\n\t\t\t and Peleg lived after the birth of Reu two hundred nine years, and had other sons and daughters.\r\n\t\t\t When Reu had lived thirty-two years, he became the father of Serug;\r\n\t\t\t and Reu lived after the birth of Serug two hundred seven years, and had other sons and daughters.\r\n\t\t\t When Serug had lived thirty years, he became the father of Nahor;\r\n\t\t\t and Serug lived after the birth of Nahor two hundred years, and had other sons and daughters.\r\n\t\t\t When Nahor had lived twenty-nine years, he became the father of Terah;\r\n\t\t\t and Nahor lived after the birth of Terah one hundred nineteen years, and had other sons and daughters.\r\n\t\t\t When Terah had lived seventy years, he became the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran.\r\n\t\t\t Now these are the descendants of Terah. Terah was the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran was the father of Lot.\r\n\t\t\t Haran died before his father Terah in the land of his birth, in Ur of the Chaldeans.\r\n\t\t\t Abram and Nahor took wives; the name of Abram's wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor's wife was Milcah. She was the daughter of Haran the father of Milcah and Iscah.\r\n\t\t\t Now Sarai was barren; she had no child.\r\n\t\t\t Terah took his son Abram and his grandson Lot son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, his son Abram's wife, and they went out together from Ur of the Chaldeans to go into the land of Canaan; but when they came to Haran, they settled there.\r\n\t\t\t The days of Terah were two hundred five years; and Terah died in Haran.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now the LORD said to Abram, \"Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you.\r\n\t\t\t I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.\r\n\t\t\t I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.\" \r\n\t\t\t So Abram went, as the LORD had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.\r\n\t\t\t Abram took his wife Sarai and his brother's son Lot, and all the possessions that they had gathered, and the persons whom they had acquired in Haran; and they set forth to go to the land of Canaan. When they had come to the land of Canaan,\r\n\t\t\t Abram passed through the land to the place at Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. \r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD appeared to Abram, and said, \"To your offspring I will give this land.\" So he built there an altar to the LORD, who had appeared to him. \r\n\t\t\t From there he moved on to the hill country on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east; and there he built an altar to the LORD and invoked the name of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t And Abram journeyed on by stages toward the Negeb.\r\n\t\t\t Now there was a famine in the land. So Abram went down to Egypt to reside there as an alien, for the famine was severe in the land.\r\n\t\t\t When he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, \"I know well that you are a woman beautiful in appearance;\r\n\t\t\t and when the Egyptians see you, they will say, 'This is his wife'; then they will kill me, but they will let you live.\r\n\t\t\t Say you are my sister, so that it may go well with me because of you, and that my life may be spared on your account.\"\r\n\t\t\t When Abram entered Egypt the Egyptians saw that the woman was very beautiful.\r\n\t\t\t When the officials of Pharaoh saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh. And the woman was taken into Pharaoh's house.\r\n\t\t\t And for her sake he dealt well with Abram; and he had sheep, oxen, male donkeys, male and female slaves, female donkeys, and camels.\r\n\t\t\t But the LORD afflicted Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram's wife.\r\n\t\t\t So Pharaoh called Abram, and said, \"What is this you have done to me? Why did you not tell me that she was your wife?\r\n\t\t\t Why did you say, 'She is my sister,' so that I took her for my wife? Now then, here is your wife, take her, and be gone.\"\r\n\t\t\t And Pharaoh gave his men orders concerning him; and they set him on the way, with his wife and all that he had.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t So Abram went up from Egypt, he and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the Negeb.\r\n\t\t\t Now Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold.\r\n\t\t\t He journeyed on by stages from the Negeb as far as Bethel, to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai,\r\n\t\t\t to the place where he had made an altar at the first; and there Abram called on the name of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Now Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents,\r\n\t\t\t so that the land could not support both of them living together; for their possessions were so great that they could not live together,\r\n\t\t\t and there was strife between the herders of Abram's livestock and the herders of Lot's livestock. At that time the Canaanites and the Perizzites lived in the land.\r\n\t\t\t Then Abram said to Lot, \"Let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herders and my herders; for we are kindred.\r\n\t\t\t Is not the whole land before you? Separate yourself from me. If you take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if you take the right hand, then I will go to the left.\"\r\n\t\t\t Lot looked about him, and saw that the plain of the Jordan was well watered everywhere like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, in the direction of Zoar; this was before the LORD had destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.\r\n\t\t\t So Lot chose for himself all the plain of the Jordan, and Lot journeyed eastward; thus they separated from each other.\r\n\t\t\t Abram settled in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled among the cities of the Plain and moved his tent as far as Sodom.\r\n\t\t\t Now the people of Sodom were wicked, great sinners against the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, \"Raise your eyes now, and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward;\r\n\t\t\t for all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever. \r\n\t\t\t I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth; so that if one can count the dust of the earth, your offspring also can be counted.\r\n\t\t\t Rise up, walk through the length and the breadth of the land, for I will give it to you.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Abram moved his tent, and came and settled by the oaks of Mamre, which are at Hebron; and there he built an altar to the LORD. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t In the days of King Amraphel of Shinar, King Arioch of Ellasar, King Chedorlaomer of Elam, and King Tidal of Goiim,\r\n\t\t\t these kings made war with King Bera of Sodom, King Birsha of Gomorrah, King Shinab of Admah, King Shemeber of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar).\r\n\t\t\t All these joined forces in the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Dead Sea). \r\n\t\t\t Twelve years they had served Chedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled.\r\n\t\t\t In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him came and subdued the Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim, the Zuzim in Ham, the Emim in Shaveh-kiriathaim,\r\n\t\t\t and the Horites in the hill country of Seir as far as El-paran on the edge of the wilderness;\r\n\t\t\t then they turned back and came to En-mishpat (that is, Kadesh), and subdued all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites who lived in Hazazon-tamar.\r\n\t\t\t Then the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) went out, and they joined battle in the Valley of Siddim\r\n\t\t\t with King Chedorlaomer of Elam, King Tidal of Goiim, King Amraphel of Shinar, and King Arioch of Ellasar, four kings against five.\r\n\t\t\t Now the Valley of Siddim was full of bitumen pits; and as the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some fell into them, and the rest fled to the hill country.\r\n\t\t\t So the enemy took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their provisions, and went their way;\r\n\t\t\t they also took Lot, the son of Abram's brother, who lived in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.\r\n\t\t\t Then one who had escaped came and told Abram the Hebrew, who was living by the oaks of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and of Aner; these were allies of Abram. \r\n\t\t\t When Abram heard that his nephew had been taken captive, he led forth his trained men, born in his house, three hundred eighteen of them, and went in pursuit as far as Dan.\r\n\t\t\t He divided his forces against them by night, he and his servants, and routed them and pursued them to Hobah, north of Damascus.\r\n\t\t\t Then he brought back all the goods, and also brought back his nephew Lot with his goods, and the women and the people.\r\n\t\t\t After his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King's Valley).\r\n\t\t\t And King Melchizedek of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was priest of God Most High. \r\n\t\t\t He blessed him and said, \"Blessed be Abram by God Most High, maker of heaven and earth; \r\n\t\t\t and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!\" And Abram gave him one tenth of everything. \r\n\t\t\t Then the king of Sodom said to Abram, \"Give me the persons, but take the goods for yourself.\"\r\n\t\t\t But Abram said to the king of Sodom, \"I have sworn to the LORD, God Most High, maker of heaven and earth, \r\n\t\t\t that I would not take a thread or a sandal-thong or anything that is yours, so that you might not say, 'I have made Abram rich.'\r\n\t\t\t I will take nothing but what the young men have eaten, and the share of the men who went with me-- Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre. Let them take their share.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, \"Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.\"\r\n\t\t\t But Abram said, \"O Lord GOD, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?\" \r\n\t\t\t And Abram said, \"You have given me no offspring, and so a slave born in my house is to be my heir.\"\r\n\t\t\t But the word of the LORD came to him, \"This man shall not be your heir; no one but your very own issue shall be your heir.\"\r\n\t\t\t He brought him outside and said, \"Look toward heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them.\" Then he said to him, \"So shall your descendants be.\"\r\n\t\t\t And he believed the LORD; and the LORD reckoned it to him as righteousness.\r\n\t\t\t Then he said to him, \"I am the LORD who brought you from Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to possess.\"\r\n\t\t\t But he said, \"O Lord GOD, how am I to know that I shall possess it?\"\r\n\t\t\t He said to him, \"Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.\"\r\n\t\t\t He brought him all these and cut them in two, laying each half over against the other; but he did not cut the birds in two.\r\n\t\t\t And when birds of prey came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away.\r\n\t\t\t As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram, and a deep and terrifying darkness descended upon him.\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD said to Abram, \"Know this for certain, that your offspring shall be aliens in a land that is not theirs, and shall be slaves there, and they shall be oppressed for four hundred years;\r\n\t\t\t but I will bring judgment on the nation that they serve, and afterward they shall come out with great possessions.\r\n\t\t\t As for yourself, you shall go to your ancestors in peace; you shall be buried in a good old age.\r\n\t\t\t And they shall come back here in the fourth generation; for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.\"\r\n\t\t\t When the sun had gone down and it was dark, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces.\r\n\t\t\t On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, \"To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates,\r\n\t\t\t the land of the Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites,\r\n\t\t\t the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim,\r\n\t\t\t the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now Sarai, Abram's wife, bore him no children. She had an Egyptian slave-girl whose name was Hagar,\r\n\t\t\t and Sarai said to Abram, \"You see that the LORD has prevented me from bearing children; go in to my slave-girl; it may be that I shall obtain children by her.\" And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai.\r\n\t\t\t So, after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, Sarai, Abram's wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her slave-girl, and gave her to her husband Abram as a wife.\r\n\t\t\t He went in to Hagar, and she conceived; and when she saw that she had conceived, she looked with contempt on her mistress.\r\n\t\t\t Then Sarai said to Abram, \"May the wrong done to me be on you! I gave my slave-girl to your embrace, and when she saw that she had conceived, she looked on me with contempt. May the LORD judge between you and me!\"\r\n\t\t\t But Abram said to Sarai, \"Your slave-girl is in your power; do to her as you please.\" Then Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she ran away from her.\r\n\t\t\t The angel of the LORD found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, the spring on the way to Shur.\r\n\t\t\t And he said, \"Hagar, slave-girl of Sarai, where have you come from and where are you going?\" She said, \"I am running away from my mistress Sarai.\"\r\n\t\t\t The angel of the LORD said to her, \"Return to your mistress, and submit to her.\"\r\n\t\t\t The angel of the LORD also said to her, \"I will so greatly multiply your offspring that they cannot be counted for multitude.\"\r\n\t\t\t And the angel of the LORD said to her, \"Now you have conceived and shall bear a son; you shall call him Ishmael, for the LORD has given heed to your affliction. \r\n\t\t\t He shall be a wild ass of a man, with his hand against everyone, and everyone's hand against him; and he shall live at odds with all his kin.\"\r\n\t\t\t So she named the LORD who spoke to her, \"You are El-roi\"; for she said, \"Have I really seen God and remained alive after seeing him?\" \r\n\t\t\t Therefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi; it lies between Kadesh and Bered. \r\n\t\t\t Hagar bore Abram a son; and Abram named his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael.\r\n\t\t\t Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore him Ishmael. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said to him, \"I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless. \r\n\t\t\t And I will make my covenant between me and you, and will make you exceedingly numerous.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Abram fell on his face; and God said to him,\r\n\t\t\t \"As for me, this is my covenant with you: You shall be the ancestor of a multitude of nations.\r\n\t\t\t No longer shall your name be Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you the ancestor of a multitude of nations. \r\n\t\t\t I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you.\r\n\t\t\t I will establish my covenant between me and you, and your offspring after you throughout their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you. \r\n\t\t\t And I will give to you, and to your offspring after you, the land where you are now an alien, all the land of Canaan, for a perpetual holding; and I will be their God.\"\r\n\t\t\t God said to Abraham, \"As for you, you shall keep my covenant, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations.\r\n\t\t\t This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised.\r\n\t\t\t You shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you.\r\n\t\t\t Throughout your generations every male among you shall be circumcised when he is eight days old, including the slave born in your house and the one bought with your money from any foreigner who is not of your offspring.\r\n\t\t\t Both the slave born in your house and the one bought with your money must be circumcised. So shall my covenant be in your flesh an everlasting covenant.\r\n\t\t\t Any uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin shall be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.\"\r\n\t\t\t God said to Abraham, \"As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name.\r\n\t\t\t I will bless her, and moreover I will give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she shall give rise to nations; kings of peoples shall come from her.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said to himself, \"Can a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Can Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?\"\r\n\t\t\t And Abraham said to God, \"O that Ishmael might live in your sight!\"\r\n\t\t\t God said, \"No, but your wife Sarah shall bear you a son, and you shall name him Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his offspring after him. \r\n\t\t\t As for Ishmael, I have heard you; I will bless him and make him fruitful and exceedingly numerous; he shall be the father of twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation.\r\n\t\t\t But my covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this season next year.\"\r\n\t\t\t And when he had finished talking with him, God went up from Abraham.\r\n\t\t\t Then Abraham took his son Ishmael and all the slaves born in his house or bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham's house, and he circumcised the flesh of their foreskins that very day, as God had said to him.\r\n\t\t\t Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.\r\n\t\t\t And his son Ishmael was thirteen years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.\r\n\t\t\t That very day Abraham and his son Ishmael were circumcised;\r\n\t\t\t and all the men of his house, slaves born in the house and those bought with money from a foreigner, were circumcised with him.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The LORD appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day. \r\n\t\t\t He looked up and saw three men standing near him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent entrance to meet them, and bowed down to the ground.\r\n\t\t\t He said, \"My lord, if I find favor with you, do not pass by your servant.\r\n\t\t\t Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree.\r\n\t\t\t Let me bring a little bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on-- since you have come to your servant.\" So they said, \"Do as you have said.\"\r\n\t\t\t And Abraham hastened into the tent to Sarah, and said, \"Make ready quickly three measures of choice flour, knead it, and make cakes.\" \r\n\t\t\t Abraham ran to the herd, and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to the servant, who hastened to prepare it.\r\n\t\t\t Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree while they ate.\r\n\t\t\t They said to him, \"Where is your wife Sarah?\" And he said, \"There, in the tent.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then one said, \"I will surely return to you in due season, and your wife Sarah shall have a son.\" And Sarah was listening at the tent entrance behind him.\r\n\t\t\t Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; it had ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.\r\n\t\t\t So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, \"After I have grown old, and my husband is old, shall I have pleasure?\"\r\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Abraham, \"Why did Sarah laugh, and say, 'Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?'\r\n\t\t\t Is anything too wonderful for the LORD? At the set time I will return to you, in due season, and Sarah shall have a son.\"\r\n\t\t\t But Sarah denied, saying, \"I did not laugh\"; for she was afraid. He said, \"Oh yes, you did laugh.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the men set out from there, and they looked toward Sodom; and Abraham went with them to set them on their way.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD said, \"Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do,\r\n\t\t\t seeing that Abraham shall become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?\r\n\t\t\t No, for I have chosen him, that he may charge his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice; so that the LORD may bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.\" \r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD said, \"How great is the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah and how very grave their sin!\r\n\t\t\t I must go down and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry that has come to me; and if not, I will know.\"\r\n\t\t\t So the men turned from there, and went toward Sodom, while Abraham remained standing before the LORD. \r\n\t\t\t Then Abraham came near and said, \"Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked?\r\n\t\t\t Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city; will you then sweep away the place and not forgive it for the fifty righteous who are in it?\r\n\t\t\t Far be it from you to do such a thing, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?\"\r\n\t\t\t And the LORD said, \"If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will forgive the whole place for their sake.\"\r\n\t\t\t Abraham answered, \"Let me take it upon myself to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes.\r\n\t\t\t Suppose five of the fifty righteous are lacking? Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?\" And he said, \"I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.\"\r\n\t\t\t Again he spoke to him, \"Suppose forty are found there.\" He answered, \"For the sake of forty I will not do it.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then he said, \"Oh do not let the Lord be angry if I speak. Suppose thirty are found there.\" He answered, \"I will not do it, if I find thirty there.\"\r\n\t\t\t He said, \"Let me take it upon myself to speak to the Lord. Suppose twenty are found there.\" He answered, \"For the sake of twenty I will not destroy it.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then he said, \"Oh do not let the Lord be angry if I speak just once more. Suppose ten are found there.\" He answered, \"For the sake of ten I will not destroy it.\"\r\n\t\t\t And the LORD went his way, when he had finished speaking to Abraham; and Abraham returned to his place.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gateway of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them, and bowed down with his face to the ground.\r\n\t\t\t He said, \"Please, my lords, turn aside to your servant's house and spend the night, and wash your feet; then you can rise early and go on your way.\" They said, \"No; we will spend the night in the square.\"\r\n\t\t\t But he urged them strongly; so they turned aside to him and entered his house; and he made them a feast, and baked unleavened bread, and they ate.\r\n\t\t\t But before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both young and old, all the people to the last man, surrounded the house;\r\n\t\t\t and they called to Lot, \"Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us, so that we may know them.\"\r\n\t\t\t Lot went out of the door to the men, shut the door after him,\r\n\t\t\t and said, \"I beg you, my brothers, do not act so wickedly.\r\n\t\t\t Look, I have two daughters who have not known a man; let me bring them out to you, and do to them as you please; only do nothing to these men, for they have come under the shelter of my roof.\"\r\n\t\t\t But they replied, \"Stand back!\" And they said, \"This fellow came here as an alien, and he would play the judge! Now we will deal worse with you than with them.\" Then they pressed hard against the man Lot, and came near the door to break it down.\r\n\t\t\t But the men inside reached out their hands and brought Lot into the house with them, and shut the door.\r\n\t\t\t And they struck with blindness the men who were at the door of the house, both small and great, so that they were unable to find the door.\r\n\t\t\t Then the men said to Lot, \"Have you anyone else here? Sons-in-law, sons, daughters, or anyone you have in the city-- bring them out of the place.\r\n\t\t\t For we are about to destroy this place, because the outcry against its people has become great before the LORD, and the LORD has sent us to destroy it.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Lot went out and said to his sons-in-law, who were to marry his daughters, \"Up, get out of this place; for the LORD is about to destroy the city.\" But he seemed to his sons-in-law to be jesting.\r\n\t\t\t When morning dawned, the angels urged Lot, saying, \"Get up, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or else you will be consumed in the punishment of the city.\"\r\n\t\t\t But he lingered; so the men seized him and his wife and his two daughters by the hand, the LORD being merciful to him, and they brought him out and left him outside the city.\r\n\t\t\t When they had brought them outside, they said, \"Flee for your life; do not look back or stop anywhere in the Plain; flee to the hills, or else you will be consumed.\" \r\n\t\t\t And Lot said to them, \"Oh, no, my lords;\r\n\t\t\t your servant has found favor with you, and you have shown me great kindness in saving my life; but I cannot flee to the hills, for fear the disaster will overtake me and I die.\r\n\t\t\t Look, that city is near enough to flee to, and it is a little one. Let me escape there-- is it not a little one?-- and my life will be saved!\"\r\n\t\t\t He said to him, \"Very well, I grant you this favor too, and will not overthrow the city of which you have spoken.\r\n\t\t\t Hurry, escape there, for I can do nothing until you arrive there.\" Therefore the city was called Zoar. \r\n\t\t\t The sun had risen on the earth when Lot came to Zoar.\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD rained on Sodom and Gomorrah sulfur and fire from the LORD out of heaven;\r\n\t\t\t and he overthrew those cities, and all the Plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground.\r\n\t\t\t But Lot's wife, behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.\r\n\t\t\t Abraham went early in the morning to the place where he had stood before the LORD;\r\n\t\t\t and he looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah and toward all the land of the Plain and saw the smoke of the land going up like the smoke of a furnace.\r\n\t\t\t So it was that, when God destroyed the cities of the Plain, God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in which Lot had settled.\r\n\t\t\t Now Lot went up out of Zoar and settled in the hills with his two daughters, for he was afraid to stay in Zoar; so he lived in a cave with his two daughters.\r\n\t\t\t And the firstborn said to the younger, \"Our father is old, and there is not a man on earth to come in to us after the manner of all the world.\r\n\t\t\t Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, so that we may preserve offspring through our father.\"\r\n\t\t\t So they made their father drink wine that night; and the firstborn went in, and lay with her father; he did not know when she lay down or when she rose.\r\n\t\t\t On the next day, the firstborn said to the younger, \"Look, I lay last night with my father; let us make him drink wine tonight also; then you go in and lie with him, so that we may preserve offspring through our father.\"\r\n\t\t\t So they made their father drink wine that night also; and the younger rose, and lay with him; and he did not know when she lay down or when she rose.\r\n\t\t\t Thus both the daughters of Lot became pregnant by their father.\r\n\t\t\t The firstborn bore a son, and named him Moab; he is the ancestor of the Moabites to this day.\r\n\t\t\t The younger also bore a son and named him Ben-ammi; he is the ancestor of the Ammonites to this day.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t From there Abraham journeyed toward the region of the Negeb, and settled between Kadesh and Shur. While residing in Gerar as an alien,\r\n\t\t\t Abraham said of his wife Sarah, \"She is my sister.\" And King Abimelech of Gerar sent and took Sarah.\r\n\t\t\t But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, \"You are about to die because of the woman whom you have taken; for she is a married woman.\"\r\n\t\t\t Now Abimelech had not approached her; so he said, \"Lord, will you destroy an innocent people?\r\n\t\t\t Did he not himself say to me, 'She is my sister'? And she herself said, 'He is my brother.' I did this in the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then God said to him in the dream, \"Yes, I know that you did this in the integrity of your heart; furthermore it was I who kept you from sinning against me. Therefore I did not let you touch her.\r\n\t\t\t Now then, return the man's wife; for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you shall live. But if you do not restore her, know that you shall surely die, you and all that are yours.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants and told them all these things; and the men were very much afraid.\r\n\t\t\t Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said to him, \"What have you done to us? How have I sinned against you, that you have brought such great guilt on me and my kingdom? You have done things to me that ought not to be done.\"\r\n\t\t\t And Abimelech said to Abraham, \"What were you thinking of, that you did this thing?\"\r\n\t\t\t Abraham said, \"I did it because I thought, There is no fear of God at all in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.\r\n\t\t\t Besides, she is indeed my sister, the daughter of my father but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife.\r\n\t\t\t And when God caused me to wander from my father's house, I said to her, 'This is the kindness you must do me: at every place to which we come, say of me, He is my brother.'\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Abimelech took sheep and oxen, and male and female slaves, and gave them to Abraham, and restored his wife Sarah to him.\r\n\t\t\t Abimelech said, \"My land is before you; settle where it pleases you.\"\r\n\t\t\t To Sarah he said, \"Look, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver; it is your exoneration before all who are with you; you are completely vindicated.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Abraham prayed to God; and God healed Abimelech, and also healed his wife and female slaves so that they bore children.\r\n\t\t\t For the LORD had closed fast all the wombs of the house of Abimelech because of Sarah, Abraham's wife.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The LORD dealt with Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did for Sarah as he had promised.\r\n\t\t\t Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the time of which God had spoken to him.\r\n\t\t\t Abraham gave the name Isaac to his son whom Sarah bore him.\r\n\t\t\t And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him.\r\n\t\t\t Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him.\r\n\t\t\t Now Sarah said, \"God has brought laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh with me.\"\r\n\t\t\t And she said, \"Who would ever have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.\"\r\n\t\t\t The child grew, and was weaned; and Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned.\r\n\t\t\t But Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, playing with her son Isaac. \r\n\t\t\t So she said to Abraham, \"Cast out this slave woman with her son; for the son of this slave woman shall not inherit along with my son Isaac.\"\r\n\t\t\t The matter was very distressing to Abraham on account of his son.\r\n\t\t\t But God said to Abraham, \"Do not be distressed because of the boy and because of your slave woman; whatever Sarah says to you, do as she tells you, for it is through Isaac that offspring shall be named for you.\r\n\t\t\t As for the son of the slave woman, I will make a nation of him also, because he is your offspring.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Abraham rose early in the morning, and took bread and a skin of water, and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, along with the child, and sent her away. And she departed, and wandered about in the wilderness of Beer-sheba.\r\n\t\t\t When the water in the skin was gone, she cast the child under one of the bushes.\r\n\t\t\t Then she went and sat down opposite him a good way off, about the distance of a bowshot; for she said, \"Do not let me look on the death of the child.\" And as she sat opposite him, she lifted up her voice and wept.\r\n\t\t\t And God heard the voice of the boy; and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven, and said to her, \"What troubles you, Hagar? Do not be afraid; for God has heard the voice of the boy where he is.\r\n\t\t\t Come, lift up the boy and hold him fast with your hand, for I will make a great nation of him.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water. She went, and filled the skin with water, and gave the boy a drink.\r\n\t\t\t God was with the boy, and he grew up; he lived in the wilderness, and became an expert with the bow.\r\n\t\t\t He lived in the wilderness of Paran; and his mother got a wife for him from the land of Egypt.\r\n\t\t\t At that time Abimelech, with Phicol the commander of his army, said to Abraham, \"God is with you in all that you do;\r\n\t\t\t now therefore swear to me here by God that you will not deal falsely with me or with my offspring or with my posterity, but as I have dealt loyally with you, you will deal with me and with the land where you have resided as an alien.\"\r\n\t\t\t And Abraham said, \"I swear it.\"\r\n\t\t\t When Abraham complained to Abimelech about a well of water that Abimelech's servants had seized,\r\n\t\t\t Abimelech said, \"I do not know who has done this; you did not tell me, and I have not heard of it until today.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Abraham took sheep and oxen and gave them to Abimelech, and the two men made a covenant.\r\n\t\t\t Abraham set apart seven ewe lambs of the flock.\r\n\t\t\t And Abimelech said to Abraham, \"What is the meaning of these seven ewe lambs that you have set apart?\"\r\n\t\t\t He said, \"These seven ewe lambs you shall accept from my hand, in order that you may be a witness for me that I dug this well.\"\r\n\t\t\t Therefore that place was called Beer-sheba; because there both of them swore an oath. \r\n\t\t\t When they had made a covenant at Beer-sheba, Abimelech, with Phicol the commander of his army, left and returned to the land of the Philistines.\r\n\t\t\t Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beer-sheba, and called there on the name of the LORD, the Everlasting God. \r\n\t\t\t And Abraham resided as an alien many days in the land of the Philistines.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t After these things God tested Abraham. He said to him, \"Abraham!\" And he said, \"Here I am.\"\r\n\t\t\t He said, \"Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains that I shall show you.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac; he cut the wood for the burnt offering, and set out and went to the place in the distance that God had shown him.\r\n\t\t\t On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place far away.\r\n\t\t\t Then Abraham said to his young men, \"Stay here with the donkey; the boy and I will go over there; we will worship, and then we will come back to you.\"\r\n\t\t\t Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. So the two of them walked on together.\r\n\t\t\t Isaac said to his father Abraham, \"Father!\" And he said, \"Here I am, my son.\" He said, \"The fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?\"\r\n\t\t\t Abraham said, \"God himself will provide the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.\" So the two of them walked on together.\r\n\t\t\t When they came to the place that God had shown him, Abraham built an altar there and laid the wood in order. He bound his son Isaac, and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood.\r\n\t\t\t Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to kill his son. \r\n\t\t\t But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven, and said, \"Abraham, Abraham!\" And he said, \"Here I am.\"\r\n\t\t\t He said, \"Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.\"\r\n\t\t\t And Abraham looked up and saw a ram, caught in a thicket by its horns. Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son.\r\n\t\t\t So Abraham called that place \"The LORD will provide\"; as it is said to this day, \"On the mount of the LORD it shall be provided.\" \r\n\t\t\t The angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time from heaven,\r\n\t\t\t and said, \"By myself I have sworn, says the LORD: Because you have done this, and have not withheld your son, your only son,\r\n\t\t\t I will indeed bless you, and I will make your offspring as numerous as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of their enemies,\r\n\t\t\t and by your offspring shall all the nations of the earth gain blessing for themselves, because you have obeyed my voice.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Abraham returned to his young men, and they arose and went together to Beer-sheba; and Abraham lived at Beer-sheba.\r\n\t\t\t Now after these things it was told Abraham, \"Milcah also has borne children, to your brother Nahor:\r\n\t\t\t Uz the firstborn, Buz his brother, Kemuel the father of Aram,\r\n\t\t\t Chesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph, and Bethuel.\"\r\n\t\t\t Bethuel became the father of Rebekah. These eight Milcah bore to Nahor, Abraham's brother.\r\n\t\t\t Moreover, his concubine, whose name was Reumah, bore Tebah, Gaham, Tahash, and Maacah.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Sarah lived one hundred twenty-seven years; this was the length of Sarah's life.\r\n\t\t\t And Sarah died at Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan; and Abraham went in to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her.\r\n\t\t\t Abraham rose up from beside his dead, and said to the Hittites,\r\n\t\t\t \"I am a stranger and an alien residing among you; give me property among you for a burying place, so that I may bury my dead out of my sight.\"\r\n\t\t\t The Hittites answered Abraham,\r\n\t\t\t \"Hear us, my lord; you are a mighty prince among us. Bury your dead in the choicest of our burial places; none of us will withhold from you any burial ground for burying your dead.\"\r\n\t\t\t Abraham rose and bowed to the Hittites, the people of the land.\r\n\t\t\t He said to them, \"If you are willing that I should bury my dead out of my sight, hear me, and entreat for me Ephron son of Zohar,\r\n\t\t\t so that he may give me the cave of Machpelah, which he owns; it is at the end of his field. For the full price let him give it to me in your presence as a possession for a burying place.\"\r\n\t\t\t Now Ephron was sitting among the Hittites; and Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the hearing of the Hittites, of all who went in at the gate of his city,\r\n\t\t\t \"No, my lord, hear me; I give you the field, and I give you the cave that is in it; in the presence of my people I give it to you; bury your dead.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Abraham bowed down before the people of the land.\r\n\t\t\t He said to Ephron in the hearing of the people of the land, \"If you only will listen to me! I will give the price of the field; accept it from me, so that I may bury my dead there.\"\r\n\t\t\t Ephron answered Abraham,\r\n\t\t\t \"My lord, listen to me; a piece of land worth four hundred shekels of silver-- what is that between you and me? Bury your dead.\"\r\n\t\t\t Abraham agreed with Ephron; and Abraham weighed out for Ephron the silver that he had named in the hearing of the Hittites, four hundred shekels of silver, according to the weights current among the merchants.\r\n\t\t\t So the field of Ephron in Machpelah, which was to the east of Mamre, the field with the cave that was in it and all the trees that were in the field, throughout its whole area, passed\r\n\t\t\t to Abraham as a possession in the presence of the Hittites, in the presence of all who went in at the gate of his city.\r\n\t\t\t After this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah facing Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan.\r\n\t\t\t The field and the cave that is in it passed from the Hittites into Abraham's possession as a burying place.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now Abraham was old, well advanced in years; and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things.\r\n\t\t\t Abraham said to his servant, the oldest of his house, who had charge of all that he had, \"Put your hand under my thigh\r\n\t\t\t and I will make you swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and earth, that you will not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I live,\r\n\t\t\t but will go to my country and to my kindred and get a wife for my son Isaac.\"\r\n\t\t\t The servant said to him, \"Perhaps the woman may not be willing to follow me to this land; must I then take your son back to the land from which you came?\"\r\n\t\t\t Abraham said to him, \"See to it that you do not take my son back there.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD, the God of heaven, who took me from my father's house and from the land of my birth, and who spoke to me and swore to me, 'To your offspring I will give this land,' he will send his angel before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there.\r\n\t\t\t But if the woman is not willing to follow you, then you will be free from this oath of mine; only you must not take my son back there.\"\r\n\t\t\t So the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master and swore to him concerning this matter.\r\n\t\t\t Then the servant took ten of his master's camels and departed, taking all kinds of choice gifts from his master; and he set out and went to Aram-naharaim, to the city of Nahor.\r\n\t\t\t He made the camels kneel down outside the city by the well of water; it was toward evening, the time when women go out to draw water.\r\n\t\t\t And he said, \"O LORD, God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today and show steadfast love to my master Abraham.\r\n\t\t\t I am standing here by the spring of water, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water.\r\n\t\t\t Let the girl to whom I shall say, 'Please offer your jar that I may drink,' and who shall say, 'Drink, and I will water your camels'-- let her be the one whom you have appointed for your servant Isaac. By this I shall know that you have shown steadfast love to my master.\"\r\n\t\t\t Before he had finished speaking, there was Rebekah, who was born to Bethuel son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, coming out with her water jar on her shoulder.\r\n\t\t\t The girl was very fair to look upon, a virgin, whom no man had known. She went down to the spring, filled her jar, and came up.\r\n\t\t\t Then the servant ran to meet her and said, \"Please let me sip a little water from your jar.\"\r\n\t\t\t \"Drink, my lord,\" she said, and quickly lowered her jar upon her hand and gave him a drink.\r\n\t\t\t When she had finished giving him a drink, she said, \"I will draw for your camels also, until they have finished drinking.\"\r\n\t\t\t So she quickly emptied her jar into the trough and ran again to the well to draw, and she drew for all his camels.\r\n\t\t\t The man gazed at her in silence to learn whether or not the LORD had made his journey successful.\r\n\t\t\t When the camels had finished drinking, the man took a gold nose-ring weighing a half shekel, and two bracelets for her arms weighing ten gold shekels,\r\n\t\t\t and said, \"Tell me whose daughter you are. Is there room in your father's house for us to spend the night?\"\r\n\t\t\t She said to him, \"I am the daughter of Bethuel son of Milcah, whom she bore to Nahor.\"\r\n\t\t\t She added, \"We have plenty of straw and fodder and a place to spend the night.\"\r\n\t\t\t The man bowed his head and worshiped the LORD\r\n\t\t\t and said, \"Blessed be the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken his steadfast love and his faithfulness toward my master. As for me, the LORD has led me on the way to the house of my master's kin.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the girl ran and told her mother's household about these things.\r\n\t\t\t Rebekah had a brother whose name was Laban; and Laban ran out to the man, to the spring.\r\n\t\t\t As soon as he had seen the nose-ring, and the bracelets on his sister's arms, and when he heard the words of his sister Rebekah, \"Thus the man spoke to me,\" he went to the man; and there he was, standing by the camels at the spring.\r\n\t\t\t He said, \"Come in, O blessed of the LORD. Why do you stand outside when I have prepared the house and a place for the camels?\"\r\n\t\t\t So the man came into the house; and Laban unloaded the camels, and gave him straw and fodder for the camels, and water to wash his feet and the feet of the men who were with him.\r\n\t\t\t Then food was set before him to eat; but he said, \"I will not eat until I have told my errand.\" He said, \"Speak on.\"\r\n\t\t\t So he said, \"I am Abraham's servant.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD has greatly blessed my master, and he has become wealthy; he has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male and female slaves, camels and donkeys.\r\n\t\t\t And Sarah my master's wife bore a son to my master when she was old; and he has given him all that he has.\r\n\t\t\t My master made me swear, saying, 'You shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I live;\r\n\t\t\t but you shall go to my father's house, to my kindred, and get a wife for my son.'\r\n\t\t\t I said to my master, 'Perhaps the woman will not follow me.'\r\n\t\t\t But he said to me, 'The LORD, before whom I walk, will send his angel with you and make your way successful. You shall get a wife for my son from my kindred, from my father's house.\r\n\t\t\t Then you will be free from my oath, when you come to my kindred; even if they will not give her to you, you will be free from my oath.'\r\n\t\t\t \"I came today to the spring, and said, 'O LORD, the God of my master Abraham, if now you will only make successful the way I am going!\r\n\t\t\t I am standing here by the spring of water; let the young woman who comes out to draw, to whom I shall say, \"Please give me a little water from your jar to drink,\"\r\n\t\t\t and who will say to me, \"Drink, and I will draw for your camels also\"-- let her be the woman whom the LORD has appointed for my master's son.'\r\n\t\t\t \"Before I had finished speaking in my heart, there was Rebekah coming out with her water jar on her shoulder; and she went down to the spring, and drew. I said to her, 'Please let me drink.'\r\n\t\t\t She quickly let down her jar from her shoulder, and said, 'Drink, and I will also water your camels.' So I drank, and she also watered the camels.\r\n\t\t\t Then I asked her, 'Whose daughter are you?' She said, 'The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milcah bore to him.' So I put the ring on her nose, and the bracelets on her arms.\r\n\t\t\t Then I bowed my head and worshiped the LORD, and blessed the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me by the right way to obtain the daughter of my master's kinsman for his son.\r\n\t\t\t Now then, if you will deal loyally and truly with my master, tell me; and if not, tell me, so that I may turn either to the right hand or to the left.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Laban and Bethuel answered, \"The thing comes from the LORD; we cannot speak to you anything bad or good.\r\n\t\t\t Look, Rebekah is before you, take her and go, and let her be the wife of your master's son, as the LORD has spoken.\"\r\n\t\t\t When Abraham's servant heard their words, he bowed himself to the ground before the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t And the servant brought out jewelry of silver and of gold, and garments, and gave them to Rebekah; he also gave to her brother and to her mother costly ornaments.\r\n\t\t\t Then he and the men who were with him ate and drank, and they spent the night there. When they rose in the morning, he said, \"Send me back to my master.\"\r\n\t\t\t Her brother and her mother said, \"Let the girl remain with us a while, at least ten days; after that she may go.\"\r\n\t\t\t But he said to them, \"Do not delay me, since the LORD has made my journey successful; let me go that I may go to my master.\"\r\n\t\t\t They said, \"We will call the girl, and ask her.\"\r\n\t\t\t And they called Rebekah, and said to her, \"Will you go with this man?\" She said, \"I will.\"\r\n\t\t\t So they sent away their sister Rebekah and her nurse along with Abraham's servant and his men.\r\n\t\t\t And they blessed Rebekah and said to her, \"May you, our sister, become thousands of myriads; may your offspring gain possession of the gates of their foes.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Rebekah and her maids rose up, mounted the camels, and followed the man; thus the servant took Rebekah, and went his way.\r\n\t\t\t Now Isaac had come from Beer-lahai-roi, and was settled in the Negeb. \r\n\t\t\t Isaac went out in the evening to walk in the field; and looking up, he saw camels coming. \r\n\t\t\t And Rebekah looked up, and when she saw Isaac, she slipped quickly from the camel,\r\n\t\t\t and said to the servant, \"Who is the man over there, walking in the field to meet us?\" The servant said, \"It is my master.\" So she took her veil and covered herself.\r\n\t\t\t And the servant told Isaac all the things that he had done.\r\n\t\t\t Then Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent. He took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her. So Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Abraham took another wife, whose name was Keturah.\r\n\t\t\t She bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah.\r\n\t\t\t Jokshan was the father of Sheba and Dedan. The sons of Dedan were Asshurim, Letushim, and Leummim.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah.\r\n\t\t\t Abraham gave all he had to Isaac.\r\n\t\t\t But to the sons of his concubines Abraham gave gifts, while he was still living, and he sent them away from his son Isaac, eastward to the east country.\r\n\t\t\t This is the length of Abraham's life, one hundred seventy-five years.\r\n\t\t\t Abraham breathed his last and died in a good old age, an old man and full of years, and was gathered to his people.\r\n\t\t\t His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron son of Zohar the Hittite, east of Mamre,\r\n\t\t\t the field that Abraham purchased from the Hittites. There Abraham was buried, with his wife Sarah.\r\n\t\t\t After the death of Abraham God blessed his son Isaac. And Isaac settled at Beer-lahai-roi.\r\n\t\t\t These are the descendants of Ishmael, Abraham's son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah's slave-girl, bore to Abraham.\r\n\t\t\t These are the names of the sons of Ishmael, named in the order of their birth: Nebaioth, the firstborn of Ishmael; and Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam,\r\n\t\t\t Mishma, Dumah, Massa,\r\n\t\t\t Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah.\r\n\t\t\t These are the sons of Ishmael and these are their names, by their villages and by their encampments, twelve princes according to their tribes.\r\n\t\t\t (This is the length of the life of Ishmael, one hundred thirty-seven years; he breathed his last and died, and was gathered to his people.)\r\n\t\t\t They settled from Havilah to Shur, which is opposite Egypt in the direction of Assyria; he settled down alongside of all his people. \r\n\t\t\t These are the descendants of Isaac, Abraham's son: Abraham was the father of Isaac,\r\n\t\t\t and Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah, daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of Paddan-aram, sister of Laban the Aramean.\r\n\t\t\t Isaac prayed to the LORD for his wife, because she was barren; and the LORD granted his prayer, and his wife Rebekah conceived.\r\n\t\t\t The children struggled together within her; and she said, \"If it is to be this way, why do I live?\" So she went to inquire of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t And the LORD said to her, \"Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples born of you shall be divided; the one shall be stronger than the other, the elder shall serve the younger.\"\r\n\t\t\t When her time to give birth was at hand, there were twins in her womb.\r\n\t\t\t The first came out red, all his body like a hairy mantle; so they named him Esau.\r\n\t\t\t Afterward his brother came out, with his hand gripping Esau's heel; so he was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them. \r\n\t\t\t When the boys grew up, Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man, living in tents.\r\n\t\t\t Isaac loved Esau, because he was fond of game; but Rebekah loved Jacob.\r\n\t\t\t Once when Jacob was cooking a stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was famished.\r\n\t\t\t Esau said to Jacob, \"Let me eat some of that red stuff, for I am famished!\" (Therefore he was called Edom.)\r\n\t\t\t Jacob said, \"First sell me your birthright.\"\r\n\t\t\t Esau said, \"I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?\"\r\n\t\t\t Jacob said, \"Swear to me first.\" So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. \r\n\t\t\t Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank, and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now there was a famine in the land, besides the former famine that had occurred in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went to Gerar, to King Abimelech of the Philistines.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD appeared to Isaac and said, \"Do not go down to Egypt; settle in the land that I shall show you. \r\n\t\t\t Reside in this land as an alien, and I will be with you, and will bless you; for to you and to your descendants I will give all these lands, and I will fulfill the oath that I swore to your father Abraham.\r\n\t\t\t I will make your offspring as numerous as the stars of heaven, and will give to your offspring all these lands; and all the nations of the earth shall gain blessing for themselves through your offspring,\r\n\t\t\t because Abraham obeyed my voice and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Isaac settled in Gerar.\r\n\t\t\t When the men of the place asked him about his wife, he said, \"She is my sister\"; for he was afraid to say, \"My wife,\" thinking, \"or else the men of the place might kill me for the sake of Rebekah, because she is attractive in appearance.\"\r\n\t\t\t When Isaac had been there a long time, King Abimelech of the Philistines looked out of a window and saw him fondling his wife Rebekah.\r\n\t\t\t So Abimelech called for Isaac, and said, \"So she is your wife! Why then did you say, 'She is my sister'?\" Isaac said to him, \"Because I thought I might die because of her.\"\r\n\t\t\t Abimelech said, \"What is this you have done to us? One of the people might easily have lain with your wife, and you would have brought guilt upon us.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Abimelech warned all the people, saying, \"Whoever touches this man or his wife shall be put to death.\"\r\n\t\t\t Isaac sowed seed in that land, and in the same year reaped a hundredfold. The LORD blessed him,\r\n\t\t\t and the man became rich; he prospered more and more until he became very wealthy.\r\n\t\t\t He had possessions of flocks and herds, and a great household, so that the Philistines envied him.\r\n\t\t\t (Now the Philistines had stopped up and filled with earth all the wells that his father's servants had dug in the days of his father Abraham.)\r\n\t\t\t And Abimelech said to Isaac, \"Go away from us; you have become too powerful for us.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Isaac departed from there and camped in the valley of Gerar and settled there.\r\n\t\t\t Isaac dug again the wells of water that had been dug in the days of his father Abraham; for the Philistines had stopped them up after the death of Abraham; and he gave them the names that his father had given them.\r\n\t\t\t But when Isaac's servants dug in the valley and found there a well of spring water,\r\n\t\t\t the herders of Gerar quarreled with Isaac's herders, saying, \"The water is ours.\" So he called the well Esek, because they contended with him. \r\n\t\t\t Then they dug another well, and they quarreled over that one also; so he called it Sitnah. \r\n\t\t\t He moved from there and dug another well, and they did not quarrel over it; so he called it Rehoboth, saying, \"Now the LORD has made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.\" \r\n\t\t\t From there he went up to Beer-sheba.\r\n\t\t\t And that very night the LORD appeared to him and said, \"I am the God of your father Abraham; do not be afraid, for I am with you and will bless you and make your offspring numerous for my servant Abraham's sake.\"\r\n\t\t\t So he built an altar there, called on the name of the LORD, and pitched his tent there. And there Isaac's servants dug a well.\r\n\t\t\t Then Abimelech went to him from Gerar, with Ahuzzath his adviser and Phicol the commander of his army.\r\n\t\t\t Isaac said to them, \"Why have you come to me, seeing that you hate me and have sent me away from you?\"\r\n\t\t\t They said, \"We see plainly that the LORD has been with you; so we say, let there be an oath between you and us, and let us make a covenant with you\r\n\t\t\t so that you will do us no harm, just as we have not touched you and have done to you nothing but good and have sent you away in peace. You are now the blessed of the LORD.\"\r\n\t\t\t So he made them a feast, and they ate and drank.\r\n\t\t\t In the morning they rose early and exchanged oaths; and Isaac set them on their way, and they departed from him in peace.\r\n\t\t\t That same day Isaac's servants came and told him about the well that they had dug, and said to him, \"We have found water!\"\r\n\t\t\t He called it Shibah; therefore the name of the city is Beer-sheba to this day. \r\n\t\t\t When Esau was forty years old, he married Judith daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Basemath daughter of Elon the Hittite;\r\n\t\t\t and they made life bitter for Isaac and Rebekah.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t When Isaac was old and his eyes were dim so that he could not see, he called his elder son Esau and said to him, \"My son\"; and he answered, \"Here I am.\"\r\n\t\t\t He said, \"See, I am old; I do not know the day of my death.\r\n\t\t\t Now then, take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field, and hunt game for me.\r\n\t\t\t Then prepare for me savory food, such as I like, and bring it to me to eat, so that I may bless you before I die.\"\r\n\t\t\t Now Rebekah was listening when Isaac spoke to his son Esau. So when Esau went to the field to hunt for game and bring it,\r\n\t\t\t Rebekah said to her son Jacob, \"I heard your father say to your brother Esau,\r\n\t\t\t 'Bring me game, and prepare for me savory food to eat, that I may bless you before the LORD before I die.'\r\n\t\t\t Now therefore, my son, obey my word as I command you.\r\n\t\t\t Go to the flock, and get me two choice kids, so that I may prepare from them savory food for your father, such as he likes;\r\n\t\t\t and you shall take it to your father to eat, so that he may bless you before he dies.\"\r\n\t\t\t But Jacob said to his mother Rebekah, \"Look, my brother Esau is a hairy man, and I am a man of smooth skin.\r\n\t\t\t Perhaps my father will feel me, and I shall seem to be mocking him, and bring a curse on myself and not a blessing.\"\r\n\t\t\t His mother said to him, \"Let your curse be on me, my son; only obey my word, and go, get them for me.\"\r\n\t\t\t So he went and got them and brought them to his mother; and his mother prepared savory food, such as his father loved.\r\n\t\t\t Then Rebekah took the best garments of her elder son Esau, which were with her in the house, and put them on her younger son Jacob;\r\n\t\t\t and she put the skins of the kids on his hands and on the smooth part of his neck.\r\n\t\t\t Then she handed the savory food, and the bread that she had prepared, to her son Jacob.\r\n\t\t\t So he went in to his father, and said, \"My father\"; and he said, \"Here I am; who are you, my son?\"\r\n\t\t\t Jacob said to his father, \"I am Esau your firstborn. I have done as you told me; now sit up and eat of my game, so that you may bless me.\"\r\n\t\t\t But Isaac said to his son, \"How is it that you have found it so quickly, my son?\" He answered, \"Because the LORD your God granted me success.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Isaac said to Jacob, \"Come near, that I may feel you, my son, to know whether you are really my son Esau or not.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Jacob went up to his father Isaac, who felt him and said, \"The voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.\"\r\n\t\t\t He did not recognize him, because his hands were hairy like his brother Esau's hands; so he blessed him.\r\n\t\t\t He said, \"Are you really my son Esau?\" He answered, \"I am.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then he said, \"Bring it to me, that I may eat of my son's game and bless you.\" So he brought it to him, and he ate; and he brought him wine, and he drank.\r\n\t\t\t Then his father Isaac said to him, \"Come near and kiss me, my son.\"\r\n\t\t\t So he came near and kissed him; and he smelled the smell of his garments, and blessed him, and said, \"Ah, the smell of my son is like the smell of a field that the LORD has blessed.\r\n\t\t\t May God give you of the dew of heaven, and of the fatness of the earth, and plenty of grain and wine.\r\n\t\t\t Let peoples serve you, and nations bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers, and may your mother's sons bow down to you. Cursed be everyone who curses you, and blessed be everyone who blesses you!\"\r\n\t\t\t As soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob, when Jacob had scarcely gone out from the presence of his father Isaac, his brother Esau came in from his hunting.\r\n\t\t\t He also prepared savory food, and brought it to his father. And he said to his father, \"Let my father sit up and eat of his son's game, so that you may bless me.\"\r\n\t\t\t His father Isaac said to him, \"Who are you?\" He answered, \"I am your firstborn son, Esau.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Isaac trembled violently, and said, \"Who was it then that hunted game and brought it to me, and I ate it all before you came, and I have blessed him?-- yes, and blessed he shall be!\"\r\n\t\t\t When Esau heard his father's words, he cried out with an exceedingly great and bitter cry, and said to his father, \"Bless me, me also, father!\"\r\n\t\t\t But he said, \"Your brother came deceitfully, and he has taken away your blessing.\"\r\n\t\t\t Esau said, \"Is he not rightly named Jacob? For he has supplanted me these two times. He took away my birthright; and look, now he has taken away my blessing.\" Then he said, \"Have you not reserved a blessing for me?\" \r\n\t\t\t Isaac answered Esau, \"I have already made him your lord, and I have given him all his brothers as servants, and with grain and wine I have sustained him. What then can I do for you, my son?\"\r\n\t\t\t Esau said to his father, \"Have you only one blessing, father? Bless me, me also, father!\" And Esau lifted up his voice and wept.\r\n\t\t\t Then his father Isaac answered him: \"See, away from the fatness of the earth shall your home be, and away from the dew of heaven on high. \r\n\t\t\t By your sword you shall live, and you shall serve your brother; but when you break loose, you shall break his yoke from your neck.\" \r\n\t\t\t Now Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father had blessed him, and Esau said to himself, \"The days of mourning for my father are approaching; then I will kill my brother Jacob.\"\r\n\t\t\t But the words of her elder son Esau were told to Rebekah; so she sent and called her younger son Jacob and said to him, \"Your brother Esau is consoling himself by planning to kill you.\r\n\t\t\t Now therefore, my son, obey my voice; flee at once to my brother Laban in Haran,\r\n\t\t\t and stay with him a while, until your brother's fury turns away--\r\n\t\t\t until your brother's anger against you turns away, and he forgets what you have done to him; then I will send, and bring you back from there. Why should I lose both of you in one day?\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Rebekah said to Isaac, \"I am weary of my life because of the Hittite women. If Jacob marries one of the Hittite women such as these, one of the women of the land, what good will my life be to me?\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then Isaac called Jacob and blessed him, and charged him, \"You shall not marry one of the Canaanite women.\r\n\t\t\t Go at once to Paddan-aram to the house of Bethuel, your mother's father; and take as wife from there one of the daughters of Laban, your mother's brother.\r\n\t\t\t May God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and numerous, that you may become a company of peoples. \r\n\t\t\t May he give to you the blessing of Abraham, to you and to your offspring with you, so that you may take possession of the land where you now live as an alien-- land that God gave to Abraham.\"\r\n\t\t\t Thus Isaac sent Jacob away; and he went to Paddan-aram, to Laban son of Bethuel the Aramean, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob's and Esau's mother.\r\n\t\t\t Now Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob and sent him away to Paddan-aram to take a wife from there, and that as he blessed him he charged him, \"You shall not marry one of the Canaanite women,\"\r\n\t\t\t and that Jacob had obeyed his father and his mother and gone to Paddan-aram.\r\n\t\t\t So when Esau saw that the Canaanite women did not please his father Isaac,\r\n\t\t\t Esau went to Ishmael and took Mahalath daughter of Abraham's son Ishmael, and sister of Nebaioth, to be his wife in addition to the wives he had.\r\n\t\t\t Jacob left Beer-sheba and went toward Haran.\r\n\t\t\t He came to a certain place and stayed there for the night, because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place.\r\n\t\t\t And he dreamed that there was a ladder set up on the earth, the top of it reaching to heaven; and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. \r\n\t\t\t And the LORD stood beside him and said, \"I am the LORD, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring; \r\n\t\t\t and your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south; and all the families of the earth shall be blessed in you and in your offspring. \r\n\t\t\t Know that I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Jacob woke from his sleep and said, \"Surely the LORD is in this place-- and I did not know it!\"\r\n\t\t\t And he was afraid, and said, \"How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Jacob rose early in the morning, and he took the stone that he had put under his head and set it up for a pillar and poured oil on the top of it.\r\n\t\t\t He called that place Bethel; but the name of the city was Luz at the first. \r\n\t\t\t Then Jacob made a vow, saying, \"If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear,\r\n\t\t\t so that I come again to my father's house in peace, then the LORD shall be my God,\r\n\t\t\t and this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God's house; and of all that you give me I will surely give one tenth to you.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then Jacob went on his journey, and came to the land of the people of the east.\r\n\t\t\t As he looked, he saw a well in the field and three flocks of sheep lying there beside it; for out of that well the flocks were watered. The stone on the well's mouth was large,\r\n\t\t\t and when all the flocks were gathered there, the shepherds would roll the stone from the mouth of the well, and water the sheep, and put the stone back in its place on the mouth of the well.\r\n\t\t\t Jacob said to them, \"My brothers, where do you come from?\" They said, \"We are from Haran.\"\r\n\t\t\t He said to them, \"Do you know Laban son of Nahor?\" They said, \"We do.\"\r\n\t\t\t He said to them, \"Is it well with him?\" \"Yes,\" they replied, \"and here is his daughter Rachel, coming with the sheep.\"\r\n\t\t\t He said, \"Look, it is still broad daylight; it is not time for the animals to be gathered together. Water the sheep, and go, pasture them.\"\r\n\t\t\t But they said, \"We cannot until all the flocks are gathered together, and the stone is rolled from the mouth of the well; then we water the sheep.\"\r\n\t\t\t While he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep; for she kept them.\r\n\t\t\t Now when Jacob saw Rachel, the daughter of his mother's brother Laban, and the sheep of his mother's brother Laban, Jacob went up and rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the flock of his mother's brother Laban.\r\n\t\t\t Then Jacob kissed Rachel, and wept aloud.\r\n\t\t\t And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father's kinsman, and that he was Rebekah's son; and she ran and told her father.\r\n\t\t\t When Laban heard the news about his sister's son Jacob, he ran to meet him; he embraced him and kissed him, and brought him to his house. Jacob told Laban all these things, \r\n\t\t\t and Laban said to him, \"Surely you are my bone and my flesh!\" And he stayed with him a month.\r\n\t\t\t Then Laban said to Jacob, \"Because you are my kinsman, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be?\"\r\n\t\t\t Now Laban had two daughters; the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.\r\n\t\t\t Leah's eyes were lovely, and Rachel was graceful and beautiful. \r\n\t\t\t Jacob loved Rachel; so he said, \"I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.\"\r\n\t\t\t Laban said, \"It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to any other man; stay with me.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her.\r\n\t\t\t Then Jacob said to Laban, \"Give me my wife that I may go in to her, for my time is completed.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Laban gathered together all the people of the place, and made a feast.\r\n\t\t\t But in the evening he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob; and he went in to her.\r\n\t\t\t (Laban gave his maid Zilpah to his daughter Leah to be her maid.)\r\n\t\t\t When morning came, it was Leah! And Jacob said to Laban, \"What is this you have done to me? Did I not serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?\"\r\n\t\t\t Laban said, \"This is not done in our country-- giving the younger before the firstborn.\r\n\t\t\t Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the other also in return for serving me another seven years.\"\r\n\t\t\t Jacob did so, and completed her week; then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel as a wife.\r\n\t\t\t (Laban gave his maid Bilhah to his daughter Rachel to be her maid.)\r\n\t\t\t So Jacob went in to Rachel also, and he loved Rachel more than Leah. He served Laban for another seven years.\r\n\t\t\t When the LORD saw that Leah was unloved, he opened her womb; but Rachel was barren.\r\n\t\t\t Leah conceived and bore a son, and she named him Reuben; for she said, \"Because the LORD has looked on my affliction; surely now my husband will love me.\" \r\n\t\t\t She conceived again and bore a son, and said, \"Because the LORD has heard that I am hated, he has given me this son also\"; and she named him Simeon. \r\n\t\t\t Again she conceived and bore a son, and said, \"Now this time my husband will be joined to me, because I have borne him three sons\"; therefore he was named Levi. \r\n\t\t\t She conceived again and bore a son, and said, \"This time I will praise the LORD\"; therefore she named him Judah; then she ceased bearing. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t When Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, she envied her sister; and she said to Jacob, \"Give me children, or I shall die!\"\r\n\t\t\t Jacob became very angry with Rachel and said, \"Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?\"\r\n\t\t\t Then she said, \"Here is my maid Bilhah; go in to her, that she may bear upon my knees and that I too may have children through her.\"\r\n\t\t\t So she gave him her maid Bilhah as a wife; and Jacob went in to her.\r\n\t\t\t And Bilhah conceived and bore Jacob a son.\r\n\t\t\t Then Rachel said, \"God has judged me, and has also heard my voice and given me a son\"; therefore she named him Dan. \r\n\t\t\t Rachel's maid Bilhah conceived again and bore Jacob a second son.\r\n\t\t\t Then Rachel said, \"With mighty wrestlings I have wrestled with my sister, and have prevailed\"; so she named him Naphtali. \r\n\t\t\t When Leah saw that she had ceased bearing children, she took her maid Zilpah and gave her to Jacob as a wife.\r\n\t\t\t Then Leah's maid Zilpah bore Jacob a son.\r\n\t\t\t And Leah said, \"Good fortune!\" so she named him Gad. \r\n\t\t\t Leah's maid Zilpah bore Jacob a second son.\r\n\t\t\t And Leah said, \"Happy am I! For the women will call me happy\"; so she named him Asher. \r\n\t\t\t In the days of wheat harvest Reuben went and found mandrakes in the field, and brought them to his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, \"Please give me some of your son's mandrakes.\"\r\n\t\t\t But she said to her, \"Is it a small matter that you have taken away my husband? Would you take away my son's mandrakes also?\" Rachel said, \"Then he may lie with you tonight for your son's mandrakes.\"\r\n\t\t\t When Jacob came from the field in the evening, Leah went out to meet him, and said, \"You must come in to me; for I have hired you with my son's mandrakes.\" So he lay with her that night.\r\n\t\t\t And God heeded Leah, and she conceived and bore Jacob a fifth son.\r\n\t\t\t Leah said, \"God has given me my hire because I gave my maid to my husband\"; so she named him Issachar. \r\n\t\t\t And Leah conceived again, and she bore Jacob a sixth son.\r\n\t\t\t Then Leah said, \"God has endowed me with a good dowry; now my husband will honor me, because I have borne him six sons\"; so she named him Zebulun. \r\n\t\t\t Afterwards she bore a daughter, and named her Dinah.\r\n\t\t\t Then God remembered Rachel, and God heeded her and opened her womb.\r\n\t\t\t She conceived and bore a son, and said, \"God has taken away my reproach\";\r\n\t\t\t and she named him Joseph, saying, \"May the LORD add to me another son!\"\r\n\t\t\t When Rachel had borne Joseph, Jacob said to Laban, \"Send me away, that I may go to my own home and country.\r\n\t\t\t Give me my wives and my children for whom I have served you, and let me go; for you know very well the service I have given you.\"\r\n\t\t\t But Laban said to him, \"If you will allow me to say so, I have learned by divination that the LORD has blessed me because of you;\r\n\t\t\t name your wages, and I will give it.\"\r\n\t\t\t Jacob said to him, \"You yourself know how I have served you, and how your cattle have fared with me.\r\n\t\t\t For you had little before I came, and it has increased abundantly; and the LORD has blessed you wherever I turned. But now when shall I provide for my own household also?\"\r\n\t\t\t He said, \"What shall I give you?\" Jacob said, \"You shall not give me anything; if you will do this for me, I will again feed your flock and keep it:\r\n\t\t\t let me pass through all your flock today, removing from it every speckled and spotted sheep and every black lamb, and the spotted and speckled among the goats; and such shall be my wages.\r\n\t\t\t So my honesty will answer for me later, when you come to look into my wages with you. Every one that is not speckled and spotted among the goats and black among the lambs, if found with me, shall be counted stolen.\"\r\n\t\t\t Laban said, \"Good! Let it be as you have said.\"\r\n\t\t\t But that day Laban removed the male goats that were striped and spotted, and all the female goats that were speckled and spotted, every one that had white on it, and every lamb that was black, and put them in charge of his sons;\r\n\t\t\t and he set a distance of three days' journey between himself and Jacob, while Jacob was pasturing the rest of Laban's flock.\r\n\t\t\t Then Jacob took fresh rods of poplar and almond and plane, and peeled white streaks in them, exposing the white of the rods.\r\n\t\t\t He set the rods that he had peeled in front of the flocks in the troughs, that is, the watering places, where the flocks came to drink. And since they bred when they came to drink,\r\n\t\t\t the flocks bred in front of the rods, and so the flocks produced young that were striped, speckled, and spotted.\r\n\t\t\t Jacob separated the lambs, and set the faces of the flocks toward the striped and the completely black animals in the flock of Laban; and he put his own droves apart, and did not put them with Laban's flock.\r\n\t\t\t Whenever the stronger of the flock were breeding, Jacob laid the rods in the troughs before the eyes of the flock, that they might breed among the rods,\r\n\t\t\t but for the feebler of the flock he did not lay them there; so the feebler were Laban's, and the stronger Jacob's.\r\n\t\t\t Thus the man grew exceedingly rich, and had large flocks, and male and female slaves, and camels and donkeys.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now Jacob heard that the sons of Laban were saying, \"Jacob has taken all that was our father's; he has gained all this wealth from what belonged to our father.\"\r\n\t\t\t And Jacob saw that Laban did not regard him as favorably as he did before.\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD said to Jacob, \"Return to the land of your ancestors and to your kindred, and I will be with you.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah into the field where his flock was,\r\n\t\t\t and said to them, \"I see that your father does not regard me as favorably as he did before. But the God of my father has been with me.\r\n\t\t\t You know that I have served your father with all my strength;\r\n\t\t\t yet your father has cheated me and changed my wages ten times, but God did not permit him to harm me.\r\n\t\t\t If he said, 'The speckled shall be your wages,' then all the flock bore speckled; and if he said, 'The striped shall be your wages,' then all the flock bore striped.\r\n\t\t\t Thus God has taken away the livestock of your father, and given them to me.\r\n\t\t\t During the mating of the flock I once had a dream in which I looked up and saw that the male goats that leaped upon the flock were striped, speckled, and mottled.\r\n\t\t\t Then the angel of God said to me in the dream, 'Jacob,' and I said, 'Here I am!'\r\n\t\t\t And he said, 'Look up and see that all the goats that leap on the flock are striped, speckled, and mottled; for I have seen all that Laban is doing to you.\r\n\t\t\t I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar and made a vow to me. Now leave this land at once and return to the land of your birth.'\" \r\n\t\t\t Then Rachel and Leah answered him, \"Is there any portion or inheritance left to us in our father's house?\r\n\t\t\t Are we not regarded by him as foreigners? For he has sold us, and he has been using up the money given for us.\r\n\t\t\t All the property that God has taken away from our father belongs to us and to our children; now then, do whatever God has said to you.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Jacob arose, and set his children and his wives on camels;\r\n\t\t\t and he drove away all his livestock, all the property that he had gained, the livestock in his possession that he had acquired in Paddan-aram, to go to his father Isaac in the land of Canaan.\r\n\t\t\t Now Laban had gone to shear his sheep, and Rachel stole her father's household gods.\r\n\t\t\t And Jacob deceived Laban the Aramean, in that he did not tell him that he intended to flee.\r\n\t\t\t So he fled with all that he had; starting out he crossed the Euphrates, and set his face toward the hill country of Gilead. \r\n\t\t\t On the third day Laban was told that Jacob had fled.\r\n\t\t\t So he took his kinsfolk with him and pursued him for seven days until he caught up with him in the hill country of Gilead.\r\n\t\t\t But God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream by night, and said to him, \"Take heed that you say not a word to Jacob, either good or bad.\"\r\n\t\t\t Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the hill country, and Laban with his kinsfolk camped in the hill country of Gilead.\r\n\t\t\t Laban said to Jacob, \"What have you done? You have deceived me, and carried away my daughters like captives of the sword.\r\n\t\t\t Why did you flee secretly and deceive me and not tell me? I would have sent you away with mirth and songs, with tambourine and lyre.\r\n\t\t\t And why did you not permit me to kiss my sons and my daughters farewell? What you have done is foolish.\r\n\t\t\t It is in my power to do you harm; but the God of your father spoke to me last night, saying, 'Take heed that you speak to Jacob neither good nor bad.'\r\n\t\t\t Even though you had to go because you longed greatly for your father's house, why did you steal my gods?\"\r\n\t\t\t Jacob answered Laban, \"Because I was afraid, for I thought that you would take your daughters from me by force.\r\n\t\t\t But anyone with whom you find your gods shall not live. In the presence of our kinsfolk, point out what I have that is yours, and take it.\" Now Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen the gods. \r\n\t\t\t So Laban went into Jacob's tent, and into Leah's tent, and into the tent of the two maids, but he did not find them. And he went out of Leah's tent, and entered Rachel's.\r\n\t\t\t Now Rachel had taken the household gods and put them in the camel's saddle, and sat on them. Laban felt all about in the tent, but did not find them.\r\n\t\t\t And she said to her father, \"Let not my lord be angry that I cannot rise before you, for the way of women is upon me.\" So he searched, but did not find the household gods.\r\n\t\t\t Then Jacob became angry, and upbraided Laban. Jacob said to Laban, \"What is my offense? What is my sin, that you have hotly pursued me?\r\n\t\t\t Although you have felt about through all my goods, what have you found of all your household goods? Set it here before my kinsfolk and your kinsfolk, so that they may decide between us two.\r\n\t\t\t These twenty years I have been with you; your ewes and your female goats have not miscarried, and I have not eaten the rams of your flocks.\r\n\t\t\t That which was torn by wild beasts I did not bring to you; I bore the loss of it myself; of my hand you required it, whether stolen by day or stolen by night.\r\n\t\t\t It was like this with me: by day the heat consumed me, and the cold by night, and my sleep fled from my eyes.\r\n\t\t\t These twenty years I have been in your house; I served you fourteen years for your two daughters, and six years for your flock, and you have changed my wages ten times.\r\n\t\t\t If the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had not been on my side, surely now you would have sent me away empty-handed. God saw my affliction and the labor of my hands, and rebuked you last night.\" \r\n\t\t\t Then Laban answered and said to Jacob, \"The daughters are my daughters, the children are my children, the flocks are my flocks, and all that you see is mine. But what can I do today about these daughters of mine, or about their children whom they have borne?\r\n\t\t\t Come now, let us make a covenant, you and I; and let it be a witness between you and me.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Jacob took a stone, and set it up as a pillar.\r\n\t\t\t And Jacob said to his kinsfolk, \"Gather stones,\" and they took stones, and made a heap; and they ate there by the heap.\r\n\t\t\t Laban called it Jegar-sahadutha: but Jacob called it Galeed. \r\n\t\t\t Laban said, \"This heap is a witness between you and me today.\" Therefore he called it Galeed,\r\n\t\t\t and the pillar Mizpah, for he said, \"The LORD watch between you and me, when we are absent one from the other. \r\n\t\t\t If you ill-treat my daughters, or if you take wives in addition to my daughters, though no one else is with us, remember that God is witness between you and me.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Laban said to Jacob, \"See this heap and see the pillar, which I have set between you and me.\r\n\t\t\t This heap is a witness, and the pillar is a witness, that I will not pass beyond this heap to you, and you will not pass beyond this heap and this pillar to me, for harm.\r\n\t\t\t May the God of Abraham and the God of Nahor\"-- the God of their father-- \"judge between us.\" So Jacob swore by the Fear of his father Isaac,\r\n\t\t\t and Jacob offered a sacrifice on the height and called his kinsfolk to eat bread; and they ate bread and tarried all night in the hill country.\r\n\t\t\t Early in the morning Laban rose up, and kissed his grandchildren and his daughters and blessed them; then he departed and returned home.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Jacob went on his way and the angels of God met him;\r\n\t\t\t and when Jacob saw them he said, \"This is God's camp!\" So he called that place Mahanaim. \r\n\t\t\t Jacob sent messengers before him to his brother Esau in the land of Seir, the country of Edom,\r\n\t\t\t instructing them, \"Thus you shall say to my lord Esau: Thus says your servant Jacob, 'I have lived with Laban as an alien, and stayed until now;\r\n\t\t\t and I have oxen, donkeys, flocks, male and female slaves; and I have sent to tell my lord, in order that I may find favor in your sight.'\"\r\n\t\t\t The messengers returned to Jacob, saying, \"We came to your brother Esau, and he is coming to meet you, and four hundred men are with him.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed; and he divided the people that were with him, and the flocks and herds and camels, into two companies,\r\n\t\t\t thinking, \"If Esau comes to the one company and destroys it, then the company that is left will escape.\"\r\n\t\t\t And Jacob said, \"O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, O LORD who said to me, 'Return to your country and to your kindred, and I will do you good,'\r\n\t\t\t I am not worthy of the least of all the steadfast love and all the faithfulness that you have shown to your servant, for with only my staff I crossed this Jordan; and now I have become two companies.\r\n\t\t\t Deliver me, please, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau, for I am afraid of him; he may come and kill us all, the mothers with the children.\r\n\t\t\t Yet you have said, 'I will surely do you good, and make your offspring as the sand of the sea, which cannot be counted because of their number.'\"\r\n\t\t\t So he spent that night there, and from what he had with him he took a present for his brother Esau,\r\n\t\t\t two hundred female goats and twenty male goats, two hundred ewes and twenty rams,\r\n\t\t\t thirty milch camels and their colts, forty cows and ten bulls, twenty female donkeys and ten male donkeys.\r\n\t\t\t These he delivered into the hand of his servants, every drove by itself, and said to his servants, \"Pass on ahead of me, and put a space between drove and drove.\"\r\n\t\t\t He instructed the foremost, \"When Esau my brother meets you, and asks you, 'To whom do you belong? Where are you going? And whose are these ahead of you?'\r\n\t\t\t then you shall say, 'They belong to your servant Jacob; they are a present sent to my lord Esau; and moreover he is behind us.'\"\r\n\t\t\t He likewise instructed the second and the third and all who followed the droves, \"You shall say the same thing to Esau when you meet him,\r\n\t\t\t and you shall say, 'Moreover your servant Jacob is behind us.'\" For he thought, \"I may appease him with the present that goes ahead of me, and afterwards I shall see his face; perhaps he will accept me.\"\r\n\t\t\t So the present passed on ahead of him; and he himself spent that night in the camp.\r\n\t\t\t The same night he got up and took his two wives, his two maids, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok.\r\n\t\t\t He took them and sent them across the stream, and likewise everything that he had.\r\n\t\t\t Jacob was left alone; and a man wrestled with him until daybreak.\r\n\t\t\t When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he struck him on the hip socket; and Jacob's hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him.\r\n\t\t\t Then he said, \"Let me go, for the day is breaking.\" But Jacob said, \"I will not let you go, unless you bless me.\"\r\n\t\t\t So he said to him, \"What is your name?\" And he said, \"Jacob.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the man said, \"You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with humans, and have prevailed.\" \r\n\t\t\t Then Jacob asked him, \"Please tell me your name.\" But he said, \"Why is it that you ask my name?\" And there he blessed him.\r\n\t\t\t So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, \"For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life is preserved.\" \r\n\t\t\t The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore to this day the Israelites do not eat the thigh muscle that is on the hip socket, because he struck Jacob on the hip socket at the thigh muscle.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now Jacob looked up and saw Esau coming, and four hundred men with him. So he divided the children among Leah and Rachel and the two maids.\r\n\t\t\t He put the maids with their children in front, then Leah with her children, and Rachel and Joseph last of all.\r\n\t\t\t He himself went on ahead of them, bowing himself to the ground seven times, until he came near his brother.\r\n\t\t\t But Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept.\r\n\t\t\t When Esau looked up and saw the women and children, he said, \"Who are these with you?\" Jacob said, \"The children whom God has graciously given your servant.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the maids drew near, they and their children, and bowed down;\r\n\t\t\t Leah likewise and her children drew near and bowed down; and finally Joseph and Rachel drew near, and they bowed down.\r\n\t\t\t Esau said, \"What do you mean by all this company that I met?\" Jacob answered, \"To find favor with my lord.\"\r\n\t\t\t But Esau said, \"I have enough, my brother; keep what you have for yourself.\"\r\n\t\t\t Jacob said, \"No, please; if I find favor with you, then accept my present from my hand; for truly to see your face is like seeing the face of God-- since you have received me with such favor.\r\n\t\t\t Please accept my gift that is brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have everything I want.\" So he urged him, and he took it.\r\n\t\t\t Then Esau said, \"Let us journey on our way, and I will go alongside you.\"\r\n\t\t\t But Jacob said to him, \"My lord knows that the children are frail and that the flocks and herds, which are nursing, are a care to me; and if they are overdriven for one day, all the flocks will die.\r\n\t\t\t Let my lord pass on ahead of his servant, and I will lead on slowly, according to the pace of the cattle that are before me and according to the pace of the children, until I come to my lord in Seir.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Esau said, \"Let me leave with you some of the people who are with me.\" But he said, \"Why should my lord be so kind to me?\"\r\n\t\t\t So Esau returned that day on his way to Seir.\r\n\t\t\t But Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built himself a house, and made booths for his cattle; therefore the place is called Succoth. \r\n\t\t\t Jacob came safely to the city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, on his way from Paddan-aram; and he camped before the city.\r\n\t\t\t And from the sons of Hamor, Shechem's father, he bought for one hundred pieces of money the plot of land on which he had pitched his tent. \r\n\t\t\t There he erected an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now Dinah the daughter of Leah, whom she had borne to Jacob, went out to visit the women of the region.\r\n\t\t\t When Shechem son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the region, saw her, he seized her and lay with her by force.\r\n\t\t\t And his soul was drawn to Dinah daughter of Jacob; he loved the girl, and spoke tenderly to her.\r\n\t\t\t So Shechem spoke to his father Hamor, saying, \"Get me this girl to be my wife.\"\r\n\t\t\t Now Jacob heard that Shechem had defiled his daughter Dinah; but his sons were with his cattle in the field, so Jacob held his peace until they came. \r\n\t\t\t And Hamor the father of Shechem went out to Jacob to speak with him,\r\n\t\t\t just as the sons of Jacob came in from the field. When they heard of it, the men were indignant and very angry, because he had committed an outrage in Israel by lying with Jacob's daughter, for such a thing ought not to be done.\r\n\t\t\t But Hamor spoke with them, saying, \"The heart of my son Shechem longs for your daughter; please give her to him in marriage.\r\n\t\t\t Make marriages with us; give your daughters to us, and take our daughters for yourselves.\r\n\t\t\t You shall live with us; and the land shall be open to you; live and trade in it, and get property in it.\"\r\n\t\t\t Shechem also said to her father and to her brothers, \"Let me find favor with you, and whatever you say to me I will give.\r\n\t\t\t Put the marriage present and gift as high as you like, and I will give whatever you ask me; only give me the girl to be my wife.\"\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Jacob answered Shechem and his father Hamor deceitfully, because he had defiled their sister Dinah.\r\n\t\t\t They said to them, \"We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one who is uncircumcised, for that would be a disgrace to us.\r\n\t\t\t Only on this condition will we consent to you: that you will become as we are and every male among you be circumcised.\r\n\t\t\t Then we will give our daughters to you, and we will take your daughters for ourselves, and we will live among you and become one people.\r\n\t\t\t But if you will not listen to us and be circumcised, then we will take our daughter and be gone.\"\r\n\t\t\t Their words pleased Hamor and Hamor's son Shechem.\r\n\t\t\t And the young man did not delay to do the thing, because he was delighted with Jacob's daughter. Now he was the most honored of all his family.\r\n\t\t\t So Hamor and his son Shechem came to the gate of their city and spoke to the men of their city, saying,\r\n\t\t\t \"These people are friendly with us; let them live in the land and trade in it, for the land is large enough for them; let us take their daughters in marriage, and let us give them our daughters.\r\n\t\t\t Only on this condition will they agree to live among us, to become one people: that every male among us be circumcised as they are circumcised.\r\n\t\t\t Will not their livestock, their property, and all their animals be ours? Only let us agree with them, and they will live among us.\"\r\n\t\t\t And all who went out of the city gate heeded Hamor and his son Shechem; and every male was circumcised, all who went out of the gate of his city.\r\n\t\t\t On the third day, when they were still in pain, two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah's brothers, took their swords and came against the city unawares, and killed all the males.\r\n\t\t\t They killed Hamor and his son Shechem with the sword, and took Dinah out of Shechem's house, and went away.\r\n\t\t\t And the other sons of Jacob came upon the slain, and plundered the city, because their sister had been defiled.\r\n\t\t\t They took their flocks and their herds, their donkeys, and whatever was in the city and in the field.\r\n\t\t\t All their wealth, all their little ones and their wives, all that was in the houses, they captured and made their prey.\r\n\t\t\t Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, \"You have brought trouble on me by making me odious to the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites and the Perizzites; my numbers are few, and if they gather themselves against me and attack me, I shall be destroyed, both I and my household.\"\r\n\t\t\t But they said, \"Should our sister be treated like a whore?\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t God said to Jacob, \"Arise, go up to Bethel, and settle there. Make an altar there to the God who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, \"Put away the foreign gods that are among you, and purify yourselves, and change your clothes;\r\n\t\t\t then come, let us go up to Bethel, that I may make an altar there to the God who answered me in the day of my distress and has been with me wherever I have gone.\"\r\n\t\t\t So they gave to Jacob all the foreign gods that they had, and the rings that were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak that was near Shechem.\r\n\t\t\t As they journeyed, a terror from God fell upon the cities all around them, so that no one pursued them.\r\n\t\t\t Jacob came to Luz (that is, Bethel), which is in the land of Canaan, he and all the people who were with him,\r\n\t\t\t and there he built an altar and called the place El-bethel, because it was there that God had revealed himself to him when he fled from his brother. \r\n\t\t\t And Deborah, Rebekah's nurse, died, and she was buried under an oak below Bethel. So it was called Allon-bacuth. \r\n\t\t\t God appeared to Jacob again when he came from Paddan-aram, and he blessed him.\r\n\t\t\t God said to him, \"Your name is Jacob; no longer shall you be called Jacob, but Israel shall be your name.\" So he was called Israel.\r\n\t\t\t God said to him, \"I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall come from you, and kings shall spring from you.\r\n\t\t\t The land that I gave to Abraham and Isaac I will give to you, and I will give the land to your offspring after you.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then God went up from him at the place where he had spoken with him.\r\n\t\t\t Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he had spoken with him, a pillar of stone; and he poured out a drink offering on it, and poured oil on it.\r\n\t\t\t So Jacob called the place where God had spoken with him Bethel.\r\n\t\t\t Then they journeyed from Bethel; and when they were still some distance from Ephrath, Rachel was in childbirth, and she had hard labor.\r\n\t\t\t When she was in her hard labor, the midwife said to her, \"Do not be afraid; for now you will have another son.\"\r\n\t\t\t As her soul was departing (for she died), she named him Ben-oni; but his father called him Benjamin. \r\n\t\t\t So Rachel died, and she was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem),\r\n\t\t\t and Jacob set up a pillar at her grave; it is the pillar of Rachel's tomb, which is there to this day.\r\n\t\t\t Israel journeyed on, and pitched his tent beyond the tower of Eder.\r\n\t\t\t While Israel lived in that land, Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father's concubine; and Israel heard of it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Leah: Reuben (Jacob's firstborn), Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Bilhah, Rachel's maid: Dan and Naphtali.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Zilpah, Leah's maid: Gad and Asher. These were the sons of Jacob who were born to him in Paddan-aram.\r\n\t\t\t Jacob came to his father Isaac at Mamre, or Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac had resided as aliens.\r\n\t\t\t Now the days of Isaac were one hundred eighty years.\r\n\t\t\t And Isaac breathed his last; he died and was gathered to his people, old and full of days; and his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t These are the descendants of Esau (that is, Edom).\r\n\t\t\t Esau took his wives from the Canaanites: Adah daughter of Elon the Hittite, Oholibamah daughter of Anah son of Zibeon the Hivite, \r\n\t\t\t and Basemath, Ishmael's daughter, sister of Nebaioth.\r\n\t\t\t Adah bore Eliphaz to Esau; Basemath bore Reuel;\r\n\t\t\t and Oholibamah bore Jeush, Jalam, and Korah. These are the sons of Esau who were born to him in the land of Canaan.\r\n\t\t\t Then Esau took his wives, his sons, his daughters, and all the members of his household, his cattle, all his livestock, and all the property he had acquired in the land of Canaan; and he moved to a land some distance from his brother Jacob.\r\n\t\t\t For their possessions were too great for them to live together; the land where they were staying could not support them because of their livestock.\r\n\t\t\t So Esau settled in the hill country of Seir; Esau is Edom.\r\n\t\t\t These are the descendants of Esau, ancestor of the Edomites, in the hill country of Seir.\r\n\t\t\t These are the names of Esau's sons: Eliphaz son of Adah the wife of Esau; Reuel, the son of Esau's wife Basemath.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho, Gatam, and Kenaz.\r\n\t\t\t (Timna was a concubine of Eliphaz, Esau's son; she bore Amalek to Eliphaz.) These were the sons of Adah, Esau's wife.\r\n\t\t\t These were the sons of Reuel: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah. These were the sons of Esau's wife, Basemath.\r\n\t\t\t These were the sons of Esau's wife Oholibamah, daughter of Anah son of Zibeon: she bore to Esau Jeush, Jalam, and Korah. \r\n\t\t\t These are the clans of the sons of Esau. The sons of Eliphaz the firstborn of Esau: the clans Teman, Omar, Zepho, Kenaz, \r\n\t\t\t Korah, Gatam, and Amalek; these are the clans of Eliphaz in the land of Edom; they are the sons of Adah. \r\n\t\t\t These are the sons of Esau's son Reuel: the clans Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah; these are the clans of Reuel in the land of Edom; they are the sons of Esau's wife Basemath. \r\n\t\t\t These are the sons of Esau's wife Oholibamah: the clans Jeush, Jalam, and Korah; these are the clans born of Esau's wife Oholibamah, the daughter of Anah. \r\n\t\t\t These are the sons of Esau (that is, Edom), and these are their clans. \r\n\t\t\t These are the sons of Seir the Horite, the inhabitants of the land: Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah,\r\n\t\t\t Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan; these are the clans of the Horites, the sons of Seir in the land of Edom. \r\n\t\t\t The sons of Lotan were Hori and Heman; and Lotan's sister was Timna.\r\n\t\t\t These are the sons of Shobal: Alvan, Manahath, Ebal, Shepho, and Onam.\r\n\t\t\t These are the sons of Zibeon: Aiah and Anah; he is the Anah who found the springs in the wilderness, as he pastured the donkeys of his father Zibeon. \r\n\t\t\t These are the children of Anah: Dishon and Oholibamah daughter of Anah.\r\n\t\t\t These are the sons of Dishon: Hemdan, Eshban, Ithran, and Cheran.\r\n\t\t\t These are the sons of Ezer: Bilhan, Zaavan, and Akan.\r\n\t\t\t These are the sons of Dishan: Uz and Aran.\r\n\t\t\t These are the clans of the Horites: the clans Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, \r\n\t\t\t Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan; these are the clans of the Horites, clan by clan in the land of Seir. \r\n\t\t\t These are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom, before any king reigned over the Israelites.\r\n\t\t\t Bela son of Beor reigned in Edom, the name of his city being Dinhabah.\r\n\t\t\t Bela died, and Jobab son of Zerah of Bozrah succeeded him as king.\r\n\t\t\t Jobab died, and Husham of the land of the Temanites succeeded him as king.\r\n\t\t\t Husham died, and Hadad son of Bedad, who defeated Midian in the country of Moab, succeeded him as king, the name of his city being Avith.\r\n\t\t\t Hadad died, and Samlah of Masrekah succeeded him as king.\r\n\t\t\t Samlah died, and Shaul of Rehoboth on the Euphrates succeeded him as king.\r\n\t\t\t Shaul died, and Baal-hanan son of Achbor succeeded him as king.\r\n\t\t\t Baal-hanan son of Achbor died, and Hadar succeeded him as king, the name of his city being Pau; his wife's name was Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, daughter of Me-zahab.\r\n\t\t\t These are the names of the clans of Esau, according to their families and their localities by their names: the clans Timna, Alvah, Jetheth, \r\n\t\t\t Oholibamah, Elah, Pinon,\r\n\t\t\t Kenaz, Teman, Mibzar,\r\n\t\t\t Magdiel, and Iram; these are the clans of Edom (that is, Esau, the father of Edom), according to their settlements in the land that they held. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Jacob settled in the land where his father had lived as an alien, the land of Canaan.\r\n\t\t\t This is the story of the family of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was shepherding the flock with his brothers; he was a helper to the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father's wives; and Joseph brought a bad report of them to their father.\r\n\t\t\t Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his children, because he was the son of his old age; and he had made him a long robe with sleeves. \r\n\t\t\t But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably to him.\r\n\t\t\t Once Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him even more.\r\n\t\t\t He said to them, \"Listen to this dream that I dreamed.\r\n\t\t\t There we were, binding sheaves in the field. Suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright; then your sheaves gathered around it, and bowed down to my sheaf.\"\r\n\t\t\t His brothers said to him, \"Are you indeed to reign over us? Are you indeed to have dominion over us?\" So they hated him even more because of his dreams and his words.\r\n\t\t\t He had another dream, and told it to his brothers, saying, \"Look, I have had another dream: the sun, the moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me.\"\r\n\t\t\t But when he told it to his father and to his brothers, his father rebuked him, and said to him, \"What kind of dream is this that you have had? Shall we indeed come, I and your mother and your brothers, and bow to the ground before you?\"\r\n\t\t\t So his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind.\r\n\t\t\t Now his brothers went to pasture their father's flock near Shechem.\r\n\t\t\t And Israel said to Joseph, \"Are not your brothers pasturing the flock at Shechem? Come, I will send you to them.\" He answered, \"Here I am.\"\r\n\t\t\t So he said to him, \"Go now, see if it is well with your brothers and with the flock; and bring word back to me.\" So he sent him from the valley of Hebron. He came to Shechem,\r\n\t\t\t and a man found him wandering in the fields; the man asked him, \"What are you seeking?\"\r\n\t\t\t \"I am seeking my brothers,\" he said; \"tell me, please, where they are pasturing the flock.\"\r\n\t\t\t The man said, \"They have gone away, for I heard them say, 'Let us go to Dothan.'\" So Joseph went after his brothers, and found them at Dothan.\r\n\t\t\t They saw him from a distance, and before he came near to them, they conspired to kill him.\r\n\t\t\t They said to one another, \"Here comes this dreamer.\r\n\t\t\t Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits; then we shall say that a wild animal has devoured him, and we shall see what will become of his dreams.\"\r\n\t\t\t But when Reuben heard it, he delivered him out of their hands, saying, \"Let us not take his life.\"\r\n\t\t\t Reuben said to them, \"Shed no blood; throw him into this pit here in the wilderness, but lay no hand on him\"-- that he might rescue him out of their hand and restore him to his father.\r\n\t\t\t So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe, the long robe with sleeves that he wore; \r\n\t\t\t and they took him and threw him into a pit. The pit was empty; there was no water in it.\r\n\t\t\t Then they sat down to eat; and looking up they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead, with their camels carrying gum, balm, and resin, on their way to carry it down to Egypt.\r\n\t\t\t Then Judah said to his brothers, \"What profit is it if we kill our brother and conceal his blood?\r\n\t\t\t Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and not lay our hands on him, for he is our brother, our own flesh.\" And his brothers agreed.\r\n\t\t\t When some Midianite traders passed by, they drew Joseph up, lifting him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver. And they took Joseph to Egypt.\r\n\t\t\t When Reuben returned to the pit and saw that Joseph was not in the pit, he tore his clothes.\r\n\t\t\t He returned to his brothers, and said, \"The boy is gone; and I, where can I turn?\"\r\n\t\t\t Then they took Joseph's robe, slaughtered a goat, and dipped the robe in the blood.\r\n\t\t\t They had the long robe with sleeves taken to their father, and they said, \"This we have found; see now whether it is your son's robe or not.\" \r\n\t\t\t He recognized it, and said, \"It is my son's robe! A wild animal has devoured him; Joseph is without doubt torn to pieces.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Jacob tore his garments, and put sackcloth on his loins, and mourned for his son many days.\r\n\t\t\t All his sons and all his daughters sought to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted, and said, \"No, I shall go down to Sheol to my son, mourning.\" Thus his father bewailed him.\r\n\t\t\t Meanwhile the Midianites had sold him in Egypt to Potiphar, one of Pharaoh's officials, the captain of the guard.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t It happened at that time that Judah went down from his brothers and settled near a certain Adullamite whose name was Hirah.\r\n\t\t\t There Judah saw the daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was Shua; he married her and went in to her.\r\n\t\t\t She conceived and bore a son; and he named him Er.\r\n\t\t\t Again she conceived and bore a son whom she named Onan.\r\n\t\t\t Yet again she bore a son, and she named him Shelah. She was in Chezib when she bore him. \r\n\t\t\t Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn; her name was Tamar.\r\n\t\t\t But Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD, and the LORD put him to death.\r\n\t\t\t Then Judah said to Onan, \"Go in to your brother's wife and perform the duty of a brother-in-law to her; raise up offspring for your brother.\"\r\n\t\t\t But since Onan knew that the offspring would not be his, he spilled his semen on the ground whenever he went in to his brother's wife, so that he would not give offspring to his brother.\r\n\t\t\t What he did was displeasing in the sight of the LORD, and he put him to death also.\r\n\t\t\t Then Judah said to his daughter-in-law Tamar, \"Remain a widow in your father's house until my son Shelah grows up\"-- for he feared that he too would die, like his brothers. So Tamar went to live in her father's house.\r\n\t\t\t In course of time the wife of Judah, Shua's daughter, died; when Judah's time of mourning was over, he went up to Timnah to his sheepshearers, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite. \r\n\t\t\t When Tamar was told, \"Your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep,\"\r\n\t\t\t she put off her widow's garments, put on a veil, wrapped herself up, and sat down at the entrance to Enaim, which is on the road to Timnah. She saw that Shelah was grown up, yet she had not been given to him in marriage.\r\n\t\t\t When Judah saw her, he thought her to be a prostitute, for she had covered her face.\r\n\t\t\t He went over to her at the road side, and said, \"Come, let me come in to you,\" for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law. She said, \"What will you give me, that you may come in to me?\"\r\n\t\t\t He answered, \"I will send you a kid from the flock.\" And she said, \"Only if you give me a pledge, until you send it.\"\r\n\t\t\t He said, \"What pledge shall I give you?\" She replied, \"Your signet and your cord, and the staff that is in your hand.\" So he gave them to her, and went in to her, and she conceived by him.\r\n\t\t\t Then she got up and went away, and taking off her veil she put on the garments of her widowhood.\r\n\t\t\t When Judah sent the kid by his friend the Adullamite, to recover the pledge from the woman, he could not find her.\r\n\t\t\t He asked the townspeople, \"Where is the temple prostitute who was at Enaim by the wayside?\" But they said, \"No prostitute has been here.\"\r\n\t\t\t So he returned to Judah, and said, \"I have not found her; moreover the townspeople said, 'No prostitute has been here.'\"\r\n\t\t\t Judah replied, \"Let her keep the things as her own, otherwise we will be laughed at; you see, I sent this kid, and you could not find her.\"\r\n\t\t\t About three months later Judah was told, \"Your daughter-in-law Tamar has played the whore; moreover she is pregnant as a result of whoredom.\" And Judah said, \"Bring her out, and let her be burned.\"\r\n\t\t\t As she was being brought out, she sent word to her father-in-law, \"It was the owner of these who made me pregnant.\" And she said, \"Take note, please, whose these are, the signet and the cord and the staff.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Judah acknowledged them and said, \"She is more in the right than I, since I did not give her to my son Shelah.\" And he did not lie with her again.\r\n\t\t\t When the time of her delivery came, there were twins in her womb.\r\n\t\t\t While she was in labor, one put out a hand; and the midwife took and bound on his hand a crimson thread, saying, \"This one came out first.\"\r\n\t\t\t But just then he drew back his hand, and out came his brother; and she said, \"What a breach you have made for yourself!\" Therefore he was named Perez. \r\n\t\t\t Afterward his brother came out with the crimson thread on his hand; and he was named Zerah. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now Joseph was taken down to Egypt, and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him down there.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD was with Joseph, and he became a successful man; he was in the house of his Egyptian master.\r\n\t\t\t His master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD caused all that he did to prosper in his hands.\r\n\t\t\t So Joseph found favor in his sight and attended him; he made him overseer of his house and put him in charge of all that he had.\r\n\t\t\t From the time that he made him overseer in his house and over all that he had, the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; the blessing of the LORD was on all that he had, in house and field.\r\n\t\t\t So he left all that he had in Joseph's charge; and, with him there, he had no concern for anything but the food that he ate. Now Joseph was handsome and good-looking.\r\n\t\t\t And after a time his master's wife cast her eyes on Joseph and said, \"Lie with me.\"\r\n\t\t\t But he refused and said to his master's wife, \"Look, with me here, my master has no concern about anything in the house, and he has put everything that he has in my hand.\r\n\t\t\t He is not greater in this house than I am, nor has he kept back anything from me except yourself, because you are his wife. How then could I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?\"\r\n\t\t\t And although she spoke to Joseph day after day, he would not consent to lie beside her or to be with her.\r\n\t\t\t One day, however, when he went into the house to do his work, and while no one else was in the house,\r\n\t\t\t she caught hold of his garment, saying, \"Lie with me!\" But he left his garment in her hand, and fled and ran outside.\r\n\t\t\t When she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and had fled outside,\r\n\t\t\t she called out to the members of her household and said to them, \"See, my husband has brought among us a Hebrew to insult us! He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried out with a loud voice; \r\n\t\t\t and when he heard me raise my voice and cry out, he left his garment beside me, and fled outside.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then she kept his garment by her until his master came home,\r\n\t\t\t and she told him the same story, saying, \"The Hebrew servant, whom you have brought among us, came in to me to insult me;\r\n\t\t\t but as soon as I raised my voice and cried out, he left his garment beside me, and fled outside.\"\r\n\t\t\t When his master heard the words that his wife spoke to him, saying, \"This is the way your servant treated me,\" he became enraged.\r\n\t\t\t And Joseph's master took him and put him into the prison, the place where the king's prisoners were confined; he remained there in prison.\r\n\t\t\t But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love; he gave him favor in the sight of the chief jailer.\r\n\t\t\t The chief jailer committed to Joseph's care all the prisoners who were in the prison, and whatever was done there, he was the one who did it.\r\n\t\t\t The chief jailer paid no heed to anything that was in Joseph's care, because the LORD was with him; and whatever he did, the LORD made it prosper.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Some time after this, the cupbearer of the king of Egypt and his baker offended their lord the king of Egypt.\r\n\t\t\t Pharaoh was angry with his two officers, the chief cupbearer and the chief baker,\r\n\t\t\t and he put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the prison where Joseph was confined.\r\n\t\t\t The captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he waited on them; and they continued for some time in custody.\r\n\t\t\t One night they both dreamed-- the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were confined in the prison-- each his own dream, and each dream with its own meaning.\r\n\t\t\t When Joseph came to them in the morning, he saw that they were troubled.\r\n\t\t\t So he asked Pharaoh's officers, who were with him in custody in his master's house, \"Why are your faces downcast today?\"\r\n\t\t\t They said to him, \"We have had dreams, and there is no one to interpret them.\" And Joseph said to them, \"Do not interpretations belong to God? Please tell them to me.\"\r\n\t\t\t So the chief cupbearer told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, \"In my dream there was a vine before me,\r\n\t\t\t and on the vine there were three branches. As soon as it budded, its blossoms came out and the clusters ripened into grapes.\r\n\t\t\t Pharaoh's cup was in my hand; and I took the grapes and pressed them into Pharaoh's cup, and placed the cup in Pharaoh's hand.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Joseph said to him, \"This is its interpretation: the three branches are three days;\r\n\t\t\t within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your office; and you shall place Pharaoh's cup in his hand, just as you used to do when you were his cupbearer.\r\n\t\t\t But remember me when it is well with you; please do me the kindness to make mention of me to Pharaoh, and so get me out of this place.\r\n\t\t\t For in fact I was stolen out of the land of the Hebrews; and here also I have done nothing that they should have put me into the dungeon.\"\r\n\t\t\t When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was favorable, he said to Joseph, \"I also had a dream: there were three cake baskets on my head,\r\n\t\t\t and in the uppermost basket there were all sorts of baked food for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating it out of the basket on my head.\"\r\n\t\t\t And Joseph answered, \"This is its interpretation: the three baskets are three days;\r\n\t\t\t within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head-- from you!-- and hang you on a pole; and the birds will eat the flesh from you.\"\r\n\t\t\t On the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthday, he made a feast for all his servants, and lifted up the head of the chief cupbearer and the head of the chief baker among his servants.\r\n\t\t\t He restored the chief cupbearer to his cupbearing, and he placed the cup in Pharaoh's hand;\r\n\t\t\t but the chief baker he hanged, just as Joseph had interpreted to them.\r\n\t\t\t Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t After two whole years, Pharaoh dreamed that he was standing by the Nile,\r\n\t\t\t and there came up out of the Nile seven sleek and fat cows, and they grazed in the reed grass.\r\n\t\t\t Then seven other cows, ugly and thin, came up out of the Nile after them, and stood by the other cows on the bank of the Nile.\r\n\t\t\t The ugly and thin cows ate up the seven sleek and fat cows. And Pharaoh awoke.\r\n\t\t\t Then he fell asleep and dreamed a second time; seven ears of grain, plump and good, were growing on one stalk.\r\n\t\t\t Then seven ears, thin and blighted by the east wind, sprouted after them.\r\n\t\t\t The thin ears swallowed up the seven plump and full ears. Pharaoh awoke, and it was a dream.\r\n\t\t\t In the morning his spirit was troubled; so he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but there was no one who could interpret them to Pharaoh.\r\n\t\t\t Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, \"I remember my faults today.\r\n\t\t\t Once Pharaoh was angry with his servants, and put me and the chief baker in custody in the house of the captain of the guard.\r\n\t\t\t We dreamed on the same night, he and I, each having a dream with its own meaning.\r\n\t\t\t A young Hebrew was there with us, a servant of the captain of the guard. When we told him, he interpreted our dreams to us, giving an interpretation to each according to his dream.\r\n\t\t\t As he interpreted to us, so it turned out; I was restored to my office, and the baker was hanged.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and he was hurriedly brought out of the dungeon. When he had shaved himself and changed his clothes, he came in before Pharaoh.\r\n\t\t\t And Pharaoh said to Joseph, \"I have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.\"\r\n\t\t\t Joseph answered Pharaoh, \"It is not I; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, \"In my dream I was standing on the banks of the Nile;\r\n\t\t\t and seven cows, fat and sleek, came up out of the Nile and fed in the reed grass.\r\n\t\t\t Then seven other cows came up after them, poor, very ugly, and thin. Never had I seen such ugly ones in all the land of Egypt.\r\n\t\t\t The thin and ugly cows ate up the first seven fat cows,\r\n\t\t\t but when they had eaten them no one would have known that they had done so, for they were still as ugly as before. Then I awoke.\r\n\t\t\t I fell asleep a second time and I saw in my dream seven ears of grain, full and good, growing on one stalk, \r\n\t\t\t and seven ears, withered, thin, and blighted by the east wind, sprouting after them;\r\n\t\t\t and the thin ears swallowed up the seven good ears. But when I told it to the magicians, there was no one who could explain it to me.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, \"Pharaoh's dreams are one and the same; God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do.\r\n\t\t\t The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good ears are seven years; the dreams are one.\r\n\t\t\t The seven lean and ugly cows that came up after them are seven years, as are the seven empty ears blighted by the east wind. They are seven years of famine.\r\n\t\t\t It is as I told Pharaoh; God has shown to Pharaoh what he is about to do.\r\n\t\t\t There will come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt.\r\n\t\t\t After them there will arise seven years of famine, and all the plenty will be forgotten in the land of Egypt; the famine will consume the land.\r\n\t\t\t The plenty will no longer be known in the land because of the famine that will follow, for it will be very grievous.\r\n\t\t\t And the doubling of Pharaoh's dream means that the thing is fixed by God, and God will shortly bring it about.\r\n\t\t\t Now therefore let Pharaoh select a man who is discerning and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt.\r\n\t\t\t Let Pharaoh proceed to appoint overseers over the land, and take one-fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt during the seven plenteous years.\r\n\t\t\t Let them gather all the food of these good years that are coming, and lay up grain under the authority of Pharaoh for food in the cities, and let them keep it.\r\n\t\t\t That food shall be a reserve for the land against the seven years of famine that are to befall the land of Egypt, so that the land may not perish through the famine.\"\r\n\t\t\t The proposal pleased Pharaoh and all his servants.\r\n\t\t\t Pharaoh said to his servants, \"Can we find anyone else like this-- one in whom is the spirit of God?\"\r\n\t\t\t So Pharaoh said to Joseph, \"Since God has shown you all this, there is no one so discerning and wise as you.\r\n\t\t\t You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command; only with regard to the throne will I be greater than you.\"\r\n\t\t\t And Pharaoh said to Joseph, \"See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.\"\r\n\t\t\t Removing his signet ring from his hand, Pharaoh put it on Joseph's hand; he arrayed him in garments of fine linen, and put a gold chain around his neck.\r\n\t\t\t He had him ride in the chariot of his second-in-command; and they cried out in front of him, \"Bow the knee!\" Thus he set him over all the land of Egypt. \r\n\t\t\t Moreover Pharaoh said to Joseph, \"I am Pharaoh, and without your consent no one shall lift up hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.\"\r\n\t\t\t Pharaoh gave Joseph the name Zaphenath-paneah; and he gave him Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, as his wife. Thus Joseph gained authority over the land of Egypt.\r\n\t\t\t Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went through all the land of Egypt.\r\n\t\t\t During the seven plenteous years the earth produced abundantly.\r\n\t\t\t He gathered up all the food of the seven years when there was plenty in the land of Egypt, and stored up food in the cities; he stored up in every city the food from the fields around it. \r\n\t\t\t So Joseph stored up grain in such abundance-- like the sand of the sea-- that he stopped measuring it; it was beyond measure.\r\n\t\t\t Before the years of famine came, Joseph had two sons, whom Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, bore to him.\r\n\t\t\t Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh, \"For,\" he said, \"God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father's house.\" \r\n\t\t\t The second he named Ephraim, \"For God has made me fruitful in the land of my misfortunes.\" \r\n\t\t\t The seven years of plenty that prevailed in the land of Egypt came to an end;\r\n\t\t\t and the seven years of famine began to come, just as Joseph had said. There was famine in every country, but throughout the land of Egypt there was bread.\r\n\t\t\t When all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread. Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, \"Go to Joseph; what he says to you, do.\"\r\n\t\t\t And since the famine had spread over all the land, Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe in the land of Egypt. \r\n\t\t\t Moreover, all the world came to Joseph in Egypt to buy grain, because the famine became severe throughout the world.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t When Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, \"Why do you keep looking at one another?\r\n\t\t\t I have heard,\" he said, \"that there is grain in Egypt; go down and buy grain for us there, that we may live and not die.\"\r\n\t\t\t So ten of Joseph's brothers went down to buy grain in Egypt.\r\n\t\t\t But Jacob did not send Joseph's brother Benjamin with his brothers, for he feared that harm might come to him.\r\n\t\t\t Thus the sons of Israel were among the other people who came to buy grain, for the famine had reached the land of Canaan.\r\n\t\t\t Now Joseph was governor over the land; it was he who sold to all the people of the land. And Joseph's brothers came and bowed themselves before him with their faces to the ground.\r\n\t\t\t When Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he treated them like strangers and spoke harshly to them. \"Where do you come from?\" he said. They said, \"From the land of Canaan, to buy food.\"\r\n\t\t\t Although Joseph had recognized his brothers, they did not recognize him.\r\n\t\t\t Joseph also remembered the dreams that he had dreamed about them. He said to them, \"You are spies; you have come to see the nakedness of the land!\"\r\n\t\t\t They said to him, \"No, my lord; your servants have come to buy food.\r\n\t\t\t We are all sons of one man; we are honest men; your servants have never been spies.\"\r\n\t\t\t But he said to them, \"No, you have come to see the nakedness of the land!\"\r\n\t\t\t They said, \"We, your servants, are twelve brothers, the sons of a certain man in the land of Canaan; the youngest, however, is now with our father, and one is no more.\"\r\n\t\t\t But Joseph said to them, \"It is just as I have said to you; you are spies!\r\n\t\t\t Here is how you shall be tested: as Pharaoh lives, you shall not leave this place unless your youngest brother comes here!\r\n\t\t\t Let one of you go and bring your brother, while the rest of you remain in prison, in order that your words may be tested, whether there is truth in you; or else, as Pharaoh lives, surely you are spies.\"\r\n\t\t\t And he put them all together in prison for three days.\r\n\t\t\t On the third day Joseph said to them, \"Do this and you will live, for I fear God:\r\n\t\t\t if you are honest men, let one of your brothers stay here where you are imprisoned. The rest of you shall go and carry grain for the famine of your households,\r\n\t\t\t and bring your youngest brother to me. Thus your words will be verified, and you shall not die.\" And they agreed to do so.\r\n\t\t\t They said to one another, \"Alas, we are paying the penalty for what we did to our brother; we saw his anguish when he pleaded with us, but we would not listen. That is why this anguish has come upon us.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Reuben answered them, \"Did I not tell you not to wrong the boy? But you would not listen. So now there comes a reckoning for his blood.\"\r\n\t\t\t They did not know that Joseph understood them, since he spoke with them through an interpreter.\r\n\t\t\t He turned away from them and wept; then he returned and spoke to them. And he picked out Simeon and had him bound before their eyes.\r\n\t\t\t Joseph then gave orders to fill their bags with grain, to return every man's money to his sack, and to give them provisions for their journey. This was done for them.\r\n\t\t\t They loaded their donkeys with their grain, and departed.\r\n\t\t\t When one of them opened his sack to give his donkey fodder at the lodging place, he saw his money at the top of the sack.\r\n\t\t\t He said to his brothers, \"My money has been put back; here it is in my sack!\" At this they lost heart and turned trembling to one another, saying, \"What is this that God has done to us?\"\r\n\t\t\t When they came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan, they told him all that had happened to them, saying,\r\n\t\t\t \"The man, the lord of the land, spoke harshly to us, and charged us with spying on the land.\r\n\t\t\t But we said to him, 'We are honest men, we are not spies.\r\n\t\t\t We are twelve brothers, sons of our father; one is no more, and the youngest is now with our father in the land of Canaan.'\r\n\t\t\t Then the man, the lord of the land, said to us, 'By this I shall know that you are honest men: leave one of your brothers with me, take grain for the famine of your households, and go your way.\r\n\t\t\t Bring your youngest brother to me, and I shall know that you are not spies but honest men. Then I will release your brother to you, and you may trade in the land.'\"\r\n\t\t\t As they were emptying their sacks, there in each one's sack was his bag of money. When they and their father saw their bundles of money, they were dismayed.\r\n\t\t\t And their father Jacob said to them, \"I am the one you have bereaved of children: Joseph is no more, and Simeon is no more, and now you would take Benjamin. All this has happened to me!\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Reuben said to his father, \"You may kill my two sons if I do not bring him back to you. Put him in my hands, and I will bring him back to you.\"\r\n\t\t\t But he said, \"My son shall not go down with you, for his brother is dead, and he alone is left. If harm should come to him on the journey that you are to make, you would bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to Sheol.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now the famine was severe in the land.\r\n\t\t\t And when they had eaten up the grain that they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, \"Go again, buy us a little more food.\"\r\n\t\t\t But Judah said to him, \"The man solemnly warned us, saying, 'You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.'\r\n\t\t\t If you will send our brother with us, we will go down and buy you food;\r\n\t\t\t but if you will not send him, we will not go down, for the man said to us, 'You shall not see my face, unless your brother is with you.'\"\r\n\t\t\t Israel said, \"Why did you treat me so badly as to tell the man that you had another brother?\"\r\n\t\t\t They replied, \"The man questioned us carefully about ourselves and our kindred, saying, 'Is your father still alive? Have you another brother?' What we told him was in answer to these questions. Could we in any way know that he would say, 'Bring your brother down'?\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Judah said to his father Israel, \"Send the boy with me, and let us be on our way, so that we may live and not die-- you and we and also our little ones.\r\n\t\t\t I myself will be surety for him; you can hold me accountable for him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever.\r\n\t\t\t If we had not delayed, we would now have returned twice.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then their father Israel said to them, \"If it must be so, then do this: take some of the choice fruits of the land in your bags, and carry them down as a present to the man-- a little balm and a little honey, gum, resin, pistachio nuts, and almonds.\r\n\t\t\t Take double the money with you. Carry back with you the money that was returned in the top of your sacks; perhaps it was an oversight.\r\n\t\t\t Take your brother also, and be on your way again to the man;\r\n\t\t\t may God Almighty grant you mercy before the man, so that he may send back your other brother and Benjamin. As for me, if I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.\" \r\n\t\t\t So the men took the present, and they took double the money with them, as well as Benjamin. Then they went on their way down to Egypt, and stood before Joseph.\r\n\t\t\t When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, \"Bring the men into the house, and slaughter an animal and make ready, for the men are to dine with me at noon.\"\r\n\t\t\t The man did as Joseph said, and brought the men to Joseph's house.\r\n\t\t\t Now the men were afraid because they were brought to Joseph's house, and they said, \"It is because of the money, replaced in our sacks the first time, that we have been brought in, so that he may have an opportunity to fall upon us, to make slaves of us and take our donkeys.\"\r\n\t\t\t So they went up to the steward of Joseph's house and spoke with him at the entrance to the house.\r\n\t\t\t They said, \"Oh, my lord, we came down the first time to buy food;\r\n\t\t\t and when we came to the lodging place we opened our sacks, and there was each one's money in the top of his sack, our money in full weight. So we have brought it back with us.\r\n\t\t\t Moreover we have brought down with us additional money to buy food. We do not know who put our money in our sacks.\"\r\n\t\t\t He replied, \"Rest assured, do not be afraid; your God and the God of your father must have put treasure in your sacks for you; I received your money.\" Then he brought Simeon out to them.\r\n\t\t\t When the steward had brought the men into Joseph's house, and given them water, and they had washed their feet, and when he had given their donkeys fodder, \r\n\t\t\t they made the present ready for Joseph's coming at noon, for they had heard that they would dine there.\r\n\t\t\t When Joseph came home, they brought him the present that they had carried into the house, and bowed to the ground before him.\r\n\t\t\t He inquired about their welfare, and said, \"Is your father well, the old man of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?\"\r\n\t\t\t They said, \"Your servant our father is well; he is still alive.\" And they bowed their heads and did obeisance.\r\n\t\t\t Then he looked up and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother's son, and said, \"Is this your youngest brother, of whom you spoke to me? God be gracious to you, my son!\"\r\n\t\t\t With that, Joseph hurried out, because he was overcome with affection for his brother, and he was about to weep. So he went into a private room and wept there.\r\n\t\t\t Then he washed his face and came out; and controlling himself he said, \"Serve the meal.\"\r\n\t\t\t They served him by himself, and them by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves, because the Egyptians could not eat with the Hebrews, for that is an abomination to the Egyptians.\r\n\t\t\t When they were seated before him, the firstborn according to his birthright and the youngest according to his youth, the men looked at one another in amazement.\r\n\t\t\t Portions were taken to them from Joseph's table, but Benjamin's portion was five times as much as any of theirs. So they drank and were merry with him.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then he commanded the steward of his house, \"Fill the men's sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put each man's money in the top of his sack.\r\n\t\t\t Put my cup, the silver cup, in the top of the sack of the youngest, with his money for the grain.\" And he did as Joseph told him.\r\n\t\t\t As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away with their donkeys.\r\n\t\t\t When they had gone only a short distance from the city, Joseph said to his steward, \"Go, follow after the men; and when you overtake them, say to them, 'Why have you returned evil for good? Why have you stolen my silver cup? \r\n\t\t\t Is it not from this that my lord drinks? Does he not indeed use it for divination? You have done wrong in doing this.'\"\r\n\t\t\t When he overtook them, he repeated these words to them.\r\n\t\t\t They said to him, \"Why does my lord speak such words as these? Far be it from your servants that they should do such a thing!\r\n\t\t\t Look, the money that we found at the top of our sacks, we brought back to you from the land of Canaan; why then would we steal silver or gold from your lord's house?\r\n\t\t\t Should it be found with any one of your servants, let him die; moreover the rest of us will become my lord's slaves.\"\r\n\t\t\t He said, \"Even so; in accordance with your words, let it be: he with whom it is found shall become my slave, but the rest of you shall go free.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then each one quickly lowered his sack to the ground, and each opened his sack.\r\n\t\t\t He searched, beginning with the eldest and ending with the youngest; and the cup was found in Benjamin's sack.\r\n\t\t\t At this they tore their clothes. Then each one loaded his donkey, and they returned to the city.\r\n\t\t\t Judah and his brothers came to Joseph's house while he was still there; and they fell to the ground before him.\r\n\t\t\t Joseph said to them, \"What deed is this that you have done? Do you not know that one such as I can practice divination?\"\r\n\t\t\t And Judah said, \"What can we say to my lord? What can we speak? How can we clear ourselves? God has found out the guilt of your servants; here we are then, my lord's slaves, both we and also the one in whose possession the cup has been found.\"\r\n\t\t\t But he said, \"Far be it from me that I should do so! Only the one in whose possession the cup was found shall be my slave; but as for you, go up in peace to your father.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Judah stepped up to him and said, \"O my lord, let your servant please speak a word in my lord's ears, and do not be angry with your servant; for you are like Pharaoh himself.\r\n\t\t\t My lord asked his servants, saying, 'Have you a father or a brother?'\r\n\t\t\t And we said to my lord, 'We have a father, an old man, and a young brother, the child of his old age. His brother is dead; he alone is left of his mother's children, and his father loves him.'\r\n\t\t\t Then you said to your servants, 'Bring him down to me, so that I may set my eyes on him.'\r\n\t\t\t We said to my lord, 'The boy cannot leave his father, for if he should leave his father, his father would die.'\r\n\t\t\t Then you said to your servants, 'Unless your youngest brother comes down with you, you shall see my face no more.'\r\n\t\t\t When we went back to your servant my father we told him the words of my lord.\r\n\t\t\t And when our father said, 'Go again, buy us a little food,'\r\n\t\t\t we said, 'We cannot go down. Only if our youngest brother goes with us, will we go down; for we cannot see the man's face unless our youngest brother is with us.'\r\n\t\t\t Then your servant my father said to us, 'You know that my wife bore me two sons;\r\n\t\t\t one left me, and I said, Surely he has been torn to pieces; and I have never seen him since.\r\n\t\t\t If you take this one also from me, and harm comes to him, you will bring down my gray hairs in sorrow to Sheol.'\r\n\t\t\t Now therefore, when I come to your servant my father and the boy is not with us, then, as his life is bound up in the boy's life,\r\n\t\t\t when he sees that the boy is not with us, he will die; and your servants will bring down the gray hairs of your servant our father with sorrow to Sheol.\r\n\t\t\t For your servant became surety for the boy to my father, saying, 'If I do not bring him back to you, then I will bear the blame in the sight of my father all my life.'\r\n\t\t\t Now therefore, please let your servant remain as a slave to my lord in place of the boy; and let the boy go back with his brothers.\r\n\t\t\t For how can I go back to my father if the boy is not with me? I fear to see the suffering that would come upon my father.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all those who stood by him, and he cried out, \"Send everyone away from me.\" So no one stayed with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers.\r\n\t\t\t And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard it.\r\n\t\t\t Joseph said to his brothers, \"I am Joseph. Is my father still alive?\" But his brothers could not answer him, so dismayed were they at his presence.\r\n\t\t\t Then Joseph said to his brothers, \"Come closer to me.\" And they came closer. He said, \"I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt.\r\n\t\t\t And now do not be distressed, or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life.\r\n\t\t\t For the famine has been in the land these two years; and there are five more years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest.\r\n\t\t\t God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors.\r\n\t\t\t So it was not you who sent me here, but God; he has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt.\r\n\t\t\t Hurry and go up to my father and say to him, 'Thus says your son Joseph, God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me, do not delay.\r\n\t\t\t You shall settle in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near me, you and your children and your children's children, as well as your flocks, your herds, and all that you have.\r\n\t\t\t I will provide for you there-- since there are five more years of famine to come-- so that you and your household, and all that you have, will not come to poverty.'\r\n\t\t\t And now your eyes and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see that it is my own mouth that speaks to you.\r\n\t\t\t You must tell my father how greatly I am honored in Egypt, and all that you have seen. Hurry and bring my father down here.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then he fell upon his brother Benjamin's neck and wept, while Benjamin wept upon his neck.\r\n\t\t\t And he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them; and after that his brothers talked with him.\r\n\t\t\t When the report was heard in Pharaoh's house, \"Joseph's brothers have come,\" Pharaoh and his servants were pleased.\r\n\t\t\t Pharaoh said to Joseph, \"Say to your brothers, 'Do this: load your animals and go back to the land of Canaan.\r\n\t\t\t Take your father and your households and come to me, so that I may give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you may enjoy the fat of the land.'\r\n\t\t\t You are further charged to say, 'Do this: take wagons from the land of Egypt for your little ones and for your wives, and bring your father, and come.\r\n\t\t\t Give no thought to your possessions, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.'\"\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Israel did so. Joseph gave them wagons according to the instruction of Pharaoh, and he gave them provisions for the journey.\r\n\t\t\t To each one of them he gave a set of garments; but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver and five sets of garments.\r\n\t\t\t To his father he sent the following: ten donkeys loaded with the good things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain, bread, and provision for his father on the journey.\r\n\t\t\t Then he sent his brothers on their way, and as they were leaving he said to them, \"Do not quarrel along the way.\" \r\n\t\t\t So they went up out of Egypt and came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan.\r\n\t\t\t And they told him, \"Joseph is still alive! He is even ruler over all the land of Egypt.\" He was stunned; he could not believe them.\r\n\t\t\t But when they told him all the words of Joseph that he had said to them, and when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of their father Jacob revived.\r\n\t\t\t Israel said, \"Enough! My son Joseph is still alive. I must go and see him before I die.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t When Israel set out on his journey with all that he had and came to Beer-sheba, he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac.\r\n\t\t\t God spoke to Israel in visions of the night, and said, \"Jacob, Jacob.\" And he said, \"Here I am.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then he said, \"I am God, the God of your father; do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make of you a great nation there.\r\n\t\t\t I myself will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also bring you up again; and Joseph's own hand shall close your eyes.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Jacob set out from Beer-sheba; and the sons of Israel carried their father Jacob, their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons that Pharaoh had sent to carry him.\r\n\t\t\t They also took their livestock and the goods that they had acquired in the land of Canaan, and they came into Egypt, Jacob and all his offspring with him,\r\n\t\t\t his sons, and his sons' sons with him, his daughters, and his sons' daughters; all his offspring he brought with him into Egypt.\r\n\t\t\t Now these are the names of the Israelites, Jacob and his offspring, who came to Egypt. Reuben, Jacob's firstborn,\r\n\t\t\t and the children of Reuben: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.\r\n\t\t\t The children of Simeon: Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul, the son of a Canaanite woman. \r\n\t\t\t The children of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.\r\n\t\t\t The children of Judah: Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah (but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan); and the children of Perez were Hezron and Hamul.\r\n\t\t\t The children of Issachar: Tola, Puvah, Jashub, and Shimron. \r\n\t\t\t The children of Zebulun: Sered, Elon, and Jahleel\r\n\t\t\t (these are the sons of Leah, whom she bore to Jacob in Paddan-aram, together with his daughter Dinah; in all his sons and his daughters numbered thirty-three).\r\n\t\t\t The children of Gad: Ziphion, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi, and Areli.\r\n\t\t\t The children of Asher: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, Beriah, and their sister Serah. The children of Beriah: Heber and Malchiel\r\n\t\t\t (these are the children of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to his daughter Leah; and these she bore to Jacob-- sixteen persons).\r\n\t\t\t The children of Jacob's wife Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin.\r\n\t\t\t To Joseph in the land of Egypt were born Manasseh and Ephraim, whom Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, bore to him.\r\n\t\t\t The children of Benjamin: Bela, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard\r\n\t\t\t (these are the children of Rachel, who were born to Jacob-- fourteen persons in all).\r\n\t\t\t The children of Dan: Hashum. \r\n\t\t\t The children of Naphtali: Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem\r\n\t\t\t (these are the children of Bilhah, whom Laban gave to his daughter Rachel, and these she bore to Jacob-- seven persons in all).\r\n\t\t\t All the persons belonging to Jacob who came into Egypt, who were his own offspring, not including the wives of his sons, were sixty-six persons in all.\r\n\t\t\t The children of Joseph, who were born to him in Egypt, were two; all the persons of the house of Jacob who came into Egypt were seventy.\r\n\t\t\t Israel sent Judah ahead to Joseph to lead the way before him into Goshen. When they came to the land of Goshen, \r\n\t\t\t Joseph made ready his chariot and went up to meet his father Israel in Goshen. He presented himself to him, fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while.\r\n\t\t\t Israel said to Joseph, \"I can die now, having seen for myself that you are still alive.\"\r\n\t\t\t Joseph said to his brothers and to his father's household, \"I will go up and tell Pharaoh, and will say to him, 'My brothers and my father's household, who were in the land of Canaan, have come to me.\r\n\t\t\t The men are shepherds, for they have been keepers of livestock; and they have brought their flocks, and their herds, and all that they have.'\r\n\t\t\t When Pharaoh calls you, and says, 'What is your occupation?'\r\n\t\t\t you shall say, 'Your servants have been keepers of livestock from our youth even until now, both we and our ancestors'-- in order that you may settle in the land of Goshen, because all shepherds are abhorrent to the Egyptians.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t So Joseph went and told Pharaoh, \"My father and my brothers, with their flocks and herds and all that they possess, have come from the land of Canaan; they are now in the land of Goshen.\"\r\n\t\t\t From among his brothers he took five men and presented them to Pharaoh.\r\n\t\t\t Pharaoh said to his brothers, \"What is your occupation?\" And they said to Pharaoh, \"Your servants are shepherds, as our ancestors were.\"\r\n\t\t\t They said to Pharaoh, \"We have come to reside as aliens in the land; for there is no pasture for your servants' flocks because the famine is severe in the land of Canaan. Now, we ask you, let your servants settle in the land of Goshen.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, \"Your father and your brothers have come to you.\r\n\t\t\t The land of Egypt is before you; settle your father and your brothers in the best part of the land; let them live in the land of Goshen; and if you know that there are capable men among them, put them in charge of my livestock.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Joseph brought in his father Jacob, and presented him before Pharaoh, and Jacob blessed Pharaoh.\r\n\t\t\t Pharaoh said to Jacob, \"How many are the years of your life?\"\r\n\t\t\t Jacob said to Pharaoh, \"The years of my earthly sojourn are one hundred thirty; few and hard have been the years of my life. They do not compare with the years of the life of my ancestors during their long sojourn.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Jacob blessed Pharaoh, and went out from the presence of Pharaoh.\r\n\t\t\t Joseph settled his father and his brothers, and granted them a holding in the land of Egypt, in the best part of the land, in the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had instructed.\r\n\t\t\t And Joseph provided his father, his brothers, and all his father's household with food, according to the number of their dependents.\r\n\t\t\t Now there was no food in all the land, for the famine was very severe. The land of Egypt and the land of Canaan languished because of the famine.\r\n\t\t\t Joseph collected all the money to be found in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, in exchange for the grain that they bought; and Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh's house.\r\n\t\t\t When the money from the land of Egypt and from the land of Canaan was spent, all the Egyptians came to Joseph, and said, \"Give us food! Why should we die before your eyes? For our money is gone.\"\r\n\t\t\t And Joseph answered, \"Give me your livestock, and I will give you food in exchange for your livestock, if your money is gone.\"\r\n\t\t\t So they brought their livestock to Joseph; and Joseph gave them food in exchange for the horses, the flocks, the herds, and the donkeys. That year he supplied them with food in exchange for all their livestock.\r\n\t\t\t When that year was ended, they came to him the following year, and said to him, \"We can not hide from my lord that our money is all spent; and the herds of cattle are my lord's. There is nothing left in the sight of my lord but our bodies and our lands.\r\n\t\t\t Shall we die before your eyes, both we and our land? Buy us and our land in exchange for food. We with our land will become slaves to Pharaoh; just give us seed, so that we may live and not die, and that the land may not become desolate.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh. All the Egyptians sold their fields, because the famine was severe upon them; and the land became Pharaoh's.\r\n\t\t\t As for the people, he made slaves of them from one end of Egypt to the other. \r\n\t\t\t Only the land of the priests he did not buy; for the priests had a fixed allowance from Pharaoh, and lived on the allowance that Pharaoh gave them; therefore they did not sell their land.\r\n\t\t\t Then Joseph said to the people, \"Now that I have this day bought you and your land for Pharaoh, here is seed for you; sow the land.\r\n\t\t\t And at the harvests you shall give one-fifth to Pharaoh, and four-fifths shall be your own, as seed for the field and as food for yourselves and your households, and as food for your little ones.\"\r\n\t\t\t They said, \"You have saved our lives; may it please my lord, we will be slaves to Pharaoh.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Joseph made it a statute concerning the land of Egypt, and it stands to this day, that Pharaoh should have the fifth. The land of the priests alone did not become Pharaoh's.\r\n\t\t\t Thus Israel settled in the land of Egypt, in the region of Goshen; and they gained possessions in it, and were fruitful and multiplied exceedingly.\r\n\t\t\t Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years; so the days of Jacob, the years of his life, were one hundred forty-seven years.\r\n\t\t\t When the time of Israel's death drew near, he called his son Joseph and said to him, \"If I have found favor with you, put your hand under my thigh and promise to deal loyally and truly with me. Do not bury me in Egypt.\r\n\t\t\t When I lie down with my ancestors, carry me out of Egypt and bury me in their burial place.\" He answered, \"I will do as you have said.\"\r\n\t\t\t And he said, \"Swear to me\"; and he swore to him. Then Israel bowed himself on the head of his bed.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t After this Joseph was told, \"Your father is ill.\" So he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.\r\n\t\t\t When Jacob was told, \"Your son Joseph has come to you,\" he summoned his strength and sat up in bed. \r\n\t\t\t And Jacob said to Joseph, \"God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and he blessed me,\r\n\t\t\t and said to me, 'I am going to make you fruitful and increase your numbers; I will make of you a company of peoples, and will give this land to your offspring after you for a perpetual holding.'\r\n\t\t\t Therefore your two sons, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt, are now mine; Ephraim and Manasseh shall be mine, just as Reuben and Simeon are.\r\n\t\t\t As for the offspring born to you after them, they shall be yours. They shall be recorded under the names of their brothers with regard to their inheritance.\r\n\t\t\t For when I came from Paddan, Rachel, alas, died in the land of Canaan on the way, while there was still some distance to go to Ephrath; and I buried her there on the way to Ephrath\" (that is, Bethlehem).\r\n\t\t\t When Israel saw Joseph's sons, he said, \"Who are these?\"\r\n\t\t\t Joseph said to his father, \"They are my sons, whom God has given me here.\" And he said, \"Bring them to me, please, that I may bless them.\"\r\n\t\t\t Now the eyes of Israel were dim with age, and he could not see well. So Joseph brought them near him; and he kissed them and embraced them.\r\n\t\t\t Israel said to Joseph, \"I did not expect to see your face; and here God has let me see your children also.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Joseph removed them from his father's knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth. \r\n\t\t\t Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel's left, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel's right, and brought them near him.\r\n\t\t\t But Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on the head of Ephraim, who was the younger, and his left hand on the head of Manasseh, crossing his hands, for Manasseh was the firstborn.\r\n\t\t\t He blessed Joseph, and said, \"The God before whom my ancestors Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day,\r\n\t\t\t the angel who has redeemed me from all harm, bless the boys; and in them let my name be perpetuated, and the name of my ancestors Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude on the earth.\"\r\n\t\t\t When Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him; so he took his father's hand, to remove it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's head.\r\n\t\t\t Joseph said to his father, \"Not so, my father! Since this one is the firstborn, put your right hand on his head.\"\r\n\t\t\t But his father refused, and said, \"I know, my son, I know; he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great. Nevertheless his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his offspring shall become a multitude of nations.\"\r\n\t\t\t So he blessed them that day, saying, \"By you Israel will invoke blessings, saying, 'God make you like Ephraim and like Manasseh.'\" So he put Ephraim ahead of Manasseh. \r\n\t\t\t Then Israel said to Joseph, \"I am about to die, but God will be with you and will bring you again to the land of your ancestors.\r\n\t\t\t I now give to you one portion more than to your brothers, the portion that I took from the hand of the Amorites with my sword and with my bow.\" \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then Jacob called his sons, and said: \"Gather around, that I may tell you what will happen to you in days to come.\r\n\t\t\t Assemble and hear, O sons of Jacob; listen to Israel your father.\r\n\t\t\t Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might and the first fruits of my vigor, excelling in rank and excelling in power.\r\n\t\t\t Unstable as water, you shall no longer excel because you went up onto your father's bed; then you defiled it-- you went up onto my couch!\r\n\t\t\t Simeon and Levi are brothers; weapons of violence are their swords.\r\n\t\t\t May I never come into their council; may I not be joined to their company-- for in their anger they killed men, and at their whim they hamstrung oxen.\r\n\t\t\t Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce, and their wrath, for it is cruel! I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel.\r\n\t\t\t Judah, your brothers shall praise you; your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies; your father's sons shall bow down before you.\r\n\t\t\t Judah is a lion's whelp; from the prey, my son, you have gone up. He crouches down, he stretches out like a lion, like a lioness-- who dares rouse him up?\r\n\t\t\t The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until tribute comes to him; and the obedience of the peoples is his. \r\n\t\t\t Binding his foal to the vine and his donkey's colt to the choice vine, he washes his garments in wine and his robe in the blood of grapes;\r\n\t\t\t his eyes are darker than wine, and his teeth whiter than milk.\r\n\t\t\t Zebulun shall settle at the shore of the sea; he shall be a haven for ships, and his border shall be at Sidon.\r\n\t\t\t Issachar is a strong donkey, lying down between the sheepfolds;\r\n\t\t\t he saw that a resting place was good, and that the land was pleasant; so he bowed his shoulder to the burden, and became a slave at forced labor.\r\n\t\t\t Dan shall judge his people as one of the tribes of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t Dan shall be a snake by the roadside, a viper along the path, that bites the horse's heels so that its rider falls backward.\r\n\t\t\t I wait for your salvation, O LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Gad shall be raided by raiders, but he shall raid at their heels.\r\n\t\t\t Asher's food shall be rich, and he shall provide royal delicacies. \r\n\t\t\t Naphtali is a doe let loose that bears lovely fawns. \r\n\t\t\t Joseph is a fruitful bough, a fruitful bough by a spring; his branches run over the wall. \r\n\t\t\t The archers fiercely attacked him; they shot at him and pressed him hard.\r\n\t\t\t Yet his bow remained taut, and his arms were made agile by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob, by the name of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel, \r\n\t\t\t by the God of your father, who will help you, by the Almighty who will bless you with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lies beneath, blessings of the breasts and of the womb. \r\n\t\t\t The blessings of your father are stronger than the blessings of the eternal mountains, the bounties of the everlasting hills; may they be on the head of Joseph, on the brow of him who was set apart from his brothers. \r\n\t\t\t Benjamin is a ravenous wolf, in the morning devouring the prey, and at evening dividing the spoil.\"\r\n\t\t\t All these are the twelve tribes of Israel, and this is what their father said to them when he blessed them, blessing each one of them with a suitable blessing.\r\n\t\t\t Then he charged them, saying to them, \"I am about to be gathered to my people. Bury me with my ancestors-- in the cave in the field of Ephron the Hittite,\r\n\t\t\t in the cave in the field at Machpelah, near Mamre, in the land of Canaan, in the field that Abraham bought from Ephron the Hittite as a burial site.\r\n\t\t\t There Abraham and his wife Sarah were buried; there Isaac and his wife Rebekah were buried; and there I buried Leah--\r\n\t\t\t the field and the cave that is in it were purchased from the Hittites.\"\r\n\t\t\t When Jacob ended his charge to his sons, he drew up his feet into the bed, breathed his last, and was gathered to his people.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then Joseph threw himself on his father's face and wept over him and kissed him.\r\n\t\t\t Joseph commanded the physicians in his service to embalm his father. So the physicians embalmed Israel;\r\n\t\t\t they spent forty days in doing this, for that is the time required for embalming. And the Egyptians wept for him seventy days.\r\n\t\t\t When the days of weeping for him were past, Joseph addressed the household of Pharaoh, \"If now I have found favor with you, please speak to Pharaoh as follows:\r\n\t\t\t My father made me swear an oath; he said, 'I am about to die. In the tomb that I hewed out for myself in the land of Canaan, there you shall bury me.' Now therefore let me go up, so that I may bury my father; then I will return.\"\r\n\t\t\t Pharaoh answered, \"Go up, and bury your father, as he made you swear to do.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Joseph went up to bury his father. With him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his household, and all the elders of the land of Egypt,\r\n\t\t\t as well as all the household of Joseph, his brothers, and his father's household. Only their children, their flocks, and their herds were left in the land of Goshen.\r\n\t\t\t Both chariots and charioteers went up with him. It was a very great company.\r\n\t\t\t When they came to the threshing floor of Atad, which is beyond the Jordan, they held there a very great and sorrowful lamentation; and he observed a time of mourning for his father seven days.\r\n\t\t\t When the Canaanite inhabitants of the land saw the mourning on the threshing floor of Atad, they said, \"This is a grievous mourning on the part of the Egyptians.\" Therefore the place was named Abel-mizraim; it is beyond the Jordan. \r\n\t\t\t Thus his sons did for him as he had instructed them.\r\n\t\t\t They carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave of the field at Machpelah, the field near Mamre, which Abraham bought as a burial site from Ephron the Hittite.\r\n\t\t\t After he had buried his father, Joseph returned to Egypt with his brothers and all who had gone up with him to bury his father.\r\n\t\t\t Realizing that their father was dead, Joseph's brothers said, \"What if Joseph still bears a grudge against us and pays us back in full for all the wrong that we did to him?\"\r\n\t\t\t So they approached Joseph, saying, \"Your father gave this instruction before he died, \r\n\t\t\t 'Say to Joseph: I beg you, forgive the crime of your brothers and the wrong they did in harming you.' Now therefore please forgive the crime of the servants of the God of your father.\" Joseph wept when they spoke to him.\r\n\t\t\t Then his brothers also wept, fell down before him, and said, \"We are here as your slaves.\" \r\n\t\t\t But Joseph said to them, \"Do not be afraid! Am I in the place of God?\r\n\t\t\t Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good, in order to preserve a numerous people, as he is doing today.\r\n\t\t\t So have no fear; I myself will provide for you and your little ones.\" In this way he reassured them, speaking kindly to them.\r\n\t\t\t So Joseph remained in Egypt, he and his father's household; and Joseph lived one hundred ten years.\r\n\t\t\t Joseph saw Ephraim's children of the third generation; the children of Machir son of Manasseh were also born on Joseph's knees.\r\n\t\t\t Then Joseph said to his brothers, \"I am about to die; but God will surely come to you, and bring you up out of this land to the land that he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Joseph made the Israelites swear, saying, \"When God comes to you, you shall carry up my bones from here.\"\r\n\t\t\t And Joseph died, being one hundred ten years old; he was embalmed and placed in a coffin in Egypt.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t These are the names of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt with Jacob, each with his household:\r\n\t\t\t Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah,\r\n\t\t\t Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin,\r\n\t\t\t Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher.\r\n\t\t\t The total number of people born to Jacob was seventy. Joseph was already in Egypt.\r\n\t\t\t Then Joseph died, and all his brothers, and that whole generation.\r\n\t\t\t But the Israelites were fruitful and prolific; they multiplied and grew exceedingly strong, so that the land was filled with them.\r\n\t\t\t Now a new king arose over Egypt, who did not know Joseph.\r\n\t\t\t He said to his people, \"Look, the Israelite people are more numerous and more powerful than we.\r\n\t\t\t Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, or they will increase and, in the event of war, join our enemies and fight against us and escape from the land.\"\r\n\t\t\t Therefore they set taskmasters over them to oppress them with forced labor. They built supply cities, Pithom and Rameses, for Pharaoh.\r\n\t\t\t But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread, so that the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites.\r\n\t\t\t The Egyptians became ruthless in imposing tasks on the Israelites,\r\n\t\t\t and made their lives bitter with hard service in mortar and brick and in every kind of field labor. They were ruthless in all the tasks that they imposed on them.\r\n\t\t\t The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other Puah,\r\n\t\t\t \"When you act as midwives to the Hebrew women, and see them on the birthstool, if it is a boy, kill him; but if it is a girl, she shall live.\"\r\n\t\t\t But the midwives feared God; they did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but they let the boys live.\r\n\t\t\t So the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and said to them, \"Why have you done this, and allowed the boys to live?\"\r\n\t\t\t The midwives said to Pharaoh, \"Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women; for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife comes to them.\"\r\n\t\t\t So God dealt well with the midwives; and the people multiplied and became very strong.\r\n\t\t\t And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families.\r\n\t\t\t Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, \"Every boy that is born to the Hebrews you shall throw into the Nile, but you shall let every girl live.\" \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now a man from the house of Levi went and married a Levite woman.\r\n\t\t\t The woman conceived and bore a son; and when she saw that he was a fine baby, she hid him three months.\r\n\t\t\t When she could hide him no longer she got a papyrus basket for him, and plastered it with bitumen and pitch; she put the child in it and placed it among the reeds on the bank of the river.\r\n\t\t\t His sister stood at a distance, to see what would happen to him.\r\n\t\t\t The daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river, while her attendants walked beside the river. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her maid to bring it.\r\n\t\t\t When she opened it, she saw the child. He was crying, and she took pity on him, \"This must be one of the Hebrews' children,\" she said.\r\n\t\t\t Then his sister said to Pharaoh's daughter, \"Shall I go and get you a nurse from the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you?\"\r\n\t\t\t Pharaoh's daughter said to her, \"Yes.\" So the girl went and called the child's mother.\r\n\t\t\t Pharaoh's daughter said to her, \"Take this child and nurse it for me, and I will give you your wages.\" So the woman took the child and nursed it.\r\n\t\t\t When the child grew up, she brought him to Pharaoh's daughter, and she took him as her son. She named him Moses, \"because,\" she said, \"I drew him out of the water.\" \r\n\t\t\t One day, after Moses had grown up, he went out to his people and saw their forced labor. He saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his kinsfolk.\r\n\t\t\t He looked this way and that, and seeing no one he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.\r\n\t\t\t When he went out the next day, he saw two Hebrews fighting; and he said to the one who was in the wrong, \"Why do you strike your fellow Hebrew?\"\r\n\t\t\t He answered, \"Who made you a ruler and judge over us? Do you mean to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?\" Then Moses was afraid and thought, \"Surely the thing is known.\"\r\n\t\t\t When Pharaoh heard of it, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh. He settled in the land of Midian, and sat down by a well.\r\n\t\t\t The priest of Midian had seven daughters. They came to draw water, and filled the troughs to water their father's flock.\r\n\t\t\t But some shepherds came and drove them away. Moses got up and came to their defense and watered their flock.\r\n\t\t\t When they returned to their father Reuel, he said, \"How is it that you have come back so soon today?\"\r\n\t\t\t They said, \"An Egyptian helped us against the shepherds; he even drew water for us and watered the flock.\"\r\n\t\t\t He said to his daughters, \"Where is he? Why did you leave the man? Invite him to break bread.\"\r\n\t\t\t Moses agreed to stay with the man, and he gave Moses his daughter Zipporah in marriage.\r\n\t\t\t She bore a son, and he named him Gershom; for he said, \"I have been an alien residing in a foreign land.\"\r\n\t\t\t After a long time the king of Egypt died. The Israelites groaned under their slavery, and cried out. Out of the slavery their cry for help rose up to God.\r\n\t\t\t God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.\r\n\t\t\t God looked upon the Israelites, and God took notice of them.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian; he led his flock beyond the wilderness, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God.\r\n\t\t\t There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire out of a bush; he looked, and the bush was blazing, yet it was not consumed.\r\n\t\t\t Then Moses said, \"I must turn aside and look at this great sight, and see why the bush is not burned up.\"\r\n\t\t\t When the LORD saw that he had turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, \"Moses, Moses!\" And he said, \"Here I am.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then he said, \"Come no closer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.\"\r\n\t\t\t He said further, \"I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.\" And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD said, \"I have observed the misery of my people who are in Egypt; I have heard their cry on account of their taskmasters. Indeed, I know their sufferings,\r\n\t\t\t and I have come down to deliver them from the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the country of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites.\r\n\t\t\t The cry of the Israelites has now come to me; I have also seen how the Egyptians oppress them.\r\n\t\t\t So come, I will send you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.\"\r\n\t\t\t But Moses said to God, \"Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?\"\r\n\t\t\t He said, \"I will be with you; and this shall be the sign for you that it is I who sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall worship God on this mountain.\"\r\n\t\t\t But Moses said to God, \"If I come to the Israelites and say to them, 'The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,' and they ask me, 'What is his name?' what shall I say to them?\"\r\n\t\t\t God said to Moses, \"I AM WHO I AM.\" He said further, \"Thus you shall say to the Israelites, 'I AM has sent me to you.'\" \r\n\t\t\t God also said to Moses, \"Thus you shall say to the Israelites, 'The LORD, the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you': This is my name forever, and this my title for all generations. \r\n\t\t\t Go and assemble the elders of Israel, and say to them, 'The LORD, the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, has appeared to me, saying: I have given heed to you and to what has been done to you in Egypt.\r\n\t\t\t I declare that I will bring you up out of the misery of Egypt, to the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, a land flowing with milk and honey.'\r\n\t\t\t They will listen to your voice; and you and the elders of Israel shall go to the king of Egypt and say to him, 'The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us; let us now go a three days' journey into the wilderness, so that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.'\r\n\t\t\t I know, however, that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless compelled by a mighty hand. \r\n\t\t\t So I will stretch out my hand and strike Egypt with all my wonders that I will perform in it; after that he will let you go.\r\n\t\t\t I will bring this people into such favor with the Egyptians that, when you go, you will not go empty-handed;\r\n\t\t\t each woman shall ask her neighbor and any woman living in the neighbor's house for jewelry of silver and of gold, and clothing, and you shall put them on your sons and on your daughters; and so you shall plunder the Egyptians.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then Moses answered, \"But suppose they do not believe me or listen to me, but say, 'The LORD did not appear to you.'\"\r\n\t\t\t The LORD said to him, \"What is that in your hand?\" He said, \"A staff.\"\r\n\t\t\t And he said, \"Throw it on the ground.\" So he threw the staff on the ground, and it became a snake; and Moses drew back from it.\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD said to Moses, \"Reach out your hand, and seize it by the tail\"-- so he reached out his hand and grasped it, and it became a staff in his hand--\r\n\t\t\t \"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.\"\r\n\t\t\t Again, the LORD said to him, \"Put your hand inside your cloak.\" He put his hand into his cloak; and when he took it out, his hand was leprous, as white as snow. \r\n\t\t\t Then God said, \"Put your hand back into your cloak\"-- so he put his hand back into his cloak, and when he took it out, it was restored like the rest of his body--\r\n\t\t\t \"If they will not believe you or heed the first sign, they may believe the second sign.\r\n\t\t\t If they will not believe even these two signs or heed you, you shall take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground; and the water that you shall take from the Nile will become blood on the dry ground.\"\r\n\t\t\t But Moses said to the LORD, \"O my Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor even now that you have spoken to your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD said to him, \"Who gives speech to mortals? Who makes them mute or deaf, seeing or blind? Is it not I, the LORD?\r\n\t\t\t Now go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you are to speak.\"\r\n\t\t\t But he said, \"O my Lord, please send someone else.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses and he said, \"What of your brother Aaron, the Levite? I know that he can speak fluently; even now he is coming out to meet you, and when he sees you his heart will be glad.\r\n\t\t\t You shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth; and I will be with your mouth and with his mouth, and will teach you what you shall do.\r\n\t\t\t He indeed shall speak for you to the people; he shall serve as a mouth for you, and you shall serve as God for him.\r\n\t\t\t Take in your hand this staff, with which you shall perform the signs.\"\r\n\t\t\t Moses went back to his father-in-law Jethro and said to him, \"Please let me go back to my kindred in Egypt and see whether they are still living.\" And Jethro said to Moses, \"Go in peace.\"\r\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Moses in Midian, \"Go back to Egypt; for all those who were seeking your life are dead.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Moses took his wife and his sons, put them on a donkey and went back to the land of Egypt; and Moses carried the staff of God in his hand.\r\n\t\t\t And the LORD said to Moses, \"When you go back to Egypt, see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders that I have put in your power; but I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go.\r\n\t\t\t Then you shall say to Pharaoh, 'Thus says the LORD: Israel is my firstborn son.\r\n\t\t\t I said to you, \"Let my son go that he may worship me.\" But you refused to let him go; now I will kill your firstborn son.'\"\r\n\t\t\t On the way, at a place where they spent the night, the LORD met him and tried to kill him.\r\n\t\t\t But Zipporah took a flint and cut off her son's foreskin, and touched Moses' feet with it, and said, \"Truly you are a bridegroom of blood to me!\" \r\n\t\t\t So he let him alone. It was then she said, \"A bridegroom of blood by circumcision.\"\r\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Aaron, \"Go into the wilderness to meet Moses.\" So he went; and he met him at the mountain of God and kissed him.\r\n\t\t\t Moses told Aaron all the words of the LORD with which he had sent him, and all the signs with which he had charged him.\r\n\t\t\t Then Moses and Aaron went and assembled all the elders of the Israelites.\r\n\t\t\t Aaron spoke all the words that the LORD had spoken to Moses, and performed the signs in the sight of the people.\r\n\t\t\t The people believed; and when they heard that the LORD had given heed to the Israelites and that he had seen their misery, they bowed down and worshiped.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Afterward Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, \"Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, 'Let my people go, so that they may celebrate a festival to me in the wilderness.'\"\r\n\t\t\t But Pharaoh said, \"Who is the LORD, that I should heed him and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and I will not let Israel go.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then they said, \"The God of the Hebrews has revealed himself to us; let us go a three days' journey into the wilderness to sacrifice to the LORD our God, or he will fall upon us with pestilence or sword.\"\r\n\t\t\t But the king of Egypt said to them, \"Moses and Aaron, why are you taking the people away from their work? Get to your labors!\"\r\n\t\t\t Pharaoh continued, \"Now they are more numerous than the people of the land and yet you want them to stop working!\"\r\n\t\t\t That same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people, as well as their supervisors,\r\n\t\t\t \"You shall no longer give the people straw to make bricks, as before; let them go and gather straw for themselves.\r\n\t\t\t But you shall require of them the same quantity of bricks as they have made previously; do not diminish it, for they are lazy; that is why they cry, 'Let us go and offer sacrifice to our God.'\r\n\t\t\t Let heavier work be laid on them; then they will labor at it and pay no attention to deceptive words.\"\r\n\t\t\t So the taskmasters and the supervisors of the people went out and said to the people, \"Thus says Pharaoh, 'I will not give you straw.\r\n\t\t\t Go and get straw yourselves, wherever you can find it; but your work will not be lessened in the least.'\"\r\n\t\t\t So the people scattered throughout the land of Egypt, to gather stubble for straw.\r\n\t\t\t The taskmasters were urgent, saying, \"Complete your work, the same daily assignment as when you were given straw.\"\r\n\t\t\t And the supervisors of the Israelites, whom Pharaoh's taskmasters had set over them, were beaten, and were asked, \"Why did you not finish the required quantity of bricks yesterday and today, as you did before?\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the Israelite supervisors came to Pharaoh and cried, \"Why do you treat your servants like this?\r\n\t\t\t No straw is given to your servants, yet they say to us, 'Make bricks!' Look how your servants are beaten! You are unjust to your own people.\" \r\n\t\t\t He said, \"You are lazy, lazy; that is why you say, 'Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.'\r\n\t\t\t Go now, and work; for no straw shall be given you, but you shall still deliver the same number of bricks.\"\r\n\t\t\t The Israelite supervisors saw that they were in trouble when they were told, \"You shall not lessen your daily number of bricks.\"\r\n\t\t\t As they left Pharaoh, they came upon Moses and Aaron who were waiting to meet them.\r\n\t\t\t They said to them, \"The LORD look upon you and judge! You have brought us into bad odor with Pharaoh and his officials, and have put a sword in their hand to kill us.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Moses turned again to the LORD and said, \"O LORD, why have you mistreated this people? Why did you ever send me?\r\n\t\t\t Since I first came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has mistreated this people, and you have done nothing at all to deliver your people.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD said to Moses, \"Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh: Indeed, by a mighty hand he will let them go; by a mighty hand he will drive them out of his land.\"\r\n\t\t\t God also spoke to Moses and said to him: \"I am the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as God Almighty, but by my name 'The LORD' I did not make myself known to them. \r\n\t\t\t I also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land in which they resided as aliens.\r\n\t\t\t I have also heard the groaning of the Israelites whom the Egyptians are holding as slaves, and I have remembered my covenant.\r\n\t\t\t Say therefore to the Israelites, 'I am the LORD, and I will free you from the burdens of the Egyptians and deliver you from slavery to them. I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment.\r\n\t\t\t I will take you as my people, and I will be your God. You shall know that I am the LORD your God, who has freed you from the burdens of the Egyptians.\r\n\t\t\t I will bring you into the land that I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; I will give it to you for a possession. I am the LORD.'\"\r\n\t\t\t Moses told this to the Israelites; but they would not listen to Moses, because of their broken spirit and their cruel slavery.\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD spoke to Moses,\r\n\t\t\t \"Go and tell Pharaoh king of Egypt to let the Israelites go out of his land.\"\r\n\t\t\t But Moses spoke to the LORD, \"The Israelites have not listened to me; how then shall Pharaoh listen to me, poor speaker that I am?\" \r\n\t\t\t Thus the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, and gave them orders regarding the Israelites and Pharaoh king of Egypt, charging them to free the Israelites from the land of Egypt.\r\n\t\t\t The following are the heads of their ancestral houses: the sons of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi; these are the families of Reuben.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Simeon: Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul, the son of a Canaanite woman; these are the families of Simeon.\r\n\t\t\t The following are the names of the sons of Levi according to their genealogies: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari, and the length of Levi's life was one hundred thirty-seven years. \r\n\t\t\t The sons of Gershon: Libni and Shimei, by their families. \r\n\t\t\t The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, and the length of Kohath's life was one hundred thirty-three years.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites according to their genealogies.\r\n\t\t\t Amram married Jochebed his father's sister and she bore him Aaron and Moses, and the length of Amram's life was one hundred thirty-seven years.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Izhar: Korah, Nepheg, and Zichri.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Uzziel: Mishael, Elzaphan, and Sithri.\r\n\t\t\t Aaron married Elisheba, daughter of Amminadab and sister of Nahshon, and she bore him Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Korah: Assir, Elkanah, and Abiasaph; these are the families of the Korahites.\r\n\t\t\t Aaron's son Eleazar married one of the daughters of Putiel, and she bore him Phinehas. These are the heads of the ancestral houses of the Levites by their families.\r\n\t\t\t It was this same Aaron and Moses to whom the LORD said, \"Bring the Israelites out of the land of Egypt, company by company.\"\r\n\t\t\t It was they who spoke to Pharaoh king of Egypt to bring the Israelites out of Egypt, the same Moses and Aaron.\r\n\t\t\t On the day when the LORD spoke to Moses in the land of Egypt,\r\n\t\t\t he said to him, \"I am the LORD; tell Pharaoh king of Egypt all that I am speaking to you.\"\r\n\t\t\t But Moses said in the LORD's presence, \"Since I am a poor speaker, why would Pharaoh listen to me?\" \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Moses, \"See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron shall be your prophet.\r\n\t\t\t You shall speak all that I command you, and your brother Aaron shall tell Pharaoh to let the Israelites go out of his land.\r\n\t\t\t But I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and I will multiply my signs and wonders in the land of Egypt.\r\n\t\t\t When Pharaoh does not listen to you, I will lay my hand upon Egypt and bring my people the Israelites, company by company, out of the land of Egypt by great acts of judgment.\r\n\t\t\t The Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring the Israelites out from among them.\"\r\n\t\t\t Moses and Aaron did so; they did just as the LORD commanded them.\r\n\t\t\t Moses was eighty years old and Aaron eighty-three when they spoke to Pharaoh.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Moses and Aaron,\r\n\t\t\t \"When Pharaoh says to you, 'Perform a wonder,' then you shall say to Aaron, 'Take your staff and throw it down before Pharaoh, and it will become a snake.'\"\r\n\t\t\t So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did as the LORD had commanded; Aaron threw down his staff before Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a snake.\r\n\t\t\t Then Pharaoh summoned the wise men and the sorcerers; and they also, the magicians of Egypt, did the same by their secret arts.\r\n\t\t\t Each one threw down his staff, and they became snakes; but Aaron's staff swallowed up theirs.\r\n\t\t\t Still Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, as the LORD had said.\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD said to Moses, \"Pharaoh's heart is hardened; he refuses to let the people go.\r\n\t\t\t Go to Pharaoh in the morning, as he is going out to the water; stand by at the river bank to meet him, and take in your hand the staff that was turned into a snake.\r\n\t\t\t Say to him, 'The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, sent me to you to say, \"Let my people go, so that they may worship me in the wilderness.\" But until now you have not listened.'\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD, \"By this you shall know that I am the LORD.\" See, with the staff that is in my hand I will strike the water that is in the Nile, and it shall be turned to blood.\r\n\t\t\t The fish in the river shall die, the river itself shall stink, and the Egyptians shall be unable to drink water from the Nile.'\"\r\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Moses, \"Say to Aaron, 'Take your staff and stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt-- over its rivers, its canals, and its ponds, and all its pools of water-- so that they may become blood; and there shall be blood throughout the whole land of Egypt, even in vessels of wood and in vessels of stone.'\"\r\n\t\t\t Moses and Aaron did just as the LORD commanded. In the sight of Pharaoh and of his officials he lifted up the staff and struck the water in the river, and all the water in the river was turned into blood,\r\n\t\t\t and the fish in the river died. The river stank so that the Egyptians could not drink its water, and there was blood throughout the whole land of Egypt.\r\n\t\t\t But the magicians of Egypt did the same by their secret arts; so Pharaoh's heart remained hardened, and he would not listen to them; as the LORD had said.\r\n\t\t\t Pharaoh turned and went into his house, and he did not take even this to heart.\r\n\t\t\t And all the Egyptians had to dig along the Nile for water to drink, for they could not drink the water of the river.\r\n\t\t\t Seven days passed after the LORD had struck the Nile.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD said to Moses, \"Go to Pharaoh and say to him, 'Thus says the LORD: Let my people go, so that they may worship me.\r\n\t\t\t If you refuse to let them go, I will plague your whole country with frogs.\r\n\t\t\t The river shall swarm with frogs; they shall come up into your palace, into your bedchamber and your bed, and into the houses of your officials and of your people, and into your ovens and your kneading bowls. \r\n\t\t\t The frogs shall come up on you and on your people and on all your officials.'\"\r\n\t\t\t And the LORD said to Moses, \"Say to Aaron, 'Stretch out your hand with your staff over the rivers, the canals, and the pools, and make frogs come up on the land of Egypt.'\"\r\n\t\t\t So Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt; and the frogs came up and covered the land of Egypt.\r\n\t\t\t But the magicians did the same by their secret arts, and brought frogs up on the land of Egypt.\r\n\t\t\t Then Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron, and said, \"Pray to the LORD to take away the frogs from me and my people, and I will let the people go to sacrifice to the LORD.\"\r\n\t\t\t Moses said to Pharaoh, \"Kindly tell me when I am to pray for you and for your officials and for your people, that the frogs may be removed from you and your houses and be left only in the Nile.\"\r\n\t\t\t And he said, \"Tomorrow.\" Moses said, \"As you say! So that you may know that there is no one like the LORD our God,\r\n\t\t\t the frogs shall leave you and your houses and your officials and your people; they shall be left only in the Nile.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh; and Moses cried out to the LORD concerning the frogs that he had brought upon Pharaoh. \r\n\t\t\t And the LORD did as Moses requested: the frogs died in the houses, the courtyards, and the fields.\r\n\t\t\t And they gathered them together in heaps, and the land stank.\r\n\t\t\t But when Pharaoh saw that there was a respite, he hardened his heart, and would not listen to them, just as the LORD had said.\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD said to Moses, \"Say to Aaron, 'Stretch out your staff and strike the dust of the earth, so that it may become gnats throughout the whole land of Egypt.'\"\r\n\t\t\t And they did so; Aaron stretched out his hand with his staff and struck the dust of the earth, and gnats came on humans and animals alike; all the dust of the earth turned into gnats throughout the whole land of Egypt.\r\n\t\t\t The magicians tried to produce gnats by their secret arts, but they could not. There were gnats on both humans and animals.\r\n\t\t\t And the magicians said to Pharaoh, \"This is the finger of God!\" But Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, just as the LORD had said.\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD said to Moses, \"Rise early in the morning and present yourself before Pharaoh, as he goes out to the water, and say to him, 'Thus says the LORD: Let my people go, so that they may worship me.\r\n\t\t\t For if you will not let my people go, I will send swarms of flies on you, your officials, and your people, and into your houses; and the houses of the Egyptians shall be filled with swarms of flies; so also the land where they live.\r\n\t\t\t But on that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, where my people live, so that no swarms of flies shall be there, that you may know that I the LORD am in this land.\r\n\t\t\t Thus I will make a distinction between my people and your people. This sign shall appear tomorrow.'\" \r\n\t\t\t The LORD did so, and great swarms of flies came into the house of Pharaoh and into his officials' houses; in all of Egypt the land was ruined because of the flies.\r\n\t\t\t Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron, and said, \"Go, sacrifice to your God within the land.\"\r\n\t\t\t But Moses said, \"It would not be right to do so; for the sacrifices that we offer to the LORD our God are offensive to the Egyptians. If we offer in the sight of the Egyptians sacrifices that are offensive to them, will they not stone us?\r\n\t\t\t We must go a three days' journey into the wilderness and sacrifice to the LORD our God as he commands us.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Pharaoh said, \"I will let you go to sacrifice to the LORD your God in the wilderness, provided you do not go very far away. Pray for me.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Moses said, \"As soon as I leave you, I will pray to the LORD that the swarms of flies may depart tomorrow from Pharaoh, from his officials, and from his people; only do not let Pharaoh again deal falsely by not letting the people go to sacrifice to the LORD.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Moses went out from Pharaoh and prayed to the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t And the LORD did as Moses asked: he removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, from his officials, and from his people; not one remained.\r\n\t\t\t But Pharaoh hardened his heart this time also, and would not let the people go.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD said to Moses, \"Go to Pharaoh, and say to him, 'Thus says the LORD, the God of the Hebrews: Let my people go, so that they may worship me.\r\n\t\t\t For if you refuse to let them go and still hold them,\r\n\t\t\t the hand of the LORD will strike with a deadly pestilence your livestock in the field: the horses, the donkeys, the camels, the herds, and the flocks.\r\n\t\t\t But the LORD will make a distinction between the livestock of Israel and the livestock of Egypt, so that nothing shall die of all that belongs to the Israelites.'\"\r\n\t\t\t The LORD set a time, saying, \"Tomorrow the LORD will do this thing in the land.\"\r\n\t\t\t And on the next day the LORD did so; all the livestock of the Egyptians died, but of the livestock of the Israelites not one died.\r\n\t\t\t Pharaoh inquired and found that not one of the livestock of the Israelites was dead. But the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he would not let the people go.\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, \"Take handfuls of soot from the kiln, and let Moses throw it in the air in the sight of Pharaoh.\r\n\t\t\t It shall become fine dust all over the land of Egypt, and shall cause festering boils on humans and animals throughout the whole land of Egypt.\"\r\n\t\t\t So they took soot from the kiln, and stood before Pharaoh, and Moses threw it in the air, and it caused festering boils on humans and animals.\r\n\t\t\t The magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils, for the boils afflicted the magicians as well as all the Egyptians.\r\n\t\t\t But the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he would not listen to them, just as the LORD had spoken to Moses.\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD said to Moses, \"Rise up early in the morning and present yourself before Pharaoh, and say to him, 'Thus says the LORD, the God of the Hebrews: Let my people go, so that they may worship me.\r\n\t\t\t For this time I will send all my plagues upon you yourself, and upon your officials, and upon your people, so that you may know that there is no one like me in all the earth.\r\n\t\t\t For by now I could have stretched out my hand and struck you and your people with pestilence, and you would have been cut off from the earth.\r\n\t\t\t But this is why I have let you live: to show you my power, and to make my name resound through all the earth.\r\n\t\t\t You are still exalting yourself against my people, and will not let them go.\r\n\t\t\t Tomorrow at this time I will cause the heaviest hail to fall that has ever fallen in Egypt from the day it was founded until now.\r\n\t\t\t Send, therefore, and have your livestock and everything that you have in the open field brought to a secure place; every human or animal that is in the open field and is not brought under shelter will die when the hail comes down upon them.'\"\r\n\t\t\t Those officials of Pharaoh who feared the word of the LORD hurried their slaves and livestock off to a secure place.\r\n\t\t\t Those who did not regard the word of the LORD left their slaves and livestock in the open field.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Moses, \"Stretch out your hand toward heaven so that hail may fall on the whole land of Egypt, on humans and animals and all the plants of the field in the land of Egypt.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Moses stretched out his staff toward heaven, and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and fire came down on the earth. And the LORD rained hail on the land of Egypt;\r\n\t\t\t there was hail with fire flashing continually in the midst of it, such heavy hail as had never fallen in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation.\r\n\t\t\t The hail struck down everything that was in the open field throughout all the land of Egypt, both human and animal; the hail also struck down all the plants of the field, and shattered every tree in the field.\r\n\t\t\t Only in the land of Goshen, where the Israelites were, there was no hail.\r\n\t\t\t Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron, and said to them, \"This time I have sinned; the LORD is in the right, and I and my people are in the wrong.\r\n\t\t\t Pray to the LORD! Enough of God's thunder and hail! I will let you go; you need stay no longer.\"\r\n\t\t\t Moses said to him, \"As soon as I have gone out of the city, I will stretch out my hands to the LORD; the thunder will cease, and there will be no more hail, so that you may know that the earth is the LORD's.\r\n\t\t\t But as for you and your officials, I know that you do not yet fear the LORD God.\"\r\n\t\t\t (Now the flax and the barley were ruined, for the barley was in the ear and the flax was in bud.\r\n\t\t\t But the wheat and the spelt were not ruined, for they are late in coming up.)\r\n\t\t\t So Moses left Pharaoh, went out of the city, and stretched out his hands to the LORD; then the thunder and the hail ceased, and the rain no longer poured down on the earth.\r\n\t\t\t But when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunder had ceased, he sinned once more and hardened his heart, he and his officials.\r\n\t\t\t So the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he would not let the Israelites go, just as the LORD had spoken through Moses.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD said to Moses, \"Go to Pharaoh; for I have hardened his heart and the heart of his officials, in order that I may show these signs of mine among them,\r\n\t\t\t and that you may tell your children and grandchildren how I have made fools of the Egyptians and what signs I have done among them-- so that you may know that I am the LORD.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh, and said to him, \"Thus says the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, 'How long will you refuse to humble yourself before me? Let my people go, so that they may worship me.\r\n\t\t\t For if you refuse to let my people go, tomorrow I will bring locusts into your country.\r\n\t\t\t They shall cover the surface of the land, so that no one will be able to see the land. They shall devour the last remnant left you after the hail, and they shall devour every tree of yours that grows in the field.\r\n\t\t\t They shall fill your houses, and the houses of all your officials and of all the Egyptians-- something that neither your parents nor your grandparents have seen, from the day they came on earth to this day.'\" Then he turned and went out from Pharaoh.\r\n\t\t\t Pharaoh's officials said to him, \"How long shall this fellow be a snare to us? Let the people go, so that they may worship the LORD their God; do you not yet understand that Egypt is ruined?\"\r\n\t\t\t So Moses and Aaron were brought back to Pharaoh, and he said to them, \"Go, worship the LORD your God! But which ones are to go?\"\r\n\t\t\t Moses said, \"We will go with our young and our old; we will go with our sons and daughters and with our flocks and herds, because we have the LORD's festival to celebrate.\"\r\n\t\t\t He said to them, \"The LORD indeed will be with you, if ever I let your little ones go with you! Plainly, you have some evil purpose in mind.\r\n\t\t\t No, never! Your men may go and worship the LORD, for that is what you are asking.\" And they were driven out from Pharaoh's presence.\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD said to Moses, \"Stretch out your hand over the land of Egypt, so that the locusts may come upon it and eat every plant in the land, all that the hail has left.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Moses stretched out his staff over the land of Egypt, and the LORD brought an east wind upon the land all that day and all that night; when morning came, the east wind had brought the locusts.\r\n\t\t\t The locusts came upon all the land of Egypt and settled on the whole country of Egypt, such a dense swarm of locusts as had never been before, nor ever shall be again.\r\n\t\t\t They covered the surface of the whole land, so that the land was black; and they ate all the plants in the land and all the fruit of the trees that the hail had left; nothing green was left, no tree, no plant in the field, in all the land of Egypt.\r\n\t\t\t Pharaoh hurriedly summoned Moses and Aaron and said, \"I have sinned against the LORD your God, and against you.\r\n\t\t\t Do forgive my sin just this once, and pray to the LORD your God that at the least he remove this deadly thing from me.\"\r\n\t\t\t So he went out from Pharaoh and prayed to the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD changed the wind into a very strong west wind, which lifted the locusts and drove them into the Red Sea; not a single locust was left in all the country of Egypt. \r\n\t\t\t But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he would not let the Israelites go.\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD said to Moses, \"Stretch out your hand toward heaven so that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, a darkness that can be felt.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and there was dense darkness in all the land of Egypt for three days.\r\n\t\t\t People could not see one another, and for three days they could not move from where they were; but all the Israelites had light where they lived.\r\n\t\t\t Then Pharaoh summoned Moses, and said, \"Go, worship the LORD. Only your flocks and your herds shall remain behind. Even your children may go with you.\"\r\n\t\t\t But Moses said, \"You must also let us have sacrifices and burnt offerings to sacrifice to the LORD our God.\r\n\t\t\t Our livestock also must go with us; not a hoof shall be left behind, for we must choose some of them for the worship of the LORD our God, and we will not know what to use to worship the LORD until we arrive there.\"\r\n\t\t\t But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he was unwilling to let them go.\r\n\t\t\t Then Pharaoh said to him, \"Get away from me! Take care that you do not see my face again, for on the day you see my face you shall die.\"\r\n\t\t\t Moses said, \"Just as you say! I will never see your face again.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Moses, \"I will bring one more plague upon Pharaoh and upon Egypt; afterwards he will let you go from here; indeed, when he lets you go, he will drive you away.\r\n\t\t\t Tell the people that every man is to ask his neighbor and every woman is to ask her neighbor for objects of silver and gold.\"\r\n\t\t\t The LORD gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover, Moses himself was a man of great importance in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh's officials and in the sight of the people.\r\n\t\t\t Moses said, \"Thus says the LORD: About midnight I will go out through Egypt.\r\n\t\t\t Every firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne to the firstborn of the female slave who is behind the handmill, and all the firstborn of the livestock.\r\n\t\t\t Then there will be a loud cry throughout the whole land of Egypt, such as has never been or will ever be again.\r\n\t\t\t But not a dog shall growl at any of the Israelites-- not at people, not at animals-- so that you may know that the LORD makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel.\r\n\t\t\t Then all these officials of yours shall come down to me, and bow low to me, saying, 'Leave us, you and all the people who follow you.' After that I will leave.\" And in hot anger he left Pharaoh.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Moses, \"Pharaoh will not listen to you, in order that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.\"\r\n\t\t\t Moses and Aaron performed all these wonders before Pharaoh; but the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he did not let the people of Israel go out of his land.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt:\r\n\t\t\t This month shall mark for you the beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year for you.\r\n\t\t\t Tell the whole congregation of Israel that on the tenth of this month they are to take a lamb for each family, a lamb for each household.\r\n\t\t\t If a household is too small for a whole lamb, it shall join its closest neighbor in obtaining one; the lamb shall be divided in proportion to the number of people who eat of it.\r\n\t\t\t Your lamb shall be without blemish, a year-old male; you may take it from the sheep or from the goats.\r\n\t\t\t You shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month; then the whole assembled congregation of Israel shall slaughter it at twilight.\r\n\t\t\t They shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat it.\r\n\t\t\t They shall eat the lamb that same night; they shall eat it roasted over the fire with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.\r\n\t\t\t Do not eat any of it raw or boiled in water, but roasted over the fire, with its head, legs, and inner organs.\r\n\t\t\t You shall let none of it remain until the morning; anything that remains until the morning you shall burn.\r\n\t\t\t This is how you shall eat it: your loins girded, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it hurriedly. It is the passover of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike down every firstborn in the land of Egypt, both human beings and animals; on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t The blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live: when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague shall destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.\r\n\t\t\t This day shall be a day of remembrance for you. You shall celebrate it as a festival to the LORD; throughout your generations you shall observe it as a perpetual ordinance.\r\n\t\t\t Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread; on the first day you shall remove leaven from your houses, for whoever eats leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day shall be cut off from Israel.\r\n\t\t\t On the first day you shall hold a solemn assembly, and on the seventh day a solemn assembly; no work shall be done on those days; only what everyone must eat, that alone may be prepared by you.\r\n\t\t\t You shall observe the festival of unleavened bread, for on this very day I brought your companies out of the land of Egypt: you shall observe this day throughout your generations as a perpetual ordinance.\r\n\t\t\t In the first month, from the evening of the fourteenth day until the evening of the twenty-first day, you shall eat unleavened bread.\r\n\t\t\t For seven days no leaven shall be found in your houses; for whoever eats what is leavened shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether an alien or a native of the land.\r\n\t\t\t You shall eat nothing leavened; in all your settlements you shall eat unleavened bread.\r\n\t\t\t Then Moses called all the elders of Israel and said to them, \"Go, select lambs for your families, and slaughter the passover lamb.\r\n\t\t\t Take a bunch of hyssop, dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and touch the lintel and the two doorposts with the blood in the basin. None of you shall go outside the door of your house until morning.\r\n\t\t\t For the LORD will pass through to strike down the Egyptians; when he sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the LORD will pass over that door and will not allow the destroyer to enter your houses to strike you down.\r\n\t\t\t You shall observe this rite as a perpetual ordinance for you and your children.\r\n\t\t\t When you come to the land that the LORD will give you, as he has promised, you shall keep this observance.\r\n\t\t\t And when your children ask you, 'What do you mean by this observance?'\r\n\t\t\t you shall say, 'It is the passover sacrifice to the LORD, for he passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt, when he struck down the Egyptians but spared our houses.'\" And the people bowed down and worshiped.\r\n\t\t\t The Israelites went and did just as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron.\r\n\t\t\t At midnight the LORD struck down all the 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.\r\n\t\t\t Pharaoh arose in the night, he and all his officials and all the Egyptians; and there was a loud cry in Egypt, for there was not a house without someone dead.\r\n\t\t\t Then he summoned Moses and Aaron in the night, and said, \"Rise up, go away from my people, both you and the Israelites! Go, worship the LORD, as you said.\r\n\t\t\t Take your flocks and your herds, as you said, and be gone. And bring a blessing on me too!\"\r\n\t\t\t The Egyptians urged the people to hasten their departure from the land, for they said, \"We shall all be dead.\"\r\n\t\t\t So the people took their dough before it was leavened, with their kneading bowls wrapped up in their cloaks on their shoulders.\r\n\t\t\t The Israelites had done as Moses told them; they had asked the Egyptians for jewelry of silver and gold, and for clothing,\r\n\t\t\t and the LORD had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have what they asked. And so they plundered the Egyptians.\r\n\t\t\t The Israelites journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides children.\r\n\t\t\t A mixed crowd also went up with them, and livestock in great numbers, both flocks and herds.\r\n\t\t\t They baked unleavened cakes of the dough that they had brought out of Egypt; it was not leavened, because they were driven out of Egypt and could not wait, nor had they prepared any provisions for themselves.\r\n\t\t\t The time that the Israelites had lived in Egypt was four hundred thirty years.\r\n\t\t\t At the end of four hundred thirty years, on that very day, all the companies of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt.\r\n\t\t\t That was for the LORD a night of vigil, to bring them out of the land of Egypt. That same night is a vigil to be kept for the LORD by all the Israelites throughout their generations.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Moses and Aaron: This is the ordinance for the passover: no foreigner shall eat of it,\r\n\t\t\t but any slave who has been purchased may eat of it after he has been circumcised;\r\n\t\t\t no bound or hired servant may eat of it.\r\n\t\t\t It shall be eaten in one house; you shall not take any of the animal outside the house, and you shall not break any of its bones.\r\n\t\t\t The whole congregation of Israel shall celebrate it.\r\n\t\t\t If an alien who resides with you wants to celebrate the passover to the LORD, all his males shall be circumcised; then he may draw near to celebrate it; he shall be regarded as a native of the land. But no uncircumcised person shall eat of it;\r\n\t\t\t there shall be one law for the native and for the alien who resides among you.\r\n\t\t\t All the Israelites did just as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron.\r\n\t\t\t That very day the LORD brought the Israelites out of the land of Egypt, company by company.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Moses:\r\n\t\t\t Consecrate to me all the firstborn; whatever is the first to open the womb among the Israelites, of human beings and animals, is mine.\r\n\t\t\t Moses said to the people, \"Remember this day on which you came out of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, because the LORD brought you out from there by strength of hand; no leavened bread shall be eaten.\r\n\t\t\t Today, in the month of Abib, you are going out.\r\n\t\t\t When the LORD brings you into the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which he swore to your ancestors to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey, you shall keep this observance in this month.\r\n\t\t\t Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day there shall be a festival to the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Unleavened bread shall be eaten for seven days; no leavened bread shall be seen in your possession, and no leaven shall be seen among you in all your territory.\r\n\t\t\t You shall tell your child on that day, 'It is because of what the LORD did for me when I came out of Egypt.'\r\n\t\t\t It shall serve for you as a sign on your hand and as a reminder on your forehead, so that the teaching of the LORD may be on your lips; for with a strong hand the LORD brought you out of Egypt.\r\n\t\t\t You shall keep this ordinance at its proper time from year to year.\r\n\t\t\t \"When the LORD has brought you into the land of the Canaanites, as he swore to you and your ancestors, and has given it to you,\r\n\t\t\t you shall set apart to the LORD all that first opens the womb. All the firstborn of your livestock that are males shall be the LORD's.\r\n\t\t\t But every firstborn donkey you shall redeem with a sheep; if you do not redeem it, you must break its neck. Every firstborn male among your children you shall redeem.\r\n\t\t\t When in the future your child asks you, 'What does this mean?' you shall answer, 'By strength of hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt, from the house of slavery.\r\n\t\t\t When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the LORD killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from human firstborn to the firstborn of animals. Therefore I sacrifice to the LORD every male that first opens the womb, but every firstborn of my sons I redeem.'\r\n\t\t\t It shall serve as a sign on your hand and as an emblem on your forehead that by strength of hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt.\" \r\n\t\t\t When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was nearer; for God thought, \"If the people face war, they may change their minds and return to Egypt.\"\r\n\t\t\t So God led the people by the roundabout way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea. The Israelites went up out of the land of Egypt prepared for battle. \r\n\t\t\t And Moses took with him the bones of Joseph who had required a solemn oath of the Israelites, saying, \"God will surely take notice of you, and then you must carry my bones with you from here.\"\r\n\t\t\t They set out from Succoth, and camped at Etham, on the edge of the wilderness.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD went in front of them in a pillar of cloud by day, to lead them along the way, and in a pillar of fire by night, to give them light, so that they might travel by day and by night.\r\n\t\t\t Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD said to Moses:\r\n\t\t\t Tell the Israelites to turn back and camp in front of Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, in front of Baal-zephon; you shall camp opposite it, by the sea.\r\n\t\t\t Pharaoh will say of the Israelites, \"They are wandering aimlessly in the land; the wilderness has closed in on them.\"\r\n\t\t\t I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he will pursue them, so that I will gain glory for myself over Pharaoh and all his army; and the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD. And they did so.\r\n\t\t\t When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, the minds of Pharaoh and his officials were changed toward the people, and they said, \"What have we done, letting Israel leave our service?\"\r\n\t\t\t So he had his chariot made ready, and took his army with him;\r\n\t\t\t he took six hundred picked chariots and all the other chariots of Egypt with officers over all of them.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt and he pursued the Israelites, who were going out boldly.\r\n\t\t\t The Egyptians pursued them, all Pharaoh's horses and chariots, his chariot drivers and his army; they overtook them camped by the sea, by Pi-hahiroth, in front of Baal-zephon.\r\n\t\t\t As Pharaoh drew near, the Israelites looked back, and there were the Egyptians advancing on them. In great fear the Israelites cried out to the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t They said to Moses, \"Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us, bringing us out of Egypt?\r\n\t\t\t Is this not the very thing we told you in Egypt, 'Let us alone and let us serve the Egyptians'? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.\"\r\n\t\t\t But Moses said to the people, \"Do not be afraid, stand firm, and see the deliverance that the LORD will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you see today you shall never see again.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to keep still.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD said to Moses, \"Why do you cry out to me? Tell the Israelites to go forward.\r\n\t\t\t But you lift up your staff, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, that the Israelites may go into the sea on dry ground.\r\n\t\t\t Then I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them; and so I will gain glory for myself over Pharaoh and all his army, his chariots, and his chariot drivers.\r\n\t\t\t And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I have gained glory for myself over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his chariot drivers.\"\r\n\t\t\t The angel of God who was going before the Israelite army moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud moved from in front of them and took its place behind them.\r\n\t\t\t It came between the army of Egypt and the army of Israel. And so the cloud was there with the darkness, and it lit up the night; one did not come near the other all night.\r\n\t\t\t Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. The LORD drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night, and turned the sea into dry land; and the waters were divided.\r\n\t\t\t The Israelites went into the sea on dry ground, the waters forming a wall for them on their right and on their left.\r\n\t\t\t The Egyptians pursued, and went into the sea after them, all of Pharaoh's horses, chariots, and chariot drivers.\r\n\t\t\t At the morning watch the LORD in the pillar of fire and cloud looked down upon the Egyptian army, and threw the Egyptian army into panic.\r\n\t\t\t He clogged their chariot wheels so that they turned with difficulty. The Egyptians said, \"Let us flee from the Israelites, for the LORD is fighting for them against Egypt.\" \r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD said to Moses, \"Stretch out your hand over the sea, so that the water may come back upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots and chariot drivers.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at dawn the sea returned to its normal depth. As the Egyptians fled before it, the LORD tossed the Egyptians into the sea.\r\n\t\t\t The waters returned and covered the chariots and the chariot drivers, the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed them into the sea; not one of them remained.\r\n\t\t\t But the Israelites walked on dry ground through the sea, the waters forming a wall for them on their right and on their left.\r\n\t\t\t Thus the LORD saved Israel that day from the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore.\r\n\t\t\t Israel saw the great work that the LORD did against the Egyptians. So the people feared the LORD and believed in the LORD and in his servant Moses.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the LORD: \"I will sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously; horse and rider he has thrown into the sea.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD is my strength and my might, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him. \r\n\t\t\t The LORD is a warrior; the LORD is his name.\r\n\t\t\t \"Pharaoh's chariots and his army he cast into the sea; his picked officers were sunk in the Red Sea. \r\n\t\t\t The floods covered them; they went down into the depths like a stone.\r\n\t\t\t Your right hand, O LORD, glorious in power-- your right hand, O LORD, shattered the enemy.\r\n\t\t\t In the greatness of your majesty you overthrew your adversaries; you sent out your fury, it consumed them like stubble.\r\n\t\t\t At the blast of your nostrils the waters piled up, the floods stood up in a heap; the deeps congealed in the heart of the sea.\r\n\t\t\t The enemy said, 'I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil, my desire shall have its fill of them. I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them.'\r\n\t\t\t You blew with your wind, the sea covered them; they sank like lead in the mighty waters.\r\n\t\t\t \"Who is like you, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in splendor, doing wonders?\r\n\t\t\t You stretched out your right hand, the earth swallowed them.\r\n\t\t\t \"In your steadfast love you led the people whom you redeemed; you guided them by your strength to your holy abode.\r\n\t\t\t The peoples heard, they trembled; pangs seized the inhabitants of Philistia.\r\n\t\t\t Then the chiefs of Edom were dismayed; trembling seized the leaders of Moab; all the inhabitants of Canaan melted away.\r\n\t\t\t Terror and dread fell upon them; by the might of your arm, they became still as a stone until your people, O LORD, passed by, until the people whom you acquired passed by.\r\n\t\t\t You brought them in and planted them on the mountain of your own possession, the place, O LORD, that you made your abode, the sanctuary, O LORD, that your hands have established.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD will reign forever and ever.\"\r\n\t\t\t When the horses of Pharaoh with his chariots and his chariot drivers went into the sea, the LORD brought back the waters of the sea upon them; but the Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground.\r\n\t\t\t Then the prophet Miriam, Aaron's sister, took a tambourine in her hand; and all the women went out after her with tambourines and with dancing.\r\n\t\t\t And Miriam sang to them: \"Sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously; horse and rider he has thrown into the sea.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Moses ordered Israel to set out from the Red Sea, and they went into the wilderness of Shur. They went three days in the wilderness and found no water. \r\n\t\t\t When they came to Marah, they could not drink the water of Marah because it was bitter. That is why it was called Marah. \r\n\t\t\t And the people complained against Moses, saying, \"What shall we drink?\"\r\n\t\t\t He cried out to the LORD; and the LORD showed him a piece of wood; he threw it into the water, and the water became sweet. There the LORD made for them a statute and an ordinance and there he put them to the test.\r\n\t\t\t He said, \"If you will listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God, and do what is right in his sight, and give heed to his commandments and keep all his statutes, I will not bring upon you any of the diseases that I brought upon the Egyptians; for I am the LORD who heals you.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees; and they camped there by the water.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The whole congregation of the Israelites set out from Elim; and Israel came to the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had departed from the land of Egypt.\r\n\t\t\t The whole congregation of the Israelites complained against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness.\r\n\t\t\t The Israelites said to them, \"If only we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the fleshpots and ate our fill of bread; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD said to Moses, \"I am going to rain bread from heaven for you, and each day the people shall go out and gather enough for that day. In that way I will test them, whether they will follow my instruction or not.\r\n\t\t\t On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather on other days.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, \"In the evening you shall know that it was the LORD who brought you out of the land of Egypt,\r\n\t\t\t and in the morning you shall see the glory of the LORD, because he has heard your complaining against the LORD. For what are we, that you complain against us?\"\r\n\t\t\t And Moses said, \"When the LORD gives you meat to eat in the evening and your fill of bread in the morning, because the LORD has heard the complaining that you utter against him-- what are we? Your complaining is not against us but against the LORD.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Moses said to Aaron, \"Say to the whole congregation of the Israelites, 'Draw near to the LORD, for he has heard your complaining.'\"\r\n\t\t\t And as Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of the Israelites, they looked toward the wilderness, and the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses and said,\r\n\t\t\t \"I have heard the complaining of the Israelites; say to them, 'At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall have your fill of bread; then you shall know that I am the LORD your God.'\"\r\n\t\t\t In the evening quails came up and covered the camp; and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp.\r\n\t\t\t When the layer of dew lifted, there on the surface of the wilderness was a fine flaky substance, as fine as frost on the ground.\r\n\t\t\t When the Israelites saw it, they said to one another, \"What is it?\" For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, \"It is the bread that the LORD has given you to eat. \r\n\t\t\t This is what the LORD has commanded: 'Gather as much of it as each of you needs, an omer to a person according to the number of persons, all providing for those in their own tents.'\"\r\n\t\t\t The Israelites did so, some gathering more, some less.\r\n\t\t\t But when they measured it with an omer, those who gathered much had nothing over, and those who gathered little had no shortage; they gathered as much as each of them needed.\r\n\t\t\t And Moses said to them, \"Let no one leave any of it over until morning.\"\r\n\t\t\t But they did not listen to Moses; some left part of it until morning, and it bred worms and became foul. And Moses was angry with them.\r\n\t\t\t Morning by morning they gathered it, as much as each needed; but when the sun grew hot, it melted.\r\n\t\t\t On the sixth day they gathered twice as much food, two omers apiece. When all the leaders of the congregation came and told Moses,\r\n\t\t\t he said to them, \"This is what the LORD has commanded: 'Tomorrow is a day of solemn rest, a holy sabbath to the LORD; bake what you want to bake and boil what you want to boil, and all that is left over put aside to be kept until morning.'\"\r\n\t\t\t So they put it aside until morning, as Moses commanded them; and it did not become foul, and there were no worms in it.\r\n\t\t\t Moses said, \"Eat it today, for today is a sabbath to the LORD; today you will not find it in the field.\r\n\t\t\t Six days you shall gather it; but on the seventh day, which is a sabbath, there will be none.\"\r\n\t\t\t On the seventh day some of the people went out to gather, and they found none.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Moses, \"How long will you refuse to keep my commandments and instructions?\r\n\t\t\t See! The LORD has given you the sabbath, therefore on the sixth day he gives you food for two days; each of you stay where you are; do not leave your place on the seventh day.\"\r\n\t\t\t So the people rested on the seventh day.\r\n\t\t\t The house of Israel called it manna; it was like coriander seed, white, and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey.\r\n\t\t\t Moses said, \"This is what the LORD has commanded: 'Let an omer of it be kept throughout your generations, in order that they may see the food with which I fed you in the wilderness, when I brought you out of the land of Egypt.'\"\r\n\t\t\t And Moses said to Aaron, \"Take a jar, and put an omer of manna in it, and place it before the LORD, to be kept throughout your generations.\"\r\n\t\t\t As the LORD commanded Moses, so Aaron placed it before the covenant, for safekeeping. \r\n\t\t\t The Israelites ate manna forty years, until they came to a habitable land; they ate manna, until they came to the border of the land of Canaan.\r\n\t\t\t An omer is a tenth of an ephah.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t From the wilderness of Sin the whole congregation of the Israelites journeyed by stages, as the LORD commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink.\r\n\t\t\t The people quarreled with Moses, and said, \"Give us water to drink.\" Moses said to them, \"Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the LORD?\"\r\n\t\t\t But the people thirsted there for water; and the people complained against Moses and said, \"Why did you bring us out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and livestock with thirst?\"\r\n\t\t\t So Moses cried out to the LORD, \"What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me.\"\r\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Moses, \"Go on ahead 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.\r\n\t\t\t I will be standing there in front of you on the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it, so that the people may drink.\" Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t He called the place Massah and Meribah, because the Israelites quarreled and tested the LORD, saying, \"Is the LORD among us or not?\" \r\n\t\t\t Then Amalek came and fought with Israel at Rephidim.\r\n\t\t\t Moses said to Joshua, \"Choose some men for us and go out, fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Joshua did as Moses told him, and fought with Amalek, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.\r\n\t\t\t Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed; and whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed.\r\n\t\t\t But Moses' hands grew weary; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; so his hands were steady until the sun set.\r\n\t\t\t And Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the sword.\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD said to Moses, \"Write this as a reminder in a book and recite it in the hearing of Joshua: I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.\"\r\n\t\t\t And Moses built an altar and called it, The LORD is my banner.\r\n\t\t\t He said, \"A hand upon the banner of the LORD The LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for his people Israel, how the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt.\r\n\t\t\t After Moses had sent away his wife Zipporah, his father-in-law Jethro took her back,\r\n\t\t\t along with her two sons. The name of the one was Gershom (for he said, \"I have been an alien in a foreign land\"), \r\n\t\t\t and the name of the other, Eliezer (for he said, \"The God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh\"). \r\n\t\t\t Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, came into the wilderness where Moses was encamped at the mountain of God, bringing Moses' sons and wife to him.\r\n\t\t\t He sent word to Moses, \"I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you, with your wife and her two sons.\"\r\n\t\t\t Moses went out to meet his father-in-law; he bowed down and kissed him; each asked after the other's welfare, and they went into the tent.\r\n\t\t\t Then Moses told his father-in-law all that the LORD had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel's sake, all the hardship that had beset them on the way, and how the LORD had delivered them.\r\n\t\t\t Jethro rejoiced for all the good that the LORD had done to Israel, in delivering them from the Egyptians.\r\n\t\t\t Jethro said, \"Blessed be the LORD, who has delivered you from the Egyptians and from Pharaoh.\r\n\t\t\t Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods, because he delivered the people from the Egyptians, when they dealt arrogantly with them.\" \r\n\t\t\t And Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and sacrifices to God; and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses' father-in-law in the presence of God.\r\n\t\t\t The next day Moses sat as judge for the people, while the people stood around him from morning until evening.\r\n\t\t\t When Moses' father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, \"What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone, while all the people stand around you from morning until evening?\"\r\n\t\t\t Moses said to his father-in-law, \"Because the people come to me to inquire of God.\r\n\t\t\t When they have a dispute, they come to me and I decide between one person and another, and I make known to them the statutes and instructions of God.\"\r\n\t\t\t Moses' father-in-law said to him, \"What you are doing is not good.\r\n\t\t\t You will surely wear yourself out, both you and these people with you. For the task is too heavy for you; you cannot do it alone.\r\n\t\t\t Now listen to me. I will give you counsel, and God be with you! You should represent the people before God, and you should bring their cases before God;\r\n\t\t\t teach them the statutes and instructions and make known to them the way they are to go and the things they are to do.\r\n\t\t\t You should also look for able men among all the people, men who fear God, are trustworthy, and hate dishonest gain; set such men over them as officers over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.\r\n\t\t\t Let them sit as judges for the people at all times; let them bring every important case to you, but decide every minor case themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you.\r\n\t\t\t If you do this, and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all these people will go to their home in peace.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Moses listened to his father-in-law and did all that he had said.\r\n\t\t\t Moses chose able men from all Israel and appointed them as heads over the people, as officers over thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens.\r\n\t\t\t And they judged the people at all times; hard cases they brought to Moses, but any minor case they decided themselves.\r\n\t\t\t Then Moses let his father-in-law depart, and he went off to his own country.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t On the third new moon after the Israelites had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that very day, they came into the wilderness of Sinai.\r\n\t\t\t They had journeyed from Rephidim, entered the wilderness of Sinai, and camped in the wilderness; Israel camped there in front of the mountain.\r\n\t\t\t Then Moses went up to God; the LORD called to him from the mountain, saying, \"Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the Israelites:\r\n\t\t\t You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself.\r\n\t\t\t Now therefore, if you obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession out of all the peoples. Indeed, the whole earth is mine,\r\n\t\t\t but you shall be for me a priestly kingdom and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the Israelites.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Moses came, summoned the elders of the people, and set before them all these words that the LORD had commanded him.\r\n\t\t\t The people all answered as one: \"Everything that the LORD has spoken we will do.\" Moses reported the words of the people to the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD said to Moses, \"I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, in order that the people may hear when I speak with you and so trust you ever after.\" When Moses had told the words of the people to the LORD,\r\n\t\t\t the LORD said to Moses: \"Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes\r\n\t\t\t and prepare for the third day, because on the third day the LORD will come down upon Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.\r\n\t\t\t You shall set limits for the people all around, saying, 'Be careful not to go up the mountain or to touch the edge of it. Any who touch the mountain shall be put to death.\r\n\t\t\t No hand shall touch them, but they shall be stoned or shot with arrows; whether animal or human being, they shall not live.' When the trumpet sounds a long blast, they may go up on the mountain.\" \r\n\t\t\t So Moses went down from the mountain to the people. He consecrated the people, and they washed their clothes.\r\n\t\t\t And he said to the people, \"Prepare for the third day; do not go near a woman.\"\r\n\t\t\t On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, as well as a thick cloud on the mountain, and a blast of a trumpet so loud that all the people who were in the camp trembled.\r\n\t\t\t Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God. They took their stand at the foot of the mountain.\r\n\t\t\t Now Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke, because the LORD had descended upon it in fire; the smoke went up like the smoke of a kiln, while the whole mountain shook violently.\r\n\t\t\t As the blast of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses would speak and God would answer him in thunder.\r\n\t\t\t When the LORD descended upon Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain, the LORD summoned Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD said to Moses, \"Go down and warn the people not to break through to the LORD to look; otherwise many of them will perish.\r\n\t\t\t Even the priests who approach the LORD must consecrate themselves or the LORD will break out against them.\"\r\n\t\t\t Moses said to the LORD, \"The people are not permitted to come up to Mount Sinai; for you yourself warned us, saying, 'Set limits around the mountain and keep it holy.'\"\r\n\t\t\t The LORD said to him, \"Go down, and come up bringing Aaron with you; but do not let either the priests or the people break through to come up to the LORD; otherwise he will break out against them.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Moses went down to the people and told them.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then God spoke all these words:\r\n\t\t\t I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery;\r\n\t\t\t you shall have no other gods before me. \r\n\t\t\t You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.\r\n\t\t\t You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents, to the third and the fourth generation of those who reject me,\r\n\t\t\t but showing steadfast love to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments. \r\n\t\t\t You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not acquit anyone who misuses his name.\r\n\t\t\t Remember the sabbath day, and keep it holy.\r\n\t\t\t Six days you shall labor and do all your work.\r\n\t\t\t But the seventh day is a sabbath to the LORD your God; you shall not do any work-- you, your son or your daughter, your male or female slave, your livestock, or the alien resident in your towns.\r\n\t\t\t For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but rested the seventh day; therefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day and consecrated it.\r\n\t\t\t Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.\r\n\t\t\t You shall not murder. \r\n\t\t\t You shall not commit adultery.\r\n\t\t\t You shall not steal.\r\n\t\t\t You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.\r\n\t\t\t You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or male or female slave, or ox, or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.\r\n\t\t\t When all the people witnessed the thunder and lightning, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking, they were afraid and trembled and stood at a distance, \r\n\t\t\t and said to Moses, \"You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, or we will die.\"\r\n\t\t\t Moses said to the people, \"Do not be afraid; for God has come only to test you and to put the fear of him upon you so that you do not sin.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the people stood at a distance, while Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Moses: Thus you shall say to the Israelites: \"You have seen for yourselves that I spoke with you from heaven.\r\n\t\t\t You shall not make gods of silver alongside me, nor shall you make for yourselves gods of gold.\r\n\t\t\t You need make for me only an altar of earth and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your offerings of well-being, your sheep and your oxen; in every place where I cause my name to be remembered I will come to you and bless you.\r\n\t\t\t But if you make for me an altar of stone, do not build it of hewn stones; for if you use a chisel upon it you profane it.\r\n\t\t\t You shall not go up by steps to my altar, so that your nakedness may not be exposed on it.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t These are the ordinances that you shall set before them:\r\n\t\t\t When you buy a male Hebrew slave, he shall serve six years, but in the seventh he shall go out a free person, without debt.\r\n\t\t\t If he comes in single, he shall go out single; if he comes in married, then his wife shall go out with him.\r\n\t\t\t If his master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the wife and her children shall be her master's and he shall go out alone.\r\n\t\t\t But if the slave declares, \"I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out a free person,\"\r\n\t\t\t then his master shall bring him before God. He shall be brought to the door or the doorpost; and his master shall pierce his ear with an awl; and he shall serve him for life. \r\n\t\t\t When a man sells his daughter as a slave, she shall not go out as the male slaves do.\r\n\t\t\t If she does not please her master, who designated her for himself, then he shall let her be redeemed; he shall have no right to sell her to a foreign people, since he has dealt unfairly with her.\r\n\t\t\t If he designates her for his son, he shall deal with her as with a daughter.\r\n\t\t\t If he takes another wife to himself, he shall not diminish the food, clothing, or marital rights of the first wife. \r\n\t\t\t And if he does not do these three things for her, she shall go out without debt, without payment of money.\r\n\t\t\t Whoever strikes a person mortally shall be put to death.\r\n\t\t\t If it was not premeditated, but came about by an act of God, then I will appoint for you a place to which the killer may flee.\r\n\t\t\t But if someone willfully attacks and kills another by treachery, you shall take the killer from my altar for execution.\r\n\t\t\t Whoever strikes father or mother shall be put to death.\r\n\t\t\t Whoever kidnaps a person, whether that person has been sold or is still held in possession, shall be put to death.\r\n\t\t\t Whoever curses father or mother shall be put to death.\r\n\t\t\t When individuals quarrel and one strikes the other with a stone or fist so that the injured party, though not dead, is confined to bed,\r\n\t\t\t but recovers and walks around outside with the help of a staff, then the assailant shall be free of liability, except to pay for the loss of time, and to arrange for full recovery.\r\n\t\t\t When a slaveowner strikes a male or female slave with a rod and the slave dies immediately, the owner shall be punished.\r\n\t\t\t But if the slave survives a day or two, there is no punishment; for the slave is the owner's property.\r\n\t\t\t When people who are fighting injure a pregnant woman so that there is a miscarriage, and yet no further harm follows, the one responsible shall be fined what the woman's husband demands, paying as much as the judges determine.\r\n\t\t\t If any harm follows, then you shall give life for life,\r\n\t\t\t eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,\r\n\t\t\t burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.\r\n\t\t\t When a slaveowner strikes the eye of a male or female slave, destroying it, the owner shall let the slave go, a free person, to compensate for the eye.\r\n\t\t\t If the owner knocks out a tooth of a male or female slave, the slave shall be let go, a free person, to compensate for the tooth.\r\n\t\t\t When an ox gores a man or a woman to death, the ox shall be stoned, and its flesh shall not be eaten; but the owner of the ox shall not be liable.\r\n\t\t\t If the ox has been accustomed to gore in the past, and its owner has been warned but has not restrained it, and it kills a man or a woman, the ox shall be stoned, and its owner also shall be put to death.\r\n\t\t\t If a ransom is imposed on the owner, then the owner shall pay whatever is imposed for the redemption of the victim's life.\r\n\t\t\t If it gores a boy or a girl, the owner shall be dealt with according to this same rule.\r\n\t\t\t If the ox gores a male or female slave, the owner shall pay to the slaveowner thirty shekels of silver, and the ox shall be stoned.\r\n\t\t\t If someone leaves a pit open, or digs a pit and does not cover it, and an ox or a donkey falls into it,\r\n\t\t\t the owner of the pit shall make restitution, giving money to its owner, but keeping the dead animal.\r\n\t\t\t If someone's ox hurts the ox of another, so that it dies, then they shall sell the live ox and divide the price of it; and the dead animal they shall also divide.\r\n\t\t\t But if it was known that the ox was accustomed to gore in the past, and its owner has not restrained it, the owner shall restore ox for ox, but keep the dead animal.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t When someone steals an ox or a sheep, and slaughters it or sells it, the thief shall pay five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep. The thief shall make restitution, but if unable to do so, shall be sold for the theft.\r\n\t\t\t If a thief is found breaking in, and is beaten to death, no bloodguilt is incurred;\r\n\t\t\t but if it happens after sunrise, bloodguilt is incurred.\r\n\t\t\t When the animal, whether ox or donkey or sheep, is found alive in the thief's possession, the thief shall pay double.\r\n\t\t\t When someone causes a field or vineyard to be grazed over, or lets livestock loose to graze in someone else's field, restitution shall be made from the best in the owner's field or vineyard.\r\n\t\t\t When fire breaks out and catches in thorns so that the stacked grain or the standing grain or the field is consumed, the one who started the fire shall make full restitution.\r\n\t\t\t When someone delivers to a neighbor money or goods for safekeeping, and they are stolen from the neighbor's house, then the thief, if caught, shall pay double.\r\n\t\t\t If the thief is not caught, the owner of the house shall be brought before God, to determine whether or not the owner had laid hands on the neighbor's goods.\r\n\t\t\t In any case of disputed ownership involving ox, donkey, sheep, clothing, or any other loss, of which one party says, \"This is mine,\" the case of both parties shall come before God; the one whom God condemns shall pay double to the other. \r\n\t\t\t When someone delivers to another a donkey, ox, sheep, or any other animal for safekeeping, and it dies or is injured or is carried off, without anyone seeing it,\r\n\t\t\t an oath before the LORD shall decide between the two of them that the one has not laid hands on the property of the other; the owner shall accept the oath, and no restitution shall be made.\r\n\t\t\t But if it was stolen, restitution shall be made to its owner.\r\n\t\t\t If it was mangled by beasts, let it be brought as evidence; restitution shall not be made for the mangled remains.\r\n\t\t\t When someone borrows an animal from another and it is injured or dies, the owner not being present, full restitution shall be made.\r\n\t\t\t If the owner was present, there shall be no restitution; if it was hired, only the hiring fee is due.\r\n\t\t\t When a man seduces a virgin who is not engaged to be married, and lies with her, he shall give the bride-price for her and make her his wife.\r\n\t\t\t But if her father refuses to give her to him, he shall pay an amount equal to the bride-price for virgins.\r\n\t\t\t You shall not permit a female sorcerer to live.\r\n\t\t\t Whoever lies with an animal shall be put to death.\r\n\t\t\t Whoever sacrifices to any god, other than the LORD alone, shall be devoted to destruction.\r\n\t\t\t You shall not wrong or oppress a resident alien, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt.\r\n\t\t\t You shall not abuse any widow or orphan.\r\n\t\t\t If you do abuse them, when they cry out to me, I will surely heed their cry;\r\n\t\t\t my wrath will burn, and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives shall become widows and your children orphans.\r\n\t\t\t If you lend money to my people, to the poor among you, you shall not deal with them as a creditor; you shall not exact interest from them.\r\n\t\t\t If you take your neighbor's cloak in pawn, you shall restore it before the sun goes down;\r\n\t\t\t for it may be your neighbor's only clothing to use as cover; in what else shall that person sleep? And if your neighbor cries out to me, I will listen, for I am compassionate.\r\n\t\t\t You shall not revile God, or curse a leader of your people.\r\n\t\t\t You shall not delay to make offerings from the fullness of your harvest and from the outflow of your presses. The firstborn of your sons you shall give to me. \r\n\t\t\t You shall do the same with your oxen and with your sheep: seven days it shall remain with its mother; on the eighth day you shall give it to me.\r\n\t\t\t You shall be people consecrated to me; therefore you shall not eat any meat that is mangled by beasts in the field; you shall throw it to the dogs.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t You shall not spread a false report. You shall not join hands with the wicked to act as a malicious witness.\r\n\t\t\t You shall not follow a majority in wrongdoing; when you bear witness in a lawsuit, you shall not side with the majority so as to pervert justice;\r\n\t\t\t nor shall you be partial to the poor in a lawsuit.\r\n\t\t\t When you come upon your enemy's ox or donkey going astray, you shall bring it back.\r\n\t\t\t When you see the donkey of one who hates you lying under its burden and you would hold back from setting it free, you must help to set it free.\r\n\t\t\t You shall not pervert the justice due to your poor in their lawsuits.\r\n\t\t\t Keep far from a false charge, and do not kill the innocent and those in the right, for I will not acquit the guilty.\r\n\t\t\t You shall take no bribe, for a bribe blinds the officials, and subverts the cause of those who are in the right.\r\n\t\t\t You shall not oppress a resident alien; you know the heart of an alien, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt.\r\n\t\t\t For six years you shall sow your land and gather in its yield;\r\n\t\t\t but the seventh year you shall let it rest and lie fallow, so that the poor of your people may eat; and what they leave the wild animals may eat. You shall do the same with your vineyard, and with your olive orchard.\r\n\t\t\t Six days you shall do your work, but on the seventh day you shall rest, so that your ox and your donkey may have relief, and your homeborn slave and the resident alien may be refreshed.\r\n\t\t\t Be attentive to all that I have said to you. Do not invoke the names of other gods; do not let them be heard on your lips.\r\n\t\t\t Three times in the year you shall hold a festival for me.\r\n\t\t\t You shall observe the festival of unleavened bread; as I commanded you, you shall eat unleavened bread for seven days at the appointed time in the month of Abib, for in it you came out of Egypt. No one shall appear before me empty-handed.\r\n\t\t\t You shall observe the festival of harvest, of the first fruits of your labor, of what you sow in the field. You shall observe the festival of ingathering at the end of the year, when you gather in from the field the fruit of your labor.\r\n\t\t\t Three times in the year all your males shall appear before the Lord GOD.\r\n\t\t\t You shall not offer the blood of my sacrifice with anything leavened, or let the fat of my festival remain until the morning.\r\n\t\t\t The choicest of the first fruits of your ground you shall bring into the house of the LORD your God. You shall not boil a kid in its mother's milk.\r\n\t\t\t I am going to send an angel in front of you, to guard you on the way and to bring you to the place that I have prepared.\r\n\t\t\t Be attentive to him and listen to his voice; do not rebel against him, for he will not pardon your transgression; for my name is in him.\r\n\t\t\t But if you listen attentively to his voice and do all that I say, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and a foe to your foes.\r\n\t\t\t When my angel goes in front of you, and brings you to the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Canaanites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, and I blot them out,\r\n\t\t\t you shall not bow down to their gods, or worship them, or follow their practices, but you shall utterly demolish them and break their pillars in pieces.\r\n\t\t\t You shall worship the LORD your God, and I will bless your bread and your water; and I will take sickness away from among you. \r\n\t\t\t No one shall miscarry or be barren in your land; I will fulfill the number of your days.\r\n\t\t\t I will send my terror in front of you, and will throw into confusion all the people against whom you shall come, and I will make all your enemies turn their backs to you.\r\n\t\t\t And I will send the pestilence in front of you, which shall drive out the Hivites, the Canaanites, and the Hittites from before you. \r\n\t\t\t I will not drive them out from before you in one year, or the land would become desolate and the wild animals would multiply against you.\r\n\t\t\t Little by little I will drive them out from before you, until you have increased and possess the land.\r\n\t\t\t I will set your borders from the Red Sea to the sea of the Philistines, and from the wilderness to the Euphrates; for I will hand over to you the inhabitants of the land, and you shall drive them out before you. \r\n\t\t\t You shall make no covenant with them and their gods.\r\n\t\t\t They shall not live in your land, or they will make you sin against me; for if you worship their gods, it will surely be a snare to you.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then he said to Moses, \"Come up to the LORD, you and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and worship at a distance.\r\n\t\t\t Moses alone shall come near the LORD; but the others shall not come near, and the people shall not come up with him.\"\r\n\t\t\t Moses came and told the people all the words of the LORD and all the ordinances; and all the people answered with one voice, and said, \"All the words that the LORD has spoken we will do.\"\r\n\t\t\t And Moses wrote down all the words of the LORD. He rose early in the morning, and built an altar at the foot of the mountain, and set up twelve pillars, corresponding to the twelve tribes of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t He sent young men of the people of Israel, who offered burnt offerings and sacrificed oxen as offerings of well-being to the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins, and half of the blood he dashed against the altar.\r\n\t\t\t Then he took the book of the covenant, and read it in the hearing of the people; and they said, \"All that the LORD has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.\"\r\n\t\t\t Moses took the blood and dashed it on the people, and said, \"See the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Moses and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel went up,\r\n\t\t\t and they saw the God of Israel. Under his feet there was something like a pavement of sapphire stone, like the very heaven for clearness.\r\n\t\t\t God did not lay his hand on the chief men of the people of Israel; also they beheld God, and they ate and drank. \r\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Moses, \"Come up to me on the mountain, and wait there; and I will give you the tablets of stone, with the law and the commandment, which I have written for their instruction.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Moses set out with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up into the mountain of God.\r\n\t\t\t To the elders he had said, \"Wait here for us, until we come to you again; for Aaron and Hur are with you; whoever has a dispute may go to them.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain.\r\n\t\t\t The glory of the LORD settled on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days; on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the cloud.\r\n\t\t\t Now the appearance of the glory of the LORD was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t Moses entered the cloud, and went up on the mountain. Moses was on the mountain for forty days and forty nights.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Moses:\r\n\t\t\t Tell the Israelites to take for me an offering; from all whose hearts prompt them to give you shall receive the offering for me.\r\n\t\t\t This is the offering that you shall receive from them: gold, silver, and bronze,\r\n\t\t\t blue, purple, and crimson yarns and fine linen, goats' hair,\r\n\t\t\t tanned rams' skins, fine leather, acacia wood, \r\n\t\t\t oil for the lamps, spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense,\r\n\t\t\t onyx stones and gems to be set in the ephod and for the breastpiece.\r\n\t\t\t And have them make me a sanctuary, so that I may dwell among them.\r\n\t\t\t In accordance with all that I show you concerning the pattern of the tabernacle and of all its furniture, so you shall make it.\r\n\t\t\t They shall make an ark of acacia wood; it shall be two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high.\r\n\t\t\t You shall overlay it with pure gold, inside and outside you shall overlay it, and you shall make a molding of gold upon it all around.\r\n\t\t\t You shall cast four rings of gold for it and put them on its four feet, two rings on the one side of it, and two rings on the other side.\r\n\t\t\t You shall make poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold.\r\n\t\t\t And you shall put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark, by which to carry the ark.\r\n\t\t\t The poles shall remain in the rings of the ark; they shall not be taken from it.\r\n\t\t\t You shall put into the ark the covenant that I shall give you.\r\n\t\t\t Then you shall make a mercy seat of pure gold; two cubits and a half shall be its length, and a cubit and a half its width.\r\n\t\t\t You shall make two cherubim of gold; you shall make them of hammered work, at the two ends of the mercy seat. \r\n\t\t\t Make one cherub at the one end, and one cherub at the other; of one piece with the mercy seat you shall make the cherubim at its two ends.\r\n\t\t\t The cherubim shall spread out their wings above, overshadowing the mercy seat with their wings. They shall face one to another; the faces of the cherubim shall be turned toward the mercy seat. \r\n\t\t\t You shall put the mercy seat on the top of the ark; and in the ark you shall put the covenant that I shall give you. \r\n\t\t\t There I will meet with you, and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim that are on the ark of the covenant, I will deliver to you all my commands for the Israelites. \r\n\t\t\t You shall make a table of acacia wood, two cubits long, one cubit wide, and a cubit and a half high.\r\n\t\t\t You shall overlay it with pure gold, and make a molding of gold around it.\r\n\t\t\t You shall make around it a rim a handbreadth wide, and a molding of gold around the rim.\r\n\t\t\t You shall make for it four rings of gold, and fasten the rings to the four corners at its four legs.\r\n\t\t\t The rings that hold the poles used for carrying the table shall be close to the rim.\r\n\t\t\t You shall make the poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold, and the table shall be carried with these.\r\n\t\t\t You shall make its plates and dishes for incense, and its flagons and bowls with which to pour drink offerings; you shall make them of pure gold.\r\n\t\t\t And you shall set the bread of the Presence on the table before me always.\r\n\t\t\t You shall make a lampstand of pure gold. The base and the shaft of the lampstand shall be made of hammered work; its cups, its calyxes, and its petals shall be of one piece with it;\r\n\t\t\t and there shall be six branches going out of its sides, three branches of the lampstand out of one side of it and three branches of the lampstand out of the other side of it;\r\n\t\t\t three cups shaped like almond blossoms, each with calyx and petals, on one branch, and three cups shaped like almond blossoms, each with calyx and petals, on the other branch-- so for the six branches going out of the lampstand.\r\n\t\t\t On the lampstand itself there shall be four cups shaped like almond blossoms, each with its calyxes and petals.\r\n\t\t\t There shall be a calyx of one piece with it under the first pair of branches, a calyx of one piece with it under the next pair of branches, and a calyx of one piece with it under the last pair of branches-- so for the six branches that go out of the lampstand.\r\n\t\t\t Their calyxes and their branches shall be of one piece with it, the whole of it one hammered piece of pure gold.\r\n\t\t\t You shall make the seven lamps for it; and the lamps shall be set up so as to give light on the space in front of it.\r\n\t\t\t Its snuffers and trays shall be of pure gold.\r\n\t\t\t It, and all these utensils, shall be made from a talent of pure gold.\r\n\t\t\t And see that you make them according to the pattern for them, which is being shown you on the mountain.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Moreover you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twisted linen, and blue, purple, and crimson yarns; you shall make them with cherubim skillfully worked into them.\r\n\t\t\t The length of each curtain shall be twenty-eight cubits, and the width of each curtain four cubits; all the curtains shall be of the same size.\r\n\t\t\t Five curtains shall be joined to one another; and the other five curtains shall be joined to one another.\r\n\t\t\t You shall make loops of blue on the edge of the outermost curtain in the first set; and likewise you shall make loops on the edge of the outermost curtain in the second set.\r\n\t\t\t You shall make fifty loops on the one curtain, and you shall make fifty loops on the edge of the curtain that is in the second set; the loops shall be opposite one another.\r\n\t\t\t You shall make fifty clasps of gold, and join the curtains to one another with the clasps, so that the tabernacle may be one whole.\r\n\t\t\t You shall also make curtains of goats' hair for a tent over the tabernacle; you shall make eleven curtains.\r\n\t\t\t The length of each curtain shall be thirty cubits, and the width of each curtain four cubits; the eleven curtains shall be of the same size.\r\n\t\t\t You shall join five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves, and the sixth curtain you shall double over at the front of the tent.\r\n\t\t\t You shall make fifty loops on the edge of the curtain that is outermost in one set, and fifty loops on the edge of the curtain that is outermost in the second set.\r\n\t\t\t You shall make fifty clasps of bronze, and put the clasps into the loops, and join the tent together, so that it may be one whole.\r\n\t\t\t The part that remains of the curtains of the tent, the half curtain that remains, shall hang over the back of the tabernacle.\r\n\t\t\t The cubit on the one side, and the cubit on the other side, of what remains in the length of the curtains of the tent, shall hang over the sides of the tabernacle, on this side and that side, to cover it.\r\n\t\t\t You shall make for the tent a covering of tanned rams' skins and an outer covering of fine leather. \r\n\t\t\t You shall make upright frames of acacia wood for the tabernacle.\r\n\t\t\t Ten cubits shall be the length of a frame, and a cubit and a half the width of each frame.\r\n\t\t\t There shall be two pegs in each frame to fit the frames together; you shall make these for all the frames of the tabernacle.\r\n\t\t\t You shall make the frames for the tabernacle: twenty frames for the south side;\r\n\t\t\t and you shall make forty bases of silver under the twenty frames, two bases under the first frame for its two pegs, and two bases under the next frame for its two pegs;\r\n\t\t\t and for the second side of the tabernacle, on the north side twenty frames,\r\n\t\t\t and their forty bases of silver, two bases under the first frame, and two bases under the next frame;\r\n\t\t\t and for the rear of the tabernacle westward you shall make six frames.\r\n\t\t\t You shall make two frames for corners of the tabernacle in the rear;\r\n\t\t\t they shall be separate beneath, but joined at the top, at the first ring; it shall be the same with both of them; they shall form the two corners.\r\n\t\t\t And so there shall be eight frames, with their bases of silver, sixteen bases; two bases under the first frame, and two bases under the next frame.\r\n\t\t\t You shall make bars of acacia wood, five for the frames of the one side of the tabernacle,\r\n\t\t\t and five bars for the frames of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the frames of the side of the tabernacle at the rear westward.\r\n\t\t\t The middle bar, halfway up the frames, shall pass through from end to end.\r\n\t\t\t You shall overlay the frames with gold, and shall make their rings of gold to hold the bars; and you shall overlay the bars with gold.\r\n\t\t\t Then you shall erect the tabernacle according to the plan for it that you were shown on the mountain.\r\n\t\t\t You shall make a curtain of blue, purple, and crimson yarns, and of fine twisted linen; it shall be made with cherubim skillfully worked into it.\r\n\t\t\t You shall hang it on four pillars of acacia overlaid with gold, which have hooks of gold and rest on four bases of silver.\r\n\t\t\t You shall hang the curtain under the clasps, and bring the ark of the covenant in there, within the curtain; and the curtain shall separate for you the holy place from the most holy.\r\n\t\t\t You shall put the mercy seat on the ark of the covenant in the most holy place.\r\n\t\t\t You shall set the table outside the curtain, and the lampstand on the south side of the tabernacle opposite the table; and you shall put the table on the north side.\r\n\t\t\t You shall make a screen for the entrance of the tent, of blue, purple, and crimson yarns, and of fine twisted linen, embroidered with needlework.\r\n\t\t\t You shall make for the screen five pillars of acacia, and overlay them with gold; their hooks shall be of gold, and you shall cast five bases of bronze for them.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t You shall make the altar of acacia wood, five cubits long and five cubits wide; the altar shall be square, and it shall be three cubits high.\r\n\t\t\t You shall make horns for it on its four corners; its horns shall be of one piece with it, and you shall overlay it with bronze.\r\n\t\t\t You shall make pots for it to receive its ashes, and shovels and basins and forks and firepans; you shall make all its utensils of bronze.\r\n\t\t\t You shall also make for it a grating, a network of bronze; and on the net you shall make four bronze rings at its four corners.\r\n\t\t\t You shall set it under the ledge of the altar so that the net shall extend halfway down the altar.\r\n\t\t\t You shall make poles for the altar, poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with bronze;\r\n\t\t\t the poles shall be put through the rings, so that the poles shall be on the two sides of the altar when it is carried.\r\n\t\t\t You shall make it hollow, with boards. They shall be made just as you were shown on the mountain.\r\n\t\t\t You shall make the court of the tabernacle. On the south side the court shall have hangings of fine twisted linen one hundred cubits long for that side;\r\n\t\t\t its twenty pillars and their twenty bases shall be of bronze, but the hooks of the pillars and their bands shall be of silver.\r\n\t\t\t Likewise for its length on the north side there shall be hangings one hundred cubits long, their pillars twenty and their bases twenty, of bronze, but the hooks of the pillars and their bands shall be of silver.\r\n\t\t\t For the width of the court on the west side there shall be fifty cubits of hangings, with ten pillars and ten bases.\r\n\t\t\t The width of the court on the front to the east shall be fifty cubits.\r\n\t\t\t There shall be fifteen cubits of hangings on the one side, with three pillars and three bases.\r\n\t\t\t There shall be fifteen cubits of hangings on the other side, with three pillars and three bases.\r\n\t\t\t For the gate of the court there shall be a screen twenty cubits long, of blue, purple, and crimson yarns, and of fine twisted linen, embroidered with needlework; it shall have four pillars and with them four bases.\r\n\t\t\t All the pillars around the court shall be banded with silver; their hooks shall be of silver, and their bases of bronze.\r\n\t\t\t The length of the court shall be one hundred cubits, the width fifty, and the height five cubits, with hangings of fine twisted linen and bases of bronze.\r\n\t\t\t All the utensils of the tabernacle for every use, and all its pegs and all the pegs of the court, shall be of bronze.\r\n\t\t\t You shall further command the Israelites to bring you pure oil of beaten olives for the light, so that a lamp may be set up to burn regularly.\r\n\t\t\t In the tent of meeting, outside the curtain that is before the covenant, Aaron and his sons shall tend it from evening to morning before the LORD. It shall be a perpetual ordinance to be observed throughout their generations by the Israelites. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then bring near to you your brother Aaron, and his sons with him, from among the Israelites, to serve me as priests-- Aaron and Aaron's sons, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.\r\n\t\t\t You shall make sacred vestments for the glorious adornment of your brother Aaron.\r\n\t\t\t And you shall speak to all who have ability, whom I have endowed with skill, that they make Aaron's vestments to consecrate him for my priesthood.\r\n\t\t\t These are the vestments that they shall make: a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a checkered tunic, a turban, and a sash. When they make these sacred vestments for your brother Aaron and his sons to serve me as priests,\r\n\t\t\t they shall use gold, blue, purple, and crimson yarns, and fine linen.\r\n\t\t\t They shall make the ephod of gold, of blue, purple, and crimson yarns, and of fine twisted linen, skillfully worked.\r\n\t\t\t It shall have two shoulder-pieces attached to its two edges, so that it may be joined together.\r\n\t\t\t The decorated band on it shall be of the same workmanship and materials, of gold, of blue, purple, and crimson yarns, and of fine twisted linen.\r\n\t\t\t You shall take two onyx stones, and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel,\r\n\t\t\t six of their names on the one stone, and the names of the remaining six on the other stone, in the order of their birth.\r\n\t\t\t As a gem-cutter engraves signets, so you shall engrave the two stones with the names of the sons of Israel; you shall mount them in settings of gold filigree.\r\n\t\t\t You shall set the two stones on the shoulder-pieces of the ephod, as stones of remembrance for the sons of Israel; and Aaron shall bear their names before the LORD on his two shoulders for remembrance.\r\n\t\t\t You shall make settings of gold filigree,\r\n\t\t\t and two chains of pure gold, twisted like cords; and you shall attach the corded chains to the settings.\r\n\t\t\t You shall make a breastpiece of judgment, in skilled work; you shall make it in the style of the ephod; of gold, of blue and purple and crimson yarns, and of fine twisted linen you shall make it.\r\n\t\t\t It shall be square and doubled, a span in length and a span in width.\r\n\t\t\t You shall set in it four rows of stones. A row of carnelian, chrysolite, and emerald shall be the first row; \r\n\t\t\t and the second row a turquoise, a sapphire and a moonstone; \r\n\t\t\t and the third row a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst;\r\n\t\t\t and the fourth row a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper; they shall be set in gold filigree.\r\n\t\t\t There shall be twelve stones with names corresponding to the names of the sons of Israel; they shall be like signets, each engraved with its name, for the twelve tribes.\r\n\t\t\t You shall make for the breastpiece chains of pure gold, twisted like cords;\r\n\t\t\t and you shall make for the breastpiece two rings of gold, and put the two rings on the two edges of the breastpiece.\r\n\t\t\t You shall put the two cords of gold in the two rings at the edges of the breastpiece;\r\n\t\t\t the two ends of the two cords you shall attach to the two settings, and so attach it in front to the shoulder-pieces of the ephod.\r\n\t\t\t You shall make two rings of gold, and put them at the two ends of the breastpiece, on its inside edge next to the ephod.\r\n\t\t\t You shall make two rings of gold, and attach them in front to the lower part of the two shoulder-pieces of the ephod, at its joining above the decorated band of the ephod.\r\n\t\t\t The breastpiece shall be bound by its rings to the rings of the ephod with a blue cord, so that it may lie on the decorated band of the ephod, and so that the breastpiece shall not come loose from the ephod.\r\n\t\t\t So Aaron shall bear the names of the sons of Israel in the breastpiece of judgment on his heart when he goes into the holy place, for a continual remembrance before the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t In the breastpiece of judgment you shall put the Urim and the Thummim, and they shall be on Aaron's heart when he goes in before the LORD; thus Aaron shall bear the judgment of the Israelites on his heart before the LORD continually.\r\n\t\t\t You shall make the robe of the ephod all of blue.\r\n\t\t\t It shall have an opening for the head in the middle of it, with a woven binding around the opening, like the opening in a coat of mail, so that it may not be torn. \r\n\t\t\t On its lower hem you shall make pomegranates of blue, purple, and crimson yarns, all around the lower hem, with bells of gold between them all around--\r\n\t\t\t a golden bell and a pomegranate alternating all around the lower hem of the robe.\r\n\t\t\t Aaron shall wear it when he ministers, and its sound shall be heard when he goes into the holy place before the LORD, and when he comes out, so that he may not die.\r\n\t\t\t You shall make a rosette of pure gold, and engrave on it, like the engraving of a signet, \"Holy to the LORD.\"\r\n\t\t\t You shall fasten it on the turban with a blue cord; it shall be on the front of the turban.\r\n\t\t\t It shall be on Aaron's forehead, and Aaron shall take on himself any guilt incurred in the holy offering that the Israelites consecrate as their sacred donations; it shall always be on his forehead, in order that they may find favor before the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t You shall make the checkered tunic of fine linen, and you shall make a turban of fine linen, and you shall make a sash embroidered with needlework.\r\n\t\t\t For Aaron's sons you shall make tunics and sashes and headdresses; you shall make them for their glorious adornment.\r\n\t\t\t You shall put them on your brother Aaron, and on his sons with him, and shall anoint them and ordain them and consecrate them, so that they may serve me as priests.\r\n\t\t\t You shall make for them linen undergarments to cover their naked flesh; they shall reach from the hips to the thighs;\r\n\t\t\t Aaron and his sons shall wear them when they go into the tent of meeting, or when they come near the altar to minister in the holy place; or they will bring guilt on themselves and die. This shall be a perpetual ordinance for him and for his descendants after him.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now this is what you shall do to them to consecrate them, so that they may serve me as priests. Take one young bull and two rams without blemish,\r\n\t\t\t and unleavened bread, unleavened cakes mixed with oil, and unleavened wafers spread with oil. You shall make them of choice wheat flour.\r\n\t\t\t You shall put them in one basket and bring them in the basket, and bring the bull and the two rams.\r\n\t\t\t You shall bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance of the tent of meeting, and wash them with water.\r\n\t\t\t Then you shall take the vestments, and put on Aaron the tunic and the robe of the ephod, and the ephod, and the breastpiece, and gird him with the decorated band of the ephod;\r\n\t\t\t and you shall set the turban on his head, and put the holy diadem on the turban.\r\n\t\t\t You shall take the anointing oil, and pour it on his head and anoint him.\r\n\t\t\t Then you shall bring his sons, and put tunics on them,\r\n\t\t\t and you shall gird them with sashes and tie headdresses on them; and the priesthood shall be theirs by a perpetual ordinance. You shall then ordain Aaron and his sons. \r\n\t\t\t You shall bring the bull in front of the tent of meeting. Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on the head of the bull,\r\n\t\t\t and you shall slaughter the bull before the LORD, at the entrance of the tent of meeting,\r\n\t\t\t and shall take some of the blood of the bull and put it on the horns of the altar with your finger, and all the rest of the blood you shall pour out at the base of the altar.\r\n\t\t\t You shall take all the fat that covers the entrails, and the appendage of the liver, and the two kidneys with the fat that is on them, and turn them into smoke on the altar.\r\n\t\t\t But the flesh of the bull, and its skin, and its dung, you shall burn with fire outside the camp; it is a sin offering.\r\n\t\t\t Then you shall take one of the rams, and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on the head of the ram,\r\n\t\t\t and you shall slaughter the ram, and shall take its blood and dash it against all sides of the altar.\r\n\t\t\t Then you shall cut the ram into its parts, and wash its entrails and its legs, and put them with its parts and its head,\r\n\t\t\t and turn the whole ram into smoke on the altar; it is a burnt offering to the LORD; it is a pleasing odor, an offering by fire to the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t You shall take the other ram; and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on the head of the ram,\r\n\t\t\t and you shall slaughter the ram, and take some of its blood and put it on the lobe of Aaron's right ear and on the lobes of the right ears of his sons, and on the thumbs of their right hands, and on the big toes of their right feet, and dash the rest of the blood against all sides of the altar.\r\n\t\t\t Then you shall take some of the blood that is on the altar, and some of the anointing oil, and sprinkle it on Aaron and his vestments and on his sons and his sons' vestments with him; then he and his vestments shall be holy, as well as his sons and his sons' vestments.\r\n\t\t\t You shall also take the fat of the ram, the fat tail, the fat that covers the entrails, the appendage of the liver, the two kidneys with the fat that is on them, and the right thigh (for it is a ram of ordination),\r\n\t\t\t and one loaf of bread, one cake of bread made with oil, and one wafer, out of the basket of unleavened bread that is before the LORD;\r\n\t\t\t and you shall place all these on the palms of Aaron and on the palms of his sons, and raise them as an elevation offering before the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Then you shall take them from their hands, and turn them into smoke on the altar on top of the burnt offering of pleasing odor before the LORD; it is an offering by fire to the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t You shall take the breast of the ram of Aaron's ordination and raise it as an elevation offering before the LORD; and it shall be your portion.\r\n\t\t\t You shall consecrate the breast that was raised as an elevation offering and the thigh that was raised as an elevation offering from the ram of ordination, from that which belonged to Aaron and his sons.\r\n\t\t\t These things shall be a perpetual ordinance for Aaron and his sons from the Israelites, for this is an offering; and it shall be an offering by the Israelites from their sacrifice of offerings of well-being, their offering to the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t The sacred vestments of Aaron shall be passed on to his sons after him; they shall be anointed in them and ordained in them.\r\n\t\t\t The son who is priest in his place shall wear them seven days, when he comes into the tent of meeting to minister in the holy place.\r\n\t\t\t You shall take the ram of ordination, and boil its flesh in a holy place;\r\n\t\t\t and Aaron and his sons shall eat the flesh of the ram and the bread that is in the basket, at the entrance of the tent of meeting.\r\n\t\t\t They themselves shall eat the food by which atonement is made, to ordain and consecrate them, but no one else shall eat of them, because they are holy.\r\n\t\t\t If any of the flesh for the ordination, or of the bread, remains until the morning, then you shall burn the remainder with fire; it shall not be eaten, because it is holy.\r\n\t\t\t Thus you shall do to Aaron and to his sons, just as I have commanded you; through seven days you shall ordain them.\r\n\t\t\t Also every day you shall offer a bull as a sin offering for atonement. Also you shall offer a sin offering for the altar, when you make atonement for it, and shall anoint it, to consecrate it.\r\n\t\t\t Seven days you shall make atonement for the altar, and consecrate it, and the altar shall be most holy; whatever touches the altar shall become holy.\r\n\t\t\t Now this is what you shall offer on the altar: two lambs a year old regularly each day.\r\n\t\t\t One lamb you shall offer in the morning, and the other lamb you shall offer in the evening;\r\n\t\t\t and with the first lamb one-tenth of a measure of choice flour mixed with one-fourth of a hin of beaten oil, and one-fourth of a hin of wine for a drink offering.\r\n\t\t\t And the other lamb you shall offer in the evening, and shall offer with it a grain offering and its drink offering, as in the morning, for a pleasing odor, an offering by fire to the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t It shall be a regular burnt offering throughout your generations at the entrance of the tent of meeting before the LORD, where I will meet with you, to speak to you there.\r\n\t\t\t I will meet with the Israelites there, and it shall be sanctified by my glory;\r\n\t\t\t I will consecrate the tent of meeting and the altar; Aaron also and his sons I will consecrate, to serve me as priests.\r\n\t\t\t I will dwell among the Israelites, and I will be their God.\r\n\t\t\t And they shall know that I am the LORD their God, who brought them out of the land of Egypt that I might dwell among them; I am the LORD their God.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t You shall make an altar on which to offer incense; you shall make it of acacia wood.\r\n\t\t\t It shall be one cubit long, and one cubit wide; it shall be square, and shall be two cubits high; its horns shall be of one piece with it.\r\n\t\t\t You shall overlay it with pure gold, its top, and its sides all around and its horns; and you shall make for it a molding of gold all around.\r\n\t\t\t And you shall make two golden rings for it; under its molding on two opposite sides of it you shall make them, and they shall hold the poles with which to carry it.\r\n\t\t\t You shall make the poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold.\r\n\t\t\t You shall place it in front of the curtain that is above the ark of the covenant, in front of the mercy seat that is over the covenant, where I will meet with you. \r\n\t\t\t Aaron shall offer fragrant incense on it; every morning when he dresses the lamps he shall offer it,\r\n\t\t\t and when Aaron sets up the lamps in the evening, he shall offer it, a regular incense offering before the LORD throughout your generations.\r\n\t\t\t You shall not offer unholy incense on it, or a burnt offering, or a grain offering; and you shall not pour a drink offering on it.\r\n\t\t\t Once a year Aaron shall perform the rite of atonement on its horns. Throughout your generations he shall perform the atonement for it once a year with the blood of the atoning sin offering. It is most holy to the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses:\r\n\t\t\t When you take a census of the Israelites to register them, at registration all of them shall give a ransom for their lives to the LORD, so that no plague may come upon them for being registered.\r\n\t\t\t This is what each one who is registered shall give: half a shekel according to the shekel of the sanctuary (the shekel is twenty gerahs), half a shekel as an offering to the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Each one who is registered, from twenty years old and upward, shall give the LORD's offering.\r\n\t\t\t The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less, than the half shekel, when you bring this offering to the LORD to make atonement for your lives.\r\n\t\t\t You shall take the atonement money from the Israelites and shall designate it for the service of the tent of meeting; before the LORD it will be a reminder to the Israelites of the ransom given for your lives.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses:\r\n\t\t\t You shall make a bronze basin with a bronze stand for washing. You shall put it between the tent of meeting and the altar, and you shall put water in it;\r\n\t\t\t with the water Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet. \r\n\t\t\t When they go into the tent of meeting, or when they come near the altar to minister, to make an offering by fire to the LORD, they shall wash with water, so that they may not die.\r\n\t\t\t They shall wash their hands and their feet, so that they may not die: it shall be a perpetual ordinance for them, for him and for his descendants throughout their generations.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses:\r\n\t\t\t Take the finest spices: of liquid myrrh five hundred shekels, and of sweet-smelling cinnamon half as much, that is, two hundred fifty, and two hundred fifty of aromatic cane,\r\n\t\t\t and five hundred of cassia-- measured by the sanctuary shekel-- and a hin of olive oil;\r\n\t\t\t and you shall make of these a sacred anointing oil blended as by the perfumer; it shall be a holy anointing oil.\r\n\t\t\t With it you shall anoint the tent of meeting and the ark of the covenant, \r\n\t\t\t and the table and all its utensils, and the lampstand and its utensils, and the altar of incense,\r\n\t\t\t and the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, and the basin with its stand;\r\n\t\t\t you shall consecrate them, so that they may be most holy; whatever touches them will become holy.\r\n\t\t\t You shall anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, in order that they may serve me as priests.\r\n\t\t\t You shall say to the Israelites, \"This shall be my holy anointing oil throughout your generations.\r\n\t\t\t It shall not be used in any ordinary anointing of the body, and you shall make no other like it in composition; it is holy, and it shall be holy to you.\r\n\t\t\t Whoever compounds any like it or whoever puts any of it on an unqualified person shall be cut off from the people.\"\r\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Moses: Take sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum, sweet spices with pure frankincense (an equal part of each),\r\n\t\t\t and make an incense blended as by the perfumer, seasoned with salt, pure and holy;\r\n\t\t\t and you shall beat some of it into powder, and put part of it before the covenant in the tent of meeting where I shall meet with you; it shall be for you most holy. \r\n\t\t\t When you make incense according to this composition, you shall not make it for yourselves; it shall be regarded by you as holy to the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Whoever makes any like it to use as perfume shall be cut off from the people.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses:\r\n\t\t\t See, I have called by name Bezalel son of Uri son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah:\r\n\t\t\t and I have filled him with divine spirit, with ability, intelligence, and knowledge in every kind of craft, \r\n\t\t\t to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze,\r\n\t\t\t in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, in every kind of craft.\r\n\t\t\t Moreover, I have appointed with him Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan; and I have given skill to all the skillful, so that they may make all that I have commanded you:\r\n\t\t\t the tent of meeting, and the ark of the covenant, and the mercy seat that is on it, and all the furnishings of the tent, \r\n\t\t\t the table and its utensils, and the pure lampstand with all its utensils, and the altar of incense,\r\n\t\t\t and the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, and the basin with its stand,\r\n\t\t\t and the finely worked vestments, the holy vestments for the priest Aaron and the vestments of his sons, for their service as priests,\r\n\t\t\t and the anointing oil and the fragrant incense for the holy place. They shall do just as I have commanded you.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Moses:\r\n\t\t\t You yourself are to speak to the Israelites: \"You shall keep my sabbaths, for this is a sign between me and you throughout your generations, given in order that you may know that I, the LORD, sanctify you.\r\n\t\t\t You shall keep the sabbath, because it is holy for you; everyone who profanes it shall be put to death; whoever does any work on it shall be cut off from among the people.\r\n\t\t\t Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day is a sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the LORD; whoever does any work on the sabbath day shall be put to death.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore the Israelites shall keep the sabbath, observing the sabbath throughout their generations, as a perpetual covenant.\r\n\t\t\t It is a sign forever between me and the people of Israel that in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.\"\r\n\t\t\t When God finished speaking with Moses on Mount Sinai, he gave him the two tablets of the covenant, tablets of stone, written with the finger of God. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t When the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people gathered around Aaron, and said to him, \"Come, make gods for us, who shall go before us; as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.\"\r\n\t\t\t Aaron said to them, \"Take off the gold rings that are on the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me.\"\r\n\t\t\t So all the people took off the gold rings from their ears, and brought them to Aaron.\r\n\t\t\t He took the gold from them, formed it in a mold, and cast an image of a calf; and they said, \"These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!\" \r\n\t\t\t When Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation and said, \"Tomorrow shall be a festival to the LORD.\"\r\n\t\t\t They rose early the next day, and offered burnt offerings and brought sacrifices of well-being; and the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to revel.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Moses, \"Go down at once! Your people, whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have acted perversely;\r\n\t\t\t they have been quick to turn aside from the way that I commanded them; they have cast for themselves an image of a calf, and have worshiped it and sacrificed to it, and said, 'These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!'\"\r\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Moses, \"I have seen this people, how stiff-necked they are.\r\n\t\t\t Now let me alone, so that my wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them; and of you I will make a great nation.\"\r\n\t\t\t But Moses implored the LORD his God, and said, \"O LORD, why does your wrath burn hot against your people, whom you brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand?\r\n\t\t\t Why should the Egyptians say, 'It was with evil intent that he brought them out to kill them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth'? Turn from your fierce wrath; change your mind and do not bring disaster on your people.\r\n\t\t\t Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, how you swore to them by your own self, saying to them, 'I will multiply your descendants like the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have promised I will give to your descendants, and they shall inherit it forever.'\"\r\n\t\t\t And the LORD changed his mind about the disaster that he planned to bring on his people.\r\n\t\t\t Then Moses turned and went down from the mountain, carrying the two tablets of the covenant in his hands, tablets that were written on both sides, written on the front and on the back. \r\n\t\t\t The tablets were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, engraved upon the tablets.\r\n\t\t\t When Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said to Moses, \"There is a noise of war in the camp.\"\r\n\t\t\t But he said, \"It is not the sound made by victors, or the sound made by losers; it is the sound of revelers that I hear.\"\r\n\t\t\t As soon as he came near the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, Moses' anger burned hot, and he threw the tablets from his hands and broke them at the foot of the mountain.\r\n\t\t\t He took the calf that they had made, burned it with fire, ground it to powder, scattered it on the water, and made the Israelites drink it.\r\n\t\t\t Moses said to Aaron, \"What did this people do to you that you have brought so great a sin upon them?\"\r\n\t\t\t And Aaron said, \"Do not let the anger of my lord burn hot; you know the people, that they are bent on evil.\r\n\t\t\t They said to me, 'Make us gods, who shall go before us; as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.'\r\n\t\t\t So I said to them, 'Whoever has gold, take it off'; so they gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf!\"\r\n\t\t\t When Moses saw that the people were running wild (for Aaron had let them run wild, to the derision of their enemies),\r\n\t\t\t then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, \"Who is on the LORD's side? Come to me!\" And all the sons of Levi gathered around him.\r\n\t\t\t He said to them, \"Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, 'Put your sword on your side, each of you! Go back and forth from gate to gate throughout the camp, and each of you kill your brother, your friend, and your neighbor.'\"\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Levi did as Moses commanded, and about three thousand of the people fell on that day.\r\n\t\t\t Moses said, \"Today you have ordained yourselves for the service of the LORD, each one at the cost of a son or a brother, and so have brought a blessing on yourselves this day.\" \r\n\t\t\t On the next day Moses said to the people, \"You have sinned a great sin. But now I will go up to the LORD; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Moses returned to the LORD and said, \"Alas, this people has sinned a great sin; they have made for themselves gods of gold.\r\n\t\t\t But now, if you will only forgive their sin-- but if not, blot me out of the book that you have written.\"\r\n\t\t\t But the LORD said to Moses, \"Whoever has sinned against me I will blot out of my book.\r\n\t\t\t But now go, lead the people to the place about which I have spoken to you; see, my angel shall go in front of you. Nevertheless, when the day comes for punishment, I will punish them for their sin.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD sent a plague on the people, because they made the calf-- the one that Aaron made.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Moses, \"Go, leave this place, you and the people whom you have brought up out of the land of Egypt, and go to the land of which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, 'To your descendants I will give it.'\r\n\t\t\t I will send an angel before you, and I will drive out the Canaanites, the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites.\r\n\t\t\t Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey; but I will not go up among you, or I would consume you on the way, for you are a stiff-necked people.\"\r\n\t\t\t When the people heard these harsh words, they mourned, and no one put on ornaments.\r\n\t\t\t For the LORD had said to Moses, \"Say to the Israelites, 'You are a stiff-necked people; if for a single moment I should go up among you, I would consume you. So now take off your ornaments, and I will decide what to do to you.'\"\r\n\t\t\t Therefore the Israelites stripped themselves of their ornaments, from Mount Horeb onward.\r\n\t\t\t Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it outside the camp, far off from the camp; he called it the tent of meeting. And everyone who sought the LORD would go out to the tent of meeting, which was outside the camp.\r\n\t\t\t Whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people would rise and stand, each of them, at the entrance of their tents and watch Moses until he had gone into the tent.\r\n\t\t\t When Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent, and the LORD would speak with Moses.\r\n\t\t\t When all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance of the tent, all the people would rise and bow down, all of them, at the entrance of their tent.\r\n\t\t\t Thus the LORD used to speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Then he would return to the camp; but his young assistant, Joshua son of Nun, would not leave the tent.\r\n\t\t\t Moses said to the LORD, \"See, you have said to me, 'Bring up this people'; but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, 'I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight.'\r\n\t\t\t Now if I have found favor in your sight, show me your ways, so that I may know you and find favor in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people.\"\r\n\t\t\t He said, \"My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.\"\r\n\t\t\t And he said to him, \"If your presence will not go, do not carry us up from here.\r\n\t\t\t For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people, unless you go with us? In this way, we shall be distinct, I and your people, from every people on the face of the earth.\"\r\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Moses, \"I will do the very thing that you have asked; for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name.\"\r\n\t\t\t Moses said, \"Show me your glory, I pray.\"\r\n\t\t\t And he said, \"I will make all my goodness pass before you, and will proclaim before you the name, 'The LORD'; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. \r\n\t\t\t But,\" he said, \"you cannot see my face; for no one shall see me and live.\"\r\n\t\t\t And the LORD continued, \"See, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock;\r\n\t\t\t and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by;\r\n\t\t\t then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back; but my face shall not be seen.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Moses, \"Cut two tablets of stone like the former ones, and I will write on the tablets the words that were on the former tablets, which you broke.\r\n\t\t\t Be ready in the morning, and come up in the morning to Mount Sinai and present yourself there to me, on the top of the mountain.\r\n\t\t\t No one shall come up with you, and do not let anyone be seen throughout all the mountain; and do not let flocks or herds graze in front of that mountain.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Moses cut two tablets of stone like the former ones; and he rose early in the morning and went up on Mount Sinai, as the LORD had commanded him, and took in his hand the two tablets of stone.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name, \"The LORD.\" \r\n\t\t\t The LORD passed before him, and proclaimed, \"The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness,\r\n\t\t\t keeping steadfast love for the thousandth generation, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, yet by no means clearing the guilty, but visiting the iniquity of the parents upon the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation.\" \r\n\t\t\t And Moses quickly bowed his head toward the earth, and worshiped.\r\n\t\t\t He said, \"If now I have found favor in your sight, O Lord, I pray, let the Lord go with us. Although this is a stiff-necked people, pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for your inheritance.\"\r\n\t\t\t He said: I hereby make a covenant. Before all your people I will perform marvels, such as have not been performed in all the earth or in any nation; and all the people among whom you live shall see the work of the LORD; for it is an awesome thing that I will do with you.\r\n\t\t\t Observe what I command you today. See, I will drive out before you the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites.\r\n\t\t\t Take care not to make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land to which you are going, or it will become a snare among you.\r\n\t\t\t You shall tear down their altars, break their pillars, and cut down their sacred poles\r\n\t\t\t (for you shall worship no other god, because the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God).\r\n\t\t\t You shall not make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, for when they prostitute themselves to their gods and sacrifice to their gods, someone among them will invite you, and you will eat of the sacrifice.\r\n\t\t\t And you will take wives from among their daughters for your sons, and their daughters who prostitute themselves to their gods will make your sons also prostitute themselves to their gods.\r\n\t\t\t You shall not make cast idols.\r\n\t\t\t You shall keep the festival of unleavened bread. Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, as I commanded you, at the time appointed in the month of Abib; for in the month of Abib you came out from Egypt.\r\n\t\t\t All that first opens the womb is mine, all your male livestock, the firstborn of cow and sheep. \r\n\t\t\t The firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb, or if you will not redeem it you shall break its neck. All the firstborn of your sons you shall redeem. No one shall appear before me empty-handed.\r\n\t\t\t Six days you shall work, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even in plowing time and in harvest time you shall rest.\r\n\t\t\t You shall observe the festival of weeks, the first fruits of wheat harvest, and the festival of ingathering at the turn of the year.\r\n\t\t\t Three times in the year all your males shall appear before the LORD God, the God of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t For I will cast out nations before you, and enlarge your borders; no one shall covet your land when you go up to appear before the LORD your God three times in the year.\r\n\t\t\t You shall not offer the blood of my sacrifice with leaven, and the sacrifice of the festival of the passover shall not be left until the morning.\r\n\t\t\t The best of the first fruits of your ground you shall bring to the house of the LORD your God. You shall not boil a kid in its mother's milk.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Moses: Write these words; in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel.\r\n\t\t\t He was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he neither ate bread nor drank water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the ten commandments. \r\n\t\t\t Moses came down from Mount Sinai. As he came down from the mountain with the two tablets of the covenant in his hand, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God. \r\n\t\t\t When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, the skin of his face was shining, and they were afraid to come near him.\r\n\t\t\t But Moses called to them; and Aaron and all the leaders of the congregation returned to him, and Moses spoke with them.\r\n\t\t\t Afterward all the Israelites came near, and he gave them in commandment all that the LORD had spoken with him on Mount Sinai.\r\n\t\t\t When Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil on his face;\r\n\t\t\t but whenever Moses went in before the LORD to speak with him, he would take the veil off, until he came out; and when he came out, and told the Israelites what he had been commanded,\r\n\t\t\t the Israelites would see the face of Moses, that the skin of his face was shining; and Moses would put the veil on his face again, until he went in to speak with him.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Moses assembled all the congregation of the Israelites and said to them: These are the things that the LORD has commanded you to do:\r\n\t\t\t Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day you shall have a holy sabbath of solemn rest to the LORD; whoever does any work on it shall be put to death.\r\n\t\t\t You shall kindle no fire in all your dwellings on the sabbath day.\r\n\t\t\t Moses said to all the congregation of the Israelites: This is the thing that the LORD has commanded:\r\n\t\t\t Take from among you an offering to the LORD; let whoever is of a generous heart bring the LORD's offering: gold, silver, and bronze;\r\n\t\t\t blue, purple, and crimson yarns, and fine linen; goats' hair,\r\n\t\t\t tanned rams' skins, and fine leather; acacia wood, \r\n\t\t\t oil for the light, spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense,\r\n\t\t\t and onyx stones and gems to be set in the ephod and the breastpiece.\r\n\t\t\t All who are skillful among you shall come and make all that the LORD has commanded: the tabernacle,\r\n\t\t\t its tent and its covering, its clasps and its frames, its bars, its pillars, and its bases;\r\n\t\t\t the ark with its poles, the mercy seat, and the curtain for the screen; \r\n\t\t\t the table with its poles and all its utensils, and the bread of the Presence;\r\n\t\t\t the lampstand also for the light, with its utensils and its lamps, and the oil for the light;\r\n\t\t\t and the altar of incense, with its poles, and the anointing oil and the fragrant incense, and the screen for the entrance, the entrance of the tabernacle;\r\n\t\t\t the altar of burnt offering, with its grating of bronze, its poles, and all its utensils, the basin with its stand;\r\n\t\t\t the hangings of the court, its pillars and its bases, and the screen for the gate of the court;\r\n\t\t\t the pegs of the tabernacle and the pegs of the court, and their cords;\r\n\t\t\t the finely worked vestments for ministering in the holy place, the holy vestments for the priest Aaron, and the vestments of his sons, for their service as priests.\r\n\t\t\t Then all the congregation of the Israelites withdrew from the presence of Moses.\r\n\t\t\t And they came, everyone whose heart was stirred, and everyone whose spirit was willing, and brought the LORD's offering to be used for the tent of meeting, and for all its service, and for the sacred vestments.\r\n\t\t\t So they came, both men and women; all who were of a willing heart brought brooches and earrings and signet rings and pendants, all sorts of gold objects, everyone bringing an offering of gold to the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t And everyone who possessed blue or purple or crimson yarn or fine linen or goats' hair or tanned rams' skins or fine leather, brought them. \r\n\t\t\t Everyone who could make an offering of silver or bronze brought it as the LORD's offering; and everyone who possessed acacia wood of any use in the work, brought it.\r\n\t\t\t All the skillful women spun with their hands, and brought what they had spun in blue and purple and crimson yarns and fine linen;\r\n\t\t\t all the women whose hearts moved them to use their skill spun the goats' hair.\r\n\t\t\t And the leaders brought onyx stones and gems to be set in the ephod and the breastpiece,\r\n\t\t\t and spices and oil for the light, and for the anointing oil, and for the fragrant incense.\r\n\t\t\t All the Israelite men and women whose hearts made them willing to bring anything for the work that the LORD had commanded by Moses to be done, brought it as a freewill offering to the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Then Moses said to the Israelites: See, the LORD has called by name Bezalel son of Uri son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah;\r\n\t\t\t he has filled him with divine spirit, with skill, intelligence, and knowledge in every kind of craft, \r\n\t\t\t to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze,\r\n\t\t\t in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, in every kind of craft.\r\n\t\t\t And he has inspired him to teach, both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan.\r\n\t\t\t He has filled them with skill to do every kind of work done by an artisan or by a designer or by an embroiderer in blue, purple, and crimson yarns, and in fine linen, or by a weaver-- by any sort of artisan or skilled designer.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Bezalel and Oholiab and every skillful one to whom the LORD has given skill and understanding to know how to do any work in the construction of the sanctuary shall work in accordance with all that the LORD has commanded.\r\n\t\t\t Moses then called Bezalel and Oholiab and every skillful one to whom the LORD had given skill, everyone whose heart was stirred to come to do the work;\r\n\t\t\t and they received from Moses all the freewill offerings that the Israelites had brought for doing the work on the sanctuary. They still kept bringing him freewill offerings every morning,\r\n\t\t\t so that all the artisans who were doing every sort of task on the sanctuary came, each from the task being performed,\r\n\t\t\t and said to Moses, \"The people are bringing much more than enough for doing the work that the LORD has commanded us to do.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Moses gave command, and word was proclaimed throughout the camp: \"No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary.\" So the people were restrained from bringing;\r\n\t\t\t for what they had already brought was more than enough to do all the work.\r\n\t\t\t All those with skill among the workers made the tabernacle with ten curtains; they were made of fine twisted linen, and blue, purple, and crimson yarns, with cherubim skillfully worked into them.\r\n\t\t\t The length of each curtain was twenty-eight cubits, and the width of each curtain four cubits; all the curtains were of the same size.\r\n\t\t\t He joined five curtains to one another, and the other five curtains he joined to one another.\r\n\t\t\t He made loops of blue on the edge of the outermost curtain of the first set; likewise he made them on the edge of the outermost curtain of the second set;\r\n\t\t\t he made fifty loops on the one curtain, and he made fifty loops on the edge of the curtain that was in the second set; the loops were opposite one another.\r\n\t\t\t And he made fifty clasps of gold, and joined the curtains one to the other with clasps; so the tabernacle was one whole.\r\n\t\t\t He also made curtains of goats' hair for a tent over the tabernacle; he made eleven curtains.\r\n\t\t\t The length of each curtain was thirty cubits, and the width of each curtain four cubits; the eleven curtains were of the same size.\r\n\t\t\t He joined five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves.\r\n\t\t\t He made fifty loops on the edge of the outermost curtain of the one set, and fifty loops on the edge of the other connecting curtain.\r\n\t\t\t He made fifty clasps of bronze to join the tent together so that it might be one whole.\r\n\t\t\t And he made for the tent a covering of tanned rams' skins and an outer covering of fine leather. \r\n\t\t\t Then he made the upright frames for the tabernacle of acacia wood.\r\n\t\t\t Ten cubits was the length of a frame, and a cubit and a half the width of each frame.\r\n\t\t\t Each frame had two pegs for fitting together; he did this for all the frames of the tabernacle.\r\n\t\t\t The frames for the tabernacle he made in this way: twenty frames for the south side;\r\n\t\t\t and he made forty bases of silver under the twenty frames, two bases under the first frame for its two pegs, and two bases under the next frame for its two pegs.\r\n\t\t\t For the second side of the tabernacle, on the north side, he made twenty frames\r\n\t\t\t and their forty bases of silver, two bases under the first frame and two bases under the next frame.\r\n\t\t\t For the rear of the tabernacle westward he made six frames.\r\n\t\t\t He made two frames for corners of the tabernacle in the rear.\r\n\t\t\t They were separate beneath, but joined at the top, at the first ring; he made two of them in this way, for the two corners.\r\n\t\t\t There were eight frames with their bases of silver: sixteen bases, under every frame two bases.\r\n\t\t\t He made bars of acacia wood, five for the frames of the one side of the tabernacle,\r\n\t\t\t and five bars for the frames of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the frames of the tabernacle at the rear westward.\r\n\t\t\t He made the middle bar to pass through from end to end halfway up the frames.\r\n\t\t\t And he overlaid the frames with gold, and made rings of gold for them to hold the bars, and overlaid the bars with gold.\r\n\t\t\t He made the curtain of blue, purple, and crimson yarns, and fine twisted linen, with cherubim skillfully worked into it.\r\n\t\t\t For it he made four pillars of acacia, and overlaid them with gold; their hooks were of gold, and he cast for them four bases of silver.\r\n\t\t\t He also made a screen for the entrance to the tent, of blue, purple, and crimson yarns, and fine twisted linen, embroidered with needlework;\r\n\t\t\t and its five pillars with their hooks. He overlaid their capitals and their bases with gold, but their five bases were of bronze.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood; it was two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high.\r\n\t\t\t He overlaid it with pure gold inside and outside, and made a molding of gold around it.\r\n\t\t\t He cast for it four rings of gold for its four feet, two rings on its one side and two rings on its other side.\r\n\t\t\t He made poles of acacia wood, and overlaid them with gold,\r\n\t\t\t and put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark, to carry the ark.\r\n\t\t\t He made a mercy seat of pure gold; two cubits and a half was its length, and a cubit and a half its width. \r\n\t\t\t He made two cherubim of hammered gold; at the two ends of the mercy seat he made them, \r\n\t\t\t one cherub at the one end, and one cherub at the other end; of one piece with the mercy seat he made the cherubim at its two ends. \r\n\t\t\t The cherubim spread out their wings above, overshadowing the mercy seat with their wings. They faced one another; the faces of the cherubim were turned toward the mercy seat. \r\n\t\t\t He also made the table of acacia wood, two cubits long, one cubit wide, and a cubit and a half high.\r\n\t\t\t He overlaid it with pure gold, and made a molding of gold around it.\r\n\t\t\t He made around it a rim a handbreadth wide, and made a molding of gold around the rim.\r\n\t\t\t He cast for it four rings of gold, and fastened the rings to the four corners at its four legs.\r\n\t\t\t The rings that held the poles used for carrying the table were close to the rim.\r\n\t\t\t He made the poles of acacia wood to carry the table, and overlaid them with gold.\r\n\t\t\t And he made the vessels of pure gold that were to be on the table, its plates and dishes for incense, and its bowls and flagons with which to pour drink offerings.\r\n\t\t\t He also made the lampstand of pure gold. The base and the shaft of the lampstand were made of hammered work; its cups, its calyxes, and its petals were of one piece with it.\r\n\t\t\t There were six branches going out of its sides, three branches of the lampstand out of one side of it and three branches of the lampstand out of the other side of it;\r\n\t\t\t three cups shaped like almond blossoms, each with calyx and petals, on one branch, and three cups shaped like almond blossoms, each with calyx and petals, on the other branch-- so for the six branches going out of the lampstand.\r\n\t\t\t On the lampstand itself there were four cups shaped like almond blossoms, each with its calyxes and petals.\r\n\t\t\t There was a calyx of one piece with it under the first pair of branches, a calyx of one piece with it under the next pair of branches, and a calyx of one piece with it under the last pair of branches.\r\n\t\t\t Their calyxes and their branches were of one piece with it, the whole of it one hammered piece of pure gold.\r\n\t\t\t He made its seven lamps and its snuffers and its trays of pure gold.\r\n\t\t\t He made it and all its utensils of a talent of pure gold.\r\n\t\t\t He made the altar of incense of acacia wood, one cubit long, and one cubit wide; it was square, and was two cubits high; its horns were of one piece with it.\r\n\t\t\t He overlaid it with pure gold, its top, and its sides all around, and its horns; and he made for it a molding of gold all around,\r\n\t\t\t and made two golden rings for it under its molding, on two opposite sides of it, to hold the poles with which to carry it.\r\n\t\t\t And he made the poles of acacia wood, and overlaid them with gold.\r\n\t\t\t He made the holy anointing oil also, and the pure fragrant incense, blended as by the perfumer.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t He made the altar of burnt offering also of acacia wood; it was five cubits long, and five cubits wide; it was square, and three cubits high.\r\n\t\t\t He made horns for it on its four corners; its horns were of one piece with it, and he overlaid it with bronze.\r\n\t\t\t He made all the utensils of the altar, the pots, the shovels, the basins, the forks, and the firepans: all its utensils he made of bronze.\r\n\t\t\t He made for the altar a grating, a network of bronze, under its ledge, extending halfway down.\r\n\t\t\t He cast four rings on the four corners of the bronze grating to hold the poles;\r\n\t\t\t he made the poles of acacia wood, and overlaid them with bronze.\r\n\t\t\t And he put the poles through the rings on the sides of the altar, to carry it with them; he made it hollow, with boards.\r\n\t\t\t He made the basin of bronze with its stand of bronze, from the mirrors of the women who served at the entrance to the tent of meeting.\r\n\t\t\t He made the court; for the south side the hangings of the court were of fine twisted linen, one hundred cubits long;\r\n\t\t\t its twenty pillars and their twenty bases were of bronze, but the hooks of the pillars and their bands were of silver.\r\n\t\t\t For the north side there were hangings one hundred cubits long; its twenty pillars and their twenty bases were of bronze, but the hooks of the pillars and their bands were of silver.\r\n\t\t\t For the west side there were hangings fifty cubits long, with ten pillars and ten bases; the hooks of the pillars and their bands were of silver.\r\n\t\t\t And for the front to the east, fifty cubits.\r\n\t\t\t The hangings for one side of the gate were fifteen cubits, with three pillars and three bases.\r\n\t\t\t And so for the other side; on each side of the gate of the court were hangings of fifteen cubits, with three pillars and three bases.\r\n\t\t\t All the hangings around the court were of fine twisted linen.\r\n\t\t\t The bases for the pillars were of bronze, but the hooks of the pillars and their bands were of silver; the overlaying of their capitals was also of silver, and all the pillars of the court were banded with silver.\r\n\t\t\t The screen for the entrance to the court was embroidered with needlework in blue, purple, and crimson yarns and fine twisted linen. It was twenty cubits long and, along the width of it, five cubits high, corresponding to the hangings of the court.\r\n\t\t\t There were four pillars; their four bases were of bronze, their hooks of silver, and the overlaying of their capitals and their bands of silver.\r\n\t\t\t All the pegs for the tabernacle and for the court all around were of bronze.\r\n\t\t\t These are the records of the tabernacle, the tabernacle of the covenant, which were drawn up at the commandment of Moses, the work of the Levites being under the direction of Ithamar son of the priest Aaron. \r\n\t\t\t Bezalel son of Uri son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, made all that the LORD commanded Moses;\r\n\t\t\t and with him was Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, engraver, designer, and embroiderer in blue, purple, and crimson yarns, and in fine linen.\r\n\t\t\t All the gold that was used for the work, in all the construction of the sanctuary, the gold from the offering, was twenty-nine talents and seven hundred thirty shekels, measured by the sanctuary shekel.\r\n\t\t\t The silver from those of the congregation who were counted was one hundred talents and one thousand seven hundred seventy-five shekels, measured by the sanctuary shekel;\r\n\t\t\t a beka a head (that is, half a shekel, measured by the sanctuary shekel), for everyone who was counted in the census, from twenty years old and upward, for six hundred three thousand, five hundred fifty men.\r\n\t\t\t The hundred talents of silver were for casting the bases of the sanctuary, and the bases of the curtain; one hundred bases for the hundred talents, a talent for a base.\r\n\t\t\t Of the thousand seven hundred seventy-five shekels he made hooks for the pillars, and overlaid their capitals and made bands for them.\r\n\t\t\t The bronze that was contributed was seventy talents, and two thousand four hundred shekels;\r\n\t\t\t with it he made the bases for the entrance of the tent of meeting, the bronze altar and the bronze grating for it and all the utensils of the altar,\r\n\t\t\t the bases all around the court, and the bases of the gate of the court, all the pegs of the tabernacle, and all the pegs around the court.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Of the blue, purple, and crimson yarns they made finely worked vestments, for ministering in the holy place; they made the sacred vestments for Aaron; as the LORD had commanded Moses.\r\n\t\t\t He made the ephod of gold, of blue, purple, and crimson yarns, and of fine twisted linen.\r\n\t\t\t Gold leaf was hammered out and cut into threads to work into the blue, purple, and crimson yarns and into the fine twisted linen, in skilled design.\r\n\t\t\t They made for the ephod shoulder-pieces, joined to it at its two edges.\r\n\t\t\t The decorated band on it was of the same materials and workmanship, of gold, of blue, purple, and crimson yarns, and of fine twisted linen; as the LORD had commanded Moses.\r\n\t\t\t The onyx stones were prepared, enclosed in settings of gold filigree and engraved like the engravings of a signet, according to the names of the sons of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t He set them on the shoulder-pieces of the ephod, to be stones of remembrance for the sons of Israel; as the LORD had commanded Moses.\r\n\t\t\t He made the breastpiece, in skilled work, like the work of the ephod, of gold, of blue, purple, and crimson yarns, and of fine twisted linen.\r\n\t\t\t It was square; the breastpiece was made double, a span in length and a span in width when doubled.\r\n\t\t\t They set in it four rows of stones. A row of carnelian, chrysolite, and emerald was the first row; \r\n\t\t\t and the second row, a turquoise, a sapphire, and a moonstone; \r\n\t\t\t and the third row, a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst;\r\n\t\t\t and the fourth row, a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper; they were enclosed in settings of gold filigree.\r\n\t\t\t There were twelve stones with names corresponding to the names of the sons of Israel; they were like signets, each engraved with its name, for the twelve tribes.\r\n\t\t\t They made on the breastpiece chains of pure gold, twisted like cords;\r\n\t\t\t and they made two settings of gold filigree and two gold rings, and put the two rings on the two edges of the breastpiece;\r\n\t\t\t and they put the two cords of gold in the two rings at the edges of the breastpiece.\r\n\t\t\t Two ends of the two cords they had attached to the two settings of filigree; in this way they attached it in front to the shoulder-pieces of the ephod.\r\n\t\t\t Then they made two rings of gold, and put them at the two ends of the breastpiece, on its inside edge next to the ephod.\r\n\t\t\t They made two rings of gold, and attached them in front to the lower part of the two shoulder-pieces of the ephod, at its joining above the decorated band of the ephod.\r\n\t\t\t They bound the breastpiece by its rings to the rings of the ephod with a blue cord, so that it should lie on the decorated band of the ephod, and that the breastpiece should not come loose from the ephod; as the LORD had commanded Moses.\r\n\t\t\t He also made the robe of the ephod woven all of blue yarn;\r\n\t\t\t and the opening of the robe in the middle of it was like the opening in a coat of mail, with a binding around the opening, so that it might not be torn. \r\n\t\t\t On the lower hem of the robe they made pomegranates of blue, purple, and crimson yarns, and of fine twisted linen.\r\n\t\t\t They also made bells of pure gold, and put the bells between the pomegranates on the lower hem of the robe all around, between the pomegranates;\r\n\t\t\t a bell and a pomegranate, a bell and a pomegranate all around on the lower hem of the robe for ministering; as the LORD had commanded Moses.\r\n\t\t\t They also made the tunics, woven of fine linen, for Aaron and his sons,\r\n\t\t\t and the turban of fine linen, and the headdresses of fine linen, and the linen undergarments of fine twisted linen,\r\n\t\t\t and the sash of fine twisted linen, and of blue, purple, and crimson yarns, embroidered with needlework; as the LORD had commanded Moses.\r\n\t\t\t They made the rosette of the holy diadem of pure gold, and wrote on it an inscription, like the engraving of a signet, \"Holy to the LORD.\"\r\n\t\t\t They tied to it a blue cord, to fasten it on the turban above; as the LORD had commanded Moses.\r\n\t\t\t In this way all the work of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting was finished; the Israelites had done everything just as the LORD had commanded Moses.\r\n\t\t\t Then they brought the tabernacle to Moses, the tent and all its utensils, its hooks, its frames, its bars, its pillars, and its bases;\r\n\t\t\t the covering of tanned rams' skins and the covering of fine leather, and the curtain for the screen; \r\n\t\t\t the ark of the covenant with its poles and the mercy seat; \r\n\t\t\t the table with all its utensils, and the bread of the Presence;\r\n\t\t\t the pure lampstand with its lamps set on it and all its utensils, and the oil for the light;\r\n\t\t\t the golden altar, the anointing oil and the fragrant incense, and the screen for the entrance of the tent;\r\n\t\t\t the bronze altar, and its grating of bronze, its poles, and all its utensils; the basin with its stand;\r\n\t\t\t the hangings of the court, its pillars, and its bases, and the screen for the gate of the court, its cords, and its pegs; and all the utensils for the service of the tabernacle, for the tent of meeting;\r\n\t\t\t the finely worked vestments for ministering in the holy place, the sacred vestments for the priest Aaron, and the vestments of his sons to serve as priests.\r\n\t\t\t The Israelites had done all of the work just as the LORD had commanded Moses.\r\n\t\t\t When Moses saw that they had done all the work just as the LORD had commanded, he blessed them.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses:\r\n\t\t\t On the first day of the first month you shall set up the tabernacle of the tent of meeting.\r\n\t\t\t You shall put in it the ark of the covenant, and you shall screen the ark with the curtain. \r\n\t\t\t You shall bring in the table, and arrange its setting; and you shall bring in the lampstand, and set up its lamps.\r\n\t\t\t You shall put the golden altar for incense before the ark of the covenant, and set up the screen for the entrance of the tabernacle. \r\n\t\t\t You shall set the altar of burnt offering before the entrance of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting,\r\n\t\t\t and place the basin between the tent of meeting and the altar, and put water in it.\r\n\t\t\t You shall set up the court all around, and hang up the screen for the gate of the court.\r\n\t\t\t Then you shall take the anointing oil, and anoint the tabernacle and all that is in it, and consecrate it and all its furniture, so that it shall become holy.\r\n\t\t\t You shall also anoint the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, and consecrate the altar, so that the altar shall be most holy.\r\n\t\t\t You shall also anoint the basin with its stand, and consecrate it.\r\n\t\t\t Then you shall bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance of the tent of meeting, and shall wash them with water,\r\n\t\t\t and put on Aaron the sacred vestments, and you shall anoint him and consecrate him, so that he may serve me as priest.\r\n\t\t\t You shall bring his sons also and put tunics on them,\r\n\t\t\t and anoint them, as you anointed their father, that they may serve me as priests: and their anointing shall admit them to a perpetual priesthood throughout all generations to come.\r\n\t\t\t Moses did everything just as the LORD had commanded him.\r\n\t\t\t In the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month, the tabernacle was set up.\r\n\t\t\t Moses set up the tabernacle; he laid its bases, and set up its frames, and put in its poles, and raised up its pillars;\r\n\t\t\t and he spread the tent over the tabernacle, and put the covering of the tent over it; as the LORD had commanded Moses.\r\n\t\t\t He took the covenant and put it into the ark, and put the poles on the ark, and set the mercy seat above the ark; \r\n\t\t\t and he brought the ark into the tabernacle, and set up the curtain for screening, and screened the ark of the covenant; as the LORD had commanded Moses. \r\n\t\t\t He put the table in the tent of meeting, on the north side of the tabernacle, outside the curtain,\r\n\t\t\t and set the bread in order on it before the LORD; as the LORD had commanded Moses.\r\n\t\t\t He put the lampstand in the tent of meeting, opposite the table on the south side of the tabernacle,\r\n\t\t\t and set up the lamps before the LORD; as the LORD had commanded Moses.\r\n\t\t\t He put the golden altar in the tent of meeting before the curtain,\r\n\t\t\t and offered fragrant incense on it; as the LORD had commanded Moses.\r\n\t\t\t He also put in place the screen for the entrance of the tabernacle.\r\n\t\t\t He set the altar of burnt offering at the entrance of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting, and offered on it the burnt offering and the grain offering as the LORD had commanded Moses.\r\n\t\t\t He set the basin between the tent of meeting and the altar, and put water in it for washing,\r\n\t\t\t with which Moses and Aaron and his sons washed their hands and their feet.\r\n\t\t\t When they went into the tent of meeting, and when they approached the altar, they washed; as the LORD had commanded Moses.\r\n\t\t\t He set up the court around the tabernacle and the altar, and put up the screen at the gate of the court. So Moses finished the work.\r\n\t\t\t Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.\r\n\t\t\t Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled upon it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.\r\n\t\t\t Whenever the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle, the Israelites would set out on each stage of their journey;\r\n\t\t\t but if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out until the day that it was taken up.\r\n\t\t\t For the cloud of the LORD was on the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, before the eyes of all the house of Israel at each stage of their journey. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The LORD summoned Moses and spoke to him from the tent of meeting, saying:\r\n\t\t\t Speak to the people of Israel and say to them: When any of you bring an offering of livestock to the LORD, you shall bring your offering from the herd or from the flock.\r\n\t\t\t If the offering is a burnt offering from the herd, you shall offer a male without blemish; you shall bring it to the entrance of the tent of meeting, for acceptance in your behalf before the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t You shall lay your hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it shall be acceptable in your behalf as atonement for you.\r\n\t\t\t The bull shall be slaughtered before the LORD; and Aaron's sons the priests shall offer the blood, dashing the blood against all sides of the altar that is at the entrance of the tent of meeting.\r\n\t\t\t The burnt offering shall be flayed and cut up into its parts.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of the priest Aaron shall put fire on the altar and arrange wood on the fire.\r\n\t\t\t Aaron's sons the priests shall arrange the parts, with the head and the suet, on the wood that is on the fire on the altar;\r\n\t\t\t but its entrails and its legs shall be washed with water. Then the priest shall turn the whole into smoke on the altar as a burnt offering, an offering by fire of pleasing odor to the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t If your gift for a burnt offering is from the flock, from the sheep or goats, your offering shall be a male without blemish.\r\n\t\t\t It shall be slaughtered on the north side of the altar before the LORD, and Aaron's sons the priests shall dash its blood against all sides of the altar.\r\n\t\t\t It shall be cut up into its parts, with its head and its suet, and the priest shall arrange them on the wood that is on the fire on the altar;\r\n\t\t\t but the entrails and the legs shall be washed with water. Then the priest shall offer the whole and turn it into smoke on the altar; it is a burnt offering, an offering by fire of pleasing odor to the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t If your offering to the LORD is a burnt offering of birds, you shall choose your offering from turtledoves or pigeons.\r\n\t\t\t The priest shall bring it to the altar and wring off its head, and turn it into smoke on the altar; and its blood shall be drained out against the side of the altar.\r\n\t\t\t He shall remove its crop with its contents and throw it at the east side of the altar, in the place for ashes. \r\n\t\t\t He shall tear it open by its wings without severing it. Then the priest shall turn it into smoke on the altar, on the wood that is on the fire; it is a burnt offering, an offering by fire of pleasing odor to the LORD.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t When anyone presents a grain offering to the LORD, the offering shall be of choice flour; the worshiper shall pour oil on it, and put frankincense on it,\r\n\t\t\t and bring it to Aaron's sons the priests. After taking from it a handful of the choice flour and oil, with all its frankincense, the priest shall turn this token portion into smoke on the altar, an offering by fire of pleasing odor to the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t And what is left of the grain offering shall be for Aaron and his sons, a most holy part of the offerings by fire to the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t When you present a grain offering baked in the oven, it shall be of choice flour: unleavened cakes mixed with oil, or unleavened wafers spread with oil.\r\n\t\t\t If your offering is grain prepared on a griddle, it shall be of choice flour mixed with oil, unleavened;\r\n\t\t\t break it in pieces, and pour oil on it; it is a grain offering.\r\n\t\t\t If your offering is grain prepared in a pan, it shall be made of choice flour in oil.\r\n\t\t\t You shall bring to the LORD the grain offering that is prepared in any of these ways; and when it is presented to the priest, he shall take it to the altar.\r\n\t\t\t The priest shall remove from the grain offering its token portion and turn this into smoke on the altar, an offering by fire of pleasing odor to the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t And what is left of the grain offering shall be for Aaron and his sons; it is a most holy part of the offerings by fire to the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t No grain offering that you bring to the LORD shall be made with leaven, for you must not turn any leaven or honey into smoke as an offering by fire to the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t You may bring them to the LORD as an offering of choice products, but they shall not be offered on the altar for a pleasing odor.\r\n\t\t\t You shall not omit from your grain offerings the salt of the covenant with your God; with all your offerings you shall offer salt.\r\n\t\t\t If you bring a grain offering of first fruits to the LORD, you shall bring as the grain offering of your first fruits coarse new grain from fresh ears, parched with fire.\r\n\t\t\t You shall add oil to it and lay frankincense on it; it is a grain offering.\r\n\t\t\t And the priest shall turn a token portion of it into smoke-- some of the coarse grain and oil with all its frankincense; it is an offering by fire to the LORD.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t If the offering is a sacrifice of well-being, if you offer an animal of the herd, whether male or female, you shall offer one without blemish before the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t You shall lay your hand on the head of the offering and slaughter it at the entrance of the tent of meeting; and Aaron's sons the priests shall dash the blood against all sides of the altar.\r\n\t\t\t You shall offer from the sacrifice of well-being, as an offering by fire to the LORD, the fat that covers the entrails and all the fat that is around the entrails;\r\n\t\t\t the two kidneys with the fat that is on them at the loins, and the appendage of the liver, which he shall remove with the kidneys.\r\n\t\t\t Then Aaron's sons shall turn these into smoke on the altar, with the burnt offering that is on the wood on the fire, as an offering by fire of pleasing odor to the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t If your offering for a sacrifice of well-being to the LORD is from the flock, male or female, you shall offer one without blemish.\r\n\t\t\t If you present a sheep as your offering, you shall bring it before the LORD\r\n\t\t\t and lay your hand on the head of the offering. It shall be slaughtered before the tent of meeting, and Aaron's sons shall dash its blood against all sides of the altar.\r\n\t\t\t You shall present its fat from the sacrifice of well-being, as an offering by fire to the LORD: the whole broad tail, which shall be removed close to the backbone, the fat that covers the entrails, and all the fat that is around the entrails;\r\n\t\t\t the two kidneys with the fat that is on them at the loins, and the appendage of the liver, which you shall remove with the kidneys.\r\n\t\t\t Then the priest shall turn these into smoke on the altar as a food offering by fire to the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t If your offering is a goat, you shall bring it before the LORD\r\n\t\t\t and lay your hand on its head; it shall be slaughtered before the tent of meeting; and the sons of Aaron shall dash its blood against all sides of the altar.\r\n\t\t\t You shall present as your offering from it, as an offering by fire to the LORD, the fat that covers the entrails, and all the fat that is around the entrails;\r\n\t\t\t the two kidneys with the fat that is on them at the loins, and the appendage of the liver, which you shall remove with the kidneys.\r\n\t\t\t Then the priest shall turn these into smoke on the altar as a food offering by fire for a pleasing odor. All fat is the LORD's.\r\n\t\t\t It shall be a perpetual statute throughout your generations, in all your settlements: you must not eat any fat or any blood.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,\r\n\t\t\t Speak to the people of Israel, saying: When anyone sins unintentionally in any of the LORD's commandments about things not to be done, and does any one of them:\r\n\t\t\t If it is the anointed priest who sins, thus bringing guilt on the people, he shall offer for the sin that he has committed a bull of the herd without blemish as a sin offering to the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t He shall bring the bull to the entrance of the tent of meeting before the LORD and lay his hand on the head of the bull; the bull shall be slaughtered before the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t The anointed priest shall take some of the blood of the bull and bring it into the tent of meeting.\r\n\t\t\t The priest shall dip his finger in the blood and sprinkle some of the blood seven times before the LORD in front of the curtain of the sanctuary.\r\n\t\t\t The priest shall put some of the blood on the horns of the altar of fragrant incense that is in the tent of meeting before the LORD; and the rest of the blood of the bull he shall pour out at the base of the altar of burnt offering, which is at the entrance of the tent of meeting.\r\n\t\t\t He shall remove all the fat from the bull of sin offering: the fat that covers the entrails and all the fat that is around the entrails;\r\n\t\t\t the two kidneys with the fat that is on them at the loins; and the appendage of the liver, which he shall remove with the kidneys,\r\n\t\t\t just as these are removed from the ox of the sacrifice of well-being. The priest shall turn them into smoke upon the altar of burnt offering.\r\n\t\t\t But the skin of the bull and all its flesh, as well as its head, its legs, its entrails, and its dung--\r\n\t\t\t all the rest of the bull-- he shall carry out to a clean place outside the camp, to the ash heap, and shall burn it on a wood fire; at the ash heap it shall be burned.\r\n\t\t\t If the whole congregation of Israel errs unintentionally and the matter escapes the notice of the assembly, and they do any one of the things that by the LORD's commandments ought not to be done and incur guilt;\r\n\t\t\t when the sin that they have committed becomes known, the assembly shall offer a bull of the herd for a sin offering and bring it before the tent of meeting.\r\n\t\t\t The elders of the congregation shall lay their hands on the head of the bull before the LORD, and the bull shall be slaughtered before the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t The anointed priest shall bring some of the blood of the bull into the tent of meeting,\r\n\t\t\t and the priest shall dip his finger in the blood and sprinkle it seven times before the LORD, in front of the curtain.\r\n\t\t\t He shall put some of the blood on the horns of the altar that is before the LORD in the tent of meeting; and the rest of the blood he shall pour out at the base of the altar of burnt offering that is at the entrance of the tent of meeting.\r\n\t\t\t He shall remove all its fat and turn it into smoke on the altar.\r\n\t\t\t He shall do with the bull just as is done with the bull of sin offering; he shall do the same with this. The priest shall make atonement for them, and they shall be forgiven.\r\n\t\t\t He shall carry the bull outside the camp, and burn it as he burned the first bull; it is the sin offering for the assembly.\r\n\t\t\t When a ruler sins, doing unintentionally any one of all the things that by commandments of the LORD his God ought not to be done and incurs guilt,\r\n\t\t\t once the sin that he has committed is made known to him, he shall bring as his offering a male goat without blemish.\r\n\t\t\t He shall lay his hand on the head of the goat; it shall be slaughtered at the spot where the burnt offering is slaughtered before the LORD; it is a sin offering.\r\n\t\t\t The priest shall take some of the blood of the sin offering with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and pour out the rest of its blood at the base of the altar of burnt offering.\r\n\t\t\t All its fat he shall turn into smoke on the altar, like the fat of the sacrifice of well-being. Thus the priest shall make atonement on his behalf for his sin, and he shall be forgiven.\r\n\t\t\t If anyone of the ordinary people among you sins unintentionally in doing any one of the things that by the LORD's commandments ought not to be done and incurs guilt,\r\n\t\t\t when the sin that you have committed is made known to you, you shall bring a female goat without blemish as your offering, for the sin that you have committed.\r\n\t\t\t You shall lay your hand on the head of the sin offering; and the sin offering shall be slaughtered at the place of the burnt offering.\r\n\t\t\t The priest shall take some of its blood with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and he shall pour out the rest of its blood at the base of the altar.\r\n\t\t\t He shall remove all its fat, as the fat is removed from the offering of well-being, and the priest shall turn it into smoke on the altar for a pleasing odor to the LORD. Thus the priest shall make atonement on your behalf, and you shall be forgiven.\r\n\t\t\t If the offering you bring as a sin offering is a sheep, you shall bring a female without blemish.\r\n\t\t\t You shall lay your hand on the head of the sin offering; and it shall be slaughtered as a sin offering at the spot where the burnt offering is slaughtered.\r\n\t\t\t The priest shall take some of the blood of the sin offering with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and pour out the rest of its blood at the base of the altar.\r\n\t\t\t You shall remove all its fat, as the fat of the sheep is removed from the sacrifice of well-being, and the priest shall turn it into smoke on the altar, with the offerings by fire to the LORD. Thus the priest shall make atonement on your behalf for the sin that you have committed, and you shall be forgiven.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t When any of you sin in that you have heard a public adjuration to testify and-- though able to testify as one who has seen or learned of the matter-- does not speak up, you are subject to punishment.\r\n\t\t\t Or when any of you touch any unclean thing-- whether the carcass of an unclean beast or the carcass of unclean livestock or the carcass of an unclean swarming thing-- and are unaware of it, you have become unclean, and are guilty.\r\n\t\t\t Or when you touch human uncleanness-- any uncleanness by which one can become unclean-- and are unaware of it, when you come to know it, you shall be guilty.\r\n\t\t\t Or when any of you utter aloud a rash oath for a bad or a good purpose, whatever people utter in an oath, and are unaware of it, when you come to know it, you shall in any of these be guilty.\r\n\t\t\t When you realize your guilt in any of these, you shall confess the sin that you have committed.\r\n\t\t\t And you shall bring to the LORD, as your penalty for the sin that you have committed, a female from the flock, a sheep or a goat, as a sin offering; and the priest shall make atonement on your behalf for your sin.\r\n\t\t\t But if you cannot afford a sheep, you shall bring to the LORD, as your penalty for the sin that you have committed, two turtledoves or two pigeons, one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering.\r\n\t\t\t You shall bring them to the priest, who shall offer first the one for the sin offering, wringing its head at the nape without severing it.\r\n\t\t\t He shall sprinkle some of the blood of the sin offering on the side of the altar, while the rest of the blood shall be drained out at the base of the altar; it is a sin offering.\r\n\t\t\t And the second he shall offer for a burnt offering according to the regulation. Thus the priest shall make atonement on your behalf for the sin that you have committed, and you shall be forgiven.\r\n\t\t\t But if you cannot afford two turtledoves or two pigeons, you shall bring as your offering for the sin that you have committed one-tenth of an ephah of choice flour for a sin offering; you shall not put oil on it or lay frankincense on it, for it is a sin offering.\r\n\t\t\t You shall bring it to the priest, and the priest shall scoop up a handful of it as its memorial portion, and turn this into smoke on the altar, with the offerings by fire to the LORD; it is a sin offering.\r\n\t\t\t Thus the priest shall make atonement on your behalf for whichever of these sins you have committed, and you shall be forgiven. Like the grain offering, the rest shall be for the priest.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses, saying:\r\n\t\t\t When any of you commit a trespass and sin unintentionally in any of the holy things of the LORD, you shall bring, as your guilt offering to the LORD, a ram without blemish from the flock, convertible into silver by the sanctuary shekel; it is a guilt offering.\r\n\t\t\t And you shall make restitution for the holy thing in which you were remiss, and shall add one-fifth to it and give it to the priest. The priest shall make atonement on your behalf with the ram of the guilt offering, and you shall be forgiven.\r\n\t\t\t If any of you sin without knowing it, doing any of the things that by the LORD's commandments ought not to be done, you have incurred guilt, and are subject to punishment.\r\n\t\t\t You shall bring to the priest a ram without blemish from the flock, or the equivalent, as a guilt offering; and the priest shall make atonement on your behalf for the error that you committed unintentionally, and you shall be forgiven.\r\n\t\t\t It is a guilt offering; you have incurred guilt before the LORD.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses, saying:\r\n\t\t\t When any of you sin and commit a trespass against the LORD by deceiving a neighbor in a matter of a deposit or a pledge, or by robbery, or if you have defrauded a neighbor,\r\n\t\t\t or have found something lost and lied about it-- if you swear falsely regarding any of the various things that one may do and sin thereby--\r\n\t\t\t when you have sinned and realize your guilt, and would restore what you took by robbery or by fraud or the deposit that was committed to you, or the lost thing that you found,\r\n\t\t\t or anything else about which you have sworn falsely, you shall repay the principal amount and shall add one-fifth to it. You shall pay it to its owner when you realize your guilt.\r\n\t\t\t And you shall bring to the priest, as your guilt offering to the LORD, a ram without blemish from the flock, or its equivalent, for a guilt offering.\r\n\t\t\t The priest shall make atonement on your behalf before the LORD, and you shall be forgiven for any of the things that one may do and incur guilt thereby.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses, saying:\r\n\t\t\t Command Aaron and his sons, saying: This is the ritual of the burnt offering. The burnt offering itself shall remain on the hearth upon the altar all night until the morning, while the fire on the altar shall be kept burning.\r\n\t\t\t The priest shall put on his linen vestments after putting on his linen undergarments next to his body; and he shall take up the ashes to which the fire has reduced the burnt offering on the altar, and place them beside the altar.\r\n\t\t\t Then he shall take off his vestments and put on other garments, and carry the ashes out to a clean place outside the camp.\r\n\t\t\t The fire on the altar shall be kept burning; it shall not go out. Every morning the priest shall add wood to it, lay out the burnt offering on it, and turn into smoke the fat pieces of the offerings of well-being.\r\n\t\t\t A perpetual fire shall be kept burning on the altar; it shall not go out.\r\n\t\t\t This is the ritual of the grain offering: The sons of Aaron shall offer it before the LORD, in front of the altar.\r\n\t\t\t They shall take from it a handful of the choice flour and oil of the grain offering, with all the frankincense that is on the offering, and they shall turn its memorial portion into smoke on the altar as a pleasing odor to the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Aaron and his sons shall eat what is left of it; it shall be eaten as unleavened cakes in a holy place; in the court of the tent of meeting they shall eat it.\r\n\t\t\t It shall not be baked with leaven. I have given it as their portion of my offerings by fire; it is most holy, like the sin offering and the guilt offering.\r\n\t\t\t Every male among the descendants of Aaron shall eat of it, as their perpetual due throughout your generations, from the LORD's offerings by fire; anything that touches them shall become holy.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses, saying:\r\n\t\t\t This is the offering that Aaron and his sons shall offer to the LORD on the day when he is anointed: one-tenth of an ephah of choice flour as a regular offering, half of it in the morning and half in the evening.\r\n\t\t\t It shall be made with oil on a griddle; you shall bring it well soaked, as a grain offering of baked pieces, and you shall present it as a pleasing odor to the LORD. \r\n\t\t\t And so the priest, anointed from among Aaron's descendants as a successor, shall prepare it; it is the LORD's-- a perpetual due-- to be turned entirely into smoke.\r\n\t\t\t Every grain offering of a priest shall be wholly burned; it shall not be eaten.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses, saying:\r\n\t\t\t Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying: This is the ritual of the sin offering. The sin offering shall be slaughtered before the LORD at the spot where the burnt offering is slaughtered; it is most holy.\r\n\t\t\t The priest who offers it as a sin offering shall eat of it; it shall be eaten in a holy place, in the court of the tent of meeting.\r\n\t\t\t Whatever touches its flesh shall become holy; and when any of its blood is spattered on a garment, you shall wash the bespattered part in a holy place.\r\n\t\t\t An earthen vessel in which it was boiled shall be broken; but if it is boiled in a bronze vessel, that shall be scoured and rinsed in water.\r\n\t\t\t Every male among the priests shall eat of it; it is most holy.\r\n\t\t\t But no sin offering shall be eaten from which any blood is brought into the tent of meeting for atonement in the holy place; it shall be burned with fire.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t This is the ritual of the guilt offering. It is most holy;\r\n\t\t\t at the spot where the burnt offering is slaughtered, they shall slaughter the guilt offering, and its blood shall be dashed against all sides of the altar.\r\n\t\t\t All its fat shall be offered: the broad tail, the fat that covers the entrails,\r\n\t\t\t the two kidneys with the fat that is on them at the loins, and the appendage of the liver, which shall be removed with the kidneys.\r\n\t\t\t The priest shall turn them into smoke on the altar as an offering by fire to the LORD; it is a guilt offering.\r\n\t\t\t Every male among the priests shall eat of it; it shall be eaten in a holy place; it is most holy.\r\n\t\t\t The guilt offering is like the sin offering, there is the same ritual for them; the priest who makes atonement with it shall have it.\r\n\t\t\t So, too, the priest who offers anyone's burnt offering shall keep the skin of the burnt offering that he has offered.\r\n\t\t\t And every grain offering baked in the oven, and all that is prepared in a pan or on a griddle, shall belong to the priest who offers it.\r\n\t\t\t But every other grain offering, mixed with oil or dry, shall belong to all the sons of Aaron equally.\r\n\t\t\t This is the ritual of the sacrifice of the offering of well-being that one may offer to the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t If you offer it for thanksgiving, you shall offer with the thank offering unleavened cakes mixed with oil, unleavened wafers spread with oil, and cakes of choice flour well soaked in oil.\r\n\t\t\t With your thanksgiving sacrifice of well-being you shall bring your offering with cakes of leavened bread.\r\n\t\t\t From this you shall offer one cake from each offering, as a gift to the LORD; it shall belong to the priest who dashes the blood of the offering of well-being.\r\n\t\t\t And the flesh of your thanksgiving sacrifice of well-being shall be eaten on the day it is offered; you shall not leave any of it until morning.\r\n\t\t\t But if the sacrifice you offer is a votive offering or a freewill offering, it shall be eaten on the day that you offer your sacrifice, and what is left of it shall be eaten the next day;\r\n\t\t\t but what is left of the flesh of the sacrifice shall be burned up on the third day.\r\n\t\t\t If any of the flesh of your sacrifice of well-being is eaten on the third day, it shall not be acceptable, nor shall it be credited to the one who offers it; it shall be an abomination, and the one who eats of it shall incur guilt.\r\n\t\t\t Flesh that touches any unclean thing shall not be eaten; it shall be burned up. As for other flesh, all who are clean may eat such flesh.\r\n\t\t\t But those who eat flesh from the LORD's sacrifice of well-being while in a state of uncleanness shall be cut off from their kin.\r\n\t\t\t When any one of you touches any unclean thing-- human uncleanness or an unclean animal or any unclean creature-- and then eats flesh from the LORD's sacrifice of well-being, you shall be cut off from your kin.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses, saying:\r\n\t\t\t Speak to the people of Israel, saying: You shall eat no fat of ox or sheep or goat.\r\n\t\t\t The fat of an animal that died or was torn by wild animals may be put to any use, but you must not eat it.\r\n\t\t\t If any one of you eats the fat from an animal of which an offering by fire may be made to the LORD, you who eat it shall be cut off from your kin.\r\n\t\t\t You must not eat any blood whatever, either of bird or of animal, in any of your settlements.\r\n\t\t\t Any one of you who eats any blood shall be cut off from your kin.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses, saying:\r\n\t\t\t Speak to the people of Israel, saying: Any one of you who would offer to the LORD your sacrifice of well-being must yourself bring to the LORD your offering from your sacrifice of well-being.\r\n\t\t\t Your own hands shall bring the LORD's offering by fire; you shall bring the fat with the breast, so that the breast may be raised as an elevation offering before the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t The priest shall turn the fat into smoke on the altar, but the breast shall belong to Aaron and his sons.\r\n\t\t\t And the right thigh from your sacrifices of well-being you shall give to the priest as an offering;\r\n\t\t\t the one among the sons of Aaron who offers the blood and fat of the offering of well-being shall have the right thigh for a portion.\r\n\t\t\t For I have taken the breast of the elevation offering, and the thigh that is offered, from the people of Israel, from their sacrifices of well-being, and have given them to Aaron the priest and to his sons, as a perpetual due from the people of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t This is the portion allotted to Aaron and to his sons from the offerings made by fire to the LORD, once they have been brought forward to serve the LORD as priests;\r\n\t\t\t these the LORD commanded to be given them, when he anointed them, as a perpetual due from the people of Israel throughout their generations.\r\n\t\t\t This is the ritual of the burnt offering, the grain offering, the sin offering, the guilt offering, the offering of ordination, and the sacrifice of well-being,\r\n\t\t\t which the LORD commanded Moses on Mount Sinai, when he commanded the people of Israel to bring their offerings to the LORD, in the wilderness of Sinai.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses, saying:\r\n\t\t\t Take Aaron and his sons with him, the vestments, the anointing oil, the bull of sin offering, the two rams, and the basket of unleavened bread;\r\n\t\t\t and assemble the whole congregation at the entrance of the tent of meeting.\r\n\t\t\t And Moses did as the LORD commanded him. When the congregation was assembled at the entrance of the tent of meeting,\r\n\t\t\t Moses said to the congregation, \"This is what the LORD has commanded to be done.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Moses brought Aaron and his sons forward, and washed them with water.\r\n\t\t\t He put the tunic on him, fastened the sash around him, clothed him with the robe, and put the ephod on him. He then put the decorated band of the ephod around him, tying the ephod to him with it.\r\n\t\t\t He placed the breastpiece on him, and in the breastpiece he put the Urim and the Thummim.\r\n\t\t\t And he set the turban on his head, and on the turban, in front, he set the golden ornament, the holy crown, as the LORD commanded Moses.\r\n\t\t\t Then Moses took the anointing oil and anointed the tabernacle and all that was in it, and consecrated them.\r\n\t\t\t He sprinkled some of it on the altar seven times, and anointed the altar and all its utensils, and the basin and its base, to consecrate them.\r\n\t\t\t He poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron's head and anointed him, to consecrate him.\r\n\t\t\t And Moses brought forward Aaron's sons, and clothed them with tunics, and fastened sashes around them, and tied headdresses on them, as the LORD commanded Moses.\r\n\t\t\t He led forward the bull of sin offering; and Aaron and his sons laid their hands upon the head of the bull of sin offering,\r\n\t\t\t and it was slaughtered. Moses took the blood and with his finger put some on each of the horns of the altar, purifying the altar; then he poured out the blood at the base of the altar. Thus he consecrated it, to make atonement for it.\r\n\t\t\t Moses took all the fat that was around the entrails, and the appendage of the liver, and the two kidneys with their fat, and turned them into smoke on the altar.\r\n\t\t\t But the bull itself, its skin and flesh and its dung, he burned with fire outside the camp, as the LORD commanded Moses.\r\n\t\t\t Then he brought forward the ram of burnt offering. Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the ram,\r\n\t\t\t and it was slaughtered. Moses dashed the blood against all sides of the altar.\r\n\t\t\t The ram was cut into its parts, and Moses turned into smoke the head and the parts and the suet.\r\n\t\t\t And after the entrails and the legs were washed with water, Moses turned into smoke the whole ram on the altar; it was a burnt offering for a pleasing odor, an offering by fire to the LORD, as the LORD commanded Moses.\r\n\t\t\t Then he brought forward the second ram, the ram of ordination. Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the ram,\r\n\t\t\t and it was slaughtered. Moses took some of its blood and put it on the lobe of Aaron's right ear and on the thumb of his right hand and on the big toe of his right foot.\r\n\t\t\t After Aaron's sons were brought forward, Moses put some of the blood on the lobes of their right ears and on the thumbs of their right hands and on the big toes of their right feet; and Moses dashed the rest of the blood against all sides of the altar.\r\n\t\t\t He took the fat-- the broad tail, all the fat that was around the entrails, the appendage of the liver, and the two kidneys with their fat-- and the right thigh.\r\n\t\t\t From the basket of unleavened bread that was before the LORD, he took one cake of unleavened bread, one cake of bread with oil, and one wafer, and placed them on the fat and on the right thigh.\r\n\t\t\t He placed all these on the palms of Aaron and on the palms of his sons, and raised them as an elevation offering before the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Then Moses took them from their hands and turned them into smoke on the altar with the burnt offering. This was an ordination offering for a pleasing odor, an offering by fire to the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Moses took the breast and raised it as an elevation offering before the LORD; it was Moses' portion of the ram of ordination, as the LORD commanded Moses.\r\n\t\t\t Then Moses took some of the anointing oil and some of the blood that was on the altar and sprinkled them on Aaron and his vestments, and also on his sons and their vestments. Thus he consecrated Aaron and his vestments, and also his sons and their vestments.\r\n\t\t\t And Moses said to Aaron and his sons, \"Boil the flesh at the entrance of the tent of meeting, and eat it there with the bread that is in the basket of ordination offerings, as I was commanded, 'Aaron and his sons shall eat it';\r\n\t\t\t and what remains of the flesh and the bread you shall burn with fire.\r\n\t\t\t You shall not go outside the entrance of the tent of meeting for seven days, until the day when your period of ordination is completed. For it will take seven days to ordain you;\r\n\t\t\t as has been done today, the LORD has commanded to be done to make atonement for you.\r\n\t\t\t You shall remain at the entrance of the tent of meeting day and night for seven days, keeping the LORD's charge so that you do not die; for so I am commanded.\"\r\n\t\t\t Aaron and his sons did all the things that the LORD commanded through Moses.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t On the eighth day Moses summoned Aaron and his sons and the elders of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t He said to Aaron, \"Take a bull calf for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering, without blemish, and offer them before the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t And say to the people of Israel, 'Take a male goat for a sin offering; a calf and a lamb, yearlings without blemish, for a burnt offering;\r\n\t\t\t and an ox and a ram for an offering of well-being to sacrifice before the LORD; and a grain offering mixed with oil. For today the LORD will appear to you.'\"\r\n\t\t\t They brought what Moses commanded to the front of the tent of meeting; and the whole congregation drew near and stood before the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t And Moses said, \"This is the thing that the LORD commanded you to do, so that the glory of the LORD may appear to you.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Moses said to Aaron, \"Draw near to the altar and sacrifice your sin offering and your burnt offering, and make atonement for yourself and for the people; and sacrifice the offering of the people, and make atonement for them; as the LORD has commanded.\"\r\n\t\t\t Aaron drew near to the altar, and slaughtered the calf of the sin offering, which was for himself.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Aaron presented the blood to him, and he dipped his finger in the blood and put it on the horns of the altar; and the rest of the blood he poured out at the base of the altar.\r\n\t\t\t But the fat, the kidneys, and the appendage of the liver from the sin offering he turned into smoke on the altar, as the LORD commanded Moses;\r\n\t\t\t and the flesh and the skin he burned with fire outside the camp.\r\n\t\t\t Then he slaughtered the burnt offering. Aaron's sons brought him the blood, and he dashed it against all sides of the altar.\r\n\t\t\t And they brought him the burnt offering piece by piece, and the head, which he turned into smoke on the altar.\r\n\t\t\t He washed the entrails and the legs and, with the burnt offering, turned them into smoke on the altar.\r\n\t\t\t Next he presented the people's offering. He took the goat of the sin offering that was for the people, and slaughtered it, and presented it as a sin offering like the first one.\r\n\t\t\t He presented the burnt offering, and sacrificed it according to regulation.\r\n\t\t\t He presented the grain offering, and, taking a handful of it, he turned it into smoke on the altar, in addition to the burnt offering of the morning.\r\n\t\t\t He slaughtered the ox and the ram as a sacrifice of well-being for the people. Aaron's sons brought him the blood, which he dashed against all sides of the altar,\r\n\t\t\t and the fat of the ox and of the ram-- the broad tail, the fat that covers the entrails, the two kidneys and the fat on them, and the appendage of the liver.\r\n\t\t\t They first laid the fat on the breasts, and the fat was turned into smoke on the altar;\r\n\t\t\t and the breasts and the right thigh Aaron raised as an elevation offering before the LORD, as Moses had commanded.\r\n\t\t\t Aaron lifted his hands toward the people and blessed them; and he came down after sacrificing the sin offering, the burnt offering, and the offering of well-being.\r\n\t\t\t Moses and Aaron entered the tent of meeting, and then came out and blessed the people; and the glory of the LORD appeared to all the people.\r\n\t\t\t Fire came out from the LORD and consumed the burnt offering and the fat on the altar; and when all the people saw it, they shouted and fell on their faces.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now Aaron's sons, Nadab and Abihu, each took his censer, put fire in it, and laid incense on it; and they offered unholy fire before the LORD, such as he had not commanded them.\r\n\t\t\t And fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Then Moses said to Aaron, \"This is what the LORD meant when he said, 'Through those who are near me I will show myself holy, and before all the people I will be glorified.'\" And Aaron was silent.\r\n\t\t\t Moses summoned Mishael and Elzaphan, sons of Uzziel the uncle of Aaron, and said to them, \"Come forward, and carry your kinsmen away from the front of the sanctuary to a place outside the camp.\"\r\n\t\t\t They came forward and carried them by their tunics out of the camp, as Moses had ordered.\r\n\t\t\t And Moses said to Aaron and to his sons Eleazar and Ithamar, \"Do not dishevel your hair, and do not tear your vestments, or you will die and wrath will strike all the congregation; but your kindred, the whole house of Israel, may mourn the burning that the LORD has sent.\r\n\t\t\t You shall not go outside the entrance of the tent of meeting, or you will die; for the anointing oil of the LORD is on you.\" And they did as Moses had ordered.\r\n\t\t\t And the LORD spoke to Aaron:\r\n\t\t\t Drink no wine or strong drink, neither you nor your sons, when you enter the tent of meeting, that you may not die; it is a statute forever throughout your generations.\r\n\t\t\t You are to distinguish between the holy and the common, and between the unclean and the clean;\r\n\t\t\t and you are to teach the people of Israel all the statutes that the LORD has spoken to them through Moses.\r\n\t\t\t Moses spoke to Aaron and to his remaining sons, Eleazar and Ithamar: Take the grain offering that is left from the LORD's offerings by fire, and eat it unleavened beside the altar, for it is most holy;\r\n\t\t\t you shall eat it in a holy place, because it is your due and your sons' due, from the offerings by fire to the LORD; for so I am commanded.\r\n\t\t\t But the breast that is elevated and the thigh that is raised, you and your sons and daughters as well may eat in any clean place; for they have been assigned to you and your children from the sacrifices of the offerings of well-being of the people of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t The thigh that is raised and the breast that is elevated they shall bring, together with the offerings by fire of the fat, to raise for an elevation offering before the LORD; they are to be your due and that of your children forever, as the LORD has commanded.\r\n\t\t\t Then Moses made inquiry about the goat of the sin offering, and-- it had already been burned! He was angry with Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron's remaining sons, and said,\r\n\t\t\t \"Why did you not eat the sin offering in the sacred area? For it is most holy, and God has given it to you that you may remove the guilt of the congregation, to make atonement on their behalf before the LORD. \r\n\t\t\t Its blood was not brought into the inner part of the sanctuary. You should certainly have eaten it in the sanctuary, as I commanded.\"\r\n\t\t\t And Aaron spoke to Moses, \"See, today they offered their sin offering and their burnt offering before the LORD; and yet such things as these have befallen me! If I had eaten the sin offering today, would it have been agreeable to the LORD?\"\r\n\t\t\t And when Moses heard that, he agreed.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying to them:\r\n\t\t\t Speak to the people of Israel, saying: From among all the land animals, these are the creatures that you may eat.\r\n\t\t\t Any animal that has divided hoofs and is cleft-footed and chews the cud-- such you may eat.\r\n\t\t\t But among those that chew the cud or have divided hoofs, you shall not eat the following: the camel, for even though it chews the cud, it does not have divided hoofs; it is unclean for you.\r\n\t\t\t The rock badger, for even though it chews the cud, it does not have divided hoofs; it is unclean for you.\r\n\t\t\t The hare, for even though it chews the cud, it does not have divided hoofs; it is unclean for you.\r\n\t\t\t The pig, for even though it has divided hoofs and is cleft-footed, it does not chew the cud; it is unclean for you.\r\n\t\t\t Of their flesh you shall not eat, and their carcasses you shall not touch; they are unclean for you.\r\n\t\t\t These you may eat, of all that are in the waters. Everything in the waters that has fins and scales, whether in the seas or in the streams-- such you may eat.\r\n\t\t\t But anything in the seas or the streams that does not have fins and scales, of the swarming creatures in the waters and among all the other living creatures that are in the waters-- they are detestable to you\r\n\t\t\t and detestable they shall remain. Of their flesh you shall not eat, and their carcasses you shall regard as detestable.\r\n\t\t\t Everything in the waters that does not have fins and scales is detestable to you.\r\n\t\t\t These you shall regard as detestable among the birds. They shall not be eaten; they are an abomination: the eagle, the vulture, the osprey,\r\n\t\t\t the buzzard, the kite of any kind;\r\n\t\t\t every raven of any kind;\r\n\t\t\t the ostrich, the nighthawk, the sea gull, the hawk of any kind;\r\n\t\t\t the little owl, the cormorant, the great owl,\r\n\t\t\t the water hen, the desert owl, the carrion vulture, \r\n\t\t\t the stork, the heron of any kind, the hoopoe, and the bat. \r\n\t\t\t All winged insects that walk upon all fours are detestable to you.\r\n\t\t\t But among the winged insects that walk on all fours you may eat those that have jointed legs above their feet, with which to leap on the ground.\r\n\t\t\t Of them you may eat: the locust according to its kind, the bald locust according to its kind, the cricket according to its kind, and the grasshopper according to its kind.\r\n\t\t\t But all other winged insects that have four feet are detestable to you.\r\n\t\t\t By these you shall become unclean; whoever touches the carcass of any of them shall be unclean until the evening,\r\n\t\t\t and whoever carries any part of the carcass of any of them shall wash his clothes and be unclean until the evening.\r\n\t\t\t Every animal that has divided hoofs but is not cleft-footed or does not chew the cud is unclean for you; everyone who touches one of them shall be unclean.\r\n\t\t\t All that walk on their paws, among the animals that walk on all fours, are unclean for you; whoever touches the carcass of any of them shall be unclean until the evening,\r\n\t\t\t and the one who carries the carcass shall wash his clothes and be unclean until the evening; they are unclean for you.\r\n\t\t\t These are unclean for you among the creatures that swarm upon the earth: the weasel, the mouse, the great lizard according to its kind,\r\n\t\t\t the gecko, the land crocodile, the lizard, the sand lizard, and the chameleon.\r\n\t\t\t These are unclean for you among all that swarm; whoever touches one of them when they are dead shall be unclean until the evening.\r\n\t\t\t And anything upon which any of them falls when they are dead shall be unclean, whether an article of wood or cloth or skin or sacking, any article that is used for any purpose; it shall be dipped into water, and it shall be unclean until the evening, and then it shall be clean.\r\n\t\t\t And if any of them falls into any earthen vessel, all that is in it shall be unclean, and you shall break the vessel.\r\n\t\t\t Any food that could be eaten shall be unclean if water from any such vessel comes upon it; and any liquid that could be drunk shall be unclean if it was in any such vessel.\r\n\t\t\t Everything on which any part of the carcass falls shall be unclean; whether an oven or stove, it shall be broken in pieces; they are unclean, and shall remain unclean for you.\r\n\t\t\t But a spring or a cistern holding water shall be clean, while whatever touches the carcass in it shall be unclean.\r\n\t\t\t If any part of their carcass falls upon any seed set aside for sowing, it is clean;\r\n\t\t\t but if water is put on the seed and any part of their carcass falls on it, it is unclean for you.\r\n\t\t\t If an animal of which you may eat dies, anyone who touches its carcass shall be unclean until the evening.\r\n\t\t\t Those who eat of its carcass shall wash their clothes and be unclean until the evening; and those who carry the carcass shall wash their clothes and be unclean until the evening.\r\n\t\t\t All creatures that swarm upon the earth are detestable; they shall not be eaten.\r\n\t\t\t Whatever moves on its belly, and whatever moves on all fours, or whatever has many feet, all the creatures that swarm upon the earth, you shall not eat; for they are detestable.\r\n\t\t\t You shall not make yourselves detestable with any creature that swarms; you shall not defile yourselves with them, and so become unclean.\r\n\t\t\t For I am the LORD your God; sanctify yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy. You shall not defile yourselves with any swarming creature that moves on the earth.\r\n\t\t\t For I am the LORD who brought you up from the land of Egypt, to be your God; you shall be holy, for I am holy.\r\n\t\t\t This is the law pertaining to land animal and bird and every living creature that moves through the waters and every creature that swarms upon the earth,\r\n\t\t\t to make a distinction between the unclean and the clean, and between the living creature that may be eaten and the living creature that may not be eaten.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses, saying:\r\n\t\t\t Speak to the people of Israel, saying: If a woman conceives and bears a male child, she shall be ceremonially unclean seven days; as at the time of her menstruation, she shall be unclean.\r\n\t\t\t On the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.\r\n\t\t\t Her time of blood purification shall be thirty-three days; she shall not touch any holy thing, or come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purification are completed.\r\n\t\t\t If she bears a female child, she shall be unclean two weeks, as in her menstruation; her time of blood purification shall be sixty-six days.\r\n\t\t\t When the days of her purification are completed, whether for a son or for a daughter, she shall bring to the priest at the entrance of the tent of meeting a lamb in its first year for a burnt offering, and a pigeon or a turtledove for a sin offering.\r\n\t\t\t He shall offer it before the LORD, and make atonement on her behalf; then she shall be clean from her flow of blood. This is the law for her who bears a child, male or female.\r\n\t\t\t If she cannot afford a sheep, she shall take two turtledoves or two pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering; and the priest shall make atonement on her behalf, and she shall be clean.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying:\r\n\t\t\t When a person has on the skin of his body a swelling or an eruption or a spot, and it turns into a leprous disease on the skin of his body, he shall be brought to Aaron the priest or to one of his sons the priests. \r\n\t\t\t The priest shall examine the disease on the skin of his body, and if the hair in the diseased area has turned white and the disease appears to be deeper than the skin of his body, it is a leprous disease; after the priest has examined him he shall pronounce him ceremonially unclean. \r\n\t\t\t But if the spot is white in the skin of his body, and appears no deeper than the skin, and the hair in it has not turned white, the priest shall confine the diseased person for seven days.\r\n\t\t\t The priest shall examine him on the seventh day, and if he sees that the disease is checked and the disease has not spread in the skin, then the priest shall confine him seven days more.\r\n\t\t\t The priest shall examine him again on the seventh day, and if the disease has abated and the disease has not spread in the skin, the priest shall pronounce him clean; it is only an eruption; and he shall wash his clothes, and be clean.\r\n\t\t\t But if the eruption spreads in the skin after he has shown himself to the priest for his cleansing, he shall appear again before the priest.\r\n\t\t\t The priest shall make an examination, and if the eruption has spread in the skin, the priest shall pronounce him unclean; it is a leprous disease. \r\n\t\t\t When a person contracts a leprous disease, he shall be brought to the priest. \r\n\t\t\t The priest shall make an examination, and if there is a white swelling in the skin that has turned the hair white, and there is quick raw flesh in the swelling,\r\n\t\t\t it is a chronic leprous disease in the skin of his body. The priest shall pronounce him unclean; he shall not confine him, for he is unclean. \r\n\t\t\t But if the disease breaks out in the skin, so that it covers all the skin of the diseased person from head to foot, so far as the priest can see,\r\n\t\t\t then the priest shall make an examination, and if the disease has covered all his body, he shall pronounce him clean of the disease; since it has all turned white, he is clean.\r\n\t\t\t But if raw flesh ever appears on him, he shall be unclean;\r\n\t\t\t the priest shall examine the raw flesh and pronounce him unclean. Raw flesh is unclean, for it is a leprous disease. \r\n\t\t\t But if the raw flesh again turns white, he shall come to the priest;\r\n\t\t\t the priest shall examine him, and if the disease has turned white, the priest shall pronounce the diseased person clean. He is clean.\r\n\t\t\t When there is on the skin of one's body a boil that has healed,\r\n\t\t\t and in the place of the boil there appears a white swelling or a reddish-white spot, it shall be shown to the priest.\r\n\t\t\t The priest shall make an examination, and if it appears deeper than the skin and its hair has turned white, the priest shall pronounce him unclean; this is a leprous disease, broken out in the boil. \r\n\t\t\t But if the priest examines it and the hair on it is not white, nor is it deeper than the skin but has abated, the priest shall confine him seven days.\r\n\t\t\t If it spreads in the skin, the priest shall pronounce him unclean; it is diseased.\r\n\t\t\t But if the spot remains in one place and does not spread, it is the scar of the boil; the priest shall pronounce him clean.\r\n\t\t\t Or, when the body has a burn on the skin and the raw flesh of the burn becomes a spot, reddish-white or white,\r\n\t\t\t the priest shall examine it. If the hair in the spot has turned white and it appears deeper than the skin, it is a leprous disease; it has broken out in the burn, and the priest shall pronounce him unclean. This is a leprous disease.\r\n\t\t\t But if the priest examines it and the hair in the spot is not white, and it is no deeper than the skin but has abated, the priest shall confine him seven days.\r\n\t\t\t The priest shall examine him the seventh day; if it is spreading in the skin, the priest shall pronounce him unclean. This is a leprous disease. \r\n\t\t\t But if the spot remains in one place and does not spread in the skin but has abated, it is a swelling from the burn, and the priest shall pronounce him clean; for it is the scar of the burn.\r\n\t\t\t When a man or woman has a disease on the head or in the beard,\r\n\t\t\t the priest shall examine the disease. If it appears deeper than the skin and the hair in it is yellow and thin, the priest shall pronounce him unclean; it is an itch, a leprous disease of the head or the beard. \r\n\t\t\t If the priest examines the itching disease, and it appears no deeper than the skin and there is no black hair in it, the priest shall confine the person with the itching disease for seven days.\r\n\t\t\t On the seventh day the priest shall examine the itch; if the itch has not spread, and there is no yellow hair in it, and the itch appears to be no deeper than the skin,\r\n\t\t\t he shall shave, but the itch he shall not shave. The priest shall confine the person with the itch for seven days more.\r\n\t\t\t On the seventh day the priest shall examine the itch; if the itch has not spread in the skin and it appears to be no deeper than the skin, the priest shall pronounce him clean. He shall wash his clothes and be clean.\r\n\t\t\t But if the itch spreads in the skin after he was pronounced clean,\r\n\t\t\t the priest shall examine him. If the itch has spread in the skin, the priest need not seek for the yellow hair; he is unclean.\r\n\t\t\t But if in his eyes the itch is checked, and black hair has grown in it, the itch is healed, he is clean; and the priest shall pronounce him clean.\r\n\t\t\t When a man or a woman has spots on the skin of the body, white spots,\r\n\t\t\t the priest shall make an examination, and if the spots on the skin of the body are of a dull white, it is a rash that has broken out on the skin; he is clean.\r\n\t\t\t If anyone loses the hair from his head, he is bald but he is clean.\r\n\t\t\t If he loses the hair from his forehead and temples, he has baldness of the forehead but he is clean.\r\n\t\t\t But if there is on the bald head or the bald forehead a reddish-white diseased spot, it is a leprous disease breaking out on his bald head or his bald forehead. \r\n\t\t\t The priest shall examine him; if the diseased swelling is reddish-white on his bald head or on his bald forehead, which resembles a leprous disease in the skin of the body, \r\n\t\t\t he is leprous, he is unclean. The priest shall pronounce him unclean; the disease is on his head. \r\n\t\t\t The person who has the leprous disease shall wear torn clothes and let the hair of his head be disheveled; and he shall cover his upper lip and cry out, \"Unclean, unclean.\" \r\n\t\t\t He shall remain unclean as long as he has the disease; he is unclean. He shall live alone; his dwelling shall be outside the camp.\r\n\t\t\t Concerning clothing: when a leprous disease appears in it, in woolen or linen cloth, \r\n\t\t\t in warp or woof of linen or wool, or in a skin or in anything made of skin,\r\n\t\t\t if the disease shows greenish or reddish in the garment, whether in warp or woof or in skin or in anything made of skin, it is a leprous disease and shall be shown to the priest. \r\n\t\t\t The priest shall examine the disease, and put the diseased article aside for seven days.\r\n\t\t\t He shall examine the disease on the seventh day. If the disease has spread in the cloth, in warp or woof, or in the skin, whatever be the use of the skin, this is a spreading leprous disease; it is unclean. \r\n\t\t\t He shall burn the clothing, whether diseased in warp or woof, woolen or linen, or anything of skin, for it is a spreading leprous disease; it shall be burned in fire. \r\n\t\t\t If the priest makes an examination, and the disease has not spread in the clothing, in warp or woof or in anything of skin,\r\n\t\t\t the priest shall command them to wash the article in which the disease appears, and he shall put it aside seven days more.\r\n\t\t\t The priest shall examine the diseased article after it has been washed. If the diseased spot has not changed color, though the disease has not spread, it is unclean; you shall burn it in fire, whether the leprous spot is on the inside or on the outside. \r\n\t\t\t If the priest makes an examination, and the disease has abated after it is washed, he shall tear the spot out of the cloth, in warp or woof, or out of skin.\r\n\t\t\t If it appears again in the garment, in warp or woof, or in anything of skin, it is spreading; you shall burn with fire that in which the disease appears.\r\n\t\t\t But the cloth, warp or woof, or anything of skin from which the disease disappears when you have washed it, shall then be washed a second time, and it shall be clean.\r\n\t\t\t This is the ritual for a leprous disease in a cloth of wool or linen, either in warp or woof, or in anything of skin, to decide whether it is clean or unclean. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses, saying:\r\n\t\t\t This shall be the ritual for the leprous person at the time of his cleansing: He shall be brought to the priest; \r\n\t\t\t the priest shall go out of the camp, and the priest shall make an examination. If the disease is healed in the leprous person, \r\n\t\t\t the priest shall command that two living clean birds and cedarwood and crimson yarn and hyssop be brought for the one who is to be cleansed.\r\n\t\t\t The priest shall command that one of the birds be slaughtered over fresh water in an earthen vessel.\r\n\t\t\t He shall take the living bird with the cedarwood and the crimson yarn and the hyssop, and dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was slaughtered over the fresh water.\r\n\t\t\t He shall sprinkle it seven times upon the one who is to be cleansed of the leprous disease; then he shall pronounce him clean, and he shall let the living bird go into the open field.\r\n\t\t\t The one who is to be cleansed shall wash his clothes, and shave off all his hair, and bathe himself in water, and he shall be clean. After that he shall come into the camp, but shall live outside his tent seven days.\r\n\t\t\t On the seventh day he shall shave all his hair: of head, beard, eyebrows; he shall shave all his hair. Then he shall wash his clothes, and bathe his body in water, and he shall be clean.\r\n\t\t\t On the eighth day he shall take two male lambs without blemish, and one ewe lamb in its first year without blemish, and a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah of choice flour mixed with oil, and one log of oil. \r\n\t\t\t The priest who cleanses shall set the person to be cleansed, along with these things, before the LORD, at the entrance of the tent of meeting.\r\n\t\t\t The priest shall take one of the lambs, and offer it as a guilt offering, along with the log of oil, and raise them as an elevation offering before the LORD. \r\n\t\t\t He shall slaughter the lamb in the place where the sin offering and the burnt offering are slaughtered in the holy place; for the guilt offering, like the sin offering, belongs to the priest: it is most holy.\r\n\t\t\t The priest shall take some of the blood of the guilt offering and put it on the lobe of the right ear of the one to be cleansed, and on the thumb of the right hand, and on the big toe of the right foot.\r\n\t\t\t The priest shall take some of the log of oil and pour it into the palm of his own left hand, \r\n\t\t\t and dip his right finger in the oil that is in his left hand and sprinkle some oil with his finger seven times before the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Some of the oil that remains in his hand the priest shall put on the lobe of the right ear of the one to be cleansed, and on the thumb of the right hand, and on the big toe of the right foot, on top of the blood of the guilt offering.\r\n\t\t\t The rest of the oil that is in the priest's hand he shall put on the head of the one to be cleansed. Then the priest shall make atonement on his behalf before the LORD:\r\n\t\t\t the priest shall offer the sin offering, to make atonement for the one to be cleansed from his uncleanness. Afterward he shall slaughter the burnt offering;\r\n\t\t\t and the priest shall offer the burnt offering and the grain offering on the altar. Thus the priest shall make atonement on his behalf and he shall be clean.\r\n\t\t\t But if he is poor and cannot afford so much, he shall take one male lamb for a guilt offering to be elevated, to make atonement on his behalf, and one-tenth of an ephah of choice flour mixed with oil for a grain offering and a log of oil; \r\n\t\t\t also two turtledoves or two pigeons, such as he can afford, one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering.\r\n\t\t\t On the eighth day he shall bring them for his cleansing to the priest, to the entrance of the tent of meeting, before the LORD;\r\n\t\t\t and the priest shall take the lamb of the guilt offering and the log of oil, and the priest shall raise them as an elevation offering before the LORD. \r\n\t\t\t The priest shall slaughter the lamb of the guilt offering and shall take some of the blood of the guilt offering, and put it on the lobe of the right ear of the one to be cleansed, and on the thumb of the right hand, and on the big toe of the right foot.\r\n\t\t\t The priest shall pour some of the oil into the palm of his own left hand,\r\n\t\t\t and shall sprinkle with his right finger some of the oil that is in his left hand seven times before the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t The priest shall put some of the oil that is in his hand on the lobe of the right ear of the one to be cleansed, and on the thumb of the right hand, and the big toe of the right foot, where the blood of the guilt offering was placed.\r\n\t\t\t The rest of the oil that is in the priest's hand he shall put on the head of the one to be cleansed, to make atonement on his behalf before the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t And he shall offer, of the turtledoves or pigeons such as he can afford,\r\n\t\t\t one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering, along with a grain offering; and the priest shall make atonement before the LORD on behalf of the one being cleansed. \r\n\t\t\t This is the ritual for the one who has a leprous disease, who cannot afford the offerings for his cleansing. \r\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying:\r\n\t\t\t When you come into the land of Canaan, which I give you for a possession, and I put a leprous disease in a house in the land of your possession, \r\n\t\t\t the owner of the house shall come and tell the priest, saying, \"There seems to me to be some sort of disease in my house.\"\r\n\t\t\t The priest shall command that they empty the house before the priest goes to examine the disease, or all that is in the house will become unclean; and afterward the priest shall go in to inspect the house.\r\n\t\t\t He shall examine the disease; if the disease is in the walls of the house with greenish or reddish spots, and if it appears to be deeper than the surface,\r\n\t\t\t the priest shall go outside to the door of the house and shut up the house seven days.\r\n\t\t\t The priest shall come again on the seventh day and make an inspection; if the disease has spread in the walls of the house,\r\n\t\t\t the priest shall command that the stones in which the disease appears be taken out and thrown into an unclean place outside the city.\r\n\t\t\t He shall have the inside of the house scraped thoroughly, and the plaster that is scraped off shall be dumped in an unclean place outside the city.\r\n\t\t\t They shall take other stones and put them in the place of those stones, and take other plaster and plaster the house.\r\n\t\t\t If the disease breaks out again in the house, after he has taken out the stones and scraped the house and plastered it,\r\n\t\t\t the priest shall go and make inspection; if the disease has spread in the house, it is a spreading leprous disease in the house; it is unclean. \r\n\t\t\t He shall have the house torn down, its stones and timber and all the plaster of the house, and taken outside the city to an unclean place.\r\n\t\t\t All who enter the house while it is shut up shall be unclean until the evening;\r\n\t\t\t and all who sleep in the house shall wash their clothes; and all who eat in the house shall wash their clothes.\r\n\t\t\t If the priest comes and makes an inspection, and the disease has not spread in the house after the house was plastered, the priest shall pronounce the house clean; the disease is healed.\r\n\t\t\t For the cleansing of the house he shall take two birds, with cedarwood and crimson yarn and hyssop,\r\n\t\t\t and shall slaughter one of the birds over fresh water in an earthen vessel,\r\n\t\t\t and shall take the cedarwood and the hyssop and the crimson yarn, along with the living bird, and dip them in the blood of the slaughtered bird and the fresh water, and sprinkle the house seven times.\r\n\t\t\t Thus he shall cleanse the house with the blood of the bird, and with the fresh water, and with the living bird, and with the cedarwood and hyssop and crimson yarn;\r\n\t\t\t and he shall let the living bird go out of the city into the open field; so he shall make atonement for the house, and it shall be clean.\r\n\t\t\t This is the ritual for any leprous disease: for an itch, \r\n\t\t\t for leprous diseases in clothing and houses, \r\n\t\t\t and for a swelling or an eruption or a spot,\r\n\t\t\t to determine when it is unclean and when it is clean. This is the ritual for leprous diseases. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying:\r\n\t\t\t Speak to the people of Israel and say to them: When any man has a discharge from his member, his discharge makes him ceremonially unclean. \r\n\t\t\t The uncleanness of his discharge is this: whether his member flows with his discharge, or his member is stopped from discharging, it is uncleanness for him. \r\n\t\t\t Every bed on which the one with the discharge lies shall be unclean; and everything on which he sits shall be unclean.\r\n\t\t\t Anyone who touches his bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe in water, and be unclean until the evening.\r\n\t\t\t All who sit on anything on which the one with the discharge has sat shall wash their clothes, and bathe in water, and be unclean until the evening.\r\n\t\t\t All who touch the body of the one with the discharge shall wash their clothes, and bathe in water, and be unclean until the evening.\r\n\t\t\t If the one with the discharge spits on persons who are clean, then they shall wash their clothes, and bathe in water, and be unclean until the evening.\r\n\t\t\t Any saddle on which the one with the discharge rides shall be unclean.\r\n\t\t\t All who touch anything that was under him shall be unclean until the evening, and all who carry such a thing shall wash their clothes, and bathe in water, and be unclean until the evening.\r\n\t\t\t All those whom the one with the discharge touches without his having rinsed his hands in water shall wash their clothes, and bathe in water, and be unclean until the evening.\r\n\t\t\t Any earthen vessel that the one with the discharge touches shall be broken; and every vessel of wood shall be rinsed in water.\r\n\t\t\t When the one with a discharge is cleansed of his discharge, he shall count seven days for his cleansing; he shall wash his clothes and bathe his body in fresh water, and he shall be clean.\r\n\t\t\t On the eighth day he shall take two turtledoves or two pigeons and come before the LORD to the entrance of the tent of meeting and give them to the priest.\r\n\t\t\t The priest shall offer them, one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering; and the priest shall make atonement on his behalf before the LORD for his discharge.\r\n\t\t\t If a man has an emission of semen, he shall bathe his whole body in water, and be unclean until the evening.\r\n\t\t\t Everything made of cloth or of skin on which the semen falls shall be washed with water, and be unclean until the evening.\r\n\t\t\t If a man lies with a woman and has an emission of semen, both of them shall bathe in water, and be unclean until the evening.\r\n\t\t\t When a woman has a discharge of blood that is her regular discharge from her body, she shall be in her impurity for seven days, and whoever touches her shall be unclean until the evening.\r\n\t\t\t Everything upon which she lies during her impurity shall be unclean; everything also upon which she sits shall be unclean.\r\n\t\t\t Whoever touches her bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe in water, and be unclean until the evening.\r\n\t\t\t Whoever touches anything upon which she sits shall wash his clothes, and bathe in water, and be unclean until the evening;\r\n\t\t\t whether it is the bed or anything upon which she sits, when he touches it he shall be unclean until the evening.\r\n\t\t\t If any man lies with her, and her impurity falls on him, he shall be unclean seven days; and every bed on which he lies shall be unclean.\r\n\t\t\t If a woman has a discharge of blood for many days, not at the time of her impurity, or if she has a discharge beyond the time of her impurity, all the days of the discharge she shall continue in uncleanness; as in the days of her impurity, she shall be unclean.\r\n\t\t\t Every bed on which she lies during all the days of her discharge shall be treated as the bed of her impurity; and everything on which she sits shall be unclean, as in the uncleanness of her impurity.\r\n\t\t\t Whoever touches these things shall be unclean, and shall wash his clothes, and bathe in water, and be unclean until the evening.\r\n\t\t\t If she is cleansed of her discharge, she shall count seven days, and after that she shall be clean.\r\n\t\t\t On the eighth day she shall take two turtledoves or two pigeons and bring them to the priest to the entrance of the tent of meeting.\r\n\t\t\t The priest shall offer one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering; and the priest shall make atonement on her behalf before the LORD for her unclean discharge.\r\n\t\t\t Thus you shall keep the people of Israel separate from their uncleanness, so that they do not die in their uncleanness by defiling my tabernacle that is in their midst.\r\n\t\t\t This is the ritual for those who have a discharge: for him who has an emission of semen, becoming unclean thereby,\r\n\t\t\t for her who is in the infirmity of her period, for anyone, male or female, who has a discharge, and for the man who lies with a woman who is unclean.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they drew near before the LORD and died.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Moses: Tell your brother Aaron not to come just at any time into the sanctuary inside the curtain before the mercy seat that is upon the ark, or he will die; for I appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat. \r\n\t\t\t Thus shall Aaron come into the holy place: with a young bull for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering.\r\n\t\t\t He shall put on the holy linen tunic, and shall have the linen undergarments next to his body, fasten the linen sash, and wear the linen turban; these are the holy vestments. He shall bathe his body in water, and then put them on.\r\n\t\t\t He shall take from the congregation of the people of Israel two male goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering.\r\n\t\t\t Aaron shall offer the bull as a sin offering for himself, and shall make atonement for himself and for his house.\r\n\t\t\t He shall take the two goats and set them before the LORD at the entrance of the tent of meeting;\r\n\t\t\t and Aaron shall cast lots on the two goats, one lot for the LORD and the other lot for Azazel.\r\n\t\t\t Aaron shall present the goat on which the lot fell for the LORD, and offer it as a sin offering;\r\n\t\t\t but the goat on which the lot fell for Azazel shall be presented alive before the LORD to make atonement over it, that it may be sent away into the wilderness to Azazel. \r\n\t\t\t Aaron shall present the bull as a sin offering for himself, and shall make atonement for himself and for his house; he shall slaughter the bull as a sin offering for himself.\r\n\t\t\t He shall take a censer full of coals of fire from the altar before the LORD, and two handfuls of crushed sweet incense, and he shall bring it inside the curtain\r\n\t\t\t and put the incense on the fire before the LORD, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is upon the covenant, or he will die. \r\n\t\t\t He shall take some of the blood of the bull, and sprinkle it with his finger on the front of the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat he shall sprinkle the blood with his finger seven times. \r\n\t\t\t He shall slaughter the goat of the sin offering that is for the people and bring its blood inside the curtain, and do with its blood as he did with the blood of the bull, sprinkling it upon the mercy seat and before the mercy seat. \r\n\t\t\t Thus he shall make atonement for the sanctuary, because of the uncleannesses of the people of Israel, and because of their transgressions, all their sins; and so he shall do for the tent of meeting, which remains with them in the midst of their uncleannesses.\r\n\t\t\t No one shall be in the tent of meeting from the time he enters to make atonement in the sanctuary until he comes out and has made atonement for himself and for his house and for all the assembly of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t Then he shall go out to the altar that is before the LORD and make atonement on its behalf, and shall take some of the blood of the bull and of the blood of the goat, and put it on each of the horns of the altar.\r\n\t\t\t He shall sprinkle some of the blood on it with his finger seven times, and cleanse it and hallow it from the uncleannesses of the people of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t When he has finished atoning for the holy place and the tent of meeting and the altar, he shall present the live goat.\r\n\t\t\t Then Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over it all the iniquities of the people of Israel, and all their transgressions, all their sins, putting them on the head of the goat, and sending it away into the wilderness by means of someone designated for the task. \r\n\t\t\t The goat shall bear on itself all their iniquities to a barren region; and the goat shall be set free in the wilderness.\r\n\t\t\t Then Aaron shall enter the tent of meeting, and shall take off the linen vestments that he put on when he went into the holy place, and shall leave them there.\r\n\t\t\t He shall bathe his body in water in a holy place, and put on his vestments; then he shall come out and offer his burnt offering and the burnt offering of the people, making atonement for himself and for the people.\r\n\t\t\t The fat of the sin offering he shall turn into smoke on the altar.\r\n\t\t\t The one who sets the goat free for Azazel shall wash his clothes and bathe his body in water, and afterward may come into the camp. \r\n\t\t\t The bull of the sin offering and the goat of the sin offering, whose blood was brought in to make atonement in the holy place, shall be taken outside the camp; their skin and their flesh and their dung shall be consumed in fire.\r\n\t\t\t The one who burns them shall wash his clothes and bathe his body in water, and afterward may come into the camp.\r\n\t\t\t This shall be a statute to you forever: In the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall deny yourselves, and shall do no work, neither the citizen nor the alien who resides among you. \r\n\t\t\t For on this day atonement shall be made for you, to cleanse you; from all your sins you shall be clean before the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t It is a sabbath of complete rest to you, and you shall deny yourselves; it is a statute forever. \r\n\t\t\t The priest who is anointed and consecrated as priest in his father's place shall make atonement, wearing the linen vestments, the holy vestments.\r\n\t\t\t He shall make atonement for the sanctuary, and he shall make atonement for the tent of meeting and for the altar, and he shall make atonement for the priests and for all the people of the assembly.\r\n\t\t\t This shall be an everlasting statute for you, to make atonement for the people of Israel once in the year for all their sins. And Moses did as the LORD had commanded him.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses:\r\n\t\t\t Speak to Aaron and his sons and to all the people of Israel and say to them: This is what the LORD has commanded.\r\n\t\t\t If anyone of the house of Israel slaughters an ox or a lamb or a goat in the camp, or slaughters it outside the camp,\r\n\t\t\t and does not bring it to the entrance of the tent of meeting, to present it as an offering to the LORD before the tabernacle of the LORD, he shall be held guilty of bloodshed; he has shed blood, and he shall be cut off from the people.\r\n\t\t\t This is in order that the people of Israel may bring their sacrifices that they offer in the open field, that they may bring them to the LORD, to the priest at the entrance of the tent of meeting, and offer them as sacrifices of well-being to the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t The priest shall dash the blood against the altar of the LORD at the entrance of the tent of meeting, and turn the fat into smoke as a pleasing odor to the LORD,\r\n\t\t\t so that they may no longer offer their sacrifices for goat-demons, to whom they prostitute themselves. This shall be a statute forever to them throughout their generations.\r\n\t\t\t And say to them further: Anyone of the house of Israel or of the aliens who reside among them who offers a burnt offering or sacrifice,\r\n\t\t\t and does not bring it to the entrance of the tent of meeting, to sacrifice it to the LORD, shall be cut off from the people.\r\n\t\t\t If anyone of the house of Israel or of the aliens who reside among them eats any blood, I will set my face against that person who eats blood, and will cut that person off from the people.\r\n\t\t\t For the life of the flesh is in the blood; and I have given it to you for making atonement for your lives on the altar; for, as life, it is the blood that makes atonement.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore I have said to the people of Israel: No person among you shall eat blood, nor shall any alien who resides among you eat blood.\r\n\t\t\t And anyone of the people of Israel, or of the aliens who reside among them, who hunts down an animal or bird that may be eaten shall pour out its blood and cover it with earth.\r\n\t\t\t For the life of every creature-- its blood is its life; therefore I have said to the people of Israel: You shall not eat the blood of any creature, for the life of every creature is its blood; whoever eats it shall be cut off.\r\n\t\t\t All persons, citizens or aliens, who eat what dies of itself or what has been torn by wild animals, shall wash their clothes, and bathe themselves in water, and be unclean until the evening; then they shall be clean.\r\n\t\t\t But if they do not wash themselves or bathe their body, they shall bear their guilt.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses, saying:\r\n\t\t\t Speak to the people of Israel and say to them: I am the LORD your God.\r\n\t\t\t You shall not do as they do in the land of Egypt, where you lived, and you shall not do as they do in the land of Canaan, to which I am bringing you. You shall not follow their statutes.\r\n\t\t\t My ordinances you shall observe and my statutes you shall keep, following them: I am the LORD your God.\r\n\t\t\t You shall keep my statutes and my ordinances; by doing so one shall live: I am the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t None of you shall approach anyone near of kin to uncover nakedness: I am the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father, which is the nakedness of your mother; she is your mother, you shall not uncover her nakedness.\r\n\t\t\t You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father's wife; it is the nakedness of your father.\r\n\t\t\t You shall not uncover the nakedness of your sister, your father's daughter or your mother's daughter, whether born at home or born abroad.\r\n\t\t\t You shall not uncover the nakedness of your son's daughter or of your daughter's daughter, for their nakedness is your own nakedness.\r\n\t\t\t You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father's wife's daughter, begotten by your father, since she is your sister.\r\n\t\t\t You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father's sister; she is your father's flesh.\r\n\t\t\t You shall not uncover the nakedness of your mother's sister, for she is your mother's flesh.\r\n\t\t\t You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father's brother, that is, you shall not approach his wife; she is your aunt.\r\n\t\t\t You shall not uncover the nakedness of your daughter-in-law: she is your son's wife; you shall not uncover her nakedness.\r\n\t\t\t You shall not uncover the nakedness of your brother's wife; it is your brother's nakedness.\r\n\t\t\t You shall not uncover the nakedness of a woman and her daughter, and you shall not take her son's daughter or her daughter's daughter to uncover her nakedness; they are your flesh; it is depravity. \r\n\t\t\t And you shall not take a woman as a rival to her sister, uncovering her nakedness while her sister is still alive. \r\n\t\t\t You shall not approach a woman to uncover her nakedness while she is in her menstrual uncleanness.\r\n\t\t\t You shall not have sexual relations with your kinsman's wife, and defile yourself with her.\r\n\t\t\t You shall not give any of your offspring to sacrifice them to Molech, and so profane the name of your God: I am the LORD. \r\n\t\t\t You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.\r\n\t\t\t You shall not have sexual relations with any animal and defile yourself with it, nor shall any woman give herself to an animal to have sexual relations with it: it is perversion.\r\n\t\t\t Do not defile yourselves in any of these ways, for by all these practices the nations I am casting out before you have defiled themselves.\r\n\t\t\t Thus the land became defiled; and I punished it for its iniquity, and the land vomited out its inhabitants.\r\n\t\t\t But you shall keep my statutes and my ordinances and commit none of these abominations, either the citizen or the alien who resides among you\r\n\t\t\t (for the inhabitants of the land, who were before you, committed all of these abominations, and the land became defiled);\r\n\t\t\t otherwise the land will vomit you out for defiling it, as it vomited out the nation that was before you.\r\n\t\t\t For whoever commits any of these abominations shall be cut off from their people.\r\n\t\t\t So keep my charge not to commit any of these abominations that were done before you, and not to defile yourselves by them: I am the LORD your God.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses, saying:\r\n\t\t\t Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them: You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy.\r\n\t\t\t You shall each revere your mother and father, and you shall keep my sabbaths: I am the LORD your God.\r\n\t\t\t Do not turn to idols or make cast images for yourselves: I am the LORD your God.\r\n\t\t\t When you offer a sacrifice of well-being to the LORD, offer it in such a way that it is acceptable on your behalf.\r\n\t\t\t It shall be eaten on the same day you offer it, or on the next day; and anything left over until the third day shall be consumed in fire.\r\n\t\t\t If it is eaten at all on the third day, it is an abomination; it will not be acceptable.\r\n\t\t\t All who eat it shall be subject to punishment, because they have profaned what is holy to the LORD; and any such person shall be cut off from the people.\r\n\t\t\t When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap to the very edges of your field, or gather the gleanings of your harvest.\r\n\t\t\t You shall not strip your vineyard bare, or gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and the alien: I am the LORD your God.\r\n\t\t\t You shall not steal; you shall not deal falsely; and you shall not lie to one another.\r\n\t\t\t And you shall not swear falsely by my name, profaning the name of your God: I am the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t You shall not defraud your neighbor; you shall not steal; and you shall not keep for yourself the wages of a laborer until morning.\r\n\t\t\t You shall not revile the deaf or put a stumbling block before the blind; you shall fear your God: I am the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t You shall not render an unjust judgment; you shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great: with justice you shall judge your neighbor.\r\n\t\t\t You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not profit by the blood of your neighbor: I am the LORD. \r\n\t\t\t You shall not hate in your heart anyone of your kin; you shall reprove your neighbor, or you will incur guilt yourself.\r\n\t\t\t You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t You shall keep my statutes. You shall not let your animals breed with a different kind; you shall not sow your field with two kinds of seed; nor shall you put on a garment made of two different materials.\r\n\t\t\t If a man has sexual relations with a woman who is a slave, designated for another man but not ransomed or given her freedom, an inquiry shall be held. They shall not be put to death, since she has not been freed;\r\n\t\t\t but he shall bring a guilt offering for himself to the LORD, at the entrance of the tent of meeting, a ram as guilt offering.\r\n\t\t\t And the priest shall make atonement for him with the ram of guilt offering before the LORD for his sin that he committed; and the sin he committed shall be forgiven him.\r\n\t\t\t When you come into the land and plant all kinds of trees for food, then you shall regard their fruit as forbidden; three years it shall be forbidden to you, it must not be eaten. \r\n\t\t\t In the fourth year all their fruit shall be set apart for rejoicing in the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t But in the fifth year you may eat of their fruit, that their yield may be increased for you: I am the LORD your God.\r\n\t\t\t You shall not eat anything with its blood. You shall not practice augury or witchcraft.\r\n\t\t\t You shall not round off the hair on your temples or mar the edges of your beard.\r\n\t\t\t You shall not make any gashes in your flesh for the dead or tattoo any marks upon you: I am the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Do not profane your daughter by making her a prostitute, that the land not become prostituted and full of depravity.\r\n\t\t\t You shall keep my sabbaths and reverence my sanctuary: I am the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Do not turn to mediums or wizards; do not seek them out, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God.\r\n\t\t\t You shall rise before the aged, and defer to the old; and you shall fear your God: I am the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t When an alien resides with you in your land, you shall not oppress the alien.\r\n\t\t\t The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.\r\n\t\t\t You shall not cheat in measuring length, weight, or quantity.\r\n\t\t\t You shall have honest balances, honest weights, an honest ephah, and an honest hin: I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt.\r\n\t\t\t You shall keep all my statutes and all my ordinances, and observe them: I am the LORD.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses, saying:\r\n\t\t\t Say further to the people of Israel: Any of the people of Israel, or of the aliens who reside in Israel, who give any of their offspring to Molech shall be put to death; the people of the land shall stone them to death.\r\n\t\t\t I myself will set my face against them, and will cut them off from the people, because they have given of their offspring to Molech, defiling my sanctuary and profaning my holy name.\r\n\t\t\t And if the people of the land should ever close their eyes to them, when they give of their offspring to Molech, and do not put them to death,\r\n\t\t\t I myself will set my face against them and against their family, and will cut them off from among their people, them and all who follow them in prostituting themselves to Molech.\r\n\t\t\t If any turn to mediums and wizards, prostituting themselves to them, I will set my face against them, and will cut them off from the people.\r\n\t\t\t Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy; for I am the LORD your God.\r\n\t\t\t Keep my statutes, and observe them; I am the LORD; I sanctify you.\r\n\t\t\t All who curse father or mother shall be put to death; having cursed father or mother, their blood is upon them.\r\n\t\t\t If a man commits adultery with the wife of his neighbor, both the adulterer and the adulteress shall be put to death. \r\n\t\t\t The man who lies with his father's wife has uncovered his father's nakedness; both of them shall be put to death; their blood is upon them.\r\n\t\t\t If a man lies with his daughter-in-law, both of them shall be put to death; they have committed perversion, their blood is upon them.\r\n\t\t\t If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall be put to death; their blood is upon them.\r\n\t\t\t If a man takes a wife and her mother also, it is depravity; they shall be burned to death, both he and they, that there may be no depravity among you.\r\n\t\t\t If a man has sexual relations with an animal, he shall be put to death; and you shall kill the animal.\r\n\t\t\t If a woman approaches any animal and has sexual relations with it, you shall kill the woman and the animal; they shall be put to death, their blood is upon them.\r\n\t\t\t If a man takes his sister, a daughter of his father or a daughter of his mother, and sees her nakedness, and she sees his nakedness, it is a disgrace, and they shall be cut off in the sight of their people; he has uncovered his sister's nakedness, he shall be subject to punishment.\r\n\t\t\t If a man lies with a woman having her sickness and uncovers her nakedness, he has laid bare her flow and she has laid bare her flow of blood; both of them shall be cut off from their people.\r\n\t\t\t You shall not uncover the nakedness of your mother's sister or of your father's sister, for that is to lay bare one's own flesh; they shall be subject to punishment.\r\n\t\t\t If a man lies with his uncle's wife, he has uncovered his uncle's nakedness; they shall be subject to punishment; they shall die childless.\r\n\t\t\t If a man takes his brother's wife, it is impurity; he has uncovered his brother's nakedness; they shall be childless.\r\n\t\t\t You shall keep all my statutes and all my ordinances, and observe them, so that the land to which I bring you to settle in may not vomit you out.\r\n\t\t\t You shall not follow the practices of the nation that I am driving out before you. Because they did all these things, I abhorred them.\r\n\t\t\t But I have said to you: You shall inherit their land, and I will give it to you to possess, a land flowing with milk and honey. I am the LORD your God; I have separated you from the peoples.\r\n\t\t\t You shall therefore make a distinction between the clean animal and the unclean, and between the unclean bird and the clean; you shall not bring abomination on yourselves by animal or by bird or by anything with which the ground teems, which I have set apart for you to hold unclean.\r\n\t\t\t You shall be holy to me; for I the LORD am holy, and I have separated you from the other peoples to be mine.\r\n\t\t\t A man or a woman who is a medium or a wizard shall be put to death; they shall be stoned to death, their blood is upon them.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Moses: Speak to the priests, the sons of Aaron, and say to them: No one shall defile himself for a dead person among his relatives,\r\n\t\t\t except for his nearest kin: his mother, his father, his son, his daughter, his brother;\r\n\t\t\t likewise, for a virgin sister, close to him because she has had no husband, he may defile himself for her.\r\n\t\t\t But he shall not defile himself as a husband among his people and so profane himself.\r\n\t\t\t They shall not make bald spots upon their heads, or shave off the edges of their beards, or make any gashes in their flesh.\r\n\t\t\t They shall be holy to their God, and not profane the name of their God; for they offer the LORD's offerings by fire, the food of their God; therefore they shall be holy.\r\n\t\t\t They shall not marry a prostitute or a woman who has been defiled; neither shall they marry a woman divorced from her husband. For they are holy to their God,\r\n\t\t\t and you shall treat them as holy, since they offer the food of your God; they shall be holy to you, for I the LORD, I who sanctify you, am holy.\r\n\t\t\t When the daughter of a priest profanes herself through prostitution, she profanes her father; she shall be burned to death.\r\n\t\t\t The priest who is exalted above his fellows, on whose head the anointing oil has been poured and who has been consecrated to wear the vestments, shall not dishevel his hair, nor tear his vestments.\r\n\t\t\t He shall not go where there is a dead body; he shall not defile himself even for his father or mother.\r\n\t\t\t He shall not go outside the sanctuary and thus profane the sanctuary of his God; for the consecration of the anointing oil of his God is upon him: I am the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t He shall marry only a woman who is a virgin.\r\n\t\t\t A widow, or a divorced woman, or a woman who has been defiled, a prostitute, these he shall not marry. He shall marry a virgin of his own kin,\r\n\t\t\t that he may not profane his offspring among his kin; for I am the LORD; I sanctify him.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses, saying:\r\n\t\t\t Speak to Aaron and say: No one of your offspring throughout their generations who has a blemish may approach to offer the food of his God.\r\n\t\t\t For no one who has a blemish shall draw near, one who is blind or lame, or one who has a mutilated face or a limb too long,\r\n\t\t\t or one who has a broken foot or a broken hand,\r\n\t\t\t or a hunchback, or a dwarf, or a man with a blemish in his eyes or an itching disease or scabs or crushed testicles.\r\n\t\t\t No descendant of Aaron the priest who has a blemish shall come near to offer the LORD's offerings by fire; since he has a blemish, he shall not come near to offer the food of his God.\r\n\t\t\t He may eat the food of his God, of the most holy as well as of the holy.\r\n\t\t\t But he shall not come near the curtain or approach the altar, because he has a blemish, that he may not profane my sanctuaries; for I am the LORD; I sanctify them.\r\n\t\t\t Thus Moses spoke to Aaron and to his sons and to all the people of Israel.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses, saying:\r\n\t\t\t Direct Aaron and his sons to deal carefully with the sacred donations of the people of Israel, which they dedicate to me, so that they may not profane my holy name; I am the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Say to them: If anyone among all your offspring throughout your generations comes near the sacred donations, which the people of Israel dedicate to the LORD, while he is in a state of uncleanness, that person shall be cut off from my presence: I am the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t No one of Aaron's offspring who has a leprous disease or suffers a discharge may eat of the sacred donations until he is clean. Whoever touches anything made unclean by a corpse or a man who has had an emission of semen, \r\n\t\t\t and whoever touches any swarming thing by which he may be made unclean or any human being by whom he may be made unclean-- whatever his uncleanness may be--\r\n\t\t\t the person who touches any such shall be unclean until evening and shall not eat of the sacred donations unless he has washed his body in water.\r\n\t\t\t When the sun sets he shall be clean; and afterward he may eat of the sacred donations, for they are his food.\r\n\t\t\t That which died or was torn by wild animals he shall not eat, becoming unclean by it: I am the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t They shall keep my charge, so that they may not incur guilt and die in the sanctuary for having profaned it: I am the LORD; I sanctify them. \r\n\t\t\t No lay person shall eat of the sacred donations. No bound or hired servant of the priest shall eat of the sacred donations;\r\n\t\t\t but if a priest acquires anyone by purchase, the person may eat of them; and those that are born in his house may eat of his food.\r\n\t\t\t If a priest's daughter marries a layman, she shall not eat of the offering of the sacred donations;\r\n\t\t\t but if a priest's daughter is widowed or divorced, without offspring, and returns to her father's house, as in her youth, she may eat of her father's food. No lay person shall eat of it.\r\n\t\t\t If a man eats of the sacred donation unintentionally, he shall add one-fifth of its value to it, and give the sacred donation to the priest.\r\n\t\t\t No one shall profane the sacred donations of the people of Israel, which they offer to the LORD,\r\n\t\t\t causing them to bear guilt requiring a guilt offering, by eating their sacred donations: for I am the LORD; I sanctify them.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses, saying:\r\n\t\t\t Speak to Aaron and his sons and all the people of Israel and say to them: When anyone of the house of Israel or of the aliens residing in Israel presents an offering, whether in payment of a vow or as a freewill offering that is offered to the LORD as a burnt offering,\r\n\t\t\t to be acceptable in your behalf it shall be a male without blemish, of the cattle or the sheep or the goats.\r\n\t\t\t You shall not offer anything that has a blemish, for it will not be acceptable in your behalf.\r\n\t\t\t When anyone offers a sacrifice of well-being to the LORD, in fulfillment of a vow or as a freewill offering, from the herd or from the flock, to be acceptable it must be perfect; there shall be no blemish in it.\r\n\t\t\t Anything blind, or injured, or maimed, or having a discharge or an itch or scabs-- these you shall not offer to the LORD or put any of them on the altar as offerings by fire to the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t An ox or a lamb that has a limb too long or too short you may present for a freewill offering; but it will not be accepted for a vow.\r\n\t\t\t Any animal that has its testicles bruised or crushed or torn or cut, you shall not offer to the LORD; such you shall not do within your land,\r\n\t\t\t nor shall you accept any such animals from a foreigner to offer as food to your God; since they are mutilated, with a blemish in them, they shall not be accepted in your behalf.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses, saying:\r\n\t\t\t When an ox or a sheep or a goat is born, it shall remain seven days with its mother, and from the eighth day on it shall be acceptable as the LORD's offering by fire.\r\n\t\t\t But you shall not slaughter, from the herd or the flock, an animal with its young on the same day.\r\n\t\t\t When you sacrifice a thanksgiving offering to the LORD, you shall sacrifice it so that it may be acceptable in your behalf.\r\n\t\t\t It shall be eaten on the same day; you shall not leave any of it until morning: I am the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Thus you shall keep my commandments and observe them: I am the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t You shall not profane my holy name, that I may be sanctified among the people of Israel: I am the LORD; I sanctify you,\r\n\t\t\t I who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God: I am the LORD.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses, saying:\r\n\t\t\t Speak to the people of Israel and say to them: These are the appointed festivals of the LORD that you shall proclaim as holy convocations, my appointed festivals.\r\n\t\t\t Six days shall work be done; but the seventh day is a sabbath of complete rest, a holy convocation; you shall do no work: it is a sabbath to the LORD throughout your settlements.\r\n\t\t\t These are the appointed festivals of the LORD, the holy convocations, which you shall celebrate at the time appointed for them.\r\n\t\t\t In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, at twilight, there shall be a passover offering to the LORD, \r\n\t\t\t and on the fifteenth day of the same month is the festival of unleavened bread to the LORD; seven days you shall eat unleavened bread.\r\n\t\t\t On the first day you shall have a holy convocation; you shall not work at your occupations.\r\n\t\t\t For seven days you shall present the LORD's offerings by fire; on the seventh day there shall be a holy convocation: you shall not work at your occupations.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses:\r\n\t\t\t Speak to the people of Israel and say to them: When you enter the land that I am giving you and you reap its harvest, you shall bring the sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest to the priest.\r\n\t\t\t He shall raise the sheaf before the LORD, that you may find acceptance; on the day after the sabbath the priest shall raise it.\r\n\t\t\t On the day when you raise the sheaf, you shall offer a lamb a year old, without blemish, as a burnt offering to the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t And the grain offering with it shall be two-tenths of an ephah of choice flour mixed with oil, an offering by fire of pleasing odor to the LORD; and the drink offering with it shall be of wine, one-fourth of a hin.\r\n\t\t\t You shall eat no bread or parched grain or fresh ears until that very day, until you have brought the offering of your God: it is a statute forever throughout your generations in all your settlements.\r\n\t\t\t And from the day after the sabbath, from the day on which you bring the sheaf of the elevation offering, you shall count off seven weeks; they shall be complete.\r\n\t\t\t You shall count until the day after the seventh sabbath, fifty days; then you shall present an offering of new grain to the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t You shall bring from your settlements two loaves of bread as an elevation offering, each made of two-tenths of an ephah; they shall be of choice flour, baked with leaven, as first fruits to the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t You shall present with the bread seven lambs a year old without blemish, one young bull, and two rams; they shall be a burnt offering to the LORD, along with their grain offering and their drink offerings, an offering by fire of pleasing odor to the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t You shall also offer one male goat for a sin offering, and two male lambs a year old as a sacrifice of well-being.\r\n\t\t\t The priest shall raise them with the bread of the first fruits as an elevation offering before the LORD, together with the two lambs; they shall be holy to the LORD for the priest.\r\n\t\t\t On that same day you shall make proclamation; you shall hold a holy convocation; you shall not work at your occupations. This is a statute forever in all your settlements throughout your generations.\r\n\t\t\t When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap to the very edges of your field, or gather the gleanings of your harvest; you shall leave them for the poor and for the alien: I am the LORD your God.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses, saying:\r\n\t\t\t Speak to the people of Israel, saying: In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall observe a day of complete rest, a holy convocation commemorated with trumpet blasts.\r\n\t\t\t You shall not work at your occupations; and you shall present the LORD's offering by fire.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses, saying:\r\n\t\t\t Now, the tenth day of this seventh month is the day of atonement; it shall be a holy convocation for you: you shall deny yourselves and present the LORD's offering by fire; \r\n\t\t\t and you shall do no work during that entire day; for it is a day of atonement, to make atonement on your behalf before the LORD your God.\r\n\t\t\t For anyone who does not practice self-denial during that entire day shall be cut off from the people. \r\n\t\t\t And anyone who does any work during that entire day, such a one I will destroy from the midst of the people.\r\n\t\t\t You shall do no work: it is a statute forever throughout your generations in all your settlements.\r\n\t\t\t It shall be to you a sabbath of complete rest, and you shall deny yourselves; on the ninth day of the month at evening, from evening to evening you shall keep your sabbath. \r\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses, saying:\r\n\t\t\t Speak to the people of Israel, saying: On the fifteenth day of this seventh month, and lasting seven days, there shall be the festival of booths to the LORD. \r\n\t\t\t The first day shall be a holy convocation; you shall not work at your occupations.\r\n\t\t\t Seven days you shall present the LORD's offerings by fire; on the eighth day you shall observe a holy convocation and present the LORD's offerings by fire; it is a solemn assembly; you shall not work at your occupations.\r\n\t\t\t These are the appointed festivals of the LORD, which you shall celebrate as times of holy convocation, for presenting to the LORD offerings by fire-- burnt offerings and grain offerings, sacrifices and drink offerings, each on its proper day--\r\n\t\t\t apart from the sabbaths of the LORD, and apart from your gifts, and apart from all your votive offerings, and apart from all your freewill offerings, which you give to the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Now, the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the produce of the land, you shall keep the festival of the LORD, lasting seven days; a complete rest on the first day, and a complete rest on the eighth day.\r\n\t\t\t On the first day you shall take the fruit of majestic trees, branches of palm trees, boughs of leafy trees, and willows of the brook; and you shall rejoice before the LORD your God for seven days. \r\n\t\t\t You shall keep it as a festival to the LORD seven days in the year; you shall keep it in the seventh month as a statute forever throughout your generations.\r\n\t\t\t You shall live in booths for seven days; all that are citizens in Israel shall live in booths,\r\n\t\t\t so that your generations may know that I made the people of Israel live in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.\r\n\t\t\t Thus Moses declared to the people of Israel the appointed festivals of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses, saying:\r\n\t\t\t Command the people of Israel to bring you pure oil of beaten olives for the lamp, that a light may be kept burning regularly.\r\n\t\t\t Aaron shall set it up in the tent of meeting, outside the curtain of the covenant, to burn from evening to morning before the LORD regularly; it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations. \r\n\t\t\t He shall set up the lamps on the lampstand of pure gold before the LORD regularly. \r\n\t\t\t You shall take choice flour, and bake twelve loaves of it; two-tenths of an ephah shall be in each loaf.\r\n\t\t\t You shall place them in two rows, six in a row, on the table of pure gold. \r\n\t\t\t You shall put pure frankincense with each row, to be a token offering for the bread, as an offering by fire to the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Every sabbath day Aaron shall set them in order before the LORD regularly as a commitment of the people of Israel, as a covenant forever.\r\n\t\t\t They shall be for Aaron and his descendants, who shall eat them in a holy place, for they are most holy portions for him from the offerings by fire to the LORD, a perpetual due.\r\n\t\t\t A man whose mother was an Israelite and whose father was an Egyptian came out among the people of Israel; and the Israelite woman's son and a certain Israelite began fighting in the camp.\r\n\t\t\t The Israelite woman's son blasphemed the Name in a curse. And they brought him to Moses-- now his mother's name was Shelomith, daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan--\r\n\t\t\t and they put him in custody, until the decision of the LORD should be made clear to them.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Moses, saying:\r\n\t\t\t Take the blasphemer outside the camp; and let all who were within hearing lay their hands on his head, and let the whole congregation stone him.\r\n\t\t\t And speak to the people of Israel, saying: Anyone who curses God shall bear the sin.\r\n\t\t\t One who blasphemes the name of the LORD shall be put to death; the whole congregation shall stone the blasphemer. Aliens as well as citizens, when they blaspheme the Name, shall be put to death.\r\n\t\t\t Anyone who kills a human being shall be put to death.\r\n\t\t\t Anyone who kills an animal shall make restitution for it, life for life.\r\n\t\t\t Anyone who maims another shall suffer the same injury in return:\r\n\t\t\t fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; the injury inflicted is the injury to be suffered.\r\n\t\t\t One who kills an animal shall make restitution for it; but one who kills a human being shall be put to death.\r\n\t\t\t You shall have one law for the alien and for the citizen: for I am the LORD your God.\r\n\t\t\t Moses spoke thus to the people of Israel; and they took the blasphemer outside the camp, and stoned him to death. The people of Israel did as the LORD had commanded Moses.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai, saying:\r\n\t\t\t Speak to the people of Israel and say to them: When you enter the land that I am giving you, the land shall observe a sabbath for the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Six years you shall sow your field, and six years you shall prune your vineyard, and gather in their yield;\r\n\t\t\t but in the seventh year there shall be a sabbath of complete rest for the land, a sabbath for the LORD: you shall not sow your field or prune your vineyard.\r\n\t\t\t You shall not reap the aftergrowth of your harvest or gather the grapes of your unpruned vine: it shall be a year of complete rest for the land.\r\n\t\t\t You may eat what the land yields during its sabbath-- you, your male and female slaves, your hired and your bound laborers who live with you;\r\n\t\t\t for your livestock also, and for the wild animals in your land all its yield shall be for food.\r\n\t\t\t You shall count off seven weeks of years, seven times seven years, so that the period of seven weeks of years gives forty-nine years. \r\n\t\t\t Then you shall have the trumpet sounded loud; on the tenth day of the seventh month-- on the day of atonement-- you shall have the trumpet sounded throughout all your land.\r\n\t\t\t And you shall hallow the fiftieth year and you shall proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you: you shall return, every one of you, to your property and every one of you to your family.\r\n\t\t\t That fiftieth year shall be a jubilee for you: you shall not sow, or reap the aftergrowth, or harvest the unpruned vines.\r\n\t\t\t For it is a jubilee; it shall be holy to you: you shall eat only what the field itself produces.\r\n\t\t\t In this year of jubilee you shall return, every one of you, to your property.\r\n\t\t\t When you make a sale to your neighbor or buy from your neighbor, you shall not cheat one another.\r\n\t\t\t When you buy from your neighbor, you shall pay only for the number of years since the jubilee; the seller shall charge you only for the remaining crop years.\r\n\t\t\t If the years are more, you shall increase the price, and if the years are fewer, you shall diminish the price; for it is a certain number of harvests that are being sold to you.\r\n\t\t\t You shall not cheat one another, but you shall fear your God; for I am the LORD your God.\r\n\t\t\t You shall observe my statutes and faithfully keep my ordinances, so that you may live on the land securely.\r\n\t\t\t The land will yield its fruit, and you will eat your fill and live on it securely.\r\n\t\t\t Should you ask, What shall we eat in the seventh year, if we may not sow or gather in our crop?\r\n\t\t\t I will order my blessing for you in the sixth year, so that it will yield a crop for three years.\r\n\t\t\t When you sow in the eighth year, you will be eating from the old crop; until the ninth year, when its produce comes in, you shall eat the old.\r\n\t\t\t The land shall not be sold in perpetuity, for the land is mine; with me you are but aliens and tenants.\r\n\t\t\t Throughout the land that you hold, you shall provide for the redemption of the land.\r\n\t\t\t If anyone of your kin falls into difficulty and sells a piece of property, then the next of kin shall come and redeem what the relative has sold.\r\n\t\t\t If the person has no one to redeem it, but then prospers and finds sufficient means to do so,\r\n\t\t\t the years since its sale shall be computed and the difference shall be refunded to the person to whom it was sold, and the property shall be returned.\r\n\t\t\t But if there is not sufficient means to recover it, what was sold shall remain with the purchaser until the year of jubilee; in the jubilee it shall be released, and the property shall be returned.\r\n\t\t\t If anyone sells a dwelling house in a walled city, it may be redeemed until a year has elapsed since its sale; the right of redemption shall be one year.\r\n\t\t\t If it is not redeemed before a full year has elapsed, a house that is in a walled city shall pass in perpetuity to the purchaser, throughout the generations; it shall not be released in the jubilee.\r\n\t\t\t But houses in villages that have no walls around them shall be classed as open country; they may be redeemed, and they shall be released in the jubilee.\r\n\t\t\t As for the cities of the Levites, the Levites shall forever have the right of redemption of the houses in the cities belonging to them.\r\n\t\t\t Such property as may be redeemed from the Levites-- houses sold in a city belonging to them-- shall be released in the jubilee; because the houses in the cities of the Levites are their possession among the people of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t But the open land around their cities may not be sold; for that is their possession for all time.\r\n\t\t\t If any of your kin fall into difficulty and become dependent on you, you shall support them; they shall live with you as though resident aliens. \r\n\t\t\t Do not take interest in advance or otherwise make a profit from them, but fear your God; let them live with you.\r\n\t\t\t You shall not lend them your money at interest taken in advance, or provide them food at a profit.\r\n\t\t\t I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, to give you the land of Canaan, to be your God.\r\n\t\t\t If any who are dependent on you become so impoverished that they sell themselves to you, you shall not make them serve as slaves.\r\n\t\t\t They shall remain with you as hired or bound laborers. They shall serve with you until the year of the jubilee.\r\n\t\t\t Then they and their children with them shall be free from your authority; they shall go back to their own family and return to their ancestral property.\r\n\t\t\t For they are my servants, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt; they shall not be sold as slaves are sold.\r\n\t\t\t You shall not rule over them with harshness, but shall fear your God.\r\n\t\t\t As for the male and female slaves whom you may have, it is from the nations around you that you may acquire male and female slaves.\r\n\t\t\t You may also acquire them from among the aliens residing with you, and from their families that are with you, who have been born in your land; and they may be your property.\r\n\t\t\t You may keep them as a possession for your children after you, for them to inherit as property. These you may treat as slaves, but as for your fellow Israelites, no one shall rule over the other with harshness.\r\n\t\t\t If resident aliens among you prosper, and if any of your kin fall into difficulty with one of them and sell themselves to an alien, or to a branch of the alien's family,\r\n\t\t\t after they have sold themselves they shall have the right of redemption; one of their brothers may redeem them,\r\n\t\t\t or their uncle or their uncle's son may redeem them, or anyone of their family who is of their own flesh may redeem them; or if they prosper they may redeem themselves.\r\n\t\t\t They shall compute with the purchaser the total from the year when they sold themselves to the alien until the jubilee year; the price of the sale shall be applied to the number of years: the time they were with the owner shall be rated as the time of a hired laborer.\r\n\t\t\t If many years remain, they shall pay for their redemption in proportion to the purchase price;\r\n\t\t\t and if few years remain until the jubilee year, they shall compute thus: according to the years involved they shall make payment for their redemption.\r\n\t\t\t As a laborer hired by the year they shall be under the alien's authority, who shall not, however, rule with harshness over them in your sight.\r\n\t\t\t And if they have not been redeemed in any of these ways, they and their children with them shall go free in the jubilee year.\r\n\t\t\t For to me the people of Israel are servants; they are my servants whom I brought out from the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t You shall make for yourselves no idols and erect no carved images or pillars, and you shall not place figured stones in your land, to worship at them; for I am the LORD your God.\r\n\t\t\t You shall keep my sabbaths and reverence my sanctuary: I am the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t If you follow my statutes and keep my commandments and observe them faithfully,\r\n\t\t\t I will give you your rains in their season, and the land shall yield its produce, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.\r\n\t\t\t Your threshing shall overtake the vintage, and the vintage shall overtake the sowing; you shall eat your bread to the full, and live securely in your land.\r\n\t\t\t And I will grant peace in the land, and you shall lie down, and no one shall make you afraid; I will remove dangerous animals from the land, and no sword shall go through your land.\r\n\t\t\t You shall give chase to your enemies, and they shall fall before you by the sword.\r\n\t\t\t Five of you shall give chase to a hundred, and a hundred of you shall give chase to ten thousand; your enemies shall fall before you by the sword.\r\n\t\t\t I will look with favor upon you and make you fruitful and multiply you; and I will maintain my covenant with you.\r\n\t\t\t You shall eat old grain long stored, and you shall have to clear out the old to make way for the new.\r\n\t\t\t I will place my dwelling in your midst, and I shall not abhor you.\r\n\t\t\t And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and you shall be my people.\r\n\t\t\t I am the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be their slaves no more; I have broken the bars of your yoke and made you walk erect.\r\n\t\t\t But if you will not obey me, and do not observe all these commandments,\r\n\t\t\t if you spurn my statutes, and abhor my ordinances, so that you will not observe all my commandments, and you break my covenant,\r\n\t\t\t I in turn will do this to you: I will bring terror on you; consumption and fever that waste the eyes and cause life to pine away. You shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it.\r\n\t\t\t I will set my face against you, and you shall be struck down by your enemies; your foes shall rule over you, and you shall flee though no one pursues you.\r\n\t\t\t And if in spite of this you will not obey me, I will continue to punish you sevenfold for your sins.\r\n\t\t\t I will break your proud glory, and I will make your sky like iron and your earth like copper.\r\n\t\t\t Your strength shall be spent to no purpose: your land shall not yield its produce, and the trees of the land shall not yield their fruit.\r\n\t\t\t If you continue hostile to me, and will not obey me, I will continue to plague you sevenfold for your sins.\r\n\t\t\t I will let loose wild animals against you, and they shall bereave you of your children and destroy your livestock; they shall make you few in number, and your roads shall be deserted.\r\n\t\t\t If in spite of these punishments you have not turned back to me, but continue hostile to me,\r\n\t\t\t then I too will continue hostile to you: I myself will strike you sevenfold for your sins.\r\n\t\t\t I will bring the sword against you, executing vengeance for the covenant; and if you withdraw within your cities, I will send pestilence among you, and you shall be delivered into enemy hands.\r\n\t\t\t When I break your staff of bread, ten women shall bake your bread in a single oven, and they shall dole out your bread by weight; and though you eat, you shall not be satisfied.\r\n\t\t\t But if, despite this, you disobey me, and continue hostile to me,\r\n\t\t\t I will continue hostile to you in fury; I in turn will punish you myself sevenfold for your sins.\r\n\t\t\t You shall eat the flesh of your sons, and you shall eat the flesh of your daughters.\r\n\t\t\t I will destroy your high places and cut down your incense altars; I will heap your carcasses on the carcasses of your idols. I will abhor you.\r\n\t\t\t I will lay your cities waste, will make your sanctuaries desolate, and I will not smell your pleasing odors.\r\n\t\t\t I will devastate the land, so that your enemies who come to settle in it shall be appalled at it.\r\n\t\t\t And you I will scatter among the nations, and I will unsheathe the sword against you; your land shall be a desolation, and your cities a waste.\r\n\t\t\t Then the land shall enjoy its sabbath years as long as it lies desolate, while you are in the land of your enemies; then the land shall rest, and enjoy its sabbath years. \r\n\t\t\t As long as it lies desolate, it shall have the rest it did not have on your sabbaths when you were living on it.\r\n\t\t\t And as for those of you who survive, I will send faintness into their hearts in the lands of their enemies; the sound of a driven leaf shall put them to flight, and they shall flee as one flees from the sword, and they shall fall though no one pursues.\r\n\t\t\t They shall stumble over one another, as if to escape a sword, though no one pursues; and you shall have no power to stand against your enemies.\r\n\t\t\t You shall perish among the nations, and the land of your enemies shall devour you.\r\n\t\t\t And those of you who survive shall languish in the land of your enemies because of their iniquities; also they shall languish because of the iniquities of their ancestors.\r\n\t\t\t But if they confess their iniquity and the iniquity of their ancestors, in that they committed treachery against me and, moreover, that they continued hostile to me--\r\n\t\t\t so that I, in turn, continued hostile to them and brought them into the land of their enemies; if then their uncircumcised heart is humbled and they make amends for their iniquity,\r\n\t\t\t then will I remember my covenant with Jacob; I will remember also my covenant with Isaac and also my covenant with Abraham, and I will remember the land.\r\n\t\t\t For the land shall be deserted by them, and enjoy its sabbath years by lying desolate without them, while they shall make amends for their iniquity, because they dared to spurn my ordinances, and they abhorred my statutes. \r\n\t\t\t Yet for all that, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not spurn them, or abhor them so as to destroy them utterly and break my covenant with them; for I am the LORD their God;\r\n\t\t\t but I will remember in their favor the covenant with their ancestors whom I brought out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the nations, to be their God: I am the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t These are the statutes and ordinances and laws that the LORD established between himself and the people of Israel on Mount Sinai through Moses.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses, saying:\r\n\t\t\t Speak to the people of Israel and say to them: When a person makes an explicit vow to the LORD concerning the equivalent for a human being,\r\n\t\t\t the equivalent for a male shall be: from twenty to sixty years of age the equivalent shall be fifty shekels of silver by the sanctuary shekel.\r\n\t\t\t If the person is a female, the equivalent is thirty shekels.\r\n\t\t\t If the age is from five to twenty years of age, the equivalent is twenty shekels for a male and ten shekels for a female.\r\n\t\t\t If the age is from one month to five years, the equivalent for a male is five shekels of silver, and for a female the equivalent is three shekels of silver.\r\n\t\t\t And if the person is sixty years old or over, then the equivalent for a male is fifteen shekels, and for a female ten shekels.\r\n\t\t\t If any cannot afford the equivalent, they shall be brought before the priest and the priest shall assess them; the priest shall assess them according to what each one making a vow can afford.\r\n\t\t\t If it concerns an animal that may be brought as an offering to the LORD, any such that may be given to the LORD shall be holy.\r\n\t\t\t Another shall not be exchanged or substituted for it, either good for bad or bad for good; and if one animal is substituted for another, both that one and its substitute shall be holy.\r\n\t\t\t If it concerns any unclean animal that may not be brought as an offering to the LORD, the animal shall be presented before the priest.\r\n\t\t\t The priest shall assess it: whether good or bad, according to the assessment of the priest, so it shall be.\r\n\t\t\t But if it is to be redeemed, one-fifth must be added to the assessment.\r\n\t\t\t If a person consecrates a house to the LORD, the priest shall assess it: whether good or bad, as the priest assesses it, so it shall stand.\r\n\t\t\t And if the one who consecrates the house wishes to redeem it, one-fifth shall be added to its assessed value, and it shall revert to the original owner.\r\n\t\t\t If a person consecrates to the LORD any inherited landholding, its assessment shall be in accordance with its seed requirements: fifty shekels of silver to a homer of barley seed.\r\n\t\t\t If the person consecrates the field as of the year of jubilee, that assessment shall stand;\r\n\t\t\t but if the field is consecrated after the jubilee, the priest shall compute the price for it according to the years that remain until the year of jubilee, and the assessment shall be reduced.\r\n\t\t\t And if the one who consecrates the field wishes to redeem it, then one-fifth shall be added to its assessed value, and it shall revert to the original owner;\r\n\t\t\t but if the field is not redeemed, or if it has been sold to someone else, it shall no longer be redeemable.\r\n\t\t\t But when the field is released in the jubilee, it shall be holy to the LORD as a devoted field; it becomes the priest's holding.\r\n\t\t\t If someone consecrates to the LORD a field that has been purchased, which is not a part of the inherited landholding,\r\n\t\t\t the priest shall compute for it the proportionate assessment up to the year of jubilee, and the assessment shall be paid as of that day, a sacred donation to the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t In the year of jubilee the field shall return to the one from whom it was bought, whose holding the land is.\r\n\t\t\t All assessments shall be by the sanctuary shekel: twenty gerahs shall make a shekel.\r\n\t\t\t A firstling of animals, however, which as a firstling belongs to the LORD, cannot be consecrated by anyone; whether ox or sheep, it is the LORD's.\r\n\t\t\t If it is an unclean animal, it shall be ransomed at its assessment, with one-fifth added; if it is not redeemed, it shall be sold at its assessment.\r\n\t\t\t Nothing that a person owns that has been devoted to destruction for the LORD, be it human or animal, or inherited landholding, may be sold or redeemed; every devoted thing is most holy to the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t No human beings who have been devoted to destruction can be ransomed; they shall be put to death.\r\n\t\t\t All tithes from the land, whether the seed from the ground or the fruit from the tree, are the LORD's; they are holy to the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t If persons wish to redeem any of their tithes, they must add one-fifth to them.\r\n\t\t\t All tithes of herd and flock, every tenth one that passes under the shepherd's staff, shall be holy to the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Let no one inquire whether it is good or bad, or make substitution for it; if one makes substitution for it, then both it and the substitute shall be holy and cannot be redeemed.\r\n\t\t\t These are the commandments that the LORD gave to Moses for the people of Israel on Mount Sinai.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tent of meeting, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying:\r\n\t\t\t Take a census of the whole congregation of Israelites, in their clans, by ancestral houses, according to the number of names, every male individually;\r\n\t\t\t from twenty years old and upward, everyone in Israel able to go to war. You and Aaron shall enroll them, company by company.\r\n\t\t\t A man from each tribe shall be with you, each man the head of his ancestral house.\r\n\t\t\t These are the names of the men who shall assist you: From Reuben, Elizur son of Shedeur.\r\n\t\t\t From Simeon, Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai.\r\n\t\t\t From Judah, Nahshon son of Amminadab.\r\n\t\t\t From Issachar, Nethanel son of Zuar.\r\n\t\t\t From Zebulun, Eliab son of Helon.\r\n\t\t\t From the sons of Joseph: from Ephraim, Elishama son of Ammihud; from Manasseh, Gamaliel son of Pedahzur.\r\n\t\t\t From Benjamin, Abidan son of Gideoni.\r\n\t\t\t From Dan, Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai.\r\n\t\t\t From Asher, Pagiel son of Ochran.\r\n\t\t\t From Gad, Eliasaph son of Deuel.\r\n\t\t\t From Naphtali, Ahira son of Enan.\r\n\t\t\t These were the ones chosen from the congregation, the leaders of their ancestral tribes, the heads of the divisions of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t Moses and Aaron took these men who had been designated by name,\r\n\t\t\t and on the first day of the second month they assembled the whole congregation together. They registered themselves in their clans, by their ancestral houses, according to the number of names from twenty years old and upward, individually,\r\n\t\t\t as the LORD commanded Moses. So he enrolled them in the wilderness of Sinai.\r\n\t\t\t The descendants of Reuben, Israel's firstborn, their lineage, in their clans, by their ancestral houses, according to the number of names, individually, every male from twenty years old and upward, everyone able to go to war:\r\n\t\t\t those enrolled of the tribe of Reuben were forty-six thousand five hundred.\r\n\t\t\t The descendants of Simeon, their lineage, in their clans, by their ancestral houses, those of them that were numbered, according to the number of names, individually, every male from twenty years old and upward, everyone able to go to war:\r\n\t\t\t those enrolled of the tribe of Simeon were fifty-nine thousand three hundred.\r\n\t\t\t The descendants of Gad, their lineage, in their clans, by their ancestral houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, everyone able to go to war:\r\n\t\t\t those enrolled of the tribe of Gad were forty-five thousand six hundred fifty.\r\n\t\t\t The descendants of Judah, their lineage, in their clans, by their ancestral houses, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, everyone able to go to war:\r\n\t\t\t those enrolled of the tribe of Judah were seventy-four thousand six hundred.\r\n\t\t\t The descendants of Issachar, their lineage, in their clans, by their ancestral houses, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, everyone able to go to war:\r\n\t\t\t those enrolled of the tribe of Issachar were fifty-four thousand four hundred.\r\n\t\t\t The descendants of Zebulun, their lineage, in their clans, by their ancestral houses, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, everyone able to go to war:\r\n\t\t\t those enrolled of the tribe of Zebulun were fifty-seven thousand four hundred.\r\n\t\t\t The descendants of Joseph, namely, the descendants of Ephraim, their lineage, in their clans, by their ancestral houses, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, everyone able to go to war:\r\n\t\t\t those enrolled of the tribe of Ephraim were forty thousand five hundred.\r\n\t\t\t The descendants of Manasseh, their lineage, in their clans, by their ancestral houses, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, everyone able to go to war:\r\n\t\t\t those enrolled of the tribe of Manasseh were thirty-two thousand two hundred.\r\n\t\t\t The descendants of Benjamin, their lineage, in their clans, by their ancestral houses, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, everyone able to go to war:\r\n\t\t\t those enrolled of the tribe of Benjamin were thirty-five thousand four hundred.\r\n\t\t\t The descendants of Dan, their lineage, in their clans, by their ancestral houses, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, everyone able to go to war:\r\n\t\t\t those enrolled of the tribe of Dan were sixty-two thousand seven hundred.\r\n\t\t\t The descendants of Asher, their lineage, in their clans, by their ancestral houses, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, everyone able to go to war:\r\n\t\t\t those enrolled of the tribe of Asher were forty-one thousand five hundred.\r\n\t\t\t The descendants of Naphtali, their lineage, in their clans, by their ancestral houses, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, everyone able to go to war:\r\n\t\t\t those enrolled of the tribe of Naphtali were fifty-three thousand four hundred.\r\n\t\t\t These are those who were enrolled, whom Moses and Aaron enrolled with the help of the leaders of Israel, twelve men, each representing his ancestral house.\r\n\t\t\t So the whole number of the Israelites, by their ancestral houses, from twenty years old and upward, everyone able to go to war in Israel--\r\n\t\t\t their whole number was six hundred three thousand five hundred fifty.\r\n\t\t\t The Levites, however, were not numbered by their ancestral tribe along with them.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD had said to Moses:\r\n\t\t\t Only the tribe of Levi you shall not enroll, and you shall not take a census of them with the other Israelites.\r\n\t\t\t Rather you shall appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of the covenant, and over all its equipment, and over all that belongs to it; they are to carry the tabernacle and all its equipment, and they shall tend it, and shall camp around the tabernacle. \r\n\t\t\t When the tabernacle is to set out, the Levites shall take it down; and when the tabernacle is to be pitched, the Levites shall set it up. And any outsider who comes near shall be put to death.\r\n\t\t\t The other Israelites shall camp in their respective regimental camps, by companies;\r\n\t\t\t but the Levites shall camp around the tabernacle of the covenant, that there may be no wrath on the congregation of the Israelites; and the Levites shall perform the guard duty of the tabernacle of the covenant.\r\n\t\t\t The Israelites did so; they did just as the LORD commanded Moses.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying:\r\n\t\t\t The Israelites shall camp each in their respective regiments, under ensigns by their ancestral houses; they shall camp facing the tent of meeting on every side.\r\n\t\t\t Those to camp on the east side toward the sunrise shall be of the regimental encampment of Judah by companies. The leader of the people of Judah shall be Nahshon son of Amminadab,\r\n\t\t\t with a company as enrolled of seventy-four thousand six hundred.\r\n\t\t\t Those to camp next to him shall be the tribe of Issachar. The leader of the Issacharites shall be Nethanel son of Zuar,\r\n\t\t\t with a company as enrolled of fifty-four thousand four hundred.\r\n\t\t\t Then the tribe of Zebulun: The leader of the Zebulunites shall be Eliab son of Helon,\r\n\t\t\t with a company as enrolled of fifty-seven thousand four hundred.\r\n\t\t\t The total enrollment of the camp of Judah, by companies, is one hundred eighty-six thousand four hundred. They shall set out first on the march.\r\n\t\t\t On the south side shall be the regimental encampment of Reuben by companies. The leader of the Reubenites shall be Elizur son of Shedeur,\r\n\t\t\t with a company as enrolled of forty-six thousand five hundred.\r\n\t\t\t And those to camp next to him shall be the tribe of Simeon. The leader of the Simeonites shall be Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai,\r\n\t\t\t with a company as enrolled of fifty-nine thousand three hundred.\r\n\t\t\t Then the tribe of Gad: The leader of the Gadites shall be Eliasaph son of Reuel,\r\n\t\t\t with a company as enrolled of forty-five thousand six hundred fifty.\r\n\t\t\t The total enrollment of the camp of Reuben, by companies, is one hundred fifty-one thousand four hundred fifty. They shall set out second.\r\n\t\t\t The tent of meeting, with the camp of the Levites, shall set out in the center of the camps; they shall set out just as they camp, each in position, by their regiments.\r\n\t\t\t On the west side shall be the regimental encampment of Ephraim by companies. The leader of the people of Ephraim shall be Elishama son of Ammihud,\r\n\t\t\t with a company as enrolled of forty thousand five hundred.\r\n\t\t\t Next to him shall be the tribe of Manasseh. The leader of the people of Manasseh shall be Gamaliel son of Pedahzur,\r\n\t\t\t with a company as enrolled of thirty-two thousand two hundred.\r\n\t\t\t Then the tribe of Benjamin: The leader of the Benjaminites shall be Abidan son of Gideoni,\r\n\t\t\t with a company as enrolled of thirty-five thousand four hundred.\r\n\t\t\t The total enrollment of the camp of Ephraim, by companies, is one hundred eight thousand one hundred. They shall set out third on the march.\r\n\t\t\t On the north side shall be the regimental encampment of Dan by companies. The leader of the Danites shall be Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai,\r\n\t\t\t with a company as enrolled of sixty-two thousand seven hundred.\r\n\t\t\t Those to camp next to him shall be the tribe of Asher. The leader of the Asherites shall be Pagiel son of Ochran,\r\n\t\t\t with a company as enrolled of forty-one thousand five hundred.\r\n\t\t\t Then the tribe of Naphtali: The leader of the Naphtalites shall be Ahira son of Enan,\r\n\t\t\t with a company as enrolled of fifty-three thousand four hundred.\r\n\t\t\t The total enrollment of the camp of Dan is one hundred fifty-seven thousand six hundred. They shall set out last, by companies. \r\n\t\t\t This was the enrollment of the Israelites by their ancestral houses; the total enrollment in the camps by their companies was six hundred three thousand five hundred fifty.\r\n\t\t\t Just as the LORD had commanded Moses, the Levites were not enrolled among the other Israelites.\r\n\t\t\t The Israelites did just as the LORD had commanded Moses: They camped by regiments, and they set out the same way, everyone by clans, according to ancestral houses.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t This is the lineage of Aaron and Moses at the time when the LORD spoke with Moses on Mount Sinai.\r\n\t\t\t These are the names of the sons of Aaron: Nadab the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar;\r\n\t\t\t these are the names of the sons of Aaron, the anointed priests, whom he ordained to minister as priests.\r\n\t\t\t Nadab and Abihu died before the LORD when they offered illicit fire before the LORD in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children. Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests in the lifetime of their father Aaron.\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying:\r\n\t\t\t Bring the tribe of Levi near, and set them before Aaron the priest, so that they may assist him.\r\n\t\t\t They shall perform duties for him and for the whole congregation in front of the tent of meeting, doing service at the tabernacle;\r\n\t\t\t they shall be in charge of all the furnishings of the tent of meeting, and attend to the duties for the Israelites as they do service at the tabernacle.\r\n\t\t\t You shall give the Levites to Aaron and his descendants; they are unreservedly given to him from among the Israelites.\r\n\t\t\t But you shall make a register of Aaron and his descendants; it is they who shall attend to the priesthood, and any outsider who comes near shall be put to death.\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying:\r\n\t\t\t I hereby accept the Levites from among the Israelites as substitutes for all the firstborn that open the womb among the Israelites. The Levites shall be mine,\r\n\t\t\t for all the firstborn are mine; when I killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I consecrated for my own all the firstborn in Israel, both human and animal; they shall be mine. I am the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, saying:\r\n\t\t\t Enroll the Levites by ancestral houses and by clans. You shall enroll every male from a month old and upward.\r\n\t\t\t So Moses enrolled them according to the word of the LORD, as he was commanded.\r\n\t\t\t The following were the sons of Levi, by their names: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.\r\n\t\t\t These are the names of the sons of Gershon by their clans: Libni and Shimei.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Kohath by their clans: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Merari by their clans: Mahli and Mushi. These are the clans of the Levites, by their ancestral houses.\r\n\t\t\t To Gershon belonged the clan of the Libnites and the clan of the Shimeites; these were the clans of the Gershonites.\r\n\t\t\t Their enrollment, counting all the males from a month old and upward, was seven thousand five hundred.\r\n\t\t\t The clans of the Gershonites were to camp behind the tabernacle on the west,\r\n\t\t\t with Eliasaph son of Lael as head of the ancestral house of the Gershonites.\r\n\t\t\t The responsibility of the sons of Gershon in the tent of meeting was to be the tabernacle, the tent with its covering, the screen for the entrance of the tent of meeting,\r\n\t\t\t the hangings of the court, the screen for the entrance of the court that is around the tabernacle and the altar, and its cords-- all the service pertaining to these.\r\n\t\t\t To Kohath belonged the clan of the Amramites, the clan of the Izharites, the clan of the Hebronites, and the clan of the Uzzielites; these are the clans of the Kohathites.\r\n\t\t\t Counting all the males, from a month old and upward, there were eight thousand six hundred, attending to the duties of the sanctuary.\r\n\t\t\t The clans of the Kohathites were to camp on the south side of the tabernacle,\r\n\t\t\t with Elizaphan son of Uzziel as head of the ancestral house of the clans of the Kohathites.\r\n\t\t\t Their responsibility was to be the ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars, the vessels of the sanctuary with which the priests minister, and the screen-- all the service pertaining to these.\r\n\t\t\t Eleazar son of Aaron the priest was to be chief over the leaders of the Levites, and to have oversight of those who had charge of the sanctuary.\r\n\t\t\t To Merari belonged the clan of the Mahlites and the clan of the Mushites: these are the clans of Merari.\r\n\t\t\t Their enrollment, counting all the males from a month old and upward, was six thousand two hundred.\r\n\t\t\t The head of the ancestral house of the clans of Merari was Zuriel son of Abihail; they were to camp on the north side of the tabernacle.\r\n\t\t\t The responsibility assigned to the sons of Merari was to be the frames of the tabernacle, the bars, the pillars, the bases, and all their accessories-- all the service pertaining to these;\r\n\t\t\t also the pillars of the court all around, with their bases and pegs and cords.\r\n\t\t\t Those who were to camp in front of the tabernacle on the east-- in front of the tent of meeting toward the east-- were Moses and Aaron and Aaron's sons, having charge of the rites within the sanctuary, whatever had to be done for the Israelites; and any outsider who came near was to be put to death.\r\n\t\t\t The total enrollment of the Levites whom Moses and Aaron enrolled at the commandment of the LORD, by their clans, all the males from a month old and upward, was twenty-two thousand.\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD said to Moses: Enroll all the firstborn males of the Israelites, from a month old and upward, and count their names.\r\n\t\t\t But you shall accept the Levites for me-- I am the LORD-- as substitutes for all the firstborn among the Israelites, and the livestock of the Levites as substitutes for all the firstborn among the livestock of the Israelites.\r\n\t\t\t So Moses enrolled all the firstborn among the Israelites, as the LORD commanded him.\r\n\t\t\t The total enrollment, all the firstborn males from a month old and upward, counting the number of names, was twenty-two thousand two hundred seventy-three.\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying:\r\n\t\t\t Accept the Levites as substitutes for all the firstborn among the Israelites, and the livestock of the Levites as substitutes for their livestock; and the Levites shall be mine. I am the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t As the price of redemption of the two hundred seventy-three of the firstborn of the Israelites, over and above the number of the Levites,\r\n\t\t\t you shall accept five shekels apiece, reckoning by the shekel of the sanctuary, a shekel of twenty gerahs.\r\n\t\t\t Give to Aaron and his sons the money by which the excess number of them is redeemed.\r\n\t\t\t So Moses took the redemption money from those who were over and above those redeemed by the Levites;\r\n\t\t\t from the firstborn of the Israelites he took the money, one thousand three hundred sixty-five shekels, reckoned by the shekel of the sanctuary;\r\n\t\t\t and Moses gave the redemption money to Aaron and his sons, according to the word of the LORD, as the LORD had commanded Moses.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying:\r\n\t\t\t Take a census of the Kohathites separate from the other Levites, by their clans and their ancestral houses,\r\n\t\t\t from thirty years old up to fifty years old, all who qualify to do work relating to the tent of meeting.\r\n\t\t\t The service of the Kohathites relating to the tent of meeting concerns the most holy things.\r\n\t\t\t When the camp is to set out, Aaron and his sons shall go in and take down the screening curtain, and cover the ark of the covenant with it; \r\n\t\t\t then they shall put on it a covering of fine leather, and spread over that a cloth all of blue, and shall put its poles in place. \r\n\t\t\t Over the table of the bread of the Presence they shall spread a blue cloth, and put on it the plates, the dishes for incense, the bowls, and the flagons for the drink offering; the regular bread also shall be on it;\r\n\t\t\t then they shall spread over them a crimson cloth, and cover it with a covering of fine leather, and shall put its poles in place. \r\n\t\t\t They shall take a blue cloth, and cover the lampstand for the light, with its lamps, its snuffers, its trays, and all the vessels for oil with which it is supplied;\r\n\t\t\t and they shall put it with all its utensils in a covering of fine leather, and put it on the carrying frame. \r\n\t\t\t Over the golden altar they shall spread a blue cloth, and cover it with a covering of fine leather, and shall put its poles in place; \r\n\t\t\t and they shall take all the utensils of the service that are used in the sanctuary, and put them in a blue cloth, and cover them with a covering of fine leather, and put them on the carrying frame. \r\n\t\t\t They shall take away the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple cloth over it;\r\n\t\t\t and they shall put on it all the utensils of the altar, which are used for the service there, the firepans, the forks, the shovels, and the basins, all the utensils of the altar; and they shall spread on it a covering of fine leather, and shall put its poles in place. \r\n\t\t\t When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the sanctuary and all the furnishings of the sanctuary, as the camp sets out, after that the Kohathites shall come to carry these, but they must not touch the holy things, or they will die. These are the things of the tent of meeting that the Kohathites are to carry.\r\n\t\t\t Eleazar son of Aaron the priest shall have charge of the oil for the light, the fragrant incense, the regular grain offering, and the anointing oil, the oversight of all the tabernacle and all that is in it, in the sanctuary and in its utensils.\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying:\r\n\t\t\t You must not let the tribe of the clans of the Kohathites be destroyed from among the Levites.\r\n\t\t\t This is how you must deal with them in order that they may live and not die when they come near to the most holy things: Aaron and his sons shall go in and assign each to a particular task or burden.\r\n\t\t\t But the Kohathites must not go in to look on the holy things even for a moment; otherwise they will die. \r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying:\r\n\t\t\t Take a census of the Gershonites also, by their ancestral houses and by their clans;\r\n\t\t\t from thirty years old up to fifty years old you shall enroll them, all who qualify to do work in the tent of meeting.\r\n\t\t\t This is the service of the clans of the Gershonites, in serving and bearing burdens:\r\n\t\t\t They shall carry the curtains of the tabernacle, and the tent of meeting with its covering, and the outer covering of fine leather that is on top of it, and the screen for the entrance of the tent of meeting, \r\n\t\t\t and the hangings of the court, and the screen for the entrance of the gate of the court that is around the tabernacle and the altar, and their cords, and all the equipment for their service; and they shall do all that needs to be done with regard to them.\r\n\t\t\t All the service of the Gershonites shall be at the command of Aaron and his sons, in all that they are to carry, and in all that they have to do; and you shall assign to their charge all that they are to carry.\r\n\t\t\t This is the service of the clans of the Gershonites relating to the tent of meeting, and their responsibilities are to be under the oversight of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.\r\n\t\t\t As for the Merarites, you shall enroll them by their clans and their ancestral houses;\r\n\t\t\t from thirty years old up to fifty years old you shall enroll them, everyone who qualifies to do the work of the tent of meeting.\r\n\t\t\t This is what they are charged to carry, as the whole of their service in the tent of meeting: the frames of the tabernacle, with its bars, pillars, and bases,\r\n\t\t\t and the pillars of the court all around with their bases, pegs, and cords, with all their equipment and all their related service; and you shall assign by name the objects that they are required to carry.\r\n\t\t\t This is the service of the clans of the Merarites, the whole of their service relating to the tent of meeting, under the hand of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.\r\n\t\t\t So Moses and Aaron and the leaders of the congregation enrolled the Kohathites, by their clans and their ancestral houses,\r\n\t\t\t from thirty years old up to fifty years old, everyone who qualified for work relating to the tent of meeting;\r\n\t\t\t and their enrollment by clans was two thousand seven hundred fifty.\r\n\t\t\t This was the enrollment of the clans of the Kohathites, all who served at the tent of meeting, whom Moses and Aaron enrolled according to the commandment of the LORD by Moses.\r\n\t\t\t The enrollment of the Gershonites, by their clans and their ancestral houses,\r\n\t\t\t from thirty years old up to fifty years old, everyone who qualified for work relating to the tent of meeting--\r\n\t\t\t their enrollment by their clans and their ancestral houses was two thousand six hundred thirty.\r\n\t\t\t This was the enrollment of the clans of the Gershonites, all who served at the tent of meeting, whom Moses and Aaron enrolled according to the commandment of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t The enrollment of the clans of the Merarites, by their clans and their ancestral houses,\r\n\t\t\t from thirty years old up to fifty years old, everyone who qualified for work relating to the tent of meeting--\r\n\t\t\t their enrollment by their clans was three thousand two hundred.\r\n\t\t\t This is the enrollment of the clans of the Merarites, whom Moses and Aaron enrolled according to the commandment of the LORD by Moses.\r\n\t\t\t All those who were enrolled of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron and the leaders of Israel enrolled, by their clans and their ancestral houses,\r\n\t\t\t from thirty years old up to fifty years old, everyone who qualified to do the work of service and the work of bearing burdens relating to the tent of meeting,\r\n\t\t\t their enrollment was eight thousand five hundred eighty.\r\n\t\t\t According to the commandment of the LORD through Moses they were appointed to their several tasks of serving or carrying; thus they were enrolled by him, as the LORD commanded Moses.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses, saying:\r\n\t\t\t Command the Israelites to put out of the camp everyone who is leprous, or has a discharge, and everyone who is unclean through contact with a corpse; \r\n\t\t\t you shall put out both male and female, putting them outside the camp; they must not defile their camp, where I dwell among them.\r\n\t\t\t The Israelites did so, putting them outside the camp; as the LORD had spoken to Moses, so the Israelites did.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses, saying:\r\n\t\t\t Speak to the Israelites: When a man or a woman wrongs another, breaking faith with the LORD, that person incurs guilt\r\n\t\t\t and shall confess the sin that has been committed. The person shall make full restitution for the wrong, adding one fifth to it, and giving it to the one who was wronged.\r\n\t\t\t If the injured party has no next of kin to whom restitution may be made for the wrong, the restitution for wrong shall go to the LORD for the priest, in addition to the ram of atonement with which atonement is made for the guilty party.\r\n\t\t\t Among all the sacred donations of the Israelites, every gift that they bring to the priest shall be his.\r\n\t\t\t The sacred donations of all are their own; whatever anyone gives to the priest shall be his.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses, saying:\r\n\t\t\t Speak to the Israelites and say to them: If any man's wife goes astray and is unfaithful to him,\r\n\t\t\t if a man has had intercourse with her but it is hidden from her husband, so that she is undetected though she has defiled herself, and there is no witness against her since she was not caught in the act;\r\n\t\t\t if a spirit of jealousy comes on him, and he is jealous of his wife who has defiled herself; or if a spirit of jealousy comes on him, and he is jealous of his wife, though she has not defiled herself;\r\n\t\t\t then the man shall bring his wife to the priest. And he shall bring the offering required for her, one-tenth of an ephah of barley flour. He shall pour no oil on it and put no frankincense on it, for it is a grain offering of jealousy, a grain offering of remembrance, bringing iniquity to remembrance.\r\n\t\t\t Then the priest shall bring her near, and set her before the LORD;\r\n\t\t\t the priest shall take holy water in an earthen vessel, and take some of the dust that is on the floor of the tabernacle and put it into the water.\r\n\t\t\t The priest shall set the woman before the LORD, dishevel the woman's hair, and place in her hands the grain offering of remembrance, which is the grain offering of jealousy. In his own hand the priest shall have the water of bitterness that brings the curse.\r\n\t\t\t Then the priest shall make her take an oath, saying, \"If no man has lain with you, if you have not turned aside to uncleanness while under your husband's authority, be immune to this water of bitterness that brings the curse.\r\n\t\t\t But if you have gone astray while under your husband's authority, if you have defiled yourself and some man other than your husband has had intercourse with you,\"\r\n\t\t\t -- let the priest make the woman take the oath of the curse and say to the woman-- \"the LORD make you an execration and an oath among your people, when the LORD makes your uterus drop, your womb discharge;\r\n\t\t\t now may this water that brings the curse enter your bowels and make your womb discharge, your uterus drop!\" And the woman shall say, \"Amen. Amen.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the priest shall put these curses in writing, and wash them off into the water of bitterness.\r\n\t\t\t He shall make the woman drink the water of bitterness that brings the curse, and the water that brings the curse shall enter her and cause bitter pain.\r\n\t\t\t The priest shall take the grain offering of jealousy out of the woman's hand, and shall elevate the grain offering before the LORD and bring it to the altar;\r\n\t\t\t and the priest shall take a handful of the grain offering, as its memorial portion, and turn it into smoke on the altar, and afterward shall make the woman drink the water.\r\n\t\t\t When he has made her drink the water, then, if she has defiled herself and has been unfaithful to her husband, the water that brings the curse shall enter into her and cause bitter pain, and her womb shall discharge, her uterus drop, and the woman shall become an execration among her people.\r\n\t\t\t But if the woman has not defiled herself and is clean, then she shall be immune and be able to conceive children.\r\n\t\t\t This is the law in cases of jealousy, when a wife, while under her husband's authority, goes astray and defiles herself,\r\n\t\t\t or when a spirit of jealousy comes on a man and he is jealous of his wife; then he shall set the woman before the LORD, and the priest shall apply this entire law to her.\r\n\t\t\t The man shall be free from iniquity, but the woman shall bear her iniquity.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses, saying:\r\n\t\t\t Speak to the Israelites and say to them: When either men or women make a special vow, the vow of a nazirite, to separate themselves to the LORD, \r\n\t\t\t they shall separate themselves from wine and strong drink; they shall drink no wine vinegar or other vinegar, and shall not drink any grape juice or eat grapes, fresh or dried.\r\n\t\t\t All their days as nazirites they shall eat nothing that is produced by the grapevine, not even the seeds or the skins. \r\n\t\t\t All the days of their nazirite vow no razor shall come upon the head; until the time is completed for which they separate themselves to the LORD, they shall be holy; they shall let the locks of the head grow long.\r\n\t\t\t All the days that they separate themselves to the LORD they shall not go near a corpse.\r\n\t\t\t Even if their father or mother, brother or sister, should die, they may not defile themselves; because their consecration to God is upon the head.\r\n\t\t\t All their days as nazirites they are holy to the LORD. \r\n\t\t\t If someone dies very suddenly nearby, defiling the consecrated head, then they shall shave the head on the day of their cleansing; on the seventh day they shall shave it.\r\n\t\t\t On the eighth day they shall bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons to the priest at the entrance of the tent of meeting,\r\n\t\t\t and the priest shall offer one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering, and make atonement for them, because they incurred guilt by reason of the corpse. They shall sanctify the head that same day,\r\n\t\t\t and separate themselves to the LORD for their days as nazirites, and bring a male lamb a year old as a guilt offering. The former time shall be void, because the consecrated head was defiled. \r\n\t\t\t This is the law for the nazirites when the time of their consecration has been completed: they shall be brought to the entrance of the tent of meeting, \r\n\t\t\t and they shall offer their gift to the LORD, one male lamb a year old without blemish as a burnt offering, one ewe lamb a year old without blemish as a sin offering, one ram without blemish as an offering of well-being,\r\n\t\t\t and a basket of unleavened bread, cakes of choice flour mixed with oil and unleavened wafers spread with oil, with their grain offering and their drink offerings.\r\n\t\t\t The priest shall present them before the LORD and offer their sin offering and burnt offering,\r\n\t\t\t and shall offer the ram as a sacrifice of well-being to the LORD, with the basket of unleavened bread; the priest also shall make the accompanying grain offering and drink offering.\r\n\t\t\t Then the nazirites shall shave the consecrated head at the entrance of the tent of meeting, and shall take the hair from the consecrated head and put it on the fire under the sacrifice of well-being. \r\n\t\t\t The priest shall take the shoulder of the ram, when it is boiled, and one unleavened cake out of the basket, and one unleavened wafer, and shall put them in the palms of the nazirites, after they have shaved the consecrated head. \r\n\t\t\t Then the priest shall elevate them as an elevation offering before the LORD; they are a holy portion for the priest, together with the breast that is elevated and the thigh that is offered. After that the nazirites may drink wine.\r\n\t\t\t This is the law for the nazirites who take a vow. Their offering to the LORD must be in accordance with the nazirite vow, apart from what else they can afford. In accordance with whatever vow they take, so they shall do, following the law for their consecration. \r\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses, saying:\r\n\t\t\t Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the Israelites: You shall say to them,\r\n\t\t\t The LORD bless you and keep you;\r\n\t\t\t the LORD make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you;\r\n\t\t\t the LORD lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.\r\n\t\t\t So they shall put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t On the day when Moses had finished setting up the tabernacle, and had anointed and consecrated it with all its furnishings, and had anointed and consecrated the altar with all its utensils,\r\n\t\t\t the leaders of Israel, heads of their ancestral houses, the leaders of the tribes, who were over those who were enrolled, made offerings.\r\n\t\t\t They brought their offerings before the LORD, six covered wagons and twelve oxen, a wagon for every two of the leaders, and for each one an ox; they presented them before the tabernacle.\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD said to Moses:\r\n\t\t\t Accept these from them, that they may be used in doing the service of the tent of meeting, and give them to the Levites, to each according to his service.\r\n\t\t\t So Moses took the wagons and the oxen, and gave them to the Levites.\r\n\t\t\t Two wagons and four oxen he gave to the Gershonites, according to their service;\r\n\t\t\t and four wagons and eight oxen he gave to the Merarites, according to their service, under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.\r\n\t\t\t But to the Kohathites he gave none, because they were charged with the care of the holy things that had to be carried on the shoulders.\r\n\t\t\t The leaders also presented offerings for the dedication of the altar at the time when it was anointed; the leaders presented their offering before the altar.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Moses: They shall present their offerings, one leader each day, for the dedication of the altar.\r\n\t\t\t The one who presented his offering the first day was Nahshon son of Amminadab, of the tribe of Judah;\r\n\t\t\t his offering was one silver plate weighing one hundred thirty shekels, one silver basin weighing seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of choice flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;\r\n\t\t\t one golden dish weighing ten shekels, full of incense;\r\n\t\t\t one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;\r\n\t\t\t one male goat for a sin offering;\r\n\t\t\t and for the sacrifice of well-being, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Nahshon son of Amminadab.\r\n\t\t\t On the second day Nethanel son of Zuar, the leader of Issachar, presented an offering;\r\n\t\t\t he presented for his offering one silver plate weighing one hundred thirty shekels, one silver basin weighing seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of choice flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;\r\n\t\t\t one golden dish weighing ten shekels, full of incense;\r\n\t\t\t one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, as a burnt offering;\r\n\t\t\t one male goat as a sin offering;\r\n\t\t\t and for the sacrifice of well-being, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Nethanel son of Zuar.\r\n\t\t\t On the third day Eliab son of Helon, the leader of the Zebulunites:\r\n\t\t\t his offering was one silver plate weighing one hundred thirty shekels, one silver basin weighing seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of choice flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;\r\n\t\t\t one golden dish weighing ten shekels, full of incense;\r\n\t\t\t one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;\r\n\t\t\t one male goat for a sin offering;\r\n\t\t\t and for the sacrifice of well-being, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Eliab son of Helon.\r\n\t\t\t On the fourth day Elizur son of Shedeur, the leader of the Reubenites:\r\n\t\t\t his offering was one silver plate weighing one hundred thirty shekels, one silver basin weighing seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of choice flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;\r\n\t\t\t one golden dish weighing ten shekels, full of incense;\r\n\t\t\t one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;\r\n\t\t\t one male goat for a sin offering;\r\n\t\t\t and for the sacrifice of well-being, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Elizur son of Shedeur.\r\n\t\t\t On the fifth day Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai, the leader of the Simeonites:\r\n\t\t\t his offering was one silver plate weighing one hundred thirty shekels, one silver basin weighing seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of choice flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;\r\n\t\t\t one golden dish weighing ten shekels, full of incense;\r\n\t\t\t one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;\r\n\t\t\t one male goat for a sin offering;\r\n\t\t\t and for the sacrifice of well-being, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai.\r\n\t\t\t On the sixth day Eliasaph son of Deuel, the leader of the Gadites:\r\n\t\t\t his offering was one silver plate weighing one hundred thirty shekels, one silver basin weighing seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of choice flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;\r\n\t\t\t one golden dish weighing ten shekels, full of incense;\r\n\t\t\t one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;\r\n\t\t\t one male goat for a sin offering;\r\n\t\t\t and for the sacrifice of well-being, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Eliasaph son of Deuel.\r\n\t\t\t On the seventh day Elishama son of Ammihud, the leader of the Ephraimites:\r\n\t\t\t his offering was one silver plate weighing one hundred thirty shekels, one silver basin weighing seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of choice flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;\r\n\t\t\t one golden dish weighing ten shekels, full of incense;\r\n\t\t\t one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;\r\n\t\t\t one male goat for a sin offering;\r\n\t\t\t and for the sacrifice of well-being, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Elishama son of Ammihud.\r\n\t\t\t On the eighth day Gamaliel son of Pedahzur, the leader of the Manassites:\r\n\t\t\t his offering was one silver plate weighing one hundred thirty shekels, one silver basin weighing seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of choice flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;\r\n\t\t\t one golden dish weighing ten shekels, full of incense;\r\n\t\t\t one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;\r\n\t\t\t one male goat for a sin offering;\r\n\t\t\t and for the sacrifice of well-being, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Gamaliel son of Pedahzur.\r\n\t\t\t On the ninth day Abidan son of Gideoni, the leader of the Benjaminites:\r\n\t\t\t his offering was one silver plate weighing one hundred thirty shekels, one silver basin weighing seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of choice flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;\r\n\t\t\t one golden dish weighing ten shekels, full of incense;\r\n\t\t\t one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;\r\n\t\t\t one male goat for a sin offering;\r\n\t\t\t and for the sacrifice of well-being, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Abidan son of Gideoni.\r\n\t\t\t On the tenth day Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai, the leader of the Danites:\r\n\t\t\t his offering was one silver plate weighing one hundred thirty shekels, one silver basin weighing seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of choice flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;\r\n\t\t\t one golden dish weighing ten shekels, full of incense;\r\n\t\t\t one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;\r\n\t\t\t one male goat for a sin offering;\r\n\t\t\t and for the sacrifice of well-being, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai.\r\n\t\t\t On the eleventh day Pagiel son of Ochran, the leader of the Asherites:\r\n\t\t\t his offering was one silver plate weighing one hundred thirty shekels, one silver basin weighing seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of choice flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;\r\n\t\t\t one golden dish weighing ten shekels, full of incense;\r\n\t\t\t one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;\r\n\t\t\t one male goat for a sin offering;\r\n\t\t\t and for the sacrifice of well-being, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Pagiel son of Ochran.\r\n\t\t\t On the twelfth day Ahira son of Enan, the leader of the Naphtalites:\r\n\t\t\t his offering was one silver plate weighing one hundred thirty shekels, one silver basin weighing seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of choice flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;\r\n\t\t\t one golden dish weighing ten shekels, full of incense;\r\n\t\t\t one young bull, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering;\r\n\t\t\t one male goat for a sin offering;\r\n\t\t\t and for the sacrifice of well-being, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of Ahira son of Enan.\r\n\t\t\t This was the dedication offering for the altar, at the time when it was anointed, from the leaders of Israel: twelve silver plates, twelve silver basins, twelve golden dishes,\r\n\t\t\t each silver plate weighing one hundred thirty shekels and each basin seventy, all the silver of the vessels two thousand four hundred shekels according to the shekel of the sanctuary,\r\n\t\t\t the twelve golden dishes, full of incense, weighing ten shekels apiece according to the shekel of the sanctuary, all the gold of the dishes being one hundred twenty shekels;\r\n\t\t\t all the livestock for the burnt offering twelve bulls, twelve rams, twelve male lambs a year old, with their grain offering; and twelve male goats for a sin offering;\r\n\t\t\t and all the livestock for the sacrifice of well-being twenty-four bulls, the rams sixty, the male goats sixty, the male lambs a year old sixty. This was the dedication offering for the altar, after it was anointed.\r\n\t\t\t When Moses went into the tent of meeting to speak with the LORD, he would hear the voice speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was on the ark of the covenant from between the two cherubim; thus it spoke to him. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses, saying:\r\n\t\t\t Speak to Aaron and say to him: When you set up the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light in front of the lampstand.\r\n\t\t\t Aaron did so; he set up its lamps to give light in front of the lampstand, as the LORD had commanded Moses.\r\n\t\t\t Now this was how the lampstand was made, out of hammered work of gold. From its base to its flowers, it was hammered work; according to the pattern that the LORD had shown Moses, so he made the lampstand.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses, saying:\r\n\t\t\t Take the Levites from among the Israelites and cleanse them.\r\n\t\t\t Thus you shall do to them, to cleanse them: sprinkle the water of purification on them, have them shave their whole body with a razor and wash their clothes, and so cleanse themselves.\r\n\t\t\t Then let them take a young bull and its grain offering of choice flour mixed with oil, and you shall take another young bull for a sin offering.\r\n\t\t\t You shall bring the Levites before the tent of meeting, and assemble the whole congregation of the Israelites.\r\n\t\t\t When you bring the Levites before the LORD, the Israelites shall lay their hands on the Levites,\r\n\t\t\t and Aaron shall present the Levites before the LORD as an elevation offering from the Israelites, that they may do the service of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t The Levites shall lay their hands on the heads of the bulls, and he shall offer the one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering to the LORD, to make atonement for the Levites.\r\n\t\t\t Then you shall have the Levites stand before Aaron and his sons, and you shall present them as an elevation offering to the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Thus you shall separate the Levites from among the other Israelites, and the Levites shall be mine.\r\n\t\t\t Thereafter the Levites may go in to do service at the tent of meeting, once you have cleansed them and presented them as an elevation offering.\r\n\t\t\t For they are unreservedly given to me from among the Israelites; I have taken them for myself, in place of all that open the womb, the firstborn of all the Israelites.\r\n\t\t\t For all the firstborn among the Israelites are mine, both human and animal. On the day that I struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I consecrated them for myself,\r\n\t\t\t but I have taken the Levites in place of all the firstborn among the Israelites.\r\n\t\t\t Moreover, I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and his sons from among the Israelites, to do the service for the Israelites at the tent of meeting, and to make atonement for the Israelites, in order that there may be no plague among the Israelites for coming too close to the sanctuary.\r\n\t\t\t Moses and Aaron and the whole congregation of the Israelites did with the Levites accordingly; the Israelites did with the Levites just as the LORD had commanded Moses concerning them.\r\n\t\t\t The Levites purified themselves from sin and washed their clothes; then Aaron presented them as an elevation offering before the LORD, and Aaron made atonement for them to cleanse them.\r\n\t\t\t Thereafter the Levites went in to do their service in the tent of meeting in attendance on Aaron and his sons. As the LORD had commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so they did with them.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses, saying:\r\n\t\t\t This applies to the Levites: from twenty-five years old and upward they shall begin to do duty in the service of the tent of meeting;\r\n\t\t\t and from the age of fifty years they shall retire from the duty of the service and serve no more.\r\n\t\t\t They may assist their brothers in the tent of meeting in carrying out their duties, but they shall perform no service. Thus you shall do with the Levites in assigning their duties.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the first month of the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying:\r\n\t\t\t Let the Israelites keep the passover at its appointed time.\r\n\t\t\t On the fourteenth day of this month, at twilight, you shall keep it at its appointed time; according to all its statutes and all its regulations you shall keep it. \r\n\t\t\t So Moses told the Israelites that they should keep the passover.\r\n\t\t\t They kept the passover in the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, at twilight, in the wilderness of Sinai. Just as the LORD had commanded Moses, so the Israelites did. \r\n\t\t\t Now there were certain people who were unclean through touching a corpse, so that they could not keep the passover on that day. They came before Moses and Aaron on that day,\r\n\t\t\t and said to him, \"Although we are unclean through touching a corpse, why must we be kept from presenting the LORD's offering at its appointed time among the Israelites?\"\r\n\t\t\t Moses spoke to them, \"Wait, so that I may hear what the LORD will command concerning you.\"\r\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses, saying:\r\n\t\t\t Speak to the Israelites, saying: Anyone of you or your descendants who is unclean through touching a corpse, or is away on a journey, shall still keep the passover to the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t In the second month on the fourteenth day, at twilight, they shall keep it; they shall eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. \r\n\t\t\t They shall leave none of it until morning, nor break a bone of it; according to all the statute for the passover they shall keep it.\r\n\t\t\t But anyone who is clean and is not on a journey, and yet refrains from keeping the passover, shall be cut off from the people for not presenting the LORD's offering at its appointed time; such a one shall bear the consequences for the sin.\r\n\t\t\t Any alien residing among you who wishes to keep the passover to the LORD shall do so according to the statute of the passover and according to its regulation; you shall have one statute for both the resident alien and the native.\r\n\t\t\t On the day the tabernacle was set up, the cloud covered the tabernacle, the tent of the covenant; and from evening until morning it was over the tabernacle, having the appearance of fire. \r\n\t\t\t It was always so: the cloud covered it by day and the appearance of fire by night. \r\n\t\t\t Whenever the cloud lifted from over the tent, then the Israelites would set out; and in the place where the cloud settled down, there the Israelites would camp.\r\n\t\t\t At the command of the LORD the Israelites would set out, and at the command of the LORD they would camp. As long as the cloud rested over the tabernacle, they would remain in camp.\r\n\t\t\t Even when the cloud continued over the tabernacle many days, the Israelites would keep the charge of the LORD, and would not set out.\r\n\t\t\t Sometimes the cloud would remain a few days over the tabernacle, and according to the command of the LORD they would remain in camp; then according to the command of the LORD they would set out.\r\n\t\t\t Sometimes the cloud would remain from evening until morning; and when the cloud lifted in the morning, they would set out, or if it continued for a day and a night, when the cloud lifted they would set out.\r\n\t\t\t Whether it was two days, or a month, or a longer time, that the cloud continued over the tabernacle, resting upon it, the Israelites would remain in camp and would not set out; but when it lifted they would set out.\r\n\t\t\t At the command of the LORD they would camp, and at the command of the LORD they would set out. They kept the charge of the LORD, at the command of the LORD by Moses.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses, saying:\r\n\t\t\t Make two silver trumpets; you shall make them of hammered work; and you shall use them for summoning the congregation, and for breaking camp.\r\n\t\t\t When both are blown, the whole congregation shall assemble before you at the entrance of the tent of meeting.\r\n\t\t\t But if only one is blown, then the leaders, the heads of the tribes of Israel, shall assemble before you.\r\n\t\t\t When you blow an alarm, the camps on the east side shall set out;\r\n\t\t\t when you blow a second alarm, the camps on the south side shall set out. An alarm is to be blown whenever they are to set out.\r\n\t\t\t But when the assembly is to be gathered, you shall blow, but you shall not sound an alarm.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow the trumpets; this shall be a perpetual institution for you throughout your generations.\r\n\t\t\t When you go to war in your land against the adversary who oppresses you, you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets, so that you may be remembered before the LORD your God and be saved from your enemies.\r\n\t\t\t Also on your days of rejoicing, at your appointed festivals, and at the beginnings of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and over your sacrifices of well-being; they shall serve as a reminder on your behalf before the LORD your God: I am the LORD your God.\r\n\t\t\t In the second year, in the second month, on the twentieth day of the month, the cloud lifted from over the tabernacle of the covenant. \r\n\t\t\t Then the Israelites set out by stages from the wilderness of Sinai, and the cloud settled down in the wilderness of Paran.\r\n\t\t\t They set out for the first time at the command of the LORD by Moses.\r\n\t\t\t The standard of the camp of Judah set out first, company by company, and over the whole company was Nahshon son of Amminadab.\r\n\t\t\t Over the company of the tribe of Issachar was Nethanel son of Zuar;\r\n\t\t\t and over the company of the tribe of Zebulun was Eliab son of Helon.\r\n\t\t\t Then the tabernacle was taken down, and the Gershonites and the Merarites, who carried the tabernacle, set out.\r\n\t\t\t Next the standard of the camp of Reuben set out, company by company; and over the whole company was Elizur son of Shedeur.\r\n\t\t\t Over the company of the tribe of Simeon was Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai,\r\n\t\t\t and over the company of the tribe of Gad was Eliasaph son of Deuel.\r\n\t\t\t Then the Kohathites, who carried the holy things, set out; and the tabernacle was set up before their arrival.\r\n\t\t\t Next the standard of the Ephraimite camp set out, company by company, and over the whole company was Elishama son of Ammihud.\r\n\t\t\t Over the company of the tribe of Manasseh was Gamaliel son of Pedahzur,\r\n\t\t\t and over the company of the tribe of Benjamin was Abidan son of Gideoni.\r\n\t\t\t Then the standard of the camp of Dan, acting as the rear guard of all the camps, set out, company by company, and over the whole company was Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai.\r\n\t\t\t Over the company of the tribe of Asher was Pagiel son of Ochran,\r\n\t\t\t and over the company of the tribe of Naphtali was Ahira son of Enan.\r\n\t\t\t This was the order of march of the Israelites, company by company, when they set out.\r\n\t\t\t Moses said to Hobab son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses' father-in-law, \"We are setting out for the place of which the LORD said, 'I will give it to you'; come with us, and we will treat you well; for the LORD has promised good to Israel.\"\r\n\t\t\t But he said to him, \"I will not go, but I will go back to my own land and to my kindred.\"\r\n\t\t\t He said, \"Do not leave us, for you know where we should camp in the wilderness, and you will serve as eyes for us.\r\n\t\t\t Moreover, if you go with us, whatever good the LORD does for us, the same we will do for you.\"\r\n\t\t\t So they set out from the mount of the LORD three days' journey with the ark of the covenant of the LORD going before them three days' journey, to seek out a resting place for them,\r\n\t\t\t the cloud of the LORD being over them by day when they set out from the camp.\r\n\t\t\t Whenever the ark set out, Moses would say, \"Arise, O LORD, let your enemies be scattered, and your foes flee before you.\"\r\n\t\t\t And whenever it came to rest, he would say, \"Return, O LORD of the ten thousand thousands of Israel.\" \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now when the people complained in the hearing of the LORD about their misfortunes, the LORD heard it and his anger was kindled. Then the fire of the LORD burned against them, and consumed some outlying parts of the camp.\r\n\t\t\t But the people cried out to Moses; and Moses prayed to the LORD, and the fire abated.\r\n\t\t\t So that place was called Taberah, because the fire of the LORD burned against them.\r\n\t\t\t The rabble among them had a strong craving; and the Israelites also wept again, and said, \"If only we had meat to eat!\r\n\t\t\t We remember the fish we used to eat in Egypt for nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic;\r\n\t\t\t but now our strength is dried up, and there is nothing at all but this manna to look at.\"\r\n\t\t\t Now the manna was like coriander seed, and its color was like the color of gum resin.\r\n\t\t\t The people went around and gathered it, ground it in mills or beat it in mortars, then boiled it in pots and made cakes of it; and the taste of it was like the taste of cakes baked with oil.\r\n\t\t\t When the dew fell on the camp in the night, the manna would fall with it.\r\n\t\t\t Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, all at the entrances of their tents. Then the LORD became very angry, and Moses was displeased.\r\n\t\t\t So Moses said to the LORD, \"Why have you treated your servant so badly? Why have I not found favor in your sight, that you lay the burden of all this people on me?\r\n\t\t\t Did I conceive all this people? Did I give birth to them, that you should say to me, 'Carry them in your bosom, as a nurse carries a sucking child,' to the land that you promised on oath to their ancestors?\r\n\t\t\t Where am I to get meat to give to all this people? For they come weeping to me and say, 'Give us meat to eat!'\r\n\t\t\t I am not able to carry all this people alone, for they are too heavy for me.\r\n\t\t\t If this is the way you are going to treat me, put me to death at once-- if I have found favor in your sight-- and do not let me see my misery.\"\r\n\t\t\t So the LORD said to Moses, \"Gather for me seventy of the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people and officers over them; bring them to the tent of meeting, and have them take their place there with you.\r\n\t\t\t I will come down and talk with you there; and I will take some of the spirit that is on you and put it on them; and they shall bear the burden of the people along with you so that you will not bear it all by yourself.\r\n\t\t\t And say to the people: Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, and you shall eat meat; for you have wailed in the hearing of the LORD, saying, 'If only we had meat to eat! Surely it was better for us in Egypt.' Therefore the LORD will give you meat, and you shall eat.\r\n\t\t\t You shall eat not only one day, or two days, or five days, or ten days, or twenty days,\r\n\t\t\t but for a whole month-- until it comes out of your nostrils and becomes loathsome to you-- because you have rejected the LORD who is among you, and have wailed before him, saying, 'Why did we ever leave Egypt?'\"\r\n\t\t\t But Moses said, \"The people I am with number six hundred thousand on foot; and you say, 'I will give them meat, that they may eat for a whole month'!\r\n\t\t\t Are there enough flocks and herds to slaughter for them? Are there enough fish in the sea to catch for them?\"\r\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Moses, \"Is the LORD's power limited? Now you shall see whether my word will come true for you or not.\" \r\n\t\t\t So Moses went out and told the people the words of the LORD; and he gathered seventy elders of the people, and placed them all around the tent.\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD came down in the cloud and spoke to him, and took some of the spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy elders; and when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied. But they did not do so again.\r\n\t\t\t Two men remained in the camp, one named Eldad, and the other named Medad, and the spirit rested on them; they were among those registered, but they had not gone out to the tent, and so they prophesied in the camp.\r\n\t\t\t And a young man ran and told Moses, \"Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.\"\r\n\t\t\t And Joshua son of Nun, the assistant of Moses, one of his chosen men, said, \"My lord Moses, stop them!\" \r\n\t\t\t But Moses said to him, \"Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the LORD's people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit on them!\"\r\n\t\t\t And Moses and the elders of Israel returned to the camp.\r\n\t\t\t Then a wind went out from the LORD, and it brought quails from the sea and let them fall beside the camp, about a day's journey on this side and a day's journey on the other side, all around the camp, about two cubits deep on the ground.\r\n\t\t\t So the people worked all that day and night and all the next day, gathering the quails; the least anyone gathered was ten homers; and they spread them out for themselves all around the camp.\r\n\t\t\t But while the meat was still between their teeth, before it was consumed, the anger of the LORD was kindled against the people, and the LORD struck the people with a very great plague.\r\n\t\t\t So that place was called Kibroth-hattaavah, because there they buried the people who had the craving. \r\n\t\t\t From Kibroth-hattaavah the people journeyed to Hazeroth.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t While they were at Hazeroth, Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married (for he had indeed married a Cushite woman);\r\n\t\t\t and they said, \"Has the LORD spoken only through Moses? Has he not spoken through us also?\" And the LORD heard it.\r\n\t\t\t Now the man Moses was very humble, more so than anyone else on the face of the earth. \r\n\t\t\t Suddenly the LORD said to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, \"Come out, you three, to the tent of meeting.\" So the three of them came out.\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD came down in a pillar of cloud, and stood at the entrance of the tent, and called Aaron and Miriam; and they both came forward.\r\n\t\t\t And he said, \"Hear my words: When there are prophets among you, I the LORD make myself known to them in visions; I speak to them in dreams.\r\n\t\t\t Not so with my servant Moses; he is entrusted with all my house.\r\n\t\t\t With him I speak face to face-- clearly, not in riddles; and he beholds the form of the LORD. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?\"\r\n\t\t\t And the anger of the LORD was kindled against them, and he departed.\r\n\t\t\t When the cloud went away from over the tent, Miriam had become leprous, as white as snow. And Aaron turned towards Miriam and saw that she was leprous. \r\n\t\t\t Then Aaron said to Moses, \"Oh, my lord, do not punish us for a sin that we have so foolishly committed. \r\n\t\t\t Do not let her be like one stillborn, whose flesh is half consumed when it comes out of its mother's womb.\"\r\n\t\t\t And Moses cried to the LORD, \"O God, please heal her.\"\r\n\t\t\t But the LORD said to Moses, \"If her father had but spit in her face, would she not bear her shame for seven days? Let her be shut out of the camp for seven days, and after that she may be brought in again.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Miriam was shut out of the camp for seven days; and the people did not set out on the march until Miriam had been brought in again.\r\n\t\t\t After that the people set out from Hazeroth, and camped in the wilderness of Paran.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Moses,\r\n\t\t\t \"Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites; from each of their ancestral tribes you shall send a man, every one a leader among them.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Moses sent them from the wilderness of Paran, according to the command of the LORD, all of them leading men among the Israelites.\r\n\t\t\t These were their names: From the tribe of Reuben, Shammua son of Zaccur;\r\n\t\t\t from the tribe of Simeon, Shaphat son of Hori;\r\n\t\t\t from the tribe of Judah, Caleb son of Jephunneh;\r\n\t\t\t from the tribe of Issachar, Igal son of Joseph;\r\n\t\t\t from the tribe of Ephraim, Hoshea son of Nun;\r\n\t\t\t from the tribe of Benjamin, Palti son of Raphu;\r\n\t\t\t from the tribe of Zebulun, Gaddiel son of Sodi;\r\n\t\t\t from the tribe of Joseph (that is, from the tribe of Manasseh), Gaddi son of Susi;\r\n\t\t\t from the tribe of Dan, Ammiel son of Gemalli;\r\n\t\t\t from the tribe of Asher, Sethur son of Michael;\r\n\t\t\t from the tribe of Naphtali, Nahbi son of Vophsi;\r\n\t\t\t from the tribe of Gad, Geuel son of Machi.\r\n\t\t\t These were the names of the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land. And Moses changed the name of Hoshea son of Nun to Joshua.\r\n\t\t\t Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said to them, \"Go up there into the Negeb, and go up into the hill country,\r\n\t\t\t and see what the land is like, and whether the people who live in it are strong or weak, whether they are few or many,\r\n\t\t\t and whether the land they live in is good or bad, and whether the towns that they live in are unwalled or fortified,\r\n\t\t\t and whether the land is rich or poor, and whether there are trees in it or not. Be bold, and bring some of the fruit of the land.\" Now it was the season of the first ripe grapes.\r\n\t\t\t So they went up and spied out the land from the wilderness of Zin to Rehob, near Lebo-hamath.\r\n\t\t\t They went up into the Negeb, and came to Hebron; and Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the Anakites, were there. (Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.)\r\n\t\t\t And they came to the Wadi Eshcol, and cut down from there a branch with a single cluster of grapes, and they carried it on a pole between two of them. They also brought some pomegranates and figs.\r\n\t\t\t That place was called the Wadi Eshcol, because of the cluster that the Israelites cut down from there. \r\n\t\t\t At the end of forty days they returned from spying out the land.\r\n\t\t\t And they came to Moses and Aaron and to all the congregation of the Israelites in the wilderness of Paran, at Kadesh; they brought back word to them and to all the congregation, and showed them the fruit of the land.\r\n\t\t\t And they told him, \"We came to the land to which you sent us; it flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit.\r\n\t\t\t Yet the people who live in the land are strong, and the towns are fortified and very large; and besides, we saw the descendants of Anak there.\r\n\t\t\t The Amalekites live in the land of the Negeb; the Hittites, the Jebusites, and the Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live by the sea, and along the Jordan.\"\r\n\t\t\t But Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, \"Let us go up at once and occupy it, for we are well able to overcome it.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the men who had gone up with him said, \"We are not able to go up against this people, for they are stronger than we.\"\r\n\t\t\t So they brought to the Israelites an unfavorable report of the land that they had spied out, saying, \"The land that we have gone through as spies is a land that devours its inhabitants; and all the people that we saw in it are of great size.\r\n\t\t\t There we saw the Nephilim (the Anakites come from the Nephilim); and to ourselves we seemed like grasshoppers, and so we seemed to them.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then all the congregation raised a loud cry, and the people wept that night.\r\n\t\t\t And all the Israelites complained against Moses and Aaron; the whole congregation said to them, \"Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness!\r\n\t\t\t Why is the LORD bringing us into this land to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become booty; would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?\"\r\n\t\t\t So they said to one another, \"Let us choose a captain, and go back to Egypt.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the Israelites.\r\n\t\t\t And Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes\r\n\t\t\t and said to all the congregation of the Israelites, \"The land that we went through as spies is an exceedingly good land.\r\n\t\t\t If the LORD is pleased with us, he will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land that flows with milk and honey.\r\n\t\t\t Only, do not rebel against the LORD; and do not fear the people of the land, for they are no more than bread for us; their protection is removed from them, and the LORD is with us; do not fear them.\"\r\n\t\t\t But the whole congregation threatened to stone them. Then the glory of the LORD appeared at the tent of meeting to all the Israelites.\r\n\t\t\t And the LORD said to Moses, \"How long will this people despise me? And how long will they refuse to believe in me, in spite of all the signs that I have done among them?\r\n\t\t\t I will strike them with pestilence and disinherit them, and I will make of you a nation greater and mightier than they.\"\r\n\t\t\t But Moses said to the LORD, \"Then the Egyptians will hear of it, for in your might you brought up this people from among them,\r\n\t\t\t and they will tell the inhabitants of this land. They have heard that you, O LORD, are in the midst of this people; for you, O LORD, are seen face to face, and your cloud stands over them and you go in front of them, in a pillar of cloud by day and in a pillar of fire by night.\r\n\t\t\t Now if you kill this people all at one time, then the nations who have heard about you will say,\r\n\t\t\t 'It is because the LORD was not able to bring this people into the land he swore to give them that he has slaughtered them in the wilderness.'\r\n\t\t\t And now, therefore, let the power of the LORD be great in the way that you promised when you spoke, saying,\r\n\t\t\t 'The LORD is slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression, but by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the parents upon the children to the third and the fourth generation.'\r\n\t\t\t Forgive the iniquity of this people according to the greatness of your steadfast love, just as you have pardoned this people, from Egypt even until now.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD said, \"I do forgive, just as you have asked;\r\n\t\t\t nevertheless-- as I live, and as all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD--\r\n\t\t\t none of the people who have seen my glory and the signs that I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and yet have tested me these ten times and have not obeyed my voice,\r\n\t\t\t shall see the land that I swore to give to their ancestors; none of those who despised me shall see it.\r\n\t\t\t But my servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit and has followed me wholeheartedly, I will bring into the land into which he went, and his descendants shall possess it.\r\n\t\t\t Now, since the Amalekites and the Canaanites live in the valleys, turn tomorrow and set out for the wilderness by the way to the Red Sea.\" \r\n\t\t\t And the LORD spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying:\r\n\t\t\t How long shall this wicked congregation complain against me? I have heard the complaints of the Israelites, which they complain against me.\r\n\t\t\t Say to them, \"As I live,\" says the LORD, \"I will do to you the very things I heard you say:\r\n\t\t\t your dead bodies shall fall in this very wilderness; and of all your number, included in the census, from twenty years old and upward, who have complained against me,\r\n\t\t\t not one of you shall come into the land in which I swore to settle you, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.\r\n\t\t\t But your little ones, who you said would become booty, I will bring in, and they shall know the land that you have despised.\r\n\t\t\t But as for you, your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness.\r\n\t\t\t And your children shall be shepherds in the wilderness for forty years, and shall suffer for your faithlessness, until the last of your dead bodies lies in the wilderness.\r\n\t\t\t According to the number of the days in which you spied out the land, forty days, for every day a year, you shall bear your iniquity, forty years, and you shall know my displeasure.\"\r\n\t\t\t I the LORD have spoken; surely I will do thus to all this wicked congregation gathered together against me: in this wilderness they shall come to a full end, and there they shall die.\r\n\t\t\t And the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land, who returned and made all the congregation complain against him by bringing a bad report about the land--\r\n\t\t\t the men who brought an unfavorable report about the land died by a plague before the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t But Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh alone remained alive, of those men who went to spy out the land.\r\n\t\t\t When Moses told these words to all the Israelites, the people mourned greatly.\r\n\t\t\t They rose early in the morning and went up to the heights of the hill country, saying, \"Here we are. We will go up to the place that the LORD has promised, for we have sinned.\"\r\n\t\t\t But Moses said, \"Why do you continue to transgress the command of the LORD? That will not succeed.\r\n\t\t\t Do not go up, for the LORD is not with you; do not let yourselves be struck down before your enemies.\r\n\t\t\t For the Amalekites and the Canaanites will confront you there, and you shall fall by the sword; because you have turned back from following the LORD, the LORD will not be with you.\"\r\n\t\t\t But they presumed to go up to the heights of the hill country, even though the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and Moses, had not left the camp.\r\n\t\t\t Then the Amalekites and the Canaanites who lived in that hill country came down and defeated them, pursuing them as far as Hormah.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses, saying:\r\n\t\t\t Speak to the Israelites and say to them: When you come into the land you are to inhabit, which I am giving you,\r\n\t\t\t and you make an offering by fire to the LORD from the herd or from the flock-- whether a burnt offering or a sacrifice, to fulfill a vow or as a freewill offering or at your appointed festivals-- to make a pleasing odor for the LORD,\r\n\t\t\t then whoever presents such an offering to the LORD shall present also a grain offering, one-tenth of an ephah of choice flour, mixed with one-fourth of a hin of oil.\r\n\t\t\t Moreover, you shall offer one-fourth of a hin of wine as a drink offering with the burnt offering or the sacrifice, for each lamb.\r\n\t\t\t For a ram, you shall offer a grain offering, two-tenths of an ephah of choice flour mixed with one-third of a hin of oil;\r\n\t\t\t and as a drink offering you shall offer one-third of a hin of wine, a pleasing odor to the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t When you offer a bull as a burnt offering or a sacrifice, to fulfill a vow or as an offering of well-being to the LORD,\r\n\t\t\t then you shall present with the bull a grain offering, three-tenths of an ephah of choice flour, mixed with half a hin of oil,\r\n\t\t\t and you shall present as a drink offering half a hin of wine, as an offering by fire, a pleasing odor to the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Thus it shall be done for each ox or ram, or for each of the male lambs or the kids.\r\n\t\t\t According to the number that you offer, so you shall do with each and every one.\r\n\t\t\t Every native Israelite shall do these things in this way, in presenting an offering by fire, a pleasing odor to the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t An alien who lives with you, or who takes up permanent residence among you, and wishes to offer an offering by fire, a pleasing odor to the LORD, shall do as you do.\r\n\t\t\t As for the assembly, there shall be for both you and the resident alien a single statute, a perpetual statute throughout your generations; you and the alien shall be alike before the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t You and the alien who resides with you shall have the same law and the same ordinance.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses, saying:\r\n\t\t\t Speak to the Israelites and say to them: After you come into the land to which I am bringing you,\r\n\t\t\t whenever you eat of the bread of the land, you shall present a donation to the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t From your first batch of dough you shall present a loaf as a donation; you shall present it just as you present a donation from the threshing floor.\r\n\t\t\t Throughout your generations you shall give to the LORD a donation from the first of your batch of dough.\r\n\t\t\t But if you unintentionally fail to observe all these commandments that the LORD has spoken to Moses--\r\n\t\t\t everything that the LORD has commanded you by Moses, from the day the LORD gave commandment and thereafter, throughout your generations--\r\n\t\t\t then if it was done unintentionally without the knowledge of the congregation, the whole congregation shall offer one young bull for a burnt offering, a pleasing odor to the LORD, together with its grain offering and its drink offering, according to the ordinance, and one male goat for a sin offering.\r\n\t\t\t The priest shall make atonement for all the congregation of the Israelites, and they shall be forgiven; it was unintentional, and they have brought their offering, an offering by fire to the LORD, and their sin offering before the LORD, for their error.\r\n\t\t\t All the congregation of the Israelites shall be forgiven, as well as the aliens residing among them, because the whole people was involved in the error.\r\n\t\t\t An individual who sins unintentionally shall present a female goat a year old for a sin offering.\r\n\t\t\t And the priest shall make atonement before the LORD for the one who commits an error, when it is unintentional, to make atonement for the person, who then shall be forgiven.\r\n\t\t\t For both the native among the Israelites and the alien residing among them-- you shall have the same law for anyone who acts in error.\r\n\t\t\t But whoever acts high-handedly, whether a native or an alien, affronts the LORD, and shall be cut off from among the people.\r\n\t\t\t Because of having despised the word of the LORD and broken his commandment, such a person shall be utterly cut off and bear the guilt.\r\n\t\t\t When the Israelites were in the wilderness, they found a man gathering sticks on the sabbath day.\r\n\t\t\t Those who found him gathering sticks brought him to Moses, Aaron, and to the whole congregation.\r\n\t\t\t They put him in custody, because it was not clear what should be done to him.\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD said to Moses, \"The man shall be put to death; all the congregation shall stone him outside the camp.\"\r\n\t\t\t The whole congregation brought him outside the camp and stoned him to death, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Moses:\r\n\t\t\t Speak to the Israelites, and tell them to make fringes on the corners of their garments throughout their generations and to put a blue cord on the fringe at each corner.\r\n\t\t\t You have the fringe so that, when you see it, you will remember all the commandments of the LORD and do them, and not follow the lust of your own heart and your own eyes.\r\n\t\t\t So you shall remember and do all my commandments, and you shall be holy to your God.\r\n\t\t\t I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the LORD your God.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now Korah son of Izhar son of Kohath son of Levi, along with Dathan and Abiram sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth-- descendants of Reuben-- took\r\n\t\t\t two hundred fifty Israelite men, leaders of the congregation, chosen from the assembly, well-known men, and they confronted Moses. \r\n\t\t\t They assembled against Moses and against Aaron, and said to them, \"You have gone too far! All the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them. So why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?\"\r\n\t\t\t When Moses heard it, he fell on his face.\r\n\t\t\t Then he said to Korah and all his company, \"In the morning the LORD will make known who is his, and who is holy, and who will be allowed to approach him; the one whom he will choose he will allow to approach him.\r\n\t\t\t Do this: take censers, Korah and all your company, \r\n\t\t\t and tomorrow put fire in them, and lay incense on them before the LORD; and the man whom the LORD chooses shall be the holy one. You Levites have gone too far!\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Moses said to Korah, \"Hear now, you Levites!\r\n\t\t\t Is it too little for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the congregation of Israel, to allow you to approach him in order to perform the duties of the LORD's tabernacle, and to stand before the congregation and serve them?\r\n\t\t\t He has allowed you to approach him, and all your brother Levites with you; yet you seek the priesthood as well!\r\n\t\t\t Therefore you and all your company have gathered together against the LORD. What is Aaron that you rail against him?\"\r\n\t\t\t Moses sent for Dathan and Abiram sons of Eliab; but they said, \"We will not come!\r\n\t\t\t Is it too little that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey to kill us in the wilderness, that you must also lord it over us?\r\n\t\t\t It is clear you have not brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey, or given us an inheritance of fields and vineyards. Would you put out the eyes of these men? We will not come!\"\r\n\t\t\t Moses was very angry and said to the LORD, \"Pay no attention to their offering. I have not taken one donkey from them, and I have not harmed any one of them.\"\r\n\t\t\t And Moses said to Korah, \"As for you and all your company, be present tomorrow before the LORD, you and they and Aaron;\r\n\t\t\t and let each one of you take his censer, and put incense on it, and each one of you present his censer before the LORD, two hundred fifty censers; you also, and Aaron, each his censer.\"\r\n\t\t\t So each man took his censer, and they put fire in the censers and laid incense on them, and they stood at the entrance of the tent of meeting with Moses and Aaron.\r\n\t\t\t Then Korah assembled the whole congregation against them at the entrance of the tent of meeting. And the glory of the LORD appeared to the whole congregation.\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying:\r\n\t\t\t Separate yourselves from this congregation, so that I may consume them in a moment.\r\n\t\t\t They fell on their faces, and said, \"O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one person sin and you become angry with the whole congregation?\"\r\n\t\t\t And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying:\r\n\t\t\t Say to the congregation: Get away from the dwellings of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.\r\n\t\t\t So Moses got up and went to Dathan and Abiram; the elders of Israel followed him.\r\n\t\t\t He said to the congregation, \"Turn away from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, or you will be swept away for all their sins.\"\r\n\t\t\t So they got away from the dwellings of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram; and Dathan and Abiram came out and stood at the entrance of their tents, together with their wives, their children, and their little ones.\r\n\t\t\t And Moses said, \"This is how you shall know that the LORD has sent me to do all these works; it has not been of my own accord:\r\n\t\t\t If these people die a natural death, or if a natural fate comes on them, then the LORD has not sent me.\r\n\t\t\t But if the LORD creates something new, and the ground opens its mouth and swallows them up, with all that belongs to them, and they go down alive into Sheol, then you shall know that these men have despised the LORD.\"\r\n\t\t\t As soon as he finished speaking all these words, the ground under them was split apart.\r\n\t\t\t The earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, along with their households-- everyone who belonged to Korah and all their goods.\r\n\t\t\t So they with all that belonged to them went down alive into Sheol; the earth closed over them, and they perished from the midst of the assembly.\r\n\t\t\t All Israel around them fled at their outcry, for they said, \"The earth will swallow us too!\"\r\n\t\t\t And fire came out from the LORD and consumed the two hundred fifty men offering the incense.\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying:\r\n\t\t\t Tell Eleazar son of Aaron the priest to take the censers out of the blaze; then scatter the fire far and wide.\r\n\t\t\t For the censers of these sinners have become holy at the cost of their lives. Make them into hammered plates as a covering for the altar, for they presented them before the LORD and they became holy. Thus they shall be a sign to the Israelites.\r\n\t\t\t So Eleazar the priest took the bronze censers that had been presented by those who were burned; and they were hammered out as a covering for the altar--\r\n\t\t\t a reminder to the Israelites that no outsider, who is not of the descendants of Aaron, shall approach to offer incense before the LORD, so as not to become like Korah and his company-- just as the LORD had said to him through Moses.\r\n\t\t\t On the next day, however, the whole congregation of the Israelites rebelled against Moses and against Aaron, saying, \"You have killed the people of the LORD.\"\r\n\t\t\t And when the congregation had assembled against them, Moses and Aaron turned toward the tent of meeting; the cloud had covered it and the glory of the LORD appeared.\r\n\t\t\t Then Moses and Aaron came to the front of the tent of meeting,\r\n\t\t\t and the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,\r\n\t\t\t \"Get away from this congregation, so that I may consume them in a moment.\" And they fell on their faces.\r\n\t\t\t Moses said to Aaron, \"Take your censer, put fire on it from the altar and lay incense on it, and carry it quickly to the congregation and make atonement for them. For wrath has gone out from the LORD; the plague has begun.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Aaron took it as Moses had ordered, and ran into the middle of the assembly, where the plague had already begun among the people. He put on the incense, and made atonement for the people.\r\n\t\t\t He stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stopped.\r\n\t\t\t Those who died by the plague were fourteen thousand seven hundred, besides those who died in the affair of Korah.\r\n\t\t\t When the plague was stopped, Aaron returned to Moses at the entrance of the tent of meeting.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses, saying:\r\n\t\t\t Speak to the Israelites, and get twelve staffs from them, one for each ancestral house, from all the leaders of their ancestral houses. Write each man's name on his staff,\r\n\t\t\t and write Aaron's name on the staff of Levi. For there shall be one staff for the head of each ancestral house.\r\n\t\t\t Place them in the tent of meeting before the covenant, where I meet with you. \r\n\t\t\t And the staff of the man whom I choose shall sprout; thus I will put a stop to the complaints of the Israelites that they continually make against you.\r\n\t\t\t Moses spoke to the Israelites; and all their leaders gave him staffs, one for each leader, according to their ancestral houses, twelve staffs; and the staff of Aaron was among theirs.\r\n\t\t\t So Moses placed the staffs before the LORD in the tent of the covenant. \r\n\t\t\t When Moses went into the tent of the covenant on the next day, the staff of Aaron for the house of Levi had sprouted. It put forth buds, produced blossoms, and bore ripe almonds. \r\n\t\t\t Then Moses brought out all the staffs from before the LORD to all the Israelites; and they looked, and each man took his staff.\r\n\t\t\t And the LORD said to Moses, \"Put back the staff of Aaron before the covenant, to be kept as a warning to rebels, so that you may make an end of their complaints against me, or else they will die.\" \r\n\t\t\t Moses did so; just as the LORD commanded him, so he did.\r\n\t\t\t The Israelites said to Moses, \"We are perishing; we are lost, all of us are lost!\r\n\t\t\t Everyone who approaches the tabernacle of the LORD will die. Are we all to perish?\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Aaron: You and your sons and your ancestral house with you shall bear responsibility for offenses connected with the sanctuary, while you and your sons alone shall bear responsibility for offenses connected with the priesthood.\r\n\t\t\t So bring with you also your brothers of the tribe of Levi, your ancestral tribe, in order that they may be joined to you, and serve you while you and your sons with you are in front of the tent of the covenant. \r\n\t\t\t They shall perform duties for you and for the whole tent. But they must not approach either the utensils of the sanctuary or the altar, otherwise both they and you will die.\r\n\t\t\t They are attached to you in order to perform the duties of the tent of meeting, for all the service of the tent; no outsider shall approach you.\r\n\t\t\t You yourselves shall perform the duties of the sanctuary and the duties of the altar, so that wrath may never again come upon the Israelites.\r\n\t\t\t It is I who now take your brother Levites from among the Israelites; they are now yours as a gift, dedicated to the LORD, to perform the service of the tent of meeting.\r\n\t\t\t But you and your sons with you shall diligently perform your priestly duties in all that concerns the altar and the area behind the curtain. I give your priesthood as a gift; any outsider who approaches shall be put to death.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Aaron: I have given you charge of the offerings made to me, all the holy gifts of the Israelites; I have given them to you and your sons as a priestly portion due you in perpetuity.\r\n\t\t\t This shall be yours from the most holy things, reserved from the fire: every offering of theirs that they render to me as a most holy thing, whether grain offering, sin offering, or guilt offering, shall belong to you and your sons.\r\n\t\t\t As a most holy thing you shall eat it; every male may eat it; it shall be holy to you.\r\n\t\t\t This also is yours: I have given to you, together with your sons and daughters, as a perpetual due, whatever is set aside from the gifts of all the elevation offerings of the Israelites; everyone who is clean in your house may eat them.\r\n\t\t\t All the best of the oil and all the best of the wine and of the grain, the choice produce that they give to the LORD, I have given to you.\r\n\t\t\t The first fruits of all that is in their land, which they bring to the LORD, shall be yours; everyone who is clean in your house may eat of it.\r\n\t\t\t Every devoted thing in Israel shall be yours.\r\n\t\t\t The first issue of the womb of all creatures, human and animal, which is offered to the LORD, shall be yours; but the firstborn of human beings you shall redeem, and the firstborn of unclean animals you shall redeem.\r\n\t\t\t Their redemption price, reckoned from one month of age, you shall fix at five shekels of silver, according to the shekel of the sanctuary (that is, twenty gerahs).\r\n\t\t\t But the firstborn of a cow, or the firstborn of a sheep, or the firstborn of a goat, you shall not redeem; they are holy. You shall dash their blood on the altar, and shall turn their fat into smoke as an offering by fire for a pleasing odor to the LORD;\r\n\t\t\t but their flesh shall be yours, just as the breast that is elevated and as the right thigh are yours.\r\n\t\t\t All the holy offerings that the Israelites present to the LORD I have given to you, together with your sons and daughters, as a perpetual due; it is a covenant of salt forever before the LORD for you and your descendants as well.\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD said to Aaron: You shall have no allotment in their land, nor shall you have any share among them; I am your share and your possession among the Israelites.\r\n\t\t\t To the Levites I have given every tithe in Israel for a possession in return for the service that they perform, the service in the tent of meeting.\r\n\t\t\t From now on the Israelites shall no longer approach the tent of meeting, or else they will incur guilt and die.\r\n\t\t\t But the Levites shall perform the service of the tent of meeting, and they shall bear responsibility for their own offenses; it shall be a perpetual statute throughout your generations. But among the Israelites they shall have no allotment,\r\n\t\t\t because I have given to the Levites as their portion the tithe of the Israelites, which they set apart as an offering to the LORD. Therefore I have said of them that they shall have no allotment among the Israelites.\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying:\r\n\t\t\t You shall speak to the Levites, saying: When you receive from the Israelites the tithe that I have given you from them for your portion, you shall set apart an offering from it to the LORD, a tithe of the tithe.\r\n\t\t\t It shall be reckoned to you as your gift, the same as the grain of the threshing floor and the fullness of the wine press.\r\n\t\t\t Thus you also shall set apart an offering to the LORD from all the tithes that you receive from the Israelites; and from them you shall give the LORD's offering to the priest Aaron.\r\n\t\t\t Out of all the gifts to you, you shall set apart every offering due to the LORD; the best of all of them is the part to be consecrated.\r\n\t\t\t Say also to them: When you have set apart the best of it, then the rest shall be reckoned to the Levites as produce of the threshing floor, and as produce of the wine press.\r\n\t\t\t You may eat it in any place, you and your households; for it is your payment for your service in the tent of meeting.\r\n\t\t\t You shall incur no guilt by reason of it, when you have offered the best of it. But you shall not profane the holy gifts of the Israelites, on pain of death.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying:\r\n\t\t\t This is a statute of the law that the LORD has commanded: Tell the Israelites to bring you a red heifer without defect, in which there is no blemish and on which no yoke has been laid.\r\n\t\t\t You shall give it to the priest Eleazar, and it shall be taken outside the camp and slaughtered in his presence.\r\n\t\t\t The priest Eleazar shall take some of its blood with his finger and sprinkle it seven times towards the front of the tent of meeting.\r\n\t\t\t Then the heifer shall be burned in his sight; its skin, its flesh, and its blood, with its dung, shall be burned.\r\n\t\t\t The priest shall take cedarwood, hyssop, and crimson material, and throw them into the fire in which the heifer is burning.\r\n\t\t\t Then the priest shall wash his clothes and bathe his body in water, and afterwards he may come into the camp; but the priest shall remain unclean until evening.\r\n\t\t\t The one who burns the heifer shall wash his clothes in water and bathe his body in water; he shall remain unclean until evening. \r\n\t\t\t Then someone who is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer, and deposit them outside the camp in a clean place; and they shall be kept for the congregation of the Israelites for the water for cleansing. It is a purification offering.\r\n\t\t\t The one who gathers the ashes of the heifer shall wash his clothes and be unclean until evening. This shall be a perpetual statute for the Israelites and for the alien residing among them.\r\n\t\t\t Those who touch the dead body of any human being shall be unclean seven days.\r\n\t\t\t They shall purify themselves with the water on the third day and on the seventh day, and so be clean; but if they do not purify themselves on the third day and on the seventh day, they will not become clean.\r\n\t\t\t All who touch a corpse, the body of a human being who has died, and do not purify themselves, defile the tabernacle of the LORD; such persons shall be cut off from Israel. Since water for cleansing was not dashed on them, they remain unclean; their uncleanness is still on them.\r\n\t\t\t This is the law when someone dies in a tent: everyone who comes into the tent, and everyone who is in the tent, shall be unclean seven days.\r\n\t\t\t And every open vessel with no cover fastened on it is unclean.\r\n\t\t\t Whoever in the open field touches one who has been killed by a sword, or who has died naturally, or a human bone, or a grave, shall be unclean seven days. \r\n\t\t\t For the unclean they shall take some ashes of the burnt purification offering, and running water shall be added in a vessel;\r\n\t\t\t then a clean person shall take hyssop, dip it in the water, and sprinkle it on the tent, on all the furnishings, on the persons who were there, and on whoever touched the bone, the slain, the corpse, or the grave.\r\n\t\t\t The clean person shall sprinkle the unclean ones on the third day and on the seventh day, thus purifying them on the seventh day. Then they shall wash their clothes and bathe themselves in water, and at evening they shall be clean.\r\n\t\t\t Any who are unclean but do not purify themselves, those persons shall be cut off from the assembly, for they have defiled the sanctuary of the LORD. Since the water for cleansing has not been dashed on them, they are unclean.\r\n\t\t\t It shall be a perpetual statute for them. The one who sprinkles the water for cleansing shall wash his clothes, and whoever touches the water for cleansing shall be unclean until evening.\r\n\t\t\t Whatever the unclean person touches shall be unclean, and anyone who touches it shall be unclean until evening.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The Israelites, the whole congregation, came into the wilderness of Zin in the first month, and the people stayed in Kadesh. Miriam died there, and was buried there.\r\n\t\t\t Now there was no water for the congregation; so they gathered together against Moses and against Aaron.\r\n\t\t\t The people quarreled with Moses and said, \"Would that we had died when our kindred died before the LORD!\r\n\t\t\t Why have you brought the assembly of the LORD into this wilderness for us and our livestock to die here?\r\n\t\t\t Why have you brought us up out of Egypt, to bring us to this wretched place? It is no place for grain, or figs, or vines, or pomegranates; and there is no water to drink.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Moses and Aaron went away from the assembly to the entrance of the tent of meeting; they fell on their faces, and the glory of the LORD appeared to them.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses, saying:\r\n\t\t\t Take the staff, and assemble the congregation, you and your brother Aaron, and command the rock before their eyes to yield its water. Thus you shall bring water out of the rock for them; thus you shall provide drink for the congregation and their livestock.\r\n\t\t\t So Moses took the staff from before the LORD, as he had commanded him.\r\n\t\t\t Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, \"Listen, you rebels, shall we bring water for you out of this rock?\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock twice with his staff; water came out abundantly, and the congregation and their livestock drank.\r\n\t\t\t But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, \"Because you did not trust in me, to show my holiness before the eyes of the Israelites, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them.\"\r\n\t\t\t These are the waters of Meribah, where the people of Israel quarreled with the LORD, and by which he showed his holiness. \r\n\t\t\t Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom, \"Thus says your brother Israel: You know all the adversity that has befallen us:\r\n\t\t\t how our ancestors went down to Egypt, and we lived in Egypt a long time; and the Egyptians oppressed us and our ancestors;\r\n\t\t\t and when we cried to the LORD, he heard our voice, and sent an angel and brought us out of Egypt; and here we are in Kadesh, a town on the edge of your territory.\r\n\t\t\t Now let us pass through your land. We will not pass through field or vineyard, or drink water from any well; we will go along the King's Highway, not turning aside to the right hand or to the left until we have passed through your territory.\"\r\n\t\t\t But Edom said to him, \"You shall not pass through, or we will come out with the sword against you.\"\r\n\t\t\t The Israelites said to him, \"We will stay on the highway; and if we drink of your water, we and our livestock, then we will pay for it. It is only a small matter; just let us pass through on foot.\"\r\n\t\t\t But he said, \"You shall not pass through.\" And Edom came out against them with a large force, heavily armed.\r\n\t\t\t Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through their territory; so Israel turned away from them.\r\n\t\t\t They set out from Kadesh, and the Israelites, the whole congregation, came to Mount Hor.\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron at Mount Hor, on the border of the land of Edom,\r\n\t\t\t \"Let Aaron be gathered to his people. For he shall not enter the land that I have given to the Israelites, because you rebelled against my command at the waters of Meribah.\r\n\t\t\t Take Aaron and his son Eleazar, and bring them up Mount Hor;\r\n\t\t\t strip Aaron of his vestments, and put them on his son Eleazar. But Aaron shall be gathered to his people, and shall die there.\" \r\n\t\t\t Moses did as the LORD had commanded; they went up Mount Hor in the sight of the whole congregation.\r\n\t\t\t Moses stripped Aaron of his vestments, and put them on his son Eleazar; and Aaron died there on the top of the mountain. Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain.\r\n\t\t\t When all the congregation saw that Aaron had died, all the house of Israel mourned for Aaron thirty days.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t When the Canaanite, the king of Arad, who lived in the Negeb, heard that Israel was coming by the way of Atharim, he fought against Israel and took some of them captive.\r\n\t\t\t Then Israel made a vow to the LORD and said, \"If you will indeed give this people into our hands, then we will utterly destroy their towns.\"\r\n\t\t\t The LORD listened to the voice of Israel, and handed over the Canaanites; and they utterly destroyed them and their towns; so the place was called Hormah. \r\n\t\t\t From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; but the people became impatient on the way. \r\n\t\t\t The people spoke against God and against Moses, \"Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we detest this miserable food.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD sent poisonous serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many Israelites died. \r\n\t\t\t The people came to Moses and said, \"We have sinned by speaking against the LORD and against you; pray to the LORD to take away the serpents from us.\" So Moses prayed for the people.\r\n\t\t\t And the LORD said to Moses, \"Make a poisonous serpent, and set it on a pole; and everyone who is bitten shall look at it and live.\" \r\n\t\t\t So Moses made a serpent of bronze, and put it upon a pole; and whenever a serpent bit someone, that person would look at the serpent of bronze and live.\r\n\t\t\t The Israelites set out, and camped in Oboth.\r\n\t\t\t They set out from Oboth, and camped at Iye-abarim, in the wilderness bordering Moab toward the sunrise.\r\n\t\t\t From there they set out, and camped in the Wadi Zered.\r\n\t\t\t From there they set out, and camped on the other side of the Arnon, in the wilderness that extends from the boundary of the Amorites; for the Arnon is the boundary of Moab, between Moab and the Amorites. \r\n\t\t\t Wherefore it is said in the Book of the Wars of the LORD, \"Waheb in Suphah and the wadis. The Arnon\r\n\t\t\t and the slopes of the wadis that extend to the seat of Ar, and lie along the border of Moab.\" \r\n\t\t\t From there they continued to Beer; that is the well of which the LORD said to Moses, \"Gather the people together, and I will give them water.\" \r\n\t\t\t Then Israel sang this song: \"Spring up, O well!-- Sing to it!--\r\n\t\t\t the well that the leaders sank, that the nobles of the people dug, with the scepter, with the staff.\" From the wilderness to Mattanah,\r\n\t\t\t from Mattanah to Nahaliel, from Nahaliel to Bamoth,\r\n\t\t\t and from Bamoth to the valley lying in the region of Moab by the top of Pisgah that overlooks the wasteland. \r\n\t\t\t Then Israel sent messengers to King Sihon of the Amorites, saying,\r\n\t\t\t \"Let me pass through your land; we will not turn aside into field or vineyard; we will not drink the water of any well; we will go by the King's Highway until we have passed through your territory.\"\r\n\t\t\t But Sihon would not allow Israel to pass through his territory. Sihon gathered all his people together, and went out against Israel to the wilderness; he came to Jahaz, and fought against Israel.\r\n\t\t\t Israel put him to the sword, and took possession of his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, as far as to the Ammonites; for the boundary of the Ammonites was strong.\r\n\t\t\t Israel took all these towns, and Israel settled in all the towns of the Amorites, in Heshbon, and in all its villages.\r\n\t\t\t For Heshbon was the city of King Sihon of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab and captured all his land as far as the Arnon.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore the ballad singers say, \"Come to Heshbon, let it be built; let the city of Sihon be established.\r\n\t\t\t For fire came out from Heshbon, flame from the city of Sihon. It devoured Ar of Moab, and swallowed up the heights of the Arnon. \r\n\t\t\t Woe to you, O Moab! You are undone, O people of Chemosh! He has made his sons fugitives, and his daughters captives, to an Amorite king, Sihon.\r\n\t\t\t So their posterity perished from Heshbon to Dibon, and we laid waste until fire spread to Medeba.\" \r\n\t\t\t Thus Israel settled in the land of the Amorites.\r\n\t\t\t Moses sent to spy out Jazer; and they captured its villages, and dispossessed the Amorites who were there.\r\n\t\t\t Then they turned and went up the road to Bashan; and King Og of Bashan came out against them, he and all his people, to battle at Edrei.\r\n\t\t\t But the LORD said to Moses, \"Do not be afraid of him; for I have given him into your hand, with all his people, and all his land. You shall do to him as you did to King Sihon of the Amorites, who ruled in Heshbon.\"\r\n\t\t\t So they killed him, his sons, and all his people, until there was no survivor left; and they took possession of his land.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The Israelites set out, and camped in the plains of Moab across the Jordan from Jericho.\r\n\t\t\t Now Balak son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.\r\n\t\t\t Moab was in great dread of the people, because they were so numerous; Moab was overcome with fear of the people of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t And Moab said to the elders of Midian, \"This horde will now lick up all that is around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field.\" Now Balak son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time.\r\n\t\t\t He sent messengers to Balaam son of Beor at Pethor, which is on the Euphrates, in the land of Amaw, to summon him, saying, \"A people has come out of Egypt; they have spread over the face of the earth, and they have settled next to me. \r\n\t\t\t Come now, curse this people for me, since they are stronger than I; perhaps I shall be able to defeat them and drive them from the land; for I know that whomever you bless is blessed, and whomever you curse is cursed.\"\r\n\t\t\t So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the fees for divination in their hand; and they came to Balaam, and gave him Balak's message.\r\n\t\t\t He said to them, \"Stay here tonight, and I will bring back word to you, just as the LORD speaks to me\"; so the officials of Moab stayed with Balaam.\r\n\t\t\t God came to Balaam and said, \"Who are these men with you?\"\r\n\t\t\t Balaam said to God, \"King Balak son of Zippor of Moab, has sent me this message:\r\n\t\t\t 'A people has come out of Egypt and has spread over the face of the earth; now come, curse them for me; perhaps I shall be able to fight against them and drive them out.'\"\r\n\t\t\t God said to Balaam, \"You shall not go with them; you shall not curse the people, for they are blessed.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Balaam rose in the morning, and said to the officials of Balak, \"Go to your own land, for the LORD has refused to let me go with you.\"\r\n\t\t\t So the officials of Moab rose and went to Balak, and said, \"Balaam refuses to come with us.\"\r\n\t\t\t Once again Balak sent officials, more numerous and more distinguished than these.\r\n\t\t\t They came to Balaam and said to him, \"Thus says Balak son of Zippor: 'Do not let anything hinder you from coming to me;\r\n\t\t\t for I will surely do you great honor, and whatever you say to me I will do; come, curse this people for me.'\"\r\n\t\t\t But Balaam replied to the servants of Balak, \"Although Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the command of the LORD my God, to do less or more.\r\n\t\t\t You remain here, as the others did, so that I may learn what more the LORD may say to me.\"\r\n\t\t\t That night God came to Balaam and said to him, \"If the men have come to summon you, get up and go with them; but do only what I tell you to do.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Balaam got up in the morning, saddled his donkey, and went with the officials of Moab.\r\n\t\t\t God's anger was kindled because he was going, and the angel of the LORD took his stand in the road as his adversary. Now he was riding on the donkey, and his two servants were with him.\r\n\t\t\t The donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road, with a drawn sword in his hand; so the donkey turned off the road, and went into the field; and Balaam struck the donkey, to turn it back onto the road.\r\n\t\t\t Then the angel of the LORD stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, with a wall on either side.\r\n\t\t\t When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, it scraped against the wall, and scraped Balaam's foot against the wall; so he struck it again.\r\n\t\t\t Then the angel of the LORD went ahead, and stood in a narrow place, where there was no way to turn either to the right or to the left.\r\n\t\t\t When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, it lay down under Balaam; and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he struck the donkey with his staff.\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD opened the mouth of the donkey, and it said to Balaam, \"What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?\"\r\n\t\t\t Balaam said to the donkey, \"Because you have made a fool of me! I wish I had a sword in my hand! I would kill you right now!\"\r\n\t\t\t But the donkey said to Balaam, \"Am I not your donkey, which you have ridden all your life to this day? Have I been in the habit of treating you this way?\" And he said, \"No.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road, with his drawn sword in his hand; and he bowed down, falling on his face.\r\n\t\t\t The angel of the LORD said to him, \"Why have you struck your donkey these three times? I have come out as an adversary, because your way is perverse before me. \r\n\t\t\t The donkey saw me, and turned away from me these three times. If it had not turned away from me, surely just now I would have killed you and let it live.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Balaam said to the angel of the LORD, \"I have sinned, for I did not know that you were standing in the road to oppose me. Now therefore, if it is displeasing to you, I will return home.\"\r\n\t\t\t The angel of the LORD said to Balaam, \"Go with the men; but speak only what I tell you to speak.\" So Balaam went on with the officials of Balak.\r\n\t\t\t When Balak heard that Balaam had come, he went out to meet him at Ir-moab, on the boundary formed by the Arnon, at the farthest point of the boundary.\r\n\t\t\t Balak said to Balaam, \"Did I not send to summon you? Why did you not come to me? Am I not able to honor you?\"\r\n\t\t\t Balaam said to Balak, \"I have come to you now, but do I have power to say just anything? The word God puts in my mouth, that is what I must say.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath-huzoth.\r\n\t\t\t Balak sacrificed oxen and sheep, and sent them to Balaam and to the officials who were with him.\r\n\t\t\t On the next day Balak took Balaam and brought him up to Bamoth-baal; and from there he could see part of the people of Israel. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then Balaam said to Balak, \"Build me seven altars here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me.\"\r\n\t\t\t Balak did as Balaam had said; and Balak and Balaam offered a bull and a ram on each altar.\r\n\t\t\t Then Balaam said to Balak, \"Stay here beside your burnt offerings while I go aside. Perhaps the LORD will come to meet me. Whatever he shows me I will tell you.\" And he went to a bare height.\r\n\t\t\t Then God met Balaam; and Balaam said to him, \"I have arranged the seven altars, and have offered a bull and a ram on each altar.\"\r\n\t\t\t The LORD put a word in Balaam's mouth, and said, \"Return to Balak, and this is what you must say.\"\r\n\t\t\t So he returned to Balak, who was standing beside his burnt offerings with all the officials of Moab. \r\n\t\t\t Then Balaam uttered his oracle, saying: \"Balak has brought me from Aram, the king of Moab from the eastern mountains: 'Come, curse Jacob for me; Come, denounce Israel!' \r\n\t\t\t How can I curse whom God has not cursed? How can I denounce those whom the LORD has not denounced?\r\n\t\t\t For from the top of the crags I see him, from the hills I behold him; Here is a people living alone, and not reckoning itself among the nations!\r\n\t\t\t Who can count the dust of Jacob, or number the dust-cloud of Israel? Let me die the death of the upright, and let my end be like his!\" \r\n\t\t\t Then Balak said to Balaam, \"What have you done to me? I brought you to curse my enemies, but now you have done nothing but bless them.\"\r\n\t\t\t He answered, \"Must I not take care to say what the LORD puts into my mouth?\"\r\n\t\t\t So Balak said to him, \"Come with me to another place from which you may see them; you shall see only part of them, and shall not see them all; then curse them for me from there.\"\r\n\t\t\t So he took him to the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah. He built seven altars, and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.\r\n\t\t\t Balaam said to Balak, \"Stand here beside your burnt offerings, while I meet the LORD over there.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD met Balaam, put a word into his mouth, and said, \"Return to Balak, and this is what you shall say.\"\r\n\t\t\t When he came to him, he was standing beside his burnt offerings with the officials of Moab. Balak said to him, \"What has the LORD said?\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Balaam uttered his oracle, saying: \"Rise, Balak, and hear; listen to me, O son of Zippor:\r\n\t\t\t God is not a human being, that he should lie, or a mortal, that he should change his mind. Has he promised, and will he not do it? Has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?\r\n\t\t\t See, I received a command to bless; he has blessed, and I cannot revoke it.\r\n\t\t\t He has not beheld misfortune in Jacob; nor has he seen trouble in Israel. The LORD their God is with them, acclaimed as a king among them.\r\n\t\t\t God, who brings them out of Egypt, is like the horns of a wild ox for them.\r\n\t\t\t Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, no divination against Israel; now it shall be said of Jacob and Israel, 'See what God has done!'\r\n\t\t\t Look, a people rising up like a lioness, and rousing itself like a lion! It does not lie down until it has eaten the prey and drunk the blood of the slain.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Balak said to Balaam, \"Do not curse them at all, and do not bless them at all.\"\r\n\t\t\t But Balaam answered Balak, \"Did I not tell you, 'Whatever the LORD says, that is what I must do'?\"\r\n\t\t\t So Balak said to Balaam, \"Come now, I will take you to another place; perhaps it will please God that you may curse them for me from there.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor, which overlooks the wasteland. \r\n\t\t\t Balaam said to Balak, \"Build me seven altars here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, so he did not go, as at other times, to look for omens, but set his face toward the wilderness.\r\n\t\t\t Balaam looked up and saw Israel camping tribe by tribe. Then the spirit of God came upon him,\r\n\t\t\t and he uttered his oracle, saying: \"The oracle of Balaam son of Beor, the oracle of the man whose eye is clear, \r\n\t\t\t the oracle of one who hears the words of God, who sees the vision of the Almighty, who falls down, but with eyes uncovered: \r\n\t\t\t how fair are your tents, O Jacob, your encampments, O Israel!\r\n\t\t\t Like palm groves that stretch far away, like gardens beside a river, like aloes that the LORD has planted, like cedar trees beside the waters.\r\n\t\t\t Water shall flow from his buckets, and his seed shall have abundant water, his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted.\r\n\t\t\t God who brings him out of Egypt, is like the horns of a wild ox for him; he shall devour the nations that are his foes and break their bones. He shall strike with his arrows.\r\n\t\t\t He crouched, he lay down like a lion, and like a lioness; who will rouse him up? Blessed is everyone who blesses you, and cursed is everyone who curses you.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he struck his hands together. Balak said to Balaam, \"I summoned you to curse my enemies, but instead you have blessed them these three times.\r\n\t\t\t Now be off with you! Go home! I said, 'I will reward you richly,' but the LORD has denied you any reward.\"\r\n\t\t\t And Balaam said to Balak, \"Did I not tell your messengers whom you sent to me,\r\n\t\t\t 'If Balak should give me his house full of silver and gold, I would not be able to go beyond the word of the LORD, to do either good or bad of my own will; what the LORD says, that is what I will say'?\r\n\t\t\t So now, I am going to my people; let me advise you what this people will do to your people in days to come.\"\r\n\t\t\t So he uttered his oracle, saying: \"The oracle of Balaam son of Beor, the oracle of the man whose eye is clear, \r\n\t\t\t the oracle of one who hears the words of God, and knows the knowledge of the Most High, who sees the vision of the Almighty, who falls down, but with his eyes uncovered: \r\n\t\t\t I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near-- a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel; it shall crush the borderlands of Moab, and the territory of all the Shethites.\r\n\t\t\t Edom will become a possession, Seir a possession of its enemies, while Israel does valiantly. \r\n\t\t\t One out of Jacob shall rule, and destroy the survivors of Ir.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then he looked on Amalek, and uttered his oracle, saying: \"First among the nations was Amalek, but its end is to perish forever.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then he looked on the Kenite, and uttered his oracle, saying: \"Enduring is your dwelling place, and your nest is set in the rock;\r\n\t\t\t yet Kain is destined for burning. How long shall Asshur take you away captive?\"\r\n\t\t\t Again he uttered his oracle, saying: \"Alas, who shall live when God does this?\r\n\t\t\t But ships shall come from Kittim and shall afflict Asshur and Eber; and he also shall perish forever.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Balaam got up and went back to his place, and Balak also went his way.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t While Israel was staying at Shittim, the people began to have sexual relations with the women of Moab.\r\n\t\t\t These invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods.\r\n\t\t\t Thus Israel yoked itself to the Baal of Peor, and the LORD's anger was kindled against Israel.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Moses, \"Take all the chiefs of the people, and impale them in the sun before the LORD, in order that the fierce anger of the LORD may turn away from Israel.\"\r\n\t\t\t And Moses said to the judges of Israel, \"Each of you shall kill any of your people who have yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor.\"\r\n\t\t\t Just then one of the Israelites came and brought a Midianite woman into his family, in the sight of Moses and in the sight of the whole congregation of the Israelites, while they were weeping at the entrance of the tent of meeting.\r\n\t\t\t When Phinehas son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he got up and left the congregation. Taking a spear in his hand,\r\n\t\t\t he went after the Israelite man into the tent, and pierced the two of them, the Israelite and the woman, through the belly. So the plague was stopped among the people of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t Nevertheless those that died by the plague were twenty-four thousand.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses, saying:\r\n\t\t\t \"Phinehas son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, has turned back my wrath from the Israelites by manifesting such zeal among them on my behalf that in my jealousy I did not consume the Israelites.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore say, 'I hereby grant him my covenant of peace.\r\n\t\t\t It shall be for him and for his descendants after him a covenant of perpetual priesthood, because he was zealous for his God, and made atonement for the Israelites.'\"\r\n\t\t\t The name of the slain Israelite man, who was killed with the Midianite woman, was Zimri son of Salu, head of an ancestral house belonging to the Simeonites.\r\n\t\t\t The name of the Midianite woman who was killed was Cozbi daughter of Zur, who was the head of a clan, an ancestral house in Midian.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Moses,\r\n\t\t\t \"Harass the Midianites, and defeat them;\r\n\t\t\t for they have harassed you by the trickery with which they deceived you in the affair of Peor, and in the affair of Cozbi, the daughter of a leader of Midian, their sister; she was killed on the day of the plague that resulted from Peor.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t After the plague the LORD said to Moses and to Eleazar son of Aaron the priest,\r\n\t\t\t \"Take a census of the whole congregation of the Israelites, from twenty years old and upward, by their ancestral houses, everyone in Israel able to go to war.\"\r\n\t\t\t Moses and Eleazar the priest spoke with them in the plains of Moab by the Jordan opposite Jericho, saying,\r\n\t\t\t \"Take a census of the people, from twenty years old and upward,\" as the LORD commanded Moses. The Israelites, who came out of the land of Egypt, were: \r\n\t\t\t Reuben, the firstborn of Israel. The descendants of Reuben: of Hanoch, the clan of the Hanochites; of Pallu, the clan of the Palluites;\r\n\t\t\t of Hezron, the clan of the Hezronites; of Carmi, the clan of the Carmites.\r\n\t\t\t These are the clans of the Reubenites; the number of those enrolled was forty-three thousand seven hundred thirty.\r\n\t\t\t And the descendants of Pallu: Eliab.\r\n\t\t\t The descendants of Eliab: Nemuel, Dathan, and Abiram. These are the same Dathan and Abiram, chosen from the congregation, who rebelled against Moses and Aaron in the company of Korah, when they rebelled against the LORD,\r\n\t\t\t and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up along with Korah, when that company died, when the fire devoured two hundred fifty men; and they became a warning.\r\n\t\t\t Notwithstanding, the sons of Korah did not die.\r\n\t\t\t The descendants of Simeon by their clans: of Nemuel, the clan of the Nemuelites; of Jamin, the clan of the Jaminites; of Jachin, the clan of the Jachinites;\r\n\t\t\t of Zerah, the clan of the Zerahites; of Shaul, the clan of the Shaulites. \r\n\t\t\t These are the clans of the Simeonites, twenty-two thousand two hundred.\r\n\t\t\t The children of Gad by their clans: of Zephon, the clan of the Zephonites; of Haggi, the clan of the Haggites; of Shuni, the clan of the Shunites;\r\n\t\t\t of Ozni, the clan of the Oznites; of Eri, the clan of the Erites;\r\n\t\t\t of Arod, the clan of the Arodites; of Areli, the clan of the Arelites.\r\n\t\t\t These are the clans of the Gadites: the number of those enrolled was forty thousand five hundred.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Judah: Er and Onan; Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan.\r\n\t\t\t The descendants of Judah by their clans were: of Shelah, the clan of the Shelanites; of Perez, the clan of the Perezites; of Zerah, the clan of the Zerahites.\r\n\t\t\t The descendants of Perez were: of Hezron, the clan of the Hezronites; of Hamul, the clan of the Hamulites.\r\n\t\t\t These are the clans of Judah: the number of those enrolled was seventy-six thousand five hundred.\r\n\t\t\t The descendants of Issachar by their clans: of Tola, the clan of the Tolaites; of Puvah, the clan of the Punites;\r\n\t\t\t of Jashub, the clan of the Jashubites; of Shimron, the clan of the Shimronites.\r\n\t\t\t These are the clans of Issachar: sixty-four thousand three hundred enrolled.\r\n\t\t\t The descendants of Zebulun by their clans: of Sered, the clan of the Seredites; of Elon, the clan of the Elonites; of Jahleel, the clan of the Jahleelites.\r\n\t\t\t These are the clans of the Zebulunites; the number of those enrolled was sixty thousand five hundred.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Joseph by their clans: Manasseh and Ephraim.\r\n\t\t\t The descendants of Manasseh: of Machir, the clan of the Machirites; and Machir was the father of Gilead; of Gilead, the clan of the Gileadites.\r\n\t\t\t These are the descendants of Gilead: of Iezer, the clan of the Iezerites; of Helek, the clan of the Helekites;\r\n\t\t\t and of Asriel, the clan of the Asrielites; and of Shechem, the clan of the Shechemites;\r\n\t\t\t and of Shemida, the clan of the Shemidaites; and of Hepher, the clan of the Hepherites.\r\n\t\t\t Now Zelophehad son of Hepher had no sons, but daughters: and the names of the daughters of Zelophehad were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.\r\n\t\t\t These are the clans of Manasseh; the number of those enrolled was fifty-two thousand seven hundred.\r\n\t\t\t These are the descendants of Ephraim according to their clans: of Shuthelah, the clan of the Shuthelahites; of Becher, the clan of the Becherites; of Tahan, the clan of the Tahanites.\r\n\t\t\t And these are the descendants of Shuthelah: of Eran, the clan of the Eranites.\r\n\t\t\t These are the clans of the Ephraimites: the number of those enrolled was thirty-two thousand five hundred. These are the descendants of Joseph by their clans.\r\n\t\t\t The descendants of Benjamin by their clans: of Bela, the clan of the Belaites; of Ashbel, the clan of the Ashbelites; of Ahiram, the clan of the Ahiramites;\r\n\t\t\t of Shephupham, the clan of the Shuphamites; of Hupham, the clan of the Huphamites.\r\n\t\t\t And the sons of Bela were Ard and Naaman: of Ard, the clan of the Ardites; of Naaman, the clan of the Naamites.\r\n\t\t\t These are the descendants of Benjamin by their clans; the number of those enrolled was forty-five thousand six hundred.\r\n\t\t\t These are the descendants of Dan by their clans: of Shuham, the clan of the Shuhamites. These are the clans of Dan by their clans.\r\n\t\t\t All the clans of the Shuhamites: sixty-four thousand four hundred enrolled.\r\n\t\t\t The descendants of Asher by their families: of Imnah, the clan of the Imnites; of Ishvi, the clan of the Ishvites; of Beriah, the clan of the Beriites.\r\n\t\t\t Of the descendants of Beriah: of Heber, the clan of the Heberites; of Malchiel, the clan of the Malchielites.\r\n\t\t\t And the name of the daughter of Asher was Serah.\r\n\t\t\t These are the clans of the Asherites: the number of those enrolled was fifty-three thousand four hundred.\r\n\t\t\t The descendants of Naphtali by their clans: of Jahzeel, the clan of the Jahzeelites; of Guni, the clan of the Gunites;\r\n\t\t\t of Jezer, the clan of the Jezerites; of Shillem, the clan of the Shillemites.\r\n\t\t\t These are the Naphtalites by their clans: the number of those enrolled was forty-five thousand four hundred. \r\n\t\t\t This was the number of the Israelites enrolled: six hundred and one thousand seven hundred thirty.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses, saying:\r\n\t\t\t To these the land shall be apportioned for inheritance according to the number of names.\r\n\t\t\t To a large tribe you shall give a large inheritance, and to a small tribe you shall give a small inheritance; every tribe shall be given its inheritance according to its enrollment.\r\n\t\t\t But the land shall be apportioned by lot; according to the names of their ancestral tribes they shall inherit.\r\n\t\t\t Their inheritance shall be apportioned according to lot between the larger and the smaller.\r\n\t\t\t This is the enrollment of the Levites by their clans: of Gershon, the clan of the Gershonites; of Kohath, the clan of the Kohathites; of Merari, the clan of the Merarites.\r\n\t\t\t These are the clans of Levi: the clan of the Libnites, the clan of the Hebronites, the clan of the Mahlites, the clan of the Mushites, the clan of the Korahites. Now Kohath was the father of Amram.\r\n\t\t\t The name of Amram's wife was Jochebed daughter of Levi, who was born to Levi in Egypt; and she bore to Amram: Aaron, Moses, and their sister Miriam.\r\n\t\t\t To Aaron were born Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.\r\n\t\t\t But Nadab and Abihu died when they offered illicit fire before the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t The number of those enrolled was twenty-three thousand, every male one month old and up; for they were not enrolled among the Israelites because there was no allotment given to them among the Israelites.\r\n\t\t\t These were those enrolled by Moses and Eleazar the priest, who enrolled the Israelites in the plains of Moab by the Jordan opposite Jericho.\r\n\t\t\t Among these there was not one of those enrolled by Moses and Aaron the priest, who had enrolled the Israelites in the wilderness of Sinai.\r\n\t\t\t For the LORD had said of them, \"They shall die in the wilderness.\" Not one of them was left, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then the daughters of Zelophehad came forward. Zelophehad was son of Hepher son of Gilead son of Machir son of Manasseh son of Joseph, a member of the Manassite clans. The names of his daughters were: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.\r\n\t\t\t They stood before Moses, Eleazar the priest, the leaders, and all the congregation, at the entrance of the tent of meeting, and they said,\r\n\t\t\t \"Our father died in the wilderness; he was not among the company of those who gathered themselves together against the LORD in the company of Korah, but died for his own sin; and he had no sons.\r\n\t\t\t Why should the name of our father be taken away from his clan because he had no son? Give to us a possession among our father's brothers.\"\r\n\t\t\t Moses brought their case before the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying:\r\n\t\t\t The daughters of Zelophehad are right in what they are saying; you shall indeed let them possess an inheritance among their father's brothers and pass the inheritance of their father on to them.\r\n\t\t\t You shall also say to the Israelites, \"If a man dies, and has no son, then you shall pass his inheritance on to his daughter.\r\n\t\t\t If he has no daughter, then you shall give his inheritance to his brothers.\r\n\t\t\t If he has no brothers, then you shall give his inheritance to his father's brothers.\r\n\t\t\t And if his father has no brothers, then you shall give his inheritance to the nearest kinsman of his clan, and he shall possess it. It shall be for the Israelites a statute and ordinance, as the LORD commanded Moses.\"\r\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Moses, \"Go up this mountain of the Abarim range, and see the land that I have given to the Israelites.\r\n\t\t\t When you have seen it, you also shall be gathered to your people, as your brother Aaron was,\r\n\t\t\t because you rebelled against my word in the wilderness of Zin when the congregation quarreled with me. You did not show my holiness before their eyes at the waters.\" (These are the waters of Meribath-kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.) \r\n\t\t\t Moses spoke to the LORD, saying,\r\n\t\t\t \"Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint someone over the congregation\r\n\t\t\t who shall go out before them and come in before them, who shall lead them out and bring them in, so that the congregation of the LORD may not be like sheep without a shepherd.\"\r\n\t\t\t So the LORD said to Moses, \"Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay your hand upon him;\r\n\t\t\t have him stand before Eleazar the priest and all the congregation, and commission him in their sight.\r\n\t\t\t You shall give him some of your authority, so that all the congregation of the Israelites may obey.\r\n\t\t\t But he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire for him by the decision of the Urim before the LORD; at his word they shall go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he and all the Israelites with him, the whole congregation.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Moses did as the LORD commanded him. He took Joshua and had him stand before Eleazar the priest and the whole congregation;\r\n\t\t\t he laid his hands on him and commissioned him-- as the LORD had directed through Moses.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses, saying:\r\n\t\t\t Command the Israelites, and say to them: My offering, the food for my offerings by fire, my pleasing odor, you shall take care to offer to me at its appointed time.\r\n\t\t\t And you shall say to them, This is the offering by fire that you shall offer to the LORD: two male lambs a year old without blemish, daily, as a regular offering.\r\n\t\t\t One lamb you shall offer in the morning, and the other lamb you shall offer at twilight \r\n\t\t\t also one-tenth of an ephah of choice flour for a grain offering, mixed with one-fourth of a hin of beaten oil.\r\n\t\t\t It is a regular burnt offering, ordained at Mount Sinai for a pleasing odor, an offering by fire to the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Its drink offering shall be one-fourth of a hin for each lamb; in the sanctuary you shall pour out a drink offering of strong drink to the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t The other lamb you shall offer at twilight with a grain offering and a drink offering like the one in the morning; you shall offer it as an offering by fire, a pleasing odor to the LORD. \r\n\t\t\t On the sabbath day: two male lambs a year old without blemish, and two-tenths of an ephah of choice flour for a grain offering, mixed with oil, and its drink offering--\r\n\t\t\t this is the burnt offering for every sabbath, in addition to the regular burnt offering and its drink offering.\r\n\t\t\t At the beginnings of your months you shall offer a burnt offering to the LORD: two young bulls, one ram, seven male lambs a year old without blemish;\r\n\t\t\t also three-tenths of an ephah of choice flour for a grain offering, mixed with oil, for each bull; and two-tenths of choice flour for a grain offering, mixed with oil, for the one ram;\r\n\t\t\t and one-tenth of choice flour mixed with oil as a grain offering for every lamb-- a burnt offering of pleasing odor, an offering by fire to the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Their drink offerings shall be half a hin of wine for a bull, one-third of a hin for a ram, and one-fourth of a hin for a lamb. This is the burnt offering of every month throughout the months of the year.\r\n\t\t\t And there shall be one male goat for a sin offering to the LORD; it shall be offered in addition to the regular burnt offering and its drink offering.\r\n\t\t\t On the fourteenth day of the first month there shall be a passover offering to the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t And on the fifteenth day of this month is a festival; seven days shall unleavened bread be eaten.\r\n\t\t\t On the first day there shall be a holy convocation. You shall not work at your occupations.\r\n\t\t\t You shall offer an offering by fire, a burnt offering to the LORD: two young bulls, one ram, and seven male lambs a year old; see that they are without blemish.\r\n\t\t\t Their grain offering shall be of choice flour mixed with oil: three-tenths of an ephah shall you offer for a bull, and two-tenths for a ram;\r\n\t\t\t one-tenth shall you offer for each of the seven lambs;\r\n\t\t\t also one male goat for a sin offering, to make atonement for you.\r\n\t\t\t You shall offer these in addition to the burnt offering of the morning, which belongs to the regular burnt offering.\r\n\t\t\t In the same way you shall offer daily, for seven days, the food of an offering by fire, a pleasing odor to the LORD; it shall be offered in addition to the regular burnt offering and its drink offering.\r\n\t\t\t And on the seventh day you shall have a holy convocation; you shall not work at your occupations.\r\n\t\t\t On the day of the first fruits, when you offer a grain offering of new grain to the LORD at your festival of weeks, you shall have a holy convocation; you shall not work at your occupations.\r\n\t\t\t You shall offer a burnt offering, a pleasing odor to the LORD: two young bulls, one ram, seven male lambs a year old.\r\n\t\t\t Their grain offering shall be of choice flour mixed with oil, three-tenths of an ephah for each bull, two-tenths for one ram,\r\n\t\t\t one-tenth for each of the seven lambs;\r\n\t\t\t with one male goat, to make atonement for you.\r\n\t\t\t In addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering, you shall offer them and their drink offering. They shall be without blemish.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t On the first day of the seventh month you shall have a holy convocation; you shall not work at your occupations. It is a day for you to blow the trumpets,\r\n\t\t\t and you shall offer a burnt offering, a pleasing odor to the LORD: one young bull, one ram, seven male lambs a year old without blemish.\r\n\t\t\t Their grain offering shall be of choice flour mixed with oil, three-tenths of one ephah for the bull, two-tenths for the ram,\r\n\t\t\t and one-tenth for each of the seven lambs;\r\n\t\t\t with one male goat for a sin offering, to make atonement for you.\r\n\t\t\t These are in addition to the burnt offering of the new moon and its grain offering, and the regular burnt offering and its grain offering, and their drink offerings, according to the ordinance for them, a pleasing odor, an offering by fire to the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t On the tenth day of this seventh month you shall have a holy convocation, and deny yourselves; you shall do no work. \r\n\t\t\t You shall offer a burnt offering to the LORD, a pleasing odor: one young bull, one ram, seven male lambs a year old. They shall be without blemish.\r\n\t\t\t Their grain offering shall be of choice flour mixed with oil, three-tenths of an ephah for the bull, two-tenths for the one ram,\r\n\t\t\t one-tenth for each of the seven lambs;\r\n\t\t\t with one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the sin offering of atonement, and the regular burnt offering and its grain offering, and their drink offerings.\r\n\t\t\t On the fifteenth day of the seventh month you shall have a holy convocation; you shall not work at your occupations. You shall celebrate a festival to the LORD seven days.\r\n\t\t\t You shall offer a burnt offering, an offering by fire, a pleasing odor to the LORD: thirteen young bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old. They shall be without blemish.\r\n\t\t\t Their grain offering shall be of choice flour mixed with oil, three-tenths of an ephah for each of the thirteen bulls, two-tenths for each of the two rams,\r\n\t\t\t and one-tenth for each of the fourteen lambs;\r\n\t\t\t also one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering, its grain offering and its drink offering.\r\n\t\t\t On the second day: twelve young bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without blemish,\r\n\t\t\t with the grain offering and the drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, as prescribed in accordance with their number;\r\n\t\t\t also one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering and its grain offering, and their drink offerings.\r\n\t\t\t On the third day: eleven bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without blemish,\r\n\t\t\t with the grain offering and the drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, as prescribed in accordance with their number;\r\n\t\t\t also one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering and its grain offering and its drink offering.\r\n\t\t\t On the fourth day: ten bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without blemish,\r\n\t\t\t with the grain offering and the drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, as prescribed in accordance with their number;\r\n\t\t\t also one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering, its grain offering and its drink offering.\r\n\t\t\t On the fifth day: nine bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without blemish,\r\n\t\t\t with the grain offering and the drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, as prescribed in accordance with their number;\r\n\t\t\t also one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering and its grain offering and its drink offering.\r\n\t\t\t On the sixth day: eight bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without blemish,\r\n\t\t\t with the grain offering and the drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, as prescribed in accordance with their number;\r\n\t\t\t also one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering, its grain offering, and its drink offerings.\r\n\t\t\t On the seventh day: seven bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without blemish,\r\n\t\t\t with the grain offering and the drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, as prescribed in accordance with their number;\r\n\t\t\t also one male goat for a sin offering, besides the regular burnt offering, its grain offering, and its drink offering.\r\n\t\t\t On the eighth day you shall have a solemn assembly; you shall not work at your occupations.\r\n\t\t\t You shall offer a burnt offering, an offering by fire, a pleasing odor to the LORD: one bull, one ram, seven male lambs a year old without blemish,\r\n\t\t\t and the grain offering and the drink offerings for the bull, for the ram, and for the lambs, as prescribed in accordance with their number;\r\n\t\t\t also one male goat for a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering and its grain offering and its drink offering.\r\n\t\t\t These you shall offer to the LORD at your appointed festivals, in addition to your votive offerings and your freewill offerings, as your burnt offerings, your grain offerings, your drink offerings, and your offerings of well-being.\r\n\t\t\t So Moses told the Israelites everything just as the LORD had commanded Moses.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then Moses said to the heads of the tribes of the Israelites: This is what the LORD has commanded.\r\n\t\t\t When a man makes a vow to the LORD, or swears an oath to bind himself by a pledge, he shall not break his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.\r\n\t\t\t When a woman makes a vow to the LORD, or binds herself by a pledge, while within her father's house, in her youth,\r\n\t\t\t and her father hears of her vow or her pledge by which she has bound herself, and says nothing to her; then all her vows shall stand, and any pledge by which she has bound herself shall stand.\r\n\t\t\t But if her father expresses disapproval to her at the time that he hears of it, no vow of hers, and no pledge by which she has bound herself, shall stand; and the LORD will forgive her, because her father had expressed to her his disapproval.\r\n\t\t\t If she marries, while obligated by her vows or any thoughtless utterance of her lips by which she has bound herself,\r\n\t\t\t and her husband hears of it and says nothing to her at the time that he hears, then her vows shall stand, and her pledges by which she has bound herself shall stand.\r\n\t\t\t But if, at the time that her husband hears of it, he expresses disapproval to her, then he shall nullify the vow by which she was obligated, or the thoughtless utterance of her lips, by which she bound herself; and the LORD will forgive her.\r\n\t\t\t (But every vow of a widow or of a divorced woman, by which she has bound herself, shall be binding upon her.)\r\n\t\t\t And if she made a vow in her husband's house, or bound herself by a pledge with an oath,\r\n\t\t\t and her husband heard it and said nothing to her, and did not express disapproval to her, then all her vows shall stand, and any pledge by which she bound herself shall stand.\r\n\t\t\t But if her husband nullifies them at the time that he hears them, then whatever proceeds out of her lips concerning her vows, or concerning her pledge of herself, shall not stand. Her husband has nullified them, and the LORD will forgive her.\r\n\t\t\t Any vow or any binding oath to deny herself, her husband may allow to stand, or her husband may nullify. \r\n\t\t\t But if her husband says nothing to her from day to day, then he validates all her vows, or all her pledges, by which she is obligated; he has validated them, because he said nothing to her at the time that he heard of them. \r\n\t\t\t But if he nullifies them some time after he has heard of them, then he shall bear her guilt.\r\n\t\t\t These are the statutes that the LORD commanded Moses concerning a husband and his wife, and a father and his daughter while she is still young and in her father's house.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,\r\n\t\t\t \"Avenge the Israelites on the Midianites; afterward you shall be gathered to your people.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Moses said to the people, \"Arm some of your number for the war, so that they may go against Midian, to execute the LORD's vengeance on Midian.\r\n\t\t\t You shall send a thousand from each of the tribes of Israel to the war.\"\r\n\t\t\t So out of the thousands of Israel, a thousand from each tribe were conscripted, twelve thousand armed for battle.\r\n\t\t\t Moses sent them to the war, a thousand from each tribe, along with Phinehas son of Eleazar the priest, with the vessels of the sanctuary and the trumpets for sounding the alarm in his hand. \r\n\t\t\t They did battle against Midian, as the LORD had commanded Moses, and killed every male.\r\n\t\t\t They killed the kings of Midian: Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba, the five kings of Midian, in addition to others who were slain by them; and they also killed Balaam son of Beor with the sword.\r\n\t\t\t The Israelites took the women of Midian and their little ones captive; and they took all their cattle, their flocks, and all their goods as booty.\r\n\t\t\t All their towns where they had settled, and all their encampments, they burned,\r\n\t\t\t but they took all the spoil and all the booty, both people and animals.\r\n\t\t\t Then they brought the captives and the booty and the spoil to Moses, to Eleazar the priest, and to the congregation of the Israelites, at the camp on the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho.\r\n\t\t\t Moses, Eleazar the priest, and all the leaders of the congregation went to meet them outside the camp.\r\n\t\t\t Moses became angry with the officers of the army, the commanders of thousands and the commanders of hundreds, who had come from service in the war.\r\n\t\t\t Moses said to them, \"Have you allowed all the women to live?\r\n\t\t\t These women here, on Balaam's advice, made the Israelites act treacherously against the LORD in the affair of Peor, so that the plague came among the congregation of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Now therefore, kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman who has known a man by sleeping with him.\r\n\t\t\t But all the young girls who have not known a man by sleeping with him, keep alive for yourselves.\r\n\t\t\t Camp outside the camp seven days; whoever of you has killed any person or touched a corpse, purify yourselves and your captives on the third and on the seventh day.\r\n\t\t\t You shall purify every garment, every article of skin, everything made of goats' hair, and every article of wood.\"\r\n\t\t\t Eleazar the priest said to the troops who had gone to battle: \"This is the statute of the law that the LORD has commanded Moses:\r\n\t\t\t gold, silver, bronze, iron, tin, and lead--\r\n\t\t\t everything that can withstand fire, shall be passed through fire, and it shall be clean. Nevertheless it shall also be purified with the water for purification; and whatever cannot withstand fire, shall be passed through the water.\r\n\t\t\t You must wash your clothes on the seventh day, and you shall be clean; afterward you may come into the camp.\"\r\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,\r\n\t\t\t \"You and Eleazar the priest and the heads of the ancestral houses of the congregation make an inventory of the booty captured, both human and animal.\r\n\t\t\t Divide the booty into two parts, between the warriors who went out to battle and all the congregation.\r\n\t\t\t From the share of the warriors who went out to battle, set aside as tribute for the LORD, one item out of every five hundred, whether persons, oxen, donkeys, sheep, or goats.\r\n\t\t\t Take it from their half and give it to Eleazar the priest as an offering to the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t But from the Israelites' half you shall take one out of every fifty, whether persons, oxen, donkeys, sheep, or goats-- all the animals-- and give them to the Levites who have charge of the tabernacle of the LORD.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Moses and Eleazar the priest did as the LORD had commanded Moses:\r\n\t\t\t The booty remaining from the spoil that the troops had taken totaled six hundred seventy-five thousand sheep,\r\n\t\t\t seventy-two thousand oxen,\r\n\t\t\t sixty-one thousand donkeys,\r\n\t\t\t and thirty-two thousand persons in all, women who had not known a man by sleeping with him.\r\n\t\t\t The half-share, the portion of those who had gone out to war, was in number three hundred thirty-seven thousand five hundred sheep and goats,\r\n\t\t\t and the LORD's tribute of sheep and goats was six hundred seventy-five.\r\n\t\t\t The oxen were thirty-six thousand, of which the LORD's tribute was seventy-two.\r\n\t\t\t The donkeys were thirty thousand five hundred, of which the LORD's tribute was sixty-one.\r\n\t\t\t The persons were sixteen thousand, of which the LORD's tribute was thirty-two persons.\r\n\t\t\t Moses gave the tribute, the offering for the LORD, to Eleazar the priest, as the LORD had commanded Moses.\r\n\t\t\t As for the Israelites' half, which Moses separated from that of the troops,\r\n\t\t\t the congregation's half was three hundred thirty-seven thousand five hundred sheep and goats,\r\n\t\t\t thirty-six thousand oxen,\r\n\t\t\t thirty thousand five hundred donkeys,\r\n\t\t\t and sixteen thousand persons.\r\n\t\t\t From the Israelites' half Moses took one of every fifty, both of persons and of animals, and gave them to the Levites who had charge of the tabernacle of the LORD; as the LORD had commanded Moses.\r\n\t\t\t Then the officers who were over the thousands of the army, the commanders of thousands and the commanders of hundreds, approached Moses,\r\n\t\t\t and said to Moses, \"Your servants have counted the warriors who are under our command, and not one of us is missing.\r\n\t\t\t And we have brought the LORD's offering, what each of us found, articles of gold, armlets and bracelets, signet rings, earrings, and pendants, to make atonement for ourselves before the LORD.\"\r\n\t\t\t Moses and Eleazar the priest received the gold from them, all in the form of crafted articles.\r\n\t\t\t And all the gold of the offering that they offered to the LORD, from the commanders of thousands and the commanders of hundreds, was sixteen thousand seven hundred fifty shekels.\r\n\t\t\t (The troops had all taken plunder for themselves.)\r\n\t\t\t So Moses and Eleazar the priest received the gold from the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and brought it into the tent of meeting as a memorial for the Israelites before the LORD.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now the Reubenites and the Gadites owned a very great number of cattle. When they saw that the land of Jazer and the land of Gilead was a good place for cattle,\r\n\t\t\t the Gadites and the Reubenites came and spoke to Moses, to Eleazar the priest, and to the leaders of the congregation, saying,\r\n\t\t\t \"Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sebam, Nebo, and Beon--\r\n\t\t\t the land that the LORD subdued before the congregation of Israel-- is a land for cattle; and your servants have cattle.\"\r\n\t\t\t They continued, \"If we have found favor in your sight, let this land be given to your servants for a possession; do not make us cross the Jordan.\"\r\n\t\t\t But Moses said to the Gadites and to the Reubenites, \"Shall your brothers go to war while you sit here?\r\n\t\t\t Why will you discourage the hearts of the Israelites from going over into the land that the LORD has given them?\r\n\t\t\t Your fathers did this, when I sent them from Kadesh-barnea to see the land.\r\n\t\t\t When they went up to the Wadi Eshcol and saw the land, they discouraged the hearts of the Israelites from going into the land that the LORD had given them.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD's anger was kindled on that day and he swore, saying,\r\n\t\t\t 'Surely none of the people who came up out of Egypt, from twenty years old and upward, shall see the land that I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, because they have not unreservedly followed me--\r\n\t\t\t none except Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite and Joshua son of Nun, for they have unreservedly followed the LORD.'\r\n\t\t\t And the LORD's anger was kindled against Israel, and he made them wander in the wilderness for forty years, until all the generation that had done evil in the sight of the LORD had disappeared.\r\n\t\t\t And now you, a brood of sinners, have risen in place of your fathers, to increase the LORD's fierce anger against Israel!\r\n\t\t\t If you turn away from following him, he will again abandon them in the wilderness; and you will destroy all this people.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then they came up to him and said, \"We will build sheepfolds here for our flocks, and towns for our little ones,\r\n\t\t\t but we will take up arms as a vanguard before the Israelites, until we have brought them to their place. Meanwhile our little ones will stay in the fortified towns because of the inhabitants of the land. \r\n\t\t\t We will not return to our homes until all the Israelites have obtained their inheritance.\r\n\t\t\t We will not inherit with them on the other side of the Jordan and beyond, because our inheritance has come to us on this side of the Jordan to the east.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Moses said to them, \"If you do this-- if you take up arms to go before the LORD for the war,\r\n\t\t\t and all those of you who bear arms cross the Jordan before the LORD, until he has driven out his enemies from before him\r\n\t\t\t and the land is subdued before the LORD-- then after that you may return and be free of obligation to the LORD and to Israel, and this land shall be your possession before the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t But if you do not do this, you have sinned against the LORD; and be sure your sin will find you out.\r\n\t\t\t Build towns for your little ones, and folds for your flocks; but do what you have promised.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the Gadites and the Reubenites said to Moses, \"Your servants will do as my lord commands.\r\n\t\t\t Our little ones, our wives, our flocks, and all our livestock shall remain there in the towns of Gilead;\r\n\t\t\t but your servants will cross over, everyone armed for war, to do battle for the LORD, just as my lord orders.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Moses gave command concerning them to Eleazar the priest, to Joshua son of Nun, and to the heads of the ancestral houses of the Israelite tribes.\r\n\t\t\t And Moses said to them, \"If the Gadites and the Reubenites, everyone armed for battle before the LORD, will cross over the Jordan with you and the land shall be subdued before you, then you shall give them the land of Gilead for a possession;\r\n\t\t\t but if they will not cross over with you armed, they shall have possessions among you in the land of Canaan.\"\r\n\t\t\t The Gadites and the Reubenites answered, \"As the LORD has spoken to your servants, so we will do.\r\n\t\t\t We will cross over armed before the LORD into the land of Canaan, but the possession of our inheritance shall remain with us on this side of the Jordan.\" \r\n\t\t\t Moses gave to them-- to the Gadites and to the Reubenites and to the half-tribe of Manasseh son of Joseph-- the kingdom of King Sihon of the Amorites and the kingdom of King Og of Bashan, the land and its towns, with the territories of the surrounding towns.\r\n\t\t\t And the Gadites rebuilt Dibon, Ataroth, Aroer,\r\n\t\t\t Atroth-shophan, Jazer, Jogbehah,\r\n\t\t\t Beth-nimrah, and Beth-haran, fortified cities, and folds for sheep.\r\n\t\t\t And the Reubenites rebuilt Heshbon, Elealeh, Kiriathaim,\r\n\t\t\t Nebo, and Baal-meon (some names being changed), and Sibmah; and they gave names to the towns that they rebuilt.\r\n\t\t\t The descendants of Machir son of Manasseh went to Gilead, captured it, and dispossessed the Amorites who were there;\r\n\t\t\t so Moses gave Gilead to Machir son of Manasseh, and he settled there.\r\n\t\t\t Jair son of Manasseh went and captured their villages, and renamed them Havvoth-jair. \r\n\t\t\t And Nobah went and captured Kenath and its villages, and renamed it Nobah after himself.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t These are the stages by which the Israelites went out of the land of Egypt in military formation under the leadership of Moses and Aaron.\r\n\t\t\t Moses wrote down their starting points, stage by stage, by command of the LORD; and these are their stages according to their starting places.\r\n\t\t\t They set out from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month; on the day after the passover the Israelites went out boldly in the sight of all the Egyptians,\r\n\t\t\t while the Egyptians were burying all their firstborn, whom the LORD had struck down among them. The LORD executed judgments even against their gods.\r\n\t\t\t So the Israelites set out from Rameses, and camped at Succoth.\r\n\t\t\t They set out from Succoth, and camped at Etham, which is on the edge of the wilderness.\r\n\t\t\t They set out from Etham, and turned back to Pi-hahiroth, which faces Baal-zephon; and they camped before Migdol.\r\n\t\t\t They set out from Pi-hahiroth, passed through the sea into the wilderness, went a three days' journey in the wilderness of Etham, and camped at Marah.\r\n\t\t\t They set out from Marah and came to Elim; at Elim there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees, and they camped there.\r\n\t\t\t They set out from Elim and camped by the Red Sea. \r\n\t\t\t They set out from the Red Sea and camped in the wilderness of Sin. \r\n\t\t\t They set out from the wilderness of Sin and camped at Dophkah.\r\n\t\t\t They set out from Dophkah and camped at Alush.\r\n\t\t\t They set out from Alush and camped at Rephidim, where there was no water for the people to drink.\r\n\t\t\t They set out from Rephidim and camped in the wilderness of Sinai.\r\n\t\t\t They set out from the wilderness of Sinai and camped at Kibroth-hattaavah.\r\n\t\t\t They set out from Kibroth-hattaavah and camped at Hazeroth.\r\n\t\t\t They set out from Hazeroth and camped at Rithmah.\r\n\t\t\t They set out from Rithmah and camped at Rimmon-perez.\r\n\t\t\t They set out from Rimmon-perez and camped at Libnah.\r\n\t\t\t They set out from Libnah and camped at Rissah.\r\n\t\t\t They set out from Rissah and camped at Kehelathah.\r\n\t\t\t They set out from Kehelathah and camped at Mount Shepher.\r\n\t\t\t They set out from Mount Shepher and camped at Haradah.\r\n\t\t\t They set out from Haradah and camped at Makheloth.\r\n\t\t\t They set out from Makheloth and camped at Tahath.\r\n\t\t\t They set out from Tahath and camped at Terah.\r\n\t\t\t They set out from Terah and camped at Mithkah.\r\n\t\t\t They set out from Mithkah and camped at Hashmonah.\r\n\t\t\t They set out from Hashmonah and camped at Moseroth.\r\n\t\t\t They set out from Moseroth and camped at Bene-jaakan.\r\n\t\t\t They set out from Bene-jaakan and camped at Hor-haggidgad.\r\n\t\t\t They set out from Hor-haggidgad and camped at Jotbathah.\r\n\t\t\t They set out from Jotbathah and camped at Abronah.\r\n\t\t\t They set out from Abronah and camped at Ezion-geber.\r\n\t\t\t They set out from Ezion-geber and camped in the wilderness of Zin (that is, Kadesh).\r\n\t\t\t They set out from Kadesh and camped at Mount Hor, on the edge of the land of Edom.\r\n\t\t\t Aaron the priest went up Mount Hor at the command of the LORD and died there in the fortieth year after the Israelites had come out of the land of Egypt, on the first day of the fifth month.\r\n\t\t\t Aaron was one hundred twenty-three years old when he died on Mount Hor.\r\n\t\t\t The Canaanite, the king of Arad, who lived in the Negeb in the land of Canaan, heard of the coming of the Israelites.\r\n\t\t\t They set out from Mount Hor and camped at Zalmonah.\r\n\t\t\t They set out from Zalmonah and camped at Punon.\r\n\t\t\t They set out from Punon and camped at Oboth.\r\n\t\t\t They set out from Oboth and camped at Iye-abarim, in the territory of Moab.\r\n\t\t\t They set out from Iyim and camped at Dibon-gad.\r\n\t\t\t They set out from Dibon-gad and camped at Almon-diblathaim.\r\n\t\t\t They set out from Almon-diblathaim and camped in the mountains of Abarim, before Nebo.\r\n\t\t\t They set out from the mountains of Abarim and camped in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho;\r\n\t\t\t they camped by the Jordan from Beth-jeshimoth as far as Abel-shittim in the plains of Moab.\r\n\t\t\t In the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho, the LORD spoke to Moses, saying:\r\n\t\t\t Speak to the Israelites, and say to them: When you cross over the Jordan into the land of Canaan,\r\n\t\t\t you shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, destroy all their figured stones, destroy all their cast images, and demolish all their high places.\r\n\t\t\t You shall take possession of the land and settle in it, for I have given you the land to possess.\r\n\t\t\t You shall apportion the land by lot according to your clans; to a large one you shall give a large inheritance, and to a small one you shall give a small inheritance; the inheritance shall belong to the person on whom the lot falls; according to your ancestral tribes you shall inherit.\r\n\t\t\t But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then those whom you let remain shall be as barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides; they shall trouble you in the land where you are settling.\r\n\t\t\t And I will do to you as I thought to do to them.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses, saying:\r\n\t\t\t Command the Israelites, and say to them: When you enter the land of Canaan (this is the land that shall fall to you for an inheritance, the land of Canaan, defined by its boundaries),\r\n\t\t\t your south sector shall extend from the wilderness of Zin along the side of Edom. Your southern boundary shall begin from the end of the Dead Sea on the east; \r\n\t\t\t your boundary shall turn south of the ascent of Akrabbim, and cross to Zin, and its outer limit shall be south of Kadesh-barnea; then it shall go on to Hazar-addar, and cross to Azmon;\r\n\t\t\t the boundary shall turn from Azmon to the Wadi of Egypt, and its termination shall be at the Sea.\r\n\t\t\t For the western boundary, you shall have the Great Sea and its coast; this shall be your western boundary. \r\n\t\t\t This shall be your northern boundary: from the Great Sea you shall mark out your line to Mount Hor;\r\n\t\t\t from Mount Hor you shall mark it out to Lebo-hamath, and the outer limit of the boundary shall be at Zedad;\r\n\t\t\t then the boundary shall extend to Ziphron, and its end shall be at Hazar-enan; this shall be your northern boundary.\r\n\t\t\t You shall mark out your eastern boundary from Hazar-enan to Shepham;\r\n\t\t\t and the boundary shall continue down from Shepham to Riblah on the east side of Ain; and the boundary shall go down, and reach the eastern slope of the sea of Chinnereth;\r\n\t\t\t and the boundary shall go down to the Jordan, and its end shall be at the Dead Sea. This shall be your land with its boundaries all around. \r\n\t\t\t Moses commanded the Israelites, saying: This is the land that you shall inherit by lot, which the LORD has commanded to give to the nine tribes and to the half-tribe;\r\n\t\t\t for the tribe of the Reubenites by their ancestral houses and the tribe of the Gadites by their ancestral houses have taken their inheritance, and also the half-tribe of Manasseh;\r\n\t\t\t the two tribes and the half-tribe have taken their inheritance beyond the Jordan at Jericho eastward, toward the sunrise.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses, saying:\r\n\t\t\t These are the names of the men who shall apportion the land to you for inheritance: the priest Eleazar and Joshua son of Nun.\r\n\t\t\t You shall take one leader of every tribe to apportion the land for inheritance.\r\n\t\t\t These are the names of the men: Of the tribe of Judah, Caleb son of Jephunneh.\r\n\t\t\t Of the tribe of the Simeonites, Shemuel son of Ammihud.\r\n\t\t\t Of the tribe of Benjamin, Elidad son of Chislon.\r\n\t\t\t Of the tribe of the Danites a leader, Bukki son of Jogli.\r\n\t\t\t Of the Josephites: of the tribe of the Manassites a leader, Hanniel son of Ephod,\r\n\t\t\t and of the tribe of the Ephraimites a leader, Kemuel son of Shiphtan.\r\n\t\t\t Of the tribe of the Zebulunites a leader, Eli-zaphan son of Parnach.\r\n\t\t\t Of the tribe of the Issacharites a leader, Paltiel son of Azzan.\r\n\t\t\t And of the tribe of the Asherites a leader, Ahihud son of Shelomi.\r\n\t\t\t Of the tribe of the Naphtalites a leader, Pedahel son of Ammihud.\r\n\t\t\t These were the ones whom the LORD commanded to apportion the inheritance for the Israelites in the land of Canaan.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t In the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho, the LORD spoke to Moses, saying:\r\n\t\t\t Command the Israelites to give, from the inheritance that they possess, towns for the Levites to live in; you shall also give to the Levites pasture lands surrounding the towns.\r\n\t\t\t The towns shall be theirs to live in, and their pasture lands shall be for their cattle, for their livestock, and for all their animals.\r\n\t\t\t The pasture lands of the towns, which you shall give to the Levites, shall reach from the wall of the town outward a thousand cubits all around.\r\n\t\t\t You shall measure, outside the town, for the east side two thousand cubits, for the south side two thousand cubits, for the west side two thousand cubits, and for the north side two thousand cubits, with the town in the middle; this shall belong to them as pasture land for their towns.\r\n\t\t\t The towns that you give to the Levites shall include the six cities of refuge, where you shall permit a slayer to flee, and in addition to them you shall give forty-two towns.\r\n\t\t\t The towns that you give to the Levites shall total forty-eight, with their pasture lands.\r\n\t\t\t And as for the towns that you shall give from the possession of the Israelites, from the larger tribes you shall take many, and from the smaller tribes you shall take few; each, in proportion to the inheritance that it obtains, shall give of its towns to the Levites.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Moses, saying:\r\n\t\t\t Speak to the Israelites, and say to them: When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan,\r\n\t\t\t then you shall select cities to be cities of refuge for you, so that a slayer who kills a person without intent may flee there.\r\n\t\t\t The cities shall be for you a refuge from the avenger, so that the slayer may not die until there is a trial before the congregation.\r\n\t\t\t The cities that you designate shall be six cities of refuge for you:\r\n\t\t\t you shall designate three cities beyond the Jordan, and three cities in the land of Canaan, to be cities of refuge.\r\n\t\t\t These six cities shall serve as refuge for the Israelites, for the resident or transient alien among them, so that anyone who kills a person without intent may flee there.\r\n\t\t\t But anyone who strikes another with an iron object, and death ensues, is a murderer; the murderer shall be put to death.\r\n\t\t\t Or anyone who strikes another with a stone in hand that could cause death, and death ensues, is a murderer; the murderer shall be put to death.\r\n\t\t\t Or anyone who strikes another with a weapon of wood in hand that could cause death, and death ensues, is a murderer; the murderer shall be put to death.\r\n\t\t\t The avenger of blood is the one who shall put the murderer to death; when they meet, the avenger of blood shall execute the sentence.\r\n\t\t\t Likewise, if someone pushes another from hatred, or hurls something at another, lying in wait, and death ensues,\r\n\t\t\t or in enmity strikes another with the hand, and death ensues, then the one who struck the blow shall be put to death; that person is a murderer; the avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death, when they meet.\r\n\t\t\t But if someone pushes another suddenly without enmity, or hurls any object without lying in wait,\r\n\t\t\t or, while handling any stone that could cause death, unintentionally drops it on another and death ensues, though they were not enemies, and no harm was intended, \r\n\t\t\t then the congregation shall judge between the slayer and the avenger of blood, in accordance with these ordinances;\r\n\t\t\t and the congregation shall rescue the slayer from the avenger of blood. Then the congregation shall send the slayer back to the original city of refuge. The slayer shall live in it until the death of the high priest who was anointed with the holy oil.\r\n\t\t\t But if the slayer shall at any time go outside the bounds of the original city of refuge,\r\n\t\t\t and is found by the avenger of blood outside the bounds of the city of refuge, and is killed by the avenger, no bloodguilt shall be incurred.\r\n\t\t\t For the slayer must remain in the city of refuge until the death of the high priest; but after the death of the high priest the slayer may return home.\r\n\t\t\t These things shall be a statute and ordinance for you throughout your generations wherever you live.\r\n\t\t\t If anyone kills another, the murderer shall be put to death on the evidence of witnesses; but no one shall be put to death on the testimony of a single witness.\r\n\t\t\t Moreover you shall accept no ransom for the life of a murderer who is subject to the death penalty; a murderer must be put to death.\r\n\t\t\t Nor shall you accept ransom for one who has fled to a city of refuge, enabling the fugitive to return to live in the land before the death of the high priest.\r\n\t\t\t You shall not pollute the land in which you live; for blood pollutes the land, and no expiation can be made for the land, for the blood that is shed in it, except by the blood of the one who shed it.\r\n\t\t\t You shall not defile the land in which you live, in which I also dwell; for I the LORD dwell among the Israelites.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The heads of the ancestral houses of the clans of the descendants of Gilead son of Machir son of Manasseh, of the Josephite clans, came forward and spoke in the presence of Moses and the leaders, the heads of the ancestral houses of the Israelites;\r\n\t\t\t they said, \"The LORD commanded my lord to give the land for inheritance by lot to the Israelites; and my lord was commanded by the LORD to give the inheritance of our brother Zelophehad to his daughters.\r\n\t\t\t But if they are married into another Israelite tribe, then their inheritance will be taken from the inheritance of our ancestors and added to the inheritance of the tribe into which they marry; so it will be taken away from the allotted portion of our inheritance.\r\n\t\t\t And when the jubilee of the Israelites comes, then their inheritance will be added to the inheritance of the tribe into which they have married; and their inheritance will be taken from the inheritance of our ancestral tribe.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Moses commanded the Israelites according to the word of the LORD, saying, \"The descendants of the tribe of Joseph are right in what they are saying.\r\n\t\t\t This is what the LORD commands concerning the daughters of Zelophehad, 'Let them marry whom they think best; only it must be into a clan of their father's tribe that they are married,\r\n\t\t\t so that no inheritance of the Israelites shall be transferred from one tribe to another; for all Israelites shall retain the inheritance of their ancestral tribes.\r\n\t\t\t Every daughter who possesses an inheritance in any tribe of the Israelites shall marry one from the clan of her father's tribe, so that all Israelites may continue to possess their ancestral inheritance.\r\n\t\t\t No inheritance shall be transferred from one tribe to another; for each of the tribes of the Israelites shall retain its own inheritance.'\"\r\n\t\t\t The daughters of Zelophehad did as the LORD had commanded Moses.\r\n\t\t\t Mahlah, Tirzah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Noah, the daughters of Zelophehad, married sons of their father's brothers.\r\n\t\t\t They were married into the clans of the descendants of Manasseh son of Joseph, and their inheritance remained in the tribe of their father's clan.\r\n\t\t\t These are the commandments and the ordinances that the LORD commanded through Moses to the Israelites in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t These are the words that Moses spoke to all Israel beyond the Jordan-- in the wilderness, on the plain opposite Suph, between Paran and Tophel, Laban, Hazeroth, and Di-zahab.\r\n\t\t\t (By the way of Mount Seir it takes eleven days to reach Kadesh-barnea from Horeb.)\r\n\t\t\t In the fortieth year, on the first day of the eleventh month, Moses spoke to the Israelites just as the LORD had commanded him to speak to them.\r\n\t\t\t This was after he had defeated King Sihon of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon, and King Og of Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth and in Edrei. \r\n\t\t\t Beyond the Jordan in the land of Moab, Moses undertook to expound this law as follows:\r\n\t\t\t The LORD our God spoke to us at Horeb, saying, \"You have stayed long enough at this mountain.\r\n\t\t\t Resume your journey, and go into the hill country of the Amorites as well as into the neighboring regions-- the Arabah, the hill country, the Shephelah, the Negeb, and the seacoast-- the land of the Canaanites and the Lebanon, as far as the great river, the river Euphrates.\r\n\t\t\t See, I have set the land before you; go in and take possession of the land that I swore to your ancestors, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give to them and to their descendants after them.\" \r\n\t\t\t At that time I said to you, \"I am unable by myself to bear you.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD your God has multiplied you, so that today you are as numerous as the stars of heaven.\r\n\t\t\t May the LORD, the God of your ancestors, increase you a thousand times more and bless you, as he has promised you!\r\n\t\t\t But how can I bear the heavy burden of your disputes all by myself?\r\n\t\t\t Choose for each of your tribes individuals who are wise, discerning, and reputable to be your leaders.\"\r\n\t\t\t You answered me, \"The plan you have proposed is a good one.\"\r\n\t\t\t So I took the leaders of your tribes, wise and reputable individuals, and installed them as leaders over you, commanders of thousands, commanders of hundreds, commanders of fifties, commanders of tens, and officials, throughout your tribes.\r\n\t\t\t I charged your judges at that time: \"Give the members of your community a fair hearing, and judge rightly between one person and another, whether citizen or resident alien.\r\n\t\t\t You must not be partial in judging: hear out the small and the great alike; you shall not be intimidated by anyone, for the judgment is God's. Any case that is too hard for you, bring to me, and I will hear it.\"\r\n\t\t\t So I charged you at that time with all the things that you should do.\r\n\t\t\t Then, just as the LORD our God had ordered us, we set out from Horeb and went through all that great and terrible wilderness that you saw, on the way to the hill country of the Amorites, until we reached Kadesh-barnea.\r\n\t\t\t I said to you, \"You have reached the hill country of the Amorites, which the LORD our God is giving us.\r\n\t\t\t See, the LORD your God has given the land to you; go up, take possession, as the LORD, the God of your ancestors, has promised you; do not fear or be dismayed.\"\r\n\t\t\t All of you came to me and said, \"Let us send men ahead of us to explore the land for us and bring back a report to us regarding the route by which we should go up and the cities we will come to.\"\r\n\t\t\t The plan seemed good to me, and I selected twelve of you, one from each tribe.\r\n\t\t\t They set out and went up into the hill country, and when they reached the Valley of Eshcol they spied it out\r\n\t\t\t and gathered some of the land's produce, which they brought down to us. They brought back a report to us, and said, \"It is a good land that the LORD our God is giving us.\"\r\n\t\t\t But you were unwilling to go up. You rebelled against the command of the LORD your God;\r\n\t\t\t you grumbled in your tents and said, \"It is because the LORD hates us that he has brought us out of the land of Egypt, to hand us over to the Amorites to destroy us.\r\n\t\t\t Where are we headed? Our kindred have made our hearts melt by reporting, 'The people are stronger and taller than we; the cities are large and fortified up to heaven! We actually saw there the offspring of the Anakim!'\"\r\n\t\t\t I said to you, \"Have no dread or fear of them.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD your God, who goes before you, is the one who will fight for you, just as he did for you in Egypt before your very eyes,\r\n\t\t\t and in the wilderness, where you saw how the LORD your God carried you, just as one carries a child, all the way that you traveled until you reached this place.\r\n\t\t\t But in spite of this, you have no trust in the LORD your God,\r\n\t\t\t who goes before you on the way to seek out a place for you to camp, in fire by night, and in the cloud by day, to show you the route you should take.\"\r\n\t\t\t When the LORD heard your words, he was wrathful and swore:\r\n\t\t\t \"Not one of these-- not one of this evil generation-- shall see the good land that I swore to give to your ancestors,\r\n\t\t\t except Caleb son of Jephunneh. He shall see it, and to him and to his descendants I will give the land on which he set foot, because of his complete fidelity to the LORD.\"\r\n\t\t\t Even with me the LORD was angry on your account, saying, \"You also shall not enter there.\r\n\t\t\t Joshua son of Nun, your assistant, shall enter there; encourage him, for he is the one who will secure Israel's possession of it.\r\n\t\t\t And as for your little ones, who you thought would become booty, your children, who today do not yet know right from wrong, they shall enter there; to them I will give it, and they shall take possession of it.\r\n\t\t\t But as for you, journey back into the wilderness, in the direction of the Red Sea.\" \r\n\t\t\t You answered me, \"We have sinned against the LORD! We are ready to go up and fight, just as the LORD our God commanded us.\" So all of you strapped on your battle gear, and thought it easy to go up into the hill country.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD said to me, \"Say to them, 'Do not go up and do not fight, for I am not in the midst of you; otherwise you will be defeated by your enemies.'\"\r\n\t\t\t Although I told you, you would not listen. You rebelled against the command of the LORD and presumptuously went up into the hill country.\r\n\t\t\t The Amorites who lived in that hill country then came out against you and chased you as bees do. They beat you down in Seir as far as Hormah.\r\n\t\t\t When you returned and wept before the LORD, the LORD would neither heed your voice nor pay you any attention.\r\n\t\t\t After you had stayed at Kadesh as many days as you did,\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t we journeyed back into the wilderness, in the direction of the Red Sea, as the LORD had told me and skirted Mount Seir for many days. \r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD said to me:\r\n\t\t\t \"You have been skirting this hill country long enough. Head north,\r\n\t\t\t and charge the people as follows: You are about to pass through the territory of your kindred, the descendants of Esau, who live in Seir. They will be afraid of you, so, be very careful\r\n\t\t\t not to engage in battle with them, for I will not give you even so much as a foot's length of their land, since I have given Mount Seir to Esau as a possession.\r\n\t\t\t You shall purchase food from them for money, so that you may eat; and you shall also buy water from them for money, so that you may drink.\r\n\t\t\t Surely the LORD your God has blessed you in all your undertakings; he knows your going through this great wilderness. These forty years the LORD your God has been with you; you have lacked nothing.\"\r\n\t\t\t So we passed by our kin, the descendants of Esau who live in Seir, leaving behind the route of the Arabah, and leaving behind Elath and Ezion-geber. When we had headed out along the route of the wilderness of Moab,\r\n\t\t\t the LORD said to me: \"Do not harass Moab or engage them in battle, for I will not give you any of its land as a possession, since I have given Ar as a possession to the descendants of Lot.\"\r\n\t\t\t (The Emim-- a large and numerous people, as tall as the Anakim-- had formerly inhabited it.\r\n\t\t\t Like the Anakim, they are usually reckoned as Rephaim, though the Moabites call them Emim.\r\n\t\t\t Moreover, the Horim had formerly inhabited Seir, but the descendants of Esau dispossessed them, destroying them and settling in their place, as Israel has done in the land that the LORD gave them as a possession.)\r\n\t\t\t \"Now then, proceed to cross over the Wadi Zered.\" So we crossed over the Wadi Zered.\r\n\t\t\t And the length of time we had traveled from Kadesh-barnea until we crossed the Wadi Zered was thirty-eight years, until the entire generation of warriors had perished from the camp, as the LORD had sworn concerning them.\r\n\t\t\t Indeed, the LORD's own hand was against them, to root them out from the camp, until all had perished.\r\n\t\t\t Just as soon as all the warriors had died off from among the people,\r\n\t\t\t the LORD spoke to me, saying,\r\n\t\t\t \"Today you are going to cross the boundary of Moab at Ar.\r\n\t\t\t When you approach the frontier of the Ammonites, do not harass them or engage them in battle, for I will not give the land of the Ammonites to you as a possession, because I have given it to the descendants of Lot.\"\r\n\t\t\t (It also is usually reckoned as a land of Rephaim. Rephaim formerly inhabited it, though the Ammonites call them Zamzummim,\r\n\t\t\t a strong and numerous people, as tall as the Anakim. But the LORD destroyed them from before the Ammonites so that they could dispossess them and settle in their place.\r\n\t\t\t He did the same for the descendants of Esau, who live in Seir, by destroying the Horim before them so that they could dispossess them and settle in their place even to this day.\r\n\t\t\t As for the Avvim, who had lived in settlements in the vicinity of Gaza, the Caphtorim, who came from Caphtor, destroyed them and settled in their place.)\r\n\t\t\t \"Proceed on your journey and cross the Wadi Arnon. See, I have handed over to you King Sihon the Amorite of Heshbon, and his land. Begin to take possession by engaging him in battle.\r\n\t\t\t This day I will begin to put the dread and fear of you upon the peoples everywhere under heaven; when they hear report of you, they will tremble and be in anguish because of you.\"\r\n\t\t\t So I sent messengers from the wilderness of Kedemoth to King Sihon of Heshbon with the following terms of peace:\r\n\t\t\t \"If you let me pass through your land, I will travel only along the road; I will turn aside neither to the right nor to the left.\r\n\t\t\t You shall sell me food for money, so that I may eat, and supply me water for money, so that I may drink. Only allow me to pass through on foot--\r\n\t\t\t just as the descendants of Esau who live in Seir have done for me and likewise the Moabites who live in Ar-- until I cross the Jordan into the land that the LORD our God is giving us.\"\r\n\t\t\t But King Sihon of Heshbon was not willing to let us pass through, for the LORD your God had hardened his spirit and made his heart defiant in order to hand him over to you, as he has now done.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD said to me, \"See, I have begun to give Sihon and his land over to you. Begin now to take possession of his land.\"\r\n\t\t\t So when Sihon came out against us, he and all his people for battle at Jahaz,\r\n\t\t\t the LORD our God gave him over to us; and we struck him down, along with his offspring and all his people.\r\n\t\t\t At that time we captured all his towns, and in each town we utterly destroyed men, women, and children. We left not a single survivor.\r\n\t\t\t Only the livestock we kept as spoil for ourselves, as well as the plunder of the towns that we had captured.\r\n\t\t\t From Aroer on the edge of the Wadi Arnon (including the town that is in the wadi itself) as far as Gilead, there was no citadel too high for us. The LORD our God gave everything to us.\r\n\t\t\t You did not encroach, however, on the land of the Ammonites, avoiding the whole upper region of the Wadi Jabbok as well as the towns of the hill country, just as the LORD our God had charged. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t When we headed up the road to Bashan, King Og of Bashan came out against us, he and all his people, for battle at Edrei.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD said to me, \"Do not fear him, for I have handed him over to you, along with his people and his land. Do to him as you did to King Sihon of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon.\"\r\n\t\t\t So the LORD our God also handed over to us King Og of Bashan and all his people. We struck him down until not a single survivor was left.\r\n\t\t\t At that time we captured all his towns; there was no citadel that we did not take from them-- sixty towns, the whole region of Argob, the kingdom of Og in Bashan.\r\n\t\t\t All these were fortress towns with high walls, double gates, and bars, besides a great many villages.\r\n\t\t\t And we utterly destroyed them, as we had done to King Sihon of Heshbon, in each city utterly destroying men, women, and children.\r\n\t\t\t But all the livestock and the plunder of the towns we kept as spoil for ourselves.\r\n\t\t\t So at that time we took from the two kings of the Amorites the land beyond the Jordan, from the Wadi Arnon to Mount Hermon\r\n\t\t\t (the Sidonians call Hermon Sirion, while the Amorites call it Senir),\r\n\t\t\t all the towns of the tableland, the whole of Gilead, and all of Bashan, as far as Salecah and Edrei, towns of Og's kingdom in Bashan.\r\n\t\t\t (Now only King Og of Bashan was left of the remnant of the Rephaim. In fact his bed, an iron bed, can still be seen in Rabbah of the Ammonites. By the common cubit it is nine cubits long and four cubits wide.)\r\n\t\t\t As for the land that we took possession of at that time, I gave to the Reubenites and Gadites the territory north of Aroer, that is on the edge of the Wadi Arnon, as well as half the hill country of Gilead with its towns, \r\n\t\t\t and I gave to the half-tribe of Manasseh the rest of Gilead and all of Bashan, Og's kingdom. (The whole region of Argob: all that portion of Bashan used to be called a land of Rephaim;\r\n\t\t\t Jair the Manassite acquired the whole region of Argob as far as the border of the Geshurites and the Maacathites, and he named them-- that is, Bashan-- after himself, Havvoth-jair, as it is to this day.)\r\n\t\t\t To Machir I gave Gilead.\r\n\t\t\t And to the Reubenites and the Gadites I gave the territory from Gilead as far as the Wadi Arnon, with the middle of the wadi as a boundary, and up to the Jabbok, the wadi being boundary of the Ammonites;\r\n\t\t\t the Arabah also, with the Jordan and its banks, from Chinnereth down to the sea of the Arabah, the Dead Sea, with the lower slopes of Pisgah on the east. \r\n\t\t\t At that time, I charged you as follows: \"Although the LORD your God has given you this land to occupy, all your troops shall cross over armed as the vanguard of your Israelite kin.\r\n\t\t\t Only your wives, your children, and your livestock-- I know that you have much livestock-- shall stay behind in the towns that I have given to you.\r\n\t\t\t When the LORD gives rest to your kindred, as to you, and they too have occupied the land that the LORD your God is giving them beyond the Jordan, then each of you may return to the property that I have given to you.\"\r\n\t\t\t And I charged Joshua as well at that time, saying: \"Your own eyes have seen everything that the LORD your God has done to these two kings; so the LORD will do to all the kingdoms into which you are about to cross.\r\n\t\t\t Do not fear them, for it is the LORD your God who fights for you.\"\r\n\t\t\t At that time, too, I entreated the LORD, saying:\r\n\t\t\t \"O Lord GOD, you have only begun to show your servant your greatness and your might; what god in heaven or on earth can perform deeds and mighty acts like yours!\r\n\t\t\t Let me cross over to see the good land beyond the Jordan, that good hill country and the Lebanon.\"\r\n\t\t\t But the LORD was angry with me on your account and would not heed me. The LORD said to me, \"Enough from you! Never speak to me of this matter again!\r\n\t\t\t Go up to the top of Pisgah and look around you to the west, to the north, to the south, and to the east. Look well, for you shall not cross over this Jordan.\r\n\t\t\t But charge Joshua, and encourage and strengthen him, because it is he who shall cross over at the head of this people and who shall secure their possession of the land that you will see.\"\r\n\t\t\t So we remained in the valley opposite Beth-peor.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t So now, Israel, give heed to the statutes and ordinances that I am teaching you to observe, so that you may live to enter and occupy the land that the LORD, the God of your ancestors, is giving you.\r\n\t\t\t You must neither add anything to what I command you nor take away anything from it, but keep the commandments of the LORD your God with which I am charging you.\r\n\t\t\t You have seen for yourselves what the LORD did with regard to the Baal of Peor-- how the LORD your God destroyed from among you everyone who followed the Baal of Peor,\r\n\t\t\t while those of you who held fast to the LORD your God are all alive today.\r\n\t\t\t See, just as the LORD my God has charged me, I now teach you statutes and ordinances for you to observe in the land that you are about to enter and occupy.\r\n\t\t\t You must observe them diligently, for this will show your wisdom and discernment to the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, \"Surely this great nation is a wise and discerning people!\"\r\n\t\t\t For what other great nation has a god so near to it as the LORD our God is whenever we call to him?\r\n\t\t\t And what other great nation has statutes and ordinances as just as this entire law that I am setting before you today?\r\n\t\t\t But take care and watch yourselves closely, so as neither to forget the things that your eyes have seen nor to let them slip from your mind all the days of your life; make them known to your children and your children's children--\r\n\t\t\t how you once stood before the LORD your God at Horeb, when the LORD said to me, \"Assemble the people for me, and I will let them hear my words, so that they may learn to fear me as long as they live on the earth, and may teach their children so\";\r\n\t\t\t you approached and stood at the foot of the mountain while the mountain was blazing up to the very heavens, shrouded in dark clouds.\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD spoke to you out of the fire. You heard the sound of words but saw no form; there was only a voice.\r\n\t\t\t He declared to you his covenant, which he charged you to observe, that is, the ten commandments; and he wrote them on two stone tablets. \r\n\t\t\t And the LORD charged me at that time to teach you statutes and ordinances for you to observe in the land that you are about to cross into and occupy.\r\n\t\t\t Since you saw no form when the LORD spoke to you at Horeb out of the fire, take care and watch yourselves closely,\r\n\t\t\t so that you do not act corruptly by making an idol for yourselves, in the form of any figure-- the likeness of male or female,\r\n\t\t\t the likeness of any animal that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged bird that flies in the air,\r\n\t\t\t the likeness of anything that creeps on the ground, the likeness of any fish that is in the water under the earth.\r\n\t\t\t And when you look up to the heavens and see the sun, the moon, and the stars, all the host of heaven, do not be led astray and bow down to them and serve them, things that the LORD your God has allotted to all the peoples everywhere under heaven.\r\n\t\t\t But the LORD has taken you and brought you out of the iron-smelter, out of Egypt, to become a people of his very own possession, as you are now.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD was angry with me because of you, and he vowed that I should not cross the Jordan and that I should not enter the good land that the LORD your God is giving for your possession.\r\n\t\t\t For I am going to die in this land without crossing over the Jordan, but you are going to cross over to take possession of that good land.\r\n\t\t\t So be careful not to forget the covenant that the LORD your God made with you, and not to make for yourselves an idol in the form of anything that the LORD your God has forbidden you.\r\n\t\t\t For the LORD your God is a devouring fire, a jealous God.\r\n\t\t\t When you have had children and children's children, and become complacent in the land, if you act corruptly by making an idol in the form of anything, thus doing what is evil in the sight of the LORD your God, and provoking him to anger,\r\n\t\t\t I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that you will soon utterly perish from the land that you are crossing the Jordan to occupy; you will not live long on it, but will be utterly destroyed.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD will scatter you among the peoples; only a few of you will be left among the nations where the LORD will lead you.\r\n\t\t\t There you will serve other gods made by human hands, objects of wood and stone that neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell.\r\n\t\t\t From there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find him if you search after him with all your heart and soul.\r\n\t\t\t In your distress, when all these things have happened to you in time to come, you will return to the LORD your God and heed him.\r\n\t\t\t Because the LORD your God is a merciful God, he will neither abandon you nor destroy you; he will not forget the covenant with your ancestors that he swore to them.\r\n\t\t\t For ask now about former ages, long before your own, ever since the day that God created human beings on the earth; ask from one end of heaven to the other: has anything so great as this ever happened or has its like ever been heard of?\r\n\t\t\t Has any people ever heard the voice of a god speaking out of a fire, as you have heard, and lived?\r\n\t\t\t Or has any god ever attempted to go and take a nation for himself from the midst of another nation, by trials, by signs and wonders, by war, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, and by terrifying displays of power, as the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before your very eyes?\r\n\t\t\t To you it was shown so that you would acknowledge that the LORD is God; there is no other besides him.\r\n\t\t\t From heaven he made you hear his voice to discipline you. On earth he showed you his great fire, while you heard his words coming out of the fire.\r\n\t\t\t And because he loved your ancestors, he chose their descendants after them. He brought you out of Egypt with his own presence, by his great power,\r\n\t\t\t driving out before you nations greater and mightier than yourselves, to bring you in, giving you their land for a possession, as it is still today.\r\n\t\t\t So acknowledge today and take to heart that the LORD is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other.\r\n\t\t\t Keep his statutes and his commandments, which I am commanding you today for your own well-being and that of your descendants after you, so that you may long remain in the land that the LORD your God is giving you for all time.\r\n\t\t\t Then Moses set apart on the east side of the Jordan three cities\r\n\t\t\t to which a homicide could flee, someone who unintentionally kills another person, the two not having been at enmity before; the homicide could flee to one of these cities and live:\r\n\t\t\t Bezer in the wilderness on the tableland belonging to the Reubenites, Ramoth in Gilead belonging to the Gadites, and Golan in Bashan belonging to the Manassites.\r\n\t\t\t This is the law that Moses set before the Israelites.\r\n\t\t\t These are the decrees and the statutes and ordinances that Moses spoke to the Israelites when they had come out of Egypt,\r\n\t\t\t beyond the Jordan in the valley opposite Beth-peor, in the land of King Sihon of the Amorites, who reigned at Heshbon, whom Moses and the Israelites defeated when they came out of Egypt.\r\n\t\t\t They occupied his land and the land of King Og of Bashan, the two kings of the Amorites on the eastern side of the Jordan:\r\n\t\t\t from Aroer, which is on the edge of the Wadi Arnon, as far as Mount Sirion (that is, Hermon), \r\n\t\t\t together with all the Arabah on the east side of the Jordan as far as the Sea of the Arabah, under the slopes of Pisgah.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Moses convened all Israel, and said to them: Hear, O Israel, the statutes and ordinances that I am addressing to you today; you shall learn them and observe them diligently.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD our God made a covenant with us at Horeb.\r\n\t\t\t Not with our ancestors did the LORD make this covenant, but with us, who are all of us here alive today.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke with you face to face at the mountain, out of the fire.\r\n\t\t\t (At that time I was standing between the LORD and you to declare to you the words of the LORD; for you were afraid because of the fire and did not go up the mountain.) And he said:\r\n\t\t\t I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery;\r\n\t\t\t you shall have no other gods before me. \r\n\t\t\t You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.\r\n\t\t\t You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents, to the third and fourth generation of those who reject me,\r\n\t\t\t but showing steadfast love to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments. \r\n\t\t\t You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not acquit anyone who misuses his name.\r\n\t\t\t Observe the sabbath day and keep it holy, as the LORD your God commanded you.\r\n\t\t\t Six days you shall labor and do all your work.\r\n\t\t\t But the seventh day is a sabbath to the LORD your God; you shall not do any work-- you, or your son or your daughter, or your male or female slave, or your ox or your donkey, or any of your livestock, or the resident alien in your towns, so that your male and female slave may rest as well as you.\r\n\t\t\t Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God brought you out from there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm; therefore the LORD your God commanded you to keep the sabbath day.\r\n\t\t\t Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God commanded you, so that your days may be long and that it may go well with you in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.\r\n\t\t\t You shall not murder. \r\n\t\t\t Neither shall you commit adultery.\r\n\t\t\t Neither shall you steal.\r\n\t\t\t Neither shall you bear false witness against your neighbor.\r\n\t\t\t Neither shall you covet your neighbor's wife. Neither shall you desire your neighbor's house, or field, or male or female slave, or ox, or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.\r\n\t\t\t These words the LORD spoke with a loud voice to your whole assembly at the mountain, out of the fire, the cloud, and the thick darkness, and he added no more. He wrote them on two stone tablets, and gave them to me.\r\n\t\t\t When you heard the voice out of the darkness, while the mountain was burning with fire, you approached me, all the heads of your tribes and your elders;\r\n\t\t\t and you said, \"Look, the LORD our God has shown us his glory and greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the fire. Today we have seen that God may speak to someone and the person may still live.\r\n\t\t\t So now why should we die? For this great fire will consume us; if we hear the voice of the LORD our God any longer, we shall die.\r\n\t\t\t For who is there of all flesh that has heard the voice of the living God speaking out of fire, as we have, and remained alive?\r\n\t\t\t Go near, you yourself, and hear all that the LORD our God will say. Then tell us everything that the LORD our God tells you, and we will listen and do it.\"\r\n\t\t\t The LORD heard your words when you spoke to me, and the LORD said to me: \"I have heard the words of this people, which they have spoken to you; they are right in all that they have spoken.\r\n\t\t\t If only they had such a mind as this, to fear me and to keep all my commandments always, so that it might go well with them and with their children forever!\r\n\t\t\t Go say to them, 'Return to your tents.'\r\n\t\t\t But you, stand here by me, and I will tell you all the commandments, the statutes and the ordinances, that you shall teach them, so that they may do them in the land that I am giving them to possess.\"\r\n\t\t\t You must therefore be careful to do as the LORD your God has commanded you; you shall not turn to the right or to the left.\r\n\t\t\t You must follow exactly the path that the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live, and that it may go well with you, and that you may live long in the land that you are to possess.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now this is the commandment-- the statutes and the ordinances-- that the LORD your God charged me to teach you to observe in the land that you are about to cross into and occupy,\r\n\t\t\t so that you and your children and your children's children may fear the LORD your God all the days of your life, and keep all his decrees and his commandments that I am commanding you, so that your days may be long.\r\n\t\t\t Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe them diligently, so that it may go well with you, and so that you may multiply greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, as the LORD, the God of your ancestors, has promised you.\r\n\t\t\t Hear, O Israel: The LORD is our God, the LORD alone. \r\n\t\t\t You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.\r\n\t\t\t Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart.\r\n\t\t\t Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise.\r\n\t\t\t Bind them as a sign on your hand, fix them as an emblem on your forehead, \r\n\t\t\t and write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.\r\n\t\t\t When the LORD your God has brought you into the land that he swore to your ancestors, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give you-- a land with fine, large cities that you did not build,\r\n\t\t\t houses filled with all sorts of goods that you did not fill, hewn cisterns that you did not hew, vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant-- and when you have eaten your fill,\r\n\t\t\t take care that you do not forget the LORD, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD your God you shall fear; him you shall serve, and by his name alone you shall swear.\r\n\t\t\t Do not follow other gods, any of the gods of the peoples who are all around you,\r\n\t\t\t because the LORD your God, who is present with you, is a jealous God. The anger of the LORD your God would be kindled against you and he would destroy you from the face of the earth.\r\n\t\t\t Do not put the LORD your God to the test, as you tested him at Massah.\r\n\t\t\t You must diligently keep the commandments of the LORD your God, and his decrees, and his statutes that he has commanded you.\r\n\t\t\t Do what is right and good in the sight of the LORD, so that it may go well with you, and so that you may go in and occupy the good land that the LORD swore to your ancestors to give you,\r\n\t\t\t thrusting out all your enemies from before you, as the LORD has promised.\r\n\t\t\t When your children ask you in time to come, \"What is the meaning of the decrees and the statutes and the ordinances that the LORD our God has commanded you?\"\r\n\t\t\t then you shall say to your children, \"We were Pharaoh's slaves in Egypt, but the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD displayed before our eyes great and awesome signs and wonders against Egypt, against Pharaoh and all his household.\r\n\t\t\t He brought us out from there in order to bring us in, to give us the land that he promised on oath to our ancestors.\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD commanded us to observe all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our lasting good, so as to keep us alive, as is now the case.\r\n\t\t\t If we diligently observe this entire commandment before the LORD our God, as he has commanded us, we will be in the right.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t When the LORD your God brings you into the land that you are about to enter and occupy, and he clears away many nations before you-- the Hittites, the Girgashites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations mightier and more numerous than you--\r\n\t\t\t and when the LORD your God gives them over to you and you defeat them, then you must utterly destroy them. Make no covenant with them and show them no mercy.\r\n\t\t\t Do not intermarry with them, giving your daughters to their sons or taking their daughters for your sons,\r\n\t\t\t for that would turn away your children from following me, to serve other gods. Then the anger of the LORD would be kindled against you, and he would destroy you quickly.\r\n\t\t\t But this is how you must deal with them: break down their altars, smash their pillars, hew down their sacred poles, and burn their idols with fire. \r\n\t\t\t For you are a people holy to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on earth to be his people, his treasured possession.\r\n\t\t\t It was not because you were more numerous than any other people that the LORD set his heart on you and chose you-- for you were the fewest of all peoples.\r\n\t\t\t It was because the LORD loved you and kept the oath that he swore to your ancestors, that the LORD has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.\r\n\t\t\t Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who maintains covenant loyalty with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations,\r\n\t\t\t and who repays in their own person those who reject him. He does not delay but repays in their own person those who reject him.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore, observe diligently the commandment-- the statutes, and the ordinances-- that I am commanding you today.\r\n\t\t\t If you heed these ordinances, by diligently observing them, the LORD your God will maintain with you the covenant loyalty that he swore to your ancestors;\r\n\t\t\t he will love you, bless you, and multiply you; he will bless the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground, your grain and your wine and your oil, the increase of your cattle and the issue of your flock, in the land that he swore to your ancestors to give you.\r\n\t\t\t You shall be the most blessed of peoples, with neither sterility nor barrenness among you or your livestock.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD will turn away from you every illness; all the dread diseases of Egypt that you experienced, he will not inflict on you, but he will lay them on all who hate you.\r\n\t\t\t You shall devour all the peoples that the LORD your God is giving over to you, showing them no pity; you shall not serve their gods, for that would be a snare to you.\r\n\t\t\t If you say to yourself, \"These nations are more numerous than I; how can I dispossess them?\"\r\n\t\t\t do not be afraid of them. Just remember what the LORD your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt,\r\n\t\t\t the great trials that your eyes saw, the signs and wonders, the mighty hand and the outstretched arm by which the LORD your God brought you out. The LORD your God will do the same to all the peoples of whom you are afraid.\r\n\t\t\t Moreover, the LORD your God will send the pestilence against them, until even the survivors and the fugitives are destroyed. \r\n\t\t\t Have no dread of them, for the LORD your God, who is present with you, is a great and awesome God.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD your God will clear away these nations before you little by little; you will not be able to make a quick end of them, otherwise the wild animals would become too numerous for you.\r\n\t\t\t But the LORD your God will give them over to you, and throw them into great panic, until they are destroyed.\r\n\t\t\t He will hand their kings over to you and you shall blot out their name from under heaven; no one will be able to stand against you, until you have destroyed them.\r\n\t\t\t The images of their gods you shall burn with fire. Do not covet the silver or the gold that is on them and take it for yourself, because you could be ensnared by it; for it is abhorrent to the LORD your God.\r\n\t\t\t Do not bring an abhorrent thing into your house, or you will be set apart for destruction like it. You must utterly detest and abhor it, for it is set apart for destruction.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t This entire commandment that I command you today you must diligently observe, so that you may live and increase, and go in and occupy the land that the LORD promised on oath to your ancestors.\r\n\t\t\t Remember the long way that the LORD your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, in order to humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commandments.\r\n\t\t\t He humbled you by letting you hunger, then by feeding you with manna, with which neither you nor your ancestors were acquainted, in order to make you understand that one does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. \r\n\t\t\t The clothes on your back did not wear out and your feet did not swell these forty years.\r\n\t\t\t Know then in your heart that as a parent disciplines a child so the LORD your God disciplines you.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore keep the commandments of the LORD your God, by walking in his ways and by fearing him.\r\n\t\t\t For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land, a land with flowing streams, with springs and underground waters welling up in valleys and hills,\r\n\t\t\t a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive trees and honey,\r\n\t\t\t a land where you may eat bread without scarcity, where you will lack nothing, a land whose stones are iron and from whose hills you may mine copper.\r\n\t\t\t You shall eat your fill and bless the LORD your God for the good land that he has given you.\r\n\t\t\t Take care that you do not forget the LORD your God, by failing to keep his commandments, his ordinances, and his statutes, which I am commanding you today.\r\n\t\t\t When you have eaten your fill and have built fine houses and live in them,\r\n\t\t\t and when your herds and flocks have multiplied, and your silver and gold is multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied,\r\n\t\t\t then do not exalt yourself, forgetting the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery,\r\n\t\t\t who led you through the great and terrible wilderness, an arid wasteland with poisonous snakes and scorpions. He made water flow for you from flint rock,\r\n\t\t\t and fed you in the wilderness with manna that your ancestors did not know, to humble you and to test you, and in the end to do you good.\r\n\t\t\t Do not say to yourself, \"My power and the might of my own hand have gotten me this wealth.\"\r\n\t\t\t But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, so that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your ancestors, as he is doing today.\r\n\t\t\t If you do forget the LORD your God and follow other gods to serve and worship them, I solemnly warn you today that you shall surely perish.\r\n\t\t\t Like the nations that the LORD is destroying before you, so shall you perish, because you would not obey the voice of the LORD your God.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Hear, O Israel! You are about to cross the Jordan today, to go in and dispossess nations larger and mightier than you, great cities, fortified to the heavens,\r\n\t\t\t a strong and tall people, the offspring of the Anakim, whom you know. You have heard it said of them, \"Who can stand up to the Anakim?\"\r\n\t\t\t Know then today that the LORD your God is the one who crosses over before you as a devouring fire; he will defeat them and subdue them before you, so that you may dispossess and destroy them quickly, as the LORD has promised you.\r\n\t\t\t When the LORD your God thrusts them out before you, do not say to yourself, \"It is because of my righteousness that the LORD has brought me in to occupy this land\"; it is rather because of the wickedness of these nations that the LORD is dispossessing them before you.\r\n\t\t\t It is not because of your righteousness or the uprightness of your heart that you are going in to occupy their land; but because of the wickedness of these nations the LORD your God is dispossessing them before you, in order to fulfill the promise that the LORD made on oath to your ancestors, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.\r\n\t\t\t Know, then, that the LORD your God is not giving you this good land to occupy because of your righteousness; for you are a stubborn people.\r\n\t\t\t Remember and do not forget how you provoked the LORD your God to wrath in the wilderness; you have been rebellious against the LORD from the day you came out of the land of Egypt until you came to this place.\r\n\t\t\t Even at Horeb you provoked the LORD to wrath, and the LORD was so angry with you that he was ready to destroy you.\r\n\t\t\t When I went up the mountain to receive the stone tablets, the tablets of the covenant that the LORD made with you, I remained on the mountain forty days and forty nights; I neither ate bread nor drank water.\r\n\t\t\t And the LORD gave me the two stone tablets written with the finger of God; on them were all the words that the LORD had spoken to you at the mountain out of the fire on the day of the assembly.\r\n\t\t\t At the end of forty days and forty nights the LORD gave me the two stone tablets, the tablets of the covenant.\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD said to me, \"Get up, go down quickly from here, for your people whom you have brought from Egypt have acted corruptly. They have been quick to turn from the way that I commanded them; they have cast an image for themselves.\"\r\n\t\t\t Furthermore the LORD said to me, \"I have seen that this people is indeed a stubborn people.\r\n\t\t\t Let me alone that I may destroy them and blot out their name from under heaven; and I will make of you a nation mightier and more numerous than they.\"\r\n\t\t\t So I turned and went down from the mountain, while the mountain was ablaze; the two tablets of the covenant were in my two hands.\r\n\t\t\t Then I saw that you had indeed sinned against the LORD your God, by casting for yourselves an image of a calf; you had been quick to turn from the way that the LORD had commanded you.\r\n\t\t\t So I took hold of the two tablets and flung them from my two hands, smashing them before your eyes.\r\n\t\t\t Then I lay prostrate before the LORD as before, forty days and forty nights; I neither ate bread nor drank water, because of all the sin you had committed, provoking the LORD by doing what was evil in his sight.\r\n\t\t\t For I was afraid that the anger that the LORD bore against you was so fierce that he would destroy you. But the LORD listened to me that time also.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD was so angry with Aaron that he was ready to destroy him, but I interceded also on behalf of Aaron at that same time.\r\n\t\t\t Then I took the sinful thing you had made, the calf, and burned it with fire and crushed it, grinding it thoroughly, until it was reduced to dust; and I threw the dust of it into the stream that runs down the mountain.\r\n\t\t\t At Taberah also, and at Massah, and at Kibroth-hattaavah, you provoked the LORD to wrath.\r\n\t\t\t And when the LORD sent you from Kadesh-barnea, saying, \"Go up and occupy the land that I have given you,\" you rebelled against the command of the LORD your God, neither trusting him nor obeying him.\r\n\t\t\t You have been rebellious against the LORD as long as he has known you. \r\n\t\t\t Throughout the forty days and forty nights that I lay prostrate before the LORD when the LORD intended to destroy you,\r\n\t\t\t I prayed to the LORD and said, \"Lord GOD, do not destroy the people who are your very own possession, whom you redeemed in your greatness, whom you brought out of Egypt with a mighty hand.\r\n\t\t\t Remember your servants, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; pay no attention to the stubbornness of this people, their wickedness and their sin,\r\n\t\t\t otherwise the land from which you have brought us might say, 'Because the LORD was not able to bring them into the land that he promised them, and because he hated them, he has brought them out to let them die in the wilderness.'\r\n\t\t\t For they are the people of your very own possession, whom you brought out by your great power and by your outstretched arm.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t At that time the LORD said to me, \"Carve out two tablets of stone like the former ones, and come up to me on the mountain, and make an ark of wood.\r\n\t\t\t I will write on the tablets the words that were on the former tablets, which you smashed, and you shall put them in the ark.\"\r\n\t\t\t So I made an ark of acacia wood, cut two tablets of stone like the former ones, and went up the mountain with the two tablets in my hand.\r\n\t\t\t Then he wrote on the tablets the same words as before, the ten commandments that the LORD had spoken to you on the mountain out of the fire on the day of the assembly; and the LORD gave them to me. \r\n\t\t\t So I turned and came down from the mountain, and put the tablets in the ark that I had made; and there they are, as the LORD commanded me.\r\n\t\t\t (The Israelites journeyed from Beeroth-bene-jaakan to Moserah. There Aaron died, and there he was buried; his son Eleazar succeeded him as priest. \r\n\t\t\t From there they journeyed to Gudgodah, and from Gudgodah to Jotbathah, a land with flowing streams.\r\n\t\t\t At that time the LORD set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to stand before the LORD to minister to him, and to bless in his name, to this day.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore Levi has no allotment or inheritance with his kindred; the LORD is his inheritance, as the LORD your God promised him.)\r\n\t\t\t I stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights, as I had done the first time. And once again the LORD listened to me. The LORD was unwilling to destroy you.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD said to me, \"Get up, go on your journey at the head of the people, that they may go in and occupy the land that I swore to their ancestors to give them.\"\r\n\t\t\t So now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you? Only to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul,\r\n\t\t\t and to keep the commandments of the LORD your God and his decrees that I am commanding you today, for your own well-being. \r\n\t\t\t Although heaven and the heaven of heavens belong to the LORD your God, the earth with all that is in it,\r\n\t\t\t yet the LORD set his heart in love on your ancestors alone and chose you, their descendants after them, out of all the peoples, as it is today.\r\n\t\t\t Circumcise, then, the foreskin of your heart, and do not be stubborn any longer.\r\n\t\t\t For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who is not partial and takes no bribe,\r\n\t\t\t who executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and who loves the strangers, providing them food and clothing.\r\n\t\t\t You shall also love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.\r\n\t\t\t You shall fear the LORD your God; him alone you shall worship; to him you shall hold fast, and by his name you shall swear.\r\n\t\t\t He is your praise; he is your God, who has done for you these great and awesome things that your own eyes have seen.\r\n\t\t\t Your ancestors went down to Egypt seventy persons; and now the LORD your God has made you as numerous as the stars in heaven.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t You shall love the LORD your God, therefore, and keep his charge, his decrees, his ordinances, and his commandments always.\r\n\t\t\t Remember today that it was not your children (who have not known or seen the discipline of the LORD your God), but it is you who must acknowledge his greatness, his mighty hand and his outstretched arm,\r\n\t\t\t his signs and his deeds that he did in Egypt to Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, and to all his land;\r\n\t\t\t what he did to the Egyptian army, to their horses and chariots, how he made the water of the Red Sea flow over them as they pursued you, so that the LORD has destroyed them to this day; \r\n\t\t\t what he did to you in the wilderness, until you came to this place;\r\n\t\t\t and what he did to Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab son of Reuben, how in the midst of all Israel the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, along with their households, their tents, and every living being in their company;\r\n\t\t\t for it is your own eyes that have seen every great deed that the LORD did.\r\n\t\t\t Keep, then, this entire commandment that I am commanding you today, so that you may have strength to go in and occupy the land that you are crossing over to occupy,\r\n\t\t\t and so that you may live long in the land that the LORD swore to your ancestors to give them and to their descendants, a land flowing with milk and honey.\r\n\t\t\t For the land that you are about to enter to occupy is not like the land of Egypt, from which you have come, where you sow your seed and irrigate by foot like a vegetable garden.\r\n\t\t\t But the land that you are crossing over to occupy is a land of hills and valleys, watered by rain from the sky,\r\n\t\t\t a land that the LORD your God looks after. The eyes of the LORD your God are always on it, from the beginning of the year to the end of the year.\r\n\t\t\t If you will only heed his every commandment that I am commanding you today-- loving the LORD your God, and serving him with all your heart and with all your soul--\r\n\t\t\t then he will give the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the later rain, and you will gather in your grain, your wine, and your oil; \r\n\t\t\t and he will give grass in your fields for your livestock, and you will eat your fill. \r\n\t\t\t Take care, or you will be seduced into turning away, serving other gods and worshiping them,\r\n\t\t\t for then the anger of the LORD will be kindled against you and he will shut up the heavens, so that there will be no rain and the land will yield no fruit; then you will perish quickly off the good land that the LORD is giving you.\r\n\t\t\t You shall put these words of mine in your heart and soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and fix them as an emblem on your forehead. \r\n\t\t\t Teach them to your children, talking about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise.\r\n\t\t\t Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates,\r\n\t\t\t so that your days and the days of your children may be multiplied in the land that the LORD swore to your ancestors to give them, as long as the heavens are above the earth.\r\n\t\t\t If you will diligently observe this entire commandment that I am commanding you, loving the LORD your God, walking in all his ways, and holding fast to him,\r\n\t\t\t then the LORD will drive out all these nations before you, and you will dispossess nations larger and mightier than yourselves.\r\n\t\t\t Every place on which you set foot shall be yours; your territory shall extend from the wilderness to the Lebanon and from the River, the river Euphrates, to the Western Sea.\r\n\t\t\t No one will be able to stand against you; the LORD your God will put the fear and dread of you on all the land on which you set foot, as he promised you.\r\n\t\t\t See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse:\r\n\t\t\t the blessing, if you obey the commandments of the LORD your God that I am commanding you today;\r\n\t\t\t and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn from the way that I am commanding you today, to follow other gods that you have not known.\r\n\t\t\t When the LORD your God has brought you into the land that you are entering to occupy, you shall set the blessing on Mount Gerizim and the curse on Mount Ebal.\r\n\t\t\t As you know, they are beyond the Jordan, some distance to the west, in the land of the Canaanites who live in the Arabah, opposite Gilgal, beside the oak of Moreh. \r\n\t\t\t When you cross the Jordan to go in to occupy the land that the LORD your God is giving you, and when you occupy it and live in it,\r\n\t\t\t you must diligently observe all the statutes and ordinances that I am setting before you today.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t These are the statutes and ordinances that you must diligently observe in the land that the LORD, the God of your ancestors, has given you to occupy all the days that you live on the earth.\r\n\t\t\t You must demolish completely all the places where the nations whom you are about to dispossess served their gods, on the mountain heights, on the hills, and under every leafy tree.\r\n\t\t\t Break down their altars, smash their pillars, burn their sacred poles with fire, and hew down the idols of their gods, and thus blot out their name from their places. \r\n\t\t\t You shall not worship the LORD your God in such ways.\r\n\t\t\t But you shall seek the place that the LORD your God will choose out of all your tribes as his habitation to put his name there. You shall go there,\r\n\t\t\t bringing there your burnt offerings and your sacrifices, your tithes and your donations, your votive gifts, your freewill offerings, and the firstlings of your herds and flocks.\r\n\t\t\t And you shall eat there in the presence of the LORD your God, you and your households together, rejoicing in all the undertakings in which the LORD your God has blessed you.\r\n\t\t\t You shall not act as we are acting here today, all of us according to our own desires,\r\n\t\t\t for you have not yet come into the rest and the possession that the LORD your God is giving you.\r\n\t\t\t When you cross over the Jordan and live in the land that the LORD your God is allotting to you, and when he gives you rest from your enemies all around so that you live in safety,\r\n\t\t\t then you shall bring everything that I command you to the place that the LORD your God will choose as a dwelling for his name: your burnt offerings and your sacrifices, your tithes and your donations, and all your choice votive gifts that you vow to the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t And you shall rejoice before the LORD your God, you together with your sons and your daughters, your male and female slaves, and the Levites who reside in your towns (since they have no allotment or inheritance with you).\r\n\t\t\t Take care that you do not offer your burnt offerings at any place you happen to see.\r\n\t\t\t But only at the place that the LORD will choose in one of your tribes-- there you shall offer your burnt offerings and there you shall do everything I command you.\r\n\t\t\t Yet whenever you desire you may slaughter and eat meat within any of your towns, according to the blessing that the LORD your God has given you; the unclean and the clean may eat of it, as they would of gazelle or deer.\r\n\t\t\t The blood, however, you must not eat; you shall pour it out on the ground like water.\r\n\t\t\t Nor may you eat within your towns the tithe of your grain, your wine, and your oil, the firstlings of your herds and your flocks, any of your votive gifts that you vow, your freewill offerings, or your donations;\r\n\t\t\t these you shall eat in the presence of the LORD your God at the place that the LORD your God will choose, you together with your son and your daughter, your male and female slaves, and the Levites resident in your towns, rejoicing in the presence of the LORD your God in all your undertakings.\r\n\t\t\t Take care that you do not neglect the Levite as long as you live in your land.\r\n\t\t\t When the LORD your God enlarges your territory, as he has promised you, and you say, \"I am going to eat some meat,\" because you wish to eat meat, you may eat meat whenever you have the desire.\r\n\t\t\t If the place where the LORD your God will choose to put his name is too far from you, and you slaughter as I have commanded you any of your herd or flock that the LORD has given you, then you may eat within your towns whenever you desire.\r\n\t\t\t Indeed, just as gazelle or deer is eaten, so you may eat it; the unclean and the clean alike may eat it.\r\n\t\t\t Only be sure that you do not eat the blood; for the blood is the life, and you shall not eat the life with the meat.\r\n\t\t\t Do not eat it; you shall pour it out on the ground like water.\r\n\t\t\t Do not eat it, so that all may go well with you and your children after you, because you do what is right in the sight of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t But the sacred donations that are due from you, and your votive gifts, you shall bring to the place that the LORD will choose.\r\n\t\t\t You shall present your burnt offerings, both the meat and the blood, on the altar of the LORD your God; the blood of your other sacrifices shall be poured out beside the altar of the LORD your God, but the meat you may eat. \r\n\t\t\t Be careful to obey all these words that I command you today, so that it may go well with you and with your children after you forever, because you will be doing what is good and right in the sight of the LORD your God. \r\n\t\t\t When the LORD your God has cut off before you the nations whom you are about to enter to dispossess them, when you have dispossessed them and live in their land,\r\n\t\t\t take care that you are not snared into imitating them, after they have been destroyed before you: do not inquire concerning their gods, saying, \"How did these nations worship their gods? I also want to do the same.\"\r\n\t\t\t You must not do the same for the LORD your God, because every abhorrent thing that the LORD hates they have done for their gods. They would even burn their sons and their daughters in the fire to their gods.\r\n\t\t\t You must diligently observe everything that I command you; do not add to it or take anything from it.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t If prophets or those who divine by dreams appear among you and promise you omens or portents,\r\n\t\t\t and the omens or the portents declared by them take place, and they say, \"Let us follow other gods\" (whom you have not known) \"and let us serve them,\"\r\n\t\t\t you must not heed the words of those prophets or those who divine by dreams; for the LORD your God is testing you, to know whether you indeed love the LORD your God with all your heart and soul.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD your God you shall follow, him alone you shall fear, his commandments you shall keep, his voice you shall obey, him you shall serve, and to him you shall hold fast.\r\n\t\t\t But those prophets or those who divine by dreams shall be put to death for having spoken treason against the LORD your God-- who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of slavery-- to turn you from the way in which the LORD your God commanded you to walk. So you shall purge the evil from your midst.\r\n\t\t\t If anyone secretly entices you-- even if it is your brother, your father's son or your mother's son, or your own son or daughter, or the wife you embrace, or your most intimate friend-- saying, \"Let us go worship other gods,\" whom neither you nor your ancestors have known,\r\n\t\t\t any of the gods of the peoples that are around you, whether near you or far away from you, from one end of the earth to the other,\r\n\t\t\t you must not yield to or heed any such persons. Show them no pity or compassion and do not shield them.\r\n\t\t\t But you shall surely kill them; your own hand shall be first against them to execute them, and afterwards the hand of all the people.\r\n\t\t\t Stone them to death for trying to turn you away from the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.\r\n\t\t\t Then all Israel shall hear and be afraid, and never again do any such wickedness.\r\n\t\t\t If you hear it said about one of the towns that the LORD your God is giving you to live in,\r\n\t\t\t that scoundrels from among you have gone out and led the inhabitants of the town astray, saying, \"Let us go and worship other gods,\" whom you have not known,\r\n\t\t\t then you shall inquire and make a thorough investigation. If the charge is established that such an abhorrent thing has been done among you,\r\n\t\t\t you shall put the inhabitants of that town to the sword, utterly destroying it and everything in it-- even putting its livestock to the sword.\r\n\t\t\t All of its spoil you shall gather into its public square; then burn the town and all its spoil with fire, as a whole burnt offering to the LORD your God. It shall remain a perpetual ruin, never to be rebuilt.\r\n\t\t\t Do not let anything devoted to destruction stick to your hand, so that the LORD may turn from his fierce anger and show you compassion, and in his compassion multiply you, as he swore to your ancestors,\r\n\t\t\t if you obey the voice of the LORD your God by keeping all his commandments that I am commanding you today, doing what is right in the sight of the LORD your God.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t You are children of the LORD your God. You must not lacerate yourselves or shave your forelocks for the dead.\r\n\t\t\t For you are a people holy to the LORD your God; it is you the LORD has chosen out of all the peoples on earth to be his people, his treasured possession.\r\n\t\t\t You shall not eat any abhorrent thing.\r\n\t\t\t These are the animals you may eat: the ox, the sheep, the goat,\r\n\t\t\t the deer, the gazelle, the roebuck, the wild goat, the ibex, the antelope, and the mountain-sheep.\r\n\t\t\t Any animal that divides the hoof and has the hoof cleft in two, and chews the cud, among the animals, you may eat.\r\n\t\t\t Yet of those that chew the cud or have the hoof cleft you shall not eat these: the camel, the hare, and the rock badger, because they chew the cud but do not divide the hoof; they are unclean for you.\r\n\t\t\t And the pig, because it divides the hoof but does not chew the cud, is unclean for you. You shall not eat their meat, and you shall not touch their carcasses.\r\n\t\t\t Of all that live in water you may eat these: whatever has fins and scales you may eat.\r\n\t\t\t And whatever does not have fins and scales you shall not eat; it is unclean for you.\r\n\t\t\t You may eat any clean birds.\r\n\t\t\t But these are the ones that you shall not eat: the eagle, the vulture, the osprey,\r\n\t\t\t the buzzard, the kite, of any kind;\r\n\t\t\t every raven of any kind;\r\n\t\t\t the ostrich, the nighthawk, the sea gull, the hawk, of any kind;\r\n\t\t\t the little owl and the great owl, the water hen\r\n\t\t\t and the desert owl, the carrion vulture and the cormorant, \r\n\t\t\t the stork, the heron, of any kind; the hoopoe and the bat. \r\n\t\t\t And all winged insects are unclean for you; they shall not be eaten.\r\n\t\t\t You may eat any clean winged creature.\r\n\t\t\t You shall not eat anything that dies of itself; you may give it to aliens residing in your towns for them to eat, or you may sell it to a foreigner. For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. You shall not boil a kid in its mother's milk.\r\n\t\t\t Set apart a tithe of all the yield of your seed that is brought in yearly from the field.\r\n\t\t\t In the presence of the LORD your God, in the place that he will choose as a dwelling for his name, you shall eat the tithe of your grain, your wine, and your oil, as well as the firstlings of your herd and flock, so that you may learn to fear the LORD your God always.\r\n\t\t\t But if, when the LORD your God has blessed you, the distance is so great that you are unable to transport it, because the place where the LORD your God will choose to set his name is too far away from you,\r\n\t\t\t then you may turn it into money. With the money secure in hand, go to the place that the LORD your God will choose;\r\n\t\t\t spend the money for whatever you wish-- oxen, sheep, wine, strong drink, or whatever you desire. And you shall eat there in the presence of the LORD your God, you and your household rejoicing together.\r\n\t\t\t As for the Levites resident in your towns, do not neglect them, because they have no allotment or inheritance with you.\r\n\t\t\t Every third year you shall bring out the full tithe of your produce for that year, and store it within your towns;\r\n\t\t\t the Levites, because they have no allotment or inheritance with you, as well as the resident aliens, the orphans, and the widows in your towns, may come and eat their fill so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work that you undertake.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Every seventh year you shall grant a remission of debts.\r\n\t\t\t And this is the manner of the remission: every creditor shall remit the claim that is held against a neighbor, not exacting it of a neighbor who is a member of the community, because the LORD's remission has been proclaimed.\r\n\t\t\t Of a foreigner you may exact it, but you must remit your claim on whatever any member of your community owes you.\r\n\t\t\t There will, however, be no one in need among you, because the LORD is sure to bless you in the land that the LORD your God is giving you as a possession to occupy,\r\n\t\t\t if only you will obey the LORD your God by diligently observing this entire commandment that I command you today.\r\n\t\t\t When the LORD your God has blessed you, as he promised you, you will lend to many nations, but you will not borrow; you will rule over many nations, but they will not rule over you.\r\n\t\t\t If there is among you anyone in need, a member of your community in any of your towns within the land that the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hard-hearted or tight-fisted toward your needy neighbor.\r\n\t\t\t You should rather open your hand, willingly lending enough to meet the need, whatever it may be.\r\n\t\t\t Be careful that you do not entertain a mean thought, thinking, \"The seventh year, the year of remission, is near,\" and therefore view your needy neighbor with hostility and give nothing; your neighbor might cry to the LORD against you, and you would incur guilt.\r\n\t\t\t Give liberally and be ungrudging when you do so, for on this account the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake.\r\n\t\t\t Since there will never cease to be some in need on the earth, I therefore command you, \"Open your hand to the poor and needy neighbor in your land.\"\r\n\t\t\t If a member of your community, whether a Hebrew man or a Hebrew woman, is sold to you and works for you six years, in the seventh year you shall set that person free. \r\n\t\t\t And when you send a male slave out from you a free person, you shall not send him out empty-handed. \r\n\t\t\t Provide liberally out of your flock, your threshing floor, and your wine press, thus giving to him some of the bounty with which the LORD your God has blessed you.\r\n\t\t\t Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God redeemed you; for this reason I lay this command upon you today.\r\n\t\t\t But if he says to you, \"I will not go out from you,\" because he loves you and your household, since he is well off with you,\r\n\t\t\t then you shall take an awl and thrust it through his earlobe into the door, and he shall be your slave forever. You shall do the same with regard to your female slave. \r\n\t\t\t Do not consider it a hardship when you send them out from you free persons, because for six years they have given you services worth the wages of hired laborers; and the LORD your God will bless you in all that you do.\r\n\t\t\t Every firstling male born of your herd and flock you shall consecrate to the LORD your God; you shall not do work with your firstling ox nor shear the firstling of your flock.\r\n\t\t\t You shall eat it, you together with your household, in the presence of the LORD your God year by year at the place that the LORD will choose.\r\n\t\t\t But if it has any defect-- any serious defect, such as lameness or blindness-- you shall not sacrifice it to the LORD your God;\r\n\t\t\t within your towns you may eat it, the unclean and the clean alike, as you would a gazelle or deer.\r\n\t\t\t Its blood, however, you must not eat; you shall pour it out on the ground like water.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Observe the month of Abib by keeping the passover for the LORD your God, for in the month of Abib the LORD your God brought you out of Egypt by night. \r\n\t\t\t You shall offer the passover sacrifice for the LORD your God, from the flock and the herd, at the place that the LORD will choose as a dwelling for his name.\r\n\t\t\t You must not eat with it anything leavened. For seven days you shall eat unleavened bread with it-- the bread of affliction-- because you came out of the land of Egypt in great haste, so that all the days of your life you may remember the day of your departure from the land of Egypt.\r\n\t\t\t No leaven shall be seen with you in all your territory for seven days; and none of the meat of what you slaughter on the evening of the first day shall remain until morning.\r\n\t\t\t You are not permitted to offer the passover sacrifice within any of your towns that the LORD your God is giving you.\r\n\t\t\t But at the place that the LORD your God will choose as a dwelling for his name, only there shall you offer the passover sacrifice, in the evening at sunset, the time of day when you departed from Egypt.\r\n\t\t\t You shall cook it and eat it at the place that the LORD your God will choose; the next morning you may go back to your tents.\r\n\t\t\t For six days you shall continue to eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day there shall be a solemn assembly for the LORD your God, when you shall do no work.\r\n\t\t\t You shall count seven weeks; begin to count the seven weeks from the time the sickle is first put to the standing grain.\r\n\t\t\t Then you shall keep the festival of weeks for the LORD your God, contributing a freewill offering in proportion to the blessing that you have received from the LORD your God.\r\n\t\t\t Rejoice before the LORD your God-- you and your sons and your daughters, your male and female slaves, the Levites resident in your towns, as well as the strangers, the orphans, and the widows who are among you-- at the place that the LORD your God will choose as a dwelling for his name.\r\n\t\t\t Remember that you were a slave in Egypt, and diligently observe these statutes.\r\n\t\t\t You shall keep the festival of booths for seven days, when you have gathered in the produce from your threshing floor and your wine press. \r\n\t\t\t Rejoice during your festival, you and your sons and your daughters, your male and female slaves, as well as the Levites, the strangers, the orphans, and the widows resident in your towns.\r\n\t\t\t Seven days you shall keep the festival for the LORD your God at the place that the LORD will choose; for the LORD your God will bless you in all your produce and in all your undertakings, and you shall surely celebrate.\r\n\t\t\t Three times a year all your males shall appear before the LORD your God at the place that he will choose: at the festival of unleavened bread, at the festival of weeks, and at the festival of booths. They shall not appear before the LORD empty-handed; \r\n\t\t\t all shall give as they are able, according to the blessing of the LORD your God that he has given you.\r\n\t\t\t You shall appoint judges and officials throughout your tribes, in all your towns that the LORD your God is giving you, and they shall render just decisions for the people.\r\n\t\t\t You must not distort justice; you must not show partiality; and you must not accept bribes, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and subverts the cause of those who are in the right.\r\n\t\t\t Justice, and only justice, you shall pursue, so that you may live and occupy the land that the LORD your God is giving you.\r\n\t\t\t You shall not plant any tree as a sacred pole beside the altar that you make for the LORD your God; \r\n\t\t\t nor shall you set up a stone pillar-- things that the LORD your God hates.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t You must not sacrifice to the LORD your God an ox or a sheep that has a defect, anything seriously wrong; for that is abhorrent to the LORD your God.\r\n\t\t\t If there is found among you, in one of your towns that the LORD your God is giving you, a man or woman who does what is evil in the sight of the LORD your God, and transgresses his covenant\r\n\t\t\t by going to serve other gods and worshiping them-- whether the sun or the moon or any of the host of heaven, which I have forbidden--\r\n\t\t\t and if it is reported to you or you hear of it, and you make a thorough inquiry, and the charge is proved true that such an abhorrent thing has occurred in Israel,\r\n\t\t\t then you shall bring out to your gates that man or that woman who has committed this crime and you shall stone the man or woman to death.\r\n\t\t\t On the evidence of two or three witnesses the death sentence shall be executed; a person must not be put to death on the evidence of only one witness.\r\n\t\t\t The hands of the witnesses shall be the first raised against the person to execute the death penalty, and afterward the hands of all the people. So you shall purge the evil from your midst.\r\n\t\t\t If a judicial decision is too difficult for you to make between one kind of bloodshed and another, one kind of legal right and another, or one kind of assault and another-- any such matters of dispute in your towns-- then you shall immediately go up to the place that the LORD your God will choose,\r\n\t\t\t where you shall consult with the levitical priests and the judge who is in office in those days; they shall announce to you the decision in the case.\r\n\t\t\t Carry out exactly the decision that they announce to you from the place that the LORD will choose, diligently observing everything they instruct you.\r\n\t\t\t You must carry out fully the law that they interpret for you or the ruling that they announce to you; do not turn aside from the decision that they announce to you, either to the right or to the left.\r\n\t\t\t As for anyone who presumes to disobey the priest appointed to minister there to the LORD your God, or the judge, that person shall die. So you shall purge the evil from Israel.\r\n\t\t\t All the people will hear and be afraid, and will not act presumptuously again.\r\n\t\t\t When you have come into the land that the LORD your God is giving you, and have taken possession of it and settled in it, and you say, \"I will set a king over me, like all the nations that are around me,\"\r\n\t\t\t you may indeed set over you a king whom the LORD your God will choose. One of your own community you may set as king over you; you are not permitted to put a foreigner over you, who is not of your own community.\r\n\t\t\t Even so, he must not acquire many horses for himself, or return the people to Egypt in order to acquire more horses, since the LORD has said to you, \"You must never return that way again.\"\r\n\t\t\t And he must not acquire many wives for himself, or else his heart will turn away; also silver and gold he must not acquire in great quantity for himself.\r\n\t\t\t When he has taken the throne of his kingdom, he shall have a copy of this law written for him in the presence of the levitical priests.\r\n\t\t\t It shall remain with him and he shall read in it all the days of his life, so that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, diligently observing all the words of this law and these statutes,\r\n\t\t\t neither exalting himself above other members of the community nor turning aside from the commandment, either to the right or to the left, so that he and his descendants may reign long over his kingdom in Israel.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The levitical priests, the whole tribe of Levi, shall have no allotment or inheritance within Israel. They may eat the sacrifices that are the LORD's portion \r\n\t\t\t but they shall have no inheritance among the other members of the community; the LORD is their inheritance, as he promised them.\r\n\t\t\t This shall be the priests' due from the people, from those offering a sacrifice, whether an ox or a sheep: they shall give to the priest the shoulder, the two jowls, and the stomach.\r\n\t\t\t The first fruits of your grain, your wine, and your oil, as well as the first of the fleece of your sheep, you shall give him.\r\n\t\t\t For the LORD your God has chosen Levi out of all your tribes, to stand and minister in the name of the LORD, him and his sons for all time. \r\n\t\t\t If a Levite leaves any of your towns, from wherever he has been residing in Israel, and comes to the place that the LORD will choose (and he may come whenever he wishes),\r\n\t\t\t then he may minister in the name of the LORD his God, like all his fellow-Levites who stand to minister there before the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t They shall have equal portions to eat, even though they have income from the sale of family possessions. \r\n\t\t\t When you come into the land that the LORD your God is giving you, you must not learn to imitate the abhorrent practices of those nations.\r\n\t\t\t No one shall be found among you who makes a son or daughter pass through fire, or who practices divination, or is a soothsayer, or an augur, or a sorcerer,\r\n\t\t\t or one who casts spells, or who consults ghosts or spirits, or who seeks oracles from the dead.\r\n\t\t\t For whoever does these things is abhorrent to the LORD; it is because of such abhorrent practices that the LORD your God is driving them out before you.\r\n\t\t\t You must remain completely loyal to the LORD your God.\r\n\t\t\t Although these nations that you are about to dispossess do give heed to soothsayers and diviners, as for you, the LORD your God does not permit you to do so.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you shall heed such a prophet. \r\n\t\t\t This is what you requested of the LORD your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said: \"If I hear the voice of the LORD my God any more, or ever again see this great fire, I will die.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD replied to me: \"They are right in what they have said.\r\n\t\t\t I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their own people; I will put my words in the mouth of the prophet, who shall speak to them everything that I command. \r\n\t\t\t Anyone who does not heed the words that the prophet shall speak in my name, I myself will hold accountable. \r\n\t\t\t But any prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, or who presumes to speak in my name a word that I have not commanded the prophet to speak-- that prophet shall die.\"\r\n\t\t\t You may say to yourself, \"How can we recognize a word that the LORD has not spoken?\"\r\n\t\t\t If a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD but the thing does not take place or prove true, it is a word that the LORD has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously; do not be frightened by it.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t When the LORD your God has cut off the nations whose land the LORD your God is giving you, and you have dispossessed them and settled in their towns and in their houses,\r\n\t\t\t you shall set apart three cities in the land that the LORD your God is giving you to possess.\r\n\t\t\t You shall calculate the distances and divide into three regions the land that the LORD your God gives you as a possession, so that any homicide can flee to one of them. \r\n\t\t\t Now this is the case of a homicide who might flee there and live, that is, someone who has killed another person unintentionally when the two had not been at enmity before:\r\n\t\t\t Suppose someone goes into the forest with another to cut wood, and when one of them swings the ax to cut down a tree, the head slips from the handle and strikes the other person who then dies; the killer may flee to one of these cities and live.\r\n\t\t\t But if the distance is too great, the avenger of blood in hot anger might pursue and overtake and put the killer to death, although a death sentence was not deserved, since the two had not been at enmity before.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore I command you: You shall set apart three cities.\r\n\t\t\t If the LORD your God enlarges your territory, as he swore to your ancestors-- and he will give you all the land that he promised your ancestors to give you,\r\n\t\t\t provided you diligently observe this entire commandment that I command you today, by loving the LORD your God and walking always in his ways-- then you shall add three more cities to these three,\r\n\t\t\t so that the blood of an innocent person may not be shed in the land that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, thereby bringing bloodguilt upon you.\r\n\t\t\t But if someone at enmity with another lies in wait and attacks and takes the life of that person, and flees into one of these cities,\r\n\t\t\t then the elders of the killer's city shall send to have the culprit taken from there and handed over to the avenger of blood to be put to death.\r\n\t\t\t Show no pity; you shall purge the guilt of innocent blood from Israel, so that it may go well with you.\r\n\t\t\t You must not move your neighbor's boundary marker, set up by former generations, on the property that will be allotted to you in the land that the LORD your God is giving you to possess.\r\n\t\t\t A single witness shall not suffice to convict a person of any crime or wrongdoing in connection with any offense that may be committed. Only on the evidence of two or three witnesses shall a charge be sustained.\r\n\t\t\t If a malicious witness comes forward to accuse someone of wrongdoing,\r\n\t\t\t then both parties to the dispute shall appear before the LORD, before the priests and the judges who are in office in those days,\r\n\t\t\t and the judges shall make a thorough inquiry. If the witness is a false witness, having testified falsely against another,\r\n\t\t\t then you shall do to the false witness just as the false witness had meant to do to the other. So you shall purge the evil from your midst.\r\n\t\t\t The rest shall hear and be afraid, and a crime such as this shall never again be committed among you.\r\n\t\t\t Show no pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t When you go out to war against your enemies, and see horses and chariots, an army larger than your own, you shall not be afraid of them; for the LORD your God is with you, who brought you up from the land of Egypt.\r\n\t\t\t Before you engage in battle, the priest shall come forward and speak to the troops,\r\n\t\t\t and shall say to them: \"Hear, O Israel! Today you are drawing near to do battle against your enemies. Do not lose heart, or be afraid, or panic, or be in dread of them;\r\n\t\t\t for it is the LORD your God who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to give you victory.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the officials shall address the troops, saying, \"Has anyone built a new house but not dedicated it? He should go back to his house, or he might die in the battle and another dedicate it.\r\n\t\t\t Has anyone planted a vineyard but not yet enjoyed its fruit? He should go back to his house, or he might die in the battle and another be first to enjoy its fruit.\r\n\t\t\t Has anyone become engaged to a woman but not yet married her? He should go back to his house, or he might die in the battle and another marry her.\"\r\n\t\t\t The officials shall continue to address the troops, saying, \"Is anyone afraid or disheartened? He should go back to his house, or he might cause the heart of his comrades to melt like his own.\"\r\n\t\t\t When the officials have finished addressing the troops, then the commanders shall take charge of them.\r\n\t\t\t When you draw near to a town to fight against it, offer it terms of peace.\r\n\t\t\t If it accepts your terms of peace and surrenders to you, then all the people in it shall serve you at forced labor.\r\n\t\t\t If it does not submit to you peacefully, but makes war against you, then you shall besiege it;\r\n\t\t\t and when the LORD your God gives it into your hand, you shall put all its males to the sword.\r\n\t\t\t You may, however, take as your booty the women, the children, livestock, and everything else in the town, all its spoil. You may enjoy the spoil of your enemies, which the LORD your God has given you.\r\n\t\t\t Thus you shall treat all the towns that are very far from you, which are not towns of the nations here.\r\n\t\t\t But as for the towns of these peoples that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, you must not let anything that breathes remain alive.\r\n\t\t\t You shall annihilate them-- the Hittites and the Amorites, the Canaanites and the Perizzites, the Hivites and the Jebusites-- just as the LORD your God has commanded,\r\n\t\t\t so that they may not teach you to do all the abhorrent things that they do for their gods, and you thus sin against the LORD your God.\r\n\t\t\t If you besiege a town for a long time, making war against it in order to take it, you must not destroy its trees by wielding an ax against them. Although you may take food from them, you must not cut them down. Are trees in the field human beings that they should come under siege from you?\r\n\t\t\t You may destroy only the trees that you know do not produce food; you may cut them down for use in building siegeworks against the town that makes war with you, until it falls.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t If, in the land that the LORD your God is giving you to possess, a body is found lying in open country, and it is not known who struck the person down,\r\n\t\t\t then your elders and your judges shall come out to measure the distances to the towns that are near the body.\r\n\t\t\t The elders of the town nearest the body shall take a heifer that has never been worked, one that has not pulled in the yoke;\r\n\t\t\t the elders of that town shall bring the heifer down to a wadi with running water, which is neither plowed nor sown, and shall break the heifer's neck there in the wadi.\r\n\t\t\t Then the priests, the sons of Levi, shall come forward, for the LORD your God has chosen them to minister to him and to pronounce blessings in the name of the LORD, and by their decision all cases of dispute and assault shall be settled.\r\n\t\t\t All the elders of that town nearest the body shall wash their hands over the heifer whose neck was broken in the wadi,\r\n\t\t\t and they shall declare: \"Our hands did not shed this blood, nor were we witnesses to it.\r\n\t\t\t Absolve, O LORD, your people Israel, whom you redeemed; do not let the guilt of innocent blood remain in the midst of your people Israel.\" Then they will be absolved of bloodguilt.\r\n\t\t\t So you shall purge the guilt of innocent blood from your midst, because you must do what is right in the sight of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t When you go out to war against your enemies, and the LORD your God hands them over to you and you take them captive,\r\n\t\t\t suppose you see among the captives a beautiful woman whom you desire and want to marry,\r\n\t\t\t and so you bring her home to your house: she shall shave her head, pare her nails,\r\n\t\t\t discard her captive's garb, and shall remain in your house a full month, mourning for her father and mother; after that you may go in to her and be her husband, and she shall be your wife.\r\n\t\t\t But if you are not satisfied with her, you shall let her go free and not sell her for money. You must not treat her as a slave, since you have dishonored her.\r\n\t\t\t If a man has two wives, one of them loved and the other disliked, and if both the loved and the disliked have borne him sons, the firstborn being the son of the one who is disliked,\r\n\t\t\t then on the day when he wills his possessions to his sons, he is not permitted to treat the son of the loved as the firstborn in preference to the son of the disliked, who is the firstborn.\r\n\t\t\t He must acknowledge as firstborn the son of the one who is disliked, giving him a double portion of all that he has; since he is the first issue of his virility, the right of the firstborn is his. \r\n\t\t\t If someone has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey his father and mother, who does not heed them when they discipline him,\r\n\t\t\t then his father and his mother shall take hold of him and bring him out to the elders of his town at the gate of that place.\r\n\t\t\t They shall say to the elders of his town, \"This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious. He will not obey us. He is a glutton and a drunkard.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then all the men of the town shall stone him to death. So you shall purge the evil from your midst; and all Israel will hear, and be afraid.\r\n\t\t\t When someone is convicted of a crime punishable by death and is executed, and you hang him on a tree,\r\n\t\t\t his corpse must not remain all night upon the tree; you shall bury him that same day, for anyone hung on a tree is under God's curse. You must not defile the land that the LORD your God is giving you for possession.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t You shall not watch your neighbor's ox or sheep straying away and ignore them; you shall take them back to their owner.\r\n\t\t\t If the owner does not reside near you or you do not know who the owner is, you shall bring it to your own house, and it shall remain with you until the owner claims it; then you shall return it.\r\n\t\t\t You shall do the same with a neighbor's donkey; you shall do the same with a neighbor's garment; and you shall do the same with anything else that your neighbor loses and you find. You may not withhold your help.\r\n\t\t\t You shall not see your neighbor's donkey or ox fallen on the road and ignore it; you shall help to lift it up.\r\n\t\t\t A woman shall not wear a man's apparel, nor shall a man put on a woman's garment; for whoever does such things is abhorrent to the LORD your God.\r\n\t\t\t If you come on a bird's nest, in any tree or on the ground, with fledglings or eggs, with the mother sitting on the fledglings or on the eggs, you shall not take the mother with the young.\r\n\t\t\t Let the mother go, taking only the young for yourself, in order that it may go well with you and you may live long.\r\n\t\t\t When you build a new house, you shall make a parapet for your roof; otherwise you might have bloodguilt on your house, if anyone should fall from it.\r\n\t\t\t You shall not sow your vineyard with a second kind of seed, or the whole yield will have to be forfeited, both the crop that you have sown and the yield of the vineyard itself.\r\n\t\t\t You shall not plow with an ox and a donkey yoked together.\r\n\t\t\t You shall not wear clothes made of wool and linen woven together.\r\n\t\t\t You shall make tassels on the four corners of the cloak with which you cover yourself.\r\n\t\t\t Suppose a man marries a woman, but after going in to her, he dislikes her\r\n\t\t\t and makes up charges against her, slandering her by saying, \"I married this woman; but when I lay with her, I did not find evidence of her virginity.\"\r\n\t\t\t The father of the young woman and her mother shall then submit the evidence of the young woman's virginity to the elders of the city at the gate.\r\n\t\t\t The father of the young woman shall say to the elders: \"I gave my daughter in marriage to this man but he dislikes her;\r\n\t\t\t now he has made up charges against her, saying, 'I did not find evidence of your daughter's virginity.' But here is the evidence of my daughter's virginity.\" Then they shall spread out the cloth before the elders of the town.\r\n\t\t\t The elders of that town shall take the man and punish him;\r\n\t\t\t they shall fine him one hundred shekels of silver (which they shall give to the young woman's father) because he has slandered a virgin of Israel. She shall remain his wife; he shall not be permitted to divorce her as long as he lives.\r\n\t\t\t If, however, this charge is true, that evidence of the young woman's virginity was not found,\r\n\t\t\t then they shall bring the young woman out to the entrance of her father's house and the men of her town shall stone her to death, because she committed a disgraceful act in Israel by prostituting herself in her father's house. So you shall purge the evil from your midst.\r\n\t\t\t If a man is caught lying with the wife of another man, both of them shall die, the man who lay with the woman as well as the woman. So you shall purge the evil from Israel.\r\n\t\t\t If there is a young woman, a virgin already engaged to be married, and a man meets her in the town and lies with her,\r\n\t\t\t you shall bring both of them to the gate of that town and stone them to death, the young woman because she did not cry for help in the town and the man because he violated his neighbor's wife. So you shall purge the evil from your midst.\r\n\t\t\t But if the man meets the engaged woman in the open country, and the man seizes her and lies with her, then only the man who lay with her shall die.\r\n\t\t\t You shall do nothing to the young woman; the young woman has not committed an offense punishable by death, because this case is like that of someone who attacks and murders a neighbor.\r\n\t\t\t Since he found her in the open country, the engaged woman may have cried for help, but there was no one to rescue her.\r\n\t\t\t If a man meets a virgin who is not engaged, and seizes her and lies with her, and they are caught in the act,\r\n\t\t\t the man who lay with her shall give fifty shekels of silver to the young woman's father, and she shall become his wife. Because he violated her he shall not be permitted to divorce her as long as he lives.\r\n\t\t\t A man shall not marry his father's wife, thereby violating his father's rights. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t No one whose testicles are crushed or whose penis is cut off shall be admitted to the assembly of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Those born of an illicit union shall not be admitted to the assembly of the LORD. Even to the tenth generation, none of their descendants shall be admitted to the assembly of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t No Ammonite or Moabite shall be admitted to the assembly of the LORD. Even to the tenth generation, none of their descendants shall be admitted to the assembly of the LORD,\r\n\t\t\t because they did not meet you with food and water on your journey out of Egypt, and because they hired against you Balaam son of Beor, from Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse you.\r\n\t\t\t (Yet the LORD your God refused to heed Balaam; the LORD your God turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the LORD your God loved you.)\r\n\t\t\t You shall never promote their welfare or their prosperity as long as you live.\r\n\t\t\t You shall not abhor any of the Edomites, for they are your kin. You shall not abhor any of the Egyptians, because you were an alien residing in their land.\r\n\t\t\t The children of the third generation that are born to them may be admitted to the assembly of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t When you are encamped against your enemies you shall guard against any impropriety.\r\n\t\t\t If one of you becomes unclean because of a nocturnal emission, then he shall go outside the camp; he must not come within the camp.\r\n\t\t\t When evening comes, he shall wash himself with water, and when the sun has set, he may come back into the camp.\r\n\t\t\t You shall have a designated area outside the camp to which you shall go.\r\n\t\t\t With your utensils you shall have a trowel; when you relieve yourself outside, you shall dig a hole with it and then cover up your excrement.\r\n\t\t\t Because the LORD your God travels along with your camp, to save you and to hand over your enemies to you, therefore your camp must be holy, so that he may not see anything indecent among you and turn away from you.\r\n\t\t\t Slaves who have escaped to you from their owners shall not be given back to them.\r\n\t\t\t They shall reside with you, in your midst, in any place they choose in any one of your towns, wherever they please; you shall not oppress them.\r\n\t\t\t None of the daughters of Israel shall be a temple prostitute; none of the sons of Israel shall be a temple prostitute.\r\n\t\t\t You shall not bring the fee of a prostitute or the wages of a male prostitute into the house of the LORD your God in payment for any vow, for both of these are abhorrent to the LORD your God. \r\n\t\t\t You shall not charge interest on loans to another Israelite, interest on money, interest on provisions, interest on anything that is lent.\r\n\t\t\t On loans to a foreigner you may charge interest, but on loans to another Israelite you may not charge interest, so that the LORD your God may bless you in all your undertakings in the land that you are about to enter and possess.\r\n\t\t\t If you make a vow to the LORD your God, do not postpone fulfilling it; for the LORD your God will surely require it of you, and you would incur guilt.\r\n\t\t\t But if you refrain from vowing, you will not incur guilt.\r\n\t\t\t Whatever your lips utter you must diligently perform, just as you have freely vowed to the LORD your God with your own mouth.\r\n\t\t\t If you go into your neighbor's vineyard, you may eat your fill of grapes, as many as you wish, but you shall not put any in a container.\r\n\t\t\t If you go into your neighbor's standing grain, you may pluck the ears with your hand, but you shall not put a sickle to your neighbor's standing grain.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Suppose a man enters into marriage with a woman, but she does not please him because he finds something objectionable about her, and so he writes her a certificate of divorce, puts it in her hand, and sends her out of his house; she then leaves his house\r\n\t\t\t and goes off to become another man's wife.\r\n\t\t\t Then suppose the second man dislikes her, writes her a bill of divorce, puts it in her hand, and sends her out of his house (or the second man who married her dies);\r\n\t\t\t her first husband, who sent her away, is not permitted to take her again to be his wife after she has been defiled; for that would be abhorrent to the LORD, and you shall not bring guilt on the land that the LORD your God is giving you as a possession.\r\n\t\t\t When a man is newly married, he shall not go out with the army or be charged with any related duty. He shall be free at home one year, to be happy with the wife whom he has married.\r\n\t\t\t No one shall take a mill or an upper millstone in pledge, for that would be taking a life in pledge.\r\n\t\t\t If someone is caught kidnaping another Israelite, enslaving or selling the Israelite, then that kidnaper shall die. So you shall purge the evil from your midst.\r\n\t\t\t Guard against an outbreak of a leprous skin disease by being very careful; you shall carefully observe whatever the levitical priests instruct you, just as I have commanded them.\r\n\t\t\t Remember what the LORD your God did to Miriam on your journey out of Egypt.\r\n\t\t\t When you make your neighbor a loan of any kind, you shall not go into the house to take the pledge.\r\n\t\t\t You shall wait outside, while the person to whom you are making the loan brings the pledge out to you.\r\n\t\t\t If the person is poor, you shall not sleep in the garment given you as the pledge. \r\n\t\t\t You shall give the pledge back by sunset, so that your neighbor may sleep in the cloak and bless you; and it will be to your credit before the LORD your God.\r\n\t\t\t You shall not withhold the wages of poor and needy laborers, whether other Israelites or aliens who reside in your land in one of your towns.\r\n\t\t\t You shall pay them their wages daily before sunset, because they are poor and their livelihood depends on them; otherwise they might cry to the LORD against you, and you would incur guilt.\r\n\t\t\t Parents shall not be put to death for their children, nor shall children be put to death for their parents; only for their own crimes may persons be put to death.\r\n\t\t\t You shall not deprive a resident alien or an orphan of justice; you shall not take a widow's garment in pledge.\r\n\t\t\t Remember that you were a slave in Egypt and the LORD your God redeemed you from there; therefore I command you to do this.\r\n\t\t\t When you reap your harvest in your field and forget a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it; it shall be left for the alien, the orphan, and the widow, so that the LORD your God may bless you in all your undertakings.\r\n\t\t\t When you beat your olive trees, do not strip what is left; it shall be for the alien, the orphan, and the widow.\r\n\t\t\t When you gather the grapes of your vineyard, do not glean what is left; it shall be for the alien, the orphan, and the widow.\r\n\t\t\t Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt; therefore I am commanding you to do this.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Suppose two persons have a dispute and enter into litigation, and the judges decide between them, declaring one to be in the right and the other to be in the wrong.\r\n\t\t\t If the one in the wrong deserves to be flogged, the judge shall make that person lie down and be beaten in his presence with the number of lashes proportionate to the offense.\r\n\t\t\t Forty lashes may be given but not more; if more lashes than these are given, your neighbor will be degraded in your sight.\r\n\t\t\t You shall not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.\r\n\t\t\t When brothers reside together, and one of them dies and has no son, the wife of the deceased shall not be married outside the family to a stranger. Her husband's brother shall go in to her, taking her in marriage, and performing the duty of a husband's brother to her,\r\n\t\t\t and the firstborn whom she bears shall succeed to the name of the deceased brother, so that his name may not be blotted out of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t But if the man has no desire to marry his brother's widow, then his brother's widow shall go up to the elders at the gate and say, \"My husband's brother refuses to perpetuate his brother's name in Israel; he will not perform the duty of a husband's brother to me.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the elders of his town shall summon him and speak to him. If he persists, saying, \"I have no desire to marry her,\"\r\n\t\t\t then his brother's wife shall go up to him in the presence of the elders, pull his sandal off his foot, spit in his face, and declare, \"This is what is done to the man who does not build up his brother's house.\"\r\n\t\t\t Throughout Israel his family shall be known as \"the house of him whose sandal was pulled off.\"\r\n\t\t\t If men get into a fight with one another, and the wife of one intervenes to rescue her husband from the grip of his opponent by reaching out and seizing his genitals,\r\n\t\t\t you shall cut off her hand; show no pity.\r\n\t\t\t You shall not have in your bag two kinds of weights, large and small.\r\n\t\t\t You shall not have in your house two kinds of measures, large and small.\r\n\t\t\t You shall have only a full and honest weight; you shall have only a full and honest measure, so that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.\r\n\t\t\t For all who do such things, all who act dishonestly, are abhorrent to the LORD your God.\r\n\t\t\t Remember what Amalek did to you on your journey out of Egypt,\r\n\t\t\t how he attacked you on the way, when you were faint and weary, and struck down all who lagged behind you; he did not fear God.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore when the LORD your God has given you rest from all your enemies on every hand, in the land that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance to possess, you shall blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven; do not forget.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t When you have come into the land that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance to possess, and you possess it, and settle in it,\r\n\t\t\t you shall take some of the first of all the fruit of the ground, which you harvest from the land that the LORD your God is giving you, and you shall put it in a basket and go to the place that the LORD your God will choose as a dwelling for his name.\r\n\t\t\t You shall go to the priest who is in office at that time, and say to him, \"Today I declare to the LORD your God that I have come into the land that the LORD swore to our ancestors to give us.\"\r\n\t\t\t When the priest takes the basket from your hand and sets it down before the altar of the LORD your God,\r\n\t\t\t you shall make this response before the LORD your God: \"A wandering Aramean was my ancestor; he went down into Egypt and lived there as an alien, few in number, and there he became a great nation, mighty and populous.\r\n\t\t\t When the Egyptians treated us harshly and afflicted us, by imposing hard labor on us,\r\n\t\t\t we cried to the LORD, the God of our ancestors; the LORD heard our voice and saw our affliction, our toil, and our oppression.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with a terrifying display of power, and with signs and wonders;\r\n\t\t\t and he brought us into this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey.\r\n\t\t\t So now I bring the first of the fruit of the ground that you, O LORD, have given me.\" You shall set it down before the LORD your God and bow down before the LORD your God.\r\n\t\t\t Then you, together with the Levites and the aliens who reside among you, shall celebrate with all the bounty that the LORD your God has given to you and to your house.\r\n\t\t\t When you have finished paying all the tithe of your produce in the third year (which is the year of the tithe), giving it to the Levites, the aliens, the orphans, and the widows, so that they may eat their fill within your towns,\r\n\t\t\t then you shall say before the LORD your God: \"I have removed the sacred portion from the house, and I have given it to the Levites, the resident aliens, the orphans, and the widows, in accordance with your entire commandment that you commanded me; I have neither transgressed nor forgotten any of your commandments:\r\n\t\t\t I have not eaten of it while in mourning; I have not removed any of it while I was unclean; and I have not offered any of it to the dead. I have obeyed the LORD my God, doing just as you commanded me.\r\n\t\t\t Look down from your holy habitation, from heaven, and bless your people Israel and the ground that you have given us, as you swore to our ancestors-- a land flowing with milk and honey.\"\r\n\t\t\t This very day the LORD your God is commanding you to observe these statutes and ordinances; so observe them diligently with all your heart and with all your soul.\r\n\t\t\t Today you have obtained the LORD's agreement: to be your God; and for you to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, his commandments, and his ordinances, and to obey him.\r\n\t\t\t Today the LORD has obtained your agreement: to be his treasured people, as he promised you, and to keep his commandments;\r\n\t\t\t for him to set you high above all nations that he has made, in praise and in fame and in honor; and for you to be a people holy to the LORD your God, as he promised.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then Moses and the elders of Israel charged all the people as follows: Keep the entire commandment that I am commanding you today.\r\n\t\t\t On the day that you cross over the Jordan into the land that the LORD your God is giving you, you shall set up large stones and cover them with plaster.\r\n\t\t\t You shall write on them all the words of this law when you have crossed over, to enter the land that the LORD your God is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey, as the LORD, the God of your ancestors, promised you.\r\n\t\t\t So when you have crossed over the Jordan, you shall set up these stones, about which I am commanding you today, on Mount Ebal, and you shall cover them with plaster.\r\n\t\t\t And you shall build an altar there to the LORD your God, an altar of stones on which you have not used an iron tool.\r\n\t\t\t You must build the altar of the LORD your God of unhewn stones. Then offer up burnt offerings on it to the LORD your God, \r\n\t\t\t make sacrifices of well-being, and eat them there, rejoicing before the LORD your God.\r\n\t\t\t You shall write on the stones all the words of this law very clearly.\r\n\t\t\t Then Moses and the levitical priests spoke to all Israel, saying: Keep silence and hear, O Israel! This very day you have become the people of the LORD your God.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore obey the LORD your God, observing his commandments and his statutes that I am commanding you today.\r\n\t\t\t The same day Moses charged the people as follows:\r\n\t\t\t When you have crossed over the Jordan, these shall stand on Mount Gerizim for the blessing of the people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin.\r\n\t\t\t And these shall stand on Mount Ebal for the curse: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.\r\n\t\t\t Then the Levites shall declare in a loud voice to all the Israelites:\r\n\t\t\t \"Cursed be anyone who makes an idol or casts an image, anything abhorrent to the LORD, the work of an artisan, and sets it up in secret.\" All the people shall respond, saying, \"Amen!\"\r\n\t\t\t \"Cursed be anyone who dishonors father or mother.\" All the people shall say, \"Amen!\"\r\n\t\t\t \"Cursed be anyone who moves a neighbor's boundary marker.\" All the people shall say, \"Amen!\"\r\n\t\t\t \"Cursed be anyone who misleads a blind person on the road.\" All the people shall say, \"Amen!\"\r\n\t\t\t \"Cursed be anyone who deprives the alien, the orphan, and the widow of justice.\" All the people shall say, \"Amen!\"\r\n\t\t\t \"Cursed be anyone who lies with his father's wife, because he has violated his father's rights.\" All the people shall say, \"Amen!\" \r\n\t\t\t \"Cursed be anyone who lies with any animal.\" All the people shall say, \"Amen!\"\r\n\t\t\t \"Cursed be anyone who lies with his sister, whether the daughter of his father or the daughter of his mother.\" All the people shall say, \"Amen!\"\r\n\t\t\t \"Cursed be anyone who lies with his mother-in-law.\" All the people shall say, \"Amen!\"\r\n\t\t\t \"Cursed be anyone who strikes down a neighbor in secret.\" All the people shall say, \"Amen!\"\r\n\t\t\t \"Cursed be anyone who takes a bribe to shed innocent blood.\" All the people shall say, \"Amen!\"\r\n\t\t\t \"Cursed be anyone who does not uphold the words of this law by observing them.\" All the people shall say, \"Amen!\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t If you will only obey the LORD your God, by diligently observing all his commandments that I am commanding you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth;\r\n\t\t\t all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the LORD your God:\r\n\t\t\t Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the field.\r\n\t\t\t Blessed shall be the fruit of your womb, the fruit of your ground, and the fruit of your livestock, both the increase of your cattle and the issue of your flock.\r\n\t\t\t Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl.\r\n\t\t\t Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before you; they shall come out against you one way, and flee before you seven ways.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD will command the blessing upon you in your barns, and in all that you undertake; he will bless you in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD will establish you as his holy people, as he has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the LORD your God and walk in his ways.\r\n\t\t\t All the peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of the LORD, and they shall be afraid of you.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD will make you abound in prosperity, in the fruit of your womb, in the fruit of your livestock, and in the fruit of your ground in the land that the LORD swore to your ancestors to give you.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD will open for you his rich storehouse, the heavens, to give the rain of your land in its season and to bless all your undertakings. You will lend to many nations, but you will not borrow.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD will make you the head, and not the tail; you shall be only at the top, and not at the bottom-- if you obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I am commanding you today, by diligently observing them,\r\n\t\t\t and if you do not turn aside from any of the words that I am commanding you today, either to the right or to the left, following other gods to serve them.\r\n\t\t\t But if you will not obey the LORD your God by diligently observing all his commandments and decrees, which I am commanding you today, then all these curses shall come upon you and overtake you:\r\n\t\t\t Cursed shall you be in the city, and cursed shall you be in the field.\r\n\t\t\t Cursed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl.\r\n\t\t\t Cursed shall be the fruit of your womb, the fruit of your ground, the increase of your cattle and the issue of your flock.\r\n\t\t\t Cursed shall you be when you come in, and cursed shall you be when you go out.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD will send upon you disaster, panic, and frustration in everything you attempt to do, until you are destroyed and perish quickly, on account of the evil of your deeds, because you have forsaken me.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD will make the pestilence cling to you until it has consumed you off the land that you are entering to possess.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD will afflict you with consumption, fever, inflammation, with fiery heat and drought, and with blight and mildew; they shall pursue you until you perish.\r\n\t\t\t The sky over your head shall be bronze, and the earth under you iron.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD will change the rain of your land into powder, and only dust shall come down upon you from the sky until you are destroyed.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD will cause you to be defeated before your enemies; you shall go out against them one way and flee before them seven ways. You shall become an object of horror to all the kingdoms of the earth.\r\n\t\t\t Your corpses shall be food for every bird of the air and animal of the earth, and there shall be no one to frighten them away.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD will afflict you with the boils of Egypt, with ulcers, scurvy, and itch, of which you cannot be healed.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD will afflict you with madness, blindness, and confusion of mind;\r\n\t\t\t you shall grope about at noon as blind people grope in darkness, but you shall be unable to find your way; and you shall be continually abused and robbed, without anyone to help.\r\n\t\t\t You shall become engaged to a woman, but another man shall lie with her. You shall build a house, but not live in it. You shall plant a vineyard, but not enjoy its fruit.\r\n\t\t\t Your ox shall be butchered before your eyes, but you shall not eat of it. Your donkey shall be stolen in front of you, and shall not be restored to you. Your sheep shall be given to your enemies, without anyone to help you.\r\n\t\t\t Your sons and daughters shall be given to another people, while you look on; you will strain your eyes looking for them all day but be powerless to do anything.\r\n\t\t\t A people whom you do not know shall eat up the fruit of your ground and of all your labors; you shall be continually abused and crushed,\r\n\t\t\t and driven mad by the sight that your eyes shall see.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD will strike you on the knees and on the legs with grievous boils of which you cannot be healed, from the sole of your foot to the crown of your head.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD will bring you, and the king whom you set over you, to a nation that neither you nor your ancestors have known, where you shall serve other gods, of wood and stone.\r\n\t\t\t You shall become an object of horror, a proverb, and a byword among all the peoples where the LORD will lead you.\r\n\t\t\t You shall carry much seed into the field but shall gather little in, for the locust shall consume it.\r\n\t\t\t You shall plant vineyards and dress them, but you shall neither drink the wine nor gather the grapes, for the worm shall eat them.\r\n\t\t\t You shall have olive trees throughout all your territory, but you shall not anoint yourself with the oil, for your olives shall drop off.\r\n\t\t\t You shall have sons and daughters, but they shall not remain yours, for they shall go into captivity.\r\n\t\t\t All your trees and the fruit of your ground the cicada shall take over.\r\n\t\t\t Aliens residing among you shall ascend above you higher and higher, while you shall descend lower and lower.\r\n\t\t\t They shall lend to you but you shall not lend to them; they shall be the head and you shall be the tail.\r\n\t\t\t All these curses shall come upon you, pursuing and overtaking you until you are destroyed, because you did not obey the LORD your God, by observing the commandments and the decrees that he commanded you.\r\n\t\t\t They shall be among you and your descendants as a sign and a portent forever.\r\n\t\t\t Because you did not serve the LORD your God joyfully and with gladness of heart for the abundance of everything,\r\n\t\t\t therefore you shall serve your enemies whom the LORD will send against you, in hunger and thirst, in nakedness and lack of everything. He will put an iron yoke on your neck until he has destroyed you.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD will bring a nation from far away, from the end of the earth, to swoop down on you like an eagle, a nation whose language you do not understand,\r\n\t\t\t a grim-faced nation showing no respect to the old or favor to the young.\r\n\t\t\t It shall consume the fruit of your livestock and the fruit of your ground until you are destroyed, leaving you neither grain, wine, and oil, nor the increase of your cattle and the issue of your flock, until it has made you perish.\r\n\t\t\t It shall besiege you in all your towns until your high and fortified walls, in which you trusted, come down throughout your land; it shall besiege you in all your towns throughout the land that the LORD your God has given you.\r\n\t\t\t In the desperate straits to which the enemy siege reduces you, you will eat the fruit of your womb, the flesh of your own sons and daughters whom the LORD your God has given you.\r\n\t\t\t Even the most refined and gentle of men among you will begrudge food to his own brother, to the wife whom he embraces, and to the last of his remaining children,\r\n\t\t\t giving to none of them any of the flesh of his children whom he is eating, because nothing else remains to him, in the desperate straits to which the enemy siege will reduce you in all your towns.\r\n\t\t\t She who is the most refined and gentle among you, so gentle and refined that she does not venture to set the sole of her foot on the ground, will begrudge food to the husband whom she embraces, to her own son, and to her own daughter,\r\n\t\t\t begrudging even the afterbirth that comes out from between her thighs, and the children that she bears, because she is eating them in secret for lack of anything else, in the desperate straits to which the enemy siege will reduce you in your towns.\r\n\t\t\t If you do not diligently observe all the words of this law that are written in this book, fearing this glorious and awesome name, the LORD your God,\r\n\t\t\t then the LORD will overwhelm both you and your offspring with severe and lasting afflictions and grievous and lasting maladies.\r\n\t\t\t He will bring back upon you all the diseases of Egypt, of which you were in dread, and they shall cling to you.\r\n\t\t\t Every other malady and affliction, even though not recorded in the book of this law, the LORD will inflict on you until you are destroyed.\r\n\t\t\t Although once you were as numerous as the stars in heaven, you shall be left few in number, because you did not obey the LORD your God.\r\n\t\t\t And just as the LORD took delight in making you prosperous and numerous, so the LORD will take delight in bringing you to ruin and destruction; you shall be plucked off the land that you are entering to possess.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD will scatter you among all peoples, from one end of the earth to the other; and there you shall serve other gods, of wood and stone, which neither you nor your ancestors have known.\r\n\t\t\t Among those nations you shall find no ease, no resting place for the sole of your foot. There the LORD will give you a trembling heart, failing eyes, and a languishing spirit.\r\n\t\t\t Your life shall hang in doubt before you; night and day you shall be in dread, with no assurance of your life.\r\n\t\t\t In the morning you shall say, \"If only it were evening!\" and at evening you shall say, \"If only it were morning!\"-- because of the dread that your heart shall feel and the sights that your eyes shall see.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD will bring you back in ships to Egypt, by a route that I promised you would never see again; and there you shall offer yourselves for sale to your enemies as male and female slaves, but there will be no buyer.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t These are the words of the covenant that the LORD commanded Moses to make with the Israelites in the land of Moab, in addition to the covenant that he had made with them at Horeb.\r\n\t\t\t Moses summoned all Israel and said to them: You have seen all that the LORD did before your eyes in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh and to all his servants and to all his land,\r\n\t\t\t the great trials that your eyes saw, the signs, and those great wonders.\r\n\t\t\t But to this day the LORD has not given you a mind to understand, or eyes to see, or ears to hear.\r\n\t\t\t I have led you forty years in the wilderness. The clothes on your back have not worn out, and the sandals on your feet have not worn out;\r\n\t\t\t you have not eaten bread, and you have not drunk wine or strong drink-- so that you may know that I am the LORD your God.\r\n\t\t\t When you came to this place, King Sihon of Heshbon and King Og of Bashan came out against us for battle, but we defeated them.\r\n\t\t\t We took their land and gave it as an inheritance to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore diligently observe the words of this covenant, in order that you may succeed in everything that you do. \r\n\t\t\t You stand assembled today, all of you, before the LORD your God-- the leaders of your tribes, your elders, and your officials, all the men of Israel,\r\n\t\t\t your children, your women, and the aliens who are in your camp, both those who cut your wood and those who draw your water--\r\n\t\t\t to enter into the covenant of the LORD your God, sworn by an oath, which the LORD your God is making with you today;\r\n\t\t\t in order that he may establish you today as his people, and that he may be your God, as he promised you and as he swore to your ancestors, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.\r\n\t\t\t I am making this covenant, sworn by an oath, not only with you who stand here with us today before the LORD our God,\r\n\t\t\t but also with those who are not here with us today.\r\n\t\t\t You know how we lived in the land of Egypt, and how we came through the midst of the nations through which you passed.\r\n\t\t\t You have seen their detestable things, the filthy idols of wood and stone, of silver and gold, that were among them.\r\n\t\t\t It may be that there is among you a man or woman, or a family or tribe, whose heart is already turning away from the LORD our God to serve the gods of those nations. It may be that there is among you a root sprouting poisonous and bitter growth.\r\n\t\t\t All who hear the words of this oath and bless themselves, thinking in their hearts, \"We are safe even though we go our own stubborn ways\" (thus bringing disaster on moist and dry alike)--\r\n\t\t\t the LORD will be unwilling to pardon them, for the LORD's anger and passion will smoke against them. All the curses written in this book will descend on them, and the LORD will blot out their names from under heaven.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD will single them out from all the tribes of Israel for calamity, in accordance with all the curses of the covenant written in this book of the law.\r\n\t\t\t The next generation, your children who rise up after you, as well as the foreigner who comes from a distant country, will see the devastation of that land and the afflictions with which the LORD has afflicted it--\r\n\t\t\t all its soil burned out by sulfur and salt, nothing planted, nothing sprouting, unable to support any vegetation, like the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim, which the LORD destroyed in his fierce anger--\r\n\t\t\t they and indeed all the nations will wonder, \"Why has the LORD done thus to this land? What caused this great display of anger?\"\r\n\t\t\t They will conclude, \"It is because they abandoned the covenant of the LORD, the God of their ancestors, which he made with them when he brought them out of the land of Egypt.\r\n\t\t\t They turned and served other gods, worshiping them, gods whom they had not known and whom he had not allotted to them;\r\n\t\t\t so the anger of the LORD was kindled against that land, bringing on it every curse written in this book.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD uprooted them from their land in anger, fury, and great wrath, and cast them into another land, as is now the case.\"\r\n\t\t\t The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the revealed things belong to us and to our children forever, to observe all the words of this law.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t When all these things have happened to you, the blessings and the curses that I have set before you, if you call them to mind among all the nations where the LORD your God has driven you,\r\n\t\t\t and return to the LORD your God, and you and your children obey him with all your heart and with all your soul, just as I am commanding you today,\r\n\t\t\t then the LORD your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you, gathering you again from all the peoples among whom the LORD your God has scattered you.\r\n\t\t\t Even if you are exiled to the ends of the world, from there the LORD your God will gather you, and from there he will bring you back. \r\n\t\t\t The LORD your God will bring you into the land that your ancestors possessed, and you will possess it; he will make you more prosperous and numerous than your ancestors.\r\n\t\t\t Moreover, the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, so that you will love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, in order that you may live.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD your God will put all these curses on your enemies and on the adversaries who took advantage of you.\r\n\t\t\t Then you shall again obey the LORD, observing all his commandments that I am commanding you today,\r\n\t\t\t and the LORD your God will make you abundantly prosperous in all your undertakings, in the fruit of your body, in the fruit of your livestock, and in the fruit of your soil. For the LORD will again take delight in prospering you, just as he delighted in prospering your ancestors,\r\n\t\t\t when you obey the LORD your God by observing his commandments and decrees that are written in this book of the law, because you turn to the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.\r\n\t\t\t Surely, this commandment that I am commanding you today is not too hard for you, nor is it too far away.\r\n\t\t\t It is not in heaven, that you should say, \"Who will go up to heaven for us, and get it for us so that we may hear it and observe it?\"\r\n\t\t\t Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, \"Who will cross to the other side of the sea for us, and get it for us so that we may hear it and observe it?\"\r\n\t\t\t No, the word is very near to you; it is in your mouth and in your heart for you to observe.\r\n\t\t\t See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, death and adversity.\r\n\t\t\t If you obey the commandments of the LORD your God that I am commanding you today, by loving the LORD your God, walking in his ways, and observing his commandments, decrees, and ordinances, then you shall live and become numerous, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to possess.\r\n\t\t\t But if your heart turns away and you do not hear, but are led astray to bow down to other gods and serve them,\r\n\t\t\t I declare to you today that you shall perish; you shall not live long in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess.\r\n\t\t\t I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live,\r\n\t\t\t loving the LORD your God, obeying him, and holding fast to him; for that means life to you and length of days, so that you may live in the land that the LORD swore to give to your ancestors, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t When Moses had finished speaking all these words to all Israel, \r\n\t\t\t he said to them: \"I am now one hundred twenty years old. I am no longer able to get about, and the LORD has told me, 'You shall not cross over this Jordan.'\r\n\t\t\t The LORD your God himself will cross over before you. He will destroy these nations before you, and you shall dispossess them. Joshua also will cross over before you, as the LORD promised.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD will do to them as he did to Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites, and to their land, when he destroyed them.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD will give them over to you and you shall deal with them in full accord with the command that I have given to you.\r\n\t\t\t Be strong and bold; have no fear or dread of them, because it is the LORD your God who goes with you; he will not fail you or forsake you.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel: \"Be strong and bold, for you are the one who will go with this people into the land that the LORD has sworn to their ancestors to give them; and you will put them in possession of it.\r\n\t\t\t It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Moses wrote down this law, and gave it to the priests, the sons of Levi, who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and to all the elders of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t Moses commanded them: \"Every seventh year, in the scheduled year of remission, during the festival of booths, \r\n\t\t\t when all Israel comes to appear before the LORD your God at the place that he will choose, you shall read this law before all Israel in their hearing.\r\n\t\t\t Assemble the people-- men, women, and children, as well as the aliens residing in your towns-- so that they may hear and learn to fear the LORD your God and to observe diligently all the words of this law,\r\n\t\t\t and so that their children, who have not known it, may hear and learn to fear the LORD your God, as long as you live in the land that you are crossing over the Jordan to possess.\"\r\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Moses, \"Your time to die is near; call Joshua and present yourselves in the tent of meeting, so that I may commission him.\" So Moses and Joshua went and presented themselves in the tent of meeting,\r\n\t\t\t and the LORD appeared at the tent in a pillar of cloud; the pillar of cloud stood at the entrance to the tent.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Moses, \"Soon you will lie down with your ancestors. Then this people will begin to prostitute themselves to the foreign gods in their midst, the gods of the land into which they are going; they will forsake me, breaking my covenant that I have made with them.\r\n\t\t\t My anger will be kindled against them in that day. I will forsake them and hide my face from them; they will become easy prey, and many terrible troubles will come upon them. In that day they will say, 'Have not these troubles come upon us because our God is not in our midst?'\r\n\t\t\t On that day I will surely hide my face on account of all the evil they have done by turning to other gods.\r\n\t\t\t Now therefore write this song, and teach it to the Israelites; put it in their mouths, in order that this song may be a witness for me against the Israelites.\r\n\t\t\t For when I have brought them into the land flowing with milk and honey, which I promised on oath to their ancestors, and they have eaten their fill and grown fat, they will turn to other gods and serve them, despising me and breaking my covenant.\r\n\t\t\t And when many terrible troubles come upon them, this song will confront them as a witness, because it will not be lost from the mouths of their descendants. For I know what they are inclined to do even now, before I have brought them into the land that I promised them on oath.\"\r\n\t\t\t That very day Moses wrote this song and taught it to the Israelites.\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD commissioned Joshua son of Nun and said, \"Be strong and bold, for you shall bring the Israelites into the land that I promised them; I will be with you.\"\r\n\t\t\t When Moses had finished writing down in a book the words of this law to the very end,\r\n\t\t\t Moses commanded the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD, saying,\r\n\t\t\t \"Take this book of the law and put it beside the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God; let it remain there as a witness against you.\r\n\t\t\t For I know well how rebellious and stubborn you are. If you already have been so rebellious toward the LORD while I am still alive among you, how much more after my death!\r\n\t\t\t Assemble to me all the elders of your tribes and your officials, so that I may recite these words in their hearing and call heaven and earth to witness against them.\r\n\t\t\t For I know that after my death you will surely act corruptly, turning aside from the way that I have commanded you. In time to come trouble will befall you, because you will do what is evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking him to anger through the work of your hands.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Moses recited the words of this song, to the very end, in the hearing of the whole assembly of Israel:\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak; let the earth hear the words of my mouth.\r\n\t\t\t May my teaching drop like the rain, my speech condense like the dew; like gentle rain on grass, like showers on new growth.\r\n\t\t\t For I will proclaim the name of the LORD; ascribe greatness to our God!\r\n\t\t\t The Rock, his work is perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God, without deceit, just and upright is he;\r\n\t\t\t yet his degenerate children have dealt falsely with him, a perverse and crooked generation. \r\n\t\t\t Do you thus repay the LORD, O foolish and senseless people? Is not he your father, who created you, who made you and established you?\r\n\t\t\t Remember the days of old, consider the years long past; ask your father, and he will inform you; your elders, and they will tell you.\r\n\t\t\t When the Most High apportioned the nations, when he divided humankind, he fixed the boundaries of the peoples according to the number of the gods; \r\n\t\t\t the LORD's own portion was his people, Jacob his allotted share.\r\n\t\t\t He sustained him in a desert land, in a howling wilderness waste; he shielded him, cared for him, guarded him as the apple of his eye. \r\n\t\t\t As an eagle stirs up its nest, and hovers over its young; as it spreads its wings, takes them up, and bears them aloft on its pinions,\r\n\t\t\t the LORD alone guided him; no foreign god was with him.\r\n\t\t\t He set him atop the heights of the land, and fed him with produce of the field; he nursed him with honey from the crags, with oil from flinty rock; \r\n\t\t\t curds from the herd, and milk from the flock, with fat of lambs and rams; Bashan bulls and goats, together with the choicest wheat-- you drank fine wine from the blood of grapes.\r\n\t\t\t Jacob ate his fill; Jeshurun grew fat, and kicked. You grew fat, bloated, and gorged! He abandoned God who made him, and scoffed at the Rock of his salvation. \r\n\t\t\t They made him jealous with strange gods, with abhorrent things they provoked him.\r\n\t\t\t They sacrificed to demons, not God, to deities they had never known, to new ones recently arrived, whom your ancestors had not feared.\r\n\t\t\t You were unmindful of the Rock that bore you; you forgot the God who gave you birth. \r\n\t\t\t The LORD saw it, and was jealous he spurned his sons and daughters. \r\n\t\t\t He said: I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end will be; for they are a perverse generation, children in whom there is no faithfulness.\r\n\t\t\t They made me jealous with what is no god, provoked me with their idols. So I will make them jealous with what is no people, provoke them with a foolish nation.\r\n\t\t\t For a fire is kindled by my anger, and burns to the depths of Sheol; it devours the earth and its increase, and sets on fire the foundations of the mountains.\r\n\t\t\t I will heap disasters upon them, spend my arrows against them:\r\n\t\t\t wasting hunger, burning consumption, bitter pestilence. The teeth of beasts I will send against them, with venom of things crawling in the dust.\r\n\t\t\t In the street the sword shall bereave, and in the chambers terror, for young man and woman alike, nursing child and old gray head.\r\n\t\t\t I thought to scatter them and blot out the memory of them from humankind; \r\n\t\t\t but I feared provocation by the enemy, for their adversaries might misunderstand and say, \"Our hand is triumphant; it was not the LORD who did all this.\"\r\n\t\t\t They are a nation void of sense; there is no understanding in them.\r\n\t\t\t If they were wise, they would understand this; they would discern what the end would be.\r\n\t\t\t How could one have routed a thousand, and two put a myriad to flight, unless their Rock had sold them, the LORD had given them up?\r\n\t\t\t Indeed their rock is not like our Rock; our enemies are fools. \r\n\t\t\t Their vine comes from the vinestock of Sodom, from the vineyards of Gomorrah; their grapes are grapes of poison, their clusters are bitter;\r\n\t\t\t their wine is the poison of serpents, the cruel venom of asps.\r\n\t\t\t Is not this laid up in store with me, sealed up in my treasuries?\r\n\t\t\t Vengeance is mine, and recompense, for the time when their foot shall slip; because the day of their calamity is at hand, their doom comes swiftly.\r\n\t\t\t Indeed the LORD will vindicate his people, have compassion on his servants, when he sees that their power is gone, neither bond nor free remaining.\r\n\t\t\t Then he will say: Where are their gods, the rock in which they took refuge,\r\n\t\t\t who ate the fat of their sacrifices, and drank the wine of their libations? Let them rise up and help you, let them be your protection!\r\n\t\t\t See now that I, even I, am he; there is no god besides me. I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; and no one can deliver from my hand.\r\n\t\t\t For I lift up my hand to heaven, and swear: As I live forever,\r\n\t\t\t when I whet my flashing sword, and my hand takes hold on judgment; I will take vengeance on my adversaries, and will repay those who hate me.\r\n\t\t\t I will make my arrows drunk with blood, and my sword shall devour flesh-- with the blood of the slain and the captives, from the long-haired enemy.\r\n\t\t\t Praise, O heavens, his people, worship him, all you gods! For he will avenge the blood of his children, and take vengeance on his adversaries; he will repay those who hate him, and cleanse the land for his people. \r\n\t\t\t Moses came and recited all the words of this song in the hearing of the people, he and Joshua son of Nun. \r\n\t\t\t When Moses had finished reciting all these words to all Israel,\r\n\t\t\t he said to them: \"Take to heart all the words that I am giving in witness against you today; give them as a command to your children, so that they may diligently observe all the words of this law.\r\n\t\t\t This is no trifling matter for you, but rather your very life; through it you may live long in the land that you are crossing over the Jordan to possess.\"\r\n\t\t\t On that very day the LORD addressed Moses as follows:\r\n\t\t\t \"Ascend this mountain of the Abarim, Mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, across from Jericho, and view the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites for a possession;\r\n\t\t\t you shall die there on the mountain that you ascend and shall be gathered to your kin, as your brother Aaron died on Mount Hor and was gathered to his kin;\r\n\t\t\t because both of you broke faith with me among the Israelites at the waters of Meribath-kadesh in the wilderness of Zin, by failing to maintain my holiness among the Israelites.\r\n\t\t\t Although you may view the land from a distance, you shall not enter it-- the land that I am giving to the Israelites.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t This is the blessing with which Moses, the man of God, blessed the Israelites before his death.\r\n\t\t\t He said: The LORD came from Sinai, and dawned from Seir upon us; he shone forth from Mount Paran. With him were myriads of holy ones; at his right, a host of his own. \r\n\t\t\t Indeed, O favorite among peoples, all his holy ones were in your charge; they marched at your heels, accepted direction from you. \r\n\t\t\t Moses charged us with the law, as a possession for the assembly of Jacob.\r\n\t\t\t There arose a king in Jeshurun, when the leaders of the people assembled-- the united tribes of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t May Reuben live, and not die out, even though his numbers are few.\r\n\t\t\t And this he said of Judah: O LORD, give heed to Judah, and bring him to his people; strengthen his hands for him, and be a help against his adversaries. \r\n\t\t\t And of Levi he said: Give to Levi your Thummim, and your Urim to your loyal one, whom you tested at Massah, with whom you contended at the waters of Meribah; \r\n\t\t\t who said of his father and mother, \"I regard them not\"; he ignored his kin, and did not acknowledge his children. For they observed your word, and kept your covenant.\r\n\t\t\t They teach Jacob your ordinances, and Israel your law; they place incense before you, and whole burnt offerings on your altar.\r\n\t\t\t Bless, O LORD, his substance, and accept the work of his hands; crush the loins of his adversaries, of those that hate him, so that they do not rise again.\r\n\t\t\t Of Benjamin he said: The beloved of the LORD rests in safety-- the High God surrounds him all day long-- the beloved rests between his shoulders.\r\n\t\t\t And of Joseph he said: Blessed by the LORD be his land, with the choice gifts of heaven above, and of the deep that lies beneath;\r\n\t\t\t with the choice fruits of the sun, and the rich yield of the months;\r\n\t\t\t with the finest produce of the ancient mountains, and the abundance of the everlasting hills;\r\n\t\t\t with the choice gifts of the earth and its fullness, and the favor of the one who dwells on Sinai. Let these come on the head of Joseph, on the brow of the prince among his brothers. \r\n\t\t\t A firstborn bull-- majesty is his! His horns are the horns of a wild ox; with them he gores the peoples, driving them to the ends of the earth; such are the myriads of Ephraim, such the thousands of Manasseh.\r\n\t\t\t And of Zebulun he said: Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out; and Issachar, in your tents.\r\n\t\t\t They call peoples to the mountain; there they offer the right sacrifices; for they suck the affluence of the seas and the hidden treasures of the sand.\r\n\t\t\t And of Gad he said: Blessed be the enlargement of Gad! Gad lives like a lion; he tears at arm and scalp.\r\n\t\t\t He chose the best for himself, for there a commander's allotment was reserved; he came at the head of the people, he executed the justice of the LORD, and his ordinances for Israel.\r\n\t\t\t And of Dan he said: Dan is a lion's whelp that leaps forth from Bashan.\r\n\t\t\t And of Naphtali he said: O Naphtali, sated with favor, full of the blessing of the LORD, possess the west and the south.\r\n\t\t\t And of Asher he said: Most blessed of sons be Asher; may he be the favorite of his brothers, and may he dip his foot in oil.\r\n\t\t\t Your bars are iron and bronze; and as your days, so is your strength.\r\n\t\t\t There is none like God, O Jeshurun, who rides through the heavens to your help, majestic through the skies.\r\n\t\t\t He subdues the ancient gods, shatters the forces of old; he drove out the enemy before you, and said, \"Destroy!\" \r\n\t\t\t So Israel lives in safety, untroubled is Jacob's abode in a land of grain and wine, where the heavens drop down dew. \r\n\t\t\t Happy are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD, the shield of your help, and the sword of your triumph! Your enemies shall come fawning to you, and you shall tread on their backs.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which is opposite Jericho, and the LORD showed him the whole land: Gilead as far as Dan,\r\n\t\t\t all Naphtali, the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the Western Sea,\r\n\t\t\t the Negeb, and the Plain-- that is, the valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees-- as far as Zoar.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD said to him, \"This is the land of which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, 'I will give it to your descendants'; I have let you see it with your eyes, but you shall not cross over there.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Moses, the servant of the LORD, died there in the land of Moab, at the LORD's command.\r\n\t\t\t He was buried in a valley in the land of Moab, opposite Beth-peor, but no one knows his burial place to this day.\r\n\t\t\t Moses was one hundred twenty years old when he died; his sight was unimpaired and his vigor had not abated.\r\n\t\t\t The Israelites wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days; then the period of mourning for Moses was ended.\r\n\t\t\t Joshua son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, because Moses had laid his hands on him; and the Israelites obeyed him, doing as the LORD had commanded Moses.\r\n\t\t\t Never since has there arisen a prophet in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face.\r\n\t\t\t He was unequaled for all the signs and wonders that the LORD sent him to perform in the land of Egypt, against Pharaoh and all his servants and his entire land,\r\n\t\t\t and for all the mighty deeds and all the terrifying displays of power that Moses performed in the sight of all Israel.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses' assistant, saying,\r\n\t\t\t \"My servant Moses is dead. Now proceed to cross the Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the Israelites.\r\n\t\t\t Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, as I promised to Moses.\r\n\t\t\t From the wilderness and the Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, to the Great Sea in the west shall be your territory.\r\n\t\t\t No one shall be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you.\r\n\t\t\t Be strong and courageous; for you shall put this people in possession of the land that I swore to their ancestors to give them.\r\n\t\t\t Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to act in accordance with all the law that my servant Moses commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, so that you may be successful wherever you go.\r\n\t\t\t This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth; you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to act in accordance with all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall be successful.\r\n\t\t\t I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people,\r\n\t\t\t \"Pass through the camp, and command the people: 'Prepare your provisions; for in three days you are to cross over the Jordan, to go in to take possession of the land that the LORD your God gives you to possess.'\"\r\n\t\t\t To the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh Joshua said,\r\n\t\t\t \"Remember the word that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, saying, 'The LORD your God is providing you a place of rest, and will give you this land.'\r\n\t\t\t Your wives, your little ones, and your livestock shall remain in the land that Moses gave you beyond the Jordan. But all the warriors among you shall cross over armed before your kindred and shall help them,\r\n\t\t\t until the LORD gives rest to your kindred as well as to you, and they too take possession of the land that the LORD your God is giving them. Then you shall return to your own land and take possession of it, the land that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you beyond the Jordan to the east.\"\r\n\t\t\t They answered Joshua: \"All that you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go.\r\n\t\t\t Just as we obeyed Moses in all things, so we will obey you. Only may the LORD your God be with you, as he was with Moses!\r\n\t\t\t Whoever rebels against your orders and disobeys your words, whatever you command, shall be put to death. Only be strong and courageous.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then Joshua son of Nun sent two men secretly from Shittim as spies, saying, \"Go, view the land, especially Jericho.\" So they went, and entered the house of a prostitute whose name was Rahab, and spent the night there.\r\n\t\t\t The king of Jericho was told, \"Some Israelites have come here tonight to search out the land.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the king of Jericho sent orders to Rahab, \"Bring out the men who have come to you, who entered your house, for they have come only to search out the whole land.\"\r\n\t\t\t But the woman took the two men and hid them. Then she said, \"True, the men came to me, but I did not know where they came from.\r\n\t\t\t And when it was time to close the gate at dark, the men went out. Where the men went I do not know. Pursue them quickly, for you can overtake them.\"\r\n\t\t\t She had, however, brought them up to the roof and hidden them with the stalks of flax that she had laid out on the roof.\r\n\t\t\t So the men pursued them on the way to the Jordan as far as the fords. As soon as the pursuers had gone out, the gate was shut.\r\n\t\t\t Before they went to sleep, she came up to them on the roof\r\n\t\t\t and said to the men: \"I know that the LORD has given you the land, and that dread of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt in fear before you.\r\n\t\t\t For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites that were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. \r\n\t\t\t As soon as we heard it, our hearts melted, and there was no courage left in any of us because of you. The LORD your God is indeed God in heaven above and on earth below.\r\n\t\t\t Now then, since I have dealt kindly with you, swear to me by the LORD that you in turn will deal kindly with my family. Give me a sign of good faith\r\n\t\t\t that you will spare my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them, and deliver our lives from death.\"\r\n\t\t\t The men said to her, \"Our life for yours! If you do not tell this business of ours, then we will deal kindly and faithfully with you when the LORD gives us the land.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was on the outer side of the city wall and she resided within the wall itself.\r\n\t\t\t She said to them, \"Go toward the hill country, so that the pursuers may not come upon you. Hide yourselves there three days, until the pursuers have returned; then afterward you may go your way.\"\r\n\t\t\t The men said to her, \"We will be released from this oath that you have made us swear to you\r\n\t\t\t if we invade the land and you do not tie this crimson cord in the window through which you let us down, and you do not gather into your house your father and mother, your brothers, and all your family.\r\n\t\t\t If any of you go out of the doors of your house into the street, they shall be responsible for their own death, and we shall be innocent; but if a hand is laid upon any who are with you in the house, we shall bear the responsibility for their death.\r\n\t\t\t But if you tell this business of ours, then we shall be released from this oath that you made us swear to you.\"\r\n\t\t\t She said, \"According to your words, so be it.\" She sent them away and they departed. Then she tied the crimson cord in the window.\r\n\t\t\t They departed and went into the hill country and stayed there three days, until the pursuers returned. The pursuers had searched all along the way and found nothing.\r\n\t\t\t Then the two men came down again from the hill country. They crossed over, came to Joshua son of Nun, and told him all that had happened to them.\r\n\t\t\t They said to Joshua, \"Truly the LORD has given all the land into our hands; moreover all the inhabitants of the land melt in fear before us.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Early in the morning Joshua rose and set out from Shittim with all the Israelites, and they came to the Jordan. They camped there before crossing over.\r\n\t\t\t At the end of three days the officers went through the camp\r\n\t\t\t and commanded the people, \"When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God being carried by the levitical priests, then you shall set out from your place. Follow it,\r\n\t\t\t so that you may know the way you should go, for you have not passed this way before. Yet there shall be a space between you and it, a distance of about two thousand cubits; do not come any nearer to it.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Joshua said to the people, \"Sanctify yourselves; for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.\"\r\n\t\t\t To the priests Joshua said, \"Take up the ark of the covenant, and pass on in front of the people.\" So they took up the ark of the covenant and went in front of the people.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Joshua, \"This day I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, so that they may know that I will be with you as I was with Moses.\r\n\t\t\t You are the one who shall command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant, 'When you come to the edge of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.'\"\r\n\t\t\t Joshua then said to the Israelites, \"Draw near and hear the words of the LORD your God.\"\r\n\t\t\t Joshua said, \"By this you shall know that among you is the living God who without fail will drive out from before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jebusites:\r\n\t\t\t the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is going to pass before you into the Jordan.\r\n\t\t\t So now select twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe.\r\n\t\t\t When the soles of the feet of the priests who bear the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan flowing from above shall be cut off; they shall stand in a single heap.\"\r\n\t\t\t When the people set out from their tents to cross over the Jordan, the priests bearing the ark of the covenant were in front of the people.\r\n\t\t\t Now the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest. So when those who bore the ark had come to the Jordan, and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the edge of the water,\r\n\t\t\t the waters flowing from above stood still, rising up in a single heap far off at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan, while those flowing toward the sea of the Arabah, the Dead Sea, were wholly cut off. Then the people crossed over opposite Jericho. \r\n\t\t\t While all Israel were crossing over on dry ground, the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, until the entire nation finished crossing over the Jordan.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t When the entire nation had finished crossing over the Jordan, the LORD said to Joshua:\r\n\t\t\t \"Select twelve men from the people, one from each tribe,\r\n\t\t\t and command them, 'Take twelve stones from here out of the middle of the Jordan, from the place where the priests' feet stood, carry them over with you, and lay them down in the place where you camp tonight.'\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Joshua summoned the twelve men from the Israelites, whom he had appointed, one from each tribe.\r\n\t\t\t Joshua said to them, \"Pass on before the ark of the LORD your God into the middle of the Jordan, and each of you take up a stone on his shoulder, one for each of the tribes of the Israelites,\r\n\t\t\t so that this may be a sign among you. When your children ask in time to come, 'What do those stones mean to you?'\r\n\t\t\t then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off in front of the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it crossed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall be to the Israelites a memorial forever.\"\r\n\t\t\t The Israelites did as Joshua commanded. They took up twelve stones out of the middle of the Jordan, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, as the LORD told Joshua, carried them over with them to the place where they camped, and laid them down there.\r\n\t\t\t (Joshua set up twelve stones in the middle of the Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the covenant had stood; and they are there to this day.)\r\n\t\t\t The priests who bore the ark remained standing in the middle of the Jordan, until everything was finished that the LORD commanded Joshua to tell the people, according to all that Moses had commanded Joshua. The people crossed over in haste.\r\n\t\t\t As soon as all the people had finished crossing over, the ark of the LORD, and the priests, crossed over in front of the people.\r\n\t\t\t The Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh crossed over armed before the Israelites, as Moses had ordered them.\r\n\t\t\t About forty thousand armed for war crossed over before the LORD to the plains of Jericho for battle.\r\n\t\t\t On that day the LORD exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they stood in awe of him, as they had stood in awe of Moses, all the days of his life.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Joshua,\r\n\t\t\t \"Command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant, to come up out of the Jordan.\" \r\n\t\t\t Joshua therefore commanded the priests, \"Come up out of the Jordan.\"\r\n\t\t\t When the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the LORD came up from the middle of the Jordan, and the soles of the priests' feet touched dry ground, the waters of the Jordan returned to their place and overflowed all its banks, as before.\r\n\t\t\t The people came up out of the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and they camped in Gilgal on the east border of Jericho.\r\n\t\t\t Those twelve stones, which they had taken out of the Jordan, Joshua set up in Gilgal,\r\n\t\t\t saying to the Israelites, \"When your children ask their parents in time to come, 'What do these stones mean?'\r\n\t\t\t then you shall let your children know, 'Israel crossed over the Jordan here on dry ground.'\r\n\t\t\t For the LORD your God dried up the waters of the Jordan for you until you crossed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up for us until we crossed over, \r\n\t\t\t so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the LORD is mighty, and so that you may fear the LORD your God forever.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t When all the kings of the Amorites beyond the Jordan to the west, and all the kings of the Canaanites by the sea, heard that the LORD had dried up the waters of the Jordan for the Israelites until they had crossed over, their hearts melted, and there was no longer any spirit in them, because of the Israelites.\r\n\t\t\t At that time the LORD said to Joshua, \"Make flint knives and circumcise the Israelites a second time.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Joshua made flint knives, and circumcised the Israelites at Gibeath-haaraloth. \r\n\t\t\t This is the reason why Joshua circumcised them: all the males of the people who came out of Egypt, all the warriors, had died during the journey through the wilderness after they had come out of Egypt.\r\n\t\t\t Although all the people who came out had been circumcised, yet all the people born on the journey through the wilderness after they had come out of Egypt had not been circumcised.\r\n\t\t\t For the Israelites traveled forty years in the wilderness, until all the nation, the warriors who came out of Egypt, perished, not having listened to the voice of the LORD. To them the LORD swore that he would not let them see the land that he had sworn to their ancestors to give us, a land flowing with milk and honey.\r\n\t\t\t So it was their children, whom he raised up in their place, that Joshua circumcised; for they were uncircumcised, because they had not been circumcised on the way.\r\n\t\t\t When the circumcising of all the nation was done, they remained in their places in the camp until they were healed.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Joshua, \"Today I have rolled away from you the disgrace of Egypt.\" And so that place is called Gilgal to this day. \r\n\t\t\t While the Israelites were camped in Gilgal they kept the passover in the evening on the fourteenth day of the month in the plains of Jericho.\r\n\t\t\t On the day after the passover, on that very day, they ate the produce of the land, unleavened cakes and parched grain.\r\n\t\t\t The manna ceased on the day they ate the produce of the land, and the Israelites no longer had manna; they ate the crops of the land of Canaan that year.\r\n\t\t\t Once when Joshua was by Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing before him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went to him and said to him, \"Are you one of us, or one of our adversaries?\"\r\n\t\t\t He replied, \"Neither; but as commander of the army of the LORD I have now come.\" And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and he said to him, \"What do you command your servant, my lord?\"\r\n\t\t\t The commander of the army of the LORD said to Joshua, \"Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you stand is holy.\" And Joshua did so.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now Jericho was shut up inside and out because of the Israelites; no one came out and no one went in.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Joshua, \"See, I have handed Jericho over to you, along with its king and soldiers.\r\n\t\t\t You shall march around the city, all the warriors circling the city once. Thus you shall do for six days,\r\n\t\t\t with seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark. On the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, the priests blowing the trumpets.\r\n\t\t\t When they make a long blast with the ram's horn, as soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city will fall down flat, and all the people shall charge straight ahead.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Joshua son of Nun summoned the priests and said to them, \"Take up the ark of the covenant, and have seven priests carry seven trumpets of rams' horns in front of the ark of the LORD.\"\r\n\t\t\t To the people he said, \"Go forward and march around the city; have the armed men pass on before the ark of the LORD.\"\r\n\t\t\t As Joshua had commanded the people, the seven priests carrying the seven trumpets of rams' horns before the LORD went forward, blowing the trumpets, with the ark of the covenant of the LORD following them.\r\n\t\t\t And the armed men went before the priests who blew the trumpets; the rear guard came after the ark, while the trumpets blew continually.\r\n\t\t\t To the people Joshua gave this command: \"You shall not shout or let your voice be heard, nor shall you utter a word, until the day I tell you to shout. Then you shall shout.\"\r\n\t\t\t So the ark of the LORD went around the city, circling it once; and they came into the camp, and spent the night in the camp.\r\n\t\t\t Then Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t The seven priests carrying the seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the LORD passed on, blowing the trumpets continually. The armed men went before them, and the rear guard came after the ark of the LORD, while the trumpets blew continually.\r\n\t\t\t On the second day they marched around the city once and then returned to the camp. They did this for six days.\r\n\t\t\t On the seventh day they rose early, at dawn, and marched around the city in the same manner seven times. It was only on that day that they marched around the city seven times.\r\n\t\t\t And at the seventh time, when the priests had blown the trumpets, Joshua said to the people, \"Shout! For the LORD has given you the city.\r\n\t\t\t The city and all that is in it shall be devoted to the LORD for destruction. Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall live because she hid the messengers we sent.\r\n\t\t\t As for you, keep away from the things devoted to destruction, so as not to covet and take any of the devoted things and make the camp of Israel an object for destruction, bringing trouble upon it. \r\n\t\t\t But all silver and gold, and vessels of bronze and iron, are sacred to the LORD; they shall go into the treasury of the LORD.\"\r\n\t\t\t So the people shouted, and the trumpets were blown. As soon as the people heard the sound of the trumpets, they raised a great shout, and the wall fell down flat; so the people charged straight ahead into the city and captured it.\r\n\t\t\t Then they devoted to destruction by the edge of the sword all in the city, both men and women, young and old, oxen, sheep, and donkeys.\r\n\t\t\t Joshua said to the two men who had spied out the land, \"Go into the prostitute's house, and bring the woman out of it and all who belong to her, as you swore to her.\"\r\n\t\t\t So the young men who had been spies went in and brought Rahab out, along with her father, her mother, her brothers, and all who belonged to her-- they brought all her kindred out-- and set them outside the camp of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t They burned down the city, and everything in it; only the silver and gold, and the vessels of bronze and iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t But Rahab the prostitute, with her family and all who belonged to her, Joshua spared. Her family has lived in Israel ever since. For she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho. \r\n\t\t\t Joshua then pronounced this oath, saying, \"Cursed before the LORD be anyone who tries to build this city-- this Jericho! At the cost of his firstborn he shall lay its foundation, and at the cost of his youngest he shall set up its gates!\"\r\n\t\t\t So the LORD was with Joshua; and his fame was in all the land.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t But the Israelites broke faith in regard to the devoted things: Achan son of Carmi son of Zabdi son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of the devoted things; and the anger of the LORD burned against the Israelites.\r\n\t\t\t Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth-aven, east of Bethel, and said to them, \"Go up and spy out the land.\" And the men went up and spied out Ai.\r\n\t\t\t Then they returned to Joshua and said to him, \"Not all the people need go up; about two or three thousand men should go up and attack Ai. Since they are so few, do not make the whole people toil up there.\"\r\n\t\t\t So about three thousand of the people went up there; and they fled before the men of Ai.\r\n\t\t\t The men of Ai killed about thirty-six of them, chasing them from outside the gate as far as Shebarim and killing them on the slope. The hearts of the people melted and turned to water.\r\n\t\t\t Then Joshua tore his clothes, and fell to the ground on his face before the ark of the LORD until the evening, he and the elders of Israel; and they put dust on their heads.\r\n\t\t\t Joshua said, \"Ah, Lord GOD! Why have you brought this people across the Jordan at all, to hand us over to the Amorites so as to destroy us? Would that we had been content to settle beyond the Jordan!\r\n\t\t\t O Lord, what can I say, now that Israel has turned their backs to their enemies!\r\n\t\t\t The Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear of it, and surround us, and cut off our name from the earth. Then what will you do for your great name?\"\r\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Joshua, \"Stand up! Why have you fallen upon your face?\r\n\t\t\t Israel has sinned; they have transgressed my covenant that I imposed on them. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have acted deceitfully, and they have put them among their own belongings.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore the Israelites are unable to stand before their enemies; they turn their backs to their enemies, because they have become a thing devoted for destruction themselves. I will be with you no more, unless you destroy the devoted things from among you.\r\n\t\t\t Proceed to sanctify the people, and say, 'Sanctify yourselves for tomorrow; for thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, \"There are devoted things among you, O Israel; you will be unable to stand before your enemies until you take away the devoted things from among you.\"\r\n\t\t\t In the morning therefore you shall come forward tribe by tribe. The tribe that the LORD takes shall come near by clans, the clan that the LORD takes shall come near by households, and the household that the LORD takes shall come near one by one.\r\n\t\t\t And the one who is taken as having the devoted things shall be burned with fire, together with all that he has, for having transgressed the covenant of the LORD, and for having done an outrageous thing in Israel.'\"\r\n\t\t\t So Joshua rose early in the morning, and brought Israel near tribe by tribe, and the tribe of Judah was taken.\r\n\t\t\t He brought near the clans of Judah, and the clan of the Zerahites was taken; and he brought near the clan of the Zerahites, family by family, and Zabdi was taken. \r\n\t\t\t And he brought near his household one by one, and Achan son of Carmi son of Zabdi son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was taken.\r\n\t\t\t Then Joshua said to Achan, \"My son, give glory to the LORD God of Israel and make confession to him. Tell me now what you have done; do not hide it from me.\"\r\n\t\t\t And Achan answered Joshua, \"It is true; I am the one who sinned against the LORD God of Israel. This is what I did:\r\n\t\t\t when I saw among the spoil a beautiful mantle from Shinar, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels, then I coveted them and took them. They now lie hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent; and there it was, hidden in his tent with the silver underneath.\r\n\t\t\t They took them out of the tent and brought them to Joshua and all the Israelites; and they spread them out before the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Then Joshua and all Israel with him took Achan son of Zerah, with the silver, the mantle, and the bar of gold, with his sons and daughters, with his oxen, donkeys, and sheep, and his tent and all that he had; and they brought them up to the Valley of Achor.\r\n\t\t\t Joshua said, \"Why did you bring trouble on us? The LORD is bringing trouble on you today.\" And all Israel stoned him to death; they burned them with fire, cast stones on them,\r\n\t\t\t and raised over him a great heap of stones that remains to this day. Then the LORD turned from his burning anger. Therefore that place to this day is called the Valley of Achor. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD said to Joshua, \"Do not fear or be dismayed; take all the fighting men with you, and go up now to Ai. See, I have handed over to you the king of Ai with his people, his city, and his land.\r\n\t\t\t You shall do to Ai and its king as you did to Jericho and its king; only its spoil and its livestock you may take as booty for yourselves. Set an ambush against the city, behind it.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Joshua and all the fighting men set out to go up against Ai. Joshua chose thirty thousand warriors and sent them out by night\r\n\t\t\t with the command, \"You shall lie in ambush against the city, behind it; do not go very far from the city, but all of you stay alert.\r\n\t\t\t I and all the people who are with me will approach the city. When they come out against us, as before, we shall flee from them.\r\n\t\t\t They will come out after us until we have drawn them away from the city; for they will say, 'They are fleeing from us, as before.' While we flee from them,\r\n\t\t\t you shall rise up from the ambush and seize the city; for the LORD your God will give it into your hand.\r\n\t\t\t And when you have taken the city, you shall set the city on fire, doing as the LORD has ordered; see, I have commanded you.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Joshua sent them out; and they went to the place of ambush, and lay between Bethel and Ai, to the west of Ai; but Joshua spent that night in the camp.\r\n\t\t\t In the morning Joshua rose early and mustered the people, and went up, with the elders of Israel, before the people to Ai.\r\n\t\t\t All the fighting men who were with him went up, and drew near before the city, and camped on the north side of Ai, with a ravine between them and Ai.\r\n\t\t\t Taking about five thousand men, he set them in ambush between Bethel and Ai, to the west of the city.\r\n\t\t\t So they stationed the forces, the main encampment that was north of the city and its rear guard west of the city. But Joshua spent that night in the valley.\r\n\t\t\t When the king of Ai saw this, he and all his people, the inhabitants of the city, hurried out early in the morning to the meeting place facing the Arabah to meet Israel in battle; but he did not know that there was an ambush against him behind the city.\r\n\t\t\t And Joshua and all Israel made a pretense of being beaten before them, and fled in the direction of the wilderness.\r\n\t\t\t So all the people who were in the city were called together to pursue them, and as they pursued Joshua they were drawn away from the city.\r\n\t\t\t There was not a man left in Ai or Bethel who did not go out after Israel; they left the city open, and pursued Israel.\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD said to Joshua, \"Stretch out the sword that is in your hand toward Ai; for I will give it into your hand.\" And Joshua stretched out the sword that was in his hand toward the city.\r\n\t\t\t As soon as he stretched out his hand, the troops in ambush rose quickly out of their place and rushed forward. They entered the city, took it, and at once set the city on fire.\r\n\t\t\t So when the men of Ai looked back, the smoke of the city was rising to the sky. They had no power to flee this way or that, for the people who fled to the wilderness turned back against the pursuers.\r\n\t\t\t When Joshua and all Israel saw that the ambush had taken the city and that the smoke of the city was rising, then they turned back and struck down the men of Ai.\r\n\t\t\t And the others came out from the city against them; so they were surrounded by Israelites, some on one side, and some on the other; and Israel struck them down until no one was left who survived or escaped.\r\n\t\t\t But the king of Ai was taken alive and brought to Joshua.\r\n\t\t\t When Israel had finished slaughtering all the inhabitants of Ai in the open wilderness where they pursued them, and when all of them to the very last had fallen by the edge of the sword, all Israel returned to Ai, and attacked it with the edge of the sword.\r\n\t\t\t The total of those who fell that day, both men and women, was twelve thousand-- all the people of Ai.\r\n\t\t\t For Joshua did not draw back his hand, with which he stretched out the sword, until he had utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai.\r\n\t\t\t Only the livestock and the spoil of that city Israel took as their booty, according to the word of the LORD that he had issued to Joshua.\r\n\t\t\t So Joshua burned Ai, and made it forever a heap of ruins, as it is to this day.\r\n\t\t\t And he hanged the king of Ai on a tree until evening; and at sunset Joshua commanded, and they took his body down from the tree, threw it down at the entrance of the gate of the city, and raised over it a great heap of stones, which stands there to this day.\r\n\t\t\t Then Joshua built on Mount Ebal an altar to the LORD, the God of Israel,\r\n\t\t\t just as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded the Israelites, as it is written in the book of the law of Moses, \"an altar of unhewn stones, on which no iron tool has been used\"; and they offered on it burnt offerings to the LORD, and sacrificed offerings of well-being. \r\n\t\t\t And there, in the presence of the Israelites, Joshua wrote on the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he had written. \r\n\t\t\t All Israel, alien as well as citizen, with their elders and officers and their judges, stood on opposite sides of the ark in front of the levitical priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD, half of them in front of Mount Gerizim and half of them in front of Mount Ebal, as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded at the first, that they should bless the people of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t And afterward he read all the words of the law, blessings and curses, according to all that is written in the book of the law.\r\n\t\t\t There was not a word of all that Moses commanded that Joshua did not read before all the assembly of Israel, and the women, and the little ones, and the aliens who resided among them.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now when all the kings who were beyond the Jordan in the hill country and in the lowland all along the coast of the Great Sea toward Lebanon-- the Hittites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites-- heard of this,\r\n\t\t\t they gathered together with one accord to fight Joshua and Israel.\r\n\t\t\t But when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and to Ai,\r\n\t\t\t they on their part acted with cunning: they went and prepared provisions, and took worn-out sacks for their donkeys, and wineskins, worn-out and torn and mended, \r\n\t\t\t with worn-out, patched sandals on their feet, and worn-out clothes; and all their provisions were dry and moldy.\r\n\t\t\t They went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal, and said to him and to the Israelites, \"We have come from a far country; so now make a treaty with us.\"\r\n\t\t\t But the Israelites said to the Hivites, \"Perhaps you live among us; then how can we make a treaty with you?\"\r\n\t\t\t They said to Joshua, \"We are your servants.\" And Joshua said to them, \"Who are you? And where do you come from?\"\r\n\t\t\t They said to him, \"Your servants have come from a very far country, because of the name of the LORD your God; for we have heard a report of him, of all that he did in Egypt,\r\n\t\t\t and of all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, King Sihon of Heshbon, and King Og of Bashan who lived in Ashtaroth.\r\n\t\t\t So our elders and all the inhabitants of our country said to us, 'Take provisions in your hand for the journey; go to meet them, and say to them, \"We are your servants; come now, make a treaty with us.\"'\r\n\t\t\t Here is our bread; it was still warm when we took it from our houses as our food for the journey, on the day we set out to come to you, but now, see, it is dry and moldy;\r\n\t\t\t these wineskins were new when we filled them, and see, they are burst; and these garments and sandals of ours are worn out from the very long journey.\"\r\n\t\t\t So the leaders partook of their provisions, and did not ask direction from the LORD. \r\n\t\t\t And Joshua made peace with them, guaranteeing their lives by a treaty; and the leaders of the congregation swore an oath to them.\r\n\t\t\t But when three days had passed after they had made a treaty with them, they heard that they were their neighbors and were living among them.\r\n\t\t\t So the Israelites set out and reached their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim.\r\n\t\t\t But the Israelites did not attack them, because the leaders of the congregation had sworn to them by the LORD, the God of Israel. Then all the congregation murmured against the leaders.\r\n\t\t\t But all the leaders said to all the congregation, \"We have sworn to them by the LORD, the God of Israel, and now we must not touch them.\r\n\t\t\t This is what we will do to them: We will let them live, so that wrath may not come upon us, because of the oath that we swore to them.\"\r\n\t\t\t The leaders said to them, \"Let them live.\" So they became hewers of wood and drawers of water for all the congregation, as the leaders had decided concerning them.\r\n\t\t\t Joshua summoned them, and said to them, \"Why did you deceive us, saying, 'We are very far from you,' while in fact you are living among us?\r\n\t\t\t Now therefore you are cursed, and some of you shall always be slaves, hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.\"\r\n\t\t\t They answered Joshua, \"Because it was told to your servants for a certainty that the LORD your God had commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land before you; so we were in great fear for our lives because of you, and did this thing.\r\n\t\t\t And now we are in your hand: do as it seems good and right in your sight to do to us.\"\r\n\t\t\t This is what he did for them: he saved them from the Israelites; and they did not kill them.\r\n\t\t\t But on that day Joshua made them hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation and for the altar of the LORD, to continue to this day, in the place that he should choose.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t When King Adoni-zedek of Jerusalem heard how Joshua had taken Ai, and had utterly destroyed it, doing to Ai and its king as he had done to Jericho and its king, and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel and were among them,\r\n\t\t\t he became greatly frightened, because Gibeon was a large city, like one of the royal cities, and was larger than Ai, and all its men were warriors. \r\n\t\t\t So King Adoni-zedek of Jerusalem sent a message to King Hoham of Hebron, to King Piram of Jarmuth, to King Japhia of Lachish, and to King Debir of Eglon, saying,\r\n\t\t\t \"Come up and help me, and let us attack Gibeon; for it has made peace with Joshua and with the Israelites.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the five kings of the Amorites-- the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon-- gathered their forces, and went up with all their armies and camped against Gibeon, and made war against it.\r\n\t\t\t And the Gibeonites sent to Joshua at the camp in Gilgal, saying, \"Do not abandon your servants; come up to us quickly, and save us, and help us; for all the kings of the Amorites who live in the hill country are gathered against us.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Joshua went up from Gilgal, he and all the fighting force with him, all the mighty warriors.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Joshua, \"Do not fear them, for I have handed them over to you; not one of them shall stand before you.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Joshua came upon them suddenly, having marched up all night from Gilgal.\r\n\t\t\t And the LORD threw them into a panic before Israel, who inflicted a great slaughter on them at Gibeon, chased them by the way of the ascent of Beth-horon, and struck them down as far as Azekah and Makkedah.\r\n\t\t\t As they fled before Israel, while they were going down the slope of Beth-horon, the LORD threw down huge stones from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died; there were more who died because of the hailstones than the Israelites killed with the sword.\r\n\t\t\t On the day when the LORD gave the Amorites over to the Israelites, Joshua spoke to the LORD; and he said in the sight of Israel, \"Sun, stand still at Gibeon, and Moon, in the valley of Aijalon.\"\r\n\t\t\t And the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, until the nation took vengeance on their enemies. Is this not written in the Book of Jashar? The sun stopped in midheaven, and did not hurry to set for about a whole day.\r\n\t\t\t There has been no day like it before or since, when the LORD heeded a human voice; for the LORD fought for Israel.\r\n\t\t\t Then Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to the camp at Gilgal.\r\n\t\t\t Meanwhile, these five kings fled and hid themselves in the cave at Makkedah.\r\n\t\t\t And it was told Joshua, \"The five kings have been found, hidden in the cave at Makkedah.\"\r\n\t\t\t Joshua said, \"Roll large stones against the mouth of the cave, and set men by it to guard them;\r\n\t\t\t but do not stay there yourselves; pursue your enemies, and attack them from the rear. Do not let them enter their towns, for the LORD your God has given them into your hand.\"\r\n\t\t\t When Joshua and the Israelites had finished inflicting a very great slaughter on them, until they were wiped out, and when the survivors had entered into the fortified towns,\r\n\t\t\t all the people returned safe to Joshua in the camp at Makkedah; no one dared to speak against any of the Israelites. \r\n\t\t\t Then Joshua said, \"Open the mouth of the cave, and bring those five kings out to me from the cave.\"\r\n\t\t\t They did so, and brought the five kings out to him from the cave, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon.\r\n\t\t\t When they brought the kings out to Joshua, Joshua summoned all the Israelites, and said to the chiefs of the warriors who had gone with him, \"Come near, put your feet on the necks of these kings.\" Then they came near and put their feet on their necks.\r\n\t\t\t And Joshua said to them, \"Do not be afraid or dismayed; be strong and courageous; for thus the LORD will do to all the enemies against whom you fight.\"\r\n\t\t\t Afterward Joshua struck them down and put them to death, and he hung them on five trees. And they hung on the trees until evening.\r\n\t\t\t At sunset Joshua commanded, and they took them down from the trees and threw them into the cave where they had hidden themselves; they set large stones against the mouth of the cave, which remain to this very day.\r\n\t\t\t Joshua took Makkedah on that day, and struck it and its king with the edge of the sword; he utterly destroyed every person in it; he left no one remaining. And he did to the king of Makkedah as he had done to the king of Jericho.\r\n\t\t\t Then Joshua passed on from Makkedah, and all Israel with him, to Libnah, and fought against Libnah.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD gave it also and its king into the hand of Israel; and he struck it with the edge of the sword, and every person in it; he left no one remaining in it; and he did to its king as he had done to the king of Jericho.\r\n\t\t\t Next Joshua passed on from Libnah, and all Israel with him, to Lachish, and laid siege to it, and assaulted it.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD gave Lachish into the hand of Israel, and he took it on the second day, and struck it with the edge of the sword, and every person in it, as he had done to Libnah.\r\n\t\t\t Then King Horam of Gezer came up to help Lachish; and Joshua struck him and his people, leaving him no survivors.\r\n\t\t\t From Lachish Joshua passed on with all Israel to Eglon; and they laid siege to it, and assaulted it;\r\n\t\t\t and they took it that day, and struck it with the edge of the sword; and every person in it he utterly destroyed that day, as he had done to Lachish.\r\n\t\t\t Then Joshua went up with all Israel from Eglon to Hebron; they assaulted it,\r\n\t\t\t and took it, and struck it with the edge of the sword, and its king and its towns, and every person in it; he left no one remaining, just as he had done to Eglon, and utterly destroyed it with every person in it.\r\n\t\t\t Then Joshua, with all Israel, turned back to Debir and assaulted it,\r\n\t\t\t and he took it with its king and all its towns; they struck them with the edge of the sword, and utterly destroyed every person in it; he left no one remaining; just as he had done to Hebron, and, as he had done to Libnah and its king, so he did to Debir and its king.\r\n\t\t\t So Joshua defeated the whole land, the hill country and the Negeb and the lowland and the slopes, and all their kings; he left no one remaining, but utterly destroyed all that breathed, as the LORD God of Israel commanded.\r\n\t\t\t And Joshua defeated them from Kadesh-barnea to Gaza, and all the country of Goshen, as far as Gibeon.\r\n\t\t\t Joshua took all these kings and their land at one time, because the LORD God of Israel fought for Israel.\r\n\t\t\t Then Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to the camp at Gilgal.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t When King Jabin of Hazor heard of this, he sent to King Jobab of Madon, to the king of Shimron, to the king of Achshaph,\r\n\t\t\t and to the kings who were in the northern hill country, and in the Arabah south of Chinneroth, and in the lowland, and in Naphoth-dor on the west,\r\n\t\t\t to the Canaanites in the east and the west, the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, and the Jebusites in the hill country, and the Hivites under Hermon in the land of Mizpah.\r\n\t\t\t They came out, with all their troops, a great army, in number like the sand on the seashore, with very many horses and chariots.\r\n\t\t\t All these kings joined their forces, and came and camped together at the waters of Merom, to fight with Israel.\r\n\t\t\t And the LORD said to Joshua, \"Do not be afraid of them, for tomorrow at this time I will hand over all of them, slain, to Israel; you shall hamstring their horses, and burn their chariots with fire.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Joshua came suddenly upon them with all his fighting force, by the waters of Merom, and fell upon them.\r\n\t\t\t And the LORD handed them over to Israel, who attacked them and chased them as far as Great Sidon and Misrephoth-maim, and eastward as far as the valley of Mizpeh. They struck them down, until they had left no one remaining.\r\n\t\t\t And Joshua did to them as the LORD commanded him; he hamstrung their horses, and burned their chariots with fire.\r\n\t\t\t Joshua turned back at that time, and took Hazor, and struck its king down with the sword. Before that time Hazor was the head of all those kingdoms.\r\n\t\t\t And they put to the sword all who were in it, utterly destroying them; there was no one left who breathed, and he burned Hazor with fire.\r\n\t\t\t And all the towns of those kings, and all their kings, Joshua took, and struck them with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying them, as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded.\r\n\t\t\t But Israel burned none of the towns that stood on mounds except Hazor, which Joshua did burn.\r\n\t\t\t All the spoil of these towns, and the livestock, the Israelites took for their booty; but all the people they struck down with the edge of the sword, until they had destroyed them, and they did not leave any who breathed.\r\n\t\t\t As the LORD had commanded his servant Moses, so Moses commanded Joshua, and so Joshua did; he left nothing undone of all that the LORD had commanded Moses.\r\n\t\t\t So Joshua took all that land: the hill country and all the Negeb and all the land of Goshen and the lowland and the Arabah and the hill country of Israel and its lowland,\r\n\t\t\t from Mount Halak, which rises toward Seir, as far as Baal-gad in the valley of Lebanon below Mount Hermon. He took all their kings, struck them down, and put them to death.\r\n\t\t\t Joshua made war a long time with all those kings.\r\n\t\t\t There was not a town that made peace with the Israelites, except the Hivites, the inhabitants of Gibeon; all were taken in battle.\r\n\t\t\t For it was the LORD's doing to harden their hearts so that they would come against Israel in battle, in order that they might be utterly destroyed, and might receive no mercy, but be exterminated, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.\r\n\t\t\t At that time Joshua came and wiped out the Anakim from the hill country, from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab, and from all the hill country of Judah, and from all the hill country of Israel; Joshua utterly destroyed them with their towns.\r\n\t\t\t None of the Anakim was left in the land of the Israelites; some remained only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod.\r\n\t\t\t So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the LORD had spoken to Moses; and Joshua gave it for an inheritance to Israel according to their tribal allotments. And the land had rest from war.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now these are the kings of the land, whom the Israelites defeated, whose land they occupied beyond the Jordan toward the east, from the Wadi Arnon to Mount Hermon, with all the Arabah eastward:\r\n\t\t\t King Sihon of the Amorites who lived at Heshbon, and ruled from Aroer, which is on the edge of the Wadi Arnon, and from the middle of the valley as far as the river Jabbok, the boundary of the Ammonites, that is, half of Gilead,\r\n\t\t\t and the Arabah to the Sea of Chinneroth eastward, and in the direction of Beth-jeshimoth, to the sea of the Arabah, the Dead Sea, southward to the foot of the slopes of Pisgah; \r\n\t\t\t and King Og of Bashan, one of the last of the Rephaim, who lived at Ashtaroth and at Edrei \r\n\t\t\t and ruled over Mount Hermon and Salecah and all Bashan to the boundary of the Geshurites and the Maacathites, and over half of Gilead to the boundary of King Sihon of Heshbon.\r\n\t\t\t Moses, the servant of the LORD, and the Israelites defeated them; and Moses the servant of the LORD gave their land for a possession to the Reubenites and the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh.\r\n\t\t\t The following are the kings of the land whom Joshua and the Israelites defeated on the west side of the Jordan, from Baal-gad in the valley of Lebanon to Mount Halak, that rises toward Seir (and Joshua gave their land to the tribes of Israel as a possession according to their allotments,\r\n\t\t\t in the hill country, in the lowland, in the Arabah, in the slopes, in the wilderness, and in the Negeb, the land of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites):\r\n\t\t\t the king of Jericho one the king of Ai, which is next to Bethel one\r\n\t\t\t the king of Jerusalem one the king of Hebron one\r\n\t\t\t the king of Jarmuth one the king of Lachish one\r\n\t\t\t the king of Eglon one the king of Gezer one\r\n\t\t\t the king of Debir one the king of Geder one\r\n\t\t\t the king of Hormah one the king of Arad one\r\n\t\t\t the king of Libnah one the king of Adullam one\r\n\t\t\t the king of Makkedah one the king of Bethel one\r\n\t\t\t the king of Tappuah one the king of Hepher one\r\n\t\t\t the king of Aphek one the king of Lasharon one\r\n\t\t\t the king of Madon one the king of Hazor one\r\n\t\t\t the king of Shimron-meron one the king of Achshaph one\r\n\t\t\t the king of Taanach one the king of Megiddo one\r\n\t\t\t the king of Kedesh one the king of Jokneam in Carmel one\r\n\t\t\t the king of Dor in Naphath-dor one the king of Goiim in Galilee, one \r\n\t\t\t the king of Tirzah one thirty-one kings in all.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now Joshua was old and advanced in years; and the LORD said to him, \"You are old and advanced in years, and very much of the land still remains to be possessed.\r\n\t\t\t This is the land that still remains: all the regions of the Philistines, and all those of the Geshurites\r\n\t\t\t (from the Shihor, which is east of Egypt, northward to the boundary of Ekron, it is reckoned as Canaanite; there are five rulers of the Philistines, those of Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron), and those of the Avvim,\r\n\t\t\t in the south, all the land of the Canaanites, and Mearah that belongs to the Sidonians, to Aphek, to the boundary of the Amorites,\r\n\t\t\t and the land of the Gebalites, and all Lebanon, toward the east, from Baal-gad below Mount Hermon to Lebo-hamath,\r\n\t\t\t all the inhabitants of the hill country from Lebanon to Misrephoth-maim, even all the Sidonians. I will myself drive them out from before the Israelites; only allot the land to Israel for an inheritance, as I have commanded you.\r\n\t\t\t Now therefore divide this land for an inheritance to the nine tribes and the half-tribe of Manasseh.\"\r\n\t\t\t With the other half-tribe of Manasseh the Reubenites and the Gadites received their inheritance, which Moses gave them, beyond the Jordan eastward, as Moses the servant of the LORD gave them: \r\n\t\t\t from Aroer, which is on the edge of the Wadi Arnon, and the town that is in the middle of the valley, and all the tableland from Medeba as far as Dibon; \r\n\t\t\t and all the cities of King Sihon of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon, as far as the boundary of the Ammonites;\r\n\t\t\t and Gilead, and the region of the Geshurites and Maacathites, and all Mount Hermon, and all Bashan to Salecah;\r\n\t\t\t all the kingdom of Og in Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth and in Edrei (he alone was left of the survivors of the Rephaim); these Moses had defeated and driven out.\r\n\t\t\t Yet the Israelites did not drive out the Geshurites or the Maacathites; but Geshur and Maacath live within Israel to this day.\r\n\t\t\t To the tribe of Levi alone Moses gave no inheritance; the offerings by fire to the LORD God of Israel are their inheritance, as he said to them.\r\n\t\t\t Moses gave an inheritance to the tribe of the Reubenites according to their clans.\r\n\t\t\t Their territory was from Aroer, which is on the edge of the Wadi Arnon, and the town that is in the middle of the valley, and all the tableland by Medeba;\r\n\t\t\t with Heshbon, and all its towns that are in the tableland; Dibon, and Bamoth-baal, and Beth-baal-meon,\r\n\t\t\t and Jahaz, and Kedemoth, and Mephaath,\r\n\t\t\t and Kiriathaim, and Sibmah, and Zereth-shahar on the hill of the valley,\r\n\t\t\t and Beth-peor, and the slopes of Pisgah, and Beth-jeshimoth,\r\n\t\t\t that is, all the towns of the tableland, and all the kingdom of King Sihon of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon, whom Moses defeated with the leaders of Midian, Evi and Rekem and Zur and Hur and Reba, as princes of Sihon, who lived in the land.\r\n\t\t\t Along with the rest of those they put to death, the Israelites also put to the sword Balaam son of Beor, who practiced divination.\r\n\t\t\t And the border of the Reubenites was the Jordan and its banks. This was the inheritance of the Reubenites, according to their families with their towns and villages.\r\n\t\t\t Moses gave an inheritance also to the tribe of the Gadites, according to their families.\r\n\t\t\t Their territory was Jazer, and all the towns of Gilead, and half the land of the Ammonites, to Aroer, which is east of Rabbah,\r\n\t\t\t and from Heshbon to Ramath-mizpeh and Betonim, and from Mahanaim to the territory of Debir, \r\n\t\t\t and in the valley Beth-haram, Beth-nimrah, Succoth, and Zaphon, the rest of the kingdom of King Sihon of Heshbon, the Jordan and its banks, as far as the lower end of the Sea of Chinnereth, eastward beyond the Jordan.\r\n\t\t\t This is the inheritance of the Gadites according to their clans, with their towns and villages.\r\n\t\t\t Moses gave an inheritance to the half-tribe of Manasseh; it was allotted to the half-tribe of the Manassites according to their families.\r\n\t\t\t Their territory extended from Mahanaim, through all Bashan, the whole kingdom of King Og of Bashan, and all the settlements of Jair, which are in Bashan, sixty towns,\r\n\t\t\t and half of Gilead, and Ashtaroth, and Edrei, the towns of the kingdom of Og in Bashan; these were allotted to the people of Machir son of Manasseh according to their clans-- for half the Machirites.\r\n\t\t\t These are the inheritances that Moses distributed in the plains of Moab, beyond the Jordan east of Jericho.\r\n\t\t\t But to the tribe of Levi Moses gave no inheritance; the LORD God of Israel is their inheritance, as he said to them.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t These are the inheritances that the Israelites received in the land of Canaan, which the priest Eleazar, and Joshua son of Nun, and the heads of the families of the tribes of the Israelites distributed to them.\r\n\t\t\t Their inheritance was by lot, as the LORD had commanded Moses for the nine and one-half tribes.\r\n\t\t\t For Moses had given an inheritance to the two and one-half tribes beyond the Jordan; but to the Levites he gave no inheritance among them.\r\n\t\t\t For the people of Joseph were two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim; and no portion was given to the Levites in the land, but only towns to live in, with their pasture lands for their flocks and herds.\r\n\t\t\t The Israelites did as the LORD commanded Moses; they allotted the land.\r\n\t\t\t Then the people of Judah came to Joshua at Gilgal; and Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, \"You know what the LORD said to Moses the man of God in Kadesh-barnea concerning you and me.\r\n\t\t\t I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh-barnea to spy out the land; and I brought him an honest report.\r\n\t\t\t But my companions who went up with me made the heart of the people melt; yet I wholeheartedly followed the LORD my God.\r\n\t\t\t And Moses swore on that day, saying, 'Surely the land on which your foot has trodden shall be an inheritance for you and your children forever, because you have wholeheartedly followed the LORD my God.'\r\n\t\t\t And now, as you see, the LORD has kept me alive, as he said, these forty-five years since the time that the LORD spoke this word to Moses, while Israel was journeying through the wilderness; and here I am today, eighty-five years old.\r\n\t\t\t I am still as strong today as I was on the day that Moses sent me; my strength now is as my strength was then, for war, and for going and coming.\r\n\t\t\t So now give me this hill country of which the LORD spoke on that day; for you heard on that day how the Anakim were there, with great fortified cities; it may be that the LORD will be with me, and I shall drive them out, as the LORD said.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Joshua blessed him, and gave Hebron to Caleb son of Jephunneh for an inheritance.\r\n\t\t\t So Hebron became the inheritance of Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite to this day, because he wholeheartedly followed the LORD, the God of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t Now the name of Hebron formerly was Kiriath-arba; this Arba was the greatest man among the Anakim. And the land had rest from war. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The lot for the tribe of the people of Judah according to their families reached southward to the boundary of Edom, to the wilderness of Zin at the farthest south.\r\n\t\t\t And their south boundary ran from the end of the Dead Sea, from the bay that faces southward; \r\n\t\t\t it goes out southward of the ascent of Akrabbim, passes along to Zin, and goes up south of Kadesh-barnea, along by Hezron, up to Addar, makes a turn to Karka,\r\n\t\t\t passes along to Azmon, goes out by the Wadi of Egypt, and comes to its end at the sea. This shall be your south boundary.\r\n\t\t\t And the east boundary is the Dead Sea, to the mouth of the Jordan. And the boundary on the north side runs from the bay of the sea at the mouth of the Jordan; \r\n\t\t\t and the boundary goes up to Beth-hoglah, and passes along north of Beth-arabah; and the boundary goes up to the Stone of Bohan, Reuben's son;\r\n\t\t\t and the boundary goes up to Debir from the Valley of Achor, and so northward, turning toward Gilgal, which is opposite the ascent of Adummim, which is on the south side of the valley; and the boundary passes along to the waters of En-shemesh, and ends at En-rogel;\r\n\t\t\t then the boundary goes up by the valley of the son of Hinnom at the southern slope of the Jebusites (that is, Jerusalem); and the boundary goes up to the top of the mountain that lies over against the valley of Hinnom, on the west, at the northern end of the valley of Rephaim;\r\n\t\t\t then the boundary extends from the top of the mountain to the spring of the Waters of Nephtoah, and from there to the towns of Mount Ephron; then the boundary bends around to Baalah (that is, Kiriath-jearim);\r\n\t\t\t and the boundary circles west of Baalah to Mount Seir, passes along to the northern slope of Mount Jearim (that is, Chesalon), and goes down to Beth-shemesh, and passes along by Timnah;\r\n\t\t\t the boundary goes out to the slope of the hill north of Ekron, then the boundary bends around to Shikkeron, and passes along to Mount Baalah, and goes out to Jabneel; then the boundary comes to an end at the sea.\r\n\t\t\t And the west boundary was the Mediterranean with its coast. This is the boundary surrounding the people of Judah according to their families.\r\n\t\t\t According to the commandment of the LORD to Joshua, he gave to Caleb son of Jephunneh a portion among the people of Judah, Kiriath-arba, that is, Hebron (Arba was the father of Anak). \r\n\t\t\t And Caleb drove out from there the three sons of Anak: Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai, the descendants of Anak.\r\n\t\t\t From there he went up against the inhabitants of Debir; now the name of Debir formerly was Kiriath-sepher.\r\n\t\t\t And Caleb said, \"Whoever attacks Kiriath-sepher and takes it, to him I will give my daughter Achsah as wife.\"\r\n\t\t\t Othniel son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, took it; and he gave him his daughter Achsah as wife.\r\n\t\t\t When she came to him, she urged him to ask her father for a field. As she dismounted from her donkey, Caleb said to her, \"What do you wish?\"\r\n\t\t\t She said to him, \"Give me a present; since you have set me in the land of the Negeb, give me springs of water as well.\" So Caleb gave her the upper springs and the lower springs.\r\n\t\t\t This is the inheritance of the tribe of the people of Judah according to their families.\r\n\t\t\t The towns belonging to the tribe of the people of Judah in the extreme South, toward the boundary of Edom, were Kabzeel, Eder, Jagur,\r\n\t\t\t Kinah, Dimonah, Adadah,\r\n\t\t\t Kedesh, Hazor, Ithnan,\r\n\t\t\t Ziph, Telem, Bealoth,\r\n\t\t\t Hazor-hadattah, Kerioth-hezron (that is, Hazor),\r\n\t\t\t Amam, Shema, Moladah,\r\n\t\t\t Hazar-gaddah, Heshmon, Beth-pelet,\r\n\t\t\t Hazar-shual, Beer-sheba, Biziothiah,\r\n\t\t\t Baalah, Iim, Ezem,\r\n\t\t\t Eltolad, Chesil, Hormah,\r\n\t\t\t Ziklag, Madmannah, Sansannah,\r\n\t\t\t Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ain, and Rimmon: in all, twenty-nine towns, with their villages.\r\n\t\t\t And in the Lowland, Eshtaol, Zorah, Ashnah,\r\n\t\t\t Zanoah, En-gannim, Tappuah, Enam,\r\n\t\t\t Jarmuth, Adullam, Socoh, Azekah,\r\n\t\t\t Shaaraim, Adithaim, Gederah, Gederothaim: fourteen towns with their villages.\r\n\t\t\t Zenan, Hadashah, Migdal-gad,\r\n\t\t\t Dilan, Mizpeh, Jokthe-el,\r\n\t\t\t Lachish, Bozkath, Eglon,\r\n\t\t\t Cabbon, Lahmam, Chitlish,\r\n\t\t\t Gederoth, Beth-dagon, Naamah, and Makkedah: sixteen towns with their villages.\r\n\t\t\t Libnah, Ether, Ashan,\r\n\t\t\t Iphtah, Ashnah, Nezib,\r\n\t\t\t Keilah, Achzib, and Mareshah: nine towns with their villages.\r\n\t\t\t Ekron, with its dependencies and its villages;\r\n\t\t\t from Ekron to the sea, all that were near Ashdod, with their villages.\r\n\t\t\t Ashdod, its towns and its villages; Gaza, its towns and its villages; to the Wadi of Egypt, and the Great Sea with its coast.\r\n\t\t\t And in the hill country, Shamir, Jattir, Socoh,\r\n\t\t\t Dannah, Kiriath-sannah (that is, Debir),\r\n\t\t\t Anab, Eshtemoh, Anim,\r\n\t\t\t Goshen, Holon, and Giloh: eleven towns with their villages.\r\n\t\t\t Arab, Dumah, Eshan,\r\n\t\t\t Janim, Beth-tappuah, Aphekah,\r\n\t\t\t Humtah, Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), and Zior: nine towns with their villages.\r\n\t\t\t Maon, Carmel, Ziph, Juttah,\r\n\t\t\t Jezreel, Jokdeam, Zanoah,\r\n\t\t\t Kain, Gibeah, and Timnah: ten towns with their villages.\r\n\t\t\t Halhul, Beth-zur, Gedor,\r\n\t\t\t Maarath, Beth-anoth, and Eltekon: six towns with their villages.\r\n\t\t\t Kiriath-baal (that is, Kiriath-jearim), and Rabbah: two towns with their villages.\r\n\t\t\t In the wilderness, Beth-arabah, Middin, Secacah,\r\n\t\t\t Nibshan, the City of Salt, and En-gedi: six towns with their villages.\r\n\t\t\t But the people of Judah could not drive out the Jebusites, the inhabitants of Jerusalem; so the Jebusites live with the people of Judah in Jerusalem to this day.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The allotment of the Josephites went from the Jordan by Jericho, east of the waters of Jericho, into the wilderness, going up from Jericho into the hill country to Bethel;\r\n\t\t\t then going from Bethel to Luz, it passes along to Ataroth, the territory of the Archites;\r\n\t\t\t then it goes down westward to the territory of the Japhletites, as far as the territory of Lower Beth-horon, then to Gezer, and it ends at the sea.\r\n\t\t\t The Josephites-- Manasseh and Ephraim-- received their inheritance.\r\n\t\t\t The territory of the Ephraimites by their families was as follows: the boundary of their inheritance on the east was Ataroth-addar as far as Upper Beth-horon,\r\n\t\t\t and the boundary goes from there to the sea; on the north is Michmethath; then on the east the boundary makes a turn toward Taanath-shiloh, and passes along beyond it on the east to Janoah,\r\n\t\t\t then it goes down from Janoah to Ataroth and to Naarah, and touches Jericho, ending at the Jordan.\r\n\t\t\t From Tappuah the boundary goes westward to the Wadi Kanah, and ends at the sea. Such is the inheritance of the tribe of the Ephraimites by their families,\r\n\t\t\t together with the towns that were set apart for the Ephraimites within the inheritance of the Manassites, all those towns with their villages.\r\n\t\t\t They did not, however, drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer: so the Canaanites have lived within Ephraim to this day but have been made to do forced labor.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then allotment was made to the tribe of Manasseh, for he was the firstborn of Joseph. To Machir the firstborn of Manasseh, the father of Gilead, were allotted Gilead and Bashan, because he was a warrior.\r\n\t\t\t And allotments were made to the rest of the tribe of Manasseh, by their families, Abiezer, Helek, Asriel, Shechem, Hepher, and Shemida; these were the male descendants of Manasseh son of Joseph, by their families.\r\n\t\t\t Now Zelophehad son of Hepher son of Gilead son of Machir son of Manasseh had no sons, but only daughters; and these are the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.\r\n\t\t\t They came before the priest Eleazar and Joshua son of Nun and the leaders, and said, \"The LORD commanded Moses to give us an inheritance along with our male kin.\" So according to the commandment of the LORD he gave them an inheritance among the kinsmen of their father.\r\n\t\t\t Thus there fell to Manasseh ten portions, besides the land of Gilead and Bashan, which is on the other side of the Jordan,\r\n\t\t\t because the daughters of Manasseh received an inheritance along with his sons. The land of Gilead was allotted to the rest of the Manassites.\r\n\t\t\t The territory of Manasseh reached from Asher to Michmethath, which is east of Shechem; then the boundary goes along southward to the inhabitants of En-tappuah.\r\n\t\t\t The land of Tappuah belonged to Manasseh, but the town of Tappuah on the boundary of Manasseh belonged to the Ephraimites.\r\n\t\t\t Then the boundary went down to the Wadi Kanah. The towns here, to the south of the wadi, among the towns of Manasseh, belong to Ephraim. Then the boundary of Manasseh goes along the north side of the wadi and ends at the sea.\r\n\t\t\t The land to the south is Ephraim's and that to the north is Manasseh's, with the sea forming its boundary; on the north Asher is reached, and on the east Issachar.\r\n\t\t\t Within Issachar and Asher, Manasseh had Beth-shean and its villages, Ibleam and its villages, the inhabitants of Dor and its villages, the inhabitants of En-dor and its villages, the inhabitants of Taanach and its villages, and the inhabitants of Megiddo and its villages (the third is Naphath). \r\n\t\t\t Yet the Manassites could not take possession of those towns; but the Canaanites continued to live in that land.\r\n\t\t\t But when the Israelites grew strong, they put the Canaanites to forced labor, but did not utterly drive them out.\r\n\t\t\t The tribe of Joseph spoke to Joshua, saying, \"Why have you given me but one lot and one portion as an inheritance, since we are a numerous people, whom all along the LORD has blessed?\"\r\n\t\t\t And Joshua said to them, \"If you are a numerous people, go up to the forest, and clear ground there for yourselves in the land of the Perizzites and the Rephaim, since the hill country of Ephraim is too narrow for you.\"\r\n\t\t\t The tribe of Joseph said, \"The hill country is not enough for us; yet all the Canaanites who live in the plain have chariots of iron, both those in Beth-shean and its villages and those in the Valley of Jezreel.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Joshua said to the house of Joseph, to Ephraim and Manasseh, \"You are indeed a numerous people, and have great power; you shall not have one lot only,\r\n\t\t\t but the hill country shall be yours, for though it is a forest, you shall clear it and possess it to its farthest borders; for you shall drive out the Canaanites, though they have chariots of iron, and though they are strong.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then the whole congregation of the Israelites assembled at Shiloh, and set up the tent of meeting there. The land lay subdued before them.\r\n\t\t\t There remained among the Israelites seven tribes whose inheritance had not yet been apportioned.\r\n\t\t\t So Joshua said to the Israelites, \"How long will you be slack about going in and taking possession of the land that the LORD, the God of your ancestors, has given you?\r\n\t\t\t Provide three men from each tribe, and I will send them out that they may begin to go throughout the land, writing a description of it with a view to their inheritances. Then come back to me.\r\n\t\t\t They shall divide it into seven portions, Judah continuing in its territory on the south, and the house of Joseph in their territory on the north.\r\n\t\t\t You shall describe the land in seven divisions and bring the description here to me; and I will cast lots for you here before the LORD our God.\r\n\t\t\t The Levites have no portion among you, for the priesthood of the LORD is their heritage; and Gad and Reuben and the half-tribe of Manasseh have received their inheritance beyond the Jordan eastward, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave them.\"\r\n\t\t\t So the men started on their way; and Joshua charged those who went to write the description of the land, saying, \"Go throughout the land and write a description of it, and come back to me; and I will cast lots for you here before the LORD in Shiloh.\"\r\n\t\t\t So the men went and traversed the land and set down in a book a description of it by towns in seven divisions; then they came back to Joshua in the camp at Shiloh,\r\n\t\t\t and Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh before the LORD; and there Joshua apportioned the land to the Israelites, to each a portion.\r\n\t\t\t The lot of the tribe of Benjamin according to its families came up, and the territory allotted to it fell between the tribe of Judah and the tribe of Joseph.\r\n\t\t\t On the north side their boundary began at the Jordan; then the boundary goes up to the slope of Jericho on the north, then up through the hill country westward; and it ends at the wilderness of Beth-aven.\r\n\t\t\t From there the boundary passes along southward in the direction of Luz, to the slope of Luz (that is, Bethel), then the boundary goes down to Ataroth-addar, on the mountain that lies south of Lower Beth-horon.\r\n\t\t\t Then the boundary goes in another direction, turning on the western side southward from the mountain that lies to the south, opposite Beth-horon, and it ends at Kiriath-baal (that is, Kiriath-jearim), a town belonging to the tribe of Judah. This forms the western side.\r\n\t\t\t The southern side begins at the outskirts of Kiriath-jearim; and the boundary goes from there to Ephron, to the spring of the Waters of Nephtoah; \r\n\t\t\t then the boundary goes down to the border of the mountain that overlooks the valley of the son of Hinnom, which is at the north end of the valley of Rephaim; and it then goes down the valley of Hinnom, south of the slope of the Jebusites, and downward to En-rogel;\r\n\t\t\t then it bends in a northerly direction going on to En-shemesh, and from there goes to Geliloth, which is opposite the ascent of Adummim; then it goes down to the Stone of Bohan, Reuben's son;\r\n\t\t\t and passing on to the north of the slope of Beth-arabah it goes down to the Arabah; \r\n\t\t\t then the boundary passes on to the north of the slope of Beth-hoglah; and the boundary ends at the northern bay of the Dead Sea, at the south end of the Jordan: this is the southern border.\r\n\t\t\t The Jordan forms its boundary on the eastern side. This is the inheritance of the tribe of Benjamin, according to its families, boundary by boundary all around.\r\n\t\t\t Now the towns of the tribe of Benjamin according to their families were Jericho, Beth-hoglah, Emek-keziz,\r\n\t\t\t Beth-arabah, Zemaraim, Bethel,\r\n\t\t\t Avvim, Parah, Ophrah,\r\n\t\t\t Chephar-ammoni, Ophni, and Geba-- twelve towns with their villages:\r\n\t\t\t Gibeon, Ramah, Beeroth,\r\n\t\t\t Mizpeh, Chephirah, Mozah,\r\n\t\t\t Rekem, Irpeel, Taralah,\r\n\t\t\t Zela, Haeleph, Jebus (that is, Jerusalem), Gibeah and Kiriath-jearim-- fourteen towns with their villages. This is the inheritance of the tribe of Benjamin according to its families.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The second lot came out for Simeon, for the tribe of Simeon, according to its families; its inheritance lay within the inheritance of the tribe of Judah.\r\n\t\t\t It had for its inheritance Beer-sheba, Sheba, Moladah,\r\n\t\t\t Hazar-shual, Balah, Ezem,\r\n\t\t\t Eltolad, Bethul, Hormah,\r\n\t\t\t Ziklag, Beth-marcaboth, Hazar-susah,\r\n\t\t\t Beth-lebaoth, and Sharuhen-- thirteen towns with their villages;\r\n\t\t\t Ain, Rimmon, Ether, and Ashan-- four towns with their villages;\r\n\t\t\t together with all the villages all around these towns as far as Baalath-beer, Ramah of the Negeb. This was the inheritance of the tribe of Simeon according to its families.\r\n\t\t\t The inheritance of the tribe of Simeon formed part of the territory of Judah; because the portion of the tribe of Judah was too large for them, the tribe of Simeon obtained an inheritance within their inheritance.\r\n\t\t\t The third lot came up for the tribe of Zebulun, according to its families. The boundary of its inheritance reached as far as Sarid;\r\n\t\t\t then its boundary goes up westward, and on to Maralah, and touches Dabbesheth, then the wadi that is east of Jokneam;\r\n\t\t\t from Sarid it goes in the other direction eastward toward the sunrise to the boundary of Chisloth-tabor; from there it goes to Daberath, then up to Japhia;\r\n\t\t\t from there it passes along on the east toward the sunrise to Gath-hepher, to Eth-kazin, and going on to Rimmon it bends toward Neah;\r\n\t\t\t then on the north the boundary makes a turn to Hannathon, and it ends at the valley of Iphtah-el;\r\n\t\t\t and Kattath, Nahalal, Shimron, Idalah, and Bethlehem-- twelve towns with their villages.\r\n\t\t\t This is the inheritance of the tribe of Zebulun, according to its families-- these towns with their villages.\r\n\t\t\t The fourth lot came out for Issachar, for the tribe of Issachar, according to its families.\r\n\t\t\t Its territory included Jezreel, Chesulloth, Shunem,\r\n\t\t\t Hapharaim, Shion, Anaharath,\r\n\t\t\t Rabbith, Kishion, Ebez,\r\n\t\t\t Remeth, En-gannim, En-haddah, Beth-pazzez;\r\n\t\t\t the boundary also touches Tabor, Shahazumah, and Beth-shemesh, and its boundary ends at the Jordan-- sixteen towns with their villages.\r\n\t\t\t This is the inheritance of the tribe of Issachar, according to its families-- the towns with their villages.\r\n\t\t\t The fifth lot came out for the tribe of Asher according to its families.\r\n\t\t\t Its boundary included Helkath, Hali, Beten, Achshaph,\r\n\t\t\t Allammelech, Amad, and Mishal; on the west it touches Carmel and Shihor-libnath,\r\n\t\t\t then it turns eastward, goes to Beth-dagon, and touches Zebulun and the valley of Iphtah-el northward to Beth-emek and Neiel; then it continues in the north to Cabul,\r\n\t\t\t Ebron, Rehob, Hammon, Kanah, as far as Great Sidon;\r\n\t\t\t then the boundary turns to Ramah, reaching to the fortified city of Tyre; then the boundary turns to Hosah, and it ends at the sea; Mahalab, Achzib, \r\n\t\t\t Ummah, Aphek, and Rehob-- twenty-two towns with their villages.\r\n\t\t\t This is the inheritance of the tribe of Asher according to its families-- these towns with their villages.\r\n\t\t\t The sixth lot came out for the tribe of Naphtali, for the tribe of Naphtali, according to its families.\r\n\t\t\t And its boundary ran from Heleph, from the oak in Zaanannim, and Adami-nekeb, and Jabneel, as far as Lakkum; and it ended at the Jordan;\r\n\t\t\t then the boundary turns westward to Aznoth-tabor, and goes from there to Hukkok, touching Zebulun at the south, and Asher on the west, and Judah on the east at the Jordan.\r\n\t\t\t The fortified towns are Ziddim, Zer, Hammath, Rakkath, Chinnereth,\r\n\t\t\t Adamah, Ramah, Hazor,\r\n\t\t\t Kedesh, Edrei, En-hazor,\r\n\t\t\t Iron, Migdal-el, Horem, Beth-anath, and Beth-shemesh-- nineteen towns with their villages.\r\n\t\t\t This is the inheritance of the tribe of Naphtali according to its families-- the towns with their villages.\r\n\t\t\t The seventh lot came out for the tribe of Dan, according to its families.\r\n\t\t\t The territory of its inheritance included Zorah, Eshtaol, Ir-shemesh,\r\n\t\t\t Shaalabbin, Aijalon, Ithlah,\r\n\t\t\t Elon, Timnah, Ekron,\r\n\t\t\t Eltekeh, Gibbethon, Baalath,\r\n\t\t\t Jehud, Bene-berak, Gath-rimmon,\r\n\t\t\t Me-jarkon, and Rakkon at the border opposite Joppa.\r\n\t\t\t When the territory of the Danites was lost to them, the Danites went up and fought against Leshem, and after capturing it and putting it to the sword, they took possession of it and settled in it, calling Leshem, Dan, after their ancestor Dan.\r\n\t\t\t This is the inheritance of the tribe of Dan, according to their families-- these towns with their villages.\r\n\t\t\t When they had finished distributing the several territories of the land as inheritances, the Israelites gave an inheritance among them to Joshua son of Nun.\r\n\t\t\t By command of the LORD they gave him the town that he asked for, Timnath-serah in the hill country of Ephraim; he rebuilt the town, and settled in it.\r\n\t\t\t These are the inheritances that the priest Eleazar and Joshua son of Nun and the heads of the families of the tribes of the Israelites distributed by lot at Shiloh before the LORD, at the entrance of the tent of meeting. So they finished dividing the land.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD spoke to Joshua, saying,\r\n\t\t\t \"Say to the Israelites, 'Appoint the cities of refuge, of which I spoke to you through Moses,\r\n\t\t\t so that anyone who kills a person without intent or by mistake may flee there; they shall be for you a refuge from the avenger of blood.\r\n\t\t\t The slayer shall flee to one of these cities and shall stand at the entrance of the gate of the city, and explain the case to the elders of that city; then the fugitive shall be taken into the city, and given a place, and shall remain with them.\r\n\t\t\t And if the avenger of blood is in pursuit, they shall not give up the slayer, because the neighbor was killed by mistake, there having been no enmity between them before.\r\n\t\t\t The slayer shall remain in that city until there is a trial before the congregation, until the death of the one who is high priest at the time: then the slayer may return home, to the town in which the deed was done.'\"\r\n\t\t\t So they set apart Kedesh in Galilee in the hill country of Naphtali, and Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the hill country of Judah.\r\n\t\t\t And beyond the Jordan east of Jericho, they appointed Bezer in the wilderness on the tableland, from the tribe of Reuben, and Ramoth in Gilead, from the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan, from the tribe of Manasseh.\r\n\t\t\t These were the cities designated for all the Israelites, and for the aliens residing among them, that anyone who killed a person without intent could flee there, so as not to die by the hand of the avenger of blood, until there was a trial before the congregation.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then the heads of the families of the Levites came to the priest Eleazar and to Joshua son of Nun and to the heads of the families of the tribes of the Israelites;\r\n\t\t\t they said to them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan, \"The LORD commanded through Moses that we be given towns to live in, along with their pasture lands for our livestock.\"\r\n\t\t\t So by command of the LORD the Israelites gave to the Levites the following towns and pasture lands out of their inheritance.\r\n\t\t\t The lot came out for the families of the Kohathites. So those Levites who were descendants of Aaron the priest received by lot thirteen towns from the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin.\r\n\t\t\t The rest of the Kohathites received by lot ten towns from the families of the tribe of Ephraim, from the tribe of Dan, and the half-tribe of Manasseh.\r\n\t\t\t The Gershonites received by lot thirteen towns from the families of the tribe of Issachar, from the tribe of Asher, from the tribe of Naphtali, and from the half-tribe of Manasseh in Bashan.\r\n\t\t\t The Merarites according to their families received twelve towns from the tribe of Reuben, the tribe of Gad, and the tribe of Zebulun.\r\n\t\t\t These towns and their pasture lands the Israelites gave by lot to the Levites, as the LORD had commanded through Moses.\r\n\t\t\t Out of the tribe of Judah and the tribe of Simeon they gave the following towns mentioned by name,\r\n\t\t\t which went to the descendants of Aaron, one of the families of the Kohathites who belonged to the Levites, since the lot fell to them first.\r\n\t\t\t They gave them Kiriath-arba (Arba being the father of Anak), that is Hebron, in the hill country of Judah, along with the pasture lands around it.\r\n\t\t\t But the fields of the town and its villages had been given to Caleb son of Jephunneh as his holding.\r\n\t\t\t To the descendants of Aaron the priest they gave Hebron, the city of refuge for the slayer, with its pasture lands, Libnah with its pasture lands,\r\n\t\t\t Jattir with its pasture lands, Eshtemoa with its pasture lands,\r\n\t\t\t Holon with its pasture lands, Debir with its pasture lands,\r\n\t\t\t Ain with its pasture lands, Juttah with its pasture lands, and Beth-shemesh with its pasture lands-- nine towns out of these two tribes.\r\n\t\t\t Out of the tribe of Benjamin: Gibeon with its pasture lands, Geba with its pasture lands,\r\n\t\t\t Anathoth with its pasture lands, and Almon with its pasture lands-- four towns.\r\n\t\t\t The towns of the descendants of Aaron-- the priests-- were thirteen in all, with their pasture lands.\r\n\t\t\t As to the rest of the Kohathites belonging to the Kohathite families of the Levites, the towns allotted to them were out of the tribe of Ephraim.\r\n\t\t\t To them were given Shechem, the city of refuge for the slayer, with its pasture lands in the hill country of Ephraim, Gezer with its pasture lands,\r\n\t\t\t Kibzaim with its pasture lands, and Beth-horon with its pasture lands-- four towns.\r\n\t\t\t Out of the tribe of Dan: Elteke with its pasture lands, Gibbethon with its pasture lands,\r\n\t\t\t Aijalon with its pasture lands, Gath-rimmon with its pasture lands-- four towns.\r\n\t\t\t Out of the half-tribe of Manasseh: Taanach with its pasture lands, and Gath-rimmon with its pasture lands-- two towns.\r\n\t\t\t The towns of the families of the rest of the Kohathites were ten in all, with their pasture lands.\r\n\t\t\t To the Gershonites, one of the families of the Levites, were given out of the half-tribe of Manasseh, Golan in Bashan with its pasture lands, the city of refuge for the slayer, and Beeshterah with its pasture lands-- two towns.\r\n\t\t\t Out of the tribe of Issachar: Kishion with its pasture lands, Daberath with its pasture lands,\r\n\t\t\t Jarmuth with its pasture lands, En-gannim with its pasture lands-- four towns;\r\n\t\t\t Out of the tribe of Asher: Mishal with its pasture lands, Abdon with its pasture lands,\r\n\t\t\t Helkath with its pasture lands, and Rehob with its pasture lands-- four towns.\r\n\t\t\t Out of the tribe of Naphtali: Kedesh in Galilee with its pasture lands, the city of refuge for the slayer, Hammoth-dor with its pasture lands, and Kartan with its pasture lands-- three towns.\r\n\t\t\t The towns of the several families of the Gershonites were in all thirteen, with their pasture lands.\r\n\t\t\t To the rest of the Levites-- the Merarite families-- were given out of the tribe of Zebulun: Jokneam with its pasture lands, Kartah with its pasture lands,\r\n\t\t\t Dimnah with its pasture lands, Nahalal with its pasture lands-- four towns.\r\n\t\t\t Out of the tribe of Reuben: Bezer with its pasture lands, Jahzah with its pasture lands,\r\n\t\t\t Kedemoth with its pasture lands, and Mephaath with its pasture lands-- four towns.\r\n\t\t\t Out of the tribe of Gad: Ramoth in Gilead with its pasture lands, the city of refuge for the slayer, Mahanaim with its pasture lands,\r\n\t\t\t Heshbon with its pasture lands, Jazer with its pasture lands-- four towns in all.\r\n\t\t\t As for the towns of the several Merarite families, that is, the remainder of the families of the Levites, those allotted to them were twelve in all.\r\n\t\t\t The towns of the Levites within the holdings of the Israelites were in all forty-eight towns with their pasture lands.\r\n\t\t\t Each of these towns had its pasture lands around it; so it was with all these towns.\r\n\t\t\t Thus the LORD gave to Israel all the land that he swore to their ancestors that he would give them; and having taken possession of it, they settled there.\r\n\t\t\t And the LORD gave them rest on every side just as he had sworn to their ancestors; not one of all their enemies had withstood them, for the LORD had given all their enemies into their hands.\r\n\t\t\t Not one of all the good promises that the LORD had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then Joshua summoned the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh,\r\n\t\t\t and said to them, \"You have observed all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, and have obeyed me in all that I have commanded you;\r\n\t\t\t you have not forsaken your kindred these many days, down to this day, but have been careful to keep the charge of the LORD your God.\r\n\t\t\t And now the LORD your God has given rest to your kindred, as he promised them; therefore turn and go to your tents in the land where your possession lies, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you on the other side of the Jordan.\r\n\t\t\t Take good care to observe the commandment and instruction that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, to love the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to keep his commandments, and to hold fast to him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Joshua blessed them and sent them away, and they went to their tents.\r\n\t\t\t Now to the one half of the tribe of Manasseh Moses had given a possession in Bashan; but to the other half Joshua had given a possession beside their fellow Israelites in the land west of the Jordan. And when Joshua sent them away to their tents and blessed them,\r\n\t\t\t he said to them, \"Go back to your tents with much wealth, and with very much livestock, with silver, gold, bronze, and iron, and with a great quantity of clothing; divide the spoil of your enemies with your kindred.\"\r\n\t\t\t So the Reubenites and the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh returned home, parting from the Israelites at Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan, to go to the land of Gilead, their own land of which they had taken possession by command of the LORD through Moses.\r\n\t\t\t When they came to the region near the Jordan that lies in the land of Canaan, the Reubenites and the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh built there an altar by the Jordan, an altar of great size. \r\n\t\t\t The Israelites heard that the Reubenites and the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh had built an altar at the frontier of the land of Canaan, in the region near the Jordan, on the side that belongs to the Israelites. \r\n\t\t\t And when the people of Israel heard of it, the whole assembly of the Israelites gathered at Shiloh, to make war against them.\r\n\t\t\t Then the Israelites sent the priest Phinehas son of Eleazar to the Reubenites and the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh, in the land of Gilead,\r\n\t\t\t and with him ten chiefs, one from each of the tribal families of Israel, every one of them the head of a family among the clans of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t They came to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, in the land of Gilead, and they said to them,\r\n\t\t\t \"Thus says the whole congregation of the LORD, 'What is this treachery that you have committed against the God of Israel in turning away today from following the LORD, by building yourselves an altar today in rebellion against the LORD?\r\n\t\t\t Have we not had enough of the sin at Peor from which even yet we have not cleansed ourselves, and for which a plague came upon the congregation of the LORD,\r\n\t\t\t that you must turn away today from following the LORD! If you rebel against the LORD today, he will be angry with the whole congregation of Israel tomorrow.\r\n\t\t\t But now, if your land is unclean, cross over into the LORD's land where the LORD's tabernacle now stands, and take for yourselves a possession among us; only do not rebel against the LORD, or rebel against us by building yourselves an altar other than the altar of the LORD our God. \r\n\t\t\t Did not Achan son of Zerah break faith in the matter of the devoted things, and wrath fell upon all the congregation of Israel? And he did not perish alone for his iniquity!'\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh said in answer to the heads of the families of Israel,\r\n\t\t\t \"The LORD, God of gods! The LORD, God of gods! He knows; and let Israel itself know! If it was in rebellion or in breach of faith toward the LORD, do not spare us today\r\n\t\t\t for building an altar to turn away from following the LORD; or if we did so to offer burnt offerings or grain offerings or offerings of well-being on it, may the LORD himself take vengeance.\r\n\t\t\t No! We did it from fear that in time to come your children might say to our children, 'What have you to do with the LORD, the God of Israel?\r\n\t\t\t For the LORD has made the Jordan a boundary between us and you, you Reubenites and Gadites; you have no portion in the LORD.' So your children might make our children cease to worship the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore we said, 'Let us now build an altar, not for burnt offering, nor for sacrifice,\r\n\t\t\t but to be a witness between us and you, and between the generations after us, that we do perform the service of the LORD in his presence with our burnt offerings and sacrifices and offerings of well-being; so that your children may never say to our children in time to come, \"You have no portion in the LORD.\"'\r\n\t\t\t And we thought, If this should be said to us or to our descendants in time to come, we could say, 'Look at this copy of the altar of the LORD, which our ancestors made, not for burnt offerings, nor for sacrifice, but to be a witness between us and you.'\r\n\t\t\t Far be it from us that we should rebel against the LORD, and turn away this day from following the LORD by building an altar for burnt offering, grain offering, or sacrifice, other than the altar of the LORD our God that stands before his tabernacle!\"\r\n\t\t\t When the priest Phinehas and the chiefs of the congregation, the heads of the families of Israel who were with him, heard the words that the Reubenites and the Gadites and the Manassites spoke, they were satisfied.\r\n\t\t\t The priest Phinehas son of Eleazar said to the Reubenites and the Gadites and the Manassites, \"Today we know that the LORD is among us, because you have not committed this treachery against the LORD; now you have saved the Israelites from the hand of the LORD.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the priest Phinehas son of Eleazar and the chiefs returned from the Reubenites and the Gadites in the land of Gilead to the land of Canaan, to the Israelites, and brought back word to them.\r\n\t\t\t The report pleased the Israelites; and the Israelites blessed God and spoke no more of making war against them, to destroy the land where the Reubenites and the Gadites were settled.\r\n\t\t\t The Reubenites and the Gadites called the altar Witness; \"For,\" said they, \"it is a witness between us that the LORD is God.\" \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t A long time afterward, when the LORD had given rest to Israel from all their enemies all around, and Joshua was old and well advanced in years,\r\n\t\t\t Joshua summoned all Israel, their elders and heads, their judges and officers, and said to them, \"I am now old and well advanced in years;\r\n\t\t\t and you have seen all that the LORD your God has done to all these nations for your sake, for it is the LORD your God who has fought for you.\r\n\t\t\t I have allotted to you as an inheritance for your tribes those nations that remain, along with all the nations that I have already cut off, from the Jordan to the Great Sea in the west.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD your God will push them back before you, and drive them out of your sight; and you shall possess their land, as the LORD your God promised you.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore be very steadfast to observe and do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, turning aside from it neither to the right nor to the left,\r\n\t\t\t so that you may not be mixed with these nations left here among you, or make mention of the names of their gods, or swear by them, or serve them, or bow yourselves down to them,\r\n\t\t\t but hold fast to the LORD your God, as you have done to this day.\r\n\t\t\t For the LORD has driven out before you great and strong nations; and as for you, no one has been able to withstand you to this day.\r\n\t\t\t One of you puts to flight a thousand, since it is the LORD your God who fights for you, as he promised you.\r\n\t\t\t Be very careful, therefore, to love the LORD your God.\r\n\t\t\t For if you turn back, and join the survivors of these nations left here among you, and intermarry with them, so that you marry their women and they yours,\r\n\t\t\t know assuredly that the LORD your God will not continue to drive out these nations before you; but they shall be a snare and a trap for you, a scourge on your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from this good land that the LORD your God has given you.\r\n\t\t\t \"And now I am about to go the way of all the earth, and you know in your hearts and souls, all of you, that not one thing has failed of all the good things that the LORD your God promised concerning you; all have come to pass for you, not one of them has failed.\r\n\t\t\t But just as all the good things that the LORD your God promised concerning you have been fulfilled for you, so the LORD will bring upon you all the bad things, until he has destroyed you from this good land that the LORD your God has given you.\r\n\t\t\t If you transgress the covenant of the LORD your God, which he enjoined on you, and go and serve other gods and bow down to them, then the anger of the LORD will be kindled against you, and you shall perish quickly from the good land that he has given to you.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and summoned the elders, the heads, the judges, and the officers of Israel; and they presented themselves before God.\r\n\t\t\t And Joshua said to all the people, \"Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Long ago your ancestors-- Terah and his sons Abraham and Nahor-- lived beyond the Euphrates and served other gods.\r\n\t\t\t Then I took your father Abraham from beyond the River and led him through all the land of Canaan and made his offspring many. I gave him Isaac;\r\n\t\t\t and to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. I gave Esau the hill country of Seir to possess, but Jacob and his children went down to Egypt.\r\n\t\t\t Then I sent Moses and Aaron, and I plagued Egypt with what I did in its midst; and afterwards I brought you out.\r\n\t\t\t When I brought your ancestors out of Egypt, you came to the sea; and the Egyptians pursued your ancestors with chariots and horsemen to the Red Sea. \r\n\t\t\t When they cried out to the LORD, he put darkness between you and the Egyptians, and made the sea come upon them and cover them; and your eyes saw what I did to Egypt. Afterwards you lived in the wilderness a long time.\r\n\t\t\t Then I brought you to the land of the Amorites, who lived on the other side of the Jordan; they fought with you, and I handed them over to you, and you took possession of their land, and I destroyed them before you.\r\n\t\t\t Then King Balak son of Zippor of Moab, set out to fight against Israel. He sent and invited Balaam son of Beor to curse you,\r\n\t\t\t but I would not listen to Balaam; therefore he blessed you; so I rescued you out of his hand.\r\n\t\t\t When you went over the Jordan and came to Jericho, the citizens of Jericho fought against you, and also the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Girgashites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; and I handed them over to you.\r\n\t\t\t I sent the hornet ahead of you, which drove out before you the two kings of the Amorites; it was not by your sword or by your bow.\r\n\t\t\t I gave you a land on which you had not labored, and towns that you had not built, and you live in them; you eat the fruit of vineyards and oliveyards that you did not plant.\r\n\t\t\t \"Now therefore revere the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness; put away the gods that your ancestors served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Now if you are unwilling to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served in the region beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the people answered, \"Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD to serve other gods;\r\n\t\t\t for it is the LORD our God who brought us and our ancestors up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and who did those great signs in our sight. He protected us along all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed;\r\n\t\t\t and the LORD drove out before us all the peoples, the Amorites who lived in the land. Therefore we also will serve the LORD, for he is our God.\"\r\n\t\t\t But Joshua said to the people, \"You cannot serve the LORD, for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions or your sins.\r\n\t\t\t If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you harm, and consume you, after having done you good.\"\r\n\t\t\t And the people said to Joshua, \"No, we will serve the LORD!\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Joshua said to the people, \"You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the LORD, to serve him.\" And they said, \"We are witnesses.\"\r\n\t\t\t He said, \"Then put away the foreign gods that are among you, and incline your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel.\"\r\n\t\t\t The people said to Joshua, \"The LORD our God we will serve, and him we will obey.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and made statutes and ordinances for them at Shechem.\r\n\t\t\t Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God; and he took a large stone, and set it up there under the oak in the sanctuary of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Joshua said to all the people, \"See, this stone shall be a witness against us; for it has heard all the words of the LORD that he spoke to us; therefore it shall be a witness against you, if you deal falsely with your God.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Joshua sent the people away to their inheritances.\r\n\t\t\t After these things Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being one hundred ten years old.\r\n\t\t\t They buried him in his own inheritance at Timnath-serah, which is in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash.\r\n\t\t\t Israel served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua and had known all the work that the LORD did for Israel.\r\n\t\t\t The bones of Joseph, which the Israelites had brought up from Egypt, were buried at Shechem, in the portion of ground that Jacob had bought from the children of Hamor, the father of Shechem, for one hundred pieces of money; it became an inheritance of the descendants of Joseph. \r\n\t\t\t Eleazar son of Aaron died; and they buried him at Gibeah, the town of his son Phinehas, which had been given him in the hill country of Ephraim.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t After the death of Joshua, the Israelites inquired of the LORD, \"Who shall go up first for us against the Canaanites, to fight against them?\"\r\n\t\t\t The LORD said, \"Judah shall go up. I hereby give the land into his hand.\"\r\n\t\t\t Judah said to his brother Simeon, \"Come up with me into the territory allotted to me, that we may fight against the Canaanites; then I too will go with you into the territory allotted to you.\" So Simeon went with him.\r\n\t\t\t Then Judah went up and the LORD gave the Canaanites and the Perizzites into their hand; and they defeated ten thousand of them at Bezek.\r\n\t\t\t They came upon Adoni-bezek at Bezek, and fought against him, and defeated the Canaanites and the Perizzites.\r\n\t\t\t Adoni-bezek fled; but they pursued him, and caught him, and cut off his thumbs and big toes.\r\n\t\t\t Adoni-bezek said, \"Seventy kings with their thumbs and big toes cut off used to pick up scraps under my table; as I have done, so God has paid me back.\" They brought him to Jerusalem, and he died there.\r\n\t\t\t Then the people of Judah fought against Jerusalem and took it. They put it to the sword and set the city on fire.\r\n\t\t\t Afterward the people of Judah went down to fight against the Canaanites who lived in the hill country, in the Negeb, and in the lowland.\r\n\t\t\t Judah went against the Canaanites who lived in Hebron (the name of Hebron was formerly Kiriath-arba); and they defeated Sheshai and Ahiman and Talmai.\r\n\t\t\t From there they went against the inhabitants of Debir (the name of Debir was formerly Kiriath-sepher).\r\n\t\t\t Then Caleb said, \"Whoever attacks Kiriath-sepher and takes it, I will give him my daughter Achsah as wife.\"\r\n\t\t\t And Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother, took it; and he gave him his daughter Achsah as wife.\r\n\t\t\t When she came to him, she urged him to ask her father for a field. As she dismounted from her donkey, Caleb said to her, \"What do you wish?\"\r\n\t\t\t She said to him, \"Give me a present; since you have set me in the land of the Negeb, give me also Gulloth-mayim.\" So Caleb gave her Upper Gulloth and Lower Gulloth. \r\n\t\t\t The descendants of Hobab the Kenite, Moses' father-in-law, went up with the people of Judah from the city of palms into the wilderness of Judah, which lies in the Negeb near Arad. Then they went and settled with the Amalekites. \r\n\t\t\t Judah went with his brother Simeon, and they defeated the Canaanites who inhabited Zephath, and devoted it to destruction. So the city was called Hormah.\r\n\t\t\t Judah took Gaza with its territory, Ashkelon with its territory, and Ekron with its territory.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD was with Judah, and he took possession of the hill country, but could not drive out the inhabitants of the plain, because they had chariots of iron.\r\n\t\t\t Hebron was given to Caleb, as Moses had said; and he drove out from it the three sons of Anak.\r\n\t\t\t But the Benjaminites did not drive out the Jebusites who lived in Jerusalem; so the Jebusites have lived in Jerusalem among the Benjaminites to this day.\r\n\t\t\t The house of Joseph also went up against Bethel; and the LORD was with them.\r\n\t\t\t The house of Joseph sent out spies to Bethel (the name of the city was formerly Luz).\r\n\t\t\t When the spies saw a man coming out of the city, they said to him, \"Show us the way into the city, and we will deal kindly with you.\"\r\n\t\t\t So he showed them the way into the city; and they put the city to the sword, but they let the man and all his family go.\r\n\t\t\t So the man went to the land of the Hittites and built a city, and named it Luz; that is its name to this day.\r\n\t\t\t Manasseh did not drive out the inhabitants of Beth-shean and its villages, or Taanach and its villages, or the inhabitants of Dor and its villages, or the inhabitants of Ibleam and its villages, or the inhabitants of Megiddo and its villages; but the Canaanites continued to live in that land.\r\n\t\t\t When Israel grew strong, they put the Canaanites to forced labor, but did not in fact drive them out.\r\n\t\t\t And Ephraim did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer; but the Canaanites lived among them in Gezer.\r\n\t\t\t Zebulun did not drive out the inhabitants of Kitron, or the inhabitants of Nahalol; but the Canaanites lived among them, and became subject to forced labor.\r\n\t\t\t Asher did not drive out the inhabitants of Acco, or the inhabitants of Sidon, or of Ahlab, or of Achzib, or of Helbah, or of Aphik, or of Rehob;\r\n\t\t\t but the Asherites lived among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land; for they did not drive them out.\r\n\t\t\t Naphtali did not drive out the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh, or the inhabitants of Beth-anath, but lived among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land; nevertheless the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh and of Beth-anath became subject to forced labor for them.\r\n\t\t\t The Amorites pressed the Danites back into the hill country; they did not allow them to come down to the plain.\r\n\t\t\t The Amorites continued to live in Har-heres, in Aijalon, and in Shaalbim, but the hand of the house of Joseph rested heavily on them, and they became subject to forced labor.\r\n\t\t\t The border of the Amorites ran from the ascent of Akrabbim, from Sela and upward.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now the angel of the LORD went up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, \"I brought you up from Egypt, and brought you into the land that I had promised to your ancestors. I said, 'I will never break my covenant with you.\r\n\t\t\t For your part, do not make a covenant with the inhabitants of this land; tear down their altars.' But you have not obeyed my command. See what you have done!\r\n\t\t\t So now I say, I will not drive them out before you; but they shall become adversaries to you, and their gods shall be a snare to you.\" \r\n\t\t\t When the angel of the LORD spoke these words to all the Israelites, the people lifted up their voices and wept.\r\n\t\t\t So they named that place Bochim, and there they sacrificed to the LORD. \r\n\t\t\t When Joshua dismissed the people, the Israelites all went to their own inheritances to take possession of the land.\r\n\t\t\t The people worshiped the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great work that the LORD had done for Israel.\r\n\t\t\t Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died at the age of one hundred ten years.\r\n\t\t\t So they buried him within the bounds of his inheritance in Timnath-heres, in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash.\r\n\t\t\t Moreover, that whole generation was gathered to their ancestors, and another generation grew up after them, who did not know the LORD or the work that he had done for Israel.\r\n\t\t\t Then the Israelites did what was evil in the sight of the LORD and worshiped the Baals;\r\n\t\t\t and they abandoned the LORD, the 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 were all around them, and bowed down to them; and they provoked the LORD to anger.\r\n\t\t\t They abandoned the LORD, and worshiped Baal and the Astartes.\r\n\t\t\t So the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he gave them over to plunderers who plundered them, and he sold them into the power of their enemies all around, so that they could no longer withstand their enemies.\r\n\t\t\t Whenever they marched out, the hand of the LORD was against them to bring misfortune, as the LORD had warned them and sworn to them; and they were in great distress.\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD raised up judges, who delivered them out of the power of those who plundered them.\r\n\t\t\t Yet they did not listen even to their judges; for they lusted after other gods and bowed down to them. They soon turned aside from the way in which their ancestors had walked, who had obeyed the commandments of the LORD; they did not follow their example.\r\n\t\t\t Whenever the LORD raised up judges for them, the LORD was with the judge, and he delivered them from the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge; for the LORD would be moved to pity by their groaning because of those who persecuted and oppressed them.\r\n\t\t\t But whenever the judge died, they would relapse and behave worse than their ancestors, following other gods, worshiping them and bowing down to them. They would not drop any of their practices or their stubborn ways.\r\n\t\t\t So the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel; and he said, \"Because this people have transgressed my covenant that I commanded their ancestors, and have not obeyed my voice,\r\n\t\t\t I will no longer drive out before them any of the nations that Joshua left when he died.\"\r\n\t\t\t In order to test Israel, whether or not they would take care to walk in the way of the LORD as their ancestors did,\r\n\t\t\t the LORD had left those nations, not driving them out at once, and had not handed them over to Joshua.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now these are the nations that the LORD left to test all those in Israel who had no experience of any war in Canaan\r\n\t\t\t (it was only that successive generations of Israelites might know war, to teach those who had no experience of it before):\r\n\t\t\t the five lords of the Philistines, and all the Canaanites, and the Sidonians, and the Hivites who lived on Mount Lebanon, from Mount Baal-hermon as far as Lebo-hamath.\r\n\t\t\t They were for the testing of Israel, to know whether Israel would obey the commandments of the LORD, which he commanded their ancestors by Moses.\r\n\t\t\t So the Israelites lived among the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites;\r\n\t\t\t and they took their daughters as wives for themselves, and their own daughters they gave to their sons; and they worshiped their gods.\r\n\t\t\t The Israelites did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, forgetting the LORD their God, and worshiping the Baals and the Asherahs.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of King Cushan-rishathaim of Aram-naharaim; and the Israelites served Cushan-rishathaim eight years.\r\n\t\t\t But when the Israelites cried out to the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer for the Israelites, who delivered them, Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother.\r\n\t\t\t The spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he judged Israel; he went out to war, and the LORD gave King Cushan-rishathaim of Aram into his hand; and his hand prevailed over Cushan-rishathaim.\r\n\t\t\t So the land had rest forty years. Then Othniel son of Kenaz died.\r\n\t\t\t The Israelites again did what was evil in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD strengthened King Eglon of Moab against Israel, because they had done what was evil in the sight of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t In alliance with the Ammonites and the Amalekites, he went and defeated Israel; and they took possession of the city of palms.\r\n\t\t\t So the Israelites served King Eglon of Moab eighteen years.\r\n\t\t\t But when the Israelites cried out to the LORD, the LORD raised up for them a deliverer, Ehud son of Gera, the Benjaminite, a left-handed man. The Israelites sent tribute by him to King Eglon of Moab.\r\n\t\t\t Ehud made for himself a sword with two edges, a cubit in length; and he fastened it on his right thigh under his clothes.\r\n\t\t\t Then he presented the tribute to King Eglon of Moab. Now Eglon was a very fat man.\r\n\t\t\t When Ehud had finished presenting the tribute, he sent the people who carried the tribute on their way.\r\n\t\t\t But he himself turned back at the sculptured stones near Gilgal, and said, \"I have a secret message for you, O king.\" So the king said, \"Silence!\" and all his attendants went out from his presence.\r\n\t\t\t Ehud came to him, while he was sitting alone in his cool roof chamber, and said, \"I have a message from God for you.\" So he rose from his seat.\r\n\t\t\t Then Ehud reached with his left hand, took the sword from his right thigh, and thrust it into Eglon's belly; \r\n\t\t\t the hilt also went in after the blade, and the fat closed over the blade, for he did not draw the sword out of his belly; and the dirt came out. \r\n\t\t\t Then Ehud went out into the vestibule, and closed the doors of the roof chamber on him, and locked them. \r\n\t\t\t After he had gone, the servants came. When they saw that the doors of the roof chamber were locked, they thought, \"He must be relieving himself in the cool chamber.\" \r\n\t\t\t So they waited until they were embarrassed. When he still did not open the doors of the roof chamber, they took the key and opened them. There was their lord lying dead on the floor.\r\n\t\t\t Ehud escaped while they delayed, and passed beyond the sculptured stones, and escaped to Seirah.\r\n\t\t\t When he arrived, he sounded the trumpet in the hill country of Ephraim; and the Israelites went down with him from the hill country, having him at their head.\r\n\t\t\t He said to them, \"Follow after me; for the LORD has given your enemies the Moabites into your hand.\" So they went down after him, and seized the fords of the Jordan against the Moabites, and allowed no one to cross over.\r\n\t\t\t At that time they killed about ten thousand of the Moabites, all strong, able-bodied men; no one escaped.\r\n\t\t\t So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the land had rest eighty years.\r\n\t\t\t After him came Shamgar son of Anath, who killed six hundred of the Philistines with an oxgoad. He too delivered Israel.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The Israelites again did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, after Ehud died.\r\n\t\t\t So the LORD sold them into the hand of King Jabin of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor; the commander of his army was Sisera, who lived in Harosheth-ha-goiim.\r\n\t\t\t Then the Israelites cried out to the LORD for help; for he had nine hundred chariots of iron, and had oppressed the Israelites cruelly twenty years.\r\n\t\t\t At that time Deborah, a prophetess, wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel.\r\n\t\t\t She used to sit under the palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim; and the Israelites came up to her for judgment.\r\n\t\t\t She sent and summoned Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali, and said to him, \"The LORD, the God of Israel, commands you, 'Go, take position at Mount Tabor, bringing ten thousand from the tribe of Naphtali and the tribe of Zebulun.\r\n\t\t\t I will draw out Sisera, the general of Jabin's army, to meet you by the Wadi Kishon with his chariots and his troops; and I will give him into your hand.'\"\r\n\t\t\t Barak said to her, \"If you will go with me, I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go.\"\r\n\t\t\t And she said, \"I will surely go with you; nevertheless, the road on which you are going will not lead to your glory, for the LORD will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman.\" Then Deborah got up and went with Barak to Kedesh.\r\n\t\t\t Barak summoned Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh; and ten thousand warriors went up behind him; and Deborah went up with him.\r\n\t\t\t Now Heber the Kenite had separated from the other Kenites, that is, the descendants of Hobab the father-in-law of Moses, and had encamped as far away as Elon-bezaanannim, which is near Kedesh. \r\n\t\t\t When Sisera was told that Barak son of Abinoam had gone up to Mount Tabor,\r\n\t\t\t Sisera called out all his chariots, nine hundred chariots of iron, and all the troops who were with him, from Harosheth-ha-goiim to the Wadi Kishon.\r\n\t\t\t Then Deborah said to Barak, \"Up! For this is the day on which the LORD has given Sisera into your hand. The LORD is indeed going out before you.\" So Barak went down from Mount Tabor with ten thousand warriors following him.\r\n\t\t\t And the LORD threw Sisera and all his chariots and all his army into a panic before Barak; Sisera got down from his chariot and fled away on foot, \r\n\t\t\t while Barak pursued the chariots and the army to Harosheth-ha-goiim. All the army of Sisera fell by the sword; no one was left.\r\n\t\t\t Now Sisera had fled away on foot to the tent of Jael wife of Heber the Kenite; for there was peace between King Jabin of Hazor and the clan of Heber the Kenite.\r\n\t\t\t Jael came out to meet Sisera, and said to him, \"Turn aside, my lord, turn aside to me; have no fear.\" So he turned aside to her into the tent, and she covered him with a rug.\r\n\t\t\t Then he said to her, \"Please give me a little water to drink; for I am thirsty.\" So she opened a skin of milk and gave him a drink and covered him.\r\n\t\t\t He said to her, \"Stand at the entrance of the tent, and if anybody comes and asks you, 'Is anyone here?' say, 'No.'\"\r\n\t\t\t But Jael wife of Heber took a tent peg, and took a hammer in her hand, and went softly to him and drove the peg into his temple, until it went down into the ground-- he was lying fast asleep from weariness-- and he died.\r\n\t\t\t Then, as Barak came in pursuit of Sisera, Jael went out to meet him, and said to him, \"Come, and I will show you the man whom you are seeking.\" So he went into her tent; and there was Sisera lying dead, with the tent peg in his temple.\r\n\t\t\t So on that day God subdued King Jabin of Canaan before the Israelites.\r\n\t\t\t Then the hand of the Israelites bore harder and harder on King Jabin of Canaan, until they destroyed King Jabin of Canaan.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang on that day, saying:\r\n\t\t\t \"When locks are long in Israel, when the people offer themselves willingly-- bless the LORD!\r\n\t\t\t \"Hear, O kings; give ear, O princes; to the LORD I will sing, I will make melody to the LORD, the God of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t \"LORD, when you went out from Seir, when you marched from the region of Edom, the earth trembled, and the heavens poured, the clouds indeed poured water.\r\n\t\t\t The mountains quaked before the LORD, the One of Sinai, before the LORD, the God of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t \"In the days of Shamgar son of Anath, in the days of Jael, caravans ceased and travelers kept to the byways.\r\n\t\t\t The peasantry prospered in Israel, they grew fat on plunder, because you arose, Deborah, arose as a mother in Israel.\r\n\t\t\t When new gods were chosen, then war was in the gates. Was shield or spear to be seen among forty thousand in Israel?\r\n\t\t\t My heart goes out to the commanders of Israel who offered themselves willingly among the people. Bless the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t \"Tell of it, you who ride on white donkeys, you who sit on rich carpets and you who walk by the way. \r\n\t\t\t To the sound of musicians at the watering places, there they repeat the triumphs of the LORD, the triumphs of his peasantry in Israel. \"Then down to the gates marched the people of the LORD. \r\n\t\t\t \"Awake, awake, Deborah! Awake, awake, utter a song! Arise, Barak, lead away your captives, O son of Abinoam.\r\n\t\t\t Then down marched the remnant of the noble; the people of the LORD marched down for him against the mighty. \r\n\t\t\t From Ephraim they set out into the valley, following you, Benjamin, with your kin; from Machir marched down the commanders, and from Zebulun those who bear the marshal's staff; \r\n\t\t\t the chiefs of Issachar came with Deborah, and Issachar faithful to Barak; into the valley they rushed out at his heels. Among the clans of Reuben there were great searchings of heart.\r\n\t\t\t Why did you tarry among the sheepfolds, to hear the piping for the flocks? Among the clans of Reuben there were great searchings of heart.\r\n\t\t\t Gilead stayed beyond the Jordan; and Dan, why did he abide with the ships? Asher sat still at the coast of the sea, settling down by his landings.\r\n\t\t\t Zebulun is a people that scorned death; Naphtali too, on the heights of the field.\r\n\t\t\t \"The kings came, they fought; then fought the kings of Canaan, at Taanach, by the waters of Megiddo; they got no spoils of silver.\r\n\t\t\t The stars fought from heaven, from their courses they fought against Sisera.\r\n\t\t\t The torrent Kishon swept them away, the onrushing torrent, the torrent Kishon. March on, my soul, with might!\r\n\t\t\t \"Then loud beat the horses' hoofs with the galloping, galloping of his steeds.\r\n\t\t\t \"Curse Meroz, says the angel of the LORD, curse bitterly its inhabitants, because they did not come to the help of the LORD, to the help of the LORD against the mighty.\r\n\t\t\t \"Most blessed of women be Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, of tent-dwelling women most blessed.\r\n\t\t\t He asked water and she gave him milk, she brought him curds in a lordly bowl.\r\n\t\t\t She put her hand to the tent peg and her right hand to the workmen's mallet; she struck Sisera a blow, she crushed his head, she shattered and pierced his temple.\r\n\t\t\t He sank, he fell, he lay still at her feet; at her feet he sank, he fell; where he sank, there he fell dead.\r\n\t\t\t \"Out of the window she peered, the mother of Sisera gazed through the lattice: 'Why is his chariot so long in coming? Why tarry the hoofbeats of his chariots?'\r\n\t\t\t Her wisest ladies make answer, indeed, she answers the question herself:\r\n\t\t\t 'Are they not finding and dividing the spoil?-- A girl or two for every man; spoil of dyed stuffs for Sisera, spoil of dyed stuffs embroidered, two pieces of dyed work embroidered for my neck as spoil?'\r\n\t\t\t \"So perish all your enemies, O LORD! But may your friends be like the sun as it rises in its might.\" And the land had rest forty years.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The Israelites did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, and the LORD gave them into the hand of Midian seven years.\r\n\t\t\t The hand of Midian prevailed over Israel; and because of Midian the Israelites provided for themselves hiding places in the mountains, caves and strongholds.\r\n\t\t\t For whenever the Israelites put in seed, the Midianites and the Amalekites and the people of the east would come up against them.\r\n\t\t\t They would encamp against them and destroy the produce of the land, as far as the neighborhood of Gaza, and leave no sustenance in Israel, and no sheep or ox or donkey.\r\n\t\t\t For they and their livestock would come up, and they would even bring their tents, as thick as locusts; neither they nor their camels could be counted; so they wasted the land as they came in.\r\n\t\t\t Thus Israel was greatly impoverished because of Midian; and the Israelites cried out to the LORD for help.\r\n\t\t\t When the Israelites cried to the LORD on account of the Midianites,\r\n\t\t\t the LORD sent a prophet to the Israelites; and he said to them, \"Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: I led you up from Egypt, and brought you out of the house of slavery;\r\n\t\t\t and I delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians, and from the hand of all who oppressed you, and drove them out before you, and gave you their land;\r\n\t\t\t and I said to you, 'I am the LORD your God; you shall not pay reverence to the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you live.' But you have not given heed to my voice.\"\r\n\t\t\t Now the angel of the LORD came and sat under the oak at Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, as his son Gideon was beating out wheat in the wine press, to hide it from the Midianites.\r\n\t\t\t The angel of the LORD appeared to him and said to him, \"The LORD is with you, you mighty warrior.\"\r\n\t\t\t Gideon answered him, \"But sir, if the LORD is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all his wonderful deeds that our ancestors recounted to us, saying, 'Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt?' But now the LORD has cast us off, and given us into the hand of Midian.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD turned to him and said, \"Go in this might of yours and deliver Israel from the hand of Midian; I hereby commission you.\"\r\n\t\t\t He responded, \"But sir, how can I deliver Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.\"\r\n\t\t\t The LORD said to him, \"But I will be with you, and you shall strike down the Midianites, every one of them.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then he said to him, \"If now I have found favor with you, then show me a sign that it is you who speak with me.\r\n\t\t\t Do not depart from here until I come to you, and bring out my present, and set it before you.\" And he said, \"I will stay until you return.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Gideon went into his house and prepared a kid, and unleavened cakes from an ephah of flour; the meat he put in a basket, and the broth he put in a pot, and brought them to him under the oak and presented them.\r\n\t\t\t The angel of God said to him, \"Take the meat and the unleavened cakes, and put them on this rock, and pour out the broth.\" And he did so.\r\n\t\t\t Then the angel of the LORD reached out the tip of the staff that was in his hand, and touched the meat and the unleavened cakes; and fire sprang up from the rock and consumed the meat and the unleavened cakes; and the angel of the LORD vanished from his sight.\r\n\t\t\t Then Gideon perceived that it was the angel of the LORD; and Gideon said, \"Help me, Lord GOD! For I have seen the angel of the LORD face to face.\"\r\n\t\t\t But the LORD said to him, \"Peace be to you; do not fear, you shall not die.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Gideon built an altar there to the LORD, and called it, The LORD is peace. To this day it still stands at Ophrah, which belongs to the Abiezrites.\r\n\t\t\t That night the LORD said to him, \"Take your father's bull, the second bull seven years old, and pull down the altar of Baal that belongs to your father, and cut down the sacred pole that is beside it; \r\n\t\t\t and build an altar to the LORD your God on the top of the stronghold here, in proper order; then take the second bull, and offer it as a burnt offering with the wood of the sacred pole that you shall cut down.\" \r\n\t\t\t So Gideon took ten of his servants, and did as the LORD had told him; but because he was too afraid of his family and the townspeople to do it by day, he did it by night.\r\n\t\t\t When the townspeople rose early in the morning, the altar of Baal was broken down, and the sacred pole beside it was cut down, and the second bull was offered on the altar that had been built. \r\n\t\t\t So they said to one another, \"Who has done this?\" After searching and inquiring, they were told, \"Gideon son of Joash did it.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the townspeople said to Joash, \"Bring out your son, so that he may die, for he has pulled down the altar of Baal and cut down the sacred pole beside it.\" \r\n\t\t\t But Joash said to all who were arrayed against him, \"Will you contend for Baal? Or will you defend his cause? Whoever contends for him shall be put to death by morning. If he is a god, let him contend for himself, because his altar has been pulled down.\"\r\n\t\t\t Therefore on that day Gideon was called Jerubbaal, that is to say, \"Let Baal contend against him,\" because he pulled down his altar. \r\n\t\t\t Then all the Midianites and the Amalekites and the people of the east came together, and crossing the Jordan they encamped in the Valley of Jezreel.\r\n\t\t\t But the spirit of the LORD took possession of Gideon; and he sounded the trumpet, and the Abiezrites were called out to follow him.\r\n\t\t\t He sent messengers throughout all Manasseh, and they too were called out to follow him. He also sent messengers to Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali, and they went up to meet them.\r\n\t\t\t Then Gideon said to God, \"In order to see whether you will deliver Israel by my hand, as you have said,\r\n\t\t\t I am going to lay a fleece of wool on the threshing floor; if there is dew on the fleece alone, and it is dry on all the ground, then I shall know that you will deliver Israel by my hand, as you have said.\"\r\n\t\t\t And it was so. When he rose early next morning and squeezed the fleece, he wrung enough dew from the fleece to fill a bowl with water.\r\n\t\t\t Then Gideon said to God, \"Do not let your anger burn against me, let me speak one more time; let me, please, make trial with the fleece just once more; let it be dry only on the fleece, and on all the ground let there be dew.\"\r\n\t\t\t And God did so that night. It was dry on the fleece only, and on all the ground there was dew.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) and all the troops that were with him rose early and encamped beside the spring of Harod; and the camp of Midian was north of them, below the hill of Moreh, in the valley. \r\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Gideon, \"The troops with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand. Israel would only take the credit away from me, saying, 'My own hand has delivered me.'\r\n\t\t\t Now therefore proclaim this in the hearing of the troops, 'Whoever is fearful and trembling, let him return home.'\" Thus Gideon sifted them out; twenty-two thousand returned, and ten thousand remained.\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD said to Gideon, \"The troops are still too many; take them down to the water and I will sift them out for you there. When I say, 'This one shall go with you,' he shall go with you; and when I say, 'This one shall not go with you,' he shall not go.\"\r\n\t\t\t So he brought the troops down to the water; and the LORD said to Gideon, \"All those who lap the water with their tongues, as a dog laps, you shall put to one side; all those who kneel down to drink, putting their hands to their mouths, you shall put to the other side.\" \r\n\t\t\t The number of those that lapped was three hundred; but all the rest of the troops knelt down to drink water.\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD said to Gideon, \"With the three hundred that lapped I will deliver you, and give the Midianites into your hand. Let all the others go to their homes.\"\r\n\t\t\t So he took the jars of the troops from their hands, and their trumpets; and he sent all the rest of Israel back to their own tents, but retained the three hundred. The camp of Midian was below him in the valley. \r\n\t\t\t That same night the LORD said to him, \"Get up, attack the camp; for I have given it into your hand.\r\n\t\t\t But if you fear to attack, go down to the camp with your servant Purah;\r\n\t\t\t and you shall hear what they say, and afterward your hands shall be strengthened to attack the camp.\" Then he went down with his servant Purah to the outposts of the armed men that were in the camp.\r\n\t\t\t The Midianites and the Amalekites and all the people of the east lay along the valley as thick as locusts; and their camels were without number, countless as the sand on the seashore.\r\n\t\t\t When Gideon arrived, there was a man telling a dream to his comrade; and he said, \"I had a dream, and in it a cake of barley bread tumbled into the camp of Midian, and came to the tent, and struck it so that it fell; it turned upside down, and the tent collapsed.\"\r\n\t\t\t And his comrade answered, \"This is no other than the sword of Gideon son of Joash, a man of Israel; into his hand God has given Midian and all the army.\"\r\n\t\t\t When Gideon heard the telling of the dream and its interpretation, he worshiped; and he returned to the camp of Israel, and said, \"Get up; for the LORD has given the army of Midian into your hand.\"\r\n\t\t\t After he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and put trumpets into the hands of all of them, and empty jars, with torches inside the jars,\r\n\t\t\t he said to them, \"Look at me, and do the same; when I come to the outskirts of the camp, do as I do.\r\n\t\t\t When I blow the trumpet, I and all who are with me, then you also blow the trumpets around the whole camp, and shout, 'For the LORD and for Gideon!'\"\r\n\t\t\t So Gideon and the hundred who were with him came to the outskirts of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, when they had just set the watch; and they blew the trumpets and smashed the jars that were in their hands.\r\n\t\t\t So the three companies blew the trumpets and broke the jars, holding in their left hands the torches, and in their right hands the trumpets to blow; and they cried, \"A sword for the LORD and for Gideon!\"\r\n\t\t\t Every man stood in his place all around the camp, and all the men in camp ran; they cried out and fled.\r\n\t\t\t When they blew the three hundred trumpets, the LORD set every man's sword against his fellow and against all the army; and the army fled as far as Beth-shittah toward Zererah, as far as the border of Abel-meholah, by Tabbath. \r\n\t\t\t And the men of Israel were called out from Naphtali and from Asher and from all Manasseh, and they pursued after the Midianites.\r\n\t\t\t Then Gideon sent messengers throughout all the hill country of Ephraim, saying, \"Come down against the Midianites and seize the waters against them, as far as Beth-barah, and also the Jordan.\" So all the men of Ephraim were called out, and they seized the waters as far as Beth-barah, and also the Jordan.\r\n\t\t\t They captured the two captains of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb; they killed Oreb at the rock of Oreb, and Zeeb they killed at the wine press of Zeeb, as they pursued the Midianites. They brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon beyond the Jordan.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then the Ephraimites said to him, \"What have you done to us, not to call us when you went to fight against the Midianites?\" And they upbraided him violently.\r\n\t\t\t So he said to them, \"What have I done now in comparison with you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer?\r\n\t\t\t God has given into your hands the captains of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb; what have I been able to do in comparison with you?\" When he said this, their anger against him subsided.\r\n\t\t\t Then Gideon came to the Jordan and crossed over, he and the three hundred who were with him, exhausted and famished. \r\n\t\t\t So he said to the people of Succoth, \"Please give some loaves of bread to my followers, for they are exhausted, and I am pursuing Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian.\"\r\n\t\t\t But the officials of Succoth said, \"Do you already have in your possession the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna, that we should give bread to your army?\"\r\n\t\t\t Gideon replied, \"Well then, when the LORD has given Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, I will trample your flesh on the thorns of the wilderness and on briers.\"\r\n\t\t\t From there he went up to Penuel, and made the same request of them; and the people of Penuel answered him as the people of Succoth had answered.\r\n\t\t\t So he said to the people of Penuel, \"When I come back victorious, I will break down this tower.\"\r\n\t\t\t Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor with their army, about fifteen thousand men, all who were left of all the army of the people of the east; for one hundred twenty thousand men bearing arms had fallen.\r\n\t\t\t So Gideon went up by the caravan route east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and attacked the army; for the army was off its guard.\r\n\t\t\t Zebah and Zalmunna fled; and he pursued them and took the two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and threw all the army into a panic.\r\n\t\t\t When Gideon son of Joash returned from the battle by the ascent of Heres,\r\n\t\t\t he caught a young man, one of the people of Succoth, and questioned him; and he listed for him the officials and elders of Succoth, seventy-seven people.\r\n\t\t\t Then he came to the people of Succoth, and said, \"Here are Zebah and Zalmunna, about whom you taunted me, saying, 'Do you already have in your possession the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna, that we should give bread to your troops who are exhausted?'\"\r\n\t\t\t So he took the elders of the city and he took thorns of the wilderness and briers and with them he trampled the people of Succoth. \r\n\t\t\t He also broke down the tower of Penuel, and killed the men of the city.\r\n\t\t\t Then he said to Zebah and Zalmunna, \"What about the men whom you killed at Tabor?\" They answered, \"As you are, so were they, every one of them; they resembled the sons of a king.\"\r\n\t\t\t And he replied, \"They were my brothers, the sons of my mother; as the LORD lives, if you had saved them alive, I would not kill you.\"\r\n\t\t\t So he said to Jether his firstborn, \"Go kill them!\" But the boy did not draw his sword, for he was afraid, because he was still a boy.\r\n\t\t\t Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, \"You come and kill us; for as the man is, so is his strength.\" So Gideon proceeded to kill Zebah and Zalmunna; and he took the crescents that were on the necks of their camels.\r\n\t\t\t Then the Israelites said to Gideon, \"Rule over us, you and your son and your grandson also; for you have delivered us out of the hand of Midian.\"\r\n\t\t\t Gideon said to them, \"I will not rule over you, and my son will not rule over you; the LORD will rule over you.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Gideon said to them, \"Let me make a request of you; each of you give me an earring he has taken as booty.\" (For the enemy had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.) \r\n\t\t\t \"We will willingly give them,\" they answered. So they spread a garment, and each threw into it an earring he had taken as booty.\r\n\t\t\t The weight of the golden earrings that he requested was one thousand seven hundred shekels of gold (apart from the crescents and the pendants and the purple garments worn by the kings of Midian, and the collars that were on the necks of their camels).\r\n\t\t\t Gideon made an ephod of it and put it in his town, in Ophrah; and all Israel prostituted themselves to it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and to his family.\r\n\t\t\t So Midian was subdued before the Israelites, and they lifted up their heads no more. So the land had rest forty years in the days of Gideon.\r\n\t\t\t Jerubbaal son of Joash went to live in his own house.\r\n\t\t\t Now Gideon had seventy sons, his own offspring, for he had many wives.\r\n\t\t\t His concubine who was in Shechem also bore him a son, and he named him Abimelech.\r\n\t\t\t Then Gideon son of Joash died at a good old age, and was buried in the tomb of his father Joash at Ophrah of the Abiezrites.\r\n\t\t\t As soon as Gideon died, the Israelites relapsed and prostituted themselves with the Baals, making Baal-berith their god.\r\n\t\t\t The Israelites did not remember the LORD their God, who had rescued them from the hand of all their enemies on every side;\r\n\t\t\t and they did not exhibit loyalty to the house of Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) in return for all the good that he had done to Israel.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now Abimelech son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem to his mother's kinsfolk and said to them and to the whole clan of his mother's family,\r\n\t\t\t \"Say in the hearing of all the lords of Shechem, 'Which is better for you, that all seventy of the sons of Jerubbaal rule over you, or that one rule over you?' Remember also that I am your bone and your flesh.\"\r\n\t\t\t So his mother's kinsfolk spoke all these words on his behalf in the hearing of all the lords of Shechem; and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, \"He is our brother.\"\r\n\t\t\t They gave him seventy pieces of silver out of the temple of Baal-berith with which Abimelech hired worthless and reckless fellows, who followed him.\r\n\t\t\t He went to his father's house at Ophrah, and killed his brothers the sons of Jerubbaal, seventy men, on one stone; but Jotham, the youngest son of Jerubbaal, survived, for he hid himself.\r\n\t\t\t Then all the lords of Shechem and all Beth-millo came together, and they went and made Abimelech king, by the oak of the pillar at Shechem. \r\n\t\t\t When it was told to Jotham, he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim, and cried aloud and said to them, \"Listen to me, you lords of Shechem, so that God may listen to you.\r\n\t\t\t The trees once went out to anoint a king over themselves. So they said to the olive tree, 'Reign over us.'\r\n\t\t\t The olive tree answered them, 'Shall I stop producing my rich oil by which gods and mortals are honored, and go to sway over the trees?'\r\n\t\t\t Then the trees said to the fig tree, 'You come and reign over us.'\r\n\t\t\t But the fig tree answered them, 'Shall I stop producing my sweetness and my delicious fruit, and go to sway over the trees?'\r\n\t\t\t Then the trees said to the vine, 'You come and reign over us.'\r\n\t\t\t But the vine said to them, 'Shall I stop producing my wine that cheers gods and mortals, and go to sway over the trees?'\r\n\t\t\t So all the trees said to the bramble, 'You come and reign over us.'\r\n\t\t\t And the bramble said to the trees, 'If in good faith you are anointing me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade; but if not, let fire come out of the bramble and devour the cedars of Lebanon.'\r\n\t\t\t \"Now therefore, if you acted in good faith and honor when you made Abimelech king, and if you have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done to him as his actions deserved--\r\n\t\t\t for my father fought for you, and risked his life, and rescued you from the hand of Midian;\r\n\t\t\t but you have risen up against my father's house this day, and have killed his sons, seventy men on one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his slave woman, king over the lords of Shechem, because he is your kinsman--\r\n\t\t\t if, I say, you have acted in good faith and honor with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you;\r\n\t\t\t but if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the lords of Shechem, and Beth-millo; and let fire come out from the lords of Shechem, and from Beth-millo, and devour Abimelech.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Jotham ran away and fled, going to Beer, where he remained for fear of his brother Abimelech.\r\n\t\t\t Abimelech ruled over Israel three years.\r\n\t\t\t But God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the lords of Shechem; and the lords of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech.\r\n\t\t\t This happened so that the violence done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might be avenged and their blood be laid on their brother Abimelech, who killed them, and on the lords of Shechem, who strengthened his hands to kill his brothers. \r\n\t\t\t So, out of hostility to him, the lords of Shechem set ambushes on the mountain tops. They robbed all who passed by them along that way; and it was reported to Abimelech.\r\n\t\t\t When Gaal son of Ebed moved into Shechem with his kinsfolk, the lords of Shechem put confidence in him.\r\n\t\t\t They went out into the field and gathered the grapes from their vineyards, trod them, and celebrated. Then they went into the temple of their god, ate and drank, and ridiculed Abimelech.\r\n\t\t\t Gaal son of Ebed said, \"Who is Abimelech, and who are we of Shechem, that we should serve him? Did not the son of Jerubbaal and Zebul his officer serve the men of Hamor father of Shechem? Why then should we serve him?\r\n\t\t\t If only this people were under my command! Then I would remove Abimelech; I would say to him, 'Increase your army, and come out.'\" \r\n\t\t\t When Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal son of Ebed, his anger was kindled.\r\n\t\t\t He sent messengers to Abimelech at Arumah, saying, \"Look, Gaal son of Ebed and his kinsfolk have come to Shechem, and they are stirring up the city against you. \r\n\t\t\t Now therefore, go by night, you and the troops that are with you, and lie in wait in the fields.\r\n\t\t\t Then early in the morning, as soon as the sun rises, get up and rush on the city; and when he and the troops that are with him come out against you, you may deal with them as best you can.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Abimelech and all the troops with him got up by night and lay in wait against Shechem in four companies.\r\n\t\t\t When Gaal son of Ebed went out and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city, Abimelech and the troops with him rose from the ambush.\r\n\t\t\t And when Gaal saw them, he said to Zebul, \"Look, people are coming down from the mountain tops!\" And Zebul said to him, \"The shadows on the mountains look like people to you.\"\r\n\t\t\t Gaal spoke again and said, \"Look, people are coming down from Tabbur-erez, and one company is coming from the direction of Elon-meonenim.\" \r\n\t\t\t Then Zebul said to him, \"Where is your boast now, you who said, 'Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him?' Are not these the troops you made light of? Go out now and fight with them.\" \r\n\t\t\t So Gaal went out at the head of the lords of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech.\r\n\t\t\t Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him. Many fell wounded, up to the entrance of the gate.\r\n\t\t\t So Abimelech resided at Arumah; and Zebul drove out Gaal and his kinsfolk, so that they could not live on at Shechem.\r\n\t\t\t On the following day the people went out into the fields. When Abimelech was told,\r\n\t\t\t he took his troops and divided them into three companies, and lay in wait in the fields. When he looked and saw the people coming out of the city, he rose against them and killed them.\r\n\t\t\t Abimelech and the company that was with him rushed forward and stood at the entrance of the gate of the city, while the two companies rushed on all who were in the fields and killed them.\r\n\t\t\t Abimelech fought against the city all that day; he took the city, and killed the people that were in it; and he razed the city and sowed it with salt.\r\n\t\t\t When all the lords of the Tower of Shechem heard of it, they entered the stronghold of the temple of El-berith.\r\n\t\t\t Abimelech was told that all the lords of the Tower of Shechem were gathered together.\r\n\t\t\t So Abimelech went up to Mount Zalmon, he and all the troops that were with him. Abimelech took an ax in his hand, cut down a bundle of brushwood, and took it up and laid it on his shoulder. Then he said to the troops with him, \"What you have seen me do, do quickly, as I have done.\"\r\n\t\t\t So every one of the troops cut down a bundle and following Abimelech put it against the stronghold, and they set the stronghold on fire over them, so that all the people of the Tower of Shechem also died, about a thousand men and women.\r\n\t\t\t Then Abimelech went to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and took it.\r\n\t\t\t But there was a strong tower within the city, and all the men and women and all the lords of the city fled to it and shut themselves in; and they went to the roof of the tower.\r\n\t\t\t Abimelech came to the tower, and fought against it, and came near to the entrance of the tower to burn it with fire.\r\n\t\t\t But a certain woman threw an upper millstone on Abimelech's head, and crushed his skull.\r\n\t\t\t Immediately he called to the young man who carried his armor and said to him, \"Draw your sword and kill me, so people will not say about me, 'A woman killed him.'\" So the young man thrust him through, and he died.\r\n\t\t\t When the Israelites saw that Abimelech was dead, they all went home.\r\n\t\t\t Thus God repaid Abimelech for the crime he committed against his father in killing his seventy brothers;\r\n\t\t\t and God also made all the wickedness of the people of Shechem fall back on their heads, and on them came the curse of Jotham son of Jerubbaal.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t After Abimelech, Tola son of Puah son of Dodo, a man of Issachar, who lived at Shamir in the hill country of Ephraim, rose to deliver Israel.\r\n\t\t\t He judged Israel twenty-three years. Then he died, and was buried at Shamir.\r\n\t\t\t After him came Jair the Gileadite, who judged Israel twenty-two years.\r\n\t\t\t He had thirty sons who rode on thirty donkeys; and they had thirty towns, which are in the land of Gilead, and are called Havvoth-jair to this day.\r\n\t\t\t Jair died, and was buried in Kamon.\r\n\t\t\t The Israelites again did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, worshiping the Baals and the Astartes, the gods of Aram, the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of the Ammonites, and the gods of the Philistines. Thus they abandoned the LORD, and did not worship him.\r\n\t\t\t So the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of the Philistines and into the hand of the Ammonites,\r\n\t\t\t and they crushed and oppressed the Israelites that year. For eighteen years they oppressed all the Israelites that were beyond the Jordan in the land of the Amorites, which is in Gilead.\r\n\t\t\t The Ammonites also crossed the Jordan to fight against Judah and against Benjamin and against the house of Ephraim; so that Israel was greatly distressed.\r\n\t\t\t So the Israelites cried to the LORD, saying, \"We have sinned against you, because we have abandoned our God and have worshiped the Baals.\"\r\n\t\t\t And the LORD said to the Israelites, \"Did I not deliver you from the Egyptians and from the Amorites, from the Ammonites and from the Philistines? \r\n\t\t\t The Sidonians also, and the Amalekites, and the Maonites, oppressed you; and you cried to me, and I delivered you out of their hand.\r\n\t\t\t Yet you have abandoned me and worshiped other gods; therefore I will deliver you no more.\r\n\t\t\t Go and cry to the gods whom you have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your distress.\"\r\n\t\t\t And the Israelites said to the LORD, \"We have sinned; do to us whatever seems good to you; but deliver us this day!\"\r\n\t\t\t So they put away the foreign gods from among them and worshiped the LORD; and he could no longer bear to see Israel suffer.\r\n\t\t\t Then the Ammonites were called to arms, and they encamped in Gilead; and the Israelites came together, and they encamped at Mizpah.\r\n\t\t\t The commanders of the people of Gilead said to one another, \"Who will begin the fight against the Ammonites? He shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now Jephthah the Gileadite, the son of a prostitute, was a mighty warrior. Gilead was the father of Jephthah.\r\n\t\t\t Gilead's wife also bore him sons; and when his wife's sons grew up, they drove Jephthah away, saying to him, \"You shall not inherit anything in our father's house; for you are the son of another woman.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Jephthah fled from his brothers and lived in the land of Tob. Outlaws collected around Jephthah and went raiding with him.\r\n\t\t\t After a time the Ammonites made war against Israel.\r\n\t\t\t And when the Ammonites made war against Israel, the elders of Gilead went to bring Jephthah from the land of Tob.\r\n\t\t\t They said to Jephthah, \"Come and be our commander, so that we may fight with the Ammonites.\"\r\n\t\t\t But Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, \"Are you not the very ones who rejected me and drove me out of my father's house? So why do you come to me now when you are in trouble?\"\r\n\t\t\t The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, \"Nevertheless, we have now turned back to you, so that you may go with us and fight with the Ammonites, and become head over us, over all the inhabitants of Gilead.\"\r\n\t\t\t Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, \"If you bring me home again to fight with the Ammonites, and the LORD gives them over to me, I will be your head.\"\r\n\t\t\t And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, \"The LORD will be witness between us; we will surely do as you say.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and commander over them; and Jephthah spoke all his words before the LORD at Mizpah.\r\n\t\t\t Then Jephthah sent messengers to the king of the Ammonites and said, \"What is there between you and me, that you have come to me to fight against my land?\"\r\n\t\t\t The king of the Ammonites answered the messengers of Jephthah, \"Because Israel, on coming from Egypt, took away my land from the Arnon to the Jabbok and to the Jordan; now therefore restore it peaceably.\"\r\n\t\t\t Once again Jephthah sent messengers to the king of the Ammonites\r\n\t\t\t and said to him: \"Thus says Jephthah: Israel did not take away the land of Moab or the land of the Ammonites,\r\n\t\t\t but when they came up from Egypt, Israel went through the wilderness to the Red Sea and came to Kadesh. \r\n\t\t\t Israel then sent messengers to the king of Edom, saying, 'Let us pass through your land'; but the king of Edom would not listen. They also sent to the king of Moab, but he would not consent. So Israel remained at Kadesh.\r\n\t\t\t Then they journeyed through the wilderness, went around the land of Edom and the land of Moab, arrived on the east side of the land of Moab, and camped on the other side of the Arnon. They did not enter the territory of Moab, for the Arnon was the boundary of Moab.\r\n\t\t\t Israel then sent messengers to King Sihon of the Amorites, king of Heshbon; and Israel said to him, 'Let us pass through your land to our country.'\r\n\t\t\t But Sihon did not trust Israel to pass through his territory; so Sihon gathered all his people together, and encamped at Jahaz, and fought with Israel.\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD, the God of Israel, gave Sihon and all his people into the hand of Israel, and they defeated them; so Israel occupied all the land of the Amorites, who inhabited that country.\r\n\t\t\t They occupied all the territory of the Amorites from the Arnon to the Jabbok and from the wilderness to the Jordan.\r\n\t\t\t So now the LORD, the God of Israel, has conquered the Amorites for the benefit of his people Israel. Do you intend to take their place?\r\n\t\t\t Should you not possess what your god Chemosh gives you to possess? And should we not be the ones to possess everything that the LORD our God has conquered for our benefit?\r\n\t\t\t Now are you any better than King Balak son of Zippor of Moab? Did he ever enter into conflict with Israel, or did he ever go to war with them?\r\n\t\t\t While Israel lived in Heshbon and its villages, and in Aroer and its villages, and in all the towns that are along the Arnon, three hundred years, why did you not recover them within that time?\r\n\t\t\t It is not I who have sinned against you, but you are the one who does me wrong by making war on me. Let the LORD, who is judge, decide today for the Israelites or for the Ammonites.\"\r\n\t\t\t But the king of the Ammonites did not heed the message that Jephthah sent him.\r\n\t\t\t Then the spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah, and he passed through Gilead and Manasseh. He passed on to Mizpah of Gilead, and from Mizpah of Gilead he passed on to the Ammonites.\r\n\t\t\t And Jephthah made a vow to the LORD, and said, \"If you will give the Ammonites into my hand,\r\n\t\t\t then whoever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return victorious from the Ammonites, shall be the LORD's, to be offered up by me as a burnt offering.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Jephthah crossed over to the Ammonites to fight against them; and the LORD gave them into his hand.\r\n\t\t\t He inflicted a massive defeat on them from Aroer to the neighborhood of Minnith, twenty towns, and as far as Abel-keramim. So the Ammonites were subdued before the people of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t Then Jephthah came to his home at Mizpah; and there was his daughter coming out to meet him with timbrels and with dancing. She was his only child; he had no son or daughter except her.\r\n\t\t\t When he saw her, he tore his clothes, and said, \"Alas, my daughter! You have brought me very low; you have become the cause of great trouble to me. For I have opened my mouth to the LORD, and I cannot take back my vow.\"\r\n\t\t\t She said to him, \"My father, if you have opened your mouth to the LORD, do to me according to what has gone out of your mouth, now that the LORD has given you vengeance against your enemies, the Ammonites.\"\r\n\t\t\t And she said to her father, \"Let this thing be done for me: Grant me two months, so that I may go and wander on the mountains, and bewail my virginity, my companions and I.\" \r\n\t\t\t \"Go,\" he said and sent her away for two months. So she departed, she and her companions, and bewailed her virginity on the mountains.\r\n\t\t\t At the end of two months, she returned to her father, who did with her according to the vow he had made. She had never slept with a man. So there arose an Israelite custom that\r\n\t\t\t for four days every year the daughters of Israel would go out to lament the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The men of Ephraim were called to arms, and they crossed to Zaphon and said to Jephthah, \"Why did you cross over to fight against the Ammonites, and did not call us to go with you? We will burn your house down over you!\"\r\n\t\t\t Jephthah said to them, \"My people and I were engaged in conflict with the Ammonites who oppressed us severely. But when I called you, you did not deliver me from their hand. \r\n\t\t\t When I saw that you would not deliver me, I took my life in my hand, and crossed over against the Ammonites, and the LORD gave them into my hand. Why then have you come up to me this day, to fight against me?\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Jephthah gathered all the men of Gilead and fought with Ephraim; and the men of Gilead defeated Ephraim, because they said, \"You are fugitives from Ephraim, you Gileadites-- in the heart of Ephraim and Manasseh.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the Gileadites took the fords of the Jordan against the Ephraimites. Whenever one of the fugitives of Ephraim said, \"Let me go over,\" the men of Gilead would say to him, \"Are you an Ephraimite?\" When he said, \"No,\"\r\n\t\t\t they said to him, \"Then say Shibboleth,\" and he said, \"Sibboleth,\" for he could not pronounce it right. Then they seized him and killed him at the fords of the Jordan. Forty-two thousand of the Ephraimites fell at that time.\r\n\t\t\t Jephthah judged Israel six years. Then Jephthah the Gileadite died, and was buried in his town in Gilead. \r\n\t\t\t After him Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel.\r\n\t\t\t He had thirty sons. He gave his thirty daughters in marriage outside his clan and brought in thirty young women from outside for his sons. He judged Israel seven years.\r\n\t\t\t Then Ibzan died, and was buried at Bethlehem.\r\n\t\t\t After him Elon the Zebulunite judged Israel; and he judged Israel ten years.\r\n\t\t\t Then Elon the Zebulunite died, and was buried at Aijalon in the land of Zebulun.\r\n\t\t\t After him Abdon son of Hillel the Pirathonite judged Israel.\r\n\t\t\t He had forty sons and thirty grandsons, who rode on seventy donkeys; he judged Israel eight years.\r\n\t\t\t Then Abdon son of Hillel the Pirathonite died, and was buried at Pirathon in the land of Ephraim, in the hill country of the Amalekites.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The Israelites again did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, and the LORD gave them into the hand of the Philistines forty years.\r\n\t\t\t There was a certain man of Zorah, of the tribe of the Danites, whose name was Manoah. His wife was barren, having borne no children.\r\n\t\t\t And the angel of the LORD appeared to the woman and said to her, \"Although you are barren, having borne no children, you shall conceive and bear a son.\r\n\t\t\t Now be careful not to drink wine or strong drink, or to eat anything unclean,\r\n\t\t\t for you shall conceive and bear a son. No razor is to come on his head, for the boy shall be a nazirite to God from birth. It is he who shall begin to deliver Israel from the hand of the Philistines.\" \r\n\t\t\t Then the woman came and told her husband, \"A man of God came to me, and his appearance was like that of an angel of God, most awe-inspiring; I did not ask him where he came from, and he did not tell me his name; \r\n\t\t\t but he said to me, 'You shall conceive and bear a son. So then drink no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean, for the boy shall be a nazirite to God from birth to the day of his death.'\" \r\n\t\t\t Then Manoah entreated the LORD, and said, \"O, LORD, I pray, let the man of God whom you sent come to us again and teach us what we are to do concerning the boy who will be born.\"\r\n\t\t\t God listened to Manoah, and the angel of God came again to the woman as she sat in the field; but her husband Manoah was not with her.\r\n\t\t\t So the woman ran quickly and told her husband, \"The man who came to me the other day has appeared to me.\"\r\n\t\t\t Manoah got up and followed his wife, and came to the man and said to him, \"Are you the man who spoke to this woman?\" And he said, \"I am.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Manoah said, \"Now when your words come true, what is to be the boy's rule of life; what is he to do?\"\r\n\t\t\t The angel of the LORD said to Manoah, \"Let the woman give heed to all that I said to her.\r\n\t\t\t She may not eat of anything that comes from the vine. She is not to drink wine or strong drink, or eat any unclean thing. She is to observe everything that I commanded her.\"\r\n\t\t\t Manoah said to the angel of the LORD, \"Allow us to detain you, and prepare a kid for you.\"\r\n\t\t\t The angel of the LORD said to Manoah, \"If you detain me, I will not eat your food; but if you want to prepare a burnt offering, then offer it to the LORD.\" (For Manoah did not know that he was the angel of the LORD.)\r\n\t\t\t Then Manoah said to the angel of the LORD, \"What is your name, so that we may honor you when your words come true?\"\r\n\t\t\t But the angel of the LORD said to him, \"Why do you ask my name? It is too wonderful.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Manoah took the kid with the grain offering, and offered it on the rock to the LORD, to him who works wonders.\r\n\t\t\t When the flame went up toward heaven from the altar, the angel of the LORD ascended in the flame of the altar while Manoah and his wife looked on; and they fell on their faces to the ground.\r\n\t\t\t The angel of the LORD did not appear again to Manoah and his wife. Then Manoah realized that it was the angel of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t And Manoah said to his wife, \"We shall surely die, for we have seen God.\"\r\n\t\t\t But his wife said to him, \"If the LORD had meant to kill us, he would not have accepted a burnt offering and a grain offering at our hands, or shown us all these things, or now announced to us such things as these.\"\r\n\t\t\t The woman bore a son, and named him Samson. The boy grew, and the LORD blessed him.\r\n\t\t\t The spirit of the LORD began to stir him in Mahaneh-dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Once Samson went down to Timnah, and at Timnah he saw a Philistine woman.\r\n\t\t\t Then he came up, and told his father and mother, \"I saw a Philistine woman at Timnah; now get her for me as my wife.\"\r\n\t\t\t But his father and mother said to him, \"Is there not a woman among your kin, or among all our people, that you must go to take a wife from the uncircumcised Philistines?\" But Samson said to his father, \"Get her for me, because she pleases me.\" \r\n\t\t\t His father and mother did not know that this was from the LORD; for he was seeking a pretext to act against the Philistines. At that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel.\r\n\t\t\t Then Samson went down with his father and mother to Timnah. When he came to the vineyards of Timnah, suddenly a young lion roared at him.\r\n\t\t\t The spirit of the LORD rushed on him, and he tore the lion apart barehanded as one might tear apart a kid. But he did not tell his father or his mother what he had done.\r\n\t\t\t Then he went down and talked with the woman, and she pleased Samson.\r\n\t\t\t After a while he returned to marry her, and he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion, and there was a swarm of bees in the body of the lion, and honey.\r\n\t\t\t He scraped it out into his hands, and went on, eating as he went. When he came to his father and mother, he gave some to them, and they ate it. But he did not tell them that he had taken the honey from the carcass of the lion.\r\n\t\t\t His father went down to the woman, and Samson made a feast there as the young men were accustomed to do.\r\n\t\t\t When the people saw him, they brought thirty companions to be with him.\r\n\t\t\t Samson said to them, \"Let me now put a riddle to you. If you can explain it to me within the seven days of the feast, and find it out, then I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty festal garments.\r\n\t\t\t But if you cannot explain it to me, then you shall give me thirty linen garments and thirty festal garments.\" So they said to him, \"Ask your riddle; let us hear it.\"\r\n\t\t\t He said to them, \"Out of the eater came something to eat. Out of the strong came something sweet.\" But for three days they could not explain the riddle.\r\n\t\t\t On the fourth day they said to Samson's wife, \"Coax your husband to explain the riddle to us, or we will burn you and your father's house with fire. Have you invited us here to impoverish us?\" \r\n\t\t\t So Samson's wife wept before him, saying, \"You hate me; you do not really love me. You have asked a riddle of my people, but you have not explained it to me.\" He said to her, \"Look, I have not told my father or my mother. Why should I tell you?\"\r\n\t\t\t She wept before him the seven days that their feast lasted; and because she nagged him, on the seventh day he told her. Then she explained the riddle to her people.\r\n\t\t\t The men of the town said to him on the seventh day before the sun went down, \"What is sweeter than honey? What is stronger than a lion?\" And he said to them, \"If you had not plowed with my heifer, you would not have found out my riddle.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the spirit of the LORD rushed on him, and he went down to Ashkelon. He killed thirty men of the town, took their spoil, and gave the festal garments to those who had explained the riddle. In hot anger he went back to his father's house.\r\n\t\t\t And Samson's wife was given to his companion, who had been his best man.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t After a while, at the time of the wheat harvest, Samson went to visit his wife, bringing along a kid. He said, \"I want to go into my wife's room.\" But her father would not allow him to go in.\r\n\t\t\t Her father said, \"I was sure that you had rejected her; so I gave her to your companion. Is not her younger sister prettier than she? Why not take her instead?\"\r\n\t\t\t Samson said to them, \"This time, when I do mischief to the Philistines, I will be without blame.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Samson went and caught three hundred foxes, and took some torches; and he turned the foxes tail to tail, and put a torch between each pair of tails. \r\n\t\t\t When he had set fire to the torches, he let the foxes go into the standing grain of the Philistines, and burned up the shocks and the standing grain, as well as the vineyards and olive groves. \r\n\t\t\t Then the Philistines asked, \"Who has done this?\" And they said, \"Samson, the son-in-law of the Timnite, because he has taken Samson's wife and given her to his companion.\" So the Philistines came up, and burned her and her father.\r\n\t\t\t Samson said to them, \"If this is what you do, I swear I will not stop until I have taken revenge on you.\"\r\n\t\t\t He struck them down hip and thigh with great slaughter; and he went down and stayed in the cleft of the rock of Etam.\r\n\t\t\t Then the Philistines came up and encamped in Judah, and made a raid on Lehi.\r\n\t\t\t The men of Judah said, \"Why have you come up against us?\" They said, \"We have come up to bind Samson, to do to him as he did to us.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then three thousand men of Judah went down to the cleft of the rock of Etam, and they said to Samson, \"Do you not know that the Philistines are rulers over us? What then have you done to us?\" He replied, \"As they did to me, so I have done to them.\"\r\n\t\t\t They said to him, \"We have come down to bind you, so that we may give you into the hands of the Philistines.\" Samson answered them, \"Swear to me that you yourselves will not attack me.\"\r\n\t\t\t They said to him, \"No, we will only bind you and give you into their hands; we will not kill you.\" So they bound him with two new ropes, and brought him up from the rock.\r\n\t\t\t When he came to Lehi, the Philistines came shouting to meet him; and the spirit of the LORD rushed on him, and the ropes that were on his arms became like flax that has caught fire, and his bonds melted off his hands.\r\n\t\t\t Then he found a fresh jawbone of a donkey, reached down and took it, and with it he killed a thousand men.\r\n\t\t\t And Samson said, \"With the jawbone of a donkey, heaps upon heaps, with the jawbone of a donkey I have slain a thousand men.\"\r\n\t\t\t When he had finished speaking, he threw away the jawbone; and that place was called Ramath-lehi. \r\n\t\t\t By then he was very thirsty, and he called on the LORD, saying, \"You have granted this great victory by the hand of your servant. Am I now to die of thirst, and fall into the hands of the uncircumcised?\"\r\n\t\t\t So God split open the hollow place that is at Lehi, and water came from it. When he drank, his spirit returned, and he revived. Therefore it was named En-hakkore, which is at Lehi to this day. \r\n\t\t\t And he judged Israel in the days of the Philistines twenty years.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Once Samson went to Gaza, where he saw a prostitute and went in to her.\r\n\t\t\t The Gazites were told, \"Samson has come here.\" So they circled around and lay in wait for him all night at the city gate. They kept quiet all night, thinking, \"Let us wait until the light of the morning; then we will kill him.\" \r\n\t\t\t But Samson lay only until midnight. Then at midnight he rose up, took hold of the doors of the city gate and the two posts, pulled them up, bar and all, put them on his shoulders, and carried them to the top of the hill that is in front of Hebron.\r\n\t\t\t After this he fell in love with a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah.\r\n\t\t\t The lords of the Philistines came to her and said to her, \"Coax him, and find out what makes his strength so great, and how we may overpower him, so that we may bind him in order to subdue him; and we will each give you eleven hundred pieces of silver.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Delilah said to Samson, \"Please tell me what makes your strength so great, and how you could be bound, so that one could subdue you.\"\r\n\t\t\t Samson said to her, \"If they bind me with seven fresh bowstrings that are not dried out, then I shall become weak, and be like anyone else.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the lords of the Philistines brought her seven fresh bowstrings that had not dried out, and she bound him with them.\r\n\t\t\t While men were lying in wait in an inner chamber, she said to him, \"The Philistines are upon you, Samson!\" But he snapped the bowstrings, as a strand of fiber snaps when it touches the fire. So the secret of his strength was not known.\r\n\t\t\t Then Delilah said to Samson, \"You have mocked me and told me lies; please tell me how you could be bound.\"\r\n\t\t\t He said to her, \"If they bind me with new ropes that have not been used, then I shall become weak, and be like anyone else.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Delilah took new ropes and bound him with them, and said to him, \"The Philistines are upon you, Samson!\" (The men lying in wait were in an inner chamber.) But he snapped the ropes off his arms like a thread.\r\n\t\t\t Then Delilah said to Samson, \"Until now you have mocked me and told me lies; tell me how you could be bound.\" He said to her, \"If you weave the seven locks of my head with the web and make it tight with the pin, then I shall become weak, and be like anyone else.\"\r\n\t\t\t So while he slept, Delilah took the seven locks of his head and wove them into the web, and made them tight with the pin. Then she said to him, \"The Philistines are upon you, Samson!\" But he awoke from his sleep, and pulled away the pin, the loom, and the web. \r\n\t\t\t Then she said to him, \"How can you say, 'I love you,' when your heart is not with me? You have mocked me three times now and have not told me what makes your strength so great.\"\r\n\t\t\t Finally, after she had nagged him with her words day after day, and pestered him, he was tired to death.\r\n\t\t\t So he told her his whole secret, and said to her, \"A razor has never come upon my head; for I have been a nazirite to God from my mother's womb. If my head were shaved, then my strength would leave me; I would become weak, and be like anyone else.\" \r\n\t\t\t When Delilah realized that he had told her his whole secret, she sent and called the lords of the Philistines, saying, \"This time come up, for he has told his whole secret to me.\" Then the lords of the Philistines came up to her, and brought the money in their hands.\r\n\t\t\t She let him fall asleep on her lap; and she called a man, and had him shave off the seven locks of his head. He began to weaken, and his strength left him. \r\n\t\t\t Then she said, \"The Philistines are upon you, Samson!\" When he awoke from his sleep, he thought, \"I will go out as at other times, and shake myself free.\" But he did not know that the LORD had left him.\r\n\t\t\t So the Philistines seized him and gouged out his eyes. They brought him down to Gaza and bound him with bronze shackles; and he ground at the mill in the prison.\r\n\t\t\t But the hair of his head began to grow again after it had been shaved.\r\n\t\t\t Now the lords of the Philistines gathered to offer a great sacrifice to their god Dagon, and to rejoice; for they said, \"Our god has given Samson our enemy into our hand.\"\r\n\t\t\t When the people saw him, they praised their god; for they said, \"Our god has given our enemy into our hand, the ravager of our country, who has killed many of us.\"\r\n\t\t\t And when their hearts were merry, they said, \"Call Samson, and let him entertain us.\" So they called Samson out of the prison, and he performed for them. They made him stand between the pillars;\r\n\t\t\t and Samson said to the attendant who held him by the hand, \"Let me feel the pillars on which the house rests, so that I may lean against them.\"\r\n\t\t\t Now the house was full of men and women; all the lords of the Philistines were there, and on the roof there were about three thousand men and women, who looked on while Samson performed.\r\n\t\t\t Then Samson called to the LORD and said, \"Lord GOD, remember me and strengthen me only this once, O God, so that with this one act of revenge I may pay back the Philistines for my two eyes.\" \r\n\t\t\t And Samson grasped the two middle pillars on which the house rested, and he leaned his weight against them, his right hand on the one and his left hand on the other.\r\n\t\t\t Then Samson said, \"Let me die with the Philistines.\" He strained with all his might; and the house fell on the lords and all the people who were in it. So those he killed at his death were more than those he had killed during his life.\r\n\t\t\t Then his brothers and all his family came down and took him and brought him up and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the tomb of his father Manoah. He had judged Israel twenty years.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t There was a man in the hill country of Ephraim whose name was Micah.\r\n\t\t\t He said to his mother, \"The eleven hundred pieces of silver that were taken from you, about which you uttered a curse, and even spoke it in my hearing,-- that silver is in my possession; I took it; but now I will return it to you.\" And his mother said, \"May my son be blessed by the LORD!\"\r\n\t\t\t Then he returned the eleven hundred pieces of silver to his mother; and his mother said, \"I consecrate the silver to the LORD from my hand for my son, to make an idol of cast metal.\"\r\n\t\t\t So when he returned the money to his mother, his mother took two hundred pieces of silver, and gave it to the silversmith, who made it into an idol of cast metal; and it was in the house of Micah.\r\n\t\t\t This man Micah had a shrine, and he made an ephod and teraphim, and installed one of his sons, who became his priest.\r\n\t\t\t In those days there was no king in Israel; all the people did what was right in their own eyes.\r\n\t\t\t Now there was a young man of Bethlehem in Judah, of the clan of Judah. He was a Levite residing there.\r\n\t\t\t This man left the town of Bethlehem in Judah, to live wherever he could find a place. He came to the house of Micah in the hill country of Ephraim to carry on his work. \r\n\t\t\t Micah said to him, \"From where do you come?\" He replied, \"I am a Levite of Bethlehem in Judah, and I am going to live wherever I can find a place.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Micah said to him, \"Stay with me, and be to me a father and a priest, and I will give you ten pieces of silver a year, a set of clothes, and your living.\" \r\n\t\t\t The Levite agreed to stay with the man; and the young man became to him like one of his sons.\r\n\t\t\t So Micah installed the Levite, and the young man became his priest, and was in the house of Micah.\r\n\t\t\t Then Micah said, \"Now I know that the LORD will prosper me, because the Levite has become my priest.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t In those days there was no king in Israel. And in those days the tribe of the Danites was seeking for itself a territory to live in; for until then no territory among the tribes of Israel had been allotted to them.\r\n\t\t\t So the Danites sent five valiant men from the whole number of their clan, from Zorah and from Eshtaol, to spy out the land and to explore it; and they said to them, \"Go, explore the land.\" When they came to the hill country of Ephraim, to the house of Micah, they stayed there.\r\n\t\t\t While they were at Micah's house, they recognized the voice of the young Levite; so they went over and asked him, \"Who brought you here? What are you doing in this place? What is your business here?\"\r\n\t\t\t He said to them, \"Micah did such and such for me, and he hired me, and I have become his priest.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then they said to him, \"Inquire of God that we may know whether the mission we are undertaking will succeed.\"\r\n\t\t\t The priest replied, \"Go in peace. The mission you are on is under the eye of the LORD.\"\r\n\t\t\t The five men went on, and when they came to Laish, they observed the people who were there living securely, after the manner of the Sidonians, quiet and unsuspecting, lacking nothing on earth, and possessing wealth. Furthermore, they were far from the Sidonians and had no dealings with Aram. \r\n\t\t\t When they came to their kinsfolk at Zorah and Eshtaol, they said to them, \"What do you report?\"\r\n\t\t\t They said, \"Come, let us go up against them; for we have seen the land, and it is very good. Will you do nothing? Do not be slow to go, but enter in and possess the land.\r\n\t\t\t When you go, you will come to an unsuspecting people. The land is broad-- God has indeed given it into your hands-- a place where there is no lack of anything on earth.\"\r\n\t\t\t Six hundred men of the Danite clan, armed with weapons of war, set out from Zorah and Eshtaol,\r\n\t\t\t and went up and encamped at Kiriath-jearim in Judah. On this account that place is called Mahaneh-dan to this day; it is west of Kiriath-jearim. \r\n\t\t\t From there they passed on to the hill country of Ephraim, and came to the house of Micah.\r\n\t\t\t Then the five men who had gone to spy out the land (that is, Laish) said to their comrades, \"Do you know that in these buildings there are an ephod, teraphim, and an idol of cast metal? Now therefore consider what you will do.\"\r\n\t\t\t So they turned in that direction and came to the house of the young Levite, at the home of Micah, and greeted him.\r\n\t\t\t While the six hundred men of the Danites, armed with their weapons of war, stood by the entrance of the gate,\r\n\t\t\t the five men who had gone to spy out the land proceeded to enter and take the idol of cast metal, the ephod, and the teraphim. The priest was standing by the entrance of the gate with the six hundred men armed with weapons of war. \r\n\t\t\t When the men went into Micah's house and took the idol of cast metal, the ephod, and the teraphim, the priest said to them, \"What are you doing?\"\r\n\t\t\t They said to him, \"Keep quiet! Put your hand over your mouth, and come with us, and be to us a father and a priest. Is it better for you to be priest to the house of one person, or to be priest to a tribe and clan in Israel?\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the priest accepted the offer. He took the ephod, the teraphim, and the idol, and went along with the people.\r\n\t\t\t So they resumed their journey, putting the little ones, the livestock, and the goods in front of them.\r\n\t\t\t When they were some distance from the home of Micah, the men who were in the houses near Micah's house were called out, and they overtook the Danites.\r\n\t\t\t They shouted to the Danites, who turned around and said to Micah, \"What is the matter that you come with such a company?\"\r\n\t\t\t He replied, \"You take my gods that I made, and the priest, and go away, and what have I left? How then can you ask me, 'What is the matter?'\"\r\n\t\t\t And the Danites said to him, \"You had better not let your voice be heard among us or else hot-tempered fellows will attack you, and you will lose your life and the lives of your household.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the Danites went their way. When Micah saw that they were too strong for him, he turned and went back to his home.\r\n\t\t\t The Danites, having taken what Micah had made, and the priest who belonged to him, came to Laish, to a people quiet and unsuspecting, put them to the sword, and burned down the city.\r\n\t\t\t There was no deliverer, because it was far from Sidon and they had no dealings with Aram. It was in the valley that belongs to Beth-rehob. They rebuilt the city, and lived in it. \r\n\t\t\t They named the city Dan, after their ancestor Dan, who was born to Israel; but the name of the city was formerly Laish.\r\n\t\t\t Then the Danites set up the idol for themselves. Jonathan son of Gershom, son of Moses, and his sons were priests to the tribe of the Danites until the time the land went into captivity. \r\n\t\t\t So they maintained as their own Micah's idol that he had made, as long as the house of God was at Shiloh.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t In those days, when there was no king in Israel, a certain Levite, residing in the remote parts of the hill country of Ephraim, took to himself a concubine from Bethlehem in Judah.\r\n\t\t\t But his concubine became angry with him, and she went away from him to her father's house at Bethlehem in Judah, and was there some four months. \r\n\t\t\t Then her husband set out after her, to speak tenderly to her and bring her back. He had with him his servant and a couple of donkeys. When he reached her father's house, the girl's father saw him and came with joy to meet him. \r\n\t\t\t His father-in-law, the girl's father, made him stay, and he remained with him three days; so they ate and drank, and he stayed there. \r\n\t\t\t On the fourth day they got up early in the morning, and he prepared to go; but the girl's father said to his son-in-law, \"Fortify yourself with a bit of food, and after that you may go.\"\r\n\t\t\t So the two men sat and ate and drank together; and the girl's father said to the man, \"Why not spend the night and enjoy yourself?\"\r\n\t\t\t When the man got up to go, his father-in-law kept urging him until he spent the night there again.\r\n\t\t\t On the fifth day he got up early in the morning to leave; and the girl's father said, \"Fortify yourself.\" So they lingered until the day declined, and the two of them ate and drank. \r\n\t\t\t When the man with his concubine and his servant got up to leave, his father-in-law, the girl's father, said to him, \"Look, the day has worn on until it is almost evening. Spend the night. See, the day has drawn to a close. Spend the night here and enjoy yourself. Tomorrow you can get up early in the morning for your journey, and go home.\"\r\n\t\t\t But the man would not spend the night; he got up and departed, and arrived opposite Jebus (that is, Jerusalem). He had with him a couple of saddled donkeys, and his concubine was with him.\r\n\t\t\t When they were near Jebus, the day was far spent, and the servant said to his master, \"Come now, let us turn aside to this city of the Jebusites, and spend the night in it.\"\r\n\t\t\t But his master said to him, \"We will not turn aside into a city of foreigners, who do not belong to the people of Israel; but we will continue on to Gibeah.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then he said to his servant, \"Come, let us try to reach one of these places, and spend the night at Gibeah or at Ramah.\"\r\n\t\t\t So they passed on and went their way; and the sun went down on them near Gibeah, which belongs to Benjamin.\r\n\t\t\t They turned aside there, to go in and spend the night at Gibeah. He went in and sat down in the open square of the city, but no one took them in to spend the night.\r\n\t\t\t Then at evening there was an old man coming from his work in the field. The man was from the hill country of Ephraim, and he was residing in Gibeah. (The people of the place were Benjaminites.)\r\n\t\t\t When the old man looked up and saw the wayfarer in the open square of the city, he said, \"Where are you going and where do you come from?\"\r\n\t\t\t He answered him, \"We are passing from Bethlehem in Judah to the remote parts of the hill country of Ephraim, from which I come. I went to Bethlehem in Judah; and I am going to my home. Nobody has offered to take me in. \r\n\t\t\t We your servants have straw and fodder for our donkeys, with bread and wine for me and the woman and the young man along with us. We need nothing more.\"\r\n\t\t\t The old man said, \"Peace be to you. I will care for all your wants; only do not spend the night in the square.\"\r\n\t\t\t So he brought him into his house, and fed the donkeys; they washed their feet, and ate and drank.\r\n\t\t\t While they were enjoying themselves, the men of the city, a perverse lot, surrounded the house, and started pounding on the door. They said to the old man, the master of the house, \"Bring out the man who came into your house, so that we may have intercourse with him.\"\r\n\t\t\t And the man, the master of the house, went out to them and said to them, \"No, my brothers, do not act so wickedly. Since this man is my guest, do not do this vile thing.\r\n\t\t\t Here are my virgin daughter and his concubine; let me bring them out now. Ravish them and do whatever you want to them; but against this man do not do such a vile thing.\"\r\n\t\t\t But the men would not listen to him. So the man seized his concubine, and put her out to them. They wantonly raped her, and abused her all through the night until the morning. And as the dawn began to break, they let her go.\r\n\t\t\t As morning appeared, the woman came and fell down at the door of the man's house where her master was, until it was light.\r\n\t\t\t In the morning her master got up, opened the doors of the house, and when he went out to go on his way, there was his concubine lying at the door of the house, with her hands on the threshold.\r\n\t\t\t \"Get up,\" he said to her, \"we are going.\" But there was no answer. Then he put her on the donkey; and the man set out for his home.\r\n\t\t\t When he had entered his house, he took a knife, and grasping his concubine he cut her into twelve pieces, limb by limb, and sent her throughout all the territory of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t Then he commanded the men whom he sent, saying, \"Thus shall you say to all the Israelites, 'Has such a thing ever happened since the day that the Israelites came up from the land of Egypt until this day? Consider it, take counsel, and speak out.'\" \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then all the Israelites came out, from Dan to Beer-sheba, including the land of Gilead, and the congregation assembled in one body before the LORD at Mizpah.\r\n\t\t\t The chiefs of all the people, of all the tribes of Israel, presented themselves in the assembly of the people of God, four hundred thousand foot-soldiers bearing arms.\r\n\t\t\t (Now the Benjaminites heard that the people of Israel had gone up to Mizpah.) And the Israelites said, \"Tell us, how did this criminal act come about?\"\r\n\t\t\t The Levite, the husband of the woman who was murdered, answered, \"I came to Gibeah that belongs to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to spend the night.\r\n\t\t\t The lords of Gibeah rose up against me, and surrounded the house at night. They intended to kill me, and they raped my concubine until she died.\r\n\t\t\t Then I took my concubine and cut her into pieces, and sent her throughout the whole extent of Israel's territory; for they have committed a vile outrage in Israel.\r\n\t\t\t So now, you Israelites, all of you, give your advice and counsel here.\"\r\n\t\t\t All the people got up as one, saying, \"We will not any of us go to our tents, nor will any of us return to our houses.\r\n\t\t\t But now this is what we will do to Gibeah: we will go up against it by lot. \r\n\t\t\t We will take ten men of a hundred throughout all the tribes of Israel, and a hundred of a thousand, and a thousand of ten thousand, to bring provisions for the troops, who are going to repay Gibeah of Benjamin for all the disgrace that they have done in Israel.\" \r\n\t\t\t So all the men of Israel gathered against the city, united as one.\r\n\t\t\t The tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin, saying, \"What crime is this that has been committed among you?\r\n\t\t\t Now then, hand over those scoundrels in Gibeah, so that we may put them to death, and purge the evil from Israel.\" But the Benjaminites would not listen to their kinsfolk, the Israelites.\r\n\t\t\t The Benjaminites came together out of the towns to Gibeah, to go out to battle against the Israelites.\r\n\t\t\t On that day the Benjaminites mustered twenty-six thousand armed men from their towns, besides the inhabitants of Gibeah.\r\n\t\t\t Of all this force, there were seven hundred picked men who were left-handed; every one could sling a stone at a hair, and not miss.\r\n\t\t\t And the Israelites, apart from Benjamin, mustered four hundred thousand armed men, all of them warriors.\r\n\t\t\t The Israelites proceeded to go up to Bethel, where they inquired of God, \"Which of us shall go up first to battle against the Benjaminites?\" And the LORD answered, \"Judah shall go up first.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the Israelites got up in the morning, and encamped against Gibeah.\r\n\t\t\t The Israelites went out to battle against Benjamin; and the Israelites drew up the battle line against them at Gibeah.\r\n\t\t\t The Benjaminites came out of Gibeah, and struck down on that day twenty-two thousand of the Israelites.\r\n\t\t\t The Israelites took courage, and again formed the battle line in the same place where they had formed it on the first day.\r\n\t\t\t The Israelites went up and wept before the LORD until the evening; and they inquired of the LORD, \"Shall we again draw near to battle against our kinsfolk the Benjaminites?\" And the LORD said, \"Go up against them.\"\r\n\t\t\t So the Israelites advanced against the Benjaminites the second day.\r\n\t\t\t Benjamin moved out against them from Gibeah the second day, and struck down eighteen thousand of the Israelites, all of them armed men.\r\n\t\t\t Then all the Israelites, the whole army, went back to Bethel and wept, sitting there before the LORD; they fasted that day until evening. Then they offered burnt offerings and sacrifices of well-being before the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t And the Israelites inquired of the LORD (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days,\r\n\t\t\t and Phinehas son of Eleazar, son of Aaron, ministered before it in those days), saying, \"Shall we go out once more to battle against our kinsfolk the Benjaminites, or shall we desist?\" The LORD answered, \"Go up, for tomorrow I will give them into your hand.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Israel stationed men in ambush around Gibeah.\r\n\t\t\t Then the Israelites went up against the Benjaminites on the third day, and set themselves in array against Gibeah, as before.\r\n\t\t\t When the Benjaminites went out against the army, they were drawn away from the city. As before they began to inflict casualties on the troops, along the main roads, one of which goes up to Bethel and the other to Gibeah, as well as in the open country, killing about thirty men of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t The Benjaminites thought, \"They are being routed before us, as previously.\" But the Israelites said, \"Let us retreat and draw them away from the city toward the roads.\"\r\n\t\t\t The main body of the Israelites drew back its battle line to Baal-tamar, while those Israelites who were in ambush rushed out of their place west of Geba. \r\n\t\t\t There came against Gibeah ten thousand picked men out of all Israel, and the battle was fierce. But the Benjaminites did not realize that disaster was close upon them.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD defeated Benjamin before Israel; and the Israelites destroyed twenty-five thousand one hundred men of Benjamin that day, all of them armed.\r\n\t\t\t Then the Benjaminites saw that they were defeated. The Israelites gave ground to Benjamin, because they trusted to the troops in ambush that they had stationed against Gibeah. \r\n\t\t\t The troops in ambush rushed quickly upon Gibeah. Then they put the whole city to the sword.\r\n\t\t\t Now the agreement between the main body of Israel and the men in ambush was that when they sent up a cloud of smoke out of the city\r\n\t\t\t the main body of Israel should turn in battle. But Benjamin had begun to inflict casualties on the Israelites, killing about thirty of them; so they thought, \"Surely they are defeated before us, as in the first battle.\"\r\n\t\t\t But when the cloud, a column of smoke, began to rise out of the city, the Benjaminites looked behind them-- and there was the whole city going up in smoke toward the sky!\r\n\t\t\t Then the main body of Israel turned, and the Benjaminites were dismayed, for they saw that disaster was close upon them.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore they turned away from the Israelites in the direction of the wilderness; but the battle overtook them, and those who came out of the city were slaughtering them in between. \r\n\t\t\t Cutting down the Benjaminites, they pursued them from Nohah and trod them down as far as a place east of Gibeah. \r\n\t\t\t Eighteen thousand Benjaminites fell, all of them courageous fighters.\r\n\t\t\t When they turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon, five thousand of them were cut down on the main roads, and they were pursued as far as Gidom, and two thousand of them were slain.\r\n\t\t\t So all who fell that day of Benjamin were twenty-five thousand arms-bearing men, all of them courageous fighters.\r\n\t\t\t But six hundred turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon, and remained at the rock of Rimmon for four months.\r\n\t\t\t Meanwhile, the Israelites turned back against the Benjaminites, and put them to the sword-- the city, the people, the animals, and all that remained. Also the remaining towns they set on fire.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now the Israelites had sworn at Mizpah, \"No one of us shall give his daughter in marriage to Benjamin.\"\r\n\t\t\t And the people came to Bethel, and sat there until evening before God, and they lifted up their voices and wept bitterly.\r\n\t\t\t They said, \"O LORD, the God of Israel, why has it come to pass that today there should be one tribe lacking in Israel?\"\r\n\t\t\t On the next day, the people got up early, and built an altar there, and offered burnt offerings and sacrifices of well-being.\r\n\t\t\t Then the Israelites said, \"Which of all the tribes of Israel did not come up in the assembly to the LORD?\" For a solemn oath had been taken concerning whoever did not come up to the LORD to Mizpah, saying, \"That one shall be put to death.\"\r\n\t\t\t But the Israelites had compassion for Benjamin their kin, and said, \"One tribe is cut off from Israel this day.\r\n\t\t\t What shall we do for wives for those who are left, since we have sworn by the LORD that we will not give them any of our daughters as wives?\"\r\n\t\t\t Then they said, \"Is there anyone from the tribes of Israel who did not come up to the LORD to Mizpah?\" It turned out that no one from Jabesh-gilead had come to the camp, to the assembly.\r\n\t\t\t For when the roll was called among the people, not one of the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead was there.\r\n\t\t\t So the congregation sent twelve thousand soldiers there and commanded them, \"Go, put the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead to the sword, including the women and the little ones.\r\n\t\t\t This is what you shall do; every male and every woman that has lain with a male you shall devote to destruction.\"\r\n\t\t\t And they found among the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead four hundred young virgins who had never slept with a man and brought them to the camp at Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan.\r\n\t\t\t Then the whole congregation sent word to the Benjaminites who were at the rock of Rimmon, and proclaimed peace to them.\r\n\t\t\t Benjamin returned at that time; and they gave them the women whom they had saved alive of the women of Jabesh-gilead; but they did not suffice for them.\r\n\t\t\t The people had compassion on Benjamin because the LORD had made a breach in the tribes of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t So the elders of the congregation said, \"What shall we do for wives for those who are left, since there are no women left in Benjamin?\"\r\n\t\t\t And they said, \"There must be heirs for the survivors of Benjamin, in order that a tribe may not be blotted out from Israel.\r\n\t\t\t Yet we cannot give any of our daughters to them as wives.\" For the Israelites had sworn, \"Cursed be anyone who gives a wife to Benjamin.\"\r\n\t\t\t So they said, \"Look, the yearly festival of the LORD is taking place at Shiloh, which is north of Bethel, on the east of the highway that goes up from Bethel to Shechem, and south of Lebonah.\"\r\n\t\t\t And they instructed the Benjaminites, saying, \"Go and lie in wait in the vineyards,\r\n\t\t\t and watch; when the young women of Shiloh come out to dance in the dances, then come out of the vineyards and each of you carry off a wife for himself from the young women of Shiloh, and go to the land of Benjamin.\r\n\t\t\t Then if their fathers or their brothers come to complain to us, we will say to them, 'Be generous and allow us to have them; because we did not capture in battle a wife for each man. But neither did you incur guilt by giving your daughters to them.'\"\r\n\t\t\t The Benjaminites did so; they took wives for each of them from the dancers whom they abducted. Then they went and returned to their territory, and rebuilt the towns, and lived in them.\r\n\t\t\t So the Israelites departed from there at that time by tribes and families, and they went out from there to their own territories.\r\n\t\t\t In those days there was no king in Israel; all the people did what was right in their own eyes.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land, and a certain man of Bethlehem in Judah went to live in the country of Moab, he and his wife and two sons.\r\n\t\t\t The name of the man was Elimelech and the name of his wife Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion; they were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. They went into the country of Moab and remained there.\r\n\t\t\t But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons.\r\n\t\t\t These took Moabite wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. When they had lived there about ten years,\r\n\t\t\t both Mahlon and Chilion also died, so that the woman was left without her two sons and her husband.\r\n\t\t\t Then she started to return with her daughters-in-law from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the country of Moab that the LORD had considered his people and given them food.\r\n\t\t\t So she set out from the place where she had been living, she and her two daughters-in-law, and they went on their way to go back to the land of Judah.\r\n\t\t\t But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, \"Go back each of you to your mother's house. May the LORD deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD grant that you may find security, each of you in the house of your husband.\" Then she kissed them, and they wept aloud.\r\n\t\t\t They said to her, \"No, we will return with you to your people.\"\r\n\t\t\t But Naomi said, \"Turn back, my daughters, why will you go with me? Do I still have sons in my womb that they may become your husbands?\r\n\t\t\t Turn back, my daughters, go your way, for I am too old to have a husband. Even if I thought there was hope for me, even if I should have a husband tonight and bear sons,\r\n\t\t\t would you then wait until they were grown? Would you then refrain from marrying? No, my daughters, it has been far more bitter for me than for you, because the hand of the LORD has turned against me.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then they wept aloud again. Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.\r\n\t\t\t So she said, \"See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.\"\r\n\t\t\t But Ruth said, \"Do not press me to leave you or to turn back from following you! Where you go, I will go; where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God.\r\n\t\t\t Where you die, I will die-- there will I be buried. May the LORD do thus and so to me, and more as well, if even death parts me from you!\"\r\n\t\t\t When Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more to her.\r\n\t\t\t So the two of them went on until they came to Bethlehem. When they came to Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them; and the women said, \"Is this Naomi?\"\r\n\t\t\t She said to them, \"Call me no longer Naomi, call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt bitterly with me. \r\n\t\t\t I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty; why call me Naomi when the LORD has dealt harshly with me, and the Almighty has brought calamity upon me?\"\r\n\t\t\t So Naomi returned together with Ruth the Moabite, her daughter-in-law, who came back with her from the country of Moab. They came to Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now Naomi had a kinsman on her husband's side, a prominent rich man, of the family of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz.\r\n\t\t\t And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, \"Let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain, behind someone in whose sight I may find favor.\" She said to her, \"Go, my daughter.\"\r\n\t\t\t So she went. She came and gleaned in the field behind the reapers. As it happened, she came to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech.\r\n\t\t\t Just then Boaz came from Bethlehem. He said to the reapers, \"The LORD be with you.\" They answered, \"The LORD bless you.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Boaz said to his servant who was in charge of the reapers, \"To whom does this young woman belong?\"\r\n\t\t\t The servant who was in charge of the reapers answered, \"She is the Moabite who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab.\r\n\t\t\t She said, 'Please, let me glean and gather among the sheaves behind the reapers.' So she came, and she has been on her feet from early this morning until now, without resting even for a moment.\" \r\n\t\t\t Then Boaz said to Ruth, \"Now listen, my daughter, do not go to glean in another field or leave this one, but keep close to my young women.\r\n\t\t\t Keep your eyes on the field that is being reaped, and follow behind them. I have ordered the young men not to bother you. If you get thirsty, go to the vessels and drink from what the young men have drawn.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then she fell prostrate, with her face to the ground, and said to him, \"Why have I found favor in your sight, that you should take notice of me, when I am a foreigner?\"\r\n\t\t\t But Boaz answered her, \"All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully told me, and how you left your father and mother and your native land and came to a people that you did not know before.\r\n\t\t\t May the LORD reward you for your deeds, and may you have a full reward from the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge!\"\r\n\t\t\t Then she said, \"May I continue to find favor in your sight, my lord, for you have comforted me and spoken kindly to your servant, even though I am not one of your servants.\"\r\n\t\t\t At mealtime Boaz said to her, \"Come here, and eat some of this bread, and dip your morsel in the sour wine.\" So she sat beside the reapers, and he heaped up for her some parched grain. She ate until she was satisfied, and she had some left over.\r\n\t\t\t When she got up to glean, Boaz instructed his young men, \"Let her glean even among the standing sheaves, and do not reproach her.\r\n\t\t\t You must also pull out some handfuls for her from the bundles, and leave them for her to glean, and do not rebuke her.\"\r\n\t\t\t So she gleaned in the field until evening. Then she beat out what she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley.\r\n\t\t\t She picked it up and came into the town, and her mother-in-law saw how much she had gleaned. Then she took out and gave her what was left over after she herself had been satisfied.\r\n\t\t\t Her mother-in-law said to her, \"Where did you glean today? And where have you worked? Blessed be the man who took notice of you.\" So she told her mother-in-law with whom she had worked, and said, \"The name of the man with whom I worked today is Boaz.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, \"Blessed be he by the LORD, whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead!\" Naomi also said to her, \"The man is a relative of ours, one of our nearest kin.\" \r\n\t\t\t Then Ruth the Moabite said, \"He even said to me, 'Stay close by my servants, until they have finished all my harvest.'\"\r\n\t\t\t Naomi said to Ruth, her daughter-in-law, \"It is better, my daughter, that you go out with his young women, otherwise you might be bothered in another field.\"\r\n\t\t\t So she stayed close to the young women of Boaz, gleaning until the end of the barley and wheat harvests; and she lived with her mother-in-law.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, \"My daughter, I need to seek some security for you, so that it may be well with you.\r\n\t\t\t Now here is our kinsman Boaz, with whose young women you have been working. See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor.\r\n\t\t\t Now wash and anoint yourself, and put on your best clothes and go down to the threshing floor; but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking.\r\n\t\t\t When he lies down, observe the place where he lies; then, go and uncover his feet and lie down; and he will tell you what to do.\"\r\n\t\t\t She said to her, \"All that you tell me I will do.\"\r\n\t\t\t So she went down to the threshing floor and did just as her mother-in-law had instructed her.\r\n\t\t\t When Boaz had eaten and drunk, and he was in a contented mood, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. Then she came stealthily and uncovered his feet, and lay down.\r\n\t\t\t At midnight the man was startled, and turned over, and there, lying at his feet, was a woman!\r\n\t\t\t He said, \"Who are you?\" And she answered, \"I am Ruth, your servant; spread your cloak over your servant, for you are next-of-kin.\" \r\n\t\t\t He said, \"May you be blessed by the LORD, my daughter; this last instance of your loyalty is better than the first; you have not gone after young men, whether poor or rich.\r\n\t\t\t And now, my daughter, do not be afraid, I will do for you all that you ask, for all the assembly of my people know that you are a worthy woman.\r\n\t\t\t But now, though it is true that I am a near kinsman, there is another kinsman more closely related than I.\r\n\t\t\t Remain this night, and in the morning, if he will act as next-of-kin for you, good; let him do it. If he is not willing to act as next-of-kin for you, then, as the LORD lives, I will act as next-of-kin for you. Lie down until the morning.\" \r\n\t\t\t So she lay at his feet until morning, but got up before one person could recognize another; for he said, \"It must not be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then he said, \"Bring the cloak you are wearing and hold it out.\" So she held it, and he measured out six measures of barley, and put it on her back; then he went into the city.\r\n\t\t\t She came to her mother-in-law, who said, \"How did things go with you, my daughter?\" Then she told her all that the man had done for her, \r\n\t\t\t saying, \"He gave me these six measures of barley, for he said, 'Do not go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.'\"\r\n\t\t\t She replied, \"Wait, my daughter, until you learn how the matter turns out, for the man will not rest, but will settle the matter today.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t No sooner had Boaz gone up to the gate and sat down there than the next-of-kin, of whom Boaz had spoken, came passing by. So Boaz said, \"Come over, friend; sit down here.\" And he went over and sat down. \r\n\t\t\t Then Boaz took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, \"Sit down here\"; so they sat down.\r\n\t\t\t He then said to the next-of-kin, \"Naomi, who has come back from the country of Moab, is selling the parcel of land that belonged to our kinsman Elimelech. \r\n\t\t\t So I thought I would tell you of it, and say: Buy it in the presence of those sitting here, and in the presence of the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, redeem it; but if you will not, tell me, so that I may know; for there is no one prior to you to redeem it, and I come after you.\" So he said, \"I will redeem it.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Boaz said, \"The day you acquire the field from the hand of Naomi, you are also acquiring Ruth the Moabite, the widow of the dead man, to maintain the dead man's name on his inheritance.\"\r\n\t\t\t At this, the next-of-kin said, \"I cannot redeem it for myself without damaging my own inheritance. Take my right of redemption yourself, for I cannot redeem it.\" \r\n\t\t\t Now this was the custom in former times in Israel concerning redeeming and exchanging: to confirm a transaction, the one took off a sandal and gave it to the other; this was the manner of attesting in Israel.\r\n\t\t\t So when the next-of-kin said to Boaz, \"Acquire it for yourself,\" he took off his sandal. \r\n\t\t\t Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people, \"Today you are witnesses that I have acquired from the hand of Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech and all that belonged to Chilion and Mahlon.\r\n\t\t\t I have also acquired Ruth the Moabite, the wife of Mahlon, to be my wife, to maintain the dead man's name on his inheritance, in order that the name of the dead may not be cut off from his kindred and from the gate of his native place; today you are witnesses.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then all the people who were at the gate, along with the elders, said, \"We are witnesses. May the LORD make the woman who is coming into your house like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel. May you produce children in Ephrathah and bestow a name in Bethlehem;\r\n\t\t\t and, through the children that the LORD will give you by this young woman, may your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. When they came together, the LORD made her conceive, and she bore a son.\r\n\t\t\t Then the women said to Naomi, \"Blessed be the LORD, who has not left you this day without next-of-kin; and may his name be renowned in Israel!\r\n\t\t\t He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age; for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has borne him.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Naomi took the child and laid him in her bosom, and became his nurse.\r\n\t\t\t The women of the neighborhood gave him a name, saying, \"A son has been born to Naomi.\" They named him Obed; he became the father of Jesse, the father of David.\r\n\t\t\t Now these are the descendants of Perez: Perez became the father of Hezron,\r\n\t\t\t Hezron of Ram, Ram of Amminadab,\r\n\t\t\t Amminadab of Nahshon, Nahshon of Salmon,\r\n\t\t\t Salmon of Boaz, Boaz of Obed,\r\n\t\t\t Obed of Jesse, and Jesse of David.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t There was a certain man of Ramathaim, a Zuphite from the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah son of Jeroham son of Elihu son of Tohu son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. \r\n\t\t\t He had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.\r\n\t\t\t Now this man used to go up year by year from his town to worship and to sacrifice to the LORD of hosts at Shiloh, where the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t On the day when Elkanah sacrificed, he would give portions to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters;\r\n\t\t\t but to Hannah he gave a double portion, because he loved her, though the LORD had closed her womb. \r\n\t\t\t Her rival used to provoke her severely, to irritate her, because the LORD had closed her womb.\r\n\t\t\t So it went on year by year; as often as she went up to the house of the LORD, she used to provoke her. Therefore Hannah wept and would not eat.\r\n\t\t\t Her husband Elkanah said to her, \"Hannah, why do you weep? Why do you not eat? Why is your heart sad? Am I not more to you than ten sons?\"\r\n\t\t\t After they had eaten and drunk at Shiloh, Hannah rose and presented herself before the LORD. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of the temple of the LORD. \r\n\t\t\t She was deeply distressed and prayed to the LORD, and wept bitterly.\r\n\t\t\t She made this vow: \"O LORD of hosts, if only you will look on the misery of your servant, and remember me, and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a male child, then I will set him before you as a nazirite until the day of his death. He shall drink neither wine nor intoxicants, and no razor shall touch his head.\" \r\n\t\t\t As she continued praying before the LORD, Eli observed her mouth.\r\n\t\t\t Hannah was praying silently; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard; therefore Eli thought she was drunk.\r\n\t\t\t So Eli said to her, \"How long will you make a drunken spectacle of yourself? Put away your wine.\"\r\n\t\t\t But Hannah answered, \"No, my lord, I am a woman deeply troubled; I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation all this time.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Eli answered, \"Go in peace; the God of Israel grant the petition you have made to him.\"\r\n\t\t\t And she said, \"Let your servant find favor in your sight.\" Then the woman went to her quarters, ate and drank with her husband, and her countenance was sad no longer. \r\n\t\t\t They rose early in the morning and worshiped before the LORD; then they went back to their house at Ramah. Elkanah knew his wife Hannah, and the LORD remembered her.\r\n\t\t\t In due time Hannah conceived and bore a son. She named him Samuel, for she said, \"I have asked him of the LORD.\"\r\n\t\t\t The man Elkanah and all his household went up to offer to the LORD the yearly sacrifice, and to pay his vow.\r\n\t\t\t But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, \"As soon as the child is weaned, I will bring him, that he may appear in the presence of the LORD, and remain there forever; I will offer him as a nazirite for all time.\" \r\n\t\t\t Her husband Elkanah said to her, \"Do what seems best to you, wait until you have weaned him; only-- may the LORD establish his word.\" So the woman remained and nursed her son, until she weaned him.\r\n\t\t\t When she had weaned him, she took him up with her, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine. She brought him to the house of the LORD at Shiloh; and the child was young. \r\n\t\t\t Then they slaughtered the bull, and they brought the child to Eli.\r\n\t\t\t And she said, \"Oh, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who was standing here in your presence, praying to the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t For this child I prayed; and the LORD has granted me the petition that I made to him.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he lives, he is given to the LORD.\" She left him there for the LORD. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Hannah prayed and said, \"My heart exults in the LORD; my strength is exalted in my God. My mouth derides my enemies, because I rejoice in my victory. \r\n\t\t\t \"There is no Holy One like the LORD, no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God.\r\n\t\t\t Talk no more so very proudly, let not arrogance come from your mouth; for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.\r\n\t\t\t The bows of the mighty are broken, but the feeble gird on strength.\r\n\t\t\t Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, but those who were hungry are fat with spoil. The barren has borne seven, but she who has many children is forlorn.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD kills and brings to life; he brings down to Sheol and raises up.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD makes poor and makes rich; he brings low, he also exalts.\r\n\t\t\t He raises up the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor. For the pillars of the earth are the LORD's, and on them he has set the world. \r\n\t\t\t \"He will guard the feet of his faithful ones, but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness; for not by might does one prevail.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD! His adversaries shall be shattered; the Most High will thunder in heaven. The LORD will judge the ends of the earth; he will give strength to his king, and exalt the power of his anointed.\" \r\n\t\t\t Then Elkanah went home to Ramah, while the boy remained to minister to the LORD, in the presence of the priest Eli.\r\n\t\t\t Now the sons of Eli were scoundrels; they had no regard for the LORD\r\n\t\t\t or for the duties of the priests to the people. When anyone offered sacrifice, the priest's servant would come, while the meat was boiling, with a three-pronged fork in his hand,\r\n\t\t\t and he would thrust it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the fork brought up the priest would take for himself. This is what they did at Shiloh to all the Israelites who came there. \r\n\t\t\t Moreover, before the fat was burned, the priest's servant would come and say to the one who was sacrificing, \"Give meat for the priest to roast; for he will not accept boiled meat from you, but only raw.\"\r\n\t\t\t And if the man said to him, \"Let them burn the fat first, and then take whatever you wish,\" he would say, \"No, you must give it now; if not, I will take it by force.\"\r\n\t\t\t Thus the sin of the young men was very great in the sight of the LORD; for they treated the offerings of the LORD with contempt.\r\n\t\t\t Samuel was ministering before the LORD, a boy wearing a linen ephod.\r\n\t\t\t His mother used to make for him a little robe and take it to him each year, when she went up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.\r\n\t\t\t Then Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, and say, \"May the LORD repay you with children by this woman for the gift that she made to the LORD\"; and then they would return to their home.\r\n\t\t\t And the LORD took note of Hannah; she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters. And the boy Samuel grew up in the presence of the LORD. \r\n\t\t\t Now Eli was very old. He heard all that his sons were doing to all Israel, and how they lay with the women who served at the entrance to the tent of meeting.\r\n\t\t\t He said to them, \"Why do you do such things? For I hear of your evil dealings from all these people.\r\n\t\t\t No, my sons; it is not a good report that I hear the people of the LORD spreading abroad.\r\n\t\t\t If one person sins against another, someone can intercede for the sinner with the LORD; but if someone sins against the LORD, who can make intercession?\" But they would not listen to the voice of their father; for it was the will of the LORD to kill them. \r\n\t\t\t Now the boy Samuel continued to grow both in stature and in favor with the LORD and with the people.\r\n\t\t\t A man of God came to Eli and said to him, \"Thus the LORD has said, 'I revealed myself to the family of your ancestor in Egypt when they were slaves to the house of Pharaoh. \r\n\t\t\t I chose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to go up to my altar, to offer incense, to wear an ephod before me; and I gave to the family of your ancestor all my offerings by fire from the people of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t Why then look with greedy eye at my sacrifices and my offerings that I commanded, and honor your sons more than me by fattening yourselves on the choicest parts of every offering of my people Israel?' \r\n\t\t\t Therefore the LORD the God of Israel declares: 'I promised that your family and the family of your ancestor should go in and out before me forever'; but now the LORD declares: 'Far be it from me; for those who honor me I will honor, and those who despise me shall be treated with contempt.\r\n\t\t\t See, a time is coming when I will cut off your strength and the strength of your ancestor's family, so that no one in your family will live to old age.\r\n\t\t\t Then in distress you will look with greedy eye on all the prosperity that shall be bestowed upon Israel; and no one in your family shall ever live to old age. \r\n\t\t\t The only one of you whom I shall not cut off from my altar shall be spared to weep out his eyes and grieve his heart; all the members of your household shall die by the sword. \r\n\t\t\t The fate of your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, shall be the sign to you-- both of them shall die on the same day.\r\n\t\t\t I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who shall do according to what is in my heart and in my mind. I will build him a sure house, and he shall go in and out before my anointed one forever.\r\n\t\t\t Everyone who is left in your family shall come to implore him for a piece of silver or a loaf of bread, and shall say, Please put me in one of the priest's places, that I may eat a morsel of bread.'\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the LORD under Eli. The word of the LORD was rare in those days; visions were not widespread.\r\n\t\t\t At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his room;\r\n\t\t\t the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was.\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD called, \"Samuel! Samuel!\" and he said, \"Here I am!\" \r\n\t\t\t and ran to Eli, and said, \"Here I am, for you called me.\" But he said, \"I did not call; lie down again.\" So he went and lay down.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD called again, \"Samuel!\" Samuel got up and went to Eli, and said, \"Here I am, for you called me.\" But he said, \"I did not call, my son; lie down again.\"\r\n\t\t\t Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, and the word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD called Samuel again, a third time. And he got up and went to Eli, and said, \"Here I am, for you called me.\" Then Eli perceived that the LORD was calling the boy.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore Eli said to Samuel, \"Go, lie down; and if he calls you, you shall say, 'Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.'\" So Samuel went and lay down in his place.\r\n\t\t\t Now the LORD came and stood there, calling as before, \"Samuel! Samuel!\" And Samuel said, \"Speak, for your servant is listening.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD said to Samuel, \"See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make both ears of anyone who hears of it tingle.\r\n\t\t\t On that day I will fulfill against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end.\r\n\t\t\t For I have told him that I am about to punish his house forever, for the iniquity that he knew, because his sons were blaspheming God, and he did not restrain them. \r\n\t\t\t Therefore I swear to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be expiated by sacrifice or offering forever.\"\r\n\t\t\t Samuel lay there until morning; then he opened the doors of the house of the LORD. Samuel was afraid to tell the vision to Eli.\r\n\t\t\t But Eli called Samuel and said, \"Samuel, my son.\" He said, \"Here I am.\"\r\n\t\t\t Eli said, \"What was it that he told you? Do not hide it from me. May God do so to you and more also, if you hide anything from me of all that he told you.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him. Then he said, \"It is the LORD; let him do what seems good to him.\"\r\n\t\t\t As Samuel grew up, the LORD was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground.\r\n\t\t\t And all Israel from Dan to Beer-sheba knew that Samuel was a trustworthy prophet of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD continued to appear at Shiloh, for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel at Shiloh by the word of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. In those days the Philistines mustered for war against Israel, and Israel went out to battle against them; they encamped at Ebenezer, and the Philistines encamped at Aphek. \r\n\t\t\t The Philistines drew up in line against Israel, and when the battle was joined, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who killed about four thousand men on the field of battle. \r\n\t\t\t When the troops came to the camp, the elders of Israel said, \"Why has the LORD put us to rout today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD here from Shiloh, so that he may come among us and save us from the power of our enemies.\"\r\n\t\t\t So the people sent to Shiloh, and brought from there the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, who is enthroned on the cherubim. The two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.\r\n\t\t\t When the ark of the covenant of the LORD came into the camp, all Israel gave a mighty shout, so that the earth resounded.\r\n\t\t\t When the Philistines heard the noise of the shouting, they said, \"What does this great shouting in the camp of the Hebrews mean?\" When they learned that the ark of the LORD had come to the camp,\r\n\t\t\t the Philistines were afraid; for they said, \"Gods have come into the camp.\" They also said, \"Woe to us! For nothing like this has happened before. \r\n\t\t\t Woe to us! Who can deliver us from the power of these mighty gods? These are the gods who struck the Egyptians with every sort of plague in the wilderness.\r\n\t\t\t Take courage, and be men, O Philistines, in order not to become slaves to the Hebrews as they have been to you; be men and fight.\"\r\n\t\t\t So the Philistines fought; Israel was defeated, and they fled, everyone to his home. There was a very great slaughter, for there fell of Israel thirty thousand foot soldiers.\r\n\t\t\t The ark of God was captured; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, died.\r\n\t\t\t A man of Benjamin ran from the battle line, and came to Shiloh the same day, with his clothes torn and with earth upon his head.\r\n\t\t\t When he arrived, Eli was sitting upon his seat by the road watching, for his heart trembled for the ark of God. When the man came into the city and told the news, all the city cried out.\r\n\t\t\t When Eli heard the sound of the outcry, he said, \"What is this uproar?\" Then the man came quickly and told Eli.\r\n\t\t\t Now Eli was ninety-eight years old and his eyes were set, so that he could not see.\r\n\t\t\t The man said to Eli, \"I have just come from the battle; I fled from the battle today.\" He said, \"How did it go, my son?\"\r\n\t\t\t The messenger replied, \"Israel has fled before the Philistines, and there has also been a great slaughter among the troops; your two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God has been captured.\"\r\n\t\t\t When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell over backward from his seat by the side of the gate; and his neck was broken and he died, for he was an old man, and heavy. He had judged Israel forty years. \r\n\t\t\t Now his daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was pregnant, about to give birth. When she heard the news that the ark of God was captured, and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she bowed and gave birth; for her labor pains overwhelmed her.\r\n\t\t\t As she was about to die, the women attending her said to her, \"Do not be afraid, for you have borne a son.\" But she did not answer or give heed.\r\n\t\t\t She named the child Ichabod, meaning, \"The glory has departed from Israel,\" because the ark of God had been captured and because of her father-in-law and her husband.\r\n\t\t\t She said, \"The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t When the Philistines captured the ark of God, they brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod;\r\n\t\t\t then the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it into the house of Dagon and placed it beside Dagon.\r\n\t\t\t When the people of Ashdod rose early the next day, there was Dagon, fallen on his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD. So they took Dagon and put him back in his place.\r\n\t\t\t But when they rose early on the next morning, Dagon had fallen on his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD, and the head of Dagon and both his hands were lying cut off upon the threshold; only the trunk of Dagon was left to him. \r\n\t\t\t This is why the priests of Dagon and all who enter the house of Dagon do not step on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod to this day.\r\n\t\t\t The hand of the LORD was heavy upon the people of Ashdod, and he terrified and struck them with tumors, both in Ashdod and in its territory.\r\n\t\t\t And when the inhabitants of Ashdod saw how things were, they said, \"The ark of the God of Israel must not remain with us; for his hand is heavy on us and on our god Dagon.\"\r\n\t\t\t So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and said, \"What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?\" The inhabitants of Gath replied, \"Let the ark of God be moved on to us.\" So they moved the ark of the God of Israel to Gath. \r\n\t\t\t But after they had brought it to Gath, the hand of the LORD was against the city, causing a very great panic; he struck the inhabitants of the city, both young and old, so that tumors broke out on them. \r\n\t\t\t So they sent the ark of the God of Israel to Ekron. But when the ark of God came to Ekron, the people of Ekron cried out, \"Why have they brought around to us the ark of the God of Israel to kill us and our people?\" \r\n\t\t\t They sent therefore and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and said, \"Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it return to its own place, that it may not kill us and our people.\" For there was a deathly panic throughout the whole city. The hand of God was very heavy there; \r\n\t\t\t those who did not die were stricken with tumors, and the cry of the city went up to heaven.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The ark of the LORD was in the country of the Philistines seven months.\r\n\t\t\t Then the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners and said, \"What shall we do with the ark of the LORD? Tell us what we should send with it to its place.\"\r\n\t\t\t They said, \"If you send away the ark of the God of Israel, do not send it empty, but by all means return him a guilt offering. Then you will be healed and will be ransomed; will not his hand then turn from you?\" \r\n\t\t\t And they said, \"What is the guilt offering that we shall return to him?\" They answered, \"Five gold tumors and five gold mice, according to the number of the lords of the Philistines; for the same plague was upon all of you and upon your lords.\r\n\t\t\t So you must make images of your tumors and images of your mice that ravage the land, and give glory to the God of Israel; perhaps he will lighten his hand on you and your gods and your land.\r\n\t\t\t Why should you harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? After he had made fools of them, did they not let the people go, and they departed?\r\n\t\t\t Now then, get ready a new cart and two milch cows that have never borne a yoke, and yoke the cows to the cart, but take their calves home, away from them.\r\n\t\t\t Take the ark of the LORD and place it on the cart, and put in a box at its side the figures of gold, which you are returning to him as a guilt offering. Then send it off, and let it go its way.\r\n\t\t\t And watch; if it goes up on the way to its own land, to Beth-shemesh, then it is he who has done us this great harm; but if not, then we shall know that it is not his hand that struck us; it happened to us by chance.\"\r\n\t\t\t The men did so; they took two milch cows and yoked them to the cart, and shut up their calves at home.\r\n\t\t\t They put the ark of the LORD on the cart, and the box with the gold mice and the images of their tumors.\r\n\t\t\t The cows went straight in the direction of Beth-shemesh along one highway, lowing as they went; they turned neither to the right nor to the left, and the lords of the Philistines went after them as far as the border of Beth-shemesh.\r\n\t\t\t Now the people of Beth-shemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley. When they looked up and saw the ark, they went with rejoicing to meet it. \r\n\t\t\t The cart came into the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh, and stopped there. A large stone was there; so they split up the wood of the cart and offered the cows as a burnt offering to the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t The Levites took down the ark of the LORD and the box that was beside it, in which were the gold objects, and set them upon the large stone. Then the people of Beth-shemesh offered burnt offerings and presented sacrifices on that day to the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t When the five lords of the Philistines saw it, they returned that day to Ekron.\r\n\t\t\t These are the gold tumors, which the Philistines returned as a guilt offering to the LORD: one for Ashdod, one for Gaza, one for Ashkelon, one for Gath, one for Ekron;\r\n\t\t\t also the gold mice, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both fortified cities and unwalled villages. The great stone, beside which they set down the ark of the LORD, is a witness to this day in the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh.\r\n\t\t\t The descendants of Jeconiah did not rejoice with the people of Beth-shemesh when they greeted the ark of the LORD; and he killed seventy men of them. The people mourned because the LORD had made a great slaughter among the people. \r\n\t\t\t Then the people of Beth-shemesh said, \"Who is able to stand before the LORD, this holy God? To whom shall he go so that we may be rid of him?\"\r\n\t\t\t So they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kiriath-jearim, saying, \"The Philistines have returned the ark of the LORD. Come down and take it up to you.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t And the people of Kiriath-jearim came and took up the ark of the LORD, and brought it to the house of Abinadab on the hill. They consecrated his son, Eleazar, to have charge of the ark of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t From the day that the ark was lodged at Kiriath-jearim, a long time passed, some twenty years, and all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD. \r\n\t\t\t Then Samuel said to all the house of Israel, \"If you are returning to the LORD with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Astartes from among you. Direct your heart to the LORD, and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Israel put away the Baals and the Astartes, and they served the LORD only.\r\n\t\t\t Then Samuel said, \"Gather all Israel at Mizpah, and I will pray to the LORD for you.\"\r\n\t\t\t So they gathered at Mizpah, and drew water and poured it out before the LORD. They fasted that day, and said, \"We have sinned against the LORD.\" And Samuel judged the people of Israel at Mizpah.\r\n\t\t\t When the Philistines heard that the people of Israel had gathered at Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the people of Israel heard of it they were afraid of the Philistines.\r\n\t\t\t The people of Israel said to Samuel, \"Do not cease to cry out to the LORD our God for us, and pray that he may save us from the hand of the Philistines.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Samuel took a sucking lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the LORD; Samuel cried out to the LORD for Israel, and the LORD answered him.\r\n\t\t\t As Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to attack Israel; but the LORD thundered with a mighty voice that day against the Philistines and threw them into confusion; and they were routed before Israel.\r\n\t\t\t And the men of Israel went out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, and struck them down as far as beyond Beth-car.\r\n\t\t\t Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Jeshanah, and named it Ebenezer; for he said, \"Thus far the LORD has helped us.\" \r\n\t\t\t So the Philistines were subdued and did not again enter the territory of Israel; the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.\r\n\t\t\t The towns that the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron to Gath; and Israel recovered their territory from the hand of the Philistines. There was peace also between Israel and the Amorites.\r\n\t\t\t Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.\r\n\t\t\t He went on a circuit year by year to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah; and he judged Israel in all these places.\r\n\t\t\t Then he would come back to Ramah, for his home was there; he administered justice there to Israel, and built there an altar to the LORD.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t When Samuel became old, he made his sons judges over Israel.\r\n\t\t\t The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judges in Beer-sheba.\r\n\t\t\t Yet his sons did not follow in his ways, but turned aside after gain; they took bribes and perverted justice.\r\n\t\t\t Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah,\r\n\t\t\t and said to him, \"You are old and your sons do not follow in your ways; appoint for us, then, a king to govern us, like other nations.\"\r\n\t\t\t But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, \"Give us a king to govern us.\" Samuel prayed to the LORD,\r\n\t\t\t and the LORD said to Samuel, \"Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them.\r\n\t\t\t Just as they have done to me, from the day I brought them up out of Egypt to this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so also they are doing to you. \r\n\t\t\t Now then, listen to their voice; only-- you shall solemnly warn them, and show them the ways of the king who shall reign over them.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Samuel reported all the words of the LORD to the people who were asking him for a king.\r\n\t\t\t He said, \"These will be the ways of the king who will reign over you: he will take your sons and appoint them to his chariots and to be his horsemen, and to run before his chariots;\r\n\t\t\t and he will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and some to plow his ground and to reap his harvest, and to make his implements of war and the equipment of his chariots.\r\n\t\t\t He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers.\r\n\t\t\t He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive orchards and give them to his courtiers.\r\n\t\t\t He will take one-tenth of your grain and of your vineyards and give it to his officers and his courtiers.\r\n\t\t\t He will take your male and female slaves, and the best of your cattle and donkeys, and put them to his work. \r\n\t\t\t He will take one-tenth of your flocks, and you shall be his slaves.\r\n\t\t\t And in that day you will cry out because of your king, whom you have chosen for yourselves; but the LORD will not answer you in that day.\"\r\n\t\t\t But the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel; they said, \"No! but we are determined to have a king over us,\r\n\t\t\t so that we also may be like other nations, and that our king may govern us and go out before us and fight our battles.\"\r\n\t\t\t When Samuel had heard all the words of the people, he repeated them in the ears of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Samuel, \"Listen to their voice and set a king over them.\" Samuel then said to the people of Israel, \"Each of you return home.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t There was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish son of Abiel son of Zeror son of Becorath son of Aphiah, a Benjaminite, a man of wealth.\r\n\t\t\t He had a son whose name was Saul, a handsome young man. There was not a man among the people of Israel more handsome than he; he stood head and shoulders above everyone else.\r\n\t\t\t Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul's father, had strayed. So Kish said to his son Saul, \"Take one of the boys with you; go and look for the donkeys.\"\r\n\t\t\t He passed through the hill country of Ephraim and passed through the land of Shalishah, but they did not find them. And they passed through the land of Shaalim, but they were not there. Then he passed through the land of Benjamin, but they did not find them.\r\n\t\t\t When they came to the land of Zuph, Saul said to the boy who was with him, \"Let us turn back, or my father will stop worrying about the donkeys and worry about us.\"\r\n\t\t\t But he said to him, \"There is a man of God in this town; he is a man held in honor. Whatever he says always comes true. Let us go there now; perhaps he will tell us about the journey on which we have set out.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Saul replied to the boy, \"But if we go, what can we bring the man? For the bread in our sacks is gone, and there is no present to bring to the man of God. What have we?\"\r\n\t\t\t The boy answered Saul again, \"Here, I have with me a quarter shekel of silver; I will give it to the man of God, to tell us our way.\"\r\n\t\t\t (Formerly in Israel, anyone who went to inquire of God would say, \"Come, let us go to the seer\"; for the one who is now called a prophet was formerly called a seer.)\r\n\t\t\t Saul said to the boy, \"Good; come, let us go.\" So they went to the town where the man of God was.\r\n\t\t\t As they went up the hill to the town, they met some girls coming out to draw water, and said to them, \"Is the seer here?\"\r\n\t\t\t They answered, \"Yes, there he is just ahead of you. Hurry; he has come just now to the town, because the people have a sacrifice today at the shrine.\r\n\t\t\t As soon as you enter the town, you will find him, before he goes up to the shrine to eat. For the people will not eat until he comes, since he must bless the sacrifice; afterward those eat who are invited. Now go up, for you will meet him immediately.\"\r\n\t\t\t So they went up to the town. As they were entering the town, they saw Samuel coming out toward them on his way up to the shrine.\r\n\t\t\t Now the day before Saul came, the LORD had revealed to Samuel:\r\n\t\t\t \"Tomorrow about this time I will send to you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be ruler over my people Israel. He shall save my people from the hand of the Philistines; for I have seen the suffering of my people, because their outcry has come to me.\" \r\n\t\t\t When Samuel saw Saul, the LORD told him, \"Here is the man of whom I spoke to you. He it is who shall rule over my people.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Saul approached Samuel inside the gate, and said, \"Tell me, please, where is the house of the seer?\"\r\n\t\t\t Samuel answered Saul, \"I am the seer; go up before me to the shrine, for today you shall eat with me, and in the morning I will let you go and will tell you all that is on your mind.\r\n\t\t\t As for your donkeys that were lost three days ago, give no further thought to them, for they have been found. And on whom is all Israel's desire fixed, if not on you and on all your ancestral house?\"\r\n\t\t\t Saul answered, \"I am only a Benjaminite, from the least of the tribes of Israel, and my family is the humblest of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin. Why then have you spoken to me in this way?\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Samuel took Saul and his servant-boy and brought them into the hall, and gave them a place at the head of those who had been invited, of whom there were about thirty.\r\n\t\t\t And Samuel said to the cook, \"Bring the portion I gave you, the one I asked you to put aside.\"\r\n\t\t\t The cook took up the thigh and what went with it and set them before Saul. Samuel said, \"See, what was kept is set before you. Eat; for it is set before you at the appointed time, so that you might eat with the guests.\" So Saul ate with Samuel that day. \r\n\t\t\t When they came down from the shrine into the town, a bed was spread for Saul on the roof, and he lay down to sleep. \r\n\t\t\t Then at the break of dawn Samuel called to Saul upon the roof, \"Get up, so that I may send you on your way.\" Saul got up, and both he and Samuel went out into the street. \r\n\t\t\t As they were going down to the outskirts of the town, Samuel said to Saul, \"Tell the boy to go on before us, and when he has passed on, stop here yourself for a while, that I may make known to you the word of God.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Samuel took a vial of oil and poured it on his head, and kissed him; he said, \"The LORD has anointed you ruler over his people Israel. You shall reign over the people of the LORD and you will save them from the hand of their enemies all around. Now this shall be the sign to you that the LORD has anointed you ruler over his heritage: \r\n\t\t\t When you depart from me today you will meet two men by Rachel's tomb in the territory of Benjamin at Zelzah; they will say to you, 'The donkeys that you went to seek are found, and now your father has stopped worrying about them and is worrying about you, saying: What shall I do about my son?'\r\n\t\t\t Then you shall go on from there further and come to the oak of Tabor; three men going up to God at Bethel will meet you there, one carrying three kids, another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a skin of wine.\r\n\t\t\t They will greet you and give you two loaves of bread, which you shall accept from them.\r\n\t\t\t After that you shall come to Gibeath-elohim, at the place where the Philistine garrison is; there, as you come to the town, you will meet a band of prophets coming down from the shrine with harp, tambourine, flute, and lyre playing in front of them; they will be in a prophetic frenzy. \r\n\t\t\t Then the spirit of the LORD will possess you, and you will be in a prophetic frenzy along with them and be turned into a different person.\r\n\t\t\t Now when these signs meet you, do whatever you see fit to do, for God is with you.\r\n\t\t\t And you shall go down to Gilgal ahead of me; then I will come down to you to present burnt offerings and offer sacrifices of well-being. Seven days you shall wait, until I come to you and show you what you shall do.\"\r\n\t\t\t As he turned away to leave Samuel, God gave him another heart; and all these signs were fulfilled that day.\r\n\t\t\t When they were going from there to Gibeah, a band of prophets met him; and the spirit of God possessed him, and he fell into a prophetic frenzy along with them.\r\n\t\t\t When all who knew him before saw how he prophesied with the prophets, the people said to one another, \"What has come over the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?\"\r\n\t\t\t A man of the place answered, \"And who is their father?\" Therefore it became a proverb, \"Is Saul also among the prophets?\"\r\n\t\t\t When his prophetic frenzy had ended, he went home. \r\n\t\t\t Saul's uncle said to him and to the boy, \"Where did you go?\" And he replied, \"To seek the donkeys; and when we saw they were not to be found, we went to Samuel.\"\r\n\t\t\t Saul's uncle said, \"Tell me what Samuel said to you.\"\r\n\t\t\t Saul said to his uncle, \"He told us that the donkeys had been found.\" But about the matter of the kingship, of which Samuel had spoken, he did not tell him anything.\r\n\t\t\t Samuel summoned the people to the LORD at Mizpah\r\n\t\t\t and said to them, \"Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, 'I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and I rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of all the kingdoms that were oppressing you.' \r\n\t\t\t But today you have rejected your God, who saves you from all your calamities and your distresses; and you have said, 'No! but set a king over us.' Now therefore present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes and by your clans.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near, and the tribe of Benjamin was taken by lot.\r\n\t\t\t He brought the tribe of Benjamin near by its families, and the family of the Matrites was taken by lot. Finally he brought the family of the Matrites near man by man, and Saul the son of Kish was taken by lot. But when they sought him, he could not be found. \r\n\t\t\t So they inquired again of the LORD, \"Did the man come here?\" and the LORD said, \"See, he has hidden himself among the baggage.\" \r\n\t\t\t Then they ran and brought him from there. When he took his stand among the people, he was head and shoulders taller than any of them.\r\n\t\t\t Samuel said to all the people, \"Do you see the one whom the LORD has chosen? There is no one like him among all the people.\" And all the people shouted, \"Long live the king!\"\r\n\t\t\t Samuel told the people the rights and duties of the kingship; and he wrote them in a book and laid it up before the LORD. Then Samuel sent all the people back to their homes.\r\n\t\t\t Saul also went to his home at Gibeah, and with him went warriors whose hearts God had touched.\r\n\t\t\t But some worthless fellows said, \"How can this man save us?\" They despised him and brought him no present. But he held his peace. Now Nahash, king of the Ammonites, had been grievously oppressing the Gadites and the Reubenites. He would gouge out the right eye of each of them and would not grant Israel a deliverer. No one was left of the Israelites across the Jordan whose right eye Nahash, king of the Ammonites, had not gouged out. But there were seven thousand men who had escaped from the Ammonites and had entered Jabesh-gilead. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t About a month later, Nahash the Ammonite went up and besieged Jabesh-gilead; and all the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, \"Make a treaty with us, and we will serve you.\" \r\n\t\t\t But Nahash the Ammonite said to them, \"On this condition I will make a treaty with you, namely that I gouge out everyone's right eye, and thus put disgrace upon all Israel.\"\r\n\t\t\t The elders of Jabesh said to him, \"Give us seven days' respite that we may send messengers through all the territory of Israel. Then, if there is no one to save us, we will give ourselves up to you.\"\r\n\t\t\t When the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul, they reported the matter in the hearing of the people; and all the people wept aloud.\r\n\t\t\t Now Saul was coming from the field behind the oxen; and Saul said, \"What is the matter with the people, that they are weeping?\" So they told him the message from the inhabitants of Jabesh.\r\n\t\t\t And the spirit of God came upon Saul in power when he heard these words, and his anger was greatly kindled.\r\n\t\t\t He took a yoke of oxen, and cut them in pieces and sent them throughout all the territory of Israel by messengers, saying, \"Whoever does not come out after Saul and Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen!\" Then the dread of the LORD fell upon the people, and they came out as one.\r\n\t\t\t When he mustered them at Bezek, those from Israel were three hundred thousand, and those from Judah seventy thousand. \r\n\t\t\t They said to the messengers who had come, \"Thus shall you say to the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead: 'Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you shall have deliverance.'\" When the messengers came and told the inhabitants of Jabesh, they rejoiced.\r\n\t\t\t So the inhabitants of Jabesh said, \"Tomorrow we will give ourselves up to you, and you may do to us whatever seems good to you.\"\r\n\t\t\t The next day Saul put the people in three companies. At the morning watch they came into the camp and cut down the Ammonites until the heat of the day; and those who survived were scattered, so that no two of them were left together.\r\n\t\t\t The people said to Samuel, \"Who is it that said, 'Shall Saul reign over us?' Give them to us so that we may put them to death.\"\r\n\t\t\t But Saul said, \"No one shall be put to death this day, for today the LORD has brought deliverance to Israel.\"\r\n\t\t\t Samuel said to the people, \"Come, let us go to Gilgal and there renew the kingship.\"\r\n\t\t\t So all the people went to Gilgal, and there they made Saul king before the LORD in Gilgal. There they sacrificed offerings of well-being before the LORD, and there Saul and all the Israelites rejoiced greatly.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Samuel said to all Israel, \"I have listened to you in all that you have said to me, and have set a king over you.\r\n\t\t\t See, it is the king who leads you now; I am old and gray, but my sons are with you. I have led you from my youth until this day.\r\n\t\t\t Here I am; testify against me before the LORD and before his anointed. Whose ox have I taken? Or whose donkey have I taken? Or whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed? Or from whose hand have I taken a bribe to blind my eyes with it? Testify against me and I will restore it to you.\" \r\n\t\t\t They said, \"You have not defrauded us or oppressed us or taken anything from the hand of anyone.\"\r\n\t\t\t He said to them, \"The LORD is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that you have not found anything in my hand.\" And they said, \"He is witness.\"\r\n\t\t\t Samuel said to the people, \"The LORD is witness, who appointed Moses and Aaron and brought your ancestors up out of the land of Egypt. \r\n\t\t\t Now therefore take your stand, so that I may enter into judgment with you before the LORD, and I will declare to you all the saving deeds of the LORD that he performed for you and for your ancestors. \r\n\t\t\t When Jacob went into Egypt and the Egyptians oppressed them, then your ancestors cried to the LORD and the LORD sent Moses and Aaron, who brought forth your ancestors out of Egypt, and settled them in this place. \r\n\t\t\t But they forgot the LORD their God; and he sold them into the hand of Sisera, commander of the army of King Jabin of Hazor, and into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab; and they fought against them. \r\n\t\t\t Then they cried to the LORD, and said, 'We have sinned, because we have forsaken the LORD, and have served the Baals and the Astartes; but now rescue us out of the hand of our enemies, and we will serve you.'\r\n\t\t\t And the LORD sent Jerubbaal and Barak, and Jephthah, and Samson, and rescued you out of the hand of your enemies on every side; and you lived in safety. \r\n\t\t\t But when you saw that King Nahash of the Ammonites came against you, you said to me, 'No, but a king shall reign over us,' though the LORD your God was your king.\r\n\t\t\t See, here is the king whom you have chosen, for whom you have asked; see, the LORD has set a king over you.\r\n\t\t\t If you will fear the LORD and serve him and heed his voice and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, and if both you and the king who reigns over you will follow the LORD your God, it will be well;\r\n\t\t\t but if you will not heed the voice of the LORD, but rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then the hand of the LORD will be against you and your king. \r\n\t\t\t Now therefore take your stand and see this great thing that the LORD will do before your eyes.\r\n\t\t\t Is it not the wheat harvest today? I will call upon the LORD, that he may send thunder and rain; and you shall know and see that the wickedness that you have done in the sight of the LORD is great in demanding a king for yourselves.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Samuel called upon the LORD, and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day; and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel.\r\n\t\t\t All the people said to Samuel, \"Pray to the LORD your God for your servants, so that we may not die; for we have added to all our sins the evil of demanding a king for ourselves.\"\r\n\t\t\t And Samuel said to the people, \"Do not be afraid; you have done all this evil, yet do not turn aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart;\r\n\t\t\t and do not turn aside after useless things that cannot profit or save, for they are useless.\r\n\t\t\t For the LORD will not cast away his people, for his great name's sake, because it has pleased the LORD to make you a people for himself.\r\n\t\t\t Moreover as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you; and I will instruct you in the good and the right way.\r\n\t\t\t Only fear the LORD, and serve him faithfully with all your heart; for consider what great things he has done for you.\r\n\t\t\t But if you still do wickedly, you shall be swept away, both you and your king.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Saul was... years old when he began to reign; and he reigned... and two years over Israel.\r\n\t\t\t Saul chose three thousand out of Israel; two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and the hill country of Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin; the rest of the people he sent home to their tents.\r\n\t\t\t Jonathan defeated the garrison of the Philistines that was at Geba; and the Philistines heard of it. And Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, \"Let the Hebrews hear!\"\r\n\t\t\t When all Israel heard that Saul had defeated the garrison of the Philistines, and also that Israel had become odious to the Philistines, the people were called out to join Saul at Gilgal.\r\n\t\t\t The Philistines mustered to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and troops like the sand on the seashore in multitude; they came up and encamped at Michmash, to the east of Beth-aven.\r\n\t\t\t When the Israelites saw that they were in distress (for the troops were hard pressed), the people hid themselves in caves and in holes and in rocks and in tombs and in cisterns.\r\n\t\t\t Some Hebrews crossed the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. Saul was still at Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.\r\n\t\t\t He waited seven days, the time appointed by Samuel; but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and the people began to slip away from Saul. \r\n\t\t\t So Saul said, \"Bring the burnt offering here to me, and the offerings of well-being.\" And he offered the burnt offering.\r\n\t\t\t As soon as he had finished offering the burnt offering, Samuel arrived; and Saul went out to meet him and salute him.\r\n\t\t\t Samuel said, \"What have you done?\" Saul replied, \"When I saw that the people were slipping away from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines were mustering at Michmash,\r\n\t\t\t I said, 'Now the Philistines will come down upon me at Gilgal, and I have not entreated the favor of the LORD'; so I forced myself, and offered the burnt offering.\"\r\n\t\t\t Samuel said to Saul, \"You have done foolishly; you have not kept the commandment of the LORD your God, which he commanded you. The LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever,\r\n\t\t\t but now your kingdom will not continue; the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart; and the LORD has appointed him to be ruler over his people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you.\"\r\n\t\t\t And Samuel left and went on his way from Gilgal. The rest of the people followed Saul to join the army; they went up from Gilgal toward Gibeah of Benjamin. Saul counted the people who were present with him, about six hundred men.\r\n\t\t\t Saul, his son Jonathan, and the people who were present with them stayed in Geba of Benjamin; but the Philistines encamped at Michmash.\r\n\t\t\t And raiders came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies; one company turned toward Ophrah, to the land of Shual,\r\n\t\t\t another company turned toward Beth-horon, and another company turned toward the mountain that looks down upon the valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness. \r\n\t\t\t Now there was no smith to be found throughout all the land of Israel; for the Philistines said, \"The Hebrews must not make swords or spears for themselves\";\r\n\t\t\t so all the Israelites went down to the Philistines to sharpen their plowshare, mattocks, axes, or sickles; \r\n\t\t\t The charge was two-thirds of a shekel for the plowshares and for the mattocks, and one-third of a shekel for sharpening the axes and for setting the goads. \r\n\t\t\t So on the day of the battle neither sword nor spear was to be found in the possession of any of the people with Saul and Jonathan; but Saul and his son Jonathan had them.\r\n\t\t\t Now a garrison of the Philistines had gone out to the pass of Michmash.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t One day Jonathan son of Saul said to the young man who carried his armor, \"Come, let us go over to the Philistine garrison on the other side.\" But he did not tell his father.\r\n\t\t\t Saul was staying in the outskirts of Gibeah under the pomegranate tree that is at Migron; the troops that were with him were about six hundred men,\r\n\t\t\t along with Ahijah son of Ahitub, Ichabod's brother, son of Phinehas son of Eli, the priest of the LORD in Shiloh, carrying an ephod. Now the people did not know that Jonathan had gone.\r\n\t\t\t In the pass, by which Jonathan tried to go over to the Philistine garrison, there was a rocky crag on one side and a rocky crag on the other; the name of the one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh. \r\n\t\t\t One crag rose on the north in front of Michmash, and the other on the south in front of Geba.\r\n\t\t\t Jonathan said to the young man who carried his armor, \"Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; it may be that the LORD will act for us; for nothing can hinder the LORD from saving by many or by few.\"\r\n\t\t\t His armor-bearer said to him, \"Do all that your mind inclines to. I am with you; as your mind is, so is mine.\" \r\n\t\t\t Then Jonathan said, \"Now we will cross over to those men and will show ourselves to them.\r\n\t\t\t If they say to us, 'Wait until we come to you,' then we will stand still in our place, and we will not go up to them.\r\n\t\t\t But if they say, 'Come up to us,' then we will go up; for the LORD has given them into our hand. That will be the sign for us.\"\r\n\t\t\t So both of them showed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines; and the Philistines said, \"Look, Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they have hidden themselves.\"\r\n\t\t\t The men of the garrison hailed Jonathan and his armor-bearer, saying, \"Come up to us, and we will show you something.\" Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, \"Come up after me; for the LORD has given them into the hand of Israel.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Jonathan climbed up on his hands and feet, with his armor-bearer following after him. The Philistines fell before Jonathan, and his armor-bearer, coming after him, killed them. \r\n\t\t\t In that first slaughter Jonathan and his armor-bearer killed about twenty men within an area about half a furrow long in an acre of land. \r\n\t\t\t There was a panic in the camp, in the field, and among all the people; the garrison and even the raiders trembled; the earth quaked; and it became a very great panic.\r\n\t\t\t Saul's lookouts in Gibeah of Benjamin were watching as the multitude was surging back and forth. \r\n\t\t\t Then Saul said to the troops that were with him, \"Call the roll and see who has gone from us.\" When they had called the roll, Jonathan and his armor-bearer were not there.\r\n\t\t\t Saul said to Ahijah, \"Bring the ark of God here.\" For at that time the ark of God went with the Israelites. \r\n\t\t\t While Saul was talking to the priest, the tumult in the camp of the Philistines increased more and more; and Saul said to the priest, \"Withdraw your hand.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Saul and all the people who were with him rallied and went into the battle; and every sword was against the other, so that there was very great confusion.\r\n\t\t\t Now the Hebrews who previously had been with the Philistines and had gone up with them into the camp turned and joined the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.\r\n\t\t\t Likewise, when all the Israelites who had gone into hiding in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines were fleeing, they too followed closely after them in the battle.\r\n\t\t\t So the LORD gave Israel the victory that day. The battle passed beyond Beth-aven, and the troops with Saul numbered altogether about ten thousand men. The battle spread out over the hill country of Ephraim.\r\n\t\t\t Now Saul committed a very rash act on that day. He had laid an oath on the troops, saying, \"Cursed be anyone who eats food before it is evening and I have been avenged on my enemies.\" So none of the troops tasted food. \r\n\t\t\t All the troops came upon a honeycomb; and there was honey on the ground. \r\n\t\t\t When the troops came upon the honeycomb, the honey was dripping out; but they did not put their hands to their mouths, for they feared the oath.\r\n\t\t\t But Jonathan had not heard his father charge the troops with the oath; so he extended the staff that was in his hand, and dipped the tip of it in the honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes brightened.\r\n\t\t\t Then one of the soldiers said, \"Your father strictly charged the troops with an oath, saying, 'Cursed be anyone who eats food this day.' And so the troops are faint.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Jonathan said, \"My father has troubled the land; see how my eyes have brightened because I tasted a little of this honey.\r\n\t\t\t How much better if today the troops had eaten freely of the spoil taken from their enemies; for now the slaughter among the Philistines has not been great.\"\r\n\t\t\t After they had struck down the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon, the troops were very faint;\r\n\t\t\t so the troops flew upon the spoil, and took sheep and oxen and calves, and slaughtered them on the ground; and the troops ate them with the blood.\r\n\t\t\t Then it was reported to Saul, \"Look, the troops are sinning against the LORD by eating with the blood.\" And he said, \"You have dealt treacherously; roll a large stone before me here.\" \r\n\t\t\t Saul said, \"Disperse yourselves among the troops, and say to them, 'Let all bring their oxen or their sheep, and slaughter them here, and eat; and do not sin against the LORD by eating with the blood.'\" So all of the troops brought their oxen with them that night, and slaughtered them there.\r\n\t\t\t And Saul built an altar to the LORD; it was the first altar that he built to the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Then Saul said, \"Let us go down after the Philistines by night and despoil them until the morning light; let us not leave one of them.\" They said, \"Do whatever seems good to you.\" But the priest said, \"Let us draw near to God here.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Saul inquired of God, \"Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will you give them into the hand of Israel?\" But he did not answer him that day.\r\n\t\t\t Saul said, \"Come here, all you leaders of the people; and let us find out how this sin has arisen today.\r\n\t\t\t For as the LORD lives who saves Israel, even if it is in my son Jonathan, he shall surely die!\" But there was no one among all the people who answered him.\r\n\t\t\t He said to all Israel, \"You shall be on one side, and I and my son Jonathan will be on the other side.\" The people said to Saul, \"Do what seems good to you.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Saul said, \"O LORD God of Israel, why have you not answered your servant today? If this guilt is in me or in my son Jonathan, O LORD God of Israel, give Urim; but if this guilt is in your people Israel, give Thummim.\" And Jonathan and Saul were indicated by the lot, but the people were cleared. \r\n\t\t\t Then Saul said, \"Cast the lot between me and my son Jonathan.\" And Jonathan was taken.\r\n\t\t\t Then Saul said to Jonathan, \"Tell me what you have done.\" Jonathan told him, \"I tasted a little honey with the tip of the staff that was in my hand; here I am, I will die.\"\r\n\t\t\t Saul said, \"God do so to me and more also; you shall surely die, Jonathan!\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the people said to Saul, \"Shall Jonathan die, who has accomplished this great victory in Israel? Far from it! As the LORD lives, not one hair of his head shall fall to the ground; for he has worked with God today.\" So the people ransomed Jonathan, and he did not die.\r\n\t\t\t Then Saul withdrew from pursuing the Philistines; and the Philistines went to their own place.\r\n\t\t\t When Saul had taken the kingship over Israel, he fought against all his enemies on every side-- against Moab, against the Ammonites, against Edom, against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines; wherever he turned he routed them.\r\n\t\t\t He did valiantly, and struck down the Amalekites, and rescued Israel out of the hands of those who plundered them.\r\n\t\t\t Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malchishua; and the names of his two daughters were these: the name of the firstborn was Merab, and the name of the younger, Michal.\r\n\t\t\t The name of Saul's wife was Ahinoam daughter of Ahimaaz. And the name of the commander of his army was Abner son of Ner, Saul's uncle;\r\n\t\t\t Kish was the father of Saul, and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel.\r\n\t\t\t There was hard fighting against the Philistines all the days of Saul; and when Saul saw any strong or valiant warrior, he took him into his service.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Samuel said to Saul, \"The LORD sent me to anoint you king over his people Israel; now therefore listen to the words of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD of hosts, 'I will punish the Amalekites for what they did in opposing the Israelites when they came up out of Egypt.\r\n\t\t\t Now go and attack Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have; do not spare them, but kill both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.'\"\r\n\t\t\t So Saul summoned the people, and numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand foot soldiers, and ten thousand soldiers of Judah.\r\n\t\t\t Saul came to the city of the Amalekites and lay in wait in the valley.\r\n\t\t\t Saul said to the Kenites, \"Go! Leave! Withdraw from among the Amalekites, or I will destroy you with them; for you showed kindness to all the people of Israel when they came up out of Egypt.\" So the Kenites withdrew from the Amalekites.\r\n\t\t\t Saul defeated the Amalekites, from Havilah as far as Shur, which is east of Egypt.\r\n\t\t\t He took King Agag of the Amalekites alive, but utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword.\r\n\t\t\t Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep and of the cattle and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was valuable, and would not utterly destroy them; all that was despised and worthless they utterly destroyed.\r\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD came to Samuel:\r\n\t\t\t \"I regret that I made Saul king, for he has turned back from following me, and has not carried out my commands.\" Samuel was angry; and he cried out to the LORD all night.\r\n\t\t\t Samuel rose early in the morning to meet Saul, and Samuel was told, \"Saul went to Carmel, where he set up a monument for himself, and on returning he passed on down to Gilgal.\"\r\n\t\t\t When Samuel came to Saul, Saul said to him, \"May you be blessed by the LORD; I have carried out the command of the LORD.\"\r\n\t\t\t But Samuel said, \"What then is this bleating of sheep in my ears, and the lowing of cattle that I hear?\"\r\n\t\t\t Saul said, \"They have brought them from the Amalekites; for the people spared the best of the sheep and the cattle, to sacrifice to the LORD your God; but the rest we have utterly destroyed.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Samuel said to Saul, \"Stop! I will tell you what the LORD said to me last night.\" He replied, \"Speak.\"\r\n\t\t\t Samuel said, \"Though you are little in your own eyes, are you not the head of the tribes of Israel? The LORD anointed you king over Israel.\r\n\t\t\t And the LORD sent you on a mission, and said, 'Go, utterly destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are consumed.'\r\n\t\t\t Why then did you not obey the voice of the LORD? Why did you swoop down on the spoil, and do what was evil in the sight of the LORD?\"\r\n\t\t\t Saul said to Samuel, \"I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, I have gone on the mission on which the LORD sent me, I have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and I have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.\r\n\t\t\t But from the spoil the people took sheep and cattle, the best of the things devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to the LORD your God in Gilgal.\"\r\n\t\t\t And Samuel said, \"Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Surely, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams.\r\n\t\t\t For rebellion is no less a sin than divination, and stubbornness is like iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has also rejected you from being king.\"\r\n\t\t\t Saul said to Samuel, \"I have sinned; for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice.\r\n\t\t\t Now therefore, I pray, pardon my sin, and return with me, so that I may worship the LORD.\"\r\n\t\t\t Samuel said to Saul, \"I will not return with you; for you have rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD has rejected you from being king over Israel.\"\r\n\t\t\t As Samuel turned to go away, Saul caught hold of the hem of his robe, and it tore.\r\n\t\t\t And Samuel said to him, \"The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you this very day, and has given it to a neighbor of yours, who is better than you.\r\n\t\t\t Moreover the Glory of Israel will not recant or change his mind; for he is not a mortal, that he should change his mind.\" \r\n\t\t\t Then Saul said, \"I have sinned; yet honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel, and return with me, so that I may worship the LORD your God.\" \r\n\t\t\t So Samuel turned back after Saul; and Saul worshiped the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Then Samuel said, \"Bring Agag king of the Amalekites here to me.\" And Agag came to him haltingly. Agag said, \"Surely this is the bitterness of death.\" \r\n\t\t\t But Samuel said, \"As your sword has made women childless, so your mother shall be childless among women.\" And Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the LORD in Gilgal.\r\n\t\t\t Then Samuel went to Ramah; and Saul went up to his house in Gibeah of Saul.\r\n\t\t\t Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death, but Samuel grieved over Saul. And the LORD was sorry that he had made Saul king over Israel.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Samuel, \"How long will you grieve over Saul? I have rejected him from being king over Israel. Fill your horn with oil and set out; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.\"\r\n\t\t\t Samuel said, \"How can I go? If Saul hears of it, he will kill me.\" And the LORD said, \"Take a heifer with you, and say, 'I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.'\r\n\t\t\t Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; and you shall anoint for me the one whom I name to you.\"\r\n\t\t\t Samuel did what the LORD commanded, and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling, and said, \"Do you come peaceably?\"\r\n\t\t\t He said, \"Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the LORD; sanctify yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.\" And he sanctified Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.\r\n\t\t\t When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, \"Surely the LORD's anointed is now before the LORD.\" \r\n\t\t\t But the LORD said to Samuel, \"Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the LORD does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. He said, \"Neither has the LORD chosen this one.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, \"Neither has the LORD chosen this one.\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel, and Samuel said to Jesse, \"The LORD has not chosen any of these.\"\r\n\t\t\t Samuel said to Jesse, \"Are all your sons here?\" And he said, \"There remains yet the youngest, but he is keeping the sheep.\" And Samuel said to Jesse, \"Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here.\"\r\n\t\t\t He sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and had beautiful eyes, and was handsome. The LORD said, \"Rise and anoint him; for this is the one.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the presence of his brothers; and the spirit of the LORD came mightily upon David from that day forward. Samuel then set out and went to Ramah.\r\n\t\t\t Now the spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD tormented him.\r\n\t\t\t And Saul's servants said to him, \"See now, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you.\r\n\t\t\t Let our lord now command the servants who attend you to look for someone who is skillful in playing the lyre; and when the evil spirit from God is upon you, he will play it, and you will feel better.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Saul said to his servants, \"Provide for me someone who can play well, and bring him to me.\"\r\n\t\t\t One of the young men answered, \"I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite who is skillful in playing, a man of valor, a warrior, prudent in speech, and a man of good presence; and the LORD is with him.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Saul sent messengers to Jesse, and said, \"Send me your son David who is with the sheep.\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a skin of wine, and a kid, and sent them by his son David to Saul.\r\n\t\t\t And David came to Saul, and entered his service. Saul loved him greatly, and he became his armor-bearer.\r\n\t\t\t Saul sent to Jesse, saying, \"Let David remain in my service, for he has found favor in my sight.\"\r\n\t\t\t And whenever the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, David took the lyre and played it with his hand, and Saul would be relieved and feel better, and the evil spirit would depart from him.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now the Philistines gathered their armies for battle; they were gathered at Socoh, which belongs to Judah, and encamped between Socoh and Azekah, in Ephes-dammim.\r\n\t\t\t Saul and the Israelites gathered and encamped in the valley of Elah, and formed ranks against the Philistines.\r\n\t\t\t The Philistines stood on the mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on the mountain on the other side, with a valley between them.\r\n\t\t\t And there came out from the camp of the Philistines a champion named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. \r\n\t\t\t He had a helmet of bronze on his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail; the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of bronze.\r\n\t\t\t He had greaves of bronze on his legs and a javelin of bronze slung between his shoulders.\r\n\t\t\t The shaft of his spear was like a weaver's beam, and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron; and his shield-bearer went before him.\r\n\t\t\t He stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, \"Why have you come out to draw up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me.\r\n\t\t\t If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants; but if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us.\"\r\n\t\t\t And the Philistine said, \"Today I defy the ranks of Israel! Give me a man, that we may fight together.\"\r\n\t\t\t When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.\r\n\t\t\t Now David was the son of an Ephrathite of Bethlehem in Judah, named Jesse, who had eight sons. In the days of Saul the man was already old and advanced in years.\r\n\t\t\t The three eldest sons of Jesse had followed Saul to the battle; the names of his three sons who went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, and next to him Abinadab, and the third Shammah.\r\n\t\t\t David was the youngest; the three eldest followed Saul,\r\n\t\t\t but David went back and forth from Saul to feed his father's sheep at Bethlehem.\r\n\t\t\t For forty days the Philistine came forward and took his stand, morning and evening.\r\n\t\t\t Jesse said to his son David, \"Take for your brothers an ephah of this parched grain and these ten loaves, and carry them quickly to the camp to your brothers;\r\n\t\t\t also take these ten cheeses to the commander of their thousand. See how your brothers fare, and bring some token from them.\"\r\n\t\t\t Now Saul, and they, and all the men of Israel, were in the valley of Elah, fighting with the Philistines.\r\n\t\t\t David rose early in the morning, left the sheep with a keeper, took the provisions, and went as Jesse had commanded him. He came to the encampment as the army was going forth to the battle line, shouting the war cry.\r\n\t\t\t Israel and the Philistines drew up for battle, army against army.\r\n\t\t\t David left the things in charge of the keeper of the baggage, ran to the ranks, and went and greeted his brothers.\r\n\t\t\t As he talked with them, the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, came up out of the ranks of the Philistines, and spoke the same words as before. And David heard him.\r\n\t\t\t All the Israelites, when they saw the man, fled from him and were very much afraid.\r\n\t\t\t The Israelites said, \"Have you seen this man who has come up? Surely he has come up to defy Israel. The king will greatly enrich the man who kills him, and will give him his daughter and make his family free in Israel.\"\r\n\t\t\t David said to the men who stood by him, \"What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine, and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?\"\r\n\t\t\t The people answered him in the same way, \"So shall it be done for the man who kills him.\"\r\n\t\t\t His eldest brother Eliab heard him talking to the men; and Eliab's anger was kindled against David. He said, \"Why have you come down? With whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your presumption and the evil of your heart; for you have come down just to see the battle.\"\r\n\t\t\t David said, \"What have I done now? It was only a question.\"\r\n\t\t\t He turned away from him toward another and spoke in the same way; and the people answered him again as before.\r\n\t\t\t When the words that David spoke were heard, they repeated them before Saul; and he sent for him.\r\n\t\t\t David said to Saul, \"Let no one's heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.\"\r\n\t\t\t Saul said to David, \"You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are just a boy, and he has been a warrior from his youth.\"\r\n\t\t\t But David said to Saul, \"Your servant used to keep sheep for his father; and whenever a lion or a bear came, and took a lamb from the flock,\r\n\t\t\t I went after it and struck it down, rescuing the lamb from its mouth; and if it turned against me, I would catch it by the jaw, strike it down, and kill it.\r\n\t\t\t Your servant has killed both lions and bears; and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, since he has defied the armies of the living God.\"\r\n\t\t\t David said, \"The LORD, who saved me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, will save me from the hand of this Philistine.\" So Saul said to David, \"Go, and may the LORD be with you!\"\r\n\t\t\t Saul clothed David with his armor; he put a bronze helmet on his head and clothed him with a coat of mail.\r\n\t\t\t David strapped Saul's sword over the armor, and he tried in vain to walk, for he was not used to them. Then David said to Saul, \"I cannot walk with these; for I am not used to them.\" So David removed them.\r\n\t\t\t Then he took his staff in his hand, and chose five smooth stones from the wadi, and put them in his shepherd's bag, in the pouch; his sling was in his hand, and he drew near to the Philistine.\r\n\t\t\t The Philistine came on and drew near to David, with his shield-bearer in front of him.\r\n\t\t\t When the Philistine looked and saw David, he disdained him, for he was only a youth, ruddy and handsome in appearance.\r\n\t\t\t The Philistine said to David, \"Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?\" And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.\r\n\t\t\t The Philistine said to David, \"Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and to the wild animals of the field.\"\r\n\t\t\t But David said to the Philistine, \"You come to me with sword and spear and javelin; but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.\r\n\t\t\t This very day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head; and I will give the dead bodies of the Philistine army this very day to the birds of the air and to the wild animals of the earth, so that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel,\r\n\t\t\t and that all this assembly may know that the LORD does not save by sword and spear; for the battle is the LORD's and he will give you into our hand.\"\r\n\t\t\t When the Philistine drew nearer to meet David, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine.\r\n\t\t\t David put his hand in his bag, took out a stone, slung it, and struck the Philistine on his forehead; the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell face down on the ground.\r\n\t\t\t So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, striking down the Philistine and killing him; there was no sword in David's hand.\r\n\t\t\t Then David ran and stood over the Philistine; he grasped his sword, drew it out of its sheath, and killed him; then he cut off his head with it. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled.\r\n\t\t\t The troops of Israel and Judah rose up with a shout and pursued the Philistines as far as Gath and the gates of Ekron, so that the wounded Philistines fell on the way from Shaaraim as far as Gath and Ekron. \r\n\t\t\t The Israelites came back from chasing the Philistines, and they plundered their camp.\r\n\t\t\t David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem; but he put his armor in his tent.\r\n\t\t\t When Saul saw David go out against the Philistine, he said to Abner, the commander of the army, \"Abner, whose son is this young man?\" Abner said, \"As your soul lives, O king, I do not know.\"\r\n\t\t\t The king said, \"Inquire whose son the stripling is.\"\r\n\t\t\t On David's return from killing the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul, with the head of the Philistine in his hand.\r\n\t\t\t Saul said to him, \"Whose son are you, young man?\" And David answered, \"I am the son of your servant Jesse the Bethlehemite.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t When David had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was bound to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. \r\n\t\t\t Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father's house.\r\n\t\t\t Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul.\r\n\t\t\t Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that he was wearing, and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt.\r\n\t\t\t David went out and was successful wherever Saul sent him; as a result, Saul set him over the army. And all the people, even the servants of Saul, approved.\r\n\t\t\t As they were coming home, when David returned from killing the Philistine, the women came out of all the towns of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with songs of joy, and with musical instruments. \r\n\t\t\t And the women sang to one another as they made merry, \"Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands.\"\r\n\t\t\t Saul was very angry, for this saying displeased him. He said, \"They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed thousands; what more can he have but the kingdom?\"\r\n\t\t\t So Saul eyed David from that day on.\r\n\t\t\t The next day an evil spirit from God rushed upon Saul, and he raved within his house, while David was playing the lyre, as he did day by day. Saul had his spear in his hand;\r\n\t\t\t and Saul threw the spear, for he thought, \"I will pin David to the wall.\" But David eluded him twice.\r\n\t\t\t Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with him but had departed from Saul.\r\n\t\t\t So Saul removed him from his presence, and made him a commander of a thousand; and David marched out and came in, leading the army.\r\n\t\t\t David had success in all his undertakings; for the LORD was with him.\r\n\t\t\t When Saul saw that he had great success, he stood in awe of him.\r\n\t\t\t But all Israel and Judah loved David; for it was he who marched out and came in leading them.\r\n\t\t\t Then Saul said to David, \"Here is my elder daughter Merab; I will give her to you as a wife; only be valiant for me and fight the LORD's battles.\" For Saul thought, \"I will not raise a hand against him; let the Philistines deal with him.\"\r\n\t\t\t David said to Saul, \"Who am I and who are my kinsfolk, my father's family in Israel, that I should be son-in-law to the king?\"\r\n\t\t\t But at the time when Saul's daughter Merab should have been given to David, she was given to Adriel the Meholathite as a wife.\r\n\t\t\t Now Saul's daughter Michal loved David. Saul was told, and the thing pleased him.\r\n\t\t\t Saul thought, \"Let me give her to him that she may be a snare for him and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.\" Therefore Saul said to David a second time, \"You shall now be my son-in-law.\" \r\n\t\t\t Saul commanded his servants, \"Speak to David in private and say, 'See, the king is delighted with you, and all his servants love you; now then, become the king's son-in-law.'\"\r\n\t\t\t So Saul's servants reported these words to David in private. And David said, \"Does it seem to you a little thing to become the king's son-in-law, seeing that I am a poor man and of no repute?\"\r\n\t\t\t The servants of Saul told him, \"This is what David said.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Saul said, \"Thus shall you say to David, 'The king desires no marriage present except a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, that he may be avenged on the king's enemies.'\" Now Saul planned to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.\r\n\t\t\t When his servants told David these words, David was well pleased to be the king's son-in-law. Before the time had expired,\r\n\t\t\t David rose and went, along with his men, and killed one hundred of the Philistines; and David brought their foreskins, which were given in full number to the king, that he might become the king's son-in-law. Saul gave him his daughter Michal as a wife. \r\n\t\t\t But when Saul realized that the LORD was with David, and that Saul's daughter Michal loved him,\r\n\t\t\t Saul was still more afraid of David. So Saul was David's enemy from that time forward.\r\n\t\t\t Then the commanders of the Philistines came out to battle; and as often as they came out, David had more success than all the servants of Saul, so that his fame became very great.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Saul spoke with his son Jonathan and with all his servants about killing David. But Saul's son Jonathan took great delight in David.\r\n\t\t\t Jonathan told David, \"My father Saul is trying to kill you; therefore be on guard tomorrow morning; stay in a secret place and hide yourself.\r\n\t\t\t I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are, and I will speak to my father about you; if I learn anything I will tell you.\"\r\n\t\t\t Jonathan spoke well of David to his father Saul, saying to him, \"The king should not sin against his servant David, because he has not sinned against you, and because his deeds have been of good service to you;\r\n\t\t\t for he took his life in his hand when he attacked the Philistine, and the LORD brought about a great victory for all Israel. You saw it, and rejoiced; why then will you sin against an innocent person by killing David without cause?\"\r\n\t\t\t Saul heeded the voice of Jonathan; Saul swore, \"As the LORD lives, he shall not be put to death.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Jonathan called David and related all these things to him. Jonathan then brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence as before.\r\n\t\t\t Again there was war, and David went out to fight the Philistines. He launched a heavy attack on them, so that they fled before him.\r\n\t\t\t Then an evil spirit from the LORD came upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his spear in his hand, while David was playing music.\r\n\t\t\t Saul sought to pin David to the wall with the spear; but he eluded Saul, so that he struck the spear into the wall. David fled and escaped that night.\r\n\t\t\t Saul sent messengers to David's house to keep watch over him, planning to kill him in the morning. David's wife Michal told him, \"If you do not save your life tonight, tomorrow you will be killed.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Michal let David down through the window; he fled away and escaped.\r\n\t\t\t Michal took an idol and laid it on the bed; she put a net of goats' hair on its head, and covered it with the clothes. \r\n\t\t\t When Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, \"He is sick.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Saul sent the messengers to see David for themselves. He said, \"Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may kill him.\"\r\n\t\t\t When the messengers came in, the idol was in the bed, with the covering of goats' hair on its head. \r\n\t\t\t Saul said to Michal, \"Why have you deceived me like this, and let my enemy go, so that he has escaped?\" Michal answered Saul, \"He said to me, 'Let me go; why should I kill you?'\"\r\n\t\t\t Now David fled and escaped; he came to Samuel at Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him. He and Samuel went and settled at Naioth.\r\n\t\t\t Saul was told, \"David is at Naioth in Ramah.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Saul sent messengers to take David. When they saw the company of the prophets in a frenzy, with Samuel standing in charge of them, the spirit of God came upon the messengers of Saul, and they also fell into a prophetic frenzy.\r\n\t\t\t When Saul was told, he sent other messengers, and they also fell into a frenzy. Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they also fell into a frenzy.\r\n\t\t\t Then he himself went to Ramah. He came to the great well that is in Secu; he asked, \"Where are Samuel and David?\" And someone said, \"They are at Naioth in Ramah.\" \r\n\t\t\t He went there, toward Naioth in Ramah; and the spirit of God came upon him. As he was going, he fell into a prophetic frenzy, until he came to Naioth in Ramah.\r\n\t\t\t He too stripped off his clothes, and he too fell into a frenzy before Samuel. He lay naked all that day and all that night. Therefore it is said, \"Is Saul also among the prophets?\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t David fled from Naioth in Ramah. He came before Jonathan and said, \"What have I done? What is my guilt? And what is my sin against your father that he is trying to take my life?\"\r\n\t\t\t He said to him, \"Far from it! You shall not die. My father does nothing either great or small without disclosing it to me; and why should my father hide this from me? Never!\"\r\n\t\t\t But David also swore, \"Your father knows well that you like me; and he thinks, 'Do not let Jonathan know this, or he will be grieved.' But truly, as the LORD lives and as you yourself live, there is but a step between me and death.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Jonathan said to David, \"Whatever you say, I will do for you.\"\r\n\t\t\t David said to Jonathan, \"Tomorrow is the new moon, and I should not fail to sit with the king at the meal; but let me go, so that I may hide in the field until the third evening.\r\n\t\t\t If your father misses me at all, then say, 'David earnestly asked leave of me to run to Bethlehem his city; for there is a yearly sacrifice there for all the family.'\r\n\t\t\t If he says, 'Good!' it will be well with your servant; but if he is angry, then know that evil has been determined by him.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore deal kindly with your servant, for you have brought your servant into a sacred covenant with you. But if there is guilt in me, kill me yourself; why should you bring me to your father?\" \r\n\t\t\t Jonathan said, \"Far be it from you! If I knew that it was decided by my father that evil should come upon you, would I not tell you?\"\r\n\t\t\t Then David said to Jonathan, \"Who will tell me if your father answers you harshly?\"\r\n\t\t\t Jonathan replied to David, \"Come, let us go out into the field.\" So they both went out into the field.\r\n\t\t\t Jonathan said to David, \"By the LORD, the God of Israel! When I have sounded out my father, about this time tomorrow, or on the third day, if he is well disposed toward David, shall I not then send and disclose it to you?\r\n\t\t\t But if my father intends to do you harm, the LORD do so to Jonathan, and more also, if I do not disclose it to you, and send you away, so that you may go in safety. May the LORD be with you, as he has been with my father.\r\n\t\t\t If I am still alive, show me the faithful love of the LORD; but if I die, \r\n\t\t\t never cut off your faithful love from my house, even if the LORD were to cut off every one of the enemies of David from the face of the earth.\"\r\n\t\t\t Thus Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, \"May the LORD seek out the enemies of David.\"\r\n\t\t\t Jonathan made David swear again by his love for him; for he loved him as he loved his own life.\r\n\t\t\t Jonathan said to him, \"Tomorrow is the new moon; you will be missed, because your place will be empty.\r\n\t\t\t On the day after tomorrow, you shall go a long way down; go to the place where you hid yourself earlier, and remain beside the stone there.\r\n\t\t\t I will shoot three arrows to the side of it, as though I shot at a mark.\r\n\t\t\t Then I will send the boy, saying, 'Go, find the arrows.' If I say to the boy, 'Look, the arrows are on this side of you, collect them,' then you are to come, for, as the LORD lives, it is safe for you and there is no danger.\r\n\t\t\t But if I say to the young man, 'Look, the arrows are beyond you,' then go; for the LORD has sent you away.\r\n\t\t\t As for the matter about which you and I have spoken, the LORD is witness between you and me forever.\" \r\n\t\t\t So David hid himself in the field. When the new moon came, the king sat at the feast to eat.\r\n\t\t\t The king sat upon his seat, as at other times, upon the seat by the wall. Jonathan stood, while Abner sat by Saul's side; but David's place was empty.\r\n\t\t\t Saul did not say anything that day; for he thought, \"Something has befallen him; he is not clean, surely he is not clean.\"\r\n\t\t\t But on the second day, the day after the new moon, David's place was empty. And Saul said to his son Jonathan, \"Why has the son of Jesse not come to the feast, either yesterday or today?\"\r\n\t\t\t Jonathan answered Saul, \"David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Bethlehem;\r\n\t\t\t he said, 'Let me go; for our family is holding a sacrifice in the city, and my brother has commanded me to be there. So now, if I have found favor in your sight, let me get away, and see my brothers.' For this reason he has not come to the king's table.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan. He said to him, \"You son of a perverse, rebellious woman! Do I not know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to your own shame, and to the shame of your mother's nakedness?\r\n\t\t\t For as long as the son of Jesse lives upon the earth, neither you nor your kingdom shall be established. Now send and bring him to me, for he shall surely die.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Jonathan answered his father Saul, \"Why should he be put to death? What has he done?\"\r\n\t\t\t But Saul threw his spear at him to strike him; so Jonathan knew that it was the decision of his father to put David to death.\r\n\t\t\t Jonathan rose from the table in fierce anger and ate no food on the second day of the month, for he was grieved for David, and because his father had disgraced him.\r\n\t\t\t In the morning Jonathan went out into the field to the appointment with David, and with him was a little boy.\r\n\t\t\t He said to the boy, \"Run and find the arrows that I shoot.\" As the boy ran, he shot an arrow beyond him.\r\n\t\t\t When the boy came to the place where Jonathan's arrow had fallen, Jonathan called after the boy and said, \"Is the arrow not beyond you?\"\r\n\t\t\t Jonathan called after the boy, \"Hurry, be quick, do not linger.\" So Jonathan's boy gathered up the arrows and came to his master.\r\n\t\t\t But the boy knew nothing; only Jonathan and David knew the arrangement.\r\n\t\t\t Jonathan gave his weapons to the boy and said to him, \"Go and carry them to the city.\"\r\n\t\t\t As soon as the boy had gone, David rose from beside the stone heap and prostrated himself with his face to the ground. He bowed three times, and they kissed each other, and wept with each other; David wept the more. \r\n\t\t\t Then Jonathan said to David, \"Go in peace, since both of us have sworn in the name of the LORD, saying, 'The LORD shall be between me and you, and between my descendants and your descendants, forever.'\" He got up and left; and Jonathan went into the city. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t David came to Nob to the priest Ahimelech. Ahimelech came trembling to meet David, and said to him, \"Why are you alone, and no one with you?\"\r\n\t\t\t David said to the priest Ahimelech, \"The king has charged me with a matter, and said to me, 'No one must know anything of the matter about which I send you, and with which I have charged you.' I have made an appointment with the young men for such and such a place. \r\n\t\t\t Now then, what have you at hand? Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever is here.\"\r\n\t\t\t The priest answered David, \"I have no ordinary bread at hand, only holy bread-- provided that the young men have kept themselves from women.\"\r\n\t\t\t David answered the priest, \"Indeed women have been kept from us as always when I go on an expedition; the vessels of the young men are holy even when it is a common journey; how much more today will their vessels be holy?\"\r\n\t\t\t So the priest gave him the holy bread; for there was no bread there except the bread of the Presence, which is removed from before the LORD, to be replaced by hot bread on the day it is taken away.\r\n\t\t\t Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before the LORD; his name was Doeg the Edomite, the chief of Saul's shepherds.\r\n\t\t\t David said to Ahimelech, \"Is there no spear or sword here with you? I did not bring my sword or my weapons with me, because the king's business required haste.\"\r\n\t\t\t The priest said, \"The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the valley of Elah, is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod; if you will take that, take it, for there is none here except that one.\" David said, \"There is none like it; give it to me.\"\r\n\t\t\t David rose and fled that day from Saul; he went to King Achish of Gath.\r\n\t\t\t The servants of Achish said to him, \"Is this not David the king of the land? Did they not sing to one another of him in dances, 'Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands'?\"\r\n\t\t\t David took these words to heart and was very much afraid of King Achish of Gath.\r\n\t\t\t So he changed his behavior before them; he pretended to be mad when in their presence. He scratched marks on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle run down his beard. \r\n\t\t\t Achish said to his servants, \"Look, you see the man is mad; why then have you brought him to me?\r\n\t\t\t Do I lack madmen, that you have brought this fellow to play the madman in my presence? Shall this fellow come into my house?\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t David left there and escaped to the cave of Adullam; when his brothers and all his father's house heard of it, they went down there to him.\r\n\t\t\t Everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered to him; and he became captain over them. Those who were with him numbered about four hundred.\r\n\t\t\t David went from there to Mizpeh of Moab. He said to the king of Moab, \"Please let my father and mother come to you, until I know what God will do for me.\" \r\n\t\t\t He left them with the king of Moab, and they stayed with him all the time that David was in the stronghold.\r\n\t\t\t Then the prophet Gad said to David, \"Do not remain in the stronghold; leave, and go into the land of Judah.\" So David left, and went into the forest of Hereth.\r\n\t\t\t Saul heard that David and those who were with him had been located. Saul was sitting at Gibeah, under the tamarisk tree on the height, with his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing around him.\r\n\t\t\t Saul said to his servants who stood around him, \"Hear now, you Benjaminites; will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and vineyards, will he make you all commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds?\r\n\t\t\t Is that why all of you have conspired against me? No one discloses to me when my son makes a league with the son of Jesse, none of you is sorry for me or discloses to me that my son has stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as he is doing today.\"\r\n\t\t\t Doeg the Edomite, who was in charge of Saul's servants, answered, \"I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech son of Ahitub;\r\n\t\t\t he inquired of the LORD for him, gave him provisions, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.\"\r\n\t\t\t The king sent for the priest Ahimelech son of Ahitub and for all his father's house, the priests who were at Nob; and all of them came to the king.\r\n\t\t\t Saul said, \"Listen now, son of Ahitub.\" He answered, \"Here I am, my lord.\"\r\n\t\t\t Saul said to him, \"Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, by giving him bread and a sword, and by inquiring of God for him, so that he has risen against me, to lie in wait, as he is doing today?\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Ahimelech answered the king, \"Who among all your servants is so faithful as David? He is the king's son-in-law, and is quick to do your bidding, and is honored in your house. \r\n\t\t\t Is today the first time that I have inquired of God for him? By no means! Do not let the king impute anything to his servant or to any member of my father's house; for your servant has known nothing of all this, much or little.\"\r\n\t\t\t The king said, \"You shall surely die, Ahimelech, you and all your father's house.\"\r\n\t\t\t The king said to the guard who stood around him, \"Turn and kill the priests of the LORD, because their hand also is with David; they knew that he fled, and did not disclose it to me.\" But the servants of the king would not raise their hand to attack the priests of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Then the king said to Doeg, \"You, Doeg, turn and attack the priests.\" Doeg the Edomite turned and attacked the priests; on that day he killed eighty-five who wore the linen ephod.\r\n\t\t\t Nob, the city of the priests, he put to the sword; men and women, children and infants, oxen, donkeys, and sheep, he put to the sword.\r\n\t\t\t But one of the sons of Ahimelech son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped and fled after David.\r\n\t\t\t Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the priests of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t David said to Abiathar, \"I knew on that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul. I am responsible for the lives of all your father's house. \r\n\t\t\t Stay with me, and do not be afraid; for the one who seeks my life seeks your life; you will be safe with me.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now they told David, \"The Philistines are fighting against Keilah, and are robbing the threshing floors.\"\r\n\t\t\t David inquired of the LORD, \"Shall I go and attack these Philistines?\" The LORD said to David, \"Go and attack the Philistines and save Keilah.\"\r\n\t\t\t But David's men said to him, \"Look, we are afraid here in Judah; how much more then if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?\"\r\n\t\t\t Then David inquired of the LORD again. The LORD answered him, \"Yes, go down to Keilah; for I will give the Philistines into your hand.\"\r\n\t\t\t So David and his men went to Keilah, fought with the Philistines, brought away their livestock, and dealt them a heavy defeat. Thus David rescued the inhabitants of Keilah.\r\n\t\t\t When Abiathar son of Ahimelech fled to David at Keilah, he came down with an ephod in his hand.\r\n\t\t\t Now it was told Saul that David had come to Keilah. And Saul said, \"God has given him into my hand; for he has shut himself in by entering a town that has gates and bars.\" \r\n\t\t\t Saul summoned all the people to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men.\r\n\t\t\t When David learned that Saul was plotting evil against him, he said to the priest Abiathar, \"Bring the ephod here.\"\r\n\t\t\t David said, \"O LORD, the God of Israel, your servant has heard that Saul seeks to come to Keilah, to destroy the city on my account.\r\n\t\t\t And now, will Saul come down as your servant has heard? O LORD, the God of Israel, I beseech you, tell your servant.\" The LORD said, \"He will come down.\" \r\n\t\t\t Then David said, \"Will the men of Keilah surrender me and my men into the hand of Saul?\" The LORD said, \"They will surrender you.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then David and his men, who were about six hundred, set out and left Keilah; they wandered wherever they could go. When Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah, he gave up the expedition.\r\n\t\t\t David remained in the strongholds in the wilderness, in the hill country of the Wilderness of Ziph. Saul sought him every day, but the LORD did not give him into his hand.\r\n\t\t\t David was in the Wilderness of Ziph at Horesh when he learned that Saul had come out to seek his life. \r\n\t\t\t Saul's son Jonathan set out and came to David at Horesh; there he strengthened his hand through the LORD. \r\n\t\t\t He said to him, \"Do not be afraid; for the hand of my father Saul shall not find you; you shall be king over Israel, and I shall be second to you; my father Saul also knows that this is so.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the two of them made a covenant before the LORD; David remained at Horesh, and Jonathan went home.\r\n\t\t\t Then some Ziphites went up to Saul at Gibeah and said, \"David is hiding among us in the strongholds of Horesh, on the hill of Hachilah, which is south of Jeshimon.\r\n\t\t\t Now, O king, whenever you wish to come down, do so; and our part will be to surrender him into the king's hand.\"\r\n\t\t\t Saul said, \"May you be blessed by the LORD for showing me compassion!\r\n\t\t\t Go and make sure once more; find out exactly where he is, and who has seen him there; for I am told that he is very cunning.\r\n\t\t\t Look around and learn all the hiding places where he lurks, and come back to me with sure information. Then I will go with you; and if he is in the land, I will search him out among all the thousands of Judah.\"\r\n\t\t\t So they set out and went to Ziph ahead of Saul. David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the Arabah to the south of Jeshimon.\r\n\t\t\t Saul and his men went to search for him. When David was told, he went down to the rock and stayed in the wilderness of Maon. When Saul heard that, he pursued David into the wilderness of Maon.\r\n\t\t\t Saul went on one side of the mountain, and David and his men 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.\r\n\t\t\t Then a messenger came to Saul, saying, \"Hurry and come; for the Philistines have made a raid on the land.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Saul stopped pursuing David, and went against the Philistines; therefore that place was called the Rock of Escape. \r\n\t\t\t David then went up from there, and lived in the strongholds of En-gedi.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t When Saul returned from following the Philistines, he was told, \"David is in the wilderness of En-gedi.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to look for David and his men in the direction of the Rocks of the Wild Goats.\r\n\t\t\t He came to the sheepfolds beside the road, where there was a cave; and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the innermost parts of the cave. \r\n\t\t\t The men of David said to him, \"Here is the day of which the LORD said to you, 'I will give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it seems good to you.'\" Then David went and stealthily cut off a corner of Saul's cloak.\r\n\t\t\t Afterward David was stricken to the heart because he had cut off a corner of Saul's cloak.\r\n\t\t\t He said to his men, \"The LORD forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the LORD's anointed, to raise my hand against him; for he is the LORD's anointed.\"\r\n\t\t\t So David scolded his men severely and did not permit them to attack Saul. Then Saul got up and left the cave, and went on his way.\r\n\t\t\t Afterwards David also rose up and went out of the cave and called after Saul, \"My lord the king!\" When Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the ground, and did obeisance.\r\n\t\t\t David said to Saul, \"Why do you listen to the words of those who say, 'David seeks to do you harm'?\r\n\t\t\t This very day your eyes have seen how the LORD gave you into my hand in the cave; and some urged me to kill you, but I spared you. I said, 'I will not raise my hand against my lord; for he is the LORD's anointed.' \r\n\t\t\t See, my father, see the corner of your cloak in my hand; for by the fact that I cut off the corner of your cloak, and did not kill you, you may know for certain that there is no wrong or treason in my hands. I have not sinned against you, though you are hunting me to take my life.\r\n\t\t\t May the LORD judge between me and you! May the LORD avenge me on you; but my hand shall not be against you.\r\n\t\t\t As the ancient proverb says, 'Out of the wicked comes forth wickedness'; but my hand shall not be against you.\r\n\t\t\t Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom do you pursue? A dead dog? A single flea?\r\n\t\t\t May the LORD therefore be judge, and give sentence between me and you. May he see to it, and plead my cause, and vindicate me against you.\"\r\n\t\t\t When David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, \"Is this your voice, my son David?\" Saul lifted up his voice and wept.\r\n\t\t\t He said to David, \"You are more righteous than I; for you have repaid me good, whereas I have repaid you evil.\r\n\t\t\t Today you have explained how you have dealt well with me, in that you did not kill me when the LORD put me into your hands.\r\n\t\t\t For who has ever found an enemy, and sent the enemy safely away? So may the LORD reward you with good for what you have done to me this day.\r\n\t\t\t Now I know that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand.\r\n\t\t\t Swear to me therefore by the LORD that you will not cut off my descendants after me, and that you will not wipe out my name from my father's house.\"\r\n\t\t\t So David swore this to Saul. Then Saul went home; but David and his men went up to the stronghold.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now Samuel died; and all Israel assembled and mourned for him. They buried him at his home in Ramah. Then David got up and went down to the wilderness of Paran.\r\n\t\t\t There was a man in Maon, whose property was in Carmel. The man was very rich; he had three thousand sheep and a thousand goats. He was shearing his sheep in Carmel.\r\n\t\t\t Now the name of the man was Nabal, and the name of his wife Abigail. The woman was clever and beautiful, but the man was surly and mean; he was a Calebite.\r\n\t\t\t David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep.\r\n\t\t\t So David sent ten young men; and David said to the young men, \"Go up to Carmel, and go to Nabal, and greet him in my name.\r\n\t\t\t Thus you shall salute him: 'Peace be to you, and peace be to your house, and peace be to all that you have.\r\n\t\t\t I hear that you have shearers; now your shepherds have been with us, and we did them no harm, and they missed nothing, all the time they were in Carmel.\r\n\t\t\t Ask your young men, and they will tell you. Therefore let my young men find favor in your sight; for we have come on a feast day. Please give whatever you have at hand to your servants and to your son David.'\"\r\n\t\t\t When David's young men came, they said all this to Nabal in the name of David; and then they waited.\r\n\t\t\t But Nabal answered David's servants, \"Who is David? Who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants today who are breaking away from their masters.\r\n\t\t\t Shall I take my bread and my water and the meat that I have butchered for my shearers, and give it to men who come from I do not know where?\"\r\n\t\t\t So David's young men turned away, and came back and told him all this.\r\n\t\t\t David said to his men, \"Every man strap on his sword!\" And every one of them strapped on his sword; David also strapped on his sword; and about four hundred men went up after David, while two hundred remained with the baggage.\r\n\t\t\t But one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal's wife, \"David sent messengers out of the wilderness to salute our master; and he shouted insults at them.\r\n\t\t\t Yet the men were very good to us, and we suffered no harm, and we never missed anything when we were in the fields, as long as we were with them;\r\n\t\t\t they were a wall to us both by night and by day, all the while we were with them keeping the sheep.\r\n\t\t\t Now therefore know this and consider what you should do; for evil has been decided against our master and against all his house; he is so ill-natured that no one can speak to him.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Abigail hurried and took two hundred loaves, two skins of wine, five sheep ready dressed, five measures of parched grain, one hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs. She loaded them on donkeys\r\n\t\t\t and said to her young men, \"Go on ahead of me; I am coming after you.\" But she did not tell her husband Nabal.\r\n\t\t\t As she rode on the donkey and came down under cover of the mountain, David and his men came down toward her; and she met them.\r\n\t\t\t Now David had said, \"Surely it was in vain that I protected all that this fellow has in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that belonged to him; but he has returned me evil for good.\r\n\t\t\t God do so to David and more also, if by morning I leave so much as one male of all who belong to him.\" \r\n\t\t\t When Abigail saw David, she hurried and alighted from the donkey, fell before David on her face, bowing to the ground.\r\n\t\t\t She fell at his feet and said, \"Upon me alone, my lord, be the guilt; please let your servant speak in your ears, and hear the words of your servant.\r\n\t\t\t My lord, do not take seriously this ill-natured fellow, Nabal; for as his name is, so is he; Nabal is his name, and folly is with him; but I, your servant, did not see the young men of my lord, whom you sent. \r\n\t\t\t Now then, my lord, as the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, since the LORD has restrained you from bloodguilt and from taking vengeance with your own hand, now let your enemies and those who seek to do evil to my lord be like Nabal.\r\n\t\t\t And now let this present that your servant has brought to my lord be given to the young men who follow my lord.\r\n\t\t\t Please forgive the trespass of your servant; for the LORD will certainly make my lord a sure house, because my lord is fighting the battles of the LORD; and evil shall not be found in you so long as you live.\r\n\t\t\t If anyone should rise up to pursue you and to seek your life, the life of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of the living under the care of the LORD your God; but the lives of your enemies he shall sling out as from the hollow of a sling.\r\n\t\t\t When the LORD has done to my lord according to all the good that he has spoken concerning you, and has appointed you prince over Israel,\r\n\t\t\t my lord shall have no cause of grief, or pangs of conscience, for having shed blood without cause or for having saved himself. And when the LORD has dealt well with my lord, then remember your servant.\"\r\n\t\t\t David said to Abigail, \"Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who sent you to meet me today!\r\n\t\t\t Blessed be your good sense, and blessed be you, who have kept me today from bloodguilt and from avenging myself by my own hand!\r\n\t\t\t For as surely as the LORD the God of Israel lives, who has restrained me from hurting you, unless you had hurried and come to meet me, truly by morning there would not have been left to Nabal so much as one male.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then David received from her hand what she had brought him; he said to her, \"Go up to your house in peace; see, I have heeded your voice, and I have granted your petition.\"\r\n\t\t\t Abigail came to Nabal; he was holding a feast in his house, like the feast of a king. Nabal's heart was merry within him, for he was very drunk; so she told him nothing at all until the morning light.\r\n\t\t\t In the morning, when the wine had gone out of Nabal, his wife told him these things, and his heart died within him; he became like a stone.\r\n\t\t\t About ten days later the LORD struck Nabal, and he died.\r\n\t\t\t When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, \"Blessed be the LORD who has judged the case of Nabal's insult to me, and has kept back his servant from evil; the LORD has returned the evildoing of Nabal upon his own head.\" Then David sent and wooed Abigail, to make her his wife.\r\n\t\t\t When David's servants came to Abigail at Carmel, they said to her, \"David has sent us to you to take you to him as his wife.\"\r\n\t\t\t She rose and bowed down, with her face to the ground, and said, \"Your servant is a slave to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.\"\r\n\t\t\t Abigail got up hurriedly and rode away on a donkey; her five maids attended her. She went after the messengers of David and became his wife.\r\n\t\t\t David also married Ahinoam of Jezreel; both of them became his wives.\r\n\t\t\t Saul had given his daughter Michal, David's wife, to Palti son of Laish, who was from Gallim.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, \"David is in hiding on the hill of Hachilah, which is opposite Jeshimon.\" \r\n\t\t\t So Saul rose and went down to the Wilderness of Ziph, with three thousand chosen men of Israel, to seek David in the Wilderness of Ziph.\r\n\t\t\t Saul encamped on the hill of Hachilah, which is opposite Jeshimon beside the road. But David remained in the wilderness. When he learned that Saul came after him into the wilderness, \r\n\t\t\t David sent out spies, and learned that Saul had indeed arrived.\r\n\t\t\t Then David set out and came to the place where Saul had encamped; and David saw the place where Saul lay, with Abner son of Ner, the commander of his army. Saul was lying within the encampment, while the army was encamped around him.\r\n\t\t\t Then David said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Joab's brother Abishai son of Zeruiah, \"Who will go down with me into the camp to Saul?\" Abishai said, \"I will go down with you.\"\r\n\t\t\t So David and Abishai went to the army by night; there Saul lay sleeping within the encampment, with his spear stuck in the ground at his head; and Abner and the army lay around him.\r\n\t\t\t Abishai said to David, \"God has given your enemy into your hand today; now therefore let me pin him to the ground with one stroke of the spear; I will not strike him twice.\"\r\n\t\t\t But David said to Abishai, \"Do not destroy him; for who can raise his hand against the LORD's anointed, and be guiltless?\"\r\n\t\t\t David said, \"As the LORD lives, the LORD will strike him down; or his day will come to die; or he will go down into battle and perish.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD forbid that I should raise my hand against the LORD's anointed; but now take the spear that is at his head, and the water jar, and let us go.\"\r\n\t\t\t So David took the spear that was at Saul's head and the water jar, and they went away. No one saw it, or knew it, nor did anyone awake; for they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from the LORD had fallen upon them.\r\n\t\t\t Then David went over to the other side, and stood on top of a hill far away, with a great distance between them.\r\n\t\t\t David called to the army and to Abner son of Ner, saying, \"Abner! Will you not answer?\" Then Abner replied, \"Who are you that calls to the king?\"\r\n\t\t\t David said to Abner, \"Are you not a man? Who is like you in Israel? Why then have you not kept watch over your lord the king? For one of the people came in to destroy your lord the king.\r\n\t\t\t This thing that you have done is not good. As the LORD lives, you deserve to die, because you have not kept watch over your lord, the LORD's anointed. See now, where is the king's spear, or the water jar that was at his head?\"\r\n\t\t\t Saul recognized David's voice, and said, \"Is this your voice, my son David?\" David said, \"It is my voice, my lord, O king.\"\r\n\t\t\t And he added, \"Why does my lord pursue his servant? For what have I done? What guilt is on my hands?\r\n\t\t\t Now therefore let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If it is the LORD who has stirred you up against me, may he accept an offering; but if it is mortals, may they be cursed before the LORD, for they have driven me out today from my share in the heritage of the LORD, saying, 'Go, serve other gods.'\r\n\t\t\t Now therefore, do not let my blood fall to the ground, away from the presence of the LORD; for the king of Israel has come out to seek a single flea, like one who hunts a partridge in the mountains.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Saul said, \"I have done wrong; come back, my son David, for I will never harm you again, because my life was precious in your sight today; I have been a fool, and have made a great mistake.\"\r\n\t\t\t David replied, \"Here is the spear, O king! Let one of the young men come over and get it.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD rewards everyone for his righteousness and his faithfulness; for the LORD gave you into my hand today, but I would not raise my hand against the LORD's anointed.\r\n\t\t\t As your life was precious today in my sight, so may my life be precious in the sight of the LORD, and may he rescue me from all tribulation.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Saul said to David, \"Blessed be you, my son David! You will do many things and will succeed in them.\" So David went his way, and Saul returned to his place.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t David said in his heart, \"I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul; there is nothing better for me than to escape to the land of the Philistines; then Saul will despair of seeking me any longer within the borders of Israel, and I shall escape out of his hand.\"\r\n\t\t\t So David set out and went over, he and the six hundred men who were with him, to King Achish son of Maoch of Gath.\r\n\t\t\t David stayed with Achish at Gath, he and his troops, every man with his household, and David with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel, and Abigail of Carmel, Nabal's widow.\r\n\t\t\t When Saul was told that David had fled to Gath, he no longer sought for him.\r\n\t\t\t Then David said to Achish, \"If I have found favor in your sight, let a place be given me in one of the country towns, so that I may live there; for why should your servant live in the royal city with you?\"\r\n\t\t\t So that day Achish gave him Ziklag; therefore Ziklag has belonged to the kings of Judah to this day.\r\n\t\t\t The length of time that David lived in the country of the Philistines was one year and four months.\r\n\t\t\t Now David and his men went up and made raids on the Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites; for these were the landed settlements from Telam on the way to Shur and on to the land of Egypt. \r\n\t\t\t David struck the land, leaving neither man nor woman alive, but took away the sheep, the oxen, the donkeys, the camels, and the clothing, and came back to Achish.\r\n\t\t\t When Achish asked, \"Against whom have you made a raid today?\" David would say, \"Against the Negeb of Judah,\" or \"Against the Negeb of the Jerahmeelites,\" or, \"Against the Negeb of the Kenites.\"\r\n\t\t\t David left neither man nor woman alive to be brought back to Gath, thinking, \"They might tell about us, and say, 'David has done so and so.'\" Such was his practice all the time he lived in the country of the Philistines.\r\n\t\t\t Achish trusted David, thinking, \"He has made himself utterly abhorrent to his people Israel; therefore he shall always be my servant.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t In those days the Philistines gathered their forces for war, to fight against Israel. Achish said to David, \"You know, of course, that you and your men are to go out with me in the army.\"\r\n\t\t\t David said to Achish, \"Very well, then you shall know what your servant can do.\" Achish said to David, \"Very well, I will make you my bodyguard for life.\"\r\n\t\t\t Now Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, his own city. Saul had expelled the mediums and the wizards from the land.\r\n\t\t\t The Philistines assembled, and came and encamped at Shunem. Saul gathered all Israel, and they encamped at Gilboa.\r\n\t\t\t When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly.\r\n\t\t\t When Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD did not answer him, not by dreams, or by Urim, or by prophets.\r\n\t\t\t Then Saul said to his servants, \"Seek out for me a woman who is a medium, so that I may go to her and inquire of her.\" His servants said to him, \"There is a medium at Endor.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Saul disguised himself and put on other clothes and went there, he and two men with him. They came to the woman by night. And he said, \"Consult a spirit for me, and bring up for me the one whom I name to you.\"\r\n\t\t\t The woman said to him, \"Surely you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off the mediums and the wizards from the land. Why then are you laying a snare for my life to bring about my death?\"\r\n\t\t\t But Saul swore to her by the LORD, \"As the LORD lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this thing.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the woman said, \"Whom shall I bring up for you?\" He answered, \"Bring up Samuel for me.\"\r\n\t\t\t When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice; and the woman said to Saul, \"Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!\"\r\n\t\t\t The king said to her, \"Have no fear; what do you see?\" The woman said to Saul, \"I see a divine being coming up out of the ground.\" \r\n\t\t\t He said to her, \"What is his appearance?\" She said, \"An old man is coming up; he is wrapped in a robe.\" So Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground, and did obeisance.\r\n\t\t\t Then Samuel said to Saul, \"Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?\" Saul answered, \"I am in great distress, for the Philistines are warring against me, and God has turned away from me and answers me no more, either by prophets or by dreams; so I have summoned you to tell me what I should do.\"\r\n\t\t\t Samuel said, \"Why then do you ask me, since the LORD has turned from you and become your enemy?\r\n\t\t\t The LORD has done to you just as he spoke by me; for the LORD has torn the kingdom out of your hand, and given it to your neighbor, David.\r\n\t\t\t Because you did not obey the voice of the LORD, and did not carry out his fierce wrath against Amalek, therefore the LORD has done this thing to you today.\r\n\t\t\t Moreover the LORD will give Israel along with you into the hands of the Philistines; and tomorrow you and your sons shall be with me; the LORD will also give the army of Israel into the hands of the Philistines.\"\r\n\t\t\t Immediately Saul fell full length on the ground, filled with fear because of the words of Samuel; and there was no strength in him, for he had eaten nothing all day and all night.\r\n\t\t\t The woman came to Saul, and when she saw that he was terrified, she said to him, \"Your servant has listened to you; I have taken my life in my hand, and have listened to what you have said to me.\r\n\t\t\t Now therefore, you also listen to your servant; let me set a morsel of bread before you. Eat, that you may have strength when you go on your way.\"\r\n\t\t\t He refused, and said, \"I will not eat.\" But his servants, together with the woman, urged him; and he listened to their words. So he got up from the ground and sat on the bed.\r\n\t\t\t Now the woman had a fatted calf in the house. She quickly slaughtered it, and she took flour, kneaded it, and baked unleavened cakes.\r\n\t\t\t She put them before Saul and his servants, and they ate. Then they rose and went away that night.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now the Philistines gathered all their forces at Aphek, while the Israelites were encamped by the fountain that is in Jezreel.\r\n\t\t\t As the lords of the Philistines were passing on by hundreds and by thousands, and David and his men were passing on in the rear with Achish,\r\n\t\t\t the commanders of the Philistines said, \"What are these Hebrews doing here?\" Achish said to the commanders of the Philistines, \"Is this not David, the servant of King Saul of Israel, who has been with me now for days and years? Since he deserted to me I have found no fault in him to this day.\"\r\n\t\t\t But the commanders of the Philistines were angry with him; and the commanders of the Philistines said to him, \"Send the man back, so that he may return to the place that you have assigned to him; he shall not go down with us to battle, or else he may become an adversary to us in the battle. For how could this fellow reconcile himself to his lord? Would it not be with the heads of the men here?\r\n\t\t\t Is this not David, of whom they sing to one another in dances, 'Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands'?\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Achish called David and said to him, \"As the LORD lives, you have been honest, and to me it seems right that you should march out and in with me in the campaign; for I have found nothing wrong in you from the day of your coming to me until today. Nevertheless the lords do not approve of you.\r\n\t\t\t So go back now; and go peaceably; do nothing to displease the lords of the Philistines.\"\r\n\t\t\t David said to Achish, \"But what have I done? What have you found in your servant from the day I entered your service until now, that I should not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?\"\r\n\t\t\t Achish replied to David, \"I know that you are as blameless in my sight as an angel of God; nevertheless, the commanders of the Philistines have said, 'He shall not go up with us to the battle.'\r\n\t\t\t Now then rise early in the morning, you and the servants of your lord who came with you, and go to the place that I appointed for you. As for the evil report, do not take it to heart, for you have done well before me. Start early in the morning, and leave as soon as you have light.\" \r\n\t\t\t So David set out with his men early in the morning, to return to the land of the Philistines. But the Philistines went up to Jezreel.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now when David and his men came to Ziklag on the third day, the Amalekites had made a raid on the Negeb and on Ziklag. They had attacked Ziklag, burned it down,\r\n\t\t\t and taken captive the women and all who were in it, both small and great; they killed none of them, but carried them off, and went their way.\r\n\t\t\t When David and his men came to the city, they found it burned down, and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive.\r\n\t\t\t Then David and the people who were with him raised their voices and wept, until they had no more strength to weep.\r\n\t\t\t David's two wives also had been taken captive, Ahinoam of Jezreel, and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel.\r\n\t\t\t David was in great danger; for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were bitter in spirit for their sons and daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.\r\n\t\t\t David said to the priest Abiathar son of Ahimelech, \"Bring me the ephod.\" So Abiathar brought the ephod to David.\r\n\t\t\t David inquired of the LORD, \"Shall I pursue this band? Shall I overtake them?\" He answered him, \"Pursue; for you shall surely overtake and shall surely rescue.\"\r\n\t\t\t So David set out, he and the six hundred men who were with him. They came to the Wadi Besor, where those stayed who were left behind.\r\n\t\t\t But David went on with the pursuit, he and four hundred men; two hundred stayed behind, too exhausted to cross the Wadi Besor.\r\n\t\t\t In the open country they found an Egyptian, and brought him to David. They gave him bread and he ate, they gave him water to drink;\r\n\t\t\t they also gave him a piece of fig cake and two clusters of raisins. When he had eaten, his spirit revived; for he had not eaten bread or drunk water for three days and three nights.\r\n\t\t\t Then David said to him, \"To whom do you belong? Where are you from?\" He said, \"I am a young man of Egypt, servant to an Amalekite. My master left me behind because I fell sick three days ago.\r\n\t\t\t We had made a raid on the Negeb of the Cherethites and on that which belongs to Judah and on the Negeb of Caleb; and we burned Ziklag down.\"\r\n\t\t\t David said to him, \"Will you take me down to this raiding party?\" He said, \"Swear to me by God that you will not kill me, or hand me over to my master, and I will take you down to them.\"\r\n\t\t\t When he had taken him down, they were spread out all over the ground, eating and drinking and dancing, because of the great amount of spoil they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from the land of Judah.\r\n\t\t\t David attacked them from twilight until the evening of the next day. Not one of them escaped, except four hundred young men, who mounted camels and fled.\r\n\t\t\t David recovered all that the Amalekites had taken; and David rescued his two wives.\r\n\t\t\t Nothing was missing, whether small or great, sons or daughters, spoil or anything that had been taken; David brought back everything.\r\n\t\t\t David also captured all the flocks and herds, which were driven ahead of the other cattle; people said, \"This is David's spoil.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then David came to the two hundred men who had been too exhausted to follow David, and who had been left at the Wadi Besor. They went out to meet David and to meet the people who were with him. When David drew near to the people he saluted them.\r\n\t\t\t Then all the corrupt and worthless fellows among the men who had gone with David said, \"Because they did not go with us, we will not give them any of the spoil that we have recovered, except that each man may take his wife and children, and leave.\"\r\n\t\t\t But David said, \"You shall not do so, my brothers, with what the LORD has given us; he has preserved us and handed over to us the raiding party that attacked us.\r\n\t\t\t Who would listen to you in this matter? For the share of the one who goes down into the battle shall be the same as the share of the one who stays by the baggage; they shall share alike.\"\r\n\t\t\t From that day forward he made it a statute and an ordinance for Israel; it continues to the present day.\r\n\t\t\t When David came to Ziklag, he sent part of the spoil to his friends, the elders of Judah, saying, \"Here is a present for you from the spoil of the enemies of the LORD\";\r\n\t\t\t it was for those in Bethel, in Ramoth of the Negeb, in Jattir,\r\n\t\t\t in Aroer, in Siphmoth, in Eshtemoa,\r\n\t\t\t in Racal, in the towns of the Jerahmeelites, in the towns of the Kenites,\r\n\t\t\t in Hormah, in Bor-ashan, in Athach,\r\n\t\t\t in Hebron, all the places where David and his men had roamed.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now the Philistines fought against Israel; and the men of Israel fled before the Philistines, and many fell on Mount Gilboa. \r\n\t\t\t The Philistines overtook Saul and his sons; and the Philistines killed Jonathan and Abinadab and Malchishua, the sons of Saul.\r\n\t\t\t The battle pressed hard upon Saul; the archers found him, and he was badly wounded by them.\r\n\t\t\t Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, \"Draw your sword and thrust me through with it, so that these uncircumcised may not come and thrust me through, and make sport of me.\" But his armor-bearer was unwilling; for he was terrified. So Saul took his own sword and fell upon it.\r\n\t\t\t When his armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell upon his sword and died with him.\r\n\t\t\t So Saul and his three sons and his armor-bearer and all his men died together on the same day.\r\n\t\t\t When the men of Israel who were on the other side of the valley and those beyond the Jordan saw that the men of Israel had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook their towns and fled; and the Philistines came and occupied them.\r\n\t\t\t The next day, when the Philistines came to strip the dead, they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa.\r\n\t\t\t They cut off his head, stripped off his armor, and sent messengers throughout the land of the Philistines to carry the good news to the houses of their idols and to the people.\r\n\t\t\t They put his armor in the temple of Astarte; and they fastened his body to the wall of Beth-shan. \r\n\t\t\t But when the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul,\r\n\t\t\t all the valiant men set out, traveled all night long, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth-shan. They came to Jabesh and burned them there.\r\n\t\t\t Then they took their bones and buried them under the tamarisk tree in Jabesh, and fasted seven days.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t After the death of Saul, when David had returned from defeating the Amalekites, David remained two days in Ziklag.\r\n\t\t\t On the third day, a man came from Saul's camp, with his clothes torn and dirt on his head. When he came to David, he fell to the ground and did obeisance.\r\n\t\t\t David said to him, \"Where have you come from?\" He said to him, \"I have escaped from the camp of Israel.\"\r\n\t\t\t David said to him, \"How did things go? Tell me!\" He answered, \"The army fled from the battle, but also many of the army fell and died; and Saul and his son Jonathan also died.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then David asked the young man who was reporting to him, \"How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan died?\"\r\n\t\t\t The young man reporting to him said, \"I happened to be on Mount Gilboa; and there was Saul leaning on his spear, while the chariots and the horsemen drew close to him.\r\n\t\t\t When he looked behind him, he saw me, and called to me. I answered, 'Here sir.'\r\n\t\t\t And he said to me, 'Who are you?' I answered him, 'I am an Amalekite.'\r\n\t\t\t He said to me, 'Come, stand over me and kill me; for convulsions have seized me, and yet my life still lingers.'\r\n\t\t\t So I stood over him, and killed him, for I knew that he could not live after he had fallen. I took the crown that was on his head and the armlet that was on his arm, and I have brought them here to my lord.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then David took hold of his clothes and tore them; and all the men who were with him did the same.\r\n\t\t\t They mourned and wept, and fasted until evening for Saul and for his son Jonathan, and for the army of the LORD and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.\r\n\t\t\t David said to the young man who had reported to him, \"Where do you come from?\" He answered, \"I am the son of a resident alien, an Amalekite.\"\r\n\t\t\t David said to him, \"Were you not afraid to lift your hand to destroy the LORD's anointed?\"\r\n\t\t\t Then David called one of the young men and said, \"Come here and strike him down.\" So he struck him down and he died.\r\n\t\t\t David said to him, \"Your blood be on your head; for your own mouth has testified against you, saying, 'I have killed the LORD's anointed.'\"\r\n\t\t\t David intoned this lamentation over Saul and his son Jonathan.\r\n\t\t\t (He ordered that The Song of the Bow be taught to the people of Judah; it is written in the Book of Jashar.) He said: \r\n\t\t\t Your glory, O Israel, lies slain upon your high places! How the mighty have fallen!\r\n\t\t\t Tell it not in Gath, proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon; or the daughters of the Philistines will rejoice, the daughters of the uncircumcised will exult.\r\n\t\t\t You mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew or rain upon you, nor bounteous fields! For there the shield of the mighty was defiled, the shield of Saul, anointed with oil no more. \r\n\t\t\t From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan did not turn back, nor the sword of Saul return empty.\r\n\t\t\t Saul and Jonathan, beloved and lovely! In life and in death they were not divided; they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.\r\n\t\t\t O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you with crimson, in luxury, who put ornaments of gold on your apparel.\r\n\t\t\t How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle! Jonathan lies slain upon your high places.\r\n\t\t\t I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; greatly beloved were you to me; your love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.\r\n\t\t\t How the mighty have fallen, and the weapons of war perished!\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t After this David inquired of the LORD, \"Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah?\" The LORD said to him, \"Go up.\" David said, \"To which shall I go up?\" He said, \"To Hebron.\"\r\n\t\t\t So David went up there, along with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel, and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel.\r\n\t\t\t David brought up the men who were with him, every one with his household; and they settled in the towns of Hebron.\r\n\t\t\t Then the people of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. When they told David, \"It was the people of Jabesh-gilead who buried Saul,\"\r\n\t\t\t David sent messengers to the people of Jabesh-gilead, and said to them, \"May you be blessed by the LORD, because you showed this loyalty to Saul your lord, and buried him!\r\n\t\t\t Now may the LORD show steadfast love and faithfulness to you! And I too will reward you because you have done this thing.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore let your hands be strong, and be valiant; for Saul your lord is dead, and the house of Judah has anointed me king over them.\"\r\n\t\t\t But Abner son of Ner, commander of Saul's army, had taken Ishbaal son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim. \r\n\t\t\t He made him king over Gilead, the Ashurites, Jezreel, Ephraim, Benjamin, and over all Israel.\r\n\t\t\t Ishbaal, Saul's son, was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David. \r\n\t\t\t The time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.\r\n\t\t\t Abner son of Ner, and the servants of Ishbaal son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.\r\n\t\t\t Joab son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went out and met them at the pool of Gibeon. One group sat on one side of the pool, while the other sat on the other side of the pool.\r\n\t\t\t Abner said to Joab, \"Let the young men come forward and have a contest before us.\" Joab said, \"Let them come forward.\"\r\n\t\t\t So they came forward and were counted as they passed by, twelve for Benjamin and Ishbaal son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David. \r\n\t\t\t Each grasped his opponent by the head, and thrust his sword in his opponent's side; so they fell down together. Therefore that place was called Helkath-hazzurim, which is at Gibeon. \r\n\t\t\t The battle was very fierce that day; and Abner and the men of Israel were beaten by the servants of David.\r\n\t\t\t The three sons of Zeruiah were there, Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Now Asahel was as swift of foot as a wild gazelle.\r\n\t\t\t Asahel pursued Abner, turning neither to the right nor to the left as he followed him.\r\n\t\t\t Then Abner looked back and said, \"Is it you, Asahel?\" He answered, \"Yes, it is.\"\r\n\t\t\t Abner said to him, \"Turn to your right or to your left, and seize one of the young men, and take his spoil.\" But Asahel would not turn away from following him.\r\n\t\t\t Abner said again to Asahel, \"Turn away from following me; why should I strike you to the ground? How then could I show my face to your brother Joab?\"\r\n\t\t\t But he refused to turn away. So Abner struck him in the stomach with the butt of his spear, so that the spear came out at his back. He fell there, and died where he lay. And all those who came to the place where Asahel had fallen and died, stood still.\r\n\t\t\t But Joab and Abishai pursued Abner. As the sun was going down they came to the hill of Ammah, which lies before Giah on the way to the wilderness of Gibeon.\r\n\t\t\t The Benjaminites rallied around Abner and formed a single band; they took their stand on the top of a hill.\r\n\t\t\t Then Abner called to Joab, \"Is the sword to keep devouring forever? Do you not know that the end will be bitter? How long will it be before you order your people to turn from the pursuit of their kinsmen?\"\r\n\t\t\t Joab said, \"As God lives, if you had not spoken, the people would have continued to pursue their kinsmen, not stopping until morning.\"\r\n\t\t\t Joab sounded the trumpet and all the people stopped; they no longer pursued Israel or engaged in battle any further.\r\n\t\t\t Abner and his men traveled all that night through the Arabah; they crossed the Jordan, and, marching the whole forenoon, they came to Mahanaim. \r\n\t\t\t Joab returned from the pursuit of Abner; and when he had gathered all the people together, there were missing of David's servants nineteen men besides Asahel.\r\n\t\t\t But the servants of David had killed of Benjamin three hundred sixty of Abner's men.\r\n\t\t\t They took up Asahel and buried him in the tomb of his father, which was at Bethlehem. Joab and his men marched all night, and the day broke upon them at Hebron.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t There was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David; David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul became weaker and weaker.\r\n\t\t\t Sons were born to David at Hebron: his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam of Jezreel;\r\n\t\t\t his second, Chileab, of Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel; the third, Absalom son of Maacah, daughter of King Talmai of Geshur;\r\n\t\t\t the fourth, Adonijah son of Haggith; the fifth, Shephatiah son of Abital;\r\n\t\t\t and the sixth, Ithream, of David's wife Eglah. These were born to David in Hebron.\r\n\t\t\t While there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner was making himself strong in the house of Saul.\r\n\t\t\t Now Saul had a concubine whose name was Rizpah daughter of Aiah. And Ishbaal said to Abner, \"Why have you gone in to my father's concubine?\" \r\n\t\t\t The words of Ishbaal made Abner very angry; he said, \"Am I a dog's head for Judah? Today I keep showing loyalty to the house of your father Saul, to his brothers, and to his friends, and have not given you into the hand of David; and yet you charge me now with a crime concerning this woman. \r\n\t\t\t So may God do to Abner and so may he add to it! For just what the LORD has sworn to David, that will I accomplish for him,\r\n\t\t\t to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul, and set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan to Beer-sheba.\"\r\n\t\t\t And Ishbaal could not answer Abner another word, because he feared him. \r\n\t\t\t Abner sent messengers to David at Hebron, saying, \"To whom does the land belong? Make your covenant with me, and I will give you my support to bring all Israel over to you.\" \r\n\t\t\t He said, \"Good; I will make a covenant with you. But one thing I require of you: you shall never appear in my presence unless you bring Saul's daughter Michal when you come to see me.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then David sent messengers to Saul's son Ishbaal, saying, \"Give me my wife Michal, to whom I became engaged at the price of one hundred foreskins of the Philistines.\" \r\n\t\t\t Ishbaal sent and took her from her husband Paltiel the son of Laish. \r\n\t\t\t But her husband went with her, weeping as he walked behind her all the way to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, \"Go back home!\" So he went back.\r\n\t\t\t Abner sent word to the elders of Israel, saying, \"For some time past you have been seeking David as king over you.\r\n\t\t\t Now then bring it about; for the LORD has promised David: Through my servant David I will save my people Israel from the hand of the Philistines, and from all their enemies.\"\r\n\t\t\t Abner also spoke directly to the Benjaminites; then Abner went to tell David at Hebron all that Israel and the whole house of Benjamin were ready to do.\r\n\t\t\t When Abner came with twenty men to David at Hebron, David made a feast for Abner and the men who were with him.\r\n\t\t\t Abner said to David, \"Let me go and rally all Israel to my lord the king, in order that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may reign over all that your heart desires.\" So David dismissed Abner, and he went away in peace.\r\n\t\t\t Just then the servants of David arrived with Joab from a raid, bringing much spoil with them. But Abner was not with David at Hebron, for David had dismissed him, and he had gone away in peace. \r\n\t\t\t When Joab and all the army that was with him came, it was told Joab, \"Abner son of Ner came to the king, and he has dismissed him, and he has gone away in peace.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Joab went to the king and said, \"What have you done? Abner came to you; why did you dismiss him, so that he got away?\r\n\t\t\t You know that Abner son of Ner came to deceive you, and to learn your comings and goings and to learn all that you are doing.\"\r\n\t\t\t When Joab came out from David's presence, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the cistern of Sirah; but David did not know about it.\r\n\t\t\t When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gateway to speak with him privately, and there he stabbed him in the stomach. So he died for shedding the blood of Asahel, Joab's brother. \r\n\t\t\t Afterward, when David heard of it, he said, \"I and my kingdom are forever guiltless before the LORD for the blood of Abner son of Ner.\r\n\t\t\t May the guilt fall on the head of Joab, and on all his father's house; and may the house of Joab never be without one who has a discharge, or who is leprous, or who holds a spindle, or who falls by the sword, or who lacks food!\" \r\n\t\t\t So Joab and his brother Abishai murdered Abner because he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.\r\n\t\t\t Then David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, \"Tear your clothes, and put on sackcloth, and mourn over Abner.\" And King David followed the bier.\r\n\t\t\t They buried Abner at Hebron. The king lifted up his voice and wept at the grave of Abner, and all the people wept.\r\n\t\t\t The king lamented for Abner, saying, \"Should Abner die as a fool dies?\r\n\t\t\t Your hands were not bound, your feet were not fettered; as one falls before the wicked you have fallen.\" And all the people wept over him again.\r\n\t\t\t Then all the people came to persuade David to eat something while it was still day; but David swore, saying, \"So may God do to me, and more, if I taste bread or anything else before the sun goes down!\"\r\n\t\t\t All the people took notice of it, and it pleased them; just as everything the king did pleased all the people.\r\n\t\t\t So all the people and all Israel understood that day that the king had no part in the killing of Abner son of Ner.\r\n\t\t\t And the king said to his servants, \"Do you not know that a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel?\r\n\t\t\t Today I am powerless, even though anointed king; these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too violent for me. The LORD pay back the one who does wickedly in accordance with his wickedness!\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t When Saul's son Ishbaal heard that Abner had died at Hebron, his courage failed, and all Israel was dismayed. \r\n\t\t\t Saul's son had two captains of raiding bands; the name of the one was Baanah, and the name of the other Rechab. They were sons of Rimmon a Benjaminite from Beeroth-- for Beeroth is considered to belong to Benjamin.\r\n\t\t\t (Now the people of Beeroth had fled to Gittaim and are there as resident aliens to this day).\r\n\t\t\t Saul's son Jonathan had a son who was crippled in his feet. He was five years old when the news about Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel. His nurse picked him up and fled; and, in her haste to flee, it happened that he fell and became lame. His name was Mephibosheth. \r\n\t\t\t Now the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rechab and Baanah, set out, and about the heat of the day they came to the house of Ishbaal, while he was taking his noonday rest.\r\n\t\t\t They came inside the house as though to take wheat, and they struck him in the stomach; then Rechab and his brother Baanah escaped. \r\n\t\t\t Now they had come into the house while he was lying on his couch in his bedchamber; they attacked him, killed him, and beheaded him. Then they took his head and traveled by way of the Arabah all night long.\r\n\t\t\t They brought the head of Ishbaal to David at Hebron and said to the king, \"Here is the head of Ishbaal, son of Saul, your enemy, who sought your life; the LORD has avenged my lord the king this day on Saul and on his offspring.\" \r\n\t\t\t David answered Rechab and his brother Baanah, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, \"As the LORD lives, who has redeemed my life out of every adversity,\r\n\t\t\t when the one who told me, 'See, Saul is dead,' thought he was bringing good news, I seized him and killed him at Ziklag-- this was the reward I gave him for his news.\r\n\t\t\t How much more then, when wicked men have killed a righteous man on his bed in his own house! And now shall I not require his blood at your hand, and destroy you from the earth?\"\r\n\t\t\t So David commanded the young men, and they killed them; they cut off their hands and feet, and hung their bodies beside the pool at Hebron. But the head of Ishbaal they took and buried in the tomb of Abner at Hebron. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron, and said, \"Look, we are your bone and flesh.\r\n\t\t\t For some time, while Saul was king over us, it was you who led out Israel and brought it in. The LORD said to you: It is you who shall be shepherd of my people Israel, you who shall be ruler over Israel.\"\r\n\t\t\t So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron; and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the LORD, and they anointed David king over Israel.\r\n\t\t\t David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.\r\n\t\t\t At Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months; and at Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years.\r\n\t\t\t The king and his men marched to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who said to David, \"You will not come in here, even the blind and the lame will turn you back\"-- thinking, \"David cannot come in here.\"\r\n\t\t\t Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion, which is now the city of David.\r\n\t\t\t David had said on that day, \"Whoever would strike down the Jebusites, let him get up the water shaft to attack the lame and the blind, those whom David hates.\" Therefore it is said, \"The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.\" \r\n\t\t\t David occupied the stronghold, and named it the city of David. David built the city all around from the Millo inward.\r\n\t\t\t And David became greater and greater, for the LORD, the God of hosts, was with him.\r\n\t\t\t King Hiram of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedar trees, and carpenters and masons who built David a house.\r\n\t\t\t David then perceived that the LORD had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.\r\n\t\t\t In Jerusalem, after he came from Hebron, David took more concubines and wives; and more sons and daughters were born to David.\r\n\t\t\t These are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,\r\n\t\t\t Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia,\r\n\t\t\t Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.\r\n\t\t\t When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, all the Philistines went up in search of David; but David heard about it and went down to the stronghold.\r\n\t\t\t Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the valley of Rephaim.\r\n\t\t\t David inquired of the LORD, \"Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you give them into my hand?\" The LORD said to David, \"Go up; for I will certainly give the Philistines into your hand.\"\r\n\t\t\t So David came to Baal-perazim, and David defeated them there. He said, \"The LORD has burst forth against my enemies before me, like a bursting flood.\" Therefore that place is called Baal-perazim. \r\n\t\t\t The Philistines abandoned their idols there, and David and his men carried them away.\r\n\t\t\t Once again the Philistines came up, and were spread out in the valley of Rephaim.\r\n\t\t\t When David inquired of the LORD, he said, \"You shall not go up; go around to their rear, and come upon them opposite the balsam trees.\r\n\t\t\t When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then be on the alert; for then the LORD has gone out before you to strike down the army of the Philistines.\"\r\n\t\t\t David did just as the LORD had commanded him; and he struck down the Philistines from Geba all the way to Gezer.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t David again gathered all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand.\r\n\t\t\t David and all the people with him set out and went from Baale-judah, to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the name of the LORD of hosts who is enthroned on the cherubim.\r\n\t\t\t They carried the ark of God on a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were driving the new cart \r\n\t\t\t with the ark of God; and Ahio went in front of the ark. \r\n\t\t\t David and all the house of Israel were dancing before the LORD with all their might, with songs and lyres and harps and tambourines and castanets and cymbals. \r\n\t\t\t When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen shook it.\r\n\t\t\t The anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God struck him there because he reached out his hand to the ark; and he died there beside the ark of God. \r\n\t\t\t David was angry because the LORD had burst forth with an outburst upon Uzzah; so that place is called Perez-uzzah, to this day. \r\n\t\t\t David was afraid of the LORD that day; he said, \"How can the ark of the LORD come into my care?\"\r\n\t\t\t So David was unwilling to take the ark of the LORD into his care in the city of David; instead David took it to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.\r\n\t\t\t The ark of the LORD remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite three months; and the LORD blessed Obed-edom and all his household.\r\n\t\t\t It was told King David, \"The LORD has blessed the household of Obed-edom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God.\" So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom to the city of David with rejoicing;\r\n\t\t\t and when those who bore the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fatling.\r\n\t\t\t David danced before the LORD with all his might; David was girded with a linen ephod.\r\n\t\t\t So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.\r\n\t\t\t As the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal daughter of Saul looked out of the window, and saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart.\r\n\t\t\t They brought in the ark of the LORD, and set it in its place, inside the tent that David had pitched for it; and David offered burnt offerings and offerings of well-being before the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t When David had finished offering the burnt offerings and the offerings of well-being, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts,\r\n\t\t\t and distributed food among all the people, the whole multitude of Israel, both men and women, to each a cake of bread, a portion of meat, and a cake of raisins. Then all the people went back to their homes. \r\n\t\t\t David returned to bless his household. But Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, \"How the king of Israel honored himself today, uncovering himself today before the eyes of his servants' maids, as any vulgar fellow might shamelessly uncover himself!\"\r\n\t\t\t David said to Michal, \"It was before the LORD, who chose me in place of your father and all his household, to appoint me as prince over Israel, the people of the LORD, that I have danced before the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t I will make myself yet more contemptible than this, and I will be abased in my own eyes; but by the maids of whom you have spoken, by them I shall be held in honor.\"\r\n\t\t\t And Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now when the king was settled in his house, and the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies around him,\r\n\t\t\t the king said to the prophet Nathan, \"See now, I am living in a house of cedar, but the ark of God stays in a tent.\"\r\n\t\t\t Nathan said to the king, \"Go, do all that you have in mind; for the LORD is with you.\"\r\n\t\t\t But that same night the word of the LORD came to Nathan:\r\n\t\t\t Go and tell my servant David: Thus says the LORD: Are you the one to build me a house to live in?\r\n\t\t\t I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent and a tabernacle.\r\n\t\t\t Wherever I have moved about among all the people of Israel, did I ever speak a word with any of the tribal leaders of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, \"Why have you not built me a house of cedar?\" \r\n\t\t\t Now therefore thus you shall say to my servant David: Thus says the LORD of hosts: I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep to be prince over my people Israel;\r\n\t\t\t and I have been with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth.\r\n\t\t\t And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may live in their own place, and be disturbed no more; and evildoers shall afflict them no more, as formerly,\r\n\t\t\t from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel; and I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover the LORD declares to you that the LORD will make you a house.\r\n\t\t\t When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come forth from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.\r\n\t\t\t He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.\r\n\t\t\t I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me. When he commits iniquity, I will punish him with a rod such as mortals use, with blows inflicted by human beings.\r\n\t\t\t But I will not take my steadfast love from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. \r\n\t\t\t Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me; your throne shall be established forever. \r\n\t\t\t In accordance with all these words and with all this vision, Nathan spoke to David.\r\n\t\t\t Then King David went in and sat before the LORD, and said, \"Who am I, O Lord GOD, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far?\r\n\t\t\t And yet this was a small thing in your eyes, O Lord GOD; you have spoken also of your servant's house for a great while to come. May this be instruction for the people, O Lord GOD! \r\n\t\t\t And what more can David say to you? For you know your servant, O Lord GOD!\r\n\t\t\t Because of your promise, and according to your own heart, you have wrought all this greatness, so that your servant may know it.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore you are great, O LORD God; for there is no one like you, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears.\r\n\t\t\t Who is like your people, like Israel? Is there another nation on earth whose God went to redeem it as a people, and to make a name for himself, doing great and awesome things for them, by driving out before his people nations and their gods? \r\n\t\t\t And you established your people Israel for yourself to be your people forever; and you, O LORD, became their God.\r\n\t\t\t And now, O LORD God, as for the word that you have spoken concerning your servant and concerning his house, confirm it forever; do as you have promised.\r\n\t\t\t Thus your name will be magnified forever in the saying, 'The LORD of hosts is God over Israel'; and the house of your servant David will be established before you.\r\n\t\t\t For you, O LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, have made this revelation to your servant, saying, 'I will build you a house'; therefore your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to you.\r\n\t\t\t And now, O Lord GOD, you are God, and your words are true, and you have promised this good thing to your servant;\r\n\t\t\t now therefore may it please you to bless the house of your servant, so that it may continue forever before you; for you, O Lord GOD, have spoken, and with your blessing shall the house of your servant be blessed forever.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Some time afterward, David attacked the Philistines and subdued them; David took Metheg-ammah out of the hand of the Philistines.\r\n\t\t\t He also defeated the Moabites and, making them lie down on the ground, measured them off with a cord; he measured two lengths of cord for those who were to be put to death, and one length for those who were to be spared. And the Moabites became servants to David and brought tribute. \r\n\t\t\t David also struck down King Hadadezer son of Rehob of Zobah, as he went to restore his monument at the river Euphrates. \r\n\t\t\t David took from him one thousand seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand foot soldiers. David hamstrung all the chariot horses, but left enough for a hundred chariots.\r\n\t\t\t When the Arameans of Damascus came to help King Hadadezer of Zobah, David killed twenty-two thousand men of the Arameans.\r\n\t\t\t Then David put garrisons among the Arameans of Damascus; and the Arameans became servants to David and brought tribute. The LORD gave victory to David wherever he went.\r\n\t\t\t David took the gold shields that were carried by the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t From Betah and from Berothai, towns of Hadadezer, King David took a great amount of bronze.\r\n\t\t\t When King Toi of Hamath heard that David had defeated the whole army of Hadadezer,\r\n\t\t\t Toi sent his son Joram to King David, to greet him and to congratulate him because he had fought against Hadadezer and defeated him. Now Hadadezer had often been at war with Toi. Joram brought with him articles of silver, gold, and bronze;\r\n\t\t\t these also King David dedicated to the LORD, together with the silver and gold that he dedicated from all the nations he subdued,\r\n\t\t\t from Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, Amalek, and from the spoil of King Hadadezer son of Rehob of Zobah.\r\n\t\t\t David won a name for himself. When he returned, he killed eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt. \r\n\t\t\t He put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom he put garrisons, and all the Edomites became David's servants. And the LORD gave victory to David wherever he went.\r\n\t\t\t So David reigned over all Israel; and David administered justice and equity to all his people.\r\n\t\t\t Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was recorder;\r\n\t\t\t Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were priests; Seraiah was secretary;\r\n\t\t\t Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David's sons were priests. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t David asked, \"Is there still anyone left of the house of Saul to whom I may show kindness for Jonathan's sake?\"\r\n\t\t\t Now there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba, and he was summoned to David. The king said to him, \"Are you Ziba?\" And he said, \"At your service!\"\r\n\t\t\t The king said, \"Is there anyone remaining of the house of Saul to whom I may show the kindness of God?\" Ziba said to the king, \"There remains a son of Jonathan; he is crippled in his feet.\"\r\n\t\t\t The king said to him, \"Where is he?\" Ziba said to the king, \"He is in the house of Machir son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then King David sent and brought him from the house of Machir son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar.\r\n\t\t\t Mephibosheth son of Jonathan son of Saul came to David, and fell on his face and did obeisance. David said, \"Mephibosheth!\" He answered, \"I am your servant.\"\r\n\t\t\t David said to him, \"Do not be afraid, for I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan; I will restore to you all the land of your grandfather Saul, and you yourself shall eat at my table always.\"\r\n\t\t\t He did obeisance and said, \"What is your servant, that you should look upon a dead dog such as I?\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the king summoned Saul's servant Ziba, and said to him, \"All that belonged to Saul and to all his house I have given to your master's grandson.\r\n\t\t\t You and your sons and your servants shall till the land for him, and shall bring in the produce, so that your master's grandson may have food to eat; but your master's grandson Mephibosheth shall always eat at my table.\" Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. \r\n\t\t\t Then Ziba said to the king, \"According to all that my lord the king commands his servant, so your servant will do.\" Mephibosheth ate at David's table, like one of the king's sons. \r\n\t\t\t Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Mica. And all who lived in Ziba's house became Mephibosheth's servants. \r\n\t\t\t Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, for he always ate at the king's table. Now he was lame in both his feet. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Some time afterward, the king of the Ammonites died, and his son Hanun succeeded him.\r\n\t\t\t David said, \"I will deal loyally with Hanun son of Nahash, just as his father dealt loyally with me.\" So David sent envoys to console him concerning his father. When David's envoys came into the land of the Ammonites,\r\n\t\t\t the princes of the Ammonites said to their lord Hanun, \"Do you really think that David is honoring your father just because he has sent messengers with condolences to you? Has not David sent his envoys to you to search the city, to spy it out, and to overthrow it?\"\r\n\t\t\t So Hanun seized David's envoys, shaved off half the beard of each, cut off their garments in the middle at their hips, and sent them away.\r\n\t\t\t When David was told, he sent to meet them, for the men were greatly ashamed. The king said, \"Remain at Jericho until your beards have grown, and then return.\"\r\n\t\t\t When the Ammonites saw that they had become odious to David, the Ammonites sent and hired the Arameans of Beth-rehob and the Arameans of Zobah, twenty thousand foot soldiers, as well as the king of Maacah, one thousand men, and the men of Tob, twelve thousand men.\r\n\t\t\t When David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the army with the warriors.\r\n\t\t\t The Ammonites came out and drew up in battle array at the entrance of the gate; but the Arameans of Zobah and of Rehob, and the men of Tob and Maacah, were by themselves in the open country.\r\n\t\t\t When Joab saw that the battle was set against him both in front and in the rear, he chose some of the picked men of Israel, and arrayed them against the Arameans;\r\n\t\t\t the rest of his men he put in the charge of his brother Abishai, and he arrayed them against the Ammonites.\r\n\t\t\t He said, \"If the Arameans are too strong for me, then you shall help me; but if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will come and help you.\r\n\t\t\t Be strong, and let us be courageous for the sake of our people, and for the cities of our God; and may the LORD do what seems good to him.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Joab and the people who were with him moved forward into battle against the Arameans; and they fled before him.\r\n\t\t\t When the Ammonites saw that the Arameans fled, they likewise fled before Abishai, and entered the city. Then Joab returned from fighting against the Ammonites, and came to Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t But when the Arameans saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they gathered themselves together.\r\n\t\t\t Hadadezer sent and brought out the Arameans who were beyond the Euphrates; and they came to Helam, with Shobach the commander of the army of Hadadezer at their head.\r\n\t\t\t When it was told David, he gathered all Israel together, and crossed the Jordan, and came to Helam. The Arameans arrayed themselves against David and fought with him.\r\n\t\t\t The Arameans fled before Israel; and David killed of the Arameans seven hundred chariot teams, and forty thousand horsemen, and wounded Shobach the commander of their army, so that he died there. \r\n\t\t\t When all the kings who were servants of Hadadezer saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they made peace with Israel, and became subject to them. So the Arameans were afraid to help the Ammonites any more.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab with his officers and all Israel with him; they ravaged the Ammonites, and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t It happened, late one afternoon, when David rose from his couch and was walking about on the roof of the king's house, that he saw from the roof a woman bathing; the woman was very beautiful.\r\n\t\t\t David sent someone to inquire about the woman. It was reported, \"This is Bathsheba daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite.\"\r\n\t\t\t So David sent messengers to get her, and she came to him, and he lay with her. (Now she was purifying herself after her period.) Then she returned to her house.\r\n\t\t\t The woman conceived; and she sent and told David, \"I am pregnant.\"\r\n\t\t\t So David sent word to Joab, \"Send me Uriah the Hittite.\" And Joab sent Uriah to David.\r\n\t\t\t When Uriah came to him, David asked how Joab and the people fared, and how the war was going.\r\n\t\t\t Then David said to Uriah, \"Go down to your house, and wash your feet.\" Uriah went out of the king's house, and there followed him a present from the king.\r\n\t\t\t But Uriah slept at the entrance of the king's house with all the servants of his lord, and did not go down to his house.\r\n\t\t\t When they told David, \"Uriah did not go down to his house,\" David said to Uriah, \"You have just come from a journey. Why did you not go down to your house?\"\r\n\t\t\t Uriah said to David, \"The ark and Israel and Judah remain in booths; and my lord Joab and the servants of my lord are camping in the open field; shall I then go to my house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? As you live, and as your soul lives, I will not do such a thing.\" \r\n\t\t\t Then David said to Uriah, \"Remain here today also, and tomorrow I will send you back.\" So Uriah remained in Jerusalem that day. On the next day,\r\n\t\t\t David invited him to eat and drink in his presence and made him drunk; and in the evening he went out to lie on his couch with the servants of his lord, but he did not go down to his house.\r\n\t\t\t In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah.\r\n\t\t\t In the letter he wrote, \"Set Uriah in the forefront of the hardest fighting, and then draw back from him, so that he may be struck down and die.\"\r\n\t\t\t As Joab was besieging the city, he assigned Uriah to the place where he knew there were valiant warriors.\r\n\t\t\t The men of the city came out and fought with Joab; and some of the servants of David among the people fell. Uriah the Hittite was killed as well.\r\n\t\t\t Then Joab sent and told David all the news about the fighting;\r\n\t\t\t and he instructed the messenger, \"When you have finished telling the king all the news about the fighting,\r\n\t\t\t then, if the king's anger rises, and if he says to you, 'Why did you go so near the city to fight? Did you not know that they would shoot from the wall?\r\n\t\t\t Who killed Abimelech son of Jerubbaal? Did not a woman throw an upper millstone on him from the wall, so that he died at Thebez? Why did you go so near the wall?' then you shall say, 'Your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead too.'\"\r\n\t\t\t So the messenger went, and came and told David all that Joab had sent him to tell.\r\n\t\t\t The messenger said to David, \"The men gained an advantage over us, and came out against us in the field; but we drove them back to the entrance of the gate.\r\n\t\t\t Then the archers shot at your servants from the wall; some of the king's servants are dead; and your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.\"\r\n\t\t\t David said to the messenger, \"Thus you shall say to Joab, 'Do not let this matter trouble you, for the sword devours now one and now another; press your attack on the city, and overthrow it.' And encourage him.\"\r\n\t\t\t When the wife of Uriah heard that her husband was dead, she made lamentation for him.\r\n\t\t\t When the mourning was over, David sent and brought her to his house, and she became his wife, and bore him a son.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD, and the LORD sent Nathan to David. He came to him, and said to him, \"There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor.\r\n\t\t\t The rich man had very many flocks and herds;\r\n\t\t\t but the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb, which he had bought. He brought it up, and it grew up with him and with his children; it used to eat of his meager fare, and drink from his cup, and lie in his bosom, and it was like a daughter to him.\r\n\t\t\t Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was loath to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the wayfarer who had come to him, but he took the poor man's lamb, and prepared that for the guest who had come to him.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then David's anger was greatly kindled against the man. He said to Nathan, \"As the LORD lives, the man who has done this deserves to die;\r\n\t\t\t he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.\"\r\n\t\t\t Nathan said to David, \"You are the man! Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: I anointed you king over Israel, and I rescued you from the hand of Saul;\r\n\t\t\t I gave you your master's house, and your master's wives into your bosom, and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would have added as much more.\r\n\t\t\t Why have you despised the word of the LORD, to do what is evil in his sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites.\r\n\t\t\t Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, for you have despised me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD: I will raise up trouble against you from within your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes, and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this very sun.\r\n\t\t\t For you did it secretly; but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.\"\r\n\t\t\t David said to Nathan, \"I have sinned against the LORD.\" Nathan said to David, \"Now the LORD has put away your sin; you shall not die.\r\n\t\t\t Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the LORD, the child that is born to you shall die.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Nathan went to his house. The LORD struck the child that Uriah's wife bore to David, and it became very ill.\r\n\t\t\t David therefore pleaded with God for the child; David fasted, and went in and lay all night on the ground.\r\n\t\t\t The elders of his house stood beside him, urging him to rise from the ground; but he would not, nor did he eat food with them.\r\n\t\t\t On the seventh day the child died. And the servants of David were afraid to tell him that the child was dead; for they said, \"While the child was still alive, we spoke to him, and he did not listen to us; how then can we tell him the child is dead? He may do himself some harm.\"\r\n\t\t\t But when David saw that his servants were whispering together, he perceived that the child was dead; and David said to his servants, \"Is the child dead?\" They said, \"He is dead.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then David rose from the ground, washed, anointed himself, and changed his clothes. He went into the house of the LORD, and worshiped; he then went to his own house; and when he asked, they set food before him and he ate.\r\n\t\t\t Then his servants said to him, \"What is this thing that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while it was alive; but when the child died, you rose and ate food.\"\r\n\t\t\t He said, \"While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, 'Who knows? The LORD may be gracious to me, and the child may live.'\r\n\t\t\t But now he is dead; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then David consoled his wife Bathsheba, and went to her, and lay with her; and she bore a son, and he named him Solomon. The LORD loved him,\r\n\t\t\t and sent a message by the prophet Nathan; so he named him Jedidiah, because of the LORD. \r\n\t\t\t Now Joab fought against Rabbah of the Ammonites, and took the royal city.\r\n\t\t\t Joab sent messengers to David, and said, \"I have fought against Rabbah; moreover, I have taken the water city.\r\n\t\t\t Now, then, gather the rest of the people together, and encamp against the city, and take it; or I myself will take the city, and it will be called by my name.\"\r\n\t\t\t So David gathered all the people together and went to Rabbah, and fought against it and took it.\r\n\t\t\t He took the crown of Milcom from his head; the weight of it was a talent of gold, and in it was a precious stone; and it was placed on David's head. He also brought forth the spoil of the city, a very great amount. \r\n\t\t\t He brought out the people who were in it, and set them to work with saws and iron picks and iron axes, or sent them to the brickworks. Thus he did to all the cities of the Ammonites. Then David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Some time passed. David's son Absalom had a beautiful sister whose name was Tamar; and David's son Amnon fell in love with her.\r\n\t\t\t Amnon was so tormented that he made himself ill because of his sister Tamar, for she was a virgin and it seemed impossible to Amnon to do anything to her.\r\n\t\t\t But Amnon had a friend whose name was Jonadab, the son of David's brother Shimeah; and Jonadab was a very crafty man.\r\n\t\t\t He said to him, \"O son of the king, why are you so haggard morning after morning? Will you not tell me?\" Amnon said to him, \"I love Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister.\"\r\n\t\t\t Jonadab said to him, \"Lie down on your bed, and pretend to be ill; and when your father comes to see you, say to him, 'Let my sister Tamar come and give me something to eat, and prepare the food in my sight, so that I may see it and eat it from her hand.'\"\r\n\t\t\t So Amnon lay down, and pretended to be ill; and when the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king, \"Please let my sister Tamar come and make a couple of cakes in my sight, so that I may eat from her hand.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, \"Go to your brother Amnon's house, and prepare food for him.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house, where he was lying down. She took dough, kneaded it, made cakes in his sight, and baked the cakes.\r\n\t\t\t Then she took the pan and set them out before him, but he refused to eat. Amnon said, \"Send out everyone from me.\" So everyone went out from him. \r\n\t\t\t Then Amnon said to Tamar, \"Bring the food into the chamber, so that I may eat from your hand.\" So Tamar took the cakes she had made, and brought them into the chamber to Amnon her brother.\r\n\t\t\t But when she brought them near him to eat, he took hold of her, and said to her, \"Come, lie with me, my sister.\"\r\n\t\t\t She answered him, \"No, my brother, do not force me; for such a thing is not done in Israel; do not do anything so vile!\r\n\t\t\t As for me, where could I carry my shame? And as for you, you would be as one of the scoundrels in Israel. Now therefore, I beg you, speak to the king; for he will not withhold me from you.\"\r\n\t\t\t But he would not listen to her; and being stronger than she, he forced her and lay with her.\r\n\t\t\t Then Amnon was seized with a very great loathing for her; indeed, his loathing was even greater than the lust he had felt for her. Amnon said to her, \"Get out!\"\r\n\t\t\t But she said to him, \"No, my brother; for this wrong in sending me away is greater than the other that you did to me.\" But he would not listen to her. \r\n\t\t\t He called the young man who served him and said, \"Put this woman out of my presence, and bolt the door after her.\"\r\n\t\t\t (Now she was wearing a long robe with sleeves; for this is how the virgin daughters of the king were clothed in earlier times.) So his servant put her out, and bolted the door after her.\r\n\t\t\t But Tamar put ashes on her head, and tore the long robe that she was wearing; she put her hand on her head, and went away, crying aloud as she went.\r\n\t\t\t Her brother Absalom said to her, \"Has Amnon your brother been with you? Be quiet for now, my sister; he is your brother; do not take this to heart.\" So Tamar remained, a desolate woman, in her brother Absalom's house.\r\n\t\t\t When King David heard of all these things, he became very angry, but he would not punish his son Amnon, because he loved him, for he was his firstborn. \r\n\t\t\t But Absalom spoke to Amnon neither good nor bad; for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had raped his sister Tamar.\r\n\t\t\t After two full years Absalom had sheepshearers at Baal-hazor, which is near Ephraim, and Absalom invited all the king's sons.\r\n\t\t\t Absalom came to the king, and said, \"Your servant has sheepshearers; will the king and his servants please go with your servant?\"\r\n\t\t\t But the king said to Absalom, \"No, my son, let us not all go, or else we will be burdensome to you.\" He pressed him, but he would not go but gave him his blessing.\r\n\t\t\t Then Absalom said, \"If not, please let my brother Amnon go with us.\" The king said to him, \"Why should he go with you?\"\r\n\t\t\t But Absalom pressed him until he let Amnon and all the king's sons go with him. Absalom made a feast like a king's feast. \r\n\t\t\t Then Absalom commanded his servants, \"Watch when Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and when I say to you, 'Strike Amnon,' then kill him. Do not be afraid; have I not myself commanded you? Be courageous and valiant.\"\r\n\t\t\t So the servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king's sons rose, and each mounted his mule and fled.\r\n\t\t\t While they were on the way, the report came to David that Absalom had killed all the king's sons, and not one of them was left.\r\n\t\t\t The king rose, tore his garments, and lay on the ground; and all his servants who were standing by tore their garments.\r\n\t\t\t But Jonadab, the son of David's brother Shimeah, said, \"Let not my lord suppose that they have killed all the young men the king's sons; Amnon alone is dead. This has been determined by Absalom from the day Amnon raped his sister Tamar. \r\n\t\t\t Now therefore, do not let my lord the king take it to heart, as if all the king's sons were dead; for Amnon alone is dead.\"\r\n\t\t\t But Absalom fled. When the young man who kept watch looked up, he saw many people coming from the Horonaim road by the side of the mountain. \r\n\t\t\t Jonadab said to the king, \"See, the king's sons have come; as your servant said, so it has come about.\"\r\n\t\t\t As soon as he had finished speaking, the king's sons arrived, and raised their voices and wept; and the king and all his servants also wept very bitterly.\r\n\t\t\t But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. David mourned for his son day after day.\r\n\t\t\t Absalom, having fled to Geshur, stayed there three years.\r\n\t\t\t And the heart of the king went out, yearning for Absalom; for he was now consoled over the death of Amnon.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now Joab son of Zeruiah perceived that the king's mind was on Absalom.\r\n\t\t\t Joab sent to Tekoa and brought from there a wise woman. He said to her, \"Pretend to be a mourner; put on mourning garments, do not anoint yourself with oil, but behave like a woman who has been mourning many days for the dead.\r\n\t\t\t Go to the king and speak to him as follows.\" And Joab put the words into her mouth.\r\n\t\t\t When the woman of Tekoa came to the king, she fell on her face to the ground and did obeisance, and said, \"Help, O king!\"\r\n\t\t\t The king asked her, \"What is your trouble?\" She answered, \"Alas, I am a widow; my husband is dead.\r\n\t\t\t Your servant had two sons, and they fought with one another in the field; there was no one to part them, and one struck the other and killed him.\r\n\t\t\t Now the whole family has risen against your servant. They say, 'Give up the man who struck his brother, so that we may kill him for the life of his brother whom he murdered, even if we destroy the heir as well.' Thus they would quench my one remaining ember, and leave to my husband neither name nor remnant on the face of the earth.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the king said to the woman, \"Go to your house, and I will give orders concerning you.\"\r\n\t\t\t The woman of Tekoa said to the king, \"On me be the guilt, my lord the king, and on my father's house; let the king and his throne be guiltless.\"\r\n\t\t\t The king said, \"If anyone says anything to you, bring him to me, and he shall never touch you again.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then she said, \"Please, may the king keep the LORD your God in mind, so that the avenger of blood may kill no more, and my son not be destroyed.\" He said, \"As the LORD lives, not one hair of your son shall fall to the ground.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the woman said, \"Please let your servant speak a word to my lord the king.\" He said, \"Speak.\"\r\n\t\t\t The woman said, \"Why then have you planned such a thing against the people of God? For in giving this decision the king convicts himself, inasmuch as the king does not bring his banished one home again.\r\n\t\t\t We must all die; we are like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be gathered up. But God will not take away a life; he will devise plans so as not to keep an outcast banished forever from his presence. \r\n\t\t\t Now I have come to say this to my lord the king because the people have made me afraid; your servant thought, 'I will speak to the king; it may be that the king will perform the request of his servant.\r\n\t\t\t For the king will hear, and deliver his servant from the hand of the man who would cut both me and my son off from the heritage of God.'\r\n\t\t\t Your servant thought, 'The word of my lord the king will set me at rest'; for my lord the king is like the angel of God, discerning good and evil. The LORD your God be with you!\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the king answered the woman, \"Do not withhold from me anything I ask you.\" The woman said, \"Let my lord the king speak.\"\r\n\t\t\t The king said, \"Is the hand of Joab with you in all this?\" The woman answered and said, \"As surely as you live, my lord the king, one cannot turn right or left from anything that my lord the king has said. For it was your servant Joab who commanded me; it was he who put all these words into the mouth of your servant.\r\n\t\t\t In order to change the course of affairs your servant Joab did this. But my lord has wisdom like the wisdom of the angel of God to know all things that are on the earth.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the king said to Joab, \"Very well, I grant this; go, bring back the young man Absalom.\"\r\n\t\t\t Joab prostrated himself with his face to the ground and did obeisance, and blessed the king; and Joab said, \"Today your servant knows that I have found favor in your sight, my lord the king, in that the king has granted the request of his servant.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Joab set off, went to Geshur, and brought Absalom to Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t The king said, \"Let him go to his own house; he is not to come into my presence.\" So Absalom went to his own house, and did not come into the king's presence.\r\n\t\t\t Now in all Israel there was no one to be praised so much for his beauty as Absalom; from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him.\r\n\t\t\t When he cut the hair of his head (for at the end of every year he used to cut it; when it was heavy on him, he cut it), he weighed the hair of his head, two hundred shekels by the king's weight.\r\n\t\t\t There were born to Absalom three sons, and one daughter whose name was Tamar; she was a beautiful woman.\r\n\t\t\t So Absalom lived two full years in Jerusalem, without coming into the king's presence.\r\n\t\t\t Then Absalom sent for Joab to send him to the king; but Joab would not come to him. He sent a second time, but Joab would not come.\r\n\t\t\t Then he said to his servants, \"Look, Joab's field is next to mine, and he has barley there; go and set it on fire.\" So Absalom's servants set the field on fire.\r\n\t\t\t Then Joab rose and went to Absalom at his house, and said to him, \"Why have your servants set my field on fire?\"\r\n\t\t\t Absalom answered Joab, \"Look, I sent word to you: Come here, that I may send you to the king with the question, 'Why have I come from Geshur? It would be better for me to be there still.' Now let me go into the king's presence; if there is guilt in me, let him kill me!\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Joab went to the king and told him; and he summoned Absalom. So he came to the king and prostrated himself with his face to the ground before the king; and the king kissed Absalom.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t After this Absalom got himself a chariot and horses, and fifty men to run ahead of him.\r\n\t\t\t Absalom used to rise early and stand beside the road into the gate; and when anyone brought a suit before the king for judgment, Absalom would call out and say, \"From what city are you?\" When the person said, \"Your servant is of such and such a tribe in Israel,\"\r\n\t\t\t Absalom would say, \"See, your claims are good and right; but there is no one deputed by the king to hear you.\"\r\n\t\t\t Absalom said moreover, \"If only I were judge in the land! Then all who had a suit or cause might come to me, and I would give them justice.\"\r\n\t\t\t Whenever people came near to do obeisance to him, he would put out his hand and take hold of them, and kiss them.\r\n\t\t\t Thus Absalom did to every Israelite who came to the king for judgment; so Absalom stole the hearts of the people of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t At the end of four years Absalom said to the king, \"Please let me go to Hebron and pay the vow that I have made to the LORD. \r\n\t\t\t For your servant made a vow while I lived at Geshur in Aram: If the LORD will indeed bring me back to Jerusalem, then I will worship the LORD in Hebron.\" \r\n\t\t\t The king said to him, \"Go in peace.\" So he got up, and went to Hebron.\r\n\t\t\t But Absalom sent secret messengers throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, \"As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then shout: Absalom has become king at Hebron!\"\r\n\t\t\t Two hundred men from Jerusalem went with Absalom; they were invited guests, and they went in their innocence, knowing nothing of the matter.\r\n\t\t\t While Absalom was offering the sacrifices, he sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counselor, from his city Giloh. The conspiracy grew in strength, and the people with Absalom kept increasing. \r\n\t\t\t A messenger came to David, saying, \"The hearts of the Israelites have gone after Absalom.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then David said to all his officials who were with him at Jerusalem, \"Get up! Let us flee, or there will be no escape for us from Absalom. Hurry, or he will soon overtake us, and bring disaster down upon us, and attack the city with the edge of the sword.\"\r\n\t\t\t The king's officials said to the king, \"Your servants are ready to do whatever our lord the king decides.\"\r\n\t\t\t So the king left, followed by all his household, except ten concubines whom he left behind to look after the house.\r\n\t\t\t The king left, followed by all the people; and they stopped at the last house.\r\n\t\t\t All his officials passed by him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the six hundred Gittites who had followed him from Gath, passed on before the king.\r\n\t\t\t Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, \"Why are you also coming with us? Go back, and stay with the king; for you are a foreigner, and also an exile from your home.\r\n\t\t\t You came only yesterday, and shall I today make you wander about with us, while I go wherever I can? Go back, and take your kinsfolk with you; and may the LORD show steadfast love and faithfulness to you.\" \r\n\t\t\t But Ittai answered the king, \"As the LORD lives, and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king may be, whether for death or for life, there also your servant will be.\"\r\n\t\t\t David said to Ittai, \"Go then, march on.\" So Ittai the Gittite marched on, with all his men and all the little ones who were with him.\r\n\t\t\t The whole country wept aloud as all the people passed by; the king crossed the Wadi Kidron, and all the people moved on toward the wilderness.\r\n\t\t\t Abiathar came up, and Zadok also, with all the Levites, carrying the ark of the covenant of God. They set down the ark of God, until the people had all passed out of the city.\r\n\t\t\t Then the king said to Zadok, \"Carry the ark of God back into the city. If I find favor in the eyes of the LORD, he will bring me back and let me see both it and the place where it stays.\r\n\t\t\t But if he says, 'I take no pleasure in you,' here I am, let him do to me what seems good to him.\"\r\n\t\t\t The king also said to the priest Zadok, \"Look, go back to the city in peace, you and Abiathar, with your two sons, Ahimaaz your son, and Jonathan son of Abiathar. \r\n\t\t\t See, I will wait at the fords of the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Zadok and Abiathar carried the ark of God back to Jerusalem, and they remained there.\r\n\t\t\t But David went up the ascent of the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went, with his head covered and walking barefoot; and all the people who were with him covered their heads and went up, weeping as they went.\r\n\t\t\t David was told that Ahithophel was among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, \"O LORD, I pray you, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.\"\r\n\t\t\t When David came to the summit, where God was worshiped, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat torn and earth on his head.\r\n\t\t\t David said to him, \"If you go on with me, you will be a burden to me.\r\n\t\t\t But if you return to the city and say to Absalom, 'I will be your servant, O king; as I have been your father's servant in time past, so now I will be your servant,' then you will defeat for me the counsel of Ahithophel.\r\n\t\t\t The priests Zadok and Abiathar will be with you there. So whatever you hear from the king's house, tell it to the priests Zadok and Abiathar.\r\n\t\t\t Their two sons are with them there, Zadok's son Ahimaaz and Abiathar's son Jonathan; and by them you shall report to me everything you hear.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Hushai, David's friend, came into the city, just as Absalom was entering Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t When David had passed a little beyond the summit, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of donkeys saddled, carrying two hundred loaves of bread, one hundred bunches of raisins, one hundred of summer fruits, and one skin of wine. \r\n\t\t\t The king said to Ziba, \"Why have you brought these?\" Ziba answered, \"The donkeys are for the king's household to ride, the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat, and the wine is for those to drink who faint in the wilderness.\"\r\n\t\t\t The king said, \"And where is your master's son?\" Ziba said to the king, \"He remains in Jerusalem; for he said, 'Today the house of Israel will give me back my grandfather's kingdom.'\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the king said to Ziba, \"All that belonged to Mephibosheth is now yours.\" Ziba said, \"I do obeisance; let me find favor in your sight, my lord the king.\" \r\n\t\t\t When King David came to Bahurim, a man of the family of the house of Saul came out whose name was Shimei son of Gera; he came out cursing.\r\n\t\t\t He threw stones at David and at all the servants of King David; now all the people and all the warriors were on his right and on his left.\r\n\t\t\t Shimei shouted while he cursed, \"Out! Out! Murderer! Scoundrel!\r\n\t\t\t The LORD has avenged on all of you the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned; and the LORD has given the kingdom into the hand of your son Absalom. See, disaster has overtaken you; for you are a man of blood.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, \"Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and take off his head.\"\r\n\t\t\t But the king said, \"What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? If he is cursing because the LORD has said to him, 'Curse David,' who then shall say, 'Why have you done so?'\"\r\n\t\t\t David said to Abishai and to all his servants, \"My own son seeks my life; how much more now may this Benjaminite! Let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD has bidden him.\r\n\t\t\t It may be that the LORD will look on my distress, and the LORD will repay me with good for this cursing of me today.\" \r\n\t\t\t So David and his men went on the road, while Shimei went along on the hillside opposite him and cursed as he went, throwing stones and flinging dust at him.\r\n\t\t\t The king and all the people who were with him arrived weary at the Jordan; and there he refreshed himself. \r\n\t\t\t Now Absalom and all the Israelites came to Jerusalem; Ahithophel was with him. \r\n\t\t\t When Hushai the Archite, David's friend, came to Absalom, Hushai said to Absalom, \"Long live the king! Long live the king!\"\r\n\t\t\t Absalom said to Hushai, \"Is this your loyalty to your friend? Why did you not go with your friend?\"\r\n\t\t\t Hushai said to Absalom, \"No; but the one whom the LORD and this people and all the Israelites have chosen, his I will be, and with him I will remain.\r\n\t\t\t Moreover, whom should I serve? Should it not be his son? Just as I have served your father, so I will serve you.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, \"Give us your counsel; what shall we do?\"\r\n\t\t\t Ahithophel said to Absalom, \"Go in to your father's concubines, the ones he has left to look after the house; and all Israel will hear that you have made yourself odious to your father, and the hands of all who are with you will be strengthened.\"\r\n\t\t\t So they pitched a tent for Absalom upon the roof; and Absalom went in to his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel.\r\n\t\t\t Now in those days the counsel that Ahithophel gave was as if one consulted the oracle of God; so all the counsel of Ahithophel was esteemed, both by David and by Absalom. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Moreover Ahithophel said to Absalom, \"Let me choose twelve thousand men, and I will set out and pursue David tonight.\r\n\t\t\t I will come upon him while he is weary and discouraged, and throw him into a panic; and all the people who are with him will flee. I will strike down only the king,\r\n\t\t\t and I will bring all the people back to you as a bride comes home to her husband. You seek the life of only one man, and all the people will be at peace.\" \r\n\t\t\t The advice pleased Absalom and all the elders of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t Then Absalom said, \"Call Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear too what he has to say.\"\r\n\t\t\t When Hushai came to Absalom, Absalom said to him, \"This is what Ahithophel has said; shall we do as he advises? If not, you tell us.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Hushai said to Absalom, \"This time the counsel that Ahithophel has given is not good.\"\r\n\t\t\t Hushai continued, \"You know that your father and his men are warriors, and that they are enraged, like a bear robbed of her cubs in the field. Besides, your father is expert in war; he will not spend the night with the troops.\r\n\t\t\t Even now he has hidden himself in one of the pits, or in some other place. And when some of our troops fall at the first attack, whoever hears it will say, 'There has been a slaughter among the troops who follow Absalom.' \r\n\t\t\t Then even the valiant warrior, whose heart is like the heart of a lion, will utterly melt with fear; for all Israel knows that your father is a warrior, and that those who are with him are valiant warriors.\r\n\t\t\t But my counsel is that all Israel be gathered to you, from Dan to Beer-sheba, like the sand by the sea for multitude, and that you go to battle in person.\r\n\t\t\t So we shall come upon him in whatever place he may be found, and we shall light on him as the dew falls on the ground; and he will not survive, nor will any of those with him.\r\n\t\t\t If he withdraws into a city, then all Israel will bring ropes to that city, and we shall drag it into the valley, until not even a pebble is to be found there.\"\r\n\t\t\t Absalom and all the men of Israel said, \"The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel.\" For the LORD had ordained to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, so that the LORD might bring ruin on Absalom.\r\n\t\t\t Then Hushai said to the priests Zadok and Abiathar, \"Thus and so did Ahithophel counsel Absalom and the elders of Israel; and thus and so I have counseled.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore send quickly and tell David, 'Do not lodge tonight at the fords of the wilderness, but by all means cross over; otherwise the king and all the people who are with him will be swallowed up.'\"\r\n\t\t\t Jonathan and Ahimaaz were waiting at En-rogel; a servant-girl used to go and tell them, and they would go and tell King David; for they could not risk being seen entering the city.\r\n\t\t\t But a boy saw them, and told Absalom; so both of them went away quickly, and came to the house of a man at Bahurim, who had a well in his courtyard; and they went down into it.\r\n\t\t\t The man's wife took a covering, stretched it over the well's mouth, and spread out grain on it; and nothing was known of it.\r\n\t\t\t When Absalom's servants came to the woman at the house, they said, \"Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?\" The woman said to them, \"They have crossed over the brook of water.\" And when they had searched and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem. \r\n\t\t\t After they had gone, the men came up out of the well, and went and told King David. They said to David, \"Go and cross the water quickly; for thus and so has Ahithophel counseled against you.\"\r\n\t\t\t So David and all the people who were with him set out and crossed the Jordan; by daybreak not one was left who had not crossed the Jordan.\r\n\t\t\t When Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his donkey and went off home to his own city. He set his house in order, and hanged himself; he died and was buried in the tomb of his father.\r\n\t\t\t Then David came to Mahanaim, while Absalom crossed the Jordan with all the men of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t Now Absalom had set Amasa over the army in the place of Joab. Amasa was the son of a man named Ithra the Ishmaelite, who had married Abigal daughter of Nahash, sister of Zeruiah, Joab's mother. \r\n\t\t\t The Israelites and Absalom encamped in the land of Gilead.\r\n\t\t\t When David came to Mahanaim, Shobi son of Nahash from Rabbah of the Ammonites, and Machir son of Ammiel from Lo-debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim,\r\n\t\t\t brought beds, basins, and earthen vessels, wheat, barley, meal, parched grain, beans and lentils, \r\n\t\t\t honey and curds, sheep, and cheese from the herd, for David and the people with him to eat; for they said, \"The troops are hungry and weary and thirsty in the wilderness.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then David mustered the men who were with him, and set over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds.\r\n\t\t\t And David divided the army into three groups: one third under the command of Joab, one third under the command of Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, and one third under the command of Ittai the Gittite. The king said to the men, \"I myself will also go out with you.\" \r\n\t\t\t But the men said, \"You shall not go out. For if we flee, they will not care about us. If half of us die, they will not care about us. But you are worth ten thousand of us; therefore it is better that you send us help from the city.\" \r\n\t\t\t The king said to them, \"Whatever seems best to you I will do.\" So the king stood at the side of the gate, while all the army marched out by hundreds and by thousands.\r\n\t\t\t The king ordered Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, \"Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom.\" And all the people heard when the king gave orders to all the commanders concerning Absalom.\r\n\t\t\t So the army went out into the field against Israel; and the battle was fought in the forest of Ephraim.\r\n\t\t\t The men of Israel were defeated there by the servants of David, and the slaughter there was great on that day, twenty thousand men.\r\n\t\t\t The battle spread over the face of all the country; and the forest claimed more victims that day than the sword.\r\n\t\t\t Absalom happened to meet the servants of David. Absalom was riding on his mule, and the mule went under the thick branches of a great oak. His head caught fast in the oak, and he was left hanging between heaven and earth, while the mule that was under him went on. \r\n\t\t\t A man saw it, and told Joab, \"I saw Absalom hanging in an oak.\"\r\n\t\t\t Joab said to the man who told him, \"What, you saw him! Why then did you not strike him there to the ground? I would have been glad to give you ten pieces of silver and a belt.\"\r\n\t\t\t But the man said to Joab, \"Even if I felt in my hand the weight of a thousand pieces of silver, I would not raise my hand against the king's son; for in our hearing the king commanded you and Abishai and Ittai, saying: For my sake protect the young man Absalom!\r\n\t\t\t On the other hand, if I had dealt treacherously against his life (and there is nothing hidden from the king), then you yourself would have stood aloof.\" \r\n\t\t\t Joab said, \"I will not waste time like this with you.\" He took three spears in his hand, and thrust them into the heart of Absalom, while he was still alive in the oak.\r\n\t\t\t And ten young men, Joab's armor-bearers, surrounded Absalom and struck him, and killed him.\r\n\t\t\t Then Joab sounded the trumpet, and the troops came back from pursuing Israel, for Joab restrained the troops.\r\n\t\t\t They took Absalom, threw him into a great pit in the forest, and raised over him a very great heap of stones. Meanwhile all the Israelites fled to their homes.\r\n\t\t\t Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and set up for himself a pillar that is in the King's Valley, for he said, \"I have no son to keep my name in remembrance\"; he called the pillar by his own name. It is called Absalom's Monument to this day.\r\n\t\t\t Then Ahimaaz son of Zadok said, \"Let me run, and carry tidings to the king that the LORD has delivered him from the power of his enemies.\"\r\n\t\t\t Joab said to him, \"You are not to carry tidings today; you may carry tidings another day, but today you shall not do so, because the king's son is dead.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Joab said to a Cushite, \"Go, tell the king what you have seen.\" The Cushite bowed before Joab, and ran.\r\n\t\t\t Then Ahimaaz son of Zadok said again to Joab, \"Come what may, let me also run after the Cushite.\" And Joab said, \"Why will you run, my son, seeing that you have no reward for the tidings?\" \r\n\t\t\t \"Come what may,\" he said, \"I will run.\" So he said to him, \"Run.\" Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the Plain, and outran the Cushite.\r\n\t\t\t Now David was sitting between the two gates. The sentinel went up to the roof of the gate by the wall, and when he looked up, he saw a man running alone.\r\n\t\t\t The sentinel shouted and told the king. The king said, \"If he is alone, there are tidings in his mouth.\" He kept coming, and drew near.\r\n\t\t\t Then the sentinel saw another man running; and the sentinel called to the gatekeeper and said, \"See, another man running alone!\" The king said, \"He also is bringing tidings.\"\r\n\t\t\t The sentinel said, \"I think the running of the first one is like the running of Ahimaaz son of Zadok.\" The king said, \"He is a good man, and comes with good tidings.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Ahimaaz cried out to the king, \"All is well!\" He prostrated himself before the king with his face to the ground, and said, \"Blessed be the LORD your God, who has delivered up the men who raised their hand against my lord the king.\"\r\n\t\t\t The king said, \"Is it well with the young man Absalom?\" Ahimaaz answered, \"When Joab sent your servant, I saw a great tumult, but I do not know what it was.\" \r\n\t\t\t The king said, \"Turn aside, and stand here.\" So he turned aside, and stood still.\r\n\t\t\t Then the Cushite came; and the Cushite said, \"Good tidings for my lord the king! For the LORD has vindicated you this day, delivering you from the power of all who rose up against you.\"\r\n\t\t\t The king said to the Cushite, \"Is it well with the young man Absalom?\" The Cushite answered, \"May the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise up to do you harm, be like that young man.\"\r\n\t\t\t The king was deeply moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept; and as he went, he said, \"O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t It was told Joab, \"The king is weeping and mourning for Absalom.\"\r\n\t\t\t So the victory that day was turned into mourning for all the troops; for the troops heard that day, \"The king is grieving for his son.\"\r\n\t\t\t The troops stole into the city that day as soldiers steal in who are ashamed when they flee in battle.\r\n\t\t\t The king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, \"O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Joab came into the house to the king, and said, \"Today you have covered with shame the faces of all your officers who have saved your life today, and the lives of your sons and your daughters, and the lives of your wives and your concubines,\r\n\t\t\t for love of those who hate you and for hatred of those who love you. You have made it clear today that commanders and officers are nothing to you; for I perceive that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead today, then you would be pleased.\r\n\t\t\t So go out at once and speak kindly to your servants; for I swear by the LORD, if you do not go, not a man will stay with you this night; and this will be worse for you than any disaster that has come upon you from your youth until now.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the king got up and took his seat in the gate. The troops were all told, \"See, the king is sitting in the gate\"; and all the troops came before the king. Meanwhile, all the Israelites had fled to their homes.\r\n\t\t\t All the people were disputing throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, \"The king delivered us from the hand of our enemies, and saved us from the hand of the Philistines; and now he has fled out of the land because of Absalom.\r\n\t\t\t But Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why do you say nothing about bringing the king back?\"\r\n\t\t\t King David sent this message to the priests Zadok and Abiathar, \"Say to the elders of Judah, 'Why should you be the last to bring the king back to his house? The talk of all Israel has come to the king. \r\n\t\t\t You are my kin, you are my bone and my flesh; why then should you be the last to bring back the king?'\r\n\t\t\t And say to Amasa, 'Are you not my bone and my flesh? So may God do to me, and more, if you are not the commander of my army from now on, in place of Joab.'\"\r\n\t\t\t Amasa swayed the hearts of all the people of Judah as one, and they sent word to the king, \"Return, both you and all your servants.\" \r\n\t\t\t So the king came back to the Jordan; and Judah came to Gilgal to meet the king and to bring him over the Jordan.\r\n\t\t\t Shimei son of Gera, the Benjaminite, from Bahurim, hurried to come down with the people of Judah to meet King David;\r\n\t\t\t with him were a thousand people from Benjamin. And Ziba, the servant of the house of Saul, with his fifteen sons and his twenty servants, rushed down to the Jordan ahead of the king,\r\n\t\t\t while the crossing was taking place, to bring over the king's household, and to do his pleasure. Shimei son of Gera fell down before the king, as he was about to cross the Jordan,\r\n\t\t\t and said to the king, \"May my lord not hold me guilty or remember how your servant did wrong on the day my lord the king left Jerusalem; may the king not bear it in mind.\r\n\t\t\t For your servant knows that I have sinned; therefore, see, I have come this day, the first of all the house of Joseph to come down to meet my lord the king.\"\r\n\t\t\t Abishai son of Zeruiah answered, \"Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the LORD's anointed?\"\r\n\t\t\t But David said, \"What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah, that you should today become an adversary to me? Shall anyone be put to death in Israel this day? For do I not know that I am this day king over Israel?\"\r\n\t\t\t The king said to Shimei, \"You shall not die.\" And the king gave him his oath.\r\n\t\t\t Mephibosheth grandson of Saul came down to meet the king; he had not taken care of his feet, or trimmed his beard, or washed his clothes, from the day the king left until the day he came back in safety. \r\n\t\t\t When he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, the king said to him, \"Why did you not go with me, Mephibosheth?\"\r\n\t\t\t He answered, \"My lord, O king, my servant deceived me; for your servant said to him, 'Saddle a donkey for me, so that I may ride on it and go with the king.' For your servant is lame. \r\n\t\t\t He has slandered your servant to my lord the king. But my lord the king is like the angel of God; do therefore what seems good to you.\r\n\t\t\t For all my father's house were doomed to death before my lord the king; but you set your servant among those who eat at your table. What further right have I, then, to appeal to the king?\"\r\n\t\t\t The king said to him, \"Why speak any more of your affairs? I have decided: you and Ziba shall divide the land.\"\r\n\t\t\t Mephibosheth said to the king, \"Let him take it all, since my lord the king has arrived home safely.\" \r\n\t\t\t Now Barzillai the Gileadite had come down from Rogelim; he went on with the king to the Jordan, to escort him over the Jordan.\r\n\t\t\t Barzillai was a very aged man, eighty years old. He had provided the king with food while he stayed at Mahanaim, for he was a very wealthy man.\r\n\t\t\t The king said to Barzillai, \"Come over with me, and I will provide for you in Jerusalem at my side.\"\r\n\t\t\t But Barzillai said to the king, \"How many years have I still to live, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem?\r\n\t\t\t Today I am eighty years old; can I discern what is pleasant and what is not? Can your servant taste what he eats or what he drinks? Can I still listen to the voice of singing men and singing women? Why then should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king?\r\n\t\t\t Your servant will go a little way over the Jordan with the king. Why should the king recompense me with such a reward?\r\n\t\t\t Please let your servant return, so that I may die in my own town, near the graves of my father and my mother. But here is your servant Chimham; let him go over with my lord the king; and do for him whatever seems good to you.\"\r\n\t\t\t The king answered, \"Chimham shall go over with me, and I will do for him whatever seems good to you; and all that you desire of me I will do for you.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then all the people crossed over the Jordan, and the king crossed over; the king kissed Barzillai and blessed him, and he returned to his own home.\r\n\t\t\t The king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went on with him; all the people of Judah, and also half the people of Israel, brought the king on his way.\r\n\t\t\t Then all the people of Israel came to the king, and said to him, \"Why have our kindred the people of Judah stolen you away, and brought the king and his household over the Jordan, and all David's men with him?\"\r\n\t\t\t All the people of Judah answered the people of Israel, \"Because the king is near of kin to us. Why then are you angry over this matter? Have we eaten at all at the king's expense? Or has he given us any gift?\"\r\n\t\t\t But the people of Israel answered the people of Judah, \"We have ten shares in the king, and in David also we have more than you. Why then did you despise us? Were we not the first to speak of bringing back our king?\" But the words of the people of Judah were fiercer than the words of the people of Israel.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now a scoundrel named Sheba son of Bichri, a Benjaminite, happened to be there. He sounded the trumpet and cried out, \"We have no portion in David, no share in the son of Jesse! Everyone to your tents, O Israel!\"\r\n\t\t\t So all the people of Israel withdrew from David and followed Sheba son of Bichri; but the people of Judah followed their king steadfastly from the Jordan to Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t David came to his house at Jerusalem; and the king took the ten concubines whom he had left to look after the house, and put them in a house under guard, and provided for them, but did not go in to them. So they were shut up until the day of their death, living as if in widowhood.\r\n\t\t\t Then the king said to Amasa, \"Call the men of Judah together to me within three days, and be here yourself.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Amasa went to summon Judah; but he delayed beyond the set time that had been appointed him.\r\n\t\t\t David said to Abishai, \"Now Sheba son of Bichri will do us more harm than Absalom; take your lord's servants and pursue him, or he will find fortified cities for himself, and escape from us.\"\r\n\t\t\t Joab's men went out after him, along with the Cherethites, the Pelethites, and all the warriors; they went out from Jerusalem to pursue Sheba son of Bichri.\r\n\t\t\t When they were at the large stone that is in Gibeon, Amasa came to meet them. Now Joab was wearing a soldier's garment and over it was a belt with a sword in its sheath fastened at his waist; as he went forward it fell out.\r\n\t\t\t Joab said to Amasa, \"Is it well with you, my brother?\" And Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him.\r\n\t\t\t But Amasa did not notice the sword in Joab's hand; Joab struck him in the belly so that his entrails poured out on the ground, and he died. He did not strike a second blow. Then Joab and his brother Abishai pursued Sheba son of Bichri.\r\n\t\t\t And one of Joab's men took his stand by Amasa, and said, \"Whoever favors Joab, and whoever is for David, let him follow Joab.\"\r\n\t\t\t Amasa lay wallowing in his blood on the highway, and the man saw that all the people were stopping. Since he saw that all who came by him were stopping, he carried Amasa from the highway into a field, and threw a garment over him.\r\n\t\t\t Once he was removed from the highway, all the people went on after Joab to pursue Sheba son of Bichri.\r\n\t\t\t Sheba passed through all the tribes of Israel to Abel of Beth-maacah; and all the Bichrites assembled, and followed him inside. \r\n\t\t\t Joab's forces came and besieged him in Abel of Beth-maacah; they threw up a siege ramp against the city, and it stood against the rampart. Joab's forces were battering the wall to break it down. \r\n\t\t\t Then a wise woman called from the city, \"Listen! Listen! Tell Joab, 'Come here, I want to speak to you.'\"\r\n\t\t\t He came near her; and the woman said, \"Are you Joab?\" He answered, \"I am.\" Then she said to him, \"Listen to the words of your servant.\" He answered, \"I am listening.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then she said, \"They used to say in the old days, 'Let them inquire at Abel'; and so they would settle a matter.\r\n\t\t\t I am one of those who are peaceable and faithful in Israel; you seek to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel; why will you swallow up the heritage of the LORD?\"\r\n\t\t\t Joab answered, \"Far be it from me, far be it, that I should swallow up or destroy!\r\n\t\t\t That is not the case! But a man of the hill country of Ephraim, called Sheba son of Bichri, has lifted up his hand against King David; give him up alone, and I will withdraw from the city.\" The woman said to Joab, \"His head shall be thrown over the wall to you.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the woman went to all the people with her wise plan. And they cut off the head of Sheba son of Bichri, and threw it out to Joab. So he blew the trumpet, and they dispersed from the city, and all went to their homes, while Joab returned to Jerusalem to the king.\r\n\t\t\t Now Joab was in command of all the army of Israel; Benaiah son of Jehoiada was in command of the Cherethites and the Pelethites; \r\n\t\t\t Adoram was in charge of the forced labor; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the recorder;\r\n\t\t\t Sheva was secretary; Zadok and Abiathar were priests;\r\n\t\t\t and Ira the Jairite was also David's priest.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now there was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year; and David inquired of the LORD. The LORD said, \"There is bloodguilt on Saul and on his house, because he put the Gibeonites to death.\"\r\n\t\t\t So the king called the Gibeonites and spoke to them. (Now the Gibeonites were not of the people of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites; although the people of Israel had sworn to spare them, Saul had tried to wipe them out in his zeal for the people of Israel and Judah.)\r\n\t\t\t David said to the Gibeonites, \"What shall I do for you? How shall I make expiation, that you may bless the heritage of the LORD?\"\r\n\t\t\t The Gibeonites said to him, \"It is not a matter of silver or gold between us and Saul or his house; neither is it for us to put anyone to death in Israel.\" He said, \"What do you say that I should do for you?\"\r\n\t\t\t They said to the king, \"The man who consumed us and planned to destroy us, so that we should have no place in all the territory of Israel--\r\n\t\t\t let seven of his sons be handed over to us, and we will impale them before the LORD at Gibeon on the mountain of the LORD.\" The king said, \"I will hand them over.\" \r\n\t\t\t But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Saul's son Jonathan, because of the oath of the LORD that was between them, between David and Jonathan son of Saul. \r\n\t\t\t The king took the two sons of Rizpah daughter of Aiah, whom she bore to Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; and the five sons of Merab daughter of Saul, whom she bore to Adriel son of Barzillai the Meholathite; \r\n\t\t\t he gave them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they impaled them on the mountain before the LORD. The seven of them perished together. They were put to death in the first days of harvest, at the beginning of barley harvest.\r\n\t\t\t Then Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth, and spread it on a rock for herself, from the beginning of harvest until rain fell on them from the heavens; she did not allow the birds of the air to come on the bodies by day, or the wild animals by night. \r\n\t\t\t When David was told what Rizpah daughter of Aiah, the concubine of Saul, had done,\r\n\t\t\t David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of his son Jonathan from the people of Jabesh-gilead, who had stolen them from the public square of Beth-shan, where the Philistines had hung them up, on the day the Philistines killed Saul on Gilboa.\r\n\t\t\t He brought up from there the bones of Saul and the bones of his son Jonathan; and they gathered the bones of those who had been impaled.\r\n\t\t\t They buried the bones of Saul and of his son Jonathan in the land of Benjamin in Zela, in the tomb of his father Kish; they did all that the king commanded. After that, God heeded supplications for the land.\r\n\t\t\t The Philistines went to war again with Israel, and David went down together with his servants. They fought against the Philistines, and David grew weary.\r\n\t\t\t Ishbi-benob, one of the descendants of the giants, whose spear weighed three hundred shekels of bronze, and who was fitted out with new weapons, said he would kill David. \r\n\t\t\t But Abishai son of Zeruiah came to his aid, and attacked the Philistine and killed him. Then David's men swore to him, \"You shall not go out with us to battle any longer, so that you do not quench the lamp of Israel.\"\r\n\t\t\t After this a battle took place with the Philistines, at Gob; then Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Saph, who was one of the descendants of the giants.\r\n\t\t\t Then there was another battle with the Philistines at Gob; and Elhanan son of Jaare-oregim, the Bethlehemite, killed Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver's beam.\r\n\t\t\t There was again war at Gath, where there was a man of great size, who had six fingers on each hand, and six toes on each foot, twenty-four in number; he too was descended from the giants.\r\n\t\t\t When he taunted Israel, Jonathan son of David's brother Shimei, killed him.\r\n\t\t\t These four were descended from the giants in Gath; they fell by the hands of David and his servants.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t David spoke to the LORD the words of this song on the day when the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul.\r\n\t\t\t He said: The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer,\r\n\t\t\t my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge, my savior; you save me from violence.\r\n\t\t\t I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.\r\n\t\t\t For the waves of death encompassed me, the torrents of perdition assailed me;\r\n\t\t\t the cords of Sheol entangled me, the snares of death confronted me.\r\n\t\t\t In my distress I called upon the LORD; to my God I called. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry came to his ears.\r\n\t\t\t Then the earth reeled and rocked; the foundations of the heavens trembled and quaked, because he was angry.\r\n\t\t\t Smoke went up from his nostrils, and devouring fire from his mouth; glowing coals flamed forth from him.\r\n\t\t\t He bowed the heavens, and came down; thick darkness was under his feet.\r\n\t\t\t He rode on a cherub, and flew; he was seen upon the wings of the wind.\r\n\t\t\t He made darkness around him a canopy, thick clouds, a gathering of water.\r\n\t\t\t Out of the brightness before him coals of fire flamed forth.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD thundered from heaven; the Most High uttered his voice.\r\n\t\t\t He sent out arrows, and scattered them-- lightning, and routed them.\r\n\t\t\t Then the channels of the sea were seen, the foundations of the world were laid bare at the rebuke of the LORD, at the blast of the breath of his nostrils.\r\n\t\t\t He reached from on high, he took me, he drew me out of mighty waters.\r\n\t\t\t He delivered me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me; for they were too mighty for me.\r\n\t\t\t They came upon me in the day of my calamity, but the LORD was my stay.\r\n\t\t\t He brought me out into a broad place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he recompensed me.\r\n\t\t\t For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God.\r\n\t\t\t For all his ordinances were before me, and from his statutes I did not turn aside.\r\n\t\t\t I was blameless before him, and I kept myself from guilt.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore the LORD has recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to my cleanness in his sight.\r\n\t\t\t With the loyal you show yourself loyal; with the blameless you show yourself blameless;\r\n\t\t\t with the pure you show yourself pure, and with the crooked you show yourself perverse.\r\n\t\t\t You deliver a humble people, but your eyes are upon the haughty to bring them down.\r\n\t\t\t Indeed, you are my lamp, O LORD, the LORD lightens my darkness.\r\n\t\t\t By you I can crush a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall.\r\n\t\t\t This God-- his way is perfect; the promise of the LORD proves true; he is a shield for all who take refuge in him.\r\n\t\t\t For who is God, but the LORD? And who is a rock, except our God?\r\n\t\t\t The God who has girded me with strength has opened wide my path.\r\n\t\t\t He made my feet like the feet of deer, and set me secure on the heights. \r\n\t\t\t He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.\r\n\t\t\t You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your help has made me great. \r\n\t\t\t You have made me stride freely, and my feet do not slip;\r\n\t\t\t I pursued my enemies and destroyed them, and did not turn back until they were consumed.\r\n\t\t\t I consumed them; I struck them down, so that they did not rise; they fell under my feet.\r\n\t\t\t For you girded me with strength for the battle; you made my assailants sink under me.\r\n\t\t\t You made my enemies turn their backs to me, those who hated me, and I destroyed them.\r\n\t\t\t They looked, but there was no one to save them; they cried to the LORD, but he did not answer them.\r\n\t\t\t I beat them fine like the dust of the earth, I crushed them and stamped them down like the mire of the streets.\r\n\t\t\t You delivered me from strife with the peoples; you kept me as the head of the nations; people whom I had not known served me. \r\n\t\t\t Foreigners came cringing to me; as soon as they heard of me, they obeyed me.\r\n\t\t\t Foreigners lost heart, and came trembling out of their strongholds.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD lives! Blessed be my rock, and exalted be my God, the rock of my salvation,\r\n\t\t\t the God who gave me vengeance and brought down peoples under me,\r\n\t\t\t who brought me out from my enemies; you exalted me above my adversaries, you delivered me from the violent.\r\n\t\t\t For this I will extol you, O LORD, among the nations, and sing praises to your name.\r\n\t\t\t He is a tower of salvation for his king, and shows steadfast love to his anointed, to David and his descendants forever.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now these are the last words of David: The oracle of David, son of Jesse, the oracle of the man whom God exalted, the anointed of the God of Jacob, the favorite of the Strong One of Israel: \r\n\t\t\t The spirit of the LORD speaks through me, his word is upon my tongue.\r\n\t\t\t The God of Israel has spoken, the Rock of Israel has said to me: One who rules over people justly, ruling in the fear of God,\r\n\t\t\t is like the light of morning, like the sun rising on a cloudless morning, gleaming from the rain on the grassy land.\r\n\t\t\t Is not my house like this with God? For he has made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and secure. Will he not cause to prosper all my help and my desire?\r\n\t\t\t But the godless are all like thorns that are thrown away; for they cannot be picked up with the hand; \r\n\t\t\t to touch them one uses an iron bar or the shaft of a spear. And they are entirely consumed in fire on the spot. \r\n\t\t\t These are the names of the warriors whom David had: Josheb-basshebeth a Tahchemonite; he was chief of the Three; he wielded his spear against eight hundred whom he killed at one time. \r\n\t\t\t Next to him among the three warriors was Eleazar son of Dodo son of Ahohi. He was with David when they defied the Philistines who were gathered there for battle. The Israelites withdrew,\r\n\t\t\t but he stood his ground. He struck down the Philistines until his arm grew weary, though his hand clung to the sword. The LORD brought about a great victory that day. Then the people came back to him-- but only to strip the dead.\r\n\t\t\t Next to him was Shammah son of Agee, the Hararite. The Philistines gathered together at Lehi, where there was a plot of ground full of lentils; and the army fled from the Philistines.\r\n\t\t\t But he took his stand in the middle of the plot, defended it, and killed the Philistines; and the LORD brought about a great victory.\r\n\t\t\t Towards the beginning of harvest three of the thirty chiefs went down to join David at the cave of Adullam, while a band of Philistines was encamped in the valley of Rephaim. \r\n\t\t\t David was then in the stronghold; and the garrison of the Philistines was then at Bethlehem.\r\n\t\t\t David said longingly, \"O that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem that is by the gate!\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the three warriors broke through the camp of the Philistines, drew water from the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate, and brought it to David. But he would not drink of it; he poured it out to the LORD,\r\n\t\t\t for he said, \"The LORD forbid that I should do this. Can I drink the blood of the men who went at the risk of their lives?\" Therefore he would not drink it. The three warriors did these things.\r\n\t\t\t Now Abishai son of Zeruiah, the brother of Joab, was chief of the Thirty. With his spear he fought against three hundred men and killed them, and won a name beside the Three. \r\n\t\t\t He was the most renowned of the Thirty, and became their commander; but he did not attain to the Three. \r\n\t\t\t Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a valiant warrior from Kabzeel, a doer of great deeds; he struck down two sons of Ariel of Moab. He also went down and killed a lion in a pit on a day when snow had fallen. \r\n\t\t\t And he killed an Egyptian, a handsome man. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand; but Benaiah went against him with a staff, snatched the spear out of the Egyptian's hand, and killed him with his own spear.\r\n\t\t\t Such were the things Benaiah son of Jehoiada did, and won a name beside the three warriors.\r\n\t\t\t He was renowned among the Thirty, but he did not attain to the Three. And David put him in charge of his bodyguard.\r\n\t\t\t Among the Thirty were Asahel brother of Joab; Elhanan son of Dodo of Bethlehem;\r\n\t\t\t Shammah of Harod; Elika of Harod;\r\n\t\t\t Helez the Paltite; Ira son of Ikkesh of Tekoa;\r\n\t\t\t Abiezer of Anathoth; Mebunnai the Hushathite;\r\n\t\t\t Zalmon the Ahohite; Maharai of Netophah;\r\n\t\t\t Heleb son of Baanah of Netophah; Ittai son of Ribai of Gibeah of the Benjaminites;\r\n\t\t\t Benaiah of Pirathon; Hiddai of the torrents of Gaash;\r\n\t\t\t Abi-albon the Arbathite; Azmaveth of Bahurim;\r\n\t\t\t Eliahba of Shaalbon; the sons of Jashen: Jonathan\r\n\t\t\t son of Shammah the Hararite; Ahiam son of Sharar the Hararite; \r\n\t\t\t Eliphelet son of Ahasbai of Maacah; Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite;\r\n\t\t\t Hezro of Carmel; Paarai the Arbite; \r\n\t\t\t Igal son of Nathan of Zobah; Bani the Gadite;\r\n\t\t\t Zelek the Ammonite; Naharai of Beeroth, the armor-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah;\r\n\t\t\t Ira the Ithrite; Gareb the Ithrite;\r\n\t\t\t Uriah the Hittite-- thirty-seven in all.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he incited David against them, saying, \"Go, count the people of Israel and Judah.\"\r\n\t\t\t So the king said to Joab and the commanders of the army, who were with him, \"Go through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Beer-sheba, and take a census of the people, so that I may know how many there are.\" \r\n\t\t\t But Joab said to the king, \"May the LORD your God increase the number of the people a hundredfold, while the eyes of my lord the king can still see it! But why does my lord the king want to do this?\"\r\n\t\t\t But the king's word prevailed against Joab and the commanders of the army. So Joab and the commanders of the army went out from the presence of the king to take a census of the people of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t They crossed the Jordan, and began from Aroer and from the city that is in the middle of the valley, toward Gad and on to Jazer. \r\n\t\t\t Then they came to Gilead, and to Kadesh in the land of the Hittites; and they came to Dan, and from Dan they went around to Sidon, \r\n\t\t\t and came to the fortress of Tyre and to all the cities of the Hivites and Canaanites; and they went out to the Negeb of Judah at Beer-sheba.\r\n\t\t\t So when they had gone through all the land, they came back to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days.\r\n\t\t\t Joab reported to the king the number of those who had been recorded: in Israel there were eight hundred thousand soldiers able to draw the sword, and those of Judah were five hundred thousand.\r\n\t\t\t But afterward, David was stricken to the heart because he had numbered the people. David said to the LORD, \"I have sinned greatly in what I have done. But now, O LORD, I pray you, take away the guilt of your servant; for I have done very foolishly.\"\r\n\t\t\t When David rose in the morning, the word of the LORD came to the prophet Gad, David's seer, saying,\r\n\t\t\t \"Go and say to David: Thus says the LORD: Three things I offer you; choose one of them, and I will do it to you.\" \r\n\t\t\t So Gad came to David and told him; he asked him, \"Shall three years of famine come to you on your land? Or will you flee three months before your foes while they pursue you? Or shall there be three days' pestilence in your land? Now consider, and decide what answer I shall return to the one who sent me.\" \r\n\t\t\t Then David said to Gad, \"I am in great distress; let us fall into the hand of the LORD, for his mercy is great; but let me not fall into human hands.\"\r\n\t\t\t So the LORD sent a pestilence on Israel from that morning until the appointed time; and seventy thousand of the people died, from Dan to Beer-sheba.\r\n\t\t\t But when the angel stretched out his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD relented concerning the evil, and said to the angel who was bringing destruction among the people, \"It is enough; now stay your hand.\" The angel of the LORD was then by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.\r\n\t\t\t When David saw the angel who was destroying the people, he said to the LORD, \"I alone have sinned, and I alone have done wickedly; but these sheep, what have they done? Let your hand, I pray, be against me and against my father's house.\"\r\n\t\t\t That day Gad came to David and said to him, \"Go up and erect an altar to the LORD on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.\"\r\n\t\t\t Following Gad's instructions, David went up, as the LORD had commanded.\r\n\t\t\t When Araunah looked down, he saw the king and his servants coming toward him; and Araunah went out and prostrated himself before the king with his face to the ground.\r\n\t\t\t Araunah said, \"Why has my lord the king come to his servant?\" David said, \"To buy the threshing floor from you in order to build an altar to the LORD, so that the plague may be averted from the people.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Araunah said to David, \"Let my lord the king take and offer up what seems good to him; here are the oxen for the burnt offering, and the threshing sledges and the yokes of the oxen for the wood.\r\n\t\t\t All this, O king, Araunah gives to the king.\" And Araunah said to the king, \"May the LORD your God respond favorably to you.\"\r\n\t\t\t But the king said to Araunah, \"No, but I will buy them from you for a price; I will not offer burnt offerings to the LORD my God that cost me nothing.\" So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.\r\n\t\t\t David built there an altar to the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and offerings of well-being. So the LORD answered his supplication for the land, and the plague was averted from Israel.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t King David was old and advanced in years; and although they covered him with clothes, he could not get warm.\r\n\t\t\t So his servants said to him, \"Let a young virgin be sought for my lord the king, and let her wait on the king, and be his attendant; let her lie in your bosom, so that my lord the king may be warm.\"\r\n\t\t\t So they searched for a beautiful girl throughout all the territory of Israel, and found Abishag the Shunammite, and brought her to the king.\r\n\t\t\t The girl was very beautiful. She became the king's attendant and served him, but the king did not know her sexually.\r\n\t\t\t Now Adonijah son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, \"I will be king\"; he prepared for himself chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.\r\n\t\t\t His father had never at any time displeased him by asking, \"Why have you done thus and so?\" He was also a very handsome man, and he was born next after Absalom.\r\n\t\t\t He conferred with Joab son of Zeruiah and with the priest Abiathar, and they supported Adonijah.\r\n\t\t\t But the priest Zadok, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and the prophet Nathan, and Shimei, and Rei, and David's own warriors did not side with Adonijah.\r\n\t\t\t Adonijah sacrificed sheep, oxen, and fatted cattle by the stone Zoheleth, which is beside En-rogel, and he invited all his brothers, the king's sons, and all the royal officials of Judah,\r\n\t\t\t but he did not invite the prophet Nathan or Benaiah or the warriors or his brother Solomon.\r\n\t\t\t Then Nathan said to Bathsheba, Solomon's mother, \"Have you not heard that Adonijah son of Haggith has become king and our lord David does not know it?\r\n\t\t\t Now therefore come, let me give you advice, so that you may save your own life and the life of your son Solomon.\r\n\t\t\t Go in at once to King David, and say to him, 'Did you not, my lord the king, swear to your servant, saying: Your son Solomon shall succeed me as king, and he shall sit on my throne? Why then is Adonijah king?'\r\n\t\t\t Then while you are still there speaking with the king, I will come in after you and confirm your words.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Bathsheba went to the king in his room. The king was very old; Abishag the Shunammite was attending the king.\r\n\t\t\t Bathsheba bowed and did obeisance to the king, and the king said, \"What do you wish?\"\r\n\t\t\t She said to him, \"My lord, you swore to your servant by the LORD your God, saying: Your son Solomon shall succeed me as king, and he shall sit on my throne.\r\n\t\t\t But now suddenly Adonijah has become king, though you, my lord the king, do not know it.\r\n\t\t\t He has sacrificed oxen, fatted cattle, and sheep in abundance, and has invited all the children of the king, the priest Abiathar, and Joab the commander of the army; but your servant Solomon he has not invited.\r\n\t\t\t But you, my lord the king-- the eyes of all Israel are on you to tell them who shall sit on the throne of my lord the king after him.\r\n\t\t\t Otherwise it will come to pass, when my lord the king sleeps with his ancestors, that my son Solomon and I will be counted offenders.\"\r\n\t\t\t While she was still speaking with the king, the prophet Nathan came in.\r\n\t\t\t The king was told, \"Here is the prophet Nathan.\" When he came in before the king, he did obeisance to the king, with his face to the ground.\r\n\t\t\t Nathan said, \"My lord the king, have you said, 'Adonijah shall succeed me as king, and he shall sit on my throne'?\r\n\t\t\t For today he has gone down and has sacrificed oxen, fatted cattle, and sheep in abundance, and has invited all the king's children, Joab the commander of the army, and the priest Abiathar, who are now eating and drinking before him, and saying, 'Long live King Adonijah!' \r\n\t\t\t But he did not invite me, your servant, and the priest Zadok, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and your servant Solomon.\r\n\t\t\t Has this thing been brought about by my lord the king and you have not let your servants know who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?\"\r\n\t\t\t King David answered, \"Summon Bathsheba to me.\" So she came into the king's presence, and stood before the king.\r\n\t\t\t The king swore, saying, \"As the LORD lives, who has saved my life from every adversity,\r\n\t\t\t as I swore to you by the LORD, the God of Israel, 'Your son Solomon shall succeed me as king, and he shall sit on my throne in my place,' so will I do this day.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Bathsheba bowed with her face to the ground, and did obeisance to the king, and said, \"May my lord King David live forever!\"\r\n\t\t\t King David said, \"Summon to me the priest Zadok, the prophet Nathan, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada.\" When they came before the king,\r\n\t\t\t the king said to them, \"Take with you the servants of your lord, and have my son Solomon ride on my own mule, and bring him down to Gihon.\r\n\t\t\t There let the priest Zadok and the prophet Nathan anoint him king over Israel; then blow the trumpet, and say, 'Long live King Solomon!'\r\n\t\t\t You shall go up following him. Let him enter and sit on my throne; he shall be king in my place; for I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and over Judah.\"\r\n\t\t\t Benaiah son of Jehoiada answered the king, \"Amen! May the LORD, the God of my lord the king, so ordain.\r\n\t\t\t As the LORD has been with my lord the king, so may he be with Solomon, and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord King David.\"\r\n\t\t\t So the priest Zadok, the prophet Nathan, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites, went down and had Solomon ride on King David's mule, and led him to Gihon.\r\n\t\t\t There the priest Zadok took the horn of oil from the tent and anointed Solomon. Then they blew the trumpet, and all the people said, \"Long live King Solomon!\"\r\n\t\t\t And all the people went up following him, playing on pipes and rejoicing with great joy, so that the earth quaked at their noise.\r\n\t\t\t Adonijah and all the guests who were with him heard it as they finished feasting. When Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he said, \"Why is the city in an uproar?\"\r\n\t\t\t While he was still speaking, Jonathan son of the priest Abiathar arrived. Adonijah said, \"Come in, for you are a worthy man and surely you bring good news.\"\r\n\t\t\t Jonathan answered Adonijah, \"No, for our lord King David has made Solomon king;\r\n\t\t\t the king has sent with him the priest Zadok, the prophet Nathan, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and they had him ride on the king's mule;\r\n\t\t\t the priest Zadok and the prophet Nathan have anointed him king at Gihon; and they have gone up from there rejoicing, so that the city is in an uproar. This is the noise that you heard.\r\n\t\t\t Solomon now sits on the royal throne.\r\n\t\t\t Moreover the king's servants came to congratulate our lord King David, saying, 'May God make the name of Solomon more famous than yours, and make his throne greater than your throne.' The king bowed in worship on the bed\r\n\t\t\t and went on to pray thus, 'Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who today has granted one of my offspring to sit on my throne and permitted me to witness it.'\" \r\n\t\t\t Then all the guests of Adonijah got up trembling and went their own ways.\r\n\t\t\t Adonijah, fearing Solomon, got up and went to grasp the horns of the altar.\r\n\t\t\t Solomon was informed, \"Adonijah is afraid of King Solomon; see, he has laid hold of the horns of the altar, saying, 'Let King Solomon swear to me first that he will not kill his servant with the sword.'\"\r\n\t\t\t So Solomon responded, \"If he proves to be a worthy man, not one of his hairs shall fall to the ground; but if wickedness is found in him, he shall die.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then King Solomon sent to have him brought down from the altar. He came to do obeisance to King Solomon; and Solomon said to him, \"Go home.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t When David's time to die drew near, he charged his son Solomon, saying:\r\n\t\t\t \"I am about to go the way of all the earth. Be strong, be courageous,\r\n\t\t\t and keep the charge of the LORD your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his ordinances, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, so that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn.\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD will establish his word that he spoke concerning me: 'If your heirs take heed to their way, to walk before me in faithfulness with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail you a successor on the throne of Israel.'\r\n\t\t\t \"Moreover you know also what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me, how he dealt with the two commanders of the armies of Israel, Abner son of Ner, and Amasa son of Jether, whom he murdered, retaliating in time of peace for blood that had been shed in war, and putting the blood of war on the belt around his waist, and on the sandals on his feet.\r\n\t\t\t Act therefore according to your wisdom, but do not let his gray head go down to Sheol in peace.\r\n\t\t\t Deal loyally, however, with the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be among those who eat at your table; for with such loyalty they met me when I fled from your brother Absalom.\r\n\t\t\t There is also with you Shimei son of Gera, the Benjaminite from Bahurim, who cursed me with a terrible curse on the day when I went to Mahanaim; but when he came down to meet me at the Jordan, I swore to him by the LORD, 'I will not put you to death with the sword.'\r\n\t\t\t Therefore do not hold him guiltless, for you are a wise man; you will know what you ought to do to him, and you must bring his gray head down with blood to Sheol.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then David slept with his ancestors, and was buried in the city of David.\r\n\t\t\t The time that David reigned over Israel was forty years; he reigned seven years in Hebron, and thirty-three years in Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t So Solomon sat on the throne of his father David; and his kingdom was firmly established.\r\n\t\t\t Then Adonijah son of Haggith came to Bathsheba, Solomon's mother. She asked, \"Do you come peaceably?\" He said, \"Peaceably.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then he said, \"May I have a word with you?\" She said, \"Go on.\"\r\n\t\t\t He said, \"You know that the kingdom was mine, and that all Israel expected me to reign; however, the kingdom has turned about and become my brother's, for it was his from the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t And now I have one request to make of you; do not refuse me.\" She said to him, \"Go on.\"\r\n\t\t\t He said, \"Please ask King Solomon-- he will not refuse you-- to give me Abishag the Shunammite as my wife.\"\r\n\t\t\t Bathsheba said, \"Very well; I will speak to the king on your behalf.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Bathsheba went to King Solomon, to speak to him on behalf of Adonijah. The king rose to meet her, and bowed down to her; then he sat on his throne, and had a throne brought for the king's mother, and she sat on his right.\r\n\t\t\t Then she said, \"I have one small request to make of you; do not refuse me.\" And the king said to her, \"Make your request, my mother; for I will not refuse you.\"\r\n\t\t\t She said, \"Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to your brother Adonijah as his wife.\"\r\n\t\t\t King Solomon answered his mother, \"And why do you ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Ask for him the kingdom as well! For he is my elder brother; ask not only for him but also for the priest Abiathar and for Joab son of Zeruiah!\"\r\n\t\t\t Then King Solomon swore by the LORD, \"So may God do to me, and more also, for Adonijah has devised this scheme at the risk of his life!\r\n\t\t\t Now therefore as the LORD lives, who has established me and placed me on the throne of my father David, and who has made me a house as he promised, today Adonijah shall be put to death.\"\r\n\t\t\t So King Solomon sent Benaiah son of Jehoiada; he struck him down, and he died.\r\n\t\t\t The king said to the priest Abiathar, \"Go to Anathoth, to your estate; for you deserve death. But I will not at this time put you to death, because you carried the ark of the Lord GOD before my father David, and because you shared in all the hardships my father endured.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Solomon banished Abiathar from being priest to the LORD, thus fulfilling the word of the LORD that he had spoken concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh.\r\n\t\t\t When the news came to Joab-- for Joab had supported Adonijah though he had not supported Absalom-- Joab fled to the tent of the LORD and grasped the horns of the altar.\r\n\t\t\t When it was told King Solomon, \"Joab has fled to the tent of the LORD and now is beside the altar,\" Solomon sent Benaiah son of Jehoiada, saying, \"Go, strike him down.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Benaiah came to the tent of the LORD and said to him, \"The king commands, 'Come out.'\" But he said, \"No, I will die here.\" Then Benaiah brought the king word again, saying, \"Thus said Joab, and thus he answered me.\"\r\n\t\t\t The king replied to him, \"Do as he has said, strike him down and bury him; and thus take away from me and from my father's house the guilt for the blood that Joab shed without cause.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD will bring back his bloody deeds on his own head, because, without the knowledge of my father David, he attacked and killed with the sword two men more righteous and better than himself, Abner son of Ner, commander of the army of Israel, and Amasa son of Jether, commander of the army of Judah.\r\n\t\t\t So shall their blood come back on the head of Joab and on the head of his descendants forever; but to David, and to his descendants, and to his house, and to his throne, there shall be peace from the LORD forevermore.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Benaiah son of Jehoiada went up and struck him down and killed him; and he was buried at his own house near the wilderness.\r\n\t\t\t The king put Benaiah son of Jehoiada over the army in his place, and the king put the priest Zadok in the place of Abiathar.\r\n\t\t\t Then the king sent and summoned Shimei, and said to him, \"Build yourself a house in Jerusalem, and live there, and do not go out from there to any place whatever.\r\n\t\t\t For on the day you go out, and cross the Wadi Kidron, know for certain that you shall die; your blood shall be on your own head.\"\r\n\t\t\t And Shimei said to the king, \"The sentence is fair; as my lord the king has said, so will your servant do.\" So Shimei lived in Jerusalem many days.\r\n\t\t\t But it happened at the end of three years that two of Shimei's slaves ran away to King Achish son of Maacah of Gath. When it was told Shimei, \"Your slaves are in Gath,\"\r\n\t\t\t Shimei arose and saddled a donkey, and went to Achish in Gath, to search for his slaves; Shimei went and brought his slaves from Gath.\r\n\t\t\t When Solomon was told that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath and returned,\r\n\t\t\t the king sent and summoned Shimei, and said to him, \"Did I not make you swear by the LORD, and solemnly adjure you, saying, 'Know for certain that on the day you go out and go to any place whatever, you shall die'? And you said to me, 'The sentence is fair; I accept.'\r\n\t\t\t Why then have you not kept your oath to the LORD and the commandment with which I charged you?\"\r\n\t\t\t The king also said to Shimei, \"You know in your own heart all the evil that you did to my father David; so the LORD will bring back your evil on your own head.\r\n\t\t\t But King Solomon shall be blessed, and the throne of David shall be established before the LORD forever.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the king commanded Benaiah son of Jehoiada; and he went out and struck him down, and he died. So the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Solomon made a marriage alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt; he took Pharaoh's daughter and brought her into the city of David, until he had finished building his own house and the house of the LORD and the wall around Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t The people were sacrificing at the high places, however, because no house had yet been built for the name of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Solomon loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of his father David; only, he sacrificed and offered incense at the high places.\r\n\t\t\t The king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the principal high place; Solomon used to offer a thousand burnt offerings on that altar.\r\n\t\t\t At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, \"Ask what I should give you.\"\r\n\t\t\t And Solomon said, \"You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant my father David, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you; and you have kept for him this great and steadfast love, and have given him a son to sit on his throne today.\r\n\t\t\t And now, O LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David, although I am only a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in.\r\n\t\t\t And your servant is in the midst of the people whom you have chosen, a great people, so numerous they cannot be numbered or counted.\r\n\t\t\t Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil; for who can govern this your great people?\"\r\n\t\t\t It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this.\r\n\t\t\t God said to him, \"Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches, or for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right,\r\n\t\t\t I now do according to your word. Indeed I give you a wise and discerning mind; no one like you has been before you and no one like you shall arise after you.\r\n\t\t\t I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor all your life; no other king shall compare with you.\r\n\t\t\t If you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your life.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Solomon awoke; it had been a dream. He came to Jerusalem where he stood before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. He offered up burnt offerings and offerings of well-being, and provided a feast for all his servants.\r\n\t\t\t Later, two women who were prostitutes came to the king and stood before him.\r\n\t\t\t The one woman said, \"Please, my lord, this woman and I live in the same house; and I gave birth while she was in the house.\r\n\t\t\t Then on the third day after I gave birth, this woman also gave birth. We were together; there was no one else with us in the house, only the two of us were in the house.\r\n\t\t\t Then this woman's son died in the night, because she lay on him.\r\n\t\t\t She got up in the middle of the night and took my son from beside me while your servant slept. She laid him at her breast, and laid her dead son at my breast.\r\n\t\t\t When I rose in the morning to nurse my son, I saw that he was dead; but when I looked at him closely in the morning, clearly it was not the son I had borne.\"\r\n\t\t\t But the other woman said, \"No, the living son is mine, and the dead son is yours.\" The first said, \"No, the dead son is yours, and the living son is mine.\" So they argued before the king.\r\n\t\t\t Then the king said, \"The one says, 'This is my son that is alive, and your son is dead'; while the other says, 'Not so! Your son is dead, and my son is the living one.'\"\r\n\t\t\t So the king said, \"Bring me a sword,\" and they brought a sword before the king.\r\n\t\t\t The king said, \"Divide the living boy in two; then give half to the one, and half to the other.\"\r\n\t\t\t But the woman whose son was alive said to the king-- because compassion for her son burned within her-- \"Please, my lord, give her the living boy; certainly do not kill him!\" The other said, \"It shall be neither mine nor yours; divide it.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the king responded: \"Give the first woman the living boy; do not kill him. She is his mother.\"\r\n\t\t\t All Israel heard of the judgment that the king had rendered; and they stood in awe of the king, because they perceived that the wisdom of God was in him, to execute justice.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t King Solomon was king over all Israel,\r\n\t\t\t and these were his high officials: Azariah son of Zadok was the priest;\r\n\t\t\t Elihoreph and Ahijah sons of Shisha were secretaries; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was recorder;\r\n\t\t\t Benaiah son of Jehoiada was in command of the army; Zadok and Abiathar were priests;\r\n\t\t\t Azariah son of Nathan was over the officials; Zabud son of Nathan was priest and king's friend;\r\n\t\t\t Ahishar was in charge of the palace; and Adoniram son of Abda was in charge of the forced labor.\r\n\t\t\t Solomon had twelve officials over all Israel, who provided food for the king and his household; each one had to make provision for one month in the year.\r\n\t\t\t These were their names: Ben-hur, in the hill country of Ephraim;\r\n\t\t\t Ben-deker, in Makaz, Shaalbim, Beth-shemesh, and Elon-beth-hanan;\r\n\t\t\t Ben-hesed, in Arubboth (to him belonged Socoh and all the land of Hepher);\r\n\t\t\t Ben-abinadab, in all Naphath-dor (he had Taphath, Solomon's daughter, as his wife);\r\n\t\t\t Baana son of Ahilud, in Taanach, Megiddo, and all Beth-shean, which is beside Zarethan below Jezreel, and from Beth-shean to Abel-meholah, as far as the other side of Jokmeam;\r\n\t\t\t Ben-geber, in Ramoth-gilead (he had the villages of Jair son of Manasseh, which are in Gilead, and he had the region of Argob, which is in Bashan, sixty great cities with walls and bronze bars);\r\n\t\t\t Ahinadab son of Iddo, in Mahanaim;\r\n\t\t\t Ahimaaz, in Naphtali (he had taken Basemath, Solomon's daughter, as his wife);\r\n\t\t\t Baana son of Hushai, in Asher and Bealoth;\r\n\t\t\t Jehoshaphat son of Paruah, in Issachar;\r\n\t\t\t Shimei son of Ela, in Benjamin;\r\n\t\t\t Geber son of Uri, in the land of Gilead, the country of King Sihon of the Amorites and of King Og of Bashan. And there was one official in the land of Judah.\r\n\t\t\t Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand by the sea; they ate and drank and were happy.\r\n\t\t\t Solomon was sovereign over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates to the land of the Philistines, even to the border of Egypt; they brought tribute and served Solomon all the days of his life.\r\n\t\t\t Solomon's provision for one day was thirty cors of choice flour, and sixty cors of meal,\r\n\t\t\t ten fat oxen, and twenty pasture-fed cattle, one hundred sheep, besides deer, gazelles, roebucks, and fatted fowl.\r\n\t\t\t For he had dominion over all the region west of the Euphrates from Tiphsah to Gaza, over all the kings west of the Euphrates; and he had peace on all sides.\r\n\t\t\t During Solomon's lifetime Judah and Israel lived in safety, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, all of them under their vines and fig trees.\r\n\t\t\t Solomon also had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen.\r\n\t\t\t Those officials supplied provisions for King Solomon and for all who came to King Solomon's table, each one in his month; they let nothing be lacking.\r\n\t\t\t They also brought to the required place barley and straw for the horses and swift steeds, each according to his charge.\r\n\t\t\t God gave Solomon very great wisdom, discernment, and breadth of understanding as vast as the sand on the seashore,\r\n\t\t\t so that Solomon's wisdom surpassed the wisdom of all the people of the east, and all the wisdom of Egypt.\r\n\t\t\t He was wiser than anyone else, wiser than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, Calcol, and Darda, children of Mahol; his fame spread throughout all the surrounding nations.\r\n\t\t\t He composed three thousand proverbs, and his songs numbered a thousand and five.\r\n\t\t\t He would speak of trees, from the cedar that is in the Lebanon to the hyssop that grows in the wall; he would speak of animals, and birds, and reptiles, and fish.\r\n\t\t\t People came from all the nations to hear the wisdom of Solomon; they came from all the kings of the earth who had heard of his wisdom.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now King Hiram of Tyre sent his servants to Solomon, when he heard that they had anointed him king in place of his father; for Hiram had always been a friend to David.\r\n\t\t\t Solomon sent word to Hiram, saying,\r\n\t\t\t \"You know that my father David could not build a house for the name of the LORD his God because of the warfare with which his enemies surrounded him, until the LORD put them under the soles of his feet. \r\n\t\t\t But now the LORD my God has given me rest on every side; there is neither adversary nor misfortune.\r\n\t\t\t So I intend to build a house for the name of the LORD my God, as the LORD said to my father David, 'Your son, whom I will set on your throne in your place, shall build the house for my name.'\r\n\t\t\t Therefore command that cedars from the Lebanon be cut for me. My servants will join your servants, and I will give you whatever wages you set for your servants; for you know that there is no one among us who knows how to cut timber like the Sidonians.\"\r\n\t\t\t When Hiram heard the words of Solomon, he rejoiced greatly, and said, \"Blessed be the LORD today, who has given to David a wise son to be over this great people.\"\r\n\t\t\t Hiram sent word to Solomon, \"I have heard the message that you have sent to me; I will fulfill all your needs in the matter of cedar and cypress timber.\r\n\t\t\t My servants shall bring it down to the sea from the Lebanon; I will make it into rafts to go by sea to the place you indicate. I will have them broken up there for you to take away. And you shall meet my needs by providing food for my household.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Hiram supplied Solomon's every need for timber of cedar and cypress.\r\n\t\t\t Solomon in turn gave Hiram twenty thousand cors of wheat as food for his household, and twenty cors of fine oil. Solomon gave this to Hiram year by year.\r\n\t\t\t So the LORD gave Solomon wisdom, as he promised him. There was peace between Hiram and Solomon; and the two of them made a treaty.\r\n\t\t\t King Solomon conscripted forced labor out of all Israel; the levy numbered thirty thousand men.\r\n\t\t\t He sent them to the Lebanon, ten thousand a month in shifts; they would be a month in the Lebanon and two months at home; Adoniram was in charge of the forced labor.\r\n\t\t\t Solomon also had seventy thousand laborers and eighty thousand stonecutters in the hill country,\r\n\t\t\t besides Solomon's three thousand three hundred supervisors who were over the work, having charge of the people who did the work.\r\n\t\t\t At the king's command, they quarried out great, costly stones in order to lay the foundation of the house with dressed stones.\r\n\t\t\t So Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders and the Gebalites did the stonecutting and prepared the timber and the stone to build the house.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t In the four hundred eightieth year after the Israelites came out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the month of Ziv, which is the second month, he began to build the house of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t The house that King Solomon built for the LORD was sixty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and thirty cubits high.\r\n\t\t\t The vestibule in front of the nave of the house was twenty cubits wide, across the width of the house. Its depth was ten cubits in front of the house.\r\n\t\t\t For the house he made windows with recessed frames. \r\n\t\t\t He also built a structure against the wall of the house, running around the walls of the house, both the nave and the inner sanctuary; and he made side chambers all around.\r\n\t\t\t The lowest story was five cubits wide, the middle one was six cubits wide, and the third was seven cubits wide; for around the outside of the house he made offsets on the wall in order that the supporting beams should not be inserted into the walls of the house. \r\n\t\t\t The house was built with stone finished at the quarry, so that neither hammer nor ax nor any tool of iron was heard in the temple while it was being built.\r\n\t\t\t The entrance for the middle story was on the south side of the house: one went up by winding stairs to the middle story, and from the middle story to the third.\r\n\t\t\t So he built the house, and finished it; he roofed the house with beams and planks of cedar.\r\n\t\t\t He built the structure against the whole house, each story five cubits high, and it was joined to the house with timbers of cedar. \r\n\t\t\t Now the word of the LORD came to Solomon,\r\n\t\t\t \"Concerning this house that you are building, if you will walk in my statutes, obey my ordinances, and keep all my commandments by walking in them, then I will establish my promise with you, which I made to your father David.\r\n\t\t\t I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake my people Israel.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Solomon built the house, and finished it.\r\n\t\t\t He lined the walls of the house on the inside with boards of cedar; from the floor of the house to the rafters of the ceiling, he covered them on the inside with wood; and he covered the floor of the house with boards of cypress.\r\n\t\t\t He built twenty cubits of the rear of the house with boards of cedar from the floor to the rafters, and he built this within as an inner sanctuary, as the most holy place.\r\n\t\t\t The house, that is, the nave in front of the inner sanctuary, was forty cubits long.\r\n\t\t\t The cedar within the house had carvings of gourds and open flowers; all was cedar, no stone was seen.\r\n\t\t\t The inner sanctuary he prepared in the innermost part of the house, to set there the ark of the covenant of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t The interior of the inner sanctuary was twenty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and twenty cubits high; he overlaid it with pure gold. He also overlaid the altar with cedar. \r\n\t\t\t Solomon overlaid the inside of the house with pure gold, then he drew chains of gold across, in front of the inner sanctuary, and overlaid it with gold.\r\n\t\t\t Next he overlaid the whole house with gold, in order that the whole house might be perfect; even the whole altar that belonged to the inner sanctuary he overlaid with gold.\r\n\t\t\t In the inner sanctuary he made two cherubim of olivewood, each ten cubits high.\r\n\t\t\t Five cubits was the length of one wing of the cherub, and five cubits the length of the other wing of the cherub; it was ten cubits from the tip of one wing to the tip of the other.\r\n\t\t\t The other cherub also measured ten cubits; both cherubim had the same measure and the same form.\r\n\t\t\t The height of one cherub was ten cubits, and so was that of the other cherub.\r\n\t\t\t He put the cherubim in the innermost part of the house; the wings of the cherubim were spread out so that a wing of one was touching the one wall, and a wing of the other cherub was touching the other wall; their other wings toward the center of the house were touching wing to wing.\r\n\t\t\t He also overlaid the cherubim with gold.\r\n\t\t\t He carved the walls of the house all around about with carved engravings of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers, in the inner and outer rooms.\r\n\t\t\t The floor of the house he overlaid with gold, in the inner and outer rooms.\r\n\t\t\t For the entrance to the inner sanctuary he made doors of olivewood; the lintel and the doorposts were five-sided. \r\n\t\t\t He covered the two doors of olivewood with carvings of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers; he overlaid them with gold, and spread gold on the cherubim and on the palm trees.\r\n\t\t\t So also he made for the entrance to the nave doorposts of olivewood, four-sided each,\r\n\t\t\t and two doors of cypress wood; the two leaves of the one door were folding, and the two leaves of the other door were folding.\r\n\t\t\t He carved cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers, overlaying them with gold evenly applied upon the carved work.\r\n\t\t\t He built the inner court with three courses of dressed stone to one course of cedar beams.\r\n\t\t\t In the fourth year the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid, in the month of Ziv.\r\n\t\t\t In the eleventh year, in the month of Bul, which is the eighth month, the house was finished in all its parts, and according to all its specifications. He was seven years in building it.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Solomon was building his own house thirteen years, and he finished his entire house.\r\n\t\t\t He built the House of the Forest of the Lebanon one hundred cubits long, fifty cubits wide, and thirty cubits high, built on four rows of cedar pillars, with cedar beams on the pillars.\r\n\t\t\t It was roofed with cedar on the forty-five rafters, fifteen in each row, which were on the pillars.\r\n\t\t\t There were window frames in the three rows, facing each other in the three rows.\r\n\t\t\t All the doorways and doorposts had four-sided frames, opposite, facing each other in the three rows.\r\n\t\t\t He made the Hall of Pillars fifty cubits long and thirty cubits wide. There was a porch in front with pillars, and a canopy in front of them.\r\n\t\t\t He made the Hall of the Throne where he was to pronounce judgment, the Hall of Justice, covered with cedar from floor to floor.\r\n\t\t\t His own house where he would reside, in the other court back of the hall, was of the same construction. Solomon also made a house like this hall for Pharaoh's daughter, whom he had taken in marriage.\r\n\t\t\t All these were made of costly stones, cut according to measure, sawed with saws, back and front, from the foundation to the coping, and from outside to the great court.\r\n\t\t\t The foundation was of costly stones, huge stones, stones of eight and ten cubits.\r\n\t\t\t There were costly stones above, cut to measure, and cedarwood.\r\n\t\t\t The great court had three courses of dressed stone to one layer of cedar beams all around; so had the inner court of the house of the LORD, and the vestibule of the house.\r\n\t\t\t Now King Solomon invited and received Hiram from Tyre.\r\n\t\t\t He was the son of a widow of the tribe of Naphtali, whose father, a man of Tyre, had been an artisan in bronze; he was full of skill, intelligence, and knowledge in working bronze. He came to King Solomon, and did all his work.\r\n\t\t\t He cast two pillars of bronze. Eighteen cubits was the height of the one, and a cord of twelve cubits would encircle it; the second pillar was the same. \r\n\t\t\t He also made two capitals of molten bronze, to set on the tops of the pillars; the height of the one capital was five cubits, and the height of the other capital was five cubits.\r\n\t\t\t There were nets of checker work with wreaths of chain work for the capitals on the tops of the pillars; seven for the one capital, and seven for the other capital. \r\n\t\t\t He made the columns with two rows around each latticework to cover the capitals that were above the pomegranates; he did the same with the other capital.\r\n\t\t\t Now the capitals that were on the tops of the pillars in the vestibule were of lily-work, four cubits high.\r\n\t\t\t The capitals were on the two pillars and also above the rounded projection that was beside the latticework; there were two hundred pomegranates in rows all around; and so with the other capital.\r\n\t\t\t He set up the pillars at the vestibule of the temple; he set up the pillar on the south and called it Jachin; and he set up the pillar on the north and called it Boaz.\r\n\t\t\t On the tops of the pillars was lily-work. Thus the work of the pillars was finished.\r\n\t\t\t Then he made the molten sea; it was round, ten cubits from brim to brim, and five cubits high. A line of thirty cubits would encircle it completely.\r\n\t\t\t Under its brim were panels all around it, each of ten cubits, surrounding the sea; there were two rows of panels, cast when it was cast.\r\n\t\t\t It stood on twelve oxen, three facing north, three facing west, three facing south, and three facing east; the sea was set on them. The hindquarters of each were toward the inside.\r\n\t\t\t Its thickness was a handbreadth; its brim was made like the brim of a cup, like the flower of a lily; it held two thousand baths. \r\n\t\t\t He also made the ten stands of bronze; each stand was four cubits long, four cubits wide, and three cubits high.\r\n\t\t\t This was the construction of the stands: they had borders; the borders were within the frames;\r\n\t\t\t on the borders that were set in the frames were lions, oxen, and cherubim. On the frames, both above and below the lions and oxen, there were wreaths of beveled work.\r\n\t\t\t Each stand had four bronze wheels and axles of bronze; at the four corners were supports for a basin. The supports were cast with wreaths at the side of each.\r\n\t\t\t Its opening was within the crown whose height was one cubit; its opening was round, as a pedestal is made; it was a cubit and a half wide. At its opening there were carvings; its borders were four-sided, not round.\r\n\t\t\t The four wheels were underneath the borders; the axles of the wheels were in the stands; and the height of a wheel was a cubit and a half.\r\n\t\t\t The wheels were made like a chariot wheel; their axles, their rims, their spokes, and their hubs were all cast.\r\n\t\t\t There were four supports at the four corners of each stand; the supports were of one piece with the stands.\r\n\t\t\t On the top of the stand there was a round band half a cubit high; on the top of the stand, its stays and its borders were of one piece with it.\r\n\t\t\t On the surfaces of its stays and on its borders he carved cherubim, lions, and palm trees, where each had space, with wreaths all around.\r\n\t\t\t In this way he made the ten stands; all of them were cast alike, with the same size and the same form.\r\n\t\t\t He made ten basins of bronze; each basin held forty baths, each basin measured four cubits; there was a basin for each of the ten stands. \r\n\t\t\t He set five of the stands on the south side of the house, and five on the north side of the house; he set the sea on the southeast corner of the house.\r\n\t\t\t Hiram also made the pots, the shovels, and the basins. So Hiram finished all the work that he did for King Solomon on the house of the LORD:\r\n\t\t\t the two pillars, the two bowls of the capitals that were on the tops of the pillars, the two latticeworks to cover the two bowls of the capitals that were on the tops of the pillars;\r\n\t\t\t the four hundred pomegranates for the two latticeworks, two rows of pomegranates for each latticework, to cover the two bowls of the capitals that were on the pillars;\r\n\t\t\t the ten stands, the ten basins on the stands;\r\n\t\t\t the one sea, and the twelve oxen underneath the sea.\r\n\t\t\t The pots, the shovels, and the basins, all these vessels that Hiram made for King Solomon for the house of the LORD were of burnished bronze.\r\n\t\t\t In the plain of the Jordan the king cast them, in the clay ground between Succoth and Zarethan.\r\n\t\t\t Solomon left all the vessels unweighed, because there were so many of them; the weight of the bronze was not determined.\r\n\t\t\t So Solomon made all the vessels that were in the house of the LORD: the golden altar, the golden table for the bread of the Presence,\r\n\t\t\t the lampstands of pure gold, five on the south side and five on the north, in front of the inner sanctuary; the flowers, the lamps, and the tongs, of gold;\r\n\t\t\t the cups, snuffers, basins, dishes for incense, and firepans, of pure gold; the sockets for the doors of the innermost part of the house, the most holy place, and for the doors of the nave of the temple, of gold.\r\n\t\t\t Thus all the work that King Solomon did on the house of the LORD was finished. Solomon brought in the things that his father David had dedicated, the silver, the gold, and the vessels, and stored them in the treasuries of the house of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes, the leaders of the ancestral houses of the Israelites, before King Solomon in Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the city of David, which is Zion.\r\n\t\t\t All the people of Israel assembled to King Solomon at the festival in the month Ethanim, which is the seventh month.\r\n\t\t\t And all the elders of Israel came, and the priests carried the ark.\r\n\t\t\t So they brought up the ark of the LORD, the tent of meeting, and all the holy vessels that were in the tent; the priests and the Levites brought them up.\r\n\t\t\t King Solomon and all the congregation of Israel, who had assembled before him, were with him before the ark, sacrificing so many sheep and oxen that they could not be counted or numbered.\r\n\t\t\t Then the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the LORD to its place, in the inner sanctuary of the house, in the most holy place, underneath the wings of the cherubim.\r\n\t\t\t For the cherubim spread out their wings over the place of the ark, so that the cherubim made a covering above the ark and its poles.\r\n\t\t\t The poles were so long that the ends of the poles were seen from the holy place in front of the inner sanctuary; but they could not be seen from outside; they are there to this day.\r\n\t\t\t There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets of stone that Moses had placed there at Horeb, where the LORD made a covenant with the Israelites, when they came out of the land of Egypt.\r\n\t\t\t And when the priests came out of the holy place, a cloud filled the house of the LORD,\r\n\t\t\t so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud; for the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Then Solomon said, \"The LORD has said that he would dwell in thick darkness.\r\n\t\t\t I have built you an exalted house, a place for you to dwell in forever.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the king turned around and blessed all the assembly of Israel, while all the assembly of Israel stood.\r\n\t\t\t He said, \"Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who with his hand has fulfilled what he promised with his mouth to my father David, saying,\r\n\t\t\t 'Since the day that I brought my people Israel out of Egypt, I have not chosen a city from any of the tribes of Israel in which to build a house, that my name might be there; but I chose David to be over my people Israel.'\r\n\t\t\t My father David had it in mind to build a house for the name of the LORD, the God of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t But the LORD said to my father David, 'You did well to consider building a house for my name;\r\n\t\t\t nevertheless you shall not build the house, but your son who shall be born to you shall build the house for my name.'\r\n\t\t\t Now the LORD has upheld the promise that he made; for I have risen in the place of my father David; I sit on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised, and have built the house for the name of the LORD, the God of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t There I have provided a place for the ark, in which is the covenant of the LORD that he made with our ancestors when he brought them out of the land of Egypt.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands to heaven.\r\n\t\t\t He said, \"O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and steadfast love for your servants who walk before you with all their heart,\r\n\t\t\t the covenant that you kept for your servant my father David as you declared to him; you promised with your mouth and have this day fulfilled with your hand.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore, O LORD, God of Israel, keep for your servant my father David that which you promised him, saying, 'There shall never fail you a successor before me to sit on the throne of Israel, if only your children look to their way, to walk before me as you have walked before me.'\r\n\t\t\t Therefore, O God of Israel, let your word be confirmed, which you promised to your servant my father David.\r\n\t\t\t \"But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Even heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you, much less this house that I have built!\r\n\t\t\t Regard your servant's prayer and his plea, O LORD my God, heeding the cry and the prayer that your servant prays to you today;\r\n\t\t\t that your eyes may be open night and day toward this house, the place of which you said, 'My name shall be there,' that you may heed the prayer that your servant prays toward this place.\r\n\t\t\t Hear the plea of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray toward this place; O hear in heaven your dwelling place; heed and forgive.\r\n\t\t\t \"If someone sins against a neighbor and is given an oath to swear, and comes and swears before your altar in this house,\r\n\t\t\t then hear in heaven, and act, and judge your servants, condemning the guilty by bringing their conduct on their own head, and vindicating the righteous by rewarding them according to their righteousness.\r\n\t\t\t \"When your people Israel, having sinned against you, are defeated before an enemy but turn again to you, confess your name, pray and plead with you in this house,\r\n\t\t\t then hear in heaven, forgive the sin of your people Israel, and bring them again to the land that you gave to their ancestors.\r\n\t\t\t \"When heaven is shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned against you, and then they pray toward this place, confess your name, and turn from their sin, because you punish them, \r\n\t\t\t then hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of your servants, your people Israel, when you teach them the good way in which they should walk; and grant rain on your land, which you have given to your people as an inheritance.\r\n\t\t\t \"If there is famine in the land, if there is plague, blight, mildew, locust, or caterpillar; if their enemy besieges them in any of their cities; whatever plague, whatever sickness there is; \r\n\t\t\t whatever prayer, whatever plea there is from any individual or from all your people Israel, all knowing the afflictions of their own hearts so that they stretch out their hands toward this house;\r\n\t\t\t then hear in heaven your dwelling place, forgive, act, and render to all whose hearts you know-- according to all their ways, for only you know what is in every human heart--\r\n\t\t\t so that they may fear you all the days that they live in the land that you gave to our ancestors.\r\n\t\t\t \"Likewise when a foreigner, who is not of your people Israel, comes from a distant land because of your name\r\n\t\t\t -- for they shall hear of your great name, your mighty hand, and your outstretched arm-- when a foreigner comes and prays toward this house,\r\n\t\t\t then hear in heaven your dwelling place, and do according to all that the foreigner calls to you, so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your people Israel, and so that they may know that your name has been invoked on this house that I have built.\r\n\t\t\t \"If your people go out to battle against their enemy, by whatever way you shall send them, and they pray to the LORD toward the city that you have chosen and the house that I have built for your name,\r\n\t\t\t then hear in heaven their prayer and their plea, and maintain their cause.\r\n\t\t\t \"If they sin against you-- for there is no one who does not sin-- and you are angry with them and give them to an enemy, so that they are carried away captive to the land of the enemy, far off or near;\r\n\t\t\t yet if they come to their senses in the land to which they have been taken captive, and repent, and plead with you in the land of their captors, saying, 'We have sinned, and have done wrong; we have acted wickedly';\r\n\t\t\t if they repent with all their heart and soul in the land of their enemies, who took them captive, and pray to you toward their land, which you gave to their ancestors, the city that you have chosen, and the house that I have built for your name;\r\n\t\t\t then hear in heaven your dwelling place their prayer and their plea, maintain their cause\r\n\t\t\t and forgive your people who have sinned against you, and all their transgressions that they have committed against you; and grant them compassion in the sight of their captors, so that they may have compassion on them\r\n\t\t\t (for they are your people and heritage, which you brought out of Egypt, from the midst of the iron-smelter).\r\n\t\t\t Let your eyes be open to the plea of your servant, and to the plea of your people Israel, listening to them whenever they call to you.\r\n\t\t\t For you have separated them from among all the peoples of the earth, to be your heritage, just as you promised through Moses, your servant, when you brought our ancestors out of Egypt, O Lord GOD.\"\r\n\t\t\t Now when Solomon finished offering all this prayer and this plea to the LORD, he arose from facing the altar of the LORD, where he had knelt with hands outstretched toward heaven;\r\n\t\t\t he stood and blessed all the assembly of Israel with a loud voice:\r\n\t\t\t \"Blessed be the LORD, who has given rest to his people Israel according to all that he promised; not one word has failed of all his good promise, which he spoke through his servant Moses.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD our God be with us, as he was with our ancestors; may he not leave us or abandon us,\r\n\t\t\t but incline our hearts to him, to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, his statutes, and his ordinances, which he commanded our ancestors.\r\n\t\t\t Let these words of mine, with which I pleaded before the LORD, be near to the LORD our God day and night, and may he maintain the cause of his servant and the cause of his people Israel, as each day requires;\r\n\t\t\t so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD is God; there is no other.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore devote yourselves completely to the LORD our God, walking in his statutes and keeping his commandments, as at this day.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the king, and all Israel with him, offered sacrifice before the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Solomon offered as sacrifices of well-being to the LORD twenty-two thousand oxen and one hundred twenty thousand sheep. So the king and all the people of Israel dedicated the house of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t The same day the king consecrated the middle of the court that was in front of the house of the LORD; for there he offered the burnt offerings and the grain offerings and the fat pieces of the sacrifices of well-being, because the bronze altar that was before the LORD was too small to receive the burnt offerings and the grain offerings and the fat pieces of the sacrifices of well-being.\r\n\t\t\t So Solomon held the festival at that time, and all Israel with him-- a great assembly, people from Lebo-hamath to the Wadi of Egypt-- before the LORD our God, seven days.\r\n\t\t\t On the eighth day he sent the people away; and they blessed the king, and went to their tents, joyful and in good spirits because of all the goodness that the LORD had shown to his servant David and to his people Israel.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t When Solomon had finished building the house of the LORD and the king's house and all that Solomon desired to build,\r\n\t\t\t the LORD appeared to Solomon a second time, as he had appeared to him at Gibeon.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD said to him, \"I have heard your prayer and your plea, which you made before me; I have consecrated this house that you have built, and put my name there forever; my eyes and my heart will be there for all time.\r\n\t\t\t As for you, if you will walk before me, as David your father walked, with integrity of heart and uprightness, doing according to all that I have commanded you, and keeping my statutes and my ordinances,\r\n\t\t\t then I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever, as I promised your father David, saying, 'There shall not fail you a successor on the throne of Israel.'\r\n\t\t\t \"If you turn aside from following me, you or your children, and do not keep my commandments and my statutes that I have set before you, but go and serve other gods and worship them,\r\n\t\t\t then I will cut Israel off from the land that I have given them; and the house that I have consecrated for my name I will cast out of my sight; and Israel will become a proverb and a taunt among all peoples.\r\n\t\t\t This house will become a heap of ruins; everyone passing by it will be astonished, and will hiss; and they will say, 'Why has the LORD done such a thing to this land and to this house?' \r\n\t\t\t Then they will say, 'Because they have forsaken the LORD their God, who brought their ancestors out of the land of Egypt, and embraced other gods, worshiping them and serving them; therefore the LORD has brought this disaster upon them.'\"\r\n\t\t\t At the end of twenty years, in which Solomon had built the two houses, the house of the LORD and the king's house,\r\n\t\t\t King Hiram of Tyre having supplied Solomon with cedar and cypress timber and gold, as much as he desired, King Solomon gave to Hiram twenty cities in the land of Galilee.\r\n\t\t\t But when Hiram came from Tyre to see the cities that Solomon had given him, they did not please him.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore he said, \"What kind of cities are these that you have given me, my brother?\" So they are called the land of Cabul to this day. \r\n\t\t\t But Hiram had sent to the king one hundred twenty talents of gold.\r\n\t\t\t This is the account of the forced labor that King Solomon conscripted to build the house of the LORD and his own house, the Millo and the wall of Jerusalem, Hazor, Megiddo, Gezer\r\n\t\t\t (Pharaoh king of Egypt had gone up and captured Gezer and burned it down, had killed the Canaanites who lived in the city, and had given it as dowry to his daughter, Solomon's wife;\r\n\t\t\t so Solomon rebuilt Gezer), Lower Beth-horon,\r\n\t\t\t Baalath, Tamar in the wilderness, within the land,\r\n\t\t\t as well as all of Solomon's storage cities, the cities for his chariots, the cities for his cavalry, and whatever Solomon desired to build, in Jerusalem, in Lebanon, and in all the land of his dominion.\r\n\t\t\t All the people who were left of the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, who were not of the people of Israel--\r\n\t\t\t their descendants who were still left in the land, whom the Israelites were unable to destroy completely-- these Solomon conscripted for slave labor, and so they are to this day.\r\n\t\t\t But of the Israelites Solomon made no slaves; they were the soldiers, they were his officials, his commanders, his captains, and the commanders of his chariotry and cavalry.\r\n\t\t\t These were the chief officers who were over Solomon's work: five hundred fifty, who had charge of the people who carried on the work.\r\n\t\t\t But Pharaoh's daughter went up from the city of David to her own house that Solomon had built for her; then he built the Millo.\r\n\t\t\t Three times a year Solomon used to offer up burnt offerings and sacrifices of well-being on the altar that he built for the LORD, offering incense before the LORD. So he completed the house. \r\n\t\t\t King Solomon built a fleet of ships at Ezion-geber, which is near Eloth on the shore of the Red Sea, in the land of Edom. \r\n\t\t\t Hiram sent his servants with the fleet, sailors who were familiar with the sea, together with the servants of Solomon.\r\n\t\t\t They went to Ophir, and imported from there four hundred twenty talents of gold, which they delivered to King Solomon.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t When the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon (fame due to the name of the LORD), she came to test him with hard questions. \r\n\t\t\t She came to Jerusalem with a very great retinue, with camels bearing spices, and very much gold, and precious stones; and when she came to Solomon, she told him all that was on her mind.\r\n\t\t\t Solomon answered all her questions; there was nothing hidden from the king that he could not explain to her.\r\n\t\t\t When the queen of Sheba had observed all the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built,\r\n\t\t\t the food of his table, the seating of his officials, and the attendance of his servants, their clothing, his valets, and his burnt offerings that he offered at the house of the LORD, there was no more spirit in her.\r\n\t\t\t So she said to the king, \"The report was true that I heard in my own land of your accomplishments and of your wisdom,\r\n\t\t\t but I did not believe the reports until I came and my own eyes had seen it. Not even half had been told me; your wisdom and prosperity far surpass the report that I had heard.\r\n\t\t\t Happy are your wives! Happy are these your servants, who continually attend you and hear your wisdom! \r\n\t\t\t Blessed be the LORD your God, who has delighted in you and set you on the throne of Israel! Because the LORD loved Israel forever, he has made you king to execute justice and righteousness.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then she gave the king one hundred twenty talents of gold, a great quantity of spices, and precious stones; never again did spices come in such quantity as that which the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.\r\n\t\t\t Moreover, the fleet of Hiram, which carried gold from Ophir, brought from Ophir a great quantity of almug wood and precious stones.\r\n\t\t\t From the almug wood the king made supports for the house of the LORD, and for the king's house, lyres also and harps for the singers; no such almug wood has come or been seen to this day.\r\n\t\t\t Meanwhile King Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba every desire that she expressed, as well as what he gave her out of Solomon's royal bounty. Then she returned to her own land, with her servants.\r\n\t\t\t The weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred sixty-six talents of gold,\r\n\t\t\t besides that which came from the traders and from the business of the merchants, and from all the kings of Arabia and the governors of the land.\r\n\t\t\t King Solomon made two hundred large shields of beaten gold; six hundred shekels of gold went into each large shield.\r\n\t\t\t He made three hundred shields of beaten gold; three minas of gold went into each shield; and the king put them in the House of the Forest of Lebanon.\r\n\t\t\t The king also made a great ivory throne, and overlaid it with the finest gold.\r\n\t\t\t The throne had six steps. The top of the throne was rounded in the back, and on each side of the seat were arm rests and two lions standing beside the arm rests,\r\n\t\t\t while twelve lions were standing, one on each end of a step on the six steps. Nothing like it was ever made in any kingdom.\r\n\t\t\t All King Solomon's drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the House of the Forest of Lebanon were of pure gold; none were of silver-- it was not considered as anything in the days of Solomon.\r\n\t\t\t For the king had a fleet of ships of Tarshish at sea with the fleet of Hiram. Once every three years the fleet of ships of Tarshish used to come bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks. \r\n\t\t\t Thus King Solomon excelled all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom.\r\n\t\t\t The whole earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom, which God had put into his mind.\r\n\t\t\t Every one of them brought a present, objects of silver and gold, garments, weaponry, spices, horses, and mules, so much year by year.\r\n\t\t\t Solomon gathered together chariots and horses; he had fourteen hundred chariots and twelve thousand horses, which he stationed in the chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones, and he made cedars as numerous as the sycamores of the Shephelah.\r\n\t\t\t Solomon's import of horses was from Egypt and Kue, and the king's traders received them from Kue at a price.\r\n\t\t\t A chariot could be imported from Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver, and a horse for one hundred fifty; so through the king's traders they were exported to all the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Aram.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t King Solomon loved many foreign women along with the daughter of Pharaoh: Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women,\r\n\t\t\t from the nations concerning which the LORD had said to the Israelites, \"You shall not enter into marriage with them, neither shall they with you; for they will surely incline your heart to follow their gods\"; Solomon clung to these in love.\r\n\t\t\t Among his wives were seven hundred princesses and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart.\r\n\t\t\t For when Solomon was old, his wives turned away his heart after other gods; and his heart was not true to the LORD his God, as was the heart of his father David.\r\n\t\t\t For Solomon followed Astarte the goddess of the Sidonians, and Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.\r\n\t\t\t So Solomon did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, and did not completely follow the LORD, as his father David had done.\r\n\t\t\t Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, and for Molech the abomination of the Ammonites, on the mountain east of Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t He did the same for all his foreign wives, who offered incense and sacrificed to their gods.\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned away from the LORD, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice,\r\n\t\t\t and had commanded him concerning this matter, that he should not follow other gods; but he did not observe what the LORD commanded.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore the LORD said to Solomon, \"Since this has been your mind and you have not kept my covenant and my statutes that I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom from you and give it to your servant.\r\n\t\t\t Yet for the sake of your father David I will not do it in your lifetime; I will tear it out of the hand of your son.\r\n\t\t\t I will not, however, tear away the entire kingdom; I will give one tribe to your son, for the sake of my servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem, which I have chosen.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD raised up an adversary against Solomon, Hadad the Edomite; he was of the royal house in Edom.\r\n\t\t\t For when David was in Edom, and Joab the commander of the army went up to bury the dead, he killed every male in Edom\r\n\t\t\t (for Joab and all Israel remained there six months, until he had eliminated every male in Edom);\r\n\t\t\t but Hadad fled to Egypt with some Edomites who were servants of his father. He was a young boy at that time.\r\n\t\t\t They set out from Midian and came to Paran; they took people with them from Paran and came to Egypt, to Pharaoh king of Egypt, who gave him a house, assigned him an allowance of food, and gave him land.\r\n\t\t\t Hadad found great favor in the sight of Pharaoh, so that he gave him his sister-in-law for a wife, the sister of Queen Tahpenes.\r\n\t\t\t The sister of Tahpenes gave birth by him to his son Genubath, whom Tahpenes weaned in Pharaoh's house; Genubath was in Pharaoh's house among the children of Pharaoh.\r\n\t\t\t When Hadad heard in Egypt that David slept with his ancestors and that Joab the commander of the army was dead, Hadad said to Pharaoh, \"Let me depart, that I may go to my own country.\"\r\n\t\t\t But Pharaoh said to him, \"What do you lack with me that you now seek to go to your own country?\" And he said, \"No, do let me go.\"\r\n\t\t\t God raised up another adversary against Solomon, Rezon son of Eliada, who had fled from his master, King Hadadezer of Zobah. \r\n\t\t\t He gathered followers around him and became leader of a marauding band, after the slaughter by David; they went to Damascus, settled there, and made him king in Damascus.\r\n\t\t\t He was an adversary of Israel all the days of Solomon, making trouble as Hadad did; he despised Israel and reigned over Aram.\r\n\t\t\t Jeroboam son of Nebat, an Ephraimite of Zeredah, a servant of Solomon, whose mother's name was Zeruah, a widow, rebelled against the king.\r\n\t\t\t The following was the reason he rebelled against the king. Solomon built the Millo, and closed up the gap in the wall of the city of his father David. \r\n\t\t\t The man Jeroboam was very able, and when Solomon saw that the young man was industrious he gave him charge over all the forced labor of the house of Joseph.\r\n\t\t\t About that time, when Jeroboam was leaving Jerusalem, the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him on the road. Ahijah had clothed himself with a new garment. The two of them were alone in the open country\r\n\t\t\t when Ahijah laid hold of the new garment he was wearing and tore it into twelve pieces.\r\n\t\t\t He then said to Jeroboam: Take for yourself ten pieces; for thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, \"See, I am about to tear the kingdom from the hand of Solomon, and will give you ten tribes.\r\n\t\t\t One tribe will remain his, for the sake of my servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem, the city that I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t This is because he has forsaken me, worshiped Astarte the goddess of the Sidonians, Chemosh the god of Moab, and Milcom the god of the Ammonites, and has not walked in my ways, doing what is right in my sight and keeping my statutes and my ordinances, as his father David did. \r\n\t\t\t Nevertheless I will not take the whole kingdom away from him but will make him ruler all the days of his life, for the sake of my servant David whom I chose and who did keep my commandments and my statutes;\r\n\t\t\t but I will take the kingdom away from his son and give it to you-- that is, the ten tribes.\r\n\t\t\t Yet to his son I will give one tribe, so that my servant David may always have a lamp before me in Jerusalem, the city where I have chosen to put my name.\r\n\t\t\t I will take you, and you shall reign over all that your soul desires; you shall be king over Israel.\r\n\t\t\t If you will listen to all that I command you, walk in my ways, and do what is right in my sight by keeping my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did, I will be with you, and will build you an enduring house, as I built for David, and I will give Israel to you.\r\n\t\t\t For this reason I will punish the descendants of David, but not forever.\"\r\n\t\t\t Solomon sought therefore to kill Jeroboam; but Jeroboam promptly fled to Egypt, to King Shishak of Egypt, and remained in Egypt until the death of Solomon.\r\n\t\t\t Now the rest of the acts of Solomon, all that he did as well as his wisdom, are they not written in the Book of the Acts of Solomon?\r\n\t\t\t The time that Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel was forty years.\r\n\t\t\t Solomon slept with his ancestors and was buried in the city of his father David; and his son Rehoboam succeeded him.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had come to Shechem to make him king.\r\n\t\t\t When Jeroboam son of Nebat heard of it (for he was still in Egypt, where he had fled from King Solomon), then Jeroboam returned from Egypt. \r\n\t\t\t And they sent and called him; and Jeroboam and all the assembly of Israel came and said to Rehoboam,\r\n\t\t\t \"Your father made our yoke heavy. Now therefore lighten the hard service of your father and his heavy yoke that he placed on us, and we will serve you.\"\r\n\t\t\t He said to them, \"Go away for three days, then come again to me.\" So the people went away.\r\n\t\t\t Then King Rehoboam took counsel with the older men who had attended his father Solomon while he was still alive, saying, \"How do you advise me to answer this people?\"\r\n\t\t\t They answered him, \"If you will be a servant to this people today and serve them, and speak good words to them when you answer them, then they will be your servants forever.\"\r\n\t\t\t But he disregarded the advice that the older men gave him, and consulted with the young men who had grown up with him and now attended him.\r\n\t\t\t He said to them, \"What do you advise that we answer this people who have said to me, 'Lighten the yoke that your father put on us'?\"\r\n\t\t\t The young men who had grown up with him said to him, \"Thus you should say to this people who spoke to you, 'Your father made our yoke heavy, but you must lighten it for us'; thus you should say to them, 'My little finger is thicker than my father's loins.\r\n\t\t\t Now, whereas my father laid on you a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke. My father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.'\"\r\n\t\t\t So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king had said, \"Come to me again the third day.\"\r\n\t\t\t The king answered the people harshly. He disregarded the advice that the older men had given him\r\n\t\t\t and spoke to them according to the advice of the young men, \"My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke; my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.\"\r\n\t\t\t So the king did not listen to the people, because it was a turn of affairs brought about by the LORD that he might fulfill his word, which the LORD had spoken by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam son of Nebat.\r\n\t\t\t When all Israel saw that the king would not listen to them, the people answered the king, \"What share do we have in David? We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse. To your tents, O Israel! Look now to your own house, O David.\" So Israel went away to their tents.\r\n\t\t\t But Rehoboam reigned over the Israelites who were living in the towns of Judah.\r\n\t\t\t When King Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was taskmaster over the forced labor, all Israel stoned him to death. King Rehoboam then hurriedly mounted his chariot to flee to Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day.\r\n\t\t\t When all Israel heard that Jeroboam had returned, they sent and called him to the assembly and made him king over all Israel. There was no one who followed the house of David, except the tribe of Judah alone.\r\n\t\t\t When Rehoboam came to Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of Judah and the tribe of Benjamin, one hundred eighty thousand chosen troops to fight against the house of Israel, to restore the kingdom to Rehoboam son of Solomon.\r\n\t\t\t But the word of God came to Shemaiah the man of God:\r\n\t\t\t Say to King Rehoboam of Judah, son of Solomon, and to all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the rest of the people,\r\n\t\t\t \"Thus says the LORD, You shall not go up or fight against your kindred the people of Israel. Let everyone go home, for this thing is from me.\" So they heeded the word of the LORD and went home again, according to the word of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Then Jeroboam built Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and resided there; he went out from there and built Penuel.\r\n\t\t\t Then Jeroboam said to himself, \"Now the kingdom may well revert to the house of David.\r\n\t\t\t If this people continues to go up to offer sacrifices in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, the heart of this people will turn again to their master, King Rehoboam of Judah; they will kill me and return to King Rehoboam of Judah.\"\r\n\t\t\t So the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold. He said to the people, \"You have gone up to Jerusalem long enough. Here are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.\" \r\n\t\t\t He set one in Bethel, and the other he put in Dan.\r\n\t\t\t And this thing became a sin, for the people went to worship before the one at Bethel and before the other as far as Dan. \r\n\t\t\t He also made houses on high places, and appointed priests from among all the people, who were not Levites. \r\n\t\t\t Jeroboam appointed a festival on the fifteenth day of the eighth month like the festival that was in Judah, and he offered sacrifices on the altar; so he did in Bethel, sacrificing to the calves that he had made. And he placed in Bethel the priests of the high places that he had made.\r\n\t\t\t He went up to the altar that he had made in Bethel on the fifteenth day in the eighth month, in the month that he alone had devised; he appointed a festival for the people of Israel, and he went up to the altar to offer incense.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t While Jeroboam was standing by the altar to offer incense, a man of God came out of Judah by the word of the LORD to Bethel\r\n\t\t\t and proclaimed against the altar by the word of the LORD, and said, \"O altar, altar, thus says the LORD: 'A son shall be born to the house of David, Josiah by name; and he shall sacrifice on you the priests of the high places who offer incense on you, and human bones shall be burned on you.'\"\r\n\t\t\t He gave a sign the same day, saying, \"This is the sign that the LORD has spoken: 'The altar shall be torn down, and the ashes that are on it shall be poured out.'\"\r\n\t\t\t When the king heard what the man of God cried out against the altar at Bethel, Jeroboam stretched out his hand from the altar, saying, \"Seize him!\" But the hand that he stretched out against him withered so that he could not draw it back to himself.\r\n\t\t\t The altar also was torn down, and the ashes poured out from the altar, according to the sign that the man of God had given by the word of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t The king said to the man of God, \"Entreat now the favor of the LORD your God, and pray for me, so that my hand may be restored to me.\" So the man of God entreated the LORD; and the king's hand was restored to him, and became as it was before.\r\n\t\t\t Then the king said to the man of God, \"Come home with me and dine, and I will give you a gift.\"\r\n\t\t\t But the man of God said to the king, \"If you give me half your kingdom, I will not go in with you; nor will I eat food or drink water in this place.\r\n\t\t\t For thus I was commanded by the word of the LORD: You shall not eat food, or drink water, or return by the way that you came.\"\r\n\t\t\t So he went another way, and did not return by the way that he had come to Bethel.\r\n\t\t\t Now there lived an old prophet in Bethel. One of his sons came and told him all that the man of God had done that day in Bethel; the words also that he had spoken to the king, they told to their father.\r\n\t\t\t Their father said to them, \"Which way did he go?\" And his sons showed him the way that the man of God who came from Judah had gone.\r\n\t\t\t Then he said to his sons, \"Saddle a donkey for me.\" So they saddled a donkey for him, and he mounted it.\r\n\t\t\t He went after the man of God, and found him sitting under an oak tree. He said to him, \"Are you the man of God who came from Judah?\" He answered, \"I am.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then he said to him, \"Come home with me and eat some food.\"\r\n\t\t\t But he said, \"I cannot return with you, or go in with you; nor will I eat food or drink water with you in this place;\r\n\t\t\t for it was said to me by the word of the LORD: You shall not eat food or drink water there, or return by the way that you came.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the other said to him, \"I also am a prophet as you are, and an angel spoke to me by the word of the LORD: Bring him back with you into your house so that he may eat food and drink water.\" But he was deceiving him. \r\n\t\t\t Then the man of God went back with him, and ate food and drank water in his house. \r\n\t\t\t As they were sitting at the table, the word of the LORD came to the prophet who had brought him back;\r\n\t\t\t and he proclaimed to the man of God who came from Judah, \"Thus says the LORD: Because you have disobeyed the word of the LORD, and have not kept the commandment that the LORD your God commanded you,\r\n\t\t\t but have come back and have eaten food and drunk water in the place of which he said to you, 'Eat no food, and drink no water,' your body shall not come to your ancestral tomb.\"\r\n\t\t\t After the man of God had eaten food and had drunk, they saddled for him a donkey belonging to the prophet who had brought him back. \r\n\t\t\t Then as he went away, a lion met him on the road and killed him. His body was thrown in the road, and the donkey stood beside it; the lion also stood beside the body.\r\n\t\t\t People passed by and saw the body thrown in the road, with the lion standing by the body. And they came and told it in the town where the old prophet lived.\r\n\t\t\t When the prophet who had brought him back from the way heard of it, he said, \"It is the man of God who disobeyed the word of the LORD; therefore the LORD has given him to the lion, which has torn him and killed him according to the word that the LORD spoke to him.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then he said to his sons, \"Saddle a donkey for me.\" So they saddled one,\r\n\t\t\t and he went and found the body thrown in the road, with the donkey and the lion standing beside the body. The lion had not eaten the body or attacked the donkey.\r\n\t\t\t The prophet took up the body of the man of God, laid it on the donkey, and brought it back to the city, to mourn and to bury him. \r\n\t\t\t He laid the body in his own grave; and they mourned over him, saying, \"Alas, my brother!\"\r\n\t\t\t After he had buried him, he said to his sons, \"When I die, bury me in the grave in which the man of God is buried; lay my bones beside his bones.\r\n\t\t\t For the saying that he proclaimed by the word of the LORD against the altar in Bethel, and against all the houses of the high places that are in the cities of Samaria, shall surely come to pass.\"\r\n\t\t\t Even after this event Jeroboam did not turn from his evil way, but made priests for the high places again from among all the people; any who wanted to be priests he consecrated for the high places.\r\n\t\t\t This matter became sin to the house of Jeroboam, so as to cut it off and to destroy it from the face of the earth.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t At that time Abijah son of Jeroboam fell sick.\r\n\t\t\t Jeroboam said to his wife, \"Go, disguise yourself, so that it will not be known that you are the wife of Jeroboam, and go to Shiloh; for the prophet Ahijah is there, who said of me that I should be king over this people.\r\n\t\t\t Take with you ten loaves, some cakes, and a jar of honey, and go to him; he will tell you what shall happen to the child.\"\r\n\t\t\t Jeroboam's wife did so; she set out and went to Shiloh, and came to the house of Ahijah. Now Ahijah could not see, for his eyes were dim because of his age.\r\n\t\t\t But the LORD said to Ahijah, \"The wife of Jeroboam is coming to inquire of you concerning her son; for he is sick. Thus and thus you shall say to her.\" When she came, she pretended to be another woman.\r\n\t\t\t But when Ahijah heard the sound of her feet, as she came in at the door, he said, \"Come in, wife of Jeroboam; why do you pretend to be another? For I am charged with heavy tidings for you.\r\n\t\t\t Go, tell Jeroboam, 'Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Because I exalted you from among the people, made you leader over my people Israel,\r\n\t\t\t and tore the kingdom away from the house of David to give it to you; yet you have not been like my servant David, who kept my commandments and followed me with all his heart, doing only that which was right in my sight,\r\n\t\t\t but you have done evil above all those who were before you and have gone and made for yourself other gods, and cast images, provoking me to anger, and have thrust me behind your back;\r\n\t\t\t therefore, I will bring evil upon the house of Jeroboam. I will cut off from Jeroboam every male, both bond and free in Israel, and will consume the house of Jeroboam, just as one burns up dung until it is all gone.\r\n\t\t\t Anyone belonging to Jeroboam who dies in the city, the dogs shall eat; and anyone who dies in the open country, the birds of the air shall eat; for the LORD has spoken.'\r\n\t\t\t Therefore set out, go to your house. When your feet enter the city, the child shall die.\r\n\t\t\t All Israel shall mourn for him and bury him; for he alone of Jeroboam's family shall come to the grave, because in him there is found something pleasing to the LORD, the God of Israel, in the house of Jeroboam.\r\n\t\t\t Moreover the LORD will raise up for himself a king over Israel, who shall cut off the house of Jeroboam today, even right now! \r\n\t\t\t \"The LORD will strike Israel, as a reed is shaken in the water; he will root up Israel out of this good land that he gave to their ancestors, and scatter them beyond the Euphrates, because they have made their sacred poles, provoking the LORD to anger. \r\n\t\t\t He will give Israel up because of the sins of Jeroboam, which he sinned and which he caused Israel to commit.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Jeroboam's wife got up and went away, and she came to Tirzah. As she came to the threshold of the house, the child died.\r\n\t\t\t All Israel buried him and mourned for him, according to the word of the LORD, which he spoke by his servant the prophet Ahijah.\r\n\t\t\t Now the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, how he warred and how he reigned, are written in the Book of the Annals of the Kings of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t The time that Jeroboam reigned was twenty-two years; then he slept with his ancestors, and his son Nadab succeeded him.\r\n\t\t\t Now Rehoboam son of Solomon reigned in Judah. Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city that the LORD had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, to put his name there. His mother's name was Naamah the Ammonite.\r\n\t\t\t Judah did what was evil in the sight of the LORD; they provoked him to jealousy with their sins that they committed, more than all that their ancestors had done.\r\n\t\t\t For they also built for themselves high places, pillars, and sacred poles on every high hill and under every green tree; \r\n\t\t\t there were also male temple prostitutes in the land. They committed all the abominations of the nations that the LORD drove out before the people of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t In the fifth year of King Rehoboam, King Shishak of Egypt came up against Jerusalem;\r\n\t\t\t he took away the treasures of the house of the LORD and the treasures of the king's house; he took everything. He also took away all the shields of gold that Solomon had made;\r\n\t\t\t so King Rehoboam made shields of bronze instead, and committed them to the hands of the officers of the guard, who kept the door of the king's house.\r\n\t\t\t As often as the king went into the house of the LORD, the guard carried them and brought them back to the guardroom.\r\n\t\t\t Now the rest of the acts of Rehoboam, and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Annals of the Kings of Judah?\r\n\t\t\t There was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam continually.\r\n\t\t\t Rehoboam slept with his ancestors and was buried with his ancestors in the city of David. His mother's name was Naamah the Ammonite. His son Abijam succeeded him.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now in the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam son of Nebat, Abijam began to reign over Judah.\r\n\t\t\t He reigned for three years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Maacah daughter of Abishalom.\r\n\t\t\t He committed all the sins that his father did before him; his heart was not true to the LORD his God, like the heart of his father David.\r\n\t\t\t Nevertheless for David's sake the LORD his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem, setting up his son after him, and establishing Jerusalem;\r\n\t\t\t because David did what was right in the sight of the LORD, and did not turn aside from anything that he commanded him all the days of his life, except in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.\r\n\t\t\t The war begun between Rehoboam and Jeroboam continued all the days of his life.\r\n\t\t\t The rest of the acts of Abijam, and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Annals of the Kings of Judah? There was war between Abijam and Jeroboam.\r\n\t\t\t Abijam slept with his ancestors, and they buried him in the city of David. Then his son Asa succeeded him.\r\n\t\t\t In the twentieth year of King Jeroboam of Israel, Asa began to reign over Judah;\r\n\t\t\t he reigned forty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Maacah daughter of Abishalom.\r\n\t\t\t Asa did what was right in the sight of the LORD, as his father David had done.\r\n\t\t\t He put away the male temple prostitutes out of the land, and removed all the idols that his ancestors had made.\r\n\t\t\t He also removed his mother Maacah from being queen mother, because she had made an abominable image for Asherah; Asa cut down her image and burned it at the Wadi Kidron.\r\n\t\t\t But the high places were not taken away. Nevertheless the heart of Asa was true to the LORD all his days.\r\n\t\t\t He brought into the house of the LORD the votive gifts of his father and his own votive gifts-- silver, gold, and utensils.\r\n\t\t\t There was war between Asa and King Baasha of Israel all their days.\r\n\t\t\t King Baasha of Israel went up against Judah, and built Ramah, to prevent anyone from going out or coming in to King Asa of Judah.\r\n\t\t\t Then Asa took all the silver and the gold that were left in the treasures of the house of the LORD and the treasures of the king's house, and gave them into the hands of his servants. King Asa sent them to King Ben-hadad son of Tabrimmon son of Hezion of Aram, who resided in Damascus, saying,\r\n\t\t\t \"Let there be an alliance between me and you, like that between my father and your father: I am sending you a present of silver and gold; go, break your alliance with King Baasha of Israel, so that he may withdraw from me.\"\r\n\t\t\t Ben-hadad listened to King Asa, and sent the commanders of his armies against the cities of Israel. He conquered Ijon, Dan, Abel-beth-maacah, and all Chinneroth, with all the land of Naphtali.\r\n\t\t\t When Baasha heard of it, he stopped building Ramah and lived in Tirzah.\r\n\t\t\t Then King Asa made a proclamation to all Judah, none was exempt: they carried away the stones of Ramah and its timber, with which Baasha had been building; with them King Asa built Geba of Benjamin and Mizpah.\r\n\t\t\t Now the rest of all the acts of Asa, all his power, all that he did, and the cities that he built, are they not written in the Book of the Annals of the Kings of Judah? But in his old age he was diseased in his feet.\r\n\t\t\t Then Asa slept with his ancestors, and was buried with his ancestors in the city of his father David; his son Jehoshaphat succeeded him.\r\n\t\t\t Nadab son of Jeroboam began to reign over Israel in the second year of King Asa of Judah; he reigned over Israel two years.\r\n\t\t\t He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, walking in the way of his ancestor and in the sin that he caused Israel to commit.\r\n\t\t\t Baasha son of Ahijah, of the house of Issachar, conspired against him; and Baasha struck him down at Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines; for Nadab and all Israel were laying siege to Gibbethon.\r\n\t\t\t So Baasha killed Nadab in the third year of King Asa of Judah, and succeeded him. \r\n\t\t\t As soon as he was king, he killed all the house of Jeroboam; he left to the house of Jeroboam not one that breathed, until he had destroyed it, according to the word of the LORD that he spoke by his servant Ahijah the Shilonite--\r\n\t\t\t because of the sins of Jeroboam that he committed and that he caused Israel to commit, and because of the anger to which he provoked the LORD, the God of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t Now the rest of the acts of Nadab, and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Annals of the Kings of Israel?\r\n\t\t\t There was war between Asa and King Baasha of Israel all their days.\r\n\t\t\t In the third year of King Asa of Judah, Baasha son of Ahijah began to reign over all Israel at Tirzah; he reigned twenty-four years.\r\n\t\t\t He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, walking in the way of Jeroboam and in the sin that he caused Israel to commit.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD came to Jehu son of Hanani against Baasha, saying,\r\n\t\t\t \"Since I exalted you out of the dust and made you leader over my people Israel, and you have walked in the way of Jeroboam, and have caused my people Israel to sin, provoking me to anger with their sins,\r\n\t\t\t therefore, I will consume Baasha and his house, and I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam son of Nebat.\r\n\t\t\t Anyone belonging to Baasha who dies in the city the dogs shall eat; and anyone of his who dies in the field the birds of the air shall eat.\"\r\n\t\t\t Now the rest of the acts of Baasha, what he did, and his power, are they not written in the Book of the Annals of the Kings of Israel?\r\n\t\t\t Baasha slept with his ancestors, and was buried at Tirzah; and his son Elah succeeded him.\r\n\t\t\t Moreover the word of the LORD came by the prophet Jehu son of Hanani against Baasha and his house, both because of all the evil that he did in the sight of the LORD, provoking him to anger with the work of his hands, in being like the house of Jeroboam, and also because he destroyed it.\r\n\t\t\t In the twenty-sixth year of King Asa of Judah, Elah son of Baasha began to reign over Israel in Tirzah; he reigned two years.\r\n\t\t\t But his servant Zimri, commander of half his chariots, conspired against him. When he was at Tirzah, drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza, who was in charge of the palace at Tirzah,\r\n\t\t\t Zimri came in and struck him down and killed him, in the twenty-seventh year of King Asa of Judah, and succeeded him.\r\n\t\t\t When he began to reign, as soon as he had seated himself on his throne, he killed all the house of Baasha; he did not leave him a single male of his kindred or his friends.\r\n\t\t\t Thus Zimri destroyed all the house of Baasha, according to the word of the LORD, which he spoke against Baasha by the prophet Jehu--\r\n\t\t\t because of all the sins of Baasha and the sins of his son Elah that they committed, and that they caused Israel to commit, provoking the LORD God of Israel to anger with their idols.\r\n\t\t\t Now the rest of the acts of Elah, and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Annals of the Kings of Israel?\r\n\t\t\t In the twenty-seventh year of King Asa of Judah, Zimri reigned seven days in Tirzah. Now the troops were encamped against Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines,\r\n\t\t\t and the troops who were encamped heard it said, \"Zimri has conspired, and he has killed the king\"; therefore all Israel made Omri, the commander of the army, king over Israel that day in the camp.\r\n\t\t\t So Omri went up from Gibbethon, and all Israel with him, and they besieged Tirzah.\r\n\t\t\t When Zimri saw that the city was taken, he went into the citadel of the king's house; he burned down the king's house over himself with fire, and died--\r\n\t\t\t because of the sins that he committed, doing evil in the sight of the LORD, walking in the way of Jeroboam, and for the sin that he committed, causing Israel to sin.\r\n\t\t\t Now the rest of the acts of Zimri, and the conspiracy that he made, are they not written in the Book of the Annals of the Kings of Israel?\r\n\t\t\t Then the people of Israel were divided into two parts; half of the people followed Tibni son of Ginath, to make him king, and half followed Omri.\r\n\t\t\t But the people who followed Omri overcame the people who followed Tibni son of Ginath; so Tibni died, and Omri became king.\r\n\t\t\t In the thirty-first year of King Asa of Judah, Omri began to reign over Israel; he reigned for twelve years, six of them in Tirzah.\r\n\t\t\t He bought the hill of Samaria from Shemer for two talents of silver; he fortified the hill, and called the city that he built, Samaria, after the name of Shemer, the owner of the hill.\r\n\t\t\t Omri did what was evil in the sight of the LORD; he did more evil than all who were before him.\r\n\t\t\t For he walked in all the way of Jeroboam son of Nebat, and in the sins that he caused Israel to commit, provoking the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger by their idols.\r\n\t\t\t Now the rest of the acts of Omri that he did, and the power that he showed, are they not written in the Book of the Annals of the Kings of Israel?\r\n\t\t\t Omri slept with his ancestors, and was buried in Samaria; his son Ahab succeeded him.\r\n\t\t\t In the thirty-eighth year of King Asa of Judah, Ahab son of Omri began to reign over Israel; Ahab son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty-two years.\r\n\t\t\t Ahab son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD more than all who were before him.\r\n\t\t\t And as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, he took as his wife Jezebel daughter of King Ethbaal of the Sidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshiped him.\r\n\t\t\t He erected an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he built in Samaria.\r\n\t\t\t Ahab also made a sacred pole. Ahab did more to provoke the anger of the LORD, the God of Israel, than had all the kings of Israel who were before him. \r\n\t\t\t In his days Hiel of Bethel built Jericho; he laid its foundation at the cost of Abiram his firstborn, and set up its gates at the cost of his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the LORD, which he spoke by Joshua son of Nun.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now Elijah the Tishbite, of Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, \"As the LORD the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.\" \r\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD came to him, saying,\r\n\t\t\t \"Go from here and turn eastward, and hide yourself by the Wadi Cherith, which is east of the Jordan.\r\n\t\t\t You shall drink from the wadi, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.\"\r\n\t\t\t So he went and did according to the word of the LORD; he went and lived by the Wadi Cherith, which is east of the Jordan.\r\n\t\t\t The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening; and he drank from the wadi.\r\n\t\t\t But after a while the wadi dried up, because there was no rain in the land.\r\n\t\t\t Then the word of the LORD came to him, saying,\r\n\t\t\t \"Go now to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and live there; for I have commanded a widow there to feed you.\"\r\n\t\t\t So he set out and went to Zarephath. When he came to the gate of the town, a widow was there gathering sticks; he called to her and said, \"Bring me a little water in a vessel, so that I may drink.\"\r\n\t\t\t As she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, \"Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.\"\r\n\t\t\t But she said, \"As the LORD your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of meal in a jar, and a little oil in a jug; I am now gathering a couple of sticks, so that I may go home and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die.\"\r\n\t\t\t Elijah said to her, \"Do not be afraid; go and do as you have said; but first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterwards make something for yourself and your son.\r\n\t\t\t For thus says the LORD the God of Israel: The jar of meal will not be emptied and the jug of oil will not fail until the day that the LORD sends rain on the earth.\"\r\n\t\t\t She went and did as Elijah said, so that she as well as he and her household ate for many days.\r\n\t\t\t The jar of meal was not emptied, neither did the jug of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD that he spoke by Elijah.\r\n\t\t\t After this the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, became ill; his illness was so severe that there was no breath left in him.\r\n\t\t\t She then said to Elijah, \"What have you against me, O man of God? You have come to me to bring my sin to remembrance, and to cause the death of my son!\"\r\n\t\t\t But he said to her, \"Give me your son.\" He took him from her bosom, carried him up into the upper chamber where he was lodging, and laid him on his own bed.\r\n\t\t\t He cried out to the LORD, \"O LORD my God, have you brought calamity even upon the widow with whom I am staying, by killing her son?\"\r\n\t\t\t Then he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried out to the LORD, \"O LORD my God, let this child's life come into him again.\"\r\n\t\t\t The LORD listened to the voice of Elijah; the life of the child came into him again, and he revived.\r\n\t\t\t Elijah took the child, brought him down from the upper chamber into the house, and gave him to his mother; then Elijah said, \"See, your son is alive.\"\r\n\t\t\t So the woman said to Elijah, \"Now I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in your mouth is truth.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t After many days the word of the LORD came to Elijah, in the third year of the drought, saying, \"Go, present yourself to Ahab; I will send rain on the earth.\" \r\n\t\t\t So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab. The famine was severe in Samaria.\r\n\t\t\t Ahab summoned Obadiah, who was in charge of the palace. (Now Obadiah revered the LORD greatly;\r\n\t\t\t when Jezebel was killing off the prophets of the LORD, Obadiah took a hundred prophets, hid them fifty to a cave, and provided them with bread and water.)\r\n\t\t\t Then Ahab said to Obadiah, \"Go through the land to all the springs of water and to all the wadis; perhaps we may find grass to keep the horses and mules alive, and not lose some of the animals.\"\r\n\t\t\t So they divided the land between them to pass through it; Ahab went in one direction by himself, and Obadiah went in another direction by himself.\r\n\t\t\t As Obadiah was on the way, Elijah met him; Obadiah recognized him, fell on his face, and said, \"Is it you, my lord Elijah?\"\r\n\t\t\t He answered him, \"It is I. Go, tell your lord that Elijah is here.\"\r\n\t\t\t And he said, \"How have I sinned, that you would hand your servant over to Ahab, to kill me?\r\n\t\t\t As the LORD your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom to which my lord has not sent to seek you; and when they would say, 'He is not here,' he would require an oath of the kingdom or nation, that they had not found you.\r\n\t\t\t But now you say, 'Go, tell your lord that Elijah is here.'\r\n\t\t\t As soon as I have gone from you, the spirit of the LORD will carry you I know not where; so, when I come and tell Ahab and he cannot find you, he will kill me, although I your servant have revered the LORD from my youth.\r\n\t\t\t Has it not been told my lord what I did when Jezebel killed the prophets of the LORD, how I hid a hundred of the LORD's prophets fifty to a cave, and provided them with bread and water?\r\n\t\t\t Yet now you say, 'Go, tell your lord that Elijah is here'; he will surely kill me.\"\r\n\t\t\t Elijah said, \"As the LORD of hosts lives, before whom I stand, I will surely show myself to him today.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him; and Ahab went to meet Elijah.\r\n\t\t\t When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, \"Is it you, you troubler of Israel?\"\r\n\t\t\t He answered, \"I have not troubled Israel; but you have, and your father's house, because you have forsaken the commandments of the LORD and followed the Baals.\r\n\t\t\t Now therefore have all Israel assemble for me at Mount Carmel, with the four hundred fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel's table.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Ahab sent to all the Israelites, and assembled the prophets at Mount Carmel.\r\n\t\t\t Elijah then came near to all the people, and said, \"How long will you go limping with two different opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.\" The people did not answer him a word.\r\n\t\t\t Then Elijah said to the people, \"I, even I only, am left a prophet of the LORD; but Baal's prophets number four hundred fifty.\r\n\t\t\t Let two bulls be given to us; let them choose one bull for themselves, cut it in pieces, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire to it; I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood, but put no fire to it.\r\n\t\t\t Then you call on the name of your god and I will call on the name of the LORD; the god who answers by fire is indeed God.\" All the people answered, \"Well spoken!\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, \"Choose for yourselves one bull and prepare it first, for you are many; then call on the name of your god, but put no fire to it.\"\r\n\t\t\t So they took the bull that was given them, prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon, crying, \"O Baal, answer us!\" But there was no voice, and no answer. They limped about the altar that they had made.\r\n\t\t\t At noon Elijah mocked them, saying, \"Cry aloud! Surely he is a god; either he is meditating, or he has wandered away, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then they cried aloud and, as was their custom, they cut themselves with swords and lances until the blood gushed out over them.\r\n\t\t\t As midday passed, they raved on until the time of the offering of the oblation, but there was no voice, no answer, and no response.\r\n\t\t\t Then Elijah said to all the people, \"Come closer to me\"; and all the people came closer to him. First he repaired the altar of the LORD that had been thrown down;\r\n\t\t\t Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD came, saying, \"Israel shall be your name\";\r\n\t\t\t with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD. Then he made a trench around the altar, large enough to contain two measures of seed.\r\n\t\t\t Next he put the wood in order, cut the bull in pieces, and laid it on the wood. He said, \"Fill four jars with water and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then he said, \"Do it a second time\"; and they did it a second time. Again he said, \"Do it a third time\"; and they did it a third time,\r\n\t\t\t so that the water ran all around the altar, and filled the trench also with water.\r\n\t\t\t At the time of the offering of the oblation, the prophet Elijah came near and said, \"O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your bidding.\r\n\t\t\t Answer me, O LORD, answer me, so that this people may know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt offering, the wood, the stones, and the dust, and even licked up the water that was in the trench.\r\n\t\t\t When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, \"The LORD indeed is God; the LORD indeed is God.\"\r\n\t\t\t Elijah said to them, \"Seize the prophets of Baal; do not let one of them escape.\" Then they seized them; and Elijah brought them down to the Wadi Kishon, and killed them there.\r\n\t\t\t Elijah said to Ahab, \"Go up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of rushing rain.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; there he bowed himself down upon the earth and put his face between his knees.\r\n\t\t\t He said to his servant, \"Go up now, look toward the sea.\" He went up and looked, and said, \"There is nothing.\" Then he said, \"Go again seven times.\"\r\n\t\t\t At the seventh time he said, \"Look, a little cloud no bigger than a person's hand is rising out of the sea.\" Then he said, \"Go say to Ahab, 'Harness your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.'\"\r\n\t\t\t In a little while the heavens grew black with clouds and wind; there was a heavy rain. Ahab rode off and went to Jezreel.\r\n\t\t\t But the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; he girded up his loins and ran in front of Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword.\r\n\t\t\t Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, \"So may the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life like the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then he was afraid; he got up and fled for his life, and came to Beer-sheba, which belongs to Judah; he left his servant there.\r\n\t\t\t But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a solitary broom tree. He asked that he might die: \"It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life, for I am no better than my ancestors.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then he lay down under the broom tree and fell asleep. Suddenly an angel touched him and said to him, \"Get up and eat.\"\r\n\t\t\t He looked, and there at his head was a cake baked on hot stones, and a jar of water. He ate and drank, and lay down again.\r\n\t\t\t The angel of the LORD came a second time, touched him, and said, \"Get up and eat, otherwise the journey will be too much for you.\"\r\n\t\t\t He got up, and ate and drank; then he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb the mount of God.\r\n\t\t\t At that place he came to a cave, and spent the night there. Then the word of the LORD came to him, saying, \"What are you doing here, Elijah?\"\r\n\t\t\t He answered, \"I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away.\"\r\n\t\t\t He said, \"Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.\" Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake;\r\n\t\t\t and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence.\r\n\t\t\t When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then there came a voice to him that said, \"What are you doing here, Elijah?\"\r\n\t\t\t He answered, \"I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD said to him, \"Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus; when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael as king over Aram.\r\n\t\t\t Also you shall anoint Jehu son of Nimshi as king over Israel; and you shall anoint Elisha son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah as prophet in your place.\r\n\t\t\t Whoever escapes from the sword of Hazael, Jehu shall kill; and whoever escapes from the sword of Jehu, Elisha shall kill.\r\n\t\t\t Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.\"\r\n\t\t\t So he set out from there, and found Elisha son of Shaphat, who was plowing. There were twelve yoke of oxen ahead of him, and he was with the twelfth. Elijah passed by him and threw his mantle over him.\r\n\t\t\t He left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, \"Let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.\" Then Elijah said to him, \"Go back again; for what have I done to you?\" \r\n\t\t\t He returned from following him, took the yoke of oxen, and slaughtered them; using the equipment from the oxen, he boiled their flesh, and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out and followed Elijah, and became his servant.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t King Ben-hadad of Aram gathered all his army together; thirty-two kings were with him, along with horses and chariots. He marched against Samaria, laid siege to it, and attacked it.\r\n\t\t\t Then he sent messengers into the city to King Ahab of Israel, and said to him: \"Thus says Ben-hadad:\r\n\t\t\t Your silver and gold are mine; your fairest wives and children also are mine.\"\r\n\t\t\t The king of Israel answered, \"As you say, my lord, O king, I am yours, and all that I have.\"\r\n\t\t\t The messengers came again and said: \"Thus says Ben-hadad: I sent to you, saying, 'Deliver to me your silver and gold, your wives and children';\r\n\t\t\t nevertheless I will send my servants to you tomorrow about this time, and they shall search your house and the houses of your servants, and lay hands on whatever pleases them, and take it away.\" \r\n\t\t\t Then the king of Israel called all the elders of the land, and said, \"Look now! See how this man is seeking trouble; for he sent to me for my wives, my children, my silver, and my gold; and I did not refuse him.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then all the elders and all the people said to him, \"Do not listen or consent.\"\r\n\t\t\t So he said to the messengers of Ben-hadad, \"Tell my lord the king: All that you first demanded of your servant I will do; but this thing I cannot do.\" The messengers left and brought him word again.\r\n\t\t\t Ben-hadad sent to him and said, \"The gods do so to me, and more also, if the dust of Samaria will provide a handful for each of the people who follow me.\"\r\n\t\t\t The king of Israel answered, \"Tell him: One who puts on armor should not brag like one who takes it off.\"\r\n\t\t\t When Ben-hadad heard this message-- now he had been drinking with the kings in the booths-- he said to his men, \"Take your positions!\" And they took their positions against the city.\r\n\t\t\t Then a certain prophet came up to King Ahab of Israel and said, \"Thus says the LORD, Have you seen all this great multitude? Look, I will give it into your hand today; and you shall know that I am the LORD.\"\r\n\t\t\t Ahab said, \"By whom?\" He said, \"Thus says the LORD, By the young men who serve the district governors.\" Then he said, \"Who shall begin the battle?\" He answered, \"You.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then he mustered the young men who serve the district governors, two hundred thirty-two; after them he mustered all the people of Israel, seven thousand.\r\n\t\t\t They went out at noon, while Ben-hadad was drinking himself drunk in the booths, he and the thirty-two kings allied with him.\r\n\t\t\t The young men who serve the district governors went out first. Ben-hadad had sent out scouts, and they reported to him, \"Men have come out from Samaria.\" \r\n\t\t\t He said, \"If they have come out for peace, take them alive; if they have come out for war, take them alive.\"\r\n\t\t\t But these had already come out of the city: the young men who serve the district governors, and the army that followed them.\r\n\t\t\t Each killed his man; the Arameans fled and Israel pursued them, but King Ben-hadad of Aram escaped on a horse with the cavalry.\r\n\t\t\t The king of Israel went out, attacked the horses and chariots, and defeated the Arameans with a great slaughter.\r\n\t\t\t Then the prophet approached the king of Israel and said to him, \"Come, strengthen yourself, and consider well what you have to do; for in the spring the king of Aram will come up against you.\"\r\n\t\t\t The servants of the king of Aram said to him, \"Their gods are gods of the hills, and so they were stronger than we; but let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they.\r\n\t\t\t Also do this: remove the kings, each from his post, and put commanders in place of them;\r\n\t\t\t and muster an army like the army that you have lost, horse for horse, and chariot for chariot; then we will fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they.\" He heeded their voice, and did so.\r\n\t\t\t In the spring Ben-hadad mustered the Arameans and went up to Aphek to fight against Israel.\r\n\t\t\t After the Israelites had been mustered and provisioned, they went out to engage them; the people of Israel encamped opposite them like two little flocks of goats, while the Arameans filled the country.\r\n\t\t\t A man of God approached and said to the king of Israel, \"Thus says the LORD: Because the Arameans have said, 'The LORD is a god of the hills but he is not a god of the valleys,' therefore I will give all this great multitude into your hand, and you shall know that I am the LORD.\"\r\n\t\t\t They encamped opposite one another seven days. Then on the seventh day the battle began; the Israelites killed one hundred thousand Aramean foot soldiers in one day.\r\n\t\t\t The rest fled into the city of Aphek; and the wall fell on twenty-seven thousand men that were left. Ben-hadad also fled, and entered the city to hide.\r\n\t\t\t His servants said to him, \"Look, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings; let us put sackcloth around our waists and ropes on our heads, and go out to the king of Israel; perhaps he will spare your life.\"\r\n\t\t\t So they tied sackcloth around their waists, put ropes on their heads, went to the king of Israel, and said, \"Your servant Ben-hadad says, 'Please let me live.'\" And he said, \"Is he still alive? He is my brother.\"\r\n\t\t\t Now the men were watching for an omen; they quickly took it up from him and said, \"Yes, Ben-hadad is your brother.\" Then he said, \"Go and bring him.\" So Ben-hadad came out to him; and he had him come up into the chariot.\r\n\t\t\t Ben-hadad said to him, \"I will restore the towns that my father took from your father; and you may establish bazaars for yourself in Damascus, as my father did in Samaria.\" The king of Israel responded, \"I will let you go on those terms.\" So he made a treaty with him and let him go. \r\n\t\t\t At the command of the LORD a certain member of a company of prophets said to another, \"Strike me!\" But the man refused to strike him. \r\n\t\t\t Then he said to him, \"Because you have not obeyed the voice of the LORD, as soon as you have left me, a lion will kill you.\" And when he had left him, a lion met him and killed him.\r\n\t\t\t Then he found another man and said, \"Strike me!\" So the man hit him, striking and wounding him.\r\n\t\t\t Then the prophet departed, and waited for the king along the road, disguising himself with a bandage over his eyes.\r\n\t\t\t As the king passed by, he cried to the king and said, \"Your servant went out into the thick of the battle; then a soldier turned and brought a man to me, and said, 'Guard this man; if he is missing, your life shall be given for his life, or else you shall pay a talent of silver.'\r\n\t\t\t While your servant was busy here and there, he was gone.\" The king of Israel said to him, \"So shall your judgment be; you yourself have decided it.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then he quickly took the bandage away from his eyes. The king of Israel recognized him as one of the prophets.\r\n\t\t\t Then he said to him, \"Thus says the LORD, 'Because you have let the man go whom I had devoted to destruction, therefore your life shall be for his life, and your people for his people.'\"\r\n\t\t\t The king of Israel set out toward home, resentful and sullen, and came to Samaria.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Later the following events took place: Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard in Jezreel, beside the palace of King Ahab of Samaria.\r\n\t\t\t And Ahab said to Naboth, \"Give me your vineyard, so that I may have it for a vegetable garden, because it is near my house; I will give you a better vineyard for it; or, if it seems good to you, I will give you its value in money.\"\r\n\t\t\t But Naboth said to Ahab, \"The LORD forbid that I should give you my ancestral inheritance.\"\r\n\t\t\t Ahab went home resentful and sullen because of what Naboth the Jezreelite had said to him; for he had said, \"I will not give you my ancestral inheritance.\" He lay down on his bed, turned away his face, and would not eat.\r\n\t\t\t His wife Jezebel came to him and said, \"Why are you so depressed that you will not eat?\"\r\n\t\t\t He said to her, \"Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite and said to him, 'Give me your vineyard for money; or else, if you prefer, I will give you another vineyard for it'; but he answered, 'I will not give you my vineyard.'\"\r\n\t\t\t His wife Jezebel said to him, \"Do you now govern Israel? Get up, eat some food, and be cheerful; I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.\"\r\n\t\t\t So she wrote letters in Ahab's name and sealed them with his seal; she sent the letters to the elders and the nobles who lived with Naboth in his city.\r\n\t\t\t She wrote in the letters, \"Proclaim a fast, and seat Naboth at the head of the assembly;\r\n\t\t\t seat two scoundrels opposite him, and have them bring a charge against him, saying, 'You have cursed God and the king.' Then take him out, and stone him to death.\"\r\n\t\t\t The men of his city, the elders and the nobles who lived in his city, did as Jezebel had sent word to them. Just as it was written in the letters that she had sent to them,\r\n\t\t\t they proclaimed a fast and seated Naboth at the head of the assembly.\r\n\t\t\t The two scoundrels came in and sat opposite him; and the scoundrels brought a charge against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, \"Naboth cursed God and the king.\" So they took him outside the city, and stoned him to death.\r\n\t\t\t Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, \"Naboth has been stoned; he is dead.\"\r\n\t\t\t As soon as Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned and was dead, Jezebel said to Ahab, \"Go, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give you for money; for Naboth is not alive, but dead.\"\r\n\t\t\t As soon as Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, Ahab set out to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it.\r\n\t\t\t Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying:\r\n\t\t\t Go down to meet King Ahab of Israel, who rules in Samaria; he is now in the vineyard of Naboth, where he has gone to take possession.\r\n\t\t\t You shall say to him, \"Thus says the LORD: Have you killed, and also taken possession?\" You shall say to him, \"Thus says the LORD: In the place where dogs licked up the blood of Naboth, dogs will also lick up your blood.\"\r\n\t\t\t Ahab said to Elijah, \"Have you found me, O my enemy?\" He answered, \"I have found you. Because you have sold yourself to do what is evil in the sight of the LORD,\r\n\t\t\t I will bring disaster on you; I will consume you, and will cut off from Ahab every male, bond or free, in Israel;\r\n\t\t\t and I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha son of Ahijah, because you have provoked me to anger and have caused Israel to sin.\r\n\t\t\t Also concerning Jezebel the LORD said, 'The dogs shall eat Jezebel within the bounds of Jezreel.'\r\n\t\t\t Anyone belonging to Ahab who dies in the city the dogs shall eat; and anyone of his who dies in the open country the birds of the air shall eat.\"\r\n\t\t\t (Indeed, there was no one like Ahab, who sold himself to do what was evil in the sight of the LORD, urged on by his wife Jezebel.\r\n\t\t\t He acted most abominably in going after idols, as the Amorites had done, whom the LORD drove out before the Israelites.)\r\n\t\t\t When Ahab heard those words, he tore his clothes and put sackcloth over his bare flesh; he fasted, lay in the sackcloth, and went about dejectedly.\r\n\t\t\t Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite:\r\n\t\t\t \"Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself before me, I will not bring the disaster in his days; but in his son's days I will bring the disaster on his house.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t For three years Aram and Israel continued without war.\r\n\t\t\t But in the third year King Jehoshaphat of Judah came down to the king of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t The king of Israel said to his servants, \"Do you know that Ramoth-gilead belongs to us, yet we are doing nothing to take it out of the hand of the king of Aram?\"\r\n\t\t\t He said to Jehoshaphat, \"Will you go with me to battle at Ramoth-gilead?\" Jehoshaphat replied to the king of Israel, \"I am as you are; my people are your people, my horses are your horses.\"\r\n\t\t\t But Jehoshaphat also said to the king of Israel, \"Inquire first for the word of the LORD.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred of them, and said to them, \"Shall I go to battle against Ramoth-gilead, or shall I refrain?\" They said, \"Go up; for the LORD will give it into the hand of the king.\"\r\n\t\t\t But Jehoshaphat said, \"Is there no other prophet of the LORD here of whom we may inquire?\"\r\n\t\t\t The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, \"There is still one other by whom we may inquire of the LORD, Micaiah son of Imlah; but I hate him, for he never prophesies anything favorable about me, but only disaster.\" Jehoshaphat said, \"Let the king not say such a thing.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the king of Israel summoned an officer and said, \"Bring quickly Micaiah son of Imlah.\"\r\n\t\t\t Now the king of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah were sitting on their thrones, arrayed in their robes, at the threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets were prophesying before them.\r\n\t\t\t Zedekiah son of Chenaanah made for himself horns of iron, and he said, \"Thus says the LORD: With these you shall gore the Arameans until they are destroyed.\"\r\n\t\t\t All the prophets were prophesying the same and saying, \"Go up to Ramoth-gilead and triumph; the LORD will give it into the hand of the king.\"\r\n\t\t\t The messenger who had gone to summon Micaiah said to him, \"Look, the words of the prophets with one accord are favorable to the king; let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak favorably.\"\r\n\t\t\t But Micaiah said, \"As the LORD lives, whatever the LORD says to me, that I will speak.\"\r\n\t\t\t When he had come to the king, the king said to him, \"Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall we refrain?\" He answered him, \"Go up and triumph; the LORD will give it into the hand of the king.\"\r\n\t\t\t But the king said to him, \"How many times must I make you swear to tell me nothing but the truth in the name of the LORD?\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Micaiah said, \"I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, like sheep that have no shepherd; and the LORD said, 'These have no master; let each one go home in peace.'\" \r\n\t\t\t The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, \"Did I not tell you that he would not prophesy anything favorable about me, but only disaster?\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Micaiah said, \"Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, with all the host of heaven standing beside him to the right and to the left of him. \r\n\t\t\t And the LORD said, 'Who will entice Ahab, so that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?' Then one said one thing, and another said another,\r\n\t\t\t until a spirit came forward and stood before the LORD, saying, 'I will entice him.'\r\n\t\t\t 'How?' the LORD asked him. He replied, 'I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.' Then the LORD said, 'You are to entice him, and you shall succeed; go out and do it.'\r\n\t\t\t So you see, the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these your prophets; the LORD has decreed disaster for you.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Zedekiah son of Chenaanah came up to Micaiah, slapped him on the cheek, and said, \"Which way did the spirit of the LORD pass from me to speak to you?\"\r\n\t\t\t Micaiah replied, \"You will find out on that day when you go in to hide in an inner chamber.\"\r\n\t\t\t The king of Israel then ordered, \"Take Micaiah, and return him to Amon the governor of the city and to Joash the king's son,\r\n\t\t\t and say, 'Thus says the king: Put this fellow in prison, and feed him on reduced rations of bread and water until I come in peace.'\"\r\n\t\t\t Micaiah said, \"If you return in peace, the LORD has not spoken by me.\" And he said, \"Hear, you peoples, all of you!\"\r\n\t\t\t So the king of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead.\r\n\t\t\t The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, \"I will disguise myself and go into battle, but you wear your robes.\" So the king of Israel disguised himself and went into battle.\r\n\t\t\t Now the king of Aram had commanded the thirty-two captains of his chariots, \"Fight with no one small or great, but only with the king of Israel.\"\r\n\t\t\t When the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they said, \"It is surely the king of Israel.\" So they turned to fight against him; and Jehoshaphat cried out.\r\n\t\t\t When the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him.\r\n\t\t\t But a certain man drew his bow and unknowingly struck the king of Israel between the scale armor and the breastplate; so he said to the driver of his chariot, \"Turn around, and carry me out of the battle, for I am wounded.\"\r\n\t\t\t The battle grew hot that day, and the king was propped up in his chariot facing the Arameans, until at evening he died; the blood from the wound had flowed into the bottom of the chariot.\r\n\t\t\t Then about sunset a shout went through the army, \"Every man to his city, and every man to his country!\"\r\n\t\t\t So the king died, and was brought to Samaria; they buried the king in Samaria.\r\n\t\t\t They washed the chariot by the pool of Samaria; the dogs licked up his blood, and the prostitutes washed themselves in it, according to the word of the LORD that he had spoken. \r\n\t\t\t Now the rest of the acts of Ahab, and all that he did, and the ivory house that he built, and all the cities that he built, are they not written in the Book of the Annals of the Kings of Israel?\r\n\t\t\t So Ahab slept with his ancestors; and his son Ahaziah succeeded him.\r\n\t\t\t Jehoshaphat son of Asa began to reign over Judah in the fourth year of King Ahab of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Azubah daughter of Shilhi.\r\n\t\t\t He walked in all the way of his father Asa; he did not turn aside from it, doing what was right in the sight of the LORD; yet the high places were not taken away, and the people still sacrificed and offered incense on the high places.\r\n\t\t\t Jehoshaphat also made peace with the king of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, and his power that he showed, and how he waged war, are they not written in the Book of the Annals of the Kings of Judah?\r\n\t\t\t The remnant of the male temple prostitutes who were still in the land in the days of his father Asa, he exterminated.\r\n\t\t\t There was no king in Edom; a deputy was king.\r\n\t\t\t Jehoshaphat made ships of the Tarshish type to go to Ophir for gold; but they did not go, for the ships were wrecked at Ezion-geber.\r\n\t\t\t Then Ahaziah son of Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, \"Let my servants go with your servants in the ships,\" but Jehoshaphat was not willing.\r\n\t\t\t Jehoshaphat slept with his ancestors and was buried with his ancestors in the city of his father David; his son Jehoram succeeded him.\r\n\t\t\t Ahaziah son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria in the seventeenth year of King Jehoshaphat of Judah; he reigned two years over Israel.\r\n\t\t\t He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of his father and mother, and in the way of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who caused Israel to sin.\r\n\t\t\t He served Baal and worshiped him; he provoked the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger, just as his father had done.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t After the death of Ahab, Moab rebelled against Israel.\r\n\t\t\t Ahaziah had fallen through the lattice in his upper chamber in Samaria, and lay injured; so he sent messengers, telling them, \"Go, inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, whether I shall recover from this injury.\"\r\n\t\t\t But the angel of the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite, \"Get up, go to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say to them, 'Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron?'\r\n\t\t\t Now therefore thus says the LORD, 'You shall not leave the bed to which you have gone, but you shall surely die.'\" So Elijah went.\r\n\t\t\t The messengers returned to the king, who said to them, \"Why have you returned?\"\r\n\t\t\t They answered him, \"There came a man to meet us, who said to us, 'Go back to the king who sent you, and say to him: Thus says the LORD: Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are sending to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron? Therefore you shall not leave the bed to which you have gone, but shall surely die.'\"\r\n\t\t\t He said to them, \"What sort of man was he who came to meet you and told you these things?\"\r\n\t\t\t They answered him, \"A hairy man, with a leather belt around his waist.\" He said, \"It is Elijah the Tishbite.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the king sent to him a captain of fifty with his fifty men. He went up to Elijah, who was sitting on the top of a hill, and said to him, \"O man of God, the king says, 'Come down.'\"\r\n\t\t\t But Elijah answered the captain of fifty, \"If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty.\" Then fire came down from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty.\r\n\t\t\t Again the king sent to him another captain of fifty with his fifty. He went up and said to him, \"O man of God, this is the king's order: Come down quickly!\" \r\n\t\t\t But Elijah answered them, \"If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty.\" Then the fire of God came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty.\r\n\t\t\t Again the king sent the captain of a third fifty with his fifty. So the third captain of fifty went up, and came and fell on his knees before Elijah, and entreated him, \"O man of God, please let my life, and the life of these fifty servants of yours, be precious in your sight.\r\n\t\t\t Look, fire came down from heaven and consumed the two former captains of fifty men with their fifties; but now let my life be precious in your sight.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the angel of the LORD said to Elijah, \"Go down with him; do not be afraid of him.\" So he set out and went down with him to the king,\r\n\t\t\t and said to him, \"Thus says the LORD: Because you have sent messengers to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron,-- is it because there is no God in Israel to inquire of his word?-- therefore you shall not leave the bed to which you have gone, but you shall surely die.\"\r\n\t\t\t So he died according to the word of the LORD that Elijah had spoken. His brother, Jehoram succeeded him as king in the second year of King Jehoram son of Jehoshaphat of Judah, because Ahaziah had no son. \r\n\t\t\t Now the rest of the acts of Ahaziah that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Annals of the Kings of Israel?\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now when the LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal.\r\n\t\t\t Elijah said to Elisha, \"Stay here; for the LORD has sent me as far as Bethel.\" But Elisha said, \"As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.\" So they went down to Bethel.\r\n\t\t\t The company of prophets who were in Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, \"Do you know that today the LORD will take your master away from you?\" And he said, \"Yes, I know; keep silent.\"\r\n\t\t\t Elijah said to him, \"Elisha, stay here; for the LORD has sent me to Jericho.\" But he said, \"As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.\" So they came to Jericho.\r\n\t\t\t The company of prophets who were at Jericho drew near to Elisha, and said to him, \"Do you know that today the LORD will take your master away from you?\" And he answered, \"Yes, I know; be silent.\" \r\n\t\t\t Then Elijah said to him, \"Stay here; for the LORD has sent me to the Jordan.\" But he said, \"As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.\" So the two of them went on.\r\n\t\t\t Fifty men of the company of prophets also went, and stood at some distance from them, as they both were standing by the Jordan. \r\n\t\t\t Then Elijah took his mantle and rolled it up, and struck the water; the water was parted to the one side and to the other, until the two of them crossed on dry ground.\r\n\t\t\t When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, \"Tell me what I may do for you, before I am taken from you.\" Elisha said, \"Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit.\"\r\n\t\t\t He responded, \"You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it will be granted you; if not, it will not.\"\r\n\t\t\t As they continued walking and talking, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them, and Elijah ascended in a whirlwind into heaven.\r\n\t\t\t Elisha kept watching and crying out, \"Father, father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!\" But when he could no longer see him, he grasped his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.\r\n\t\t\t He picked up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan.\r\n\t\t\t He took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, saying, \"Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?\" When he had struck the water, the water was parted to the one side and to the other, and Elisha went over.\r\n\t\t\t When the company of prophets who were at Jericho saw him at a distance, they declared, \"The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.\" They came to meet him and bowed to the ground before him. \r\n\t\t\t They said to him, \"See now, we have fifty strong men among your servants; please let them go and seek your master; it may be that the spirit of the LORD has caught him up and thrown him down on some mountain or into some valley.\" He responded, \"No, do not send them.\"\r\n\t\t\t But when they urged him until he was ashamed, he said, \"Send them.\" So they sent fifty men who searched for three days but did not find him.\r\n\t\t\t When they came back to him (he had remained at Jericho), he said to them, \"Did I not say to you, Do not go?\"\r\n\t\t\t Now the people of the city said to Elisha, \"The location of this city is good, as my lord sees; but the water is bad, and the land is unfruitful.\"\r\n\t\t\t He said, \"Bring me a new bowl, and put salt in it.\" So they brought it to him.\r\n\t\t\t Then he went to the spring of water and threw the salt into it, and said, \"Thus says the LORD, I have made this water wholesome; from now on neither death nor miscarriage shall come from it.\"\r\n\t\t\t So the water has been wholesome to this day, according to the word that Elisha spoke.\r\n\t\t\t He went up from there to Bethel; and while he was going up on the way, some small boys came out of the city and jeered at him, saying, \"Go away, baldhead! Go away, baldhead!\"\r\n\t\t\t When he turned around and saw them, he cursed them in the name of the LORD. Then two she-bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the boys.\r\n\t\t\t From there he went on to Mount Carmel, and then returned to Samaria.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t In the eighteenth year of King Jehoshaphat of Judah, Jehoram son of Ahab became king over Israel in Samaria; he reigned twelve years.\r\n\t\t\t He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, though not like his father and mother, for he removed the pillar of Baal that his father had made.\r\n\t\t\t Nevertheless he clung to the sin of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he caused Israel to commit; he did not depart from it.\r\n\t\t\t Now King Mesha of Moab was a sheep breeder, who used to deliver to the king of Israel one hundred thousand lambs, and the wool of one hundred thousand rams.\r\n\t\t\t But when Ahab died, the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t So King Jehoram marched out of Samaria at that time and mustered all Israel.\r\n\t\t\t As he went he sent word to King Jehoshaphat of Judah, \"The king of Moab has rebelled against me; will you go with me to battle against Moab?\" He answered, \"I will; I am with you, my people are your people, my horses are your horses.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then he asked, \"By which way shall we march?\" Jehoram answered, \"By the way of the wilderness of Edom.\"\r\n\t\t\t So the king of Israel, the king of Judah, and the king of Edom set out; and when they had made a roundabout march of seven days, there was no water for the army or for the animals that were with them.\r\n\t\t\t Then the king of Israel said, \"Alas! The LORD has summoned us, three kings, only to be handed over to Moab.\"\r\n\t\t\t But Jehoshaphat said, \"Is there no prophet of the LORD here, through whom we may inquire of the LORD?\" Then one of the servants of the king of Israel answered, \"Elisha son of Shaphat, who used to pour water on the hands of Elijah, is here.\"\r\n\t\t\t Jehoshaphat said, \"The word of the LORD is with him.\" So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him.\r\n\t\t\t Elisha said to the king of Israel, \"What have I to do with you? Go to your father's prophets or to your mother's.\" But the king of Israel said to him, \"No; it is the LORD who has summoned us, three kings, only to be handed over to Moab.\"\r\n\t\t\t Elisha said, \"As the LORD of hosts lives, whom I serve, were it not that I have regard for King Jehoshaphat of Judah, I would give you neither a look nor a glance.\r\n\t\t\t But get me a musician.\" And then, while the musician was playing, the power of the LORD came on him.\r\n\t\t\t And he said, \"Thus says the LORD, 'I will make this wadi full of pools.'\r\n\t\t\t For thus says the LORD, 'You shall see neither wind nor rain, but the wadi shall be filled with water, so that you shall drink, you, your cattle, and your animals.'\r\n\t\t\t This is only a trifle in the sight of the LORD, for he will also hand Moab over to you.\r\n\t\t\t You shall conquer every fortified city and every choice city; every good tree you shall fell, all springs of water you shall stop up, and every good piece of land you shall ruin with stones.\"\r\n\t\t\t The next day, about the time of the morning offering, suddenly water began to flow from the direction of Edom, until the country was filled with water.\r\n\t\t\t When all the Moabites heard that the kings had come up to fight against them, all who were able to put on armor, from the youngest to the oldest, were called out and were drawn up at the frontier.\r\n\t\t\t When they rose early in the morning, and the sun shone upon the water, the Moabites saw the water opposite them as red as blood.\r\n\t\t\t They said, \"This is blood; the kings must have fought together, and killed one another. Now then, Moab, to the spoil!\"\r\n\t\t\t But when they came to the camp of Israel, the Israelites rose up and attacked the Moabites, who fled before them; as they entered Moab they continued the attack. \r\n\t\t\t The cities they overturned, and on every good piece of land everyone threw a stone, until it was covered; every spring of water they stopped up, and every good tree they felled. Only at Kir-hareseth did the stone walls remain, until the slingers surrounded and attacked it.\r\n\t\t\t When the king of Moab saw that the battle was going against him, he took with him seven hundred swordsmen to break through, opposite the king of Edom; but they could not.\r\n\t\t\t Then he took his firstborn son who was to succeed him, and offered him as a burnt offering on the wall. And great wrath came upon Israel, so they withdrew from him and returned to their own land.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now the wife of a member of the company of prophets cried to Elisha, \"Your servant my husband is dead; and you know that your servant feared the LORD, but a creditor has come to take my two children as slaves.\" \r\n\t\t\t Elisha said to her, \"What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?\" She answered, \"Your servant has nothing in the house, except a jar of oil.\"\r\n\t\t\t He said, \"Go outside, borrow vessels from all your neighbors, empty vessels and not just a few.\r\n\t\t\t Then go in, and shut the door behind you and your children, and start pouring into all these vessels; when each is full, set it aside.\"\r\n\t\t\t So she left him and shut the door behind her and her children; they kept bringing vessels to her, and she kept pouring.\r\n\t\t\t When the vessels were full, she said to her son, \"Bring me another vessel.\" But he said to her, \"There are no more.\" Then the oil stopped flowing.\r\n\t\t\t She came and told the man of God, and he said, \"Go sell the oil and pay your debts, and you and your children can live on the rest.\"\r\n\t\t\t One day Elisha was passing through Shunem, where a wealthy woman lived, who urged him to have a meal. So whenever he passed that way, he would stop there for a meal.\r\n\t\t\t She said to her husband, \"Look, I am sure that this man who regularly passes our way is a holy man of God.\r\n\t\t\t Let us make a small roof chamber with walls, and put there for him a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp, so that he can stay there whenever he comes to us.\"\r\n\t\t\t One day when he came there, he went up to the chamber and lay down there.\r\n\t\t\t He said to his servant Gehazi, \"Call the Shunammite woman.\" When he had called her, she stood before him.\r\n\t\t\t He said to him, \"Say to her, Since you have taken all this trouble for us, what may be done for you? Would you have a word spoken on your behalf to the king or to the commander of the army?\" She answered, \"I live among my own people.\"\r\n\t\t\t He said, \"What then may be done for her?\" Gehazi answered, \"Well, she has no son, and her husband is old.\"\r\n\t\t\t He said, \"Call her.\" When he had called her, she stood at the door.\r\n\t\t\t He said, \"At this season, in due time, you shall embrace a son.\" She replied, \"No, my lord, O man of God; do not deceive your servant.\"\r\n\t\t\t The woman conceived and bore a son at that season, in due time, as Elisha had declared to her.\r\n\t\t\t When the child was older, he went out one day to his father among the reapers.\r\n\t\t\t He complained to his father, \"Oh, my head, my head!\" The father said to his servant, \"Carry him to his mother.\"\r\n\t\t\t He carried him and brought him to his mother; the child sat on her lap until noon, and he died.\r\n\t\t\t She went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, closed the door on him, and left.\r\n\t\t\t Then she called to her husband, and said, \"Send me one of the servants and one of the donkeys, so that I may quickly go to the man of God and come back again.\"\r\n\t\t\t He said, \"Why go to him today? It is neither new moon nor sabbath.\" She said, \"It will be all right.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then she saddled the donkey and said to her servant, \"Urge the animal on; do not hold back for me unless I tell you.\"\r\n\t\t\t So she set out, and came to the man of God at Mount Carmel. When the man of God saw her coming, he said to Gehazi his servant, \"Look, there is the Shunammite woman;\r\n\t\t\t run at once to meet her, and say to her, Are you all right? Is your husband all right? Is the child all right?\" She answered, \"It is all right.\"\r\n\t\t\t When she came to the man of God at the mountain, she caught hold of his feet. Gehazi approached to push her away. But the man of God said, \"Let her alone, for she is in bitter distress; the LORD has hidden it from me and has not told me.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then she said, \"Did I ask my lord for a son? Did I not say, Do not mislead me?\"\r\n\t\t\t He said to Gehazi, \"Gird up your loins, and take my staff in your hand, and go. If you meet anyone, give no greeting, and if anyone greets you, do not answer; and lay my staff on the face of the child.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the mother of the child said, \"As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave without you.\" So he rose up and followed her.\r\n\t\t\t Gehazi went on ahead and laid the staff on the face of the child, but there was no sound or sign of life. He came back to meet him and told him, \"The child has not awakened.\"\r\n\t\t\t When Elisha came into the house, he saw the child lying dead on his bed.\r\n\t\t\t So he went in and closed the door on the two of them, and prayed to the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Then he got up on the bed and lay upon the child, putting his mouth upon his mouth, his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands; and while he lay bent over him, the flesh of the child became warm. \r\n\t\t\t He got down, walked once to and fro in the room, then got up again and bent over him; the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes.\r\n\t\t\t Elisha summoned Gehazi and said, \"Call the Shunammite woman.\" So he called her. When she came to him, he said, \"Take your son.\" \r\n\t\t\t She came and fell at his feet, bowing to the ground; then she took her son and left.\r\n\t\t\t When Elisha returned to Gilgal, there was a famine in the land. As the company of prophets was sitting before him, he said to his servant, \"Put the large pot on, and make some stew for the company of prophets.\" \r\n\t\t\t One of them went out into the field to gather herbs; he found a wild vine and gathered from it a lapful of wild gourds, and came and cut them up into the pot of stew, not knowing what they were.\r\n\t\t\t They served some for the men to eat. But while they were eating the stew, they cried out, \"O man of God, there is death in the pot!\" They could not eat it.\r\n\t\t\t He said, \"Then bring some flour.\" He threw it into the pot, and said, \"Serve the people and let them eat.\" And there was nothing harmful in the pot.\r\n\t\t\t A man came from Baal-shalishah, bringing food from the first fruits to the man of God: twenty loaves of barley and fresh ears of grain in his sack. Elisha said, \"Give it to the people and let them eat.\"\r\n\t\t\t But his servant said, \"How can I set this before a hundred people?\" So he repeated, \"Give it to the people and let them eat, for thus says the LORD, 'They shall eat and have some left.'\"\r\n\t\t\t He set it before them, they ate, and had some left, according to the word of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Aram, was a great man and in high favor with his master, because by him the LORD had given victory to Aram. The man, though a mighty warrior, suffered from leprosy.\r\n\t\t\t Now the Arameans on one of their raids had taken a young girl captive from the land of Israel, and she served Naaman's wife.\r\n\t\t\t She said to her mistress, \"If only my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.\" \r\n\t\t\t So Naaman went in and told his lord just what the girl from the land of Israel had said. \r\n\t\t\t And the king of Aram said, \"Go then, and I will send along a letter to the king of Israel.\" He went, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten sets of garments.\r\n\t\t\t He brought the letter to the king of Israel, which read, \"When this letter reaches you, know that I have sent to you my servant Naaman, that you may cure him of his leprosy.\" \r\n\t\t\t When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, \"Am I God, to give death or life, that this man sends word to me to cure a man of his leprosy? Just look and see how he is trying to pick a quarrel with me.\" \r\n\t\t\t But when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent a message to the king, \"Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come to me, that he may learn that there is a prophet in Israel.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Naaman came with his horses and chariots, and halted at the entrance of Elisha's house.\r\n\t\t\t Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, \"Go, wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored and you shall be clean.\"\r\n\t\t\t But Naaman became angry and went away, saying, \"I thought that for me he would surely come out, and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, and would wave his hand over the spot, and cure the leprosy! \r\n\t\t\t Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them, and be clean?\" He turned and went away in a rage. \r\n\t\t\t But his servants approached and said to him, \"Father, if the prophet had commanded you to do something difficult, would you not have done it? How much more, when all he said to you was, 'Wash, and be clean'?\"\r\n\t\t\t So he went down and immersed himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God; his flesh was restored like the flesh of a young boy, and he was clean.\r\n\t\t\t Then he returned to the man of God, he and all his company; he came and stood before him and said, \"Now I know that there is no God in all the earth except in Israel; please accept a present from your servant.\"\r\n\t\t\t But he said, \"As the LORD lives, whom I serve, I will accept nothing!\" He urged him to accept, but he refused.\r\n\t\t\t Then Naaman said, \"If not, please let two mule-loads of earth be given to your servant; for your servant will no longer offer burnt offering or sacrifice to any god except the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t But may the LORD pardon your servant on one count: when my master goes into the house of Rimmon to worship there, leaning on my arm, and I bow down in the house of Rimmon, when I do bow down in the house of Rimmon, may the LORD pardon your servant on this one count.\"\r\n\t\t\t He said to him, \"Go in peace.\" But when Naaman had gone from him a short distance,\r\n\t\t\t Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, thought, \"My master has let that Aramean Naaman off too lightly by not accepting from him what he offered. As the LORD lives, I will run after him and get something out of him.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Gehazi went after Naaman. When Naaman saw someone running after him, he jumped down from the chariot to meet him and said, \"Is everything all right?\"\r\n\t\t\t He replied, \"Yes, but my master has sent me to say, 'Two members of a company of prophets have just come to me from the hill country of Ephraim; please give them a talent of silver and two changes of clothing.'\" \r\n\t\t\t Naaman said, \"Please accept two talents.\" He urged him, and tied up two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of clothing, and gave them to two of his servants, who carried them in front of Gehazi. \r\n\t\t\t When he came to the citadel, he took the bags from them, and stored them inside; he dismissed the men, and they left. \r\n\t\t\t He went in and stood before his master; and Elisha said to him, \"Where have you been, Gehazi?\" He answered, \"Your servant has not gone anywhere at all.\"\r\n\t\t\t But he said to him, \"Did I not go with you in spirit when someone left his chariot to meet you? Is this a time to accept money and to accept clothing, olive orchards and vineyards, sheep and oxen, and male and female slaves?\r\n\t\t\t Therefore the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you, and to your descendants forever.\" So he left his presence leprous, as white as snow. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now the company of prophets said to Elisha, \"As you see, the place where we live under your charge is too small for us. \r\n\t\t\t Let us go to the Jordan, and let us collect logs there, one for each of us, and build a place there for us to live.\" He answered, \"Do so.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then one of them said, \"Please come with your servants.\" And he answered, \"I will.\"\r\n\t\t\t So he went with them. When they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees.\r\n\t\t\t But as one was felling a log, his ax head fell into the water; he cried out, \"Alas, master! It was borrowed.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the man of God said, \"Where did it fall?\" When he showed him the place, he cut off a stick, and threw it in there, and made the iron float.\r\n\t\t\t He said, \"Pick it up.\" So he reached out his hand and took it.\r\n\t\t\t Once when the king of Aram was at war with Israel, he took counsel with his officers. He said, \"At such and such a place shall be my camp.\"\r\n\t\t\t But the man of God sent word to the king of Israel, \"Take care not to pass this place, because the Arameans are going down there.\"\r\n\t\t\t The king of Israel sent word to the place of which the man of God spoke. More than once or twice he warned such a place so that it was on the alert. \r\n\t\t\t The mind of the king of Aram was greatly perturbed because of this; he called his officers and said to them, \"Now tell me who among us sides with the king of Israel?\"\r\n\t\t\t Then one of his officers said, \"No one, my lord king. It is Elisha, the prophet in Israel, who tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedchamber.\"\r\n\t\t\t He said, \"Go and find where he is; I will send and seize him.\" He was told, \"He is in Dothan.\"\r\n\t\t\t So he sent horses and chariots there and a great army; they came by night, and surrounded the city.\r\n\t\t\t When an attendant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. His servant said, \"Alas, master! What shall we do?\"\r\n\t\t\t He replied, \"Do not be afraid, for there are more with us than there are with them.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Elisha prayed: \"O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see.\" So the LORD opened the eyes of the servant, and he saw; the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.\r\n\t\t\t When the Arameans came down against him, Elisha prayed to the LORD, and said, \"Strike this people, please, with blindness.\" So he struck them with blindness as Elisha had asked. \r\n\t\t\t Elisha said to them, \"This is not the way, and this is not the city; follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek.\" And he led them to Samaria.\r\n\t\t\t As soon as they entered Samaria, Elisha said, \"O LORD, open the eyes of these men so that they may see.\" The LORD opened their eyes, and they saw that they were inside Samaria.\r\n\t\t\t When the king of Israel saw them he said to Elisha, \"Father, shall I kill them? Shall I kill them?\"\r\n\t\t\t He answered, \"No! Did you capture with your sword and your bow those whom you want to kill? Set food and water before them so that they may eat and drink; and let them go to their master.\"\r\n\t\t\t So he prepared for them a great feast; after they ate and drank, he sent them on their way, and they went to their master. And the Arameans no longer came raiding into the land of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t Some time later King Ben-hadad of Aram mustered his entire army; he marched against Samaria and laid siege to it.\r\n\t\t\t As the siege continued, famine in Samaria became so great that a donkey's head was sold for eighty shekels of silver, and one-fourth of a kab of dove's dung for five shekels of silver.\r\n\t\t\t Now as the king of Israel was walking on the city wall, a woman cried out to him, \"Help, my lord king!\"\r\n\t\t\t He said, \"No! Let the LORD help you. How can I help you? From the threshing floor or from the wine press?\"\r\n\t\t\t But then the king asked her, \"What is your complaint?\" She answered, \"This woman said to me, 'Give up your son; we will eat him today, and we will eat my son tomorrow.'\r\n\t\t\t So we cooked my son and ate him. The next day I said to her, 'Give up your son and we will eat him.' But she has hidden her son.\"\r\n\t\t\t When the king heard the words of the woman he tore his clothes-- now since he was walking on the city wall, the people could see that he had sackcloth on his body underneath--\r\n\t\t\t and he said, \"So may God do to me, and more, if the head of Elisha son of Shaphat stays on his shoulders today.\"\r\n\t\t\t So he dispatched a man from his presence. Now Elisha was sitting in his house, and the elders were sitting with him. Before the messenger arrived, Elisha said to the elders, \"Are you aware that this murderer has sent someone to take off my head? When the messenger comes, see that you shut the door and hold it closed against him. Is not the sound of his master's feet behind him?\"\r\n\t\t\t While he was still speaking with them, the king came down to him and said, \"This trouble is from the LORD! Why should I hope in the LORD any longer?\" \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t But Elisha said, \"Hear the word of the LORD: thus says the LORD, Tomorrow about this time a measure of choice meal shall be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, at the gate of Samaria.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the captain on whose hand the king leaned said to the man of God, \"Even if the LORD were to make windows in the sky, could such a thing happen?\" But he said, \"You shall see it with your own eyes, but you shall not eat from it.\"\r\n\t\t\t Now there were four leprous men outside the city gate, who said to one another, \"Why should we sit here until we die? \r\n\t\t\t If we say, 'Let us enter the city,' the famine is in the city, and we shall die there; but if we sit here, we shall also die. Therefore, let us desert to the Aramean camp; if they spare our lives, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die.\"\r\n\t\t\t So they arose at twilight to go to the Aramean camp; but when they came to the edge of the Aramean camp, there was no one there at all.\r\n\t\t\t For the Lord had caused the Aramean army to hear the sound of chariots, and of horses, the sound of a great army, so that they said to one another, \"The king of Israel has hired the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Egypt to fight against us.\"\r\n\t\t\t So they fled away in the twilight and abandoned their tents, their horses, and their donkeys leaving the camp just as it was, and fled for their lives.\r\n\t\t\t When these leprous men had come to the edge of the camp, they went into a tent, ate and drank, carried off silver, gold, and clothing, and went and hid them. Then they came back, entered another tent, carried off things from it, and went and hid them. \r\n\t\t\t Then they said to one another, \"What we are doing is wrong. This is a day of good news; if we are silent and wait until the morning light, we will be found guilty; therefore let us go and tell the king's household.\"\r\n\t\t\t So they came and called to the gatekeepers of the city, and told them, \"We went to the Aramean camp, but there was no one to be seen or heard there, nothing but the horses tied, the donkeys tied, and the tents as they were.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the gatekeepers called out and proclaimed it to the king's household.\r\n\t\t\t The king got up in the night, and said to his servants, \"I will tell you what the Arameans have prepared against us. They know that we are starving; so they have left the camp to hide themselves in the open country, thinking, 'When they come out of the city, we shall take them alive and get into the city.'\"\r\n\t\t\t One of his servants said, \"Let some men take five of the remaining horses, since those left here will suffer the fate of the whole multitude of Israel that have perished already; let us send and find out.\" \r\n\t\t\t So they took two mounted men, and the king sent them after the Aramean army, saying, \"Go and find out.\"\r\n\t\t\t So they went after them as far as the Jordan; the whole way was littered with garments and equipment that the Arameans had thrown away in their haste. So the messengers returned, and told the king.\r\n\t\t\t Then the people went out, and plundered the camp of the Arameans. So a measure of choice meal was sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, according to the word of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Now the king had appointed the captain on whose hand he leaned to have charge of the gate; the people trampled him to death in the gate, just as the man of God had said when the king came down to him.\r\n\t\t\t For when the man of God had said to the king, \"Two measures of barley shall be sold for a shekel, and a measure of choice meal for a shekel, about this time tomorrow in the gate of Samaria,\"\r\n\t\t\t the captain had answered the man of God, \"Even if the LORD were to make windows in the sky, could such a thing happen?\" And he had answered, \"You shall see it with your own eyes, but you shall not eat from it.\"\r\n\t\t\t It did indeed happen to him; the people trampled him to death in the gate.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now Elisha had said to the woman whose son he had restored to life, \"Get up and go with your household, and settle wherever you can; for the LORD has called for a famine, and it will come on the land for seven years.\"\r\n\t\t\t So the woman got up and did according to the word of the man of God; she went with her household and settled in the land of the Philistines seven years.\r\n\t\t\t At the end of the seven years, when the woman returned from the land of the Philistines, she set out to appeal to the king for her house and her land.\r\n\t\t\t Now the king was talking with Gehazi the servant of the man of God, saying, \"Tell me all the great things that Elisha has done.\"\r\n\t\t\t While he was telling the king how Elisha had restored a dead person to life, the woman whose son he had restored to life appealed to the king for her house and her land. Gehazi said, \"My lord king, here is the woman, and here is her son whom Elisha restored to life.\"\r\n\t\t\t When the king questioned the woman, she told him. So the king appointed an official for her, saying, \"Restore all that was hers, together with all the revenue of the fields from the day that she left the land until now.\"\r\n\t\t\t Elisha went to Damascus while King Ben-hadad of Aram was ill. When it was told him, \"The man of God has come here,\"\r\n\t\t\t the king said to Hazael, \"Take a present with you and go to meet the man of God. Inquire of the LORD through him, whether I shall recover from this illness.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Hazael went to meet him, taking a present with him, all kinds of goods of Damascus, forty camel loads. When he entered and stood before him, he said, \"Your son King Ben-hadad of Aram has sent me to you, saying, 'Shall I recover from this illness?'\"\r\n\t\t\t Elisha said to him, \"Go, say to him, 'You shall certainly recover'; but the LORD has shown me that he shall certainly die.\"\r\n\t\t\t He fixed his gaze and stared at him, until he was ashamed. Then the man of God wept.\r\n\t\t\t Hazael asked, \"Why does my lord weep?\" He answered, \"Because I know the evil that you will do to the people of Israel; you will set their fortresses on fire, you will kill their young men with the sword, dash in pieces their little ones, and rip up their pregnant women.\"\r\n\t\t\t Hazael said, \"What is your servant, who is a mere dog, that he should do this great thing?\" Elisha answered, \"The LORD has shown me that you are to be king over Aram.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then he left Elisha, and went to his master Ben-hadad, who said to him, \"What did Elisha say to you?\" And he answered, \"He told me that you would certainly recover.\"\r\n\t\t\t But the next day he took the bed-cover and dipped it in water and spread it over the king's face, until he died. And Hazael succeeded him.\r\n\t\t\t In the fifth year of King Joram son of Ahab of Israel, Jehoram son of King Jehoshaphat of Judah began to reign. \r\n\t\t\t He was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t He walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as the house of Ahab had done, for the daughter of Ahab was his wife. He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Yet the LORD would not destroy Judah, for the sake of his servant David, since he had promised to give a lamp to him and to his descendants forever.\r\n\t\t\t In his days Edom revolted against the rule of Judah, and set up a king of their own.\r\n\t\t\t Then Joram crossed over to Zair with all his chariots. He set out by night and attacked the Edomites and their chariot commanders who had surrounded him; but his army fled home. \r\n\t\t\t So Edom has been in revolt against the rule of Judah to this day. Libnah also revolted at the same time.\r\n\t\t\t Now the rest of the acts of Joram, and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Annals of the Kings of Judah?\r\n\t\t\t So Joram slept with his ancestors, and was buried with them in the city of David; his son Ahaziah succeeded him.\r\n\t\t\t In the twelfth year of King Joram son of Ahab of Israel, Ahaziah son of King Jehoram of Judah began to reign.\r\n\t\t\t Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he began to reign; he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Athaliah, a granddaughter of King Omri of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t He also walked in the way of the house of Ahab, doing what was evil in the sight of the LORD, as the house of Ahab had done, for he was son-in-law to the house of Ahab.\r\n\t\t\t He went with Joram son of Ahab to wage war against King Hazael of Aram at Ramoth-gilead, where the Arameans wounded Joram.\r\n\t\t\t King Joram returned to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds that the Arameans had inflicted on him at Ramah, when he fought against King Hazael of Aram. King Ahaziah son of Jehoram of Judah went down to see Joram son of Ahab in Jezreel, because he was wounded.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then the prophet Elisha called a member of the company of prophets and said to him, \"Gird up your loins; take this flask of oil in your hand, and go to Ramoth-gilead. \r\n\t\t\t When you arrive, look there for Jehu son of Jehoshaphat, son of Nimshi; go in and get him to leave his companions, and take him into an inner chamber.\r\n\t\t\t Then take the flask of oil, pour it on his head, and say, 'Thus says the LORD: I anoint you king over Israel.' Then open the door and flee; do not linger.\"\r\n\t\t\t So the young man, the young prophet, went to Ramoth-gilead.\r\n\t\t\t He arrived while the commanders of the army were in council, and he announced, \"I have a message for you, commander.\" \"For which one of us?\" asked Jehu. \"For you, commander.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Jehu got up and went inside; the young man poured the oil on his head, saying to him, \"Thus says the LORD the God of Israel: I anoint you king over the people of the LORD, over Israel. \r\n\t\t\t You shall strike down the house of your master Ahab, so that I may avenge on Jezebel the blood of my servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t For the whole house of Ahab shall perish; I will cut off from Ahab every male, bond or free, in Israel.\r\n\t\t\t I will make the house of Ahab like the house of Jeroboam son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha son of Ahijah.\r\n\t\t\t The dogs shall eat Jezebel in the territory of Jezreel, and no one shall bury her.\" Then he opened the door and fled.\r\n\t\t\t When Jehu came back to his master's officers, they said to him, \"Is everything all right? Why did that madman come to you?\" He answered them, \"You know the sort and how they babble.\"\r\n\t\t\t They said, \"Liar! Come on, tell us!\" So he said, \"This is just what he said to me: 'Thus says the LORD, I anoint you king over Israel.'\"\r\n\t\t\t Then hurriedly they all took their cloaks and spread them for him on the bare steps; and they blew the trumpet, and proclaimed, \"Jehu is king.\" \r\n\t\t\t Thus Jehu son of Jehoshaphat son of Nimshi conspired against Joram. Joram with all Israel had been on guard at Ramoth-gilead against King Hazael of Aram;\r\n\t\t\t but King Joram had returned to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds that the Arameans had inflicted on him, when he fought against King Hazael of Aram. So Jehu said, \"If this is your wish, then let no one slip out of the city to go and tell the news in Jezreel.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Jehu mounted his chariot and went to Jezreel, where Joram was lying ill. King Ahaziah of Judah had come down to visit Joram.\r\n\t\t\t In Jezreel, the sentinel standing on the tower spied the company of Jehu arriving, and said, \"I see a company.\" Joram said, \"Take a horseman; send him to meet them, and let him say, 'Is it peace?'\"\r\n\t\t\t So the horseman went to meet him; he said, \"Thus says the king, 'Is it peace?'\" Jehu responded, \"What have you to do with peace? Fall in behind me.\" The sentinel reported, saying, \"The messenger reached them, but he is not coming back.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then he sent out a second horseman, who came to them and said, \"Thus says the king, 'Is it peace?'\" Jehu answered, \"What have you to do with peace? Fall in behind me.\"\r\n\t\t\t Again the sentinel reported, \"He reached them, but he is not coming back. It looks like the driving of Jehu son of Nimshi; for he drives like a maniac.\"\r\n\t\t\t Joram said, \"Get ready.\" And they got his chariot ready. Then King Joram of Israel and King Ahaziah of Judah set out, each in his chariot, and went to meet Jehu; they met him at the property of Naboth the Jezreelite.\r\n\t\t\t When Joram saw Jehu, he said, \"Is it peace, Jehu?\" He answered, \"What peace can there be, so long as the many whoredoms and sorceries of your mother Jezebel continue?\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Joram reined about and fled, saying to Ahaziah, \"Treason, Ahaziah!\"\r\n\t\t\t Jehu drew his bow with all his strength, and shot Joram between the shoulders, so that the arrow pierced his heart; and he sank in his chariot.\r\n\t\t\t Jehu said to his aide Bidkar, \"Lift him out, and throw him on the plot of ground belonging to Naboth the Jezreelite; for remember, when you and I rode side by side behind his father Ahab how the LORD uttered this oracle against him:\r\n\t\t\t 'For the blood of Naboth and for the blood of his children that I saw yesterday, says the LORD, I swear I will repay you on this very plot of ground.' Now therefore lift him out and throw him on the plot of ground, in accordance with the word of the LORD.\"\r\n\t\t\t When King Ahaziah of Judah saw this, he fled in the direction of Beth-haggan. Jehu pursued him, saying, \"Shoot him also!\" And they shot him in the chariot at the ascent to Gur, which is by Ibleam. Then he fled to Megiddo, and died there. \r\n\t\t\t His officers carried him in a chariot to Jerusalem, and buried him in his tomb with his ancestors in the city of David.\r\n\t\t\t In the eleventh year of Joram son of Ahab, Ahaziah began to reign over Judah.\r\n\t\t\t When Jehu came to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; she painted her eyes, and adorned her head, and looked out of the window.\r\n\t\t\t As Jehu entered the gate, she said, \"Is it peace, Zimri, murderer of your master?\"\r\n\t\t\t He looked up to the window and said, \"Who is on my side? Who?\" Two or three eunuchs looked out at him.\r\n\t\t\t He said, \"Throw her down.\" So they threw her down; some of her blood spattered on the wall and on the horses, which trampled on her.\r\n\t\t\t Then he went in and ate and drank; he said, \"See to that cursed woman and bury her; for she is a king's daughter.\"\r\n\t\t\t But when they went to bury her, they found no more of her than the skull and the feet and the palms of her hands.\r\n\t\t\t When they came back and told him, he said, \"This is the word of the LORD, which he spoke by his servant Elijah the Tishbite, 'In the territory of Jezreel the dogs shall eat the flesh of Jezebel;\r\n\t\t\t the corpse of Jezebel shall be like dung on the field in the territory of Jezreel, so that no one can say, This is Jezebel.'\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. So Jehu wrote letters and sent them to Samaria, to the rulers of Jezreel, to the elders, and to the guardians of the sons of Ahab, saying, \r\n\t\t\t \"Since your master's sons are with you and you have at your disposal chariots and horses, a fortified city, and weapons,\r\n\t\t\t select the son of your master who is the best qualified, set him on his father's throne, and fight for your master's house.\"\r\n\t\t\t But they were utterly terrified and said, \"Look, two kings could not withstand him; how then can we stand?\"\r\n\t\t\t So the steward of the palace, and the governor of the city, along with the elders and the guardians, sent word to Jehu: \"We are your servants; we will do anything you say. We will not make anyone king; do whatever you think right.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then he wrote them a second letter, saying, \"If you are on my side, and if you are ready to obey me, take the heads of your master's sons and come to me at Jezreel tomorrow at this time.\" Now the king's sons, seventy persons, were with the leaders of the city, who were charged with their upbringing.\r\n\t\t\t When the letter reached them, they took the king's sons and killed them, seventy persons; they put their heads in baskets and sent them to him at Jezreel.\r\n\t\t\t When the messenger came and told him, \"They have brought the heads of the king's sons,\" he said, \"Lay them in two heaps at the entrance of the gate until the morning.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then in the morning when he went out, he stood and said to all the people, \"You are innocent. It was I who conspired against my master and killed him; but who struck down all these?\r\n\t\t\t Know then that there shall fall to the earth nothing of the word of the LORD, which the LORD spoke concerning the house of Ahab; for the LORD has done what he said through his servant Elijah.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Jehu killed all who were left of the house of Ahab in Jezreel, all his leaders, close friends, and priests, until he left him no survivor.\r\n\t\t\t Then he set out and went to Samaria. On the way, when he was at Beth-eked of the Shepherds,\r\n\t\t\t Jehu met relatives of King Ahaziah of Judah and said, \"Who are you?\" They answered, \"We are kin of Ahaziah; we have come down to visit the royal princes and the sons of the queen mother.\"\r\n\t\t\t He said, \"Take them alive.\" They took them alive, and slaughtered them at the pit of Beth-eked, forty-two in all; he spared none of them.\r\n\t\t\t When he left there, he met Jehonadab son of Rechab coming to meet him; he greeted him, and said to him, \"Is your heart as true to mine as mine is to yours?\" Jehonadab answered, \"It is.\" Jehu said, \"If it is, give me your hand.\" So he gave him his hand. Jehu took him up with him into the chariot. \r\n\t\t\t He said, \"Come with me, and see my zeal for the LORD.\" So he had him ride in his chariot. \r\n\t\t\t When he came to Samaria, he killed all who were left to Ahab in Samaria, until he had wiped them out, according to the word of the LORD that he spoke to Elijah.\r\n\t\t\t Then Jehu assembled all the people and said to them, \"Ahab offered Baal small service; but Jehu will offer much more.\r\n\t\t\t Now therefore summon to me all the prophets of Baal, all his worshipers, and all his priests; let none be missing, for I have a great sacrifice to offer to Baal; whoever is missing shall not live.\" But Jehu was acting with cunning in order to destroy the worshipers of Baal.\r\n\t\t\t Jehu decreed, \"Sanctify a solemn assembly for Baal.\" So they proclaimed it.\r\n\t\t\t Jehu sent word throughout all Israel; all the worshipers of Baal came, so that there was no one left who did not come. They entered the temple of Baal, until the temple of Baal was filled from wall to wall.\r\n\t\t\t He said to the keeper of the wardrobe, \"Bring out the vestments for all the worshipers of Baal.\" So he brought out the vestments for them.\r\n\t\t\t Then Jehu entered the temple of Baal with Jehonadab son of Rechab; he said to the worshipers of Baal, \"Search and see that there is no worshiper of the LORD here among you, but only worshipers of Baal.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then they proceeded to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings. Now Jehu had stationed eighty men outside, saying, \"Whoever allows any of those to escape whom I deliver into your hands shall forfeit his life.\"\r\n\t\t\t As soon as he had finished presenting the burnt offering, Jehu said to the guards and to the officers, \"Come in and kill them; let no one escape.\" So they put them to the sword. The guards and the officers threw them out, and then went into the citadel of the temple of Baal.\r\n\t\t\t They brought out the pillar that was in the temple of Baal, and burned it. \r\n\t\t\t Then they demolished the pillar of Baal, and destroyed the temple of Baal, and made it a latrine to this day.\r\n\t\t\t Thus Jehu wiped out Baal from Israel.\r\n\t\t\t But Jehu did not turn aside from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he caused Israel to commit-- the golden calves that were in Bethel and in Dan.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Jehu, \"Because you have done well in carrying out what I consider right, and in accordance with all that was in my heart have dealt with the house of Ahab, your sons of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel.\"\r\n\t\t\t But Jehu was not careful to follow the law of the LORD the God of Israel with all his heart; he did not turn from the sins of Jeroboam, which he caused Israel to commit.\r\n\t\t\t In those days the LORD began to trim off parts of Israel. Hazael defeated them throughout the territory of Israel:\r\n\t\t\t from the Jordan eastward, all the land of Gilead, the Gadites, the Reubenites, and the Manassites, from Aroer, which is by the Wadi Arnon, that is, Gilead and Bashan.\r\n\t\t\t Now the rest of the acts of Jehu, all that he did, and all his power, are they not written in the Book of the Annals of the Kings of Israel?\r\n\t\t\t So Jehu slept with his ancestors, and they buried him in Samaria. His son Jehoahaz succeeded him.\r\n\t\t\t The time that Jehu reigned over Israel in Samaria was twenty-eight years.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now when Athaliah, Ahaziah's mother, saw that her son was dead, she set about to destroy all the royal family.\r\n\t\t\t But Jehosheba, King Joram's daughter, Ahaziah's sister, took Joash son of Ahaziah, and stole him away from among the king's children who were about to be killed; she put him and his nurse in a bedroom. Thus she hid him from Athaliah, so that he was not killed; \r\n\t\t\t he remained with her six years, hidden in the house of the LORD, while Athaliah reigned over the land.\r\n\t\t\t But in the seventh year Jehoiada summoned the captains of the Carites and of the guards and had them come to him in the house of the LORD. He made a covenant with them and put them under oath in the house of the LORD; then he showed them the king's son.\r\n\t\t\t He commanded them, \"This is what you are to do: one-third of you, those who go off duty on the sabbath and guard the king's house\r\n\t\t\t (another third being at the gate Sur and a third at the gate behind the guards), shall guard the palace;\r\n\t\t\t and your two divisions that come on duty in force on the sabbath and guard the house of the LORD\r\n\t\t\t shall surround the king, each with weapons in hand; and whoever approaches the ranks is to be killed. Be with the king in his comings and goings.\"\r\n\t\t\t The captains did according to all that the priest Jehoiada commanded; each brought his men who were to go off duty on the sabbath, with those who were to come on duty on the sabbath, and came to the priest Jehoiada.\r\n\t\t\t The priest delivered to the captains the spears and shields that had been King David's, which were in the house of the LORD;\r\n\t\t\t the guards stood, every man with his weapons in his hand, from the south side of the house to the north side of the house, around the altar and the house, to guard the king on every side.\r\n\t\t\t Then he brought out the king's son, put the crown on him, and gave him the covenant; they proclaimed him king, and anointed him; they clapped their hands and shouted, \"Long live the king!\" \r\n\t\t\t When Athaliah heard the noise of the guard and of the people, she went into the house of the LORD to the people;\r\n\t\t\t when she looked, there was the king standing by the pillar, according to custom, with the captains and the trumpeters beside the king, and all the people of the land rejoicing and blowing trumpets. Athaliah tore her clothes and cried, \"Treason! Treason!\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the priest Jehoiada commanded the captains who were set over the army, \"Bring her out between the ranks, and kill with the sword anyone who follows her.\" For the priest said, \"Let her not be killed in the house of the LORD.\"\r\n\t\t\t So they laid hands on her; she went through the horses' entrance to the king's house, and there she was put to death.\r\n\t\t\t Jehoiada made a covenant between the LORD and the king and people, that they should be the LORD's people; also between the king and the people.\r\n\t\t\t Then all the people of the land went to the house of Baal, and tore it down; his altars and his images they broke in pieces, and they killed Mattan, the priest of Baal, before the altars. The priest posted guards over the house of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t He took the captains, the Carites, the guards, and all the people of the land; then they brought the king down from the house of the LORD, marching through the gate of the guards to the king's house. He took his seat on the throne of the kings.\r\n\t\t\t So all the people of the land rejoiced; and the city was quiet after Athaliah had been killed with the sword at the king's house.\r\n\t\t\t Jehoash was seven years old when he began to reign. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t In the seventh year of Jehu, Jehoash began to reign; he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Zibiah of Beer-sheba.\r\n\t\t\t Jehoash did what was right in the sight of the LORD all his days, because the priest Jehoiada instructed him.\r\n\t\t\t Nevertheless the high places were not taken away; the people continued to sacrifice and make offerings on the high places.\r\n\t\t\t Jehoash said to the priests, \"All the money offered as sacred donations that is brought into the house of the LORD, the money for which each person is assessed-- the money from the assessment of persons-- and the money from the voluntary offerings brought into the house of the LORD,\r\n\t\t\t let the priests receive from each of the donors; and let them repair the house wherever any need of repairs is discovered.\"\r\n\t\t\t But by the twenty-third year of King Jehoash the priests had made no repairs on the house.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore King Jehoash summoned the priest Jehoiada with the other priests and said to them, \"Why are you not repairing the house? Now therefore do not accept any more money from your donors but hand it over for the repair of the house.\"\r\n\t\t\t So the priests agreed that they would neither accept more money from the people nor repair the house.\r\n\t\t\t Then the priest Jehoiada took a chest, made a hole in its lid, and set it beside the altar on the right side as one entered the house of the LORD; the priests who guarded the threshold put in it all the money that was brought into the house of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Whenever they saw that there was a great deal of money in the chest, the king's secretary and the high priest went up, counted the money that was found in the house of the LORD, and tied it up in bags.\r\n\t\t\t They would give the money that was weighed out into the hands of the workers who had the oversight of the house of the LORD; then they paid it out to the carpenters and the builders who worked on the house of the LORD,\r\n\t\t\t to the masons and the stonecutters, as well as to buy timber and quarried stone for making repairs on the house of the LORD, as well as for any outlay for repairs of the house.\r\n\t\t\t But for the house of the LORD no basins of silver, snuffers, bowls, trumpets, or any vessels of gold, or of silver, were made from the money that was brought into the house of the LORD,\r\n\t\t\t for that was given to the workers who were repairing the house of the LORD with it.\r\n\t\t\t They did not ask an accounting from those into whose hand they delivered the money to pay out to the workers, for they dealt honestly.\r\n\t\t\t The money from the guilt offerings and the money from the sin offerings was not brought into the house of the LORD; it belonged to the priests.\r\n\t\t\t At that time King Hazael of Aram went up, fought against Gath, and took it. But when Hazael set his face to go up against Jerusalem,\r\n\t\t\t King Jehoash of Judah took all the votive gifts that Jehoshaphat, Jehoram, and Ahaziah, his ancestors, the kings of Judah, had dedicated, as well as his own votive gifts, all the gold that was found in the treasuries of the house of the LORD and of the king's house, and sent these to King Hazael of Aram. Then Hazael withdrew from Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t Now the rest of the acts of Joash, and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Annals of the Kings of Judah?\r\n\t\t\t His servants arose, devised a conspiracy, and killed Joash in the house of Millo, on the way that goes down to Silla.\r\n\t\t\t It was Jozacar son of Shimeath and Jehozabad son of Shomer, his servants, who struck him down, so that he died. He was buried with his ancestors in the city of David; then his son Amaziah succeeded him.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t In the twenty-third year of King Joash son of Ahaziah of Judah, Jehoahaz son of Jehu began to reign over Israel in Samaria; he reigned seventeen years.\r\n\t\t\t He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, and followed the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he caused Israel to sin; he did not depart from them.\r\n\t\t\t The anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, so that he gave them repeatedly into the hand of King Hazael of Aram, then into the hand of Ben-hadad son of Hazael.\r\n\t\t\t But Jehoahaz entreated the LORD, and the LORD heeded him; for he saw the oppression of Israel, how the king of Aram oppressed them.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore the LORD gave Israel a savior, so that they escaped from the hand of the Arameans; and the people of Israel lived in their homes as formerly.\r\n\t\t\t Nevertheless they did not depart from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, which he caused Israel to sin, but walked in them; the sacred pole also remained in Samaria. \r\n\t\t\t So Jehoahaz was left with an army of not more than fifty horsemen, ten chariots and ten thousand footmen; for the king of Aram had destroyed them and made them like the dust at threshing.\r\n\t\t\t Now the rest of the acts of Jehoahaz and all that he did, including his might, are they not written in the Book of the Annals of the Kings of Israel?\r\n\t\t\t So Jehoahaz slept with his ancestors, and they buried him in Samaria; then his son Joash succeeded him.\r\n\t\t\t In the thirty-seventh year of King Joash of Judah, Jehoash son of Jehoahaz began to reign over Israel in Samaria; he reigned sixteen years.\r\n\t\t\t He also did what was evil in the sight of the LORD; he did not depart from all the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he caused Israel to sin, but he walked in them.\r\n\t\t\t Now the rest of the acts of Joash, and all that he did, as well as the might with which he fought against King Amaziah of Judah, are they not written in the Book of the Annals of the Kings of Israel?\r\n\t\t\t So Joash slept with his ancestors, and Jeroboam sat upon his throne; Joash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t Now when Elisha had fallen sick with the illness of which he was to die, King Joash of Israel went down to him, and wept before him, crying, \"My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!\"\r\n\t\t\t Elisha said to him, \"Take a bow and arrows\"; so he took a bow and arrows.\r\n\t\t\t Then he said to the king of Israel, \"Draw the bow\"; and he drew it. Elisha laid his hands on the king's hands.\r\n\t\t\t Then he said, \"Open the window eastward\"; and he opened it. Elisha said, \"Shoot\"; and he shot. Then he said, \"The LORD's arrow of victory, the arrow of victory over Aram! For you shall fight the Arameans in Aphek until you have made an end of them.\"\r\n\t\t\t He continued, \"Take the arrows\"; and he took them. He said to the king of Israel, \"Strike the ground with them\"; he struck three times, and stopped.\r\n\t\t\t Then the man of God was angry with him, and said, \"You should have struck five or six times; then you would have struck down Aram until you had made an end of it, but now you will strike down Aram only three times.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Elisha died, and they buried him. Now bands of Moabites used to invade the land in the spring of the year.\r\n\t\t\t As a man was being buried, a marauding band was seen and the man was thrown into the grave of Elisha; as soon as the man touched the bones of Elisha, he came to life and stood on his feet.\r\n\t\t\t Now King Hazael of Aram oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz.\r\n\t\t\t But the LORD was gracious to them and had compassion on them; he turned toward them, because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them; nor has he banished them from his presence until now.\r\n\t\t\t When King Hazael of Aram died, his son Ben-hadad succeeded him.\r\n\t\t\t Then Jehoash son of Jehoahaz took again from Ben-hadad son of Hazael the towns that he had taken from his father Jehoahaz in war. Three times Joash defeated him and recovered the towns of Israel.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t In the second year of King Joash son of Joahaz of Israel, King Amaziah son of Joash of Judah, began to reign.\r\n\t\t\t He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jehoaddin of Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t He did what was right in the sight of the LORD, yet not like his ancestor David; in all things he did as his father Joash had done.\r\n\t\t\t But the high places were not removed; the people still sacrificed and made offerings on the high places.\r\n\t\t\t As soon as the royal power was firmly in his hand he killed his servants who had murdered his father the king.\r\n\t\t\t But he did not put to death the children of the murderers; according to what is written in the book of the law of Moses, where the LORD commanded, \"The parents shall not be put to death for the children, or the children be put to death for the parents; but all shall be put to death for their own sins.\"\r\n\t\t\t He killed ten thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt and took Sela by storm; he called it Jokthe-el, which is its name to this day.\r\n\t\t\t Then Amaziah sent messengers to King Jehoash son of Jehoahaz, son of Jehu, of Israel, saying, \"Come, let us look one another in the face.\"\r\n\t\t\t King Jehoash of Israel sent word to King Amaziah of Judah, \"A thornbush on Lebanon sent to a cedar on Lebanon, saying, 'Give your daughter to my son for a wife'; but a wild animal of Lebanon passed by and trampled down the thornbush.\r\n\t\t\t You have indeed defeated Edom, and your heart has lifted you up. Be content with your glory, and stay at home; for why should you provoke trouble so that you fall, you and Judah with you?\"\r\n\t\t\t But Amaziah would not listen. So King Jehoash of Israel went up; he and King Amaziah of Judah faced one another in battle at Beth-shemesh, which belongs to Judah.\r\n\t\t\t Judah was defeated by Israel; everyone fled home.\r\n\t\t\t King Jehoash of Israel captured King Amaziah of Judah son of Jehoash, son of Ahaziah, at Beth-shemesh; he came to Jerusalem, and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate, a distance of four hundred cubits.\r\n\t\t\t He seized all the gold and silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of the LORD and in the treasuries of the king's house, as well as hostages; then he returned to Samaria.\r\n\t\t\t Now the rest of the acts that Jehoash did, his might, and how he fought with King Amaziah of Judah, are they not written in the Book of the Annals of the Kings of Israel?\r\n\t\t\t Jehoash slept with his ancestors, and was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel; then his son Jeroboam succeeded him.\r\n\t\t\t King Amaziah son of Joash of Judah lived fifteen years after the death of King Jehoash son of Jehoahaz of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t Now the rest of the deeds of Amaziah, are they not written in the Book of the Annals of the Kings of Judah?\r\n\t\t\t They made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish. But they sent after him to Lachish, and killed him there.\r\n\t\t\t They brought him on horses; he was buried in Jerusalem with his ancestors in the city of David.\r\n\t\t\t All the people of Judah took Azariah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king to succeed his father Amaziah.\r\n\t\t\t He rebuilt Elath and restored it to Judah, after King Amaziah slept with his ancestors. \r\n\t\t\t In the fifteenth year of King Amaziah son of Joash of Judah, King Jeroboam son of Joash of Israel began to reign in Samaria; he reigned forty-one years.\r\n\t\t\t He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD; he did not depart from all the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he caused Israel to sin.\r\n\t\t\t He restored the border of Israel from Lebo-hamath as far as the Sea of the Arabah, according to the word of the LORD, the God of Israel, which he spoke by his servant Jonah son of Amittai, the prophet, who was from Gath-hepher.\r\n\t\t\t For the LORD saw that the distress of Israel was very bitter; there was no one left, bond or free, and no one to help Israel.\r\n\t\t\t But the LORD had not said that he would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven, so he saved them by the hand of Jeroboam son of Joash.\r\n\t\t\t Now the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, and all that he did, and his might, how he fought, and how he recovered for Israel Damascus and Hamath, which had belonged to Judah, are they not written in the Book of the Annals of the Kings of Israel?\r\n\t\t\t Jeroboam slept with his ancestors, the kings of Israel; his son Zechariah succeeded him.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t In the twenty-seventh year of King Jeroboam of Israel King Azariah son of Amaziah of Judah began to reign.\r\n\t\t\t He was sixteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jecoliah of Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t He did what was right in the sight of the LORD, just as his father Amaziah had done.\r\n\t\t\t Nevertheless the high places were not taken away; the people still sacrificed and made offerings on the high places.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD struck the king, so that he was leprous to the day of his death, and lived in a separate house. Jotham the king's son was in charge of the palace, governing the people of the land. \r\n\t\t\t Now the rest of the acts of Azariah, and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Annals of the Kings of Judah?\r\n\t\t\t Azariah slept with his ancestors; they buried him with his ancestors in the city of David; his son Jotham succeeded him.\r\n\t\t\t In the thirty-eighth year of King Azariah of Judah, Zechariah son of Jeroboam reigned over Israel in Samaria six months.\r\n\t\t\t He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, as his ancestors had done. He did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he caused Israel to sin.\r\n\t\t\t Shallum son of Jabesh conspired against him, and struck him down in public and killed him, and reigned in place of him.\r\n\t\t\t Now the rest of the deeds of Zechariah are written in the Book of the Annals of the Kings of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t This was the promise of the LORD that he gave to Jehu, \"Your sons shall sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation.\" And so it happened.\r\n\t\t\t Shallum son of Jabesh began to reign in the thirty-ninth year of King Uzziah of Judah; he reigned one month in Samaria.\r\n\t\t\t Then Menahem son of Gadi came up from Tirzah and came to Samaria; he struck down Shallum son of Jabesh in Samaria and killed him; he reigned in place of him.\r\n\t\t\t Now the rest of the deeds of Shallum, including the conspiracy that he made, are written in the Book of the Annals of the Kings of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t At that time Menahem sacked Tiphsah, all who were in it and its territory from Tirzah on; because they did not open it to him, he sacked it. He ripped open all the pregnant women in it.\r\n\t\t\t In the thirty-ninth year of King Azariah of Judah, Menahem son of Gadi began to reign over Israel; he reigned ten years in Samaria.\r\n\t\t\t He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD; he did not depart all his days from any of the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he caused Israel to sin.\r\n\t\t\t King Pul of Assyria came against the land; Menahem gave Pul a thousand talents of silver, so that he might help him confirm his hold on the royal power.\r\n\t\t\t Menahem exacted the money from Israel, that is, from all the wealthy, fifty shekels of silver from each one, to give to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria turned back, and did not stay there in the land.\r\n\t\t\t Now the rest of the deeds of Menahem, and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Annals of the Kings of Israel?\r\n\t\t\t Menahem slept with his ancestors, and his son Pekahiah succeeded him.\r\n\t\t\t In the fiftieth year of King Azariah of Judah, Pekahiah son of Menahem began to reign over Israel in Samaria; he reigned two years.\r\n\t\t\t He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD; he did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he caused Israel to sin.\r\n\t\t\t Pekah son of Remaliah, his captain, conspired against him with fifty of the Gileadites, and attacked him in Samaria, in the citadel of the palace along with Argob and Arieh; he killed him, and reigned in place of him.\r\n\t\t\t Now the rest of the deeds of Pekahiah, and all that he did, are written in the Book of the Annals of the Kings of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t In the fifty-second year of King Azariah of Judah, Pekah son of Remaliah began to reign over Israel in Samaria; he reigned twenty years.\r\n\t\t\t He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD; he did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he caused Israel to sin.\r\n\t\t\t In the days of King Pekah of Israel, King Tiglath-pileser of Assyria came and captured Ijon, Abel-beth-maacah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali; and he carried the people captive to Assyria.\r\n\t\t\t Then Hoshea son of Elah made a conspiracy against Pekah son of Remaliah, attacked him, and killed him; he reigned in place of him, in the twentieth year of Jotham son of Uzziah.\r\n\t\t\t Now the rest of the acts of Pekah, and all that he did, are written in the Book of the Annals of the Kings of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t In the second year of King Pekah son of Remaliah of Israel, King Jotham son of Uzziah of Judah began to reign.\r\n\t\t\t He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jerusha daughter of Zadok.\r\n\t\t\t He did what was right in the sight of the LORD, just as his father Uzziah had done.\r\n\t\t\t Nevertheless the high places were not removed; the people still sacrificed and made offerings on the high places. He built the upper gate of the house of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Annals of the Kings of Judah?\r\n\t\t\t In those days the LORD began to send King Rezin of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah against Judah.\r\n\t\t\t Jotham slept with his ancestors, and was buried with his ancestors in the city of David, his ancestor; his son Ahaz succeeded him.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t In the seventeenth year of Pekah son of Remaliah, King Ahaz son of Jotham of Judah began to reign.\r\n\t\t\t Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign; he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. He did not do what was right in the sight of the LORD his God, as his ancestor David had done,\r\n\t\t\t but he walked in the way of the kings of Israel. He even made his son pass through fire, according to the abominable practices of the nations whom the LORD drove out before the people of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t He sacrificed and made offerings on the high places, on the hills, and under every green tree.\r\n\t\t\t Then King Rezin of Aram and King Pekah son of Remaliah of Israel came up to wage war on Jerusalem; they besieged Ahaz but could not conquer him.\r\n\t\t\t At that time the king of Edom recovered Elath for Edom, and drove the Judeans from Elath; and the Edomites came to Elath, where they live to this day. \r\n\t\t\t Ahaz sent messengers to King Tiglath-pileser of Assyria, saying, \"I am your servant and your son. Come up, and rescue me from the hand of the king of Aram and from the hand of the king of Israel, who are attacking me.\"\r\n\t\t\t Ahaz also took the silver and gold found in the house of the LORD and in the treasures of the king's house, and sent a present to the king of Assyria.\r\n\t\t\t The king of Assyria listened to him; the king of Assyria marched up against Damascus, and took it, carrying its people captive to Kir; then he killed Rezin.\r\n\t\t\t When King Ahaz went to Damascus to meet King Tiglath-pileser of Assyria, he saw the altar that was at Damascus. King Ahaz sent to the priest Uriah a model of the altar, and its pattern, exact in all its details.\r\n\t\t\t The priest Uriah built the altar; in accordance with all that King Ahaz had sent from Damascus, just so did the priest Uriah build it, before King Ahaz arrived from Damascus.\r\n\t\t\t When the king came from Damascus, the king viewed the altar. Then the king drew near to the altar, went up on it,\r\n\t\t\t and offered his burnt offering and his grain offering, poured his drink offering, and dashed the blood of his offerings of well-being against the altar.\r\n\t\t\t The bronze altar that was before the LORD he removed from the front of the house, from the place between his altar and the house of the LORD, and put it on the north side of his altar.\r\n\t\t\t King Ahaz commanded the priest Uriah, saying, \"Upon the great altar offer the morning burnt offering, and the evening grain offering, and the king's burnt offering, and his grain offering, with the burnt offering of all the people of the land, their grain offering, and their drink offering; then dash against it all the blood of the burnt offering, and all the blood of the sacrifice; but the bronze altar shall be for me to inquire by.\"\r\n\t\t\t The priest Uriah did everything that King Ahaz commanded.\r\n\t\t\t Then King Ahaz cut off the frames of the stands, and removed the laver from them; he removed the sea from the bronze oxen that were under it, and put it on a pediment of stone.\r\n\t\t\t The covered portal for use on the sabbath that had been built inside the palace, and the outer entrance for the king he removed from the house of the LORD. He did this because of the king of Assyria. \r\n\t\t\t Now the rest of the acts of Ahaz that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Annals of the Kings of Judah?\r\n\t\t\t Ahaz slept with his ancestors, and was buried with his ancestors in the city of David; his son Hezekiah succeeded him.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t In the twelfth year of King Ahaz of Judah, Hoshea son of Elah began to reign in Samaria over Israel; he reigned nine years.\r\n\t\t\t He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, yet not like the kings of Israel who were before him.\r\n\t\t\t King Shalmaneser of Assyria came up against him; Hoshea became his vassal, and paid him tribute.\r\n\t\t\t But the king of Assyria found treachery in Hoshea; for he had sent messengers to King So of Egypt, and offered no tribute to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year; therefore the king of Assyria confined him and imprisoned him.\r\n\t\t\t Then the king of Assyria invaded all the land and came to Samaria; for three years he besieged it.\r\n\t\t\t In the ninth year of Hoshea the king of Assyria captured Samaria; he carried the Israelites away to Assyria. He placed them in Halah, on the Habor, the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.\r\n\t\t\t This occurred because the people of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God, who had brought them up out of the land of Egypt from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. They had worshiped other gods\r\n\t\t\t and walked in the customs of the nations whom the LORD drove out before the people of Israel, and in the customs that the kings of Israel had introduced. \r\n\t\t\t The people of Israel secretly did things that were not right against the LORD their God. They built for themselves high places at all their towns, from watchtower to fortified city;\r\n\t\t\t they set up for themselves pillars and sacred poles on every high hill and under every green tree; \r\n\t\t\t there they made offerings on all the high places, as the nations did whom the LORD carried away before them. They did wicked things, provoking the LORD to anger;\r\n\t\t\t they served idols, of which the LORD had said to them, \"You shall not do this.\"\r\n\t\t\t Yet the LORD warned Israel and Judah by every prophet and every seer, saying, \"Turn from your evil ways and keep my commandments and my statutes, in accordance with all the law that I commanded your ancestors and that I sent to you by my servants the prophets.\"\r\n\t\t\t They would not listen but were stubborn, as their ancestors had been, who did not believe in the LORD their God.\r\n\t\t\t They despised his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their ancestors, and the warnings that he gave them. They went after false idols and became false; they followed the nations that were around them, concerning whom the LORD had commanded them that they should not do as they did.\r\n\t\t\t They rejected all the commandments of the LORD their God and made for themselves cast images of two calves; they made a sacred pole, worshiped all the host of heaven, and served Baal. \r\n\t\t\t They made their sons and their daughters pass through fire; they used divination and augury; and they sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking him to anger.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore the LORD was very angry with Israel and removed them out of his sight; none was left but the tribe of Judah alone.\r\n\t\t\t Judah also did not keep the commandments of the LORD their God but walked in the customs that Israel had introduced.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD rejected all the descendants of Israel; he punished them and gave them into the hand of plunderers, until he had banished them from his presence.\r\n\t\t\t When he had torn Israel from the house of David, they made Jeroboam son of Nebat king. Jeroboam drove Israel from following the LORD and made them commit great sin.\r\n\t\t\t The people of Israel continued in all the sins that Jeroboam committed; they did not depart from them\r\n\t\t\t until the LORD removed Israel out of his sight, as he had foretold through all his servants the prophets. So Israel was exiled from their own land to Assyria until this day.\r\n\t\t\t The king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria in place of the people of Israel; they took possession of Samaria, and settled in its cities.\r\n\t\t\t When they first settled there, they did not worship the LORD; therefore the LORD sent lions among them, which killed some of them.\r\n\t\t\t So the king of Assyria was told, \"The nations that you have carried away and placed in the cities of Samaria do not know the law of the god of the land; therefore he has sent lions among them; they are killing them, because they do not know the law of the god of the land.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the king of Assyria commanded, \"Send there one of the priests whom you carried away from there; let him go and live there, and teach them the law of the god of the land.\" \r\n\t\t\t So one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and lived in Bethel; he taught them how they should worship the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t But every nation still made gods of its own and put them in the shrines of the high places that the people of Samaria had made, every nation in the cities in which they lived;\r\n\t\t\t the people of Babylon made Succoth-benoth, the people of Cuth made Nergal, the people of Hamath made Ashima;\r\n\t\t\t the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak; the Sepharvites burned their children in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim.\r\n\t\t\t They also worshiped the LORD and appointed from among themselves all sorts of people as priests of the high places, who sacrificed for them in the shrines of the high places.\r\n\t\t\t So they worshiped the LORD but also served their own gods, after the manner of the nations from among whom they had been carried away.\r\n\t\t\t To this day they continue to practice their former customs. They do not worship the LORD and they do not follow the statutes or the ordinances or the law or the commandment that the LORD commanded the children of Jacob, whom he named Israel.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD had made a covenant with them and commanded them, \"You shall not worship other gods or bow yourselves to them or serve them or sacrifice to them,\r\n\t\t\t but you shall worship the LORD, who brought you out of the land of Egypt with great power and with an outstretched arm; you shall bow yourselves to him, and to him you shall sacrifice.\r\n\t\t\t The statutes and the ordinances and the law and the commandment that he wrote for you, you shall always be careful to observe. You shall not worship other gods;\r\n\t\t\t you shall not forget the covenant that I have made with you. You shall not worship other gods,\r\n\t\t\t but you shall worship the LORD your God; he will deliver you out of the hand of all your enemies.\"\r\n\t\t\t They would not listen, however, but they continued to practice their former custom.\r\n\t\t\t So these nations worshiped the LORD, but also served their carved images; to this day their children and their children's children continue to do as their ancestors did.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t In the third year of King Hoshea son of Elah of Israel, Hezekiah son of King Ahaz of Judah began to reign.\r\n\t\t\t He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign; he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Abi daughter of Zechariah.\r\n\t\t\t He did what was right in the sight of the LORD just as his ancestor David had done.\r\n\t\t\t He removed the high places, broke down the pillars, and cut down the sacred pole. He broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for until those days the people of Israel had made offerings to it; it was called Nehushtan. \r\n\t\t\t He trusted in the LORD the God of Israel; so that there was no one like him among all the kings of Judah after him, or among those who were before him.\r\n\t\t\t For he held fast to the LORD; he did not depart from following him but kept the commandments that the LORD commanded Moses.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD was with him; wherever he went, he prospered. He rebelled against the king of Assyria and would not serve him.\r\n\t\t\t He attacked the Philistines as far as Gaza and its territory, from watchtower to fortified city.\r\n\t\t\t In the fourth year of King Hezekiah, which was the seventh year of King Hoshea son of Elah of Israel, King Shalmaneser of Assyria came up against Samaria, besieged it,\r\n\t\t\t and at the end of three years, took it. In the sixth year of Hezekiah, which was the ninth year of King Hoshea of Israel, Samaria was taken.\r\n\t\t\t The king of Assyria carried the Israelites away to Assyria, settled them in Halah, on the Habor, the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes,\r\n\t\t\t because they did not obey the voice of the LORD their God but transgressed his covenant-- all that Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded; they neither listened nor obeyed.\r\n\t\t\t In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah, King Sennacherib of Assyria came up against all the fortified cities of Judah and captured them.\r\n\t\t\t King Hezekiah of Judah sent to the king of Assyria at Lachish, saying, \"I have done wrong; withdraw from me; whatever you impose on me I will bear.\" The king of Assyria demanded of King Hezekiah of Judah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold.\r\n\t\t\t Hezekiah gave him all the silver that was found in the house of the LORD and in the treasuries of the king's house.\r\n\t\t\t At that time Hezekiah stripped the gold from the doors of the temple of the LORD, and from the doorposts that King Hezekiah of Judah had overlaid and gave it to the king of Assyria.\r\n\t\t\t The king of Assyria sent the Tartan, the Rabsaris, and the Rabshakeh with a great army from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem. They went up and came to Jerusalem. When they arrived, they came and stood by the conduit of the upper pool, which is on the highway to the Fuller's Field.\r\n\t\t\t When they called for the king, there came out to them Eliakim son of Hilkiah, who was in charge of the palace, and Shebnah the secretary, and Joah son of Asaph, the recorder.\r\n\t\t\t The Rabshakeh said to them, \"Say to Hezekiah: Thus says the great king, the king of Assyria: On what do you base this confidence of yours?\r\n\t\t\t Do you think that mere words are strategy and power for war? On whom do you now rely, that you have rebelled against me?\r\n\t\t\t See, you are relying now on Egypt, that broken reed of a staff, which will pierce the hand of anyone who leans on it. Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who rely on him.\r\n\t\t\t But if you say to me, 'We rely on the LORD our God,' is it not he whose high places and altars Hezekiah has removed, saying to Judah and to Jerusalem, 'You shall worship before this altar in Jerusalem'?\r\n\t\t\t Come now, make a wager with my master the king of Assyria: I will give you two thousand horses, if you are able on your part to set riders on them.\r\n\t\t\t How then can you repulse a single captain among the least of my master's servants, when you rely on Egypt for chariots and for horsemen?\r\n\t\t\t Moreover, is it without the LORD that I have come up against this place to destroy it? The LORD said to me, Go up against this land, and destroy it.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Eliakim son of Hilkiah, and Shebnah, and Joah said to the Rabshakeh, \"Please speak to your servants in the Aramaic language, for we understand it; do not speak to us in the language of Judah within the hearing of the people who are on the wall.\"\r\n\t\t\t But the Rabshakeh said to them, \"Has my master sent me to speak these words to your master and to you, and not to the people sitting on the wall, who are doomed with you to eat their own dung and to drink their own urine?\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the Rabshakeh stood and called out in a loud voice in the language of Judah, \"Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria!\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the king: 'Do not let Hezekiah deceive you, for he will not be able to deliver you out of my hand.\r\n\t\t\t Do not let Hezekiah make you rely on the LORD by saying, The LORD will surely deliver us, and this city will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.'\r\n\t\t\t Do not listen to Hezekiah; for thus says the king of Assyria: 'Make your peace with me and come out to me; then every one of you will eat from your own vine and your own fig tree, and drink water from your own cistern,\r\n\t\t\t until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of grain and wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of olive oil and honey, that you may live and not die. Do not listen to Hezekiah when he misleads you by saying, The LORD will deliver us.\r\n\t\t\t Has any of the gods of the nations ever delivered its land out of the hand of the king of Assyria?\r\n\t\t\t Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah? Have they delivered Samaria out of my hand?\r\n\t\t\t Who among all the gods of the countries have delivered their countries out of my hand, that the LORD should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?'\"\r\n\t\t\t But the people were silent and answered him not a word, for the king's command was, \"Do not answer him.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Eliakim son of Hilkiah, who was in charge of the palace, and Shebna the secretary, and Joah son of Asaph, the recorder, came to Hezekiah with their clothes torn and told him the words of the Rabshakeh.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t When King Hezekiah heard it, he tore his clothes, covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t And he sent Eliakim, who was in charge of the palace, and Shebna the secretary, and the senior priests, covered with sackcloth, to the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz.\r\n\t\t\t They said to him, \"Thus says Hezekiah, This day is a day of distress, of rebuke, and of disgrace; children have come to the birth, and there is no strength to bring them forth.\r\n\t\t\t It may be that the LORD your God heard all the words of the Rabshakeh, whom his master the king of Assyria has sent to mock the living God, and will rebuke the words that the LORD your God has heard; therefore lift up your prayer for the remnant that is left.\"\r\n\t\t\t When the servants of King Hezekiah came to Isaiah,\r\n\t\t\t Isaiah said to them, \"Say to your master, 'Thus says the LORD: Do not be afraid because of the words that you have heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have reviled me.\r\n\t\t\t I myself will put a spirit in him, so that he shall hear a rumor and return to his own land; I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land.'\"\r\n\t\t\t The Rabshakeh returned, and found the king of Assyria fighting against Libnah; for he had heard that the king had left Lachish.\r\n\t\t\t When the king heard concerning King Tirhakah of Ethiopia, \"See, he has set out to fight against you,\" he sent messengers again to Hezekiah, saying,\r\n\t\t\t \"Thus shall you speak to King Hezekiah of Judah: Do not let your God on whom you rely deceive you by promising that Jerusalem will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.\r\n\t\t\t See, you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands, destroying them utterly. Shall you be delivered?\r\n\t\t\t Have the gods of the nations delivered them, the nations that my predecessors destroyed, Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, and the people of Eden who were in Telassar?\r\n\t\t\t Where 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?\"\r\n\t\t\t Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it; then Hezekiah went up to the house of the LORD and spread it before the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD, and said: \"O LORD the God of Israel, who are enthroned above the cherubim, you are God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth.\r\n\t\t\t Incline your ear, O LORD, and hear; open your eyes, O LORD, and see; hear the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to mock the living God.\r\n\t\t\t Truly, O LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste the nations and their lands,\r\n\t\t\t and have hurled their gods into the fire, though they were no gods but the work of human hands-- wood and stone-- and so they were destroyed.\r\n\t\t\t So now, O LORD our God, save us, I pray you, from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you, O LORD, are God alone.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Isaiah son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, \"Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: I have heard your prayer to me about King Sennacherib of Assyria.\r\n\t\t\t This is the word that the LORD has spoken concerning him: She despises you, she scorns you-- virgin daughter Zion; she tosses her head-- behind your back, daughter Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t Whom have you mocked and reviled? Against whom have you raised your voice and haughtily lifted your eyes? Against the Holy One of Israel!\r\n\t\t\t By your messengers you have mocked the Lord, and you have said, 'With my many chariots I have gone up the heights of the mountains, to the far recesses of Lebanon; I felled its tallest cedars, its choicest cypresses; I entered its farthest retreat, its densest forest.\r\n\t\t\t I dug wells and drank foreign waters, I dried up with the sole of my foot all the streams of Egypt.'\r\n\t\t\t Have you not heard that I determined it long ago? I planned from days of old what now I bring to pass, that you should make fortified cities crash into heaps of ruins,\r\n\t\t\t while their inhabitants, shorn of strength, are dismayed and confounded; they have become like plants of the field and like tender grass, like grass on the housetops, blighted before it is grown.\r\n\t\t\t \"But I know your rising and your sitting, your going out and coming in, and your raging against me. \r\n\t\t\t Because you have raged against me and your arrogance has come to my ears, I will put my hook in your nose and my bit in your mouth; I will turn you back on the way by which you came.\r\n\t\t\t \"And this shall be the sign for you: This year you shall eat what grows of itself, and in the second year what springs from that; then in the third year sow, reap, plant vineyards, and eat their fruit.\r\n\t\t\t The surviving remnant of the house of Judah shall again take root downward, and bear fruit upward;\r\n\t\t\t for from Jerusalem a remnant shall go out, and from Mount Zion a band of survivors. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.\r\n\t\t\t \"Therefore thus says the LORD concerning the king of Assyria: He shall not come into this city, shoot an arrow there, come before it with a shield, or cast up a siege ramp against it.\r\n\t\t\t By the way that he came, by the same he shall return; he shall not come into this city, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t For I will defend this city to save it, for my own sake and for the sake of my servant David.\"\r\n\t\t\t That very night the angel of the LORD set out and struck down one hundred eighty-five thousand in the camp of the Assyrians; when morning dawned, they were all dead bodies.\r\n\t\t\t Then King Sennacherib of Assyria left, went home, and lived at Nineveh.\r\n\t\t\t As he was worshiping in the house of his god Nisroch, his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer killed him with the sword, and they escaped into the land of Ararat. His son Esar-haddon succeeded him.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t In those days Hezekiah became sick and was at the point of death. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz came to him, and said to him, \"Thus says the LORD: Set your house in order, for you shall die; you shall not recover.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD:\r\n\t\t\t \"Remember now, O LORD, I implore you, how I have walked before you in faithfulness with a whole heart, and have done what is good in your sight.\" Hezekiah wept bitterly.\r\n\t\t\t Before Isaiah had gone out of the middle court, the word of the LORD came to him:\r\n\t\t\t \"Turn back, and say to Hezekiah prince of my people, Thus says the LORD, the God of your ancestor David: I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; indeed, I will heal you; on the third day you shall go up to the house of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t I will add fifteen years to your life. I will deliver you and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; I will defend this city for my own sake and for my servant David's sake.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Isaiah said, \"Bring a lump of figs. Let them take it and apply it to the boil, so that he may recover.\"\r\n\t\t\t Hezekiah said to Isaiah, \"What shall be the sign that the LORD will heal me, and that I shall go up to the house of the LORD on the third day?\"\r\n\t\t\t Isaiah said, \"This is the sign to you from the LORD, that the LORD will do the thing that he has promised: the shadow has now advanced ten intervals; shall it retreat ten intervals?\"\r\n\t\t\t Hezekiah answered, \"It is normal for the shadow to lengthen ten intervals; rather let the shadow retreat ten intervals.\"\r\n\t\t\t The prophet Isaiah cried to the LORD; and he brought the shadow back the ten intervals, by which the sun had declined on the dial of Ahaz. \r\n\t\t\t At that time King Merodach-baladan son of Baladan of Babylon sent envoys with letters and a present to Hezekiah, for he had heard that Hezekiah had been sick.\r\n\t\t\t Hezekiah welcomed them; he showed them all his treasure house, the silver, the gold, the spices, the precious oil, his armory, all that was found in his storehouses; there was nothing in his house or in all his realm that Hezekiah did not show them. \r\n\t\t\t Then the prophet Isaiah came to King Hezekiah, and said to him, \"What did these men say? From where did they come to you?\" Hezekiah answered, \"They have come from a far country, from Babylon.\"\r\n\t\t\t He said, \"What have they seen in your house?\" Hezekiah answered, \"They have seen all that is in my house; there is nothing in my storehouses that I did not show them.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, \"Hear the word of the LORD:\r\n\t\t\t Days are coming when all that is in your house, and that which your ancestors have stored up until this day, shall be carried to Babylon; nothing shall be left, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Some of your own sons who are born to you shall be taken away; they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, \"The word of the LORD that you have spoken is good.\" For he thought, \"Why not, if there will be peace and security in my days?\"\r\n\t\t\t The rest of the deeds of Hezekiah, all his power, how he made the pool and the conduit and brought water into the city, are they not written in the Book of the Annals of the Kings of Judah?\r\n\t\t\t Hezekiah slept with his ancestors; and his son Manasseh succeeded him.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign; he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Hephzibah.\r\n\t\t\t He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, following the abominable practices of the nations that the LORD drove out before the people of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t For he rebuilt the high places that his father Hezekiah had destroyed; he erected altars for Baal, made a sacred pole, as King Ahab of Israel had done, worshiped all the host of heaven, and served them. \r\n\t\t\t He built altars in the house of the LORD, of which the LORD had said, \"In Jerusalem I will put my name.\"\r\n\t\t\t He built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t He made his son pass through fire; he practiced soothsaying and augury, and dealt with mediums and with wizards. He did much evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking him to anger.\r\n\t\t\t The carved image of Asherah that he had made he set in the house of which the LORD said to David and to his son Solomon, \"In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put my name forever;\r\n\t\t\t I will not cause the feet of Israel to wander any more out of the land that I gave to their ancestors, if only they will be careful to do according to all that I have commanded them, and according to all the law that my servant Moses commanded them.\"\r\n\t\t\t But they did not listen; Manasseh misled them to do more evil than the nations had done that the LORD destroyed before the people of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD said by his servants the prophets,\r\n\t\t\t \"Because King Manasseh of Judah has committed these abominations, has done things more wicked than all that the Amorites did, who were before him, and has caused Judah also to sin with his idols;\r\n\t\t\t therefore thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, I am bringing upon Jerusalem and Judah such evil that the ears of everyone who hears of it will tingle.\r\n\t\t\t I will stretch over Jerusalem the measuring line for Samaria, and the plummet for the house of Ahab; I will wipe Jerusalem as one wipes a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down.\r\n\t\t\t I will cast off the remnant of my heritage, and give them into the hand of their enemies; they shall become a prey and a spoil to all their enemies,\r\n\t\t\t because they have done what is evil in my sight and have provoked me to anger, since the day their ancestors came out of Egypt, even to this day.\"\r\n\t\t\t Moreover Manasseh shed very much innocent blood, until he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another, besides the sin that he caused Judah to sin so that they did what was evil in the sight of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, all that he did, and the sin that he committed, are they not written in the Book of the Annals of the Kings of Judah?\r\n\t\t\t Manasseh slept with his ancestors, and was buried in the garden of his house, in the garden of Uzza. His son Amon succeeded him.\r\n\t\t\t Amon was twenty-two years old when he began to reign; he reigned two years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Meshullemeth daughter of Haruz of Jotbah.\r\n\t\t\t He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, as his father Manasseh had done.\r\n\t\t\t He walked in all the way in which his father walked, served the idols that his father served, and worshiped them;\r\n\t\t\t he abandoned the LORD, the God of his ancestors, and did not walk in the way of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t The servants of Amon conspired against him, and killed the king in his house.\r\n\t\t\t But the people of the land killed all those who had conspired against King Amon, and the people of the land made his son Josiah king in place of him.\r\n\t\t\t Now the rest of the acts of Amon that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Annals of the Kings of Judah?\r\n\t\t\t He was buried in his tomb in the garden of Uzza; then his son Josiah succeeded him.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign; he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jedidah daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath.\r\n\t\t\t He did what was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in all the way of his father David; he did not turn aside to the right or to the left.\r\n\t\t\t In the eighteenth year of King Josiah, the king sent Shaphan son of Azaliah, son of Meshullam, the secretary, to the house of the LORD, saying,\r\n\t\t\t \"Go up to the high priest Hilkiah, and have him count the entire sum of the money that has been brought into the house of the LORD, which the keepers of the threshold have collected from the people;\r\n\t\t\t let it be given into the hand of the workers who have the oversight of the house of the LORD; let them give it to the workers who are at the house of the LORD, repairing the house,\r\n\t\t\t that is, to the carpenters, to the builders, to the masons; and let them use it to buy timber and quarried stone to repair the house.\r\n\t\t\t But no accounting shall be asked from them for the money that is delivered into their hand, for they deal honestly.\"\r\n\t\t\t The high priest Hilkiah said to Shaphan the secretary, \"I have found the book of the law in the house of the LORD.\" When Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, he read it.\r\n\t\t\t Then Shaphan the secretary came to the king, and reported to the king, \"Your servants have emptied out the money that was found in the house, and have delivered it into the hand of the workers who have oversight of the house of the LORD.\"\r\n\t\t\t Shaphan the secretary informed the king, \"The priest Hilkiah has given me a book.\" Shaphan then read it aloud to the king.\r\n\t\t\t When the king heard the words of the book of the law, he tore his clothes.\r\n\t\t\t Then the king commanded the priest Hilkiah, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Achbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the secretary, and the king's servant Asaiah, saying,\r\n\t\t\t \"Go, inquire of the LORD for me, for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that has been found; for great is the wrath of the LORD that is kindled against us, because our ancestors did not obey the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us.\"\r\n\t\t\t So the priest Hilkiah, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went to the prophetess Huldah the wife of Shallum son of Tikvah, son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe; she resided in Jerusalem in the Second Quarter, where they consulted her.\r\n\t\t\t She declared to them, \"Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Tell the man who sent you to me,\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD, I will indeed bring disaster on this place and on its inhabitants-- all the words of the book that the king of Judah has read.\r\n\t\t\t Because they have abandoned me and have made offerings to other gods, so that they have provoked me to anger with all the work of their hands, therefore my wrath will be kindled against this place, and it will not be quenched.\r\n\t\t\t But as to the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the LORD, thus shall you say to him, Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Regarding the words that you have heard,\r\n\t\t\t because your heart was penitent, and you humbled yourself before the LORD, when you heard how I spoke against this place, and against its inhabitants, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and because you have torn your clothes and wept before me, I also have heard you, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore, I will gather you to your ancestors, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace; your eyes shall not see all the disaster that I will bring on this place.\" They took the message back to the king.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then the king directed that all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem should be gathered to him.\r\n\t\t\t The king went up to the house of the LORD, and with him went all the people of Judah, all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the priests, the prophets, and all the people, both small and great; he read in their hearing all the words of the book of the covenant that had been found in the house of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t The king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before the LORD, to follow the LORD, keeping his commandments, his decrees, and his statutes, with all his heart and all his soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. All the people joined in the covenant.\r\n\t\t\t The king commanded the high priest Hilkiah, the priests of the second order, and the guardians of the threshold, to bring out of the temple of the LORD all the vessels made for Baal, for Asherah, and for all the host of heaven; he burned them outside Jerusalem in the fields of the Kidron, and carried their ashes to Bethel.\r\n\t\t\t He deposed the idolatrous priests whom the kings of Judah had ordained to make offerings in the high places at the cities of Judah and around Jerusalem; those also who made offerings to Baal, to the sun, the moon, the constellations, and all the host of the heavens.\r\n\t\t\t He brought out the image of Asherah from the house of the LORD, outside Jerusalem, to the Wadi Kidron, burned it at the Wadi Kidron, beat it to dust and threw the dust of it upon the graves of the common people. \r\n\t\t\t He broke down the houses of the male temple prostitutes that were in the house of the LORD, where the women did weaving for Asherah.\r\n\t\t\t He brought all the priests out of the towns of Judah, and defiled the high places where the priests had made offerings, from Geba to Beer-sheba; he broke down the high places of the gates that were at the entrance of the gate of Joshua the governor of the city, which were on the left at the gate of the city.\r\n\t\t\t The priests of the high places, however, did not come up to the altar of the LORD in Jerusalem, but ate unleavened bread among their kindred.\r\n\t\t\t He defiled Topheth, which is in the valley of Ben-hinnom, so that no one would make a son or a daughter pass through fire as an offering to Molech.\r\n\t\t\t He removed the horses that the kings of Judah had dedicated to the sun, at the entrance to the house of the LORD, by the chamber of the eunuch Nathan-melech, which was in the precincts; then he burned the chariots of the sun with fire. \r\n\t\t\t The altars on the roof of the upper chamber of Ahaz, which the kings of Judah had made, and the altars that Manasseh had made in the two courts of the house of the LORD, he pulled down from there and broke in pieces, and threw the rubble into the Wadi Kidron.\r\n\t\t\t The king defiled the high places that were east of Jerusalem, to the south of the Mount of Destruction, which King Solomon of Israel had built for Astarte the abomination of the Sidonians, for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, and for Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.\r\n\t\t\t He broke the pillars in pieces, cut down the sacred poles, and covered the sites with human bones. \r\n\t\t\t Moreover, the altar at Bethel, the high place erected by Jeroboam son of Nebat, who caused Israel to sin-- he pulled down that altar along with the high place. He burned the high place, crushing it to dust; he also burned the sacred pole.\r\n\t\t\t As Josiah turned, he saw the tombs there on the mount; and he sent and took the bones out of the tombs, and burned them on the altar, and defiled it, according to the word of the LORD that the man of God proclaimed, when Jeroboam stood by the altar at the festival; he turned and looked up at the tomb of the man of God who had predicted these things. \r\n\t\t\t Then he said, \"What is that monument that I see?\" The people of the city told him, \"It is the tomb of the man of God who came from Judah and predicted these things that you have done against the altar at Bethel.\"\r\n\t\t\t He said, \"Let him rest; let no one move his bones.\" So they let his bones alone, with the bones of the prophet who came out of Samaria.\r\n\t\t\t Moreover, Josiah removed all the shrines of the high places that were in the towns of Samaria, which kings of Israel had made, provoking the LORD to anger; he did to them just as he had done at Bethel.\r\n\t\t\t He slaughtered on the altars all the priests of the high places who were there, and burned human bones on them. Then he returned to Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t The king commanded all the people, \"Keep the passover to the LORD your God as prescribed in this book of the covenant.\"\r\n\t\t\t No such passover had been kept since the days of the judges who judged Israel, or during all the days of the kings of Israel or of the kings of Judah;\r\n\t\t\t but in the eighteenth year of King Josiah this passover was kept to the LORD in Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t Moreover Josiah put away the mediums, wizards, teraphim, idols, and all the abominations that were seen in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, so that he established the words of the law that were written in the book that the priest Hilkiah had found in the house of the LORD. \r\n\t\t\t Before him there was no king like him, who turned to the LORD with all his heart, with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; nor did any like him arise after him.\r\n\t\t\t Still the LORD did not turn from the fierceness of his great wrath, by which his anger was kindled against Judah, because of all the provocations with which Manasseh had provoked him.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD said, \"I will remove Judah also out of my sight, as I have removed Israel; and I will reject this city that I have chosen, Jerusalem, and the house of which I said, My name shall be there.\"\r\n\t\t\t Now the rest of the acts of Josiah, and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Annals of the Kings of Judah?\r\n\t\t\t In his days Pharaoh Neco king of Egypt went up to the king of Assyria to the river Euphrates. King Josiah went to meet him; but when Pharaoh Neco met him at Megiddo, he killed him.\r\n\t\t\t His servants carried him dead in a chariot from Megiddo, brought him to Jerusalem, and buried him in his own tomb. The people of the land took Jehoahaz son of Josiah, anointed him, and made him king in place of his father.\r\n\t\t\t Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he began to reign; he reigned three months in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Hamutal daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.\r\n\t\t\t He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, just as his ancestors had done.\r\n\t\t\t Pharaoh Neco confined him at Riblah in the land of Hamath, so that he might not reign in Jerusalem, and imposed tribute on the land of one hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold.\r\n\t\t\t Pharaoh Neco made Eliakim son of Josiah king in place of his father Josiah, and changed his name to Jehoiakim. But he took Jehoahaz away; he came to Egypt, and died there.\r\n\t\t\t Jehoiakim gave the silver and the gold to Pharaoh, but he taxed the land in order to meet Pharaoh's demand for money. He exacted the silver and the gold from the people of the land, from all according to their assessment, to give it to Pharaoh Neco.\r\n\t\t\t Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he began to reign; he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Zebidah daughter of Pedaiah of Rumah.\r\n\t\t\t He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, just as all his ancestors had done.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t In his days King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came up; Jehoiakim became his servant for three years; then he turned and rebelled against him.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD sent against him bands of the Chaldeans, bands of the Arameans, bands of the Moabites, and bands of the Ammonites; he sent them against Judah to destroy it, according to the word of the LORD that he spoke by his servants the prophets.\r\n\t\t\t Surely this came upon Judah at the command of the LORD, to remove them out of his sight, for the sins of Manasseh, for all that he had committed,\r\n\t\t\t and also for the innocent blood that he had shed; for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood, and the LORD was not willing to pardon.\r\n\t\t\t Now the rest of the deeds of Jehoiakim, and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Annals of the Kings of Judah?\r\n\t\t\t So Jehoiakim slept with his ancestors; then his son Jehoiachin succeeded him.\r\n\t\t\t The king of Egypt did not come again out of his land, for the king of Babylon had taken over all that belonged to the king of Egypt from the Wadi of Egypt to the River Euphrates.\r\n\t\t\t Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he began to reign; he reigned three months in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Nehushta daughter of Elnathan of Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, just as his father had done.\r\n\t\t\t At that time the servants of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came up to Jerusalem, and the city was besieged.\r\n\t\t\t King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came to the city, while his servants were besieging it;\r\n\t\t\t King Jehoiachin of Judah gave himself up to the king of Babylon, himself, his mother, his servants, his officers, and his palace officials. The king of Babylon took him prisoner in the eighth year of his reign.\r\n\t\t\t He carried off all the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king's house; he cut in pieces all the vessels of gold in the temple of the LORD, which King Solomon of Israel had made, all this as the LORD had foretold.\r\n\t\t\t He carried away all Jerusalem, all the officials, all the warriors, ten thousand captives, all the artisans and the smiths; no one remained, except the poorest people of the land.\r\n\t\t\t He carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon; the king's mother, the king's wives, his officials, and the elite of the land, he took into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon.\r\n\t\t\t The king of Babylon brought captive to Babylon all the men of valor, seven thousand, the artisans and the smiths, one thousand, all of them strong and fit for war.\r\n\t\t\t The king of Babylon made Mattaniah, Jehoiachin's uncle, king in his place, and changed his name to Zedekiah.\r\n\t\t\t Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he began to reign; he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Hamutal daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.\r\n\t\t\t He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, just as Jehoiakim had done.\r\n\t\t\t Indeed, Jerusalem and Judah so angered the LORD that he expelled them from his presence. Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t And in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, on the tenth day of the month, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came with all his army against Jerusalem, and laid siege to it; they built siegeworks against it all around.\r\n\t\t\t So the city was besieged until the eleventh year of King Zedekiah.\r\n\t\t\t On the ninth day of the fourth month the famine became so severe in the city that there was no food for the people of the land.\r\n\t\t\t Then a breach was made in the city wall; the king with all the soldiers fled by night by the way of the gate between the two walls, by the king's garden, though the Chaldeans were all around the city. They went in the direction of the Arabah. \r\n\t\t\t But the army of the Chaldeans pursued the king, and overtook him in the plains of Jericho; all his army was scattered, deserting him.\r\n\t\t\t Then they captured the king and brought him up to the king of Babylon at Riblah, who passed sentence on him.\r\n\t\t\t They slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, then put out the eyes of Zedekiah; they bound him in fetters and took him to Babylon.\r\n\t\t\t In the fifth month, on the seventh day of the month-- which was the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon-- Nebuzaradan, the captain of the bodyguard, a servant of the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t He burned the house of the LORD, the king's house, and all the houses of Jerusalem; every great house he burned down.\r\n\t\t\t All the army of the Chaldeans who were with the captain of the guard broke down the walls around Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried into exile the rest of the people who were left in the city and the deserters who had defected to the king of Babylon-- all the rest of the population.\r\n\t\t\t But the captain of the guard left some of the poorest people of the land to be vinedressers and tillers of the soil.\r\n\t\t\t The bronze pillars that were in the house of the LORD, as well as the stands and the bronze sea that were in the house of the LORD, the Chaldeans broke in pieces, and carried the bronze to Babylon.\r\n\t\t\t They took away the pots, the shovels, the snuffers, the dishes for incense, and all the bronze vessels used in the temple service,\r\n\t\t\t as well as the firepans and the basins. What was made of gold the captain of the guard took away for the gold, and what was made of silver, for the silver.\r\n\t\t\t As for the two pillars, the one sea, and the stands, which Solomon had made for the house of the LORD, the bronze of all these vessels was beyond weighing.\r\n\t\t\t The height of the one pillar was eighteen cubits, and on it was a bronze capital; the height of the capital was three cubits; latticework and pomegranates, all of bronze, were on the capital all around. The second pillar had the same, with the latticework.\r\n\t\t\t The captain of the guard took the chief priest Seraiah, the second priest Zephaniah, and the three guardians of the threshold;\r\n\t\t\t from the city he took an officer who had been in command of the soldiers, and five men of the king's council who were found in the city; the secretary who was the commander of the army who mustered the people of the land; and sixty men of the people of the land who were found in the city.\r\n\t\t\t Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard took them, and brought them to the king of Babylon at Riblah.\r\n\t\t\t The king of Babylon struck them down and put them to death at Riblah in the land of Hamath. So Judah went into exile out of its land.\r\n\t\t\t He appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam son of Shaphan as governor over the people who remained in the land of Judah, whom King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had left.\r\n\t\t\t Now when all the captains of the forces and their men heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah as governor, they came with their men to Gedaliah at Mizpah, namely, Ishmael son of Nethaniah, Johanan son of Kareah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, and Jaazaniah son of the Maacathite.\r\n\t\t\t Gedaliah swore to them and their men, saying, \"Do not be afraid because of the Chaldean officials; live in the land, serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be well with you.\"\r\n\t\t\t But in the seventh month, Ishmael son of Nethaniah son of Elishama, of the royal family, came with ten men; they struck down Gedaliah so that he died, along with the Judeans and Chaldeans who were with him at Mizpah.\r\n\t\t\t Then all the people, high and low and the captains of the forces set out and went to Egypt; for they were afraid of the Chaldeans. \r\n\t\t\t In the thirty-seventh year of the exile of King Jehoiachin of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, King Evil-merodach of Babylon, in the year that he began to reign, released King Jehoiachin of Judah from prison;\r\n\t\t\t he spoke kindly to him, and gave him a seat above the other seats of the kings who were with him in Babylon.\r\n\t\t\t So Jehoiachin put aside his prison clothes. Every day of his life he dined regularly in the king's presence.\r\n\t\t\t For his allowance, a regular allowance was given him by the king, a portion every day, as long as he lived.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Adam, Seth, Enosh;\r\n\t\t\t Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared;\r\n\t\t\t Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech;\r\n\t\t\t Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.\r\n\t\t\t The descendants of Japheth: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras.\r\n\t\t\t The descendants of Gomer: Ashkenaz, Diphath, and Togarmah. \r\n\t\t\t The descendants of Javan: Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Rodanim. \r\n\t\t\t The descendants of Ham: Cush, Egypt, Put, and Canaan.\r\n\t\t\t The descendants of Cush: Seba, Havilah, Sabta, Raama, and Sabteca. The descendants of Raamah: Sheba and Dedan.\r\n\t\t\t Cush became the father of Nimrod; he was the first to be a mighty one on the earth.\r\n\t\t\t Egypt became the father of Ludim, Anamim, Lehabim, Naphtuhim,\r\n\t\t\t Pathrusim, Casluhim, and Caphtorim, from whom the Philistines come. \r\n\t\t\t Canaan became the father of Sidon his firstborn, and Heth,\r\n\t\t\t and the Jebusites, the Amorites, the Girgashites,\r\n\t\t\t the Hivites, the Arkites, the Sinites,\r\n\t\t\t the Arvadites, the Zemarites, and the Hamathites.\r\n\t\t\t The descendants of Shem: Elam, Asshur, Arpachshad, Lud, Aram, Uz, Hul, Gether, and Meshech. \r\n\t\t\t Arpachshad became the father of Shelah; and Shelah became the father of Eber.\r\n\t\t\t To Eber were born two sons: the name of the one was Peleg (for in his days the earth was divided), and the name of his brother Joktan.\r\n\t\t\t Joktan became the father of Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah,\r\n\t\t\t Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah,\r\n\t\t\t Ebal, Abimael, Sheba,\r\n\t\t\t Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab; all these were the descendants of Joktan.\r\n\t\t\t Shem, Arpachshad, Shelah;\r\n\t\t\t Eber, Peleg, Reu;\r\n\t\t\t Serug, Nahor, Terah;\r\n\t\t\t Abram, that is, Abraham.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Abraham: Isaac and Ishmael.\r\n\t\t\t These are their genealogies: the firstborn of Ishmael, Nebaioth; and Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam,\r\n\t\t\t Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadad, Tema,\r\n\t\t\t Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. These are the sons of Ishmael.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Keturah, Abraham's concubine: she bore Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. The sons of Jokshan: Sheba and Dedan.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Midian: Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the descendants of Keturah.\r\n\t\t\t Abraham became the father of Isaac. The sons of Isaac: Esau and Israel.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Esau: Eliphaz, Reuel, Jeush, Jalam, and Korah.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Eliphaz: Teman, Omar, Zephi, Gatam, Kenaz, Timna, and Amalek.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Reuel: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Seir: Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Lotan: Hori and Homam; and Lotan's sister was Timna.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Shobal: Alian, Manahath, Ebal, Shephi, and Onam. The sons of Zibeon: Aiah and Anah.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Anah: Dishon. The sons of Dishon: Hamran, Eshban, Ithran, and Cheran.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Ezer: Bilhan, Zaavan, and Jaakan. The sons of Dishan: Uz and Aran.\r\n\t\t\t These are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before any king reigned over the Israelites: Bela son of Beor, whose city was called Dinhabah.\r\n\t\t\t When Bela died, Jobab son of Zerah of Bozrah succeeded him.\r\n\t\t\t When Jobab died, Husham of the land of the Temanites succeeded him.\r\n\t\t\t When Husham died, Hadad son of Bedad, who defeated Midian in the country of Moab, succeeded him; and the name of his city was Avith.\r\n\t\t\t When Hadad died, Samlah of Masrekah succeeded him.\r\n\t\t\t When Samlah died, Shaul of Rehoboth on the Euphrates succeeded him. \r\n\t\t\t When Shaul died, Baal-hanan son of Achbor succeeded him. \r\n\t\t\t When Baal-hanan died, Hadad succeeded him; the name of his city was Pai, and his wife's name Mehetabel daughter of Matred, daughter of Me-zahab.\r\n\t\t\t And Hadad died. The clans of Edom were: clans Timna, Aliah, Jetheth, \r\n\t\t\t Oholibamah, Elah, Pinon,\r\n\t\t\t Kenaz, Teman, Mibzar,\r\n\t\t\t Magdiel, and Iram; these are the clans of Edom. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t These are the sons of Israel: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun,\r\n\t\t\t Dan, Joseph, Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, and Shelah; these three the Canaanite woman Bath-shua bore to him. Now Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD, and he put him to death.\r\n\t\t\t His daughter-in-law Tamar also bore him Perez and Zerah. Judah had five sons in all.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Perez: Hezron and Hamul.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Zerah: Zimri, Ethan, Heman, Calcol, and Dara, five in all. \r\n\t\t\t The sons of Carmi: Achar, the troubler of Israel, who transgressed in the matter of the devoted thing;\r\n\t\t\t and Ethan's son was Azariah.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Hezron, who were born to him: Jerahmeel, Ram, and Chelubai.\r\n\t\t\t Ram became the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab became the father of Nahshon, prince of the sons of Judah.\r\n\t\t\t Nahshon became the father of Salma, Salma of Boaz,\r\n\t\t\t Boaz of Obed, Obed of Jesse.\r\n\t\t\t Jesse became the father of Eliab his firstborn, Abinadab the second, Shimea the third,\r\n\t\t\t Nethanel the fourth, Raddai the fifth,\r\n\t\t\t Ozem the sixth, David the seventh;\r\n\t\t\t and their sisters were Zeruiah and Abigail. The sons of Zeruiah: Abishai, Joab, and Asahel, three.\r\n\t\t\t Abigail bore Amasa, and the father of Amasa was Jether the Ishmaelite.\r\n\t\t\t Caleb son of Hezron had children by his wife Azubah, and by Jerioth; these were her sons: Jesher, Shobab, and Ardon.\r\n\t\t\t When Azubah died, Caleb married Ephrath, who bore him Hur.\r\n\t\t\t Hur became the father of Uri, and Uri became the father of Bezalel.\r\n\t\t\t Afterward Hezron went in to the daughter of Machir father of Gilead, whom he married when he was sixty years old; and she bore him Segub;\r\n\t\t\t and Segub became the father of Jair, who had twenty-three towns in the land of Gilead.\r\n\t\t\t But Geshur and Aram took from them Havvoth-jair, Kenath and its villages, sixty towns. All these were descendants of Machir, father of Gilead.\r\n\t\t\t After the death of Hezron, in Caleb-ephrathah, Abijah wife of Hezron bore him Ashhur, father of Tekoa.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Jerahmeel, the firstborn of Hezron: Ram his firstborn, Bunah, Oren, Ozem, and Ahijah.\r\n\t\t\t Jerahmeel also had another wife, whose name was Atarah; she was the mother of Onam.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Ram, the firstborn of Jerahmeel: Maaz, Jamin, and Eker.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Onam: Shammai and Jada. The sons of Shammai: Nadab and Abishur.\r\n\t\t\t The name of Abishur's wife was Abihail, and she bore him Ahban and Molid.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Nadab: Seled and Appaim; and Seled died childless.\r\n\t\t\t The son of Appaim: Ishi. The son of Ishi: Sheshan. The son of Sheshan: Ahlai. \r\n\t\t\t The sons of Jada, Shammai's brother: Jether and Jonathan; and Jether died childless.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Jonathan: Peleth and Zaza. These were the descendants of Jerahmeel.\r\n\t\t\t Now Sheshan had no sons, only daughters; but Sheshan had an Egyptian slave, whose name was Jarha.\r\n\t\t\t So Sheshan gave his daughter in marriage to his slave Jarha; and she bore him Attai.\r\n\t\t\t Attai became the father of Nathan, and Nathan of Zabad.\r\n\t\t\t Zabad became the father of Ephlal, and Ephlal of Obed.\r\n\t\t\t Obed became the father of Jehu, and Jehu of Azariah.\r\n\t\t\t Azariah became the father of Helez, and Helez of Eleasah.\r\n\t\t\t Eleasah became the father of Sismai, and Sismai of Shallum.\r\n\t\t\t Shallum became the father of Jekamiah, and Jekamiah of Elishama.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Caleb brother of Jerahmeel: Mesha his firstborn, who was father of Ziph. The sons of Mareshah father of Hebron. \r\n\t\t\t The sons of Hebron: Korah, Tappuah, Rekem, and Shema.\r\n\t\t\t Shema became father of Raham, father of Jorkeam; and Rekem became the father of Shammai.\r\n\t\t\t The son of Shammai: Maon; and Maon was the father of Beth-zur.\r\n\t\t\t Ephah also, Caleb's concubine, bore Haran, Moza, and Gazez; and Haran became the father of Gazez.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Jahdai: Regem, Jotham, Geshan, Pelet, Ephah, and Shaaph.\r\n\t\t\t Maacah, Caleb's concubine, bore Sheber and Tirhanah.\r\n\t\t\t She also bore Shaaph father of Madmannah, Sheva father of Machbenah and father of Gibea; and the daughter of Caleb was Achsah.\r\n\t\t\t These were the descendants of Caleb. The sons of Hur the firstborn of Ephrathah: Shobal father of Kiriath-jearim, \r\n\t\t\t Salma father of Bethlehem, and Hareph father of Beth-gader.\r\n\t\t\t Shobal father of Kiriath-jearim had other sons: Haroeh, half of the Menuhoth.\r\n\t\t\t And the families of Kiriath-jearim: the Ithrites, the Puthites, the Shumathites, and the Mishraites; from these came the Zorathites and the Eshtaolites.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Salma: Bethlehem, the Netophathites, Atroth-beth-joab, and half of the Manahathites, the Zorites.\r\n\t\t\t The families also of the scribes that lived at Jabez: the Tirathites, the Shimeathites, and the Sucathites. These are the Kenites who came from Hammath, father of the house of Rechab.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t These are the sons of David who were born to him in Hebron: the firstborn Amnon, by Ahinoam the Jezreelite; the second Daniel, by Abigail the Carmelite;\r\n\t\t\t the third Absalom, son of Maacah, daughter of King Talmai of Geshur; the fourth Adonijah, son of Haggith;\r\n\t\t\t the fifth Shephatiah, by Abital; the sixth Ithream, by his wife Eglah;\r\n\t\t\t six were born to him in Hebron, where he reigned for seven years and six months. And he reigned thirty-three years in Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t These were born to him in Jerusalem: Shimea, Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon, four by Bath-shua, daughter of Ammiel;\r\n\t\t\t then Ibhar, Elishama, Eliphelet,\r\n\t\t\t Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia,\r\n\t\t\t Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet, nine.\r\n\t\t\t All these were David's sons, besides the sons of the concubines; and Tamar was their sister.\r\n\t\t\t The descendants of Solomon: Rehoboam, Abijah his son, Asa his son, Jehoshaphat his son,\r\n\t\t\t Joram his son, Ahaziah his son, Joash his son,\r\n\t\t\t Amaziah his son, Azariah his son, Jotham his son,\r\n\t\t\t Ahaz his son, Hezekiah his son, Manasseh his son,\r\n\t\t\t Amon his son, Josiah his son.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Josiah: Johanan the firstborn, the second Jehoiakim, the third Zedekiah, the fourth Shallum.\r\n\t\t\t The descendants of Jehoiakim: Jeconiah his son, Zedekiah his son;\r\n\t\t\t and the sons of Jeconiah, the captive: Shealtiel his son,\r\n\t\t\t Malchiram, Pedaiah, Shenazzar, Jekamiah, Hoshama, and Nedabiah;\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Pedaiah: Zerubbabel and Shimei; and the sons of Zerubbabel: Meshullam and Hananiah, and Shelomith was their sister;\r\n\t\t\t and Hashubah, Ohel, Berechiah, Hasadiah, and Jushab-hesed, five.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Hananiah: Pelatiah and Jeshaiah, his son Rephaiah, his son Arnan, his son Obadiah, his son Shecaniah. \r\n\t\t\t The son of Shecaniah: Shemaiah. And the sons of Shemaiah: Hattush, Igal, Bariah, Neariah, and Shaphat, six. \r\n\t\t\t The sons of Neariah: Elioenai, Hizkiah, and Azrikam, three.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Elioenai: Hodaviah, Eliashib, Pelaiah, Akkub, Johanan, Delaiah, and Anani, seven.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Judah: Perez, Hezron, Carmi, Hur, and Shobal.\r\n\t\t\t Reaiah son of Shobal became the father of Jahath, and Jahath became the father of Ahumai and Lahad. These were the families of the Zorathites.\r\n\t\t\t These were the sons of Etam: Jezreel, Ishma, and Idbash; and the name of their sister was Hazzelelponi, \r\n\t\t\t and Penuel was the father of Gedor, and Ezer the father of Hushah. These were the sons of Hur, the firstborn of Ephrathah, the father of Bethlehem.\r\n\t\t\t Ashhur father of Tekoa had two wives, Helah and Naarah;\r\n\t\t\t Naarah bore him Ahuzzam, Hepher, Temeni, and Haahashtari. These were the sons of Naarah. \r\n\t\t\t The sons of Helah: Zereth, Izhar, and Ethnan. \r\n\t\t\t Koz became the father of Anub, Zobebah, and the families of Aharhel son of Harum.\r\n\t\t\t Jabez was honored more than his brothers; and his mother named him Jabez, saying, \"Because I bore him in pain.\"\r\n\t\t\t Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, \"Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from hurt and harm!\" And God granted what he asked.\r\n\t\t\t Chelub the brother of Shuhah became the father of Mehir, who was the father of Eshton.\r\n\t\t\t Eshton became the father of Beth-rapha, Paseah, and Tehinnah the father of Ir-nahash. These are the men of Recah.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Kenaz: Othniel and Seraiah; and the sons of Othniel: Hathath and Meonothai. \r\n\t\t\t Meonothai became the father of Ophrah; and Seraiah became the father of Joab father of Ge-harashim, so-called because they were artisans. \r\n\t\t\t The sons of Caleb son of Jephunneh: Iru, Elah, and Naam; and the son of Elah: Kenaz. \r\n\t\t\t The sons of Jehallelel: Ziph, Ziphah, Tiria, and Asarel.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Ezrah: Jether, Mered, Epher, and Jalon. These are the sons of Bithiah, daughter of Pharaoh, whom Mered married; and she conceived and bore Miriam, Shammai, and Ishbah father of Eshtemoa. \r\n\t\t\t And his Judean wife bore Jered father of Gedor, Heber father of Soco, and Jekuthiel father of Zanoah.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of the wife of Hodiah, the sister of Naham, were the fathers of Keilah the Garmite and Eshtemoa the Maacathite.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Shimon: Amnon, Rinnah, Ben-hanan, and Tilon. The sons of Ishi: Zoheth and Ben-zoheth.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Shelah son of Judah: Er father of Lecah, Laadah father of Mareshah, and the families of the guild of linen workers at Beth-ashbea;\r\n\t\t\t and Jokim, and the men of Cozeba, and Joash, and Saraph, who married into Moab but returned to Lehem (now the records are ancient). \r\n\t\t\t These were the potters and inhabitants of Netaim and Gederah; they lived there with the king in his service.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Simeon: Nemuel, Jamin, Jarib, Zerah, Shaul; \r\n\t\t\t Shallum was his son, Mibsam his son, Mishma his son.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Mishma: Hammuel his son, Zaccur his son, Shimei his son.\r\n\t\t\t Shimei had sixteen sons and six daughters; but his brothers did not have many children, nor did all their family multiply like the Judeans.\r\n\t\t\t They lived in Beer-sheba, Moladah, Hazar-shual,\r\n\t\t\t Bilhah, Ezem, Tolad,\r\n\t\t\t Bethuel, Hormah, Ziklag,\r\n\t\t\t Beth-marcaboth, Hazar-susim, Beth-biri, and Shaaraim. These were their towns until David became king.\r\n\t\t\t And their villages were Etam, Ain, Rimmon, Tochen, and Ashan, five towns,\r\n\t\t\t along with all their villages that were around these towns as far as Baal. These were their settlements. And they kept a genealogical record.\r\n\t\t\t Meshobab, Jamlech, Joshah son of Amaziah,\r\n\t\t\t Joel, Jehu son of Joshibiah son of Seraiah son of Asiel,\r\n\t\t\t Elioenai, Jaakobah, Jeshohaiah, Asaiah, Adiel, Jesimiel, Benaiah,\r\n\t\t\t Ziza son of Shiphi son of Allon son of Jedaiah son of Shimri son of Shemaiah--\r\n\t\t\t these mentioned by name were leaders in their families, and their clans increased greatly.\r\n\t\t\t They journeyed to the entrance of Gedor, to the east side of the valley, to seek pasture for their flocks,\r\n\t\t\t where they found rich, good pasture, and the land was very broad, quiet, and peaceful; for the former inhabitants there belonged to Ham.\r\n\t\t\t These, registered by name, came in the days of King Hezekiah of Judah, and attacked their tents and the Meunim who were found there, and exterminated them to this day, and settled in their place, because there was pasture there for their flocks.\r\n\t\t\t And some of them, five hundred men of the Simeonites, went to Mount Seir, having as their leaders Pelatiah, Neariah, Rephaiah, and Uzziel, sons of Ishi;\r\n\t\t\t they destroyed the remnant of the Amalekites that had escaped, and they have lived there to this day.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel. (He was the firstborn, but because he defiled his father's bed his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph son of Israel, so that he is not enrolled in the genealogy according to the birthright;\r\n\t\t\t though Judah became prominent among his brothers and a ruler came from him, yet the birthright belonged to Joseph.)\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Joel: Shemaiah his son, Gog his son, Shimei his son,\r\n\t\t\t Micah his son, Reaiah his son, Baal his son,\r\n\t\t\t Beerah his son, whom King Tilgath-pilneser of Assyria carried away into exile; he was a chieftain of the Reubenites.\r\n\t\t\t And his kindred by their families, when the genealogy of their generations was reckoned: the chief, Jeiel, and Zechariah,\r\n\t\t\t and Bela son of Azaz, son of Shema, son of Joel, who lived in Aroer, as far as Nebo and Baal-meon.\r\n\t\t\t He also lived to the east as far as the beginning of the desert this side of the Euphrates, because their cattle had multiplied in the land of Gilead.\r\n\t\t\t And in the days of Saul they made war on the Hagrites, who fell by their hand; and they lived in their tents throughout all the region east of Gilead.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Gad lived beside them in the land of Bashan as far as Salecah:\r\n\t\t\t Joel the chief, Shapham the second, Janai, and Shaphat in Bashan.\r\n\t\t\t And their kindred according to their clans: Michael, Meshullam, Sheba, Jorai, Jacan, Zia, and Eber, seven.\r\n\t\t\t These were the sons of Abihail son of Huri, son of Jaroah, son of Gilead, son of Michael, son of Jeshishai, son of Jahdo, son of Buz;\r\n\t\t\t Ahi son of Abdiel, son of Guni, was chief in their clan;\r\n\t\t\t and they lived in Gilead, in Bashan and in its towns, and in all the pasture lands of Sharon to their limits.\r\n\t\t\t All of these were enrolled by genealogies in the days of King Jotham of Judah, and in the days of King Jeroboam of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t The Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh had valiant warriors, who carried shield and sword, and drew the bow, expert in war, forty-four thousand seven hundred sixty, ready for service.\r\n\t\t\t They made war on the Hagrites, Jetur, Naphish, and Nodab;\r\n\t\t\t and when they received help against them, the Hagrites and all who were with them were given into their hands, for they cried to God in the battle, and he granted their entreaty because they trusted in him.\r\n\t\t\t They captured their livestock: fifty thousand of their camels, two hundred fifty thousand sheep, two thousand donkeys, and one hundred thousand captives.\r\n\t\t\t Many fell slain, because the war was of God. And they lived in their territory until the exile.\r\n\t\t\t The members of the half-tribe of Manasseh lived in the land; they were very numerous from Bashan to Baal-hermon, Senir, and Mount Hermon.\r\n\t\t\t These were the heads of their clans: Epher, Ishi, Eliel, Azriel, Jeremiah, Hodaviah, and Jahdiel, mighty warriors, famous men, heads of their clans. \r\n\t\t\t But they transgressed against the God of their ancestors, and prostituted themselves to the gods of the peoples of the land, whom God had destroyed before them.\r\n\t\t\t So the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of King Pul of Assyria, the spirit of King Tilgath-pilneser of Assyria, and he carried them away, namely, the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, and brought them to Halah, Habor, Hara, and the river Gozan, to this day.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Levi: Gershom, Kohath, and Merari. \r\n\t\t\t The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.\r\n\t\t\t The children of Amram: Aaron, Moses, and Miriam. The sons of Aaron: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.\r\n\t\t\t Eleazar became the father of Phinehas, Phinehas of Abishua,\r\n\t\t\t Abishua of Bukki, Bukki of Uzzi,\r\n\t\t\t Uzzi of Zerahiah, Zerahiah of Meraioth,\r\n\t\t\t Meraioth of Amariah, Amariah of Ahitub,\r\n\t\t\t Ahitub of Zadok, Zadok of Ahimaaz,\r\n\t\t\t Ahimaaz of Azariah, Azariah of Johanan,\r\n\t\t\t and Johanan of Azariah (it was he who served as priest in the house that Solomon built in Jerusalem).\r\n\t\t\t Azariah became the father of Amariah, Amariah of Ahitub,\r\n\t\t\t Ahitub of Zadok, Zadok of Shallum,\r\n\t\t\t Shallum of Hilkiah, Hilkiah of Azariah,\r\n\t\t\t Azariah of Seraiah, Seraiah of Jehozadak;\r\n\t\t\t and Jehozadak went into exile when the LORD sent Judah and Jerusalem into exile by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Levi: Gershom, Kohath, and Merari.\r\n\t\t\t These are the names of the sons of Gershom: Libni and Shimei.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. These are the clans of the Levites according to their ancestry.\r\n\t\t\t Of Gershom: Libni his son, Jahath his son, Zimmah his son,\r\n\t\t\t Joah his son, Iddo his son, Zerah his son, Jeatherai his son.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Kohath: Amminadab his son, Korah his son, Assir his son,\r\n\t\t\t Elkanah his son, Ebiasaph his son, Assir his son,\r\n\t\t\t Tahath his son, Uriel his son, Uzziah his son, and Shaul his son.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Elkanah: Amasai and Ahimoth,\r\n\t\t\t Elkanah his son, Zophai his son, Nahath his son,\r\n\t\t\t Eliab his son, Jeroham his son, Elkanah his son.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Samuel: Joel his firstborn, the second Abijah. \r\n\t\t\t The sons of Merari: Mahli, Libni his son, Shimei his son, Uzzah his son,\r\n\t\t\t Shimea his son, Haggiah his son, and Asaiah his son.\r\n\t\t\t These are the men whom David put in charge of the service of song in the house of the LORD, after the ark came to rest there.\r\n\t\t\t They ministered with song before the tabernacle of the tent of meeting, until Solomon had built the house of the LORD in Jerusalem; and they performed their service in due order.\r\n\t\t\t These are the men who served; and their sons were: Of the Kohathites: Heman, the singer, son of Joel, son of Samuel,\r\n\t\t\t son of Elkanah, son of Jeroham, son of Eliel, son of Toah,\r\n\t\t\t son of Zuph, son of Elkanah, son of Mahath, son of Amasai,\r\n\t\t\t son of Elkanah, son of Joel, son of Azariah, son of Zephaniah,\r\n\t\t\t son of Tahath, son of Assir, son of Ebiasaph, son of Korah,\r\n\t\t\t son of Izhar, son of Kohath, son of Levi, son of Israel;\r\n\t\t\t and his brother Asaph, who stood on his right, namely, Asaph son of Berechiah, son of Shimea,\r\n\t\t\t son of Michael, son of Baaseiah, son of Malchijah,\r\n\t\t\t son of Ethni, son of Zerah, son of Adaiah,\r\n\t\t\t son of Ethan, son of Zimmah, son of Shimei,\r\n\t\t\t son of Jahath, son of Gershom, son of Levi.\r\n\t\t\t On the left were their kindred the sons of Merari: Ethan son of Kishi, son of Abdi, son of Malluch,\r\n\t\t\t son of Hashabiah, son of Amaziah, son of Hilkiah,\r\n\t\t\t son of Amzi, son of Bani, son of Shemer,\r\n\t\t\t son of Mahli, son of Mushi, son of Merari, son of Levi;\r\n\t\t\t and their kindred the Levites were appointed for all the service of the tabernacle of the house of God.\r\n\t\t\t But Aaron and his sons made offerings on the altar of burnt offering and on the altar of incense, doing all the work of the most holy place, to make atonement for Israel, according to all that Moses the servant of God had commanded.\r\n\t\t\t These are the sons of Aaron: Eleazar his son, Phinehas his son, Abishua his son,\r\n\t\t\t Bukki his son, Uzzi his son, Zerahiah his son,\r\n\t\t\t Meraioth his son, Amariah his son, Ahitub his son,\r\n\t\t\t Zadok his son, Ahimaaz his son.\r\n\t\t\t These are their dwelling places according to their settlements within their borders: to the sons of Aaron of the families of Kohathites-- for the lot fell to them first--\r\n\t\t\t to them they gave Hebron in the land of Judah and its surrounding pasture lands,\r\n\t\t\t but the fields of the city and its villages they gave to Caleb son of Jephunneh.\r\n\t\t\t To the sons of Aaron they gave the cities of refuge: Hebron, Libnah with its pasture lands, Jattir, Eshtemoa with its pasture lands,\r\n\t\t\t Hilen with its pasture lands, Debir with its pasture lands, \r\n\t\t\t Ashan with its pasture lands, and Beth-shemesh with its pasture lands.\r\n\t\t\t From the tribe of Benjamin, Geba with its pasture lands, Alemeth with its pasture lands, and Anathoth with its pasture lands. All their towns throughout their families were thirteen.\r\n\t\t\t To the rest of the Kohathites were given by lot out of the family of the tribe, out of the half-tribe, the half of Manasseh, ten towns.\r\n\t\t\t To the Gershomites according to their families were allotted thirteen towns out of the tribes of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and Manasseh in Bashan.\r\n\t\t\t To the Merarites according to their families were allotted twelve towns out of the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun.\r\n\t\t\t So the people of Israel gave the Levites the towns with their pasture lands.\r\n\t\t\t They also gave them by lot out of the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin these towns that are mentioned by name.\r\n\t\t\t And some of the families of the sons of Kohath had towns of their territory out of the tribe of Ephraim.\r\n\t\t\t They were given the cities of refuge: Shechem with its pasture lands in the hill country of Ephraim, Gezer with its pasture lands,\r\n\t\t\t Jokmeam with its pasture lands, Beth-horon with its pasture lands,\r\n\t\t\t Aijalon with its pasture lands, Gath-rimmon with its pasture lands;\r\n\t\t\t and out of the half-tribe of Manasseh, Aner with its pasture lands, and Bileam with its pasture lands, for the rest of the families of the Kohathites.\r\n\t\t\t To the Gershomites: out of the half-tribe of Manasseh: Golan in Bashan with its pasture lands and Ashtaroth with its pasture lands;\r\n\t\t\t and out of the tribe of Issachar: Kedesh with its pasture lands, Daberath with its pasture lands, \r\n\t\t\t Ramoth with its pasture lands, and Anem with its pasture lands;\r\n\t\t\t out of the tribe of Asher: Mashal with its pasture lands, Abdon with its pasture lands,\r\n\t\t\t Hukok with its pasture lands, and Rehob with its pasture lands;\r\n\t\t\t and out of the tribe of Naphtali: Kedesh in Galilee with its pasture lands, Hammon with its pasture lands, and Kiriathaim with its pasture lands.\r\n\t\t\t To the rest of the Merarites out of the tribe of Zebulun: Rimmono with its pasture lands, Tabor with its pasture lands,\r\n\t\t\t and across the Jordan from Jericho, on the east side of the Jordan, out of the tribe of Reuben: Bezer in the steppe with its pasture lands, Jahzah with its pasture lands,\r\n\t\t\t Kedemoth with its pasture lands, and Mephaath with its pasture lands;\r\n\t\t\t and out of the tribe of Gad: Ramoth in Gilead with its pasture lands, Mahanaim with its pasture lands,\r\n\t\t\t Heshbon with its pasture lands, and Jazer with its pasture lands.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Issachar: Tola, Puah, Jashub, and Shimron, four. \r\n\t\t\t The sons of Tola: Uzzi, Rephaiah, Jeriel, Jahmai, Ibsam, and Shemuel, heads of their ancestral houses, namely of Tola, mighty warriors of their generations, their number in the days of David being twenty-two thousand six hundred.\r\n\t\t\t The son of Uzzi: Izrahiah. And the sons of Izrahiah: Michael, Obadiah, Joel, and Isshiah, five, all of them chiefs;\r\n\t\t\t and along with them, by their generations, according to their ancestral houses, were units of the fighting force, thirty-six thousand, for they had many wives and sons.\r\n\t\t\t Their kindred belonging to all the families of Issachar were in all eighty-seven thousand mighty warriors, enrolled by genealogy.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Benjamin: Bela, Becher, and Jediael, three.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Bela: Ezbon, Uzzi, Uzziel, Jerimoth, and Iri, five, heads of ancestral houses, mighty warriors; and their enrollment by genealogies was twenty-two thousand thirty-four.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Becher: Zemirah, Joash, Eliezer, Elioenai, Omri, Jeremoth, Abijah, Anathoth, and Alemeth. All these were the sons of Becher;\r\n\t\t\t and their enrollment by genealogies, according to their generations, as heads of their ancestral houses, mighty warriors, was twenty thousand two hundred.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Jediael: Bilhan. And the sons of Bilhan: Jeush, Benjamin, Ehud, Chenaanah, Zethan, Tarshish, and Ahishahar.\r\n\t\t\t All these were the sons of Jediael according to the heads of their ancestral houses, mighty warriors, seventeen thousand two hundred, ready for service in war.\r\n\t\t\t And Shuppim and Huppim were the sons of Ir, Hushim the son of Aher. \r\n\t\t\t The descendants of Naphtali: Jahziel, Guni, Jezer, and Shallum, the descendants of Bilhah.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Manasseh: Asriel, whom his Aramean concubine bore; she bore Machir the father of Gilead.\r\n\t\t\t And Machir took a wife for Huppim and for Shuppim. The name of his sister was Maacah. And the name of the second was Zelophehad; and Zelophehad had daughters.\r\n\t\t\t Maacah the wife of Machir bore a son, and she named him Peresh; the name of his brother was Sheresh; and his sons were Ulam and Rekem.\r\n\t\t\t The son of Ulam: Bedan. These were the sons of Gilead son of Machir, son of Manasseh. \r\n\t\t\t And his sister Hammolecheth bore Ishhod, Abiezer, and Mahlah.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Shemida were Ahian, Shechem, Likhi, and Aniam.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Ephraim: Shuthelah, and Bered his son, Tahath his son, Eleadah his son, Tahath his son,\r\n\t\t\t Zabad his son, Shuthelah his son, and Ezer and Elead. Now the people of Gath, who were born in the land, killed them, because they came down to raid their cattle.\r\n\t\t\t And their father Ephraim mourned many days, and his brothers came to comfort him.\r\n\t\t\t Ephraim went in to his wife, and she conceived and bore a son; and he named him Beriah, because disaster had befallen his house. \r\n\t\t\t His daughter was Sheerah, who built both Lower and Upper Beth-horon, and Uzzen-sheerah.\r\n\t\t\t Rephah was his son, Resheph his son, Telah his son, Tahan his son,\r\n\t\t\t Ladan his son, Ammihud his son, Elishama his son,\r\n\t\t\t Nun his son, Joshua his son.\r\n\t\t\t Their possessions and settlements were Bethel and its towns, and eastward Naaran, and westward Gezer and its towns, Shechem and its towns, as far as Ayyah and its towns;\r\n\t\t\t also along the borders of the Manassites, Beth-shean and its towns, Taanach and its towns, Megiddo and its towns, Dor and its towns. In these lived the sons of Joseph son of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Asher: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, Beriah, and their sister Serah.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Beriah: Heber and Malchiel, who was the father of Birzaith.\r\n\t\t\t Heber became the father of Japhlet, Shomer, Hotham, and their sister Shua.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Japhlet: Pasach, Bimhal, and Ashvath. These are the sons of Japhlet.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Shemer: Ahi, Rohgah, Hubbah, and Aram.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Helem his brother: Zophah, Imna, Shelesh, and Amal. \r\n\t\t\t The sons of Zophah: Suah, Harnepher, Shual, Beri, Imrah,\r\n\t\t\t Bezer, Hod, Shamma, Shilshah, Ithran, and Beera.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Jether: Jephunneh, Pispa, and Ara.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Ulla: Arah, Hanniel, and Rizia.\r\n\t\t\t All of these were men of Asher, heads of ancestral houses, select mighty warriors, chief of the princes. Their number enrolled by genealogies, for service in war, was twenty-six thousand men.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Benjamin became the father of Bela his firstborn, Ashbel the second, Aharah the third,\r\n\t\t\t Nohah the fourth, and Rapha the fifth.\r\n\t\t\t And Bela had sons: Addar, Gera, Abihud, \r\n\t\t\t Abishua, Naaman, Ahoah,\r\n\t\t\t Gera, Shephuphan, and Huram.\r\n\t\t\t These are the sons of Ehud (they were heads of ancestral houses of the inhabitants of Geba, and they were carried into exile to Manahath):\r\n\t\t\t Naaman, Ahijah, and Gera, that is, Heglam, who became the father of Uzza and Ahihud. \r\n\t\t\t And Shaharaim had sons in the country of Moab after he had sent away his wives Hushim and Baara.\r\n\t\t\t He had sons by his wife Hodesh: Jobab, Zibia, Mesha, Malcam,\r\n\t\t\t Jeuz, Sachia, and Mirmah. These were his sons, heads of ancestral houses.\r\n\t\t\t He also had sons by Hushim: Abitub and Elpaal.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Elpaal: Eber, Misham, and Shemed, who built Ono and Lod with its towns,\r\n\t\t\t and Beriah and Shema (they were heads of ancestral houses of the inhabitants of Aijalon, who put to flight the inhabitants of Gath);\r\n\t\t\t and Ahio, Shashak, and Jeremoth.\r\n\t\t\t Zebadiah, Arad, Eder,\r\n\t\t\t Michael, Ishpah, and Joha were sons of Beriah.\r\n\t\t\t Zebadiah, Meshullam, Hizki, Heber,\r\n\t\t\t Ishmerai, Izliah, and Jobab were the sons of Elpaal.\r\n\t\t\t Jakim, Zichri, Zabdi,\r\n\t\t\t Elienai, Zillethai, Eliel,\r\n\t\t\t Adaiah, Beraiah, and Shimrath were the sons of Shimei.\r\n\t\t\t Ishpan, Eber, Eliel,\r\n\t\t\t Abdon, Zichri, Hanan,\r\n\t\t\t Hananiah, Elam, Anthothijah,\r\n\t\t\t Iphdeiah, and Penuel were the sons of Shashak.\r\n\t\t\t Shamsherai, Shehariah, Athaliah,\r\n\t\t\t Jaareshiah, Elijah, and Zichri were the sons of Jeroham.\r\n\t\t\t These were the heads of ancestral houses, according to their generations, chiefs. These lived in Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t Jeiel the father of Gibeon lived in Gibeon, and the name of his wife was Maacah. \r\n\t\t\t His firstborn son: Abdon, then Zur, Kish, Baal, Nadab, \r\n\t\t\t Gedor, Ahio, Zecher,\r\n\t\t\t and Mikloth, who became the father of Shimeah. Now these also lived opposite their kindred in Jerusalem, with their kindred.\r\n\t\t\t Ner became the father of Kish, Kish of Saul, Saul of Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and Esh-baal; \r\n\t\t\t and the son of Jonathan was Merib-baal; and Merib-baal became the father of Micah.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Micah: Pithon, Melech, Tarea, and Ahaz.\r\n\t\t\t Ahaz became the father of Jehoaddah; and Jehoaddah became the father of Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri; Zimri became the father of Moza.\r\n\t\t\t Moza became the father of Binea; Raphah was his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son.\r\n\t\t\t Azel had six sons, and these are their names: Azrikam, Bocheru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan; all these were the sons of Azel.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of his brother Eshek: Ulam his firstborn, Jeush the second, and Eliphelet the third.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Ulam were mighty warriors, archers, having many children and grandchildren, one hundred fifty. All these were Benjaminites.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t So all Israel was enrolled by genealogies; and these are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel. And Judah was taken into exile in Babylon because of their unfaithfulness.\r\n\t\t\t Now the first to live again in their possessions in their towns were Israelites, priests, Levites, and temple servants.\r\n\t\t\t And some of the people of Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh lived in Jerusalem:\r\n\t\t\t Uthai son of Ammihud, son of Omri, son of Imri, son of Bani, from the sons of Perez son of Judah.\r\n\t\t\t And of the Shilonites: Asaiah the firstborn, and his sons.\r\n\t\t\t Of the sons of Zerah: Jeuel and their kin, six hundred ninety.\r\n\t\t\t Of the Benjaminites: Sallu son of Meshullam, son of Hodaviah, son of Hassenuah,\r\n\t\t\t Ibneiah son of Jeroham, Elah son of Uzzi, son of Michri, and Meshullam son of Shephatiah, son of Reuel, son of Ibnijah;\r\n\t\t\t and their kindred according to their generations, nine hundred fifty-six. All these were heads of families according to their ancestral houses.\r\n\t\t\t Of the priests: Jedaiah, Jehoiarib, Jachin,\r\n\t\t\t and Azariah son of Hilkiah, son of Meshullam, son of Zadok, son of Meraioth, son of Ahitub, the chief officer of the house of God;\r\n\t\t\t and Adaiah son of Jeroham, son of Pashhur, son of Malchijah, and Maasai son of Adiel, son of Jahzerah, son of Meshullam, son of Meshillemith, son of Immer;\r\n\t\t\t besides their kindred, heads of their ancestral houses, one thousand seven hundred sixty, qualified for the work of the service of the house of God.\r\n\t\t\t Of the Levites: Shemaiah son of Hasshub, son of Azrikam, son of Hashabiah, of the sons of Merari;\r\n\t\t\t and Bakbakkar, Heresh, Galal, and Mattaniah son of Mica, son of Zichri, son of Asaph;\r\n\t\t\t and Obadiah son of Shemaiah, son of Galal, son of Jeduthun, and Berechiah son of Asa, son of Elkanah, who lived in the villages of the Netophathites.\r\n\t\t\t The gatekeepers were: Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, Ahiman; and their kindred Shallum was the chief,\r\n\t\t\t stationed previously in the king's gate on the east side. These were the gatekeepers of the camp of the Levites.\r\n\t\t\t Shallum son of Kore, son of Ebiasaph, son of Korah, and his kindred of his ancestral house, the Korahites, were in charge of the work of the service, guardians of the thresholds of the tent, as their ancestors had been in charge of the camp of the LORD, guardians of the entrance.\r\n\t\t\t And Phinehas son of Eleazar was chief over them in former times; the LORD was with him.\r\n\t\t\t Zechariah son of Meshelemiah was gatekeeper at the entrance of the tent of meeting.\r\n\t\t\t All these, who were chosen as gatekeepers at the thresholds, were two hundred twelve. They were enrolled by genealogies in their villages. David and the seer Samuel established them in their office of trust.\r\n\t\t\t So they and their descendants were in charge of the gates of the house of the LORD, that is, the house of the tent, as guards.\r\n\t\t\t The gatekeepers were on the four sides, east, west, north, and south;\r\n\t\t\t and their kindred who were in their villages were obliged to come in every seven days, in turn, to be with them;\r\n\t\t\t for the four chief gatekeepers, who were Levites, were in charge of the chambers and the treasures of the house of God.\r\n\t\t\t And they would spend the night near the house of God; for on them lay the duty of watching, and they had charge of opening it every morning.\r\n\t\t\t Some of them had charge of the utensils of service, for they were required to count them when they were brought in and taken out.\r\n\t\t\t Others of them were appointed over the furniture, and over all the holy utensils, also over the choice flour, the wine, the oil, the incense, and the spices.\r\n\t\t\t Others, of the sons of the priests, prepared the mixing of the spices,\r\n\t\t\t and Mattithiah, one of the Levites, the firstborn of Shallum the Korahite, was in charge of making the flat cakes.\r\n\t\t\t Also some of their kindred of the Kohathites had charge of the rows of bread, to prepare them for each sabbath.\r\n\t\t\t Now these are the singers, the heads of ancestral houses of the Levites, living in the chambers of the temple free from other service, for they were on duty day and night.\r\n\t\t\t These were heads of ancestral houses of the Levites, according to their generations; these leaders lived in Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t In Gibeon lived the father of Gibeon, Jeiel, and the name of his wife was Maacah.\r\n\t\t\t His firstborn son was Abdon, then Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner, Nadab,\r\n\t\t\t Gedor, Ahio, Zechariah, and Mikloth;\r\n\t\t\t and Mikloth became the father of Shimeam; and these also lived opposite their kindred in Jerusalem, with their kindred.\r\n\t\t\t Ner became the father of Kish, Kish of Saul, Saul of Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and Esh-baal;\r\n\t\t\t and the son of Jonathan was Merib-baal; and Merib-baal became the father of Micah.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Micah: Pithon, Melech, Tahrea, and Ahaz; \r\n\t\t\t and Ahaz became the father of Jarah, and Jarah of Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri; and Zimri became the father of Moza.\r\n\t\t\t Moza became the father of Binea; and Rephaiah was his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son.\r\n\t\t\t Azel had six sons, and these are their names: Azrikam, Bocheru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan; these were the sons of Azel.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now the Philistines fought against Israel; and the men of Israel fled before the Philistines, and fell slain on Mount Gilboa.\r\n\t\t\t The Philistines overtook Saul and his sons; and the Philistines killed Jonathan and Abinadab and Malchishua, sons of Saul.\r\n\t\t\t The battle pressed hard on Saul; and the archers found him, and he was wounded by the archers.\r\n\t\t\t Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, \"Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, so that these uncircumcised may not come and make sport of me.\" But his armor-bearer was unwilling, for he was terrified. So Saul took his own sword and fell on it.\r\n\t\t\t When his armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell on his sword and died.\r\n\t\t\t Thus Saul died; he and his three sons and all his house died together.\r\n\t\t\t When all the men of Israel who were in the valley saw that the army had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned their towns and fled; and the Philistines came and occupied them. \r\n\t\t\t The next day when the Philistines came to strip the dead, they found Saul and his sons fallen on Mount Gilboa.\r\n\t\t\t They stripped him and took his head and his armor, and sent messengers throughout the land of the Philistines to carry the good news to their idols and to the people.\r\n\t\t\t They put his armor in the temple of their gods, and fastened his head in the temple of Dagon.\r\n\t\t\t But when all Jabesh-gilead heard everything that the Philistines had done to Saul,\r\n\t\t\t all the valiant warriors got up and took away the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons, and brought them to Jabesh. Then they buried their bones under the oak in Jabesh, and fasted seven days.\r\n\t\t\t So Saul died for his unfaithfulness; he was unfaithful to the LORD in that he did not keep the command of the LORD; moreover, he had consulted a medium, seeking guidance,\r\n\t\t\t and did not seek guidance from the LORD. Therefore the LORD put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then all Israel gathered together to David at Hebron and said, \"See, we are your bone and flesh.\r\n\t\t\t For some time now, even while Saul was king, it was you who commanded the army of Israel. The LORD your God said to you: It is you who shall be shepherd of my people Israel, you who shall be ruler over my people Israel.\"\r\n\t\t\t So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the LORD. And they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of the LORD by Samuel.\r\n\t\t\t David and all Israel marched to Jerusalem, that is Jebus, where the Jebusites were, the inhabitants of the land.\r\n\t\t\t The inhabitants of Jebus said to David, \"You will not come in here.\" Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion, now the city of David.\r\n\t\t\t David had said, \"Whoever attacks the Jebusites first shall be chief and commander.\" And Joab son of Zeruiah went up first, so he became chief.\r\n\t\t\t David resided in the stronghold; therefore it was called the city of David.\r\n\t\t\t He built the city all around, from the Millo in complete circuit; and Joab repaired the rest of the city.\r\n\t\t\t And David became greater and greater, for the LORD of hosts was with him.\r\n\t\t\t Now these are the chiefs of David's warriors, who gave him strong support in his kingdom, together with all Israel, to make him king, according to the word of the LORD concerning Israel.\r\n\t\t\t This is an account of David's mighty warriors: Jashobeam, son of Hachmoni, was chief of the Three; he wielded his spear against three hundred whom he killed at one time. \r\n\t\t\t And next to him among the three warriors was Eleazar son of Dodo, the Ahohite.\r\n\t\t\t He was with David at Pas-dammim when the Philistines were gathered there for battle. There was a plot of ground full of barley. Now the people had fled from the Philistines,\r\n\t\t\t but he and David took their stand in the middle of the plot, defended it, and killed the Philistines; and the LORD saved them by a great victory.\r\n\t\t\t Three of the thirty chiefs went down to the rock to David at the cave of Adullam, while the army of Philistines was encamped in the valley of Rephaim.\r\n\t\t\t David was then in the stronghold; and the garrison of the Philistines was then at Bethlehem.\r\n\t\t\t David said longingly, \"O that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem that is by the gate!\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the Three broke through the camp of the Philistines, and drew water from the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate, and they brought it to David. But David would not drink of it; he poured it out to the LORD,\r\n\t\t\t and said, \"My God forbid that I should do this. Can I drink the blood of these men? For at the risk of their lives they brought it.\" Therefore he would not drink it. The three warriors did these things.\r\n\t\t\t Now Abishai, the brother of Joab, was chief of the Thirty. With his spear he fought against three hundred and killed them, and won a name beside the Three. \r\n\t\t\t He was the most renowned of the Thirty, and became their commander; but he did not attain to the Three. \r\n\t\t\t Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a valiant man of Kabzeel, a doer of great deeds; he struck down two sons of Ariel of Moab. He also went down and killed a lion in a pit on a day when snow had fallen. \r\n\t\t\t And he killed an Egyptian, a man of great stature, five cubits tall. The Egyptian had in his hand a spear like a weaver's beam; but Benaiah went against him with a staff, snatched the spear out of the Egyptian's hand, and killed him with his own spear.\r\n\t\t\t Such were the things Benaiah son of Jehoiada did, and he won a name beside the three warriors.\r\n\t\t\t He was renowned among the Thirty, but he did not attain to the Three. And David put him in charge of his bodyguard.\r\n\t\t\t The warriors of the armies were Asahel brother of Joab, Elhanan son of Dodo of Bethlehem,\r\n\t\t\t Shammoth of Harod, Helez the Pelonite, \r\n\t\t\t Ira son of Ikkesh of Tekoa, Abiezer of Anathoth,\r\n\t\t\t Sibbecai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite,\r\n\t\t\t Maharai of Netophah, Heled son of Baanah of Netophah,\r\n\t\t\t Ithai son of Ribai of Gibeah of the Benjaminites, Benaiah of Pirathon,\r\n\t\t\t Hurai of the wadis of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite,\r\n\t\t\t Azmaveth of Baharum, Eliahba of Shaalbon,\r\n\t\t\t Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan son of Shagee the Hararite, \r\n\t\t\t Ahiam son of Sachar the Hararite, Eliphal son of Ur,\r\n\t\t\t Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite,\r\n\t\t\t Hezro of Carmel, Naarai son of Ezbai,\r\n\t\t\t Joel the brother of Nathan, Mibhar son of Hagri,\r\n\t\t\t Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai of Beeroth, the armor-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah,\r\n\t\t\t Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,\r\n\t\t\t Uriah the Hittite, Zabad son of Ahlai,\r\n\t\t\t Adina son of Shiza the Reubenite, a leader of the Reubenites, and thirty with him,\r\n\t\t\t Hanan son of Maacah, and Joshaphat the Mithnite,\r\n\t\t\t Uzzia the Ashterathite, Shama and Jeiel sons of Hotham the Aroerite,\r\n\t\t\t Jediael son of Shimri, and his brother Joha the Tizite,\r\n\t\t\t Eliel the Mahavite, and Jeribai and Joshaviah sons of Elnaam, and Ithmah the Moabite,\r\n\t\t\t Eliel, and Obed, and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The following are those who came to David at Ziklag, while he could not move about freely because of Saul son of Kish; they were among the mighty warriors who helped him in war.\r\n\t\t\t They were archers, and could shoot arrows and sling stones with either the right hand or the left; they were Benjaminites, Saul's kindred.\r\n\t\t\t The chief was Ahiezer, then Joash, both sons of Shemaah of Gibeah; also Jeziel and Pelet sons of Azmaveth; Beracah, Jehu of Anathoth,\r\n\t\t\t Ishmaiah of Gibeon, a warrior among the Thirty and a leader over the Thirty; Jeremiah, Jahaziel, Johanan, Jozabad of Gederah, \r\n\t\t\t Eluzai, Jerimoth, Bealiah, Shemariah, Shephatiah the Haruphite; \r\n\t\t\t Elkanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Joezer, and Jashobeam, the Korahites;\r\n\t\t\t and Joelah and Zebadiah, sons of Jeroham of Gedor.\r\n\t\t\t From the Gadites there went over to David at the stronghold in the wilderness mighty and experienced warriors, expert with shield and spear, whose faces were like the faces of lions, and who were swift as gazelles on the mountains:\r\n\t\t\t Ezer the chief, Obadiah second, Eliab third,\r\n\t\t\t Mishmannah fourth, Jeremiah fifth,\r\n\t\t\t Attai sixth, Eliel seventh,\r\n\t\t\t Johanan eighth, Elzabad ninth,\r\n\t\t\t Jeremiah tenth, Machbannai eleventh.\r\n\t\t\t These Gadites were officers of the army, the least equal to a hundred and the greatest to a thousand.\r\n\t\t\t These are the men who crossed the Jordan in the first month, when it was overflowing all its banks, and put to flight all those in the valleys, to the east and to the west.\r\n\t\t\t Some Benjaminites and Judahites came to the stronghold to David.\r\n\t\t\t David went out to meet them and said to them, \"If you have come to me in friendship, to help me, then my heart will be knit to you; but if you have come to betray me to my adversaries, though my hands have done no wrong, then may the God of our ancestors see and give judgment.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the spirit came upon Amasai, chief of the Thirty, and he said, \"We are yours, O David; and with you, O son of Jesse! Peace, peace to you, and peace to the one who helps you! For your God is the one who helps you.\" Then David received them, and made them officers of his troops.\r\n\t\t\t Some of the Manassites deserted to David when he came with the Philistines for the battle against Saul. (Yet he did not help them, for the rulers of the Philistines took counsel and sent him away, saying, \"He will desert to his master Saul at the cost of our heads.\")\r\n\t\t\t As he went to Ziklag these Manassites deserted to him: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai, chiefs of the thousands in Manasseh.\r\n\t\t\t They helped David against the band of raiders, for they were all warriors and commanders in the army.\r\n\t\t\t Indeed from day to day people kept coming to David to help him, until there was a great army, like an army of God.\r\n\t\t\t These are the numbers of the divisions of the armed troops who came to David in Hebron to turn the kingdom of Saul over to him, according to the word of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t The people of Judah bearing shield and spear numbered six thousand eight hundred armed troops.\r\n\t\t\t Of the Simeonites, mighty warriors, seven thousand one hundred.\r\n\t\t\t Of the Levites four thousand six hundred.\r\n\t\t\t Jehoiada, leader of the house of Aaron, and with him three thousand seven hundred.\r\n\t\t\t Zadok, a young warrior, and twenty-two commanders from his own ancestral house.\r\n\t\t\t Of the Benjaminites, the kindred of Saul, three thousand, of whom the majority had continued to keep their allegiance to the house of Saul.\r\n\t\t\t Of the Ephraimites, twenty thousand eight hundred, mighty warriors, notables in their ancestral houses.\r\n\t\t\t Of the half-tribe of Manasseh, eighteen thousand, who were expressly named to come and make David king.\r\n\t\t\t Of Issachar, those who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, two hundred chiefs, and all their kindred under their command.\r\n\t\t\t Of Zebulun, fifty thousand seasoned troops, equipped for battle with all the weapons of war, to help David with singleness of purpose. \r\n\t\t\t Of Naphtali, a thousand commanders, with whom there were thirty-seven thousand armed with shield and spear.\r\n\t\t\t Of the Danites, twenty-eight thousand six hundred equipped for battle.\r\n\t\t\t Of Asher, forty thousand seasoned troops ready for battle.\r\n\t\t\t Of the Reubenites and Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh from beyond the Jordan, one hundred twenty thousand armed with all the weapons of war.\r\n\t\t\t All these, warriors arrayed in battle order, came to Hebron with full intent to make David king over all Israel; likewise all the rest of Israel were of a single mind to make David king.\r\n\t\t\t They were there with David for three days, eating and drinking, for their kindred had provided for them.\r\n\t\t\t And also their neighbors, from as far away as Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, came bringing food on donkeys, camels, mules, and oxen-- abundant provisions of meal, cakes of figs, clusters of raisins, wine, oil, oxen, and sheep, for there was joy in Israel.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t David consulted with the commanders of the thousands and of the hundreds, with every leader.\r\n\t\t\t David said to the whole assembly of Israel, \"If it seems good to you, and if it is the will of the LORD our God, let us send abroad to our kindred who remain in all the land of Israel, including the priests and Levites in the cities that have pasture lands, that they may come together to us.\r\n\t\t\t Then let us bring again the ark of our God to us; for we did not turn to it in the days of Saul.\"\r\n\t\t\t The whole assembly agreed to do so, for the thing pleased all the people.\r\n\t\t\t So David assembled all Israel from the Shihor of Egypt to Lebo-hamath, to bring the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim.\r\n\t\t\t And David and all Israel went up to Baalah, that is, to Kiriath-jearim, which belongs to Judah, to bring up from there the ark of God, the LORD, who is enthroned on the cherubim, which is called by his name. \r\n\t\t\t They carried the ark of God on a new cart, from the house of Abinadab, and Uzzah and Ahio were driving the cart. \r\n\t\t\t David and all Israel were dancing before God with all their might, with song and lyres and harps and tambourines and cymbals and trumpets.\r\n\t\t\t When they came to the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzzah put out his hand to hold the ark, for the oxen shook it.\r\n\t\t\t The anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; he struck him down because he put out his hand to the ark; and he died there before God.\r\n\t\t\t David was angry because the LORD had burst out against Uzzah; so that place is called Perez-uzzah to this day. \r\n\t\t\t David was afraid of God that day; he said, \"How can I bring the ark of God into my care?\"\r\n\t\t\t So David did not take the ark into his care into the city of David; he took it instead to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.\r\n\t\t\t The ark of God remained with the household of Obed-edom in his house three months, and the LORD blessed the household of Obed-edom and all that he had.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t King Hiram of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedar logs, and masons and carpenters to build a house for him.\r\n\t\t\t David then perceived that the LORD had established him as king over Israel, and that his kingdom was highly exalted for the sake of his people Israel.\r\n\t\t\t David took more wives in Jerusalem, and David became the father of more sons and daughters.\r\n\t\t\t These are the names of the children whom he had in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, and Nathan; Solomon,\r\n\t\t\t Ibhar, Elishua, and Elpelet;\r\n\t\t\t Nogah, Nepheg, and Japhia;\r\n\t\t\t Elishama, Beeliada, and Eliphelet.\r\n\t\t\t When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, all the Philistines went up in search of David; and David heard of it and went out against them.\r\n\t\t\t Now the Philistines had come and made a raid in the valley of Rephaim.\r\n\t\t\t David inquired of God, \"Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you give them into my hand?\" The LORD said to him, \"Go up, and I will give them into your hand.\"\r\n\t\t\t So he went up to Baal-perazim, and David defeated them there. David said, \"God has burst out against my enemies by my hand, like a bursting flood.\" Therefore that place is called Baal-perazim. \r\n\t\t\t They abandoned their gods there, and at David's command they were burned.\r\n\t\t\t Once again the Philistines made a raid in the valley.\r\n\t\t\t When David again inquired of God, God said to him, \"You shall not go up after them; go around and come on them opposite the balsam trees.\r\n\t\t\t When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then go out to battle; for God has gone out before you to strike down the army of the Philistines.\"\r\n\t\t\t David did as God had commanded him, and they struck down the Philistine army from Gibeon to Gezer.\r\n\t\t\t The fame of David went out into all lands, and the LORD brought the fear of him on all nations.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t David built houses for himself in the city of David, and he prepared a place for the ark of God and pitched a tent for it. \r\n\t\t\t Then David commanded that no one but the Levites were to carry the ark of God, for the LORD had chosen them to carry the ark of the LORD and to minister to him forever.\r\n\t\t\t David assembled all Israel in Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the LORD to its place, which he had prepared for it.\r\n\t\t\t Then David gathered together the descendants of Aaron and the Levites:\r\n\t\t\t of the sons of Kohath, Uriel the chief, with one hundred twenty of his kindred;\r\n\t\t\t of the sons of Merari, Asaiah the chief, with two hundred twenty of his kindred;\r\n\t\t\t of the sons of Gershom, Joel the chief, with one hundred thirty of his kindred;\r\n\t\t\t of the sons of Elizaphan, Shemaiah the chief, with two hundred of his kindred;\r\n\t\t\t of the sons of Hebron, Eliel the chief, with eighty of his kindred;\r\n\t\t\t of the sons of Uzziel, Amminadab the chief, with one hundred twelve of his kindred.\r\n\t\t\t David summoned the priests Zadok and Abiathar, and the Levites Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab.\r\n\t\t\t He said to them, \"You are the heads of families of the Levites; sanctify yourselves, you and your kindred, so that you may bring up the ark of the LORD, the God of Israel, to the place that I have prepared for it.\r\n\t\t\t Because you did not carry it the first time, the LORD our God burst out against us, because we did not give it proper care.\" \r\n\t\t\t So the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of the LORD, the God of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t And the Levites carried the ark of God on their shoulders with the poles, as Moses had commanded according to the word of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t David also commanded the chiefs of the Levites to appoint their kindred as the singers to play on musical instruments, on harps and lyres and cymbals, to raise loud sounds of joy.\r\n\t\t\t So the Levites appointed Heman son of Joel; and of his kindred Asaph son of Berechiah; and of the sons of Merari, their kindred, Ethan son of Kushaiah;\r\n\t\t\t and with them their kindred of the second order, Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, and Mikneiah, and the gatekeepers Obed-edom and Jeiel.\r\n\t\t\t The singers Heman, Asaph, and Ethan were to sound bronze cymbals;\r\n\t\t\t Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah were to play harps according to Alamoth;\r\n\t\t\t but Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah were to lead with lyres according to the Sheminith.\r\n\t\t\t Chenaniah, leader of the Levites in music, was to direct the music, for he understood it.\r\n\t\t\t Berechiah and Elkanah were to be gatekeepers for the ark.\r\n\t\t\t Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer, the priests, were to blow the trumpets before the ark of God. Obed-edom and Jehiah also were to be gatekeepers for the ark.\r\n\t\t\t So David and the elders of Israel, and the commanders of the thousands, went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD from the house of Obed-edom with rejoicing.\r\n\t\t\t And because God helped the Levites who were carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams.\r\n\t\t\t David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, as also were all the Levites who were carrying the ark, and the singers, and Chenaniah the leader of the music of the singers; and David wore a linen ephod.\r\n\t\t\t So all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the LORD with shouting, to the sound of the horn, trumpets, and cymbals, and made loud music on harps and lyres.\r\n\t\t\t As the ark of the covenant of the LORD came to the city of David, Michal daughter of Saul looked out of the window, and saw King David leaping and dancing; and she despised him in her heart.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t They brought in the ark of God, and set it inside the tent that David had pitched for it; and they offered burnt offerings and offerings of well-being before God.\r\n\t\t\t When David had finished offering the burnt offerings and the offerings of well-being, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD;\r\n\t\t\t and he distributed to every person in Israel-- man and woman alike-- to each a loaf of bread, a portion of meat, and a cake of raisins.\r\n\t\t\t He appointed certain of the Levites as ministers before the ark of the LORD, to invoke, to thank, and to praise the LORD, the God of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t Asaph was the chief, and second to him Zechariah, Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-edom, and Jeiel, with harps and lyres; Asaph was to sound the cymbals,\r\n\t\t\t and the priests Benaiah and Jahaziel were to blow trumpets regularly, before the ark of the covenant of God.\r\n\t\t\t Then on that day David first appointed the singing of praises to the LORD by Asaph and his kindred.\r\n\t\t\t O give thanks to the LORD, call on his name, make known his deeds among the peoples.\r\n\t\t\t Sing to him, sing praises to him, tell of all his wonderful works.\r\n\t\t\t Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.\r\n\t\t\t Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his presence continually.\r\n\t\t\t Remember the wonderful works he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he uttered,\r\n\t\t\t O offspring of his servant Israel, children of Jacob, his chosen ones. \r\n\t\t\t He is the LORD our God; his judgments are in all the earth.\r\n\t\t\t Remember his covenant forever, the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations,\r\n\t\t\t the covenant that he made with Abraham, his sworn promise to Isaac,\r\n\t\t\t which he confirmed to Jacob as a statute, to Israel as an everlasting covenant,\r\n\t\t\t saying, \"To you I will give the land of Canaan as your portion for an inheritance.\"\r\n\t\t\t When they were few in number, of little account, and strangers in the land, \r\n\t\t\t wandering from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another people,\r\n\t\t\t he allowed no one to oppress them; he rebuked kings on their account,\r\n\t\t\t saying, \"Do not touch my anointed ones; do my prophets no harm.\"\r\n\t\t\t Sing to the LORD, all the earth. Tell of his salvation from day to day.\r\n\t\t\t Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples.\r\n\t\t\t For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; he is to be revered above all gods.\r\n\t\t\t For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the LORD made the heavens.\r\n\t\t\t Honor and majesty are before him; strength and joy are in his place.\r\n\t\t\t Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.\r\n\t\t\t Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering, and come before him. Worship the LORD in holy splendor;\r\n\t\t\t tremble before him, all the earth. The world is firmly established; it shall never be moved.\r\n\t\t\t Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice, and let them say among the nations, \"The LORD is king!\"\r\n\t\t\t Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it.\r\n\t\t\t Then shall the trees of the forest sing for joy before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth.\r\n\t\t\t O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever.\r\n\t\t\t Say also: \"Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather and rescue us from among the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name, and glory in your praise.\r\n\t\t\t Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting.\" Then all the people said \"Amen!\" and praised the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t David left Asaph and his kinsfolk there before the ark of the covenant of the LORD to minister regularly before the ark as each day required,\r\n\t\t\t and also Obed-edom and his sixty-eight kinsfolk; while Obed-edom son of Jeduthun and Hosah were to be gatekeepers. \r\n\t\t\t And he left the priest Zadok and his kindred the priests before the tabernacle of the LORD in the high place that was at Gibeon,\r\n\t\t\t to offer burnt offerings to the LORD on the altar of burnt offering regularly, morning and evening, according to all that is written in the law of the LORD that he commanded Israel.\r\n\t\t\t With them were Heman and Jeduthun, and the rest of those chosen and expressly named to render thanks to the LORD, for his steadfast love endures forever.\r\n\t\t\t Heman and Jeduthun had with them trumpets and cymbals for the music, and instruments for sacred song. The sons of Jeduthun were appointed to the gate.\r\n\t\t\t Then all the people departed to their homes, and David went home to bless his household.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now when David settled in his house, David said to the prophet Nathan, \"I am living in a house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of the LORD is under a tent.\"\r\n\t\t\t Nathan said to David, \"Do all that you have in mind, for God is with you.\"\r\n\t\t\t But that same night the word of the LORD came to Nathan, saying:\r\n\t\t\t Go and tell my servant David: Thus says the LORD: You shall not build me a house to live in.\r\n\t\t\t For I have not lived in a house since the day I brought out Israel to this very day, but I have lived in a tent and a tabernacle. \r\n\t\t\t Wherever I have moved about among all Israel, did I ever speak a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people, saying, Why have you not built me a house of cedar?\r\n\t\t\t Now therefore thus you shall say to my servant David: Thus says the LORD of hosts: I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people Israel;\r\n\t\t\t and I have been with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your enemies before you; and I will make for you a name, like the name of the great ones of the earth.\r\n\t\t\t I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, so that they may live in their own place, and be disturbed no more; and evildoers shall wear them down no more, as they did formerly,\r\n\t\t\t from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel; and I will subdue all your enemies. Moreover I declare to you that the LORD will build you a house.\r\n\t\t\t When your days are fulfilled to go to be with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring after you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom.\r\n\t\t\t He shall build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever.\r\n\t\t\t I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me. I will not take my steadfast love from him, as I took it from him who was before you,\r\n\t\t\t but I will confirm him in my house and in my kingdom forever, and his throne shall be established forever.\r\n\t\t\t In accordance with all these words and all this vision, Nathan spoke to David.\r\n\t\t\t Then King David went in and sat before the LORD, and said, \"Who am I, O LORD God, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far?\r\n\t\t\t And even this was a small thing in your sight, O God; you have also spoken of your servant's house for a great while to come. You regard me as someone of high rank, O LORD God! \r\n\t\t\t And what more can David say to you for honoring your servant? You know your servant.\r\n\t\t\t For your servant's sake, O LORD, and according to your own heart, you have done all these great deeds, making known all these great things.\r\n\t\t\t There is no one like you, O LORD, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears.\r\n\t\t\t Who is like your people Israel, one nation on the earth whom God went to redeem to be his people, making for yourself a name for great and terrible things, in driving out nations before your people whom you redeemed from Egypt?\r\n\t\t\t And you made your people Israel to be your people forever; and you, O LORD, became their God.\r\n\t\t\t \"And now, O LORD, as for the word that you have spoken concerning your servant and concerning his house, let it be established forever, and do as you have promised.\r\n\t\t\t Thus your name will be established and magnified forever in the saying, 'The LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, is Israel's God'; and the house of your servant David will be established in your presence.\r\n\t\t\t For you, my God, have revealed to your servant that you will build a house for him; therefore your servant has found it possible to pray before you.\r\n\t\t\t And now, O LORD, you are God, and you have promised this good thing to your servant;\r\n\t\t\t therefore may it please you to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever before you. For you, O LORD, have blessed and are blessed forever.\" \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Some time afterward, David attacked the Philistines and subdued them; he took Gath and its villages from the Philistines.\r\n\t\t\t He defeated Moab, and the Moabites became subject to David and brought tribute.\r\n\t\t\t David also struck down King Hadadezer of Zobah, toward Hamath, as he went to set up a monument at the river Euphrates.\r\n\t\t\t David took from him one thousand chariots, seven thousand cavalry, and twenty thousand foot soldiers. David hamstrung all the chariot horses, but left one hundred of them.\r\n\t\t\t When the Arameans of Damascus came to help King Hadadezer of Zobah, David killed twenty-two thousand Arameans.\r\n\t\t\t Then David put garrisons in Aram of Damascus; and the Arameans became subject to David, and brought tribute. The LORD gave victory to David wherever he went. \r\n\t\t\t David took the gold shields that were carried by the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t From Tibhath and from Cun, cities of Hadadezer, David took a vast quantity of bronze; with it Solomon made the bronze sea and the pillars and the vessels of bronze.\r\n\t\t\t When King Tou of Hamath heard that David had defeated the whole army of King Hadadezer of Zobah,\r\n\t\t\t he sent his son Hadoram to King David, to greet him and to congratulate him, because he had fought against Hadadezer and defeated him. Now Hadadezer had often been at war with Tou. He sent all sorts of articles of gold, of silver, and of bronze;\r\n\t\t\t these also King David dedicated to the LORD, together with the silver and gold that he had carried off from all the nations, from Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, and Amalek.\r\n\t\t\t Abishai son of Zeruiah killed eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.\r\n\t\t\t He put garrisons in Edom; and all the Edomites became subject to David. And the LORD gave victory to David wherever he went.\r\n\t\t\t So David reigned over all Israel; and he administered justice and equity to all his people.\r\n\t\t\t Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was recorder;\r\n\t\t\t Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were priests; Shavsha was secretary;\r\n\t\t\t Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David's sons were the chief officials in the service of the king.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Some time afterward, King Nahash of the Ammonites died, and his son succeeded him.\r\n\t\t\t David said, \"I will deal loyally with Hanun son of Nahash, for his father dealt loyally with me.\" So David sent messengers to console him concerning his father. When David's servants came to Hanun in the land of the Ammonites, to console him,\r\n\t\t\t the officials of the Ammonites said to Hanun, \"Do you think, because David has sent consolers to you, that he is honoring your father? Have not his servants come to you to search and to overthrow and to spy out the land?\"\r\n\t\t\t So Hanun seized David's servants, shaved them, cut off their garments in the middle at their hips, and sent them away;\r\n\t\t\t and they departed. When David was told about the men, he sent messengers to them, for they felt greatly humiliated. The king said, \"Remain at Jericho until your beards have grown, and then return.\"\r\n\t\t\t When the Ammonites saw that they had made themselves odious to David, Hanun and the Ammonites sent a thousand talents of silver to hire chariots and cavalry from Mesopotamia, from Aram-maacah and from Zobah.\r\n\t\t\t They hired thirty-two thousand chariots and the king of Maacah with his army, who came and camped before Medeba. And the Ammonites were mustered from their cities and came to battle.\r\n\t\t\t When David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the army of the warriors.\r\n\t\t\t The Ammonites came out and drew up in battle array at the entrance of the city, and the kings who had come were by themselves in the open country.\r\n\t\t\t When Joab saw that the line of battle was set against him both in front and in the rear, he chose some of the picked men of Israel and arrayed them against the Arameans;\r\n\t\t\t the rest of his troops he put in the charge of his brother Abishai, and they were arrayed against the Ammonites.\r\n\t\t\t He said, \"If the Arameans are too strong for me, then you shall help me; but if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will help you.\r\n\t\t\t Be strong, and let us be courageous for our people and for the cities of our God; and may the LORD do what seems good to him.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Joab and the troops who were with him advanced toward the Arameans for battle; and they fled before him.\r\n\t\t\t When the Ammonites saw that the Arameans fled, they likewise fled before Abishai, Joab's brother, and entered the city. Then Joab came to Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t But when the Arameans saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they sent messengers and brought out the Arameans who were beyond the Euphrates, with Shophach the commander of the army of Hadadezer at their head.\r\n\t\t\t When David was informed, he gathered all Israel together, crossed the Jordan, came to them, and drew up his forces against them. When David set the battle in array against the Arameans, they fought with him.\r\n\t\t\t The Arameans fled before Israel; and David killed seven thousand Aramean charioteers and forty thousand foot soldiers, and also killed Shophach the commander of their army.\r\n\t\t\t When the servants of Hadadezer saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they made peace with David, and became subject to him. So the Arameans were not willing to help the Ammonites any more.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, Joab led out the army, ravaged the country of the Ammonites, and came and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem. Joab attacked Rabbah, and overthrew it.\r\n\t\t\t David took the crown of Milcom from his head; he found that it weighed a talent of gold, and in it was a precious stone; and it was placed on David's head. He also brought out the booty of the city, a very great amount. \r\n\t\t\t He brought out the people who were in it, and set them to work with saws and iron picks and axes. Thus David did to all the cities of the Ammonites. Then David and all the people returned to Jerusalem. \r\n\t\t\t After this, war broke out with the Philistines at Gezer; then Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Sippai, who was one of the descendants of the giants; and the Philistines were subdued.\r\n\t\t\t Again there was war with the Philistines; and Elhanan son of Jair killed Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver's beam.\r\n\t\t\t Again there was war at Gath, where there was a man of great size, who had six fingers on each hand, and six toes on each foot, twenty-four in number; he also was descended from the giants.\r\n\t\t\t When he taunted Israel, Jonathan son of Shimea, David's brother, killed him.\r\n\t\t\t These were descended from the giants in Gath; they fell by the hand of David and his servants.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Satan stood up against Israel, and incited David to count the people of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t So David said to Joab and the commanders of the army, \"Go, number Israel, from Beer-sheba to Dan, and bring me a report, so that I may know their number.\"\r\n\t\t\t But Joab said, \"May the LORD increase the number of his people a hundredfold! Are they not, my lord the king, all of them my lord's servants? Why then should my lord require this? Why should he bring guilt on Israel?\"\r\n\t\t\t But the king's word prevailed against Joab. So Joab departed and went throughout all Israel, and came back to Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t Joab gave the total count of the people to David. In all Israel there were one million one hundred thousand men who drew the sword, and in Judah four hundred seventy thousand who drew the sword.\r\n\t\t\t But he did not include Levi and Benjamin in the numbering, for the king's command was abhorrent to Joab.\r\n\t\t\t But God was displeased with this thing, and he struck Israel.\r\n\t\t\t David said to God, \"I have sinned greatly in that I have done this thing. But now, I pray you, take away the guilt of your servant; for I have done very foolishly.\"\r\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Gad, David's seer, saying,\r\n\t\t\t \"Go and say to David, 'Thus says the LORD: Three things I offer you; choose one of them, so that I may do it to you.'\"\r\n\t\t\t So Gad came to David and said to him, \"Thus says the LORD, 'Take your choice:\r\n\t\t\t either three years of famine; or three months of devastation by your foes, while the sword of your enemies overtakes you; or three days of the sword of the LORD, pestilence on the land, and the angel of the LORD destroying throughout all the territory of Israel.' Now decide what answer I shall return to the one who sent me.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then David said to Gad, \"I am in great distress; let me fall into the hand of the LORD, for his mercy is very great; but let me not fall into human hands.\"\r\n\t\t\t So the LORD sent a pestilence on Israel; and seventy thousand persons fell in Israel.\r\n\t\t\t And God sent an angel to Jerusalem to destroy it; but when he was about to destroy it, the LORD took note and relented concerning the calamity; he said to the destroying angel, \"Enough! Stay your hand.\" The angel of the LORD was then standing by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.\r\n\t\t\t David looked up and saw the angel of the LORD standing between earth and heaven, and in his hand a drawn sword stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell on their faces.\r\n\t\t\t And David said to God, \"Was it not I who gave the command to count the people? It is I who have sinned and done very wickedly. But these sheep, what have they done? Let your hand, I pray, O LORD my God, be against me and against my father's house; but do not let your people be plagued!\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the angel of the LORD commanded Gad to tell David that he should go up and erect an altar to the LORD on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.\r\n\t\t\t So David went up following Gad's instructions, which he had spoken in the name of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Ornan turned and saw the angel; and while his four sons who were with him hid themselves, Ornan continued to thresh wheat.\r\n\t\t\t As David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David; he went out from the threshing floor, and did obeisance to David with his face to the ground.\r\n\t\t\t David said to Ornan, \"Give me the site of the threshing floor that I may build on it an altar to the LORD-- give it to me at its full price-- so that the plague may be averted from the people.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Ornan said to David, \"Take it; and let my lord the king do what seems good to him; see, I present the oxen for burnt offerings, and the threshing sledges for the wood, and the wheat for a grain offering. I give it all.\"\r\n\t\t\t But King David said to Ornan, \"No; I will buy them for the full price. I will not take for the LORD what is yours, nor offer burnt offerings that cost me nothing.\"\r\n\t\t\t So David paid Ornan six hundred shekels of gold by weight for the site.\r\n\t\t\t David built there an altar to the LORD and presented burnt offerings and offerings of well-being. He called upon the LORD, and he answered him with fire from heaven on the altar of burnt offering.\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD commanded the angel, and he put his sword back into its sheath.\r\n\t\t\t At that time, when David saw that the LORD had answered him at the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite, he made his sacrifices there.\r\n\t\t\t For the tabernacle of the LORD, which Moses had made in the wilderness, and the altar of burnt offering were at that time in the high place at Gibeon;\r\n\t\t\t but David could not go before it to inquire of God, for he was afraid of the sword of the angel of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then David said, \"Here shall be the house of the LORD God and here the altar of burnt offering for Israel.\"\r\n\t\t\t David gave orders to gather together the aliens who were residing in the land of Israel, and he set stonecutters to prepare dressed stones for building the house of God.\r\n\t\t\t David also provided great stores of iron for nails for the doors of the gates and for clamps, as well as bronze in quantities beyond weighing,\r\n\t\t\t and cedar logs without number-- for the Sidonians and Tyrians brought great quantities of cedar to David.\r\n\t\t\t For David said, \"My son Solomon is young and inexperienced, and the house that is to be built for the LORD must be exceedingly magnificent, famous and glorified throughout all lands; I will therefore make preparation for it.\" So David provided materials in great quantity before his death.\r\n\t\t\t Then he called for his son Solomon and charged him to build a house for the LORD, the God of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t David said to Solomon, \"My son, I had planned to build a house to the name of the LORD my God.\r\n\t\t\t But the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 'You have shed much blood and have waged great wars; you shall not build a house to my name, because you have shed so much blood in my sight on the earth.\r\n\t\t\t See, a son shall be born to you; he shall be a man of peace. I will give him peace from all his enemies on every side; for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quiet to Israel in his days. \r\n\t\t\t He shall build a house for my name. He shall be a son to me, and I will be a father to him, and I will establish his royal throne in Israel forever.'\r\n\t\t\t Now, my son, the LORD be with you, so that you may succeed in building the house of the LORD your God, as he has spoken concerning you.\r\n\t\t\t Only, may the LORD grant you discretion and understanding, so that when he gives you charge over Israel you may keep the law of the LORD your God.\r\n\t\t\t Then you will prosper if you are careful to observe the statutes and the ordinances that the LORD commanded Moses for Israel. Be strong and of good courage. Do not be afraid or dismayed.\r\n\t\t\t With great pains I have provided for the house of the LORD one hundred thousand talents of gold, one million talents of silver, and bronze and iron beyond weighing, for there is so much of it; timber and stone too I have provided. To these you must add more.\r\n\t\t\t You have an abundance of workers: stonecutters, masons, carpenters, and all kinds of artisans without number, skilled in working\r\n\t\t\t gold, silver, bronze, and iron. Now begin the work, and the LORD be with you.\"\r\n\t\t\t David also commanded all the leaders of Israel to help his son Solomon, saying,\r\n\t\t\t \"Is not the LORD your God with you? Has he not given you peace on every side? For he has delivered the inhabitants of the land into my hand; and the land is subdued before the LORD and his people.\r\n\t\t\t Now set your mind and heart to seek the LORD your God. Go and build the sanctuary of the LORD God so that the ark of the covenant of the LORD and the holy vessels of God may be brought into a house built for the name of the LORD.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t When David was old and full of days, he made his son Solomon king over Israel.\r\n\t\t\t David assembled all the leaders of Israel and the priests and the Levites.\r\n\t\t\t The Levites, thirty years old and upward, were counted, and the total was thirty-eight thousand.\r\n\t\t\t \"Twenty-four thousand of these,\" David said, \"shall have charge of the work in the house of the LORD, six thousand shall be officers and judges,\r\n\t\t\t four thousand gatekeepers, and four thousand shall offer praises to the LORD with the instruments that I have made for praise.\"\r\n\t\t\t And David organized them in divisions corresponding to the sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. \r\n\t\t\t The sons of Gershon were Ladan and Shimei. \r\n\t\t\t The sons of Ladan: Jehiel the chief, Zetham, and Joel, three.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Shimei: Shelomoth, Haziel, and Haran, three. These were the heads of families of Ladan.\r\n\t\t\t And the sons of Shimei: Jahath, Zina, Jeush, and Beriah. These four were the sons of Shimei.\r\n\t\t\t Jahath was the chief, and Zizah the second; but Jeush and Beriah did not have many sons, so they were enrolled as a single family.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, four.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses. Aaron was set apart to consecrate the most holy things, so that he and his sons forever should make offerings before the LORD, and minister to him and pronounce blessings in his name forever;\r\n\t\t\t but as for Moses the man of God, his sons were to be reckoned among the tribe of Levi.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Moses: Gershom and Eliezer.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Gershom: Shebuel the chief.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Eliezer: Rehabiah the chief; Eliezer had no other sons, but the sons of Rehabiah were very numerous.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Izhar: Shelomith the chief.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Hebron: Jeriah the chief, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Uzziel: Micah the chief and Isshiah the second.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. The sons of Mahli: Eleazar and Kish.\r\n\t\t\t Eleazar died having no sons, but only daughters; their kindred, the sons of Kish, married them.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jeremoth, three.\r\n\t\t\t These were the sons of Levi by their ancestral houses, the heads of families as they were enrolled according to the number of the names of the individuals from twenty years old and upward who were to do the work for the service of the house of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t For David said, \"The LORD, the God of Israel, has given rest to his people; and he resides in Jerusalem forever.\r\n\t\t\t And so the Levites no longer need to carry the tabernacle or any of the things for its service\"--\r\n\t\t\t for according to the last words of David these were the number of the Levites from twenty years old and upward--\r\n\t\t\t \"but their duty shall be to assist the descendants of Aaron for the service of the house of the LORD, having the care of the courts and the chambers, the cleansing of all that is holy, and any work for the service of the house of God;\r\n\t\t\t to assist also with the rows of bread, the choice flour for the grain offering, the wafers of unleavened bread, the baked offering, the offering mixed with oil, and all measures of quantity or size.\r\n\t\t\t And they shall stand every morning, thanking and praising the LORD, and likewise at evening,\r\n\t\t\t and whenever burnt offerings are offered to the LORD on sabbaths, new moons, and appointed festivals, according to the number required of them, regularly before the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Thus they shall keep charge of the tent of meeting and the sanctuary, and shall attend the descendants of Aaron, their kindred, for the service of the house of the LORD.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The divisions of the descendants of Aaron were these. The sons of Aaron: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.\r\n\t\t\t But Nadab and Abihu died before their father, and had no sons; so Eleazar and Ithamar became the priests.\r\n\t\t\t Along with Zadok of the sons of Eleazar, and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, David organized them according to the appointed duties in their service.\r\n\t\t\t Since more chief men were found among the sons of Eleazar than among the sons of Ithamar, they organized them under sixteen heads of ancestral houses of the sons of Eleazar, and eight of the sons of Ithamar.\r\n\t\t\t They organized them by lot, all alike, for there were officers of the sanctuary and officers of God among both the sons of Eleazar and the sons of Ithamar.\r\n\t\t\t The scribe Shemaiah son of Nethanel, a Levite, recorded them in the presence of the king, and the officers, and Zadok the priest, and Ahimelech son of Abiathar, and the heads of ancestral houses of the priests and of the Levites; one ancestral house being chosen for Eleazar and one chosen for Ithamar.\r\n\t\t\t The first lot fell to Jehoiarib, the second to Jedaiah,\r\n\t\t\t the third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim,\r\n\t\t\t the fifth to Malchijah, the sixth to Mijamin,\r\n\t\t\t the seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah,\r\n\t\t\t the ninth to Jeshua, the tenth to Shecaniah,\r\n\t\t\t the eleventh to Eliashib, the twelfth to Jakim,\r\n\t\t\t the thirteenth to Huppah, the fourteenth to Jeshebeab,\r\n\t\t\t the fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to Immer,\r\n\t\t\t the seventeenth to Hezir, the eighteenth to Happizzez,\r\n\t\t\t the nineteenth to Pethahiah, the twentieth to Jehezkel,\r\n\t\t\t the twenty-first to Jachin, the twenty-second to Gamul,\r\n\t\t\t the twenty-third to Delaiah, the twenty-fourth to Maaziah.\r\n\t\t\t These had as their appointed duty in their service to enter the house of the LORD according to the procedure established for them by their ancestor Aaron, as the LORD God of Israel had commanded him.\r\n\t\t\t And of the rest of the sons of Levi: of the sons of Amram, Shubael; of the sons of Shubael, Jehdeiah.\r\n\t\t\t Of Rehabiah: of the sons of Rehabiah, Isshiah the chief.\r\n\t\t\t Of the Izharites, Shelomoth; of the sons of Shelomoth, Jahath.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Hebron: Jeriah the chief, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, Jekameam the fourth.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Uzziel, Micah; of the sons of Micah, Shamir.\r\n\t\t\t The brother of Micah, Isshiah; of the sons of Isshiah, Zechariah.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. The sons of Jaaziah: Beno.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Merari: of Jaaziah, Beno, Shoham, Zaccur, and Ibri.\r\n\t\t\t Of Mahli: Eleazar, who had no sons.\r\n\t\t\t Of Kish, the sons of Kish: Jerahmeel.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jerimoth. These were the sons of the Levites according to their ancestral houses.\r\n\t\t\t These also cast lots corresponding to their kindred, the descendants of Aaron, in the presence of King David, Zadok, Ahimelech, and the heads of ancestral houses of the priests and of the Levites, the chief as well as the youngest brother.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t David and the officers of the army also set apart for the service the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with lyres, harps, and cymbals. The list of those who did the work and of their duties was:\r\n\t\t\t Of the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asarelah, sons of Asaph, under the direction of Asaph, who prophesied under the direction of the king.\r\n\t\t\t Of Jeduthun, the sons of Jeduthun: Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, under the direction of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied with the lyre in thanksgiving and praise to the LORD. \r\n\t\t\t Of Heman, the sons of Heman: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, and Romamti-ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, Mahazioth.\r\n\t\t\t All these were the sons of Heman the king's seer, according to the promise of God to exalt him; for God had given Heman fourteen sons and three daughters.\r\n\t\t\t They were all under the direction of their father for the music in the house of the LORD with cymbals, harps, and lyres for the service of the house of God. Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman were under the order of the king.\r\n\t\t\t They and their kindred, who were trained in singing to the LORD, all of whom were skillful, numbered two hundred eighty-eight.\r\n\t\t\t And they cast lots for their duties, small and great, teacher and pupil alike.\r\n\t\t\t The first lot fell for Asaph to Joseph; the second to Gedaliah, to him and his brothers and his sons, twelve;\r\n\t\t\t the third to Zaccur, his sons and his brothers, twelve;\r\n\t\t\t the fourth to Izri, his sons and his brothers, twelve;\r\n\t\t\t the fifth to Nethaniah, his sons and his brothers, twelve;\r\n\t\t\t the sixth to Bukkiah, his sons and his brothers, twelve;\r\n\t\t\t the seventh to Jesarelah, his sons and his brothers, twelve;\r\n\t\t\t the eighth to Jeshaiah, his sons and his brothers, twelve;\r\n\t\t\t the ninth to Mattaniah, his sons and his brothers, twelve;\r\n\t\t\t the tenth to Shimei, his sons and his brothers, twelve;\r\n\t\t\t the eleventh to Azarel, his sons and his brothers, twelve;\r\n\t\t\t the twelfth to Hashabiah, his sons and his brothers, twelve;\r\n\t\t\t to the thirteenth, Shubael, his sons and his brothers, twelve;\r\n\t\t\t to the fourteenth, Mattithiah, his sons and his brothers, twelve;\r\n\t\t\t to the fifteenth, to Jeremoth, his sons and his brothers, twelve;\r\n\t\t\t to the sixteenth, to Hananiah, his sons and his brothers, twelve;\r\n\t\t\t to the seventeenth, to Joshbekashah, his sons and his brothers, twelve;\r\n\t\t\t to the eighteenth, to Hanani, his sons and his brothers, twelve;\r\n\t\t\t to the nineteenth, to Mallothi, his sons and his brothers, twelve;\r\n\t\t\t to the twentieth, to Eliathah, his sons and his brothers, twelve;\r\n\t\t\t to the twenty-first, to Hothir, his sons and his brothers, twelve;\r\n\t\t\t to the twenty-second, to Giddalti, his sons and his brothers, twelve;\r\n\t\t\t to the twenty-third, to Mahazioth, his sons and his brothers, twelve;\r\n\t\t\t to the twenty-fourth, to Romamti-ezer, his sons and his brothers, twelve.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t As for the divisions of the gatekeepers: of the Korahites, Meshelemiah son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph.\r\n\t\t\t Meshelemiah had sons: Zechariah the firstborn, Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third, Jathniel the fourth,\r\n\t\t\t Elam the fifth, Jehohanan the sixth, Eliehoenai the seventh.\r\n\t\t\t Obed-edom had sons: Shemaiah the firstborn, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, Sachar the fourth, Nethanel the fifth,\r\n\t\t\t Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh, Peullethai the eighth; for God blessed him.\r\n\t\t\t Also to his son Shemaiah sons were born who exercised authority in their ancestral houses, for they were men of great ability.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Shemaiah: Othni, Rephael, Obed, and Elzabad, whose brothers were able men, Elihu and Semachiah.\r\n\t\t\t All these, sons of Obed-edom with their sons and brothers, were able men qualified for the service; sixty-two of Obed-edom.\r\n\t\t\t Meshelemiah had sons and brothers, able men, eighteen.\r\n\t\t\t Hosah, of the sons of Merari, had sons: Shimri the chief (for though he was not the firstborn, his father made him chief),\r\n\t\t\t Hilkiah the second, Tebaliah the third, Zechariah the fourth: all the sons and brothers of Hosah totaled thirteen.\r\n\t\t\t These divisions of the gatekeepers, corresponding to their leaders, had duties, just as their kindred did, ministering in the house of the LORD;\r\n\t\t\t and they cast lots by ancestral houses, small and great alike, for their gates.\r\n\t\t\t The lot for the east fell to Shelemiah. They cast lots also for his son Zechariah, a prudent counselor, and his lot came out for the north.\r\n\t\t\t Obed-edom's came out for the south, and to his sons was allotted the storehouse.\r\n\t\t\t For Shuppim and Hosah it came out for the west, at the gate of Shallecheth on the ascending road. Guard corresponded to guard.\r\n\t\t\t On the east there were six Levites each day, on the north four each day, on the south four each day, as well as two and two at the storehouse;\r\n\t\t\t and for the colonnade on the west there were four at the road and two at the colonnade. \r\n\t\t\t These were the divisions of the gatekeepers among the Korahites and the sons of Merari.\r\n\t\t\t And of the Levites, Ahijah had charge of the treasuries of the house of God and the treasuries of the dedicated gifts.\r\n\t\t\t The sons of Ladan, the sons of the Gershonites belonging to Ladan, the heads of families belonging to Ladan the Gershonite: Jehieli. \r\n\t\t\t The sons of Jehieli, Zetham and his brother Joel, were in charge of the treasuries of the house of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Of the Amramites, the Izharites, the Hebronites, and the Uzzielites:\r\n\t\t\t Shebuel son of Gershom, son of Moses, was chief officer in charge of the treasuries.\r\n\t\t\t His brothers: from Eliezer were his son Rehabiah, his son Jeshaiah, his son Joram, his son Zichri, and his son Shelomoth.\r\n\t\t\t This Shelomoth and his brothers were in charge of all the treasuries of the dedicated gifts that King David, and the heads of families, and the officers of the thousands and the hundreds, and the commanders of the army, had dedicated.\r\n\t\t\t From booty won in battles they dedicated gifts for the maintenance of the house of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Also all that Samuel the seer, and Saul son of Kish, and Abner son of Ner, and Joab son of Zeruiah had dedicated-- all dedicated gifts were in the care of Shelomoth and his brothers.\r\n\t\t\t Of the Izharites, Chenaniah and his sons were appointed to outside duties for Israel, as officers and judges.\r\n\t\t\t Of the Hebronites, Hashabiah and his brothers, one thousand seven hundred men of ability, had the oversight of Israel west of the Jordan for all the work of the LORD and for the service of the king.\r\n\t\t\t Of the Hebronites, Jerijah was chief of the Hebronites. (In the fortieth year of David's reign search was made, of whatever genealogy or family, and men of great ability among them were found at Jazer in Gilead.)\r\n\t\t\t King David appointed him and his brothers, two thousand seven hundred men of ability, heads of families, to have the oversight of the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of the Manassites for everything pertaining to God and for the affairs of the king.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t This is the list of the people of Israel, the heads of families, the commanders of the thousands and the hundreds, and their officers who served the king in all matters concerning the divisions that came and went, month after month throughout the year, each division numbering twenty-four thousand:\r\n\t\t\t Jashobeam son of Zabdiel was in charge of the first division in the first month; in his division were twenty-four thousand.\r\n\t\t\t He was a descendant of Perez, and was chief of all the commanders of the army for the first month.\r\n\t\t\t Dodai the Ahohite was in charge of the division of the second month; Mikloth was the chief officer of his division. In his division were twenty-four thousand.\r\n\t\t\t The third commander, for the third month, was Benaiah son of the priest Jehoiada, as chief; in his division were twenty-four thousand.\r\n\t\t\t This is the Benaiah who was a mighty man of the Thirty and in command of the Thirty; his son Ammizabad was in charge of his division. \r\n\t\t\t Asahel brother of Joab was fourth, for the fourth month, and his son Zebadiah after him; in his division were twenty-four thousand.\r\n\t\t\t The fifth commander, for the fifth month, was Shamhuth, the Izrahite; in his division were twenty-four thousand.\r\n\t\t\t Sixth, for the sixth month, was Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite; in his division were twenty-four thousand.\r\n\t\t\t Seventh, for the seventh month, was Helez the Pelonite, of the Ephraimites; in his division were twenty-four thousand.\r\n\t\t\t Eighth, for the eighth month, was Sibbecai the Hushathite, of the Zerahites; in his division were twenty-four thousand.\r\n\t\t\t Ninth, for the ninth month, was Abiezer of Anathoth, a Benjaminite; in his division were twenty-four thousand.\r\n\t\t\t Tenth, for the tenth month, was Maharai of Netophah, of the Zerahites; in his division were twenty-four thousand.\r\n\t\t\t Eleventh, for the eleventh month, was Benaiah of Pirathon, of the Ephraimites; in his division were twenty-four thousand.\r\n\t\t\t Twelfth, for the twelfth month, was Heldai the Netophathite, of Othniel; in his division were twenty-four thousand.\r\n\t\t\t Over the tribes of Israel, for the Reubenites, Eliezer son of Zichri was chief officer; for the Simeonites, Shephatiah son of Maacah;\r\n\t\t\t for Levi, Hashabiah son of Kemuel; for Aaron, Zadok;\r\n\t\t\t for Judah, Elihu, one of David's brothers; for Issachar, Omri son of Michael;\r\n\t\t\t for Zebulun, Ishmaiah son of Obadiah; for Naphtali, Jerimoth son of Azriel;\r\n\t\t\t for the Ephraimites, Hoshea son of Azaziah; for the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joel son of Pedaiah;\r\n\t\t\t for the half-tribe of Manasseh in Gilead, Iddo son of Zechariah; for Benjamin, Jaasiel son of Abner;\r\n\t\t\t for Dan, Azarel son of Jeroham. These were the leaders of the tribes of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t David did not count those below twenty years of age, for the LORD had promised to make Israel as numerous as the stars of heaven.\r\n\t\t\t Joab son of Zeruiah began to count them, but did not finish; yet wrath came upon Israel for this, and the number was not entered into the account of the Annals of King David.\r\n\t\t\t Over the king's treasuries was Azmaveth son of Adiel. Over the treasuries in the country, in the cities, in the villages and in the towers, was Jonathan son of Uzziah.\r\n\t\t\t Over those who did the work of the field, tilling the soil, was Ezri son of Chelub.\r\n\t\t\t Over the vineyards was Shimei the Ramathite. Over the produce of the vineyards for the wine cellars was Zabdi the Shiphmite.\r\n\t\t\t Over the olive and sycamore trees in the Shephelah was Baal-hanan the Gederite. Over the stores of oil was Joash.\r\n\t\t\t Over the herds that pastured in Sharon was Shitrai the Sharonite. Over the herds in the valleys was Shaphat son of Adlai.\r\n\t\t\t Over the camels was Obil the Ishmaelite. Over the donkeys was Jehdeiah the Meronothite. Over the flocks was Jaziz the Hagrite.\r\n\t\t\t All these were stewards of King David's property.\r\n\t\t\t Jonathan, David's uncle, was a counselor, being a man of understanding and a scribe; Jehiel son of Hachmoni attended the king's sons.\r\n\t\t\t Ahithophel was the king's counselor, and Hushai the Archite was the king's friend.\r\n\t\t\t After Ahithophel came Jehoiada son of Benaiah, and Abiathar. Joab was commander of the king's army.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t David assembled at Jerusalem all the officials of Israel, the officials of the tribes, the officers of the divisions that served the king, the commanders of the thousands, the commanders of the hundreds, the stewards of all the property and cattle of the king and his sons, together with the palace officials, the mighty warriors, and all the warriors.\r\n\t\t\t Then King David rose to his feet and said: \"Hear me, my brothers and my people. I had planned to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD, for the footstool of our God; and I made preparations for building.\r\n\t\t\t But God said to me, 'You shall not build a house for my name, for you are a warrior and have shed blood.'\r\n\t\t\t Yet the LORD God of Israel chose me from all my ancestral house to be king over Israel forever; for he chose Judah as leader, and in the house of Judah my father's house, and among my father's sons he took delight in making me king over all Israel.\r\n\t\t\t And of all my sons, for the LORD has given me many, he has chosen my son Solomon to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel.\r\n\t\t\t He said to me, 'It is your son Solomon who shall build my house and my courts, for I have chosen him to be a son to me, and I will be a father to him.\r\n\t\t\t I will establish his kingdom forever if he continues resolute in keeping my commandments and my ordinances, as he is today.'\r\n\t\t\t Now therefore in the sight of all Israel, the assembly of the LORD, and in the hearing of our God, observe and search out all the commandments of the LORD your God; that you may possess this good land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children after you forever.\r\n\t\t\t \"And you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve him with single mind and willing heart; for the LORD searches every mind, and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will abandon you forever.\r\n\t\t\t Take heed now, for the LORD has chosen you to build a house as the sanctuary; be strong, and act.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then David gave his son Solomon the plan of the vestibule of the temple, and of its houses, its treasuries, its upper rooms, and its inner chambers, and of the room for the mercy seat; \r\n\t\t\t and the plan of all that he had in mind: for the courts of the house of the LORD, all the surrounding chambers, the treasuries of the house of God, and the treasuries for dedicated gifts;\r\n\t\t\t for the divisions of the priests and of the Levites, and all the work of the service in the house of the LORD; for all the vessels for the service in the house of the LORD,\r\n\t\t\t the weight of gold for all golden vessels for each service, the weight of silver vessels for each service,\r\n\t\t\t the weight of the golden lampstands and their lamps, the weight of gold for each lampstand and its lamps, the weight of silver for a lampstand and its lamps, according to the use of each in the service,\r\n\t\t\t the weight of gold for each table for the rows of bread, the silver for the silver tables,\r\n\t\t\t and pure gold for the forks, the basins, and the cups; for the golden bowls and the weight of each; for the silver bowls and the weight of each;\r\n\t\t\t for the altar of incense made of refined gold, and its weight; also his plan for the golden chariot of the cherubim that spread their wings and covered the ark of the covenant of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t \"All this, in writing at the LORD's direction, he made clear to me-- the plan of all the works.\"\r\n\t\t\t David said further to his son Solomon, \"Be strong and of good courage, and act. Do not be afraid or dismayed; for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you, until all the work for the service of the house of the LORD is finished.\r\n\t\t\t Here are the divisions of the priests and the Levites for all the service of the house of God; and with you in all the work will be every volunteer who has skill for any kind of service; also the officers and all the people will be wholly at your command.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t King David said to the whole assembly, \"My son Solomon, whom alone God has chosen, is young and inexperienced, and the work is great; for the temple will not be for mortals but for the LORD God. \r\n\t\t\t So I have provided for the house of my God, so far as I was able, the gold for the things of gold, the silver for the things of silver, and the bronze for the things of bronze, the iron for the things of iron, and wood for the things of wood, besides great quantities of onyx and stones for setting, antimony, colored stones, all sorts of precious stones, and marble in abundance.\r\n\t\t\t Moreover, in addition to all that I have provided for the holy house, I have a treasure of my own of gold and silver, and because of my devotion to the house of my God I give it to the house of my God:\r\n\t\t\t three thousand talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and seven thousand talents of refined silver, for overlaying the walls of the house,\r\n\t\t\t and for all the work to be done by artisans, gold for the things of gold and silver for the things of silver. Who then will offer willingly, consecrating themselves today to the LORD?\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the leaders of ancestral houses made their freewill offerings, as did also the leaders of the tribes, the commanders of the thousands and of the hundreds, and the officers over the king's work.\r\n\t\t\t They gave for the service of the house of God five thousand talents and ten thousand darics of gold, ten thousand talents of silver, eighteen thousand talents of bronze, and one hundred thousand talents of iron.\r\n\t\t\t Whoever had precious stones gave them to the treasury of the house of the LORD, into the care of Jehiel the Gershonite.\r\n\t\t\t Then the people rejoiced because these had given willingly, for with single mind they had offered freely to the LORD; King David also rejoiced greatly.\r\n\t\t\t Then David blessed the LORD in the presence of all the assembly; David said: \"Blessed are you, O LORD, the God of our ancestor Israel, forever and ever.\r\n\t\t\t Yours, O LORD, are the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty; for all that is in the heavens and on the earth is yours; yours is the kingdom, O LORD, and you are exalted as head above all.\r\n\t\t\t Riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might; and it is in your hand to make great and to give strength to all.\r\n\t\t\t And now, our God, we give thanks to you and praise your glorious name.\r\n\t\t\t \"But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to make this freewill offering? For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you.\r\n\t\t\t For we are aliens and transients before you, as were all our ancestors; our days on the earth are like a shadow, and there is no hope.\r\n\t\t\t O LORD our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building you a house for your holy name comes from your hand and is all your own.\r\n\t\t\t I know, my God, that you search the heart, and take pleasure in uprightness; in the uprightness of my heart I have freely offered all these things, and now I have seen your people, who are present here, offering freely and joyously to you.\r\n\t\t\t O LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our ancestors, keep forever such purposes and thoughts in the hearts of your people, and direct their hearts toward you.\r\n\t\t\t Grant to my son Solomon that with single mind he may keep your commandments, your decrees, and your statutes, performing all of them, and that he may build the temple for which I have made provision.\" \r\n\t\t\t Then David said to the whole assembly, \"Bless the LORD your God.\" And all the assembly blessed the LORD, the God of their ancestors, and bowed their heads and prostrated themselves before the LORD and the king.\r\n\t\t\t On the next day they offered sacrifices and burnt offerings to the LORD, a thousand bulls, a thousand rams, and a thousand lambs, with their libations, and sacrifices in abundance for all Israel;\r\n\t\t\t and they ate and drank before the LORD on that day with great joy. They made David's son Solomon king a second time; they anointed him as the LORD's prince, and Zadok as priest.\r\n\t\t\t Then Solomon sat on the throne of the LORD, succeeding his father David as king; he prospered, and all Israel obeyed him.\r\n\t\t\t All the leaders and the mighty warriors, and also all the sons of King David, pledged their allegiance to King Solomon.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD highly exalted Solomon in the sight of all Israel, and bestowed upon him such royal majesty as had not been on any king before him in Israel.\r\n\t\t\t Thus David son of Jesse reigned over all Israel.\r\n\t\t\t The period that he reigned over Israel was forty years; he reigned seven years in Hebron, and thirty-three years in Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t He died in a good old age, full of days, riches, and honor; and his son Solomon succeeded him.\r\n\t\t\t Now the acts of King David, from first to last, are written in the records of the seer Samuel, and in the records of the prophet Nathan, and in the records of the seer Gad,\r\n\t\t\t with accounts of all his rule and his might and of the events that befell him and Israel and all the kingdoms of the earth.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Solomon son of David established himself in his kingdom; the LORD his God was with him and made him exceedingly great.\r\n\t\t\t Solomon summoned all Israel, the commanders of the thousands and of the hundreds, the judges, and all the leaders of all Israel, the heads of families.\r\n\t\t\t Then Solomon, and the whole assembly with him, went to the high place that was at Gibeon; for God's tent of meeting, which Moses the servant of the LORD had made in the wilderness, was there.\r\n\t\t\t (But David had brought the ark of God up from Kiriath-jearim to the place that David had prepared for it; for he had pitched a tent for it in Jerusalem.)\r\n\t\t\t Moreover the bronze altar that Bezalel son of Uri, son of Hur, had made, was there in front of the tabernacle of the LORD. And Solomon and the assembly inquired at it.\r\n\t\t\t Solomon went up there to the bronze altar before the LORD, which was at the tent of meeting, and offered a thousand burnt offerings on it.\r\n\t\t\t That night God appeared to Solomon, and said to him, \"Ask what I should give you.\"\r\n\t\t\t Solomon said to God, \"You have shown great and steadfast love to my father David, and have made me succeed him as king.\r\n\t\t\t O LORD God, let your promise to my father David now be fulfilled, for you have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth.\r\n\t\t\t Give me now wisdom and knowledge to go out and come in before this people, for who can rule this great people of yours?\"\r\n\t\t\t God answered Solomon, \"Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked for possessions, wealth, honor, or the life of those who hate you, and have not even asked for long life, but have asked for wisdom and knowledge for yourself that you may rule my people over whom I have made you king,\r\n\t\t\t wisdom and knowledge are granted to you. I will also give you riches, possessions, and honor, such as none of the kings had who were before you, and none after you shall have the like.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Solomon came from the high place at Gibeon, from the tent of meeting, to Jerusalem. And he reigned over Israel. \r\n\t\t\t Solomon gathered together chariots and horses; he had fourteen hundred chariots and twelve thousand horses, which he stationed in the chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t The king made silver and gold as common in Jerusalem as stone, and he made cedar as plentiful as the sycamore of the Shephelah.\r\n\t\t\t Solomon's horses were imported from Egypt and Kue; the king's traders received them from Kue at the prevailing price.\r\n\t\t\t They imported from Egypt, and then exported, a chariot for six hundred shekels of silver, and a horse for one hundred fifty; so through them these were exported to all the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Aram.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Solomon decided to build a temple for the name of the LORD, and a royal palace for himself.\r\n\t\t\t Solomon conscripted seventy thousand laborers and eighty thousand stonecutters in the hill country, with three thousand six hundred to oversee them.\r\n\t\t\t Solomon sent word to King Huram of Tyre: \"Once you dealt with my father David and sent him cedar to build himself a house to live in.\r\n\t\t\t I am now about to build a house for the name of the LORD my God and dedicate it to him for offering fragrant incense before him, and for the regular offering of the rows of bread, and for burnt offerings morning and evening, on the sabbaths and the new moons and the appointed festivals of the LORD our God, as ordained forever for Israel.\r\n\t\t\t The house that I am about to build will be great, for our God is greater than other gods.\r\n\t\t\t But who is able to build him a house, since heaven, even highest heaven, cannot contain him? Who am I to build a house for him, except as a place to make offerings before him?\r\n\t\t\t So now send me an artisan skilled to work in gold, silver, bronze, and iron, and in purple, crimson, and blue fabrics, trained also in engraving, to join the skilled workers who are with me in Judah and Jerusalem, whom my father David provided.\r\n\t\t\t Send me also cedar, cypress, and algum timber from Lebanon, for I know that your servants are skilled in cutting Lebanon timber. My servants will work with your servants\r\n\t\t\t to prepare timber for me in abundance, for the house I am about to build will be great and wonderful.\r\n\t\t\t I will provide for your servants, those who cut the timber, twenty thousand cors of crushed wheat, twenty thousand cors of barley, twenty thousand baths of wine, and twenty thousand baths of oil.\" \r\n\t\t\t Then King Huram of Tyre answered in a letter that he sent to Solomon, \"Because the LORD loves his people he has made you king over them.\"\r\n\t\t\t Huram also said, \"Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, who made heaven and earth, who has given King David a wise son, endowed with discretion and understanding, who will build a temple for the LORD, and a royal palace for himself.\r\n\t\t\t \"I have dispatched Huram-abi, a skilled artisan, endowed with understanding,\r\n\t\t\t the son of one of the Danite women, his father a Tyrian. He is trained to work in gold, silver, bronze, iron, stone, and wood, and in purple, blue, and crimson fabrics and fine linen, and to do all sorts of engraving and execute any design that may be assigned him, with your artisans, the artisans of my lord, your father David.\r\n\t\t\t Now, as for the wheat, barley, oil, and wine, of which my lord has spoken, let him send them to his servants.\r\n\t\t\t We will cut whatever timber you need from Lebanon, and bring it to you as rafts by sea to Joppa; you will take it up to Jerusalem.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Solomon took a census of all the aliens who were residing in the land of Israel, after the census that his father David had taken; and there were found to be one hundred fifty-three thousand six hundred.\r\n\t\t\t Seventy thousand of them he assigned as laborers, eighty thousand as stonecutters in the hill country, and three thousand six hundred as overseers to make the people work.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Solomon began to build the house of the LORD in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the LORD had appeared to his father David, at the place that David had designated, on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.\r\n\t\t\t He began to build on the second day of the second month of the fourth year of his reign.\r\n\t\t\t These are Solomon's measurements for building the house of God: the length, in cubits of the old standard, was sixty cubits, and the width twenty cubits. \r\n\t\t\t The vestibule in front of the nave of the house was twenty cubits long, across the width of the house; and its height was one hundred twenty cubits. He overlaid it on the inside with pure gold. \r\n\t\t\t The nave he lined with cypress, covered it with fine gold, and made palms and chains on it.\r\n\t\t\t He adorned the house with settings of precious stones. The gold was gold from Parvaim.\r\n\t\t\t So he lined the house with gold-- its beams, its thresholds, its walls, and its doors; and he carved cherubim on the walls.\r\n\t\t\t He made the most holy place; its length, corresponding to the width of the house, was twenty cubits, and its width was twenty cubits; he overlaid it with six hundred talents of fine gold.\r\n\t\t\t The weight of the nails was fifty shekels of gold. He overlaid the upper chambers with gold.\r\n\t\t\t In the most holy place he made two carved cherubim and overlaid them with gold. \r\n\t\t\t The wings of the cherubim together extended twenty cubits: one wing of the one, five cubits long, touched the wall of the house, and its other wing, five cubits long, touched the wing of the other cherub;\r\n\t\t\t and of this cherub, one wing, five cubits long, touched the wall of the house, and the other wing, also five cubits long, was joined to the wing of the first cherub.\r\n\t\t\t The wings of these cherubim extended twenty cubits; the cherubim stood on their feet, facing the nave. \r\n\t\t\t And Solomon made the curtain of blue and purple and crimson fabrics and fine linen, and worked cherubim into it. \r\n\t\t\t In front of the house he made two pillars thirty-five cubits high, with a capital of five cubits on the top of each.\r\n\t\t\t He made encircling chains and put them on the tops of the pillars; and he made one hundred pomegranates, and put them on the chains. \r\n\t\t\t He set up the pillars in front of the temple, one on the right, the other on the left; the one on the right he called Jachin, and the one on the left, Boaz.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t He made an altar of bronze, twenty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and ten cubits high.\r\n\t\t\t Then he made the molten sea; it was round, ten cubits from rim to rim, and five cubits high. A line of thirty cubits would encircle it completely.\r\n\t\t\t Under it were panels all around, each of ten cubits, surrounding the sea; there were two rows of panels, cast when it was cast.\r\n\t\t\t It stood on twelve oxen, three facing north, three facing west, three facing south, and three facing east; the sea was set on them. The hindquarters of each were toward the inside.\r\n\t\t\t Its thickness was a handbreadth; its rim was made like the rim of a cup, like the flower of a lily; it held three thousand baths. \r\n\t\t\t He also made ten basins in which to wash, and set five on the right side, and five on the left. In these they were to rinse what was used for the burnt offering. The sea was for the priests to wash in.\r\n\t\t\t He made ten golden lampstands as prescribed, and set them in the temple, five on the south side and five on the north.\r\n\t\t\t He also made ten tables and placed them in the temple, five on the right side and five on the left. And he made one hundred basins of gold.\r\n\t\t\t He made the court of the priests, and the great court, and doors for the court; he overlaid their doors with bronze.\r\n\t\t\t He set the sea at the southeast corner of the house.\r\n\t\t\t And Huram made the pots, the shovels, and the basins. Thus Huram finished the work that he did for King Solomon on the house of God:\r\n\t\t\t the two pillars, the bowls, and the two capitals on the top of the pillars; and the two latticeworks to cover the two bowls of the capitals that were on the top of the pillars;\r\n\t\t\t the four hundred pomegranates for the two latticeworks, two rows of pomegranates for each latticework, to cover the two bowls of the capitals that were on the pillars.\r\n\t\t\t He made the stands, the basins on the stands,\r\n\t\t\t the one sea, and the twelve oxen underneath it.\r\n\t\t\t The pots, the shovels, the forks, and all the equipment for these Huram-abi made of burnished bronze for King Solomon for the house of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t In the plain of the Jordan the king cast them, in the clay ground between Succoth and Zeredah.\r\n\t\t\t Solomon made all these things in great quantities, so that the weight of the bronze was not determined.\r\n\t\t\t So Solomon made all the things that were in the house of God: the golden altar, the tables for the bread of the Presence,\r\n\t\t\t the lampstands and their lamps of pure gold to burn before the inner sanctuary, as prescribed;\r\n\t\t\t the flowers, the lamps, and the tongs, of purest gold;\r\n\t\t\t the snuffers, basins, ladles, and firepans, of pure gold. As for the entrance to the temple: the inner doors to the most holy place and the doors of the nave of the temple were of gold.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Thus all the work that Solomon did for the house of the LORD was finished. Solomon brought in the things that his father David had dedicated, and stored the silver, the gold, and all the vessels in the treasuries of the house of God.\r\n\t\t\t Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes, the leaders of the ancestral houses of the people of Israel, in Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the city of David, which is Zion.\r\n\t\t\t And all the Israelites assembled before the king at the festival that is in the seventh month.\r\n\t\t\t And all the elders of Israel came, and the Levites carried the ark.\r\n\t\t\t So they brought up the ark, the tent of meeting, and all the holy vessels that were in the tent; the priests and the Levites brought them up.\r\n\t\t\t King Solomon and all the congregation of Israel, who had assembled before him, were before the ark, sacrificing so many sheep and oxen that they could not be numbered or counted.\r\n\t\t\t Then the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the LORD to its place, in the inner sanctuary of the house, in the most holy place, underneath the wings of the cherubim.\r\n\t\t\t For the cherubim spread out their wings over the place of the ark, so that the cherubim made a covering above the ark and its poles.\r\n\t\t\t The poles were so long that the ends of the poles were seen from the holy place in front of the inner sanctuary; but they could not be seen from outside; they are there to this day.\r\n\t\t\t There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets that Moses put there at Horeb, where the LORD made a covenant with the people of Israel after they came out of Egypt. \r\n\t\t\t Now when the priests came out of the holy place (for all the priests who were present had sanctified themselves, without regard to their divisions),\r\n\t\t\t all the levitical singers, Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, their sons and kindred, arrayed in fine linen, with cymbals, harps, and lyres, stood east of the altar with one hundred twenty priests who were trumpeters.\r\n\t\t\t It was the duty of the trumpeters and singers to make themselves heard in unison in praise and thanksgiving to the LORD, and when the song was raised, with trumpets and cymbals and other musical instruments, in praise to the LORD, \"For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever,\" the house, the house of the LORD, was filled with a cloud,\r\n\t\t\t so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud; for the glory of the LORD filled the house of God.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then Solomon said, \"The LORD has said that he would reside in thick darkness.\r\n\t\t\t I have built you an exalted house, a place for you to reside in forever.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the king turned around and blessed all the assembly of Israel, while all the assembly of Israel stood.\r\n\t\t\t And he said, \"Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who with his hand has fulfilled what he promised with his mouth to my father David, saying,\r\n\t\t\t 'Since the day that I brought my people out of the land of Egypt, I have not chosen a city from any of the tribes of Israel in which to build a house, so that my name might be there, and I chose no one as ruler over my people Israel;\r\n\t\t\t but I have chosen Jerusalem in order that my name may be there, and I have chosen David to be over my people Israel.'\r\n\t\t\t My father David had it in mind to build a house for the name of the LORD, the God of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t But the LORD said to my father David, 'You did well to consider building a house for my name;\r\n\t\t\t nevertheless you shall not build the house, but your son who shall be born to you shall build the house for my name.'\r\n\t\t\t Now the LORD has fulfilled his promise that he made; for I have succeeded my father David, and sit on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised, and have built the house for the name of the LORD, the God of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t There I have set the ark, in which is the covenant of the LORD that he made with the people of Israel.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of the whole assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands. \r\n\t\t\t Solomon had made a bronze platform five cubits long, five cubits wide, and three cubits high, and had set it in the court; and he stood on it. Then he knelt on his knees in the presence of the whole assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands toward heaven.\r\n\t\t\t He said, \"O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you, in heaven or on earth, keeping covenant in steadfast love with your servants who walk before you with all their heart--\r\n\t\t\t you who have kept for your servant, my father David, what you promised to him. Indeed, you promised with your mouth and this day have fulfilled with your hand.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore, O LORD, God of Israel, keep for your servant, my father David, that which you promised him, saying, 'There shall never fail you a successor before me to sit on the throne of Israel, if only your children keep to their way, to walk in my law as you have walked before me.'\r\n\t\t\t Therefore, O LORD, God of Israel, let your word be confirmed, which you promised to your servant David.\r\n\t\t\t \"But will God indeed reside with mortals on earth? Even heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you, how much less this house that I have built!\r\n\t\t\t Regard your servant's prayer and his plea, O LORD my God, heeding the cry and the prayer that your servant prays to you.\r\n\t\t\t May your eyes be open day and night toward this house, the place where you promised to set your name, and may you heed the prayer that your servant prays toward this place.\r\n\t\t\t And hear the plea of your servant and of your people Israel, when they pray toward this place; may you hear from heaven your dwelling place; hear and forgive.\r\n\t\t\t \"If someone sins against another and is required to take an oath and comes and swears before your altar in this house,\r\n\t\t\t may you hear from heaven, and act, and judge your servants, repaying the guilty by bringing their conduct on their own head, and vindicating those who are in the right by rewarding them in accordance with their righteousness.\r\n\t\t\t \"When your people Israel, having sinned against you, are defeated before an enemy but turn again to you, confess your name, pray and plead with you in this house,\r\n\t\t\t may you hear from heaven, and forgive the sin of your people Israel, and bring them again to the land that you gave to them and to their ancestors.\r\n\t\t\t \"When heaven is shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned against you, and then they pray toward this place, confess your name, and turn from their sin, because you punish them,\r\n\t\t\t may you hear in heaven, forgive the sin of your servants, your people Israel, when you teach them the good way in which they should walk; and send down rain upon your land, which you have given to your people as an inheritance.\r\n\t\t\t \"If there is famine in the land, if there is plague, blight, mildew, locust, or caterpillar; if their enemies besiege them in any of the settlements of the lands; whatever suffering, whatever sickness there is;\r\n\t\t\t whatever prayer, whatever plea from any individual or from all your people Israel, all knowing their own suffering and their own sorrows so that they stretch out their hands toward this house;\r\n\t\t\t may you hear from heaven, your dwelling place, forgive, and render to all whose heart you know, according to all their ways, for only you know the human heart.\r\n\t\t\t Thus may they fear you and walk in your ways all the days that they live in the land that you gave to our ancestors.\r\n\t\t\t \"Likewise when foreigners, who are not of your people Israel, come from a distant land because of your great name, and your mighty hand, and your outstretched arm, when they come and pray toward this house,\r\n\t\t\t may you hear from heaven your dwelling place, and do whatever the foreigners ask of you, in order that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your people Israel, and that they may know that your name has been invoked on this house that I have built.\r\n\t\t\t \"If your people go out to battle against their enemies, by whatever way you shall send them, and they pray to you toward this city that you have chosen and the house that I have built for your name,\r\n\t\t\t then hear from heaven their prayer and their plea, and maintain their cause.\r\n\t\t\t \"If they sin against you-- for there is no one who does not sin-- and you are angry with them and give them to an enemy, so that they are carried away captive to a land far or near;\r\n\t\t\t then if they come to their senses in the land to which they have been taken captive, and repent, and plead with you in the land of their captivity, saying, 'We have sinned, and have done wrong; we have acted wickedly';\r\n\t\t\t if they repent with all their heart and soul in the land of their captivity, to which they were taken captive, and pray toward their land, which you gave to their ancestors, the city that you have chosen, and the house that I have built for your name,\r\n\t\t\t then hear from heaven your dwelling place their prayer and their pleas, maintain their cause and forgive your people who have sinned against you.\r\n\t\t\t Now, O my God, let your eyes be open and your ears attentive to prayer from this place.\r\n\t\t\t \"Now rise up, O LORD God, and go to your resting place, you and the ark of your might. Let your priests, O LORD God, be clothed with salvation, and let your faithful rejoice in your goodness.\r\n\t\t\t O LORD God, do not reject your anointed one. Remember your steadfast love for your servant David.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t When Solomon had ended his prayer, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the temple.\r\n\t\t\t The priests could not enter the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD filled the LORD's house.\r\n\t\t\t When all the people of Israel saw the fire come down and the glory of the LORD on the temple, they bowed down on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and worshiped and gave thanks to the LORD, saying, \"For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the king and all the people offered sacrifice before the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t King Solomon offered as a sacrifice twenty-two thousand oxen and one hundred twenty thousand sheep. So the king and all the people dedicated the house of God.\r\n\t\t\t The priests stood at their posts; the Levites also, with the instruments for music to the LORD that King David had made for giving thanks to the LORD-- for his steadfast love endures forever-- whenever David offered praises by their ministry. Opposite them the priests sounded trumpets; and all Israel stood.\r\n\t\t\t Solomon consecrated the middle of the court that was in front of the house of the LORD; for there he offered the burnt offerings and the fat of the offerings of well-being because the bronze altar Solomon had made could not hold the burnt offering and the grain offering and the fat parts.\r\n\t\t\t At that time Solomon held the festival for seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great congregation, from Lebo-hamath to the Wadi of Egypt.\r\n\t\t\t On the eighth day they held a solemn assembly; for they had observed the dedication of the altar seven days and the festival seven days.\r\n\t\t\t On the twenty-third day of the seventh month he sent the people away to their homes, joyful and in good spirits because of the goodness that the LORD had shown to David and to Solomon and to his people Israel.\r\n\t\t\t Thus Solomon finished the house of the LORD and the king's house; all that Solomon had planned to do in the house of the LORD and in his own house he successfully accomplished.\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD appeared to Solomon in the night and said to him: \"I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place for myself as a house of sacrifice.\r\n\t\t\t When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people,\r\n\t\t\t if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.\r\n\t\t\t Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayer that is made in this place.\r\n\t\t\t For now I have chosen and consecrated this house so that my name may be there forever; my eyes and my heart will be there for all time.\r\n\t\t\t As for you, if you walk before me, as your father David walked, doing according to all that I have commanded you and keeping my statutes and my ordinances,\r\n\t\t\t then I will establish your royal throne, as I made covenant with your father David saying, 'You shall never lack a successor to rule over Israel.'\r\n\t\t\t \"But if you turn aside and forsake my statutes and my commandments that I have set before you, and go and serve other gods and worship them, \r\n\t\t\t then I will pluck you up from the land that I have given you; and this house, which I have consecrated for my name, I will cast out of my sight, and will make it a proverb and a byword among all peoples. \r\n\t\t\t And regarding this house, now exalted, everyone passing by will be astonished, and say, 'Why has the LORD done such a thing to this land and to this house?'\r\n\t\t\t Then they will say, 'Because they abandoned the LORD the God of their ancestors who brought them out of the land of Egypt, and they adopted other gods, and worshiped them and served them; therefore he has brought all this calamity upon them.'\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t At the end of twenty years, during which Solomon had built the house of the LORD and his own house,\r\n\t\t\t Solomon rebuilt the cities that Huram had given to him, and settled the people of Israel in them.\r\n\t\t\t Solomon went to Hamath-zobah, and captured it.\r\n\t\t\t He built Tadmor in the wilderness and all the storage towns that he built in Hamath.\r\n\t\t\t He also built Upper Beth-horon and Lower Beth-horon, fortified cities, with walls, gates, and bars,\r\n\t\t\t and Baalath, as well as all Solomon's storage towns, and all the towns for his chariots, the towns for his cavalry, and whatever Solomon desired to build, in Jerusalem, in Lebanon, and in all the land of his dominion.\r\n\t\t\t All the people who were left of the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, who were not of Israel,\r\n\t\t\t from their descendants who were still left in the land, whom the people of Israel had not destroyed-- these Solomon conscripted for forced labor, as is still the case today.\r\n\t\t\t But of the people of Israel Solomon made no slaves for his work; they were soldiers, and his officers, the commanders of his chariotry and cavalry.\r\n\t\t\t These were the chief officers of King Solomon, two hundred fifty of them, who exercised authority over the people.\r\n\t\t\t Solomon brought Pharaoh's daughter from the city of David to the house that he had built for her, for he said, \"My wife shall not live in the house of King David of Israel, for the places to which the ark of the LORD has come are holy.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Solomon offered up burnt offerings to the LORD on the altar of the LORD that he had built in front of the vestibule,\r\n\t\t\t as the duty of each day required, offering according to the commandment of Moses for the sabbaths, the new moons, and the three annual festivals-- the festival of unleavened bread, the festival of weeks, and the festival of booths.\r\n\t\t\t According to the ordinance of his father David, he appointed the divisions of the priests for their service, and the Levites for their offices of praise and ministry alongside the priests as the duty of each day required, and the gatekeepers in their divisions for the several gates; for so David the man of God had commanded.\r\n\t\t\t They did not turn away from what the king had commanded the priests and Levites regarding anything at all, or regarding the treasuries.\r\n\t\t\t Thus all the work of Solomon was accomplished from the day the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid until the house of the LORD was finished completely. \r\n\t\t\t Then Solomon went to Ezion-geber and Eloth on the shore of the sea, in the land of Edom.\r\n\t\t\t Huram sent him, in the care of his servants, ships and servants familiar with the sea. They went to Ophir, together with the servants of Solomon, and imported from there four hundred fifty talents of gold and brought it to King Solomon.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t When the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to Jerusalem to test him with hard questions, having a very great retinue and camels bearing spices and very much gold and precious stones. When she came to Solomon, she discussed with him all that was on her mind.\r\n\t\t\t Solomon answered all her questions; there was nothing hidden from Solomon that he could not explain to her.\r\n\t\t\t When the queen of Sheba had observed the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built,\r\n\t\t\t the food of his table, the seating of his officials, and the attendance of his servants, and their clothing, his valets, and their clothing, and his burnt offerings that he offered at the house of the LORD, there was no more spirit left in her. \r\n\t\t\t So she said to the king, \"The report was true that I heard in my own land of your accomplishments and of your wisdom,\r\n\t\t\t but I did not believe the reports until I came and my own eyes saw it. Not even half of the greatness of your wisdom had been told to me; you far surpass the report that I had heard. \r\n\t\t\t Happy are your people! Happy are these your servants, who continually attend you and hear your wisdom!\r\n\t\t\t Blessed be the LORD your God, who has delighted in you and set you on his throne as king for the LORD your God. Because your God loved Israel and would establish them forever, he has made you king over them, that you may execute justice and righteousness.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then she gave the king one hundred twenty talents of gold, a very great quantity of spices, and precious stones: there were no spices such as those that the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.\r\n\t\t\t Moreover the servants of Huram and the servants of Solomon who brought gold from Ophir brought algum wood and precious stones.\r\n\t\t\t From the algum wood, the king made steps for the house of the LORD and for the king's house, lyres also and harps for the singers; there never was seen the like of them before in the land of Judah. \r\n\t\t\t Meanwhile King Solomon granted the queen of Sheba every desire that she expressed, well beyond what she had brought to the king. Then she returned to her own land, with her servants.\r\n\t\t\t The weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred sixty-six talents of gold,\r\n\t\t\t besides that which the traders and merchants brought; and all the kings of Arabia and the governors of the land brought gold and silver to Solomon.\r\n\t\t\t King Solomon made two hundred large shields of beaten gold; six hundred shekels of beaten gold went into each large shield.\r\n\t\t\t He made three hundred shields of beaten gold; three hundred shekels of gold went into each shield; and the king put them in the House of the Forest of Lebanon.\r\n\t\t\t The king also made a great ivory throne, and overlaid it with pure gold.\r\n\t\t\t The throne had six steps and a footstool of gold, which were attached to the throne, and on each side of the seat were arm rests and two lions standing beside the arm rests,\r\n\t\t\t while twelve lions were standing, one on each end of a step on the six steps. The like of it was never made in any kingdom.\r\n\t\t\t All King Solomon's drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the House of the Forest of Lebanon were of pure gold; silver was not considered as anything in the days of Solomon.\r\n\t\t\t For the king's ships went to Tarshish with the servants of Huram; once every three years the ships of Tarshish used to come bringing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks. \r\n\t\t\t Thus King Solomon excelled all the kings of the earth in riches and in wisdom.\r\n\t\t\t All the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom, which God had put into his mind.\r\n\t\t\t Every one of them brought a present, objects of silver and gold, garments, weaponry, spices, horses, and mules, so much year by year.\r\n\t\t\t Solomon had four thousand stalls for horses and chariots, and twelve thousand horses, which he stationed in the chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t He ruled over all the kings from the Euphrates to the land of the Philistines, and to the border of Egypt.\r\n\t\t\t The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stone, and cedar as plentiful as the sycamore of the Shephelah.\r\n\t\t\t Horses were imported for Solomon from Egypt and from all lands.\r\n\t\t\t Now the rest of the acts of Solomon, from first to last, are they not written in the history of the prophet Nathan, and in the prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and in the visions of the seer Iddo concerning Jeroboam son of Nebat?\r\n\t\t\t Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years.\r\n\t\t\t Solomon slept with his ancestors and was buried in the city of his father David; and his son Rehoboam succeeded him.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had come to Shechem to make him king.\r\n\t\t\t When Jeroboam son of Nebat heard of it (for he was in Egypt, where he had fled from King Solomon), then Jeroboam returned from Egypt.\r\n\t\t\t They sent and called him; and Jeroboam and all Israel came and said to Rehoboam,\r\n\t\t\t \"Your father made our yoke heavy. Now therefore lighten the hard service of your father and his heavy yoke that he placed on us, and we will serve you.\"\r\n\t\t\t He said to them, \"Come to me again in three days.\" So the people went away.\r\n\t\t\t Then King Rehoboam took counsel with the older men who had attended his father Solomon while he was still alive, saying, \"How do you advise me to answer this people?\"\r\n\t\t\t They answered him, \"If you will be kind to this people and please them, and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever.\"\r\n\t\t\t But he rejected the advice that the older men gave him, and consulted the young men who had grown up with him and now attended him.\r\n\t\t\t He said to them, \"What do you advise that we answer this people who have said to me, 'Lighten the yoke that your father put on us'?\"\r\n\t\t\t The young men who had grown up with him said to him, \"Thus should you speak to the people who said to you, 'Your father made our yoke heavy, but you must lighten it for us'; tell them, 'My little finger is thicker than my father's loins.\r\n\t\t\t Now, whereas my father laid on you a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke. My father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.'\"\r\n\t\t\t So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king had said, \"Come to me again the third day.\"\r\n\t\t\t The king answered them harshly. King Rehoboam rejected the advice of the older men;\r\n\t\t\t he spoke to them in accordance with the advice of the young men, \"My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to it; my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.\"\r\n\t\t\t So the king did not listen to the people, because it was a turn of affairs brought about by God so that the LORD might fulfill his word, which he had spoken by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam son of Nebat.\r\n\t\t\t When all Israel saw that the king would not listen to them, the people answered the king, \"What share do we have in David? We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse. Each of you to your tents, O Israel! Look now to your own house, O David.\" So all Israel departed to their tents.\r\n\t\t\t But Rehoboam reigned over the people of Israel who were living in the cities of Judah.\r\n\t\t\t When King Rehoboam sent Hadoram, who was taskmaster over the forced labor, the people of Israel stoned him to death. King Rehoboam hurriedly mounted his chariot to flee to Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t When Rehoboam came to Jerusalem, he assembled one hundred eighty thousand chosen troops of the house of Judah and Benjamin to fight against Israel, to restore the kingdom to Rehoboam.\r\n\t\t\t But the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God:\r\n\t\t\t Say to King Rehoboam of Judah, son of Solomon, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin,\r\n\t\t\t \"Thus says the LORD: You shall not go up or fight against your kindred. Let everyone return home, for this thing is from me.\" So they heeded the word of the LORD and turned back from the expedition against Jeroboam.\r\n\t\t\t Rehoboam resided in Jerusalem, and he built cities for defense in Judah.\r\n\t\t\t He built up Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa,\r\n\t\t\t Beth-zur, Soco, Adullam,\r\n\t\t\t Gath, Mareshah, Ziph,\r\n\t\t\t Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah,\r\n\t\t\t Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron, fortified cities that are in Judah and in Benjamin.\r\n\t\t\t He made the fortresses strong, and put commanders in them, and stores of food, oil, and wine.\r\n\t\t\t He also put large shields and spears in all the cities, and made them very strong. So he held Judah and Benjamin.\r\n\t\t\t The priests and the Levites who were in all Israel presented themselves to him from all their territories.\r\n\t\t\t The Levites had left their common lands and their holdings and had come to Judah and Jerusalem, because Jeroboam and his sons had prevented them from serving as priests of the LORD,\r\n\t\t\t and had appointed his own priests for the high places, and for the goat-demons, and for the calves that he had made.\r\n\t\t\t Those who had set their hearts to seek the LORD God of Israel came after them from all the tribes of Israel to Jerusalem to sacrifice to the LORD, the God of their ancestors.\r\n\t\t\t They strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and for three years they made Rehoboam son of Solomon secure, for they walked for three years in the way of David and Solomon.\r\n\t\t\t Rehoboam took as his wife Mahalath daughter of Jerimoth son of David, and of Abihail daughter of Eliab son of Jesse.\r\n\t\t\t She bore him sons: Jeush, Shemariah, and Zaham.\r\n\t\t\t After her he took Maacah daughter of Absalom, who bore him Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith.\r\n\t\t\t Rehoboam loved Maacah daughter of Absalom more than all his other wives and concubines (he took eighteen wives and sixty concubines, and became the father of twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters).\r\n\t\t\t Rehoboam appointed Abijah son of Maacah as chief prince among his brothers, for he intended to make him king.\r\n\t\t\t He dealt wisely, and distributed some of his sons through all the districts of Judah and Benjamin, in all the fortified cities; he gave them abundant provisions, and found many wives for them.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t When the rule of Rehoboam was established and he grew strong, he abandoned the law of the LORD, he and all Israel with him.\r\n\t\t\t In the fifth year of King Rehoboam, because they had been unfaithful to the LORD, King Shishak of Egypt came up against Jerusalem\r\n\t\t\t with twelve hundred chariots and sixty thousand cavalry. A countless army came with him from Egypt-- Libyans, Sukkiim, and Ethiopians.\r\n\t\t\t He took the fortified cities of Judah and came as far as Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t Then the prophet Shemaiah came to Rehoboam and to the officers of Judah, who had gathered at Jerusalem because of Shishak, and said to them, \"Thus says the LORD: You abandoned me, so I have abandoned you to the hand of Shishak.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the officers of Israel and the king humbled themselves and said, \"The LORD is in the right.\"\r\n\t\t\t When the LORD saw that they humbled themselves, the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah, saying: \"They have humbled themselves; I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance, and my wrath shall not be poured out on Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak.\r\n\t\t\t Nevertheless they shall be his servants, so that they may know the difference between serving me and serving the kingdoms of other lands.\"\r\n\t\t\t So King Shishak of Egypt came up against Jerusalem; he took away the treasures of the house of the LORD and the treasures of the king's house; he took everything. He also took away the shields of gold that Solomon had made;\r\n\t\t\t but King Rehoboam made in place of them shields of bronze, and committed them to the hands of the officers of the guard, who kept the door of the king's house.\r\n\t\t\t Whenever the king went into the house of the LORD, the guard would come along bearing them, and would then bring them back to the guardroom.\r\n\t\t\t Because he humbled himself the wrath of the LORD turned from him, so as not to destroy them completely; moreover, conditions were good in Judah.\r\n\t\t\t So King Rehoboam established himself in Jerusalem and reigned. Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he began to reign; he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city that the LORD had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel to put his name there. His mother's name was Naamah the Ammonite.\r\n\t\t\t He did evil, for he did not set his heart to seek the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Now the acts of Rehoboam, from first to last, are they not written in the records of the prophet Shemaiah and of the seer Iddo, recorded by genealogy? There were continual wars between Rehoboam and Jeroboam.\r\n\t\t\t Rehoboam slept with his ancestors and was buried in the city of David; and his son Abijah succeeded him.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam, Abijah began to reign over Judah.\r\n\t\t\t He reigned for three years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Micaiah daughter of Uriel of Gibeah. Now there was war between Abijah and Jeroboam.\r\n\t\t\t Abijah engaged in battle, having an army of valiant warriors, four hundred thousand picked men; and Jeroboam drew up his line of battle against him with eight hundred thousand picked mighty warriors.\r\n\t\t\t Then Abijah stood on the slope of Mount Zemaraim that is in the hill country of Ephraim, and said, \"Listen to me, Jeroboam and all Israel!\r\n\t\t\t Do you not know that the LORD God of Israel gave the kingship over Israel forever to David and his sons by a covenant of salt?\r\n\t\t\t Yet Jeroboam son of Nebat, a servant of Solomon son of David, rose up and rebelled against his lord;\r\n\t\t\t and certain worthless scoundrels gathered around him and defied Rehoboam son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was young and irresolute and could not withstand them.\r\n\t\t\t \"And now you think that you can withstand the kingdom of the LORD in the hand of the sons of David, because you are a great multitude and have with you the golden calves that Jeroboam made as gods for you.\r\n\t\t\t Have you not driven out the priests of the LORD, the descendants of Aaron, and the Levites, and made priests for yourselves like the peoples of other lands? Whoever comes to be consecrated with a young bull or seven rams becomes a priest of what are no gods.\r\n\t\t\t But as for us, the LORD is our God, and we have not abandoned him. We have priests ministering to the LORD who are descendants of Aaron, and Levites for their service.\r\n\t\t\t They offer to the LORD every morning and every evening burnt offerings and fragrant incense, set out the rows of bread on the table of pure gold, and care for the golden lampstand so that its lamps may burn every evening; for we keep the charge of the LORD our God, but you have abandoned him.\r\n\t\t\t See, God is with us at our head, and his priests have their battle trumpets to sound the call to battle against you. O Israelites, do not fight against the LORD, the God of your ancestors; for you cannot succeed.\"\r\n\t\t\t Jeroboam had sent an ambush around to come on them from behind; thus his troops were in front of Judah, and the ambush was behind them. \r\n\t\t\t When Judah turned, the battle was in front of them and behind them. They cried out to the LORD, and the priests blew the trumpets.\r\n\t\t\t Then the people of Judah raised the battle shout. And when the people of Judah shouted, God defeated Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah.\r\n\t\t\t The Israelites fled before Judah, and God gave them into their hands.\r\n\t\t\t Abijah and his army defeated them with great slaughter; five hundred thousand picked men of Israel fell slain.\r\n\t\t\t Thus the Israelites were subdued at that time, and the people of Judah prevailed, because they relied on the LORD, the God of their ancestors.\r\n\t\t\t Abijah pursued Jeroboam, and took cities from him: Bethel with its villages and Jeshanah with its villages and Ephron with its villages. \r\n\t\t\t Jeroboam did not recover his power in the days of Abijah; the LORD struck him down, and he died.\r\n\t\t\t But Abijah grew strong. He took fourteen wives, and became the father of twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters.\r\n\t\t\t The rest of the acts of Abijah, his behavior and his deeds, are written in the story of the prophet Iddo.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t So Abijah slept with his ancestors, and they buried him in the city of David. His son Asa succeeded him. In his days the land had rest for ten years.\r\n\t\t\t Asa did what was good and right in the sight of the LORD his God.\r\n\t\t\t He took away the foreign altars and the high places, broke down the pillars, hewed down the sacred poles, \r\n\t\t\t and commanded Judah to seek the LORD, the God of their ancestors, and to keep the law and the commandment.\r\n\t\t\t He also removed from all the cities of Judah the high places and the incense altars. And the kingdom had rest under him.\r\n\t\t\t He built fortified cities in Judah while the land had rest. He had no war in those years, for the LORD gave him peace.\r\n\t\t\t He said to Judah, \"Let us build these cities, and surround them with walls and towers, gates and bars; the land is still ours because we have sought the LORD our God; we have sought him, and he has given us peace on every side.\" So they built and prospered.\r\n\t\t\t Asa had an army of three hundred thousand from Judah, armed with large shields and spears, and two hundred eighty thousand troops from Benjamin who carried shields and drew bows; all these were mighty warriors.\r\n\t\t\t Zerah the Ethiopian came out against them with an army of a million men and three hundred chariots, and came as far as Mareshah. \r\n\t\t\t Asa went out to meet him, and they drew up their lines of battle in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.\r\n\t\t\t Asa cried to the LORD his God, \"O LORD, there is no difference for you between helping the mighty and the weak. Help us, O LORD our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this multitude. O LORD, you are our God; let no mortal prevail against you.\"\r\n\t\t\t So the LORD defeated the Ethiopians before Asa and before Judah, and the Ethiopians fled. \r\n\t\t\t Asa and the army with him pursued them as far as Gerar, and the Ethiopians fell until no one remained alive; for they were broken before the LORD and his army. The people of Judah carried away a great quantity of booty. \r\n\t\t\t They defeated all the cities around Gerar, for the fear of the LORD was on them. They plundered all the cities; for there was much plunder in them.\r\n\t\t\t They also attacked the tents of those who had livestock, and carried away sheep and goats in abundance, and camels. Then they returned to Jerusalem. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The spirit of God came upon Azariah son of Oded.\r\n\t\t\t He went out to meet Asa and said to him, \"Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin: The LORD is with you, while you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you abandon him, he will abandon you.\r\n\t\t\t For a long time Israel was without the true God, and without a teaching priest, and without law;\r\n\t\t\t but when in their distress they turned to the LORD, the God of Israel, and sought him, he was found by them.\r\n\t\t\t In those times it was not safe for anyone to go or come, for great disturbances afflicted all the inhabitants of the lands.\r\n\t\t\t They were broken in pieces, nation against nation and city against city, for God troubled them with every sort of distress.\r\n\t\t\t But you, take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded.\"\r\n\t\t\t When Asa heard these words, the prophecy of Azariah son of Oded, he took courage, and put away the abominable idols from all the land of Judah and Benjamin and from the towns that he had taken in the hill country of Ephraim. He repaired the altar of the LORD that was in front of the vestibule of the house of the LORD. \r\n\t\t\t He gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and those from Ephraim, Manasseh, and Simeon who were residing as aliens with them, for great numbers had deserted to him from Israel when they saw that the LORD his God was with him.\r\n\t\t\t They were gathered at Jerusalem in the third month of the fifteenth year of the reign of Asa.\r\n\t\t\t They sacrificed to the LORD on that day, from the booty that they had brought, seven hundred oxen and seven thousand sheep.\r\n\t\t\t They entered into a covenant to seek the LORD, the God of their ancestors, with all their heart and with all their soul.\r\n\t\t\t Whoever would not seek the LORD, the God of Israel, should be put to death, whether young or old, man or woman.\r\n\t\t\t They took an oath to the LORD with a loud voice, and with shouting, and with trumpets, and with horns.\r\n\t\t\t All Judah rejoiced over the oath; for they had sworn with all their heart, and had sought him with their whole desire, and he was found by them, and the LORD gave them rest all around.\r\n\t\t\t King Asa even removed his mother Maacah from being queen mother because she had made an abominable image for Asherah. Asa cut down her image, crushed it, and burned it at the Wadi Kidron.\r\n\t\t\t But the high places were not taken out of Israel. Nevertheless the heart of Asa was true all his days.\r\n\t\t\t He brought into the house of God the votive gifts of his father and his own votive gifts-- silver, gold, and utensils.\r\n\t\t\t And there was no more war until the thirty-fifth year of the reign of Asa.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t In the thirty-sixth year of the reign of Asa, King Baasha of Israel went up against Judah, and built Ramah, to prevent anyone from going out or coming into the territory of King Asa of Judah. \r\n\t\t\t Then Asa took silver and gold from the treasures of the house of the LORD and the king's house, and sent them to King Ben-hadad of Aram, who resided in Damascus, saying,\r\n\t\t\t \"Let there be an alliance between me and you, like that between my father and your father; I am sending to you silver and gold; go, break your alliance with King Baasha of Israel, so that he may withdraw from me.\"\r\n\t\t\t Ben-hadad listened to King Asa, and sent the commanders of his armies against the cities of Israel. They conquered Ijon, Dan, Abel-maim, and all the store-cities of Naphtali.\r\n\t\t\t When Baasha heard of it, he stopped building Ramah, and let his work cease.\r\n\t\t\t Then King Asa brought all Judah, and they carried away the stones of Ramah and its timber, with which Baasha had been building, and with them he built up Geba and Mizpah.\r\n\t\t\t At that time the seer Hanani came to King Asa of Judah, and said to him, \"Because you relied on the king of Aram, and did not rely on the LORD your God, the army of the king of Aram has escaped you.\r\n\t\t\t Were not the Ethiopians and the Libyans a huge army with exceedingly many chariots and cavalry? Yet because you relied on the LORD, he gave them into your hand. \r\n\t\t\t For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the entire earth, to strengthen those whose heart is true to him. You have done foolishly in this; for from now on you will have wars.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Asa was angry with the seer, and put him in the stocks, in prison, for he was in a rage with him because of this. And Asa inflicted cruelties on some of the people at the same time.\r\n\t\t\t The acts of Asa, from first to last, are written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel.\r\n\t\t\t In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa was diseased in his feet, and his disease became severe; yet even in his disease he did not seek the LORD, but sought help from physicians.\r\n\t\t\t Then Asa slept with his ancestors, dying in the forty-first year of his reign.\r\n\t\t\t They buried him in the tomb that he had hewn out for himself in the city of David. They laid him on a bier that had been filled with various kinds of spices prepared by the perfumer's art; and they made a very great fire in his honor.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t His son Jehoshaphat succeeded him, and strengthened himself against Israel.\r\n\t\t\t He placed forces in all the fortified cities of Judah, and set garrisons in the land of Judah, and in the cities of Ephraim that his father Asa had taken.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the earlier ways of his father; he did not seek the Baals, \r\n\t\t\t but sought the God of his father and walked in his commandments, and not according to the ways of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore the LORD established the kingdom in his hand. All Judah brought tribute to Jehoshaphat, and he had great riches and honor.\r\n\t\t\t His heart was courageous in the ways of the LORD; and furthermore he removed the high places and the sacred poles from Judah. \r\n\t\t\t In the third year of his reign he sent his officials, Ben-hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah.\r\n\t\t\t With them were the Levites, Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tob-adonijah; and with these Levites, the priests Elishama and Jehoram.\r\n\t\t\t They taught in Judah, having the book of the law of the LORD with them; they went around through all the cities of Judah and taught among the people.\r\n\t\t\t The fear of the LORD fell on all the kingdoms of the lands around Judah, and they did not make war against Jehoshaphat.\r\n\t\t\t Some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents, and silver for tribute; and the Arabs also brought him seven thousand seven hundred rams and seven thousand seven hundred male goats.\r\n\t\t\t Jehoshaphat grew steadily greater. He built fortresses and storage cities in Judah.\r\n\t\t\t He carried out great works in the cities of Judah. He had soldiers, mighty warriors, in Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t This was the muster of them by ancestral houses: Of Judah, the commanders of the thousands: Adnah the commander, with three hundred thousand mighty warriors,\r\n\t\t\t and next to him Jehohanan the commander, with two hundred eighty thousand,\r\n\t\t\t and next to him Amasiah son of Zichri, a volunteer for the service of the LORD, with two hundred thousand mighty warriors.\r\n\t\t\t Of Benjamin: Eliada, a mighty warrior, with two hundred thousand armed with bow and shield,\r\n\t\t\t and next to him Jehozabad with one hundred eighty thousand armed for war.\r\n\t\t\t These were in the service of the king, besides those whom the king had placed in the fortified cities throughout all Judah.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now Jehoshaphat had great riches and honor; and he made a marriage alliance with Ahab.\r\n\t\t\t After some years he went down to Ahab in Samaria. Ahab slaughtered an abundance of sheep and oxen for him and for the people who were with him, and induced him to go up against Ramoth-gilead.\r\n\t\t\t King Ahab of Israel said to King Jehoshaphat of Judah, \"Will you go with me to Ramoth-gilead?\" He answered him, \"I am with you, my people are your people. We will be with you in the war.\"\r\n\t\t\t But Jehoshaphat also said to the king of Israel, \"Inquire first for the word of the LORD.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, four hundred of them, and said to them, \"Shall we go to battle against Ramoth-gilead, or shall I refrain?\" They said, \"Go up; for God will give it into the hand of the king.\"\r\n\t\t\t But Jehoshaphat said, \"Is there no other prophet of the LORD here of whom we may inquire?\"\r\n\t\t\t The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, \"There is still one other by whom we may inquire of the LORD, Micaiah son of Imlah; but I hate him, for he never prophesies anything favorable about me, but only disaster.\" Jehoshaphat said, \"Let the king not say such a thing.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the king of Israel summoned an officer and said, \"Bring quickly Micaiah son of Imlah.\"\r\n\t\t\t Now the king of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah were sitting on their thrones, arrayed in their robes; and they were sitting at the threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets were prophesying before them.\r\n\t\t\t Zedekiah son of Chenaanah made for himself horns of iron, and he said, \"Thus says the LORD: With these you shall gore the Arameans until they are destroyed.\"\r\n\t\t\t All the prophets were prophesying the same and saying, \"Go up to Ramoth-gilead and triumph; the LORD will give it into the hand of the king.\"\r\n\t\t\t The messenger who had gone to summon Micaiah said to him, \"Look, the words of the prophets with one accord are favorable to the king; let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak favorably.\"\r\n\t\t\t But Micaiah said, \"As the LORD lives, whatever my God says, that I will speak.\"\r\n\t\t\t When he had come to the king, the king said to him, \"Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I refrain?\" He answered, \"Go up and triumph; they will be given into your hand.\"\r\n\t\t\t But the king said to him, \"How many times must I make you swear to tell me nothing but the truth in the name of the LORD?\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Micaiah said, \"I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, like sheep without a shepherd; and the LORD said, 'These have no master; let each one go home in peace.'\" \r\n\t\t\t The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, \"Did I not tell you that he would not prophesy anything favorable about me, but only disaster?\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Micaiah said, \"Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, with all the host of heaven standing to the right and to the left of him. \r\n\t\t\t And the LORD said, 'Who will entice King Ahab of Israel, so that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?' Then one said one thing, and another said another,\r\n\t\t\t until a spirit came forward and stood before the LORD, saying, 'I will entice him.' The LORD asked him, 'How?'\r\n\t\t\t He replied, 'I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.' Then the LORD said, 'You are to entice him, and you shall succeed; go out and do it.'\r\n\t\t\t So you see, the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouth of these your prophets; the LORD has decreed disaster for you.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Zedekiah son of Chenaanah came up to Micaiah, slapped him on the cheek, and said, \"Which way did the spirit of the LORD pass from me to speak to you?\"\r\n\t\t\t Micaiah replied, \"You will find out on that day when you go in to hide in an inner chamber.\"\r\n\t\t\t The king of Israel then ordered, \"Take Micaiah, and return him to Amon the governor of the city and to Joash the king's son;\r\n\t\t\t and say, 'Thus says the king: Put this fellow in prison, and feed him on reduced rations of bread and water until I return in peace.'\"\r\n\t\t\t Micaiah said, \"If you return in peace, the LORD has not spoken by me.\" And he said, \"Hear, you peoples, all of you!\"\r\n\t\t\t So the king of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead.\r\n\t\t\t The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, \"I will disguise myself and go into battle, but you wear your robes.\" So the king of Israel disguised himself, and they went into battle.\r\n\t\t\t Now the king of Aram had commanded the captains of his chariots, \"Fight with no one small or great, but only with the king of Israel.\"\r\n\t\t\t When the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they said, \"It is the king of Israel.\" So they turned to fight against him; and Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD helped him. God drew them away from him,\r\n\t\t\t for when the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him.\r\n\t\t\t But a certain man drew his bow and unknowingly struck the king of Israel between the scale armor and the breastplate; so he said to the driver of his chariot, \"Turn around, and carry me out of the battle, for I am wounded.\"\r\n\t\t\t The battle grew hot that day, and the king of Israel propped himself up in his chariot facing the Arameans until evening; then at sunset he died.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t King Jehoshaphat of Judah returned in safety to his house in Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t Jehu son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him and said to King Jehoshaphat, \"Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD? Because of this, wrath has gone out against you from the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Nevertheless, some good is found in you, for you destroyed the sacred poles out of the land, and have set your heart to seek God.\" \r\n\t\t\t Jehoshaphat resided at Jerusalem; then he went out again among the people, from Beer-sheba to the hill country of Ephraim, and brought them back to the LORD, the God of their ancestors.\r\n\t\t\t He appointed judges in the land in all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city,\r\n\t\t\t and said to the judges, \"Consider what you are doing, for you judge not on behalf of human beings but on the LORD's behalf; he is with you in giving judgment.\r\n\t\t\t Now, let the fear of the LORD be upon you; take care what you do, for there is no perversion of justice with the LORD our God, or partiality, or taking of bribes.\"\r\n\t\t\t Moreover in Jerusalem Jehoshaphat appointed certain Levites and priests and heads of families of Israel, to give judgment for the LORD and to decide disputed cases. They had their seat at Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t He charged them: \"This is how you shall act: in the fear of the LORD, in faithfulness, and with your whole heart;\r\n\t\t\t whenever a case comes to you from your kindred who live in their cities, concerning bloodshed, law or commandment, statutes or ordinances, then you shall instruct them, so that they may not incur guilt before the LORD and wrath may not come on you and your kindred. Do so, and you will not incur guilt.\r\n\t\t\t See, Amariah the chief priest is over you in all matters of the LORD; and Zebadiah son of Ishmael, the governor of the house of Judah, in all the king's matters; and the Levites will serve you as officers. Deal courageously, and may the LORD be with the good!\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t After this the Moabites and Ammonites, and with them some of the Meunites, came against Jehoshaphat for battle. \r\n\t\t\t Messengers came and told Jehoshaphat, \"A great multitude is coming against you from Edom, from beyond the sea; already they are at Hazazon-tamar\" (that is, En-gedi). \r\n\t\t\t Jehoshaphat was afraid; he set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.\r\n\t\t\t Judah assembled to seek help from the LORD; from all the towns of Judah they came to seek the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court,\r\n\t\t\t and said, \"O LORD, God of our ancestors, are you not God in heaven? Do you not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations? In your hand are power and might, so that no one is able to withstand you.\r\n\t\t\t Did you not, O our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel, and give it forever to the descendants of your friend Abraham?\r\n\t\t\t They have lived in it, and in it have built you a sanctuary for your name, saying,\r\n\t\t\t 'If disaster comes upon us, the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house, and before you, for your name is in this house, and cry to you in our distress, and you will hear and save.' \r\n\t\t\t See now, the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, whom you would not let Israel invade when they came from the land of Egypt, and whom they avoided and did not destroy--\r\n\t\t\t they reward us by coming to drive us out of your possession that you have given us to inherit.\r\n\t\t\t O our God, will you not execute judgment upon them? For we are powerless against this great multitude that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.\"\r\n\t\t\t Meanwhile all Judah stood before the LORD, with their little ones, their wives, and their children.\r\n\t\t\t Then the spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, in the middle of the assembly.\r\n\t\t\t He said, \"Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the LORD to you: 'Do not fear or be dismayed at this great multitude; for the battle is not yours but God's.\r\n\t\t\t Tomorrow go down against them; they will come up by the ascent of Ziz; you will find them at the end of the valley, before the wilderness of Jeruel.\r\n\t\t\t This battle is not for you to fight; take your position, stand still, and see the victory of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.' Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, and the LORD will be with you.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the LORD, worshiping the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t And the Levites, of the Kohathites and the Korahites, stood up to praise the LORD, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice.\r\n\t\t\t They rose early in the morning and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa; and as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, \"Listen to me, O Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the LORD your God and you will be established; believe his prophets.\"\r\n\t\t\t When he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the LORD and praise him in holy splendor, as they went before the army, saying, \"Give thanks to the LORD, for his steadfast love endures forever.\"\r\n\t\t\t As they began to sing and praise, the LORD set an ambush against the Ammonites, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were routed.\r\n\t\t\t For the Ammonites and Moab attacked the inhabitants of Mount Seir, destroying them utterly; and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they all helped to destroy one another.\r\n\t\t\t When Judah came to the watchtower of the wilderness, they looked toward the multitude; they were corpses lying on the ground; no one had escaped.\r\n\t\t\t When Jehoshaphat and his people came to take the booty from them, they found livestock in great numbers, goods, clothing, and precious things, which they took for themselves until they could carry no more. They spent three days taking the booty, because of its abundance. \r\n\t\t\t On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Beracah, for there they blessed the LORD; therefore that place has been called the Valley of Beracah to this day. \r\n\t\t\t Then all the people of Judah and Jerusalem, with Jehoshaphat at their head, returned to Jerusalem with joy, for the LORD had enabled them to rejoice over their enemies.\r\n\t\t\t They came to Jerusalem, with harps and lyres and trumpets, to the house of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t The fear of God came on all the kingdoms of the countries when they heard that the LORD had fought against the enemies of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t And the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet, for his God gave him rest all around.\r\n\t\t\t So Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he began to reign; he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Azubah daughter of Shilhi.\r\n\t\t\t He walked in the way of his father Asa and did not turn aside from it, doing what was right in the sight of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Yet the high places were not removed; the people had not yet set their hearts upon the God of their ancestors.\r\n\t\t\t Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, from first to last, are written in the Annals of Jehu son of Hanani, which are recorded in the Book of the Kings of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t After this King Jehoshaphat of Judah joined with King Ahaziah of Israel, who did wickedly.\r\n\t\t\t He joined him in building ships to go to Tarshish; they built the ships in Ezion-geber.\r\n\t\t\t Then Eliezer son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, \"Because you have joined with Ahaziah, the LORD will destroy what you have made.\" And the ships were wrecked and were not able to go to Tarshish.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Jehoshaphat slept with his ancestors and was buried with his ancestors in the city of David; his son Jehoram succeeded him.\r\n\t\t\t He had brothers, the sons of Jehoshaphat: Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azariah, Michael, and Shephatiah; all these were the sons of King Jehoshaphat of Judah. \r\n\t\t\t Their father gave them many gifts, of silver, gold, and valuable possessions, together with fortified cities in Judah; but he gave the kingdom to Jehoram, because he was the firstborn.\r\n\t\t\t When Jehoram had ascended the throne of his father and was established, he put all his brothers to the sword, and also some of the officials of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he began to reign; he reigned eight years in Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t He walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as the house of Ahab had done; for the daughter of Ahab was his wife. He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Yet the LORD would not destroy the house of David because of the covenant that he had made with David, and since he had promised to give a lamp to him and to his descendants forever.\r\n\t\t\t In his days Edom revolted against the rule of Judah and set up a king of their own.\r\n\t\t\t Then Jehoram crossed over with his commanders and all his chariots. He set out by night and attacked the Edomites, who had surrounded him and his chariot commanders.\r\n\t\t\t So Edom has been in revolt against the rule of Judah to this day. At that time Libnah also revolted against his rule, because he had forsaken the LORD, the God of his ancestors.\r\n\t\t\t Moreover he made high places in the hill country of Judah, and led the inhabitants of Jerusalem into unfaithfulness, and made Judah go astray.\r\n\t\t\t A letter came to him from the prophet Elijah, saying: \"Thus says the LORD, the God of your father David: Because you have not walked in the ways of your father Jehoshaphat or in the ways of King Asa of Judah,\r\n\t\t\t but have walked in the way of the kings of Israel, and have led Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem into unfaithfulness, as the house of Ahab led Israel into unfaithfulness, and because you also have killed your brothers, members of your father's house, who were better than yourself,\r\n\t\t\t see, the LORD will bring a great plague on your people, your children, your wives, and all your possessions,\r\n\t\t\t and you yourself will have a severe sickness with a disease of your bowels, until your bowels come out, day after day, because of the disease.\"\r\n\t\t\t The LORD aroused against Jehoram the anger of the Philistines and of the Arabs who are near the Ethiopians. \r\n\t\t\t They came up against Judah, invaded it, and carried away all the possessions they found that belonged to the king's house, along with his sons and his wives, so that no son was left to him except Jehoahaz, his youngest son.\r\n\t\t\t After all this the LORD struck him in his bowels with an incurable disease.\r\n\t\t\t In course of time, at the end of two years, his bowels came out because of the disease, and he died in great agony. His people made no fire in his honor, like the fires made for his ancestors.\r\n\t\t\t He was thirty-two years old when he began to reign; he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. He departed with no one's regret. They buried him in the city of David, but not in the tombs of the kings.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The inhabitants of Jerusalem made his youngest son Ahaziah king as his successor; for the troops who came with the Arabs to the camp had killed all the older sons. So Ahaziah son of Jehoram reigned as king of Judah.\r\n\t\t\t Ahaziah was forty-two years old when he began to reign; he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Athaliah, a granddaughter of Omri.\r\n\t\t\t He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother was his counselor in doing wickedly.\r\n\t\t\t He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, as the house of Ahab had done; for after the death of his father they were his counselors, to his ruin.\r\n\t\t\t He even followed their advice, and went with Jehoram son of King Ahab of Israel to make war against King Hazael of Aram at Ramoth-gilead. The Arameans wounded Joram,\r\n\t\t\t and he returned to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds that he had received at Ramah, when he fought King Hazael of Aram. And Ahaziah son of King Jehoram of Judah went down to see Joram son of Ahab in Jezreel, because he was sick.\r\n\t\t\t But it was ordained by God that the downfall of Ahaziah should come about through his going to visit Joram. For when he came there he went out with Jehoram to meet Jehu son of Nimshi, whom the LORD had anointed to destroy the house of Ahab.\r\n\t\t\t When Jehu was executing judgment on the house of Ahab, he met the officials of Judah and the sons of Ahaziah's brothers, who attended Ahaziah, and he killed them.\r\n\t\t\t He searched for Ahaziah, who was captured while hiding in Samaria and was brought to Jehu, and put to death. They buried him, for they said, \"He is the grandson of Jehoshaphat, who sought the LORD with all his heart.\" And the house of Ahaziah had no one able to rule the kingdom.\r\n\t\t\t Now when Athaliah, Ahaziah's mother, saw that her son was dead, she set about to destroy all the royal family of the house of Judah.\r\n\t\t\t But Jehoshabeath, the king's daughter, took Joash son of Ahaziah, and stole him away from among the king's children who were about to be killed; she put him and his nurse in a bedroom. Thus Jehoshabeath, daughter of King Jehoram and wife of the priest Jehoiada-- because she was a sister of Ahaziah-- hid him from Athaliah, so that she did not kill him;\r\n\t\t\t he remained with them six years, hidden in the house of God, while Athaliah reigned over the land.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t But in the seventh year Jehoiada took courage, and entered into a compact with the commanders of the hundreds, Azariah son of Jeroham, Ishmael son of Jehohanan, Azariah son of Obed, Maaseiah son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat son of Zichri.\r\n\t\t\t They went around through Judah and gathered the Levites from all the towns of Judah, and the heads of families of Israel, and they came to Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t Then the whole assembly made a covenant with the king in the house of God. Jehoiada said to them, \"Here is the king's son! Let him reign, as the LORD promised concerning the sons of David. \r\n\t\t\t This is what you are to do: one third of you, priests and Levites, who come on duty on the sabbath, shall be gatekeepers,\r\n\t\t\t one third shall be at the king's house, and one third at the Gate of the Foundation; and all the people shall be in the courts of the house of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Do not let anyone enter the house of the LORD except the priests and ministering Levites; they may enter, for they are holy, but all the other people shall observe the instructions of the LORD. \r\n\t\t\t The Levites shall surround the king, each with his weapons in his hand; and whoever enters the house shall be killed. Stay with the king in his comings and goings.\"\r\n\t\t\t The Levites and all Judah did according to all that the priest Jehoiada commanded; each brought his men, who were to come on duty on the sabbath, with those who were to go off duty on the sabbath; for the priest Jehoiada did not dismiss the divisions.\r\n\t\t\t The priest Jehoiada delivered to the captains the spears and the large and small shields that had been King David's, which were in the house of God;\r\n\t\t\t and he set all the people as a guard for the king, everyone with weapon in hand, from the south side of the house to the north side of the house, around the altar and the house.\r\n\t\t\t Then he brought out the king's son, put the crown on him, and gave him the covenant; they proclaimed him king, and Jehoiada and his sons anointed him; and they shouted, \"Long live the king!\" \r\n\t\t\t When Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and praising the king, she went into the house of the LORD to the people;\r\n\t\t\t and when she looked, there was the king standing by his pillar at the entrance, and the captains and the trumpeters beside the king, and all the people of the land rejoicing and blowing trumpets, and the singers with their musical instruments leading in the celebration. Athaliah tore her clothes, and cried, \"Treason! Treason!\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the priest Jehoiada brought out the captains who were set over the army, saying to them, \"Bring her out between the ranks; anyone who follows her is to be put to the sword.\" For the priest said, \"Do not put her to death in the house of the LORD.\"\r\n\t\t\t So they laid hands on her; she went into the entrance of the Horse Gate of the king's house, and there they put her to death.\r\n\t\t\t Jehoiada made a covenant between himself and all the people and the king that they should be the LORD's people.\r\n\t\t\t Then all the people went to the house of Baal, and tore it down; his altars and his images they broke in pieces, and they killed Mattan, the priest of Baal, in front of the altars.\r\n\t\t\t Jehoiada assigned the care of the house of the LORD to the levitical priests whom David had organized to be in charge of the house of the LORD, to offer burnt offerings to the LORD, as it is written in the law of Moses, with rejoicing and with singing, according to the order of David.\r\n\t\t\t He stationed the gatekeepers at the gates of the house of the LORD so that no one should enter who was in any way unclean.\r\n\t\t\t And he took the captains, the nobles, the governors of the people, and all the people of the land, and they brought the king down from the house of the LORD, marching through the upper gate to the king's house. They set the king on the royal throne.\r\n\t\t\t So all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet after Athaliah had been killed with the sword.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Joash was seven years old when he began to reign; he reigned forty years in Jerusalem; his mother's name was Zibiah of Beer-sheba.\r\n\t\t\t Joash did what was right in the sight of the LORD all the days of the priest Jehoiada.\r\n\t\t\t Jehoiada got two wives for him, and he became the father of sons and daughters.\r\n\t\t\t Some time afterward Joash decided to restore the house of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t He assembled the priests and the Levites and said to them, \"Go out to the cities of Judah and gather money from all Israel to repair the house of your God, year by year; and see that you act quickly.\" But the Levites did not act quickly.\r\n\t\t\t So the king summoned Jehoiada the chief, and said to him, \"Why have you not required the Levites to bring in from Judah and Jerusalem the tax levied by Moses, the servant of the LORD, on the congregation of Israel for the tent of the covenant?\" \r\n\t\t\t For the children of Athaliah, that wicked woman, had broken into the house of God, and had even used all the dedicated things of the house of the LORD for the Baals.\r\n\t\t\t So the king gave command, and they made a chest, and set it outside the gate of the house of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t A proclamation was made throughout Judah and Jerusalem to bring in for the LORD the tax that Moses the servant of God laid on Israel in the wilderness.\r\n\t\t\t All the leaders and all the people rejoiced and brought their tax and dropped it into the chest until it was full.\r\n\t\t\t Whenever the chest was brought to the king's officers by the Levites, when they saw that there was a large amount of money in it, the king's secretary and the officer of the chief priest would come and empty the chest and take it and return it to its place. So they did day after day, and collected money in abundance.\r\n\t\t\t The king and Jehoiada gave it to those who had charge of the work of the house of the LORD, and they hired masons and carpenters to restore the house of the LORD, and also workers in iron and bronze to repair the house of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t So those who were engaged in the work labored, and the repairing went forward at their hands, and they restored the house of God to its proper condition and strengthened it.\r\n\t\t\t When they had finished, they brought the rest of the money to the king and Jehoiada, and with it were made utensils for the house of the LORD, utensils for the service and for the burnt offerings, and ladles, and vessels of gold and silver. They offered burnt offerings in the house of the LORD regularly all the days of Jehoiada.\r\n\t\t\t But Jehoiada grew old and full of days, and died; he was one hundred thirty years old at his death.\r\n\t\t\t And they buried him in the city of David among the kings, because he had done good in Israel, and for God and his house.\r\n\t\t\t Now after the death of Jehoiada the officials of Judah came and did obeisance to the king; then the king listened to them.\r\n\t\t\t They abandoned the house of the LORD, the God of their ancestors, and served the sacred poles and the idols. And wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this guilt of theirs. \r\n\t\t\t Yet he sent prophets among them to bring them back to the LORD; they testified against them, but they would not listen.\r\n\t\t\t Then the spirit of God took possession of Zechariah son of the priest Jehoiada; he stood above the people and said to them, \"Thus says God: Why do you transgress the commandments of the LORD, so that you cannot prosper? Because you have forsaken the LORD, he has also forsaken you.\" \r\n\t\t\t But they conspired against him, and by command of the king they stoned him to death in the court of the house of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t King Joash did not remember the kindness that Jehoiada, Zechariah's father, had shown him, but killed his son. As he was dying, he said, \"May the LORD see and avenge!\"\r\n\t\t\t At the end of the year the army of Aram came up against Joash. They came to Judah and Jerusalem, and destroyed all the officials of the people from among them, and sent all the booty they took to the king of Damascus.\r\n\t\t\t Although the army of Aram had come with few men, the LORD delivered into their hand a very great army, because they had abandoned the LORD, the God of their ancestors. Thus they executed judgment on Joash.\r\n\t\t\t When they had withdrawn, leaving him severely wounded, his servants conspired against him because of the blood of the son of the priest Jehoiada, and they killed him on his bed. So he died; and they buried him in the city of David, but they did not bury him in the tombs of the kings. \r\n\t\t\t Those who conspired against him were Zabad son of Shimeath the Ammonite, and Jehozabad son of Shimrith the Moabite.\r\n\t\t\t Accounts of his sons, and of the many oracles against him, and of the rebuilding of the house of God are written in the Commentary on the Book of the Kings. And his son Amaziah succeeded him. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t He did what was right in the sight of the LORD, yet not with a true heart.\r\n\t\t\t As soon as the royal power was firmly in his hand he killed his servants who had murdered his father the king.\r\n\t\t\t But he did not put their children to death, according to what is written in the law, in the book of Moses, where the LORD commanded, \"The parents shall not be put to death for the children, or the children be put to death for the parents; but all shall be put to death for their own sins.\"\r\n\t\t\t Amaziah assembled the people of Judah, and set them by ancestral houses under commanders of the thousands and of the hundreds for all Judah and Benjamin. He mustered those twenty years old and upward, and found that they were three hundred thousand picked troops fit for war, able to handle spear and shield.\r\n\t\t\t He also hired one hundred thousand mighty warriors from Israel for one hundred talents of silver.\r\n\t\t\t But a man of God came to him and said, \"O king, do not let the army of Israel go with you, for the LORD is not with Israel-- all these Ephraimites.\r\n\t\t\t Rather, go by yourself and act; be strong in battle, or God will fling you down before the enemy; for God has power to help or to overthrow.\"\r\n\t\t\t Amaziah said to the man of God, \"But what shall we do about the hundred talents that I have given to the army of Israel?\" The man of God answered, \"The LORD is able to give you much more than this.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Amaziah discharged the army that had come to him from Ephraim, letting them go home again. But they became very angry with Judah, and returned home in fierce anger.\r\n\t\t\t Amaziah took courage, and led out his people; he went to the Valley of Salt, and struck down ten thousand men of Seir.\r\n\t\t\t The people of Judah captured another ten thousand alive, took them to the top of Sela, and threw them down from the top of Sela, so that all of them were dashed to pieces.\r\n\t\t\t But the men of the army whom Amaziah sent back, not letting them go with him to battle, fell on the cities of Judah from Samaria to Beth-horon; they killed three thousand people in them, and took much booty.\r\n\t\t\t Now after Amaziah came from the slaughter of the Edomites, he brought the gods of the people of Seir, set them up as his gods, and worshiped them, making offerings to them.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD was angry with Amaziah and sent to him a prophet, who said to him, \"Why have you resorted to a people's gods who could not deliver their own people from your hand?\"\r\n\t\t\t But as he was speaking the king said to him, \"Have we made you a royal counselor? Stop! Why should you be put to death?\" So the prophet stopped, but said, \"I know that God has determined to destroy you, because you have done this and have not listened to my advice.\" \r\n\t\t\t Then King Amaziah of Judah took counsel and sent to King Joash son of Jehoahaz son of Jehu of Israel, saying, \"Come, let us look one another in the face.\"\r\n\t\t\t King Joash of Israel sent word to King Amaziah of Judah, \"A thornbush on Lebanon sent to a cedar on Lebanon, saying, 'Give your daughter to my son for a wife'; but a wild animal of Lebanon passed by and trampled down the thornbush.\r\n\t\t\t You say, 'See, I have defeated Edom,' and your heart has lifted you up in boastfulness. Now stay at home; why should you provoke trouble so that you fall, you and Judah with you?\"\r\n\t\t\t But Amaziah would not listen-- it was God's doing, in order to hand them over, because they had sought the gods of Edom.\r\n\t\t\t So King Joash of Israel went up; he and King Amaziah of Judah faced one another in battle at Beth-shemesh, which belongs to Judah.\r\n\t\t\t Judah was defeated by Israel; everyone fled home.\r\n\t\t\t King Joash of Israel captured King Amaziah of Judah, son of Joash, son of Ahaziah, at Beth-shemesh; he brought him to Jerusalem, and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate, a distance of four hundred cubits.\r\n\t\t\t He seized all the gold and silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of God, and Obed-edom with them; he seized also the treasuries of the king's house, also hostages; then he returned to Samaria.\r\n\t\t\t King Amaziah son of Joash of Judah, lived fifteen years after the death of King Joash son of Jehoahaz of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t Now the rest of the deeds of Amaziah, from first to last, are they not written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel?\r\n\t\t\t From the time that Amaziah turned away from the LORD they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish. But they sent after him to Lachish, and killed him there.\r\n\t\t\t They brought him back on horses; he was buried with his ancestors in the city of David.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king to succeed his father Amaziah.\r\n\t\t\t He rebuilt Eloth and restored it to Judah, after the king slept with his ancestors.\r\n\t\t\t Uzziah was sixteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jecoliah of Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t He did what was right in the sight of the LORD, just as his father Amaziah had done.\r\n\t\t\t He set himself to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God; and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him prosper.\r\n\t\t\t He went out and made war against the Philistines, and broke down the wall of Gath and the wall of Jabneh and the wall of Ashdod; he built cities in the territory of Ashdod and elsewhere among the Philistines.\r\n\t\t\t God helped him against the Philistines, against the Arabs who lived in Gur-baal, and against the Meunites.\r\n\t\t\t The Ammonites paid tribute to Uzziah, and his fame spread even to the border of Egypt, for he became very strong.\r\n\t\t\t Moreover Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate, at the Valley Gate, and at the Angle, and fortified them.\r\n\t\t\t He built towers in the wilderness and hewed out many cisterns, for he had large herds, both in the Shephelah and in the plain, and he had farmers and vinedressers in the hills and in the fertile lands, for he loved the soil.\r\n\t\t\t Moreover Uzziah had an army of soldiers, fit for war, in divisions according to the numbers in the muster made by the secretary Jeiel and the officer Maaseiah, under the direction of Hananiah, one of the king's commanders.\r\n\t\t\t The whole number of the heads of ancestral houses of mighty warriors was two thousand six hundred.\r\n\t\t\t Under their command was an army of three hundred seven thousand five hundred, who could make war with mighty power, to help the king against the enemy.\r\n\t\t\t Uzziah provided for all the army the shields, spears, helmets, coats of mail, bows, and stones for slinging.\r\n\t\t\t In Jerusalem he set up machines, invented by skilled workers, on the towers and the corners for shooting arrows and large stones. And his fame spread far, for he was marvelously helped until he became strong.\r\n\t\t\t But when he had become strong he grew proud, to his destruction. For he was false to the LORD his God, and entered the temple of the LORD to make offering on the altar of incense.\r\n\t\t\t But the priest Azariah went in after him, with eighty priests of the LORD who were men of valor;\r\n\t\t\t they withstood King Uzziah, and said to him, \"It is not for you, Uzziah, to make offering to the LORD, but for the priests the descendants of Aaron, who are consecrated to make offering. Go out of the sanctuary; for you have done wrong, and it will bring you no honor from the LORD God.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Uzziah was angry. Now he had a censer in his hand to make offering, and when he became angry with the priests a leprous disease broke out on his forehead, in the presence of the priests in the house of the LORD, by the altar of incense. \r\n\t\t\t When the chief priest Azariah, and all the priests, looked at him, he was leprous in his forehead. They hurried him out, and he himself hurried to get out, because the LORD had struck him. \r\n\t\t\t King Uzziah was leprous to the day of his death, and being leprous lived in a separate house, for he was excluded from the house of the LORD. His son Jotham was in charge of the palace of the king, governing the people of the land. \r\n\t\t\t Now the rest of the acts of Uzziah, from first to last, the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz wrote.\r\n\t\t\t Uzziah slept with his ancestors; they buried him near his ancestors in the burial field that belonged to the kings, for they said, \"He is leprous.\" His son Jotham succeeded him. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Jotham was twenty-five years old when he began to reign; he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jerushah daughter of Zadok.\r\n\t\t\t He did what was right in the sight of the LORD just as his father Uzziah had done-- only he did not invade the temple of the LORD. But the people still followed corrupt practices.\r\n\t\t\t He built the upper gate of the house of the LORD, and did extensive building on the wall of Ophel.\r\n\t\t\t Moreover he built cities in the hill country of Judah, and forts and towers on the wooded hills.\r\n\t\t\t He fought with the king of the Ammonites and prevailed against them. The Ammonites gave him that year one hundred talents of silver, ten thousand cors of wheat and ten thousand of barley. The Ammonites paid him the same amount in the second and the third years.\r\n\t\t\t So Jotham became strong because he ordered his ways before the LORD his God.\r\n\t\t\t Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all his wars and his ways, are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah.\r\n\t\t\t He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign; he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t Jotham slept with his ancestors, and they buried him in the city of David; and his son Ahaz succeeded him.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign; he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. He did not do what was right in the sight of the LORD, as his ancestor David had done,\r\n\t\t\t but he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel. He even made cast images for the Baals;\r\n\t\t\t and he made offerings in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and made his sons pass through fire, according to the abominable practices of the nations whom the LORD drove out before the people of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t He sacrificed and made offerings on the high places, on the hills, and under every green tree.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore the LORD his God gave him into the hand of the king of Aram, who defeated him and took captive a great number of his people and brought them to Damascus. He was also given into the hand of the king of Israel, who defeated him with great slaughter.\r\n\t\t\t Pekah son of Remaliah killed one hundred twenty thousand in Judah in one day, all of them valiant warriors, because they had abandoned the LORD, the God of their ancestors.\r\n\t\t\t And Zichri, a mighty warrior of Ephraim, killed the king's son Maaseiah, Azrikam the commander of the palace, and Elkanah the next in authority to the king.\r\n\t\t\t The people of Israel took captive two hundred thousand of their kin, women, sons, and daughters; they also took much booty from them and brought the booty to Samaria.\r\n\t\t\t But a prophet of the LORD was there, whose name was Oded; he went out to meet the army that came to Samaria, and said to them, \"Because the LORD, the God of your ancestors, was angry with Judah, he gave them into your hand, but you have killed them in a rage that has reached up to heaven.\r\n\t\t\t Now you intend to subjugate the people of Judah and Jerusalem, male and female, as your slaves. But what have you except sins against the LORD your God?\r\n\t\t\t Now hear me, and send back the captives whom you have taken from your kindred, for the fierce wrath of the LORD is upon you.\"\r\n\t\t\t Moreover, certain chiefs of the Ephraimites, Azariah son of Johanan, Berechiah son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah son of Shallum, and Amasa son of Hadlai, stood up against those who were coming from the war,\r\n\t\t\t and said to them, \"You shall not bring the captives in here, for you propose to bring on us guilt against the LORD in addition to our present sins and guilt. For our guilt is already great, and there is fierce wrath against Israel.\"\r\n\t\t\t So the warriors left the captives and the booty before the officials and all the assembly.\r\n\t\t\t Then those who were mentioned by name got up and took the captives, and with the booty they clothed all that were naked among them; they clothed them, gave them sandals, provided them with food and drink, and anointed them; and carrying all the feeble among them on donkeys, they brought them to their kindred at Jericho, the city of palm trees. Then they returned to Samaria.\r\n\t\t\t At that time King Ahaz sent to the king of Assyria for help. \r\n\t\t\t For the Edomites had again invaded and defeated Judah, and carried away captives.\r\n\t\t\t And the Philistines had made raids on the cities in the Shephelah and the Negeb of Judah, and had taken Beth-shemesh, Aijalon, Gederoth, Soco with its villages, Timnah with its villages, and Gimzo with its villages; and they settled there.\r\n\t\t\t For the LORD brought Judah low because of King Ahaz of Israel, for he had behaved without restraint in Judah and had been faithless to the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t So King Tilgath-pilneser of Assyria came against him, and oppressed him instead of strengthening him.\r\n\t\t\t For Ahaz plundered the house of the LORD and the houses of the king and of the officials, and gave tribute to the king of Assyria; but it did not help him.\r\n\t\t\t In the time of his distress he became yet more faithless to the LORD-- this same King Ahaz.\r\n\t\t\t For he sacrificed to the gods of Damascus, which had defeated him, and said, \"Because the gods of the kings of Aram helped them, I will sacrifice to them so that they may help me.\" But they were the ruin of him, and of all Israel.\r\n\t\t\t Ahaz gathered together the utensils of the house of God, and cut in pieces the utensils of the house of God. He shut up the doors of the house of the LORD and made himself altars in every corner of Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t In every city of Judah he made high places to make offerings to other gods, provoking to anger the LORD, the God of his ancestors.\r\n\t\t\t Now the rest of his acts and all his ways, from first to last, are written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel.\r\n\t\t\t Ahaz slept with his ancestors, and they buried him in the city, in Jerusalem; but they did not bring him into the tombs of the kings of Israel. His son Hezekiah succeeded him.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Hezekiah began to reign when he was twenty-five years old; he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Abijah daughter of Zechariah.\r\n\t\t\t He did what was right in the sight of the LORD, just as his ancestor David had done.\r\n\t\t\t In the first year of his reign, in the first month, he opened the doors of the house of the LORD and repaired them.\r\n\t\t\t He brought in the priests and the Levites and assembled them in the square on the east.\r\n\t\t\t He said to them, \"Listen to me, Levites! Sanctify yourselves, and sanctify the house of the LORD, the God of your ancestors, and carry out the filth from the holy place.\r\n\t\t\t For our ancestors have been unfaithful and have done what was evil in the sight of the LORD our God; they have forsaken him, and have turned away their faces from the dwelling of the LORD, and turned their backs.\r\n\t\t\t They also shut the doors of the vestibule and put out the lamps, and have not offered incense or made burnt offerings in the holy place to the God of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore the wrath of the LORD came upon Judah and Jerusalem, and he has made them an object of horror, of astonishment, and of hissing, as you see with your own eyes.\r\n\t\t\t Our fathers have fallen by the sword and our sons and our daughters and our wives are in captivity for this.\r\n\t\t\t Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with the LORD, the God of Israel, so that his fierce anger may turn away from us.\r\n\t\t\t My sons, do not now be negligent, for the LORD has chosen you to stand in his presence to minister to him, and to be his ministers and make offerings to him.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the Levites arose, Mahath son of Amasai, and Joel son of Azariah, of the sons of the Kohathites; and of the sons of Merari, Kish son of Abdi, and Azariah son of Jehallelel; and of the Gershonites, Joah son of Zimmah, and Eden son of Joah;\r\n\t\t\t and of the sons of Elizaphan, Shimri and Jeuel; and of the sons of Asaph, Zechariah and Mattaniah;\r\n\t\t\t and of the sons of Heman, Jehuel and Shimei; and of the sons of Jeduthun, Shemaiah and Uzziel.\r\n\t\t\t They gathered their brothers, sanctified themselves, and went in as the king had commanded, by the words of the LORD, to cleanse the house of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t The priests went into the inner part of the house of the LORD to cleanse it, and they brought out all the unclean things that they found in the temple of the LORD into the court of the house of the LORD; and the Levites took them and carried them out to the Wadi Kidron.\r\n\t\t\t They began to sanctify on the first day of the first month, and on the eighth day of the month they came to the vestibule of the LORD; then for eight days they sanctified the house of the LORD, and on the sixteenth day of the first month they finished.\r\n\t\t\t Then they went inside to King Hezekiah and said, \"We have cleansed all the house of the LORD, the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, and the table for the rows of bread and all its utensils.\r\n\t\t\t All the utensils that King Ahaz repudiated during his reign when he was faithless, we have made ready and sanctified; see, they are in front of the altar of the LORD.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then King Hezekiah rose early, assembled the officials of the city, and went up to the house of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t They brought seven bulls, seven rams, seven lambs, and seven male goats for a sin offering for the kingdom and for the sanctuary and for Judah. He commanded the priests the descendants of Aaron to offer them on the altar of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t So they slaughtered the bulls, and the priests received the blood and dashed it against the altar; they slaughtered the rams and their blood was dashed against the altar; they also slaughtered the lambs and their blood was dashed against the altar.\r\n\t\t\t Then the male goats for the sin offering were brought to the king and the assembly; they laid their hands on them,\r\n\t\t\t and the priests slaughtered them and made a sin offering with their blood at the altar, to make atonement for all Israel. For the king commanded that the burnt offering and the sin offering should be made for all Israel.\r\n\t\t\t He stationed the Levites in the house of the LORD with cymbals, harps, and lyres, according to the commandment of David and of Gad the king's seer and of the prophet Nathan, for the commandment was from the LORD through his prophets.\r\n\t\t\t The Levites stood with the instruments of David, and the priests with the trumpets.\r\n\t\t\t Then Hezekiah commanded that the burnt offering be offered on the altar. When the burnt offering began, the song to the LORD began also, and the trumpets, accompanied by the instruments of King David of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t The whole assembly worshiped, the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded; all this continued until the burnt offering was finished.\r\n\t\t\t When the offering was finished, the king and all who were present with him bowed down and worshiped.\r\n\t\t\t King Hezekiah and the officials commanded the Levites to sing praises to the LORD with the words of David and of the seer Asaph. They sang praises with gladness, and they bowed down and worshiped.\r\n\t\t\t Then Hezekiah said, \"You have now consecrated yourselves to the LORD; come near, bring sacrifices and thank offerings to the house of the LORD.\" The assembly brought sacrifices and thank offerings; and all who were of a willing heart brought burnt offerings.\r\n\t\t\t The number of the burnt offerings that the assembly brought was seventy bulls, one hundred rams, and two hundred lambs; all these were for a burnt offering to the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t The consecrated offerings were six hundred bulls and three thousand sheep.\r\n\t\t\t But the priests were too few and could not skin all the burnt offerings, so, until other priests had sanctified themselves, their kindred, the Levites, helped them until the work was finished-- for the Levites were more conscientious than the priests in sanctifying themselves.\r\n\t\t\t Besides the great number of burnt offerings there was the fat of the offerings of well-being, and there were the drink offerings for the burnt offerings. Thus the service of the house of the LORD was restored.\r\n\t\t\t And Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced because of what God had done for the people; for the thing had come about suddenly.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Hezekiah sent word to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, to keep the passover to the LORD the God of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t For the king and his officials and all the assembly in Jerusalem had taken counsel to keep the passover in the second month\r\n\t\t\t (for they could not keep it at its proper time because the priests had not sanctified themselves in sufficient number, nor had the people assembled in Jerusalem).\r\n\t\t\t The plan seemed right to the king and all the assembly.\r\n\t\t\t So they decreed to make a proclamation throughout all Israel, from Beer-sheba to Dan, that the people should come and keep the passover to the LORD the God of Israel, at Jerusalem; for they had not kept it in great numbers as prescribed.\r\n\t\t\t So couriers went throughout all Israel and Judah with letters from the king and his officials, as the king had commanded, saying, \"O people of Israel, return to the LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, so that he may turn again to the remnant of you who have escaped from the hand of the kings of Assyria.\r\n\t\t\t Do not be like your ancestors and your kindred, who were faithless to the LORD God of their ancestors, so that he made them a desolation, as you see.\r\n\t\t\t Do not now be stiff-necked as your ancestors were, but yield yourselves to the LORD and come to his sanctuary, which he has sanctified forever, and serve the LORD your God, so that his fierce anger may turn away from you.\r\n\t\t\t For as you return to the LORD, your kindred and your children will find compassion with their captors, and return to this land. For the LORD your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if you return to him.\"\r\n\t\t\t So the couriers went from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh, and as far as Zebulun; but they laughed them to scorn, and mocked them.\r\n\t\t\t Only a few from Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t The hand of God was also on Judah to give them one heart to do what the king and the officials commanded by the word of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Many people came together in Jerusalem to keep the festival of unleavened bread in the second month, a very large assembly.\r\n\t\t\t They set to work and removed the altars that were in Jerusalem, and all the altars for offering incense they took away and threw into the Wadi Kidron.\r\n\t\t\t They slaughtered the passover lamb on the fourteenth day of the second month. The priests and the Levites were ashamed, and they sanctified themselves and brought burnt offerings into the house of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t They took their accustomed posts according to the law of Moses the man of God; the priests dashed the blood that they received from the hands of the Levites. \r\n\t\t\t For there were many in the assembly who had not sanctified themselves; therefore the Levites had to slaughter the passover lamb for everyone who was not clean, to make it holy to the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t For a multitude of the people, many of them from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet they ate the passover otherwise than as prescribed. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, \"The good LORD pardon all\r\n\t\t\t who set their hearts to seek God, the LORD the God of their ancestors, even though not in accordance with the sanctuary's rules of cleanness.\"\r\n\t\t\t The LORD heard Hezekiah, and healed the people.\r\n\t\t\t The people of Israel who were present at Jerusalem kept the festival of unleavened bread seven days with great gladness; and the Levites and the priests praised the LORD day by day, accompanied by loud instruments for the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Hezekiah spoke encouragingly to all the Levites who showed good skill in the service of the LORD. So the people ate the food of the festival for seven days, sacrificing offerings of well-being and giving thanks to the LORD the God of their ancestors.\r\n\t\t\t Then the whole assembly agreed together to keep the festival for another seven days; so they kept it for another seven days with gladness.\r\n\t\t\t For King Hezekiah of Judah gave the assembly a thousand bulls and seven thousand sheep for offerings, and the officials gave the assembly a thousand bulls and ten thousand sheep. The priests sanctified themselves in great numbers.\r\n\t\t\t The whole assembly of Judah, the priests and the Levites, and the whole assembly that came out of Israel, and the resident aliens who came out of the land of Israel, and the resident aliens who lived in Judah, rejoiced.\r\n\t\t\t There was great joy in Jerusalem, for since the time of Solomon son of King David of Israel there had been nothing like this in Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t Then the priests and the Levites stood up and blessed the people, and their voice was heard; their prayer came to his holy dwelling in heaven.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now when all this was finished, all Israel who were present went out to the cities of Judah and broke down the pillars, hewed down the sacred poles, and pulled down the high places and the altars throughout all Judah and Benjamin, and in Ephraim and Manasseh, until they had destroyed them all. Then all the people of Israel returned to their cities, all to their individual properties. \r\n\t\t\t Hezekiah appointed the divisions of the priests and of the Levites, division by division, everyone according to his service, the priests and the Levites, for burnt offerings and offerings of well-being, to minister in the gates of the camp of the LORD and to give thanks and praise.\r\n\t\t\t The contribution of the king from his own possessions was for the burnt offerings: the burnt offerings of morning and evening, and the burnt offerings for the sabbaths, the new moons, and the appointed festivals, as it is written in the law of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t He commanded the people who lived in Jerusalem to give the portion due to the priests and the Levites, so that they might devote themselves to the law of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t As soon as the word spread, the people of Israel gave in abundance the first fruits of grain, wine, oil, honey, and of all the produce of the field; and they brought in abundantly the tithe of everything.\r\n\t\t\t The people of Israel and Judah who lived in the cities of Judah also brought in the tithe of cattle and sheep, and the tithe of the dedicated things that had been consecrated to the LORD their God, and laid them in heaps.\r\n\t\t\t In the third month they began to pile up the heaps, and finished them in the seventh month.\r\n\t\t\t When Hezekiah and the officials came and saw the heaps, they blessed the LORD and his people Israel.\r\n\t\t\t Hezekiah questioned the priests and the Levites about the heaps.\r\n\t\t\t The chief priest Azariah, who was of the house of Zadok, answered him, \"Since they began to bring the contributions into the house of the LORD, we have had enough to eat and have plenty to spare; for the LORD has blessed his people, so that we have this great supply left over.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Hezekiah commanded them to prepare store-chambers in the house of the LORD; and they prepared them.\r\n\t\t\t Faithfully they brought in the contributions, the tithes and the dedicated things. The chief officer in charge of them was Conaniah the Levite, with his brother Shimei as second;\r\n\t\t\t while Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel, Jerimoth, Jozabad, Eliel, Ismachiah, Mahath, and Benaiah were overseers assisting Conaniah and his brother Shimei, by the appointment of King Hezekiah and of Azariah the chief officer of the house of God.\r\n\t\t\t Kore son of Imnah the Levite, keeper of the east gate, was in charge of the freewill offerings to God, to apportion the contribution reserved for the LORD and the most holy offerings.\r\n\t\t\t Eden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah were faithfully assisting him in the cities of the priests, to distribute the portions to their kindred, old and young alike, by divisions,\r\n\t\t\t except those enrolled by genealogy, males from three years old and upwards, all who entered the house of the LORD as the duty of each day required, for their service according to their offices, by their divisions.\r\n\t\t\t The enrollment of the priests was according to their ancestral houses; that of the Levites from twenty years old and upwards was according to their offices, by their divisions.\r\n\t\t\t The priests were enrolled with all their little children, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, the whole multitude; for they were faithful in keeping themselves holy.\r\n\t\t\t And for the descendants of Aaron, the priests, who were in the fields of common land belonging to their towns, town by town, the people designated by name were to distribute portions to every male among the priests and to everyone among the Levites who was enrolled.\r\n\t\t\t Hezekiah did this throughout all Judah; he did what was good and right and faithful before the LORD his God.\r\n\t\t\t And every work that he undertook in the service of the house of God, and in accordance with the law and the commandments, to seek his God, he did with all his heart; and he prospered.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t After these things and these acts of faithfulness, King Sennacherib of Assyria came and invaded Judah and encamped against the fortified cities, thinking to win them for himself.\r\n\t\t\t When Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come and intended to fight against Jerusalem,\r\n\t\t\t he planned with his officers and his warriors to stop the flow of the springs that were outside the city; and they helped him.\r\n\t\t\t A great many people were gathered, and they stopped all the springs and the wadi that flowed through the land, saying, \"Why should the Assyrian kings come and find water in abundance?\"\r\n\t\t\t Hezekiah set to work resolutely and built up the entire wall that was broken down, and raised towers on it, and outside it he built another wall; he also strengthened the Millo in the city of David, and made weapons and shields in abundance. \r\n\t\t\t He appointed combat commanders over the people, and gathered them together to him in the square at the gate of the city and spoke encouragingly to them, saying,\r\n\t\t\t \"Be strong and of good courage. Do not be afraid or dismayed before the king of Assyria and all the horde that is with him; for there is one greater with us than with him.\r\n\t\t\t With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God, to help us and to fight our battles.\" The people were encouraged by the words of King Hezekiah of Judah.\r\n\t\t\t After this, while King Sennacherib of Assyria was at Lachish with all his forces, he sent his servants to Jerusalem to King Hezekiah of Judah and to all the people of Judah that were in Jerusalem, saying,\r\n\t\t\t \"Thus says King Sennacherib of Assyria: On what are you relying, that you undergo the siege of Jerusalem?\r\n\t\t\t Is not Hezekiah misleading you, handing you over to die by famine and by thirst, when he tells you, 'The LORD our God will save us from the hand of the king of Assyria'?\r\n\t\t\t Was it not this same Hezekiah who took away his high places and his altars and commanded Judah and Jerusalem, saying, 'Before one altar you shall worship, and upon it you shall make your offerings'?\r\n\t\t\t Do you not know what I and my ancestors have done to all the peoples of other lands? Were the gods of the nations of those lands at all able to save their lands out of my hand?\r\n\t\t\t Who among all the gods of those nations that my ancestors utterly destroyed was able to save his people from my hand, that your God should be able to save you from my hand?\r\n\t\t\t Now therefore do not let Hezekiah deceive you or mislead you in this fashion, and do not believe him, for no god of any nation or kingdom has been able to save his people from my hand or from the hand of my ancestors. How much less will your God save you out of my hand!\"\r\n\t\t\t His servants said still more against the Lord GOD and against his servant Hezekiah.\r\n\t\t\t He also wrote letters to throw contempt on the LORD the God of Israel and to speak against him, saying, \"Just as the gods of the nations in other lands did not rescue their people from my hands, so the God of Hezekiah will not rescue his people from my hand.\"\r\n\t\t\t They shouted it with a loud voice in the language of Judah to the people of Jerusalem who were on the wall, to frighten and terrify them, in order that they might take the city.\r\n\t\t\t They spoke of the God of Jerusalem as if he were like the gods of the peoples of the earth, which are the work of human hands.\r\n\t\t\t Then King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz prayed because of this and cried to heaven.\r\n\t\t\t And the LORD sent an angel who cut off all the mighty warriors and commanders and officers in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned in disgrace to his own land. When he came into the house of his god, some of his own sons struck him down there with the sword.\r\n\t\t\t So the LORD saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of King Sennacherib of Assyria and from the hand of all his enemies; he gave them rest on every side. \r\n\t\t\t Many brought gifts to the LORD in Jerusalem and precious things to King Hezekiah of Judah, so that he was exalted in the sight of all nations from that time onward.\r\n\t\t\t In those days Hezekiah became sick and was at the point of death. He prayed to the LORD, and he answered him and gave him a sign.\r\n\t\t\t But Hezekiah did not respond according to the benefit done to him, for his heart was proud. Therefore wrath came upon him and upon Judah and Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t Then Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the LORD did not come upon them in the days of Hezekiah.\r\n\t\t\t Hezekiah had very great riches and honor; and he made for himself treasuries for silver, for gold, for precious stones, for spices, for shields, and for all kinds of costly objects;\r\n\t\t\t storehouses also for the yield of grain, wine, and oil; and stalls for all kinds of cattle, and sheepfolds. \r\n\t\t\t He likewise provided cities for himself, and flocks and herds in abundance; for God had given him very great possessions.\r\n\t\t\t This same Hezekiah closed the upper outlet of the waters of Gihon and directed them down to the west side of the city of David. Hezekiah prospered in all his works.\r\n\t\t\t So also in the matter of the envoys of the officials of Babylon, who had been sent to him to inquire about the sign that had been done in the land, God left him to himself, in order to test him and to know all that was in his heart.\r\n\t\t\t Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and his good deeds, are written in the vision of the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel.\r\n\t\t\t Hezekiah slept with his ancestors, and they buried him on the ascent to the tombs of the descendants of David; and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did him honor at his death. His son Manasseh succeeded him.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign; he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to the abominable practices of the nations whom the LORD drove out before the people of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t For he rebuilt the high places that his father Hezekiah had pulled down, and erected altars to the Baals, made sacred poles, worshiped all the host of heaven, and served them. \r\n\t\t\t He built altars in the house of the LORD, of which the LORD had said, \"In Jerusalem shall my name be forever.\"\r\n\t\t\t He built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t He made his son pass through fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom, practiced soothsaying and augury and sorcery, and dealt with mediums and with wizards. He did much evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking him to anger.\r\n\t\t\t The carved image of the idol that he had made he set in the house of God, of which God said to David and to his son Solomon, \"In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put my name forever;\r\n\t\t\t I will never again remove the feet of Israel from the land that I appointed for your ancestors, if only they will be careful to do all that I have commanded them, all the law, the statutes, and the ordinances given through Moses.\"\r\n\t\t\t Manasseh misled Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that they did more evil than the nations whom the LORD had destroyed before the people of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to Manasseh and to his people, but they gave no heed.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore the LORD brought against them the commanders of the army of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh captive in manacles, bound him with fetters, and brought him to Babylon.\r\n\t\t\t While he was in distress he entreated the favor of the LORD his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his ancestors.\r\n\t\t\t He prayed to him, and God received his entreaty, heard his plea, and restored him again to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD indeed was God.\r\n\t\t\t Afterward he built an outer wall for the city of David west of Gihon, in the valley, reaching the entrance at the Fish Gate; he carried it around Ophel, and raised it to a very great height. He also put commanders of the army in all the fortified cities in Judah.\r\n\t\t\t He took away the foreign gods and the idol from the house of the LORD, and all the altars that he had built on the mountain of the house of the LORD and in Jerusalem, and he threw them out of the city.\r\n\t\t\t He also restored the altar of the LORD and offered on it sacrifices of well-being and of thanksgiving; and he commanded Judah to serve the LORD the God of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t The people, however, still sacrificed at the high places, but only to the LORD their God.\r\n\t\t\t Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, his prayer to his God, and the words of the seers who spoke to him in the name of the LORD God of Israel, these are in the Annals of the Kings of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t His prayer, and how God received his entreaty, all his sin and his faithlessness, the sites on which he built high places and set up the sacred poles and the images, before he humbled himself, these are written in the records of the seers. \r\n\t\t\t So Manasseh slept with his ancestors, and they buried him in his house. His son Amon succeeded him.\r\n\t\t\t Amon was twenty-two years old when he began to reign; he reigned two years in Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, as his father Manasseh had done. Amon sacrificed to all the images that his father Manasseh had made, and served them.\r\n\t\t\t He did not humble himself before the LORD, as his father Manasseh had humbled himself, but this Amon incurred more and more guilt.\r\n\t\t\t His servants conspired against him and killed him in his house.\r\n\t\t\t But the people of the land killed all those who had conspired against King Amon; and the people of the land made his son Josiah king to succeed him.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign; he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t He did what was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the ways of his ancestor David; he did not turn aside to the right or to the left.\r\n\t\t\t For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was still a boy, he began to seek the God of his ancestor David, and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, the sacred poles, and the carved and the cast images. \r\n\t\t\t In his presence they pulled down the altars of the Baals; he demolished the incense altars that stood above them. He broke down the sacred poles and the carved and the cast images; he made dust of them and scattered it over the graves of those who had sacrificed to them. \r\n\t\t\t He also burned the bones of the priests on their altars, and purged Judah and Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t In the towns of Manasseh, Ephraim, and Simeon, and as far as Naphtali, in their ruins all around, \r\n\t\t\t he broke down the altars, beat the sacred poles and the images into powder, and demolished all the incense altars throughout all the land of Israel. Then he returned to Jerusalem. \r\n\t\t\t In the eighteenth year of his reign, when he had purged the land and the house, he sent Shaphan son of Azaliah, Maaseiah the governor of the city, and Joah son of Joahaz, the recorder, to repair the house of the LORD his God.\r\n\t\t\t They came to the high priest Hilkiah and delivered the money that had been brought into the house of God, which the Levites, the keepers of the threshold, had collected from Manasseh and Ephraim and from all the remnant of Israel and from all Judah and Benjamin and from the inhabitants of Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t They delivered it to the workers who had the oversight of the house of the LORD, and the workers who were working in the house of the LORD gave it for repairing and restoring the house.\r\n\t\t\t They gave it to the carpenters and the builders to buy quarried stone, and timber for binders, and beams for the buildings that the kings of Judah had let go to ruin.\r\n\t\t\t The people did the work faithfully. Over them were appointed the Levites Jahath and Obadiah, of the sons of Merari, along with Zechariah and Meshullam, of the sons of the Kohathites, to have oversight. Other Levites, all skillful with instruments of music,\r\n\t\t\t were over the burden bearers and directed all who did work in every kind of service; and some of the Levites were scribes, and officials, and gatekeepers.\r\n\t\t\t While they were bringing out the money that had been brought into the house of the LORD, the priest Hilkiah found the book of the law of the LORD given through Moses.\r\n\t\t\t Hilkiah said to the secretary Shaphan, \"I have found the book of the law in the house of the LORD\"; and Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan.\r\n\t\t\t Shaphan brought the book to the king, and further reported to the king, \"All that was committed to your servants they are doing.\r\n\t\t\t They have emptied out the money that was found in the house of the LORD and have delivered it into the hand of the overseers and the workers.\"\r\n\t\t\t The secretary Shaphan informed the king, \"The priest Hilkiah has given me a book.\" Shaphan then read it aloud to the king.\r\n\t\t\t When the king heard the words of the law he tore his clothes.\r\n\t\t\t Then the king commanded Hilkiah, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Abdon son of Micah, the secretary Shaphan, and the king's servant Asaiah:\r\n\t\t\t \"Go, inquire of the LORD for me and for those who are left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book that has been found; for the wrath of the LORD that is poured out on us is great, because our ancestors did not keep the word of the LORD, to act in accordance with all that is written in this book.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Hilkiah and those whom the king had sent went to the prophet Huldah, the wife of Shallum son of Tokhath son of Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe (who lived in Jerusalem in the Second Quarter) and spoke to her to that effect.\r\n\t\t\t She declared to them, \"Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Tell the man who sent you to me,\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD: I will indeed bring disaster upon this place and upon its inhabitants, all the curses that are written in the book that was read before the king of Judah.\r\n\t\t\t Because they have forsaken me and have made offerings to other gods, so that they have provoked me to anger with all the works of their hands, my wrath will be poured out on this place and will not be quenched.\r\n\t\t\t But as to the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the LORD, thus shall you say to him: Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Regarding the words that you have heard,\r\n\t\t\t because your heart was penitent and you humbled yourself before God when you heard his words against this place and its inhabitants, and you have humbled yourself before me, and have torn your clothes and wept before me, I also have heard you, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t I will gather you to your ancestors and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace; your eyes shall not see all the disaster that I will bring on this place and its inhabitants.\" They took the message back to the king.\r\n\t\t\t Then the king sent word and gathered together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t The king went up to the house of the LORD, with all the people of Judah, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the priests and the Levites, all the people both great and small; he read in their hearing all the words of the book of the covenant that had been found in the house of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t The king stood in his place and made a covenant before the LORD, to follow the LORD, keeping his commandments, his decrees, and his statutes, with all his heart and all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant that were written in this book.\r\n\t\t\t Then he made all who were present in Jerusalem and in Benjamin pledge themselves to it. And the inhabitants of Jerusalem acted according to the covenant of God, the God of their ancestors.\r\n\t\t\t Josiah took away all the abominations from all the territory that belonged to the people of Israel, and made all who were in Israel worship the LORD their God. All his days they did not turn away from following the LORD the God of their ancestors.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Josiah kept a passover to the LORD in Jerusalem; they slaughtered the passover lamb on the fourteenth day of the first month.\r\n\t\t\t He appointed the priests to their offices and encouraged them in the service of the house of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t He said to the Levites who taught all Israel and who were holy to the LORD, \"Put the holy ark in the house that Solomon son of David, king of Israel, built; you need no longer carry it on your shoulders. Now serve the LORD your God and his people Israel.\r\n\t\t\t Make preparations by your ancestral houses by your divisions, following the written directions of King David of Israel and the written directions of his son Solomon.\r\n\t\t\t Take position in the holy place according to the groupings of the ancestral houses of your kindred the people, and let there be Levites for each division of an ancestral house. \r\n\t\t\t Slaughter the passover lamb, sanctify yourselves, and on behalf of your kindred make preparations, acting according to the word of the LORD by Moses.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Josiah contributed to the people, as passover offerings for all that were present, lambs and kids from the flock to the number of thirty thousand, and three thousand bulls; these were from the king's possessions.\r\n\t\t\t His officials contributed willingly to the people, to the priests, and to the Levites. Hilkiah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, the chief officers of the house of God, gave to the priests for the passover offerings two thousand six hundred lambs and kids and three hundred bulls.\r\n\t\t\t Conaniah also, and his brothers Shemaiah and Nethanel, and Hashabiah and Jeiel and Jozabad, the chiefs of the Levites, gave to the Levites for the passover offerings five thousand lambs and kids and five hundred bulls.\r\n\t\t\t When the service had been prepared for, the priests stood in their place, and the Levites in their divisions according to the king's command.\r\n\t\t\t They slaughtered the passover lamb, and the priests dashed the blood that they received from them, while the Levites did the skinning. \r\n\t\t\t They set aside the burnt offerings so that they might distribute them according to the groupings of the ancestral houses of the people, to offer to the LORD, as it is written in the book of Moses. And they did the same with the bulls.\r\n\t\t\t They roasted the passover lamb with fire according to the ordinance; and they boiled the holy offerings in pots, in caldrons, and in pans, and carried them quickly to all the people.\r\n\t\t\t Afterward they made preparations for themselves and for the priests, because the priests the descendants of Aaron were occupied in offering the burnt offerings and the fat parts until night; so the Levites made preparations for themselves and for the priests, the descendants of Aaron.\r\n\t\t\t The singers, the descendants of Asaph, were in their place according to the command of David, and Asaph, and Heman, and the king's seer Jeduthun. The gatekeepers were at each gate; they did not need to interrupt their service, for their kindred the Levites made preparations for them.\r\n\t\t\t So all the service of the LORD was prepared that day, to keep the passover and to offer burnt offerings on the altar of the LORD, according to the command of King Josiah.\r\n\t\t\t The people of Israel who were present kept the passover at that time, and the festival of unleavened bread seven days.\r\n\t\t\t No passover like it had been kept in Israel since the days of the prophet Samuel; none of the kings of Israel had kept such a passover as was kept by Josiah, by the priests and the Levites, by all Judah and Israel who were present, and by the inhabitants of Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t In the eighteenth year of the reign of Josiah this passover was kept.\r\n\t\t\t After all this, when Josiah had set the temple in order, King Neco of Egypt went up to fight at Carchemish on the Euphrates, and Josiah went out against him.\r\n\t\t\t But Neco sent envoys to him, saying, \"What have I to do with you, king of Judah? I am not coming against you today, but against the house with which I am at war; and God has commanded me to hurry. Cease opposing God, who is with me, so that he will not destroy you.\"\r\n\t\t\t But Josiah would not turn away from him, but disguised himself in order to fight with him. He did not listen to the words of Neco from the mouth of God, but joined battle in the plain of Megiddo.\r\n\t\t\t The archers shot King Josiah; and the king said to his servants, \"Take me away, for I am badly wounded.\"\r\n\t\t\t So his servants took him out of the chariot and carried him in his second chariot and brought him to Jerusalem. There he died, and was buried in the tombs of his ancestors. All Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah. \r\n\t\t\t Jeremiah also uttered a lament for Josiah, and all the singing men and singing women have spoken of Josiah in their laments to this day. They made these a custom in Israel; they are recorded in the Laments.\r\n\t\t\t Now the rest of the acts of Josiah and his faithful deeds in accordance with what is written in the law of the LORD,\r\n\t\t\t and his acts, first and last, are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The people of the land took Jehoahaz son of Josiah and made him king to succeed his father in Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he began to reign; he reigned three months in Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t Then the king of Egypt deposed him in Jerusalem and laid on the land a tribute of one hundred talents of silver and one talent of gold.\r\n\t\t\t The king of Egypt made his brother Eliakim king over Judah and Jerusalem, and changed his name to Jehoiakim; but Neco took his brother Jehoahaz and carried him to Egypt.\r\n\t\t\t Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he began to reign; he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD his God.\r\n\t\t\t Against him King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came up, and bound him with fetters to take him to Babylon.\r\n\t\t\t Nebuchadnezzar also carried some of the vessels of the house of the LORD to Babylon and put them in his palace in Babylon.\r\n\t\t\t Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, and the abominations that he did, and what was found against him, are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah; and his son Jehoiachin succeeded him.\r\n\t\t\t Jehoiachin was eight years old when he began to reign; he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem. He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t In the spring of the year King Nebuchadnezzar sent and brought him to Babylon, along with the precious vessels of the house of the LORD, and made his brother Zedekiah king over Judah and Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he began to reign; he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD his God. He did not humble himself before the prophet Jeremiah who spoke from the mouth of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God; he stiffened his neck and hardened his heart against turning to the LORD, the God of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t All the leading priests and the people also were exceedingly unfaithful, following all the abominations of the nations; and they polluted the house of the LORD that he had consecrated in Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD, the God of their ancestors, sent persistently to them by his messengers, because he had compassion on his people and on his dwelling place;\r\n\t\t\t but they kept mocking the messengers of God, despising his words, and scoffing at his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD against his people became so great that there was no remedy.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore he brought up against them the king of the Chaldeans, who killed their youths with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion on young man or young woman, the aged or the feeble; he gave them all into his hand.\r\n\t\t\t All the vessels of the house of God, large and small, and the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king and of his officials, all these he brought to Babylon.\r\n\t\t\t They burned the house of God, broke down the wall of Jerusalem, burned all its palaces with fire, and destroyed all its precious vessels.\r\n\t\t\t He took into exile in Babylon those who had escaped from the sword, and they became servants to him and to his sons until the establishment of the kingdom of Persia,\r\n\t\t\t to fulfill the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had made up for its sabbaths. All the days that it lay desolate it kept sabbath, to fulfill seventy years.\r\n\t\t\t In the first year of King Cyrus of Persia, in fulfillment of the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah, the LORD stirred up the spirit of King Cyrus of Persia so that he sent a herald throughout all his kingdom and also declared in a written edict:\r\n\t\t\t \"Thus says King Cyrus of Persia: The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever is among you of all his people, may the LORD his God be with him! Let him go up.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t In the first year of King Cyrus of Persia, in order that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the LORD stirred up the spirit of King Cyrus of Persia so that he sent a herald throughout all his kingdom, and also in a written edict declared:\r\n\t\t\t \"Thus says King Cyrus of Persia: The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem in Judah.\r\n\t\t\t Any of those among you who are of his people-- may their God be with them!-- are now permitted to go up to Jerusalem in Judah, and rebuild the house of the LORD, the God of Israel-- he is the God who is in Jerusalem;\r\n\t\t\t and let all survivors, in whatever place they reside, be assisted by the people of their place with silver and gold, with goods and with animals, besides freewill offerings for the house of God in Jerusalem.\"\r\n\t\t\t The heads of the families of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and the Levites-- everyone whose spirit God had stirred-- got ready to go up and rebuild the house of the LORD in Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t All their neighbors aided them with silver vessels, with gold, with goods, with animals, and with valuable gifts, besides all that was freely offered.\r\n\t\t\t King Cyrus himself brought out the vessels of the house of the LORD that Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from Jerusalem and placed in the house of his gods.\r\n\t\t\t King Cyrus of Persia had them released into the charge of Mithredath the treasurer, who counted them out to Sheshbazzar the prince of Judah.\r\n\t\t\t And this was the inventory: gold basins, thirty; silver basins, one thousand; knives, twenty-nine; \r\n\t\t\t gold bowls, thirty; other silver bowls, four hundred ten; other vessels, one thousand;\r\n\t\t\t the total of the gold and silver vessels was five thousand four hundred. All these Sheshbazzar brought up, when the exiles were brought up from Babylonia to Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now these were the people of the province who came from those captive exiles whom King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had carried captive to Babylonia; they returned to Jerusalem and Judah, all to their own towns.\r\n\t\t\t They came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah. The number of the Israelite people:\r\n\t\t\t the descendants of Parosh, two thousand one hundred seventy-two.\r\n\t\t\t Of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy-two.\r\n\t\t\t Of Arah, seven hundred seventy-five.\r\n\t\t\t Of Pahath-moab, namely the descendants of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand eight hundred twelve.\r\n\t\t\t Of Elam, one thousand two hundred fifty-four.\r\n\t\t\t Of Zattu, nine hundred forty-five.\r\n\t\t\t Of Zaccai, seven hundred sixty.\r\n\t\t\t Of Bani, six hundred forty-two.\r\n\t\t\t Of Bebai, six hundred twenty-three.\r\n\t\t\t Of Azgad, one thousand two hundred twenty-two.\r\n\t\t\t Of Adonikam, six hundred sixty-six.\r\n\t\t\t Of Bigvai, two thousand fifty-six.\r\n\t\t\t Of Adin, four hundred fifty-four.\r\n\t\t\t Of Ater, namely of Hezekiah, ninety-eight.\r\n\t\t\t Of Bezai, three hundred twenty-three.\r\n\t\t\t Of Jorah, one hundred twelve.\r\n\t\t\t Of Hashum, two hundred twenty-three.\r\n\t\t\t Of Gibbar, ninety-five.\r\n\t\t\t Of Bethlehem, one hundred twenty-three.\r\n\t\t\t The people of Netophah, fifty-six.\r\n\t\t\t Of Anathoth, one hundred twenty-eight.\r\n\t\t\t The descendants of Azmaveth, forty-two.\r\n\t\t\t Of Kiriatharim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred forty-three.\r\n\t\t\t Of Ramah and Geba, six hundred twenty-one.\r\n\t\t\t The people of Michmas, one hundred twenty-two.\r\n\t\t\t Of Bethel and Ai, two hundred twenty-three.\r\n\t\t\t The descendants of Nebo, fifty-two.\r\n\t\t\t Of Magbish, one hundred fifty-six.\r\n\t\t\t Of the other Elam, one thousand two hundred fifty-four.\r\n\t\t\t Of Harim, three hundred twenty.\r\n\t\t\t Of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred twenty-five.\r\n\t\t\t Of Jericho, three hundred forty-five.\r\n\t\t\t Of Senaah, three thousand six hundred thirty.\r\n\t\t\t The priests: the descendants of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred seventy-three.\r\n\t\t\t Of Immer, one thousand fifty-two.\r\n\t\t\t Of Pashhur, one thousand two hundred forty-seven.\r\n\t\t\t Of Harim, one thousand seventeen.\r\n\t\t\t The Levites: the descendants of Jeshua and Kadmiel, of the descendants of Hodaviah, seventy-four.\r\n\t\t\t The singers: the descendants of Asaph, one hundred twenty-eight.\r\n\t\t\t The descendants of the gatekeepers: of Shallum, of Ater, of Talmon, of Akkub, of Hatita, and of Shobai, in all one hundred thirty-nine.\r\n\t\t\t The temple servants: the descendants of Ziha, Hasupha, Tabbaoth,\r\n\t\t\t Keros, Siaha, Padon,\r\n\t\t\t Lebanah, Hagabah, Akkub,\r\n\t\t\t Hagab, Shamlai, Hanan,\r\n\t\t\t Giddel, Gahar, Reaiah,\r\n\t\t\t Rezin, Nekoda, Gazzam,\r\n\t\t\t Uzza, Paseah, Besai,\r\n\t\t\t Asnah, Meunim, Nephisim,\r\n\t\t\t Bakbuk, Hakupha, Harhur,\r\n\t\t\t Bazluth, Mehida, Harsha,\r\n\t\t\t Barkos, Sisera, Temah,\r\n\t\t\t Neziah, and Hatipha.\r\n\t\t\t The descendants of Solomon's servants: Sotai, Hassophereth, Peruda,\r\n\t\t\t Jaalah, Darkon, Giddel,\r\n\t\t\t Shephatiah, Hattil, Pochereth-hazzebaim, and Ami.\r\n\t\t\t All the temple servants and the descendants of Solomon's servants were three hundred ninety-two.\r\n\t\t\t The following were those who came up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addan, and Immer, though they could not prove their families or their descent, whether they belonged to Israel:\r\n\t\t\t the descendants of Delaiah, Tobiah, and Nekoda, six hundred fifty-two.\r\n\t\t\t Also, of the descendants of the priests: the descendants of Habaiah, Hakkoz, and Barzillai (who had married one of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called by their name).\r\n\t\t\t These looked for their entries in the genealogical records, but they were not found there, and so they were excluded from the priesthood as unclean;\r\n\t\t\t the governor told them that they were not to partake of the most holy food, until there should be a priest to consult Urim and Thummim.\r\n\t\t\t The whole assembly together was forty-two thousand three hundred sixty,\r\n\t\t\t besides their male and female servants, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty-seven; and they had two hundred male and female singers.\r\n\t\t\t They had seven hundred thirty-six horses, two hundred forty-five mules,\r\n\t\t\t four hundred thirty-five camels, and six thousand seven hundred twenty donkeys.\r\n\t\t\t As soon as they came to the house of the LORD in Jerusalem, some of the heads of families made freewill offerings for the house of God, to erect it on its site.\r\n\t\t\t According to their resources they gave to the building fund sixty-one thousand darics of gold, five thousand minas of silver, and one hundred priestly robes.\r\n\t\t\t The priests, the Levites, and some of the people lived in Jerusalem and its vicinity; and the singers, the gatekeepers, and the temple servants lived in their towns, and all Israel in their towns. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t When the seventh month came, and the Israelites were in the towns, the people gathered together in Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t Then Jeshua son of Jozadak, with his fellow priests, and Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel with his kin set out to build the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings on it, as prescribed in the law of Moses the man of God.\r\n\t\t\t They set up the altar on its foundation, because they were in dread of the neighboring peoples, and they offered burnt offerings upon it to the LORD, morning and evening.\r\n\t\t\t And they kept the festival of booths, as prescribed, and offered the daily burnt offerings by number according to the ordinance, as required for each day, \r\n\t\t\t and after that the regular burnt offerings, the offerings at the new moon and at all the sacred festivals of the LORD, and the offerings of everyone who made a freewill offering to the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t From the first day of the seventh month they began to offer burnt offerings to the LORD. But the foundation of the temple of the LORD was not yet laid.\r\n\t\t\t So they gave money to the masons and the carpenters, and food, drink, and oil to the Sidonians and the Tyrians to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea, to Joppa, according to the grant that they had from King Cyrus of Persia.\r\n\t\t\t In the second year after their arrival at the house of God at Jerusalem, in the second month, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Jeshua son of Jozadak made a beginning, together with the rest of their people, the priests and the Levites and all who had come to Jerusalem from the captivity. They appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to have the oversight of the work on the house of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t And Jeshua with his sons and his kin, and Kadmiel and his sons, Binnui and Hodaviah along with the sons of Henadad, the Levites, their sons and kin, together took charge of the workers in the house of God. \r\n\t\t\t When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, the priests in their vestments were stationed to praise the LORD with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, according to the directions of King David of Israel;\r\n\t\t\t and they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the LORD, \"For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever toward Israel.\" And all the people responded with a great shout when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid.\r\n\t\t\t But many of the priests and Levites and heads of families, old people who had seen the first house on its foundations, wept with a loud voice when they saw this house, though many shouted aloud for joy,\r\n\t\t\t so that the people could not distinguish the sound of the joyful shout from the sound of the people's weeping, for the people shouted so loudly that the sound was heard far away.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t When the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the returned exiles were building a temple to the LORD, the God of Israel,\r\n\t\t\t they approached Zerubbabel and the heads of families and said to them, \"Let us build with you, for we worship your God as you do, and we have been sacrificing to him ever since the days of King Esar-haddon of Assyria who brought us here.\"\r\n\t\t\t But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the rest of the heads of families in Israel said to them, \"You shall have no part with us in building a house to our God; but we alone will build to the LORD, the God of Israel, as King Cyrus of Persia has commanded us.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah, and made them afraid to build,\r\n\t\t\t and they bribed officials to frustrate their plan throughout the reign of King Cyrus of Persia and until the reign of King Darius of Persia.\r\n\t\t\t In the reign of Ahasuerus, in his accession year, they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t And in the days of Artaxerxes, Bishlam and Mithredath and Tabeel and the rest of their associates wrote to King Artaxerxes of Persia; the letter was written in Aramaic and translated.\r\n\t\t\t Rehum the royal deputy and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to King Artaxerxes as follows\r\n\t\t\t (then Rehum the royal deputy, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their associates, the judges, the envoys, the officials, the Persians, the people of Erech, the Babylonians, the people of Susa, that is, the Elamites,\r\n\t\t\t and the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Osnappar deported and settled in the cities of Samaria and in the rest of the province Beyond the River wrote-- and now\r\n\t\t\t this is a copy of the letter that they sent): \"To King Artaxerxes: Your servants, the people of the province Beyond the River, send greeting. And now\r\n\t\t\t may it be known to the king that the Jews who came up from you to us have gone to Jerusalem. They are rebuilding that rebellious and wicked city; they are finishing the walls and repairing the foundations.\r\n\t\t\t Now may it be known to the king that, if this city is rebuilt and the walls finished, they will not pay tribute, custom, or toll, and the royal revenue will be reduced.\r\n\t\t\t Now because we share the salt of the palace and it is not fitting for us to witness the king's dishonor, therefore we send and inform the king,\r\n\t\t\t so that a search may be made in the annals of your ancestors. You will discover in the annals that this is a rebellious city, hurtful to kings and provinces, and that sedition was stirred up in it from long ago. On that account this city was laid waste.\r\n\t\t\t We make known to the king that, if this city is rebuilt and its walls finished, you will then have no possession in the province Beyond the River.\"\r\n\t\t\t The king sent an answer: \"To Rehum the royal deputy and Shimshai the scribe and the rest of their associates who live in Samaria and in the rest of the province Beyond the River, greeting. And now\r\n\t\t\t the letter that you sent to us has been read in translation before me.\r\n\t\t\t So I made a decree, and someone searched and discovered that this city has risen against kings from long ago, and that rebellion and sedition have been made in it.\r\n\t\t\t Jerusalem has had mighty kings who ruled over the whole province Beyond the River, to whom tribute, custom, and toll were paid.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore issue an order that these people be made to cease, and that this city not be rebuilt, until I make a decree.\r\n\t\t\t Moreover, take care not to be slack in this matter; why should damage grow to the hurt of the king?\"\r\n\t\t\t Then when the copy of King Artaxerxes' letter was read before Rehum and the scribe Shimshai and their associates, they hurried to the Jews in Jerusalem and by force and power made them cease.\r\n\t\t\t At that time the work on the house of God in Jerusalem stopped and was discontinued until the second year of the reign of King Darius of Persia.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now the prophets, Haggai and Zechariah son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem, in the name of the God of Israel who was over them. \r\n\t\t\t Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Jeshua son of Jozadak set out to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem; and with them were the prophets of God, helping them.\r\n\t\t\t At the same time Tattenai the governor of the province Beyond the River and Shethar-bozenai and their associates came to them and spoke to them thus, \"Who gave you a decree to build this house and to finish this structure?\"\r\n\t\t\t They also asked them this, \"What are the names of the men who are building this building?\" \r\n\t\t\t But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, and they did not stop them until a report reached Darius and then answer was returned by letter in reply to it.\r\n\t\t\t The copy of the letter that Tattenai the governor of the province Beyond the River and Shethar-bozenai and his associates the envoys who were in the province Beyond the River sent to King Darius;\r\n\t\t\t they sent him a report, in which was written as follows: \"To Darius the king, all peace!\r\n\t\t\t May it be known to the king that we went to the province of Judah, to the house of the great God. It is being built of hewn stone, and timber is laid in the walls; this work is being done diligently and prospers in their hands.\r\n\t\t\t Then we spoke to those elders and asked them, 'Who gave you a decree to build this house and to finish this structure?'\r\n\t\t\t We also asked them their names, for your information, so that we might write down the names of the men at their head.\r\n\t\t\t This was their reply to us: 'We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the house that was built many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and finished.\r\n\t\t\t But because our ancestors had angered the God of heaven, he gave them into the hand of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house and carried away the people to Babylonia.\r\n\t\t\t However, King Cyrus of Babylon, in the first year of his reign, made a decree that this house of God should be rebuilt.\r\n\t\t\t Moreover, the gold and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple in Jerusalem and had brought into the temple of Babylon, these King Cyrus took out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered to a man named Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor.\r\n\t\t\t He said to him, \"Take these vessels; go and put them in the temple in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be rebuilt on its site.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then this Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundations of the house of God in Jerusalem; and from that time until now it has been under construction, and it is not yet finished.'\r\n\t\t\t And now, if it seems good to the king, have a search made in the royal archives there in Babylon, to see whether a decree was issued by King Cyrus for the rebuilding of this house of God in Jerusalem. Let the king send us his pleasure in this matter.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then King Darius made a decree, and they searched the archives where the documents were stored in Babylon.\r\n\t\t\t But it was in Ecbatana, the capital in the province of Media, that a scroll was found on which this was written: \"A record.\r\n\t\t\t In the first year of his reign, King Cyrus issued a decree: Concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, let the house be rebuilt, the place where sacrifices are offered and burnt offerings are brought; its height shall be sixty cubits and its width sixty cubits, \r\n\t\t\t with three courses of hewn stones and one course of timber; let the cost be paid from the royal treasury.\r\n\t\t\t Moreover, let the gold and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple in Jerusalem and brought to Babylon, be restored and brought back to the temple in Jerusalem, each to its place; you shall put them in the house of God.\"\r\n\t\t\t \"Now you, Tattenai, governor of the province Beyond the River, Shethar-bozenai, and you, their associates, the envoys in the province Beyond the River, keep away;\r\n\t\t\t let the work on this house of God alone; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews rebuild this house of God on its site.\r\n\t\t\t Moreover I make a decree regarding what you shall do for these elders of the Jews for the rebuilding of this house of God: the cost is to be paid to these people, in full and without delay, from the royal revenue, the tribute of the province Beyond the River.\r\n\t\t\t Whatever is needed-- young bulls, rams, or sheep for burnt offerings to the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, or oil, as the priests in Jerusalem require-- let that be given to them day by day without fail,\r\n\t\t\t so that they may offer pleasing sacrifices to the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king and his children.\r\n\t\t\t Furthermore I decree that if anyone alters this edict, a beam shall be pulled out of the house of the perpetrator, who then shall be impaled on it. The house shall be made a dunghill.\r\n\t\t\t May the God who has established his name there overthrow any king or people that shall put forth a hand to alter this, or to destroy this house of God in Jerusalem. I, Darius, make a decree; let it be done with all diligence.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then, according to the word sent by King Darius, Tattenai, the governor of the province Beyond the River, Shethar-bozenai, and their associates did with all diligence what King Darius had ordered.\r\n\t\t\t So the elders of the Jews built and prospered, through the prophesying of the prophet Haggai and Zechariah son of Iddo. They finished their building by command of the God of Israel and by decree of Cyrus, Darius, and King Artaxerxes of Persia;\r\n\t\t\t and this house was finished on the third day of the month of Adar, in the sixth year of the reign of King Darius.\r\n\t\t\t The people of Israel, the priests and the Levites, and the rest of the returned exiles, celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy.\r\n\t\t\t They offered at the dedication of this house of God one hundred bulls, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs, and as a sin offering for all Israel, twelve male goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t Then they set the priests in their divisions and the Levites in their courses for the service of God at Jerusalem, as it is written in the book of Moses.\r\n\t\t\t On the fourteenth day of the first month the returned exiles kept the passover.\r\n\t\t\t For both the priests and the Levites had purified themselves; all of them were clean. So they killed the passover lamb for all the returned exiles, for their fellow priests, and for themselves.\r\n\t\t\t It was eaten by the people of Israel who had returned from exile, and also by all who had joined them and separated themselves from the pollutions of the nations of the land to worship the LORD, the God of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t With joy they celebrated the festival of unleavened bread seven days; for the LORD had made them joyful, and had turned the heart of the king of Assyria to them, so that he aided them in the work on the house of God, the God of Israel.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t After this, in the reign of King Artaxerxes of Persia, Ezra son of Seraiah, son of Azariah, son of Hilkiah,\r\n\t\t\t son of Shallum, son of Zadok, son of Ahitub,\r\n\t\t\t son of Amariah, son of Azariah, son of Meraioth,\r\n\t\t\t son of Zerahiah, son of Uzzi, son of Bukki,\r\n\t\t\t son of Abishua, son of Phinehas, son of Eleazar, son of the chief priest Aaron--\r\n\t\t\t this Ezra went up from Babylonia. He was a scribe skilled in the law of Moses that the LORD the God of Israel had given; and the king granted him all that he asked, for the hand of the LORD his God was upon him.\r\n\t\t\t Some of the people of Israel, and some of the priests and Levites, the singers and gatekeepers, and the temple servants also went up to Jerusalem, in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes.\r\n\t\t\t They came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king.\r\n\t\t\t On the first day of the first month the journey up from Babylon was begun, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, for the gracious hand of his God was upon him.\r\n\t\t\t For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach the statutes and ordinances in Israel.\r\n\t\t\t This is a copy of the letter that King Artaxerxes gave to the priest Ezra, the scribe, a scholar of the text of the commandments of the LORD and his statutes for Israel:\r\n\t\t\t \"Artaxerxes, king of kings, to the priest Ezra, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven: Peace. And now \r\n\t\t\t I decree that any of the people of Israel or their priests or Levites in my kingdom who freely offers to go to Jerusalem may go with you.\r\n\t\t\t For you are sent by the king and his seven counselors to make inquiries about Judah and Jerusalem according to the law of your God, which is in your hand,\r\n\t\t\t and also to convey the silver and gold that the king and his counselors have freely offered to the God of Israel, whose dwelling is in Jerusalem,\r\n\t\t\t with all the silver and gold that you shall find in the whole province of Babylonia, and with the freewill offerings of the people and the priests, given willingly for the house of their God in Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t With this money, then, you shall with all diligence buy bulls, rams, and lambs, and their grain offerings and their drink offerings, and you shall offer them on the altar of the house of your God in Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t Whatever seems good to you and your colleagues to do with the rest of the silver and gold, you may do, according to the will of your God.\r\n\t\t\t The vessels that have been given you for the service of the house of your God, you shall deliver before the God of Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t And whatever else is required for the house of your God, which you are responsible for providing, you may provide out of the king's treasury.\r\n\t\t\t \"I, King Artaxerxes, decree to all the treasurers in the province Beyond the River: Whatever the priest Ezra, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, requires of you, let it be done with all diligence,\r\n\t\t\t up to one hundred talents of silver, one hundred cors of wheat, one hundred baths of wine, one hundred baths of oil, and unlimited salt. \r\n\t\t\t Whatever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be done with zeal for the house of the God of heaven, or wrath will come upon the realm of the king and his heirs.\r\n\t\t\t We also notify you that it shall not be lawful to impose tribute, custom, or toll on any of the priests, the Levites, the singers, the doorkeepers, the temple servants, or other servants of this house of God.\r\n\t\t\t \"And you, Ezra, according to the God-given wisdom you possess, appoint magistrates and judges who may judge all the people in the province Beyond the River who know the laws of your God; and you shall teach those who do not know them.\r\n\t\t\t All who will not obey the law of your God and the law of the king, let judgment be strictly executed on them, whether for death or for banishment or for confiscation of their goods or for imprisonment.\"\r\n\t\t\t Blessed be the LORD, the God of our ancestors, who put such a thing as this into the heart of the king to glorify the house of the LORD in Jerusalem,\r\n\t\t\t and who extended to me steadfast love before the king and his counselors, and before all the king's mighty officers. I took courage, for the hand of the LORD my God was upon me, and I gathered leaders from Israel to go up with me.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t These are their family heads, and this is the genealogy of those who went up with me from Babylonia, in the reign of King Artaxerxes:\r\n\t\t\t Of the descendants of Phinehas, Gershom. Of Ithamar, Daniel. Of David, Hattush,\r\n\t\t\t of the descendants of Shecaniah. Of Parosh, Zechariah, with whom were registered one hundred fifty males.\r\n\t\t\t Of the descendants of Pahath-moab, Eliehoenai son of Zerahiah, and with him two hundred males.\r\n\t\t\t Of the descendants of Zattu, Shecaniah son of Jahaziel, and with him three hundred males. \r\n\t\t\t Of the descendants of Adin, Ebed son of Jonathan, and with him fifty males.\r\n\t\t\t Of the descendants of Elam, Jeshaiah son of Athaliah, and with him seventy males.\r\n\t\t\t Of the descendants of Shephatiah, Zebadiah son of Michael, and with him eighty males.\r\n\t\t\t Of the descendants of Joab, Obadiah son of Jehiel, and with him two hundred eighteen males.\r\n\t\t\t Of the descendants of Bani, Shelomith son of Josiphiah, and with him one hundred sixty males. \r\n\t\t\t Of the descendants of Bebai, Zechariah son of Bebai, and with him twenty-eight males.\r\n\t\t\t Of the descendants of Azgad, Johanan son of Hakkatan, and with him one hundred ten males.\r\n\t\t\t Of the descendants of Adonikam, those who came later, their names being Eliphelet, Jeuel, and Shemaiah, and with them sixty males.\r\n\t\t\t Of the descendants of Bigvai, Uthai and Zaccur, and with them seventy males.\r\n\t\t\t I gathered them by the river that runs to Ahava, and there we camped three days. As I reviewed the people and the priests, I found there none of the descendants of Levi.\r\n\t\t\t Then I sent for Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah, and Meshullam, who were leaders, and for Joiarib and Elnathan, who were wise,\r\n\t\t\t and sent them to Iddo, the leader at the place called Casiphia, telling them what to say to Iddo and his colleagues the temple servants at Casiphia, namely, to send us ministers for the house of our God.\r\n\t\t\t Since the gracious hand of our God was upon us, they brought us a man of discretion, of the descendants of Mahli son of Levi son of Israel, namely Sherebiah, with his sons and kin, eighteen;\r\n\t\t\t also Hashabiah and with him Jeshaiah of the descendants of Merari, with his kin and their sons, twenty;\r\n\t\t\t besides two hundred twenty of the temple servants, whom David and his officials had set apart to attend the Levites. These were all mentioned by name.\r\n\t\t\t Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might deny ourselves before our God, to seek from him a safe journey for ourselves, our children, and all our possessions. \r\n\t\t\t For I was ashamed to ask the king for a band of soldiers and cavalry to protect us against the enemy on our way, since we had told the king that the hand of our God is gracious to all who seek him, but his power and his wrath are against all who forsake him.\r\n\t\t\t So we fasted and petitioned our God for this, and he listened to our entreaty.\r\n\t\t\t Then I set apart twelve of the leading priests: Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their kin with them.\r\n\t\t\t And I weighed out to them the silver and the gold and the vessels, the offering for the house of our God that the king, his counselors, his lords, and all Israel there present had offered;\r\n\t\t\t I weighed out into their hand six hundred fifty talents of silver, and one hundred silver vessels worth... talents, and one hundred talents of gold,\r\n\t\t\t twenty gold bowls worth a thousand darics, and two vessels of fine polished bronze as precious as gold.\r\n\t\t\t And I said to them, \"You are holy to the LORD, and the vessels are holy; and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering to the LORD, the God of your ancestors.\r\n\t\t\t Guard them and keep them until you weigh them before the chief priests and the Levites and the heads of families in Israel at Jerusalem, within the chambers of the house of the LORD.\"\r\n\t\t\t So the priests and the Levites took over the silver, the gold, and the vessels as they were weighed out, to bring them to Jerusalem, to the house of our God.\r\n\t\t\t Then we left the river Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go to Jerusalem; the hand of our God was upon us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy and from ambushes along the way.\r\n\t\t\t We came to Jerusalem and remained there three days.\r\n\t\t\t On the fourth day, within the house of our God, the silver, the gold, and the vessels were weighed into the hands of the priest Meremoth son of Uriah, and with him was Eleazar son of Phinehas, and with them were the Levites, Jozabad son of Jeshua and Noadiah son of Binnui.\r\n\t\t\t The total was counted and weighed, and the weight of everything was recorded.\r\n\t\t\t At that time those who had come from captivity, the returned exiles, offered burnt offerings to the God of Israel, twelve bulls for all Israel, ninety-six rams, seventy-seven lambs, and as a sin offering twelve male goats; all this was a burnt offering to the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t They also delivered the king's commissions to the king's satraps and to the governors of the province Beyond the River; and they supported the people and the house of God.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t After these things had been done, the officials approached me and said, \"The people of Israel, the priests, and the Levites have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands with their abominations, from the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.\r\n\t\t\t For they have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and for their sons. Thus the holy seed has mixed itself with the peoples of the lands, and in this faithlessness the officials and leaders have led the way.\"\r\n\t\t\t When I heard this, I tore my garment and my mantle, and pulled hair from my head and beard, and sat appalled.\r\n\t\t\t Then all who trembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of the faithlessness of the returned exiles, gathered around me while I sat appalled until the evening sacrifice.\r\n\t\t\t At the evening sacrifice I got up from my fasting, with my garments and my mantle torn, and fell on my knees, spread out my hands to the LORD my God,\r\n\t\t\t and said, \"O my God, I am too ashamed and embarrassed to lift my face to you, my God, for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has mounted up to the heavens.\r\n\t\t\t From the days of our ancestors to this day we have been deep in guilt, and for our iniquities we, our kings, and our priests have been handed over to the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, to plundering, and to utter shame, as is now the case.\r\n\t\t\t But now for a brief moment favor has been shown by the LORD our God, who has left us a remnant, and given us a stake in his holy place, in order that he may brighten our eyes and grant us a little sustenance in our slavery. \r\n\t\t\t For we are slaves; yet our God has not forsaken us in our slavery, but has extended to us his steadfast love before the kings of Persia, to give us new life to set up the house of our God, to repair its ruins, and to give us a wall in Judea and Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t \"And now, our God, what shall we say after this? For we have forsaken your commandments,\r\n\t\t\t which you commanded by your servants the prophets, saying, 'The land that you are entering to possess is a land unclean with the pollutions of the peoples of the lands, with their abominations. They have filled it from end to end with their uncleanness.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore do not give your daughters to their sons, neither take their daughters for your sons, and never seek their peace or prosperity, so that you may be strong and eat the good of the land and leave it for an inheritance to your children forever.'\r\n\t\t\t After all that has come upon us for our evil deeds and for our great guilt, seeing that you, our God, have punished us less than our iniquities deserved and have given us such a remnant as this,\r\n\t\t\t shall we break your commandments again and intermarry with the peoples who practice these abominations? Would you not be angry with us until you destroy us without remnant or survivor?\r\n\t\t\t O LORD, God of Israel, you are just, but we have escaped as a remnant, as is now the case. Here we are before you in our guilt, though no one can face you because of this.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t While Ezra prayed and made confession, weeping and throwing himself down before the house of God, a very great assembly of men, women, and children gathered to him out of Israel; the people also wept bitterly.\r\n\t\t\t Shecaniah son of Jehiel, of the descendants of Elam, addressed Ezra, saying, \"We have broken faith with our God and have married foreign women from the peoples of the land, but even now there is hope for Israel in spite of this.\r\n\t\t\t So now let us make a covenant with our God to send away all these wives and their children, according to the counsel of my lord and of those who tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the law.\r\n\t\t\t Take action, for it is your duty, and we are with you; be strong, and do it.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Ezra stood up and made the leading priests, the Levites, and all Israel swear that they would do as had been said. So they swore.\r\n\t\t\t Then Ezra withdrew from before the house of God, and went to the chamber of Jehohanan son of Eliashib, where he spent the night. He did not eat bread or drink water, for he was mourning over the faithlessness of the exiles. \r\n\t\t\t They made a proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem to all the returned exiles that they should assemble at Jerusalem,\r\n\t\t\t and that if any did not come within three days, by order of the officials and the elders all their property should be forfeited, and they themselves banned from the congregation of the exiles.\r\n\t\t\t Then all the people of Judah and Benjamin assembled at Jerusalem within the three days; it was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month. All the people sat in the open square before the house of God, trembling because of this matter and because of the heavy rain.\r\n\t\t\t Then Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, \"You have trespassed and married foreign women, and so increased the guilt of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t Now make confession to the LORD the God of your ancestors, and do his will; separate yourselves from the peoples of the land and from the foreign wives.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then all the assembly answered with a loud voice, \"It is so; we must do as you have said.\r\n\t\t\t But the people are many, and it is a time of heavy rain; we cannot stand in the open. Nor is this a task for one day or for two, for many of us have transgressed in this matter.\r\n\t\t\t Let our officials represent the whole assembly, and let all in our towns who have taken foreign wives come at appointed times, and with them the elders and judges of every town, until the fierce wrath of our God on this account is averted from us.\"\r\n\t\t\t Only Jonathan son of Asahel and Jahzeiah son of Tikvah opposed this, and Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levites supported them.\r\n\t\t\t Then the returned exiles did so. Ezra the priest selected men, heads of families, according to their families, each of them designated by name. On the first day of the tenth month they sat down to examine the matter. \r\n\t\t\t By the first day of the first month they had come to the end of all the men who had married foreign women.\r\n\t\t\t There were found of the descendants of the priests who had married foreign women, of the descendants of Jeshua son of Jozadak and his brothers: Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah.\r\n\t\t\t They pledged themselves to send away their wives, and their guilt offering was a ram of the flock for their guilt.\r\n\t\t\t Of the descendants of Immer: Hanani and Zebadiah.\r\n\t\t\t Of the descendants of Harim: Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel, and Uzziah.\r\n\t\t\t Of the descendants of Pashhur: Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad, and Elasah.\r\n\t\t\t Of the Levites: Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah (that is, Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.\r\n\t\t\t Of the singers: Eliashib. Of the gatekeepers: Shallum, Telem, and Uri.\r\n\t\t\t And of Israel: of the descendants of Parosh: Ramiah, Izziah, Malchijah, Mijamin, Eleazar, Hashabiah, and Benaiah. \r\n\t\t\t Of the descendants of Elam: Mattaniah, Zechariah, Jehiel, Abdi, Jeremoth, and Elijah.\r\n\t\t\t Of the descendants of Zattu: Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, Jeremoth, Zabad, and Aziza.\r\n\t\t\t Of the descendants of Bebai: Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai.\r\n\t\t\t Of the descendants of Bani: Meshullam, Malluch, Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal, and Jeremoth.\r\n\t\t\t Of the descendants of Pahath-moab: Adna, Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, Binnui, and Manasseh.\r\n\t\t\t Of the descendants of Harim: Eliezer, Isshijah, Malchijah, Shemaiah, Shimeon,\r\n\t\t\t Benjamin, Malluch, and Shemariah.\r\n\t\t\t Of the descendants of Hashum: Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei.\r\n\t\t\t Of the descendants of Bani: Maadai, Amram, Uel,\r\n\t\t\t Benaiah, Bedeiah, Cheluhi,\r\n\t\t\t Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib,\r\n\t\t\t Mattaniah, Mattenai, and Jaasu.\r\n\t\t\t Of the descendants of Binnui: Shimei, \r\n\t\t\t Shelemiah, Nathan, Adaiah,\r\n\t\t\t Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai,\r\n\t\t\t Azarel, Shelemiah, Shemariah,\r\n\t\t\t Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph.\r\n\t\t\t Of the descendants of Nebo: Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jaddai, Joel, and Benaiah.\r\n\t\t\t All these had married foreign women, and they sent them away with their children. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The words of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah. In the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, while I was in Susa the capital,\r\n\t\t\t one of my brothers, Hanani, came with certain men from Judah; and I asked them about the Jews that survived, those who had escaped the captivity, and about Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t They replied, \"The survivors there in the province who escaped captivity are in great trouble and shame; the wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been destroyed by fire.\"\r\n\t\t\t When I heard these words I sat down and wept, and mourned for days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven.\r\n\t\t\t I said, \"O LORD God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments;\r\n\t\t\t let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Both I and my family have sinned.\r\n\t\t\t We have offended you deeply, failing to keep the commandments, the statutes, and the ordinances that you commanded your servant Moses.\r\n\t\t\t Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, 'If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples;\r\n\t\t\t but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts are under the farthest skies, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place at which I have chosen to establish my name.'\r\n\t\t\t They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great power and your strong hand.\r\n\t\t\t O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man!\" At the time, I was cupbearer to the king.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t In the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was served him, I carried the wine and gave it to the king. Now, I had never been sad in his presence before.\r\n\t\t\t So the king said to me, \"Why is your face sad, since you are not sick? This can only be sadness of the heart.\" Then I was very much afraid.\r\n\t\t\t I said to the king, \"May the king live forever! Why should my face not be sad, when the city, the place of my ancestors' graves, lies waste, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the king said to me, \"What do you request?\" So I prayed to the God of heaven.\r\n\t\t\t Then I said to the king, \"If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor with you, I ask that you send me to Judah, to the city of my ancestors' graves, so that I may rebuild it.\"\r\n\t\t\t The king said to me (the queen also was sitting beside him), \"How long will you be gone, and when will you return?\" So it pleased the king to send me, and I set him a date.\r\n\t\t\t Then I said to the king, \"If it pleases the king, let letters be given me to the governors of the province Beyond the River, that they may grant me passage until I arrive in Judah;\r\n\t\t\t and a letter to Asaph, the keeper of the king's forest, directing him to give me timber to make beams for the gates of the temple fortress, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall occupy.\" And the king granted me what I asked, for the gracious hand of my God was upon me.\r\n\t\t\t Then I came to the governors of the province Beyond the River, and gave them the king's letters. Now the king had sent officers of the army and cavalry with me.\r\n\t\t\t When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard this, it displeased them greatly that someone had come to seek the welfare of the people of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t So I came to Jerusalem and was there for three days.\r\n\t\t\t Then I got up during the night, I and a few men with me; I told no one what my God had put into my heart to do for Jerusalem. The only animal I took was the animal I rode.\r\n\t\t\t I went out by night by the Valley Gate past the Dragon's Spring and to the Dung Gate, and I inspected the walls of Jerusalem that had been broken down and its gates that had been destroyed by fire.\r\n\t\t\t Then I went on to the Fountain Gate and to the King's Pool; but there was no place for the animal I was riding to continue.\r\n\t\t\t So I went up by way of the valley by night and inspected the wall. Then I turned back and entered by the Valley Gate, and so returned.\r\n\t\t\t The officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing; I had not yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials, and the rest that were to do the work.\r\n\t\t\t Then I said to them, \"You see the trouble we are in, how Jerusalem lies in ruins with its gates burned. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, so that we may no longer suffer disgrace.\"\r\n\t\t\t I told them that the hand of my God had been gracious upon me, and also the words that the king had spoken to me. Then they said, \"Let us start building!\" So they committed themselves to the common good.\r\n\t\t\t But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard of it, they mocked and ridiculed us, saying, \"What is this that you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?\"\r\n\t\t\t Then I replied to them, \"The God of heaven is the one who will give us success, and we his servants are going to start building; but you have no share or claim or historic right in Jerusalem.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then the high priest Eliashib set to work with his fellow priests and rebuilt the Sheep Gate. They consecrated it and set up its doors; they consecrated it as far as the Tower of the Hundred and as far as the Tower of Hananel.\r\n\t\t\t And the men of Jericho built next to him. And next to them Zaccur son of Imri built. \r\n\t\t\t The sons of Hassenaah built the Fish Gate; they laid its beams and set up its doors, its bolts, and its bars.\r\n\t\t\t Next to them Meremoth son of Uriah son of Hakkoz made repairs. Next to them Meshullam son of Berechiah son of Meshezabel made repairs. Next to them Zadok son of Baana made repairs.\r\n\t\t\t Next to them the Tekoites made repairs; but their nobles would not put their shoulders to the work of their Lord. \r\n\t\t\t Joiada son of Paseah and Meshullam son of Besodeiah repaired the Old Gate; they laid its beams and set up its doors, its bolts, and its bars.\r\n\t\t\t Next to them repairs were made by Melatiah the Gibeonite and Jadon the Meronothite-- the men of Gibeon and of Mizpah-- who were under the jurisdiction of the governor of the province Beyond the River.\r\n\t\t\t Next to them Uzziel son of Harhaiah, one of the goldsmiths, made repairs. Next to him Hananiah, one of the perfumers, made repairs; and they restored Jerusalem as far as the Broad Wall.\r\n\t\t\t Next to them Rephaiah son of Hur, ruler of half the district of Jerusalem, made repairs. \r\n\t\t\t Next to them Jedaiah son of Harumaph made repairs opposite his house; and next to him Hattush son of Hashabneiah made repairs.\r\n\t\t\t Malchijah son of Harim and Hasshub son of Pahath-moab repaired another section and the Tower of the Ovens.\r\n\t\t\t Next to him Shallum son of Hallohesh, ruler of half the district of Jerusalem, made repairs, he and his daughters. \r\n\t\t\t Hanun and the inhabitants of Zanoah repaired the Valley Gate; they rebuilt it and set up its doors, its bolts, and its bars, and repaired a thousand cubits of the wall, as far as the Dung Gate.\r\n\t\t\t Malchijah son of Rechab, ruler of the district of Beth-haccherem, repaired the Dung Gate; he rebuilt it and set up its doors, its bolts, and its bars. \r\n\t\t\t And Shallum son of Col-hozeh, ruler of the district of Mizpah, repaired the Fountain Gate; he rebuilt it and covered it and set up its doors, its bolts, and its bars; and he built the wall of the Pool of Shelah of the king's garden, as far as the stairs that go down from the City of David.\r\n\t\t\t After him Nehemiah son of Azbuk, ruler of half the district of Beth-zur, repaired from a point opposite the graves of David, as far as the artificial pool and the house of the warriors. \r\n\t\t\t After him the Levites made repairs: Rehum son of Bani; next to him Hashabiah, ruler of half the district of Keilah, made repairs for his district. \r\n\t\t\t After him their kin made repairs: Binnui, son of Henadad, ruler of half the district of Keilah; \r\n\t\t\t next to him Ezer son of Jeshua, ruler of Mizpah, repaired another section opposite the ascent to the armory at the Angle. \r\n\t\t\t After him Baruch son of Zabbai repaired another section from the Angle to the door of the house of the high priest Eliashib.\r\n\t\t\t After him Meremoth son of Uriah son of Hakkoz repaired another section from the door of the house of Eliashib to the end of the house of Eliashib.\r\n\t\t\t After him the priests, the men of the surrounding area, made repairs.\r\n\t\t\t After them Benjamin and Hasshub made repairs opposite their house. After them Azariah son of Maaseiah son of Ananiah made repairs beside his own house.\r\n\t\t\t After him Binnui son of Henadad repaired another section, from the house of Azariah to the Angle and to the corner.\r\n\t\t\t Palal son of Uzai repaired opposite the Angle and the tower projecting from the upper house of the king at the court of the guard. After him Pedaiah son of Parosh\r\n\t\t\t and the temple servants living on Ophel made repairs up to a point opposite the Water Gate on the east and the projecting tower. \r\n\t\t\t After him the Tekoites repaired another section opposite the great projecting tower as far as the wall of Ophel.\r\n\t\t\t Above the Horse Gate the priests made repairs, each one opposite his own house.\r\n\t\t\t After them Zadok son of Immer made repairs opposite his own house. After him Shemaiah son of Shecaniah, the keeper of the East Gate, made repairs.\r\n\t\t\t After him Hananiah son of Shelemiah and Hanun sixth son of Zalaph repaired another section. After him Meshullam son of Berechiah made repairs opposite his living quarters.\r\n\t\t\t After him Malchijah, one of the goldsmiths, made repairs as far as the house of the temple servants and of the merchants, opposite the Muster Gate, and to the upper room of the corner.\r\n\t\t\t And between the upper room of the corner and the Sheep Gate the goldsmiths and the merchants made repairs.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now when Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he was angry and greatly enraged, and he mocked the Jews.\r\n\t\t\t He said in the presence of his associates and of the army of Samaria, \"What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they restore things? Will they sacrifice? Will they finish it in a day? Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of rubbish-- and burned ones at that?\"\r\n\t\t\t Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, \"That stone wall they are building-- any fox going up on it would break it down!\"\r\n\t\t\t Hear, O our God, for we are despised; turn their taunt back on their own heads, and give them over as plunder in a land of captivity.\r\n\t\t\t Do not cover their guilt, and do not let their sin be blotted out from your sight; for they have hurled insults in the face of the builders.\r\n\t\t\t So we rebuilt the wall, and all the wall was joined together to half its height; for the people had a mind to work.\r\n\t\t\t But when Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabs and the Ammonites and the Ashdodites heard that the repairing of the walls of Jerusalem was going forward and the gaps were beginning to be closed, they were very angry,\r\n\t\t\t and all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and to cause confusion in it.\r\n\t\t\t So we prayed to our God, and set a guard as a protection against them day and night.\r\n\t\t\t But Judah said, \"The strength of the burden bearers is failing, and there is too much rubbish so that we are unable to work on the wall.\"\r\n\t\t\t And our enemies said, \"They will not know or see anything before we come upon them and kill them and stop the work.\"\r\n\t\t\t When the Jews who lived near them came, they said to us ten times, \"From all the places where they live they will come up against us.\" \r\n\t\t\t So in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, in open places, I stationed the people according to their families, with their swords, their spears, and their bows. \r\n\t\t\t After I looked these things over, I stood up and said to the nobles and the officials and the rest of the people, \"Do not be afraid of them. Remember the LORD, who is great and awesome, and fight for your kin, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.\"\r\n\t\t\t When our enemies heard that their plot was known to us, and that God had frustrated it, we all returned to the wall, each to his work.\r\n\t\t\t From that day on, half of my servants worked on construction, and half held the spears, shields, bows, and body-armor; and the leaders posted themselves behind the whole house of Judah,\r\n\t\t\t who were building the wall. The burden bearers carried their loads in such a way that each labored on the work with one hand and with the other held a weapon.\r\n\t\t\t And each of the builders had his sword strapped at his side while he built. The man who sounded the trumpet was beside me.\r\n\t\t\t And I said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people, \"The work is great and widely spread out, and we are separated far from one another on the wall.\r\n\t\t\t Rally to us wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet. Our God will fight for us.\"\r\n\t\t\t So we labored at the work, and half of them held the spears from break of dawn until the stars came out.\r\n\t\t\t I also said to the people at that time, \"Let every man and his servant pass the night inside Jerusalem, so that they may be a guard for us by night and may labor by day.\"\r\n\t\t\t So neither I nor my brothers nor my servants nor the men of the guard who followed me ever took off our clothes; each kept his weapon in his right hand. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now there was a great outcry of the people and of their wives against their Jewish kin.\r\n\t\t\t For there were those who said, \"With our sons and our daughters, we are many; we must get grain, so that we may eat and stay alive.\"\r\n\t\t\t There were also those who said, \"We are having to pledge our fields, our vineyards, and our houses in order to get grain during the famine.\"\r\n\t\t\t And there were those who said, \"We are having to borrow money on our fields and vineyards to pay the king's tax.\r\n\t\t\t Now our flesh is the same as that of our kindred; our children are the same as their children; and yet we are forcing our sons and daughters to be slaves, and some of our daughters have been ravished; we are powerless, and our fields and vineyards now belong to others.\"\r\n\t\t\t I was very angry when I heard their outcry and these complaints.\r\n\t\t\t After thinking it over, I brought charges against the nobles and the officials; I said to them, \"You are all taking interest from your own people.\" And I called a great assembly to deal with them,\r\n\t\t\t and said to them, \"As far as we were able, we have bought back our Jewish kindred who had been sold to other nations; but now you are selling your own kin, who must then be bought back by us!\" They were silent, and could not find a word to say.\r\n\t\t\t So I said, \"The thing that you are doing is not good. Should you not walk in the fear of our God, to prevent the taunts of the nations our enemies?\r\n\t\t\t Moreover I and my brothers and my servants are lending them money and grain. Let us stop this taking of interest.\r\n\t\t\t Restore to them, this very day, their fields, their vineyards, their olive orchards, and their houses, and the interest on money, grain, wine, and oil that you have been exacting from them.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then they said, \"We will restore everything and demand nothing more from them. We will do as you say.\" And I called the priests, and made them take an oath to do as they had promised.\r\n\t\t\t I also shook out the fold of my garment and said, \"So may God shake out everyone from house and from property who does not perform this promise. Thus may they be shaken out and emptied.\" And all the assembly said, \"Amen,\" and praised the LORD. And the people did as they had promised.\r\n\t\t\t Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year to the thirty-second year of King Artaxerxes, twelve years, neither I nor my brothers ate the food allowance of the governor.\r\n\t\t\t The former governors who were before me laid heavy burdens on the people, and took food and wine from them, besides forty shekels of silver. Even their servants lorded it over the people. But I did not do so, because of the fear of God.\r\n\t\t\t Indeed, I devoted myself to the work on this wall, and acquired no land; and all my servants were gathered there for the work.\r\n\t\t\t Moreover there were at my table one hundred fifty people, Jews and officials, besides those who came to us from the nations around us.\r\n\t\t\t Now that which was prepared for one day was one ox and six choice sheep; also fowls were prepared for me, and every ten days skins of wine in abundance; yet with all this I did not demand the food allowance of the governor, because of the heavy burden of labor on the people.\r\n\t\t\t Remember for my good, O my God, all that I have done for this people.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now when it was reported to Sanballat and Tobiah and to Geshem the Arab and to the rest of our enemies that I had built the wall and that there was no gap left in it (though up to that time I had not set up the doors in the gates),\r\n\t\t\t Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, \"Come and let us meet together in one of the villages in the plain of Ono.\" But they intended to do me harm.\r\n\t\t\t So I sent messengers to them, saying, \"I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it to come down to you?\"\r\n\t\t\t They sent to me four times in this way, and I answered them in the same manner.\r\n\t\t\t In the same way Sanballat for the fifth time sent his servant to me with an open letter in his hand.\r\n\t\t\t In it was written, \"It is reported among the nations-- and Geshem also says it-- that you and the Jews intend to rebel; that is why you are building the wall; and according to this report you wish to become their king.\r\n\t\t\t You have also set up prophets to proclaim in Jerusalem concerning you, 'There is a king in Judah!' And now it will be reported to the king according to these words. So come, therefore, and let us confer together.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then I sent to him, saying, \"No such things as you say have been done; you are inventing them out of your own mind\"\r\n\t\t\t -- for they all wanted to frighten us, thinking, \"Their hands will drop from the work, and it will not be done.\" But now, O God, strengthen my hands.\r\n\t\t\t One day when I went into the house of Shemaiah son of Delaiah son of Mehetabel, who was confined to his house, he said, \"Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us close the doors of the temple, for they are coming to kill you; indeed, tonight they are coming to kill you.\"\r\n\t\t\t But I said, \"Should a man like me run away? Would a man like me go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in!\"\r\n\t\t\t Then I perceived and saw that God had not sent him at all, but he had pronounced the prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.\r\n\t\t\t He was hired for this purpose, to intimidate me and make me sin by acting in this way, and so they could give me a bad name, in order to taunt me.\r\n\t\t\t Remember Tobiah and Sanballat, O my God, according to these things that they did, and also the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who wanted to make me afraid.\r\n\t\t\t So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty-two days.\r\n\t\t\t And when all our enemies heard of it, all the nations around us were afraid and fell greatly in their own esteem; for they perceived that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God. \r\n\t\t\t Moreover in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and Tobiah's letters came to them.\r\n\t\t\t For many in Judah were bound by oath to him, because he was the son-in-law of Shecaniah son of Arah: and his son Jehohanan had married the daughter of Meshullam son of Berechiah.\r\n\t\t\t Also they spoke of his good deeds in my presence, and reported my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to intimidate me.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now when the wall had been built and I had set up the doors, and the gatekeepers, the singers, and the Levites had been appointed,\r\n\t\t\t I gave my brother Hanani charge over Jerusalem, along with Hananiah the commander of the citadel-- for he was a faithful man and feared God more than many.\r\n\t\t\t And I said to them, \"The gates of Jerusalem are not to be opened until the sun is hot; while the gatekeepers are still standing guard, let them shut and bar the doors. Appoint guards from among the inhabitants of Jerusalem, some at their watch posts, and others before their own houses.\" \r\n\t\t\t The city was wide and large, but the people within it were few and no houses had been built.\r\n\t\t\t Then my God put it into my mind to assemble the nobles and the officials and the people to be enrolled by genealogy. And I found the book of the genealogy of those who were the first to come back, and I found the following written in it:\r\n\t\t\t These are the people of the province who came up out of the captivity of those exiles whom King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had carried into exile; they returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his town.\r\n\t\t\t They came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, Baanah. The number of the Israelite people:\r\n\t\t\t the descendants of Parosh, two thousand one hundred seventy-two.\r\n\t\t\t Of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy-two.\r\n\t\t\t Of Arah, six hundred fifty-two.\r\n\t\t\t Of Pahath-moab, namely the descendants of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand eight hundred eighteen.\r\n\t\t\t Of Elam, one thousand two hundred fifty-four.\r\n\t\t\t Of Zattu, eight hundred forty-five.\r\n\t\t\t Of Zaccai, seven hundred sixty.\r\n\t\t\t Of Binnui, six hundred forty-eight.\r\n\t\t\t Of Bebai, six hundred twenty-eight.\r\n\t\t\t Of Azgad, two thousand three hundred twenty-two.\r\n\t\t\t Of Adonikam, six hundred sixty-seven.\r\n\t\t\t Of Bigvai, two thousand sixty-seven.\r\n\t\t\t Of Adin, six hundred fifty-five.\r\n\t\t\t Of Ater, namely of Hezekiah, ninety-eight.\r\n\t\t\t Of Hashum, three hundred twenty-eight.\r\n\t\t\t Of Bezai, three hundred twenty-four.\r\n\t\t\t Of Hariph, one hundred twelve.\r\n\t\t\t Of Gibeon, ninety-five.\r\n\t\t\t The people of Bethlehem and Netophah, one hundred eighty-eight.\r\n\t\t\t Of Anathoth, one hundred twenty-eight.\r\n\t\t\t Of Beth-azmaveth, forty-two.\r\n\t\t\t Of Kiriath-jearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred forty-three.\r\n\t\t\t Of Ramah and Geba, six hundred twenty-one.\r\n\t\t\t Of Michmas, one hundred twenty-two.\r\n\t\t\t Of Bethel and Ai, one hundred twenty-three.\r\n\t\t\t Of the other Nebo, fifty-two.\r\n\t\t\t The descendants of the other Elam, one thousand two hundred fifty-four.\r\n\t\t\t Of Harim, three hundred twenty.\r\n\t\t\t Of Jericho, three hundred forty-five.\r\n\t\t\t Of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred twenty-one.\r\n\t\t\t Of Senaah, three thousand nine hundred thirty.\r\n\t\t\t The priests: the descendants of Jedaiah, namely the house of Jeshua, nine hundred seventy-three.\r\n\t\t\t Of Immer, one thousand fifty-two.\r\n\t\t\t Of Pashhur, one thousand two hundred forty-seven.\r\n\t\t\t Of Harim, one thousand seventeen.\r\n\t\t\t The Levites: the descendants of Jeshua, namely of Kadmiel of the descendants of Hodevah, seventy-four.\r\n\t\t\t The singers: the descendants of Asaph, one hundred forty-eight.\r\n\t\t\t The gatekeepers: the descendants of Shallum, of Ater, of Talmon, of Akkub, of Hatita, of Shobai, one hundred thirty-eight.\r\n\t\t\t The temple servants: the descendants of Ziha, of Hasupha, of Tabbaoth,\r\n\t\t\t of Keros, of Sia, of Padon,\r\n\t\t\t of Lebana, of Hagaba, of Shalmai,\r\n\t\t\t of Hanan, of Giddel, of Gahar,\r\n\t\t\t of Reaiah, of Rezin, of Nekoda,\r\n\t\t\t of Gazzam, of Uzza, of Paseah,\r\n\t\t\t of Besai, of Meunim, of Nephushesim,\r\n\t\t\t of Bakbuk, of Hakupha, of Harhur,\r\n\t\t\t of Bazlith, of Mehida, of Harsha,\r\n\t\t\t of Barkos, of Sisera, of Temah,\r\n\t\t\t of Neziah, of Hatipha.\r\n\t\t\t The descendants of Solomon's servants: of Sotai, of Sophereth, of Perida,\r\n\t\t\t of Jaala, of Darkon, of Giddel,\r\n\t\t\t of Shephatiah, of Hattil, of Pochereth-hazzebaim, of Amon.\r\n\t\t\t All the temple servants and the descendants of Solomon's servants were three hundred ninety-two.\r\n\t\t\t The following were those who came up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer, but they could not prove their ancestral houses or their descent, whether they belonged to Israel:\r\n\t\t\t the descendants of Delaiah, of Tobiah, of Nekoda, six hundred forty-two.\r\n\t\t\t Also, of the priests: the descendants of Hobaiah, of Hakkoz, of Barzillai (who had married one of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite and was called by their name).\r\n\t\t\t These sought their registration among those enrolled in the genealogies, but it was not found there, so they were excluded from the priesthood as unclean;\r\n\t\t\t the governor told them that they were not to partake of the most holy food, until a priest with Urim and Thummim should come.\r\n\t\t\t The whole assembly together was forty-two thousand three hundred sixty,\r\n\t\t\t besides their male and female slaves, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty-seven; and they had two hundred forty-five singers, male and female.\r\n\t\t\t They had seven hundred thirty-six horses, two hundred forty-five mules, \r\n\t\t\t four hundred thirty-five camels, and six thousand seven hundred twenty donkeys.\r\n\t\t\t Now some of the heads of ancestral houses contributed to the work. The governor gave to the treasury one thousand darics of gold, fifty basins, and five hundred thirty priestly robes.\r\n\t\t\t And some of the heads of ancestral houses gave into the building fund twenty thousand darics of gold and two thousand two hundred minas of silver.\r\n\t\t\t And what the rest of the people gave was twenty thousand darics of gold, two thousand minas of silver, and sixty-seven priestly robes.\r\n\t\t\t So the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, some of the people, the temple servants, and all Israel settled in their towns. When the seventh month came-- the people of Israel being settled in their towns--\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t all the people gathered together into the square before the Water Gate. They told the scribe Ezra to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had given to Israel.\r\n\t\t\t Accordingly, the priest Ezra brought the law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could hear with understanding. This was on the first day of the seventh month.\r\n\t\t\t He read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the law.\r\n\t\t\t The scribe Ezra stood on a wooden platform that had been made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand; and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hash-baddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam on his left hand.\r\n\t\t\t And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up.\r\n\t\t\t Then Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God, and all the people answered, \"Amen, Amen,\" lifting up their hands. Then they bowed their heads and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.\r\n\t\t\t Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites, helped the people to understand the law, while the people remained in their places.\r\n\t\t\t So they read from the book, from the law of God, with interpretation. They gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.\r\n\t\t\t And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, \"This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn or weep.\" For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law.\r\n\t\t\t Then he said to them, \"Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions of them to those for whom nothing is prepared, for this day is holy to our LORD; and do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.\"\r\n\t\t\t So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, \"Be quiet, for this day is holy; do not be grieved.\"\r\n\t\t\t And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them.\r\n\t\t\t On the second day the heads of ancestral houses of all the people, with the priests and the Levites, came together to the scribe Ezra in order to study the words of the law.\r\n\t\t\t And they found it written in the law, which the LORD had commanded by Moses, that the people of Israel should live in booths during the festival of the seventh month, \r\n\t\t\t and that they should publish and proclaim in all their towns and in Jerusalem as follows, \"Go out to the hills and bring branches of olive, wild olive, myrtle, palm, and other leafy trees to make booths, as it is written.\" \r\n\t\t\t So the people went out and brought them, and made booths for themselves, each on the roofs of their houses, and in their courts and in the courts of the house of God, and in the square at the Water Gate and in the square at the Gate of Ephraim. \r\n\t\t\t And all the assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and lived in them; for from the days of Jeshua son of Nun to that day the people of Israel had not done so. And there was very great rejoicing. \r\n\t\t\t And day by day, from the first day to the last day, he read from the book of the law of God. They kept the festival seven days; and on the eighth day there was a solemn assembly, according to the ordinance.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now on the twenty-fourth day of this month the people of Israel were assembled with fasting and in sackcloth, and with earth on their heads. \r\n\t\t\t Then those of Israelite descent separated themselves from all foreigners, and stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their ancestors.\r\n\t\t\t They stood up in their place and read from the book of the law of the LORD their God for a fourth part of the day, and for another fourth they made confession and worshiped the LORD their God.\r\n\t\t\t Then Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani stood on the stairs of the Levites and cried out with a loud voice to the LORD their God.\r\n\t\t\t Then the Levites, Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said, \"Stand up and bless the LORD your God from everlasting to everlasting. Blessed be your glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise.\"\r\n\t\t\t And Ezra said: \"You are the LORD, you alone; you have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. To all of them you give life, and the host of heaven worships you. \r\n\t\t\t You are the LORD, the God who chose Abram and brought him out of Ur of the Chaldeans and gave him the name Abraham;\r\n\t\t\t and you found his heart faithful before you, and made with him a covenant to give to his descendants the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Perizzite, the Jebusite, and the Girgashite; and you have fulfilled your promise, for you are righteous.\r\n\t\t\t \"And you saw the distress of our ancestors in Egypt and heard their cry at the Red Sea. \r\n\t\t\t You performed signs and wonders against Pharaoh and all his servants and all the people of his land, for you knew that they acted insolently against our ancestors. You made a name for yourself, which remains to this day.\r\n\t\t\t And you divided the sea before them, so that they passed through the sea on dry land, but you threw their pursuers into the depths, like a stone into mighty waters.\r\n\t\t\t Moreover, you led them by day with a pillar of cloud, and by night with a pillar of fire, to give them light on the way in which they should go.\r\n\t\t\t You came down also upon Mount Sinai, and spoke with them from heaven, and gave them right ordinances and true laws, good statutes and commandments,\r\n\t\t\t and you made known your holy sabbath to them and gave them commandments and statutes and a law through your servant Moses.\r\n\t\t\t For their hunger you gave them bread from heaven, and for their thirst you brought water for them out of the rock, and you told them to go in to possess the land that you swore to give them.\r\n\t\t\t \"But they and our ancestors acted presumptuously and stiffened their necks and did not obey your commandments;\r\n\t\t\t they refused to obey, and were not mindful of the wonders that you performed among them; but they stiffened their necks and determined to return to their slavery in Egypt. But you are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and you did not forsake them.\r\n\t\t\t Even when they had cast an image of a calf for themselves and said, 'This is your God who brought you up out of Egypt,' and had committed great blasphemies,\r\n\t\t\t you in your great mercies did not forsake them in the wilderness; the pillar of cloud that led them in the way did not leave them by day, nor the pillar of fire by night that gave them light on the way by which they should go.\r\n\t\t\t You gave your good spirit to instruct them, and did not withhold your manna from their mouths, and gave them water for their thirst.\r\n\t\t\t Forty years you sustained them in the wilderness so that they lacked nothing; their clothes did not wear out and their feet did not swell.\r\n\t\t\t And you gave them kingdoms and peoples, and allotted to them every corner, so they took possession of the land of King Sihon of Heshbon and the land of King Og of Bashan. \r\n\t\t\t You multiplied their descendants like the stars of heaven, and brought them into the land that you had told their ancestors to enter and possess.\r\n\t\t\t So the descendants went in and possessed the land, and you subdued before them the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, and gave them into their hands, with their kings and the peoples of the land, to do with them as they pleased.\r\n\t\t\t And they captured fortress cities and a rich land, and took possession of houses filled with all sorts of goods, hewn cisterns, vineyards, olive orchards, and fruit trees in abundance; so they ate, and were filled and became fat, and delighted themselves in your great goodness.\r\n\t\t\t \"Nevertheless they were disobedient and rebelled against you and cast your law behind their backs and killed your prophets, who had warned them in order to turn them back to you, and they committed great blasphemies.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore you gave them into the hands of their enemies, who made them suffer. Then in the time of their suffering they cried out to you and you heard them from heaven, and according to your great mercies you gave them saviors who saved them from the hands of their enemies.\r\n\t\t\t But after they had rest, they again did evil before you, and you abandoned them to the hands of their enemies, so that they had dominion over them; yet when they turned and cried to you, you heard from heaven, and many times you rescued them according to your mercies.\r\n\t\t\t And you warned them in order to turn them back to your law. Yet they acted presumptuously and did not obey your commandments, but sinned against your ordinances, by the observance of which a person shall live. They turned a stubborn shoulder and stiffened their neck and would not obey.\r\n\t\t\t Many years you were patient with them, and warned them by your spirit through your prophets; yet they would not listen. Therefore you handed them over to the peoples of the lands.\r\n\t\t\t Nevertheless, in your great mercies you did not make an end of them or forsake them, for you are a gracious and merciful God.\r\n\t\t\t \"Now therefore, our God-- the great and mighty and awesome God, keeping covenant and steadfast love-- do not treat lightly all the hardship that has come upon us, upon our kings, our officials, our priests, our prophets, our ancestors, and all your people, since the time of the kings of Assyria until today.\r\n\t\t\t You have been just in all that has come upon us, for you have dealt faithfully and we have acted wickedly;\r\n\t\t\t our kings, our officials, our priests, and our ancestors have not kept your law or heeded the commandments and the warnings that you gave them.\r\n\t\t\t Even in their own kingdom, and in the great goodness you bestowed on them, and in the large and rich land that you set before them, they did not serve you and did not turn from their wicked works.\r\n\t\t\t Here we are, slaves to this day-- slaves in the land that you gave to our ancestors to enjoy its fruit and its good gifts.\r\n\t\t\t Its rich yield goes to the kings whom you have set over us because of our sins; they have power also over our bodies and over our livestock at their pleasure, and we are in great distress.\"\r\n\t\t\t Because of all this we make a firm agreement in writing, and on that sealed document are inscribed the names of our officials, our Levites, and our priests.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Upon the sealed document are the names of Nehemiah the governor, son of Hacaliah, and Zedekiah;\r\n\t\t\t Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah,\r\n\t\t\t Pashhur, Amariah, Malchijah,\r\n\t\t\t Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch,\r\n\t\t\t Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah,\r\n\t\t\t Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch,\r\n\t\t\t Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin,\r\n\t\t\t Maaziah, Bilgai, Shemaiah; these are the priests.\r\n\t\t\t And the Levites: Jeshua son of Azaniah, Binnui of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel;\r\n\t\t\t and their associates, Shebaniah, Hodiah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan,\r\n\t\t\t Mica, Rehob, Hashabiah,\r\n\t\t\t Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah,\r\n\t\t\t Hodiah, Bani, Beninu.\r\n\t\t\t The leaders of the people: Parosh, Pahath-moab, Elam, Zattu, Bani,\r\n\t\t\t Bunni, Azgad, Bebai,\r\n\t\t\t Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin,\r\n\t\t\t Ater, Hezekiah, Azzur,\r\n\t\t\t Hodiah, Hashum, Bezai,\r\n\t\t\t Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai,\r\n\t\t\t Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir,\r\n\t\t\t Meshezabel, Zadok, Jaddua,\r\n\t\t\t Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah,\r\n\t\t\t Hoshea, Hananiah, Hasshub,\r\n\t\t\t Hallohesh, Pilha, Shobek,\r\n\t\t\t Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah,\r\n\t\t\t Ahiah, Hanan, Anan,\r\n\t\t\t Malluch, Harim, and Baanah.\r\n\t\t\t The rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the temple servants, and all who have separated themselves from the peoples of the lands to adhere to the law of God, their wives, their sons, their daughters, all who have knowledge and understanding,\r\n\t\t\t join with their kin, their nobles, and enter into a curse and an oath to walk in God's law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the LORD our Lord and his ordinances and his statutes.\r\n\t\t\t We will not give our daughters to the peoples of the land or take their daughters for our sons;\r\n\t\t\t and if the peoples of the land bring in merchandise or any grain on the sabbath day to sell, we will not buy it from them on the sabbath or on a holy day; and we will forego the crops of the seventh year and the exaction of every debt.\r\n\t\t\t We also lay on ourselves the obligation to charge ourselves yearly one-third of a shekel for the service of the house of our God:\r\n\t\t\t for the rows of bread, the regular grain offering, the regular burnt offering, the sabbaths, the new moons, the appointed festivals, the sacred donations, and the sin offerings to make atonement for Israel, and for all the work of the house of our God.\r\n\t\t\t We have also cast lots among the priests, the Levites, and the people, for the wood offering, to bring it into the house of our God, by ancestral houses, at appointed times, year by year, to burn on the altar of the LORD our God, as it is written in the law.\r\n\t\t\t We obligate ourselves to bring the first fruits of our soil and the first fruits of all fruit of every tree, year by year, to the house of the LORD;\r\n\t\t\t also to bring to the house of our God, to the priests who minister in the house of our God, the firstborn of our sons and of our livestock, as it is written in the law, and the firstlings of our herds and of our flocks;\r\n\t\t\t and to bring the first of our dough, and our contributions, the fruit of every tree, the wine and the oil, to the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God; and to bring to the Levites the tithes from our soil, for it is the Levites who collect the tithes in all our rural towns.\r\n\t\t\t And the priest, the descendant of Aaron, shall be with the Levites when the Levites receive the tithes; and the Levites shall bring up a tithe of the tithes to the house of our God, to the chambers of the storehouse.\r\n\t\t\t For the people of Israel and the sons of Levi shall bring the contribution of grain, wine, and oil to the storerooms where the vessels of the sanctuary are, and where the priests that minister, and the gatekeepers and the singers are. We will not neglect the house of our God.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now the leaders of the people lived in Jerusalem; and the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of ten to live in the holy city Jerusalem, while nine-tenths remained in the other towns.\r\n\t\t\t And the people blessed all those who willingly offered to live in Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t These are the leaders of the province who lived in Jerusalem; but in the towns of Judah all lived on their property in their towns: Israel, the priests, the Levites, the temple servants, and the descendants of Solomon's servants.\r\n\t\t\t And in Jerusalem lived some of the Judahites and of the Benjaminites. Of the Judahites: Athaiah son of Uzziah son of Zechariah son of Amariah son of Shephatiah son of Mahalalel, of the descendants of Perez;\r\n\t\t\t and Maaseiah son of Baruch son of Col-hozeh son of Hazaiah son of Adaiah son of Joiarib son of Zechariah son of the Shilonite.\r\n\t\t\t All the descendants of Perez who lived in Jerusalem were four hundred sixty-eight valiant warriors.\r\n\t\t\t And these are the Benjaminites: Sallu son of Meshullam son of Joed son of Pedaiah son of Kolaiah son of Maaseiah son of Ithiel son of Jeshaiah.\r\n\t\t\t And his brothers Gabbai, Sallai: nine hundred twenty-eight. \r\n\t\t\t Joel son of Zichri was their overseer; and Judah son of Hassenuah was second in charge of the city.\r\n\t\t\t Of the priests: Jedaiah son of Joiarib, Jachin,\r\n\t\t\t Seraiah son of Hilkiah son of Meshullam son of Zadok son of Meraioth son of Ahitub, officer of the house of God,\r\n\t\t\t and their associates who did the work of the house, eight hundred twenty-two; and Adaiah son of Jeroham son of Pelaliah son of Amzi son of Zechariah son of Pashhur son of Malchijah,\r\n\t\t\t and his associates, heads of ancestral houses, two hundred forty-two; and Amashsai son of Azarel son of Ahzai son of Meshillemoth son of Immer,\r\n\t\t\t and their associates, valiant warriors, one hundred twenty-eight; their overseer was Zabdiel son of Haggedolim.\r\n\t\t\t And of the Levites: Shemaiah son of Hasshub son of Azrikam son of Hashabiah son of Bunni;\r\n\t\t\t and Shabbethai and Jozabad, of the leaders of the Levites, who were over the outside work of the house of God;\r\n\t\t\t and Mattaniah son of Mica son of Zabdi son of Asaph, who was the leader to begin the thanksgiving in prayer, and Bakbukiah, the second among his associates; and Abda son of Shammua son of Galal son of Jeduthun.\r\n\t\t\t All the Levites in the holy city were two hundred eighty-four.\r\n\t\t\t The gatekeepers, Akkub, Talmon and their associates, who kept watch at the gates, were one hundred seventy-two.\r\n\t\t\t And the rest of Israel, and of the priests and the Levites, were in all the towns of Judah, all of them in their inheritance.\r\n\t\t\t But the temple servants lived on Ophel; and Ziha and Gishpa were over the temple servants.\r\n\t\t\t The overseer of the Levites in Jerusalem was Uzzi son of Bani son of Hashabiah son of Mattaniah son of Mica, of the descendants of Asaph, the singers, in charge of the work of the house of God.\r\n\t\t\t For there was a command from the king concerning them, and a settled provision for the singers, as was required every day.\r\n\t\t\t And Pethahiah son of Meshezabel, of the descendants of Zerah son of Judah, was at the king's hand in all matters concerning the people.\r\n\t\t\t And as for the villages, with their fields, some of the people of Judah lived in Kiriath-arba and its villages, and in Dibon and its villages, and in Jekabzeel and its villages,\r\n\t\t\t and in Jeshua and in Moladah and Beth-pelet,\r\n\t\t\t in Hazar-shual, in Beer-sheba and its villages,\r\n\t\t\t in Ziklag, in Meconah and its villages,\r\n\t\t\t in En-rimmon, in Zorah, in Jarmuth,\r\n\t\t\t Zanoah, Adullam, and their villages, Lachish and its fields, and Azekah and its villages. So they camped from Beer-sheba to the valley of Hinnom.\r\n\t\t\t The people of Benjamin also lived from Geba onward, at Michmash, Aija, Bethel and its villages,\r\n\t\t\t Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah,\r\n\t\t\t Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim,\r\n\t\t\t Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat,\r\n\t\t\t Lod, and Ono, the valley of artisans.\r\n\t\t\t And certain divisions of the Levites in Judah were joined to Benjamin.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t These are the priests and the Levites who came up with Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra,\r\n\t\t\t Amariah, Malluch, Hattush,\r\n\t\t\t Shecaniah, Rehum, Meremoth,\r\n\t\t\t Iddo, Ginnethoi, Abijah,\r\n\t\t\t Mijamin, Maadiah, Bilgah,\r\n\t\t\t Shemaiah, Joiarib, Jedaiah,\r\n\t\t\t Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, Jedaiah. These were the leaders of the priests and of their associates in the days of Jeshua.\r\n\t\t\t And the Levites: Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah, who with his associates was in charge of the songs of thanksgiving.\r\n\t\t\t And Bakbukiah and Unno their associates stood opposite them in the service.\r\n\t\t\t Jeshua was the father of Joiakim, Joiakim the father of Eliashib, Eliashib the father of Joiada,\r\n\t\t\t Joiada the father of Jonathan, and Jonathan the father of Jaddua.\r\n\t\t\t In the days of Joiakim the priests, heads of ancestral houses, were: of Seraiah, Meraiah; of Jeremiah, Hananiah;\r\n\t\t\t of Ezra, Meshullam; of Amariah, Jehohanan;\r\n\t\t\t of Malluchi, Jonathan; of Shebaniah, Joseph;\r\n\t\t\t of Harim, Adna; of Meraioth, Helkai;\r\n\t\t\t of Iddo, Zechariah; of Ginnethon, Meshullam;\r\n\t\t\t of Abijah, Zichri; of Miniamin, of Moadiah, Piltai;\r\n\t\t\t of Bilgah, Shammua; of Shemaiah, Jehonathan;\r\n\t\t\t of Joiarib, Mattenai; of Jedaiah, Uzzi;\r\n\t\t\t of Sallai, Kallai; of Amok, Eber;\r\n\t\t\t of Hilkiah, Hashabiah; of Jedaiah, Nethanel.\r\n\t\t\t As for the Levites, in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, Johanan, and Jaddua, there were recorded the heads of ancestral houses; also the priests until the reign of Darius the Persian.\r\n\t\t\t The Levites, heads of ancestral houses, were recorded in the Book of the Annals until the days of Johanan son of Eliashib.\r\n\t\t\t And the leaders of the Levites: Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua son of Kadmiel, with their associates over against them, to praise and to give thanks, according to the commandment of David the man of God, section opposite to section.\r\n\t\t\t Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, and Akkub were gatekeepers standing guard at the storehouses of the gates.\r\n\t\t\t These were in the days of Joiakim son of Jeshua son of Jozadak, and in the days of the governor Nehemiah and of the priest Ezra, the scribe.\r\n\t\t\t Now at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought out the Levites in all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem to celebrate the dedication with rejoicing, with thanksgivings and with singing, with cymbals, harps, and lyres.\r\n\t\t\t The companies of the singers gathered together from the circuit around Jerusalem and from the villages of the Netophathites;\r\n\t\t\t also from Beth-gilgal and from the region of Geba and Azmaveth; for the singers had built for themselves villages around Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t And the priests and the Levites purified themselves; and they purified the people and the gates and the wall.\r\n\t\t\t Then I brought the leaders of Judah up onto the wall, and appointed two great companies that gave thanks and went in procession. One went to the right on the wall to the Dung Gate;\r\n\t\t\t and after them went Hoshaiah and half the officials of Judah,\r\n\t\t\t and Azariah, Ezra, Meshullam,\r\n\t\t\t Judah, Benjamin, Shemaiah, and Jeremiah,\r\n\t\t\t and some of the young priests with trumpets: Zechariah son of Jonathan son of Shemaiah son of Mattaniah son of Micaiah son of Zaccur son of Asaph;\r\n\t\t\t and his kindred, Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah, and Hanani, with the musical instruments of David the man of God; and the scribe Ezra went in front of them.\r\n\t\t\t At the Fountain Gate, in front of them, they went straight up by the stairs of the city of David, at the ascent of the wall, above the house of David, to the Water Gate on the east.\r\n\t\t\t The other company of those who gave thanks went to the left, and I followed them with half of the people on the wall, above the Tower of the Ovens, to the Broad Wall, \r\n\t\t\t and above the Gate of Ephraim, and by the Old Gate, and by the Fish Gate and the Tower of Hananel and the Tower of the Hundred, to the Sheep Gate; and they came to a halt at the Gate of the Guard.\r\n\t\t\t So both companies of those who gave thanks stood in the house of God, and I and half of the officials with me;\r\n\t\t\t and the priests Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah, with trumpets;\r\n\t\t\t and Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malchijah, Elam, and Ezer. And the singers sang with Jezrahiah as their leader.\r\n\t\t\t They offered great sacrifices that day and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy; the women and children also rejoiced. The joy of Jerusalem was heard far away.\r\n\t\t\t On that day men were appointed over the chambers for the stores, the contributions, the first fruits, and the tithes, to gather into them the portions required by the law for the priests and for the Levites from the fields belonging to the towns; for Judah rejoiced over the priests and the Levites who ministered.\r\n\t\t\t They performed the service of their God and the service of purification, as did the singers and the gatekeepers, according to the command of David and his son Solomon.\r\n\t\t\t For in the days of David and Asaph long ago there was a leader of the singers, and there were songs of praise and thanksgiving to God.\r\n\t\t\t In the days of Zerubbabel and in the days of Nehemiah all Israel gave the daily portions for the singers and the gatekeepers. They set apart that which was for the Levites; and the Levites set apart that which was for the descendants of Aaron.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t On that day they read from the book of Moses in the hearing of the people; and in it was found written that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever enter the assembly of God,\r\n\t\t\t because they did not meet the Israelites with bread and water, but hired Balaam against them to curse them-- yet our God turned the curse into a blessing.\r\n\t\t\t When the people heard the law, they separated from Israel all those of foreign descent.\r\n\t\t\t Now before this, the priest Eliashib, who was appointed over the chambers of the house of our God, and who was related to Tobiah,\r\n\t\t\t prepared for Tobiah a large room where they had previously put the grain offering, the frankincense, the vessels, and the tithes of grain, wine, and oil, which were given by commandment to the Levites, singers, and gatekeepers, and the contributions for the priests.\r\n\t\t\t While this was taking place I was not in Jerusalem, for in the thirty-second year of King Artaxerxes of Babylon I went to the king. After some time I asked leave of the king\r\n\t\t\t and returned to Jerusalem. I then discovered the wrong that Eliashib had done on behalf of Tobiah, preparing a room for him in the courts of the house of God.\r\n\t\t\t And I was very angry, and I threw all the household furniture of Tobiah out of the room.\r\n\t\t\t Then I gave orders and they cleansed the chambers, and I brought back the vessels of the house of God, with the grain offering and the frankincense.\r\n\t\t\t I also found out that the portions of the Levites had not been given to them; so that the Levites and the singers, who had conducted the service, had gone back to their fields.\r\n\t\t\t So I remonstrated with the officials and said, \"Why is the house of God forsaken?\" And I gathered them together and set them in their stations.\r\n\t\t\t Then all Judah brought the tithe of the grain, wine, and oil into the storehouses.\r\n\t\t\t And I appointed as treasurers over the storehouses the priest Shelemiah, the scribe Zadok, and Pedaiah of the Levites, and as their assistant Hanan son of Zaccur son of Mattaniah, for they were considered faithful; and their duty was to distribute to their associates.\r\n\t\t\t Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and do not wipe out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God and for his service.\r\n\t\t\t In those days I saw in Judah people treading wine presses on the sabbath, and bringing in heaps of grain and loading them on donkeys; and also wine, grapes, figs, and all kinds of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day; and I warned them at that time against selling food.\r\n\t\t\t Tyrians also, who lived in the city, brought in fish and all kinds of merchandise and sold them on the sabbath to the people of Judah, and in Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t Then I remonstrated with the nobles of Judah and said to them, \"What is this evil thing that you are doing, profaning the sabbath day?\r\n\t\t\t Did not your ancestors act in this way, and did not our God bring all this disaster on us and on this city? Yet you bring more wrath on Israel by profaning the sabbath.\"\r\n\t\t\t When it began to be dark at the gates of Jerusalem before the sabbath, I commanded that the doors should be shut and gave orders that they should not be opened until after the sabbath. And I set some of my servants over the gates, to prevent any burden from being brought in on the sabbath day.\r\n\t\t\t Then the merchants and sellers of all kinds of merchandise spent the night outside Jerusalem once or twice.\r\n\t\t\t But I warned them and said to them, \"Why do you spend the night in front of the wall? If you do so again, I will lay hands on you.\" From that time on they did not come on the sabbath.\r\n\t\t\t And I commanded the Levites that they should purify themselves and come and guard the gates, to keep the sabbath day holy. Remember this also in my favor, O my God, and spare me according to the greatness of your steadfast love.\r\n\t\t\t In those days also I saw Jews who had married women of Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab;\r\n\t\t\t and half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod, and they could not speak the language of Judah, but spoke the language of various peoples.\r\n\t\t\t And I contended with them and cursed them and beat some of them and pulled out their hair; and I made them take an oath in the name of God, saying, \"You shall not give your daughters to their sons, or take their daughters for your sons or for yourselves.\r\n\t\t\t Did not King Solomon of Israel sin on account of such women? Among the many nations there was no king like him, and he was beloved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel; nevertheless, foreign women made even him to sin.\r\n\t\t\t Shall we then listen to you and do all this great evil and act treacherously against our God by marrying foreign women?\"\r\n\t\t\t And one of the sons of Jehoiada, son of the high priest Eliashib, was the son-in-law of Sanballat the Horonite; I chased him away from me.\r\n\t\t\t Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, the covenant of the priests and the Levites.\r\n\t\t\t Thus I cleansed them from everything foreign, and I established the duties of the priests and Levites, each in his work;\r\n\t\t\t and I provided for the wood offering, at appointed times, and for the first fruits. Remember me, O my God, for good.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t This happened in the days of Ahasuerus, the same Ahasuerus who ruled over one hundred twenty-seven provinces from India to Ethiopia. \r\n\t\t\t In those days when King Ahasuerus sat on his royal throne in the citadel of Susa,\r\n\t\t\t in the third year of his reign, he gave a banquet for all his officials and ministers. The army of Persia and Media and the nobles and governors of the provinces were present,\r\n\t\t\t while he displayed the great wealth of his kingdom and the splendor and pomp of his majesty for many days, one hundred eighty days in all.\r\n\t\t\t When these days were completed, the king gave for all the people present in the citadel of Susa, both great and small, a banquet lasting for seven days, in the court of the garden of the king's palace.\r\n\t\t\t There were white cotton curtains and blue hangings tied with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and marble pillars. There were couches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and colored stones. \r\n\t\t\t Drinks were served in golden goblets, goblets of different kinds, and the royal wine was lavished according to the bounty of the king.\r\n\t\t\t Drinking was by flagons, without restraint; for the king had given orders to all the officials of his palace to do as each one desired.\r\n\t\t\t Furthermore, Queen Vashti gave a banquet for the women in the palace of King Ahasuerus.\r\n\t\t\t On the seventh day, when the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha and Abagtha, Zethar and Carkas, the seven eunuchs who attended him,\r\n\t\t\t to bring Queen Vashti before the king, wearing the royal crown, in order to show the peoples and the officials her beauty; for she was fair to behold.\r\n\t\t\t But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king's command conveyed by the eunuchs. At this the king was enraged, and his anger burned within him.\r\n\t\t\t Then the king consulted the sages who knew the laws (for this was the king's procedure toward all who were versed in law and custom, \r\n\t\t\t and those next to him were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven officials of Persia and Media, who had access to the king, and sat first in the kingdom):\r\n\t\t\t \"According to the law, what is to be done to Queen Vashti because she has not performed the command of King Ahasuerus conveyed by the eunuchs?\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Memucan said in the presence of the king and the officials, \"Not only has Queen Vashti done wrong to the king, but also to all the officials and all the peoples who are in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus.\r\n\t\t\t For this deed of the queen will be made known to all women, causing them to look with contempt on their husbands, since they will say, 'King Ahasuerus commanded Queen Vashti to be brought before him, and she did not come.'\r\n\t\t\t This very day the noble ladies of Persia and Media who have heard of the queen's behavior will rebel against the king's officials, and there will be no end of contempt and wrath! \r\n\t\t\t If it pleases the king, let a royal order go out from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes so that it may not be altered, that Vashti is never again to come before King Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal position to another who is better than she.\r\n\t\t\t So when the decree made by the king is proclaimed throughout all his kingdom, vast as it is, all women will give honor to their husbands, high and low alike.\"\r\n\t\t\t This advice pleased the king and the officials, and the king did as Memucan proposed;\r\n\t\t\t he sent letters to all the royal provinces, to every province in its own script and to every people in its own language, declaring that every man should be master in his own house. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t After these things, when the anger of King Ahasuerus had abated, he remembered Vashti and what she had done and what had been decreed against her.\r\n\t\t\t Then the king's servants who attended him said, \"Let beautiful young virgins be sought out for the king.\r\n\t\t\t And let the king appoint commissioners in all the provinces of his kingdom to gather all the beautiful young virgins to the harem in the citadel of Susa under custody of Hegai, the king's eunuch, who is in charge of the women; let their cosmetic treatments be given them.\r\n\t\t\t And let the girl who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti.\" This pleased the king, and he did so.\r\n\t\t\t Now there was a Jew in the citadel of Susa whose name was Mordecai son of Jair son of Shimei son of Kish, a Benjaminite.\r\n\t\t\t Kish had been carried away from Jerusalem among the captives carried away with King Jeconiah of Judah, whom King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had carried away. \r\n\t\t\t Mordecai had brought up Hadassah, that is Esther, his cousin, for she had neither father nor mother; the girl was fair and beautiful, and when her father and her mother died, Mordecai adopted her as his own daughter. \r\n\t\t\t So when the king's order and his edict were proclaimed, and when many young women were gathered in the citadel of Susa in custody of Hegai, Esther also was taken into the king's palace and put in custody of Hegai, who had charge of the women.\r\n\t\t\t The girl pleased him and won his favor, and he quickly provided her with her cosmetic treatments and her portion of food, and with seven chosen maids from the king's palace, and advanced her and her maids to the best place in the harem.\r\n\t\t\t Esther did not reveal her people or kindred, for Mordecai had charged her not to tell.\r\n\t\t\t Every day Mordecai would walk around in front of the court of the harem, to learn how Esther was and how she fared.\r\n\t\t\t The turn came for each girl to go in to King Ahasuerus, after being twelve months under the regulations for the women, since this was the regular period of their cosmetic treatment, six months with oil of myrrh and six months with perfumes and cosmetics for women.\r\n\t\t\t When the girl went in to the king she was given whatever she asked for to take with her from the harem to the king's palace.\r\n\t\t\t In the evening she went in; then in the morning she came back to the second harem in custody of Shaashgaz, the king's eunuch, who was in charge of the concubines; she did not go in to the king again, unless the king delighted in her and she was summoned by name.\r\n\t\t\t When the turn came for Esther daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had adopted her as his own daughter, to go in to the king, she asked for nothing except what Hegai the king's eunuch, who had charge of the women, advised. Now Esther was admired by all who saw her.\r\n\t\t\t When Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus in his royal palace in the tenth month, which is the month of Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign,\r\n\t\t\t the king loved Esther more than all the other women; of all the virgins she won his favor and devotion, so that he set the royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.\r\n\t\t\t Then the king gave a great banquet to all his officials and ministers-- \"Esther's banquet.\" He also granted a holiday to the provinces, and gave gifts with royal liberality.\r\n\t\t\t When the virgins were being gathered together, Mordecai was sitting at the king's gate.\r\n\t\t\t Now Esther had not revealed her kindred or her people, as Mordecai had charged her; for Esther obeyed Mordecai just as when she was brought up by him.\r\n\t\t\t In those days, while Mordecai was sitting at the king's gate, Bigthan and Teresh, two of the king's eunuchs, who guarded the threshold, became angry and conspired to assassinate King Ahasuerus. \r\n\t\t\t But the matter came to the knowledge of Mordecai, and he told it to Queen Esther, and Esther told the king in the name of Mordecai.\r\n\t\t\t When the affair was investigated and found to be so, both the men were hanged on the gallows. It was recorded in the book of the annals in the presence of the king.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t After these things King Ahasuerus promoted Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him and set his seat above all the officials who were with him.\r\n\t\t\t And all the king's servants who were at the king's gate bowed down and did obeisance to Haman; for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai did not bow down or do obeisance.\r\n\t\t\t Then the king's servants who were at the king's gate said to Mordecai, \"Why do you disobey the king's command?\"\r\n\t\t\t When they spoke to him day after day and he would not listen to them, they told Haman, in order to see whether Mordecai's words would avail; for he had told them that he was a Jew.\r\n\t\t\t When Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow down or do obeisance to him, Haman was infuriated.\r\n\t\t\t But he thought it beneath him to lay hands on Mordecai alone. So, having been told who Mordecai's people were, Haman plotted to destroy all the Jews, the people of Mordecai, throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus.\r\n\t\t\t In the first month, which is the month of Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, they cast Pur-- which means \"the lot\"-- before Haman for the day and for the month, and the lot fell on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar.\r\n\t\t\t Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, \"There is a certain people scattered and separated among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom; their laws are different from those of every other people, and they do not keep the king's laws, so that it is not appropriate for the king to tolerate them.\r\n\t\t\t If it pleases the king, let a decree be issued for their destruction, and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those who have charge of the king's business, so that they may put it into the king's treasuries.\"\r\n\t\t\t So the king took his signet ring from his hand and gave it to Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews.\r\n\t\t\t The king said to Haman, \"The money is given to you, and the people as well, to do with them as it seems good to you.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the king's secretaries were summoned on the thirteenth day of the first month, and an edict, according to all that Haman commanded, was written to the king's satraps and to the governors over all the provinces and to the officials of all the peoples, to every province in its own script and every people in its own language; it was written in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed with the king's ring.\r\n\t\t\t Letters were sent by couriers to all the king's provinces, giving orders to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate all Jews, young and old, women and children, in one day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, and to plunder their goods.\r\n\t\t\t A copy of the document was to be issued as a decree in every province by proclamation, calling on all the peoples to be ready for that day.\r\n\t\t\t The couriers went quickly by order of the king, and the decree was issued in the citadel of Susa. The king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city of Susa was thrown into confusion.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t When Mordecai learned all that had been done, Mordecai tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes, and went through the city, wailing with a loud and bitter cry;\r\n\t\t\t he went up to the entrance of the king's gate, for no one might enter the king's gate clothed with sackcloth.\r\n\t\t\t In every province, wherever the king's command and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting and weeping and lamenting, and most of them lay in sackcloth and ashes.\r\n\t\t\t When Esther's maids and her eunuchs came and told her, the queen was deeply distressed; she sent garments to clothe Mordecai, so that he might take off his sackcloth; but he would not accept them.\r\n\t\t\t Then Esther called for Hathach, one of the king's eunuchs, who had been appointed to attend her, and ordered him to go to Mordecai to learn what was happening and why.\r\n\t\t\t Hathach went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city in front of the king's gate,\r\n\t\t\t and Mordecai told him all that had happened to him, and the exact sum of money that Haman had promised to pay into the king's treasuries for the destruction of the Jews.\r\n\t\t\t Mordecai also gave him a copy of the written decree issued in Susa for their destruction, that he might show it to Esther, explain it to her, and charge her to go to the king to make supplication to him and entreat him for her people.\r\n\t\t\t Hathach went and told Esther what Mordecai had said.\r\n\t\t\t Then Esther spoke to Hathach and gave him a message for Mordecai, saying,\r\n\t\t\t \"All the king's servants and the people of the king's provinces know that if any man or woman goes to the king inside the inner court without being called, there is but one law-- all alike are to be put to death. Only if the king holds out the golden scepter to someone, may that person live. I myself have not been called to come in to the king for thirty days.\"\r\n\t\t\t When they told Mordecai what Esther had said,\r\n\t\t\t Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, \"Do not think that in the king's palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews.\r\n\t\t\t For if you keep silence at such a time as this, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another quarter, but you and your father's family will perish. Who knows? Perhaps you have come to royal dignity for just such a time as this.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Esther said in reply to Mordecai,\r\n\t\t\t \"Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will also fast as you do. After that I will go to the king, though it is against the law; and if I perish, I perish.\"\r\n\t\t\t Mordecai then went away and did everything as Esther had ordered him.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king's palace, opposite the king's hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne inside the palace opposite the entrance to the palace.\r\n\t\t\t As soon as the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she won his favor and he held out to her the golden scepter that was in his hand. Then Esther approached and touched the top of the scepter.\r\n\t\t\t The king said to her, \"What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given you, even to the half of my kingdom.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Esther said, \"If it pleases the king, let the king and Haman come today to a banquet that I have prepared for the king.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the king said, \"Bring Haman quickly, so that we may do as Esther desires.\" So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared.\r\n\t\t\t While they were drinking wine, the king said to Esther, \"What is your petition? It shall be granted you. And what is your request? Even to the half of my kingdom, it shall be fulfilled.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Esther said, \"This is my petition and request:\r\n\t\t\t If I have won the king's favor, and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and fulfill my request, let the king and Haman come tomorrow to the banquet that I will prepare for them, and then I will do as the king has said.\"\r\n\t\t\t Haman went out that day happy and in good spirits. But when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, and observed that he neither rose nor trembled before him, he was infuriated with Mordecai;\r\n\t\t\t nevertheless Haman restrained himself and went home. Then he sent and called for his friends and his wife Zeresh,\r\n\t\t\t and Haman recounted to them the splendor of his riches, the number of his sons, all the promotions with which the king had honored him, and how he had advanced him above the officials and the ministers of the king.\r\n\t\t\t Haman added, \"Even Queen Esther let no one but myself come with the king to the banquet that she prepared. Tomorrow also I am invited by her, together with the king.\r\n\t\t\t Yet all this does me no good so long as I see the Jew Mordecai sitting at the king's gate.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then his wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, \"Let a gallows fifty cubits high be made, and in the morning tell the king to have Mordecai hanged on it; then go with the king to the banquet in good spirits.\" This advice pleased Haman, and he had the gallows made.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t On that night the king could not sleep, and he gave orders to bring the book of records, the annals, and they were read to the king.\r\n\t\t\t It was found written how Mordecai had told about Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's eunuchs, who guarded the threshold, and who had conspired to assassinate King Ahasuerus. \r\n\t\t\t Then the king said, \"What honor or distinction has been bestowed on Mordecai for this?\" The king's servants who attended him said, \"Nothing has been done for him.\"\r\n\t\t\t The king said, \"Who is in the court?\" Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the king's palace to speak to the king about having Mordecai hanged on the gallows that he had prepared for him.\r\n\t\t\t So the king's servants told him, \"Haman is there, standing in the court.\" The king said, \"Let him come in.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Haman came in, and the king said to him, \"What shall be done for the man whom the king wishes to honor?\" Haman said to himself, \"Whom would the king wish to honor more than me?\"\r\n\t\t\t So Haman said to the king, \"For the man whom the king wishes to honor,\r\n\t\t\t let royal robes be brought, which the king has worn, and a horse that the king has ridden, with a royal crown on its head.\r\n\t\t\t Let the robes and the horse be handed over to one of the king's most noble officials; let him robe the man whom the king wishes to honor, and let him conduct the man on horseback through the open square of the city, proclaiming before him: 'Thus shall it be done for the man whom the king wishes to honor.'\" \r\n\t\t\t Then the king said to Haman, \"Quickly, take the robes and the horse, as you have said, and do so to the Jew Mordecai who sits at the king's gate. Leave out nothing that you have mentioned.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Haman took the robes and the horse and robed Mordecai and led him riding through the open square of the city, proclaiming, \"Thus shall it be done for the man whom the king wishes to honor.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Mordecai returned to the king's gate, but Haman hurried to his house, mourning and with his head covered.\r\n\t\t\t When Haman told his wife Zeresh and all his friends everything that had happened to him, his advisers and his wife Zeresh said to him, \"If Mordecai, before whom your downfall has begun, is of the Jewish people, you will not prevail against him, but will surely fall before him.\"\r\n\t\t\t While they were still talking with him, the king's eunuchs arrived and hurried Haman off to the banquet that Esther had prepared.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t So the king and Haman went in to feast with Queen Esther.\r\n\t\t\t On the second day, as they were drinking wine, the king again said to Esther, \"What is your petition, Queen Esther? It shall be granted you. And what is your request? Even to the half of my kingdom, it shall be fulfilled.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Queen Esther answered, \"If I have won your favor, O king, and if it pleases the king, let my life be given me-- that is my petition-- and the lives of my people-- that is my request.\r\n\t\t\t For we have been sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be killed, and to be annihilated. If we had been sold merely as slaves, men and women, I would have held my peace; but no enemy can compensate for this damage to the king.\" \r\n\t\t\t Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther, \"Who is he, and where is he, who has presumed to do this?\"\r\n\t\t\t Esther said, \"A foe and enemy, this wicked Haman!\" Then Haman was terrified before the king and the queen.\r\n\t\t\t The king rose from the feast in wrath and went into the palace garden, but Haman stayed to beg his life from Queen Esther, for he saw that the king had determined to destroy him.\r\n\t\t\t When the king returned from the palace garden to the banquet hall, Haman had thrown himself on the couch where Esther was reclining; and the king said, \"Will he even assault the queen in my presence, in my own house?\" As the words left the mouth of the king, they covered Haman's face.\r\n\t\t\t Then Harbona, one of the eunuchs in attendance on the king, said, \"Look, the very gallows that Haman has prepared for Mordecai, whose word saved the king, stands at Haman's house, fifty cubits high.\" And the king said, \"Hang him on that.\"\r\n\t\t\t So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the anger of the king abated.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t On that day King Ahasuerus gave to Queen Esther the house of Haman, the enemy of the Jews; and Mordecai came before the king, for Esther had told what he was to her.\r\n\t\t\t Then the king took off his signet ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai. So Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.\r\n\t\t\t Then Esther spoke again to the king; she fell at his feet, weeping and pleading with him to avert the evil design of Haman the Agagite and the plot that he had devised against the Jews.\r\n\t\t\t The king held out the golden scepter to Esther,\r\n\t\t\t and Esther rose and stood before the king. She said, \"If it pleases the king, and if I have won his favor, and if the thing seems right before the king, and I have his approval, let an order be written to revoke the letters devised by Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote giving orders to destroy the Jews who are in all the provinces of the king.\r\n\t\t\t For how can I bear to see the calamity that is coming on my people? Or how can I bear to see the destruction of my kindred?\"\r\n\t\t\t Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther and to the Jew Mordecai, \"See, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and they have hanged him on the gallows, because he plotted to lay hands on the Jews.\r\n\t\t\t You may write as you please with regard to the Jews, in the name of the king, and seal it with the king's ring; for an edict written in the name of the king and sealed with the king's ring cannot be revoked.\"\r\n\t\t\t The king's secretaries were summoned at that time, in the third month, which is the month of Sivan, on the twenty-third day; and an edict was written, according to all that Mordecai commanded, to the Jews and to the satraps and the governors and the officials of the provinces from India to Ethiopia, one hundred twenty-seven provinces, to every province in its own script and to every people in its own language, and also to the Jews in their script and their language. \r\n\t\t\t He wrote letters in the name of King Ahasuerus, sealed them with the king's ring, and sent them by mounted couriers riding on fast steeds bred from the royal herd. \r\n\t\t\t By these letters the king allowed the Jews who were in every city to assemble and defend their lives, to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate any armed force of any people or province that might attack them, with their children and women, and to plunder their goods\r\n\t\t\t on a single day throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar.\r\n\t\t\t A copy of the writ was to be issued as a decree in every province and published to all peoples, and the Jews were to be ready on that day to take revenge on their enemies.\r\n\t\t\t So the couriers, mounted on their swift royal steeds, hurried out, urged by the king's command. The decree was issued in the citadel of Susa.\r\n\t\t\t Then Mordecai went out from the presence of the king, wearing royal robes of blue and white, with a great golden crown and a mantle of fine linen and purple, while the city of Susa shouted and rejoiced.\r\n\t\t\t For the Jews there was light and gladness, joy and honor.\r\n\t\t\t In every province and in every city, wherever the king's command and his edict came, there was gladness and joy among the Jews, a festival and a holiday. Furthermore, many of the peoples of the country professed to be Jews, because the fear of the Jews had fallen upon them.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now in the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, on the thirteenth day, when the king's command and edict were about to be executed, on the very day when the enemies of the Jews hoped to gain power over them, but which had been changed to a day when the Jews would gain power over their foes,\r\n\t\t\t the Jews gathered in their cities throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus to lay hands on those who had sought their ruin; and no one could withstand them, because the fear of them had fallen upon all peoples.\r\n\t\t\t All the officials of the provinces, the satraps and the governors, and the royal officials were supporting the Jews, because the fear of Mordecai had fallen upon them.\r\n\t\t\t For Mordecai was powerful in the king's house, and his fame spread throughout all the provinces as the man Mordecai grew more and more powerful.\r\n\t\t\t So the Jews struck down all their enemies with the sword, slaughtering, and destroying them, and did as they pleased to those who hated them.\r\n\t\t\t In the citadel of Susa the Jews killed and destroyed five hundred people.\r\n\t\t\t They killed Parshandatha, Dalphon, Aspatha,\r\n\t\t\t Poratha, Adalia, Aridatha,\r\n\t\t\t Parmashta, Arisai, Aridai, Vaizatha,\r\n\t\t\t the ten sons of Haman son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews; but they did not touch the plunder.\r\n\t\t\t That very day the number of those killed in the citadel of Susa was reported to the king.\r\n\t\t\t The king said to Queen Esther, \"In the citadel of Susa the Jews have killed five hundred people and also the ten sons of Haman. What have they done in the rest of the king's provinces? Now what is your petition? It shall be granted you. And what further is your request? It shall be fulfilled.\"\r\n\t\t\t Esther said, \"If it pleases the king, let the Jews who are in Susa be allowed tomorrow also to do according to this day's edict, and let the ten sons of Haman be hanged on the gallows.\"\r\n\t\t\t So the king commanded this to be done; a decree was issued in Susa, and the ten sons of Haman were hanged.\r\n\t\t\t The Jews who were in Susa gathered also on the fourteenth day of the month of Adar and they killed three hundred persons in Susa; but they did not touch the plunder.\r\n\t\t\t Now the other Jews who were in the king's provinces also gathered to defend their lives, and gained relief from their enemies, and killed seventy-five thousand of those who hated them; but they laid no hands on the plunder.\r\n\t\t\t This was on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar, and on the fourteenth day they rested and made that a day of feasting and gladness.\r\n\t\t\t But the Jews who were in Susa gathered on the thirteenth day and on the fourteenth, and rested on the fifteenth day, making that a day of feasting and gladness.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore the Jews of the villages, who live in the open towns, hold the fourteenth day of the month of Adar as a day for gladness and feasting, a holiday on which they send gifts of food to one another.\r\n\t\t\t Mordecai recorded these things, and sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, both near and far,\r\n\t\t\t enjoining them that they should keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar and also the fifteenth day of the same month, year by year,\r\n\t\t\t as the days on which the Jews gained relief from their enemies, and as the month that had been turned for them from sorrow into gladness and from mourning into a holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and gladness, days for sending gifts of food to one another and presents to the poor.\r\n\t\t\t So the Jews adopted as a custom what they had begun to do, as Mordecai had written to them.\r\n\t\t\t Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had plotted against the Jews to destroy them, and had cast Pur-- that is \"the lot\"-- to crush and destroy them;\r\n\t\t\t but when Esther came before the king, he gave orders in writing that the wicked plot that he had devised against the Jews should come upon his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore these days are called Purim, from the word Pur. Thus because of all that was written in this letter, and of what they had faced in this matter, and of what had happened to them,\r\n\t\t\t the Jews established and accepted as a custom for themselves and their descendants and all who joined them, that without fail they would continue to observe these two days every year, as it was written and at the time appointed.\r\n\t\t\t These days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, in every family, province, and city; and these days of Purim should never fall into disuse among the Jews, nor should the commemoration of these days cease among their descendants.\r\n\t\t\t Queen Esther daughter of Abihail, along with the Jew Mordecai, gave full written authority, confirming this second letter about Purim.\r\n\t\t\t Letters were sent wishing peace and security to all the Jews, to the one hundred twenty-seven provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus,\r\n\t\t\t and giving orders that these days of Purim should be observed at their appointed seasons, as the Jew Mordecai and Queen Esther enjoined on the Jews, just as they had laid down for themselves and for their descendants regulations concerning their fasts and their lamentations.\r\n\t\t\t The command of Queen Esther fixed these practices of Purim, and it was recorded in writing.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t King Ahasuerus laid tribute on the land and on the islands of the sea.\r\n\t\t\t All the acts of his power and might, and the full account of the high honor of Mordecai, to which the king advanced him, are they not written in the annals of the kings of Media and Persia?\r\n\t\t\t For Mordecai the Jew was next in rank to King Ahasuerus, and he was powerful among the Jews and popular with his many kindred, for he sought the good of his people and interceded for the welfare of all his descendants.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t There was once a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job. That man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil.\r\n\t\t\t There were born to him seven sons and three daughters.\r\n\t\t\t He had seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred donkeys, and very many servants; so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the east.\r\n\t\t\t His sons used to go and hold feasts in one another's houses in turn; and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them.\r\n\t\t\t And when the feast days had run their course, Job would send and sanctify them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all; for Job said, \"It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts.\" This is what Job always did.\r\n\t\t\t One day the heavenly beings came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them. \r\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Satan, \"Where have you come from?\" Satan answered the LORD, \"From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.\" \r\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Satan, \"Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man who fears God and turns away from evil.\" \r\n\t\t\t Then Satan answered the LORD, \"Does Job fear God for nothing? \r\n\t\t\t Have you not put a fence around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.\r\n\t\t\t But stretch out your hand now, and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.\"\r\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Satan, \"Very well, all that he has is in your power; only do not stretch out your hand against him!\" So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD. \r\n\t\t\t One day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in the eldest brother's house,\r\n\t\t\t a messenger came to Job and said, \"The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were feeding beside them,\r\n\t\t\t and the Sabeans fell on them and carried them off, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; I alone have escaped to tell you.\"\r\n\t\t\t While he was still speaking, another came and said, \"The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them; I alone have escaped to tell you.\"\r\n\t\t\t While he was still speaking, another came and said, \"The Chaldeans formed three columns, made a raid on the camels and carried them off, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; I alone have escaped to tell you.\"\r\n\t\t\t While he was still speaking, another came and said, \"Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house,\r\n\t\t\t and suddenly a great wind came across the desert, struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they are dead; I alone have escaped to tell you.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Job arose, tore his robe, shaved his head, and fell on the ground and worshiped.\r\n\t\t\t He said, \"Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return there; the LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.\"\r\n\t\t\t In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrongdoing.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t One day the heavenly beings came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them to present himself before the LORD. \r\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Satan, \"Where have you come from?\" Satan answered the LORD, \"From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.\" \r\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Satan, \"Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man who fears God and turns away from evil. He still persists in his integrity, although you incited me against him, to destroy him for no reason.\" \r\n\t\t\t Then Satan answered the LORD, \"Skin for skin! All that people have they will give to save their lives. \r\n\t\t\t But stretch out your hand now and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse you to your face.\"\r\n\t\t\t The LORD said to Satan, \"Very well, he is in your power; only spare his life.\" \r\n\t\t\t So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD, and inflicted loathsome sores on Job from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. \r\n\t\t\t Job took a potsherd with which to scrape himself, and sat among the ashes. \r\n\t\t\t Then his wife said to him, \"Do you still persist in your integrity? Curse God, and die.\" \r\n\t\t\t But he said to her, \"You speak as any foolish woman would speak. Shall we receive the good at the hand of God, and not receive the bad?\" In all this Job did not sin with his lips.\r\n\t\t\t Now when Job's three friends heard of all these troubles that had come upon him, each of them set out from his home-- Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. They met together to go and console and comfort him.\r\n\t\t\t When they saw him from a distance, they did not recognize him, and they raised their voices and wept aloud; they tore their robes and threw dust in the air upon their heads.\r\n\t\t\t They sat with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his suffering was very great.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t After this Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth.\r\n\t\t\t Job said:\r\n\t\t\t \"Let the day perish in which I was born, and the night that said, 'A man-child is conceived.'\r\n\t\t\t Let that day be darkness! May God above not seek it, or light shine on it.\r\n\t\t\t Let gloom and deep darkness claim it. Let clouds settle upon it; let the blackness of the day terrify it.\r\n\t\t\t That night-- let thick darkness seize it! let it not rejoice among the days of the year; let it not come into the number of the months.\r\n\t\t\t Yes, let that night be barren; let no joyful cry be heard in it. \r\n\t\t\t Let those curse it who curse the Sea, those who are skilled to rouse up Leviathan. \r\n\t\t\t Let the stars of its dawn be dark; let it hope for light, but have none; may it not see the eyelids of the morning--\r\n\t\t\t because it did not shut the doors of my mother's womb, and hide trouble from my eyes.\r\n\t\t\t \"Why did I not die at birth, come forth from the womb and expire?\r\n\t\t\t Why were there knees to receive me, or breasts for me to suck?\r\n\t\t\t Now I would be lying down and quiet; I would be asleep; then I would be at rest\r\n\t\t\t with kings and counselors of the earth who rebuild ruins for themselves,\r\n\t\t\t or with princes who have gold, who fill their houses with silver.\r\n\t\t\t Or why was I not buried like a stillborn child, like an infant that never sees the light?\r\n\t\t\t There the wicked cease from troubling, and there the weary are at rest.\r\n\t\t\t There the prisoners are at ease together; they do not hear the voice of the taskmaster.\r\n\t\t\t The small and the great are there, and the slaves are free from their masters.\r\n\t\t\t \"Why is light given to one in misery, and life to the bitter in soul,\r\n\t\t\t who long for death, but it does not come, and dig for it more than for hidden treasures;\r\n\t\t\t who rejoice exceedingly, and are glad when they find the grave?\r\n\t\t\t Why is light given to one who cannot see the way, whom God has fenced in?\r\n\t\t\t For my sighing comes like my bread, and my groanings are poured out like water. \r\n\t\t\t Truly the thing that I fear comes upon me, and what I dread befalls me.\r\n\t\t\t I am not at ease, nor am I quiet; I have no rest; but trouble comes.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered:\r\n\t\t\t \"If one ventures a word with you, will you be offended? But who can keep from speaking?\r\n\t\t\t See, you have instructed many; you have strengthened the weak hands.\r\n\t\t\t Your words have supported those who were stumbling, and you have made firm the feeble knees.\r\n\t\t\t But now it has come to you, and you are impatient; it touches you, and you are dismayed.\r\n\t\t\t Is not your fear of God your confidence, and the integrity of your ways your hope?\r\n\t\t\t \"Think now, who that was innocent ever perished? Or where were the upright cut off?\r\n\t\t\t As I have seen, those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap the same.\r\n\t\t\t By the breath of God they perish, and by the blast of his anger they are consumed.\r\n\t\t\t The roar of the lion, the voice of the fierce lion, and the teeth of the young lions are broken.\r\n\t\t\t The strong lion perishes for lack of prey, and the whelps of the lioness are scattered.\r\n\t\t\t \"Now a word came stealing to me, my ear received the whisper of it.\r\n\t\t\t Amid thoughts from visions of the night, when deep sleep falls on mortals,\r\n\t\t\t dread came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones shake.\r\n\t\t\t A spirit glided past my face; the hair of my flesh bristled.\r\n\t\t\t It stood still, but I could not discern its appearance. A form was before my eyes; there was silence, then I heard a voice:\r\n\t\t\t 'Can mortals be righteous before God? Can human beings be pure before their Maker? \r\n\t\t\t Even in his servants he puts no trust, and his angels he charges with error;\r\n\t\t\t how much more those who live in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, who are crushed like a moth.\r\n\t\t\t Between morning and evening they are destroyed; they perish forever without any regarding it.\r\n\t\t\t Their tent-cord is plucked up within them, and they die devoid of wisdom.'\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t \"Call now; is there anyone who will answer you? To which of the holy ones will you turn?\r\n\t\t\t Surely vexation kills the fool, and jealousy slays the simple.\r\n\t\t\t I have seen fools taking root, but suddenly I cursed their dwelling.\r\n\t\t\t Their children are far from safety, they are crushed in the gate, and there is no one to deliver them.\r\n\t\t\t The hungry eat their harvest, and they take it even out of the thorns; and the thirsty pant after their wealth. \r\n\t\t\t For misery does not come from the earth, nor does trouble sprout from the ground;\r\n\t\t\t but human beings are born to trouble just as sparks fly upward. \r\n\t\t\t \"As for me, I would seek God, and to God I would commit my cause.\r\n\t\t\t He does great things and unsearchable, marvelous things without number.\r\n\t\t\t He gives rain on the earth and sends waters on the fields;\r\n\t\t\t he sets on high those who are lowly, and those who mourn are lifted to safety.\r\n\t\t\t He frustrates the devices of the crafty, so that their hands achieve no success.\r\n\t\t\t He takes the wise in their own craftiness; and the schemes of the wily are brought to a quick end.\r\n\t\t\t They meet with darkness in the daytime, and grope at noonday as in the night.\r\n\t\t\t But he saves the needy from the sword of their mouth, from the hand of the mighty.\r\n\t\t\t So the poor have hope, and injustice shuts its mouth.\r\n\t\t\t \"How happy is the one whom God reproves; therefore do not despise the discipline of the Almighty. \r\n\t\t\t For he wounds, but he binds up; he strikes, but his hands heal.\r\n\t\t\t He will deliver you from six troubles; in seven no harm shall touch you.\r\n\t\t\t In famine he will redeem you from death, and in war from the power of the sword.\r\n\t\t\t You shall be hidden from the scourge of the tongue, and shall not fear destruction when it comes.\r\n\t\t\t At destruction and famine you shall laugh, and shall not fear the wild animals of the earth.\r\n\t\t\t For you shall be in league with the stones of the field, and the wild animals shall be at peace with you.\r\n\t\t\t You shall know that your tent is safe, you shall inspect your fold and miss nothing.\r\n\t\t\t You shall know that your descendants will be many, and your offspring like the grass of the earth.\r\n\t\t\t You shall come to your grave in ripe old age, as a shock of grain comes up to the threshing floor in its season.\r\n\t\t\t See, we have searched this out; it is true. Hear, and know it for yourself.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then Job answered:\r\n\t\t\t \"O that my vexation were weighed, and all my calamity laid in the balances!\r\n\t\t\t For then it would be heavier than the sand of the sea; therefore my words have been rash.\r\n\t\t\t For the arrows of the Almighty are in me; my spirit drinks their poison; the terrors of God are arrayed against me. \r\n\t\t\t Does the wild ass bray over its grass, or the ox low over its fodder?\r\n\t\t\t Can that which is tasteless be eaten without salt, or is there any flavor in the juice of mallows? \r\n\t\t\t My appetite refuses to touch them; they are like food that is loathsome to me. \r\n\t\t\t \"O that I might have my request, and that God would grant my desire;\r\n\t\t\t that it would please God to crush me, that he would let loose his hand and cut me off!\r\n\t\t\t This would be my consolation; I would even exult in unrelenting pain; for I have not denied the words of the Holy One. \r\n\t\t\t What is my strength, that I should wait? And what is my end, that I should be patient?\r\n\t\t\t Is my strength the strength of stones, or is my flesh bronze?\r\n\t\t\t In truth I have no help in me, and any resource is driven from me.\r\n\t\t\t \"Those who withhold kindness from a friend forsake the fear of the Almighty. \r\n\t\t\t My companions are treacherous like a torrent-bed, like freshets that pass away,\r\n\t\t\t that run dark with ice, turbid with melting snow.\r\n\t\t\t In time of heat they disappear; when it is hot, they vanish from their place.\r\n\t\t\t The caravans turn aside from their course; they go up into the waste, and perish.\r\n\t\t\t The caravans of Tema look, the travelers of Sheba hope.\r\n\t\t\t They are disappointed because they were confident; they come there and are confounded.\r\n\t\t\t Such you have now become to me; you see my calamity, and are afraid. \r\n\t\t\t Have I said, 'Make me a gift'? Or, 'From your wealth offer a bribe for me'?\r\n\t\t\t Or, 'Save me from an opponent's hand'? Or, 'Ransom me from the hand of oppressors'?\r\n\t\t\t \"Teach me, and I will be silent; make me understand how I have gone wrong.\r\n\t\t\t How forceful are honest words! But your reproof, what does it reprove?\r\n\t\t\t Do you think that you can reprove words, as if the speech of the desperate were wind?\r\n\t\t\t You would even cast lots over the orphan, and bargain over your friend.\r\n\t\t\t \"But now, be pleased to look at me; for I will not lie to your face.\r\n\t\t\t Turn, I pray, let no wrong be done. Turn now, my vindication is at stake.\r\n\t\t\t Is there any wrong on my tongue? Cannot my taste discern calamity?\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t \"Do not human beings have a hard service on earth, and are not their days like the days of a laborer?\r\n\t\t\t Like a slave who longs for the shadow, and like laborers who look for their wages,\r\n\t\t\t so I am allotted months of emptiness, and nights of misery are apportioned to me.\r\n\t\t\t When I lie down I say, 'When shall I rise?' But the night is long, and I am full of tossing until dawn.\r\n\t\t\t My flesh is clothed with worms and dirt; my skin hardens, then breaks out again.\r\n\t\t\t My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and come to their end without hope. \r\n\t\t\t \"Remember that my life is a breath; my eye will never again see good.\r\n\t\t\t The eye that beholds me will see me no more; while your eyes are upon me, I shall be gone.\r\n\t\t\t As the cloud fades and vanishes, so those who go down to Sheol do not come up;\r\n\t\t\t they return no more to their houses, nor do their places know them any more.\r\n\t\t\t \"Therefore I will not restrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.\r\n\t\t\t Am I the Sea, or the Dragon, that you set a guard over me?\r\n\t\t\t When I say, 'My bed will comfort me, my couch will ease my complaint,'\r\n\t\t\t then you scare me with dreams and terrify me with visions,\r\n\t\t\t so that I would choose strangling and death rather than this body.\r\n\t\t\t I loathe my life; I would not live forever. Let me alone, for my days are a breath.\r\n\t\t\t What are human beings, that you make so much of them, that you set your mind on them,\r\n\t\t\t visit them every morning, test them every moment?\r\n\t\t\t Will you not look away from me for a while, let me alone until I swallow my spittle?\r\n\t\t\t If I sin, what do I do to you, you watcher of humanity? Why have you made me your target? Why have I become a burden to you?\r\n\t\t\t Why do you not pardon my transgression and take away my iniquity? For now I shall lie in the earth; you will seek me, but I shall not be.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then Bildad the Shuhite answered:\r\n\t\t\t \"How long will you say these things, and the words of your mouth be a great wind?\r\n\t\t\t Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert the right? \r\n\t\t\t If your children sinned against him, he delivered them into the power of their transgression.\r\n\t\t\t If you will seek God and make supplication to the Almighty, \r\n\t\t\t if you are pure and upright, surely then he will rouse himself for you and restore to you your rightful place.\r\n\t\t\t Though your beginning was small, your latter days will be very great.\r\n\t\t\t \"For inquire now of bygone generations, and consider what their ancestors have found;\r\n\t\t\t for we are but of yesterday, and we know nothing, for our days on earth are but a shadow.\r\n\t\t\t Will they not teach you and tell you and utter words out of their understanding?\r\n\t\t\t \"Can papyrus grow where there is no marsh? Can reeds flourish where there is no water?\r\n\t\t\t While yet in flower and not cut down, they wither before any other plant.\r\n\t\t\t Such are the paths of all who forget God; the hope of the godless shall perish.\r\n\t\t\t Their confidence is gossamer, a spider's house their trust.\r\n\t\t\t If one leans against its house, it will not stand; if one lays hold of it, it will not endure.\r\n\t\t\t The wicked thrive before the sun, and their shoots spread over the garden. \r\n\t\t\t Their roots twine around the stoneheap; they live among the rocks. \r\n\t\t\t If they are destroyed from their place, then it will deny them, saying, 'I have never seen you.'\r\n\t\t\t See, these are their happy ways, and out of the earth still others will spring. \r\n\t\t\t \"See, God will not reject a blameless person, nor take the hand of evildoers.\r\n\t\t\t He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with shouts of joy.\r\n\t\t\t Those who hate you will be clothed with shame, and the tent of the wicked will be no more.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then Job answered:\r\n\t\t\t \"Indeed I know that this is so; but how can a mortal be just before God?\r\n\t\t\t If one wished to contend with him, one could not answer him once in a thousand.\r\n\t\t\t He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength-- who has resisted him, and succeeded?--\r\n\t\t\t he who removes mountains, and they do not know it, when he overturns them in his anger;\r\n\t\t\t who shakes the earth out of its place, and its pillars tremble;\r\n\t\t\t who commands the sun, and it does not rise; who seals up the stars;\r\n\t\t\t who alone stretched out the heavens and trampled the waves of the Sea; \r\n\t\t\t who made the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the chambers of the south;\r\n\t\t\t who does great things beyond understanding, and marvelous things without number.\r\n\t\t\t Look, he passes by me, and I do not see him; he moves on, but I do not perceive him.\r\n\t\t\t He snatches away; who can stop him? Who will say to him, 'What are you doing?'\r\n\t\t\t \"God will not turn back his anger; the helpers of Rahab bowed beneath him.\r\n\t\t\t How then can I answer him, choosing my words with him?\r\n\t\t\t Though I am innocent, I cannot answer him; I must appeal for mercy to my accuser.\r\n\t\t\t If I summoned him and he answered me, I do not believe that he would listen to my voice.\r\n\t\t\t For he crushes me with a tempest, and multiplies my wounds without cause;\r\n\t\t\t he will not let me get my breath, but fills me with bitterness.\r\n\t\t\t If it is a contest of strength, he is the strong one! If it is a matter of justice, who can summon him? \r\n\t\t\t Though I am innocent, my own mouth would condemn me; though I am blameless, he would prove me perverse.\r\n\t\t\t I am blameless; I do not know myself; I loathe my life.\r\n\t\t\t It is all one; therefore I say, he destroys both the blameless and the wicked.\r\n\t\t\t When disaster brings sudden death, he mocks at the calamity of the innocent.\r\n\t\t\t The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; he covers the eyes of its judges-- if it is not he, who then is it?\r\n\t\t\t \"My days are swifter than a runner; they flee away, they see no good.\r\n\t\t\t They go by like skiffs of reed, like an eagle swooping on the prey.\r\n\t\t\t If I say, 'I will forget my complaint; I will put off my sad countenance and be of good cheer,'\r\n\t\t\t I become afraid of all my suffering, for I know you will not hold me innocent.\r\n\t\t\t I shall be condemned; why then do I labor in vain?\r\n\t\t\t If I wash myself with soap and cleanse my hands with lye,\r\n\t\t\t yet you will plunge me into filth, and my own clothes will abhor me.\r\n\t\t\t For he is not a mortal, as I am, that I might answer him, that we should come to trial together.\r\n\t\t\t There is no umpire between us, who might lay his hand on us both. \r\n\t\t\t If he would take his rod away from me, and not let dread of him terrify me,\r\n\t\t\t then I would speak without fear of him, for I know I am not what I am thought to be. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t \"I loathe my life; I will give free utterance to my complaint; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.\r\n\t\t\t I will say to God, Do not condemn me; let me know why you contend against me.\r\n\t\t\t Does it seem good to you to oppress, to despise the work of your hands and favor the schemes of the wicked?\r\n\t\t\t Do you have eyes of flesh? Do you see as humans see?\r\n\t\t\t Are your days like the days of mortals, or your years like human years,\r\n\t\t\t that you seek out my iniquity and search for my sin,\r\n\t\t\t although you know that I am not guilty, and there is no one to deliver out of your hand?\r\n\t\t\t Your hands fashioned and made me; and now you turn and destroy me. \r\n\t\t\t Remember that you fashioned me like clay; and will you turn me to dust again?\r\n\t\t\t Did you not pour me out like milk and curdle me like cheese?\r\n\t\t\t You clothed me with skin and flesh, and knit me together with bones and sinews.\r\n\t\t\t You have granted me life and steadfast love, and your care has preserved my spirit.\r\n\t\t\t Yet these things you hid in your heart; I know that this was your purpose.\r\n\t\t\t If I sin, you watch me, and do not acquit me of my iniquity.\r\n\t\t\t If I am wicked, woe to me! If I am righteous, I cannot lift up my head, for I am filled with disgrace and look upon my affliction.\r\n\t\t\t Bold as a lion you hunt me; you repeat your exploits against me.\r\n\t\t\t You renew your witnesses against me, and increase your vexation toward me; you bring fresh troops against me. \r\n\t\t\t \"Why did you bring me forth from the womb? Would that I had died before any eye had seen me,\r\n\t\t\t and were as though I had not been, carried from the womb to the grave.\r\n\t\t\t Are not the days of my life few? Let me alone, that I may find a little comfort \r\n\t\t\t before I go, never to return, to the land of gloom and deep darkness,\r\n\t\t\t the land of gloom and chaos, where light is like darkness.\" \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then Zophar the Naamathite answered:\r\n\t\t\t \"Should a multitude of words go unanswered, and should one full of talk be vindicated?\r\n\t\t\t Should your babble put others to silence, and when you mock, shall no one shame you?\r\n\t\t\t For you say, 'My conduct is pure, and I am clean in God's sight.' \r\n\t\t\t But oh, that God would speak, and open his lips to you,\r\n\t\t\t and that he would tell you the secrets of wisdom! For wisdom is many-sided. Know then that God exacts of you less than your guilt deserves. \r\n\t\t\t \"Can you find out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limit of the Almighty? \r\n\t\t\t It is higher than heaven-- what can you do? Deeper than Sheol-- what can you know?\r\n\t\t\t Its measure is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.\r\n\t\t\t If he passes through, and imprisons, and assembles for judgment, who can hinder him?\r\n\t\t\t For he knows those who are worthless; when he sees iniquity, will he not consider it?\r\n\t\t\t But a stupid person will get understanding, when a wild ass is born human. \r\n\t\t\t \"If you direct your heart rightly, you will stretch out your hands toward him.\r\n\t\t\t If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away, and do not let wickedness reside in your tents.\r\n\t\t\t Surely then you will lift up your face without blemish; you will be secure, and will not fear.\r\n\t\t\t You will forget your misery; you will remember it as waters that have passed away.\r\n\t\t\t And your life will be brighter than the noonday; its darkness will be like the morning.\r\n\t\t\t And you will have confidence, because there is hope; you will be protected and take your rest in safety. \r\n\t\t\t You will lie down, and no one will make you afraid; many will entreat your favor.\r\n\t\t\t But the eyes of the wicked will fail; all way of escape will be lost to them, and their hope is to breathe their last.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then Job answered:\r\n\t\t\t \"No doubt you are the people, and wisdom will die with you.\r\n\t\t\t But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you. Who does not know such things as these?\r\n\t\t\t I am a laughingstock to my friends; I, who called upon God and he answered me, a just and blameless man, I am a laughingstock.\r\n\t\t\t Those at ease have contempt for misfortune, but it is ready for those whose feet are unstable. \r\n\t\t\t The tents of robbers are at peace, and those who provoke God are secure, who bring their god in their hands. \r\n\t\t\t \"But ask the animals, and they will teach you; the birds of the air, and they will tell you;\r\n\t\t\t ask the plants of the earth, and they will teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you. \r\n\t\t\t Who among all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this?\r\n\t\t\t In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of every human being.\r\n\t\t\t Does not the ear test words as the palate tastes food?\r\n\t\t\t Is wisdom with the aged, and understanding in length of days?\r\n\t\t\t \"With God are wisdom and strength; he has counsel and understanding. \r\n\t\t\t If he tears down, no one can rebuild; if he shuts someone in, no one can open up.\r\n\t\t\t If he withholds the waters, they dry up; if he sends them out, they overwhelm the land.\r\n\t\t\t With him are strength and wisdom; the deceived and the deceiver are his.\r\n\t\t\t He leads counselors away stripped, and makes fools of judges.\r\n\t\t\t He looses the sash of kings, and binds a waistcloth on their loins.\r\n\t\t\t He leads priests away stripped, and overthrows the mighty.\r\n\t\t\t He deprives of speech those who are trusted, and takes away the discernment of the elders.\r\n\t\t\t He pours contempt on princes, and looses the belt of the strong.\r\n\t\t\t He uncovers the deeps out of darkness, and brings deep darkness to light.\r\n\t\t\t He makes nations great, then destroys them; he enlarges nations, then leads them away.\r\n\t\t\t He strips understanding from the leaders of the earth, and makes them wander in a pathless waste.\r\n\t\t\t They grope in the dark without light; he makes them stagger like a drunkard.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t \"Look, my eye has seen all this, my ear has heard and understood it.\r\n\t\t\t What you know, I also know; I am not inferior to you.\r\n\t\t\t But I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to argue my case with God.\r\n\t\t\t As for you, you whitewash with lies; all of you are worthless physicians.\r\n\t\t\t If you would only keep silent, that would be your wisdom!\r\n\t\t\t Hear now my reasoning, and listen to the pleadings of my lips.\r\n\t\t\t Will you speak falsely for God, and speak deceitfully for him?\r\n\t\t\t Will you show partiality toward him, will you plead the case for God?\r\n\t\t\t Will it be well with you when he searches you out? Or can you deceive him, as one person deceives another?\r\n\t\t\t He will surely rebuke you if in secret you show partiality.\r\n\t\t\t Will not his majesty terrify you, and the dread of him fall upon you?\r\n\t\t\t Your maxims are proverbs of ashes, your defenses are defenses of clay.\r\n\t\t\t \"Let me have silence, and I will speak, and let come on me what may.\r\n\t\t\t I will take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hand. \r\n\t\t\t See, he will kill me; I have no hope; but I will defend my ways to his face. \r\n\t\t\t This will be my salvation, that the godless shall not come before him.\r\n\t\t\t Listen carefully to my words, and let my declaration be in your ears.\r\n\t\t\t I have indeed prepared my case; I know that I shall be vindicated.\r\n\t\t\t Who is there that will contend with me? For then I would be silent and die.\r\n\t\t\t Only grant two things to me, then I will not hide myself from your face:\r\n\t\t\t withdraw your hand far from me, and do not let dread of you terrify me.\r\n\t\t\t Then call, and I will answer; or let me speak, and you reply to me.\r\n\t\t\t How many are my iniquities and my sins? Make me know my transgression and my sin.\r\n\t\t\t Why do you hide your face, and count me as your enemy?\r\n\t\t\t Will you frighten a windblown leaf and pursue dry chaff?\r\n\t\t\t For you write bitter things against me, and make me reap the iniquities of my youth. \r\n\t\t\t You put my feet in the stocks, and watch all my paths; you set a bound to the soles of my feet.\r\n\t\t\t One wastes away like a rotten thing, like a garment that is moth-eaten.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t \"A mortal, born of woman, few of days and full of trouble,\r\n\t\t\t comes up like a flower and withers, flees like a shadow and does not last.\r\n\t\t\t Do you fix your eyes on such a one? Do you bring me into judgment with you?\r\n\t\t\t Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? No one can.\r\n\t\t\t Since their days are determined, and the number of their months is known to you, and you have appointed the bounds that they cannot pass,\r\n\t\t\t look away from them, and desist, that they may enjoy, like laborers, their days. \r\n\t\t\t \"For there is hope for a tree, if it is cut down, that it will sprout again, and that its shoots will not cease.\r\n\t\t\t Though its root grows old in the earth, and its stump dies in the ground,\r\n\t\t\t yet at the scent of water it will bud and put forth branches like a young plant.\r\n\t\t\t But mortals die, and are laid low; humans expire, and where are they?\r\n\t\t\t As waters fail from a lake, and a river wastes away and dries up,\r\n\t\t\t so mortals lie down and do not rise again; until the heavens are no more, they will not awake or be roused out of their sleep.\r\n\t\t\t Oh that you would hide me in Sheol, that you would conceal me until your wrath is past, that you would appoint me a set time, and remember me!\r\n\t\t\t If mortals die, will they live again? All the days of my service I would wait until my release should come.\r\n\t\t\t You would call, and I would answer you; you would long for the work of your hands.\r\n\t\t\t For then you would not number my steps, you would not keep watch over my sin; \r\n\t\t\t my transgression would be sealed up in a bag, and you would cover over my iniquity.\r\n\t\t\t \"But the mountain falls and crumbles away, and the rock is removed from its place;\r\n\t\t\t the waters wear away the stones; the torrents wash away the soil of the earth; so you destroy the hope of mortals.\r\n\t\t\t You prevail forever against them, and they pass away; you change their countenance, and send them away.\r\n\t\t\t Their children come to honor, and they do not know it; they are brought low, and it goes unnoticed.\r\n\t\t\t They feel only the pain of their own bodies, and mourn only for themselves.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered:\r\n\t\t\t \"Should the wise answer with windy knowledge, and fill themselves with the east wind?\r\n\t\t\t Should they argue in unprofitable talk, or in words with which they can do no good?\r\n\t\t\t But you are doing away with the fear of God, and hindering meditation before God.\r\n\t\t\t For your iniquity teaches your mouth, and you choose the tongue of the crafty.\r\n\t\t\t Your own mouth condemns you, and not I; your own lips testify against you.\r\n\t\t\t \"Are you the firstborn of the human race? Were you brought forth before the hills?\r\n\t\t\t Have you listened in the council of God? And do you limit wisdom to yourself?\r\n\t\t\t What do you know that we do not know? What do you understand that is not clear to us?\r\n\t\t\t The gray-haired and the aged are on our side, those older than your father.\r\n\t\t\t Are the consolations of God too small for you, or the word that deals gently with you?\r\n\t\t\t Why does your heart carry you away, and why do your eyes flash, \r\n\t\t\t so that you turn your spirit against God, and let such words go out of your mouth?\r\n\t\t\t What are mortals, that they can be clean? Or those born of woman, that they can be righteous?\r\n\t\t\t God puts no trust even in his holy ones, and the heavens are not clean in his sight;\r\n\t\t\t how much less one who is abominable and corrupt, one who drinks iniquity like water!\r\n\t\t\t \"I will show you; listen to me; what I have seen I will declare--\r\n\t\t\t what sages have told, and their ancestors have not hidden,\r\n\t\t\t to whom alone the land was given, and no stranger passed among them.\r\n\t\t\t The wicked writhe in pain all their days, through all the years that are laid up for the ruthless.\r\n\t\t\t Terrifying sounds are in their ears; in prosperity the destroyer will come upon them.\r\n\t\t\t They despair of returning from darkness, and they are destined for the sword.\r\n\t\t\t They wander abroad for bread, saying, 'Where is it?' They know that a day of darkness is ready at hand;\r\n\t\t\t distress and anguish terrify them; they prevail against them, like a king prepared for battle.\r\n\t\t\t Because they stretched out their hands against God, and bid defiance to the Almighty, \r\n\t\t\t running stubbornly against him with a thick-bossed shield;\r\n\t\t\t because they have covered their faces with their fat, and gathered fat upon their loins,\r\n\t\t\t they will live in desolate cities, in houses that no one should inhabit, houses destined to become heaps of ruins;\r\n\t\t\t they will not be rich, and their wealth will not endure, nor will they strike root in the earth; \r\n\t\t\t they will not escape from darkness; the flame will dry up their shoots, and their blossom will be swept away by the wind. \r\n\t\t\t Let them not trust in emptiness, deceiving themselves; for emptiness will be their recompense.\r\n\t\t\t It will be paid in full before their time, and their branch will not be green.\r\n\t\t\t They will shake off their unripe grape, like the vine, and cast off their blossoms, like the olive tree.\r\n\t\t\t For the company of the godless is barren, and fire consumes the tents of bribery.\r\n\t\t\t They conceive mischief and bring forth evil and their heart prepares deceit.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then Job answered:\r\n\t\t\t \"I have heard many such things; miserable comforters are you all.\r\n\t\t\t Have windy words no limit? Or what provokes you that you keep on talking?\r\n\t\t\t I also could talk as you do, if you were in my place; I could join words together against you, and shake my head at you.\r\n\t\t\t I could encourage you with my mouth, and the solace of my lips would assuage your pain.\r\n\t\t\t \"If I speak, my pain is not assuaged, and if I forbear, how much of it leaves me?\r\n\t\t\t Surely now God has worn me out; he has made desolate all my company. \r\n\t\t\t And he has shriveled me up, which is a witness against me; my leanness has risen up against me, and it testifies to my face. \r\n\t\t\t He has torn me in his wrath, and hated me; he has gnashed his teeth at me; my adversary sharpens his eyes against me.\r\n\t\t\t They have gaped at me with their mouths; they have struck me insolently on the cheek; they mass themselves together against me.\r\n\t\t\t God gives me up to the ungodly, and casts me into the hands of the wicked.\r\n\t\t\t I was at ease, and he broke me in two; he seized me by the neck and dashed me to pieces; he set me up as his target;\r\n\t\t\t his archers surround me. He slashes open my kidneys, and shows no mercy; he pours out my gall on the ground.\r\n\t\t\t He bursts upon me again and again; he rushes at me like a warrior.\r\n\t\t\t I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin, and have laid my strength in the dust.\r\n\t\t\t My face is red with weeping, and deep darkness is on my eyelids,\r\n\t\t\t though there is no violence in my hands, and my prayer is pure.\r\n\t\t\t \"O earth, do not cover my blood; let my outcry find no resting place.\r\n\t\t\t Even now, in fact, my witness is in heaven, and he that vouches for me is on high.\r\n\t\t\t My friends scorn me; my eye pours out tears to God,\r\n\t\t\t that he would maintain the right of a mortal with God, as one does for a neighbor. \r\n\t\t\t For when a few years have come, I shall go the way from which I shall not return.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t My spirit is broken, my days are extinct, the grave is ready for me.\r\n\t\t\t Surely there are mockers around me, and my eye dwells on their provocation.\r\n\t\t\t \"Lay down a pledge for me with yourself; who is there that will give surety for me?\r\n\t\t\t Since you have closed their minds to understanding, therefore you will not let them triumph.\r\n\t\t\t Those who denounce friends for reward-- the eyes of their children will fail.\r\n\t\t\t \"He has made me a byword of the peoples, and I am one before whom people spit.\r\n\t\t\t My eye has grown dim from grief, and all my members are like a shadow.\r\n\t\t\t The upright are appalled at this, and the innocent stir themselves up against the godless.\r\n\t\t\t Yet the righteous hold to their way, and they that have clean hands grow stronger and stronger.\r\n\t\t\t But you, come back now, all of you, and I shall not find a sensible person among you.\r\n\t\t\t My days are past, my plans are broken off, the desires of my heart.\r\n\t\t\t They make night into day; 'The light,' they say, 'is near to the darkness.' \r\n\t\t\t If I look for Sheol as my house, if I spread my couch in darkness,\r\n\t\t\t if I say to the Pit, 'You are my father,' and to the worm, 'My mother,' or 'My sister,'\r\n\t\t\t where then is my hope? Who will see my hope?\r\n\t\t\t Will it go down to the bars of Sheol? Shall we descend together into the dust?\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then Bildad the Shuhite answered:\r\n\t\t\t \"How long will you hunt for words? Consider, and then we shall speak.\r\n\t\t\t Why are we counted as cattle? Why are we stupid in your sight?\r\n\t\t\t You who tear yourself in your anger-- shall the earth be forsaken because of you, or the rock be removed out of its place?\r\n\t\t\t \"Surely the light of the wicked is put out, and the flame of their fire does not shine.\r\n\t\t\t The light is dark in their tent, and the lamp above them is put out.\r\n\t\t\t Their strong steps are shortened, and their own schemes throw them down.\r\n\t\t\t For they are thrust into a net by their own feet, and they walk into a pitfall.\r\n\t\t\t A trap seizes them by the heel; a snare lays hold of them.\r\n\t\t\t A rope is hid for them in the ground, a trap for them in the path.\r\n\t\t\t Terrors frighten them on every side, and chase them at their heels.\r\n\t\t\t Their strength is consumed by hunger, and calamity is ready for their stumbling. \r\n\t\t\t By disease their skin is consumed, the firstborn of Death consumes their limbs.\r\n\t\t\t They are torn from the tent in which they trusted, and are brought to the king of terrors.\r\n\t\t\t In their tents nothing remains; sulfur is scattered upon their habitations.\r\n\t\t\t Their roots dry up beneath, and their branches wither above.\r\n\t\t\t Their memory perishes from the earth, and they have no name in the street.\r\n\t\t\t They are thrust from light into darkness, and driven out of the world.\r\n\t\t\t They have no offspring or descendant among their people, and no survivor where they used to live.\r\n\t\t\t They of the west are appalled at their fate, and horror seizes those of the east.\r\n\t\t\t Surely such are the dwellings of the ungodly, such is the place of those who do not know God.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then Job answered:\r\n\t\t\t \"How long will you torment me, and break me in pieces with words?\r\n\t\t\t These ten times you have cast reproach upon me; are you not ashamed to wrong me?\r\n\t\t\t And even if it is true that I have erred, my error remains with me.\r\n\t\t\t If indeed you magnify yourselves against me, and make my humiliation an argument against me,\r\n\t\t\t know then that God has put me in the wrong, and closed his net around me.\r\n\t\t\t Even when I cry out, 'Violence!' I am not answered; I call aloud, but there is no justice.\r\n\t\t\t He has walled up my way so that I cannot pass, and he has set darkness upon my paths.\r\n\t\t\t He has stripped my glory from me, and taken the crown from my head.\r\n\t\t\t He breaks me down on every side, and I am gone, he has uprooted my hope like a tree.\r\n\t\t\t He has kindled his wrath against me, and counts me as his adversary.\r\n\t\t\t His troops come on together; they have thrown up siegeworks against me, and encamp around my tent. \r\n\t\t\t \"He has put my family far from me, and my acquaintances are wholly estranged from me.\r\n\t\t\t My relatives and my close friends have failed me;\r\n\t\t\t the guests in my house have forgotten me; my serving girls count me as a stranger; I have become an alien in their eyes.\r\n\t\t\t I call to my servant, but he gives me no answer; I must myself plead with him.\r\n\t\t\t My breath is repulsive to my wife; I am loathsome to my own family.\r\n\t\t\t Even young children despise me; when I rise, they talk against me.\r\n\t\t\t All my intimate friends abhor me, and those whom I loved have turned against me.\r\n\t\t\t My bones cling to my skin and to my flesh, and I have escaped by the skin of my teeth.\r\n\t\t\t Have pity on me, have pity on me, O you my friends, for the hand of God has touched me!\r\n\t\t\t Why do you, like God, pursue me, never satisfied with my flesh?\r\n\t\t\t \"O that my words were written down! O that they were inscribed in a book!\r\n\t\t\t O that with an iron pen and with lead they were engraved on a rock forever!\r\n\t\t\t For I know that my Redeemer lives, and that at the last he will stand upon the earth;\r\n\t\t\t and after my skin has been thus destroyed, then in my flesh I shall see God, \r\n\t\t\t whom I shall see on my side, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. My heart faints within me! \r\n\t\t\t If you say, 'How we will persecute him!' and, 'The root of the matter is found in him';\r\n\t\t\t be afraid of the sword, for wrath brings the punishment of the sword, so that you may know there is a judgment.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then Zophar the Naamathite answered:\r\n\t\t\t \"Pay attention! My thoughts urge me to answer, because of the agitation within me.\r\n\t\t\t I hear censure that insults me, and a spirit beyond my understanding answers me.\r\n\t\t\t Do you not know this from of old, ever since mortals were placed on earth,\r\n\t\t\t that the exulting of the wicked is short, and the joy of the godless is but for a moment?\r\n\t\t\t Even though they mount up high as the heavens, and their head reaches to the clouds,\r\n\t\t\t they will perish forever like their own dung; those who have seen them will say, 'Where are they?'\r\n\t\t\t They will fly away like a dream, and not be found; they will be chased away like a vision of the night.\r\n\t\t\t The eye that saw them will see them no more, nor will their place behold them any longer.\r\n\t\t\t Their children will seek the favor of the poor, and their hands will give back their wealth.\r\n\t\t\t Their bodies, once full of youth, will lie down in the dust with them.\r\n\t\t\t \"Though wickedness is sweet in their mouth, though they hide it under their tongues,\r\n\t\t\t though they are loath to let it go, and hold it in their mouths,\r\n\t\t\t yet their food is turned in their stomachs; it is the venom of asps within them.\r\n\t\t\t They swallow down riches and vomit them up again; God casts them out of their bellies.\r\n\t\t\t They will suck the poison of asps; the tongue of a viper will kill them.\r\n\t\t\t They will not look on the rivers, the streams flowing with honey and curds.\r\n\t\t\t They will give back the fruit of their toil, and will not swallow it down; from the profit of their trading they will get no enjoyment.\r\n\t\t\t For they have crushed and abandoned the poor, they have seized a house that they did not build.\r\n\t\t\t \"They knew no quiet in their bellies; in their greed they let nothing escape.\r\n\t\t\t There was nothing left after they had eaten; therefore their prosperity will not endure.\r\n\t\t\t In full sufficiency they will be in distress; all the force of misery will come upon them.\r\n\t\t\t To fill their belly to the full God will send his fierce anger into them, and rain it upon them as their food. \r\n\t\t\t They will flee from an iron weapon; a bronze arrow will strike them through.\r\n\t\t\t It is drawn forth and comes out of their body, and the glittering point comes out of their gall; terrors come upon them.\r\n\t\t\t Utter darkness is laid up for their treasures; a fire fanned by no one will devour them; what is left in their tent will be consumed.\r\n\t\t\t The heavens will reveal their iniquity, and the earth will rise up against them.\r\n\t\t\t The possessions of their house will be carried away, dragged off in the day of God's wrath. \r\n\t\t\t This is the portion of the wicked from God, the heritage decreed for them by God.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then Job answered:\r\n\t\t\t \"Listen carefully to my words, and let this be your consolation.\r\n\t\t\t Bear with me, and I will speak; then after I have spoken, mock on.\r\n\t\t\t As for me, is my complaint addressed to mortals? Why should I not be impatient?\r\n\t\t\t Look at me, and be appalled, and lay your hand upon your mouth.\r\n\t\t\t When I think of it I am dismayed, and shuddering seizes my flesh.\r\n\t\t\t Why do the wicked live on, reach old age, and grow mighty in power?\r\n\t\t\t Their children are established in their presence, and their offspring before their eyes.\r\n\t\t\t Their houses are safe from fear, and no rod of God is upon them.\r\n\t\t\t Their bull breeds without fail; their cow calves and never miscarries.\r\n\t\t\t They send out their little ones like a flock, and their children dance around.\r\n\t\t\t They sing to the tambourine and the lyre, and rejoice to the sound of the pipe.\r\n\t\t\t They spend their days in prosperity, and in peace they go down to Sheol.\r\n\t\t\t They say to God, 'Leave us alone! We do not desire to know your ways.\r\n\t\t\t What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? And what profit do we get if we pray to him?' \r\n\t\t\t Is not their prosperity indeed their own achievement? The plans of the wicked are repugnant to me. \r\n\t\t\t \"How often is the lamp of the wicked put out? How often does calamity come upon them? How often does God distribute pains in his anger? \r\n\t\t\t How often are they like straw before the wind, and like chaff that the storm carries away?\r\n\t\t\t You say, 'God stores up their iniquity for their children.' Let it be paid back to them, so that they may know it.\r\n\t\t\t Let their own eyes see their destruction, and let them drink of the wrath of the Almighty. \r\n\t\t\t For what do they care for their household after them, when the number of their months is cut off?\r\n\t\t\t Will any teach God knowledge, seeing that he judges those that are on high?\r\n\t\t\t One dies in full prosperity, being wholly at ease and secure,\r\n\t\t\t his loins full of milk and the marrow of his bones moist.\r\n\t\t\t Another dies in bitterness of soul, never having tasted of good.\r\n\t\t\t They lie down alike in the dust, and the worms cover them.\r\n\t\t\t \"Oh, I know your thoughts, and your schemes to wrong me.\r\n\t\t\t For you say, 'Where is the house of the prince? Where is the tent in which the wicked lived?'\r\n\t\t\t Have you not asked those who travel the roads, and do you not accept their testimony,\r\n\t\t\t that the wicked are spared in the day of calamity, and are rescued in the day of wrath?\r\n\t\t\t Who declares their way to their face, and who repays them for what they have done?\r\n\t\t\t When they are carried to the grave, a watch is kept over their tomb.\r\n\t\t\t The clods of the valley are sweet to them; everyone will follow after, and those who went before are innumerable.\r\n\t\t\t How then will you comfort me with empty nothings? There is nothing left of your answers but falsehood.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered:\r\n\t\t\t \"Can a mortal be of use to God? Can even the wisest be of service to him?\r\n\t\t\t Is it any pleasure to the Almighty if you are righteous, or is it gain to him if you make your ways blameless?\r\n\t\t\t Is it for your piety that he reproves you, and enters into judgment with you?\r\n\t\t\t Is not your wickedness great? There is no end to your iniquities.\r\n\t\t\t For you have exacted pledges from your family for no reason, and stripped the naked of their clothing.\r\n\t\t\t You have given no water to the weary to drink, and you have withheld bread from the hungry.\r\n\t\t\t The powerful possess the land, and the favored live in it.\r\n\t\t\t You have sent widows away empty-handed, and the arms of the orphans you have crushed. \r\n\t\t\t Therefore snares are around you, and sudden terror overwhelms you,\r\n\t\t\t or darkness so that you cannot see; a flood of water covers you.\r\n\t\t\t \"Is not God high in the heavens? See the highest stars, how lofty they are!\r\n\t\t\t Therefore you say, 'What does God know? Can he judge through the deep darkness?\r\n\t\t\t Thick clouds enwrap him, so that he does not see, and he walks on the dome of heaven.'\r\n\t\t\t Will you keep to the old way that the wicked have trod?\r\n\t\t\t They were snatched away before their time; their foundation was washed away by a flood.\r\n\t\t\t They said to God, 'Leave us alone,' and 'What can the Almighty do to us?' \r\n\t\t\t Yet he filled their houses with good things-- but the plans of the wicked are repugnant to me.\r\n\t\t\t The righteous see it and are glad; the innocent laugh them to scorn,\r\n\t\t\t saying, 'Surely our adversaries are cut off, and what they left, the fire has consumed.'\r\n\t\t\t \"Agree with God, and be at peace; in this way good will come to you. \r\n\t\t\t Receive instruction from his mouth, and lay up his words in your heart.\r\n\t\t\t If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored, if you remove unrighteousness from your tents,\r\n\t\t\t if you treat gold like dust, and gold of Ophir like the stones of the torrent-bed,\r\n\t\t\t and if the Almighty is your gold and your precious silver, \r\n\t\t\t then you will delight yourself in the Almighty, and lift up your face to God. \r\n\t\t\t You will pray to him, and he will hear you, and you will pay your vows.\r\n\t\t\t You will decide on a matter, and it will be established for you, and light will shine on your ways.\r\n\t\t\t When others are humiliated, you say it is pride; for he saves the humble.\r\n\t\t\t He will deliver even those who are guilty; they will escape because of the cleanness of your hands.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then Job answered:\r\n\t\t\t \"Today also my complaint is bitter; his hand is heavy despite my groaning. \r\n\t\t\t Oh, that I knew where I might find him, that I might come even to his dwelling!\r\n\t\t\t I would lay my case before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.\r\n\t\t\t I would learn what he would answer me, and understand what he would say to me.\r\n\t\t\t Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power? No; but he would give heed to me.\r\n\t\t\t There an upright person could reason with him, and I should be acquitted forever by my judge.\r\n\t\t\t \"If I go forward, he is not there; or backward, I cannot perceive him;\r\n\t\t\t on the left he hides, and I cannot behold him; I turn to the right, but I cannot see him. \r\n\t\t\t But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I shall come out like gold.\r\n\t\t\t My foot has held fast to his steps; I have kept his way and have not turned aside.\r\n\t\t\t I have not departed from the commandment of his lips; I have treasured in my bosom the words of his mouth. \r\n\t\t\t But he stands alone and who can dissuade him? What he desires, that he does.\r\n\t\t\t For he will complete what he appoints for me; and many such things are in his mind.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore I am terrified at his presence; when I consider, I am in dread of him.\r\n\t\t\t God has made my heart faint; the Almighty has terrified me; \r\n\t\t\t If only I could vanish in darkness, and thick darkness would cover my face! \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t \"Why are times not kept by the Almighty, and why do those who know him never see his days? \r\n\t\t\t The wicked remove landmarks; they seize flocks and pasture them. \r\n\t\t\t They drive away the donkey of the orphan; they take the widow's ox for a pledge.\r\n\t\t\t They thrust the needy off the road; the poor of the earth all hide themselves.\r\n\t\t\t Like wild asses in the desert they go out to their toil, scavenging in the wasteland food for their young.\r\n\t\t\t They reap in a field not their own and they glean in the vineyard of the wicked.\r\n\t\t\t They lie all night naked, without clothing, and have no covering in the cold.\r\n\t\t\t They are wet with the rain of the mountains, and cling to the rock for want of shelter.\r\n\t\t\t \"There are those who snatch the orphan child from the breast, and take as a pledge the infant of the poor.\r\n\t\t\t They go about naked, without clothing; though hungry, they carry the sheaves;\r\n\t\t\t between their terraces they press out oil; they tread the wine presses, but suffer thirst. \r\n\t\t\t From the city the dying groan, and the throat of the wounded cries for help; yet God pays no attention to their prayer.\r\n\t\t\t \"There are those who rebel against the light, who are not acquainted with its ways, and do not stay in its paths.\r\n\t\t\t The murderer rises at dusk to kill the poor and needy, and in the night is like a thief.\r\n\t\t\t The eye of the adulterer also waits for the twilight, saying, 'No eye will see me'; and he disguises his face.\r\n\t\t\t In the dark they dig through houses; by day they shut themselves up; they do not know the light.\r\n\t\t\t For deep darkness is morning to all of them; for they are friends with the terrors of deep darkness.\r\n\t\t\t \"Swift are they on the face of the waters; their portion in the land is cursed; no treader turns toward their vineyards.\r\n\t\t\t Drought and heat snatch away the snow waters; so does Sheol those who have sinned.\r\n\t\t\t The womb forgets them; the worm finds them sweet; they are no longer remembered; so wickedness is broken like a tree.\r\n\t\t\t \"They harm the childless woman, and do no good to the widow. \r\n\t\t\t Yet God prolongs the life of the mighty by his power; they rise up when they despair of life. \r\n\t\t\t He gives them security, and they are supported; his eyes are upon their ways.\r\n\t\t\t They are exalted a little while, and then are gone; they wither and fade like the mallow; they are cut off like the heads of grain. \r\n\t\t\t If it is not so, who will prove me a liar, and show that there is nothing in what I say?\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then Bildad the Shuhite answered:\r\n\t\t\t \"Dominion and fear are with God; he makes peace in his high heaven. \r\n\t\t\t Is there any number to his armies? Upon whom does his light not arise?\r\n\t\t\t How then can a mortal be righteous before God? How can one born of woman be pure?\r\n\t\t\t If even the moon is not bright and the stars are not pure in his sight,\r\n\t\t\t how much less a mortal, who is a maggot, and a human being, who is a worm!\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then Job answered:\r\n\t\t\t \"How you have helped one who has no power! How you have assisted the arm that has no strength!\r\n\t\t\t How you have counseled one who has no wisdom, and given much good advice!\r\n\t\t\t With whose help have you uttered words, and whose spirit has come forth from you?\r\n\t\t\t The shades below tremble, the waters and their inhabitants.\r\n\t\t\t Sheol is naked before God, and Abaddon has no covering.\r\n\t\t\t He stretches out Zaphon over the void, and hangs the earth upon nothing. \r\n\t\t\t He binds up the waters in his thick clouds, and the cloud is not torn open by them.\r\n\t\t\t He covers the face of the full moon, and spreads over it his cloud.\r\n\t\t\t He has described a circle on the face of the waters, at the boundary between light and darkness.\r\n\t\t\t The pillars of heaven tremble, and are astounded at his rebuke.\r\n\t\t\t By his power he stilled the Sea; by his understanding he struck down Rahab.\r\n\t\t\t By his wind the heavens were made fair; his hand pierced the fleeing serpent.\r\n\t\t\t These are indeed but the outskirts of his ways; and how small a whisper do we hear of him! But the thunder of his power who can understand?\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Job again took up his discourse and said:\r\n\t\t\t \"As God lives, who has taken away my right, and the Almighty, who has made my soul bitter, \r\n\t\t\t as long as my breath is in me and the spirit of God is in my nostrils,\r\n\t\t\t my lips will not speak falsehood, and my tongue will not utter deceit.\r\n\t\t\t Far be it from me to say that you are right; until I die I will not put away my integrity from me.\r\n\t\t\t I hold fast my righteousness, and will not let it go; my heart does not reproach me for any of my days.\r\n\t\t\t \"May my enemy be like the wicked, and may my opponent be like the unrighteous.\r\n\t\t\t For what is the hope of the godless when God cuts them off, when God takes away their lives?\r\n\t\t\t Will God hear their cry when trouble comes upon them?\r\n\t\t\t Will they take delight in the Almighty? Will they call upon God at all times? \r\n\t\t\t I will teach you concerning the hand of God; that which is with the Almighty I will not conceal. \r\n\t\t\t All of you have seen it yourselves; why then have you become altogether vain?\r\n\t\t\t \"This is the portion of the wicked with God, and the heritage that oppressors receive from the Almighty: \r\n\t\t\t If their children are multiplied, it is for the sword; and their offspring have not enough to eat.\r\n\t\t\t Those who survive them the pestilence buries, and their widows make no lamentation.\r\n\t\t\t Though they heap up silver like dust, and pile up clothing like clay--\r\n\t\t\t they may pile it up, but the just will wear it, and the innocent will divide the silver.\r\n\t\t\t They build their houses like nests, like booths made by sentinels of the vineyard.\r\n\t\t\t They go to bed with wealth, but will do so no more; they open their eyes, and it is gone.\r\n\t\t\t Terrors overtake them like a flood; in the night a whirlwind carries them off.\r\n\t\t\t The east wind lifts them up and they are gone; it sweeps them out of their place.\r\n\t\t\t It hurls at them without pity; they flee from its power in headlong flight. \r\n\t\t\t It claps its hands at them, and hisses at them from its place. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t \"Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place for gold to be refined.\r\n\t\t\t Iron is taken out of the earth, and copper is smelted from ore.\r\n\t\t\t Miners put an end to darkness, and search out to the farthest bound the ore in gloom and deep darkness.\r\n\t\t\t They open shafts in a valley away from human habitation; they are forgotten by travelers, they sway suspended, remote from people.\r\n\t\t\t As for the earth, out of it comes bread; but underneath it is turned up as by fire.\r\n\t\t\t Its stones are the place of sapphires, and its dust contains gold. \r\n\t\t\t \"That path no bird of prey knows, and the falcon's eye has not seen it.\r\n\t\t\t The proud wild animals have not trodden it; the lion has not passed over it.\r\n\t\t\t \"They put their hand to the flinty rock, and overturn mountains by the roots.\r\n\t\t\t They cut out channels in the rocks, and their eyes see every precious thing.\r\n\t\t\t The sources of the rivers they probe; hidden things they bring to light. \r\n\t\t\t \"But where shall wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?\r\n\t\t\t Mortals do not know the way to it, and it is not found in the land of the living.\r\n\t\t\t The deep says, 'It is not in me,' and the sea says, 'It is not with me.'\r\n\t\t\t It cannot be gotten for gold, and silver cannot be weighed out as its price.\r\n\t\t\t It cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir, in precious onyx or sapphire. \r\n\t\t\t Gold and glass cannot equal it, nor can it be exchanged for jewels of fine gold.\r\n\t\t\t No mention shall be made of coral or of crystal; the price of wisdom is above pearls.\r\n\t\t\t The chrysolite of Ethiopia cannot compare with it, nor can it be valued in pure gold. \r\n\t\t\t \"Where then does wisdom come from? And where is the place of understanding?\r\n\t\t\t It is hidden from the eyes of all living, and concealed from the birds of the air.\r\n\t\t\t Abaddon and Death say, 'We have heard a rumor of it with our ears.'\r\n\t\t\t \"God understands the way to it, and he knows its place.\r\n\t\t\t For he looks to the ends of the earth, and sees everything under the heavens.\r\n\t\t\t When he gave to the wind its weight, and apportioned out the waters by measure;\r\n\t\t\t when he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the thunderbolt;\r\n\t\t\t then he saw it and declared it; he established it, and searched it out.\r\n\t\t\t And he said to humankind, 'Truly, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.'\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Job again took up his discourse and said:\r\n\t\t\t \"Oh, that I were as in the months of old, as in the days when God watched over me;\r\n\t\t\t when his lamp shone over my head, and by his light I walked through darkness;\r\n\t\t\t when I was in my prime, when the friendship of God was upon my tent;\r\n\t\t\t when the Almighty was still with me, when my children were around me; \r\n\t\t\t when my steps were washed with milk, and the rock poured out for me streams of oil!\r\n\t\t\t When I went out to the gate of the city, when I took my seat in the square,\r\n\t\t\t the young men saw me and withdrew, and the aged rose up and stood;\r\n\t\t\t the nobles refrained from talking, and laid their hands on their mouths;\r\n\t\t\t the voices of princes were hushed, and their tongues stuck to the roof of their mouths.\r\n\t\t\t When the ear heard, it commended me, and when the eye saw, it approved;\r\n\t\t\t because I delivered the poor who cried, and the orphan who had no helper.\r\n\t\t\t The blessing of the wretched came upon me, and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.\r\n\t\t\t I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; my justice was like a robe and a turban.\r\n\t\t\t I was eyes to the blind, and feet to the lame.\r\n\t\t\t I was a father to the needy, and I championed the cause of the stranger.\r\n\t\t\t I broke the fangs of the unrighteous, and made them drop their prey from their teeth.\r\n\t\t\t Then I thought, 'I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days like the phoenix;\r\n\t\t\t my roots spread out to the waters, with the dew all night on my branches;\r\n\t\t\t my glory was fresh with me, and my bow ever new in my hand.'\r\n\t\t\t \"They listened to me, and waited, and kept silence for my counsel.\r\n\t\t\t After I spoke they did not speak again, and my word dropped upon them like dew. \r\n\t\t\t They waited for me as for the rain; they opened their mouths as for the spring rain.\r\n\t\t\t I smiled on them when they had no confidence; and the light of my countenance they did not extinguish. \r\n\t\t\t I chose their way, and sat as chief, and I lived like a king among his troops, like one who comforts mourners.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t \"But now they make sport of me, those who are younger than I, whose fathers I would have disdained to set with the dogs of my flock.\r\n\t\t\t What could I gain from the strength of their hands? All their vigor is gone.\r\n\t\t\t Through want and hard hunger they gnaw the dry and desolate ground,\r\n\t\t\t they pick mallow and the leaves of bushes, and to warm themselves the roots of broom.\r\n\t\t\t They are driven out from society; people shout after them as after a thief.\r\n\t\t\t In the gullies of wadis they must live, in holes in the ground, and in the rocks.\r\n\t\t\t Among the bushes they bray; under the nettles they huddle together.\r\n\t\t\t A senseless, disreputable brood, they have been whipped out of the land.\r\n\t\t\t \"And now they mock me in song; I am a byword to them.\r\n\t\t\t They abhor me, they keep aloof from me; they do not hesitate to spit at the sight of me.\r\n\t\t\t Because God has loosed my bowstring and humbled me, they have cast off restraint in my presence.\r\n\t\t\t On my right hand the rabble rise up; they send me sprawling, and build roads for my ruin.\r\n\t\t\t They break up my path, they promote my calamity; no one restrains them. \r\n\t\t\t As through a wide breach they come; amid the crash they roll on.\r\n\t\t\t Terrors are turned upon me; my honor is pursued as by the wind, and my prosperity has passed away like a cloud.\r\n\t\t\t \"And now my soul is poured out within me; days of affliction have taken hold of me.\r\n\t\t\t The night racks my bones, and the pain that gnaws me takes no rest.\r\n\t\t\t With violence he seizes my garment; he grasps me by the collar of my tunic. \r\n\t\t\t He has cast me into the mire, and I have become like dust and ashes.\r\n\t\t\t I cry to you and you do not answer me; I stand, and you merely look at me.\r\n\t\t\t You have turned cruel to me; with the might of your hand you persecute me.\r\n\t\t\t You lift me up on the wind, you make me ride on it, and you toss me about in the roar of the storm.\r\n\t\t\t I know that you will bring me to death, and to the house appointed for all living.\r\n\t\t\t \"Surely one does not turn against the needy, when in disaster they cry for help.\r\n\t\t\t Did I not weep for those whose day was hard? Was not my soul grieved for the poor?\r\n\t\t\t But when I looked for good, evil came; and when I waited for light, darkness came.\r\n\t\t\t My inward parts are in turmoil, and are never still; days of affliction come to meet me.\r\n\t\t\t I go about in sunless gloom; I stand up in the assembly and cry for help.\r\n\t\t\t I am a brother of jackals, and a companion of ostriches.\r\n\t\t\t My skin turns black and falls from me, and my bones burn with heat.\r\n\t\t\t My lyre is turned to mourning, and my pipe to the voice of those who weep.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t \"I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I look upon a virgin?\r\n\t\t\t What would be my portion from God above, and my heritage from the Almighty on high? \r\n\t\t\t Does not calamity befall the unrighteous, and disaster the workers of iniquity?\r\n\t\t\t Does he not see my ways, and number all my steps?\r\n\t\t\t \"If I have walked with falsehood, and my foot has hurried to deceit--\r\n\t\t\t let me be weighed in a just balance, and let God know my integrity!--\r\n\t\t\t if my step has turned aside from the way, and my heart has followed my eyes, and if any spot has clung to my hands;\r\n\t\t\t then let me sow, and another eat; and let what grows for me be rooted out.\r\n\t\t\t \"If my heart has been enticed by a woman, and I have lain in wait at my neighbor's door;\r\n\t\t\t then let my wife grind for another, and let other men kneel over her.\r\n\t\t\t For that would be a heinous crime; that would be a criminal offense;\r\n\t\t\t for that would be a fire consuming down to Abaddon, and it would burn to the root all my harvest.\r\n\t\t\t \"If I have rejected the cause of my male or female slaves, when they brought a complaint against me;\r\n\t\t\t what then shall I do when God rises up? When he makes inquiry, what shall I answer him?\r\n\t\t\t Did not he who made me in the womb make them? And did not one fashion us in the womb?\r\n\t\t\t \"If I have withheld anything that the poor desired, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail,\r\n\t\t\t or have eaten my morsel alone, and the orphan has not eaten from it--\r\n\t\t\t for from my youth I reared the orphan like a father, and from my mother's womb I guided the widow--\r\n\t\t\t if I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing, or a poor person without covering,\r\n\t\t\t whose loins have not blessed me, and who was not warmed with the fleece of my sheep;\r\n\t\t\t if I have raised my hand against the orphan, because I saw I had supporters at the gate;\r\n\t\t\t then let my shoulder blade fall from my shoulder, and let my arm be broken from its socket.\r\n\t\t\t For I was in terror of calamity from God, and I could not have faced his majesty.\r\n\t\t\t \"If I have made gold my trust, or called fine gold my confidence;\r\n\t\t\t if I have rejoiced because my wealth was great, or because my hand had gotten much;\r\n\t\t\t if I have looked at the sun when it shone, or the moon moving in splendor, \r\n\t\t\t and my heart has been secretly enticed, and my mouth has kissed my hand;\r\n\t\t\t this also would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges, for I should have been false to God above.\r\n\t\t\t \"If I have rejoiced at the ruin of those who hated me, or exulted when evil overtook them--\r\n\t\t\t I have not let my mouth sin by asking for their lives with a curse--\r\n\t\t\t if those of my tent ever said, 'O that we might be sated with his flesh!'--\r\n\t\t\t the stranger has not lodged in the street; I have opened my doors to the traveler--\r\n\t\t\t if I have concealed my transgressions as others do, by hiding my iniquity in my bosom, \r\n\t\t\t because I stood in great fear of the multitude, and the contempt of families terrified me, so that I kept silence, and did not go out of doors--\r\n\t\t\t Oh, that I had one to hear me! (Here is my signature! let the Almighty answer me!) Oh, that I had the indictment written by my adversary! \r\n\t\t\t Surely I would carry it on my shoulder; I would bind it on me like a crown;\r\n\t\t\t I would give him an account of all my steps; like a prince I would approach him.\r\n\t\t\t \"If my land has cried out against me, and its furrows have wept together;\r\n\t\t\t if I have eaten its yield without payment, and caused the death of its owners;\r\n\t\t\t let thorns grow instead of wheat, and foul weeds instead of barley.\" The words of Job are ended.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.\r\n\t\t\t Then Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, became angry. He was angry at Job because he justified himself rather than God;\r\n\t\t\t he was angry also at Job's three friends because they had found no answer, though they had declared Job to be in the wrong. \r\n\t\t\t Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job, because they were older than he.\r\n\t\t\t But when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouths of these three men, he became angry.\r\n\t\t\t Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite answered: \"I am young in years, and you are aged; therefore I was timid and afraid to declare my opinion to you.\r\n\t\t\t I said, 'Let days speak, and many years teach wisdom.'\r\n\t\t\t But truly it is the spirit in a mortal, the breath of the Almighty, that makes for understanding. \r\n\t\t\t It is not the old that are wise, nor the aged that understand what is right. \r\n\t\t\t Therefore I say, 'Listen to me; let me also declare my opinion.'\r\n\t\t\t \"See, I waited for your words, I listened for your wise sayings, while you searched out what to say.\r\n\t\t\t I gave you my attention, but there was in fact no one that confuted Job, no one among you that answered his words.\r\n\t\t\t Yet do not say, 'We have found wisdom; God may vanquish him, not a human.'\r\n\t\t\t He has not directed his words against me, and I will not answer him with your speeches.\r\n\t\t\t \"They are dismayed, they answer no more; they have not a word to say.\r\n\t\t\t And am I to wait, because they do not speak, because they stand there, and answer no more?\r\n\t\t\t I also will give my answer; I also will declare my opinion.\r\n\t\t\t For I am full of words; the spirit within me constrains me.\r\n\t\t\t My heart is indeed like wine that has no vent; like new wineskins, it is ready to burst.\r\n\t\t\t I must speak, so that I may find relief; I must open my lips and answer.\r\n\t\t\t I will not show partiality to any person or use flattery toward anyone.\r\n\t\t\t For I do not know how to flatter-- or my Maker would soon put an end to me!\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t \"But now, hear my speech, O Job, and listen to all my words.\r\n\t\t\t See, I open my mouth; the tongue in my mouth speaks.\r\n\t\t\t My words declare the uprightness of my heart, and what my lips know they speak sincerely.\r\n\t\t\t The spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life. \r\n\t\t\t Answer me, if you can; set your words in order before me; take your stand.\r\n\t\t\t See, before God I am as you are; I too was formed from a piece of clay.\r\n\t\t\t No fear of me need terrify you; my pressure will not be heavy on you.\r\n\t\t\t \"Surely, you have spoken in my hearing, and I have heard the sound of your words.\r\n\t\t\t You say, 'I am clean, without transgression; I am pure, and there is no iniquity in me.\r\n\t\t\t Look, he finds occasions against me, he counts me as his enemy;\r\n\t\t\t he puts my feet in the stocks, and watches all my paths.'\r\n\t\t\t \"But in this you are not right. I will answer you: God is greater than any mortal.\r\n\t\t\t Why do you contend against him, saying, 'He will answer none of my words'? \r\n\t\t\t For God speaks in one way, and in two, though people do not perceive it.\r\n\t\t\t In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on mortals, while they slumber on their beds,\r\n\t\t\t then he opens their ears, and terrifies them with warnings,\r\n\t\t\t that he may turn them aside from their deeds, and keep them from pride,\r\n\t\t\t to spare their souls from the Pit, their lives from traversing the River.\r\n\t\t\t They are also chastened with pain upon their beds, and with continual strife in their bones,\r\n\t\t\t so that their lives loathe bread, and their appetites dainty food.\r\n\t\t\t Their flesh is so wasted away that it cannot be seen; and their bones, once invisible, now stick out.\r\n\t\t\t Their souls draw near the Pit, and their lives to those who bring death.\r\n\t\t\t Then, if there should be for one of them an angel, a mediator, one of a thousand, one who declares a person upright,\r\n\t\t\t and he is gracious to that person, and says, 'Deliver him from going down into the Pit; I have found a ransom;\r\n\t\t\t let his flesh become fresh with youth; let him return to the days of his youthful vigor.'\r\n\t\t\t Then he prays to God, and is accepted by him, he comes into his presence with joy, and God repays him for his righteousness. \r\n\t\t\t That person sings to others and says, 'I sinned, and perverted what was right, and it was not paid back to me.\r\n\t\t\t He has redeemed my soul from going down to the Pit, and my life shall see the light.'\r\n\t\t\t \"God indeed does all these things, twice, three times, with mortals,\r\n\t\t\t to bring back their souls from the Pit, so that they may see the light of life. \r\n\t\t\t Pay heed, Job, listen to me; be silent, and I will speak.\r\n\t\t\t If you have anything to say, answer me; speak, for I desire to justify you.\r\n\t\t\t If not, listen to me; be silent, and I will teach you wisdom.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then Elihu continued and said:\r\n\t\t\t \"Hear my words, you wise men, and give ear to me, you who know;\r\n\t\t\t for the ear tests words as the palate tastes food.\r\n\t\t\t Let us choose what is right; let us determine among ourselves what is good.\r\n\t\t\t For Job has said, 'I am innocent, and God has taken away my right;\r\n\t\t\t in spite of being right I am counted a liar; my wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.'\r\n\t\t\t Who is there like Job, who drinks up scoffing like water,\r\n\t\t\t who goes in company with evildoers and walks with the wicked?\r\n\t\t\t For he has said, 'It profits one nothing to take delight in God.'\r\n\t\t\t \"Therefore, hear me, you who have sense, far be it from God that he should do wickedness, and from the Almighty that he should do wrong. \r\n\t\t\t For according to their deeds he will repay them, and according to their ways he will make it befall them.\r\n\t\t\t Of a truth, God will not do wickedly, and the Almighty will not pervert justice. \r\n\t\t\t Who gave him charge over the earth and who laid on him the whole world? \r\n\t\t\t If he should take back his spirit to himself, and gather to himself his breath,\r\n\t\t\t all flesh would perish together, and all mortals return to dust.\r\n\t\t\t \"If you have understanding, hear this; listen to what I say.\r\n\t\t\t Shall one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn one who is righteous and mighty,\r\n\t\t\t who says to a king, 'You scoundrel!' and to princes, 'You wicked men!';\r\n\t\t\t who shows no partiality to nobles, nor regards the rich more than the poor, for they are all the work of his hands?\r\n\t\t\t In a moment they die; at midnight the people are shaken and pass away, and the mighty are taken away by no human hand.\r\n\t\t\t \"For his eyes are upon the ways of mortals, and he sees all their steps.\r\n\t\t\t There is no gloom or deep darkness where evildoers may hide themselves.\r\n\t\t\t For he has not appointed a time for anyone to go before God in judgment. \r\n\t\t\t He shatters the mighty without investigation, and sets others in their place.\r\n\t\t\t Thus, knowing their works, he overturns them in the night, and they are crushed.\r\n\t\t\t He strikes them for their wickedness while others look on,\r\n\t\t\t because they turned aside from following him, and had no regard for any of his ways,\r\n\t\t\t so that they caused the cry of the poor to come to him, and he heard the cry of the afflicted--\r\n\t\t\t When he is quiet, who can condemn? When he hides his face, who can behold him, whether it be a nation or an individual?--\r\n\t\t\t so that the godless should not reign, or those who ensnare the people.\r\n\t\t\t \"For has anyone said to God, 'I have endured punishment; I will not offend any more;\r\n\t\t\t teach me what I do not see; if I have done iniquity, I will do it no more'?\r\n\t\t\t Will he then pay back to suit you, because you reject it? For you must choose, and not I; therefore declare what you know. \r\n\t\t\t Those who have sense will say to me, and the wise who hear me will say,\r\n\t\t\t 'Job speaks without knowledge, his words are without insight.'\r\n\t\t\t Would that Job were tried to the limit, because his answers are those of the wicked.\r\n\t\t\t For he adds rebellion to his sin; he claps his hands among us, and multiplies his words against God.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Elihu continued and said:\r\n\t\t\t \"Do you think this to be just? You say, 'I am in the right before God.'\r\n\t\t\t If you ask, 'What advantage have I? How am I better off than if I had sinned?'\r\n\t\t\t I will answer you and your friends with you.\r\n\t\t\t Look at the heavens and see; observe the clouds, which are higher than you.\r\n\t\t\t If you have sinned, what do you accomplish against him? And if your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to him?\r\n\t\t\t If you are righteous, what do you give to him; or what does he receive from your hand?\r\n\t\t\t Your wickedness affects others like you, and your righteousness, other human beings.\r\n\t\t\t \"Because of the multitude of oppressions people cry out; they call for help because of the arm of the mighty.\r\n\t\t\t But no one says, 'Where is God my Maker, who gives strength in the night,\r\n\t\t\t who teaches us more than the animals of the earth, and makes us wiser than the birds of the air?'\r\n\t\t\t There they cry out, but he does not answer, because of the pride of evildoers.\r\n\t\t\t Surely God does not hear an empty cry, nor does the Almighty regard it. \r\n\t\t\t How much less when you say that you do not see him, that the case is before him, and you are waiting for him!\r\n\t\t\t And now, because his anger does not punish, and he does not greatly heed transgression, \r\n\t\t\t Job opens his mouth in empty talk, he multiplies words without knowledge.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Elihu continued and said:\r\n\t\t\t \"Bear with me a little, and I will show you, for I have yet something to say on God's behalf.\r\n\t\t\t I will bring my knowledge from far away, and ascribe righteousness to my Maker.\r\n\t\t\t For truly my words are not false; one who is perfect in knowledge is with you.\r\n\t\t\t \"Surely God is mighty and does not despise any; he is mighty in strength of understanding.\r\n\t\t\t He does not keep the wicked alive, but gives the afflicted their right.\r\n\t\t\t He does not withdraw his eyes from the righteous, but with kings on the throne he sets them forever, and they are exalted.\r\n\t\t\t And if they are bound in fetters and caught in the cords of affliction,\r\n\t\t\t then he declares to them their work and their transgressions, that they are behaving arrogantly.\r\n\t\t\t He opens their ears to instruction, and commands that they return from iniquity.\r\n\t\t\t If they listen, and serve him, they complete their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasantness.\r\n\t\t\t But if they do not listen, they shall perish by the sword, and die without knowledge.\r\n\t\t\t \"The godless in heart cherish anger; they do not cry for help when he binds them.\r\n\t\t\t They die in their youth, and their life ends in shame. \r\n\t\t\t He delivers the afflicted by their affliction, and opens their ear by adversity.\r\n\t\t\t He also allured you out of distress into a broad place where there was no constraint, and what was set on your table was full of fatness.\r\n\t\t\t \"But you are obsessed with the case of the wicked; judgment and justice seize you.\r\n\t\t\t Beware that wrath does not entice you into scoffing, and do not let the greatness of the ransom turn you aside.\r\n\t\t\t Will your cry avail to keep you from distress, or will all the force of your strength?\r\n\t\t\t Do not long for the night, when peoples are cut off in their place.\r\n\t\t\t Beware! Do not turn to iniquity; because of that you have been tried by affliction.\r\n\t\t\t See, God is exalted in his power; who is a teacher like him?\r\n\t\t\t Who has prescribed for him his way, or who can say, 'You have done wrong'?\r\n\t\t\t \"Remember to extol his work, of which mortals have sung.\r\n\t\t\t All people have looked on it; everyone watches it from far away.\r\n\t\t\t Surely God is great, and we do not know him; the number of his years is unsearchable.\r\n\t\t\t For he draws up the drops of water; he distills his mist in rain, \r\n\t\t\t which the skies pour down and drop upon mortals abundantly.\r\n\t\t\t Can anyone understand the spreading of the clouds, the thunderings of his pavilion?\r\n\t\t\t See, he scatters his lightning around him and covers the roots of the sea.\r\n\t\t\t For by these he governs peoples; he gives food in abundance.\r\n\t\t\t He covers his hands with the lightning, and commands it to strike the mark.\r\n\t\t\t Its crashing tells about him; he is jealous with anger against iniquity.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t \"At this also my heart trembles, and leaps out of its place.\r\n\t\t\t Listen, listen to the thunder of his voice and the rumbling that comes from his mouth.\r\n\t\t\t Under the whole heaven he lets it loose, and his lightning to the corners of the earth.\r\n\t\t\t After it his voice roars; he thunders with his majestic voice and he does not restrain the lightnings when his voice is heard. \r\n\t\t\t God thunders wondrously with his voice; he does great things that we cannot comprehend.\r\n\t\t\t For to the snow he says, 'Fall on the earth'; and the shower of rain, his heavy shower of rain,\r\n\t\t\t serves as a sign on everyone's hand, so that all whom he has made may know it. \r\n\t\t\t Then the animals go into their lairs and remain in their dens.\r\n\t\t\t From its chamber comes the whirlwind, and cold from the scattering winds.\r\n\t\t\t By the breath of God ice is given, and the broad waters are frozen fast.\r\n\t\t\t He loads the thick cloud with moisture; the clouds scatter his lightning.\r\n\t\t\t They turn round and round by his guidance, to accomplish all that he commands them on the face of the habitable world.\r\n\t\t\t Whether for correction, or for his land, or for love, he causes it to happen.\r\n\t\t\t \"Hear this, O Job; stop and consider the wondrous works of God.\r\n\t\t\t Do you know how God lays his command upon them, and causes the lightning of his cloud to shine?\r\n\t\t\t Do you know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of the one whose knowledge is perfect,\r\n\t\t\t you whose garments are hot when the earth is still because of the south wind?\r\n\t\t\t Can you, like him, spread out the skies, hard as a molten mirror?\r\n\t\t\t Teach us what we shall say to him; we cannot draw up our case because of darkness.\r\n\t\t\t Should he be told that I want to speak? Did anyone ever wish to be swallowed up?\r\n\t\t\t Now, no one can look on the light when it is bright in the skies, when the wind has passed and cleared them.\r\n\t\t\t Out of the north comes golden splendor; around God is awesome majesty.\r\n\t\t\t The Almighty-- we cannot find him; he is great in power and justice, and abundant righteousness he will not violate.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore mortals fear him; he does not regard any who are wise in their own conceit.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind:\r\n\t\t\t \"Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?\r\n\t\t\t Gird up your loins like a man, I will question you, and you shall declare to me.\r\n\t\t\t \"Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding.\r\n\t\t\t Who determined its measurements-- surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it?\r\n\t\t\t On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone\r\n\t\t\t when the morning stars sang together and all the heavenly beings shouted for joy? \r\n\t\t\t \"Or who shut in the sea with doors when it burst out from the womb?--\r\n\t\t\t when I made the clouds its garment, and thick darkness its swaddling band,\r\n\t\t\t and prescribed bounds for it, and set bars and doors,\r\n\t\t\t and said, 'Thus far shall you come, and no farther, and here shall your proud waves be stopped'?\r\n\t\t\t \"Have you commanded the morning since your days began, and caused the dawn to know its place,\r\n\t\t\t so that it might take hold of the skirts of the earth, and the wicked be shaken out of it?\r\n\t\t\t It is changed like clay under the seal, and it is dyed like a garment. \r\n\t\t\t Light is withheld from the wicked, and their uplifted arm is broken.\r\n\t\t\t \"Have you entered into the springs of the sea, or walked in the recesses of the deep?\r\n\t\t\t Have the gates of death been revealed to you, or have you seen the gates of deep darkness?\r\n\t\t\t Have you comprehended the expanse of the earth? Declare, if you know all this.\r\n\t\t\t \"Where is the way to the dwelling of light, and where is the place of darkness,\r\n\t\t\t that you may take it to its territory and that you may discern the paths to its home?\r\n\t\t\t Surely you know, for you were born then, and the number of your days is great!\r\n\t\t\t \"Have you entered the storehouses of the snow, or have you seen the storehouses of the hail,\r\n\t\t\t which I have reserved for the time of trouble, for the day of battle and war?\r\n\t\t\t What is the way to the place where the light is distributed, or where the east wind is scattered upon the earth?\r\n\t\t\t \"Who has cut a channel for the torrents of rain, and a way for the thunderbolt,\r\n\t\t\t to bring rain on a land where no one lives, on the desert, which is empty of human life,\r\n\t\t\t to satisfy the waste and desolate land, and to make the ground put forth grass?\r\n\t\t\t \"Has the rain a father, or who has begotten the drops of dew?\r\n\t\t\t From whose womb did the ice come forth, and who has given birth to the hoarfrost of heaven?\r\n\t\t\t The waters become hard like stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.\r\n\t\t\t \"Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades, or loose the cords of Orion?\r\n\t\t\t Can you lead forth the Mazzaroth in their season, or can you guide the Bear with its children?\r\n\t\t\t Do you know the ordinances of the heavens? Can you establish their rule on the earth?\r\n\t\t\t \"Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, so that a flood of waters may cover you?\r\n\t\t\t Can you send forth lightnings, so that they may go and say to you, 'Here we are'?\r\n\t\t\t Who has put wisdom in the inward parts, or given understanding to the mind? \r\n\t\t\t Who has the wisdom to number the clouds? Or who can tilt the waterskins of the heavens,\r\n\t\t\t when the dust runs into a mass and the clods cling together?\r\n\t\t\t \"Can you hunt the prey for the lion, or satisfy the appetite of the young lions,\r\n\t\t\t when they crouch in their dens, or lie in wait in their covert?\r\n\t\t\t Who provides for the raven its prey, when its young ones cry to God, and wander about for lack of food?\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t \"Do you know when the mountain goats give birth? Do you observe the calving of the deer?\r\n\t\t\t Can you number the months that they fulfill, and do you know the time when they give birth,\r\n\t\t\t when they crouch to give birth to their offspring, and are delivered of their young?\r\n\t\t\t Their young ones become strong, they grow up in the open; they go forth, and do not return to them.\r\n\t\t\t \"Who has let the wild ass go free? Who has loosed the bonds of the swift ass,\r\n\t\t\t to which I have given the steppe for its home, the salt land for its dwelling place?\r\n\t\t\t It scorns the tumult of the city; it does not hear the shouts of the driver.\r\n\t\t\t It ranges the mountains as its pasture, and it searches after every green thing.\r\n\t\t\t \"Is the wild ox willing to serve you? Will it spend the night at your crib?\r\n\t\t\t Can you tie it in the furrow with ropes, or will it harrow the valleys after you?\r\n\t\t\t Will you depend on it because its strength is great, and will you hand over your labor to it?\r\n\t\t\t Do you have faith in it that it will return, and bring your grain to your threshing floor? \r\n\t\t\t \"The ostrich's wings flap wildly, though its pinions lack plumage. \r\n\t\t\t For it leaves its eggs to the earth, and lets them be warmed on the ground,\r\n\t\t\t forgetting that a foot may crush them, and that a wild animal may trample them.\r\n\t\t\t It deals cruelly with its young, as if they were not its own; though its labor should be in vain, yet it has no fear;\r\n\t\t\t because God has made it forget wisdom, and given it no share in understanding.\r\n\t\t\t When it spreads its plumes aloft, it laughs at the horse and its rider. \r\n\t\t\t \"Do you give the horse its might? Do you clothe its neck with mane?\r\n\t\t\t Do you make it leap like the locust? Its majestic snorting is terrible.\r\n\t\t\t It paws violently, exults mightily; it goes out to meet the weapons.\r\n\t\t\t It laughs at fear, and is not dismayed; it does not turn back from the sword.\r\n\t\t\t Upon it rattle the quiver, the flashing spear, and the javelin.\r\n\t\t\t With fierceness and rage it swallows the ground; it cannot stand still at the sound of the trumpet.\r\n\t\t\t When the trumpet sounds, it says 'Aha!' From a distance it smells the battle, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting.\r\n\t\t\t \"Is it by your wisdom that the hawk soars, and spreads its wings toward the south?\r\n\t\t\t Is it at your command that the eagle mounts up and makes its nest on high?\r\n\t\t\t It lives on the rock and makes its home in the fastness of the rocky crag.\r\n\t\t\t From there it spies the prey; its eyes see it from far away.\r\n\t\t\t Its young ones suck up blood; and where the slain are, there it is.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t And the LORD said to Job:\r\n\t\t\t \"Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty? Anyone who argues with God must respond.\" \r\n\t\t\t Then Job answered the LORD:\r\n\t\t\t \"See, I am of small account; what shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth.\r\n\t\t\t I have spoken once, and I will not answer; twice, but will proceed no further.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind:\r\n\t\t\t \"Gird up your loins like a man; I will question you, and you declare to me.\r\n\t\t\t Will you even put me in the wrong? Will you condemn me that you may be justified?\r\n\t\t\t Have you an arm like God, and can you thunder with a voice like his?\r\n\t\t\t \"Deck yourself with majesty and dignity; clothe yourself with glory and splendor.\r\n\t\t\t Pour out the overflowings of your anger, and look on all who are proud, and abase them.\r\n\t\t\t Look on all who are proud, and bring them low; tread down the wicked where they stand.\r\n\t\t\t Hide them all in the dust together; bind their faces in the world below. \r\n\t\t\t Then I will also acknowledge to you that your own right hand can give you victory.\r\n\t\t\t \"Look at Behemoth, which I made just as I made you; it eats grass like an ox.\r\n\t\t\t Its strength is in its loins, and its power in the muscles of its belly.\r\n\t\t\t It makes its tail stiff like a cedar; the sinews of its thighs are knit together.\r\n\t\t\t Its bones are tubes of bronze, its limbs like bars of iron.\r\n\t\t\t \"It is the first of the great acts of God-- only its Maker can approach it with the sword.\r\n\t\t\t For the mountains yield food for it where all the wild animals play.\r\n\t\t\t Under the lotus plants it lies, in the covert of the reeds and in the marsh.\r\n\t\t\t The lotus trees cover it for shade; the willows of the wadi surround it.\r\n\t\t\t Even if the river is turbulent, it is not frightened; it is confident though Jordan rushes against its mouth.\r\n\t\t\t Can one take it with hooks or pierce its nose with a snare? \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t \"Can you draw out Leviathan with a fishhook, or press down its tongue with a cord? \r\n\t\t\t Can you put a rope in its nose, or pierce its jaw with a hook?\r\n\t\t\t Will it make many supplications to you? Will it speak soft words to you?\r\n\t\t\t Will it make a covenant with you to be taken as your servant forever?\r\n\t\t\t Will you play with it as with a bird, or will you put it on leash for your girls?\r\n\t\t\t Will traders bargain over it? Will they divide it up among the merchants?\r\n\t\t\t Can you fill its skin with harpoons, or its head with fishing spears?\r\n\t\t\t Lay hands on it; think of the battle; you will not do it again!\r\n\t\t\t Any hope of capturing it will be disappointed; were not even the gods overwhelmed at the sight of it? \r\n\t\t\t No one is so fierce as to dare to stir it up. Who can stand before it? \r\n\t\t\t Who can confront it and be safe?-- under the whole heaven, who?\r\n\t\t\t \"I will not keep silence concerning its limbs, or its mighty strength, or its splendid frame.\r\n\t\t\t Who can strip off its outer garment? Who can penetrate its double coat of mail? \r\n\t\t\t Who can open the doors of its face? There is terror all around its teeth.\r\n\t\t\t Its back is made of shields in rows, shut up closely as with a seal. \r\n\t\t\t One is so near to another that no air can come between them.\r\n\t\t\t They are joined one to another; they clasp each other and cannot be separated.\r\n\t\t\t Its sneezes flash forth light, and its eyes are like the eyelids of the dawn.\r\n\t\t\t From its mouth go flaming torches; sparks of fire leap out.\r\n\t\t\t Out of its nostrils comes smoke, as from a boiling pot and burning rushes.\r\n\t\t\t Its breath kindles coals, and a flame comes out of its mouth.\r\n\t\t\t In its neck abides strength, and terror dances before it.\r\n\t\t\t The folds of its flesh cling together; it is firmly cast and immovable.\r\n\t\t\t Its heart is as hard as stone, as hard as the lower millstone.\r\n\t\t\t When it raises itself up the gods are afraid; at the crashing they are beside themselves.\r\n\t\t\t Though the sword reaches it, it does not avail, nor does the spear, the dart, or the javelin.\r\n\t\t\t It counts iron as straw, and bronze as rotten wood.\r\n\t\t\t The arrow cannot make it flee; slingstones, for it, are turned to chaff.\r\n\t\t\t Clubs are counted as chaff; it laughs at the rattle of javelins.\r\n\t\t\t Its underparts are like sharp potsherds; it spreads itself like a threshing sledge on the mire.\r\n\t\t\t It makes the deep boil like a pot; it makes the sea like a pot of ointment.\r\n\t\t\t It leaves a shining wake behind it; one would think the deep to be white-haired.\r\n\t\t\t On earth it has no equal, a creature without fear.\r\n\t\t\t It surveys everything that is lofty; it is king over all that are proud.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then Job answered the LORD:\r\n\t\t\t \"I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.\r\n\t\t\t 'Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?' Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.\r\n\t\t\t 'Hear, and I will speak; I will question you, and you declare to me.'\r\n\t\t\t I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you;\r\n\t\t\t therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.\"\r\n\t\t\t After the LORD had spoken these words to Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite: \"My wrath is kindled against you and against your two friends; for you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has.\r\n\t\t\t Now therefore take seven bulls and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you, for I will accept his prayer not to deal with you according to your folly; for you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has done.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went and did what the LORD had told them; and the LORD accepted Job's prayer.\r\n\t\t\t And the LORD restored the fortunes of Job when he had prayed for his friends; and the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.\r\n\t\t\t Then there came to him all his brothers and sisters and all who had known him before, and they ate bread with him in his house; they showed him sympathy and comforted him for all the evil that the LORD had brought upon him; and each of them gave him a piece of money and a gold ring. \r\n\t\t\t The LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; and he had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand donkeys.\r\n\t\t\t He also had seven sons and three daughters.\r\n\t\t\t He named the first Jemimah, the second Keziah, and the third Keren-happuch.\r\n\t\t\t In all the land there were no women so beautiful as Job's daughters; and their father gave them an inheritance along with their brothers.\r\n\t\t\t After this Job lived one hundred and forty years, and saw his children, and his children's children, four generations.\r\n\t\t\t And Job died, old and full of days.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path that sinners tread, or sit in the seat of scoffers;\r\n\t\t\t but their delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law they meditate day and night.\r\n\t\t\t They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither. In all that they do, they prosper.\r\n\t\t\t The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;\r\n\t\t\t for the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Why do the nations conspire, and the peoples plot in vain?\r\n\t\t\t The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and his anointed, saying,\r\n\t\t\t \"Let us burst their bonds asunder, and cast their cords from us.\"\r\n\t\t\t He who sits in the heavens laughs; the LORD has them in derision.\r\n\t\t\t Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying,\r\n\t\t\t \"I have set my king on Zion, my holy hill.\"\r\n\t\t\t I will tell of the decree of the LORD: He said to me, \"You are my son; today I have begotten you.\r\n\t\t\t Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.\r\n\t\t\t You shall break them with a rod of iron, and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.\"\r\n\t\t\t Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth.\r\n\t\t\t Serve the LORD with fear, with trembling\r\n\t\t\t kiss his feet, or he will be angry, and you will perish in the way; for his wrath is quickly kindled. Happy are all who take refuge in him. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [Psalm of David, when he fled from his son Absalom] O LORD, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me;\r\n\t\t\t many are saying to me, \"There is no help for you in God.\" Selah \r\n\t\t\t But you, O LORD, are a shield around me, my glory, and the one who lifts up my head.\r\n\t\t\t I cry aloud to the LORD, and he answers me from his holy hill. Selah \r\n\t\t\t I lie down and sleep; I wake again, for the LORD sustains me.\r\n\t\t\t I am not afraid of ten thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around.\r\n\t\t\t Rise up, O LORD! Deliver me, O my God! For you strike all my enemies on the cheek; you break the teeth of the wicked.\r\n\t\t\t Deliverance belongs to the LORD; may your blessing be on your people! Selah \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [To the leader: with stringed instruments. A Psalm of David] Answer me when I call, O God of my right! You gave me room when I was in distress. Be gracious to me, and hear my prayer.\r\n\t\t\t How long, you people, shall my honor suffer shame? How long will you love vain words, and seek after lies? Selah \r\n\t\t\t But know that the LORD has set apart the faithful for himself; the LORD hears when I call to him.\r\n\t\t\t When you are disturbed, do not sin; ponder it on your beds, and be silent. Selah \r\n\t\t\t Offer right sacrifices, and put your trust in the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t There are many who say, \"O that we might see some good! Let the light of your face shine on us, O LORD!\"\r\n\t\t\t You have put gladness in my heart more than when their grain and wine abound.\r\n\t\t\t I will both lie down and sleep in peace; for you alone, O LORD, make me lie down in safety.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [To the leader: for the flutes. A Psalm of David] Give ear to my words, O LORD; give heed to my sighing.\r\n\t\t\t Listen to the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for to you I pray.\r\n\t\t\t O LORD, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I plead my case to you, and watch.\r\n\t\t\t For you are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil will not sojourn with you.\r\n\t\t\t The boastful will not stand before your eyes; you hate all evildoers.\r\n\t\t\t You destroy those who speak lies; the LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful.\r\n\t\t\t But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love, will enter your house, I will bow down toward your holy temple in awe of you.\r\n\t\t\t Lead me, O LORD, in your righteousness because of my enemies; make your way straight before me.\r\n\t\t\t For there is no truth in their mouths; their hearts are destruction; their throats are open graves; they flatter with their tongues.\r\n\t\t\t Make them bear their guilt, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; because of their many transgressions cast them out, for they have rebelled against you.\r\n\t\t\t But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, so that those who love your name may exult in you.\r\n\t\t\t For you bless the righteous, O LORD; you cover them with favor as with a shield.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [To the leader: with stringed instruments; according to The Sheminith. A Psalm of David] O LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger, or discipline me in your wrath.\r\n\t\t\t Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am languishing; O LORD, heal me, for my bones are shaking with terror.\r\n\t\t\t My soul also is struck with terror, while you, O LORD-- how long?\r\n\t\t\t Turn, O LORD, save my life; deliver me for the sake of your steadfast love.\r\n\t\t\t For in death there is no remembrance of you; in Sheol who can give you praise?\r\n\t\t\t I am weary with my moaning; every night I flood my bed with tears; I drench my couch with my weeping.\r\n\t\t\t My eyes waste away because of grief; they grow weak because of all my foes.\r\n\t\t\t Depart from me, all you workers of evil, for the LORD has heard the sound of my weeping.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD has heard my supplication; the LORD accepts my prayer.\r\n\t\t\t All my enemies shall be ashamed and struck with terror; they shall turn back, and in a moment be put to shame.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [A Shiggaion of David, which he sang to the LORD concerning Cush, a Benjaminite.] O LORD my God, in you I take refuge; save me from all my pursuers, and deliver me,\r\n\t\t\t or like a lion they will tear me apart; they will drag me away, with no one to rescue.\r\n\t\t\t O LORD my God, if I have done this, if there is wrong in my hands,\r\n\t\t\t if I have repaid my ally with harm or plundered my foe without cause,\r\n\t\t\t then let the enemy pursue and overtake me, trample my life to the ground, and lay my soul in the dust. Selah \r\n\t\t\t Rise up, O LORD, in your anger; lift yourself up against the fury of my enemies; awake, O my God; you have appointed a judgment. \r\n\t\t\t Let the assembly of the peoples be gathered around you, and over it take your seat on high. \r\n\t\t\t The LORD judges the peoples; judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness and according to the integrity that is in me.\r\n\t\t\t O let the evil of the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous, you who test the minds and hearts, O righteous God.\r\n\t\t\t God is my shield, who saves the upright in heart.\r\n\t\t\t God is a righteous judge, and a God who has indignation every day.\r\n\t\t\t If one does not repent, God will whet his sword; he has bent and strung his bow; \r\n\t\t\t he has prepared his deadly weapons, making his arrows fiery shafts.\r\n\t\t\t See how they conceive evil, and are pregnant with mischief, and bring forth lies.\r\n\t\t\t They make a pit, digging it out, and fall into the hole that they have made.\r\n\t\t\t Their mischief returns upon their own heads, and on their own heads their violence descends.\r\n\t\t\t I will give to the LORD the thanks due to his righteousness, and sing praise to the name of the LORD, the Most High.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [To the leader: according to The Gittith. A Psalm of David] O LORD, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens.\r\n\t\t\t Out of the mouths of babes and infants you have founded a bulwark because of your foes, to silence the enemy and the avenger.\r\n\t\t\t When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have established;\r\n\t\t\t what are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for them? \r\n\t\t\t Yet you have made them a little lower than God, and crowned them with glory and honor. \r\n\t\t\t You have given them dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under their feet,\r\n\t\t\t all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field,\r\n\t\t\t the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas.\r\n\t\t\t O LORD, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth!\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [To the leader: according to Muth-labben. A Psalm of David] I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.\r\n\t\t\t I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.\r\n\t\t\t When my enemies turned back, they stumbled and perished before you.\r\n\t\t\t For you have maintained my just cause; you have sat on the throne giving righteous judgment.\r\n\t\t\t You have rebuked the nations, you have destroyed the wicked; you have blotted out their name forever and ever.\r\n\t\t\t The enemies have vanished in everlasting ruins; their cities you have rooted out; the very memory of them has perished.\r\n\t\t\t But the LORD sits enthroned forever, he has established his throne for judgment.\r\n\t\t\t He judges the world with righteousness; he judges the peoples with equity.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.\r\n\t\t\t And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you.\r\n\t\t\t Sing praises to the LORD, who dwells in Zion. Declare his deeds among the peoples.\r\n\t\t\t For he who avenges blood is mindful of them; he does not forget the cry of the afflicted.\r\n\t\t\t Be gracious to me, O LORD. See what I suffer from those who hate me; you are the one who lifts me up from the gates of death,\r\n\t\t\t so that I may recount all your praises, and, in the gates of daughter Zion, rejoice in your deliverance.\r\n\t\t\t The nations have sunk in the pit that they made; in the net that they hid has their own foot been caught.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD has made himself known, he has executed judgment; the wicked are snared in the work of their own hands. Higgaion. Selah \r\n\t\t\t The wicked shall depart to Sheol, all the nations that forget God.\r\n\t\t\t For the needy shall not always be forgotten, nor the hope of the poor perish forever.\r\n\t\t\t Rise up, O LORD! Do not let mortals prevail; let the nations be judged before you.\r\n\t\t\t Put them in fear, O LORD; let the nations know that they are only human. Selah \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Why, O LORD, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?\r\n\t\t\t In arrogance the wicked persecute the poor-- let them be caught in the schemes they have devised.\r\n\t\t\t For the wicked boast of the desires of their heart, those greedy for gain curse and renounce the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t In the pride of their countenance the wicked say, \"God will not seek it out\"; all their thoughts are, \"There is no God.\"\r\n\t\t\t Their ways prosper at all times; your judgments are on high, out of their sight; as for their foes, they scoff at them.\r\n\t\t\t They think in their heart, \"We shall not be moved; throughout all generations we shall not meet adversity.\"\r\n\t\t\t Their mouths are filled with cursing and deceit and oppression; under their tongues are mischief and iniquity.\r\n\t\t\t They sit in ambush in the villages; in hiding places they murder the innocent. Their eyes stealthily watch for the helpless;\r\n\t\t\t they lurk in secret like a lion in its covert; they lurk that they may seize the poor; they seize the poor and drag them off in their net.\r\n\t\t\t They stoop, they crouch, and the helpless fall by their might.\r\n\t\t\t They think in their heart, \"God has forgotten, he has hidden his face, he will never see it.\"\r\n\t\t\t Rise up, O LORD; O God, lift up your hand; do not forget the oppressed.\r\n\t\t\t Why do the wicked renounce God, and say in their hearts, \"You will not call us to account\"?\r\n\t\t\t But you do see! Indeed you note trouble and grief, that you may take it into your hands; the helpless commit themselves to you; you have been the helper of the orphan.\r\n\t\t\t Break the arm of the wicked and evildoers; seek out their wickedness until you find none.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD is king forever and ever; the nations shall perish from his land.\r\n\t\t\t O LORD, you will hear the desire of the meek; you will strengthen their heart, you will incline your ear\r\n\t\t\t to do justice for the orphan and the oppressed, so that those from earth may strike terror no more. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [To the leader. Of David] In the LORD I take refuge; how can you say to me, \"Flee like a bird to the mountains; \r\n\t\t\t for look, the wicked bend the bow, they have fitted their arrow to the string, to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart.\r\n\t\t\t If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?\"\r\n\t\t\t The LORD is in his holy temple; the LORD's throne is in heaven. His eyes behold, his gaze examines humankind.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD tests the righteous and the wicked, and his soul hates the lover of violence.\r\n\t\t\t On the wicked he will rain coals of fire and sulfur; a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup.\r\n\t\t\t For the LORD is righteous; he loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold his face.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [To the leader: according to The Sheminith. A Psalm of David] Help, O LORD, for there is no longer anyone who is godly; the faithful have disappeared from humankind.\r\n\t\t\t They utter lies to each other; with flattering lips and a double heart they speak.\r\n\t\t\t May the LORD cut off all flattering lips, the tongue that makes great boasts,\r\n\t\t\t those who say, \"With our tongues we will prevail; our lips are our own-- who is our master?\"\r\n\t\t\t \"Because the poor are despoiled, because the needy groan, I will now rise up,\" says the LORD; \"I will place them in the safety for which they long.\"\r\n\t\t\t The promises of the LORD are promises that are pure, silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times.\r\n\t\t\t You, O LORD, will protect us; you will guard us from this generation forever.\r\n\t\t\t On every side the wicked prowl, as vileness is exalted among humankind.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [To the leader. A Psalm of David] How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?\r\n\t\t\t How long must I bear pain in my soul, and have sorrow in my heart all day long? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me? \r\n\t\t\t Consider and answer me, O LORD my God! Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death,\r\n\t\t\t and my enemy will say, \"I have prevailed\"; my foes will rejoice because I am shaken.\r\n\t\t\t But I trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.\r\n\t\t\t I will sing to the LORD, because he has dealt bountifully with me.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [To the leader. Of David] Fools say in their hearts, \"There is no God.\" They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; there is no one who does good.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD looks down from heaven on humankind to see if there are any who are wise, who seek after God.\r\n\t\t\t They have all gone astray, they are all alike perverse; there is no one who does good, no, not one.\r\n\t\t\t Have they no knowledge, all the evildoers who eat up my people as they eat bread, and do not call upon the LORD?\r\n\t\t\t There they shall be in great terror, for God is with the company of the righteous.\r\n\t\t\t You would confound the plans of the poor, but the LORD is their refuge.\r\n\t\t\t O that deliverance for Israel would come from Zion! When the LORD restores the fortunes of his people, Jacob will rejoice; Israel will be glad.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [A Psalm of David] O LORD, who may abide in your tent? Who may dwell on your holy hill?\r\n\t\t\t Those who walk blamelessly, and do what is right, and speak the truth from their heart;\r\n\t\t\t who do not slander with their tongue, and do no evil to their friends, nor take up a reproach against their neighbors;\r\n\t\t\t in whose eyes the wicked are despised, but who honor those who fear the LORD; who stand by their oath even to their hurt;\r\n\t\t\t who do not lend money at interest, and do not take a bribe against the innocent. Those who do these things shall never be moved.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [A Miktam of David] Protect me, O God, for in you I take refuge.\r\n\t\t\t I say to the LORD, \"You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.\" \r\n\t\t\t As for the holy ones in the land, they are the noble, in whom is all my delight.\r\n\t\t\t Those who choose another god multiply their sorrows; their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out or take their names upon my lips. \r\n\t\t\t The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot.\r\n\t\t\t The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; I have a goodly heritage.\r\n\t\t\t I bless the LORD who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me.\r\n\t\t\t I keep the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices; my body also rests secure.\r\n\t\t\t For you do not give me up to Sheol, or let your faithful one see the Pit.\r\n\t\t\t You show me the path of life. In your presence there is fullness of joy; in your right hand are pleasures forevermore.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [A Prayer of David] Hear a just cause, O LORD; attend to my cry; give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit.\r\n\t\t\t From you let my vindication come; let your eyes see the right.\r\n\t\t\t If you try my heart, if you visit me by night, if you test me, you will find no wickedness in me; my mouth does not transgress.\r\n\t\t\t As for what others do, by the word of your lips I have avoided the ways of the violent.\r\n\t\t\t My steps have held fast to your paths; my feet have not slipped.\r\n\t\t\t I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God; incline your ear to me, hear my words.\r\n\t\t\t Wondrously show your steadfast love, O savior of those who seek refuge from their adversaries at your right hand.\r\n\t\t\t Guard me as the apple of the eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings,\r\n\t\t\t from the wicked who despoil me, my deadly enemies who surround me.\r\n\t\t\t They close their hearts to pity; with their mouths they speak arrogantly.\r\n\t\t\t They track me down; now they surround me; they set their eyes to cast me to the ground. \r\n\t\t\t They are like a lion eager to tear, like a young lion lurking in ambush.\r\n\t\t\t Rise up, O LORD, confront them, overthrow them! By your sword deliver my life from the wicked,\r\n\t\t\t from mortals-- by your hand, O LORD-- from mortals whose portion in life is in this world. May their bellies be filled with what you have stored up for them; may their children have more than enough; may they leave something over to their little ones.\r\n\t\t\t As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness; when I awake I shall be satisfied, beholding your likeness.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [To the leader. A Psalm of David the servant of the LORD, who addressed the words of this song to the LORD on the day when the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul. He said:> I love you, O LORD, my strength.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my rock in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.\r\n\t\t\t I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, so I shall be saved from my enemies.\r\n\t\t\t The cords of death encompassed me; the torrents of perdition assailed me;\r\n\t\t\t the cords of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me.\r\n\t\t\t In my distress I called upon the LORD; to my God I cried for help. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears.\r\n\t\t\t Then the earth reeled and rocked; the foundations also of the mountains trembled and quaked, because he was angry.\r\n\t\t\t Smoke went up from his nostrils, and devouring fire from his mouth; glowing coals flamed forth from him.\r\n\t\t\t He bowed the heavens, and came down; thick darkness was under his feet.\r\n\t\t\t He rode on a cherub, and flew; he came swiftly upon the wings of the wind.\r\n\t\t\t He made darkness his covering around him, his canopy thick clouds dark with water.\r\n\t\t\t Out of the brightness before him there broke through his clouds hailstones and coals of fire.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Most High uttered his voice. \r\n\t\t\t And he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; he flashed forth lightnings, and routed them.\r\n\t\t\t Then the channels of the sea were seen, and the foundations of the world were laid bare at your rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of the breath of your nostrils.\r\n\t\t\t He reached down from on high, he took me; he drew me out of mighty waters.\r\n\t\t\t He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from those who hated me; for they were too mighty for me.\r\n\t\t\t They confronted me in the day of my calamity; but the LORD was my support.\r\n\t\t\t He brought me out into a broad place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he recompensed me.\r\n\t\t\t For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God.\r\n\t\t\t For all his ordinances were before me, and his statutes I did not put away from me.\r\n\t\t\t I was blameless before him, and I kept myself from guilt.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore the LORD has recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight.\r\n\t\t\t With the loyal you show yourself loyal; with the blameless you show yourself blameless;\r\n\t\t\t with the pure you show yourself pure; and with the crooked you show yourself perverse.\r\n\t\t\t For you deliver a humble people, but the haughty eyes you bring down.\r\n\t\t\t It is you who light my lamp; the LORD, my God, lights up my darkness.\r\n\t\t\t By you I can crush a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall.\r\n\t\t\t This God-- his way is perfect; the promise of the LORD proves true; he is a shield for all who take refuge in him.\r\n\t\t\t For who is God except the LORD? And who is a rock besides our God?--\r\n\t\t\t the God who girded me with strength, and made my way safe.\r\n\t\t\t He made my feet like the feet of a deer, and set me secure on the heights.\r\n\t\t\t He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.\r\n\t\t\t You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your right hand has supported me; your help has made me great. \r\n\t\t\t You gave me a wide place for my steps under me, and my feet did not slip.\r\n\t\t\t I pursued my enemies and overtook them; and did not turn back until they were consumed.\r\n\t\t\t I struck them down, so that they were not able to rise; they fell under my feet.\r\n\t\t\t For you girded me with strength for the battle; you made my assailants sink under me.\r\n\t\t\t You made my enemies turn their backs to me, and those who hated me I destroyed.\r\n\t\t\t They cried for help, but there was no one to save them; they cried to the LORD, but he did not answer them.\r\n\t\t\t I beat them fine, like dust before the wind; I cast them out like the mire of the streets.\r\n\t\t\t You delivered me from strife with the peoples; you made me head of the nations; people whom I had not known served me.\r\n\t\t\t As soon as they heard of me they obeyed me; foreigners came cringing to me.\r\n\t\t\t Foreigners lost heart, and came trembling out of their strongholds.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD lives! Blessed be my rock, and exalted be the God of my salvation,\r\n\t\t\t the God who gave me vengeance and subdued peoples under me;\r\n\t\t\t who delivered me from my enemies; indeed, you exalted me above my adversaries; you delivered me from the violent.\r\n\t\t\t For this I will extol you, O LORD, among the nations, and sing praises to your name.\r\n\t\t\t Great triumphs he gives to his king, and shows steadfast love to his anointed, to David and his descendants forever.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [To the leader. A Psalm of David] The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.\r\n\t\t\t Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge.\r\n\t\t\t There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard;\r\n\t\t\t yet their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In the heavens he has set a tent for the sun, \r\n\t\t\t which comes out like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy, and like a strong man runs its course with joy.\r\n\t\t\t Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them; and nothing is hid from its heat.\r\n\t\t\t The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the decrees of the LORD are sure, making wise the simple;\r\n\t\t\t the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is clear, enlightening the eyes;\r\n\t\t\t the fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.\r\n\t\t\t More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey, and drippings of the honeycomb.\r\n\t\t\t Moreover by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.\r\n\t\t\t But who can detect their errors? Clear me from hidden faults.\r\n\t\t\t Keep back your servant also from the insolent; do not let them have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression. \r\n\t\t\t Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [To the leader. A Psalm of David] The LORD answer you in the day of trouble! The name of the God of Jacob protect you!\r\n\t\t\t May he send you help from the sanctuary, and give you support from Zion.\r\n\t\t\t May he remember all your offerings, and regard with favor your burnt sacrifices. Selah \r\n\t\t\t May he grant you your heart's desire, and fulfill all your plans.\r\n\t\t\t May we shout for joy over your victory, and in the name of our God set up our banners. May the LORD fulfill all your petitions.\r\n\t\t\t Now I know that the LORD will help his anointed; he will answer him from his holy heaven with mighty victories by his right hand.\r\n\t\t\t Some take pride in chariots, and some in horses, but our pride is in the name of the LORD our God.\r\n\t\t\t They will collapse and fall, but we shall rise and stand upright.\r\n\t\t\t Give victory to the king, O LORD; answer us when we call. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [To the leader. A Psalm of David] In your strength the king rejoices, O LORD, and in your help how greatly he exults!\r\n\t\t\t You have given him his heart's desire, and have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah \r\n\t\t\t For you meet him with rich blessings; you set a crown of fine gold on his head.\r\n\t\t\t He asked you for life; you gave it to him-- length of days forever and ever.\r\n\t\t\t His glory is great through your help; splendor and majesty you bestow on him.\r\n\t\t\t You bestow on him blessings forever; you make him glad with the joy of your presence.\r\n\t\t\t For the king trusts in the LORD, and through the steadfast love of the Most High he shall not be moved.\r\n\t\t\t Your hand will find out all your enemies; your right hand will find out those who hate you.\r\n\t\t\t You will make them like a fiery furnace when you appear. The LORD will swallow them up in his wrath, and fire will consume them.\r\n\t\t\t You will destroy their offspring from the earth, and their children from among humankind.\r\n\t\t\t If they plan evil against you, if they devise mischief, they will not succeed.\r\n\t\t\t For you will put them to flight; you will aim at their faces with your bows.\r\n\t\t\t Be exalted, O LORD, in your strength! We will sing and praise your power.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [To the leader: according to The Deer of the Dawn. A Psalm of David] My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning?\r\n\t\t\t O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer; and by night, but find no rest.\r\n\t\t\t Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t In you our ancestors trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them.\r\n\t\t\t To you they cried, and were saved; in you they trusted, and were not put to shame.\r\n\t\t\t But I am a worm, and not human; scorned by others, and despised by the people.\r\n\t\t\t All who see me mock at me; they make mouths at me, they shake their heads;\r\n\t\t\t \"Commit your cause to the LORD; let him deliver-- let him rescue the one in whom he delights!\"\r\n\t\t\t Yet it was you who took me from the womb; you kept me safe on my mother's breast.\r\n\t\t\t On you I was cast from my birth, and since my mother bore me you have been my God.\r\n\t\t\t Do not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help.\r\n\t\t\t Many bulls encircle me, strong bulls of Bashan surround me;\r\n\t\t\t they open wide their mouths at me, like a ravening and roaring lion.\r\n\t\t\t I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast;\r\n\t\t\t my mouth is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death. \r\n\t\t\t For dogs are all around me; a company of evildoers encircles me. My hands and feet have shriveled; \r\n\t\t\t I can count all my bones. They stare and gloat over me;\r\n\t\t\t they divide my clothes among themselves, and for my clothing they cast lots.\r\n\t\t\t But you, O LORD, do not be far away! O my help, come quickly to my aid!\r\n\t\t\t Deliver my soul from the sword, my life from the power of the dog! \r\n\t\t\t Save me from the mouth of the lion! From the horns of the wild oxen you have rescued me. \r\n\t\t\t I will tell of your name to my brothers and sisters; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you: \r\n\t\t\t You who fear the LORD, praise him! All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him; stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel!\r\n\t\t\t For he did not despise or abhor the affliction of the afflicted; he did not hide his face from me, but heard when I cried to him. \r\n\t\t\t From you comes my praise in the great congregation; my vows I will pay before those who fear him.\r\n\t\t\t The poor shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the LORD. May your hearts live forever! \r\n\t\t\t All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD; and all the families of the nations shall worship before him. \r\n\t\t\t For dominion belongs to the LORD, and he rules over the nations.\r\n\t\t\t To him, indeed, shall all who sleep in the earth bow down; before him shall bow all who go down to the dust, and I shall live for him. \r\n\t\t\t Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the Lord,\r\n\t\t\t and proclaim his deliverance to a people yet unborn, saying that he has done it. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [A Psalm of David] The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.\r\n\t\t\t He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; \r\n\t\t\t he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name's sake. \r\n\t\t\t Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff-- they comfort me.\r\n\t\t\t You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.\r\n\t\t\t Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD my whole life long. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [A Psalm of David] The earth is the LORD's and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it;\r\n\t\t\t for he has founded it on the seas, and established it on the rivers.\r\n\t\t\t Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? And who shall stand in his holy place?\r\n\t\t\t Those who have clean hands and pure hearts, who do not lift up their souls to what is false, and do not swear deceitfully.\r\n\t\t\t They will receive blessing from the LORD, and vindication from the God of their salvation.\r\n\t\t\t Such is the company of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Selah\r\n\t\t\t Lift up your heads, O gates! and be lifted up, O ancient doors! that the King of glory may come in.\r\n\t\t\t Who is the King of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD, mighty in battle.\r\n\t\t\t Lift up your heads, O gates! and be lifted up, O ancient doors! that the King of glory may come in.\r\n\t\t\t Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [Of David] To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul.\r\n\t\t\t O my God, in you I trust; do not let me be put to shame; do not let my enemies exult over me.\r\n\t\t\t Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame; let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.\r\n\t\t\t Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths.\r\n\t\t\t Lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day long.\r\n\t\t\t Be mindful of your mercy, O LORD, and of your steadfast love, for they have been from of old.\r\n\t\t\t Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for your goodness' sake, O LORD!\r\n\t\t\t Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in the way.\r\n\t\t\t He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.\r\n\t\t\t All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his decrees.\r\n\t\t\t For your name's sake, O LORD, pardon my guilt, for it is great.\r\n\t\t\t Who are they that fear the LORD? He will teach them the way that they should choose.\r\n\t\t\t They will abide in prosperity, and their children shall possess the land.\r\n\t\t\t The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him, and he makes his covenant known to them.\r\n\t\t\t My eyes are ever toward the LORD, for he will pluck my feet out of the net.\r\n\t\t\t Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.\r\n\t\t\t Relieve the troubles of my heart, and bring me out of my distress. \r\n\t\t\t Consider my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins.\r\n\t\t\t Consider how many are my foes, and with what violent hatred they hate me.\r\n\t\t\t O guard my life, and deliver me; do not let me be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.\r\n\t\t\t May integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you.\r\n\t\t\t Redeem Israel, O God, out of all its troubles.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [Of David] Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have walked in my integrity, and I have trusted in the LORD without wavering.\r\n\t\t\t Prove me, O LORD, and try me; test my heart and mind.\r\n\t\t\t For your steadfast love is before my eyes, and I walk in faithfulness to you. \r\n\t\t\t I do not sit with the worthless, nor do I consort with hypocrites;\r\n\t\t\t I hate the company of evildoers, and will not sit with the wicked.\r\n\t\t\t I wash my hands in innocence, and go around your altar, O LORD,\r\n\t\t\t singing aloud a song of thanksgiving, and telling all your wondrous deeds.\r\n\t\t\t O LORD, I love the house in which you dwell, and the place where your glory abides.\r\n\t\t\t Do not sweep me away with sinners, nor my life with the bloodthirsty,\r\n\t\t\t those in whose hands are evil devices, and whose right hands are full of bribes.\r\n\t\t\t But as for me, I walk in my integrity; redeem me, and be gracious to me.\r\n\t\t\t My foot stands on level ground; in the great congregation I will bless the LORD.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [Of David] The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?\r\n\t\t\t When evildoers assail me to devour my flesh-- my adversaries and foes-- they shall stumble and fall.\r\n\t\t\t Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war rise up against me, yet I will be confident.\r\n\t\t\t One thing I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: to live in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple.\r\n\t\t\t For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will set me high on a rock.\r\n\t\t\t Now my head is lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud, be gracious to me and answer me!\r\n\t\t\t \"Come,\" my heart says, \"seek his face!\" Your face, LORD, do I seek.\r\n\t\t\t Do not hide your face from me. Do not turn your servant away in anger, you who have been my help. Do not cast me off, do not forsake me, O God of my salvation!\r\n\t\t\t If my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will take me up.\r\n\t\t\t Teach me your way, O LORD, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies.\r\n\t\t\t Do not give me up to the will of my adversaries, for false witnesses have risen against me, and they are breathing out violence.\r\n\t\t\t I believe that I shall see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.\r\n\t\t\t Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [Of David] To you, O LORD, I call; my rock, do not refuse to hear me, for if you are silent to me, I shall be like those who go down to the Pit.\r\n\t\t\t Hear the voice of my supplication, as I cry to you for help, as I lift up my hands toward your most holy sanctuary. \r\n\t\t\t Do not drag me away with the wicked, with those who are workers of evil, who speak peace with their neighbors, while mischief is in their hearts.\r\n\t\t\t Repay them according to their work, and according to the evil of their deeds; repay them according to the work of their hands; render them their due reward.\r\n\t\t\t Because they do not regard the works of the LORD, or the work of his hands, he will break them down and build them up no more.\r\n\t\t\t Blessed be the LORD, for he has heard the sound of my pleadings.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts; so I am helped, and my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD is the strength of his people; he is the saving refuge of his anointed.\r\n\t\t\t O save your people, and bless your heritage; be their shepherd, and carry them forever.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [A Psalm of David] Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. \r\n\t\t\t Ascribe to the LORD the glory of his name; worship the LORD in holy splendor.\r\n\t\t\t The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD, over mighty waters.\r\n\t\t\t The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty.\r\n\t\t\t The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; the LORD breaks the cedars of Lebanon.\r\n\t\t\t He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, and Sirion like a young wild ox.\r\n\t\t\t The voice of the LORD flashes forth flames of fire.\r\n\t\t\t The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness; the LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.\r\n\t\t\t The voice of the LORD causes the oaks to whirl, and strips the forest bare; and in his temple all say, \"Glory!\" \r\n\t\t\t The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD sits enthroned as king forever.\r\n\t\t\t May the LORD give strength to his people! May the LORD bless his people with peace!\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [A Psalm. A Song at the dedication of the temple. Of David] I will extol you, O LORD, for you have drawn me up, and did not let my foes rejoice over me.\r\n\t\t\t O LORD my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me.\r\n\t\t\t O LORD, you brought up my soul from Sheol, restored me to life from among those gone down to the Pit. \r\n\t\t\t Sing praises to the LORD, O you his faithful ones, and give thanks to his holy name.\r\n\t\t\t For his anger is but for a moment; his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning.\r\n\t\t\t As for me, I said in my prosperity, \"I shall never be moved.\"\r\n\t\t\t By your favor, O LORD, you had established me as a strong mountain; you hid your face; I was dismayed.\r\n\t\t\t To you, O LORD, I cried, and to the LORD I made supplication:\r\n\t\t\t \"What profit is there in my death, if I go down to the Pit? Will the dust praise you? Will it tell of your faithfulness?\r\n\t\t\t Hear, O LORD, and be gracious to me! O LORD, be my helper!\"\r\n\t\t\t You have turned my mourning into dancing; you have taken off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,\r\n\t\t\t so that my soul may praise you and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to you forever. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [To the leader. A Psalm of David] In you, O LORD, I seek refuge; do not let me ever be put to shame; in your righteousness deliver me.\r\n\t\t\t Incline your ear to me; rescue me speedily. Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me.\r\n\t\t\t You are indeed my rock and my fortress; for your name's sake lead me and guide me,\r\n\t\t\t take me out of the net that is hidden for me, for you are my refuge.\r\n\t\t\t Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O LORD, faithful God.\r\n\t\t\t You hate those who pay regard to worthless idols, but I trust in the LORD. \r\n\t\t\t I will exult and rejoice in your steadfast love, because you have seen my affliction; you have taken heed of my adversities,\r\n\t\t\t and have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy; you have set my feet in a broad place.\r\n\t\t\t Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am in distress; my eye wastes away from grief, my soul and body also.\r\n\t\t\t For my life is spent with sorrow, and my years with sighing; my strength fails because of my misery, and my bones waste away. \r\n\t\t\t I am the scorn of all my adversaries, a horror to my neighbors, an object of dread to my acquaintances; those who see me in the street flee from me. \r\n\t\t\t I have passed out of mind like one who is dead; I have become like a broken vessel.\r\n\t\t\t For I hear the whispering of many-- terror all around!-- as they scheme together against me, as they plot to take my life.\r\n\t\t\t But I trust in you, O LORD; I say, \"You are my God.\"\r\n\t\t\t My times are in your hand; deliver me from the hand of my enemies and persecutors.\r\n\t\t\t Let your face shine upon your servant; save me in your steadfast love.\r\n\t\t\t Do not let me be put to shame, O LORD, for I call on you; let the wicked be put to shame; let them go dumbfounded to Sheol.\r\n\t\t\t Let the lying lips be stilled that speak insolently against the righteous with pride and contempt.\r\n\t\t\t O how abundant is your goodness that you have laid up for those who fear you, and accomplished for those who take refuge in you, in the sight of everyone!\r\n\t\t\t In the shelter of your presence you hide them from human plots; you hold them safe under your shelter from contentious tongues.\r\n\t\t\t Blessed be the LORD, for he has wondrously shown his steadfast love to me when I was beset as a city under siege.\r\n\t\t\t I had said in my alarm, \"I am driven far from your sight.\" But you heard my supplications when I cried out to you for help. \r\n\t\t\t Love the LORD, all you his saints. The LORD preserves the faithful, but abundantly repays the one who acts haughtily.\r\n\t\t\t Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the LORD.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [Of David. A Maskil.> Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.\r\n\t\t\t Happy are those to whom the LORD imputes no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.\r\n\t\t\t While I kept silence, my body wasted away through my groaning all day long.\r\n\t\t\t For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah \r\n\t\t\t Then I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not hide my iniquity; I said, \"I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,\" and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah \r\n\t\t\t Therefore let all who are faithful offer prayer to you; at a time of distress, the rush of mighty waters shall not reach them. \r\n\t\t\t You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with glad cries of deliverance. Selah \r\n\t\t\t I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.\r\n\t\t\t Do not be like a horse or a mule, without understanding, whose temper must be curbed with bit and bridle, else it will not stay near you.\r\n\t\t\t Many are the torments of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds those who trust in the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous. Praise befits the upright.\r\n\t\t\t Praise the LORD with the lyre; make melody to him with the harp of ten strings.\r\n\t\t\t Sing to him a new song; play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.\r\n\t\t\t For the word of the LORD is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness.\r\n\t\t\t He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and all their host by the breath of his mouth.\r\n\t\t\t He gathered the waters of the sea as in a bottle; he put the deeps in storehouses.\r\n\t\t\t Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.\r\n\t\t\t For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples.\r\n\t\t\t The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.\r\n\t\t\t Happy is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD looks down from heaven; he sees all humankind.\r\n\t\t\t From where he sits enthroned he watches all the inhabitants of the earth--\r\n\t\t\t he who fashions the hearts of them all, and observes all their deeds.\r\n\t\t\t A king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.\r\n\t\t\t The war horse is a vain hope for victory, and by its great might it cannot save.\r\n\t\t\t Truly the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love,\r\n\t\t\t to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.\r\n\t\t\t Our soul waits for the LORD; he is our help and shield.\r\n\t\t\t Our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name.\r\n\t\t\t Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us, even as we hope in you.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [Of David, when he feigned madness before Abimelech, so that he drove him out, and he went away.> I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.\r\n\t\t\t My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad.\r\n\t\t\t O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.\r\n\t\t\t I sought the LORD, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.\r\n\t\t\t Look to him, and be radiant; so your faces shall never be ashamed. \r\n\t\t\t This poor soul cried, and was heard by the LORD, and was saved from every trouble.\r\n\t\t\t The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.\r\n\t\t\t O taste and see that the LORD is good; happy are those who take refuge in him.\r\n\t\t\t O fear the LORD, you his holy ones, for those who fear him have no want.\r\n\t\t\t The young lions suffer want and hunger, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.\r\n\t\t\t Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Which of you desires life, and covets many days to enjoy good?\r\n\t\t\t Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit.\r\n\t\t\t Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.\r\n\t\t\t The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their cry.\r\n\t\t\t The face of the LORD is against evildoers, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.\r\n\t\t\t When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears, and rescues them from all their troubles.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD is near to the brokenhearted, and saves the crushed in spirit.\r\n\t\t\t Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD rescues them from them all.\r\n\t\t\t He keeps all their bones; not one of them will be broken.\r\n\t\t\t Evil brings death to the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [Of David] Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me!\r\n\t\t\t Take hold of shield and buckler, and rise up to help me!\r\n\t\t\t Draw the spear and javelin against my pursuers; say to my soul, \"I am your salvation.\"\r\n\t\t\t Let them be put to shame and dishonor who seek after my life. Let them be turned back and confounded who devise evil against me.\r\n\t\t\t Let them be like chaff before the wind, with the angel of the LORD driving them on.\r\n\t\t\t Let their way be dark and slippery, with the angel of the LORD pursuing them.\r\n\t\t\t For without cause they hid their net for me; without cause they dug a pit for my life. \r\n\t\t\t Let ruin come on them unawares. And let the net that they hid ensnare them; let them fall in it-- to their ruin.\r\n\t\t\t Then my soul shall rejoice in the LORD, exulting in his deliverance.\r\n\t\t\t All my bones shall say, \"O LORD, who is like you? You deliver the weak from those too strong for them, the weak and needy from those who despoil them.\"\r\n\t\t\t Malicious witnesses rise up; they ask me about things I do not know.\r\n\t\t\t They repay me evil for good; my soul is forlorn.\r\n\t\t\t But as for me, when they were sick, I wore sackcloth; I afflicted myself with fasting. I prayed with head bowed on my bosom, \r\n\t\t\t as though I grieved for a friend or a brother; I went about as one who laments for a mother, bowed down and in mourning.\r\n\t\t\t But at my stumbling they gathered in glee, they gathered together against me; ruffians whom I did not know tore at me without ceasing;\r\n\t\t\t they impiously mocked more and more, gnashing at me with their teeth. \r\n\t\t\t How long, O LORD, will you look on? Rescue me from their ravages, my life from the lions!\r\n\t\t\t Then I will thank you in the great congregation; in the mighty throng I will praise you.\r\n\t\t\t Do not let my treacherous enemies rejoice over me, or those who hate me without cause wink the eye.\r\n\t\t\t For they do not speak peace, but they conceive deceitful words against those who are quiet in the land.\r\n\t\t\t They open wide their mouths against me; they say, \"Aha, Aha, our eyes have seen it.\"\r\n\t\t\t You have seen, O LORD; do not be silent! O Lord, do not be far from me!\r\n\t\t\t Wake up! Bestir yourself for my defense, for my cause, my God and my Lord!\r\n\t\t\t Vindicate me, O LORD, my God, according to your righteousness, and do not let them rejoice over me.\r\n\t\t\t Do not let them say to themselves, \"Aha, we have our heart's desire.\" Do not let them say, \"We have swallowed you up.\" \r\n\t\t\t Let all those who rejoice at my calamity be put to shame and confusion; let those who exalt themselves against me be clothed with shame and dishonor.\r\n\t\t\t Let those who desire my vindication shout for joy and be glad, and say evermore, \"Great is the LORD, who delights in the welfare of his servant.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then my tongue shall tell of your righteousness and of your praise all day long.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [To the leader. Of David, the servant of the LORD.> Transgression speaks to the wicked deep in their hearts; there is no fear of God before their eyes.\r\n\t\t\t For they flatter themselves in their own eyes that their iniquity cannot be found out and hated.\r\n\t\t\t The words of their mouths are mischief and deceit; they have ceased to act wisely and do good.\r\n\t\t\t They plot mischief while on their beds; they are set on a way that is not good; they do not reject evil.\r\n\t\t\t Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds.\r\n\t\t\t Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your judgments are like the great deep; you save humans and animals alike, O LORD.\r\n\t\t\t How precious is your steadfast love, O God! All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings.\r\n\t\t\t They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights.\r\n\t\t\t For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.\r\n\t\t\t O continue your steadfast love to those who know you, and your salvation to the upright of heart!\r\n\t\t\t Do not let the foot of the arrogant tread on me, or the hand of the wicked drive me away.\r\n\t\t\t There the evildoers lie prostrate; they are thrust down, unable to rise.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [Of David] Do not fret because of the wicked; do not be envious of wrongdoers,\r\n\t\t\t for they will soon fade like the grass, and wither like the green herb.\r\n\t\t\t Trust in the LORD, and do good; so you will live in the land, and enjoy security.\r\n\t\t\t Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.\r\n\t\t\t Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act.\r\n\t\t\t He will make your vindication shine like the light, and the justice of your cause like the noonday.\r\n\t\t\t Be still before the LORD, and wait patiently for him; do not fret over those who prosper in their way, over those who carry out evil devices.\r\n\t\t\t Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath. Do not fret-- it leads only to evil.\r\n\t\t\t For the wicked shall be cut off, but those who wait for the LORD shall inherit the land.\r\n\t\t\t Yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look diligently for their place, they will not be there.\r\n\t\t\t But the meek shall inherit the land, and delight themselves in abundant prosperity.\r\n\t\t\t The wicked plot against the righteous, and gnash their teeth at them;\r\n\t\t\t but the LORD laughs at the wicked, for he sees that their day is coming.\r\n\t\t\t The wicked draw the sword and bend their bows to bring down the poor and needy, to kill those who walk uprightly;\r\n\t\t\t their sword shall enter their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.\r\n\t\t\t Better is a little that the righteous person has than the abundance of many wicked.\r\n\t\t\t For the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD knows the days of the blameless, and their heritage will abide forever;\r\n\t\t\t they are not put to shame in evil times, in the days of famine they have abundance.\r\n\t\t\t But the wicked perish, and the enemies of the LORD are like the glory of the pastures; they vanish-- like smoke they vanish away.\r\n\t\t\t The wicked borrow, and do not pay back, but the righteous are generous and keep giving;\r\n\t\t\t for those blessed by the LORD shall inherit the land, but those cursed by him shall be cut off.\r\n\t\t\t Our steps are made firm by the LORD, when he delights in our way; \r\n\t\t\t though we stumble, we shall not fall headlong, for the LORD holds us by the hand. \r\n\t\t\t I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.\r\n\t\t\t They are ever giving liberally and lending, and their children become a blessing.\r\n\t\t\t Depart from evil, and do good; so you shall abide forever.\r\n\t\t\t For the LORD loves justice; he will not forsake his faithful ones. The righteous shall be kept safe forever, but the children of the wicked shall be cut off.\r\n\t\t\t The righteous shall inherit the land, and live in it forever.\r\n\t\t\t The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom, and their tongues speak justice.\r\n\t\t\t The law of their God is in their hearts; their steps do not slip.\r\n\t\t\t The wicked watch for the righteous, and seek to kill them.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD will not abandon them to their power, or let them be condemned when they are brought to trial.\r\n\t\t\t Wait for the LORD, and keep to his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land; you will look on the destruction of the wicked.\r\n\t\t\t I have seen the wicked oppressing, and towering like a cedar of Lebanon. \r\n\t\t\t Again I passed by, and they were no more; though I sought them, they could not be found. \r\n\t\t\t Mark the blameless, and behold the upright, for there is posterity for the peaceable.\r\n\t\t\t But transgressors shall be altogether destroyed; the posterity of the wicked shall be cut off.\r\n\t\t\t The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; he is their refuge in the time of trouble.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD helps them and rescues them; he rescues them from the wicked, and saves them, because they take refuge in him.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [A Psalm of David, for the memorial offering.> O LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger, or discipline me in your wrath.\r\n\t\t\t For your arrows have sunk into me, and your hand has come down on me.\r\n\t\t\t There is no soundness in my flesh because of your indignation; there is no health in my bones because of my sin.\r\n\t\t\t For my iniquities have gone over my head; they weigh like a burden too heavy for me.\r\n\t\t\t My wounds grow foul and fester because of my foolishness;\r\n\t\t\t I am utterly bowed down and prostrate; all day long I go around mourning.\r\n\t\t\t For my loins are filled with burning, and there is no soundness in my flesh.\r\n\t\t\t I am utterly spent and crushed; I groan because of the tumult of my heart.\r\n\t\t\t O Lord, all my longing is known to you; my sighing is not hidden from you.\r\n\t\t\t My heart throbs, my strength fails me; as for the light of my eyes-- it also has gone from me.\r\n\t\t\t My friends and companions stand aloof from my affliction, and my neighbors stand far off.\r\n\t\t\t Those who seek my life lay their snares; those who seek to hurt me speak of ruin, and meditate treachery all day long.\r\n\t\t\t But I am like the deaf, I do not hear; like the mute, who cannot speak.\r\n\t\t\t Truly, I am like one who does not hear, and in whose mouth is no retort.\r\n\t\t\t But it is for you, O LORD, that I wait; it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer.\r\n\t\t\t For I pray, \"Only do not let them rejoice over me, those who boast against me when my foot slips.\"\r\n\t\t\t For I am ready to fall, and my pain is ever with me.\r\n\t\t\t I confess my iniquity; I am sorry for my sin.\r\n\t\t\t Those who are my foes without cause are mighty, and many are those who hate me wrongfully. \r\n\t\t\t Those who render me evil for good are my adversaries because I follow after good.\r\n\t\t\t Do not forsake me, O LORD; O my God, do not be far from me;\r\n\t\t\t make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [To the leader: to Jeduthun. A Psalm of David] I said, \"I will guard my ways that I may not sin with my tongue; I will keep a muzzle on my mouth as long as the wicked are in my presence.\"\r\n\t\t\t I was silent and still; I held my peace to no avail; my distress grew worse,\r\n\t\t\t my heart became hot within me. While I mused, the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue:\r\n\t\t\t \"LORD, let me know my end, and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is.\r\n\t\t\t You have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing in your sight. Surely everyone stands as a mere breath. Selah \r\n\t\t\t Surely everyone goes about like a shadow. Surely for nothing they are in turmoil; they heap up, and do not know who will gather.\r\n\t\t\t \"And now, O Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in you.\r\n\t\t\t Deliver me from all my transgressions. Do not make me the scorn of the fool.\r\n\t\t\t I am silent; I do not open my mouth, for it is you who have done it.\r\n\t\t\t Remove your stroke from me; I am worn down by the blows of your hand. \r\n\t\t\t \"You chastise mortals in punishment for sin, consuming like a moth what is dear to them; surely everyone is a mere breath. Selah \r\n\t\t\t \"Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear to my cry; do not hold your peace at my tears. For I am your passing guest, an alien, like all my forebears.\r\n\t\t\t Turn your gaze away from me, that I may smile again, before I depart and am no more.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [To the leader. Of David. A Psalm.> I waited patiently for the LORD; he inclined to me and heard my cry.\r\n\t\t\t He drew me up from the desolate pit, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure.\r\n\t\t\t He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Happy are those who make the LORD their trust, who do not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after false gods.\r\n\t\t\t You have multiplied, O LORD my God, your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us; none can compare with you. Were I to proclaim and tell of them, they would be more than can be counted.\r\n\t\t\t Sacrifice and offering you do not desire, but you have given me an open ear. Burnt offering and sin offering you have not required. \r\n\t\t\t Then I said, \"Here I am; in the scroll of the book it is written of me. \r\n\t\t\t I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.\"\r\n\t\t\t I have told the glad news of deliverance in the great congregation; see, I have not restrained my lips, as you know, O LORD.\r\n\t\t\t I have not hidden your saving help within my heart, I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation; I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness from the great congregation.\r\n\t\t\t Do not, O LORD, withhold your mercy from me; let your steadfast love and your faithfulness keep me safe forever.\r\n\t\t\t For evils have encompassed me without number; my iniquities have overtaken me, until I cannot see; they are more than the hairs of my head, and my heart fails me.\r\n\t\t\t Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me; O LORD, make haste to help me.\r\n\t\t\t Let all those be put to shame and confusion who seek to snatch away my life; let those be turned back and brought to dishonor who desire my hurt.\r\n\t\t\t Let those be appalled because of their shame who say to me, \"Aha, Aha!\"\r\n\t\t\t But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation say continually, \"Great is the LORD!\"\r\n\t\t\t As for me, I am poor and needy, but the Lord takes thought for me. You are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [To the leader. A Psalm of David] Happy are those who consider the poor; the LORD delivers them in the day of trouble. \r\n\t\t\t The LORD protects them and keeps them alive; they are called happy in the land. You do not give them up to the will of their enemies.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD sustains them on their sickbed; in their illness you heal all their infirmities. \r\n\t\t\t As for me, I said, \"O LORD, be gracious to me; heal me, for I have sinned against you.\"\r\n\t\t\t My enemies wonder in malice when I will die, and my name perish.\r\n\t\t\t And when they come to see me, they utter empty words, while their hearts gather mischief; when they go out, they tell it abroad.\r\n\t\t\t All who hate me whisper together about me; they imagine the worst for me.\r\n\t\t\t They think that a deadly thing has fastened on me, that I will not rise again from where I lie.\r\n\t\t\t Even my bosom friend in whom I trusted, who ate of my bread, has lifted the heel against me.\r\n\t\t\t But you, O LORD, be gracious to me, and raise me up, that I may repay them.\r\n\t\t\t By this I know that you are pleased with me; because my enemy has not triumphed over me.\r\n\t\t\t But you have upheld me because of my integrity, and set me in your presence forever.\r\n\t\t\t Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Amen and Amen.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [To the leader. A Maskil of the Korahites.> As a deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for you, O God.\r\n\t\t\t My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and behold the face of God?\r\n\t\t\t My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me continually, \"Where is your God?\"\r\n\t\t\t These things I remember, as I pour out my soul: how I went with the throng, and led them in procession to the house of God, with glad shouts and songs of thanksgiving, a multitude keeping festival. \r\n\t\t\t Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my help\r\n\t\t\t and my God. My soul is cast down within me; therefore I remember you from the land of Jordan and of Hermon, from Mount Mizar.\r\n\t\t\t Deep calls to deep at the thunder of your cataracts; all your waves and your billows have gone over me.\r\n\t\t\t By day the LORD commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life.\r\n\t\t\t I say to God, my rock, \"Why have you forgotten me? Why must I walk about mournfully because the enemy oppresses me?\"\r\n\t\t\t As with a deadly wound in my body, my adversaries taunt me, while they say to me continually, \"Where is your God?\"\r\n\t\t\t Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my help and my God.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause against an ungodly people; from those who are deceitful and unjust deliver me!\r\n\t\t\t For you are the God in whom I take refuge; why have you cast me off? Why must I walk about mournfully because of the oppression of the enemy?\r\n\t\t\t O send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling.\r\n\t\t\t Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy; and I will praise you with the harp, O God, my God.\r\n\t\t\t Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my help and my God.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [To the leader. Of the Korahites. A Maskil.> We have heard with our ears, O God, our ancestors have told us, what deeds you performed in their days, in the days of old:\r\n\t\t\t you with your own hand drove out the nations, but them you planted; you afflicted the peoples, but them you set free;\r\n\t\t\t for not by their own sword did they win the land, nor did their own arm give them victory; but your right hand, and your arm, and the light of your countenance, for you delighted in them.\r\n\t\t\t You are my King and my God; you command victories for Jacob. \r\n\t\t\t Through you we push down our foes; through your name we tread down our assailants.\r\n\t\t\t For not in my bow do I trust, nor can my sword save me.\r\n\t\t\t But you have saved us from our foes, and have put to confusion those who hate us.\r\n\t\t\t In God we have boasted continually, and we will give thanks to your name forever. Selah\r\n\t\t\t Yet you have rejected us and abased us, and have not gone out with our armies.\r\n\t\t\t You made us turn back from the foe, and our enemies have gotten spoil.\r\n\t\t\t You have made us like sheep for slaughter, and have scattered us among the nations.\r\n\t\t\t You have sold your people for a trifle, demanding no high price for them.\r\n\t\t\t You have made us the taunt of our neighbors, the derision and scorn of those around us.\r\n\t\t\t You have made us a byword among the nations, a laughingstock among the peoples. \r\n\t\t\t All day long my disgrace is before me, and shame has covered my face\r\n\t\t\t at the words of the taunters and revilers, at the sight of the enemy and the avenger.\r\n\t\t\t All this has come upon us, yet we have not forgotten you, or been false to your covenant.\r\n\t\t\t Our heart has not turned back, nor have our steps departed from your way,\r\n\t\t\t yet you have broken us in the haunt of jackals, and covered us with deep darkness.\r\n\t\t\t If we had forgotten the name of our God, or spread out our hands to a strange god,\r\n\t\t\t would not God discover this? For he knows the secrets of the heart.\r\n\t\t\t Because of you we are being killed all day long, and accounted as sheep for the slaughter.\r\n\t\t\t Rouse yourself! Why do you sleep, O Lord? Awake, do not cast us off forever!\r\n\t\t\t Why do you hide your face? Why do you forget our affliction and oppression?\r\n\t\t\t For we sink down to the dust; our bodies cling to the ground.\r\n\t\t\t Rise up, come to our help. Redeem us for the sake of your steadfast love.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [To the leader: according to Lilies. Of the Korahites. A Maskil. A love song.> My heart overflows with a goodly theme; I address my verses to the king; my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe.\r\n\t\t\t You are the most handsome of men; grace is poured upon your lips; therefore God has blessed you forever.\r\n\t\t\t Gird your sword on your thigh, O mighty one, in your glory and majesty.\r\n\t\t\t In your majesty ride on victoriously for the cause of truth and to defend the right; let your right hand teach you dread deeds. \r\n\t\t\t Your arrows are sharp in the heart of the king's enemies; the peoples fall under you.\r\n\t\t\t Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever. Your royal scepter is a scepter of equity; \r\n\t\t\t you love righteousness and hate wickedness. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions;\r\n\t\t\t your robes are all fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia. From ivory palaces stringed instruments make you glad;\r\n\t\t\t daughters of kings are among your ladies of honor; at your right hand stands the queen in gold of Ophir.\r\n\t\t\t Hear, O daughter, consider and incline your ear; forget your people and your father's house,\r\n\t\t\t and the king will desire your beauty. Since he is your lord, bow to him;\r\n\t\t\t the people of Tyre will seek your favor with gifts, the richest of the people \r\n\t\t\t with all kinds of wealth. The princess is decked in her chamber with gold-woven robes; \r\n\t\t\t in many-colored robes she is led to the king; behind her the virgins, her companions, follow.\r\n\t\t\t With joy and gladness they are led along as they enter the palace of the king.\r\n\t\t\t In the place of ancestors you, O king, shall have sons; you will make them princes in all the earth. \r\n\t\t\t I will cause your name to be celebrated in all generations; therefore the peoples will praise you forever and ever.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [To the leader. Of the Korahites. According to Alamoth. A Song.> God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. \r\n\t\t\t Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea;\r\n\t\t\t though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult. Selah \r\n\t\t\t There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High.\r\n\t\t\t God is in the midst of the city; it shall not be moved; God will help it when the morning dawns. \r\n\t\t\t The nations are in an uproar, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah \r\n\t\t\t Come, behold the works of the LORD; see what desolations he has brought on the earth.\r\n\t\t\t He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow, and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire.\r\n\t\t\t \"Be still, and know that I am God! I am exalted among the nations, I am exalted in the earth.\"\r\n\t\t\t The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [To the leader. Of the Korahites. A Psalm.> Clap your hands, all you peoples; shout to God with loud songs of joy.\r\n\t\t\t For the LORD, the Most High, is awesome, a great king over all the earth.\r\n\t\t\t He subdued peoples under us, and nations under our feet.\r\n\t\t\t He chose our heritage for us, the pride of Jacob whom he loves. Selah \r\n\t\t\t God has gone up with a shout, the LORD with the sound of a trumpet.\r\n\t\t\t Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises.\r\n\t\t\t For God is the king of all the earth; sing praises with a psalm. \r\n\t\t\t God is king over the nations; God sits on his holy throne.\r\n\t\t\t The princes of the peoples gather as the people of the God of Abraham. For the shields of the earth belong to God; he is highly exalted.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [A Song. A Psalm of the Korahites.> Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised in the city of our God. His holy mountain,\r\n\t\t\t beautiful in elevation, is the joy of all the earth, Mount Zion, in the far north, the city of the great King.\r\n\t\t\t Within its citadels God has shown himself a sure defense.\r\n\t\t\t Then the kings assembled, they came on together.\r\n\t\t\t As soon as they saw it, they were astounded; they were in panic, they took to flight;\r\n\t\t\t trembling took hold of them there, pains as of a woman in labor,\r\n\t\t\t as when an east wind shatters the ships of Tarshish.\r\n\t\t\t As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the LORD of hosts, in the city of our God, which God establishes forever. Selah \r\n\t\t\t We ponder your steadfast love, O God, in the midst of your temple.\r\n\t\t\t Your name, O God, like your praise, reaches to the ends of the earth. Your right hand is filled with victory.\r\n\t\t\t Let Mount Zion be glad, let the towns of Judah rejoice because of your judgments. \r\n\t\t\t Walk about Zion, go all around it, count its towers,\r\n\t\t\t consider well its ramparts; go through its citadels, that you may tell the next generation\r\n\t\t\t that this is God, our God forever and ever. He will be our guide forever.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [To the leader. Of the Korahites. A Psalm.> Hear this, all you peoples; give ear, all inhabitants of the world,\r\n\t\t\t both low and high, rich and poor together.\r\n\t\t\t My mouth shall speak wisdom; the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.\r\n\t\t\t I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will solve my riddle to the music of the harp.\r\n\t\t\t Why should I fear in times of trouble, when the iniquity of my persecutors surrounds me,\r\n\t\t\t those who trust in their wealth and boast of the abundance of their riches?\r\n\t\t\t Truly, no ransom avails for one's life, there is no price one can give to God for it.\r\n\t\t\t For the ransom of life is costly, and can never suffice\r\n\t\t\t that one should live on forever and never see the grave. \r\n\t\t\t When we look at the wise, they die; fool and dolt perish together and leave their wealth to others.\r\n\t\t\t Their graves are their homes forever, their dwelling places to all generations, though they named lands their own. \r\n\t\t\t Mortals cannot abide in their pomp; they are like the animals that perish.\r\n\t\t\t Such is the fate of the foolhardy, the end of those who are pleased with their lot. Selah \r\n\t\t\t Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol; Death shall be their shepherd; straight to the grave they descend, and their form shall waste away; Sheol shall be their home. \r\n\t\t\t But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me. Selah \r\n\t\t\t Do not be afraid when some become rich, when the wealth of their houses increases.\r\n\t\t\t For when they die they will carry nothing away; their wealth will not go down after them.\r\n\t\t\t Though in their lifetime they count themselves happy-- for you are praised when you do well for yourself--\r\n\t\t\t they will go to the company of their ancestors, who will never again see the light. \r\n\t\t\t Mortals cannot abide in their pomp; they are like the animals that perish.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [A Psalm of Asaph.> The mighty one, God the LORD, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting.\r\n\t\t\t Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth.\r\n\t\t\t Our God comes and does not keep silence, before him is a devouring fire, and a mighty tempest all around him.\r\n\t\t\t He calls to the heavens above and to the earth, that he may judge his people:\r\n\t\t\t \"Gather to me my faithful ones, who made a covenant with me by sacrifice!\"\r\n\t\t\t The heavens declare his righteousness, for God himself is judge. Selah\r\n\t\t\t \"Hear, O my people, and I will speak, O Israel, I will testify against you. I am God, your God.\r\n\t\t\t Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you; your burnt offerings are continually before me.\r\n\t\t\t I will not accept a bull from your house, or goats from your folds.\r\n\t\t\t For every wild animal of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills.\r\n\t\t\t I know all the birds of the air, and all that moves in the field is mine.\r\n\t\t\t \"If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and all that is in it is mine.\r\n\t\t\t Do I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats?\r\n\t\t\t Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and pay your vows to the Most High. \r\n\t\t\t Call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.\"\r\n\t\t\t But to the wicked God says: \"What right have you to recite my statutes, or take my covenant on your lips?\r\n\t\t\t For you hate discipline, and you cast my words behind you.\r\n\t\t\t You make friends with a thief when you see one, and you keep company with adulterers.\r\n\t\t\t \"You give your mouth free rein for evil, and your tongue frames deceit.\r\n\t\t\t You sit and speak against your kin; you slander your own mother's child.\r\n\t\t\t These things you have done and I have been silent; you thought that I was one just like yourself. But now I rebuke you, and lay the charge before you.\r\n\t\t\t \"Mark this, then, you who forget God, or I will tear you apart, and there will be no one to deliver.\r\n\t\t\t Those who bring thanksgiving as their sacrifice honor me; to those who go the right way I will show the salvation of God.\" \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [To the leader. A Psalm of David, when the prophet Nathan came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.> Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.\r\n\t\t\t Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.\r\n\t\t\t For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.\r\n\t\t\t Against you, you alone, have I sinned, and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are justified in your sentence and blameless when you pass judgment.\r\n\t\t\t Indeed, I was born guilty, a sinner when my mother conceived me.\r\n\t\t\t You desire truth in the inward being; therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart. \r\n\t\t\t Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.\r\n\t\t\t Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have crushed rejoice.\r\n\t\t\t Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.\r\n\t\t\t Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. \r\n\t\t\t Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your holy spirit from me.\r\n\t\t\t Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit. \r\n\t\t\t Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you.\r\n\t\t\t Deliver me from bloodshed, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your deliverance.\r\n\t\t\t O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.\r\n\t\t\t For you have no delight in sacrifice; if I were to give a burnt offering, you would not be pleased.\r\n\t\t\t The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. \r\n\t\t\t Do good to Zion in your good pleasure; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem,\r\n\t\t\t then you will delight in right sacrifices, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on your altar.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [To the leader. A Maskil of David, when Doeg the Edomite came to Saul and said to him, \"David has come to the house of Ahimelech.\"> Why do you boast, O mighty one, of mischief done against the godly? All day long \r\n\t\t\t you are plotting destruction. Your tongue is like a sharp razor, you worker of treachery.\r\n\t\t\t You love evil more than good, and lying more than speaking the truth. Selah \r\n\t\t\t You love all words that devour, O deceitful tongue.\r\n\t\t\t But God will break you down forever; he will snatch and tear you from your tent; he will uproot you from the land of the living. Selah \r\n\t\t\t The righteous will see, and fear, and will laugh at the evildoer, saying, \r\n\t\t\t \"See the one who would not take refuge in God, but trusted in abundant riches, and sought refuge in wealth!\" \r\n\t\t\t But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God. I trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever.\r\n\t\t\t I will thank you forever, because of what you have done. In the presence of the faithful I will proclaim your name, for it is good. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [To the leader: according to Mahalath. A Maskil of David] Fools say in their hearts, \"There is no God.\" They are corrupt, they commit abominable acts; there is no one who does good.\r\n\t\t\t God looks down from heaven on humankind to see if there are any who are wise, who seek after God.\r\n\t\t\t They have all fallen away, they are all alike perverse; there is no one who does good, no, not one.\r\n\t\t\t Have they no knowledge, those evildoers, who eat up my people as they eat bread, and do not call upon God?\r\n\t\t\t There they shall be in great terror, in terror such as has not been. For God will scatter the bones of the ungodly; they will be put to shame, for God has rejected them. \r\n\t\t\t O that deliverance for Israel would come from Zion! When God restores the fortunes of his people, Jacob will rejoice; Israel will be glad.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [To the leader: with stringed instruments. A Maskil of David, when the Ziphites went and told Saul, \"David is in hiding among us.\"> Save me, O God, by your name, and vindicate me by your might.\r\n\t\t\t Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth.\r\n\t\t\t For the insolent have risen against me, the ruthless seek my life; they do not set God before them. Selah \r\n\t\t\t But surely, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life. \r\n\t\t\t He will repay my enemies for their evil. In your faithfulness, put an end to them.\r\n\t\t\t With a freewill offering I will sacrifice to you; I will give thanks to your name, O LORD, for it is good.\r\n\t\t\t For he has delivered me from every trouble, and my eye has looked in triumph on my enemies.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [To the leader: with stringed instruments. A Maskil of David] Give ear to my prayer, O God; do not hide yourself from my supplication.\r\n\t\t\t Attend to me, and answer me; I am troubled in my complaint. I am distraught\r\n\t\t\t by the noise of the enemy, because of the clamor of the wicked. For they bring trouble upon me, and in anger they cherish enmity against me. \r\n\t\t\t My heart is in anguish within me, the terrors of death have fallen upon me.\r\n\t\t\t Fear and trembling come upon me, and horror overwhelms me.\r\n\t\t\t And I say, \"O that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest;\r\n\t\t\t truly, I would flee far away; I would lodge in the wilderness; Selah \r\n\t\t\t I would hurry to find a shelter for myself from the raging wind and tempest.\"\r\n\t\t\t Confuse, O Lord, confound their speech; for I see violence and strife in the city.\r\n\t\t\t Day and night they go around it on its walls, and iniquity and trouble are within it;\r\n\t\t\t ruin is in its midst; oppression and fraud do not depart from its marketplace.\r\n\t\t\t It is not enemies who taunt me-- I could bear that; it is not adversaries who deal insolently with me-- I could hide from them.\r\n\t\t\t But it is you, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend,\r\n\t\t\t with whom I kept pleasant company; we walked in the house of God with the throng.\r\n\t\t\t Let death come upon them; let them go down alive to Sheol; for evil is in their homes and in their hearts.\r\n\t\t\t But I call upon God, and the LORD will save me.\r\n\t\t\t Evening and morning and at noon I utter my complaint and moan, and he will hear my voice.\r\n\t\t\t He will redeem me unharmed from the battle that I wage, for many are arrayed against me.\r\n\t\t\t God, who is enthroned from of old, Selah will hear, and will humble them-- because they do not change, and do not fear God.\r\n\t\t\t My companion laid hands on a friend and violated a covenant with me \r\n\t\t\t with speech smoother than butter, but with a heart set on war; with words that were softer than oil, but in fact were drawn swords.\r\n\t\t\t Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved. \r\n\t\t\t But you, O God, will cast them down into the lowest pit; the bloodthirsty and treacherous shall not live out half their days. But I will trust in you.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [To the leader: according to The Dove on Far-off Terebinths. Of David. A Miktam, when the Philistines seized him in Gath.> Be gracious to me, O God, for people trample on me; all day long foes oppress me;\r\n\t\t\t my enemies trample on me all day long, for many fight against me. O Most High,\r\n\t\t\t when I am afraid, I put my trust in you.\r\n\t\t\t In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I am not afraid; what can flesh do to me?\r\n\t\t\t All day long they seek to injure my cause; all their thoughts are against me for evil.\r\n\t\t\t They stir up strife, they lurk, they watch my steps. As they hoped to have my life,\r\n\t\t\t so repay them for their crime; in wrath cast down the peoples, O God! \r\n\t\t\t You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your record?\r\n\t\t\t Then my enemies will retreat in the day when I call. This I know, that God is for me. \r\n\t\t\t In God, whose word I praise, in the LORD, whose word I praise,\r\n\t\t\t in God I trust; I am not afraid. What can a mere mortal do to me?\r\n\t\t\t My vows to you I must perform, O God; I will render thank offerings to you.\r\n\t\t\t For you have delivered my soul from death, and my feet from falling, so that I may walk before God in the light of life.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [To the leader: Do Not Destroy. Of David. A Miktam, when he fled from Saul, in the cave.> Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, until the destroying storms pass by.\r\n\t\t\t I cry to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me.\r\n\t\t\t He will send from heaven and save me, he will put to shame those who trample on me. Selah God will send forth his steadfast love and his faithfulness.\r\n\t\t\t I lie down among lions that greedily devour human prey; their teeth are spears and arrows, their tongues sharp swords. \r\n\t\t\t Be exalted, O God, above the heavens. Let your glory be over all the earth.\r\n\t\t\t They set a net for my steps; my soul was bowed down. They dug a pit in my path, but they have fallen into it themselves. Selah \r\n\t\t\t My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast. I will sing and make melody.\r\n\t\t\t Awake, my soul! Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn.\r\n\t\t\t I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations.\r\n\t\t\t For your steadfast love is as high as the heavens; your faithfulness extends to the clouds.\r\n\t\t\t Be exalted, O God, above the heavens. Let your glory be over all the earth.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [To the leader: Do Not Destroy. Of David. A Miktam.> Do you indeed decree what is right, you gods? Do you judge people fairly? \r\n\t\t\t No, in your hearts you devise wrongs; your hands deal out violence on earth.\r\n\t\t\t The wicked go astray from the womb; they err from their birth, speaking lies.\r\n\t\t\t They have venom like the venom of a serpent, like the deaf adder that stops its ear,\r\n\t\t\t so that it does not hear the voice of charmers or of the cunning enchanter.\r\n\t\t\t O God, break the teeth in their mouths; tear out the fangs of the young lions, O LORD!\r\n\t\t\t Let them vanish like water that runs away; like grass let them be trodden down and wither. \r\n\t\t\t Let them be like the snail that dissolves into slime; like the untimely birth that never sees the sun.\r\n\t\t\t Sooner than your pots can feel the heat of thorns, whether green or ablaze, may he sweep them away!\r\n\t\t\t The righteous will rejoice when they see vengeance done; they will bathe their feet in the blood of the wicked.\r\n\t\t\t People will say, \"Surely there is a reward for the righteous; surely there is a God who judges on earth.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [To the leader: Do Not Destroy. Of David. A Miktam, when Saul ordered his house to be watched in order to kill him.> Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; protect me from those who rise up against me.\r\n\t\t\t Deliver me from those who work evil; from the bloodthirsty save me.\r\n\t\t\t Even now they lie in wait for my life; the mighty stir up strife against me. For no transgression or sin of mine, O LORD,\r\n\t\t\t for no fault of mine, they run and make ready. Rouse yourself, come to my help and see!\r\n\t\t\t You, LORD God of hosts, are God of Israel. Awake to punish all the nations; spare none of those who treacherously plot evil. Selah \r\n\t\t\t Each evening they come back, howling like dogs and prowling about the city.\r\n\t\t\t There they are, bellowing with their mouths, with sharp words on their lips-- for \"Who,\" they think, \"will hear us?\"\r\n\t\t\t But you laugh at them, O LORD; you hold all the nations in derision.\r\n\t\t\t O my strength, I will watch for you; for you, O God, are my fortress.\r\n\t\t\t My God in his steadfast love will meet me; my God will let me look in triumph on my enemies.\r\n\t\t\t Do not kill them, or my people may forget; make them totter by your power, and bring them down, O Lord, our shield.\r\n\t\t\t For the sin of their mouths, the words of their lips, let them be trapped in their pride. For the cursing and lies that they utter,\r\n\t\t\t consume them in wrath; consume them until they are no more. Then it will be known to the ends of the earth that God rules over Jacob. Selah \r\n\t\t\t Each evening they come back, howling like dogs and prowling about the city.\r\n\t\t\t They roam about for food, and growl if they do not get their fill.\r\n\t\t\t But I will sing of your might; I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning. For you have been a fortress for me and a refuge in the day of my distress.\r\n\t\t\t O my strength, I will sing praises to you, for you, O God, are my fortress, the God who shows me steadfast love.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [To the leader: according to the Lily of the Covenant. A Miktam of David; for instruction; when he struggled with Aram-naharaim and with Aram-zobah, and when Joab on his return killed twelve thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.> O God, you have rejected us, broken our defenses; you have been angry; now restore us!\r\n\t\t\t You have caused the land to quake; you have torn it open; repair the cracks in it, for it is tottering.\r\n\t\t\t You have made your people suffer hard things; you have given us wine to drink that made us reel.\r\n\t\t\t You have set up a banner for those who fear you, to rally to it out of bowshot. Selah \r\n\t\t\t Give victory with your right hand, and answer us, so that those whom you love may be rescued.\r\n\t\t\t God has promised in his sanctuary: \"With exultation I will divide up Shechem, and portion out the Vale of Succoth. \r\n\t\t\t Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine; Ephraim is my helmet; Judah is my scepter.\r\n\t\t\t Moab is my washbasin; on Edom I hurl my shoe; over Philistia I shout in triumph.\"\r\n\t\t\t Who will bring me to the fortified city? Who will lead me to Edom?\r\n\t\t\t Have you not rejected us, O God? You do not go out, O God, with our armies.\r\n\t\t\t O grant us help against the foe, for human help is worthless.\r\n\t\t\t With God we shall do valiantly; it is he who will tread down our foes.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [To the leader: with stringed instruments. Of David] Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer.\r\n\t\t\t From the end of the earth I call to you, when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I;\r\n\t\t\t for you are my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy.\r\n\t\t\t Let me abide in your tent forever, find refuge under the shelter of your wings. Selah \r\n\t\t\t For you, O God, have heard my vows; you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.\r\n\t\t\t Prolong the life of the king; may his years endure to all generations!\r\n\t\t\t May he be enthroned forever before God; appoint steadfast love and faithfulness to watch over him!\r\n\t\t\t So I will always sing praises to your name, as I pay my vows day after day.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [To the leader: according to Jeduthun. A Psalm of David] For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation.\r\n\t\t\t He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall never be shaken.\r\n\t\t\t How long will you assail a person, will you batter your victim, all of you, as you would a leaning wall, a tottering fence?\r\n\t\t\t Their only plan is to bring down a person of prominence. They take pleasure in falsehood; they bless with their mouths, but inwardly they curse. Selah \r\n\t\t\t For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is from him.\r\n\t\t\t He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken.\r\n\t\t\t On God rests my deliverance and my honor; my mighty rock, my refuge is in God.\r\n\t\t\t Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Selah \r\n\t\t\t Those of low estate are but a breath, those of high estate are a delusion; in the balances they go up; they are together lighter than a breath.\r\n\t\t\t Put no confidence in extortion, and set no vain hopes on robbery; if riches increase, do not set your heart on them.\r\n\t\t\t Once God has spoken; twice have I heard this: that power belongs to God,\r\n\t\t\t and steadfast love belongs to you, O Lord. For you repay to all according to their work.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [A Psalm of David, when he was in the Wilderness of Judah.> O God, you are my God, I seek you, my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.\r\n\t\t\t So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory.\r\n\t\t\t Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.\r\n\t\t\t So I will bless you as long as I live; I will lift up my hands and call on your name.\r\n\t\t\t My soul is satisfied as with a rich feast, and my mouth praises you with joyful lips \r\n\t\t\t when I think of you on my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night;\r\n\t\t\t for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I sing for joy.\r\n\t\t\t My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.\r\n\t\t\t But those who seek to destroy my life shall go down into the depths of the earth;\r\n\t\t\t they shall be given over to the power of the sword, they shall be prey for jackals.\r\n\t\t\t But the king shall rejoice in God; all who swear by him shall exult, for the mouths of liars will be stopped.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [To the leader. A Psalm of David] Hear my voice, O God, in my complaint; preserve my life from the dread enemy.\r\n\t\t\t Hide me from the secret plots of the wicked, from the scheming of evildoers,\r\n\t\t\t who whet their tongues like swords, who aim bitter words like arrows,\r\n\t\t\t shooting from ambush at the blameless; they shoot suddenly and without fear.\r\n\t\t\t They hold fast to their evil purpose; they talk of laying snares secretly, thinking, \"Who can see us? \r\n\t\t\t Who can search out our crimes? We have thought out a cunningly conceived plot.\" For the human heart and mind are deep. \r\n\t\t\t But God will shoot his arrow at them; they will be wounded suddenly.\r\n\t\t\t Because of their tongue he will bring them to ruin; all who see them will shake with horror. \r\n\t\t\t Then everyone will fear; they will tell what God has brought about, and ponder what he has done.\r\n\t\t\t Let the righteous rejoice in the LORD and take refuge in him. Let all the upright in heart glory.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [To the leader. A Psalm of David. A Song.> Praise is due to you, O God, in Zion; and to you shall vows be performed,\r\n\t\t\t O you who answer prayer! To you all flesh shall come.\r\n\t\t\t When deeds of iniquity overwhelm us, you forgive our transgressions.\r\n\t\t\t Happy are those whom you choose and bring near to live in your courts. We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house, your holy temple.\r\n\t\t\t By awesome deeds you answer us with deliverance, O God of our salvation; you are the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas.\r\n\t\t\t By your strength you established the mountains; you are girded with might. \r\n\t\t\t You silence the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, the tumult of the peoples.\r\n\t\t\t Those who live at earth's farthest bounds are awed by your signs; you make the gateways of the morning and the evening shout for joy.\r\n\t\t\t You visit the earth and water it, you greatly enrich it; the river of God is full of water; you provide the people with grain, for so you have prepared it.\r\n\t\t\t You water its furrows abundantly, settling its ridges, softening it with showers, and blessing its growth.\r\n\t\t\t You crown the year with your bounty; your wagon tracks overflow with richness.\r\n\t\t\t The pastures of the wilderness overflow, the hills gird themselves with joy,\r\n\t\t\t the meadows clothe themselves with flocks, the valleys deck themselves with grain, they shout and sing together for joy.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [To the leader. A Song. A Psalm.> Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth;\r\n\t\t\t sing the glory of his name; give to him glorious praise.\r\n\t\t\t Say to God, \"How awesome are your deeds! Because of your great power, your enemies cringe before you.\r\n\t\t\t All the earth worships you; they sing praises to you, sing praises to your name.\" Selah \r\n\t\t\t Come and see what God has done: he is awesome in his deeds among mortals.\r\n\t\t\t He turned the sea into dry land; they passed through the river on foot. There we rejoiced in him,\r\n\t\t\t who rules by his might forever, whose eyes keep watch on the nations-- let the rebellious not exalt themselves. Selah\r\n\t\t\t Bless our God, O peoples, let the sound of his praise be heard,\r\n\t\t\t who has kept us among the living, and has not let our feet slip.\r\n\t\t\t For you, O God, have tested us; you have tried us as silver is tried.\r\n\t\t\t You brought us into the net; you laid burdens on our backs;\r\n\t\t\t you let people ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; yet you have brought us out to a spacious place. \r\n\t\t\t I will come into your house with burnt offerings; I will pay you my vows,\r\n\t\t\t those that my lips uttered and my mouth promised when I was in trouble.\r\n\t\t\t I will offer to you burnt offerings of fatlings, with the smoke of the sacrifice of rams; I will make an offering of bulls and goats. Selah \r\n\t\t\t Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for me.\r\n\t\t\t I cried aloud to him, and he was extolled with my tongue.\r\n\t\t\t If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.\r\n\t\t\t But truly God has listened; he has given heed to the words of my prayer.\r\n\t\t\t Blessed be God, because he has not rejected my prayer or removed his steadfast love from me.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [To the leader: with stringed instruments. A Psalm. A Song.> May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, Selah \r\n\t\t\t that your way may be known upon earth, your saving power among all nations.\r\n\t\t\t Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you.\r\n\t\t\t Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth. Selah \r\n\t\t\t Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you.\r\n\t\t\t The earth has yielded its increase; God, our God, has blessed us.\r\n\t\t\t May God continue to bless us; let all the ends of the earth revere him.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [To the leader. Of David. A Psalm. A Song.> Let God rise up, let his enemies be scattered; let those who hate him flee before him.\r\n\t\t\t As smoke is driven away, so drive them away; as wax melts before the fire, let the wicked perish before God.\r\n\t\t\t But let the righteous be joyful; let them exult before God; let them be jubilant with joy.\r\n\t\t\t Sing to God, sing praises to his name; lift up a song to him who rides upon the clouds-- his name is the LORD-- be exultant before him.\r\n\t\t\t Father of orphans and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation.\r\n\t\t\t God gives the desolate a home to live in; he leads out the prisoners to prosperity, but the rebellious live in a parched land.\r\n\t\t\t O God, when you went out before your people, when you marched through the wilderness, Selah \r\n\t\t\t the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain at the presence of God, the God of Sinai, at the presence of God, the God of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t Rain in abundance, O God, you showered abroad; you restored your heritage when it languished;\r\n\t\t\t your flock found a dwelling in it; in your goodness, O God, you provided for the needy.\r\n\t\t\t The Lord gives the command; great is the company of those who bore the tidings: \r\n\t\t\t \"The kings of the armies, they flee, they flee!\" The women at home divide the spoil,\r\n\t\t\t though they stay among the sheepfolds-- the wings of a dove covered with silver, its pinions with green gold.\r\n\t\t\t When the Almighty scattered kings there, snow fell on Zalmon. \r\n\t\t\t O mighty mountain, mountain of Bashan; O many-peaked mountain, mountain of Bashan!\r\n\t\t\t Why do you look with envy, O many-peaked mountain, at the mount that God desired for his abode, where the LORD will reside forever?\r\n\t\t\t With mighty chariotry, twice ten thousand, thousands upon thousands, the Lord came from Sinai into the holy place. \r\n\t\t\t You ascended the high mount, leading captives in your train and receiving gifts from people, even from those who rebel against the LORD God's abiding there.\r\n\t\t\t Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation. Selah \r\n\t\t\t Our God is a God of salvation, and to GOD, the Lord, belongs escape from death.\r\n\t\t\t But God will shatter the heads of his enemies, the hairy crown of those who walk in their guilty ways.\r\n\t\t\t The Lord said, \"I will bring them back from Bashan, I will bring them back from the depths of the sea,\r\n\t\t\t so that you may bathe your feet in blood, so that the tongues of your dogs may have their share from the foe.\" \r\n\t\t\t Your solemn processions are seen, O God, the processions of my God, my King, into the sanctuary--\r\n\t\t\t the singers in front, the musicians last, between them girls playing tambourines:\r\n\t\t\t \"Bless God in the great congregation, the LORD, O you who are of Israel's fountain!\"\r\n\t\t\t There is Benjamin, the least of them, in the lead, the princes of Judah in a body, the princes of Zebulun, the princes of Naphtali.\r\n\t\t\t Summon your might, O God; show your strength, O God, as you have done for us before.\r\n\t\t\t Because of your temple at Jerusalem kings bear gifts to you.\r\n\t\t\t Rebuke the wild animals that live among the reeds, the herd of bulls with the calves of the peoples. Trample under foot those who lust after tribute; scatter the peoples who delight in war. \r\n\t\t\t Let bronze be brought from Egypt; let Ethiopia hasten to stretch out its hands to God. \r\n\t\t\t Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth; sing praises to the Lord, Selah \r\n\t\t\t O rider in the heavens, the ancient heavens; listen, he sends out his voice, his mighty voice.\r\n\t\t\t Ascribe power to God, whose majesty is over Israel; and whose power is in the skies.\r\n\t\t\t Awesome is God in his sanctuary, the God of Israel; he gives power and strength to his people. Blessed be God! \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [To the leader: according to Lilies. Of David] Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck.\r\n\t\t\t I sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold; I have come into deep waters, and the flood sweeps over me.\r\n\t\t\t I am weary with my crying; my throat is parched. My eyes grow dim with waiting for my God.\r\n\t\t\t More in number than the hairs of my head are those who hate me without cause; many are those who would destroy me, my enemies who accuse me falsely. What I did not steal must I now restore?\r\n\t\t\t O God, you know my folly; the wrongs I have done are not hidden from you.\r\n\t\t\t Do not let those who hope in you be put to shame because of me, O Lord GOD of hosts; do not let those who seek you be dishonored because of me, O God of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t It is for your sake that I have borne reproach, that shame has covered my face.\r\n\t\t\t I have become a stranger to my kindred, an alien to my mother's children.\r\n\t\t\t It is zeal for your house that has consumed me; the insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.\r\n\t\t\t When I humbled my soul with fasting, they insulted me for doing so. \r\n\t\t\t When I made sackcloth my clothing, I became a byword to them.\r\n\t\t\t I am the subject of gossip for those who sit in the gate, and the drunkards make songs about me.\r\n\t\t\t But as for me, my prayer is to you, O LORD. At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of your steadfast love, answer me. With your faithful help\r\n\t\t\t rescue me from sinking in the mire; let me be delivered from my enemies and from the deep waters.\r\n\t\t\t Do not let the flood sweep over me, or the deep swallow me up, or the Pit close its mouth over me.\r\n\t\t\t Answer me, O LORD, for your steadfast love is good; according to your abundant mercy, turn to me.\r\n\t\t\t Do not hide your face from your servant, for I am in distress-- make haste to answer me.\r\n\t\t\t Draw near to me, redeem me, set me free because of my enemies.\r\n\t\t\t You know the insults I receive, and my shame and dishonor; my foes are all known to you.\r\n\t\t\t Insults have broken my heart, so that I am in despair. I looked for pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none.\r\n\t\t\t They gave me poison for food, and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.\r\n\t\t\t Let their table be a trap for them, a snare for their allies.\r\n\t\t\t Let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see, and make their loins tremble continually.\r\n\t\t\t Pour out your indignation upon them, and let your burning anger overtake them.\r\n\t\t\t May their camp be a desolation; let no one live in their tents.\r\n\t\t\t For they persecute those whom you have struck down, and those whom you have wounded, they attack still more. \r\n\t\t\t Add guilt to their guilt; may they have no acquittal from you.\r\n\t\t\t Let them be blotted out of the book of the living; let them not be enrolled among the righteous.\r\n\t\t\t But I am lowly and in pain; let your salvation, O God, protect me.\r\n\t\t\t I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving.\r\n\t\t\t This will please the LORD more than an ox or a bull with horns and hoofs.\r\n\t\t\t Let the oppressed see it and be glad; you who seek God, let your hearts revive.\r\n\t\t\t For the LORD hears the needy, and does not despise his own that are in bonds.\r\n\t\t\t Let heaven and earth praise him, the seas and everything that moves in them.\r\n\t\t\t For God will save Zion and rebuild the cities of Judah; and his servants shall live there and possess it;\r\n\t\t\t the children of his servants shall inherit it, and those who love his name shall live in it.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [To the leader. Of David, for the memorial offering.> Be pleased, O God, to deliver me. O LORD, make haste to help me!\r\n\t\t\t Let those be put to shame and confusion who seek my life. Let those be turned back and brought to dishonor who desire to hurt me.\r\n\t\t\t Let those who say, \"Aha, Aha!\" turn back because of their shame.\r\n\t\t\t Let all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you. Let those who love your salvation say evermore, \"God is great!\"\r\n\t\t\t But I am poor and needy; hasten to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer; O LORD, do not delay!\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t In you, O LORD, I take refuge; let me never be put to shame.\r\n\t\t\t In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me; incline your ear to me and save me.\r\n\t\t\t Be to me a rock of refuge, a strong fortress, to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress. \r\n\t\t\t Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of the unjust and cruel.\r\n\t\t\t For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O LORD, from my youth.\r\n\t\t\t Upon you I have leaned from my birth; it was you who took me from my mother's womb. My praise is continually of you.\r\n\t\t\t I have been like a portent to many, but you are my strong refuge.\r\n\t\t\t My mouth is filled with your praise, and with your glory all day long.\r\n\t\t\t Do not cast me off in the time of old age; do not forsake me when my strength is spent.\r\n\t\t\t For my enemies speak concerning me, and those who watch for my life consult together.\r\n\t\t\t They say, \"Pursue and seize that person whom God has forsaken, for there is no one to deliver.\"\r\n\t\t\t O God, do not be far from me; O my God, make haste to help me!\r\n\t\t\t Let my accusers be put to shame and consumed; let those who seek to hurt me be covered with scorn and disgrace.\r\n\t\t\t But I will hope continually, and will praise you yet more and more.\r\n\t\t\t My mouth will tell of your righteous acts, of your deeds of salvation all day long, though their number is past my knowledge.\r\n\t\t\t I will come praising the mighty deeds of the Lord GOD, I will praise your righteousness, yours alone.\r\n\t\t\t O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds.\r\n\t\t\t So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to all the generations to come. Your power \r\n\t\t\t and your righteousness, O God, reach the high heavens. You who have done great things, O God, who is like you?\r\n\t\t\t You who have made me see many troubles and calamities will revive me again; from the depths of the earth you will bring me up again.\r\n\t\t\t You will increase my honor, and comfort me once again.\r\n\t\t\t I will also praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, O my God; I will sing praises to you with the lyre, O Holy One of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t My lips will shout for joy when I sing praises to you; my soul also, which you have rescued.\r\n\t\t\t All day long my tongue will talk of your righteous help, for those who tried to do me harm have been put to shame, and disgraced.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [Of Solomon.> Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to a king's son.\r\n\t\t\t May he judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice.\r\n\t\t\t May the mountains yield prosperity for the people, and the hills, in righteousness.\r\n\t\t\t May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the needy, and crush the oppressor.\r\n\t\t\t May he live while the sun endures, and as long as the moon, throughout all generations. \r\n\t\t\t May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass, like showers that water the earth.\r\n\t\t\t In his days may righteousness flourish and peace abound, until the moon is no more.\r\n\t\t\t May he have dominion from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth.\r\n\t\t\t May his foes bow down before him, and his enemies lick the dust. \r\n\t\t\t May the kings of Tarshish and of the isles render him tribute, may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts.\r\n\t\t\t May all kings fall down before him, all nations give him service.\r\n\t\t\t For he delivers the needy when they call, the poor and those who have no helper.\r\n\t\t\t He has pity on the weak and the needy, and saves the lives of the needy.\r\n\t\t\t From oppression and violence he redeems their life; and precious is their blood in his sight.\r\n\t\t\t Long may he live! May gold of Sheba be given to him. May prayer be made for him continually, and blessings invoked for him all day long.\r\n\t\t\t May there be abundance of grain in the land; may it wave on the tops of the mountains; may its fruit be like Lebanon; and may people blossom in the cities like the grass of the field.\r\n\t\t\t May his name endure forever, his fame continue as long as the sun. May all nations be blessed in him; may they pronounce him happy. \r\n\t\t\t Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things.\r\n\t\t\t Blessed be his glorious name forever; may his glory fill the whole earth. Amen and Amen.\r\n\t\t\t The prayers of David son of Jesse are ended.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [A Psalm of Asaph.> Truly God is good to the upright, to those who are pure in heart.\r\n\t\t\t But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; my steps had nearly slipped.\r\n\t\t\t For I was envious of the arrogant; I saw the prosperity of the wicked.\r\n\t\t\t For they have no pain; their bodies are sound and sleek.\r\n\t\t\t They are not in trouble as others are; they are not plagued like other people.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore pride is their necklace; violence covers them like a garment.\r\n\t\t\t Their eyes swell out with fatness; their hearts overflow with follies.\r\n\t\t\t They scoff and speak with malice; loftily they threaten oppression.\r\n\t\t\t They set their mouths against heaven, and their tongues range over the earth.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore the people turn and praise them, and find no fault in them. \r\n\t\t\t And they say, \"How can God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?\"\r\n\t\t\t Such are the wicked; always at ease, they increase in riches.\r\n\t\t\t All in vain I have kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence.\r\n\t\t\t For all day long I have been plagued, and am punished every morning.\r\n\t\t\t If I had said, \"I will talk on in this way,\" I would have been untrue to the circle of your children.\r\n\t\t\t But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task,\r\n\t\t\t until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I perceived their end.\r\n\t\t\t Truly you set them in slippery places; you make them fall to ruin.\r\n\t\t\t How they are destroyed in a moment, swept away utterly by terrors!\r\n\t\t\t They are like a dream when one awakes; on awaking you despise their phantoms. \r\n\t\t\t When my soul was embittered, when I was pricked in heart,\r\n\t\t\t I was stupid and ignorant; I was like a brute beast toward you.\r\n\t\t\t Nevertheless I am continually with you; you hold my right hand.\r\n\t\t\t You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me with honor. \r\n\t\t\t Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire other than you.\r\n\t\t\t My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. \r\n\t\t\t Indeed, those who are far from you will perish; you put an end to those who are false to you.\r\n\t\t\t But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, to tell of all your works.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [A Maskil of Asaph.> O God, why do you cast us off forever? Why does your anger smoke against the sheep of your pasture?\r\n\t\t\t Remember your congregation, which you acquired long ago, which you redeemed to be the tribe of your heritage. Remember Mount Zion, where you came to dwell.\r\n\t\t\t Direct your steps to the perpetual ruins; the enemy has destroyed everything in the sanctuary.\r\n\t\t\t Your foes have roared within your holy place; they set up their emblems there.\r\n\t\t\t At the upper entrance they hacked the wooden trellis with axes. \r\n\t\t\t And then, with hatchets and hammers, they smashed all its carved work.\r\n\t\t\t They set your sanctuary on fire; they desecrated the dwelling place of your name, bringing it to the ground.\r\n\t\t\t They said to themselves, \"We will utterly subdue them\"; they burned all the meeting places of God in the land.\r\n\t\t\t We do not see our emblems; there is no longer any prophet, and there is no one among us who knows how long.\r\n\t\t\t How long, O God, is the foe to scoff? Is the enemy to revile your name forever?\r\n\t\t\t Why do you hold back your hand; why do you keep your hand in your bosom? \r\n\t\t\t Yet God my King is from of old, working salvation in the earth.\r\n\t\t\t You divided the sea by your might; you broke the heads of the dragons in the waters.\r\n\t\t\t You crushed the heads of Leviathan; you gave him as food for the creatures of the wilderness. \r\n\t\t\t You cut openings for springs and torrents; you dried up ever-flowing streams.\r\n\t\t\t Yours is the day, yours also the night; you established the luminaries and the sun. \r\n\t\t\t You have fixed all the bounds of the earth; you made summer and winter.\r\n\t\t\t Remember this, O LORD, how the enemy scoffs, and an impious people reviles your name.\r\n\t\t\t Do not deliver the soul of your dove to the wild animals; do not forget the life of your poor forever.\r\n\t\t\t Have regard for your covenant, for the dark places of the land are full of the haunts of violence. \r\n\t\t\t Do not let the downtrodden be put to shame; let the poor and needy praise your name.\r\n\t\t\t Rise up, O God, plead your cause; remember how the impious scoff at you all day long.\r\n\t\t\t Do not forget the clamor of your foes, the uproar of your adversaries that goes up continually.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [To the leader: Do Not Destroy. A Psalm of Asaph. A Song.> We give thanks to you, O God; we give thanks; your name is near. People tell of your wondrous deeds.\r\n\t\t\t At the set time that I appoint I will judge with equity.\r\n\t\t\t When the earth totters, with all its inhabitants, it is I who keep its pillars steady. Selah \r\n\t\t\t I say to the boastful, \"Do not boast,\" and to the wicked, \"Do not lift up your horn;\r\n\t\t\t do not lift up your horn on high, or speak with insolent neck.\"\r\n\t\t\t For not from the east or from the west and not from the wilderness comes lifting up;\r\n\t\t\t but it is God who executes judgment, putting down one and lifting up another.\r\n\t\t\t For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup with foaming wine, well mixed; he will pour a draught from it, and all the wicked of the earth shall drain it down to the dregs.\r\n\t\t\t But I will rejoice forever; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob. \r\n\t\t\t All the horns of the wicked I will cut off, but the horns of the righteous shall be exalted.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [To the leader: with stringed instruments. A Psalm of Asaph. A Song.> In Judah God is known, his name is great in Israel.\r\n\t\t\t His abode has been established in Salem, his dwelling place in Zion.\r\n\t\t\t There he broke the flashing arrows, the shield, the sword, and the weapons of war. Selah \r\n\t\t\t Glorious are you, more majestic than the everlasting mountains. \r\n\t\t\t The stouthearted were stripped of their spoil; they sank into sleep; none of the troops was able to lift a hand.\r\n\t\t\t At your rebuke, O God of Jacob, both rider and horse lay stunned.\r\n\t\t\t But you indeed are awesome! Who can stand before you when once your anger is roused?\r\n\t\t\t From the heavens you uttered judgment; the earth feared and was still\r\n\t\t\t when God rose up to establish judgment, to save all the oppressed of the earth. Selah \r\n\t\t\t Human wrath serves only to praise you, when you bind the last bit of your wrath around you. \r\n\t\t\t Make vows to the LORD your God, and perform them; let all who are around him bring gifts to the one who is awesome,\r\n\t\t\t who cuts off the spirit of princes, who inspires fear in the kings of the earth.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [To the leader: according to Jeduthun. Of Asaph. A Psalm.> I cry aloud to God, aloud to God, that he may hear me.\r\n\t\t\t In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord; in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying; my soul refuses to be comforted.\r\n\t\t\t I think of God, and I moan; I meditate, and my spirit faints. Selah \r\n\t\t\t You keep my eyelids from closing; I am so troubled that I cannot speak.\r\n\t\t\t I consider the days of old, and remember the years of long ago.\r\n\t\t\t I commune with my heart in the night; I meditate and search my spirit: \r\n\t\t\t \"Will the Lord spurn forever, and never again be favorable?\r\n\t\t\t Has his steadfast love ceased forever? Are his promises at an end for all time?\r\n\t\t\t Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has he in anger shut up his compassion?\" Selah \r\n\t\t\t And I say, \"It is my grief that the right hand of the Most High has changed.\"\r\n\t\t\t I will call to mind the deeds of the LORD; I will remember your wonders of old.\r\n\t\t\t I will meditate on all your work, and muse on your mighty deeds.\r\n\t\t\t Your way, O God, is holy. What god is so great as our God?\r\n\t\t\t You are the God who works wonders; you have displayed your might among the peoples.\r\n\t\t\t With your strong arm you redeemed your people, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph. Selah \r\n\t\t\t When the waters saw you, O God, when the waters saw you, they were afraid; the very deep trembled.\r\n\t\t\t The clouds poured out water; the skies thundered; your arrows flashed on every side.\r\n\t\t\t The crash of your thunder was in the whirlwind; your lightnings lit up the world; the earth trembled and shook.\r\n\t\t\t Your way was through the sea, your path, through the mighty waters; yet your footprints were unseen.\r\n\t\t\t You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [A Maskil of Asaph.> Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth.\r\n\t\t\t I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings from of old,\r\n\t\t\t things that we have heard and known, that our ancestors have told us.\r\n\t\t\t We will not hide them from their children; we will tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might, and the wonders that he has done.\r\n\t\t\t He established a decree in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our ancestors to teach to their children;\r\n\t\t\t that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and rise up and tell them to their children,\r\n\t\t\t so that they should set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments;\r\n\t\t\t and that they should not be like their ancestors, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation whose heart was not steadfast, whose spirit was not faithful to God.\r\n\t\t\t The Ephraimites, armed with the bow, turned back on the day of battle. \r\n\t\t\t They did not keep God's covenant, but refused to walk according to his law.\r\n\t\t\t They forgot what he had done, and the miracles that he had shown them.\r\n\t\t\t In the sight of their ancestors he worked marvels in the land of Egypt, in the fields of Zoan.\r\n\t\t\t He divided the sea and let them pass through it, and made the waters stand like a heap.\r\n\t\t\t In the daytime he led them with a cloud, and all night long with a fiery light.\r\n\t\t\t He split rocks open in the wilderness, and gave them drink abundantly as from the deep.\r\n\t\t\t He made streams come out of the rock, and caused waters to flow down like rivers.\r\n\t\t\t Yet they sinned still more against him, rebelling against the Most High in the desert.\r\n\t\t\t They tested God in their heart by demanding the food they craved.\r\n\t\t\t They spoke against God, saying, \"Can God spread a table in the wilderness?\r\n\t\t\t Even though he struck the rock so that water gushed out and torrents overflowed, can he also give bread, or provide meat for his people?\"\r\n\t\t\t Therefore, when the LORD heard, he was full of rage; a fire was kindled against Jacob, his anger mounted against Israel,\r\n\t\t\t because they had no faith in God, and did not trust his saving power.\r\n\t\t\t Yet he commanded the skies above, and opened the doors of heaven;\r\n\t\t\t he rained down on them manna to eat, and gave them the grain of heaven.\r\n\t\t\t Mortals ate of the bread of angels; he sent them food in abundance.\r\n\t\t\t He caused the east wind to blow in the heavens, and by his power he led out the south wind;\r\n\t\t\t he rained flesh upon them like dust, winged birds like the sand of the seas;\r\n\t\t\t he let them fall within their camp, all around their dwellings.\r\n\t\t\t And they ate and were well filled, for he gave them what they craved.\r\n\t\t\t But before they had satisfied their craving, while the food was still in their mouths,\r\n\t\t\t the anger of God rose against them and he killed the strongest of them, and laid low the flower of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t In spite of all this they still sinned; they did not believe in his wonders.\r\n\t\t\t So he made their days vanish like a breath, and their years in terror.\r\n\t\t\t When he killed them, they sought for him; they repented and sought God earnestly.\r\n\t\t\t They remembered that God was their rock, the Most High God their redeemer.\r\n\t\t\t But they flattered him with their mouths; they lied to him with their tongues.\r\n\t\t\t Their heart was not steadfast toward him; they were not true to his covenant.\r\n\t\t\t Yet he, being compassionate, forgave their iniquity, and did not destroy them; often he restrained his anger, and did not stir up all his wrath.\r\n\t\t\t He remembered that they were but flesh, a wind that passes and does not come again.\r\n\t\t\t How often they rebelled against him in the wilderness and grieved him in the desert!\r\n\t\t\t They tested God again and again, and provoked the Holy One of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t They did not keep in mind his power, or the day when he redeemed them from the foe;\r\n\t\t\t when he displayed his signs in Egypt, and his miracles in the fields of Zoan.\r\n\t\t\t He turned their rivers to blood, so that they could not drink of their streams.\r\n\t\t\t He sent among them swarms of flies, which devoured them, and frogs, which destroyed them.\r\n\t\t\t He gave their crops to the caterpillar, and the fruit of their labor to the locust.\r\n\t\t\t He destroyed their vines with hail, and their sycamores with frost.\r\n\t\t\t He gave over their cattle to the hail, and their flocks to thunderbolts.\r\n\t\t\t He let loose on them his fierce anger, wrath, indignation, and distress, a company of destroying angels.\r\n\t\t\t He made a path for his anger; he did not spare them from death, but gave their lives over to the plague.\r\n\t\t\t He struck all the firstborn in Egypt, the first issue of their strength in the tents of Ham.\r\n\t\t\t Then he led out his people like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock.\r\n\t\t\t He led them in safety, so that they were not afraid; but the sea overwhelmed their enemies.\r\n\t\t\t And he brought them to his holy hill, to the mountain that his right hand had won.\r\n\t\t\t He drove out nations before them; he apportioned them for a possession and settled the tribes of Israel in their tents.\r\n\t\t\t Yet they tested the Most High God, and rebelled against him. They did not observe his decrees,\r\n\t\t\t but turned away and were faithless like their ancestors; they twisted like a treacherous bow.\r\n\t\t\t For they provoked him to anger with their high places; they moved him to jealousy with their idols.\r\n\t\t\t When God heard, he was full of wrath, and he utterly rejected Israel.\r\n\t\t\t He abandoned his dwelling at Shiloh, the tent where he dwelt among mortals,\r\n\t\t\t and delivered his power to captivity, his glory to the hand of the foe.\r\n\t\t\t He gave his people to the sword, and vented his wrath on his heritage.\r\n\t\t\t Fire devoured their young men, and their girls had no marriage song.\r\n\t\t\t Their priests fell by the sword, and their widows made no lamentation.\r\n\t\t\t Then the Lord awoke as from sleep, like a warrior shouting because of wine.\r\n\t\t\t He put his adversaries to rout; he put them to everlasting disgrace.\r\n\t\t\t He rejected the tent of Joseph, he did not choose the tribe of Ephraim;\r\n\t\t\t but he chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion, which he loves.\r\n\t\t\t He built his sanctuary like the high heavens, like the earth, which he has founded forever.\r\n\t\t\t He chose his servant David, and took him from the sheepfolds;\r\n\t\t\t from tending the nursing ewes he brought him to be the shepherd of his people Jacob, of Israel, his inheritance.\r\n\t\t\t With upright heart he tended them, and guided them with skillful hand.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [A Psalm of Asaph.> O God, the nations have come into your inheritance; they have defiled your holy temple; they have laid Jerusalem in ruins.\r\n\t\t\t They have given the bodies of your servants to the birds of the air for food, the flesh of your faithful to the wild animals of the earth.\r\n\t\t\t They have poured out their blood like water all around Jerusalem, and there was no one to bury them.\r\n\t\t\t We have become a taunt to our neighbors, mocked and derided by those around us.\r\n\t\t\t How long, O LORD? Will you be angry forever? Will your jealous wrath burn like fire?\r\n\t\t\t Pour out your anger on the nations that do not know you, and on the kingdoms that do not call on your name.\r\n\t\t\t For they have devoured Jacob and laid waste his habitation.\r\n\t\t\t Do not remember against us the iniquities of our ancestors; let your compassion come speedily to meet us, for we are brought very low.\r\n\t\t\t Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name; deliver us, and forgive our sins, for your name's sake.\r\n\t\t\t Why should the nations say, \"Where is their God?\" Let the avenging of the outpoured blood of your servants be known among the nations before our eyes.\r\n\t\t\t Let the groans of the prisoners come before you; according to your great power preserve those doomed to die.\r\n\t\t\t Return sevenfold into the bosom of our neighbors the taunts with which they taunted you, O Lord!\r\n\t\t\t Then we your people, the flock of your pasture, will give thanks to you forever; from generation to generation we will recount your praise.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [To the leader: on Lilies, a Covenant. Of Asaph. A Psalm.> Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock! You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth\r\n\t\t\t before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh. Stir up your might, and come to save us!\r\n\t\t\t Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved.\r\n\t\t\t O LORD God of hosts, how long will you be angry with your people's prayers?\r\n\t\t\t You have fed them with the bread of tears, and given them tears to drink in full measure.\r\n\t\t\t You make us the scorn of our neighbors; our enemies laugh among themselves. \r\n\t\t\t Restore us, O God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved.\r\n\t\t\t You brought a vine out of Egypt; you drove out the nations and planted it.\r\n\t\t\t You cleared the ground for it; it took deep root and filled the land.\r\n\t\t\t The mountains were covered with its shade, the mighty cedars with its branches;\r\n\t\t\t it sent out its branches to the sea, and its shoots to the River.\r\n\t\t\t Why then have you broken down its walls, so that all who pass along the way pluck its fruit?\r\n\t\t\t The boar from the forest ravages it, and all that move in the field feed on it.\r\n\t\t\t Turn again, O God of hosts; look down from heaven, and see; have regard for this vine,\r\n\t\t\t the stock that your right hand planted. \r\n\t\t\t They have burned it with fire, they have cut it down; may they perish at the rebuke of your countenance. \r\n\t\t\t But let your hand be upon the one at your right hand, the one whom you made strong for yourself.\r\n\t\t\t Then we will never turn back from you; give us life, and we will call on your name.\r\n\t\t\t Restore us, O LORD God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [To the leader: according to The Gittith. Of Asaph.> Sing aloud to God our strength; shout for joy to the God of Jacob.\r\n\t\t\t Raise a song, sound the tambourine, the sweet lyre with the harp.\r\n\t\t\t Blow the trumpet at the new moon, at the full moon, on our festal day.\r\n\t\t\t For it is a statute for Israel, an ordinance of the God of Jacob.\r\n\t\t\t He made it a decree in Joseph, when he went out over the land of Egypt. I hear a voice I had not known: \r\n\t\t\t \"I relieved your shoulder of the burden; your hands were freed from the basket. \r\n\t\t\t In distress you called, and I rescued you; I answered you in the secret place of thunder; I tested you at the waters of Meribah. Selah \r\n\t\t\t Hear, O my people, while I admonish you; O Israel, if you would but listen to me!\r\n\t\t\t There shall be no strange god among you; you shall not bow down to a foreign god.\r\n\t\t\t I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide and I will fill it.\r\n\t\t\t \"But my people did not listen to my voice; Israel would not submit to me.\r\n\t\t\t So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts, to follow their own counsels.\r\n\t\t\t O that my people would listen to me, that Israel would walk in my ways!\r\n\t\t\t Then I would quickly subdue their enemies, and turn my hand against their foes.\r\n\t\t\t Those who hate the LORD would cringe before him, and their doom would last forever.\r\n\t\t\t I would feed you with the finest of the wheat, and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.\" \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [A Psalm of Asaph.> God has taken his place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods he holds judgment:\r\n\t\t\t \"How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Selah \r\n\t\t\t Give justice to the weak and the orphan; maintain the right of the lowly and the destitute.\r\n\t\t\t Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.\"\r\n\t\t\t They have neither knowledge nor understanding, they walk around in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken.\r\n\t\t\t I say, \"You are gods, children of the Most High, all of you;\r\n\t\t\t nevertheless, you shall die like mortals, and fall like any prince.\" \r\n\t\t\t Rise up, O God, judge the earth; for all the nations belong to you!\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [A Song. A Psalm of Asaph.> O God, do not keep silence; do not hold your peace or be still, O God!\r\n\t\t\t Even now your enemies are in tumult; those who hate you have raised their heads.\r\n\t\t\t They lay crafty plans against your people; they consult together against those you protect.\r\n\t\t\t They say, \"Come, let us wipe them out as a nation; let the name of Israel be remembered no more.\"\r\n\t\t\t They conspire with one accord; against you they make a covenant--\r\n\t\t\t the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites, Moab and the Hagrites,\r\n\t\t\t Gebal and Ammon and Amalek, Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre;\r\n\t\t\t Assyria also has joined them; they are the strong arm of the children of Lot. Selah \r\n\t\t\t Do to them as you did to Midian, as to Sisera and Jabin at the Wadi Kishon,\r\n\t\t\t who were destroyed at En-dor, who became dung for the ground.\r\n\t\t\t Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb, all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna,\r\n\t\t\t who said, \"Let us take the pastures of God for our own possession.\"\r\n\t\t\t O my God, make them like whirling dust, like chaff before the wind. \r\n\t\t\t As fire consumes the forest, as the flame sets the mountains ablaze,\r\n\t\t\t so pursue them with your tempest and terrify them with your hurricane.\r\n\t\t\t Fill their faces with shame, so that they may seek your name, O LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Let them be put to shame and dismayed forever; let them perish in disgrace.\r\n\t\t\t Let them know that you alone, whose name is the LORD, are the Most High over all the earth.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [To the leader: according to The Gittith. Of the Korahites. A Psalm.> How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts!\r\n\t\t\t My soul longs, indeed it faints for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God.\r\n\t\t\t Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O LORD of hosts, my King and my God.\r\n\t\t\t Happy are those who live in your house, ever singing your praise. Selah \r\n\t\t\t Happy are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion. \r\n\t\t\t As they go through the valley of Baca they make it a place of springs; the early rain also covers it with pools.\r\n\t\t\t They go from strength to strength; the God of gods will be seen in Zion.\r\n\t\t\t O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah \r\n\t\t\t Behold our shield, O God; look on the face of your anointed.\r\n\t\t\t For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than live in the tents of wickedness.\r\n\t\t\t For the LORD God is a sun and shield; he bestows favor and honor. No good thing does the LORD withhold from those who walk uprightly.\r\n\t\t\t O LORD of hosts, happy is everyone who trusts in you.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [To the leader. Of the Korahites. A Psalm.> LORD, you were favorable to your land; you restored the fortunes of Jacob.\r\n\t\t\t You forgave the iniquity of your people; you pardoned all their sin. Selah \r\n\t\t\t You withdrew all your wrath; you turned from your hot anger.\r\n\t\t\t Restore us again, O God of our salvation, and put away your indignation toward us.\r\n\t\t\t Will you be angry with us forever? Will you prolong your anger to all generations?\r\n\t\t\t Will you not revive us again, so that your people may rejoice in you?\r\n\t\t\t Show us your steadfast love, O LORD, and grant us your salvation.\r\n\t\t\t Let me hear what God the LORD will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his faithful, to those who turn to him in their hearts. \r\n\t\t\t Surely his salvation is at hand for those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land.\r\n\t\t\t Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and peace will kiss each other.\r\n\t\t\t Faithfulness will spring up from the ground, and righteousness will look down from the sky.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD will give what is good, and our land will yield its increase.\r\n\t\t\t Righteousness will go before him, and will make a path for his steps.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [A Prayer of David] Incline your ear, O LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.\r\n\t\t\t Preserve my life, for I am devoted to you; save your servant who trusts in you. You are my God;\r\n\t\t\t be gracious to me, O Lord, for to you do I cry all day long.\r\n\t\t\t Gladden the soul of your servant, for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.\r\n\t\t\t For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call on you.\r\n\t\t\t Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer; listen to my cry of supplication.\r\n\t\t\t In the day of my trouble I call on you, for you will answer me.\r\n\t\t\t There is none like you among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like yours.\r\n\t\t\t All the nations you have made shall come and bow down before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name.\r\n\t\t\t For you are great and do wondrous things; you alone are God.\r\n\t\t\t Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart to revere your name.\r\n\t\t\t I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever.\r\n\t\t\t For great is your steadfast love toward me; you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.\r\n\t\t\t O God, the insolent rise up against me; a band of ruffians seeks my life, and they do not set you before them.\r\n\t\t\t But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.\r\n\t\t\t Turn to me and be gracious to me; give your strength to your servant; save the child of your serving girl.\r\n\t\t\t Show me a sign of your favor, so that those who hate me may see it and be put to shame, because you, LORD, have helped me and comforted me.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [Of the Korahites. A Psalm. A Song.> On the holy mount stands the city he founded;\r\n\t\t\t the LORD loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.\r\n\t\t\t Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God. Selah \r\n\t\t\t Among those who know me I mention Rahab and Babylon; Philistia too, and Tyre, with Ethiopia-- \"This one was born there,\" they say.\r\n\t\t\t And of Zion it shall be said, \"This one and that one were born in it\"; for the Most High himself will establish it.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD records, as he registers the peoples, \"This one was born there.\" Selah \r\n\t\t\t Singers and dancers alike say, \"All my springs are in you.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [A Song. A Psalm of the Korahites. To the leader: according to Mahalath Leannoth. A Maskil of Heman the Ezrahite.> O LORD, God of my salvation, when, at night, I cry out in your presence,\r\n\t\t\t let my prayer come before you; incline your ear to my cry.\r\n\t\t\t For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draws near to Sheol.\r\n\t\t\t I am counted among those who go down to the Pit; I am like those who have no help,\r\n\t\t\t like those forsaken among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, like those whom you remember no more, for they are cut off from your hand.\r\n\t\t\t You have put me in the depths of the Pit, in the regions dark and deep.\r\n\t\t\t Your wrath lies heavy upon me, and you overwhelm me with all your waves. Selah \r\n\t\t\t You have caused my companions to shun me; you have made me a thing of horror to them. I am shut in so that I cannot escape;\r\n\t\t\t my eye grows dim through sorrow. Every day I call on you, O LORD; I spread out my hands to you.\r\n\t\t\t Do you work wonders for the dead? Do the shades rise up to praise you? Selah \r\n\t\t\t Is your steadfast love declared in the grave, or your faithfulness in Abaddon?\r\n\t\t\t Are your wonders known in the darkness, or your saving help in the land of forgetfulness?\r\n\t\t\t But I, O LORD, cry out to you; in the morning my prayer comes before you.\r\n\t\t\t O LORD, why do you cast me off? Why do you hide your face from me?\r\n\t\t\t Wretched and close to death from my youth up, I suffer your terrors; I am desperate. \r\n\t\t\t Your wrath has swept over me; your dread assaults destroy me.\r\n\t\t\t They surround me like a flood all day long; from all sides they close in on me.\r\n\t\t\t You have caused friend and neighbor to shun me; my companions are in darkness.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [A Maskil of Ethan the Ezrahite.> I will sing of your steadfast love, O LORD, forever; with my mouth I will proclaim your faithfulness to all generations. \r\n\t\t\t I declare that your steadfast love is established forever; your faithfulness is as firm as the heavens.\r\n\t\t\t You said, \"I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to my servant David:\r\n\t\t\t 'I will establish your descendants forever, and build your throne for all generations.'\" Selah \r\n\t\t\t Let the heavens praise your wonders, O LORD, your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones.\r\n\t\t\t For who in the skies can be compared to the LORD? Who among the heavenly beings is like the LORD,\r\n\t\t\t a God feared in the council of the holy ones, great and awesome above all that are around him?\r\n\t\t\t O LORD God of hosts, who is as mighty as you, O LORD? Your faithfulness surrounds you.\r\n\t\t\t You rule the raging of the sea; when its waves rise, you still them.\r\n\t\t\t You crushed Rahab like a carcass; you scattered your enemies with your mighty arm.\r\n\t\t\t The heavens are yours, the earth also is yours; the world and all that is in it-- you have founded them.\r\n\t\t\t The north and the south-- you created them; Tabor and Hermon joyously praise your name.\r\n\t\t\t You have a mighty arm; strong is your hand, high your right hand.\r\n\t\t\t Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you.\r\n\t\t\t Happy are the people who know the festal shout, who walk, O LORD, in the light of your countenance;\r\n\t\t\t they exult in your name all day long, and extol your righteousness. \r\n\t\t\t For you are the glory of their strength; by your favor our horn is exalted.\r\n\t\t\t For our shield belongs to the LORD, our king to the Holy One of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t Then you spoke in a vision to your faithful one, and said: \"I have set the crown on one who is mighty, I have exalted one chosen from the people. \r\n\t\t\t I have found my servant David; with my holy oil I have anointed him;\r\n\t\t\t my hand shall always remain with him; my arm also shall strengthen him.\r\n\t\t\t The enemy shall not outwit him, the wicked shall not humble him.\r\n\t\t\t I will crush his foes before him and strike down those who hate him.\r\n\t\t\t My faithfulness and steadfast love shall be with him; and in my name his horn shall be exalted.\r\n\t\t\t I will set his hand on the sea and his right hand on the rivers.\r\n\t\t\t He shall cry to me, 'You are my Father, my God, and the Rock of my salvation!'\r\n\t\t\t I will make him the firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth.\r\n\t\t\t Forever I will keep my steadfast love for him, and my covenant with him will stand firm.\r\n\t\t\t I will establish his line forever, and his throne as long as the heavens endure.\r\n\t\t\t If his children forsake my law and do not walk according to my ordinances,\r\n\t\t\t if they violate my statutes and do not keep my commandments,\r\n\t\t\t then I will punish their transgression with the rod and their iniquity with scourges;\r\n\t\t\t but I will not remove from him my steadfast love, or be false to my faithfulness.\r\n\t\t\t I will not violate my covenant, or alter the word that went forth from my lips.\r\n\t\t\t Once and for all I have sworn by my holiness; I will not lie to David.\r\n\t\t\t His line shall continue forever, and his throne endure before me like the sun.\r\n\t\t\t It shall be established forever like the moon, an enduring witness in the skies.\" Selah \r\n\t\t\t But now you have spurned and rejected him; you are full of wrath against your anointed.\r\n\t\t\t You have renounced the covenant with your servant; you have defiled his crown in the dust.\r\n\t\t\t You have broken through all his walls; you have laid his strongholds in ruins.\r\n\t\t\t All who pass by plunder him; he has become the scorn of his neighbors.\r\n\t\t\t You have exalted the right hand of his foes; you have made all his enemies rejoice.\r\n\t\t\t Moreover, you have turned back the edge of his sword, and you have not supported him in battle.\r\n\t\t\t You have removed the scepter from his hand, and hurled his throne to the ground. \r\n\t\t\t You have cut short the days of his youth; you have covered him with shame. Selah \r\n\t\t\t How long, O LORD? Will you hide yourself forever? How long will your wrath burn like fire?\r\n\t\t\t Remember how short my time is-- for what vanity you have created all mortals!\r\n\t\t\t Who can live and never see death? Who can escape the power of Sheol? Selah\r\n\t\t\t Lord, where is your steadfast love of old, which by your faithfulness you swore to David?\r\n\t\t\t Remember, O Lord, how your servant is taunted; how I bear in my bosom the insults of the peoples, \r\n\t\t\t with which your enemies taunt, O LORD, with which they taunted the footsteps of your anointed.\r\n\t\t\t Blessed be the LORD forever. Amen and Amen.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [A Prayer of Moses, the man of God.> Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. \r\n\t\t\t Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.\r\n\t\t\t You turn us back to dust, and say, \"Turn back, you mortals.\" \r\n\t\t\t For a thousand years in your sight are like yesterday when it is past, or like a watch in the night.\r\n\t\t\t You sweep them away; they are like a dream, like grass that is renewed in the morning;\r\n\t\t\t in the morning it flourishes and is renewed; in the evening it fades and withers.\r\n\t\t\t For we are consumed by your anger; by your wrath we are overwhelmed.\r\n\t\t\t You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your countenance.\r\n\t\t\t For all our days pass away under your wrath; our years come to an end like a sigh. \r\n\t\t\t The days of our life are seventy years, or perhaps eighty, if we are strong; even then their span is only toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away. \r\n\t\t\t Who considers the power of your anger? Your wrath is as great as the fear that is due you.\r\n\t\t\t So teach us to count our days that we may gain a wise heart.\r\n\t\t\t Turn, O LORD! How long? Have compassion on your servants!\r\n\t\t\t Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, so that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.\r\n\t\t\t Make us glad as many days as you have afflicted us, and as many years as we have seen evil.\r\n\t\t\t Let your work be manifest to your servants, and your glorious power to their children.\r\n\t\t\t Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and prosper for us the work of our hands-- O prosper the work of our hands!\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t You who live in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty, \r\n\t\t\t will say to the LORD, \"My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust.\"\r\n\t\t\t For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence;\r\n\t\t\t he will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.\r\n\t\t\t You will not fear the terror of the night, or the arrow that flies by day,\r\n\t\t\t or the pestilence that stalks in darkness, or the destruction that wastes at noonday.\r\n\t\t\t A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.\r\n\t\t\t You will only look with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.\r\n\t\t\t Because you have made the LORD your refuge, the Most High your dwelling place, \r\n\t\t\t no evil shall befall you, no scourge come near your tent.\r\n\t\t\t For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.\r\n\t\t\t On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.\r\n\t\t\t You will tread on the lion and the adder, the young lion and the serpent you will trample under foot.\r\n\t\t\t Those who love me, I will deliver; I will protect those who know my name.\r\n\t\t\t When they call to me, I will answer them; I will be with them in trouble, I will rescue them and honor them.\r\n\t\t\t With long life I will satisfy them, and show them my salvation.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [A Psalm. A Song for the Sabbath Day.> It is good to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praises to your name, O Most High;\r\n\t\t\t to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night,\r\n\t\t\t to the music of the lute and the harp, to the melody of the lyre.\r\n\t\t\t For you, O LORD, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy.\r\n\t\t\t How great are your works, O LORD! Your thoughts are very deep!\r\n\t\t\t The dullard cannot know, the stupid cannot understand this:\r\n\t\t\t though the wicked sprout like grass and all evildoers flourish, they are doomed to destruction forever,\r\n\t\t\t but you, O LORD, are on high forever.\r\n\t\t\t For your enemies, O LORD, for your enemies shall perish; all evildoers shall be scattered.\r\n\t\t\t But you have exalted my horn like that of the wild ox; you have poured over me fresh oil. \r\n\t\t\t My eyes have seen the downfall of my enemies; my ears have heard the doom of my evil assailants.\r\n\t\t\t The righteous flourish like the palm tree, and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.\r\n\t\t\t They are planted in the house of the LORD; they flourish in the courts of our God.\r\n\t\t\t In old age they still produce fruit; they are always green and full of sap,\r\n\t\t\t showing that the LORD is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The LORD is king, he is robed in majesty; the LORD is robed, he is girded with strength. He has established the world; it shall never be moved;\r\n\t\t\t your throne is established from of old; you are from everlasting.\r\n\t\t\t The floods have lifted up, O LORD, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their roaring.\r\n\t\t\t More majestic than the thunders of mighty waters, more majestic than the waves of the sea, majestic on high is the LORD! \r\n\t\t\t Your decrees are very sure; holiness befits your house, O LORD, forevermore.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t O LORD, you God of vengeance, you God of vengeance, shine forth!\r\n\t\t\t Rise up, O judge of the earth; give to the proud what they deserve!\r\n\t\t\t O LORD, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked exult?\r\n\t\t\t They pour out their arrogant words; all the evildoers boast.\r\n\t\t\t They crush your people, O LORD, and afflict your heritage.\r\n\t\t\t They kill the widow and the stranger, they murder the orphan,\r\n\t\t\t and they say, \"The LORD does not see; the God of Jacob does not perceive.\"\r\n\t\t\t Understand, O dullest of the people; fools, when will you be wise?\r\n\t\t\t He who planted the ear, does he not hear? He who formed the eye, does he not see?\r\n\t\t\t He who disciplines the nations, he who teaches knowledge to humankind, does he not chastise?\r\n\t\t\t The LORD knows our thoughts, that they are but an empty breath. \r\n\t\t\t Happy are those whom you discipline, O LORD, and whom you teach out of your law,\r\n\t\t\t giving them respite from days of trouble, until a pit is dug for the wicked.\r\n\t\t\t For the LORD will not forsake his people; he will not abandon his heritage;\r\n\t\t\t for justice will return to the righteous, and all the upright in heart will follow it.\r\n\t\t\t Who rises up for me against the wicked? Who stands up for me against evildoers?\r\n\t\t\t If the LORD had not been my help, my soul would soon have lived in the land of silence.\r\n\t\t\t When I thought, \"My foot is slipping,\" your steadfast love, O LORD, held me up.\r\n\t\t\t When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul.\r\n\t\t\t Can wicked rulers be allied with you, those who contrive mischief by statute?\r\n\t\t\t They band together against the life of the righteous, and condemn the innocent to death.\r\n\t\t\t But the LORD has become my stronghold, and my God the rock of my refuge.\r\n\t\t\t He will repay them for their iniquity and wipe them out for their wickedness; the LORD our God will wipe them out.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t O come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!\r\n\t\t\t Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!\r\n\t\t\t For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.\r\n\t\t\t In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also.\r\n\t\t\t The sea is his, for he made it, and the dry land, which his hands have formed.\r\n\t\t\t O come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker!\r\n\t\t\t For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. O that today you would listen to his voice!\r\n\t\t\t Do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah, as on the day at Massah in the wilderness,\r\n\t\t\t when your ancestors tested me, and put me to the proof, though they had seen my work.\r\n\t\t\t For forty years I loathed that generation and said, \"They are a people whose hearts go astray, and they do not regard my ways.\"\r\n\t\t\t Therefore in my anger I swore, \"They shall not enter my rest.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t O sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth.\r\n\t\t\t Sing to the LORD, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day.\r\n\t\t\t Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples.\r\n\t\t\t For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; he is to be revered above all gods.\r\n\t\t\t For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the LORD made the heavens.\r\n\t\t\t Honor and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.\r\n\t\t\t Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.\r\n\t\t\t Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering, and come into his courts.\r\n\t\t\t Worship the LORD in holy splendor; tremble before him, all the earth.\r\n\t\t\t Say among the nations, \"The LORD is king! The world is firmly established; it shall never be moved. He will judge the peoples with equity.\"\r\n\t\t\t Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it;\r\n\t\t\t let the field exult, and everything in it. Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy\r\n\t\t\t before the LORD; for he is coming, for he is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with his truth.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The LORD is king! Let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad!\r\n\t\t\t Clouds and thick darkness are all around him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.\r\n\t\t\t Fire goes before him, and consumes his adversaries on every side.\r\n\t\t\t His lightnings light up the world; the earth sees and trembles.\r\n\t\t\t The mountains melt like wax before the LORD, before the Lord of all the earth.\r\n\t\t\t The heavens proclaim his righteousness; and all the peoples behold his glory.\r\n\t\t\t All worshipers of images are put to shame, those who make their boast in worthless idols; all gods bow down before him.\r\n\t\t\t Zion hears and is glad, and the towns of Judah rejoice, because of your judgments, O God. \r\n\t\t\t For you, O LORD, are most high over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD loves those who hate evil; he guards the lives of his faithful; he rescues them from the hand of the wicked.\r\n\t\t\t Light dawns for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart. \r\n\t\t\t Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous, and give thanks to his holy name!\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [A Psalm.> O sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things. His right hand and his holy arm have gotten him victory.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD has made known his victory; he has revealed his vindication in the sight of the nations.\r\n\t\t\t He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.\r\n\t\t\t Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises.\r\n\t\t\t Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody.\r\n\t\t\t With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; the world and those who live in it.\r\n\t\t\t Let the floods clap their hands; let the hills sing together for joy\r\n\t\t\t at the presence of the LORD, for he is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The LORD is king; let the peoples tremble! He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake!\r\n\t\t\t The LORD is great in Zion; he is exalted over all the peoples.\r\n\t\t\t Let them praise your great and awesome name. Holy is he!\r\n\t\t\t Mighty King, lover of justice, you have established equity; you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob. \r\n\t\t\t Extol the LORD our God; worship at his footstool. Holy is he!\r\n\t\t\t Moses and Aaron were among his priests, Samuel also was among those who called on his name. They cried to the LORD, and he answered them.\r\n\t\t\t He spoke to them in the pillar of cloud; they kept his decrees, and the statutes that he gave them.\r\n\t\t\t O LORD our God, you answered them; you were a forgiving God to them, but an avenger of their wrongdoings.\r\n\t\t\t Extol the LORD our God, and worship at his holy mountain; for the LORD our God is holy.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [A Psalm of thanksgiving.> Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth.\r\n\t\t\t Worship the LORD with gladness; come into his presence with singing.\r\n\t\t\t Know that the LORD is God. It is he that made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. \r\n\t\t\t Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise. Give thanks to him, bless his name.\r\n\t\t\t For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [Of David. A Psalm.> I will sing of loyalty and of justice; to you, O LORD, I will sing.\r\n\t\t\t I will study the way that is blameless. When shall I attain it? I will walk with integrity of heart within my house;\r\n\t\t\t I will not set before my eyes anything that is base. I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me.\r\n\t\t\t Perverseness of heart shall be far from me; I will know nothing of evil.\r\n\t\t\t One who secretly slanders a neighbor I will destroy. A haughty look and an arrogant heart I will not tolerate.\r\n\t\t\t I will look with favor on the faithful in the land, so that they may live with me; whoever walks in the way that is blameless shall minister to me.\r\n\t\t\t No one who practices deceit shall remain in my house; no one who utters lies shall continue in my presence.\r\n\t\t\t Morning by morning I will destroy all the wicked in the land, cutting off all evildoers from the city of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [A prayer of one afflicted, when faint and pleading before the LORD.> Hear my prayer, O LORD; let my cry come to you.\r\n\t\t\t Do not hide your face from me in the day of my distress. Incline your ear to me; answer me speedily in the day when I call.\r\n\t\t\t For my days pass away like smoke, and my bones burn like a furnace.\r\n\t\t\t My heart is stricken and withered like grass; I am too wasted to eat my bread.\r\n\t\t\t Because of my loud groaning my bones cling to my skin.\r\n\t\t\t I am like an owl of the wilderness, like a little owl of the waste places.\r\n\t\t\t I lie awake; I am like a lonely bird on the housetop.\r\n\t\t\t All day long my enemies taunt me; those who deride me use my name for a curse.\r\n\t\t\t For I eat ashes like bread, and mingle tears with my drink,\r\n\t\t\t because of your indignation and anger; for you have lifted me up and thrown me aside.\r\n\t\t\t My days are like an evening shadow; I wither away like grass.\r\n\t\t\t But you, O LORD, are enthroned forever; your name endures to all generations.\r\n\t\t\t You will rise up and have compassion on Zion, for it is time to favor it; the appointed time has come.\r\n\t\t\t For your servants hold its stones dear, and have pity on its dust.\r\n\t\t\t The nations will fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth your glory.\r\n\t\t\t For the LORD will build up Zion; he will appear in his glory.\r\n\t\t\t He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and will not despise their prayer.\r\n\t\t\t Let this be recorded for a generation to come, so that a people yet unborn may praise the LORD:\r\n\t\t\t that he looked down from his holy height, from heaven the LORD looked at the earth,\r\n\t\t\t to hear the groans of the prisoners, to set free those who were doomed to die;\r\n\t\t\t so that the name of the LORD may be declared in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem,\r\n\t\t\t when peoples gather together, and kingdoms, to worship the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t He has broken my strength in midcourse; he has shortened my days.\r\n\t\t\t \"O my God,\" I say, \"do not take me away at the mid-point of my life, you whose years endure throughout all generations.\"\r\n\t\t\t Long ago you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.\r\n\t\t\t They will perish, but you endure; they will all wear out like a garment. You change them like clothing, and they pass away;\r\n\t\t\t but you are the same, and your years have no end.\r\n\t\t\t The children of your servants shall live secure; their offspring shall be established in your presence.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [Of David] Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name.\r\n\t\t\t Bless the LORD, O my soul, and do not forget all his benefits--\r\n\t\t\t who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases,\r\n\t\t\t who redeems your life from the Pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,\r\n\t\t\t who satisfies you with good as long as you live so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. \r\n\t\t\t The LORD works vindication and justice for all who are oppressed.\r\n\t\t\t He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.\r\n\t\t\t He will not always accuse, nor will he keep his anger forever.\r\n\t\t\t He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities.\r\n\t\t\t For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;\r\n\t\t\t as far as the east is from the west, so far he removes our transgressions from us.\r\n\t\t\t As a father has compassion for his children, so the LORD has compassion for those who fear him.\r\n\t\t\t For he knows how we were made; he remembers that we are dust.\r\n\t\t\t As for mortals, their days are like grass; they flourish like a flower of the field;\r\n\t\t\t for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more.\r\n\t\t\t But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children's children,\r\n\t\t\t to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.\r\n\t\t\t Bless the LORD, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, obedient to his spoken word.\r\n\t\t\t Bless the LORD, all his hosts, his ministers that do his will.\r\n\t\t\t Bless the LORD, all his works, in all places of his dominion. Bless the LORD, O my soul.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, you are very great. You are clothed with honor and majesty,\r\n\t\t\t wrapped in light as with a garment. You stretch out the heavens like a tent,\r\n\t\t\t you set the beams of your chambers on the waters, you make the clouds your chariot, you ride on the wings of the wind, \r\n\t\t\t you make the winds your messengers, fire and flame your ministers. \r\n\t\t\t You set the earth on its foundations, so that it shall never be shaken.\r\n\t\t\t You cover it with the deep as with a garment; the waters stood above the mountains.\r\n\t\t\t At your rebuke they flee; at the sound of your thunder they take to flight.\r\n\t\t\t They rose up to the mountains, ran down to the valleys to the place that you appointed for them.\r\n\t\t\t You set a boundary that they may not pass, so that they might not again cover the earth.\r\n\t\t\t You make springs gush forth in the valleys; they flow between the hills,\r\n\t\t\t giving drink to every wild animal; the wild asses quench their thirst.\r\n\t\t\t By the streams the birds of the air have their habitation; they sing among the branches. \r\n\t\t\t From your lofty abode you water the mountains; the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work.\r\n\t\t\t You cause the grass to grow for the cattle, and plants for people to use, to bring forth food from the earth, \r\n\t\t\t and wine to gladden the human heart, oil to make the face shine, and bread to strengthen the human heart.\r\n\t\t\t The trees of the LORD are watered abundantly, the cedars of Lebanon that he planted.\r\n\t\t\t In them the birds build their nests; the stork has its home in the fir trees.\r\n\t\t\t The high mountains are for the wild goats; the rocks are a refuge for the coneys.\r\n\t\t\t You have made the moon to mark the seasons; the sun knows its time for setting.\r\n\t\t\t You make darkness, and it is night, when all the animals of the forest come creeping out.\r\n\t\t\t The young lions roar for their prey, seeking their food from God.\r\n\t\t\t When the sun rises, they withdraw and lie down in their dens.\r\n\t\t\t People go out to their work and to their labor until the evening.\r\n\t\t\t O LORD, how manifold are your works! In wisdom you have made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.\r\n\t\t\t Yonder is the sea, great and wide, creeping things innumerable are there, living things both small and great.\r\n\t\t\t There go the ships, and Leviathan that you formed to sport in it.\r\n\t\t\t These all look to you to give them their food in due season;\r\n\t\t\t when you give to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are filled with good things.\r\n\t\t\t When you hide your face, they are dismayed; when you take away their breath, they die and return to their dust.\r\n\t\t\t When you send forth your spirit, they are created; and you renew the face of the ground. \r\n\t\t\t May the glory of the LORD endure forever; may the LORD rejoice in his works--\r\n\t\t\t who looks on the earth and it trembles, who touches the mountains and they smoke.\r\n\t\t\t I will sing to the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being.\r\n\t\t\t May my meditation be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Let sinners be consumed from the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless the LORD, O my soul. Praise the LORD!\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t O give thanks to the LORD, call on his name, make known his deeds among the peoples.\r\n\t\t\t Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wonderful works.\r\n\t\t\t Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.\r\n\t\t\t Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually.\r\n\t\t\t Remember the wonderful works he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he uttered,\r\n\t\t\t O offspring of his servant Abraham, children of Jacob, his chosen ones. \r\n\t\t\t He is the LORD our God; his judgments are in all the earth.\r\n\t\t\t He is mindful of his covenant forever, of the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations,\r\n\t\t\t the covenant that he made with Abraham, his sworn promise to Isaac,\r\n\t\t\t which he confirmed to Jacob as a statute, to Israel as an everlasting covenant,\r\n\t\t\t saying, \"To you I will give the land of Canaan as your portion for an inheritance.\"\r\n\t\t\t When they were few in number, of little account, and strangers in it,\r\n\t\t\t wandering from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another people,\r\n\t\t\t he allowed no one to oppress them; he rebuked kings on their account,\r\n\t\t\t saying, \"Do not touch my anointed ones; do my prophets no harm.\"\r\n\t\t\t When he summoned famine against the land, and broke every staff of bread,\r\n\t\t\t he had sent a man ahead of them, Joseph, who was sold as a slave.\r\n\t\t\t His feet were hurt with fetters, his neck was put in a collar of iron;\r\n\t\t\t until what he had said came to pass, the word of the LORD kept testing him.\r\n\t\t\t The king sent and released him; the ruler of the peoples set him free.\r\n\t\t\t He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all his possessions,\r\n\t\t\t to instruct his officials at his pleasure, and to teach his elders wisdom. \r\n\t\t\t Then Israel came to Egypt; Jacob lived as an alien in the land of Ham.\r\n\t\t\t And the LORD made his people very fruitful, and made them stronger than their foes,\r\n\t\t\t whose hearts he then turned to hate his people, to deal craftily with his servants.\r\n\t\t\t He sent his servant Moses, and Aaron whom he had chosen.\r\n\t\t\t They performed his signs among them, and miracles in the land of Ham.\r\n\t\t\t He sent darkness, and made the land dark; they rebelled against his words. \r\n\t\t\t He turned their waters into blood, and caused their fish to die.\r\n\t\t\t Their land swarmed with frogs, even in the chambers of their kings.\r\n\t\t\t He spoke, and there came swarms of flies, and gnats throughout their country.\r\n\t\t\t He gave them hail for rain, and lightning that flashed through their land.\r\n\t\t\t He struck their vines and fig trees, and shattered the trees of their country.\r\n\t\t\t He spoke, and the locusts came, and young locusts without number;\r\n\t\t\t they devoured all the vegetation in their land, and ate up the fruit of their ground.\r\n\t\t\t He struck down all the firstborn in their land, the first issue of all their strength.\r\n\t\t\t Then he brought Israel out with silver and gold, and there was no one among their tribes who stumbled. \r\n\t\t\t Egypt was glad when they departed, for dread of them had fallen upon it.\r\n\t\t\t He spread a cloud for a covering, and fire to give light by night.\r\n\t\t\t They asked, and he brought quails, and gave them food from heaven in abundance.\r\n\t\t\t He opened the rock, and water gushed out; it flowed through the desert like a river.\r\n\t\t\t For he remembered his holy promise, and Abraham, his servant.\r\n\t\t\t So he brought his people out with joy, his chosen ones with singing.\r\n\t\t\t He gave them the lands of the nations, and they took possession of the wealth of the peoples,\r\n\t\t\t that they might keep his statutes and observe his laws. Praise the LORD!\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Praise the LORD! O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever.\r\n\t\t\t Who can utter the mighty doings of the LORD, or declare all his praise?\r\n\t\t\t Happy are those who observe justice, who do righteousness at all times.\r\n\t\t\t Remember me, O LORD, when you show favor to your people; help me when you deliver them;\r\n\t\t\t that I may see the prosperity of your chosen ones, that I may rejoice in the gladness of your nation, that I may glory in your heritage.\r\n\t\t\t Both we and our ancestors have sinned; we have committed iniquity, have done wickedly.\r\n\t\t\t Our ancestors, when they were in Egypt, did not consider your wonderful works; they did not remember the abundance of your steadfast love, but rebelled against the Most High at the Red Sea. \r\n\t\t\t Yet he saved them for his name's sake, so that he might make known his mighty power.\r\n\t\t\t He rebuked the Red Sea, and it became dry; he led them through the deep as through a desert. \r\n\t\t\t So he saved them from the hand of the foe, and delivered them from the hand of the enemy.\r\n\t\t\t The waters covered their adversaries; not one of them was left.\r\n\t\t\t Then they believed his words; they sang his praise.\r\n\t\t\t But they soon forgot his works; they did not wait for his counsel.\r\n\t\t\t But they had a wanton craving in the wilderness, and put God to the test in the desert;\r\n\t\t\t he gave them what they asked, but sent a wasting disease among them.\r\n\t\t\t They were jealous of Moses in the camp, and of Aaron, the holy one of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan, and covered the faction of Abiram.\r\n\t\t\t Fire also broke out in their company; the flame burned up the wicked.\r\n\t\t\t They made a calf at Horeb and worshiped a cast image.\r\n\t\t\t They exchanged the glory of God for the image of an ox that eats grass. \r\n\t\t\t They forgot God, their Savior, who had done great things in Egypt,\r\n\t\t\t wondrous works in the land of Ham, and awesome deeds by the Red Sea.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore he said he would destroy them-- had not Moses, his chosen one, stood in the breach before him, to turn away his wrath from destroying them.\r\n\t\t\t Then they despised the pleasant land, having no faith in his promise.\r\n\t\t\t They grumbled in their tents, and did not obey the voice of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore he raised his hand and swore to them that he would make them fall in the wilderness,\r\n\t\t\t and would disperse their descendants among the nations, scattering them over the lands. \r\n\t\t\t Then they attached themselves to the Baal of Peor, and ate sacrifices offered to the dead;\r\n\t\t\t they provoked the LORD to anger with their deeds, and a plague broke out among them.\r\n\t\t\t Then Phinehas stood up and interceded, and the plague was stopped.\r\n\t\t\t And that has been reckoned to him as righteousness from generation to generation forever.\r\n\t\t\t They angered the LORD at the waters of Meribah, and it went ill with Moses on their account;\r\n\t\t\t for they made his spirit bitter, and he spoke words that were rash.\r\n\t\t\t They did not destroy the peoples, as the LORD commanded them,\r\n\t\t\t but they mingled with the nations and learned to do as they did.\r\n\t\t\t They served their idols, which became a snare to them.\r\n\t\t\t They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to the demons;\r\n\t\t\t they poured out innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan; and the land was polluted with blood.\r\n\t\t\t Thus they became unclean by their acts, and prostituted themselves in their doings.\r\n\t\t\t Then the anger of the LORD was kindled against his people, and he abhorred his heritage;\r\n\t\t\t he gave them into the hand of the nations, so that those who hated them ruled over them.\r\n\t\t\t Their enemies oppressed them, and they were brought into subjection under their power.\r\n\t\t\t Many times he delivered them, but they were rebellious in their purposes, and were brought low through their iniquity.\r\n\t\t\t Nevertheless he regarded their distress when he heard their cry.\r\n\t\t\t For their sake he remembered his covenant, and showed compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love.\r\n\t\t\t He caused them to be pitied by all who held them captive.\r\n\t\t\t Save us, O LORD our God, and gather us from among the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in your praise.\r\n\t\t\t Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. And let all the people say, \"Amen.\" Praise the LORD!\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever.\r\n\t\t\t Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, those he redeemed from trouble\r\n\t\t\t and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south. \r\n\t\t\t Some wandered in desert wastes, finding no way to an inhabited town;\r\n\t\t\t hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted within them.\r\n\t\t\t Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress;\r\n\t\t\t he led them by a straight way, until they reached an inhabited town.\r\n\t\t\t Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wonderful works to humankind.\r\n\t\t\t For he satisfies the thirsty, and the hungry he fills with good things.\r\n\t\t\t Some sat in darkness and in gloom, prisoners in misery and in irons,\r\n\t\t\t for they had rebelled against the words of God, and spurned the counsel of the Most High.\r\n\t\t\t Their hearts were bowed down with hard labor; they fell down, with no one to help.\r\n\t\t\t Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress;\r\n\t\t\t he brought them out of darkness and gloom, and broke their bonds asunder.\r\n\t\t\t Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wonderful works to humankind.\r\n\t\t\t For he shatters the doors of bronze, and cuts in two the bars of iron.\r\n\t\t\t Some were sick through their sinful ways, and because of their iniquities endured affliction; \r\n\t\t\t they loathed any kind of food, and they drew near to the gates of death.\r\n\t\t\t Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress;\r\n\t\t\t he sent out his word and healed them, and delivered them from destruction.\r\n\t\t\t Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wonderful works to humankind.\r\n\t\t\t And let them offer thanksgiving sacrifices, and tell of his deeds with songs of joy.\r\n\t\t\t Some went down to the sea in ships, doing business on the mighty waters;\r\n\t\t\t they saw the deeds of the LORD, his wondrous works in the deep.\r\n\t\t\t For he commanded and raised the stormy wind, which lifted up the waves of the sea.\r\n\t\t\t They mounted up to heaven, they went down to the depths; their courage melted away in their calamity;\r\n\t\t\t they reeled and staggered like drunkards, and were at their wits' end.\r\n\t\t\t Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he brought them out from their distress;\r\n\t\t\t he made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed.\r\n\t\t\t Then they were glad because they had quiet, and he brought them to their desired haven.\r\n\t\t\t Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wonderful works to humankind.\r\n\t\t\t Let them extol him in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.\r\n\t\t\t He turns rivers into a desert, springs of water into thirsty ground,\r\n\t\t\t a fruitful land into a salty waste, because of the wickedness of its inhabitants.\r\n\t\t\t He turns a desert into pools of water, a parched land into springs of water.\r\n\t\t\t And there he lets the hungry live, and they establish a town to live in;\r\n\t\t\t they sow fields, and plant vineyards, and get a fruitful yield.\r\n\t\t\t By his blessing they multiply greatly, and he does not let their cattle decrease.\r\n\t\t\t When they are diminished and brought low through oppression, trouble, and sorrow,\r\n\t\t\t he pours contempt on princes and makes them wander in trackless wastes;\r\n\t\t\t but he raises up the needy out of distress, and makes their families like flocks.\r\n\t\t\t The upright see it and are glad; and all wickedness stops its mouth.\r\n\t\t\t Let those who are wise give heed to these things, and consider the steadfast love of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [A Song. A Psalm of David] My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make melody. Awake, my soul! \r\n\t\t\t Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn.\r\n\t\t\t I will give thanks to you, O LORD, among the peoples, and I will sing praises to you among the nations.\r\n\t\t\t For your steadfast love is higher than the heavens, and your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.\r\n\t\t\t Be exalted, O God, above the heavens, and let your glory be over all the earth.\r\n\t\t\t Give victory with your right hand, and answer me, so that those whom you love may be rescued.\r\n\t\t\t God has promised in his sanctuary: \"With exultation I will divide up Shechem, and portion out the Vale of Succoth. \r\n\t\t\t Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine; Ephraim is my helmet; Judah is my scepter.\r\n\t\t\t Moab is my washbasin; on Edom I hurl my shoe; over Philistia I shout in triumph.\"\r\n\t\t\t Who will bring me to the fortified city? Who will lead me to Edom?\r\n\t\t\t Have you not rejected us, O God? You do not go out, O God, with our armies.\r\n\t\t\t O grant us help against the foe, for human help is worthless.\r\n\t\t\t With God we shall do valiantly; it is he who will tread down our foes.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [To the leader. Of David. A Psalm.> Do not be silent, O God of my praise.\r\n\t\t\t For wicked and deceitful mouths are opened against me, speaking against me with lying tongues.\r\n\t\t\t They beset me with words of hate, and attack me without cause.\r\n\t\t\t In return for my love they accuse me, even while I make prayer for them. \r\n\t\t\t So they reward me evil for good, and hatred for my love.\r\n\t\t\t They say, \"Appoint a wicked man against him; let an accuser stand on his right. \r\n\t\t\t When he is tried, let him be found guilty; let his prayer be counted as sin.\r\n\t\t\t May his days be few; may another seize his position.\r\n\t\t\t May his children be orphans, and his wife a widow.\r\n\t\t\t May his children wander about and beg; may they be driven out of the ruins they inhabit. \r\n\t\t\t May the creditor seize all that he has; may strangers plunder the fruits of his toil.\r\n\t\t\t May there be no one to do him a kindness, nor anyone to pity his orphaned children.\r\n\t\t\t May his posterity be cut off; may his name be blotted out in the second generation.\r\n\t\t\t May the iniquity of his father be remembered before the LORD, and do not let the sin of his mother be blotted out. \r\n\t\t\t Let them be before the LORD continually, and may his memory be cut off from the earth. \r\n\t\t\t For he did not remember to show kindness, but pursued the poor and needy and the brokenhearted to their death.\r\n\t\t\t He loved to curse; let curses come on him. He did not like blessing; may it be far from him.\r\n\t\t\t He clothed himself with cursing as his coat, may it soak into his body like water, like oil into his bones.\r\n\t\t\t May it be like a garment that he wraps around himself, like a belt that he wears every day.\"\r\n\t\t\t May that be the reward of my accusers from the LORD, of those who speak evil against my life.\r\n\t\t\t But you, O LORD my Lord, act on my behalf for your name's sake; because your steadfast love is good, deliver me.\r\n\t\t\t For I am poor and needy, and my heart is pierced within me.\r\n\t\t\t I am gone like a shadow at evening; I am shaken off like a locust.\r\n\t\t\t My knees are weak through fasting; my body has become gaunt.\r\n\t\t\t I am an object of scorn to my accusers; when they see me, they shake their heads.\r\n\t\t\t Help me, O LORD my God! Save me according to your steadfast love.\r\n\t\t\t Let them know that this is your hand; you, O LORD, have done it.\r\n\t\t\t Let them curse, but you will bless. Let my assailants be put to shame; may your servant be glad. \r\n\t\t\t May my accusers be clothed with dishonor; may they be wrapped in their own shame as in a mantle.\r\n\t\t\t With my mouth I will give great thanks to the LORD; I will praise him in the midst of the throng.\r\n\t\t\t For he stands at the right hand of the needy, to save them from those who would condemn them to death.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [Of David. A Psalm.> The LORD says to my lord, \"Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool.\"\r\n\t\t\t The LORD sends out from Zion your mighty scepter. Rule in the midst of your foes.\r\n\t\t\t Your people will offer themselves willingly on the day you lead your forces on the holy mountains. From the womb of the morning, like dew, your youth will come to you. \r\n\t\t\t The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind, \"You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.\" \r\n\t\t\t The Lord is at your right hand; he will shatter kings on the day of his wrath.\r\n\t\t\t He will execute judgment among the nations, filling them with corpses; he will shatter heads over the wide earth.\r\n\t\t\t He will drink from the stream by the path; therefore he will lift up his head.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Praise the LORD! I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation.\r\n\t\t\t Great are the works of the LORD, studied by all who delight in them.\r\n\t\t\t Full of honor and majesty is his work, and his righteousness endures forever.\r\n\t\t\t He has gained renown by his wonderful deeds; the LORD is gracious and merciful.\r\n\t\t\t He provides food for those who fear him; he is ever mindful of his covenant.\r\n\t\t\t He has shown his people the power of his works, in giving them the heritage of the nations.\r\n\t\t\t The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy.\r\n\t\t\t They are established forever and ever, to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.\r\n\t\t\t He sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant forever. Holy and awesome is his name.\r\n\t\t\t The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Praise the LORD! Happy are those who fear the LORD, who greatly delight in his commandments.\r\n\t\t\t Their descendants will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.\r\n\t\t\t Wealth and riches are in their houses, and their righteousness endures forever.\r\n\t\t\t They rise in the darkness as a light for the upright; they are gracious, merciful, and righteous.\r\n\t\t\t It is well with those who deal generously and lend, who conduct their affairs with justice.\r\n\t\t\t For the righteous will never be moved; they will be remembered forever.\r\n\t\t\t They are not afraid of evil tidings; their hearts are firm, secure in the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Their hearts are steady, they will not be afraid; in the end they will look in triumph on their foes.\r\n\t\t\t They have distributed freely, they have given to the poor; their righteousness endures forever; their horn is exalted in honor.\r\n\t\t\t The wicked see it and are angry; they gnash their teeth and melt away; the desire of the wicked comes to nothing.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Praise the LORD! Praise, O servants of the LORD; praise the name of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time on and forevermore.\r\n\t\t\t From the rising of the sun to its setting the name of the LORD is to be praised.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens.\r\n\t\t\t Who is like the LORD our God, who is seated on high,\r\n\t\t\t who looks far down on the heavens and the earth?\r\n\t\t\t He raises the poor from the dust, and lifts the needy from the ash heap,\r\n\t\t\t to make them sit with princes, with the princes of his people.\r\n\t\t\t He gives the barren woman a home, making her the joyous mother of children. Praise the LORD!\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t When Israel went out from Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of strange language,\r\n\t\t\t Judah became God's sanctuary, Israel his dominion. \r\n\t\t\t The sea looked and fled; Jordan turned back.\r\n\t\t\t The mountains skipped like rams, the hills like lambs.\r\n\t\t\t Why is it, O sea, that you flee? O Jordan, that you turn back?\r\n\t\t\t O mountains, that you skip like rams? O hills, like lambs?\r\n\t\t\t Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the God of Jacob,\r\n\t\t\t who turns the rock into a pool of water, the flint into a spring of water.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness.\r\n\t\t\t Why should the nations say, \"Where is their God?\"\r\n\t\t\t Our God is in the heavens; he does whatever he pleases.\r\n\t\t\t Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands.\r\n\t\t\t They have mouths, but do not speak; eyes, but do not see.\r\n\t\t\t They have ears, but do not hear; noses, but do not smell.\r\n\t\t\t They have hands, but do not feel; feet, but do not walk; they make no sound in their throats.\r\n\t\t\t Those who make them are like them; so are all who trust in them.\r\n\t\t\t O Israel, trust in the LORD! He is their help and their shield.\r\n\t\t\t O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD! He is their help and their shield.\r\n\t\t\t You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD! He is their help and their shield.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD has been mindful of us; he will bless us; he will bless the house of Israel; he will bless the house of Aaron;\r\n\t\t\t he will bless those who fear the LORD, both small and great.\r\n\t\t\t May the LORD give you increase, both you and your children.\r\n\t\t\t May you be blessed by the LORD, who made heaven and earth.\r\n\t\t\t The heavens are the LORD's heavens, but the earth he has given to human beings.\r\n\t\t\t The dead do not praise the LORD, nor do any that go down into silence.\r\n\t\t\t But we will bless the LORD from this time on and forevermore. Praise the LORD!\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t I love the LORD, because he has heard my voice and my supplications.\r\n\t\t\t Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live.\r\n\t\t\t The snares of death encompassed me; the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me; I suffered distress and anguish.\r\n\t\t\t Then I called on the name of the LORD: \"O LORD, I pray, save my life!\"\r\n\t\t\t Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; our God is merciful.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD protects the simple; when I was brought low, he saved me.\r\n\t\t\t Return, O my soul, to your rest, for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you.\r\n\t\t\t For you have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling.\r\n\t\t\t I walk before the LORD in the land of the living.\r\n\t\t\t I kept my faith, even when I said, \"I am greatly afflicted\";\r\n\t\t\t I said in my consternation, \"Everyone is a liar.\"\r\n\t\t\t What shall I return to the LORD for all his bounty to me?\r\n\t\t\t I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD,\r\n\t\t\t I will pay my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people.\r\n\t\t\t Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his faithful ones.\r\n\t\t\t O LORD, I am your servant; I am your servant, the child of your serving girl. You have loosed my bonds.\r\n\t\t\t I will offer to you a thanksgiving sacrifice and call on the name of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t I will pay my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people,\r\n\t\t\t in the courts of the house of the LORD, in your midst, O Jerusalem. Praise the LORD!\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Praise the LORD, all you nations! Extol him, all you peoples!\r\n\t\t\t For great is his steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD!\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his steadfast love endures forever!\r\n\t\t\t Let Israel say, \"His steadfast love endures forever.\"\r\n\t\t\t Let the house of Aaron say, \"His steadfast love endures forever.\"\r\n\t\t\t Let those who fear the LORD say, \"His steadfast love endures forever.\"\r\n\t\t\t Out of my distress I called on the LORD; the LORD answered me and set me in a broad place.\r\n\t\t\t With the LORD on my side I do not fear. What can mortals do to me?\r\n\t\t\t The LORD is on my side to help me; I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.\r\n\t\t\t It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to put confidence in mortals.\r\n\t\t\t It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.\r\n\t\t\t All nations surrounded me; in the name of the LORD I cut them off!\r\n\t\t\t They surrounded me, surrounded me on every side; in the name of the LORD I cut them off!\r\n\t\t\t They surrounded me like bees; they blazed like a fire of thorns; in the name of the LORD I cut them off! \r\n\t\t\t I was pushed hard, so that I was falling, but the LORD helped me. \r\n\t\t\t The LORD is my strength and my might; he has become my salvation.\r\n\t\t\t There are glad songs of victory in the tents of the righteous: \"The right hand of the LORD does valiantly;\r\n\t\t\t the right hand of the LORD is exalted; the right hand of the LORD does valiantly.\"\r\n\t\t\t I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD has punished me severely, but he did not give me over to death.\r\n\t\t\t Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t This is the gate of the LORD; the righteous shall enter through it.\r\n\t\t\t I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation.\r\n\t\t\t The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.\r\n\t\t\t This is the LORD's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.\r\n\t\t\t This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. \r\n\t\t\t Save us, we beseech you, O LORD! O LORD, we beseech you, give us success!\r\n\t\t\t Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the LORD. We bless you from the house of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD is God, and he has given us light. Bind the festal procession with branches, up to the horns of the altar. \r\n\t\t\t You are my God, and I will give thanks to you; you are my God, I will extol you.\r\n\t\t\t O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Happy are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Happy are those who keep his decrees, who seek him with their whole heart,\r\n\t\t\t who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways.\r\n\t\t\t You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently.\r\n\t\t\t O that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes!\r\n\t\t\t Then I shall not be put to shame, having my eyes fixed on all your commandments.\r\n\t\t\t I will praise you with an upright heart, when I learn your righteous ordinances.\r\n\t\t\t I will observe your statutes; do not utterly forsake me.\r\n\t\t\t How can young people keep their way pure? By guarding it according to your word.\r\n\t\t\t With my whole heart I seek you; do not let me stray from your commandments.\r\n\t\t\t I treasure your word in my heart, so that I may not sin against you.\r\n\t\t\t Blessed are you, O LORD; teach me your statutes.\r\n\t\t\t With my lips I declare all the ordinances of your mouth.\r\n\t\t\t I delight in the way of your decrees as much as in all riches.\r\n\t\t\t I will meditate on your precepts, and fix my eyes on your ways.\r\n\t\t\t I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.\r\n\t\t\t Deal bountifully with your servant, so that I may live and observe your word.\r\n\t\t\t Open my eyes, so that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.\r\n\t\t\t I live as an alien in the land; do not hide your commandments from me.\r\n\t\t\t My soul is consumed with longing for your ordinances at all times.\r\n\t\t\t You rebuke the insolent, accursed ones, who wander from your commandments;\r\n\t\t\t take away from me their scorn and contempt, for I have kept your decrees.\r\n\t\t\t Even though princes sit plotting against me, your servant will meditate on your statutes.\r\n\t\t\t Your decrees are my delight, they are my counselors.\r\n\t\t\t My soul clings to the dust; revive me according to your word.\r\n\t\t\t When I told of my ways, you answered me; teach me your statutes.\r\n\t\t\t Make me understand the way of your precepts, and I will meditate on your wondrous works.\r\n\t\t\t My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to your word.\r\n\t\t\t Put false ways far from me; and graciously teach me your law.\r\n\t\t\t I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I set your ordinances before me.\r\n\t\t\t I cling to your decrees, O LORD; let me not be put to shame.\r\n\t\t\t I run the way of your commandments, for you enlarge my understanding.\r\n\t\t\t Teach me, O LORD, the way of your statutes, and I will observe it to the end.\r\n\t\t\t Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart.\r\n\t\t\t Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it.\r\n\t\t\t Turn my heart to your decrees, and not to selfish gain.\r\n\t\t\t Turn my eyes from looking at vanities; give me life in your ways.\r\n\t\t\t Confirm to your servant your promise, which is for those who fear you.\r\n\t\t\t Turn away the disgrace that I dread, for your ordinances are good.\r\n\t\t\t See, I have longed for your precepts; in your righteousness give me life.\r\n\t\t\t Let your steadfast love come to me, O LORD, your salvation according to your promise.\r\n\t\t\t Then I shall have an answer for those who taunt me, for I trust in your word.\r\n\t\t\t Do not take the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, for my hope is in your ordinances.\r\n\t\t\t I will keep your law continually, forever and ever.\r\n\t\t\t I shall walk at liberty, for I have sought your precepts.\r\n\t\t\t I will also speak of your decrees before kings, and shall not be put to shame;\r\n\t\t\t I find my delight in your commandments, because I love them.\r\n\t\t\t I revere your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on your statutes.\r\n\t\t\t Remember your word to your servant, in which you have made me hope.\r\n\t\t\t This is my comfort in my distress, that your promise gives me life.\r\n\t\t\t The arrogant utterly deride me, but I do not turn away from your law.\r\n\t\t\t When I think of your ordinances from of old, I take comfort, O LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Hot indignation seizes me because of the wicked, those who forsake your law.\r\n\t\t\t Your statutes have been my songs wherever I make my home.\r\n\t\t\t I remember your name in the night, O LORD, and keep your law.\r\n\t\t\t This blessing has fallen to me, for I have kept your precepts.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD is my portion; I promise to keep your words.\r\n\t\t\t I implore your favor with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise.\r\n\t\t\t When I think of your ways, I turn my feet to your decrees;\r\n\t\t\t I hurry and do not delay to keep your commandments.\r\n\t\t\t Though the cords of the wicked ensnare me, I do not forget your law.\r\n\t\t\t At midnight I rise to praise you, because of your righteous ordinances.\r\n\t\t\t I am a companion of all who fear you, of those who keep your precepts.\r\n\t\t\t The earth, O LORD, is full of your steadfast love; teach me your statutes.\r\n\t\t\t You have dealt well with your servant, O LORD, according to your word.\r\n\t\t\t Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe in your commandments.\r\n\t\t\t Before I was humbled I went astray, but now I keep your word.\r\n\t\t\t You are good and do good; teach me your statutes.\r\n\t\t\t The arrogant smear me with lies, but with my whole heart I keep your precepts.\r\n\t\t\t Their hearts are fat and gross, but I delight in your law.\r\n\t\t\t It is good for me that I was humbled, so that I might learn your statutes.\r\n\t\t\t The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.\r\n\t\t\t Your hands have made and fashioned me; give me understanding that I may learn your commandments.\r\n\t\t\t Those who fear you shall see me and rejoice, because I have hoped in your word.\r\n\t\t\t I know, O LORD, that your judgments are right, and that in faithfulness you have humbled me.\r\n\t\t\t Let your steadfast love become my comfort according to your promise to your servant.\r\n\t\t\t Let your mercy come to me, that I may live; for your law is my delight.\r\n\t\t\t Let the arrogant be put to shame, because they have subverted me with guile; as for me, I will meditate on your precepts.\r\n\t\t\t Let those who fear you turn to me, so that they may know your decrees.\r\n\t\t\t May my heart be blameless in your statutes, so that I may not be put to shame.\r\n\t\t\t My soul languishes for your salvation; I hope in your word.\r\n\t\t\t My eyes fail with watching for your promise; I ask, \"When will you comfort me?\"\r\n\t\t\t For I have become like a wineskin in the smoke, yet I have not forgotten your statutes.\r\n\t\t\t How long must your servant endure? When will you judge those who persecute me?\r\n\t\t\t The arrogant have dug pitfalls for me; they flout your law.\r\n\t\t\t All your commandments are enduring; I am persecuted without cause; help me!\r\n\t\t\t They have almost made an end of me on earth; but I have not forsaken your precepts.\r\n\t\t\t In your steadfast love spare my life, so that I may keep the decrees of your mouth.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD exists forever; your word is firmly fixed in heaven.\r\n\t\t\t Your faithfulness endures to all generations; you have established the earth, and it stands fast.\r\n\t\t\t By your appointment they stand today, for all things are your servants.\r\n\t\t\t If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my misery.\r\n\t\t\t I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have given me life.\r\n\t\t\t I am yours; save me, for I have sought your precepts.\r\n\t\t\t The wicked lie in wait to destroy me, but I consider your decrees.\r\n\t\t\t I have seen a limit to all perfection, but your commandment is exceedingly broad.\r\n\t\t\t Oh, how I love your law! It is my meditation all day long.\r\n\t\t\t Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is always with me.\r\n\t\t\t I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your decrees are my meditation.\r\n\t\t\t I understand more than the aged, for I keep your precepts.\r\n\t\t\t I hold back my feet from every evil way, in order to keep your word.\r\n\t\t\t I do not turn away from your ordinances, for you have taught me.\r\n\t\t\t How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!\r\n\t\t\t Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way.\r\n\t\t\t Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.\r\n\t\t\t I have sworn an oath and confirmed it, to observe your righteous ordinances.\r\n\t\t\t I am severely afflicted; give me life, O LORD, according to your word.\r\n\t\t\t Accept my offerings of praise, O LORD, and teach me your ordinances.\r\n\t\t\t I hold my life in my hand continually, but I do not forget your law.\r\n\t\t\t The wicked have laid a snare for me, but I do not stray from your precepts.\r\n\t\t\t Your decrees are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart.\r\n\t\t\t I incline my heart to perform your statutes forever, to the end.\r\n\t\t\t I hate the double-minded, but I love your law.\r\n\t\t\t You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word.\r\n\t\t\t Go away from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the commandments of my God.\r\n\t\t\t Uphold me according to your promise, that I may live, and let me not be put to shame in my hope.\r\n\t\t\t Hold me up, that I may be safe and have regard for your statutes continually.\r\n\t\t\t You spurn all who go astray from your statutes; for their cunning is in vain.\r\n\t\t\t All the wicked of the earth you count as dross; therefore I love your decrees.\r\n\t\t\t My flesh trembles for fear of you, and I am afraid of your judgments.\r\n\t\t\t I have done what is just and right; do not leave me to my oppressors.\r\n\t\t\t Guarantee your servant's well-being; do not let the godless oppress me.\r\n\t\t\t My eyes fail from watching for your salvation, and for the fulfillment of your righteous promise.\r\n\t\t\t Deal with your servant according to your steadfast love, and teach me your statutes.\r\n\t\t\t I am your servant; give me understanding, so that I may know your decrees.\r\n\t\t\t It is time for the LORD to act, for your law has been broken.\r\n\t\t\t Truly I love your commandments more than gold, more than fine gold.\r\n\t\t\t Truly I direct my steps by all your precepts; I hate every false way. \r\n\t\t\t Your decrees are wonderful; therefore my soul keeps them.\r\n\t\t\t The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.\r\n\t\t\t With open mouth I pant, because I long for your commandments.\r\n\t\t\t Turn to me and be gracious to me, as is your custom toward those who love your name.\r\n\t\t\t Keep my steps steady according to your promise, and never let iniquity have dominion over me.\r\n\t\t\t Redeem me from human oppression, that I may keep your precepts.\r\n\t\t\t Make your face shine upon your servant, and teach me your statutes.\r\n\t\t\t My eyes shed streams of tears because your law is not kept.\r\n\t\t\t You are righteous, O LORD, and your judgments are right.\r\n\t\t\t You have appointed your decrees in righteousness and in all faithfulness.\r\n\t\t\t My zeal consumes me because my foes forget your words.\r\n\t\t\t Your promise is well tried, and your servant loves it.\r\n\t\t\t I am small and despised, yet I do not forget your precepts.\r\n\t\t\t Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and your law is the truth.\r\n\t\t\t Trouble and anguish have come upon me, but your commandments are my delight.\r\n\t\t\t Your decrees are righteous forever; give me understanding that I may live.\r\n\t\t\t With my whole heart I cry; answer me, O LORD. I will keep your statutes.\r\n\t\t\t I cry to you; save me, that I may observe your decrees.\r\n\t\t\t I rise before dawn and cry for help; I put my hope in your words.\r\n\t\t\t My eyes are awake before each watch of the night, that I may meditate on your promise.\r\n\t\t\t In your steadfast love hear my voice; O LORD, in your justice preserve my life.\r\n\t\t\t Those who persecute me with evil purpose draw near; they are far from your law.\r\n\t\t\t Yet you are near, O LORD, and all your commandments are true.\r\n\t\t\t Long ago I learned from your decrees that you have established them forever.\r\n\t\t\t Look on my misery and rescue me, for I do not forget your law.\r\n\t\t\t Plead my cause and redeem me; give me life according to your promise.\r\n\t\t\t Salvation is far from the wicked, for they do not seek your statutes.\r\n\t\t\t Great is your mercy, O LORD; give me life according to your justice.\r\n\t\t\t Many are my persecutors and my adversaries, yet I do not swerve from your decrees.\r\n\t\t\t I look at the faithless with disgust, because they do not keep your commands.\r\n\t\t\t Consider how I love your precepts; preserve my life according to your steadfast love.\r\n\t\t\t The sum of your word is truth; and every one of your righteous ordinances endures forever.\r\n\t\t\t Princes persecute me without cause, but my heart stands in awe of your words.\r\n\t\t\t I rejoice at your word like one who finds great spoil.\r\n\t\t\t I hate and abhor falsehood, but I love your law.\r\n\t\t\t Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous ordinances.\r\n\t\t\t Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble.\r\n\t\t\t I hope for your salvation, O LORD, and I fulfill your commandments.\r\n\t\t\t My soul keeps your decrees; I love them exceedingly.\r\n\t\t\t I keep your precepts and decrees, for all my ways are before you.\r\n\t\t\t Let my cry come before you, O LORD; give me understanding according to your word.\r\n\t\t\t Let my supplication come before you; deliver me according to your promise.\r\n\t\t\t My lips will pour forth praise, because you teach me your statutes.\r\n\t\t\t My tongue will sing of your promise, for all your commandments are right.\r\n\t\t\t Let your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen your precepts.\r\n\t\t\t I long for your salvation, O LORD, and your law is my delight.\r\n\t\t\t Let me live that I may praise you, and let your ordinances help me.\r\n\t\t\t I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek out your servant, for I do not forget your commandments.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [A Song of Ascents.> In my distress I cry to the LORD, that he may answer me:\r\n\t\t\t \"Deliver me, O LORD, from lying lips, from a deceitful tongue.\"\r\n\t\t\t What shall be given to you? And what more shall be done to you, you deceitful tongue?\r\n\t\t\t A warrior's sharp arrows, with glowing coals of the broom tree!\r\n\t\t\t Woe is me, that I am an alien in Meshech, that I must live among the tents of Kedar.\r\n\t\t\t Too long have I had my dwelling among those who hate peace.\r\n\t\t\t I am for peace; but when I speak, they are for war.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [A Song of Ascents.> I lift up my eyes to the hills-- from where will my help come?\r\n\t\t\t My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.\r\n\t\t\t He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber.\r\n\t\t\t He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade at your right hand.\r\n\t\t\t The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time on and forevermore.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [A Song of Ascents. Of David] I was glad when they said to me, \"Let us go to the house of the LORD!\"\r\n\t\t\t Our feet are standing within your gates, O Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t Jerusalem-- built as a city that is bound firmly together.\r\n\t\t\t To it the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, as was decreed for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t For there the thrones for judgment were set up, the thrones of the house of David.\r\n\t\t\t Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: \"May they prosper who love you.\r\n\t\t\t Peace be within your walls, and security within your towers.\"\r\n\t\t\t For the sake of my relatives and friends I will say, \"Peace be within you.\"\r\n\t\t\t For the sake of the house of the LORD our God, I will seek your good.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [A Song of Ascents.> To you I lift up my eyes, O you who are enthroned in the heavens!\r\n\t\t\t As the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the LORD our God, until he has mercy upon us.\r\n\t\t\t Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us, for we have had more than enough of contempt.\r\n\t\t\t Our soul has had more than its fill of the scorn of those who are at ease, of the contempt of the proud.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [A Song of Ascents. Of David] If it had not been the LORD who was on our side-- let Israel now say--\r\n\t\t\t if it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when our enemies attacked us,\r\n\t\t\t then they would have swallowed us up alive, when their anger was kindled against us;\r\n\t\t\t then the flood would have swept us away, the torrent would have gone over us;\r\n\t\t\t then over us would have gone the raging waters.\r\n\t\t\t Blessed be the LORD, who has not given us as prey to their teeth.\r\n\t\t\t We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken, and we have escaped.\r\n\t\t\t Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [A Song of Ascents.> Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever.\r\n\t\t\t As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds his people, from this time on and forevermore.\r\n\t\t\t For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest on the land allotted to the righteous, so that the righteous might not stretch out their hands to do wrong.\r\n\t\t\t Do good, O LORD, to those who are good, and to those who are upright in their hearts.\r\n\t\t\t But those who turn aside to their own crooked ways the LORD will lead away with evildoers. Peace be upon Israel!\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [A Song of Ascents.> When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream. \r\n\t\t\t Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then it was said among the nations, \"The LORD has done great things for them.\"\r\n\t\t\t The LORD has done great things for us, and we rejoiced.\r\n\t\t\t Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like the watercourses in the Negeb.\r\n\t\t\t May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy.\r\n\t\t\t Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, carrying their sheaves.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [A Song of Ascents. Of Solomon.> Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD guards the city, the guard keeps watch in vain.\r\n\t\t\t It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives sleep to his beloved. \r\n\t\t\t Sons are indeed a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward.\r\n\t\t\t Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the sons of one's youth.\r\n\t\t\t Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them. He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [A Song of Ascents.> Happy is everyone who fears the LORD, who walks in his ways.\r\n\t\t\t You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be happy, and it shall go well with you.\r\n\t\t\t Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table.\r\n\t\t\t Thus shall the man be blessed who fears the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD bless you from Zion. May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life.\r\n\t\t\t May you see your children's children. Peace be upon Israel!\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [A Song of Ascents.> \"Often have they attacked me from my youth\"-- let Israel now say--\r\n\t\t\t \"often have they attacked me from my youth, yet they have not prevailed against me.\r\n\t\t\t The plowers plowed on my back; they made their furrows long.\"\r\n\t\t\t The LORD is righteous; he has cut the cords of the wicked.\r\n\t\t\t May all who hate Zion be put to shame and turned backward.\r\n\t\t\t Let them be like the grass on the housetops that withers before it grows up,\r\n\t\t\t with which reapers do not fill their hands or binders of sheaves their arms,\r\n\t\t\t while those who pass by do not say, \"The blessing of the LORD be upon you! We bless you in the name of the LORD!\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [A Song of Ascents.> Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications!\r\n\t\t\t If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand?\r\n\t\t\t But there is forgiveness with you, so that you may be revered.\r\n\t\t\t I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope;\r\n\t\t\t my soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning, more than those who watch for the morning.\r\n\t\t\t O Israel, hope in the LORD! For with the LORD there is steadfast love, and with him is great power to redeem.\r\n\t\t\t It is he who will redeem Israel from all its iniquities.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [A Song of Ascents. Of David] O LORD, my heart is not lifted up, my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me.\r\n\t\t\t But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; my soul is like the weaned child that is with me. \r\n\t\t\t O Israel, hope in the LORD from this time on and forevermore.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [A Song of Ascents.> O LORD, remember in David's favor all the hardships he endured;\r\n\t\t\t how he swore to the LORD and vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob,\r\n\t\t\t \"I will not enter my house or get into my bed;\r\n\t\t\t I will not give sleep to my eyes or slumber to my eyelids,\r\n\t\t\t until I find a place for the LORD, a dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob.\"\r\n\t\t\t We heard of it in Ephrathah; we found it in the fields of Jaar.\r\n\t\t\t \"Let us go to his dwelling place; let us worship at his footstool.\"\r\n\t\t\t Rise up, O LORD, and go to your resting place, you and the ark of your might.\r\n\t\t\t Let your priests be clothed with righteousness, and let your faithful shout for joy.\r\n\t\t\t For your servant David's sake do not turn away the face of your anointed one.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD swore to David a sure oath from which he will not turn back: \"One of the sons of your body I will set on your throne.\r\n\t\t\t If your sons keep my covenant and my decrees that I shall teach them, their sons also, forevermore, shall sit on your throne.\"\r\n\t\t\t For the LORD has chosen Zion; he has desired it for his habitation:\r\n\t\t\t \"This is my resting place forever; here I will reside, for I have desired it.\r\n\t\t\t I will abundantly bless its provisions; I will satisfy its poor with bread.\r\n\t\t\t Its priests I will clothe with salvation, and its faithful will shout for joy.\r\n\t\t\t There I will cause a horn to sprout up for David; I have prepared a lamp for my anointed one.\r\n\t\t\t His enemies I will clothe with disgrace, but on him, his crown will gleam.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [A Song of Ascents.> How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity!\r\n\t\t\t It is like the precious oil on the head, running down upon the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down over the collar of his robes.\r\n\t\t\t It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion. For there the LORD ordained his blessing, life forevermore.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [A Song of Ascents.> Come, bless the LORD, all you servants of the LORD, who stand by night in the house of the LORD!\r\n\t\t\t Lift up your hands to the holy place, and bless the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t May the LORD, maker of heaven and earth, bless you from Zion.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Praise the LORD! Praise the name of the LORD; give praise, O servants of the LORD,\r\n\t\t\t you that stand in the house of the LORD, in the courts of the house of our God.\r\n\t\t\t Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good; sing to his name, for he is gracious.\r\n\t\t\t For the LORD has chosen Jacob for himself, Israel as his own possession.\r\n\t\t\t For I know that the LORD is great; our Lord is above all gods.\r\n\t\t\t Whatever the LORD pleases he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps.\r\n\t\t\t He it is who makes the clouds rise at the end of the earth; he makes lightnings for the rain and brings out the wind from his storehouses.\r\n\t\t\t He it was who struck down the firstborn of Egypt, both human beings and animals;\r\n\t\t\t he sent signs and wonders into your midst, O Egypt, against Pharaoh and all his servants.\r\n\t\t\t He struck down many nations and killed mighty kings--\r\n\t\t\t Sihon, king of the Amorites, and Og, king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan--\r\n\t\t\t and gave their land as a heritage, a heritage to his people Israel.\r\n\t\t\t Your name, O LORD, endures forever, your renown, O LORD, throughout all ages.\r\n\t\t\t For the LORD will vindicate his people, and have compassion on his servants.\r\n\t\t\t The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of human hands.\r\n\t\t\t They have mouths, but they do not speak; they have eyes, but they do not see;\r\n\t\t\t they have ears, but they do not hear, and there is no breath in their mouths.\r\n\t\t\t Those who make them and all who trust them shall become like them.\r\n\t\t\t O house of Israel, bless the LORD! O house of Aaron, bless the LORD!\r\n\t\t\t O house of Levi, bless the LORD! You that fear the LORD, bless the LORD!\r\n\t\t\t Blessed be the LORD from Zion, he who resides in Jerusalem. Praise the LORD!\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.\r\n\t\t\t O give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures forever.\r\n\t\t\t O give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever;\r\n\t\t\t who alone does great wonders, for his steadfast love endures forever;\r\n\t\t\t who by understanding made the heavens, for his steadfast love endures forever;\r\n\t\t\t who spread out the earth on the waters, for his steadfast love endures forever;\r\n\t\t\t who made the great lights, for his steadfast love endures forever;\r\n\t\t\t the sun to rule over the day, for his steadfast love endures forever;\r\n\t\t\t the moon and stars to rule over the night, for his steadfast love endures forever;\r\n\t\t\t who struck Egypt through their firstborn, for his steadfast love endures forever;\r\n\t\t\t and brought Israel out from among them, for his steadfast love endures forever;\r\n\t\t\t with a strong hand and an outstretched arm, for his steadfast love endures forever;\r\n\t\t\t who divided the Red Sea in two, for his steadfast love endures forever; \r\n\t\t\t and made Israel pass through the midst of it, for his steadfast love endures forever;\r\n\t\t\t but overthrew Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea, for his steadfast love endures forever; \r\n\t\t\t who led his people through the wilderness, for his steadfast love endures forever;\r\n\t\t\t who struck down great kings, for his steadfast love endures forever;\r\n\t\t\t and killed famous kings, for his steadfast love endures forever;\r\n\t\t\t Sihon, king of the Amorites, for his steadfast love endures forever;\r\n\t\t\t and Og, king of Bashan, for his steadfast love endures forever;\r\n\t\t\t and gave their land as a heritage, for his steadfast love endures forever;\r\n\t\t\t a heritage to his servant Israel, for his steadfast love endures forever.\r\n\t\t\t It is he who remembered us in our low estate, for his steadfast love endures forever;\r\n\t\t\t and rescued us from our foes, for his steadfast love endures forever;\r\n\t\t\t who gives food to all flesh, for his steadfast love endures forever.\r\n\t\t\t O give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t By the rivers of Babylon-- there we sat down and there we wept when we remembered Zion.\r\n\t\t\t On the willows there we hung up our harps. \r\n\t\t\t For there our captors asked us for songs, and our tormentors asked for mirth, saying, \"Sing us one of the songs of Zion!\"\r\n\t\t\t How could we sing the LORD's song in a foreign land?\r\n\t\t\t If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand wither!\r\n\t\t\t Let my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth, if I do not remember you, if I do not set Jerusalem above my highest joy.\r\n\t\t\t Remember, O LORD, against the Edomites the day of Jerusalem's fall, how they said, \"Tear it down! Tear it down! Down to its foundations!\"\r\n\t\t\t O daughter Babylon, you devastator! Happy shall they be who pay you back what you have done to us! \r\n\t\t\t Happy shall they be who take your little ones and dash them against the rock!\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [Of David] I give you thanks, O LORD, with my whole heart; before the gods I sing your praise;\r\n\t\t\t I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness; for you have exalted your name and your word above everything. \r\n\t\t\t On the day I called, you answered me, you increased my strength of soul. \r\n\t\t\t All the kings of the earth shall praise you, O LORD, for they have heard the words of your mouth.\r\n\t\t\t They shall sing of the ways of the LORD, for great is the glory of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t For though the LORD is high, he regards the lowly; but the haughty he perceives from far away.\r\n\t\t\t Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve me against the wrath of my enemies; you stretch out your hand, and your right hand delivers me.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [To the leader. Of David. A Psalm.> O LORD, you have searched me and known me.\r\n\t\t\t You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from far away.\r\n\t\t\t You search out my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways.\r\n\t\t\t Even before a word is on my tongue, O LORD, you know it completely.\r\n\t\t\t You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me.\r\n\t\t\t Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is so high that I cannot attain it.\r\n\t\t\t Where can I go from your spirit? Or where can I flee from your presence?\r\n\t\t\t If I ascend to heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there.\r\n\t\t\t If I take the wings of the morning and settle at the farthest limits of the sea,\r\n\t\t\t even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me fast.\r\n\t\t\t If I say, \"Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light around me become night,\"\r\n\t\t\t even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is as bright as the day, for darkness is as light to you.\r\n\t\t\t For it was you who formed my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother's womb.\r\n\t\t\t I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; that I know very well.\r\n\t\t\t My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth.\r\n\t\t\t Your eyes beheld my unformed substance. In your book were written all the days that were formed for me, when none of them as yet existed.\r\n\t\t\t How weighty to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!\r\n\t\t\t I try to count them-- they are more than the sand; I come to the end-- I am still with you.\r\n\t\t\t O that you would kill the wicked, O God, and that the bloodthirsty would depart from me--\r\n\t\t\t those who speak of you maliciously, and lift themselves up against you for evil! \r\n\t\t\t Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD? And do I not loathe those who rise up against you?\r\n\t\t\t I hate them with perfect hatred; I count them my enemies.\r\n\t\t\t Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts.\r\n\t\t\t See if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [To the leader. A Psalm of David] Deliver me, O LORD, from evildoers; protect me from those who are violent,\r\n\t\t\t who plan evil things in their minds and stir up wars continually.\r\n\t\t\t They make their tongue sharp as a snake's, and under their lips is the venom of vipers. Selah \r\n\t\t\t Guard me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; protect me from the violent who have planned my downfall.\r\n\t\t\t The arrogant have hidden a trap for me, and with cords they have spread a net, along the road they have set snares for me. Selah \r\n\t\t\t I say to the LORD, \"You are my God; give ear, O LORD, to the voice of my supplications.\"\r\n\t\t\t O LORD, my Lord, my strong deliverer, you have covered my head in the day of battle.\r\n\t\t\t Do not grant, O LORD, the desires of the wicked; do not further their evil plot. Selah\r\n\t\t\t Those who surround me lift up their heads; let the mischief of their lips overwhelm them! \r\n\t\t\t Let burning coals fall on them! Let them be flung into pits, no more to rise!\r\n\t\t\t Do not let the slanderer be established in the land; let evil speedily hunt down the violent!\r\n\t\t\t I know that the LORD maintains the cause of the needy, and executes justice for the poor.\r\n\t\t\t Surely the righteous shall give thanks to your name; the upright shall live in your presence.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [A Psalm of David] I call upon you, O LORD; come quickly to me; give ear to my voice when I call to you.\r\n\t\t\t Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice.\r\n\t\t\t Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips.\r\n\t\t\t Do not turn my heart to any evil, to busy myself with wicked deeds in company with those who work iniquity; do not let me eat of their delicacies.\r\n\t\t\t Let the righteous strike me; let the faithful correct me. Never let the oil of the wicked anoint my head, for my prayer is continually against their wicked deeds. \r\n\t\t\t When they are given over to those who shall condemn them, then they shall learn that my words were pleasant.\r\n\t\t\t Like a rock that one breaks apart and shatters on the land, so shall their bones be strewn at the mouth of Sheol. \r\n\t\t\t But my eyes are turned toward you, O GOD, my Lord; in you I seek refuge; do not leave me defenseless.\r\n\t\t\t Keep me from the trap that they have laid for me, and from the snares of evildoers.\r\n\t\t\t Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I alone escape.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [A Maskil of David. When he was in the cave. A Prayer.> With my voice I cry to the LORD; with my voice I make supplication to the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t I pour out my complaint before him; I tell my trouble before him.\r\n\t\t\t When my spirit is faint, you know my way. In the path where I walk they have hidden a trap for me.\r\n\t\t\t Look on my right hand and see-- there is no one who takes notice of me; no refuge remains to me; no one cares for me.\r\n\t\t\t I cry to you, O LORD; I say, \"You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.\"\r\n\t\t\t Give heed to my cry, for I am brought very low. Save me from my persecutors, for they are too strong for me.\r\n\t\t\t Bring me out of prison, so that I may give thanks to your name. The righteous will surround me, for you will deal bountifully with me.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [A Psalm of David] Hear my prayer, O LORD; give ear to my supplications in your faithfulness; answer me in your righteousness.\r\n\t\t\t Do not enter into judgment with your servant, for no one living is righteous before you.\r\n\t\t\t For the enemy has pursued me, crushing my life to the ground, making me sit in darkness like those long dead.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore my spirit faints within me; my heart within me is appalled.\r\n\t\t\t I remember the days of old, I think about all your deeds, I meditate on the works of your hands.\r\n\t\t\t I stretch out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. Selah \r\n\t\t\t Answer me quickly, O LORD; my spirit fails. Do not hide your face from me, or I shall be like those who go down to the Pit.\r\n\t\t\t Let me hear of your steadfast love in the morning, for in you I put my trust. Teach me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.\r\n\t\t\t Save me, O LORD, from my enemies; I have fled to you for refuge. \r\n\t\t\t Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. Let your good spirit lead me on a level path.\r\n\t\t\t For your name's sake, O LORD, preserve my life. In your righteousness bring me out of trouble.\r\n\t\t\t In your steadfast love cut off my enemies, and destroy all my adversaries, for I am your servant.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [Of David] Blessed be the LORD, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle;\r\n\t\t\t my rock and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield, in whom I take refuge, who subdues the peoples under me. \r\n\t\t\t O LORD, what are human beings that you regard them, or mortals that you think of them?\r\n\t\t\t They are like a breath; their days are like a passing shadow.\r\n\t\t\t Bow your heavens, O LORD, and come down; touch the mountains so that they smoke.\r\n\t\t\t Make the lightning flash and scatter them; send out your arrows and rout them.\r\n\t\t\t Stretch out your hand from on high; set me free and rescue me from the mighty waters, from the hand of aliens,\r\n\t\t\t whose mouths speak lies, and whose right hands are false.\r\n\t\t\t I will sing a new song to you, O God; upon a ten-stringed harp I will play to you,\r\n\t\t\t the one who gives victory to kings, who rescues his servant David.\r\n\t\t\t Rescue me from the cruel sword, and deliver me from the hand of aliens, whose mouths speak lies, and whose right hands are false.\r\n\t\t\t May our sons in their youth be like plants full grown, our daughters like corner pillars, cut for the building of a palace.\r\n\t\t\t May our barns be filled, with produce of every kind; may our sheep increase by thousands, by tens of thousands in our fields,\r\n\t\t\t and may our cattle be heavy with young. May there be no breach in the walls, no exile, and no cry of distress in our streets. \r\n\t\t\t Happy are the people to whom such blessings fall; happy are the people whose God is the LORD.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t [Praise. Of David] I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever.\r\n\t\t\t Every day I will bless you, and praise your name forever and ever.\r\n\t\t\t Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; his greatness is unsearchable.\r\n\t\t\t One generation shall laud your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts.\r\n\t\t\t On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.\r\n\t\t\t The might of your awesome deeds shall be proclaimed, and I will declare your greatness.\r\n\t\t\t They shall celebrate the fame of your abundant goodness, and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD is good to all, and his compassion is over all that he has made.\r\n\t\t\t All your works shall give thanks to you, O LORD, and all your faithful shall bless you.\r\n\t\t\t They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom, and tell of your power,\r\n\t\t\t to make known to all people your mighty deeds, and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. \r\n\t\t\t Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations. The LORD is faithful in all his words, and gracious in all his deeds. \r\n\t\t\t The LORD upholds all who are falling, and raises up all who are bowed down.\r\n\t\t\t The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season.\r\n\t\t\t You open your hand, satisfying the desire of every living thing.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD is just in all his ways, and kind in all his doings.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.\r\n\t\t\t He fulfills the desire of all who fear him; he also hears their cry, and saves them.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD watches over all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy.\r\n\t\t\t My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD, and all flesh will bless his holy name forever and ever.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD, O my soul!\r\n\t\t\t I will praise the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God all my life long.\r\n\t\t\t Do not put your trust in princes, in mortals, in whom there is no help.\r\n\t\t\t When their breath departs, they return to the earth; on that very day their plans perish.\r\n\t\t\t Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD their God,\r\n\t\t\t who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; who keeps faith forever;\r\n\t\t\t who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets the prisoners free;\r\n\t\t\t the LORD opens the eyes of the blind. The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD watches over the strangers; he upholds the orphan and the widow, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD will reign forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations. Praise the LORD!\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Praise the LORD! How good it is to sing praises to our God; for he is gracious, and a song of praise is fitting.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the outcasts of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t He heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds.\r\n\t\t\t He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names.\r\n\t\t\t Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD lifts up the downtrodden; he casts the wicked to the ground.\r\n\t\t\t Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; make melody to our God on the lyre.\r\n\t\t\t He covers the heavens with clouds, prepares rain for the earth, makes grass grow on the hills.\r\n\t\t\t He gives to the animals their food, and to the young ravens when they cry.\r\n\t\t\t His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the speed of a runner;\r\n\t\t\t but the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.\r\n\t\t\t Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem! Praise your God, O Zion!\r\n\t\t\t For he strengthens the bars of your gates; he blesses your children within you.\r\n\t\t\t He grants peace within your borders; he fills you with the finest of wheat. \r\n\t\t\t He sends out his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly.\r\n\t\t\t He gives snow like wool; he scatters frost like ashes.\r\n\t\t\t He hurls down hail like crumbs-- who can stand before his cold?\r\n\t\t\t He sends out his word, and melts them; he makes his wind blow, and the waters flow.\r\n\t\t\t He declares his word to Jacob, his statutes and ordinances to Israel.\r\n\t\t\t He has not dealt thus with any other nation; they do not know his ordinances. Praise the LORD!\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD from the heavens; praise him in the heights!\r\n\t\t\t Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his host!\r\n\t\t\t Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars!\r\n\t\t\t Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens!\r\n\t\t\t Let them praise the name of the LORD, for he commanded and they were created.\r\n\t\t\t He established them forever and ever; he fixed their bounds, which cannot be passed. \r\n\t\t\t Praise the LORD from the earth, you sea monsters and all deeps,\r\n\t\t\t fire and hail, snow and frost, stormy wind fulfilling his command!\r\n\t\t\t Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars!\r\n\t\t\t Wild animals and all cattle, creeping things and flying birds!\r\n\t\t\t Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth!\r\n\t\t\t Young men and women alike, old and young together!\r\n\t\t\t Let them praise the name of the LORD, for his name alone is exalted; his glory is above earth and heaven.\r\n\t\t\t He has raised up a horn for his people, praise for all his faithful, for the people of Israel who are close to him. Praise the LORD!\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Praise the LORD! Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise in the assembly of the faithful.\r\n\t\t\t Let Israel be glad in its Maker; let the children of Zion rejoice in their King.\r\n\t\t\t Let them praise his name with dancing, making melody to him with tambourine and lyre.\r\n\t\t\t For the LORD takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with victory.\r\n\t\t\t Let the faithful exult in glory; let them sing for joy on their couches.\r\n\t\t\t Let the high praises of God be in their throats and two-edged swords in their hands,\r\n\t\t\t to execute vengeance on the nations and punishment on the peoples,\r\n\t\t\t to bind their kings with fetters and their nobles with chains of iron,\r\n\t\t\t to execute on them the judgment decreed. This is glory for all his faithful ones. Praise the LORD!\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Praise the LORD! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty firmament! \r\n\t\t\t Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his surpassing greatness!\r\n\t\t\t Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp!\r\n\t\t\t Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe!\r\n\t\t\t Praise him with clanging cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals!\r\n\t\t\t Let everything that breathes praise the LORD! Praise the LORD!\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:\r\n\t\t\t For learning about wisdom and instruction, for understanding words of insight,\r\n\t\t\t for gaining instruction in wise dealing, righteousness, justice, and equity;\r\n\t\t\t to teach shrewdness to the simple, knowledge and prudence to the young--\r\n\t\t\t Let the wise also hear and gain in learning, and the discerning acquire skill,\r\n\t\t\t to understand a proverb and a figure, the words of the wise and their riddles.\r\n\t\t\t The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.\r\n\t\t\t Hear, my child, your father's instruction, and do not reject your mother's teaching;\r\n\t\t\t for they are a fair garland for your head, and pendants for your neck.\r\n\t\t\t My child, if sinners entice you, do not consent.\r\n\t\t\t If they say, \"Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood; let us wantonly ambush the innocent;\r\n\t\t\t like Sheol let us swallow them alive and whole, like those who go down to the Pit.\r\n\t\t\t We shall find all kinds of costly things; we shall fill our houses with booty.\r\n\t\t\t Throw in your lot among us; we will all have one purse\"--\r\n\t\t\t my child, do not walk in their way, keep your foot from their paths;\r\n\t\t\t for their feet run to evil, and they hurry to shed blood.\r\n\t\t\t For in vain is the net baited while the bird is looking on;\r\n\t\t\t yet they lie in wait-- to kill themselves! and set an ambush-- for their own lives!\r\n\t\t\t Such is the end of all who are greedy for gain; it takes away the life of its possessors. \r\n\t\t\t Wisdom cries out in the street; in the squares she raises her voice.\r\n\t\t\t At the busiest corner she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:\r\n\t\t\t \"How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge?\r\n\t\t\t Give heed to my reproof; I will pour out my thoughts to you; I will make my words known to you.\r\n\t\t\t Because I have called and you refused, have stretched out my hand and no one heeded,\r\n\t\t\t and because you have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof,\r\n\t\t\t I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when panic strikes you,\r\n\t\t\t when panic strikes you like a storm, and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you.\r\n\t\t\t Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently, but will not find me.\r\n\t\t\t Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD,\r\n\t\t\t would have none of my counsel, and despised all my reproof,\r\n\t\t\t therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way and be sated with their own devices.\r\n\t\t\t For waywardness kills the simple, and the complacency of fools destroys them;\r\n\t\t\t but those who listen to me will be secure and will live at ease, without dread of disaster.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t My child, if you accept my words and treasure up my commandments within you,\r\n\t\t\t making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding;\r\n\t\t\t if you indeed cry out for insight, and raise your voice for understanding;\r\n\t\t\t if you seek it like silver, and search for it as for hidden treasures--\r\n\t\t\t then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.\r\n\t\t\t For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;\r\n\t\t\t he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk blamelessly,\r\n\t\t\t guarding the paths of justice and preserving the way of his faithful ones.\r\n\t\t\t Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path;\r\n\t\t\t for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul;\r\n\t\t\t prudence will watch over you; and understanding will guard you.\r\n\t\t\t It will save you from the way of evil, from those who speak perversely,\r\n\t\t\t who forsake the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness,\r\n\t\t\t who rejoice in doing evil and delight in the perverseness of evil;\r\n\t\t\t those whose paths are crooked, and who are devious in their ways.\r\n\t\t\t You will be saved from the loose woman, from the adulteress with her smooth words, \r\n\t\t\t who forsakes the partner of her youth and forgets her sacred covenant;\r\n\t\t\t for her way leads down to death, and her paths to the shades; \r\n\t\t\t those who go to her never come back, nor do they regain the paths of life.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore walk in the way of the good, and keep to the paths of the just.\r\n\t\t\t For the upright will abide in the land, and the innocent will remain in it;\r\n\t\t\t but the wicked will be cut off from the land, and the treacherous will be rooted out of it.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t My child, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments;\r\n\t\t\t for length of days and years of life and abundant welfare they will give you.\r\n\t\t\t Do not let loyalty and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.\r\n\t\t\t So you will find favor and good repute in the sight of God and of people.\r\n\t\t\t Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight.\r\n\t\t\t In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.\r\n\t\t\t Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.\r\n\t\t\t It will be a healing for your flesh and a refreshment for your body.\r\n\t\t\t Honor the LORD with your substance and with the first fruits of all your produce;\r\n\t\t\t then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.\r\n\t\t\t My child, do not despise the LORD's discipline or be weary of his reproof,\r\n\t\t\t for the LORD reproves the one he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.\r\n\t\t\t Happy are those who find wisdom, and those who get understanding,\r\n\t\t\t for her income is better than silver, and her revenue better than gold.\r\n\t\t\t She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her.\r\n\t\t\t Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.\r\n\t\t\t Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.\r\n\t\t\t She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called happy.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens;\r\n\t\t\t by his knowledge the deeps broke open, and the clouds drop down the dew.\r\n\t\t\t My child, do not let these escape from your sight: keep sound wisdom and prudence,\r\n\t\t\t and they will be life for your soul and adornment for your neck.\r\n\t\t\t Then you will walk on your way securely and your foot will not stumble.\r\n\t\t\t If you sit down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. \r\n\t\t\t Do not be afraid of sudden panic, or of the storm that strikes the wicked;\r\n\t\t\t for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught.\r\n\t\t\t Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it. \r\n\t\t\t Do not say to your neighbor, \"Go, and come again, tomorrow I will give it\"-- when you have it with you.\r\n\t\t\t Do not plan harm against your neighbor who lives trustingly beside you.\r\n\t\t\t Do not quarrel with anyone without cause, when no harm has been done to you.\r\n\t\t\t Do not envy the violent and do not choose any of their ways;\r\n\t\t\t for the perverse are an abomination to the LORD, but the upright are in his confidence.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD's curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the abode of the righteous.\r\n\t\t\t Toward the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he shows favor.\r\n\t\t\t The wise will inherit honor, but stubborn fools, disgrace.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Listen, children, to a father's instruction, and be attentive, that you may gain insight; \r\n\t\t\t for I give you good precepts: do not forsake my teaching.\r\n\t\t\t When I was a son with my father, tender, and my mother's favorite,\r\n\t\t\t he taught me, and said to me, \"Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments, and live.\r\n\t\t\t Get wisdom; get insight: do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth.\r\n\t\t\t Do not forsake her, and she will keep you; love her, and she will guard you.\r\n\t\t\t The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever else you get, get insight.\r\n\t\t\t Prize her highly, and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her.\r\n\t\t\t She will place on your head a fair garland; she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.\"\r\n\t\t\t Hear, my child, and accept my words, that the years of your life may be many.\r\n\t\t\t I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you in the paths of uprightness.\r\n\t\t\t When you walk, your step will not be hampered; and if you run, you will not stumble.\r\n\t\t\t Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; guard her, for she is your life.\r\n\t\t\t Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of evildoers.\r\n\t\t\t Avoid it; do not go on it; turn away from it and pass on.\r\n\t\t\t For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong; they are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone stumble.\r\n\t\t\t For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.\r\n\t\t\t But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.\r\n\t\t\t The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what they stumble over.\r\n\t\t\t My child, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.\r\n\t\t\t Do not let them escape from your sight; keep them within your heart.\r\n\t\t\t For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh.\r\n\t\t\t Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.\r\n\t\t\t Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you.\r\n\t\t\t Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you.\r\n\t\t\t Keep straight the path of your feet, and all your ways will be sure.\r\n\t\t\t Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t My child, be attentive to my wisdom; incline your ear to my understanding,\r\n\t\t\t so that you may hold on to prudence, and your lips may guard knowledge.\r\n\t\t\t For the lips of a loose woman drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil; \r\n\t\t\t but in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword.\r\n\t\t\t Her feet go down to death; her steps follow the path to Sheol.\r\n\t\t\t She does not keep straight to the path of life; her ways wander, and she does not know it.\r\n\t\t\t And now, my child, listen to me, and do not depart from the words of my mouth. \r\n\t\t\t Keep your way far from her, and do not go near the door of her house;\r\n\t\t\t or you will give your honor to others, and your years to the merciless,\r\n\t\t\t and strangers will take their fill of your wealth, and your labors will go to the house of an alien;\r\n\t\t\t and at the end of your life you will groan, when your flesh and body are consumed,\r\n\t\t\t and you say, \"Oh, how I hated discipline, and my heart despised reproof!\r\n\t\t\t I did not listen to the voice of my teachers or incline my ear to my instructors.\r\n\t\t\t Now I am at the point of utter ruin in the public assembly.\"\r\n\t\t\t Drink water from your own cistern, flowing water from your own well.\r\n\t\t\t Should your springs be scattered abroad, streams of water in the streets?\r\n\t\t\t Let them be for yourself alone, and not for sharing with strangers.\r\n\t\t\t Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth,\r\n\t\t\t a lovely deer, a graceful doe. May her breasts satisfy you at all times; may you be intoxicated always by her love.\r\n\t\t\t Why should you be intoxicated, my son, by another woman and embrace the bosom of an adulteress?\r\n\t\t\t For human ways are under the eyes of the LORD, and he examines all their paths.\r\n\t\t\t The iniquities of the wicked ensnare them, and they are caught in the toils of their sin.\r\n\t\t\t They die for lack of discipline, and because of their great folly they are lost.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t My child, if you have given your pledge to your neighbor, if you have bound yourself to another, \r\n\t\t\t you are snared by the utterance of your lips, caught by the words of your mouth. \r\n\t\t\t So do this, my child, and save yourself, for you have come into your neighbor's power: go, hurry, and plead with your neighbor. \r\n\t\t\t Give your eyes no sleep and your eyelids no slumber;\r\n\t\t\t save yourself like a gazelle from the hunter, like a bird from the hand of the fowler. \r\n\t\t\t Go to the ant, you lazybones; consider its ways, and be wise.\r\n\t\t\t Without having any chief or officer or ruler,\r\n\t\t\t it prepares its food in summer, and gathers its sustenance in harvest.\r\n\t\t\t How long will you lie there, O lazybones? When will you rise from your sleep?\r\n\t\t\t A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest,\r\n\t\t\t and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want, like an armed warrior.\r\n\t\t\t A scoundrel and a villain goes around with crooked speech,\r\n\t\t\t winking the eyes, shuffling the feet, pointing the fingers,\r\n\t\t\t with perverted mind devising evil, continually sowing discord;\r\n\t\t\t on such a one calamity will descend suddenly; in a moment, damage beyond repair.\r\n\t\t\t There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are an abomination to him:\r\n\t\t\t haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,\r\n\t\t\t a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that hurry to run to evil,\r\n\t\t\t a lying witness who testifies falsely, and one who sows discord in a family.\r\n\t\t\t My child, keep your father's commandment, and do not forsake your mother's teaching.\r\n\t\t\t Bind them upon your heart always; tie them around your neck.\r\n\t\t\t When you walk, they will lead you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; and when you awake, they will talk with you.\r\n\t\t\t For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life,\r\n\t\t\t to preserve you from the wife of another, from the smooth tongue of the adulteress. \r\n\t\t\t Do not desire her beauty in your heart, and do not let her capture you with her eyelashes;\r\n\t\t\t for a prostitute's fee is only a loaf of bread, but the wife of another stalks a man's very life. \r\n\t\t\t Can fire be carried in the bosom without burning one's clothes?\r\n\t\t\t Or can one walk on hot coals without scorching the feet?\r\n\t\t\t So is he who sleeps with his neighbor's wife; no one who touches her will go unpunished.\r\n\t\t\t Thieves are not despised who steal only to satisfy their appetite when they are hungry.\r\n\t\t\t Yet if they are caught, they will pay sevenfold; they will forfeit all the goods of their house.\r\n\t\t\t But he who commits adultery has no sense; he who does it destroys himself.\r\n\t\t\t He will get wounds and dishonor, and his disgrace will not be wiped away.\r\n\t\t\t For jealousy arouses a husband's fury, and he shows no restraint when he takes revenge.\r\n\t\t\t He will accept no compensation, and refuses a bribe no matter how great.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t My child, keep my words and store up my commandments with you;\r\n\t\t\t keep my commandments and live, keep my teachings as the apple of your eye;\r\n\t\t\t bind them on your fingers, write them on the tablet of your heart.\r\n\t\t\t Say to wisdom, \"You are my sister,\" and call insight your intimate friend,\r\n\t\t\t that they may keep you from the loose woman, from the adulteress with her smooth words. \r\n\t\t\t For at the window of my house I looked out through my lattice,\r\n\t\t\t and I saw among the simple ones, I observed among the youths, a young man without sense,\r\n\t\t\t passing along the street near her corner, taking the road to her house\r\n\t\t\t in the twilight, in the evening, at the time of night and darkness.\r\n\t\t\t Then a woman comes toward him, decked out like a prostitute, wily of heart. \r\n\t\t\t She is loud and wayward; her feet do not stay at home;\r\n\t\t\t now in the street, now in the squares, and at every corner she lies in wait.\r\n\t\t\t She seizes him and kisses him, and with impudent face she says to him:\r\n\t\t\t \"I had to offer sacrifices, and today I have paid my vows;\r\n\t\t\t so now I have come out to meet you, to seek you eagerly, and I have found you!\r\n\t\t\t I have decked my couch with coverings, colored spreads of Egyptian linen;\r\n\t\t\t I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.\r\n\t\t\t Come, let us take our fill of love until morning; let us delight ourselves with love.\r\n\t\t\t For my husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey.\r\n\t\t\t He took a bag of money with him; he will not come home until full moon.\"\r\n\t\t\t With much seductive speech she persuades him; with her smooth talk she compels him.\r\n\t\t\t Right away he follows her, and goes like an ox to the slaughter, or bounds like a stag toward the trap \r\n\t\t\t until an arrow pierces its entrails. He is like a bird rushing into a snare, not knowing that it will cost him his life.\r\n\t\t\t And now, my children, listen to me, and be attentive to the words of my mouth.\r\n\t\t\t Do not let your hearts turn aside to her ways; do not stray into her paths.\r\n\t\t\t for many are those she has laid low, and numerous are her victims.\r\n\t\t\t Her house is the way to Sheol, going down to the chambers of death.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Does not wisdom call, and does not understanding raise her voice?\r\n\t\t\t On the heights, beside the way, at the crossroads she takes her stand;\r\n\t\t\t beside the gates in front of the town, at the entrance of the portals she cries out:\r\n\t\t\t \"To you, O people, I call, and my cry is to all that live.\r\n\t\t\t O simple ones, learn prudence; acquire intelligence, you who lack it.\r\n\t\t\t Hear, for I will speak noble things, and from my lips will come what is right;\r\n\t\t\t for my mouth will utter truth; wickedness is an abomination to my lips.\r\n\t\t\t All the words of my mouth are righteous; there is nothing twisted or crooked in them.\r\n\t\t\t They are all straight to one who understands and right to those who find knowledge.\r\n\t\t\t Take my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold;\r\n\t\t\t for wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.\r\n\t\t\t I, wisdom, live with prudence, and I attain knowledge and discretion. \r\n\t\t\t The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.\r\n\t\t\t I have good advice and sound wisdom; I have insight, I have strength.\r\n\t\t\t By me kings reign, and rulers decree what is just;\r\n\t\t\t by me rulers rule, and nobles, all who govern rightly.\r\n\t\t\t I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me.\r\n\t\t\t Riches and honor are with me, enduring wealth and prosperity.\r\n\t\t\t My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold, and my yield than choice silver.\r\n\t\t\t I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice,\r\n\t\t\t endowing with wealth those who love me, and filling their treasuries.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD created me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of long ago. \r\n\t\t\t Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth.\r\n\t\t\t When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water.\r\n\t\t\t Before the mountains had been shaped, before the hills, I was brought forth--\r\n\t\t\t when he had not yet made earth and fields, or the world's first bits of soil. \r\n\t\t\t When he established the heavens, I was there, when he drew a circle on the face of the deep,\r\n\t\t\t when he made firm the skies above, when he established the fountains of the deep,\r\n\t\t\t when he assigned to the sea its limit, so that the waters might not transgress his command, when he marked out the foundations of the earth,\r\n\t\t\t then I was beside him, like a master worker; and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always, \r\n\t\t\t rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the human race.\r\n\t\t\t And now, my children, listen to me: happy are those who keep my ways.\r\n\t\t\t Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it.\r\n\t\t\t Happy is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors.\r\n\t\t\t For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the LORD;\r\n\t\t\t but those who miss me injure themselves; all who hate me love death.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Wisdom has built her house, she has hewn her seven pillars.\r\n\t\t\t She has slaughtered her animals, she has mixed her wine, she has also set her table.\r\n\t\t\t She has sent out her servant-girls, she calls from the highest places in the town,\r\n\t\t\t \"You that are simple, turn in here!\" To those without sense she says,\r\n\t\t\t \"Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed.\r\n\t\t\t Lay aside immaturity, and live, and walk in the way of insight.\" \r\n\t\t\t Whoever corrects a scoffer wins abuse; whoever rebukes the wicked gets hurt.\r\n\t\t\t A scoffer who is rebuked will only hate you; the wise, when rebuked, will love you.\r\n\t\t\t Give instruction to the wise, and they will become wiser still; teach the righteous and they will gain in learning. \r\n\t\t\t The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.\r\n\t\t\t For by me your days will be multiplied, and years will be added to your life.\r\n\t\t\t If you are wise, you are wise for yourself; if you scoff, you alone will bear it.\r\n\t\t\t The foolish woman is loud; she is ignorant and knows nothing.\r\n\t\t\t She sits at the door of her house, on a seat at the high places of the town,\r\n\t\t\t calling to those who pass by, who are going straight on their way,\r\n\t\t\t \"You who are simple, turn in here!\" And to those without sense she says,\r\n\t\t\t \"Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.\"\r\n\t\t\t But they do not know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of Sheol. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The proverbs of Solomon. A wise child makes a glad father, but a foolish child is a mother's grief.\r\n\t\t\t Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit, but righteousness delivers from death.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD does not let the righteous go hungry, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.\r\n\t\t\t A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.\r\n\t\t\t A child who gathers in summer is prudent, but a child who sleeps in harvest brings shame.\r\n\t\t\t Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.\r\n\t\t\t The memory of the righteous is a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot.\r\n\t\t\t The wise of heart will heed commandments, but a babbling fool will come to ruin.\r\n\t\t\t Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever follows perverse ways will be found out.\r\n\t\t\t Whoever winks the eye causes trouble, but the one who rebukes boldly makes peace. \r\n\t\t\t The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.\r\n\t\t\t Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.\r\n\t\t\t On the lips of one who has understanding wisdom is found, but a rod is for the back of one who lacks sense.\r\n\t\t\t The wise lay up knowledge, but the babbling of a fool brings ruin near.\r\n\t\t\t The wealth of the rich is their fortress; the poverty of the poor is their ruin.\r\n\t\t\t The wage of the righteous leads to life, the gain of the wicked to sin.\r\n\t\t\t Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life, but one who rejects a rebuke goes astray.\r\n\t\t\t Lying lips conceal hatred, and whoever utters slander is a fool.\r\n\t\t\t When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but the prudent are restrained in speech.\r\n\t\t\t The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; the mind of the wicked is of little worth.\r\n\t\t\t The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of sense.\r\n\t\t\t The blessing of the LORD makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.\r\n\t\t\t Doing wrong is like sport to a fool, but wise conduct is pleasure to a person of understanding.\r\n\t\t\t What the wicked dread will come upon them, but the desire of the righteous will be granted.\r\n\t\t\t When the tempest passes, the wicked are no more, but the righteous are established forever.\r\n\t\t\t Like vinegar to the teeth, and smoke to the eyes, so are the lazy to their employers.\r\n\t\t\t The fear of the LORD prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be short.\r\n\t\t\t The hope of the righteous ends in gladness, but the expectation of the wicked comes to nothing.\r\n\t\t\t The way of the LORD is a stronghold for the upright, but destruction for evildoers.\r\n\t\t\t The righteous will never be removed, but the wicked will not remain in the land.\r\n\t\t\t The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but the perverse tongue will be cut off.\r\n\t\t\t The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked what is perverse.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t A false balance is an abomination to the LORD, but an accurate weight is his delight.\r\n\t\t\t When pride comes, then comes disgrace; but wisdom is with the humble.\r\n\t\t\t The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.\r\n\t\t\t Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.\r\n\t\t\t The righteousness of the blameless keeps their ways straight, but the wicked fall by their own wickedness.\r\n\t\t\t The righteousness of the upright saves them, but the treacherous are taken captive by their schemes.\r\n\t\t\t When the wicked die, their hope perishes, and the expectation of the godless comes to nothing.\r\n\t\t\t The righteous are delivered from trouble, and the wicked get into it instead.\r\n\t\t\t With their mouths the godless would destroy their neighbors, but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.\r\n\t\t\t When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices; and when the wicked perish, there is jubilation.\r\n\t\t\t By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.\r\n\t\t\t Whoever belittles another lacks sense, but an intelligent person remains silent.\r\n\t\t\t A gossip goes about telling secrets, but one who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a confidence.\r\n\t\t\t Where there is no guidance, a nation falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety. \r\n\t\t\t To guarantee loans for a stranger brings trouble, but there is safety in refusing to do so.\r\n\t\t\t A gracious woman gets honor, but she who hates virtue is covered with shame. The timid become destitute, but the aggressive gain riches. \r\n\t\t\t Those who are kind reward themselves, but the cruel do themselves harm.\r\n\t\t\t The wicked earn no real gain, but those who sow righteousness get a true reward.\r\n\t\t\t Whoever is steadfast in righteousness will live, but whoever pursues evil will die.\r\n\t\t\t Crooked minds are an abomination to the LORD, but those of blameless ways are his delight.\r\n\t\t\t Be assured, the wicked will not go unpunished, but those who are righteous will escape.\r\n\t\t\t Like a gold ring in a pig's snout is a beautiful woman without good sense.\r\n\t\t\t The desire of the righteous ends only in good; the expectation of the wicked in wrath.\r\n\t\t\t Some give freely, yet grow all the richer; others withhold what is due, and only suffer want.\r\n\t\t\t A generous person will be enriched, and one who gives water will get water.\r\n\t\t\t The people curse those who hold back grain, but a blessing is on the head of those who sell it.\r\n\t\t\t Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor, but evil comes to the one who searches for it.\r\n\t\t\t Those who trust in their riches will wither, but the righteous will flourish like green leaves. \r\n\t\t\t Those who trouble their households will inherit wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise.\r\n\t\t\t The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, but violence takes lives away. \r\n\t\t\t If the righteous are repaid on earth, how much more the wicked and the sinner!\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but those who hate to be rebuked are stupid.\r\n\t\t\t The good obtain favor from the LORD, but those who devise evil he condemns.\r\n\t\t\t No one finds security by wickedness, but the root of the righteous will never be moved.\r\n\t\t\t A good wife is the crown of her husband, but she who brings shame is like rottenness in his bones.\r\n\t\t\t The thoughts of the righteous are just; the advice of the wicked is treacherous.\r\n\t\t\t The words of the wicked are a deadly ambush, but the speech of the upright delivers them.\r\n\t\t\t The wicked are overthrown and are no more, but the house of the righteous will stand.\r\n\t\t\t One is commended for good sense, but a perverse mind is despised.\r\n\t\t\t Better to be despised and have a servant, than to be self-important and lack food.\r\n\t\t\t The righteous know the needs of their animals, but the mercy of the wicked is cruel.\r\n\t\t\t Those who till their land will have plenty of food, but those who follow worthless pursuits have no sense.\r\n\t\t\t The wicked covet the proceeds of wickedness, but the root of the righteous bears fruit. \r\n\t\t\t The evil are ensnared by the transgression of their lips, but the righteous escape from trouble.\r\n\t\t\t From the fruit of the mouth one is filled with good things, and manual labor has its reward.\r\n\t\t\t Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to advice.\r\n\t\t\t Fools show their anger at once, but the prudent ignore an insult.\r\n\t\t\t Whoever speaks the truth gives honest evidence, but a false witness speaks deceitfully.\r\n\t\t\t Rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.\r\n\t\t\t Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.\r\n\t\t\t Deceit is in the mind of those who plan evil, but those who counsel peace have joy.\r\n\t\t\t No harm happens to the righteous, but the wicked are filled with trouble.\r\n\t\t\t Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD, but those who act faithfully are his delight.\r\n\t\t\t One who is clever conceals knowledge, but the mind of a fool broadcasts folly. \r\n\t\t\t The hand of the diligent will rule, while the lazy will be put to forced labor.\r\n\t\t\t Anxiety weighs down the human heart, but a good word cheers it up.\r\n\t\t\t The righteous gives good advice to friends, but the way of the wicked leads astray. \r\n\t\t\t The lazy do not roast their game, but the diligent obtain precious wealth. \r\n\t\t\t In the path of righteousness there is life, in walking its path there is no death.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t A wise child loves discipline, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke. \r\n\t\t\t From the fruit of their words good persons eat good things, but the desire of the treacherous is for wrongdoing.\r\n\t\t\t Those who guard their mouths preserve their lives; those who open wide their lips come to ruin.\r\n\t\t\t The appetite of the lazy craves, and gets nothing, while the appetite of the diligent is richly supplied.\r\n\t\t\t The righteous hate falsehood, but the wicked act shamefully and disgracefully.\r\n\t\t\t Righteousness guards one whose way is upright, but sin overthrows the wicked.\r\n\t\t\t Some pretend to be rich, yet have nothing; others pretend to be poor, yet have great wealth.\r\n\t\t\t Wealth is a ransom for a person's life, but the poor get no threats.\r\n\t\t\t The light of the righteous rejoices, but the lamp of the wicked goes out.\r\n\t\t\t By insolence the heedless make strife, but wisdom is with those who take advice.\r\n\t\t\t Wealth hastily gotten will dwindle, but those who gather little by little will increase it. \r\n\t\t\t Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.\r\n\t\t\t Those who despise the word bring destruction on themselves, but those who respect the commandment will be rewarded.\r\n\t\t\t The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, so that one may avoid the snares of death.\r\n\t\t\t Good sense wins favor, but the way of the faithless is their ruin. \r\n\t\t\t The clever do all things intelligently, but the fool displays folly.\r\n\t\t\t A bad messenger brings trouble, but a faithful envoy, healing.\r\n\t\t\t Poverty and disgrace are for the one who ignores instruction, but one who heeds reproof is honored.\r\n\t\t\t A desire realized is sweet to the soul, but to turn away from evil is an abomination to fools.\r\n\t\t\t Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools suffers harm.\r\n\t\t\t Misfortune pursues sinners, but prosperity rewards the righteous.\r\n\t\t\t The good leave an inheritance to their children's children, but the sinner's wealth is laid up for the righteous.\r\n\t\t\t The field of the poor may yield much food, but it is swept away through injustice.\r\n\t\t\t Those who spare the rod hate their children, but those who love them are diligent to discipline them.\r\n\t\t\t The righteous have enough to satisfy their appetite, but the belly of the wicked is empty.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The wise woman builds her house, but the foolish tears it down with her own hands. \r\n\t\t\t Those who walk uprightly fear the LORD, but one who is devious in conduct despises him.\r\n\t\t\t The talk of fools is a rod for their backs, but the lips of the wise preserve them. \r\n\t\t\t Where there are no oxen, there is no grain; abundant crops come by the strength of the ox.\r\n\t\t\t A faithful witness does not lie, but a false witness breathes out lies.\r\n\t\t\t A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain, but knowledge is easy for one who understands.\r\n\t\t\t Leave the presence of a fool, for there you do not find words of knowledge.\r\n\t\t\t It is the wisdom of the clever to understand where they go, but the folly of fools misleads.\r\n\t\t\t Fools mock at the guilt offering, but the upright enjoy God's favor. \r\n\t\t\t The heart knows its own bitterness, and no stranger shares its joy.\r\n\t\t\t The house of the wicked is destroyed, but the tent of the upright flourishes.\r\n\t\t\t There is a way that seems right to a person, but its end is the way to death. \r\n\t\t\t Even in laughter the heart is sad, and the end of joy is grief.\r\n\t\t\t The perverse get what their ways deserve, and the good, what their deeds deserve. \r\n\t\t\t The simple believe everything, but the clever consider their steps.\r\n\t\t\t The wise are cautious and turn away from evil, but the fool throws off restraint and is careless.\r\n\t\t\t One who is quick-tempered acts foolishly, and the schemer is hated.\r\n\t\t\t The simple are adorned with folly, but the clever are crowned with knowledge. \r\n\t\t\t The evil bow down before the good, the wicked at the gates of the righteous.\r\n\t\t\t The poor are disliked even by their neighbors, but the rich have many friends.\r\n\t\t\t Those who despise their neighbors are sinners, but happy are those who are kind to the poor.\r\n\t\t\t Do they not err that plan evil? Those who plan good find loyalty and faithfulness.\r\n\t\t\t In all toil there is profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.\r\n\t\t\t The crown of the wise is their wisdom, but folly is the garland of fools. \r\n\t\t\t A truthful witness saves lives, but one who utters lies is a betrayer.\r\n\t\t\t In the fear of the LORD one has strong confidence, and one's children will have a refuge.\r\n\t\t\t The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, so that one may avoid the snares of death.\r\n\t\t\t The glory of a king is a multitude of people; without people a prince is ruined.\r\n\t\t\t Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but one who has a hasty temper exalts folly.\r\n\t\t\t A tranquil mind gives life to the flesh, but passion makes the bones rot.\r\n\t\t\t Those who oppress the poor insult their Maker, but those who are kind to the needy honor him.\r\n\t\t\t The wicked are overthrown by their evildoing, but the righteous find a refuge in their integrity. \r\n\t\t\t Wisdom is at home in the mind of one who has understanding, but it is not known in the heart of fools. \r\n\t\t\t Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.\r\n\t\t\t A servant who deals wisely has the king's favor, but his wrath falls on one who acts shamefully.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.\r\n\t\t\t The tongue of the wise dispenses knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly. \r\n\t\t\t The eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.\r\n\t\t\t A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.\r\n\t\t\t A fool despises a parent's instruction, but the one who heeds admonition is prudent.\r\n\t\t\t In the house of the righteous there is much treasure, but trouble befalls the income of the wicked.\r\n\t\t\t The lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so the minds of fools.\r\n\t\t\t The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is his delight.\r\n\t\t\t The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, but he loves the one who pursues righteousness.\r\n\t\t\t There is severe discipline for one who forsakes the way, but one who hates a rebuke will die.\r\n\t\t\t Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the LORD, how much more human hearts!\r\n\t\t\t Scoffers do not like to be rebuked; they will not go to the wise.\r\n\t\t\t A glad heart makes a cheerful countenance, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is broken.\r\n\t\t\t The mind of one who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly.\r\n\t\t\t All the days of the poor are hard, but a cheerful heart has a continual feast.\r\n\t\t\t Better is a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble with it.\r\n\t\t\t Better is a dinner of vegetables where love is than a fatted ox and hatred with it.\r\n\t\t\t Those who are hot-tempered stir up strife, but those who are slow to anger calm contention.\r\n\t\t\t The way of the lazy is overgrown with thorns, but the path of the upright is a level highway.\r\n\t\t\t A wise child makes a glad father, but the foolish despise their mothers.\r\n\t\t\t Folly is a joy to one who has no sense, but a person of understanding walks straight ahead.\r\n\t\t\t Without counsel, plans go wrong, but with many advisers they succeed.\r\n\t\t\t To make an apt answer is a joy to anyone, and a word in season, how good it is!\r\n\t\t\t For the wise the path of life leads upward, in order to avoid Sheol below.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD tears down the house of the proud, but maintains the widow's boundaries.\r\n\t\t\t Evil plans are an abomination to the LORD, but gracious words are pure.\r\n\t\t\t Those who are greedy for unjust gain make trouble for their households, but those who hate bribes will live.\r\n\t\t\t The mind of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous.\r\n\t\t\t The light of the eyes rejoices the heart, and good news refreshes the body.\r\n\t\t\t The ear that heeds wholesome admonition will lodge among the wise.\r\n\t\t\t Those who ignore instruction despise themselves, but those who heed admonition gain understanding.\r\n\t\t\t The fear of the LORD is instruction in wisdom, and humility goes before honor.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The plans of the mind belong to mortals, but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t All one's ways may be pure in one's own eyes, but the LORD weighs the spirit.\r\n\t\t\t Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble.\r\n\t\t\t All those who are arrogant are an abomination to the LORD; be assured, they will not go unpunished.\r\n\t\t\t By loyalty and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the LORD one avoids evil.\r\n\t\t\t When the ways of people please the LORD, he causes even their enemies to be at peace with them.\r\n\t\t\t Better is a little with righteousness than large income with injustice.\r\n\t\t\t The human mind plans the way, but the LORD directs the steps.\r\n\t\t\t Inspired decisions are on the lips of a king; his mouth does not sin in judgment.\r\n\t\t\t Honest balances and scales are the LORD's; all the weights in the bag are his work.\r\n\t\t\t It is an abomination to kings to do evil, for the throne is established by righteousness.\r\n\t\t\t Righteous lips are the delight of a king, and he loves those who speak what is right.\r\n\t\t\t A king's wrath is a messenger of death, and whoever is wise will appease it.\r\n\t\t\t In the light of a king's face there is life, and his favor is like the clouds that bring the spring rain.\r\n\t\t\t How much better to get wisdom than gold! To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.\r\n\t\t\t The highway of the upright avoids evil; those who guard their way preserve their lives.\r\n\t\t\t Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.\r\n\t\t\t It is better to be of a lowly spirit among the poor than to divide the spoil with the proud.\r\n\t\t\t Those who are attentive to a matter will prosper, and happy are those who trust in the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t The wise of heart is called perceptive, and pleasant speech increases persuasiveness.\r\n\t\t\t Wisdom is a fountain of life to one who has it, but folly is the punishment of fools.\r\n\t\t\t The mind of the wise makes their speech judicious, and adds persuasiveness to their lips.\r\n\t\t\t Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.\r\n\t\t\t Sometimes there is a way that seems to be right, but in the end it is the way to death.\r\n\t\t\t The appetite of workers works for them; their hunger urges them on.\r\n\t\t\t Scoundrels concoct evil, and their speech is like a scorching fire.\r\n\t\t\t A perverse person spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends.\r\n\t\t\t The violent entice their neighbors, and lead them in a way that is not good.\r\n\t\t\t One who winks the eyes plans perverse things; one who compresses the lips brings evil to pass.\r\n\t\t\t Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life.\r\n\t\t\t One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and one whose temper is controlled than one who captures a city.\r\n\t\t\t The lot is cast into the lap, but the decision is the LORD's alone.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Better is a dry morsel with quiet than a house full of feasting with strife.\r\n\t\t\t A slave who deals wisely will rule over a child who acts shamefully, and will share the inheritance as one of the family.\r\n\t\t\t The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, but the LORD tests the heart.\r\n\t\t\t An evildoer listens to wicked lips; and a liar gives heed to a mischievous tongue.\r\n\t\t\t Those who mock the poor insult their Maker; those who are glad at calamity will not go unpunished.\r\n\t\t\t Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their parents.\r\n\t\t\t Fine speech is not becoming to a fool; still less is false speech to a ruler. \r\n\t\t\t A bribe is like a magic stone in the eyes of those who give it; wherever they turn they prosper.\r\n\t\t\t One who forgives an affront fosters friendship, but one who dwells on disputes will alienate a friend.\r\n\t\t\t A rebuke strikes deeper into a discerning person than a hundred blows into a fool.\r\n\t\t\t Evil people seek only rebellion, but a cruel messenger will be sent against them.\r\n\t\t\t Better to meet a she-bear robbed of its cubs than to confront a fool immersed in folly.\r\n\t\t\t Evil will not depart from the house of one who returns evil for good.\r\n\t\t\t The beginning of strife is like letting out water; so stop before the quarrel breaks out.\r\n\t\t\t One who justifies the wicked and one who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Why should fools have a price in hand to buy wisdom, when they have no mind to learn?\r\n\t\t\t A friend loves at all times, and kinsfolk are born to share adversity.\r\n\t\t\t It is senseless to give a pledge, to become surety for a neighbor.\r\n\t\t\t One who loves transgression loves strife; one who builds a high threshold invites broken bones.\r\n\t\t\t The crooked of mind do not prosper, and the perverse of tongue fall into calamity.\r\n\t\t\t The one who begets a fool gets trouble; the parent of a fool has no joy.\r\n\t\t\t A cheerful heart is a good medicine, but a downcast spirit dries up the bones.\r\n\t\t\t The wicked accept a concealed bribe to pervert the ways of justice.\r\n\t\t\t The discerning person looks to wisdom, but the eyes of a fool to the ends of the earth.\r\n\t\t\t Foolish children are a grief to their father and bitterness to her who bore them.\r\n\t\t\t To impose a fine on the innocent is not right, or to flog the noble for their integrity.\r\n\t\t\t One who spares words is knowledgeable; one who is cool in spirit has understanding.\r\n\t\t\t Even fools who keep silent are considered wise; when they close their lips, they are deemed intelligent.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The one who lives alone is self-indulgent, showing contempt for all who have sound judgment. \r\n\t\t\t A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing personal opinion.\r\n\t\t\t When wickedness comes, contempt comes also; and with dishonor comes disgrace.\r\n\t\t\t The words of the mouth are deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a gushing stream.\r\n\t\t\t It is not right to be partial to the guilty, or to subvert the innocent in judgment.\r\n\t\t\t A fool's lips bring strife, and a fool's mouth invites a flogging.\r\n\t\t\t The mouths of fools are their ruin, and their lips a snare to themselves.\r\n\t\t\t The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.\r\n\t\t\t One who is slack in work is close kin to a vandal.\r\n\t\t\t The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run into it and are safe.\r\n\t\t\t The wealth of the rich is their strong city; in their imagination it is like a high wall.\r\n\t\t\t Before destruction one's heart is haughty, but humility goes before honor.\r\n\t\t\t If one gives answer before hearing, it is folly and shame.\r\n\t\t\t The human spirit will endure sickness; but a broken spirit-- who can bear?\r\n\t\t\t An intelligent mind acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.\r\n\t\t\t A gift opens doors; it gives access to the great.\r\n\t\t\t The one who first states a case seems right, until the other comes and cross-examines.\r\n\t\t\t Casting the lot puts an end to disputes and decides between powerful contenders.\r\n\t\t\t An ally offended is stronger than a city; such quarreling is like the bars of a castle.\r\n\t\t\t From the fruit of the mouth one's stomach is satisfied; the yield of the lips brings satisfaction.\r\n\t\t\t Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.\r\n\t\t\t He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t The poor use entreaties, but the rich answer roughly.\r\n\t\t\t Some friends play at friendship but a true friend sticks closer than one's nearest kin.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Better the poor walking in integrity than one perverse of speech who is a fool.\r\n\t\t\t Desire without knowledge is not good, and one who moves too hurriedly misses the way.\r\n\t\t\t One's own folly leads to ruin, yet the heart rages against the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Wealth brings many friends, but the poor are left friendless.\r\n\t\t\t A false witness will not go unpunished, and a liar will not escape.\r\n\t\t\t Many seek the favor of the generous, and everyone is a friend to a giver of gifts.\r\n\t\t\t If the poor are hated even by their kin, how much more are they shunned by their friends! When they call after them, they are not there. \r\n\t\t\t To get wisdom is to love oneself; to keep understanding is to prosper.\r\n\t\t\t A false witness will not go unpunished, and the liar will perish.\r\n\t\t\t It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury, much less for a slave to rule over princes.\r\n\t\t\t Those with good sense are slow to anger, and it is their glory to overlook an offense.\r\n\t\t\t A king's anger is like the growling of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass.\r\n\t\t\t A stupid child is ruin to a father, and a wife's quarreling is a continual dripping of rain.\r\n\t\t\t House and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is from the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Laziness brings on deep sleep; an idle person will suffer hunger.\r\n\t\t\t Those who keep the commandment will live; those who are heedless of their ways will die.\r\n\t\t\t Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and will be repaid in full.\r\n\t\t\t Discipline your children while there is hope; do not set your heart on their destruction.\r\n\t\t\t A violent tempered person will pay the penalty; if you effect a rescue, you will only have to do it again. \r\n\t\t\t Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom for the future.\r\n\t\t\t The human mind may devise many plans, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will be established.\r\n\t\t\t What is desirable in a person is loyalty, and it is better to be poor than a liar.\r\n\t\t\t The fear of the LORD is life indeed; filled with it one rests secure and suffers no harm.\r\n\t\t\t The lazy person buries a hand in the dish, and will not even bring it back to the mouth.\r\n\t\t\t Strike a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; reprove the intelligent, and they will gain knowledge.\r\n\t\t\t Those who do violence to their father and chase away their mother are children who cause shame and bring reproach.\r\n\t\t\t Cease straying, my child, from the words of knowledge, in order that you may hear instruction.\r\n\t\t\t A worthless witness mocks at justice, and the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity.\r\n\t\t\t Condemnation is ready for scoffers, and flogging for the backs of fools.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.\r\n\t\t\t The dread anger of a king is like the growling of a lion; anyone who provokes him to anger forfeits life itself.\r\n\t\t\t It is honorable to refrain from strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel.\r\n\t\t\t The lazy person does not plow in season; harvest comes, and there is nothing to be found.\r\n\t\t\t The purposes in the human mind are like deep water, but the intelligent will draw them out.\r\n\t\t\t Many proclaim themselves loyal, but who can find one worthy of trust?\r\n\t\t\t The righteous walk in integrity-- happy are the children who follow them!\r\n\t\t\t A king who sits on the throne of judgment winnows all evil with his eyes.\r\n\t\t\t Who can say, \"I have made my heart clean; I am pure from my sin\"?\r\n\t\t\t Diverse weights and diverse measures are both alike an abomination to the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Even children make themselves known by their acts, by whether what they do is pure and right.\r\n\t\t\t The hearing ear and the seeing eye-- the LORD has made them both.\r\n\t\t\t Do not love sleep, or else you will come to poverty; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread.\r\n\t\t\t \"Bad, bad,\" says the buyer, then goes away and boasts.\r\n\t\t\t There is gold, and abundance of costly stones; but the lips informed by knowledge are a precious jewel.\r\n\t\t\t Take the garment of one who has given surety for a stranger; seize the pledge given as surety for foreigners.\r\n\t\t\t Bread gained by deceit is sweet, but afterward the mouth will be full of gravel.\r\n\t\t\t Plans are established by taking advice; wage war by following wise guidance.\r\n\t\t\t A gossip reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with a babbler.\r\n\t\t\t If you curse father or mother, your lamp will go out in utter darkness.\r\n\t\t\t An estate quickly acquired in the beginning will not be blessed in the end.\r\n\t\t\t Do not say, \"I will repay evil\"; wait for the LORD, and he will help you.\r\n\t\t\t Differing weights are an abomination to the LORD, and false scales are not good.\r\n\t\t\t All our steps are ordered by the LORD; how then can we understand our own ways?\r\n\t\t\t It is a snare for one to say rashly, \"It is holy,\" and begin to reflect only after making a vow.\r\n\t\t\t A wise king winnows the wicked, and drives the wheel over them.\r\n\t\t\t The human spirit is the lamp of the LORD, searching every inmost part.\r\n\t\t\t Loyalty and faithfulness preserve the king, and his throne is upheld by righteousness. \r\n\t\t\t The glory of youths is their strength, but the beauty of the aged is their gray hair.\r\n\t\t\t Blows that wound cleanse away evil; beatings make clean the innermost parts.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will.\r\n\t\t\t All deeds are right in the sight of the doer, but the LORD weighs the heart.\r\n\t\t\t To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.\r\n\t\t\t Haughty eyes and a proud heart-- the lamp of the wicked-- are sin.\r\n\t\t\t The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to want.\r\n\t\t\t The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a snare of death. \r\n\t\t\t The violence of the wicked will sweep them away, because they refuse to do what is just.\r\n\t\t\t The way of the guilty is crooked, but the conduct of the pure is right.\r\n\t\t\t It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a contentious wife.\r\n\t\t\t The souls of the wicked desire evil; their neighbors find no mercy in their eyes.\r\n\t\t\t When a scoffer is punished, the simple become wiser; when the wise are instructed, they increase in knowledge.\r\n\t\t\t The Righteous One observes the house of the wicked; he casts the wicked down to ruin.\r\n\t\t\t If you close your ear to the cry of the poor, you will cry out and not be heard.\r\n\t\t\t A gift in secret averts anger; and a concealed bribe in the bosom, strong wrath.\r\n\t\t\t When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous, but dismay to evildoers.\r\n\t\t\t Whoever wanders from the way of understanding will rest in the assembly of the dead.\r\n\t\t\t Whoever loves pleasure will suffer want; whoever loves wine and oil will not be rich.\r\n\t\t\t The wicked is a ransom for the righteous, and the faithless for the upright.\r\n\t\t\t It is better to live in a desert land than with a contentious and fretful wife.\r\n\t\t\t Precious treasure remains in the house of the wise, but the fool devours it.\r\n\t\t\t Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life and honor. \r\n\t\t\t One wise person went up against a city of warriors and brought down the stronghold in which they trusted.\r\n\t\t\t To watch over mouth and tongue is to keep out of trouble.\r\n\t\t\t The proud, haughty person, named \"Scoffer,\" acts with arrogant pride.\r\n\t\t\t The craving of the lazy person is fatal, for lazy hands refuse to labor.\r\n\t\t\t All day long the wicked covet, but the righteous give and do not hold back. \r\n\t\t\t The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination; how much more when brought with evil intent.\r\n\t\t\t A false witness will perish, but a good listener will testify successfully.\r\n\t\t\t The wicked put on a bold face, but the upright give thought to their ways. \r\n\t\t\t No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel, can avail against the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the LORD.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold.\r\n\t\t\t The rich and the poor have this in common: the LORD is the maker of them all.\r\n\t\t\t The clever see danger and hide; but the simple go on, and suffer for it.\r\n\t\t\t The reward for humility and fear of the LORD is riches and honor and life.\r\n\t\t\t Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse; the cautious will keep far from them.\r\n\t\t\t Train children in the right way, and when old, they will not stray.\r\n\t\t\t The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender.\r\n\t\t\t Whoever sows injustice will reap calamity, and the rod of anger will fail.\r\n\t\t\t Those who are generous are blessed, for they share their bread with the poor.\r\n\t\t\t Drive out a scoffer, and strife goes out; quarreling and abuse will cease.\r\n\t\t\t Those who love a pure heart and are gracious in speech will have the king as a friend.\r\n\t\t\t The eyes of the LORD keep watch over knowledge, but he overthrows the words of the faithless.\r\n\t\t\t The lazy person says, \"There is a lion outside! I shall be killed in the streets!\"\r\n\t\t\t The mouth of a loose woman is a deep pit; he with whom the LORD is angry falls into it. \r\n\t\t\t Folly is bound up in the heart of a boy, but the rod of discipline drives it far away.\r\n\t\t\t Oppressing the poor in order to enrich oneself, and giving to the rich, will lead only to loss.\r\n\t\t\t The words of the wise: Incline your ear and hear my words, and apply your mind to my teaching; \r\n\t\t\t for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips.\r\n\t\t\t So that your trust may be in the LORD, I have made them known to you today-- yes, to you.\r\n\t\t\t Have I not written for you thirty sayings of admonition and knowledge,\r\n\t\t\t to show you what is right and true, so that you may give a true answer to those who sent you?\r\n\t\t\t Do not rob the poor because they are poor, or crush the afflicted at the gate;\r\n\t\t\t for the LORD pleads their cause and despoils of life those who despoil them.\r\n\t\t\t Make no friends with those given to anger, and do not associate with hotheads,\r\n\t\t\t or you may learn their ways and entangle yourself in a snare.\r\n\t\t\t Do not be one of those who give pledges, who become surety for debts.\r\n\t\t\t If you have nothing with which to pay, why should your bed be taken from under you?\r\n\t\t\t Do not remove the ancient landmark that your ancestors set up.\r\n\t\t\t Do you see those who are skillful in their work? they will serve kings; they will not serve common people.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t When you sit down to eat with a ruler, observe carefully what is before you, \r\n\t\t\t and put a knife to your throat if you have a big appetite.\r\n\t\t\t Do not desire the ruler's delicacies, for they are deceptive food. \r\n\t\t\t Do not wear yourself out to get rich; be wise enough to desist.\r\n\t\t\t When your eyes light upon it, it is gone; for suddenly it takes wings to itself, flying like an eagle toward heaven.\r\n\t\t\t Do not eat the bread of the stingy; do not desire their delicacies;\r\n\t\t\t for like a hair in the throat, so are they. \"Eat and drink!\" they say to you; but they do not mean it. \r\n\t\t\t You will vomit up the little you have eaten, and you will waste your pleasant words.\r\n\t\t\t Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, who will only despise the wisdom of your words.\r\n\t\t\t Do not remove an ancient landmark or encroach on the fields of orphans,\r\n\t\t\t for their redeemer is strong; he will plead their cause against you.\r\n\t\t\t Apply your mind to instruction and your ear to words of knowledge.\r\n\t\t\t Do not withhold discipline from your children; if you beat them with a rod, they will not die.\r\n\t\t\t If you beat them with the rod, you will save their lives from Sheol.\r\n\t\t\t My child, if your heart is wise, my heart too will be glad.\r\n\t\t\t My soul will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.\r\n\t\t\t Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always continue in the fear of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.\r\n\t\t\t Hear, my child, and be wise, and direct your mind in the way.\r\n\t\t\t Do not be among winebibbers, or among gluttonous eaters of meat;\r\n\t\t\t for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and drowsiness will clothe them with rags.\r\n\t\t\t Listen to your father who begot you, and do not despise your mother when she is old.\r\n\t\t\t Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.\r\n\t\t\t The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice; he who begets a wise son will be glad in him.\r\n\t\t\t Let your father and mother be glad; let her who bore you rejoice.\r\n\t\t\t My child, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways. \r\n\t\t\t For a prostitute is a deep pit; an adulteress is a narrow well.\r\n\t\t\t She lies in wait like a robber and increases the number of the faithless.\r\n\t\t\t Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaining? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes?\r\n\t\t\t Those who linger late over wine, those who keep trying mixed wines.\r\n\t\t\t Do not look at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly.\r\n\t\t\t At the last it bites like a serpent, and stings like an adder.\r\n\t\t\t Your eyes will see strange things, and your mind utter perverse things.\r\n\t\t\t You will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea, like one who lies on the top of a mast. \r\n\t\t\t \"They struck me,\" you will say, \"but I was not hurt; they beat me, but I did not feel it. When shall I awake? I will seek another drink.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Do not envy the wicked, nor desire to be with them;\r\n\t\t\t for their minds devise violence, and their lips talk of mischief.\r\n\t\t\t By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established;\r\n\t\t\t by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.\r\n\t\t\t Wise warriors are mightier than strong ones, and those who have knowledge than those who have strength; \r\n\t\t\t for by wise guidance you can wage your war, and in abundance of counselors there is victory.\r\n\t\t\t Wisdom is too high for fools; in the gate they do not open their mouths.\r\n\t\t\t Whoever plans to do evil will be called a mischief-maker.\r\n\t\t\t The devising of folly is sin, and the scoffer is an abomination to all.\r\n\t\t\t If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength being small;\r\n\t\t\t if you hold back from rescuing those taken away to death, those who go staggering to the slaughter;\r\n\t\t\t if you say, \"Look, we did not know this\"-- does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it? And will he not repay all according to their deeds?\r\n\t\t\t My child, eat honey, for it is good, and the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste.\r\n\t\t\t Know that wisdom is such to your soul; if you find it, you will find a future, and your hope will not be cut off.\r\n\t\t\t Do not lie in wait like an outlaw against the home of the righteous; do no violence to the place where the righteous live;\r\n\t\t\t for though they fall seven times, they will rise again; but the wicked are overthrown by calamity.\r\n\t\t\t Do not rejoice when your enemies fall, and do not let your heart be glad when they stumble,\r\n\t\t\t or else the LORD will see it and be displeased, and turn away his anger from them.\r\n\t\t\t Do not fret because of evildoers. Do not envy the wicked;\r\n\t\t\t for the evil have no future; the lamp of the wicked will go out.\r\n\t\t\t My child, fear the LORD and the king, and do not disobey either of them; \r\n\t\t\t for disaster comes from them suddenly, and who knows the ruin that both can bring?\r\n\t\t\t These also are sayings of the wise: Partiality in judging is not good.\r\n\t\t\t Whoever says to the wicked, \"You are innocent,\" will be cursed by peoples, abhorred by nations;\r\n\t\t\t but those who rebuke the wicked will have delight, and a good blessing will come upon them.\r\n\t\t\t One who gives an honest answer gives a kiss on the lips.\r\n\t\t\t Prepare your work outside, get everything ready for you in the field; and after that build your house.\r\n\t\t\t Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause, and do not deceive with your lips.\r\n\t\t\t Do not say, \"I will do to others as they have done to me; I will pay them back for what they have done.\"\r\n\t\t\t I passed by the field of one who was lazy, by the vineyard of a stupid person;\r\n\t\t\t and see, it was all overgrown with thorns; the ground was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down.\r\n\t\t\t Then I saw and considered it; I looked and received instruction.\r\n\t\t\t A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest,\r\n\t\t\t and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want, like an armed warrior.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t These are other proverbs of Solomon that the officials of King Hezekiah of Judah copied.\r\n\t\t\t It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out.\r\n\t\t\t Like the heavens for height, like the earth for depth, so the mind of kings is unsearchable.\r\n\t\t\t Take away the dross from the silver, and the smith has material for a vessel;\r\n\t\t\t take away the wicked from the presence of the king, and his throne will be established in righteousness.\r\n\t\t\t Do not put yourself forward in the king's presence or stand in the place of the great;\r\n\t\t\t for it is better to be told, \"Come up here,\" than to be put lower in the presence of a noble. What your eyes have seen\r\n\t\t\t do not hastily bring into court; for what will you do in the end, when your neighbor puts you to shame? \r\n\t\t\t Argue your case with your neighbor directly, and do not disclose another's secret;\r\n\t\t\t or else someone who hears you will bring shame upon you, and your ill repute will have no end.\r\n\t\t\t A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.\r\n\t\t\t Like a gold ring or an ornament of gold is a wise rebuke to a listening ear.\r\n\t\t\t Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest are faithful messengers to those who send them; they refresh the spirit of their masters.\r\n\t\t\t Like clouds and wind without rain is one who boasts of a gift never given.\r\n\t\t\t With patience a ruler may be persuaded, and a soft tongue can break bones.\r\n\t\t\t If you have found honey, eat only enough for you, or else, having too much, you will vomit it.\r\n\t\t\t Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor's house, otherwise the neighbor will become weary of you and hate you.\r\n\t\t\t Like a war club, a sword, or a sharp arrow is one who bears false witness against a neighbor.\r\n\t\t\t Like a bad tooth or a lame foot is trust in a faithless person in time of trouble.\r\n\t\t\t Like vinegar on a wound is one who sings songs to a heavy heart. Like a moth in clothing or a worm in wood, sorrow gnaws at the human heart. \r\n\t\t\t If your enemies are hungry, give them bread to eat; and if they are thirsty, give them water to drink;\r\n\t\t\t for you will heap coals of fire on their heads, and the LORD will reward you.\r\n\t\t\t The north wind produces rain, and a backbiting tongue, angry looks.\r\n\t\t\t It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a contentious wife.\r\n\t\t\t Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.\r\n\t\t\t Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain are the righteous who give way before the wicked.\r\n\t\t\t It is not good to eat much honey, or to seek honor on top of honor.\r\n\t\t\t Like a city breached, without walls, is one who lacks self-control.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool.\r\n\t\t\t Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying, an undeserved curse goes nowhere.\r\n\t\t\t A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools.\r\n\t\t\t Do not answer fools according to their folly, or you will be a fool yourself.\r\n\t\t\t Answer fools according to their folly, or they will be wise in their own eyes.\r\n\t\t\t It is like cutting off one's foot and drinking down violence, to send a message by a fool.\r\n\t\t\t The legs of a disabled person hang limp; so does a proverb in the mouth of a fool.\r\n\t\t\t It is like binding a stone in a sling to give honor to a fool.\r\n\t\t\t Like a thornbush brandished by the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.\r\n\t\t\t Like an archer who wounds everybody is one who hires a passing fool or drunkard. \r\n\t\t\t Like a dog that returns to its vomit is a fool who reverts to his folly.\r\n\t\t\t Do you see persons wise in their own eyes? There is more hope for fools than for them.\r\n\t\t\t The lazy person says, \"There is a lion in the road! There is a lion in the streets!\"\r\n\t\t\t As a door turns on its hinges, so does a lazy person in bed.\r\n\t\t\t The lazy person buries a hand in the dish, and is too tired to bring it back to the mouth.\r\n\t\t\t The lazy person is wiser in self-esteem than seven who can answer discreetly.\r\n\t\t\t Like somebody who takes a passing dog by the ears is one who meddles in the quarrel of another.\r\n\t\t\t Like a maniac who shoots deadly firebrands and arrows,\r\n\t\t\t so is one who deceives a neighbor and says, \"I am only joking!\"\r\n\t\t\t For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases.\r\n\t\t\t As charcoal is to hot embers and wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.\r\n\t\t\t The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.\r\n\t\t\t Like the glaze covering an earthen vessel are smooth lips with an evil heart. \r\n\t\t\t An enemy dissembles in speaking while harboring deceit within;\r\n\t\t\t when an enemy speaks graciously, do not believe it, for there are seven abominations concealed within;\r\n\t\t\t though hatred is covered with guile, the enemy's wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.\r\n\t\t\t Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and a stone will come back on the one who starts it rolling.\r\n\t\t\t A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth works ruin.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.\r\n\t\t\t Let another praise you, and not your own mouth-- a stranger, and not your own lips.\r\n\t\t\t A stone is heavy, and sand is weighty, but a fool's provocation is heavier than both.\r\n\t\t\t Wrath is cruel, anger is overwhelming, but who is able to stand before jealousy?\r\n\t\t\t Better is open rebuke than hidden love.\r\n\t\t\t Well meant are the wounds a friend inflicts, but profuse are the kisses of an enemy.\r\n\t\t\t The sated appetite spurns honey, but to a ravenous appetite even the bitter is sweet.\r\n\t\t\t Like a bird that strays from its nest is one who strays from home.\r\n\t\t\t Perfume and incense make the heart glad, but the soul is torn by trouble. \r\n\t\t\t Do not forsake your friend or the friend of your parent; do not go to the house of your kindred in the day of your calamity. Better is a neighbor who is nearby than kindred who are far away.\r\n\t\t\t Be wise, my child, and make my heart glad, so that I may answer whoever reproaches me.\r\n\t\t\t The clever see danger and hide; but the simple go on, and suffer for it.\r\n\t\t\t Take the garment of one who has given surety for a stranger; seize the pledge given as surety for foreigners. \r\n\t\t\t Whoever blesses a neighbor with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, will be counted as cursing.\r\n\t\t\t A continual dripping on a rainy day and a contentious wife are alike;\r\n\t\t\t to restrain her is to restrain the wind or to grasp oil in the right hand. \r\n\t\t\t Iron sharpens iron, and one person sharpens the wits of another. \r\n\t\t\t Anyone who tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and anyone who takes care of a master will be honored.\r\n\t\t\t Just as water reflects the face, so one human heart reflects another.\r\n\t\t\t Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied, and human eyes are never satisfied.\r\n\t\t\t The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, so a person is tested by being praised. \r\n\t\t\t Crush a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with crushed grain, but the folly will not be driven out.\r\n\t\t\t Know well the condition of your flocks, and give attention to your herds;\r\n\t\t\t for riches do not last forever, nor a crown for all generations.\r\n\t\t\t When the grass is gone, and new growth appears, and the herbage of the mountains is gathered,\r\n\t\t\t the lambs will provide your clothing, and the goats the price of a field;\r\n\t\t\t there will be enough goats' milk for your food, for the food of your household and nourishment for your servant-girls.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.\r\n\t\t\t When a land rebels it has many rulers; but with an intelligent ruler there is lasting order. \r\n\t\t\t A ruler who oppresses the poor is a beating rain that leaves no food. \r\n\t\t\t Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but those who keep the law struggle against them.\r\n\t\t\t The evil do not understand justice, but those who seek the LORD understand it completely.\r\n\t\t\t Better to be poor and walk in integrity than to be crooked in one's ways even though rich.\r\n\t\t\t Those who keep the law are wise children, but companions of gluttons shame their parents.\r\n\t\t\t One who augments wealth by exorbitant interest gathers it for another who is kind to the poor.\r\n\t\t\t When one will not listen to the law, even one's prayers are an abomination.\r\n\t\t\t Those who mislead the upright into evil ways will fall into pits of their own making, but the blameless will have a goodly inheritance.\r\n\t\t\t The rich is wise in self-esteem, but an intelligent poor person sees through the pose.\r\n\t\t\t When the righteous triumph, there is great glory, but when the wicked prevail, people go into hiding.\r\n\t\t\t No one who conceals transgressions will prosper, but one who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.\r\n\t\t\t Happy is the one who is never without fear, but one who is hard-hearted will fall into calamity.\r\n\t\t\t Like a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked ruler over a poor people.\r\n\t\t\t A ruler who lacks understanding is a cruel oppressor; but one who hates unjust gain will enjoy a long life.\r\n\t\t\t If someone is burdened with the blood of another, let that killer be a fugitive until death; let no one offer assistance.\r\n\t\t\t One who walks in integrity will be safe, but whoever follows crooked ways will fall into the Pit. \r\n\t\t\t Anyone who tills the land will have plenty of bread, but one who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty.\r\n\t\t\t The faithful will abound with blessings, but one who is in a hurry to be rich will not go unpunished.\r\n\t\t\t To show partiality is not good-- yet for a piece of bread a person may do wrong.\r\n\t\t\t The miser is in a hurry to get rich and does not know that loss is sure to come.\r\n\t\t\t Whoever rebukes a person will afterward find more favor than one who flatters with the tongue.\r\n\t\t\t Anyone who robs father or mother and says, \"That is no crime,\" is partner to a thug.\r\n\t\t\t The greedy person stirs up strife, but whoever trusts in the LORD will be enriched.\r\n\t\t\t Those who trust in their own wits are fools; but those who walk in wisdom come through safely.\r\n\t\t\t Whoever gives to the poor will lack nothing, but one who turns a blind eye will get many a curse.\r\n\t\t\t When the wicked prevail, people go into hiding; but when they perish, the righteous increase.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t One who is often reproved, yet remains stubborn, will suddenly be broken beyond healing.\r\n\t\t\t When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when the wicked rule, the people groan.\r\n\t\t\t A child who loves wisdom makes a parent glad, but to keep company with prostitutes is to squander one's substance.\r\n\t\t\t By justice a king gives stability to the land, but one who makes heavy exactions ruins it.\r\n\t\t\t Whoever flatters a neighbor is spreading a net for the neighbor's feet.\r\n\t\t\t In the transgression of the evil there is a snare, but the righteous sing and rejoice.\r\n\t\t\t The righteous know the rights of the poor; the wicked have no such understanding.\r\n\t\t\t Scoffers set a city aflame, but the wise turn away wrath.\r\n\t\t\t If the wise go to law with fools, there is ranting and ridicule without relief.\r\n\t\t\t The bloodthirsty hate the blameless, and they seek the life of the upright.\r\n\t\t\t A fool gives full vent to anger, but the wise quietly holds it back.\r\n\t\t\t If a ruler listens to falsehood, all his officials will be wicked.\r\n\t\t\t The poor and the oppressor have this in common: the LORD gives light to the eyes of both.\r\n\t\t\t If a king judges the poor with equity, his throne will be established forever.\r\n\t\t\t The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a mother is disgraced by a neglected child.\r\n\t\t\t When the wicked are in authority, transgression increases, but the righteous will look upon their downfall.\r\n\t\t\t Discipline your children, and they will give you rest; they will give delight to your heart.\r\n\t\t\t Where there is no prophecy, the people cast off restraint, but happy are those who keep the law.\r\n\t\t\t By mere words servants are not disciplined, for though they understand, they will not give heed.\r\n\t\t\t Do you see someone who is hasty in speech? There is more hope for a fool than for anyone like that.\r\n\t\t\t A slave pampered from childhood will come to a bad end. \r\n\t\t\t One given to anger stirs up strife, and the hothead causes much transgression.\r\n\t\t\t A person's pride will bring humiliation, but one who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.\r\n\t\t\t To be a partner of a thief is to hate one's own life; one hears the victim's curse, but discloses nothing. \r\n\t\t\t The fear of others lays a snare, but one who trusts in the LORD is secure. \r\n\t\t\t Many seek the favor of a ruler, but it is from the LORD that one gets justice.\r\n\t\t\t The unjust are an abomination to the righteous, but the upright are an abomination to the wicked.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The words of Agur son of Jakeh. An oracle. Thus says the man: I am weary, O God, I am weary, O God. How can I prevail?\r\n\t\t\t Surely I am too stupid to be human; I do not have human understanding.\r\n\t\t\t I have not learned wisdom, nor have I knowledge of the holy ones. \r\n\t\t\t Who has ascended to heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind in the hollow of the hand? Who has wrapped up the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is the person's name? And what is the name of the person's child? Surely you know!\r\n\t\t\t Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.\r\n\t\t\t Do not add to his words, or else he will rebuke you, and you will be found a liar.\r\n\t\t\t Two things I ask of you; do not deny them to me before I die:\r\n\t\t\t Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that I need,\r\n\t\t\t or I shall be full, and deny you, and say, \"Who is the LORD?\" or I shall be poor, and steal, and profane the name of my God.\r\n\t\t\t Do not slander a servant to a master, or the servant will curse you, and you will be held guilty.\r\n\t\t\t There are those who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers.\r\n\t\t\t There are those who are pure in their own eyes yet are not cleansed of their filthiness.\r\n\t\t\t There are those-- how lofty are their eyes, how high their eyelids lift!\r\n\t\t\t There are those whose teeth are swords, whose teeth are knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, the needy from among mortals.\r\n\t\t\t The leech has two daughters; \"Give, give,\" they cry. Three things are never satisfied; four never say, \"Enough\": \r\n\t\t\t Sheol, the barren womb, the earth ever thirsty for water, and the fire that never says, \"Enough.\" \r\n\t\t\t The eye that mocks a father and scorns to obey a mother will be pecked out by the ravens of the valley and eaten by the vultures.\r\n\t\t\t Three things are too wonderful for me; four I do not understand:\r\n\t\t\t the way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a snake on a rock, the way of a ship on the high seas, and the way of a man with a girl.\r\n\t\t\t This is the way of an adulteress: she eats, and wipes her mouth, and says, \"I have done no wrong.\"\r\n\t\t\t Under three things the earth trembles; under four it cannot bear up:\r\n\t\t\t a slave when he becomes king, and a fool when glutted with food;\r\n\t\t\t an unloved woman when she gets a husband, and a maid when she succeeds her mistress.\r\n\t\t\t Four things on earth are small, yet they are exceedingly wise:\r\n\t\t\t the ants are a people without strength, yet they provide their food in the summer;\r\n\t\t\t the badgers are a people without power, yet they make their homes in the rocks;\r\n\t\t\t the locusts have no king, yet all of them march in rank;\r\n\t\t\t the lizard can be grasped in the hand, yet it is found in kings' palaces. \r\n\t\t\t Three things are stately in their stride; four are stately in their gait:\r\n\t\t\t the lion, which is mightiest among wild animals and does not turn back before any;\r\n\t\t\t the strutting rooster, the he-goat, and a king striding before his people. \r\n\t\t\t If you have been foolish, exalting yourself, or if you have been devising evil, put your hand on your mouth.\r\n\t\t\t For as pressing milk produces curds, and pressing the nose produces blood, so pressing anger produces strife.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him:\r\n\t\t\t No, my son! No, son of my womb! No, son of my vows!\r\n\t\t\t Do not give your strength to women, your ways to those who destroy kings.\r\n\t\t\t It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to desire strong drink; \r\n\t\t\t or else they will drink and forget what has been decreed, and will pervert the rights of all the afflicted.\r\n\t\t\t Give strong drink to one who is perishing, and wine to those in bitter distress;\r\n\t\t\t let them drink and forget their poverty, and remember their misery no more.\r\n\t\t\t Speak out for those who cannot speak, for the rights of all the destitute. \r\n\t\t\t Speak out, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.\r\n\t\t\t A capable wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.\r\n\t\t\t The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain.\r\n\t\t\t She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.\r\n\t\t\t She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands.\r\n\t\t\t She is like the ships of the merchant, she brings her food from far away.\r\n\t\t\t She rises while it is still night and provides food for her household and tasks for her servant-girls.\r\n\t\t\t She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.\r\n\t\t\t She girds herself with strength, and makes her arms strong.\r\n\t\t\t She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night.\r\n\t\t\t She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.\r\n\t\t\t She opens her hand to the poor, and reaches out her hands to the needy.\r\n\t\t\t She is not afraid for her household when it snows, for all her household are clothed in crimson.\r\n\t\t\t She makes herself coverings; her clothing is fine linen and purple.\r\n\t\t\t Her husband is known in the city gates, taking his seat among the elders of the land.\r\n\t\t\t She makes linen garments and sells them; she supplies the merchant with sashes.\r\n\t\t\t Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come.\r\n\t\t\t She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.\r\n\t\t\t She looks well to the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness.\r\n\t\t\t Her children rise up and call her happy; her husband too, and he praises her:\r\n\t\t\t \"Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.\"\r\n\t\t\t Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.\r\n\t\t\t Give her a share in the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the city gates.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The words of the Teacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. \r\n\t\t\t Vanity of vanities, says the Teacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity. \r\n\t\t\t What do people gain from all the toil at which they toil under the sun?\r\n\t\t\t A generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever.\r\n\t\t\t The sun rises and the sun goes down, and hurries to the place where it rises.\r\n\t\t\t The wind blows to the south, and goes around to the north; round and round goes the wind, and on its circuits the wind returns.\r\n\t\t\t All streams run to the sea, but the sea is not full; to the place where the streams flow, there they continue to flow.\r\n\t\t\t All things are wearisome; more than one can express; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, or the ear filled with hearing. \r\n\t\t\t What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done; there is nothing new under the sun.\r\n\t\t\t Is there a thing of which it is said, \"See, this is new\"? It has already been, in the ages before us.\r\n\t\t\t The people of long ago are not remembered, nor will there be any remembrance of people yet to come by those who come after them.\r\n\t\t\t I, the Teacher, when king over Israel in Jerusalem, \r\n\t\t\t applied my mind to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven; it is an unhappy business that God has given to human beings to be busy with.\r\n\t\t\t I saw all the deeds that are done under the sun; and see, all is vanity and a chasing after wind. \r\n\t\t\t What is crooked cannot be made straight, and what is lacking cannot be counted.\r\n\t\t\t I said to myself, \"I have acquired great wisdom, surpassing all who were over Jerusalem before me; and my mind has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.\"\r\n\t\t\t And I applied my mind to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is but a chasing after wind. \r\n\t\t\t For in much wisdom is much vexation, and those who increase knowledge increase sorrow.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t I said to myself, \"Come now, I will make a test of pleasure; enjoy yourself.\" But again, this also was vanity.\r\n\t\t\t I said of laughter, \"It is mad,\" and of pleasure, \"What use is it?\"\r\n\t\t\t I searched with my mind how to cheer my body with wine-- my mind still guiding me with wisdom-- and how to lay hold on folly, until I might see what was good for mortals to do under heaven during the few days of their life.\r\n\t\t\t I made great works; I built houses and planted vineyards for myself;\r\n\t\t\t I made myself gardens and parks, and planted in them all kinds of fruit trees.\r\n\t\t\t I made myself pools from which to water the forest of growing trees.\r\n\t\t\t I bought male and female slaves, and had slaves who were born in my house; I also had great possessions of herds and flocks, more than any who had been before me in Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and of the provinces; I got singers, both men and women, and delights of the flesh, and many concubines.\r\n\t\t\t So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem; also my wisdom remained with me.\r\n\t\t\t Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them; I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil.\r\n\t\t\t Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had spent in doing it, and again, all was vanity and a chasing after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun. \r\n\t\t\t So I turned to consider wisdom and madness and folly; for what can the one do who comes after the king? Only what has already been done.\r\n\t\t\t Then I saw that wisdom excels folly as light excels darkness.\r\n\t\t\t The wise have eyes in their head, but fools walk in darkness. Yet I perceived that the same fate befalls all of them.\r\n\t\t\t Then I said to myself, \"What happens to the fool will happen to me also; why then have I been so very wise?\" And I said to myself that this also is vanity.\r\n\t\t\t For there is no enduring remembrance of the wise or of fools, seeing that in the days to come all will have been long forgotten. How can the wise die just like fools?\r\n\t\t\t So I hated life, because what is done under the sun was grievous to me; for all is vanity and a chasing after wind. \r\n\t\t\t I hated all my toil in which I had toiled under the sun, seeing that I must leave it to those who come after me\r\n\t\t\t -- and who knows whether they will be wise or foolish? Yet they will be master of all for which I toiled and used my wisdom under the sun. This also is vanity.\r\n\t\t\t So I turned and gave my heart up to despair concerning all the toil of my labors under the sun,\r\n\t\t\t because sometimes one who has toiled with wisdom and knowledge and skill must leave all to be enjoyed by another who did not toil for it. This also is vanity and a great evil.\r\n\t\t\t What do mortals get from all the toil and strain with which they toil under the sun?\r\n\t\t\t For all their days are full of pain, and their work is a vexation; even at night their minds do not rest. This also is vanity.\r\n\t\t\t There is nothing better for mortals than to eat and drink, and find enjoyment in their toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God;\r\n\t\t\t for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment? \r\n\t\t\t For to the one who pleases him God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy; but to the sinner he gives the work of gathering and heaping, only to give to one who pleases God. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:\r\n\t\t\t a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;\r\n\t\t\t a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;\r\n\t\t\t a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;\r\n\t\t\t a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;\r\n\t\t\t a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to throw away;\r\n\t\t\t a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;\r\n\t\t\t a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.\r\n\t\t\t What gain have the workers from their toil?\r\n\t\t\t I have seen the business that God has given to everyone to be busy with.\r\n\t\t\t He has made everything suitable for its time; moreover he has put a sense of past and future into their minds, yet they cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.\r\n\t\t\t I know that there is nothing better for them than to be happy and enjoy themselves as long as they live;\r\n\t\t\t moreover, it is God's gift that all should eat and drink and take pleasure in all their toil.\r\n\t\t\t I know that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it; God has done this, so that all should stand in awe before him.\r\n\t\t\t That which is, already has been; that which is to be, already is; and God seeks out what has gone by. \r\n\t\t\t Moreover I saw under the sun that in the place of justice, wickedness was there, and in the place of righteousness, wickedness was there as well.\r\n\t\t\t I said in my heart, God will judge the righteous and the wicked, for he has appointed a time for every matter, and for every work.\r\n\t\t\t I said in my heart with regard to human beings that God is testing them to show that they are but animals.\r\n\t\t\t For the fate of humans and the fate of animals is the same; as one dies, so dies the other. They all have the same breath, and humans have no advantage over the animals; for all is vanity.\r\n\t\t\t All go to one place; all are from the dust, and all turn to dust again.\r\n\t\t\t Who knows whether the human spirit goes upward and the spirit of animals goes downward to the earth?\r\n\t\t\t So I saw that there is nothing better than that all should enjoy their work, for that is their lot; who can bring them to see what will be after them?\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Again I saw all the oppressions that are practiced under the sun. Look, the tears of the oppressed-- with no one to comfort them! On the side of their oppressors there was power-- with no one to comfort them.\r\n\t\t\t And I thought the dead, who have already died, more fortunate than the living, who are still alive;\r\n\t\t\t but better than both is the one who has not yet been, and has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun.\r\n\t\t\t Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from one person's envy of another. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind. \r\n\t\t\t Fools fold their hands and consume their own flesh.\r\n\t\t\t Better is a handful with quiet than two handfuls with toil, and a chasing after wind. \r\n\t\t\t Again, I saw vanity under the sun:\r\n\t\t\t the case of solitary individuals, without sons or brothers; yet there is no end to all their toil, and their eyes are never satisfied with riches. \"For whom am I toiling,\" they ask, \"and depriving myself of pleasure?\" This also is vanity and an unhappy business.\r\n\t\t\t Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil.\r\n\t\t\t For if they fall, one will lift up the other; but woe to one who is alone and falls and does not have another to help.\r\n\t\t\t Again, if two lie together, they keep warm; but how can one keep warm alone?\r\n\t\t\t And though one might prevail against another, two will withstand one. A threefold cord is not quickly broken.\r\n\t\t\t Better is a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king, who will no longer take advice.\r\n\t\t\t One can indeed come out of prison to reign, even though born poor in the kingdom.\r\n\t\t\t I saw all the living who, moving about under the sun, follow that youth who replaced the king; \r\n\t\t\t there was no end to all those people whom he led. Yet those who come later will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and a chasing after wind. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Guard your steps when you go to the house of God; to draw near to listen is better than the sacrifice offered by fools; for they do not know how to keep from doing evil. \r\n\t\t\t Never be rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be quick to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven, and you upon earth; therefore let your words be few.\r\n\t\t\t For dreams come with many cares, and a fool's voice with many words.\r\n\t\t\t When you make a vow to God, do not delay fulfilling it; for he has no pleasure in fools. Fulfill what you vow.\r\n\t\t\t It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not fulfill it.\r\n\t\t\t Do not let your mouth lead you into sin, and do not say before the messenger that it was a mistake; why should God be angry at your words, and destroy the work of your hands?\r\n\t\t\t With many dreams come vanities and a multitude of words; but fear God. \r\n\t\t\t If you see in a province the oppression of the poor and the violation of justice and right, do not be amazed at the matter; for the high official is watched by a higher, and there are yet higher ones over them.\r\n\t\t\t But all things considered, this is an advantage for a land: a king for a plowed field. \r\n\t\t\t The lover of money will not be satisfied with money; nor the lover of wealth, with gain. This also is vanity.\r\n\t\t\t When goods increase, those who eat them increase; and what gain has their owner but to see them with his eyes?\r\n\t\t\t Sweet is the sleep of laborers, whether they eat little or much; but the surfeit of the rich will not let them sleep.\r\n\t\t\t There is a grievous ill that I have seen under the sun: riches were kept by their owners to their hurt,\r\n\t\t\t and those riches were lost in a bad venture; though they are parents of children, they have nothing in their hands.\r\n\t\t\t As they came from their mother's womb, so they shall go again, naked as they came; they shall take nothing for their toil, which they may carry away with their hands.\r\n\t\t\t This also is a grievous ill: just as they came, so shall they go; and what gain do they have from toiling for the wind?\r\n\t\t\t Besides, all their days they eat in darkness, in much vexation and sickness and resentment.\r\n\t\t\t This is what I have seen to be good: it is fitting to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of the life God gives us; for this is our lot.\r\n\t\t\t Likewise all to whom God gives wealth and possessions and whom he enables to enjoy them, and to accept their lot and find enjoyment in their toil-- this is the gift of God.\r\n\t\t\t For they will scarcely brood over the days of their lives, because God keeps them occupied with the joy of their hearts.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, and it lies heavy upon humankind:\r\n\t\t\t those to whom God gives wealth, possessions, and honor, so that they lack nothing of all that they desire, yet God does not enable them to enjoy these things, but a stranger enjoys them. This is vanity; it is a grievous ill.\r\n\t\t\t A man may beget a hundred children, and live many years; but however many are the days of his years, if he does not enjoy life's good things, or has no burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he.\r\n\t\t\t For it comes into vanity and goes into darkness, and in darkness its name is covered;\r\n\t\t\t moreover it has not seen the sun or known anything; yet it finds rest rather than he.\r\n\t\t\t Even though he should live a thousand years twice over, yet enjoy no good-- do not all go to one place?\r\n\t\t\t All human toil is for the mouth, yet the appetite is not satisfied.\r\n\t\t\t For what advantage have the wise over fools? And what do the poor have who know how to conduct themselves before the living?\r\n\t\t\t Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of desire; this also is vanity and a chasing after wind. \r\n\t\t\t Whatever has come to be has already been named, and it is known what human beings are, and that they are not able to dispute with those who are stronger.\r\n\t\t\t The more words, the more vanity, so how is one the better?\r\n\t\t\t For who knows what is good for mortals while they live the few days of their vain life, which they pass like a shadow? For who can tell them what will be after them under the sun?\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t A good name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death, than the day of birth.\r\n\t\t\t It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting; for this is the end of everyone, and the living will lay it to heart.\r\n\t\t\t Sorrow is better than laughter, for by sadness of countenance the heart is made glad.\r\n\t\t\t The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.\r\n\t\t\t It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise than to hear the song of fools.\r\n\t\t\t For like the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of fools; this also is vanity.\r\n\t\t\t Surely oppression makes the wise foolish, and a bribe corrupts the heart.\r\n\t\t\t Better is the end of a thing than its beginning; the patient in spirit are better than the proud in spirit.\r\n\t\t\t Do not be quick to anger, for anger lodges in the bosom of fools.\r\n\t\t\t Do not say, \"Why were the former days better than these?\" For it is not from wisdom that you ask this.\r\n\t\t\t Wisdom is as good as an inheritance, an advantage to those who see the sun.\r\n\t\t\t For the protection of wisdom is like the protection of money, and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom gives life to the one who possesses it.\r\n\t\t\t Consider the work of God; who can make straight what he has made crooked?\r\n\t\t\t In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider; God has made the one as well as the other, so that mortals may not find out anything that will come after them.\r\n\t\t\t In my vain life I have seen everything; there are righteous people who perish in their righteousness, and there are wicked people who prolong their life in their evildoing.\r\n\t\t\t Do not be too righteous, and do not act too wise; why should you destroy yourself?\r\n\t\t\t Do not be too wicked, and do not be a fool; why should you die before your time?\r\n\t\t\t It is good that you should take hold of the one, without letting go of the other; for the one who fears God shall succeed with both.\r\n\t\t\t Wisdom gives strength to the wise more than ten rulers that are in a city.\r\n\t\t\t Surely there is no one on earth so righteous as to do good without ever sinning.\r\n\t\t\t Do not give heed to everything that people say, or you may hear your servant cursing you;\r\n\t\t\t your heart knows that many times you have yourself cursed others.\r\n\t\t\t All this I have tested by wisdom; I said, \"I will be wise,\" but it was far from me.\r\n\t\t\t That which is, is far off, and deep, very deep; who can find it out?\r\n\t\t\t I turned my mind to know and to search out and to seek wisdom and the sum of things, and to know that wickedness is folly and that foolishness is madness.\r\n\t\t\t I found more bitter than death the woman who is a trap, whose heart is snares and nets, whose hands are fetters; one who pleases God escapes her, but the sinner is taken by her.\r\n\t\t\t See, this is what I found, says the Teacher, adding one thing to another to find the sum, \r\n\t\t\t which my mind has sought repeatedly, but I have not found. One man among a thousand I found, but a woman among all these I have not found.\r\n\t\t\t See, this alone I found, that God made human beings straightforward, but they have devised many schemes.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Who is like the wise man? And who knows the interpretation of a thing? Wisdom makes one's face shine, and the hardness of one's countenance is changed.\r\n\t\t\t Keep the king's command because of your sacred oath. \r\n\t\t\t Do not be terrified; go from his presence, do not delay when the matter is unpleasant, for he does whatever he pleases.\r\n\t\t\t For the word of the king is powerful, and who can say to him, \"What are you doing?\"\r\n\t\t\t Whoever obeys a command will meet no harm, and the wise mind will know the time and way.\r\n\t\t\t For every matter has its time and way, although the troubles of mortals lie heavy upon them.\r\n\t\t\t Indeed, they do not know what is to be, for who can tell them how it will be?\r\n\t\t\t No one has power over the wind to restrain the wind, or power over the day of death; there is no discharge from the battle, nor does wickedness deliver those who practice it.\r\n\t\t\t All this I observed, applying my mind to all that is done under the sun, while one person exercises authority over another to the other's hurt.\r\n\t\t\t Then I saw the wicked buried; they used to go in and out of the holy place, and were praised in the city where they had done such things. This also is vanity. \r\n\t\t\t Because sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the human heart is fully set to do evil.\r\n\t\t\t Though sinners do evil a hundred times and prolong their lives, yet I know that it will be well with those who fear God, because they stand in fear before him,\r\n\t\t\t but it will not be well with the wicked, neither will they prolong their days like a shadow, because they do not stand in fear before God.\r\n\t\t\t There is a vanity that takes place on earth, that there are righteous people who are treated according to the conduct of the wicked, and there are wicked people who are treated according to the conduct of the righteous. I said that this also is vanity.\r\n\t\t\t So I commend enjoyment, for there is nothing better for people under the sun than to eat, and drink, and enjoy themselves, for this will go with them in their toil through the days of life that God gives them under the sun.\r\n\t\t\t When I applied my mind to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done on earth, how one's eyes see sleep neither day nor night,\r\n\t\t\t then I saw all the work of God, that no one can find out what is happening under the sun. However much they may toil in seeking, they will not find it out; even though those who are wise claim to know, they cannot find it out.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t All this I laid to heart, examining it all, how the righteous and the wise and their deeds are in the hand of God; whether it is love or hate one does not know. Everything that confronts them\r\n\t\t\t is vanity, since the same fate comes to all, to the righteous and the wicked, to the good and the evil, to the clean and the unclean, to those who sacrifice and those who do not sacrifice. As are the good, so are the sinners; those who swear are like those who shun an oath. \r\n\t\t\t This is an evil in all that happens under the sun, that the same fate comes to everyone. Moreover, the hearts of all are full of evil; madness is in their hearts while they live, and after that they go to the dead.\r\n\t\t\t But whoever is joined with all the living has hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion.\r\n\t\t\t The living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing; they have no more reward, and even the memory of them is lost.\r\n\t\t\t Their love and their hate and their envy have already perished; never again will they have any share in all that happens under the sun.\r\n\t\t\t Go, eat your bread with enjoyment, and drink your wine with a merry heart; for God has long ago approved what you do.\r\n\t\t\t Let your garments always be white; do not let oil be lacking on your head.\r\n\t\t\t Enjoy life with the wife whom you love, all the days of your vain life that are given you under the sun, because that is your portion in life and in your toil at which you toil under the sun.\r\n\t\t\t Whatever your hand finds to do, do with your might; for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going.\r\n\t\t\t Again I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to the skillful; but time and chance happen to them all.\r\n\t\t\t For no one can anticipate the time of disaster. Like fish taken in a cruel net, and like birds caught in a snare, so mortals are snared at a time of calamity, when it suddenly falls upon them.\r\n\t\t\t I have also seen this example of wisdom under the sun, and it seemed great to me.\r\n\t\t\t There was a little city with few people in it. A great king came against it and besieged it, building great siegeworks against it.\r\n\t\t\t Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that poor man.\r\n\t\t\t So I said, \"Wisdom is better than might; yet the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heeded.\"\r\n\t\t\t The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded than the shouting of a ruler among fools.\r\n\t\t\t Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one bungler destroys much good.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Dead flies make the perfumer's ointment give off a foul odor; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.\r\n\t\t\t The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of a fool to the left.\r\n\t\t\t Even when fools walk on the road, they lack sense, and show to everyone that they are fools.\r\n\t\t\t If the anger of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your post, for calmness will undo great offenses.\r\n\t\t\t There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as great an error as if it proceeded from the ruler:\r\n\t\t\t folly is set in many high places, and the rich sit in a low place.\r\n\t\t\t I have seen slaves on horseback, and princes walking on foot like slaves.\r\n\t\t\t Whoever digs a pit will fall into it; and whoever breaks through a wall will be bitten by a snake.\r\n\t\t\t Whoever quarries stones will be hurt by them; and whoever splits logs will be endangered by them.\r\n\t\t\t If the iron is blunt, and one does not whet the edge, then more strength must be exerted; but wisdom helps one to succeed.\r\n\t\t\t If the snake bites before it is charmed, there is no advantage in a charmer.\r\n\t\t\t Words spoken by the wise bring them favor, but the lips of fools consume them.\r\n\t\t\t The words of their mouths begin in foolishness, and their talk ends in wicked madness;\r\n\t\t\t yet fools talk on and on. No one knows what is to happen, and who can tell anyone what the future holds?\r\n\t\t\t The toil of fools wears them out, for they do not even know the way to town.\r\n\t\t\t Alas for you, O land, when your king is a servant, and your princes feast in the morning! \r\n\t\t\t Happy are you, O land, when your king is a nobleman, and your princes feast at the proper time-- for strength, and not for drunkenness!\r\n\t\t\t Through sloth the roof sinks in, and through indolence the house leaks.\r\n\t\t\t Feasts are made for laughter; wine gladdens life, and money meets every need.\r\n\t\t\t Do not curse the king, even in your thoughts, or curse the rich, even in your bedroom; for a bird of the air may carry your voice, or some winged creature tell the matter.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Send out your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will get it back.\r\n\t\t\t Divide your means seven ways, or even eight, for you do not know what disaster may happen on earth.\r\n\t\t\t When clouds are full, they empty rain on the earth; whether a tree falls to the south or to the north, in the place where the tree falls, there it will lie.\r\n\t\t\t Whoever observes the wind will not sow; and whoever regards the clouds will not reap.\r\n\t\t\t Just as you do not know how the breath comes to the bones in the mother's womb, so you do not know the work of God, who makes everything.\r\n\t\t\t In the morning sow your seed, and at evening do not let your hands be idle; for you do not know which will prosper, this or that, or whether both alike will be good.\r\n\t\t\t Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to see the sun.\r\n\t\t\t Even those who live many years should rejoice in them all; yet let them remember that the days of darkness will be many. All that comes is vanity.\r\n\t\t\t Rejoice, young man, while you are young, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Follow the inclination of your heart and the desire of your eyes, but know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.\r\n\t\t\t Banish anxiety from your mind, and put away pain from your body; for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Remember your creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come, and the years draw near when you will say, \"I have no pleasure in them\";\r\n\t\t\t before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return with the rain; \r\n\t\t\t in the day when the guards of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent, and the women who grind cease working because they are few, and those who look through the windows see dimly;\r\n\t\t\t when the doors on the street are shut, and the sound of the grinding is low, and one rises up at the sound of a bird, and all the daughters of song are brought low;\r\n\t\t\t when one is afraid of heights, and terrors are in the road; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along and desire fails; because all must go to their eternal home, and the mourners will go about the streets; \r\n\t\t\t before the silver cord is snapped, and the golden bowl is broken, and the pitcher is broken at the fountain, and the wheel broken at the cistern, \r\n\t\t\t and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the breath returns to God who gave it. \r\n\t\t\t Vanity of vanities, says the Teacher; all is vanity. \r\n\t\t\t Besides being wise, the Teacher also taught the people knowledge, weighing and studying and arranging many proverbs. \r\n\t\t\t The Teacher sought to find pleasing words, and he wrote words of truth plainly. \r\n\t\t\t The sayings of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings that are given by one shepherd. \r\n\t\t\t Of anything beyond these, my child, beware. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh.\r\n\t\t\t The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God, and keep his commandments; for that is the whole duty of everyone.\r\n\t\t\t For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The Song of Songs, which is Solomon's.\r\n\t\t\t Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth! For your love is better than wine,\r\n\t\t\t your anointing oils are fragrant, your name is perfume poured out; therefore the maidens love you.\r\n\t\t\t Draw me after you, let us make haste. The king has brought me into his chambers. We will exult and rejoice in you; we will extol your love more than wine; rightly do they love you.\r\n\t\t\t I am black and beautiful, O daughters of Jerusalem, like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon.\r\n\t\t\t Do not gaze at me because I am dark, because the sun has gazed on me. My mother's sons were angry with me; they made me keeper of the vineyards, but my own vineyard I have not kept!\r\n\t\t\t Tell me, you whom my soul loves, where you pasture your flock, where you make it lie down at noon; for why should I be like one who is veiled beside the flocks of your companions?\r\n\t\t\t If you do not know, O fairest among women, follow the tracks of the flock, and pasture your kids beside the shepherds' tents.\r\n\t\t\t I compare you, my love, to a mare among Pharaoh's chariots.\r\n\t\t\t Your cheeks are comely with ornaments, your neck with strings of jewels.\r\n\t\t\t We will make you ornaments of gold, studded with silver.\r\n\t\t\t While the king was on his couch, my nard gave forth its fragrance.\r\n\t\t\t My beloved is to me a bag of myrrh that lies between my breasts.\r\n\t\t\t My beloved is to me a cluster of henna blossoms in the vineyards of En-gedi.\r\n\t\t\t Ah, you are beautiful, my love; ah, you are beautiful; your eyes are doves.\r\n\t\t\t Ah, you are beautiful, my beloved, truly lovely. Our couch is green;\r\n\t\t\t the beams of our house are cedar, our rafters are pine. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys. \r\n\t\t\t As a lily among brambles, so is my love among maidens.\r\n\t\t\t As an apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among young men. With great delight I sat in his shadow, and his fruit was sweet to my taste.\r\n\t\t\t He brought me to the banqueting house, and his intention toward me was love.\r\n\t\t\t Sustain me with raisins, refresh me with apples; for I am faint with love.\r\n\t\t\t O that his left hand were under my head, and that his right hand embraced me!\r\n\t\t\t I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the gazelles or the wild does: do not stir up or awaken love until it is ready!\r\n\t\t\t The voice of my beloved! Look, he comes, leaping upon the mountains, bounding over the hills.\r\n\t\t\t My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag. Look, there he stands behind our wall, gazing in at the windows, looking through the lattice.\r\n\t\t\t My beloved speaks and says to me: \"Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away;\r\n\t\t\t for now the winter is past, the rain is over and gone.\r\n\t\t\t The flowers appear on the earth; the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.\r\n\t\t\t The fig tree puts forth its figs, and the vines are in blossom; they give forth fragrance. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.\r\n\t\t\t O my dove, in the clefts of the rock, in the covert of the cliff, let me see your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely.\r\n\t\t\t Catch us the foxes, the little foxes, that ruin the vineyards-- for our vineyards are in blossom.\"\r\n\t\t\t My beloved is mine and I am his; he pastures his flock among the lilies.\r\n\t\t\t Until the day breathes and the shadows flee, turn, my beloved, be like a gazelle or a young stag on the cleft mountains. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Upon my bed at night I sought him whom my soul loves; I sought him, but found him not; I called him, but he gave no answer. \r\n\t\t\t \"I will rise now and go about the city, in the streets and in the squares; I will seek him whom my soul loves.\" I sought him, but found him not.\r\n\t\t\t The sentinels found me, as they went about in the city. \"Have you seen him whom my soul loves?\"\r\n\t\t\t Scarcely had I passed them, when I found him whom my soul loves. I held him, and would not let him go until I brought him into my mother's house, and into the chamber of her that conceived me.\r\n\t\t\t I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the gazelles or the wild does: do not stir up or awaken love until it is ready!\r\n\t\t\t What is that coming up from the wilderness, like a column of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all the fragrant powders of the merchant?\r\n\t\t\t Look, it is the litter of Solomon! Around it are sixty mighty men of the mighty men of Israel,\r\n\t\t\t all equipped with swords and expert in war, each with his sword at his thigh because of alarms by night.\r\n\t\t\t King Solomon made himself a palanquin from the wood of Lebanon.\r\n\t\t\t He made its posts of silver, its back of gold, its seat of purple; its interior was inlaid with love. Daughters of Jerusalem, \r\n\t\t\t come out. Look, O daughters of Zion, at King Solomon, at the crown with which his mother crowned him on the day of his wedding, on the day of the gladness of his heart.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t How beautiful you are, my love, how very beautiful! Your eyes are doves behind your veil. Your hair is like a flock of goats, moving down the slopes of Gilead.\r\n\t\t\t Your teeth are like a flock of shorn ewes that have come up from the washing, all of which bear twins, and not one among them is bereaved.\r\n\t\t\t Your lips are like a crimson thread, and your mouth is lovely. Your cheeks are like halves of a pomegranate behind your veil.\r\n\t\t\t Your neck is like the tower of David, built in courses; on it hang a thousand bucklers, all of them shields of warriors.\r\n\t\t\t Your two breasts are like two fawns, twins of a gazelle, that feed among the lilies.\r\n\t\t\t Until the day breathes and the shadows flee, I will hasten to the mountain of myrrh and the hill of frankincense.\r\n\t\t\t You are altogether beautiful, my love; there is no flaw in you.\r\n\t\t\t Come with me from Lebanon, my bride; come with me from Lebanon. Depart from the peak of Amana, from the peak of Senir and Hermon, from the dens of lions, from the mountains of leopards. \r\n\t\t\t You have ravished my heart, my sister, my bride, you have ravished my heart with a glance of your eyes, with one jewel of your necklace.\r\n\t\t\t How sweet is your love, my sister, my bride! how much better is your love than wine, and the fragrance of your oils than any spice!\r\n\t\t\t Your lips distill nectar, my bride; honey and milk are under your tongue; the scent of your garments is like the scent of Lebanon.\r\n\t\t\t A garden locked is my sister, my bride, a garden locked, a fountain sealed.\r\n\t\t\t Your channel is an orchard of pomegranates with all choicest fruits, henna with nard, \r\n\t\t\t nard and saffron, calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense, myrrh and aloes, with all chief spices--\r\n\t\t\t a garden fountain, a well of living water, and flowing streams from Lebanon.\r\n\t\t\t Awake, O north wind, and come, O south wind! Blow upon my garden that its fragrance may be wafted abroad. Let my beloved come to his garden, and eat its choicest fruits.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t I come to my garden, my sister, my bride; I gather my myrrh with my spice, I eat my honeycomb with my honey, I drink my wine with my milk. Eat, friends, drink, and be drunk with love.\r\n\t\t\t I slept, but my heart was awake. Listen! my beloved is knocking. \"Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my perfect one; for my head is wet with dew, my locks with the drops of the night.\"\r\n\t\t\t I had put off my garment; how could I put it on again? I had bathed my feet; how could I soil them?\r\n\t\t\t My beloved thrust his hand into the opening, and my inmost being yearned for him.\r\n\t\t\t I arose to open to my beloved, and my hands dripped with myrrh, my fingers with liquid myrrh, upon the handles of the bolt.\r\n\t\t\t I opened to my beloved, but my beloved had turned and was gone. My soul failed me when he spoke. I sought him, but did not find him; I called him, but he gave no answer.\r\n\t\t\t Making their rounds in the city the sentinels found me; they beat me, they wounded me, they took away my mantle, those sentinels of the walls.\r\n\t\t\t I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if you find my beloved, tell him this: I am faint with love.\r\n\t\t\t What is your beloved more than another beloved, O fairest among women? What is your beloved more than another beloved, that you thus adjure us?\r\n\t\t\t My beloved is all radiant and ruddy, distinguished among ten thousand.\r\n\t\t\t His head is the finest gold; his locks are wavy, black as a raven.\r\n\t\t\t His eyes are like doves beside springs of water, bathed in milk, fitly set. \r\n\t\t\t His cheeks are like beds of spices, yielding fragrance. His lips are lilies, distilling liquid myrrh.\r\n\t\t\t His arms are rounded gold, set with jewels. His body is ivory work, encrusted with sapphires. \r\n\t\t\t His legs are alabaster columns, set upon bases of gold. His appearance is like Lebanon, choice as the cedars.\r\n\t\t\t His speech is most sweet, and he is altogether desirable. This is my beloved and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Where has your beloved gone, O fairest among women? Which way has your beloved turned, that we may seek him with you?\r\n\t\t\t My beloved has gone down to his garden, to the beds of spices, to pasture his flock in the gardens, and to gather lilies.\r\n\t\t\t I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine; he pastures his flock among the lilies.\r\n\t\t\t You are beautiful as Tirzah, my love, comely as Jerusalem, terrible as an army with banners.\r\n\t\t\t Turn away your eyes from me, for they overwhelm me! Your hair is like a flock of goats, moving down the slopes of Gilead.\r\n\t\t\t Your teeth are like a flock of ewes, that have come up from the washing; all of them bear twins, and not one among them is bereaved.\r\n\t\t\t Your cheeks are like halves of a pomegranate behind your veil.\r\n\t\t\t There are sixty queens and eighty concubines, and maidens without number.\r\n\t\t\t My dove, my perfect one, is the only one, the darling of her mother, flawless to her that bore her. The maidens saw her and called her happy; the queens and concubines also, and they praised her.\r\n\t\t\t \"Who is this that looks forth like the dawn, fair as the moon, bright as the sun, terrible as an army with banners?\"\r\n\t\t\t I went down to the nut orchard, to look at the blossoms of the valley, to see whether the vines had budded, whether the pomegranates were in bloom.\r\n\t\t\t Before I was aware, my fancy set me in a chariot beside my prince. \r\n\t\t\t Return, return, O Shulammite! Return, return, that we may look upon you. Why should you look upon the Shulammite, as upon a dance before two armies? \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t How graceful are your feet in sandals, O queenly maiden! Your rounded thighs are like jewels, the work of a master hand.\r\n\t\t\t Your navel is a rounded bowl that never lacks mixed wine. Your belly is a heap of wheat, encircled with lilies.\r\n\t\t\t Your two breasts are like two fawns, twins of a gazelle.\r\n\t\t\t Your neck is like an ivory tower. Your eyes are pools in Heshbon, by the gate of Bath-rabbim. Your nose is like a tower of Lebanon, overlooking Damascus.\r\n\t\t\t Your head crowns you like Carmel, and your flowing locks are like purple; a king is held captive in the tresses. \r\n\t\t\t How fair and pleasant you are, O loved one, delectable maiden! \r\n\t\t\t You are stately as a palm tree, and your breasts are like its clusters. \r\n\t\t\t I say I will climb the palm tree and lay hold of its branches. Oh, may your breasts be like clusters of the vine, and the scent of your breath like apples,\r\n\t\t\t and your kisses like the best wine that goes down smoothly, gliding over lips and teeth. \r\n\t\t\t I am my beloved's, and his desire is for me.\r\n\t\t\t Come, my beloved, let us go forth into the fields, and lodge in the villages;\r\n\t\t\t let us go out early to the vineyards, and see whether the vines have budded, whether the grape blossoms have opened and the pomegranates are in bloom. There I will give you my love.\r\n\t\t\t The mandrakes give forth fragrance, and over our doors are all choice fruits, new as well as old, which I have laid up for you, O my beloved.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t O that you were like a brother to me, who nursed at my mother's breast! If I met you outside, I would kiss you, and no one would despise me.\r\n\t\t\t I would lead you and bring you into the house of my mother, and into the chamber of the one who bore me. I would give you spiced wine to drink, the juice of my pomegranates. \r\n\t\t\t O that his left hand were under my head, and that his right hand embraced me!\r\n\t\t\t I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, do not stir up or awaken love until it is ready!\r\n\t\t\t Who is that coming up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved? Under the apple tree I awakened you. There your mother was in labor with you; there she who bore you was in labor.\r\n\t\t\t Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm; for love is strong as death, passion fierce as the grave. Its flashes are flashes of fire, a raging flame.\r\n\t\t\t Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it. If one offered for love all the wealth of his house, it would be utterly scorned.\r\n\t\t\t We have a little sister, and she has no breasts. What shall we do for our sister, on the day when she is spoken for?\r\n\t\t\t If she is a wall, we will build upon her a battlement of silver; but if she is a door, we will enclose her with boards of cedar.\r\n\t\t\t I was a wall, and my breasts were like towers; then I was in his eyes as one who brings peace. \r\n\t\t\t Solomon had a vineyard at Baal-hamon; he entrusted the vineyard to keepers; each one was to bring for its fruit a thousand pieces of silver.\r\n\t\t\t My vineyard, my very own, is for myself; you, O Solomon, may have the thousand, and the keepers of the fruit two hundred!\r\n\t\t\t O you who dwell in the gardens, my companions are listening for your voice; let me hear it.\r\n\t\t\t Make haste, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or a young stag upon the mountains of spices!\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The vision of Isaiah son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.\r\n\t\t\t Hear, O heavens, and listen, O earth; for the LORD has spoken: I reared children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against me.\r\n\t\t\t The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master's crib; but Israel does not know, my people do not understand.\r\n\t\t\t Ah, sinful nation, people laden with iniquity, offspring who do evil, children who deal corruptly, who have forsaken the LORD, who have despised the Holy One of Israel, who are utterly estranged!\r\n\t\t\t Why do you seek further beatings? Why do you continue to rebel? The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.\r\n\t\t\t From the sole of the foot even to the head, there is no soundness in it, but bruises and sores and bleeding wounds; they have not been drained, or bound up, or softened with oil.\r\n\t\t\t Your country lies desolate, your cities are burned with fire; in your very presence aliens devour your land; it is desolate, as overthrown by foreigners.\r\n\t\t\t And daughter Zion is left like a booth in a vineyard, like a shelter in a cucumber field, like a besieged city.\r\n\t\t\t If the LORD of hosts had not left us a few survivors, we would have been like Sodom, and become like Gomorrah.\r\n\t\t\t Hear the word of the LORD, you rulers of Sodom! Listen to the teaching of our God, you people of Gomorrah!\r\n\t\t\t What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices? says the LORD; I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fed beasts; I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of goats.\r\n\t\t\t When you come to appear before me, who asked this from your hand? Trample my courts no more; \r\n\t\t\t bringing offerings is futile; incense is an abomination to me. New moon and sabbath and calling of convocation-- I cannot endure solemn assemblies with iniquity.\r\n\t\t\t Your new moons and your appointed festivals my soul hates; they have become a burden to me, I am weary of bearing them.\r\n\t\t\t When you stretch out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not listen; your hands are full of blood.\r\n\t\t\t Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your doings from before my eyes; cease to do evil,\r\n\t\t\t learn to do good; seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow.\r\n\t\t\t Come now, let us argue it out, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be like snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.\r\n\t\t\t If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land;\r\n\t\t\t but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.\r\n\t\t\t How the faithful city has become a whore! She that was full of justice, righteousness lodged in her-- but now murderers!\r\n\t\t\t Your silver has become dross, your wine is mixed with water.\r\n\t\t\t Your princes are rebels and companions of thieves. Everyone loves a bribe and runs after gifts. They do not defend the orphan, and the widow's cause does not come before them.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore says the Sovereign, the LORD of hosts, the Mighty One of Israel: Ah, I will pour out my wrath on my enemies, and avenge myself on my foes!\r\n\t\t\t I will turn my hand against you; I will smelt away your dross as with lye and remove all your alloy.\r\n\t\t\t And I will restore your judges as at the first, and your counselors as at the beginning. Afterward you shall be called the city of righteousness, the faithful city.\r\n\t\t\t Zion shall be redeemed by justice, and those in her who repent, by righteousness.\r\n\t\t\t But rebels and sinners shall be destroyed together, and those who forsake the LORD shall be consumed.\r\n\t\t\t For you shall be ashamed of the oaks in which you delighted; and you shall blush for the gardens that you have chosen.\r\n\t\t\t For you shall be like an oak whose leaf withers, and like a garden without water.\r\n\t\t\t The strong shall become like tinder, and their work like a spark; they and their work shall burn together, with no one to quench them. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t In days to come the mountain of the LORD's house shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised above the hills; all the nations shall stream to it.\r\n\t\t\t Many peoples shall come and say, \"Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.\" For out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t He shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.\r\n\t\t\t O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the LORD!\r\n\t\t\t For you have forsaken the ways of your people, O house of Jacob. Indeed they are full of diviners from the east and of soothsayers like the Philistines, and they clasp hands with foreigners. \r\n\t\t\t Their 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.\r\n\t\t\t Their land is filled with idols; they bow down to the work of their hands, to what their own fingers have made.\r\n\t\t\t And so people are humbled, and everyone is brought low-- do not forgive them!\r\n\t\t\t Enter into the rock, and hide in the dust from the terror of the LORD, and from the glory of his majesty.\r\n\t\t\t The haughty eyes of people shall be brought low, and the pride of everyone shall be humbled; and the LORD alone will be exalted in that day.\r\n\t\t\t For the LORD of hosts has a day against all that is proud and lofty, against all that is lifted up and high; \r\n\t\t\t against all the cedars of Lebanon, lofty and lifted up; and against all the oaks of Bashan;\r\n\t\t\t against all the high mountains, and against all the lofty hills;\r\n\t\t\t against every high tower, and against every fortified wall;\r\n\t\t\t against all the ships of Tarshish, and against all the beautiful craft. \r\n\t\t\t The haughtiness of people shall be humbled, and the pride of everyone shall be brought low; and the LORD alone will be exalted on that day.\r\n\t\t\t The idols shall utterly pass away.\r\n\t\t\t Enter the caves of the rocks and the holes of the ground, from the terror of the LORD, and from the glory of his majesty, when he rises to terrify the earth.\r\n\t\t\t On that day people will throw away to the moles and to the bats their idols of silver and their idols of gold, which they made for themselves to worship,\r\n\t\t\t to enter the caverns of the rocks and the clefts in the crags, from the terror of the LORD, and from the glory of his majesty, when he rises to terrify the earth.\r\n\t\t\t Turn away from mortals, who have only breath in their nostrils, for of what account are they?\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t For now the Sovereign, the LORD of hosts, is taking away from Jerusalem and from Judah support and staff-- all support of bread, and all support of water--\r\n\t\t\t warrior and soldier, judge and prophet, diviner and elder,\r\n\t\t\t captain of fifty and dignitary, counselor and skillful magician and expert enchanter.\r\n\t\t\t And I will make boys their princes, and babes shall rule over them.\r\n\t\t\t The people will be oppressed, everyone by another and everyone by a neighbor; the youth will be insolent to the elder, and the base to the honorable.\r\n\t\t\t Someone will even seize a relative, a member of the clan, saying, \"You have a cloak; you shall be our leader, and this heap of ruins shall be under your rule.\"\r\n\t\t\t But the other will cry out on that day, saying, \"I will not be a healer; in my house there is neither bread nor cloak; you shall not make me leader of the people.\"\r\n\t\t\t For Jerusalem has stumbled and Judah has fallen, because their speech and their deeds are against the LORD, defying his glorious presence.\r\n\t\t\t The look on their faces bears witness against them; they proclaim their sin like Sodom, they do not hide it. Woe to them! For they have brought evil on themselves.\r\n\t\t\t Tell the innocent how fortunate they are, for they shall eat the fruit of their labors.\r\n\t\t\t Woe to the guilty! How unfortunate they are, for what their hands have done shall be done to them.\r\n\t\t\t My people-- children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, your leaders mislead you, and confuse the course of your paths.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD rises to argue his case; he stands to judge the peoples.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD enters into judgment with the elders and princes of his people: It is you who have devoured the vineyard; the spoil of the poor is in your houses.\r\n\t\t\t What do you mean by crushing my people, by grinding the face of the poor? says the Lord GOD of hosts.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD said: Because the daughters of Zion are haughty and walk with outstretched necks, glancing wantonly with their eyes, mincing along as they go, tinkling with their feet;\r\n\t\t\t the Lord will afflict with scabs the heads of the daughters of Zion, and the LORD will lay bare their secret parts.\r\n\t\t\t In that day the Lord will take away the finery of the anklets, the headbands, and the crescents;\r\n\t\t\t the pendants, the bracelets, and the scarfs;\r\n\t\t\t the headdresses, the armlets, the sashes, the perfume boxes, and the amulets;\r\n\t\t\t the signet rings and nose rings;\r\n\t\t\t the festal robes, the mantles, the cloaks, and the handbags;\r\n\t\t\t the garments of gauze, the linen garments, the turbans, and the veils.\r\n\t\t\t Instead of perfume there will be a stench; and instead of a sash, a rope; and instead of well-set hair, baldness; and instead of a rich robe, a binding of sackcloth; instead of beauty, shame. \r\n\t\t\t Your men shall fall by the sword and your warriors in battle.\r\n\t\t\t And her gates shall lament and mourn; ravaged, she shall sit upon the ground.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Seven women shall take hold of one man in that day, saying, \"We will eat our own bread and wear our own clothes; just let us be called by your name; take away our disgrace.\"\r\n\t\t\t On that day the branch of the LORD shall be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land shall be the pride and glory of the survivors of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t Whoever is left in Zion and remains in Jerusalem will be called holy, everyone who has been recorded for life in Jerusalem,\r\n\t\t\t once the Lord has washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion and cleansed the bloodstains of Jerusalem from its midst by a spirit of judgment and by a spirit of burning.\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD will create over the whole site of Mount Zion and over its places of assembly a cloud by day and smoke and the shining of a flaming fire by night. Indeed over all the glory there will be a canopy.\r\n\t\t\t It will serve as a pavilion, a shade by day from the heat, and a refuge and a shelter from the storm and rain.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Let me sing for my beloved my love-song concerning his vineyard: My beloved had a vineyard on a very fertile hill.\r\n\t\t\t He dug it and cleared it of stones, and planted it with choice vines; he built a watchtower in the midst of it, and hewed out a wine vat in it; he expected it to yield grapes, but it yielded wild grapes.\r\n\t\t\t And now, inhabitants of Jerusalem and people of Judah, judge between me and my vineyard.\r\n\t\t\t What more was there to do for my vineyard that I have not done in it? When I expected it to yield grapes, why did it yield wild grapes?\r\n\t\t\t And now I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard. I will remove its hedge, and it shall be devoured; I will break down its wall, and it shall be trampled down.\r\n\t\t\t I will make it a waste; it shall not be pruned or hoed, and it shall be overgrown with briers and thorns; I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it.\r\n\t\t\t For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the people of Judah are his pleasant planting; he expected justice, but saw bloodshed; righteousness, but heard a cry!\r\n\t\t\t Ah, you who join house to house, who add field to field, until there is room for no one but you, and you are left to live alone in the midst of the land!\r\n\t\t\t The LORD of hosts has sworn in my hearing: Surely many houses shall be desolate, large and beautiful houses, without inhabitant.\r\n\t\t\t For ten acres of vineyard shall yield but one bath, and a homer of seed shall yield a mere ephah. \r\n\t\t\t Ah, you who rise early in the morning in pursuit of strong drink, who linger in the evening to be inflamed by wine,\r\n\t\t\t whose feasts consist of lyre and harp, tambourine and flute and wine, but who do not regard the deeds of the LORD, or see the work of his hands!\r\n\t\t\t Therefore my people go into exile without knowledge; their nobles are dying of hunger, and their multitude is parched with thirst.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore Sheol has enlarged its appetite and opened its mouth beyond measure; the nobility of Jerusalem and her multitude go down, her throng and all who exult in her. \r\n\t\t\t People are bowed down, everyone is brought low, and the eyes of the haughty are humbled.\r\n\t\t\t But the LORD of hosts is exalted by justice, and the Holy God shows himself holy by righteousness.\r\n\t\t\t Then the lambs shall graze as in their pasture, fatlings and kids shall feed among the ruins. \r\n\t\t\t Ah, you who drag iniquity along with cords of falsehood, who drag sin along as with cart ropes,\r\n\t\t\t who say, \"Let him make haste, let him speed his work that we may see it; let the plan of the Holy One of Israel hasten to fulfillment, that we may know it!\"\r\n\t\t\t Ah, you who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!\r\n\t\t\t Ah, you who are wise in your own eyes, and shrewd in your own sight!\r\n\t\t\t Ah, you who are heroes in drinking wine and valiant at mixing drink,\r\n\t\t\t who acquit the guilty for a bribe, and deprive the innocent of their rights!\r\n\t\t\t Therefore, as the tongue of fire devours the stubble, and as dry grass sinks down in the flame, so their root will become rotten, and their blossom go up like dust; for they have rejected the instruction of the LORD of hosts, and have despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore the anger of the LORD was kindled against his people, and he stretched out his hand against them and struck them; the mountains quaked, and their corpses were like refuse in the streets. For all this his anger has not turned away, and his hand is stretched out still.\r\n\t\t\t He will raise a signal for a nation far away, and whistle for a people at the ends of the earth; Here they come, swiftly, speedily!\r\n\t\t\t None of them is weary, none stumbles, none slumbers or sleeps, not a loincloth is loose, not a sandal-thong broken;\r\n\t\t\t their arrows are sharp, all their bows bent, their horses' hoofs seem like flint, and their wheels like the whirlwind.\r\n\t\t\t Their roaring is like a lion, like young lions they roar; they growl and seize their prey, they carry it off, and no one can rescue.\r\n\t\t\t They will roar over it on that day, like the roaring of the sea. And if one look to the land-- only darkness and distress; and the light grows dark with clouds.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lofty; and the hem of his robe filled the temple.\r\n\t\t\t Seraphs were in attendance above him; each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, and with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew.\r\n\t\t\t And one called to another and said: \"Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory.\"\r\n\t\t\t The pivots on the thresholds shook at the voices of those who called, and the house filled with smoke. \r\n\t\t\t And I said: \"Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!\"\r\n\t\t\t Then one of the seraphs flew to me, holding a live coal that had been taken from the altar with a pair of tongs.\r\n\t\t\t The seraph touched my mouth with it and said: \"Now that this has touched your lips, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out.\" \r\n\t\t\t Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, \"Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?\" And I said, \"Here am I; send me!\"\r\n\t\t\t And he said, \"Go and say to this people: 'Keep listening, but do not comprehend; keep looking, but do not understand.'\r\n\t\t\t Make the mind of this people dull, and stop their ears, and shut their eyes, so that they may not look with their eyes, and listen with their ears, and comprehend with their minds, and turn and be healed.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then I said, \"How long, O Lord?\" And he said: \"Until cities lie waste without inhabitant, and houses without people, and the land is utterly desolate;\r\n\t\t\t until the LORD sends everyone far away, and vast is the emptiness in the midst of the land.\r\n\t\t\t Even if a tenth part remain in it, it will be burned again, like a terebinth or an oak whose stump remains standing when it is felled.\" The holy seed is its stump. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t In the days of Ahaz son of Jotham son of Uzziah, king of Judah, King Rezin of Aram and King Pekah son of Remaliah of Israel went up to attack Jerusalem, but could not mount an attack against it.\r\n\t\t\t When the house of David heard that Aram had allied itself with Ephraim, the heart of Ahaz and the heart of his people shook as the trees of the forest shake before the wind. \r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD said to Isaiah, Go out to meet Ahaz, you and your son Shear-jashub, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool on the highway to the Fuller's Field, \r\n\t\t\t and say to him, Take heed, be quiet, do not fear, and do not let your heart be faint because of these two smoldering stumps of firebrands, because of the fierce anger of Rezin and Aram and the son of Remaliah.\r\n\t\t\t Because Aram-- with Ephraim and the son of Remaliah-- has plotted evil against you, saying,\r\n\t\t\t Let us go up against Judah and cut off Jerusalem and conquer it for ourselves and make the son of Tabeel king in it; \r\n\t\t\t therefore thus says the Lord GOD: It shall not stand, and it shall not come to pass.\r\n\t\t\t For the head of Aram is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin. (Within sixty-five years Ephraim will be shattered, no longer a people.)\r\n\t\t\t The head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is the son of Remaliah. If you do not stand firm in faith, you shall not stand at all.\r\n\t\t\t Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz, saying,\r\n\t\t\t Ask a sign of the LORD your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.\r\n\t\t\t But Ahaz said, I will not ask, and I will not put the LORD to the test.\r\n\t\t\t Then Isaiah said: \"Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary mortals, that you weary my God also? \r\n\t\t\t Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel. \r\n\t\t\t He shall eat curds and honey by the time he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good.\r\n\t\t\t For before the child knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land before whose two kings you are in dread will be deserted.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD will bring on you and on your people and on your ancestral house such days as have not come since the day that Ephraim departed from Judah-- the king of Assyria.\"\r\n\t\t\t On that day the LORD will whistle for the fly that is at the sources of the streams of Egypt, and for the bee that is in the land of Assyria.\r\n\t\t\t And they will all come and settle in the steep ravines, and in the clefts of the rocks, and on all the thornbushes, and on all the pastures.\r\n\t\t\t On that day the Lord will shave with a razor hired beyond the River-- with the king of Assyria-- the head and the hair of the feet, and it will take off the beard as well.\r\n\t\t\t On that day one will keep alive a young cow and two sheep,\r\n\t\t\t and will eat curds because of the abundance of milk that they give; for everyone that is left in the land shall eat curds and honey.\r\n\t\t\t On that day every place where there used to be a thousand vines, worth a thousand shekels of silver, will become briers and thorns.\r\n\t\t\t With bow and arrows one will go there, for all the land will be briers and thorns;\r\n\t\t\t and as for all the hills that used to be hoed with a hoe, you will not go there for fear of briers and thorns; but they will become a place where cattle are let loose and where sheep tread.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD said to me, Take a large tablet and write on it in common characters, \"Belonging to Maher-shalal-hash-baz,\" \r\n\t\t\t and have it attested for me by reliable witnesses, the priest Uriah and Zechariah son of Jeberechiah. \r\n\t\t\t And I went to the prophetess, and she conceived and bore a son. Then the LORD said to me, Name him Maher-shalal-hash-baz;\r\n\t\t\t for before the child knows how to call \"My father\" or \"My mother,\" the wealth of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria will be carried away by the king of Assyria.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD spoke to me again:\r\n\t\t\t Because this people has refused the waters of Shiloah that flow gently, and melt in fear before Rezin and the son of Remaliah; \r\n\t\t\t therefore, the Lord is bringing up against it the mighty flood waters of the River, the king of Assyria and all his glory; it will rise above all its channels and overflow all its banks;\r\n\t\t\t it will sweep on into Judah as a flood, and, pouring over, it will reach up to the neck; and its outspread wings will fill the breadth of your land, O Immanuel.\r\n\t\t\t Band together, you peoples, and be dismayed; listen, all you far countries; gird yourselves and be dismayed; gird yourselves and be dismayed!\r\n\t\t\t Take counsel together, but it shall be brought to naught; speak a word, but it will not stand, for God is with us. \r\n\t\t\t For the LORD spoke thus to me while his hand was strong upon me, and warned me not to walk in the way of this people, saying:\r\n\t\t\t Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what it fears, or be in dread.\r\n\t\t\t But the LORD of hosts, him you shall regard as holy; let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.\r\n\t\t\t He will become a sanctuary, a stone one strikes against; for both houses of Israel he will become a rock one stumbles over-- a trap and a snare for the inhabitants of Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t And many among them shall stumble; they shall fall and be broken; they shall be snared and taken.\r\n\t\t\t Bind up the testimony, seal the teaching among my disciples.\r\n\t\t\t I will wait for the LORD, who is hiding his face from the house of Jacob, and I will hope in him.\r\n\t\t\t See, I and the children whom the LORD has given me are signs and portents in Israel from the LORD of hosts, who dwells on Mount Zion.\r\n\t\t\t Now if people say to you, \"Consult the ghosts and the familiar spirits that chirp and mutter; should not a people consult their gods, the dead on behalf of the living,\r\n\t\t\t for teaching and for instruction?\" Surely, those who speak like this will have no dawn!\r\n\t\t\t They will pass through the land, greatly distressed and hungry; when they are hungry, they will be enraged and will curse their king and their gods. They will turn their faces upward,\r\n\t\t\t or they will look to the earth, but will see only distress and darkness, the gloom of anguish; and they will be thrust into thick darkness. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t But there will be no gloom for those who were in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he will make glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.\r\n\t\t\t The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness-- on them light has shined.\r\n\t\t\t You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as people exult when dividing plunder.\r\n\t\t\t For the yoke of their burden, and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian.\r\n\t\t\t For all the boots of the tramping warriors and all the garments rolled in blood shall be burned as fuel for the fire.\r\n\t\t\t For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.\r\n\t\t\t His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.\r\n\t\t\t The Lord sent a word against Jacob, and it fell on Israel;\r\n\t\t\t and all the people knew it-- Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria-- but in pride and arrogance of heart they said:\r\n\t\t\t \"The bricks have fallen, but we will build with dressed stones; the sycamores have been cut down, but we will put cedars in their place.\"\r\n\t\t\t So the LORD raised adversaries against them, and stirred up their enemies, \r\n\t\t\t the Arameans on the east and the Philistines on the west, and they devoured Israel with open mouth. For all this his anger has not turned away; his hand is stretched out still.\r\n\t\t\t The people did not turn to him who struck them, or seek the LORD of hosts.\r\n\t\t\t So the LORD cut off from Israel head and tail, palm branch and reed in one day--\r\n\t\t\t elders and dignitaries are the head, and prophets who teach lies are the tail;\r\n\t\t\t for those who led this people led them astray, and those who were led by them were left in confusion.\r\n\t\t\t That is why the Lord did not have pity on their young people, or compassion on their orphans and widows; for everyone was godless and an evildoer, and every mouth spoke folly. For all this his anger has not turned away, his hand is stretched out still. \r\n\t\t\t For wickedness burned like a fire, consuming briers and thorns; it kindled the thickets of the forest, and they swirled upward in a column of smoke.\r\n\t\t\t Through the wrath of the LORD of hosts the land was burned, and the people became like fuel for the fire; no one spared another.\r\n\t\t\t They gorged on the right, but still were hungry, and they devoured on the left, but were not satisfied; they devoured the flesh of their own kindred; \r\n\t\t\t Manasseh devoured Ephraim, and Ephraim Manasseh, and together they were against Judah. For all this his anger has not turned away; his hand is stretched out still.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Ah, you who make iniquitous decrees, who write oppressive statutes,\r\n\t\t\t to turn aside the needy from justice and to rob the poor of my people of their right, that widows may be your spoil, and that you may make the orphans your prey!\r\n\t\t\t What will you do on the day of punishment, in the calamity that will come from far away? To whom will you flee for help, and where will you leave your wealth,\r\n\t\t\t so as not to crouch among the prisoners or fall among the slain? For all this his anger has not turned away; his hand is stretched out still.\r\n\t\t\t Ah, Assyria, the rod of my anger-- the club in their hands is my fury!\r\n\t\t\t Against a godless nation I send him, and against the people of my wrath I command him, to take spoil and seize plunder, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.\r\n\t\t\t But this is not what he intends, nor does he have this in mind; but it is in his heart to destroy, and to cut off nations not a few.\r\n\t\t\t For he says: \"Are not my commanders all kings?\r\n\t\t\t Is not Calno like Carchemish? Is not Hamath like Arpad? Is not Samaria like Damascus?\r\n\t\t\t As my hand has reached to the kingdoms of the idols whose images were greater than those of Jerusalem and Samaria,\r\n\t\t\t shall I not do to Jerusalem and her idols what I have done to Samaria and her images?\"\r\n\t\t\t When the Lord has finished all his work on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, he will punish the arrogant boasting of the king of Assyria and his haughty pride. \r\n\t\t\t For he says: \"By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom, for I have understanding; I have removed the boundaries of peoples, and have plundered their treasures; like a bull I have brought down those who sat on thrones.\r\n\t\t\t My hand has found, like a nest, the wealth of the peoples; and as one gathers eggs that have been forsaken, so I have gathered all the earth; and there was none that moved a wing, or opened its mouth, or chirped.\"\r\n\t\t\t Shall the ax vaunt itself over the one who wields it, or the saw magnify itself against the one who handles it? As if a rod should raise the one who lifts it up, or as if a staff should lift the one who is not wood!\r\n\t\t\t Therefore the Sovereign, the LORD of hosts, will send wasting sickness among his stout warriors, and under his glory a burning will be kindled, like the burning of fire.\r\n\t\t\t The light of Israel will become a fire, and his Holy One a flame; and it will burn and devour his thorns and briers in one day.\r\n\t\t\t The glory of his forest and his fruitful land the LORD will destroy, both soul and body, and it will be as when an invalid wastes away.\r\n\t\t\t The remnant of the trees of his forest will be so few that a child can write them down.\r\n\t\t\t On that day the remnant of Israel and the survivors of the house of Jacob will no more lean on the one who struck them, but will lean on the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, in truth.\r\n\t\t\t A remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, to the mighty God.\r\n\t\t\t For though your people Israel were like the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will return. Destruction is decreed, overflowing with righteousness.\r\n\t\t\t For the Lord GOD of hosts will make a full end, as decreed, in all the earth. \r\n\t\t\t Therefore thus says the Lord GOD of hosts: O my people, who live in Zion, do not be afraid of the Assyrians when they beat you with a rod and lift up their staff against you as the Egyptians did.\r\n\t\t\t For in a very little while my indignation will come to an end, and my anger will be directed to their destruction.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD of hosts will wield a whip against them, as when he struck Midian at the rock of Oreb; his staff will be over the sea, and he will lift it as he did in Egypt.\r\n\t\t\t On that day his burden will be removed from your shoulder, and his yoke will be destroyed from your neck. He has gone up from Rimmon, \r\n\t\t\t he has come to Aiath; he has passed through Migron, at Michmash he stores his baggage;\r\n\t\t\t they have crossed over the pass, at Geba they lodge for the night; Ramah trembles, Gibeah of Saul has fled.\r\n\t\t\t Cry aloud, O daughter Gallim! Listen, O Laishah! Answer her, O Anathoth!\r\n\t\t\t Madmenah is in flight, the inhabitants of Gebim flee for safety.\r\n\t\t\t This very day he will halt at Nob, he will shake his fist at the mount of daughter Zion, the hill of Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t Look, the Sovereign, the LORD of hosts, will lop the boughs with terrifying power; the tallest trees will be cut down, and the lofty will be brought low.\r\n\t\t\t He will hack down the thickets of the forest with an ax, and Lebanon with its majestic trees will fall. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots.\r\n\t\t\t The spirit of the LORD shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t His delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide by what his ears hear;\r\n\t\t\t but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.\r\n\t\t\t Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist, and faithfulness the belt around his loins.\r\n\t\t\t The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them.\r\n\t\t\t The cow and the bear shall graze, their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.\r\n\t\t\t The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder's den.\r\n\t\t\t They will not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain; for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.\r\n\t\t\t On that day the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the peoples; the nations shall inquire of him, and his dwelling shall be glorious.\r\n\t\t\t On that day the Lord will extend his hand yet a second time to recover the remnant that is left of his people, from Assyria, from Egypt, from Pathros, from Ethiopia, from Elam, from Shinar, from Hamath, and from the coastlands of the sea. \r\n\t\t\t He will raise a signal for the nations, and will assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.\r\n\t\t\t The jealousy of Ephraim shall depart, the hostility of Judah shall be cut off; Ephraim shall not be jealous of Judah, and Judah shall not be hostile towards Ephraim.\r\n\t\t\t But they shall swoop down on the backs of the Philistines in the west, together they shall plunder the people of the east. They shall put forth their hand against Edom and Moab, and the Ammonites shall obey them.\r\n\t\t\t And the LORD will utterly destroy the tongue of the sea of Egypt; and will wave his hand over the River with his scorching wind; and will split it into seven channels, and make a way to cross on foot;\r\n\t\t\t so there shall be a highway from Assyria for the remnant that is left of his people, as there was for Israel when they came up from the land of Egypt.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t You will say in that day: I will give thanks to you, O LORD, for though you were angry with me, your anger turned away, and you comforted me.\r\n\t\t\t Surely God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid, for the LORD GOD is my strength and my might; he has become my salvation.\r\n\t\t\t With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.\r\n\t\t\t And you will say in that day: Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known his deeds among the nations; proclaim that his name is exalted.\r\n\t\t\t Sing praises to the LORD, for he has done gloriously; let this be known in all the earth. \r\n\t\t\t Shout aloud and sing for joy, O royal Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The oracle concerning Babylon that Isaiah son of Amoz saw.\r\n\t\t\t On a bare hill raise a signal, cry aloud to them; wave the hand for them to enter the gates of the nobles.\r\n\t\t\t I myself have commanded my consecrated ones, have summoned my warriors, my proudly exulting ones, to execute my anger.\r\n\t\t\t Listen, a tumult on the mountains as of a great multitude! Listen, an uproar of kingdoms, of nations gathering together! The LORD of hosts is mustering an army for battle.\r\n\t\t\t They come from a distant land, from the end of the heavens, the LORD and the weapons of his indignation, to destroy the whole earth.\r\n\t\t\t Wail, for the day of the LORD is near; it will come like destruction from the Almighty! \r\n\t\t\t Therefore all hands will be feeble, and every human heart will melt,\r\n\t\t\t and they will be dismayed. Pangs and agony will seize them; they will be in anguish like a woman in labor. They will look aghast at one another; their faces will be aflame.\r\n\t\t\t See, the day of the LORD comes, cruel, with wrath and fierce anger, to make the earth a desolation, and to destroy its sinners from it.\r\n\t\t\t For the stars of the heavens and their constellations will not give their light; the sun will be dark at its rising, and the moon will not shed its light.\r\n\t\t\t I will punish the world for its evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; I will put an end to the pride of the arrogant, and lay low the insolence of tyrants.\r\n\t\t\t I will make mortals more rare than fine gold, and humans than the gold of Ophir.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore I will make the heavens tremble, and the earth will be shaken out of its place, at the wrath of the LORD of hosts in the day of his fierce anger.\r\n\t\t\t Like a hunted gazelle, or like sheep with no one to gather them, all will turn to their own people, and all will flee to their own lands.\r\n\t\t\t Whoever is found will be thrust through, and whoever is caught will fall by the sword.\r\n\t\t\t Their infants will be dashed to pieces before their eyes; their houses will be plundered, and their wives ravished.\r\n\t\t\t See, I am stirring up the Medes against them, who have no regard for silver and do not delight in gold.\r\n\t\t\t Their bows will slaughter the young men; they will have no mercy on the fruit of the womb; their eyes will not pity children.\r\n\t\t\t And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the splendor and pride of the Chaldeans, will be like Sodom and Gomorrah when God overthrew them.\r\n\t\t\t It will never be inhabited or lived in for all generations; Arabs will not pitch their tents there, shepherds will not make their flocks lie down there.\r\n\t\t\t But wild animals will lie down there, and its houses will be full of howling creatures; there ostriches will live, and there goat-demons will dance.\r\n\t\t\t Hyenas will cry in its towers, and jackals in the pleasant palaces; its time is close at hand, and its days will not be prolonged.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t But the LORD will have compassion on Jacob and will again choose Israel, and will set them in their own land; and aliens will join them and attach themselves to the house of Jacob.\r\n\t\t\t And the nations will take them and bring them to their place, and the house of Israel will possess the nations as male and female slaves in the LORD's land; they will take captive those who were their captors, and rule over those who oppressed them.\r\n\t\t\t When the LORD has given you rest from your pain and turmoil and the hard service with which you were made to serve,\r\n\t\t\t you will take up this taunt against the king of Babylon: How the oppressor has ceased! How his insolence has ceased! \r\n\t\t\t The LORD has broken the staff of the wicked, the scepter of rulers,\r\n\t\t\t that struck down the peoples in wrath with unceasing blows, that ruled the nations in anger with unrelenting persecution.\r\n\t\t\t The whole earth is at rest and quiet; they break forth into singing.\r\n\t\t\t The cypresses exult over you, the cedars of Lebanon, saying, \"Since you were laid low, no one comes to cut us down.\"\r\n\t\t\t Sheol beneath is stirred up to meet you when you come; it rouses the shades to greet you, all who were leaders of the earth; it raises from their thrones all who were kings of the nations.\r\n\t\t\t All of them will speak and say to you: \"You too have become as weak as we! You have become like us!\"\r\n\t\t\t Your pomp is brought down to Sheol, and the sound of your harps; maggots are the bed beneath you, and worms are your covering.\r\n\t\t\t How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low!\r\n\t\t\t You said in your heart, \"I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit on the mount of assembly on the heights of Zaphon; \r\n\t\t\t I will ascend to the tops of the clouds, I will make myself like the Most High.\"\r\n\t\t\t But you are brought down to Sheol, to the depths of the Pit.\r\n\t\t\t Those who see you will stare at you, and ponder over you: \"Is this the man who made the earth tremble, who shook kingdoms,\r\n\t\t\t who made the world like a desert and overthrew its cities, who would not let his prisoners go home?\"\r\n\t\t\t All the kings of the nations lie in glory, each in his own tomb;\r\n\t\t\t but you are cast out, away from your grave, like loathsome carrion, clothed with the dead, those pierced by the sword, who go down to the stones of the Pit, like a corpse trampled underfoot. \r\n\t\t\t You will not be joined with them in burial, because you have destroyed your land, you have killed your people. May the descendants of evildoers nevermore be named!\r\n\t\t\t Prepare slaughter for his sons because of the guilt of their father. Let them never rise to possess the earth or cover the face of the world with cities. \r\n\t\t\t I will rise up against them, says the LORD of hosts, and will cut off from Babylon name and remnant, offspring and posterity, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t And I will make it a possession of the hedgehog, and pools of water, and I will sweep it with the broom of destruction, says the LORD of hosts.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD of hosts has sworn: As I have designed, so shall it be; and as I have planned, so shall it come to pass:\r\n\t\t\t I will break the Assyrian in my land, and on my mountains trample him under foot; his yoke shall be removed from them, and his burden from their shoulders.\r\n\t\t\t This is the plan that is planned concerning the whole earth; and this is the hand that is stretched out over all the nations.\r\n\t\t\t For the LORD of hosts has planned, and who will annul it? His hand is stretched out, and who will turn it back?\r\n\t\t\t In the year that King Ahaz died this oracle came:\r\n\t\t\t Do not rejoice, all you Philistines, that the rod that struck you is broken, for from the root of the snake will come forth an adder, and its fruit will be a flying fiery serpent.\r\n\t\t\t The firstborn of the poor will graze, and the needy lie down in safety; but I will make your root die of famine, and your remnant I will kill. \r\n\t\t\t Wail, O gate; cry, O city; melt in fear, O Philistia, all of you! For smoke comes out of the north, and there is no straggler in its ranks.\r\n\t\t\t What will one answer the messengers of the nation? \"The LORD has founded Zion, and the needy among his people will find refuge in her.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t An oracle concerning Moab. Because Ar is laid waste in a night, Moab is undone; because Kir is laid waste in a night, Moab is undone.\r\n\t\t\t Dibon has gone up to the temple, to the high places to weep; over Nebo and over Medeba Moab wails. On every head is baldness, every beard is shorn; \r\n\t\t\t in the streets they bind on sackcloth; on the housetops and in the squares everyone wails and melts in tears.\r\n\t\t\t Heshbon and Elealeh cry out, their voices are heard as far as Jahaz; therefore the loins of Moab quiver; his soul trembles. \r\n\t\t\t My heart cries out for Moab; his fugitives flee to Zoar, to Eglath-shelishiyah. For at the ascent of Luhith they go up weeping; on the road to Horonaim they raise a cry of destruction;\r\n\t\t\t the waters of Nimrim are a desolation; the grass is withered, the new growth fails, the verdure is no more.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore the abundance they have gained and what they have laid up they carry away over the Wadi of the Willows.\r\n\t\t\t For a cry has gone around the land of Moab; the wailing reaches to Eglaim, the wailing reaches to Beer-elim.\r\n\t\t\t For the waters of Dibon are full of blood; yet I will bring upon Dibon even more-- a lion for those of Moab who escape, for the remnant of the land.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Send lambs to the ruler of the land, from Sela, by way of the desert, to the mount of daughter Zion.\r\n\t\t\t Like fluttering birds, like scattered nestlings, so are the daughters of Moab at the fords of the Arnon.\r\n\t\t\t \"Give counsel, grant justice; make your shade like night at the height of noon; hide the outcasts, do not betray the fugitive;\r\n\t\t\t let the outcasts of Moab settle among you; be a refuge to them from the destroyer.\" When the oppressor is no more, and destruction has ceased, and marauders have vanished from the land,\r\n\t\t\t then a throne shall be established in steadfast love in the tent of David, and on it shall sit in faithfulness a ruler who seeks justice and is swift to do what is right.\r\n\t\t\t We have heard of the pride of Moab-- how proud he is!-- of his arrogance, his pride, and his insolence; his boasts are false.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore let Moab wail, let everyone wail for Moab. Mourn, utterly stricken, for the raisin cakes of Kir-hareseth.\r\n\t\t\t For the fields of Heshbon languish, and the vines of Sibmah, whose clusters once made drunk the lords of the nations, reached to Jazer and strayed to the desert; their shoots once spread abroad and crossed over the sea.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore I weep with the weeping of Jazer for the vines of Sibmah; I drench you with my tears, O Heshbon and Elealeh; for the shout over your fruit harvest and your grain harvest has ceased.\r\n\t\t\t Joy and gladness are taken away from the fruitful field; and in the vineyards no songs are sung, no shouts are raised; no treader treads out wine in the presses; the vintage-shout is hushed. \r\n\t\t\t Therefore my heart throbs like a harp for Moab, and my very soul for Kir-heres.\r\n\t\t\t When Moab presents himself, when he wearies himself upon the high place, when he comes to his sanctuary to pray, he will not prevail.\r\n\t\t\t This was the word that the LORD spoke concerning Moab in the past.\r\n\t\t\t But now the LORD says, In three years, like the years of a hired worker, the glory of Moab will be brought into contempt, in spite of all its great multitude; and those who survive will be very few and feeble.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t An oracle concerning Damascus. See, Damascus will cease to be a city, and will become a heap of ruins.\r\n\t\t\t Her towns will be deserted forever; they will be places for flocks, which will lie down, and no one will make them afraid. \r\n\t\t\t The fortress will disappear from Ephraim, and the kingdom from Damascus; and the remnant of Aram will be like the glory of the children of Israel, says the LORD of hosts.\r\n\t\t\t On that day the glory of Jacob will be brought low, and the fat of his flesh will grow lean.\r\n\t\t\t And it shall be as when reapers gather standing grain and their arms harvest the ears, and as when one gleans the ears of grain in the Valley of Rephaim.\r\n\t\t\t Gleanings will be left in it, as when an olive tree is beaten-- two or three berries in the top of the highest bough, four or five on the branches of a fruit tree, says the LORD God of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t On that day people will regard their Maker, and their eyes will look to the Holy One of Israel;\r\n\t\t\t they will not have regard for the altars, the work of their hands, and they will not look to what their own fingers have made, either the sacred poles or the altars of incense. \r\n\t\t\t On that day their strong cities will be like the deserted places of the Hivites and the Amorites, which they deserted because of the children of Israel, and there will be desolation. \r\n\t\t\t For you have forgotten the God of your salvation, and have not remembered the Rock of your refuge; therefore, though you plant pleasant plants and set out slips of an alien god,\r\n\t\t\t though you make them grow on the day that you plant them, and make them blossom in the morning that you sow; yet the harvest will flee away in a day of grief and incurable pain.\r\n\t\t\t Ah, the thunder of many peoples, they thunder like the thundering of the sea! Ah, the roar of nations, they roar like the roaring of mighty waters!\r\n\t\t\t The nations roar like the roaring of many waters, but he will rebuke them, and they will flee far away, chased like chaff on the mountains before the wind and whirling dust before the storm.\r\n\t\t\t At evening time, lo, terror! Before morning, they are no more. This is the fate of those who despoil us, and the lot of those who plunder us.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Ah, land of whirring wings beyond the rivers of Ethiopia, \r\n\t\t\t sending ambassadors by the Nile in vessels of papyrus on the waters! Go, you swift messengers, to a nation tall and smooth, to a people feared near and far, a nation mighty and conquering, whose land the rivers divide.\r\n\t\t\t All you inhabitants of the world, you who live on the earth, when a signal is raised on the mountains, look! When a trumpet is blown, listen!\r\n\t\t\t For thus the LORD said to me: I will quietly look from my dwelling like clear heat in sunshine, like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest.\r\n\t\t\t For before the harvest, when the blossom is over and the flower becomes a ripening grape, he will cut off the shoots with pruning hooks, and the spreading branches he will hew away.\r\n\t\t\t They shall all be left to the birds of prey of the mountains and to the animals of the earth. And the birds of prey will summer on them, and all the animals of the earth will winter on them.\r\n\t\t\t At that time gifts will be brought to the LORD of hosts from a people tall and smooth, from a people feared near and far, a nation mighty and conquering, whose land the rivers divide, to Mount Zion, the place of the name of the LORD of hosts. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t An oracle concerning Egypt. See, the LORD is riding on a swift cloud and comes to Egypt; the idols of Egypt will tremble at his presence, and the heart of the Egyptians will melt within them.\r\n\t\t\t I will stir up Egyptians against Egyptians, and they will fight, one against the other, neighbor against neighbor, city against city, kingdom against kingdom;\r\n\t\t\t the spirit of the Egyptians within them will be emptied out, and I will confound their plans; they will consult the idols and the spirits of the dead and the ghosts and the familiar spirits;\r\n\t\t\t I will deliver the Egyptians into the hand of a hard master; a fierce king will rule over them, says the Sovereign, the LORD of hosts.\r\n\t\t\t The waters of the Nile will be dried up, and the river will be parched and dry;\r\n\t\t\t its canals will become foul, and the branches of Egypt's Nile will diminish and dry up, reeds and rushes will rot away.\r\n\t\t\t There will be bare places by the Nile, on the brink of the Nile; and all that is sown by the Nile will dry up, be driven away, and be no more.\r\n\t\t\t Those who fish will mourn; all who cast hooks in the Nile will lament, and those who spread nets on the water will languish.\r\n\t\t\t The workers in flax will be in despair, and the carders and those at the loom will grow pale.\r\n\t\t\t Its weavers will be dismayed, and all who work for wages will be grieved.\r\n\t\t\t The princes of Zoan are utterly foolish; the wise counselors of Pharaoh give stupid counsel. How can you say to Pharaoh, \"I am one of the sages, a descendant of ancient kings\"?\r\n\t\t\t Where now are your sages? Let them tell you and make known what the LORD of hosts has planned against Egypt.\r\n\t\t\t The princes of Zoan have become fools, and the princes of Memphis are deluded; those who are the cornerstones of its tribes have led Egypt astray.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD has poured into them a spirit of confusion; and they have made Egypt stagger in all its doings as a drunkard staggers around in vomit.\r\n\t\t\t Neither head nor tail, palm branch or reed, will be able to do anything for Egypt.\r\n\t\t\t On that day the Egyptians will be like women, and tremble with fear before the hand that the LORD of hosts raises against them.\r\n\t\t\t And the land of Judah will become a terror to the Egyptians; everyone to whom it is mentioned will fear because of the plan that the LORD of hosts is planning against them.\r\n\t\t\t On that day there will be five cities in the land of Egypt that speak the language of Canaan and swear allegiance to the LORD of hosts. One of these will be called the City of the Sun.\r\n\t\t\t On that day there will be an altar to the LORD in the center of the land of Egypt, and a pillar to the LORD at its border.\r\n\t\t\t It will be a sign and a witness to the LORD of hosts in the land of Egypt; when they cry to the LORD because of oppressors, he will send them a savior, and will defend and deliver them.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD will make himself known to the Egyptians; and the Egyptians will know the LORD on that day, and will worship with sacrifice and burnt offering, and they will make vows to the LORD and perform them.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD will strike Egypt, striking and healing; they will return to the LORD, and he will listen to their supplications and heal them.\r\n\t\t\t On that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian will come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians will worship with the Assyrians.\r\n\t\t\t On that day Israel will be the third with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth,\r\n\t\t\t whom the LORD of hosts has blessed, saying, \"Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel my heritage.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t In the year that the commander-in-chief, who was sent by King Sargon of Assyria, came to Ashdod and fought against it and took it--\r\n\t\t\t at that time the LORD had spoken to Isaiah son of Amoz, saying, \"Go, and loose the sackcloth from your loins and take your sandals off your feet,\" and he had done so, walking naked and barefoot.\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD said, \"Just as my servant Isaiah has walked naked and barefoot for three years as a sign and a portent against Egypt and Ethiopia, \r\n\t\t\t so shall the king of Assyria lead away the Egyptians as captives and the Ethiopians as exiles, both the young and the old, naked and barefoot, with buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt. \r\n\t\t\t And they shall be dismayed and confounded because of Ethiopia their hope and of Egypt their boast. \r\n\t\t\t In that day the inhabitants of this coastland will say, 'See, this is what has happened to those in whom we hoped and to whom we fled for help and deliverance from the king of Assyria! And we, how shall we escape?'\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The oracle concerning the wilderness of the sea. As whirlwinds in the Negeb sweep on, it comes from the desert, from a terrible land.\r\n\t\t\t A stern vision is told to me; the betrayer betrays, and the destroyer destroys. Go up, O Elam, lay siege, O Media; all the sighing she has caused I bring to an end.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore my loins are filled with anguish; pangs have seized me, like the pangs of a woman in labor; I am bowed down so that I cannot hear, I am dismayed so that I cannot see.\r\n\t\t\t My mind reels, horror has appalled me; the twilight I longed for has been turned for me into trembling.\r\n\t\t\t They prepare the table, they spread the rugs, they eat, they drink. Rise up, commanders, oil the shield!\r\n\t\t\t For thus the Lord said to me: \"Go, post a lookout, let him announce what he sees.\r\n\t\t\t When he sees riders, horsemen in pairs, riders on donkeys, riders on camels, let him listen diligently, very diligently.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the watcher called out: \"Upon a watchtower I stand, O Lord, continually by day, and at my post I am stationed throughout the night. \r\n\t\t\t Look, there they come, riders, horsemen in pairs!\" Then he responded, \"Fallen, fallen is Babylon; and all the images of her gods lie shattered on the ground.\"\r\n\t\t\t O my threshed and winnowed one, what I have heard from the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, I announce to you.\r\n\t\t\t The oracle concerning Dumah. One is calling to me from Seir, \"Sentinel, what of the night? Sentinel, what of the night?\"\r\n\t\t\t The sentinel says: \"Morning comes, and also the night. If you will inquire, inquire; come back again.\"\r\n\t\t\t The oracle concerning the desert plain. In the scrub of the desert plain you will lodge, O caravans of Dedanites.\r\n\t\t\t Bring water to the thirsty, meet the fugitive with bread, O inhabitants of the land of Tema.\r\n\t\t\t For they have fled from the swords, from the drawn sword, from the bent bow, and from the stress of battle.\r\n\t\t\t For thus the Lord said to me: Within a year, according to the years of a hired worker, all the glory of Kedar will come to an end;\r\n\t\t\t and the remaining bows of Kedar's warriors will be few; for the LORD, the God of Israel, has spoken.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The oracle concerning the valley of vision. What do you mean that you have gone up, all of you, to the housetops,\r\n\t\t\t you that are full of shoutings, tumultuous city, exultant town? Your slain are not slain by the sword, nor are they dead in battle.\r\n\t\t\t Your rulers have all fled together; they were captured without the use of a bow. All of you who were found were captured, though they had fled far away. \r\n\t\t\t Therefore I said: Look away from me, let me weep bitter tears; do not try to comfort me for the destruction of my beloved people.\r\n\t\t\t For the Lord GOD of hosts has a day of tumult and trampling and confusion in the valley of vision, a battering down of walls and a cry for help to the mountains.\r\n\t\t\t Elam bore the quiver with chariots and cavalry, and Kir uncovered the shield. \r\n\t\t\t Your choicest valleys were full of chariots, and the cavalry took their stand at the gates.\r\n\t\t\t He has taken away the covering of Judah. On that day you looked to the weapons of the House of the Forest,\r\n\t\t\t and you saw that there were many breaches in the city of David, and you collected the waters of the lower pool.\r\n\t\t\t You counted the houses of Jerusalem, and you broke down the houses to fortify the wall.\r\n\t\t\t You made a reservoir between the two walls for the water of the old pool. But you did not look to him who did it, or have regard for him who planned it long ago.\r\n\t\t\t In that day the Lord GOD of hosts called to weeping and mourning, to baldness and putting on sackcloth;\r\n\t\t\t but instead there was joy and festivity, killing oxen and slaughtering sheep, eating meat and drinking wine. \"Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.\"\r\n\t\t\t The LORD of hosts has revealed himself in my ears: Surely this iniquity will not be forgiven you until you die, says the Lord GOD of hosts.\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the Lord GOD of hosts: Come, go to this steward, to Shebna, who is master of the household, and say to him:\r\n\t\t\t What right do you have here? Who are your relatives here, that you have cut out a tomb here for yourself, cutting a tomb on the height, and carving a habitation for yourself in the rock?\r\n\t\t\t The LORD is about to hurl you away violently, my fellow. He will seize firm hold on you,\r\n\t\t\t whirl you round and round, and throw you like a ball into a wide land; there you shall die, and there your splendid chariots shall lie, O you disgrace to your master's house!\r\n\t\t\t I will thrust you from your office, and you will be pulled down from your post.\r\n\t\t\t On that day I will call my servant Eliakim son of Hilkiah,\r\n\t\t\t and will clothe him with your robe and bind your sash on him. I will commit your authority to his hand, and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah.\r\n\t\t\t I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David; he shall open, and no one shall shut; he shall shut, and no one shall open.\r\n\t\t\t I will fasten him like a peg in a secure place, and he will become a throne of honor to his ancestral house.\r\n\t\t\t And they will hang on him the whole weight of his ancestral house, the offspring and issue, every small vessel, from the cups to all the flagons.\r\n\t\t\t On that day, says the LORD of hosts, the peg that was fastened in a secure place will give way; it will be cut down and fall, and the load that was on it will perish, for the LORD has spoken.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The oracle concerning Tyre. Wail, O ships of Tarshish, for your fortress is destroyed. When they came in from Cyprus they learned of it. \r\n\t\t\t Be still, O inhabitants of the coast, O merchants of Sidon, your messengers crossed over the sea \r\n\t\t\t and were on the mighty waters; your revenue was the grain of Shihor, the harvest of the Nile; you were the merchant of the nations.\r\n\t\t\t Be ashamed, O Sidon, for the sea has spoken, the fortress of the sea, saying: \"I have neither labored nor given birth, I have neither reared young men nor brought up young women.\"\r\n\t\t\t When the report comes to Egypt, they will be in anguish over the report about Tyre.\r\n\t\t\t Cross over to Tarshish-- wail, O inhabitants of the coast!\r\n\t\t\t Is this your exultant city whose origin is from days of old, whose feet carried her to settle far away?\r\n\t\t\t Who has planned this against Tyre, the bestower of crowns, whose merchants were princes, whose traders were the honored of the earth?\r\n\t\t\t The LORD of hosts has planned it-- to defile the pride of all glory, to shame all the honored of the earth.\r\n\t\t\t Cross over to your own land, O ships of Tarshish; this is a harbor no more. \r\n\t\t\t He has stretched out his hand over the sea, he has shaken the kingdoms; the LORD has given command concerning Canaan to destroy its fortresses.\r\n\t\t\t He said: You will exult no longer, O oppressed virgin daughter Sidon; rise, cross over to Cyprus-- even there you will have no rest.\r\n\t\t\t Look at the land of the Chaldeans! This is the people; it was not Assyria. They destined Tyre for wild animals. They erected their siege towers, they tore down her palaces, they made her a ruin. \r\n\t\t\t Wail, O ships of Tarshish, for your fortress is destroyed.\r\n\t\t\t From that day Tyre will be forgotten for seventy years, the lifetime of one king. At the end of seventy years, it will happen to Tyre as in the song about the prostitute:\r\n\t\t\t Take a harp, go about the city, you forgotten prostitute! Make sweet melody, sing many songs, that you may be remembered.\r\n\t\t\t At the end of seventy years, the LORD will visit Tyre, and she will return to her trade, and will prostitute herself with all the kingdoms of the world on the face of the earth.\r\n\t\t\t Her merchandise and her wages will be dedicated to the LORD; her profits will not be stored or hoarded, but her merchandise will supply abundant food and fine clothing for those who live in the presence of the LORD. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now the LORD is about to lay waste the earth and make it desolate, and he will twist its surface and scatter its inhabitants.\r\n\t\t\t And it shall be, as with the people, so with the priest; as with the slave, so with his master; as with the maid, so with her mistress; as with the buyer, so with the seller; as with the lender, so with the borrower; as with the creditor, so with the debtor.\r\n\t\t\t The earth shall be utterly laid waste and utterly despoiled; for the LORD has spoken this word.\r\n\t\t\t The earth dries up and withers, the world languishes and withers; the heavens languish together with the earth.\r\n\t\t\t The earth lies polluted under its inhabitants; for they have transgressed laws, violated the statutes, broken the everlasting covenant.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore a curse devours the earth, and its inhabitants suffer for their guilt; therefore the inhabitants of the earth dwindled, and few people are left.\r\n\t\t\t The wine dries up, the vine languishes, all the merry-hearted sigh.\r\n\t\t\t The mirth of the timbrels is stilled, the noise of the jubilant has ceased, the mirth of the lyre is stilled.\r\n\t\t\t No longer do they drink wine with singing; strong drink is bitter to those who drink it.\r\n\t\t\t The city of chaos is broken down, every house is shut up so that no one can enter.\r\n\t\t\t There is an outcry in the streets for lack of wine; all joy has reached its eventide; the gladness of the earth is banished.\r\n\t\t\t Desolation is left in the city, the gates are battered into ruins.\r\n\t\t\t For thus it shall be on the earth and among the nations, as when an olive tree is beaten, as at the gleaning when the grape harvest is ended.\r\n\t\t\t They lift up their voices, they sing for joy; they shout from the west over the majesty of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore in the east give glory to the LORD; in the coastlands of the sea glorify the name of the LORD, the God of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t From the ends of the earth we hear songs of praise, of glory to the Righteous One. But I say, I pine away, I pine away. Woe is me! For the treacherous deal treacherously, the treacherous deal very treacherously.\r\n\t\t\t Terror, and the pit, and the snare are upon you, O inhabitant of the earth!\r\n\t\t\t Whoever flees at the sound of the terror shall fall into the pit; and whoever climbs out of the pit shall be caught in the snare. For the windows of heaven are opened, and the foundations of the earth tremble.\r\n\t\t\t The earth is utterly broken, the earth is torn asunder, the earth is violently shaken.\r\n\t\t\t The earth staggers like a drunkard, it sways like a hut; its transgression lies heavy upon it, and it falls, and will not rise again.\r\n\t\t\t On that day the LORD will punish the host of heaven in heaven, and on earth the kings of the earth.\r\n\t\t\t They will be gathered together like prisoners in a pit; they will be shut up in a prison, and after many days they will be punished.\r\n\t\t\t Then the moon will be abashed, and the sun ashamed; for the LORD of hosts will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and before his elders he will manifest his glory.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t O LORD, you are my God; I will exalt you, I will praise your name; for you have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure.\r\n\t\t\t For you have made the city a heap, the fortified city a ruin; the palace of aliens is a city no more, it will never be rebuilt.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore strong peoples will glorify you; cities of ruthless nations will fear you.\r\n\t\t\t For you have been a refuge to the poor, a refuge to the needy in their distress, a shelter from the rainstorm and a shade from the heat. When the blast of the ruthless was like a winter rainstorm,\r\n\t\t\t the noise of aliens like heat in a dry place, you subdued the heat with the shade of clouds; the song of the ruthless was stilled.\r\n\t\t\t On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wines, of rich food filled with marrow, of well-aged wines strained clear.\r\n\t\t\t And he will destroy on this mountain the shroud that is cast over all peoples, the sheet that is spread over all nations;\r\n\t\t\t he will swallow up death forever. Then the Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from all faces, and the disgrace of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the LORD has spoken.\r\n\t\t\t It will be said on that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, so that he might save us. This is the LORD for whom we have waited; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.\r\n\t\t\t For the hand of the LORD will rest on this mountain. The Moabites shall be trodden down in their place as straw is trodden down in a dung-pit.\r\n\t\t\t Though they spread out their hands in the midst of it, as swimmers spread out their hands to swim, their pride will be laid low despite the struggle of their hands. \r\n\t\t\t The high fortifications of his walls will be brought down, laid low, cast to the ground, even to the dust.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t On that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: We have a strong city; he sets up victory like walls and bulwarks.\r\n\t\t\t Open the gates, so that the righteous nation that keeps faith may enter in.\r\n\t\t\t Those of steadfast mind you keep in peace-- in peace because they trust in you.\r\n\t\t\t Trust in the LORD forever, for in the LORD GOD you have an everlasting rock.\r\n\t\t\t For he has brought low the inhabitants of the height; the lofty city he lays low. He lays it low to the ground, casts it to the dust.\r\n\t\t\t The foot tramples it, the feet of the poor, the steps of the needy.\r\n\t\t\t The way of the righteous is level; O Just One, you make smooth the path of the righteous.\r\n\t\t\t In the path of your judgments, O LORD, we wait for you; your name and your renown are the soul's desire.\r\n\t\t\t My soul yearns for you in the night, my spirit within me earnestly seeks you. For when your judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.\r\n\t\t\t If favor is shown to the wicked, they do not learn righteousness; in the land of uprightness they deal perversely and do not see the majesty of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t O LORD, your hand is lifted up, but they do not see it. Let them see your zeal for your people, and be ashamed. Let the fire for your adversaries consume them.\r\n\t\t\t O LORD, you will ordain peace for us, for indeed, all that we have done, you have done for us.\r\n\t\t\t O LORD our God, other lords besides you have ruled over us, but we acknowledge your name alone.\r\n\t\t\t The dead do not live; shades do not rise-- because you have punished and destroyed them, and wiped out all memory of them.\r\n\t\t\t But you have increased the nation, O LORD, you have increased the nation; you are glorified; you have enlarged all the borders of the land.\r\n\t\t\t O LORD, in distress they sought you, they poured out a prayer when your chastening was on them. \r\n\t\t\t Like a woman with child, who writhes and cries out in her pangs when she is near her time, so were we because of you, O LORD;\r\n\t\t\t we were with child, we writhed, but we gave birth only to wind. We have won no victories on earth, and no one is born to inhabit the world.\r\n\t\t\t Your dead shall live, their corpses shall rise. O dwellers in the dust, awake and sing for joy! For your dew is a radiant dew, and the earth will give birth to those long dead. \r\n\t\t\t Come, my people, enter your chambers, and shut your doors behind you; hide yourselves for a little while until the wrath is past.\r\n\t\t\t For the LORD comes out from his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity; the earth will disclose the blood shed on it, and will no longer cover its slain.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t On that day the LORD with his cruel and great and strong sword will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent, Leviathan the twisting serpent, and he will kill the dragon that is in the sea.\r\n\t\t\t On that day: A pleasant vineyard, sing about it!\r\n\t\t\t I, the LORD, am its keeper; every moment I water it. I guard it night and day so that no one can harm it;\r\n\t\t\t I have no wrath. If it gives me thorns and briers, I will march to battle against it. I will burn it up.\r\n\t\t\t Or else let it cling to me for protection, let it make peace with me, let it make peace with me.\r\n\t\t\t In days to come Jacob shall take root, Israel shall blossom and put forth shoots, and fill the whole world with fruit. \r\n\t\t\t Has he struck them down as he struck down those who struck them? Or have they been killed as their killers were killed?\r\n\t\t\t By expulsion, by exile you struggled against them; with his fierce blast he removed them in the day of the east wind.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore by this the guilt of Jacob will be expiated, and this will be the full fruit of the removal of his sin: when he makes all the stones of the altars like chalkstones crushed to pieces, no sacred poles or incense altars will remain standing. \r\n\t\t\t For the fortified city is solitary, a habitation deserted and forsaken, like the wilderness; the calves graze there, there they lie down, and strip its branches.\r\n\t\t\t When its boughs are dry, they are broken; women come and make a fire of them. For this is a people without understanding; therefore he that made them will not have compassion on them, he that formed them will show them no favor.\r\n\t\t\t On that day the LORD will thresh from the channel of the Euphrates to the Wadi of Egypt, and you will be gathered one by one, O people of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t And on that day a great trumpet will be blown, and those who were lost in the land of Assyria and those who were driven out to the land of Egypt will come and worship the LORD on the holy mountain at Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Ah, the proud garland of the drunkards of Ephraim, and the fading flower of its glorious beauty, which is on the head of those bloated with rich food, of those overcome with wine!\r\n\t\t\t See, the Lord has one who is mighty and strong; like a storm of hail, a destroying tempest, like a storm of mighty, overflowing waters; with his hand he will hurl them down to the earth.\r\n\t\t\t Trampled under foot will be the proud garland of the drunkards of Ephraim.\r\n\t\t\t And the fading flower of its glorious beauty, which is on the head of those bloated with rich food, will be like a first-ripe fig before the summer; whoever sees it, eats it up as soon as it comes to hand.\r\n\t\t\t In that day the LORD of hosts will be a garland of glory, and a diadem of beauty, to the remnant of his people;\r\n\t\t\t and a spirit of justice to the one who sits in judgment, and strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate.\r\n\t\t\t These also reel with wine and stagger with strong drink; the priest and the prophet reel with strong drink, they are confused with wine, they stagger with strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in giving judgment.\r\n\t\t\t All tables are covered with filthy vomit; no place is clean.\r\n\t\t\t \"Whom will he teach knowledge, and to whom will he explain the message? Those who are weaned from milk, those taken from the breast?\r\n\t\t\t For it is precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little.\" \r\n\t\t\t Truly, with stammering lip and with alien tongue he will speak to this people,\r\n\t\t\t to whom he has said, \"This is rest; give rest to the weary; and this is repose\"; yet they would not hear.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore the word of the LORD will be to them, \"Precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little;\" in order that they may go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken. \r\n\t\t\t Therefore hear the word of the LORD, you scoffers who rule this people in Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t Because you have said, \"We have made a covenant with death, and with Sheol we have an agreement; when the overwhelming scourge passes through it will not come to us; for we have made lies our refuge, and in falsehood we have taken shelter\";\r\n\t\t\t therefore thus says the Lord GOD, See, I am laying in Zion a foundation stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation: \"One who trusts will not panic.\"\r\n\t\t\t And I will make justice the line, and righteousness the plummet; hail will sweep away the refuge of lies, and waters will overwhelm the shelter.\r\n\t\t\t Then your covenant with death will be annulled, and your agreement with Sheol will not stand; when the overwhelming scourge passes through you will be beaten down by it.\r\n\t\t\t As often as it passes through, it will take you; for morning by morning it will pass through, by day and by night; and it will be sheer terror to understand the message.\r\n\t\t\t For the bed is too short to stretch oneself on it, and the covering too narrow to wrap oneself in it.\r\n\t\t\t For the LORD will rise up as on Mount Perazim, he will rage as in the valley of Gibeon; to do his deed-- strange is his deed! and to work his work-- alien is his work!\r\n\t\t\t Now therefore do not scoff, or your bonds will be made stronger; for I have heard a decree of destruction from the Lord GOD of hosts upon the whole land.\r\n\t\t\t Listen, and hear my voice; Pay attention, and hear my speech.\r\n\t\t\t Do those who plow for sowing plow continually? Do they continually open and harrow their ground?\r\n\t\t\t When they have leveled its surface, do they not scatter dill, sow cummin, and plant wheat in rows and barley in its proper place, and spelt as the border?\r\n\t\t\t For they are well instructed; their God teaches them.\r\n\t\t\t Dill is not threshed with a threshing sledge, nor is a cart wheel rolled over cummin; but dill is beaten out with a stick, and cummin with a rod.\r\n\t\t\t Grain is crushed for bread, but one does not thresh it forever; one drives the cart wheel and horses over it, but does not pulverize it.\r\n\t\t\t This also comes from the LORD of hosts; he is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in wisdom.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Ah, Ariel, Ariel, the city where David encamped! Add year to year; let the festivals run their round.\r\n\t\t\t Yet I will distress Ariel, and there shall be moaning and lamentation, and Jerusalem shall be to me like an Ariel. \r\n\t\t\t And like David I will encamp against you; I will besiege you with towers and raise siegeworks against you. \r\n\t\t\t Then deep from the earth you shall speak, from low in the dust your words shall come; your voice shall come from the ground like the voice of a ghost, and your speech shall whisper out of the dust.\r\n\t\t\t But the multitude of your foes shall be like small dust, and the multitude of tyrants like flying chaff. And in an instant, suddenly, \r\n\t\t\t you will be visited by the LORD of hosts with thunder and earthquake and great noise, with whirlwind and tempest, and the flame of a devouring fire.\r\n\t\t\t And the multitude of all the nations that fight against Ariel, all that fight against her and her stronghold, and who distress her, shall be like a dream, a vision of the night.\r\n\t\t\t Just as when a hungry person dreams of eating and wakes up still hungry, or a thirsty person dreams of drinking and wakes up faint, still thirsty, so shall the multitude of all the nations be that fight against Mount Zion.\r\n\t\t\t Stupefy yourselves and be in a stupor, blind yourselves and be blind! Be drunk, but not from wine; stagger, but not from strong drink!\r\n\t\t\t For the LORD has poured out upon you a spirit of deep sleep; he has closed your eyes, you prophets, and covered your heads, you seers.\r\n\t\t\t The vision of all this has become for you like the words of a sealed document. If it is given to those who can read, with the command, \"Read this,\" they say, \"We cannot, for it is sealed.\"\r\n\t\t\t And if it is given to those who cannot read, saying, \"Read this,\" they say, \"We cannot read.\"\r\n\t\t\t The Lord said: Because these people draw near with their mouths and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their worship of me is a human commandment learned by rote;\r\n\t\t\t so I will again do amazing things with this people, shocking and amazing. The wisdom of their wise shall perish, and the discernment of the discerning shall be hidden.\r\n\t\t\t Ha! You who hide a plan too deep for the LORD, whose deeds are in the dark, and who say, \"Who sees us? Who knows us?\"\r\n\t\t\t You turn things upside down! Shall the potter be regarded as the clay? Shall the thing made say of its maker, \"He did not make me\"; or the thing formed say of the one who formed it, \"He has no understanding\"?\r\n\t\t\t Shall not Lebanon in a very little while become a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be regarded as a forest?\r\n\t\t\t On that day the deaf shall hear the words of a scroll, and out of their gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind shall see.\r\n\t\t\t The meek shall obtain fresh joy in the LORD, and the neediest people shall exult in the Holy One of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t For the tyrant shall be no more, and the scoffer shall cease to be; all those alert to do evil shall be cut off--\r\n\t\t\t those who cause a person to lose a lawsuit, who set a trap for the arbiter in the gate, and without grounds deny justice to the one in the right.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore thus says the LORD, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob: No longer shall Jacob be ashamed, no longer shall his face grow pale.\r\n\t\t\t For when he sees his children, the work of my hands, in his midst, they will sanctify my name; they will sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and will stand in awe of the God of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t And those who err in spirit will come to understanding, and those who grumble will accept instruction.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Oh, rebellious children, says the LORD, who carry out a plan, but not mine; who make an alliance, but against my will, adding sin to sin;\r\n\t\t\t who set out to go down to Egypt without asking for my counsel, to take refuge in the protection of Pharaoh, and to seek shelter in the shadow of Egypt;\r\n\t\t\t Therefore the protection of Pharaoh shall become your shame, and the shelter in the shadow of Egypt your humiliation.\r\n\t\t\t For though his officials are at Zoan and his envoys reach Hanes,\r\n\t\t\t everyone comes to shame through a people that cannot profit them, that brings neither help nor profit, but shame and disgrace.\r\n\t\t\t An oracle concerning the animals of the Negeb. Through a land of trouble and distress, of lioness and roaring lion, of viper and flying serpent, they carry their riches on the backs of donkeys, and their treasures on the humps of camels, to a people that cannot profit them.\r\n\t\t\t For Egypt's help is worthless and empty, therefore I have called her, \"Rahab who sits still.\" \r\n\t\t\t Go now, write it before them on a tablet, and inscribe it in a book, so that it may be for the time to come as a witness forever.\r\n\t\t\t For they are a rebellious people, faithless children, children who will not hear the instruction of the LORD;\r\n\t\t\t who say to the seers, \"Do not see\"; and to the prophets, \"Do not prophesy to us what is right; speak to us smooth things, prophesy illusions,\r\n\t\t\t leave the way, turn aside from the path, let us hear no more about the Holy One of Israel.\"\r\n\t\t\t Therefore thus says the Holy One of Israel: Because you reject this word, and put your trust in oppression and deceit, and rely on them;\r\n\t\t\t therefore this iniquity shall become for you like a break in a high wall, bulging out, and about to collapse, whose crash comes suddenly, in an instant;\r\n\t\t\t its breaking is like that of a potter's vessel that is smashed so ruthlessly that among its fragments not a sherd is found for taking fire from the hearth, or dipping water out of the cistern.\r\n\t\t\t For thus said the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel: In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength. But you refused\r\n\t\t\t and said, \"No! We will flee upon horses\"-- therefore you shall flee! and, \"We will ride upon swift steeds\"-- therefore your pursuers shall be swift!\r\n\t\t\t A thousand shall flee at the threat of one, at the threat of five you shall flee, until you are left like a flagstaff on the top of a mountain, like a signal on a hill.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore the LORD waits to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show mercy to you. For the LORD is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him.\r\n\t\t\t Truly, O people in Zion, inhabitants of Jerusalem, you shall weep no more. He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry; when he hears it, he will answer you.\r\n\t\t\t Though the Lord may give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself any more, but your eyes shall see your Teacher.\r\n\t\t\t And when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left, your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, \"This is the way; walk in it.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then you will defile your silver-covered idols and your gold-plated images. You will scatter them like filthy rags; you will say to them, \"Away with you!\"\r\n\t\t\t He will give rain for the seed with which you sow the ground, and grain, the produce of the ground, which will be rich and plenteous. On that day your cattle will graze in broad pastures;\r\n\t\t\t and the oxen and donkeys that till the ground will eat silage, which has been winnowed with shovel and fork.\r\n\t\t\t On every lofty mountain and every high hill there will be brooks running with water-- on a day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall.\r\n\t\t\t Moreover the light of the moon will be like the light of the sun, and the light of the sun will be sevenfold, like the light of seven days, on the day when the LORD binds up the injuries of his people, and heals the wounds inflicted by his blow.\r\n\t\t\t See, the name of the LORD comes from far away, burning with his anger, and in thick rising smoke; his lips are full of indignation, and his tongue is like a devouring fire; \r\n\t\t\t his breath is like an overflowing stream that reaches up to the neck-- to sift the nations with the sieve of destruction, and to place on the jaws of the peoples a bridle that leads them astray.\r\n\t\t\t You shall have a song as in the night when a holy festival is kept; and gladness of heart, as when one sets out to the sound of the flute to go to the mountain of the LORD, to the Rock of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t And the LORD will cause his majestic voice to be heard and the descending blow of his arm to be seen, in furious anger and a flame of devouring fire, with a cloudburst and tempest and hailstones.\r\n\t\t\t The Assyrian will be terror-stricken at the voice of the LORD, when he strikes with his rod.\r\n\t\t\t And every stroke of the staff of punishment that the LORD lays upon him will be to the sound of timbrels and lyres; battling with brandished arm he will fight with him.\r\n\t\t\t For his burning place has long been prepared; truly it is made ready for the king, its pyre made deep and wide, with fire and wood in abundance; the breath of the LORD, like a stream of sulfur, kindles it. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Alas for those who go down to Egypt for help and who rely on horses, who trust in chariots because they are many and in horsemen because they are very strong, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel or consult the LORD!\r\n\t\t\t Yet he too is wise and brings disaster; he does not call back his words, but will rise against the house of the evildoers, and against the helpers of those who work iniquity.\r\n\t\t\t The Egyptians are human, and not God; their horses are flesh, and not spirit. When the LORD stretches out his hand, the helper will stumble, and the one helped will fall, and they will all perish together.\r\n\t\t\t For thus the LORD said to me, As a lion or a young lion growls over its prey, and-- when a band of shepherds is called out against it-- is not terrified by their shouting or daunted at their noise, so the LORD of hosts will come down to fight upon Mount Zion and upon its hill.\r\n\t\t\t Like birds hovering overhead, so the LORD of hosts will protect Jerusalem; he will protect and deliver it, he will spare and rescue it.\r\n\t\t\t Turn back to him whom you have deeply betrayed, O people of Israel. \r\n\t\t\t For on that day all of you shall throw away your idols of silver and idols of gold, which your hands have sinfully made for you.\r\n\t\t\t \"Then the Assyrian shall fall by a sword, not of mortals; and a sword, not of humans, shall devour him; he shall flee from the sword, and his young men shall be put to forced labor.\r\n\t\t\t His rock shall pass away in terror, and his officers desert the standard in panic,\" says the LORD, whose fire is in Zion, and whose furnace is in Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t See, a king will reign in righteousness, and princes will rule with justice.\r\n\t\t\t Each will be like a hiding place from the wind, a covert from the tempest, like streams of water in a dry place, like the shade of a great rock in a weary land.\r\n\t\t\t Then the eyes of those who have sight will not be closed, and the ears of those who have hearing will listen.\r\n\t\t\t The minds of the rash will have good judgment, and the tongues of stammerers will speak readily and distinctly.\r\n\t\t\t A fool will no longer be called noble, nor a villain said to be honorable.\r\n\t\t\t For fools speak folly, and their minds plot iniquity: to practice ungodliness, to utter error concerning the LORD, to leave the craving of the hungry unsatisfied, and to deprive the thirsty of drink.\r\n\t\t\t The villainies of villains are evil; they devise wicked devices to ruin the poor with lying words, even when the plea of the needy is right.\r\n\t\t\t But those who are noble plan noble things, and by noble things they stand.\r\n\t\t\t Rise up, you women who are at ease, hear my voice; you complacent daughters, listen to my speech.\r\n\t\t\t In little more than a year you will shudder, you complacent ones; for the vintage will fail, the fruit harvest will not come.\r\n\t\t\t Tremble, you women who are at ease, shudder, you complacent ones; strip, and make yourselves bare, and put sackcloth on your loins.\r\n\t\t\t Beat your breasts for the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vine,\r\n\t\t\t for the soil of my people growing up in thorns and briers; yes, for all the joyous houses in the jubilant city.\r\n\t\t\t For the palace will be forsaken, the populous city deserted; the hill and the watchtower will become dens forever, the joy of wild asses, a pasture for flocks;\r\n\t\t\t until a spirit from on high is poured out on us, and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field, and the fruitful field is deemed a forest.\r\n\t\t\t Then justice will dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness abide in the fruitful field.\r\n\t\t\t The effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever.\r\n\t\t\t My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.\r\n\t\t\t The forest will disappear completely, and the city will be utterly laid low. \r\n\t\t\t Happy will you be who sow beside every stream, who let the ox and the donkey range freely.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Ah, you destroyer, who yourself have not been destroyed; you treacherous one, with whom no one has dealt treacherously! When you have ceased to destroy, you will be destroyed; and when you have stopped dealing treacherously, you will be dealt with treacherously.\r\n\t\t\t O LORD, be gracious to us; we wait for you. Be our arm every morning, our salvation in the time of trouble.\r\n\t\t\t At the sound of tumult, peoples fled; before your majesty, nations scattered.\r\n\t\t\t Spoil was gathered as the caterpillar gathers; as locusts leap, they leaped upon it. \r\n\t\t\t The LORD is exalted, he dwells on high; he filled Zion with justice and righteousness;\r\n\t\t\t he will be the stability of your times, abundance of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge; the fear of the LORD is Zion's treasure. \r\n\t\t\t Listen! the valiant cry in the streets; the envoys of peace weep bitterly. \r\n\t\t\t The highways are deserted, travelers have quit the road. The treaty is broken, its oaths are despised, its obligation is disregarded. \r\n\t\t\t The land mourns and languishes; Lebanon is confounded and withers away; Sharon is like a desert; and Bashan and Carmel shake off their leaves.\r\n\t\t\t \"Now I will arise,\" says the LORD, \"now I will lift myself up; now I will be exalted.\r\n\t\t\t You conceive chaff, you bring forth stubble; your breath is a fire that will consume you.\r\n\t\t\t And the peoples will be as if burned to lime, like thorns cut down, that are burned in the fire.\"\r\n\t\t\t Hear, you who are far away, what I have done; and you who are near, acknowledge my might.\r\n\t\t\t The sinners in Zion are afraid; trembling has seized the godless: \"Who among us can live with the devouring fire? Who among us can live with everlasting flames?\"\r\n\t\t\t Those who walk righteously and speak uprightly, who despise the gain of oppression, who wave away a bribe instead of accepting it, who stop their ears from hearing of bloodshed and shut their eyes from looking on evil,\r\n\t\t\t they will live on the heights; their refuge will be the fortresses of rocks; their food will be supplied, their water assured.\r\n\t\t\t Your eyes will see the king in his beauty; they will behold a land that stretches far away.\r\n\t\t\t Your mind will muse on the terror: \"Where is the one who counted? Where is the one who weighed the tribute? Where is the one who counted the towers?\"\r\n\t\t\t No longer will you see the insolent people, the people of an obscure speech that you cannot comprehend, stammering in a language that you cannot understand.\r\n\t\t\t Look on Zion, the city of our appointed festivals! Your eyes will see Jerusalem, a quiet habitation, an immovable tent, whose stakes will never be pulled up, and none of whose ropes will be broken.\r\n\t\t\t But there the LORD in majesty will be for us a place of broad rivers and streams, where no galley with oars can go, nor stately ship can pass.\r\n\t\t\t For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our ruler, the LORD is our king; he will save us.\r\n\t\t\t Your rigging hangs loose; it cannot hold the mast firm in its place, or keep the sail spread out. Then prey and spoil in abundance will be divided; even the lame will fall to plundering.\r\n\t\t\t And no inhabitant will say, \"I am sick\"; the people who live there will be forgiven their iniquity.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Draw near, O nations, to hear; O peoples, give heed! Let the earth hear, and all that fills it; the world, and all that comes from it.\r\n\t\t\t For the LORD is enraged against all the nations, and furious against all their hoards; he has doomed them, has given them over for slaughter.\r\n\t\t\t Their slain shall be cast out, and the stench of their corpses shall rise; the mountains shall flow with their blood.\r\n\t\t\t All the host of heaven shall rot away, and the skies roll up like a scroll. All their host shall wither like a leaf withering on a vine, or fruit withering on a fig tree.\r\n\t\t\t When my sword has drunk its fill in the heavens, lo, it will descend upon Edom, upon the people I have doomed to judgment.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD has a sword; it is sated with blood, it is gorged with fat, with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams. For the LORD has a sacrifice in Bozrah, a great slaughter in the land of Edom.\r\n\t\t\t Wild oxen shall fall with them, and young steers with the mighty bulls. Their land shall be soaked with blood, and their soil made rich with fat.\r\n\t\t\t For the LORD has a day of vengeance, a year of vindication by Zion's cause. \r\n\t\t\t And the streams of Edom shall be turned into pitch, and her soil into sulfur; her land shall become burning pitch. \r\n\t\t\t Night and day it shall not be quenched; its smoke shall go up forever. From generation to generation it shall lie waste; no one shall pass through it forever and ever.\r\n\t\t\t But the hawk and the hedgehog shall possess it; the owl and the raven shall live in it. He shall stretch the line of confusion over it, and the plummet of chaos over its nobles.\r\n\t\t\t They shall name it No Kingdom There, and all its princes shall be nothing.\r\n\t\t\t Thorns shall grow over its strongholds, nettles and thistles in its fortresses. It shall be the haunt of jackals, an abode for ostriches.\r\n\t\t\t Wildcats shall meet with hyenas, goat-demons shall call to each other; there too Lilith shall repose, and find a place to rest.\r\n\t\t\t There shall the owl nest and lay and hatch and brood in its shadow; there too the buzzards shall gather, each one with its mate.\r\n\t\t\t Seek and read from the book of the LORD: Not one of these shall be missing; none shall be without its mate. For the mouth of the LORD has commanded, and his spirit has gathered them.\r\n\t\t\t He has cast the lot for them, his hand has portioned it out to them with the line; they shall possess it forever, from generation to generation they shall live in it.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom; like the crocus\r\n\t\t\t it shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the LORD, the majesty of our God.\r\n\t\t\t Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees.\r\n\t\t\t Say to those who are of a fearful heart, \"Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God. He will come with vengeance, with terrible recompense. He will come and save you.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped;\r\n\t\t\t then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy. For waters shall break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert;\r\n\t\t\t the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water; the haunt of jackals shall become a swamp, the grass shall become reeds and rushes.\r\n\t\t\t A highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Holy Way; the unclean shall not travel on it, but it shall be for God's people; no traveler, not even fools, shall go astray. \r\n\t\t\t No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it; they shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there.\r\n\t\t\t And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah, King Sennacherib of Assyria came up against all the fortified cities of Judah and captured them.\r\n\t\t\t The king of Assyria sent the Rabshakeh from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem, with a great army. He stood by the conduit of the upper pool on the highway to the Fuller's Field.\r\n\t\t\t And there came out to him Eliakim son of Hilkiah, who was in charge of the palace, and Shebna the secretary, and Joah son of Asaph, the recorder.\r\n\t\t\t The Rabshakeh said to them, \"Say to Hezekiah: Thus says the great king, the king of Assyria: On what do you base this confidence of yours?\r\n\t\t\t Do you think that mere words are strategy and power for war? On whom do you now rely, that you have rebelled against me?\r\n\t\t\t See, you are relying on Egypt, that broken reed of a staff, which will pierce the hand of anyone who leans on it. Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who rely on him.\r\n\t\t\t But if you say to me, 'We rely on the LORD our God,' is it not he whose high places and altars Hezekiah has removed, saying to Judah and to Jerusalem, 'You shall worship before this altar'?\r\n\t\t\t Come now, make a wager with my master the king of Assyria: I will give you two thousand horses, if you are able on your part to set riders on them.\r\n\t\t\t How then can you repulse a single captain among the least of my master's servants, when you rely on Egypt for chariots and for horsemen?\r\n\t\t\t Moreover, is it without the LORD that I have come up against this land to destroy it? The LORD said to me, Go up against this land, and destroy it.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah said to the Rabshakeh, \"Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, for we understand it; do not speak to us in the language of Judah within the hearing of the people who are on the wall.\"\r\n\t\t\t But the Rabshakeh said, \"Has my master sent me to speak these words to your master and to you, and not to the people sitting on the wall, who are doomed with you to eat their own dung and drink their own urine?\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the Rabshakeh stood and called out in a loud voice in the language of Judah, \"Hear the words of the great king, the king of Assyria!\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the king: 'Do not let Hezekiah deceive you, for he will not be able to deliver you.\r\n\t\t\t Do not let Hezekiah make you rely on the LORD by saying, The LORD will surely deliver us; this city will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.'\r\n\t\t\t Do not listen to Hezekiah; for thus says the king of Assyria: 'Make your peace with me and come out to me; then everyone of you will eat from your own vine and your own fig tree and drink water from your own cistern,\r\n\t\t\t until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of grain and wine, a land of bread and vineyards.\r\n\t\t\t Do not let Hezekiah mislead you by saying, The LORD will save us. Has any of the gods of the nations saved their land out of the hand of the king of Assyria?\r\n\t\t\t Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim? Have they delivered Samaria out of my hand?\r\n\t\t\t Who among all the gods of these countries have saved their countries out of my hand, that the LORD should save Jerusalem out of my hand?'\"\r\n\t\t\t But they were silent and answered him not a word, for the king's command was, \"Do not answer him.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Eliakim son of Hilkiah, who was in charge of the palace, and Shebna the secretary, and Joah son of Asaph, the recorder, came to Hezekiah with their clothes torn, and told him the words of the Rabshakeh.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t When King Hezekiah heard it, he tore his clothes, covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t And he sent Eliakim, who was in charge of the palace, and Shebna the secretary, and the senior priests, covered with sackcloth, to the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz.\r\n\t\t\t They said to him, \"Thus says Hezekiah, This day is a day of distress, of rebuke, and of disgrace; children have come to the birth, and there is no strength to bring them forth.\r\n\t\t\t It may be that the LORD your God heard the words of the Rabshakeh, whom his master the king of Assyria has sent to mock the living God, and will rebuke the words that the LORD your God has heard; therefore lift up your prayer for the remnant that is left.\"\r\n\t\t\t When the servants of King Hezekiah came to Isaiah,\r\n\t\t\t Isaiah said to them, \"Say to your master, 'Thus says the LORD: Do not be afraid because of the words that you have heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have reviled me.\r\n\t\t\t I myself will put a spirit in him, so that he shall hear a rumor, and return to his own land; I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land.'\"\r\n\t\t\t The Rabshakeh returned, and found the king of Assyria fighting against Libnah; for he had heard that the king had left Lachish.\r\n\t\t\t Now the king heard concerning King Tirhakah of Ethiopia, \"He has set out to fight against you.\" When he heard it, he sent messengers to Hezekiah, saying, \r\n\t\t\t \"Thus shall you speak to King Hezekiah of Judah: Do not let your God on whom you rely deceive you by promising that Jerusalem will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.\r\n\t\t\t See, you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands, destroying them utterly. Shall you be delivered?\r\n\t\t\t Have the gods of the nations delivered them, the nations that my predecessors destroyed, Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, and the people of Eden who were in Telassar?\r\n\t\t\t Where 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?\"\r\n\t\t\t Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it; then Hezekiah went up to the house of the LORD and spread it before the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t And Hezekiah prayed to the LORD, saying:\r\n\t\t\t \"O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, who are enthroned above the cherubim, you are God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth.\r\n\t\t\t Incline your ear, O LORD, and hear; open your eyes, O LORD, and see; hear all the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to mock the living God.\r\n\t\t\t Truly, O LORD, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the nations and their lands,\r\n\t\t\t and have hurled their gods into the fire, though they were no gods, but the work of human hands-- wood and stone-- and so they were destroyed.\r\n\t\t\t So now, O LORD our God, save us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone are the LORD.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Isaiah son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying: \"Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Because you have prayed to me concerning King Sennacherib of Assyria,\r\n\t\t\t this is the word that the LORD has spoken concerning him: She despises you, she scorns you-- virgin daughter Zion; she tosses her head-- behind your back, daughter Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t Whom have you mocked and reviled? Against whom have you raised your voice and haughtily lifted your eyes? Against the Holy One of Israel!\r\n\t\t\t By your servants you have mocked the Lord, and you have said, 'With my many chariots I have gone up the heights of the mountains, to the far recesses of Lebanon; I felled its tallest cedars, its choicest cypresses; I came to its remotest height, its densest forest.\r\n\t\t\t I dug wells and drank waters, I dried up with the sole of my foot all the streams of Egypt.'\r\n\t\t\t Have you not heard that I determined it long ago? I planned from days of old what now I bring to pass, that you should make fortified cities crash into heaps of ruins,\r\n\t\t\t while their inhabitants, shorn of strength, are dismayed and confounded; they have become like plants of the field and like tender grass, like grass on the housetops, blighted before it is grown. \r\n\t\t\t I know your rising up and your sitting down, your going out and coming in, and your raging against me. \r\n\t\t\t Because you have raged against me and your arrogance has come to my ears, I will put my hook in your nose and my bit in your mouth; I will turn you back on the way by which you came.\r\n\t\t\t \"And this shall be the sign for you: This year eat what grows of itself, and in the second year what springs from that; then in the third year sow, reap, plant vineyards, and eat their fruit.\r\n\t\t\t The surviving remnant of the house of Judah shall again take root downward, and bear fruit upward;\r\n\t\t\t for from Jerusalem a remnant shall go out, and from Mount Zion a band of survivors. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.\r\n\t\t\t \"Therefore thus says the LORD concerning the king of Assyria: He shall not come into this city, shoot an arrow there, come before it with a shield, or cast up a siege ramp against it.\r\n\t\t\t By the way that he came, by the same he shall return; he shall not come into this city, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t For I will defend this city to save it, for my own sake and for the sake of my servant David.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the angel of the LORD set out and struck down one hundred eighty-five thousand in the camp of the Assyrians; when morning dawned, they were all dead bodies.\r\n\t\t\t Then King Sennacherib of Assyria left, went home, and lived at Nineveh.\r\n\t\t\t As he was worshiping in the house of his god Nisroch, his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer killed him with the sword, and they escaped into the land of Ararat. His son Esar-haddon succeeded him.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t In those days Hezekiah became sick and was at the point of death. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz came to him, and said to him, \"Thus says the LORD: Set your house in order, for you shall die; you shall not recover.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall, and prayed to the LORD:\r\n\t\t\t \"Remember now, O LORD, I implore you, how I have walked before you in faithfulness with a whole heart, and have done what is good in your sight.\" And Hezekiah wept bitterly.\r\n\t\t\t Then the word of the LORD came to Isaiah:\r\n\t\t\t \"Go and say to Hezekiah, Thus says the LORD, the God of your ancestor David: I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; I will add fifteen years to your life.\r\n\t\t\t I will deliver you and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria, and defend this city.\r\n\t\t\t \"This is the sign to you from the LORD, that the LORD will do this thing that he has promised:\r\n\t\t\t See, I will make the shadow cast by the declining sun on the dial of Ahaz turn back ten steps.\" So the sun turned back on the dial the ten steps by which it had declined.\r\n\t\t\t A writing of King Hezekiah of Judah, after he had been sick and had recovered from his sickness:\r\n\t\t\t I said: In the noontide of my days I must depart; I am consigned to the gates of Sheol for the rest of my years.\r\n\t\t\t I said, I shall not see the LORD in the land of the living; I shall look upon mortals no more among the inhabitants of the world.\r\n\t\t\t My dwelling is plucked up and removed from me like a shepherd's tent; like a weaver I have rolled up my life; he cuts me off from the loom; from day to night you bring me to an end; \r\n\t\t\t I cry for help until morning; like a lion he breaks all my bones; from day to night you bring me to an end. \r\n\t\t\t Like a swallow or a crane I clamor, I moan like a dove. My eyes are weary with looking upward. O Lord, I am oppressed; be my security! \r\n\t\t\t But what can I say? For he has spoken to me, and he himself has done it. All my sleep has fled because of the bitterness of my soul. \r\n\t\t\t O Lord, by these things people live, and in all these is the life of my spirit. Oh, restore me to health and make me live! \r\n\t\t\t Surely it was for my welfare that I had great bitterness; but you have held back my life from the pit of destruction, for you have cast all my sins behind your back. \r\n\t\t\t For Sheol cannot thank you, death cannot praise you; those who go down to the Pit cannot hope for your faithfulness.\r\n\t\t\t The living, the living, they thank you, as I do this day; fathers make known to children your faithfulness.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD will save me, and we will sing to stringed instruments all the days of our lives, at the house of the LORD. \r\n\t\t\t Now Isaiah had said, \"Let them take a lump of figs, and apply it to the boil, so that he may recover.\"\r\n\t\t\t Hezekiah also had said, \"What is the sign that I shall go up to the house of the LORD?\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t At that time King Merodach-baladan son of Baladan of Babylon sent envoys with letters and a present to Hezekiah, for he heard that he had been sick and had recovered.\r\n\t\t\t Hezekiah welcomed them; he showed them his treasure house, the silver, the gold, the spices, the precious oil, his whole armory, all that was found in his storehouses. There was nothing in his house or in all his realm that Hezekiah did not show them.\r\n\t\t\t Then the prophet Isaiah came to King Hezekiah and said to him, \"What did these men say? From where did they come to you?\" Hezekiah answered, \"They have come to me from a far country, from Babylon.\"\r\n\t\t\t He said, \"What have they seen in your house?\" Hezekiah answered, \"They have seen all that is in my house; there is nothing in my storehouses that I did not show them.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, \"Hear the word of the LORD of hosts:\r\n\t\t\t Days are coming when all that is in your house, and that which your ancestors have stored up until this day, shall be carried to Babylon; nothing shall be left, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Some of your own sons who are born to you shall be taken away; they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, \"The word of the LORD that you have spoken is good.\" For he thought, \"There will be peace and security in my days.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God.\r\n\t\t\t Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that she has served her term, that her penalty is paid, that she has received from the LORD's hand double for all her sins.\r\n\t\t\t A voice cries out: \"In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.\r\n\t\t\t Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain.\r\n\t\t\t Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.\"\r\n\t\t\t A voice says, \"Cry out!\" And I said, \"What shall I cry?\" All people are grass, their constancy is like the flower of the field.\r\n\t\t\t The grass withers, the flower fades, when the breath of the LORD blows upon it; surely the people are grass.\r\n\t\t\t The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God will stand forever.\r\n\t\t\t Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good tidings; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings, lift it up, do not fear; say to the cities of Judah, \"Here is your God!\" \r\n\t\t\t See, the Lord GOD comes with might, and his arm rules for him; his reward is with him, and his recompense before him.\r\n\t\t\t He will feed his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them in his bosom, and gently lead the mother sheep.\r\n\t\t\t Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand and marked off the heavens with a span, enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance?\r\n\t\t\t Who has directed the spirit of the LORD, or as his counselor has instructed him?\r\n\t\t\t Whom did he consult for his enlightenment, and who taught him the path of justice? Who taught him knowledge, and showed him the way of understanding?\r\n\t\t\t Even the nations are like a drop from a bucket, and are accounted as dust on the scales; see, he takes up the isles like fine dust.\r\n\t\t\t Lebanon would not provide fuel enough, nor are its animals enough for a burnt offering.\r\n\t\t\t All the nations are as nothing before him; they are accounted by him as less than nothing and emptiness.\r\n\t\t\t To whom then will you liken God, or what likeness compare with him?\r\n\t\t\t An idol?-- A workman casts it, and a goldsmith overlays it with gold, and casts for it silver chains.\r\n\t\t\t As a gift one chooses mulberry wood-- wood that will not rot-- then seeks out a skilled artisan to set up an image that will not topple.\r\n\t\t\t Have you not known? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?\r\n\t\t\t It is he who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them like a tent to live in;\r\n\t\t\t who brings princes to naught, and makes the rulers of the earth as nothing.\r\n\t\t\t Scarcely are they planted, scarcely sown, scarcely has their stem taken root in the earth, when he blows upon them, and they wither, and the tempest carries them off like stubble.\r\n\t\t\t To whom then will you compare me, or who is my equal? says the Holy One.\r\n\t\t\t Lift up your eyes on high and see: Who created these? He who brings out their host and numbers them, calling them all by name; because he is great in strength, mighty in power, not one is missing.\r\n\t\t\t Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, \"My way is hidden from the LORD, and my right is disregarded by my God\"?\r\n\t\t\t Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.\r\n\t\t\t He gives power to the faint, and strengthens the powerless.\r\n\t\t\t Even youths will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted;\r\n\t\t\t but those who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Listen to me in silence, O coastlands; let the peoples renew their strength; let them approach, then let them speak; let us together draw near for judgment.\r\n\t\t\t Who has roused a victor from the east, summoned him to his service? He delivers up nations to him, and tramples kings under foot; he makes them like dust with his sword, like driven stubble with his bow.\r\n\t\t\t He pursues them and passes on safely, scarcely touching the path with his feet.\r\n\t\t\t Who has performed and done this, calling the generations from the beginning? I, the LORD, am first, and will be with the last.\r\n\t\t\t The coastlands have seen and are afraid, the ends of the earth tremble; they have drawn near and come.\r\n\t\t\t Each one helps the other, saying to one another, \"Take courage!\"\r\n\t\t\t The artisan encourages the goldsmith, and the one who smooths with the hammer encourages the one who strikes the anvil, saying of the soldering, \"It is good\"; and they fasten it with nails so that it cannot be moved.\r\n\t\t\t But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, the offspring of Abraham, my friend;\r\n\t\t\t you whom I took from the ends of the earth, and called from its farthest corners, saying to you, \"You are my servant, I have chosen you and not cast you off\";\r\n\t\t\t do not fear, for I am with you, do not be afraid, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.\r\n\t\t\t Yes, all who are incensed against you shall be ashamed and disgraced; those who strive against you shall be as nothing and shall perish.\r\n\t\t\t You shall seek those who contend with you, but you shall not find them; those who war against you shall be as nothing at all.\r\n\t\t\t For I, the LORD your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, \"Do not fear, I will help you.\"\r\n\t\t\t Do not fear, you worm Jacob, you insect Israel! I will help you, says the LORD; your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel. \r\n\t\t\t Now, I will make of you a threshing sledge, sharp, new, and having teeth; you shall thresh the mountains and crush them, and you shall make the hills like chaff.\r\n\t\t\t You shall winnow them and the wind shall carry them away, and the tempest shall scatter them. Then you shall rejoice in the LORD; in the Holy One of Israel you shall glory.\r\n\t\t\t When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue is parched with thirst, I the LORD will answer them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them.\r\n\t\t\t I will open rivers on the bare heights, and fountains in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water. \r\n\t\t\t I will put in the wilderness the cedar, the acacia, the myrtle, and the olive; I will set in the desert the cypress, the plane and the pine together,\r\n\t\t\t so that all may see and know, all may consider and understand, that the hand of the LORD has done this, the Holy One of Israel has created it.\r\n\t\t\t Set forth your case, says the LORD; bring your proofs, says the King of Jacob.\r\n\t\t\t Let them bring them, and tell us what is to happen. Tell us the former things, what they are, so that we may consider them, and that we may know their outcome; or declare to us the things to come.\r\n\t\t\t Tell us what is to come hereafter, that we may know that you are gods; do good, or do harm, that we may be afraid and terrified.\r\n\t\t\t You, indeed, are nothing and your work is nothing at all; whoever chooses you is an abomination.\r\n\t\t\t I stirred up one from the north, and he has come, from the rising of the sun he was summoned by name. He shall trample on rulers as on mortar, as the potter treads clay. \r\n\t\t\t Who declared it from the beginning, so that we might know, and beforehand, so that we might say, \"He is right\"? There was no one who declared it, none who proclaimed, none who heard your words.\r\n\t\t\t I first have declared it to Zion, and I give to Jerusalem a herald of good tidings. \r\n\t\t\t But when I look there is no one; among these there is no counselor who, when I ask, gives an answer.\r\n\t\t\t No, they are all a delusion; their works are nothing; their images are empty wind.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations.\r\n\t\t\t He will not cry or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street;\r\n\t\t\t a bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice.\r\n\t\t\t He will not grow faint or be crushed until he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his teaching.\r\n\t\t\t Thus says God, the LORD, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people upon it and spirit to those who walk in it:\r\n\t\t\t I am the LORD, I have called you in righteousness, I have taken you by the hand and kept you; I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations, \r\n\t\t\t to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.\r\n\t\t\t I am the LORD, that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to idols.\r\n\t\t\t See, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth, I tell you of them.\r\n\t\t\t Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise from the end of the earth! Let the sea roar and all that fills it, the coastlands and their inhabitants. \r\n\t\t\t Let the desert and its towns lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar inhabits; let the inhabitants of Sela sing for joy, let them shout from the tops of the mountains.\r\n\t\t\t Let them give glory to the LORD, and declare his praise in the coastlands.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD goes forth like a soldier, like a warrior he stirs up his fury; he cries out, he shouts aloud, he shows himself mighty against his foes.\r\n\t\t\t For a long time I have held my peace, I have kept still and restrained myself; now I will cry out like a woman in labor, I will gasp and pant.\r\n\t\t\t I will lay waste mountains and hills, and dry up all their herbage; I will turn the rivers into islands, and dry up the pools.\r\n\t\t\t I will lead the blind by a road they do not know, by paths they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I will do, and I will not forsake them.\r\n\t\t\t They shall be turned back and utterly put to shame-- those who trust in carved images, who say to cast images, \"You are our gods.\"\r\n\t\t\t Listen, you that are deaf; and you that are blind, look up and see!\r\n\t\t\t Who is blind but my servant, or deaf like my messenger whom I send? Who is blind like my dedicated one, or blind like the servant of the LORD?\r\n\t\t\t He sees many things, but does not observe them; his ears are open, but he does not hear. \r\n\t\t\t The LORD was pleased, for the sake of his righteousness, to magnify his teaching and make it glorious.\r\n\t\t\t But this is a people robbed and plundered, all of them are trapped in holes and hidden in prisons; they have become a prey with no one to rescue, a spoil with no one to say, \"Restore!\"\r\n\t\t\t Who among you will give heed to this, who will attend and listen for the time to come?\r\n\t\t\t Who gave up Jacob to the spoiler, and Israel to the robbers? Was it not the LORD, against whom we have sinned, in whose ways they would not walk, and whose law they would not obey?\r\n\t\t\t So he poured upon him the heat of his anger and the fury of war; it set him on fire all around, but he did not understand; it burned him, but he did not take it to heart.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t But now thus says the LORD, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.\r\n\t\t\t When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.\r\n\t\t\t For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I give Egypt as your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in exchange for you. \r\n\t\t\t Because you are precious in my sight, and honored, and I love you, I give people in return for you, nations in exchange for your life.\r\n\t\t\t Do not fear, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you;\r\n\t\t\t I will say to the north, \"Give them up,\" and to the south, \"Do not withhold; bring my sons from far away and my daughters from the end of the earth--\r\n\t\t\t everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.\"\r\n\t\t\t Bring forth the people who are blind, yet have eyes, who are deaf, yet have ears!\r\n\t\t\t Let all the nations gather together, and let the peoples assemble. Who among them declared this, and foretold to us the former things? Let them bring their witnesses to justify them, and let them hear and say, \"It is true.\"\r\n\t\t\t You are my witnesses, says the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me.\r\n\t\t\t I, I am the LORD, and besides me there is no savior.\r\n\t\t\t I declared and saved and proclaimed, when there was no strange god among you; and you are my witnesses, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t I am God, and also henceforth I am He; there is no one who can deliver from my hand; I work and who can hinder it?\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: For your sake I will send to Babylon and break down all the bars, and the shouting of the Chaldeans will be turned to lamentation. \r\n\t\t\t I am the LORD, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King.\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD, who makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters,\r\n\t\t\t who brings out chariot and horse, army and warrior; they lie down, they cannot rise, they are extinguished, quenched like a wick:\r\n\t\t\t Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old.\r\n\t\t\t I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.\r\n\t\t\t The wild animals will honor me, the jackals and the ostriches; for I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen people,\r\n\t\t\t the people whom I formed for myself so that they might declare my praise.\r\n\t\t\t Yet you did not call upon me, O Jacob; but you have been weary of me, O Israel!\r\n\t\t\t You have not brought me your sheep for burnt offerings, or honored me with your sacrifices. I have not burdened you with offerings, or wearied you with frankincense.\r\n\t\t\t You have not bought me sweet cane with money, or satisfied me with the fat of your sacrifices. But you have burdened me with your sins; you have wearied me with your iniquities.\r\n\t\t\t I, I am He who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.\r\n\t\t\t Accuse me, let us go to trial; set forth your case, so that you may be proved right.\r\n\t\t\t Your first ancestor sinned, and your interpreters transgressed against me.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore I profaned the princes of the sanctuary, I delivered Jacob to utter destruction, and Israel to reviling.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t But now hear, O Jacob my servant, Israel whom I have chosen!\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD who made you, who formed you in the womb and will help you: Do not fear, O Jacob my servant, Jeshurun whom I have chosen.\r\n\t\t\t For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my spirit upon your descendants, and my blessing on your offspring.\r\n\t\t\t They shall spring up like a green tamarisk, like willows by flowing streams.\r\n\t\t\t This one will say, \"I am the LORD's,\" another will be called by the name of Jacob, yet another will write on the hand, \"The LORD's,\" and adopt the name of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god.\r\n\t\t\t Who is like me? Let them proclaim it, let them declare and set it forth before me. Who has announced from of old the things to come? Let them tell us what is yet to be. \r\n\t\t\t Do not fear, or be afraid; have I not told you from of old and declared it? You are my witnesses! Is there any god besides me? There is no other rock; I know not one.\r\n\t\t\t All who make idols are nothing, and the things they delight in do not profit; their witnesses neither see nor know. And so they will be put to shame.\r\n\t\t\t Who would fashion a god or cast an image that can do no good?\r\n\t\t\t Look, all its devotees shall be put to shame; the artisans too are merely human. Let them all assemble, let them stand up; they shall be terrified, they shall all be put to shame.\r\n\t\t\t The ironsmith fashions it and works it over the coals, shaping it with hammers, and forging it with his strong arm; he becomes hungry and his strength fails, he drinks no water and is faint. \r\n\t\t\t The carpenter stretches a line, marks it out with a stylus, fashions it with planes, and marks it with a compass; he makes it in human form, with human beauty, to be set up in a shrine.\r\n\t\t\t He cuts down cedars or chooses a holm tree or an oak and lets it grow strong among the trees of the forest. He plants a cedar and the rain nourishes it.\r\n\t\t\t Then it can be used as fuel. Part of it he takes and warms himself; he kindles a fire and bakes bread. Then he makes a god and worships it, makes it a carved image and bows down before it.\r\n\t\t\t Half of it he burns in the fire; over this half he roasts meat, eats it and is satisfied. He also warms himself and says, \"Ah, I am warm, I can feel the fire!\"\r\n\t\t\t The rest of it he makes into a god, his idol, bows down to it and worships it; he prays to it and says, \"Save me, for you are my god!\"\r\n\t\t\t They do not know, nor do they comprehend; for their eyes are shut, so that they cannot see, and their minds as well, so that they cannot understand.\r\n\t\t\t No one considers, nor is there knowledge or discernment to say, \"Half of it I burned in the fire; I also baked bread on its coals, I roasted meat and have eaten. Now shall I make the rest of it an abomination? Shall I fall down before a block of wood?\"\r\n\t\t\t He feeds on ashes; a deluded mind has led him astray, and he cannot save himself or say, \"Is not this thing in my right hand a fraud?\"\r\n\t\t\t Remember these things, O Jacob, and Israel, for you are my servant; I formed you, you are my servant; O Israel, you will not be forgotten by me.\r\n\t\t\t I have swept away your transgressions like a cloud, and your sins like mist; return to me, for I have redeemed you.\r\n\t\t\t Sing, O heavens, for the LORD has done it; shout, O depths of the earth; break forth into singing, O mountains, O forest, and every tree in it! For the LORD has redeemed Jacob, and will be glorified in Israel.\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, who formed you in the womb: I am the LORD, who made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who by myself spread out the earth;\r\n\t\t\t who frustrates the omens of liars, and makes fools of diviners; who turns back the wise, and makes their knowledge foolish;\r\n\t\t\t who confirms the word of his servant, and fulfills the prediction of his messengers; who says of Jerusalem, \"It shall be inhabited,\" and of the cities of Judah, \"They shall be rebuilt, and I will raise up their ruins\";\r\n\t\t\t who says to the deep, \"Be dry-- I will dry up your rivers\";\r\n\t\t\t who says of Cyrus, \"He is my shepherd, and he shall carry out all my purpose\"; and who says of Jerusalem, \"It shall be rebuilt,\" and of the temple, \"Your foundation shall be laid.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped to subdue nations before him and strip kings of their robes, to open doors before him-- and the gates shall not be closed:\r\n\t\t\t I will go before you and level the mountains, I will break in pieces the doors of bronze and cut through the bars of iron, \r\n\t\t\t I will give you the treasures of darkness and riches hidden in secret places, so that you may know that it is I, the LORD, the God of Israel, who call you by your name.\r\n\t\t\t For the sake of my servant Jacob, and Israel my chosen, I call you by your name, I surname you, though you do not know me.\r\n\t\t\t I am the LORD, and there is no other; besides me there is no god. I arm you, though you do not know me,\r\n\t\t\t so that they may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is no one besides me; I am the LORD, and there is no other.\r\n\t\t\t I form light and create darkness, I make weal and create woe; I the LORD do all these things.\r\n\t\t\t Shower, O heavens, from above, and let the skies rain down righteousness; let the earth open, that salvation may spring up, and let it cause righteousness to sprout up also; I the LORD have created it. \r\n\t\t\t Woe to you who strive with your Maker, earthen vessels with the potter! Does the clay say to the one who fashions it, \"What are you making\"? or \"Your work has no handles\"? \r\n\t\t\t Woe to anyone who says to a father, \"What are you begetting?\" or to a woman, \"With what are you in labor?\"\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and its Maker: Will you question me about my children, or command me concerning the work of my hands? \r\n\t\t\t I made the earth, and created humankind upon it; it was my hands that stretched out the heavens, and I commanded all their host.\r\n\t\t\t I have aroused Cyrus in righteousness, and I will make all his paths straight; he shall build my city and set my exiles free, not for price or reward, says the LORD of hosts. \r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD: The wealth of Egypt and the merchandise of Ethiopia, and the Sabeans, tall of stature, shall come over to you and be yours, they shall follow you; they shall come over in chains and bow down to you. They will make supplication to you, saying, \"God is with you alone, and there is no other; there is no god besides him.\" \r\n\t\t\t Truly, you are a God who hides himself, O God of Israel, the Savior.\r\n\t\t\t All of them are put to shame and confounded, the makers of idols go in confusion together.\r\n\t\t\t But Israel is saved by the LORD with everlasting salvation; you shall not be put to shame or confounded to all eternity.\r\n\t\t\t For thus says the LORD, who created the heavens (he is God!), who formed the earth and made it (he established it; he did not create it a chaos, he formed it to be inhabited!): I am the LORD, and there is no other.\r\n\t\t\t I did not speak in secret, in a land of darkness; I did not say to the offspring of Jacob, \"Seek me in chaos.\" I the LORD speak the truth, I declare what is right.\r\n\t\t\t Assemble yourselves and come together, draw near, you survivors of the nations! They have no knowledge-- those who carry about their wooden idols, and keep on praying to a god that cannot save.\r\n\t\t\t Declare and present your case; let them take counsel together! Who told this long ago? Who declared it of old? Was it not I, the LORD? There is no other god besides me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is no one besides me.\r\n\t\t\t Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.\r\n\t\t\t By myself I have sworn, from my mouth has gone forth in righteousness a word that shall not return: \"To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.\"\r\n\t\t\t Only in the LORD, it shall be said of me, are righteousness and strength; all who were incensed against him shall come to him and be ashamed.\r\n\t\t\t In the LORD all the offspring of Israel shall triumph and glory.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Bel bows down, Nebo stoops, their idols are on beasts and cattle; these things you carry are loaded as burdens on weary animals.\r\n\t\t\t They stoop, they bow down together; they cannot save the burden, but themselves go into captivity.\r\n\t\t\t Listen to me, O house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been borne by me from your birth, carried from the womb;\r\n\t\t\t even to your old age I am he, even when you turn gray I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save.\r\n\t\t\t To whom will you liken me and make me equal, and compare me, as though we were alike?\r\n\t\t\t Those who lavish gold from the purse, and weigh out silver in the scales-- they hire a goldsmith, who makes it into a god; then they fall down and worship!\r\n\t\t\t They lift it to their shoulders, they carry it, they set it in its place, and it stands there; it cannot move from its place. If one cries out to it, it does not answer or save anyone from trouble.\r\n\t\t\t Remember this and consider, recall it to mind, you transgressors, \r\n\t\t\t remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like me,\r\n\t\t\t declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, \"My purpose shall stand, and I will fulfill my intention,\"\r\n\t\t\t calling a bird of prey from the east, the man for my purpose from a far country. I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have planned, and I will do it.\r\n\t\t\t Listen to me, you stubborn of heart, you who are far from deliverance:\r\n\t\t\t I bring near my deliverance, it is not far off, and my salvation will not tarry; I will put salvation in Zion, for Israel my glory.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Come down and sit in the dust, virgin daughter Babylon! Sit on the ground without a throne, daughter Chaldea! For you shall no more be called tender and delicate.\r\n\t\t\t Take the millstones and grind meal, remove your veil, strip off your robe, uncover your legs, pass through the rivers.\r\n\t\t\t Your nakedness shall be uncovered, and your shame shall be seen. I will take vengeance, and I will spare no one.\r\n\t\t\t Our Redeemer-- the LORD of hosts is his name-- is the Holy One of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t Sit in silence, and go into darkness, daughter Chaldea! For you shall no more be called the mistress of kingdoms.\r\n\t\t\t I was angry with my people, I profaned my heritage; I gave them into your hand, you showed them no mercy; on the aged you made your yoke exceedingly heavy.\r\n\t\t\t You said, \"I shall be mistress forever,\" so that you did not lay these things to heart or remember their end.\r\n\t\t\t Now therefore hear this, you lover of pleasures, who sit securely, who say in your heart, \"I am, and there is no one besides me; I shall not sit as a widow or know the loss of children\"--\r\n\t\t\t both these things shall come upon you in a moment, in one day: the loss of children and widowhood shall come upon you in full measure, in spite of your many sorceries and the great power of your enchantments.\r\n\t\t\t You felt secure in your wickedness; you said, \"No one sees me.\" Your wisdom and your knowledge led you astray, and you said in your heart, \"I am, and there is no one besides me.\"\r\n\t\t\t But evil shall come upon you, which you cannot charm away; disaster shall fall upon you, which you will not be able to ward off; and ruin shall come on you suddenly, of which you know nothing.\r\n\t\t\t Stand fast in your enchantments and your many sorceries, with which you have labored from your youth; perhaps you may be able to succeed, perhaps you may inspire terror.\r\n\t\t\t You are wearied with your many consultations; let those who study the heavens stand up and save you, those who gaze at the stars, and at each new moon predict what shall befall you. \r\n\t\t\t See, they are like stubble, the fire consumes them; they cannot deliver themselves from the power of the flame. No coal for warming oneself is this, no fire to sit before!\r\n\t\t\t Such to you are those with whom you have labored, who have trafficked with you from your youth; they all wander about in their own paths; there is no one to save you.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Hear this, O house of Jacob, who are called by the name of Israel, and who came forth from the loins of Judah; who swear by the name of the LORD, and invoke the God of Israel, but not in truth or right. \r\n\t\t\t For they call themselves after the holy city, and lean on the God of Israel; the LORD of hosts is his name.\r\n\t\t\t The former things I declared long ago, they went out from my mouth and I made them known; then suddenly I did them and they came to pass.\r\n\t\t\t Because I know that you are obstinate, and your neck is an iron sinew and your forehead brass,\r\n\t\t\t I declared them to you from long ago, before they came to pass I announced them to you, so that you would not say, \"My idol did them, my carved image and my cast image commanded them.\"\r\n\t\t\t You have heard; now see all this; and will you not declare it? From this time forward I make you hear new things, hidden things that you have not known.\r\n\t\t\t They are created now, not long ago; before today you have never heard of them, so that you could not say, \"I already knew them.\"\r\n\t\t\t You have never heard, you have never known, from of old your ear has not been opened. For I knew that you would deal very treacherously, and that from birth you were called a rebel.\r\n\t\t\t For my name's sake I defer my anger, for the sake of my praise I restrain it for you, so that I may not cut you off.\r\n\t\t\t See, I have refined you, but not like silver; I have tested you in the furnace of adversity. \r\n\t\t\t For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it, for why should my name be profaned? My glory I will not give to another. \r\n\t\t\t Listen to me, O Jacob, and Israel, whom I called: I am He; I am the first, and I am the last.\r\n\t\t\t My hand laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand spread out the heavens; when I summon them, they stand at attention.\r\n\t\t\t Assemble, all of you, and hear! Who among them has declared these things? The LORD loves him; he shall perform his purpose on Babylon, and his arm shall be against the Chaldeans.\r\n\t\t\t I, even I, have spoken and called him, I have brought him, and he will prosper in his way.\r\n\t\t\t Draw near to me, hear this! From the beginning I have not spoken in secret, from the time it came to be I have been there. And now the Lord GOD has sent me and his spirit.\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: I am the LORD your God, who teaches you for your own good, who leads you in the way you should go.\r\n\t\t\t O that you had paid attention to my commandments! Then your prosperity would have been like a river, and your success like the waves of the sea;\r\n\t\t\t your offspring would have been like the sand, and your descendants like its grains; their name would never be cut off or destroyed from before me.\r\n\t\t\t Go out from Babylon, flee from Chaldea, declare this with a shout of joy, proclaim it, send it forth to the end of the earth; say, \"The LORD has redeemed his servant Jacob!\"\r\n\t\t\t They did not thirst when he led them through the deserts; he made water flow for them from the rock; he split open the rock and the water gushed out.\r\n\t\t\t \"There is no peace,\" says the LORD, \"for the wicked.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Listen to me, O coastlands, pay attention, you peoples from far away! The LORD called me before I was born, while I was in my mother's womb he named me.\r\n\t\t\t He made my mouth like a sharp sword, in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me a polished arrow, in his quiver he hid me away.\r\n\t\t\t And he said to me, \"You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified.\"\r\n\t\t\t But I said, \"I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity; yet surely my cause is with the LORD, and my reward with my God.\"\r\n\t\t\t And now the LORD says, who formed me in the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him, and that Israel might be gathered to him, for I am honored in the sight of the LORD, and my God has become my strength--\r\n\t\t\t he says, \"It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the survivors of Israel; I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.\"\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel and his Holy One, to one deeply despised, abhorred by the nations, the slave of rulers, \"Kings shall see and stand up, princes, and they shall prostrate themselves, because of the LORD, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.\"\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD: In a time of favor I have answered you, on a day of salvation I have helped you; I have kept you and given you as a covenant to the people, to establish the land, to apportion the desolate heritages; \r\n\t\t\t saying to the prisoners, \"Come out,\" to those who are in darkness, \"Show yourselves.\" They shall feed along the ways, on all the bare heights shall be their pasture; \r\n\t\t\t they shall not hunger or thirst, neither scorching wind nor sun shall strike them down, for he who has pity on them will lead them, and by springs of water will guide them.\r\n\t\t\t And I will turn all my mountains into a road, and my highways shall be raised up.\r\n\t\t\t Lo, these shall come from far away, and lo, these from the north and from the west, and these from the land of Syene. \r\n\t\t\t Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth; break forth, O mountains, into singing! For the LORD has comforted his people, and will have compassion on his suffering ones.\r\n\t\t\t But Zion said, \"The LORD has forsaken me, my Lord has forgotten me.\"\r\n\t\t\t Can a woman forget her nursing child, or show no compassion for the child of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you.\r\n\t\t\t See, I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me.\r\n\t\t\t Your builders outdo your destroyers, and those who laid you waste go away from you. \r\n\t\t\t Lift up your eyes all around and see; they all gather, they come to you. As I live, says the LORD, you shall put all of them on like an ornament, and like a bride you shall bind them on.\r\n\t\t\t Surely your waste and your desolate places and your devastated land-- surely now you will be too crowded for your inhabitants, and those who swallowed you up will be far away.\r\n\t\t\t The children born in the time of your bereavement will yet say in your hearing: \"The place is too crowded for me; make room for me to settle.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then you will say in your heart, \"Who has borne me these? I was bereaved and barren, exiled and put away-- so who has reared these? I was left all alone-- where then have these come from?\"\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the Lord GOD: I will soon lift up my hand to the nations, and raise my signal to the peoples; and they shall bring your sons in their bosom, and your daughters shall be carried on their shoulders.\r\n\t\t\t Kings shall be your foster fathers, and their queens your nursing mothers. With their faces to the ground they shall bow down to you, and lick the dust of your feet. Then you will know that I am the LORD; those who wait for me shall not be put to shame.\r\n\t\t\t Can the prey be taken from the mighty, or the captives of a tyrant be rescued? \r\n\t\t\t But thus says the LORD: Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken, and the prey of the tyrant be rescued; for I will contend with those who contend with you, and I will save your children.\r\n\t\t\t I will make your oppressors eat their own flesh, and they shall be drunk with their own blood as with wine. Then all flesh shall know that I am the LORD your Savior, and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD: Where is your mother's bill of divorce with which I put her away? Or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? No, because of your sins you were sold, and for your transgressions your mother was put away.\r\n\t\t\t Why was no one there when I came? Why did no one answer when I called? Is my hand shortened, that it cannot redeem? Or have I no power to deliver? By my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a desert; their fish stink for lack of water, and die of thirst. \r\n\t\t\t I clothe the heavens with blackness, and make sackcloth their covering.\r\n\t\t\t The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of a teacher, that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word. Morning by morning he wakens-- wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught.\r\n\t\t\t The Lord GOD has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I did not turn backward.\r\n\t\t\t I gave my back to those who struck me, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard; I did not hide my face from insult and spitting.\r\n\t\t\t The Lord GOD helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame;\r\n\t\t\t he who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who are my adversaries? Let them confront me.\r\n\t\t\t It is the Lord GOD who helps me; who will declare me guilty? All of them will wear out like a garment; the moth will eat them up.\r\n\t\t\t Who among you fears the LORD and obeys the voice of his servant, who walks in darkness and has no light, yet trusts in the name of the LORD and relies upon his God?\r\n\t\t\t But all of you are kindlers of fire, lighters of firebrands. Walk in the flame of your fire, and among the brands that you have kindled! This is what you shall have from my hand: you shall lie down in torment. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Listen to me, you that pursue righteousness, you that seek the LORD. Look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the quarry from which you were dug.\r\n\t\t\t Look to Abraham your father and to Sarah who bore you; for he was but one when I called him, but I blessed him and made him many.\r\n\t\t\t For the LORD will comfort Zion; he will comfort all her waste places, and will make her wilderness like Eden, her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the voice of song.\r\n\t\t\t Listen to me, my people, and give heed to me, my nation; for a teaching will go out from me, and my justice for a light to the peoples.\r\n\t\t\t I will bring near my deliverance swiftly, my salvation has gone out and my arms will rule the peoples; the coastlands wait for me, and for my arm they hope.\r\n\t\t\t Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look at the earth beneath; for the heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment, and those who live on it will die like gnats; but my salvation will be forever, and my deliverance will never be ended. \r\n\t\t\t Listen to me, you who know righteousness, you people who have my teaching in your hearts; do not fear the reproach of others, and do not be dismayed when they revile you.\r\n\t\t\t For the moth will eat them up like a garment, and the worm will eat them like wool; but my deliverance will be forever, and my salvation to all generations.\r\n\t\t\t Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD! Awake, as in days of old, the generations of long ago! Was it not you who cut Rahab in pieces, who pierced the dragon?\r\n\t\t\t Was it not you who dried up the sea, the waters of the great deep; who made the depths of the sea a way for the redeemed to cross over?\r\n\t\t\t So the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.\r\n\t\t\t I, I am he who comforts you; why then are you afraid of a mere mortal who must die, a human being who fades like grass?\r\n\t\t\t You have forgotten the LORD, your Maker, who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth. You fear continually all day long because of the fury of the oppressor, who is bent on destruction. But where is the fury of the oppressor?\r\n\t\t\t The oppressed shall speedily be released; they shall not die and go down to the Pit, nor shall they lack bread.\r\n\t\t\t For I am the LORD your God, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar-- the LORD of hosts is his name.\r\n\t\t\t I have put my words in your mouth, and hidden you in the shadow of my hand, stretching out the heavens and laying the foundations of the earth, and saying to Zion, \"You are my people.\" \r\n\t\t\t Rouse yourself, rouse yourself! Stand up, O Jerusalem, you who have drunk at the hand of the LORD the cup of his wrath, who have drunk to the dregs the bowl of staggering.\r\n\t\t\t There is no one to guide her among all the children she has borne; there is no one to take her by the hand among all the children she has brought up.\r\n\t\t\t These two things have befallen you-- who will grieve with you?-- devastation and destruction, famine and sword-- who will comfort you?\r\n\t\t\t Your children have fainted, they lie at the head of every street like an antelope in a net; they are full of the wrath of the LORD, the rebuke of your God.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore hear this, you who are wounded, who are drunk, but not with wine: \r\n\t\t\t Thus says your Sovereign, the LORD, your God who pleads the cause of his people: See, I have taken from your hand the cup of staggering; you shall drink no more from the bowl of my wrath.\r\n\t\t\t And I will put it into the hand of your tormentors, who have said to you, \"Bow down, that we may walk on you\"; and you have made your back like the ground and like the street for them to walk on.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Awake, awake, put on your strength, O Zion! Put on your beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city; for the uncircumcised and the unclean shall enter you no more.\r\n\t\t\t Shake yourself from the dust, rise up, O captive Jerusalem; loose the bonds from your neck, O captive daughter Zion! \r\n\t\t\t For thus says the LORD: You were sold for nothing, and you shall be redeemed without money.\r\n\t\t\t For thus says the Lord GOD: Long ago, my people went down into Egypt to reside there as aliens; the Assyrian, too, has oppressed them without cause.\r\n\t\t\t Now therefore what am I doing here, says the LORD, seeing that my people are taken away without cause? Their rulers howl, says the LORD, and continually, all day long, my name is despised.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore my people shall know my name; therefore in that day they shall know that it is I who speak; here am I.\r\n\t\t\t How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, who brings good news, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, \"Your God reigns.\"\r\n\t\t\t Listen! Your sentinels lift up their voices, together they sing for joy; for in plain sight they see the return of the LORD to Zion.\r\n\t\t\t Break forth together into singing, you ruins of Jerusalem; for the LORD has comforted his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.\r\n\t\t\t Depart, depart, go out from there! Touch no unclean thing; go out from the midst of it, purify yourselves, you who carry the vessels of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t For you shall not go out in haste, and you shall not go in flight; for the LORD will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard.\r\n\t\t\t See, my servant shall prosper; he shall be exalted and lifted up, and shall be very high.\r\n\t\t\t Just as there were many who were astonished at him-- so marred was his appearance, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of mortals--\r\n\t\t\t so he shall startle many nations; kings shall shut their mouths because of him; for that which had not been told them they shall see, and that which they had not heard they shall contemplate. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Who has believed what we have heard? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?\r\n\t\t\t For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.\r\n\t\t\t He was despised and rejected by others; a man of suffering and acquainted with infirmity; and as one from whom others hide their faces he was despised, and we held him of no account. \r\n\t\t\t Surely he has borne our infirmities and carried our diseases; yet we accounted him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted.\r\n\t\t\t But he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed.\r\n\t\t\t All we like sheep have gone astray; we have all turned to our own way, and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.\r\n\t\t\t He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.\r\n\t\t\t By a perversion of justice he was taken away. Who could have imagined his future? For he was cut off from the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people.\r\n\t\t\t They made his grave with the wicked and his tomb with the rich, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. \r\n\t\t\t Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him with pain. When you make his life an offering for sin, he shall see his offspring, and shall prolong his days; through him the will of the LORD shall prosper. \r\n\t\t\t Out of his anguish he shall see light; he shall find satisfaction through his knowledge. The righteous one, my servant, shall make many righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. \r\n\t\t\t Therefore I will allot him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he poured out himself to death, and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Sing, O barren one who did not bear; burst into song and shout, you who have not been in labor! For the children of the desolate woman will be more than the children of her that is married, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Enlarge the site of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes.\r\n\t\t\t For you will spread out to the right and to the left, and your descendants will possess the nations and will settle the desolate towns.\r\n\t\t\t Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed; do not be discouraged, for you will not suffer disgrace; for you will forget the shame of your youth, and the disgrace of your widowhood you will remember no more.\r\n\t\t\t For your Maker is your husband, the LORD of hosts is his name; the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth he is called.\r\n\t\t\t For the LORD has called you like a wife forsaken and grieved in spirit, like the wife of a man's youth when she is cast off, says your God.\r\n\t\t\t For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with great compassion I will gather you.\r\n\t\t\t In overflowing wrath for a moment I hid my face from you, but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you, says the LORD, your Redeemer.\r\n\t\t\t This is like the days of Noah to me: Just as I swore that the waters of Noah would never again go over the earth, so I have sworn that I will not be angry with you and will not rebuke you.\r\n\t\t\t For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed, says the LORD, who has compassion on you.\r\n\t\t\t O afflicted one, storm-tossed, and not comforted, I am about to set your stones in antimony, and lay your foundations with sapphires. \r\n\t\t\t I will make your pinnacles of rubies, your gates of jewels, and all your wall of precious stones.\r\n\t\t\t All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the prosperity of your children.\r\n\t\t\t In righteousness you shall be established; you shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; and from terror, for it shall not come near you.\r\n\t\t\t If anyone stirs up strife, it is not from me; whoever stirs up strife with you shall fall because of you.\r\n\t\t\t See it is I who have created the smith who blows the fire of coals, and produces a weapon fit for its purpose; I have also created the ravager to destroy.\r\n\t\t\t No weapon that is fashioned against you shall prosper, and you shall confute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD and their vindication from me, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you that have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.\r\n\t\t\t Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.\r\n\t\t\t Incline your ear, and come to me; listen, so that you may live. I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David.\r\n\t\t\t See, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples.\r\n\t\t\t See, you shall call nations that you do not know, and nations that do not know you shall run to you, because of the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has glorified you.\r\n\t\t\t Seek the LORD while he may be found, call upon him while he is near;\r\n\t\t\t let the wicked forsake their way, and the unrighteous their thoughts; let them return to the LORD, that he may have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.\r\n\t\t\t For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.\r\n\t\t\t For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there until they have watered the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,\r\n\t\t\t so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.\r\n\t\t\t For you shall go out in joy, and be led back in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall burst into song, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.\r\n\t\t\t Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress; instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle; and it shall be to the LORD for a memorial, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD: Maintain justice, and do what is right, for soon my salvation will come, and my deliverance be revealed.\r\n\t\t\t Happy is the mortal who does this, the one who holds it fast, who keeps the sabbath, not profaning it, and refrains from doing any evil.\r\n\t\t\t Do not let the foreigner joined to the LORD say, \"The LORD will surely separate me from his people\"; and do not let the eunuch say, \"I am just a dry tree.\"\r\n\t\t\t For thus says the LORD: To the eunuchs who keep my sabbaths, who choose the things that please me and hold fast my covenant,\r\n\t\t\t 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 shall not be cut off.\r\n\t\t\t And the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD, to minister to him, to love the name of the LORD, and to be his servants, all who keep the sabbath, and do not profane it, and hold fast my covenant--\r\n\t\t\t these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the Lord GOD, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, I will gather others to them besides those already gathered. \r\n\t\t\t All you wild animals, all you wild animals in the forest, come to devour!\r\n\t\t\t Israel's sentinels are blind, they are all without knowledge; they are all silent dogs that cannot bark; dreaming, lying down, loving to slumber. \r\n\t\t\t The dogs have a mighty appetite; they never have enough. The shepherds also have no understanding; they have all turned to their own way, to their own gain, one and all.\r\n\t\t\t \"Come,\" they say, \"let us get wine; let us fill ourselves with strong drink. And tomorrow will be like today, great beyond measure.\" \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The righteous perish, and no one takes it to heart; the devout are taken away, while no one understands. For the righteous are taken away from calamity,\r\n\t\t\t and they enter into peace; those who walk uprightly will rest on their couches.\r\n\t\t\t But as for you, come here, you children of a sorceress, you offspring of an adulterer and a whore. \r\n\t\t\t Whom are you mocking? Against whom do you open your mouth wide and stick out your tongue? Are you not children of transgression, the offspring of deceit--\r\n\t\t\t you that burn with lust among the oaks, under every green tree; you that slaughter your children in the valleys, under the clefts of the rocks?\r\n\t\t\t Among the smooth stones of the valley is your portion; they, they, are your lot; to them you have poured out a drink offering, you have brought a grain offering. Shall I be appeased for these things?\r\n\t\t\t Upon a high and lofty mountain you have set your bed, and there you went up to offer sacrifice.\r\n\t\t\t Behind the door and the doorpost you have set up your symbol; for, in deserting me, you have uncovered your bed, you have gone up to it, you have made it wide; and you have made a bargain for yourself with them, you have loved their bed, you have gazed on their nakedness. \r\n\t\t\t You journeyed to Molech with oil, and multiplied your perfumes; you sent your envoys far away, and sent down even to Sheol. \r\n\t\t\t You grew weary from your many wanderings, but you did not say, \"It is useless.\" You found your desire rekindled, and so you did not weaken.\r\n\t\t\t Whom did you dread and fear so that you lied, and did not remember me or give me a thought? Have I not kept silent and closed my eyes, and so you do not fear me? \r\n\t\t\t I will concede your righteousness and your works, but they will not help you.\r\n\t\t\t When you cry out, let your collection of idols deliver you! The wind will carry them off, a breath will take them away. But whoever takes refuge in me shall possess the land and inherit my holy mountain.\r\n\t\t\t It shall be said, \"Build up, build up, prepare the way, remove every obstruction from my people's way.\"\r\n\t\t\t For thus says the high and lofty one who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with those who are contrite and humble in spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite.\r\n\t\t\t For I will not continually accuse, nor will I always be angry; for then the spirits would grow faint before me, even the souls that I have made.\r\n\t\t\t Because of their wicked covetousness I was angry; I struck them, I hid and was angry; but they kept turning back to their own ways.\r\n\t\t\t I have seen their ways, but I will heal them; I will lead them and repay them with comfort, creating for their mourners the fruit of the lips.\r\n\t\t\t Peace, peace, to the far and the near, says the LORD; and I will heal them.\r\n\t\t\t But the wicked are like the tossing sea that cannot keep still; its waters toss up mire and mud.\r\n\t\t\t There is no peace, says my God, for the wicked.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Shout out, do not hold back! Lift up your voice like a trumpet! Announce to my people their rebellion, to the house of Jacob their sins.\r\n\t\t\t Yet day after day they seek me and delight to know my ways, as if they were a nation that practiced righteousness and did not forsake the ordinance of their God; they ask of me righteous judgments, they delight to draw near to God.\r\n\t\t\t \"Why do we fast, but you do not see? Why humble ourselves, but you do not notice?\" Look, you serve your own interest on your fast day, and oppress all your workers.\r\n\t\t\t Look, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to strike with a wicked fist. Such fasting as you do today will not make your voice heard on high.\r\n\t\t\t Is such the fast that I choose, a day to humble oneself? Is it to bow down the head like a bulrush, and to lie in sackcloth and ashes? Will you call this a fast, a day acceptable to the LORD?\r\n\t\t\t Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?\r\n\t\t\t Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin?\r\n\t\t\t Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly; your vindicator shall go before you, the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. \r\n\t\t\t Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry for help, and he will say, Here I am. If you remove the yoke from among you, the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil,\r\n\t\t\t if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD will guide you continually, and satisfy your needs in parched places, and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters never fail.\r\n\t\t\t Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in.\r\n\t\t\t If you refrain from trampling the sabbath, from pursuing your own interests on my holy day; if you call the sabbath a delight and the holy day of the LORD honorable; if you honor it, not going your own ways, serving your own interests, or pursuing your own affairs; \r\n\t\t\t then you shall take delight in the LORD, and I will make you ride upon the heights of the earth; I will feed you with the heritage of your ancestor Jacob, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t See, the LORD's hand is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear.\r\n\t\t\t Rather, your iniquities have been barriers between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.\r\n\t\t\t For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue mutters wickedness.\r\n\t\t\t No one brings suit justly, no one goes to law honestly; they rely on empty pleas, they speak lies, conceiving mischief and begetting iniquity.\r\n\t\t\t They hatch adders' eggs, and weave the spider's web; whoever eats their eggs dies, and the crushed egg hatches out a viper.\r\n\t\t\t Their webs cannot serve as clothing; they cannot cover themselves with what they make. Their works are works of iniquity, and deeds of violence are in their hands.\r\n\t\t\t Their feet run to evil, and they rush to shed innocent blood; their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity, desolation and destruction are in their highways.\r\n\t\t\t The way of peace they do not know, and there is no justice in their paths. Their roads they have made crooked; no one who walks in them knows peace.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore justice is far from us, and righteousness does not reach us; we wait for light, and lo! there is darkness; and for brightness, but we walk in gloom.\r\n\t\t\t We grope like the blind along a wall, groping like those who have no eyes; we stumble at noon as in the twilight, among the vigorous as though we were dead.\r\n\t\t\t We all growl like bears; like doves we moan mournfully. We wait for justice, but there is none; for salvation, but it is far from us.\r\n\t\t\t For our transgressions before you are many, and our sins testify against us. Our transgressions indeed are with us, and we know our iniquities:\r\n\t\t\t transgressing, and denying the LORD, and turning away from following our God, talking oppression and revolt, conceiving lying words and uttering them from the heart.\r\n\t\t\t Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands at a distance; for truth stumbles in the public square, and uprightness cannot enter.\r\n\t\t\t Truth is lacking, and whoever turns from evil is despoiled. The LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no justice.\r\n\t\t\t He 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 righteousness upheld him.\r\n\t\t\t He 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 as in a mantle.\r\n\t\t\t According to their deeds, so will he repay; wrath to his adversaries, requital to his enemies; to the coastlands he will render requital.\r\n\t\t\t So those in the west shall fear the name of the LORD, and those in the east, his glory; for he will come like a pent-up stream that the wind of the LORD drives on.\r\n\t\t\t And he will come to Zion as Redeemer, to those in Jacob who turn from transgression, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t And as for me, this is my covenant with them, says the LORD: my spirit that is upon you, and my words that I have put in your mouth, shall not depart out of your mouth, or out of the mouths of your children, or out of the mouths of your children's children, says the LORD, from now on and forever.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.\r\n\t\t\t For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you.\r\n\t\t\t Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.\r\n\t\t\t Lift up your eyes and look around; they all gather together, they come to you; your sons shall come from far away, and your daughters shall be carried on their nurses' arms.\r\n\t\t\t Then you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and rejoice, because the abundance of the sea shall be brought to you, the wealth of the nations shall come to you. \r\n\t\t\t A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall proclaim the praise of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered to you, the rams of Nebaioth shall minister to you; they shall be acceptable on my altar, and I will glorify my glorious house.\r\n\t\t\t Who are these that fly like a cloud, and like doves to their windows?\r\n\t\t\t For the coastlands shall wait for me, the ships of Tarshish first, to bring your children from far away, their silver and gold with them, for the name of the LORD your God, and for the Holy One of Israel, because he has glorified you.\r\n\t\t\t Foreigners shall build up your walls, and their kings shall minister to you; for in my wrath I struck you down, but in my favor I have had mercy on you.\r\n\t\t\t Your gates shall always be open; day and night they shall not be shut, so that nations shall bring you their wealth, with their kings led in procession.\r\n\t\t\t For the nation and kingdom that will not serve you shall perish; those nations shall be utterly laid waste.\r\n\t\t\t The glory of Lebanon shall come to you, the cypress, the plane, and the pine, to beautify the place of my sanctuary; and I will glorify where my feet rest.\r\n\t\t\t The descendants of those who oppressed you shall come bending low to you, and all who despised you shall bow down at your feet; they shall call you the City of the LORD, the Zion of the Holy One of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t Whereas you have been forsaken and hated, with no one passing through, I will make you majestic forever, a joy from age to age.\r\n\t\t\t You shall suck the milk of nations, you shall suck the breasts of kings; and you shall know that I, the LORD, am your Savior and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.\r\n\t\t\t Instead of bronze I will bring gold, instead of iron I will bring silver; instead of wood, bronze, instead of stones, iron. I will appoint Peace as your overseer and Righteousness as your taskmaster.\r\n\t\t\t Violence shall no more be heard in your land, devastation or destruction within your borders; you shall call your walls Salvation, and your gates Praise.\r\n\t\t\t The sun shall no longer be your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give light to you by night; but the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. \r\n\t\t\t Your sun shall no more go down, or your moon withdraw itself; for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your days of mourning shall be ended.\r\n\t\t\t Your people shall all be righteous; they shall possess the land forever. They are the shoot that I planted, the work of my hands, so that I might be glorified.\r\n\t\t\t The least of them shall become a clan, and the smallest one a mighty nation; I am the LORD; in its time I will accomplish it quickly.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners;\r\n\t\t\t to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn;\r\n\t\t\t to provide for those who mourn in Zion-- to give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit. They will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, to display his glory.\r\n\t\t\t They shall build up the ancient ruins, they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.\r\n\t\t\t Strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, foreigners shall till your land and dress your vines;\r\n\t\t\t but you shall be called priests of the LORD, you shall be named ministers of our God; you shall enjoy the wealth of the nations, and in their riches you shall glory.\r\n\t\t\t Because their shame was double, and dishonor was proclaimed as their lot, therefore they shall possess a double portion; everlasting joy shall be theirs. \r\n\t\t\t For I the LORD love justice, I hate robbery and wrongdoing; I will faithfully give them their recompense, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them. \r\n\t\t\t Their descendants shall be known among the nations, and their offspring among the peoples; all who see them shall acknowledge that they are a people whom the LORD has blessed.\r\n\t\t\t I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my whole being shall exult in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.\r\n\t\t\t For as the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t For Zion's sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until her vindication shines out like the dawn, and her salvation like a burning torch.\r\n\t\t\t The nations shall see your vindication, and all the kings your glory; and you shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the LORD will give.\r\n\t\t\t You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.\r\n\t\t\t You shall no more be termed Forsaken, and your land shall no more be termed Desolate; but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her, and your land Married; for the LORD delights in you, and your land shall be married. \r\n\t\t\t For as a young man marries a young woman, so shall your builder marry you, and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you. \r\n\t\t\t Upon your walls, O Jerusalem, I have posted sentinels; all day and all night they shall never be silent. You who remind the LORD, take no rest,\r\n\t\t\t and give him no rest until he establishes Jerusalem and makes it renowned throughout the earth.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD has sworn by his right hand and by his mighty arm: I will not again give your grain to be food for your enemies, and foreigners shall not drink the wine for which you have labored;\r\n\t\t\t but those who garner it shall eat it and praise the LORD, and those who gather it shall drink it in my holy courts.\r\n\t\t\t Go through, go through the gates, prepare the way for the people; build up, build up the highway, clear it of stones, lift up an ensign over the peoples.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD has proclaimed to the end of the earth: Say to daughter Zion, \"See, your salvation comes; his reward is with him, and his recompense before him.\"\r\n\t\t\t They shall be called, \"The Holy People, The Redeemed of the LORD\"; and you shall be called, \"Sought Out, A City Not Forsaken.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t \"Who is this that comes from Edom, from Bozrah in garments stained crimson? Who is this so splendidly robed, marching in his great might?\" \"It is I, announcing vindication, mighty to save.\"\r\n\t\t\t \"Why are your robes red, and your garments like theirs who tread the wine press?\"\r\n\t\t\t \"I have trodden the wine press alone, and from the peoples no one was with me; I trod them in my anger and trampled them in my wrath; their juice spattered on my garments, and stained all my robes.\r\n\t\t\t For the day of vengeance was in my heart, and the year for my redeeming work had come.\r\n\t\t\t I looked, but there was no helper; I stared, but there was no one to sustain me; so my own arm brought me victory, and my wrath sustained me.\r\n\t\t\t I trampled down peoples in my anger, I crushed them in my wrath, and I poured out their lifeblood on the earth.\"\r\n\t\t\t I will recount the gracious deeds of the LORD, the praiseworthy acts of the LORD, because of all that the LORD has done for us, and the great favor to the house of Israel that he has shown them according to his mercy, according to the abundance of his steadfast love.\r\n\t\t\t For he said, \"Surely they are my people, children who will not deal falsely\"; and he became their savior\r\n\t\t\t in all their distress. It was no messenger or angel but his presence that saved them; in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old. \r\n\t\t\t But they rebelled and grieved his holy spirit; therefore he became their enemy; he himself fought against them.\r\n\t\t\t Then they remembered the days of old, of Moses his servant. Where is the one who brought them up out of the sea with the shepherds of his flock? Where is the one who put within them his holy spirit, \r\n\t\t\t who caused his glorious arm to march at the right hand of Moses, who divided the waters before them to make for himself an everlasting name,\r\n\t\t\t who led them through the depths? Like a horse in the desert, they did not stumble.\r\n\t\t\t Like cattle that go down into the valley, the spirit of the LORD gave them rest. Thus you led your people, to make for yourself a glorious name.\r\n\t\t\t Look down from heaven and see, from your holy and glorious habitation. Where are your zeal and your might? The yearning of your heart and your compassion? They are withheld from me.\r\n\t\t\t For you are our father, though Abraham does not know us and Israel does not acknowledge us; you, O LORD, are our father; our Redeemer from of old is your name.\r\n\t\t\t Why, O LORD, do you make us stray from your ways and harden our heart, 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.\r\n\t\t\t Your holy people took possession for a little while; but now our adversaries have trampled down your sanctuary.\r\n\t\t\t We have long been like those whom you do not rule, like those not called by your name.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t O that you would tear open the heavens and come down, so that the mountains would quake at your presence--\r\n\t\t\t as when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil-- to make your name known to your adversaries, so that the nations might tremble at your presence!\r\n\t\t\t When you did awesome deeds that we did not expect, you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence.\r\n\t\t\t From ages past no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who works for those who wait for him.\r\n\t\t\t You meet those who gladly do right, those who remember you in your ways. But you were angry, and we sinned; because you hid yourself we transgressed. \r\n\t\t\t We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy cloth. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.\r\n\t\t\t There is no one who calls on your name, or attempts to take hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us, and have delivered us into the hand of our iniquity. \r\n\t\t\t Yet, O LORD, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.\r\n\t\t\t Do not be exceedingly angry, O LORD, and do not remember iniquity forever. Now consider, we are all your people.\r\n\t\t\t Your holy cities have become a wilderness, Zion has become a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation.\r\n\t\t\t Our holy and beautiful house, where our ancestors praised you, has been burned by fire, and all our pleasant places have become ruins.\r\n\t\t\t After all this, will you restrain yourself, O LORD? Will you keep silent, and punish us so severely?\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t I was ready to be sought out by those who did not ask, to be found by those who did not seek me. I said, \"Here I am, here I am,\" to a nation that did not call on my name.\r\n\t\t\t I held out my hands all day long to a rebellious people, who walk in a way that is not good, following their own devices;\r\n\t\t\t a people who provoke me to my face continually, sacrificing in gardens and offering incense on bricks;\r\n\t\t\t who sit inside tombs, and spend the night in secret places; who eat swine's flesh, with broth of abominable things in their vessels;\r\n\t\t\t who say, \"Keep to yourself, do not come near me, for I am too holy for you.\" These are a smoke in my nostrils, a fire that burns all day long.\r\n\t\t\t See, it is written before me: I will not keep silent, but I will repay; I will indeed repay into their laps\r\n\t\t\t their iniquities and their ancestors' iniquities together, says the LORD; because they offered incense on the mountains and reviled me on the hills, I will measure into their laps full payment for their actions. \r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD: As the wine is found in the cluster, and they say, \"Do not destroy it, for there is a blessing in it,\" so I will do for my servants' sake, and not destroy them all.\r\n\t\t\t I will bring forth descendants from Jacob, and from Judah inheritors of my mountains; my chosen shall inherit it, and my servants shall settle there. \r\n\t\t\t Sharon shall become a pasture for flocks, and the Valley of Achor a place for herds to lie down, for my people who have sought me.\r\n\t\t\t But you who forsake the LORD, who forget my holy mountain, who set a table for Fortune and fill cups of mixed wine for Destiny;\r\n\t\t\t I will destine you to the sword, and all of you shall bow down to the slaughter; because, when I called, you did not answer, when I spoke, you did not listen, but you did what was evil in my sight, and chose what I did not delight in.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: My servants shall eat, but you shall be hungry; my servants shall drink, but you shall be thirsty; my servants shall rejoice, but you shall be put to shame;\r\n\t\t\t my servants shall sing for gladness of heart, but you shall cry out for pain of heart, and shall wail for anguish of spirit.\r\n\t\t\t You shall leave your name to my chosen to use as a curse, and the Lord GOD will put you to death; but to his servants he will give a different name.\r\n\t\t\t Then whoever invokes a blessing in the land shall bless by the God of faithfulness, and whoever takes an oath in the land shall swear by the God of faithfulness; because the former troubles are forgotten and are hidden from my sight.\r\n\t\t\t For I am about to create new heavens and a new earth; the former things shall not be remembered or come to mind.\r\n\t\t\t But 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.\r\n\t\t\t I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and delight in my people; no more shall the sound of weeping be heard in it, or the cry of distress.\r\n\t\t\t No more shall there be in it an infant that lives but a few days, or an old person who does not live out a lifetime; for one who dies at a hundred years will be considered a youth, and one who falls short of a hundred will be considered accursed.\r\n\t\t\t They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit.\r\n\t\t\t They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat; for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be, and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands.\r\n\t\t\t They shall not labor in vain, or bear children for calamity; for they shall be offspring blessed by the LORD-- and their descendants as well.\r\n\t\t\t Before they call I will answer, while they are yet speaking I will hear.\r\n\t\t\t The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, the lion shall eat straw like the ox; but the serpent-- its food shall be dust! They shall not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD: Heaven is my throne and the earth is my footstool; what is the house that you would build for me, and what is my resting place?\r\n\t\t\t All these things my hand has made, and so all these things are mine, says the LORD. But this is the one to whom I will look, to the humble and contrite in spirit, who trembles at my word.\r\n\t\t\t Whoever slaughters an ox is like one who kills a human being; whoever sacrifices a lamb, like one who breaks a dog's neck; whoever presents a grain offering, like one who offers swine's blood; whoever makes a memorial offering of frankincense, like one who blesses an idol. These have chosen their own ways, and in their abominations they take delight; \r\n\t\t\t I also will choose to mock them, and bring upon them what they fear; because, when I called, no one answered, when I spoke, they did not listen; but they did what was evil in my sight, and chose what did not please me. \r\n\t\t\t Hear the word of the LORD, you who tremble at his word: Your own people who hate you and reject you for my name's sake have said, \"Let the LORD be glorified, so that we may see your joy\"; but it is they who shall be put to shame.\r\n\t\t\t Listen, an uproar from the city! A voice from the temple! The voice of the LORD, dealing retribution to his enemies!\r\n\t\t\t Before she was in labor she gave birth; before her pain came upon her she delivered a son.\r\n\t\t\t Who has heard of such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall a land be born in one day? Shall a nation be delivered in one moment? Yet as soon as Zion was in labor she delivered her children.\r\n\t\t\t Shall I open the womb and not deliver? says the LORD; shall I, the one who delivers, shut the womb? says your God.\r\n\t\t\t Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad for her, all you who love her; rejoice with her in joy, all you who mourn over her--\r\n\t\t\t that you may nurse and be satisfied from her consoling breast; that you may drink deeply with delight from her glorious bosom.\r\n\t\t\t For thus says the LORD: I will extend prosperity to her like a river, and the wealth of the nations like an overflowing stream; and you shall nurse and be carried on her arm, and dandled on her knees.\r\n\t\t\t As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you; you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t You shall see, and your heart shall rejoice; your bodies shall flourish like the grass; and it shall be known that the hand of the LORD is with his servants, and his indignation is against his enemies. \r\n\t\t\t For the LORD will come in fire, and his chariots like the whirlwind, to pay back his anger in fury, and his rebuke in flames of fire.\r\n\t\t\t For by fire will the LORD execute judgment, and by his sword, on all flesh; and those slain by the LORD shall be many.\r\n\t\t\t Those who sanctify and purify themselves to go into the gardens, following the one in the center, eating the flesh of pigs, vermin, and rodents, shall come to an end together, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t For I know their works and their thoughts, and I am coming to gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come and shall see my glory, \r\n\t\t\t and I will set a sign among them. From them I will send survivors to the nations, to Tarshish, Put, and Lud-- which draw the bow-- to Tubal and Javan, to the coastlands far away that have not heard of my fame or seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the nations.\r\n\t\t\t They shall bring all your kindred from all the nations as an offering to the LORD, on horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and on mules, and on dromedaries, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, says the LORD, just as the Israelites bring a grain offering in a clean vessel to the house of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t And I will also take some of them as priests and as Levites, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, says the LORD; so shall your descendants and your name remain.\r\n\t\t\t From new moon to new moon, and from sabbath to sabbath, all flesh shall come to worship before me, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t And they shall go out and look at the dead bodies of the people who have rebelled against me; for their worm shall not die, their fire shall not be quenched, and they shall be an abhorrence to all flesh.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, of the priests who were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin,\r\n\t\t\t to whom the word of the LORD came in the days of King Josiah son of Amon of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign.\r\n\t\t\t It came also in the days of King Jehoiakim son of Josiah of Judah, and until the end of the eleventh year of King Zedekiah son of Josiah of Judah, until the captivity of Jerusalem in the fifth month.\r\n\t\t\t Now the word of the LORD came to me saying,\r\n\t\t\t \"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then I said, \"Ah, Lord GOD! Truly I do not know how to speak, for I am only a boy.\"\r\n\t\t\t But the LORD said to me, \"Do not say, 'I am only a boy'; for you shall go to all to whom I send you, and you shall speak whatever I command you.\r\n\t\t\t Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, says the LORD.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD put out his hand and touched my mouth; and the LORD said to me, \"Now I have put my words in your mouth.\r\n\t\t\t See, today I appoint you over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to pull down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.\"\r\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD came to me, saying, \"Jeremiah, what do you see?\" And I said, \"I see a branch of an almond tree.\" \r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD said to me, \"You have seen well, for I am watching over my word to perform it.\" \r\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD came to me a second time, saying, \"What do you see?\" And I said, \"I see a boiling pot, tilted away from the north.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD said to me: Out of the north disaster shall break out on all the inhabitants of the land.\r\n\t\t\t For now I am calling all the tribes of the kingdoms of the north, says the LORD; and they shall come and all of them shall set their thrones at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem, against all its surrounding walls and against all the cities of Judah.\r\n\t\t\t And I will utter my judgments against them, for all their wickedness in forsaking me; they have made offerings to other gods, and worshiped the works of their own hands.\r\n\t\t\t But you, gird up your loins; stand up and tell them everything that I command you. Do not break down before them, or I will break you before them.\r\n\t\t\t And I for my part have made you today a fortified city, an iron pillar, and a bronze wall, against the whole land-- against the kings of Judah, its princes, its priests, and the people of the land.\r\n\t\t\t They will fight against you; but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you, says the LORD, to deliver you.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD came to me, saying:\r\n\t\t\t Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem, Thus says the LORD: I remember the devotion of your youth, your love as a bride, how you followed me in the wilderness, in a land not sown.\r\n\t\t\t Israel was holy to the LORD, the first fruits of his harvest. All who ate of it were held guilty; disaster came upon them, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Hear the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD: What wrong did your ancestors find in me that they went far from me, and went after worthless things, and became worthless themselves?\r\n\t\t\t They did not say, \"Where is the LORD who brought us up from the land of Egypt, who led us in the wilderness, in a land of deserts and pits, in a land of drought and deep darkness, in a land that no one passes through, where no one lives?\"\r\n\t\t\t I brought you into a plentiful land to eat its fruits and its good things. But when you entered you defiled my land, and made my heritage an abomination.\r\n\t\t\t The priests did not say, \"Where is the LORD?\" Those who handle the law did not know me; the rulers transgressed against me; the prophets prophesied by Baal, and went after things that do not profit. \r\n\t\t\t Therefore once more I accuse you, says the LORD, and I accuse your children's children.\r\n\t\t\t Cross to the coasts of Cyprus and look, send to Kedar and examine with care; see if there has ever been such a thing.\r\n\t\t\t Has a nation changed its gods, even though they are no gods? But my people have changed their glory for something that does not profit.\r\n\t\t\t Be appalled, O heavens, at this, be shocked, be utterly desolate, says the LORD,\r\n\t\t\t for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living water, and dug out cisterns for themselves, cracked cisterns that can hold no water.\r\n\t\t\t Is Israel a slave? Is he a homeborn servant? Why then has he become plunder?\r\n\t\t\t The lions have roared against him, they have roared loudly. They have made his land a waste; his cities are in ruins, without inhabitant.\r\n\t\t\t Moreover, the people of Memphis and Tahpanhes have broken the crown of your head.\r\n\t\t\t Have you not brought this upon yourself by forsaking the LORD your God, while he led you in the way?\r\n\t\t\t What then do you gain by going to Egypt, to drink the waters of the Nile? Or what do you gain by going to Assyria, to drink the waters of the Euphrates?\r\n\t\t\t Your wickedness will punish you, and your apostasies will convict you. Know and see that it is evil and bitter for you to forsake the LORD your God; the fear of me is not in you, says the Lord GOD of hosts.\r\n\t\t\t For long ago you broke your yoke and burst your bonds, and you said, \"I will not serve!\" On every high hill and under every green tree you sprawled and played the whore.\r\n\t\t\t Yet I planted you as a choice vine, from the purest stock. How then did you turn degenerate and become a wild vine?\r\n\t\t\t Though you wash yourself with lye and use much soap, the stain of your guilt is still before me, says the Lord GOD.\r\n\t\t\t How can you say, \"I am not defiled, I have not gone after the Baals\"? Look at your way in the valley; know what you have done-- a restive young camel interlacing her tracks,\r\n\t\t\t a wild ass at home in the wilderness, in her heat sniffing the wind! Who can restrain her lust? None who seek her need weary themselves; in her month they will find her.\r\n\t\t\t Keep your feet from going unshod and your throat from thirst. But you said, \"It is hopeless, for I have loved strangers, and after them I will go.\"\r\n\t\t\t As a thief is shamed when caught, so the house of Israel shall be shamed-- they, their kings, their officials, their priests, and their prophets,\r\n\t\t\t who say to a tree, \"You are my father,\" and to a stone, \"You gave me birth.\" For they have turned their backs to me, and not their faces. But in the time of their trouble they say, \"Come and save us!\"\r\n\t\t\t But where are your gods that you made for yourself? Let them come, if they can save you, in your time of trouble; for you have as many gods as you have towns, O Judah.\r\n\t\t\t Why do you complain against me? You have all rebelled against me, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t In vain I have struck down your children; they accepted no correction. Your own sword devoured your prophets like a ravening lion.\r\n\t\t\t And you, O generation, behold the word of the LORD! Have I been a wilderness to Israel, or a land of thick darkness? Why then do my people say, \"We are free, we will come to you no more\"? \r\n\t\t\t Can a girl forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? Yet my people have forgotten me, days without number.\r\n\t\t\t How well you direct your course to seek lovers! So that even to wicked women you have taught your ways.\r\n\t\t\t Also on your skirts is found the lifeblood of the innocent poor, though you did not catch them breaking in. Yet in spite of all these things\r\n\t\t\t you say, \"I am innocent; surely his anger has turned from me.\" Now I am bringing you to judgment for saying, \"I have not sinned.\"\r\n\t\t\t How lightly you gad about, changing your ways! You shall be put to shame by Egypt as you were put to shame by Assyria.\r\n\t\t\t From there also you will come away with your hands on your head; for the LORD has rejected those in whom you trust, and you will not prosper through them.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t If a man divorces his wife and she goes from him and becomes another man's wife, will he return to her? Would not such a land be greatly polluted? You have played the whore with many lovers; and would you return to me? says the LORD. \r\n\t\t\t Look up to the bare heights, and see! Where have you not been lain with? By the waysides you have sat waiting for lovers, like a nomad in the wilderness. You have polluted the land with your whoring and wickedness. \r\n\t\t\t Therefore the showers have been withheld, and the spring rain has not come; yet you have the forehead of a whore, you refuse to be ashamed.\r\n\t\t\t Have you not just now called to me, \"My Father, you are the friend of my youth--\r\n\t\t\t will he be angry forever, will he be indignant to the end?\" This is how you have spoken, but you have done all the evil that you could.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD said to me in the days of King Josiah: Have you seen what she did, that faithless one, Israel, how she went up on every high hill and under every green tree, and played the whore there?\r\n\t\t\t And I thought, \"After she has done all this she will return to me\"; but she did not return, and her false sister Judah saw it.\r\n\t\t\t She saw that for all the adulteries of that faithless one, Israel, I had sent her away with a decree of divorce; yet her false sister Judah did not fear, but she too went and played the whore.\r\n\t\t\t Because she took her whoredom so lightly, she polluted the land, committing adultery with stone and tree.\r\n\t\t\t Yet for all this her false sister Judah did not return to me with her whole heart, but only in pretense, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD said to me: Faithless Israel has shown herself less guilty than false Judah.\r\n\t\t\t Go, and proclaim these words toward the north, and say: Return, faithless Israel, says the LORD. I will not look on you in anger, for I am merciful, says the LORD; I will not be angry forever.\r\n\t\t\t Only acknowledge your guilt, that you have rebelled against the LORD your God, and scattered your favors among strangers under every green tree, and have not obeyed my voice, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Return, O faithless children, says the LORD, for I am your master; I will take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion.\r\n\t\t\t I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.\r\n\t\t\t And when you have multiplied and increased in the land, in those days, says the LORD, they shall no longer say, \"The ark of the covenant of the LORD.\" It shall not come to mind, or be remembered, or missed; nor shall another one be made.\r\n\t\t\t At that time Jerusalem shall be called the throne of the LORD, and all nations shall gather to it, to the presence of the LORD in Jerusalem, and they shall no longer stubbornly follow their own evil will.\r\n\t\t\t In those days the house of Judah shall join the house of Israel, and together they shall come from the land of the north to the land that I gave your ancestors for a heritage.\r\n\t\t\t I thought how I would set you among my children, and give you a pleasant land, the most beautiful heritage of all the nations. And I thought you would call me, My Father, and would not turn from following me.\r\n\t\t\t Instead, as a faithless wife leaves her husband, so you have been faithless to me, O house of Israel, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t A voice on the bare heights is heard, the plaintive weeping of Israel's children, because they have perverted their way, they have forgotten the LORD their God: \r\n\t\t\t Return, O faithless children, I will heal your faithlessness. \"Here we come to you; for you are the LORD our God.\r\n\t\t\t Truly the hills are a delusion, the orgies on the mountains. Truly in the LORD our God is the salvation of Israel. \r\n\t\t\t \"But from our youth the shameful thing has devoured all for which our ancestors had labored, their flocks and their herds, their sons and their daughters.\r\n\t\t\t Let us lie down in our shame, and let our dishonor cover us; for we have sinned against the LORD our God, we and our ancestors, from our youth even to this day; and we have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t If you return, O Israel, says the LORD, if you return to me, if you remove your abominations from my presence, and do not waver,\r\n\t\t\t and if you swear, \"As the LORD lives!\" in truth, in justice, and in uprightness, then nations shall be blessed by him, and by him they shall boast. \r\n\t\t\t For thus says the LORD to the people of Judah and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem: Break up your fallow ground, and do not sow among thorns.\r\n\t\t\t Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, remove the foreskin of your hearts, O people of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, or else my wrath will go forth like fire, and burn with no one to quench it, because of the evil of your doings.\r\n\t\t\t Declare in Judah, and proclaim in Jerusalem, and say: Blow the trumpet through the land; shout aloud and say, \"Gather together, and let us go into the fortified cities!\" \r\n\t\t\t Raise a standard toward Zion, flee for safety, do not delay, for I am bringing evil from the north, and a great destruction.\r\n\t\t\t A lion has gone up from its thicket, a destroyer of nations has set out; he has gone out from his place to make your land a waste; your cities will be ruins without inhabitant.\r\n\t\t\t Because of this put on sackcloth, lament and wail: \"The fierce anger of the LORD has not turned away from us.\"\r\n\t\t\t On that day, says the LORD, courage shall fail the king and the officials; the priests shall be appalled and the prophets astounded.\r\n\t\t\t Then I said, \"Ah, Lord GOD, how utterly you have deceived this people and Jerusalem, saying, 'It shall be well with you,' even while the sword is at the throat!\"\r\n\t\t\t At that time it will be said to this people and to Jerusalem: A hot wind comes from me out of the bare heights in the desert toward my poor people, not to winnow or cleanse--\r\n\t\t\t a wind too strong for that. Now it is I who speak in judgment against them.\r\n\t\t\t Look! He comes up like clouds, his chariots like the whirlwind; his horses are swifter than eagles-- woe to us, for we are ruined!\r\n\t\t\t O Jerusalem, wash your heart clean of wickedness so that you may be saved. How long shall your evil schemes lodge within you?\r\n\t\t\t For a voice declares from Dan and proclaims disaster from Mount Ephraim.\r\n\t\t\t Tell the nations, \"Here they are!\" Proclaim against Jerusalem, \"Besiegers come from a distant land; they shout against the cities of Judah.\r\n\t\t\t They have closed in around her like watchers of a field, because she has rebelled against me, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Your ways and your doings have brought this upon you. This is your doom; how bitter it is! It has reached your very heart.\"\r\n\t\t\t My anguish, my anguish! I writhe in pain! Oh, the walls of my heart! My heart is beating wildly; I cannot keep silent; for I hear the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war.\r\n\t\t\t Disaster overtakes disaster, the whole land is laid waste. Suddenly my tents are destroyed, my curtains in a moment.\r\n\t\t\t How long must I see the standard, and hear the sound of the trumpet?\r\n\t\t\t \"For my people are foolish, they do not know me; they are stupid children, they have no understanding. They are skilled in doing evil, but do not know how to do good.\"\r\n\t\t\t I looked on the earth, and lo, it was waste and void; and to the heavens, and they had no light.\r\n\t\t\t I looked on the mountains, and lo, they were quaking, and all the hills moved to and fro.\r\n\t\t\t I looked, and lo, there was no one at all, and all the birds of the air had fled.\r\n\t\t\t I looked, and lo, the fruitful land was a desert, and all its cities were laid in ruins before the LORD, before his fierce anger.\r\n\t\t\t For thus says the LORD: The whole land shall be a desolation; yet I will not make a full end.\r\n\t\t\t Because of this the earth shall mourn, and the heavens above grow black; for I have spoken, I have purposed; I have not relented nor will I turn back.\r\n\t\t\t At the noise of horseman and archer every town takes to flight; they enter thickets; they climb among rocks; all the towns are forsaken, and no one lives in them.\r\n\t\t\t And you, O desolate one, what do you mean that you dress in crimson, that you deck yourself with ornaments of gold, that you enlarge your eyes with paint? In vain you beautify yourself. Your lovers despise you; they seek your life.\r\n\t\t\t For I heard a cry as of a woman in labor, anguish as of one bringing forth her first child, the cry of daughter Zion gasping for breath, stretching out her hands, \"Woe is me! I am fainting before killers!\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Run to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, look around and take note! Search its squares and see if you can find one person who acts justly and seeks truth-- so that I may pardon Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t Although they say, \"As the LORD lives,\" yet they swear falsely.\r\n\t\t\t O LORD, do your eyes not look for truth? You have struck them, but they felt no anguish; you have consumed them, but they refused to take correction. They have made their faces harder than rock; they have refused to turn back.\r\n\t\t\t Then I said, \"These are only the poor, they have no sense; for they do not know the way of the LORD, the law of their God.\r\n\t\t\t Let me go to the rich and speak to them; surely they know the way of the LORD, the law of their God.\" But they all alike had broken the yoke, they had burst the bonds. \r\n\t\t\t Therefore a lion from the forest shall kill them, a wolf from the desert shall destroy them. A leopard is watching against their cities; everyone who goes out of them shall be torn in pieces-- because their transgressions are many, their apostasies are great.\r\n\t\t\t How can I pardon you? Your children have forsaken me, and have sworn by those who are no gods. When I fed them to the full, they committed adultery and trooped to the houses of prostitutes.\r\n\t\t\t They were well-fed lusty stallions, each neighing for his neighbor's wife.\r\n\t\t\t Shall I not punish them for these things? says the LORD; and shall I not bring retribution on a nation such as this?\r\n\t\t\t Go up through her vine-rows and destroy, but do not make a full end; strip away her branches, for they are not the LORD's.\r\n\t\t\t For the house of Israel and the house of Judah have been utterly faithless to me, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t They have spoken falsely of the LORD, and have said, \"He will do nothing. No evil will come upon us, and we shall not see sword or famine.\"\r\n\t\t\t The prophets are nothing but wind, for the word is not in them. Thus shall it be done to them!\r\n\t\t\t Therefore thus says the LORD, the God of hosts: Because they have spoken this word, I am now making my words in your mouth a fire, and this people wood, and the fire shall devour them. \r\n\t\t\t I am going to bring upon you a nation from far away, O house of Israel, says the LORD. It is an enduring nation, it is an ancient nation, a nation whose language you do not know, nor can you understand what they say.\r\n\t\t\t Their quiver is like an open tomb; all of them are mighty warriors.\r\n\t\t\t They shall eat up your harvest and your food; they shall eat up your sons and your daughters; they shall eat up your flocks and your herds; they shall eat up your vines and your fig trees; they shall destroy with the sword your fortified cities in which you trust.\r\n\t\t\t But even in those days, says the LORD, I will not make a full end of you.\r\n\t\t\t And when your people say, \"Why has the LORD our God done all these things to us?\" you shall say to them, \"As you have forsaken me and served foreign gods in your land, so you shall serve strangers in a land that is not yours.\"\r\n\t\t\t Declare this in the house of Jacob, proclaim it in Judah:\r\n\t\t\t Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes, but do not see, who have ears, but do not hear.\r\n\t\t\t Do you not fear me? says the LORD; Do you not tremble before me? I placed the sand as a boundary for the sea, a perpetual barrier that it cannot pass; though the waves toss, they cannot prevail, though they roar, they cannot pass over it.\r\n\t\t\t But this people has a stubborn and rebellious heart; they have turned aside and gone away.\r\n\t\t\t They do not say in their hearts, \"Let us fear the LORD our God, who gives the rain in its season, the autumn rain and the spring rain, and keeps for us the weeks appointed for the harvest.\"\r\n\t\t\t Your iniquities have turned these away, and your sins have deprived you of good.\r\n\t\t\t For scoundrels are found among my people; they take over the goods of others. Like fowlers they set a trap; they catch human beings. \r\n\t\t\t Like a cage full of birds, their houses are full of treachery; therefore they have become great and rich,\r\n\t\t\t they have grown fat and sleek. They know no limits in deeds of wickedness; they do not judge with justice the cause of the orphan, to make it prosper, and they do not defend the rights of the needy.\r\n\t\t\t Shall I not punish them for these things? says the LORD, and shall I not bring retribution on a nation such as this?\r\n\t\t\t An appalling and horrible thing has happened in the land:\r\n\t\t\t the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule as the prophets direct; my people love to have it so, but what will you do when the end comes? \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Flee for safety, O children of Benjamin, from the midst of Jerusalem! Blow the trumpet in Tekoa, and raise a signal on Beth-haccherem; for evil looms out of the north, and great destruction.\r\n\t\t\t I have likened daughter Zion to the loveliest pasture. \r\n\t\t\t Shepherds with their flocks shall come against her. They shall pitch their tents around her; they shall pasture, all in their places.\r\n\t\t\t \"Prepare war against her; up, and let us attack at noon!\" \"Woe to us, for the day declines, the shadows of evening lengthen!\"\r\n\t\t\t \"Up, and let us attack by night, and destroy her palaces!\"\r\n\t\t\t For thus says the LORD of hosts: Cut down her trees; cast up a siege ramp against Jerusalem. This is the city that must be punished; there is nothing but oppression within her. \r\n\t\t\t As a well keeps its water fresh, so she keeps fresh her wickedness; violence and destruction are heard within her; sickness and wounds are ever before me.\r\n\t\t\t Take warning, O Jerusalem, or I shall turn from you in disgust, and make you a desolation, an uninhabited land.\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD of hosts: Glean thoroughly as a vine the remnant of Israel; like a grape-gatherer, pass your hand again over its branches. \r\n\t\t\t To whom shall I speak and give warning, that they may hear? See, their ears are closed, they cannot listen. The word of the LORD is to them an object of scorn; they take no pleasure in it.\r\n\t\t\t But I am full of the wrath of the LORD; I am weary of holding it in. Pour it out on the children in the street, and on the gatherings of young men as well; both husband and wife shall be taken, the old folk and the very aged.\r\n\t\t\t Their houses shall be turned over to others, their fields and wives together; for I will stretch out my hand against the inhabitants of the land, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t For from the least to the greatest of them, everyone is greedy for unjust gain; and from prophet to priest, everyone deals falsely.\r\n\t\t\t They have treated the wound of my people carelessly, saying, \"Peace, peace,\" when there is no peace.\r\n\t\t\t They acted shamefully, they committed abomination; yet they were not ashamed, they did not know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; at the time that I punish them, they shall be overthrown, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD: Stand at the crossroads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way lies; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, \"We will not walk in it.\"\r\n\t\t\t Also I raised up sentinels for you: \"Give heed to the sound of the trumpet!\" But they said, \"We will not give heed.\"\r\n\t\t\t Therefore hear, O nations, and know, O congregation, what will happen to them.\r\n\t\t\t Hear, O earth; I am going to bring disaster on this people, the fruit of their schemes, because they have not given heed to my words; and as for my teaching, they have rejected it.\r\n\t\t\t Of what use to me is frankincense that comes from Sheba, or sweet cane from a distant land? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable, nor are your sacrifices pleasing to me.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore thus says the LORD: See, I am laying before this people stumbling blocks against which they shall stumble; parents and children together, neighbor and friend shall perish.\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD: See, a people is coming from the land of the north, a great nation is stirring from the farthest parts of the earth.\r\n\t\t\t They grasp the bow and the javelin, they are cruel and have no mercy, their sound is like the roaring sea; they ride on horses, equipped like a warrior for battle, against you, O daughter Zion!\r\n\t\t\t \"We have heard news of them, our hands fall helpless; anguish has taken hold of us, pain as of a woman in labor.\r\n\t\t\t Do not go out into the field, or walk on the road; for the enemy has a sword, terror is on every side.\"\r\n\t\t\t O my poor people, put on sackcloth, and roll in ashes; make mourning as for an only child, most bitter lamentation: for suddenly the destroyer will come upon us.\r\n\t\t\t I have made you a tester and a refiner among my people so that you may know and test their ways. \r\n\t\t\t They are all stubbornly rebellious, going about with slanders; they are bronze and iron, all of them act corruptly.\r\n\t\t\t The bellows blow fiercely, the lead is consumed by the fire; in vain the refining goes on, for the wicked are not removed.\r\n\t\t\t They are called \"rejected silver,\" for the LORD has rejected them.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD:\r\n\t\t\t Stand in the gate of the LORD's house, and proclaim there this word, and say, Hear the word of the LORD, all you people of Judah, you that enter these gates to worship the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Amend your ways and your doings, and let me dwell with you in this place. \r\n\t\t\t Do not trust in these deceptive words: \"This is the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD.\"\r\n\t\t\t For if you truly amend your ways and your doings, if you truly act justly one with another,\r\n\t\t\t if you do not oppress the alien, the orphan, and the widow, or shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not go after other gods to your own hurt,\r\n\t\t\t then I will dwell with you in this place, in the land that I gave of old to your ancestors forever and ever.\r\n\t\t\t Here you are, trusting in deceptive words to no avail.\r\n\t\t\t Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, make offerings to Baal, and go after other gods that you have not known,\r\n\t\t\t and then come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, \"We are safe!\"-- only to go on doing all these abominations?\r\n\t\t\t Has this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your sight? You know, I too am watching, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Go now to my place that was in Shiloh, where I made my name dwell at first, and see what I did to it for the wickedness of my people Israel.\r\n\t\t\t And now, because you have done all these things, says the LORD, and when I spoke to you persistently, you did not listen, and when I called you, you did not answer,\r\n\t\t\t therefore I will do to the house that is called by my name, in which you trust, and to the place that I gave to you and to your ancestors, just what I did to Shiloh.\r\n\t\t\t And I will cast you out of my sight, just as I cast out all your kinsfolk, all the offspring of Ephraim.\r\n\t\t\t As for you, do not pray for this people, do not raise a cry or prayer on their behalf, and do not intercede with me, for I will not hear you.\r\n\t\t\t Do you not see what they are doing in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem?\r\n\t\t\t The children gather wood, the fathers kindle fire, and the women knead dough, to make cakes for the queen of heaven; and they pour out drink offerings to other gods, to provoke me to anger.\r\n\t\t\t Is it I whom they provoke? says the LORD. Is it not themselves, to their own hurt?\r\n\t\t\t Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: My anger and my wrath shall be poured out on this place, on human beings and animals, on the trees of the field and the fruit of the ground; it will burn and not be quenched.\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Add your burnt offerings to your sacrifices, and eat the flesh.\r\n\t\t\t For in the day that I brought your ancestors out of the land of Egypt, I did not speak to them or command them concerning burnt offerings and sacrifices.\r\n\t\t\t But this command I gave them, \"Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people; and walk only in the way that I command you, so that it may be well with you.\"\r\n\t\t\t Yet they did not obey or incline their ear, but, in the stubbornness of their evil will, they walked in their own counsels, and looked backward rather than forward.\r\n\t\t\t From the day that your ancestors came out of the land of Egypt until this day, I have persistently sent all my servants the prophets to them, day after day;\r\n\t\t\t yet they did not listen to me, or pay attention, but they stiffened their necks. They did worse than their ancestors did.\r\n\t\t\t So you shall speak all these words to them, but they will not listen to you. You shall call to them, but they will not answer you.\r\n\t\t\t You shall say to them: This is the nation that did not obey the voice of the LORD their God, and did not accept discipline; truth has perished; it is cut off from their lips.\r\n\t\t\t Cut off your hair and throw it away; raise a lamentation on the bare heights, for the LORD has rejected and forsaken the generation that provoked his wrath. \r\n\t\t\t For the people of Judah have done evil in my sight, says the LORD; they have set their abominations in the house that is called by my name, defiling it.\r\n\t\t\t And they go on building the high place of Topheth, which is in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire-- which I did not command, nor did it come into my mind.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore, the days are surely coming, says the LORD, when it will no more be called Topheth, or the valley of the son of Hinnom, but the valley of Slaughter: for they will bury in Topheth until there is no more room.\r\n\t\t\t The corpses of this people will be food for the birds of the air, and for the animals of the earth; and no one will frighten them away.\r\n\t\t\t And I will bring to an end the sound of mirth and gladness, the voice of the bride and bridegroom in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem; for the land shall become a waste.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t At that time, says the LORD, the bones of the kings of Judah, the bones of its officials, the bones of the priests, the bones of the prophets, and the bones of the inhabitants of Jerusalem shall be brought out of their tombs;\r\n\t\t\t and they shall be spread before the sun and the moon and all the host of heaven, which they have loved and served, which they have followed, and which they have inquired of and worshiped; and they shall not be gathered or buried; they shall be like dung on the surface of the ground.\r\n\t\t\t Death shall be preferred to life by all the remnant that remains of this evil family in all the places where I have driven them, says the LORD of hosts.\r\n\t\t\t You shall say to them, Thus says the LORD: When people fall, do they not get up again? If they go astray, do they not turn back?\r\n\t\t\t Why then has this people turned away in perpetual backsliding? They have held fast to deceit, they have refused to return. \r\n\t\t\t I have given heed and listened, but they do not speak honestly; no one repents of wickedness, saying, \"What have I done!\" All of them turn to their own course, like a horse plunging headlong into battle.\r\n\t\t\t Even the stork in the heavens knows its times; and the turtledove, swallow, and crane observe the time of their coming; but my people do not know the ordinance of the LORD. \r\n\t\t\t How can you say, \"We are wise, and the law of the LORD is with us,\" when, in fact, the false pen of the scribes has made it into a lie?\r\n\t\t\t The wise shall be put to shame, they shall be dismayed and taken; since they have rejected the word of the LORD, what wisdom is in them?\r\n\t\t\t Therefore I will give their wives to others and their fields to conquerors, because from the least to the greatest everyone is greedy for unjust gain; from prophet to priest everyone deals falsely.\r\n\t\t\t They have treated the wound of my people carelessly, saying, \"Peace, peace,\" when there is no peace.\r\n\t\t\t They acted shamefully, they committed abomination; yet they were not at all ashamed, they did not know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; at the time when I punish them, they shall be overthrown, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t When I wanted to gather them, says the LORD, there are no grapes on the vine, nor figs on the fig tree; even the leaves are withered, and what I gave them has passed away from them. \r\n\t\t\t Why do we sit still? Gather together, let us go into the fortified cities and perish there; for the LORD our God has doomed us to perish, and has given us poisoned water to drink, because we have sinned against the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t We look for peace, but find no good, for a time of healing, but there is terror instead.\r\n\t\t\t The snorting of their horses is heard from Dan; at the sound of the neighing of their stallions the whole land quakes. They come and devour the land and all that fills it, the city and those who live in it.\r\n\t\t\t See, I am letting snakes loose among you, adders that cannot be charmed, and they shall bite you, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t My joy is gone, grief is upon me, my heart is sick.\r\n\t\t\t Hark, the cry of my poor people from far and wide in the land: \"Is the LORD not in Zion? Is her King not in her?\" (\"Why have they provoked me to anger with their images, with their foreign idols?\")\r\n\t\t\t \"The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.\"\r\n\t\t\t For the hurt of my poor people I am hurt, I mourn, and dismay has taken hold of me.\r\n\t\t\t Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then has the health of my poor people not been restored?\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t O that my head were a spring of water, and my eyes a fountain of tears, so that I might weep day and night for the slain of my poor people!\r\n\t\t\t O that I had in the desert a traveler's lodging place, that I might leave my people and go away from them! For they are all adulterers, a band of traitors.\r\n\t\t\t They bend their tongues like bows; they have grown strong in the land for falsehood, and not for truth; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they do not know me, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Beware of your neighbors, and put no trust in any of your kin; for all your kin are supplanters, and every neighbor goes around like a slanderer. \r\n\t\t\t They all deceive their neighbors, and no one speaks the truth; they have taught their tongues to speak lies; they commit iniquity and are too weary to repent. \r\n\t\t\t Oppression upon oppression, deceit upon deceit! They refuse to know me, says the LORD. \r\n\t\t\t Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts: I will now refine and test them, for what else can I do with my sinful people? \r\n\t\t\t Their tongue is a deadly arrow; it speaks deceit through the mouth. They all speak friendly words to their neighbors, but inwardly are planning to lay an ambush.\r\n\t\t\t Shall I not punish them for these things? says the LORD; and shall I not bring retribution on a nation such as this?\r\n\t\t\t Take up weeping and wailing for the mountains, and a lamentation for the pastures of the wilderness, because they are laid waste so that no one passes through, and the lowing of cattle is not heard; both the birds of the air and the animals have fled and are gone. \r\n\t\t\t I will make Jerusalem a heap of ruins, a lair of jackals; and I will make the towns of Judah a desolation, without inhabitant.\r\n\t\t\t Who is wise enough to understand this? To whom has the mouth of the LORD spoken, so that they may declare it? Why is the land ruined and laid waste like a wilderness, so that no one passes through?\r\n\t\t\t And the LORD says: Because they have forsaken my law that I set before them, and have not obeyed my voice, or walked in accordance with it,\r\n\t\t\t but have stubbornly followed their own hearts and have gone after the Baals, as their ancestors taught them.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: I am feeding this people with wormwood, and giving them poisonous water to drink.\r\n\t\t\t I will scatter them among nations that neither they nor their ancestors have known; and I will send the sword after them, until I have consumed them.\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD of hosts: Consider, and call for the mourning women to come; send for the skilled women to come;\r\n\t\t\t let them quickly raise a dirge over us, so that our eyes may run down with tears, and our eyelids flow with water.\r\n\t\t\t For a sound of wailing is heard from Zion: \"How we are ruined! We are utterly shamed, because we have left the land, because they have cast down our dwellings.\"\r\n\t\t\t Hear, O women, the word of the LORD, and let your ears receive the word of his mouth; teach to your daughters a dirge, and each to her neighbor a lament.\r\n\t\t\t \"Death has come up into our windows, it has entered our palaces, to cut off the children from the streets and the young men from the squares.\"\r\n\t\t\t Speak! Thus says the LORD: \"Human corpses shall fall like dung upon the open field, like sheaves behind the reaper, and no one shall gather them.\"\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD: Do not let the wise boast in their wisdom, do not let the mighty boast in their might, do not let the wealthy boast in their wealth;\r\n\t\t\t but let those who boast boast in this, that they understand and know me, that I am the LORD; I act with steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth, for in these things I delight, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t The days are surely coming, says the LORD, when I will attend to all those who are circumcised only in the foreskin:\r\n\t\t\t Egypt, Judah, Edom, the Ammonites, Moab, and all those with shaven temples who live in the desert. For all these nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel is uncircumcised in heart.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Hear the word that the LORD speaks to you, O house of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD: Do not learn the way of the nations, or be dismayed at the signs of the heavens; for the nations are dismayed at them.\r\n\t\t\t For the customs of the peoples are false: a tree from the forest is cut down, and worked with an ax by the hands of an artisan;\r\n\t\t\t people deck it with silver and gold; they fasten it with hammer and nails so that it cannot move.\r\n\t\t\t Their idols are like scarecrows in a cucumber field, and they cannot speak; they have to be carried, for they cannot walk. Do not be afraid of them, for they cannot do evil, nor is it in them to do good.\r\n\t\t\t There is none like you, O LORD; you are great, and your name is great in might.\r\n\t\t\t Who would not fear you, O King of the nations? For that is your due; among all the wise ones of the nations and in all their kingdoms there is no one like you.\r\n\t\t\t They are both stupid and foolish; the instruction given by idols is no better than wood! \r\n\t\t\t Beaten silver is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz. They are the work of the artisan and of the hands of the goldsmith; their clothing is blue and purple; they are all the product of skilled workers.\r\n\t\t\t But the LORD is the true God; he is the living God and the everlasting King. At his wrath the earth quakes, and the nations cannot endure his indignation.\r\n\t\t\t Thus shall you say to them: The gods who did not make the heavens and the earth shall perish from the earth and from under the heavens. \r\n\t\t\t It is he who made the earth by his power, who established the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding stretched out the heavens.\r\n\t\t\t When he utters his voice, there is a tumult of waters in the heavens, and he makes the mist rise from the ends of the earth. He makes lightnings for the rain, and he brings out the wind from his storehouses.\r\n\t\t\t Everyone is stupid and without knowledge; goldsmiths are all put to shame by their idols; for their images are false, and there is no breath in them.\r\n\t\t\t They are worthless, a work of delusion; at the time of their punishment they shall perish.\r\n\t\t\t Not like these is the LORD, the portion of Jacob, for he is the one who formed all things, and Israel is the tribe of his inheritance; the LORD of hosts is his name. \r\n\t\t\t Gather up your bundle from the ground, O you who live under siege!\r\n\t\t\t For thus says the LORD: I am going to sling out the inhabitants of the land at this time, and I will bring distress on them, so that they shall feel it.\r\n\t\t\t Woe is me because of my hurt! My wound is severe. But I said, \"Truly this is my punishment, and I must bear it.\"\r\n\t\t\t My tent is destroyed, and all my cords are broken; my children have gone from me, and they are no more; there is no one to spread my tent again, and to set up my curtains.\r\n\t\t\t For the shepherds are stupid, and do not inquire of the LORD; therefore they have not prospered, and all their flock is scattered.\r\n\t\t\t Hear, a noise! Listen, it is coming-- a great commotion from the land of the north to make the cities of Judah a desolation, a lair of jackals.\r\n\t\t\t I know, O LORD, that the way of human beings is not in their control, that mortals as they walk cannot direct their steps.\r\n\t\t\t Correct me, O LORD, but in just measure; not in your anger, or you will bring me to nothing.\r\n\t\t\t Pour out your wrath on the nations that do not know you, and on the peoples that do not call on your name; for they have devoured Jacob; they have devoured him and consumed him, and have laid waste his habitation.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD:\r\n\t\t\t Hear the words of this covenant, and speak to the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t You shall say to them, Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Cursed be anyone who does not heed the words of this covenant,\r\n\t\t\t which I commanded your ancestors when I brought them out of the land of Egypt, from the iron-smelter, saying, Listen to my voice, and do all that I command you. So shall you be my people, and I will be your God,\r\n\t\t\t that I may perform the oath that I swore to your ancestors, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey, as at this day. Then I answered, \"So be it, LORD.\"\r\n\t\t\t And the LORD said to me: Proclaim all these words in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem: Hear the words of this covenant and do them.\r\n\t\t\t For I solemnly warned your ancestors when I brought them up out of the land of Egypt, warning them persistently, even to this day, saying, Obey my voice.\r\n\t\t\t Yet they did not obey or incline their ear, but everyone walked in the stubbornness of an evil will. So I brought upon them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do, but they did not.\r\n\t\t\t And the LORD said to me: Conspiracy exists among the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t They have turned back to the iniquities of their ancestors of old, who refused to heed my words; they have gone after other gods to serve them; the house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken the covenant that I made with their ancestors.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore, thus says the LORD, assuredly I am going to bring disaster upon them that they cannot escape; though they cry out to me, I will not listen to them.\r\n\t\t\t Then the cities of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem will go and cry out to the gods to whom they make offerings, but they will never save them in the time of their trouble.\r\n\t\t\t For your gods have become as many as your towns, O Judah; and as many as the streets of Jerusalem are the altars you have set up to shame, altars to make offerings to Baal.\r\n\t\t\t As for you, do not pray for this people, or lift up a cry or prayer on their behalf, for I will not listen when they call to me in the time of their trouble.\r\n\t\t\t What right has my beloved in my house, when she has done vile deeds? Can vows and sacrificial flesh avert your doom? Can you then exult? \r\n\t\t\t The LORD once called you, \"A green olive tree, fair with goodly fruit\"; but with the roar of a great tempest he will set fire to it, and its branches will be consumed.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD of hosts, who planted you, has pronounced evil against you, because of the evil that the house of Israel and the house of Judah have done, provoking me to anger by making offerings to Baal.\r\n\t\t\t It was the LORD who made it known to me, and I knew; then you showed me their evil deeds.\r\n\t\t\t But I was like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter. And I did not know it was against me that they devised schemes, saying, \"Let us destroy the tree with its fruit, let us cut him off from the land of the living, so that his name will no longer be remembered!\"\r\n\t\t\t But you, O LORD of hosts, who judge righteously, who try the heart and the mind, let me see your retribution upon them, for to you I have committed my cause.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore thus says the LORD concerning the people of Anathoth, who seek your life, and say, \"You shall not prophesy in the name of the LORD, or you will die by our hand\"--\r\n\t\t\t therefore thus says the LORD of hosts: I am going to punish them; the young men shall die by the sword; their sons and their daughters shall die by famine;\r\n\t\t\t and not even a remnant shall be left of them. For I will bring disaster upon the people of Anathoth, the year of their punishment.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t You will be in the right, O LORD, when I lay charges against you; but let me put my case to you. Why does the way of the guilty prosper? Why do all who are treacherous thrive?\r\n\t\t\t You plant them, and they take root; they grow and bring forth fruit; you are near in their mouths yet far from their hearts.\r\n\t\t\t But you, O LORD, know me; You see me and test me-- my heart is with you. Pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and set them apart for the day of slaughter.\r\n\t\t\t How long will the land mourn, and the grass of every field wither? For the wickedness of those who live in it the animals and the birds are swept away, and because people said, \"He is blind to our ways.\" \r\n\t\t\t If you have raced with foot-runners and they have wearied you, how will you compete with horses? And if in a safe land you fall down, how will you fare in the thickets of the Jordan?\r\n\t\t\t For even your kinsfolk and your own family, even they have dealt treacherously with you; they are in full cry after you; do not believe them, though they speak friendly words to you.\r\n\t\t\t I have forsaken my house, I have abandoned my heritage; I have given the beloved of my heart into the hands of her enemies.\r\n\t\t\t My heritage has become to me like a lion in the forest; she has lifted up her voice against me-- therefore I hate her.\r\n\t\t\t Is the hyena greedy for my heritage at my command? Are the birds of prey all around her? Go, assemble all the wild animals; bring them to devour her. \r\n\t\t\t Many shepherds have destroyed my vineyard, they have trampled down my portion, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness.\r\n\t\t\t They have made it a desolation; desolate, it mourns to me. The whole land is made desolate, but no one lays it to heart.\r\n\t\t\t Upon all the bare heights in the desert spoilers have come; for the sword of the LORD devours from one end of the land to the other; no one shall be safe. \r\n\t\t\t They have sown wheat and have reaped thorns, they have tired themselves out but profit nothing. They shall be ashamed of their harvests because of the fierce anger of the LORD. \r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD concerning all my evil neighbors who touch the heritage that I have given my people Israel to inherit: I am about to pluck them up from their land, and I will pluck up the house of Judah from among them.\r\n\t\t\t And after I have plucked them up, I will again have compassion on them, and I will bring them again to their heritage and to their land, everyone of them.\r\n\t\t\t And then, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name, \"As the LORD lives,\" as they taught my people to swear by Baal, then they shall be built up in the midst of my people.\r\n\t\t\t But if any nation will not listen, then I will completely uproot it and destroy it, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Thus said the LORD to me, \"Go and buy yourself a linen loincloth, and put it on your loins, but do not dip it in water.\"\r\n\t\t\t So I bought a loincloth according to the word of the LORD, and put it on my loins.\r\n\t\t\t And the word of the LORD came to me a second time, saying,\r\n\t\t\t \"Take the loincloth that you bought and are wearing, and go now to the Euphrates, and hide it there in a cleft of the rock.\" \r\n\t\t\t So I went, and hid it by the Euphrates, as the LORD commanded me. \r\n\t\t\t And after many days the LORD said to me, \"Go now to the Euphrates, and take from there the loincloth that I commanded you to hide there.\" \r\n\t\t\t Then I went to the Euphrates, and dug, and I took the loincloth from the place where I had hidden it. But now the loincloth was ruined; it was good for nothing. \r\n\t\t\t Then the word of the LORD came to me:\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD: Just so I will ruin the pride of Judah and the great pride of Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t This evil people, who refuse to hear my words, who stubbornly follow their own will and have gone after other gods to serve them and worship them, shall be like this loincloth, which is good for nothing.\r\n\t\t\t For as the loincloth clings to one's loins, so I made the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah cling to me, says the LORD, in order that they might be for me a people, a name, a praise, and a glory. But they would not listen.\r\n\t\t\t You shall speak to them this word: Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Every wine-jar should be filled with wine. And they will say to you, \"Do you think we do not know that every wine-jar should be filled with wine?\"\r\n\t\t\t Then you shall say to them: Thus says the LORD: I am about to fill all the inhabitants of this land-- the kings who sit on David's throne, the priests, the prophets, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem-- with drunkenness.\r\n\t\t\t And I will dash them one against another, parents and children together, says the LORD. I will not pity or spare or have compassion when I destroy them.\r\n\t\t\t Hear and give ear; do not be haughty, for the LORD has spoken.\r\n\t\t\t Give glory to the LORD your God before he brings darkness, and before your feet stumble on the mountains at twilight; while you look for light, he turns it into gloom and makes it deep darkness.\r\n\t\t\t But if you will not listen, my soul will weep in secret for your pride; my eyes will weep bitterly and run down with tears, because the LORD's flock has been taken captive.\r\n\t\t\t Say to the king and the queen mother; \"Take a lowly seat, for your beautiful crown has come down from your head.\" \r\n\t\t\t The towns of the Negeb are shut up with no one to open them; all Judah is taken into exile, wholly taken into exile.\r\n\t\t\t Lift up your eyes and see those who come from the north. Where is the flock that was given you, your beautiful flock?\r\n\t\t\t What will you say when they set as head over you those whom you have trained to be your allies? Will not pangs take hold of you, like those of a woman in labor?\r\n\t\t\t And if you say in your heart, \"Why have these things come upon me?\" it is for the greatness of your iniquity that your skirts are lifted up, and you are violated.\r\n\t\t\t Can Ethiopians change their skin or leopards their spots? Then also you can do good who are accustomed to do evil. \r\n\t\t\t I will scatter you like chaff driven by the wind from the desert. \r\n\t\t\t This is your lot, the portion I have measured out to you, says the LORD, because you have forgotten me and trusted in lies.\r\n\t\t\t I myself will lift up your skirts over your face, and your shame will be seen.\r\n\t\t\t I have seen your abominations, your adulteries and neighings, your shameless prostitutions on the hills of the countryside. Woe to you, O Jerusalem! How long will it be before you are made clean?\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah concerning the drought:\r\n\t\t\t Judah mourns and her gates languish; they lie in gloom on the ground, and the cry of Jerusalem goes up.\r\n\t\t\t Her nobles send their servants for water; they come to the cisterns, they find no water, they return with their vessels empty. They are ashamed and dismayed and cover their heads,\r\n\t\t\t because the ground is cracked. Because there has been no rain on the land the farmers are dismayed; they cover their heads.\r\n\t\t\t Even the doe in the field forsakes her newborn fawn because there is no grass.\r\n\t\t\t The wild asses stand on the bare heights, they pant for air like jackals; their eyes fail because there is no herbage. \r\n\t\t\t Although our iniquities testify against us, act, O LORD, for your name's sake; our apostasies indeed are many, and we have sinned against you.\r\n\t\t\t O hope of Israel, its savior in time of trouble, why should you be like a stranger in the land, like a traveler turning aside for the night?\r\n\t\t\t Why should you be like someone confused, like a mighty warrior who cannot give help? Yet you, O LORD, are in the midst of us, and we are called by your name; do not forsake us!\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD concerning this people: Truly they have loved to wander, they have not restrained their feet; therefore the LORD does not accept them, now he will remember their iniquity and punish their sins.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD said to me: Do not pray for the welfare of this people.\r\n\t\t\t Although they fast, I do not hear their cry, and although they offer burnt offering and grain offering, I do not accept them; but by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence I consume them.\r\n\t\t\t Then I said: \"Ah, Lord GOD! Here are the prophets saying to them, 'You shall not see the sword, nor shall you have famine, but I will give you true peace in this place.'\"\r\n\t\t\t And the LORD said to me: The prophets are prophesying lies in my name; I did not send them, nor did I command them or speak to them. They are prophesying to you a lying vision, worthless divination, and the deceit of their own minds.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore thus says the LORD concerning the prophets who prophesy in my name though I did not send them, and who say, \"Sword and famine shall not come on this land\": By sword and famine those prophets shall be consumed.\r\n\t\t\t And the people to whom they prophesy shall be thrown out into the streets of Jerusalem, victims of famine and sword. There shall be no one to bury them-- themselves, their wives, their sons, and their daughters. For I will pour out their wickedness upon them.\r\n\t\t\t You shall say to them this word: Let my eyes run down with tears night and day, and let them not cease, for the virgin daughter-- my people-- is struck down with a crushing blow, with a very grievous wound.\r\n\t\t\t If I go out into the field, look-- those killed by the sword! And if I enter the city, look-- those sick with famine! For both prophet and priest ply their trade throughout the land, and have no knowledge.\r\n\t\t\t Have you completely rejected Judah? Does your heart loathe Zion? Why have you struck us down so that there is no healing for us? We look for peace, but find no good; for a time of healing, but there is terror instead.\r\n\t\t\t We acknowledge our wickedness, O LORD, the iniquity of our ancestors, for we have sinned against you.\r\n\t\t\t Do not spurn us, for your name's sake; do not dishonor your glorious throne; remember and do not break your covenant with us.\r\n\t\t\t Can any idols of the nations bring rain? Or can the heavens give showers? Is it not you, O LORD our God? We set our hope on you, for it is you who do all this.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD said to me: Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet my heart would not turn toward this people. Send them out of my sight, and let them go!\r\n\t\t\t And when they say to you, \"Where shall we go?\" you shall say to them: Thus says the LORD: Those destined for pestilence, to pestilence, and those destined for the sword, to the sword; those destined for famine, to famine, and those destined for captivity, to captivity.\r\n\t\t\t And I will appoint over them four kinds of destroyers, says the LORD: the sword to kill, the dogs to drag away, and the birds of the air and the wild animals of the earth to devour and destroy.\r\n\t\t\t I will make them a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth because of what King Manasseh son of Hezekiah of Judah did in Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t Who will have pity on you, O Jerusalem, or who will bemoan you? Who will turn aside to ask about your welfare?\r\n\t\t\t You have rejected me, says the LORD, you are going backward; so I have stretched out my hand against you and destroyed you-- I am weary of relenting.\r\n\t\t\t I have winnowed them with a winnowing fork in the gates of the land; I have bereaved them, I have destroyed my people; they did not turn from their ways.\r\n\t\t\t Their widows became more numerous than the sand of the seas; I have brought against the mothers of youths a destroyer at noonday; I have made anguish and terror fall upon her suddenly.\r\n\t\t\t She who bore seven has languished; she has swooned away; her sun went down while it was yet day; she has been shamed and disgraced. And the rest of them I will give to the sword before their enemies, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Woe is me, my mother, that you ever bore me, a man of strife and contention to the whole land! I have not lent, nor have I borrowed, yet all of them curse me.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD said: Surely I have intervened in your life for good, surely I have imposed enemies on you in a time of trouble and in a time of distress. \r\n\t\t\t Can iron and bronze break iron from the north?\r\n\t\t\t Your wealth and your treasures I will give as plunder, without price, for all your sins, throughout all your territory.\r\n\t\t\t I will make you serve your enemies in a land that you do not know, for in my anger a fire is kindled that shall burn forever.\r\n\t\t\t O LORD, you know; remember me and visit me, and bring down retribution for me on my persecutors. In your forbearance do not take me away; know that on your account I suffer insult.\r\n\t\t\t Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart; for I am called by your name, O LORD, God of hosts.\r\n\t\t\t I did not sit in the company of merrymakers, nor did I rejoice; under the weight of your hand I sat alone, for you had filled me with indignation.\r\n\t\t\t Why is my pain unceasing, my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? Truly, you are to me like a deceitful brook, like waters that fail.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore thus says the LORD: If you turn back, I will take you back, and you shall stand before me. If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless, you shall serve as my mouth. It is they who will turn to you, not you who will turn to them.\r\n\t\t\t And I will make you to this people a fortified wall of bronze; they will fight against you, but they shall not prevail over you, for I am with you to save you and deliver you, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t I will deliver you out of the hand of the wicked, and redeem you from the grasp of the ruthless.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD came to me:\r\n\t\t\t You shall not take a wife, nor shall you have sons or daughters in this place.\r\n\t\t\t For thus says the LORD concerning the sons and daughters who are born in this place, and concerning the mothers who bear them and the fathers who beget them in this land:\r\n\t\t\t They shall die of deadly diseases. They shall not be lamented, nor shall they be buried; they shall become like dung on the surface of the ground. They shall perish by the sword and by famine, and their dead bodies shall become food for the birds of the air and for the wild animals of the earth.\r\n\t\t\t For thus says the LORD: Do not enter the house of mourning, or go to lament, or bemoan them; for I have taken away my peace from this people, says the LORD, my steadfast love and mercy.\r\n\t\t\t Both great and small shall die in this land; they shall not be buried, and no one shall lament for them; there shall be no gashing, no shaving of the head for them.\r\n\t\t\t No one shall break bread for the mourner, to offer comfort for the dead; nor shall anyone give them the cup of consolation to drink for their fathers or their mothers. \r\n\t\t\t You shall not go into the house of feasting to sit with them, to eat and drink.\r\n\t\t\t For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: I am going to banish from this place, in your days and before your eyes, the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride.\r\n\t\t\t And when you tell this people all these words, and they say to you, \"Why has the LORD pronounced all this great evil against us? What is our iniquity? What is the sin that we have committed against the LORD our God?\"\r\n\t\t\t then you shall say to them: It is because your ancestors have forsaken me, says the LORD, and have gone after other gods and have served and worshiped them, and have forsaken me and have not kept my law;\r\n\t\t\t and because you have behaved worse than your ancestors, for here you are, every one of you, following your stubborn evil will, refusing to listen to me.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore I will hurl you out of this land into a land that neither you nor your ancestors have known, and there you shall serve other gods day and night, for I will show you no favor.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore, the days are surely coming, says the LORD, when it shall no longer be said, \"As the LORD lives who brought the people of Israel up out of the land of Egypt,\"\r\n\t\t\t but \"As the LORD lives who brought the people of Israel up out of the land of the north and out of all the lands where he had driven them.\" For I will bring them back to their own land that I gave to their ancestors.\r\n\t\t\t I am now sending for many fishermen, says the LORD, and they shall catch them; and afterward I will send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain and every hill, and out of the clefts of the rocks.\r\n\t\t\t For my eyes are on all their ways; they are not hidden from my presence, nor is their iniquity concealed from my sight.\r\n\t\t\t And I will doubly repay their iniquity and their sin, because they have polluted my land with the carcasses of their detestable idols, and have filled my inheritance with their abominations. \r\n\t\t\t O LORD, my strength and my stronghold, my refuge in the day of trouble, to you shall the nations come from the ends of the earth and say: Our ancestors have inherited nothing but lies, worthless things in which there is no profit.\r\n\t\t\t Can mortals make for themselves gods? Such are no gods!\r\n\t\t\t \"Therefore I am surely going to teach them, this time I am going to teach them my power and my might, and they shall know that my name is the LORD.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The sin of Judah is written with an iron pen; with a diamond point it is engraved on the tablet of their hearts, and on the horns of their altars,\r\n\t\t\t while their children remember their altars and their sacred poles, beside every green tree, and on the high hills, \r\n\t\t\t on the mountains in the open country. Your wealth and all your treasures I will give for spoil as the price of your sin throughout all your territory. \r\n\t\t\t By your own act you shall lose the heritage that I gave you, and I will make you serve your enemies in a land that you do not know, for in my anger a fire is kindled that shall burn forever. \r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD: Cursed are those who trust in mere mortals and make mere flesh their strength, whose hearts turn away from the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t They shall be like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see when relief comes. They shall live in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land.\r\n\t\t\t Blessed are those who trust in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t They shall be like a tree planted by water, sending out its roots by the stream. It shall not fear when heat comes, and its leaves shall stay green; in the year of drought it is not anxious, and it does not cease to bear fruit.\r\n\t\t\t The heart is devious above all else; it is perverse-- who can understand it?\r\n\t\t\t I the LORD test the mind and search the heart, to give to all according to their ways, according to the fruit of their doings.\r\n\t\t\t Like the partridge hatching what it did not lay, so are all who amass wealth unjustly; in mid-life it will leave them, and at their end they will prove to be fools.\r\n\t\t\t O glorious throne, exalted from the beginning, shrine of our sanctuary!\r\n\t\t\t O hope of Israel! O LORD! All who forsake you shall be put to shame; those who turn away from you shall be recorded in the underworld, for they have forsaken the fountain of living water, the LORD. \r\n\t\t\t Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved; for you are my praise.\r\n\t\t\t See how they say to me, \"Where is the word of the LORD? Let it come!\"\r\n\t\t\t But I have not run away from being a shepherd in your service, nor have I desired the fatal day. You know what came from my lips; it was before your face. \r\n\t\t\t Do not become a terror to me; you are my refuge in the day of disaster;\r\n\t\t\t Let my persecutors be shamed, but do not let me be shamed; let them be dismayed, but do not let me be dismayed; bring on them the day of disaster; destroy them with double destruction!\r\n\t\t\t Thus said the LORD to me: Go and stand in the People's Gate, by which the kings of Judah enter and by which they go out, and in all the gates of Jerusalem,\r\n\t\t\t and say to them: Hear the word of the LORD, you kings of Judah, and all Judah, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, who enter by these gates.\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD: For the sake of your lives, take care that you do not bear a burden on the sabbath day or bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t And do not carry a burden out of your houses on the sabbath or do any work, but keep the sabbath day holy, as I commanded your ancestors.\r\n\t\t\t Yet they did not listen or incline their ear; they stiffened their necks and would not hear or receive instruction.\r\n\t\t\t But if you listen to me, says the LORD, and bring in no burden by the gates of this city on the sabbath day, but keep the sabbath day holy and do no work on it,\r\n\t\t\t then there shall enter by the gates of this city kings who sit on the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, they and their officials, the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and this city shall be inhabited forever. \r\n\t\t\t And people shall come from the towns of Judah and the places around Jerusalem, from the land of Benjamin, from the Shephelah, from the hill country, and from the Negeb, bringing burnt offerings and sacrifices, grain offerings and frankincense, and bringing thank offerings to the house of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t But if you do not listen to me, to keep the sabbath day holy, and to carry in no burden through the gates of Jerusalem on the sabbath day, then I will kindle a fire in its gates; it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem and shall not be quenched.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD:\r\n\t\t\t \"Come, go down to the potter's house, and there I will let you hear my words.\"\r\n\t\t\t So I went down to the potter's house, and there he was working at his wheel.\r\n\t\t\t The vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter's hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as seemed good to him.\r\n\t\t\t Then the word of the LORD came to me:\r\n\t\t\t Can I not do with you, O house of Israel, just as this potter has done? says the LORD. Just like the clay in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t At one moment I may declare concerning a nation or a kingdom, that I will pluck up and break down and destroy it,\r\n\t\t\t but if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turns from its evil, I will change my mind about the disaster that I intended to bring on it.\r\n\t\t\t And at another moment I may declare concerning a nation or a kingdom that I will build and plant it,\r\n\t\t\t but if it does evil in my sight, not listening to my voice, then I will change my mind about the good that I had intended to do to it.\r\n\t\t\t Now, therefore, say to the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem: Thus says the LORD: Look, I am a potter shaping evil against you and devising a plan against you. Turn now, all of you from your evil way, and amend your ways and your doings.\r\n\t\t\t But they say, \"It is no use! We will follow our own plans, and each of us will act according to the stubbornness of our evil will.\"\r\n\t\t\t Therefore thus says the LORD: Ask among the nations: Who has heard the like of this? The virgin Israel has done a most horrible thing.\r\n\t\t\t Does the snow of Lebanon leave the crags of Sirion? Do the mountain waters run dry, the cold flowing streams? \r\n\t\t\t But my people have forgotten me, they burn offerings to a delusion; they have stumbled in their ways, in the ancient roads, and have gone into bypaths, not the highway, \r\n\t\t\t making their land a horror, a thing to be hissed at forever. All who pass by it are horrified and shake their heads.\r\n\t\t\t Like the wind from the east, I will scatter them before the enemy. I will show them my back, not my face, in the day of their calamity.\r\n\t\t\t Then they said, \"Come, let us make plots against Jeremiah-- for instruction shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, let us bring charges against him, and let us not heed any of his words.\"\r\n\t\t\t Give heed to me, O LORD, and listen to what my adversaries say!\r\n\t\t\t Is evil a recompense for good? Yet they have dug a pit for my life. Remember how I stood before you to speak good for them, to turn away your wrath from them.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore give their children over to famine; hurl them out to the power of the sword, let their wives become childless and widowed. May their men meet death by pestilence, their youths be slain by the sword in battle.\r\n\t\t\t May a cry be heard from their houses, when you bring the marauder suddenly upon them! For they have dug a pit to catch me, and laid snares for my feet.\r\n\t\t\t Yet you, O LORD, know all their plotting to kill me. Do not forgive their iniquity, do not blot out their sin from your sight. Let them be tripped up before you; deal with them while you are angry.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Thus said the LORD: Go and buy a potter's earthenware jug. Take with you some of the elders of the people and some of the senior priests, \r\n\t\t\t and go out to the valley of the son of Hinnom at the entry of the Potsherd Gate, and proclaim there the words that I tell you.\r\n\t\t\t You shall say: Hear the word of the LORD, O kings of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem. Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: I am going to bring such disaster upon this place that the ears of everyone who hears of it will tingle.\r\n\t\t\t Because the people have forsaken me, and have profaned this place by making offerings in it to other gods whom neither they nor their ancestors nor the kings of Judah have known; and because they have filled this place with the blood of the innocent,\r\n\t\t\t and gone on building the high places of Baal to burn their children in the fire as burnt offerings to Baal, which I did not command or decree, nor did it enter my mind.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore the days are surely coming, says the LORD, when this place shall no more be called Topheth, or the valley of the son of Hinnom, but the valley of Slaughter.\r\n\t\t\t And in this place I will make void the plans of Judah and Jerusalem, and will make them fall by the sword before their enemies, and by the hand of those who seek their life. I will give their dead bodies for food to the birds of the air and to the wild animals of the earth.\r\n\t\t\t And I will make this city a horror, a thing to be hissed at; everyone who passes by it will be horrified and will hiss because of all its disasters.\r\n\t\t\t And I will make them eat the flesh of their sons and the flesh of their daughters, and all shall eat the flesh of their neighbors in the siege, and in the distress with which their enemies and those who seek their life afflict them.\r\n\t\t\t Then you shall break the jug in the sight of those who go with you,\r\n\t\t\t and shall say to them: Thus says the LORD of hosts: So will I break this people and this city, as one breaks a potter's vessel, so that it can never be mended. In Topheth they shall bury until there is no more room to bury.\r\n\t\t\t Thus will I do to this place, says the LORD, and to its inhabitants, making this city like Topheth.\r\n\t\t\t And the houses of Jerusalem and the houses of the kings of Judah shall be defiled like the place of Topheth-- all the houses upon whose roofs offerings have been made to the whole host of heaven, and libations have been poured out to other gods.\r\n\t\t\t When Jeremiah came from Topheth, where the LORD had sent him to prophesy, he stood in the court of the LORD's house and said to all the people:\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: I am now bringing upon this city and upon all its towns all the disaster that I have pronounced against it, because they have stiffened their necks, refusing to hear my words.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now the priest Pashhur son of Immer, who was chief officer in the house of the LORD, heard Jeremiah prophesying these things.\r\n\t\t\t Then Pashhur struck the prophet Jeremiah, and put him in the stocks that were in the upper Benjamin Gate of the house of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t The next morning when Pashhur released Jeremiah from the stocks, Jeremiah said to him, The LORD has named you not Pashhur but \"Terror-all-around.\"\r\n\t\t\t For thus says the LORD: I am making you a terror to yourself and to all your friends; and they shall fall by the sword of their enemies while you look on. And I will give all Judah into the hand of the king of Babylon; he shall carry them captive to Babylon, and shall kill them with the sword.\r\n\t\t\t I will give all the wealth of this city, all its gains, all its prized belongings, and all the treasures of the kings of Judah into the hand of their enemies, who shall plunder them, and seize them, and carry them to Babylon.\r\n\t\t\t And you, Pashhur, and all who live in your house, shall go into captivity, and to Babylon you shall go; there you shall die, and there you shall be buried, you and all your friends, to whom you have prophesied falsely.\r\n\t\t\t O LORD, you have enticed me, and I was enticed; you have overpowered me, and you have prevailed. I have become a laughingstock all day long; everyone mocks me.\r\n\t\t\t For whenever I speak, I must cry out, I must shout, \"Violence and destruction!\" For the word of the LORD has become for me a reproach and derision all day long.\r\n\t\t\t If I say, \"I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name,\" then within me there is something like a burning fire shut up in my bones; I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot.\r\n\t\t\t For I hear many whispering: \"Terror is all around! Denounce him! Let us denounce him!\" All my close friends are watching for me to stumble. \"Perhaps he can be enticed, and we can prevail against him, and take our revenge on him.\"\r\n\t\t\t But the LORD is with me like a dread warrior; therefore my persecutors will stumble, and they will not prevail. They will be greatly shamed, for they will not succeed. Their eternal dishonor will never be forgotten.\r\n\t\t\t O LORD of hosts, you test the righteous, you see the heart and the mind; let me see your retribution upon them, for to you I have committed my cause.\r\n\t\t\t Sing to the LORD; praise the LORD! For he has delivered the life of the needy from the hands of evildoers.\r\n\t\t\t Cursed be the day on which I was born! The day when my mother bore me, let it not be blessed!\r\n\t\t\t Cursed be the man who brought the news to my father, saying, \"A child is born to you, a son,\" making him very glad.\r\n\t\t\t Let that man be like the cities that the LORD overthrew without pity; let him hear a cry in the morning and an alarm at noon,\r\n\t\t\t because he did not kill me in the womb; so my mother would have been my grave, and her womb forever great.\r\n\t\t\t Why did I come forth from the womb to see toil and sorrow, and spend my days in shame?\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, when King Zedekiah sent to him Pashhur son of Malchiah and the priest Zephaniah son of Maaseiah, saying,\r\n\t\t\t \"Please inquire of the LORD on our behalf, for King Nebuchadrezzar of Babylon is making war against us; perhaps the LORD will perform a wonderful deed for us, as he has often done, and will make him withdraw from us.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Jeremiah said to them:\r\n\t\t\t Thus you shall say to Zedekiah: Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: I am going to turn back the weapons of war that are in your hands and with which you are fighting against the king of Babylon and against the Chaldeans who are besieging you outside the walls; and I will bring them together into the center of this city.\r\n\t\t\t I myself will fight against you with outstretched hand and mighty arm, in anger, in fury, and in great wrath.\r\n\t\t\t And I will strike down the inhabitants of this city, both human beings and animals; they shall die of a great pestilence.\r\n\t\t\t Afterward, says the LORD, I will give King Zedekiah of Judah, and his servants, and the people in this city-- those who survive the pestilence, sword, and famine-- into the hands of King Nebuchadrezzar of Babylon, into the hands of their enemies, into the hands of those who seek their lives. He shall strike them down with the edge of the sword; he shall not pity them, or spare them, or have compassion.\r\n\t\t\t And to this people you shall say: Thus says the LORD: See, I am setting before you the way of life and the way of death.\r\n\t\t\t Those who stay in this city shall die by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence; but those who go out and surrender to the Chaldeans who are besieging you shall live and shall have their lives as a prize of war.\r\n\t\t\t For I have set my face against this city for evil and not for good, says the LORD: it shall be given into the hands of the king of Babylon, and he shall burn it with fire.\r\n\t\t\t To the house of the king of Judah say: Hear the word of the LORD,\r\n\t\t\t O house of David! Thus says the LORD: Execute justice in the morning, and deliver from the hand of the oppressor anyone who has been robbed, or else my wrath will go forth like fire, and burn, with no one to quench it, because of your evil doings.\r\n\t\t\t See, I am against you, O inhabitant of the valley, O rock of the plain, says the LORD; you who say, \"Who can come down against us, or who can enter our places of refuge?\"\r\n\t\t\t I will punish you according to the fruit of your doings, says the LORD; I will kindle a fire in its forest, and it shall devour all that is around it.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD: Go down to the house of the king of Judah, and speak there this word,\r\n\t\t\t and say: Hear the word of the LORD, O King of Judah sitting on the throne of David-- you, and your servants, and your people who enter these gates.\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD: Act with justice and righteousness, and deliver from the hand of the oppressor anyone who has been robbed. And do no wrong or violence to the alien, the orphan, and the widow, or shed innocent blood in this place.\r\n\t\t\t For if you will indeed obey this word, then through the gates of this house shall enter kings who sit on the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, they, and their servants, and their people.\r\n\t\t\t But if you will not heed these words, I swear by myself, says the LORD, that this house shall become a desolation.\r\n\t\t\t For thus says the LORD concerning the house of the king of Judah: You are like Gilead to me, like the summit of Lebanon; but I swear that I will make you a desert, an uninhabited city. \r\n\t\t\t I will prepare destroyers against you, all with their weapons; they shall cut down your choicest cedars and cast them into the fire.\r\n\t\t\t And many nations will pass by this city, and all of them will say one to another, \"Why has the LORD dealt in this way with that great city?\"\r\n\t\t\t And they will answer, \"Because they abandoned the covenant of the LORD their God, and worshiped other gods and served them.\"\r\n\t\t\t Do not weep for him who is dead, nor bemoan him; weep rather for him who goes away, for he shall return no more to see his native land.\r\n\t\t\t For thus says the LORD concerning Shallum son of King Josiah of Judah, who succeeded his father Josiah, and who went away from this place: He shall return here no more,\r\n\t\t\t but in the place where they have carried him captive he shall die, and he shall never see this land again.\r\n\t\t\t Woe to him who builds his house by unrighteousness, and his upper rooms by injustice; who makes his neighbors work for nothing, and does not give them their wages;\r\n\t\t\t who says, \"I will build myself a spacious house with large upper rooms,\" and who cuts out windows for it, paneling it with cedar, and painting it with vermilion.\r\n\t\t\t Are you a king because you compete in cedar? Did not your father eat and drink and do justice and righteousness? Then it was well with him.\r\n\t\t\t He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well. Is not this to know me? says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t But your eyes and heart are only on your dishonest gain, for shedding innocent blood, and for practicing oppression and violence.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore thus says the LORD concerning King Jehoiakim son of Josiah of Judah: They shall not lament for him, saying, \"Alas, my brother!\" or \"Alas, sister!\" They shall not lament for him, saying, \"Alas, lord!\" or \"Alas, his majesty!\"\r\n\t\t\t With the burial of a donkey he shall be buried-- dragged off and thrown out beyond the gates of Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t Go up to Lebanon, and cry out, and lift up your voice in Bashan; cry out from Abarim, for all your lovers are crushed.\r\n\t\t\t I spoke to you in your prosperity, but you said, \"I will not listen.\" This has been your way from your youth, for you have not obeyed my voice.\r\n\t\t\t The wind shall shepherd all your shepherds, and your lovers shall go into captivity; then you will be ashamed and dismayed because of all your wickedness.\r\n\t\t\t O inhabitant of Lebanon, nested among the cedars, how you will groan when pangs come upon you, pain as of a woman in labor! \r\n\t\t\t As I live, says the LORD, even if King Coniah son of Jehoiakim of Judah were the signet ring on my right hand, even from there I would tear you off\r\n\t\t\t and give you into the hands of those who seek your life, into the hands of those of whom you are afraid, even into the hands of King Nebuchadrezzar of Babylon and into the hands of the Chaldeans.\r\n\t\t\t I will hurl you and the mother who bore you into another country, where you were not born, and there you shall die.\r\n\t\t\t But they shall not return to the land to which they long to return.\r\n\t\t\t Is this man Coniah a despised broken pot, a vessel no one wants? Why are he and his offspring hurled out and cast away in a land that they do not know?\r\n\t\t\t O land, land, land, hear the word of the LORD!\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD: Record this man as childless, a man who shall not succeed in his days; for none of his offspring shall succeed in sitting on the throne of David, and ruling again in Judah.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who shepherd my people: It is you who have scattered my flock, and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. So I will attend to you for your evil doings, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Then I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the lands where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply.\r\n\t\t\t I will raise up shepherds over them who will shepherd them, and they shall not fear any longer, or be dismayed, nor shall any be missing, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t The days are surely coming, says the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.\r\n\t\t\t In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. And this is the name by which he will be called: \"The LORD is our righteousness.\"\r\n\t\t\t Therefore, the days are surely coming, says the LORD, when it shall no longer be said, \"As the LORD lives who brought the people of Israel up out of the land of Egypt,\"\r\n\t\t\t but \"As the LORD lives who brought out and led the offspring of the house of Israel out of the land of the north and out of all the lands where he had driven them.\" Then they shall live in their own land. \r\n\t\t\t Concerning the prophets: My heart is crushed within me, all my bones shake; I have become like a drunkard, like one overcome by wine, because of the LORD and because of his holy words.\r\n\t\t\t For the land is full of adulterers; because of the curse the land mourns, and the pastures of the wilderness are dried up. Their course has been evil, and their might is not right.\r\n\t\t\t Both prophet and priest are ungodly; even in my house I have found their wickedness, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore their way shall be to them like slippery paths in the darkness, into which they shall be driven and fall; for I will bring disaster upon them in the year of their punishment, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t In the prophets of Samaria I saw a disgusting thing: they prophesied by Baal and led my people Israel astray.\r\n\t\t\t But in the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen a more shocking thing: they commit adultery and walk in lies; they strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that no one turns from wickedness; all of them have become like Sodom to me, and its inhabitants like Gomorrah.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts concerning the prophets: \"I am going to make them eat wormwood, and give them poisoned water to drink; for from the prophets of Jerusalem ungodliness has spread throughout the land.\"\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD of hosts: Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you; they are deluding you. They speak visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t They keep saying to those who despise the word of the LORD, \"It shall be well with you\"; and to all who stubbornly follow their own stubborn hearts, they say, \"No calamity shall come upon you.\"\r\n\t\t\t For who has stood in the council of the LORD so as to see and to hear his word? Who has given heed to his word so as to proclaim it?\r\n\t\t\t Look, the storm of the LORD! Wrath has gone forth, a whirling tempest; it will burst upon the head of the wicked.\r\n\t\t\t The anger of the LORD will not turn back until he has executed and accomplished the intents of his mind. In the latter days you will understand it clearly.\r\n\t\t\t I did not send the prophets, yet they ran; I did not speak to them, yet they prophesied.\r\n\t\t\t But if they had stood in my council, then they would have proclaimed my words to my people, and they would have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings.\r\n\t\t\t Am I a God near by, says the LORD, and not a God far off?\r\n\t\t\t Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them? says the LORD. Do I not fill heaven and earth? says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy lies in my name, saying, \"I have dreamed, I have dreamed!\"\r\n\t\t\t How long? Will the hearts of the prophets ever turn back-- those who prophesy lies, and who prophesy the deceit of their own heart?\r\n\t\t\t They plan to make my people forget my name by their dreams that they tell one another, just as their ancestors forgot my name for Baal.\r\n\t\t\t Let the prophet who has a dream tell the dream, but let the one who has my word speak my word faithfully. What has straw in common with wheat? says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Is not my word like fire, says the LORD, and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?\r\n\t\t\t See, therefore, I am against the prophets, says the LORD, who steal my words from one another.\r\n\t\t\t See, I am against the prophets, says the LORD, who use their own tongues and say, \"Says the LORD.\"\r\n\t\t\t See, I am against those who prophesy lying dreams, says the LORD, and who tell them, and who lead my people astray by their lies and their recklessness, when I did not send them or appoint them; so they do not profit this people at all, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t When this people, or a prophet, or a priest asks you, \"What is the burden of the LORD?\" you shall say to them, \"You are the burden, and I will cast you off, says the LORD.\" \r\n\t\t\t And as for the prophet, priest, or the people who say, \"The burden of the LORD,\" I will punish them and their households.\r\n\t\t\t Thus shall you say to one another, among yourselves, \"What has the LORD answered?\" or \"What has the LORD spoken?\"\r\n\t\t\t But \"the burden of the LORD\" you shall mention no more, for the burden is everyone's own word, and so you pervert the words of the living God, the LORD of hosts, our God.\r\n\t\t\t Thus you shall ask the prophet, \"What has the LORD answered you?\" or \"What has the LORD spoken?\"\r\n\t\t\t But if you say, \"the burden of the LORD,\" thus says the LORD: Because you have said these words, \"the burden of the LORD,\" when I sent to you, saying, You shall not say, \"the burden of the LORD,\"\r\n\t\t\t therefore, I will surely lift you up and cast you away from my presence, you and the city that I gave to you and your ancestors. \r\n\t\t\t And I will bring upon you everlasting disgrace and perpetual shame, which shall not be forgotten.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The LORD showed me two baskets of figs placed before the temple of the LORD. This was after King Nebuchadrezzar of Babylon had taken into exile from Jerusalem King Jeconiah son of Jehoiakim of Judah, together with the officials of Judah, the artisans, and the smiths, and had brought them to Babylon.\r\n\t\t\t One basket had very good figs, like first-ripe figs, but the other basket had very bad figs, so bad that they could not be eaten.\r\n\t\t\t And the LORD said to me, \"What do you see, Jeremiah?\" I said, \"Figs, the good figs very good, and the bad figs very bad, so bad that they cannot be eaten.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the word of the LORD came to me:\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Like these good figs, so I will regard as good the exiles from Judah, whom I have sent away from this place to the land of the Chaldeans.\r\n\t\t\t I will set my eyes upon them for good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up, and not tear them down; I will plant them, and not pluck them up.\r\n\t\t\t I will give them a heart to know that I am the LORD; and they shall be my people and I will be their God, for they shall return to me with their whole heart.\r\n\t\t\t But thus says the LORD: Like the bad figs that are so bad they cannot be eaten, so will I treat King Zedekiah of Judah, his officials, the remnant of Jerusalem who remain in this land, and those who live in the land of Egypt.\r\n\t\t\t I will make them a horror, an evil thing, to all the kingdoms of the earth-- a disgrace, a byword, a taunt, and a curse in all the places where I shall drive them.\r\n\t\t\t And I will send sword, famine, and pestilence upon them, until they are utterly destroyed from the land that I gave to them and their ancestors.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah, in the fourth year of King Jehoiakim son of Josiah of Judah (that was the first year of King Nebuchadrezzar of Babylon),\r\n\t\t\t which the prophet Jeremiah spoke to all the people of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem:\r\n\t\t\t For twenty-three years, from the thirteenth year of King Josiah son of Amon of Judah, to this day, the word of the LORD has come to me, and I have spoken persistently to you, but you have not listened.\r\n\t\t\t And though the LORD persistently sent you all his servants the prophets, you have neither listened nor inclined your ears to hear\r\n\t\t\t when they said, \"Turn now, everyone of you, from your evil way and wicked doings, and you will remain upon the land that the LORD has given to you and your ancestors from of old and forever;\r\n\t\t\t do not go after other gods to serve and worship them, and do not provoke me to anger with the work of your hands. Then I will do you no harm.\"\r\n\t\t\t Yet you did not listen to me, says the LORD, and so you have provoked me to anger with the work of your hands to your own harm.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts: Because you have not obeyed my words,\r\n\t\t\t I am going to send for all the tribes of the north, says the LORD, even for King Nebuchadrezzar of Babylon, my servant, and I will bring them against this land and its inhabitants, and against all these nations around; I will utterly destroy them, and make them an object of horror and of hissing, and an everlasting disgrace. \r\n\t\t\t And I will banish from them the sound of mirth and the sound of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the sound of the millstones and the light of the lamp.\r\n\t\t\t This whole land shall become a ruin and a waste, and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.\r\n\t\t\t Then after seventy years are completed, I will punish the king of Babylon and that nation, the land of the Chaldeans, for their iniquity, says the LORD, making the land an everlasting waste.\r\n\t\t\t I will bring upon that land all the words that I have uttered against it, everything written in this book, which Jeremiah prophesied against all the nations.\r\n\t\t\t For many nations and great kings shall make slaves of them also; and I will repay them according to their deeds and the work of their hands.\r\n\t\t\t For thus the LORD, the God of Israel, said to me: Take from my hand this cup of the wine of wrath, and make all the nations to whom I send you drink it.\r\n\t\t\t They shall drink and stagger and go out of their minds because of the sword that I am sending among them.\r\n\t\t\t So I took the cup from the LORD's hand, and made all the nations to whom the LORD sent me drink it:\r\n\t\t\t Jerusalem and the towns of Judah, its kings and officials, to make them a desolation and a waste, an object of hissing and of cursing, as they are today;\r\n\t\t\t Pharaoh king of Egypt, his servants, his officials, and all his people;\r\n\t\t\t all the mixed people; all the kings of the land of Uz; all the kings of the land of the Philistines-- Ashkelon, Gaza, Ekron, and the remnant of Ashdod;\r\n\t\t\t Edom, Moab, and the Ammonites;\r\n\t\t\t all the kings of Tyre, all the kings of Sidon, and the kings of the coastland across the sea;\r\n\t\t\t Dedan, Tema, Buz, and all who have shaven temples;\r\n\t\t\t all the kings of Arabia and all the kings of the mixed peoples that live in the desert; \r\n\t\t\t all the kings of Zimri, all the kings of Elam, and all the kings of Media;\r\n\t\t\t all the kings of the north, far and near, one after another, and all the kingdoms of the world that are on the face of the earth. And after them the king of Sheshach shall drink. \r\n\t\t\t Then you shall say to them, Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Drink, get drunk and vomit, fall and rise no more, because of the sword that I am sending among you.\r\n\t\t\t And if they refuse to accept the cup from your hand to drink, then you shall say to them: Thus says the LORD of hosts: You must drink!\r\n\t\t\t See, I am beginning to bring disaster on the city that is called by my name, and how can you possibly avoid punishment? You shall not go unpunished, for I am summoning a sword against all the inhabitants of the earth, says the LORD of hosts.\r\n\t\t\t You, therefore, shall prophesy against them all these words, and say to them: The LORD will roar from on high, and from his holy habitation utter his voice; he will roar mightily against his fold, and shout, like those who tread grapes, against all the inhabitants of the earth.\r\n\t\t\t The clamor will resound to the ends of the earth, for the LORD has an indictment against the nations; he is entering into judgment with all flesh, and the guilty he will put to the sword, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD of hosts: See, disaster is spreading from nation to nation, and a great tempest is stirring from the farthest parts of the earth!\r\n\t\t\t Those slain by the LORD on that day shall extend from one end of the earth to the other. They shall not be lamented, or gathered, or buried; they shall become dung on the surface of the ground.\r\n\t\t\t Wail, you shepherds, and cry out; roll in ashes, you lords of the flock, for the days of your slaughter have come-- and your dispersions, and you shall fall like a choice vessel.\r\n\t\t\t Flight shall fail the shepherds, and there shall be no escape for the lords of the flock.\r\n\t\t\t Hark! the cry of the shepherds, and the wail of the lords of the flock! For the LORD is despoiling their pasture,\r\n\t\t\t and the peaceful folds are devastated, because of the fierce anger of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Like a lion he has left his covert; for their land has become a waste because of the cruel sword, and because of his fierce anger.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t At the beginning of the reign of King Jehoiakim son of Josiah of Judah, this word came from the LORD:\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD: Stand in the court of the LORD's house, and speak to all the cities of Judah that come to worship in the house of the LORD; speak to them all the words that I command you; do not hold back a word.\r\n\t\t\t It may be that they will listen, all of them, and will turn from their evil way, that I may change my mind about the disaster that I intend to bring on them because of their evil doings.\r\n\t\t\t You shall say to them: Thus says the LORD: If you will not listen to me, to walk in my law that I have set before you,\r\n\t\t\t and to heed the words of my servants the prophets whom I send to you urgently-- though you have not heeded--\r\n\t\t\t then I will make this house like Shiloh, and I will make this city a curse for all the nations of the earth.\r\n\t\t\t The priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t And when Jeremiah had finished speaking all that the LORD had commanded him to speak to all the people, then the priests and the prophets and all the people laid hold of him, saying, \"You shall die!\r\n\t\t\t Why have you prophesied in the name of the LORD, saying, 'This house shall be like Shiloh, and this city shall be desolate, without inhabitant'?\" And all the people gathered around Jeremiah in the house of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t When the officials of Judah heard these things, they came up from the king's house to the house of the LORD and took their seat in the entry of the New Gate of the house of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Then the priests and the prophets said to the officials and to all the people, \"This man deserves the sentence of death because he has prophesied against this city, as you have heard with your own ears.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Jeremiah spoke to all the officials and all the people, saying, \"It is the LORD who sent me to prophesy against this house and this city all the words you have heard.\r\n\t\t\t Now therefore amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of the LORD your God, and the LORD will change his mind about the disaster that he has pronounced against you.\r\n\t\t\t But as for me, here I am in your hands. Do with me as seems good and right to you.\r\n\t\t\t Only know for certain that if you put me to death, you will be bringing innocent blood upon yourselves and upon this city and its inhabitants, for in truth the LORD sent me to you to speak all these words in your ears.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the officials and all the people said to the priests and the prophets, \"This man does not deserve the sentence of death, for he has spoken to us in the name of the LORD our God.\"\r\n\t\t\t And some of the elders of the land arose and said to all the assembled people,\r\n\t\t\t \"Micah of Moresheth, who prophesied during the days of King Hezekiah of Judah, said to all the people of Judah: 'Thus says the LORD of hosts, Zion shall be plowed as a field; Jerusalem shall become a heap of ruins, and the mountain of the house a wooded height.'\r\n\t\t\t Did King Hezekiah of Judah and all Judah actually put him to death? Did he not fear the LORD and entreat the favor of the LORD, and did not the LORD change his mind about the disaster that he had pronounced against them? But we are about to bring great disaster on ourselves!\"\r\n\t\t\t There was another man prophesying in the name of the LORD, Uriah son of Shemaiah from Kiriath-jearim. He prophesied against this city and against this land in words exactly like those of Jeremiah.\r\n\t\t\t And when King Jehoiakim, with all his warriors and all the officials, heard his words, the king sought to put him to death; but when Uriah heard of it, he was afraid and fled and escaped to Egypt.\r\n\t\t\t Then King Jehoiakim sent Elnathan son of Achbor and men with him to Egypt, \r\n\t\t\t and they took Uriah from Egypt and brought him to King Jehoiakim, who struck him down with the sword and threw his dead body into the burial place of the common people.\r\n\t\t\t But the hand of Ahikam son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah so that he was not given over into the hands of the people to be put to death.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t In the beginning of the reign of King Zedekiah son of Josiah of Judah, this word came to Jeremiah from the LORD. \r\n\t\t\t Thus the LORD said to me: Make yourself a yoke of straps and bars, and put them on your neck.\r\n\t\t\t Send word to the king of Edom, the king of Moab, the king of the Ammonites, the king of Tyre, and the king of Sidon by the hand of the envoys who have come to Jerusalem to King Zedekiah of Judah. \r\n\t\t\t Give them this charge for their masters: Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: This is what you shall say to your masters:\r\n\t\t\t It is I who by my great power and my outstretched arm have made the earth, with the people and animals that are on the earth, and I give it to whomever I please.\r\n\t\t\t Now I have given all these lands into the hand of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, my servant, and I have given him even the wild animals of the field to serve him.\r\n\t\t\t All the nations shall serve him and his son and his grandson, until the time of his own land comes; then many nations and great kings shall make him their slave.\r\n\t\t\t But if any nation or kingdom will not serve this king, Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, and put its neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, then I will punish that nation with the sword, with famine, and with pestilence, says the LORD, until I have completed its destruction by his hand. \r\n\t\t\t You, therefore, must not listen to your prophets, your diviners, your dreamers, your soothsayers, or your sorcerers, who are saying to you, 'You shall not serve the king of Babylon.' \r\n\t\t\t For they are prophesying a lie to you, with the result that you will be removed far from your land; I will drive you out, and you will perish.\r\n\t\t\t But any nation that will bring its neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon and serve him, I will leave on its own land, says the LORD, to till it and live there.\r\n\t\t\t I spoke to King Zedekiah of Judah in the same way: Bring your necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him and his people, and live.\r\n\t\t\t Why should you and your people die by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence, as the LORD has spoken concerning any nation that will not serve the king of Babylon?\r\n\t\t\t Do not listen to the words of the prophets who are telling you not to serve the king of Babylon, for they are prophesying a lie to you.\r\n\t\t\t I have not sent them, says the LORD, but they are prophesying falsely in my name, with the result that I will drive you out and you will perish, you and the prophets who are prophesying to you.\r\n\t\t\t Then I spoke to the priests and to all this people, saying, Thus says the LORD: Do not listen to the words of your prophets who are prophesying to you, saying, \"The vessels of the LORD's house will soon be brought back from Babylon,\" for they are prophesying a lie to you.\r\n\t\t\t Do not listen to them; serve the king of Babylon and live. Why should this city become a desolation?\r\n\t\t\t If indeed they are prophets, and if the word of the LORD is with them, then let them intercede with the LORD of hosts, that the vessels left in the house of the LORD, in the house of the king of Judah, and in Jerusalem may not go to Babylon.\r\n\t\t\t For thus says the LORD of hosts concerning the pillars, the sea, the stands, and the rest of the vessels that are left in this city,\r\n\t\t\t which King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon did not take away when he took into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon King Jeconiah son of Jehoiakim of Judah, and all the nobles of Judah and Jerusalem--\r\n\t\t\t thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, concerning the vessels left in the house of the LORD, in the house of the king of Judah, and in Jerusalem:\r\n\t\t\t They shall be carried to Babylon, and there they shall stay, until the day when I give attention to them, says the LORD. Then I will bring them up and restore them to this place.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t In that same year, at the beginning of the reign of King Zedekiah of Judah, in the fifth month of the fourth year, the prophet Hananiah son of Azzur, from Gibeon, spoke to me in the house of the LORD, in the presence of the priests and all the people, saying,\r\n\t\t\t \"Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon.\r\n\t\t\t Within two years I will bring back to this place all the vessels of the LORD's house, which King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon took away from this place and carried to Babylon.\r\n\t\t\t I will also bring back to this place King Jeconiah son of Jehoiakim of Judah, and all the exiles from Judah who went to Babylon, says the LORD, for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the prophet Jeremiah spoke to the prophet Hananiah in the presence of the priests and all the people who were standing in the house of the LORD;\r\n\t\t\t and the prophet Jeremiah said, \"Amen! May the LORD do so; may the LORD fulfill the words that you have prophesied, and bring back to this place from Babylon the vessels of the house of the LORD, and all the exiles.\r\n\t\t\t But listen now to this word that I speak in your hearing and in the hearing of all the people.\r\n\t\t\t The prophets who preceded you and me from ancient times prophesied war, famine, and pestilence against many countries and great kingdoms.\r\n\t\t\t As for the prophet who prophesies peace, when the word of that prophet comes true, then it will be known that the LORD has truly sent the prophet.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the prophet Hananiah took the yoke from the neck of the prophet Jeremiah, and broke it.\r\n\t\t\t And Hananiah spoke in the presence of all the people, saying, \"Thus says the LORD: This is how I will break the yoke of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon from the neck of all the nations within two years.\" At this, the prophet Jeremiah went his way.\r\n\t\t\t Sometime after the prophet Hananiah had broken the yoke from the neck of the prophet Jeremiah, the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah:\r\n\t\t\t Go, tell Hananiah, Thus says the LORD: You have broken wooden bars only to forge iron bars in place of them!\r\n\t\t\t For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: I have put an iron yoke on the neck of all these nations so that they may serve King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, and they shall indeed serve him; I have even given him the wild animals.\r\n\t\t\t And the prophet Jeremiah said to the prophet Hananiah, \"Listen, Hananiah, the LORD has not sent you, and you made this people trust in a lie.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore thus says the LORD: I am going to send you off the face of the earth. Within this year you will be dead, because you have spoken rebellion against the LORD.\"\r\n\t\t\t In that same year, in the seventh month, the prophet Hananiah died.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t These are the words of the letter that the prophet Jeremiah sent from Jerusalem to the remaining elders among the exiles, and to the priests, the prophets, and all the people, whom Nebuchadnezzar had taken into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon.\r\n\t\t\t This was after King Jeconiah, and the queen mother, the court officials, the leaders of Judah and Jerusalem, the artisans, and the smiths had departed from Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t The letter was sent by the hand of Elasah son of Shaphan and Gemariah son of Hilkiah, whom King Zedekiah of Judah sent to Babylon to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. It said:\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon:\r\n\t\t\t Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat what they produce.\r\n\t\t\t Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease.\r\n\t\t\t But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.\r\n\t\t\t For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let the prophets and the diviners who are among you deceive you, and do not listen to the dreams that they dream, \r\n\t\t\t for it is a lie that they are prophesying to you in my name; I did not send them, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t For thus says the LORD: Only when Babylon's seventy years are completed will I visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place.\r\n\t\t\t For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.\r\n\t\t\t Then when you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you.\r\n\t\t\t When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart,\r\n\t\t\t I will let you find me, says the LORD, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, says the LORD, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.\r\n\t\t\t Because you have said, \"The LORD has raised up prophets for us in Babylon,\"--\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD concerning the king who sits on the throne of David, and concerning all the people who live in this city, your kinsfolk who did not go out with you into exile:\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD of hosts, I am going to let loose on them sword, famine, and pestilence, and I will make them like rotten figs that are so bad they cannot be eaten.\r\n\t\t\t I will pursue them with the sword, with famine, and with pestilence, and will make them a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth, to be an object of cursing, and horror, and hissing, and a derision among all the nations where I have driven them,\r\n\t\t\t because they did not heed my words, says the LORD, when I persistently sent to you my servants the prophets, but they would not listen, says the LORD. \r\n\t\t\t But now, all you exiles whom I sent away from Jerusalem to Babylon, hear the word of the LORD:\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, concerning Ahab son of Kolaiah and Zedekiah son of Maaseiah, who are prophesying a lie to you in my name: I am going to deliver them into the hand of King Nebuchadrezzar of Babylon, and he shall kill them before your eyes.\r\n\t\t\t And on account of them this curse shall be used by all the exiles from Judah in Babylon: \"The LORD make you like Zedekiah and Ahab, whom the king of Babylon roasted in the fire,\"\r\n\t\t\t because they have perpetrated outrage in Israel and have committed adultery with their neighbors' wives, and have spoken in my name lying words that I did not command them; I am the one who knows and bears witness, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t To Shemaiah of Nehelam you shall say:\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: In your own name you sent a letter to all the people who are in Jerusalem, and to the priest Zephaniah son of Maaseiah, and to all the priests, saying,\r\n\t\t\t The LORD himself has made you priest instead of the priest Jehoiada, so that there may be officers in the house of the LORD to control any madman who plays the prophet, to put him in the stocks and the collar.\r\n\t\t\t So now why have you not rebuked Jeremiah of Anathoth who plays the prophet for you?\r\n\t\t\t For he has actually sent to us in Babylon, saying, \"It will be a long time; build houses and live in them, and plant gardens and eat what they produce.\"\r\n\t\t\t The priest Zephaniah read this letter in the hearing of the prophet Jeremiah.\r\n\t\t\t Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah:\r\n\t\t\t Send to all the exiles, saying, Thus says the LORD concerning Shemaiah of Nehelam: Because Shemaiah has prophesied to you, though I did not send him, and has led you to trust in a lie,\r\n\t\t\t therefore thus says the LORD: I am going to punish Shemaiah of Nehelam and his descendants; he shall not have anyone living among this people to see the good that I am going to do to my people, says the LORD, for he has spoken rebellion against the LORD. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD:\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Write in a book all the words that I have spoken to you.\r\n\t\t\t For the days are surely coming, says the LORD, when I will restore the fortunes of my people, Israel and Judah, says the LORD, and I will bring them back to the land that I gave to their ancestors and they shall take possession of it.\r\n\t\t\t These are the words that the LORD spoke concerning Israel and Judah:\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD: We have heard a cry of panic, of terror, and no peace.\r\n\t\t\t Ask now, and see, can a man bear a child? Why then do I see every man with his hands on his loins like a woman in labor? Why has every face turned pale?\r\n\t\t\t Alas! that day is so great there is none like it; it is a time of distress for Jacob; yet he shall be rescued from it.\r\n\t\t\t On that day, says the LORD of hosts, I will break the yoke from off his neck, and I will burst his bonds, and strangers shall no more make a servant of him. \r\n\t\t\t But they shall serve the LORD their God and David their king, whom I will raise up for them.\r\n\t\t\t But as for you, have no fear, my servant Jacob, says the LORD, and do not be dismayed, O Israel; for I am going to save you from far away, and your offspring from the land of their captivity. Jacob shall return and have quiet and ease, and no one shall make him afraid.\r\n\t\t\t For I am with you, says the LORD, to save you; I will make an end of all the nations among which I scattered you, but of you I will not make an end. I will chastise you in just measure, and I will by no means leave you unpunished.\r\n\t\t\t For thus says the LORD: Your hurt is incurable, your wound is grievous.\r\n\t\t\t There is no one to uphold your cause, no medicine for your wound, no healing for you.\r\n\t\t\t All your lovers have forgotten you; they care nothing for you; for I have dealt you the blow of an enemy, the punishment of a merciless foe, because your guilt is great, because your sins are so numerous.\r\n\t\t\t Why do you cry out over your hurt? Your pain is incurable. Because your guilt is great, because your sins are so numerous, I have done these things to you.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore all who devour you shall be devoured, and all your foes, everyone of them, shall go into captivity; those who plunder you shall be plundered, and all who prey on you I will make a prey.\r\n\t\t\t For I will restore health to you, and your wounds I will heal, says the LORD, because they have called you an outcast: \"It is Zion; no one cares for her!\"\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD: I am going to restore the fortunes of the tents of Jacob, and have compassion on his dwellings; the city shall be rebuilt upon its mound, and the citadel set on its rightful site.\r\n\t\t\t Out of them shall come thanksgiving, and the sound of merrymakers. I will make them many, and they shall not be few; I will make them honored, and they shall not be disdained.\r\n\t\t\t Their children shall be as of old, their congregation shall be established before me; and I will punish all who oppress them.\r\n\t\t\t Their prince shall be one of their own, their ruler shall come from their midst; I will bring him near, and he shall approach me, for who would otherwise dare to approach me? says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t And you shall be my people, and I will be your God.\r\n\t\t\t Look, the storm of the LORD! Wrath has gone forth, a whirling tempest; it will burst upon the head of the wicked. \r\n\t\t\t The fierce anger of the LORD will not turn back until he has executed and accomplished the intents of his mind. In the latter days you will understand this.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t At that time, says the LORD, I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people.\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD: The people who survived the sword found grace in the wilderness; when Israel sought for rest,\r\n\t\t\t the LORD appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you. \r\n\t\t\t Again I will build you, and you shall be built, O virgin Israel! Again you shall take your tambourines, and go forth in the dance of the merrymakers. \r\n\t\t\t Again you shall plant vineyards on the mountains of Samaria; the planters shall plant, and shall enjoy the fruit.\r\n\t\t\t For there shall be a day when sentinels will call in the hill country of Ephraim: \"Come, let us go up to Zion, to the LORD our God.\"\r\n\t\t\t For thus says the LORD: Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob, and raise shouts for the chief of the nations; proclaim, give praise, and say, \"Save, O LORD, your people, the remnant of Israel.\"\r\n\t\t\t See, I am going to bring them from the land of the north, and gather them from the farthest parts of the earth, among them the blind and the lame, those with child and those in labor, together; a great company, they shall return here.\r\n\t\t\t With weeping they shall come, and with consolations I will lead them back, I will let them walk by brooks of water, in a straight path in which they shall not stumble; for I have become a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn. \r\n\t\t\t Hear the word of the LORD, O nations, and declare it in the coastlands far away; say, \"He who scattered Israel will gather him, and will keep him as a shepherd a flock.\"\r\n\t\t\t For the LORD has ransomed Jacob, and has redeemed him from hands too strong for him.\r\n\t\t\t They shall come and sing aloud on the height of Zion, and they shall be radiant over the goodness of the LORD, over the grain, the wine, and the oil, and over the young of the flock and the herd; their life shall become like a watered garden, and they shall never languish again.\r\n\t\t\t Then shall the young women rejoice in the dance, and the young men and the old shall be merry. I will turn their mourning into joy, I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow.\r\n\t\t\t I will give the priests their fill of fatness, and my people shall be satisfied with my bounty, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD: A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children; she refuses to be comforted for her children, because they are no more.\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD: Keep your voice from weeping, and your eyes from tears; for there is a reward for your work, says the LORD: they shall come back from the land of the enemy;\r\n\t\t\t there is hope for your future, says the LORD: your children shall come back to their own country.\r\n\t\t\t Indeed I heard Ephraim pleading: \"You disciplined me, and I took the discipline; I was like a calf untrained. Bring me back, let me come back, for you are the LORD my God.\r\n\t\t\t For after I had turned away I repented; and after I was discovered, I struck my thigh; I was ashamed, and I was dismayed because I bore the disgrace of my youth.\"\r\n\t\t\t Is Ephraim my dear son? Is he the child I delight in? As often as I speak against him, I still remember him. Therefore I am deeply moved for him; I will surely have mercy on him, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Set up road markers for yourself, make yourself guideposts; consider well the highway, the road by which you went. Return, O virgin Israel, return to these your cities.\r\n\t\t\t How long will you waver, O faithless daughter? For the LORD has created a new thing on the earth: a woman encompasses a man. \r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Once more they shall use these words in the land of Judah and in its towns when I restore their fortunes: \"The LORD bless you, O abode of righteousness, O holy hill!\"\r\n\t\t\t And Judah and all its towns shall live there together, and the farmers and those who wander with their flocks. \r\n\t\t\t I will satisfy the weary, and all who are faint I will replenish.\r\n\t\t\t Thereupon I awoke and looked, and my sleep was pleasant to me.\r\n\t\t\t The days are surely coming, says the LORD, when I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of humans and the seed of animals.\r\n\t\t\t And just as I have watched over them to pluck up and break down, to overthrow, destroy, and bring evil, so I will watch over them to build and to plant, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t In those days they shall no longer say: \"The parents have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge.\"\r\n\t\t\t But all shall die for their own sins; the teeth of everyone who eats sour grapes shall be set on edge.\r\n\t\t\t The days are surely coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah.\r\n\t\t\t It will not be like the covenant that I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt-- a covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.\r\n\t\t\t No longer shall they teach one another, or say to each other, \"Know the LORD,\" for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the LORD; for I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more.\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD, who gives the sun for light by day and the fixed order of the moon and the stars for light by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar-- the LORD of hosts is his name:\r\n\t\t\t If this fixed order were ever to cease from my presence, says the LORD, then also the offspring of Israel would cease to be a nation before me forever.\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD: If the heavens above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth below can be explored, then I will reject all the offspring of Israel because of all they have done, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t The days are surely coming, says the LORD, when the city shall be rebuilt for the LORD from the tower of Hananel to the Corner Gate.\r\n\t\t\t And the measuring line shall go out farther, straight to the hill Gareb, and shall then turn to Goah.\r\n\t\t\t The whole valley of the dead bodies and the ashes, and all the fields as far as the Wadi Kidron, to the corner of the Horse Gate toward the east, shall be sacred to the LORD. It shall never again be uprooted or overthrown.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD in the tenth year of King Zedekiah of Judah, which was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadrezzar.\r\n\t\t\t At that time the army of the king of Babylon was besieging Jerusalem, and the prophet Jeremiah was confined in the court of the guard that was in the palace of the king of Judah,\r\n\t\t\t where King Zedekiah of Judah had confined him. Zedekiah had said, \"Why do you prophesy and say: Thus says the LORD: I am going to give this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall take it;\r\n\t\t\t King Zedekiah of Judah shall not escape out of the hands of the Chaldeans, but shall surely be given into the hands of the king of Babylon, and shall speak with him face to face and see him eye to eye;\r\n\t\t\t and he shall take Zedekiah to Babylon, and there he shall remain until I attend to him, says the LORD; though you fight against the Chaldeans, you shall not succeed?\"\r\n\t\t\t Jeremiah said, The word of the LORD came to me:\r\n\t\t\t Hanamel son of your uncle Shallum is going to come to you and say, \"Buy my field that is at Anathoth, for the right of redemption by purchase is yours.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then my cousin Hanamel came to me in the court of the guard, in accordance with the word of the LORD, and said to me, \"Buy my field that is at Anathoth in the land of Benjamin, for the right of possession and redemption is yours; buy it for yourself.\" Then I knew that this was the word of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t And I bought the field at Anathoth from my cousin Hanamel, and weighed out the money to him, seventeen shekels of silver.\r\n\t\t\t I signed the deed, sealed it, got witnesses, and weighed the money on scales.\r\n\t\t\t Then I took the sealed deed of purchase, containing the terms and conditions, and the open copy;\r\n\t\t\t and I gave the deed of purchase to Baruch son of Neriah son 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 who were sitting in the court of the guard.\r\n\t\t\t In their presence I charged Baruch, saying,\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Take these deeds, both this sealed deed of purchase and this open deed, and put them in an earthenware jar, in order that they may last for a long time.\r\n\t\t\t For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Houses and fields and vineyards shall again be bought in this land.\r\n\t\t\t After I had given the deed of purchase to Baruch son of Neriah, I prayed to the LORD, saying:\r\n\t\t\t Ah Lord GOD! It is you who made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.\r\n\t\t\t You show steadfast love to the thousandth generation, but repay the guilt of parents into the laps of their children after them, O great and mighty God whose name is the LORD of hosts, \r\n\t\t\t great in counsel and mighty in deed; whose eyes are open to all the ways of mortals, rewarding all according to their ways and according to the fruit of their doings.\r\n\t\t\t You showed signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, and to this day in Israel and among all humankind, and have made yourself a name that continues to this very day.\r\n\t\t\t You brought your people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs and wonders, with a strong hand and outstretched arm, and with great terror;\r\n\t\t\t and you gave them this land, which you swore to their ancestors to give them, a land flowing with milk and honey;\r\n\t\t\t and they entered and took possession of it. But they did not obey your voice or follow your law; of all you commanded them to do, they did nothing. Therefore you have made all these disasters come upon them.\r\n\t\t\t See, the siege ramps have been cast up against the city to take it, and the city, faced with sword, famine, and pestilence, has been given into the hands of the Chaldeans who are fighting against it. What you spoke has happened, as you yourself can see.\r\n\t\t\t Yet you, O Lord GOD, have said to me, \"Buy the field for money and get witnesses\"-- though the city has been given into the hands of the Chaldeans.\r\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah:\r\n\t\t\t See, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh; is anything too hard for me?\r\n\t\t\t Therefore, thus says the LORD: I am going to give this city into the hands of the Chaldeans and into the hand of King Nebuchadrezzar of Babylon, and he shall take it.\r\n\t\t\t The Chaldeans who are fighting against this city shall come, set it on fire, and burn it, with the houses on whose roofs offerings have been made to Baal and libations have been poured out to other gods, to provoke me to anger.\r\n\t\t\t For the people of Israel and the people of Judah have done nothing but evil in my sight from their youth; the people of Israel have done nothing but provoke me to anger by the work of their hands, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t This city has aroused my anger and wrath, from the day it was built until this day, so that I will remove it from my sight\r\n\t\t\t because of all the evil of the people of Israel and the people of Judah that they did to provoke me to anger-- they, their kings and their officials, their priests and their prophets, the citizens of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t They have turned their backs to me, not their faces; though I have taught them persistently, they would not listen and accept correction.\r\n\t\t\t They set up their abominations in the house that bears my name, and defiled it.\r\n\t\t\t They built the high places of Baal in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to offer up their sons and daughters to Molech, though I did not command them, nor did it enter my mind that they should do this abomination, causing Judah to sin.\r\n\t\t\t Now therefore thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning this city of which you say, \"It is being given into the hand of the king of Babylon by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence\":\r\n\t\t\t See, I am going to gather them from all the lands to which I drove them in my anger and my wrath and in great indignation; I will bring them back to this place, and I will settle them in safety.\r\n\t\t\t They shall be my people, and I will be their God.\r\n\t\t\t I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear me for all time, for their own good and the good of their children after them.\r\n\t\t\t I will make an everlasting covenant with them, never to draw back from doing good to them; and I will put the fear of me in their hearts, so that they may not turn from me.\r\n\t\t\t I will rejoice in doing good to them, and I will plant them in this land in faithfulness, with all my heart and all my soul.\r\n\t\t\t For thus says the LORD: Just as I have brought all this great disaster upon this people, so I will bring upon them all the good fortune that I now promise them.\r\n\t\t\t Fields shall be bought in this land of which you are saying, It is a desolation, without human beings or animals; it has been given into the hands of the Chaldeans.\r\n\t\t\t Fields shall be bought for money, and deeds shall be signed and sealed and witnessed, in the land of Benjamin, in the places around Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, of the hill country, of the Shephelah, and of the Negeb; for I will restore their fortunes, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah a second time, while he was still confined in the court of the guard:\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD who made the earth, the LORD who formed it to establish it-- the LORD is his name:\r\n\t\t\t Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.\r\n\t\t\t For thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning the houses of this city and the houses of the kings of Judah that were torn down to make a defense against the siege ramps and before the sword: \r\n\t\t\t The Chaldeans are coming in to fight and to fill them with the dead bodies of those whom I shall strike down in my anger and my wrath, for I have hidden my face from this city because of all their wickedness. \r\n\t\t\t I am going to bring it recovery and healing; I will heal them and reveal to them abundance of prosperity and security. \r\n\t\t\t I will restore the fortunes of Judah and the fortunes of Israel, and rebuild them as they were at first.\r\n\t\t\t I will cleanse them from all the guilt of their sin against me, and I will forgive all the guilt of their sin and rebellion against me.\r\n\t\t\t And this city shall be to me a name of joy, a praise and a glory before all the nations of the earth who shall hear of all the good that I do for them; they shall fear and tremble because of all the good and all the prosperity I provide for it. \r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD: In this place of which you say, \"It is a waste without human beings or animals,\" in the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem that are desolate, without inhabitants, human or animal, there shall once more be heard\r\n\t\t\t the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voices of those who sing, as they bring thank offerings to the house of the LORD: \"Give thanks to the LORD of hosts, for the LORD is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!\" For I will restore the fortunes of the land as at first, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD of hosts: In this place that is waste, without human beings or animals, and in all its towns there shall again be pasture for shepherds resting their flocks.\r\n\t\t\t In the towns of the hill country, of the Shephelah, and of the Negeb, in the land of Benjamin, the places around Jerusalem, and in the towns of Judah, flocks shall again pass under the hands of the one who counts them, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t The days are surely coming, says the LORD, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah.\r\n\t\t\t In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.\r\n\t\t\t In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. And this is the name by which it will be called: \"The LORD is our righteousness.\"\r\n\t\t\t For thus says the LORD: David shall never lack a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel,\r\n\t\t\t and the levitical priests shall never lack a man in my presence to offer burnt offerings, to make grain offerings, and to make sacrifices for all time.\r\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah:\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD: If any of you could break my covenant with the day and my covenant with the night, so that day and night would not come at their appointed time,\r\n\t\t\t only then could my covenant with my servant David be broken, so that he would not have a son to reign on his throne, and my covenant with my ministers the Levites.\r\n\t\t\t Just as the host of heaven cannot be numbered and the sands of the sea cannot be measured, so I will increase the offspring of my servant David, and the Levites who minister to me.\r\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah:\r\n\t\t\t Have you not observed how these people say, \"The two families that the LORD chose have been rejected by him,\" and how they hold my people in such contempt that they no longer regard them as a nation?\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD: Only if I had not established my covenant with day and night and the ordinances of heaven and earth,\r\n\t\t\t would I reject the offspring of Jacob and of my servant David and not choose any of his descendants as rulers over the offspring of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. For I will restore their fortunes, and will have mercy upon them.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, when King Nebuchadrezzar of Babylon and all his army and all the kingdoms of the earth and all the peoples under his dominion were fighting against Jerusalem and all its cities:\r\n\t\t\t \"Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Go and speak to King Zedekiah of Judah and say to him: Thus says the LORD: I am going to give this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall burn it with fire.\r\n\t\t\t And you yourself shall not escape from his hand, but shall surely be captured and handed over to him; you shall see the king of Babylon eye to eye and speak with him face to face; and you shall go to Babylon.\r\n\t\t\t Yet hear the word of the LORD, O King Zedekiah of Judah! Thus says the LORD concerning you: You shall not die by the sword;\r\n\t\t\t you shall die in peace. And as spices were burned for your ancestors, the earlier kings who preceded you, so they shall burn spices for you and lament for you, saying, \"Alas, lord!\" For I have spoken the word, says the LORD. \r\n\t\t\t Then the prophet Jeremiah spoke all these words to Zedekiah king of Judah, in Jerusalem,\r\n\t\t\t when the army of the king of Babylon was fighting against Jerusalem and against all the cities of Judah that were left, Lachish and Azekah; for these were the only fortified cities of Judah that remained.\r\n\t\t\t The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, after King Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people in Jerusalem to make a proclamation of liberty to them,\r\n\t\t\t that all should set free their Hebrew slaves, male and female, so that no one should hold another Judean in slavery.\r\n\t\t\t And they obeyed, all the officials and all the people who had entered into the covenant that all would set free their slaves, male or female, so that they would not be enslaved again; they obeyed and set them free.\r\n\t\t\t But afterward they turned around and took back the male and female slaves they had set free, and brought them again into subjection as slaves.\r\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah from the LORD:\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: I myself made a covenant with your ancestors when I brought them out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, saying,\r\n\t\t\t \"Every seventh year each of you must set free any Hebrews who have been sold to you and have served you six years; you must set them free from your service.\" But your ancestors did not listen to me or incline their ears to me.\r\n\t\t\t You yourselves recently repented and did what was right in my sight by proclaiming liberty to one another, and you made a covenant before me in the house that is called by my name;\r\n\t\t\t but then you turned around and profaned my name when each of you took back your male and female slaves, whom you had set free according to their desire, and you brought them again into subjection to be your slaves.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore, thus says the LORD: You have not obeyed me by granting a release to your neighbors and friends; I am going to grant a release to you, says the LORD-- a release to the sword, to pestilence, and to famine. I will make you a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth.\r\n\t\t\t And those who transgressed my covenant and did not keep the terms of the covenant that they made before me, I will make like the calf when they cut it in two and passed between its parts: \r\n\t\t\t the 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\r\n\t\t\t shall be handed over to their enemies and to those who seek their lives. Their corpses shall become food for the birds of the air and the wild animals of the earth.\r\n\t\t\t And as for King Zedekiah of Judah and his officials, I will hand them over to their enemies and to those who seek their lives, to the army of the king of Babylon, which has withdrawn from you.\r\n\t\t\t I am going to command, says the LORD, and will bring them back to this city; and they will fight against it, and take it, and burn it with fire. The towns of Judah I will make a desolation without inhabitant.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD in the days of King Jehoiakim son of Josiah of Judah:\r\n\t\t\t Go to the house of the Rechabites, and speak with them, and bring them to the house of the LORD, into one of the chambers; then offer them wine to drink.\r\n\t\t\t So I took Jaazaniah son of Jeremiah son of Habazziniah, and his brothers, and all his sons, and the whole house of the Rechabites.\r\n\t\t\t I brought them to the house of the LORD into the chamber of the sons of Hanan son of Igdaliah, the man of God, which was near the chamber of the officials, above the chamber of Maaseiah son of Shallum, keeper of the threshold.\r\n\t\t\t Then I set before the Rechabites pitchers full of wine, and cups; and I said to them, \"Have some wine.\"\r\n\t\t\t But they answered, \"We will drink no wine, for our ancestor Jonadab son of Rechab commanded us, 'You shall never drink wine, neither you nor your children;\r\n\t\t\t nor shall you ever build a house, or sow seed; nor shall you plant a vineyard, or even own one; but you shall live in tents all your days, that you may live many days in the land where you reside.'\r\n\t\t\t We have obeyed the charge of our ancestor Jonadab son of Rechab in all that he commanded us, to drink no wine all our days, ourselves, our wives, our sons, or our daughters,\r\n\t\t\t and not to build houses to live in. We have no vineyard or field or seed;\r\n\t\t\t but we have lived in tents, and have obeyed and done all that our ancestor Jonadab commanded us.\r\n\t\t\t But when King Nebuchadrezzar of Babylon came up against the land, we said, 'Come, and let us go to Jerusalem for fear of the army of the Chaldeans and the army of the Arameans.' That is why we are living in Jerusalem.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah:\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Go and say to the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Can you not learn a lesson and obey my words? says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t The command has been carried out that Jonadab son of Rechab gave to his descendants to drink no wine; and they drink none to this day, for they have obeyed their ancestor's command. But I myself have spoken to you persistently, and you have not obeyed me.\r\n\t\t\t I have sent to you all my servants the prophets, sending them persistently, saying, 'Turn now everyone of you from your evil way, and amend your doings, and do not go after other gods to serve them, and then you shall live in the land that I gave to you and your ancestors.' But you did not incline your ear or obey me.\r\n\t\t\t The descendants of Jonadab son of Rechab have carried out the command that their ancestor gave them, but this people has not obeyed me.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore, thus says the LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel: I am going to bring on Judah and on all the inhabitants of Jerusalem every disaster that I have pronounced against them; because I have spoken to them and they have not listened, I have called to them and they have not answered.\r\n\t\t\t But to the house of the Rechabites Jeremiah said: Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Because you have obeyed the command of your ancestor Jonadab, and kept all his precepts, and done all that he commanded you,\r\n\t\t\t therefore thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Jonadab son of Rechab shall not lack a descendant to stand before me for all time.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t In the fourth year of King Jehoiakim son of Josiah of Judah, this word came to Jeremiah from the LORD:\r\n\t\t\t Take a scroll and write on it all the words that I have spoken to you against Israel and Judah and all the nations, from the day I spoke to you, from the days of Josiah until today.\r\n\t\t\t It may be that when the house of Judah hears of all the disasters that I intend to do to them, all of them may turn from their evil ways, so that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin.\r\n\t\t\t Then Jeremiah called Baruch son of Neriah, and Baruch wrote on a scroll at Jeremiah's dictation all the words of the LORD that he had spoken to him.\r\n\t\t\t And Jeremiah ordered Baruch, saying, \"I am prevented from entering the house of the LORD;\r\n\t\t\t so you go yourself, and on a fast day in the hearing of the people in the LORD's house you shall read the words of the LORD from the scroll that you have written at my dictation. You shall read them also in the hearing of all the people of Judah who come up from their towns.\r\n\t\t\t It may be that their plea will come before the LORD, and that all of them will turn from their evil ways, for great is the anger and wrath that the LORD has pronounced against this people.\"\r\n\t\t\t And Baruch son of Neriah did all that the prophet Jeremiah ordered him about reading from the scroll the words of the LORD in the LORD's house.\r\n\t\t\t In the fifth year of King Jehoiakim son of Josiah of Judah, in the ninth month, all the people in Jerusalem and all the people who came from the towns of Judah to Jerusalem proclaimed a fast before the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Then, in the hearing of all the people, Baruch read the words of Jeremiah from the scroll, in the house of the LORD, in the chamber of Gemariah son of Shaphan the secretary, which was in the upper court, at the entry of the New Gate of the LORD's house.\r\n\t\t\t When Micaiah son of Gemariah son of Shaphan heard all the words of the LORD from the scroll,\r\n\t\t\t he went down to the king's house, into the secretary's chamber; and all the officials were sitting there: Elishama the secretary, Delaiah son of Shemaiah, Elnathan son of Achbor, Gemariah son of Shaphan, Zedekiah son of Hananiah, and all the officials.\r\n\t\t\t And Micaiah told them all the words that he had heard, when Baruch read the scroll in the hearing of the people.\r\n\t\t\t Then all the officials sent Jehudi son of Nethaniah son of Shelemiah son of Cushi to say to Baruch, \"Bring the scroll that you read in the hearing of the people, and come.\" So Baruch son of Neriah took the scroll in his hand and came to them.\r\n\t\t\t And they said to him, \"Sit down and read it to us.\" So Baruch read it to them.\r\n\t\t\t When they heard all the words, they turned to one another in alarm, and said to Baruch, \"We certainly must report all these words to the king.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then they questioned Baruch, \"Tell us now, how did you write all these words? Was it at his dictation?\"\r\n\t\t\t Baruch answered them, \"He dictated all these words to me, and I wrote them with ink on the scroll.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the officials said to Baruch, \"Go and hide, you and Jeremiah, and let no one know where you are.\"\r\n\t\t\t Leaving the scroll in the chamber of Elishama the secretary, they went to the court of the king; and they reported all the words to the king.\r\n\t\t\t Then the king sent Jehudi to get the scroll, and he took it from the chamber of Elishama the secretary; and Jehudi read it to the king and all the officials who stood beside the king.\r\n\t\t\t Now the king was sitting in his winter apartment (it was the ninth month), and there was a fire burning in the brazier before him.\r\n\t\t\t As Jehudi read three or four columns, the king would cut them off with a penknife and throw them into the fire in the brazier, until the entire scroll was consumed in the fire that was in the brazier. \r\n\t\t\t Yet neither the king, nor any of his servants who heard all these words, was alarmed, nor did they tear their garments.\r\n\t\t\t Even when Elnathan and Delaiah and Gemariah urged the king not to burn the scroll, he would not listen to them.\r\n\t\t\t And the king commanded Jerahmeel the king's son and Seraiah son of Azriel and Shelemiah son of Abdeel to arrest the secretary Baruch and the prophet Jeremiah. But the LORD hid them.\r\n\t\t\t Now, after the king had burned the scroll with the words that Baruch wrote at Jeremiah's dictation, the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah:\r\n\t\t\t Take another scroll and write on it all the former words that were in the first scroll, which King Jehoiakim of Judah has burned.\r\n\t\t\t And concerning King Jehoiakim of Judah you shall say: Thus says the LORD, You have dared to burn this scroll, saying, Why have you written in it that the king of Babylon will certainly come and destroy this land, and will cut off from it human beings and animals?\r\n\t\t\t Therefore thus says the LORD concerning King Jehoiakim of Judah: He shall have no one to sit upon the throne of David, and his dead body shall be cast out to the heat by day and the frost by night.\r\n\t\t\t And I will punish him and his offspring and his servants for their iniquity; I will bring on them, and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and on the people of Judah, all the disasters with which I have threatened them-- but they would not listen.\r\n\t\t\t Then Jeremiah took another scroll and gave it to the secretary Baruch son of Neriah, who wrote on it at Jeremiah's dictation all the words of the scroll that King Jehoiakim of Judah had burned in the fire; and many similar words were added to them.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Zedekiah son of Josiah, whom King Nebuchadrezzar of Babylon made king in the land of Judah, succeeded Coniah son of Jehoiakim.\r\n\t\t\t But neither he nor his servants nor the people of the land listened to the words of the LORD that he spoke through the prophet Jeremiah.\r\n\t\t\t King Zedekiah sent Jehucal son of Shelemiah and the priest Zephaniah son of Maaseiah to the prophet Jeremiah saying, \"Please pray for us to the LORD our God.\"\r\n\t\t\t Now Jeremiah was still going in and out among the people, for he had not yet been put in prison.\r\n\t\t\t Meanwhile, the army of Pharaoh had come out of Egypt; and when the Chaldeans who were besieging Jerusalem heard news of them, they withdrew from Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t Then the word of the LORD came to the prophet Jeremiah:\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD, God of Israel: This is what the two of you shall say to the king of Judah, who sent you to me to inquire of me, Pharaoh's army, which set out to help you, is going to return to its own land, to Egypt.\r\n\t\t\t And the Chaldeans shall return and fight against this city; they shall take it and burn it with fire.\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD: Do not deceive yourselves, saying, \"The Chaldeans will surely go away from us,\" for they will not go away.\r\n\t\t\t Even if you defeated the whole army of Chaldeans who are fighting against you, and there remained of them only wounded men in their tents, they would rise up and burn this city with fire.\r\n\t\t\t Now when the Chaldean army had withdrawn from Jerusalem at the approach of Pharaoh's army,\r\n\t\t\t Jeremiah set out from Jerusalem to go to the land of Benjamin to receive his share of property among the people there. \r\n\t\t\t When he reached the Benjamin Gate, a sentinel there named Irijah son of Shelemiah son of Hananiah arrested the prophet Jeremiah saying, \"You are deserting to the Chaldeans.\"\r\n\t\t\t And Jeremiah said, \"That is a lie; I am not deserting to the Chaldeans.\" But Irijah would not listen to him, and arrested Jeremiah and brought him to the officials.\r\n\t\t\t The officials were enraged at Jeremiah, and they beat him and imprisoned him in the house of the secretary Jonathan, for it had been made a prison.\r\n\t\t\t Thus Jeremiah was put in the cistern house, in the cells, and remained there many days.\r\n\t\t\t Then King Zedekiah sent for him, and received him. The king questioned him secretly in his house, and said, \"Is there any word from the LORD?\" Jeremiah said, \"There is!\" Then he said, \"You shall be handed over to the king of Babylon.\"\r\n\t\t\t Jeremiah also said to King Zedekiah, \"What wrong have I done to you or your servants or this people, that you have put me in prison?\r\n\t\t\t Where are your prophets who prophesied to you, saying, 'The king of Babylon will not come against you and against this land'?\r\n\t\t\t Now please hear me, my lord king: be good enough to listen to my plea, and do not send me back to the house of the secretary Jonathan to die there.\"\r\n\t\t\t So King Zedekiah gave orders, and they committed Jeremiah to the court of the guard; and a loaf of bread was given him daily from the bakers' street, until all the bread of the city was gone. So Jeremiah remained in the court of the guard.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now Shephatiah son of Mattan, Gedaliah son of Pashhur, Jucal son of Shelemiah, and Pashhur son of Malchiah heard the words that Jeremiah was saying to all the people,\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD, Those who stay in this city shall die by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence; but those who go out to the Chaldeans shall live; they shall have their lives as a prize of war, and live.\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD, This city shall surely be handed over to the army of the king of Babylon and be taken.\r\n\t\t\t Then the officials said to the king, \"This man ought to be put to death, because he is discouraging the soldiers who are left in this city, and all the people, by speaking such words to them. For this man is not seeking the welfare of this people, but their harm.\"\r\n\t\t\t King Zedekiah said, \"Here he is; he is in your hands; for the king is powerless against you.\"\r\n\t\t\t So they took Jeremiah and threw him into the cistern of Malchiah, the king's son, which was in the court of the guard, letting Jeremiah down by ropes. Now there was no water in the cistern, but only mud, and Jeremiah sank in the mud.\r\n\t\t\t Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, a eunuch in the king's house, heard that they had put Jeremiah into the cistern. The king happened to be sitting at the Benjamin Gate, \r\n\t\t\t So Ebed-melech left the king's house and spoke to the king,\r\n\t\t\t \"My lord king, these men have acted wickedly in all they did to the prophet Jeremiah by throwing him into the cistern to die there of hunger, for there is no bread left in the city.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the king commanded Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, \"Take three men with you from here, and pull the prophet Jeremiah up from the cistern before he dies.\" \r\n\t\t\t So Ebed-melech took the men with him and went to the house of the king, to a wardrobe of the storehouse, and took from there old rags and worn-out clothes, which he let down to Jeremiah in the cistern by ropes. \r\n\t\t\t Then Ebed-melech the Ethiopian said to Jeremiah, \"Just put the rags and clothes between your armpits and the ropes.\" Jeremiah did so. \r\n\t\t\t Then they drew Jeremiah up by the ropes and pulled him out of the cistern. And Jeremiah remained in the court of the guard.\r\n\t\t\t King Zedekiah sent for the prophet Jeremiah and received him at the third entrance of the temple of the LORD. The king said to Jeremiah, \"I have something to ask you; do not hide anything from me.\"\r\n\t\t\t Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, \"If I tell you, you will put me to death, will you not? And if I give you advice, you will not listen to me.\"\r\n\t\t\t So King Zedekiah swore an oath in secret to Jeremiah, \"As the LORD lives, who gave us our lives, I will not put you to death or hand you over to these men who seek your life.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, \"Thus says the LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel, If you will only surrender to the officials of the king of Babylon, then your life shall be spared, and this city shall not be burned with fire, and you and your house shall live.\r\n\t\t\t But if you do not surrender to the officials of the king of Babylon, then this city shall be handed over to the Chaldeans, and they shall burn it with fire, and you yourself shall not escape from their hand.\"\r\n\t\t\t King Zedekiah said to Jeremiah, \"I am afraid of the Judeans who have deserted to the Chaldeans, for I might be handed over to them and they would abuse me.\"\r\n\t\t\t Jeremiah said, \"That will not happen. Just obey the voice of the LORD in what I say to you, and it shall go well with you, and your life shall be spared.\r\n\t\t\t But if you are determined not to surrender, this is what the LORD has shown me--\r\n\t\t\t a vision of all the women remaining in the house of the king of Judah being led out to the officials of the king of Babylon and saying, 'Your trusted friends have seduced you and have overcome you; Now that your feet are stuck in the mud, they desert you.'\r\n\t\t\t All your wives and your children shall be led out to the Chaldeans, and you yourself shall not escape from their hand, but shall be seized by the king of Babylon; and this city shall be burned with fire.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Zedekiah said to Jeremiah, \"Do not let anyone else know of this conversation, or you will die.\r\n\t\t\t If the officials should hear that I have spoken with you, and they should come and say to you, 'Just tell us what you said to the king; do not conceal it from us, or we will put you to death. What did the king say to you?'\r\n\t\t\t then you shall say to them, 'I was presenting my plea to the king not to send me back to the house of Jonathan to die there.'\"\r\n\t\t\t All the officials did come to Jeremiah and questioned him; and he answered them in the very words the king had commanded. So they stopped questioning him, for the conversation had not been overheard.\r\n\t\t\t And Jeremiah remained in the court of the guard until the day that Jerusalem was taken.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t In the ninth year of King Zedekiah of Judah, in the tenth month, King Nebuchadrezzar of Babylon and all his army came against Jerusalem and besieged it;\r\n\t\t\t in the eleventh year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month, on the ninth day of the month, a breach was made in the city.\r\n\t\t\t When Jerusalem was taken, all the officials of the king of Babylon came and sat in the middle gate: Nergal-sharezer, Samgar-nebo, Sarsechim the Rabsaris, Nergal-sharezer the Rabmag, with all the rest of the officials of the king of Babylon. \r\n\t\t\t When King Zedekiah of Judah and all the soldiers saw them, they fled, going out of the city at night by way of the king's garden through the gate between the two walls; and they went toward the Arabah.\r\n\t\t\t But the army of the Chaldeans pursued them, and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho; and when they had taken him, they brought him up to King Nebuchadrezzar of Babylon, at Riblah, in the land of Hamath; and he passed sentence on him.\r\n\t\t\t The king of Babylon slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah at Riblah before his eyes; also the king of Babylon slaughtered all the nobles of Judah.\r\n\t\t\t He put out the eyes of Zedekiah, and bound him in fetters to take him to Babylon.\r\n\t\t\t The Chaldeans burned the king's house and the houses of the people, and broke down the walls of Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t Then Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard exiled to Babylon the rest of the people who were left in the city, those who had deserted to him, and the people who remained.\r\n\t\t\t Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard left in the land of Judah some of the poor people who owned nothing, and gave them vineyards and fields at the same time.\r\n\t\t\t King Nebuchadrezzar of Babylon gave command concerning Jeremiah through Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, saying,\r\n\t\t\t \"Take him, look after him well and do him no harm, but deal with him as he may ask you.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, Nebushazban the Rabsaris, Nergal-sharezer the Rabmag, and all the chief officers of the king of Babylon sent\r\n\t\t\t and took Jeremiah from the court of the guard. They entrusted him to Gedaliah son of Ahikam son of Shaphan to be brought home. So he stayed with his own people.\r\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah while he was confined in the court of the guard:\r\n\t\t\t Go and say to Ebed-melech the Ethiopian: Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: I am going to fulfill my words against this city for evil and not for good, and they shall be accomplished in your presence on that day. \r\n\t\t\t But I will save you on that day, says the LORD, and you shall not be handed over to those whom you dread.\r\n\t\t\t For I will surely save you, and you shall not fall by the sword; but you shall have your life as a prize of war, because you have trusted in me, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD after Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had let him go from Ramah, when he took him bound in fetters along with all the captives of Jerusalem and Judah who were being exiled to Babylon.\r\n\t\t\t The captain of the guard took Jeremiah and said to him, \"The LORD your God threatened this place with this disaster;\r\n\t\t\t and now the LORD has brought it about, and has done as he said, because all of you sinned against the LORD and did not obey his voice. Therefore this thing has come upon you.\r\n\t\t\t Now look, I have just released you today from the fetters on your hands. If you wish to come with me to Babylon, come, and I will take good care of you; but if you do not wish to come with me to Babylon, you need not come. See, the whole land is before you; go wherever you think it good and right to go.\r\n\t\t\t If you remain, then return to Gedaliah son of Ahikam son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon appointed governor of the towns of Judah, and stay with him among the people; or go wherever you think it right to go.\" So the captain of the guard gave him an allowance of food and a present, and let him go.\r\n\t\t\t Then Jeremiah went to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah, and stayed with him among the people who were left in the land.\r\n\t\t\t When all the leaders of the forces in the open country and their troops heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam governor in the land, and had committed to him men, women, and children, those of the poorest of the land who had not been taken into exile to Babylon,\r\n\t\t\t they went to Gedaliah at Mizpah-- Ishmael son of Nethaniah, Johanan son of Kareah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth, the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, Jezaniah son of the Maacathite, they and their troops.\r\n\t\t\t Gedaliah son of Ahikam son of Shaphan swore to them and their troops, saying, \"Do not be afraid to serve the Chaldeans. Stay in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall go well with you.\r\n\t\t\t As for me, I am staying at Mizpah to represent you before the Chaldeans who come to us; but as for you, gather wine and summer fruits and oil, and store them in your vessels, and live in the towns that you have taken over.\"\r\n\t\t\t Likewise, when all the Judeans who were in Moab and among the Ammonites and in Edom and in other lands heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant in Judah and had appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam son of Shaphan as governor over them,\r\n\t\t\t then all the Judeans returned from all the places to which they had been scattered and came to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah at Mizpah; and they gathered wine and summer fruits in great abundance.\r\n\t\t\t Now Johanan son of Kareah and all the leaders of the forces in the open country came to Gedaliah at Mizpah\r\n\t\t\t and said to him, \"Are you at all aware that Baalis king of the Ammonites has sent Ishmael son of Nethaniah to take your life?\" But Gedaliah son of Ahikam would not believe them.\r\n\t\t\t Then Johanan son of Kareah spoke secretly to Gedaliah at Mizpah, \"Please let me go and kill Ishmael son of Nethaniah, and no one else will know. Why should he take your life, so that all the Judeans who are gathered around you would be scattered, and the remnant of Judah would perish?\"\r\n\t\t\t But Gedaliah son of Ahikam said to Johanan son of Kareah, \"Do not do such a thing, for you are telling a lie about Ishmael.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t In the seventh month, Ishmael son of Nethaniah son of Elishama, of the royal family, one of the chief officers of the king, came with ten men to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, at Mizpah. As they ate bread together there at Mizpah,\r\n\t\t\t Ishmael son of Nethaniah and the ten men with him got up and struck down Gedaliah son of Ahikam son of Shaphan with the sword and killed him, because the king of Babylon had appointed him governor in the land.\r\n\t\t\t Ishmael also killed all the Judeans who were with Gedaliah at Mizpah, and the Chaldean soldiers who happened to be there.\r\n\t\t\t On the day after the murder of Gedaliah, before anyone knew of it,\r\n\t\t\t eighty men arrived from Shechem and Shiloh and Samaria, with their beards shaved and their clothes torn, and their bodies gashed, bringing grain offerings and incense to present at the temple of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t And Ishmael son of Nethaniah came out from Mizpah to meet them, weeping as he came. As he met them, he said to them, \"Come to Gedaliah son of Ahikam.\"\r\n\t\t\t When they reached the middle of the city, Ishmael son of Nethaniah and the men with him slaughtered them, and threw them into a cistern. \r\n\t\t\t But there were ten men among them who said to Ishmael, \"Do not kill us, for we have stores of wheat, barley, oil, and honey hidden in the fields.\" So he refrained, and did not kill them along with their companions.\r\n\t\t\t Now the cistern into which Ishmael had thrown all the bodies of the men whom he had struck down was the large cistern that King Asa had made for defense against King Baasha of Israel; Ishmael son of Nethaniah filled that cistern with those whom he had killed. \r\n\t\t\t Then Ishmael took captive all the rest of the people who were in Mizpah, the king's daughters and all the people who were left at Mizpah, whom Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, had committed to Gedaliah son of Ahikam. Ishmael son of Nethaniah took them captive and set out to cross over to the Ammonites.\r\n\t\t\t But when Johanan son of Kareah and all the leaders of the forces with him heard of all the crimes that Ishmael son of Nethaniah had done,\r\n\t\t\t they took all their men and went to fight against Ishmael son of Nethaniah. They came upon him at the great pool that is in Gibeon.\r\n\t\t\t And when all the people who were with Ishmael saw Johanan son of Kareah and all the leaders of the forces with him, they were glad.\r\n\t\t\t So all the people whom Ishmael had carried away captive from Mizpah turned around and came back, and went to Johanan son of Kareah.\r\n\t\t\t But Ishmael son of Nethaniah escaped from Johanan with eight men, and went to the Ammonites.\r\n\t\t\t Then Johanan son of Kareah and all the leaders of the forces with him took all the rest of the people whom Ishmael son of Nethaniah had carried away captive from Mizpah after he had slain Gedaliah son of Ahikam-- soldiers, women, children, and eunuchs, whom Johanan brought back from Gibeon.\r\n\t\t\t And they set out, and stopped at Geruth Chimham near Bethlehem, intending to go to Egypt\r\n\t\t\t because of the Chaldeans; for they were afraid of them, because Ishmael son of Nethaniah had killed Gedaliah son of Ahikam, whom the king of Babylon had made governor over the land.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then all the commanders of the forces, and Johanan son of Kareah and Azariah son of Hoshaiah, and all the people from the least to the greatest, approached \r\n\t\t\t the prophet Jeremiah and said, \"Be good enough to listen to our plea, and pray to the LORD your God for us-- for all this remnant. For there are only a few of us left out of many, as your eyes can see.\r\n\t\t\t Let the LORD your God show us where we should go and what we should do.\"\r\n\t\t\t The prophet Jeremiah said to them, \"Very well: I am going to pray to the LORD your God as you request, and whatever the LORD answers you I will tell you; I will keep nothing back from you.\"\r\n\t\t\t They in their turn said to Jeremiah, \"May the LORD be a true and faithful witness against us if we do not act according to everything that the LORD your God sends us through you.\r\n\t\t\t Whether it is good or bad, we will obey the voice of the LORD our God to whom we are sending you, in order that it may go well with us when we obey the voice of the LORD our God.\"\r\n\t\t\t At the end of ten days the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah.\r\n\t\t\t Then he summoned Johanan son of Kareah and all the commanders of the forces who were with him, and all the people from the least to the greatest,\r\n\t\t\t and said to them, \"Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, to whom you sent me to present your plea before him:\r\n\t\t\t If you will only remain in this land, then I will build you up and not pull you down; I will plant you, and not pluck you up; for I am sorry for the disaster that I have brought upon you.\r\n\t\t\t Do not be afraid of the king of Babylon, as you have been; do not be afraid of him, says the LORD, for I am with you, to save you and to rescue you from his hand.\r\n\t\t\t I will grant you mercy, and he will have mercy on you and restore you to your native soil.\r\n\t\t\t But if you continue to say, 'We will not stay in this land,' thus disobeying the voice of the LORD your God\r\n\t\t\t and saying, 'No, we will go to the land of Egypt, where we shall not see war, or hear the sound of the trumpet, or be hungry for bread, and there we will stay,'\r\n\t\t\t then hear the word of the LORD, O remnant of Judah. Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: If you are determined to enter Egypt and go to settle there,\r\n\t\t\t then the sword that you fear shall overtake you there, in the land of Egypt; and the famine that you dread shall follow close after you into Egypt; and there you shall die.\r\n\t\t\t All the people who have determined to go to Egypt to settle there shall die by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence; they shall have no remnant or survivor from the disaster that I am bringing upon them.\r\n\t\t\t \"For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Just 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 go to Egypt. You shall become an object of execration and horror, of cursing and ridicule. You shall see this place no more.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD has said to you, O remnant of Judah, Do not go to Egypt. Be well aware that I have warned you today\r\n\t\t\t that you have made a fatal mistake. For you yourselves sent me to the LORD your God, saying, 'Pray for us to the LORD our God, and whatever the LORD our God says, tell us and we will do it.'\r\n\t\t\t So I have told you today, but you have not obeyed the voice of the LORD your God in anything that he sent me to tell you.\r\n\t\t\t Be well aware, then, that you shall die by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence in the place where you desire to go and settle.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t When Jeremiah finished speaking to all the people all these words of the LORD their God, with which the LORD their God had sent him to them,\r\n\t\t\t Azariah son of Hoshaiah and Johanan son of Kareah and all the other insolent men said to Jeremiah, \"You are telling a lie. The LORD our God did not send you to say, 'Do not go to Egypt to settle there';\r\n\t\t\t but Baruch son of Neriah is inciting you against us, to hand us over to the Chaldeans, in order that they may kill us or take us into exile in Babylon.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Johanan son of Kareah and all the commanders of the forces and all the people did not obey the voice of the LORD, to stay in the land of Judah.\r\n\t\t\t But Johanan son of Kareah and all the commanders of the forces took all the remnant of Judah who had returned to settle in the land of Judah from all the nations to which they had been driven--\r\n\t\t\t the men, the women, the children, the princesses, and everyone whom Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had left with Gedaliah son of Ahikam son of Shaphan; also the prophet Jeremiah and Baruch son of Neriah.\r\n\t\t\t And they came into the land of Egypt, for they did not obey the voice of the LORD. And they arrived at Tahpanhes.\r\n\t\t\t Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah in Tahpanhes:\r\n\t\t\t Take some large stones in your hands, and bury them in the clay pavement that is at the entrance to Pharaoh's palace in Tahpanhes. Let the Judeans see you do it, \r\n\t\t\t and say to them, Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: I am going to send and take my servant King Nebuchadrezzar of Babylon, and he will set his throne above these stones that I have buried, and he will spread his royal canopy over them. \r\n\t\t\t He shall come and ravage the land of Egypt, giving those who are destined for pestilence, to pestilence, and those who are destined for captivity, to captivity, and those who are destined for the sword, to the sword.\r\n\t\t\t He shall kindle a fire in the temples of the gods of Egypt; and he shall burn them and carry them away captive; and he shall pick clean the land of Egypt, as a shepherd picks his cloak clean of vermin; and he shall depart from there safely. \r\n\t\t\t He shall break the obelisks of Heliopolis, which is in the land of Egypt; and the temples of the gods of Egypt he shall burn with fire.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The word that came to Jeremiah for all the Judeans living in the land of Egypt, at Migdol, at Tahpanhes, at Memphis, and in the land of Pathros,\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: You yourselves have seen all the disaster that I have brought on Jerusalem and on all the towns of Judah. Look at them; today they are a desolation, without an inhabitant in them,\r\n\t\t\t because of the wickedness that they committed, provoking me to anger, in that they went to make offerings and serve other gods that they had not known, neither they, nor you, nor your ancestors.\r\n\t\t\t Yet I persistently sent to you all my servants the prophets, saying, \"I beg you not to do this abominable thing that I hate!\"\r\n\t\t\t But they did not listen or incline their ear, to turn from their wickedness and make no offerings to other gods.\r\n\t\t\t So my wrath and my anger were poured out and kindled in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem; and they became a waste and a desolation, as they still are today.\r\n\t\t\t And now thus says the LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel: Why are you doing such great harm to yourselves, to cut off man and woman, child and infant, from the midst of Judah, leaving yourselves without a remnant?\r\n\t\t\t Why do you provoke me to anger with the works of your hands, making offerings to other gods in the land of Egypt where you have come to settle? Will you be cut off and become an object of cursing and ridicule among all the nations of the earth?\r\n\t\t\t Have you forgotten the crimes of your ancestors, of the kings of Judah, of their wives, your own crimes and those of your wives, which they committed in the land of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? \r\n\t\t\t They have shown no contrition or fear to this day, nor have they walked in my law and my statutes that I set before you and before your ancestors.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: I am determined to bring disaster on you, to bring all Judah to an end.\r\n\t\t\t I will take the remnant of Judah who are determined to come to the land of Egypt to settle, and they shall perish, everyone; in the land of Egypt they shall fall; by the sword and by famine they shall perish; from the least to the greatest, they shall die by the sword and by famine; and they shall become an object of execration and horror, of cursing and ridicule.\r\n\t\t\t I will punish those who live in the land of Egypt, as I have punished Jerusalem, with the sword, with famine, and with pestilence,\r\n\t\t\t so that none of the remnant of Judah who have come to settle in the land of Egypt shall escape or survive or return to the land of Judah. Although they long to go back to live there, they shall not go back, except some fugitives.\r\n\t\t\t Then all the men who were aware that their wives had been making offerings to other gods, and all the women who stood by, a great assembly, all the people who lived in Pathros in the land of Egypt, answered Jeremiah:\r\n\t\t\t \"As for the word that you have spoken to us in the name of the LORD, we are not going to listen to you.\r\n\t\t\t Instead, we will do everything that we have vowed, make offerings to the queen of heaven and pour out libations to her, just as we and our ancestors, our kings and our officials, used to do in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem. We used to have plenty of food, and prospered, and saw no misfortune.\r\n\t\t\t But from the time we stopped making offerings to the queen of heaven and pouring out libations to her, we have lacked everything and have perished by the sword and by famine.\"\r\n\t\t\t And the women said, \"Indeed we will go on making offerings to the queen of heaven and pouring out libations to her; do you think that we made cakes for her, marked with her image, and poured out libations to her without our husbands' being involved?\" \r\n\t\t\t Then Jeremiah said to all the people, men and women, all the people who were giving him this answer:\r\n\t\t\t \"As for the offerings that you made in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem, you and your ancestors, your kings and your officials, and the people of the land, did not the LORD remember them? Did it not come into his mind?\r\n\t\t\t The LORD could no longer bear the sight of your evil doings, the abominations that you committed; therefore your land became a desolation and a waste and a curse, without inhabitant, as it is to this day.\r\n\t\t\t It is because you burned offerings, and because you sinned against the LORD and did not obey the voice of the LORD or walk in his law and in his statutes and in his decrees, that this disaster has befallen you, as is still evident today.\"\r\n\t\t\t Jeremiah said to all the people and all the women, \"Hear the word of the LORD, all you Judeans who are in the land of Egypt,\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: You and your wives have accomplished in deeds what you declared in words, saying, 'We are determined to perform the vows that we have made, to make offerings to the queen of heaven and to pour out libations to her.' By all means, keep your vows and make your libations!\r\n\t\t\t Therefore hear the word of the LORD, all you Judeans who live in the land of Egypt: Lo, I swear by my great name, says the LORD, that my name shall no longer be pronounced on the lips of any of the people of Judah in all the land of Egypt, saying, 'As the Lord GOD lives.'\r\n\t\t\t I am going to watch over them for harm and not for good; all the people of Judah who are in the land of Egypt shall perish by the sword and by famine, until not one is left.\r\n\t\t\t And those who escape the sword shall return from the land of Egypt to the land of Judah, few in number; and all the remnant of Judah, who have come to the land of Egypt to settle, shall know whose words will stand, mine or theirs!\r\n\t\t\t This shall be the sign to you, says the LORD, that I am going to punish you in this place, in order that you may know that my words against you will surely be carried out:\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD, I am going to give Pharaoh Hophra, king of Egypt, into the hands of his enemies, those who seek his life, just as I gave King Zedekiah of Judah into the hand of King Nebuchadrezzar of Babylon, his enemy who sought his life.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The word that the prophet Jeremiah spoke to Baruch son of Neriah, when he wrote these words in a scroll at the dictation of Jeremiah, in the fourth year of King Jehoiakim son of Josiah of Judah:\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, to you, O Baruch:\r\n\t\t\t You said, \"Woe is me! The LORD has added sorrow to my pain; I am weary with my groaning, and I find no rest.\"\r\n\t\t\t Thus you shall say to him, \"Thus says the LORD: I am going to break down what I have built, and pluck up what I have planted-- that is, the whole land.\r\n\t\t\t And you, do you seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them; for I am going to bring disaster upon all flesh, says the LORD; but I will give you your life as a prize of war in every place to which you may go.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD that came to the prophet Jeremiah concerning the nations.\r\n\t\t\t Concerning Egypt, about the army of Pharaoh Neco, king of Egypt, which was by the river Euphrates at Carchemish and which King Nebuchadrezzar of Babylon defeated in the fourth year of King Jehoiakim son of Josiah of Judah:\r\n\t\t\t Prepare buckler and shield, and advance for battle!\r\n\t\t\t Harness the horses; mount the steeds! Take your stations with your helmets, whet your lances, put on your coats of mail!\r\n\t\t\t Why do I see them terrified? They have fallen back; their warriors are beaten down, and have fled in haste. They do not look back-- terror is all around! says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t The swift cannot flee away, nor can the warrior escape; in the north by the river Euphrates they have stumbled and fallen.\r\n\t\t\t Who is this, rising like the Nile, like rivers whose waters surge?\r\n\t\t\t Egypt rises like the Nile, like rivers whose waters surge. It said, Let me rise, let me cover the earth, let me destroy cities and their inhabitants.\r\n\t\t\t Advance, O horses, and dash madly, O chariots! Let the warriors go forth: Ethiopia and Put who carry the shield, the Ludim, who draw the bow. \r\n\t\t\t That day is the day of the Lord GOD of hosts, a day of retribution, to gain vindication from his foes. The sword shall devour and be sated, and drink its fill of their blood. For the Lord GOD of hosts holds a sacrifice in the land of the north by the river Euphrates.\r\n\t\t\t Go up to Gilead, and take balm, O virgin daughter Egypt! In vain you have used many medicines; there is no healing for you.\r\n\t\t\t The nations have heard of your shame, and the earth is full of your cry; for warrior has stumbled against warrior; both have fallen together.\r\n\t\t\t The word that the LORD spoke to the prophet Jeremiah about the coming of King Nebuchadrezzar of Babylon to attack the land of Egypt:\r\n\t\t\t Declare in Egypt, and proclaim in Migdol; proclaim in Memphis and Tahpanhes; Say, \"Take your stations and be ready, for the sword shall devour those around you.\"\r\n\t\t\t Why has Apis fled? Why did your bull not stand?-- because the LORD thrust him down.\r\n\t\t\t Your multitude stumbled and fell, and one said to another, \"Come, let us go back to our own people and to the land of our birth, because of the destroying sword.\" \r\n\t\t\t Give Pharaoh, king of Egypt, the name \"Braggart who missed his chance.\"\r\n\t\t\t As I live, says the King, whose name is the LORD of hosts, one is coming like Tabor among the mountains, and like Carmel by the sea.\r\n\t\t\t Pack your bags for exile, sheltered daughter Egypt! For Memphis shall become a waste, a ruin, without inhabitant.\r\n\t\t\t A beautiful heifer is Egypt-- a gadfly from the north lights upon her.\r\n\t\t\t Even her mercenaries in her midst are like fatted calves; they too have turned and fled together, they did not stand; for the day of their calamity has come upon them, the time of their punishment.\r\n\t\t\t She makes a sound like a snake gliding away; for her enemies march in force, and come against her with axes, like those who fell trees.\r\n\t\t\t They shall cut down her forest, says the LORD, though it is impenetrable, because they are more numerous than locusts; they are without number.\r\n\t\t\t Daughter Egypt shall be put to shame; she shall be handed over to a people from the north.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, said: See, I am bringing punishment upon Amon of Thebes, and Pharaoh, and Egypt and her gods and her kings, upon Pharaoh and those who trust in him.\r\n\t\t\t I will hand them over to those who seek their life, to King Nebuchadrezzar of Babylon and his officers. Afterward Egypt shall be inhabited as in the days of old, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t But as for you, have no fear, my servant Jacob, and do not be dismayed, O Israel; for I am going to save you from far away, and your offspring from the land of their captivity. Jacob shall return and have quiet and ease, and no one shall make him afraid.\r\n\t\t\t As for you, have no fear, my servant Jacob, says the LORD, for I am with you. I will make an end of all the nations among which I have banished you, but I will not make an end of you! I will chastise you in just measure, and I will by no means leave you unpunished.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD that came to the prophet Jeremiah concerning the Philistines, before Pharaoh attacked Gaza:\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD: See, waters are rising out of the north and shall become an overflowing torrent; they shall overflow the land and all that fills it, the city and those who live in it. People shall cry out, and all the inhabitants of the land shall wail.\r\n\t\t\t At the noise of the stamping of the hoofs of his stallions, at the clatter of his chariots, at the rumbling of their wheels, parents do not turn back for children, so feeble are their hands,\r\n\t\t\t because of the day that is coming to destroy all the Philistines, to cut off from Tyre and Sidon every helper that remains. For the LORD is destroying the Philistines, the remnant of the coastland of Caphtor.\r\n\t\t\t Baldness has come upon Gaza, Ashkelon is silenced. O remnant of their power! How long will you gash yourselves? \r\n\t\t\t Ah, sword of the LORD! How long until you are quiet? Put yourself into your scabbard, rest and be still!\r\n\t\t\t How can it be quiet, when the LORD has given it an order? Against Ashkelon and against the seashore-- there he has appointed it.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Concerning Moab. Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Alas for Nebo, it is laid waste! Kiriathaim is put to shame, it is taken; the fortress is put to shame and broken down;\r\n\t\t\t the renown of Moab is no more. In Heshbon they planned evil against her: \"Come, let us cut her off from being a nation!\" You also, O Madmen, shall be brought to silence; the sword shall pursue you. \r\n\t\t\t Hark! a cry from Horonaim, \"Desolation and great destruction!\"\r\n\t\t\t \"Moab is destroyed!\" her little ones cry out.\r\n\t\t\t For at the ascent of Luhith they go up weeping bitterly; for at the descent of Horonaim they have heard the distressing cry of anguish. \r\n\t\t\t Flee! Save yourselves! Be like a wild ass in the desert! \r\n\t\t\t Surely, because you trusted in your strongholds and your treasures, you also shall be taken; Chemosh shall go out into exile, with his priests and his attendants. \r\n\t\t\t The destroyer shall come upon every town, and no town shall escape; the valley shall perish, and the plain shall be destroyed, as the LORD has spoken.\r\n\t\t\t Set aside salt for Moab, for she will surely fall; her towns shall become a desolation, with no inhabitant in them.\r\n\t\t\t Accursed is the one who is slack in doing the work of the LORD; and accursed is the one who keeps back the sword from bloodshed.\r\n\t\t\t Moab has been at ease from his youth, settled like wine on its dregs; he has not been emptied from vessel to vessel, nor has he gone into exile; therefore his flavor has remained and his aroma is unspoiled.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore, the time is surely coming, says the LORD, when I shall send to him decanters to decant him, and empty his vessels, and break his jars in pieces. \r\n\t\t\t Then Moab shall be ashamed of Chemosh, as the house of Israel was ashamed of Bethel, their confidence.\r\n\t\t\t How can you say, \"We are heroes and mighty warriors\"?\r\n\t\t\t The destroyer of Moab and his towns has come up, and the choicest of his young men have gone down to slaughter, says the King, whose name is the LORD of hosts.\r\n\t\t\t The calamity of Moab is near at hand and his doom approaches swiftly.\r\n\t\t\t Mourn over him, all you his neighbors, and all who know his name; say, \"How the mighty scepter is broken, the glorious staff!\"\r\n\t\t\t Come down from glory, and sit on the parched ground, enthroned daughter Dibon! For the destroyer of Moab has come up against you; he has destroyed your strongholds.\r\n\t\t\t Stand by the road and watch, you inhabitant of Aroer! Ask the man fleeing and the woman escaping; say, \"What has happened?\"\r\n\t\t\t Moab is put to shame, for it is broken down; wail and cry! Tell it by the Arnon, that Moab is laid waste.\r\n\t\t\t Judgment has come upon the tableland, upon Holon, and Jahzah, and Mephaath,\r\n\t\t\t and Dibon, and Nebo, and Beth-diblathaim,\r\n\t\t\t and Kiriathaim, and Beth-gamul, and Beth-meon,\r\n\t\t\t and Kerioth, and Bozrah, and all the towns of the land of Moab, far and near.\r\n\t\t\t The horn of Moab is cut off, and his arm is broken, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Make him drunk, because he magnified himself against the LORD; let Moab wallow in his vomit; he too shall become a laughingstock.\r\n\t\t\t Israel was a laughingstock for you, though he was not caught among thieves; but whenever you spoke of him you shook your head!\r\n\t\t\t Leave the towns, and live on the rock, O inhabitants of Moab! Be like the dove that nests on the sides of the mouth of a gorge.\r\n\t\t\t We have heard of the pride of Moab-- he is very proud-- of his loftiness, his pride, and his arrogance, and the haughtiness of his heart.\r\n\t\t\t I myself know his insolence, says the LORD; his boasts are false, his deeds are false.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore I wail for Moab; I cry out for all Moab; for the people of Kir-heres I mourn.\r\n\t\t\t More than for Jazer I weep for you, O vine of Sibmah! Your branches crossed over the sea, reached as far as Jazer; upon your summer fruits and your vintage the destroyer has fallen. \r\n\t\t\t Gladness and joy have been taken away from the fruitful land of Moab; I have stopped the wine from the wine presses; no one treads them with shouts of joy; the shouting is not the shout of joy.\r\n\t\t\t Heshbon and Elealeh cry out; as far as Jahaz they utter their voice, from Zoar to Horonaim and Eglath-shelishiyah. For even the waters of Nimrim have become desolate. \r\n\t\t\t And I will bring to an end in Moab, says the LORD, those who offer sacrifice at a high place and make offerings to their gods.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore my heart moans for Moab like a flute, and my heart moans like a flute for the people of Kir-heres; for the riches they gained have perished.\r\n\t\t\t For every head is shaved and every beard cut off; on all the hands there are gashes, and on the loins sackcloth.\r\n\t\t\t On all the housetops of Moab and in the squares there is nothing but lamentation; for I have broken Moab like a vessel that no one wants, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t How it is broken! How they wail! How Moab has turned his back in shame! So Moab has become a derision and a horror to all his neighbors.\r\n\t\t\t For thus says the LORD: Look, he shall swoop down like an eagle, and spread his wings against Moab;\r\n\t\t\t the towns shall be taken and the strongholds seized. The hearts of the warriors of Moab, on that day, shall be like the heart of a woman in labor. \r\n\t\t\t Moab shall be destroyed as a people, because he magnified himself against the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Terror, pit, and trap are before you, O inhabitants of Moab! says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Everyone who flees from the terror shall fall into the pit, and everyone who climbs out of the pit shall be caught in the trap. For I will bring these things upon Moab in the year of their punishment, says the LORD. \r\n\t\t\t In the shadow of Heshbon fugitives stop exhausted; for a fire has gone out from Heshbon, a flame from the house of Sihon; it has destroyed the forehead of Moab, the scalp of the people of tumult. \r\n\t\t\t Woe to you, O Moab! The people of Chemosh have perished, for your sons have been taken captive, and your daughters into captivity.\r\n\t\t\t Yet I will restore the fortunes of Moab in the latter days, says the LORD. Thus far is the judgment on Moab.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Concerning the Ammonites. Thus says the LORD: Has Israel no sons? Has he no heir? Why then has Milcom dispossessed Gad, and his people settled in its towns?\r\n\t\t\t Therefore, the time is surely coming, says the LORD, when I will sound the battle alarm against Rabbah of the Ammonites; it shall become a desolate mound, and its villages shall be burned with fire; then Israel shall dispossess those who dispossessed him, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Wail, O Heshbon, for Ai is laid waste! Cry out, O daughters of Rabbah! Put on sackcloth, lament, and slash yourselves with whips! For Milcom shall go into exile, with his priests and his attendants. \r\n\t\t\t Why do you boast in your strength? Your strength is ebbing, O faithless daughter. You trusted in your treasures, saying, \"Who will attack me?\"\r\n\t\t\t I am going to bring terror upon you, says the Lord GOD of hosts, from all your neighbors, and you will be scattered, each headlong, with no one to gather the fugitives.\r\n\t\t\t But afterward I will restore the fortunes of the Ammonites, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Concerning Edom. Thus says the LORD of hosts: Is there no longer wisdom in Teman? Has counsel perished from the prudent? Has their wisdom vanished?\r\n\t\t\t Flee, turn back, get down low, inhabitants of Dedan! For I will bring the calamity of Esau upon him, the time when I punish him.\r\n\t\t\t If grape-gatherers came to you, would they not leave gleanings? If thieves came by night, even they would pillage only what they wanted.\r\n\t\t\t But as for me, I have stripped Esau bare, I have uncovered his hiding places, and he is not able to conceal himself. His offspring are destroyed, his kinsfolk and his neighbors; and he is no more.\r\n\t\t\t Leave your orphans, I will keep them alive; and let your widows trust in me.\r\n\t\t\t For thus says the LORD: If those who do not deserve to drink the cup still have to drink it, shall you be the one to go unpunished? You shall not go unpunished; you must drink it.\r\n\t\t\t For by myself I have sworn, says the LORD, that Bozrah shall become an object of horror and ridicule, a waste, and an object of cursing; and all her towns shall be perpetual wastes.\r\n\t\t\t I have heard tidings from the LORD, and a messenger has been sent among the nations: \"Gather yourselves together and come against her, and rise up for battle!\"\r\n\t\t\t For I will make you least among the nations, despised by humankind.\r\n\t\t\t The terror you inspire and the pride of your heart have deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rock, who hold the height of the hill. Although you make your nest as high as the eagle's, from there I will bring you down, says the LORD. \r\n\t\t\t Edom shall become an object of horror; everyone who passes by it will be horrified and will hiss because of all its disasters.\r\n\t\t\t As when Sodom and Gomorrah and their neighbors were overthrown, says the LORD, no one shall live there, nor shall anyone settle in it.\r\n\t\t\t Like a lion coming up from the thickets of the Jordan against a perennial pasture, I will suddenly chase Edom away from it; and I will appoint over it whomever I choose. For who is like me? Who can summon me? Who is the shepherd who can stand before me? \r\n\t\t\t Therefore hear the plan that the LORD has made against Edom and the purposes that he has formed against the inhabitants of Teman: Surely the little ones of the flock shall be dragged away; surely their fold shall be appalled at their fate.\r\n\t\t\t At the sound of their fall the earth shall tremble; the sound of their cry shall be heard at the Red Sea. \r\n\t\t\t Look, he shall mount up and swoop down like an eagle, and spread his wings against Bozrah, and the heart of the warriors of Edom in that day shall be like the heart of a woman in labor.\r\n\t\t\t Concerning Damascus. Hamath and Arpad are confounded, for they have heard bad news; they melt in fear, they are troubled like the sea that cannot be quiet. \r\n\t\t\t Damascus has become feeble, she turned to flee, and panic seized her; anguish and sorrows have taken hold of her, as of a woman in labor.\r\n\t\t\t How the famous city is forsaken, the joyful town! \r\n\t\t\t Therefore her young men shall fall in her squares, and all her soldiers shall be destroyed in that day, says the LORD of hosts.\r\n\t\t\t And I will kindle a fire at the wall of Damascus, and it shall devour the strongholds of Ben-hadad.\r\n\t\t\t Concerning Kedar and the kingdoms of Hazor that King Nebuchadrezzar of Babylon defeated. Thus says the LORD: Rise up, advance against Kedar! Destroy the people of the east!\r\n\t\t\t Take their tents and their flocks, their curtains and all their goods; carry off their camels for yourselves, and a cry shall go up: \"Terror is all around!\"\r\n\t\t\t Flee, wander far away, hide in deep places, O inhabitants of Hazor! says the LORD. For King Nebuchadrezzar of Babylon has made a plan against you and formed a purpose against you.\r\n\t\t\t Rise up, advance against a nation at ease, that lives secure, says the LORD, that has no gates or bars, that lives alone.\r\n\t\t\t Their camels shall become booty, their herds of cattle a spoil. I will scatter to every wind those who have shaven temples, and I will bring calamity against them from every side, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Hazor shall become a lair of jackals, an everlasting waste; no one shall live there, nor shall anyone settle in it.\r\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD that came to the prophet Jeremiah concerning Elam, at the beginning of the reign of King Zedekiah of Judah.\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD of hosts: I am going to break the bow of Elam, the mainstay of their might;\r\n\t\t\t and I will bring upon Elam the four winds from the four quarters of heaven; and I will scatter them to all these winds, and there shall be no nation to which the exiles from Elam shall not come.\r\n\t\t\t I will terrify Elam before their enemies, and before those who seek their life; I will bring disaster upon them, my fierce anger, says the LORD. I will send the sword after them, until I have consumed them;\r\n\t\t\t and I will set my throne in Elam, and destroy their king and officials, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t But in the latter days I will restore the fortunes of Elam, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The word that the LORD spoke concerning Babylon, concerning the land of the Chaldeans, by the prophet Jeremiah:\r\n\t\t\t Declare among the nations and proclaim, set up a banner and proclaim, do not conceal it, say: Babylon is taken, Bel is put to shame, Merodach is dismayed. Her images are put to shame, her idols are dismayed.\r\n\t\t\t For out of the north a nation has come up against her; it shall make her land a desolation, and no one shall live in it; both human beings and animals shall flee away.\r\n\t\t\t In those days and in that time, says the LORD, the people of Israel shall come, they and the people of Judah together; they shall come weeping as they seek the LORD their God.\r\n\t\t\t They shall ask the way to Zion, with faces turned toward it, and they shall come and join themselves to the LORD by an everlasting covenant that will never be forgotten. \r\n\t\t\t My people have been lost sheep; their shepherds have led them astray, turning them away on the mountains; from mountain to hill they have gone, they have forgotten their fold.\r\n\t\t\t All who found them have devoured them, and their enemies have said, \"We are not guilty, because they have sinned against the LORD, the true pasture, the LORD, the hope of their ancestors.\"\r\n\t\t\t Flee from Babylon, and go out of the land of the Chaldeans, and be like male goats leading the flock.\r\n\t\t\t For I am going to stir up and bring against Babylon a company of great nations from the land of the north; and they shall array themselves against her; from there she shall be taken. Their arrows are like the arrows of a skilled warrior who does not return empty-handed.\r\n\t\t\t Chaldea shall be plundered; all who plunder her shall be sated, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Though you rejoice, though you exult, O plunderers of my heritage, though you frisk about like a heifer on the grass, and neigh like stallions,\r\n\t\t\t your mother shall be utterly shamed, and she who bore you shall be disgraced. Lo, she shall be the last of the nations, a wilderness, dry land, and a desert.\r\n\t\t\t Because of the wrath of the LORD she shall not be inhabited, but shall be an utter desolation; everyone who passes by Babylon shall be appalled and hiss because of all her wounds.\r\n\t\t\t Take up your positions around Babylon, all you that bend the bow; shoot at her, spare no arrows, for she has sinned against the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Raise a shout against her from all sides, \"She has surrendered; her bulwarks have fallen, her walls are thrown down.\" For this is the vengeance of the LORD: take vengeance on her, do to her as she has done.\r\n\t\t\t Cut off from Babylon the sower, and the wielder of the sickle in time of harvest; because of the destroying sword all of them shall return to their own people, and all of them shall flee to their own land.\r\n\t\t\t Israel is a hunted sheep driven away by lions. First the king of Assyria devoured it, and now at the end King Nebuchadrezzar of Babylon has gnawed its bones.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: I am going to punish the king of Babylon and his land, as I punished the king of Assyria.\r\n\t\t\t I will restore Israel to its pasture, and it shall feed on Carmel and in Bashan, and on the hills of Ephraim and in Gilead its hunger shall be satisfied.\r\n\t\t\t In those days and at that time, says the LORD, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought, and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and none shall be found; for I will pardon the remnant that I have spared.\r\n\t\t\t Go up to the land of Merathaim; go up against her, and attack the inhabitants of Pekod and utterly destroy the last of them, says the LORD; do all that I have commanded you. \r\n\t\t\t The noise of battle is in the land, and great destruction!\r\n\t\t\t How the hammer of the whole earth is cut down and broken! How Babylon has become a horror among the nations!\r\n\t\t\t You set a snare for yourself and you were caught, O Babylon, but you did not know it; you were discovered and seized, because you challenged the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD has opened his armory, and brought out the weapons of his wrath, for the Lord GOD of hosts has a task to do in the land of the Chaldeans.\r\n\t\t\t Come against her from every quarter; open her granaries; pile her up like heaps of grain, and destroy her utterly; let nothing be left of her.\r\n\t\t\t Kill all her bulls, let them go down to the slaughter. Alas for them, their day has come, the time of their punishment!\r\n\t\t\t Listen! Fugitives and refugees from the land of Babylon are coming to declare in Zion the vengeance of the LORD our God, vengeance for his temple.\r\n\t\t\t Summon archers against Babylon, all who bend the bow. Encamp all around her; let no one escape. Repay her according to her deeds; just as she has done, do to her-- for she has arrogantly defied the LORD, the Holy One of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore her young men shall fall in her squares, and all her soldiers shall be destroyed on that day, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t I am against you, O arrogant one, says the Lord GOD of hosts; for your day has come, the time when I will punish you.\r\n\t\t\t The arrogant one shall stumble and fall, with no one to raise him up, and I will kindle a fire in his cities, and it will devour everything around him.\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD of hosts: The people of Israel are oppressed, and so too are the people of Judah; all their captors have held them fast and refuse to let them go.\r\n\t\t\t Their Redeemer is strong; the LORD of hosts is his name. He will surely plead their cause, that he may give rest to the earth, but unrest to the inhabitants of Babylon.\r\n\t\t\t A sword against the Chaldeans, says the LORD, and against the inhabitants of Babylon, and against her officials and her sages!\r\n\t\t\t A sword against the diviners, so that they may become fools! A sword against her warriors, so that they may be destroyed!\r\n\t\t\t A sword against her horses and against her chariots, and against all the foreign troops in her midst, so that they may become women! A sword against all her treasures, that they may be plundered! \r\n\t\t\t A drought against her waters, that they may be dried up! For it is a land of images, and they go mad over idols. \r\n\t\t\t Therefore wild animals shall live with hyenas in Babylon, and ostriches shall inhabit her; she shall never again be peopled, or inhabited for all generations. \r\n\t\t\t As when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah and their neighbors, says the LORD, so no one shall live there, nor shall anyone settle in her.\r\n\t\t\t Look, a people is coming from the north; a mighty nation and many kings are stirring from the farthest parts of the earth.\r\n\t\t\t They wield bow and spear, they are cruel and have no mercy. The sound of them is like the roaring sea; they ride upon horses, set in array as a warrior for battle, against you, O daughter Babylon!\r\n\t\t\t The king of Babylon heard news of them, and his hands fell helpless; anguish seized him, pain like that of a woman in labor.\r\n\t\t\t Like a lion coming up from the thickets of the Jordan against a perennial pasture, I will suddenly chase them away from her; and I will appoint over her whomever I choose. For who is like me? Who can summon me? Who is the shepherd who can stand before me? \r\n\t\t\t Therefore hear the plan that the LORD has made against Babylon, and the purposes that he has formed against the land of the Chaldeans: Surely the little ones of the flock shall be dragged away; surely their fold shall be appalled at their fate. \r\n\t\t\t At the sound of the capture of Babylon the earth shall tremble, and her cry shall be heard among the nations.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD: I am going to stir up a destructive wind against Babylon and against the inhabitants of Leb-qamai; \r\n\t\t\t and I will send winnowers to Babylon, and they shall winnow her. They shall empty her land when they come against her from every side on the day of trouble.\r\n\t\t\t Let not the archer bend his bow, and let him not array himself in his coat of mail. Do not spare her young men; utterly destroy her entire army.\r\n\t\t\t They shall fall down slain in the land of the Chaldeans, and wounded in her streets.\r\n\t\t\t Israel and Judah have not been forsaken by their God, the LORD of hosts, though their land is full of guilt before the Holy One of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t Flee from the midst of Babylon, save your lives, each of you! Do not perish because of her guilt, for this is the time of the LORD's vengeance; he is repaying her what is due.\r\n\t\t\t Babylon was a golden cup in the LORD's hand, making all the earth drunken; the nations drank of her wine, and so the nations went mad.\r\n\t\t\t Suddenly Babylon has fallen and is shattered; wail for her! Bring balm for her wound; perhaps she may be healed.\r\n\t\t\t We tried to heal Babylon, but she could not be healed. Forsake her, and let each of us go to our own country; for her judgment has reached up to heaven and has been lifted up even to the skies.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD has brought forth our vindication; come, let us declare in Zion the work of the LORD our God.\r\n\t\t\t Sharpen the arrows! Fill the quivers! The LORD has stirred up the spirit of the kings of the Medes, because his purpose concerning Babylon is to destroy it, for that is the vengeance of the LORD, vengeance for his temple.\r\n\t\t\t Raise a standard against the walls of Babylon; make the watch strong; post sentinels; prepare the ambushes; for the LORD has both planned and done what he spoke concerning the inhabitants of Babylon.\r\n\t\t\t You who live by mighty waters, rich in treasures, your end has come, the thread of your life is cut.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD of hosts has sworn by himself: Surely I will fill you with troops like a swarm of locusts, and they shall raise a shout of victory over you.\r\n\t\t\t It is he who made the earth by his power, who established the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding stretched out the heavens.\r\n\t\t\t When he utters his voice there is a tumult of waters in the heavens, and he makes the mist rise from the ends of the earth. He makes lightnings for the rain, and he brings out the wind from his storehouses.\r\n\t\t\t Everyone is stupid and without knowledge; goldsmiths are all put to shame by their idols; for their images are false, and there is no breath in them.\r\n\t\t\t They are worthless, a work of delusion; at the time of their punishment they shall perish.\r\n\t\t\t Not like these is the LORD, the portion of Jacob, for he is the one who formed all things, and Israel is the tribe of his inheritance; the LORD of hosts is his name. \r\n\t\t\t You are my war club, my weapon of battle: with you I smash nations; with you I destroy kingdoms;\r\n\t\t\t with you I smash the horse and its rider; with you I smash the chariot and the charioteer;\r\n\t\t\t with you I smash man and woman; with you I smash the old man and the boy; with you I smash the young man and the girl;\r\n\t\t\t with you I smash shepherds and their flocks; with you I smash farmers and their teams; with you I smash governors and deputies.\r\n\t\t\t I will repay Babylon and all the inhabitants of Chaldea before your very eyes for all the wrong that they have done in Zion, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t I am against you, O destroying mountain, says the LORD, that destroys the whole earth; I will stretch out my hand against you, and roll you down from the crags, and make you a burned-out mountain.\r\n\t\t\t No stone shall be taken from you for a corner and no stone for a foundation, but you shall be a perpetual waste, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Raise a standard in the land, blow the trumpet among the nations; prepare the nations for war against her, summon against her the kingdoms, Ararat, Minni, and Ashkenaz; appoint a marshal against her, bring up horses like bristling locusts.\r\n\t\t\t Prepare the nations for war against her, the kings of the Medes, with their governors and deputies, and every land under their dominion.\r\n\t\t\t The land trembles and writhes, for the LORD's purposes against Babylon stand, to make the land of Babylon a desolation, without inhabitant.\r\n\t\t\t The warriors of Babylon have given up fighting, they remain in their strongholds; their strength has failed, they have become women; her buildings are set on fire, her bars are broken.\r\n\t\t\t One runner runs to meet another, and one messenger to meet another, to tell the king of Babylon that his city is taken from end to end:\r\n\t\t\t the fords have been seized, the marshes have been burned with fire, and the soldiers are in panic.\r\n\t\t\t For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Daughter Babylon is like a threshing floor at the time when it is trodden; yet a little while and the time of her harvest will come.\r\n\t\t\t \"King Nebuchadrezzar of Babylon has devoured me, he has crushed me; he has made me an empty vessel, he has swallowed me like a monster; he has filled his belly with my delicacies, he has spewed me out.\r\n\t\t\t May my torn flesh be avenged on Babylon,\" the inhabitants of Zion shall say. \"May my blood be avenged on the inhabitants of Chaldea,\" Jerusalem shall say.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore thus says the LORD: I am going to defend your cause and take vengeance for you. I will dry up her sea and make her fountain dry;\r\n\t\t\t and Babylon shall become a heap of ruins, a den of jackals, an object of horror and of hissing, without inhabitant.\r\n\t\t\t Like lions they shall roar together; they shall growl like lions' whelps.\r\n\t\t\t When they are inflamed, I will set out their drink and make them drunk, until they become merry and then sleep a perpetual sleep and never wake, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter, like rams and goats.\r\n\t\t\t How Sheshach is taken, the pride of the whole earth seized! How Babylon has become an object of horror among the nations! \r\n\t\t\t The sea has risen over Babylon; she has been covered by its tumultuous waves.\r\n\t\t\t Her cities have become an object of horror, a land of drought and a desert, a land in which no one lives, and through which no mortal passes.\r\n\t\t\t I will punish Bel in Babylon, and make him disgorge what he has swallowed. The nations shall no longer stream to him; the wall of Babylon has fallen.\r\n\t\t\t Come out of her, my people! Save your lives, each of you, from the fierce anger of the LORD!\r\n\t\t\t Do not be fainthearted or fearful at the rumors heard in the land-- one year one rumor comes, the next year another, rumors of violence in the land and of ruler against ruler.\r\n\t\t\t Assuredly, the days are coming when I will punish the images of Babylon; her whole land shall be put to shame, and all her slain shall fall in her midst.\r\n\t\t\t Then the heavens and the earth, and all that is in them, shall shout for joy over Babylon; for the destroyers shall come against them out of the north, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Babylon must fall for the slain of Israel, as the slain of all the earth have fallen because of Babylon.\r\n\t\t\t You survivors of the sword, go, do not linger! Remember the LORD in a distant land, and let Jerusalem come into your mind:\r\n\t\t\t We are put to shame, for we have heard insults; dishonor has covered our face, for aliens have come into the holy places of the LORD's house.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore the time is surely coming, says the LORD, when I will punish her idols, and through all her land the wounded shall groan.\r\n\t\t\t Though Babylon should mount up to heaven, and though she should fortify her strong height, from me destroyers would come upon her, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Listen!-- a cry from Babylon! A great crashing from the land of the Chaldeans!\r\n\t\t\t For the LORD is laying Babylon waste, and stilling her loud clamor. Their waves roar like mighty waters, the sound of their clamor resounds;\r\n\t\t\t for a destroyer has come against her, against Babylon; her warriors are taken, their bows are broken; for the LORD is a God of recompense, he will repay in full.\r\n\t\t\t I will make her officials and her sages drunk, also her governors, her deputies, and her warriors; they shall sleep a perpetual sleep and never wake, says the King, whose name is the LORD of hosts.\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD of hosts: The broad wall of Babylon shall be leveled to the ground, and her high gates shall be burned with fire. The peoples exhaust themselves for nothing, and the nations weary themselves only for fire. \r\n\t\t\t The word that the prophet Jeremiah commanded Seraiah son of Neriah son of Mahseiah, when he went with King Zedekiah of Judah to Babylon, in the fourth year of his reign. Seraiah was the quartermaster.\r\n\t\t\t Jeremiah wrote in a scroll all the disasters that would come on Babylon, all these words that are written concerning Babylon. \r\n\t\t\t And Jeremiah said to Seraiah: \"When you come to Babylon, see that you read all these words,\r\n\t\t\t and say, 'O LORD, you yourself threatened to destroy this place so that neither human beings nor animals shall live in it, and it shall be desolate forever.'\r\n\t\t\t When you finish reading this scroll, tie a stone to it, and throw it into the middle of the Euphrates,\r\n\t\t\t and say, 'Thus shall Babylon sink, to rise no more, because of the disasters that I am bringing on her.'\" Thus far are the words of Jeremiah. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he began to reign; he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Hamutal daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.\r\n\t\t\t He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, just as Jehoiakim had done.\r\n\t\t\t Indeed, Jerusalem and Judah so angered the LORD that he expelled them from his presence. Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.\r\n\t\t\t And in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, on the tenth day of the month, King Nebuchadrezzar of Babylon came with all his army against Jerusalem, and they laid siege to it; they built siegeworks against it all around.\r\n\t\t\t So the city was besieged until the eleventh year of King Zedekiah.\r\n\t\t\t On the ninth day of the fourth month the famine became so severe in the city that there was no food for the people of the land.\r\n\t\t\t Then a breach was made in the city wall; and all the soldiers fled and went out from the city by night by the way of the gate between the two walls, by the king's garden, though the Chaldeans were all around the city. They went in the direction of the Arabah. \r\n\t\t\t But the army of the Chaldeans pursued the king, and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho; and all his army was scattered, deserting him.\r\n\t\t\t Then they captured the king, and brought him up to the king of Babylon at Riblah in the land of Hamath, and he passed sentence on him.\r\n\t\t\t The king of Babylon killed the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and also killed all the officers of Judah at Riblah.\r\n\t\t\t He put out the eyes of Zedekiah, and bound him in fetters, and the king of Babylon took him to Babylon, and put him in prison until the day of his death.\r\n\t\t\t In the fifth month, on the tenth day of the month-- which was the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadrezzar, king of Babylon-- Nebuzaradan the captain of the bodyguard who served the king of Babylon, entered Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t He burned the house of the LORD, the king's house, and all the houses of Jerusalem; every great house he burned down.\r\n\t\t\t All the army of the Chaldeans, who were with the captain of the guard, broke down all the walls around Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried into exile some of the poorest of the people and the rest of the people who were left in the city and the deserters who had defected to the king of Babylon, together with the rest of the artisans.\r\n\t\t\t But Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard left some of the poorest people of the land to be vinedressers and tillers of the soil.\r\n\t\t\t The pillars of bronze that were in the house of the LORD, and the stands and the bronze sea that were in the house of the LORD, the Chaldeans broke in pieces, and carried all the bronze to Babylon.\r\n\t\t\t They took away the pots, the shovels, the snuffers, the basins, the ladles, and all the vessels of bronze used in the temple service.\r\n\t\t\t The captain of the guard took away the small bowls also, the firepans, the basins, the pots, the lampstands, the ladles, and the bowls for libation, both those of gold and those of silver.\r\n\t\t\t As for the two pillars, the one sea, the twelve bronze bulls that were under the sea, and the stands, which King Solomon had made for the house of the LORD, the bronze of all these vessels was beyond weighing. \r\n\t\t\t As for the pillars, the height of the one pillar was eighteen cubits, its circumference was twelve cubits; it was hollow and its thickness was four fingers.\r\n\t\t\t Upon it was a capital of bronze; the height of the one capital was five cubits; latticework and pomegranates, all of bronze, encircled the top of the capital. And the second pillar had the same, with pomegranates.\r\n\t\t\t There were ninety-six pomegranates on the sides; all the pomegranates encircling the latticework numbered one hundred.\r\n\t\t\t The captain of the guard took the chief priest Seraiah, the second priest Zephaniah, and the three guardians of the threshold;\r\n\t\t\t and from the city he took an officer who had been in command of the soldiers, and seven men of the king's council who were found in the city; the secretary of the commander of the army who mustered the people of the land; and sixty men of the people of the land who were found inside the city.\r\n\t\t\t Then Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard took them, and brought them to the king of Babylon at Riblah.\r\n\t\t\t And the king of Babylon struck them down, and put them to death at Riblah in the land of Hamath. So Judah went into exile out of its land.\r\n\t\t\t This is the number of the people whom Nebuchadrezzar took into exile: in the seventh year, three thousand twenty-three Judeans;\r\n\t\t\t in the eighteenth year of Nebuchadrezzar he took into exile from Jerusalem eight hundred thirty-two persons;\r\n\t\t\t in the twenty-third year of Nebuchadrezzar, Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard took into exile of the Judeans seven hundred forty-five persons; all the persons were four thousand six hundred.\r\n\t\t\t In the thirty-seventh year of the exile of King Jehoiachin of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the twenty-fifth day of the month, King Evil-merodach of Babylon, in the year he began to reign, showed favor to King Jehoiachin of Judah and brought him out of prison;\r\n\t\t\t he spoke kindly to him, and gave him a seat above the seats of the other kings who were with him in Babylon.\r\n\t\t\t So Jehoiachin put aside his prison clothes, and every day of his life he dined regularly at the king's table.\r\n\t\t\t For his allowance, a regular daily allowance was given him by the king of Babylon, as long as he lived, up to the day of his death.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t How lonely sits the city that once was full of people! How like a widow she has become, she that was great among the nations! She that was a princess among the provinces has become a vassal.\r\n\t\t\t She weeps bitterly in the night, with tears on her cheeks; among all her lovers she has no one to comfort her; all her friends have dealt treacherously with her, they have become her enemies.\r\n\t\t\t Judah has gone into exile with suffering and hard servitude; she lives now among the nations, and finds no resting place; her pursuers have all overtaken her in the midst of her distress.\r\n\t\t\t The roads to Zion mourn, for no one comes to the festivals; all her gates are desolate, her priests groan; her young girls grieve, and her lot is bitter. \r\n\t\t\t Her foes have become the masters, her enemies prosper, because the LORD has made her suffer for the multitude of her transgressions; her children have gone away, captives before the foe.\r\n\t\t\t From daughter Zion has departed all her majesty. Her princes have become like stags that find no pasture; they fled without strength before the pursuer.\r\n\t\t\t Jerusalem remembers, in the days of her affliction and wandering, all the precious things that were hers in days of old. When her people fell into the hand of the foe, and there was no one to help her, the foe looked on mocking over her downfall.\r\n\t\t\t Jerusalem sinned grievously, so she has become a mockery; all who honored her despise her, for they have seen her nakedness; she herself groans, and turns her face away.\r\n\t\t\t Her uncleanness was in her skirts; she took no thought of her future; her downfall was appalling, with none to comfort her. \"O LORD, look at my affliction, for the enemy has triumphed!\"\r\n\t\t\t Enemies have stretched out their hands over all her precious things; she has even seen the nations invade her sanctuary, those whom you forbade to enter your congregation.\r\n\t\t\t All her people groan as they search for bread; they trade their treasures for food to revive their strength. Look, O LORD, and see how worthless I have become.\r\n\t\t\t Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by? Look and see if there is any sorrow like my sorrow, which was brought upon me, which the LORD inflicted on the day of his fierce anger. \r\n\t\t\t From on high he sent fire; it went deep into my bones; he spread a net for my feet; he turned me back; he has left me stunned, faint all day long.\r\n\t\t\t My transgressions were bound into a yoke; by his hand they were fastened together; they weigh on my neck, sapping my strength; the Lord handed me over to those whom I cannot withstand. \r\n\t\t\t The LORD has rejected all my warriors in the midst of me; he proclaimed a time against me to crush my young men; the Lord has trodden as in a wine press the virgin daughter Judah.\r\n\t\t\t For these things I weep; my eyes flow with tears; for a comforter is far from me, one to revive my courage; my children are desolate, for the enemy has prevailed.\r\n\t\t\t Zion stretches out her hands, but there is no one to comfort her; the LORD has commanded against Jacob that his neighbors should become his foes; Jerusalem has become a filthy thing among them.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD is in the right, for I have rebelled against his word; but hear, all you peoples, and behold my suffering; my young women and young men have gone into captivity.\r\n\t\t\t I called to my lovers but they deceived me; my priests and elders perished in the city while seeking food to revive their strength.\r\n\t\t\t See, O LORD, how distressed I am; my stomach churns, my heart is wrung within me, because I have been very rebellious. In the street the sword bereaves; in the house it is like death.\r\n\t\t\t They heard how I was groaning, with no one to comfort me. All my enemies heard of my trouble; they are glad that you have done it. Bring on the day you have announced, and let them be as I am.\r\n\t\t\t Let all their evil doing come before you; and deal with them as you have dealt with me because of all my transgressions; for my groans are many and my heart is faint.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t How the Lord in his anger has humiliated daughter Zion! He has thrown down from heaven to earth the splendor of Israel; he has not remembered his footstool in the day of his anger. \r\n\t\t\t The Lord has destroyed without mercy all the dwellings of Jacob; in his wrath he has broken down the strongholds of daughter Judah; he has brought down to the ground in dishonor the kingdom and its rulers.\r\n\t\t\t He has cut down in fierce anger all the might of Israel; he has withdrawn his right hand from them in the face of the enemy; he has burned like a flaming fire in Jacob, consuming all around.\r\n\t\t\t He has bent his bow like an enemy, with his right hand set like a foe; he has killed all in whom we took pride in the tent of daughter Zion; he has poured out his fury like fire.\r\n\t\t\t The Lord has become like an enemy; he has destroyed Israel; He has destroyed all its palaces, laid in ruins its strongholds, and multiplied in daughter Judah mourning and lamentation.\r\n\t\t\t He has broken down his booth like a garden, he has destroyed his tabernacle; the LORD has abolished in Zion festival and sabbath, and in his fierce indignation has spurned king and priest.\r\n\t\t\t The Lord has scorned his altar, disowned his sanctuary; he has delivered into the hand of the enemy the walls of her palaces; a clamor was raised in the house of the LORD as on a day of festival.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD determined to lay in ruins the wall of daughter Zion; he stretched the line; he did not withhold his hand from destroying; he caused rampart and wall to lament; they languish together.\r\n\t\t\t Her gates have sunk into the ground; he has ruined and broken her bars; her king and princes are among the nations; guidance is no more, and her prophets obtain no vision from the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t The elders of daughter Zion sit on the ground in silence; they have thrown dust on their heads and put on sackcloth; the young girls of Jerusalem have bowed their heads to the ground.\r\n\t\t\t My eyes are spent with weeping; my stomach churns; my bile is poured out on the ground because of the destruction of my people, because infants and babes faint in the streets of the city.\r\n\t\t\t They cry to their mothers, \"Where is bread and wine?\" as they faint like the wounded in the streets of the city, as their life is poured out on their mothers' bosom.\r\n\t\t\t What can I say for you, to what compare you, O daughter Jerusalem? To what can I liken you, that I may comfort you, O virgin daughter Zion? For vast as the sea is your ruin; who can heal you?\r\n\t\t\t Your prophets have seen for you false and deceptive visions; they have not exposed your iniquity to restore your fortunes, but have seen oracles for you that are false and misleading.\r\n\t\t\t All who pass along the way clap their hands at you; they hiss and wag their heads at daughter Jerusalem; \"Is this the city that was called the perfection of beauty, the joy of all the earth?\"\r\n\t\t\t All your enemies open their mouths against you; they hiss, they gnash their teeth, they cry: \"We have devoured her! Ah, this is the day we longed for; at last we have seen it!\"\r\n\t\t\t The LORD has done what he purposed, he has carried out his threat; as he ordained long ago, he has demolished without pity; he has made the enemy rejoice over you, and exalted the might of your foes.\r\n\t\t\t Cry aloud to the Lord! O wall of daughter Zion! Let tears stream down like a torrent day and night! Give yourself no rest, your eyes no respite! \r\n\t\t\t Arise, cry out in the night, at the beginning of the watches! Pour out your heart like water before the presence of the Lord! Lift your hands to him for the lives of your children, who faint for hunger at the head of every street.\r\n\t\t\t Look, O LORD, and consider! To whom have you done this? Should women eat their offspring, the children they have borne? Should priest and prophet be killed in the sanctuary of the Lord?\r\n\t\t\t The young and the old are lying on the ground in the streets; my young women and my young men have fallen by the sword; in the day of your anger you have killed them, slaughtering without mercy.\r\n\t\t\t You invited my enemies from all around as if for a day of festival; and on the day of the anger of the LORD no one escaped or survived; those whom I bore and reared my enemy has destroyed.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t I am one who has seen affliction under the rod of God's wrath;\r\n\t\t\t he has driven and brought me into darkness without any light;\r\n\t\t\t against me alone he turns his hand, again and again, all day long.\r\n\t\t\t He has made my flesh and my skin waste away, and broken my bones;\r\n\t\t\t he has besieged and enveloped me with bitterness and tribulation;\r\n\t\t\t he has made me sit in darkness like the dead of long ago.\r\n\t\t\t He has walled me about so that I cannot escape; he has put heavy chains on me;\r\n\t\t\t though I call and cry for help, he shuts out my prayer;\r\n\t\t\t he has blocked my ways with hewn stones, he has made my paths crooked.\r\n\t\t\t He is a bear lying in wait for me, a lion in hiding;\r\n\t\t\t he led me off my way and tore me to pieces; he has made me desolate;\r\n\t\t\t he bent his bow and set me as a mark for his arrow.\r\n\t\t\t He shot into my vitals the arrows of his quiver;\r\n\t\t\t I have become the laughingstock of all my people, the object of their taunt-songs all day long.\r\n\t\t\t He has filled me with bitterness, he has sated me with wormwood.\r\n\t\t\t He has made my teeth grind on gravel, and made me cower in ashes;\r\n\t\t\t my soul is bereft of peace; I have forgotten what happiness is;\r\n\t\t\t so I say, \"Gone is my glory, and all that I had hoped for from the LORD.\"\r\n\t\t\t The thought of my affliction and my homelessness is wormwood and gall!\r\n\t\t\t My soul continually thinks of it and is bowed down within me.\r\n\t\t\t But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope:\r\n\t\t\t The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; \r\n\t\t\t they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.\r\n\t\t\t \"The LORD is my portion,\" says my soul, \"therefore I will hope in him.\"\r\n\t\t\t The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul that seeks him.\r\n\t\t\t It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t It is good for one to bear the yoke in youth,\r\n\t\t\t to sit alone in silence when the Lord has imposed it,\r\n\t\t\t to put one's mouth to the dust (there may yet be hope),\r\n\t\t\t to give one's cheek to the smiter, and be filled with insults.\r\n\t\t\t For the Lord will not reject forever.\r\n\t\t\t Although he causes grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love;\r\n\t\t\t for he does not willingly afflict or grieve anyone.\r\n\t\t\t When all the prisoners of the land are crushed under foot,\r\n\t\t\t when human rights are perverted in the presence of the Most High,\r\n\t\t\t when one's case is subverted-- does the Lord not see it?\r\n\t\t\t Who can command and have it done, if the Lord has not ordained it?\r\n\t\t\t Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that good and bad come?\r\n\t\t\t Why should any who draw breath complain about the punishment of their sins?\r\n\t\t\t Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Let us lift up our hearts as well as our hands to God in heaven.\r\n\t\t\t We have transgressed and rebelled, and you have not forgiven.\r\n\t\t\t You have wrapped yourself with anger and pursued us, killing without pity;\r\n\t\t\t you have wrapped yourself with a cloud so that no prayer can pass through.\r\n\t\t\t You have made us filth and rubbish among the peoples.\r\n\t\t\t All our enemies have opened their mouths against us;\r\n\t\t\t panic and pitfall have come upon us, devastation and destruction.\r\n\t\t\t My eyes flow with rivers of tears because of the destruction of my people.\r\n\t\t\t My eyes will flow without ceasing, without respite,\r\n\t\t\t until the LORD from heaven looks down and sees.\r\n\t\t\t My eyes cause me grief at the fate of all the young women in my city.\r\n\t\t\t Those who were my enemies without cause have hunted me like a bird;\r\n\t\t\t they flung me alive into a pit and hurled stones on me;\r\n\t\t\t water closed over my head; I said, \"I am lost.\"\r\n\t\t\t I called on your name, O LORD, from the depths of the pit;\r\n\t\t\t you heard my plea, \"Do not close your ear to my cry for help, but give me relief!\"\r\n\t\t\t You came near when I called on you; you said, \"Do not fear!\"\r\n\t\t\t You have taken up my cause, O Lord, you have redeemed my life.\r\n\t\t\t You have seen the wrong done to me, O LORD; judge my cause.\r\n\t\t\t You have seen all their malice, all their plots against me.\r\n\t\t\t You have heard their taunts, O LORD, all their plots against me.\r\n\t\t\t The whispers and murmurs of my assailants are against me all day long.\r\n\t\t\t Whether they sit or rise-- see, I am the object of their taunt-songs.\r\n\t\t\t Pay them back for their deeds, O LORD, according to the work of their hands!\r\n\t\t\t Give them anguish of heart; your curse be on them!\r\n\t\t\t Pursue them in anger and destroy them from under the LORD's heavens.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t How the gold has grown dim, how the pure gold is changed! The sacred stones lie scattered at the head of every street.\r\n\t\t\t The precious children of Zion, worth their weight in fine gold-- how they are reckoned as earthen pots, the work of a potter's hands!\r\n\t\t\t Even the jackals offer the breast and nurse their young, but my people has become cruel, like the ostriches in the wilderness.\r\n\t\t\t The tongue of the infant sticks to the roof of its mouth for thirst; the children beg for food, but no one gives them anything.\r\n\t\t\t Those who feasted on delicacies perish in the streets; those who were brought up in purple cling to ash heaps.\r\n\t\t\t For the chastisement of my people has been greater than the punishment of Sodom, which was overthrown in a moment, though no hand was laid on it. \r\n\t\t\t Her princes were purer than snow, whiter than milk; their bodies were more ruddy than coral, their hair like sapphire. \r\n\t\t\t Now their visage is blacker than soot; they are not recognized in the streets. Their skin has shriveled on their bones; it has become as dry as wood.\r\n\t\t\t Happier were those pierced by the sword than those pierced by hunger, whose life drains away, deprived of the produce of the field.\r\n\t\t\t The hands of compassionate women have boiled their own children; they became their food in the destruction of my people.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD gave full vent to his wrath; he poured out his hot anger, and kindled a fire in Zion that consumed its foundations.\r\n\t\t\t The kings of the earth did not believe, nor did any of the inhabitants of the world, that foe or enemy could enter the gates of Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t It was for the sins of her prophets and the iniquities of her priests, who shed the blood of the righteous in the midst of her.\r\n\t\t\t Blindly they wandered through the streets, so defiled with blood that no one was able to touch their garments.\r\n\t\t\t \"Away! Unclean!\" people shouted at them; \"Away! Away! Do not touch!\" So they became fugitives and wanderers; it was said among the nations, \"They shall stay here no longer.\"\r\n\t\t\t The LORD himself has scattered them, he will regard them no more; no honor was shown to the priests, no favor to the elders.\r\n\t\t\t Our eyes failed, ever watching vainly for help; we were watching eagerly for a nation that could not save.\r\n\t\t\t They dogged our steps so that we could not walk in our streets; our end drew near; our days were numbered; for our end had come.\r\n\t\t\t Our pursuers were swifter than the eagles in the heavens; they chased us on the mountains, they lay in wait for us in the wilderness.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD's anointed, the breath of our life, was taken in their pits-- the one of whom we said, \"Under his shadow we shall live among the nations.\"\r\n\t\t\t Rejoice and be glad, O daughter Edom, you that live in the land of Uz; but to you also the cup shall pass; you shall become drunk and strip yourself bare.\r\n\t\t\t The punishment of your iniquity, O daughter Zion, is accomplished, he will keep you in exile no longer; but your iniquity, O daughter Edom, he will punish, he will uncover your sins.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Remember, O LORD, what has befallen us; look, and see our disgrace!\r\n\t\t\t Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers, our homes to aliens.\r\n\t\t\t We have become orphans, fatherless; our mothers are like widows.\r\n\t\t\t We must pay for the water we drink; the wood we get must be bought.\r\n\t\t\t With a yoke on our necks we are hard driven; we are weary, we are given no rest. \r\n\t\t\t We have made a pact with Egypt and Assyria, to get enough bread. \r\n\t\t\t Our ancestors sinned; they are no more, and we bear their iniquities.\r\n\t\t\t Slaves rule over us; there is no one to deliver us from their hand.\r\n\t\t\t We get our bread at the peril of our lives, because of the sword in the wilderness.\r\n\t\t\t Our skin is black as an oven from the scorching heat of famine.\r\n\t\t\t Women are raped in Zion, virgins in the towns of Judah.\r\n\t\t\t Princes are hung up by their hands; no respect is shown to the elders.\r\n\t\t\t Young men are compelled to grind, and boys stagger under loads of wood.\r\n\t\t\t The old men have left the city gate, the young men their music.\r\n\t\t\t The joy of our hearts has ceased; our dancing has been turned to mourning.\r\n\t\t\t The crown has fallen from our head; woe to us, for we have sinned!\r\n\t\t\t Because of this our hearts are sick, because of these things our eyes have grown dim:\r\n\t\t\t because of Mount Zion, which lies desolate; jackals prowl over it.\r\n\t\t\t But you, O LORD, reign forever; your throne endures to all generations.\r\n\t\t\t Why have you forgotten us completely? Why have you forsaken us these many days?\r\n\t\t\t Restore us to yourself, O LORD, that we may be restored; renew our days as of old--\r\n\t\t\t unless you have utterly rejected us, and are angry with us beyond measure.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t In the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I was among the exiles by the river Chebar, the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God.\r\n\t\t\t On the fifth day of the month (it was the fifth year of the exile of King Jehoiachin),\r\n\t\t\t the word of the LORD came to the priest Ezekiel son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of the LORD was on him there.\r\n\t\t\t As I looked, a stormy wind came out of the north: a great cloud with brightness around it and fire flashing forth continually, and in the middle of the fire, something like gleaming amber.\r\n\t\t\t In the middle of it was something like four living creatures. This was their appearance: they were of human form.\r\n\t\t\t Each had four faces, and each of them had four wings.\r\n\t\t\t Their legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the sole of a calf's foot; and they sparkled like burnished bronze.\r\n\t\t\t Under their wings on their four sides they had human hands. And the four had their faces and their wings thus:\r\n\t\t\t their wings touched one another; each of them moved straight ahead, without turning as they moved.\r\n\t\t\t As for the appearance of their faces: the four had the face of a human being, the face of a lion on the right side, the face of an ox on the left side, and the face of an eagle;\r\n\t\t\t such were their faces. Their wings were spread out above; each creature had two wings, each of which touched the wing of another, while two covered their bodies.\r\n\t\t\t Each moved straight ahead; wherever the spirit would go, they went, without turning as they went.\r\n\t\t\t In the middle of the living creatures there was something that looked like burning coals of fire, like torches moving to and fro among the living creatures; the fire was bright, and lightning issued from the fire. \r\n\t\t\t The living creatures darted to and fro, like a flash of lightning.\r\n\t\t\t As I looked at the living creatures, I saw a wheel on the earth beside the living creatures, one for each of the four of them. \r\n\t\t\t As for the appearance of the wheels and their construction: their appearance was like the gleaming of beryl; and the four had the same form, their construction being something like a wheel within a wheel.\r\n\t\t\t When they moved, they moved in any of the four directions without veering as they moved.\r\n\t\t\t Their rims were tall and awesome, for the rims of all four were full of eyes all around.\r\n\t\t\t When the living creatures moved, the wheels moved beside them; and when the living creatures rose from the earth, the wheels rose.\r\n\t\t\t Wherever the spirit would go, they went, and the wheels rose along with them; for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.\r\n\t\t\t When they moved, the others moved; when they stopped, the others stopped; and when they rose from the earth, the wheels rose along with them; for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.\r\n\t\t\t Over the heads of the living creatures there was something like a dome, shining like crystal, spread out above their heads. \r\n\t\t\t Under the dome their wings were stretched out straight, one toward another; and each of the creatures had two wings covering its body.\r\n\t\t\t When they moved, I heard the sound of their wings like the sound of mighty waters, like the thunder of the Almighty, a sound of tumult like the sound of an army; when they stopped, they let down their wings. \r\n\t\t\t And there came a voice from above the dome over their heads; when they stopped, they let down their wings.\r\n\t\t\t And above the dome over their heads there was something like a throne, in appearance like sapphire; and seated above the likeness of a throne was something that seemed like a human form. \r\n\t\t\t Upward from what appeared like the loins I saw something like gleaming amber, something that looked like fire enclosed all around; and downward from what looked like the loins I saw something that looked like fire, and there was a splendor all around.\r\n\t\t\t Like the bow in a cloud on a rainy day, such was the appearance of the splendor all around. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. When I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard the voice of someone speaking.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t He said to me: O mortal, stand up on your feet, and I will speak with you. \r\n\t\t\t And when he spoke to me, a spirit entered into me and set me on my feet; and I heard him speaking to me.\r\n\t\t\t He said to me, Mortal, I am sending you to the people of Israel, to a nation of rebels who have rebelled against me; they and their ancestors have transgressed against me to this very day.\r\n\t\t\t The descendants are impudent and stubborn. I am sending you to them, and you shall say to them, \"Thus says the Lord GOD.\"\r\n\t\t\t Whether they hear or refuse to hear (for they are a rebellious house), they shall know that there has been a prophet among them.\r\n\t\t\t And you, O mortal, do not be afraid of them, and do not be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns surround you and you live among scorpions; do not be afraid of their words, and do not be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house.\r\n\t\t\t You shall speak my words to them, whether they hear or refuse to hear; for they are a rebellious house.\r\n\t\t\t But you, mortal, hear what I say to you; do not be rebellious like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you.\r\n\t\t\t I looked, and a hand was stretched out to me, and a written scroll was in it.\r\n\t\t\t He spread it before me; it had writing on the front and on the back, and written on it were words of lamentation and mourning and woe.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t He said to me, O mortal, eat what is offered to you; eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t So I opened my mouth, and he gave me the scroll to eat.\r\n\t\t\t He said to me, Mortal, eat this scroll that I give you and fill your stomach with it. Then I ate it; and in my mouth it was as sweet as honey.\r\n\t\t\t He said to me: Mortal, go to the house of Israel and speak my very words to them.\r\n\t\t\t For you are not sent to a people of obscure speech and difficult language, but to the house of Israel--\r\n\t\t\t not to many peoples of obscure speech and difficult language, whose words you cannot understand. Surely, if I sent you to them, they would listen to you.\r\n\t\t\t But the house of Israel will not listen to you, for they are not willing to listen to me; because all the house of Israel have a hard forehead and a stubborn heart.\r\n\t\t\t See, I have made your face hard against their faces, and your forehead hard against their foreheads.\r\n\t\t\t Like the hardest stone, harder than flint, I have made your forehead; do not fear them or be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house.\r\n\t\t\t He said to me: Mortal, all my words that I shall speak to you receive in your heart and hear with your ears;\r\n\t\t\t then go to the exiles, to your people, and speak to them. Say to them, \"Thus says the Lord GOD\"; whether they hear or refuse to hear.\r\n\t\t\t Then the spirit lifted me up, and as the glory of the LORD rose from its place, I heard behind me the sound of loud rumbling; \r\n\t\t\t it was the sound of the wings of the living creatures brushing against one another, and the sound of the wheels beside them, that sounded like a loud rumbling.\r\n\t\t\t The spirit lifted me up and bore me away; I went in bitterness in the heat of my spirit, the hand of the LORD being strong upon me.\r\n\t\t\t I came to the exiles at Tel-abib, who lived by the river Chebar. And I sat there among them, stunned, for seven days. \r\n\t\t\t At the end of seven days, the word of the LORD came to me:\r\n\t\t\t Mortal, I have made you a sentinel for the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me.\r\n\t\t\t If I say to the wicked, \"You shall surely die,\" and you give them no warning, or speak to warn the wicked from their wicked way, in order to save their life, those wicked persons shall die for their iniquity; but their blood I will require at your hand.\r\n\t\t\t But if you warn the wicked, and they do not turn from their wickedness, or from their wicked way, they shall die for their iniquity; but you will have saved your life.\r\n\t\t\t Again, if the righteous turn from their righteousness and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumbling block before them, they shall die; because you have not warned them, they shall die for their sin, and their righteous deeds that they have done shall not be remembered; but their blood I will require at your hand.\r\n\t\t\t If, however, you warn the righteous not to sin, and they do not sin, they shall surely live, because they took warning; and you will have saved your life.\r\n\t\t\t Then the hand of the LORD was upon me there; and he said to me, Rise up, go out into the valley, and there I will speak with you.\r\n\t\t\t So I rose up and went out into the valley; and the glory of the LORD stood there, like the glory that I had seen by the river Chebar; and I fell on my face.\r\n\t\t\t The spirit entered into me, and set me on my feet; and he spoke with me and said to me: Go, shut yourself inside your house.\r\n\t\t\t As for you, mortal, cords shall be placed on you, and you shall be bound with them, so that you cannot go out among the people;\r\n\t\t\t and I will make your tongue cling to the roof of your mouth, so that you shall be speechless and unable to reprove them; for they are a rebellious house.\r\n\t\t\t But when I speak with you, I will open your mouth, and you shall say to them, \"Thus says the Lord GOD\"; let those who will hear, hear; and let those who refuse to hear, refuse; for they are a rebellious house.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t And you, O mortal, take a brick and set it before you. On it portray a city, Jerusalem;\r\n\t\t\t and put siegeworks against it, and build a siege wall against it, and cast up a ramp against it; set camps also against it, and plant battering rams against it all around.\r\n\t\t\t Then take an iron plate and place it as an iron wall between you and the city; set your face toward it, and let it be in a state of siege, and press the siege against it. This is a sign for the house of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t Then lie on your left side, and place the punishment of the house of Israel upon it; you shall bear their punishment for the number of the days that you lie there.\r\n\t\t\t For I assign to you a number of days, three hundred ninety days, equal to the number of the years of their punishment; and so you shall bear the punishment of the house of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t When you have completed these, you shall lie down a second time, but on your right side, and bear the punishment of the house of Judah; forty days I assign you, one day for each year.\r\n\t\t\t You shall set your face toward the siege of Jerusalem, and with your arm bared you shall prophesy against it.\r\n\t\t\t See, I am putting cords on you so that you cannot turn from one side to the other until you have completed the days of your siege.\r\n\t\t\t And you, take wheat and barley, beans and lentils, millet and spelt; put them into one vessel, and make bread for yourself. During the number of days that you lie on your side, three hundred ninety days, you shall eat it.\r\n\t\t\t The food that you eat shall be twenty shekels a day by weight; at fixed times you shall eat it.\r\n\t\t\t And you shall drink water by measure, one-sixth of a hin; at fixed times you shall drink.\r\n\t\t\t You shall eat it as a barley-cake, baking it in their sight on human dung.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD said, \"Thus shall the people of Israel eat their bread, unclean, among the nations to which I will drive them.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then I said, \"Ah Lord GOD! I have never defiled myself; from my youth up until now I have never eaten what died of itself or was torn by animals, nor has carrion flesh come into my mouth.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then he said to me, \"See, I will let you have cow's dung instead of human dung, on which you may prepare your bread.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then he said to me, Mortal, I am going to break the staff of bread in Jerusalem; they shall eat bread by weight and with fearfulness; and they shall drink water by measure and in dismay.\r\n\t\t\t Lacking bread and water, they will look at one another in dismay, and waste away under their punishment.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t And you, O mortal, take a sharp sword; use it as a barber's razor and run it over your head and your beard; then take balances for weighing, and divide the hair.\r\n\t\t\t One third of the hair you shall burn in the fire inside the city, when the days of the siege are completed; one third you shall take and strike with the sword all around the city; and one third you shall scatter to the wind, and I will unsheathe the sword after them. \r\n\t\t\t Then you shall take from these a small number, and bind them in the skirts of your robe.\r\n\t\t\t From these, again, you shall take some, throw them into the fire and burn them up; from there a fire will come out against all the house of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the Lord GOD: This is Jerusalem; I have set her in the center of the nations, with countries all around her.\r\n\t\t\t But she has rebelled against my ordinances and my statutes, becoming more wicked than the nations and the countries all around her, rejecting my ordinances and not following my statutes.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Because you are more turbulent than the nations that are all around you, and have not followed my statutes or kept my ordinances, but have acted according to the ordinances of the nations that are all around you;\r\n\t\t\t therefore thus says the Lord GOD: I, I myself, am coming against you; I will execute judgments among you in the sight of the nations.\r\n\t\t\t And because of all your abominations, I will do to you what I have never yet done, and the like of which I will never do again.\r\n\t\t\t Surely, parents shall eat their children in your midst, and children shall eat their parents; I will execute judgments on you, and any of you who survive I will scatter to every wind.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore, as I live, says the Lord GOD, surely, because you have defiled my sanctuary with all your detestable things and with all your abominations-- therefore I will cut you down; my eye will not spare, and I will have no pity.\r\n\t\t\t One third of you shall die of pestilence or be consumed by famine among you; one third shall fall by the sword around you; and one third I will scatter to every wind and will unsheathe the sword after them.\r\n\t\t\t My anger shall spend itself, and I will vent my fury on them and satisfy myself; and they shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken in my jealousy, when I spend my fury on them.\r\n\t\t\t Moreover I will make you a desolation and an object of mocking among the nations around you, in the sight of all that pass by.\r\n\t\t\t You shall be a mockery and a taunt, a warning and a horror, to the nations around you, when I execute judgments on you in anger and fury, and with furious punishments-- I, the LORD, have spoken--\r\n\t\t\t when I loose against you my deadly arrows of famine, arrows for destruction, which I will let loose to destroy you, and when I bring more and more famine upon you, and break your staff of bread.\r\n\t\t\t I will send famine and wild animals against you, and they will rob you of your children; pestilence and bloodshed shall pass through you; and I will bring the sword upon you. I, the LORD, have spoken.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD came to me:\r\n\t\t\t O mortal, set your face toward the mountains of Israel, and prophesy against them,\r\n\t\t\t and say, You mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord GOD! Thus says the Lord GOD to the mountains and the hills, to the ravines and the valleys: I, I myself will bring a sword upon you, and I will destroy your high places.\r\n\t\t\t Your altars shall become desolate, and your incense stands shall be broken; and I will throw down your slain in front of your idols.\r\n\t\t\t I will lay the corpses of the people of Israel in front of their idols; and I will scatter your bones around your altars.\r\n\t\t\t Wherever you live, your towns shall be waste and your high places ruined, so that your altars will be waste and ruined, your idols broken and destroyed, your incense stands cut down, and your works wiped out. \r\n\t\t\t The slain shall fall in your midst; then you shall know that I am the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t But I will spare some. Some of you shall escape the sword among the nations and be scattered through the countries.\r\n\t\t\t Those of you who escape shall remember me among the nations where they are carried captive, how I was crushed by their wanton heart that turned away from me, and their wanton eyes that turned after their idols. Then they will be loathsome in their own sight for the evils that they have committed, for all their abominations.\r\n\t\t\t And they shall know that I am the LORD; I did not threaten in vain to bring this disaster upon them.\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the Lord GOD: Clap your hands and stamp your foot, and say, Alas for all the vile abominations of the house of Israel! For they shall fall by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence.\r\n\t\t\t Those far off shall die of pestilence; those nearby shall fall by the sword; and any who are left and are spared shall die of famine. Thus I will spend my fury upon them.\r\n\t\t\t And you shall know that I am the LORD, when their slain lie among their idols around their altars, on every high hill, on all the mountain tops, under every green tree, and under every leafy oak, wherever they offered pleasing odor to all their idols.\r\n\t\t\t I will stretch out my hand against them, and make the land desolate and waste, throughout all their settlements, from the wilderness to Riblah. Then they shall know that I am the LORD. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD came to me:\r\n\t\t\t You, O mortal, thus says the Lord GOD to the land of Israel: An end! The end has come upon the four corners of the land.\r\n\t\t\t Now the end is upon you, I will let loose my anger upon you; I will judge you according to your ways, I will punish you for all your abominations.\r\n\t\t\t My eye will not spare you, I will have no pity. I will punish you for your ways, while your abominations are among you. Then you shall know that I am the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the Lord GOD: Disaster after disaster! See, it comes.\r\n\t\t\t An end has come, the end has come. It has awakened against you; see, it comes!\r\n\t\t\t Your doom has come to you, O inhabitant of the land. The time has come, the day is near-- of tumult, not of reveling on the mountains.\r\n\t\t\t Soon now I will pour out my wrath upon you; I will spend my anger against you. I will judge you according to your ways, and punish you for all your abominations.\r\n\t\t\t My eye will not spare; I will have no pity. I will punish you according to your ways, while your abominations are among you. Then you shall know that it is I the LORD who strike.\r\n\t\t\t See, the day! See, it comes! Your doom has gone out. The rod has blossomed, pride has budded. \r\n\t\t\t Violence has grown into a rod of wickedness. None of them shall remain, not their abundance, not their wealth; no pre-eminence among them. \r\n\t\t\t The time has come, the day draws near; let not the buyer rejoice, nor the seller mourn, for wrath is upon all their multitude.\r\n\t\t\t For the sellers shall not return to what has been sold as long as they remain alive. For the vision concerns all their multitude; it shall not be revoked. Because of their iniquity, they cannot maintain their lives. \r\n\t\t\t They have blown the horn and made everything ready; but no one goes to battle, for my wrath is upon all their multitude.\r\n\t\t\t The sword is outside, pestilence and famine are inside; those in the field die by the sword; those in the city-- famine and pestilence devour them.\r\n\t\t\t If any survivors escape, they shall be found on the mountains like doves of the valleys, all of them moaning over their iniquity.\r\n\t\t\t All hands shall grow feeble, all knees turn to water.\r\n\t\t\t They shall put on sackcloth, horror shall cover them. Shame shall be on all faces, baldness on all their heads.\r\n\t\t\t They shall fling their silver into the streets, their gold shall be treated as unclean. Their silver and gold cannot save them on the day of the wrath of the LORD. They shall not satisfy their hunger or fill their stomachs with it. For it was the stumbling block of their iniquity.\r\n\t\t\t From their beautiful ornament, in which they took pride, they made their abominable images, their detestable things; therefore I will make of it an unclean thing to them. \r\n\t\t\t I will hand it over to strangers as booty, to the wicked of the earth as plunder; they shall profane it.\r\n\t\t\t I will avert my face from them, so that they may profane my treasured place; the violent shall enter it, they shall profane it. \r\n\t\t\t Make a chain! For the land is full of bloody crimes; the city is full of violence. \r\n\t\t\t I will bring the worst of the nations to take possession of their houses. I will put an end to the arrogance of the strong, and their holy places shall be profaned.\r\n\t\t\t When anguish comes, they will seek peace, but there shall be none.\r\n\t\t\t Disaster comes upon disaster, rumor follows rumor; they shall keep seeking a vision from the prophet; instruction shall perish from the priest, and counsel from the elders.\r\n\t\t\t The king shall mourn, the prince shall be wrapped in despair, and the hands of the people of the land shall tremble. According to their way I will deal with them; according to their own judgments I will judge them. And they shall know that I am the LORD.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t In the sixth year, in the sixth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I sat in my house, with the elders of Judah sitting before me, the hand of the Lord GOD fell upon me there.\r\n\t\t\t I looked, and there was a figure that looked like a human being; below what appeared to be its loins it was fire, and above the loins it was like the appearance of brightness, like gleaming amber. \r\n\t\t\t It stretched out the form of a hand, and took me by a lock of my head; and the spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven, and brought me in visions of God to Jerusalem, to the entrance of the gateway of the inner court that faces north, to the seat of the image of jealousy, which provokes to jealousy.\r\n\t\t\t And the glory of the God of Israel was there, like the vision that I had seen in the valley.\r\n\t\t\t Then God said to me, \"O mortal, lift up your eyes now in the direction of the north.\" So I lifted up my eyes toward the north, and there, north of the altar gate, in the entrance, was this image of jealousy. \r\n\t\t\t He said to me, \"Mortal, do you see what they are doing, the great abominations that the house of Israel are committing here, to drive me far from my sanctuary? Yet you will see still greater abominations.\"\r\n\t\t\t And he brought me to the entrance of the court; I looked, and there was a hole in the wall.\r\n\t\t\t Then he said to me, \"Mortal, dig through the wall\"; and when I dug through the wall, there was an entrance.\r\n\t\t\t He said to me, \"Go in, and see the vile abominations that they are committing here.\"\r\n\t\t\t So I went in and looked; there, portrayed on the wall all around, were all kinds of creeping things, and loathsome animals, and all the idols of the house of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t Before them stood seventy of the elders of the house of Israel, with Jaazaniah son of Shaphan standing among them. Each had his censer in his hand, and the fragrant cloud of incense was ascending.\r\n\t\t\t Then he said to me, \"Mortal, have you seen what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the dark, each in his room of images? For they say, 'The LORD does not see us, the LORD has forsaken the land.'\"\r\n\t\t\t He said also to me, \"You will see still greater abominations that they are committing.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then he brought me to the entrance of the north gate of the house of the LORD; women were sitting there weeping for Tammuz.\r\n\t\t\t Then he said to me, \"Have you seen this, O mortal? You will see still greater abominations than these.\"\r\n\t\t\t And he brought me into the inner court of the house of the LORD; there, at the entrance of the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar, were about twenty-five men, with their backs to the temple of the LORD, and their faces toward the east, prostrating themselves to the sun toward the east.\r\n\t\t\t Then he said to me, \"Have you seen this, O mortal? Is it not bad enough that the house of Judah commits the abominations done here? Must they fill the land with violence, and provoke my anger still further? See, they are putting the branch to their nose!\r\n\t\t\t Therefore I will act in wrath; my eye will not spare, nor will I have pity; and though they cry in my hearing with a loud voice, I will not listen to them.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then he cried in my hearing with a loud voice, saying, \"Draw near, you executioners of the city, each with his destroying weapon in his hand.\"\r\n\t\t\t And six men came from the direction of the upper gate, which faces north, each with his weapon for slaughter in his hand; among them was a man clothed in linen, with a writing case at his side. They went in and stood beside the bronze altar.\r\n\t\t\t Now the glory of the God of Israel had gone up from the cherub on which it rested to the threshold of the house. The LORD called to the man clothed in linen, who had the writing case at his side;\r\n\t\t\t and said to him, \"Go through the city, through Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of those who sigh and groan over all the abominations that are committed in it.\"\r\n\t\t\t To the others he said in my hearing, \"Pass through the city after him, and kill; your eye shall not spare, and you shall show no pity.\r\n\t\t\t Cut down old men, young men and young women, little children and women, but touch no one who has the mark. And begin at my sanctuary.\" So they began with the elders who were in front of the house.\r\n\t\t\t Then he said to them, \"Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain. Go!\" So they went out and killed in the city.\r\n\t\t\t While they were killing, and I was left alone, I fell prostrate on my face and cried out, \"Ah Lord GOD! will you destroy all who remain of Israel as you pour out your wrath upon Jerusalem?\"\r\n\t\t\t He said to me, \"The guilt of the house of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great; the land is full of bloodshed and the city full of perversity; for they say, 'The LORD has forsaken the land, and the LORD does not see.'\r\n\t\t\t As for me, my eye will not spare, nor will I have pity, but I will bring down their deeds upon their heads.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the man clothed in linen, with the writing case at his side, brought back word, saying, \"I have done as you commanded me.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then I looked, and above the dome that was over the heads of the cherubim there appeared above them something like a sapphire, in form resembling a throne. \r\n\t\t\t He said to the man clothed in linen, \"Go within the wheelwork underneath the cherubim; fill your hands with burning coals from among the cherubim, and scatter them over the city.\" He went in as I looked on.\r\n\t\t\t Now the cherubim were standing on the south side of the house when the man went in; and a cloud filled the inner court.\r\n\t\t\t Then the glory of the LORD rose up from the cherub to the threshold of the house; the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was full of the brightness of the glory of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t The sound of the wings of the cherubim was heard as far as the outer court, like the voice of God Almighty when he speaks. \r\n\t\t\t When he commanded the man clothed in linen, \"Take fire from within the wheelwork, from among the cherubim,\" he went in and stood beside a wheel.\r\n\t\t\t And a cherub stretched out his hand from among the cherubim to the fire that was among the cherubim, took some of it and put it into the hands of the man clothed in linen, who took it and went out.\r\n\t\t\t The cherubim appeared to have the form of a human hand under their wings.\r\n\t\t\t I looked, and there were four wheels beside the cherubim, one beside each cherub; and the appearance of the wheels was like gleaming beryl.\r\n\t\t\t And as for their appearance, the four looked alike, something like a wheel within a wheel.\r\n\t\t\t When they moved, they moved in any of the four directions without veering as they moved; but in whatever direction the front wheel faced, the others followed without veering as they moved.\r\n\t\t\t Their entire body, their rims, their spokes, their wings, and the wheels-- the wheels of the four of them-- were full of eyes all around.\r\n\t\t\t As for the wheels, they were called in my hearing \"the wheelwork.\"\r\n\t\t\t Each one had four faces: the first face was that of the cherub, the second face was that of a human being, the third that of a lion, and the fourth that of an eagle.\r\n\t\t\t The cherubim rose up. These were the living creatures that I saw by the river Chebar.\r\n\t\t\t When the cherubim moved, the wheels moved beside them; and when the cherubim lifted up their wings to rise up from the earth, the wheels at their side did not veer.\r\n\t\t\t When they stopped, the others stopped, and when they rose up, the others rose up with them; for the spirit of the living creatures was in them.\r\n\t\t\t Then the glory of the LORD went out from the threshold of the house and stopped above the cherubim.\r\n\t\t\t The cherubim lifted up their wings and rose up from the earth in my sight as they went out with the wheels beside them. They stopped at the entrance of the east gate of the house of the LORD; and the glory of the God of Israel was above them.\r\n\t\t\t These were the living creatures that I saw underneath the God of Israel by the river Chebar; and I knew that they were cherubim.\r\n\t\t\t Each had four faces, each four wings, and underneath their wings something like human hands.\r\n\t\t\t As for what their faces were like, they were the same faces whose appearance I had seen by the river Chebar. Each one moved straight ahead.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The spirit lifted me up and brought me to the east gate of the house of the LORD, which faces east. There, at the entrance of the gateway, were twenty-five men; among them I saw Jaazaniah son of Azzur, and Pelatiah son of Benaiah, officials of the people.\r\n\t\t\t He said to me, \"Mortal, these are the men who devise iniquity and who give wicked counsel in this city;\r\n\t\t\t they say, 'The time is not near to build houses; this city is the pot, and we are the meat.'\r\n\t\t\t Therefore prophesy against them; prophesy, O mortal.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the spirit of the LORD fell upon me, and he said to me, \"Say, Thus says the LORD: This is what you think, O house of Israel; I know the things that come into your mind.\r\n\t\t\t You have killed many in this city, and have filled its streets with the slain.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: The slain whom you have placed within it are the meat, and this city is the pot; but you shall be taken out of it.\r\n\t\t\t You have feared the sword; and I will bring the sword upon you, says the Lord GOD.\r\n\t\t\t I will take you out of it and give you over to the hands of foreigners, and execute judgments upon you.\r\n\t\t\t You shall fall by the sword; I will judge you at the border of Israel. And you shall know that I am the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t This city shall not be your pot, and you shall not be the meat inside it; I will judge you at the border of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t Then you shall know that I am the LORD, whose statutes you have not followed, and whose ordinances you have not kept, but you have acted according to the ordinances of the nations that are around you.\"\r\n\t\t\t Now, while I was prophesying, Pelatiah son of Benaiah died. Then I fell down on my face, cried with a loud voice, and said, \"Ah Lord GOD! will you make a full end of the remnant of Israel?\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the word of the LORD came to me:\r\n\t\t\t Mortal, your kinsfolk, your own kin, your fellow exiles, the whole house of Israel, all of them, are those of whom the inhabitants of Jerusalem have said, \"They have gone far from the LORD; to us this land is given for a possession.\" \r\n\t\t\t Therefore say: Thus says the Lord GOD: Though I removed them far away among the nations, and though I scattered them among the countries, yet I have been a sanctuary to them for a little while in the countries where they have gone. \r\n\t\t\t Therefore say: Thus says the Lord GOD: I will gather you from the peoples, and assemble you out of the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t When they come there, they will remove from it all its detestable things and all its abominations.\r\n\t\t\t I will give them one heart, and put a new spirit within them; I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, \r\n\t\t\t so that they may follow my statutes and keep my ordinances and obey them. Then they shall be my people, and I will be their God.\r\n\t\t\t But as for those whose heart goes after their detestable things and their abominations, I will bring their deeds upon their own heads, says the Lord GOD. \r\n\t\t\t Then the cherubim lifted up their wings, with the wheels beside them; and the glory of the God of Israel was above them.\r\n\t\t\t And the glory of the LORD ascended from the middle of the city, and stopped on the mountain east of the city.\r\n\t\t\t The spirit lifted me up and brought me in a vision by the spirit of God into Chaldea, to the exiles. Then the vision that I had seen left me.\r\n\t\t\t And I told the exiles all the things that the LORD had shown me.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD came to me:\r\n\t\t\t Mortal, you are living in the midst of a rebellious house, who have eyes to see but do not see, who have ears to hear but do not hear;\r\n\t\t\t for they are a rebellious house. Therefore, mortal, prepare for yourself an exile's baggage, and go into exile by day in their sight; you shall go like an exile from your place to another place in their sight. Perhaps they will understand, though they are a rebellious house.\r\n\t\t\t You shall bring out your baggage by day in their sight, as baggage for exile; and you shall go out yourself at evening in their sight, as those do who go into exile.\r\n\t\t\t Dig through the wall in their sight, and carry the baggage through it.\r\n\t\t\t In their sight you shall lift the baggage on your shoulder, and carry it out in the dark; you shall cover your face, so that you may not see the land; for I have made you a sign for the house of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t I did just as I was commanded. I brought out my baggage by day, as baggage for exile, and in the evening I dug through the wall with my own hands; I brought it out in the dark, carrying it on my shoulder in their sight.\r\n\t\t\t In the morning the word of the LORD came to me:\r\n\t\t\t Mortal, has not the house of Israel, the rebellious house, said to you, \"What are you doing?\"\r\n\t\t\t Say to them, \"Thus says the Lord GOD: This oracle concerns the prince in Jerusalem and all the house of Israel in it.\"\r\n\t\t\t Say, \"I am a sign for you: as I have done, so shall it be done to them; they shall go into exile, into captivity.\"\r\n\t\t\t And the prince who is among them shall lift his baggage on his shoulder in the dark, and shall go out; he shall dig through the wall and carry it through; he shall cover his face, so that he may not see the land with his eyes. \r\n\t\t\t I will spread my net over him, and he shall be caught in my snare; and I will bring him to Babylon, the land of the Chaldeans, yet he shall not see it; and he shall die there.\r\n\t\t\t I will scatter to every wind all who are around him, his helpers and all his troops; and I will unsheathe the sword behind them.\r\n\t\t\t And they shall know that I am the LORD, when I disperse them among the nations and scatter them through the countries.\r\n\t\t\t But I will let a few of them escape from the sword, from famine and pestilence, so that they may tell of all their abominations among the nations where they go; then they shall know that I am the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD came to me:\r\n\t\t\t Mortal, eat your bread with quaking, and drink your water with trembling and with fearfulness;\r\n\t\t\t and say to the people of the land, Thus says the Lord GOD concerning the inhabitants of Jerusalem in the land of Israel: They shall eat their bread with fearfulness, and drink their water in dismay, because their land shall be stripped of all it contains, on account of the violence of all those who live in it.\r\n\t\t\t The inhabited cities shall be laid waste, and the land shall become a desolation; and you shall know that I am the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD came to me:\r\n\t\t\t Mortal, what is this proverb of yours about the land of Israel, which says, \"The days are prolonged, and every vision comes to nothing\"?\r\n\t\t\t Tell them therefore, \"Thus says the Lord GOD: I will put an end to this proverb, and they shall use it no more as a proverb in Israel.\" But say to them, The days are near, and the fulfillment of every vision.\r\n\t\t\t For there shall no longer be any false vision or flattering divination within the house of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t But I the LORD will speak the word that I speak, and it will be fulfilled. It will no longer be delayed; but in your days, O rebellious house, I will speak the word and fulfill it, says the Lord GOD.\r\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD came to me:\r\n\t\t\t Mortal, the house of Israel is saying, \"The vision that he sees is for many years ahead; he prophesies for distant times.\"\r\n\t\t\t Therefore say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: None of my words will be delayed any longer, but the word that I speak will be fulfilled, says the Lord GOD.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD came to me:\r\n\t\t\t Mortal, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who are prophesying; say to those who prophesy out of their own imagination: \"Hear the word of the LORD!\"\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the Lord GOD, Alas for the senseless prophets who follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!\r\n\t\t\t Your prophets have been like jackals among ruins, O Israel.\r\n\t\t\t You have not gone up into the breaches, or repaired a wall for the house of Israel, so that it might stand in battle on the day of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t They have envisioned falsehood and lying divination; they say, \"Says the LORD,\" when the LORD has not sent them, and yet they wait for the fulfillment of their word!\r\n\t\t\t Have you not seen a false vision or uttered a lying divination, when you have said, \"Says the LORD,\" even though I did not speak?\r\n\t\t\t Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Because you have uttered falsehood and envisioned lies, I am against you, says the Lord GOD.\r\n\t\t\t My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and utter lying divinations; they shall not be in the council of my people, nor be enrolled in the register of the house of Israel, nor shall they enter the land of Israel; and you shall know that I am the Lord GOD.\r\n\t\t\t Because, in truth, because they have misled my people, saying, \"Peace,\" when there is no peace; and because, when the people build a wall, these prophets smear whitewash on it. \r\n\t\t\t Say to those who smear whitewash on it that it shall fall. There will be a deluge of rain, great hailstones will fall, and a stormy wind will break out. \r\n\t\t\t When the wall falls, will it not be said to you, \"Where is the whitewash you smeared on it?\"\r\n\t\t\t Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: In my wrath I will make a stormy wind break out, and in my anger there shall be a deluge of rain, and hailstones in wrath to destroy it.\r\n\t\t\t I will break down the wall that you have smeared with whitewash, and bring it to the ground, so that its foundation will be laid bare; when it falls, you shall perish within it; and you shall know that I am the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Thus I will spend my wrath upon the wall, and upon those who have smeared it with whitewash; and I will say to you, The wall is no more, nor those who smeared it--\r\n\t\t\t the prophets of Israel who prophesied concerning Jerusalem and saw visions of peace for it, when there was no peace, says the Lord GOD.\r\n\t\t\t As for you, mortal, set your face against the daughters of your people, who prophesy out of their own imagination; prophesy against them\r\n\t\t\t and say, Thus says the Lord GOD: Woe to the women who sew bands on all wrists, and make veils for the heads of persons of every height, in the hunt for human lives! Will you hunt down lives among my people, and maintain your own lives?\r\n\t\t\t You have profaned me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, putting to death persons who should not die and keeping alive persons who should not live, by your lies to my people, who listen to lies.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: I am against your bands with which you hunt lives; I will tear them from your arms, and let the lives go free, the lives that you hunt down like birds. \r\n\t\t\t I will tear off your veils, and save my people from your hands; they shall no longer be prey in your hands; and you shall know that I am the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Because you have disheartened the righteous falsely, although I have not disheartened them, and you have encouraged the wicked not to turn from their wicked way and save their lives;\r\n\t\t\t therefore you shall no longer see false visions or practice divination; I will save my people from your hand. Then you will know that I am the LORD.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Certain elders of Israel came to me and sat down before me.\r\n\t\t\t And the word of the LORD came to me:\r\n\t\t\t Mortal, these men have taken their idols into their hearts, and placed their iniquity as a stumbling block before them; shall I let myself be consulted by them?\r\n\t\t\t Therefore speak to them, and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: Any of those of the house of Israel who take their idols into their hearts and place their iniquity as a stumbling block before them, and yet come to the prophet-- I the LORD will answer those who come with the multitude of their idols,\r\n\t\t\t in order that I may take hold of the hearts of the house of Israel, all of whom are estranged from me through their idols.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord GOD: Repent and turn away from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations.\r\n\t\t\t For any of those of the house of Israel, or of the aliens who reside in Israel, who separate themselves from me, taking their idols into their hearts and placing their iniquity as a stumbling block before them, and yet come to a prophet to inquire of me by him, I the LORD will answer them myself.\r\n\t\t\t I will set my face against them; I will make them a sign and a byword and cut them off from the midst of my people; and you shall know that I am the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t If a prophet is deceived and speaks a word, I, the LORD, have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand against him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel.\r\n\t\t\t And they shall bear their punishment-- the punishment of the inquirer and the punishment of the prophet shall be the same--\r\n\t\t\t so that the house of Israel may no longer go astray from me, nor defile themselves any more with all their transgressions. Then they shall be my people, and I will be their God, says the Lord GOD.\r\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD came to me:\r\n\t\t\t Mortal, when a land sins against me by acting faithlessly, and I stretch out my hand against it, and break its staff of bread and send famine upon it, and cut off from it human beings and animals,\r\n\t\t\t even if Noah, Daniel, and Job, these three, were in it, they would save only their own lives by their righteousness, says the Lord GOD. \r\n\t\t\t If I send wild animals through the land to ravage it, so that it is made desolate, and no one may pass through because of the animals;\r\n\t\t\t even if these three men were in it, as I live, says the Lord GOD, they would save neither sons nor daughters; they alone would be saved, but the land would be desolate.\r\n\t\t\t Or if I bring a sword upon that land and say, 'Let a sword pass through the land,' and I cut off human beings and animals from it;\r\n\t\t\t though these three men were in it, as I live, says the Lord GOD, they would save neither sons nor daughters, but they alone would be saved.\r\n\t\t\t Or if I send a pestilence into that land, and pour out my wrath upon it with blood, to cut off humans and animals from it;\r\n\t\t\t even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, as I live, says the Lord GOD, they would save neither son nor daughter; they would save only their own lives by their righteousness. \r\n\t\t\t For thus says the Lord GOD: How much more when I send upon Jerusalem my four deadly acts of judgment, sword, famine, wild animals, and pestilence, to cut off humans and animals from it!\r\n\t\t\t Yet, survivors shall be left in it, sons and daughters who will be brought out; they will come out to you. When you see their ways and their deeds, you will be consoled for the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem, for all that I have brought upon it.\r\n\t\t\t They shall console you, when you see their ways and their deeds; and you shall know that it was not without cause that I did all that I have done in it, says the Lord GOD.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD came to me:\r\n\t\t\t O mortal, how does the wood of the vine surpass all other wood-- the vine branch that is among the trees of the forest?\r\n\t\t\t Is wood taken from it to make anything? Does one take a peg from it on which to hang any object?\r\n\t\t\t It is put in the fire for fuel; when the fire has consumed both ends of it and the middle of it is charred, is it useful for anything?\r\n\t\t\t When it was whole it was used for nothing; how much less-- when the fire has consumed it, and it is charred-- can it ever be used for anything!\r\n\t\t\t Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Like the wood of the vine among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so I will give up the inhabitants of Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t I will set my face against them; although they escape from the fire, the fire shall still consume them; and you shall know that I am the LORD, when I set my face against them.\r\n\t\t\t And I will make the land desolate, because they have acted faithlessly, says the Lord GOD.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD came to me:\r\n\t\t\t Mortal, make known to Jerusalem her abominations,\r\n\t\t\t and say, Thus says the Lord GOD to Jerusalem: Your origin and your birth were in the land of the Canaanites; your father was an Amorite, and your mother a Hittite.\r\n\t\t\t As for your birth, on the day you were born your navel cord was not cut, nor were you washed with water to cleanse you, nor rubbed with salt, nor wrapped in cloths.\r\n\t\t\t No eye pitied you, to do any of these things for you out of compassion for you; but you were thrown out in the open field, for you were abhorred on the day you were born.\r\n\t\t\t I passed by you, and saw you flailing about in your blood. As you lay in your blood, I said to you, \"Live!\r\n\t\t\t and grow up like a plant of the field.\" You grew up and became tall and arrived at full womanhood; your breasts were formed, and your hair had grown; yet you were naked and bare. \r\n\t\t\t I passed by you again and looked on you; you were at the age for love. I spread the edge of my cloak over you, and covered your nakedness: I pledged myself to you and entered into a covenant with you, says the Lord GOD, and you became mine.\r\n\t\t\t Then I bathed you with water and washed off the blood from you, and anointed you with oil.\r\n\t\t\t I clothed you with embroidered cloth and with sandals of fine leather; I bound you in fine linen and covered you with rich fabric. \r\n\t\t\t I adorned you with ornaments: I put bracelets on your arms, a chain on your neck,\r\n\t\t\t a ring on your nose, earrings in your ears, and a beautiful crown upon your head.\r\n\t\t\t You were adorned with gold and silver, while your clothing was of fine linen, rich fabric, and embroidered cloth. You had choice flour and honey and oil for food. You grew exceedingly beautiful, fit to be a queen. \r\n\t\t\t Your fame spread among the nations on account of your beauty, for it was perfect because of my splendor that I had bestowed on you, says the Lord GOD.\r\n\t\t\t But you trusted in your beauty, and played the whore because of your fame, and lavished your whorings on any passer-by. \r\n\t\t\t You took some of your garments, and made for yourself colorful shrines, and on them played the whore; nothing like this has ever been or ever shall be. \r\n\t\t\t You also took your beautiful jewels of my gold and my silver that I had given you, and made for yourself male images, and with them played the whore;\r\n\t\t\t and you took your embroidered garments to cover them, and set my oil and my incense before them.\r\n\t\t\t Also my bread that I gave you-- I fed you with choice flour and oil and honey-- you set it before them as a pleasing odor; and so it was, says the Lord GOD.\r\n\t\t\t You took your sons and your daughters, whom you had borne to me, and these you sacrificed to them to be devoured. As if your whorings were not enough!\r\n\t\t\t You slaughtered my children and delivered them up as an offering to them.\r\n\t\t\t And in all your abominations and your whorings you did not remember the days of your youth, when you were naked and bare, flailing about in your blood.\r\n\t\t\t After all your wickedness (woe, woe to you! says the Lord GOD),\r\n\t\t\t you built yourself a platform and made yourself a lofty place in every square;\r\n\t\t\t at the head of every street you built your lofty place and prostituted your beauty, offering yourself to every passer-by, and multiplying your whoring.\r\n\t\t\t You played the whore with the Egyptians, your lustful neighbors, multiplying your whoring, to provoke me to anger.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore I stretched out my hand against you, reduced your rations, and gave you up to the will of your enemies, the daughters of the Philistines, who were ashamed of your lewd behavior.\r\n\t\t\t You played the whore with the Assyrians, because you were insatiable; you played the whore with them, and still you were not satisfied.\r\n\t\t\t You multiplied your whoring with Chaldea, the land of merchants; and even with this you were not satisfied.\r\n\t\t\t How sick is your heart, says the Lord GOD, that you did all these things, the deeds of a brazen whore;\r\n\t\t\t building your platform at the head of every street, and making your lofty place in every square! Yet you were not like a whore, because you scorned payment.\r\n\t\t\t Adulterous wife, who receives strangers instead of her husband!\r\n\t\t\t Gifts are given to all whores; but you gave your gifts to all your lovers, bribing them to come to you from all around for your whorings.\r\n\t\t\t So you were different from other women in your whorings: no one solicited you to play the whore; and you gave payment, while no payment was given to you; you were different.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore, O whore, hear the word of the LORD:\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the Lord GOD, Because your lust was poured out and your nakedness uncovered in your whoring with your lovers, and because of all your abominable idols, and because of the blood of your children that you gave to them,\r\n\t\t\t therefore, I will gather all your lovers, with whom you took pleasure, all those you loved and all those you hated; I will gather them against you from all around, and will uncover your nakedness to them, so that they may see all your nakedness.\r\n\t\t\t I will judge you as women who commit adultery and shed blood are judged, and bring blood upon you in wrath and jealousy.\r\n\t\t\t I will deliver you into their hands, and they shall throw down your platform and break down your lofty places; they shall strip you of your clothes and take your beautiful objects and leave you naked and bare.\r\n\t\t\t They shall bring up a mob against you, and they shall stone you and cut you to pieces with their swords.\r\n\t\t\t They shall burn your houses and execute judgments on you in the sight of many women; I will stop you from playing the whore, and you shall also make no more payments.\r\n\t\t\t So I will satisfy my fury on you, and my jealousy shall turn away from you; I will be calm, and will be angry no longer.\r\n\t\t\t Because you have not remembered the days of your youth, but have enraged me with all these things; therefore, I have returned your deeds upon your head, says the Lord GOD. Have you not committed lewdness beyond all your abominations?\r\n\t\t\t See, everyone who uses proverbs will use this proverb about you, \"Like mother, like daughter.\"\r\n\t\t\t You are the daughter of your mother, who loathed her husband and her children; and you are the sister of your sisters, who loathed their husbands and their children. Your mother was a Hittite and your father an Amorite.\r\n\t\t\t Your elder sister is Samaria, who lived with her daughters to the north of you; and your younger sister, who lived to the south of you, is Sodom with her daughters.\r\n\t\t\t You not only followed their ways, and acted according to their abominations; within a very little time you were more corrupt than they in all your ways.\r\n\t\t\t As I live, says the Lord GOD, your sister Sodom and her daughters have not done as you and your daughters have done.\r\n\t\t\t This was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease, but did not aid the poor and needy.\r\n\t\t\t They were haughty, and did abominable things before me; therefore I removed them when I saw it.\r\n\t\t\t Samaria has not committed half your sins; you have committed more abominations than they, and have made your sisters appear righteous by all the abominations that you have committed.\r\n\t\t\t Bear your disgrace, you also, for you have brought about for your sisters a more favorable judgment; because of your sins in which you acted more abominably than they, they are more in the right than you. So be ashamed, you also, and bear your disgrace, for you have made your sisters appear righteous.\r\n\t\t\t I will restore their fortunes, the fortunes of Sodom and her daughters and the fortunes of Samaria and her daughters, and I will restore your own fortunes along with theirs,\r\n\t\t\t in order that you may bear your disgrace and be ashamed of all that you have done, becoming a consolation to them.\r\n\t\t\t As for your sisters, Sodom and her daughters shall return to their former state, Samaria and her daughters shall return to their former state, and you and your daughters shall return to your former state.\r\n\t\t\t Was not your sister Sodom a byword in your mouth in the day of your pride,\r\n\t\t\t before your wickedness was uncovered? Now you are a mockery to the daughters of Aram and all her neighbors, and to the daughters of the Philistines, those all around who despise you. \r\n\t\t\t You must bear the penalty of your lewdness and your abominations, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Yes, thus says the Lord GOD: I will deal with you as you have done, you who have despised the oath, breaking the covenant;\r\n\t\t\t yet I will remember my covenant with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish with you an everlasting covenant.\r\n\t\t\t Then you will remember your ways, and be ashamed when I take your sisters, both your elder and your younger, and give them to you as daughters, but not on account of my covenant with you. \r\n\t\t\t I will establish my covenant with you, and you shall know that I am the LORD,\r\n\t\t\t in order that you may remember and be confounded, and never open your mouth again because of your shame, when I forgive you all that you have done, says the Lord GOD.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD came to me:\r\n\t\t\t O mortal, propound a riddle, and speak an allegory to the house of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t Say: Thus says the Lord GOD: A great eagle, with great wings and long pinions, rich in plumage of many colors, came to the Lebanon. He took the top of the cedar,\r\n\t\t\t broke off its topmost shoot; He carried it to a land of trade, set it in a city of merchants.\r\n\t\t\t Then he took a seed from the land, placed it in fertile soil; a plant by abundant waters, he set it like a willow twig. \r\n\t\t\t It sprouted and became a vine spreading out, but low; its branches turned toward him, its roots remained where it stood. So it became a vine; it brought forth branches, put forth foliage.\r\n\t\t\t There was another great eagle, with great wings and much plumage. And see! This vine stretched out its roots toward him; it shot out its branches toward him, so that he might water it. From the bed where it was planted\r\n\t\t\t it was transplanted to good soil by abundant waters, so that it might produce branches and bear fruit and become a noble vine.\r\n\t\t\t Say: Thus says the Lord GOD: Will it prosper? Will he not pull up its roots, cause its fruit to rot and wither, its fresh sprouting leaves to fade? No strong arm or mighty army will be needed to pull it from its roots. \r\n\t\t\t When it is transplanted, will it thrive? When the east wind strikes it, will it not utterly wither, wither on the bed where it grew?\r\n\t\t\t Then the word of the LORD came to me:\r\n\t\t\t Say now to the rebellious house: Do you not know what these things mean? Tell them: The king of Babylon came to Jerusalem, took its king and its officials, and brought them back with him to Babylon.\r\n\t\t\t He took one of the royal offspring and made a covenant with him, putting him under oath (he had taken away the chief men of the land),\r\n\t\t\t so that the kingdom might be humble and not lift itself up, and that by keeping his covenant it might stand.\r\n\t\t\t But he rebelled against him by sending ambassadors to Egypt, in order that they might give him horses and a large army. Will he succeed? Can one escape who does such things? Can he break the covenant and yet escape?\r\n\t\t\t As I live, says the Lord GOD, surely in the place where the king resides who made him king, whose oath he despised, and whose covenant with him he broke-- in Babylon he shall die.\r\n\t\t\t Pharaoh with his mighty army and great company will not help him in war, when ramps are cast up and siege walls built to cut off many lives.\r\n\t\t\t Because he despised the oath and broke the covenant, because he gave his hand and yet did all these things, he shall not escape.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: As I live, I will surely return upon his head my oath that he despised, and my covenant that he broke.\r\n\t\t\t I will spread my net over him, and he shall be caught in my snare; I will bring him to Babylon and enter into judgment with him there for the treason he has committed against me.\r\n\t\t\t All the pick of his troops shall fall by the sword, and the survivors shall be scattered to every wind; and you shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken. \r\n\t\t\t Thus says the Lord GOD: I myself will take a sprig from the lofty top of a cedar; I will set it out. I will break off a tender one from the topmost of its young twigs; I myself will plant it on a high and lofty mountain.\r\n\t\t\t On the mountain height of Israel I will plant it, in order that it may produce boughs and bear fruit, and become a noble cedar. Under it every kind of bird will live; in the shade of its branches will nest winged creatures of every kind.\r\n\t\t\t All the trees of the field shall know that I am the LORD. I bring low the high tree, I make high the low tree; I dry up the green tree and make the dry tree flourish. I the LORD have spoken; I will accomplish it.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD came to me:\r\n\t\t\t What do you mean by repeating this proverb concerning the land of Israel, \"The parents have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge\"?\r\n\t\t\t As I live, says the Lord GOD, this proverb shall no more be used by you in Israel.\r\n\t\t\t Know that all lives are mine; the life of the parent as well as the life of the child is mine: it is only the person who sins that shall die.\r\n\t\t\t If a man is righteous and does what is lawful and right--\r\n\t\t\t if he does not eat upon the mountains or lift up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, does not defile his neighbor's wife or approach a woman during her menstrual period,\r\n\t\t\t does not oppress anyone, but restores to the debtor his pledge, commits no robbery, gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with a garment,\r\n\t\t\t does not take advance or accrued interest, withholds his hand from iniquity, executes true justice between contending parties,\r\n\t\t\t follows my statutes, and is careful to observe my ordinances, acting faithfully-- such a one is righteous; he shall surely live, says the Lord GOD.\r\n\t\t\t If he has a son who is violent, a shedder of blood,\r\n\t\t\t who does any of these things (though his father does none of them), who eats upon the mountains, defiles his neighbor's wife,\r\n\t\t\t oppresses the poor and needy, commits robbery, does not restore the pledge, lifts up his eyes to the idols, commits abomination,\r\n\t\t\t takes advance or accrued interest; shall he then live? He shall not. He has done all these abominable things; he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon himself.\r\n\t\t\t But if this man has a son who sees all the sins that his father has done, considers, and does not do likewise,\r\n\t\t\t who does not eat upon the mountains or lift up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, does not defile his neighbor's wife,\r\n\t\t\t does not wrong anyone, exacts no pledge, commits no robbery, but gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with a garment,\r\n\t\t\t withholds his hand from iniquity, takes no advance or accrued interest, observes my ordinances, and follows my statutes; he shall not die for his father's iniquity; he shall surely live. \r\n\t\t\t As for his father, because he practiced extortion, robbed his brother, and did what is not good among his people, he dies for his iniquity.\r\n\t\t\t Yet you say, \"Why should not the son suffer for the iniquity of the father?\" When the son has done what is lawful and right, and has been careful to observe all my statutes, he shall surely live.\r\n\t\t\t The person who sins shall die. A child shall not suffer for the iniquity of a parent, nor a parent suffer for the iniquity of a child; the righteousness of the righteous shall be his own, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be his own.\r\n\t\t\t But if the wicked turn away from all their sins that they have committed and keep all my statutes and do what is lawful and right, they shall surely live; they shall not die.\r\n\t\t\t None of the transgressions that they have committed shall be remembered against them; for the righteousness that they have done they shall live.\r\n\t\t\t Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, says the Lord GOD, and not rather that they should turn from their ways and live?\r\n\t\t\t But when the righteous turn away from their righteousness and commit iniquity and do the same abominable things that the wicked do, shall they live? None of the righteous deeds that they have done shall be remembered; for the treachery of which they are guilty and the sin they have committed, they shall die.\r\n\t\t\t Yet you say, \"The way of the Lord is unfair.\" Hear now, O house of Israel: Is my way unfair? Is it not your ways that are unfair?\r\n\t\t\t When the righteous turn away from their righteousness and commit iniquity, they shall die for it; for the iniquity that they have committed they shall die.\r\n\t\t\t Again, when the wicked turn away from the wickedness they have committed and do what is lawful and right, they shall save their life.\r\n\t\t\t Because they considered and turned away from all the transgressions that they had committed, they shall surely live; they shall not die.\r\n\t\t\t Yet the house of Israel says, \"The way of the Lord is unfair.\" O house of Israel, are my ways unfair? Is it not your ways that are unfair?\r\n\t\t\t Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, all of you according to your ways, says the Lord GOD. Repent and turn from all your transgressions; otherwise iniquity will be your ruin. \r\n\t\t\t Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed against me, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel?\r\n\t\t\t For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, says the Lord GOD. Turn, then, and live.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t As for you, raise up a lamentation for the princes of Israel,\r\n\t\t\t and say: What a lioness was your mother among lions! She lay down among young lions, rearing her cubs.\r\n\t\t\t She raised up one of her cubs; he became a young lion, and he learned to catch prey; he devoured humans.\r\n\t\t\t The nations sounded an alarm against him; he was caught in their pit; and they brought him with hooks to the land of Egypt.\r\n\t\t\t When she saw that she was thwarted, that her hope was lost, she took another of her cubs and made him a young lion.\r\n\t\t\t He prowled among the lions; he became a young lion, and he learned to catch prey; he devoured people.\r\n\t\t\t And he ravaged their strongholds, and laid waste their towns; the land was appalled, and all in it, at the sound of his roaring. \r\n\t\t\t The nations set upon him from the provinces all around; they spread their net over him; he was caught in their pit.\r\n\t\t\t With hooks they put him in a cage, and brought him to the king of Babylon; they brought him into custody, so that his voice should be heard no more on the mountains of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t Your mother was like a vine in a vineyard transplanted by the water, fruitful and full of branches from abundant water. \r\n\t\t\t Its strongest stem became a ruler's scepter; it towered aloft among the thick boughs; it stood out in its height with its mass of branches. \r\n\t\t\t But it was plucked up in fury, cast down to the ground; the east wind dried it up; its fruit was stripped off, its strong stem was withered; the fire consumed it.\r\n\t\t\t Now it is transplanted into the wilderness, into a dry and thirsty land.\r\n\t\t\t And fire has gone out from its stem, has consumed its branches and fruit, so that there remains in it no strong stem, no scepter for ruling. This is a lamentation, and it is used as a lamentation.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t In the seventh year, in the fifth month, on the tenth day of the month, certain elders of Israel came to consult the LORD, and sat down before me.\r\n\t\t\t And the word of the LORD came to me:\r\n\t\t\t Mortal, speak to the elders of Israel, and say to them: Thus says the Lord GOD: Why are you coming? To consult me? As I live, says the Lord GOD, I will not be consulted by you.\r\n\t\t\t Will you judge them, mortal, will you judge them? Then let them know the abominations of their ancestors,\r\n\t\t\t and say to them: Thus says the Lord GOD: On the day when I chose Israel, I swore to the offspring of the house of Jacob-- making myself known to them in the land of Egypt-- I swore to them, saying, I am the LORD your God.\r\n\t\t\t On that day I swore to them that I would bring them out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had searched out for them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the most glorious of all lands.\r\n\t\t\t And I said to them, Cast away the detestable things your eyes feast on, every one of you, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt; I am the LORD your God.\r\n\t\t\t But they rebelled against me and would not listen to me; not one of them cast away the detestable things their eyes feasted on, nor did they forsake the idols of Egypt. Then I thought I would pour out my wrath upon them and spend my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.\r\n\t\t\t But I acted for the sake of my name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations among whom they lived, in whose sight I made myself known to them in bringing them out of the land of Egypt.\r\n\t\t\t So I led them out of the land of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness.\r\n\t\t\t I gave them my statutes and showed them my ordinances, by whose observance everyone shall live.\r\n\t\t\t Moreover I gave them my sabbaths, as a sign between me and them, so that they might know that I the LORD sanctify them.\r\n\t\t\t But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness; they did not observe my statutes but rejected my ordinances, by whose observance everyone shall live; and my sabbaths they greatly profaned. Then I thought I would pour out my wrath upon them in the wilderness, to make an end of them.\r\n\t\t\t But I acted for the sake of my name, so that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I had brought them out.\r\n\t\t\t Moreover I swore to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land that I had given them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the most glorious of all lands,\r\n\t\t\t because they rejected my ordinances and did not observe my statutes, and profaned my sabbaths; for their heart went after their idols.\r\n\t\t\t Nevertheless my eye spared them, and I did not destroy them or make an end of them in the wilderness.\r\n\t\t\t I said to their children in the wilderness, Do not follow the statutes of your parents, nor observe their ordinances, nor defile yourselves with their idols.\r\n\t\t\t I the LORD am your God; follow my statutes, and be careful to observe my ordinances,\r\n\t\t\t and hallow my sabbaths that they may be a sign between me and you, so that you may know that I the LORD am your God.\r\n\t\t\t But the children rebelled against me; they did not follow my statutes, and were not careful to observe my ordinances, by whose observance everyone shall live; they profaned my sabbaths. Then I thought I would pour out my wrath upon them and spend my anger against them in the wilderness.\r\n\t\t\t But I withheld my hand, and acted for the sake of my name, so that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I had brought them out.\r\n\t\t\t Moreover I swore to them in the wilderness that I would scatter them among the nations and disperse them through the countries,\r\n\t\t\t because they had not executed my ordinances, but had rejected my statutes and profaned my sabbaths, and their eyes were set on their ancestors' idols.\r\n\t\t\t Moreover I gave them statutes that were not good and ordinances by which they could not live.\r\n\t\t\t I defiled them through their very gifts, in their offering up all their firstborn, in order that I might horrify them, so that they might know that I am the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore, mortal, speak to the house of Israel and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: In this again your ancestors blasphemed me, by dealing treacherously with me.\r\n\t\t\t For when I had brought them into the land that I swore to give them, then wherever they saw any high hill or any leafy tree, there they offered their sacrifices and presented the provocation of their offering; there they sent up their pleasing odors, and there they poured out their drink offerings.\r\n\t\t\t (I said to them, What is the high place to which you go? So it is called Bamah to this day.) \r\n\t\t\t Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord GOD: Will you defile yourselves after the manner of your ancestors and go astray after their detestable things?\r\n\t\t\t When you offer your gifts and make your children pass through the fire, you defile yourselves with all your idols to this day. And shall I be consulted by you, O house of Israel? As I live, says the Lord GOD, I will not be consulted by you.\r\n\t\t\t What is in your mind shall never happen-- the thought, \"Let us be like the nations, like the tribes of the countries, and worship wood and stone.\"\r\n\t\t\t As I live, says the Lord GOD, surely with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, and with wrath poured out, I will be king over you.\r\n\t\t\t I will bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries where you are scattered, with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, and with wrath poured out;\r\n\t\t\t and I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there I will enter into judgment with you face to face.\r\n\t\t\t As I entered into judgment with your ancestors in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will enter into judgment with you, says the Lord GOD.\r\n\t\t\t I will make you pass under the staff, and will bring you within the bond of the covenant.\r\n\t\t\t I will purge out the rebels among you, and those who transgress against me; I will bring them out of the land where they reside as aliens, but they shall not enter the land of Israel. Then you shall know that I am the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t As for you, O house of Israel, thus says the Lord GOD: Go serve your idols, everyone of you now and hereafter, if you will not listen to me; but my holy name you shall no more profane with your gifts and your idols.\r\n\t\t\t For on my holy mountain, the mountain height of Israel, says the Lord GOD, there all the house of Israel, all of them, shall serve me in the land; there I will accept them, and there I will require your contributions and the choicest of your gifts, with all your sacred things.\r\n\t\t\t As a pleasing odor I will accept you, when I bring you out from the peoples, and gather you out of the countries where you have been scattered; and I will manifest my holiness among you in the sight of the nations.\r\n\t\t\t You shall know that I am the LORD, when I bring you into the land of Israel, the country that I swore to give to your ancestors.\r\n\t\t\t There you shall remember your ways and all the deeds by which you have polluted yourselves; and you shall loathe yourselves for all the evils that you have committed.\r\n\t\t\t And you shall know that I am the LORD, when I deal with you for my name's sake, not according to your evil ways, or corrupt deeds, O house of Israel, says the Lord GOD.\r\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD came to me:\r\n\t\t\t Mortal, set your face toward the south, preach against the south, and prophesy against the forest land in the Negeb;\r\n\t\t\t say to the forest of the Negeb, Hear the word of the LORD: Thus says the Lord GOD, I will kindle a fire in you, and it shall devour every green tree in you and every dry tree; the blazing flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from south to north shall be scorched by it.\r\n\t\t\t All flesh shall see that I the LORD have kindled it; it shall not be quenched.\r\n\t\t\t Then I said, \"Ah Lord GOD! they are saying of me, 'Is he not a maker of allegories?'\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD came to me:\r\n\t\t\t Mortal, set your face toward Jerusalem and preach against the sanctuaries; prophesy against the land of Israel\r\n\t\t\t and say to the land of Israel, Thus says the LORD: I am coming against you, and will draw my sword out of its sheath, and will cut off from you both righteous and wicked.\r\n\t\t\t Because I will cut off from you both righteous and wicked, therefore my sword shall go out of its sheath against all flesh from south to north;\r\n\t\t\t and all flesh shall know that I the LORD have drawn my sword out of its sheath; it shall not be sheathed again.\r\n\t\t\t Moan therefore, mortal; moan with breaking heart and bitter grief before their eyes.\r\n\t\t\t And when they say to you, \"Why do you moan?\" you shall say, \"Because of the news that has come. Every heart will melt and all hands will be feeble, every spirit will faint and all knees will turn to water. See, it comes and it will be fulfilled,\" says the Lord GOD.\r\n\t\t\t And the word of the LORD came to me:\r\n\t\t\t Mortal, prophesy and say: Thus says the Lord; Say: A sword, a sword is sharpened, it is also polished;\r\n\t\t\t it is sharpened for slaughter, honed to flash like lightning! How can we make merry? You have despised the rod, and all discipline. \r\n\t\t\t The sword is given to be polished, to be grasped in the hand; it is sharpened, the sword is polished, to be placed in the slayer's hand. \r\n\t\t\t Cry and wail, O mortal, for it is against my people; it is against all Israel's princes; they are thrown to the sword, together with my people. Ah! Strike the thigh!\r\n\t\t\t For consider: What! If you despise the rod, will it not happen? says the Lord GOD. \r\n\t\t\t And you, mortal, prophesy; strike hand to hand. Let the sword fall twice, thrice; it is a sword for killing. A sword for great slaughter-- it surrounds them;\r\n\t\t\t therefore hearts melt and many stumble. At all their gates I have set the point of the sword. Ah! It is made for flashing, it is polished for slaughter. \r\n\t\t\t Attack to the right! Engage to the left!-- wherever your edge is directed.\r\n\t\t\t I too will strike hand to hand, I will satisfy my fury; I the LORD have spoken.\r\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD came to me:\r\n\t\t\t Mortal, mark out two roads for the sword of the king of Babylon to come; both of them shall issue from the same land. And make a signpost, make it for a fork in the road leading to a city;\r\n\t\t\t mark out the road for the sword to come to Rabbah of the Ammonites or to Judah and to Jerusalem the fortified. \r\n\t\t\t For the king of Babylon stands at the parting of the way, at the fork in the two roads, to use divination; he shakes the arrows, he consults the teraphim, he inspects the liver. \r\n\t\t\t Into his right hand comes the lot for Jerusalem, to set battering rams, to call out for slaughter, for raising the battle cry, to set battering rams against the gates, to cast up ramps, to build siege towers.\r\n\t\t\t But to them it will seem like a false divination; they have sworn solemn oaths; but he brings their guilt to remembrance, bringing about their capture.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Because you have brought your guilt to remembrance, in that your transgressions are uncovered, so that in all your deeds your sins appear-- because you have come to remembrance, you shall be taken in hand.\r\n\t\t\t As for you, vile, wicked prince of Israel, you whose day has come, the time of final punishment,\r\n\t\t\t thus says the Lord GOD: Remove the turban, take off the crown; things shall not remain as they are. Exalt that which is low, abase that which is high.\r\n\t\t\t A ruin, a ruin, a ruin-- I will make it! (Such has never occurred.) Until he comes whose right it is; to him I will give it.\r\n\t\t\t As for you, mortal, prophesy, and say, Thus says the Lord GOD concerning the Ammonites, and concerning their reproach; say: A sword, a sword! Drawn for slaughter, polished to consume, to flash like lightning.\r\n\t\t\t Offering false visions for you, divining lies for you, they place you over the necks of the vile, wicked ones-- those whose day has come, the time of final punishment.\r\n\t\t\t Return it to its sheath! In the place where you were created, in the land of your origin, I will judge you.\r\n\t\t\t I will pour out my indignation upon you, with the fire of my wrath I will blow upon you. I will deliver you into brutish hands, those skillful to destroy.\r\n\t\t\t You shall be fuel for the fire, your blood shall enter the earth; you shall be remembered no more, for I the LORD have spoken.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD came to me:\r\n\t\t\t You, mortal, will you judge, will you judge the bloody city? Then declare to it all its abominable deeds.\r\n\t\t\t You shall say, Thus says the Lord GOD: A city! Shedding blood within itself; its time has come; making its idols, defiling itself.\r\n\t\t\t You have become guilty by the blood that you have shed, and defiled by the idols that you have made; you have brought your day near, the appointed time of your years has come. Therefore I have made you a disgrace before the nations, and a mockery to all the countries.\r\n\t\t\t Those who are near and those who are far from you will mock you, you infamous one, full of tumult.\r\n\t\t\t The princes of Israel in you, everyone according to his power, have been bent on shedding blood.\r\n\t\t\t Father and mother are treated with contempt in you; the alien residing within you suffers extortion; the orphan and the widow are wronged in you.\r\n\t\t\t You have despised my holy things, and profaned my sabbaths.\r\n\t\t\t In you are those who slander to shed blood, those in you who eat upon the mountains, who commit lewdness in your midst.\r\n\t\t\t In you they uncover their fathers' nakedness; in you they violate women in their menstrual periods.\r\n\t\t\t One commits abomination with his neighbor's wife; another lewdly defiles his daughter-in-law; another in you defiles his sister, his father's daughter.\r\n\t\t\t In you, they take bribes to shed blood; you take both advance interest and accrued interest, and make gain of your neighbors by extortion; and you have forgotten me, says the Lord GOD.\r\n\t\t\t See, I strike my hands together at the dishonest gain you have made, and at the blood that has been shed within you.\r\n\t\t\t Can your courage endure, or can your hands remain strong in the days when I shall deal with you? I the LORD have spoken, and I will do it.\r\n\t\t\t I will scatter you among the nations and disperse you through the countries, and I will purge your filthiness out of you.\r\n\t\t\t And I shall be profaned through you in the sight of the nations; and you shall know that I am the LORD. \r\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD came to me:\r\n\t\t\t Mortal, the house of Israel has become dross to me; all of them, silver, bronze, tin, iron, and lead. In the smelter they have become dross. \r\n\t\t\t Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Because you have all become dross, I will gather you into the midst of Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t As one gathers silver, bronze, iron, lead, and tin into a smelter, to blow the fire upon them in order to melt them; so I will gather you in my anger and in my wrath, and I will put you in and melt you.\r\n\t\t\t I will gather you and blow upon you with the fire of my wrath, and you shall be melted within it.\r\n\t\t\t As silver is melted in a smelter, so you shall be melted in it; and you shall know that I the LORD have poured out my wrath upon you.\r\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD came to me:\r\n\t\t\t Mortal, say to it: You are a land that is not cleansed, not rained upon in the day of indignation.\r\n\t\t\t Its princes within it are like a roaring lion tearing the prey; they have devoured human lives; they have taken treasure and precious things; they have made many widows within it. \r\n\t\t\t Its priests have done violence to my teaching and have profaned my holy things; they have made no distinction between the holy and the common, neither have they taught the difference between the unclean and the clean, and they have disregarded my sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them.\r\n\t\t\t Its officials within it are like wolves tearing the prey, shedding blood, destroying lives to get dishonest gain.\r\n\t\t\t Its prophets have smeared whitewash on their behalf, seeing false visions and divining lies for them, saying, \"Thus says the Lord GOD,\" when the LORD has not spoken.\r\n\t\t\t The people of the land have practiced extortion and committed robbery; they have oppressed the poor and needy, and have extorted from the alien without redress.\r\n\t\t\t And I sought for anyone among them who would repair the wall and stand in the breach before me on behalf of the land, so that I would not destroy it; but I found no one.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore I have poured out my indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath; I have returned their conduct upon their heads, says the Lord GOD.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD came to me:\r\n\t\t\t Mortal, there were two women, the daughters of one mother;\r\n\t\t\t they played the whore in Egypt; they played the whore in their youth; their breasts were caressed there, and their virgin bosoms were fondled.\r\n\t\t\t Oholah was the name of the elder and Oholibah the name of her sister. They became mine, and they bore sons and daughters. As for their names, Oholah is Samaria, and Oholibah is Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t Oholah played the whore while she was mine; she lusted after her lovers the Assyrians, warriors \r\n\t\t\t clothed in blue, governors and commanders, all of them handsome young men, mounted horsemen.\r\n\t\t\t She bestowed her favors upon them, the choicest men of Assyria all of them; and she defiled herself with all the idols of everyone for whom she lusted.\r\n\t\t\t She did not give up her whorings that she had practiced since Egypt; for in her youth men had lain with her and fondled her virgin bosom and poured out their lust upon her.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore I delivered her into the hands of her lovers, into the hands of the Assyrians, for whom she lusted.\r\n\t\t\t These uncovered her nakedness; they seized her sons and her daughters; and they killed her with the sword. Judgment was executed upon her, and she became a byword among women.\r\n\t\t\t Her sister Oholibah saw this, yet she was more corrupt than she in her lusting and in her whorings, which were worse than those of her sister.\r\n\t\t\t She lusted after the Assyrians, governors and commanders, warriors clothed in full armor, mounted horsemen, all of them handsome young men.\r\n\t\t\t And I saw that she was defiled; they both took the same way.\r\n\t\t\t But she carried her whorings further; she saw male figures carved on the wall, images of the Chaldeans portrayed in vermilion,\r\n\t\t\t with belts around their waists, with flowing turbans on their heads, all of them looking like officers-- a picture of Babylonians whose native land was Chaldea.\r\n\t\t\t When she saw them she lusted after them, and sent messengers to them in Chaldea.\r\n\t\t\t And the Babylonians came to her into the bed of love, and they defiled her with their lust; and after she defiled herself with them, she turned from them in disgust.\r\n\t\t\t When she carried on her whorings so openly and flaunted her nakedness, I turned in disgust from her, as I had turned from her sister.\r\n\t\t\t Yet she increased her whorings, remembering the days of her youth, when she played the whore in the land of Egypt\r\n\t\t\t and lusted after her paramours there, whose members were like those of donkeys, and whose emission was like that of stallions.\r\n\t\t\t Thus you longed for the lewdness of your youth, when the Egyptians fondled your bosom and caressed your young breasts. \r\n\t\t\t Therefore, O Oholibah, thus says the Lord GOD: I will rouse against you your lovers from whom you turned in disgust, and I will bring them against you from every side:\r\n\t\t\t the Babylonians and all the Chaldeans, Pekod and Shoa and Koa, and all the Assyrians with them, handsome young men, governors and commanders all of them, officers and warriors, all of them riding on horses. \r\n\t\t\t They shall come against you from the north with chariots and wagons and a host of peoples; they shall set themselves against you on every side with buckler, shield, and helmet, and I will commit the judgment to them, and they shall judge you according to their ordinances. \r\n\t\t\t I will direct my indignation against you, in order that they may deal with you in fury. They shall cut off your nose and your ears, and your survivors shall fall by the sword. They shall seize your sons and your daughters, and your survivors shall be devoured by fire.\r\n\t\t\t They shall also strip you of your clothes and take away your fine jewels.\r\n\t\t\t So I will put an end to your lewdness and your whoring brought from the land of Egypt; you shall not long for them, or remember Egypt any more.\r\n\t\t\t For thus says the Lord GOD: I will deliver you into the hands of those whom you hate, into the hands of those from whom you turned in disgust;\r\n\t\t\t and they shall deal with you in hatred, and take away all the fruit of your labor, and leave you naked and bare, and the nakedness of your whorings shall be exposed. Your lewdness and your whorings\r\n\t\t\t have brought this upon you, because you played the whore with the nations, and polluted yourself with their idols.\r\n\t\t\t You have gone the way of your sister; therefore I will give her cup into your hand.\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the Lord GOD: You shall drink your sister's cup, deep and wide; you shall be scorned and derided, it holds so much.\r\n\t\t\t You shall be filled with drunkenness and sorrow. A cup of horror and desolation is the cup of your sister Samaria;\r\n\t\t\t you shall drink it and drain it out, and gnaw its sherds, and tear out your breasts; for I have spoken, says the Lord GOD.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Because you have forgotten me and cast me behind your back, therefore bear the consequences of your lewdness and whorings.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD said to me: Mortal, will you judge Oholah and Oholibah? Then declare to them their abominable deeds.\r\n\t\t\t For they have committed adultery, and blood is on their hands; with their idols they have committed adultery; and they have even offered up to them for food the children whom they had borne to me.\r\n\t\t\t Moreover this they have done to me: they have defiled my sanctuary on the same day and profaned my sabbaths.\r\n\t\t\t For when they had slaughtered their children for their idols, on the same day they came into my sanctuary to profane it. This is what they did in my house.\r\n\t\t\t They even sent for men to come from far away, to whom a messenger was sent, and they came. For them you bathed yourself, painted your eyes, and decked yourself with ornaments;\r\n\t\t\t you sat on a stately couch, with a table spread before it on which you had placed my incense and my oil.\r\n\t\t\t The sound of a raucous multitude was around her, with many of the rabble brought in drunken from the wilderness; and they put bracelets on the arms of the women, and beautiful crowns upon their heads. \r\n\t\t\t Then I said, Ah, she is worn out with adulteries, but they carry on their sexual acts with her.\r\n\t\t\t For they have gone in to her, as one goes in to a whore. Thus they went in to Oholah and to Oholibah, wanton women.\r\n\t\t\t But righteous judges shall declare them guilty of adultery and of bloodshed; because they are adulteresses and blood is on their hands.\r\n\t\t\t For thus says the Lord GOD: Bring up an assembly against them, and make them an object of terror and of plunder.\r\n\t\t\t The assembly shall stone them and with their swords they shall cut them down; they shall kill their sons and their daughters, and burn up their houses.\r\n\t\t\t Thus will I put an end to lewdness in the land, so that all women may take warning and not commit lewdness as you have done.\r\n\t\t\t They shall repay you for your lewdness, and you shall bear the penalty for your sinful idolatry; and you shall know that I am the Lord GOD.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t In the ninth year, in the tenth month, on the tenth day of the month, the word of the LORD came to me:\r\n\t\t\t Mortal, write down the name of this day, this very day. The king of Babylon has laid siege to Jerusalem this very day.\r\n\t\t\t And utter an allegory to the rebellious house and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: Set on the pot, set it on, pour in water also;\r\n\t\t\t put in it the pieces, all the good pieces, the thigh and the shoulder; fill it with choice bones.\r\n\t\t\t Take the choicest one of the flock, pile the logs under it; boil its pieces, seethe also its bones in it. \r\n\t\t\t Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Woe to the bloody city, the pot whose rust is in it, whose rust has not gone out of it! Empty it piece by piece, making no choice at all. \r\n\t\t\t For the blood she shed is inside it; she placed it on a bare rock; she did not pour it out on the ground, to cover it with earth.\r\n\t\t\t To rouse my wrath, to take vengeance, I have placed the blood she shed on a bare rock, so that it may not be covered.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Woe to the bloody city! I will even make the pile great.\r\n\t\t\t Heap up the logs, kindle the fire; boil the meat well, mix in the spices, let the bones be burned.\r\n\t\t\t Stand it empty upon the coals, so that it may become hot, its copper glow, its filth melt in it, its rust be consumed.\r\n\t\t\t In vain I have wearied myself; its thick rust does not depart. To the fire with its rust! \r\n\t\t\t Yet, when I cleansed you in your filthy lewdness, you did not become clean from your filth; you shall not again be cleansed until I have satisfied my fury upon you.\r\n\t\t\t I the LORD have spoken; the time is coming, I will act. I will not refrain, I will not spare, I will not relent. According to your ways and your doings I will judge you, says the Lord GOD.\r\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD came to me:\r\n\t\t\t Mortal, with one blow I am about to take away from you the delight of your eyes; yet you shall not mourn or weep, nor shall your tears run down.\r\n\t\t\t Sigh, but not aloud; make no mourning for the dead. Bind on your turban, and put your sandals on your feet; do not cover your upper lip or eat the bread of mourners. \r\n\t\t\t So I spoke to the people in the morning, and at evening my wife died. And on the next morning I did as I was commanded.\r\n\t\t\t Then the people said to me, \"Will you not tell us what these things mean for us, that you are acting this way?\"\r\n\t\t\t Then I said to them: The word of the LORD came to me:\r\n\t\t\t Say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord GOD: I will profane my sanctuary, the pride of your power, the delight of your eyes, and your heart's desire; and your sons and your daughters whom you left behind shall fall by the sword.\r\n\t\t\t And you shall do as I have done; you shall not cover your upper lip or eat the bread of mourners. \r\n\t\t\t Your turbans shall be on your heads and your sandals on your feet; you shall not mourn or weep, but you shall pine away in your iniquities and groan to one another.\r\n\t\t\t Thus Ezekiel shall be a sign to you; you shall do just as he has done. When this comes, then you shall know that I am the Lord GOD.\r\n\t\t\t And you, mortal, on the day when I take from them their stronghold, their joy and glory, the delight of their eyes and their heart's affection, and also their sons and their daughters, \r\n\t\t\t on that day, one who has escaped will come to you to report to you the news.\r\n\t\t\t On that day your mouth shall be opened to the one who has escaped, and you shall speak and no longer be silent. So you shall be a sign to them; and they shall know that I am the LORD.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD came to me:\r\n\t\t\t Mortal, set your face toward the Ammonites and prophesy against them.\r\n\t\t\t Say to the Ammonites, Hear the word of the Lord GOD: Thus says the Lord GOD, Because you said, \"Aha!\" over my sanctuary when it was profaned, and over the land of Israel when it was made desolate, and over the house of Judah when it went into exile;\r\n\t\t\t therefore I am handing you over to the people of the east for a possession. They shall set their encampments among you and pitch their tents in your midst; they shall eat your fruit, and they shall drink your milk.\r\n\t\t\t I will make Rabbah a pasture for camels and Ammon a fold for flocks. Then you shall know that I am the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t For thus says the Lord GOD: Because you have clapped your hands and stamped your feet and rejoiced with all the malice within you against the land of Israel,\r\n\t\t\t therefore I have stretched out my hand against you, and will hand you over as plunder to the nations. I will cut you off from the peoples and will make you perish out of the countries; I will destroy you. Then you shall know that I am the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the Lord GOD: Because Moab said, The house of Judah is like all the other nations, \r\n\t\t\t therefore I will lay open the flank of Moab from the towns on its frontier, the glory of the country, Beth-jeshimoth, Baal-meon, and Kiriathaim. \r\n\t\t\t I will give it along with Ammon to the people of the east as a possession. Thus Ammon shall be remembered no more among the nations,\r\n\t\t\t and I will execute judgments upon Moab. Then they shall know that I am the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the Lord GOD: Because Edom acted revengefully against the house of Judah and has grievously offended in taking vengeance upon them,\r\n\t\t\t therefore thus says the Lord GOD, I will stretch out my hand against Edom, and cut off from it humans and animals, and I will make it desolate; from Teman even to Dedan they shall fall by the sword.\r\n\t\t\t I will lay my vengeance upon Edom by the hand of my people Israel; and they shall act in Edom according to my anger and according to my wrath; and they shall know my vengeance, says the Lord GOD.\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the Lord GOD: Because with unending hostilities the Philistines acted in vengeance, and with malice of heart took revenge in destruction;\r\n\t\t\t therefore thus says the Lord GOD, I will stretch out my hand against the Philistines, cut off the Cherethites, and destroy the rest of the seacoast.\r\n\t\t\t I will execute great vengeance on them with wrathful punishments. Then they shall know that I am the LORD, when I lay my vengeance on them.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t In the eleventh year, on the first day of the month, the word of the LORD came to me:\r\n\t\t\t Mortal, because Tyre said concerning Jerusalem, \"Aha, broken is the gateway of the peoples; it has swung open to me; I shall be replenished, now that it is wasted,\"\r\n\t\t\t therefore, thus says the Lord GOD: See, I am against you, O Tyre! I will hurl many nations against you, as the sea hurls its waves.\r\n\t\t\t They shall destroy the walls of Tyre and break down its towers. I will scrape its soil from it and make it a bare rock.\r\n\t\t\t It shall become, in the midst of the sea, a place for spreading nets. I have spoken, says the Lord GOD. It shall become plunder for the nations,\r\n\t\t\t and its daughter-towns in the country shall be killed by the sword. Then they shall know that I am the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t For thus says the Lord GOD: I will bring against Tyre from the north King Nebuchadrezzar of Babylon, king of kings, together with horses, chariots, cavalry, and a great and powerful army.\r\n\t\t\t Your daughter-towns in the country he shall put to the sword. He shall set up a siege wall against you, cast up a ramp against you, and raise a roof of shields against you.\r\n\t\t\t He shall direct the shock of his battering rams against your walls and break down your towers with his axes.\r\n\t\t\t His horses shall be so many that their dust shall cover you. At the noise of cavalry, wheels, and chariots your very walls shall shake, when he enters your gates like those entering a breached city.\r\n\t\t\t With the hoofs of his horses he shall trample all your streets. He shall put your people to the sword, and your strong pillars shall fall to the ground.\r\n\t\t\t They will plunder your riches and loot your merchandise; they shall break down your walls and destroy your fine houses. Your stones and timber and soil they shall cast into the water.\r\n\t\t\t I will silence the music of your songs; the sound of your lyres shall be heard no more.\r\n\t\t\t I will make you a bare rock; you shall be a place for spreading nets. You shall never again be rebuilt, for I the LORD have spoken, says the Lord GOD.\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the Lord GOD to Tyre: Shall not the coastlands shake at the sound of your fall, when the wounded groan, when slaughter goes on within you?\r\n\t\t\t Then all the princes of the sea shall step down from their thrones; they shall remove their robes and strip off their embroidered garments. They shall clothe themselves with trembling, and shall sit on the ground; they shall tremble every moment, and be appalled at you.\r\n\t\t\t And they shall raise a lamentation over you, and say to you: How you have vanished from the seas, O city renowned, once mighty on the sea, you and your inhabitants, who imposed your terror on all the mainland! \r\n\t\t\t Now the coastlands tremble on the day of your fall; the coastlands by the sea are dismayed at your passing.\r\n\t\t\t For thus says the Lord GOD: When I make you a city laid waste, like cities that are not inhabited, when I bring up the deep over you, and the great waters cover you,\r\n\t\t\t then I will thrust you down with those who descend into the Pit, to the people of long ago, and I will make you live in the world below, among primeval ruins, with those who go down to the Pit, so that you will not be inhabited or have a place in the land of the living. \r\n\t\t\t I will bring you to a dreadful end, and you shall be no more; though sought for, you will never be found again, says the Lord GOD.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD came to me:\r\n\t\t\t Now you, mortal, raise a lamentation over Tyre,\r\n\t\t\t and say to Tyre, which sits at the entrance to the sea, merchant of the peoples on many coastlands, Thus says the Lord GOD: O Tyre, you have said, \"I am perfect in beauty.\"\r\n\t\t\t Your borders are in the heart of the seas; your builders made perfect your beauty.\r\n\t\t\t They made all your planks of fir trees from Senir; they took a cedar from Lebanon to make a mast for you.\r\n\t\t\t From oaks of Bashan they made your oars; they made your deck of pines from the coasts of Cyprus, inlaid with ivory. \r\n\t\t\t Of fine embroidered linen from Egypt was your sail, serving as your ensign; blue and purple from the coasts of Elishah was your awning.\r\n\t\t\t The inhabitants of Sidon and Arvad were your rowers; skilled men of Zemer were within you, they were your pilots. \r\n\t\t\t The elders of Gebal and its artisans were within you, caulking your seams; all the ships of the sea with their mariners were within you, to barter for your wares.\r\n\t\t\t Paras and Lud and Put were in your army, your mighty warriors; they hung shield and helmet in you; they gave you splendor. \r\n\t\t\t Men of Arvad and Helech were on your walls all around; men of Gamad were at your towers. They hung their quivers all around your walls; they made perfect your beauty. \r\n\t\t\t Tarshish did business with you out of the abundance of your great wealth; silver, iron, tin, and lead they exchanged for your wares.\r\n\t\t\t Javan, Tubal, and Meshech traded with you; they exchanged human beings and vessels of bronze for your merchandise.\r\n\t\t\t Beth-togarmah exchanged for your wares horses, war horses, and mules.\r\n\t\t\t The Rhodians traded with you; many coastlands were your own special markets; they brought you in payment ivory tusks and ebony. \r\n\t\t\t Edom did business with you because of your abundant goods; they exchanged for your wares turquoise, purple, embroidered work, fine linen, coral, and rubies. \r\n\t\t\t Judah and the land of Israel traded with you; they exchanged for your merchandise wheat from Minnith, millet, honey, oil, and balm. \r\n\t\t\t Damascus traded with you for your abundant goods-- because of your great wealth of every kind-- wine of Helbon, and white wool.\r\n\t\t\t Vedan and Javan from Uzal entered into trade for your wares; wrought iron, cassia, and sweet cane were bartered for your merchandise. \r\n\t\t\t Dedan traded with you in saddlecloths for riding.\r\n\t\t\t Arabia and all the princes of Kedar were your favored dealers in lambs, rams, and goats; in these they did business with you.\r\n\t\t\t The merchants of Sheba and Raamah traded with you; they exchanged for your wares the best of all kinds of spices, and all precious stones, and gold.\r\n\t\t\t Haran, Canneh, Eden, the merchants of Sheba, Asshur, and Chilmad traded with you.\r\n\t\t\t These traded with you in choice garments, in clothes of blue and embroidered work, and in carpets of colored material, bound with cords and made secure; in these they traded with you. \r\n\t\t\t The ships of Tarshish traveled for you in your trade. So you were filled and heavily laden in the heart of the seas.\r\n\t\t\t Your rowers have brought you into the high seas. The east wind has wrecked you in the heart of the seas.\r\n\t\t\t Your riches, your wares, your merchandise, your mariners and your pilots, your caulkers, your dealers in merchandise, and all your warriors within you, with all the company that is with you, sink into the heart of the seas on the day of your ruin.\r\n\t\t\t At the sound of the cry of your pilots the countryside shakes,\r\n\t\t\t and down from their ships come all that handle the oar. The mariners and all the pilots of the sea stand on the shore\r\n\t\t\t and wail aloud over you, and cry bitterly. They throw dust on their heads and wallow in ashes;\r\n\t\t\t they make themselves bald for you, and put on sackcloth, and they weep over you in bitterness of soul, with bitter mourning.\r\n\t\t\t In their wailing they raise a lamentation for you, and lament over you: \"Who was ever destroyed like Tyre in the midst of the sea? \r\n\t\t\t When your wares came from the seas, you satisfied many peoples; with your abundant wealth and merchandise you enriched the kings of the earth.\r\n\t\t\t Now you are wrecked by the seas, in the depths of the waters; your merchandise and all your crew have sunk with you.\r\n\t\t\t All the inhabitants of the coastlands are appalled at you; and their kings are horribly afraid, their faces are convulsed.\r\n\t\t\t The merchants among the peoples hiss at you; you have come to a dreadful end and shall be no more forever.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD came to me:\r\n\t\t\t Mortal, say to the prince of Tyre, Thus says the Lord GOD: Because your heart is proud and you have said, \"I am a god; I sit in the seat of the gods, in the heart of the seas,\" yet you are but a mortal, and no god, though you compare your mind with the mind of a god.\r\n\t\t\t You are indeed wiser than Daniel; no secret is hidden from you; \r\n\t\t\t by your wisdom and your understanding you have amassed wealth for yourself, and have gathered gold and silver into your treasuries.\r\n\t\t\t By your great wisdom in trade you have increased your wealth, and your heart has become proud in your wealth.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Because you compare your mind with the mind of a god,\r\n\t\t\t therefore, I will bring strangers against you, the most terrible of the nations; they shall draw their swords against the beauty of your wisdom and defile your splendor.\r\n\t\t\t They shall thrust you down to the Pit, and you shall die a violent death in the heart of the seas.\r\n\t\t\t Will you still say, \"I am a god,\" in the presence of those who kill you, though you are but a mortal, and no god, in the hands of those who wound you?\r\n\t\t\t You shall die the death of the uncircumcised by the hand of foreigners; for I have spoken, says the Lord GOD.\r\n\t\t\t Moreover the word of the LORD came to me:\r\n\t\t\t Mortal, raise a lamentation over the king of Tyre, and say to him, Thus says the Lord GOD: You were the signet of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. \r\n\t\t\t You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering, carnelian, chrysolite, and moonstone, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, turquoise, and emerald; and worked in gold were your settings and your engravings. On the day that you were created they were prepared. \r\n\t\t\t With an anointed cherub as guardian I placed you; you were on the holy mountain of God; you walked among the stones of fire.\r\n\t\t\t You were blameless in your ways from the day that you were created, until iniquity was found in you.\r\n\t\t\t In the abundance of your trade you were filled with violence, and you sinned; so I cast you as a profane thing from the mountain of God, and the guardian cherub drove you out from among the stones of fire.\r\n\t\t\t Your heart was proud because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor. I cast you to the ground; I exposed you before kings, to feast their eyes on you.\r\n\t\t\t By the multitude of your iniquities, in the unrighteousness of your trade, you profaned your sanctuaries. So I brought out fire from within you; it consumed you, and I turned you to ashes on the earth in the sight of all who saw you.\r\n\t\t\t All who know you among the peoples are appalled at you; you have come to a dreadful end and shall be no more forever.\r\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD came to me:\r\n\t\t\t Mortal, set your face toward Sidon, and prophesy against it,\r\n\t\t\t and say, Thus says the Lord GOD: I am against you, O Sidon, and I will gain glory in your midst. They shall know that I am the LORD when I execute judgments in it, and manifest my holiness in it;\r\n\t\t\t for I will send pestilence into it, and bloodshed into its streets; and the dead shall fall in its midst, by the sword that is against it on every side. And they shall know that I am the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t The house of Israel shall no longer find a pricking brier or a piercing thorn among all their neighbors who have treated them with contempt. And they shall know that I am the Lord GOD.\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the Lord GOD: When I gather the house of Israel from the peoples among whom they are scattered, and manifest my holiness in them in the sight of the nations, then they shall settle on their own soil that I gave to my servant Jacob.\r\n\t\t\t They shall live in safety in it, and shall build houses and plant vineyards. They shall live in safety, when I execute judgments upon all their neighbors who have treated them with contempt. And they shall know that I am the LORD their God.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t In the tenth year, in the tenth month, on the twelfth day of the month, the word of the LORD came to me:\r\n\t\t\t Mortal, set your face against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and prophesy against him and against all Egypt;\r\n\t\t\t speak, and say, Thus says the Lord GOD: I am against you, Pharaoh king of Egypt, the great dragon sprawling in the midst of its channels, saying, \"My Nile is my own; I made it for myself.\"\r\n\t\t\t I will put hooks in your jaws, and make the fish of your channels stick to your scales. I will draw you up from your channels, with all the fish of your channels sticking to your scales.\r\n\t\t\t I will fling you into the wilderness, you and all the fish of your channels; you shall fall in the open field, and not be gathered and buried. To the animals of the earth and to the birds of the air I have given you as food.\r\n\t\t\t Then all the inhabitants of Egypt shall know that I am the LORD because you were a staff of reed to the house of Israel; \r\n\t\t\t when they grasped you with the hand, you broke, and tore all their shoulders; and when they leaned on you, you broke, and made all their legs unsteady. \r\n\t\t\t Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD: I will bring a sword upon you, and will cut off from you human being and animal;\r\n\t\t\t and the land of Egypt shall be a desolation and a waste. Then they shall know that I am the LORD. Because you said, \"The Nile is mine, and I made it,\"\r\n\t\t\t therefore, I am against you, and against your channels, and I will make the land of Egypt an utter waste and desolation, from Migdol to Syene, as far as the border of Ethiopia. \r\n\t\t\t No human foot shall pass through it, and no animal foot shall pass through it; it shall be uninhabited forty years.\r\n\t\t\t I will make the land of Egypt a desolation among desolated countries; and her cities shall be a desolation forty years among cities that are laid waste. I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and disperse them among the countries.\r\n\t\t\t Further, thus says the Lord GOD: At the end of forty years I will gather the Egyptians from the peoples among whom they were scattered;\r\n\t\t\t and I will restore the fortunes of Egypt, and bring them back to the land of Pathros, the land of their origin; and there they shall be a lowly kingdom.\r\n\t\t\t It shall be the most lowly of the kingdoms, and never again exalt itself above the nations; and I will make them so small that they will never again rule over the nations.\r\n\t\t\t The Egyptians shall never again be the reliance of the house of Israel; they will recall their iniquity, when they turned to them for aid. Then they shall know that I am the Lord GOD. \r\n\t\t\t In the twenty-seventh year, in the first month, on the first day of the month, the word of the LORD came to me:\r\n\t\t\t Mortal, King Nebuchadrezzar of Babylon made his army labor hard against Tyre; every head was made bald and every shoulder was rubbed bare; yet neither he nor his army got anything from Tyre to pay for the labor that he had expended against it.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: I will give the land of Egypt to King Nebuchadrezzar of Babylon; and he shall carry off its wealth and despoil it and plunder it; and it shall be the wages for his army.\r\n\t\t\t I have given him the land of Egypt as his payment for which he labored, because they worked for me, says the Lord GOD.\r\n\t\t\t On that day I will cause a horn to sprout up for the house of Israel, and I will open your lips among them. Then they shall know that I am the LORD.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD came to me:\r\n\t\t\t Mortal, prophesy, and say, Thus says the Lord GOD: Wail, \"Alas for the day!\"\r\n\t\t\t For a day is near, the day of the LORD is near; it will be a day of clouds, a time of doom for the nations. \r\n\t\t\t A sword shall come upon Egypt, and anguish shall be in Ethiopia, when the slain fall in Egypt, and its wealth is carried away, and its foundations are torn down. \r\n\t\t\t Ethiopia, and Put, and Lud, and all Arabia, and Libya, and the people of the allied land shall fall with them by the sword.\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD: Those who support Egypt shall fall, and its proud might shall come down; from Migdol to Syene they shall fall within it by the sword, says the Lord GOD.\r\n\t\t\t They shall be desolated among other desolated countries, and their cities shall lie among cities laid waste.\r\n\t\t\t Then they shall know that I am the LORD, when I have set fire to Egypt, and all who help it are broken.\r\n\t\t\t On that day, messengers shall go out from me in ships to terrify the unsuspecting Ethiopians; and anguish shall come upon them on the day of Egypt's doom; for it is coming! \r\n\t\t\t Thus says the Lord GOD: I will put an end to the hordes of Egypt, by the hand of King Nebuchadrezzar of Babylon.\r\n\t\t\t He and his people with him, the most terrible of the nations, shall be brought in to destroy the land; and they shall draw their swords against Egypt, and fill the land with the slain.\r\n\t\t\t I will dry up the channels, and will sell the land into the hand of evildoers; I will bring desolation upon the land and everything in it by the hand of foreigners; I the LORD have spoken.\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the Lord GOD: I will destroy the idols and put an end to the images in Memphis; there shall no longer be a prince in the land of Egypt; so I will put fear in the land of Egypt.\r\n\t\t\t I will make Pathros a desolation, and will set fire to Zoan, and will execute acts of judgment on Thebes.\r\n\t\t\t I will pour my wrath upon Pelusium, the stronghold of Egypt, and cut off the hordes of Thebes.\r\n\t\t\t I will set fire to Egypt; Pelusium shall be in great agony; Thebes shall be breached, and Memphis face adversaries by day.\r\n\t\t\t The young men of On and of Pi-beseth shall fall by the sword; and the cities themselves shall go into captivity. \r\n\t\t\t At Tehaphnehes the day shall be dark, when I break there the dominion of Egypt, and its proud might shall come to an end; the city shall be covered by a cloud, and its daughter-towns shall go into captivity. \r\n\t\t\t Thus I will execute acts of judgment on Egypt. Then they shall know that I am the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t In the eleventh year, in the first month, on the seventh day of the month, the word of the LORD came to me:\r\n\t\t\t Mortal, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh king of Egypt; it has not been bound up for healing or wrapped with a bandage, so that it may become strong to wield the sword.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: I am against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and will break his arms, both the strong arm and the one that was broken; and I will make the sword fall from his hand.\r\n\t\t\t I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and disperse them throughout the lands.\r\n\t\t\t I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, and put my sword in his hand; but I will break the arms of Pharaoh, and he will groan before him with the groans of one mortally wounded.\r\n\t\t\t I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, but the arms of Pharaoh shall fall. And they shall know that I am the LORD, when I put my sword into the hand of the king of Babylon. He shall stretch it out against the land of Egypt,\r\n\t\t\t and I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations and disperse them throughout the countries. Then they shall know that I am the LORD.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t In the eleventh year, in the third month, on the first day of the month, the word of the LORD came to me:\r\n\t\t\t Mortal, say to Pharaoh king of Egypt and to his hordes: Whom are you like in your greatness?\r\n\t\t\t Consider Assyria, a cedar of Lebanon, with fair branches and forest shade, and of great height, its top among the clouds. \r\n\t\t\t The waters nourished it, the deep made it grow tall, making its rivers flow around the place it was planted, sending forth its streams to all the trees of the field. \r\n\t\t\t So it towered high above all the trees of the field; its boughs grew large and its branches long, from abundant water in its shoots.\r\n\t\t\t All the birds of the air made their nests in its boughs; under its branches all the animals of the field gave birth to their young; and in its shade all great nations lived.\r\n\t\t\t It was beautiful in its greatness, in the length of its branches; for its roots went down to abundant water.\r\n\t\t\t The cedars in the garden of God could not rival it, nor the fir trees equal its boughs; the plane trees were as nothing compared with its branches; no tree in the garden of God was like it in beauty.\r\n\t\t\t I made it beautiful with its mass of branches, the envy of all the trees of Eden that were in the garden of God.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Because it towered high and set its top among the clouds, and its heart was proud of its height, \r\n\t\t\t I gave it into the hand of the prince of the nations; he has dealt with it as its wickedness deserves. I have cast it out.\r\n\t\t\t Foreigners from the most terrible of the nations have cut it down and left it. On the mountains and in all the valleys its branches have fallen, and its boughs lie broken in all the watercourses of the land; and all the peoples of the earth went away from its shade and left it.\r\n\t\t\t On its fallen trunk settle all the birds of the air, and among its boughs lodge all the wild animals.\r\n\t\t\t All this is in order that no trees by the waters may grow to lofty height or set their tops among the clouds, and that no trees that drink water may reach up to them in height. For all of them are handed over to death, to the world below; along with all mortals, with those who go down to the Pit.\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the Lord GOD: On the day it went down to Sheol I closed the deep over it and covered it; I restrained its rivers, and its mighty waters were checked. I clothed Lebanon in gloom for it, and all the trees of the field fainted because of it.\r\n\t\t\t I made the nations quake at the sound of its fall, when I cast it down to Sheol with those who go down to the Pit; and all the trees of Eden, the choice and best of Lebanon, all that were well watered, were consoled in the world below.\r\n\t\t\t They also went down to Sheol with it, to those killed by the sword, along with its allies, those who lived in its shade among the nations.\r\n\t\t\t Which among the trees of Eden was like you in glory and in greatness? Now you shall be brought down with the trees of Eden to the world below; you shall lie among the uncircumcised, with those who are killed by the sword. This is Pharaoh and all his horde, says the Lord GOD.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t In the twelfth year, in the twelfth month, on the first day of the month, the word of the LORD came to me:\r\n\t\t\t Mortal, raise a lamentation over Pharaoh king of Egypt, and say to him: You consider yourself a lion among the nations, but you are like a dragon in the seas; you thrash about in your streams, trouble the water with your feet, and foul your streams. \r\n\t\t\t Thus says the Lord GOD: In an assembly of many peoples I will throw my net over you; and I will haul you up in my dragnet. \r\n\t\t\t I will throw you on the ground, on the open field I will fling you, and will cause all the birds of the air to settle on you, and I will let the wild animals of the whole earth gorge themselves with you.\r\n\t\t\t I will strew your flesh on the mountains, and fill the valleys with your carcass. \r\n\t\t\t I will drench the land with your flowing blood up to the mountains, and the watercourses will be filled with you.\r\n\t\t\t When I blot you out, I will cover the heavens, and make their stars dark; I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon shall not give its light.\r\n\t\t\t All the shining lights of the heavens I will darken above you, and put darkness on your land, says the Lord GOD.\r\n\t\t\t I will trouble the hearts of many peoples, as I carry you captive among the nations, into countries you have not known. \r\n\t\t\t I will make many peoples appalled at you; their kings shall shudder because of you. When I brandish my sword before them, they shall tremble every moment for their lives, each one of them, on the day of your downfall.\r\n\t\t\t For thus says the Lord GOD: The sword of the king of Babylon shall come against you.\r\n\t\t\t I will cause your hordes to fall by the swords of mighty ones, all of them most terrible among the nations. They shall bring to ruin the pride of Egypt, and all its hordes shall perish.\r\n\t\t\t I will destroy all its livestock from beside abundant waters; and no human foot shall trouble them any more, nor shall the hoofs of cattle trouble them.\r\n\t\t\t Then I will make their waters clear, and cause their streams to run like oil, says the Lord GOD.\r\n\t\t\t When I make the land of Egypt desolate and when the land is stripped of all that fills it, when I strike down all who live in it, then they shall know that I am the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t This is a lamentation; it shall be chanted. The women of the nations shall chant it. Over Egypt and all its hordes they shall chant it, says the Lord GOD.\r\n\t\t\t In the twelfth year, in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the month, the word of the LORD came to me: \r\n\t\t\t Mortal, wail over the hordes of Egypt, and send them down, with Egypt and the daughters of majestic nations, to the world below, with those who go down to the Pit. \r\n\t\t\t \"Whom do you surpass in beauty? Go down! Be laid to rest with the uncircumcised!\"\r\n\t\t\t They shall fall among those who are killed by the sword. Egypt has been handed over to the sword; carry away both it and its hordes. \r\n\t\t\t The mighty chiefs shall speak of them, with their helpers, out of the midst of Sheol: \"They have come down, they lie still, the uncircumcised, killed by the sword.\"\r\n\t\t\t Assyria is there, and all its company, their graves all around it, all of them killed, fallen by the sword.\r\n\t\t\t Their graves are set in the uttermost parts of the Pit. Its company is all around its grave, all of them killed, fallen by the sword, who spread terror in the land of the living.\r\n\t\t\t Elam is there, and all its hordes around its grave; all of them killed, fallen by the sword, who went down uncircumcised into the world below, who spread terror in the land of the living. They bear their shame with those who go down to the Pit.\r\n\t\t\t They have made Elam a bed among the slain with all its hordes, their graves all around it, all of them uncircumcised, killed by the sword; for terror of them was spread in the land of the living, and they bear their shame with those who go down to the Pit; they are placed among the slain. \r\n\t\t\t Meshech and Tubal are there, and all their multitude, their graves all around them, all of them uncircumcised, killed by the sword; for they spread terror in the land of the living.\r\n\t\t\t And they do not lie with the fallen warriors of long ago who went down to Sheol with their weapons of war, whose swords were laid under their heads, and whose shields are upon their bones; for the terror of the warriors was in the land of the living. \r\n\t\t\t So you shall be broken and lie among the uncircumcised, with those who are killed by the sword.\r\n\t\t\t Edom is there, its kings and all its princes, who for all their might are laid with those who are killed by the sword; they lie with the uncircumcised, with those who go down to the Pit.\r\n\t\t\t The princes of the north are there, all of them, and all the Sidonians, who have gone down in shame with the slain, for all the terror that they caused by their might; they lie uncircumcised with those who are killed by the sword, and bear their shame with those who go down to the Pit.\r\n\t\t\t When Pharaoh sees them, he will be consoled for all his hordes-- Pharaoh and all his army, killed by the sword, says the Lord GOD.\r\n\t\t\t For he spread terror in the land of the living; therefore he shall be laid to rest among the uncircumcised, with those who are slain by the sword-- Pharaoh and all his multitude, says the Lord GOD.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD came to me:\r\n\t\t\t O Mortal, speak to your people and say to them, If I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take one of their number as their sentinel;\r\n\t\t\t and if the sentinel sees the sword coming upon the land and blows the trumpet and warns the people;\r\n\t\t\t then if any who hear the sound of the trumpet do not take warning, and the sword comes and takes them away, their blood shall be upon their own heads.\r\n\t\t\t They heard the sound of the trumpet and did not take warning; their blood shall be upon themselves. But if they had taken warning, they would have saved their lives.\r\n\t\t\t But if the sentinel sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, so that the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any of them, they are taken away in their iniquity, but their blood I will require at the sentinel's hand.\r\n\t\t\t So you, mortal, I have made a sentinel for the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me.\r\n\t\t\t If I say to the wicked, \"O wicked ones, you shall surely die,\" and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from their ways, the wicked shall die in their iniquity, but their blood I will require at your hand.\r\n\t\t\t But if you warn the wicked to turn from their ways, and they do not turn from their ways, the wicked shall die in their iniquity, but you will have saved your life.\r\n\t\t\t Now you, mortal, say to the house of Israel, Thus you have said: \"Our transgressions and our sins weigh upon us, and we waste away because of them; how then can we live?\"\r\n\t\t\t Say to them, As I live, says the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from their ways and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways; for why will you die, O house of Israel?\r\n\t\t\t And you, mortal, say to your people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not save them when they transgress; and as for the wickedness of the wicked, it shall not make them stumble when they turn from their wickedness; and the righteous shall not be able to live by their righteousness when they sin. \r\n\t\t\t Though I say to the righteous that they shall surely live, yet if they trust in their righteousness and commit iniquity, none of their righteous deeds shall be remembered; but in the iniquity that they have committed they shall die.\r\n\t\t\t Again, though I say to the wicked, \"You shall surely die,\" yet if they turn from their sin and do what is lawful and right--\r\n\t\t\t if the wicked restore the pledge, give back what they have taken by robbery, and walk in the statutes of life, committing no iniquity-- they shall surely live, they shall not die.\r\n\t\t\t None of the sins that they have committed shall be remembered against them; they have done what is lawful and right, they shall surely live.\r\n\t\t\t Yet your people say, \"The way of the Lord is not just,\" when it is their own way that is not just.\r\n\t\t\t When the righteous turn from their righteousness, and commit iniquity, they shall die for it. \r\n\t\t\t And when the wicked turn from their wickedness, and do what is lawful and right, they shall live by it. \r\n\t\t\t Yet you say, \"The way of the Lord is not just.\" O house of Israel, I will judge all of you according to your ways!\r\n\t\t\t In the twelfth year of our exile, in the tenth month, on the fifth day of the month, someone who had escaped from Jerusalem came to me and said, \"The city has fallen.\"\r\n\t\t\t Now the hand of the LORD had been upon me the evening before the fugitive came; but he had opened my mouth by the time the fugitive came to me in the morning; so my mouth was opened, and I was no longer unable to speak.\r\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD came to me:\r\n\t\t\t Mortal, the inhabitants of these waste places in the land of Israel keep saying, \"Abraham was only one man, yet he got possession of the land; but we are many; the land is surely given us to possess.\"\r\n\t\t\t Therefore say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: You eat flesh with the blood, and lift up your eyes to your idols, and shed blood; shall you then possess the land?\r\n\t\t\t You depend on your swords, you commit abominations, and each of you defiles his neighbor's wife; shall you then possess the land?\r\n\t\t\t Say this to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: As I live, surely those who are in the waste places shall fall by the sword; and those who are in the open field I will give to the wild animals to be devoured; and those who are in strongholds and in caves shall die by pestilence.\r\n\t\t\t I will make the land a desolation and a waste, and its proud might shall come to an end; and the mountains of Israel shall be so desolate that no one will pass through.\r\n\t\t\t Then they shall know that I am the LORD, when I have made the land a desolation and a waste because of all their abominations that they have committed.\r\n\t\t\t As for you, mortal, your people who talk together about you by the walls, and at the doors of the houses, say to one another, each to a neighbor, \"Come and hear what the word is that comes from the LORD.\"\r\n\t\t\t They come to you as people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear your words, but they will not obey them. For flattery is on their lips, but their heart is set on their gain.\r\n\t\t\t To them you are like a singer of love songs, one who has a beautiful voice and plays well on an instrument; they hear what you say, but they will not do it. \r\n\t\t\t When this comes-- and come it will!-- then they shall know that a prophet has been among them.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD came to me:\r\n\t\t\t Mortal, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel: prophesy, and say to them-- to the shepherds: Thus says the Lord GOD: Ah, you shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep?\r\n\t\t\t You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fatlings; but you do not feed the sheep.\r\n\t\t\t You have not strengthened the weak, you have not healed the sick, you have not bound up the injured, you have not brought back the strayed, you have not sought the lost, but with force and harshness you have ruled them.\r\n\t\t\t So they were scattered, because there was no shepherd; and scattered, they became food for all the wild animals.\r\n\t\t\t My sheep were scattered, they wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill; my sheep were scattered over all the face of the earth, with no one to search or seek for them.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD:\r\n\t\t\t As I live, says the Lord GOD, because my sheep have become a prey, and my sheep have become food for all the wild animals, since there was no shepherd; and because my shepherds have not searched for my sheep, but the shepherds have fed themselves, and have not fed my sheep;\r\n\t\t\t therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD:\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the Lord GOD, I am against the shepherds; and I will demand my sheep at their hand, and put a stop to their feeding the sheep; no longer shall the shepherds feed themselves. I will rescue my sheep from their mouths, so that they may not be food for them.\r\n\t\t\t For thus says the Lord GOD: I myself will search for my sheep, and will seek them out.\r\n\t\t\t As shepherds seek out their flocks when they are among their scattered sheep, so I will seek out my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places to which they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness.\r\n\t\t\t I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land; and I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the watercourses, and in all the inhabited parts of the land.\r\n\t\t\t I will feed them with good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel shall be their pasture; there they shall lie down in good grazing land, and they shall feed on rich pasture on the mountains of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I will make them lie down, says the Lord GOD.\r\n\t\t\t I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, but the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them with justice.\r\n\t\t\t As for you, my flock, thus says the Lord GOD: I shall judge between sheep and sheep, between rams and goats:\r\n\t\t\t Is it not enough for you to feed on the good pasture, but you must tread down with your feet the rest of your pasture? When you drink of clear water, must you foul the rest with your feet?\r\n\t\t\t And must my sheep eat what you have trodden with your feet, and drink what you have fouled with your feet?\r\n\t\t\t Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD to them: I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep.\r\n\t\t\t Because you pushed with flank and shoulder, and butted at all the weak animals with your horns until you scattered them far and wide,\r\n\t\t\t I will save my flock, and they shall no longer be ravaged; and I will judge between sheep and sheep.\r\n\t\t\t I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd.\r\n\t\t\t And I, the LORD, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them; I, the LORD, have spoken.\r\n\t\t\t I will make with them a covenant of peace and banish wild animals from the land, so that they may live in the wild and sleep in the woods securely.\r\n\t\t\t I will make them and the region around my hill a blessing; and I will send down the showers in their season; they shall be showers of blessing.\r\n\t\t\t The trees of the field shall yield their fruit, and the earth shall yield its increase. They shall be secure on their soil; and they shall know that I am the LORD, when I break the bars of their yoke, and save them from the hands of those who enslaved them.\r\n\t\t\t They shall no more be plunder for the nations, nor shall the animals of the land devour them; they shall live in safety, and no one shall make them afraid.\r\n\t\t\t I will provide for them a splendid vegetation so that they shall no more be consumed with hunger in the land, and no longer suffer the insults of the nations.\r\n\t\t\t They shall know that I, the LORD their God, am with them, and that they, the house of Israel, are my people, says the Lord GOD.\r\n\t\t\t You are my sheep, the sheep of my pasture and I am your God, says the Lord GOD. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD came to me:\r\n\t\t\t Mortal, set your face against Mount Seir, and prophesy against it,\r\n\t\t\t and say to it, Thus says the Lord GOD: I am against you, Mount Seir; I stretch out my hand against you to make you a desolation and a waste.\r\n\t\t\t I lay your towns in ruins; you shall become a desolation, and you shall know that I am the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Because you cherished an ancient enmity, and gave over the people of Israel to the power of the sword at the time of their calamity, at the time of their final punishment;\r\n\t\t\t therefore, as I live, says the Lord GOD, I will prepare you for blood, and blood shall pursue you; since you did not hate bloodshed, bloodshed shall pursue you.\r\n\t\t\t I will make Mount Seir a waste and a desolation; and I will cut off from it all who come and go.\r\n\t\t\t I will fill its mountains with the slain; on your hills and in your valleys and in all your watercourses those killed with the sword shall fall.\r\n\t\t\t I will make you a perpetual desolation, and your cities shall never be inhabited. Then you shall know that I am the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Because you said, \"These two nations and these two countries shall be mine, and we will take possession of them,\"-- although the LORD was there--\r\n\t\t\t therefore, as I live, says the Lord GOD, I will deal with you according to the anger and envy that you showed because of your hatred against them; and I will make myself known among you, when I judge you. \r\n\t\t\t You shall know that I, the LORD, have heard all the abusive speech that you uttered against the mountains of Israel, saying, \"They are laid desolate, they are given us to devour.\"\r\n\t\t\t And you magnified yourselves against me with your mouth, and multiplied your words against me; I heard it.\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the Lord GOD: As the whole earth rejoices, I will make you desolate.\r\n\t\t\t As you rejoiced over the inheritance of the house of Israel, because it was desolate, so I will deal with you; you shall be desolate, Mount Seir, and all Edom, all of it. Then they shall know that I am the LORD.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t And you, mortal, prophesy to the mountains of Israel, and say: O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the Lord GOD: Because the enemy said of you, \"Aha!\" and, \"The ancient heights have become our possession,\"\r\n\t\t\t therefore prophesy, and say: Thus says the Lord GOD: Because they made you desolate indeed, and crushed you from all sides, so that you became the possession of the rest of the nations, and you became an object of gossip and slander among the people;\r\n\t\t\t therefore, O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord GOD: Thus says the Lord GOD to the mountains and the hills, the watercourses and the valleys, the desolate wastes and the deserted towns, which have become a source of plunder and an object of derision to the rest of the nations all around;\r\n\t\t\t therefore thus says the Lord GOD: I am speaking in my hot jealousy against the rest of the nations, and against all Edom, who, with wholehearted joy and utter contempt, took my land as their possession, because of its pasture, to plunder it.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore prophesy concerning the land of Israel, and say to the mountains and hills, to the watercourses and valleys, Thus says the Lord GOD: I am speaking in my jealous wrath, because you have suffered the insults of the nations;\r\n\t\t\t therefore thus says the Lord GOD: I swear that the nations that are all around you shall themselves suffer insults.\r\n\t\t\t But you, O mountains of Israel, shall shoot out your branches, and yield your fruit to my people Israel; for they shall soon come home.\r\n\t\t\t See now, I am for you; I will turn to you, and you shall be tilled and sown;\r\n\t\t\t and I will multiply your population, the whole house of Israel, all of it; the towns shall be inhabited and the waste places rebuilt;\r\n\t\t\t and I will multiply human beings and animals upon you. They shall increase and be fruitful; and I will cause you to be inhabited as in your former times, and will do more good to you than ever before. Then you shall know that I am the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t I will lead people upon you-- my people Israel-- and they shall possess you, and you shall be their inheritance. No longer shall you bereave them of children.\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the Lord GOD: Because they say to you, \"You devour people, and you bereave your nation of children,\"\r\n\t\t\t therefore you shall no longer devour people and no longer bereave your nation of children, says the Lord GOD;\r\n\t\t\t and no longer will I let you hear the insults of the nations, no longer shall you bear the disgrace of the peoples; and no longer shall you cause your nation to stumble, says the Lord GOD.\r\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD came to me:\r\n\t\t\t Mortal, when the house of Israel lived on their own soil, they defiled it with their ways and their deeds; their conduct in my sight was like the uncleanness of a woman in her menstrual period.\r\n\t\t\t So I poured out my wrath upon them for the blood that they had shed upon the land, and for the idols with which they had defiled it.\r\n\t\t\t I scattered them among the nations, and they were dispersed through the countries; in accordance with their conduct and their deeds I judged them.\r\n\t\t\t But when they came to the nations, wherever they came, they profaned my holy name, in that it was said of them, \"These are the people of the LORD, and yet they had to go out of his land.\"\r\n\t\t\t But I had concern for my holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations to which they came.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord GOD: It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations to which you came.\r\n\t\t\t I will sanctify my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, and which you have profaned among them; and the nations shall know that I am the LORD, says the Lord GOD, when through you I display my holiness before their eyes.\r\n\t\t\t I will take you from the nations, and gather you from all the countries, and bring you into your own land.\r\n\t\t\t I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you.\r\n\t\t\t A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will remove from your body the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.\r\n\t\t\t I will put my spirit within you, and make you follow my statutes and be careful to observe my ordinances.\r\n\t\t\t Then you shall live in the land that I gave to your ancestors; and you shall be my people, and I will be your God.\r\n\t\t\t I will save you from all your uncleannesses, and I will summon the grain and make it abundant and lay no famine upon you.\r\n\t\t\t I will make the fruit of the tree and the produce of the field abundant, so that you may never again suffer the disgrace of famine among the nations.\r\n\t\t\t Then you shall remember your evil ways, and your dealings that were not good; and you shall loathe yourselves for your iniquities and your abominable deeds.\r\n\t\t\t It is not for your sake that I will act, says the Lord GOD; let that be known to you. Be ashamed and dismayed for your ways, O house of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the Lord GOD: On the day that I cleanse you from all your iniquities, I will cause the towns to be inhabited, and the waste places shall be rebuilt.\r\n\t\t\t The land that was desolate shall be tilled, instead of being the desolation that it was in the sight of all who passed by.\r\n\t\t\t And they will say, \"This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined towns are now inhabited and fortified.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the nations that are left all around you shall know that I, the LORD, have rebuilt the ruined places, and replanted that which was desolate; I, the LORD, have spoken, and I will do it.\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the Lord GOD: I will also let the house of Israel ask me to do this for them: to increase their population like a flock.\r\n\t\t\t Like the flock for sacrifices, like the flock at Jerusalem during her appointed festivals, so shall the ruined towns be filled with flocks of people. Then they shall know that I am the LORD. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The hand of the LORD came upon me, and he brought me out by the spirit of the LORD and set me down in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones.\r\n\t\t\t He led me all around them; there were very many lying in the valley, and they were very dry.\r\n\t\t\t He said to me, \"Mortal, can these bones live?\" I answered, \"O Lord GOD, you know.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then he said to me, \"Prophesy to these bones, and say to them: O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. \r\n\t\t\t I will lay sinews on you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live; and you shall know that I am the LORD.\" \r\n\t\t\t So I prophesied as I had been commanded; and as I prophesied, suddenly there was a noise, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone.\r\n\t\t\t I looked, and there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them; but there was no breath in them.\r\n\t\t\t Then he said to me, \"Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, mortal, and say to the breath: Thus says the Lord GOD: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.\" \r\n\t\t\t I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood on their feet, a vast multitude.\r\n\t\t\t Then he said to me, \"Mortal, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, 'Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are cut off completely.'\r\n\t\t\t Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: I am going to open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people; and I will bring you back to the land of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t And you shall know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people.\r\n\t\t\t I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you on your own soil; then you shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken and will act, says the LORD.\"\r\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD came to me:\r\n\t\t\t Mortal, take a stick and write on it, \"For Judah, and the Israelites associated with it\"; then take another stick and write on it, \"For Joseph (the stick of Ephraim) and all the house of Israel associated with it\";\r\n\t\t\t and join them together into one stick, so that they may become one in your hand.\r\n\t\t\t And when your people say to you, \"Will you not show us what you mean by these?\"\r\n\t\t\t say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: I am about to take the stick of Joseph (which is in the hand of Ephraim) and the tribes of Israel associated with it; and I will put the stick of Judah upon it, and make them one stick, in order that they may be one in my hand. \r\n\t\t\t When the sticks on which you write are in your hand before their eyes,\r\n\t\t\t then say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: I will take the people of Israel from the nations among which they have gone, and will gather them from every quarter, and bring them to their own land.\r\n\t\t\t I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king over them all. Never again shall they be two nations, and never again shall they be divided into two kingdoms.\r\n\t\t\t They shall never again defile themselves with their idols and their detestable things, or with any of their transgressions. I will save them from all the apostasies into which they have fallen, and will cleanse them. Then they shall be my people, and I will be their God. \r\n\t\t\t My servant David shall be king over them; and they shall all have one shepherd. They shall follow my ordinances and be careful to observe my statutes.\r\n\t\t\t They shall live in the land that I gave to my servant Jacob, in which your ancestors lived; they and their children and their children's children shall live there forever; and my servant David shall be their prince forever.\r\n\t\t\t I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them; and I will bless them and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary among them forevermore. \r\n\t\t\t My dwelling place shall be with them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.\r\n\t\t\t Then the nations shall know that I the LORD sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary is among them forevermore.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD came to me:\r\n\t\t\t Mortal, set your face toward Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. Prophesy against him\r\n\t\t\t and say: Thus says the Lord GOD: I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal;\r\n\t\t\t I will turn you around and put hooks into your jaws, and I will lead you out with all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed in full armor, a great company, all of them with shield and buckler, wielding swords.\r\n\t\t\t Persia, Ethiopia, and Put are with them, all of them with buckler and helmet; \r\n\t\t\t Gomer and all its troops; Beth-togarmah from the remotest parts of the north with all its troops-- many peoples are with you.\r\n\t\t\t Be ready and keep ready, you and all the companies that are assembled around you, and hold yourselves in reserve for them.\r\n\t\t\t After many days you shall be mustered; in the latter years you shall go against a land restored from war, a land where people were gathered from many nations on the mountains of Israel, which had long lain waste; its people were brought out from the nations and now are living in safety, all of them.\r\n\t\t\t You shall advance, coming on like a storm; you shall be like a cloud covering the land, you and all your troops, and many peoples with you.\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the Lord GOD: On that day thoughts will come into your mind, and you will devise an evil scheme.\r\n\t\t\t You will say, \"I will go up against the land of unwalled villages; I will fall upon the quiet people who live in safety, all of them living without walls, and having no bars or gates\";\r\n\t\t\t to seize spoil and carry off plunder; to assail the waste places that are now inhabited, and the people who were gathered from the nations, who are acquiring cattle and goods, who live at the center of the earth. \r\n\t\t\t Sheba and Dedan and the merchants of Tarshish and all its young warriors will say to you, \"Have you come to seize spoil? Have you assembled your horde to carry off plunder, to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to seize a great amount of booty?\" \r\n\t\t\t Therefore, mortal, prophesy, and say to Gog: Thus says the Lord GOD: On that day when my people Israel are living securely, you will rouse yourself \r\n\t\t\t and come from your place out of the remotest parts of the north, you and many peoples with you, all of them riding on horses, a great horde, a mighty army;\r\n\t\t\t you will come up against my people Israel, like a cloud covering the earth. In the latter days I will bring you against my land, so that the nations may know me, when through you, O Gog, I display my holiness before their eyes.\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the Lord GOD: Are you he of whom I spoke in former days by my servants the prophets of Israel, who in those days prophesied for years that I would bring you against them?\r\n\t\t\t On that day, when Gog comes against the land of Israel, says the Lord GOD, my wrath shall be aroused.\r\n\t\t\t For in my jealousy and in my blazing wrath I declare: On that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel;\r\n\t\t\t the fish of the sea, and the birds of the air, and the animals of the field, and all creeping things that creep on the ground, and all human beings that are on the face of the earth, shall quake at my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the cliffs shall fall, and every wall shall tumble to the ground.\r\n\t\t\t I will summon the sword against Gog in all my mountains, says the Lord GOD; the swords of all will be against their comrades. \r\n\t\t\t With pestilence and bloodshed I will enter into judgment with him; and I will pour down torrential rains and hailstones, fire and sulfur, upon him and his troops and the many peoples that are with him.\r\n\t\t\t So I will display my greatness and my holiness and make myself known in the eyes of many nations. Then they shall know that I am the LORD.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t And you, mortal, prophesy against Gog, and say: Thus says the Lord GOD: I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal!\r\n\t\t\t I will turn you around and drive you forward, and bring you up from the remotest parts of the north, and lead you against the mountains of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t I will strike your bow from your left hand, and will make your arrows drop out of your right hand.\r\n\t\t\t You shall fall upon the mountains of Israel, you and all your troops and the peoples that are with you; I will give you to birds of prey of every kind and to the wild animals to be devoured.\r\n\t\t\t You shall fall in the open field; for I have spoken, says the Lord GOD.\r\n\t\t\t I will send fire on Magog and on those who live securely in the coastlands; and they shall know that I am the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t My holy name I will make known among my people Israel; and I will not let my holy name be profaned any more; and the nations shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel.\r\n\t\t\t It has come! It has happened, says the Lord GOD. This is the day of which I have spoken.\r\n\t\t\t Then those who live in the towns of Israel will go out and make fires of the weapons and burn them-- bucklers and shields, bows and arrows, handpikes and spears-- and they will make fires of them for seven years.\r\n\t\t\t They will not need to take wood out of the field or cut down any trees in the forests, for they will make their fires of the weapons; they will despoil those who despoiled them, and plunder those who plundered them, says the Lord GOD.\r\n\t\t\t On that day I will give to Gog a place for burial in Israel, the Valley of the Travelers east of the sea; it shall block the path of the travelers, for there Gog and all his horde will be buried; it shall be called the Valley of Hamon-gog. \r\n\t\t\t Seven months the house of Israel shall spend burying them, in order to cleanse the land.\r\n\t\t\t All the people of the land shall bury them; and it will bring them honor on the day that I show my glory, says the Lord GOD.\r\n\t\t\t They will set apart men to pass through the land regularly and bury any invaders who remain on the face of the land, so as to cleanse it; for seven months they shall make their search. \r\n\t\t\t As the searchers pass through the land, anyone who sees a human bone shall set up a sign by it, until the buriers have buried it in the Valley of Hamon-gog. \r\n\t\t\t (A city Hamonah is there also.) Thus they shall cleanse the land. \r\n\t\t\t As for you, mortal, thus says the Lord GOD: Speak to the birds of every kind and to all the wild animals: Assemble and come, gather from all around to the sacrificial feast that I am preparing for you, a great sacrificial feast on the mountains of Israel, and you shall eat flesh and drink blood.\r\n\t\t\t You shall eat the flesh of the mighty, and drink the blood of the princes of the earth-- of rams, of lambs, and of goats, of bulls, all of them fatlings of Bashan.\r\n\t\t\t You shall eat fat until you are filled, and drink blood until you are drunk, at the sacrificial feast that I am preparing for you.\r\n\t\t\t And you shall be filled at my table with horses and charioteers, with warriors and all kinds of soldiers, says the Lord GOD. \r\n\t\t\t I will display my glory among the nations; and all the nations shall see my judgment that I have executed, and my hand that I have laid on them.\r\n\t\t\t The house of Israel shall know that I am the LORD their God, from that day forward.\r\n\t\t\t And the nations shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity, because they dealt treacherously with me. So I hid my face from them and gave them into the hand of their adversaries, and they all fell by the sword.\r\n\t\t\t I dealt with them according to their uncleanness and their transgressions, and hid my face from them.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Now I will restore the fortunes of Jacob, and have mercy on the whole house of Israel; and I will be jealous for my holy name.\r\n\t\t\t They shall forget their shame, and all the treachery they have practiced against me, when they live securely in their land with no one to make them afraid, \r\n\t\t\t when I have brought them back from the peoples and gathered them from their enemies' lands, and through them have displayed my holiness in the sight of many nations.\r\n\t\t\t Then they shall know that I am the LORD their God because I sent them into exile among the nations, and then gathered them into their own land. I will leave none of them behind;\r\n\t\t\t and I will never again hide my face from them, when I pour out my spirit upon the house of Israel, says the Lord GOD.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t In the twenty-fifth year of our exile, at the beginning of the year, on the tenth day of the month, in the fourteenth year after the city was struck down, on that very day, the hand of the LORD was upon me, and he brought me there.\r\n\t\t\t He brought me, in visions of God, to the land of Israel, and set me down upon a very high mountain, on which was a structure like a city to the south.\r\n\t\t\t When he brought me there, a man was there, whose appearance shone like bronze, with a linen cord and a measuring reed in his hand; and he was standing in the gateway.\r\n\t\t\t The man said to me, \"Mortal, look closely and listen attentively, and set your mind upon all that I shall show you, for you were brought here in order that I might show it to you; declare all that you see to the house of Israel.\"\r\n\t\t\t Now there was a wall all around the outside of the temple area. The length of the measuring reed in the man's hand was six long cubits, each being a cubit and a handbreadth in length; so he measured the thickness of the wall, one reed; and the height, one reed.\r\n\t\t\t Then he went into the gateway facing east, going up its steps, and measured the threshold of the gate, one reed deep. There were \r\n\t\t\t recesses, and each recess was one reed wide and one reed deep; and the space between the recesses, five cubits; and the threshold of the gate by the vestibule of the gate at the inner end was one reed deep.\r\n\t\t\t Then he measured the inner vestibule of the gateway, one cubit.\r\n\t\t\t Then he measured the vestibule of the gateway, eight cubits; and its pilasters, two cubits; and the vestibule of the gate was at the inner end.\r\n\t\t\t There were three recesses on either side of the east gate; the three were of the same size; and the pilasters on either side were of the same size.\r\n\t\t\t Then he measured the width of the opening of the gateway, ten cubits; and the width of the gateway, thirteen cubits.\r\n\t\t\t There was a barrier before the recesses, one cubit on either side; and the recesses were six cubits on either side.\r\n\t\t\t Then he measured the gate from the back of the one recess to the back of the other, a width of twenty-five cubits, from wall to wall. \r\n\t\t\t He measured also the vestibule, twenty cubits; and the gate next to the pilaster on every side of the court. \r\n\t\t\t From the front of the gate at the entrance to the end of the inner vestibule of the gate was fifty cubits.\r\n\t\t\t The recesses and their pilasters had windows, with shutters on the inside of the gateway all around, and the vestibules also had windows on the inside all around; and on the pilasters were palm trees. \r\n\t\t\t Then he brought me into the outer court; there were chambers there, and a pavement, all around the court; thirty chambers fronted on the pavement.\r\n\t\t\t The pavement ran along the side of the gates, corresponding to the length of the gates; this was the lower pavement.\r\n\t\t\t Then he measured the distance from the inner front of the lower gate to the outer front of the inner court, one hundred cubits. \r\n\t\t\t Then he measured the gate of the outer court that faced north-- its depth and width.\r\n\t\t\t Its recesses, three on either side, and its pilasters and its vestibule were of the same size as those of the first gate; its depth was fifty cubits, and its width twenty-five cubits.\r\n\t\t\t Its windows, its vestibule, and its palm trees were of the same size as those of the gate that faced toward the east. Seven steps led up to it; and its vestibule was on the inside.\r\n\t\t\t Opposite the gate on the north, as on the east, was a gate to the inner court; he measured from gate to gate, one hundred cubits.\r\n\t\t\t Then he led me toward the south, and there was a gate on the south; and he measured its pilasters and its vestibule; they had the same dimensions as the others.\r\n\t\t\t There were windows all around in it and in its vestibule, like the windows of the others; its depth was fifty cubits, and its width twenty-five cubits.\r\n\t\t\t There were seven steps leading up to it; its vestibule was on the inside. It had palm trees on its pilasters, one on either side. \r\n\t\t\t There was a gate on the south of the inner court; and he measured from gate to gate toward the south, one hundred cubits.\r\n\t\t\t Then he brought me to the inner court by the south gate, and he measured the south gate; it was of the same dimensions as the others.\r\n\t\t\t Its recesses, its pilasters, and its vestibule were of the same size as the others; and there were windows all around in it and in its vestibule; its depth was fifty cubits, and its width twenty-five cubits.\r\n\t\t\t There were vestibules all around, twenty-five cubits deep and five cubits wide.\r\n\t\t\t Its vestibule faced the outer court, and palm trees were on its pilasters, and its stairway had eight steps.\r\n\t\t\t Then he brought me to the inner court on the east side, and he measured the gate; it was of the same size as the others.\r\n\t\t\t Its recesses, its pilasters, and its vestibule were of the same dimensions as the others; and there were windows all around in it and in its vestibule; its depth was fifty cubits, and its width twenty-five cubits.\r\n\t\t\t Its vestibule faced the outer court, and it had palm trees on its pilasters, on either side; and its stairway had eight steps.\r\n\t\t\t Then he brought me to the north gate, and he measured it; it had the same dimensions as the others.\r\n\t\t\t Its recesses, its pilasters, and its vestibule were of the same size as the others; and it had windows all around. Its depth was fifty cubits, and its width twenty-five cubits.\r\n\t\t\t Its vestibule faced the outer court, and it had palm trees on its pilasters, on either side; and its stairway had eight steps. \r\n\t\t\t There was a chamber with its door in the vestibule of the gate, where the burnt offering was to be washed. \r\n\t\t\t And in the vestibule of the gate were two tables on either side, on which the burnt offering and the sin offering and the guilt offering were to be slaughtered.\r\n\t\t\t On the outside of the vestibule at the entrance of the north gate were two tables; and on the other side of the vestibule of the gate were two tables. \r\n\t\t\t Four tables were on the inside, and four tables on the outside of the side of the gate, eight tables, on which the sacrifices were to be slaughtered.\r\n\t\t\t There were also four tables of hewn stone for the burnt offering, a cubit and a half long, and one cubit and a half wide, and one cubit high, on which the instruments were to be laid with which the burnt offerings and the sacrifices were slaughtered.\r\n\t\t\t There were pegs, one handbreadth long, fastened all around the inside. And on the tables the flesh of the offering was to be laid.\r\n\t\t\t On the outside of the inner gateway there were chambers for the singers in the inner court, one at the side of the north gate facing south, the other at the side of the east gate facing north. \r\n\t\t\t He said to me, \"This chamber that faces south is for the priests who have charge of the temple,\r\n\t\t\t and the chamber that faces north is for the priests who have charge of the altar; these are the descendants of Zadok, who alone among the descendants of Levi may come near to the LORD to minister to him.\"\r\n\t\t\t He measured the court, one hundred cubits deep, and one hundred cubits wide, a square; and the altar was in front of the temple.\r\n\t\t\t Then he brought me to the vestibule of the temple and measured the pilasters of the vestibule, five cubits on either side; and the width of the gate was fourteen cubits; and the sidewalls of the gate were three cubits on either side. \r\n\t\t\t The depth of the vestibule was twenty cubits, and the width twelve cubits; ten steps led up to it; and there were pillars beside the pilasters on either side. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then he brought me to the nave, and measured the pilasters; on each side six cubits was the width of the pilasters. \r\n\t\t\t The width of the entrance was ten cubits; and the sidewalls of the entrance were five cubits on either side. He measured the length of the nave, forty cubits, and its width, twenty cubits.\r\n\t\t\t Then he went into the inner room and measured the pilasters of the entrance, two cubits; and the width of the entrance, six cubits; and the sidewalls of the entrance, seven cubits. \r\n\t\t\t He measured the depth of the room, twenty cubits, and its width, twenty cubits, beyond the nave. And he said to me, This is the most holy place.\r\n\t\t\t Then he measured the wall of the temple, six cubits thick; and the width of the side chambers, four cubits, all around the temple.\r\n\t\t\t The side chambers were in three stories, one over another, thirty in each story. There were offsets all around the wall of the temple to serve as supports for the side chambers, so that they should not be supported by the wall of the temple. \r\n\t\t\t The passageway of the side chambers widened from story to story; for the structure was supplied with a stairway all around the temple. For this reason the structure became wider from story to story. One ascended from the bottom story to the uppermost story by way of the middle one. \r\n\t\t\t I saw also that the temple had a raised platform all around; the foundations of the side chambers measured a full reed of six long cubits.\r\n\t\t\t The thickness of the outer wall of the side chambers was five cubits; and the free space between the side chambers of the temple\r\n\t\t\t and the chambers of the court was a width of twenty cubits all around the temple on every side.\r\n\t\t\t The side chambers opened onto the area left free, one door toward the north, and another door toward the south; and the width of the part that was left free was five cubits all around.\r\n\t\t\t The building that was facing the temple yard on the west side was seventy cubits wide; and the wall of the building was five cubits thick all around, and its depth ninety cubits.\r\n\t\t\t Then he measured the temple, one hundred cubits deep; and the yard and the building with its walls, one hundred cubits deep;\r\n\t\t\t also the width of the east front of the temple and the yard, one hundred cubits.\r\n\t\t\t Then he measured the depth of the building facing the yard at the west, together with its galleries on either side, one hundred cubits. The nave of the temple and the inner room and the outer vestibule \r\n\t\t\t were paneled, and, all around, all three had windows with recessed frames. Facing the threshold the temple was paneled with wood all around, from the floor up to the windows (now the windows were covered), \r\n\t\t\t to the space above the door, even to the inner room, and on the outside. And on all the walls all around in the inner room and the nave there was a pattern. \r\n\t\t\t It was formed of cherubim and palm trees, a palm tree between cherub and cherub. Each cherub had two faces:\r\n\t\t\t a human face turned toward the palm tree on the one side, and the face of a young lion turned toward the palm tree on the other side. They were carved on the whole temple all around;\r\n\t\t\t from the floor to the area above the door, cherubim and palm trees were carved on the wall. \r\n\t\t\t The doorposts of the nave were square. In front of the holy place was something resembling\r\n\t\t\t an altar of wood, three cubits high, two cubits long, and two cubits wide; its corners, its base, and its walls were of wood. He said to me, \"This is the table that stands before the LORD.\" \r\n\t\t\t The nave and the holy place had each a double door.\r\n\t\t\t The doors had two leaves apiece, two swinging leaves for each door.\r\n\t\t\t On the doors of the nave were carved cherubim and palm trees, such as were carved on the walls; and there was a canopy of wood in front of the vestibule outside.\r\n\t\t\t And there were recessed windows and palm trees on either side, on the sidewalls of the vestibule. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then he led me out into the outer court, toward the north, and he brought me to the chambers that were opposite the temple yard and opposite the building on the north.\r\n\t\t\t The length of the building that was on the north side was one hundred cubits, and the width fifty cubits. \r\n\t\t\t Across the twenty cubits that belonged to the inner court, and facing the pavement that belonged to the outer court, the chambers rose gallery by gallery in three stories. \r\n\t\t\t In front of the chambers was a passage on the inner side, ten cubits wide and one hundred cubits deep, and its entrances were on the north. \r\n\t\t\t Now the upper chambers were narrower, for the galleries took more away from them than from the lower and middle chambers in the building. \r\n\t\t\t For they were in three stories, and they had no pillars like the pillars of the outer court; for this reason the upper chambers were set back from the ground more than the lower and the middle ones. \r\n\t\t\t There was a wall outside parallel to the chambers, toward the outer court, opposite the chambers, fifty cubits long.\r\n\t\t\t For the chambers on the outer court were fifty cubits long, while those opposite the temple were one hundred cubits long.\r\n\t\t\t At the foot of these chambers ran a passage that one entered from the east in order to enter them from the outer court.\r\n\t\t\t The width of the passage was fixed by the wall of the court. On the south also, opposite the vacant area and opposite the building, there were chambers \r\n\t\t\t with a passage in front of them; they were similar to the chambers on the north, of the same length and width, with the same exits and arrangements and doors. \r\n\t\t\t So the entrances of the chambers to the south were entered through the entrance at the head of the corresponding passage, from the east, along the matching wall. \r\n\t\t\t Then he said to me, \"The north chambers and the south chambers opposite the vacant area are the holy chambers, where the priests who approach the LORD shall eat the most holy offerings; there they shall deposit the most holy offerings-- the grain offering, the sin offering, and the guilt offering-- for the place is holy.\r\n\t\t\t When the priests enter the holy place, they shall not go out of it into the outer court without laying there the vestments in which they minister, for these are holy; they shall put on other garments before they go near to the area open to the people.\"\r\n\t\t\t When he had finished measuring the interior of the temple area, he led me out by the gate that faces east, and measured the temple area all around.\r\n\t\t\t He measured the east side with the measuring reed, five hundred cubits by the measuring reed.\r\n\t\t\t Then he turned and measured the north side, five hundred cubits by the measuring reed. \r\n\t\t\t Then he turned and measured the south side, five hundred cubits by the measuring reed. \r\n\t\t\t Then he turned to the west side and measured, five hundred cubits by the measuring reed.\r\n\t\t\t He measured it on the four sides. It had a wall around it, five hundred cubits long and five hundred cubits wide, to make a separation between the holy and the common.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then he brought me to the gate, the gate facing east.\r\n\t\t\t And there, the glory of the God of Israel was coming from the east; the sound was like the sound of mighty waters; and the earth shone with his glory.\r\n\t\t\t The vision I saw was like the vision that I had seen when he came to destroy the city, and like the vision that I had seen by the river Chebar; and I fell upon my face. \r\n\t\t\t As the glory of the LORD entered the temple by the gate facing east,\r\n\t\t\t the spirit lifted me up, and brought me into the inner court; and the glory of the LORD filled the temple.\r\n\t\t\t While the man was standing beside me, I heard someone speaking to me out of the temple.\r\n\t\t\t He said to me: Mortal, this is the place of my throne and the place for the soles of my feet, where I will reside among the people of Israel forever. The house of Israel shall no more defile my holy name, neither they nor their kings, by their whoring, and by the corpses of their kings at their death. \r\n\t\t\t When they placed their threshold by my threshold and their doorposts beside my doorposts, with only a wall between me and them, they were defiling my holy name by their abominations that they committed; therefore I have consumed them in my anger.\r\n\t\t\t Now let them put away their idolatry and the corpses of their kings far from me, and I will reside among them forever.\r\n\t\t\t As for you, mortal, describe the temple to the house of Israel, and let them measure the pattern; and let them be ashamed of their iniquities.\r\n\t\t\t When they are ashamed of all that they have done, make known to them the plan of the temple, its arrangement, its exits and its entrances, and its whole form-- all its ordinances and its entire plan and all its laws; and write it down in their sight, so that they may observe and follow the entire plan and all its ordinances.\r\n\t\t\t This is the law of the temple: the whole territory on the top of the mountain all around shall be most holy. This is the law of the temple.\r\n\t\t\t These are the dimensions of the altar by cubits (the cubit being one cubit and a handbreadth): its base shall be one cubit high, and one cubit wide, with a rim of one span around its edge. This shall be the height of the altar: \r\n\t\t\t From the base on the ground to the lower ledge, two cubits, with a width of one cubit; and from the smaller ledge to the larger ledge, four cubits, with a width of one cubit;\r\n\t\t\t and the altar hearth, four cubits; and from the altar hearth projecting upward, four horns.\r\n\t\t\t The altar hearth shall be square, twelve cubits long by twelve wide.\r\n\t\t\t The ledge also shall be square, fourteen cubits long by fourteen wide, with a rim around it half a cubit wide, and its surrounding base, one cubit. Its steps shall face east.\r\n\t\t\t Then he said to me: Mortal, thus says the Lord GOD: These are the ordinances for the altar: On the day when it is erected for offering burnt offerings upon it and for dashing blood against it,\r\n\t\t\t you shall give to the levitical priests of the family of Zadok, who draw near to me to minister to me, says the Lord GOD, a bull for a sin offering.\r\n\t\t\t And you shall take some of its blood, and put it on the four horns of the altar, and on the four corners of the ledge, and upon the rim all around; thus you shall purify it and make atonement for it.\r\n\t\t\t You shall also take the bull of the sin offering, and it shall be burnt in the appointed place belonging to the temple, outside the sacred area.\r\n\t\t\t On the second day you shall offer a male goat without blemish for a sin offering; and the altar shall be purified, as it was purified with the bull.\r\n\t\t\t When you have finished purifying it, you shall offer a bull without blemish and a ram from the flock without blemish.\r\n\t\t\t You shall present them before the LORD, and the priests shall throw salt on them and offer them up as a burnt offering to the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t For seven days you shall provide daily a goat for a sin offering; also a bull and a ram from the flock, without blemish, shall be provided.\r\n\t\t\t Seven days shall they make atonement for the altar and cleanse it, and so consecrate it.\r\n\t\t\t When these days are over, then from the eighth day onward the priests shall offer upon the altar your burnt offerings and your offerings of well-being; and I will accept you, says the Lord GOD.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then he brought me back to the outer gate of the sanctuary, which faces east; and it was shut.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD said to me: This gate shall remain shut; it shall not be opened, and no one shall enter by it; for the LORD, the God of Israel, has entered by it; therefore it shall remain shut.\r\n\t\t\t Only the prince, because he is a prince, may sit in it to eat food before the LORD; he shall enter by way of the vestibule of the gate, and shall go out by the same way.\r\n\t\t\t Then he brought me by way of the north gate to the front of the temple; and I looked, and lo! the glory of the LORD filled the temple of the LORD; and I fell upon my face.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD said to me: Mortal, mark well, look closely, and listen attentively to all that I shall tell you concerning all the ordinances of the temple of the LORD and all its laws; and mark well those who may be admitted to the temple and all those who are to be excluded from the sanctuary. \r\n\t\t\t Say to the rebellious house, to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord GOD: O house of Israel, let there be an end to all your abominations \r\n\t\t\t in admitting foreigners, uncircumcised in heart and flesh, to be in my sanctuary, profaning my temple when you offer to me my food, the fat and the blood. You have broken my covenant with all your abominations. \r\n\t\t\t And you have not kept charge of my sacred offerings; but you have appointed foreigners to act for you in keeping my charge in my sanctuary. \r\n\t\t\t Thus says the Lord GOD: No foreigner, uncircumcised in heart and flesh, of all the foreigners who are among the people of Israel, shall enter my sanctuary.\r\n\t\t\t But the Levites who went far from me, going astray from me after their idols when Israel went astray, shall bear their punishment.\r\n\t\t\t They shall be ministers in my sanctuary, having oversight at the gates of the temple, and serving in the temple; they shall slaughter the burnt offering and the sacrifice for the people, and they shall attend on them and serve them.\r\n\t\t\t Because they ministered to them before their idols and made the house of Israel stumble into iniquity, therefore I have sworn concerning them, says the Lord GOD, that they shall bear their punishment.\r\n\t\t\t They shall not come near to me, to serve me as priest, nor come near any of my sacred offerings, the things that are most sacred; but they shall bear their shame, and the consequences of the abominations that they have committed.\r\n\t\t\t Yet I will appoint them to keep charge of the temple, to do all its chores, all that is to be done in it.\r\n\t\t\t But the levitical priests, the descendants of Zadok, who kept the charge of my sanctuary when the people of Israel went astray from me, shall come near to me to minister to me; and they shall attend me to offer me the fat and the blood, says the Lord GOD.\r\n\t\t\t It is they who shall enter my sanctuary, it is they who shall approach my table, to minister to me, and they shall keep my charge.\r\n\t\t\t When they enter the gates of the inner court, they shall wear linen vestments; they shall have nothing of wool on them, while they minister at the gates of the inner court, and within.\r\n\t\t\t They shall have linen turbans on their heads, and linen undergarments on their loins; they shall not bind themselves with anything that causes sweat.\r\n\t\t\t When they go out into the outer court to the people, they shall remove the vestments in which they have been ministering, and lay them in the holy chambers; and they shall put on other garments, so that they may not communicate holiness to the people with their vestments.\r\n\t\t\t They shall not shave their heads or let their locks grow long; they shall only trim the hair of their heads.\r\n\t\t\t No priest shall drink wine when he enters the inner court.\r\n\t\t\t They shall not marry a widow, or a divorced woman, but only a virgin of the stock of the house of Israel, or a widow who is the widow of a priest.\r\n\t\t\t They shall teach my people the difference between the holy and the common, and show them how to distinguish between the unclean and the clean.\r\n\t\t\t In a controversy they shall act as judges, and they shall decide it according to my judgments. They shall keep my laws and my statutes regarding all my appointed festivals, and they shall keep my sabbaths holy.\r\n\t\t\t They shall not defile themselves by going near to a dead person; for father or mother, however, and for son or daughter, and for brother or unmarried sister they may defile themselves.\r\n\t\t\t After he has become clean, they shall count seven days for him.\r\n\t\t\t On the day that he goes into the holy place, into the inner court, to minister in the holy place, he shall offer his sin offering, says the Lord GOD.\r\n\t\t\t This shall be their inheritance: I am their inheritance; and you shall give them no holding in Israel; I am their holding.\r\n\t\t\t They shall eat the grain offering, the sin offering, and the guilt offering; and every devoted thing in Israel shall be theirs.\r\n\t\t\t The first of all the first fruits of all kinds, and every offering of all kinds from all your offerings, shall belong to the priests; you shall also give to the priests the first of your dough, in order that a blessing may rest on your house.\r\n\t\t\t The priests shall not eat of anything, whether bird or animal, that died of itself or was torn by animals.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t When you allot the land as an inheritance, you shall set aside for the LORD a portion of the land as a holy district, twenty-five thousand cubits long and twenty thousand cubits wide; it shall be holy throughout its entire extent. \r\n\t\t\t Of this, a square plot of five hundred by five hundred cubits shall be for the sanctuary, with fifty cubits for an open space around it.\r\n\t\t\t In the holy district you shall measure off a section twenty-five thousand cubits long and ten thousand wide, in which shall be the sanctuary, the most holy place.\r\n\t\t\t It shall be a holy portion of the land; it shall be for the priests, who minister in the sanctuary and approach the LORD to minister to him; and it shall be both a place for their houses and a holy place for the sanctuary.\r\n\t\t\t Another section, twenty-five thousand cubits long and ten thousand cubits wide, shall be for the Levites who minister at the temple, as their holding for cities to live in. \r\n\t\t\t Alongside the portion set apart as the holy district you shall assign as a holding for the city an area five thousand cubits wide, and twenty-five thousand cubits long; it shall belong to the whole house of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t And to the prince shall belong the land on both sides of the holy district and the holding of the city, alongside the holy district and the holding of the city, on the west and on the east, corresponding in length to one of the tribal portions, and extending from the western to the eastern boundary\r\n\t\t\t of the land. It is to be his property in Israel. And my princes shall no longer oppress my people; but they shall let the house of Israel have the land according to their tribes.\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the Lord GOD: Enough, O princes of Israel! Put away violence and oppression, and do what is just and right. Cease your evictions of my people, says the Lord GOD.\r\n\t\t\t You shall have honest balances, an honest ephah, and an honest bath. \r\n\t\t\t The ephah and the bath shall be of the same measure, the bath containing one-tenth of a homer, and the ephah one-tenth of a homer; the homer shall be the standard measure.\r\n\t\t\t The shekel shall be twenty gerahs. Twenty shekels, twenty-five shekels, and fifteen shekels shall make a mina for you.\r\n\t\t\t This is the offering that you shall make: one-sixth of an ephah from each homer of wheat, and one-sixth of an ephah from each homer of barley,\r\n\t\t\t and as the fixed portion of oil, one-tenth of a bath from each cor (the cor, like the homer, contains ten baths); \r\n\t\t\t and one sheep from every flock of two hundred, from the pastures of Israel. This is the offering for grain offerings, burnt offerings, and offerings of well-being, to make atonement for them, says the Lord GOD.\r\n\t\t\t All the people of the land shall join with the prince in Israel in making this offering.\r\n\t\t\t But this shall be the obligation of the prince regarding the burnt offerings, grain offerings, and drink offerings, at the festivals, the new moons, and the sabbaths, all the appointed festivals of the house of Israel: he shall provide the sin offerings, grain offerings, the burnt offerings, and the offerings of well-being, to make atonement for the house of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the Lord GOD: In the first month, on the first day of the month, you shall take a young bull without blemish, and purify the sanctuary.\r\n\t\t\t The priest shall take some of the blood of the sin offering and put it on the doorposts of the temple, the four corners of the ledge of the altar, and the posts of the gate of the inner court.\r\n\t\t\t You shall do the same on the seventh day of the month for anyone who has sinned through error or ignorance; so you shall make atonement for the temple.\r\n\t\t\t In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, you shall celebrate the festival of the passover, and for seven days unleavened bread shall be eaten.\r\n\t\t\t On that day the prince shall provide for himself and all the people of the land a young bull for a sin offering.\r\n\t\t\t And during the seven days of the festival he shall provide as a burnt offering to the LORD seven young bulls and seven rams without blemish, on each of the seven days; and a male goat daily for a sin offering.\r\n\t\t\t He shall provide as a grain offering an ephah for each bull, an ephah for each ram, and a hin of oil to each ephah.\r\n\t\t\t In the seventh month, on the fifteenth day of the month and for the seven days of the festival, he shall make the same provision for sin offerings, burnt offerings, and grain offerings, and for the oil.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the Lord GOD: The gate of the inner court that faces east shall remain closed on the six working days; but on the sabbath day it shall be opened and on the day of the new moon it shall be opened.\r\n\t\t\t The prince shall enter by the vestibule of the gate from outside, and shall take his stand by the post of the gate. The priests shall offer his burnt offering and his offerings of well-being, and he shall bow down at the threshold of the gate. Then he shall go out, but the gate shall not be closed until evening.\r\n\t\t\t The people of the land shall bow down at the entrance of that gate before the LORD on the sabbaths and on the new moons.\r\n\t\t\t The burnt offering that the prince offers to the LORD on the sabbath day shall be six lambs without blemish and a ram without blemish;\r\n\t\t\t and the grain offering with the ram shall be an ephah, and the grain offering with the lambs shall be as much as he wishes to give, together with a hin of oil to each ephah.\r\n\t\t\t On the day of the new moon he shall offer a young bull without blemish, and six lambs and a ram, which shall be without blemish;\r\n\t\t\t as a grain offering he shall provide an ephah with the bull and an ephah with the ram, and with the lambs as much as he wishes, together with a hin of oil to each ephah.\r\n\t\t\t When the prince enters, he shall come in by the vestibule of the gate, and he shall go out by the same way.\r\n\t\t\t When the people of the land come before the LORD at the appointed festivals, whoever enters by the north gate to worship shall go out by the south gate; and whoever enters by the south gate shall go out by the north gate: they shall not return by way of the gate by which they entered, but shall go out straight ahead.\r\n\t\t\t When they come in, the prince shall come in with them; and when they go out, he shall go out.\r\n\t\t\t At the festivals and the appointed seasons the grain offering with a young bull shall be an ephah, and with a ram an ephah, and with the lambs as much as one wishes to give, together with a hin of oil to an ephah.\r\n\t\t\t When the prince provides a freewill offering, either a burnt offering or offerings of well-being as a freewill offering to the LORD, the gate facing east shall be opened for him; and he shall offer his burnt offering or his offerings of well-being as he does on the sabbath day. Then he shall go out, and after he has gone out the gate shall be closed.\r\n\t\t\t He shall provide a lamb, a yearling, without blemish, for a burnt offering to the LORD daily; morning by morning he shall provide it.\r\n\t\t\t And he shall provide a grain offering with it morning by morning regularly, one-sixth of an ephah, and one-third of a hin of oil to moisten the choice flour, as a grain offering to the LORD; this is the ordinance for all time.\r\n\t\t\t Thus the lamb and the grain offering and the oil shall be provided, morning by morning, as a regular burnt offering.\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the Lord GOD: If the prince makes a gift to any of his sons out of his inheritance, it shall belong to his sons, it is their holding by inheritance. \r\n\t\t\t But if he makes a gift out of his inheritance to one of his servants, it shall be his to the year of liberty; then it shall revert to the prince; only his sons may keep a gift from his inheritance.\r\n\t\t\t The prince shall not take any of the inheritance of the people, thrusting them out of their holding; he shall give his sons their inheritance out of his own holding, so that none of my people shall be dispossessed of their holding.\r\n\t\t\t Then he brought me through the entrance, which was at the side of the gate, to the north row of the holy chambers for the priests; and there I saw a place at the extreme western end of them.\r\n\t\t\t He said to me, \"This is the place where the priests shall boil the guilt offering and the sin offering, and where they shall bake the grain offering, in order not to bring them out into the outer court and so communicate holiness to the people.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then he brought me out to the outer court, and led me past the four corners of the court; and in each corner of the court there was a court--\r\n\t\t\t in the four corners of the court were small courts, forty cubits long and thirty wide; the four were of the same size. \r\n\t\t\t On the inside, around each of the four courts was a row of masonry, with hearths made at the bottom of the rows all around. \r\n\t\t\t Then he said to me, \"These are the kitchens where those who serve at the temple shall boil the sacrifices of the people.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then he brought me back to the entrance of the temple; there, water was flowing from below the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east); and the water was flowing down from below the south end of the threshold of the temple, south of the altar.\r\n\t\t\t Then he brought me out by way of the north gate, and led me around on the outside to the outer gate that faces toward the east; and the water was coming out on the south side. \r\n\t\t\t Going on eastward with a cord in his hand, the man measured one thousand cubits, and then led me through the water; and it was ankle-deep.\r\n\t\t\t Again he measured one thousand, and led me through the water; and it was knee-deep. Again he measured one thousand, and led me through the water; and it was up to the waist.\r\n\t\t\t Again he measured one thousand, and it was a river that I could not cross, for the water had risen; it was deep enough to swim in, a river that could not be crossed.\r\n\t\t\t He said to me, \"Mortal, have you seen this?\" Then he led me back along the bank of the river.\r\n\t\t\t As I came back, I saw on the bank of the river a great many trees on the one side and on the other.\r\n\t\t\t He said to me, \"This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah; and when it enters the sea, the sea of stagnant waters, the water will become fresh.\r\n\t\t\t Wherever the river goes, every living creature that swarms will live, and there will be very many fish, once these waters reach there. It will become fresh; and everything will live where the river goes. \r\n\t\t\t People will stand fishing beside the sea from En-gedi to En-eglaim; it will be a place for the spreading of nets; its fish will be of a great many kinds, like the fish of the Great Sea. \r\n\t\t\t But its swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they are to be left for salt.\r\n\t\t\t On the banks, on both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither nor their fruit fail, but they will bear fresh fruit every month, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for healing.\"\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the Lord GOD: These are the boundaries by which you shall divide the land for inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel. Joseph shall have two portions.\r\n\t\t\t You shall divide it equally; I swore to give it to your ancestors, and this land shall fall to you as your inheritance.\r\n\t\t\t This shall be the boundary of the land: On the north side, from the Great Sea by way of Hethlon to Lebo-hamath, and on to Zedad, \r\n\t\t\t Berothah, Sibraim (which lies between the border of Damascus and the border of Hamath), as far as Hazer-hatticon, which is on the border of Hauran.\r\n\t\t\t So the boundary shall run from the sea to Hazar-enon, which is north of the border of Damascus, with the border of Hamath to the north. This shall be the north side. \r\n\t\t\t On the east side, between Hauran and Damascus; along the Jordan between Gilead and the land of Israel; to the eastern sea and as far as Tamar. This shall be the east side. \r\n\t\t\t On the south side, it shall run from Tamar as far as the waters of Meribath-kadesh, from there along the Wadi of Egypt to the Great Sea. This shall be the south side. \r\n\t\t\t On the west side, the Great Sea shall be the boundary to a point opposite Lebo-hamath. This shall be the west side.\r\n\t\t\t So you shall divide this land among you according to the tribes of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t You shall allot it as an inheritance for yourselves and for the aliens who reside among you and have begotten children among you. They shall be to you as citizens of Israel; with you they shall be allotted an inheritance among the tribes of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t In whatever tribe aliens reside, there you shall assign them their inheritance, says the Lord GOD.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t These are the names of the tribes: Beginning at the northern border, on the Hethlon road, from Lebo-hamath, as far as Hazar-enon (which is on the border of Damascus, with Hamath to the north), and extending from the east side to the west, Dan, one portion. \r\n\t\t\t Adjoining the territory of Dan, from the east side to the west, Asher, one portion.\r\n\t\t\t Adjoining the territory of Asher, from the east side to the west, Naphtali, one portion.\r\n\t\t\t Adjoining the territory of Naphtali, from the east side to the west, Manasseh, one portion.\r\n\t\t\t Adjoining the territory of Manasseh, from the east side to the west, Ephraim, one portion.\r\n\t\t\t Adjoining the territory of Ephraim, from the east side to the west, Reuben, one portion.\r\n\t\t\t Adjoining the territory of Reuben, from the east side to the west, Judah, one portion.\r\n\t\t\t Adjoining the territory of Judah, from the east side to the west, shall be the portion that you shall set apart, twenty-five thousand cubits in width, and in length equal to one of the tribal portions, from the east side to the west, with the sanctuary in the middle of it.\r\n\t\t\t The portion that you shall set apart for the LORD shall be twenty-five thousand cubits in length, and twenty thousand in width. \r\n\t\t\t These shall be the allotments of the holy portion: the priests shall have an allotment measuring twenty-five thousand cubits on the northern side, ten thousand cubits in width on the western side, ten thousand in width on the eastern side, and twenty-five thousand in length on the southern side, with the sanctuary of the LORD in the middle of it.\r\n\t\t\t This shall be for the consecrated priests, the descendants of Zadok, who kept my charge, who did not go astray when the people of Israel went astray, as the Levites did. \r\n\t\t\t It shall belong to them as a special portion from the holy portion of the land, a most holy place, adjoining the territory of the Levites.\r\n\t\t\t Alongside the territory of the priests, the Levites shall have an allotment twenty-five thousand cubits in length and ten thousand in width. The whole length shall be twenty-five thousand cubits and the width twenty thousand. \r\n\t\t\t They shall not sell or exchange any of it; they shall not transfer this choice portion of the land, for it is holy to the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t The remainder, five thousand cubits in width and twenty-five thousand in length, shall be for ordinary use for the city, for dwellings and for open country. In the middle of it shall be the city;\r\n\t\t\t and these shall be its dimensions: the north side four thousand five hundred cubits, the south side four thousand five hundred, the east side four thousand five hundred, and the west side four thousand five hundred.\r\n\t\t\t The city shall have open land: on the north two hundred fifty cubits, on the south two hundred fifty, on the east two hundred fifty, on the west two hundred fifty.\r\n\t\t\t The remainder of the length alongside the holy portion shall be ten thousand cubits to the east, and ten thousand to the west, and it shall be alongside the holy portion. Its produce shall be food for the workers of the city.\r\n\t\t\t The workers of the city, from all the tribes of Israel, shall cultivate it.\r\n\t\t\t The whole portion that you shall set apart shall be twenty-five thousand cubits square, that is, the holy portion together with the property of the city.\r\n\t\t\t What remains on both sides of the holy portion and of the property of the city shall belong to the prince. Extending from the twenty-five thousand cubits of the holy portion to the east border, and westward from the twenty-five thousand cubits to the west border, parallel to the tribal portions, it shall belong to the prince. The holy portion with the sanctuary of the temple in the middle of it,\r\n\t\t\t and the property of the Levites and of the city, shall be in the middle of that which belongs to the prince. The portion of the prince shall lie between the territory of Judah and the territory of Benjamin.\r\n\t\t\t As for the rest of the tribes: from the east side to the west, Benjamin, one portion.\r\n\t\t\t Adjoining the territory of Benjamin, from the east side to the west, Simeon, one portion.\r\n\t\t\t Adjoining the territory of Simeon, from the east side to the west, Issachar, one portion.\r\n\t\t\t Adjoining the territory of Issachar, from the east side to the west, Zebulun, one portion.\r\n\t\t\t Adjoining the territory of Zebulun, from the east side to the west, Gad, one portion.\r\n\t\t\t And adjoining the territory of Gad to the south, the boundary shall run from Tamar to the waters of Meribath-kadesh, from there along the Wadi of Egypt to the Great Sea. \r\n\t\t\t This is the land that you shall allot as an inheritance among the tribes of Israel, and these are their portions, says the Lord GOD.\r\n\t\t\t These shall be the exits of the city: On the north side, which is to be four thousand five hundred cubits by measure,\r\n\t\t\t three gates, the gate of Reuben, the gate of Judah, and the gate of Levi, the gates of the city being named after the tribes of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t On the east side, which is to be four thousand five hundred cubits, three gates, the gate of Joseph, the gate of Benjamin, and the gate of Dan.\r\n\t\t\t On the south side, which is to be four thousand five hundred cubits by measure, three gates, the gate of Simeon, the gate of Issachar, and the gate of Zebulun.\r\n\t\t\t On the west side, which is to be four thousand five hundred cubits, three gates, the gate of Gad, the gate of Asher, and the gate of Naphtali. \r\n\t\t\t The circumference of the city shall be eighteen thousand cubits. And the name of the city from that time on shall be, The LORD is There.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t In the third year of the reign of King Jehoiakim of Judah, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it.\r\n\t\t\t The Lord let King Jehoiakim of Judah fall into his power, as well as some of the vessels of the house of God. These he brought to the land of Shinar, and placed the vessels in the treasury of his gods. \r\n\t\t\t Then the king commanded his palace master Ashpenaz to bring some of the Israelites of the royal family and of the nobility,\r\n\t\t\t young men without physical defect and handsome, versed in every branch of wisdom, endowed with knowledge and insight, and competent to serve in the king's palace; they were to be taught the literature and language of the Chaldeans.\r\n\t\t\t The king assigned them a daily portion of the royal rations of food and wine. They were to be educated for three years, so that at the end of that time they could be stationed in the king's court.\r\n\t\t\t Among them were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, from the tribe of Judah.\r\n\t\t\t The palace master gave them other names: Daniel he called Belteshazzar, Hananiah he called Shadrach, Mishael he called Meshach, and Azariah he called Abednego.\r\n\t\t\t But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the royal rations of food and wine; so he asked the palace master to allow him not to defile himself.\r\n\t\t\t Now God allowed Daniel to receive favor and compassion from the palace master.\r\n\t\t\t The palace master said to Daniel, \"I am afraid of my lord the king; he has appointed your food and your drink. If he should see you in poorer condition than the other young men of your own age, you would endanger my head with the king.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Daniel asked the guard whom the palace master had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:\r\n\t\t\t \"Please test your servants for ten days. Let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink.\r\n\t\t\t You can then compare our appearance with the appearance of the young men who eat the royal rations, and deal with your servants according to what you observe.\"\r\n\t\t\t So he agreed to this proposal and tested them for ten days.\r\n\t\t\t At the end of ten days it was observed that they appeared better and fatter than all the young men who had been eating the royal rations.\r\n\t\t\t So the guard continued to withdraw their royal rations and the wine they were to drink, and gave them vegetables.\r\n\t\t\t To these four young men God gave knowledge and skill in every aspect of literature and wisdom; Daniel also had insight into all visions and dreams.\r\n\t\t\t At the end of the time that the king had set for them to be brought in, the palace master brought them into the presence of Nebuchadnezzar,\r\n\t\t\t and the king spoke with them. And among them all, no one was found to compare with Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; therefore they were stationed in the king's court.\r\n\t\t\t In every matter of wisdom and understanding concerning which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom.\r\n\t\t\t And Daniel continued there until the first year of King Cyrus.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t In the second year of Nebuchadnezzar's reign, Nebuchadnezzar dreamed such dreams that his spirit was troubled and his sleep left him.\r\n\t\t\t So the king commanded that the magicians, the enchanters, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans be summoned to tell the king his dreams. When they came in and stood before the king,\r\n\t\t\t he said to them, \"I have had such a dream that my spirit is troubled by the desire to understand it.\"\r\n\t\t\t The Chaldeans said to the king (in Aramaic), \"O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will reveal the interpretation.\" \r\n\t\t\t The king answered the Chaldeans, \"This is a public decree: if you do not tell me both the dream and its interpretation, you shall be torn limb from limb, and your houses shall be laid in ruins.\r\n\t\t\t But if you do tell me the dream and its interpretation, you shall receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor. Therefore tell me the dream and its interpretation.\"\r\n\t\t\t They answered a second time, \"Let the king first tell his servants the dream, then we can give its interpretation.\"\r\n\t\t\t The king answered, \"I know with certainty that you are trying to gain time, because you see I have firmly decreed:\r\n\t\t\t if you do not tell me the dream, there is but one verdict for you. You have agreed to speak lying and misleading words to me until things take a turn. Therefore, tell me the dream, and I shall know that you can give me its interpretation.\"\r\n\t\t\t The Chaldeans answered the king, \"There is no one on earth who can reveal what the king demands! In fact no king, however great and powerful, has ever asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or Chaldean.\r\n\t\t\t The thing that the king is asking is too difficult, and no one can reveal it to the king except the gods, whose dwelling is not with mortals.\"\r\n\t\t\t Because of this the king flew into a violent rage and commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be destroyed.\r\n\t\t\t The decree was issued, and the wise men were about to be executed; and they looked for Daniel and his companions, to execute them.\r\n\t\t\t Then Daniel responded with prudence and discretion to Arioch, the king's chief executioner, who had gone out to execute the wise men of Babylon;\r\n\t\t\t he asked Arioch, the royal official, \"Why is the decree of the king so urgent?\" Arioch then explained the matter to Daniel.\r\n\t\t\t So Daniel went in and requested that the king give him time and he would tell the king the interpretation.\r\n\t\t\t Then Daniel went to his home and informed his companions, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,\r\n\t\t\t and told them to seek mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his companions with the rest of the wise men of Babylon might not perish.\r\n\t\t\t Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night, and Daniel blessed the God of heaven.\r\n\t\t\t Daniel said: \"Blessed be the name of God from age to age, for wisdom and power are his.\r\n\t\t\t He changes times and seasons, deposes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.\r\n\t\t\t He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and light dwells with him.\r\n\t\t\t To you, O God of my ancestors, I give thanks and praise, for you have given me wisdom and power, and have now revealed to me what we asked of you, for you have revealed to us what the king ordered.\"\r\n\t\t\t Therefore Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon, and said to him, \"Do not destroy the wise men of Babylon; bring me in before the king, and I will give the king the interpretation.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Arioch quickly brought Daniel before the king and said to him: \"I have found among the exiles from Judah a man who can tell the king the interpretation.\"\r\n\t\t\t The king said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, \"Are you able to tell me the dream that I have seen and its interpretation?\"\r\n\t\t\t Daniel answered the king, \"No wise men, enchanters, magicians, or diviners can show to the king the mystery that the king is asking,\r\n\t\t\t but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has disclosed to King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen at the end of days. Your dream and the visions of your head as you lay in bed were these:\r\n\t\t\t To you, O king, as you lay in bed, came thoughts of what would be hereafter, and the revealer of mysteries disclosed to you what is to be.\r\n\t\t\t But as for me, this mystery has not been revealed to me because of any wisdom that I have more than any other living being, but in order that the interpretation may be known to the king and that you may understand the thoughts of your mind.\r\n\t\t\t \"You were looking, O king, and lo! there was a great statue. This statue was huge, its brilliance extraordinary; it was standing before you, and its appearance was frightening.\r\n\t\t\t The head of that statue was of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its middle and thighs of bronze,\r\n\t\t\t its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay.\r\n\t\t\t As you looked on, a stone was cut out, not by human hands, and it struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and broke them in pieces.\r\n\t\t\t Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold, were all broken in pieces and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, so that not a trace of them could be found. But the stone that struck the statue became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.\r\n\t\t\t \"This was the dream; now we will tell the king its interpretation.\r\n\t\t\t You, O king, the king of kings-- to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, the might, and the glory,\r\n\t\t\t into whose hand he has given human beings, wherever they live, the wild animals of the field, and the birds of the air, and whom he has established as ruler over them all-- you are the head of gold.\r\n\t\t\t After you shall arise another kingdom inferior to yours, and yet a third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over the whole earth.\r\n\t\t\t And there shall be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron; just as iron crushes and smashes everything, it shall crush and shatter all these. \r\n\t\t\t As you saw the feet and toes partly of potter's clay and partly of iron, it shall be a divided kingdom; but some of the strength of iron shall be in it, as you saw the iron mixed with the clay.\r\n\t\t\t As the toes of the feet were part iron and part clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly brittle.\r\n\t\t\t As you saw the iron mixed with clay, so will they mix with one another in marriage, but they will not hold together, just as iron does not mix with clay. \r\n\t\t\t And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall this kingdom be left to another people. It shall crush all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever;\r\n\t\t\t just as you saw that a stone was cut from the mountain not by hands, and that it crushed the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold. The great God has informed the king what shall be hereafter. The dream is certain, and its interpretation trustworthy.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face, worshiped Daniel, and commanded that a grain offering and incense be offered to him.\r\n\t\t\t The king said to Daniel, \"Truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this mystery!\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the king promoted Daniel, gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon.\r\n\t\t\t Daniel made a request of the king, and he appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego over the affairs of the province of Babylon. But Daniel remained at the king's court.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t King Nebuchadnezzar made a golden statue whose height was sixty cubits and whose width was six cubits; he set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon.\r\n\t\t\t Then King Nebuchadnezzar sent for the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces, to assemble and come to the dedication of the statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.\r\n\t\t\t So the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces, assembled for the dedication of the statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. When they were standing before the statue that Nebuchadnezzar had set up,\r\n\t\t\t the herald proclaimed aloud, \"You are commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages,\r\n\t\t\t that when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, drum, and entire musical ensemble, you are to fall down and worship the golden statue that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up.\r\n\t\t\t Whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be thrown into a furnace of blazing fire.\"\r\n\t\t\t Therefore, as soon as all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, drum, and entire musical ensemble, all the peoples, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the golden statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.\r\n\t\t\t Accordingly, at this time certain Chaldeans came forward and denounced the Jews.\r\n\t\t\t They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, \"O king, live forever!\r\n\t\t\t You, O king, have made a decree, that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, drum, and entire musical ensemble, shall fall down and worship the golden statue,\r\n\t\t\t and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be thrown into a furnace of blazing fire.\r\n\t\t\t There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These pay no heed to you, O king. They do not serve your gods and they do not worship the golden statue that you have set up.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Nebuchadnezzar in furious rage commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought in; so they brought those men before the king.\r\n\t\t\t Nebuchadnezzar said to them, \"Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods and you do not worship the golden statue that I have set up?\r\n\t\t\t Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, drum, and entire musical ensemble to fall down and worship the statue that I have made, well and good. But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be thrown into a furnace of blazing fire, and who is the god that will deliver you out of my hands?\" \r\n\t\t\t Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered the king, \"O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to present a defense to you in this matter.\r\n\t\t\t If our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire and out of your hand, O king, let him deliver us. \r\n\t\t\t But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods and we will not worship the golden statue that you have set up.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Nebuchadnezzar was so filled with rage against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego that his face was distorted. He ordered the furnace heated up seven times more than was customary,\r\n\t\t\t and ordered some of the strongest guards in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and to throw them into the furnace of blazing fire.\r\n\t\t\t So the men were bound, still wearing their tunics, their trousers, their hats, and their other garments, and they were thrown into the furnace of blazing fire. \r\n\t\t\t Because the king's command was urgent and the furnace was so overheated, the raging flames killed the men who lifted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.\r\n\t\t\t But the three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down, bound, into the furnace of blazing fire.\r\n\t\t\t Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up quickly. He said to his counselors, \"Was it not three men that we threw bound into the fire?\" They answered the king, \"True, O king.\"\r\n\t\t\t He replied, \"But I see four men unbound, walking in the middle of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the fourth has the appearance of a god.\" \r\n\t\t\t Nebuchadnezzar then approached the door of the furnace of blazing fire and said, \"Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!\" So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out from the fire.\r\n\t\t\t And the satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the king's counselors gathered together and saw that the fire had not had any power over the bodies of those men; the hair of their heads was not singed, their tunics were not harmed, and not even the smell of fire came from them. \r\n\t\t\t Nebuchadnezzar said, \"Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants who trusted in him. They disobeyed the king's command and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore I make a decree: Any people, nation, or language that utters blasphemy against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb, and their houses laid in ruins; for there is no other god who is able to deliver in this way.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t King Nebuchadnezzar to all peoples, nations, and languages that live throughout the earth: May you have abundant prosperity!\r\n\t\t\t The signs and wonders that the Most High God has worked for me I am pleased to recount.\r\n\t\t\t How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his sovereignty is from generation to generation.\r\n\t\t\t I, Nebuchadnezzar, was living at ease in my home and prospering in my palace.\r\n\t\t\t I saw a dream that frightened me; my fantasies in bed and the visions of my head terrified me.\r\n\t\t\t So I made a decree that all the wise men of Babylon should be brought before me, in order that they might tell me the interpretation of the dream.\r\n\t\t\t Then the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the diviners came in, and I told them the dream, but they could not tell me its interpretation.\r\n\t\t\t At last Daniel came in before me-- he who was named Belteshazzar after the name of my god, and who is endowed with a spirit of the holy gods-- and I told him the dream:\r\n\t\t\t \"O Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, I know that you are endowed with a spirit of the holy gods and that no mystery is too difficult for you. Hear the dream that I saw; tell me its interpretation. \r\n\t\t\t Upon my bed this is what I saw; there was a tree at the center of the earth, and its height was great.\r\n\t\t\t The tree grew great and strong, its top reached to heaven, and it was visible to the ends of the whole earth.\r\n\t\t\t Its foliage was beautiful, its fruit abundant, and it provided food for all. The animals of the field found shade under it, the birds of the air nested in its branches, and from it all living beings were fed.\r\n\t\t\t \"I continued looking, in the visions of my head as I lay in bed, and there was a holy watcher, coming down from heaven.\r\n\t\t\t He cried aloud and said: 'Cut down the tree and chop off its branches, strip off its foliage and scatter its fruit. Let the animals flee from beneath it and the birds from its branches.\r\n\t\t\t But leave its stump and roots in the ground, with a band of iron and bronze, in the tender grass of the field. Let him be bathed with the dew of heaven, and let his lot be with the animals of the field in the grass of the earth.\r\n\t\t\t Let his mind be changed from that of a human, and let the mind of an animal be given to him. And let seven times pass over him.\r\n\t\t\t The sentence is rendered by decree of the watchers, the decision is given by order of the holy ones, in order that all who live may know that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdom of mortals; he gives it to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of human beings.'\r\n\t\t\t \"This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw. Now you, Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation, since all the wise men of my kingdom are unable to tell me the interpretation. You are able, however, for you are endowed with a spirit of the holy gods.\" \r\n\t\t\t Then Daniel, who was called Belteshazzar, was severely distressed for a while. His thoughts terrified him. The king said, \"Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or the interpretation terrify you.\" Belteshazzar answered, \"My lord, may the dream be for those who hate you, and its interpretation for your enemies!\r\n\t\t\t The tree that you saw, which grew great and strong, so that its top reached to heaven and was visible to the end of the whole earth,\r\n\t\t\t whose foliage was beautiful and its fruit abundant, and which provided food for all, under which animals of the field lived, and in whose branches the birds of the air had nests--\r\n\t\t\t it is you, O king! You have grown great and strong. Your greatness has increased and reaches to heaven, and your sovereignty to the ends of the earth.\r\n\t\t\t And whereas the king saw a holy watcher coming down from heaven and saying, 'Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave its stump and roots in the ground, with a band of iron and bronze, in the grass of the field; and let him be bathed with the dew of heaven, and let his lot be with the animals of the field, until seven times pass over him'--\r\n\t\t\t this is the interpretation, O king, and it is a decree of the Most High that has come upon my lord the king:\r\n\t\t\t You shall be driven away from human society, and your dwelling shall be with the wild animals. You shall be made to eat grass like oxen, you shall be bathed with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over you, until you have learned that the Most High has sovereignty over the kingdom of mortals, and gives it to whom he will.\r\n\t\t\t As it was commanded to leave the stump and roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be re-established for you from the time that you learn that Heaven is sovereign.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore, O king, may my counsel be acceptable to you: atone for your sins with righteousness, and your iniquities with mercy to the oppressed, so that your prosperity may be prolonged.\" \r\n\t\t\t All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar.\r\n\t\t\t At the end of twelve months he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon,\r\n\t\t\t and the king said, \"Is this not magnificent Babylon, which I have built as a royal capital by my mighty power and for my glorious majesty?\"\r\n\t\t\t While the words were still in the king's mouth, a voice came from heaven: \"O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is declared: The kingdom has departed from you!\r\n\t\t\t You shall be driven away from human society, and your dwelling shall be with the animals of the field. You shall be made to eat grass like oxen, and seven times shall pass over you, until you have learned that the Most High has sovereignty over the kingdom of mortals and gives it to whom he will.\"\r\n\t\t\t Immediately the sentence was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven away from human society, ate grass like oxen, and his body was bathed with the dew of heaven, until his hair grew as long as eagles' feathers and his nails became like birds' claws.\r\n\t\t\t When that period was over, I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me. I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored the one who lives forever. For his sovereignty is an everlasting sovereignty, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation.\r\n\t\t\t All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does what he wills with the host of heaven and the inhabitants of the earth. There is no one who can stay his hand or say to him, \"What are you doing?\"\r\n\t\t\t At that time my reason returned to me; and my majesty and splendor were restored to me for the glory of my kingdom. My counselors and my lords sought me out, I was re-established over my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me.\r\n\t\t\t Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are truth, and his ways are justice; and he is able to bring low those who walk in pride.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t King Belshazzar made a great festival for a thousand of his lords, and he was drinking wine in the presence of the thousand.\r\n\t\t\t Under the influence of the wine, Belshazzar commanded that they bring in the vessels of gold and silver that his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple in Jerusalem, so that the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines might drink from them.\r\n\t\t\t So they brought in the vessels of gold and silver that had been taken out of the temple, the house of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines drank from them. \r\n\t\t\t They drank the wine and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.\r\n\t\t\t Immediately the fingers of a human hand appeared and began writing on the plaster of the wall of the royal palace, next to the lampstand. The king was watching the hand as it wrote.\r\n\t\t\t Then the king's face turned pale, and his thoughts terrified him. His limbs gave way, and his knees knocked together.\r\n\t\t\t The king cried aloud to bring in the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the diviners; and the king said to the wise men of Babylon, \"Whoever can read this writing and tell me its interpretation shall be clothed in purple, have a chain of gold around his neck, and rank third in the kingdom.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then all the king's wise men came in, but they could not read the writing or tell the king the interpretation.\r\n\t\t\t Then King Belshazzar became greatly terrified and his face turned pale, and his lords were perplexed.\r\n\t\t\t The queen, when she heard the discussion of the king and his lords, came into the banqueting hall. The queen said, \"O king, live forever! Do not let your thoughts terrify you or your face grow pale.\r\n\t\t\t There is a man in your kingdom who is endowed with a spirit of the holy gods. In the days of your father he was found to have enlightenment, understanding, and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods. Your father, King Nebuchadnezzar, made him chief of the magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans, and diviners, \r\n\t\t\t because an excellent spirit, knowledge, and understanding to interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve problems were found in this Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar. Now let Daniel be called, and he will give the interpretation.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king said to Daniel, \"So you are Daniel, one of the exiles of Judah, whom my father the king brought from Judah?\r\n\t\t\t I have heard of you that a spirit of the gods is in you, and that enlightenment, understanding, and excellent wisdom are found in you. \r\n\t\t\t Now the wise men, the enchanters, have been brought in before me to read this writing and tell me its interpretation, but they were not able to give the interpretation of the matter.\r\n\t\t\t But I have heard that you can give interpretations and solve problems. Now if you are able to read the writing and tell me its interpretation, you shall be clothed in purple, have a chain of gold around your neck, and rank third in the kingdom.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Daniel answered in the presence of the king, \"Let your gifts be for yourself, or give your rewards to someone else! Nevertheless I will read the writing to the king and let him know the interpretation.\r\n\t\t\t O king, the Most High God gave your father Nebuchadnezzar kingship, greatness, glory, and majesty.\r\n\t\t\t And because of the greatness that he gave him, all peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him. He killed those he wanted to kill, kept alive those he wanted to keep alive, honored those he wanted to honor, and degraded those he wanted to degrade.\r\n\t\t\t But when his heart was lifted up and his spirit was hardened so that he acted proudly, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and his glory was stripped from him.\r\n\t\t\t He was driven from human society, and his mind was made like that of an animal. His dwelling was with the wild asses, he was fed grass like oxen, and his body was bathed with the dew of heaven, until he learned that the Most High God has sovereignty over the kingdom of mortals, and sets over it whomever he will.\r\n\t\t\t And you, Belshazzar his son, have not humbled your heart, even though you knew all this!\r\n\t\t\t You have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven! The vessels of his temple have been brought in before you, and you and your lords, your wives and your concubines have been drinking wine from them. You have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see or hear or know; but the God in whose power is your very breath, and to whom belong all your ways, you have not honored.\r\n\t\t\t \"So from his presence the hand was sent and this writing was inscribed.\r\n\t\t\t And this is the writing that was inscribed: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, and PARSIN.\r\n\t\t\t This is the interpretation of the matter: MENE, God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end; \r\n\t\t\t TEKEL, you have been weighed on the scales and found wanting;\r\n\t\t\t PERES, your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.\" \r\n\t\t\t Then Belshazzar gave the command, and Daniel was clothed in purple, a chain of gold was put around his neck, and a proclamation was made concerning him that he should rank third in the kingdom.\r\n\t\t\t That very night Belshazzar, the Chaldean king, was killed.\r\n\t\t\t And Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred twenty satraps, stationed throughout the whole kingdom,\r\n\t\t\t and over them three presidents, including Daniel; to these the satraps gave account, so that the king might suffer no loss.\r\n\t\t\t Soon Daniel distinguished himself above all the other presidents and satraps because an excellent spirit was in him, and the king planned to appoint him over the whole kingdom.\r\n\t\t\t So the presidents and the satraps tried to find grounds for complaint against Daniel in connection with the kingdom. But they could find no grounds for complaint or any corruption, because he was faithful, and no negligence or corruption could be found in him.\r\n\t\t\t The men said, \"We shall not find any ground for complaint against this Daniel unless we find it in connection with the law of his God.\"\r\n\t\t\t So the presidents and satraps conspired and came to the king and said to him, \"O King Darius, live forever!\r\n\t\t\t All the presidents of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the counselors and the governors are agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce an interdict, that whoever prays to anyone, divine or human, for thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be thrown into a den of lions.\r\n\t\t\t Now, O king, establish the interdict and sign the document, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and the Persians, which cannot be revoked.\"\r\n\t\t\t Therefore King Darius signed the document and interdict.\r\n\t\t\t Although Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he continued to go to his house, which had windows in its upper room open toward Jerusalem, and to get down on his knees three times a day to pray to his God and praise him, just as he had done previously.\r\n\t\t\t The conspirators came and found Daniel praying and seeking mercy before his God.\r\n\t\t\t Then they approached the king and said concerning the interdict, \"O king! Did you not sign an interdict, that anyone who prays to anyone, divine or human, within thirty days except to you, O king, shall be thrown into a den of lions?\" The king answered, \"The thing stands fast, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then they responded to the king, \"Daniel, one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or to the interdict you have signed, but he is saying his prayers three times a day.\"\r\n\t\t\t When the king heard the charge, he was very much distressed. He was determined to save Daniel, and until the sun went down he made every effort to rescue him.\r\n\t\t\t Then the conspirators came to the king and said to him, \"Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no interdict or ordinance that the king establishes can be changed.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the king gave the command, and Daniel was brought and thrown into the den of lions. The king said to Daniel, \"May your God, whom you faithfully serve, deliver you!\"\r\n\t\t\t A stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet and with the signet of his lords, so that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel.\r\n\t\t\t Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; no food was brought to him, and sleep fled from him.\r\n\t\t\t Then, at break of day, the king got up and hurried to the den of lions.\r\n\t\t\t When he came near the den where Daniel was, he cried out anxiously to Daniel, \"O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God whom you faithfully serve been able to deliver you from the lions?\"\r\n\t\t\t Daniel then said to the king, \"O king, live forever!\r\n\t\t\t My God sent his angel and shut the lions' mouths so that they would not hurt me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no wrong.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the king was exceedingly glad and commanded that Daniel be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.\r\n\t\t\t The king gave a command, and those who had accused Daniel were brought and thrown into the den of lions-- they, their children, and their wives. Before they reached the bottom of the den the lions overpowered them and broke all their bones in pieces.\r\n\t\t\t Then King Darius wrote to all peoples and nations of every language throughout the whole world: \"May you have abundant prosperity!\r\n\t\t\t I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people should tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: For he is the living God, enduring forever. His kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion has no end.\r\n\t\t\t He delivers and rescues, he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth; for he has saved Daniel from the power of the lions.\"\r\n\t\t\t So this Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t In the first year of King Belshazzar of Babylon, Daniel had a dream and visions of his head as he lay in bed. Then he wrote down the dream: \r\n\t\t\t I, Daniel, saw in my vision by night the four winds of heaven stirring up the great sea, \r\n\t\t\t and four great beasts came up out of the sea, different from one another.\r\n\t\t\t The first was like a lion and had eagles' wings. Then, as I watched, its wings were plucked off, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a human being; and a human mind was given to it.\r\n\t\t\t Another beast appeared, a second one, that looked like a bear. It was raised up on one side, had three tusks in its mouth among its teeth and was told, \"Arise, devour many bodies!\"\r\n\t\t\t After this, as I watched, another appeared, like a leopard. The beast had four wings of a bird on its back and four heads; and dominion was given to it.\r\n\t\t\t After this I saw in the visions by night a fourth beast, terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth and was devouring, breaking in pieces, and stamping what was left with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that preceded it, and it had ten horns.\r\n\t\t\t I was considering the horns, when another horn appeared, a little one coming up among them; to make room for it, three of the earlier horns were plucked up by the roots. There were eyes like human eyes in this horn, and a mouth speaking arrogantly.\r\n\t\t\t As I watched, thrones were set in place, and an Ancient One took his throne, his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames, and its wheels were burning fire.\r\n\t\t\t A stream of fire issued and flowed out from his presence. A thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood attending him. The court sat in judgment, and the books were opened.\r\n\t\t\t I watched then because of the noise of the arrogant words that the horn was speaking. And as I watched, the beast was put to death, and its body destroyed and given over to be burned with fire.\r\n\t\t\t As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.\r\n\t\t\t As I watched in the night visions, I saw one like a human being coming with the clouds of heaven. And he came to the Ancient One and was presented before him. \r\n\t\t\t To him was given dominion and glory and kingship, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not pass away, and his kingship is one that shall never be destroyed.\r\n\t\t\t As for me, Daniel, my spirit was troubled within me, and the visions of my head terrified me. \r\n\t\t\t I approached one of the attendants to ask him the truth concerning all this. So he said that he would disclose to me the interpretation of the matter:\r\n\t\t\t \"As for these four great beasts, four kings shall arise out of the earth.\r\n\t\t\t But the holy ones of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever-- forever and ever.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then I desired to know the truth concerning the fourth beast, which was different from all the rest, exceedingly terrifying, with its teeth of iron and claws of bronze, and which devoured and broke in pieces, and stamped what was left with its feet;\r\n\t\t\t and concerning the ten horns that were on its head, and concerning the other horn, which came up and to make room for which three of them fell out-- the horn that had eyes and a mouth that spoke arrogantly, and that seemed greater than the others.\r\n\t\t\t As I looked, this horn made war with the holy ones and was prevailing over them,\r\n\t\t\t until the Ancient One came; then judgment was given for the holy ones of the Most High, and the time arrived when the holy ones gained possession of the kingdom. \r\n\t\t\t This is what he said: \"As for the fourth beast, there shall be a fourth kingdom on earth that shall be different from all the other kingdoms; it shall devour the whole earth, and trample it down, and break it to pieces.\r\n\t\t\t As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings shall arise, and another shall arise after them. This one shall be different from the former ones, and shall put down three kings.\r\n\t\t\t He shall speak words against the Most High, shall wear out the holy ones of the Most High, and shall attempt to change the sacred seasons and the law; and they shall be given into his power for a time, two times, and half a time. \r\n\t\t\t Then the court shall sit in judgment, and his dominion shall be taken away, to be consumed and totally destroyed.\r\n\t\t\t The kingship and dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the holy ones of the Most High; their kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey them.\"\r\n\t\t\t Here the account ends. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts greatly terrified me, and my face turned pale; but I kept the matter in my mind.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t In the third year of the reign of King Belshazzar a vision appeared to me, Daniel, after the one that had appeared to me at first.\r\n\t\t\t In the vision I was looking and saw myself in Susa the capital, in the province of Elam, and I was by the river Ulai. \r\n\t\t\t I looked up and saw a ram standing beside the river. It had two horns. Both horns were long, but one was longer than the other, and the longer one came up second. \r\n\t\t\t I saw the ram charging westward and northward and southward. All beasts were powerless to withstand it, and no one could rescue from its power; it did as it pleased and became strong.\r\n\t\t\t As I was watching, a male goat appeared from the west, coming across the face of the whole earth without touching the ground. The goat had a horn between its eyes. \r\n\t\t\t It came toward the ram with the two horns that I had seen standing beside the river, and it ran at it with savage force. \r\n\t\t\t I saw it approaching the ram. It was enraged against it and struck the ram, breaking its two horns. The ram did not have power to withstand it; it threw the ram down to the ground and trampled upon it, and there was no one who could rescue the ram from its power.\r\n\t\t\t Then the male goat grew exceedingly great; but at the height of its power, the great horn was broken, and in its place there came up four prominent horns toward the four winds of heaven.\r\n\t\t\t Out of one of them came another horn, a little one, which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the beautiful land. \r\n\t\t\t It grew as high as the host of heaven. It threw down to the earth some of the host and some of the stars, and trampled on them.\r\n\t\t\t Even against the prince of the host it acted arrogantly; it took the regular burnt offering away from him and overthrew the place of his sanctuary.\r\n\t\t\t Because of wickedness, the host was given over to it together with the regular burnt offering; it cast truth to the ground, and kept prospering in what it did. \r\n\t\t\t Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to the one that spoke, \"For how long is this vision concerning the regular burnt offering, the transgression that makes desolate, and the giving over of the sanctuary and host to be trampled?\" \r\n\t\t\t And he answered him, \"For two thousand three hundred evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary shall be restored to its rightful state.\" \r\n\t\t\t When I, Daniel, had seen the vision, I tried to understand it. Then someone appeared standing before me, having the appearance of a man,\r\n\t\t\t and I heard a human voice by the Ulai, calling, \"Gabriel, help this man understand the vision.\"\r\n\t\t\t So he came near where I stood; and when he came, I became frightened and fell prostrate. But he said to me, \"Understand, O mortal, that the vision is for the time of the end.\" \r\n\t\t\t As he was speaking to me, I fell into a trance, face to the ground; then he touched me and set me on my feet.\r\n\t\t\t He said, \"Listen, and I will tell you what will take place later in the period of wrath; for it refers to the appointed time of the end.\r\n\t\t\t As for the ram that you saw with the two horns, these are the kings of Media and Persia.\r\n\t\t\t The male goat is the king of Greece, and the great horn between its eyes is the first king. \r\n\t\t\t As for the horn that was broken, in place of which four others arose, four kingdoms shall arise from his nation, but not with his power. \r\n\t\t\t At the end of their rule, when the transgressions have reached their full measure, a king of bold countenance shall arise, skilled in intrigue.\r\n\t\t\t He shall grow strong in power, shall cause fearful destruction, and shall succeed in what he does. He shall destroy the powerful and the people of the holy ones. \r\n\t\t\t By his cunning he shall make deceit prosper under his hand, and in his own mind he shall be great. Without warning he shall destroy many and shall even rise up against the Prince of princes. But he shall be broken, and not by human hands.\r\n\t\t\t The vision of the evenings and the mornings that has been told is true. As for you, seal up the vision, for it refers to many days from now.\"\r\n\t\t\t So I, Daniel, was overcome and lay sick for some days; then I arose and went about the king's business. But I was dismayed by the vision and did not understand it.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t In the first year of Darius son of Ahasuerus, by birth a Mede, who became king over the realm of the Chaldeans--\r\n\t\t\t in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, perceived in the books the number of years that, according to the word of the LORD to the prophet Jeremiah, must be fulfilled for the devastation of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years.\r\n\t\t\t Then I turned to the Lord God, to seek an answer by prayer and supplication with fasting and sackcloth and ashes.\r\n\t\t\t I prayed to the LORD my God and made confession, saying, \"Ah, Lord, great and awesome God, keeping covenant and steadfast love with those who love you and keep your commandments,\r\n\t\t\t we have sinned and done wrong, acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and ordinances.\r\n\t\t\t We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, and our ancestors, and to all the people of the land.\r\n\t\t\t \"Righteousness is on your side, O Lord, but open shame, as at this day, falls on us, the people of Judah, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and all Israel, those who are near and those who are far away, in all the lands to which you have driven them, because of the treachery that they have committed against you.\r\n\t\t\t Open shame, O LORD, falls on us, our kings, our officials, and our ancestors, because we have sinned against you.\r\n\t\t\t To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against him,\r\n\t\t\t and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God by following his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets.\r\n\t\t\t \"All Israel has transgressed your law and turned aside, refusing to obey your voice. So the curse and the oath written in the law of Moses, the servant of God, have been poured out upon us, because we have sinned against you.\r\n\t\t\t He has confirmed his words, which he spoke against us and against our rulers, by bringing upon us a calamity so great that what has been done against Jerusalem has never before been done under the whole heaven.\r\n\t\t\t Just as it is written in the law of Moses, all this calamity has come upon us. We did not entreat the favor of the LORD our God, turning from our iniquities and reflecting on his fidelity. \r\n\t\t\t So the LORD kept watch over this calamity until he brought it upon us. Indeed, the LORD our God is right in all that he has done; for we have disobeyed his voice.\r\n\t\t\t \"And now, O Lord our God, who brought your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand and made your name renowned even to this day-- we have sinned, we have done wickedly.\r\n\t\t\t O Lord, in view of all your righteous acts, let your anger and wrath, we pray, turn away from your city Jerusalem, your holy mountain; because of our sins and the iniquities of our ancestors, Jerusalem and your people have become a disgrace among all our neighbors.\r\n\t\t\t Now therefore, O our God, listen to the prayer of your servant and to his supplication, and for your own sake, Lord, let your face shine upon your desolated sanctuary. \r\n\t\t\t Incline your ear, O my God, and hear. Open your eyes and look at our desolation and the city that bears your name. We do not present our supplication before you on the ground of our righteousness, but on the ground of your great mercies.\r\n\t\t\t O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, listen and act and do not delay! For your own sake, O my God, because your city and your people bear your name!\"\r\n\t\t\t While I was speaking, and was praying and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God on behalf of the holy mountain of my God--\r\n\t\t\t while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen before in a vision, came to me in swift flight at the time of the evening sacrifice.\r\n\t\t\t He came and said to me, \"Daniel, I have now come out to give you wisdom and understanding. \r\n\t\t\t At the beginning of your supplications a word went out, and I have come to declare it, for you are greatly beloved. So consider the word and understand the vision:\r\n\t\t\t \"Seventy weeks are decreed for your people and your holy city: to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, and to anoint a most holy place. \r\n\t\t\t Know therefore and understand: from the time that the word went out to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the time of an anointed prince, there shall be seven weeks; and for sixty-two weeks it shall be built again with streets and moat, but in a troubled time.\r\n\t\t\t After the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one shall be cut off and shall have nothing, and the troops of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its end shall come with a flood, and to the end there shall be war. Desolations are decreed.\r\n\t\t\t He shall make a strong covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he shall make sacrifice and offering cease; and in their place shall be an abomination that desolates, until the decreed end is poured out upon the desolator.\" \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t In the third year of King Cyrus of Persia a word was revealed to Daniel, who was named Belteshazzar. The word was true, and it concerned a great conflict. He understood the word, having received understanding in the vision.\r\n\t\t\t At that time I, Daniel, had been mourning for three weeks.\r\n\t\t\t I had eaten no rich food, no meat or wine had entered my mouth, and I had not anointed myself at all, for the full three weeks.\r\n\t\t\t On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank of the great river (that is, the Tigris),\r\n\t\t\t I looked up and saw a man clothed in linen, with a belt of gold from Uphaz around his waist.\r\n\t\t\t His body was like beryl, his face like lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and the sound of his words like the roar of a multitude.\r\n\t\t\t I, Daniel, alone saw the vision; the people who were with me did not see the vision, though a great trembling fell upon them, and they fled and hid themselves.\r\n\t\t\t So I was left alone to see this great vision. My strength left me, and my complexion grew deathly pale, and I retained no strength.\r\n\t\t\t Then I heard the sound of his words; and when I heard the sound of his words, I fell into a trance, face to the ground.\r\n\t\t\t But then a hand touched me and roused me to my hands and knees.\r\n\t\t\t He said to me, \"Daniel, greatly beloved, pay attention to the words that I am going to speak to you. Stand on your feet, for I have now been sent to you.\" So while he was speaking this word to me, I stood up trembling.\r\n\t\t\t He said to me, \"Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words.\r\n\t\t\t But the prince of the kingdom of Persia opposed me twenty-one days. So Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, and I left him there with the prince of the kingdom of Persia, \r\n\t\t\t and have come to help you understand what is to happen to your people at the end of days. For there is a further vision for those days.\"\r\n\t\t\t While he was speaking these words to me, I turned my face toward the ground and was speechless.\r\n\t\t\t Then one in human form touched my lips, and I opened my mouth to speak, and said to the one who stood before me, \"My lord, because of the vision such pains have come upon me that I retain no strength.\r\n\t\t\t How can my lord's servant talk with my lord? For I am shaking, no strength remains in me, and no breath is left in me.\"\r\n\t\t\t Again one in human form touched me and strengthened me.\r\n\t\t\t He said, \"Do not fear, greatly beloved, you are safe. Be strong and courageous!\" When he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, \"Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then he said, \"Do you know why I have come to you? Now I must return to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I am through with him, the prince of Greece will come.\r\n\t\t\t But I am to tell you what is inscribed in the book of truth. There is no one with me who contends against these princes except Michael, your prince.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t As for me, in the first year of Darius the Mede, I stood up to support and strengthen him.\r\n\t\t\t \"Now I will announce the truth to you. Three more kings shall arise in Persia. The fourth shall be far richer than all of them, and when he has become strong through his riches, he shall stir up all against the kingdom of Greece.\r\n\t\t\t Then a warrior king shall arise, who shall rule with great dominion and take action as he pleases.\r\n\t\t\t And while still rising in power, his kingdom shall be broken and divided toward the four winds of heaven, but not to his posterity, nor according to the dominion with which he ruled; for his kingdom shall be uprooted and go to others besides these.\r\n\t\t\t \"Then the king of the south shall grow strong, but one of his officers shall grow stronger than he and shall rule a realm greater than his own realm.\r\n\t\t\t After some years they shall make an alliance, and the daughter of the king of the south shall come to the king of the north to ratify the agreement. But she shall not retain her power, and his offspring shall not endure. She shall be given up, she and her attendants and her child and the one who supported her. \"In those times\r\n\t\t\t a branch from her roots shall rise up in his place. He shall come against the army and enter the fortress of the king of the north, and he shall take action against them and prevail.\r\n\t\t\t Even their gods, with their idols and with their precious vessels of silver and gold, he shall carry off to Egypt as spoils of war. For some years he shall refrain from attacking the king of the north;\r\n\t\t\t then the latter shall invade the realm of the king of the south, but will return to his own land.\r\n\t\t\t \"His sons shall wage war and assemble a multitude of great forces, which shall advance like a flood and pass through, and again shall carry the war as far as his fortress.\r\n\t\t\t Moved with rage, the king of the south shall go out and do battle against the king of the north, who shall muster a great multitude, which shall, however, be defeated by his enemy.\r\n\t\t\t When the multitude has been carried off, his heart shall be exalted, and he shall overthrow tens of thousands, but he shall not prevail.\r\n\t\t\t For the king of the north shall again raise a multitude, larger than the former, and after some years he shall advance with a great army and abundant supplies. \r\n\t\t\t \"In those times many shall rise against the king of the south. The lawless among your own people shall lift themselves up in order to fulfill the vision, but they shall fail.\r\n\t\t\t Then the king of the north shall come and throw up siegeworks, and take a well-fortified city. And the forces of the south shall not stand, not even his picked troops, for there shall be no strength to resist.\r\n\t\t\t But he who comes against him shall take the actions he pleases, and no one shall withstand him. He shall take a position in the beautiful land, and all of it shall be in his power.\r\n\t\t\t He shall set his mind to come with the strength of his whole kingdom, and he shall bring terms of peace and perform them. In order to destroy the kingdom, he shall give him a woman in marriage; but it shall not succeed or be to his advantage. \r\n\t\t\t Afterward he shall turn to the coastlands, and shall capture many. But a commander shall put an end to his insolence; indeed, he shall turn his insolence back upon him. \r\n\t\t\t Then he shall turn back toward the fortresses of his own land, but he shall stumble and fall, and shall not be found.\r\n\t\t\t \"Then shall arise in his place one who shall send an official for the glory of the kingdom; but within a few days he shall be broken, though not in anger or in battle.\r\n\t\t\t In his place shall arise a contemptible person on whom royal majesty had not been conferred; he shall come in without warning and obtain the kingdom through intrigue.\r\n\t\t\t Armies shall be utterly swept away and broken before him, and the prince of the covenant as well.\r\n\t\t\t And after an alliance is made with him, he shall act deceitfully and become strong with a small party.\r\n\t\t\t Without warning he shall come into the richest parts of the province and do what none of his predecessors had ever done, lavishing plunder, spoil, and wealth on them. He shall devise plans against strongholds, but only for a time. \r\n\t\t\t He shall stir up his power and determination against the king of the south with a great army, and the king of the south shall wage war with a much greater and stronger army. But he shall not succeed, for plots shall be devised against him\r\n\t\t\t by those who eat of the royal rations. They shall break him, his army shall be swept away, and many shall fall slain.\r\n\t\t\t The two kings, their minds bent on evil, shall sit at one table and exchange lies. But it shall not succeed, for there remains an end at the time appointed.\r\n\t\t\t He shall return to his land with great wealth, but his heart shall be set against the holy covenant. He shall work his will, and return to his own land.\r\n\t\t\t \"At the time appointed he shall return and come into the south, but this time it shall not be as it was before.\r\n\t\t\t For ships of Kittim shall come against him, and he shall lose heart and withdraw. He shall be enraged and take action against the holy covenant. He shall turn back and pay heed to those who forsake the holy covenant.\r\n\t\t\t Forces sent by him shall occupy and profane the temple and fortress. They shall abolish the regular burnt offering and set up the abomination that makes desolate.\r\n\t\t\t He shall seduce with intrigue those who violate the covenant; but the people who are loyal to their God shall stand firm and take action.\r\n\t\t\t The wise among the people shall give understanding to many; for some days, however, they shall fall by sword and flame, and suffer captivity and plunder.\r\n\t\t\t When they fall victim, they shall receive a little help, and many shall join them insincerely.\r\n\t\t\t Some of the wise shall fall, so that they may be refined, purified, and cleansed, until the time of the end, for there is still an interval until the time appointed. \r\n\t\t\t \"The king shall act as he pleases. He shall exalt himself and consider himself greater than any god, and shall speak horrendous things against the God of gods. He shall prosper until the period of wrath is completed, for what is determined shall be done.\r\n\t\t\t He shall pay no respect to the gods of his ancestors, or to the one beloved by women; he shall pay no respect to any other god, for he shall consider himself greater than all.\r\n\t\t\t He shall honor the god of fortresses instead of these; a god whom his ancestors did not know he shall honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and costly gifts.\r\n\t\t\t He shall deal with the strongest fortresses by the help of a foreign god. Those who acknowledge him he shall make more wealthy, and shall appoint them as rulers over many, and shall distribute the land for a price.\r\n\t\t\t \"At the time of the end the king of the south shall attack him. But the king of the north shall rush upon him like a whirlwind, with chariots and horsemen, and with many ships. He shall advance against countries and pass through like a flood.\r\n\t\t\t He shall come into the beautiful land, and tens of thousands shall fall victim, but Edom and Moab and the main part of the Ammonites shall escape from his power.\r\n\t\t\t He shall stretch out his hand against the countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape.\r\n\t\t\t He shall become ruler of the treasures of gold and of silver, and all the riches of Egypt; and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall follow in his train. \r\n\t\t\t But reports from the east and the north shall alarm him, and he shall go out with great fury to bring ruin and complete destruction to many.\r\n\t\t\t He shall pitch his palatial tents between the sea and the beautiful holy mountain. Yet he shall come to his end, with no one to help him.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t \"At that time Michael, the great prince, the protector of your people, shall arise. There shall be a time of anguish, such as has never occurred since nations first came into existence. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone who is found written in the book.\r\n\t\t\t Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. \r\n\t\t\t Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. \r\n\t\t\t But you, Daniel, keep the words secret and the book sealed until the time of the end. Many shall be running back and forth, and evil shall increase.\" \r\n\t\t\t Then I, Daniel, looked, and two others appeared, one standing on this bank of the stream and one on the other.\r\n\t\t\t One of them said to the man clothed in linen, who was upstream, \"How long shall it be until the end of these wonders?\"\r\n\t\t\t The man clothed in linen, who was upstream, raised his right hand and his left hand toward heaven. And I heard him swear by the one who lives forever that it would be for a time, two times, and half a time, and that when the shattering of the power of the holy people comes to an end, all these things would be accomplished. \r\n\t\t\t I heard but could not understand; so I said, \"My lord, what shall be the outcome of these things?\"\r\n\t\t\t He said, \"Go your way, Daniel, for the words are to remain secret and sealed until the time of the end.\r\n\t\t\t Many shall be purified, cleansed, and refined, but the wicked shall continue to act wickedly. None of the wicked shall understand, but those who are wise shall understand.\r\n\t\t\t From the time that the regular burnt offering is taken away and the abomination that desolates is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred ninety days.\r\n\t\t\t Happy are those who persevere and attain the thousand three hundred thirty-five days.\r\n\t\t\t But you, go your way, and rest; you shall rise for your reward at the end of the days.\" \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD that came to Hosea son of Beeri, in the days of Kings Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah of Judah, and in the days of King Jeroboam son of Joash of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t When the LORD first spoke through Hosea, the LORD said to Hosea, \"Go, take for yourself a wife of whoredom and have children of whoredom, for the land commits great whoredom by forsaking the LORD.\"\r\n\t\t\t So he went and took Gomer daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son.\r\n\t\t\t And the LORD said to him, \"Name him Jezreel; for in a little while I will punish the house of Jehu for the blood of Jezreel, and I will put an end to the kingdom of the house of Israel. \r\n\t\t\t On that day I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel.\"\r\n\t\t\t She conceived again and bore a daughter. Then the LORD said to him, \"Name her Lo-ruhamah, for I will no longer have pity on the house of Israel or forgive them. \r\n\t\t\t But I will have pity on the house of Judah, and I will save them by the LORD their God; I will not save them by bow, or by sword, or by war, or by horses, or by horsemen.\"\r\n\t\t\t When she had weaned Lo-ruhamah, she conceived and bore a son.\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD said, \"Name him Lo-ammi, for you are not my people and I am not your God.\" \r\n\t\t\t Yet the number of the people of Israel shall be like the sand of the sea, which can be neither measured nor numbered; and in the place where it was said to them, \"You are not my people,\" it shall be said to them, \"Children of the living God.\"\r\n\t\t\t The people of Judah and the people of Israel shall be gathered together, and they shall appoint for themselves one head; and they shall take possession of the land, for great shall be the day of Jezreel. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Say to your brother, Ammi, and to your sister, Ruhamah. \r\n\t\t\t Plead with your mother, plead-- for she is not my wife, and I am not her husband-- that she put away her whoring from her face, and her adultery from between her breasts,\r\n\t\t\t or I will strip her naked and expose her as in the day she was born, and make her like a wilderness, and turn her into a parched land, and kill her with thirst.\r\n\t\t\t Upon her children also I will have no pity, because they are children of whoredom.\r\n\t\t\t For their mother has played the whore; she who conceived them has acted shamefully. For she said, \"I will go after my lovers; they give me my bread and my water, my wool and my flax, my oil and my drink.\"\r\n\t\t\t Therefore I will hedge up her way with thorns; and I will build a wall against her, so that she cannot find her paths. \r\n\t\t\t She shall pursue her lovers, but not overtake them; and she shall seek them, but shall not find them. Then she shall say, \"I will go and return to my first husband, for it was better with me then than now.\"\r\n\t\t\t She did not know that it was I who gave her the grain, the wine, and the oil, and who lavished upon her silver and gold that they used for Baal.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore I will take back my grain in its time, and my wine in its season; and I will take away my wool and my flax, which were to cover her nakedness.\r\n\t\t\t Now I will uncover her shame in the sight of her lovers, and no one shall rescue her out of my hand.\r\n\t\t\t I will put an end to all her mirth, her festivals, her new moons, her sabbaths, and all her appointed festivals.\r\n\t\t\t I will lay waste her vines and her fig trees, of which she said, \"These are my pay, which my lovers have given me.\" I will make them a forest, and the wild animals shall devour them.\r\n\t\t\t I will punish her for the festival days of the Baals, when she offered incense to them and decked herself with her ring and jewelry, and went after her lovers, and forgot me, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore, I will now allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her.\r\n\t\t\t From there I will give her her vineyards, and make the Valley of Achor a door of hope. There she shall respond as in the days of her youth, as at the time when she came out of the land of Egypt.\r\n\t\t\t On that day, says the LORD, you will call me, \"My husband,\" and no longer will you call me, \"My Baal.\" \r\n\t\t\t For I will remove the names of the Baals from her mouth, and they shall be mentioned by name no more.\r\n\t\t\t I will make for you a covenant on that day with the wild animals, the birds of the air, and the creeping things of the ground; and I will abolish the bow, the sword, and war from the land; and I will make you lie down in safety. \r\n\t\t\t And I will take you for my wife forever; I will take you for my wife in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love, and in mercy.\r\n\t\t\t I will take you for my wife in faithfulness; and you shall know the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t On that day I will answer, says the LORD, I will answer the heavens and they shall answer the earth;\r\n\t\t\t and the earth shall answer the grain, the wine, and the oil, and they shall answer Jezreel; \r\n\t\t\t and I will sow him for myself in the land. And I will have pity on Lo-ruhamah, and I will say to Lo-ammi, \"You are my people\"; and he shall say, \"You are my God.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The LORD said to me again, \"Go, love a woman who has a lover and is an adulteress, just as the LORD loves the people of Israel, though they turn to other gods and love raisin cakes.\"\r\n\t\t\t So I bought her for fifteen shekels of silver and a homer of barley and a measure of wine. \r\n\t\t\t And I said to her, \"You must remain as mine for many days; you shall not play the whore, you shall not have intercourse with a man, nor I with you.\"\r\n\t\t\t For the Israelites shall remain many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or pillar, without ephod or teraphim.\r\n\t\t\t Afterward the Israelites shall return and seek the LORD their God, and David their king; they shall come in awe to the LORD and to his goodness in the latter days.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Hear the word of the LORD, O people of Israel; for the LORD has an indictment against the inhabitants of the land. There is no faithfulness or loyalty, and no knowledge of God in the land.\r\n\t\t\t Swearing, lying, and murder, and stealing and adultery break out; bloodshed follows bloodshed.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore the land mourns, and all who live in it languish; together with the wild animals and the birds of the air, even the fish of the sea are perishing.\r\n\t\t\t Yet let no one contend, and let none accuse, for with you is my contention, O priest. \r\n\t\t\t You shall stumble by day; the prophet also shall stumble with you by night, and I will destroy your mother.\r\n\t\t\t My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.\r\n\t\t\t The more they increased, the more they sinned against me; they changed their glory into shame. \r\n\t\t\t They feed on the sin of my people; they are greedy for their iniquity.\r\n\t\t\t And it shall be like people, like priest; I will punish them for their ways, and repay them for their deeds.\r\n\t\t\t They shall eat, but not be satisfied; they shall play the whore, but not multiply; because they have forsaken the LORD to devote themselves to\r\n\t\t\t whoredom. Wine and new wine take away the understanding.\r\n\t\t\t My people consult a piece of wood, and their divining rod gives them oracles. For a spirit of whoredom has led them astray, and they have played the whore, forsaking their God.\r\n\t\t\t They sacrifice on the tops of the mountains, and make offerings upon the hills, under oak, poplar, and terebinth, because their shade is good. Therefore your daughters play the whore, and your daughters-in-law commit adultery.\r\n\t\t\t I will not punish your daughters when they play the whore, nor your daughters-in-law when they commit adultery; for the men themselves go aside with whores, and sacrifice with temple prostitutes; thus a people without understanding comes to ruin.\r\n\t\t\t Though you play the whore, O Israel, do not let Judah become guilty. Do not enter into Gilgal, or go up to Beth-aven, and do not swear, \"As the LORD lives.\"\r\n\t\t\t Like a stubborn heifer, Israel is stubborn; can the LORD now feed them like a lamb in a broad pasture?\r\n\t\t\t Ephraim is joined to idols-- let him alone.\r\n\t\t\t When their drinking is ended, they indulge in sexual orgies; they love lewdness more than their glory. \r\n\t\t\t A wind has wrapped them in its wings, and they shall be ashamed because of their altars. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Hear this, O priests! Give heed, O house of Israel! Listen, O house of the king! For the judgment pertains to you; for you have been a snare at Mizpah, and a net spread upon Tabor,\r\n\t\t\t and a pit dug deep in Shittim; but I will punish all of them. \r\n\t\t\t I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hidden from me; for now, O Ephraim, you have played the whore; Israel is defiled.\r\n\t\t\t Their deeds do not permit them to return to their God. For the spirit of whoredom is within them, and they do not know the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Israel's pride testifies against him; Ephraim stumbles in his guilt; Judah also stumbles with them. \r\n\t\t\t With their flocks and herds they shall go to seek the LORD, but they will not find him; he has withdrawn from them.\r\n\t\t\t They have dealt faithlessly with the LORD; for they have borne illegitimate children. Now the new moon shall devour them along with their fields.\r\n\t\t\t Blow the horn in Gibeah, the trumpet in Ramah. Sound the alarm at Beth-aven; look behind you, Benjamin!\r\n\t\t\t Ephraim shall become a desolation in the day of punishment; among the tribes of Israel I declare what is sure.\r\n\t\t\t The princes of Judah have become like those who remove the landmark; on them I will pour out my wrath like water.\r\n\t\t\t Ephraim is oppressed, crushed in judgment, because he was determined to go after vanity. \r\n\t\t\t Therefore I am like maggots to Ephraim, and like rottenness to the house of Judah.\r\n\t\t\t When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah his wound, then Ephraim went to Assyria, and sent to the great king. But he is not able to cure you or heal your wound. \r\n\t\t\t For I will be like a lion to Ephraim, and like a young lion to the house of Judah. I myself will tear and go away; I will carry off, and no one shall rescue.\r\n\t\t\t I will return again to my place until they acknowledge their guilt and seek my face. In their distress they will beg my favor:\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t \"Come, let us return to the LORD; for it is he who has torn, and he will heal us; he has struck down, and he will bind us up.\r\n\t\t\t After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him.\r\n\t\t\t Let us know, let us press on to know the LORD; his appearing is as sure as the dawn; he will come to us like the showers, like the spring rains that water the earth.\"\r\n\t\t\t What shall I do with you, O Ephraim? What shall I do with you, O Judah? Your love is like a morning cloud, like the dew that goes away early.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets, I have killed them by the words of my mouth, and my judgment goes forth as the light. \r\n\t\t\t For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.\r\n\t\t\t But at Adam they transgressed the covenant; there they dealt faithlessly with me. \r\n\t\t\t Gilead is a city of evildoers, tracked with blood.\r\n\t\t\t As robbers lie in wait for someone, so the priests are banded together; they murder on the road to Shechem, they commit a monstrous crime.\r\n\t\t\t In the house of Israel I have seen a horrible thing; Ephraim's whoredom is there, Israel is defiled.\r\n\t\t\t For you also, O Judah, a harvest is appointed. When I would restore the fortunes of my people,\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t when I would heal Israel, the corruption of Ephraim is revealed, and the wicked deeds of Samaria; for they deal falsely, the thief breaks in, and the bandits raid outside.\r\n\t\t\t But they do not consider that I remember all their wickedness. Now their deeds surround them, they are before my face.\r\n\t\t\t By their wickedness they make the king glad, and the officials by their treachery.\r\n\t\t\t They are all adulterers; they are like a heated oven, whose baker does not need to stir the fire, from the kneading of the dough until it is leavened.\r\n\t\t\t On the day of our king the officials became sick with the heat of wine; he stretched out his hand with mockers.\r\n\t\t\t For they are kindled like an oven, their heart burns within them; all night their anger smolders; in the morning it blazes like a flaming fire. \r\n\t\t\t All of them are hot as an oven, and they devour their rulers. All their kings have fallen; none of them calls upon me.\r\n\t\t\t Ephraim mixes himself with the peoples; Ephraim is a cake not turned.\r\n\t\t\t Foreigners devour his strength, but he does not know it; gray hairs are sprinkled upon him, but he does not know it.\r\n\t\t\t Israel's pride testifies against him; yet they do not return to the LORD their God, or seek him, for all this. \r\n\t\t\t Ephraim has become like a dove, silly and without sense; they call upon Egypt, they go to Assyria.\r\n\t\t\t As they go, I will cast my net over them; I will bring them down like birds of the air; I will discipline them according to the report made to their assembly. \r\n\t\t\t Woe to them, for they have strayed from me! Destruction to them, for they have rebelled against me! I would redeem them, but they speak lies against me.\r\n\t\t\t They do not cry to me from the heart, but they wail upon their beds; they gash themselves for grain and wine; they rebel against me.\r\n\t\t\t It was I who trained and strengthened their arms, yet they plot evil against me.\r\n\t\t\t They turn to that which does not profit; they have become like a defective bow; their officials shall fall by the sword because of the rage of their tongue. So much for their babbling in the land of Egypt. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Set the trumpet to your lips! One like a vulture is over the house of the LORD, because they have broken my covenant, and transgressed my law. \r\n\t\t\t Israel cries to me, \"My God, we-- Israel-- know you!\"\r\n\t\t\t Israel has spurned the good; the enemy shall pursue him.\r\n\t\t\t They made kings, but not through me; they set up princes, but without my knowledge. With their silver and gold they made idols for their own destruction.\r\n\t\t\t Your calf is rejected, O Samaria. My anger burns against them. How long will they be incapable of innocence?\r\n\t\t\t For it is from Israel, an artisan made it; it is not God. The calf of Samaria shall be broken to pieces. \r\n\t\t\t For they sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind. The standing grain has no heads, it shall yield no meal; if it were to yield, foreigners would devour it.\r\n\t\t\t Israel is swallowed up; now they are among the nations as a useless vessel.\r\n\t\t\t For they have gone up to Assyria, a wild ass wandering alone; Ephraim has bargained for lovers.\r\n\t\t\t Though they bargain with the nations, I will now gather them up. They shall soon writhe under the burden of kings and princes.\r\n\t\t\t When Ephraim multiplied altars to expiate sin, they became to him altars for sinning.\r\n\t\t\t Though I write for him the multitude of my instructions, they are regarded as a strange thing.\r\n\t\t\t Though they offer choice sacrifices, though they eat flesh, the LORD does not accept them. Now he will remember their iniquity, and punish their sins; they shall return to Egypt. \r\n\t\t\t Israel has forgotten his Maker, and built palaces; and Judah has multiplied fortified cities; but I will send a fire upon his cities, and it shall devour his strongholds.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Do not rejoice, O Israel! Do not exult as other nations do; for you have played the whore, departing from your God. You have loved a prostitute's pay on all threshing floors. \r\n\t\t\t Threshing floor and wine vat shall not feed them, and the new wine shall fail them.\r\n\t\t\t They shall not remain in the land of the LORD; but Ephraim shall return to Egypt, and in Assyria they shall eat unclean food.\r\n\t\t\t They shall not pour drink offerings of wine to the LORD, and their sacrifices shall not please him. Such sacrifices shall be like mourners' bread; all who eat of it shall be defiled; for their bread shall be for their hunger only; it shall not come to the house of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t What will you do on the day of appointed festival, and on the day of the festival of the LORD?\r\n\t\t\t For even if they escape destruction, Egypt shall gather them, Memphis shall bury them. Nettles shall possess their precious things of silver; thorns shall be in their tents. \r\n\t\t\t The days of punishment have come, the days of recompense have come; Israel cries, \"The prophet is a fool, the man of the spirit is mad!\" Because of your great iniquity, your hostility is great. \r\n\t\t\t The prophet is a sentinel for my God over Ephraim, yet a fowler's snare is on all his ways, and hostility in the house of his God.\r\n\t\t\t They have deeply corrupted themselves as in the days of Gibeah; he will remember their iniquity, he will punish their sins.\r\n\t\t\t Like grapes in the wilderness, I found Israel. Like the first fruit on the fig tree, in its first season, I saw your ancestors. But they came to Baal-peor, and consecrated themselves to a thing of shame, and became detestable like the thing they loved.\r\n\t\t\t Ephraim's glory shall fly away like a bird-- no birth, no pregnancy, no conception!\r\n\t\t\t Even if they bring up children, I will bereave them until no one is left. Woe to them indeed when I depart from them!\r\n\t\t\t Once I saw Ephraim as a young palm planted in a lovely meadow, but now Ephraim must lead out his children for slaughter. \r\n\t\t\t Give them, O LORD-- what will you give? Give them a miscarrying womb and dry breasts.\r\n\t\t\t Every evil of theirs began at Gilgal; there I came to hate them. Because of the wickedness of their deeds I will drive them out of my house. I will love them no more; all their officials are rebels.\r\n\t\t\t Ephraim is stricken, their root is dried up, they shall bear no fruit. Even though they give birth, I will kill the cherished offspring of their womb.\r\n\t\t\t Because they have not listened to him, my God will reject them; they shall become wanderers among the nations.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Israel is a luxuriant vine that yields its fruit. The more his fruit increased the more altars he built; as his country improved, he improved his pillars.\r\n\t\t\t Their heart is false; now they must bear their guilt. The LORD will break down their altars, and destroy their pillars.\r\n\t\t\t For now they will say: \"We have no king, for we do not fear the LORD, and a king-- what could he do for us?\"\r\n\t\t\t They utter mere words; with empty oaths they make covenants; so litigation springs up like poisonous weeds in the furrows of the field.\r\n\t\t\t The inhabitants of Samaria tremble for the calf of Beth-aven. Its people shall mourn for it, and its idolatrous priests shall wail over it, over its glory that has departed from it. \r\n\t\t\t The thing itself shall be carried to Assyria as tribute to the great king. Ephraim shall be put to shame, and Israel shall be ashamed of his idol. \r\n\t\t\t Samaria's king shall perish like a chip on the face of the waters.\r\n\t\t\t The high places of Aven, the sin of Israel, shall be destroyed. Thorn and thistle shall grow up on their altars. They shall say to the mountains, Cover us, and to the hills, Fall on us.\r\n\t\t\t Since the days of Gibeah you have sinned, O Israel; there they have continued. Shall not war overtake them in Gibeah?\r\n\t\t\t I will come against the wayward people to punish them; and nations shall be gathered against them when they are punished for their double iniquity. \r\n\t\t\t Ephraim was a trained heifer that loved to thresh, and I spared her fair neck; but I will make Ephraim break the ground; Judah must plow; Jacob must harrow for himself.\r\n\t\t\t Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, that he may come and rain righteousness upon you.\r\n\t\t\t You have plowed wickedness, you have reaped injustice, you have eaten the fruit of lies. Because you have trusted in your power and in the multitude of your warriors,\r\n\t\t\t therefore the tumult of war shall rise against your people, and all your fortresses shall be destroyed, as Shalman destroyed Beth-arbel on the day of battle when mothers were dashed in pieces with their children.\r\n\t\t\t Thus it shall be done to you, O Bethel, because of your great wickedness. At dawn the king of Israel shall be utterly cut off.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.\r\n\t\t\t The more I called them, the more they went from me; they kept sacrificing to the Baals, and offering incense to idols. \r\n\t\t\t Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk, I took them up in my arms; but they did not know that I healed them. \r\n\t\t\t I led them with cords of human kindness, with bands of love. I was to them like those who lift infants to their cheeks. I bent down to them and fed them. \r\n\t\t\t They shall return to the land of Egypt, and Assyria shall be their king, because they have refused to return to me.\r\n\t\t\t The sword rages in their cities, it consumes their oracle-priests, and devours because of their schemes.\r\n\t\t\t My people are bent on turning away from me. To the Most High they call, but he does not raise them up at all. \r\n\t\t\t How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, O Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart recoils within me; my compassion grows warm and tender.\r\n\t\t\t I will not execute my fierce anger; I will not again destroy Ephraim; for I am God and no mortal, the Holy One in your midst, and I will not come in wrath. \r\n\t\t\t They shall go after the LORD, who roars like a lion; when he roars, his children shall come trembling from the west.\r\n\t\t\t They shall come trembling like birds from Egypt, and like doves from the land of Assyria; and I will return them to their homes, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Ephraim has surrounded me with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit; but Judah still walks with God, and is faithful to the Holy One. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Ephraim herds the wind, and pursues the east wind all day long; they multiply falsehood and violence; they make a treaty with Assyria, and oil is carried to Egypt.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD has an indictment against Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways, and repay him according to his deeds.\r\n\t\t\t In the womb he tried to supplant his brother, and in his manhood he strove with God.\r\n\t\t\t He strove with the angel and prevailed, he wept and sought his favor; he met him at Bethel, and there he spoke with him. \r\n\t\t\t The LORD the God of hosts, the LORD is his name!\r\n\t\t\t But as for you, return to your God, hold fast to love and justice, and wait continually for your God.\r\n\t\t\t A trader, in whose hands are false balances, he loves to oppress.\r\n\t\t\t Ephraim has said, \"Ah, I am rich, I have gained wealth for myself; in all of my gain no offense has been found in me that would be sin.\" \r\n\t\t\t I am the LORD your God from the land of Egypt; I will make you live in tents again, as in the days of the appointed festival.\r\n\t\t\t I spoke to the prophets; it was I who multiplied visions, and through the prophets I will bring destruction.\r\n\t\t\t In Gilead there is iniquity, they shall surely come to nothing. In Gilgal they sacrifice bulls, so their altars shall be like stone heaps on the furrows of the field. \r\n\t\t\t Jacob fled to the land of Aram, there Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he guarded sheep. \r\n\t\t\t By a prophet the LORD brought Israel up from Egypt, and by a prophet he was guarded.\r\n\t\t\t Ephraim has given bitter offense, so his Lord will bring his crimes down on him and pay him back for his insults.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t When Ephraim spoke, there was trembling; he was exalted in Israel; but he incurred guilt through Baal and died.\r\n\t\t\t And now they keep on sinning and make a cast image for themselves, idols of silver made according to their understanding, all of them the work of artisans. \"Sacrifice to these,\" they say. People are kissing calves! \r\n\t\t\t Therefore they shall be like the morning mist or like the dew that goes away early, like chaff that swirls from the threshing floor or like smoke from a window.\r\n\t\t\t Yet I have been the LORD your God ever since the land of Egypt; you know no God but me, and besides me there is no savior.\r\n\t\t\t It was I who fed you in the wilderness, in the land of drought. \r\n\t\t\t When I fed them, they were satisfied; they were satisfied, and their heart was proud; therefore they forgot me. \r\n\t\t\t So I will become like a lion to them, like a leopard I will lurk beside the way.\r\n\t\t\t I will fall upon them like a bear robbed of her cubs, and will tear open the covering of their heart; there I will devour them like a lion, as a wild animal would mangle them.\r\n\t\t\t I will destroy you, O Israel; who can help you? \r\n\t\t\t Where now is your king, that he may save you? Where in all your cities are your rulers, of whom you said, \"Give me a king and rulers\"? \r\n\t\t\t I gave you a king in my anger, and I took him away in my wrath.\r\n\t\t\t Ephraim's iniquity is bound up; his sin is kept in store.\r\n\t\t\t The pangs of childbirth come for him, but he is an unwise son; for at the proper time he does not present himself at the mouth of the womb.\r\n\t\t\t Shall I ransom them from the power of Sheol? Shall I redeem them from Death? O Death, where are your plagues? O Sheol, where is your destruction? Compassion is hidden from my eyes. \r\n\t\t\t Although he may flourish among rushes, the east wind shall come, a blast from the LORD, rising from the wilderness; and his fountain shall dry up, his spring shall be parched. It shall strip his treasury of every precious thing. \r\n\t\t\t Samaria shall bear her guilt, because she has rebelled against her God; they shall fall by the sword, their little ones shall be dashed in pieces, and their pregnant women ripped open.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity.\r\n\t\t\t Take words with you and return to the LORD; say to him, \"Take away all guilt; accept that which is good, and we will offer the fruit of our lips. \r\n\t\t\t Assyria shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses; we will say no more, 'Our God,' to the work of our hands. In you the orphan finds mercy.\"\r\n\t\t\t I will heal their disloyalty; I will love them freely, for my anger has turned from them.\r\n\t\t\t I will be like the dew to Israel; he shall blossom like the lily, he shall strike root like the forests of Lebanon. \r\n\t\t\t His shoots shall spread out; his beauty shall be like the olive tree, and his fragrance like that of Lebanon.\r\n\t\t\t They shall again live beneath my shadow, they shall flourish as a garden; they shall blossom like the vine, their fragrance shall be like the wine of Lebanon. \r\n\t\t\t O Ephraim, what have I to do with idols? It is I who answer and look after you. I am like an evergreen cypress; your faithfulness comes from me. \r\n\t\t\t Those who are wise understand these things; those who are discerning know them. For the ways of the LORD are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD that came to Joel son of Pethuel:\r\n\t\t\t Hear this, O elders, give ear, all inhabitants of the land! Has such a thing happened in your days, or in the days of your ancestors?\r\n\t\t\t Tell your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation.\r\n\t\t\t What the cutting locust left, the swarming locust has eaten. What the swarming locust left, the hopping locust has eaten, and what the hopping locust left, the destroying locust has eaten.\r\n\t\t\t Wake up, you drunkards, and weep; and wail, all you wine-drinkers, over the sweet wine, for it is cut off from your mouth.\r\n\t\t\t For a nation has invaded my land, powerful and innumerable; its teeth are lions' teeth, and it has the fangs of a lioness.\r\n\t\t\t It has laid waste my vines, and splintered my fig trees; it has stripped off their bark and thrown it down; their branches have turned white.\r\n\t\t\t Lament like a virgin dressed in sackcloth for the husband of her youth.\r\n\t\t\t The grain offering and the drink offering are cut off from the house of the LORD. The priests mourn, the ministers of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t The fields are devastated, the ground mourns; for the grain is destroyed, the wine dries up, the oil fails.\r\n\t\t\t Be dismayed, you farmers, wail, you vinedressers, over the wheat and the barley; for the crops of the field are ruined.\r\n\t\t\t The vine withers, the fig tree droops. Pomegranate, palm, and apple-- all the trees of the field are dried up; surely, joy withers away among the people.\r\n\t\t\t Put on sackcloth and lament, you priests; wail, you ministers of the altar. Come, pass the night in sackcloth, you ministers of my God! Grain offering and drink offering are withheld from the house of your God.\r\n\t\t\t Sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly. Gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land to the house of the LORD your God, and cry out to the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Alas for the day! For the day of the LORD is near, and as destruction from the Almighty it comes. \r\n\t\t\t Is not the food cut off before our eyes, joy and gladness from the house of our God?\r\n\t\t\t The seed shrivels under the clods, the storehouses are desolate; the granaries are ruined because the grain has failed. \r\n\t\t\t How the animals groan! The herds of cattle wander about because there is no pasture for them; even the flocks of sheep are dazed. \r\n\t\t\t To you, O LORD, I cry. For fire has devoured the pastures of the wilderness, and flames have burned all the trees of the field.\r\n\t\t\t Even the wild animals cry to you because the watercourses are dried up, and fire has devoured the pastures of the wilderness.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of the LORD is coming, it is near--\r\n\t\t\t a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness! Like blackness spread upon the mountains a great and powerful army comes; their like has never been from of old, nor will be again after them in ages to come.\r\n\t\t\t Fire devours in front of them, and behind them a flame burns. Before them the land is like the garden of Eden, but after them a desolate wilderness, and nothing escapes them.\r\n\t\t\t They have the appearance of horses, and like war-horses they charge.\r\n\t\t\t As with the rumbling of chariots, they leap on the tops of the mountains, like the crackling of a flame of fire devouring the stubble, like a powerful army drawn up for battle.\r\n\t\t\t Before them peoples are in anguish, all faces grow pale. \r\n\t\t\t Like warriors they charge, like soldiers they scale the wall. Each keeps to its own course, they do not swerve from their paths. \r\n\t\t\t They do not jostle one another, each keeps to its own track; they burst through the weapons and are not halted.\r\n\t\t\t They leap upon the city, they run upon the walls; they climb up into the houses, they enter through the windows like a thief.\r\n\t\t\t The earth quakes before them, the heavens tremble. The sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD utters his voice at the head of his army; how vast is his host! Numberless are those who obey his command. Truly the day of the LORD is great; terrible indeed-- who can endure it?\r\n\t\t\t Yet even now, says the LORD, return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;\r\n\t\t\t rend your hearts and not your clothing. Return to the LORD, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and relents from punishing.\r\n\t\t\t Who knows whether he will not turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind him, a grain offering and a drink offering for the LORD, your God?\r\n\t\t\t Blow the trumpet in Zion; sanctify a fast; call a solemn assembly;\r\n\t\t\t gather the people. Sanctify the congregation; assemble the aged; gather the children, even infants at the breast. Let the bridegroom leave his room, and the bride her canopy.\r\n\t\t\t Between the vestibule and the altar let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep. Let them say, \"Spare your people, O LORD, and do not make your heritage a mockery, a byword among the nations. Why should it be said among the peoples, 'Where is their God?'\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD became jealous for his land, and had pity on his people.\r\n\t\t\t In response to his people the LORD said: I am sending you grain, wine, and oil, and you will be satisfied; and I will no more make you a mockery among the nations.\r\n\t\t\t I will remove the northern army far from you, and drive it into a parched and desolate land, its front into the eastern sea, and its rear into the western sea; its stench and foul smell will rise up. Surely he has done great things!\r\n\t\t\t Do not fear, O soil; be glad and rejoice, for the LORD has done great things!\r\n\t\t\t Do not fear, you animals of the field, for the pastures of the wilderness are green; the tree bears its fruit, the fig tree and vine give their full yield.\r\n\t\t\t O children of Zion, be glad and rejoice in the LORD your God; for he has given the early rain for your vindication, he has poured down for you abundant rain, the early and the later rain, as before. \r\n\t\t\t The threshing floors shall be full of grain, the vats shall overflow with wine and oil.\r\n\t\t\t I will repay you for the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent against you.\r\n\t\t\t You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, who has dealt wondrously with you. And my people shall never again be put to shame.\r\n\t\t\t You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I, the LORD, am your God and there is no other. And my people shall never again be put to shame.\r\n\t\t\t Then afterward I will pour out my spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions.\r\n\t\t\t Even on the male and female slaves, in those days, I will pour out my spirit.\r\n\t\t\t I will show portents in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke.\r\n\t\t\t The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and terrible day of the LORD comes.\r\n\t\t\t Then everyone who calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved; for in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the LORD has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the LORD calls.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t For then, in those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem,\r\n\t\t\t I will gather all the nations and bring them down to the valley of Jehoshaphat, and I will enter into judgment with them there, on account of my people and my heritage Israel, because they have scattered them among the nations. They have divided my land,\r\n\t\t\t and cast lots for my people, and traded boys for prostitutes, and sold girls for wine, and drunk it down.\r\n\t\t\t What are you to me, O Tyre and Sidon, and all the regions of Philistia? Are you paying me back for something? If you are paying me back, I will turn your deeds back upon your own heads swiftly and speedily.\r\n\t\t\t For you have taken my silver and my gold, and have carried my rich treasures into your temples. \r\n\t\t\t You have sold the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks, removing them far from their own border.\r\n\t\t\t But now I will rouse them to leave the places to which you have sold them, and I will turn your deeds back upon your own heads.\r\n\t\t\t I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the people of Judah, and they will sell them to the Sabeans, to a nation far away; for the LORD has spoken.\r\n\t\t\t Proclaim this among the nations: Prepare war, stir up the warriors. Let all the soldiers draw near, let them come up. \r\n\t\t\t Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears; let the weakling say, \"I am a warrior.\"\r\n\t\t\t Come quickly, all you nations all around, gather yourselves there. Bring down your warriors, O LORD. \r\n\t\t\t Let the nations rouse themselves, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat; for there I will sit to judge all the neighboring nations.\r\n\t\t\t Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Go in, tread, for the wine press is full. The vats overflow, for their wickedness is great.\r\n\t\t\t Multitudes, multitudes, in the valley of decision! For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.\r\n\t\t\t The sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD roars from Zion, and utters his voice from Jerusalem, and the heavens and the earth shake. But the LORD is a refuge for his people, a stronghold for the people of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t So you shall know that I, the LORD your God, dwell in Zion, my holy mountain. And Jerusalem shall be holy, and strangers shall never again pass through it.\r\n\t\t\t In that day the mountains shall drip sweet wine, the hills shall flow with milk, and all the stream beds of Judah shall flow with water; a fountain shall come forth from the house of the LORD and water the Wadi Shittim.\r\n\t\t\t Egypt shall become a desolation and Edom a desolate wilderness, because of the violence done to the people of Judah, in whose land they have shed innocent blood.\r\n\t\t\t But Judah shall be inhabited forever, and Jerusalem to all generations.\r\n\t\t\t I will avenge their blood, and I will not clear the guilty, for the LORD dwells in Zion. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The words of Amos, who was among the shepherds of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of King Uzziah of Judah and in the days of King Jeroboam son of Joash of Israel, two years before the earthquake. \r\n\t\t\t And he said: The LORD roars from Zion, and utters his voice from Jerusalem; the pastures of the shepherds wither, and the top of Carmel dries up.\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD: For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment; because they have threshed Gilead with threshing sledges of iron. \r\n\t\t\t So I will send a fire on the house of Hazael, and it shall devour the strongholds of Ben-hadad.\r\n\t\t\t I will break the gate bars of Damascus, and cut off the inhabitants from the Valley of Aven, and the one who holds the scepter from Beth-eden; and the people of Aram shall go into exile to Kir, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD: For three transgressions of Gaza, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment; because they carried into exile entire communities, to hand them over to Edom. \r\n\t\t\t So I will send a fire on the wall of Gaza, fire that shall devour its strongholds.\r\n\t\t\t I will cut off the inhabitants from Ashdod, and the one who holds the scepter from Ashkelon; I will turn my hand against Ekron, and the remnant of the Philistines shall perish, says the Lord GOD.\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD: For three transgressions of Tyre, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment; because they delivered entire communities over to Edom, and did not remember the covenant of kinship. \r\n\t\t\t So I will send a fire on the wall of Tyre, fire that shall devour its strongholds.\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD: For three transgressions of Edom, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment; because he pursued his brother with the sword and cast off all pity; he maintained his anger perpetually, and kept his wrath forever. \r\n\t\t\t So I will send a fire on Teman, and it shall devour the strongholds of Bozrah.\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD: For three transgressions of the Ammonites, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment; because they have ripped open pregnant women in Gilead in order to enlarge their territory. \r\n\t\t\t So I will kindle a fire against the wall of Rabbah, fire that shall devour its strongholds, with shouting on the day of battle, with a storm on the day of the whirlwind;\r\n\t\t\t then their king shall go into exile, he and his officials together, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD: For three transgressions of Moab, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment; because he burned to lime the bones of the king of Edom. \r\n\t\t\t So I will send a fire on Moab, and it shall devour the strongholds of Kerioth, and Moab shall die amid uproar, amid shouting and the sound of the trumpet;\r\n\t\t\t I will cut off the ruler from its midst, and will kill all its officials with him, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD: For three transgressions of Judah, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment; because they have rejected the law of the LORD, and have not kept his statutes, but they have been led astray by the same lies after which their ancestors walked. \r\n\t\t\t So I will send a fire on Judah, and it shall devour the strongholds of Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD: For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment; because they sell the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals--\r\n\t\t\t they who trample the head of the poor into the dust of the earth, and push the afflicted out of the way; father and son go in to the same girl, so that my holy name is profaned;\r\n\t\t\t they lay themselves down beside every altar on garments taken in pledge; and in the house of their God they drink wine bought with fines they imposed.\r\n\t\t\t Yet I destroyed the Amorite before them, whose height was like the height of cedars, and who was as strong as oaks; I destroyed his fruit above, and his roots beneath.\r\n\t\t\t Also I brought you up out of the land of Egypt, and led you forty years in the wilderness, to possess the land of the Amorite.\r\n\t\t\t And I raised up some of your children to be prophets and some of your youths to be nazirites. Is it not indeed so, O people of Israel? says the LORD. \r\n\t\t\t But you made the nazirites drink wine, and commanded the prophets, saying, \"You shall not prophesy.\" \r\n\t\t\t So, I will press you down in your place, just as a cart presses down when it is full of sheaves.\r\n\t\t\t Flight shall perish from the swift, and the strong shall not retain their strength, nor shall the mighty save their lives;\r\n\t\t\t those who handle the bow shall not stand, and those who are swift of foot shall not save themselves, nor shall those who ride horses save their lives;\r\n\t\t\t and those who are stout of heart among the mighty shall flee away naked in that day, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Hear this word that the LORD has spoken against you, O people of Israel, against the whole family that I brought up out of the land of Egypt:\r\n\t\t\t You only have I known of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.\r\n\t\t\t Do two walk together unless they have made an appointment?\r\n\t\t\t Does a lion roar in the forest, when it has no prey? Does a young lion cry out from its den, if it has caught nothing?\r\n\t\t\t Does a bird fall into a snare on the earth, when there is no trap for it? Does a snare spring up from the ground, when it has taken nothing?\r\n\t\t\t Is a trumpet blown in a city, and the people are not afraid? Does disaster befall a city, unless the LORD has done it?\r\n\t\t\t Surely the Lord GOD does nothing, without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets.\r\n\t\t\t The lion has roared; who will not fear? The Lord GOD has spoken; who can but prophesy?\r\n\t\t\t Proclaim to the strongholds in Ashdod, and to the strongholds in the land of Egypt, and say, \"Assemble yourselves on Mount Samaria, and see what great tumults are within it, and what oppressions are in its midst.\" \r\n\t\t\t They do not know how to do right, says the LORD, those who store up violence and robbery in their strongholds.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: An adversary shall surround the land, and strip you of your defense; and your strongholds shall be plundered.\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD: As the shepherd rescues from the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear, so shall the people of Israel who live in Samaria be rescued, with the corner of a couch and part of a bed. \r\n\t\t\t Hear, and testify against the house of Jacob, says the Lord GOD, the God of hosts:\r\n\t\t\t On the day I punish Israel for its transgressions, I will punish the altars of Bethel, and the horns of the altar shall be cut off and fall to the ground.\r\n\t\t\t I will tear down the winter house as well as the summer house; and the houses of ivory shall perish, and the great houses shall come to an end, says the LORD. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Hear this word, you cows of Bashan who are on Mount Samaria, who oppress the poor, who crush the needy, who say to their husbands, \"Bring something to drink!\"\r\n\t\t\t The Lord GOD has sworn by his holiness: The time is surely coming upon you, when they shall take you away with hooks, even the last of you with fishhooks.\r\n\t\t\t Through breaches in the wall you shall leave, each one straight ahead; and you shall be flung out into Harmon, says the LORD. \r\n\t\t\t Come to Bethel-- and transgress; to Gilgal-- and multiply transgression; bring your sacrifices every morning, your tithes every three days;\r\n\t\t\t bring a thank offering of leavened bread, and proclaim freewill offerings, publish them; for so you love to do, O people of Israel! says the Lord GOD.\r\n\t\t\t I gave you cleanness of teeth in all your cities, and lack of bread in all your places, yet you did not return to me, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t And I also withheld the rain from you when there were still three months to the harvest; I would send rain on one city, and send no rain on another city; one field would be rained upon, and the field on which it did not rain withered;\r\n\t\t\t so two or three towns wandered to one town to drink water, and were not satisfied; yet you did not return to me, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t I struck you with blight and mildew; I laid waste your gardens and your vineyards; the locust devoured your fig trees and your olive trees; yet you did not return to me, says the LORD. \r\n\t\t\t I sent among you a pestilence after the manner of Egypt; I killed your young men with the sword; I carried away your horses; and I made the stench of your camp go up into your nostrils; yet you did not return to me, says the LORD. \r\n\t\t\t I overthrew some of you, as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and you were like a brand snatched from the fire; yet you did not return to me, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore thus I will do to you, O Israel; because I will do this to you, prepare to meet your God, O Israel!\r\n\t\t\t For lo, the one who forms the mountains, creates the wind, reveals his thoughts to mortals, makes the morning darkness, and treads on the heights of the earth-- the LORD, the God of hosts, is his name!\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Hear this word that I take up over you in lamentation, O house of Israel:\r\n\t\t\t Fallen, no more to rise, is maiden Israel; forsaken on her land, with no one to raise her up.\r\n\t\t\t For thus says the Lord GOD: The city that marched out a thousand shall have a hundred left, and that which marched out a hundred shall have ten left. \r\n\t\t\t For thus says the LORD to the house of Israel: Seek me and live;\r\n\t\t\t but do not seek Bethel, and do not enter into Gilgal or cross over to Beer-sheba; for Gilgal shall surely go into exile, and Bethel shall come to nothing.\r\n\t\t\t Seek the LORD and live, or he will break out against the house of Joseph like fire, and it will devour Bethel, with no one to quench it.\r\n\t\t\t Ah, you that turn justice to wormwood, and bring righteousness to the ground!\r\n\t\t\t The one who made the Pleiades and Orion, and turns deep darkness into the morning, and darkens the day into night, who calls for the waters of the sea, and pours them out on the surface of the earth, the LORD is his name,\r\n\t\t\t who makes destruction flash out against the strong, so that destruction comes upon the fortress.\r\n\t\t\t They hate the one who reproves in the gate, and they abhor the one who speaks the truth.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore because you trample on the poor and take from them levies of grain, you have built houses of hewn stone, but you shall not live in them; you have planted pleasant vineyards, but you shall not drink their wine.\r\n\t\t\t For I know how many are your transgressions, and how great are your sins-- you who afflict the righteous, who take a bribe, and push aside the needy in the gate.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore the prudent will keep silent in such a time; for it is an evil time.\r\n\t\t\t Seek good and not evil, that you may live; and so the LORD, the God of hosts, will be with you, just as you have said.\r\n\t\t\t Hate evil and love good, and establish justice in the gate; it may be that the LORD, the God of hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore thus says the LORD, the God of hosts, the Lord: In all the squares there shall be wailing; and in all the streets they shall say, \"Alas! alas!\" They shall call the farmers to mourning, and those skilled in lamentation, to wailing;\r\n\t\t\t in all the vineyards there shall be wailing, for I will pass through the midst of you, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Alas for you who desire the day of the LORD! Why do you want the day of the LORD? It is darkness, not light;\r\n\t\t\t as if someone fled from a lion, and was met by a bear; or went into the house and rested a hand against the wall, and was bitten by a snake.\r\n\t\t\t Is not the day of the LORD darkness, not light, and gloom with no brightness in it?\r\n\t\t\t I hate, I despise your festivals, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies.\r\n\t\t\t Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; and the offerings of well-being of your fatted animals I will not look upon.\r\n\t\t\t Take away from me the noise of your songs; I will not listen to the melody of your harps.\r\n\t\t\t But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.\r\n\t\t\t Did you bring to me sacrifices and offerings the forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel?\r\n\t\t\t You shall take up Sakkuth your king, and Kaiwan your star-god, your images, which you made for yourselves; \r\n\t\t\t therefore I will take you into exile beyond Damascus, says the LORD, whose name is the God of hosts.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Alas for those who are at ease in Zion, and for those who feel secure on Mount Samaria, the notables of the first of the nations, to whom the house of Israel resorts!\r\n\t\t\t Cross over to Calneh, and see; from there go to Hamath the great; then go down to Gath of the Philistines. Are you better than these kingdoms? Or is your territory greater than their territory, \r\n\t\t\t O you that put far away the evil day, and bring near a reign of violence?\r\n\t\t\t Alas for those who lie on beds of ivory, and lounge on their couches, and eat lambs from the flock, and calves from the stall;\r\n\t\t\t who sing idle songs to the sound of the harp, and like David improvise on instruments of music;\r\n\t\t\t who drink wine from bowls, and anoint themselves with the finest oils, but are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph!\r\n\t\t\t Therefore they shall now be the first to go into exile, and the revelry of the loungers shall pass away.\r\n\t\t\t The Lord GOD has sworn by himself (says the LORD, the God of hosts): I abhor the pride of Jacob and hate his strongholds; and I will deliver up the city and all that is in it.\r\n\t\t\t If ten people remain in one house, they shall die.\r\n\t\t\t And if a relative, one who burns the dead, shall take up the body to bring it out of the house, and shall say to someone in the innermost parts of the house, \"Is anyone else with you?\" the answer will come, \"No.\" Then the relative shall say, \"Hush! We must not mention the name of the LORD.\" \r\n\t\t\t See, the LORD commands, and the great house shall be shattered to bits, and the little house to pieces.\r\n\t\t\t Do horses run on rocks? Does one plow the sea with oxen? But you have turned justice into poison and the fruit of righteousness into wormwood--\r\n\t\t\t you who rejoice in Lo-debar, who say, \"Have we not by our own strength taken Karnaim for ourselves?\" \r\n\t\t\t Indeed, I am raising up against you a nation, O house of Israel, says the LORD, the God of hosts, and they shall oppress you from Lebo-hamath to the Wadi Arabah.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t This is what the Lord GOD showed me: he was forming locusts at the time the latter growth began to sprout (it was the latter growth after the king's mowings).\r\n\t\t\t When they had finished eating the grass of the land, I said, \"O Lord GOD, forgive, I beg you! How can Jacob stand? He is so small!\"\r\n\t\t\t The LORD relented concerning this; \"It shall not be,\" said the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t This is what the Lord GOD showed me: the Lord GOD was calling for a shower of fire, and it devoured the great deep and was eating up the land. \r\n\t\t\t Then I said, \"O Lord GOD, cease, I beg you! How can Jacob stand? He is so small!\"\r\n\t\t\t The LORD relented concerning this; \"This also shall not be,\" said the Lord GOD.\r\n\t\t\t This is what he showed me: the Lord was standing beside a wall built with a plumb line, with a plumb line in his hand.\r\n\t\t\t And the LORD said to me, \"Amos, what do you see?\" And I said, \"A plumb line.\" Then the Lord said, \"See, I am setting a plumb line in the midst of my people Israel; I will never again pass them by;\r\n\t\t\t the high places of Isaac shall be made desolate, and the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste, and I will rise against the house of Jeroboam with the sword.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, sent to King Jeroboam of Israel, saying, \"Amos has conspired against you in the very center of the house of Israel; the land is not able to bear all his words.\r\n\t\t\t For thus Amos has said, 'Jeroboam shall die by the sword, and Israel must go into exile away from his land.'\"\r\n\t\t\t And Amaziah said to Amos, \"O seer, go, flee away to the land of Judah, earn your bread there, and prophesy there;\r\n\t\t\t but never again prophesy at Bethel, for it is the king's sanctuary, and it is a temple of the kingdom.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Amos answered Amaziah, \"I am no prophet, nor a prophet's son; but I am a herdsman, and a dresser of sycamore trees, \r\n\t\t\t and the LORD took me from following the flock, and the LORD said to me, 'Go, prophesy to my people Israel.'\r\n\t\t\t \"Now therefore hear the word of the LORD. You say, 'Do not prophesy against Israel, and do not preach against the house of Isaac.'\r\n\t\t\t Therefore thus says the LORD: 'Your wife shall become a prostitute in the city, and your sons and your daughters shall fall by the sword, and your land shall be parceled out by line; you yourself shall die in an unclean land, and Israel shall surely go into exile away from its land.'\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t This is what the Lord GOD showed me-- a basket of summer fruit.\r\n\t\t\t He said, \"Amos, what do you see?\" And I said, \"A basket of summer fruit.\" Then the LORD said to me, \"The end has come upon my people Israel; I will never again pass them by. \r\n\t\t\t The songs of the temple shall become wailings in that day,\" says the Lord GOD; \"the dead bodies shall be many, cast out in every place. Be silent!\" \r\n\t\t\t Hear this, you that trample on the needy, and bring to ruin the poor of the land,\r\n\t\t\t saying, \"When will the new moon be over so that we may sell grain; and the sabbath, so that we may offer wheat for sale? We will make the ephah small and the shekel great, and practice deceit with false balances,\r\n\t\t\t buying the poor for silver and the needy for a pair of sandals, and selling the sweepings of the wheat.\"\r\n\t\t\t The LORD has sworn by the pride of Jacob: Surely I will never forget any of their deeds.\r\n\t\t\t Shall not the land tremble on this account, and everyone mourn who lives in it, and all of it rise like the Nile, and be tossed about and sink again, like the Nile of Egypt?\r\n\t\t\t On that day, says the Lord GOD, I will make the sun go down at noon, and darken the earth in broad daylight.\r\n\t\t\t I will turn your feasts into mourning, and all your songs into lamentation; I will bring sackcloth on all loins, and baldness on every head; I will make it like the mourning for an only son, and the end of it like a bitter day.\r\n\t\t\t The time is surely coming, says the Lord GOD, when I will send a famine on the land; not a famine of bread, or a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t They shall wander from sea to sea, and from north to east; they shall run to and fro, seeking the word of the LORD, but they shall not find it.\r\n\t\t\t In that day the beautiful young women and the young men shall faint for thirst.\r\n\t\t\t Those who swear by Ashimah of Samaria, and say, \"As your god lives, O Dan,\" and, \"As the way of Beer-sheba lives\"-- they shall fall, and never rise again.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t I saw the LORD standing beside the altar, and he said: Strike the capitals until the thresholds shake, and shatter them on the heads of all the people; and those who are left I will kill with the sword; not one of them shall flee away, not one of them shall escape. \r\n\t\t\t Though they dig into Sheol, from there shall my hand take them; though they climb up to heaven, from there I will bring them down.\r\n\t\t\t Though they hide themselves on the top of Carmel, from there I will search out and take them; and though they hide from my sight at the bottom of the sea, there I will command the sea-serpent, and it shall bite them.\r\n\t\t\t And though they go into captivity in front of their enemies, there I will command the sword, and it shall kill them; and I will fix my eyes on them for harm and not for good.\r\n\t\t\t The Lord, GOD of hosts, he who touches the earth and it melts, and all who live in it mourn, and all of it rises like the Nile, and sinks again, like the Nile of Egypt;\r\n\t\t\t who builds his upper chambers in the heavens, and founds his vault upon the earth; who calls for the waters of the sea, and pours them out upon the surface of the earth-- the LORD is his name.\r\n\t\t\t Are you not like the Ethiopians to me, O people of Israel? says the LORD. Did I not bring Israel up from the land of Egypt, and the Philistines from Caphtor and the Arameans from Kir? \r\n\t\t\t The eyes of the Lord GOD are upon the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from the face of the earth-- except that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t For lo, I will command, and shake the house of Israel among all the nations as one shakes with a sieve, but no pebble shall fall to the ground.\r\n\t\t\t All the sinners of my people shall die by the sword, who say, \"Evil shall not overtake or meet us.\"\r\n\t\t\t On that day I will raise up the booth of David that is fallen, and repair its breaches, and raise up its ruins, and rebuild it as in the days of old; \r\n\t\t\t in order that they may possess the remnant of Edom and all the nations who are called by my name, says the LORD who does this.\r\n\t\t\t The time is surely coming, says the LORD, when the one who plows shall overtake the one who reaps, and the treader of grapes the one who sows the seed; the mountains shall drip sweet wine, and all the hills shall flow with it.\r\n\t\t\t I will restore the fortunes of my people Israel, and they shall rebuild the ruined cities and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and drink their wine, and they shall make gardens and eat their fruit.\r\n\t\t\t I will plant them upon their land, and they shall never again be plucked up out of the land that I have given them, says the LORD your God.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The vision of Obadiah. Thus says the Lord GOD concerning Edom: We have heard a report from the LORD, and a messenger has been sent among the nations: \"Rise up! Let us rise against it for battle!\"\r\n\t\t\t I will surely make you least among the nations; you shall be utterly despised.\r\n\t\t\t Your proud heart has deceived you, you that live in the clefts of the rock, whose dwelling is in the heights. You say in your heart, \"Who will bring me down to the ground?\" \r\n\t\t\t Though you soar aloft like the eagle, though your nest is set among the stars, from there I will bring you down, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t If thieves came to you, if plunderers by night-- how you have been destroyed!-- would they not steal only what they wanted? If grape-gatherers came to you, would they not leave gleanings?\r\n\t\t\t How Esau has been pillaged, his treasures searched out!\r\n\t\t\t All your allies have deceived you, they have driven you to the border; your confederates have prevailed against you; those who ate your bread have set a trap for you-- there is no understanding of it.\r\n\t\t\t On that day, says the LORD, I will destroy the wise out of Edom, and understanding out of Mount Esau.\r\n\t\t\t Your warriors shall be shattered, O Teman, so that everyone from Mount Esau will be cut off.\r\n\t\t\t For the slaughter and violence done to your brother Jacob, shame shall cover you, and you shall be cut off forever.\r\n\t\t\t On the day that you stood aside, on the day that strangers carried off his wealth, and foreigners entered his gates and cast lots for Jerusalem, you too were like one of them.\r\n\t\t\t But you should not have gloated over your brother on the day of his misfortune; you should not have rejoiced over the people of Judah on the day of their ruin; you should not have boasted on the day of distress. \r\n\t\t\t You should not have entered the gate of my people on the day of their calamity; you should not have joined in the gloating over Judah's disaster on the day of his calamity; you should not have looted his goods on the day of his calamity. \r\n\t\t\t You should not have stood at the crossings to cut off his fugitives; you should not have handed over his survivors on the day of distress.\r\n\t\t\t For the day of the LORD is near against all the nations. As you have done, it shall be done to you; your deeds shall return on your own head.\r\n\t\t\t For as you have drunk on my holy mountain, all the nations around you shall drink; they shall drink and gulp down, and shall be as though they had never been. \r\n\t\t\t But on Mount Zion there shall be those that escape, and it shall be holy; and the house of Jacob shall take possession of those who dispossessed them.\r\n\t\t\t The house of Jacob shall be a fire, the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau stubble; they shall burn them and consume them, and there shall be no survivor of the house of Esau; for the LORD has spoken.\r\n\t\t\t Those of the Negeb shall possess Mount Esau, and those of the Shephelah the land of the Philistines; they shall possess the land of Ephraim and the land of Samaria, and Benjamin shall possess Gilead.\r\n\t\t\t The exiles of the Israelites who are in Halah shall possess Phoenicia as far as Zarephath; and the exiles of Jerusalem who are in Sepharad shall possess the towns of the Negeb. \r\n\t\t\t Those who have been saved shall go up to Mount Zion to rule Mount Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD's. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai, saying,\r\n\t\t\t \"Go at once to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before me.\"\r\n\t\t\t But Jonah set out to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid his fare and went on board, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t But the LORD hurled a great wind upon the sea, and such a mighty storm came upon the sea that the ship threatened to break up.\r\n\t\t\t Then the mariners were afraid, and each cried to his god. They threw the cargo that was in the ship into the sea, to lighten it for them. Jonah, meanwhile, had gone down into the hold of the ship and had lain down, and was fast asleep.\r\n\t\t\t The captain came and said to him, \"What are you doing sound asleep? Get up, call on your god! Perhaps the god will spare us a thought so that we do not perish.\"\r\n\t\t\t The sailors said to one another, \"Come, let us cast lots, so that we may know on whose account this calamity has come upon us.\" So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah. \r\n\t\t\t Then they said to him, \"Tell us why this calamity has come upon us. What is your occupation? Where do you come from? What is your country? And of what people are you?\"\r\n\t\t\t \"I am a Hebrew,\" he replied. \"I worship the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the men were even more afraid, and said to him, \"What is this that you have done!\" For the men knew that he was fleeing from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them so.\r\n\t\t\t Then they said to him, \"What shall we do to you, that the sea may quiet down for us?\" For the sea was growing more and more tempestuous.\r\n\t\t\t He said to them, \"Pick me up and throw me into the sea; then the sea will quiet down for you; for I know it is because of me that this great storm has come upon you.\"\r\n\t\t\t Nevertheless the men rowed hard to bring the ship back to land, but they could not, for the sea grew more and more stormy against them.\r\n\t\t\t Then they cried out to the LORD, \"Please, O LORD, we pray, do not let us perish on account of this man's life. Do not make us guilty of innocent blood; for you, O LORD, have done as it pleased you.\"\r\n\t\t\t So they picked Jonah up and threw him into the sea; and the sea ceased from its raging.\r\n\t\t\t Then the men feared the LORD even more, and they offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made vows.\r\n\t\t\t But the LORD provided a large fish to swallow up Jonah; and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from the belly of the fish,\r\n\t\t\t saying, \"I called to the LORD out of my distress, and he answered me; out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and you heard my voice.\r\n\t\t\t You cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the flood surrounded me; all your waves and your billows passed over me.\r\n\t\t\t Then I said, 'I am driven away from your sight; how shall I look again upon your holy temple?' \r\n\t\t\t The waters closed in over me; the deep surrounded me; weeds were wrapped around my head\r\n\t\t\t at the roots of the mountains. I went down to the land whose bars closed upon me forever; yet you brought up my life from the Pit, O LORD my God.\r\n\t\t\t As my life was ebbing away, I remembered the LORD; and my prayer came to you, into your holy temple.\r\n\t\t\t Those who worship vain idols forsake their true loyalty.\r\n\t\t\t But I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to you; what I have vowed I will pay. Deliverance belongs to the LORD!\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD spoke to the fish, and it spewed Jonah out upon the dry land.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time, saying,\r\n\t\t\t \"Get up, go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim to it the message that I tell you.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Jonah set out and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly large city, a three days' walk across.\r\n\t\t\t Jonah began to go into the city, going a day's walk. And he cried out, \"Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!\"\r\n\t\t\t And the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast, and everyone, great and small, put on sackcloth.\r\n\t\t\t When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.\r\n\t\t\t Then he had a proclamation made in Nineveh: \"By the decree of the king and his nobles: No human being or animal, no herd or flock, shall taste anything. They shall not feed, nor shall they drink water.\r\n\t\t\t Human beings and animals shall be covered with sackcloth, and they shall cry mightily to God. All shall turn from their evil ways and from the violence that is in their hands.\r\n\t\t\t Who knows? God may relent and change his mind; he may turn from his fierce anger, so that we do not perish.\"\r\n\t\t\t When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil ways, God changed his mind about the calamity that he had said he would bring upon them; and he did not do it.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t But this was very displeasing to Jonah, and he became angry.\r\n\t\t\t He prayed to the LORD and said, \"O LORD! Is not this what I said while I was still in my own country? That is why I fled to Tarshish at the beginning; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and ready to relent from punishing.\r\n\t\t\t And now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.\"\r\n\t\t\t And the LORD said, \"Is it right for you to be angry?\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Jonah went out of the city and sat down east of the city, and made a booth for himself there. He sat under it in the shade, waiting to see what would become of the city.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD God appointed a bush, and made it come up over Jonah, to give shade over his head, to save him from his discomfort; so Jonah was very happy about the bush. \r\n\t\t\t But when dawn came up the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the bush, so that it withered.\r\n\t\t\t When the sun rose, God prepared a sultry east wind, and the sun beat down on the head of Jonah so that he was faint and asked that he might die. He said, \"It is better for me to die than to live.\"\r\n\t\t\t But God said to Jonah, \"Is it right for you to be angry about the bush?\" And he said, \"Yes, angry enough to die.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD said, \"You are concerned about the bush, for which you did not labor and which you did not grow; it came into being in a night and perished in a night.\r\n\t\t\t And should I not be concerned about Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also many animals?\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD that came to Micah of Moresheth in the days of Kings Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t Hear, you peoples, all of you; listen, O earth, and all that is in it; and let the Lord GOD be a witness against you, the Lord from his holy temple.\r\n\t\t\t For lo, the LORD is coming out of his place, and will come down and tread upon the high places of the earth.\r\n\t\t\t Then the mountains will melt under him and the valleys will burst open, like wax near the fire, like waters poured down a steep place.\r\n\t\t\t All this is for the transgression of Jacob and for the sins of the house of Israel. What is the transgression of Jacob? Is it not Samaria? And what is the high place of Judah? Is it not Jerusalem? \r\n\t\t\t Therefore I will make Samaria a heap in the open country, a place for planting vineyards. I will pour down her stones into the valley, and uncover her foundations.\r\n\t\t\t All her images shall be beaten to pieces, all her wages shall be burned with fire, and all her idols I will lay waste; for as the wages of a prostitute she gathered them, and as the wages of a prostitute they shall again be used.\r\n\t\t\t For this I will lament and wail; I will go barefoot and naked; I will make lamentation like the jackals, and mourning like the ostriches.\r\n\t\t\t For her wound is incurable. It has come to Judah; it has reached to the gate of my people, to Jerusalem. \r\n\t\t\t Tell it not in Gath, weep not at all; in Beth-leaphrah roll yourselves in the dust.\r\n\t\t\t Pass on your way, inhabitants of Shaphir, in nakedness and shame; the inhabitants of Zaanan do not come forth; Beth-ezel is wailing and shall remove its support from you.\r\n\t\t\t For the inhabitants of Maroth wait anxiously for good, yet disaster has come down from the LORD to the gate of Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t Harness the steeds to the chariots, inhabitants of Lachish; it was the beginning of sin to daughter Zion, for in you were found the transgressions of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore you shall give parting gifts to Moresheth-gath; the houses of Achzib shall be a deception to the kings of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t I will again bring a conqueror upon you, inhabitants of Mareshah; the glory of Israel shall come to Adullam.\r\n\t\t\t Make yourselves bald and cut off your hair for your pampered children; make yourselves as bald as the eagle, for they have gone from you into exile.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Alas for those who devise wickedness and evil deeds on their beds! When the morning dawns, they perform it, because it is in their power. \r\n\t\t\t They covet fields, and seize them; houses, and take them away; they oppress householder and house, people and their inheritance.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore thus says the LORD: Now, I am devising against this family an evil from which you cannot remove your necks; and you shall not walk haughtily, for it will be an evil time.\r\n\t\t\t On that day they shall take up a taunt song against you, and wail with bitter lamentation, and say, \"We are utterly ruined; the LORD alters the inheritance of my people; how he removes it from me! Among our captors he parcels out our fields.\"\r\n\t\t\t Therefore you will have no one to cast the line by lot in the assembly of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t \"Do not preach\"-- thus they preach-- \"one should not preach of such things; disgrace will not overtake us.\"\r\n\t\t\t Should this be said, O house of Jacob? Is the LORD's patience exhausted? Are these his doings? Do not my words do good to one who walks uprightly?\r\n\t\t\t But you rise up against my people as an enemy; you strip the robe from the peaceful, from those who pass by trustingly with no thought of war. \r\n\t\t\t The women of my people you drive out from their pleasant houses; from their young children you take away my glory forever.\r\n\t\t\t Arise and go; for this is no place to rest, because of uncleanness that destroys with a grievous destruction. \r\n\t\t\t If someone were to go about uttering empty falsehoods, saying, \"I will preach to you of wine and strong drink,\" such a one would be the preacher for this people!\r\n\t\t\t I will surely gather all of you, O Jacob, I will gather the survivors of Israel; I will set them together like sheep in a fold, like a flock in its pasture; it will resound with people.\r\n\t\t\t The one who breaks out will go up before them; they will break through and pass the gate, going out by it. Their king will pass on before them, the LORD at their head.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t And I said: Listen, you heads of Jacob and rulers of the house of Israel! Should you not know justice?--\r\n\t\t\t you who hate the good and love the evil, who tear the skin off my people, and the flesh off their bones; \r\n\t\t\t who eat the flesh of my people, flay their skin off them, break their bones in pieces, and chop them up like meat in a kettle, like flesh in a caldron. \r\n\t\t\t Then they will cry to the LORD, but he will not answer them; he will hide his face from them at that time, because they have acted wickedly.\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD concerning the prophets who lead my people astray, who cry \"Peace\" when they have something to eat, but declare war against those who put nothing into their mouths.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore it shall be night to you, without vision, and darkness to you, without revelation. The sun shall go down upon the prophets, and the day shall be black over them;\r\n\t\t\t the seers shall be disgraced, and the diviners put to shame; they shall all cover their lips, for there is no answer from God.\r\n\t\t\t But as for me, I am filled with power, with the spirit of the LORD, and with justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression and to Israel his sin.\r\n\t\t\t Hear this, you rulers of the house of Jacob and chiefs of the house of Israel, who abhor justice and pervert all equity,\r\n\t\t\t who build Zion with blood and Jerusalem with wrong!\r\n\t\t\t Its rulers give judgment for a bribe, its priests teach for a price, its prophets give oracles for money; yet they lean upon the LORD and say, \"Surely the LORD is with us! No harm shall come upon us.\"\r\n\t\t\t Therefore because of you Zion shall be plowed as a field; Jerusalem shall become a heap of ruins, and the mountain of the house a wooded height.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t In days to come the mountain of the LORD's house shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised up above the hills. Peoples shall stream to it,\r\n\t\t\t and many nations shall come and say: \"Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.\" For out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t He shall judge between many peoples, and shall arbitrate between strong nations far away; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more;\r\n\t\t\t but they shall all sit under their own vines and under their own fig trees, and no one shall make them afraid; for the mouth of the LORD of hosts has spoken.\r\n\t\t\t For all the peoples walk, each in the name of its god, but we will walk in the name of the LORD our God forever and ever.\r\n\t\t\t In that day, says the LORD, I will assemble the lame and gather those who have been driven away, and those whom I have afflicted.\r\n\t\t\t The lame I will make the remnant, and those who were cast off, a strong nation; and the LORD will reign over them in Mount Zion now and forevermore.\r\n\t\t\t And you, O tower of the flock, hill of daughter Zion, to you it shall come, the former dominion shall come, the sovereignty of daughter Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t Now why do you cry aloud? Is there no king in you? Has your counselor perished, that pangs have seized you like a woman in labor?\r\n\t\t\t Writhe and groan, O daughter Zion, like a woman in labor; for now you shall go forth from the city and camp in the open country; you shall go to Babylon. There you shall be rescued, there the LORD will redeem you from the hands of your enemies. \r\n\t\t\t Now many nations are assembled against you, saying, \"Let her be profaned, and let our eyes gaze upon Zion.\"\r\n\t\t\t But they do not know the thoughts of the LORD; they do not understand his plan, that he has gathered them as sheaves to the threshing floor.\r\n\t\t\t Arise and thresh, O daughter Zion, for I will make your horn iron and your hoofs bronze; you shall beat in pieces many peoples, and shall devote their gain to the LORD, their wealth to the Lord of the whole earth. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now you are walled around with a wall; siege is laid against us; with a rod they strike the ruler of Israel upon the cheek. \r\n\t\t\t But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has brought forth; then the rest of his kindred shall return to the people of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they shall live secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth;\r\n\t\t\t and he shall be the one of peace. If the Assyrians come into our land and tread upon our soil, we will raise against them seven shepherds and eight installed as rulers. \r\n\t\t\t They shall rule the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod with the drawn sword; they shall rescue us from the Assyrians if they come into our land or tread within our border.\r\n\t\t\t Then the remnant of Jacob, surrounded by many peoples, shall be like dew from the LORD, like showers on the grass, which do not depend upon people or wait for any mortal.\r\n\t\t\t And among the nations the remnant of Jacob, surrounded by many peoples, shall be like a lion among the animals of the forest, like a young lion among the flocks of sheep, which, when it goes through, treads down and tears in pieces, with no one to deliver.\r\n\t\t\t Your hand shall be lifted up over your adversaries, and all your enemies shall be cut off.\r\n\t\t\t In that day, says the LORD, I will cut off your horses from among you and will destroy your chariots;\r\n\t\t\t and I will cut off the cities of your land and throw down all your strongholds;\r\n\t\t\t and I will cut off sorceries from your hand, and you shall have no more soothsayers;\r\n\t\t\t and I will cut off your images and your pillars from among you, and you shall bow down no more to the work of your hands;\r\n\t\t\t and I will uproot your sacred poles from among you and destroy your towns. \r\n\t\t\t And in anger and wrath I will execute vengeance on the nations that did not obey.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Hear what the LORD says: Rise, plead your case before the mountains, and let the hills hear your voice.\r\n\t\t\t Hear, you mountains, the controversy of the LORD, and you enduring foundations of the earth; for the LORD has a controversy with his people, and he will contend with Israel.\r\n\t\t\t \"O my people, what have I done to you? In what have I wearied you? Answer me!\r\n\t\t\t For I brought you up from the land of Egypt, and redeemed you from the house of slavery; and I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.\r\n\t\t\t O my people, remember now what King Balak of Moab devised, what Balaam son of Beor answered him, and what happened from Shittim to Gilgal, that you may know the saving acts of the LORD.\"\r\n\t\t\t \"With what shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old?\r\n\t\t\t Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?\"\r\n\t\t\t He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?\r\n\t\t\t The voice of the LORD cries to the city (it is sound wisdom to fear your name): Hear, O tribe and assembly of the city! \r\n\t\t\t Can I forget the treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and the scant measure that is accursed? \r\n\t\t\t Can I tolerate wicked scales and a bag of dishonest weights?\r\n\t\t\t Your wealthy are full of violence; your inhabitants speak lies, with tongues of deceit in their mouths. \r\n\t\t\t Therefore I have begun to strike you down, making you desolate because of your sins. \r\n\t\t\t You shall eat, but not be satisfied, and there shall be a gnawing hunger within you; you shall put away, but not save, and what you save, I will hand over to the sword.\r\n\t\t\t You shall sow, but not reap; you shall tread olives, but not anoint yourselves with oil; you shall tread grapes, but not drink wine.\r\n\t\t\t For you have kept the statutes of Omri and all the works of the house of Ahab, and you have followed their counsels. Therefore I will make you a desolation, and your inhabitants an object of hissing; so you shall bear the scorn of my people. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Woe is me! For I have become like one who, after the summer fruit has been gathered, after the vintage has been gleaned, finds no cluster to eat; there is no first-ripe fig for which I hunger.\r\n\t\t\t The faithful have disappeared from the land, and there is no one left who is upright; they all lie in wait for blood, and they hunt each other with nets.\r\n\t\t\t Their hands are skilled to do evil; the official and the judge ask for a bribe, and the powerful dictate what they desire; thus they pervert justice. \r\n\t\t\t The best of them is like a brier, the most upright of them a thorn hedge. The day of their sentinels, of their punishment, has come; now their confusion is at hand. \r\n\t\t\t Put no trust in a friend, have no confidence in a loved one; guard the doors of your mouth from her who lies in your embrace;\r\n\t\t\t for the son treats the father with contempt, the daughter rises up against her mother, the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; your enemies are members of your own household.\r\n\t\t\t But as for me, I will look to the LORD, I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me.\r\n\t\t\t Do not rejoice over me, O my enemy; when I fall, I shall rise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD will be a light to me.\r\n\t\t\t I must bear the indignation of the LORD, because I have sinned against him, until he takes my side and executes judgment for me. He will bring me out to the light; I shall see his vindication.\r\n\t\t\t Then my enemy will see, and shame will cover her who said to me, \"Where is the LORD your God?\" My eyes will see her downfall; now she will be trodden down like the mire of the streets. \r\n\t\t\t A day for the building of your walls! In that day the boundary shall be far extended.\r\n\t\t\t In that day they will come to you from Assyria to Egypt, and from Egypt to the River, from sea to sea and from mountain to mountain. \r\n\t\t\t But the earth will be desolate because of its inhabitants, for the fruit of their doings.\r\n\t\t\t Shepherd your people with your staff, the flock that belongs to you, which lives alone in a forest in the midst of a garden land; let them feed in Bashan and Gilead as in the days of old.\r\n\t\t\t As in the days when you came out of the land of Egypt, show us marvelous things. \r\n\t\t\t The nations shall see and be ashamed of all their might; they shall lay their hands on their mouths; their ears shall be deaf;\r\n\t\t\t they shall lick dust like a snake, like the crawling things of the earth; they shall come trembling out of their fortresses; they shall turn in dread to the LORD our God, and they shall stand in fear of you.\r\n\t\t\t Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of your possession? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in showing clemency. \r\n\t\t\t He will again have compassion upon us; he will tread our iniquities under foot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. \r\n\t\t\t You will show faithfulness to Jacob and unswerving loyalty to Abraham, as you have sworn to our ancestors from the days of old.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t An oracle concerning Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum of Elkosh.\r\n\t\t\t A jealous and avenging God is the LORD, the LORD is avenging and wrathful; the LORD takes vengeance on his adversaries and rages against his enemies.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD is slow to anger but great in power, and the LORD will by no means clear the guilty. His way is in whirlwind and storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.\r\n\t\t\t He rebukes the sea and makes it dry, and he dries up all the rivers; Bashan and Carmel wither, and the bloom of Lebanon fades.\r\n\t\t\t The mountains quake before him, and the hills melt; the earth heaves before him, the world and all who live in it.\r\n\t\t\t Who can stand before his indignation? Who can endure the heat of his anger? His wrath is poured out like fire, and by him the rocks are broken in pieces.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD is good, a stronghold in a day of trouble; he protects those who take refuge in him,\r\n\t\t\t even in a rushing flood. He will make a full end of his adversaries, and will pursue his enemies into darkness. \r\n\t\t\t Why do you plot against the LORD? He will make an end; no adversary will rise up twice.\r\n\t\t\t Like thorns they are entangled, like drunkards they are drunk; they are consumed like dry straw.\r\n\t\t\t From you one has gone out who plots evil against the LORD, one who counsels wickedness.\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD, \"Though they are at full strength and many, they will be cut off and pass away. Though I have afflicted you, I will afflict you no more. \r\n\t\t\t And now I will break off his yoke from you and snap the bonds that bind you.\"\r\n\t\t\t The LORD has commanded concerning you: \"Your name shall be perpetuated no longer; from the house of your gods I will cut off the carved image and the cast image. I will make your grave, for you are worthless.\"\r\n\t\t\t Look! On the mountains the feet of one who brings good tidings, who proclaims peace! Celebrate your festivals, O Judah, fulfill your vows, for never again shall the wicked invade you; they are utterly cut off.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t A shatterer has come up against you. Guard the ramparts; watch the road; gird your loins; collect all your strength.\r\n\t\t\t (For the LORD is restoring the majesty of Jacob, as well as the majesty of Israel, though ravagers have ravaged them and ruined their branches.)\r\n\t\t\t The shields of his warriors are red; his soldiers are clothed in crimson. The metal on the chariots flashes on the day when he musters them; the chargers prance. \r\n\t\t\t The chariots race madly through the streets, they rush to and fro through the squares; their appearance is like torches, they dart like lightning.\r\n\t\t\t He calls his officers; they stumble as they come forward; they hasten to the wall, and the mantelet is set up. \r\n\t\t\t The river gates are opened, the palace trembles.\r\n\t\t\t It is decreed that the city be exiled, its slave women led away, moaning like doves and beating their breasts. \r\n\t\t\t Nineveh is like a pool whose waters run away. \"Halt! Halt!\"-- but no one turns back.\r\n\t\t\t \"Plunder the silver, plunder the gold! There is no end of treasure! An abundance of every precious thing!\"\r\n\t\t\t Devastation, desolation, and destruction! Hearts faint and knees tremble, all loins quake, all faces grow pale!\r\n\t\t\t What became of the lions' den, the cave of the young lions, where the lion goes, and the lion's cubs, with no one to disturb them? \r\n\t\t\t The lion has torn enough for his whelps and strangled prey for his lionesses; he has filled his caves with prey and his dens with torn flesh.\r\n\t\t\t See, I am against you, says the LORD of hosts, and I will burn your chariots in smoke, and the sword shall devour your young lions; I will cut off your prey from the earth, and the voice of your messengers shall be heard no more. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Ah! City of bloodshed, utterly deceitful, full of booty-- no end to the plunder!\r\n\t\t\t The crack of whip and rumble of wheel, galloping horse and bounding chariot!\r\n\t\t\t Horsemen charging, flashing sword and glittering spear, piles of dead, heaps of corpses, dead bodies without end-- they stumble over the bodies!\r\n\t\t\t Because of the countless debaucheries of the prostitute, gracefully alluring, mistress of sorcery, who enslaves nations through her debaucheries, and peoples through her sorcery, \r\n\t\t\t I am against you, says the LORD of hosts, and will lift up your skirts over your face; and I will let nations look on your nakedness and kingdoms on your shame.\r\n\t\t\t I will throw filth at you and treat you with contempt, and make you a spectacle.\r\n\t\t\t Then all who see you will shrink from you and say, \"Nineveh is devastated; who will bemoan her?\" Where shall I seek comforters for you?\r\n\t\t\t Are you better than Thebes that sat by the Nile, with water around her, her rampart a sea, water her wall? \r\n\t\t\t Ethiopia was her strength, Egypt too, and that without limit; Put and the Libyans were her helpers. \r\n\t\t\t Yet she became an exile, she went into captivity; even her infants were dashed in pieces at the head of every street; lots were cast for her nobles, all her dignitaries were bound in fetters.\r\n\t\t\t You also will be drunken, you will go into hiding; you will seek a refuge from the enemy. \r\n\t\t\t All your fortresses are like fig trees with first-ripe figs-- if shaken they fall into the mouth of the eater.\r\n\t\t\t Look at your troops: they are women in your midst. The gates of your land are wide open to your foes; fire has devoured the bars of your gates.\r\n\t\t\t Draw water for the siege, strengthen your forts; trample the clay, tread the mortar, take hold of the brick mold!\r\n\t\t\t There the fire will devour you, the sword will cut you off. It will devour you like the locust. Multiply yourselves like the locust, multiply like the grasshopper!\r\n\t\t\t You increased your merchants more than the stars of the heavens. The locust sheds its skin and flies away.\r\n\t\t\t Your guards are like grasshoppers, your scribes like swarms of locusts settling on the fences on a cold day-- when the sun rises, they fly away; no one knows where they have gone.\r\n\t\t\t Your shepherds are asleep, O king of Assyria; your nobles slumber. Your people are scattered on the mountains with no one to gather them.\r\n\t\t\t There is no assuaging your hurt, your wound is mortal. All who hear the news about you clap their hands over you. For who has ever escaped your endless cruelty?\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The oracle that the prophet Habakkuk saw.\r\n\t\t\t O LORD, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not listen? Or cry to you \"Violence!\" and you will not save?\r\n\t\t\t Why do you make me see wrongdoing and look at trouble? Destruction and violence are before me; strife and contention arise.\r\n\t\t\t So the law becomes slack and justice never prevails. The wicked surround the righteous-- therefore judgment comes forth perverted.\r\n\t\t\t Look at the nations, and see! Be astonished! Be astounded! For a work is being done in your days that you would not believe if you were told.\r\n\t\t\t For I am rousing the Chaldeans, that fierce and impetuous nation, who march through the breadth of the earth to seize dwellings not their own.\r\n\t\t\t Dread and fearsome are they; their justice and dignity proceed from themselves.\r\n\t\t\t Their horses are swifter than leopards, more menacing than wolves at dusk; their horses charge. Their horsemen come from far away; they fly like an eagle swift to devour.\r\n\t\t\t They all come for violence, with faces pressing forward; they gather captives like sand. \r\n\t\t\t At kings they scoff, and of rulers they make sport. They laugh at every fortress, and heap up earth to take it.\r\n\t\t\t Then they sweep by like the wind; they transgress and become guilty; their own might is their god!\r\n\t\t\t Are you not from of old, O LORD my God, my Holy One? You shall not die. O LORD, you have marked them for judgment; and you, O Rock, have established them for punishment. \r\n\t\t\t Your eyes are too pure to behold evil, and you cannot look on wrongdoing; why do you look on the treacherous, and are silent when the wicked swallow those more righteous than they?\r\n\t\t\t You have made people like the fish of the sea, like crawling things that have no ruler.\r\n\t\t\t The enemy brings all of them up with a hook; he drags them out with his net, he gathers them in his seine; so he rejoices and exults. \r\n\t\t\t Therefore he sacrifices to his net and makes offerings to his seine; for by them his portion is lavish, and his food is rich.\r\n\t\t\t Is he then to keep on emptying his net, and destroying nations without mercy?\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t I will stand at my watchpost, and station myself on the rampart; I will keep watch to see what he will say to me, and what he will answer concerning my complaint. \r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD answered me and said: Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so that a runner may read it.\r\n\t\t\t For there is still a vision for the appointed time; it speaks of the end, and does not lie. If it seems to tarry, wait for it; it will surely come, it will not delay.\r\n\t\t\t Look at the proud! Their spirit is not right in them, but the righteous live by their faith. \r\n\t\t\t Moreover, wealth is treacherous; the arrogant do not endure. They open their throats wide as Sheol; like Death they never have enough. They gather all nations for themselves, and collect all peoples as their own. \r\n\t\t\t Shall not everyone taunt such people and, with mocking riddles, say about them, \"Alas for you who heap up what is not your own!\" How long will you load yourselves with goods taken in pledge?\r\n\t\t\t Will not your own creditors suddenly rise, and those who make you tremble wake up? Then you will be booty for them.\r\n\t\t\t Because you have plundered many nations, all that survive of the peoples shall plunder you-- because of human bloodshed, and violence to the earth, to cities and all who live in them.\r\n\t\t\t \"Alas for you who get evil gain for your houses, setting your nest on high to be safe from the reach of harm!\"\r\n\t\t\t You have devised shame for your house by cutting off many peoples; you have forfeited your life.\r\n\t\t\t The very stones will cry out from the wall, and the plaster will respond from the woodwork. \r\n\t\t\t \"Alas for you who build a town by bloodshed, and found a city on iniquity!\"\r\n\t\t\t Is it not from the LORD of hosts that peoples labor only to feed the flames, and nations weary themselves for nothing?\r\n\t\t\t But the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.\r\n\t\t\t \"Alas for you who make your neighbors drink, pouring out your wrath until they are drunk, in order to gaze on their nakedness!\" \r\n\t\t\t You will be sated with contempt instead of glory. Drink, you yourself, and stagger! The cup in the LORD's right hand will come around to you, and shame will come upon your glory! \r\n\t\t\t For the violence done to Lebanon will overwhelm you; the destruction of the animals will terrify you-- because of human bloodshed and violence to the earth, to cities and all who live in them.\r\n\t\t\t What use is an idol once its maker has shaped it-- a cast image, a teacher of lies? For its maker trusts in what has been made, though the product is only an idol that cannot speak!\r\n\t\t\t Alas for you who say to the wood, \"Wake up!\" to silent stone, \"Rouse yourself!\" Can it teach? See, it is gold and silver plated, and there is no breath in it at all.\r\n\t\t\t But the LORD is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him!\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t A prayer of the prophet Habakkuk according to Shigionoth.\r\n\t\t\t O LORD, I have heard of your renown, and I stand in awe, O LORD, of your work. In our own time revive it; in our own time make it known; in wrath may you remember mercy.\r\n\t\t\t God came from Teman, the Holy One from Mount Paran. Selah His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise.\r\n\t\t\t The brightness was like the sun; rays came forth from his hand, where his power lay hidden.\r\n\t\t\t Before him went pestilence, and plague followed close behind.\r\n\t\t\t He stopped and shook the earth; he looked and made the nations tremble. The eternal mountains were shattered; along his ancient pathways the everlasting hills sank low.\r\n\t\t\t I saw the tents of Cushan under affliction; the tent-curtains of the land of Midian trembled.\r\n\t\t\t Was your wrath against the rivers, O LORD? Or your anger against the rivers, or your rage against the sea, when you drove your horses, your chariots to victory? \r\n\t\t\t You brandished your naked bow, sated were the arrows at your command. Selah You split the earth with rivers. \r\n\t\t\t The mountains saw you, and writhed; a torrent of water swept by; the deep gave forth its voice. The sun raised high its hands; \r\n\t\t\t the moon stood still in its exalted place, at the light of your arrows speeding by, at the gleam of your flashing spear. \r\n\t\t\t In fury you trod the earth, in anger you trampled nations.\r\n\t\t\t You came forth to save your people, to save your anointed. You crushed the head of the wicked house, laying it bare from foundation to roof. Selah \r\n\t\t\t You pierced with their own arrows the head of his warriors, who came like a whirlwind to scatter us, gloating as if ready to devour the poor who were in hiding. \r\n\t\t\t You trampled the sea with your horses, churning the mighty waters.\r\n\t\t\t I hear, and I tremble within; my lips quiver at the sound. Rottenness enters into my bones, and my steps tremble beneath me. I wait quietly for the day of calamity to come upon the people who attack us. \r\n\t\t\t Though the fig tree does not blossom, and no fruit is on the vines; though the produce of the olive fails, and the fields yield no food; though the flock is cut off from the fold, and there is no herd in the stalls,\r\n\t\t\t yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will exult in the God of my salvation.\r\n\t\t\t GOD, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, and makes me tread upon the heights. To the leader: with stringed instruments. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD that came to Zephaniah son of Cushi son of Gedaliah son of Amariah son of Hezekiah, in the days of King Josiah son of Amon of Judah.\r\n\t\t\t I will utterly sweep away everything from the face of the earth, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t I will sweep away humans and animals; I will sweep away the birds of the air and the fish of the sea. I will make the wicked stumble. I will cut off humanity from the face of the earth, says the LORD. \r\n\t\t\t I will stretch out my hand against Judah, and against all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and I will cut off from this place every remnant of Baal and the name of the idolatrous priests; \r\n\t\t\t those who bow down on the roofs to the host of the heavens; those who bow down and swear to the LORD, but also swear by Milcom; \r\n\t\t\t those who have turned back from following the LORD, who have not sought the LORD or inquired of him.\r\n\t\t\t Be silent before the Lord GOD! For the day of the LORD is at hand; the LORD has prepared a sacrifice, he has consecrated his guests.\r\n\t\t\t And on the day of the LORD's sacrifice I will punish the officials and the king's sons and all who dress themselves in foreign attire.\r\n\t\t\t On that day I will punish all who leap over the threshold, who fill their master's house with violence and fraud.\r\n\t\t\t On that day, says the LORD, a cry will be heard from the Fish Gate, a wail from the Second Quarter, a loud crash from the hills.\r\n\t\t\t The inhabitants of the Mortar wail, for all the traders have perished; all who weigh out silver are cut off.\r\n\t\t\t At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and I will punish the people who rest complacently on their dregs, those who say in their hearts, \"The LORD will not do good, nor will he do harm.\" \r\n\t\t\t Their wealth shall be plundered, and their houses laid waste. Though they build houses, they shall not inhabit them; though they plant vineyards, they shall not drink wine from them.\r\n\t\t\t The great day of the LORD is near, near and hastening fast; the sound of the day of the LORD is bitter, the warrior cries aloud there.\r\n\t\t\t That day will be a day of wrath, a day of distress and anguish, a day of ruin and devastation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness,\r\n\t\t\t a day of trumpet blast and battle cry against the fortified cities and against the lofty battlements.\r\n\t\t\t I will bring such distress upon people that they shall walk like the blind; because they have sinned against the LORD, their blood shall be poured out like dust, and their flesh like dung.\r\n\t\t\t Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them on the day of the LORD's wrath; in the fire of his passion the whole earth shall be consumed; for a full, a terrible end he will make of all the inhabitants of the earth.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Gather together, gather, O shameless nation,\r\n\t\t\t before you are driven away like the drifting chaff, before there comes upon you the fierce anger of the LORD, before there comes upon you the day of the LORD's wrath. \r\n\t\t\t Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land, who do his commands; seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you may be hidden on the day of the LORD's wrath.\r\n\t\t\t For Gaza shall be deserted, and Ashkelon shall become a desolation; Ashdod's people shall be driven out at noon, and Ekron shall be uprooted.\r\n\t\t\t Ah, inhabitants of the seacoast, you nation of the Cherethites! The word of the LORD is against you, O Canaan, land of the Philistines; and I will destroy you until no inhabitant is left.\r\n\t\t\t And you, O seacoast, shall be pastures, meadows for shepherds and folds for flocks.\r\n\t\t\t The seacoast shall become the possession of the remnant of the house of Judah, on which they shall pasture, and in the houses of Ashkelon they shall lie down at evening. For the LORD their God will be mindful of them and restore their fortunes.\r\n\t\t\t I have heard the taunts of Moab and the revilings of the Ammonites, how they have taunted my people and made boasts against their territory.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore, as I live, says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Moab shall become like Sodom and the Ammonites like Gomorrah, a land possessed by nettles and salt pits, and a waste forever. The remnant of my people shall plunder them, and the survivors of my nation shall possess them.\r\n\t\t\t This shall be their lot in return for their pride, because they scoffed and boasted against the people of the LORD of hosts.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD will be terrible against them; he will shrivel all the gods of the earth, and to him shall bow down, each in its place, all the coasts and islands of the nations.\r\n\t\t\t You also, O Ethiopians, shall be killed by my sword. \r\n\t\t\t And he will stretch out his hand against the north, and destroy Assyria; and he will make Nineveh a desolation, a dry waste like the desert.\r\n\t\t\t Herds shall lie down in it, every wild animal; the desert owl and the screech owl shall lodge on its capitals; the owl shall hoot at the window, the raven croak on the threshold; for its cedar work will be laid bare. \r\n\t\t\t Is this the exultant city that lived secure, that said to itself, \"I am, and there is no one else\"? What a desolation it has become, a lair for wild animals! Everyone who passes by it hisses and shakes the fist.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Ah, soiled, defiled, oppressing city!\r\n\t\t\t It has listened to no voice; it has accepted no correction. It has not trusted in the LORD; it has not drawn near to its God.\r\n\t\t\t The officials within it are roaring lions; its judges are evening wolves that leave nothing until the morning.\r\n\t\t\t Its prophets are reckless, faithless persons; its priests have profaned what is sacred, they have done violence to the law.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD within it is righteous; he does no wrong. Every morning he renders his judgment, each dawn without fail; but the unjust knows no shame.\r\n\t\t\t I have cut off nations; their battlements are in ruins; I have laid waste their streets so that no one walks in them; their cities have been made desolate, without people, without inhabitants.\r\n\t\t\t I said, \"Surely the city will fear me, it will accept correction; it will not lose sight of all that I have brought upon it.\" But they were the more eager to make all their deeds corrupt. \r\n\t\t\t Therefore wait for me, says the LORD, for the day when I arise as a witness. For my decision is to gather nations, to assemble kingdoms, to pour out upon them my indignation, all the heat of my anger; for in the fire of my passion all the earth shall be consumed.\r\n\t\t\t At that time I will change the speech of the peoples to a pure speech, that all of them may call on the name of the LORD and serve him with one accord.\r\n\t\t\t From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants, my scattered ones, shall bring my offering. \r\n\t\t\t On that day you shall not be put to shame because of all the deeds by which you have rebelled against me; for then I will remove from your midst your proudly exultant ones, and you shall no longer be haughty in my holy mountain.\r\n\t\t\t For I will leave in the midst of you a people humble and lowly. They shall seek refuge in the name of the LORD--\r\n\t\t\t the remnant of Israel; they shall do no wrong and utter no lies, nor shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouths. Then they will pasture and lie down, and no one shall make them afraid.\r\n\t\t\t Sing aloud, O daughter Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem!\r\n\t\t\t The LORD has taken away the judgments against you, he has turned away your enemies. The king of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst; you shall fear disaster no more.\r\n\t\t\t On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: Do not fear, O Zion; do not let your hands grow weak.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD, your God, is in your midst, a warrior who gives victory; he will rejoice over you with gladness, he will renew you in his love; he will exult over you with loud singing \r\n\t\t\t as on a day of festival. I will remove disaster from you, so that you will not bear reproach for it. \r\n\t\t\t I will deal with all your oppressors at that time. And I will save the lame and gather the outcast, and I will change their shame into praise and renown in all the earth.\r\n\t\t\t At that time I will bring you home, at the time when I gather you; for I will make you renowned and praised among all the peoples of the earth, when I restore your fortunes before your eyes, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t In the second year of King Darius, in the sixth month, on the first day of the month, the word of the LORD came by the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest:\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD of hosts: These people say the time has not yet come to rebuild the LORD's house.\r\n\t\t\t Then the word of the LORD came by the prophet Haggai, saying:\r\n\t\t\t Is it a time for you yourselves to live in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins?\r\n\t\t\t Now therefore thus says the LORD of hosts: Consider how you have fared.\r\n\t\t\t You have sown much, and harvested little; you eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill; you clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; and you that earn wages earn wages to put them into a bag with holes.\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD of hosts: Consider how you have fared.\r\n\t\t\t Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t You have looked for much, and, lo, it came to little; and when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? says the LORD of hosts. Because my house lies in ruins, while all of you hurry off to your own houses.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore the heavens above you have withheld the dew, and the earth has withheld its produce.\r\n\t\t\t And I have called for a drought on the land and the hills, on the grain, the new wine, the oil, on what the soil produces, on human beings and animals, and on all their labors.\r\n\t\t\t Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, and Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the LORD their God, and the words of the prophet Haggai, as the LORD their God had sent him; and the people feared the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Then Haggai, the messenger of the LORD, spoke to the people with the LORD's message, saying, I am with you, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t And the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and worked on the house of the LORD of hosts, their God,\r\n\t\t\t on the twenty-fourth day of the month, in the sixth month.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t In the second year of King Darius, in the seventh month, on the twenty-first day of the month, the word of the LORD came by the prophet Haggai, saying:\r\n\t\t\t Speak now to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people, and say,\r\n\t\t\t Who is left among you that saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Is it not in your sight as nothing?\r\n\t\t\t Yet now take courage, O Zerubbabel, says the LORD; take courage, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest; take courage, all you people of the land, says the LORD; work, for I am with you, says the LORD of hosts,\r\n\t\t\t according to the promise that I made you when you came out of Egypt. My spirit abides among you; do not fear.\r\n\t\t\t For thus says the LORD of hosts: Once again, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land;\r\n\t\t\t and I will shake all the nations, so that the treasure of all nations shall come, and I will fill this house with splendor, says the LORD of hosts.\r\n\t\t\t The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, says the LORD of hosts.\r\n\t\t\t The latter splendor of this house shall be greater than the former, says the LORD of hosts; and in this place I will give prosperity, says the LORD of hosts.\r\n\t\t\t On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came by the prophet Haggai, saying:\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD of hosts: Ask the priests for a ruling:\r\n\t\t\t If one carries consecrated meat in the fold of one's garment, and with the fold touches bread, or stew, or wine, or oil, or any kind of food, does it become holy? The priests answered, \"No.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Haggai said, \"If one who is unclean by contact with a dead body touches any of these, does it become unclean?\" The priests answered, \"Yes, it becomes unclean.\"\r\n\t\t\t Haggai then said, So is it with this people, and with this nation before me, says the LORD; and so with every work of their hands; and what they offer there is unclean.\r\n\t\t\t But now, consider what will come to pass from this day on. Before a stone was placed upon a stone in the LORD's temple,\r\n\t\t\t how did you fare? When one came to a heap of twenty measures, there were but ten; when one came to the wine vat to draw fifty measures, there were but twenty. \r\n\t\t\t I struck you and all the products of your toil with blight and mildew and hail; yet you did not return to me, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Consider from this day on, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month. Since the day that the foundation of the LORD's temple was laid, consider:\r\n\t\t\t Is there any seed left in the barn? Do the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree still yield nothing? From this day on I will bless you.\r\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD came a second time to Haggai on the twenty-fourth day of the month:\r\n\t\t\t Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I am about to shake the heavens and the earth,\r\n\t\t\t and to overthrow the throne of kingdoms; I am about to destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the nations, and overthrow the chariots and their riders; and the horses and their riders shall fall, every one by the sword of a comrade.\r\n\t\t\t On that day, says the LORD of hosts, I will take you, O Zerubbabel my servant, son of Shealtiel, says the LORD, and make you like a signet ring; for I have chosen you, says the LORD of hosts.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to the prophet Zechariah son of Berechiah son of Iddo, saying:\r\n\t\t\t The LORD was very angry with your ancestors.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore say to them, Thus says the LORD of hosts: Return to me, says the LORD of hosts, and I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts.\r\n\t\t\t Do not be like your ancestors, to whom the former prophets proclaimed, \"Thus says the LORD of hosts, Return from your evil ways and from your evil deeds.\" But they did not hear or heed me, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Your ancestors, where are they? And the prophets, do they live forever?\r\n\t\t\t But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not overtake your ancestors? So they repented and said, \"The LORD of hosts has dealt with us according to our ways and deeds, just as he planned to do.\"\r\n\t\t\t On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, the month of Shebat, in the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to the prophet Zechariah son of Berechiah son of Iddo; and Zechariah said, \r\n\t\t\t In the night I saw a man riding on a red horse! He was standing among the myrtle trees in the glen; and behind him were red, sorrel, and white horses.\r\n\t\t\t Then I said, \"What are these, my lord?\" The angel who talked with me said to me, \"I will show you what they are.\"\r\n\t\t\t So the man who was standing among the myrtle trees answered, \"They are those whom the LORD has sent to patrol the earth.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then they spoke to the angel of the LORD who was standing among the myrtle trees, \"We have patrolled the earth, and lo, the whole earth remains at peace.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the angel of the LORD said, \"O LORD of hosts, how long will you withhold mercy from Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, with which you have been angry these seventy years?\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD replied with gracious and comforting words to the angel who talked with me.\r\n\t\t\t So the angel who talked with me said to me, Proclaim this message: Thus says the LORD of hosts; I am very jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion.\r\n\t\t\t And I am extremely angry with the nations that are at ease; for while I was only a little angry, they made the disaster worse.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore, thus says the LORD, I have returned to Jerusalem with compassion; my house shall be built in it, says the LORD of hosts, and the measuring line shall be stretched out over Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t Proclaim further: Thus says the LORD of hosts: My cities shall again overflow with prosperity; the LORD will again comfort Zion and again choose Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t And I looked up and saw four horns.\r\n\t\t\t I asked the angel who talked with me, \"What are these?\" And he answered me, \"These are the horns that have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD showed me four blacksmiths.\r\n\t\t\t And I asked, \"What are they coming to do?\" He answered, \"These are the horns that scattered Judah, so that no head could be raised; but these have come to terrify them, to strike down the horns of the nations that lifted up their horns against the land of Judah to scatter its people.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t I looked up and saw a man with a measuring line in his hand.\r\n\t\t\t Then I asked, \"Where are you going?\" He answered me, \"To measure Jerusalem, to see what is its width and what is its length.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the angel who talked with me came forward, and another angel came forward to meet him,\r\n\t\t\t and said to him, \"Run, say to that young man: Jerusalem shall be inhabited like villages without walls, because of the multitude of people and animals in it.\r\n\t\t\t For I will be a wall of fire all around it, says the LORD, and I will be the glory within it.\"\r\n\t\t\t Up, up! Flee from the land of the north, says the LORD; for I have spread you abroad like the four winds of heaven, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Up! Escape to Zion, you that live with daughter Babylon.\r\n\t\t\t For thus said the LORD of hosts (after his glory sent me) regarding the nations that plundered you: Truly, one who touches you touches the apple of my eye.\r\n\t\t\t See now, I am going to raise my hand against them, and they shall become plunder for their own slaves. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent me. \r\n\t\t\t Sing and rejoice, O daughter Zion! For lo, I will come and dwell in your midst, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Many nations shall join themselves to the LORD on that day, and shall be my people; and I will dwell in your midst. And you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land, and will again choose Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t Be silent, all people, before the LORD; for he has roused himself from his holy dwelling.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then he showed me the high priest Joshua standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. \r\n\t\t\t And the LORD said to Satan, \"The LORD rebuke you, O Satan! The LORD who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is not this man a brand plucked from the fire?\" \r\n\t\t\t Now Joshua was dressed with filthy clothes as he stood before the angel.\r\n\t\t\t The angel said to those who were standing before him, \"Take off his filthy clothes.\" And to him he said, \"See, I have taken your guilt away from you, and I will clothe you with festal apparel.\"\r\n\t\t\t And I said, \"Let them put a clean turban on his head.\" So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him with the apparel; and the angel of the LORD was standing by.\r\n\t\t\t Then the angel of the LORD assured Joshua, saying\r\n\t\t\t \"Thus says the LORD of hosts: If you will walk in my ways and keep my requirements, then you shall rule my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you the right of access among those who are standing here.\r\n\t\t\t Now listen, Joshua, high priest, you and your colleagues who sit before you! For they are an omen of things to come: I am going to bring my servant the Branch.\r\n\t\t\t For on the stone that I have set before Joshua, on a single stone with seven facets, I will engrave its inscription, says the LORD of hosts, and I will remove the guilt of this land in a single day.\r\n\t\t\t On that day, says the LORD of hosts, you shall invite each other to come under your vine and fig tree.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The angel who talked with me came again, and wakened me, as one is wakened from sleep.\r\n\t\t\t He said to me, \"What do you see?\" And I said, \"I see a lampstand all of gold, with a bowl on the top of it; there are seven lamps on it, with seven lips on each of the lamps that are on the top of it.\r\n\t\t\t And by it there are two olive trees, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.\"\r\n\t\t\t I said to the angel who talked with me, \"What are these, my lord?\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the angel who talked with me answered me, \"Do you not know what these are?\" I said, \"No, my lord.\"\r\n\t\t\t He said to me, \"This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, says the LORD of hosts.\r\n\t\t\t What are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain; and he shall bring out the top stone amid shouts of 'Grace, grace to it!'\"\r\n\t\t\t Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying,\r\n\t\t\t \"The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also complete it. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you.\r\n\t\t\t For whoever has despised the day of small things shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel. \"These seven are the eyes of the LORD, which range through the whole earth.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then I said to him, \"What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand?\"\r\n\t\t\t And a second time I said to him, \"What are these two branches of the olive trees, which pour out the oil through the two golden pipes?\" \r\n\t\t\t He said to me, \"Do you not know what these are?\" I said, \"No, my lord.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then he said, \"These are the two anointed ones who stand by the Lord of the whole earth.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Again I looked up and saw a flying scroll.\r\n\t\t\t And he said to me, \"What do you see?\" I answered, \"I see a flying scroll; its length is twenty cubits, and its width ten cubits.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then he said to me, \"This is the curse that goes out over the face of the whole land; for everyone who steals shall be cut off according to the writing on one side, and everyone who swears falsely shall be cut off according to the writing on the other side. \r\n\t\t\t I have sent it out, says the LORD of hosts, and it shall enter the house of the thief, and the house of anyone who swears falsely by my name; and it shall abide in that house and consume it, both timber and stones.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the angel who talked with me came forward and said to me, \"Look up and see what this is that is coming out.\"\r\n\t\t\t I said, \"What is it?\" He said, \"This is a basket coming out.\" And he said, \"This is their iniquity in all the land.\" \r\n\t\t\t Then a leaden cover was lifted, and there was a woman sitting in the basket! \r\n\t\t\t And he said, \"This is Wickedness.\" So he thrust her back into the basket, and pressed the leaden weight down on its mouth. \r\n\t\t\t Then I looked up and saw two women coming forward. The wind was in their wings; they had wings like the wings of a stork, and they lifted up the basket between earth and sky. \r\n\t\t\t Then I said to the angel who talked with me, \"Where are they taking the basket?\" \r\n\t\t\t He said to me, \"To the land of Shinar, to build a house for it; and when this is prepared, they will set the basket down there on its base.\" \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t And again I looked up and saw four chariots coming out from between two mountains-- mountains of bronze.\r\n\t\t\t The first chariot had red horses, the second chariot black horses,\r\n\t\t\t the third chariot white horses, and the fourth chariot dappled gray horses. \r\n\t\t\t Then I said to the angel who talked with me, \"What are these, my lord?\"\r\n\t\t\t The angel answered me, \"These are the four winds of heaven going out, after presenting themselves before the Lord of all the earth. \r\n\t\t\t The chariot with the black horses goes toward the north country, the white ones go toward the west country, and the dappled ones go toward the south country.\" \r\n\t\t\t When the steeds came out, they were impatient to get off and patrol the earth. And he said, \"Go, patrol the earth.\" So they patrolled the earth.\r\n\t\t\t Then he cried out to me, \"Lo, those who go toward the north country have set my spirit at rest in the north country.\"\r\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD came to me:\r\n\t\t\t Collect silver and gold from the exiles-- from Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah-- who have arrived from Babylon; and go the same day to the house of Josiah son of Zephaniah.\r\n\t\t\t Take the silver and gold and make a crown, and set it on the head of the high priest Joshua son of Jehozadak; \r\n\t\t\t say to him: Thus says the LORD of hosts: Here is a man whose name is Branch: for he shall branch out in his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t It is he that shall build the temple of the LORD; he shall bear royal honor, and shall sit upon his throne and rule. There shall be a priest by his throne, with peaceful understanding between the two of them.\r\n\t\t\t And the crown shall be in the care of Heldai, Tobijah, Jedaiah, and Josiah son of Zephaniah, as a memorial in the temple of the LORD. \r\n\t\t\t Those who are far off shall come and help to build the temple of the LORD; and you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you. This will happen if you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t In the fourth year of King Darius, the word of the LORD came to Zechariah on the fourth day of the ninth month, which is Chislev.\r\n\t\t\t Now the people of Bethel had sent Sharezer and Regem-melech and their men, to entreat the favor of the LORD,\r\n\t\t\t and to ask the priests of the house of the LORD of hosts and the prophets, \"Should I mourn and practice abstinence in the fifth month, as I have done for so many years?\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the word of the LORD of hosts came to me:\r\n\t\t\t Say to all the people of the land and the priests: When you fasted and lamented in the fifth month and in the seventh, for these seventy years, was it for me that you fasted?\r\n\t\t\t And when you eat and when you drink, do you not eat and drink only for yourselves?\r\n\t\t\t Were not these the words that the LORD proclaimed by the former prophets, when Jerusalem was inhabited and in prosperity, along with the towns around it, and when the Negeb and the Shephelah were inhabited?\r\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD came to Zechariah, saying:\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD of hosts: Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another;\r\n\t\t\t do not oppress the widow, the orphan, the alien, or the poor; and do not devise evil in your hearts against one another.\r\n\t\t\t But they refused to listen, and turned a stubborn shoulder, and stopped their ears in order not to hear.\r\n\t\t\t They made their hearts adamant in order not to hear the law and the words that the LORD of hosts had sent by his spirit through the former prophets. Therefore great wrath came from the LORD of hosts.\r\n\t\t\t Just as, when I called, they would not hear, so, when they called, I would not hear, says the LORD of hosts, \r\n\t\t\t and I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations that they had not known. Thus the land they left was desolate, so that no one went to and fro, and a pleasant land was made desolate.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD of hosts came to me, saying:\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD of hosts: I am jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I am jealous for her with great wrath.\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD: I will return to Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem; Jerusalem shall be called the faithful city, and the mountain of the LORD of hosts shall be called the holy mountain.\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD of hosts: Old men and old women shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each with staff in hand because of their great age.\r\n\t\t\t And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets.\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD of hosts: Even though it seems impossible to the remnant of this people in these days, should it also seem impossible to me, says the LORD of hosts?\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD of hosts: I will save my people from the east country and from the west country;\r\n\t\t\t and I will bring them to live in Jerusalem. They shall be my people and I will be their God, in faithfulness and in righteousness.\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD of hosts: Let your hands be strong-- you that have recently been hearing these words from the mouths of the prophets who were present when the foundation was laid for the rebuilding of the temple, the house of the LORD of hosts.\r\n\t\t\t For before those days there were no wages for people or for animals, nor was there any safety from the foe for those who went out or came in, and I set them all against one other.\r\n\t\t\t But now I will not deal with the remnant of this people as in the former days, says the LORD of hosts.\r\n\t\t\t For there shall be a sowing of peace; the vine shall yield its fruit, the ground shall give its produce, and the skies shall give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things.\r\n\t\t\t Just as you have been a cursing among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so I will save you and you shall be a blessing. Do not be afraid, but let your hands be strong.\r\n\t\t\t For thus says the LORD of hosts: Just as I purposed to bring disaster upon you, when your ancestors provoked me to wrath, and I did not relent, says the LORD of hosts,\r\n\t\t\t so again I have purposed in these days to do good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah; do not be afraid.\r\n\t\t\t These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another, render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace,\r\n\t\t\t do not devise evil in your hearts against one another, and love no false oath; for all these are things that I hate, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t The word of the LORD of hosts came to me, saying:\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD of hosts: The fast of the fourth month, and the fast of the fifth, and the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth, shall be seasons of joy and gladness, and cheerful festivals for the house of Judah: therefore love truth and peace.\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD of hosts: Peoples shall yet come, the inhabitants of many cities;\r\n\t\t\t the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, \"Come, let us go to entreat the favor of the LORD, and to seek the LORD of hosts; I myself am going.\"\r\n\t\t\t Many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, and to entreat the favor of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Thus says the LORD of hosts: In those days ten men from nations of every language shall take hold of a Jew, grasping his garment and saying, \"Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t An Oracle. The word of the LORD is against the land of Hadrach and will rest upon Damascus. For to the LORD belongs the capital of Aram, as do all the tribes of Israel; \r\n\t\t\t Hamath also, which borders on it, Tyre and Sidon, though they are very wise.\r\n\t\t\t Tyre has built itself a rampart, and heaped up silver like dust, and gold like the dirt of the streets.\r\n\t\t\t But now, the Lord will strip it of its possessions and hurl its wealth into the sea, and it shall be devoured by fire.\r\n\t\t\t Ashkelon shall see it and be afraid; Gaza too, and shall writhe in anguish; Ekron also, because its hopes are withered. The king shall perish from Gaza; Ashkelon shall be uninhabited;\r\n\t\t\t a mongrel people shall settle in Ashdod, and I will make an end of the pride of Philistia.\r\n\t\t\t I will take away its blood from its mouth, and its abominations from between its teeth; it too shall be a remnant for our God; it shall be like a clan in Judah, and Ekron shall be like the Jebusites.\r\n\t\t\t Then I will encamp at my house as a guard, so that no one shall march to and fro; no oppressor shall again overrun them, for now I have seen with my own eyes.\r\n\t\t\t Rejoice greatly, O daughter Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter Jerusalem! Lo, your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is he, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.\r\n\t\t\t He will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the war-horse from Jerusalem; and the battle bow shall be cut off, and he shall command peace to the nations; his dominion shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth. \r\n\t\t\t As for you also, because of the blood of my covenant with you, I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit.\r\n\t\t\t Return to your stronghold, O prisoners of hope; today I declare that I will restore to you double.\r\n\t\t\t For I have bent Judah as my bow; I have made Ephraim its arrow. I will arouse your sons, O Zion, against your sons, O Greece, and wield you like a warrior's sword.\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD will appear over them, and his arrow go forth like lightning; the Lord GOD will sound the trumpet and march forth in the whirlwinds of the south.\r\n\t\t\t The LORD of hosts will protect them, and they shall devour and tread down the slingers; they shall drink their blood like wine, and be full like a bowl, drenched like the corners of the altar. \r\n\t\t\t On that day the LORD their God will save them for they are the flock of his people; for like the jewels of a crown they shall shine on his land.\r\n\t\t\t For what goodness and beauty are his! Grain shall make the young men flourish, and new wine the young women.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Ask rain from the LORD in the season of the spring rain, from the LORD who makes the storm clouds, who gives showers of rain to you, the vegetation in the field to everyone. \r\n\t\t\t For the teraphim utter nonsense, and the diviners see lies; the dreamers tell false dreams, and give empty consolation. Therefore the people wander like sheep; they suffer for lack of a shepherd. \r\n\t\t\t My anger is hot against the shepherds, and I will punish the leaders; for the LORD of hosts cares for his flock, the house of Judah, and will make them like his proud war-horse. \r\n\t\t\t Out of them shall come the cornerstone, out of them the tent peg, out of them the battle bow, out of them every commander.\r\n\t\t\t Together they shall be like warriors in battle, trampling the foe in the mud of the streets; they shall fight, for the LORD is with them, and they shall put to shame the riders on horses.\r\n\t\t\t I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph. I will bring them back because I have compassion on them, and they shall be as though I had not rejected them; for I am the LORD their God and I will answer them.\r\n\t\t\t Then the people of Ephraim shall become like warriors, and their hearts shall be glad as with wine. Their children shall see it and rejoice, their hearts shall exult in the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t I will signal for them and gather them in, for I have redeemed them, and they shall be as numerous as they were before.\r\n\t\t\t Though I scattered them among the nations, yet in far countries they shall remember me, and they shall rear their children and return.\r\n\t\t\t I will bring them home from the land of Egypt, and gather them from Assyria; I will bring them to the land of Gilead and to Lebanon, until there is no room for them.\r\n\t\t\t They shall pass through the sea of distress, and the waves of the sea shall be struck down, and all the depths of the Nile dried up. The pride of Assyria shall be laid low, and the scepter of Egypt shall depart. \r\n\t\t\t I will make them strong in the LORD, and they shall walk in his name, says the LORD.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Open your doors, O Lebanon, so that fire may devour your cedars!\r\n\t\t\t Wail, O cypress, for the cedar has fallen, for the glorious trees are ruined! Wail, oaks of Bashan, for the thick forest has been felled!\r\n\t\t\t Listen, the wail of the shepherds, for their glory is despoiled! Listen, the roar of the lions, for the thickets of the Jordan are destroyed!\r\n\t\t\t Thus said the LORD my God: Be a shepherd of the flock doomed to slaughter.\r\n\t\t\t Those who buy them kill them and go unpunished; and those who sell them say, \"Blessed be the LORD, for I have become rich\"; and their own shepherds have no pity on them.\r\n\t\t\t For I will no longer have pity on the inhabitants of the earth, says the LORD. I will cause them, every one, to fall each into the hand of a neighbor, and each into the hand of the king; and they shall devastate the earth, and I will deliver no one from their hand.\r\n\t\t\t So, on behalf of the sheep merchants, I became the shepherd of the flock doomed to slaughter. I took two staffs; one I named Favor, the other I named Unity, and I tended the sheep.\r\n\t\t\t In one month I disposed of the three shepherds, for I had become impatient with them, and they also detested me.\r\n\t\t\t So I said, \"I will not be your shepherd. What is to die, let it die; what is to be destroyed, let it be destroyed; and let those that are left devour the flesh of one another!\"\r\n\t\t\t I took my staff Favor and broke it, annulling the covenant that I had made with all the peoples.\r\n\t\t\t So it was annulled on that day, and the sheep merchants, who were watching me, knew that it was the word of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t I then said to them, \"If it seems right to you, give me my wages; but if not, keep them.\" So they weighed out as my wages thirty shekels of silver.\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD said to me, \"Throw it into the treasury\"-- this lordly price at which I was valued by them. So I took the thirty shekels of silver and threw them into the treasury in the house of the LORD.\r\n\t\t\t Then I broke my second staff Unity, annulling the family ties between Judah and Israel.\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD said to me: Take once more the implements of a worthless shepherd.\r\n\t\t\t For I am now raising up in the land a shepherd who does not care for the perishing, or seek the wandering, or heal the maimed, or nourish the healthy, but devours the flesh of the fat ones, tearing off even their hoofs.\r\n\t\t\t Oh, my worthless shepherd, who deserts the flock! May the sword strike his arm and his right eye! Let his arm be completely withered, his right eye utterly blinded!\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t An Oracle. The word of the LORD concerning Israel: Thus says the LORD, who stretched out the heavens and founded the earth and formed the human spirit within:\r\n\t\t\t See, I am about to make Jerusalem a cup of reeling for all the surrounding peoples; it will be against Judah also in the siege against Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t On that day I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who lift it shall grievously hurt themselves. And all the nations of the earth shall come together against it.\r\n\t\t\t On that day, says the LORD, I will strike every horse with panic, and its rider with madness. But on the house of Judah I will keep a watchful eye, when I strike every horse of the peoples with blindness.\r\n\t\t\t Then the clans of Judah shall say to themselves, \"The inhabitants of Jerusalem have strength through the LORD of hosts, their God.\"\r\n\t\t\t On that day I will make the clans of Judah like a blazing pot on a pile of wood, like a flaming torch among sheaves; and they shall devour to the right and to the left all the surrounding peoples, while Jerusalem shall again be inhabited in its place, in Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t And the LORD will give victory to the tents of Judah first, that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem may not be exalted over that of Judah.\r\n\t\t\t On that day the LORD will shield the inhabitants of Jerusalem so that the feeblest among them on that day shall be like David, and the house of David shall be like God, like the angel of the LORD, at their head.\r\n\t\t\t And on that day I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t And I will pour out a spirit of compassion and supplication on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that, when they look on the one whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn. \r\n\t\t\t On that day the mourning in Jerusalem will be as great as the mourning for Hadad-rimmon in the plain of Megiddo.\r\n\t\t\t The land shall mourn, each family by itself; the family of the house of David by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family of the house of Nathan by itself, and their wives by themselves;\r\n\t\t\t the family of the house of Levi by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family of the Shimeites by itself, and their wives by themselves;\r\n\t\t\t and all the families that are left, each by itself, and their wives by themselves.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t On that day a fountain shall be opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity.\r\n\t\t\t On that day, says the LORD of hosts, I will cut off the names of the idols from the land, so that they shall be remembered no more; and also I will remove from the land the prophets and the unclean spirit.\r\n\t\t\t And if any prophets appear again, their fathers and mothers who bore them will say to them, \"You shall not live, for you speak lies in the name of the LORD\"; and their fathers and their mothers who bore them shall pierce them through when they prophesy.\r\n\t\t\t On that day the prophets will be ashamed, every one, of their visions when they prophesy; they will not put on a hairy mantle in order to deceive,\r\n\t\t\t but each of them will say, \"I am no prophet, I am a tiller of the soil; for the land has been my possession since my youth.\" \r\n\t\t\t And if anyone asks them, \"What are these wounds on your chest?\" the answer will be \"The wounds I received in the house of my friends.\" \r\n\t\t\t \"Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, against the man who is my associate,\" says the LORD of hosts. Strike the shepherd, that the sheep may be scattered; I will turn my hand against the little ones.\r\n\t\t\t In the whole land, says the LORD, two-thirds shall be cut off and perish, and one-third shall be left alive.\r\n\t\t\t And I will put this third into the fire, refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested. They will call on my name, and I will answer them. I will say, \"They are my people\"; and they will say, \"The LORD is our God.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t See, a day is coming for the LORD, when the plunder taken from you will be divided in your midst.\r\n\t\t\t For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city shall be taken and the houses looted and the women raped; half the city shall go into exile, but the rest of the people shall not be cut off from the city.\r\n\t\t\t Then the LORD will go forth and fight against those nations as when he fights on a day of battle.\r\n\t\t\t On that day his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives, which lies before Jerusalem on the east; and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two from east to west by a very wide valley; so that one half of the Mount shall withdraw northward, and the other half southward.\r\n\t\t\t And you shall flee by the valley of the LORD's mountain, for the valley between the mountains shall reach to Azal; and you shall flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of King Uzziah of Judah. Then the LORD my God will come, and all the holy ones with him. \r\n\t\t\t On that day there shall not be either cold or frost. \r\n\t\t\t And there shall be continuous day (it is known to the LORD), not day and not night, for at evening time there shall be light.\r\n\t\t\t On that day living waters shall flow out from Jerusalem, half of them to the eastern sea and half of them to the western sea; it shall continue in summer as in winter.\r\n\t\t\t And the LORD will become king over all the earth; on that day the LORD will be one and his name one.\r\n\t\t\t The whole land shall be turned into a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem. But Jerusalem shall remain aloft on its site from the Gate of Benjamin to the place of the former gate, to the Corner Gate, and from the Tower of Hananel to the king's wine presses.\r\n\t\t\t And it shall be inhabited, for never again shall it be doomed to destruction; Jerusalem shall abide in security.\r\n\t\t\t This shall be the plague with which the LORD will strike all the peoples that wage war against Jerusalem: their flesh shall rot while they are still on their feet; their eyes shall rot in their sockets, and their tongues shall rot in their mouths.\r\n\t\t\t On that day a great panic from the LORD shall fall on them, so that each will seize the hand of a neighbor, and the hand of the one will be raised against the hand of the other;\r\n\t\t\t even Judah will fight at Jerusalem. And the wealth of all the surrounding nations shall be collected-- gold, silver, and garments in great abundance.\r\n\t\t\t And a plague like this plague shall fall on the horses, the mules, the camels, the donkeys, and whatever animals may be in those camps.\r\n\t\t\t Then all who survive of the nations that have come against Jerusalem shall go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the festival of booths. \r\n\t\t\t If any of the families of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, there will be no rain upon them.\r\n\t\t\t And if the family of Egypt do not go up and present themselves, then on them shall come the plague that the LORD inflicts on the nations that do not go up to keep the festival of booths. \r\n\t\t\t Such shall be the punishment of Egypt and the punishment of all the nations that do not go up to keep the festival of booths. \r\n\t\t\t On that day there shall be inscribed on the bells of the horses, \"Holy to the LORD.\" And the cooking pots in the house of the LORD shall be as holy as the bowls in front of the altar;\r\n\t\t\t and every cooking pot in Jerusalem and Judah shall be sacred to the LORD of hosts, so that all who sacrifice may come and use them to boil the flesh of the sacrifice. And there shall no longer be traders in the house of the LORD of hosts on that day. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t An oracle. The word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi. \r\n\t\t\t I have loved you, says the LORD. But you say, \"How have you loved us?\" Is not Esau Jacob's brother? says the LORD. Yet I have loved Jacob\r\n\t\t\t but I have hated Esau; I have made his hill country a desolation and his heritage a desert for jackals.\r\n\t\t\t If Edom says, \"We are shattered but we will rebuild the ruins,\" the LORD of hosts says: They may build, but I will tear down, until they are called the wicked country, the people with whom the LORD is angry forever.\r\n\t\t\t Your own eyes shall see this, and you shall say, \"Great is the LORD beyond the borders of Israel!\"\r\n\t\t\t A son honors his father, and servants their master. If then I am a father, where is the honor due me? And if I am a master, where is the respect due me? says the LORD of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name. You say, \"How have we despised your name?\"\r\n\t\t\t By offering polluted food on my altar. And you say, \"How have we polluted it?\" By thinking that the LORD's table may be despised. \r\n\t\t\t When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not wrong? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not wrong? Try presenting that to your governor; will he be pleased with you or show you favor? says the LORD of hosts.\r\n\t\t\t And now implore the favor of God, that he may be gracious to us. The fault is yours. Will he show favor to any of you? says the LORD of hosts.\r\n\t\t\t Oh, that someone among you would shut the temple doors, so that you would not kindle fire on my altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you, says the LORD of hosts, and I will not accept an offering from your hands. \r\n\t\t\t For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name is great among the nations, and in every place incense is offered to my name, and a pure offering; for my name is great among the nations, says the LORD of hosts.\r\n\t\t\t But you profane it when you say that the Lord's table is polluted, and the food for it may be despised. \r\n\t\t\t \"What a weariness this is,\" you say, and you sniff at me, says the LORD of hosts. You bring what has been taken by violence or is lame or sick, and this you bring as your offering! Shall I accept that from your hand? says the LORD. \r\n\t\t\t Cursed be the cheat who has a male in the flock and vows to give it, and yet sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished; for I am a great King, says the LORD of hosts, and my name is reverenced among the nations.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t And now, O priests, this command is for you.\r\n\t\t\t If you will not listen, if you will not lay it to heart to give glory to my name, says the LORD of hosts, then I will send the curse on you and I will curse your blessings; indeed I have already cursed them, because you do not lay it to heart. \r\n\t\t\t I will rebuke your offspring, and spread dung on your faces, the dung of your offerings, and I will put you out of my presence. \r\n\t\t\t Know, then, that I have sent this command to you, that my covenant with Levi may hold, says the LORD of hosts.\r\n\t\t\t My covenant with him was a covenant of life and well-being, which I gave him; this called for reverence, and he revered me and stood in awe of my name.\r\n\t\t\t True instruction was in his mouth, and no wrong was found on his lips. He walked with me in integrity and uprightness, and he turned many from iniquity.\r\n\t\t\t For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.\r\n\t\t\t But you have turned aside from the way; you have caused many to stumble by your instruction; you have corrupted the covenant of Levi, says the LORD of hosts,\r\n\t\t\t and so I make you despised and abased before all the people, inasmuch as you have not kept my ways but have shown partiality in your instruction.\r\n\t\t\t Have we not all one father? Has not one God created us? Why then are we faithless to one another, profaning the covenant of our ancestors?\r\n\t\t\t Judah has been faithless, and abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah has profaned the sanctuary of the LORD, which he loves, and has married the daughter of a foreign god.\r\n\t\t\t May the LORD cut off from the tents of Jacob anyone who does this-- any to witness or answer, or to bring an offering to the LORD of hosts.\r\n\t\t\t And this you do as well: You cover the LORD's altar with tears, with weeping and groaning because he no longer regards the offering or accepts it with favor at your hand.\r\n\t\t\t You ask, \"Why does he not?\" Because the LORD was a witness between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been faithless, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant.\r\n\t\t\t Did not one God make her? Both flesh and spirit are his. And what does the one God desire? Godly offspring. So look to yourselves, and do not let anyone be faithless to the wife of his youth. \r\n\t\t\t For I hate divorce, says the LORD, the God of Israel, and covering one's garment with violence, says the LORD of hosts. So take heed to yourselves and do not be faithless. \r\n\t\t\t You have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet you say, \"How have we wearied him?\" By saying, \"All who do evil are good in the sight of the LORD, and he delights in them.\" Or by asking, \"Where is the God of justice?\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight-- indeed, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts.\r\n\t\t\t But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap;\r\n\t\t\t he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the LORD in righteousness. \r\n\t\t\t Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the LORD as in the days of old and as in former years.\r\n\t\t\t Then I will draw near to you for judgment; I will be swift to bear witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired workers in their wages, the widow and the orphan, against those who thrust aside the alien, and do not fear me, says the LORD of hosts.\r\n\t\t\t For I the LORD do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, have not perished.\r\n\t\t\t Ever since the days of your ancestors you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts. But you say, \"How shall we return?\"\r\n\t\t\t Will anyone rob God? Yet you are robbing me! But you say, \"How are we robbing you?\" In your tithes and offerings!\r\n\t\t\t You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me-- the whole nation of you!\r\n\t\t\t Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in my house, and thus put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts; see if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing.\r\n\t\t\t I will rebuke the locust for you, so that it will not destroy the produce of your soil; and your vine in the field shall not be barren, says the LORD of hosts. \r\n\t\t\t Then all nations will count you happy, for you will be a land of delight, says the LORD of hosts.\r\n\t\t\t You have spoken harsh words against me, says the LORD. Yet you say, \"How have we spoken against you?\"\r\n\t\t\t You have said, \"It is vain to serve God. What do we profit by keeping his command or by going about as mourners before the LORD of hosts?\r\n\t\t\t Now we count the arrogant happy; evildoers not only prosper, but when they put God to the test they escape.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then those who revered the LORD spoke with one another. The LORD took note and listened, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who revered the LORD and thought on his name.\r\n\t\t\t They shall be mine, says the LORD of hosts, my special possession on the day when I act, and I will spare them as parents spare their children who serve them.\r\n\t\t\t Then once more you shall see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t See, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble; the day that comes shall burn them up, says the LORD of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch.\r\n\t\t\t But for you who revere my name the sun of righteousness shall rise, with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall.\r\n\t\t\t And you shall tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet, on the day when I act, says the LORD of hosts.\r\n\t\t\t Remember the teaching of my servant Moses, the statutes and ordinances that I commanded him at Horeb for all Israel.\r\n\t\t\t Lo, I will send you the prophet Elijah before the great and terrible day of the LORD comes.\r\n\t\t\t He will turn the hearts of parents to their children and the hearts of children to their parents, so that I will not come and strike the land with a curse. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t An account of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham. \r\n\t\t\t Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,\r\n\t\t\t and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Aram,\r\n\t\t\t and Aram the father of Aminadab, and Aminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon,\r\n\t\t\t and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse,\r\n\t\t\t and Jesse the father of King David. And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah,\r\n\t\t\t and Solomon the father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asaph, \r\n\t\t\t and Asaph the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah, \r\n\t\t\t and Uzziah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah,\r\n\t\t\t and Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, and Manasseh the father of Amos, and Amos the father of Josiah, \r\n\t\t\t and Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon.\r\n\t\t\t And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Salathiel, and Salathiel the father of Zerubbabel,\r\n\t\t\t and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, and Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor,\r\n\t\t\t and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud,\r\n\t\t\t and Eliud the father of Eleazar, and Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob,\r\n\t\t\t and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called the Messiah. \r\n\t\t\t So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David to the deportation to Babylon, fourteen generations; and from the deportation to Babylon to the Messiah, fourteen generations. \r\n\t\t\t Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. \r\n\t\t\t Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly.\r\n\t\t\t But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, \"Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.\r\n\t\t\t She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.\"\r\n\t\t\t All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:\r\n\t\t\t \"Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,\" which means, \"God is with us.\"\r\n\t\t\t When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife,\r\n\t\t\t but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem,\r\n\t\t\t asking, \"Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.\" \r\n\t\t\t When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him;\r\n\t\t\t and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. \r\n\t\t\t They told him, \"In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:\r\n\t\t\t 'And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.'\" \r\n\t\t\t Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. \r\n\t\t\t Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, \"Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.\"\r\n\t\t\t When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. \r\n\t\t\t When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. \r\n\t\t\t On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.\r\n\t\t\t And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.\r\n\t\t\t Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, \"Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, \r\n\t\t\t and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, \"Out of Egypt I have called my son.\"\r\n\t\t\t When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he was infuriated, and he sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had learned from the wise men. \r\n\t\t\t Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah:\r\n\t\t\t \"A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they are no more.\"\r\n\t\t\t When Herod died, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said,\r\n\t\t\t \"Get up, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who were seeking the child's life are dead.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. \r\n\t\t\t But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And after being warned in a dream, he went away to the district of Galilee.\r\n\t\t\t There he made his home in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, \"He will be called a Nazorean.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming,\r\n\t\t\t \"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.\" \r\n\t\t\t This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, \"The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.'\"\r\n\t\t\t Now John wore clothing of camel's hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.\r\n\t\t\t Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan,\r\n\t\t\t and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.\r\n\t\t\t But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, \"You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?\r\n\t\t\t Bear fruit worthy of repentance.\r\n\t\t\t Do not presume to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our ancestor'; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham.\r\n\t\t\t Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.\r\n\t\t\t \"I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. \r\n\t\t\t His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him.\r\n\t\t\t John would have prevented him, saying, \"I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?\"\r\n\t\t\t But Jesus answered him, \"Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.\" Then he consented.\r\n\t\t\t And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.\r\n\t\t\t And a voice from heaven said, \"This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.\" \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.\r\n\t\t\t He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished.\r\n\t\t\t The tempter came and said to him, \"If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.\"\r\n\t\t\t But he answered, \"It is written, 'One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple,\r\n\t\t\t saying to him, \"If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, 'He will command his angels concerning you,' and 'On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.'\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus said to him, \"Again it is written, 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'\"\r\n\t\t\t Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor;\r\n\t\t\t and he said to him, \"All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus said to him, \"Away with you, Satan! for it is written, 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.'\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.\r\n\t\t\t Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. \r\n\t\t\t He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali,\r\n\t\t\t so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:\r\n\t\t\t \"Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali, on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles--\r\n\t\t\t the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.\"\r\n\t\t\t From that time Jesus began to proclaim, \"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.\" \r\n\t\t\t As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea-- for they were fishermen.\r\n\t\t\t And he said to them, \"Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.\"\r\n\t\t\t Immediately they left their nets and followed him.\r\n\t\t\t As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them.\r\n\t\t\t Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.\r\n\t\t\t Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people. \r\n\t\t\t So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought to him all the sick, those who were afflicted with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, and paralytics, and he cured them.\r\n\t\t\t And great crowds followed him from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him.\r\n\t\t\t Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:\r\n\t\t\t \"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.\r\n\t\t\t \"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.\r\n\t\t\t \"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.\r\n\t\t\t \"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.\r\n\t\t\t \"Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.\r\n\t\t\t \"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.\r\n\t\t\t \"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.\r\n\t\t\t \"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.\r\n\t\t\t \"Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. \r\n\t\t\t Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.\r\n\t\t\t \"You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot.\r\n\t\t\t \"You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid.\r\n\t\t\t No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house.\r\n\t\t\t In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.\r\n\t\t\t \"Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.\r\n\t\t\t For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. \r\n\t\t\t Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. \r\n\t\t\t For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.\r\n\t\t\t \"You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, 'You shall not murder'; and 'whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.'\r\n\t\t\t But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, 'You fool,' you will be liable to the hell of fire.\r\n\t\t\t So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, \r\n\t\t\t leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. \r\n\t\t\t Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. \r\n\t\t\t Truly I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.\r\n\t\t\t \"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.'\r\n\t\t\t But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.\r\n\t\t\t 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 members than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. \r\n\t\t\t And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to go into hell.\r\n\t\t\t \"It was also said, 'Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.'\r\n\t\t\t But I say to you that anyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of unchastity, causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.\r\n\t\t\t \"Again, you have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, 'You shall not swear falsely, but carry out the vows you have made to the Lord.'\r\n\t\t\t But I say to you, Do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God,\r\n\t\t\t or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.\r\n\t\t\t And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black.\r\n\t\t\t Let your word be 'Yes, Yes' or 'No, No'; anything more than this comes from the evil one. \r\n\t\t\t \"You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.'\r\n\t\t\t But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also;\r\n\t\t\t and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well;\r\n\t\t\t and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile.\r\n\t\t\t Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you.\r\n\t\t\t \"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'\r\n\t\t\t But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,\r\n\t\t\t so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous.\r\n\t\t\t For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?\r\n\t\t\t And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? \r\n\t\t\t Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t \"Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven.\r\n\t\t\t \"So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward.\r\n\t\t\t But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,\r\n\t\t\t so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. \r\n\t\t\t \"And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward.\r\n\t\t\t But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. \r\n\t\t\t \"When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many words.\r\n\t\t\t Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.\r\n\t\t\t \"Pray then in this way: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.\r\n\t\t\t Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.\r\n\t\t\t Give us this day our daily bread. \r\n\t\t\t And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.\r\n\t\t\t And do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one.\r\n\t\t\t For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you;\r\n\t\t\t but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.\r\n\t\t\t \"And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward.\r\n\t\t\t But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face,\r\n\t\t\t so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. \r\n\t\t\t \"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; \r\n\t\t\t but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. \r\n\t\t\t For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.\r\n\t\t\t \"The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light;\r\n\t\t\t but if your eye is unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!\r\n\t\t\t \"No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth. \r\n\t\t\t \"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? \r\n\t\t\t Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?\r\n\t\t\t And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? \r\n\t\t\t And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin,\r\n\t\t\t yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these.\r\n\t\t\t But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you-- you of little faith?\r\n\t\t\t Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear?'\r\n\t\t\t For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.\r\n\t\t\t But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. \r\n\t\t\t \"So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today's trouble is enough for today.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t \"Do not judge, so that you may not be judged.\r\n\t\t\t For with the judgment you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get.\r\n\t\t\t Why do you see the speck in your neighbor's eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? \r\n\t\t\t Or how can you say to your neighbor, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' while the log is in your own eye?\r\n\t\t\t You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor's eye. \r\n\t\t\t \"Do not give what is holy to dogs; and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under foot and turn and maul you.\r\n\t\t\t \"Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you.\r\n\t\t\t For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.\r\n\t\t\t Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for bread, will give a stone?\r\n\t\t\t Or if the child asks for a fish, will give a snake?\r\n\t\t\t If you then, 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 ask him!\r\n\t\t\t \"In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets.\r\n\t\t\t \"Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. \r\n\t\t\t For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it.\r\n\t\t\t \"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.\r\n\t\t\t You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles?\r\n\t\t\t In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit.\r\n\t\t\t A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.\r\n\t\t\t Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.\r\n\t\t\t Thus you will know them by their fruits.\r\n\t\t\t \"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.\r\n\t\t\t On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name?'\r\n\t\t\t Then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; go away from me, you evildoers.'\r\n\t\t\t \"Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.\r\n\t\t\t The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock.\r\n\t\t\t And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand.\r\n\t\t\t The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell-- and great was its fall!\"\r\n\t\t\t Now when Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astounded at his teaching,\r\n\t\t\t for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t When Jesus had come down from the mountain, great crowds followed him; \r\n\t\t\t and there was a leper who came to him and knelt before him, saying, \"Lord, if you choose, you can make me clean.\" \r\n\t\t\t He stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, \"I do choose. Be made clean!\" Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.\r\n\t\t\t Then Jesus said to him, \"See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.\"\r\n\t\t\t When he entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, appealing to him\r\n\t\t\t and saying, \"Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, in terrible distress.\"\r\n\t\t\t And he said to him, \"I will come and cure him.\"\r\n\t\t\t The centurion answered, \"Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only speak the word, and my servant will be healed.\r\n\t\t\t For I also am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes, and to another, 'Come,' and he comes, and to my slave, 'Do this,' and the slave does it.\"\r\n\t\t\t When Jesus heard him, he was amazed and said to those who followed him, \"Truly I tell you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith. \r\n\t\t\t I tell you, many will come from east and west and will eat with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven,\r\n\t\t\t while the heirs of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.\"\r\n\t\t\t And to the centurion Jesus said, \"Go; let it be done for you according to your faith.\" And the servant was healed in that hour.\r\n\t\t\t When Jesus entered Peter's house, he saw his mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever;\r\n\t\t\t he touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she got up and began to serve him.\r\n\t\t\t That evening they brought to him many who were possessed with demons; and he cast out the spirits with a word, and cured all who were sick.\r\n\t\t\t This was to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah, \"He took our infirmities and bore our diseases.\"\r\n\t\t\t Now when Jesus saw great crowds around him, he gave orders to go over to the other side.\r\n\t\t\t A scribe then approached and said, \"Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.\"\r\n\t\t\t And Jesus said to him, \"Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.\"\r\n\t\t\t Another of his disciples said to him, \"Lord, first let me go and bury my father.\"\r\n\t\t\t But Jesus said to him, \"Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.\"\r\n\t\t\t And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him.\r\n\t\t\t A windstorm arose on the sea, so great that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep.\r\n\t\t\t And they went and woke him up, saying, \"Lord, save us! We are perishing!\"\r\n\t\t\t And he said to them, \"Why are you afraid, you of little faith?\" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a dead calm.\r\n\t\t\t They were amazed, saying, \"What sort of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?\"\r\n\t\t\t When he came to the other side, to the country of the Gadarenes, two demoniacs coming out of the tombs met him. They were so fierce that no one could pass that way. \r\n\t\t\t Suddenly they shouted, \"What have you to do with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?\"\r\n\t\t\t Now a large herd of swine was feeding at some distance from them.\r\n\t\t\t The demons begged him, \"If you cast us out, send us into the herd of swine.\"\r\n\t\t\t And he said to them, \"Go!\" So they came out and entered the swine; and suddenly, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and perished in the water.\r\n\t\t\t The swineherds ran off, and on going into the town, they told the whole story about what had happened to the demoniacs.\r\n\t\t\t Then the whole town came out to meet Jesus; and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their neighborhood.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t And after getting into a boat he crossed the sea and came to his own town.\r\n\t\t\t And just then some people were carrying a paralyzed man lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, \"Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then some of the scribes said to themselves, \"This man is blaspheming.\"\r\n\t\t\t But Jesus, perceiving their thoughts, said, \"Why do you think evil in your hearts?\r\n\t\t\t For which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Stand up and walk'?\r\n\t\t\t But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins\"-- he then said to the paralytic-- \"Stand up, take your bed and go to your home.\"\r\n\t\t\t And he stood up and went to his home.\r\n\t\t\t When the crowds saw it, they were filled with awe, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to human beings.\r\n\t\t\t As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, \"Follow me.\" And he got up and followed him.\r\n\t\t\t And as he sat at dinner in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came and were sitting with him and his disciples. \r\n\t\t\t When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, \"Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?\"\r\n\t\t\t But when he heard this, he said, \"Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.\r\n\t\t\t Go and learn what this means, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, \"Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?\" \r\n\t\t\t And Jesus said to them, \"The wedding guests cannot mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them, can they? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.\r\n\t\t\t No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old cloak, for the patch pulls away from the cloak, and a worse tear is made.\r\n\t\t\t Neither is new wine put into old wineskins; otherwise, the skins burst, and the wine is spilled, and the skins are destroyed; but new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved.\"\r\n\t\t\t While he was saying these things to them, suddenly a leader of the synagogue came in and knelt before him, saying, \"My daughter has just died; but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.\" \r\n\t\t\t And Jesus got up and followed him, with his disciples.\r\n\t\t\t Then suddenly a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his cloak,\r\n\t\t\t for she said to herself, \"If I only touch his cloak, I will be made well.\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, \"Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.\" And instantly the woman was made well.\r\n\t\t\t When Jesus came to the leader's house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion,\r\n\t\t\t he said, \"Go away; for the girl is not dead but sleeping.\" And they laughed at him.\r\n\t\t\t But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl got up.\r\n\t\t\t And the report of this spread throughout that district.\r\n\t\t\t As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, crying loudly, \"Have mercy on us, Son of David!\"\r\n\t\t\t When he entered the house, the blind men came to him; and Jesus said to them, \"Do you believe that I am able to do this?\" They said to him, \"Yes, Lord.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then he touched their eyes and said, \"According to your faith let it be done to you.\"\r\n\t\t\t And their eyes were opened. Then Jesus sternly ordered them, \"See that no one knows of this.\"\r\n\t\t\t But they went away and spread the news about him throughout that district.\r\n\t\t\t After they had gone away, a demoniac who was mute was brought to him.\r\n\t\t\t And when the demon had been cast out, the one who had been mute spoke; and the crowds were amazed and said, \"Never has anything like this been seen in Israel.\"\r\n\t\t\t But the Pharisees said, \"By the ruler of the demons he casts out the demons.\" \r\n\t\t\t Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness.\r\n\t\t\t When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.\r\n\t\t\t Then he said to his disciples, \"The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few;\r\n\t\t\t therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness. \r\n\t\t\t These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon, also known as Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John;\r\n\t\t\t Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;\r\n\t\t\t Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed him.\r\n\t\t\t These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: \"Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans,\r\n\t\t\t but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t As you go, proclaim the good news, 'The kingdom of heaven has come near.' \r\n\t\t\t Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. You received without payment; give without payment. \r\n\t\t\t Take no gold, or silver, or copper in your belts,\r\n\t\t\t no bag for your journey, or two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for laborers deserve their food.\r\n\t\t\t Whatever town or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy, and stay there until you leave.\r\n\t\t\t As you enter the house, greet it.\r\n\t\t\t If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.\r\n\t\t\t If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town.\r\n\t\t\t Truly I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.\r\n\t\t\t \"See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.\r\n\t\t\t Beware of them, for they will hand you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues;\r\n\t\t\t and you will be dragged before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them and the Gentiles.\r\n\t\t\t When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you at that time;\r\n\t\t\t for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.\r\n\t\t\t Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death;\r\n\t\t\t and you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.\r\n\t\t\t When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next; for truly I tell you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.\r\n\t\t\t \"A disciple is not above the teacher, nor a slave above the master;\r\n\t\t\t it is enough for the disciple to be like the teacher, and the slave like the master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household!\r\n\t\t\t \"So have no fear of them; for nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known.\r\n\t\t\t What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim from the housetops.\r\n\t\t\t Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. \r\n\t\t\t Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.\r\n\t\t\t And even the hairs of your head are all counted.\r\n\t\t\t So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.\r\n\t\t\t \"Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven;\r\n\t\t\t but whoever denies me before others, I also will deny before my Father in heaven.\r\n\t\t\t \"Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.\r\n\t\t\t For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;\r\n\t\t\t and one's foes will be members of one's own household.\r\n\t\t\t Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me;\r\n\t\t\t and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me.\r\n\t\t\t Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.\r\n\t\t\t \"Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.\r\n\t\t\t Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet's reward; and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous;\r\n\t\t\t and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple-- truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now when Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and proclaim his message in their cities.\r\n\t\t\t When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples \r\n\t\t\t and said to him, \"Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus answered them, \"Go and tell John what you hear and see:\r\n\t\t\t the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them.\r\n\t\t\t And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.\"\r\n\t\t\t As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: \"What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind?\r\n\t\t\t What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces. \r\n\t\t\t What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. \r\n\t\t\t This is the one about whom it is written, 'See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.'\r\n\t\t\t Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.\r\n\t\t\t From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. \r\n\t\t\t For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John came;\r\n\t\t\t and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come.\r\n\t\t\t Let anyone with ears listen! \r\n\t\t\t \"But to what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to one another,\r\n\t\t\t 'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we wailed, and you did not mourn.'\r\n\t\t\t For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon';\r\n\t\t\t the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.\" \r\n\t\t\t Then he began to reproach the cities in which most of his deeds of power had been done, because they did not repent.\r\n\t\t\t \"Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the deeds of power done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.\r\n\t\t\t But I tell you, on the day of judgment it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon than for you.\r\n\t\t\t And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades. For if the deeds of power done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.\r\n\t\t\t But I tell you that on the day of judgment it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom than for you.\"\r\n\t\t\t At that time Jesus said, \"I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; \r\n\t\t\t yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. \r\n\t\t\t All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.\r\n\t\t\t \"Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.\r\n\t\t\t Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.\r\n\t\t\t For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the sabbath; his disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat.\r\n\t\t\t When the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, \"Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the sabbath.\"\r\n\t\t\t He said to them, \"Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry?\r\n\t\t\t He entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him or his companions to eat, but only for the priests.\r\n\t\t\t Or have you not read in the law that on the sabbath the priests in the temple break the sabbath and yet are guiltless?\r\n\t\t\t I tell you, something greater than the temple is here.\r\n\t\t\t But if you had known what this means, 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the guiltless.\r\n\t\t\t For the Son of Man is lord of the sabbath.\"\r\n\t\t\t He left that place and entered their synagogue;\r\n\t\t\t a man was there with a withered hand, and they asked him, \"Is it lawful to cure on the sabbath?\" so that they might accuse him.\r\n\t\t\t He said to them, \"Suppose one of you has only one sheep and it falls into a pit on the sabbath; will you not lay hold of it and lift it out?\r\n\t\t\t How much more valuable is a human being than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the sabbath.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then he said to the man, \"Stretch out your hand.\" He stretched it out, and it was restored, as sound as the other.\r\n\t\t\t But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him.\r\n\t\t\t When Jesus became aware of this, he departed. Many crowds followed him, and he cured all of them, \r\n\t\t\t and he ordered them not to make him known.\r\n\t\t\t This was to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah:\r\n\t\t\t \"Here is my servant, whom I have chosen, my beloved, with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.\r\n\t\t\t He will not wrangle or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets.\r\n\t\t\t He will not break a bruised reed or quench a smoldering wick until he brings justice to victory.\r\n\t\t\t And in his name the Gentiles will hope.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then they brought to him a demoniac who was blind and mute; and he cured him, so that the one who had been mute could speak and see.\r\n\t\t\t All the crowds were amazed and said, \"Can this be the Son of David?\"\r\n\t\t\t But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, \"It is only by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons, that this fellow casts out the demons.\"\r\n\t\t\t He knew what they were thinking and said to them, \"Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand.\r\n\t\t\t If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand?\r\n\t\t\t If I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own exorcists cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. \r\n\t\t\t But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come to you.\r\n\t\t\t Or how can one enter a strong man's house and plunder his property, without first tying up the strong man? Then indeed the house can be plundered.\r\n\t\t\t Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore I tell you, people will be forgiven for every sin and blasphemy, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.\r\n\t\t\t Whoever 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 age to come.\r\n\t\t\t \"Either make the tree good, and its fruit good; or make the tree bad, and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit.\r\n\t\t\t You brood of vipers! How can you speak good things, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.\r\n\t\t\t The good person brings good things out of a good treasure, and the evil person brings evil things out of an evil treasure.\r\n\t\t\t I tell you, on the day of judgment you will have to give an account for every careless word you utter;\r\n\t\t\t for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to him, \"Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.\"\r\n\t\t\t But he answered them, \"An evil and adulterous generation asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.\r\n\t\t\t For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster, so for three days and three nights the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth.\r\n\t\t\t The people of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the proclamation of Jonah, and see, something greater than Jonah is here!\r\n\t\t\t The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to listen to the wisdom of Solomon, and see, something greater than Solomon is here!\r\n\t\t\t \"When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it wanders through waterless regions looking for a resting place, but it finds none.\r\n\t\t\t Then it says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.' When it comes, it finds it empty, swept, and put in order.\r\n\t\t\t Then it goes and brings along seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and live there; and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So will it be also with this evil generation.\"\r\n\t\t\t While he was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers were standing outside, wanting to speak to him.\r\n\t\t\t Someone told him, \"Look, your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.\" \r\n\t\t\t But to the one who had told him this, Jesus replied, \"Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?\" \r\n\t\t\t And pointing to his disciples, he said, \"Here are my mother and my brothers!\r\n\t\t\t For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea.\r\n\t\t\t Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach.\r\n\t\t\t And he told them many things in parables, saying: \"Listen! A sower went out to sow.\r\n\t\t\t And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up.\r\n\t\t\t Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil.\r\n\t\t\t But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away.\r\n\t\t\t Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them.\r\n\t\t\t Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.\r\n\t\t\t Let anyone with ears listen!\" \r\n\t\t\t Then the disciples came and asked him, \"Why do you speak to them in parables?\"\r\n\t\t\t He answered, \"To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. \r\n\t\t\t For to those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away.\r\n\t\t\t The reason I speak to them in parables is that 'seeing they do not perceive, and hearing they do not listen, nor do they understand.'\r\n\t\t\t With them indeed is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah that says: 'You will indeed listen, but never understand, and you will indeed look, but never perceive.\r\n\t\t\t For this people's heart has grown dull, and their ears are hard of hearing, and they have shut their eyes; so that they might not look with their eyes, and listen with their ears, and understand with their heart and turn-- and I would heal them.'\r\n\t\t\t But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear.\r\n\t\t\t Truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.\r\n\t\t\t \"Hear then the parable of the sower.\r\n\t\t\t When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path.\r\n\t\t\t As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy;\r\n\t\t\t yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away. \r\n\t\t\t As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing.\r\n\t\t\t But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.\"\r\n\t\t\t He put before them another parable: \"The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field;\r\n\t\t\t but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away.\r\n\t\t\t So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well.\r\n\t\t\t And the slaves of the householder came and said to him, 'Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?'\r\n\t\t\t He answered, 'An enemy has done this.' The slaves said to him, 'Then do you want us to go and gather them?'\r\n\t\t\t But he replied, 'No; for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them.\r\n\t\t\t Let both of them grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Collect the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.'\"\r\n\t\t\t He put before them another parable: \"The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field;\r\n\t\t\t it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.\"\r\n\t\t\t He told them another parable: \"The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.\" \r\n\t\t\t Jesus told the crowds all these things in parables; without a parable he told them nothing.\r\n\t\t\t This was to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet: \"I will open my mouth to speak in parables; I will proclaim what has been hidden from the foundation of the world.\" \r\n\t\t\t Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples approached him, saying, \"Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.\"\r\n\t\t\t He answered, \"The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man;\r\n\t\t\t the field is the world, and the good seed are the children of the kingdom; the weeds are the children of the evil one,\r\n\t\t\t and the enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels.\r\n\t\t\t Just as the weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age.\r\n\t\t\t The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers,\r\n\t\t\t and they will throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.\r\n\t\t\t Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Let anyone with ears listen! \r\n\t\t\t \"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.\r\n\t\t\t \"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls;\r\n\t\t\t on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.\r\n\t\t\t \"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind;\r\n\t\t\t when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad.\r\n\t\t\t So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous\r\n\t\t\t and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.\r\n\t\t\t \"Have you understood all this?\" They answered, \"Yes.\"\r\n\t\t\t And he said to them, \"Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.\"\r\n\t\t\t When Jesus had finished these parables, he left that place.\r\n\t\t\t He came to his hometown and began to teach the people in their synagogue, so that they were astounded and said, \"Where did this man get this wisdom and these deeds of power? \r\n\t\t\t Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas?\r\n\t\t\t And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all this?\"\r\n\t\t\t And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, \"Prophets are not without honor except in their own country and in their own house.\"\r\n\t\t\t And he did not do many deeds of power there, because of their unbelief.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t At that time Herod the ruler heard reports about Jesus; \r\n\t\t\t and he said to his servants, \"This is John the Baptist; he has been raised from the dead, and for this reason these powers are at work in him.\"\r\n\t\t\t For Herod had arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, \r\n\t\t\t because John had been telling him, \"It is not lawful for you to have her.\"\r\n\t\t\t Though Herod wanted to put him to death, he feared the crowd, because they regarded him as a prophet. \r\n\t\t\t But when Herod's birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company, and she pleased Herod\r\n\t\t\t so much that he promised on oath to grant her whatever she might ask.\r\n\t\t\t Prompted by her mother, she said, \"Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter.\"\r\n\t\t\t The king was grieved, yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he commanded it to be given;\r\n\t\t\t he sent and had John beheaded in the prison.\r\n\t\t\t The head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, who brought it to her mother.\r\n\t\t\t His disciples came and took the body and buried it; then they went and told Jesus.\r\n\t\t\t Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns.\r\n\t\t\t When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them and cured their sick.\r\n\t\t\t When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, \"This is a deserted place, and the hour is now late; send the crowds away so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus said to them, \"They need not go away; you give them something to eat.\"\r\n\t\t\t They replied, \"We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish.\"\r\n\t\t\t And he said, \"Bring them here to me.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then 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 and broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.\r\n\t\t\t And all ate and were filled; and they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full.\r\n\t\t\t And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.\r\n\t\t\t Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds.\r\n\t\t\t And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,\r\n\t\t\t but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. \r\n\t\t\t And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea.\r\n\t\t\t But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, \"It is a ghost!\" And they cried out in fear.\r\n\t\t\t But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, \"Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.\"\r\n\t\t\t Peter answered him, \"Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.\"\r\n\t\t\t He said, \"Come.\" So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus.\r\n\t\t\t But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, \"Lord, save me!\" \r\n\t\t\t Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, \"You of little faith, why did you doubt?\"\r\n\t\t\t When they got into the boat, the wind ceased.\r\n\t\t\t And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, \"Truly you are the Son of God.\"\r\n\t\t\t When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret.\r\n\t\t\t After the people of that place recognized him, they sent word throughout the region and brought all who were sick to him,\r\n\t\t\t and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his cloak; and all who touched it were healed.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said,\r\n\t\t\t \"Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands before they eat.\"\r\n\t\t\t He answered them, \"And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?\r\n\t\t\t For God said, 'Honor your father and your mother,' and, 'Whoever speaks evil of father or mother must surely die.' \r\n\t\t\t But you say that whoever tells father or mother, 'Whatever support you might have had from me is given to God,' then that person need not honor the father. \r\n\t\t\t So, for the sake of your tradition, you make void the word of God. \r\n\t\t\t You hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied rightly about you when he said:\r\n\t\t\t 'This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me;\r\n\t\t\t in vain do they worship me, teaching human precepts as doctrines.'\"\r\n\t\t\t Then he called the crowd to him and said to them, \"Listen and understand:\r\n\t\t\t it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but it is what comes out of the mouth that defiles.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the disciples approached and said to him, \"Do you know that the Pharisees took offense when they heard what you said?\"\r\n\t\t\t He answered, \"Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted.\r\n\t\t\t Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if one blind person guides another, both will fall into a pit.\" \r\n\t\t\t But Peter said to him, \"Explain this parable to us.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then he said, \"Are you also still without understanding?\r\n\t\t\t Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth enters the stomach, and goes out into the sewer?\r\n\t\t\t But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this is what defiles.\r\n\t\t\t For out of the heart come evil intentions, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, slander.\r\n\t\t\t These are what defile a person, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile.\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon.\r\n\t\t\t Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, \"Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon.\"\r\n\t\t\t But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, \"Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us.\"\r\n\t\t\t He answered, \"I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.\"\r\n\t\t\t But she came and knelt before him, saying, \"Lord, help me.\"\r\n\t\t\t He answered, \"It is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to the dogs.\"\r\n\t\t\t She said, \"Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Jesus answered her, \"Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.\" And her daughter was healed instantly.\r\n\t\t\t After Jesus had left that place, he passed along the Sea of Galilee, and he went up the mountain, where he sat down.\r\n\t\t\t Great crowds came to him, bringing with them the lame, the maimed, the blind, the mute, and many others. They put them at his feet, and he cured them,\r\n\t\t\t so that the crowd was amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the maimed whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, \"I have compassion for the crowd, because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat; and I do not want to send them away hungry, for they might faint on the way.\"\r\n\t\t\t The disciples said to him, \"Where are we to get enough bread in the desert to feed so great a crowd?\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus asked them, \"How many loaves have you?\" They said, \"Seven, and a few small fish.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then ordering the crowd to sit down on the ground,\r\n\t\t\t he took the seven loaves and the fish; and after giving thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.\r\n\t\t\t And all of them ate and were filled; and they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full.\r\n\t\t\t Those who had eaten were four thousand men, besides women and children.\r\n\t\t\t After sending away the crowds, he got into the boat and went to the region of Magadan. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test Jesus they asked him to show them a sign from heaven.\r\n\t\t\t He answered them, \"When it is evening, you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.'\r\n\t\t\t And in the morning, 'It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.' You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. \r\n\t\t\t An evil and adulterous generation asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.\" Then he left them and went away.\r\n\t\t\t When the disciples reached the other side, they had forgotten to bring any bread.\r\n\t\t\t Jesus said to them, \"Watch out, and beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.\"\r\n\t\t\t They said to one another, \"It is because we have brought no bread.\"\r\n\t\t\t And becoming aware of it, Jesus said, \"You of little faith, why are you talking about having no bread?\r\n\t\t\t Do you still not perceive? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered?\r\n\t\t\t Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you gathered?\r\n\t\t\t How could you fail to perceive that I was not speaking about bread? Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees!\"\r\n\t\t\t Then they understood that he had not told them to beware of the yeast of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.\r\n\t\t\t Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, \"Who do people say that the Son of Man is?\"\r\n\t\t\t And they said, \"Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.\"\r\n\t\t\t He said to them, \"But who do you say that I am?\"\r\n\t\t\t Simon Peter answered, \"You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.\" \r\n\t\t\t And Jesus answered him, \"Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven.\r\n\t\t\t And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. \r\n\t\t\t I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah. \r\n\t\t\t From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.\r\n\t\t\t And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, \"God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you.\"\r\n\t\t\t But he turned and said to Peter, \"Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Jesus told his disciples, \"If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.\r\n\t\t\t For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.\r\n\t\t\t For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?\r\n\t\t\t \"For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done.\r\n\t\t\t Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves.\r\n\t\t\t And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white.\r\n\t\t\t Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him.\r\n\t\t\t Then Peter said to Jesus, \"Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.\" \r\n\t\t\t While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, \"This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!\" \r\n\t\t\t When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear.\r\n\t\t\t But Jesus came and touched them, saying, \"Get up and do not be afraid.\"\r\n\t\t\t And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone.\r\n\t\t\t As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, \"Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.\"\r\n\t\t\t And the disciples asked him, \"Why, then, do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?\"\r\n\t\t\t He replied, \"Elijah is indeed coming and will restore all things;\r\n\t\t\t but I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but they did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of Man is about to suffer at their hands.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them about John the Baptist.\r\n\t\t\t When they came to the crowd, a man came to him, knelt before him,\r\n\t\t\t and said, \"Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and he suffers terribly; he often falls into the fire and often into the water.\r\n\t\t\t And I brought him to your disciples, but they could not cure him.\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus answered, \"You faithless and perverse generation, how much longer must I be with you? How much longer must I put up with you? Bring him here to me.\"\r\n\t\t\t And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him, and the boy was cured instantly. \r\n\t\t\t Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, \"Why could we not cast it out?\"\r\n\t\t\t He said to them, \"Because of your little faith. For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.\" \r\n\t\t\t \r\n\t\t\t As they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, \"The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into human hands,\r\n\t\t\t and they will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised.\" And they were greatly distressed.\r\n\t\t\t When they reached Capernaum, the collectors of the temple tax came to Peter and said, \"Does your teacher not pay the temple tax?\" \r\n\t\t\t He said, \"Yes, he does.\" And when he came home, Jesus spoke of it first, asking, \"What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tribute? From their children or from others?\"\r\n\t\t\t When Peter said, \"From others,\" Jesus said to him, \"Then the children are free. \r\n\t\t\t However, so that we do not give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook; take the first fish that comes up; and when you open its mouth, you will find a coin; take that and give it to them for you and me.\" \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, \"Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?\"\r\n\t\t\t He called a child, whom he put among them,\r\n\t\t\t and said, \"Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.\r\n\t\t\t Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.\r\n\t\t\t Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.\r\n\t\t\t \"If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were fastened around your neck and you were drowned in the depth of the sea.\r\n\t\t\t Woe to the world because of stumbling blocks! Occasions for stumbling are bound to come, but woe to the one by whom the stumbling block comes!\r\n\t\t\t \"If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to enter life maimed or lame than to have two hands or two feet and to be thrown into the eternal fire.\r\n\t\t\t And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into the hell of fire. \r\n\t\t\t \"Take care that you do not despise one of these little ones; for, I tell you, in heaven their angels continually see the face of my Father in heaven. \r\n\t\t\t \r\n\t\t\t What do you think? If a shepherd has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray?\r\n\t\t\t And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray.\r\n\t\t\t So it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should be lost. \r\n\t\t\t \"If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one. \r\n\t\t\t But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses.\r\n\t\t\t If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.\r\n\t\t\t Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.\r\n\t\t\t Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.\r\n\t\t\t For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Peter came and said to him, \"Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?\" \r\n\t\t\t Jesus said to him, \"Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times. \r\n\t\t\t \"For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves.\r\n\t\t\t When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him; \r\n\t\t\t and, as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, and payment to be made.\r\n\t\t\t So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.'\r\n\t\t\t And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt.\r\n\t\t\t But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat, he said, 'Pay what you owe.' \r\n\t\t\t Then his fellow slave fell down and pleaded with him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you.'\r\n\t\t\t But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he would pay the debt.\r\n\t\t\t When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place.\r\n\t\t\t Then his lord summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me.\r\n\t\t\t Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?'\r\n\t\t\t And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he would pay his entire debt.\r\n\t\t\t So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart.\" \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t When Jesus had finished saying these things, he left Galilee and went to the region of Judea beyond the Jordan.\r\n\t\t\t Large crowds followed him, and he cured them there.\r\n\t\t\t Some Pharisees came to him, and to test him they asked, \"Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause?\"\r\n\t\t\t He answered, \"Have you not read that the one who made them at the beginning 'made them male and female,'\r\n\t\t\t and said, 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'?\r\n\t\t\t So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.\"\r\n\t\t\t They said to him, \"Why then did Moses command us to give a certificate of dismissal and to divorce her?\"\r\n\t\t\t He said to them, \"It was because you were so hard-hearted that Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so.\r\n\t\t\t And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for unchastity, and marries another commits adultery.\" \r\n\t\t\t His disciples said to him, \"If such is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry.\"\r\n\t\t\t But he said to them, \"Not everyone can accept this teaching, but only those to whom it is given.\r\n\t\t\t For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let anyone accept this who can.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then little children were being brought to him in order that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples spoke sternly to those who brought them;\r\n\t\t\t but Jesus said, \"Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.\"\r\n\t\t\t And he laid his hands on them and went on his way.\r\n\t\t\t Then someone came to him and said, \"Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?\"\r\n\t\t\t And he said to him, \"Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.\"\r\n\t\t\t He said to him, \"Which ones?\" And Jesus said, \"You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness;\r\n\t\t\t Honor your father and mother; also, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.\"\r\n\t\t\t The young man said to him, \"I have kept all these; what do I still lack?\" \r\n\t\t\t Jesus said to him, \"If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.\" \r\n\t\t\t When the young man heard this word, he went away grieving, for he had many possessions.\r\n\t\t\t Then Jesus said to his disciples, \"Truly I tell you, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven.\r\n\t\t\t Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.\"\r\n\t\t\t When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astounded and said, \"Then who can be saved?\"\r\n\t\t\t But Jesus looked at them and said, \"For mortals it is impossible, but for God all things are possible.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Peter said in reply, \"Look, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus said to them, \"Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man is seated on the throne of his glory, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold, and will inherit eternal life. \r\n\t\t\t But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t \"For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.\r\n\t\t\t After agreeing with the laborers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. \r\n\t\t\t When he went out about nine o'clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace;\r\n\t\t\t and he said to them, 'You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.' So they went.\r\n\t\t\t When he went out again about noon and about three o'clock, he did the same.\r\n\t\t\t And about five o'clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, 'Why are you standing here idle all day?'\r\n\t\t\t They said to him, 'Because no one has hired us.' He said to them, 'You also go into the vineyard.'\r\n\t\t\t When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, 'Call the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.'\r\n\t\t\t When those hired about five o'clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage. \r\n\t\t\t Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received the usual daily wage. \r\n\t\t\t And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner,\r\n\t\t\t saying, 'These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.'\r\n\t\t\t But he replied to one of them, 'Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? \r\n\t\t\t Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you.\r\n\t\t\t Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?' \r\n\t\t\t So the last will be first, and the first will be last.\" \r\n\t\t\t While Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside by themselves, and said to them on the way,\r\n\t\t\t \"See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death;\r\n\t\t\t then they will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified; and on the third day he will be raised.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to him with her sons, and kneeling before him, she asked a favor of him.\r\n\t\t\t And he said to her, \"What do you want?\" She said to him, \"Declare that these two sons of mine will sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.\"\r\n\t\t\t But Jesus answered, \"You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?\" They said to him, \"We are able.\" \r\n\t\t\t He said to them, \"You will indeed drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left, this is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.\"\r\n\t\t\t When the ten heard it, they were angry with the two brothers.\r\n\t\t\t But Jesus called them to him and said, \"You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them.\r\n\t\t\t It will not be so among you; but whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant,\r\n\t\t\t and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave;\r\n\t\t\t just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.\"\r\n\t\t\t As they were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him.\r\n\t\t\t There were two blind men sitting by the roadside. When they heard that Jesus was passing by, they shouted, \"Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!\" \r\n\t\t\t The crowd sternly ordered them to be quiet; but they shouted even more loudly, \"Have mercy on us, Lord, Son of David!\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus stood still and called them, saying, \"What do you want me to do for you?\"\r\n\t\t\t They said to him, \"Lord, let our eyes be opened.\"\r\n\t\t\t Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes. Immediately they regained their sight and followed him.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples,\r\n\t\t\t saying to them, \"Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me.\r\n\t\t\t If anyone says anything to you, just say this, 'The Lord needs them.' And he will send them immediately. \" \r\n\t\t\t This took place to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet, saying,\r\n\t\t\t \"Tell the daughter of Zion, Look, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.\"\r\n\t\t\t The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them;\r\n\t\t\t they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them.\r\n\t\t\t A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. \r\n\t\t\t The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting, \"Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!\"\r\n\t\t\t When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, \"Who is this?\"\r\n\t\t\t The crowds were saying, \"This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who were selling and buying in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves.\r\n\t\t\t He said to them, \"It is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer'; but you are making it a den of robbers.\"\r\n\t\t\t The blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he cured them.\r\n\t\t\t But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the amazing things that he did, and heard the children crying out in the temple, \"Hosanna to the Son of David,\" they became angry \r\n\t\t\t and said to him, \"Do you hear what these are saying?\" Jesus said to them, \"Yes; have you never read, 'Out of the mouths of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise for yourself'?\"\r\n\t\t\t He left them, went out of the city to Bethany, and spent the night there.\r\n\t\t\t In the morning, when he returned to the city, he was hungry.\r\n\t\t\t And seeing a fig tree by the side of the road, he went to it and found nothing at all on it but leaves. Then he said to it, \"May no fruit ever come from you again!\" And the fig tree withered at once.\r\n\t\t\t When the disciples saw it, they were amazed, saying, \"How did the fig tree wither at once?\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus answered them, \"Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only will you do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, 'Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,' it will be done.\r\n\t\t\t Whatever you ask for in prayer with faith, you will receive.\"\r\n\t\t\t When he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, \"By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus said to them, \"I will also ask you one question; if you tell me the answer, then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things.\r\n\t\t\t Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?\" And they argued with one another, \"If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say to us, 'Why then did you not believe him?'\r\n\t\t\t But if we say, 'Of human origin,' we are afraid of the crowd; for all regard John as a prophet.\"\r\n\t\t\t So they answered Jesus, \"We do not know.\" And he said to them, \"Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.\r\n\t\t\t \"What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work in the vineyard today.'\r\n\t\t\t He answered, 'I will not'; but later he changed his mind and went.\r\n\t\t\t The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, 'I go, sir'; but he did not go. \r\n\t\t\t Which of the two did the will of his father?\" They said, \"The first.\" Jesus said to them, \"Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you.\r\n\t\t\t For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him.\r\n\t\t\t \"Listen to another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a watchtower. Then he leased it to tenants and went to another country.\r\n\t\t\t When the harvest time had come, he sent his slaves to the tenants to collect his produce.\r\n\t\t\t But the tenants seized his slaves and beat one, killed another, and stoned another.\r\n\t\t\t Again he sent other slaves, more than the first; and they treated them in the same way.\r\n\t\t\t Finally he sent his son to them, saying, 'They will respect my son.'\r\n\t\t\t But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, 'This is the heir; come, let us kill him and get his inheritance.'\r\n\t\t\t So they seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him.\r\n\t\t\t Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?\"\r\n\t\t\t They said to him, \"He will put those wretches to a miserable death, and lease the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the harvest time.\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus said to them, \"Have you never read in the scriptures: 'The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord's doing, and it is amazing in our eyes'? \r\n\t\t\t Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that produces the fruits of the kingdom. \r\n\t\t\t The one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and it will crush anyone on whom it falls.\" \r\n\t\t\t When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they realized that he was speaking about them.\r\n\t\t\t They wanted to arrest him, but they feared the crowds, because they regarded him as a prophet.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Once more Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying:\r\n\t\t\t \"The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son.\r\n\t\t\t He sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding banquet, but they would not come.\r\n\t\t\t Again he sent other slaves, saying, 'Tell those who have been invited: Look, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready; come to the wedding banquet.'\r\n\t\t\t But they made light of it and went away, one to his farm, another to his business,\r\n\t\t\t while the rest seized his slaves, mistreated them, and killed them.\r\n\t\t\t The king was enraged. He sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city.\r\n\t\t\t Then he said to his slaves, 'The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy.\r\n\t\t\t Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.'\r\n\t\t\t Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both good and bad; so the wedding hall was filled with guests.\r\n\t\t\t \"But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing a wedding robe,\r\n\t\t\t and he said to him, 'Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding robe?' And he was speechless.\r\n\t\t\t Then the king said to the attendants, 'Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'\r\n\t\t\t For many are called, but few are chosen.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the Pharisees went and plotted to entrap him in what he said.\r\n\t\t\t So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, \"Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality.\r\n\t\t\t Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?\"\r\n\t\t\t But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, \"Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites?\r\n\t\t\t Show me the coin used for the tax.\" And they brought him a denarius.\r\n\t\t\t Then he said to them, \"Whose head is this, and whose title?\"\r\n\t\t\t They answered, \"The emperor's.\" Then he said to them, \"Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor's, and to God the things that are God's.\"\r\n\t\t\t When they heard this, they were amazed; and they left him and went away.\r\n\t\t\t The same day some Sadducees came to him, saying there is no resurrection; and they asked him a question, saying, \r\n\t\t\t \"Teacher, Moses said, 'If a man dies childless, his brother shall marry the widow, and raise up children for his brother.'\r\n\t\t\t Now there were seven brothers among us; the first married, and died childless, leaving the widow to his brother.\r\n\t\t\t The second did the same, so also the third, down to the seventh.\r\n\t\t\t Last of all, the woman herself died.\r\n\t\t\t In the resurrection, then, whose wife of the seven will she be? For all of them had married her.\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus answered them, \"You are wrong, because you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God.\r\n\t\t\t For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. \r\n\t\t\t And as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was said to you by God,\r\n\t\t\t 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? He is God not of the dead, but of the living.\"\r\n\t\t\t And when the crowd heard it, they were astounded at his teaching.\r\n\t\t\t When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together,\r\n\t\t\t and one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him.\r\n\t\t\t \"Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?\"\r\n\t\t\t He said to him, \"'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.'\r\n\t\t\t This is the greatest and first commandment.\r\n\t\t\t And a second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'\r\n\t\t\t On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.\"\r\n\t\t\t Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them this question:\r\n\t\t\t \"What do you think of the Messiah? Whose son is he?\" They said to him, \"The son of David.\" \r\n\t\t\t He said to them, \"How is it then that David by the Spirit calls him Lord, saying, \r\n\t\t\t 'The Lord said to my Lord, \"Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet\" '?\r\n\t\t\t If David thus calls him Lord, how can he be his son?\"\r\n\t\t\t No one was able to give him an answer, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples,\r\n\t\t\t \"The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat;\r\n\t\t\t therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach.\r\n\t\t\t They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others; but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them. \r\n\t\t\t They do all their deeds to be seen by others; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long.\r\n\t\t\t They love to have the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues,\r\n\t\t\t and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have people call them rabbi.\r\n\t\t\t But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all students. \r\n\t\t\t And call no one your father on earth, for you have one Father-- the one in heaven.\r\n\t\t\t Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Messiah.\r\n\t\t\t The greatest among you will be your servant.\r\n\t\t\t All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted.\r\n\t\t\t \"But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you lock people out of the kingdom of heaven. For you do not go in yourselves, and when others are going in, you stop them. \r\n\t\t\t \r\n\t\t\t Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cross sea and land to make a single convert, and you make the new convert twice as much a child of hell as yourselves. \r\n\t\t\t \"Woe to you, blind guides, who say, 'Whoever swears by the sanctuary is bound by nothing, but whoever swears by the gold of the sanctuary is bound by the oath.'\r\n\t\t\t You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the sanctuary that has made the gold sacred?\r\n\t\t\t And you say, 'Whoever swears by the altar is bound by nothing, but whoever swears by the gift that is on the altar is bound by the oath.'\r\n\t\t\t How blind you are! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred?\r\n\t\t\t So whoever swears by the altar, swears by it and by everything on it;\r\n\t\t\t and whoever swears by the sanctuary, swears by it and by the one who dwells in it;\r\n\t\t\t and whoever swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God and by the one who is seated upon it.\r\n\t\t\t \"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. It is these you ought to have practiced without neglecting the others.\r\n\t\t\t You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel!\r\n\t\t\t \"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.\r\n\t\t\t You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may become clean. \r\n\t\t\t \"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which on the outside look beautiful, but inside they are full of the bones of the dead and of all kinds of filth.\r\n\t\t\t So you also on the outside look righteous to others, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.\r\n\t\t\t \"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous,\r\n\t\t\t and you say, 'If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.'\r\n\t\t\t Thus you testify against yourselves that you are descendants of those who murdered the prophets.\r\n\t\t\t Fill up, then, the measure of your ancestors.\r\n\t\t\t You snakes, you brood of vipers! How can you escape being sentenced to hell? \r\n\t\t\t Therefore I send you prophets, sages, and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town,\r\n\t\t\t so that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar.\r\n\t\t\t Truly I tell you, all this will come upon this generation.\r\n\t\t\t \"Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!\r\n\t\t\t See, your house is left to you, desolate. \r\n\t\t\t For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, 'Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.'\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t As Jesus came out of the temple and was going away, his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple.\r\n\t\t\t Then he asked them, \"You see all these, do you not? Truly I tell you, not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.\"\r\n\t\t\t When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, \"Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus answered them, \"Beware that no one leads you astray.\r\n\t\t\t For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am the Messiah!' and they will lead many astray. \r\n\t\t\t And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not alarmed; for this must take place, but the end is not yet.\r\n\t\t\t For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places: \r\n\t\t\t all this is but the beginning of the birth pangs.\r\n\t\t\t \"Then they will hand you over to be tortured and will put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of my name.\r\n\t\t\t Then many will fall away, and they will betray one another and hate one another. \r\n\t\t\t And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray.\r\n\t\t\t And because of the increase of lawlessness, the love of many will grow cold.\r\n\t\t\t But the one who endures to the end will be saved.\r\n\t\t\t And this good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the world, as a testimony to all the nations; and then the end will come. \r\n\t\t\t \"So when you see the desolating sacrilege standing in the holy place, as was spoken of by the prophet Daniel (let the reader understand),\r\n\t\t\t then those in Judea must flee to the mountains;\r\n\t\t\t the one on the housetop must not go down to take what is in the house;\r\n\t\t\t the one in the field must not turn back to get a coat.\r\n\t\t\t Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing infants in those days!\r\n\t\t\t Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a sabbath.\r\n\t\t\t For at that time there will be great suffering, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be.\r\n\t\t\t And if those days had not been cut short, no one would be saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.\r\n\t\t\t Then if anyone says to you, 'Look! Here is the Messiah!' or 'There he is!'-- do not believe it.\r\n\t\t\t For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and produce great signs and omens, to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. \r\n\t\t\t Take note, I have told you beforehand.\r\n\t\t\t So, if they say to you, 'Look! He is in the wilderness,' do not go out. If they say, 'Look! He is in the inner rooms,' do not believe it.\r\n\t\t\t For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.\r\n\t\t\t Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.\r\n\t\t\t \"Immediately after the suffering of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of heaven will be shaken.\r\n\t\t\t Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see 'the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven' with power and great glory.\r\n\t\t\t And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.\r\n\t\t\t \"From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near.\r\n\t\t\t So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates. \r\n\t\t\t Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place.\r\n\t\t\t Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.\r\n\t\t\t \"But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. \r\n\t\t\t For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.\r\n\t\t\t For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark,\r\n\t\t\t and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so too will be the coming of the Son of Man.\r\n\t\t\t Then two will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left.\r\n\t\t\t Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken and one will be left.\r\n\t\t\t Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. \r\n\t\t\t But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.\r\n\t\t\t \"Who then is the faithful and wise slave, whom his master has put in charge of his household, to give the other slaves their allowance of food at the proper time? \r\n\t\t\t Blessed is that slave whom his master will find at work when he arrives.\r\n\t\t\t Truly I tell you, he will put that one in charge of all his possessions.\r\n\t\t\t But if that wicked slave says to himself, 'My master is delayed,'\r\n\t\t\t and he begins to beat his fellow slaves, and eats and drinks with drunkards,\r\n\t\t\t the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour that he does not know.\r\n\t\t\t He will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t \"Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. \r\n\t\t\t Five of them were foolish, and five were wise.\r\n\t\t\t When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them;\r\n\t\t\t but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps.\r\n\t\t\t As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept.\r\n\t\t\t But at midnight there was a shout, 'Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.'\r\n\t\t\t Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. \r\n\t\t\t The foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.'\r\n\t\t\t But the wise replied, 'No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.'\r\n\t\t\t And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut.\r\n\t\t\t Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, 'Lord, lord, open to us.' \r\n\t\t\t But he replied, 'Truly I tell you, I do not know you.'\r\n\t\t\t Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour. \r\n\t\t\t \"For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them;\r\n\t\t\t to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.\r\n\t\t\t The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents.\r\n\t\t\t In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents.\r\n\t\t\t But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.\r\n\t\t\t After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them.\r\n\t\t\t Then the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, 'Master, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.'\r\n\t\t\t His master said to him, 'Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.'\r\n\t\t\t And the one with the two talents also came forward, saying, 'Master, you handed over to me two talents; see, I have made two more talents.'\r\n\t\t\t His master said to him, 'Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.'\r\n\t\t\t Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, 'Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed;\r\n\t\t\t so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.'\r\n\t\t\t But his master replied, 'You wicked and lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter?\r\n\t\t\t Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest.\r\n\t\t\t So take the talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents.\r\n\t\t\t For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away.\r\n\t\t\t As for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'\r\n\t\t\t \"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory.\r\n\t\t\t All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats,\r\n\t\t\t and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left.\r\n\t\t\t Then the king will say to those at his right hand, 'Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world;\r\n\t\t\t for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,\r\n\t\t\t I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.'\r\n\t\t\t Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink?\r\n\t\t\t And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing?\r\n\t\t\t And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?'\r\n\t\t\t And the king will answer them, 'Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.' \r\n\t\t\t Then he will say to those at his left hand, 'You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels;\r\n\t\t\t for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink,\r\n\t\t\t I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.'\r\n\t\t\t Then they also will answer, 'Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?'\r\n\t\t\t Then he will answer them, 'Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.'\r\n\t\t\t And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples,\r\n\t\t\t \"You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the chief priests and the elders of the people gathered in the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas,\r\n\t\t\t and they conspired to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him.\r\n\t\t\t But they said, \"Not during the festival, or there may be a riot among the people.\"\r\n\t\t\t Now while Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, \r\n\t\t\t a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment, and she poured it on his head as he sat at the table.\r\n\t\t\t But when the disciples saw it, they were angry and said, \"Why this waste?\r\n\t\t\t For this ointment could have been sold for a large sum, and the money given to the poor.\"\r\n\t\t\t But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, \"Why do you trouble the woman? She has performed a good service for me.\r\n\t\t\t For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me.\r\n\t\t\t By pouring this ointment on my body she has prepared me for burial.\r\n\t\t\t Truly I tell you, wherever this good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her.\" \r\n\t\t\t Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests\r\n\t\t\t and said, \"What will you give me if I betray him to you?\" They paid him thirty pieces of silver.\r\n\t\t\t And from that moment he began to look for an opportunity to betray him.\r\n\t\t\t On the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, \"Where do you want us to make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?\"\r\n\t\t\t He said, \"Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, 'The Teacher says, My time is near; I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.'\"\r\n\t\t\t So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover meal.\r\n\t\t\t When it was evening, he took his place with the twelve; \r\n\t\t\t and while they were eating, he said, \"Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.\"\r\n\t\t\t And they became greatly distressed and began to say to him one after another, \"Surely not I, Lord?\"\r\n\t\t\t He answered, \"The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me.\r\n\t\t\t The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that one not to have been born.\"\r\n\t\t\t Judas, who betrayed him, said, \"Surely not I, Rabbi?\" He replied, \"You have said so.\"\r\n\t\t\t While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, \"Take, eat; this is my body.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, \"Drink from it, all of you;\r\n\t\t\t for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. \r\n\t\t\t I tell you, I will never again drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.\"\r\n\t\t\t When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.\r\n\t\t\t Then Jesus said to them, \"You will all become deserters because of me this night; for it is written, 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.'\r\n\t\t\t But after I am raised up, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.\"\r\n\t\t\t Peter said to him, \"Though all become deserters because of you, I will never desert you.\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus said to him, \"Truly I tell you, this very night, before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.\"\r\n\t\t\t Peter said to him, \"Even though I must die with you, I will not deny you.\" And so said all the disciples.\r\n\t\t\t Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, \"Sit here while I go over there and pray.\"\r\n\t\t\t He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and agitated.\r\n\t\t\t Then he said to them, \"I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and stay awake with me.\"\r\n\t\t\t And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed, \"My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not what I want but what you want.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, \"So, could you not stay awake with me one hour?\r\n\t\t\t Stay awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.\" \r\n\t\t\t Again he went away for the second time and prayed, \"My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.\"\r\n\t\t\t Again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy.\r\n\t\t\t So leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words.\r\n\t\t\t Then he came to the disciples and said to them, \"Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.\r\n\t\t\t Get up, let us be going. See, my betrayer is at hand.\"\r\n\t\t\t While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived; with him was a large crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people.\r\n\t\t\t Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, \"The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him.\"\r\n\t\t\t At once he came up to Jesus and said, \"Greetings, Rabbi!\" and kissed him.\r\n\t\t\t Jesus said to him, \"Friend, do what you are here to do.\" Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and arrested him.\r\n\t\t\t Suddenly, one of those with Jesus put his hand on his sword, drew it, and struck the slave of the high priest, cutting off his ear.\r\n\t\t\t Then Jesus said to him, \"Put your sword back into its place; for all who take the sword will perish by the sword.\r\n\t\t\t Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?\r\n\t\t\t But how then would the scriptures be fulfilled, which say it must happen in this way?\"\r\n\t\t\t At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, \"Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as though I were a bandit? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not arrest me.\r\n\t\t\t But all this has taken place, so that the scriptures of the prophets may be fulfilled.\" Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.\r\n\t\t\t Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas the high priest, in whose house the scribes and the elders had gathered.\r\n\t\t\t But Peter was following him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest; and going inside, he sat with the guards in order to see how this would end.\r\n\t\t\t Now the chief priests and the whole council were looking for false testimony against Jesus so that they might put him to death,\r\n\t\t\t but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward\r\n\t\t\t and said, \"This fellow said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days.'\"\r\n\t\t\t The high priest stood up and said, \"Have you no answer? What is it that they testify against you?\"\r\n\t\t\t But Jesus was silent. Then the high priest said to him, \"I put you under oath before the living God, tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.\" \r\n\t\t\t Jesus said to him, \"You have said so. But I tell you, From now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, \"He has blasphemed! Why do we still need witnesses? You have now heard his blasphemy.\r\n\t\t\t What is your verdict?\" They answered, \"He deserves death.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then they spat in his face and struck him; and some slapped him,\r\n\t\t\t saying, \"Prophesy to us, you Messiah! Who is it that struck you?\" \r\n\t\t\t Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant-girl came to him and said, \"You also were with Jesus the Galilean.\"\r\n\t\t\t But he denied it before all of them, saying, \"I do not know what you are talking about.\"\r\n\t\t\t When he went out to the porch, another servant-girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, \"This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.\"\r\n\t\t\t Again he denied it with an oath, \"I do not know the man.\"\r\n\t\t\t After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, \"Certainly you are also one of them, for your accent betrays you.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then he began to curse, and he swore an oath, \"I do not know the man!\" At that moment the cock crowed.\r\n\t\t\t Then Peter remembered what Jesus had said: \"Before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.\" And he went out and wept bitterly.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people conferred together against Jesus in order to bring about his death.\r\n\t\t\t They bound him, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate the governor.\r\n\t\t\t When Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he repented and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. \r\n\t\t\t He said, \"I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.\" But they said, \"What is that to us? See to it yourself.\" \r\n\t\t\t Throwing down the pieces of silver in the temple, he departed; and he went and hanged himself.\r\n\t\t\t But the chief priests, taking the pieces of silver, said, \"It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since they are blood money.\"\r\n\t\t\t After conferring together, they used them to buy the potter's field as a place to bury foreigners.\r\n\t\t\t For this reason that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day.\r\n\t\t\t Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah, \"And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of the one on whom a price had been set, on whom some of the people of Israel had set a price,\r\n\t\t\t and they gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord commanded me.\" \r\n\t\t\t Now Jesus stood before the governor; and the governor asked him, \"Are you the King of the Jews?\" Jesus said, \"You say so.\"\r\n\t\t\t But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he did not answer.\r\n\t\t\t Then Pilate said to him, \"Do you not hear how many accusations they make against you?\"\r\n\t\t\t But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.\r\n\t\t\t Now at the festival the governor was accustomed to release a prisoner for the crowd, anyone whom they wanted.\r\n\t\t\t At that time they had a notorious prisoner, called Jesus Barabbas. \r\n\t\t\t So after they had gathered, Pilate said to them, \"Whom do you want me to release for you, Jesus Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Messiah?\" \r\n\t\t\t For he realized that it was out of jealousy that they had handed him over.\r\n\t\t\t While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, \"Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for today I have suffered a great deal because of a dream about him.\"\r\n\t\t\t Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus killed.\r\n\t\t\t The governor again said to them, \"Which of the two do you want me to release for you?\" And they said, \"Barabbas.\"\r\n\t\t\t Pilate said to them, \"Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?\" All of them said, \"Let him be crucified!\" \r\n\t\t\t Then he asked, \"Why, what evil has he done?\" But they shouted all the more, \"Let him be crucified!\"\r\n\t\t\t So when Pilate saw that he could do nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took some water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, \"I am innocent of this man's blood; see to it yourselves.\" \r\n\t\t\t Then the people as a whole answered, \"His blood be on us and on our children!\"\r\n\t\t\t So he released Barabbas for them; and after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified.\r\n\t\t\t Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor's headquarters, and they gathered the whole cohort around him. \r\n\t\t\t They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him,\r\n\t\t\t and after twisting some thorns into a crown, they put it on his head. They put a reed in his right hand and knelt before him and mocked him, saying, \"Hail, King of the Jews!\"\r\n\t\t\t They spat on him, and took the reed and struck him on the head.\r\n\t\t\t After mocking him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.\r\n\t\t\t As they went out, they came upon a man from Cyrene named Simon; they compelled this man to carry his cross.\r\n\t\t\t And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull),\r\n\t\t\t they offered him wine to drink, mixed with gall; but when he tasted it, he would not drink it.\r\n\t\t\t And when they had crucified him, they divided his clothes among themselves by casting lots;\r\n\t\t\t then they sat down there and kept watch over him.\r\n\t\t\t Over his head they put the charge against him, which read, \"This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then two bandits were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left.\r\n\t\t\t Those who passed by derided him, shaking their heads \r\n\t\t\t and saying, \"You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.\"\r\n\t\t\t In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking him, saying,\r\n\t\t\t \"He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him. \r\n\t\t\t He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he wants to; for he said, 'I am God's Son.'\"\r\n\t\t\t The bandits who were crucified with him also taunted him in the same way.\r\n\t\t\t From noon on, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. \r\n\t\t\t And about three o'clock Jesus cried with a loud voice, \"Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?\" that is, \"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?\"\r\n\t\t\t When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, \"This man is calling for Elijah.\"\r\n\t\t\t At once one of them ran and got a sponge, filled it with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink.\r\n\t\t\t But the others said, \"Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.\" \r\n\t\t\t Then Jesus cried again with a loud voice and breathed his last. \r\n\t\t\t At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, and the rocks were split.\r\n\t\t\t The tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised.\r\n\t\t\t After his resurrection they came out of the tombs and entered the holy city and appeared to many.\r\n\t\t\t Now when the centurion and those with him, who were keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were terrified and said, \"Truly this man was God's Son!\" \r\n\t\t\t Many women were also there, looking on from a distance; they had followed Jesus from Galilee and had provided for him.\r\n\t\t\t Among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.\r\n\t\t\t When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who was also a disciple of Jesus.\r\n\t\t\t He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus; then Pilate ordered it to be given to him.\r\n\t\t\t So Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth\r\n\t\t\t and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn in the rock. He then rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb and went away.\r\n\t\t\t Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb.\r\n\t\t\t The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate\r\n\t\t\t and said, \"Sir, we remember what that impostor said while he was still alive, 'After three days I will rise again.'\r\n\t\t\t Therefore command the tomb to be made secure until the third day; otherwise his disciples may go and steal him away, and tell the people, 'He has been raised from the dead,' and the last deception would be worse than the first.\"\r\n\t\t\t Pilate said to them, \"You have a guard of soldiers; go, make it as secure as you can.\" \r\n\t\t\t So they went with the guard and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb.\r\n\t\t\t And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it.\r\n\t\t\t His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow.\r\n\t\t\t For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men.\r\n\t\t\t But the angel said to the women, \"Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified.\r\n\t\t\t He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. \r\n\t\t\t Then go quickly and tell his disciples, 'He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.' This is my message for you.\" \r\n\t\t\t So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples.\r\n\t\t\t Suddenly Jesus met them and said, \"Greetings!\" And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him.\r\n\t\t\t Then Jesus said to them, \"Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.\"\r\n\t\t\t While they were going, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests everything that had happened.\r\n\t\t\t After the priests had assembled with the elders, they devised a plan to give a large sum of money to the soldiers,\r\n\t\t\t telling them, \"You must say, 'His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.'\r\n\t\t\t If this comes to the governor's ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.\"\r\n\t\t\t So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story is still told among the Jews to this day.\r\n\t\t\t Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them.\r\n\t\t\t When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.\r\n\t\t\t And Jesus came and said to them, \"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.\r\n\t\t\t Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,\r\n\t\t\t and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.\" \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. \r\n\t\t\t As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, \"See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way; \r\n\t\t\t the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,'\"\r\n\t\t\t John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. \r\n\t\t\t And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.\r\n\t\t\t Now John was clothed with camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.\r\n\t\t\t He proclaimed, \"The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals.\r\n\t\t\t I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.\" \r\n\t\t\t In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.\r\n\t\t\t And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him.\r\n\t\t\t And a voice came from heaven, \"You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.\" \r\n\t\t\t And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness.\r\n\t\t\t He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him.\r\n\t\t\t Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, \r\n\t\t\t and saying, \"The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.\" \r\n\t\t\t As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea-- for they were fishermen.\r\n\t\t\t And Jesus said to them, \"Follow me and I will make you fish for people.\"\r\n\t\t\t And immediately they left their nets and followed him.\r\n\t\t\t As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets.\r\n\t\t\t Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.\r\n\t\t\t They went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught.\r\n\t\t\t They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.\r\n\t\t\t Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit,\r\n\t\t\t and he cried out, \"What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.\"\r\n\t\t\t But Jesus rebuked him, saying, \"Be silent, and come out of him!\"\r\n\t\t\t And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him.\r\n\t\t\t They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, \"What is this? A new teaching-- with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.\"\r\n\t\t\t At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.\r\n\t\t\t As soon as they left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. \r\n\t\t\t Now Simon's mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once.\r\n\t\t\t He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them.\r\n\t\t\t That evening, at sundown, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons.\r\n\t\t\t And the whole city was gathered around the door.\r\n\t\t\t And he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.\r\n\t\t\t In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed.\r\n\t\t\t And Simon and his companions hunted for him.\r\n\t\t\t When they found him, they said to him, \"Everyone is searching for you.\"\r\n\t\t\t He answered, \"Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do.\"\r\n\t\t\t And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons.\r\n\t\t\t A leper came to him begging him, and kneeling he said to him, \"If you choose, you can make me clean.\" \r\n\t\t\t Moved with pity, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, \"I do choose. Be made clean!\" \r\n\t\t\t Immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. \r\n\t\t\t After sternly warning him he sent him away at once,\r\n\t\t\t saying to him, \"See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.\"\r\n\t\t\t But he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the word, so that Jesus could no longer go into a town openly, but stayed out in the country; and people came to him from every quarter. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t When he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home.\r\n\t\t\t So many gathered around that there was no longer room for them, not even in front of the door; and he was speaking the word to them.\r\n\t\t\t Then some people came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. \r\n\t\t\t And when they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and after having dug through it, they let down the mat on which the paralytic lay.\r\n\t\t\t When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, \"Son, your sins are forgiven.\"\r\n\t\t\t Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts,\r\n\t\t\t \"Why does this fellow speak in this way? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?\"\r\n\t\t\t At once Jesus perceived in his spirit that they were discussing these questions among themselves; and he said to them, \"Why do you raise such questions in your hearts?\r\n\t\t\t Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Stand up and take your mat and walk'?\r\n\t\t\t But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins\"-- he said to the paralytic--\r\n\t\t\t \"I say to you, stand up, take your mat and go to your home.\"\r\n\t\t\t And he stood up, and immediately took the mat and went out before all of them; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, \"We have never seen anything like this!\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus went out again beside the sea; the whole crowd gathered around him, and he taught them. \r\n\t\t\t As he was walking along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, \"Follow me.\" And he got up and followed him.\r\n\t\t\t And as he sat at dinner in Levi's house, many tax collectors and sinners were also sitting with Jesus and his disciples-- for there were many who followed him.\r\n\t\t\t When the scribes of the Pharisees saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, they said to his disciples, \"Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?\" \r\n\t\t\t When Jesus heard this, he said to them, \"Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.\"\r\n\t\t\t Now John's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting; and people came and said to him, \"Why do John's disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?\" \r\n\t\t\t Jesus said to them, \"The wedding guests cannot fast while the bridegroom is with them, can they? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.\r\n\t\t\t The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast on that day.\r\n\t\t\t \"No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old cloak; otherwise, the patch pulls away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear is made.\r\n\t\t\t And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost, and so are the skins; but one puts new wine into fresh wineskins.\" \r\n\t\t\t One sabbath he was going through the grainfields; and as they made their way his disciples began to pluck heads of grain.\r\n\t\t\t The Pharisees said to him, \"Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the sabbath?\"\r\n\t\t\t And he said to them, \"Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need of food?\r\n\t\t\t He entered the house of God, when Abiathar was high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and he gave some to his companions.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then he said to them, \"The sabbath was made for humankind, and not humankind for the sabbath;\r\n\t\t\t so the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there who had a withered hand.\r\n\t\t\t They watched him to see whether he would cure him on the sabbath, so that they might accuse him.\r\n\t\t\t And he said to the man who had the withered hand, \"Come forward.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then he said to them, \"Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the sabbath, to save life or to kill?\" But they were silent.\r\n\t\t\t He looked around at them with anger; he was grieved at their hardness of heart and said to the man, \"Stretch out your hand.\" He stretched it out, and his hand was restored.\r\n\t\t\t The Pharisees went out and immediately conspired with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him.\r\n\t\t\t Jesus departed with his disciples to the sea, and a great multitude from Galilee followed him;\r\n\t\t\t hearing all that he was doing, they came to him in great numbers from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, beyond the Jordan, and the region around Tyre and Sidon.\r\n\t\t\t He told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, so that they would not crush him;\r\n\t\t\t for he had cured many, so that all who had diseases pressed upon him to touch him.\r\n\t\t\t Whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and shouted, \"You are the Son of God!\"\r\n\t\t\t But he sternly ordered them not to make him known.\r\n\t\t\t He went up the mountain and called to him those whom he wanted, and they came to him.\r\n\t\t\t And he appointed twelve, whom he also named apostles, to be with him, and to be sent out to proclaim the message, \r\n\t\t\t and to have authority to cast out demons.\r\n\t\t\t So he appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); \r\n\t\t\t James son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder);\r\n\t\t\t and Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Cananaean,\r\n\t\t\t and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. Then he went home;\r\n\t\t\t and the crowd came together again, so that they could not even eat.\r\n\t\t\t When his family heard it, they went out to restrain him, for people were saying, \"He has gone out of his mind.\"\r\n\t\t\t And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, \"He has Beelzebul, and by the ruler of the demons he casts out demons.\"\r\n\t\t\t And he called them to him, and spoke to them in parables, \"How can Satan cast out Satan?\r\n\t\t\t If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.\r\n\t\t\t And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.\r\n\t\t\t And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but his end has come.\r\n\t\t\t But no one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his property without first tying up the strong man; then indeed the house can be plundered.\r\n\t\t\t \"Truly I tell you, people will be forgiven for their sins and whatever blasphemies they utter;\r\n\t\t\t but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit can never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin\"--\r\n\t\t\t for they had said, \"He has an unclean spirit.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then his mother and his brothers came; and standing outside, they sent to him and called him.\r\n\t\t\t A crowd was sitting around him; and they said to him, \"Your mother and your brothers and sisters are outside, asking for you.\" \r\n\t\t\t And he replied, \"Who are my mother and my brothers?\"\r\n\t\t\t And looking at those who sat around him, he said, \"Here are my mother and my brothers!\r\n\t\t\t Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Again he began to teach beside the sea. Such a very large crowd gathered around him that he got into a boat on the sea and sat there, while the whole crowd was beside the sea on the land.\r\n\t\t\t He began to teach them many things in parables, and in his teaching he said to them:\r\n\t\t\t \"Listen! A sower went out to sow.\r\n\t\t\t And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and the birds came and ate it up.\r\n\t\t\t Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and it sprang up quickly, since it had no depth of soil.\r\n\t\t\t And when the sun rose, it was scorched; and since it had no root, it withered away.\r\n\t\t\t Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain.\r\n\t\t\t Other seed fell into good soil and brought forth grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.\"\r\n\t\t\t And he said, \"Let anyone with ears to hear listen!\"\r\n\t\t\t When he was alone, those who were around him along with the twelve asked him about the parables.\r\n\t\t\t And he said to them, \"To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside, everything comes in parables;\r\n\t\t\t in order that 'they may indeed look, but not perceive, and may indeed listen, but not understand; so that they may not turn again and be forgiven.'\"\r\n\t\t\t And he said to them, \"Do you not understand this parable? Then how will you understand all the parables?\r\n\t\t\t The sower sows the word.\r\n\t\t\t These are the ones on the path where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them.\r\n\t\t\t And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: when they hear the word, they immediately receive it with joy.\r\n\t\t\t But they have no root, and endure only for a while; then, when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away. \r\n\t\t\t And others are those sown among the thorns: these are the ones who hear the word,\r\n\t\t\t but the cares of the world, and the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things come in and choke the word, and it yields nothing.\r\n\t\t\t And these are the ones sown on the good soil: they hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.\"\r\n\t\t\t He said to them, \"Is a lamp brought in to be put under the bushel basket, or under the bed, and not on the lampstand?\r\n\t\t\t For there is nothing hidden, except to be disclosed; nor is anything secret, except to come to light.\r\n\t\t\t Let anyone with ears to hear listen!\"\r\n\t\t\t And he said to them, \"Pay attention to what you hear; the measure you give will be the measure you get, and still more will be given you.\r\n\t\t\t For to those who have, more will be given; and from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away.\"\r\n\t\t\t He also said, \"The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground,\r\n\t\t\t and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how.\r\n\t\t\t The earth produces of itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head.\r\n\t\t\t But when the grain is ripe, at once he goes in with his sickle, because the harvest has come.\"\r\n\t\t\t He also said, \"With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it?\r\n\t\t\t It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth;\r\n\t\t\t yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.\"\r\n\t\t\t With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it;\r\n\t\t\t he did not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything in private to his disciples.\r\n\t\t\t On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, \"Let us go across to the other side.\"\r\n\t\t\t And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him.\r\n\t\t\t A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped.\r\n\t\t\t But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, \"Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?\"\r\n\t\t\t He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, \"Peace! Be still!\" Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm.\r\n\t\t\t He said to them, \"Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?\"\r\n\t\t\t And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, \"Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. \r\n\t\t\t And when he had stepped out of the boat, immediately a man out of the tombs with an unclean spirit met him.\r\n\t\t\t He lived among the tombs; and no one could restrain him any more, even with a chain;\r\n\t\t\t for he had often been restrained with shackles and chains, but the chains he wrenched apart, and the shackles he broke in pieces; and no one had the strength to subdue him.\r\n\t\t\t Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always howling and bruising himself with stones.\r\n\t\t\t When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and bowed down before him;\r\n\t\t\t and he shouted at the top of his voice, \"What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.\"\r\n\t\t\t For he had said to him, \"Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Jesus asked him, \"What is your name?\" He replied, \"My name is Legion; for we are many.\" \r\n\t\t\t He begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country.\r\n\t\t\t Now there on the hillside a great herd of swine was feeding;\r\n\t\t\t and the unclean spirits begged him, \"Send us into the swine; let us enter them.\" \r\n\t\t\t So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out and entered the swine; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea, and were drowned in the sea.\r\n\t\t\t The swineherds ran off and told it in the city and in the country. Then people came to see what it was that had happened.\r\n\t\t\t They came to Jesus and saw the demoniac sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, the very man who had had the legion; and they were afraid.\r\n\t\t\t Those who had seen what had happened to the demoniac and to the swine reported it.\r\n\t\t\t Then they began to beg Jesus to leave their neighborhood. \r\n\t\t\t As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed by demons begged him that he might be with him.\r\n\t\t\t But Jesus refused, and said to him, \"Go home to your friends, and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and what mercy he has shown you.\" \r\n\t\t\t And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed.\r\n\t\t\t When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered around him; and he was by the sea. \r\n\t\t\t Then one of the leaders of the synagogue named Jairus came and, when he saw him, fell at his feet\r\n\t\t\t and begged him repeatedly, \"My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well, and live.\"\r\n\t\t\t So he went with him. And a large crowd followed him and pressed in on him.\r\n\t\t\t Now there was a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years.\r\n\t\t\t She had endured much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had; and she was no better, but rather grew worse.\r\n\t\t\t She had heard about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak,\r\n\t\t\t for she said, \"If I but touch his clothes, I will be made well.\"\r\n\t\t\t Immediately her hemorrhage stopped; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease.\r\n\t\t\t Immediately aware that power had gone forth from him, Jesus turned about in the crowd and said, \"Who touched my clothes?\"\r\n\t\t\t And his disciples said to him, \"You see the crowd pressing in on you; how can you say, 'Who touched me?'\"\r\n\t\t\t He looked all around to see who had done it.\r\n\t\t\t But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling, fell down before him, and told him the whole truth.\r\n\t\t\t He said to her, \"Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.\"\r\n\t\t\t While he was still speaking, some people came from the leader's house to say, \"Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher any further?\"\r\n\t\t\t But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the leader of the synagogue, \"Do not fear, only believe.\" \r\n\t\t\t He allowed no one to follow him except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James.\r\n\t\t\t When they came to the house of the leader of the synagogue, he saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly.\r\n\t\t\t When he had entered, he said to them, \"Why do you make a commotion and weep? The child is not dead but sleeping.\"\r\n\t\t\t And they laughed at him. Then he put them all outside, and took the child's father and mother and those who were with him, and went in where the child was.\r\n\t\t\t He took her by the hand and said to her, \"Talitha cum,\" which means, \"Little girl, get up!\"\r\n\t\t\t And immediately the girl got up and began to walk about (she was twelve years of age). At this they were overcome with amazement.\r\n\t\t\t He strictly ordered them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t He left that place and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him.\r\n\t\t\t On the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astounded. They said, \"Where did this man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been given to him? What deeds of power are being done by his hands!\r\n\t\t\t Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?\" And they took offense at him. \r\n\t\t\t Then Jesus said to them, \"Prophets are not without honor, except in their hometown, and among their own kin, and in their own house.\"\r\n\t\t\t And he could do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them.\r\n\t\t\t And he was amazed at their unbelief. Then he went about among the villages teaching.\r\n\t\t\t He called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits.\r\n\t\t\t He ordered them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts;\r\n\t\t\t but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics.\r\n\t\t\t He said to them, \"Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place.\r\n\t\t\t If any place will not welcome you and they refuse to hear you, as you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.\"\r\n\t\t\t So they went out and proclaimed that all should repent.\r\n\t\t\t They cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.\r\n\t\t\t King Herod heard of it, for Jesus' name had become known. Some were saying, \"John the baptizer has been raised from the dead; and for this reason these powers are at work in him.\" \r\n\t\t\t But others said, \"It is Elijah.\" And others said, \"It is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.\"\r\n\t\t\t But when Herod heard of it, he said, \"John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.\"\r\n\t\t\t For Herod himself had sent men who arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, because Herod had married her. \r\n\t\t\t For John had been telling Herod, \"It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife.\"\r\n\t\t\t And Herodias had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him. But she could not,\r\n\t\t\t for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he protected him. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed; and yet he liked to listen to him. \r\n\t\t\t But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers and officers and for the leaders of Galilee.\r\n\t\t\t When his daughter Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests; and the king said to the girl, \"Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it.\" \r\n\t\t\t And he solemnly swore to her, \"Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom.\"\r\n\t\t\t She went out and said to her mother, \"What should I ask for?\" She replied, \"The head of John the baptizer.\"\r\n\t\t\t Immediately she rushed back to the king and requested, \"I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.\"\r\n\t\t\t The king was deeply grieved; yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he did not want to refuse her.\r\n\t\t\t Immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard with orders to bring John's head. He went and beheaded him in the prison, \r\n\t\t\t brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother.\r\n\t\t\t When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb.\r\n\t\t\t The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught.\r\n\t\t\t He said to them, \"Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.\" For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.\r\n\t\t\t And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves.\r\n\t\t\t Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they hurried there on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them.\r\n\t\t\t As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.\r\n\t\t\t When it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, \"This is a deserted place, and the hour is now very late;\r\n\t\t\t send them away so that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy something for themselves to eat.\"\r\n\t\t\t But he answered them, \"You give them something to eat.\" They said to him, \"Are we to go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread, and give it to them to eat?\" \r\n\t\t\t And he said to them, \"How many loaves have you? Go and see.\" When they had found out, they said, \"Five, and two fish.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then he ordered them to get all the people to sit down in groups on the green grass.\r\n\t\t\t So they sat down in groups of hundreds and of fifties.\r\n\t\t\t Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; and he divided the two fish among them all.\r\n\t\t\t And all ate and were filled;\r\n\t\t\t and they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish.\r\n\t\t\t Those who had eaten the loaves numbered five thousand men.\r\n\t\t\t Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd.\r\n\t\t\t After saying farewell to them, he went up on the mountain to pray.\r\n\t\t\t When evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land.\r\n\t\t\t When he saw that they were straining at the oars against an adverse wind, he came towards them early in the morning, walking on the sea. He intended to pass them by.\r\n\t\t\t But when they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and cried out;\r\n\t\t\t for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, \"Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then he got into the boat with them and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded,\r\n\t\t\t for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.\r\n\t\t\t When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored the boat.\r\n\t\t\t When they got out of the boat, people at once recognized him,\r\n\t\t\t and rushed about that whole region and began to bring the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was.\r\n\t\t\t And wherever he went, into villages or cities or farms, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his cloak; and all who touched it were healed.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now when the Pharisees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around him,\r\n\t\t\t they noticed that some of his disciples were eating with defiled hands, that is, without washing them.\r\n\t\t\t (For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, do not eat unless they thoroughly wash their hands, thus observing the tradition of the elders; \r\n\t\t\t and they do not eat anything from the market unless they wash it; and there are also many other traditions that they observe, the washing of cups, pots, and bronze kettles.)\r\n\t\t\t So the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, \"Why do your disciples not live according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?\" \r\n\t\t\t He said to them, \"Isaiah prophesied rightly about you hypocrites, as it is written, 'This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me;\r\n\t\t\t in vain do they worship me, teaching human precepts as doctrines.'\r\n\t\t\t You abandon the commandment of God and hold to human tradition.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then he said to them, \"You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition!\r\n\t\t\t For Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother'; and, 'Whoever speaks evil of father or mother must surely die.'\r\n\t\t\t But you say that if anyone tells father or mother, 'Whatever support you might have had from me is Corban' (that is, an offering to God)--\r\n\t\t\t then you no longer permit doing anything for a father or mother,\r\n\t\t\t thus making void the word of God through your tradition that you have handed on. And you do many things like this.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then he called the crowd again and said to them, \"Listen to me, all of you, and understand:\r\n\t\t\t there is nothing outside a person that by going in can defile, but the things that come out are what defile.\" \r\n\t\t\t \r\n\t\t\t When he had left the crowd and entered the house, his disciples asked him about the parable.\r\n\t\t\t He said to them, \"Then do you also fail to understand? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile,\r\n\t\t\t since it enters, not the heart but the stomach, and goes out into the sewer?\" (Thus he declared all foods clean.)\r\n\t\t\t And he said, \"It is what comes out of a person that defiles.\r\n\t\t\t For it is from within, from the human heart, that evil intentions come: fornication, theft, murder,\r\n\t\t\t adultery, avarice, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, folly.\r\n\t\t\t All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.\"\r\n\t\t\t From there he set out and went away to the region of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know he was there. Yet he could not escape notice,\r\n\t\t\t but a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit immediately heard about him, and she came and bowed down at his feet.\r\n\t\t\t Now the woman was a Gentile, of Syrophoenician origin. She begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter.\r\n\t\t\t He said to her, \"Let the children be fed first, for it is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to the dogs.\"\r\n\t\t\t But she answered him, \"Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs.\" \r\n\t\t\t Then he said to her, \"For saying that, you may go-- the demon has left your daughter.\"\r\n\t\t\t So she went home, found the child lying on the bed, and the demon gone.\r\n\t\t\t Then he returned from the region of Tyre, and went by way of Sidon towards the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis.\r\n\t\t\t They brought to him a deaf man who had an impediment in his speech; and they begged him to lay his hand on him.\r\n\t\t\t He took him aside in private, away from the crowd, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue.\r\n\t\t\t Then looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, \"Ephphatha,\" that is, \"Be opened.\"\r\n\t\t\t And immediately his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly.\r\n\t\t\t Then Jesus ordered them to tell no one; but the more he ordered them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. \r\n\t\t\t They were astounded beyond measure, saying, \"He has done everything well; he even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t In those days when there was again a great crowd without anything to eat, he called his disciples and said to them,\r\n\t\t\t \"I have compassion for the crowd, because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat.\r\n\t\t\t If I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way-- and some of them have come from a great distance.\"\r\n\t\t\t His disciples replied, \"How can one feed these people with bread here in the desert?\"\r\n\t\t\t He asked them, \"How many loaves do you have?\" They said, \"Seven.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then he ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground; and he took the seven loaves, and after giving thanks he broke them and gave them to his disciples to distribute; and they distributed them to the crowd.\r\n\t\t\t They had also a few small fish; and after blessing them, he ordered that these too should be distributed.\r\n\t\t\t They ate and were filled; and they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full.\r\n\t\t\t Now there were about four thousand people. And he sent them away.\r\n\t\t\t And immediately he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the district of Dalmanutha. \r\n\t\t\t The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, asking him for a sign from heaven, to test him.\r\n\t\t\t And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, \"Why does this generation ask for a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation.\"\r\n\t\t\t And he left them, and getting into the boat again, he went across to the other side.\r\n\t\t\t Now the disciples had forgotten to bring any bread; and they had only one loaf with them in the boat.\r\n\t\t\t And he cautioned them, saying, \"Watch out-- beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.\"\r\n\t\t\t They said to one another, \"It is because we have no bread.\"\r\n\t\t\t And becoming aware of it, Jesus said to them, \"Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened?\r\n\t\t\t Do you have eyes, and fail to see? Do you have ears, and fail to hear? And do you not remember?\r\n\t\t\t When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you collect?\" They said to him, \"Twelve.\"\r\n\t\t\t \"And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you collect?\" And they said to him, \"Seven.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then he said to them, \"Do you not yet understand?\"\r\n\t\t\t They came to Bethsaida. Some people brought a blind man to him and begged him to touch him. \r\n\t\t\t He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village; and when he had put saliva on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, \"Can you see anything?\"\r\n\t\t\t And the man looked up and said, \"I can see people, but they look like trees, walking.\" \r\n\t\t\t Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he looked intently and his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. \r\n\t\t\t Then he sent him away to his home, saying, \"Do not even go into the village.\" \r\n\t\t\t Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, \"Who do people say that I am?\"\r\n\t\t\t And they answered him, \"John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.\"\r\n\t\t\t He asked them, \"But who do you say that I am?\" Peter answered him, \"You are the Messiah.\" \r\n\t\t\t And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him.\r\n\t\t\t Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.\r\n\t\t\t He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.\r\n\t\t\t But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, \"Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.\"\r\n\t\t\t He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, \"If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.\r\n\t\t\t For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. \r\n\t\t\t For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life?\r\n\t\t\t Indeed, what can they give in return for their life?\r\n\t\t\t Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.\" \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t And he said to them, \"Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see that the kingdom of God has come with power.\" \r\n\t\t\t Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them,\r\n\t\t\t and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them. \r\n\t\t\t And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus.\r\n\t\t\t Then Peter said to Jesus, \"Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.\" \r\n\t\t\t He did not know what to say, for they were terrified.\r\n\t\t\t Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, \"This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!\" \r\n\t\t\t Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more, but only Jesus.\r\n\t\t\t As they were coming down the mountain, he ordered them to tell no one about what they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead.\r\n\t\t\t So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead could mean.\r\n\t\t\t Then they asked him, \"Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?\"\r\n\t\t\t He said to them, \"Elijah is indeed coming first to restore all things. How then is it written about the Son of Man, that he is to go through many sufferings and be treated with contempt?\r\n\t\t\t But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written about him.\"\r\n\t\t\t When they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and some scribes arguing with them.\r\n\t\t\t When the whole crowd saw him, they were immediately overcome with awe, and they ran forward to greet him.\r\n\t\t\t He asked them, \"What are you arguing about with them?\"\r\n\t\t\t Someone from the crowd answered him, \"Teacher, I brought you my son; he has a spirit that makes him unable to speak;\r\n\t\t\t and whenever it seizes him, it dashes him down; and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid; and I asked your disciples to cast it out, but they could not do so.\"\r\n\t\t\t He answered them, \"You faithless generation, how much longer must I be among you? How much longer must I put up with you? Bring him to me.\"\r\n\t\t\t And they brought the boy to him. When the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. \r\n\t\t\t Jesus asked the father, \"How long has this been happening to him?\" And he said, \"From childhood. \r\n\t\t\t It has often cast him into the fire and into the water, to destroy him; but if you are able to do anything, have pity on us and help us.\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus said to him, \"If you are able!-- All things can be done for the one who believes.\"\r\n\t\t\t Immediately the father of the child cried out, \"I believe; help my unbelief!\" \r\n\t\t\t When Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, \"You spirit that keeps this boy from speaking and hearing, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him again!\"\r\n\t\t\t After crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, \"He is dead.\"\r\n\t\t\t But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he was able to stand.\r\n\t\t\t When he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, \"Why could we not cast it out?\"\r\n\t\t\t He said to them, \"This kind can come out only through prayer.\"\r\n\t\t\t They went on from there and passed through Galilee. He did not want anyone to know it;\r\n\t\t\t for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, \"The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and three days after being killed, he will rise again.\"\r\n\t\t\t But they did not understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask him.\r\n\t\t\t Then they came to Capernaum; and when he was in the house he asked them, \"What were you arguing about on the way?\"\r\n\t\t\t But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another who was the greatest.\r\n\t\t\t He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, \"Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them,\r\n\t\t\t \"Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.\"\r\n\t\t\t John said to him, \"Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.\" \r\n\t\t\t But Jesus said, \"Do not stop him; for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me.\r\n\t\t\t Whoever is not against us is for us.\r\n\t\t\t For truly I tell you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward.\r\n\t\t\t \"If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea. \r\n\t\t\t If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. \r\n\t\t\t \r\n\t\t\t And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and to be thrown into hell.,\r\n\t\t\t \r\n\t\t\t And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into hell, \r\n\t\t\t where their worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched.\r\n\t\t\t \"For everyone will be salted with fire. \r\n\t\t\t Salt is good; but if salt has lost its saltiness, how can you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.\" \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t He left that place and went to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan. And crowds again gathered around him; and, as was his custom, he again taught them. \r\n\t\t\t Some Pharisees came, and to test him they asked, \"Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?\"\r\n\t\t\t He answered them, \"What did Moses command you?\"\r\n\t\t\t They said, \"Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of dismissal and to divorce her.\"\r\n\t\t\t But Jesus said to them, \"Because of your hardness of heart he wrote this commandment for you.\r\n\t\t\t But from the beginning of creation, 'God made them male and female.'\r\n\t\t\t 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, \r\n\t\t\t and the two shall become one flesh.' So they are no longer two, but one flesh.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter.\r\n\t\t\t He said to them, \"Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her;\r\n\t\t\t and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.\"\r\n\t\t\t People were bringing little children to him in order that he might touch them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them.\r\n\t\t\t But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, \"Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs.\r\n\t\t\t Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.\"\r\n\t\t\t And he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them.\r\n\t\t\t As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, \"Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus said to him, \"Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone.\r\n\t\t\t You know the commandments: 'You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; You shall not defraud; Honor your father and mother.'\"\r\n\t\t\t He said to him, \"Teacher, I have kept all these since my youth.\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, \"You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.\" \r\n\t\t\t When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions.\r\n\t\t\t Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, \"How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!\"\r\n\t\t\t And the disciples were perplexed at these words. But Jesus said to them again, \"Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! \r\n\t\t\t It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.\"\r\n\t\t\t They were greatly astounded and said to one another, \"Then who can be saved?\" \r\n\t\t\t Jesus looked at them and said, \"For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible.\"\r\n\t\t\t Peter began to say to him, \"Look, we have left everything and followed you.\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus said, \"Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields, for my sake and for the sake of the good news,\r\n\t\t\t who will not receive a hundredfold now in this age-- houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields with persecutions-- and in the age to come eternal life.\r\n\t\t\t But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.\"\r\n\t\t\t They were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them; they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them what was to happen to him,\r\n\t\t\t saying, \"See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death; then they will hand him over to the Gentiles;\r\n\t\t\t they will mock him, and spit upon him, and flog him, and kill him; and after three days he will rise again.\"\r\n\t\t\t James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him and said to him, \"Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.\"\r\n\t\t\t And he said to them, \"What is it you want me to do for you?\"\r\n\t\t\t And they said to him, \"Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.\"\r\n\t\t\t But Jesus said to them, \"You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?\"\r\n\t\t\t They replied, \"We are able.\" Then Jesus said to them, \"The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized;\r\n\t\t\t but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.\"\r\n\t\t\t When the ten heard this, they began to be angry with James and John.\r\n\t\t\t So Jesus called them and said to them, \"You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them.\r\n\t\t\t But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant,\r\n\t\t\t and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all.\r\n\t\t\t For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.\"\r\n\t\t\t They came to Jericho. As he and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside.\r\n\t\t\t When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, \"Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!\"\r\n\t\t\t Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, \"Son of David, have mercy on me!\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus stood still and said, \"Call him here.\" And they called the blind man, saying to him, \"Take heart; get up, he is calling you.\"\r\n\t\t\t So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus.\r\n\t\t\t Then Jesus said to him, \"What do you want me to do for you?\" The blind man said to him, \"My teacher, let me see again.\" \r\n\t\t\t Jesus said to him, \"Go; your faith has made you well.\" Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t When they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples\r\n\t\t\t and said to them, \"Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it.\r\n\t\t\t If anyone says to you, 'Why are you doing this?' just say this, 'The Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately.'\"\r\n\t\t\t They went away and found a colt tied near a door, outside in the street. As they were untying it,\r\n\t\t\t some of the bystanders said to them, \"What are you doing, untying the colt?\"\r\n\t\t\t They told them what Jesus had said; and they allowed them to take it.\r\n\t\t\t Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it; and he sat on it.\r\n\t\t\t Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields.\r\n\t\t\t Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting, \"Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!\r\n\t\t\t Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David! Hosanna in the highest heaven!\"\r\n\t\t\t Then he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple; and when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.\r\n\t\t\t On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry.\r\n\t\t\t Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see whether perhaps he would find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs.\r\n\t\t\t He said to it, \"May no one ever eat fruit from you again.\" And his disciples heard it.\r\n\t\t\t Then they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who were selling and those who were buying in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves;\r\n\t\t\t and he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple.\r\n\t\t\t He was teaching and saying, \"Is it not written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations'? But you have made it a den of robbers.\"\r\n\t\t\t And when the chief priests and the scribes heard it, they kept looking for a way to kill him; for they were afraid of him, because the whole crowd was spellbound by his teaching.\r\n\t\t\t And when evening came, Jesus and his disciples went out of the city. \r\n\t\t\t In the morning as they passed by, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots.\r\n\t\t\t Then Peter remembered and said to him, \"Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus answered them, \"Have faith in God. \r\n\t\t\t Truly I tell you, if you say to this mountain, 'Be taken up and thrown into the sea,' and if you do not doubt in your heart, but believe that what you say will come to pass, it will be done for you.\r\n\t\t\t So I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. \r\n\t\t\t \"Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.\" \r\n\t\t\t \r\n\t\t\t Again they came to Jerusalem. As he was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to him\r\n\t\t\t and said, \"By what authority are you doing these things? Who gave you this authority to do them?\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus said to them, \"I will ask you one question; answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things.\r\n\t\t\t Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin? Answer me.\"\r\n\t\t\t They argued with one another, \"If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say, 'Why then did you not believe him?'\r\n\t\t\t But shall we say, 'Of human origin'?\"-- they were afraid of the crowd, for all regarded John as truly a prophet.\r\n\t\t\t So they answered Jesus, \"We do not know.\" And Jesus said to them, \"Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then he began to speak to them in parables. \"A man planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a pit for the wine press, and built a watchtower; then he leased it to tenants and went to another country.\r\n\t\t\t When the season came, he sent a slave to the tenants to collect from them his share of the produce of the vineyard.\r\n\t\t\t But they seized him, and beat him, and sent him away empty-handed.\r\n\t\t\t And again he sent another slave to them; this one they beat over the head and insulted.\r\n\t\t\t Then he sent another, and that one they killed. And so it was with many others; some they beat, and others they killed.\r\n\t\t\t He had still one other, a beloved son. Finally he sent him to them, saying, 'They will respect my son.'\r\n\t\t\t But those tenants said to one another, 'This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.'\r\n\t\t\t So they seized him, killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard.\r\n\t\t\t What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the tenants and give the vineyard to others.\r\n\t\t\t Have you not read this scripture: 'The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; \r\n\t\t\t this was the Lord's doing, and it is amazing in our eyes'?\"\r\n\t\t\t When they realized that he had told this parable against them, they wanted to arrest him, but they feared the crowd. So they left him and went away.\r\n\t\t\t Then they sent to him some Pharisees and some Herodians to trap him in what he said.\r\n\t\t\t And they came and said to him, \"Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality, but teach the way of God in accordance with truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?\r\n\t\t\t Should we pay them, or should we not?\" But knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, \"Why are you putting me to the test? Bring me a denarius and let me see it.\"\r\n\t\t\t And they brought one. Then he said to them, \"Whose head is this, and whose title?\" They answered, \"The emperor's.\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus said to them, \"Give to the emperor the things that are the emperor's, and to God the things that are God's.\" And they were utterly amazed at him.\r\n\t\t\t Some Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him and asked him a question, saying,\r\n\t\t\t \"Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies, leaving a wife but no child, the man shall marry the widow and raise up children for his brother. \r\n\t\t\t There were seven brothers; the first married and, when he died, left no children;\r\n\t\t\t and the second married her and died, leaving no children; and the third likewise;\r\n\t\t\t none of the seven left children. Last of all the woman herself died.\r\n\t\t\t In the resurrection whose wife will she be? For the seven had married her.\" \r\n\t\t\t Jesus said to them, \"Is not this the reason you are wrong, that you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God?\r\n\t\t\t For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.\r\n\t\t\t And as for the dead being raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the story about the bush, how God said to him, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'?\r\n\t\t\t He is God not of the dead, but of the living; you are quite wrong.\"\r\n\t\t\t One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, he asked him, \"Which commandment is the first of all?\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus answered, \"The first is, 'Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one;\r\n\t\t\t you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.'\r\n\t\t\t The second is this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the scribe said to him, \"You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that 'he is one, and besides him there is no other';\r\n\t\t\t and 'to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength,' and 'to love one's neighbor as oneself,'-- this is much more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.\"\r\n\t\t\t When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, \"You are not far from the kingdom of God.\" After that no one dared to ask him any question.\r\n\t\t\t While Jesus was teaching in the temple, he said, \"How can the scribes say that the Messiah is the son of David? \r\n\t\t\t David himself, by the Holy Spirit, declared, 'The Lord said to my Lord, \"Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet.\"'\r\n\t\t\t David himself calls him Lord; so how can he be his son?\" And the large crowd was listening to him with delight.\r\n\t\t\t As he taught, he said, \"Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces,\r\n\t\t\t and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets!\r\n\t\t\t They devour widows' houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.\"\r\n\t\t\t He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums.\r\n\t\t\t A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny.\r\n\t\t\t Then he called his disciples and said to them, \"Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury.\r\n\t\t\t For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t As he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, \"Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Jesus asked him, \"Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.\"\r\n\t\t\t When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately,\r\n\t\t\t \"Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign that all these things are about to be accomplished?\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Jesus began to say to them, \"Beware that no one leads you astray.\r\n\t\t\t Many will come in my name and say, 'I am he!' and they will lead many astray. \r\n\t\t\t When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is still to come.\r\n\t\t\t For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. This is but the beginning of the birth pangs.\r\n\t\t\t \"As for yourselves, beware; for they will hand you over to councils; and you will be beaten in synagogues; and you will stand before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them.\r\n\t\t\t And the good news must first be proclaimed to all nations. \r\n\t\t\t When they bring you to trial and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say; but say whatever is given you at that time, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.\r\n\t\t\t Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death;\r\n\t\t\t and you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.\r\n\t\t\t \"But when you see the desolating sacrilege set up where it ought not to be (let the reader understand), then those in Judea must flee to the mountains;\r\n\t\t\t the one on the housetop must not go down or enter the house to take anything away;\r\n\t\t\t the one in the field must not turn back to get a coat.\r\n\t\t\t Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing infants in those days!\r\n\t\t\t Pray that it may not be in winter.\r\n\t\t\t For in those days there will be suffering, such as has not been from the beginning of the creation that God created until now, no, and never will be.\r\n\t\t\t And if the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would be saved; but for the sake of the elect, whom he chose, he has cut short those days.\r\n\t\t\t And if anyone says to you at that time, 'Look! Here is the Messiah!' or 'Look! There he is!'-- do not believe it.\r\n\t\t\t False messiahs and false prophets will appear and produce signs and omens, to lead astray, if possible, the elect. \r\n\t\t\t But be alert; I have already told you everything.\r\n\t\t\t \"But in those days, after that suffering, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light,\r\n\t\t\t and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.\r\n\t\t\t Then they will see 'the Son of Man coming in clouds' with great power and glory.\r\n\t\t\t Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.\r\n\t\t\t \"From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near.\r\n\t\t\t So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. \r\n\t\t\t Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place.\r\n\t\t\t Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.\r\n\t\t\t \"But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.\r\n\t\t\t Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come. \r\n\t\t\t It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore, keep awake-- for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn,\r\n\t\t\t or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly.\r\n\t\t\t And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t It was two days before the Passover and the festival of Unleavened Bread. The chief priests and the scribes were looking for a way to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him; \r\n\t\t\t for they said, \"Not during the festival, or there may be a riot among the people.\"\r\n\t\t\t While he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at the table, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment of nard, and she broke open the jar and poured the ointment on his head. \r\n\t\t\t But some were there who said to one another in anger, \"Why was the ointment wasted in this way?\r\n\t\t\t For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii, and the money given to the poor.\" And they scolded her. \r\n\t\t\t But Jesus said, \"Let her alone; why do you trouble her? She has performed a good service for me.\r\n\t\t\t For you always have the poor with you, and you can show kindness to them whenever you wish; but you will not always have me.\r\n\t\t\t She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for its burial.\r\n\t\t\t Truly I tell you, wherever the good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her.\" \r\n\t\t\t Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went to the chief priests in order to betray him to them.\r\n\t\t\t When they heard it, they were greatly pleased, and promised to give him money. So he began to look for an opportunity to betray him.\r\n\t\t\t On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed, his disciples said to him, \"Where do you want us to go and make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?\"\r\n\t\t\t So he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, \"Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him,\r\n\t\t\t and wherever he enters, say to the owner of the house, 'The Teacher asks, Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?'\r\n\t\t\t He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.\"\r\n\t\t\t So the disciples set out and went to the city, and found everything as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover meal.\r\n\t\t\t When it was evening, he came with the twelve.\r\n\t\t\t And when they had taken their places and were eating, Jesus said, \"Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.\"\r\n\t\t\t They began to be distressed and to say to him one after another, \"Surely, not I?\"\r\n\t\t\t He said to them, \"It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread into the bowl with me. \r\n\t\t\t For the Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that one not to have been born.\"\r\n\t\t\t While they were eating, he took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to them, and said, \"Take; this is my body.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, and all of them drank from it.\r\n\t\t\t He said to them, \"This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. \r\n\t\t\t Truly I tell you, I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.\"\r\n\t\t\t When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.\r\n\t\t\t And Jesus said to them, \"You will all become deserters; for it is written, 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.'\r\n\t\t\t But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.\"\r\n\t\t\t Peter said to him, \"Even though all become deserters, I will not.\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus said to him, \"Truly I tell you, this day, this very night, before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.\"\r\n\t\t\t But he said vehemently, \"Even though I must die with you, I will not deny you.\" And all of them said the same.\r\n\t\t\t They went to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, \"Sit here while I pray.\"\r\n\t\t\t He took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be distressed and agitated.\r\n\t\t\t And he said to them, \"I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and keep awake.\"\r\n\t\t\t And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him.\r\n\t\t\t He said, \"Abba, Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me; yet, not what I want, but what you want.\"\r\n\t\t\t He came and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, \"Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep awake one hour?\r\n\t\t\t Keep awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.\"\r\n\t\t\t And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words.\r\n\t\t\t And once more he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy; and they did not know what to say to him.\r\n\t\t\t He came a third time and said to them, \"Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Enough! The hour has come; the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.\r\n\t\t\t Get up, let us be going. See, my betrayer is at hand.\"\r\n\t\t\t Immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived; and with him there was a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders.\r\n\t\t\t Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, \"The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.\"\r\n\t\t\t So when he came, he went up to him at once and said, \"Rabbi!\" and kissed him.\r\n\t\t\t Then they laid hands on him and arrested him.\r\n\t\t\t But one of those who stood near drew his sword and struck the slave of the high priest, cutting off his ear.\r\n\t\t\t Then Jesus said to them, \"Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as though I were a bandit?\r\n\t\t\t Day after day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not arrest me. But let the scriptures be fulfilled.\"\r\n\t\t\t All of them deserted him and fled.\r\n\t\t\t A certain young man was following him, wearing nothing but a linen cloth. They caught hold of him,\r\n\t\t\t but he left the linen cloth and ran off naked.\r\n\t\t\t They took Jesus to the high priest; and all the chief priests, the elders, and the scribes were assembled.\r\n\t\t\t Peter had followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest; and he was sitting with the guards, warming himself at the fire.\r\n\t\t\t Now the chief priests and the whole council were looking for testimony against Jesus to put him to death; but they found none.\r\n\t\t\t For many gave false testimony against him, and their testimony did not agree.\r\n\t\t\t Some stood up and gave false testimony against him, saying,\r\n\t\t\t \"We heard him say, 'I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another, not made with hands.'\"\r\n\t\t\t But even on this point their testimony did not agree.\r\n\t\t\t Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, \"Have you no answer? What is it that they testify against you?\"\r\n\t\t\t But he was silent and did not answer. Again the high priest asked him, \"Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?\" \r\n\t\t\t Jesus said, \"I am; and 'you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power,' and 'coming with the clouds of heaven.'\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, \"Why do we still need witnesses?\r\n\t\t\t You have heard his blasphemy! What is your decision?\" All of them condemned him as deserving death.\r\n\t\t\t Some began to spit on him, to blindfold him, and to strike him, saying to him, \"Prophesy!\" The guards also took him over and beat him.\r\n\t\t\t While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant-girls of the high priest came by.\r\n\t\t\t When she saw Peter warming himself, she stared at him and said, \"You also were with Jesus, the man from Nazareth.\"\r\n\t\t\t But he denied it, saying, \"I do not know or understand what you are talking about.\" And he went out into the forecourt. Then the cock crowed. \r\n\t\t\t And the servant-girl, on seeing him, began again to say to the bystanders, \"This man is one of them.\"\r\n\t\t\t But again he denied it. Then after a little while the bystanders again said to Peter, \"Certainly you are one of them; for you are a Galilean.\"\r\n\t\t\t But he began to curse, and he swore an oath, \"I do not know this man you are talking about.\"\r\n\t\t\t At that moment the cock crowed for the second time. Then Peter remembered that Jesus had said to him, \"Before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.\" And he broke down and wept.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t As soon as it was morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council. They bound Jesus, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate.\r\n\t\t\t Pilate asked him, \"Are you the King of the Jews?\" He answered him, \"You say so.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the chief priests accused him of many things.\r\n\t\t\t Pilate asked him again, \"Have you no answer? See how many charges they bring against you.\"\r\n\t\t\t But Jesus made no further reply, so that Pilate was amazed.\r\n\t\t\t Now at the festival he used to release a prisoner for them, anyone for whom they asked.\r\n\t\t\t Now a man called Barabbas was in prison with the rebels who had committed murder during the insurrection.\r\n\t\t\t So the crowd came and began to ask Pilate to do for them according to his custom.\r\n\t\t\t Then he answered them, \"Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?\"\r\n\t\t\t For he realized that it was out of jealousy that the chief priests had handed him over.\r\n\t\t\t But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release Barabbas for them instead.\r\n\t\t\t Pilate spoke to them again, \"Then what do you wish me to do with the man you call the King of the Jews?\" \r\n\t\t\t They shouted back, \"Crucify him!\"\r\n\t\t\t Pilate asked them, \"Why, what evil has he done?\" But they shouted all the more, \"Crucify him!\"\r\n\t\t\t So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas for them; and after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified.\r\n\t\t\t Then the soldiers led him into the courtyard of the palace (that is, the governor's headquarters); and they called together the whole cohort.\r\n\t\t\t And they clothed him in a purple cloak; and after twisting some thorns into a crown, they put it on him.\r\n\t\t\t And they began saluting him, \"Hail, King of the Jews!\"\r\n\t\t\t They struck his head with a reed, spat upon him, and knelt down in homage to him.\r\n\t\t\t After mocking him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.\r\n\t\t\t They compelled a passer-by, who was coming in from the country, to carry his cross; it was Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus.\r\n\t\t\t Then they brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means the place of a skull). \r\n\t\t\t And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh; but he did not take it.\r\n\t\t\t And they crucified him, and divided his clothes among them, casting lots to decide what each should take.\r\n\t\t\t It was nine o'clock in the morning when they crucified him.\r\n\t\t\t The inscription of the charge against him read, \"The King of the Jews.\"\r\n\t\t\t And with him they crucified two bandits, one on his right and one on his left. \r\n\t\t\t \r\n\t\t\t Those who passed by derided him, shaking their heads and saying, \"Aha! You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, \r\n\t\t\t save yourself, and come down from the cross!\"\r\n\t\t\t In the same way the chief priests, along with the scribes, were also mocking him among themselves and saying, \"He saved others; he cannot save himself.\r\n\t\t\t Let the Messiah, the King of Israel, come down from the cross now, so that we may see and believe.\" Those who were crucified with him also taunted him. \r\n\t\t\t When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. \r\n\t\t\t At three o'clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, \"Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?\" which means, \"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?\" \r\n\t\t\t When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, \"Listen, he is calling for Elijah.\"\r\n\t\t\t And someone ran, filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink, saying, \"Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last.\r\n\t\t\t And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.\r\n\t\t\t Now when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, \"Truly this man was God's Son!\" \r\n\t\t\t There were also women looking on from a distance; among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome.\r\n\t\t\t These used to follow him and provided for him when he was in Galilee; and there were many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t When evening had come, and since it was the day of Preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath,\r\n\t\t\t Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.\r\n\t\t\t Then Pilate wondered if he were already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he had been dead for some time.\r\n\t\t\t When he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted the body to Joseph.\r\n\t\t\t Then Joseph bought a linen cloth, and taking down the body, wrapped it in the linen cloth, and laid it in a tomb that had been hewn out of the rock. He then rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. \r\n\t\t\t Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where the body was laid. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him.\r\n\t\t\t And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb.\r\n\t\t\t They had been saying to one another, \"Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?\"\r\n\t\t\t When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back.\r\n\t\t\t As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed.\r\n\t\t\t But he said to them, \"Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him.\r\n\t\t\t But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.\"\r\n\t\t\t So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.\r\n\t\t\t Now after he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons.\r\n\t\t\t She went out and told those who had been with him, while they were mourning and weeping.\r\n\t\t\t But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it.\r\n\t\t\t After this he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country.\r\n\t\t\t And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them.\r\n\t\t\t Later he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were sitting at the table; and he upbraided them for their lack of faith and stubbornness, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen.\r\n\t\t\t And he said to them, \"Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation. \r\n\t\t\t The one who believes and is baptized will be saved; but the one who does not believe will be condemned.\r\n\t\t\t And these signs will accompany those who believe: by using my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues;\r\n\t\t\t they will pick up snakes in their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.\" \r\n\t\t\t So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.\r\n\t\t\t And they went out and proclaimed the good news everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs that accompanied it. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Since many have undertaken to set down an orderly account of the events that have been fulfilled among us,\r\n\t\t\t just as they were handed on to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word,\r\n\t\t\t I too decided, after investigating everything carefully from the very first, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, \r\n\t\t\t so that you may know the truth concerning the things about which you have been instructed.\r\n\t\t\t In 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.\r\n\t\t\t Both of them were righteous before God, living blamelessly according to all the commandments and regulations of the Lord.\r\n\t\t\t But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were getting on in years.\r\n\t\t\t Once when he was serving as priest before God and his section was on duty,\r\n\t\t\t he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and offer incense.\r\n\t\t\t Now at the time of the incense offering, the whole assembly of the people was praying outside.\r\n\t\t\t Then there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.\r\n\t\t\t When Zechariah saw him, he was terrified; and fear overwhelmed him.\r\n\t\t\t But the angel said to him, \"Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John.\r\n\t\t\t You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth,\r\n\t\t\t for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must never drink wine or strong drink; even before his birth he will be filled with the Holy Spirit.\r\n\t\t\t He will turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God.\r\n\t\t\t With the spirit and power of Elijah he will go before him, to turn the hearts of parents to their children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.\"\r\n\t\t\t Zechariah said to the angel, \"How will I know that this is so? For I am an old man, and my wife is getting on in years.\"\r\n\t\t\t The angel replied, \"I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.\r\n\t\t\t But now, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time, you will become mute, unable to speak, until the day these things occur.\"\r\n\t\t\t Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah, and wondered at his delay in the sanctuary.\r\n\t\t\t When he did come out, he could not speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He kept motioning to them and remained unable to speak.\r\n\t\t\t When his time of service was ended, he went to his home.\r\n\t\t\t After those days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she remained in seclusion. She said,\r\n\t\t\t \"This is what the Lord has done for me when he looked favorably on me and took away the disgrace I have endured among my people.\"\r\n\t\t\t In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth,\r\n\t\t\t to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary.\r\n\t\t\t And he came to her and said, \"Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.\" \r\n\t\t\t But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.\r\n\t\t\t The angel said to her, \"Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.\r\n\t\t\t And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus.\r\n\t\t\t He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David.\r\n\t\t\t He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.\"\r\n\t\t\t Mary said to the angel, \"How can this be, since I am a virgin?\" \r\n\t\t\t The angel said to her, \"The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. \r\n\t\t\t And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren.\r\n\t\t\t For nothing will be impossible with God.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Mary said, \"Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.\" Then the angel departed from her.\r\n\t\t\t In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country,\r\n\t\t\t where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.\r\n\t\t\t When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit\r\n\t\t\t and exclaimed with a loud cry, \"Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.\r\n\t\t\t And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me?\r\n\t\t\t For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy.\r\n\t\t\t And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.\" \r\n\t\t\t And Mary said, \"My soul magnifies the Lord, \r\n\t\t\t and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,\r\n\t\t\t for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;\r\n\t\t\t for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.\r\n\t\t\t His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.\r\n\t\t\t He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.\r\n\t\t\t He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly;\r\n\t\t\t he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.\r\n\t\t\t He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy,\r\n\t\t\t according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.\"\r\n\t\t\t And Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.\r\n\t\t\t Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son.\r\n\t\t\t Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.\r\n\t\t\t On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him Zechariah after his father.\r\n\t\t\t But his mother said, \"No; he is to be called John.\"\r\n\t\t\t They said to her, \"None of your relatives has this name.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then they began motioning to his father to find out what name he wanted to give him.\r\n\t\t\t He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, \"His name is John.\" And all of them were amazed.\r\n\t\t\t Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue freed, and he began to speak, praising God.\r\n\t\t\t Fear came over all their neighbors, and all these things were talked about throughout the entire hill country of Judea.\r\n\t\t\t All who heard them pondered them and said, \"What then will this child become?\" For, indeed, the hand of the Lord was with him.\r\n\t\t\t Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke this prophecy:\r\n\t\t\t \"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed them.\r\n\t\t\t He has raised up a mighty savior for us in the house of his servant David, \r\n\t\t\t as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,\r\n\t\t\t that we would be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us.\r\n\t\t\t Thus he has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors, and has remembered his holy covenant,\r\n\t\t\t the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham, to grant us\r\n\t\t\t that we, being rescued from the hands of our enemies, might serve him without fear,\r\n\t\t\t in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.\r\n\t\t\t And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,\r\n\t\t\t to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the forgiveness of their sins.\r\n\t\t\t By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, \r\n\t\t\t to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.\"\r\n\t\t\t The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day he appeared publicly to Israel.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered.\r\n\t\t\t This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria.\r\n\t\t\t All went to their own towns to be registered.\r\n\t\t\t Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David.\r\n\t\t\t He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child.\r\n\t\t\t While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child.\r\n\t\t\t And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.\r\n\t\t\t In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.\r\n\t\t\t Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.\r\n\t\t\t But the angel said to them, \"Do not be afraid; for see-- I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people:\r\n\t\t\t to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. \r\n\t\t\t This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.\"\r\n\t\t\t And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,\r\n\t\t\t \"Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!\" \r\n\t\t\t When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, \"Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.\"\r\n\t\t\t So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger.\r\n\t\t\t When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child;\r\n\t\t\t and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them.\r\n\t\t\t But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.\r\n\t\t\t The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.\r\n\t\t\t After eight days had passed, it was time to circumcise the child; and he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.\r\n\t\t\t When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord\r\n\t\t\t (as it is written in the law of the Lord, \"Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord\"),\r\n\t\t\t and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, \"a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.\"\r\n\t\t\t Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. \r\n\t\t\t It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Messiah. \r\n\t\t\t Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, \r\n\t\t\t Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying, \r\n\t\t\t \"Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; \r\n\t\t\t for my eyes have seen your salvation,\r\n\t\t\t which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,\r\n\t\t\t a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.\"\r\n\t\t\t And the child's father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him.\r\n\t\t\t Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, \"This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed \r\n\t\t\t so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed-- and a sword will pierce your own soul too.\"\r\n\t\t\t There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage,\r\n\t\t\t then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and day.\r\n\t\t\t At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. \r\n\t\t\t When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.\r\n\t\t\t The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.\r\n\t\t\t Now every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover.\r\n\t\t\t And when he was twelve years old, they went up as usual for the festival.\r\n\t\t\t When the festival was ended and they started to return, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it.\r\n\t\t\t Assuming that he was in the group of travelers, they went a day's journey. Then they started to look for him among their relatives and friends.\r\n\t\t\t When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for him.\r\n\t\t\t After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.\r\n\t\t\t And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.\r\n\t\t\t When his parents saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, \"Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety.\" \r\n\t\t\t He said to them, \"Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?\" \r\n\t\t\t But they did not understand what he said to them.\r\n\t\t\t Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. His mother treasured all these things in her heart.\r\n\t\t\t And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favor. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, \r\n\t\t\t during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness.\r\n\t\t\t He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins,\r\n\t\t\t as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah, \"The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.\r\n\t\t\t Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth;\r\n\t\t\t and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.'\"\r\n\t\t\t John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, \"You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?\r\n\t\t\t Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our ancestor'; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham.\r\n\t\t\t Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.\"\r\n\t\t\t And the crowds asked him, \"What then should we do?\"\r\n\t\t\t In reply he said to them, \"Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.\"\r\n\t\t\t Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, \"Teacher, what should we do?\"\r\n\t\t\t He said to them, \"Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you.\"\r\n\t\t\t Soldiers also asked him, \"And we, what should we do?\" He said to them, \"Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages.\"\r\n\t\t\t As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, \r\n\t\t\t John answered all of them by saying, \"I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. \r\n\t\t\t His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.\"\r\n\t\t\t So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people.\r\n\t\t\t But Herod the ruler, who had been rebuked by him because of Herodias, his brother's wife, and because of all the evil things that Herod had done, \r\n\t\t\t added to them all by shutting up John in prison.\r\n\t\t\t Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened,\r\n\t\t\t and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, \"You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus was about thirty years old when he began his work. He was the son (as was thought) of Joseph son of Heli,\r\n\t\t\t son of Matthat, son of Levi, son of Melchi, son of Jannai, son of Joseph,\r\n\t\t\t son of Mattathias, son of Amos, son of Nahum, son of Esli, son of Naggai,\r\n\t\t\t son of Maath, son of Mattathias, son of Semein, son of Josech, son of Joda,\r\n\t\t\t son of Joanan, son of Rhesa, son of Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, son of Neri, \r\n\t\t\t son of Melchi, son of Addi, son of Cosam, son of Elmadam, son of Er,\r\n\t\t\t son of Joshua, son of Eliezer, son of Jorim, son of Matthat, son of Levi,\r\n\t\t\t son of Simeon, son of Judah, son of Joseph, son of Jonam, son of Eliakim,\r\n\t\t\t son of Melea, son of Menna, son of Mattatha, son of Nathan, son of David,\r\n\t\t\t son of Jesse, son of Obed, son of Boaz, son of Sala, son of Nahshon, \r\n\t\t\t son of Amminadab, son of Admin, son of Arni, son of Hezron, son of Perez, son of Judah, \r\n\t\t\t son of Jacob, son of Isaac, son of Abraham, son of Terah, son of Nahor,\r\n\t\t\t son of Serug, son of Reu, son of Peleg, son of Eber, son of Shelah,\r\n\t\t\t son of Cainan, son of Arphaxad, son of Shem, son of Noah, son of Lamech,\r\n\t\t\t son of Methuselah, son of Enoch, son of Jared, son of Mahalaleel, son of Cainan,\r\n\t\t\t son of Enos, son of Seth, son of Adam, son of God.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness,\r\n\t\t\t where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished.\r\n\t\t\t The devil said to him, \"If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread.\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus answered him, \"It is written, 'One does not live by bread alone.'\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. \r\n\t\t\t And the devil said to him, \"To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please. \r\n\t\t\t If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus answered him, \"It is written, 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.'\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, \"If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, \r\n\t\t\t for it is written, 'He will command his angels concerning you, to protect you,'\r\n\t\t\t and 'On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.'\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus answered him, \"It is said, 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'\"\r\n\t\t\t When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time.\r\n\t\t\t Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country.\r\n\t\t\t He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone.\r\n\t\t\t When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read,\r\n\t\t\t and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:\r\n\t\t\t \"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free,\r\n\t\t\t to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.\"\r\n\t\t\t And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him.\r\n\t\t\t Then he began to say to them, \"Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.\"\r\n\t\t\t All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They said, \"Is not this Joseph's son?\"\r\n\t\t\t He said to them, \"Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, 'Doctor, cure yourself!' And you will say, 'Do here also in your hometown the things that we have heard you did at Capernaum.'\"\r\n\t\t\t And he said, \"Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in the prophet's hometown.\r\n\t\t\t But the truth is, there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a severe famine over all the land;\r\n\t\t\t yet Elijah was sent to none of them except to a widow at Zarephath in Sidon.\r\n\t\t\t There were also many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.\" \r\n\t\t\t When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage.\r\n\t\t\t They got up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they might hurl him off the cliff.\r\n\t\t\t But he passed through the midst of them and went on his way.\r\n\t\t\t He went down to Capernaum, a city in Galilee, and was teaching them on the sabbath.\r\n\t\t\t They were astounded at his teaching, because he spoke with authority.\r\n\t\t\t In the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice,\r\n\t\t\t \"Let us alone! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.\"\r\n\t\t\t But Jesus rebuked him, saying, \"Be silent, and come out of him!\" When the demon had thrown him down before them, he came out of him without having done him any harm.\r\n\t\t\t They were all amazed and kept saying to one another, \"What kind of utterance is this? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and out they come!\"\r\n\t\t\t And a report about him began to reach every place in the region.\r\n\t\t\t After leaving the synagogue he entered Simon's house. Now Simon's mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked him about her.\r\n\t\t\t Then he stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. Immediately she got up and began to serve them.\r\n\t\t\t As the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various kinds of diseases brought them to him; and he laid his hands on each of them and cured them.\r\n\t\t\t Demons also came out of many, shouting, \"You are the Son of God!\" But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Messiah.\r\n\t\t\t At daybreak he departed and went into a deserted place. And the crowds were looking for him; and when they reached him, they wanted to prevent him from leaving them.\r\n\t\t\t But he said to them, \"I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other cities also; for I was sent for this purpose.\"\r\n\t\t\t So he continued proclaiming the message in the synagogues of Judea. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Once while Jesus was standing beside the lake of Gennesaret, and the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, \r\n\t\t\t he saw two boats there at the shore of the lake; the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets.\r\n\t\t\t He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little way from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat.\r\n\t\t\t When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, \"Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.\"\r\n\t\t\t Simon answered, \"Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.\"\r\n\t\t\t When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to break.\r\n\t\t\t So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink.\r\n\t\t\t But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, \"Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!\"\r\n\t\t\t For he and all who were with him were amazed at the catch of fish that they had taken;\r\n\t\t\t and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Then Jesus said to Simon, \"Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.\"\r\n\t\t\t When they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him.\r\n\t\t\t Once, when he was in one of the cities, there was a man covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he bowed with his face to the ground and begged him, \"Lord, if you choose, you can make me clean.\" \r\n\t\t\t Then Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, \"I do choose. Be made clean.\" Immediately the leprosy left him. \r\n\t\t\t And he ordered him to tell no one. \"Go,\" he said, \"and show yourself to the priest, and, as Moses commanded, make an offering for your cleansing, for a testimony to them.\"\r\n\t\t\t But now more than ever the word about Jesus spread abroad; many crowds would gather to hear him and to be cured of their diseases. \r\n\t\t\t But he would withdraw to deserted places and pray.\r\n\t\t\t One day, while he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting near by (they had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem); and the power of the Lord was with him to heal. \r\n\t\t\t Just then some men came, carrying a paralyzed man on a bed. They were trying to bring him in and lay him before Jesus; \r\n\t\t\t but finding no way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the middle of the crowd in front of Jesus. \r\n\t\t\t When he saw their faith, he said, \"Friend, your sins are forgiven you.\" \r\n\t\t\t Then the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, \"Who is this who is speaking blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?\"\r\n\t\t\t When Jesus perceived their questionings, he answered them, \"Why do you raise such questions in your hearts?\r\n\t\t\t Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Stand up and walk'?\r\n\t\t\t But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins\"-- he said to the one who was paralyzed-- \"I say to you, stand up and take your bed and go to your home.\"\r\n\t\t\t Immediately he stood up before them, took what he had been lying on, and went to his home, glorifying God.\r\n\t\t\t Amazement seized all of them, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, \"We have seen strange things today.\"\r\n\t\t\t After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, \"Follow me.\"\r\n\t\t\t And he got up, left everything, and followed him.\r\n\t\t\t Then Levi gave a great banquet for him in his house; and there was a large crowd of tax collectors and others sitting at the table with them. \r\n\t\t\t The Pharisees and their scribes were complaining to his disciples, saying, \"Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus answered, \"Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick;\r\n\t\t\t I have come to call not the righteous but sinners to repentance.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then they said to him, \"John's disciples, like the disciples of the Pharisees, frequently fast and pray, but your disciples eat and drink.\r\n\t\t\t Jesus said to them, \"You cannot make wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them, can you?\r\n\t\t\t The days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days.\"\r\n\t\t\t He also told them a parable: \"No one tears a piece from a new garment and sews it on an old garment; otherwise the new will be torn, and the piece from the new will not match the old.\r\n\t\t\t And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the new wine will burst the skins and will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed.\r\n\t\t\t But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins.\r\n\t\t\t And no one after drinking old wine desires new wine, but says, 'The old is good.'\" \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t One sabbath while Jesus was going through the grainfields, his disciples plucked some heads of grain, rubbed them in their hands, and ate them. \r\n\t\t\t But some of the Pharisees said, \"Why are you doing what is not lawful on the sabbath?\" \r\n\t\t\t Jesus answered, \"Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry?\r\n\t\t\t He entered the house of God and took and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and gave some to his companions?\"\r\n\t\t\t Then he said to them, \"The Son of Man is lord of the sabbath.\"\r\n\t\t\t On another sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught, and there was a man there whose right hand was withered.\r\n\t\t\t The scribes and the Pharisees watched him to see whether he would cure on the sabbath, so that they might find an accusation against him.\r\n\t\t\t Even though he knew what they were thinking, he said to the man who had the withered hand, \"Come and stand here.\" He got up and stood there.\r\n\t\t\t Then Jesus said to them, \"I ask you, is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the sabbath, to save life or to destroy it?\"\r\n\t\t\t After looking around at all of them, he said to him, \"Stretch out your hand.\" He did so, and his hand was restored.\r\n\t\t\t But they were filled with fury and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus.\r\n\t\t\t Now during those days he went out to the mountain to pray; and he spent the night in prayer to God.\r\n\t\t\t And when day came, he called his disciples and chose twelve of them, whom he also named apostles:\r\n\t\t\t Simon, whom he named Peter, and his brother Andrew, and James, and John, and Philip, and Bartholomew,\r\n\t\t\t and Matthew, and Thomas, and James son of Alphaeus, and Simon, who was called the Zealot,\r\n\t\t\t and Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.\r\n\t\t\t He came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea, Jerusalem, and the coast of Tyre and Sidon.\r\n\t\t\t They had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; and those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured.\r\n\t\t\t And all in the crowd were trying to touch him, for power came out from him and healed all of them.\r\n\t\t\t Then he looked up at his disciples and said: \"Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.\r\n\t\t\t \"Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled. \"Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.\r\n\t\t\t \"Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man. \r\n\t\t\t Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven; for that is what their ancestors did to the prophets.\r\n\t\t\t \"But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.\r\n\t\t\t \"Woe to you who are full now, for you will be hungry. \"Woe to you who are laughing now, for you will mourn and weep.\r\n\t\t\t \"Woe to you when all speak well of you, for that is what their ancestors did to the false prophets.\r\n\t\t\t \"But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,\r\n\t\t\t bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.\r\n\t\t\t If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt.\r\n\t\t\t Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again.\r\n\t\t\t Do to others as you would have them do to you.\r\n\t\t\t \"If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.\r\n\t\t\t If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.\r\n\t\t\t If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again.\r\n\t\t\t But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.\r\n\t\t\t Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.\r\n\t\t\t \"Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven;\r\n\t\t\t give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.\"\r\n\t\t\t He also told them a parable: \"Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit?\r\n\t\t\t A disciple is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully qualified will be like the teacher.\r\n\t\t\t Why do you see the speck in your neighbor's eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? \r\n\t\t\t Or how can you say to your neighbor, 'Friend, let me take out the speck in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor's eye. \r\n\t\t\t \"No good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit;\r\n\t\t\t for each tree is known by its own fruit. Figs are not gathered from thorns, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush.\r\n\t\t\t The good person out of the good treasure of the heart produces good, and the evil person out of evil treasure produces evil; for it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks.\r\n\t\t\t \"Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I tell you?\r\n\t\t\t I will show you what someone is like who comes to me, hears my words, and acts on them.\r\n\t\t\t That one is like a man building a house, who dug deeply and laid the foundation on rock; when a flood arose, the river burst against that house but could not shake it, because it had been well built. \r\n\t\t\t But the one who hears and does not act is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the river burst against it, immediately it fell, and great was the ruin of that house.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t After Jesus had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. \r\n\t\t\t A centurion there had a slave whom he valued highly, and who was ill and close to death.\r\n\t\t\t When he heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to him, asking him to come and heal his slave.\r\n\t\t\t When they came to Jesus, they appealed to him earnestly, saying, \"He is worthy of having you do this for him,\r\n\t\t\t for he loves our people, and it is he who built our synagogue for us.\"\r\n\t\t\t And Jesus went with them, but when he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to say to him, \"Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof;\r\n\t\t\t therefore I did not presume to come to you. But only speak the word, and let my servant be healed.\r\n\t\t\t For I also am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes, and to another, 'Come,' and he comes, and to my slave, 'Do this,' and the slave does it.\"\r\n\t\t\t When Jesus heard this he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, he said, \"I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.\"\r\n\t\t\t When those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the slave in good health.\r\n\t\t\t Soon afterwards he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went with him. \r\n\t\t\t As he approached the gate of the town, a man who had died was being carried out. He was his mother's only son, and she was a widow; and with her was a large crowd from the town.\r\n\t\t\t When the Lord saw her, he had compassion for her and said to her, \"Do not weep.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then he came forward and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, \"Young man, I say to you, rise!\"\r\n\t\t\t The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. \r\n\t\t\t Fear seized all of them; and they glorified God, saying, \"A great prophet has risen among us!\" and \"God has looked favorably on his people!\"\r\n\t\t\t This word about him spread throughout Judea and all the surrounding country.\r\n\t\t\t The disciples of John reported all these things to him. So John summoned two of his disciples\r\n\t\t\t and sent them to the Lord to ask, \"Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?\"\r\n\t\t\t When the men had come to him, they said, \"John the Baptist has sent us to you to ask, 'Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?'\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus had just then cured many people of diseases, plagues, and evil spirits, and had given sight to many who were blind. \r\n\t\t\t And he answered them, \"Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have good news brought to them. \r\n\t\t\t And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.\"\r\n\t\t\t When John's messengers had gone, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: \"What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? \r\n\t\t\t What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who put on fine clothing and live in luxury are in royal palaces. \r\n\t\t\t What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.\r\n\t\t\t This is the one about whom it is written, 'See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.'\r\n\t\t\t I tell you, among those born of women no one is greater than John; yet the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.\"\r\n\t\t\t (And all the people who heard this, including the tax collectors, acknowledged the justice of God, because they had been baptized with John's baptism. \r\n\t\t\t But by refusing to be baptized by him, the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected God's purpose for themselves.)\r\n\t\t\t \"To what then will I compare the people of this generation, and what are they like?\r\n\t\t\t They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another, 'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we wailed, and you did not weep.'\r\n\t\t\t For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, 'He has a demon';\r\n\t\t\t the Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, 'Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!'\r\n\t\t\t Nevertheless, wisdom is vindicated by all her children.\"\r\n\t\t\t One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house and took his place at the table. \r\n\t\t\t And a woman in the city, who was a sinner, having learned that he was eating in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster jar of ointment.\r\n\t\t\t She stood behind him at his feet, weeping, and began to bathe his feet with her tears and to dry them with her hair. Then she continued kissing his feet and anointing them with the ointment.\r\n\t\t\t Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, \"If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what kind of woman this is who is touching him-- that she is a sinner.\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus spoke up and said to him, \"Simon, I have something to say to you.\" \"Teacher,\" he replied, \"Speak.\"\r\n\t\t\t \"A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. \r\n\t\t\t When they could not pay, he canceled the debts for both of them. Now which of them will love him more?\"\r\n\t\t\t Simon answered, \"I suppose the one for whom he canceled the greater debt.\" And Jesus said to him, \"You have judged rightly.\" \r\n\t\t\t Then turning toward the woman, he said to Simon, \"Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has bathed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair.\r\n\t\t\t You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not stopped kissing my feet.\r\n\t\t\t You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore, I tell you, her sins, which were many, have been forgiven; hence she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then he said to her, \"Your sins are forgiven.\"\r\n\t\t\t But those who were at the table with him began to say among themselves, \"Who is this who even forgives sins?\"\r\n\t\t\t And he said to the woman, \"Your faith has saved you; go in peace.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Soon afterwards he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. The twelve were with him,\r\n\t\t\t as well as some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out,\r\n\t\t\t and Joanna, the wife of Herod's steward Chuza, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their resources. \r\n\t\t\t When a great crowd gathered and people from town after town came to him, he said in a parable:\r\n\t\t\t \"A sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell on the path and was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up.\r\n\t\t\t Some fell on the rock; and as it grew up, it withered for lack of moisture.\r\n\t\t\t Some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew with it and choked it.\r\n\t\t\t Some fell into good soil, and when it grew, it produced a hundredfold.\" As he said this, he called out, \"Let anyone with ears to hear listen!\"\r\n\t\t\t Then his disciples asked him what this parable meant.\r\n\t\t\t He said, \"To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God; but to others I speak in parables, so that 'looking they may not perceive, and listening they may not understand.' \r\n\t\t\t \"Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.\r\n\t\t\t The ones on the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.\r\n\t\t\t The ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe only for a while and in a time of testing fall away.\r\n\t\t\t As for what fell among the thorns, these are the ones who hear; but as they go on their way, they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature.\r\n\t\t\t But as for that in the good soil, these are the ones who, when they hear the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patient endurance.\r\n\t\t\t \"No one after lighting a lamp hides it under a jar, or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a lampstand, so that those who enter may see the light.\r\n\t\t\t For nothing is hidden that will not be disclosed, nor is anything secret that will not become known and come to light.\r\n\t\t\t Then pay attention to how you listen; for to those who have, more will be given; and from those who do not have, even what they seem to have will be taken away.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then his mother and his brothers came to him, but they could not reach him because of the crowd.\r\n\t\t\t And he was told, \"Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.\"\r\n\t\t\t But he said to them, \"My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.\"\r\n\t\t\t One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, \"Let us go across to the other side of the lake.\" So they put out,\r\n\t\t\t and while they were sailing he fell asleep. A windstorm swept down on the lake, and the boat was filling with water, and they were in danger.\r\n\t\t\t They went to him and woke him up, shouting, \"Master, Master, we are perishing!\" And he woke up and rebuked the wind and the raging waves; they ceased, and there was a calm.\r\n\t\t\t He said to them, \"Where is your faith?\" They were afraid and amazed, and said to one another, \"Who then is this, that he commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him?\"\r\n\t\t\t Then they arrived at the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. \r\n\t\t\t As he stepped out on land, a man of the city who had demons met him. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he did not live in a house but in the tombs. \r\n\t\t\t When he saw Jesus, he fell down before him and shouted at the top of his voice, \"What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me\"--\r\n\t\t\t for Jesus had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many times it had seized him; he was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the wilds.) \r\n\t\t\t Jesus then asked him, \"What is your name?\" He said, \"Legion\"; for many demons had entered him.\r\n\t\t\t They begged him not to order them to go back into the abyss.\r\n\t\t\t Now there on the hillside a large herd of swine was feeding; and the demons begged Jesus to let them enter these. So he gave them permission. \r\n\t\t\t Then the demons came out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.\r\n\t\t\t When the swineherds saw what had happened, they ran off and told it in the city and in the country.\r\n\t\t\t Then people came out to see what had happened, and when they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid.\r\n\t\t\t Those who had seen it told them how the one who had been possessed by demons had been healed.\r\n\t\t\t Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them; for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned. \r\n\t\t\t The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him; but Jesus sent him away, saying, \r\n\t\t\t \"Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.\" So he went away, proclaiming throughout the city how much Jesus had done for him.\r\n\t\t\t Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him.\r\n\t\t\t Just then there came a man named Jairus, a leader of the synagogue. He fell at Jesus' feet and begged him to come to his house,\r\n\t\t\t for he had an only daughter, about twelve years old, who was dying. As he went, the crowds pressed in on him.\r\n\t\t\t Now there was a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years; and though she had spent all she had on physicians, no one could cure her. \r\n\t\t\t She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his clothes, and immediately her hemorrhage stopped.\r\n\t\t\t Then Jesus asked, \"Who touched me?\" When all denied it, Peter said, \"Master, the crowds surround you and press in on you.\" \r\n\t\t\t But Jesus said, \"Someone touched me; for I noticed that power had gone out from me.\"\r\n\t\t\t When the woman saw that she could not remain hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before him, she declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed.\r\n\t\t\t He said to her, \"Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.\"\r\n\t\t\t While he was still speaking, someone came from the leader's house to say, \"Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the teacher any longer.\"\r\n\t\t\t When Jesus heard this, he replied, \"Do not fear. Only believe, and she will be saved.\"\r\n\t\t\t When he came to the house, he did not allow anyone to enter with him, except Peter, John, and James, and the child's father and mother.\r\n\t\t\t They were all weeping and wailing for her; but he said, \"Do not weep; for she is not dead but sleeping.\"\r\n\t\t\t And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead.\r\n\t\t\t But he took her by the hand and called out, \"Child, get up!\"\r\n\t\t\t Her spirit returned, and she got up at once. Then he directed them to give her something to eat.\r\n\t\t\t Her parents were astounded; but he ordered them to tell no one what had happened.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then Jesus called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, \r\n\t\t\t and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal.\r\n\t\t\t He said to them, \"Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money-- not even an extra tunic.\r\n\t\t\t Whatever house you enter, stay there, and leave from there.\r\n\t\t\t Wherever they do not welcome you, as you are leaving that town shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.\"\r\n\t\t\t They departed and went through the villages, bringing the good news and curing diseases everywhere.\r\n\t\t\t Now Herod the ruler heard about all that had taken place, and he was perplexed, because it was said by some that John had been raised from the dead, \r\n\t\t\t by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the ancient prophets had arisen.\r\n\t\t\t Herod said, \"John I beheaded; but who is this about whom I hear such things?\" And he tried to see him.\r\n\t\t\t On their return the apostles told Jesus all they had done. He took them with him and withdrew privately to a city called Bethsaida. \r\n\t\t\t When the crowds found out about it, they followed him; and he welcomed them, and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed to be cured.\r\n\t\t\t The day was drawing to a close, and the twelve came to him and said, \"Send the crowd away, so that they may go into the surrounding villages and countryside, to lodge and get provisions; for we are here in a deserted place.\"\r\n\t\t\t But he said to them, \"You give them something to eat.\" They said, \"We have no more than five loaves and two fish-- unless we are to go and buy food for all these people.\"\r\n\t\t\t For there were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, \"Make them sit down in groups of about fifty each.\"\r\n\t\t\t They did so and made them all sit down.\r\n\t\t\t And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd.\r\n\t\t\t And all ate and were filled. What was left over was gathered up, twelve baskets of broken pieces.\r\n\t\t\t Once when Jesus was praying alone, with only the disciples near him, he asked them, \"Who do the crowds say that I am?\" \r\n\t\t\t They answered, \"John the Baptist; but others, Elijah; and still others, that one of the ancient prophets has arisen.\"\r\n\t\t\t He said to them, \"But who do you say that I am?\" Peter answered, \"The Messiah of God.\" \r\n\t\t\t He sternly ordered and commanded them not to tell anyone,\r\n\t\t\t saying, \"The Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then he said to them all, \"If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.\r\n\t\t\t For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it.\r\n\t\t\t What does it profit them if they gain the whole world, but lose or forfeit themselves?\r\n\t\t\t Those who are ashamed of me and of my words, of them the Son of Man will be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.\r\n\t\t\t But truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.\"\r\n\t\t\t Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. \r\n\t\t\t And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white.\r\n\t\t\t Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him.\r\n\t\t\t They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep; but since they had stayed awake, they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. \r\n\t\t\t Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, \"Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah\"-- not knowing what he said.\r\n\t\t\t While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the cloud.\r\n\t\t\t Then from the cloud came a voice that said, \"This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!\" \r\n\t\t\t When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen.\r\n\t\t\t On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great crowd met him.\r\n\t\t\t Just then a man from the crowd shouted, \"Teacher, I beg you to look at my son; he is my only child.\r\n\t\t\t Suddenly a spirit seizes him, and all at once he shrieks. It convulses him until he foams at the mouth; it mauls him and will scarcely leave him. \r\n\t\t\t I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus answered, \"You faithless and perverse generation, how much longer must I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.\"\r\n\t\t\t While he was coming, the demon dashed him to the ground in convulsions. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father.\r\n\t\t\t And all were astounded at the greatness of God. While everyone was amazed at all that he was doing, he said to his disciples,\r\n\t\t\t \"Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into human hands.\"\r\n\t\t\t But they did not understand this saying; its meaning was concealed from them, so that they could not perceive it. And they were afraid to ask him about this saying.\r\n\t\t\t An argument arose among them as to which one of them was the greatest.\r\n\t\t\t But Jesus, aware of their inner thoughts, took a little child and put it by his side,\r\n\t\t\t and said to them, \"Whoever welcomes this child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me; for the least among all of you is the greatest.\"\r\n\t\t\t John answered, \"Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us.\"\r\n\t\t\t But Jesus said to him, \"Do not stop him; for whoever is not against you is for you.\"\r\n\t\t\t When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make ready for him;\r\n\t\t\t but they did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t When his disciples James and John saw it, they said, \"Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?\" \r\n\t\t\t But he turned and rebuked them.\r\n\t\t\t Then they went on to another village. \r\n\t\t\t As they were going along the road, someone said to him, \"I will follow you wherever you go.\"\r\n\t\t\t And Jesus said to him, \"Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.\"\r\n\t\t\t To another he said, \"Follow me.\" But he said, \"Lord, first let me go and bury my father.\"\r\n\t\t\t But Jesus said to him, \"Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.\" \r\n\t\t\t Another said, \"I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home.\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus said to him, \"No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t After this the Lord appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. \r\n\t\t\t He said to them, \"The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.\r\n\t\t\t Go on your way. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves.\r\n\t\t\t Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road.\r\n\t\t\t Whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace to this house!'\r\n\t\t\t And if anyone is there who shares in peace, your peace will rest on that person; but if not, it will return to you.\r\n\t\t\t Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the laborer deserves to be paid. Do not move about from house to house.\r\n\t\t\t Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you;\r\n\t\t\t cure the sick who are there, and say to them, 'The kingdom of God has come near to you.' \r\n\t\t\t But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say,\r\n\t\t\t 'Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you. Yet know this: the kingdom of God has come near.' \r\n\t\t\t I tell you, on that day it will be more tolerable for Sodom than for that town.\r\n\t\t\t \"Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the deeds of power done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.\r\n\t\t\t But at the judgment it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon than for you.\r\n\t\t\t And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades.\r\n\t\t\t \"Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever rejects you rejects me, and whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.\"\r\n\t\t\t The seventy returned with joy, saying, \"Lord, in your name even the demons submit to us!\" \r\n\t\t\t He said to them, \"I watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning.\r\n\t\t\t See, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing will hurt you.\r\n\t\t\t Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.\"\r\n\t\t\t At that same hour Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, \"I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. \r\n\t\t\t All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then turning to the disciples, Jesus said to them privately, \"Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! \r\n\t\t\t For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.\"\r\n\t\t\t Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. \"Teacher,\" he said, \"what must I do to inherit eternal life?\" \r\n\t\t\t He said to him, \"What is written in the law? What do you read there?\"\r\n\t\t\t He answered, \"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.\"\r\n\t\t\t And he said to him, \"You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.\"\r\n\t\t\t But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, \"And who is my neighbor?\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus replied, \"A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead.\r\n\t\t\t Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.\r\n\t\t\t So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.\r\n\t\t\t But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity.\r\n\t\t\t He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.\r\n\t\t\t The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, 'Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.' \r\n\t\t\t Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?\"\r\n\t\t\t He said, \"The one who showed him mercy.\" Jesus said to him, \"Go and do likewise.\"\r\n\t\t\t Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home.\r\n\t\t\t She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to what he was saying.\r\n\t\t\t But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, \"Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me.\"\r\n\t\t\t But the Lord answered her, \"Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things;\r\n\t\t\t there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.\" \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t He was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, \"Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.\"\r\n\t\t\t He said to them, \"When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. \r\n\t\t\t Give us each day our daily bread. \r\n\t\t\t And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us. And do not bring us to the time of trial.\"\r\n\t\t\t And he said to them, \"Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread;\r\n\t\t\t for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.'\r\n\t\t\t And he answers from within, 'Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.'\r\n\t\t\t I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs.\r\n\t\t\t \"So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you.\r\n\t\t\t For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.\r\n\t\t\t Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? \r\n\t\t\t Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion?\r\n\t\t\t If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!\" \r\n\t\t\t Now he was casting out a demon that was mute; when the demon had gone out, the one who had been mute spoke, and the crowds were amazed.\r\n\t\t\t But some of them said, \"He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons.\"\r\n\t\t\t Others, to test him, kept demanding from him a sign from heaven.\r\n\t\t\t But he knew what they were thinking and said to them, \"Every kingdom divided against itself becomes a desert, and house falls on house.\r\n\t\t\t If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand?-- for you say that I cast out the demons by Beelzebul.\r\n\t\t\t Now if I cast out the demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your exorcists cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. \r\n\t\t\t But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out the demons, then the kingdom of God has come to you.\r\n\t\t\t When a strong man, fully armed, guards his castle, his property is safe.\r\n\t\t\t But when one stronger than he attacks him and overpowers him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his plunder.\r\n\t\t\t Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.\r\n\t\t\t \"When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it wanders through waterless regions looking for a resting place, but not finding any, it says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.'\r\n\t\t\t When it comes, it finds it swept and put in order.\r\n\t\t\t Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and live there; and the last state of that person is worse than the first.\"\r\n\t\t\t While he was saying this, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, \"Blessed is the womb that bore you and the breasts that nursed you!\"\r\n\t\t\t But he said, \"Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it!\"\r\n\t\t\t When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, \"This generation is an evil generation; it asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.\r\n\t\t\t For just as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so the Son of Man will be to this generation.\r\n\t\t\t The queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the people of this generation and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to listen to the wisdom of Solomon, and see, something greater than Solomon is here!\r\n\t\t\t The people of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the proclamation of Jonah, and see, something greater than Jonah is here!\r\n\t\t\t \"No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar, but on the lampstand so that those who enter may see the light. \r\n\t\t\t Your eye is the lamp of your body. If your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light; but if it is not healthy, your body is full of darkness.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore consider whether the light in you is not darkness.\r\n\t\t\t If then 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.\"\r\n\t\t\t While he was speaking, a Pharisee invited him to dine with him; so he went in and took his place at the table.\r\n\t\t\t The Pharisee was amazed to see that he did not first wash before dinner.\r\n\t\t\t Then the Lord said to him, \"Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.\r\n\t\t\t You fools! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also?\r\n\t\t\t So give for alms those things that are within; and see, everything will be clean for you.\r\n\t\t\t \"But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and herbs of all kinds, and neglect justice and the love of God; it is these you ought to have practiced, without neglecting the others.\r\n\t\t\t Woe to you Pharisees! For you love to have the seat of honor in the synagogues and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces.\r\n\t\t\t Woe to you! For you are like unmarked graves, and people walk over them without realizing it.\"\r\n\t\t\t One of the lawyers answered him, \"Teacher, when you say these things, you insult us too.\"\r\n\t\t\t And he said, \"Woe also to you lawyers! For you load people with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not lift a finger to ease them.\r\n\t\t\t Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the prophets whom your ancestors killed.\r\n\t\t\t So you are witnesses and approve of the deeds of your ancestors; for they killed them, and you build their tombs.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore also the Wisdom of God said, 'I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and persecute,'\r\n\t\t\t so that this generation may be charged with the blood of all the prophets shed since the foundation of the world,\r\n\t\t\t from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, it will be charged against this generation.\r\n\t\t\t Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge; you did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering.\"\r\n\t\t\t When he went outside, the scribes and the Pharisees began to be very hostile toward him and to cross-examine him about many things,\r\n\t\t\t lying in wait for him, to catch him in something he might say.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Meanwhile, when the crowd gathered by the thousands, so that they trampled on one another, he began to speak first to his disciples, \"Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees, that is, their hypocrisy.\r\n\t\t\t Nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be proclaimed from the housetops.\r\n\t\t\t \"I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that can do nothing more.\r\n\t\t\t But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him! \r\n\t\t\t Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten in God's sight.\r\n\t\t\t But even the hairs of your head are all counted. Do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.\r\n\t\t\t \"And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God;\r\n\t\t\t but whoever denies me before others will be denied before the angels of God.\r\n\t\t\t And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven; but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.\r\n\t\t\t When they bring you before the synagogues, the rulers, and the authorities, do not worry about how you are to defend yourselves or what you are to say; \r\n\t\t\t for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that very hour what you ought to say.\"\r\n\t\t\t Someone in the crowd said to him, \"Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.\"\r\n\t\t\t But he said to him, \"Friend, who set me to be a judge or arbitrator over you?\"\r\n\t\t\t And he said to them, \"Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one's life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then he told them a parable: \"The land of a rich man produced abundantly.\r\n\t\t\t And he thought to himself, 'What should I do, for I have no place to store my crops?'\r\n\t\t\t Then he said, 'I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.\r\n\t\t\t And I will say to my soul, 'Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.'\r\n\t\t\t But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?'\r\n\t\t\t So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God.\"\r\n\t\t\t He said to his disciples, \"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear.\r\n\t\t\t For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.\r\n\t\t\t Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!\r\n\t\t\t And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? \r\n\t\t\t If then you are not able to do so small a thing as that, why do you worry about the rest?\r\n\t\t\t Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. \r\n\t\t\t But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you-- you of little faith!\r\n\t\t\t And do not keep striving for what you are to eat and what you are to drink, and do not keep worrying.\r\n\t\t\t For it is the nations of the world that strive after all these things, and your Father knows that you need them.\r\n\t\t\t Instead, strive for his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. \r\n\t\t\t \"Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.\r\n\t\t\t Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.\r\n\t\t\t For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.\r\n\t\t\t \"Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit;\r\n\t\t\t be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks.\r\n\t\t\t Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them.\r\n\t\t\t If he comes during the middle of the night, or near dawn, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves.\r\n\t\t\t \"But know this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. \r\n\t\t\t You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.\"\r\n\t\t\t Peter said, \"Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for everyone?\"\r\n\t\t\t And the Lord said, \"Who then is the faithful and prudent manager whom his master will put in charge of his slaves, to give them their allowance of food at the proper time?\r\n\t\t\t Blessed is that slave whom his master will find at work when he arrives.\r\n\t\t\t Truly I tell you, he will put that one in charge of all his possessions.\r\n\t\t\t But if that slave says to himself, 'My master is delayed in coming,' and if he begins to beat the other slaves, men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk,\r\n\t\t\t the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour that he does not know, and will cut him in pieces, and put him with the unfaithful.\r\n\t\t\t That slave who knew what his master wanted, but did not prepare himself or do what was wanted, will receive a severe beating.\r\n\t\t\t But the one who did not know and did what deserved a beating will receive a light beating. From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded.\r\n\t\t\t \"I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!\r\n\t\t\t I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what stress I am under until it is completed!\r\n\t\t\t Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division!\r\n\t\t\t From now on five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three;\r\n\t\t\t they will be divided: father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.\"\r\n\t\t\t He also said to the crowds, \"When you see a cloud rising in the west, you immediately say, 'It is going to rain'; and so it happens.\r\n\t\t\t And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, 'There will be scorching heat'; and it happens.\r\n\t\t\t You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?\r\n\t\t\t \"And why do you not judge for yourselves what is right?\r\n\t\t\t Thus, when you go with your accuser before a magistrate, on the way make an effort to settle the case, or you may be dragged before the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer throw you in prison. \r\n\t\t\t I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the very last penny.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t At that very time there were some present who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.\r\n\t\t\t He asked them, \"Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans?\r\n\t\t\t No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did.\r\n\t\t\t Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them-- do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem?\r\n\t\t\t No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then he told this parable: \"A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none.\r\n\t\t\t So he said to the gardener, 'See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?'\r\n\t\t\t He replied, 'Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it.\r\n\t\t\t If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.'\"\r\n\t\t\t Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath.\r\n\t\t\t And just then there appeared a woman with a spirit that had crippled her for eighteen years. She was bent over and was quite unable to stand up straight.\r\n\t\t\t When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, \"Woman, you are set free from your ailment.\"\r\n\t\t\t When he laid his hands on her, immediately she stood up straight and began praising God.\r\n\t\t\t But the leader of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had cured on the sabbath, kept saying to the crowd, \"There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days and be cured, and not on the sabbath day.\"\r\n\t\t\t But the Lord answered him and said, \"You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger, and lead it away to give it water?\r\n\t\t\t And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen long years, be set free from this bondage on the sabbath day?\"\r\n\t\t\t When he said this, all his opponents were put to shame; and the entire crowd was rejoicing at all the wonderful things that he was doing.\r\n\t\t\t He said therefore, \"What is the kingdom of God like? And to what should I compare it?\r\n\t\t\t It is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in the garden; it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.\"\r\n\t\t\t And again he said, \"To what should I compare the kingdom of God?\r\n\t\t\t It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.\" \r\n\t\t\t Jesus went through one town and village after another, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. \r\n\t\t\t Someone asked him, \"Lord, will only a few be saved?\" He said to them,\r\n\t\t\t \"Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able.\r\n\t\t\t When once the owner of the house has got up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, 'Lord, open to us,' then in reply he will say to you, 'I do not know where you come from.'\r\n\t\t\t Then you will begin to say, 'We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.'\r\n\t\t\t But he will say, 'I do not know where you come from; go away from me, all you evildoers!'\r\n\t\t\t There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrown out.\r\n\t\t\t Then people will come from east and west, from north and south, and will eat in the kingdom of God.\r\n\t\t\t Indeed, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.\"\r\n\t\t\t At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, \"Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.\"\r\n\t\t\t He said to them, \"Go and tell that fox for me, 'Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work. \r\n\t\t\t Yet today, tomorrow, and the next day I must be on my way, because it is impossible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem.'\r\n\t\t\t Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!\r\n\t\t\t See, your house is left to you. And I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, 'Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.'\" \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t On one occasion when Jesus was going to the house of a leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal on the sabbath, they were watching him closely. \r\n\t\t\t Just then, in front of him, there was a man who had dropsy.\r\n\t\t\t And Jesus asked the lawyers and Pharisees, \"Is it lawful to cure people on the sabbath, or not?\"\r\n\t\t\t But they were silent. So Jesus took him and healed him, and sent him away. \r\n\t\t\t Then he said to them, \"If one of you has a child or an ox that has fallen into a well, will you not immediately pull it out on a sabbath day?\" \r\n\t\t\t And they could not reply to this.\r\n\t\t\t When he noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, he told them a parable.\r\n\t\t\t \"When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not sit down at the place of honor, in case someone more distinguished than you has been invited by your host;\r\n\t\t\t and the host who invited both of you may come and say to you, 'Give this person your place,' and then in disgrace you would start to take the lowest place.\r\n\t\t\t But when you are invited, go and sit down at the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he may say to you, 'Friend, move up higher'; then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at the table with you.\r\n\t\t\t For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.\"\r\n\t\t\t He said also to the one who had invited him, \"When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, in case they may invite you in return, and you would be repaid.\r\n\t\t\t But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind.\r\n\t\t\t And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.\"\r\n\t\t\t One of the dinner guests, on hearing this, said to him, \"Blessed is anyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Jesus said to him, \"Someone gave a great dinner and invited many. \r\n\t\t\t At the time for the dinner he sent his slave to say to those who had been invited, 'Come; for everything is ready now.'\r\n\t\t\t But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, 'I have bought a piece of land, and I must go out and see it; please accept my regrets.'\r\n\t\t\t Another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to try them out; please accept my regrets.'\r\n\t\t\t Another said, 'I have just been married, and therefore I cannot come.'\r\n\t\t\t So the slave returned and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and said to his slave, 'Go out at once into the streets and lanes of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.'\r\n\t\t\t And the slave said, 'Sir, what you ordered has been done, and there is still room.'\r\n\t\t\t Then the master said to the slave, 'Go out into the roads and lanes, and compel people to come in, so that my house may be filled.\r\n\t\t\t For I tell you, none of those who were invited will taste my dinner.'\" \r\n\t\t\t Now large crowds were traveling with him; and he turned and said to them,\r\n\t\t\t \"Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple.\r\n\t\t\t Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.\r\n\t\t\t For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it?\r\n\t\t\t Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to ridicule him,\r\n\t\t\t saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.'\r\n\t\t\t Or what king, going out to wage war against another king, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand?\r\n\t\t\t If he cannot, then, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for the terms of peace.\r\n\t\t\t So therefore, none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions.\r\n\t\t\t \"Salt is good; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? \r\n\t\t\t It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; they throw it away. Let anyone with ears to hear listen!\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him.\r\n\t\t\t And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, \"This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.\"\r\n\t\t\t So he told them this parable:\r\n\t\t\t \"Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it?\r\n\t\t\t When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices.\r\n\t\t\t And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.'\r\n\t\t\t Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.\r\n\t\t\t \"Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? \r\n\t\t\t When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.'\r\n\t\t\t Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Jesus said, \"There was a man who had two sons. \r\n\t\t\t The younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.' So he divided his property between them.\r\n\t\t\t A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living.\r\n\t\t\t When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need.\r\n\t\t\t So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs.\r\n\t\t\t He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. \r\n\t\t\t But when he came to himself he said, 'How many of my father's hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger!\r\n\t\t\t I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, \"Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you;\r\n\t\t\t I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.\"'\r\n\t\t\t So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him.\r\n\t\t\t Then the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' \r\n\t\t\t But the father said to his slaves, 'Quickly, bring out a robe-- the best one-- and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.\r\n\t\t\t And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate;\r\n\t\t\t for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!' And they began to celebrate.\r\n\t\t\t \"Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing.\r\n\t\t\t He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on.\r\n\t\t\t He replied, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.'\r\n\t\t\t Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him.\r\n\t\t\t But he answered his father, 'Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends.\r\n\t\t\t But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!'\r\n\t\t\t Then the father said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. \r\n\t\t\t But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.'\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then Jesus said to the disciples, \"There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was squandering his property. \r\n\t\t\t So he summoned him and said to him, 'What is this that I hear about you? Give me an accounting of your management, because you cannot be my manager any longer.'\r\n\t\t\t Then the manager said to himself, 'What will I do, now that my master is taking the position away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg.\r\n\t\t\t I have decided what to do so that, when I am dismissed as manager, people may welcome me into their homes.'\r\n\t\t\t So, summoning his master's debtors one by one, he asked the first, 'How much do you owe my master?'\r\n\t\t\t He answered, 'A hundred jugs of olive oil.' He said to him, 'Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it fifty.'\r\n\t\t\t Then he asked another, 'And how much do you owe?' He replied, 'A hundred containers of wheat.' He said to him, 'Take your bill and make it eighty.'\r\n\t\t\t And his master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly; for the children of this age are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light.\r\n\t\t\t And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of dishonest wealth so that when it is gone, they may welcome you into the eternal homes. \r\n\t\t\t \"Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much; and whoever is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much.\r\n\t\t\t If then you have not been faithful with the dishonest wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? \r\n\t\t\t And if you have not been faithful with what belongs to another, who will give you what is your own?\r\n\t\t\t No slave can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.\" \r\n\t\t\t The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all this, and they ridiculed him.\r\n\t\t\t So he said to them, \"You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of others; but God knows your hearts; for what is prized by human beings is an abomination in the sight of God.\r\n\t\t\t \"The law and the prophets were in effect until John came; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is proclaimed, and everyone tries to enter it by force. \r\n\t\t\t But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away, than for one stroke of a letter in the law to be dropped.\r\n\t\t\t \"Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and whoever marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery.\r\n\t\t\t \"There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day.\r\n\t\t\t And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores,\r\n\t\t\t who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man's table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores.\r\n\t\t\t The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. \r\n\t\t\t In Hades, where he was being tormented, he looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side. \r\n\t\t\t He called out, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in agony in these flames.'\r\n\t\t\t But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony.\r\n\t\t\t Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us.'\r\n\t\t\t He said, 'Then, father, I beg you to send him to my father's house--\r\n\t\t\t for I have five brothers-- that he may warn them, so that they will not also come into this place of torment.'\r\n\t\t\t Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.'\r\n\t\t\t He said, 'No, father Abraham; but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.'\r\n\t\t\t He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.'\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Jesus said to his disciples, \"Occasions for stumbling are bound to come, but woe to anyone by whom they come! \r\n\t\t\t It would be better for you if a millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea than for you to cause one of these little ones to stumble.\r\n\t\t\t Be on your guard! If another disciple sins, you must rebuke the offender, and if there is repentance, you must forgive. \r\n\t\t\t And if the same person sins against you seven times a day, and turns back to you seven times and says, 'I repent,' you must forgive.\"\r\n\t\t\t The apostles said to the Lord, \"Increase our faith!\"\r\n\t\t\t The Lord replied, \"If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you. \r\n\t\t\t \"Who among you would say to your slave who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, 'Come here at once and take your place at the table'?\r\n\t\t\t Would you not rather say to him, 'Prepare supper for me, put on your apron and serve me while I eat and drink; later you may eat and drink'?\r\n\t\t\t Do you thank the slave for doing what was commanded?\r\n\t\t\t So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, 'We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!'\"\r\n\t\t\t On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. \r\n\t\t\t As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, \r\n\t\t\t they called out, saying, \"Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!\"\r\n\t\t\t When he saw them, he said to them, \"Go and show yourselves to the priests.\" And as they went, they were made clean.\r\n\t\t\t Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice.\r\n\t\t\t He prostrated himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. \r\n\t\t\t Then Jesus asked, \"Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they?\r\n\t\t\t Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?\"\r\n\t\t\t Then he said to him, \"Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well.\"\r\n\t\t\t Once Jesus was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was coming, and he answered, \"The kingdom of God is not coming with things that can be observed;\r\n\t\t\t nor will they say, 'Look, here it is!' or 'There it is!' For, in fact, the kingdom of God is among you.\" \r\n\t\t\t Then he said to the disciples, \"The days are coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it.\r\n\t\t\t They will say to you, 'Look there!' or 'Look here!' Do not go, do not set off in pursuit.\r\n\t\t\t For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day. \r\n\t\t\t But first he must endure much suffering and be rejected by this generation.\r\n\t\t\t Just as it was in the days of Noah, so too it will be in the days of the Son of Man.\r\n\t\t\t They were eating and drinking, and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed all of them.\r\n\t\t\t Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot: they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building,\r\n\t\t\t but on the day that Lot left Sodom, it rained fire and sulfur from heaven and destroyed all of them\r\n\t\t\t -- it will be like that on the day that the Son of Man is revealed.\r\n\t\t\t On that day, anyone on the housetop who has belongings in the house must not come down to take them away; and likewise anyone in the field must not turn back.\r\n\t\t\t Remember Lot's wife.\r\n\t\t\t Those who try to make their life secure will lose it, but those who lose their life will keep it.\r\n\t\t\t I tell you, on that night there will be two in one bed; one will be taken and the other left.\r\n\t\t\t There will be two women grinding meal together; one will be taken and the other left.\" \r\n\t\t\t \r\n\t\t\t Then they asked him, \"Where, Lord?\" He said to them, \"Where the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. \r\n\t\t\t He said, \"In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people.\r\n\t\t\t In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, 'Grant me justice against my opponent.'\r\n\t\t\t For a while he refused; but later he said to himself, 'Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone,\r\n\t\t\t yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.'\" \r\n\t\t\t And the Lord said, \"Listen to what the unjust judge says.\r\n\t\t\t And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them?\r\n\t\t\t I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?\"\r\n\t\t\t He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt:\r\n\t\t\t \"Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.\r\n\t\t\t The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, 'God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.\r\n\t\t\t I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.'\r\n\t\t\t But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!'\r\n\t\t\t I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.\"\r\n\t\t\t People were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them; and when the disciples saw it, they sternly ordered them not to do it.\r\n\t\t\t But Jesus called for them and said, \"Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs.\r\n\t\t\t Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.\"\r\n\t\t\t A certain ruler asked him, \"Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus said to him, \"Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone.\r\n\t\t\t You know the commandments: 'You shall not commit adultery; You shall not murder; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; Honor your father and mother.'\"\r\n\t\t\t He replied, \"I have kept all these since my youth.\"\r\n\t\t\t When Jesus heard this, he said to him, \"There is still one thing lacking. Sell all that you own and distribute the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.\" \r\n\t\t\t But when he heard this, he became sad; for he was very rich.\r\n\t\t\t Jesus looked at him and said, \"How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!\r\n\t\t\t Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.\"\r\n\t\t\t Those who heard it said, \"Then who can be saved?\"\r\n\t\t\t He replied, \"What is impossible for mortals is possible for God.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Peter said, \"Look, we have left our homes and followed you.\"\r\n\t\t\t And he said to them, \"Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God,\r\n\t\t\t who will not get back very much more in this age, and in the age to come eternal life.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then he took the twelve aside and said to them, \"See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished.\r\n\t\t\t For he will be handed over to the Gentiles; and he will be mocked and insulted and spat upon.\r\n\t\t\t After they have flogged him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise again.\"\r\n\t\t\t But they understood nothing about all these things; in fact, what he said was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said.\r\n\t\t\t As he approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging.\r\n\t\t\t When he heard a crowd going by, he asked what was happening.\r\n\t\t\t They told him, \"Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.\" \r\n\t\t\t Then he shouted, \"Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!\"\r\n\t\t\t Those who were in front sternly ordered him to be quiet; but he shouted even more loudly, \"Son of David, have mercy on me!\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus stood still and ordered the man to be brought to him; and when he came near, he asked him,\r\n\t\t\t \"What do you want me to do for you?\" He said, \"Lord, let me see again.\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus said to him, \"Receive your sight; your faith has saved you.\"\r\n\t\t\t Immediately he regained his sight and followed him, glorifying God; and all the people, when they saw it, praised God.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t He entered Jericho and was passing through it.\r\n\t\t\t A man was there named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was rich.\r\n\t\t\t He was trying to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was short in stature.\r\n\t\t\t So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see him, because he was going to pass that way.\r\n\t\t\t When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, \"Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today.\"\r\n\t\t\t So he hurried down and was happy to welcome him.\r\n\t\t\t All who saw it began to grumble and said, \"He has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner.\"\r\n\t\t\t Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, \"Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Jesus said to him, \"Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham.\r\n\t\t\t For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost.\"\r\n\t\t\t As they were listening to this, he went on to tell a parable, because he was near Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately.\r\n\t\t\t So he said, \"A nobleman went to a distant country to get royal power for himself and then return.\r\n\t\t\t He summoned ten of his slaves, and gave them ten pounds, and said to them, 'Do business with these until I come back.' \r\n\t\t\t But the citizens of his country hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, 'We do not want this man to rule over us.'\r\n\t\t\t When he returned, having received royal power, he ordered these slaves, to whom he had given the money, to be summoned so that he might find out what they had gained by trading.\r\n\t\t\t The first came forward and said, 'Lord, your pound has made ten more pounds.'\r\n\t\t\t He said to him, 'Well done, good slave! Because you have been trustworthy in a very small thing, take charge of ten cities.'\r\n\t\t\t Then the second came, saying, 'Lord, your pound has made five pounds.'\r\n\t\t\t He said to him, 'And you, rule over five cities.'\r\n\t\t\t Then the other came, saying, 'Lord, here is your pound. I wrapped it up in a piece of cloth,\r\n\t\t\t for I was afraid of you, because you are a harsh man; you take what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.'\r\n\t\t\t He said to him, 'I will judge you by your own words, you wicked slave! You knew, did you, that I was a harsh man, taking what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow?\r\n\t\t\t Why then did you not put my money into the bank? Then when I returned, I could have collected it with interest.'\r\n\t\t\t He said to the bystanders, 'Take the pound from him and give it to the one who has ten pounds.'\r\n\t\t\t (And they said to him, 'Lord, he has ten pounds!')\r\n\t\t\t 'I tell you, to all those who have, more will be given; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away.\r\n\t\t\t But as for these enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them-- bring them here and slaughter them in my presence.'\"\r\n\t\t\t After he had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples,\r\n\t\t\t saying, \"Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here.\r\n\t\t\t If anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' just say this, 'The Lord needs it.'\"\r\n\t\t\t So those who were sent departed and found it as he had told them.\r\n\t\t\t As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, \"Why are you untying the colt?\"\r\n\t\t\t They said, \"The Lord needs it.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then they brought it to Jesus; and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it.\r\n\t\t\t As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road.\r\n\t\t\t As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen,\r\n\t\t\t saying, \"Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!\"\r\n\t\t\t Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, \"Teacher, order your disciples to stop.\"\r\n\t\t\t He answered, \"I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.\"\r\n\t\t\t As he came near and saw the city, he wept over it,\r\n\t\t\t saying, \"If you, even you, had only recognized on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.\r\n\t\t\t Indeed, the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up ramparts around you and surround you, and hem you in on every side.\r\n\t\t\t They will crush you to the ground, you and your children within you, and they will not leave within you one stone upon another; because you did not recognize the time of your visitation from God.\" \r\n\t\t\t Then he entered the temple and began to drive out those who were selling things there;\r\n\t\t\t and he said, \"It is written, 'My house shall be a house of prayer'; but you have made it a den of robbers.\"\r\n\t\t\t Every day he was teaching in the temple. The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people kept looking for a way to kill him;\r\n\t\t\t but they did not find anything they could do, for all the people were spellbound by what they heard.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t One day, as he was teaching the people in the temple and telling the good news, the chief priests and the scribes came with the elders\r\n\t\t\t and said to him, \"Tell us, by what authority are you doing these things? Who is it who gave you this authority?\"\r\n\t\t\t He answered them, \"I will also ask you a question, and you tell me:\r\n\t\t\t Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?\"\r\n\t\t\t They discussed it with one another, saying, \"If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say, 'Why did you not believe him?'\r\n\t\t\t But if we say, 'Of human origin,' all the people will stone us; for they are convinced that John was a prophet.\"\r\n\t\t\t So they answered that they did not know where it came from.\r\n\t\t\t Then Jesus said to them, \"Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.\"\r\n\t\t\t He began to tell the people this parable: \"A man planted a vineyard, and leased it to tenants, and went to another country for a long time.\r\n\t\t\t When the season came, he sent a slave to the tenants in order that they might give him his share of the produce of the vineyard; but the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed.\r\n\t\t\t Next he sent another slave; that one also they beat and insulted and sent away empty-handed.\r\n\t\t\t And he sent still a third; this one also they wounded and threw out.\r\n\t\t\t Then the owner of the vineyard said, 'What shall I do? I will send my beloved son; perhaps they will respect him.'\r\n\t\t\t But when the tenants saw him, they discussed it among themselves and said, 'This is the heir; let us kill him so that the inheritance may be ours.'\r\n\t\t\t So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them?\r\n\t\t\t He will come and destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others.\" When they heard this, they said, \"Heaven forbid!\"\r\n\t\t\t But he looked at them and said, \"What then does this text mean: 'The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone'? \r\n\t\t\t Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces; and it will crush anyone on whom it falls.\"\r\n\t\t\t When the scribes and chief priests realized that he had told this parable against them, they wanted to lay hands on him at that very hour, but they feared the people.\r\n\t\t\t So they watched him and sent spies who pretended to be honest, in order to trap him by what he said, so as to hand him over to the jurisdiction and authority of the governor.\r\n\t\t\t So they asked him, \"Teacher, we know that you are right in what you say and teach, and you show deference to no one, but teach the way of God in accordance with truth.\r\n\t\t\t Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?\"\r\n\t\t\t But he perceived their craftiness and said to them,\r\n\t\t\t \"Show me a denarius. Whose head and whose title does it bear?\" They said, \"The emperor's.\"\r\n\t\t\t He said to them, \"Then give to the emperor the things that are the emperor's, and to God the things that are God's.\"\r\n\t\t\t And they were not able in the presence of the people to trap him by what he said; and being amazed by his answer, they became silent.\r\n\t\t\t Some Sadducees, those who say there is no resurrection, came to him\r\n\t\t\t and asked him a question, \"Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies, leaving a wife but no children, the man shall marry the widow and raise up children for his brother. \r\n\t\t\t Now there were seven brothers; the first married, and died childless;\r\n\t\t\t then the second\r\n\t\t\t and the third married her, and so in the same way all seven died childless.\r\n\t\t\t Finally the woman also died.\r\n\t\t\t In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For the seven had married her.\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus said to them, \"Those who belong to this age marry and are given in marriage;\r\n\t\t\t but 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.\r\n\t\t\t Indeed they cannot die anymore, because they are like angels and are children of God, being children of the resurrection.\r\n\t\t\t And the fact that the dead are raised Moses himself showed, in the story about the bush, where he speaks of the Lord as the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.\r\n\t\t\t Now he is God not of the dead, but of the living; for to him all of them are alive.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then some of the scribes answered, \"Teacher, you have spoken well.\"\r\n\t\t\t For they no longer dared to ask him another question.\r\n\t\t\t Then he said to them, \"How can they say that the Messiah is David's son? \r\n\t\t\t For David himself says in the book of Psalms, 'The Lord said to my Lord, \"Sit at my right hand,\r\n\t\t\t until I make your enemies your footstool.\"'\r\n\t\t\t David thus calls him Lord; so how can he be his son?\"\r\n\t\t\t In the hearing of all the people he said to the disciples, \r\n\t\t\t \"Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets.\r\n\t\t\t They devour widows' houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t He looked up and saw rich people putting their gifts into the treasury;\r\n\t\t\t he also saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins.\r\n\t\t\t He said, \"Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them;\r\n\t\t\t for all of them have contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.\"\r\n\t\t\t When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, he said,\r\n\t\t\t \"As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down.\"\r\n\t\t\t They asked him, \"Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?\"\r\n\t\t\t And he said, \"Beware that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name and say, 'I am he!' and, 'The time is near!' Do not go after them. \r\n\t\t\t \"When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then he said to them, \"Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom;\r\n\t\t\t there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and plagues; and there will be dreadful portents and great signs from heaven.\r\n\t\t\t \"But before all this occurs, they will arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name.\r\n\t\t\t This will give you an opportunity to testify.\r\n\t\t\t So make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance;\r\n\t\t\t for I will give you words and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict. \r\n\t\t\t You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, by relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death.\r\n\t\t\t You will be hated by all because of my name.\r\n\t\t\t But not a hair of your head will perish.\r\n\t\t\t By your endurance you will gain your souls.\r\n\t\t\t \"When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. \r\n\t\t\t Then those in Judea must flee to the mountains, and those inside the city must leave it, and those out in the country must not enter it;\r\n\t\t\t for these are days of vengeance, as a fulfillment of all that is written.\r\n\t\t\t Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing infants in those days! For there will be great distress on the earth and wrath against this people;\r\n\t\t\t they will fall by the edge of the sword and be taken away as captives among all nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.\r\n\t\t\t \"There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves.\r\n\t\t\t People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.\r\n\t\t\t Then they will see 'the Son of Man coming in a cloud' with power and great glory.\r\n\t\t\t Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then he told them a parable: \"Look at the fig tree and all the trees;\r\n\t\t\t as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near.\r\n\t\t\t So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near.\r\n\t\t\t Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place.\r\n\t\t\t Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.\r\n\t\t\t \"Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day catch you unexpectedly,\r\n\t\t\t like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth.\r\n\t\t\t Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.\"\r\n\t\t\t Every day he was teaching in the temple, and at night he would go out and spend the night on the Mount of Olives, as it was called.\r\n\t\t\t And all the people would get up early in the morning to listen to him in the temple.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now the festival of Unleavened Bread, which is called the Passover, was near.\r\n\t\t\t The chief priests and the scribes were looking for a way to put Jesus to death, for they were afraid of the people. \r\n\t\t\t Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was one of the twelve;\r\n\t\t\t he went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers of the temple police about how he might betray him to them.\r\n\t\t\t They were greatly pleased and agreed to give him money.\r\n\t\t\t So he consented and began to look for an opportunity to betray him to them when no crowd was present.\r\n\t\t\t Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed.\r\n\t\t\t So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, \"Go and prepare the Passover meal for us that we may eat it.\"\r\n\t\t\t They asked him, \"Where do you want us to make preparations for it?\"\r\n\t\t\t \"Listen,\" he said to them, \"when you have entered the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him into the house he enters\r\n\t\t\t and say to the owner of the house, 'The teacher asks you, \"Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?\"'\r\n\t\t\t He will show you a large room upstairs, already furnished. Make preparations for us there.\"\r\n\t\t\t So they went and found everything as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover meal.\r\n\t\t\t When the hour came, he took his place at the table, and the apostles with him.\r\n\t\t\t He said to them, \"I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer;\r\n\t\t\t for I tell you, I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.\" \r\n\t\t\t Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he said, \"Take this and divide it among yourselves;\r\n\t\t\t for I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, \"This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.\"\r\n\t\t\t And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying, \"This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. \r\n\t\t\t But see, the one who betrays me is with me, and his hand is on the table.\r\n\t\t\t For the Son of Man is going as it has been determined, but woe to that one by whom he is betrayed!\"\r\n\t\t\t Then they began to ask one another, which one of them it could be who would do this.\r\n\t\t\t A dispute also arose among them as to which one of them was to be regarded as the greatest.\r\n\t\t\t But he said to them, \"The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those in authority over them are called benefactors.\r\n\t\t\t But not so with you; rather the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like one who serves.\r\n\t\t\t For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.\r\n\t\t\t \"You are those who have stood by me in my trials;\r\n\t\t\t and I confer on you, just as my Father has conferred on me, a kingdom,\r\n\t\t\t so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t \"Simon, Simon, listen! Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat, \r\n\t\t\t but I have prayed for you that your own faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.\"\r\n\t\t\t And he said to him, \"Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death!\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus said, \"I tell you, Peter, the cock will not crow this day, until you have denied three times that you know me.\" \r\n\t\t\t He said to them, \"When I sent you out without a purse, bag, or sandals, did you lack anything?\" They said, \"No, not a thing.\"\r\n\t\t\t He said to them, \"But now, the one who has a purse must take it, and likewise a bag. And the one who has no sword must sell his cloak and buy one.\r\n\t\t\t For I tell you, this scripture must be fulfilled in me, 'And he was counted among the lawless'; and indeed what is written about me is being fulfilled.\"\r\n\t\t\t They said, \"Lord, look, here are two swords.\" He replied, \"It is enough.\"\r\n\t\t\t He came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples followed him.\r\n\t\t\t When he reached the place, he said to them, \"Pray that you may not come into the time of trial.\" \r\n\t\t\t Then he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, knelt down, and prayed,\r\n\t\t\t \"Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; yet, not my will but yours be done.\" \r\n\t\t\t Then an angel from heaven appeared to him and gave him strength.\r\n\t\t\t In his anguish he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground.\r\n\t\t\t When he got up from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping because of grief,\r\n\t\t\t and he said to them, \"Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not come into the time of trial.\" \r\n\t\t\t While he was still speaking, suddenly a crowd came, and the one called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him;\r\n\t\t\t but Jesus said to him, \"Judas, is it with a kiss that you are betraying the Son of Man?\"\r\n\t\t\t When those who were around him saw what was coming, they asked, \"Lord, should we strike with the sword?\"\r\n\t\t\t Then one of them struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his right ear.\r\n\t\t\t But Jesus said, \"No more of this!\" And he touched his ear and healed him.\r\n\t\t\t Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple police, and the elders who had come for him, \"Have you come out with swords and clubs as if I were a bandit?\r\n\t\t\t When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness!\"\r\n\t\t\t Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest's house. But Peter was following at a distance.\r\n\t\t\t When they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them.\r\n\t\t\t Then a servant-girl, seeing him in the firelight, stared at him and said, \"This man also was with him.\"\r\n\t\t\t But he denied it, saying, \"Woman, I do not know him.\"\r\n\t\t\t A little later someone else, on seeing him, said, \"You also are one of them.\" But Peter said, \"Man, I am not!\"\r\n\t\t\t Then about an hour later still another kept insisting, \"Surely this man also was with him; for he is a Galilean.\"\r\n\t\t\t But Peter said, \"Man, I do not know what you are talking about!\" At that moment, while he was still speaking, the cock crowed.\r\n\t\t\t The Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, \"Before the cock crows today, you will deny me three times.\"\r\n\t\t\t And he went out and wept bitterly.\r\n\t\t\t Now the men who were holding Jesus began to mock him and beat him;\r\n\t\t\t they also blindfolded him and kept asking him, \"Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?\"\r\n\t\t\t They kept heaping many other insults on him.\r\n\t\t\t When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people, both chief priests and scribes, gathered together, and they brought him to their council.\r\n\t\t\t They said, \"If you are the Messiah, tell us.\" He replied, \"If I tell you, you will not believe; \r\n\t\t\t and if I question you, you will not answer.\r\n\t\t\t But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.\"\r\n\t\t\t All of them asked, \"Are you, then, the Son of God?\" He said to them, \"You say that I am.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then they said, \"What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips!\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then the assembly rose as a body and brought Jesus before Pilate. \r\n\t\t\t They began to accuse him, saying, \"We found this man perverting our nation, forbidding us to pay taxes to the emperor, and saying that he himself is the Messiah, a king.\" \r\n\t\t\t Then Pilate asked him, \"Are you the king of the Jews?\" He answered, \"You say so.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, \"I find no basis for an accusation against this man.\"\r\n\t\t\t But they were insistent and said, \"He stirs up the people by teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee where he began even to this place.\"\r\n\t\t\t When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean.\r\n\t\t\t And when he learned that he was under Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him off to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time.\r\n\t\t\t When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had been wanting to see him for a long time, because he had heard about him and was hoping to see him perform some sign.\r\n\t\t\t He questioned him at some length, but Jesus gave him no answer. \r\n\t\t\t The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him.\r\n\t\t\t Even Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him; then he put an elegant robe on him, and sent him back to Pilate.\r\n\t\t\t That same day Herod and Pilate became friends with each other; before this they had been enemies.\r\n\t\t\t Pilate then called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the people,\r\n\t\t\t and said to them, \"You brought me this man as one who was perverting the people; and here I have examined him in your presence and have not found this man guilty of any of your charges against him.\r\n\t\t\t Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us. Indeed, he has done nothing to deserve death.\r\n\t\t\t I will therefore have him flogged and release him.\"\r\n\t\t\t \r\n\t\t\t Then they all shouted out together, \"Away with this fellow! Release Barabbas for us!\"\r\n\t\t\t (This was a man who had been put in prison for an insurrection that had taken place in the city, and for murder.)\r\n\t\t\t Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again;\r\n\t\t\t but they kept shouting, \"Crucify, crucify him!\"\r\n\t\t\t A third time he said to them, \"Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no ground for the sentence of death; I will therefore have him flogged and then release him.\"\r\n\t\t\t But they kept urgently demanding with loud shouts that he should be crucified; and their voices prevailed.\r\n\t\t\t So Pilate gave his verdict that their demand should be granted.\r\n\t\t\t He released the man they asked for, the one who had been put in prison for insurrection and murder, and he handed Jesus over as they wished.\r\n\t\t\t As they led him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming from the country, and they laid the cross on him, and made him carry it behind Jesus.\r\n\t\t\t A great number of the people followed him, and among them were women who were beating their breasts and wailing for him.\r\n\t\t\t But Jesus turned to them and said, \"Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.\r\n\t\t\t For the days are surely coming when they will say, 'Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.'\r\n\t\t\t Then they will begin to say to the mountains, 'Fall on us'; and to the hills, 'Cover us.'\r\n\t\t\t For if they do this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?\"\r\n\t\t\t Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him.\r\n\t\t\t When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left.\r\n\t\t\t Then Jesus said, \"Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.\" And they cast lots to divide his clothing.\r\n\t\t\t And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, \"He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!\" \r\n\t\t\t The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine,\r\n\t\t\t and saying, \"If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!\"\r\n\t\t\t There was also an inscription over him, \"This is the King of the Jews.\"\r\n\t\t\t One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, \"Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!\" \r\n\t\t\t But the other rebuked him, saying, \"Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?\r\n\t\t\t And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then he said, \"Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.\" \r\n\t\t\t He replied, \"Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.\"\r\n\t\t\t It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, \r\n\t\t\t while the sun's light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. \r\n\t\t\t Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, \"Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.\" Having said this, he breathed his last.\r\n\t\t\t When the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God and said, \"Certainly this man was innocent.\" \r\n\t\t\t And when all the crowds who had gathered there for this spectacle saw what had taken place, they returned home, beating their breasts.\r\n\t\t\t But all his acquaintances, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.\r\n\t\t\t Now there was a good and righteous man named Joseph, who, though a member of the council,\r\n\t\t\t had not agreed to their plan and action. He came from the Jewish town of Arimathea, and he was waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God.\r\n\t\t\t This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.\r\n\t\t\t Then he took it down, wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid it in a rock-hewn tomb where no one had ever been laid.\r\n\t\t\t It was the day of Preparation, and the sabbath was beginning. \r\n\t\t\t The women who had come with him from Galilee followed, and they saw the tomb and how his body was laid.\r\n\t\t\t Then they returned, and prepared spices and ointments. On the sabbath they rested according to the commandment.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared.\r\n\t\t\t They found the stone rolled away from the tomb,\r\n\t\t\t but when they went in, they did not find the body. \r\n\t\t\t While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them.\r\n\t\t\t The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, \"Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. \r\n\t\t\t Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee,\r\n\t\t\t that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then they remembered his words,\r\n\t\t\t and returning from the tomb, they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest.\r\n\t\t\t Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles.\r\n\t\t\t But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them.\r\n\t\t\t But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened. \r\n\t\t\t Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, \r\n\t\t\t and talking with each other about all these things that had happened.\r\n\t\t\t While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them,\r\n\t\t\t but their eyes were kept from recognizing him.\r\n\t\t\t And he said to them, \"What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?\" They stood still, looking sad. \r\n\t\t\t Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, \"Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?\"\r\n\t\t\t He asked them, \"What things?\" They replied, \"The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, \r\n\t\t\t and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him.\r\n\t\t\t But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. \r\n\t\t\t Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning,\r\n\t\t\t and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive.\r\n\t\t\t Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then he said to them, \"Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared!\r\n\t\t\t Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?\" \r\n\t\t\t Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.\r\n\t\t\t As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on.\r\n\t\t\t But they urged him strongly, saying, \"Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.\" So he went in to stay with them.\r\n\t\t\t When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them.\r\n\t\t\t Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight.\r\n\t\t\t They said to each other, \"Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?\" \r\n\t\t\t That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together.\r\n\t\t\t They were saying, \"The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!\"\r\n\t\t\t Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.\r\n\t\t\t While they were talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, \"Peace be with you.\" \r\n\t\t\t They were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost.\r\n\t\t\t He said to them, \"Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?\r\n\t\t\t Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.\"\r\n\t\t\t And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. \r\n\t\t\t While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, he said to them, \"Have you anything here to eat?\"\r\n\t\t\t They gave him a piece of broiled fish,\r\n\t\t\t and he took it and ate in their presence.\r\n\t\t\t Then he said to them, \"These are my 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 must be fulfilled.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures,\r\n\t\t\t and he said to them, \"Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, \r\n\t\t\t and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. \r\n\t\t\t You are witnesses of these things.\r\n\t\t\t And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them.\r\n\t\t\t While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven.\r\n\t\t\t And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; \r\n\t\t\t and they were continually in the temple blessing God. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.\r\n\t\t\t He was in the beginning with God.\r\n\t\t\t All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being\r\n\t\t\t in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. \r\n\t\t\t The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.\r\n\t\t\t There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.\r\n\t\t\t He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him.\r\n\t\t\t He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light.\r\n\t\t\t The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. \r\n\t\t\t He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him.\r\n\t\t\t He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. \r\n\t\t\t But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God,\r\n\t\t\t who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.\r\n\t\t\t And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth. \r\n\t\t\t (John testified to him and cried out, \"This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.'\")\r\n\t\t\t From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.\r\n\t\t\t The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.\r\n\t\t\t No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father's heart, who has made him known. \r\n\t\t\t This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, \"Who are you?\"\r\n\t\t\t He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, \"I am not the Messiah.\" \r\n\t\t\t And they asked him, \"What then? Are you Elijah?\" He said, \"I am not.\" \"Are you the prophet?\" He answered, \"No.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then they said to him, \"Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?\"\r\n\t\t\t He said, \"I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way of the Lord,'\" as the prophet Isaiah said.\r\n\t\t\t Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.\r\n\t\t\t They asked him, \"Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?\" \r\n\t\t\t John answered them, \"I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know,\r\n\t\t\t the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal.\"\r\n\t\t\t This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing.\r\n\t\t\t The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, \"Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!\r\n\t\t\t This is he of whom I said, 'After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.'\r\n\t\t\t I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel.\"\r\n\t\t\t And John testified, \"I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him.\r\n\t\t\t I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.'\r\n\t\t\t And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.\" \r\n\t\t\t The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples,\r\n\t\t\t and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, \"Look, here is the Lamb of God!\"\r\n\t\t\t The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus.\r\n\t\t\t When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, \"What are you looking for?\" They said to him, \"Rabbi\" (which translated means Teacher), \"where are you staying?\"\r\n\t\t\t He said to them, \"Come and see.\" They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o'clock in the afternoon.\r\n\t\t\t One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.\r\n\t\t\t He first found his brother Simon and said to him, \"We have found the Messiah\" (which is translated Anointed).\r\n\t\t\t He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, \"You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas\" (which is translated Peter).\r\n\t\t\t The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, \"Follow me.\"\r\n\t\t\t Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.\r\n\t\t\t Philip found Nathanael and said to him, \"We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.\"\r\n\t\t\t Nathanael said to him, \"Can anything good come out of Nazareth?\" Philip said to him, \"Come and see.\"\r\n\t\t\t When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, \"Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!\"\r\n\t\t\t Nathanael asked him, \"Where did you get to know me?\" Jesus answered, \"I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you.\"\r\n\t\t\t Nathanael replied, \"Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus answered, \"Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these.\"\r\n\t\t\t And he said to him, \"Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.\" \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there.\r\n\t\t\t Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding.\r\n\t\t\t When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, \"They have no wine.\"\r\n\t\t\t And Jesus said to her, \"Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come.\"\r\n\t\t\t His mother said to the servants, \"Do whatever he tells you.\"\r\n\t\t\t Now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons.\r\n\t\t\t Jesus said to them, \"Fill the jars with water.\" And they filled them up to the brim.\r\n\t\t\t He said to them, \"Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward.\" So they took it.\r\n\t\t\t When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom\r\n\t\t\t and said to him, \"Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now.\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.\r\n\t\t\t After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother, his brothers, and his disciples; and they remained there a few days.\r\n\t\t\t The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t In the temple he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables.\r\n\t\t\t Making a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple, both the sheep and the cattle. He also poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables.\r\n\t\t\t He told those who were selling the doves, \"Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father's house a marketplace!\"\r\n\t\t\t His disciples remembered that it was written, \"Zeal for your house will consume me.\"\r\n\t\t\t The Jews then said to him, \"What sign can you show us for doing this?\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus answered them, \"Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.\"\r\n\t\t\t The Jews then said, \"This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and will you raise it up in three days?\"\r\n\t\t\t But he was speaking of the temple of his body.\r\n\t\t\t After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this; and they believed the scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.\r\n\t\t\t When he was in Jerusalem during the Passover festival, many believed in his name because they saw the signs that he was doing.\r\n\t\t\t But Jesus on his part would not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people\r\n\t\t\t and needed no one to testify about anyone; for he himself knew what was in everyone.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews.\r\n\t\t\t He came to Jesus by night and said to him, \"Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus answered him, \"Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.\" \r\n\t\t\t Nicodemus said to him, \"How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother's womb and be born?\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus answered, \"Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit.\r\n\t\t\t What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. \r\n\t\t\t Do not be astonished that I said to you, 'You must be born from above.' \r\n\t\t\t The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.\" \r\n\t\t\t Nicodemus said to him, \"How can these things be?\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus answered him, \"Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?\r\n\t\t\t \"Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. \r\n\t\t\t If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things?\r\n\t\t\t No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. \r\n\t\t\t And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up,\r\n\t\t\t that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. \r\n\t\t\t \"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.\r\n\t\t\t \"Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.\r\n\t\t\t Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God.\r\n\t\t\t And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil.\r\n\t\t\t For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed.\r\n\t\t\t But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.\" \r\n\t\t\t After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he spent some time there with them and baptized.\r\n\t\t\t John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim because water was abundant there; and people kept coming and were being baptized\r\n\t\t\t -- John, of course, had not yet been thrown into prison.\r\n\t\t\t Now a discussion about purification arose between John's disciples and a Jew. \r\n\t\t\t They came to John and said to him, \"Rabbi, the one who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you testified, here he is baptizing, and all are going to him.\"\r\n\t\t\t John answered, \"No one can receive anything except what has been given from heaven.\r\n\t\t\t You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, 'I am not the Messiah, but I have been sent ahead of him.' \r\n\t\t\t He who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. For this reason my joy has been fulfilled.\r\n\t\t\t He must increase, but I must decrease.\" \r\n\t\t\t The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks about earthly things. The one who comes from heaven is above all.\r\n\t\t\t He testifies to what he has seen and heard, yet no one accepts his testimony.\r\n\t\t\t Whoever has accepted his testimony has certified this, that God is true. \r\n\t\t\t He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure.\r\n\t\t\t The Father loves the Son and has placed all things in his hands.\r\n\t\t\t Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but must endure God's wrath.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard, \"Jesus is making and baptizing more disciples than John\" \r\n\t\t\t -- although it was not Jesus himself but his disciples who baptized--\r\n\t\t\t he left Judea and started back to Galilee.\r\n\t\t\t But he had to go through Samaria.\r\n\t\t\t So he came to a Samaritan city called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob had given to his son Joseph.\r\n\t\t\t Jacob's well was there, and Jesus, tired out by his journey, was sitting by the well. It was about noon.\r\n\t\t\t A Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, \"Give me a drink.\"\r\n\t\t\t (His disciples had gone to the city to buy food.)\r\n\t\t\t The Samaritan woman said to him, \"How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?\" (Jews do not share things in common with Samaritans.) \r\n\t\t\t Jesus answered her, \"If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, 'Give me a drink,' you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.\"\r\n\t\t\t The woman said to him, \"Sir, you have no bucket, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water?\r\n\t\t\t Are you greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us the well, and with his sons and his flocks drank from it?\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus said to her, \"Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again,\r\n\t\t\t but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.\"\r\n\t\t\t The woman said to him, \"Sir, give me this water, so that I may never be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water.\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus said to her, \"Go, call your husband, and come back.\"\r\n\t\t\t The woman answered him, \"I have no husband.\" Jesus said to her, \"You are right in saying, 'I have no husband';\r\n\t\t\t for you have had five husbands, and the one you have now is not your husband. What you have said is true!\"\r\n\t\t\t The woman said to him, \"Sir, I see that you are a prophet.\r\n\t\t\t Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you say that the place where people must worship is in Jerusalem.\" \r\n\t\t\t Jesus said to her, \"Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews.\r\n\t\t\t But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such as these to worship him.\r\n\t\t\t God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.\"\r\n\t\t\t The woman said to him, \"I know that Messiah is coming\" (who is called Christ). \"When he comes, he will proclaim all things to us.\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus said to her, \"I am he, the one who is speaking to you.\" \r\n\t\t\t Just then his disciples came. They were astonished that he was speaking with a woman, but no one said, \"What do you want?\" or, \"Why are you speaking with her?\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the woman left her water jar and went back to the city. She said to the people,\r\n\t\t\t \"Come and see a man who told me everything I have ever done! He cannot be the Messiah, can he?\" \r\n\t\t\t They left the city and were on their way to him.\r\n\t\t\t Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, \"Rabbi, eat something.\"\r\n\t\t\t But he said to them, \"I have food to eat that you do not know about.\"\r\n\t\t\t So the disciples said to one another, \"Surely no one has brought him something to eat?\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus said to them, \"My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to complete his work.\r\n\t\t\t Do you not say, 'Four months more, then comes the harvest'? But I tell you, look around you, and see how the fields are ripe for harvesting.\r\n\t\t\t The reaper is already receiving wages and is gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. \r\n\t\t\t For here the saying holds true, 'One sows and another reaps.'\r\n\t\t\t I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.\"\r\n\t\t\t Many Samaritans from that city believed in him because of the woman's testimony, \"He told me everything I have ever done.\"\r\n\t\t\t So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them; and he stayed there two days.\r\n\t\t\t And many more believed because of his word.\r\n\t\t\t They said to the woman, \"It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the Savior of the world.\"\r\n\t\t\t When the two days were over, he went from that place to Galilee\r\n\t\t\t (for Jesus himself had testified that a prophet has no honor in the prophet's own country).\r\n\t\t\t When he came to Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, since they had seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the festival; for they too had gone to the festival.\r\n\t\t\t Then he came again to Cana in Galilee where he had changed the water into wine. Now there was a royal official whose son lay ill in Capernaum.\r\n\t\t\t When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and begged him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death.\r\n\t\t\t Then Jesus said to him, \"Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.\" \r\n\t\t\t The official said to him, \"Sir, come down before my little boy dies.\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus said to him, \"Go; your son will live.\" The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and started on his way.\r\n\t\t\t As he was going down, his slaves met him and told him that his child was alive.\r\n\t\t\t So he asked them the hour when he began to recover, and they said to him, \"Yesterday at one in the afternoon the fever left him.\"\r\n\t\t\t The father realized that this was the hour when Jesus had said to him, \"Your son will live.\" So he himself believed, along with his whole household.\r\n\t\t\t Now this was the second sign that Jesus did after coming from Judea to Galilee.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t After this there was a festival of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t Now in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate there is a pool, called in Hebrew Beth-zatha, which has five porticoes. \r\n\t\t\t In these lay many invalids-- blind, lame, and paralyzed.\r\n\t\t\t \r\n\t\t\t One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years.\r\n\t\t\t When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been there a long time, he said to him, \"Do you want to be made well?\"\r\n\t\t\t The sick man answered him, \"Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; and while I am making my way, someone else steps down ahead of me.\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus said to him, \"Stand up, take your mat and walk.\"\r\n\t\t\t At once the man was made well, and he took up his mat and began to walk. Now that day was a sabbath.\r\n\t\t\t So the Jews said to the man who had been cured, \"It is the sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your mat.\"\r\n\t\t\t But he answered them, \"The man who made me well said to me, 'Take up your mat and walk.'\"\r\n\t\t\t They asked him, \"Who is the man who said to you, 'Take it up and walk'?\"\r\n\t\t\t Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had disappeared in the crowd that was there. \r\n\t\t\t Later Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, \"See, you have been made well! Do not sin any more, so that nothing worse happens to you.\"\r\n\t\t\t The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore the Jews started persecuting Jesus, because he was doing such things on the sabbath.\r\n\t\t\t But Jesus answered them, \"My Father is still working, and I also am working.\"\r\n\t\t\t For this reason the Jews were seeking all the more 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.\r\n\t\t\t Jesus said to them, \"Very truly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, the Son does likewise. \r\n\t\t\t The Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing; and he will show him greater works than these, so that you will be astonished.\r\n\t\t\t Indeed, just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whomever he wishes.\r\n\t\t\t The Father judges no one but has given all judgment to the Son,\r\n\t\t\t so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Anyone who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.\r\n\t\t\t Very truly, I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life, and does not come under judgment, but has passed from death to life.\r\n\t\t\t \"Very truly, I tell you, the hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.\r\n\t\t\t For just as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself;\r\n\t\t\t and he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man.\r\n\t\t\t Do not be astonished at this; for the hour is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice\r\n\t\t\t and will come out-- those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.\r\n\t\t\t \"I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge; and my judgment is just, because I seek to do not my own will but the will of him who sent me.\r\n\t\t\t \"If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true.\r\n\t\t\t There is another who testifies on my behalf, and I know that his testimony to me is true.\r\n\t\t\t You sent messengers to John, and he testified to the truth.\r\n\t\t\t Not that I accept such human testimony, but I say these things so that you may be saved.\r\n\t\t\t He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.\r\n\t\t\t But I have a testimony greater than John's. The works that the Father has given me to complete, the very works that I am doing, testify on my behalf that the Father has sent me.\r\n\t\t\t And the Father who sent me has himself testified on my behalf. You have never heard his voice or seen his form,\r\n\t\t\t and you do not have his word abiding in you, because you do not believe him whom he has sent.\r\n\t\t\t \"You search the scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that testify on my behalf.\r\n\t\t\t Yet you refuse to come to me to have life.\r\n\t\t\t I do not accept glory from human beings.\r\n\t\t\t But I know that you do not have the love of God in you. \r\n\t\t\t I have come in my Father's name, and you do not accept me; if another comes in his own name, you will accept him.\r\n\t\t\t How can you believe when you accept glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the one who alone is God?\r\n\t\t\t Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father; your accuser is Moses, on whom you have set your hope.\r\n\t\t\t If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me.\r\n\t\t\t But if you do not believe what he wrote, how will you believe what I say?\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberias. \r\n\t\t\t A large crowd kept following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick.\r\n\t\t\t Jesus went up the mountain and sat down there with his disciples.\r\n\t\t\t Now the Passover, the festival of the Jews, was near.\r\n\t\t\t When he looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, \"Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?\"\r\n\t\t\t He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do.\r\n\t\t\t Philip answered him, \"Six months' wages would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.\" \r\n\t\t\t One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him,\r\n\t\t\t \"There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus said, \"Make the people sit down.\" Now there was a great deal of grass in the place; so they sat down, about five thousand in all. \r\n\t\t\t Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted.\r\n\t\t\t When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, \"Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost.\"\r\n\t\t\t So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets.\r\n\t\t\t When the people saw the sign that he had done, they began to say, \"This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world.\"\r\n\t\t\t When Jesus realized that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain by himself.\r\n\t\t\t When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea,\r\n\t\t\t got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them.\r\n\t\t\t The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing.\r\n\t\t\t When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were terrified.\r\n\t\t\t But he said to them, \"It is I; do not be afraid.\" \r\n\t\t\t Then they wanted to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the land toward which they were going.\r\n\t\t\t The next day the crowd that had stayed on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there. They also saw that Jesus had not got into the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone.\r\n\t\t\t Then some boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. \r\n\t\t\t So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus.\r\n\t\t\t When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, \"Rabbi, when did you come here?\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus answered them, \"Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.\r\n\t\t\t Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then they said to him, \"What must we do to perform the works of God?\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus answered them, \"This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.\"\r\n\t\t\t So they said to him, \"What sign are you going to give us then, so that we may see it and believe you? What work are you performing?\r\n\t\t\t Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Jesus said to them, \"Very truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven.\r\n\t\t\t For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.\" \r\n\t\t\t They said to him, \"Sir, give us this bread always.\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus said to them, \"I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.\r\n\t\t\t But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe.\r\n\t\t\t Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and anyone who comes to me I will never drive away;\r\n\t\t\t for I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me.\r\n\t\t\t And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day.\r\n\t\t\t This is indeed the will of my Father, that all who see the Son and believe in him may have eternal life; and I will raise them up on the last day.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the Jews began to complain about him because he said, \"I am the bread that came down from heaven.\"\r\n\t\t\t They were saying, \"Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, 'I have come down from heaven'?\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus answered them, \"Do not complain among yourselves.\r\n\t\t\t No one can come to me unless drawn by the Father who sent me; and I will raise that person up on the last day.\r\n\t\t\t It is written in the prophets, 'And they shall all be taught by God.' Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me.\r\n\t\t\t Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God; he has seen the Father.\r\n\t\t\t Very truly, I tell you, whoever believes has eternal life.\r\n\t\t\t I am the bread of life.\r\n\t\t\t Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died.\r\n\t\t\t This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die.\r\n\t\t\t I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.\"\r\n\t\t\t The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, \"How can this man give us his flesh to eat?\"\r\n\t\t\t So Jesus said to them, \"Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.\r\n\t\t\t Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day;\r\n\t\t\t for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink.\r\n\t\t\t Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them.\r\n\t\t\t Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me.\r\n\t\t\t This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever.\"\r\n\t\t\t He said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue at Capernaum.\r\n\t\t\t When many of his disciples heard it, they said, \"This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?\"\r\n\t\t\t But Jesus, being aware that his disciples were complaining about it, said to them, \"Does this offend you?\r\n\t\t\t Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before?\r\n\t\t\t It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.\r\n\t\t\t But among you there are some who do not believe.\" For Jesus knew from the first who were the ones that did not believe, and who was the one that would betray him.\r\n\t\t\t And he said, \"For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted by the Father.\"\r\n\t\t\t Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him.\r\n\t\t\t So Jesus asked the twelve, \"Do you also wish to go away?\"\r\n\t\t\t Simon Peter answered him, \"Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life.\r\n\t\t\t We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.\" \r\n\t\t\t Jesus answered them, \"Did I not choose you, the twelve? Yet one of you is a devil.\"\r\n\t\t\t He was speaking of Judas son of Simon Iscariot, for he, though one of the twelve, was going to betray him. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t After this Jesus went about in Galilee. He did not wish to go about in Judea because the Jews were looking for an opportunity to kill him. \r\n\t\t\t Now the Jewish festival of Booths was near. \r\n\t\t\t So his brothers said to him, \"Leave here and go to Judea so that your disciples also may see the works you are doing;\r\n\t\t\t for no one who wants to be widely known acts in secret. If you do these things, show yourself to the world.\" \r\n\t\t\t (For not even his brothers believed in him.)\r\n\t\t\t Jesus said to them, \"My time has not yet come, but your time is always here.\r\n\t\t\t The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify against it that its works are evil.\r\n\t\t\t Go to the festival yourselves. I am not going to this festival, for my time has not yet fully come.\" \r\n\t\t\t After saying this, he remained in Galilee.\r\n\t\t\t But after his brothers had gone to the festival, then he also went, not publicly but as it were in secret. \r\n\t\t\t The Jews were looking for him at the festival and saying, \"Where is he?\"\r\n\t\t\t And there was considerable complaining about him among the crowds. While some were saying, \"He is a good man,\" others were saying, \"No, he is deceiving the crowd.\"\r\n\t\t\t Yet no one would speak openly about him for fear of the Jews.\r\n\t\t\t About the middle of the festival Jesus went up into the temple and began to teach.\r\n\t\t\t The Jews were astonished at it, saying, \"How does this man have such learning, when he has never been taught?\" \r\n\t\t\t Then Jesus answered them, \"My teaching is not mine but his who sent me.\r\n\t\t\t Anyone who resolves to do the will of God will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own.\r\n\t\t\t Those who speak on their own seek their own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and there is nothing false in him.\r\n\t\t\t \"Did not Moses give you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. Why are you looking for an opportunity to kill me?\"\r\n\t\t\t The crowd answered, \"You have a demon! Who is trying to kill you?\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus answered them, \"I performed one work, and all of you are astonished.\r\n\t\t\t Moses gave you circumcision (it is, of course, not from Moses, but from the patriarchs), and you circumcise a man on the sabbath.\r\n\t\t\t If a man receives circumcision on the sabbath in order that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because I healed a man's whole body on the sabbath?\r\n\t\t\t Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.\"\r\n\t\t\t Now some of the people of Jerusalem were saying, \"Is not this the man whom they are trying to kill?\r\n\t\t\t And here he is, speaking openly, but they say nothing to him! Can it be that the authorities really know that this is the Messiah? \r\n\t\t\t Yet we know where this man is from; but when the Messiah comes, no one will know where he is from.\" \r\n\t\t\t Then Jesus cried out as he was teaching in the temple, \"You know me, and you know where I am from. I have not come on my own. But the one who sent me is true, and you do not know him.\r\n\t\t\t I know him, because I am from him, and he sent me.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then they tried to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him, because his hour had not yet come.\r\n\t\t\t Yet many in the crowd believed in him and were saying, \"When the Messiah comes, will he do more signs than this man has done?\" \r\n\t\t\t The Pharisees heard the crowd muttering such things about him, and the chief priests and Pharisees sent temple police to arrest him.\r\n\t\t\t Jesus then said, \"I will be with you a little while longer, and then I am going to him who sent me.\r\n\t\t\t You will search for me, but you will not find me; and where I am, you cannot come.\"\r\n\t\t\t The Jews said to one another, \"Where does this man intend to go that we will not find him? Does he intend to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks?\r\n\t\t\t What does he mean by saying, 'You will search for me and you will not find me' and 'Where I am, you cannot come'?\"\r\n\t\t\t On the last day of the festival, the great day, while Jesus was standing there, he cried out, \"Let anyone who is thirsty come to me,\r\n\t\t\t and let the one who believes in me drink. As the scripture has said, 'Out of the believer's heart shall flow rivers of living water.'\" \r\n\t\t\t Now he said this about the Spirit, which believers in him were to receive; for as yet there was no Spirit, because Jesus was not yet glorified. \r\n\t\t\t When they heard these words, some in the crowd said, \"This is really the prophet.\"\r\n\t\t\t Others said, \"This is the Messiah.\" But some asked, \"Surely the Messiah does not come from Galilee, does he? \r\n\t\t\t Has not the scripture said that the Messiah is descended from David and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?\" \r\n\t\t\t So there was a division in the crowd because of him.\r\n\t\t\t Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him.\r\n\t\t\t Then the temple police went back to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, \"Why did you not arrest him?\"\r\n\t\t\t The police answered, \"Never has anyone spoken like this!\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the Pharisees replied, \"Surely you have not been deceived too, have you?\r\n\t\t\t Has any one of the authorities or of the Pharisees believed in him?\r\n\t\t\t But this crowd, which does not know the law-- they are accursed.\"\r\n\t\t\t Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus before, and who was one of them, asked, \r\n\t\t\t \"Our law does not judge people without first giving them a hearing to find out what they are doing, does it?\"\r\n\t\t\t They replied, \"Surely you are not also from Galilee, are you? Search and you will see that no prophet is to arise from Galilee.\" \r\n\t\t\t Then each of them went home,\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t while Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.\r\n\t\t\t Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him and he sat down and began to teach them.\r\n\t\t\t The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery; and making her stand before all of them,\r\n\t\t\t they said to him, \"Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery.\r\n\t\t\t Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?\"\r\n\t\t\t They said this to test him, so that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground.\r\n\t\t\t When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, \"Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.\"\r\n\t\t\t And once again he bent down and wrote on the ground. \r\n\t\t\t When they heard it, they went away, one by one, beginning with the elders; and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him.\r\n\t\t\t Jesus straightened up and said to her, \"Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?\"\r\n\t\t\t She said, \"No one, sir.\" And Jesus said, \"Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again.\"\r\n\t\t\t Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, \"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the Pharisees said to him, \"You are testifying on your own behalf; your testimony is not valid.\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus answered, \"Even if I testify on my own behalf, 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.\r\n\t\t\t You judge by human standards; I judge no one. \r\n\t\t\t Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is valid; for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me. \r\n\t\t\t In your law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is valid.\r\n\t\t\t I testify on my own behalf, and the Father who sent me testifies on my behalf.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then they said to him, \"Where is your Father?\" Jesus answered, \"You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.\"\r\n\t\t\t He spoke these words while he was teaching in the treasury of the temple, but no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come.\r\n\t\t\t Again he said to them, \"I am going away, and you will search for me, but you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the Jews said, \"Is he going to kill himself? Is that what he means by saying, 'Where I am going, you cannot come'?\"\r\n\t\t\t He said to them, \"You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world.\r\n\t\t\t I told you that you would die in your sins, for you will die in your sins unless you believe that I am he.\" \r\n\t\t\t They said to him, \"Who are you?\" Jesus said to them, \"Why do I speak to you at all? \r\n\t\t\t I have much to say about you and much to condemn; but the one who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him.\"\r\n\t\t\t They did not understand that he was speaking to them about the Father.\r\n\t\t\t So Jesus said, \"When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will realize that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own, but I speak these things as the Father instructed me. \r\n\t\t\t And the one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what is pleasing to him.\"\r\n\t\t\t As he was saying these things, many believed in him.\r\n\t\t\t Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, \"If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples;\r\n\t\t\t and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.\"\r\n\t\t\t They answered him, \"We are descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean by saying, 'You will be made free'?\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus answered them, \"Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.\r\n\t\t\t The slave does not have a permanent place in the household; the son has a place there forever.\r\n\t\t\t So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.\r\n\t\t\t I know that you are descendants of Abraham; yet you look for an opportunity to kill me, because there is no place in you for my word.\r\n\t\t\t I declare what I have seen in the Father's presence; as for you, you should do what you have heard from the Father.\" \r\n\t\t\t They answered him, \"Abraham is our father.\" Jesus said to them, \"If you were Abraham's children, you would be doing what Abraham did, \r\n\t\t\t but now you are trying to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did.\r\n\t\t\t You are indeed doing what your father does.\" They said to him, \"We are not illegitimate children; we have one father, God himself.\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus said to them, \"If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now I am here. I did not come on my own, but he sent me.\r\n\t\t\t Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot accept my word.\r\n\t\t\t You are from your father the devil, and you choose to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks according to his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.\r\n\t\t\t But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me.\r\n\t\t\t Which of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me?\r\n\t\t\t Whoever is from God hears the words of God. The reason you do not hear them is that you are not from God.\"\r\n\t\t\t The Jews answered him, \"Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus answered, \"I do not have a demon; but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me.\r\n\t\t\t Yet I do not seek my own glory; there is one who seeks it and he is the judge.\r\n\t\t\t Very truly, I tell you, whoever keeps my word will never see death.\"\r\n\t\t\t The Jews said to him, \"Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham died, and so did the prophets; yet you say, 'Whoever keeps my word will never taste death.'\r\n\t\t\t Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? The prophets also died. Who do you claim to be?\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus answered, \"If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, he of whom you say, 'He is our God,'\r\n\t\t\t though you do not know him. But I know him; if I would say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you. But I do know him and I keep his word.\r\n\t\t\t Your ancestor Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day; he saw it and was glad.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the Jews said to him, \"You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?\" \r\n\t\t\t Jesus said to them, \"Very truly, I tell you, before Abraham was, I am.\"\r\n\t\t\t So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth.\r\n\t\t\t His disciples asked him, \"Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus answered, \"Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God's works might be revealed in him.\r\n\t\t\t We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. \r\n\t\t\t As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.\"\r\n\t\t\t When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man's eyes,\r\n\t\t\t saying to him, \"Go, wash in the pool of Siloam\" (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see.\r\n\t\t\t The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar began to ask, \"Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?\"\r\n\t\t\t Some were saying, \"It is he.\" Others were saying, \"No, but it is someone like him.\" He kept saying, \"I am the man.\"\r\n\t\t\t But they kept asking him, \"Then how were your eyes opened?\"\r\n\t\t\t He answered, \"The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and said to me, 'Go to Siloam and wash.' Then I went and washed and received my sight.\"\r\n\t\t\t They said to him, \"Where is he?\" He said, \"I do not know.\"\r\n\t\t\t They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind.\r\n\t\t\t Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes.\r\n\t\t\t Then the Pharisees also began to ask him how he had received his sight. He said to them, \"He put mud on my eyes. Then I washed, and now I see.\"\r\n\t\t\t Some of the Pharisees said, \"This man is not from God, for he does not observe the sabbath.\" But others said, \"How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?\" And they were divided.\r\n\t\t\t So they said again to the blind man, \"What do you say about him? It was your eyes he opened.\" He said, \"He is a prophet.\"\r\n\t\t\t The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight\r\n\t\t\t and asked them, \"Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?\"\r\n\t\t\t His parents answered, \"We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind;\r\n\t\t\t but we do not know how it is that now he sees, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself.\"\r\n\t\t\t His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus to be the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. \r\n\t\t\t Therefore his parents said, \"He is of age; ask him.\"\r\n\t\t\t So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and they said to him, \"Give glory to God! We know that this man is a sinner.\"\r\n\t\t\t He answered, \"I do not know whether he is a sinner. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.\"\r\n\t\t\t They said to him, \"What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?\"\r\n\t\t\t He answered them, \"I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?\"\r\n\t\t\t Then they reviled him, saying, \"You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses.\r\n\t\t\t We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.\"\r\n\t\t\t The man answered, \"Here is an astonishing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes.\r\n\t\t\t We know that God does not listen to sinners, but he does listen to one who worships him and obeys his will.\r\n\t\t\t Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind.\r\n\t\t\t If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.\"\r\n\t\t\t They answered him, \"You were born entirely in sins, and are you trying to teach us?\" And they drove him out.\r\n\t\t\t Jesus heard that they had driven him out, and when he found him, he said, \"Do you believe in the Son of Man?\"\r\n\t\t\t He answered, \"And who is he, sir? Tell me, so that I may believe in him.\" \r\n\t\t\t Jesus said to him, \"You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he.\"\r\n\t\t\t He said, \"Lord, I believe.\" And he worshiped him. \r\n\t\t\t Jesus said, \"I came into this world for judgment so that those who do not see may see, and those who do see may become blind.\"\r\n\t\t\t Some of the Pharisees near him heard this and said to him, \"Surely we are not blind, are we?\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus said to them, \"If you were blind, you would not have sin. But now that you say, 'We see,' your sin remains.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t \"Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit.\r\n\t\t\t The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.\r\n\t\t\t The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.\r\n\t\t\t When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.\r\n\t\t\t They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.\r\n\t\t\t So again Jesus said to them, \"Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep.\r\n\t\t\t All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them.\r\n\t\t\t I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture.\r\n\t\t\t The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.\r\n\t\t\t \"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.\r\n\t\t\t The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away-- and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.\r\n\t\t\t The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep.\r\n\t\t\t I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me,\r\n\t\t\t just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep.\r\n\t\t\t I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.\r\n\t\t\t For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again.\r\n\t\t\t No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.\"\r\n\t\t\t Again the Jews were divided because of these words.\r\n\t\t\t Many of them were saying, \"He has a demon and is out of his mind. Why listen to him?\"\r\n\t\t\t Others were saying, \"These are not the words of one who has a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?\"\r\n\t\t\t At that time the festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter,\r\n\t\t\t and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon.\r\n\t\t\t So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, \"How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.\" \r\n\t\t\t Jesus answered, \"I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name testify to me;\r\n\t\t\t but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep.\r\n\t\t\t My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me.\r\n\t\t\t I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand.\r\n\t\t\t What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father's hand. \r\n\t\t\t The Father and I are one.\"\r\n\t\t\t The Jews took up stones again to stone him.\r\n\t\t\t Jesus replied, \"I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these are you going to stone me?\"\r\n\t\t\t The Jews answered, \"It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you, but for blasphemy, because you, though only a human being, are making yourself God.\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus answered, \"Is it not written in your law, 'I said, you are gods'? \r\n\t\t\t If those to whom the word of God came were called 'gods'-- and the scripture cannot be annulled--\r\n\t\t\t can you say that the one whom the Father has sanctified and sent into the world is blaspheming because I said, 'I am God's Son'?\r\n\t\t\t If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me.\r\n\t\t\t But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.\" \r\n\t\t\t Then they tried to arrest him again, but he escaped from their hands.\r\n\t\t\t He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing earlier, and he remained there.\r\n\t\t\t Many came to him, and they were saying, \"John performed no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true.\"\r\n\t\t\t And many believed in him there.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha.\r\n\t\t\t Mary was the one who anointed the Lord with perfume and wiped his feet with her hair; her brother Lazarus was ill.\r\n\t\t\t So the sisters sent a message to Jesus, \"Lord, he whom you love is ill.\" \r\n\t\t\t But when Jesus heard it, he said, \"This illness does not lead to death; rather it is for God's glory, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.\"\r\n\t\t\t Accordingly, though Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus,\r\n\t\t\t after having heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was. \r\n\t\t\t Then after this he said to the disciples, \"Let us go to Judea again.\"\r\n\t\t\t The disciples said to him, \"Rabbi, the Jews were just now trying to stone you, and are you going there again?\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus answered, \"Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Those who walk during the day do not stumble, because they see the light of this world.\r\n\t\t\t But those who walk at night stumble, because the light is not in them.\"\r\n\t\t\t After saying this, he told them, \"Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going there to awaken him.\"\r\n\t\t\t The disciples said to him, \"Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will be all right.\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus, however, had been speaking about his death, but they thought that he was referring merely to sleep.\r\n\t\t\t Then Jesus told them plainly, \"Lazarus is dead.\r\n\t\t\t For your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.\"\r\n\t\t\t Thomas, who was called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, \"Let us also go, that we may die with him.\"\r\n\t\t\t When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. \r\n\t\t\t Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, some two miles away, \r\n\t\t\t and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them about their brother.\r\n\t\t\t When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, while Mary stayed at home.\r\n\t\t\t Martha said to Jesus, \"Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.\r\n\t\t\t But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him.\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus said to her, \"Your brother will rise again.\"\r\n\t\t\t Martha said to him, \"I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus said to her, \"I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, \r\n\t\t\t and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?\"\r\n\t\t\t She said to him, \"Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world.\"\r\n\t\t\t When she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary, and told her privately, \"The Teacher is here and is calling for you.\"\r\n\t\t\t And when she heard it, she got up quickly and went to him.\r\n\t\t\t Now Jesus had not yet come to the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him.\r\n\t\t\t The Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary get up quickly and go out. They followed her because they thought that she was going to the tomb to weep there.\r\n\t\t\t When Mary came where Jesus was and saw him, she knelt at his feet and said to him, \"Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.\"\r\n\t\t\t When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved.\r\n\t\t\t He said, \"Where have you laid him?\" They said to him, \"Lord, come and see.\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus began to weep.\r\n\t\t\t So the Jews said, \"See how he loved him!\"\r\n\t\t\t But some of them said, \"Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Jesus, again greatly disturbed, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it.\r\n\t\t\t Jesus said, \"Take away the stone.\" Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, \"Lord, already there is a stench because he has been dead four days.\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus said to her, \"Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?\"\r\n\t\t\t So they took away the stone. And Jesus looked upward and said, \"Father, I thank you for having heard me.\r\n\t\t\t I knew 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.\"\r\n\t\t\t When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, \"Lazarus, come out!\"\r\n\t\t\t The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth, and his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, \"Unbind him, and let him go.\"\r\n\t\t\t Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him.\r\n\t\t\t But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what he had done.\r\n\t\t\t So the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the council, and said, \"What are we to do? This man is performing many signs.\r\n\t\t\t If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and destroy both our holy place and our nation.\"\r\n\t\t\t But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, \"You know nothing at all!\r\n\t\t\t You do not understand that it is better for you to have one man die for the people than to have the whole nation destroyed.\"\r\n\t\t\t He did not say this on his own, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus was about to die for the nation,\r\n\t\t\t and not for the nation only, but to gather into one the dispersed children of God.\r\n\t\t\t So from that day on they planned to put him to death.\r\n\t\t\t Jesus therefore no longer walked about openly among the Jews, but went from there to a town called Ephraim in the region near the wilderness; and he remained there with the disciples.\r\n\t\t\t Now the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went up from the country to Jerusalem before the Passover to purify themselves.\r\n\t\t\t They were looking for Jesus and were asking one another as they stood in the temple, \"What do you think? Surely he will not come to the festival, will he?\"\r\n\t\t\t Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that anyone who knew where Jesus was should let them know, so that they might arrest him. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead.\r\n\t\t\t There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him.\r\n\t\t\t Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus' feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. \r\n\t\t\t But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said,\r\n\t\t\t \"Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?\" \r\n\t\t\t (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.)\r\n\t\t\t Jesus said, \"Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. \r\n\t\t\t You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.\"\r\n\t\t\t When the great crowd of the Jews learned that he was there, they came not only because of Jesus but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead.\r\n\t\t\t So the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death as well,\r\n\t\t\t since it was on account of him that many of the Jews were deserting and were believing in Jesus.\r\n\t\t\t The next day the great crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, shouting, \"Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord-- the King of Israel!\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it; as it is written:\r\n\t\t\t \"Do not be afraid, daughter of Zion. Look, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey's colt!\"\r\n\t\t\t His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written of him and had been done to him.\r\n\t\t\t So the crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to testify. \r\n\t\t\t It was also because they heard that he had performed this sign that the crowd went to meet him.\r\n\t\t\t The Pharisees then said to one another, \"You see, you can do nothing. Look, the world has gone after him!\"\r\n\t\t\t Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks.\r\n\t\t\t They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, \"Sir, we wish to see Jesus.\"\r\n\t\t\t Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus.\r\n\t\t\t Jesus answered them, \"The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.\r\n\t\t\t Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.\r\n\t\t\t Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.\r\n\t\t\t Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor.\r\n\t\t\t \"Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say-- 'Father, save me from this hour'? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour.\r\n\t\t\t Father, glorify your name.\" Then a voice came from heaven, \"I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.\"\r\n\t\t\t The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder. Others said, \"An angel has spoken to him.\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus answered, \"This voice has come for your sake, not for mine.\r\n\t\t\t Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out.\r\n\t\t\t And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.\" \r\n\t\t\t He said this to indicate the kind of death he was to die.\r\n\t\t\t The crowd answered him, \"We have heard from the law that the Messiah remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?\" \r\n\t\t\t Jesus said to them, \"The light is with you for a little longer. Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness may not overtake you. If you walk in the darkness, you do not know where you are going.\r\n\t\t\t While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become children of light.\" After Jesus had said this, he departed and hid from them.\r\n\t\t\t Although he had performed so many signs in their presence, they did not believe in him.\r\n\t\t\t This was to fulfill the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah: \"Lord, who has believed our message, and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?\"\r\n\t\t\t And so they could not believe, because Isaiah also said,\r\n\t\t\t \"He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, so that they might not look with their eyes, and understand with their heart and turn-- and I would heal them.\"\r\n\t\t\t Isaiah said this because he saw his glory and spoke about him. \r\n\t\t\t Nevertheless many, even of the authorities, believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they did not confess it, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue;\r\n\t\t\t for they loved human glory more than the glory that comes from God.\r\n\t\t\t Then Jesus cried aloud: \"Whoever believes in me believes not in me but in him who sent me.\r\n\t\t\t And whoever sees me sees him who sent me.\r\n\t\t\t I have come as light into the world, so that everyone who believes in me should not remain in the darkness.\r\n\t\t\t I do not judge anyone who hears my words and does not keep them, for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.\r\n\t\t\t The one who rejects me and does not receive my word has a judge; on the last day the word that I have spoken will serve as judge,\r\n\t\t\t for I have not spoken on my own, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment about what to say and what to speak.\r\n\t\t\t And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I speak, therefore, I speak just as the Father has told me.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.\r\n\t\t\t The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper\r\n\t\t\t Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God,\r\n\t\t\t got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. \r\n\t\t\t Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him.\r\n\t\t\t He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, \"Lord, are you going to wash my feet?\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus answered, \"You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.\"\r\n\t\t\t Peter said to him, \"You will never wash my feet.\" Jesus answered, \"Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.\"\r\n\t\t\t Simon Peter said to him, \"Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus said to him, \"One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.\" \r\n\t\t\t For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, \"Not all of you are clean.\"\r\n\t\t\t After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, \"Do you know what I have done to you?\r\n\t\t\t You call me Teacher and Lord-- and you are right, for that is what I am.\r\n\t\t\t So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.\r\n\t\t\t For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.\r\n\t\t\t Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. \r\n\t\t\t If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.\r\n\t\t\t I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But it is to fulfill the scripture, 'The one who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.' \r\n\t\t\t I tell you this now, before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe that I am he. \r\n\t\t\t Very truly, I tell you, whoever receives one whom I send receives me; and whoever receives me receives him who sent me.\"\r\n\t\t\t After saying this Jesus was troubled in spirit, and declared, \"Very truly, I tell you, one of you will betray me.\"\r\n\t\t\t The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he was speaking.\r\n\t\t\t One of his disciples-- the one whom Jesus loved-- was reclining next to him;\r\n\t\t\t Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking.\r\n\t\t\t So while reclining next to Jesus, he asked him, \"Lord, who is it?\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus answered, \"It is the one to whom I give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.\" So when he had dipped the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot. \r\n\t\t\t After he received the piece of bread, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, \"Do quickly what you are going to do.\" \r\n\t\t\t Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him.\r\n\t\t\t Some thought that, because Judas had the common purse, Jesus was telling him, \"Buy what we need for the festival\"; or, that he should give something to the poor.\r\n\t\t\t So, after receiving the piece of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night.\r\n\t\t\t When he had gone out, Jesus said, \"Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him.\r\n\t\t\t If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. \r\n\t\t\t Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, 'Where I am going, you cannot come.'\r\n\t\t\t I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.\r\n\t\t\t By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.\"\r\n\t\t\t Simon Peter said to him, \"Lord, where are you going?\" Jesus answered, \"Where I am going, you cannot follow me now; but you will follow afterward.\"\r\n\t\t\t Peter said to him, \"Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus answered, \"Will you lay down your life for me? Very truly, I tell you, before the cock crows, you will have denied me three times.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t \"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. \r\n\t\t\t In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? \r\n\t\t\t And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also.\r\n\t\t\t And you know the way to the place where I am going.\" \r\n\t\t\t Thomas said to him, \"Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus said to him, \"I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.\r\n\t\t\t If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.\" \r\n\t\t\t Philip said to him, \"Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus said to him, \"Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'?\r\n\t\t\t Do you not believe 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; but the Father who dwells in me does his works.\r\n\t\t\t Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves.\r\n\t\t\t Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father.\r\n\t\t\t I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.\r\n\t\t\t If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it. \r\n\t\t\t \"If you love me, you will keep my commandments. \r\n\t\t\t And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. \r\n\t\t\t This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.\r\n\t\t\t \"I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you.\r\n\t\t\t In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live.\r\n\t\t\t On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.\r\n\t\t\t They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.\"\r\n\t\t\t Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, \"Lord, how is it that you will reveal yourself to us, and not to the world?\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus answered him, \"Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.\r\n\t\t\t Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me.\r\n\t\t\t \"I have said these things to you while I am still with you.\r\n\t\t\t But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. \r\n\t\t\t Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.\r\n\t\t\t You heard me say to you, 'I am going away, and I am coming to you.' If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I.\r\n\t\t\t And now I have told you this before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe.\r\n\t\t\t I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no power over me;\r\n\t\t\t but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us be on our way.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t \"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower.\r\n\t\t\t He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. \r\n\t\t\t You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. \r\n\t\t\t Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me.\r\n\t\t\t I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing.\r\n\t\t\t Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.\r\n\t\t\t If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.\r\n\t\t\t My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples. \r\n\t\t\t As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love.\r\n\t\t\t If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love.\r\n\t\t\t I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.\r\n\t\t\t \"This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.\r\n\t\t\t No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends.\r\n\t\t\t You are my friends if you do what I command you.\r\n\t\t\t I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. \r\n\t\t\t You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name.\r\n\t\t\t I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.\r\n\t\t\t \"If the world hates you, be aware that it hated me before it hated you.\r\n\t\t\t If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as its own. Because you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world-- therefore the world hates you.\r\n\t\t\t Remember the word that I said to you, 'Servants are not greater than their master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also. \r\n\t\t\t But they will do all these things to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me.\r\n\t\t\t If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin.\r\n\t\t\t Whoever hates me hates my Father also.\r\n\t\t\t If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not have sin. But now they have seen and hated both me and my Father.\r\n\t\t\t It was to fulfill the word that is written in their law, 'They hated me without a cause.'\r\n\t\t\t \"When the Advocate 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. \r\n\t\t\t You also are to testify because you have been with me from the beginning.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t \"I have said these things to you to keep you from stumbling.\r\n\t\t\t They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, an hour is coming when those who kill you will think that by doing so they are offering worship to God.\r\n\t\t\t And they will do this because they have not known the Father or me.\r\n\t\t\t But I have said these things to you so that when their hour comes you may remember that I told you about them. \"I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you.\r\n\t\t\t But now I am going to him who sent me; yet none of you asks me, 'Where are you going?'\r\n\t\t\t But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts.\r\n\t\t\t Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. \r\n\t\t\t And when he comes, he will prove the world wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: \r\n\t\t\t about sin, because they do not believe in me;\r\n\t\t\t about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will see me no longer;\r\n\t\t\t about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been condemned.\r\n\t\t\t \"I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.\r\n\t\t\t When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.\r\n\t\t\t He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you.\r\n\t\t\t All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.\r\n\t\t\t \"A little while, and you will no longer see me, and again a little while, and you will see me.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then some of his disciples said to one another, \"What does he mean by saying to us, 'A little while, and you will no longer see me, and again a little while, and you will see me'; and 'Because I am going to the Father'?\"\r\n\t\t\t They said, \"What does he mean by this 'a little while'? We do not know what he is talking about.\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, \"Are you discussing among yourselves what I meant when I said, 'A little while, and you will no longer see me, and again a little while, and you will see me'?\r\n\t\t\t Very truly, I tell you, you will weep and mourn, but the world will rejoice; you will have pain, but your pain will turn into joy.\r\n\t\t\t When a woman is in labor, she has pain, because her hour has come. But when her child is born, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy of having brought a human being into the world.\r\n\t\t\t So you have pain now; but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.\r\n\t\t\t On that day you will ask nothing of me. Very truly, I tell you, if you ask anything of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. \r\n\t\t\t Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.\r\n\t\t\t \"I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures, but will tell you plainly of the Father.\r\n\t\t\t On that day you will ask in my name. I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf;\r\n\t\t\t for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. \r\n\t\t\t I came from the Father and have come into the world; again, I am leaving the world and am going to the Father.\"\r\n\t\t\t His disciples said, \"Yes, now you are speaking plainly, not in any figure of speech!\r\n\t\t\t Now we know that you know all things, and do not need to have anyone question you; by this we believe that you came from God.\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus answered them, \"Do you now believe?\r\n\t\t\t The hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each one to his home, and you will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me.\r\n\t\t\t I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world!\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t After Jesus had spoken these words, he looked up to heaven and said, \"Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you,\r\n\t\t\t since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. \r\n\t\t\t And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.\r\n\t\t\t I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do.\r\n\t\t\t So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed.\r\n\t\t\t \"I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word.\r\n\t\t\t Now they know that everything you have given me is from you;\r\n\t\t\t for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me.\r\n\t\t\t I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours.\r\n\t\t\t All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them.\r\n\t\t\t And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.\r\n\t\t\t While I was with them, I protected them in your name that you have given me. I guarded them, and not one of them was lost except the one destined to be lost, so that the scripture might be fulfilled. \r\n\t\t\t But now I am coming to you, and I speak these things in the world so that they may have my joy made complete in themselves. \r\n\t\t\t I 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.\r\n\t\t\t I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one. \r\n\t\t\t They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world.\r\n\t\t\t Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.\r\n\t\t\t As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.\r\n\t\t\t And for their sakes I sanctify myself, so that they also may be sanctified in truth.\r\n\t\t\t \"I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word,\r\n\t\t\t that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. \r\n\t\t\t The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one,\r\n\t\t\t I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.\r\n\t\t\t Father, I desire that those also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.\r\n\t\t\t \"Righteous Father, the world does not know you, but I know you; and these know that you have sent me.\r\n\t\t\t I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t After Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the Kidron valley to a place where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered.\r\n\t\t\t Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, because Jesus often met there with his disciples.\r\n\t\t\t So Judas brought a detachment of soldiers together with police from the chief priests and the Pharisees, and they came there with lanterns and torches and weapons.\r\n\t\t\t Then Jesus, knowing all that was to happen to him, came forward and asked them, \"Whom are you looking for?\"\r\n\t\t\t They answered, \"Jesus of Nazareth.\" Jesus replied, \"I am he.\" Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. \r\n\t\t\t When Jesus said to them, \"I am he,\" they stepped back and fell to the ground. \r\n\t\t\t Again he asked them, \"Whom are you looking for?\" And they said, \"Jesus of Nazareth.\" \r\n\t\t\t Jesus answered, \"I told you that I am he. So if you are looking for me, let these men go.\" \r\n\t\t\t This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken, \"I did not lose a single one of those whom you gave me.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it, struck the high priest's slave, and cut off his right ear. The slave's name was Malchus.\r\n\t\t\t Jesus said to Peter, \"Put your sword back into its sheath. Am I not to drink the cup that the Father has given me?\"\r\n\t\t\t So the soldiers, their officer, and the Jewish police arrested Jesus and bound him.\r\n\t\t\t First they took him to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year.\r\n\t\t\t Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it was better to have one person die for the people.\r\n\t\t\t Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest,\r\n\t\t\t but Peter was standing outside at the gate. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out, spoke to the woman who guarded the gate, and brought Peter in.\r\n\t\t\t The woman said to Peter, \"You are not also one of this man's disciples, are you?\" He said, \"I am not.\"\r\n\t\t\t Now the slaves and the police had made a charcoal fire because it was cold, and they were standing around it and warming themselves. Peter also was standing with them and warming himself.\r\n\t\t\t Then the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his teaching.\r\n\t\t\t Jesus answered, \"I have spoken openly to the world; I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret.\r\n\t\t\t Why do you ask me? Ask those who heard what I said to them; they know what I said.\"\r\n\t\t\t When he had said this, one of the police standing nearby struck Jesus on the face, saying, \"Is that how you answer the high priest?\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus answered, \"If I have spoken wrongly, testify to the wrong. But if I have spoken rightly, why do you strike me?\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.\r\n\t\t\t Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They asked him, \"You are not also one of his disciples, are you?\" He denied it and said, \"I am not.\"\r\n\t\t\t One of the slaves of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, \"Did I not see you in the garden with him?\"\r\n\t\t\t Again Peter denied it, and at that moment the cock crowed.\r\n\t\t\t Then they took Jesus from Caiaphas to Pilate's headquarters. It was early in the morning. They themselves did not enter the headquarters, so as to avoid ritual defilement and to be able to eat the Passover. \r\n\t\t\t So Pilate went out to them and said, \"What accusation do you bring against this man?\"\r\n\t\t\t They answered, \"If this man were not a criminal, we would not have handed him over to you.\"\r\n\t\t\t Pilate said to them, \"Take him yourselves and judge him according to your law.\" The Jews replied, \"We are not permitted to put anyone to death.\"\r\n\t\t\t (This was to fulfill what Jesus had said when he indicated the kind of death he was to die.)\r\n\t\t\t Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, \"Are you the King of the Jews?\" \r\n\t\t\t Jesus answered, \"Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?\"\r\n\t\t\t Pilate replied, \"I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus answered, \"My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.\"\r\n\t\t\t Pilate asked him, \"So you are a king?\" Jesus answered, \"You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.\"\r\n\t\t\t Pilate asked him, \"What is truth?\" After he had said this, he went out to the Jews again and told them, \"I find no case against him.\r\n\t\t\t But you have a custom that I release someone for you at the Passover. Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?\"\r\n\t\t\t They shouted in reply, \"Not this man, but Barabbas!\" Now Barabbas was a bandit.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged.\r\n\t\t\t And the soldiers wove a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and they dressed him in a purple robe.\r\n\t\t\t They kept coming up to him, saying, \"Hail, King of the Jews!\" and striking him on the face.\r\n\t\t\t Pilate went out again and said to them, \"Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no case against him.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, \"Here is the man!\"\r\n\t\t\t When the chief priests and the police saw him, they shouted, \"Crucify him! Crucify him!\" Pilate said to them, \"Take him yourselves and crucify him; I find no case against him.\"\r\n\t\t\t The Jews answered him, \"We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has claimed to be the Son of God.\"\r\n\t\t\t Now when Pilate heard this, he was more afraid than ever.\r\n\t\t\t He entered his headquarters again and asked Jesus, \"Where are you from?\" But Jesus gave him no answer. \r\n\t\t\t Pilate therefore said to him, \"Do you refuse to speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to release you, and power to crucify you?\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus answered him, \"You would have no power over me unless it had been given you from above; therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.\"\r\n\t\t\t From then on Pilate tried to release him, but the Jews cried out, \"If you release this man, you are no friend of the emperor. Everyone who claims to be a king sets himself against the emperor.\"\r\n\t\t\t When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus outside and sat on the judge's bench at a place called The Stone Pavement, or in Hebrew Gabbatha. \r\n\t\t\t Now it was the day of Preparation for the Passover; and it was about noon. He said to the Jews, \"Here is your King!\"\r\n\t\t\t They cried out, \"Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him!\" Pilate asked them, \"Shall I crucify your King?\" The chief priests answered, \"We have no king but the emperor.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then he handed him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus;\r\n\t\t\t and carrying the cross by himself, he went out to what is called The Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha. \r\n\t\t\t There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus between them.\r\n\t\t\t Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the cross. It read, \"Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.\" \r\n\t\t\t Many of the Jews read this inscription, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, in Latin, and in Greek. \r\n\t\t\t Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, \"Do not write, 'The King of the Jews,' but, 'This man said, I am King of the Jews.'\"\r\n\t\t\t Pilate answered, \"What I have written I have written.\"\r\n\t\t\t When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four parts, one for each soldier. They also took his tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from the top.\r\n\t\t\t So they said to one another, \"Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see who will get it.\" This was to fulfill what the scripture says, \"They divided my clothes among themselves, and for my clothing they cast lots.\"\r\n\t\t\t And that is what the soldiers did. Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.\r\n\t\t\t When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, \"Woman, here is your son.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then he said to the disciple, \"Here is your mother.\" And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.\r\n\t\t\t After this, when Jesus knew that all was now finished, he said (in order to fulfill the scripture), \"I am thirsty.\"\r\n\t\t\t A jar full 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.\r\n\t\t\t When Jesus had received the wine, he said, \"It is finished.\" Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.\r\n\t\t\t Since it was the day of Preparation, the Jews did not want the bodies left on the cross during the sabbath, especially because that sabbath was a day of great solemnity. So they asked Pilate to have the legs of the crucified men broken and the bodies removed.\r\n\t\t\t Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who had been crucified with him.\r\n\t\t\t But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs.\r\n\t\t\t Instead, one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once blood and water came out.\r\n\t\t\t (He who saw this has testified so that you also may believe. His testimony is true, and he knows that he tells the truth.) \r\n\t\t\t These things occurred so that the scripture might be fulfilled, \"None of his bones shall be broken.\"\r\n\t\t\t And again another passage of scripture says, \"They will look on the one whom they have pierced.\"\r\n\t\t\t After these things, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, though a secret one because of his fear of the Jews, asked Pilate to let him take away the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission; so he came and removed his body.\r\n\t\t\t Nicodemus, who had at first come to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, weighing about a hundred pounds.\r\n\t\t\t They took the body of Jesus and wrapped it with the spices in linen cloths, according to the burial custom of the Jews.\r\n\t\t\t Now there was a garden in the place where he was crucified, and in the garden there was a new tomb in which no one had ever been laid.\r\n\t\t\t And so, because it was the Jewish day of Preparation, and the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb.\r\n\t\t\t So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, \"They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb.\r\n\t\t\t The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.\r\n\t\t\t He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in.\r\n\t\t\t Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there,\r\n\t\t\t and the cloth that had been on Jesus' head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself.\r\n\t\t\t Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed;\r\n\t\t\t for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead.\r\n\t\t\t Then the disciples returned to their homes.\r\n\t\t\t But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; \r\n\t\t\t and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet.\r\n\t\t\t They said to her, \"Woman, why are you weeping?\" She said to them, \"They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.\"\r\n\t\t\t When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus.\r\n\t\t\t Jesus said to her, \"Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?\" Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, \"Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus said to her, \"Mary!\" She turned and said to him in Hebrew, \"Rabbouni!\" (which means Teacher). \r\n\t\t\t Jesus said to her, \"Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'\"\r\n\t\t\t Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, \"I have seen the Lord\"; and she told them that he had said these things to her.\r\n\t\t\t When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, \"Peace be with you.\"\r\n\t\t\t After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.\r\n\t\t\t Jesus said to them again, \"Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.\"\r\n\t\t\t When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, \"Receive the Holy Spirit.\r\n\t\t\t If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.\"\r\n\t\t\t But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came.\r\n\t\t\t So the other disciples told him, \"We have seen the Lord.\" But he said to them, \"Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.\"\r\n\t\t\t A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, \"Peace be with you.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then he said to Thomas, \"Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.\"\r\n\t\t\t Thomas answered him, \"My Lord and my God!\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus said to him, \"Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.\"\r\n\t\t\t Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book.\r\n\t\t\t But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way.\r\n\t\t\t Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. \r\n\t\t\t Simon Peter said to them, \"I am going fishing.\" They said to him, \"We will go with you.\" They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.\r\n\t\t\t Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.\r\n\t\t\t Jesus said to them, \"Children, you have no fish, have you?\" They answered him, \"No.\"\r\n\t\t\t He said to them, \"Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some.\" So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish.\r\n\t\t\t That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, \"It is the Lord!\" When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the sea.\r\n\t\t\t But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off. \r\n\t\t\t When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread.\r\n\t\t\t Jesus said to them, \"Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn.\r\n\t\t\t Jesus said to them, \"Come and have breakfast.\" Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, \"Who are you?\" because they knew it was the Lord.\r\n\t\t\t Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish.\r\n\t\t\t This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.\r\n\t\t\t When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, \"Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?\" He said to him, \"Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.\" Jesus said to him, \"Feed my lambs.\"\r\n\t\t\t A second time he said to him, \"Simon son of John, do you love me?\" He said to him, \"Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.\" Jesus said to him, \"Tend my sheep.\"\r\n\t\t\t He said to him the third time, \"Simon son of John, do you love me?\" Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, \"Do you love me?\" And he said to him, \"Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.\" Jesus said to him, \"Feed my sheep.\r\n\t\t\t Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.\"\r\n\t\t\t (He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, \"Follow me.\"\r\n\t\t\t Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them; he was the one who had reclined next to Jesus at the supper and had said, \"Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?\"\r\n\t\t\t When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, \"Lord, what about him?\"\r\n\t\t\t Jesus said to him, \"If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? Follow me!\"\r\n\t\t\t So the rumor spread in the community that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, \"If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?\" \r\n\t\t\t This is the disciple who is testifying to these things and has written them, and we know that his testimony is true.\r\n\t\t\t But there are also many other things that Jesus did; if every one of them were written down, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning\r\n\t\t\t until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.\r\n\t\t\t After his suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.\r\n\t\t\t While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father. \"This,\" he said, \"is what you have heard from me; \r\n\t\t\t for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.\" \r\n\t\t\t So when they had come together, they asked him, \"Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?\"\r\n\t\t\t He replied, \"It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority.\r\n\t\t\t But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.\"\r\n\t\t\t When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.\r\n\t\t\t While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them.\r\n\t\t\t They said, \"Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day's journey away.\r\n\t\t\t When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying, Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. \r\n\t\t\t All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.\r\n\t\t\t In those days Peter stood up among the believers (together the crowd numbered about one hundred twenty persons) and said, \r\n\t\t\t \"Friends, the scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit through David foretold concerning Judas, who became a guide for those who arrested Jesus--\r\n\t\t\t for he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.\"\r\n\t\t\t (Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness; and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. \r\n\t\t\t This became known to all the residents of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their language Hakeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)\r\n\t\t\t \"For it is written in the book of Psalms, 'Let his homestead become desolate, and let there be no one to live in it'; and 'Let another take his position of overseer.'\r\n\t\t\t So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,\r\n\t\t\t beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us-- one of these must become a witness with us to his resurrection.\"\r\n\t\t\t So they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias.\r\n\t\t\t Then they prayed and said, \"Lord, you know everyone's heart. Show us which one of these two you have chosen\r\n\t\t\t to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.\"\r\n\t\t\t And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place.\r\n\t\t\t And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.\r\n\t\t\t Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them.\r\n\t\t\t All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.\r\n\t\t\t Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each.\r\n\t\t\t Amazed and astonished, they asked, \"Are not all these who are speaking Galileans?\r\n\t\t\t And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language?\r\n\t\t\t Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,\r\n\t\t\t Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,\r\n\t\t\t Cretans and Arabs-- in our own languages we hear them speaking about God's deeds of power.\"\r\n\t\t\t All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, \"What does this mean?\"\r\n\t\t\t But others sneered and said, \"They are filled with new wine.\"\r\n\t\t\t But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, \"Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say.\r\n\t\t\t Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o'clock in the morning.\r\n\t\t\t No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:\r\n\t\t\t 'In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.\r\n\t\t\t Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy.\r\n\t\t\t And I will show portents in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and smoky mist.\r\n\t\t\t The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the coming of the Lord's great and glorious day.\r\n\t\t\t Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.'\r\n\t\t\t \"You that are Israelites, listen to what I have to say: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with deeds of power, wonders, and signs that God did through him among you, as you yourselves know--\r\n\t\t\t this man, handed over to you according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of those outside the law.\r\n\t\t\t But God raised him up, having freed him from death, because it was impossible for him to be held in its power. \r\n\t\t\t For David says concerning him, 'I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand so that I will not be shaken;\r\n\t\t\t therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; moreover my flesh will live in hope.\r\n\t\t\t For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One experience corruption.\r\n\t\t\t You have made known to me the ways of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.'\r\n\t\t\t \"Fellow Israelites, I may say to you confidently of our ancestor David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. \r\n\t\t\t Since he was a prophet, he knew that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would put one of his descendants on his throne.\r\n\t\t\t Foreseeing this, David spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, saying, 'He was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh experience corruption.'\r\n\t\t\t This Jesus God raised up, and of that all of us are witnesses.\r\n\t\t\t Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you both see and hear. \r\n\t\t\t For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, 'The Lord said to my Lord, \"Sit at my right hand,\r\n\t\t\t until I make your enemies your footstool.\"'\r\n\t\t\t Therefore let the entire house of Israel know with certainty that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified.\" \r\n\t\t\t Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, \"Brothers, what should we do?\" \r\n\t\t\t Peter said to them, \"Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.\r\n\t\t\t For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him.\"\r\n\t\t\t And he testified with many other arguments and exhorted them, saying, \"Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.\"\r\n\t\t\t So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added.\r\n\t\t\t They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.\r\n\t\t\t Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles.\r\n\t\t\t All who believed were together and had all things in common;\r\n\t\t\t they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. \r\n\t\t\t Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, \r\n\t\t\t praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, at three o'clock in the afternoon.\r\n\t\t\t And a man lame from birth was being carried in. People would lay him daily at the gate of the temple called the Beautiful Gate so that he could ask for alms from those entering the temple.\r\n\t\t\t When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked them for alms.\r\n\t\t\t Peter looked intently at him, as did John, and said, \"Look at us.\"\r\n\t\t\t And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them.\r\n\t\t\t But Peter said, \"I have no silver or gold, but what I have I give you; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk.\" \r\n\t\t\t And he took him by the right hand and raised him up; and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong.\r\n\t\t\t Jumping up, he stood and began to walk, and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.\r\n\t\t\t All the people saw him walking and praising God,\r\n\t\t\t and they recognized him as the one who used to sit and ask for alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.\r\n\t\t\t While he clung to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the portico called Solomon's Portico, utterly astonished.\r\n\t\t\t When Peter saw it, he addressed the people, \"You Israelites, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we had made him walk? \r\n\t\t\t The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our ancestors has glorified his servant Jesus, whom you handed over and rejected in the presence of Pilate, though he had decided to release him. \r\n\t\t\t But you rejected the Holy and Righteous One and asked to have a murderer given to you,\r\n\t\t\t and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.\r\n\t\t\t And by faith in his name, his name itself has made this man strong, whom you see and know; and the faith that is through Jesus has given him this perfect health in the presence of all of you. \r\n\t\t\t \"And now, friends, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. \r\n\t\t\t In this way God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, that his Messiah would suffer. \r\n\t\t\t Repent therefore, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out,\r\n\t\t\t so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Messiah appointed for you, that is, Jesus, \r\n\t\t\t who must remain in heaven until the time of universal restoration that God announced long ago through his holy prophets.\r\n\t\t\t Moses said, 'The Lord your God will raise up for you from your own people a prophet like me. You must listen to whatever he tells you.\r\n\t\t\t And it will be that everyone who does not listen to that prophet will be utterly rooted out of the people.'\r\n\t\t\t And all the prophets, as many as have spoken, from Samuel and those after him, also predicted these days.\r\n\t\t\t You are the descendants of the prophets and of the covenant that God gave to your ancestors, saying to Abraham, 'And in your descendants all the families of the earth shall be blessed.'\r\n\t\t\t When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you, to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.\" \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t While Peter and John were speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came to them, \r\n\t\t\t much annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming that in Jesus there is the resurrection of the dead.\r\n\t\t\t So they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening.\r\n\t\t\t But many of those who heard the word believed; and they numbered about five thousand.\r\n\t\t\t The next day their rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem,\r\n\t\t\t with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. \r\n\t\t\t When they had made the prisoners stand in their midst, they inquired, \"By what power or by what name did you do this?\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, \"Rulers of the people and elders,\r\n\t\t\t if we are questioned today because of a good deed done to someone who was sick and are asked how this man has been healed,\r\n\t\t\t let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead. \r\n\t\t\t This Jesus is 'the stone that was rejected by you, the builders; it has become the cornerstone.' \r\n\t\t\t There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved.\"\r\n\t\t\t Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they were amazed and recognized them as companions of Jesus.\r\n\t\t\t When they saw the man who had been cured standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition.\r\n\t\t\t So they ordered them to leave the council while they discussed the matter with one another.\r\n\t\t\t They said, \"What will we do with them? For it is obvious to all who live in Jerusalem that a notable sign has been done through them; we cannot deny it.\r\n\t\t\t But to keep it from spreading further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.\"\r\n\t\t\t So they called them and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.\r\n\t\t\t But Peter and John answered them, \"Whether it is right in God's sight to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge;\r\n\t\t\t for we cannot keep from speaking about what we have seen and heard.\"\r\n\t\t\t After threatening them again, they let them go, finding no way to punish them because of the people, for all of them praised God for what had happened.\r\n\t\t\t For the man on whom this sign of healing had been performed was more than forty years old.\r\n\t\t\t After they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. \r\n\t\t\t When they heard it, they raised their voices together to God and said, \"Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth, the sea, and everything in them,\r\n\t\t\t it is you who said by the Holy Spirit through our ancestor David, your servant: 'Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples imagine vain things? \r\n\t\t\t The kings of the earth took their stand, and the rulers have gathered together against the Lord and against his Messiah.' \r\n\t\t\t For in this city, in fact, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, \r\n\t\t\t to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.\r\n\t\t\t And now, Lord, look at their threats, and grant to your servants to speak your word with all boldness, \r\n\t\t\t while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.\" \r\n\t\t\t When they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness.\r\n\t\t\t Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common.\r\n\t\t\t With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.\r\n\t\t\t There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold.\r\n\t\t\t They laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.\r\n\t\t\t There was a Levite, a native of Cyprus, Joseph, to whom the apostles gave the name Barnabas (which means \"son of encouragement\").\r\n\t\t\t He sold a field that belonged to him, then brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t But a man named Ananias, with the consent of his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property;\r\n\t\t\t with his wife's knowledge, he kept back some of the proceeds, and brought only a part and laid it at the apostles' feet.\r\n\t\t\t \"Ananias,\" Peter asked, \"why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the proceeds of the land?\r\n\t\t\t While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, were not the proceeds at your disposal? How is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You did not lie to us but to God!\" \r\n\t\t\t Now when Ananias heard these words, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard of it.\r\n\t\t\t The young men came and wrapped up his body, then carried him out and buried him. \r\n\t\t\t After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.\r\n\t\t\t Peter said to her, \"Tell me whether you and your husband sold the land for such and such a price.\" And she said, \"Yes, that was the price.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Peter said to her, \"How is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.\"\r\n\t\t\t Immediately she fell down at his feet and died. When the young men came in they found her dead, so they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.\r\n\t\t\t And great fear seized the whole church and all who heard of these things.\r\n\t\t\t Now many signs and wonders were done among the people through the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon's Portico.\r\n\t\t\t None of the rest dared to join them, but the people held them in high esteem.\r\n\t\t\t Yet more than ever believers were added to the Lord, great numbers of both men and women,\r\n\t\t\t so that they even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on cots and mats, in order that Peter's shadow might fall on some of them as he came by.\r\n\t\t\t A great number of people would also gather from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all cured.\r\n\t\t\t Then the high priest took action; he and all who were with him (that is, the sect of the Sadducees), being filled with jealousy,\r\n\t\t\t arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison.\r\n\t\t\t But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors, brought them out, and said,\r\n\t\t\t \"Go, stand in the temple and tell the people the whole message about this life.\"\r\n\t\t\t When they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and went on with their teaching. When the high priest and those with him arrived, they called together the council and the whole body of the elders of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.\r\n\t\t\t But when the temple police went there, they did not find them in the prison; so they returned and reported,\r\n\t\t\t \"We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside.\"\r\n\t\t\t Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were perplexed about them, wondering what might be going on.\r\n\t\t\t Then someone arrived and announced, \"Look, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the captain went with the temple police and brought them, but without violence, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people.\r\n\t\t\t When they had brought them, they had them stand before the council. The high priest questioned them,\r\n\t\t\t saying, \"We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you are determined to bring this man's blood on us.\" \r\n\t\t\t But Peter and the apostles answered, \"We must obey God rather than any human authority. \r\n\t\t\t The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree.\r\n\t\t\t God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior that he might give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.\r\n\t\t\t And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.\"\r\n\t\t\t When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them.\r\n\t\t\t But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, respected by all the people, stood up and ordered the men to be put outside for a short time.\r\n\t\t\t Then he said to them, \"Fellow Israelites, consider carefully what you propose to do to these men. \r\n\t\t\t For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him; but he was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and disappeared.\r\n\t\t\t After him Judas the Galilean rose up at the time of the census and got people to follow him; he also perished, and all who followed him were scattered.\r\n\t\t\t So in the present case, I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone; because if this plan or this undertaking is of human origin, it will fail;\r\n\t\t\t but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them-- in that case you may even be found fighting against God!\" They were convinced by him,\r\n\t\t\t and when they had called in the apostles, they had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.\r\n\t\t\t As they left the council, they rejoiced that they were considered worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name.\r\n\t\t\t And every day in the temple and at home they did not cease to teach and proclaim Jesus as the Messiah. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now during those days, when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food.\r\n\t\t\t And the twelve called together the whole community of the disciples and said, \"It is not right that we should neglect the word of God in order to wait on tables. \r\n\t\t\t Therefore, friends, select from among yourselves seven men of good standing, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this task, \r\n\t\t\t while we, for our part, will devote ourselves to prayer and to serving the word.\"\r\n\t\t\t What they said pleased the whole community, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, together with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch.\r\n\t\t\t They had these men stand before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.\r\n\t\t\t The word of God continued to spread; the number of the disciples increased greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.\r\n\t\t\t Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.\r\n\t\t\t Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and others of those from Cilicia and Asia, stood up and argued with Stephen.\r\n\t\t\t But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke. \r\n\t\t\t Then they secretly instigated some men to say, \"We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.\"\r\n\t\t\t They stirred up the people as well as the elders and the scribes; then they suddenly confronted him, seized him, and brought him before the council.\r\n\t\t\t They set up false witnesses who said, \"This man never stops saying things against this holy place and the law;\r\n\t\t\t for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses handed on to us.\" \r\n\t\t\t And all who sat in the council looked intently at him, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then the high priest asked him, \"Are these things so?\"\r\n\t\t\t And Stephen replied: \"Brothers and fathers, listen to me. The God of glory appeared to our ancestor Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran, \r\n\t\t\t and said to him, 'Leave your country and your relatives and go to the land that I will show you.'\r\n\t\t\t Then he left the country of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. After his father died, God had him move from there to this country in which you are now living.\r\n\t\t\t He did not give him any of it as a heritage, not even a foot's length, but promised to give it to him as his possession and to his descendants after him, even though he had no child.\r\n\t\t\t And God spoke in these terms, that his descendants would be resident aliens in a country belonging to others, who would enslave them and mistreat them during four hundred years.\r\n\t\t\t 'But I will judge the nation that they serve,' said God, 'and after that they shall come out and worship me in this place.'\r\n\t\t\t Then he gave him the covenant of circumcision. And so Abraham became the father of Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day; and Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob of the twelve patriarchs. \r\n\t\t\t \"The patriarchs, jealous of Joseph, sold him into Egypt; but God was with him,\r\n\t\t\t and rescued him from all his afflictions, and enabled him to win favor and to show wisdom when he stood before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who appointed him ruler over Egypt and over all his household.\r\n\t\t\t Now there came a famine throughout Egypt and Canaan, and great suffering, and our ancestors could find no food.\r\n\t\t\t But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent our ancestors there on their first visit.\r\n\t\t\t On the second visit Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and Joseph's family became known to Pharaoh.\r\n\t\t\t Then Joseph sent and invited his father Jacob and all his relatives to come to him, seventy-five in all;\r\n\t\t\t so Jacob went down to Egypt. He himself died there as well as our ancestors,\r\n\t\t\t and their bodies were brought back to Shechem and laid in the tomb that Abraham had bought for a sum of silver from the sons of Hamor in Shechem. \r\n\t\t\t \"But as the time drew near for the fulfillment of the promise that God had made to Abraham, our people in Egypt increased and multiplied\r\n\t\t\t until another king who had not known Joseph ruled over Egypt.\r\n\t\t\t He dealt craftily with our race and forced our ancestors to abandon their infants so that they would die.\r\n\t\t\t At this time Moses was born, and he was beautiful before God. For three months he was brought up in his father's house;\r\n\t\t\t and when he was abandoned, Pharaoh's daughter adopted him and brought him up as her own son.\r\n\t\t\t So Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in his words and deeds.\r\n\t\t\t \"When he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his relatives, the Israelites. \r\n\t\t\t When he saw one of them being wronged, he defended the oppressed man and avenged him by striking down the Egyptian.\r\n\t\t\t He supposed that his kinsfolk would understand that God through him was rescuing them, but they did not understand.\r\n\t\t\t The next day he came to some of them as they were quarreling and tried to reconcile them, saying, 'Men, you are brothers; why do you wrong each other?'\r\n\t\t\t But the man who was wronging his neighbor pushed Moses aside, saying, 'Who made you a ruler and a judge over us? \r\n\t\t\t Do you want to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?'\r\n\t\t\t When he heard this, Moses fled and became a resident alien in the land of Midian. There he became the father of two sons.\r\n\t\t\t \"Now when forty years had passed, an angel appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in the flame of a burning bush.\r\n\t\t\t When Moses saw it, he was amazed at the sight; and as he approached to look, there came the voice of the Lord:\r\n\t\t\t 'I am the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.' Moses began to tremble and did not dare to look.\r\n\t\t\t Then the Lord said to him, 'Take off the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.\r\n\t\t\t I have surely seen the mistreatment of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their groaning, and I have come down to rescue them. Come now, I will send you to Egypt.'\r\n\t\t\t \"It was this Moses whom they rejected when they said, 'Who made you a ruler and a judge?' and whom God now sent as both ruler and liberator through the angel who appeared to him in the bush.\r\n\t\t\t He led them out, having performed wonders and signs in Egypt, at the Red Sea, and in the wilderness for forty years.\r\n\t\t\t This is the Moses who said to the Israelites, 'God will raise up a prophet for you from your own people as he raised me up.' \r\n\t\t\t He is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him at Mount Sinai, and with our ancestors; and he received living oracles to give to us.\r\n\t\t\t Our ancestors were unwilling to obey him; instead, they pushed him aside, and in their hearts they turned back to Egypt,\r\n\t\t\t saying to Aaron, 'Make gods for us who will lead the way for us; as for this Moses who led us out from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has happened to him.'\r\n\t\t\t At that time they made a calf, offered a sacrifice to the idol, and reveled in the works of their hands.\r\n\t\t\t But God turned away from them and handed them over to worship the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets: 'Did you offer to me slain victims and sacrifices forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel?\r\n\t\t\t No; you took along the tent of Moloch, and the star of your god Rephan, the images that you made to worship; so I will remove you beyond Babylon.'\r\n\t\t\t \"Our ancestors had the tent of testimony in the wilderness, as God directed when he spoke to Moses, ordering him to make it according to the pattern he had seen. \r\n\t\t\t Our ancestors in turn brought it in with Joshua when they dispossessed the nations that God drove out before our ancestors. And it was there until the time of David,\r\n\t\t\t who found favor with God and asked that he might find a dwelling place for the house of Jacob. \r\n\t\t\t But it was Solomon who built a house for him.\r\n\t\t\t Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made with human hands; as the prophet says, \r\n\t\t\t 'Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me, says the Lord, or what is the place of my rest?\r\n\t\t\t Did not my hand make all these things?'\r\n\t\t\t \"You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you are forever opposing the Holy Spirit, just as your ancestors used to do.\r\n\t\t\t Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, and now you have become his betrayers and murderers.\r\n\t\t\t You are the ones that received the law as ordained by angels, and yet you have not kept it.\"\r\n\t\t\t When they heard these things, they became enraged and ground their teeth at Stephen. \r\n\t\t\t But filled with the Holy Spirit, he gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.\r\n\t\t\t \"Look,\" he said, \"I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!\"\r\n\t\t\t But they covered their ears, and with a loud shout all rushed together against him.\r\n\t\t\t Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him; and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.\r\n\t\t\t While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, \"Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, \"Lord, do not hold this sin against them.\" When he had said this, he died. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t And Saul approved of their killing him. That day a severe persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria.\r\n\t\t\t Devout men buried Stephen and made loud lamentation over him.\r\n\t\t\t But Saul was ravaging the church by entering house after house; dragging off both men and women, he committed them to prison.\r\n\t\t\t Now those who were scattered went from place to place, proclaiming the word.\r\n\t\t\t Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah to them. \r\n\t\t\t The crowds with one accord listened eagerly to what was said by Philip, hearing and seeing the signs that he did,\r\n\t\t\t for unclean spirits, crying with loud shrieks, came out of many who were possessed; and many others who were paralyzed or lame were cured.\r\n\t\t\t So there was great joy in that city.\r\n\t\t\t Now a certain man named Simon had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, saying that he was someone great.\r\n\t\t\t All of them, from the least to the greatest, listened to him eagerly, saying, \"This man is the power of God that is called Great.\"\r\n\t\t\t And they listened eagerly to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic.\r\n\t\t\t But when they believed Philip, who was proclaiming the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.\r\n\t\t\t Even Simon himself believed. After being baptized, he stayed constantly with Philip and was amazed when he saw the signs and great miracles that took place.\r\n\t\t\t Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them.\r\n\t\t\t The two went down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit\r\n\t\t\t (for as yet the Spirit had not come upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus). \r\n\t\t\t Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. \r\n\t\t\t Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money,\r\n\t\t\t saying, \"Give me also this power so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.\"\r\n\t\t\t But Peter said to him, \"May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain God's gift with money!\r\n\t\t\t You have no part or share in this, for your heart is not right before God.\r\n\t\t\t Repent therefore of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you.\r\n\t\t\t For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and the chains of wickedness.\"\r\n\t\t\t Simon answered, \"Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may happen to me.\" \r\n\t\t\t Now after Peter and John had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, proclaiming the good news to many villages of the Samaritans. \r\n\t\t\t Then an angel of the Lord said to Philip, \"Get up and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.\" (This is a wilderness road.) \r\n\t\t\t So he got up and went. Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of the Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of her entire treasury. He had come to Jerusalem to worship\r\n\t\t\t and was returning home; seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah.\r\n\t\t\t Then the Spirit said to Philip, \"Go over to this chariot and join it.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Philip ran up to it and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah. He asked, \"Do you understand what you are reading?\"\r\n\t\t\t He replied, \"How can I, unless someone guides me?\" And he invited Philip to get in and sit beside him.\r\n\t\t\t Now the passage of the scripture that he was reading was this: \"Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter, and like a lamb silent before its shearer, so he does not open his mouth.\r\n\t\t\t In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth.\"\r\n\t\t\t The eunuch asked Philip, \"About whom, may I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Philip began to speak, and starting with this scripture, he proclaimed to him the good news about Jesus.\r\n\t\t\t As they were going along the road, they came to some water; and the eunuch said, \"Look, here is water! What is to prevent me from being baptized?\" \r\n\t\t\t \r\n\t\t\t He commanded the chariot to stop, and both of them, Philip and the eunuch, went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. \r\n\t\t\t When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing.\r\n\t\t\t But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he was passing through the region, he proclaimed the good news to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Meanwhile Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest\r\n\t\t\t and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.\r\n\t\t\t He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, \"Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?\"\r\n\t\t\t He asked, \"Who are you, Lord?\" The reply came, \"I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.\r\n\t\t\t But get up and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.\"\r\n\t\t\t The men who were traveling with him stood speechless because they heard the voice but saw no one.\r\n\t\t\t Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.\r\n\t\t\t For three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.\r\n\t\t\t Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, \"Ananias.\" He answered, \"Here I am, Lord.\"\r\n\t\t\t The Lord said to him, \"Get up and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul. At this moment he is praying,\r\n\t\t\t and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.\" \r\n\t\t\t But Ananias answered, \"Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints in Jerusalem;\r\n\t\t\t and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who invoke your name.\"\r\n\t\t\t But the Lord said to him, \"Go, for he is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before Gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel;\r\n\t\t\t I myself will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Ananias went and entered the house. He laid his hands on Saul and said, \"Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your way here, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.\" \r\n\t\t\t And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and his sight was restored. Then he got up and was baptized,\r\n\t\t\t and after taking some food, he regained his strength. For several days he was with the disciples in Damascus,\r\n\t\t\t and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, \"He is the Son of God.\"\r\n\t\t\t All who heard him were amazed and said, \"Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem among those who invoked this name? And has he not come here for the purpose of bringing them bound before the chief priests?\"\r\n\t\t\t Saul became increasingly more powerful and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Messiah. \r\n\t\t\t After some time had passed, the Jews plotted to kill him,\r\n\t\t\t but their plot became known to Saul. They were watching the gates day and night so that they might kill him;\r\n\t\t\t but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket. \r\n\t\t\t When he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples; and they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple.\r\n\t\t\t But Barnabas took him, brought him to the apostles, and described for them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken boldly in the name of Jesus.\r\n\t\t\t So he went in and out among them in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord.\r\n\t\t\t He spoke and argued with the Hellenists; but they were attempting to kill him.\r\n\t\t\t When the believers learned of it, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus. \r\n\t\t\t Meanwhile the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and was built up. Living in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.\r\n\t\t\t Now as Peter went here and there among all the believers, he came down also to the saints living in Lydda. \r\n\t\t\t There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden for eight years, for he was paralyzed.\r\n\t\t\t Peter said to him, \"Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; get up and make your bed!\" And immediately he got up.\r\n\t\t\t And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.\r\n\t\t\t Now in Joppa there was a disciple whose name was Tabitha, which in Greek is Dorcas. She was devoted to good works and acts of charity. \r\n\t\t\t At that time she became ill and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in a room upstairs.\r\n\t\t\t Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, who heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him with the request, \"Please come to us without delay.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Peter got up and went with them; and when he arrived, they took him to the room upstairs. All the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing tunics and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was with them.\r\n\t\t\t Peter put all of them outside, and then he knelt down and prayed. He turned to the body and said, \"Tabitha, get up.\" Then she opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up.\r\n\t\t\t He gave her his hand and helped her up. Then calling the saints and widows, he showed her to be alive.\r\n\t\t\t This became known throughout Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.\r\n\t\t\t Meanwhile he stayed in Joppa for some time with a certain Simon, a tanner.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t In Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of the Italian Cohort, as it was called.\r\n\t\t\t He was a devout man who feared God with all his household; he gave alms generously to the people and prayed constantly to God.\r\n\t\t\t One afternoon at about three o'clock he had a vision in which he clearly saw an angel of God coming in and saying to him, \"Cornelius.\"\r\n\t\t\t He stared at him in terror and said, \"What is it, Lord?\" He answered, \"Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God.\r\n\t\t\t Now send men to Joppa for a certain Simon who is called Peter;\r\n\t\t\t he is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the seaside.\"\r\n\t\t\t When the angel who spoke to him had left, he called two of his slaves and a devout soldier from the ranks of those who served him,\r\n\t\t\t and after telling them everything, he sent them to Joppa.\r\n\t\t\t About noon the next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray.\r\n\t\t\t He became hungry and wanted something to eat; and while it was being prepared, he fell into a trance.\r\n\t\t\t He saw the heaven opened and something like a large sheet coming down, being lowered to the ground by its four corners.\r\n\t\t\t In it were all kinds of four-footed creatures and reptiles and birds of the air.\r\n\t\t\t Then he heard a voice saying, \"Get up, Peter; kill and eat.\"\r\n\t\t\t But Peter said, \"By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is profane or unclean.\"\r\n\t\t\t The voice said to him again, a second time, \"What God has made clean, you must not call profane.\"\r\n\t\t\t This happened three times, and the thing was suddenly taken up to heaven.\r\n\t\t\t Now while Peter was greatly puzzled about what to make of the vision that he had seen, suddenly the men sent by Cornelius appeared. They were asking for Simon's house and were standing by the gate.\r\n\t\t\t They called out to ask whether Simon, who was called Peter, was staying there.\r\n\t\t\t While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, \"Look, three men are searching for you. \r\n\t\t\t Now get up, go down, and go with them without hesitation; for I have sent them.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Peter went down to the men and said, \"I am the one you are looking for; what is the reason for your coming?\"\r\n\t\t\t They answered, \"Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and to hear what you have to say.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Peter invited them in and gave them lodging. The next day he got up and went with them, and some of the believers from Joppa accompanied him. \r\n\t\t\t The following day they came to Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends.\r\n\t\t\t On Peter's arrival Cornelius met him, and falling at his feet, worshiped him.\r\n\t\t\t But Peter made him get up, saying, \"Stand up; I am only a mortal.\"\r\n\t\t\t And as he talked with him, he went in and found that many had assembled;\r\n\t\t\t and he said to them, \"You yourselves know that it is unlawful for a Jew to associate with or to visit a Gentile; but God has shown me that I should not call anyone profane or unclean.\r\n\t\t\t So when I was sent for, I came without objection. Now may I ask why you sent for me?\"\r\n\t\t\t Cornelius replied, \"Four days ago at this very hour, at three o'clock, I was praying in my house when suddenly a man in dazzling clothes stood before me.\r\n\t\t\t He said, 'Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God.\r\n\t\t\t Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon, who is called Peter; he is staying in the home of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.'\r\n\t\t\t Therefore I sent for you immediately, and you have been kind enough to come. So now all of us are here in the presence of God to listen to all that the Lord has commanded you to say.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Peter began to speak to them: \"I truly understand that God shows no partiality,\r\n\t\t\t but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.\r\n\t\t\t You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ-- he is Lord of all.\r\n\t\t\t That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced:\r\n\t\t\t how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.\r\n\t\t\t We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree;\r\n\t\t\t but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear,\r\n\t\t\t not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.\r\n\t\t\t He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead.\r\n\t\t\t All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.\"\r\n\t\t\t While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the word.\r\n\t\t\t The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles,\r\n\t\t\t for they heard them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter said,\r\n\t\t\t \"Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?\"\r\n\t\t\t So he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they invited him to stay for several days.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now the apostles and the believers who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also accepted the word of God. \r\n\t\t\t So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him, \r\n\t\t\t saying, \"Why did you go to uncircumcised men and eat with them?\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Peter began to explain it to them, step by step, saying,\r\n\t\t\t \"I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. There was something like a large sheet coming down from heaven, being lowered by its four corners; and it came close to me.\r\n\t\t\t As I looked at it closely I saw four-footed animals, beasts of prey, reptiles, and birds of the air.\r\n\t\t\t I also heard a voice saying to me, 'Get up, Peter; kill and eat.'\r\n\t\t\t But I replied, 'By no means, Lord; for nothing profane or unclean has ever entered my mouth.'\r\n\t\t\t But a second time the voice answered from heaven, 'What God has made clean, you must not call profane.'\r\n\t\t\t This happened three times; then everything was pulled up again to heaven.\r\n\t\t\t At that very moment three men, sent to me from Caesarea, arrived at the house where we were.\r\n\t\t\t The Spirit told me to go with them and not to make a distinction between them and us. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man's house. \r\n\t\t\t He told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying, 'Send to Joppa and bring Simon, who is called Peter;\r\n\t\t\t he will give you a message by which you and your entire household will be saved.'\r\n\t\t\t And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as it had upon us at the beginning.\r\n\t\t\t And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said, 'John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.'\r\n\t\t\t If then God gave them the same gift that he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could hinder God?\"\r\n\t\t\t When they heard this, they were silenced. And they praised God, saying, \"Then God has given even to the Gentiles the repentance that leads to life.\"\r\n\t\t\t Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that took place over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, and they spoke the word to no one except Jews.\r\n\t\t\t But among them were some men of Cyprus and Cyrene who, on coming to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists also, proclaiming the Lord Jesus. \r\n\t\t\t The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number became believers and turned to the Lord.\r\n\t\t\t News of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch.\r\n\t\t\t When he came and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast devotion;\r\n\t\t\t for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were brought to the Lord.\r\n\t\t\t Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul,\r\n\t\t\t and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for an entire year they met with the church and taught a great many people, and it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called \"Christians.\" \r\n\t\t\t At that time prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.\r\n\t\t\t One of them named Agabus stood up and predicted by the Spirit that there would be a severe famine over all the world; and this took place during the reign of Claudius.\r\n\t\t\t The disciples determined that according to their ability, each would send relief to the believers living in Judea;\r\n\t\t\t this they did, sending it to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t About that time King Herod laid violent hands upon some who belonged to the church.\r\n\t\t\t He had James, the brother of John, killed with the sword.\r\n\t\t\t After he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. (This was during the festival of Unleavened Bread.)\r\n\t\t\t When he had seized him, he put him in prison and handed him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover.\r\n\t\t\t While Peter was kept in prison, the church prayed fervently to God for him.\r\n\t\t\t The very night before Herod was going to bring him out, Peter, bound with two chains, was sleeping between two soldiers, while guards in front of the door were keeping watch over the prison.\r\n\t\t\t Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He tapped Peter on the side and woke him, saying, \"Get up quickly.\" And the chains fell off his wrists.\r\n\t\t\t The angel said to him, \"Fasten your belt and put on your sandals.\" He did so. Then he said to him, \"Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.\"\r\n\t\t\t Peter went out and followed him; he did not realize that what was happening with the angel's help was real; he thought he was seeing a vision. \r\n\t\t\t After they had passed the first and the second guard, they came before the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went outside and walked along a lane, when suddenly the angel left him.\r\n\t\t\t Then Peter came to himself and said, \"Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hands of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.\"\r\n\t\t\t As soon as he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many had gathered and were praying.\r\n\t\t\t When he knocked at the outer gate, a maid named Rhoda came to answer.\r\n\t\t\t On recognizing Peter's voice, she was so overjoyed that, instead of opening the gate, she ran in and announced that Peter was standing at the gate.\r\n\t\t\t They said to her, \"You are out of your mind!\" But she insisted that it was so. They said, \"It is his angel.\"\r\n\t\t\t Meanwhile Peter continued knocking; and when they opened the gate, they saw him and were amazed.\r\n\t\t\t He motioned to them with his hand to be silent, and described for them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he added, \"Tell this to James and to the believers.\" Then he left and went to another place. \r\n\t\t\t When morning came, there was no small commotion among the soldiers over what had become of Peter.\r\n\t\t\t When Herod had searched for him and could not find him, he examined the guards and ordered them to be put to death. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there.\r\n\t\t\t Now Herod was angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. So they came to him in a body; and after winning over Blastus, the king's chamberlain, they asked for a reconciliation, because their country depended on the king's country for food. \r\n\t\t\t On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat on the platform, and delivered a public address to them.\r\n\t\t\t The people kept shouting, \"The voice of a god, and not of a mortal!\"\r\n\t\t\t And immediately, because he had not given the glory to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died.\r\n\t\t\t But the word of God continued to advance and gain adherents.\r\n\t\t\t Then after completing their mission Barnabas and Saul returned to Jerusalem and brought with them John, whose other name was Mark.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a member of the court of Herod the ruler, and Saul. \r\n\t\t\t While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, \"Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.\r\n\t\t\t So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia; and from there they sailed to Cyprus.\r\n\t\t\t When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John also to assist them.\r\n\t\t\t When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they met a certain magician, a Jewish false prophet, named Bar-Jesus.\r\n\t\t\t He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man, who summoned Barnabas and Saul and wanted to hear the word of God.\r\n\t\t\t But the magician Elymas (for that is the translation of his name) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul away from the faith.\r\n\t\t\t But Saul, also known as Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him\r\n\t\t\t and said, \"You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord?\r\n\t\t\t And now listen-- the hand of the Lord is against you, and you will be blind for a while, unable to see the sun.\" Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he went about groping for someone to lead him by the hand.\r\n\t\t\t When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was astonished at the teaching about the Lord.\r\n\t\t\t Then Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. John, however, left them and returned to Jerusalem;\r\n\t\t\t but they went on from Perga and came to Antioch in Pisidia. And on the sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down.\r\n\t\t\t After the reading of the law and the prophets, the officials of the synagogue sent them a message, saying, \"Brothers, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, give it.\"\r\n\t\t\t So Paul stood up and with a gesture began to speak: \"You Israelites, and others who fear God, listen. \r\n\t\t\t The God of this people Israel chose our ancestors and made the people great during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with uplifted arm he led them out of it.\r\n\t\t\t For about forty years he put up with them in the wilderness. \r\n\t\t\t After he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land as an inheritance\r\n\t\t\t for about four hundred fifty years. After that he gave them judges until the time of the prophet Samuel.\r\n\t\t\t Then they asked for a king; and God gave them Saul son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, who reigned for forty years.\r\n\t\t\t When he had removed him, he made David their king. In his testimony about him he said, 'I have found David, son of Jesse, to be a man after my heart, who will carry out all my wishes.'\r\n\t\t\t Of this man's posterity God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, as he promised;\r\n\t\t\t before his coming John had already proclaimed a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.\r\n\t\t\t And as John was finishing his work, he said, 'What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. No, but one is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of the sandals on his feet.' \r\n\t\t\t \"My brothers, you descendants of Abraham's family, and others who fear God, to us the message of this salvation has been sent. \r\n\t\t\t Because the residents of Jerusalem and their leaders did not recognize him or understand the words of the prophets that are read every sabbath, they fulfilled those words by condemning him.\r\n\t\t\t Even though they found no cause for a sentence of death, they asked Pilate to have him killed.\r\n\t\t\t When they had carried out everything that was written about him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb.\r\n\t\t\t But God raised him from the dead;\r\n\t\t\t and for many days he appeared to those who came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, and they are now his witnesses to the people.\r\n\t\t\t And we bring you the good news that what God promised to our ancestors\r\n\t\t\t he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising Jesus; as also it is written in the second psalm, 'You are my Son; today I have begotten you.'\r\n\t\t\t As to his raising him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, he has spoken in this way, 'I will give you the holy promises made to David.'\r\n\t\t\t Therefore he has also said in another psalm, 'You will not let your Holy One experience corruption.'\r\n\t\t\t For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, died, was laid beside his ancestors, and experienced corruption; \r\n\t\t\t but he whom God raised up experienced no corruption.\r\n\t\t\t Let it be known to you therefore, my brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you;\r\n\t\t\t by this Jesus everyone who believes is set free from all those sins from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses. \r\n\t\t\t Beware, therefore, that what the prophets said does not happen to you:\r\n\t\t\t 'Look, you scoffers! Be amazed and perish, for in your days I am doing a work, a work that you will never believe, even if someone tells you.'\"\r\n\t\t\t As Paul and Barnabas were going out, the people urged them to speak about these things again the next sabbath. \r\n\t\t\t When the meeting of the synagogue broke up, many Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who spoke to them and urged them to continue in the grace of God.\r\n\t\t\t The next sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. \r\n\t\t\t But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy; and blaspheming, they contradicted what was spoken by Paul.\r\n\t\t\t Then both Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, \"It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken first to you. Since you reject it and judge yourselves to be unworthy of eternal life, we are now turning to the Gentiles.\r\n\t\t\t For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, 'I have set you to be a light for the Gentiles, so that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.'\"\r\n\t\t\t When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and praised the word of the Lord; and as many as had been destined for eternal life became believers.\r\n\t\t\t Thus the word of the Lord spread throughout the region.\r\n\t\t\t But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, and stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their region.\r\n\t\t\t So they shook the dust off their feet in protest against them, and went to Iconium.\r\n\t\t\t And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The same thing occurred in Iconium, where Paul and Barnabas went into the Jewish synagogue and spoke in such a way that a great number of both Jews and Greeks became believers. \r\n\t\t\t But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers.\r\n\t\t\t So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who testified to the word of his grace by granting signs and wonders to be done through them.\r\n\t\t\t But the residents of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews, and some with the apostles.\r\n\t\t\t And when an attempt was made by both Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to mistreat them and to stone them,\r\n\t\t\t the apostles learned of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding country;\r\n\t\t\t and there they continued proclaiming the good news.\r\n\t\t\t In Lystra there was a man sitting who could not use his feet and had never walked, for he had been crippled from birth.\r\n\t\t\t He listened to Paul as he was speaking. And Paul, looking at him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed,\r\n\t\t\t said in a loud voice, \"Stand upright on your feet.\" And the man sprang up and began to walk. \r\n\t\t\t When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, \"The gods have come down to us in human form!\"\r\n\t\t\t Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes, because he was the chief speaker.\r\n\t\t\t The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates; he and the crowds wanted to offer sacrifice. \r\n\t\t\t When the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting,\r\n\t\t\t \"Friends, why are you doing this? We are mortals just like you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them.\r\n\t\t\t In past generations he allowed all the nations to follow their own ways;\r\n\t\t\t yet he has not left himself without a witness in doing good-- giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, and filling you with food and your hearts with joy.\"\r\n\t\t\t Even with these words, they scarcely restrained the crowds from offering sacrifice to them.\r\n\t\t\t But Jews came there from Antioch and Iconium and won over the crowds. Then they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead.\r\n\t\t\t But when the disciples surrounded him, he got up and went into the city. The next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe.\r\n\t\t\t After they had proclaimed the good news to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, then on to Iconium and Antioch.\r\n\t\t\t There they strengthened the souls of the disciples and encouraged them to continue in the faith, saying, \"It is through many persecutions that we must enter the kingdom of God.\"\r\n\t\t\t And after they had appointed elders for them in each church, with prayer and fasting they entrusted them to the Lord in whom they had come to believe.\r\n\t\t\t Then they passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia.\r\n\t\t\t When they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia.\r\n\t\t\t From there they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had completed. \r\n\t\t\t When they arrived, they called the church together and related all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith for the Gentiles.\r\n\t\t\t And they stayed there with the disciples for some time.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then certain individuals came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, \"Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.\"\r\n\t\t\t And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to discuss this question with the apostles and the elders.\r\n\t\t\t So they were sent on their way by the church, and as they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, they reported the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the believers. \r\n\t\t\t When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they reported all that God had done with them.\r\n\t\t\t But some believers who belonged to the sect of the Pharisees stood up and said, \"It is necessary for them to be circumcised and ordered to keep the law of Moses.\"\r\n\t\t\t The apostles and the elders met together to consider this matter.\r\n\t\t\t After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, \"My brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that I should be the one through whom the Gentiles would hear the message of the good news and become believers. \r\n\t\t\t And God, who knows the human heart, testified to them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us;\r\n\t\t\t and in cleansing their hearts by faith he has made no distinction between them and us.\r\n\t\t\t Now therefore why are you putting God to the test by placing on the neck of the disciples a yoke that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear?\r\n\t\t\t On the contrary, we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.\"\r\n\t\t\t The whole assembly kept silence, and listened to Barnabas and Paul as they told of all the signs and wonders that God had done through them among the Gentiles.\r\n\t\t\t After they finished speaking, James replied, \"My brothers, listen to me. \r\n\t\t\t Simeon has related how God first looked favorably on the Gentiles, to take from among them a people for his name.\r\n\t\t\t This agrees with the words of the prophets, as it is written,\r\n\t\t\t 'After this I will return, and I will rebuild the dwelling of David, which has fallen; from its ruins I will rebuild it, and I will set it up,\r\n\t\t\t so that all other peoples may seek the Lord-- even all the Gentiles over whom my name has been called. Thus says the Lord, who has been making these things\r\n\t\t\t known from long ago.' \r\n\t\t\t Therefore I have reached the decision that we should not trouble those Gentiles who are turning to God,\r\n\t\t\t but we should write to them to abstain only from things polluted by idols and from fornication and from whatever has been strangled and from blood. \r\n\t\t\t For in every city, for generations past, Moses has had those who proclaim him, for he has been read aloud every sabbath in the synagogues.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the apostles and the elders, with the consent of the whole church, decided to choose men from among their members and to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leaders among the brothers, \r\n\t\t\t with the following letter: \"The brothers, both the apostles and the elders, to the believers of Gentile origin in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings. \r\n\t\t\t Since we have heard that certain persons who have gone out from us, though with no instructions from us, have said things to disturb you and have unsettled your minds,\r\n\t\t\t we have decided unanimously to choose representatives and send them to you, along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, \r\n\t\t\t who have risked their lives for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ.\r\n\t\t\t We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth.\r\n\t\t\t For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to impose on you no further burden than these essentials:\r\n\t\t\t that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is strangled and from fornication. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.\" \r\n\t\t\t So they were sent off and went down to Antioch. When they gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter.\r\n\t\t\t When its members read it, they rejoiced at the exhortation. \r\n\t\t\t Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the believers. \r\n\t\t\t After they had been there for some time, they were sent off in peace by the believers to those who had sent them. \r\n\t\t\t \r\n\t\t\t But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, and there, with many others, they taught and proclaimed the word of the Lord.\r\n\t\t\t After some days Paul said to Barnabas, \"Come, let us return and visit the believers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.\" \r\n\t\t\t Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark.\r\n\t\t\t But Paul decided not to take with them one who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not accompanied them in the work.\r\n\t\t\t The disagreement became so sharp that they parted company; Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus.\r\n\t\t\t But Paul chose Silas and set out, the believers commending him to the grace of the Lord. \r\n\t\t\t He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Paul went on also to Derbe and to Lystra, where there was a disciple named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer; but his father was a Greek. \r\n\t\t\t He was well spoken of by the believers in Lystra and Iconium. \r\n\t\t\t Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him; and he took him and had him circumcised because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.\r\n\t\t\t As they went from town to town, they delivered to them for observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t So the churches were strengthened in the faith and increased in numbers daily.\r\n\t\t\t They went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia.\r\n\t\t\t When they had come opposite Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them;\r\n\t\t\t so, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas.\r\n\t\t\t During the night Paul had a vision: there stood a man of Macedonia pleading with him and saying, \"Come over to Macedonia and help us.\"\r\n\t\t\t When he had seen the vision, we immediately tried to cross over to Macedonia, being convinced that God had called us to proclaim the good news to them.\r\n\t\t\t We set sail from Troas and took a straight course to Samothrace, the following day to Neapolis,\r\n\t\t\t and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city for some days. \r\n\t\t\t On the sabbath day we went outside the gate by the river, where we supposed there was a place of prayer; and we sat down and spoke to the women who had gathered there.\r\n\t\t\t A certain woman named Lydia, a worshiper of God, was listening to us; she was from the city of Thyatira and a dealer in purple cloth. The Lord opened her heart to listen eagerly to what was said by Paul.\r\n\t\t\t When she and her household were baptized, she urged us, saying, \"If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come and stay at my home.\" And she prevailed upon us.\r\n\t\t\t One day, as we were going to the place of prayer, we met a slave-girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners a great deal of money by fortune-telling.\r\n\t\t\t While she followed Paul and us, she would cry out, \"These men are slaves of the Most High God, who proclaim to you a way of salvation.\" \r\n\t\t\t She kept doing this for many days. But Paul, very much annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, \"I order you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.\" And it came out that very hour.\r\n\t\t\t But when her owners saw that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the authorities.\r\n\t\t\t When they had brought them before the magistrates, they said, \"These men are disturbing our city; they are Jews\r\n\t\t\t and are advocating customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to adopt or observe.\"\r\n\t\t\t The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates had them stripped of their clothing and ordered them to be beaten with rods.\r\n\t\t\t After they had given them a severe flogging, they threw them into prison and ordered the jailer to keep them securely.\r\n\t\t\t Following these instructions, he put them in the innermost cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.\r\n\t\t\t About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.\r\n\t\t\t Suddenly there was an earthquake, so violent that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were unfastened.\r\n\t\t\t When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors wide open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, since he supposed that the prisoners had escaped.\r\n\t\t\t But Paul shouted in a loud voice, \"Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.\"\r\n\t\t\t The jailer called for lights, and rushing in, he fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. \r\n\t\t\t Then he brought them outside and said, \"Sirs, what must I do to be saved?\"\r\n\t\t\t They answered, \"Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.\"\r\n\t\t\t They spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. \r\n\t\t\t At the same hour of the night he took them and washed their wounds; then he and his entire family were baptized without delay.\r\n\t\t\t He brought them up into the house and set food before them; and he and his entire household rejoiced that he had become a believer in God.\r\n\t\t\t When morning came, the magistrates sent the police, saying, \"Let those men go.\"\r\n\t\t\t And the jailer reported the message to Paul, saying, \"The magistrates sent word to let you go; therefore come out now and go in peace.\"\r\n\t\t\t But Paul replied, \"They have beaten us in public, uncondemned, men who are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison; and now are they going to discharge us in secret? Certainly not! Let them come and take us out themselves.\"\r\n\t\t\t The police reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Roman citizens;\r\n\t\t\t so they came and apologized to them. And they took them out and asked them to leave the city.\r\n\t\t\t After leaving the prison they went to Lydia's home; and when they had seen and encouraged the brothers and sisters there, they departed. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t After Paul and Silas had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.\r\n\t\t\t And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three sabbath days argued with them from the scriptures,\r\n\t\t\t explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Messiah to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, \"This is the Messiah, Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you.\" \r\n\t\t\t Some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women.\r\n\t\t\t But the Jews became jealous, and with the help of some ruffians in the marketplaces they formed a mob and set the city in an uproar. While they were searching for Paul and Silas to bring them out to the assembly, they attacked Jason's house.\r\n\t\t\t When they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some believers before the city authorities, shouting, \"These people who have been turning the world upside down have come here also, \r\n\t\t\t and Jason has entertained them as guests. They are all acting contrary to the decrees of the emperor, saying that there is another king named Jesus.\"\r\n\t\t\t The people and the city officials were disturbed when they heard this,\r\n\t\t\t and after they had taken bail from Jason and the others, they let them go.\r\n\t\t\t That very night the believers sent Paul and Silas off to Beroea; and when they arrived, they went to the Jewish synagogue. \r\n\t\t\t These Jews were more receptive than those in Thessalonica, for they welcomed the message very eagerly and examined the scriptures every day to see whether these things were so.\r\n\t\t\t Many of them therefore believed, including not a few Greek women and men of high standing.\r\n\t\t\t But when the Jews of Thessalonica learned that the word of God had been proclaimed by Paul in Beroea as well, they came there too, to stir up and incite the crowds.\r\n\t\t\t Then the believers immediately sent Paul away to the coast, but Silas and Timothy remained behind. \r\n\t\t\t Those who conducted Paul brought him as far as Athens; and after receiving instructions to have Silas and Timothy join him as soon as possible, they left him.\r\n\t\t\t While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply distressed to see that the city was full of idols.\r\n\t\t\t So he argued in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and also in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there. \r\n\t\t\t Also some Epicurean and Stoic philosophers debated with him. Some said, \"What does this babbler want to say?\" Others said, \"He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign divinities.\" (This was because he was telling the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.)\r\n\t\t\t So they took him and brought him to the Areopagus and asked him, \"May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting?\r\n\t\t\t It sounds rather strange to us, so we would like to know what it means.\"\r\n\t\t\t Now all the Athenians and the foreigners living there would spend their time in nothing but telling or hearing something new.\r\n\t\t\t Then Paul stood in front of the Areopagus and said, \"Athenians, I see how extremely religious you are in every way.\r\n\t\t\t For as I went through the city and looked carefully at the objects of your worship, I found among them an altar with the inscription, 'To an unknown god.' What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you.\r\n\t\t\t The God who made the world and everything in it, he who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by human hands,\r\n\t\t\t nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mortals life and breath and all things.\r\n\t\t\t From one ancestor he made all nations to inhabit the whole earth, and he allotted the times of their existence and the boundaries of the places where they would live, \r\n\t\t\t so that they would search for God and perhaps grope for him and find him-- though indeed he is not far from each one of us.\r\n\t\t\t For 'In him we live and move and have our being'; as even some of your own poets have said, 'For we too are his offspring.'\r\n\t\t\t Since we are God's offspring, we ought not to think that the deity is like gold, or silver, or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of mortals.\r\n\t\t\t While God has overlooked the times of human ignorance, now he commands all people everywhere to repent,\r\n\t\t\t because he has fixed a day on which he will have the world judged in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.\"\r\n\t\t\t When they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some scoffed; but others said, \"We will hear you again about this.\"\r\n\t\t\t At that point Paul left them.\r\n\t\t\t But some of them joined him and became believers, including Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. \r\n\t\t\t There 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 Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, \r\n\t\t\t and, because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them, and they worked together-- by trade they were tentmakers.\r\n\t\t\t Every sabbath he would argue in the synagogue and would try to convince Jews and Greeks.\r\n\t\t\t When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was occupied with proclaiming the word, testifying to the Jews that the Messiah was Jesus. \r\n\t\t\t When they opposed and reviled him, in protest he shook the dust from his clothes and said to them, \"Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then he left the synagogue and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a worshiper of God; his house was next door to the synagogue. \r\n\t\t\t Crispus, the official of the synagogue, became a believer in the Lord, together with all his household; and many of the Corinthians who heard Paul became believers and were baptized.\r\n\t\t\t One night the Lord said to Paul in a vision, \"Do not be afraid, but speak and do not be silent;\r\n\t\t\t for I am with you, and no one will lay a hand on you to harm you, for there are many in this city who are my people.\"\r\n\t\t\t He stayed there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.\r\n\t\t\t But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him before the tribunal.\r\n\t\t\t They said, \"This man is persuading people to worship God in ways that are contrary to the law.\"\r\n\t\t\t Just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio said to the Jews, \"If it were a matter of crime or serious villainy, I would be justified in accepting the complaint of you Jews;\r\n\t\t\t but since it is a matter of questions about words and names and your own law, see to it yourselves; I do not wish to be a judge of these matters.\"\r\n\t\t\t And he dismissed them from the tribunal.\r\n\t\t\t Then all of them seized Sosthenes, the official of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the tribunal. But Gallio paid no attention to any of these things. \r\n\t\t\t After staying there for a considerable time, Paul said farewell to the believers and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. At Cenchreae he had his hair cut, for he was under a vow. \r\n\t\t\t When they reached Ephesus, he left them there, but first he himself went into the synagogue and had a discussion with the Jews.\r\n\t\t\t When they asked him to stay longer, he declined;\r\n\t\t\t but on taking leave of them, he said, \"I will return to you, if God wills.\" Then he set sail from Ephesus. \r\n\t\t\t When he had landed at Caesarea, he went up to Jerusalem and greeted the church, and then went down to Antioch. \r\n\t\t\t After spending some time there he departed and went from place to place through the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples. \r\n\t\t\t Now there came to Ephesus a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria. He was an eloquent man, well-versed in the scriptures.\r\n\t\t\t He had been instructed in the Way of the Lord; and he spoke with burning enthusiasm and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John.\r\n\t\t\t He began to speak boldly in the synagogue; but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained the Way of God to him more accurately.\r\n\t\t\t And when he wished to cross over to Achaia, the believers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. On his arrival he greatly helped those who through grace had become believers,\r\n\t\t\t for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the scriptures that the Messiah is Jesus. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul passed through the interior regions and came to Ephesus, where he found some disciples.\r\n\t\t\t He said to them, \"Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?\" They replied, \"No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then he said, \"Into what then were you baptized?\" They answered, \"Into John's baptism.\"\r\n\t\t\t Paul said, \"John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus.\"\r\n\t\t\t On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.\r\n\t\t\t When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied--\r\n\t\t\t altogether there were about twelve of them.\r\n\t\t\t He entered the synagogue and for three months spoke out boldly, and argued persuasively about the kingdom of God.\r\n\t\t\t When some stubbornly refused to believe and spoke evil of the Way before the congregation, he left them, taking the disciples with him, and argued daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. \r\n\t\t\t This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia, both Jews and Greeks, heard the word of the Lord.\r\n\t\t\t God did extraordinary miracles through Paul,\r\n\t\t\t so that when the handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were brought to the sick, their diseases left them, and the evil spirits came out of them.\r\n\t\t\t Then some itinerant Jewish exorcists tried to use the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, \"I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.\"\r\n\t\t\t Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this.\r\n\t\t\t But the evil spirit said to them in reply, \"Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the man with the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered them all, and so overpowered them that they fled out of the house naked and wounded.\r\n\t\t\t When this became known to all residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks, everyone was awestruck; and the name of the Lord Jesus was praised.\r\n\t\t\t Also many of those who became believers confessed and disclosed their practices.\r\n\t\t\t A number of those who practiced magic collected their books and burned them publicly; when the value of these books was calculated, it was found to come to fifty thousand silver coins.\r\n\t\t\t So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.\r\n\t\t\t Now after these things had been accomplished, Paul resolved in the Spirit to go through Macedonia and Achaia, and then to go on to Jerusalem. He said, \"After I have gone there, I must also see Rome.\"\r\n\t\t\t So he sent two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, while he himself stayed for some time longer in Asia.\r\n\t\t\t About that time no little disturbance broke out concerning the Way.\r\n\t\t\t A man named Demetrius, a silversmith who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought no little business to the artisans.\r\n\t\t\t These he gathered together, with the workers of the same trade, and said, \"Men, you know that we get our wealth from this business.\r\n\t\t\t You also see and hear that not only in Ephesus but in almost the whole of Asia this Paul has persuaded and drawn away a considerable number of people by saying that gods made with hands are not gods.\r\n\t\t\t And there is danger not only that this trade of ours may come into disrepute but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be scorned, and she will be deprived of her majesty that brought all Asia and the world to worship her.\"\r\n\t\t\t When they heard this, they were enraged and shouted, \"Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!\"\r\n\t\t\t The city was filled with the confusion; and people rushed together to the theater, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were Paul's travel companions. \r\n\t\t\t Paul wished to go into the crowd, but the disciples would not let him;\r\n\t\t\t even some officials of the province of Asia, who were friendly to him, sent him a message urging him not to venture into the theater. \r\n\t\t\t Meanwhile, some were shouting one thing, some another; for the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had come together.\r\n\t\t\t Some of the crowd gave instructions to Alexander, whom the Jews had pushed forward. And Alexander motioned for silence and tried to make a defense before the people.\r\n\t\t\t But when they recognized that he was a Jew, for about two hours all of them shouted in unison, \"Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!\"\r\n\t\t\t But when the town clerk had quieted the crowd, he said, \"Citizens of Ephesus, who is there that does not know that the city of the Ephesians is the temple keeper of the great Artemis and of the statue that fell from heaven? \r\n\t\t\t Since these things cannot be denied, you ought to be quiet and do nothing rash.\r\n\t\t\t You have brought these men here who are neither temple robbers nor blasphemers of our goddess. \r\n\t\t\t If therefore Demetrius and the artisans with him have a complaint against anyone, the courts are open, and there are proconsuls; let them bring charges there against one another.\r\n\t\t\t If there is anything further you want to know, it must be settled in the regular assembly. \r\n\t\t\t For we are in danger of being charged with rioting today, since there is no cause that we can give to justify this commotion.\"\r\n\t\t\t When he had said this, he dismissed the assembly.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t After the uproar had ceased, Paul sent for the disciples; and after encouraging them and saying farewell, he left for Macedonia.\r\n\t\t\t When he had gone through those regions and had given the believers much encouragement, he came to Greece, \r\n\t\t\t where he stayed for three months. He was about to set sail for Syria when a plot was made against him by the Jews, and so he decided to return through Macedonia.\r\n\t\t\t He was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Beroea, by Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, by Gaius from Derbe, and by Timothy, as well as by Tychicus and Trophimus from Asia.\r\n\t\t\t They went ahead and were waiting for us in Troas;\r\n\t\t\t but we sailed from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days we joined them in Troas, where we stayed for seven days.\r\n\t\t\t On the first day of the week, when we met to break bread, Paul was holding a discussion with them; since he intended to leave the next day, he continued speaking until midnight.\r\n\t\t\t There were many lamps in the room upstairs where we were meeting.\r\n\t\t\t A young man named Eutychus, who was sitting in the window, began to sink off into a deep sleep while Paul talked still longer. Overcome by sleep, he fell to the ground three floors below and was picked up dead.\r\n\t\t\t But Paul went down, and bending over him took him in his arms, and said, \"Do not be alarmed, for his life is in him.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Paul went upstairs, and after he had broken bread and eaten, he continued to converse with them until dawn; then he left.\r\n\t\t\t Meanwhile they had taken the boy away alive and were not a little comforted.\r\n\t\t\t We went ahead to the ship and set sail for Assos, intending to take Paul on board there; for he had made this arrangement, intending to go by land himself.\r\n\t\t\t When he met us in Assos, we took him on board and went to Mitylene.\r\n\t\t\t We sailed from there, and on the following day we arrived opposite Chios. The next day we touched at Samos, and the day after that we came to Miletus. \r\n\t\t\t For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he might not have to spend time in Asia; he was eager to be in Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost.\r\n\t\t\t From Miletus he sent a message to Ephesus, asking the elders of the church to meet him.\r\n\t\t\t When they came to him, he said to them: \"You yourselves know how I lived among you the entire time from the first day that I set foot in Asia,\r\n\t\t\t serving the Lord with all humility and with tears, enduring the trials that came to me through the plots of the Jews.\r\n\t\t\t I did not shrink from doing anything helpful, proclaiming the message to you and teaching you publicly and from house to house,\r\n\t\t\t as I testified to both Jews and Greeks about repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus.\r\n\t\t\t And now, as a captive to the Spirit, I am on my way to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there, \r\n\t\t\t except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and persecutions are waiting for me.\r\n\t\t\t But I do not count my life of any value to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the good news of God's grace.\r\n\t\t\t \"And now I know that none of you, among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom, will ever see my face again.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore I declare to you this day that I am not responsible for the blood of any of you,\r\n\t\t\t for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God.\r\n\t\t\t Keep watch over yourselves and over all the flock, of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God that he obtained with the blood of his own Son.\r\n\t\t\t I know that after I have gone, savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.\r\n\t\t\t Some even from your own group will come distorting the truth in order to entice the disciples to follow them.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to warn everyone with tears.\r\n\t\t\t And now I commend you to God and to the message of his grace, a message that is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all who are sanctified.\r\n\t\t\t I coveted no one's silver or gold or clothing.\r\n\t\t\t You know for yourselves that I worked with my own hands to support myself and my companions.\r\n\t\t\t In all this I have given you an example that by such work we must support the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, for he himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'\"\r\n\t\t\t When he had finished speaking, he knelt down with them all and prayed.\r\n\t\t\t There was much weeping among them all; they embraced Paul and kissed him,\r\n\t\t\t grieving especially because of what he had said, that they would not see him again. Then they brought him to the ship.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t When we had parted from them and set sail, we came by a straight course to Cos, and the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara. \r\n\t\t\t When we found a ship bound for Phoenicia, we went on board and set sail.\r\n\t\t\t We came in sight of Cyprus; and leaving it on our left, we sailed to Syria and landed at Tyre, because the ship was to unload its cargo there.\r\n\t\t\t We looked up the disciples and stayed there for seven days. Through the Spirit they told Paul not to go on to Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t When our days there were ended, we left and proceeded on our journey; and all of them, with wives and children, escorted us outside the city. There we knelt down on the beach and prayed\r\n\t\t\t and said farewell to one another. Then we went on board the ship, and they returned home.\r\n\t\t\t When we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais; and we greeted the believers and stayed with them for one day. \r\n\t\t\t The next day we left and came to Caesarea; and we went into the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the seven, and stayed with him.\r\n\t\t\t He had four unmarried daughters who had the gift of prophecy. \r\n\t\t\t While we were staying there for several days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.\r\n\t\t\t He came to us and took Paul's belt, bound his own feet and hands with it, and said, \"Thus says the Holy Spirit, 'This is the way the Jews in Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.'\"\r\n\t\t\t When we heard this, we and the people there urged him not to go up to Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t Then Paul answered, \"What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.\"\r\n\t\t\t Since he would not be persuaded, we remained silent except to say, \"The Lord's will be done.\"\r\n\t\t\t After these days we got ready and started to go up to Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t Some of the disciples from Caesarea also came along and brought us to the house of Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we were to stay.\r\n\t\t\t When we arrived in Jerusalem, the brothers welcomed us warmly.\r\n\t\t\t The next day Paul went with us to visit James; and all the elders were present.\r\n\t\t\t After greeting them, he related one by one the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.\r\n\t\t\t When they heard it, they praised God. Then they said to him, \"You see, brother, how many thousands of believers there are among the Jews, and they are all zealous for the law.\r\n\t\t\t They have been told about you that you teach all the Jews living among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, and that you tell them not to circumcise their children or observe the customs.\r\n\t\t\t What then is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come.\r\n\t\t\t So do what we tell you. We have four men who are under a vow.\r\n\t\t\t Join these men, go through the rite of purification with them, and pay for the shaving of their heads. Thus all will know that there is nothing in what they have been told about you, but that you yourself observe and guard the law.\r\n\t\t\t But as for the Gentiles who have become believers, we have sent a letter with our judgment that they should abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is strangled and from fornication.\" \r\n\t\t\t Then Paul took the men, and the next day, having purified himself, he entered the temple with them, making public the completion of the days of purification when the sacrifice would be made for each of them.\r\n\t\t\t When the seven days were almost completed, the Jews from Asia, who had seen him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd. They seized him,\r\n\t\t\t shouting, \"Fellow Israelites, help! This is the man who is teaching everyone everywhere against our people, our law, and this place; more than that, he has actually brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.\"\r\n\t\t\t For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple.\r\n\t\t\t Then all the city was aroused, and the people rushed together. They seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple, and immediately the doors were shut.\r\n\t\t\t While they were trying to kill him, word came to the tribune of the cohort that all Jerusalem was in an uproar.\r\n\t\t\t Immediately he took soldiers and centurions and ran down to them. When they saw the tribune and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.\r\n\t\t\t Then the tribune came, arrested him, and ordered him to be bound with two chains; he inquired who he was and what he had done.\r\n\t\t\t Some in the crowd shouted one thing, some another; and as he could not learn the facts because of the uproar, he ordered him to be brought into the barracks.\r\n\t\t\t When Paul came to the steps, the violence of the mob was so great that he had to be carried by the soldiers. \r\n\t\t\t The crowd that followed kept shouting, \"Away with him!\"\r\n\t\t\t Just as Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the tribune, \"May I say something to you?\" The tribune replied, \"Do you know Greek? \r\n\t\t\t Then you are not the Egyptian who recently stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand assassins out into the wilderness?\"\r\n\t\t\t Paul replied, \"I am a Jew, from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of an important city; I beg you, let me speak to the people.\"\r\n\t\t\t When he had given him permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned to the people for silence; and when there was a great hush, he addressed them in the Hebrew language, saying: \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t \"Brothers and fathers, listen to the defense that I now make before you.\"\r\n\t\t\t When they heard him addressing them in Hebrew, they became even more quiet. Then he said: \r\n\t\t\t \"I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, educated strictly according to our ancestral law, being zealous for God, just as all of you are today.\r\n\t\t\t I persecuted this Way up to the point of death by binding both men and women and putting them in prison,\r\n\t\t\t as 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 went there in order to bind those who were there and to bring them back to Jerusalem for punishment.\r\n\t\t\t \"While I was on my way and approaching Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone about me.\r\n\t\t\t I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?'\r\n\t\t\t I answered, 'Who are you, Lord?' Then he said to me, 'I am Jesus of Nazareth whom you are persecuting.' \r\n\t\t\t Now those who were with me saw the light but did not hear the voice of the one who was speaking to me.\r\n\t\t\t I asked, 'What am I to do, Lord?' The Lord said to me, 'Get up and go to Damascus; there you will be told everything that has been assigned to you to do.'\r\n\t\t\t Since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, those who were with me took my hand and led me to Damascus.\r\n\t\t\t \"A certain Ananias, who was a devout man according to the law and well spoken of by all the Jews living there,\r\n\t\t\t came to me; and standing beside me, he said, 'Brother Saul, regain your sight!' In that very hour I regained my sight and saw him.\r\n\t\t\t Then he said, 'The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will, to see the Righteous One and to hear his own voice;\r\n\t\t\t for you will be his witness to all the world of what you have seen and heard.\r\n\t\t\t And now why do you delay? Get up, be baptized, and have your sins washed away, calling on his name.'\r\n\t\t\t \"After I had returned to Jerusalem and while I was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance\r\n\t\t\t and saw Jesus saying to me, 'Hurry and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about me.' \r\n\t\t\t And I said, 'Lord, they themselves know that in every synagogue I imprisoned and beat those who believed in you.\r\n\t\t\t And while the blood of your witness Stephen was shed, I myself was standing by, approving and keeping the coats of those who killed him.'\r\n\t\t\t Then he said to me, 'Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.'\"\r\n\t\t\t Up to this point they listened to him, but then they shouted, \"Away with such a fellow from the earth! For he should not be allowed to live.\"\r\n\t\t\t And while they were shouting, throwing off their cloaks, and tossing dust into the air,\r\n\t\t\t the tribune directed that he was to be brought into the barracks, and ordered him to be examined by flogging, to find out the reason for this outcry against him.\r\n\t\t\t But when they had tied him up with thongs, Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, \"Is it legal for you to flog a Roman citizen who is uncondemned?\" \r\n\t\t\t When the centurion heard that, he went to the tribune and said to him, \"What are you about to do? This man is a Roman citizen.\"\r\n\t\t\t The tribune came and asked Paul, \"Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?\" And he said, \"Yes.\" \r\n\t\t\t The tribune answered, \"It cost me a large sum of money to get my citizenship.\" Paul said, \"But I was born a citizen.\"\r\n\t\t\t Immediately those who were about to examine him drew back from him; and the tribune also was afraid, for he realized that Paul was a Roman citizen and that he had bound him.\r\n\t\t\t Since he wanted to find out what Paul was being accused of by the Jews, the next day he released him and ordered the chief priests and the entire council to meet. He brought Paul down and had him stand before them. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t While Paul was looking intently at the council he said, \"Brothers, up to this day I have lived my life with a clear conscience before God.\" \r\n\t\t\t Then the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near him to strike him on the mouth.\r\n\t\t\t At this Paul said to him, \"God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! Are you sitting there to judge me according to the law, and yet in violation of the law you order me to be struck?\"\r\n\t\t\t Those standing nearby said, \"Do you dare to insult God's high priest?\"\r\n\t\t\t And Paul said, \"I did not realize, brothers, that he was high priest; for it is written, 'You shall not speak evil of a leader of your people.'\"\r\n\t\t\t When Paul noticed that some were Sadducees and others were Pharisees, he called out in the council, \"Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. I am on trial concerning the hope of the resurrection of the dead.\" \r\n\t\t\t When he said this, a dissension began between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided.\r\n\t\t\t (The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, or angel, or spirit; but the Pharisees acknowledge all three.)\r\n\t\t\t Then a great clamor arose, and certain scribes of the Pharisees' group stood up and contended, \"We find nothing wrong with this man. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?\"\r\n\t\t\t When the dissension became violent, the tribune, fearing that they would tear Paul to pieces, ordered the soldiers to go down, take him by force, and bring him into the barracks.\r\n\t\t\t That night the Lord stood near him and said, \"Keep up your courage! For just as you have testified for me in Jerusalem, so you must bear witness also in Rome.\"\r\n\t\t\t In the morning the Jews joined in a conspiracy and bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink until they had killed Paul.\r\n\t\t\t There were more than forty who joined in this conspiracy.\r\n\t\t\t They went to the chief priests and elders and said, \"We have strictly bound ourselves by an oath to taste no food until we have killed Paul.\r\n\t\t\t Now then, you and the council must notify the tribune to bring him down to you, on the pretext that you want to make a more thorough examination of his case. And we are ready to do away with him before he arrives.\"\r\n\t\t\t Now the son of Paul's sister heard about the ambush; so he went and gained entrance to the barracks and told Paul.\r\n\t\t\t Paul called one of the centurions and said, \"Take this young man to the tribune, for he has something to report to him.\"\r\n\t\t\t So he took him, brought him to the tribune, and said, \"The prisoner Paul called me and asked me to bring this young man to you; he has something to tell you.\"\r\n\t\t\t The tribune took him by the hand, drew him aside privately, and asked, \"What is it that you have to report to me?\"\r\n\t\t\t He answered, \"The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though they were going to inquire more thoroughly into his case.\r\n\t\t\t But do not be persuaded by them, for more than forty of their men are lying in ambush for him. They have bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink until they kill him. They are ready now and are waiting for your consent.\"\r\n\t\t\t So the tribune dismissed the young man, ordering him, \"Tell no one that you have informed me of this.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then he summoned two of the centurions and said, \"Get ready to leave by nine o'clock tonight for Caesarea with two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen.\r\n\t\t\t Also provide mounts for Paul to ride, and take him safely to Felix the governor.\"\r\n\t\t\t He wrote a letter to this effect:\r\n\t\t\t \"Claudius Lysias to his Excellency the governor Felix, greetings.\r\n\t\t\t This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them, but when I had learned that he was a Roman citizen, I came with the guard and rescued him.\r\n\t\t\t Since I wanted to know the charge for which they accused him, I had him brought to their council.\r\n\t\t\t I found that he was accused concerning questions of their law, but was charged with nothing deserving death or imprisonment.\r\n\t\t\t When I was informed that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once, ordering his accusers also to state before you what they have against him. \" \r\n\t\t\t So the soldiers, according to their instructions, took Paul and brought him during the night to Antipatris.\r\n\t\t\t The next day they let the horsemen go on with him, while they returned to the barracks.\r\n\t\t\t When they came to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they presented Paul also before him.\r\n\t\t\t On reading the letter, he asked what province he belonged to, and when he learned that he was from Cilicia,\r\n\t\t\t he said, \"I will give you a hearing when your accusers arrive.\" Then he ordered that he be kept under guard in Herod's headquarters. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Five days later the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and an attorney, a certain Tertullus, and they reported their case against Paul to the governor.\r\n\t\t\t When Paul had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying: \"Your Excellency, because of you we have long enjoyed peace, and reforms have been made for this people because of your foresight. \r\n\t\t\t We welcome this in every way and everywhere with utmost gratitude.\r\n\t\t\t But, to detain you no further, I beg you to hear us briefly with your customary graciousness.\r\n\t\t\t We have, in fact, found this man a pestilent fellow, an agitator among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. \r\n\t\t\t He even tried to profane the temple, and so we seized him. \r\n\t\t\t \r\n\t\t\t By examining him yourself you will be able to learn from him concerning everything of which we accuse him.\"\r\n\t\t\t The Jews also joined in the charge by asserting that all this was true.\r\n\t\t\t When the governor motioned to him to speak, Paul replied: \"I cheerfully make my defense, knowing that for many years you have been a judge over this nation.\r\n\t\t\t As you can find out, it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t They did not find me disputing with anyone in the temple or stirring up a crowd either in the synagogues or throughout the city.\r\n\t\t\t Neither can they prove to you the charge that they now bring against me.\r\n\t\t\t But this I admit to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our ancestors, believing everything laid down according to the law or written in the prophets.\r\n\t\t\t I have a hope in God-- a hope that they themselves also accept-- that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore I do my best always to have a clear conscience toward God and all people.\r\n\t\t\t Now after some years I came to bring alms to my nation and to offer sacrifices.\r\n\t\t\t While I was doing this, they found me in the temple, completing the rite of purification, without any crowd or disturbance.\r\n\t\t\t But there were some Jews from Asia-- they ought to be here before you to make an accusation, if they have anything against me.\r\n\t\t\t Or let these men here tell what crime they had found when I stood before the council,\r\n\t\t\t unless it was this one sentence that I called out while standing before them, 'It is about the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today.'\"\r\n\t\t\t But Felix, who was rather well informed about the Way, adjourned the hearing with the comment, \"When Lysias the tribune comes down, I will decide your case.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then he ordered the centurion to keep him in custody, but to let him have some liberty and not to prevent any of his friends from taking care of his needs.\r\n\t\t\t Some days later when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him speak concerning faith in Christ Jesus.\r\n\t\t\t And as he discussed justice, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became frightened and said, \"Go away for the present; when I have an opportunity, I will send for you.\"\r\n\t\t\t At the same time he hoped that money would be given him by Paul, and for that reason he used to send for him very often and converse with him.\r\n\t\t\t After two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus; and since he wanted to grant the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Three days after Festus had arrived in the province, he went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem\r\n\t\t\t where the chief priests and the leaders of the Jews gave him a report against Paul. They appealed to him\r\n\t\t\t and requested, as a favor to them against Paul, to have him transferred to Jerusalem. They were, in fact, planning an ambush to kill him along the way. \r\n\t\t\t Festus replied that Paul was being kept at Caesarea, and that he himself intended to go there shortly.\r\n\t\t\t \"So,\" he said, \"let those of you who have the authority come down with me, and if there is anything wrong about the man, let them accuse him.\"\r\n\t\t\t After he had stayed among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea; the next day he took his seat on the tribunal and ordered Paul to be brought.\r\n\t\t\t When he arrived, the Jews who had gone down from Jerusalem surrounded him, bringing many serious charges against him, which they could not prove.\r\n\t\t\t Paul said in his defense, \"I have in no way committed an offense against the law of the Jews, or against the temple, or against the emperor.\"\r\n\t\t\t But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, asked Paul, \"Do you wish to go up to Jerusalem and be tried there before me on these charges?\"\r\n\t\t\t Paul said, \"I am appealing to the emperor's tribunal; this is where I should be tried. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as you very well know.\r\n\t\t\t Now if I am in the wrong and have committed something for which I deserve to die, I am not trying to escape death; but if there is nothing to their charges against me, no one can turn me over to them. I appeal to the emperor.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Festus, after he had conferred with his council, replied, \"You have appealed to the emperor; to the emperor you will go.\"\r\n\t\t\t After several days had passed, King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea to welcome Festus.\r\n\t\t\t Since they were staying there several days, Festus laid Paul's case before the king, saying, \"There is a man here who was left in prison by Felix.\r\n\t\t\t When I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me about him and asked for a sentence against him.\r\n\t\t\t I told them that it was not the custom of the Romans to hand over anyone before the accused had met the accusers face to face and had been given an opportunity to make a defense against the charge.\r\n\t\t\t So when they met here, I lost no time, but on the next day took my seat on the tribunal and ordered the man to be brought.\r\n\t\t\t When the accusers stood up, they did not charge him with any of the crimes that I was expecting. \r\n\t\t\t Instead they had certain points of disagreement with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, who had died, but whom Paul asserted to be alive.\r\n\t\t\t Since I was at a loss how to investigate these questions, I asked whether he wished to go to Jerusalem and be tried there on these charges. \r\n\t\t\t But when Paul had appealed to be kept in custody for the decision of his Imperial Majesty, I ordered him to be held until I could send him to the emperor.\"\r\n\t\t\t Agrippa said to Festus, \"I would like to hear the man myself.\" \"Tomorrow,\" he said, \"you will hear him.\"\r\n\t\t\t So on the next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp, and they entered the audience hall with the military tribunes and the prominent men of the city. Then Festus gave the order and Paul was brought in.\r\n\t\t\t And Festus said, \"King Agrippa and all here present with us, you see this man about whom the whole Jewish community petitioned me, both in Jerusalem and here, shouting that he ought not to live any longer.\r\n\t\t\t But I found that he had done nothing deserving death; and when he appealed to his Imperial Majesty, I decided to send him.\r\n\t\t\t But I have nothing definite to write to our sovereign about him. Therefore I have brought him before all of you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that, after we have examined him, I may have something to write--\r\n\t\t\t for it seems to me unreasonable to send a prisoner without indicating the charges against him.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Agrippa said to Paul, \"You have permission to speak for yourself.\" Then Paul stretched out his hand and began to defend himself:\r\n\t\t\t \"I consider myself fortunate that it is before you, King Agrippa, I am to make my defense today against all the accusations of the Jews,\r\n\t\t\t because you are especially familiar with all the customs and controversies of the Jews; therefore I beg of you to listen to me patiently.\r\n\t\t\t \"All the Jews know my way of life from my youth, a life spent from the beginning among my own people and in Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t They have known for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that I have belonged to the strictest sect of our religion and lived as a Pharisee.\r\n\t\t\t And now I stand here on trial on account of my hope in the promise made by God to our ancestors,\r\n\t\t\t a promise that our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly worship day and night. It is for this hope, your Excellency, that I am accused by Jews! \r\n\t\t\t Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead?\r\n\t\t\t \"Indeed, I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things against the name of Jesus of Nazareth. \r\n\t\t\t And that is what I did in Jerusalem; with authority received from the chief priests, I not only locked up many of the saints in prison, but I also cast my vote against them when they were being condemned to death.\r\n\t\t\t By punishing them often in all the synagogues I tried to force them to blaspheme; and since I was so furiously enraged at them, I pursued them even to foreign cities.\r\n\t\t\t \"With this in mind, I was traveling to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests,\r\n\t\t\t when at midday along the road, your Excellency, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and my companions. \r\n\t\t\t When we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It hurts you to kick against the goads.' \r\n\t\t\t I asked, 'Who are you, Lord?' The Lord answered, 'I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.\r\n\t\t\t But get up and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you to serve and testify to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you. \r\n\t\t\t I will rescue you from your people and from the Gentiles-- to whom I am sending you\r\n\t\t\t to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.'\r\n\t\t\t \"After that, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision,\r\n\t\t\t but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout the countryside of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God and do deeds consistent with repentance.\r\n\t\t\t For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me.\r\n\t\t\t To this day I have had help from God, and so I stand here, testifying to both small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would take place:\r\n\t\t\t that the Messiah must suffer, and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.\" \r\n\t\t\t While he was making this defense, Festus exclaimed, \"You are out of your mind, Paul! Too much learning is driving you insane!\"\r\n\t\t\t But Paul said, \"I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking the sober truth.\r\n\t\t\t Indeed the king knows about these things, and to him I speak freely; for I am certain that none of these things has escaped his notice, for this was not done in a corner.\r\n\t\t\t King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.\"\r\n\t\t\t Agrippa said to Paul, \"Are you so quickly persuading me to become a Christian?\" \r\n\t\t\t Paul replied, \"Whether quickly or not, I pray to God that not only you but also all who are listening to me today might become such as I am-- except for these chains.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the king got up, and with him the governor and Bernice and those who had been seated with them;\r\n\t\t\t and as they were leaving, they said to one another, \"This man is doing nothing to deserve death or imprisonment.\"\r\n\t\t\t Agrippa said to Festus, \"This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to the emperor.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t When it was decided that we were to sail for Italy, they transferred Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion of the Augustan Cohort, named Julius.\r\n\t\t\t Embarking on a ship of Adramyttium that was about to set sail to the ports along the coast of Asia, we put to sea, accompanied by Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica.\r\n\t\t\t The next day we put in at Sidon; and Julius treated Paul kindly, and allowed him to go to his friends to be cared for.\r\n\t\t\t Putting out to sea from there, we sailed under the lee of Cyprus, because the winds were against us.\r\n\t\t\t After we had sailed across the sea that is off Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra in Lycia.\r\n\t\t\t There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship bound for Italy and put us on board.\r\n\t\t\t We sailed slowly for a number of days and arrived with difficulty off Cnidus, and as the wind was against us, we sailed under the lee of Crete off Salmone.\r\n\t\t\t Sailing past it with difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens, near the city of Lasea.\r\n\t\t\t Since much time had been lost and sailing was now dangerous, because even the Fast had already gone by, Paul advised them,\r\n\t\t\t saying, \"Sirs, I can see that the voyage will be with danger and much heavy loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.\"\r\n\t\t\t But the centurion paid more attention to the pilot and to the owner of the ship than to what Paul said.\r\n\t\t\t Since the harbor was not suitable for spending the winter, the majority was in favor of putting to sea from there, on the chance that somehow they could reach Phoenix, where they could spend the winter. It was a harbor of Crete, facing southwest and northwest.\r\n\t\t\t When a moderate south wind began to blow, they thought they could achieve their purpose; so they weighed anchor and began to sail past Crete, close to the shore.\r\n\t\t\t But soon a violent wind, called the northeaster, rushed down from Crete. \r\n\t\t\t Since the ship was caught and could not be turned head-on into the wind, we gave way to it and were driven.\r\n\t\t\t By running under the lee of a small island called Cauda we were scarcely able to get the ship's boat under control. \r\n\t\t\t After hoisting it up they took measures to undergird the ship; then, fearing that they would run on the Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor and so were driven.\r\n\t\t\t We were being pounded by the storm so violently that on the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard,\r\n\t\t\t and on the third day with their own hands they threw the ship's tackle overboard.\r\n\t\t\t When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest raged, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned.\r\n\t\t\t Since they had been without food for a long time, Paul then stood up among them and said, \"Men, you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete and thereby avoided this damage and loss.\r\n\t\t\t I urge you now to keep up your courage, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship.\r\n\t\t\t For last night there stood by me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship,\r\n\t\t\t and he said, 'Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before the emperor; and indeed, God has granted safety to all those who are sailing with you.'\r\n\t\t\t So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told.\r\n\t\t\t But we will have to run aground on some island.\"\r\n\t\t\t When the fourteenth night had come, as we were drifting across the sea of Adria, about midnight the sailors suspected that they were nearing land.\r\n\t\t\t So they took soundings and found twenty fathoms; a little farther on they took soundings again and found fifteen fathoms.\r\n\t\t\t Fearing that we might run on the rocks, they let down four anchors from the stern and prayed for day to come.\r\n\t\t\t But when the sailors tried to escape from the ship and had lowered the boat into the sea, on the pretext of putting out anchors from the bow,\r\n\t\t\t Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, \"Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the boat and set it adrift.\r\n\t\t\t Just before daybreak, Paul urged all of them to take some food, saying, \"Today is the fourteenth day that you have been in suspense and remaining without food, having eaten nothing.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore I urge you to take some food, for it will help you survive; for none of you will lose a hair from your heads.\"\r\n\t\t\t After he had said this, he took bread; and giving thanks to God in the presence of all, he broke it and began to eat.\r\n\t\t\t Then all of them were encouraged and took food for themselves.\r\n\t\t\t (We were in all two hundred seventy-six persons in the ship.) \r\n\t\t\t After they had satisfied their hunger, they lightened the ship by throwing the wheat into the sea.\r\n\t\t\t In the morning they did not recognize the land, but they noticed a bay with a beach, on which they planned to run the ship ashore, if they could.\r\n\t\t\t So they cast off the anchors and left them in the sea. At the same time they loosened the ropes that tied the steering-oars; then hoisting the foresail to the wind, they made for the beach.\r\n\t\t\t But striking a reef, they ran the ship aground; the bow stuck and remained immovable, but the stern was being broken up by the force of the waves. \r\n\t\t\t The soldiers' plan was to kill the prisoners, so that none might swim away and escape;\r\n\t\t\t but the centurion, wishing to save Paul, kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and make for the land,\r\n\t\t\t and the rest to follow, some on planks and others on pieces of the ship. And so it was that all were brought safely to land.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t After we had reached safety, we then learned that the island was called Malta.\r\n\t\t\t The natives showed us unusual kindness. Since it had begun to rain and was cold, they kindled a fire and welcomed all of us around it.\r\n\t\t\t Paul had gathered a bundle of brushwood and was putting it on the fire, when a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand.\r\n\t\t\t When the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, \"This man must be a murderer; though he has escaped from the sea, justice has not allowed him to live.\"\r\n\t\t\t He, however, shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm.\r\n\t\t\t They were expecting him to swell up or drop dead, but after they had waited a long time and saw that nothing unusual had happened to him, they changed their minds and began to say that he was a god.\r\n\t\t\t Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the leading man of the island, named Publius, who received us and entertained us hospitably for three days.\r\n\t\t\t It so happened that the father of Publius lay sick in bed with fever and dysentery. Paul visited him and cured him by praying and putting his hands on him.\r\n\t\t\t After this happened, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases also came and were cured.\r\n\t\t\t They bestowed many honors on us, and when we were about to sail, they put on board all the provisions we needed.\r\n\t\t\t Three months later we set sail on a ship that had wintered at the island, an Alexandrian ship with the Twin Brothers as its figurehead.\r\n\t\t\t We put in at Syracuse and stayed there for three days;\r\n\t\t\t then we weighed anchor and came to Rhegium. After one day there a south wind sprang up, and on the second day we came to Puteoli.\r\n\t\t\t There we found believers and were invited to stay with them for seven days. And so we came to Rome. \r\n\t\t\t The believers from there, when they heard of us, came as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns to meet us. On seeing them, Paul thanked God and took courage. \r\n\t\t\t When we came into Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with the soldier who was guarding him.\r\n\t\t\t Three days later he called together the local leaders of the Jews. When they had assembled, he said to them, \"Brothers, though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our ancestors, yet I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans.\r\n\t\t\t When they had examined me, the Romans wanted to release me, because there was no reason for the death penalty in my case. \r\n\t\t\t But when the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to the emperor-- even though I had no charge to bring against my nation.\r\n\t\t\t For this reason therefore I have asked to see you and speak with you, since it is for the sake of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain.\" \r\n\t\t\t They replied, \"We have received no letters from Judea about you, and none of the brothers coming here has reported or spoken anything evil about you.\r\n\t\t\t But we would like to hear from you what you think, for with regard to this sect we know that everywhere it is spoken against.\"\r\n\t\t\t After they had set a day to meet with him, they came to him at his lodgings in great numbers. From morning until evening he explained the matter to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the law of Moses and from the prophets.\r\n\t\t\t Some were convinced by what he had said, while others refused to believe.\r\n\t\t\t So they disagreed with each other; and as they were leaving, Paul made one further statement: \"The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your ancestors through the prophet Isaiah,\r\n\t\t\t 'Go to this people and say, You will indeed listen, but never understand, and you will indeed look, but never perceive.\r\n\t\t\t For this people's heart has grown dull, and their ears are hard of hearing, and they have shut their eyes; so that they might not look with their eyes, and listen with their ears, and understand with their heart and turn-- and I would heal them.'\r\n\t\t\t Let it be known to you then that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen.\" \r\n\t\t\t \r\n\t\t\t He lived there two whole years at his own expense and welcomed all who came to him, \r\n\t\t\t proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, \r\n\t\t\t which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy scriptures,\r\n\t\t\t the gospel concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh\r\n\t\t\t and was declared to be Son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness by resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, \r\n\t\t\t through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for the sake of his name,\r\n\t\t\t including yourselves who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,\r\n\t\t\t To all God's beloved in Rome, who are called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.\r\n\t\t\t First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed throughout the world.\r\n\t\t\t For God, whom I serve with my spirit by announcing the gospel of his Son, is my witness that without ceasing I remember you always in my prayers, \r\n\t\t\t asking that by God's will I may somehow at last succeed in coming to you.\r\n\t\t\t For I am longing to see you so that I may share with you some spiritual gift to strengthen you--\r\n\t\t\t or rather so that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine.\r\n\t\t\t I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as I have among the rest of the Gentiles. \r\n\t\t\t I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish\r\n\t\t\t -- hence my eagerness to proclaim the gospel to you also who are in Rome.\r\n\t\t\t For I am not ashamed of the gospel; it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.\r\n\t\t\t For in it the righteousness of God is revealed through faith for faith; as it is written, \"The one who is righteous will live by faith.\"\r\n\t\t\t For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and wickedness of those who by their wickedness suppress the truth.\r\n\t\t\t For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.\r\n\t\t\t Ever since the creation of the world his eternal power and divine nature, invisible though they are, have been understood and seen through the things he has made. So they are without excuse;\r\n\t\t\t for though they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their senseless minds were darkened.\r\n\t\t\t Claiming to be wise, they became fools;\r\n\t\t\t and they exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling a mortal human being or birds or four-footed animals or reptiles.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the degrading of their bodies among themselves,\r\n\t\t\t because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.\r\n\t\t\t For this reason God gave them up to degrading passions. Their women exchanged natural intercourse for unnatural,\r\n\t\t\t and in the same way also the men, giving up natural intercourse with women, were consumed with passion for one another. Men committed shameless acts with men and received in their own persons the due penalty for their error.\r\n\t\t\t And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind and to things that should not be done.\r\n\t\t\t They were filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, covetousness, malice. Full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, craftiness, they are gossips,\r\n\t\t\t slanderers, God-haters, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, rebellious toward parents, \r\n\t\t\t foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless.\r\n\t\t\t They know God's decree, that those who practice such things deserve to die-- yet they not only do them but even applaud others who practice them.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Therefore you have no excuse, whoever you are, when you judge others; for in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, are doing the very same things.\r\n\t\t\t You say, \"We know that God's judgment on those who do such things is in accordance with truth.\" \r\n\t\t\t Do you imagine, whoever you are, that when you judge those who do such things and yet do them yourself, you will escape the judgment of God?\r\n\t\t\t Or do you despise the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience? Do you not realize that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?\r\n\t\t\t But by your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath, when God's righteous judgment will be revealed.\r\n\t\t\t For he will repay according to each one's deeds:\r\n\t\t\t to those who by patiently doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life;\r\n\t\t\t while for those who are self-seeking and who obey not the truth but wickedness, there will be wrath and fury.\r\n\t\t\t There will be anguish and distress for everyone who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek,\r\n\t\t\t but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek.\r\n\t\t\t For God shows no partiality.\r\n\t\t\t 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.\r\n\t\t\t For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous in God's sight, but the doers of the law who will be justified.\r\n\t\t\t When Gentiles, who do not possess the law, do instinctively what the law requires, these, though not having the law, are a law to themselves.\r\n\t\t\t They show that what the law requires is written on their hearts, to which their own conscience also bears witness; and their conflicting thoughts will accuse or perhaps excuse them\r\n\t\t\t on the day when, according to my gospel, God, through Jesus Christ, will judge the secret thoughts of all.\r\n\t\t\t But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast of your relation to God\r\n\t\t\t and know his will and determine what is best because you are instructed in the law,\r\n\t\t\t and if you are sure that you are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness,\r\n\t\t\t a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth,\r\n\t\t\t you, then, that teach others, will you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal?\r\n\t\t\t You that forbid adultery, do you commit adultery? You that abhor idols, do you rob temples?\r\n\t\t\t You that boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law?\r\n\t\t\t For, as it is written, \"The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.\"\r\n\t\t\t Circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law; but if you break the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.\r\n\t\t\t So, if those who are uncircumcised keep the requirements of the law, will not their uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision?\r\n\t\t\t Then those who are physically uncircumcised but keep the law will condemn you that have the written code and circumcision but break the law.\r\n\t\t\t For a person is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is true circumcision something external and physical.\r\n\t\t\t Rather, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly, and real circumcision is a matter of the heart-- it is spiritual and not literal. Such a person receives praise not from others but from God.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision?\r\n\t\t\t Much, in every way. For in the first place the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God. \r\n\t\t\t What if some were unfaithful? Will their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God?\r\n\t\t\t By no means! Although everyone is a liar, let God be proved true, as it is written, \"So that you may be justified in your words, and prevail in your judging.\" \r\n\t\t\t But if our injustice serves to confirm the justice of God, what should we say? That God is unjust to inflict wrath on us? (I speak in a human way.)\r\n\t\t\t By no means! For then how could God judge the world?\r\n\t\t\t But if through my falsehood God's truthfulness abounds to his glory, why am I still being condemned as a sinner?\r\n\t\t\t And why not say (as some people slander us by saying that we say), \"Let us do evil so that good may come\"? Their condemnation is deserved!\r\n\t\t\t What then? Are we any better off? No, not at all; for we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under the power of sin, \r\n\t\t\t as it is written: \"There is no one who is righteous, not even one;\r\n\t\t\t there is no one who has understanding, there is no one who seeks God.\r\n\t\t\t All have turned aside, together they have become worthless; there is no one who shows kindness, there is not even one.\"\r\n\t\t\t \"Their throats are opened graves; they use their tongues to deceive.\" \"The venom of vipers is under their lips.\"\r\n\t\t\t \"Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.\"\r\n\t\t\t \"Their feet are swift to shed blood;\r\n\t\t\t ruin and misery are in their paths,\r\n\t\t\t and the way of peace they have not known.\"\r\n\t\t\t \"There is no fear of God before their eyes.\"\r\n\t\t\t Now we know that whatever the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced, and the whole world may be held accountable to God.\r\n\t\t\t For \"no human being will be justified in his sight\" by deeds prescribed by the law, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin.\r\n\t\t\t But now, apart from law, the righteousness of God has been disclosed, and is attested by the law and the prophets,\r\n\t\t\t the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction, \r\n\t\t\t since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God;\r\n\t\t\t they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,\r\n\t\t\t whom God put forward as a sacrifice of atonement by his blood, effective through faith. He did this to show his righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over the sins previously committed; \r\n\t\t\t it was to prove at the present time that he himself is righteous and that he justifies the one who has faith in Jesus. \r\n\t\t\t Then what becomes of boasting? It is excluded. By what law? By that of works? No, but by the law of faith.\r\n\t\t\t For we hold that a person is justified by faith apart from works prescribed by the law.\r\n\t\t\t Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also,\r\n\t\t\t since God is one; and he will justify the circumcised on the ground of faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith.\r\n\t\t\t Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t What then are we to say was gained by Abraham, our ancestor according to the flesh? \r\n\t\t\t For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.\r\n\t\t\t For what does the scripture say? \"Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.\"\r\n\t\t\t Now to one who works, wages are not reckoned as a gift but as something due.\r\n\t\t\t But to one who without works trusts him who justifies the ungodly, such faith is reckoned as righteousness.\r\n\t\t\t So also David speaks of the blessedness of those to whom God reckons righteousness apart from works:\r\n\t\t\t \"Blessed are those whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered;\r\n\t\t\t blessed is the one against whom the Lord will not reckon sin.\"\r\n\t\t\t Is this blessedness, then, pronounced only on the circumcised, or also on the uncircumcised? We say, \"Faith was reckoned to Abraham as righteousness.\"\r\n\t\t\t How then was it reckoned to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised.\r\n\t\t\t He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the ancestor of all who believe without being circumcised and who thus have righteousness reckoned to them,\r\n\t\t\t and likewise the ancestor of the circumcised who are not only circumcised but who also follow the example of the faith that our ancestor Abraham had before he was circumcised.\r\n\t\t\t For the promise that he would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his descendants through the law but through the righteousness of faith.\r\n\t\t\t If it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void.\r\n\t\t\t For the law brings wrath; but where there is no law, neither is there violation.\r\n\t\t\t For this reason it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants, not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham (for he is the father of all of us,\r\n\t\t\t as it is written, \"I have made you the father of many nations\")-- in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.\r\n\t\t\t Hoping against hope, he believed that he would become \"the father of many nations,\" according to what was said, \"So numerous shall your descendants be.\"\r\n\t\t\t He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was already as good as dead (for he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb. \r\n\t\t\t No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God,\r\n\t\t\t being fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore his faith \"was reckoned to him as righteousness.\" \r\n\t\t\t Now the words, \"it was reckoned to him,\" were written not for his sake alone,\r\n\t\t\t but for ours also. It will be reckoned to us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead,\r\n\t\t\t who was handed over to death for our trespasses and was raised for our justification.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, \r\n\t\t\t through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. \r\n\t\t\t And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, \r\n\t\t\t and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,\r\n\t\t\t and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.\r\n\t\t\t For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.\r\n\t\t\t Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person-- though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die.\r\n\t\t\t But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us.\r\n\t\t\t Much more surely then, now that we have been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath of God. \r\n\t\t\t For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more surely, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life.\r\n\t\t\t But more than that, we even boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death came through sin, and so death spread to all because all have sinned--\r\n\t\t\t sin was indeed in the world before the law, but sin is not reckoned when there is no law.\r\n\t\t\t Yet death exercised dominion from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sins were not like the transgression of Adam, who is a type of the one who was to come.\r\n\t\t\t But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died through the one man's trespass, much more surely have the grace of God and the free gift in the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abounded for the many.\r\n\t\t\t And the free gift is not like the effect of the one man's sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brings justification.\r\n\t\t\t If, because of the one man's trespass, death exercised dominion through that one, much more surely will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness exercise dominion in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore just as one man's trespass led to condemnation for all, so one man's act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all.\r\n\t\t\t For just as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous.\r\n\t\t\t But law came in, with the result that the trespass multiplied; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more,\r\n\t\t\t so that, just as sin exercised dominion in death, so grace might also exercise dominion through justification leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t What then are we to say? Should we continue in sin in order that grace may abound?\r\n\t\t\t By no means! How can we who died to sin go on living in it?\r\n\t\t\t Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?\r\n\t\t\t Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.\r\n\t\t\t For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.\r\n\t\t\t We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin.\r\n\t\t\t For whoever has died is freed from sin.\r\n\t\t\t But if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.\r\n\t\t\t We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him.\r\n\t\t\t The death he died, he died to sin, once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.\r\n\t\t\t So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore, do not let sin exercise dominion in your mortal bodies, to make you obey their passions.\r\n\t\t\t No longer present your members to sin as instruments of wickedness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and present your members to God as instruments of righteousness. \r\n\t\t\t For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.\r\n\t\t\t What then? Should we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means!\r\n\t\t\t Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?\r\n\t\t\t But thanks be to God that you, having once been slaves of sin, have become obedient from the heart to the form of teaching to which you were entrusted,\r\n\t\t\t and that you, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.\r\n\t\t\t I am speaking in human terms because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to greater and greater iniquity, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness for sanctification. \r\n\t\t\t When you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.\r\n\t\t\t So what advantage did you then get from the things of which you now are ashamed? The end of those things is death.\r\n\t\t\t But now that you have been freed from sin and enslaved to God, the advantage you get is sanctification. The end is eternal life.\r\n\t\t\t For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Do you not know, brothers and sisters-- for I am speaking to those who know the law-- that the law is binding on a person only during that person's lifetime?\r\n\t\t\t Thus a married woman is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives; but if her husband dies, she is discharged from the law concerning the husband.\r\n\t\t\t Accordingly, she will be called an adulteress if she lives with another man while her husband is alive. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law, and if she marries another man, she is not an adulteress.\r\n\t\t\t In the same way, my friends, you have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead in order that we may bear fruit for God. \r\n\t\t\t While we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death.\r\n\t\t\t But now we are discharged from the law, dead to that which held us captive, so that we are slaves not under the old written code but in the new life of the Spirit.\r\n\t\t\t What then should we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet, if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, \"You shall not covet.\"\r\n\t\t\t But sin, seizing an opportunity in the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. Apart from the law sin lies dead.\r\n\t\t\t I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived\r\n\t\t\t and I died, and the very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me.\r\n\t\t\t For sin, seizing an opportunity in the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me.\r\n\t\t\t So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and just and good.\r\n\t\t\t Did what is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, working death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure.\r\n\t\t\t For we know that the law is spiritual; but I am of the flesh, sold into slavery under sin. \r\n\t\t\t I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.\r\n\t\t\t Now if I do what I do not want, I agree that the law is good.\r\n\t\t\t But in fact it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells within me.\r\n\t\t\t For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot do it.\r\n\t\t\t For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do.\r\n\t\t\t Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells within me.\r\n\t\t\t So I find it to be a law that when I want to do what is good, evil lies close at hand.\r\n\t\t\t For I delight in the law of God in my inmost self,\r\n\t\t\t but I see in my members another law at war with the law of my mind, making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.\r\n\t\t\t Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?\r\n\t\t\t Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with my mind I am a slave to the law of God, but with my flesh I am a slave to the law of sin.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.\r\n\t\t\t For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. \r\n\t\t\t For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do: by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and to deal with sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, \r\n\t\t\t so that the just requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. \r\n\t\t\t For 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.\r\n\t\t\t To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. \r\n\t\t\t For this reason the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God's law-- indeed it cannot,\r\n\t\t\t and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.\r\n\t\t\t But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. \r\n\t\t\t But if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. \r\n\t\t\t If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you. \r\n\t\t\t So then, brothers and sisters, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh--\r\n\t\t\t for if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.\r\n\t\t\t For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.\r\n\t\t\t For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, \"Abba! Father!\" \r\n\t\t\t it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, \r\n\t\t\t and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ-- if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.\r\n\t\t\t I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us.\r\n\t\t\t For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God;\r\n\t\t\t for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope\r\n\t\t\t that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.\r\n\t\t\t We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now;\r\n\t\t\t and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.\r\n\t\t\t For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? \r\n\t\t\t But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.\r\n\t\t\t Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. \r\n\t\t\t And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. \r\n\t\t\t We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. \r\n\t\t\t For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family. \r\n\t\t\t And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified.\r\n\t\t\t What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us?\r\n\t\t\t He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else?\r\n\t\t\t Who will bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies.\r\n\t\t\t Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. \r\n\t\t\t Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?\r\n\t\t\t As it is written, \"For your sake we are being killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.\"\r\n\t\t\t No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.\r\n\t\t\t For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,\r\n\t\t\t nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t I am speaking the truth in Christ-- I am not lying; my conscience confirms it by the Holy Spirit--\r\n\t\t\t I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.\r\n\t\t\t For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my own people, my kindred according to the flesh.\r\n\t\t\t They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises;\r\n\t\t\t to them belong the patriarchs, and from them, according to the flesh, comes the Messiah, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen.\r\n\t\t\t It is not as though the word of God had failed. For not all Israelites truly belong to Israel,\r\n\t\t\t and not all of Abraham's children are his true descendants; but \"It is through Isaac that descendants shall be named for you.\"\r\n\t\t\t This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as descendants.\r\n\t\t\t For this is what the promise said, \"About this time I will return and Sarah shall have a son.\"\r\n\t\t\t Nor is that all; something similar happened to Rebecca when she had conceived children by one husband, our ancestor Isaac.\r\n\t\t\t Even before they had been born or had done anything good or bad (so that God's purpose of election might continue,\r\n\t\t\t not by works but by his call) she was told, \"The elder shall serve the younger.\"\r\n\t\t\t As it is written, \"I have loved Jacob, but I have hated Esau.\"\r\n\t\t\t What then are we to say? Is there injustice on God's part? By no means!\r\n\t\t\t For he says to Moses, \"I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.\"\r\n\t\t\t So it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God who shows mercy.\r\n\t\t\t For the scripture says to Pharaoh, \"I have raised you up for the very purpose of showing my power in you, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth.\"\r\n\t\t\t So then he has mercy on whomever he chooses, and he hardens the heart of whomever he chooses.\r\n\t\t\t You will say to me then, \"Why then does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?\"\r\n\t\t\t But who indeed are you, a human being, to argue with God? Will what is molded say to the one who molds it, \"Why have you made me like this?\"\r\n\t\t\t Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one object for special use and another for ordinary use?\r\n\t\t\t What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience the objects of wrath that are made for destruction;\r\n\t\t\t and what if he has done so in order to make known the riches of his glory for the objects of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory--\r\n\t\t\t including us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles?\r\n\t\t\t As indeed he says in Hosea, \"Those who were not my people I will call 'my people,' and her who was not beloved I will call 'beloved.'\"\r\n\t\t\t \"And in the very place where it was said to them, 'You are not my people,' there they shall be called children of the living God.\"\r\n\t\t\t And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel, \"Though the number of the children of Israel were like the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will be saved;\r\n\t\t\t for the Lord will execute his sentence on the earth quickly and decisively.\" \r\n\t\t\t And as Isaiah predicted, \"If the Lord of hosts had not left survivors to us, we would have fared like Sodom and been made like Gomorrah.\" \r\n\t\t\t What then are we to say? Gentiles, who did not strive for righteousness, have attained it, that is, righteousness through faith;\r\n\t\t\t but Israel, who did strive for the righteousness that is based on the law, did not succeed in fulfilling that law.\r\n\t\t\t Why not? Because they did not strive for it on the basis of faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone,\r\n\t\t\t as it is written, \"See, I am laying in Zion a stone that will make people stumble, a rock that will make them fall, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.\" \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Brothers and sisters, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. \r\n\t\t\t I can testify that they have a zeal for God, but it is not enlightened.\r\n\t\t\t For, being ignorant of the righteousness that comes from God, and seeking to establish their own, they have not submitted to God's righteousness.\r\n\t\t\t For Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.\r\n\t\t\t Moses writes concerning the righteousness that comes from the law, that \"the person who does these things will live by them.\"\r\n\t\t\t But the righteousness that comes from faith says, \"Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?'\" (that is, to bring Christ down)\r\n\t\t\t \"or 'Who will descend into the abyss?'\" (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).\r\n\t\t\t But what does it say? \"The word is near you, on your lips and in your heart\" (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim);\r\n\t\t\t because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. \r\n\t\t\t For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved.\r\n\t\t\t The scripture says, \"No one who believes in him will be put to shame.\"\r\n\t\t\t For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him.\r\n\t\t\t For, \"Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.\"\r\n\t\t\t But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him?\r\n\t\t\t And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent? As it is written, \"How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!\"\r\n\t\t\t But not all have obeyed the good news; for Isaiah says, \"Lord, who has believed our message?\" \r\n\t\t\t So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ. \r\n\t\t\t But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have; for \"Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.\"\r\n\t\t\t Again I ask, did Israel not understand? First Moses says, \"I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation; with a foolish nation I will make you angry.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then Isaiah is so bold as to say, \"I have been found by those who did not seek me; I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me.\"\r\n\t\t\t But of Israel he says, \"All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin.\r\n\t\t\t God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel?\r\n\t\t\t \"Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars; I alone am left, and they are seeking my life.\"\r\n\t\t\t But what is the divine reply to him? \"I have kept for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal.\"\r\n\t\t\t So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace.\r\n\t\t\t But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace would no longer be grace. \r\n\t\t\t What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened,\r\n\t\t\t as it is written, \"God gave them a sluggish spirit, eyes that would not see and ears that would not hear, down to this very day.\"\r\n\t\t\t And David says, \"Let their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution for them;\r\n\t\t\t let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see, and keep their backs forever bent.\"\r\n\t\t\t So I ask, have they stumbled so as to fall? By no means! But through their stumbling salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous. \r\n\t\t\t Now if their stumbling means riches for the world, and if their defeat means riches for Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean! \r\n\t\t\t Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I glorify my ministry\r\n\t\t\t in order to make my own people jealous, and thus save some of them. \r\n\t\t\t For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead!\r\n\t\t\t If the part of the dough offered as first fruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; and if the root is holy, then the branches also are holy.\r\n\t\t\t But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, were grafted in their place to share the rich root of the olive tree,\r\n\t\t\t do not boast over the branches. If you do boast, remember that it is not you that support the root, but the root that supports you.\r\n\t\t\t You will say, \"Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.\"\r\n\t\t\t That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand only through faith. So do not become proud, but stand in awe.\r\n\t\t\t For if God did not spare the natural branches, perhaps he will not spare you. \r\n\t\t\t Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God's kindness toward you, provided you continue in his kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off.\r\n\t\t\t And even those of Israel, if they do not persist in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. \r\n\t\t\t For if you have been cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these natural branches be grafted back into their own olive tree.\r\n\t\t\t So that you may not claim to be wiser than you are, brothers and sisters, I want you to understand this mystery: a hardening has come upon part of Israel, until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. \r\n\t\t\t And so all Israel will be saved; as it is written, \"Out of Zion will come the Deliverer; he will banish ungodliness from Jacob.\"\r\n\t\t\t \"And this is my covenant with them, when I take away their sins.\"\r\n\t\t\t As regards the gospel they are enemies of God for your sake; but as regards election they are beloved, for the sake of their ancestors; \r\n\t\t\t for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.\r\n\t\t\t Just as you were once disobedient to God but have now received mercy because of their disobedience,\r\n\t\t\t so they have now been disobedient in order that, by the mercy shown to you, they too may now receive mercy. \r\n\t\t\t For God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that he may be merciful to all.\r\n\t\t\t O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!\r\n\t\t\t \"For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?\"\r\n\t\t\t \"Or who has given a gift to him, to receive a gift in return?\"\r\n\t\t\t For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. \r\n\t\t\t Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God-- what is good and acceptable and perfect.\r\n\t\t\t For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.\r\n\t\t\t For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function,\r\n\t\t\t so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another.\r\n\t\t\t We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith;\r\n\t\t\t ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching;\r\n\t\t\t the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness.\r\n\t\t\t Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good;\r\n\t\t\t love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor.\r\n\t\t\t Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. \r\n\t\t\t Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer.\r\n\t\t\t Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.\r\n\t\t\t Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.\r\n\t\t\t Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.\r\n\t\t\t Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. \r\n\t\t\t Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all.\r\n\t\t\t If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.\r\n\t\t\t Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, \"Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.\" \r\n\t\t\t No, \"if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.\"\r\n\t\t\t Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Let every person be subject to the governing authorities; for there is no authority except from God, and those authorities that exist have been instituted by God.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore whoever resists authority resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.\r\n\t\t\t For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you wish to have no fear of the authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive its approval;\r\n\t\t\t for it is God's servant for your good. But if you do what is wrong, you should be afraid, for the authority does not bear the sword in vain! It is the servant of God to execute wrath on the wrongdoer. \r\n\t\t\t Therefore one must be subject, not only because of wrath but also because of conscience.\r\n\t\t\t For the same reason you also pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, busy with this very thing.\r\n\t\t\t Pay to all what is due them-- taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.\r\n\t\t\t Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.\r\n\t\t\t The commandments, \"You shall not commit adultery; You shall not murder; You shall not steal; You shall not covet\"; and any other commandment, are summed up in this word, \"Love your neighbor as yourself.\"\r\n\t\t\t Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.\r\n\t\t\t Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers;\r\n\t\t\t the night is far gone, the day is near. Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light;\r\n\t\t\t let us live honorably as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy.\r\n\t\t\t Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Welcome those who are weak in faith, but not for the purpose of quarreling over opinions. \r\n\t\t\t Some believe in eating anything, while the weak eat only vegetables.\r\n\t\t\t Those who eat must not despise those who abstain, and those who abstain must not pass judgment on those who eat; for God has welcomed them.\r\n\t\t\t Who are you to pass judgment on servants of another? It is before their own lord that they stand or fall. And they will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make them stand. \r\n\t\t\t Some judge one day to be better than another, while others judge all days to be alike. Let all be fully convinced in their own minds.\r\n\t\t\t Those who observe the day, observe it in honor of the Lord. Also those who eat, eat in honor of the Lord, since they give thanks to God; while those who abstain, abstain in honor of the Lord and give thanks to God.\r\n\t\t\t We do not live to ourselves, and we do not die to ourselves.\r\n\t\t\t If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's.\r\n\t\t\t For to this end Christ died and lived again, so that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living.\r\n\t\t\t Why do you pass judgment on your brother or sister? Or you, why do you despise your brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. \r\n\t\t\t For it is written, \"As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall give praise to God.\" \r\n\t\t\t So then, each of us will be accountable to God. \r\n\t\t\t Let us therefore no longer pass judgment on one another, but resolve instead never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of another. \r\n\t\t\t I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean.\r\n\t\t\t If your brother or sister is being injured by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. Do not let what you eat cause the ruin of one for whom Christ died. \r\n\t\t\t So do not let your good be spoken of as evil.\r\n\t\t\t For the kingdom of God is not food and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.\r\n\t\t\t The one who thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and has human approval.\r\n\t\t\t Let us then pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.\r\n\t\t\t Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for you to make others fall by what you eat;\r\n\t\t\t it is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that makes your brother or sister stumble. \r\n\t\t\t The faith that you have, have as your own conviction before God. Blessed are those who have no reason to condemn themselves because of what they approve.\r\n\t\t\t But those who have doubts are condemned if they eat, because they do not act from faith; for whatever does not proceed from faith is sin. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t We who are strong ought to put up with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves.\r\n\t\t\t Each of us must please our neighbor for the good purpose of building up the neighbor.\r\n\t\t\t For Christ did not please himself; but, as it is written, \"The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.\"\r\n\t\t\t For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope.\r\n\t\t\t May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus,\r\n\t\t\t so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.\r\n\t\t\t Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.\r\n\t\t\t For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of the truth of God in order that he might confirm the promises given to the patriarchs,\r\n\t\t\t and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, \"Therefore I will confess you among the Gentiles, and sing praises to your name\";\r\n\t\t\t and again he says, \"Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people\";\r\n\t\t\t and again, \"Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples praise him\";\r\n\t\t\t and again Isaiah says, \"The root of Jesse shall come, the one who rises to rule the Gentiles; in him the Gentiles shall hope.\"\r\n\t\t\t May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.\r\n\t\t\t I myself feel confident about you, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able to instruct one another.\r\n\t\t\t Nevertheless on some points I have written to you rather boldly by way of reminder, because of the grace given me by God\r\n\t\t\t to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.\r\n\t\t\t In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to boast of my work for God.\r\n\t\t\t For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to win obedience from the Gentiles, by word and deed, \r\n\t\t\t by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and as far around as Illyricum I have fully proclaimed the good news of Christ. \r\n\t\t\t Thus I make it my ambition to proclaim the good news, not where Christ has already been named, so that I do not build on someone else's foundation, \r\n\t\t\t but as it is written, \"Those who have never been told of him shall see, and those who have never heard of him shall understand.\"\r\n\t\t\t This is the reason that I have so often been hindered from coming to you.\r\n\t\t\t But now, with no further place for me in these regions, I desire, as I have for many years, to come to you\r\n\t\t\t when I go to Spain. For I do hope to see you on my journey and to be sent on by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a little while.\r\n\t\t\t At present, however, I am going to Jerusalem in a ministry to the saints;\r\n\t\t\t for Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to share their resources with the poor among the saints at Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t They were pleased to do this, and indeed they owe it to them; for if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material things.\r\n\t\t\t So, when I have completed this, and have delivered to them what has been collected, I will set out by way of you to Spain; \r\n\t\t\t and I know that when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ. \r\n\t\t\t I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in earnest prayer to God on my behalf, \r\n\t\t\t that I may be rescued from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my ministry to Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, \r\n\t\t\t so that by God's will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company.\r\n\t\t\t The God of peace be with all of you. Amen. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon of the church at Cenchreae, \r\n\t\t\t so that you may welcome her in the Lord as is fitting for the saints, and help her in whatever she may require from you, for she has been a benefactor of many and of myself as well.\r\n\t\t\t Greet Prisca and Aquila, who work with me in Christ Jesus,\r\n\t\t\t and who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.\r\n\t\t\t Greet also the church in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the first convert in Asia for Christ.\r\n\t\t\t Greet Mary, who has worked very hard among you.\r\n\t\t\t Greet Andronicus and Junia, my relatives who were in prison with me; they are prominent among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was. \r\n\t\t\t Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord.\r\n\t\t\t Greet Urbanus, our co-worker in Christ, and my beloved Stachys.\r\n\t\t\t Greet Apelles, who is approved in Christ. Greet those who belong to the family of Aristobulus.\r\n\t\t\t Greet my relative Herodion. Greet those in the Lord who belong to the family of Narcissus. \r\n\t\t\t Greet those workers in the Lord, Tryphaena and Tryphosa. Greet the beloved Persis, who has worked hard in the Lord.\r\n\t\t\t Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord; and greet his mother-- a mother to me also.\r\n\t\t\t Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers and sisters who are with them. \r\n\t\t\t Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them.\r\n\t\t\t Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.\r\n\t\t\t I urge you, brothers and sisters, to keep an eye on those who cause dissensions and offenses, in opposition to the teaching that you have learned; avoid them. \r\n\t\t\t For such people do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the simple-minded. \r\n\t\t\t For while your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, I want you to be wise in what is good and guileless in what is evil.\r\n\t\t\t The God of peace will shortly crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. \r\n\t\t\t Timothy, my co-worker, greets you; so do Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my relatives. \r\n\t\t\t I Tertius, the writer of this letter, greet you in the Lord. \r\n\t\t\t Gaius, who is host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer, and our brother Quartus, greet you. \r\n\t\t\t \r\n\t\t\t Now to God who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages\r\n\t\t\t but is now disclosed, and through the prophetic writings is made known to all the Gentiles, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith--\r\n\t\t\t to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever! Amen. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes,\r\n\t\t\t To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: \r\n\t\t\t Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.\r\n\t\t\t I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, \r\n\t\t\t for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind--\r\n\t\t\t just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you--\r\n\t\t\t so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ.\r\n\t\t\t He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.\r\n\t\t\t God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.\r\n\t\t\t Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose. \r\n\t\t\t For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there are quarrels among you, my brothers and sisters. \r\n\t\t\t What I mean is that each of you says, \"I belong to Paul,\" or \"I belong to Apollos,\" or \"I belong to Cephas,\" or \"I belong to Christ.\"\r\n\t\t\t Has Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?\r\n\t\t\t I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, \r\n\t\t\t so that no one can say that you were baptized in my name.\r\n\t\t\t (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.)\r\n\t\t\t For Christ did not send me to baptize but to proclaim the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its power.\r\n\t\t\t For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.\r\n\t\t\t For it is written, \"I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.\"\r\n\t\t\t Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?\r\n\t\t\t For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe.\r\n\t\t\t For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom,\r\n\t\t\t but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,\r\n\t\t\t but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.\r\n\t\t\t For God's foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God's weakness is stronger than human strength.\r\n\t\t\t Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. \r\n\t\t\t But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;\r\n\t\t\t God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are,\r\n\t\t\t so that no one might boast in the presence of God. \r\n\t\t\t He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption,\r\n\t\t\t in order that, as it is written, \"Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.\" \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t When I came to you, brothers and sisters, I did not come proclaiming the mystery of God to you in lofty words or wisdom. \r\n\t\t\t For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified.\r\n\t\t\t And I came to you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling.\r\n\t\t\t My speech and my proclamation were not with plausible words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power, \r\n\t\t\t so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God.\r\n\t\t\t Yet among the mature we do speak wisdom, though it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to perish.\r\n\t\t\t But we speak God's wisdom, secret and hidden, which God decreed before the ages for our glory.\r\n\t\t\t None of the rulers of this age understood this; for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.\r\n\t\t\t But, as it is written, \"What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the human heart conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him\"--\r\n\t\t\t these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.\r\n\t\t\t For what human being knows what is truly human except the human spirit that is within? So also no one comprehends what is truly God's except the Spirit of God.\r\n\t\t\t Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit that is from God, so that we may understand the gifts bestowed on us by God.\r\n\t\t\t And we speak of these things in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual things to those who are spiritual. \r\n\t\t\t Those who are unspiritual do not receive the gifts of God's Spirit, for they are foolishness to them, and they are unable to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. \r\n\t\t\t Those who are spiritual discern all things, and they are themselves subject to no one else's scrutiny.\r\n\t\t\t \"For who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?\" But we have the mind of Christ.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t And so, brothers and sisters, I could not speak to you as spiritual people, but rather as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. \r\n\t\t\t I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for solid food. Even now you are still not ready,\r\n\t\t\t for you are still of the flesh. For as long as there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not of the flesh, and behaving according to human inclinations?\r\n\t\t\t For when one says, \"I belong to Paul,\" and another, \"I belong to Apollos,\" are you not merely human?\r\n\t\t\t What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you came to believe, as the Lord assigned to each.\r\n\t\t\t I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.\r\n\t\t\t So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.\r\n\t\t\t The one who plants and the one who waters have a common purpose, and each will receive wages according to the labor of each.\r\n\t\t\t For we are God's servants, working together; you are God's field, God's building.\r\n\t\t\t According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building on it. Each builder must choose with care how to build on it.\r\n\t\t\t For no one can lay any foundation other than the one that has been laid; that foundation is Jesus Christ.\r\n\t\t\t Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw--\r\n\t\t\t the work of each builder will become visible, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each has done.\r\n\t\t\t If what has been built on the foundation survives, the builder will receive a reward.\r\n\t\t\t If the work is burned up, the builder will suffer loss; the builder will be saved, but only as through fire.\r\n\t\t\t Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? \r\n\t\t\t If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy that person. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.\r\n\t\t\t Do not deceive yourselves. If you think that you are wise in this age, you should become fools so that you may become wise.\r\n\t\t\t For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, \"He catches the wise in their craftiness,\"\r\n\t\t\t and again, \"The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.\"\r\n\t\t\t So let no one boast about human leaders. For all things are yours,\r\n\t\t\t whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future-- all belong to you,\r\n\t\t\t and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Think of us in this way, as servants of Christ and stewards of God's mysteries.\r\n\t\t\t Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy.\r\n\t\t\t But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. I do not even judge myself.\r\n\t\t\t I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive commendation from God.\r\n\t\t\t I have applied all this to Apollos and myself for your benefit, brothers and sisters, so that you may learn through us the meaning of the saying, \"Nothing beyond what is written,\" so that none of you will be puffed up in favor of one against another. \r\n\t\t\t For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you received it, why do you boast as if it were not a gift? \r\n\t\t\t Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! Quite apart from us you have become kings! Indeed, I wish that you had become kings, so that we might be kings with you!\r\n\t\t\t For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, as though sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels and to mortals.\r\n\t\t\t We are fools for the sake of Christ, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute.\r\n\t\t\t To the present hour we are hungry and thirsty, we are poorly clothed and beaten and homeless,\r\n\t\t\t and we grow weary from the work of our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure;\r\n\t\t\t when slandered, we speak kindly. We have become like the rubbish of the world, the dregs of all things, to this very day.\r\n\t\t\t I am not writing this to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children.\r\n\t\t\t For though you might have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers. Indeed, in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel.\r\n\t\t\t I appeal to you, then, be imitators of me.\r\n\t\t\t For this reason I sent you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ Jesus, as I teach them everywhere in every church. \r\n\t\t\t But some of you, thinking that I am not coming to you, have become arrogant.\r\n\t\t\t But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I will find out not the talk of these arrogant people but their power.\r\n\t\t\t For the kingdom of God depends not on talk but on power.\r\n\t\t\t What would you prefer? Am I to come to you with a stick, or with love in a spirit of gentleness?\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not found even among pagans; for a man is living with his father's wife.\r\n\t\t\t And you are arrogant! Should you not rather have mourned, so that he who has done this would have been removed from among you?\r\n\t\t\t For though absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as if present I have already pronounced judgment\r\n\t\t\t in the name of the Lord Jesus on the man who has done such a thing. When you are assembled, and my spirit is present with the power of our Lord Jesus, \r\n\t\t\t you are to hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord. \r\n\t\t\t Your boasting is not a good thing. Do you not know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough?\r\n\t\t\t Clean out the old yeast so that you may be a new batch, as you really are unleavened. For our paschal lamb, Christ, has been sacrificed.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore, let us celebrate the festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.\r\n\t\t\t I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral persons--\r\n\t\t\t not at all meaning the immoral of this world, or the greedy and robbers, or idolaters, since you would then need to go out of the world.\r\n\t\t\t But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother or sister who is sexually immoral or greedy, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or robber. Do not even eat with such a one. \r\n\t\t\t For what have I to do with judging those outside? Is it not those who are inside that you are to judge?\r\n\t\t\t God will judge those outside. \"Drive out the wicked person from among you.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t When any of you has a grievance against another, do you dare to take it to court before the unrighteous, instead of taking it before the saints?\r\n\t\t\t Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases?\r\n\t\t\t Do you not know that we are to judge angels-- to say nothing of ordinary matters?\r\n\t\t\t If you have ordinary cases, then, do you appoint as judges those who have no standing in the church?\r\n\t\t\t I say this to your shame. Can it be that there is no one among you wise enough to decide between one believer and another, \r\n\t\t\t but a believer goes to court against a believer-- and before unbelievers at that?\r\n\t\t\t In fact, to have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded?\r\n\t\t\t But you yourselves wrong and defraud-- and believers at that.\r\n\t\t\t Do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived! Fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, male prostitutes, sodomites,\r\n\t\t\t thieves, the greedy, drunkards, revilers, robbers-- none of these will inherit the kingdom of God.\r\n\t\t\t And this is what some of you used to be. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.\r\n\t\t\t \"All things are lawful for me,\" but not all things are beneficial. \"All things are lawful for me,\" but I will not be dominated by anything.\r\n\t\t\t \"Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food,\" and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is meant not for fornication but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. \r\n\t\t\t And God raised the Lord and will also raise us by his power.\r\n\t\t\t Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Should I therefore take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never!\r\n\t\t\t Do you not know that whoever is united to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For it is said, \"The two shall be one flesh.\"\r\n\t\t\t But anyone united to the Lord becomes one spirit with him.\r\n\t\t\t Shun fornication! Every sin that a person commits is outside the body; but the fornicator sins against the body itself.\r\n\t\t\t Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, and that you are not your own? \r\n\t\t\t For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: \"It is well for a man not to touch a woman.\"\r\n\t\t\t But because of cases of sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.\r\n\t\t\t The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband.\r\n\t\t\t For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does; likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.\r\n\t\t\t Do not deprive one another except perhaps by agreement for a set time, to devote yourselves to prayer, and then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.\r\n\t\t\t This I say by way of concession, not of command.\r\n\t\t\t I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has a particular gift from God, one having one kind and another a different kind.\r\n\t\t\t To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is well for them to remain unmarried as I am.\r\n\t\t\t But if they are not practicing self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to be aflame with passion.\r\n\t\t\t To the married I give this command-- not I but the Lord-- that the wife should not separate from her husband\r\n\t\t\t (but if she does separate, let her remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and that the husband should not divorce his wife.\r\n\t\t\t To the rest I say-- I and not the Lord-- that if any believer has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her.\r\n\t\t\t And if any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him.\r\n\t\t\t For the unbelieving husband is made holy through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy through her husband. Otherwise, your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.\r\n\t\t\t But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so; in such a case the brother or sister is not bound. It is to peace that God has called you. \r\n\t\t\t Wife, for all you know, you might save your husband. Husband, for all you know, you might save your wife.\r\n\t\t\t However that may be, let each of you lead the life that the Lord has assigned, to which God called you. This is my rule in all the churches.\r\n\t\t\t Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision.\r\n\t\t\t Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing; but obeying the commandments of God is everything.\r\n\t\t\t Let each of you remain in the condition in which you were called.\r\n\t\t\t Were you a slave when called? Do not be concerned about it. Even if you can gain your freedom, make use of your present condition now more than ever. \r\n\t\t\t For whoever was called in the Lord as a slave is a freed person belonging to the Lord, just as whoever was free when called is a slave of Christ.\r\n\t\t\t You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of human masters.\r\n\t\t\t In whatever condition you were called, brothers and sisters, there remain with God.\r\n\t\t\t Now concerning virgins, I have no command of the Lord, but I give my opinion as one who by the Lord's mercy is trustworthy.\r\n\t\t\t I think that, in view of the impending crisis, it is well for you to remain as you are. \r\n\t\t\t Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be free. Are you free from a wife? Do not seek a wife.\r\n\t\t\t But if you marry, you do not sin, and if a virgin marries, she does not sin. Yet those who marry will experience distress in this life, and I would spare you that. \r\n\t\t\t I mean, brothers and sisters, the appointed time has grown short; from now on, let even those who have wives be as though they had none, \r\n\t\t\t and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no possessions,\r\n\t\t\t and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away.\r\n\t\t\t I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the affairs of the Lord, how to please the Lord;\r\n\t\t\t but the married man is anxious about the affairs of the world, how to please his wife,\r\n\t\t\t and his interests are divided. And the unmarried woman and the virgin are anxious about the affairs of the Lord, so that they may be holy in body and spirit; but the married woman is anxious about the affairs of the world, how to please her husband.\r\n\t\t\t I say this for your own benefit, not to put any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and unhindered devotion to the Lord.\r\n\t\t\t If anyone thinks that he is not behaving properly toward his fiancee, if his passions are strong, and so it has to be, let him marry as he wishes; it is no sin. Let them marry. \r\n\t\t\t But if someone stands firm in his resolve, being under no necessity but having his own desire under control, and has determined in his own mind to keep her as his fiancee, he will do well. \r\n\t\t\t So then, he who marries his fiancee does well; and he who refrains from marriage will do better. \r\n\t\t\t A wife is bound as long as her husband lives. But if the husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, only in the Lord. \r\n\t\t\t But in my judgment she is more blessed if she remains as she is. And I think that I too have the Spirit of God.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now concerning food sacrificed to idols: we know that \"all of us possess knowledge.\" Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.\r\n\t\t\t Anyone who claims to know something does not yet have the necessary knowledge;\r\n\t\t\t but anyone who loves God is known by him.\r\n\t\t\t Hence, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that \"no idol in the world really exists,\" and that \"there is no God but one.\"\r\n\t\t\t Indeed, even though there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth-- as in fact there are many gods and many lords--\r\n\t\t\t yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.\r\n\t\t\t It is not everyone, however, who has this knowledge. Since some have become so accustomed to idols until now, they still think of the food they eat as food offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled.\r\n\t\t\t \"Food will not bring us close to God.\" We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. \r\n\t\t\t But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.\r\n\t\t\t For if others see you, who possess knowledge, eating in the temple of an idol, might they not, since their conscience is weak, be encouraged to the point of eating food sacrificed to idols?\r\n\t\t\t So by your knowledge those weak believers for whom Christ died are destroyed. \r\n\t\t\t But when you thus sin against members of your family, and wound their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. \r\n\t\t\t Therefore, if food is a cause of their falling, I will never eat meat, so that I may not cause one of them to fall. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord?\r\n\t\t\t If I am not an apostle to others, at least I am to you; for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.\r\n\t\t\t This is my defense to those who would examine me.\r\n\t\t\t Do we not have the right to our food and drink?\r\n\t\t\t Do we not have the right to be accompanied by a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? \r\n\t\t\t Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living?\r\n\t\t\t Who at any time pays the expenses for doing military service? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat any of its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not get any of its milk?\r\n\t\t\t Do I say this on human authority? Does not the law also say the same?\r\n\t\t\t For it is written in the law of Moses, \"You shall not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.\" Is it for oxen that God is concerned?\r\n\t\t\t Or does he not speak entirely for our sake? It was indeed written for our sake, for whoever plows should plow in hope and whoever threshes should thresh in hope of a share in the crop.\r\n\t\t\t If we have sown spiritual good among you, is it too much if we reap your material benefits?\r\n\t\t\t If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we still more? Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ.\r\n\t\t\t Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in what is sacrificed on the altar?\r\n\t\t\t In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.\r\n\t\t\t But I have made no use of any of these rights, nor am I writing this so that they may be applied in my case. Indeed, I would rather die than that-- no one will deprive me of my ground for boasting!\r\n\t\t\t If I proclaim the gospel, this gives me no ground for boasting, for an obligation is laid on me, and woe to me if I do not proclaim the gospel!\r\n\t\t\t For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward; but if not of my own will, I am entrusted with a commission.\r\n\t\t\t What then is my reward? Just this: that in my proclamation I may make the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my rights in the gospel.\r\n\t\t\t For though I am free with respect to all, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I might win more of them.\r\n\t\t\t To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though I myself am not under the law) so that I might win those under the law.\r\n\t\t\t To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law) so that I might win those outside the law.\r\n\t\t\t To the weak I became weak, so that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that I might by all means save some.\r\n\t\t\t I do it all for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings.\r\n\t\t\t Do you not know that in a race the runners all compete, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win it.\r\n\t\t\t Athletes exercise self-control in all things; they do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable one.\r\n\t\t\t So I do not run aimlessly, nor do I box as though beating the air;\r\n\t\t\t but I punish my body and enslave it, so that after proclaiming to others I myself should not be disqualified.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea,\r\n\t\t\t and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea,\r\n\t\t\t and all ate the same spiritual food,\r\n\t\t\t and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ.\r\n\t\t\t Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them, and they were struck down in the wilderness.\r\n\t\t\t Now these things occurred as examples for us, so that we might not desire evil as they did.\r\n\t\t\t Do not become idolaters as some of them did; as it is written, \"The people sat down to eat and drink, and they rose up to play.\"\r\n\t\t\t We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day.\r\n\t\t\t We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did, and were destroyed by serpents. \r\n\t\t\t And do not complain as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer.\r\n\t\t\t These things happened to them to serve as an example, and they were written down to instruct us, on whom the ends of the ages have come.\r\n\t\t\t So if you think you are standing, watch out that you do not fall.\r\n\t\t\t No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore, my dear friends, flee from the worship of idols. \r\n\t\t\t I speak as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say.\r\n\t\t\t The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a sharing in the body of Christ?\r\n\t\t\t Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.\r\n\t\t\t Consider the people of Israel; are not those who eat the sacrifices partners in the altar? \r\n\t\t\t What do I imply then? That food sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything?\r\n\t\t\t No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be partners with demons.\r\n\t\t\t You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons.\r\n\t\t\t Or are we provoking the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?\r\n\t\t\t \"All things are lawful,\" but not all things are beneficial. \"All things are lawful,\" but not all things build up.\r\n\t\t\t Do not seek your own advantage, but that of the other.\r\n\t\t\t Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience,\r\n\t\t\t for \"the earth and its fullness are the Lord's.\"\r\n\t\t\t If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience.\r\n\t\t\t But if someone says to you, \"This has been offered in sacrifice,\" then do not eat it, out of consideration for the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience--\r\n\t\t\t I mean the other's conscience, not your own. For why should my liberty be subject to the judgment of someone else's conscience?\r\n\t\t\t If I partake with thankfulness, why should I be denounced because of that for which I give thanks?\r\n\t\t\t So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.\r\n\t\t\t Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God,\r\n\t\t\t just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, so that they may be saved.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.\r\n\t\t\t I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions just as I handed them on to you.\r\n\t\t\t But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man, and the husband is the head of his wife, and God is the head of Christ. \r\n\t\t\t Any man who prays or prophesies with something on his head disgraces his head,\r\n\t\t\t but any woman who prays or prophesies with her head unveiled disgraces her head-- it is one and the same thing as having her head shaved.\r\n\t\t\t For if a woman will not veil herself, then she should cut off her hair; but if it is disgraceful for a woman to have her hair cut off or to be shaved, she should wear a veil.\r\n\t\t\t For a man ought not to have his head veiled, since he is the image and reflection of God; but woman is the reflection of man. \r\n\t\t\t Indeed, man was not made from woman, but woman from man.\r\n\t\t\t Neither was man created for the sake of woman, but woman for the sake of man.\r\n\t\t\t For this reason a woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. \r\n\t\t\t Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man or man independent of woman.\r\n\t\t\t For just as woman came from man, so man comes through woman; but all things come from God.\r\n\t\t\t Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head unveiled?\r\n\t\t\t Does not nature itself teach you that if a man wears long hair, it is degrading to him,\r\n\t\t\t but if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair is given to her for a covering.\r\n\t\t\t But if anyone is disposed to be contentious-- we have no such custom, nor do the churches of God.\r\n\t\t\t Now in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse.\r\n\t\t\t For, to begin with, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you; and to some extent I believe it.\r\n\t\t\t Indeed, there have to be factions among you, for only so will it become clear who among you are genuine.\r\n\t\t\t When you come together, it is not really to eat the Lord's supper.\r\n\t\t\t For when the time comes to eat, each of you goes ahead with your own supper, and one goes hungry and another becomes drunk.\r\n\t\t\t What! Do you not have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you show contempt for the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What should I say to you? Should I commend you? In this matter I do not commend you!\r\n\t\t\t For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread,\r\n\t\t\t and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, \"This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.\" \r\n\t\t\t In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, \"This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.\"\r\n\t\t\t For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.\r\n\t\t\t Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be answerable for the body and blood of the Lord.\r\n\t\t\t Examine yourselves, and only then eat of the bread and drink of the cup.\r\n\t\t\t For all who eat and drink without discerning the body, eat and drink judgment against themselves. \r\n\t\t\t For this reason many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. \r\n\t\t\t But if we judged ourselves, we would not be judged.\r\n\t\t\t But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world. \r\n\t\t\t So then, my brothers and sisters, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. \r\n\t\t\t If you are hungry, eat at home, so that when you come together, it will not be for your condemnation. About the other things I will give instructions when I come.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. \r\n\t\t\t You know that when you were pagans, you were enticed and led astray to idols that could not speak.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking by the Spirit of God ever says \"Let Jesus be cursed!\" and no one can say \"Jesus is Lord\" except by the Holy Spirit.\r\n\t\t\t Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit;\r\n\t\t\t and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord;\r\n\t\t\t and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone.\r\n\t\t\t To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.\r\n\t\t\t To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit,\r\n\t\t\t to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,\r\n\t\t\t to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.\r\n\t\t\t All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses.\r\n\t\t\t For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.\r\n\t\t\t For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body-- Jews or Greeks, slaves or free-- and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.\r\n\t\t\t Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many.\r\n\t\t\t If the foot would say, \"Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,\" that would not make it any less a part of the body.\r\n\t\t\t And if the ear would say, \"Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,\" that would not make it any less a part of the body.\r\n\t\t\t If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be?\r\n\t\t\t But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.\r\n\t\t\t If all were a single member, where would the body be?\r\n\t\t\t As it is, there are many members, yet one body.\r\n\t\t\t The eye cannot say to the hand, \"I have no need of you,\" nor again the head to the feet, \"I have no need of you.\"\r\n\t\t\t On the contrary, the members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,\r\n\t\t\t and those members of the body that we think less honorable we clothe with greater honor, and our less respectable members are treated with greater respect;\r\n\t\t\t whereas our more respectable members do not need this. But God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior member,\r\n\t\t\t that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another.\r\n\t\t\t If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it.\r\n\t\t\t Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.\r\n\t\t\t And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; then deeds of power, then gifts of healing, forms of assistance, forms of leadership, various kinds of tongues.\r\n\t\t\t Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles?\r\n\t\t\t Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?\r\n\t\t\t But strive for the greater gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.\r\n\t\t\t And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.\r\n\t\t\t If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. \r\n\t\t\t Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant\r\n\t\t\t or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;\r\n\t\t\t it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth.\r\n\t\t\t It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.\r\n\t\t\t Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end.\r\n\t\t\t For we know only in part, and we prophesy only in part;\r\n\t\t\t but when the complete comes, the partial will come to an end.\r\n\t\t\t When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways.\r\n\t\t\t For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known. \r\n\t\t\t And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Pursue love and strive for the spiritual gifts, and especially that you may prophesy.\r\n\t\t\t For those who speak in a tongue do not speak to other people but to God; for nobody understands them, since they are speaking mysteries in the Spirit.\r\n\t\t\t On the other hand, those who prophesy speak to other people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation.\r\n\t\t\t Those who speak in a tongue build up themselves, but those who prophesy build up the church.\r\n\t\t\t Now I would like all of you to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. One who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.\r\n\t\t\t Now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I speak to you in some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? \r\n\t\t\t It is the same way with lifeless instruments that produce sound, such as the flute or the harp. If they do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is being played?\r\n\t\t\t And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle?\r\n\t\t\t So with yourselves; if in a tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is being said? For you will be speaking into the air.\r\n\t\t\t There are doubtless many different kinds of sounds in the world, and nothing is without sound.\r\n\t\t\t If then I do not know the meaning of a sound, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me.\r\n\t\t\t So with yourselves; since you are eager for spiritual gifts, strive to excel in them for building up the church.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray for the power to interpret.\r\n\t\t\t For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unproductive.\r\n\t\t\t What should I do then? I will pray with the spirit, but I will pray with the mind also; I will sing praise with the spirit, but I will sing praise with the mind also.\r\n\t\t\t Otherwise, if you say a blessing with the spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider say the \"Amen\" to your thanksgiving, since the outsider does not know what you are saying?\r\n\t\t\t For you may give thanks well enough, but the other person is not built up.\r\n\t\t\t I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you;\r\n\t\t\t nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind, in order to instruct others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.\r\n\t\t\t Brothers and sisters, do not be children in your thinking; rather, be infants in evil, but in thinking be adults. \r\n\t\t\t In the law it is written, \"By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners I will speak to this people; yet even then they will not listen to me,\" says the Lord.\r\n\t\t\t Tongues, then, are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is not for unbelievers but for believers.\r\n\t\t\t If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your mind?\r\n\t\t\t But if all prophesy, an unbeliever or outsider who enters is reproved by all and called to account by all.\r\n\t\t\t After the secrets of the unbeliever's heart are disclosed, that person will bow down before God and worship him, declaring, \"God is really among you.\"\r\n\t\t\t What should be done then, my friends? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up. \r\n\t\t\t If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn; and let one interpret.\r\n\t\t\t But if there is no one to interpret, let them be silent in church and speak to themselves and to God.\r\n\t\t\t Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said.\r\n\t\t\t If a revelation is made to someone else sitting nearby, let the first person be silent.\r\n\t\t\t For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged.\r\n\t\t\t And the spirits of prophets are subject to the prophets,\r\n\t\t\t for God is a God not of disorder but of peace. (As in all the churches of the saints,\r\n\t\t\t women should be silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be subordinate, as the law also says.\r\n\t\t\t If there is anything they desire to know, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church. \r\n\t\t\t Or did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only ones it has reached?)\r\n\t\t\t Anyone who claims to be a prophet, or to have spiritual powers, must acknowledge that what I am writing to you is a command of the Lord.\r\n\t\t\t Anyone who does not recognize this is not to be recognized.\r\n\t\t\t So, my friends, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues; \r\n\t\t\t but all things should be done decently and in order.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now I would remind you, brothers and sisters, of the good news that I proclaimed to you, which you in turn received, in which also you stand, \r\n\t\t\t through which also you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message that I proclaimed to you-- unless you have come to believe in vain.\r\n\t\t\t For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures,\r\n\t\t\t and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures,\r\n\t\t\t and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.\r\n\t\t\t Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. \r\n\t\t\t Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.\r\n\t\t\t Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.\r\n\t\t\t For I am the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.\r\n\t\t\t But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me has not been in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them-- though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.\r\n\t\t\t Whether then it was I or they, so we proclaim and so you have come to believe.\r\n\t\t\t Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say there is no resurrection of the dead?\r\n\t\t\t If there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised;\r\n\t\t\t and if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation has been in vain and your faith has been in vain.\r\n\t\t\t We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified of God that he raised Christ-- whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised.\r\n\t\t\t For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised.\r\n\t\t\t If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.\r\n\t\t\t Then those also who have died in Christ have perished. \r\n\t\t\t If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.\r\n\t\t\t But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died. \r\n\t\t\t For since death came through a human being, the resurrection of the dead has also come through a human being;\r\n\t\t\t for as all die in Adam, so all will be made alive in Christ.\r\n\t\t\t But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.\r\n\t\t\t Then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, after he has destroyed every ruler and every authority and power. \r\n\t\t\t For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.\r\n\t\t\t The last enemy to be destroyed is death.\r\n\t\t\t For \"God has put all things in subjection under his feet.\" But when it says, \"All things are put in subjection,\" it is plain that this does not include the one who put all things in subjection under him. \r\n\t\t\t When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to the one who put all things in subjection under him, so that God may be all in all.\r\n\t\t\t Otherwise, what will those people do who receive baptism on behalf of the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized on their behalf?\r\n\t\t\t And why are we putting ourselves in danger every hour?\r\n\t\t\t I die every day! That is as certain, brothers and sisters, as my boasting of you-- a boast that I make in Christ Jesus our Lord.\r\n\t\t\t If with merely human hopes I fought with wild animals at Ephesus, what would I have gained by it? If the dead are not raised, \"Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.\"\r\n\t\t\t Do not be deceived: \"Bad company ruins good morals.\"\r\n\t\t\t Come to a sober and right mind, and sin no more; for some people have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame.\r\n\t\t\t But someone will ask, \"How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?\"\r\n\t\t\t Fool! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies.\r\n\t\t\t And as for what you sow, you do not sow the body that is to be, but a bare seed, perhaps of wheat or of some other grain.\r\n\t\t\t But God gives it a body as he has chosen, and to each kind of seed its own body.\r\n\t\t\t Not all flesh is alike, but there is one flesh for human beings, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish.\r\n\t\t\t There are both heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is one thing, and that of the earthly is another.\r\n\t\t\t There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; indeed, star differs from star in glory.\r\n\t\t\t So it is with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable, what is raised is imperishable.\r\n\t\t\t It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power.\r\n\t\t\t It is sown a physical body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a physical body, there is also a spiritual body.\r\n\t\t\t Thus it is written, \"The first man, Adam, became a living being\"; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit.\r\n\t\t\t But it is not the spiritual that is first, but the physical, and then the spiritual.\r\n\t\t\t The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. \r\n\t\t\t As was the man of dust, so are those who are of the dust; and as is the man of heaven, so are those who are of heaven.\r\n\t\t\t Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we will also bear the image of the man of heaven. \r\n\t\t\t What I am saying, brothers and sisters, is this: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. \r\n\t\t\t Listen, I will tell you a mystery! We will not all die, but we will all be changed, \r\n\t\t\t in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.\r\n\t\t\t For this perishable body must put on imperishability, and this mortal body must put on immortality.\r\n\t\t\t When this perishable body puts on imperishability, and this mortal body puts on immortality, then the saying that is written will be fulfilled: \"Death has been swallowed up in victory.\"\r\n\t\t\t \"Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?\"\r\n\t\t\t The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.\r\n\t\t\t But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore, my beloved, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, because you know that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now concerning the collection for the saints: you should follow the directions I gave to the churches of Galatia.\r\n\t\t\t On the first day of every week, each of you is to put aside and save whatever extra you earn, so that collections need not be taken when I come.\r\n\t\t\t And when I arrive, I will send any whom you approve with letters to take your gift to Jerusalem.\r\n\t\t\t If it seems advisable that I should go also, they will accompany me.\r\n\t\t\t I will visit you after passing through Macedonia-- for I intend to pass through Macedonia--\r\n\t\t\t and perhaps I will stay with you or even spend the winter, so that you may send me on my way, wherever I go.\r\n\t\t\t I do not want to see you now just in passing, for I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits.\r\n\t\t\t But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost,\r\n\t\t\t for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.\r\n\t\t\t If Timothy comes, see that he has nothing to fear among you, for he is doing the work of the Lord just as I am;\r\n\t\t\t therefore let no one despise him. Send him on his way in peace, so that he may come to me; for I am expecting him with the brothers.\r\n\t\t\t Now concerning our brother Apollos, I strongly urged him to visit you with the other brothers, but he was not at all willing to come now. He will come when he has the opportunity. \r\n\t\t\t Keep alert, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong.\r\n\t\t\t Let all that you do be done in love.\r\n\t\t\t Now, brothers and sisters, you know that members of the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints;\r\n\t\t\t I urge you to put yourselves at the service of such people, and of everyone who works and toils with them.\r\n\t\t\t I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, because they have made up for your absence;\r\n\t\t\t for they refreshed my spirit as well as yours. So give recognition to such persons.\r\n\t\t\t The churches of Asia send greetings. Aquila and Prisca, together with the church in their house, greet you warmly in the Lord.\r\n\t\t\t All the brothers and sisters send greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss. \r\n\t\t\t I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand.\r\n\t\t\t Let anyone be accursed who has no love for the Lord. Our Lord, come! \r\n\t\t\t The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.\r\n\t\t\t My love be with all of you in Christ Jesus. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God that is in Corinth, including all the saints throughout Achaia:\r\n\t\t\t Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.\r\n\t\t\t Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all consolation,\r\n\t\t\t who consoles us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to console those who are in any affliction with the consolation with which we ourselves are consoled by God.\r\n\t\t\t For just as the sufferings of Christ are abundant for us, so also our consolation is abundant through Christ.\r\n\t\t\t If we are being afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation; if we are being consoled, it is for your consolation, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we are also suffering.\r\n\t\t\t Our hope for you is unshaken; for we know that as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our consolation.\r\n\t\t\t We do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, of the affliction we experienced in Asia; for we were so utterly, unbearably crushed that we despaired of life itself. \r\n\t\t\t Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death so that we would rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.\r\n\t\t\t He who rescued us from so deadly a peril will continue to rescue us; on him we have set our hope that he will rescue us again,\r\n\t\t\t as you also join in helping us by your prayers, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many. \r\n\t\t\t Indeed, this is our boast, the testimony of our conscience: we have behaved in the world with frankness and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God-- and all the more toward you.\r\n\t\t\t For we write you nothing other than what you can read and also understand; I hope you will understand until the end--\r\n\t\t\t as you have already understood us in part-- that on the day of the Lord Jesus we are your boast even as you are our boast.\r\n\t\t\t Since I was sure of this, I wanted to come to you first, so that you might have a double favor; \r\n\t\t\t I wanted to visit you on my way to Macedonia, and to come back to you from Macedonia and have you send me on to Judea.\r\n\t\t\t Was I vacillating when I wanted to do this? Do I make my plans according to ordinary human standards, ready to say \"Yes, yes\" and \"No, no\" at the same time? \r\n\t\t\t As surely as God is faithful, our word to you has not been \"Yes and No.\"\r\n\t\t\t For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you, Silvanus and Timothy and I, was not \"Yes and No\"; but in him it is always \"Yes.\"\r\n\t\t\t For in him every one of God's promises is a \"Yes.\" For this reason it is through him that we say the \"Amen,\" to the glory of God.\r\n\t\t\t But it is God who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us,\r\n\t\t\t by putting his seal on us and giving us his Spirit in our hearts as a first installment.\r\n\t\t\t But I call on God as witness against me: it was to spare you that I did not come again to Corinth.\r\n\t\t\t I do not mean to imply that we lord it over your faith; rather, we are workers with you for your joy, because you stand firm in the faith.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t So I made up my mind not to make you another painful visit.\r\n\t\t\t For if I cause you pain, who is there to make me glad but the one whom I have pained?\r\n\t\t\t And I wrote as I did, so that when I came, I might not suffer pain from those who should have made me rejoice; for I am confident about all of you, that my joy would be the joy of all of you.\r\n\t\t\t For I wrote you out of much distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain, but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you.\r\n\t\t\t But if anyone has caused pain, he has caused it not to me, but to some extent-- not to exaggerate it-- to all of you.\r\n\t\t\t This punishment by the majority is enough for such a person;\r\n\t\t\t so now instead you should forgive and console him, so that he may not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.\r\n\t\t\t So I urge you to reaffirm your love for him.\r\n\t\t\t I wrote for this reason: to test you and to know whether you are obedient in everything.\r\n\t\t\t Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. What I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ.\r\n\t\t\t And we do this so that we may not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.\r\n\t\t\t When I came to Troas to proclaim the good news of Christ, a door was opened for me in the Lord;\r\n\t\t\t but my mind could not rest because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I said farewell to them and went on to Macedonia.\r\n\t\t\t But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads in every place the fragrance that comes from knowing him.\r\n\t\t\t For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing;\r\n\t\t\t to the one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?\r\n\t\t\t For we are not peddlers of God's word like so many; but in Christ we speak as persons of sincerity, as persons sent from God and standing in his presence.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Surely we do not need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you or from you, do we?\r\n\t\t\t You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all; \r\n\t\t\t and you show that you are a letter of Christ, prepared by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.\r\n\t\t\t Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God.\r\n\t\t\t Not that we are competent of ourselves to claim anything as coming from us; our competence is from God,\r\n\t\t\t who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of letter but of spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.\r\n\t\t\t Now if the ministry of death, chiseled in letters on stone tablets, came in glory so that the people of Israel could not gaze at Moses' face because of the glory of his face, a glory now set aside, \r\n\t\t\t how much more will the ministry of the Spirit come in glory?\r\n\t\t\t For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, much more does the ministry of justification abound in glory!\r\n\t\t\t Indeed, what once had glory has lost its glory because of the greater glory;\r\n\t\t\t for if what was set aside came through glory, much more has the permanent come in glory!\r\n\t\t\t Since, then, we have such a hope, we act with great boldness,\r\n\t\t\t not like Moses, who put a veil over his face to keep the people of Israel from gazing at the end of the glory that was being set aside. \r\n\t\t\t But their minds were hardened. Indeed, to this very day, when they hear the reading of the old covenant, that same veil is still there, since only in Christ is it set aside.\r\n\t\t\t Indeed, to this very day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their minds;\r\n\t\t\t but when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed.\r\n\t\t\t Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.\r\n\t\t\t And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Therefore, since it is by God's mercy that we are engaged in this ministry, we do not lose heart.\r\n\t\t\t We have renounced the shameful things that one hides; we refuse to practice cunning or to falsify God's word; but by the open statement of the truth we commend ourselves to the conscience of everyone in the sight of God.\r\n\t\t\t And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.\r\n\t\t\t In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.\r\n\t\t\t For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus' sake.\r\n\t\t\t For it is the God who said, \"Let light shine out of darkness,\" who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.\r\n\t\t\t But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us.\r\n\t\t\t We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair;\r\n\t\t\t persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;\r\n\t\t\t always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our bodies.\r\n\t\t\t For while we live, we are always being given up to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus may be made visible in our mortal flesh.\r\n\t\t\t So death is at work in us, but life in you.\r\n\t\t\t But just as we have the same spirit of faith that is in accordance with scripture-- \"I believed, and so I spoke\"-- we also believe, and so we speak,\r\n\t\t\t because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus, and will bring us with you into his presence.\r\n\t\t\t Yes, everything is for your sake, so that grace, as it extends to more and more people, may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.\r\n\t\t\t So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day.\r\n\t\t\t For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure,\r\n\t\t\t because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.\r\n\t\t\t For in this tent we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling--\r\n\t\t\t if indeed, when we have taken it off we will not be found naked. \r\n\t\t\t For while we are still in this tent, we groan under our burden, because we wish not to be unclothed but to be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.\r\n\t\t\t He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.\r\n\t\t\t So we are always confident; even though we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord--\r\n\t\t\t for we walk by faith, not by sight.\r\n\t\t\t Yes, we do have confidence, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.\r\n\t\t\t So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.\r\n\t\t\t For all of us must appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may receive recompense for what has been done in the body, whether good or evil.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we try to persuade others; but we ourselves are well known to God, and I hope that we are also well known to your consciences.\r\n\t\t\t We are not commending ourselves to you again, but giving you an opportunity to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast in outward appearance and not in the heart.\r\n\t\t\t For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you.\r\n\t\t\t For the love of Christ urges us on, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died.\r\n\t\t\t And he died for all, so that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for him who died and was raised for them.\r\n\t\t\t From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way. \r\n\t\t\t So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!\r\n\t\t\t All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation;\r\n\t\t\t that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. \r\n\t\t\t So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.\r\n\t\t\t For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t As we work together with him, we urge you also not to accept the grace of God in vain. \r\n\t\t\t For he says, \"At an acceptable time I have listened to you, and on a day of salvation I have helped you.\" See, now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation!\r\n\t\t\t We are putting no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry,\r\n\t\t\t but as servants of God we have commended ourselves in every way: through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities,\r\n\t\t\t beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger;\r\n\t\t\t by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, holiness of spirit, genuine love,\r\n\t\t\t truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left;\r\n\t\t\t in honor and dishonor, in ill repute and good repute. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true;\r\n\t\t\t as unknown, and yet are well known; as dying, and see-- we are alive; as punished, and yet not killed;\r\n\t\t\t as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.\r\n\t\t\t We have spoken frankly to you Corinthians; our heart is wide open to you.\r\n\t\t\t There is no restriction in our affections, but only in yours.\r\n\t\t\t In return-- I speak as to children-- open wide your hearts also.\r\n\t\t\t Do not be mismatched with unbelievers. For what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness? Or what fellowship is there between light and darkness?\r\n\t\t\t What agreement does Christ have with Beliar? Or what does a believer share with an unbeliever?\r\n\t\t\t What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, \"I will live in them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. \r\n\t\t\t Therefore come out from them, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch nothing unclean; then I will welcome you,\r\n\t\t\t and I will be your father, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and of spirit, making holiness perfect in the fear of God.\r\n\t\t\t Make room in your hearts for us; we have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have taken advantage of no one. \r\n\t\t\t I do not say this to condemn you, for I said before that you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together.\r\n\t\t\t I often boast about you; I have great pride in you; I am filled with consolation; I am overjoyed in all our affliction.\r\n\t\t\t For even when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted in every way-- disputes without and fears within.\r\n\t\t\t But God, who consoles the downcast, consoled us by the arrival of Titus,\r\n\t\t\t and not only by his coming, but also by the consolation with which he was consoled about you, as he told us of your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced still more.\r\n\t\t\t For even if I made you sorry with my letter, I do not regret it (though I did regret it, for I see that I grieved you with that letter, though only briefly).\r\n\t\t\t Now I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because your grief led to repentance; for you felt a godly grief, so that you were not harmed in any way by us.\r\n\t\t\t For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation and brings no regret, but worldly grief produces death.\r\n\t\t\t For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves guiltless in the matter.\r\n\t\t\t So although I wrote to you, it was not on account of the one who did the wrong, nor on account of the one who was wronged, but in order that your zeal for us might be made known to you before God.\r\n\t\t\t In this we find comfort. In addition to our own consolation, we rejoiced still more at the joy of Titus, because his mind has been set at rest by all of you.\r\n\t\t\t For if I have been somewhat boastful about you to him, I was not disgraced; but just as everything we said to you was true, so our boasting to Titus has proved true as well.\r\n\t\t\t And his heart goes out all the more to you, as he remembers the obedience of all of you, and how you welcomed him with fear and trembling.\r\n\t\t\t I rejoice, because I have complete confidence in you.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t We want you to know, brothers and sisters, about the grace of God that has been granted to the churches of Macedonia; \r\n\t\t\t for during a severe ordeal of affliction, their abundant joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.\r\n\t\t\t For, as I can testify, they voluntarily gave according to their means, and even beyond their means,\r\n\t\t\t begging us earnestly for the privilege of sharing in this ministry to the saints--\r\n\t\t\t and this, not merely as we expected; they gave themselves first to the Lord and, by the will of God, to us,\r\n\t\t\t so that we might urge Titus that, as he had already made a beginning, so he should also complete this generous undertaking among you. \r\n\t\t\t Now as you excel in everything-- in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in utmost eagerness, and in our love for you-- so we want you to excel also in this generous undertaking.\r\n\t\t\t I do not say this as a command, but I am testing the genuineness of your love against the earnestness of others.\r\n\t\t\t For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich. \r\n\t\t\t And in this matter I am giving my advice: it is appropriate for you who began last year not only to do something but even to desire to do something--\r\n\t\t\t now finish doing it, so that your eagerness may be matched by completing it according to your means.\r\n\t\t\t For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has-- not according to what one does not have.\r\n\t\t\t I do not mean that there should be relief for others and pressure on you, but it is a question of a fair balance between\r\n\t\t\t your present abundance and their need, so that their abundance may be for your need, in order that there may be a fair balance.\r\n\t\t\t As it is written, \"The one who had much did not have too much, and the one who had little did not have too little.\"\r\n\t\t\t But thanks be to God who put in the heart of Titus the same eagerness for you that I myself have.\r\n\t\t\t For he not only accepted our appeal, but since he is more eager than ever, he is going to you of his own accord.\r\n\t\t\t With him we are sending the brother who is famous among all the churches for his proclaiming the good news; \r\n\t\t\t and not only that, but he has also been appointed by the churches to travel with us while we are administering this generous undertaking for the glory of the Lord himself and to show our goodwill. \r\n\t\t\t We intend that no one should blame us about this generous gift that we are administering,\r\n\t\t\t for we intend to do what is right not only in the Lord's sight but also in the sight of others.\r\n\t\t\t And with them we are sending our brother whom we have often tested and found eager in many matters, but who is now more eager than ever because of his great confidence in you.\r\n\t\t\t As for Titus, he is my partner and co-worker in your service; as for our brothers, they are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ. \r\n\t\t\t Therefore openly before the churches, show them the proof of your love and of our reason for boasting about you.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now it is not necessary for me to write you about the ministry to the saints,\r\n\t\t\t for I know your eagerness, which is the subject of my boasting about you to the people of Macedonia, saying that Achaia has been ready since last year; and your zeal has stirred up most of them.\r\n\t\t\t But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you may not prove to have been empty in this case, so that you may be ready, as I said you would be;\r\n\t\t\t otherwise, if some Macedonians come with me and find that you are not ready, we would be humiliated-- to say nothing of you-- in this undertaking.\r\n\t\t\t So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you, and arrange in advance for this bountiful gift that you have promised, so that it may be ready as a voluntary gift and not as an extortion.\r\n\t\t\t The point is this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.\r\n\t\t\t Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.\r\n\t\t\t And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work.\r\n\t\t\t As it is written, \"He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.\" \r\n\t\t\t He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. \r\n\t\t\t You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity, which will produce thanksgiving to God through us;\r\n\t\t\t for the rendering of this ministry not only supplies the needs of the saints but also overflows with many thanksgivings to God.\r\n\t\t\t Through the testing of this ministry you glorify God by your obedience to the confession of the gospel of Christ and by the generosity of your sharing with them and with all others,\r\n\t\t\t while they long for you and pray for you because of the surpassing grace of God that he has given you.\r\n\t\t\t Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t I myself, Paul, appeal to you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ-- I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I am away!--\r\n\t\t\t I ask that when I am present I need not show boldness by daring to oppose those who think we are acting according to human standards. \r\n\t\t\t Indeed, we live as human beings, but we do not wage war according to human standards; \r\n\t\t\t for the weapons of our warfare are not merely human, but they have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments \r\n\t\t\t and every proud obstacle raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to obey Christ.\r\n\t\t\t We are ready to punish every disobedience when your obedience is complete.\r\n\t\t\t Look at what is before your eyes. If you are confident that you belong to Christ, remind yourself of this, that just as you belong to Christ, so also do we.\r\n\t\t\t Now, even if I boast a little too much of our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for tearing you down, I will not be ashamed of it.\r\n\t\t\t I do not want to seem as though I am trying to frighten you with my letters.\r\n\t\t\t For they say, \"His letters are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.\"\r\n\t\t\t Let such people understand that what we say by letter when absent, we will also do when present.\r\n\t\t\t We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another, and compare themselves with one another, they do not show good sense.\r\n\t\t\t We, however, will not boast beyond limits, but will keep within the field that God has assigned to us, to reach out even as far as you.\r\n\t\t\t For we were not overstepping our limits when we reached you; we were the first to come all the way to you with the good news of Christ. \r\n\t\t\t We do not boast beyond limits, that is, in the labors of others; but our hope is that, as your faith increases, our sphere of action among you may be greatly enlarged,\r\n\t\t\t so that we may proclaim the good news in lands beyond you, without boasting of work already done in someone else's sphere of action. \r\n\t\t\t \"Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.\"\r\n\t\t\t For it is not those who commend themselves that are approved, but those whom the Lord commends.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t I wish you would bear with me in a little foolishness. Do bear with me!\r\n\t\t\t I feel a divine jealousy for you, for I promised you in marriage to one husband, to present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.\r\n\t\t\t But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by its cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. \r\n\t\t\t For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you submit to it readily enough.\r\n\t\t\t I think that I am not in the least inferior to these super-apostles.\r\n\t\t\t I may be untrained in speech, but not in knowledge; certainly in every way and in all things we have made this evident to you.\r\n\t\t\t Did I commit a sin by humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I proclaimed God's good news to you free of charge? \r\n\t\t\t I robbed other churches by accepting support from them in order to serve you.\r\n\t\t\t And when I was with you and was in need, I did not burden anyone, for my needs were supplied by the friends who came from Macedonia. So I refrained and will continue to refrain from burdening you in any way. \r\n\t\t\t As the truth of Christ is in me, this boast of mine will not be silenced in the regions of Achaia.\r\n\t\t\t And why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!\r\n\t\t\t And what I do I will also continue to do, in order to deny an opportunity to those who want an opportunity to be recognized as our equals in what they boast about.\r\n\t\t\t For such boasters are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.\r\n\t\t\t And no wonder! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.\r\n\t\t\t So it is not strange if his ministers also disguise themselves as ministers of righteousness. Their end will match their deeds.\r\n\t\t\t I repeat, let no one think that I am a fool; but if you do, then accept me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little.\r\n\t\t\t What I am saying in regard to this boastful confidence, I am saying not with the Lord's authority, but as a fool;\r\n\t\t\t since many boast according to human standards, I will also boast. \r\n\t\t\t For you gladly put up with fools, being wise yourselves!\r\n\t\t\t For you put up with it when someone makes slaves of you, or preys upon you, or takes advantage of you, or puts on airs, or gives you a slap in the face.\r\n\t\t\t To my shame, I must say, we were too weak for that! But whatever anyone dares to boast of-- I am speaking as a fool-- I also dare to boast of that.\r\n\t\t\t Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I.\r\n\t\t\t Are they ministers of Christ? I am talking like a madman-- I am a better one: with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless floggings, and often near death.\r\n\t\t\t Five times I have received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one.\r\n\t\t\t Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I received a stoning. Three times I was shipwrecked; for a night and a day I was adrift at sea;\r\n\t\t\t on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from bandits, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers and sisters; \r\n\t\t\t in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, hungry and thirsty, often without food, cold and naked.\r\n\t\t\t And, besides other things, I am under daily pressure because of my anxiety for all the churches.\r\n\t\t\t Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I am not indignant?\r\n\t\t\t If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.\r\n\t\t\t The God and Father of the Lord Jesus (blessed be he forever!) knows that I do not lie.\r\n\t\t\t In Damascus, the governor under King Aretas guarded the city of Damascus in order to seize me,\r\n\t\t\t but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and escaped from his hands. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t It is necessary to boast; nothing is to be gained by it, but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord.\r\n\t\t\t I know a person in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven-- whether in the body or out of the body I do not know; God knows.\r\n\t\t\t And I know that such a person-- whether in the body or out of the body I do not know; God knows--\r\n\t\t\t was caught up into Paradise and heard things that are not to be told, that no mortal is permitted to repeat.\r\n\t\t\t On behalf of such a one I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses.\r\n\t\t\t But if I wish to boast, I will not be a fool, for I will be speaking the truth. But I refrain from it, so that no one may think better of me than what is seen in me or heard from me,\r\n\t\t\t even considering the exceptional character of the revelations. Therefore, to keep me from being too elated, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, to keep me from being too elated.\r\n\t\t\t Three times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would leave me,\r\n\t\t\t but he said to me, \"My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.\" So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. \r\n\t\t\t Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.\r\n\t\t\t I have been a fool! You forced me to it. Indeed you should have been the ones commending me, for I am not at all inferior to these super-apostles, even though I am nothing.\r\n\t\t\t The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, signs and wonders and mighty works.\r\n\t\t\t How have you been worse off than the other churches, except that I myself did not burden you? Forgive me this wrong!\r\n\t\t\t Here I am, ready to come to you this third time. And I will not be a burden, because I do not want what is yours but you; for children ought not to lay up for their parents, but parents for their children.\r\n\t\t\t I will most gladly spend and be spent for you. If I love you more, am I to be loved less?\r\n\t\t\t Let it be assumed that I did not burden you. Nevertheless (you say) since I was crafty, I took you in by deceit.\r\n\t\t\t Did I take advantage of you through any of those whom I sent to you?\r\n\t\t\t I urged Titus to go, and sent the brother with him. Titus did not take advantage of you, did he? Did we not conduct ourselves with the same spirit? Did we not take the same steps?\r\n\t\t\t Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves before you? We are speaking in Christ before God. Everything we do, beloved, is for the sake of building you up.\r\n\t\t\t For I fear that when I come, I may find you not as I wish, and that you may find me not as you wish; I fear that there may perhaps be quarreling, jealousy, anger, selfishness, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder.\r\n\t\t\t I fear that when I come again, my God may humble me before you, and that I may have to mourn over many who previously sinned and have not repented of the impurity, sexual immorality, and licentiousness that they have practiced.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t This is the third time I am coming to you. \"Any charge must be sustained by the evidence of two or three witnesses.\"\r\n\t\t\t I warned those who sinned previously and all the others, and I warn them now while absent, as I did when present on my second visit, that if I come again, I will not be lenient--\r\n\t\t\t since you desire proof that Christ is speaking in me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful in you.\r\n\t\t\t For he was crucified in weakness, but lives by the power of God. For we are weak in him, but in dealing with you we will live with him by the power of God. \r\n\t\t\t Examine yourselves to see whether you are living in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not realize that Jesus Christ is in you?-- unless, indeed, you fail to meet the test!\r\n\t\t\t I hope you will find out that we have not failed.\r\n\t\t\t But we pray to God that you may not do anything wrong-- not that we may appear to have met the test, but that you may do what is right, though we may seem to have failed.\r\n\t\t\t For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth.\r\n\t\t\t For we rejoice when we are weak and you are strong. This is what we pray for, that you may become perfect.\r\n\t\t\t So I write these things while I am away from you, so that when I come, I may not have to be severe in using the authority that the Lord has given me for building up and not for tearing down.\r\n\t\t\t Finally, brothers and sisters, farewell. Put things in order, listen to my appeal, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. \r\n\t\t\t Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you.\r\n\t\t\t The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Paul an apostle-- sent neither by human commission nor from human authorities, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead--\r\n\t\t\t and all the members of God's family who are with me, To the churches of Galatia: \r\n\t\t\t Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,\r\n\t\t\t who gave himself for our sins to set us free from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,\r\n\t\t\t to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.\r\n\t\t\t I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel--\r\n\t\t\t not that there is another gospel, but there are some who are confusing you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ.\r\n\t\t\t But even if we or an angel from heaven should proclaim to you a gospel contrary to what we proclaimed to you, let that one be accursed! \r\n\t\t\t As we have said before, so now I repeat, if anyone proclaims to you a gospel contrary to what you received, let that one be accursed!\r\n\t\t\t Am I now seeking human approval, or God's approval? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still pleasing people, I would not be a servant of Christ.\r\n\t\t\t For I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel that was proclaimed by me is not of human origin; \r\n\t\t\t for I did not receive it from a human source, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.\r\n\t\t\t You have heard, no doubt, of my earlier life in Judaism. I was violently persecuting the church of God and was trying to destroy it.\r\n\t\t\t I advanced in Judaism beyond many among my people of the same age, for I was far more zealous for the traditions of my ancestors.\r\n\t\t\t But when God, who had set me apart before I was born and called me through his grace, was pleased\r\n\t\t\t to reveal his Son to me, so that I might proclaim him among the Gentiles, I did not confer with any human being, \r\n\t\t\t nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were already apostles before me, but I went away at once into Arabia, and afterwards I returned to Damascus.\r\n\t\t\t Then after three years I did go up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and stayed with him fifteen days;\r\n\t\t\t but I did not see any other apostle except James the Lord's brother.\r\n\t\t\t In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie!\r\n\t\t\t Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia,\r\n\t\t\t and I was still unknown by sight to the churches of Judea that are in Christ;\r\n\t\t\t they only heard it said, \"The one who formerly was persecuting us is now proclaiming the faith he once tried to destroy.\"\r\n\t\t\t And they glorified God because of me.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me.\r\n\t\t\t I went up in response to a revelation. Then I laid before them (though only in a private meeting with the acknowledged leaders) the gospel that I proclaim among the Gentiles, in order to make sure that I was not running, or had not run, in vain.\r\n\t\t\t But even Titus, who was with me, was not compelled to be circumcised, though he was a Greek.\r\n\t\t\t But because of false believers secretly brought in, who slipped in to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might enslave us--\r\n\t\t\t we did not submit to them even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might always remain with you.\r\n\t\t\t And from those who were supposed to be acknowledged leaders (what they actually were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)-- those leaders contributed nothing to me.\r\n\t\t\t On the contrary, when 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\r\n\t\t\t (for he who worked through Peter making him an apostle to the circumcised also worked through me in sending me to the Gentiles),\r\n\t\t\t and when James and Cephas and John, who were acknowledged pillars, recognized the grace that had been given to me, they gave to Barnabas and me the right hand of fellowship, agreeing that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.\r\n\t\t\t They asked only one thing, that we remember the poor, which was actually what I was eager to do. \r\n\t\t\t But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood self-condemned;\r\n\t\t\t for until certain people came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But after they came, he drew back and kept himself separate for fear of the circumcision faction.\r\n\t\t\t And the other Jews joined him in this hypocrisy, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy.\r\n\t\t\t But when I saw that they were not acting consistently with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, \"If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?\" \r\n\t\t\t We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners;\r\n\t\t\t yet we know that a person is justified not by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ. And we have come to believe in Christ Jesus, so that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by doing the works of the law, because no one will be justified by the works of the law. \r\n\t\t\t But if, in our effort to be justified in Christ, we ourselves have been found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not!\r\n\t\t\t But if I build up again the very things that I once tore down, then I demonstrate that I am a transgressor.\r\n\t\t\t For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ;\r\n\t\t\t and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. \r\n\t\t\t I do not nullify the grace of God; for if justification comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly exhibited as crucified!\r\n\t\t\t The only thing I want to learn from you is this: Did you receive the Spirit by doing the works of the law or by believing what you heard?\r\n\t\t\t Are you so foolish? Having started with the Spirit, are you now ending with the flesh?\r\n\t\t\t Did you experience so much for nothing?-- if it really was for nothing.\r\n\t\t\t Well then, does God supply you with the Spirit and work miracles among you by your doing the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard? \r\n\t\t\t Just as Abraham \"believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,\"\r\n\t\t\t so, you see, those who believe are the descendants of Abraham.\r\n\t\t\t And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, declared the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, \"All the Gentiles shall be blessed in you.\"\r\n\t\t\t For this reason, those who believe are blessed with Abraham who believed.\r\n\t\t\t For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, \"Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all the things written in the book of the law.\"\r\n\t\t\t Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law; for \"The one who is righteous will live by faith.\" \r\n\t\t\t But the law does not rest on faith; on the contrary, \"Whoever does the works of the law will live by them.\" \r\n\t\t\t Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us-- for it is written, \"Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree\"--\r\n\t\t\t in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.\r\n\t\t\t Brothers and sisters, I give an example from daily life: once a person's will has been ratified, no one adds to it or annuls it. \r\n\t\t\t Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring; it does not say, \"And to offsprings,\" as of many; but it says, \"And to your offspring,\" that is, to one person, who is Christ. \r\n\t\t\t My point is this: the law, which came four hundred thirty years later, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise.\r\n\t\t\t For if the inheritance comes from the law, it no longer comes from the promise; but God granted it to Abraham through the promise.\r\n\t\t\t Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring would come to whom the promise had been made; and it was ordained through angels by a mediator. \r\n\t\t\t Now a mediator involves more than one party; but God is one.\r\n\t\t\t Is the law then opposed to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could make alive, then righteousness would indeed come through the law.\r\n\t\t\t But the scripture has imprisoned all things under the power of sin, so that what was promised through faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. \r\n\t\t\t Now before faith came, we were imprisoned and guarded under the law until faith would be revealed.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore the law was our disciplinarian until Christ came, so that we might be justified by faith.\r\n\t\t\t But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian,\r\n\t\t\t for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith.\r\n\t\t\t As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.\r\n\t\t\t There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.\r\n\t\t\t And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to the promise. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t My point is this: heirs, as long as they are minors, are no better than slaves, though they are the owners of all the property;\r\n\t\t\t but they remain under guardians and trustees until the date set by the father.\r\n\t\t\t So with us; while we were minors, we were enslaved to the elemental spirits of the world. \r\n\t\t\t But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,\r\n\t\t\t in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children.\r\n\t\t\t And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, \"Abba! Father!\" \r\n\t\t\t So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God. \r\n\t\t\t Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to beings that by nature are not gods.\r\n\t\t\t Now, however, that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and beggarly elemental spirits? How can you want to be enslaved to them again? \r\n\t\t\t You are observing special days, and months, and seasons, and years.\r\n\t\t\t I am afraid that my work for you may have been wasted.\r\n\t\t\t Friends, I beg you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You have done me no wrong. \r\n\t\t\t You know that it was because of a physical infirmity that I first announced the gospel to you;\r\n\t\t\t though my condition put you to the test, you did not scorn or despise me, but welcomed me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus.\r\n\t\t\t What has become of the goodwill you felt? For I testify that, had it been possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me.\r\n\t\t\t Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?\r\n\t\t\t They make much of you, but for no good purpose; they want to exclude you, so that you may make much of them.\r\n\t\t\t It is good to be made much of for a good purpose at all times, and not only when I am present with you.\r\n\t\t\t My little children, for whom I am again in the pain of childbirth until Christ is formed in you,\r\n\t\t\t I wish I were present with you now and could change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.\r\n\t\t\t Tell me, you who desire to be subject to the law, will you not listen to the law?\r\n\t\t\t For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and the other by a free woman.\r\n\t\t\t One, the child of the slave, was born according to the flesh; the other, the child of the free woman, was born through the promise.\r\n\t\t\t Now this is an allegory: these women are two covenants. One woman, in fact, is Hagar, from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery.\r\n\t\t\t Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. \r\n\t\t\t But the other woman corresponds to the Jerusalem above; she is free, and she is our mother.\r\n\t\t\t For it is written, \"Rejoice, you childless one, you who bear no children, burst into song and shout, you who endure no birth pangs; for the children of the desolate woman are more numerous than the children of the one who is married.\"\r\n\t\t\t Now you, my friends, are children of the promise, like Isaac. \r\n\t\t\t But just as at that time the child who was born according to the flesh persecuted the child who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now also.\r\n\t\t\t But what does the scripture say? \"Drive out the slave and her child; for the child of the slave will not share the inheritance with the child of the free woman.\"\r\n\t\t\t So then, friends, we are children, not of the slave but of the free woman. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.\r\n\t\t\t Listen! I, Paul, am telling you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you.\r\n\t\t\t Once again I testify to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obliged to obey the entire law.\r\n\t\t\t You who want to be justified by the law have cut yourselves off from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.\r\n\t\t\t For through the Spirit, by faith, we eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness.\r\n\t\t\t For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything; the only thing that counts is faith working through love. \r\n\t\t\t You were running well; who prevented you from obeying the truth?\r\n\t\t\t Such persuasion does not come from the one who calls you.\r\n\t\t\t A little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough.\r\n\t\t\t I am confident about you in the Lord that you will not think otherwise. But whoever it is that is confusing you will pay the penalty.\r\n\t\t\t But my friends, why am I still being persecuted if I am still preaching circumcision? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed. \r\n\t\t\t I wish those who unsettle you would castrate themselves!\r\n\t\t\t For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another. \r\n\t\t\t For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, \"You shall love your neighbor as yourself.\"\r\n\t\t\t If, however, you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.\r\n\t\t\t Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh.\r\n\t\t\t For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you want.\r\n\t\t\t But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the law.\r\n\t\t\t Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness,\r\n\t\t\t idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions,\r\n\t\t\t envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. \r\n\t\t\t By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness,\r\n\t\t\t gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things.\r\n\t\t\t And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.\r\n\t\t\t If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit.\r\n\t\t\t Let us not become conceited, competing against one another, envying one another.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t My friends, if anyone is detected in a transgression, you who have received the Spirit should restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness. Take care that you yourselves are not tempted. \r\n\t\t\t Bear one another's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. \r\n\t\t\t For if those who are nothing think they are something, they deceive themselves.\r\n\t\t\t All must test their own work; then that work, rather than their neighbor's work, will become a cause for pride.\r\n\t\t\t For all must carry their own loads.\r\n\t\t\t Those who are taught the word must share in all good things with their teacher.\r\n\t\t\t Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow.\r\n\t\t\t If you sow to your own flesh, you will reap corruption from the flesh; but if you sow to the Spirit, you will reap eternal life from the Spirit.\r\n\t\t\t So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up.\r\n\t\t\t So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith.\r\n\t\t\t See what large letters I make when I am writing in my own hand!\r\n\t\t\t It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh that try to compel you to be circumcised-- only that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.\r\n\t\t\t Even the circumcised do not themselves obey the law, but they want you to be circumcised so that they may boast about your flesh.\r\n\t\t\t May I never boast of anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. \r\n\t\t\t For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is anything; but a new creation is everything! \r\n\t\t\t As for those who will follow this rule-- peace be upon them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.\r\n\t\t\t From now on, let no one make trouble for me; for I carry the marks of Jesus branded on my body.\r\n\t\t\t May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus and are faithful in Christ Jesus: \r\n\t\t\t Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.\r\n\t\t\t Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,\r\n\t\t\t just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. \r\n\t\t\t He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will,\r\n\t\t\t to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.\r\n\t\t\t In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace\r\n\t\t\t that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and insight\r\n\t\t\t he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ,\r\n\t\t\t as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.\r\n\t\t\t In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, \r\n\t\t\t so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory.\r\n\t\t\t In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit;\r\n\t\t\t this is the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as God's own people, to the praise of his glory. \r\n\t\t\t I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason\r\n\t\t\t I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers.\r\n\t\t\t I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him,\r\n\t\t\t so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints,\r\n\t\t\t and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power.\r\n\t\t\t God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, \r\n\t\t\t far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come.\r\n\t\t\t And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church,\r\n\t\t\t which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t You were dead through the trespasses and sins\r\n\t\t\t in which you once lived, following the course of this world, following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work among those who are disobedient.\r\n\t\t\t All of us once lived among them in the passions of our flesh, following the desires of flesh and senses, and we were by nature children of wrath, like everyone else.\r\n\t\t\t But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us\r\n\t\t\t even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ-- by grace you have been saved--\r\n\t\t\t and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,\r\n\t\t\t so that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.\r\n\t\t\t For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God--\r\n\t\t\t not the result of works, so that no one may boast.\r\n\t\t\t For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.\r\n\t\t\t So then, remember that at one time you Gentiles by birth, called \"the uncircumcision\" by those who are called \"the circumcision\"-- a physical circumcision made in the flesh by human hands--\r\n\t\t\t remember that you were at that time without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.\r\n\t\t\t But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.\r\n\t\t\t For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us.\r\n\t\t\t He has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace,\r\n\t\t\t and might reconcile both groups to God in one body through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it. \r\n\t\t\t So he came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near;\r\n\t\t\t for through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father.\r\n\t\t\t So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God,\r\n\t\t\t built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. \r\n\t\t\t In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord;\r\n\t\t\t in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t This is the reason that I Paul am a prisoner for Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles--\r\n\t\t\t for surely you have already heard of the commission of God's grace that was given me for you,\r\n\t\t\t and how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I wrote above in a few words,\r\n\t\t\t a reading of which will enable you to perceive my understanding of the mystery of Christ.\r\n\t\t\t In former generations this mystery was not made known to humankind, as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: \r\n\t\t\t that is, the Gentiles have become fellow heirs, members of the same body, and sharers in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.\r\n\t\t\t Of this gospel I have become a servant according to the gift of God's grace that was given me by the working of his power.\r\n\t\t\t Although I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given to me to bring to the Gentiles the news of the boundless riches of Christ,\r\n\t\t\t and to make everyone see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things; \r\n\t\t\t so that through the church the wisdom of God in its rich variety might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.\r\n\t\t\t This was in accordance with the eternal purpose that he has carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord,\r\n\t\t\t in whom we have access to God in boldness and confidence through faith in him. \r\n\t\t\t I pray therefore that you may not lose heart over my sufferings for you; they are your glory. \r\n\t\t\t For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, \r\n\t\t\t from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name. \r\n\t\t\t I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit,\r\n\t\t\t and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love.\r\n\t\t\t I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth,\r\n\t\t\t and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.\r\n\t\t\t Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine,\r\n\t\t\t to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called,\r\n\t\t\t with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,\r\n\t\t\t making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.\r\n\t\t\t There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling,\r\n\t\t\t one Lord, one faith, one baptism,\r\n\t\t\t one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.\r\n\t\t\t But each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ's gift.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore it is said, \"When he ascended on high he made captivity itself a captive; he gave gifts to his people.\"\r\n\t\t\t (When it says, \"He ascended,\" what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth? \r\n\t\t\t He who descended is the same one who ascended far above all the heavens, so that he might fill all things.)\r\n\t\t\t The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers,\r\n\t\t\t to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,\r\n\t\t\t until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ.\r\n\t\t\t We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people's trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming.\r\n\t\t\t But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,\r\n\t\t\t from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body's growth in building itself up in love.\r\n\t\t\t Now this I affirm and insist on in the Lord: you must no longer live as the Gentiles live, in the futility of their minds.\r\n\t\t\t They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of their ignorance and hardness of heart.\r\n\t\t\t They have lost all sensitivity and have abandoned themselves to licentiousness, greedy to practice every kind of impurity.\r\n\t\t\t That is not the way you learned Christ!\r\n\t\t\t For surely you have heard about him and were taught in him, as truth is in Jesus.\r\n\t\t\t You were taught to put away your former way of life, your old self, corrupt and deluded by its lusts,\r\n\t\t\t and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds,\r\n\t\t\t and to clothe yourselves with the new self, created according to the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.\r\n\t\t\t So then, putting away falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to our neighbors, for we are members of one another.\r\n\t\t\t Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,\r\n\t\t\t and do not make room for the devil.\r\n\t\t\t Thieves must give up stealing; rather let them labor and work honestly with their own hands, so as to have something to share with the needy.\r\n\t\t\t Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear. \r\n\t\t\t And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were marked with a seal for the day of redemption.\r\n\t\t\t Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice,\r\n\t\t\t and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children,\r\n\t\t\t and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. \r\n\t\t\t But fornication and impurity of any kind, or greed, must not even be mentioned among you, as is proper among saints.\r\n\t\t\t Entirely out of place is obscene, silly, and vulgar talk; but instead, let there be thanksgiving.\r\n\t\t\t Be sure of this, that no fornicator or impure person, or one who is greedy (that is, an idolater), has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.\r\n\t\t\t Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes on those who are disobedient.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore do not be associated with them.\r\n\t\t\t For once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light--\r\n\t\t\t for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true.\r\n\t\t\t Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord.\r\n\t\t\t Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.\r\n\t\t\t For it is shameful even to mention what such people do secretly;\r\n\t\t\t but everything exposed by the light becomes visible,\r\n\t\t\t for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, \"Sleeper, awake! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.\"\r\n\t\t\t Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise,\r\n\t\t\t making the most of the time, because the days are evil.\r\n\t\t\t So do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.\r\n\t\t\t Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit,\r\n\t\t\t as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts,\r\n\t\t\t giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.\r\n\t\t\t Be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ.\r\n\t\t\t Wives, be subject to your husbands as you are to the Lord.\r\n\t\t\t For the husband is the head of the wife just as Christ is the head of the church, the body of which he is the Savior.\r\n\t\t\t Just as the church is subject to Christ, so also wives ought to be, in everything, to their husbands.\r\n\t\t\t Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,\r\n\t\t\t in order to make her holy by cleansing her with the washing of water by the word,\r\n\t\t\t so as to present the church to himself in splendor, without a spot or wrinkle or anything of the kind-- yes, so that she may be holy and without blemish.\r\n\t\t\t In the same way, husbands should love their wives as they do their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.\r\n\t\t\t For no one ever hates his own body, but he nourishes and tenderly cares for it, just as Christ does for the church,\r\n\t\t\t because we are members of his body. \r\n\t\t\t \"For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.\"\r\n\t\t\t This is a great mystery, and I am applying it to Christ and the church.\r\n\t\t\t Each of you, however, should love his wife as himself, and a wife should respect her husband.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. \r\n\t\t\t \"Honor your father and mother\"-- this is the first commandment with a promise:\r\n\t\t\t \"so that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.\"\r\n\t\t\t And, fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.\r\n\t\t\t Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, in singleness of heart, as you obey Christ;\r\n\t\t\t not only while being watched, and in order to please them, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.\r\n\t\t\t Render service with enthusiasm, as to the Lord and not to men and women,\r\n\t\t\t knowing that whatever good we do, we will receive the same again from the Lord, whether we are slaves or free.\r\n\t\t\t And, masters, do the same to them. Stop threatening them, for you know that both of you have the same Master in heaven, and with him there is no partiality.\r\n\t\t\t Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power.\r\n\t\t\t Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.\r\n\t\t\t For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. \r\n\t\t\t Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.\r\n\t\t\t Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness.\r\n\t\t\t As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace.\r\n\t\t\t With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. \r\n\t\t\t Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.\r\n\t\t\t Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints.\r\n\t\t\t Pray also for me, so that when I speak, a message may be given to me to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, \r\n\t\t\t for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it boldly, as I must speak.\r\n\t\t\t So that you also may know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus will tell you everything. He is a dear brother and a faithful minister in the Lord.\r\n\t\t\t I am sending him to you for this very purpose, to let you know how we are, and to encourage your hearts.\r\n\t\t\t Peace be to the whole community, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. \r\n\t\t\t Grace be with all who have an undying love for our Lord Jesus Christ. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: \r\n\t\t\t Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.\r\n\t\t\t I thank my God every time I remember you,\r\n\t\t\t constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you,\r\n\t\t\t because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now.\r\n\t\t\t I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ.\r\n\t\t\t It is right for me to think this way about all of you, because you hold me in your heart, for all of you share in God's grace with me, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. \r\n\t\t\t For God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the compassion of Christ Jesus.\r\n\t\t\t And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight\r\n\t\t\t to help you to determine what is best, so that in the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless,\r\n\t\t\t having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God.\r\n\t\t\t I want you to know, beloved, that what has happened to me has actually helped to spread the gospel, \r\n\t\t\t so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to everyone else that my imprisonment is for Christ; \r\n\t\t\t and most of the brothers and sisters, having been made confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, dare to speak the word with greater boldness and without fear. \r\n\t\t\t Some proclaim Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from goodwill.\r\n\t\t\t These proclaim Christ out of love, knowing that I have been put here for the defense of the gospel;\r\n\t\t\t the others proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but intending to increase my suffering in my imprisonment.\r\n\t\t\t What does it matter? Just this, that Christ is proclaimed in every way, whether out of false motives or true; and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice,\r\n\t\t\t for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance.\r\n\t\t\t It is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be put to shame in any way, but that by my speaking with all boldness, Christ will be exalted now as always in my body, whether by life or by death.\r\n\t\t\t For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain.\r\n\t\t\t If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which I prefer.\r\n\t\t\t I am hard pressed between the two: my desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better;\r\n\t\t\t but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for you.\r\n\t\t\t Since I am convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in faith,\r\n\t\t\t so that I may share abundantly in your boasting in Christ Jesus when I come to you again.\r\n\t\t\t Only, live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that, whether I come and see you or am absent and hear about you, I will know that you are standing firm in one spirit, striving side by side with one mind for the faith of the gospel,\r\n\t\t\t and are in no way intimidated by your opponents. For them this is evidence of their destruction, but of your salvation. And this is God's doing.\r\n\t\t\t For he has graciously granted you the privilege not only of believing in Christ, but of suffering for him as well--\r\n\t\t\t since you are having the same struggle that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy,\r\n\t\t\t make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.\r\n\t\t\t Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves.\r\n\t\t\t Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others.\r\n\t\t\t Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, \r\n\t\t\t who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited,\r\n\t\t\t but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form,\r\n\t\t\t he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death-- even death on a cross.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name,\r\n\t\t\t so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,\r\n\t\t\t and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence, but much more now in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;\r\n\t\t\t for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.\r\n\t\t\t Do all things without murmuring and arguing,\r\n\t\t\t so that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine like stars in the world.\r\n\t\t\t It is by your holding fast to the word of life that I can boast on the day of Christ that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.\r\n\t\t\t But even if I am being poured out as a libation over the sacrifice and the offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you--\r\n\t\t\t and in the same way you also must be glad and rejoice with me.\r\n\t\t\t I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I may be cheered by news of you.\r\n\t\t\t I have no one like him who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare.\r\n\t\t\t All of them are seeking their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.\r\n\t\t\t But Timothy's worth you know, how like a son with a father he has served with me in the work of the gospel. \r\n\t\t\t I hope therefore to send him as soon as I see how things go with me;\r\n\t\t\t and I trust in the Lord that I will also come soon.\r\n\t\t\t Still, I think it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus-- my brother and co-worker and fellow soldier, your messenger and minister to my need;\r\n\t\t\t for he has been longing for all of you, and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. \r\n\t\t\t He was indeed so ill that he nearly died. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, so that I would not have one sorrow after another.\r\n\t\t\t I am the more eager to send him, therefore, in order that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious.\r\n\t\t\t Welcome him then in the Lord with all joy, and honor such people,\r\n\t\t\t because he came close to death for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for those services that you could not give me. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Finally, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is not troublesome to me, and for you it is a safeguard. \r\n\t\t\t Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of those who mutilate the flesh! \r\n\t\t\t For it is we who are the circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and boast in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh--\r\n\t\t\t even though I, too, have reason for confidence in the flesh. If anyone else has reason to be confident in the flesh, I have more:\r\n\t\t\t circumcised on the eighth day, a member of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee;\r\n\t\t\t as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.\r\n\t\t\t Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ.\r\n\t\t\t More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ\r\n\t\t\t and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but one that comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God based on faith. \r\n\t\t\t I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death, \r\n\t\t\t if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead.\r\n\t\t\t Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. \r\n\t\t\t Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, \r\n\t\t\t I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus. \r\n\t\t\t Let those of us then who are mature be of the same mind; and if you think differently about anything, this too God will reveal to you.\r\n\t\t\t Only let us hold fast to what we have attained.\r\n\t\t\t Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us. \r\n\t\t\t For many live as enemies of the cross of Christ; I have often told you of them, and now I tell you even with tears.\r\n\t\t\t Their end is destruction; their god is the belly; and their glory is in their shame; their minds are set on earthly things.\r\n\t\t\t But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. \r\n\t\t\t He will transform the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved. \r\n\t\t\t I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord.\r\n\t\t\t Yes, and I ask you also, my loyal companion, help these women, for they have struggled beside me in the work of the gospel, together with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life. \r\n\t\t\t Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. \r\n\t\t\t Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.\r\n\t\t\t Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.\r\n\t\t\t And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.\r\n\t\t\t Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. \r\n\t\t\t Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.\r\n\t\t\t I rejoice in the Lord greatly that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned for me, but had no opportunity to show it. \r\n\t\t\t Not that I am referring to being in need; for I have learned to be content with whatever I have.\r\n\t\t\t I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need.\r\n\t\t\t I can do all things through him who strengthens me.\r\n\t\t\t In any case, it was kind of you to share my distress.\r\n\t\t\t You Philippians indeed know that in the early days of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you alone.\r\n\t\t\t For even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me help for my needs more than once.\r\n\t\t\t Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the profit that accumulates to your account.\r\n\t\t\t I have been paid in full and have more than enough; I am fully satisfied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God.\r\n\t\t\t And my God will fully satisfy every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.\r\n\t\t\t To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.\r\n\t\t\t Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The friends who are with me greet you. \r\n\t\t\t All the saints greet you, especially those of the emperor's household.\r\n\t\t\t The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,\r\n\t\t\t To the saints and faithful brothers and sisters in Christ in Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father. \r\n\t\t\t In our prayers for you we always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,\r\n\t\t\t for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints,\r\n\t\t\t because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. You have heard of this hope before in the word of the truth, the gospel\r\n\t\t\t that has come to you. Just as it is bearing fruit and growing in the whole world, so it has been bearing fruit among yourselves from the day you heard it and truly comprehended the grace of God.\r\n\t\t\t This you learned from Epaphras, our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf, \r\n\t\t\t and he has made known to us your love in the Spirit.\r\n\t\t\t For this reason, since the day we heard it, we have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God's will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, \r\n\t\t\t so that you may lead lives worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, as you bear fruit in every good work and as you grow in the knowledge of God.\r\n\t\t\t May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully\r\n\t\t\t giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light. \r\n\t\t\t He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son,\r\n\t\t\t in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. \r\n\t\t\t He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation;\r\n\t\t\t for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers-- all things have been created through him and for him.\r\n\t\t\t He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. \r\n\t\t\t He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything.\r\n\t\t\t For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,\r\n\t\t\t and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.\r\n\t\t\t And you who were once estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds,\r\n\t\t\t he has now reconciled in his fleshly body through death, so as to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable before him--\r\n\t\t\t provided that you continue securely established and steadfast in the faith, without shifting from the hope promised by the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven. I, Paul, became a servant of this gospel.\r\n\t\t\t I am now rejoicing in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am completing what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church.\r\n\t\t\t I became its servant according to God's commission that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known,\r\n\t\t\t the mystery that has been hidden throughout the ages and generations but has now been revealed to his saints.\r\n\t\t\t To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.\r\n\t\t\t It is he whom we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone in all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ.\r\n\t\t\t For this I toil and struggle with all the energy that he powerfully inspires within me.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t For I want you to know how much I am struggling for you, and for those in Laodicea, and for all who have not seen me face to face.\r\n\t\t\t I want their hearts to be encouraged and united in love, so that they may have all the riches of assured understanding and have the knowledge of God's mystery, that is, Christ himself, \r\n\t\t\t in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.\r\n\t\t\t I am saying this so that no one may deceive you with plausible arguments.\r\n\t\t\t For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, and I rejoice to see your morale and the firmness of your faith in Christ.\r\n\t\t\t As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives in him, \r\n\t\t\t rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.\r\n\t\t\t See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the universe, and not according to Christ. \r\n\t\t\t For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily,\r\n\t\t\t and you have come to fullness in him, who is the head of every ruler and authority.\r\n\t\t\t In him also you were circumcised with a spiritual circumcision, by putting off the body of the flesh in the circumcision of Christ; \r\n\t\t\t when you were buried with him in baptism, you were also raised with him through faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.\r\n\t\t\t And when you were dead in trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive together with him, when he forgave us all our trespasses, \r\n\t\t\t erasing the record that stood against us with its legal demands. He set this aside, nailing it to the cross.\r\n\t\t\t He disarmed the rulers and authorities and made a public example of them, triumphing over them in it. \r\n\t\t\t Therefore do not let anyone condemn you in matters of food and drink or of observing festivals, new moons, or sabbaths.\r\n\t\t\t These are only a shadow of what is to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.\r\n\t\t\t Do not let anyone disqualify you, insisting on self-abasement and worship of angels, dwelling on visions, puffed up without cause by a human way of thinking, \r\n\t\t\t and not holding fast to the head, from whom the whole body, nourished and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows with a growth that is from God.\r\n\t\t\t If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the universe, why do you live as if you still belonged to the world? Why do you submit to regulations,\r\n\t\t\t \"Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch\"?\r\n\t\t\t All these regulations refer to things that perish with use; they are simply human commands and teachings.\r\n\t\t\t These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-imposed piety, humility, and severe treatment of the body, but they are of no value in checking self-indulgence. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.\r\n\t\t\t Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth,\r\n\t\t\t for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.\r\n\t\t\t When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory. \r\n\t\t\t Put to death, therefore, whatever in you is earthly: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry).\r\n\t\t\t On account of these the wrath of God is coming on those who are disobedient. \r\n\t\t\t These are the ways you also once followed, when you were living that life. \r\n\t\t\t But now you must get rid of all such things-- anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language from your mouth.\r\n\t\t\t Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices\r\n\t\t\t and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator.\r\n\t\t\t In that renewal there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all! \r\n\t\t\t As God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.\r\n\t\t\t Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. \r\n\t\t\t Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.\r\n\t\t\t And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful.\r\n\t\t\t Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God.\r\n\t\t\t And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.\r\n\t\t\t Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.\r\n\t\t\t Husbands, love your wives and never treat them harshly.\r\n\t\t\t Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is your acceptable duty in the Lord.\r\n\t\t\t Fathers, do not provoke your children, or they may lose heart.\r\n\t\t\t Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything, not only while being watched and in order to please them, but wholeheartedly, fearing the Lord. \r\n\t\t\t Whatever your task, put yourselves into it, as done for the Lord and not for your masters, \r\n\t\t\t since you know that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward; you serve the Lord Christ. \r\n\t\t\t For the wrongdoer will be paid back for whatever wrong has been done, and there is no partiality.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Masters, treat your slaves justly and fairly, for you know that you also have a Master in heaven.\r\n\t\t\t Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving.\r\n\t\t\t At the same time pray for us as well that God will open to us a door for the word, that we may declare the mystery of Christ, for which I am in prison,\r\n\t\t\t so that I may reveal it clearly, as I should.\r\n\t\t\t Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time. \r\n\t\t\t Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer everyone.\r\n\t\t\t Tychicus will tell you all the news about me; he is a beloved brother, a faithful minister, and a fellow servant in the Lord. \r\n\t\t\t I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts; \r\n\t\t\t he is coming with Onesimus, the faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you about everything here.\r\n\t\t\t Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, as does Mark the cousin of Barnabas, concerning whom you have received instructions-- if he comes to you, welcome him.\r\n\t\t\t And Jesus who is called Justus greets you. These are the only ones of the circumcision among my co-workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me.\r\n\t\t\t Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you. He is always wrestling in his prayers on your behalf, so that you may stand mature and fully assured in everything that God wills. \r\n\t\t\t For I testify for him that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis.\r\n\t\t\t Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas greet you.\r\n\t\t\t Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters in Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house. \r\n\t\t\t And when this letter has been read among you, have it read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you read also the letter from Laodicea.\r\n\t\t\t And say to Archippus, \"See that you complete the task that you have received in the Lord.\"\r\n\t\t\t I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.\r\n\t\t\t We always give thanks to God for all of you and mention you in our prayers, constantly\r\n\t\t\t remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.\r\n\t\t\t For we know, brothers and sisters beloved by God, that he has chosen you, \r\n\t\t\t because our message of the gospel came to you not in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of persons we proved to be among you for your sake.\r\n\t\t\t And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for in spite of persecution you received the word with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit,\r\n\t\t\t so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.\r\n\t\t\t For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith in God has become known, so that we have no need to speak about it.\r\n\t\t\t For the people of those regions report about us what kind of welcome we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols, to serve a living and true God, \r\n\t\t\t and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead-- Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath that is coming.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t You yourselves know, brothers and sisters, that our coming to you was not in vain, \r\n\t\t\t but though we had already suffered and been shamefully mistreated at Philippi, as you know, we had courage in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in spite of great opposition.\r\n\t\t\t For our appeal does not spring from deceit or impure motives or trickery,\r\n\t\t\t but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the message of the gospel, even so we speak, not to please mortals, but to please God who tests our hearts.\r\n\t\t\t As you know and as God is our witness, we never came with words of flattery or with a pretext for greed;\r\n\t\t\t nor did we seek praise from mortals, whether from you or from others,\r\n\t\t\t though we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, like a nurse tenderly caring for her own children. \r\n\t\t\t So deeply do we care for you that we are determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you have become very dear to us.\r\n\t\t\t You remember our labor and toil, brothers and sisters; we worked night and day, so that we might not burden any of you while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. \r\n\t\t\t You are witnesses, and God also, how pure, upright, and blameless our conduct was toward you believers.\r\n\t\t\t As you know, we dealt with each one of you like a father with his children,\r\n\t\t\t urging and encouraging you and pleading that you lead a life worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.\r\n\t\t\t We also constantly give thanks to God for this, that when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word but as what it really is, God's word, which is also at work in you believers.\r\n\t\t\t For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, for you suffered the same things from your own compatriots as they did from the Jews, \r\n\t\t\t who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out; they displease God and oppose everyone \r\n\t\t\t by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. Thus they have constantly been filling up the measure of their sins; but God's wrath has overtaken them at last. \r\n\t\t\t As for us, brothers and sisters, when, for a short time, we were made orphans by being separated from you-- in person, not in heart-- we longed with great eagerness to see you face to face.\r\n\t\t\t For we wanted to come to you-- certainly I, Paul, wanted to again and again-- but Satan blocked our way.\r\n\t\t\t For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you?\r\n\t\t\t Yes, you are our glory and joy!\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we decided to be left alone in Athens;\r\n\t\t\t and we sent Timothy, our brother and co-worker for God in proclaiming the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you for the sake of your faith, \r\n\t\t\t so that no one would be shaken by these persecutions. Indeed, you yourselves know that this is what we are destined for.\r\n\t\t\t In fact, when we were with you, we told you beforehand that we were to suffer persecution; so it turned out, as you know.\r\n\t\t\t For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith; I was afraid that somehow the tempter had tempted you and that our labor had been in vain.\r\n\t\t\t But Timothy has just now come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and love. He has told us also that you always remember us kindly and long to see us-- just as we long to see you.\r\n\t\t\t For this reason, brothers and sisters, during all our distress and persecution we have been encouraged about you through your faith. \r\n\t\t\t For we now live, if you continue to stand firm in the Lord.\r\n\t\t\t How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy that we feel before our God because of you?\r\n\t\t\t Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you face to face and restore whatever is lacking in your faith.\r\n\t\t\t Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you.\r\n\t\t\t And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we abound in love for you.\r\n\t\t\t And may he so strengthen your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Finally, brothers and sisters, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus that, as you learned from us how you ought to live and to please God (as, in fact, you are doing), you should do so more and more. \r\n\t\t\t For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.\r\n\t\t\t For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from fornication;\r\n\t\t\t that each one of you know how to control your own body in holiness and honor, \r\n\t\t\t not with lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God;\r\n\t\t\t that no one wrong or exploit a brother or sister in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, just as we have already told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. \r\n\t\t\t For God did not call us to impurity but in holiness.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore whoever rejects this rejects not human authority but God, who also gives his Holy Spirit to you.\r\n\t\t\t Now concerning love of the brothers and sisters, you do not need to have anyone write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another; \r\n\t\t\t and indeed you do love all the brothers and sisters throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, beloved, to do so more and more, \r\n\t\t\t to aspire to live quietly, to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we directed you,\r\n\t\t\t so that you may behave properly toward outsiders and be dependent on no one.\r\n\t\t\t But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. \r\n\t\t\t For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died. \r\n\t\t\t For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will by no means precede those who have died. \r\n\t\t\t For the Lord himself, with a cry of command, with the archangel's call and with the sound of God's trumpet, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first.\r\n\t\t\t Then we who are alive, who are left, 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.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore encourage one another with these words.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers and sisters, you do not need to have anything written to you. \r\n\t\t\t For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.\r\n\t\t\t When they say, \"There is peace and security,\" then sudden destruction will come upon them, as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and there will be no escape!\r\n\t\t\t But you, beloved, are not in darkness, for that day to surprise you like a thief; \r\n\t\t\t for you are all children of light and children of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness.\r\n\t\t\t So then let us not fall asleep as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober;\r\n\t\t\t for those who sleep sleep at night, and those who are drunk get drunk at night.\r\n\t\t\t But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, and put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.\r\n\t\t\t For God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,\r\n\t\t\t who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live with him.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing.\r\n\t\t\t But we appeal to you, brothers and sisters, to respect those who labor among you, and have charge of you in the Lord and admonish you; \r\n\t\t\t esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.\r\n\t\t\t And we urge you, beloved, to admonish the idlers, encourage the faint hearted, help the weak, be patient with all of them. \r\n\t\t\t See that none of you repays evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to all.\r\n\t\t\t Rejoice always,\r\n\t\t\t pray without ceasing,\r\n\t\t\t give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.\r\n\t\t\t Do not quench the Spirit.\r\n\t\t\t Do not despise the words of prophets, \r\n\t\t\t but test everything; hold fast to what is good;\r\n\t\t\t abstain from every form of evil.\r\n\t\t\t May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. \r\n\t\t\t The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this.\r\n\t\t\t Beloved, pray for us. \r\n\t\t\t Greet all the brothers and sisters with a holy kiss.\r\n\t\t\t I solemnly command you by the Lord that this letter be read to all of them. \r\n\t\t\t The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:\r\n\t\t\t Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. \r\n\t\t\t We must always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of everyone of you for one another is increasing.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith during all your persecutions and the afflictions that you are enduring.\r\n\t\t\t This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, and is intended to make you worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering.\r\n\t\t\t For it is indeed just of God to repay with affliction those who afflict you,\r\n\t\t\t and to give relief to the afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels\r\n\t\t\t in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.\r\n\t\t\t These will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, separated from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might,\r\n\t\t\t when he comes to be glorified by his saints and to be marveled at on that day among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.\r\n\t\t\t To this end we always pray for you, asking that our God will make you worthy of his call and will fulfill by his power every good resolve and work of faith,\r\n\t\t\t so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t As to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we beg you, brothers and sisters, \r\n\t\t\t not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as though from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord is already here.\r\n\t\t\t Let no one deceive you in any way; for that day will not come unless the rebellion comes first and the lawless one is revealed, the one destined for destruction. \r\n\t\t\t He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, declaring himself to be God.\r\n\t\t\t Do you not remember that I told you these things when I was still with you?\r\n\t\t\t And you know what is now restraining him, so that he may be revealed when his time comes.\r\n\t\t\t For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work, but only until the one who now restrains it is removed.\r\n\t\t\t And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will destroy with the breath of his mouth, annihilating him by the manifestation of his coming.\r\n\t\t\t The coming of the lawless one is apparent in the working of Satan, who uses all power, signs, lying wonders,\r\n\t\t\t and every kind of wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.\r\n\t\t\t For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion, leading them to believe what is false,\r\n\t\t\t so that all who have not believed the truth but took pleasure in unrighteousness will be condemned.\r\n\t\t\t But we must always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the first fruits for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and through belief in the truth. \r\n\t\t\t For this purpose he called you through our proclamation of the good news, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. \r\n\t\t\t So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by our letter. \r\n\t\t\t Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and through grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope,\r\n\t\t\t comfort your hearts and strengthen them in every good work and word.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Finally, brothers and sisters, pray for us, so that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be glorified everywhere, just as it is among you, \r\n\t\t\t and that we may be rescued from wicked and evil people; for not all have faith.\r\n\t\t\t But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one. \r\n\t\t\t And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, that you are doing and will go on doing the things that we command.\r\n\t\t\t May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.\r\n\t\t\t Now we command you, beloved, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from believers who are living in idleness and not according to the tradition that they received from us. \r\n\t\t\t For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us; we were not idle when we were with you,\r\n\t\t\t and we did not eat anyone's bread without paying for it; but with toil and labor we worked night and day, so that we might not burden any of you.\r\n\t\t\t This was not because we do not have that right, but in order to give you an example to imitate.\r\n\t\t\t For even when we were with you, we gave you this command: Anyone unwilling to work should not eat.\r\n\t\t\t For we hear that some of you are living in idleness, mere busybodies, not doing any work.\r\n\t\t\t Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.\r\n\t\t\t Brothers and sisters, do not be weary in doing what is right. \r\n\t\t\t Take note of those who do not obey what we say in this letter; have nothing to do with them, so that they may be ashamed.\r\n\t\t\t Do not regard them as enemies, but warn them as believers. \r\n\t\t\t Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways. The Lord be with all of you.\r\n\t\t\t I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. This is the mark in every letter of mine; it is the way I write.\r\n\t\t\t The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope,\r\n\t\t\t To Timothy, my loyal child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.\r\n\t\t\t I urge you, as I did when I was on my way to Macedonia, to remain in Ephesus so that you may instruct certain people not to teach any different doctrine,\r\n\t\t\t and not to occupy themselves with myths and endless genealogies that promote speculations rather than the divine training that is known by faith. \r\n\t\t\t But the aim of such instruction is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and sincere faith.\r\n\t\t\t Some people have deviated from these and turned to meaningless talk,\r\n\t\t\t desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make assertions.\r\n\t\t\t Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it legitimately.\r\n\t\t\t This means understanding that the law is laid down not for the innocent but for the lawless and disobedient, for the godless and sinful, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their father or mother, for murderers,\r\n\t\t\t fornicators, sodomites, slave traders, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to the sound teaching\r\n\t\t\t that conforms to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me.\r\n\t\t\t I am grateful to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because he judged me faithful and appointed me to his service,\r\n\t\t\t even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a man of violence. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief,\r\n\t\t\t and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.\r\n\t\t\t The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners-- of whom I am the foremost.\r\n\t\t\t But for that very reason I received mercy, so that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display the utmost patience, making me an example to those who would come to believe in him for eternal life.\r\n\t\t\t To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. \r\n\t\t\t I am giving you these instructions, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies made earlier about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight,\r\n\t\t\t having faith and a good conscience. By rejecting conscience, certain persons have suffered shipwreck in the faith;\r\n\t\t\t among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have turned over to Satan, so that they may learn not to blaspheme.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone,\r\n\t\t\t for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity.\r\n\t\t\t This is right and is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,\r\n\t\t\t who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.\r\n\t\t\t For there is one God; there is also one mediator between God and humankind, Christ Jesus, himself human,\r\n\t\t\t who gave himself a ransom for all-- this was attested at the right time.\r\n\t\t\t For this I was appointed a herald and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. \r\n\t\t\t I desire, then, that in every place the men should pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or argument;\r\n\t\t\t also that the women should dress themselves modestly and decently in suitable clothing, not with their hair braided, or with gold, pearls, or expensive clothes,\r\n\t\t\t but with good works, as is proper for women who profess reverence for God.\r\n\t\t\t Let a woman learn in silence with full submission. \r\n\t\t\t I permit no woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she is to keep silent. \r\n\t\t\t For Adam was formed first, then Eve;\r\n\t\t\t and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor.\r\n\t\t\t Yet she will be saved through childbearing, provided they continue in faith and love and holiness, with modesty.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The saying is sure: whoever aspires to the office of bishop desires a noble task. \r\n\t\t\t Now a bishop must be above reproach, married only once, temperate, sensible, respectable, hospitable, an apt teacher, \r\n\t\t\t not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, and not a lover of money.\r\n\t\t\t He must manage his own household well, keeping his children submissive and respectful in every way--\r\n\t\t\t for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how can he take care of God's church?\r\n\t\t\t He must not be a recent convert, or he may be puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil.\r\n\t\t\t Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace and the snare of the devil.\r\n\t\t\t Deacons likewise must be serious, not double-tongued, not indulging in much wine, not greedy for money;\r\n\t\t\t they must hold fast to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.\r\n\t\t\t And let them first be tested; then, if they prove themselves blameless, let them serve as deacons.\r\n\t\t\t Women likewise must be serious, not slanderers, but temperate, faithful in all things. \r\n\t\t\t Let deacons be married only once, and let them manage their children and their households well;\r\n\t\t\t for those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and great boldness in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.\r\n\t\t\t I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these instructions to you so that,\r\n\t\t\t if I am delayed, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and bulwark of the truth.\r\n\t\t\t Without any doubt, the mystery of our religion is great: He was revealed in flesh, vindicated in spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among Gentiles, believed in throughout the world, taken up in glory.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will renounce the faith by paying attention to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons,\r\n\t\t\t through the hypocrisy of liars whose consciences are seared with a hot iron.\r\n\t\t\t They forbid marriage and demand abstinence from foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.\r\n\t\t\t For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, provided it is received with thanksgiving;\r\n\t\t\t for it is sanctified by God's word and by prayer.\r\n\t\t\t If you put these instructions before the brothers and sisters, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound teaching that you have followed. \r\n\t\t\t Have nothing to do with profane myths and old wives' tales. Train yourself in godliness,\r\n\t\t\t for, while physical training is of some value, godliness is valuable in every way, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.\r\n\t\t\t The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance.\r\n\t\t\t For to this end we toil and struggle, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe. \r\n\t\t\t These are the things you must insist on and teach.\r\n\t\t\t Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.\r\n\t\t\t Until I arrive, give attention to the public reading of scripture, to exhorting, to teaching. \r\n\t\t\t Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you through prophecy with the laying on of hands by the council of elders. \r\n\t\t\t Put these things into practice, devote yourself to them, so that all may see your progress.\r\n\t\t\t Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; continue in these things, for in doing this you will save both yourself and your hearers.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Do not speak harshly to an older man, but speak to him as to a father, to younger men as brothers, \r\n\t\t\t to older women as mothers, to younger women as sisters-- with absolute purity.\r\n\t\t\t Honor widows who are really widows.\r\n\t\t\t If a widow has children or grandchildren, they should first learn their religious duty to their own family and make some repayment to their parents; for this is pleasing in God's sight.\r\n\t\t\t The real widow, left alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day;\r\n\t\t\t but the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives. \r\n\t\t\t Give these commands as well, so that they may be above reproach.\r\n\t\t\t And whoever does not provide for relatives, and especially for family members, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.\r\n\t\t\t Let a widow be put on the list if she is not less than sixty years old and has been married only once; \r\n\t\t\t she must be well attested for her good works, as one who has brought up children, shown hospitality, washed the saints' feet, helped the afflicted, and devoted herself to doing good in every way.\r\n\t\t\t But refuse to put younger widows on the list; for when their sensual desires alienate them from Christ, they want to marry,\r\n\t\t\t and so they incur condemnation for having violated their first pledge.\r\n\t\t\t Besides that, they learn to be idle, gadding about from house to house; and they are not merely idle, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not say.\r\n\t\t\t So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, and manage their households, so as to give the adversary no occasion to revile us.\r\n\t\t\t For some have already turned away to follow Satan.\r\n\t\t\t If any believing woman has relatives who are really widows, let her assist them; let the church not be burdened, so that it can assist those who are real widows. \r\n\t\t\t Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching; \r\n\t\t\t for the scripture says, \"You shall not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,\" and, \"The laborer deserves to be paid.\"\r\n\t\t\t Never accept any accusation against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses.\r\n\t\t\t As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest also may stand in fear.\r\n\t\t\t In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels, I warn you to keep these instructions without prejudice, doing nothing on the basis of partiality.\r\n\t\t\t Do not ordain anyone hastily, and do not participate in the sins of others; keep yourself pure. \r\n\t\t\t No longer drink only water, but take a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.\r\n\t\t\t The sins of some people are conspicuous and precede them to judgment, while the sins of others follow them there.\r\n\t\t\t So also good works are conspicuous; and even when they are not, they cannot remain hidden.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Let all who are under the yoke of slavery regard their masters as worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be blasphemed.\r\n\t\t\t Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful to them on the ground that they are members of the church; rather they must serve them all the more, since those who benefit by their service are believers and beloved. Teach and urge these duties. \r\n\t\t\t Whoever teaches otherwise and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that is in accordance with godliness,\r\n\t\t\t is conceited, understanding nothing, and has a morbid craving for controversy and for disputes about words. From these come envy, dissension, slander, base suspicions,\r\n\t\t\t and wrangling among those who are depraved in mind and bereft of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. \r\n\t\t\t Of course, there is great gain in godliness combined with contentment;\r\n\t\t\t for we brought nothing into the world, so that we can take nothing out of it; \r\n\t\t\t but if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these.\r\n\t\t\t But those who want to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.\r\n\t\t\t For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains.\r\n\t\t\t But as for you, man of God, shun all this; pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness.\r\n\t\t\t Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life, to which you were called and for which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. \r\n\t\t\t In the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you\r\n\t\t\t to keep the commandment without spot or blame until the manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ,\r\n\t\t\t which he will bring about at the right time-- he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords.\r\n\t\t\t It is he alone who has immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see; to him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.\r\n\t\t\t As for those who in the present age are rich, command them not to be haughty, or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but rather on God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.\r\n\t\t\t They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share,\r\n\t\t\t thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that really is life.\r\n\t\t\t Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you. Avoid the profane chatter and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge;\r\n\t\t\t by professing it some have missed the mark as regards the faith. Grace be with you. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, for the sake of the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus,\r\n\t\t\t To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.\r\n\t\t\t I am grateful to God-- whom I worship with a clear conscience, as my ancestors did-- when I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day.\r\n\t\t\t Recalling your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy.\r\n\t\t\t I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, lives in you.\r\n\t\t\t For this reason I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands;\r\n\t\t\t for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline.\r\n\t\t\t Do not be ashamed, then, of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power of God,\r\n\t\t\t who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace. This grace was given to us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,\r\n\t\t\t but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.\r\n\t\t\t For this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher, \r\n\t\t\t and for this reason I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know the one in whom I have put my trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard until that day what I have entrusted to him. \r\n\t\t\t Hold to the standard of sound teaching that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.\r\n\t\t\t Guard the good treasure entrusted to you, with the help of the Holy Spirit living in us.\r\n\t\t\t You are aware that all who are in Asia have turned away from me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes.\r\n\t\t\t May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chain;\r\n\t\t\t when he arrived in Rome, he eagerly searched for me and found me \r\n\t\t\t -- may the Lord grant that he will find mercy from the Lord on that day! And you know very well how much service he rendered in Ephesus.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t You then, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus;\r\n\t\t\t and what you have heard from me through many witnesses entrust to faithful people who will be able to teach others as well.\r\n\t\t\t Share in suffering like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.\r\n\t\t\t No one serving in the army gets entangled in everyday affairs; the soldier's aim is to please the enlisting officer.\r\n\t\t\t And in the case of an athlete, no one is crowned without competing according to the rules.\r\n\t\t\t It is the farmer who does the work who ought to have the first share of the crops.\r\n\t\t\t Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in all things.\r\n\t\t\t Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David-- that is my gospel,\r\n\t\t\t for which I suffer hardship, even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But the word of God is not chained.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, so that they may also obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.\r\n\t\t\t The saying is sure: If we have died with him, we will also live with him;\r\n\t\t\t if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he will also deny us;\r\n\t\t\t if we are faithless, he remains faithful-- for he cannot deny himself.\r\n\t\t\t Remind them of this, and warn them before God that they are to avoid wrangling over words, which does no good but only ruins those who are listening. \r\n\t\t\t Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved by him, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly explaining the word of truth.\r\n\t\t\t Avoid profane chatter, for it will lead people into more and more impiety,\r\n\t\t\t and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus,\r\n\t\t\t who have swerved from the truth by claiming that the resurrection has already taken place. They are upsetting the faith of some.\r\n\t\t\t But God's firm foundation stands, bearing this inscription: \"The Lord knows those who are his,\" and, \"Let everyone who calls on the name of the Lord turn away from wickedness.\"\r\n\t\t\t In a large house there are utensils not only of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for special use, some for ordinary.\r\n\t\t\t All who cleanse themselves of the things I have mentioned will become special utensils, dedicated and useful to the owner of the house, ready for every good work. \r\n\t\t\t Shun youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.\r\n\t\t\t Have nothing to do with stupid and senseless controversies; you know that they breed quarrels.\r\n\t\t\t And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kindly to everyone, an apt teacher, patient, \r\n\t\t\t correcting opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant that they will repent and come to know the truth,\r\n\t\t\t and that they may escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t You must understand this, that in the last days distressing times will come.\r\n\t\t\t For people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,\r\n\t\t\t inhuman, implacable, slanderers, profligates, brutes, haters of good,\r\n\t\t\t treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,\r\n\t\t\t holding to the outward form of godliness but denying its power. Avoid them!\r\n\t\t\t For among them are those who make their way into households and captivate silly women, overwhelmed by their sins and swayed by all kinds of desires,\r\n\t\t\t who are always being instructed and can never arrive at a knowledge of the truth.\r\n\t\t\t As Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these people, of corrupt mind and counterfeit faith, also oppose the truth.\r\n\t\t\t But they will not make much progress, because, as in the case of those two men, their folly will become plain to everyone. \r\n\t\t\t Now you have observed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness,\r\n\t\t\t my persecutions and suffering the things that happened to me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. What persecutions I endured! Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them.\r\n\t\t\t Indeed, all who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.\r\n\t\t\t But wicked people and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving others and being deceived.\r\n\t\t\t But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it,\r\n\t\t\t and how from childhood you have known the sacred writings that are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.\r\n\t\t\t All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, \r\n\t\t\t so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I solemnly urge you:\r\n\t\t\t proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favorable or unfavorable; convince, rebuke, and encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching.\r\n\t\t\t For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires,\r\n\t\t\t and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths.\r\n\t\t\t As for you, always be sober, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, carry out your ministry fully.\r\n\t\t\t As for me, I am already being poured out as a libation, and the time of my departure has come.\r\n\t\t\t I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.\r\n\t\t\t From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing.\r\n\t\t\t Do your best to come to me soon,\r\n\t\t\t for Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica; Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. \r\n\t\t\t Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful in my ministry.\r\n\t\t\t I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus.\r\n\t\t\t When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments.\r\n\t\t\t Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will pay him back for his deeds.\r\n\t\t\t You also must beware of him, for he strongly opposed our message.\r\n\t\t\t At my first defense no one came to my support, but all deserted me. May it not be counted against them!\r\n\t\t\t But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion's mouth.\r\n\t\t\t The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and save me for his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.\r\n\t\t\t Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus.\r\n\t\t\t Erastus remained in Corinth; Trophimus I left ill in Miletus.\r\n\t\t\t Do your best to come before winter. Eubulus sends greetings to you, as do Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the brothers and sisters.\r\n\t\t\t The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God's elect and the knowledge of the truth that is in accordance with godliness, \r\n\t\t\t in the hope of eternal life that God, who never lies, promised before the ages began--\r\n\t\t\t in due time he revealed his word through the proclamation with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior,\r\n\t\t\t To Titus, my loyal child in the faith we share: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior. \r\n\t\t\t I left you behind in Crete for this reason, so that you should put in order what remained to be done, and should appoint elders in every town, as I directed you:\r\n\t\t\t someone who is blameless, married only once, whose children are believers, not accused of debauchery and not rebellious. \r\n\t\t\t For a bishop, as God's steward, must be blameless; he must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or addicted to wine or violent or greedy for gain; \r\n\t\t\t but he must be hospitable, a lover of goodness, prudent, upright, devout, and self-controlled.\r\n\t\t\t He must have a firm grasp of the word that is trustworthy in accordance with the teaching, so that he may be able both to preach with sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict it.\r\n\t\t\t There are also many rebellious people, idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision;\r\n\t\t\t they must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for sordid gain what it is not right to teach.\r\n\t\t\t It was one of them, their very own prophet, who said, \"Cretans are always liars, vicious brutes, lazy gluttons.\"\r\n\t\t\t That testimony is true. For this reason rebuke them sharply, so that they may become sound in the faith,\r\n\t\t\t not paying attention to Jewish myths or to commandments of those who reject the truth.\r\n\t\t\t To the pure all things are pure, but to the corrupt and unbelieving nothing is pure. Their very minds and consciences are corrupted.\r\n\t\t\t They profess to know God, but they deny him by their actions. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t But as for you, teach what is consistent with sound doctrine.\r\n\t\t\t Tell the older men to be temperate, serious, prudent, and sound in faith, in love, and in endurance.\r\n\t\t\t Likewise, tell the older women to be reverent in behavior, not to be slanderers or slaves to drink; they are to teach what is good,\r\n\t\t\t so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children,\r\n\t\t\t to be self-controlled, chaste, good managers of the household, kind, being submissive to their husbands, so that the word of God may not be discredited.\r\n\t\t\t Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled.\r\n\t\t\t Show yourself in all respects a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, gravity,\r\n\t\t\t and sound speech that cannot be censured; then any opponent will be put to shame, having nothing evil to say of us.\r\n\t\t\t Tell slaves to be submissive to their masters and to give satisfaction in every respect; they are not to talk back,\r\n\t\t\t not to pilfer, but to show complete and perfect fidelity, so that in everything they may be an ornament to the doctrine of God our Savior.\r\n\t\t\t For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, \r\n\t\t\t training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly,\r\n\t\t\t while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. \r\n\t\t\t He it is who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds.\r\n\t\t\t Declare these things; exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one look down on you. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work,\r\n\t\t\t to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show every courtesy to everyone.\r\n\t\t\t For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, despicable, hating one another.\r\n\t\t\t But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared,\r\n\t\t\t he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. \r\n\t\t\t This Spirit he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,\r\n\t\t\t so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.\r\n\t\t\t The saying is sure. I desire that you insist on these things, so that those who have come to believe in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works; these things are excellent and profitable to everyone.\r\n\t\t\t But avoid stupid controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless.\r\n\t\t\t After a first and second admonition, have nothing more to do with anyone who causes divisions,\r\n\t\t\t since you know that such a person is perverted and sinful, being self-condemned.\r\n\t\t\t When I send Artemas to you, or Tychicus, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there.\r\n\t\t\t Make every effort to send Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way, and see that they lack nothing.\r\n\t\t\t And let people learn to devote themselves to good works in order to meet urgent needs, so that they may not be unproductive.\r\n\t\t\t All who are with me send greetings to you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with all of you. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our dear friend and co-worker, \r\n\t\t\t to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house: \r\n\t\t\t Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.\r\n\t\t\t When I remember you in my prayers, I always thank my God \r\n\t\t\t because I hear of your love for all the saints and your faith toward the Lord Jesus.\r\n\t\t\t I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective when you perceive all the good that we may do for Christ. \r\n\t\t\t I have indeed received much joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, my brother.\r\n\t\t\t For this reason, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do your duty,\r\n\t\t\t yet I would rather appeal to you on the basis of love-- and I, Paul, do this as an old man, and now also as a prisoner of Christ Jesus.\r\n\t\t\t I am appealing to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I have become during my imprisonment.\r\n\t\t\t Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful both to you and to me. \r\n\t\t\t I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you.\r\n\t\t\t I wanted to keep him with me, so that he might be of service to me in your place during my imprisonment for the gospel;\r\n\t\t\t but I preferred to do nothing without your consent, in order that your good deed might be voluntary and not something forced.\r\n\t\t\t Perhaps this is the reason he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back forever,\r\n\t\t\t no longer as a slave but more than a slave, a beloved brother-- especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.\r\n\t\t\t So if you consider me your partner, welcome him as you would welcome me.\r\n\t\t\t If he has wronged you in any way, or owes you anything, charge that to my account.\r\n\t\t\t I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand: I will repay it. I say nothing about your owing me even your own self.\r\n\t\t\t Yes, brother, let me have this benefit from you in the Lord! Refresh my heart in Christ.\r\n\t\t\t Confident of your obedience, I am writing to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say.\r\n\t\t\t One thing more-- prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping through your prayers to be restored to you.\r\n\t\t\t Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends greetings to you, \r\n\t\t\t and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.\r\n\t\t\t The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets,\r\n\t\t\t but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds. \r\n\t\t\t He is the reflection of God's glory and the exact imprint of God's very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, \r\n\t\t\t having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.\r\n\t\t\t For to which of the angels did God ever say, \"You are my Son; today I have begotten you\"? Or again, \"I will be his Father, and he will be my Son\"?\r\n\t\t\t And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, \"Let all God's angels worship him.\"\r\n\t\t\t Of the angels he says, \"He makes his angels winds, and his servants flames of fire.\"\r\n\t\t\t But of the Son he says, \"Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, and the righteous scepter is the scepter of your kingdom. \r\n\t\t\t You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.\"\r\n\t\t\t And, \"In the beginning, Lord, you founded the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands;\r\n\t\t\t they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like clothing;\r\n\t\t\t like a cloak you will roll them up, and like clothing they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will never end.\" \r\n\t\t\t But to which of the angels has he ever said, \"Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet\"?\r\n\t\t\t Are not all angels spirits in the divine service, sent to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation? \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Therefore we must pay greater attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it.\r\n\t\t\t For if the message declared through angels was valid, and every transgression or disobedience received a just penalty,\r\n\t\t\t how can we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? It was declared at first through the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard him,\r\n\t\t\t while God added his testimony by signs and wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit, distributed according to his will.\r\n\t\t\t Now God did not subject the coming world, about which we are speaking, to angels. \r\n\t\t\t But someone has testified somewhere, \"What are human beings that you are mindful of them, or mortals, that you care for them? \r\n\t\t\t You have made them for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned them with glory and honor, \r\n\t\t\t subjecting all things under their feet.\" Now in subjecting all things to them, God left nothing outside their control. As it is, we do not yet see everything in subjection to them, \r\n\t\t\t but we do see Jesus, who for a little while was made lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. \r\n\t\t\t It was fitting that God, for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many children to glory, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through sufferings. \r\n\t\t\t For the one who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one Father. For this reason Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters, \r\n\t\t\t saying, \"I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters, in the midst of the congregation I will praise you.\" \r\n\t\t\t And again, \"I will put my trust in him.\" And again, \"Here am I and the children whom God has given me.\"\r\n\t\t\t Since, therefore, the children share flesh and blood, he himself likewise shared the same things, so that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil,\r\n\t\t\t and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by the fear of death.\r\n\t\t\t For it is clear that he did not come to help angels, but the descendants of Abraham.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore he had to become like his brothers and sisters in every respect, so that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make a sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the people. \r\n\t\t\t Because he himself was tested by what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Therefore, brothers and sisters, holy partners in a heavenly calling, consider that Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, \r\n\t\t\t was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses also \"was faithful in all God's house.\" \r\n\t\t\t Yet Jesus is worthy of more glory than Moses, just as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself. \r\n\t\t\t (For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.)\r\n\t\t\t Now Moses was faithful in all God's house as a servant, to testify to the things that would be spoken later. \r\n\t\t\t Christ, however, was faithful over God's house as a son, and we are his house if we hold firm the confidence and the pride that belong to hope. \r\n\t\t\t Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, \"Today, if you hear his voice,\r\n\t\t\t do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, as on the day of testing in the wilderness,\r\n\t\t\t where your ancestors put me to the test, though they had seen my works\r\n\t\t\t for forty years. Therefore I was angry with that generation, and I said, 'They always go astray in their hearts, and they have not known my ways.'\r\n\t\t\t As in my anger I swore, 'They will not enter my rest.'\"\r\n\t\t\t Take care, brothers and sisters, that none of you may have an evil, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. \r\n\t\t\t But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called \"today,\" so that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.\r\n\t\t\t For we have become partners of Christ, if only we hold our first confidence firm to the end.\r\n\t\t\t As it is said, \"Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.\"\r\n\t\t\t Now who were they who heard and yet were rebellious? Was it not all those who left Egypt under the leadership of Moses?\r\n\t\t\t But with whom was he angry forty years? Was it not those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness?\r\n\t\t\t And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, if not to those who were disobedient?\r\n\t\t\t So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest is still open, let us take care that none of you should seem to have failed to reach it.\r\n\t\t\t For indeed the good news came to us just as to them; but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened. \r\n\t\t\t For we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said, \"As in my anger I swore, 'They shall not enter my rest,'\" though his works were finished at the foundation of the world. \r\n\t\t\t For in one place it speaks about the seventh day as follows, \"And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.\"\r\n\t\t\t And again in this place it says, \"They shall not enter my rest.\"\r\n\t\t\t Since therefore it remains open for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience,\r\n\t\t\t again he sets a certain day-- \"today\"-- saying through David much later, in the words already quoted, \"Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.\"\r\n\t\t\t For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not speak later about another day. \r\n\t\t\t So then, a sabbath rest still remains for the people of God;\r\n\t\t\t for those who enter God's rest also cease from their labors as God did from his.\r\n\t\t\t Let us therefore make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one may fall through such disobedience as theirs.\r\n\t\t\t Indeed, the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.\r\n\t\t\t And before him no creature is hidden, but all are naked and laid bare to the eyes of the one to whom we must render an account.\r\n\t\t\t Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession.\r\n\t\t\t For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin. \r\n\t\t\t Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Every high priest chosen from among mortals is put in charge of things pertaining to God on their behalf, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.\r\n\t\t\t He is able to deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is subject to weakness;\r\n\t\t\t and because of this he must offer sacrifice for his own sins as well as for those of the people.\r\n\t\t\t And one does not presume to take this honor, but takes it only when called by God, just as Aaron was.\r\n\t\t\t So also Christ did not glorify himself in becoming a high priest, but was appointed by the one who said to him, \"You are my Son, today I have begotten you\";\r\n\t\t\t as he says also in another place, \"You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.\"\r\n\t\t\t In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. \r\n\t\t\t Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered;\r\n\t\t\t and having been made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him,\r\n\t\t\t having been designated by God a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.\r\n\t\t\t About this we have much to say that is hard to explain, since you have become dull in understanding. \r\n\t\t\t For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic elements of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food;\r\n\t\t\t for everyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is unskilled in the word of righteousness.\r\n\t\t\t But solid food is for the mature, for those whose faculties have been trained by practice to distinguish good from evil.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Therefore let us go on toward perfection, leaving behind the basic teaching about Christ, and not laying again the foundation: repentance from dead works and faith toward God, \r\n\t\t\t instruction about baptisms, laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.\r\n\t\t\t And we will do this, if God permits. \r\n\t\t\t For it is impossible to restore again to repentance those who have once been enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit,\r\n\t\t\t and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come,\r\n\t\t\t and then have fallen away, since on their own they are crucifying again the Son of God and are holding him up to contempt.\r\n\t\t\t Ground that drinks up the rain falling on it repeatedly, and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God.\r\n\t\t\t But if it produces thorns and thistles, it is worthless and on the verge of being cursed; its end is to be burned over.\r\n\t\t\t Even though we speak in this way, beloved, we are confident of better things in your case, things that belong to salvation.\r\n\t\t\t For God is not unjust; he will not overlook your work and the love that you showed for his sake in serving the saints, as you still do. \r\n\t\t\t And we want each one of you to show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope to the very end,\r\n\t\t\t so that you may not become sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.\r\n\t\t\t When God made a promise to Abraham, because he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself,\r\n\t\t\t saying, \"I will surely bless you and multiply you.\"\r\n\t\t\t And thus Abraham, having patiently endured, obtained the promise. \r\n\t\t\t Human beings, of course, swear by someone greater than themselves, and an oath given as confirmation puts an end to all dispute.\r\n\t\t\t In the same way, when God desired to show even more clearly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it by an oath,\r\n\t\t\t so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible that God would prove false, we who have taken refuge might be strongly encouraged to seize the hope set before us.\r\n\t\t\t We have this hope, a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters the inner shrine behind the curtain,\r\n\t\t\t where Jesus, a forerunner on our behalf, has entered, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t This \"King Melchizedek of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham as he was returning from defeating the kings and blessed him\";\r\n\t\t\t and to him Abraham apportioned \"one-tenth of everything.\" His name, in the first place, means \"king of righteousness\"; next he is also king of Salem, that is, \"king of peace.\"\r\n\t\t\t Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever.\r\n\t\t\t See how great he is! Even Abraham the patriarch gave him a tenth of the spoils. \r\n\t\t\t And those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to collect tithes from the people, that is, from their kindred, though these also are descended from Abraham. \r\n\t\t\t But this man, who does not belong to their ancestry, collected tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had received the promises. \r\n\t\t\t It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior.\r\n\t\t\t In the one case, tithes are received by those who are mortal; in the other, by one of whom it is testified that he lives.\r\n\t\t\t One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham,\r\n\t\t\t for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.\r\n\t\t\t Now if perfection had been attainable through the levitical priesthood-- for the people received the law under this priesthood-- what further need would there have been to speak of another priest arising according to the order of Melchizedek, rather than one according to the order of Aaron?\r\n\t\t\t For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well.\r\n\t\t\t Now the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar.\r\n\t\t\t For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests.\r\n\t\t\t It is even more obvious when another priest arises, resembling Melchizedek,\r\n\t\t\t one who has become a priest, not through a legal requirement concerning physical descent, but through the power of an indestructible life.\r\n\t\t\t For it is attested of him, \"You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.\"\r\n\t\t\t There is, on the one hand, the abrogation of an earlier commandment because it was weak and ineffectual\r\n\t\t\t (for the law made nothing perfect); there is, on the other hand, the introduction of a better hope, through which we approach God.\r\n\t\t\t This was confirmed with an oath; for others who became priests took their office without an oath,\r\n\t\t\t but this one became a priest with an oath, because of the one who said to him, \"The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, 'You are a priest forever'\"--\r\n\t\t\t accordingly Jesus has also become the guarantee of a better covenant.\r\n\t\t\t Furthermore, the former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office;\r\n\t\t\t but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever.\r\n\t\t\t Consequently he is able for all time to save those who approach God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. \r\n\t\t\t For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, blameless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.\r\n\t\t\t Unlike the other high priests, he has no need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for those of the people; this he did once for all when he offered himself. \r\n\t\t\t For the law appoints as high priests those who are subject to weakness, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now the main point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens,\r\n\t\t\t a minister in the sanctuary and the true tent that the Lord, and not any mortal, has set up. \r\n\t\t\t For every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices; hence it is necessary for this priest also to have something to offer.\r\n\t\t\t Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, since there are priests who offer gifts according to the law.\r\n\t\t\t They offer worship in a sanctuary that is a sketch and shadow of the heavenly one; for Moses, when he was about to erect the tent, was warned, \"See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.\" \r\n\t\t\t But Jesus has now obtained a more excellent ministry, and to that degree he is the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted through better promises. \r\n\t\t\t For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no need to look for a second one.\r\n\t\t\t God finds fault with them when he says: \"The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah; \r\n\t\t\t not like the covenant that I made with their ancestors, on the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; for they did not continue in my covenant, and so I had no concern for them, says the Lord.\r\n\t\t\t This is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.\r\n\t\t\t And they shall not teach one another or say to each other, 'Know the Lord,' for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest.\r\n\t\t\t For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.\"\r\n\t\t\t In speaking of \"a new covenant,\" he has made the first one obsolete. And what is obsolete and growing old will soon disappear.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly sanctuary.\r\n\t\t\t For a tent was constructed, the first one, in which were the lampstand, the table, and the bread of the Presence; this is called the Holy Place. \r\n\t\t\t Behind the second curtain was a tent called the Holy of Holies. \r\n\t\t\t In it stood the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which there were a golden urn holding the manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant;\r\n\t\t\t above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot speak now in detail. \r\n\t\t\t Such preparations having been made, the priests go continually into the first tent to carry out their ritual duties; \r\n\t\t\t but only the high priest goes into the second, and he but once a year, and not without taking the blood that he offers for himself and for the sins committed unintentionally by the people.\r\n\t\t\t By this the Holy Spirit indicates that the way into the sanctuary has not yet been disclosed as long as the first tent is still standing. \r\n\t\t\t This is a symbol of the present time, during which gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper,\r\n\t\t\t but deal only with food and drink and various baptisms, regulations for the body imposed until the time comes to set things right.\r\n\t\t\t But when Christ came as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation), \r\n\t\t\t he entered once for all into the Holy Place, not with the blood of goats and calves, but with his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption.\r\n\t\t\t For if the blood of goats and bulls, with the sprinkling of the ashes of a heifer, sanctifies those who have been defiled so that their flesh is purified,\r\n\t\t\t how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to worship the living God! \r\n\t\t\t For this reason he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, because a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions under the first covenant. \r\n\t\t\t Where a will is involved, the death of the one who made it must be established. \r\n\t\t\t For a will takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive. \r\n\t\t\t Hence not even the first covenant was inaugurated without blood.\r\n\t\t\t For when every commandment had been told to all the people by Moses in accordance with the law, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the scroll itself and all the people, \r\n\t\t\t saying, \"This is the blood of the covenant that God has ordained for you.\"\r\n\t\t\t And in the same way he sprinkled with the blood both the tent and all the vessels used in worship. \r\n\t\t\t Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.\r\n\t\t\t Thus it was necessary for the sketches of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites, but the heavenly things themselves need better sacrifices than these.\r\n\t\t\t For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made by human hands, a mere copy of the true one, but he entered into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.\r\n\t\t\t Nor was it to offer himself again and again, as the high priest enters the Holy Place year after year with blood that is not his own;\r\n\t\t\t for then he would have had to suffer again and again since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the age to remove sin by the sacrifice of himself.\r\n\t\t\t And just as it is appointed for mortals to die once, and after that the judgment,\r\n\t\t\t so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Since the law has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered year after year, make perfect those who approach. \r\n\t\t\t Otherwise, would they not have ceased being offered, since the worshipers, cleansed once for all, would no longer have any consciousness of sin?\r\n\t\t\t But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sin year after year.\r\n\t\t\t For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.\r\n\t\t\t Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, \"Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body you have prepared for me; \r\n\t\t\t in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure.\r\n\t\t\t Then I said, 'See, God, I have come to do your will, O God' (in the scroll of the book it is written of me).\" \r\n\t\t\t When he said above, \"You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings\" (these are offered according to the law),\r\n\t\t\t then he added, \"See, I have come to do your will.\" He abolishes the first in order to establish the second.\r\n\t\t\t And it is by God's will that we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. \r\n\t\t\t And every priest stands day after day at his service, offering again and again the same sacrifices that can never take away sins.\r\n\t\t\t But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, \"he sat down at the right hand of God,\" \r\n\t\t\t and since then has been waiting \"until his enemies would be made a footstool for his feet.\"\r\n\t\t\t For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.\r\n\t\t\t And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us, for after saying,\r\n\t\t\t \"This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds,\"\r\n\t\t\t he also adds, \"I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.\" \r\n\t\t\t Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore, my friends, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, \r\n\t\t\t by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain (that is, through his flesh),\r\n\t\t\t and since we have a great priest over the house of God,\r\n\t\t\t let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.\r\n\t\t\t Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful.\r\n\t\t\t And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds,\r\n\t\t\t not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.\r\n\t\t\t For if we willfully persist in sin after having received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,\r\n\t\t\t but a fearful prospect of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.\r\n\t\t\t Anyone who has violated the law of Moses dies without mercy \"on the testimony of two or three witnesses.\"\r\n\t\t\t How much worse punishment do you think will be deserved by those who have spurned the Son of God, profaned the blood of the covenant by which they were sanctified, and outraged the Spirit of grace?\r\n\t\t\t For we know the one who said, \"Vengeance is mine, I will repay.\" And again, \"The Lord will judge his people.\"\r\n\t\t\t It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.\r\n\t\t\t But recall those earlier days when, after you had been enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings,\r\n\t\t\t sometimes being publicly exposed to abuse and persecution, and sometimes being partners with those so treated.\r\n\t\t\t For you had compassion for those who were in prison, and you cheerfully accepted the plundering of your possessions, knowing that you yourselves possessed something better and more lasting.\r\n\t\t\t Do not, therefore, abandon that confidence of yours; it brings a great reward.\r\n\t\t\t For you need endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.\r\n\t\t\t For yet \"in a very little while, the one who is coming will come and will not delay;\r\n\t\t\t but my righteous one will live by faith. My soul takes no pleasure in anyone who shrinks back.\"\r\n\t\t\t But we are not among those who shrink back and so are lost, but among those who have faith and so are saved.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.\r\n\t\t\t Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval. \r\n\t\t\t By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible. \r\n\t\t\t By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain's. Through this he received approval as righteous, God himself giving approval to his gifts; he died, but through his faith he still speaks. \r\n\t\t\t By faith Enoch was taken so that he did not experience death; and \"he was not found, because God had taken him.\" For it was attested before he was taken away that \"he had pleased God.\"\r\n\t\t\t And without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.\r\n\t\t\t By faith Noah, warned by God about events as yet unseen, respected the warning and built an ark to save his household; by this he condemned the world and became an heir to the righteousness that is in accordance with faith.\r\n\t\t\t By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; and he set out, not knowing where he was going.\r\n\t\t\t By faith he stayed for a time in the land he had been promised, as in a foreign land, living in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.\r\n\t\t\t For he looked forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.\r\n\t\t\t By faith he received power of procreation, even though he was too old-- and Sarah herself was barren-- because he considered him faithful who had promised.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore from one person, and this one as good as dead, descendants were born, \"as many as the stars of heaven and as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.\"\r\n\t\t\t All of these died in faith without having received the promises, but from a distance they saw and greeted them. They confessed that they were strangers and foreigners on the earth,\r\n\t\t\t for people who speak in this way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland.\r\n\t\t\t If they had been thinking of the land that they had left behind, they would have had opportunity to return.\r\n\t\t\t But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; indeed, he has prepared a city for them.\r\n\t\t\t By faith Abraham, when put to the test, offered up Isaac. He who had received the promises was ready to offer up his only son,\r\n\t\t\t of whom he had been told, \"It is through Isaac that descendants shall be named for you.\"\r\n\t\t\t He considered the fact that God is able even to raise someone from the dead-- and figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.\r\n\t\t\t By faith Isaac invoked blessings for the future on Jacob and Esau.\r\n\t\t\t By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, \"bowing in worship over the top of his staff.\"\r\n\t\t\t By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave instructions about his burial. \r\n\t\t\t By faith Moses was hidden by his parents for three months after his birth, because they saw that the child was beautiful; and they were not afraid of the king's edict. \r\n\t\t\t By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called a son of Pharaoh's daughter,\r\n\t\t\t choosing rather to share ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.\r\n\t\t\t He considered abuse suffered for the Christ to be greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to the reward. \r\n\t\t\t By faith he left Egypt, unafraid of the king's anger; for he persevered as though he saw him who is invisible. \r\n\t\t\t By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel. \r\n\t\t\t By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as if it were dry land, but when the Egyptians attempted to do so they were drowned.\r\n\t\t\t By faith the walls of Jericho fell after they had been encircled for seven days.\r\n\t\t\t By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had received the spies in peace. \r\n\t\t\t And what more should I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets--\r\n\t\t\t who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions,\r\n\t\t\t quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.\r\n\t\t\t Women received their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, refusing to accept release, in order to obtain a better resurrection.\r\n\t\t\t Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment.\r\n\t\t\t They were stoned to death, they were sawn in two, they were killed by the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, persecuted, tormented--\r\n\t\t\t of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.\r\n\t\t\t Yet all these, though they were commended for their faith, did not receive what was promised,\r\n\t\t\t since God had provided something better so that they would not, apart from us, be made perfect.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, \r\n\t\t\t looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God. \r\n\t\t\t Consider him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners, so that you may not grow weary or lose heart. \r\n\t\t\t In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.\r\n\t\t\t And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as children-- \"My child, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, or lose heart when you are punished by him;\r\n\t\t\t for the Lord disciplines those whom he loves, and chastises every child whom he accepts.\"\r\n\t\t\t Endure trials for the sake of discipline. God is treating you as children; for what child is there whom a parent does not discipline?\r\n\t\t\t If you do not have that discipline in which all children share, then you are illegitimate and not his children.\r\n\t\t\t Moreover, we had human parents to discipline us, and we respected them. Should we not be even more willing to be subject to the Father of spirits and live?\r\n\t\t\t For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share his holiness.\r\n\t\t\t Now, discipline always seems painful rather than pleasant at the time, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees,\r\n\t\t\t and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed.\r\n\t\t\t Pursue peace with everyone, and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.\r\n\t\t\t See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springs up and causes trouble, and through it many become defiled.\r\n\t\t\t See to it that no one becomes like Esau, an immoral and godless person, who sold his birthright for a single meal.\r\n\t\t\t You know that later, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, even though he sought the blessing with tears. \r\n\t\t\t You have not come to something that can be touched, a blazing fire, and darkness, and gloom, and a tempest, \r\n\t\t\t and the sound of a trumpet, and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that not another word be spoken to them.\r\n\t\t\t (For they could not endure the order that was given, \"If even an animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned to death.\"\r\n\t\t\t Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, \"I tremble with fear.\")\r\n\t\t\t But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering,\r\n\t\t\t and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, \r\n\t\t\t and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.\r\n\t\t\t See that you do not refuse the one who is speaking; for if they did not escape when they refused the one who warned them on earth, how much less will we escape if we reject the one who warns from heaven!\r\n\t\t\t At that time his voice shook the earth; but now he has promised, \"Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heaven.\"\r\n\t\t\t This phrase, \"Yet once more,\" indicates the removal of what is shaken-- that is, created things-- so that what cannot be shaken may remain.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us give thanks, by which we offer to God an acceptable worship with reverence and awe;\r\n\t\t\t for indeed our God is a consuming fire.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Let mutual love continue.\r\n\t\t\t Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.\r\n\t\t\t Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them; those who are being tortured, as though you yourselves were being tortured. \r\n\t\t\t Let marriage be held in honor by all, and let the marriage bed be kept undefiled; for God will judge fornicators and adulterers.\r\n\t\t\t Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have; for he has said, \"I will never leave you or forsake you.\"\r\n\t\t\t So we can say with confidence, \"The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?\"\r\n\t\t\t Remember your leaders, those who spoke the word of God to you; consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.\r\n\t\t\t Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.\r\n\t\t\t Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings; for it is well for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by regulations about food, which have not benefited those who observe them. \r\n\t\t\t We have an altar from which those who officiate in the tent have no right to eat. \r\n\t\t\t For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore Jesus also suffered outside the city gate in order to sanctify the people by his own blood.\r\n\t\t\t Let us then go to him outside the camp and bear the abuse he endured.\r\n\t\t\t For here we have no lasting city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.\r\n\t\t\t Through him, then, let us continually offer a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name.\r\n\t\t\t Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.\r\n\t\t\t Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls and will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with sighing-- for that would be harmful to you.\r\n\t\t\t Pray for us; we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things.\r\n\t\t\t I urge you all the more to do this, so that I may be restored to you very soon.\r\n\t\t\t Now may the God of peace, who brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant,\r\n\t\t\t make you complete in everything good so that you may do his will, working among us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.\r\n\t\t\t I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, bear with my word of exhortation, for I have written to you briefly. \r\n\t\t\t I want you to know that our brother Timothy has been set free; and if he comes in time, he will be with me when I see you.\r\n\t\t\t Greet all your leaders and all the saints. Those from Italy send you greetings.\r\n\t\t\t Grace be with all of you. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings. \r\n\t\t\t My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, \r\n\t\t\t because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance;\r\n\t\t\t and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing.\r\n\t\t\t If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you.\r\n\t\t\t But ask in faith, never doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind;\r\n\t\t\t for the doubter, being double-minded and unstable in every way, must not expect to receive anything from the Lord.\r\n\t\t\t \r\n\t\t\t Let the believer who is lowly boast in being raised up, \r\n\t\t\t and the rich in being brought low, because the rich will disappear like a flower in the field.\r\n\t\t\t For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the field; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. It is the same way with the rich; in the midst of a busy life, they will wither away.\r\n\t\t\t Blessed is anyone who endures temptation. Such a one has stood the test and will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. \r\n\t\t\t No one, when tempted, should say, \"I am being tempted by God\"; for God cannot be tempted by evil and he himself tempts no one.\r\n\t\t\t But one is tempted by one's own desire, being lured and enticed by it;\r\n\t\t\t then, when that desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and that sin, when it is fully grown, gives birth to death.\r\n\t\t\t Do not be deceived, my beloved. \r\n\t\t\t Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. \r\n\t\t\t In fulfillment of his own purpose he gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of his creatures.\r\n\t\t\t You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; \r\n\t\t\t for your anger does not produce God's righteousness.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls.\r\n\t\t\t But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves.\r\n\t\t\t For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror; \r\n\t\t\t for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like.\r\n\t\t\t But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act-- they will be blessed in their doing.\r\n\t\t\t If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless.\r\n\t\t\t Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t My brothers and sisters, do you with your acts of favoritism really believe in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ? \r\n\t\t\t For if a person with gold rings and in fine clothes comes into your assembly, and if a poor person in dirty clothes also comes in,\r\n\t\t\t and if you take notice of the one wearing the fine clothes and say, \"Have a seat here, please,\" while to the one who is poor you say, \"Stand there,\" or, \"Sit at my feet,\" \r\n\t\t\t have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?\r\n\t\t\t Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters. Has not God chosen the poor in the world to be rich in faith and to be heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him? \r\n\t\t\t But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you? Is it not they who drag you into court?\r\n\t\t\t Is it not they who blaspheme the excellent name that was invoked over you?\r\n\t\t\t You do well if you really fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, \"You shall love your neighbor as yourself.\"\r\n\t\t\t But if you show partiality, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.\r\n\t\t\t For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it.\r\n\t\t\t For the one who said, \"You shall not commit adultery,\" also said, \"You shall not murder.\" Now if you do not commit adultery but if you murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.\r\n\t\t\t So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty.\r\n\t\t\t For judgment will be without mercy to anyone who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.\r\n\t\t\t What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? \r\n\t\t\t If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food,\r\n\t\t\t and one of you says to them, \"Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill,\" and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that?\r\n\t\t\t So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.\r\n\t\t\t But someone will say, \"You have faith and I have works.\" Show me your faith apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith.\r\n\t\t\t You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe-- and shudder.\r\n\t\t\t Do you want to be shown, you senseless person, that faith apart from works is barren?\r\n\t\t\t Was not our ancestor Abraham justified by works when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?\r\n\t\t\t You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was brought to completion by the works.\r\n\t\t\t Thus the scripture was fulfilled that says, \"Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,\" and he was called the friend of God.\r\n\t\t\t You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.\r\n\t\t\t Likewise, was not Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she welcomed the messengers and sent them out by another road?\r\n\t\t\t For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is also dead.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. \r\n\t\t\t For all of us make many mistakes. Anyone who makes no mistakes in speaking is perfect, able to keep the whole body in check with a bridle.\r\n\t\t\t If we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we guide their whole bodies.\r\n\t\t\t Or look at ships: though they are so large that it takes strong winds to drive them, yet they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs.\r\n\t\t\t So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great exploits. How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire!\r\n\t\t\t And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is placed among our members as a world of iniquity; it stains the whole body, sets on fire the cycle of nature, and is itself set on fire by hell.\r\n\t\t\t For every species of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species,\r\n\t\t\t but no one can tame the tongue-- a restless evil, full of deadly poison.\r\n\t\t\t With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in the likeness of God.\r\n\t\t\t From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this ought not to be so. \r\n\t\t\t Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and brackish water?\r\n\t\t\t Can a fig tree, my brothers and sisters, yield olives, or a grapevine figs? No more can salt water yield fresh. \r\n\t\t\t Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom.\r\n\t\t\t But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be boastful and false to the truth.\r\n\t\t\t Such wisdom does not come down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish.\r\n\t\t\t For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind.\r\n\t\t\t But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy.\r\n\t\t\t And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Those conflicts and disputes among you, where do they come from? Do they not come from your cravings that are at war within you?\r\n\t\t\t You want something and do not have it; so you commit murder. And you covet something and cannot obtain it; so you engage in disputes and conflicts. You do not have, because you do not ask. \r\n\t\t\t You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, in order to spend what you get on your pleasures.\r\n\t\t\t Adulterers! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.\r\n\t\t\t Or do you suppose that it is for nothing that the scripture says, \"God yearns jealously for the spirit that he has made to dwell in us\"? \r\n\t\t\t But he gives all the more grace; therefore it says, \"God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.\"\r\n\t\t\t Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.\r\n\t\t\t Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.\r\n\t\t\t Lament and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy into dejection.\r\n\t\t\t Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.\r\n\t\t\t Do not speak evil against one another, brothers and sisters. Whoever speaks evil against another or judges another, speaks evil against the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. \r\n\t\t\t There is one lawgiver and judge who is able to save and to destroy. So who, then, are you to judge your neighbor?\r\n\t\t\t Come now, you who say, \"Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a town and spend a year there, doing business and making money.\"\r\n\t\t\t Yet you do not even know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.\r\n\t\t\t Instead you ought to say, \"If the Lord wishes, we will live and do this or that.\"\r\n\t\t\t As it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil.\r\n\t\t\t Anyone, then, who knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, commits sin.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Come now, you rich people, weep and wail for the miseries that are coming to you.\r\n\t\t\t Your riches have rotted, and your clothes are moth-eaten.\r\n\t\t\t Your gold and silver have rusted, and their rust will be evidence against you, and it will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure for the last days. \r\n\t\t\t Listen! The wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts.\r\n\t\t\t You have lived on the earth in luxury and in pleasure; you have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter.\r\n\t\t\t You have condemned and murdered the righteous one, who does not resist you.\r\n\t\t\t Be patient, therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains.\r\n\t\t\t You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. \r\n\t\t\t Beloved, do not grumble against one another, so that you may not be judged. See, the Judge is standing at the doors! \r\n\t\t\t As an example of suffering and patience, beloved, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. \r\n\t\t\t Indeed we call blessed those who showed endurance. You have heard of the endurance of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.\r\n\t\t\t Above all, my beloved, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your \"Yes\" be yes and your \"No\" be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation. \r\n\t\t\t Are any among you suffering? They should pray. Are any cheerful? They should sing songs of praise.\r\n\t\t\t Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord.\r\n\t\t\t The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective.\r\n\t\t\t Elijah was a human being like us, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth.\r\n\t\t\t Then he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain and the earth yielded its harvest.\r\n\t\t\t My brothers and sisters, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and is brought back by another, \r\n\t\t\t you should know that whoever brings back a sinner from wandering will save the sinner's soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,\r\n\t\t\t who have been chosen and destined by God the Father and sanctified by the Spirit to be obedient to Jesus Christ and to be sprinkled with his blood: May grace and peace be yours in abundance.\r\n\t\t\t Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,\r\n\t\t\t and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,\r\n\t\t\t who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.\r\n\t\t\t In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials, \r\n\t\t\t so that the genuineness of your faith-- being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire-- may be found to result in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.\r\n\t\t\t Although 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, \r\n\t\t\t for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.\r\n\t\t\t Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that was to be yours made careful search and inquiry,\r\n\t\t\t inquiring about the person or time that the Spirit of Christ within them indicated when it testified in advance to the sufferings destined for Christ and the subsequent glory.\r\n\t\t\t It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in regard to the things that have now been announced to you through those who brought you good news by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven-- things into which angels long to look!\r\n\t\t\t Therefore prepare your minds for action; discipline yourselves; set all your hope on the grace that Jesus Christ will bring you when he is revealed. \r\n\t\t\t Like obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires that you formerly had in ignorance.\r\n\t\t\t Instead, as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in all your conduct;\r\n\t\t\t for it is written, \"You shall be holy, for I am holy.\"\r\n\t\t\t If you invoke as Father the one who judges all people impartially according to their deeds, live in reverent fear during the time of your exile.\r\n\t\t\t You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold,\r\n\t\t\t but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish.\r\n\t\t\t He was destined before the foundation of the world, but was revealed at the end of the ages for your sake.\r\n\t\t\t Through him you have come to trust in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are set on God.\r\n\t\t\t Now that you have purified your souls by your obedience to the truth so that you have genuine mutual love, love one another deeply from the heart. \r\n\t\t\t You have been born anew, not of perishable but of imperishable seed, through the living and enduring word of God. \r\n\t\t\t For \"All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls,\r\n\t\t\t but the word of the Lord endures forever.\" That word is the good news that was announced to you.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Rid yourselves, therefore, of all malice, and all guile, insincerity, envy, and all slander.\r\n\t\t\t Like newborn infants, long for the pure, spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow into salvation--\r\n\t\t\t if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.\r\n\t\t\t Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God's sight, and\r\n\t\t\t like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. \r\n\t\t\t For it stands in scripture: \"See, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.\" \r\n\t\t\t To you then who believe, he is precious; but for those who do not believe, \"The stone that the builders rejected has become the very head of the corner,\"\r\n\t\t\t and \"A stone that makes them stumble, and a rock that makes them fall.\" They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.\r\n\t\t\t But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. \r\n\t\t\t Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.\r\n\t\t\t Beloved, I urge you as aliens and exiles to abstain from the desires of the flesh that wage war against the soul.\r\n\t\t\t Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles, so that, though they malign you as evildoers, they may see your honorable deeds and glorify God when he comes to judge. \r\n\t\t\t For the Lord's sake accept the authority of every human institution, whether of the emperor as supreme, \r\n\t\t\t or of governors, as sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right.\r\n\t\t\t For it is God's will that by doing right you should silence the ignorance of the foolish.\r\n\t\t\t As servants of God, live as free people, yet do not use your freedom as a pretext for evil.\r\n\t\t\t Honor everyone. Love the family of believers. Fear God. Honor the emperor. \r\n\t\t\t Slaves, accept the authority of your masters with all deference, not only those who are kind and gentle but also those who are harsh.\r\n\t\t\t For it is a credit to you if, being aware of God, you endure pain while suffering unjustly.\r\n\t\t\t If you endure when you are beaten for doing wrong, what credit is that? But if you endure when you do right and suffer for it, you have God's approval.\r\n\t\t\t For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his steps.\r\n\t\t\t \"He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.\"\r\n\t\t\t When he was abused, he did not return abuse; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly.\r\n\t\t\t He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. \r\n\t\t\t For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Wives, in the same way, accept the authority of your husbands, so that, even if some of them do not obey the word, they may be won over without a word by their wives' conduct,\r\n\t\t\t when they see the purity and reverence of your lives.\r\n\t\t\t Do not adorn yourselves outwardly by braiding your hair, and by wearing gold ornaments or fine clothing;\r\n\t\t\t rather, let your adornment be the inner self with the lasting beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in God's sight.\r\n\t\t\t It was in this way long ago that the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves by accepting the authority of their husbands.\r\n\t\t\t Thus Sarah obeyed Abraham and called him lord. You have become her daughters as long as you do what is good and never let fears alarm you.\r\n\t\t\t Husbands, in the same way, show consideration for your wives in your life together, paying honor to the woman as the weaker sex, since they too are also heirs of the gracious gift of life-- so that nothing may hinder your prayers.\r\n\t\t\t Finally, all of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love for one another, a tender heart, and a humble mind.\r\n\t\t\t Do not repay evil for evil or abuse for abuse; but, on the contrary, repay with a blessing. It is for this that you were called-- that you might inherit a blessing.\r\n\t\t\t For \"Those who desire life and desire to see good days, let them keep their tongues from evil and their lips from speaking deceit;\r\n\t\t\t let them turn away from evil and do good; let them seek peace and pursue it.\r\n\t\t\t For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.\"\r\n\t\t\t Now who will harm you if you are eager to do what is good?\r\n\t\t\t But even if you do suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear, and do not be intimidated, \r\n\t\t\t but in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you;\r\n\t\t\t yet do it with gentleness and reverence. Keep your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who abuse you for your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame. \r\n\t\t\t For it is better to suffer for doing good, if suffering should be God's will, than to suffer for doing evil.\r\n\t\t\t For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit, \r\n\t\t\t in which also he went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison,\r\n\t\t\t who in former times did not obey, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were saved through water.\r\n\t\t\t And baptism, which this prefigured, now saves you-- not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,\r\n\t\t\t who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers made subject to him.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same intention (for whoever has suffered in the flesh has finished with sin), \r\n\t\t\t so as to live for the rest of your earthly life no longer by human desires but by the will of God. \r\n\t\t\t You have already spent enough time in doing what the Gentiles like to do, living in licentiousness, passions, drunkenness, revels, carousing, and lawless idolatry.\r\n\t\t\t They are surprised that you no longer join them in the same excesses of dissipation, and so they blaspheme. \r\n\t\t\t But they will have to give an accounting to him who stands ready to judge the living and the dead.\r\n\t\t\t For this is the reason the gospel was proclaimed even to the dead, so that, though they had been judged in the flesh as everyone is judged, they might live in the spirit as God does.\r\n\t\t\t The end of all things is near; therefore be serious and discipline yourselves for the sake of your prayers. \r\n\t\t\t Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins.\r\n\t\t\t Be hospitable to one another without complaining.\r\n\t\t\t Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received.\r\n\t\t\t Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.\r\n\t\t\t Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that is taking place among you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.\r\n\t\t\t But rejoice insofar as you are sharing Christ's sufferings, so that you may also be glad and shout for joy when his glory is revealed.\r\n\t\t\t If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the spirit of glory, which is the Spirit of God, is resting on you. \r\n\t\t\t But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, a criminal, or even as a mischief maker.\r\n\t\t\t Yet if any of you suffers as a Christian, do not consider it a disgrace, but glorify God because you bear this name.\r\n\t\t\t For the time has come for judgment to begin with the household of God; if it begins with us, what will be the end for those who do not obey the gospel of God?\r\n\t\t\t And \"If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinners?\"\r\n\t\t\t Therefore, let those suffering in accordance with God's will entrust themselves to a faithful Creator, while continuing to do good.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Now as an elder myself and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as one who shares in the glory to be revealed, I exhort the elders among you\r\n\t\t\t to tend the flock of God that is in your charge, exercising the oversight, not under compulsion but willingly, as God would have you do it-- not for sordid gain but eagerly.\r\n\t\t\t Do not lord it over those in your charge, but be examples to the flock.\r\n\t\t\t And when the chief shepherd appears, you will win the crown of glory that never fades away.\r\n\t\t\t In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you must clothe yourselves with humility in your dealings with one another, for \"God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.\" \r\n\t\t\t Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time.\r\n\t\t\t Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you.\r\n\t\t\t Discipline yourselves, keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. \r\n\t\t\t Resist him, steadfast in your faith, for you know that your brothers and sisters in all the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering. \r\n\t\t\t And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you.\r\n\t\t\t To him be the power forever and ever. Amen.\r\n\t\t\t Through Silvanus, whom I consider a faithful brother, I have written this short letter to encourage you and to testify that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it.\r\n\t\t\t Your sister church in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you greetings; and so does my son Mark. \r\n\t\t\t Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have received a faith as precious as ours through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:\r\n\t\t\t May grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.\r\n\t\t\t His divine power has given us everything needed for life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. \r\n\t\t\t Thus he has given us, through these things, his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of lust, and may become participants of the divine nature.\r\n\t\t\t For this very reason, you must make every effort to support your faith with goodness, and goodness with knowledge,\r\n\t\t\t and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with endurance, and endurance with godliness,\r\n\t\t\t and godliness with mutual affection, and mutual affection with love. \r\n\t\t\t For if these things are yours and are increasing among you, they keep you from being ineffective and unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.\r\n\t\t\t For anyone who lacks these things is nearsighted and blind, and is forgetful of the cleansing of past sins.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore, brothers and sisters, be all the more eager to confirm your call and election, for if you do this, you will never stumble. \r\n\t\t\t For in this way, entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be richly provided for you.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore I intend to keep on reminding you of these things, though you know them already and are established in the truth that has come to you.\r\n\t\t\t I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to refresh your memory, \r\n\t\t\t since I know that my death will come soon, as indeed our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. \r\n\t\t\t And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.\r\n\t\t\t For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty.\r\n\t\t\t For he received honor and glory from God the Father when that voice was conveyed to him by the Majestic Glory, saying, \"This is my Son, my Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.\" \r\n\t\t\t We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven, while we were with him on the holy mountain.\r\n\t\t\t So we have the prophetic message more fully confirmed. You will do well to be attentive to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.\r\n\t\t\t First of all you must understand this, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation,\r\n\t\t\t because no prophecy ever came by human will, but men and women moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive opinions. They will even deny the Master who bought them-- bringing swift destruction on themselves.\r\n\t\t\t Even so, many will follow their licentious ways, and because of these teachers the way of truth will be maligned. \r\n\t\t\t And in their greed they will exploit you with deceptive words. Their condemnation, pronounced against them long ago, has not been idle, and their destruction is not asleep.\r\n\t\t\t For if God did not spare the angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of deepest darkness to be kept until the judgment; \r\n\t\t\t and if he did not spare the ancient world, even though he saved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others, when he brought a flood on a world of the ungodly;\r\n\t\t\t and if by turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes he condemned them to extinction and made them an example of what is coming to the ungodly; \r\n\t\t\t and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man greatly distressed by the licentiousness of the lawless\r\n\t\t\t (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by their lawless deeds that he saw and heard),\r\n\t\t\t then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trial, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment\r\n\t\t\t -- especially those who indulge their flesh in depraved lust, and who despise authority. Bold and willful, they are not afraid to slander the glorious ones, \r\n\t\t\t whereas angels, though greater in might and power, do not bring against them a slanderous judgment from the Lord. \r\n\t\t\t These people, however, are like irrational animals, mere creatures of instinct, born to be caught and killed. They slander what they do not understand, and when those creatures are destroyed, they also will be destroyed, \r\n\t\t\t suffering the penalty for doing wrong. They count it a pleasure to revel in the daytime. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their dissipation while they feast with you. \r\n\t\t\t They have eyes full of adultery, insatiable for sin. They entice unsteady souls. They have hearts trained in greed. Accursed children!\r\n\t\t\t They have left the straight road and have gone astray, following the road of Balaam son of Bosor, who loved the wages of doing wrong, \r\n\t\t\t but was rebuked for his own transgression; a speechless donkey spoke with a human voice and restrained the prophet's madness.\r\n\t\t\t These are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm; for them the deepest darkness has been reserved.\r\n\t\t\t For they speak bombastic nonsense, and with licentious desires of the flesh they entice people who have just escaped from those who live in error. \r\n\t\t\t They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption; for people are slaves to whatever masters them.\r\n\t\t\t For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overpowered, the last state has become worse for them than the first.\r\n\t\t\t For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than, after knowing it, to turn back from the holy commandment that was passed on to them.\r\n\t\t\t It has happened to them according to the true proverb, \"The dog turns back to its own vomit,\" and, \"The sow is washed only to wallow in the mud.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t This is now, beloved, the second letter I am writing to you; in them I am trying to arouse your sincere intention by reminding you\r\n\t\t\t that you should remember the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets, and the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken through your apostles.\r\n\t\t\t First of all you must understand this, that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and indulging their own lusts\r\n\t\t\t and saying, \"Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since our ancestors died, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation!\" \r\n\t\t\t They deliberately ignore this fact, that by the word of God heavens existed long ago and an earth was formed out of water and by means of water,\r\n\t\t\t through which the world of that time was deluged with water and perished.\r\n\t\t\t But by the same word the present heavens and earth have been reserved for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the godless.\r\n\t\t\t But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day.\r\n\t\t\t The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance. \r\n\t\t\t But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and everything that is done on it will be disclosed. \r\n\t\t\t Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, what sort of persons ought you to be in leading lives of holiness and godliness,\r\n\t\t\t waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set ablaze and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire? \r\n\t\t\t But, in accordance with his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore, beloved, while you are waiting for these things, strive to be found by him at peace, without spot or blemish;\r\n\t\t\t and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation. So also our beloved brother Paul wrote to you according to the wisdom given him,\r\n\t\t\t speaking of this as he does in all his letters. There are some things in them hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other scriptures.\r\n\t\t\t You therefore, beloved, since you are forewarned, beware that you are not carried away with the error of the lawless and lose your own stability.\r\n\t\t\t But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life--\r\n\t\t\t this life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it, and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us--\r\n\t\t\t we declare to you what we have seen and heard so that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.\r\n\t\t\t We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete. \r\n\t\t\t This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all.\r\n\t\t\t If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true;\r\n\t\t\t but if we walk 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.\r\n\t\t\t If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.\r\n\t\t\t If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.\r\n\t\t\t If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;\r\n\t\t\t and he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.\r\n\t\t\t Now by this we may be sure that we know him, if we obey his commandments.\r\n\t\t\t Whoever says, \"I have come to know him,\" but does not obey his commandments, is a liar, and in such a person the truth does not exist;\r\n\t\t\t but whoever obeys his word, truly in this person the love of God has reached perfection. By this we may be sure that we are in him:\r\n\t\t\t whoever says, \"I abide in him,\" ought to walk just as he walked.\r\n\t\t\t Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you have had from the beginning; the old commandment is the word that you have heard.\r\n\t\t\t Yet I am writing you a new commandment that is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. \r\n\t\t\t Whoever says, \"I am in the light,\" while hating a brother or sister, is still in the darkness. \r\n\t\t\t Whoever loves a brother or sister lives in the light, and in such a person there is no cause for stumbling. \r\n\t\t\t But whoever hates another believer is in the darkness, walks in the darkness, and does not know the way to go, because the darkness has brought on blindness.\r\n\t\t\t I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven on account of his name.\r\n\t\t\t I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young people, because you have conquered the evil one.\r\n\t\t\t I write to you, children, because you know the Father. I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young people, because you are strong and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.\r\n\t\t\t Do not love the world or the things in the world. The love of the Father is not in those who love the world;\r\n\t\t\t for all that is in the world-- the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, the pride in riches-- comes not from the Father but from the world.\r\n\t\t\t And the world and its desire are passing away, but those who do the will of God live forever. \r\n\t\t\t Children, it is the last hour! As you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. From this we know that it is the last hour.\r\n\t\t\t They went out from us, but they did not belong to us; for if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. But by going out they made it plain that none of them belongs to us.\r\n\t\t\t But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and all of you have knowledge. \r\n\t\t\t I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and you know that no lie comes from the truth.\r\n\t\t\t Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son. \r\n\t\t\t No one who denies the Son has the Father; everyone who confesses the Son has the Father also.\r\n\t\t\t Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you will abide in the Son and in the Father.\r\n\t\t\t And this is what he has promised us, eternal life. \r\n\t\t\t I write these things to you concerning those who would deceive you.\r\n\t\t\t As for you, the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and so you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, abide in him. \r\n\t\t\t And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he is revealed we may have confidence and not be put to shame before him at his coming.\r\n\t\t\t If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who does right has been born of him.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.\r\n\t\t\t Beloved, we are God's children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is. \r\n\t\t\t And all who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.\r\n\t\t\t Everyone who commits sin is guilty of lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.\r\n\t\t\t You know that he was revealed to take away sins, and in him there is no sin.\r\n\t\t\t No one who abides in him sins; no one who sins has either seen him or known him.\r\n\t\t\t Little children, let no one deceive you. Everyone who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous.\r\n\t\t\t Everyone who commits sin is a child of the devil; for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The Son of God was revealed for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.\r\n\t\t\t Those who have been born of God do not sin, because God's seed abides in them; they cannot sin, because they have been born of God. \r\n\t\t\t The children of God and the children of the devil are revealed in this way: all who do not do what is right are not from God, nor are those who do not love their brothers and sisters. \r\n\t\t\t For this is the message you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.\r\n\t\t\t We must not be like Cain who was from the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother's righteous.\r\n\t\t\t Do not be astonished, brothers and sisters, that the world hates you. \r\n\t\t\t We know that we have passed from death to life because we love one another. Whoever does not love abides in death.\r\n\t\t\t All who hate a brother or sister are murderers, and you know that murderers do not have eternal life abiding in them. \r\n\t\t\t We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us-- and we ought to lay down our lives for one another.\r\n\t\t\t How does God's love abide in anyone who has the world's goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help? \r\n\t\t\t Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action.\r\n\t\t\t And by this we will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our hearts before him\r\n\t\t\t whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.\r\n\t\t\t Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have boldness before God;\r\n\t\t\t and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we obey his commandments and do what pleases him.\r\n\t\t\t And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.\r\n\t\t\t All who obey his commandments abide in him, and he abides in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit that he has given us.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God; for many false prophets have gone out into the world.\r\n\t\t\t By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,\r\n\t\t\t and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. And this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming; and now it is already in the world.\r\n\t\t\t Little children, you are from God, and have conquered them; for the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.\r\n\t\t\t They are from the world; therefore what they say is from the world, and the world listens to them.\r\n\t\t\t We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us, and whoever is not from God does not listen to us. From this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.\r\n\t\t\t Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.\r\n\t\t\t Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love.\r\n\t\t\t God's love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him.\r\n\t\t\t In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.\r\n\t\t\t Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another.\r\n\t\t\t No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us.\r\n\t\t\t By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.\r\n\t\t\t And we have seen and do testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world.\r\n\t\t\t God abides in those who confess that Jesus is the Son of God, and they abide in God.\r\n\t\t\t So we have known and believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them.\r\n\t\t\t Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this world.\r\n\t\t\t There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love.\r\n\t\t\t We love because he first loved us. \r\n\t\t\t Those who say, \"I love God,\" and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. \r\n\t\t\t The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the parent loves the child. \r\n\t\t\t By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments.\r\n\t\t\t For the love of God is this, that we obey his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome,\r\n\t\t\t for whatever is born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith.\r\n\t\t\t Who is it that conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?\r\n\t\t\t This is the one who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ, not with the water only but with the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one that testifies, for the Spirit is the truth.\r\n\t\t\t There are three that testify: \r\n\t\t\t the Spirit and the water and the blood, and these three agree.\r\n\t\t\t If we receive human testimony, the testimony of God is greater; for this is the testimony of God that he has testified to his Son.\r\n\t\t\t Those who believe in the Son of God have the testimony in their hearts. Those who do not believe in God have made him a liar by not believing in the testimony that God has given concerning his Son. \r\n\t\t\t And this is the testimony: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.\r\n\t\t\t Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.\r\n\t\t\t I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.\r\n\t\t\t And this is the boldness we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.\r\n\t\t\t And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have obtained the requests made of him.\r\n\t\t\t If you see your brother or sister committing what is not a mortal sin, you will ask, and God will give life to such a one-- to those whose sin is not mortal. There is sin that is mortal; I do not say that you should pray about that.\r\n\t\t\t All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that is not mortal.\r\n\t\t\t We know that those who are born of God do not sin, but the one who was born of God protects them, and the evil one does not touch them.\r\n\t\t\t We know that we are God's children, and that the whole world lies under the power of the evil one.\r\n\t\t\t And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. \r\n\t\t\t Little children, keep yourselves from idols. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The elder to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth, and not only I but also all who know the truth,\r\n\t\t\t because of the truth that abides in us and will be with us forever:\r\n\t\t\t Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father's Son, in truth and love. \r\n\t\t\t I was overjoyed to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we have been commanded by the Father.\r\n\t\t\t But now, dear lady, I ask you, not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but one we have had from the beginning, let us love one another.\r\n\t\t\t And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment just as you have heard it from the beginning-- you must walk in it.\r\n\t\t\t Many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh; any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist!\r\n\t\t\t Be on your guard, so that you do not lose what we have worked for, but may receive a full reward. \r\n\t\t\t Everyone who does not abide in the teaching of Christ, but goes beyond it, does not have God; whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.\r\n\t\t\t Do not receive into the house or welcome anyone who comes to you and does not bring this teaching;\r\n\t\t\t for to welcome is to participate in the evil deeds of such a person.\r\n\t\t\t Although I have much to write to you, I would rather not use paper and ink; instead I hope to come to you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete.\r\n\t\t\t The children of your elect sister send you their greetings. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth.\r\n\t\t\t Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, just as it is well with your soul.\r\n\t\t\t I was overjoyed when some of the friends arrived and testified to your faithfulness to the truth, namely how you walk in the truth. \r\n\t\t\t I have no greater joy than this, to hear that my children are walking in the truth.\r\n\t\t\t Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the friends, even though they are strangers to you; \r\n\t\t\t they have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on in a manner worthy of God;\r\n\t\t\t for they began their journey for the sake of Christ, accepting no support from non-believers. \r\n\t\t\t Therefore we ought to support such people, so that we may become co-workers with the truth.\r\n\t\t\t I have written something to the church; but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority.\r\n\t\t\t So if I come, I will call attention to what he is doing in spreading false charges against us. And not content with those charges, he refuses to welcome the friends, and even prevents those who want to do so and expels them from the church. \r\n\t\t\t Beloved, do not imitate what is evil but imitate what is good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God.\r\n\t\t\t Everyone has testified favorably about Demetrius, and so has the truth itself. We also testify for him, and you know that our testimony is true. \r\n\t\t\t I have much to write to you, but I would rather not write with pen and ink;\r\n\t\t\t instead I hope to see you soon, and we will talk together face to face.\r\n\t\t\t Peace to you. The friends send you their greetings. Greet the friends there, each by name.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, To those who are called, who are beloved in God the Father and kept safe for Jesus Christ: \r\n\t\t\t May mercy, peace, and love be yours in abundance.\r\n\t\t\t Beloved, while eagerly preparing to write to you about the salvation we share, I find it necessary to write and appeal to you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.\r\n\t\t\t For certain intruders have stolen in among you, people who long ago were designated for this condemnation as ungodly, who pervert the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. \r\n\t\t\t Now I desire to remind you, though you are fully informed, that the Lord, who once for all saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. \r\n\t\t\t And the angels who did not keep their own position, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains in deepest darkness for the judgment of the great Day.\r\n\t\t\t Likewise, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which, in the same manner as they, indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural lust, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire. \r\n\t\t\t Yet in the same way these dreamers also defile the flesh, reject authority, and slander the glorious ones. \r\n\t\t\t But when the archangel Michael contended with the devil and disputed about the body of Moses, he did not dare to bring a condemnation of slander against him, but said, \"The Lord rebuke you!\" \r\n\t\t\t But these people slander whatever they do not understand, and they are destroyed by those things that, like irrational animals, they know by instinct.\r\n\t\t\t Woe to them! For they go the way of Cain, and abandon themselves to Balaam's error for the sake of gain, and perish in Korah's rebellion.\r\n\t\t\t These are blemishes on your love-feasts, while they feast with you without fear, feeding themselves. They are waterless clouds carried along by the winds; autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, uprooted; \r\n\t\t\t wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the deepest darkness has been reserved forever.\r\n\t\t\t It was also about these that Enoch, in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied, saying, \"See, the Lord is coming with ten thousands of his holy ones, \r\n\t\t\t to execute judgment on all, and to convict everyone of all the deeds of ungodliness that they have committed in such an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.\"\r\n\t\t\t These are grumblers and malcontents; they indulge their own lusts; they are bombastic in speech, flattering people to their own advantage.\r\n\t\t\t But you, beloved, must remember the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;\r\n\t\t\t for they said to you, \"In the last time there will be scoffers, indulging their own ungodly lusts.\"\r\n\t\t\t It is these worldly people, devoid of the Spirit, who are causing divisions.\r\n\t\t\t But you, beloved, build yourselves up on your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit;\r\n\t\t\t keep yourselves in the love of God; look forward to the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. \r\n\t\t\t And have mercy on some who are wavering;\r\n\t\t\t save others by snatching them out of the fire; and have mercy on still others with fear, hating even the tunic defiled by their bodies.\r\n\t\t\t Now to him who is able to keep you from falling, and to make you stand without blemish in the presence of his glory with rejoicing,\r\n\t\t\t to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place; he made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, \r\n\t\t\t who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw.\r\n\t\t\t Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of the prophecy, and blessed are those who hear and who keep what is written in it; for the time is near.\r\n\t\t\t John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne,\r\n\t\t\t and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood, \r\n\t\t\t and made us to be a kingdom, priests serving his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. \r\n\t\t\t Look! He is coming with the clouds; every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and on his account all the tribes of the earth will wail. So it is to be. Amen.\r\n\t\t\t \"I am the Alpha and the Omega,\" says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.\r\n\t\t\t I, John, your brother who share with you in Jesus the persecution and the kingdom and the patient endurance, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. \r\n\t\t\t I was in the spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet \r\n\t\t\t saying, \"Write in a book what you see and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamum, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then I turned to see whose voice it was that spoke to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands,\r\n\t\t\t and in the midst of the lampstands I saw one like the Son of Man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash across his chest.\r\n\t\t\t His head and his hair were white as white wool, white as snow; his eyes were like a flame of fire,\r\n\t\t\t his feet were like burnished bronze, refined as in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of many waters.\r\n\t\t\t In his right hand he held seven stars, and from his mouth came a sharp, two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining with full force.\r\n\t\t\t When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he placed his right hand on me, saying, \"Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last,\r\n\t\t\t and the living one. I was dead, and see, I am alive forever and ever; and I have the keys of Death and of Hades.\r\n\t\t\t Now write what you have seen, what is, and what is to take place after this.\r\n\t\t\t As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t \"To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands:\r\n\t\t\t \"I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance. I know that you cannot tolerate evildoers; you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them to be false.\r\n\t\t\t I also know that you are enduring patiently and bearing up for the sake of my name, and that you have not grown weary.\r\n\t\t\t But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.\r\n\t\t\t Remember then from what you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.\r\n\t\t\t Yet this is to your credit: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.\r\n\t\t\t Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches. To everyone who conquers, I will give permission to eat from the tree of life that is in the paradise of God.\r\n\t\t\t \"And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of the first and the last, who was dead and came to life:\r\n\t\t\t \"I know your affliction and your poverty, even though you are rich. I know the slander on the part of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.\r\n\t\t\t Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Beware, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison so that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have affliction. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.\r\n\t\t\t Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches. Whoever conquers will not be harmed by the second death.\r\n\t\t\t \"And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword:\r\n\t\t\t \"I know where you are living, where Satan's throne is. Yet you are holding fast to my name, and you did not deny your faith in me even in the days of Antipas my witness, my faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan lives. \r\n\t\t\t But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the people of Israel, so that they would eat food sacrificed to idols and practice fornication.\r\n\t\t\t So you also have some who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.\r\n\t\t\t Repent then. If not, I will come to you soon and make war against them with the sword of my mouth.\r\n\t\t\t Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches. To everyone who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give a white stone, and on the white stone is written a new name that no one knows except the one who receives it.\r\n\t\t\t \"And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: These are the words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze:\r\n\t\t\t \"I know your works-- your love, faith, service, and patient endurance. I know that your last works are greater than the first.\r\n\t\t\t But I have this against you: you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet and is teaching and beguiling my servants to practice fornication and to eat food sacrificed to idols. \r\n\t\t\t I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her fornication.\r\n\t\t\t Beware, I am throwing her on a bed, and those who commit adultery with her I am throwing into great distress, unless they repent of her doings;\r\n\t\t\t and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am the one who searches minds and hearts, and I will give to each of you as your works deserve.\r\n\t\t\t But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned what some call 'the deep things of Satan,' to you I say, I do not lay on you any other burden;\r\n\t\t\t only hold fast to what you have until I come.\r\n\t\t\t To everyone who conquers and continues to do my works to the end, I will give authority over the nations;\r\n\t\t\t to rule them with an iron rod, as when clay pots are shattered--\r\n\t\t\t even as I also received authority from my Father. To the one who conquers I will also give the morning star.\r\n\t\t\t Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t \"And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars: \"I know your works; you have a name of being alive, but you are dead.\r\n\t\t\t Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is on the point of death, for I have not found your works perfect in the sight of my God.\r\n\t\t\t Remember then what you received and heard; obey it, and repent. If you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you.\r\n\t\t\t Yet you have still a few persons in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes; they will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy.\r\n\t\t\t If you conquer, you will be clothed like them in white robes, and I will not blot your name out of the book of life; I will confess your name before my Father and before his angels.\r\n\t\t\t Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.\r\n\t\t\t \"And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens:\r\n\t\t\t \"I know your works. Look, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.\r\n\t\t\t I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but are lying-- I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you.\r\n\t\t\t Because you have kept my word of patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.\r\n\t\t\t I am coming soon; hold fast to what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.\r\n\t\t\t If you conquer, I will make you a pillar in the temple of my God; you will never go out of it. I will write on you the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem that comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name.\r\n\t\t\t Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.\r\n\t\t\t \"And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the origin of God's creation: \r\n\t\t\t \"I know your works; you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were either cold or hot.\r\n\t\t\t So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I am about to spit you out of my mouth.\r\n\t\t\t For you say, 'I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing.' You do not realize that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.\r\n\t\t\t Therefore I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire so that you may be rich; and white robes to clothe you and to keep the shame of your nakedness from being seen; and salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see.\r\n\t\t\t I reprove and discipline those whom I love. Be earnest, therefore, and repent.\r\n\t\t\t Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me.\r\n\t\t\t To the one who conquers I will give a place with me on my throne, just as I myself conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.\r\n\t\t\t Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t After this I looked, and there in heaven a door stood open! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, \"Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.\"\r\n\t\t\t At once I was in the spirit, and there in heaven stood a throne, with one seated on the throne! \r\n\t\t\t And the one seated there looks like jasper and carnelian, and around the throne is a rainbow that looks like an emerald.\r\n\t\t\t Around the throne are twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones are twenty-four elders, dressed in white robes, with golden crowns on their heads.\r\n\t\t\t Coming from the throne are flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and in front of the throne burn seven flaming torches, which are the seven spirits of God;\r\n\t\t\t and in front of the throne there is something like a sea of glass, like crystal. Around the throne, and on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind:\r\n\t\t\t the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with a face like a human face, and the fourth living creature like a flying eagle.\r\n\t\t\t And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and inside. Day and night without ceasing they sing, \"Holy, holy, holy, the Lord God the Almighty, who was and is and is to come.\"\r\n\t\t\t And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to the one who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever,\r\n\t\t\t the twenty-four elders fall before the one who is seated on the throne and worship the one who lives forever and ever; they cast their crowns before the throne, singing,\r\n\t\t\t \"You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then I saw in the right hand of the one seated on the throne a scroll written on the inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals; \r\n\t\t\t and I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, \"Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?\"\r\n\t\t\t And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it.\r\n\t\t\t And I began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it.\r\n\t\t\t Then one of the elders said to me, \"Do not weep. See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then I saw between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders a Lamb standing as if it had been slaughtered, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.\r\n\t\t\t He went and took the scroll from the right hand of the one who was seated on the throne.\r\n\t\t\t When he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell before the Lamb, each holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.\r\n\t\t\t They sing a new song: \"You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slaughtered and by your blood you ransomed for God saints from every tribe and language and people and nation; \r\n\t\t\t you have made them to be a kingdom and priests serving our God, and they will reign on earth.\" \r\n\t\t\t Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels surrounding the throne and the living creatures and the elders; they numbered myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands,\r\n\t\t\t singing with full voice, \"Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!\"\r\n\t\t\t Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, singing, \"To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!\"\r\n\t\t\t And the four living creatures said, \"Amen!\" And the elders fell down and worshiped.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then I saw the Lamb open one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures call out, as with a voice of thunder, \"Come!\" \r\n\t\t\t I looked, and there was a white horse! Its rider had a bow; a crown was given to him, and he came out conquering and to conquer.\r\n\t\t\t When he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature call out, \"Come!\" \r\n\t\t\t And out came another horse, bright red; its rider was permitted to take peace from the earth, so that people would slaughter one another; and he was given a great sword. \r\n\t\t\t When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature call out, \"Come!\" I looked, and there was a black horse! Its rider held a pair of scales in his hand,\r\n\t\t\t and I heard what seemed to be a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, \"A quart of wheat for a day's pay, and three quarts of barley for a day's pay, but do not damage the olive oil and the wine!\" \r\n\t\t\t When he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature call out, \"Come!\" \r\n\t\t\t I looked and there was a pale green horse! Its rider's name was Death, and Hades followed with him; they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, famine, and pestilence, and by the wild animals of the earth.\r\n\t\t\t When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slaughtered for the word of God and for the testimony they had given;\r\n\t\t\t they cried out with a loud voice, \"Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long will it be before you judge and avenge our blood on the inhabitants of the earth?\"\r\n\t\t\t They were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number would be complete both of their fellow servants and of their brothers and sisters, who were soon to be killed as they themselves had been killed. \r\n\t\t\t When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and there came a great earthquake; the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood,\r\n\t\t\t and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree drops its winter fruit when shaken by a gale.\r\n\t\t\t The sky vanished like a scroll rolling itself up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.\r\n\t\t\t Then the kings of the earth and the magnates and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains,\r\n\t\t\t calling to the mountains and rocks, \"Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one seated on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb;\r\n\t\t\t for the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth so that no wind could blow on earth or sea or against any tree.\r\n\t\t\t I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, having the seal of the living God, and he called with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to damage earth and sea,\r\n\t\t\t saying, \"Do not damage the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have marked the servants of our God with a seal on their foreheads.\" \r\n\t\t\t And I heard the number of those who were sealed, one hundred forty-four thousand, sealed out of every tribe of the people of Israel:\r\n\t\t\t From the tribe of Judah twelve thousand sealed, from the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand, from the tribe of Gad twelve thousand,\r\n\t\t\t from the tribe of Asher twelve thousand, from the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand, from the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand,\r\n\t\t\t from the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand, from the tribe of Levi twelve thousand, from the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand,\r\n\t\t\t from the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand, from the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand, from the tribe of Benjamin twelve thousand sealed.\r\n\t\t\t After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands.\r\n\t\t\t They cried out in a loud voice, saying, \"Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!\"\r\n\t\t\t And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,\r\n\t\t\t singing, \"Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, \"Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?\"\r\n\t\t\t I said to him, \"Sir, you are the one that knows.\" Then he said to me, \"These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.\r\n\t\t\t For this reason they are before the throne of God, and worship him day and night within his temple, and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them.\r\n\t\t\t They will hunger no more, and thirst no more; the sun will not strike them, nor any scorching heat;\r\n\t\t\t for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.\r\n\t\t\t And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.\r\n\t\t\t Another angel with a golden censer came and stood at the altar; he was given a great quantity of incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar that is before the throne.\r\n\t\t\t And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel.\r\n\t\t\t Then the angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar and threw it on the earth; and there were peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake.\r\n\t\t\t Now the seven angels who had the seven trumpets made ready to blow them.\r\n\t\t\t The first angel blew his trumpet, and there came hail and fire, mixed with blood, and they were hurled to the earth; and a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up.\r\n\t\t\t The second angel blew his trumpet, and something like a great mountain, burning with fire, was thrown into the sea.\r\n\t\t\t A third of the sea became blood, a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.\r\n\t\t\t The third angel blew his trumpet, and a great star fell from heaven, blazing like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water.\r\n\t\t\t The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and many died from the water, because it was made bitter.\r\n\t\t\t The fourth angel blew his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, and a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of their light was darkened; a third of the day was kept from shining, and likewise the night.\r\n\t\t\t Then I looked, and I heard an eagle crying with a loud voice as it flew in midheaven, \"Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth, at the blasts of the other trumpets that the three angels are about to blow!\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t And the fifth angel blew his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from heaven to earth, and he was given the key to the shaft of the bottomless pit;\r\n\t\t\t he opened the shaft of the bottomless pit, and from the shaft rose smoke like the smoke of a great furnace, and the sun and the air were darkened with the smoke from the shaft.\r\n\t\t\t Then from the smoke came locusts on the earth, and they were given authority like the authority of scorpions of the earth.\r\n\t\t\t They were told not to damage the grass of the earth or any green growth or any tree, but only those people who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.\r\n\t\t\t They were allowed to torture them for five months, but not to kill them, and their torture was like the torture of a scorpion when it stings someone.\r\n\t\t\t And in those days people will seek death but will not find it; they will long to die, but death will flee from them.\r\n\t\t\t In appearance the locusts were like horses equipped for battle. On their heads were what looked like crowns of gold; their faces were like human faces,\r\n\t\t\t their hair like women's hair, and their teeth like lions' teeth;\r\n\t\t\t they had scales like iron breastplates, and the noise of their wings was like the noise of many chariots with horses rushing into battle.\r\n\t\t\t They have tails like scorpions, with stingers, and in their tails is their power to harm people for five months.\r\n\t\t\t They have as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit; his name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek he is called Apollyon. \r\n\t\t\t The first woe has passed. There are still two woes to come.\r\n\t\t\t Then the sixth angel blew his trumpet, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar before God, \r\n\t\t\t saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, \"Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.\"\r\n\t\t\t So the four angels were released, who had been held ready for the hour, the day, the month, and the year, to kill a third of humankind.\r\n\t\t\t The number of the troops of cavalry was two hundred million; I heard their number.\r\n\t\t\t And this was how I saw the horses in my vision: the riders wore breastplates the color of fire and of sapphire and of sulfur; the heads of the horses were like lions' heads, and fire and smoke and sulfur came out of their mouths.\r\n\t\t\t By these three plagues a third of humankind was killed, by the fire and smoke and sulfur coming out of their mouths.\r\n\t\t\t For the power of the horses is in their mouths and in their tails; their tails are like serpents, having heads; and with them they inflict harm.\r\n\t\t\t The rest of humankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands or give up worshiping demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk.\r\n\t\t\t And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their fornication or their thefts.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t And I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, wrapped in a cloud, with a rainbow over his head; his face was like the sun, and his legs like pillars of fire.\r\n\t\t\t He held a little scroll open in his hand. Setting his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land,\r\n\t\t\t he gave a great shout, like a lion roaring. And when he shouted, the seven thunders sounded.\r\n\t\t\t And when the seven thunders had sounded, I was about to write, but I heard a voice from heaven saying, \"Seal up what the seven thunders have said, and do not write it down.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then the angel whom I saw standing on the sea and the land raised his right hand to heaven\r\n\t\t\t and swore by him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and what is in it, the earth and what is in it, and the sea and what is in it: \"There will be no more delay,\r\n\t\t\t but in the days when the seventh angel is to blow his trumpet, the mystery of God will be fulfilled, as he announced to his servants the prophets.\" \r\n\t\t\t Then the voice that I had heard from heaven spoke to me again, saying, \"Go, take the scroll that is open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.\"\r\n\t\t\t So I went to the angel and told him to give me the little scroll; and he said to me, \"Take it, and eat; it will be bitter to your stomach, but sweet as honey in your mouth.\"\r\n\t\t\t So I took the little scroll from the hand of the angel and ate it; it was sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach was made bitter.\r\n\t\t\t Then they said to me, \"You must prophesy again about many peoples and nations and languages and kings.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then I was given a measuring rod like a staff, and I was told, \"Come and measure the temple of God and the altar and those who worship there,\r\n\t\t\t but do not measure the court outside the temple; leave that out, for it is given over to the nations, and they will trample over the holy city for forty-two months.\r\n\t\t\t And I will grant my two witnesses authority to prophesy for one thousand two hundred sixty days, wearing sackcloth.\"\r\n\t\t\t These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.\r\n\t\t\t And if anyone wants to harm them, fire pours from their mouth and consumes their foes; anyone who wants to harm them must be killed in this manner.\r\n\t\t\t They have authority to shut the sky, so that no rain may fall during the days of their prophesying, and they have authority over the waters to turn them into blood, and to strike the earth with every kind of plague, as often as they desire.\r\n\t\t\t When they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the bottomless pit will make war on them and conquer them and kill them,\r\n\t\t\t and their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city that is prophetically called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified. \r\n\t\t\t For three and a half days members of the peoples and tribes and languages and nations will gaze at their dead bodies and refuse to let them be placed in a tomb;\r\n\t\t\t and the inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and celebrate and exchange presents, because these two prophets had been a torment to the inhabitants of the earth.\r\n\t\t\t But after the three and a half days, the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and those who saw them were terrified. \r\n\t\t\t Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, \"Come up here!\" And they went up to heaven in a cloud while their enemies watched them.\r\n\t\t\t At that moment there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell; seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.\r\n\t\t\t The second woe has passed. The third woe is coming very soon.\r\n\t\t\t Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, \"The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign forever and ever.\" \r\n\t\t\t Then the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God,\r\n\t\t\t singing, \"We give you thanks, Lord God Almighty, who are and who were, for you have taken your great power and begun to reign.\r\n\t\t\t The nations raged, but your wrath has come, and the time for judging the dead, for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints and all who fear your name, both small and great, and for destroying those who destroy the earth.\" \r\n\t\t\t Then God's temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple; and there were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t A great portent appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.\r\n\t\t\t She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pangs, in the agony of giving birth.\r\n\t\t\t Then another portent appeared in heaven: a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads.\r\n\t\t\t His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. Then the dragon stood before the woman who was about to bear a child, so that he might devour her child as soon as it was born.\r\n\t\t\t And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron. But her child was snatched away and taken to God and to his throne; \r\n\t\t\t and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, so that there she can be nourished for one thousand two hundred sixty days.\r\n\t\t\t And war broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels fought against the dragon. The dragon and his angels fought back,\r\n\t\t\t but they were defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven.\r\n\t\t\t The great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world-- he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.\r\n\t\t\t Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, proclaiming, \"Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Messiah, for the accuser of our comrades has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. \r\n\t\t\t But they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they did not cling to life even in the face of death.\r\n\t\t\t Rejoice then, you heavens and those who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea, for the devil has come down to you with great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!\"\r\n\t\t\t So when the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. \r\n\t\t\t But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle, so that she could fly from the serpent into the wilderness, to her place where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time.\r\n\t\t\t Then from his mouth the serpent poured water like a river after the woman, to sweep her away with the flood.\r\n\t\t\t But the earth came to the help of the woman; it opened its mouth and swallowed the river that the dragon had poured from his mouth.\r\n\t\t\t Then the dragon was angry with the woman, and went off to make war on the rest of her children, those who keep the commandments of God and hold the testimony of Jesus.\r\n\t\t\t Then the dragon took his stand on the sand of the seashore. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads; and on its horns were ten diadems, and on its heads were blasphemous names.\r\n\t\t\t And the beast that I saw was like a leopard, its feet were like a bear's, and its mouth was like a lion's mouth. And the dragon gave it his power and his throne and great authority.\r\n\t\t\t One of its heads seemed to have received a death-blow, but its mortal wound had been healed. In amazement the whole earth followed the beast. \r\n\t\t\t They worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, \"Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?\"\r\n\t\t\t The beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months.\r\n\t\t\t It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven.\r\n\t\t\t Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. It was given authority over every tribe and people and language and nation, \r\n\t\t\t and all the inhabitants of the earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb that was slaughtered. \r\n\t\t\t Let anyone who has an ear listen:\r\n\t\t\t If you are to be taken captive, into captivity you go; if you kill with the sword, with the sword you must be killed. Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints.\r\n\t\t\t Then I saw another beast that rose out of the earth; it had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon.\r\n\t\t\t It exercises all the authority of the first beast on its behalf, and it makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose mortal wound had been healed. \r\n\t\t\t It performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in the sight of all;\r\n\t\t\t and by the signs that it is allowed to perform on behalf of the beast, it deceives the inhabitants of earth, telling them to make an image for the beast that had been wounded by the sword and yet lived; \r\n\t\t\t and it was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast so that the image of the beast could even speak and cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. \r\n\t\t\t Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead,\r\n\t\t\t so that no one can buy or sell who does not have the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name.\r\n\t\t\t This calls for wisdom: let anyone with understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a person. Its number is six hundred sixty-six. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then I looked, and there was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion! And with him were one hundred forty-four thousand who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads.\r\n\t\t\t And I heard a voice from heaven like the sound of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder; the voice I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps,\r\n\t\t\t and they sing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the one hundred forty-four thousand who have been redeemed from the earth.\r\n\t\t\t It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins; these follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They have been redeemed from humankind as first fruits for God and the Lamb,\r\n\t\t\t and in their mouth no lie was found; they are blameless.\r\n\t\t\t Then I saw another angel flying in midheaven, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth-- to every nation and tribe and language and people.\r\n\t\t\t He said in a loud voice, \"Fear God and give him glory, for the hour of his judgment has come; and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then another angel, a second, followed, saying, \"Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then another angel, a third, followed them, crying with a loud voice, \"Those who worship the beast and its image, and receive a mark on their foreheads or on their hands,\r\n\t\t\t they will also drink the wine of God's wrath, poured unmixed into the cup of his anger, and they will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.\r\n\t\t\t And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever. There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image and for anyone who receives the mark of its name.\"\r\n\t\t\t Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and hold fast to the faith of Jesus. \r\n\t\t\t And I heard a voice from heaven saying, \"Write this: Blessed are the dead who from now on die in the Lord.\" \"Yes,\" says the Spirit, \"they will rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then I looked, and there was a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was one like the Son of Man, with a golden crown on his head, and a sharp sickle in his hand!\r\n\t\t\t Another angel came out of the temple, calling with a loud voice to the one who sat on the cloud, \"Use your sickle and reap, for the hour to reap has come, because the harvest of the earth is fully ripe.\"\r\n\t\t\t So the one who sat on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was reaped.\r\n\t\t\t Then another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle.\r\n\t\t\t Then another angel came out from the altar, the angel who has authority over fire, and he called with a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, \"Use your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for its grapes are ripe.\"\r\n\t\t\t So the angel swung his sickle over the earth and gathered the vintage of the earth, and he threw it into the great wine press of the wrath of God.\r\n\t\t\t And the wine press was trodden outside the city, and blood flowed from the wine press, as high as a horse's bridle, for a distance of about two hundred miles. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then I saw another portent in heaven, great and amazing: seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is ended.\r\n\t\t\t And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands.\r\n\t\t\t And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb: \"Great and amazing are your deeds, Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, King of the nations! \r\n\t\t\t Lord, who will not fear and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your judgments have been revealed.\"\r\n\t\t\t After this I looked, and the temple of the tent of witness in heaven was opened, \r\n\t\t\t and out of the temple came the seven angels with the seven plagues, robed in pure bright linen, with golden sashes across their chests. \r\n\t\t\t Then one of the four living creatures gave the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever;\r\n\t\t\t and the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were ended.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then I heard a loud voice from the temple telling the seven angels, \"Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God.\"\r\n\t\t\t So the first angel went and poured his bowl on the earth, and a foul and painful sore came on those who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped its image.\r\n\t\t\t The second angel poured his bowl into the sea, and it became like the blood of a corpse, and every living thing in the sea died.\r\n\t\t\t The third angel poured his bowl into the rivers and the springs of water, and they became blood.\r\n\t\t\t And I heard the angel of the waters say, \"You are just, O Holy One, who are and were, for you have judged these things;\r\n\t\t\t because they shed the blood of saints and prophets, you have given them blood to drink. It is what they deserve!\"\r\n\t\t\t And I heard the altar respond, \"Yes, O Lord God, the Almighty, your judgments are true and just!\"\r\n\t\t\t The fourth angel poured his bowl on the sun, and it was allowed to scorch them with fire;\r\n\t\t\t they were scorched by the fierce heat, but they cursed the name of God, who had authority over these plagues, and they did not repent and give him glory.\r\n\t\t\t The fifth angel poured his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness; people gnawed their tongues in agony,\r\n\t\t\t and cursed the God of heaven because of their pains and sores, and they did not repent of their deeds.\r\n\t\t\t The sixth angel poured his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up in order to prepare the way for the kings from the east.\r\n\t\t\t And I saw three foul spirits like frogs coming from the mouth of the dragon, from the mouth of the beast, and from the mouth of the false prophet.\r\n\t\t\t These are demonic spirits, performing signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty.\r\n\t\t\t (\"See, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake and is clothed, not going about naked and exposed to shame.\") \r\n\t\t\t And they assembled them at the place that in Hebrew is called Harmagedon.\r\n\t\t\t The seventh angel poured his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple, from the throne, saying, \"It is done!\"\r\n\t\t\t And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, and a violent earthquake, such as had not occurred since people were upon the earth, so violent was that earthquake.\r\n\t\t\t The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. God remembered great Babylon and gave her the wine-cup of the fury of his wrath.\r\n\t\t\t And every island fled away, and no mountains were to be found;\r\n\t\t\t and huge hailstones, each weighing about a hundred pounds, dropped from heaven on people, until they cursed God for the plague of the hail, so fearful was that plague. \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, \"Come, I will show you the judgment of the great whore who is seated on many waters,\r\n\t\t\t with whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and with the wine of whose fornication the inhabitants of the earth have become drunk.\"\r\n\t\t\t So he carried me away in the spirit into a wilderness, and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was full of blasphemous names, and it had seven heads and ten horns. \r\n\t\t\t The woman was clothed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and jewels and pearls, holding in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her fornication;\r\n\t\t\t and on her forehead was written a name, a mystery: \"Babylon the great, mother of whores and of earth's abominations.\"\r\n\t\t\t And I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints and the blood of the witnesses to Jesus. When I saw her, I was greatly amazed.\r\n\t\t\t But the angel said to me, \"Why are you so amazed? I will tell you the mystery of the woman, and of the beast with seven heads and ten horns that carries her.\r\n\t\t\t The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to ascend from the bottomless pit and go to destruction. And the inhabitants of the earth, whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, will be amazed when they see the beast, because it was and is not and is to come.\r\n\t\t\t \"This calls for a mind that has wisdom: the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is seated; also, they are seven kings,\r\n\t\t\t of whom five have fallen, one is living, and the other has not yet come; and when he comes, he must remain only a little while.\r\n\t\t\t As for the beast that was and is not, it is an eighth but it belongs to the seven, and it goes to destruction.\r\n\t\t\t And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but they are to receive authority as kings for one hour, together with the beast.\r\n\t\t\t These are united in yielding their power and authority to the beast;\r\n\t\t\t they will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.\"\r\n\t\t\t And he said to me, \"The waters that you saw, where the whore is seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and languages.\r\n\t\t\t And the ten horns that you saw, they and the beast will hate the whore; they will make her desolate and naked; they will devour her flesh and burn her up with fire.\r\n\t\t\t For God has put it into their hearts to carry out his purpose by agreeing to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God will be fulfilled.\r\n\t\t\t The woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth.\"\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority; and the earth was made bright with his splendor.\r\n\t\t\t He called out with a mighty voice, \"Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! It has become a dwelling place of demons, a haunt of every foul spirit, a haunt of every foul bird, a haunt of every foul and hateful beast. \r\n\t\t\t For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have grown rich from the power of her luxury.\" \r\n\t\t\t Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, \"Come out of her, my people, so that you do not take part in her sins, and so that you do not share in her plagues;\r\n\t\t\t for her sins are heaped high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.\r\n\t\t\t Render to her as she herself has rendered, and repay her double for her deeds; mix a double draught for her in the cup she mixed.\r\n\t\t\t As she glorified herself and lived luxuriously, so give her a like measure of torment and grief. Since in her heart she says, 'I rule as a queen; I am no widow, and I will never see grief,'\r\n\t\t\t therefore her plagues will come in a single day-- pestilence and mourning and famine-- and she will be burned with fire; for mighty is the Lord God who judges her.\"\r\n\t\t\t And the kings of the earth, who committed fornication and lived in luxury with her, will weep and wail over her when they see the smoke of her burning;\r\n\t\t\t they will stand far off, in fear of her torment, and say, \"Alas, alas, the great city, Babylon, the mighty city! For in one hour your judgment has come.\"\r\n\t\t\t And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn for her, since no one buys their cargo anymore,\r\n\t\t\t cargo of gold, silver, jewels and pearls, fine linen, purple, silk and scarlet, all kinds of scented wood, all articles of ivory, all articles of costly wood, bronze, iron, and marble,\r\n\t\t\t cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, frankincense, wine, olive oil, choice flour and wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, slaves-- and human lives.\r\n\t\t\t \"The fruit for which your soul longed has gone from you, and all your dainties and your splendor are lost to you, never to be found again!\"\r\n\t\t\t The merchants of these wares, who gained wealth from her, will stand far off, in fear of her torment, weeping and mourning aloud,\r\n\t\t\t \"Alas, alas, the great city, clothed in fine linen, in purple and scarlet, adorned with gold, with jewels, and with pearls!\r\n\t\t\t For in one hour all this wealth has been laid waste!\" And all shipmasters and seafarers, sailors and all whose trade is on the sea, stood far off\r\n\t\t\t and cried out as they saw the smoke of her burning, \"What city was like the great city?\"\r\n\t\t\t And they threw dust on their heads, as they wept and mourned, crying out, \"Alas, alas, the great city, where all who had ships at sea grew rich by her wealth! For in one hour she has been laid waste.\"\r\n\t\t\t Rejoice over her, O heaven, you saints and apostles and prophets! For God has given judgment for you against her.\r\n\t\t\t Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, \"With such violence Babylon the great city will be thrown down, and will be found no more;\r\n\t\t\t and the sound of harpists and minstrels and of flutists and trumpeters will be heard in you no more; and an artisan of any trade will be found in you no more; and the sound of the millstone will be heard in you no more;\r\n\t\t\t and the light of a lamp will shine in you no more; and the voice of bridegroom and bride will be heard in you no more; for your merchants were the magnates of the earth, and all nations were deceived by your sorcery.\r\n\t\t\t And in you was found the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all who have been slaughtered on earth.\" \r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, \"Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power to our God,\r\n\t\t\t for his judgments are true and just; he has judged the great whore who corrupted the earth with her fornication, and he has avenged on her the blood of his servants.\"\r\n\t\t\t Once more they said, \"Hallelujah! The smoke goes up from her forever and ever.\"\r\n\t\t\t And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who is seated on the throne, saying, \"Amen. Hallelujah!\"\r\n\t\t\t And from the throne came a voice saying, \"Praise our God, all you his servants, and all who fear him, small and great.\" \r\n\t\t\t Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty thunderpeals, crying out, \"Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns.\r\n\t\t\t Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready;\r\n\t\t\t to her it has been granted to be clothed with fine linen, bright and pure\"-- for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.\r\n\t\t\t And the angel said to me, \"Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.\" And he said to me, \"These are true words of God.\" \r\n\t\t\t Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, \"You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your comrades who hold the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.\" \r\n\t\t\t Then I saw heaven opened, and there was a white horse! Its rider is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war.\r\n\t\t\t His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems; and he has a name inscribed that no one knows but himself.\r\n\t\t\t He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is called The Word of God. \r\n\t\t\t And the armies of heaven, wearing fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses.\r\n\t\t\t From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron; he will tread the wine press of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. \r\n\t\t\t On his robe and on his thigh he has a name inscribed, \"King of kings and Lord of lords.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice he called to all the birds that fly in midheaven, \"Come, gather for the great supper of God,\r\n\t\t\t to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of the mighty, the flesh of horses and their riders-- flesh of all, both free and slave, both small and great.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against the rider on the horse and against his army.\r\n\t\t\t And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who had performed in its presence the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.\r\n\t\t\t And the rest were killed by the sword of the rider on the horse, the sword that came from his mouth; and all the birds were gorged with their flesh.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain.\r\n\t\t\t He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years,\r\n\t\t\t and threw him into the pit, and locked and sealed it over him, so that he would deceive the nations no more, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be let out for a little while.\r\n\t\t\t Then I saw thrones, and those seated on them were given authority to judge. I also saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony to Jesus and for the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. \r\n\t\t\t (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection.\r\n\t\t\t Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. Over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him a thousand years.\r\n\t\t\t When the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison\r\n\t\t\t and will come out to deceive the nations at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, in order to gather them for battle; they are as numerous as the sands of the sea.\r\n\t\t\t They marched up over the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from heaven and consumed them. \r\n\t\t\t And the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.\r\n\t\t\t Then I saw a great white throne and the one who sat on it; the earth and the heaven fled from his presence, and no place was found for them.\r\n\t\t\t And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Also another book was opened, the book of life. And the dead were judged according to their works, as recorded in the books.\r\n\t\t\t And the sea gave up the dead that were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and all were judged according to what they had done.\r\n\t\t\t Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire;\r\n\t\t\t and anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.\r\n\t\t\t And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.\r\n\t\t\t And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, \"See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; \r\n\t\t\t he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.\"\r\n\t\t\t And the one who was seated on the throne said, \"See, I am making all things new.\" Also he said, \"Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.\"\r\n\t\t\t Then he said to me, \"It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life.\r\n\t\t\t Those who conquer will inherit these things, and I will be their God and they will be my children.\r\n\t\t\t But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the polluted, the murderers, the fornicators, the sorcerers, the idolaters, and all liars, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.\" \r\n\t\t\t Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, \"Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.\"\r\n\t\t\t And in the spirit he carried me away to a great, high mountain and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God. \r\n\t\t\t It has the glory of God and a radiance like a very rare jewel, like jasper, clear as crystal.\r\n\t\t\t It has a great, high wall with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates are inscribed the names of the twelve tribes of the Israelites;\r\n\t\t\t on the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates.\r\n\t\t\t And the wall of the city has twelve foundations, and on them are the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.\r\n\t\t\t The angel who talked to me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city and its gates and walls. \r\n\t\t\t The city lies foursquare, its length the same as its width; and he measured the city with his rod, fifteen hundred miles; its length and width and height are equal. \r\n\t\t\t He also measured its wall, one hundred forty-four cubits by human measurement, which the angel was using. \r\n\t\t\t The wall is built of jasper, while the city is pure gold, clear as glass.\r\n\t\t\t The foundations of the wall of the city are adorned with every jewel; the first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald,\r\n\t\t\t the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst.\r\n\t\t\t And the twelve gates are twelve pearls, each of the gates is a single pearl, and the street of the city is pure gold, transparent as glass.\r\n\t\t\t I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb.\r\n\t\t\t And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb.\r\n\t\t\t The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it.\r\n\t\t\t Its gates will never be shut by day-- and there will be no night there.\r\n\t\t\t People will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations.\r\n\t\t\t But nothing unclean will enter it, nor anyone who practices abomination or falsehood, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb \r\n\t\t\t through the middle of the street of the city. On either side of the river is the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. \r\n\t\t\t Nothing accursed will be found there any more. But the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him; \r\n\t\t\t they will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.\r\n\t\t\t And there will be no more night; they need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.\r\n\t\t\t And he said to me, \"These words are trustworthy and true, for the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place.\" \r\n\t\t\t \"See, I am coming soon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.\"\r\n\t\t\t I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me;\r\n\t\t\t but he said to me, \"You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your comrades the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God!\" \r\n\t\t\t And he said to me, \"Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near.\r\n\t\t\t Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy.\"\r\n\t\t\t \"See, I am coming soon; my reward is with me, to repay according to everyone's work.\r\n\t\t\t I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.\"\r\n\t\t\t Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they will have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates. \r\n\t\t\t Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and fornicators and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.\r\n\t\t\t \"It is I, Jesus, who sent my angel to you with this testimony for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.\"\r\n\t\t\t The Spirit and the bride say, \"Come.\" And let everyone who hears say, \"Come.\" And let everyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift.\r\n\t\t\t I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this book;\r\n\t\t\t if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away that person's share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.\r\n\t\t\t The one who testifies to these things says, \"Surely I am coming soon.\" Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!\r\n\t\t\t The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints. Amen.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n"
},
{
"path": "Quelea/build-install.bat",
"content": "set isxpath=\"c:\\program files (x86)\\inno setup 6\"\nset isx=%isxpath%\\iscc.exe\nset iwz=quelea64.iss\n%isx% \"%iwz%\" /dMyAppVersion=%1 /O /F /q\"Quelea\""
},
{
"path": "Quelea/build-install.sh",
"content": "#!/bin/bash\nwine \"$HOME/.wine/drive_c/Program Files (x86)/Inno Setup 6/iscc.exe\" /dMyAppVersion=$1 quelea64.iss /O /F /q\"Quelea\""
},
{
"path": "Quelea/build.gradle",
"content": "buildscript {\n dependencies {\n classpath 'edu.sc.seis.launch4j:launch4j:4.0.0'\n classpath 'com.bmuschko:gradle-izpack-plugin:3.2'\n classpath \"com.github.ben-manes:gradle-versions-plugin:0.53.0\"\n }\n}\n\nplugins {\n id 'application'\n id 'java'\n id 'org.openjfx.javafxplugin' version '0.1.0'\n id 'edu.sc.seis.launch4j' version '4.0.0'\n id 'com.github.ben-manes.versions' version '0.53.0'\n id 'com.bmuschko.izpack' version '3.2'\n}\n\nconfigurations.all {\n resolutionStrategy {\n cacheChangingModulesFor 0, 'seconds'\n }\n}\n\nrepositories {\n mavenCentral()\n maven {\n url 'https://oss.sonatype.org/content/repositories/snapshots/'\n content {\n includeGroup 'org.quelea'\n }\n mavenContent {\n snapshotsOnly()\n }\n }\n}\n\njavafx {\n version = \"25\"\n modules = [ 'javafx.base', 'javafx.controls', 'javafx.fxml', 'javafx.graphics', 'javafx.media', 'javafx.swing', 'javafx.web' ]\n}\n\next {\n versionsuffix = System.properties[\"versionsuffix\"]!=null ? System.properties[\"versionsuffix\"] : project.queleaversion\n\n CPInstallerName=\"quelea-\" + versionsuffix + \"-crossplatform-install.jar\"\n WindowsInstallerName=\"quelea-\" + versionsuffix + \"-x86-windows-install.exe\"\n WindowsInstaller64Name=\"quelea-\" + versionsuffix + \"-x64-windows-install.exe\"\n MacInstallerName=\"quelea-\" + versionsuffix + \"-mac.zip\"\n JavaAppName=\"quelea-\" + versionsuffix + \"-java-app.tar.gz\"\n\n CPInstaller =\"dist/standalone/\" + CPInstallerName\n WindowsInstaller=\"dist/standalone/\" + ext.WindowsInstallerName\n WindowsInstaller64=\"dist/standalone/\" + ext.WindowsInstaller64Name\n}\n\ntasks.withType(JavaCompile) {\n configure(options) {\n options.compilerArgs << '-Xlint:deprecation' << '-Xlint:unchecked'\n }\n}\n\ntasks.register('removeDist', Delete) {\n delete \"dist\"\n delete \"out-mac\"\n delete \"bundlejre\"\n}\n\ncompileJava {\n sourceCompatibility = '25'\n targetCompatibility = '25'\n}\n\nclean.finalizedBy(removeDist)\ncompileJava.finalizedBy(dependencyUpdates)\n\n[compileJava, compileTestJava]*.options*.encoding = 'UTF-8'\next.mainClass = 'org.quelea.windows.main.MainStub'\n\ntasks.register('createQueleaExe64', edu.sc.seis.launch4j.tasks.Launch4jLibraryTask) { //Launch4j\n mainClassName = 'org.quelea.windows.main.MainStub'\n mutexName = \"queleamutex\"\n supportUrl = \"https://quelea.discourse.group/\"\n icon = \"../../icons/logo.ico\"\n copyright = \"GPLv3\"\n bundledJrePath = \"winjre64\"\n jvmOptions = [\"-Dfile.encoding=UTF-8\", \"-Dprism.dirtyopts=false\", \"--add-opens java.base/java.nio=ALL-UNNAMED\", \"-Dglass.accessible.force=false\", \"--add-exports=javafx.graphics/com.sun.javafx.css=ALL-UNNAMED\", \"--add-exports=javafx.base/com.sun.javafx.runtime=ALL-UNNAMED\", \"--add-exports=javafx.base/com.sun.javafx.event=ALL-UNNAMED\", \"--add-opens java.base/java.lang=ALL-UNNAMED\", \"--add-opens javafx.controls/javafx.scene.control=ALL-UNNAMED\"]\n outfile = \"Quelea64.exe\"\n jreMinVersion = \"1.5\" //Hack to bypass launch4j\n}\n\ntasks.register('downloadGStreamer') {\n def f = new File('gs.msi')\n if (!f.exists()) {\n new URL('https://gstreamer.freedesktop.org/data/pkg/windows/1.26.6/msvc/gstreamer-1.0-msvc-x86_64-1.26.6.msi').withInputStream { i -> f.withOutputStream { it << i } }\n }\n}\n\ntasks.register('downloadJres') {\n def mf = new File('macjre.zip')\n if (!mf.exists()) {\n new URL('https://cdn.azul.com/zulu/bin/zulu25.28.85-ca-fx-jre25.0.0-macosx_x64.zip').withInputStream { i -> mf.withOutputStream { it << i } }\n }\n\n def wf = new File('winjre64.zip')\n if (!wf.exists()) {\n new URL('https://cdn.azul.com/zulu/bin/zulu25.28.85-ca-fx-jre25.0.0-win_x64.zip').withInputStream { i -> wf.withOutputStream { it << i } }\n }\n\n doLast {\n ant.move file: \"macjre.zip\",\n todir: \"bundlejre\"\n ant.move file: \"winjre64.zip\",\n todir: \"bundlejre\"\n }\n}\n\ntasks.register('copyToDist') {\n doLast {\n copy { from configurations.runtimeClasspath into project.distdir + \"/libjfx\" include \"javafx*\" }\n // all JavaFX libraries\n copy { from configurations.runtimeClasspath into project.distdir + \"/lib\" exclude \"javafx*\" }\n // all libraries except JavaFX libraries\n copy { from \"themes\" into project.distdir + \"/themes\" }\n copy { from \"icons\" into project.distdir + \"/icons\" }\n copy { from \"bibles\" into project.distdir + \"/bibles\" }\n copy { from \"server\" into project.distdir + \"/server\" }\n copy { from \"vid\" into project.distdir + \"/vid\" }\n copy { from \"vbs\" into project.distdir + \"/vbs\" }\n copy { from \"licenses\" into project.distdir + \"/licenses\" }\n copy { from \"languages\" into project.distdir + \"/languages\" }\n copy { from \"dictionaries\" into project.distdir + \"/dictionaries\" }\n copy { from \"img\" into project.distdir + \"/img\" }\n copy { from \"timer\" into project.distdir + \"/timer\" }\n copy { from \"src\" into project.distdir + \"/src\" }\n def wf = new File('bundlejre/winjre64.zip')\n if (wf.exists()) {\n copy { from zipTree(\"bundlejre/winjre64.zip\") into project.distdir }\n file(\"dist/zulu25.28.85-ca-fx-jre25.0.0-win_x64\").renameTo(file(\"dist/winjre64\"))\n }\n copy { from file(\"build/libs/Quelea.jar\") into file(project.distdir) }\n copy { from file(\"README.TXT\") into file(project.distdir) }\n copy { from file(\"quelea.properties\") into file(project.distdir) }\n copy { from file(\"scheduleformat.xsl\") into file(project.distdir) }\n copy { from file(\"songformat.xsl\") into file(project.distdir) }\n copy { from file(\"fopcfg.xml\") into file(project.distdir) }\n copy { from file(\"Quelea.bat\") into file(project.distdir) }\n copy { from file(\"quelea.iss\") into file(project.distdir) }\n copy { from file(\"quelea64.iss\") into file(project.distdir) }\n copy { from file(\"build-install.bat\") into file(project.distdir) }\n copy { from file(\"build-install.sh\") into file(project.distdir) }\n copy { from file(\"licenses/gplv3.txt\") into file(project.distdir) rename { String filename -> return \"LICENSE.txt\" } }\n copy { from file(\"launch.sh\") into file(project.distdir) }\n copy { from file(\"licenses/copyright\") into file(project.distdir + \"/queleadoc\") }\n }\n}\n\ntasks.register('grabNative') {\n doLast {\n copy {\n from file(project.file('osx/libAVPlayerJava.jnilib'))\n into project.file(project.distdir + '/lib/')\n }\n }\n}\ncopyToDist.finalizedBy(grabNative)\n\nizPackCreateInstaller {\n installFile = file(\"izpack/config.xml\")\n outputFile = file(CPInstaller)\n baseDir = file(\"dist\")\n}\n\ntasks.register('innosetup', Exec) {\n doFirst {\n workingDir = project.file('.')\n if (System.getProperty('os.name').toLowerCase(Locale.ROOT).contains('windows')) {\n commandLine = ['cmd', '/C', 'build-install.bat', project.queleaversion]\n } else {\n commandLine = ['sh', './build-install.sh', project.queleaversion]\n }\n }\n\n doLast {\n copy { from file(\"Output/setup.exe\") into file(project.distdir + \"/standalone\") rename { String filename -> return WindowsInstallerName } }\n copy { from file(\"Output/setup64.exe\") into file(project.distdir + \"/standalone\") rename { String filename -> return WindowsInstaller64Name } }\n delete(file(\"Output\"))\n }\n}\n\ntasks.register('labelcheck', JavaExec) {\n mainClass = 'org.quelea.services.languages.LabelChecker'\n classpath = sourceSets.main.runtimeClasspath\n}\n\ntasks.register('runPackr', JavaExec) {\n classpath = files('packr.jar')\n mainClass = \"com.badlogicgames.packr.Packr\"\n args = [\"packr.json\"]\n}\n\ntasks.register('zipMacPackr', Zip) {\n archiveFileName = MacInstallerName\n destinationDirectory = file(\"dist/standalone\")\n\n from \"out-mac\"\n\n doLast {\n delete(file(\"out-mac\"))\n }\n}\n\nrunPackr.finalizedBy(zipMacPackr);\n\ntasks.register('dist', GradleBuild) {\n tasks = ['labelcheck', 'downloadJres', 'downloadGStreamer', 'createQueleaExe64', 'copyToDist', 'tar', 'runPackr', 'izpack', 'innosetup', 'releaseSummary']\n}\n\ndependencies {\n izpack 'org.codehaus.izpack:izpack-ant:5.1.3'\n\n implementation 'com.googlecode.paradoxdriver:paradoxdriver:1.6.3'\n implementation 'com.github.berry120.jopenlyrics:jopenlyrics:2.0'\n implementation group: 'org.hsqldb', name: 'hsqldb', version: '2.7.4'\n implementation group: 'org.apache.poi', name: 'poi-scratchpad', version: '5.4.1'\n implementation group: 'org.apache.poi', name: 'poi-ooxml', version: '5.4.1'\n implementation group: 'org.apache.poi', name: 'poi', version: '5.4.1'\n implementation group: 'org.xerial', name: 'sqlite-jdbc', version: '3.50.3.0'\n implementation group: 'org.apache.avalon.framework', name: 'avalon-framework-api', version: '4.3.1'\n implementation group: 'org.apache.avalon.framework', name: 'avalon-framework-impl', version: '4.3.1'\n\n implementation 'net.java.dev.jna:jna:5.18.1'\n implementation 'net.java.dev.jna:jna-platform:5.18.1'\n implementation 'org.freedesktop.gstreamer:gst1-java-core:1.4.0'\n implementation 'org.freedesktop.gstreamer:gst1-java-fx:0.9.0'\n\n implementation group: 'com.googlecode.json-simple', name: 'json-simple', version: '1.1.1'\n implementation group: 'com.google.code.gson', name: 'gson', version: '2.13.2'\n implementation group: 'com.healthmarketscience.jackcess', name: 'jackcess', version: '4.0.8'\n implementation group: 'org.apache.lucene', name: 'lucene-core', version: '8.9.0'\n implementation group: 'org.apache.lucene', name: 'lucene-queryparser', version: '8.9.0'\n implementation group: 'org.apache.lucene', name: 'lucene-analyzers-common', version: '8.9.0'\n implementation group: 'org.apache.pdfbox', name: 'pdfbox', version: '2.0.35'\n implementation group: 'org.apache.httpcomponents', name: 'httpclient', version: '4.5.14'\n implementation group: 'org.apache.httpcomponents', name: 'httpmime', version: '4.5.14'\n implementation group: 'org.fxmisc.richtext', name: 'richtextfx', version: '0.11.6'\n implementation group: 'com.github.albfernandez', name: 'juniversalchardet', version: '2.5.0'\n implementation group: 'org.hibernate', name: 'hibernate-gradle-plugin', version: '5.6.15.Final'\n implementation group: 'com.google.zxing', name: 'core', version: '3.5.3'\n implementation group: 'com.google.zxing', name: 'javase', version: '3.5.3'\n implementation group: 'commons-io', name: 'commons-io', version: '2.20.0'\n implementation group: 'org.apache.commons', name: 'commons-lang3', version: '3.19.0'\n implementation group: 'org.apache.commons', name: 'commons-text', version: '1.14.0'\n implementation group: 'com.memetix', name: 'microsoft-translator-java-api', version: '0.6.2'\n implementation group: 'org.openoffice', name: 'jurt', version: '4.1.2'\n implementation group: 'org.openoffice', name: 'juh', version: '4.1.2'\n implementation group: 'org.apache.xmlgraphics', name: 'fop', version: '2.3'\n implementation group: 'org.quelea', name: 'planning-center', version: '0.3'\n\n implementation group: 'org.openoffice', name: 'unoil', version: '4.1.2'\n implementation group: 'org.openoffice', name: 'bootstrap-connector', version: '0.1.1'\n\n implementation group: 'com.aparapi', name: 'aparapi', version: '1.10.0'\n\n implementation group: 'org.jflac', name: 'jflac-codec', version: '1.5.2'\n implementation group: 'org.jcraft', name: 'jorbis', version: '0.0.17'\n\n implementation group: 'jakarta.xml.bind', name: 'jakarta.xml.bind-api', version: '4.0.4'\n implementation group: 'com.sun.xml.bind', name: 'jaxb-core', version: '4.0.6'\n implementation group: 'com.sun.xml.bind', name: 'jaxb-impl', version: '4.0.6'\n implementation group: 'javax.activation', name: 'activation', version: '1.1.1'\n\n implementation group: 'com.dlsc.preferencesfx', name: 'preferencesfx-core', version: '11.17.0'\n\n implementation group: 'org.slf4j', name: 'slf4j-jdk14', version: '1.7.32'\n\n runtimeOnly \"org.openjfx:javafx-graphics:$javafx.version:win\"\n runtimeOnly \"org.openjfx:javafx-graphics:$javafx.version:linux\"\n runtimeOnly \"org.openjfx:javafx-graphics:$javafx.version:mac\"\n runtimeOnly \"org.openjfx:javafx-web:$javafx.version:win\"\n runtimeOnly \"org.openjfx:javafx-web:$javafx.version:linux\"\n runtimeOnly \"org.openjfx:javafx-web:$javafx.version:mac\"\n\n testImplementation group: 'org.junit.jupiter', name: 'junit-jupiter-api', version: '6.0.0'\n testImplementation group: 'org.junit.jupiter', name: 'junit-jupiter-engine', version: '6.0.0'\n}\n\ntest {\n failOnNoDiscoveredTests = false\n}\n\njar {\n manifest {\n attributes (\n 'Main-Class': 'org.quelea.windows.main.MainStub',\n \"Class-Path\": configurations.runtimeClasspath.collect { \"lib/\" + it.getName() }.join(' ')\n )\n }\n}\n\ntasks.register('tar', Tar) {\n archiveFileName = JavaAppName\n destinationDirectory = file(\"dist/standalone/\")\n compression = Compression.GZIP\n\n from 'dist/'\n into \"Quelea-${versionsuffix}-java-app\"\n include \"lib/\",\n \"bibles/\",\n \"dictionaries/\",\n \"icons/\",\n \"img/\",\n \"languages/\",\n \"licenses/\",\n \"server/\",\n \"themes/\",\n \"vid/\",\n \"fopcfg.xml\",\n \"quelea.properties\",\n \"scheduleformat.xsl\",\n \"songformat.xsl\",\n \"Quelea.jar\"\n}\n\ntasks.register('releaseSummary', JavaExec) {\n mainClass = 'org.quelea.services.utils.ReleaseSummaryGenerator'\n classpath = sourceSets.main.runtimeClasspath\n}\n\ntasks.named(\"izPackCreateInstaller\") {\n dependsOn(tasks.named(\"zipMacPackr\"))\n dependsOn(tasks.named('tar'))\n}\n"
},
{
"path": "Quelea/changelogs/changelog-0.4.2.txt",
"content": "quelea (0.4.2) stable; urgency=normal\r\n \r\n * Custom position for projector window\r\n * Text now in languages file\r\n * Convert first line of Kingsway songs to sentence case\r\n * Add \"single line\" mode to song panels\r\n * Better error for old Java\r\n * RSV bible names now in English\r\n * Canvas now resizes properly\r\n * Better out of memory error\r\n * Repainting bugs\r\n * Layout bug in options\r\n \r\n -- Michael Berry Sunday, 19 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +0000"
},
{
"path": "Quelea/changelogs/changelog-0.5.1.txt",
"content": "quelea (0.5.1) stable; urgency=normal\r\n \r\n * Deal with video errors better\r\n * Add link to Facebook page in help menu\r\n * Fix with crashing with large number of images\r\n * Can now drag image over song / bible passage to set theme\r\n * Quick edit can now delete sections\r\n * Now have the option to display text with a shadow\r\n * Long labels have been split up\r\n * Number of monitors is reloaded on the fly without need for restart\r\n * Themes can be edited from the theme menu\r\n * Quick edit changed to control and bug fixed on Linux\r\n * Various other bug fixes\r\n \r\n -- Michael Berry Sunday, 12 Mar 2012 00:00:00 +0000"
},
{
"path": "Quelea/changelogs/changelog-0.5.2.txt",
"content": "quelea (0.5.2) stable; urgency=normal\r\n \r\n * Better powerpoint support, including support for the new PPTX format\r\n * Fix \"edit song\" -> cancel clearing text bug\r\n * Fix flickering background\r\n * Fix clear screen options\r\n * Fix file filter on export menu\r\n * Change a couple of icons to make them more usable\r\n * Anti-alias small text as well as large\r\n * Various other bug fixes\r\n \r\n -- Michael Berry Sunday, 12 Mar 2012 00:00:00 +0000"
},
{
"path": "Quelea/changelogs/changelog-0.5.3.txt",
"content": "quelea (0.5.3) stable; urgency=normal\r\n \r\n * Fixed bug with some schedules not opening\r\n * Warn when there's a corrupt schedule, don't silently ignore\r\n * Fix bugs with adding bibles\r\n * Space for lyrics / projection split pane distributed more evenly\r\n \r\n -- Michael Berry Sunday, 27 Sep 2012 00:00:00 +0000"
},
{
"path": "Quelea/changelogs/changelog-0.5.txt",
"content": "quelea (0.5) stable; urgency=normal\r\n \r\n * Better searching, better UI and much faster algorithm\r\n * Reworked UI, no ribbon\r\n * Added missing labels\r\n * Added stage view\r\n * Added volume / status bar to videos\r\n * File filters now case insensitive\r\n * Startup speed improvements\r\n * Corrupt powerpoints handled properly with error\r\n * Missing labels added to language file\r\n * Dialog to check whether to save the schedule before quitting\r\n * Time displayed on video panel\r\n * Kingsway importer bug fixed\r\n * Add bible bug fixed\r\n * Grammar on spellcheck message fixed\r\n \r\n -- Michael Berry Wednesday, 29 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0000"
},
{
"path": "Quelea/changelogs/changelog-2014.0.txt",
"content": "quelea (0.6) stable; urgency=normal\r\n \r\n * Rewritten interface in JavaFX\r\n * Rewritten video support\r\n * Added option to keep the same size text for each part of a song\r\n * Added option to set the maximum font size manually\r\n * Added option to set spacing between lines\r\n * Added video background support\r\n * Clear text option now fades\r\n * Black option now fades\r\n * New logo option added, can easily fade live view to any given image\r\n * Added loop button for presentations\r\n * Changed to more efficient database format\r\n * Added more / better sample images\r\n * Added sample videos\r\n * Added test patterns dialog to calibrate display\r\n * Theme panel has had a major revamp, now much easier to use\r\n * Text position and text alignment can be set separately per song\r\n * Rewritten import dialogs to look much nicer\r\n * Opensong import\r\n * OpenLP import\r\n * Easyslides import\r\n * Plain text import\r\n * Kingsway import fixed\r\n * Added Czech, German, Swedish and US English translations\r\n * Previews now preserve aspect ratio of main display\r\n * Fix interface to display UTF-8 characters properly\r\n * Fix schedule files / imports to deal with UTF-8 characters properly\r\n * Rewritten bible search dialog\r\n * Theme selector rewritten / bugs fixed\r\n * Add option within interface to change language\r\n * Window position now saved between runs\r\n * Search by author as well as title and lyrics\r\n * Bundled JRE\r\n * Many more bugfixes\r\n\r\n -- Michael Berry Wednesday, 24 Jan 2014 00:00:00 +0000"
},
{
"path": "Quelea/changelogs/changelog-2014.1.txt",
"content": "quelea (2014.1) stable; urgency=normal\r\n \r\n * Added remote control functionality\r\n * Added Youtube support\r\n * Added PDF export option for songs / schedule\r\n * Added DVD / Bluray support\r\n * Added ability to import more than one presentation at a time\r\n * Added ZionWorx import\r\n * Added Easyworship import\r\n * Added Openlyrics import / export\r\n * Added song translation support\r\n * Improved text wrapping algorithm for bible text\r\n * Added option for displaying verse numbers in bible text\r\n * Added Hungarian translation\r\n * Added Norwegian translation\r\n * Added additional options for specifying the notice colour, speed, font, size and position\r\n * Added VLCARG file support - ability to create video \"files\" that pass arguments directly to VLC\r\n * Added ability to stretch videos\r\n * Added more shadow options\r\n * Added manual entry to help menu\r\n * Bugfix - italic font property now saved when selecting an image or video background\r\n * Bugfix - no longer possible to add empty bible passages\r\n * Bugfix - quick edit cursor doesn't show on bible passages anymore\r\n * Bugfix - bible search now filters out duplicate results correctly\r\n * Bugfix - long notices now behave correctly\r\n * Bugfix - printing now works properly for songs and schedules\r\n * Bugfix - shadows now display correctly\r\n * Bugfix - Cancelling the confirm exit dialog by pressing \"x\" no longer exits Quelea without saving\r\n * Various other minor bug fixes\r\n\r\n -- Michael Berry Wednesday, 04 Oct 2014 00:00:00 +0000"
},
{
"path": "Quelea/changelogs/changelog-2015.0.txt",
"content": "quelea (2015.0) stable; urgency=normal\r\n \r\n * Moved to Java 8\r\n * Changed to new skin (Modena) and updated splash screen\r\n * New feature - Quickly change bible translations via right clicking on schedule list\r\n * New feature - Broken bibles can be sent to devs for analysis\r\n * New feature - QR code generator added for mobile lyrics URL\r\n * New feature - Allow non-breaking lines in song lyrics\r\n * New feature - Position of UI elements persists across invocations\r\n * New feature - Song translations can now be exported to PDF\r\n * New feature - Videos can now auto-play on being set live\r\n * New feature - Schedule can now auto-advance when an item is sent live\r\n * New feature - Item can be automatically previewed on image change\r\n * New feature - Edit theme button now appears on each schedule item\r\n * New feature - Countdown timers\r\n * New feature - MediaShout importer\r\n * Bugfix - Quick Edit now works properly\r\n * Bugfix - FX UI element labels are now translated (such as colours)\r\n * Bugfix - Translations now show properly when section headings are used\r\n * Bugfix - Quelea no longer locks up when copying a video background\r\n * Bugfix - window now remembers maximised state\r\n * Bugfix - Memory leaks fixed\r\n * Bugfix - Fix handling of bibles with missing verses\r\n * Bugfix - DVDs and Blurays now work\r\n * Bugfix = Youtube videos are now saved in schedules properly\r\n * Bugfix - Fixed issue with small text not having a shadow\r\n * Bugfix - Creating a new schedule clears the file (so that \"save\" will then not save over the previously open schedule.)\r\n * Bugfix - Chord lines are no longer affected by the auto-translator\r\n * Bugfix - Partial translations now display properly\r\n * Bugfix - Video playback now works properly on OSX\r\n * Various other minor bugfixes\r\n\r\n -- Michael Berry Wednesday, 12 Jan 2015 00:00:00 +0000\r\n"
},
{
"path": "Quelea/changelogs/changelog-2015.1.txt",
"content": "quelea (2015.1) stable; urgency=normal\r\n \r\n * Fix clear / logo / black screen crash (Bundled with 8u40 on Windows to fix memory issues related to Java bug - must be run with 8u40 for this to work on unbundled versions.)\r\n * Fix video control display issues\r\n * Fix issue with library bible panel never showing the last verse of a chapter\r\n * Fix chord spacing when exporting to PDF\r\n * Fix occasional NullPointerException when dragging\r\n * Fix issue with reset video not being called on correct thread\r\n * Fix issue with deleting a saved location folder causing a crash\r\n * Fix issue with visual glitches in lyrics area\r\n * Fix issue where right clicking on the schedule didn't always display the correct context menu\r\n * Fix issue where copy / pasting lyrics from some websites / sources didn't split into sections correctly\r\n * Fix issue with the colour / video / image dropdown list not always showing\r\n * Add option to disable fading of lyrics on stage view\r\n\r\n -- Michael Berry Wednesday, 25 Feb 2015 00:00:00 +0000\r\n"
},
{
"path": "Quelea/changelogs/changelog-2015.2.txt",
"content": "quelea (2015.2) stable; urgency=normal\r\n \r\n * Update bundled JRE to final released copy (not EA)\r\n * Added video library tab\r\n * Added timer save functionality, and timer library tab\r\n * Fix issue with some badly designed fonts not clearing properly\r\n * EpicWorship songpack importer added\r\n * Greater customisation options added for 'Small Text' (information) display\r\n * Fix versioning issue (only the major version number was reported in some places)\r\n * Fix bug with bible passages appearing on just one line in mobile lyrics view\r\n * Update Easy Worship importer to preserve CCLI / copyright info\r\n * Enable static video previews in live / preview panel\r\n * Fix QSP / save files to now contain full song information (was missing some fields such as CCLI / Copyright / Key / Notes)\r\n * Chord notation now accepts H, unicode sharp / flat signs and (is) in place of \"#\" (Josef's suggestion, conventionally used in some European countries)\r\n * Translation now saved with song in schedule\r\n * Fix Opensong importer (some databases with foreign characters did not work)\r\n\r\n -- Michael Berry Wednesday, 25 April 2015 00:00:00 +0000\r\n"
},
{
"path": "Quelea/changelogs/changelog-2015.3.txt",
"content": "quelea (2015.3) stable; urgency=normal\r\n \r\n * Add new Spanish and Slovakian translations\r\n * Add ability to change the percentage size of the small bible/song text \r\n * Add ability to select overflow traversal through whole schedule using up/down keys\r\n * Add more features to Remote Control, include schedule list and add bible or song\r\n * Add ability to display multiple chapter/verses from the same bible book on a single slide using a comma\r\n * IPv6 addresses only show as a last resort\r\n * Top / Bottom for notices now the correct way around\r\n * Auto-play now works\r\n * Improve bible passage text layout\r\n * Add songpro importer\r\n * Add SoF importer\r\n * Kingsway importer now pulls translations out and adds them to the imported song correctly\r\n * Additional Remote Control features for use in Quelea Android App\r\n * Fix search behaviour to ignore non-alphanumeric characters in index and search string\r\n * Fix long search time when searching for a non-indexed (non-alphanumeric) character\r\n * Songs matching search in titles now appear before other results\r\n * Option to use 12H or 12H clock\r\n * Bible book selection box is now filterable with key presses\r\n * Video tab can be shown in the library panel using an option in the settings\r\n * Hovering over videos in the video library tab now shows a pop-up with filename\r\n * Fix changing the bible passage theme by right clicking\r\n * Fix \"switch versions\" functionality on bible passages\r\n * Fix live videos restarting when song in schedule is edited\r\n * Fix search index not working with non-ascii characters\r\n * Fix behaviour where empty bible passages could be added to schedule\r\n * Fix issue with schedule not opening when a presentation it refers to is missing.\r\n * Fix issue with Quelea not loading if some songs in database are corrupted\r\n * Fix Remote Control to work more reliably on Internet Explorer.\r\n * Fix issue with using special XML characters in timer file names\r\n\r\n -- Michael Berry Wednesday, 16 May 2015 00:00:00 +0000\r\n"
},
{
"path": "Quelea/changelogs/changelog-2016.0.txt",
"content": "quelea (2016.0) stable; urgency=normal\r\n \r\n * Labelled text sections now appear in the Live and Preview Panels\r\n * Bible passages can now be continued one verse at a time using '+' key\r\n * Re-enabled option to select maximum number of bible verses per slide\r\n * Use of numbers, 'c', 'b', 't' and 'p' keys to traverse live panel / text sections\r\n * Editable bounds for lyrics to appear in (Advanced/Hidden feature)\r\n * Variety of Mobile Lyrics and Remote Lyrics additions for Android app support\r\n * Fixed Kingsway Import and provide support for US-based download.\r\n * Audio recording functionality (experimental)\r\n * Logo & Splashscreen update\r\n * Updates to bible import (can now import more previously un-importable bibles)\r\n * Bugfixes for edit song window\r\n * Added recording ability (thanks Arvid!)\r\n * Many other small bugfixes\r\n\r\n -- Michael Berry Wednesday, 08 December 2015 00:00:00 +0000\r\n"
},
{
"path": "Quelea/changelogs/changelog-2016.1.txt",
"content": "quelea (2016.1) stable; urgency=normal\r\n \r\n * Fix \"c\" selecting pre-chorus\r\n * Add missing labels\r\n * Fix recording level bar\r\n * Add song select import options for copyright & key\r\n * Fix keyboard shortcuts for presentations\r\n * Fix record button behaviour when no recording device is found\r\n * New options dialog layout\r\n * Add support for controlling recordings through the apps\r\n * Add support for jumping to a schedule item from the apps\r\n * Fix remote control play/pause functionality for timers\r\n * Fix Mac recording conversions\r\n * Add CCLI number to SongSelectParser\r\n * Fix vlc arg option splitting for absolute paths on windows\r\n * Add presentation manager import\r\n * Add mission praise import\r\n * Add video psalm import\r\n * Reorder import options to be alphabetical\r\n * Fix Opensong import to recognise chords and section titles\r\n * Fix missing required attributes for openlyrics export\r\n * Add \"copy to schedule\" option\r\n * Add Bulgarian translation\r\n\r\n -- Michael Berry Sunday, 26 May 2016 00:00:00 +0000\r\n"
},
{
"path": "Quelea/changelogs/changelog-2016.2.txt",
"content": "quelea (2016.2) stable; urgency=normal\r\n \r\n * Add support for displaying PDF\r\n * Add planning centre online import\r\n * Added FreeWorship import\r\n * Add native PowerPoint support\r\n * Aspect ratio fix\r\n * Fix for the projector not opening with the correct size on Linux\r\n * Add more remote functionality (move/remove schedule items, set/get theme)\r\n * Update record icon\r\n * Add option to adjust video volume\r\n * Add elapsed and total time on video playback\r\n * Fix canvas ratio to match projection window\r\n * Add drag and drop support for presentations, PDF files, videos and images\r\n * Merge add buttons to a drop-down menu\r\n * Get song translations through Mobile Lyrics\r\n * Add warning to save recording before exiting\r\n * Add advanced option to automatically move projection window when new screens are connected\r\n * Add Live Text feature to send non-projected text to Mobile Lyrics\r\n * Add section title buttons to song dialog\r\n * Add French translation\r\n * Get presentation slide previews through Mobile Remote\r\n * Add support for displaying websites\r\n * Add support for displaying groups of images\r\n * Fix import freeze when importing large presentations\r\n * Added ability to change thumbnail size\r\n * Add extended bible panel functionality and improved UI\r\n * Fix bugs caused by passages imported from a schedule (not being able to switch translation nor extending the passage)\r\n * Add support for audio files\r\n * Added extra song title keywords \"interlude\" and \"ending\"\r\n * Add basic support for undo/redo while editing songs\r\n * Add right-click menu in song edit window with paste option\r\n * Fix bug when trying to add a non-breaking line or a section title to a song with chords\r\n * Fix Stage View alignment bug\r\n\r\n -- Michael Berry Saturday, 15 Oct 2016 00:00:00 +0000\r\n"
},
{
"path": "Quelea/changelogs/changelog-2017.0.txt",
"content": "quelea (2017.0) stable; urgency=normal\r\n \r\n * Add screenmonkey import\r\n * Add separate 64 bit and 32 bit windows installer\r\n * Disable Youtube button / menu item by default\r\n * Improve startup time\r\n * Fix memory issues caused by lots of videos in the video panel\r\n * Fix planning centre online import when using folders\r\n * Fix embedding of some file types in schedule\r\n * Fix section titles not appearing in PDF export\r\n * Fix scroll position of the lyrics area jumping around\r\n * Fix windows asking twice about overwriting files\r\n * Fix issue with non-ascii characters not being shown in PDF schedule export\r\n * Fix undo bug\r\n * Fix Openlyrics multiple titles\r\n * Fix plain text importer encoding\r\n * Fix VLC screen being displayed even when projector view turned off\r\n * Add PDF & Image Group slide preview in Mobile Remote\r\n * Added support for setting a time to countdown to in Timer dialog (##:##am/pm)\r\n * Add Russian translation\r\n * Fix video playback on Mac\r\n * Fix PowerPoint loop bug\r\n * Fix OpenOffice/LibreOffice support\r\n * Fix Add menu closing bug\r\n * Fix keyboard shortcuts after hiding text\r\n \r\n\r\n -- Michael Berry Wednesday, 08 Feb 2017 00:00:00 +0000\r\n"
},
{
"path": "Quelea/changelogs/changelog-2017.1.txt",
"content": "quelea (2017.1) stable; urgency=normal\r\n \r\n * Fix bug with themes not saving\r\n * Fix potential deadlock bug when editing a song as a video background is playing\r\n * Fix focusing bug when video backgrounds are playing\r\n \r\n\r\n -- Michael Berry Wednesday, 06 Sep 2017 00:00:00 +0000\r\n"
},
{
"path": "Quelea/changelogs/changelog-2018.0.txt",
"content": "quelea (2018.0) stable; urgency=normal\r\n \r\n * Fix bug with PDF export\r\n * Fix remote mobile view HTML to be more accessible\r\n * Ignore verses with invalid numbers rather than throwing an exception (it seems footnotes are sometimes specified with an invalid number)\r\n * Fix bug with check duplicates feature\r\n * Fix bug with translations not being included in schedule\r\n\r\n -- Michael Berry Wednesday, 25 Nov 2017 00:00:00 +0000\r\n"
},
{
"path": "Quelea/changelogs/changelog-2018.1.txt",
"content": "quelea (2018.1) stable; urgency=normal\r\n \r\n * Fix bug with Sunday Plus importer\r\n * Fix bug with VideoPsalm importer\r\n * Fix bug with OpenSong importer only showing one song when exported on Mac\r\n * Fix Java 9 compatibility\r\n * Fix \"is\" being recognised as chords\r\n * Fix resize bug on some Linux distributions\r\n * Fix VLC bug in Linux\r\n * Fix drag / drop bug in Linux\r\n * Fix EasyWorship parser to use CP1252\r\n * Fix freeze on some OS's when opening help menu websites\r\n * Fix deb installer icon\r\n * FIx issue with loading bibles on Ubuntu\r\n * Use new logo in about dialog\r\n * Don't show option to add DVD on a Mac\r\n * Add ctrl+click option to set logo image on Mac\r\n * Add Worship Him importer\r\n\r\n -- Michael Berry